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People who spoke in opposition to a bill that would limit where drones can fly said they were worried the legislation, if not amended, would prohibit the production of films and the use of aircraft by companies like railroads who use the technology to inspect their track.

AT&T uses drones to inspect its wireless towers, company lobbyist Mark Baker told the Senate Judiciary Committee, which heard the bill Tuesday.

Its a much safer approach than sending personnel up on the tower for initial review," he said.

Senate Bill 170 is being carried by Rep. Steve Hinebauch, R-Wibaux. As written, it creates a civil penalty for anyone who flies a drone over private property below 500 feet. Most drones cannot fly above that altitude, either because of how they are built or Federal Aviation Administration regulations.

In Eastern Montana, Hinebauch said hes seen drones used to harass property owners.

Its people coming down and snooping on industry to a certain extent, he said. There were pipeline people that had some anti-pipeline people flying down with drones  trying to be an obstacle as far as building pipeline.

Proposed amendments would allow drones to fly for commercial purposes and land surveying and exempt law enforcement and insurance companies. They would also increase the fine, which is set at a minimum of $500, to $2,500 for those who fly over a critical infrastructure facility.

If you dont have a right to be on the surface, you shouldnt be on the air above that property, said Chuck Denowh, representing United Property Owners of Montana, who spoke in support of the bill.

Most who opposed the bill said they may support it if the amendments are adopted.

Steve White, of Bozeman, has flown drones for over 20 years. He said the FAA already has good rules on the commercial use of drones and that requiring people who use drones recreationally to register their vehicles would do more to protect rights than what the bill proposes.

If somebody is a peeping tom and somebody is using a drone for that, the first thing he needs to do is have it registered."

Others expressed concerns about if a drone was blown onto private property or other accidental trespass.

Sen. Jen Gross, D-Billings, asked Hinebauch if hed be open to an amendment that permitted drones flown by news organizations or film crews. Hinebauch said he couldnt say without seeing a draft but emphasized his goal to protect property rights.

A news organization does not have the right to just enter your backyard or your home to film a news segment. They have to ask permission. They should have to ask permission to fly a drone above your property as well.

The committee took no action Tuesday.
Havana will be added to select Carnival Paradise voyages from Tampa. These overnights will be featured on 12 four- and five-day cruises starting June 29.

Four-day cruises will depart June 29, July 13, Aug. 24, Sept. 7 and 21, and Oct. 5 and 19, as well as May 3, 2018, and include a daytime and overnight visit to Havana. Five-day voyages will depart Aug. 14 and 28, Sept. 25 and Oct. 9, and include a daytime and overnight visit to Havana as well as a stop in Cozumel or Key West.

Carnival is the second Carnival Corp. & plc brand to get the nod from Cuban officials, after Fathomwhich became the first US-based cruise operator to sail to the island last May after a 50-year gap. The Fathom brand will be going away after May this year, and approval for another of the company's brands had been long anticipated.

Last December president and ceo Arnold Donald reiterated that approvals for 'hopefully more than one brand' would get the green light for the June period and beyond.

Carnival president Christine Duffy called Cuba 'an island jewel unique from anywhere else in the Caribbean,' adding: 'We are thrilled to have this rare opportunity to take our guests to this fascinating destination.'

The sailings are designed to comply with US regulations for allowed people-to-people travel.

Port Tampa Bay president and ceo Paul Anderson welcomed the news.

'Carnival has been our long-standing partner for over 20 years. We are excited to play host to the hundreds of thousands of Carnival passengers that will come to and from Port Tampa Bay to the exotic and exciting destinations that Carnival has to offer,' he said.

Until early this month, no US-based lines were approved for Cuba cruises beyond May. First Royal Caribbean got the nod for additional sailings on Empress of the Seas into November, then Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Sky was OKd for weekly departures from June through December.
Planning for Shifting Trade has been a theme of an annual American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) event, hosted in conjunction with Port Tampa Bay, each year since 2007 when planning for the widened Panama Canal began.

As ports in the US Gulf and the US East Coast spend billions of dollars deepening channels and raising bridges to prepare for bigger and bigger vessels, what would happen if the trade flows dont transition as the experts have predicted?

Robert W. West, chief senior consultant for Duaga, the trade consultancy and provider of data on liner trades, offered his thoughts on Forecasting in an age of uncertainty. Uncertainties clearly abound- though economic growth prospects for 2017 seem to be brightening after a dismal year for many shipping segments.

But what if trade dynamics moved towards hubs and spokes along the East Coast of the U.S. and Canada? Efforts to create trans-shipment hubs at Panama and in Cuba - including an effort at Mariel in conjunction with PSA - already in the works, received attention at the AAPA event, but Wests comments drew attention to possible hubs in eastern Canada that could handle cargo inbound from Asia through the Suez Canal which competes with Panama.

Three projects that could bring cargo to the East Coast of the US were mentioned- a Macquarie-backed terminal in Halifax, NS, NovaPorte (a facility planned for Sydney, NS which recently garnered support from Ports America) and a DP World project in Saint John, New Brunswick. All three could all benefit from cheap line-haul capacity transferring cargo into 4,000  6,000 teu vessels, with the lucky vessels no longer victims of the cascade but rather benefiting from the demand for feeder ships.

Amidst discussions of the economics of low costs per slot, West emphasized the advantages to carriers of using transhipment hubs, saying You are not just loading cargo, in Shanghai, going to one destination- you are loading cargo going to many places. So you have a bigger opportunity to have higher utilization on the ship.so there a lot of markets that can be served, adding that Transhipment can also work for the mother ship going outboundcargo can be gathered from many origins.

Keynote speaker Clarence Gooden, the president at CSX, one of a handful of Class 1 railroads in North America, provided an endorsement of transhipping generally, talking about the successes of transhipment facilities- bringing service to lower density markets where there was not enough freight to serve, in the rail mode.

Another aspect of the shifting trades (or not) was revealed in the Q&A following a speech by real estate/ logistics consultant Joe Dunlap, from CBRE. This speaker, who advises clients on the locations of distribution hubs, cited examples of shippers importing into the US from Asia not shifting their cargo to East Coast ports - and building distribution centers - due to a commercial situation. He explained that Beneficial cargo owners (BCOs), who import cargo for their Big Box customers, may not want to transfer the cost savings onward to their customers, in situations that hes worked with. But he acknowledged that much more cargo could be moving though Panama.
Two bills aimed at fighting human trafficking were shot down in committee Monday over concerns about punishing prostitutes and duplicating what is already in state law.

House Bills 378 and 379 failed to pass out of the House Judiciary Committee and were tabled.

The first bill would have clarified it's illegal to expose a child to prostitution or engage in prostitution in front of a child. The second bill would have required people who advertise escort services on websites like Backpage.com and Craigslist provide a copy of their identification as well the identification of the person being shown in a photo advertisements.

House Bill 378 was a 9-10 vote and House Bill 379 was a 7-12 vote.

Its frustrating the way we tend to approach prostitution. We often go after prostitutes, said minority leader Rep. Jenny Eck, D-Helena, about House Bill 378, which she voted against. They are victims of the a system. What this doesn't do is get to the john in that room. To me those are the people we should really be going after.

Eck said law enforcement can call the child abuse hotline if they suspect a child is being abused.

Rep. Casey Knudsen, R-Malta, said he didnt think the bill to require photo identification from people placing an advertisement for escort services was enforceable.

I see different ways you can get around this already," he said. Other lawmakers had expressed concerns during the bills initial hearing about creating a list of people who placed the advertisements and if the list would be kept private.

Those who voted against the bills said they supported the idea behind them but the legislation needed to be tightened up.

These are really hard bills to vote against because of the really hard implication. We all want to be against these things and we are against these things but then we get down to the gray areas that put people in these horrible situations, Eck said. Its hard to find black and white in those situations.

Road blocking

The House Judiciary Committee on Monday also voted down on a 9-10 vote and tabled House Bill 295, carried by Rep. Tom Jacobson, D-Great Falls. The bill would have increased fines for improperly gated county roads from $10 to up to $500 a day. It also would have allowed counties to issue a permit for an encroachment on a county road right-of-way.

Rep. Bob Brown, Thompson Falls, said that the bill would put people out in the field determine what is law and pushing that.

That is going to increase conflict, which will lead to more land closures to the public.

Committee chairman Rep. Alan Doane, R-Bloomfield, said there are already laws on the books to ensure public roads stay open.

If these are clear county roads the surveyor is not doing their job if they do not remove these encroachments, he said.

Photos at public meetings

The committee did pass on a 10-9 vote a bill to clarify that people attending a public meeting can take photos and record the meeting. House Bill 370 is carried by Rep. Bryce Bennett, D-Missoula.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that a purported real estate investment manager has agreed to pay more than a half-million dollars to settle charges that he pocketed investor money in an investment scheme.

The SEC alleges that James P. Toner Jr. of Scottsdale, Ariz., siphoned $51,000 from investors who were falsely told that he would personally manage some of the real estate projects in which they were purchasing interests. The stated purpose of each investor offering was to purchase a residential property in the Phoenix area, renovate that property, and then sell it for a profit.

According to the SECs complaint, Toner took $31,000 in undisclosed management fees even though he did not manage any of the offerings, and stole $20,000 directly from an investor. Without conducting any due diligence, Toner allegedly entrusted the management of the investments to a real estate broker who subsequently squandered investor funds. According to the SECs complaint, the real estate broker was later imprisoned for other crimes.

In addition to falsely stating that he planned to personally manage some of the properties, Toner allegedly told investors he would make personal investments in the projects when in fact he never did. In order to skirt the registration requirements for the offerings, Toner allegedly instructed some investors to falsely state that they were accredited investors.

As alleged in our complaint, Toner defrauded investors with false promises that he would manage their investments and personally invest along with them. Instead he siphoned off some investor money as management fees and handed over the rest to a third party without any due diligence, said Andrew M. Calamari, Director of the SECs New York Regional Office.

Without admitting or denying the allegations, Toner consented to the entry of a court order requiring him to pay disgorgement of $51,358 plus interest of $4,893.98 and a penalty of $450,000. The settlement is subject to court approval.

The SECs investigation was conducted in the New York office by Jorge G. Tenreiro, Elizabeth Butler, Neil Hendelman, and Sandeep Satwalekar, and the case was supervised by Sanjay Wadhwa. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Arizona, and Pennsylvania Attorney Generals office.
Undeterred by Gov. Steve Bullocks veto two years ago, Sen. Roger Webb introduced a bill Monday that would require a hearing before a patient found guilty but mentally ill can be transferred from the Montana State Hospital to the State Prison.

The three-term Republican argued that the current transfer procedure -- which involves a review board composed of state employees and does not grant the patient any representation or notice -- is a violation of due process rights and undermines the intent of judges who sentence convicts to intensive treatment only found at the hospital.

All were asking for is an independent review board. Absolutely I dont want just folks employed by (the Department of Public Health and Human Services), which is kinda like the fox watching the hen house, he said. This is about accountability. And it gives the individual a fighting chance at his own civil rights.

Supporters included Disability Rights Montana, the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Montana, a father whose son at the state hospital was threatened with transfer to the state prison, and former judge Nels Swandal, a Republican senator from Wilsall.

What were most concerned about as judges is making sure the individual who is guilty but mentally ill is taken care of. Most of the time its not their fault what happens, he said. They dont belong in prison. They cant get along (in general population) and end up in solitary confinement  All this bill does is make the Department prove before they transfer somebody that its in their best interest.

Webbs measure is similar to one he carried in 2015. It passed the Senate, 45-5, and the House, 97-1, but was vetoed by Bullock. A mail vote to override the veto failed to reach the necessary two-thirds approval, falling short 16 votes in the House and 6 votes in the Senate.

In a May 2015 veto letter, Bullock wrote the bill would create an additional and costly taxpayer-funded hearing to second-guess the recommendations of the inmate treating professionals. It gives GBMI inmates special rights after they have already received full due process of law when they were found guilty, sentenced and had the right to appeal.

His letter also noted overcrowding at the forensic unit of the state hospital and called the transfer process rare.

In the last five years, 26 people have been transferred from the state hospital to the state prison and only two have been transferred back, Webb, DPHHS officials and others testified.

Bullock Communications Director Ronja Abel said in a written statement that Bullock is monitoring the bill, but declined to say whether he intended to veto it this year.

The governor continues to have concerns about the potential cost to taxpayers resulting from the bill, the failure to recognize the recommendations of treatment professionals, and the safety of staff and patients, she said.
The winning entries have been announced in the annual Underwater Photographer of the Year competition. This year's contest drew from 4,500 entries submitted from photographers in 67 countries. First prize went to France's Gabriel Barathieu for "Dancing Octopus," taken on Mayotte Island in the Indian Ocean. "I had to wait for a low spring tide when the water was just 30 centimeters deep (1 foot) so that the octopus would fill the water column," said Barathieu. "I got as close as possible with a wide angle lens to create this image, which makes the octopus look huge." "Both balletic and malevolent, this image shows that the octopus means business as it hunts in a shallow lagoon," said contest judge Alex Mustard. "The way it moves is so different from any predator on land, this truly could be an alien from another world. A truly memorable creature, beautifully photographed."

The UK's Nick Blake was named British Photographer of Year for "Out of the Blue," shot in Mexico's Kukulkan Cenote, Yucatan Peninsula. "I left my strobes behind for the natural light shot I wanted and positioned myself in the shadows of the cavern," said Blake. "Moving my eye around the viewfinder, I could see that the rock outline of the cavern around me made for a pleasing symmetry and I adjusted my position to balance the frame. The light show flickered on and off as the sun was periodically covered by cloud and as it reappeared, I beckoned to my buddy and dive guide, Andrea Costanza of ProDive, to edge into the illumination of some of the stronger beams, completing the composition."

Argentina's Horacio Martinez was named Up & Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year, thanks to this shot, "Oceanic in the Sky," taken in the Red Sea. "There was a lot of competitive images in this category, as you would expect but this one was a serious contender right from the start," offered judge Peter Rowlands. "The photographer has 'seen' the light and realized its dramatic effect extremely well and used it to contrast the small shark in a big, blue, lonely world. Very evocative indeed."

Most Promising British Underwater Photograph for 2017 went to Nicholai Georgiou for "Orca Pod," a group of killer whales photographed off Tromso, Norway. The light had a really nice color from the setting sun as this graceful pod of Orca swam by nice and close. It was a moment which will be hard to top and I'm glad to have this image to share it," Georgiou said. "Most underwater photographers would be happy to get a shot of a single killer whale in its environment," said Rowlands, "but Nicholai had the composure not to panic and time the shot perfectly as a pod of killer whales passed by heading into the setting sun. I'm jealous."

Highly Commended in the wide angle category was "Prince of the waters," from France's Yannick Gouguenheim. The up-from-below shot of a common frog was taken in the Lamalou River. "When you have a low sun in the sky and the ability to shoot upwards through Snell's window, then all the topside influences begin to come together," said contest judge Martin Edge. "Trees, beams, blue sky etc. This image goes even further, with a precise placement within the frame of the silhouetted toad in the sunbeams. Excellent arrangement of all the elements."

"Nudi art," Commended in the Macro category, from Katherine Lu, celebrated the nudibranch. "I shot this photo in the local waters of Singapore where the visibility is 3 meters on average," Lu said of her creation. "Scuba divers I know are always surprised that I dive there and most don't even know there is great macro right off our shores. I wanted to do something different and turn a nudibranch commonly found in our waters into a piece of art. I have always been fascinated by bubbles and the inspiration for this photo came about when I was reading about aquatic plants that produce oxygen bubbles from photosynthesis. The images of the bubbles sticking to the green leaves had an abstract quality and hence came the idea to create 'Nudibranch Art.'"

Compact Camera category winner Jenny Stromvoll show "I've got my eye on you!" in Frekkie, Mozambique. "I have shot many whip gobies but this particular shot was taken with the Inon compact bug-eye lens which added a lot of character to the goby's eye," said Stromvoll. "The trick was to get close enough without the goby moving away. I was fortunate enough to find a very forgiving goby who allowed me into his private space. I knew I had to get down low and shoot up to include the surface of the water. I shot this scene many times before getting the image I was after."

Commended in the Portrait category was this long-snouted seahorse from the Gulf of Rijeka in the Northern Adriatic Sea. "I tried photographing this seahorse for several months because I wanted to do exactly this type of photography with double exposure made directly underwater without changing the lens and performing two consecutive shots," Moretti explained. "When at last I have found him I thought that this was the chance of a lifetime ... I consider [it] among the best I've done in my long career as an underwater photographer."

Canada's Qing Lin shot Behavior category winner "Your home and my home" in Lembeh Indonesia. "Clown anemone fish and anemones enjoy a symbiotic relationship. The parasitic isopods like to hang out in the mouths of anemone fish," said Lin. "Perhaps because of the isopods, clown anemone fish often open their mouths. These three particular fish were very curious. As I approached, they danced about the camera lens. It took me six dives, patience and luck to capture the exact moment when all three fish opened their mouths to reveal their guests. Finally, on the last day, on the last dive, I succeeded."
It's no secret that Earth has undergone numerous convulsive changes in its history, from mass extinctions and climatic changes to cataclysmic collisions and long-term periods of immense volcanic eruptions - or multiple combinations of the above. But it is also undeniably clear that human activities have caused massively accelerated change - to the extent that some scientists argue that the Holocene Epoch, which began 11,700 years ago following the end of the last great Ice Age, has now given way to a period that should be called the Anthropocene.

But how to measure definitively the degree to which this latter change is outpacing more natural ones? That's a question that occurred to Owen Gaffney, anthropocene analyst and communicator at the Stockholm Resilience Centre and Future Earth, and Will Steffen, an emeritus professor of the Australian National University and one of the earliest and strongest proponents of the Anthropocene designation.

"Over the last 10 years or so, various organizations have been measuring the scale of human impact on Earth and have come to the conclusion we've entered a period of great acceleration since the 1950s, when we can see a huge acceleration in socio-economic drivers: GDP, land use change, energy use, and so on," Gaffney told Seeker.

RELATED: Has the Anthropocene Epoch Arrived?

"As we discussed this in presentations or in the media, we would be saying things like, 'Humans now rival the great forces of Nature,' or more colloquially, 'We have the impact of an Ice Age' or 'We have the force of an asteroid hit,'" he continued. "I was thinking about this phrasing and thinking that, while that's all true, it's ambiguous and could be misinterpreted. So I wondered if it would be at all possible to formalize that in some way? I thought maybe one could formulate it in terms of an equation, and I thought the rate of change of the Earth system would be a good focus point."

Equations are generally a guaranteed way to make a lay audience's collective eyes cross or close. As Stephen Hawking wrote in the prologue to his seminal book "A Brief History of Time," "Someone told me that each equation I included in the book would halve the sales. I therefore resolved not to have any equations at all." But some equations do break through somewhat into public consciousness, even if many do not know what they main or can not recite their components - such as, for example, the one equation that Hawking ultimately did include: E = mc2.

There is probably a decent percentage of the population that is at least mildly familiar with the Drake equation, too. Presumably very few could write it out, but its name might elicit some recognition as might its function: essentially, to estimate the odds of finding intelligent life in the universe. It remains to be seen whether what Gaffney and Steffen have dubbed the Anthropocene Equation will achieve similar familiarity. But, writing in New Scientist, Gaffney argues that it "creates an unequivocal statement of the risks industrialized societies are taking at a time when action is vital."

This "unequivocal statement" is the rate at which humans are changing Earth's climate: 170 times greater than that of astronomical, geophysical and internal dynamics combined. Over the past 7,000 years, they conclude, global temperature until very recently declined at the rate of 0.01 degrees Celsius per century. Over the past 45 years, however, the rate of change has vaulted to an increase of 1.7 degrees Celsius - 170 times the baseline and in the opposite direction.

In other words, the rate of change of the Earth system over the last 40 to 50 years is "purely a function of industrialized societies."

RELATED: The Human Epoch: What We'll Leave Behind

The equation can be applied to other elements of Earth system change, such as, Gaffney told Seeker, "changes in ocean biogeochemistry, ocean acidification, biodiversity loss, changes to the nitrogen, phosphorous and water cycles as well as the carbon cycle. So we're looking at a much broader picture of what's happening in the Anthropocene."

Their selection of a 7,000-year baseline was informed by the fact that it was a period of notable climate stability and also because seven millennia ago marks the approximate emergence of the first human civilizations.

"We've had a remarkably stable period where temperatures globally haven't gone up or down by more than 1 degree C," Gaffney noted. "Without doubt, that stability enabled agriculture to become established." He has had some pushback from those who have noted the existence of climate perturbations during that period, in the form of, for example, "little ice ages where temperatures have dropped and the rate of change has gone up a bit. But temperatures didn't go outside this Holocene envelope, and now we're pushing beyond that envelope - and in other areas of the Earth system, such as carbon dioxide emissions and biodiversity loss, we're way, way beyond the Holocene envelope."

Some critics, Gaffney acknowledges, have described him and Steffen as alarmists.

"We're not alarmists, but what this shows is alarming," he counters. "The rate of change of Earth's life-support system is accelerating. That is not sustainable in the long term. And either that rate of change will drop to zero because societies in some way collapse because they can't cope with the rates of change in Earth systems, causing chaos in social systems, or we adapt and change behavior and learn to live within planetary boundaries."

WATCH: We're Not the Only Species to Cause a Mass Extinction
Deep ocean trenches - considered the most remote places in the world - have levels of toxic, industrial chemicals 50 times higher than a highly polluted river system in China, an analysis of tiny deep-sea animals has found.

The discovery, published in today's Nature Ecology and Evolution journal, highlights the pervasive nature of pollution and destroys the belief these deep-sea wildernesses are largely safe from human degradation.

It also shows a strong connection exists between surface and deep-sea waters and suggests a need for better management and monitoring of these unique environments.

The discovery was made by a team of researchers from Scotland who investigated two of the world's deepest marine trenches - the Mariana Trench in the west Pacific Ocean above Australia, and the Kermadec Trench near the north-eastern tip of New Zealand.

The trenches lie in what is known as the ocean's hadal zone, which extends from six to 11 kilometres below the surface.

To collect samples in each of these remote trenches, in 2014 the researchers used a deep-sea lander operated remotely from the surface and baited traps to collect tiny crustaceans.

Analysis of these marine animals found they were contaminated with mainly two forms of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) - polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl (PBDEs).

These two POPs - mostly human-made chemicals used mainly in industry or as pesticides - were present in all samples, across all species, at all depths in both trenches.

RELATED: How Does Plastic Get Into the Ocean?

Lead author Dr Alan Jamieson said the highest levels of PCBs recorded in crustaceans in the Mariana Trench were 50 times greater than that found in crabs from the Liaohe River system, one of the most polluted rivers in China.

The only site in the Northwest Pacific with PCB levels comparable to the Mariana Trench was Japan's Suruga Bay, a heavily industrialized area with high usage of organochlorine chemicals.

The analysis also showed PCB concentrations were higher in the Mariana Trench compared with the Kermadec Trench, said Dr Jamieson, a deep-ocean researcher who was based at the University of Aberdeen during the project.

It was likely this was related to Mariana's proximity to the industrialized Northwest Pacific region and the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, also known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

As the plastic rubbish in the gyre degraded it absorbed POPs, transporting the chemicals to the ocean floor as the rubbish sank and fragmented.

Dr Jamieson said it was also possible POPs were transported by ocean currents and through contaminated birds falling into the water and sinking to the ocean floor, where they were consumed by marine life.

In an accompanying opinion piece in Nature, University of NSW researcher Dr Katherine Dafforn said the finding was "quite concerning because these trenches are so removed from any kinds of industrial activity".

"The main method of control has been to regulate and eliminate but we know there is still huge amounts in our landfill and it has the potential to make it into the natural environment via soils and the ocean."

Dr Dafforn said the study was also significant because the hadal trenches had been regarded as pristine and "safe from human disturbance".

"We still know more about the surface of the Moon than that of the ocean floor," she said.

The discovery of pollution in these trenches highlighted the need to better understand the source of the pollution and its consequences on the food chain and marine ecology.

While this study raised many questions it provided clear evidence that far from being remote, the "deep ocean ... is highly connected to surface waters and has been exposed to significant concentrations of human-made pollutants."

Top Photo: Pollution levels in amphipods in the Mariana Trench were higher than in estuaries of polluted rivers in China. Credit: Wikimedia Commons: Daiju Azuma Article first appeared on ABC Science.

WATCH VIDEO: How Much Trash Is In The Ocean?
Forget roses, chocolates and candlelight dinners. On Valentine's Day, that's rather boring stuff - at least according to ancient Roman standards.

Imagine half-naked men running through the streets, whipping young women with bloodied thongs made from freshly cut goat skins. Although it might sound like some sort of perverted sadomasochistic ritual, this is what the Romans did until A.D. 496.

Mid-February was Lupercalia (Wolf Festival) time. Celebrated on Feb. 15 at the foot of the Palatine Hill beside the cave where, according to tradition, the she-wolf had suckled Romulus and Remus, the festival was essentially a purification and fertility rite.

Directed by the Luperci, or "brothers of the wolf," the festival began with the sacrifice of two male goats and a dog, their blood smeared on the faces of Luperci initiates and then wiped off with wool dipped in milk.

As thongs were cut from the sacrificed goats, the initiates would run around in the streets flagellating women to promote fertility.

RELATED: Just an Old Jurassic Love Song

Finally, in 496, Pope Gelasius I banned the wild feast and declared Feb. 14 as St. Valentine's Day.

But who was St. Valentine? Mystery surrounds the identity of the patron saint of lovers.

Indeed, such was the confusion that the Vatican dropped St. Valentine's Day from the Catholic Church calendar of saints in the 1960s.

There were at least three men by the name Valentine in the A.D. 200s, and all died horrible deaths.

One was a priest in the Roman Empire who helped persecuted Christians during the reign of Claudius II. As he was imprisoned, he restored the sight of a blind girl, who fell in love with him. He was beheaded on Feb. 14.

Another was the pious bishop of Terni, also tortured and beheaded during Claudius II's reign.

RELATED: Love Pipe Unearthed in Israel

A third Valentine secretly married couples, ignoring Claudius II's ban of marriage. When the priest of love was eventually arrested, legend has it that he fell deeply in love with his jailer's daughter.

Before his death by beating and decapitation, he signed a farewell note to her: "From your Valentine."

Apart from legend, the first connection between romance and Feb. 14 goes back to Geoffrey Chaucer (1340?-1400), the English poet and author of The Canterbury Tales.

In his poem "Parliament of Fowls" (1382), Chaucer suggested that St. Valentine's Day was the time when birds chose their mates.

"For this was Seynt Valentyne's Day. When every foul cometh ther to choose his mate," he wrote.

RELATED: The Science of 'I Love You'

Some 33 years later, Duke Charles of Orleans wrote what is considered the oldest known valentine in existence.

Imprisoned in the Tower of London after being captured by the English, in 1415 the French nobleman wrote his wife, Bonne d'Armagnac, a rhyming love letter, which is now part of the manuscript collection in the British Library in London.

The first two lines of the poem were:

"Je suis deja d'amour tanne. Ma tres douce Valentinee." (I am already sick with love, My very gentle Valentine).

It was an intense but unfortunate love: Bonne d'Armagnac may never have seen him again. She died before Charles' return to France in 1440.

WATCH: Is Love at First Sight a Real Thing?
A stellar romance is blossoming in a star system 370 light-years away, causing a star to make heartbeat-like pulses as its exoplanetary partner zooms close during its short orbit.

The discovery was made by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope that was monitoring very slight pulsations in star brightness. The star, called HAT-P-2, has a massive exoplanet - called a "hot Jupiter" - in orbit, which is around eight times the mass of Jupiter, and its orbit is causing the pulsations in the star's outer layers.

Although these pulsations have been spotted in binary stars in the past - so-called "heartbeat stars" - this is the first time a similar effect has been spotted between a star and planet.

"Just in time for Valentine's Day, we have discovered the first example of a planet that seems to be causing a heartbeat-like behavior in its host star," said Julien de Wit, postdoctoral associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge.

RELATED: Why Don't Super-Earths and Hot Jupiters Like Each Other?

The study of HAT-P-2 has been published today (Feb. 14) in Astrophysical Journal Letters.

Since 2007, astronomers have known that the star system possesses an exoplanet (called HAT-P-2b), but this is the first time that its impact on the star's brightness has been seen. The interesting thing is that HAT-P-2b is 100 times less massive than its host star, causing some surprise that its gravity can have such an impact on the star's outer layers.

"It's remarkable that this relatively small planet seems to affect the whole star in a way that we can see from far away," said planetary scientist Heather Knutson, of Caltech in Pasadena, Calif.

Hot Jupiters are a special class of exoplanet that orbit super-close to their stars. They are typically more massive than Jupiter, but complete an orbit in a matter of days, sometimes hours. In the case of HAT-P-2b, it completes an orbit once every 5.6 days and its orbit is extremely eccentric - it zooms close to its star and then swings back out again.

RELATED: Alien World Drives its Star Into Early Retirement

When making its close approach, the exoplanet gives the star a gravitational "kiss", creating the brightness pulse.

However, after analysis, astronomers are confused. The pulses - or "heartbeats" - are of a higher frequency than expected, revealing a gap in our knowledge of gravitational interactions between stars and orbiting hot-Jupiters.

"Our observations suggest that our understanding of planet-star interactions is incomplete," added de Wit. "There's more to learn from studying stars in systems like this one and listening for the stories they tell through their 'heartbeats.'"

WATCH VIDEO: Giant Exo-Uranus Discovered!
Students back free tuition in SUCs, call it way to better future

"We now have a chance to rise from poverty and have a better future".

Thus said Jen Mark Calub, an aviation communication student at the Philippine State College of Aeronautics (PhilSCA), as he welcomed the proposed free tuition in state colleges and universities (SUCs).

As a student regent, Calub is aware of the situation that financially challenged students undergo, especially when it comes to payment of tuition fee and other school charges.

"Every enrollment, students asking for more time to pay their tuition fee due to lack of financial capacity is a common sight in our school," said Calub.

"The most common reason is the meager salaries of their parents while other students have to work for their tuition fee," added Calub.

Calub said PhilSCA students are now optimistic about finishing their college degree through the help of Senate Bill No. 1304 or the "Free Higher Education for All Act", principally sponsored by Sen. Bam Aquino.

Currently being tackled in the plenary, the measure seeks to provide free tuition fee to all students in SUCs.

"When we learned about the measure, we now believe that there is still hope for those who want to continue with their education at PhilSCA," said Calub.

Tristen Jamon, supreme student council president at PhilSCA's Basa Palmayo Campus, echoed Calub's view, saying the measure will inspire students to finish their dream degree.

"Ito ang magbibigay sa amin ng pagkakataon upang makamit ang aming mga pangarap at magsisilbing motibasyon upang pagsikapan pang lalo ang aming pag-aaral," he said.

A student from the University of the Philippines-Diliman who requested anonymity, said the measure, if passed into law, will help Iskolars ng Bayan like him hurdle financial obstacles that hamper their studies.

Aside from Sen. Bam, other authors of the measure are Sens. Ralph Recto, Joel Villanueva, Sherwin Gatchalian, Francis Pangilinan, Sonny Angara, Loren Legarda, Leila de Lima, Cynthia Villar, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Richard Gordon.
Press Release

February 14, 2017 Hontiveros: Stop the victim-blaming, pass the anti-discrimination bill Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros called for a stop to the culture of victim blaming and gender discrimination during the second round of interpellations of the Anti-Discrimination Bill (ADB) on Monday. Answering questions from Senators Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao and Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, Hontiveros explained that the proposed bill seeks to protect a person's Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) from discrimination and harm. During the course of the interpellation, several such cases were discussed, among them the murder of Jennifer Laude, a 26-year-old Filipino transwoman Jennifer Laude, at the hands of United States Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton. When Pacquiao suggested that Pemberton was deceived by Laude into thinking she was straight, Hontiveros responded by saying that the victims should not be blamed for the heinous crime. "Siya na nga ang pinatay, siya pa ang may sala. This is unacceptable. Let us not resort to victim-blaming in an attempt to excuse crimes on the grounds of someone's sexual orientation or gender identity," Hontiveros said. Hontiveros explained that Pacquaio was actually using the "gay and trans panic defense", a homophobic and transphobic defense against charges of assault and murder. "This line of defense and logic has already been widely discredited. In fact in California, this so-called legal defense has been officially banned in murder trials, with the American Bar Association (ABA) strongly suggesting that other states should do the same," Hontiveros said. Questions were also raised about which restrooms were appropriate for members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgender (LGBT) community. Hontiveros said that transwomen can use female restrooms while transmen and gay men can use male restrooms. The lady senator also cited the practice of gender-neutral restrooms, particularly in places such as coffee shops and business process outsourcing firms. "We need to pass this law in order for people to be more gender sensitive and better understand the different dimensions of gender identity and sexual orientation. Hindi lahat ng bakla ay tinuturing ang kanilang mga sarili na babae o gustong mag-CR sa restroom ng babae," Hontiveros said. Hontiveros is the current chairperson of the Senate committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality.
Press Release

February 14, 2017 "CATCALLERS' DAYS ARE NUMBERED" ---HONTIVEROS PASAY CITY -Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros spent the Valentine's day by filing a bill that seeks to protect women and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) community from harassment in the streets and other public spaces. The proposed measure was filed in response to the growing number of gender-based harassment in public spaces such as the case of a female student from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) who was allegedly groped in a public utility vehicle by a fellow student. The school was accused of victim-shaming after it allegedly sided with the perpetrator. Hontiveros' Senate Bill No. 1326 otherwise known as the "Safe Streets and Public Spaces Act of 2017" seeks to penalize gender-based street and public spaces harassment such as catcalling, wolf-whistling, cursing, leering, groping, persistent request for name and contact details and the use of words tending to ridicule on the basis of actual or perceived sex, gender expression, or sexual orientation and identity including sexist, homophobic and transphobic slurs. According to Hontiveros, the bill seeks to complement the existing Anti-Sexual Harassment Law. "I filed the bill 23 years since the passage of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Law which is limited to the workplace and to superior-subordinate relationships", she said. Hontiveros explained that there are still no clear-cut laws that address gender-based street harassment, citing the lack of gender lens for homophobic, transphobic and gender-based unjust vexation in the Revised Penal Code. The senator also said that the bill responds to women's insecurity in public spaces. Citing government data, Hontiveros said that in Quezon City alone, 3 in 5 women have experienced street harassment. Meanwhile, the Social Weather Station (SWS) reported that 88% of women aged 18-24 years or almost 9 out of 10 experienced different forms of sexual harassment in the streets. The same SWS report rated men feeling more secure in their neighborhoods than women. It's harassment not a compliment Hontiveros said that her office has been receiving incident reports of street harassment from as young as elementary-level students. "It is deplorable that our women, young and adult, are subjected to this kind of abuse", Hontiveros said. "One may think it is a compliment to catcall, or to leer, but such unwanted comments, gestures and actions forced on a person in a public space is actually sexist and offensive," she added. The bill's penal provisions extends to severe violation that can merit arrest from one to six months and a fine of P/ 10,000.00. The bill grants authority to apprehend perpetrators to the Metro Manila Development Authority and the local units of the Philippine National Police. MMDA and the PNP can deputize their enforces into Anti-Sexual Harassment Enforcers or A-SHE. Hontiveros also reported that legislating for safe cities and spaces is not new and has been advocated by the United Nations. "The development of girls and our women do not happen in isolation. The entire community must work together for safe spaces in order to nurture an environment where everyone can develop their potential without fear and insecurity." According to the Senator, harassment in public spaces hinders the capacity of anyone from fully participating in education, work and in the society in general. "Harassment has adverse impacts on health and well-being. Safe spaces move our communities forward", Hontiveros said. Last year, President Rodrigo Duterte cat-called a woman reporter during a press conference. Duterte defended his action saying that catcalling or wolf-whistling in public is part of freedom of expression, denying claims that he disrespected the female reporter.
Michael Maloney/SFC

A pedestrian died after being struck by a car on Interstate 580 in Dublin early Tuesday, one of two pedestrian fatalities in the East Bay in a little over six hours, officials said.

The first death occurred just after 1 a.m., when a red Chevrolet Impala traveling west on the interstate near the Hacienda Drive on-ramp struck the pedestrian, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Potentially catastrophic problems with both the primary and emergency spillways at the Oroville Dam appear to have been caused by flaws that either had shown up in inspections or were flagged to state and federal officials going back more than a decade, an expert in infrastructure failures said Monday.

The cratering of the main spillway  which spiraled into the current crisis in Butte County  occurred in a spot where cracks and other defects had been found repeatedly since 2009, said Robert Bea, a professor emeritus and engineering expert at UC Berkeley.

But the defects do not appear to have been adequately repaired or resolved by the state Department of Water Resources, which runs the dam, and the faulty work probably resulted in the fissure that opened up last week on the 1,730-foot-long spillway, Bea said.

My God, we had evidence that there was trouble going back to 2008, 2009, said Bea, who at The Chronicles request reviewed 14 dam inspections from 2008 to 2016 conducted by the Division of Safety of Dams, which is part of the Department of Water Resources.

Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

Yes, they had detected the defects (in the main spillway) and yes, they had put into gear remedial measures, Bea said. Were those repairs sufficient? No. The result was a breach.

The cause of the fissure in the main spillway has not been identified. The Department of Water Resources, which runs the dam, has defended its management of the main spillway  saying it was inspected routinely  and its handling of the situation.

Bill Croyle, the agencys acting director, said Monday, This was a new, never-happened-before event.

The disintegration of a section of the main spillway forced the state on Saturday to use the dams emergency spillway, which sends water over a bare hillside and had not been used since the dams completion in 1968.

Within 24 hours, erosion was threatening to burrow through the hillside and cause the emergency spillway to fail, prompting the evacuation of more than 180,000 people from downstream communities.

Critics said the state should have avoided this predicament, but chose years ago not to improve the emergency spillway by lining it with concrete.

In 2005, three environmental groups  Friends of the River, the Sierra Club and the South Yuba River Citizens League  warned state and federal water regulators about the emergency spillway in a 31-page motion filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The dam was going through a periodic relicensing review by the commission.

The groups were concerned that use of the unpaved auxiliary spillway would cause extreme erosion, endanger fish and damage downstream structures, including a fish hatchery where millions of fish had to be rescued and moved last week.

But the more than two dozen state water contractors that receive supplies from Lake Oroville, including the mammoth Metropolitan Water District in Southern California, refused to pay the estimated $100 million cost of armoring the spillway, the environmental groups claimed.

The threatened failure was entirely predicted and warned about, and DWR refused to even do a study, said Deirdre Des Jardins, principal with California Water Research, which collaborates with environmental, fishing and local groups on water research projects. If Metropolitans headquarters were down from the dam, you can bet they would have agreed to pay.

Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

Jeff Kightlinger, Metropolitans general manager, denied the claim, saying the contractors had spent as much as $90 million to extend the dams federal license and believed paving the emergency spillway was a flood-control issue under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

In the end, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission dismissed the concerns about the emergency spillway, declaring in a 2006 memorandum that during a rare event with the emergency spillway flowing at its design capacity, spillway operations would not affect reservoir control or endanger the dam.

We took no position on whether it should be paved or not, Kightlinger said, and then FERC looked at it and said it was not an issue because it would rarely if ever be used.

As recently as 2014, the danger was spelled out in a flood management plan commission by the Department of Water Resources.

The unlined emergency spillway for Oroville Dam would likely suffer heavy damage in the event it must be used in a major flood event, the state report said.

Croyle said he could not comment on the complaints about the emergency spillway, because he was unfamiliar with them. Gov. Jerry Brown, asked at a news conference Monday about the decades-old warnings by environmental groups, said, Glad we found out about it.

The emergency spillway was briefly mentioned in the latest state inspection of the dam last August. The concrete weir or rim remains stable appearing and in good condition, inspectors noted, but they made no mention of the integrity of the hillside below.

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.

Another engineering expert who reviewed the Oroville Dams inspection records said he did not find anything negligent in the states management.

Art Schmidt, president of New York-based Underwater Consultants International Inc., said inspection records show that state and federal agencies were regularly testing and evaluating the dam, including addressing cracks and other potential problems.

I dont see anything grossly negligent here, by any means, said Schmidt, whose company has been conducting dam inspections for more than 20 years. Unfortunately, structures fail. But it looks like they were doing everything that normally should be done. They were inspecting on a regular basis and monitoring defects. Obviously, something failed before they thought it was going to.

Bea, who has analyzed disasters including the deadly 2010 pipeline explosion in San Bruno, said the first indication of trouble in the main spillway was in 2009, when defects in the base slabs, which form the concrete chute, were detected.

The situation got worse, and repairs were made in 2013, said Bea, who obtained photographs showing construction in the same spot as this months rupture. More repairs were made in that area in 2014 and then in 2015, he said, when cracks were detected in the spillway.

Bea said inspectors noticed trees growing on the right side of the spillway in their 2015 report. The inspectors recommended removing the trees, but the damage may have already occurred.

Those trees are there because they like water, and the question is, where are they getting the water from? Bea said. The answer is that weve got seepage in that spillway.

Inspectors noted in the two latest inspection reports, in 2015 and 2016, that they did not walk the main spillway, but instead viewed it from a distance  and found no problems.

In response to the crisis, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Monday ordered the Department of Water Resources to perform a forensic analysis aimed at determining the cause of the chute failure.

Peter Fimrite, Cynthia Dizikes and Joaquin Palomino are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com, cdizikes@sfchronicle.com, jpalomino@sfchronicle.com
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At least three major Bay Area cities have guidelines to address dangers posed by unsanctioned and unsafe properties when police officers or other city employees stumble upon them.

Their practices are unlike those in Oakland, which has no apparent policy in place for officers or firefighters to notify code enforcement inspectors when they come across structures like the illegally converted Ghost Ship warehouse that burned Dec. 2, trapping and killing 36 people.

Questions arose last week when the city released a trove of documents showing that police were repeatedly called to the ramshackle building for complaints of raves, fights and drugs in the years before the deadly music party. Information on the hazards inside  no sprinklers, no alarms, tangles of electrical wires, a single and perilous exit pathway  was never sent up the chain of command to the people who could have shut down the operation.

Mayor Libby Schaafs spokeswoman, Erica Terry Derryck, said last week that officers are not trained to be building inspectors.

Mason Trinca/Special to The Chronicle

Their job is to serve and protect, and in the instances where officers visited the warehouse ... they were on-site to deal with specifically ... potentially dangerous activities, Derryck said.

The Chronicle checked with three Bay Area cities  San Francisco, San Jose and Richmond  to see what their practices were and found that they all have systems in place to ensure that police officers notify the proper authorities when they encounter hovels with dangerous conditions. And their procedures were in place long before the fire.

Id much rather have somebody question why were taking this kind of action if it saves their life, said Tim Higares, director of Richmonds Department of Infrastructure Maintenance and Operations. Ive seen a garage divided into six partitions with no egress. Were just not going to tolerate that.

Policing expert Tony Ribera, director of the International Institute of Criminal Justice Leadership at the University of San Francisco, said that in common practice there should be no instance in which a police officer sees dangerous living conditions and doesnt report them to building code officials.

What we frequently hear as a rationale for not doing anything in an instance like that is that, We were busy, said Ribera, a former San Francisco police chief. But to me thats an indication of poor time management. I dont accept that.

In Richmond, each police beat has an assigned code enforcer who gets to know the officers in the district, Higares said. New officers get a two-hour orientation on how to spot code violations and report them correctly, and veteran officers also get periodic trainings.

After the Ghost Ship burned, Richmond code enforcers promptly red-tagged a makeshift punk venue called Burnt Ramen, saying it lacked proper permits and was home to numerous safety violations that required immediate attention. Shutting down the venue was atypical but necessary, Higares said.

Theres this narrative going around that enforcement agencies are out to put people out, he said. We dont operate that way, unless we see a dire health and safety issue where someone is in danger.

The two largest cities in the Bay Area have interdepartmental procedures that align closely with those of Richmond.

Mason Trinca/Special to The Chronicle

In San Francisco, each of the citys 10 district police stations has a uniformed police officer designated as a permit officer who handles complaints about hazards in buildings, whether they come from the public, another officer, a firefighter or anyone else.

If an officer responds to a call and sees a potentially dangerous or illegal situation, the practice is that he or she absolutely refers it to a permit officer, said San Francisco police spokesman Officer Robert Rueca.

For serious complaints, the permit officer leads a task force inspection of the property, and we invite every department to come along, whether its the Fire Department, Health Department, plumbing specialists, whatever, said Rueca. At that point, its not necessarily a police matter, but were involved to make sure the inspections are done safely, especially if parties are not cooperative.

If a tenant or property owner refuses to give permission to inspect the property, the city attorney gets a court order to force the issue.

There are a lot of categories of what we inspect, and we always look at it from a multiple city agency point of view, Rueca said. Sometimes its a fire hazard, a building code violation or hoarding. We run into electrical issues that can cause fire, or abandoned houses not being properly cared for that can pose a danger with vermin or wild animals.

Rueca said permit officers respond to dozens of calls a year.

San Jose has a similar practice, said Cheryl Wessling, spokeswoman for the city Department of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement.

Our code enforcement staff and police and fire work closely together, she said. Like most big cities, code enforcement in San Jose is complaint-driven, because we dont have enough staff to proactively go out and find violations. However, we do have some programs where we go out and proactively inspect.

This includes units in multifamily buildings  depending on the history of violations in the building  that may get inspected on a one-to-five-year basis, and we proactively inspect retail sales of tobacco, marijuana, and off-sale alcohol.

She said the city fire marshals staff visits some types of properties on an annual basis. San Jose has 49 code enforcement inspectors with 12 vacancies, and many are assigned to special programs so they are not able to proactively inspect throughout the city.

Right after the Ghost Ship fire happened, we did go out and look at one warehouse that could potentially have a problem of artists living there, Wessling said. But fortunately we didnt observe any problems.

San Jose has 219 warehouses, but Wessling said they have a very low vacancy rate.

In Oakland, Councilman Noel Gallo said the Ghost Ship exemplifies the lack of cooperation from department to department and fuels a perception that city employees are disengaged from the community.

No one spoke up. No one did anything about it, and that was a total disregard for public safety, said Mary Alexander, a lawyer representing more than half a dozen families whose children died in the fire.

Schaaf said the city will eventually consider changing the way city employees communicate dangerous conditions with one another. The priority now is to address imminent risks in 18 buildings in the city that the mayor said inspectors identified as having unsanctioned and unsafe live-work conditions.

Before we adopt a new policy or training for our already-stretched city employees, were thinking about unintended consequences, she said. We want to make sure people arent chilled to call 911, especially in sensitive crimes like domestic violence.

Ribera, the policing expert, finds unacceptable any notion that officials should turn a blind eye to substandard living conditions because enforcing code strictures could lead to evictions or homelessness.

We are a country of laws, and if they are unreasonable or discriminate against poor people, change the laws, he said. I do understand the sensitivity of the housing situation. But its not a matter of not being compassionate.

Its all well and good to say these are poor people who need our compassion, but they also deserve our protection, too, he said. That way you dont have dangerous living conditions that wind up killing people in a fire.

Sgt. Barry Donelan, president of the Oakland Police Officers Association, said officers in the city are stretched thin, dealing with more crime per officer than any other major city in the country. Still, he added, if Oakland wants its officers to take on a new reporting duty, they would.

If you want to add more onto our plate, OK, he said. These officers work harder pound for pound than any officer in America. But lets understand the environment. You have a staggeringly understaffed department. Were still hundreds of officers below where we should be just to deal with crime.

Kimberly Veklerov and Kevin Fagan are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com, kfagan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KVeklerov, @KevinChron
Dam operators at Lake Oroville averted disaster this weekend, but theyre not in the clear  not even close.

State water officials said Monday theyre working on plans to repair two release channels that have been compromised at the swollen reservoir, forcing evacuation orders for 188,000 people out of fear that a wall of water could inundate their communities. The fixes, however, wont come quickly or easily.

Even if storms forecast for later this week dont fill the reservoir 75 miles north of Sacramento, putting more pressure on the defective release routes, at least two months remain in the wet season. High lake levels are likely to again test the reservoirs capacity to hold and discharge water.

The state is going to be on pins and needles for a long time, said Mike Dettinger, a hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey and a researcher at UC San Diegos Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Were all breathing a sigh of relief now, but were still saying, Oh, my gosh, theres a lot more water to come regardless of how this next storm proceeds.

Although the state Department of Water Resources has yet to detail its repair strategy, officials were studying both Lake Orovilles main concrete spillway, which cracked last Tuesday, and the emergency spillway, an open hillside that began to erode when the channel was activated Saturday for the first time since construction on the Oroville Dam was completed in 1968.

Bill Croyle, acting director of the Department of Water Resources, said only that good progress was being made. He did not offer a timeline for repairs and said the current plan was simply to use the main spillway, despite its 200-foot-long hole, to release as much water as was safe, so the lake could accommodate more winter inflows.

State officials have said a long-term fix to the spillway, which probably cant be done until after the rainy season, could cost $200 million. Theyre also considering building a new release channel elsewhere on the lake.

Croyle did not elaborate on the state of the emergency spillway, which sits just north of the main spillway. In the short term, the states plan is to drop bags of boulders onto the deteriorated hillside in hopes of anchoring the slipping soil. Officials hope to avoid having to resort to using the emergency spillway again.

Jay Lund, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at UC Davis and one of Californias foremost water experts, said the state doesnt have any good options.

The best dam managers can do, he said, is to continue emptying the lake as quickly as possible through the damaged main spillway  while hoping the reservoir doesnt swell too much with coming storms.

I think its a real concern whether the gated (main) spillway is going to lose capacity. But they dont have any other choice, Lund said. When youre operating with a damaged spillway and you dont have your emergency spillway (working), youre going to have some white-knuckle moments.

Lund said there was no obvious short-term fix for the discharge channels; neither can be taken off line for significant repairs, because theyre likely to be needed when the Sierra snowpack starts melting in the spring.

Roger Bales, a professor of engineering at UC Merceds Sierra Nevada Research Institute, said hes not sure how the reservoir is going to handle more water when the glut of snowmelt arrives, or even when the next big storm hits.

He noted that even as theyre frantically trying to draw down Lake Oroville, officials are limited to releasing 100,000 cubic feet of water per second, about two-thirds the level that an intact main spillway could handle.

If theyre only going to run at 100,000 cubic feet per second, they can get enough capacity for a moderate storm, but not a big one, Bales said. We can get big storm events until April.

This weeks forecast calls for rain and snow in the mountains near Lake Oroville beginning Thursday. State officials hope to reduce the reservoir level by 43 feet before then, to 851 feet above sea level, which they believe would create enough room for the lake to take in runoff this weekend without having to resort to extraordinary discharge tactics.

Maintaining manageable capacity in the reservoir going forward, officials acknowledge, will be largely up to the weather.

When or how long this is going to take, said Croyle, depends on the dynamics within the watershed.

Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander
Amazon is coming to the Bay Area.

The online giant that got its start in books  and has in the past two years opened three brick-and-mortar stores on the West Coast  is opening a store in Walnut Creek.

The store will be at Broadway Plaza, an open-air shopping center, a spokeswoman for Amazon said.

Amazon would not say when the store will open or how big it will be, adding that the company is now hiring store managers and associates.

The opening of an Amazon store in the Bay Area  a hub of independent bookstores  seemed inevitable, as there are stores in Seattle, Portland and San Diego. The company says others will open soon in Chicago, Greater Boston (two locations), New Jersey and New York City.

Calvin Crosby, executive director of the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association, said he is confident that stores will be able to weather Amazons venture into the region.

The virtue of our stores is their abilities to adapt, to continue to create a place where ideas and information can exchange in a safe and supportive environment, he said in an email. Northern California indie bookstores have shown that they are dynamic enough to sustain and thrive despite a fixed profit margin and increasingly high rents and the ever-increasing payroll expenses.

Walnut Creek, with a population of roughly 64,000 inhabitants, has only one independent bookstore, Swans Fine Books, which opened in 2013. A Barnes & Noble bookstore closed in Walnut Creek in 2015, and the city was once also home to a Pegasus Books store (it moved to Berkeley in 1996) and Books Inc. and Crown Books shops.

Swans Fine Books sells collectible books, from Californiana to rare books in many genres, and thus wont likely compete with Amazon. As Amazon states on its website, the companys bookstores select books based on Amazon.com customer ratings, pre-orders, sales, popularity on Goodreads, and our curators assessments. ... Under each book is a review card with the Amazon.com customer rating and a review. Most have been rated 4 stars or above and many are award winners.

Laurelle Swan, owner of Swans Fine Books, said in an email that she was not entirely surprised by Amazons arrival, as there is definitely a need in Walnut Creek for a place to buy new books.

She added, I was sorry that an independent bookstore had not opened to fill that need, but running an independent shop is very difficult in an area with high rents  which is why my shop is off the beaten track, around the side of our building.

Ultimately, Swan said, I do hope the community continues to support the independent bookstores in the general area, such as Rakestraw Books in Danville and Berkshire Books in Concord.

Owners of independent bookstores do this because we love books and we love people who love books. We are willing to make an income that is next to nothing in order to serve our communities. Amazon has size and resources, but they will never hold the heart of their communities in their hands as we do.

John McMurtrie is The San Francisco Chronicles book editor. Email: jmcmurtrie@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @McMurtrieSF
Dustin Schneemann, 17, was driving his younger brother and a nephew in June 2011 when he picked up his phone to text.

He lost control of his vehicle, went through the road sign then a fence and finally came to rest, his mother Leona Schneemann of Forsyth said Tuesday. A few days after his accident, we received his cellphone. Three letters ended my sons life: lol.

The passengers lived. During testimony Tuesday, Schneemann urged the House Judiciary Committee to pass House Bill 380. The measure to ban texting while driving also was supported by doctors, pediatricians, auto manufacturers, AAA, AT&T, commercial truck drivers, the Montana Highway Patrol and the Montana Department of Transportation. No one spoke in opposition to the bill.

Driving is serious business. There is no room for error. It requires our full attention, MDT Director Mike Tooley said, noting there were about 7,000 crashes in Montana in 2015 that were the result of distracted driving, including 80 deaths and about 200 linked to cellphone use.

Highway Patrol Lt. Col. Jason Hildenstab suspected hundreds or thousands more of those crashes involved texting because he said drivers will rarely admit what distracted them when they wrecked and subpoenas to prove cellphone use are only sought if a death or serious injury resulted.

Nationwide, the number of traffic deaths rose 7 percent between 2014 and 2015, according to the latest federal figures. It is the largest single-year increase in decades and one many experts link to an 8.8 percent increase in distracted driving incidents over the same period.

Rep. Virginia Court, D-Billings, said her bill would be a first step toward reducing the number of crashes and deaths. She carried a similar bill last session that was more expansive, broadly banning handheld cellphone use rather than just texting. It passed the House but died by one vote in the Senate, with a colleague later telling her his no vote was a mistake.

A week after I got home from session in 2015, I picked up this article out of the Billings Gazette: Texting driver crashes into Laurel police vehicle,' she said, holding up a copy as she read. The texting driver crashed head on into a Laurel police car after going across two lanes of traffic and jumping two curbs.

She described texting as being more dangerous than other forms of distracted driving, such as eating or making a phone call, because not only are you not paying full attention, but at least one hand is taken off the wheel and the drivers eyes are removed from the road. The use of voice-activated assistants, such as Siri, or other hand free tools to send texts would not be banned under the proposal.

We love our freedoms we have in this state, she said. But does that freedom put others at risk?

It is unclear whether the bill will advance out of committee this year. Statewide cellphone bans, partial or targeted, have failed to reach the governors desk every session since at least 2001.

Last month, the House Judiciary voted 10-9 to approve a bill that would have gone a step in the opposite direction and overturned the cellphone bans created by several Montana cities. That measure later died in the House.
WASHINGTON  Gov. Jerry Brown asked the Trump administration for a federal disaster declaration for the emergency at Oroville Dam on Monday evening, citing the impending arrival of more storms and the potential need to resort again to the dams emergency spillway, which has been severely eroded.

The incident is of such severity and magnitude that continued effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and affected local governments, Brown said in asking for direct federal assistance for 10,000 evacuated residents of Butte, Sutter and Yuba counties who he said require assistance.

Brown held out the prospect in his letter that the state would ask for further assistance once investigators determine the extent of the damage.

Evan Vucci/Associated Press

Presidential disaster declarations trigger federal financial and other aid. President Trump, only in office for three weeks, has already approved seven disaster declarations in other states, all for severe storms, and is working on a previous disaster declaration, received from Brown late Friday evening, for storms that slammed California last month, officials said earlier Monday.

Meanwhile, Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a Butte County Republican who lives just below the dam, said hes been in touch with White House officials and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Bakersfield Republican who is close to Trump.

Weve got a pretty big problem here, LaMalfa said. The White House is aware of the situation, and theyll assess what they need to do, he added.

Ahsha Tribble, acting regional administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agencys region nine West Coast office, said the agency, known as FEMA, is processing the states request for a federal emergency declaration from storms that hit California from Jan. 3 to 12, pegging the federal aid request at $162 million. We expect to continue to move that over the next day, she said.

On Monday, California Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris, both Democrats, wrote a joint letter to Trump asking for quick approval of the governors disaster aid request.

Formal presidential disaster declarations occur routinely in response to requests from governors. The requests are usually made after the immediate emergency has passed, FEMA officials said.

Tribble said, the agency has planning- and technical-assistance teams in the state to respond to Oroville, and local officials at Chico airport, where an emergency shelter for evacuees from the town and surrounding areas threatened by potential catastrophic flooding has been set up.

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.

The agency expects to provide blankets, cots and water for evacuees and is currently working with the state and the Department of Defense to find additional locations for temporary shelters.

The cost of repairing the spillway is anybodys guess, LaMalfa said, adding that in his view initial estimates of $100 million could easily triple.

Repairs cant be started until the area dries out in late spring, and will have to be finished before the next rainy season begins in the fall, potentially requiring heavy overtime costs. I expect its not going to be cheap, LaMalfa said, adding he expects significant federal assistance in the repairs. The federal Army Corps of Engineers paid 20 percent of the dams initial cost and has responsibility for flood control, he said.

LaMalfa said he expects Congress to hold hearings on the spillway failure once the emergency has passed, and ensure that there are no permitting or funding delays.

Carolyn Lochhead is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: clochhead@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @carolynlochhead
Sheriff Vicki Hennessy stood against the cold marble wall outside her office on the fourth floor of City Hall, as a crowd of protesters hurled loud insults at her. It was late afternoon on Friday and City Hall was winding down its business for the week, with only a stream of Chinese tourists and a couple of wedding parties wandering the halls. But when word spread that Hennessy, acting on the eviction orders of Superior Court Judge A. James Robertson II, had locked out 100-year-old Iris Canada from the Fillmore district apartment she had occupied for over a half century, angry housing activists quickly descended on the sheriffs office.

Shame, shame, shame! the protesters screamed directly at Hennessys face, as she stood against the wall.

It was a very difficult decision, Hennessy told the demonstrators, trying to make her voice clear above the din.

Ohhh, we feel so sorry for you! they yelled back derisively.

Will you let her back into her apartment to get her medication? shouted someone.

Thats not up to me  its up to the apartment owners, she replied.

If Iris dies, its on you!

Vicki Hennessy is a solidly built woman, who at age 63 has spent a long career in law enforcement. She stood like granite as the abuse echoed off the walls, but her eyes looked like she was on the verge of crying.

I was between a rock and a hard place, she explained to the crowd. If she hadnt acted on the judges order, she wouldve eventually been held in contempt of court.

But the order gave her until April 12 to act. And as former Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi told me, he often used his discretion to slow down the eviction process until a more humane outcome could be achieved. Why did Hennessy act so quickly and without notice while Canada was out of the apartment? Because, she admitted, she was trying to avoid a raucous protest at the Page Street apartment building. Evicting Canada under those circumstances couldve been too much for her, Hennessy said.

Youve just made history during Black History Month by evicting a woman who is San Francisco black history! shouted Lisa Tiny Gray-Garcia, a writer-activist.

After weathering the storm for about a half-hour, Hennessy withdrew to her office with me following closely behind, as the boisterous chanting continued outside her door. The sheriff looked shell-shocked as she settled in behind her big desk. Ive lost sleep over this, she told me.

Will she take a political hit? Probably. Its never good to evict a 100-year-old woman. But I determined in my mind that she was not sleeping there  her family is taking care of her.

That was the conclusion also reached by Robertson, though Canadas family hotly insists the Page Street apartment is her primary residence.

Look, Hennessy said. What did you call it in your column the other day? Its bad karma. In my mind, this shouldve all been worked out in court. Im not supposed to get personally involved. But its hard not to be. Ill probably cry about this at some point. But I had no other recourse.

Would she ever refuse to carry out an order that she found ethically objectionable? It would depend on what it was, she said. I dont believe this rose to that level.

With her department enforcing about 30 evictions a week, Hennessy feels like shes in the savage center of the citys housing crisis.

Where was Mayor Ed Lee as the Iris Canada eviction story became a national headline? I talked to the mayors people a while ago about this, but not to him personally, said Hennessy.

You at least have to give Hennessy credit for standing there, said Tim Redmond of the 48 Hills news blog. If people were screaming outside Lees door, he wouldve been cowering under his desk.

None of the parties involved in this ugly dispute feels pleased by the process. Peter Owens and his wife, Carolyn Radisch, who own the Page Street apartment with Owens brother Stephen, believe that Canadas family dragged out the costly legal battle and turned it into a media spectacle in order to blackmail the Owens family into selling them the property at a deep discount (in Radischs words).

Thats absolutely ludicrous, responded Iris Merriouns, Canadas grandniece and guardian. She, in turn, believes that Owens cant be trusted and that the condominium conversion papers that he insisted the elderly woman sign as a condition for holding onto the apartment were fraudulent.

Theres a movie where Alec Baldwin says something like white people just dont see black people. Thats Peter, said Merriouns. Its not complicated  this is all about greed.

I completely reject the insinuation that it was a race issue, countered Owens.

Whatever the murky truths behind this eviction case, there is one fact that is starkly clear. San Francisco has long been guilty of emptying its black population. On Sunday night, I happened to watch a 1963 documentary called Take This Hammer on KQED, in which James Baldwin talked to young African Americans on street corners who angrily observed that the citys redevelopment (or Negro removal) policies were disappearing their community.

Now that Iris Canada has joined the thousands of other African Americans whove been banished from the city, the mayor can put up a statue in honor of the centenarian. Maybe it can be erected in Justin Herman Plaza, named in celebration of the redevelopment czar who evacuated San Franciscos black population in the 1960s.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist David Talbot appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Email: dtalbot@sfchronicle.com
Two of the most disturbing aspects of Donald Trumps fledgling and flailing presidency have been its propensity for falsehoods and its seemingly cozy relationship with Russia at a time when it is alienating valued allies.

National security adviser Michael Flynn embodied both of those problems. His resignation Monday night spared the Trump administration a fast-evolving crisis of confidence and propriety, but if left many questions unsettled.
There are no secret Valentines anymore. Any Valentines that you buy and send will be tracked, traced back to you, and preserved for future review. The road to love will be paved with finely targeted advertising.

(Do some kids still make and hand out Valentines cards by hand? Surely some enterprising soul has already thought to buy some, describe them as hand-crafted and one-of-a-kind, offer them on Etsy, and put them up on Pinterest.)

Is your heart full? If not, its an underutilized resource. Join the sharing economy! On Valentines Day, a new service, HeartBrB, will bring together those with affection to spare and those who just need some short-term.

A new wearable, Love, Actually, will measure your responses to individuals around you and (since it knows you better than you know yourself) tell you when youre in love. An optional neural implant add-on has been considered, but that might allow your own thoughts to taint the assessment.

On Valentines Day, Tinder will temporarily re-brand itself as Tender and send automated compliments every time a user swipes left.

Having done a lot of data crunching and analysis about its users attitudes toward love, OkCupid will have determined that there is a subgroup of people who are, in fact, in love with data. A new dating service now allows them to meet others like themselves and, if they so choose, combine their data sets.

Another new service, Amazon Twerk, will allow for micropayments for individual dances ...

Its almost too easy to make fun of Silicon Valley. It tends to parody itself.

Here is my real Valentine to Silicon Valley.

This is my Valentine to the Indian American married to the Pakistani American, the Peruvian American married to the Iranian American, and the German American married to the child of Chinese immigrants  all of whom live and love in Silicon Valley, building a different kind of Valley of Hearths Delight. This is my Valentine to the Silicon Valley technologists who are mobilizing in support of refugees and many other causes they care about.

This is my Valentine to the teachers and student tutors involved in AVID programs in the valley, who recognize that the fulfillment of the American Dream has always required help and/or luck  and are actively providing the former. My Valentine to Silicon Valley doctors who save patients and cure diseases, and nurses who help people in the most high-tech and low-tech of ways. To the workers who build the housing that cant be built fast enough. To the police and artists who do their part for the good life in Silicon Valley. To the junior colleges and universities in the valley, which educate students from around the world and crank out research by scholars from around the world. To the road workers who clear mudslides during this improbably wet winter. To the volunteers who show up for beach cleanups. To the lawyers and cooks and librarians and all the others who do the work that gets lost in Silicon Valley stereotypes.

Youd be surprised how many Silicon Valley folks never talk about disruption or monetization or sweat equity.

What might look like a coastal elite bubble or a tech bubble from afar looks quite different close up. Sure, Silicon Valley has much to be criticized for  see above. But it also has much to love.

Irina Raicu is the director of the Internet Ethics program at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Santa Clara University. The views are her own.
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Today, the Oroville Dam is the site of a disaster, but 50 years ago, its construction was a cornerstone of the California Water Plan.

Construction of the dam kicked off amid flashbulbs when then-Gov. Edmund G. Brown pushed the plunger, triggering the initial dynamite blast. The states leader and father to current Gov. Jerry Brown called it monumental in its effect on our future, one of the key projects of Californias long-range water program.

The plans called for much of the water to flow to Southern California. Amid bitter battles over water, Brown said then: It means we have ended for good a conflict that has made California a house divided for more than 10 years.

The $123 million Oroville Dam project was finished Oct. 6, 1967, when the last truckload of 81 million cubic yards of dirt was dumped on the 770-foot-high dam after more than five years of construction. At 770 feet, it surpassed the Hoover Dam along the Nevada-Arizona border by 44 feet. It remains the tallest dam in the country.

Five decades later, the promise of the dam has given way to a crisis that has forced the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people because of spillway damage and fears of a total emergency spillway collapse.

In the 1960s, however, hopes were high in Oroville.

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.

At the dams dedication, Brown declared, It means we have taken the first steps to relieve Northern California from loss and destruction by rampaging floods, and we have removed the threat (in the south) of farms returning to desert, and cities deserted by people because there was just no water.

Bill Van Niekerken is the library director of The San Francisco Chronicle, where he has worked since 1985. In his weekly column, From the Archive, he explores the depths of The Chronicles vast photography archive in search of interesting historical tales related to the city by the bay.
Telephone town hall: First of two to be hosted by Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, at 6:45 p.m. Constituents can sign up to participate through https://vekeo.com/repannaeshoo.

Thursday

Telephone town hall: Second of two to be hosted by Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, at 6:45 p.m. Constituents can sign up to participate through

https://vekeo.com/repannaeshoo.

Friday

Anti-Trump rally and march: Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco at 5 p.m., organized by Answer Coalition.

Sunday

Internment day of remembrance: San Joses day of remembrance marking the 75th anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which resulted in the incarceration of Japanese Americans in internment camps in World War II. San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, 640 N. Fifth St., 5:30 p.m.

Feb. 26

New women activist brunch: Meet and greet for women and members of womens organizations working to elect progressive, pro-abortion rights women to office. Hosted by Democratic Activists for Women Now, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 2302 Zanker Road in San Jose.

 To list an event, email Sarah Ravani at sravani@sfchronicle.com
BOZEMAN  Police in Bozeman say a woman was found dead after a fire in a multi-unit residence in the southern part of the city, east of the Montana State University campus.

Detective Sgt. Joseph Swanson says the fire was reported just after 4 p.m. Monday.

Firefighters extinguished the fire and during a search found a 74-year-old woman unresponsive. Efforts to resuscitate her were unsuccessful.

The Gallatin County coroner's office tells the Bozeman Daily Chronicle that Sheryl Anne Mooney died of carbon monoxide poisoning due to soot and smoke inhalation.

Deputy Fire Chief Trisha Wolford says the damage was contained to Mooney's residence. None of the adjoining properties were damaged.

The fire is being investigated by the city police and fire departments.
Most drivers dont expect to be hit with a rate hike on their auto insurance after a car accident that wasnt their fault. But a consumer group says it happens, and its a problem.

The Consumer Federation of America says it found rate hikes on annual premiums as high as $400, in some cases.

In the report released Monday, the group analyzed premium quotes in 10 cities, including New York and Chicago, from five of the nations largest auto insurers. The researchers found that Progressive aggressively used a not-at-fault penalty, surcharging drivers in eight of the 10 selected cities. Rates in Oklahoma City and Los Angeles did not change. Oklahoma and California prohibit not-at-fault penalties.

The group said Geico and Farmers raised rates in some states by 10 percent or more. Allstate had occasional penalties. State Farm was the exception, with no increases on premiums for not-at-fault accidents.

Most people know that if they cause an accident or get a ticket they could face a premium increase, but they dont expect to be punished if a reckless driver careens into them, said Bob Hunter, the federations director of insurance and the former insurance commissioner of Texas.

In response, the Insurance Information Institute said the underwriting of a new auto insurance policy requires the collection of much more information beyond what the association gathered from the auto insurers websites.

Loretta Worters, vice president of communications at the industry trade group, says it also is rarely clear-cut as to who the at-fault party is after a collision. But she said one reason rates may rise for the not-at-fault driver is subrogation  when an insurer, after paying a loss, seeks to recover money from the at-fault drivers insurer.

Telecom

Verizon adds

unlimited data

Verizon, in a major reversal, has joined other carriers in offering an unlimited data plan.

As recently as January, Verizons chief financial officer said unlimited plans were not something we feel the need to do even though rivals had made inroads against Verizon by offering them. Verizon stopped offering such plans to new customers in 2012 and has been trying to push longtime customers off those old plans through rate hikes.

The arrival of the iPhone and other smartphones made unlimited plans more of a rarity as carriers saw opportunities to make money by charging customers based on how much data they use.

But Sprint and T-Mobile recognized in unlimited data an opportunity to snare customers from heavyweights Verizon and AT&T. Because carriers must poach each others customers to grow, the competition has intensified.

AT&T also started offering unlimited plans after discontinuing them, but they are available only to customers who also subscribe to DirecTV, which AT&T owns. Its prices are similar to Verizons for a family; Verizon is cheaper for an individual.

Verizons new unlimited plan replaces several higher-data plans and starts at $80 for one person, not counting fees and taxes. (Existing customers can keep their plans.)

For a family of four, unlimited costs $180 at Verizon. To compare, Sprint just launched a new promotion for new customers that costs $90 a month for four lines, and T-Mobile, which includes taxes and fees in its total price, is $160. AT&T costs $180 for four but also requires a TV subscription.

Verizon is trying to differentiate itself by letting customers watch high-definition video with the unlimited plan, while competitors run streaming video at DVD-level quality.

T-Mobile responded Monday by saying that it would include HD video as well starting on Friday. Before, customers had to pay extra for HD streaming.

Restaurants

Hooters

hears a Hoot

Hooters is hoping people really do like it for its food.

Hooters Management Corp., a licensee of Hooters of America, says it opened a restaurant Monday that doesnt feature waitresses in tight tops. It says the Hoots restaurant near Chicago has people order at the counter rather than at tables, from male and female employees. Neil Kiefer, CEO of Hooters Management Corp., says the restaurant in Cicero is a test and will serve only about a dozen menu items, including chicken wings.

The move comes as the restaurant industry faces flat customer traffic, though fast-food places are expected to steal business from sit-down chains, according to the NPD Group.

Chronicle News Services
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Number of the day

$33

Thats the price Technology Review editor Jason Pontin said he paid for two cappuccinos at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, with this theory on why: Because theyre made by genetically engineered dwarves in suits of golden armor and management is passing on the cost to the consumer.

Sweet deal

Starbucks is testing ice cream in 10 locations across the U.S. this week, Business Insider reported. The coffee-and-ice cream concoctions will range in price from $6 for a Classic Affogato  espresso poured over a scoop of ice cream  to the $8.50 Cold Brew Malt. Its part of the coffee chains push to offer fancier fare at its Reserve locations.

Hashtag this

#NakedIsNormal

Naked women are back in Playboy magazine, ending a year-old ban on the nudity that made the magazine famous. #NakedIsNormal marked Twitter and Facebook posts celebrating the release of Playboys March-April issue. The magazine had banished naked women from its print edition because it felt the content had become passe in the era of easily accessible online porn. But Cooper Hefner, Playboys chief creative officer and the son of magazine founder Hugh Hefner, called the nudity ban a mistake in a tweet.

Compiled from San Francisco Chronicle staff and news services. See more items and links at sfgate.com. Twitter: @techchronicle
Lawyers for a former Oracle America saleswoman accused the Silicon Valley technology giant Tuesday of cheating employees out of millions of dollars by retroactively cutting their sales commission rates, and then deducting the difference from their paychecks, in order to boost company profits.

Oracle has systematically stiffed its salesforce of earned commission wages for many years, attorneys said in a proposed class-action lawsuit filed in San Francisco federal court. The suit seeks over $150 million in damages for more than 1,000 past and present employees over a four-year period.

The lead plaintiff, Marcella Johnson, said she started working at Oracles Redwood City headquarters in March 2013, selling software for managing human resources and personnel, and was paid her first commissions in November and December 2013. The company told her she could expect $50,000 to $60,000 in commissions per year, in addition to her base salary of $65,000, her lawyers said.

But in early 2014, Johnson said, she was given a new contract with lower commission rates, retroactive to June 2013, and was told she owed Oracle about $20,000 for the higher commissions she had already received. She said the company told her that if she quit, she would face a lawsuit to collect the money.

Johnson said she kept working until she had made $20,000 in commissions, then left her job in July 2014. Her suit said Oracles actions violate the employees contracts, California labor laws against wage-payback schemes, and the states ban on unfair business practices.

A company spokeswoman, Deborah Hellinger, said, Oracle categorically denies the allegations, and we will vigorously defend against them.

The lawsuit acknowledged that Oracles employment contracts authorize the company to reduce commission payments retroactively, and that employees are asked to sign the revised midyear agreements, or re-plans, that lower their past and future commission rates.

But the company coerces employees to comply by threatening to cut off their commissions if they refuse to sign the revised contracts within 24 hours, and then makes the reductions even for those who refuse to sign, Johnsons lawyers said. And despite a state law requiring commission contracts to spell out the methods for computing and paying commissions, they said, Oracle refuses to disclose the reasons for the lower rates.

You cannot sign your rights away to earned wages, said Xinying Valerian, one of the lawyers who filed the suit.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko
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From blocks away he heard their chants: Si, se puede. Yes, we can.

He followed the sounds to a demonstration by more than 100 workers from Bay Area tech companies who held banners and waved signs Monday decrying President Trumps recent efforts to keep immigrants from entering the country and deport those already here.

It was exactly what David Huffman was looking for.

Huffman, 51, is a network engineer from Los Angeles in town for the annual information security conference, RSA. He hadnt planned on joining a protest, but when he heard the chants and saw the sign, he decided to jump in and sign up with groups that help organize tech workers to resist Trumps policies.

This was the response organizers had hoped for when they positioned themselves kitty-corner to the center of the RSA convention at Moscone Center.

The rally, unlike others that have been spearheaded by big tech firms like Google, was centered largely around nontechnical workers, like custodians, cafeteria workers and bus drivers, rather than software engineers and programmers who carry specialty H-1B visas.

I wanted to be here to fight against Trump and his racist policies for all immigrants and all Latinos, Estela Ruiz, a Mexican immigrant who has worked in cafeterias at Cisco for five years, said in Spanish. We need to come together to show the unity and strength of the people.

Ruiz, 47, who later took the megaphone to lead the crowd in a chant, said she wasnt usually one for protests. But this was different. This felt personal.

Last week, immigration officials arrested hundreds of people in raids throughout the country in an apparent enforcement of Trumps order to flush out the more than 11 million immigrants who live in the country without legal permission.

Immigration authorities defended the raids as routine and said they targeted criminals  of whom Trump has promised to deport as many as 3 million  though immigrants without any criminal records were also snared.

Some activists suggested the raids may have been the administrations way of retaliating against cities with sanctuary policies that discourage law enforcement agencies from enforcing federal immigration laws. Most big California cities have such policies, including Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles.

Before Trump, I think everyone was so focused on their own struggles, their own story, they didnt really realize how connected we all are, said Praveen Sinha, 39, a software engineer at Equality Labs. This is about all of us now. This is about the Bay Area and who we are.

As the protest carried on, several stragglers from RSA wandered over to check it out. Not all were sympathetic. One man ran through the crowd cursing.

Several speakers took the bullhorn to share their personal stories and decry Trumps recent policies on immigration, including a ban on immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries that has been on hold since the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco last week refused to reinstate Trumps order.

Engineers and entrepreneurs were among those initially stranded overseas due to Trumps travel ban. Should the president begin to overhaul the H-1B visa program, as he has pledged, tech companies and workers already living in the United States could be further affected.

According to a 2013 study by the Brookings Institute, nearly half of all the highly skilled workers granted H-1B visas in 2013 came to work at Bay Area firms.

Some software engineers and other tech workers at Mondays rally said they see little distinction between their plight and the fears of lower-skilled laborers like Ruiz.

Ive got kids, and they need to know that this is what you do when you feel something is wrong, Huffman said, adding hes been donating to nonprofits and signing up for marches against Trump in recent weeks. That he ran into one during RSA was a happy accident. Tech companies can make an impact. We all can. This is our democracy.

Marissa Lang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mlang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Marissa_Jae
American oil and mining companies wont need to report payments to foreign governments, after President Trump on Tuesday signed legislation wiping out a regulation staunchly opposed by the petroleum industry.

The legislation, House Joint Resolution 41, eliminated a regulation issued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission last June that would have forced extractive industries to report payments they make to governments abroad for access to natural resources.
NEW YORK  Nearly four decades after 6-year-old Etan Patz vanished on the way to his school bus stop, a former convenience store clerk was convicted Tuesday of murder in a case that influenced American parenting and law enforcement.

The jury verdict against Pedro Hernandez gave Etans relatives a resolution they had sought since May 1979 and gave prosecutors a conviction that eluded them when a 2015 jury deadlocked.

The Patz family has waited a long time, but weve finally found some measure of justice for our wonderful little boy, Etan, said his father, Stanley Patz, choking up.

I am truly relieved, and Ill tell you, its about time. Its about time.

Hernandez, who once worked in a shop in Etans neighborhood, had confessed, but his lawyers said his admissions were the false imaginings of a man whose mind blurred the boundary between reality and illusion. On the earlier jury, the lone holdout against conviction cited the mental health issue as a major reason for his stance.

This time, the jury concluded Hernandez had a psychiatric disorder but hadnt imagined killing the boy, one member said.

We decided he has an illness ... but that didnt make him delusional, said Michael Castellon, a construction company attorney.

Hernandez, 56, showed no reaction on hearing the verdict, but his lawyers said he planned to appeal. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 28.

Etan became one of the first missing children ever pictured on milk cartons, and the anniversary of his disappearance has been designated National Missing Childrens Day. His parents lent their voices to a campaign to make missing children a national cause, and it fueled laws that established a national hotline and made it easier for law enforcement agencies to share information about vanished youngsters.

Colleen Long and Jennifer Peltz are Associated Press writers.
Sometimes, the front row looks can be just as outrageous as the outfits on the runway.

Where else other than New York Fashion Week would we see Paris Hilton in a tiara?
MISSOULA - Screenings for the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival that were scheduled for the Silver theater have been moved to new venues.

The roof of the Silver collapsed on Saturday, Feb. 4, because of heavy snow and ice. The theater was evacuated before the incident and no one was injured.

Big Sky organizers reached out to a number of venues for the 14th annual festival, which runs Friday, Feb. 17, through Sunday, Feb. 26. The line-up features more than 200 documentary films, plus visiting filmmakers, documentary workshops for industry professionals, and screenings for local schools.

All screenings for the Silver have been moved MCT Center for the Performing Arts, the Wilma, the Roxy, and the Public House, a new event rental space on East Broadway on the street level of the Masonic Lodge. Screenings will occur at their previously scheduled times.

New printed schedules will be available at any of the venues starting Saturday, Feb. 18. The online version at bigskyfilmfest.org has been updated.

In an emailed statement, Big Sky Film Institute's executive director, Rachel Gregg, said, We are relieved nobody was hurt in the collapse, and so saddened by the loss of the Silver. It was a beautiful space especially following the renovations their team had worked hard on for over a year. We are incredibly grateful for our venue partners in Missoula who responded quickly and generously to absorb the schedule planned for The Silver.

The Silver Foundation purchased the former World Theater building on South Higgins Avenue in 2015 and was renovating it for community and performing arts events.
A federal appeals court in San Francisco has rejected a womans attempt to hold former President George W. Bush and his top officials to account for their alleged war of aggression in her native Iraq, saying federal employees cant be sued for carrying out their job duties.

Sundus Shaker Saleh, who fled with four of her children when the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003 and is now a refugee abroad, filed the suit in San Francisco in 2013 against Bush, former Vice President Dick Cheney and other administration officials. Saying the war was based on fabricated claims of weapons of mass destruction and violated international law, she sought damages on behalf of all innocent Iraqi civilians who suffered harm.

Without deciding whether the war was legal, the U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco said a 1988 law shields federal employees at all levels from suits for actions they performed in service to the government, even if they violated U.S. or international law.

The actions that (Bush administration officials) took in connection with the Iraq War were part of their official duties, Judge Susan Graber said in the 3-0 ruling, released Friday.

In upholding a federal judges dismissal of the suit, she said the 1988 law, known as the Westfall Act, covered even heinous acts, such as federal marshals fatal beating of a shackled prisoner.

The law allows a federal official to be sued for actions based on personal motives, Graber said, if, for instance, he used the leverage of his office to benefit a spouses business. It also allows Saleh to sue the U.S. government rather than individual defendants. But her lawyer, Inder Comar of San Francisco, said Monday that a suit against the government would be futile because the Supreme Court has barred damages for injuries suffered in foreign countries.

The U.S. has signed all these treaties, the U.N. Charter, the tribunals set up after World War II to litigate allegations of aggression against Nazi leaders, Comar said. We cant immunize people from things we told the international community we believed in. But the court said thats exactly what we did.

Saleh, an art instructor who belonged to a Christian sect, escaped with her children to Jordan after the war started and is now a refugee in an undisclosed country, Comar said.

Her suit alleged that Bush and his top aides, particularly Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, were planning a war in Iraq even before Bush took office in 2001 and therefore were not carrying out their job duties when they launched the war. The court disagreed.

What took place in the late 1990s was not planning, but only advocacy, Graber said, since the Bush administration was not yet in office. Otherwise, she said, an elected official who carried out a campaign promise could be considered to be acting outside the scope of her employment and unprotected by the Westfall Act.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko
PORTLAND, Maine  The Northeast is digging out from the latest blast of winter weather that dumped well over 2 feet of snow on some areas and made travel treacherous.

The storm was most active from New York to Maine, where blizzard conditions shut down towns.

Schools around the region delayed or canceled classes Monday, including in Boston and some areas of New York state. By Monday night, some schools already had canceled classes for Tuesday.

Some Maine towns, including Starks and Nobleboro, saw at least 30 inches of snow Sunday into Monday. There were also reports of thunder and lightning accompanying the snow in Nobleboro, and the Mountain Washington Avalanche Center issued an extreme avalanche danger warning on two trails.

In New Hampshire, Bristol saw 28 inches of snow and Nashua got a little more than 13 inches.

In Hopkinton, N.H., attorney Matt Lane said he was surprised by how much snow had fallen.

Up until last week we didnt have very much; we had a little but not like this. And now suddenly, you cant see over the snowbanks when youre backing out of the driveway, and weve been running the snow blower 24-7, he said.

Nearly all flights in and out of the airport in Manchester, N.H., were canceled. The airport in Portland, Maine, also was closed.

Farther south, there was less snow  just a few inches fell in Boston and Hartford, Conn.

Strong winds created problems in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, where a tree branch crashed through a car windshield in Mechanicsburg, killing the driver. Just north of New York City, a Metro-North train struck a fallen tree, damaging the train and hampering service for hours, but causing no injuries. About 100 passengers were on board. And in Queens, the canopy of a gas station was ripped down as winds gusted up to 60 mph in some areas.

The new snow came on the heels of a storm last week that dumped 19 inches on parts of Maine.

Raychell Libby, from Portland, walked through a path that had been cut through the snow, piled hip-high.

I really love the paths that are made afterward, she said as she chugged along and walked Logan, her 7-year-old Catahoula mix. Its kind of like a winter wonderland.

Residents likely will be seeing snow for quite a while with more forecast to fall on Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts on Wednesday.

Also, two storm systems will affect parts of the central states. A moisture-starved but powerful storm will spread gusty winds and snow showers from northwestern Ontario to the Great Lakes region, the New York Times reported.

Patrick Whittle is an Associated Press writer.
LINCOLN  This years lone woman, Laurie Warren, pulled into Lincoln at 8:54 p.m. Monday night as the champion of the Race to the Sky 300-mile sled dog race.

Father-son pair Spencer and Brett Bruggeman of Great Falls finished next, coming in at 10:18 p.m.

The hardest part of the race came today for Warrens team when they passed the Whitetail Ranch for the third time of the race.

This time we went by and the dogs thought we were going to rest. They were really sad when we went passed the checkpoint, Warren said as she unharnessed her team Monday night.

This takes a race-hardened team and driver ...back and forth on the same trail over and over.  It kinda messes with your head if you let it, Race to the Sky veteran Laura Daugereau wrote on the races Facebook page Monday regarding the change in the race route this year.

Warren, 53, a mule trainer from Council, Idaho, pulled out of the last checkpoint Monday at 9:27 a.m., with 70 backcountry miles ahead of her to the finish line in Lincoln.

Starting Monday only three mushers were left in what became a race of attrition. Brett Bruggeman and son Spencer pulled out within 10 seconds of each other an hour after Warren left, following a mandatory six-hour layover in Seeley Lake.

Warren and Brett Bruggeman each started the final leg of a race that began Saturday afternoon with eight dogs. Spencer Bruggeman, at 15 the youngest musher to ever compete in the long race at the Race to the Sky, had 10 dogs.

From what Rick told me of the trail just coming off the 100 mile race. It is HARD! Like concrete hard. This takes a lot of team management, Daugereau continued. Extra care to keep your team hydrated and protect feet and wrists  and because of the booties to protect feet, risk shoulder soreness from slipping on the Ice.

Mark Stamm of Riverside, Washington, the race-long leader who was seeking to become just the second three-time winner, withdrew from the race after reaching Seeley Lake in the early morning hours Monday. No reason was given. Neal Bowlen of Park City, Utah, also withdrew at Seeley Lake. That cut in half the original starting field of six.

Rick Larson of Sand Coulee took first place Sunday in the Adult 100 that ended in Seeley Lake. He finished at 7:16 a.m. Sunday, followed by Joe Carson of Wasilla, Alaska, at 7:40 a.m.

In third place was Roy Etnire of Seeley Lake at 8 a.m. Fourth was Dave Bush of Bend, Oregon, at 9:10 a.m. Fifth place went to Steve Riggs of Olney at 9:15 a.m. and sixth was Steve Madsen of Cougar, Washington, at 9:18 a.m. Bino Fowler from Bend, Oregon, came in at 1:30 p.m. in seventh place followed by Adam Buch of Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada, at 2:32 p.m., earning him the Red Lantern Award.

Meg Conklin of Boise, along with the Herbst family, received the Sportsmanship Award. Conklin, a 13-year-old junior musher, helped get Bozemans Maeva Waterman and her team into the next checkpoint. Kali Herbsts family helped bring in Clayton Perrys team after he got injured.

The Best Cared for Team Award was presented by Dr. Kathy Topham to Carson for excellence and professionalism taking care of his team.
WASHINGTON  Gov. Jerry Brown asked the Trump administration for a federal disaster declaration for the emergency at Oroville Dam on Monday evening, citing the impending arrival of more storms and the potential need to resort again to the dams emergency spillway, which has been severely eroded.

The incident is of such severity and magnitude that continued effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and affected local governments, Brown said in asking for direct federal assistance for 10,000 evacuated residents of Butte, Sutter and Yuba counties who he said require assistance.

Brown held out the prospect in his letter that the state would ask for further assistance once investigators determine the extent of the damage.

Presidential disaster declarations trigger federal financial and other aid. President Trump, only in office for three weeks, has already approved seven disaster declarations in other states, all for severe storms, and is working on a previous disaster declaration, received from Brown late Friday evening, for storms that slammed California last month, officials said earlier Monday.

Meanwhile, Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a Butte County Republican who lives just below the dam, said hes been in touch with White House officials and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Bakersfield Republican who is close to Trump.

Weve got a pretty big problem here, LaMalfa said. The White House is aware of the situation, and theyll assess what they need to do, he added.

Ahsha Tribble, acting regional administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agencys region nine West Coast office, said the agency, known as FEMA, is processing the states request for a federal emergency declaration from storms that hit California from Jan. 3 to 12, pegging the federal aid request at $162 million. We expect to continue to move that over the next day, she said.

On Monday, California Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris, both Democrats, wrote a joint letter to Trump asking for quick approval of the governors disaster aid request.

Formal presidential disaster declarations occur routinely in response to requests from governors. The requests are usually made after the immediate emergency has passed, FEMA officials said.

Tribble said, the agency has planning- and technical-assistance teams in the state to respond to Oroville, and local officials at Chico airport, where an emergency shelter for evacuees from the town and surrounding areas threatened by potential catastrophic flooding has been set up.

The agency expects to provide blankets, cots and water for evacuees and is currently working with the state and the Department of Defense to find additional locations for temporary shelters.

The cost of repairing the spillway is anybodys guess, LaMalfa said, adding that in his view initial estimates of $100 million could easily triple.

Repairs cant be started until the area dries out in late spring, and will have to be finished before the next rainy season begins in the fall, potentially requiring heavy overtime costs. I expect its not going to be cheap, LaMalfa said, adding he expects significant federal assistance in the repairs. The federal Army Corps of Engineers paid 20 percent of the dams initial cost and has responsibility for flood control, he said.

LaMalfa said he expects Congress to hold hearings on the spillway failure once the emergency has passed, and ensure that there are no permitting or funding delays.

Carolyn Lochhead is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: clochhead@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @carolynlochhead
In a two-day budget presentation, attorneys from the Office of the State Public Defender gave frustrated testimony, with some saying they were so overburdened they fear losing their license.

Chief Public Defender Bill Hooks presented the agencys budget challenges, including high staff turnover and an increasing caseload, to the Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement and Justice subcommittee on Monday and Tuesday.

The 2015 Legislature made the rare decision to approve the OPD budget for one time only. Now OPD officials are responsible for explaining why the committee should build back each section of their budget for the next biennium, which will essentially be built from scratch.

Over the interim, OPD created a mitigation plan to address a $3.5 million shortfall and improve future efficiency. The Legislature also created a task force to study OPD and draft reform legislation. Several of those bills, including one to hire an agency director to oversee the reform, are making their way to the governor.

Even with the mitigation plan, which took measures such as eliminating contract attorneys in certain regions and implementing a hiring freeze, attorneys said their caseload is too high to adequately provide the competent and effective representation that's required. Some attorneys said the mitigation plan didnt solve anything and asked the committee for resources to run an efficient agency while giving clients quality representation.

Alisha Backus, a public defender in the Kalispell office, said shes required to take all types of cases even though she only has a year and a half of experience. Right now, shes the lead counsel on a deliberate homicide case. Because the agency eliminated contract attorneys to save money, Backus is required to practice in five courts. She often spends six hours driving from Kalispell to Eureka and Libby to represent her clients.

Her caseload averages twice the recommended amount, and she works every weekend to make sure she provides required representation, although she said its often the bare minimum.

Im terrified everyday that I go to work that Im going to lose my license, Backus said. My stress is through the roof.

Nicole Gallagher, an attorney in Billings, said her office is down five or six attorneys. The Bar recommends attorneys handle 150 felony cases per year, which Gallagher said shell easily surpass.

Because of the hiring freeze in the mitigation plan, Gallagher said shes not able to manage her caseload and is also worried about losing her license.

If Im not giving competent and effective representation, that is a license issue, she said. Its frustrating that were discussing budget cuts to our office when its abundantly clear the criminal justice system is growing.

Attorneys also came to the committee to emphasize the importance of their work and the benefit of employing social workers to help attorneys navigate issues such as a homeless client or a child who might testify against a parent.

Rachel Wanderscheid said shes been in the Helena OPD office for three months, but has struggled to help clients with issues beyond the legal system. Because attorneys often function as social workers without professional training, Wanderscheid said attorneys leave OPD for private practice.

Thats because of the emotional level of this work that doesnt exist in other types of law, she said. I dont want to be that type of person.

The committee has the option to approve the governors request for approximately $67 million, modify his proposal, or start over and do something unique. While agencies across the board were asked to submit a 5 percent budget reduction plan as a starting point, no other action has been taken by the committee. Executive action is scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
Farming is never boring until planting time.

Kansas wheat farmers have the most boring job, they only plant wheat.

Year after year. Central Illinois farmers may have had the second most boring life, rotating fields with only corn or soybeans. In any given field, year after year, corn after beans after corn after beans after corn, ad infinitum.

But many farmers are stepping outside of the box this year, taking a chance, and instead of planting 50 percent of their farm in corn and the other 50 percent in beans, some will actually plant more than 50 percent of the farmland in soybeans.

Whoa! That is going to be a little exciting for some farm wives, discovering their husbands are not the predictable guy they thought they knew for the past 40-plus years.

Taking a chance on doing something different; my, I didnt know he had it in him! That devil!

But its the boring discipline of economics which is driving the change on the farm, certainly not the desire to stray in untested domestic waters. At least that is what most farmers would answer if they were asked how they were responding to corn prices below break-even levels and soybean prices above break-even levels.

At this point in the growing season, where soils have yet to feel any steel and where seed bags and boxes are stacked in dry machine sheds, the market is counting on farmers growing more soybeans. Acreage is predicted to push the 88 million mark, give or take a million. And corn will drop from its recent levels in the mid-90 million acre range down to about 90 million acres. One crop advisory service Tuesday even predicted more soybeans that corn this year, the first since 1983 when the USDA initiated the Payment in Kind program in an effort to reduce the corn surplus and raise the price of corn.

Most farmers had a good idea of how many acres they would plant into soybeans this year. The current corn to soybean price ratio is 2.58, meaning the fall soybean price is higher than the fall corn price, and well above the breakeven level of 2.30. Most farmers would agree that beans will be more profitable than corn, and will increase their soybean acreage at the expense of corn acres.

But there are some farmers who are either not of that opinion, or are taking the chance there will be so many soybean acres, there will be an insufficient amount of corn, and corn prices will work higher during the next few months. Some are even looking at a potential weather issue that would diminish the corn crop and boost prices. Neither of those is in the boring category.

Then there is the farmer who is labeled by his spouse as the family bean counter, and is forever at a calculator trying to get the last penny the market is willing to give him. They thought they knew exactly how much it would cost to plant corn and beans, and they had made their decision, and carved it in stone.

The farmers in Illinois had been using the University of Illinois crop budget guide to make decisions. The Indiana farmers had been using the crop budget offered by Purdue University to guide their decisions. And Iowa farmers had been depending upon the crop budgets suggested by Iowa State University. The world was good, and everyone was happy; until two Purdue economists disrupted this ideal world order, when they found some variations among the three budget guidelines.

Agricultural economists David Widmar and Brent Gloy said, Its important producers carefully consider their farms unique production expenses headed into 2017. While additional acres of soybean across the U.S. in 2017 are expected, farmers  especially if facing herbicide resistance issues  might find themselves with a different budget signal than the national trends. How widespread these differences are will likely play a key role in determining how planted acres adjust in 2017. Most of the current signals still look to favor soybeans and it is likely soybeans will gain ground on corn acreage in 2017, but each farmer will have to look at their own budgets to make the call.

Back to the calculator!
CLINTON  A Clinton man and woman were arrested Monday on weapons charges after a raid by multiple police agencies.

Robert H. Hawkins, 42, and Tomeco T. Hawkins, 41, were booked on charges of unlawful use of a weapon, a Class 3 felony. Both posted $1,000 bonds and were released, according to the Illinois State Police.

The arrests were carried out by members of Task Force 6, a State Police group, assisted by the Clinton Police Department, the DeWitt County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

This story has been edited to clarify the gender of the suspects.
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Ryan Orosco of Menlo Park was taking out the garbage early Tuesday morning, just before the sun came up, when he noticed the bright light from the corner of his eye.

At first Orosco thought it was an especially bright star, but when he saw a mist of light trailing behind, he knew he was looking at something more unusual.

"I was seeing the object through some tree branches so I walked 15 yards to get a better view," Orosco said. "I pulled out my phone and wanted to take a video because it looked like it was moving and I wanted to capture that motion. But I was sleepy and fumbled with my phone and only managed to take the one photo. When I finally switched it into video mode, I looked back up and the light had faded. After the bright light faded out, there was a residual green glow for a few seconds."

Orosco wasn't the only one to spot and photograph the mysterious glow in the Bay Area sky at 6:20 a.m. Social media is filled with photos from people who were also stunned by it (see some of those photos above).

But what was it?

The National Weather Service office in Monterey was one of the first to post a photo, but they couldn't confirm the source of the light.

"We can neither confirm nor deny that activity," Steve Anderson, a meteorologist with the Weather Service said. "We think it's some kind of launch from Vandenberg but there's nothing listed on there website so it was probably an unscheduled flight, maybe a top-secret satellite launch. That's our best guess."

A call to Vandenberg Air Force Base proved the Weather Service's hypothesis wrong.

"All our launches are heavily publicized," said Sargent Shane Phipps in Vandenberg's public affairs office. "We really don't really do anything top secret. Even our Minuteman launches which was testing ICBM rockets are heavily publicized. If we didn't tell people, everyone would be like, 'What's going on?'"

A call to the U.S. Navy finally turned up the answer: an unarmed Trident II (D5) missile test flight off the coast from a submarine. Two tests were conducted: one at 3:30 a.m. and the other at 6:20 a.m.

John M. Daniels, public affairs officer with the U.S. Navy's Strategic Systems Programs, issued a statement with all the details:

"Navy Strategic Systems Programs conducted scheduled Trident II (D5) missile test flights at sea from an Ohio Class SSBN, in the Pacific Test Range off the coast of California. This morning, there were two missiles launched. The flight tests are a part of Follow-on Commander's Evaluation Test (FCET), designated FCET-53. Flight tests are conducted on a frequent, recurring basis to ensure the continued reliability of the system. Each test activity provides valuable information about our systems, thus contributing to assurance in our capabilities.

More for you Cisgendered and ready for love: Best quotes overheard on San Francisco streets

All missile test flights were conducted from sea, flew over the sea, and landed in the sea. At no time did the missiles fly over land."

All missiles are tracked from multiple sources from launch until final impact in the ocean."

"The missiles were not armed."
DECATUR -- The county is divided when it comes to new president Donald Trump. When considering the current political climate, former Millikin University professor Dan Guillory couldnt help but think of another president who presided over a nation divided.

Those thoughts inspired Guillorys presentation at the Decatur Public Librarys Madden Auditorium on Monday: Lincolns Legacy. Guillory is the author of several books of which Abraham Lincoln is the subject, including The Lincoln Poems and Living with Lincoln.

The politics of today were certainly the catalyst for this talk, Guillory said. I started thinking about how, when you look at Lincoln, it kind of puts everything today in a different perspective.

Guillorys presentation focused on Lincolns compassion and tolerance, which led him to writing the Emancipation Proclamation despite spending 30 years in a state -- Illinois -- that rejected slavery by just two votes in the state legislature and had a long tradition of indentured servants.

A window into Lincolns view of humanity came in his first inaugural address, which contained the memorable line:

We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.

Lincolns Secretary of State William Seward advised on the speech and had written the line: "The better angels of our nation, but Lincoln changed the final word to nature.

To Lincoln, every one of us has a strong moral sense, Guillory said. And its not a religious principle as much as it was an ethical principle. By changing it from 'nation' to 'nature,' hes suggesting its personal for each one of us, and that each one of us should act on those better angels.

Guillory said Lincolns views of black people as equals began with a relationship with Springfield barber William de Fleurville, a Haitian known as Billy the Barber.

Billy was Lincolns first real encounter with a black person who was successful, free and autonomous, Guillory said. Lincoln realized if Billy could do it, so could others.

Lincolns opinion continued to evolve when he got to Washington, D.C., and met former slave Elizabeth Keckley, who became Mary Todd Lincolns seamstress and later wrote a book: Behind the Scenes: Or, Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House.

She worked in the White House, and most of what we know about life in the White House during the Lincoln years comes from Elizabeth Keckley, Guillory said. And like Billy the Barber, she was a model of African-American success for Lincoln.

Though Guillory said Lincoln wasnt right about everything -- Lincoln thought slavery would have eventually gone away on its own; Guillory disagreed -- he said historians agree Lincoln was the most intelligent and best president.

Its shown by his writing and speeches, Guillory said. He was highly intellectual and highly reflective, and that influenced the decisions he made.

Tom Poland of Phoenix, in Decatur visiting brother and sister-in-law Lyle and Carol Poland, agreed Lincoln was the best chief executive and said he wouldnt be surprised with the present-day political atmosphere.

He would be very familiar with this, because it was pretty similar in his time as it is today with all the political divisions and disrespect from each side to the other, Tom Poland said. I dont think hed be pleased, but hed understand it.

Guillory said his presentation wasnt specifically aimed at Trump, but couldnt help but notice the differences in their leadership styles.

I tried it out on a few of my friends, some of whom were very left-leaning, and theyre saying, Yeah, right on,  Guillory said, laughing. I told them, it wasnt meant to be specifically aimed at Trump -- Bill Clinton had his problems, too -- but I think this has been a unique first month of a presidency in my lifetime.
The evacuation notice came without much warning on Sunday, forcing 200,000 residents near the Oroville Dam to leave their homes in a moment's notice.

When temple staff at Gurdwara Sahib Sikh Temple in West Sacramento heard the news, they rushed to open the temple's doors and spread the word that anyone in need of shelter was welcome.

Between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., nearly 200 evacuees, escaping potential flooding along Highway 70 south of Oroville, made their way to the temple.

According to the Sacramento Bee, a staff of 19 worked around the clock to ensure their guests had toiletries, bedding, and a warm vegetarian meal.

Temple manager Ranjeep Singh told Sarah Ravani of the Chronicle that evacuees slept on the temple's floor and in apartments across the street from the main complex.

Gurdwara Sahib is one of six Sikh centers throughout Sacramento that is offering temporary housing to those displaced by the Oroville spillway, according to Mayor Darrell Steinberg of Sacramento. The region is home to the largest Sikh community outside of India.

Two hundred people took refuge in the two-story temple on Sunday evening, but Singh says they have space for 100-200 more individuals.

Though community members have been generous with donations, the Congregation Committee has also authorized the use of temple funds as needed.

Many of those seeking shelter at Gurdwara Sahib were members of the Sikh community, but some were not. The Sikh faith calls upon believers to serve those in need, regardless of their religious beliefs.

Sam Lyon, 38, said a sheriff's deputy gave him and his family five minutes to evacuate their home. With his wife, four young children, and five dogs in tow, the family fled.

After spending the night at a truck stop, Lyon and his family finally made their way to the Sikh temple.

"When we were evacuated, we were just told to get out. I was barely able to grab my kids some clothes," Lyon, who moved to California three weeks ago from Kentucky, told Ravani.

The Office of Emergency Management informed Lyon that the evacuation order could stand for up to one month. He is uncertain if his resources will last that long, as the flooding has prevented him and his wife from working. Currently, his family's only source of income is his firefighter disability pay.

"If it gets to a certain point, I'll take whatever money I have and my family and I'll leave," he said. "I'm about ready to lose everything I own."

Read Michelle Robertsons latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com.
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

The city of San Francisco is suing a Financial District massage parlor alleging that the business is in fact a brothel and has been for years, the city attorney's office announced today.

In the lawsuit filed in San Francisco Superior Court this morning, City Attorney Dennis Herrera is seeking to close the Queen's Health Center at 325 Kearny St., sell its property at auction and levy thousands of dollars in penalties.

According to Herrera's office, the business, owned by Jie Qin Zhou, has been operating a brothel since at least April 2010. It has been in violation of Planning Commission requirements for public access and was temporarily shut down last year after undercover law enforcement officers were offered sex for money, according to the lawsuit.

"Massage parlors operating as fronts for prostitution are a blight on our neighborhoods and put women and the community at risk," Herrera said in a statement.

"Queen's Health Center is one of the worst offenders. Over the years, city agencies have found multiple violations, issued fines and even suspended its business permit," Herrera said.

The lawsuit alleges that the business has repeatedly posted advertising both in newspapers and online for erotic services with images of scantily clad women in provocative poses.

The city's Planning Commission requires the business to keep its door unlocked during business hours and prohibits it from using exterior security cameras, but it has been repeatedly in violation of those rules, requiring customers to be buzzed in through a locked door to prevent entrance by law enforcement officers, according to the suit.

Undercover investigators were solicited for group sex for $320 during a visit on Jan. 15, 2016, according to the suit. The investigation resulted in a 60-day suspension by the city's Department of Public Health from June until August 2016.

In the days before the suspension was lifted, the Queen's Health Center advertised its upcoming "grand reopening" with similar provocative photos, according to the lawsuit.

The city attorney's office said that the massage parlor has a reputation in the community as a place of prostitution. Several reviews on the Yelp website for the business either express surprise at being offered sex there or use innuendo to describe its services.

"You can choose the massage therapist to be nude or in sexy lingerie during the session," one reviewer wrote. "Price varies as you add on..."

After trying to get a massage for his girlfriend's lower back, another reviewer wrote, "This is definitely not a massage place, maybe it's possible to get a massage, but it's pretty obvious it's more of a happy ending type place."

Representatives of the Queen's Health Center did not immediately return a call requesting comment.
Calvin and Irene Henze stand together inside their New Braunfels home on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017. The couple has been married for 70 years.
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A resident of Goris, arrested on February 10 for approaching the owns administrative police station while carrying a military fragment grenade, has been charged with illegal arms procurement and possession.

The man, is said to have walked up to the entrance of the building at 4:30 pm, demanding that the door be opened. He then walked away, throwing the grenade to the ground without removing the firing pin.

The Syunik branch of Armenias Investigative Committee says the man was taken into custody on the spot.

Police searched his home, uncovering an anti-tank mortar shell, a bayonet, some bullets and three packages containing a yellow drug-like substance.
Major General Morteza Mirza, deputy head of Irans police anti-drug department, arrived in Yerevan today, and met with Armenias anti-crime chief Rafayel Zakaryan.

Mirza, and his delegation discussed ways that the two countries could cooperate regarding drug smuggling taking place across the border of the two countries.

The sides noted the necessity of cooperation in this regard.

Mirzas delegation is scheduled to meet with other police departments while in Armenia.
Light-emitting diode (LED) light options have been touted as game changers in efficiency and energy savings. The well-approved option for the environment also may carry benefits for milk flavor, according to a recent study from Virginia Tech.

The research team assessed light oxidations effect on consumer preference and paired that research with evaluation of packaging types and lighting options.

Across the board, milk exposed to LED lights for four hours performed much better in the taste tests than milk stored for the same amount of time under the conventional fluorescent light.

As the scientists explained, most of this preference can be associated with light oxidation of nutrients, including riboflavin, which is one of the vitamins contained within milk. They explained that untrained consumers are able to detect light-oxidized off-flavors in fluorescent exposed milk after just two hours.

LED lights also improved the acceptability of milks aftertaste in comparison to fluorescents.

The study showed that protective packaging options such as the addition of light-blocking pigments to the traditional translucent milk jug reduced the likelihood of oxidation. That was true in both common retail packaging options, high-density polyethylene, and polyethylene terephthalate.

The researchers suggest changes in lighting in the milk case may provide flavor protection for milk, improving consumer opinions of the beverage.

To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.

(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2017
SYDNEY  An Islamic State fighter who posted a photo of a beheaded Syrian soldier online has become the first dual national to be stripped of his Australian citizenship under antiterrorism laws, according to local news reports.

A spokeswoman for the Australian Immigration Department said only that someone had been stripped of citizenship under antiterrorism laws but declined to name the person. But a leading newspaper, the Australian, identified the person as Khaled Sharrouf, 35, reporting that a secret panel had revoked his Australian citizenship this year.
Maya Alleruzzo/Associated Press

PARIS  Egyptian American author Mona Eltahawy is one of many activists and human rights advocates targeted in a sweeping cyberespionage campaign blamed on Egypts government, the Associated Press has found.

A booby-trapped email sent to Eltahawy shows that she was targeted by the same password-stealing technique used to try to compromise staff at more than half a dozen Egyptian human rights organizations. Digital clues such as matching email addresses employed to send the malicious messages and the use of the same credential-harvesting website proved the same actor was involved.
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1 Pakistan bombing: A suicide bomber struck police escorting a protest rally in the eastern city of Lahore on Monday, killing at least 13 people in an attack claimed by a breakaway Taliban faction. The blast ripped through the crowd of hundreds of pharmacists, who were protesting a law governing drug sales. Sameer Ahmad, the Lahore deputy commissioner, said at least 13 people were killed and 58 wounded, including nine who were in critical condition. A group called Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for the attack in a text message, saying it was revenge for Pakistani military operations against Islamic militants.

2 Doctors jailed: Seven Kenyan doctors who are officials of a medical union were jailed Monday for failing to call off a two-month strike by doctors at public hospitals that has seen several die due to lack of medical care. Judge Hellen Wasilwa said she could not delay the contempt of court sentence she had suspended earlier on condition the doctors call off their strike. At least 5,000 doctors are on strike for better pay and to protest the dilapidated state of Kenyas public health care. The union said it has called off all talks with the government until their officials are released.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia  The half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was assassinated at an airport in Kuala Lumpur, telling medical workers before he died en route to a hospital that he had been attacked with a chemical spray, a Malaysian official said Tuesday.

Kim Jong Nam, 46, was attacked Monday in the shopping concourse at the airport and had not gone through immigration yet for his flight to Macau, said the senior government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the case involves sensitive diplomacy.

He was taken to the airport clinic and then died on the way to the hospital.

Kim Jong Nam was estranged from his younger brother, the North Korean leader. He had been tipped by outsiders to succeed their dictator father, but reportedly fell out of favor when he was caught trying to enter Japan on a false passport in 2001, saying he wanted to visit Tokyo Disneyland.

He was believed to have been living recently in Macau, Singapore and Malaysia.

Multiple South Korean media reports, citing unnamed sources, said Kim Jong Nam was killed at the airport by two women. TV Chosun, citing unidentified multiple government sources, said the women were believed to be North Korean agents. It said they fled in a taxi and were being sought by Malaysian police.

Kim Jong Nam and Kim Jong Un have the same father, late dictator Kim Jong Il, but different mothers.

Since taking power in late 2011, Kim Jong Un has executed or purged a slew of high-level government officials in what the South Korean government has described as a reign of terror. The most spectacular among them was the 2013 execution by antiaircraft fire of his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, once considered the countrys second most powerful man, for what the North alleged was treason.

Mark Tokola, vice president at the Korea Economic Institute in Washington, said it would be surprising if Kim Jong Nam was not killed on the orders of his brother, given that North Korean agents have reportedly tried to assassinate Kim Jong Nam in the past.

It seems probable that the motivation for the murder was a continuing sense of paranoia on the part of Kim Jong Un, which may be a well-placed paranoia, Tokola wrote in a commentary Tuesday.
Last month, NM Political Report and the Santa Fe Reporter wrote about how a one-sentence provision in state law emboldened an agency to keep one citizen from obtaining public information.

In December, retired Interstate Stream Commission Director Norman Gaume asked his former agency for an unlocked copy of an Excel spreadsheet showing how much water is diverted from and used along the Gila River and its tributaries each year.

The agency's questionable actions against Gaume drew the attention of one of New Mexico's US Senator, and a state representative who introduced a bill to make a slight wording change to the state's open records law.

Over the past few years, Gaume has opposed the state's plans to build a diversion along the Gila River in southwestern New Mexico.

With an unlocked copy of the spreadsheet, he could examine the formulas and original data within the spreadsheet. He wanted to see if on-the-ground data supported assertions by the state that farmers were already using all the water they could from the river yet still needed more.

In response to his request, however, ISC employees categorized the spreadsheet as a "database" and told Gaume he'd need to sign the agency's database agreement.

That agreement prohibits the requester from making copies or providing the database to anyone without the agency's written approval. It also says the database can't be used for any "political or commercial purposes" without the agency's approval. Breaching the agreement carries criminal penalties.

After NM Political Report co-published the story with the Santa Fe Reporter, US Sen. Martin Heinrich sent a letter to ISC Director Deborah Dixon requesting the unlocked spreadsheets.

"Water is precious to New Mexico, and it is common sense that information about our water resources should be readily available in the course of consideration of major new water projects and taxpayer financing of new water projects," Heinrich wrote in his letter.

NM Political Report requested comment from the ISC on Heinrich's letter and the release of the spreadsheets. The agency's communications director did not respond before press time. As of press time, the agency still had not posted the unlocked spreadsheets in a publicly accessible place on its website.

Federal intervention

This month, the state agency released seven Excel spreadsheets to the senator's office, according to Heinrich's communications director Whitney Potter. ISC employees also assured the senator's office that the data would be made available to the public on the commission's website, Potter added.

In a statement to NM Political Report, Heinrich emphasized the high stakes debate over building an expensive new diversion on the Gila River, which flows from the nation's first wilderness area.

"It's critical that all stakeholders and the public have access to the best available data and science to make informed decisions about the best path forward," he said. "At a time when our state is facing difficult budget decisions, we need to be deliberate in our assessment of whether dewatering the Gila River is a wise use of taxpayer dollars."

New Mexico's taxpayers, the senator said, "deserve responsible, cost effective, science-based solutions if we are to manage both our limited water supplies and constrained budgets."

New Mexico Foundation for Open Government Executive Director Peter St. Cyr praised the release of the data, but at the same time pointed out that it shouldn't have required the intervention of a US senator.

"The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government encourages government employees to treat everyone's requests for public documents the same and to fully comply with the state's sunshine laws," St. Cyr said. "Public servants should make providing documents like this spreadsheet and other documents used to formulate policies a priority rather than first looking for ways to block access to critical information."

About that data

Once he was able to dive into the data, Gaume found no evidence that farmers along the Gila River in New Mexico experienced water shortages in the past few years.

Passed in 2004, the Arizona Water Rights Settlement Act allowed New Mexico 10 years to decide if it would take advantage of additional water rights through conservation and efficiency or by building a diversion on the Gila River.

In late 2014, the ISC voted to build a diversion. The state has repeatedly pointed out that existing water rights in the area don't meet the needs of local farmers and users.

Gaume disagrees.

"These spreadsheets contain ISC's official truth, which is very different from ISC's Gila River propaganda," Gaume told NM Political Report. "These facts directly contradict State Engineer Office and ISC statements to justify the AWSA Gila diversion of New Mexico's junior water rights."

Gaume found that in every month studied, irrigation water supplies diverted from the Gila River met the area's crop needs.

In addition, irrigation efficiency in the Cliff-Gila Valley for the period studied was 41 percent. On-farm losses, he noted, are almost equal to 100 percent of crop needs. And, he said, more than 4,000 acre feet of existing water rights on the Gila River went unused in 2015.

Now, state Rep. Matthew McQueen, D-Santa Fe, has introduced a bill to remove the language from the Inspection of Public Records Act that allowed the ISC to deny Gaume's request.

As it stands now, IPRA authorizes agencies to release databases, as long as the person agrees "not to use the database for any political or commercial purpose unless the purpose and use is approved in writing by the state agency that created the database."

If passed, HB 227 would strike the word "political" from the law.

McQueen said that after reading about the issue in the newspaper, he thought he'd take a closer look at the law.

"Restricting the public use of public information seems fairly unconstitutional, so I thought I'd fix it," he said. "If the information is public, then the public has the right to use the information and exercise their First Amendment rights. And political speech is protected speech."

State senators have also introduced a bill that would require legislative oversight of the state's spending on the proposed diversion.

If passed, SB 340 would require the state agencies overseeing the diversion's planning and constructionthe ISC and the New Mexico Central Arizona Project Entityto have their budgets approved by the Legislature. The bill would also require the ISC to report its actual and planned uses of the federal funding New Mexico is receiving for the diversion.

New Mexico is scheduled to receive about $100 million in federal subsidies to build the diversion. With no real plan yet in place, the agencies have already spent more than $10 million of that money. The final price for the diversion itself is expected to exceed $500 million.

SB 340 is co-sponsored by Sens. Howie Morales, D-Silver City, Sander Rue, R-Bernalillo, and Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe.

Santa Fe Reporter
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Dr. Alireza Shamshirsaz, an Iranian-born professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine, is part of the Texas Children's Fetal Center, one of only a handful of centers in the world capable of performing complicated open fetal surgeries. The Houston surgeon has canceled a trip to Iran to perform lifesaving surgeries because of uncertainty over the future of President Donald Trump's refugee and immigration travel ban. (Allen S. Kramer/Texas Children's Hospital via AP)
Rep. Mark Pocan, shown here speaking at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, is talking about impeachment as a tool to hold President Trump accountable for failing to divest his business interests and failing to release his tax returns so the American people can see where he has conflicts of interest. PHOTO BY LAUREN VICTORIA BURKE/ASSOCIATED PRESS
BENGALURU: Mahindra Aerostructures today said it has partnered with French firm Segnere SAS to collaborate on airframe manufacturing opportunities and expand capabilities for the global aerospace market.



Mahindra Aerostructures, part of USD 17.8 billion Mahindra Group, operates a 25,000 sq mt manufacturing facility near Bengaluru.

The partnership with Segnere, which was announced at the 11th edition of the five-day biennial air show Aero India, supports Mahindra's intent to expand its existing capabilities to produce hard-metal parts (titanium, inconel and aerospace steels) and then to collaborate on other technologies, the company said in a release.



"We are continuously looking at opportunities to be closer to our customers and to sharpen our value proposition. This relationship with Segnere is further proof of the group's commitment to continuously invest in growth," S P Shukla, Chairman, Mahindra Aerospace said in the release.



He is also Group President-Aerospace & Defence, Mahindra Group.



The company's manufacturing facility exports detailed parts, sub-assemblies and primary structural components to the customers world-wide. It had started commercial deliveries in January 2015.



Headquartered in Tarbes near Toulouse, Segnere SAS operates three production facilities in France and a subsidiary in Tunisia and has specialisation in hard metal parts and assemblies.



"We are thrilled to partner with Mahindra Aerospace to address our customers' cost, capability and capacity requirements," Jean Michel Segnere, President of Segnere SAS said.



Mahindra experience in manufacturing, coupled with a significant desire to invest in aerospace and Segnere's long association with Airbus and other OEMs, present a unique opportunity for growth,he added.



"We will work together to leverage our combined experience and expertise to meet the strategic sourcing priorities of our customers. Segnere provides us a footprint in France while we provide opportunities to work together in the larger global marketplace," Arvind Mehra, ED & CEO of Mahindra Aerospace said.

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MUMBAI: Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra)-led Reliance Defence and Engineering (RDEL) has signed the Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) with the US Navy to maintain the vessels of its Seventh Fleet operating in the region.

The Reliance Shipyard at Pipavav in Gujarat was qualified by as an approved contractor in January 2017 to perform complex repair and alteration services for the US Navy.

The Reliance Shipyard is the first in India to have received MSRA Certification to undertake servicing and repairing work for the vessels of Seventh Fleet. The fleet has about 100 vessels of different types including auxiliaries. Currently, these vessels visit Singapore or Japan for such works.

"Reliance Shipyard has been selected after a detailed site survey by US Government representatives in end October 2016," a Rinfra statement said, adding: "This selection by the US Navy is a true recognition of the world-class facility, processes and the high standard of the capability of Reliance Shipyard."

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NEW DELHI: Tata Communications Ltd will invest USD 300 million into expansion of network, platform and software during 2017-18, and is also looking at acquisitions in new service areas such as Internet of Things, mobility and cloud.



"In telecom, networks need to to expand in terms of scale and reach to create infrastructure closer to customers. So, there is a natural amount of spend that is required...We will be spending USD 150 million on network, and USD 150 million into platform, software and other capabilities," Vinod Kumar, MD and Group CEO, Tata Communications Ltd told PTI.



He said that half of the overall capex would be channelised towards "augmenting network capacity" both the domestic and international leg.



Tata Communications -- which last month announced that Tata Communications (Netherlands) has made an investment into Teleena Holding to become single largest shareholder with 35 per cent stake -- said it continues to look for similar investments.



Tata Communications (Netherlands) BV is a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Tata Communications Ltd.



Asked if the company is looking for more acquisitions, Kumar said, "We are always looking... We will continue to look for...Technology specific investments in the areas of our new services to help us augment our capability and go to market faster," he said.



The acquisitions or investments will be targeted at areas such as security, IOT, mobility and cloud, he said.



However, he did not divulge the ticket size.



The investments in Teleena Holding bolsetered the company's cross-border mobility services capability, he said adding there are no immediate plans to increase the stake.



"They have created advanced technology in the space and we will use that technology as a cornerstone for the service that we are building. There is no plan to immediately increase the stake," he said.



Kumar said that Tata Communications' debt would come down to the extent of USD 300 million as a result of two transactions -- divestment of data centre, and sale of South Africa-based telecom arm Neotel to Liquid Telecom.



"We have USD 1.4 billion of debt and that will come down by about USD300 million when we finish these two transactions (sale of datacentre and Neotel). It is already reflecting on our balancesheet...These moves are already strengthening the balance sheet," he said.



On whether the company had plans for further asset sale, he said, "No".



Meanwhile, in a BSE filing, Tata Communications announced successful completion of Singapore data centre joint venture transaction with ST Telemedia (STT), a global investor in communications, media and technology businesses.

In May 2016, the two companies had announced definitive



agreement as part of which ST Telemedia, through subsidiary, ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC), agreed to acquire 74 per cent stake in Tata Communications' data centre business in India and Singapore.



Tata Communications will hold the remaining stake as a minority shareholder.



While India data centre transaction was completed on October 19, 2016, the Singapore data centre joint venture transaction has concluded today.



"Since the May announcement, both companies' management teams have been working closely to identify areas for business integration to enhance customer service and realise the full potential of the business partnership," Tata Communications said in a BSE filing.



The two partners will ensure a smooth transition for existing customers and employees of Tata Communications' India and Singapore data centres into the broader STT GDC platform, it added.

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Members of the community, family memembers and police officers from the four precincts on Staten Island gathered on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at the St Christopher's Church in Grant City for a remembrance mass 18 years after Officer Matthew Dziergowski tragically lost his life in the lane of duty. (Staten Island Advance / Irene Spezzamonte)

Police Officer Matthew Dziergowski was killed Feb. 14, 1999 while guarding an accident scene near the Outerbridge Crossing.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Matthew and Maria Dziergowski got engaged on Valentine's Day, promising each other to stay together for the rest of their lives.

Fourteen years later, on Feb. 14, 1999, Dziergowski, a police officer assigned to the 123rd Precinct, tragically lost his life in the line of duty after a speeding SUV plowed into his car as he was guarding the scene of a car accident near the Outerbridge Crossing.

"He always tried to make Valentine's Day a special day," his wife said shortly after a remembrance mass for her husband took place at St. Christopher's R.C. Church in Grant City.

Maria Dziergowski -- who was three months pregnant with their second child when her husband died -- said it was hard to raise a child that has never met his dad and that the Police Department has been like a family for them.

"When he was born, they [the police officers] saw it before me," she said. "The Police Department was always there."

The two children, Danny, 26, and Matthew Jr., 18, however, have never thought about joining the NYPD, their mom said.

"I cannot believe it has been as long as it has since he died," Danny Dziergowski, who was eight at the time of the crash, said.

"It was hard to pass along my dad's memory to my little brother," he said. "But we always tried to focus on the good things and there were so many."

Dziergowski's oldest son described his dad as an unbelievable father who always managed to take the whole family on vacation.

"He would always take us to Florida where my grandparents are," he said. "It didn't matter if we would have to drive there, we would always go."

According to officers on the scene, Dziergowski, 39, moved his patrol car into the path of a speeding Dodge Durango driven by Ciardi Franklin of Perth Amboy, N.J., saving other officers from harm.

Franklin, 27, was on his way home from a party when he crashed into two police vehicles on the West Shore Expressway, police said.

In 2000, Franklin was convicted of criminally negligent homicide. He was released on parole in 2002.

For his heroism, Dziergowski was posthumously awarded the police Medal of Valor.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- It was love at first slice: Five Staten Island couples exchanged tales of meetings over pizza, pinot noir and maybe even a little penne alla vodka Monday night at the inaugural "Met Your Soul Mate at Jimmy Max."

The event was coordinated to celebrate those who met and married after linking up at the communal Italian hot spot in Westerleigh.

But Jimmy Max owner Jimmy McBratney kicked it up a notch for the occasion: He treated lovers who qualified to a complimentary steak and lobster dinner with dessert.

"For years I've met couples who say this is where they've met here and gotten together," said McBratney. "I've been wanting to do something like this for a long time."

Throughout its 28 years in business, Jimmy Max built a reputation of being a place to connect for good food and great company. Still, most of the "Soul Mate" couples had never met before.

Felicia and John Alhorn, married for 11 years now, said "fate brought them together" the night they met at the local restaurant. John made a ritual of coming to the neighborhood joint for a slice of pizza with some work buddies. One night, after her plans fell through, Felicia walked in with some friends looking on a mission to find a decent martini.

The two locked eyes and clicked instantly.

Albina and George Lauer of Westerleigh are enjoying being newlyweds after getting hitched in May 2016. The two were introduced when George was bartending at Jimmy Max one night and have been together ever since.

Debbie and John O'Shea of Grasmere met at the restaurant in 2007 and wed in 2009. They said being so close to where they first met gives them nostalgia each time they come in.

Jackie and Mike Warmbler of Westerleigh said they both grew up walking distance from Jimmy Max -- and the two met at the restaurant's bar. "We teamed up, won a bunch of dart games and the rest is history," said Jackie, adding that she and Mike have now been married for five years.

BTW: Jimmy Max owner McBratney and his wife, Kathleen, also had their first meeting at the restaurant while working together. The two built a 17-year-strong marriage off of it.

"It means a lot to me that this is a place where people can come together and build these relationships," he said.
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Following the Nordstrom announcement earlier this month that it will no longer sell the Ivanka Trump brand, eight more retailers have dropped all Trump product lines.( AP Photo)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Following the Nordstrom announcement earlier this month that it will no longer sell the Ivanka Trump brand, several more retailers have dropped Trump product lines.

Nordstrom -- which will soon have a footprint in the borough with a Nordstrom Rack coming to Empire Outlets -- had been facing months of backlash from groups, such as Grab Your Wallet, who are calling for a boycott of Trump family products.

After Nordstorm took the lead in dropping Ivanka Trump's line, Neiman Marcus was next to rip the products from its stores.

Sears and Kmart recently announced the companies would no longer carry any Trump Home goods.

And the latest retailer in the Trump product boycott is Burlington (formerly Burlington Coat Factory), which has a store in the Chelsea section of Staten Island.

Most of the brands have said the measures were do to low performance of the Trump brands.

TJMAXX & MARSHALLS

While neither TJMaxx or Marshalls officially dropped Trump products, a New York Times report says that both stores were told to rid their stores off Ivanka Trump signs and to mingle the products in with other discount merchandise.

In addition, Belk, a chain with 300 locations in 16 states, also removed all 30 pieces of Ivanka Trump products from its website, according to Nymagazine.

"We continually review our assortment and the performance of the brands we carry. And we make adjustments as part of our normal course of business operations," said Belk in a statement.

ETHICS CONCERNS

After the Nordstrom announcement, Kellyanne Conway, one of President Donald Trump's top advisers, raised ethical concerns when she urged consumers to buy Ivanka Trump products in an interview. Conway may have violated a federal ethics code that prohibits the endorsement of products of an associate's financial interests, legal experts say.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- There are big changes in the weeks ahead for motorists who travel over the Bayonne Bridge.

Drivers will soon be traveling over the bridge's new elevated roadway -- part of the "Raise the Roadway" construction project -- which began in 2013. The opening of the new elevated roadway will go hand in hand with a new cashless tolling system.

"Its an important time for us here at the Port Authority," said Roger Prince, general manager of Staten Island bridges for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. "We're getting close to opening the new upper roadway of the Bayonne Bridge and we expect that to happen in the not-too-distant future. Part of that ... will be operating the bridge in a new manner. We'll be operating a cashless operation."

At first, the new Bayonne Bridge roadway will continue to accommodate two lanes of traffic -- one lane in each direction. To accommodate cashless tolling, the existing toll plaza will be taken out of service and replaced with overhead gantry, mounted with electronic toll collection.

Drivers will no longer slow down or stop at a toll booth, but will be able to continue driving through the crossing at the posted speed limit.

"It's a big event opening a roadway for us, but it's more about preparing the drivers for the new experience, especially those who do not use E-Z pass," said Prince.

SIGNAGE INSTALLED

Allison C. de Cerreno, assistant director of the Port Authority's Department of Tunnels, Bridges and Terminals, noted that when cashless tolling begins at the bridge, "we still will be collecting tolls only in the New York-bound direction as we do today."

Port Authority workers were out on Monday hanging signage near the gantry to help make the transition to cashless tolling an easy one for drivers. When the new roadway opens, all traffic crossing Route 440 between Bayonne and Staten Island will be directed by signs to the bridge's new approach roadways and over the elevated span.

"There will be a significant amount of signage and information educating the drivers to how they will experience the ride through that area," Prince said.

A NEW LOOK

He noted that the upper roadway will have a bit of a different look due to the construction that's taken place as part of the "Raise the Roadway project."

The project lifts the road 64 feet -- from 151 feet to 215 feet -- within the confines of the bridge's current arch.

"When you drove across it previously, you were lower in the arch. The new roadway will be a lot higher in the arch so it will be a little bit of a different driving experience for the customers as they traverse the facility as a whole," Prince said.

SEAMLESS TRANSITION FOR E-Z PASS USERS

Port Authority officials noted that those who use E-Z pass will particularly find the transition to cashless tolling a seamless one.

"For the 91 percent of our customers who use E-Z Pass at the Bayonne Bridge, the only real difference for them is that they won't have to slow down as they go through the toll plaza, because there won't be a toll plaza anymore," said de Cerreno.

An important aspect of the cashless tolling that motorists must keep in mind is that E-Z Pass tags must be mounted in the vehicle's windshield.

"For whatever reason, we have lots of people who don't like to mount them, and they tend to kind of wave them as they go through. That doesn't actually work today and it definitely won't work under the new system," de Cerreno said.

She said if tags are not properly mounted, motorists could have a problem.

FOR MOTORISTS WHO DON'T HAVE E-Z PASS

For the less than 10 percent of drivers who do not have E-Z Pass, an overhead camera will photograph the vehicle's license plate. The vehicle's registered owner will receive a toll bill by mail. Bills can be paid online, by mail or by phone, following the instructions in the bill, de Cerreno said.

Customers can also pay using the E-Z Pass Customer Service Center, located at 1150 South Ave. They can also pay their bill at 44 retailers in Staten Island. To find the retailer nearest you, go to the Tolls by Mail "Pay by Cash Locator."

Failure to pay by the due date will result in a $5 late fee. Failure to pay by the second due date will result in a toll violation and a $50 fee for each unpaid toll transaction.

By the time the "Raise the Roadway" project is complete in 2019, the new roadway will have opened at its full width, with four 12-foot lanes plus inner and outer shoulders, a median barrier and a 10-foot shared-used path for cyclists and pedestrians.

For more information on cashless tolling, visit the Port Authority's website.
Michael Flynn

National Security Adviser Michael Flynn speaks during the daily news briefing at the White House, in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

(Carolyn Kaster)

WASHINGTON - Republicans in Congress were divided Monday about whether to continue backing President Donald Trump's embattled national security adviser, Michael Flynn, as the controversy around him grows.

At least one Republican House member -- Colorado's Mike Coffman -- called for Flynn to resign if it is proven that the retired army general intentionally misled the president.

Coffman, a retired Marine officer who is targeted by Democrats in his House releection races, said it was Flynn's "duty to be fully transparent and forthright in his actions-anything less is unacceptable."

He added: "If in fact he purposely misled the President, he should step down immediately."

The Republican lawmaker's statement came as concerns on Capitol Hill mount over whether Flynn discussed sanctions on Russia in a call with that country's ambassador to the United States before Trump was sworn-in as president.

The Post reported Monday night that the acting attorney general warned the Trump White House that Flynn could be susceptible to blackmail from the Russians because he had misled senior administration officials about his communications with the Russian ambassador.

The White House sent conflicting signals on how it was handling the situation, with top aide Kellyanne Conway signaling earlier in the day that Flynn enjoys Trump's full confidence and spokesman Sean Spicer later indicating the president was "evaluating the situation."

At least one top Republican - House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif. -- dismissed accusations against Flynn as baseless, calling him one of the "best intelligence officers of his generation."

"He's being attacked maliciously by the press, which is not uncommon in this town," Nunes said in an interview on the Fox News show "Your World with Neil Cavuto." "I think what General Flynn is realizing is that being a general is much different than being in politics and he's just got to work his way through it."

Nunes and Trump ally Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., were among a small group of lawmakers to offer a full-throated defense of Flynn's actions as the controversy swirled on Monday. Collins told reporters that Flynn should "absolutely" stay on in his current position and downplayed the seriousness of the accusations against him.

"I think some people are trying to blow this up, you know, make a mountain out of a mole hill," Collins said. "I don't know what was said or not but there's nothing wrong with the national security adviser-elect, so to speak, speaking with world leaders."

The vast majority of Republicans on Capitol Hill remained silent about the burgeoning controversy, perhaps unsure about where the president and his administration stood. The Washington Post reported that Flynn discussed sanctions against Russia with that country's ambassador to the United States in the month before Trump was installed as president.

Neither House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., nor Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., weighed in on the issue. But some key Republicans with seats on intelligence and defense-related panels did.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., one of the top Republicans on the Senate Intelligence Committee, told reporters that Flynn's contact with the Russian ambassador will be a part of the ongoing bipartisan investigation into alleged Russian interference into the 2016 election.

"This and anything else that involves the Russians," Rubio said. "We're going to go wherever the truth leads us."

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., said he personally has confidence in Flynn. But the senator, often a Trump critic, said he does not have enough information to make a judgment about how Flynn handled his conversations with Russia.

"I don't know enough about this particular situation to make a comment," McCain said.

Some said Trump's was the only opinion that mattered.

"What's important is if the president has confidence in the National Security Adviser," said Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C.

Burr's committee is leading the Senate probe into Russian activities in 2016, including an intelligence community assessment that the country was attempting to tilt the election to Trump.

In a telephone interview with The Post on Monday, Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., declined to say whether Flynn should step down, saying he does not know what transpired beyond what he has seen in media reports.

"That's for the administration to sort out - if he was untruthful," Dent said. "I simply don't know and I can't speak to what he said."

The centrist Republican lawmaker said he was more worried about the contours of Trump's emerging Russia policy, which he said appears too "conciliatory."

"I'm less concerned about Michael Flynn having conversations with the Russian ambassador than the substance of the Russian policy," Dent said.

Flynn's troubles are complicated by the fact that Vice President Mike Pence made public statements supporting Flynn's earlier claim that he did not speak with the Russian envoy.

"He's speaking to Vice President Pence relative to the conversation the Vice President had with Gen. Flynn and also speaking to various other people about what he considers the single most important subject there is: our national security," Spicer said.

Flynn has been under fire since The Washington Post report revealed that he discussed sanctions with Sergey Kislyak, Russia's ambassador to the United States, shortly before Trump's inauguration. Flynn denied that he discussed sanctions with Kislyak both publicly and in private conversations with senior White House aides.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., talked about the issues during a news conference with reporters in his home state.

Graham on Monday said the situation has created an issue that Flynn must address with Trump.

"He has a problem that he needs to fix with this president," Graham told reporters. "[The national security adviser] needs to be somebody that the president trusts and it needs to be someone that America trusts."

Graham said that he personally likes and respects Flynn but that the issue needs to be resolved quickly.

"If that conversation was misrepresented by Gen. Flynn, that needs to be corrected," Graham said. "I'm going to leave it up to the president whether or not he believes Gen. Flynn can still serve him capably."

For their part, Democrats have been quick to call for Flynn to either be fired or lose his security clearance. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called Monday for Flynn to be let go.

"We have a National Security Advisor who cannot be trusted not to put Putin before America," Pelosi said in a statement. "National security demands that General Flynn be fired immediately."

Pelosi previously called for Flynn to lose his security clearance, a move endorsed by Rep. Elijah Cummings, Md., the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

"I think that's an appropriate action," Cummings said in an interview with ABC's "This Week."

Cummings said there are many unanswered questions about Flynn's conversations with Kislyak and what, if any, security issues those conversations have created.

"Did the president instruct General Flynn to talk to the ambassador?" Cummings asked. "And did he know about it? If he knew about this conversation, when did he know it? That, to me, that is the key question. And we need to find out what that answer is."
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President Donald Trump looks at Education Secretary Betsy DeVos as he speaks during a meeting with parents and teachers, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. The Education Department is being criticized for removing a web page with information on the federal disabilities act. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The U.S. Department of Education has modified its web page offering information on the federal disabilities act, drawing concern from Senate Democrats and advocates for the disabled.

The web page for the Individuals with Disabilities Act -- designed to empower and assist students with disabilities and their families -- was modified without explanation last week, right before the tie-breaker confirmation of Betsy DeVos as U.S. Secretary of Education.

DeVos, a billionaire with no public school education experience, was widely criticized when she failed to answer questions about the disabilities act during her Senate confirmation hearing.

Democratic Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, both from Washington State, demanded DeVos "provide an immediate and detailed explanation for why the resource website for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has disappeared."

The site used to include the full text of the act, along with Q&As and guidance documents. It now directs users to a page saying the servers are "experiencing technical issues," and directing users to outside links about the act.

The senators pointed out that the centralized resource website for the IDEA (https://www.idea.ed.gov) has been inaccessible to the public for more than a week, and now is redirecting people to a modified site for the Office of Special Education Programs ("OSEP"). "The OSEP website lacks much of the information previously available," they said.

"The Department's failure to keep this critical resource operational makes it harder for parents, educators, and administrators to find the resources they need to implement this federal law and protect the rights of children with disabilities," the senators, who both opposed DeVos' cabinet nomination, said in a joint statement.

The web page was set up under President George W. Bush's Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, so that educators, advocates and parents could get a 'one-stop' explanation and know their rights under the disability law."

The downed web page is another misstep in what's been a rocky start for DeVos and the Trump Education Department.

On Friday protesters protesters blocked DeVos from entering a Washington, D.C. public school. Over the weekend the department tweeted a Black History Month tribute to W.E.B. Du Bois that spelled the civil rights leader's name wrong. The department then apologized in a tweet with another mistake, which said, "our deepest apologizes for the earlier typo."

On Tuesday morning DeVos met with President Donald Trump at a White House "listening session" with teachers who have taught in public and private school, and parents who home-school their kids. The president told them "America's children will be the winners" with DeVos as his education secretary.
ICE arrest.jpg

In this Feb. 9, 2017, photo provided U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE agents at a home in Atlanta, during a targeted enforcement operation aimed at immigration fugitives, re-entrants and at-large criminal aliens. (Bryan Cox/ICE via AP)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Of the 41 people U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested last week, two were from Staten Island, not five, as originally reported.

Both have been convicted of violent crimes and are being represented by the Legal Aid Society.

Make the Road New York, an immigrants rights group, had reported that five people were arrested when ICE conducted planned arrests of more than 680 people in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta and San Antonio.

But ICE says that figure is incorrect -- two men, both Mexican, and both permanent legal residents, were arrested on Staten Island last week. No additional people were detained or arrested.

Scott Mechkowski, deputy field office director for ICE's New York area office, said one man had been convicted of raping a young girl, served seven years in prison and another year for family neglect.

"We deemed him a public threat," he said. "We wouldn't release a guy like that back in the community."

The second man had been convicted of assault and served six months in prison, Mechkowski said. The man had also previously been arrested for a DWI.

They are being held in a New Jersey facility and will appear before an immigration judge, who will determine whether they should be deported.

Mechkowski's unit arrested 41 people, 38 of whom had criminal convictions.

According to an ICE statement, the agency "conducts these kind of targeted enforcement operations regularly and has for many years. The focus of these enforcement operations is consistent with the routine, targeted arrests carried out by ICE's Fugitive Operations teams on a daily basis."

Of the other three, two were arrested because they had been deported previously and re-entered the country illegally, and the third one is "unlawfully present in the U.S." Mechkowski said, and the man was present when another person was being arrested.

ICE ran a check on the third man and found that he has been charged with sexual abuse and arrested him.

Mechkowski takes issue with the press reporting that people arrested were "undocumented" or "illegal" immigrants -- his unit arrested 24-25 legal permanent residents who had committed crimes.

While legal permanent residents don't fear being deported because of immigration status, a serious crime could mean a deportation.

Mechkowski said the arrests were not "raids" or "sweeps," but, rather, targeted arrests that ICE makes on a "day-to-day basis."

"We knew exactly who they were and we were going to arrest them," he said. "People think that ICE is driving up and down the street, stopping at churches, libraries and restaurants . .. and we jump out and we arrest them."

An ICE statement said: "These are existing, established fugitive operations teams. ICE does not conduct sweeps, checkpoints or raids that target aliens indiscriminately. Reports of ICE checkpoints and sweeps are false, dangerous and irresponsible. These reports create panic and put communities and law enforcement personnel in unnecessary danger. Any groups falsely reporting such activities are doing a disservice to those they claim to support."

Immigrants' rights groups and others telling people not to answer their doors only serves to cause unreasonable fear, he said.

"This thing about knocking on doors is ridiculous," he said. If ICE were doing raids "I would have a lot more than 41 people."

Causing immigrants to fear deportation just because they're in the country illegally is, "irresponsible reporting, whether it's from community activists or community leaders," Mechkowski said. They don't try to break up families and make people feel unsafe, he said. "It's to make the community safer. The people we target are public safety threats."

While there were two arrests last week, "we're going to be on Staten Island again, we're not going to stop going," Mechkowski said.

The ICE arrests are nothing new.

During President Barack Obama's administration, about 2.5 million people were deported, more than any other president in history, including George W. Bush, who deported about 2 million.

Like Obama, President Donald Trump said he will focus on deporting criminals, but in his executive order threatening to cut funding to sanctuary cities, expanded that beyond convicted criminals to people who have been charged with crimes.
UNION GROVE  A Union Grove woman is facing a child-abuse charge after allegedly using her boyfriends cellphone to try to cover up her hurting a child during bath time.

Nicole V. Grimm, 32, of the 1000 block of Vine Street, was charged Monday in Racine County Circuit court with physical abuse of a child, a felony.

According to the criminal complaint:

Racine County investigators were alerted to the alleged abuse on Jan. 20 after Grimm brought the child, who was reportedly suffering from a seizure, to Aurora Hospital in Kenosha. The child, described in the complaint as a baby, was later transferred to Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin in Wauwatosa for treatment, where staff reported that child had a fractured skull.

A doctor at the hospital told investigators that the biomechanics of the injury indicated that the injury could have occurred as a result of the childs head being slammed against the tub.

Staff at Aurora Hospital also noted that the child had diaper rash on his thighs and bottom.

When deputies confronted Grimm about the head injury, she allegedly claimed the abuse was committed by a friend who had recently watched the child. Additionally, Grimm allegedly had a text message from the woman apologizing for hurting the child. However, it was determined that Grimm allegedly used a phone she borrowed to text herself the message so police would think the friend was guilty of the abuse.

Grimm was arrested Saturday and as of Monday evening remained in the Racine County Jail, according to online jail records.

Grimm is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Feb 23 at the county Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave.

If convicted, Grimm faces up to 25 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.
ICE arrest.jpg

This Feb. 7, 2017 photo released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shows foreign nationals being arrested during a targeted enforcement operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement aimed at immigration fugitives, re-entrants and at-large criminal aliens. (Charles Reed/U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via AP)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Last week U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested two Staten Island men convicted of violent crimes, but Make the Road New York, an immigrant advocacy group, isn't backing down from its claim that five were arrested and that ICE's goal in the arrests is to "tear families apart."

One of the first groups to spread information about ICE arrests, Make the Road made the claim over the weekend that five people were arrested here, and many news outlets repeated the claim.

But Scott Mechkowski, deputy field office director for ICE's New York area office, had personal involvement in the 41 total arrests in the New York area last week and said it was only two men, both permanent legal residents.

One man was convicted of raping a young girl, serving seven years in prison with an additional year for family neglect.

"We deemed him a public threat," Mechkowski said. "We wouldn't release a guy like that back in the community."

The second man was convicted of assault and served six months in prison, Mechkowski said. The man had also previously been arrested for a DWI.

The Legal Aid Society is representing the two Mexican nationals who were arrested and who are being held in different prisons, according to the Society's Adriene Holder.

But Deborah Axt, co-executive director of Make the Road New York, said, "In the past week, five Staten Island families presented themselves to our staff reporting that a member of their family had been taken by ICE agents."

Make the Road hasn't responded to additional questions about what information it has gotten since that initial report -- such as confirming that arrests were made, and that the men were brought to a prison, were being processed before seeing a judge, etc.

The group joins elected officials like Sen. Charles Schumer in criticizing ICE for releasing limited information about the arrests.

"We also think it is interesting that, while ICE is arguing about the number of detained people in Staten Island during a given week, they continue to disseminate very partial information to the public and deny reporters' requests for additional information on the 41 families they have torn apart," Axt said.

ICE's Mechkowski spoke openly with the Advance Monday about the two arrests made on Staten Island, refuting Make the Road's claim of five arrests.

While it's unknown the exact crimes committed by the other dozens arrested around the city and the state, Mechkowski said 38 had criminal convictions.

Two more were arrested because they had been deported before and re-entered the country illegally.

The final arrest was of a man in the country illegally and who has been charged with sexual abuse.

Mechkowski said of the 41 arrested, 24 or 25 are permanent legal residents -- not undocumented immigrants who are being targeted because of their immigration status.

Make the Road is presenting the arrests as targeting innocent immigrants, not criminal immigrants.

"ICE continues to try to obscure the fact that the principal effect of its raids is to separate families and sow panic in the immigrant community," Axt said. "In the latest 'Fact Sheet,' ICE attempts to paint 41 individuals with one brush by sharing selective information about only three of those individuals."

Make the Road didn't respond to a question posed about whether they are sowing panic by making two arrests appear as "raids" to "separate families."

According to an ICE statement, the agency "conducts these kind of targeted enforcement operations regularly and has for many years. The focus of these enforcement operations is consistent with the routine, targeted arrests carried out by ICE's Fugitive Operations teams on a daily basis."

In demanding that arrests, which they call "raids" stop, Axt and Make the Road encouraged people -- and provided contact information -- to call members of Congress to protest the arrests.

Rep. Daniel Donovan said he supports deporting those who commit crimes but allowing otherwise law-abiding undocumented immigrants to stay. His office has fielded calls, mostly from people outside the 11th Congressional District who were instructed to call, Axt confirmed.
Bill de Blasio

Mayor Bill de Blasio, in cooperation with the Department of Small Business Services, announced the new "NYC Love Your Local" initiative to highlight local businesses. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- This Valentine's Day, make sure to show some love to your favorite local businesses.

On Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio and the Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Gregg Bishop announced the new "NYC Love Your Local" initiative to celebrate and promote independent, small businesses.

"Our small businesses are one of the many factors that make Staten Island so unique," said Borough President James Oddo. "This initiative gives voice to the community to call out their favorite small businesses and that's always a good thing."

The program encourages New Yorkers to share their favorite independent, non-franchise businesses to an interactive city-wide map available online.

Businesses on the map may also apply for a share of $1.8 million in grant funding and expert advice.

New Yorkers are encouraged to share why they love their favorite local business on social media by using the hashtag #LoveYourLocalNYC.

"I love the concept of the 'NYC Love Your Local' campaign," said Linda Baran, president and CEO of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. "It shines the light on our neighborhood 'mom and pops' who contribute so much to our local economy."
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A week ago, Port Richmond Avenue was bustling -- people waiting at the bus stop, walking to the corner deli or local restaurant, going to the laundromat or walking their children home from school.

On Monday, the streets were eerily quiet.

"People are definitely talking about it. They're very worried," said Maria Morales, owner of Los Potrillos, a Mexican-cuisine restaurant at 150 Port Richmond Ave., referring to the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in which five Mexican immigrants were detained on Staten Island on Saturday.

The popular neighborhood restaurant was serving just two customers on Monday afternoon.

"...they are afraid because they don't know if the government is going to act just against people who have a criminal record or people who work hard and are good people and just trying to make a better living," Morales said.

The five immigrants detained by ICE officers were picked up outside their homes, according to Daniel Altschuler, a community organizer with Make The Road New York, a community organization with an office on Staten Island.

"I hope that nothing bad really happens and [the government] focus is on people who are committing a crime because they don't deserve being here," Morales said.

She said she hopes there will be a clean path to citizenship for "positive people."

Walking from Los Potrillos to El Centro del Inmigrante, there were no laughing school children or shoppers going in and out of the dozens of stores that line Port Richmond Avenue.

You could almost feel fear.

Jazmine Zosayas, a single step associate at El Centro, said there has been a significant increase in the number of phone calls to El Centro from concerned residents seeking information and comfort.

"Now, yes [they're calling]. People are very afraid. They're calling all the time asking what they should do more now than ever before," Zosayas said, adding that people usually come in to speak with somebody.

Zosayas said there has also been an increase in parents requesting passport applications for their children.

"In case something happens this way they have their passports ready to go," she said.
ICE arrests.jpg

In this Feb. 7, 2017 photo released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, foreign nationals are arrested during a targeted enforcement operation aimed at immigration fugitives, re-entrants and at-large criminal aliens. (Charles Reed/U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via AP)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - After a week of arrests sent shockwaves through terrified immigrant communities, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) owes the public an explanation of its activities, Sen. Charles Schumer said.

ICE conducted more than 680 arrests across the country over the course of a week, including 41 in the New York area -- including Staten Island.

According to an ICE statement Monday, "of those arrested, approximately 75 percent were criminal aliens, convicted of crimes including, but not limited to, homicide, aggravated sexual abuse, sexual assault of a minor, lewd and lascivious acts with a child, indecent liberties with a minor, drug trafficking, battery, assault, DUI and weapons charges."

According to an earlier leaked ICE memo, the operation targeted "criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants and immigration fugitives."

The memo said 95 percent of those arrested in New York had criminal convictions "final statistics and photos will be available to reporters Monday."

But as of Monday afternoon, very little additional information had been provided about the identities of those arrested, their countries of origin, the exact crimes they had been convicted of or what the non-criminals did to warrant an arrest.

According to an ICE statement, the agency "conducts these kind of targeted enforcement operations regularly and has for many years. The focus of these enforcement operations is consistent with the routine, targeted arrests carried out by ICE's Fugitive Operations teams on a daily basis."

Of the 41 people arrested in the New York area, 38 had criminal convictions. ICE did not respond to questions regarding the arrests of the three without convictions.

The agency provided only sparse details about three of the 41 arrests: One was a citizen of El Salvador who was convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering and a self-admitted MS-13 gang member. Another was a citizen of Jamaica with a criminal conviction of first degree sexual assault of a victim under age 11. The third was a citizen of Mexico convicted of first degree sexual assault of a victim under age 11.

Unsubstantiated reports of checkpoints have caused unrest among people fearing deportation.

ICE has objected to referring to the arrests as "raids" or "sweeps."

"These are existing, established fugitive operations teams. ICE does not conduct sweeps, checkpoints or raids that target aliens indiscriminately," the agency said. "Reports of ICE checkpoints and sweeps are false, dangerous and irresponsible. These reports create panic and put communities and law enforcement personnel in unnecessary danger. Any groups falsely reporting such activities are doing a disservice to those they claim to support."

Schumer (D-NY) has been in favor of deporting those who have committed serious crimes, and called on ICE to provide detailed information about the arrests.

"Reports that ICE targeted non-violent immigrant families over the past week are deeply disturbing. Undocumented immigrants live in fear, and they are confused and scared," he said. "I am troubled by the lack of transparency and potential due process violations surrounding ICE's most recent enforcement actions. That is why I'm calling on ICE to release information about the location of the raids and details of the people who were arrested."

He continued, "Targeting law-abiding innocent immigrant families whose only wrongdoing was crossing the border to give their children a better life, instead of focusing on removing those who have been convicted of violent crimes, is a waste of limited resources and undermines law enforcement in communities across the country. ICE must come clean."

While the several hundred arrests over the last week have made illegal immigrants and their proponents uneasy, arresting and deporting people is nothing new.

President Barack Obama focused on deporting people who committed crimes while in the country, removing about 2.5 million people, more than any other president in history, including George W. Bush, who deported about 2 million people.

Trump has also said he will focus on deporting criminals but in his executive order threatening to cut funding to sanctuary cities, he expanded that beyond convicted criminals to people who have been charged, as well as those who haven't been charged with committing a crime -- those who "have committed acts that constitute a chargeable criminal offense" the executive order states.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) too called on ICE to provide more details about the arrests.

Her spokesman, Marc Brumer said, "Senator Gillibrand has serious questions about the raids and the way they have been conducted. She wants ICE to be transparent and tell us exactly who they are targeting and the reasons they are being detained."

Rep. Daniel Donovan, a Republican, agreed with Schumer that criminals should be deported and law-abiding people, despite breaking federal immigration law, should be allowed to stay.

But he cautioned a rush to judgement before details are provided.

"Government's first responsibility is to protect our nation. As a former district attorney, I understand that law enforcement has finite resources," Donovan said. "That's why I firmly believe that ICE resources should focus on targeting those who pose a threat to public safety, not otherwise law-abiding residents. Since enforcement agencies often have more information than what's publicly available, we should not pass judgment on those responsible for defending our communities -- or on those who have been charged -- until all the facts surrounding these events have become available. I will continue to monitor the situation as more details about the backgrounds of those detained become public."
Page Content

On Saturday, February 11th, 2017, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Affairs, Silveria Jacobs attended the first annual Shing Din at the cultural site of St. Louis. The Shing Din was an event put together by the Rambaud-St. Louis Fete Association and hosted the special needs citizens of both the French and Dutch side. The event was in honor of the special needs citizens on the island, to showcase not only their talent, but that they havent been forgotten as citizens of St. Martin. Minister Jacobs was elated to be present at the Shing Din and congratulated the association on a successful event. Minister Jacobs enjoyed the African drum band performance, which consisted of 4 young men and their mentor. The young gentlemen gave the audience an amazing show and received a round of applause as well as gave an encore.





The President of Parliament. Mrs. Sarah Wescot-Williams, Ms. Ramona Connor, 2nd Vice President of Family and Social Affairs, as well as legendary calypsonian Mr. Cedrick Rey were in attendance.




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A federal judge on Monday removed the city of Madison as a defendant in a federal civil rights lawsuit brought by the mother of Tony Robinson, the black teenager who was fatally shot by a white Madison Police Department officer in 2015.

U.S. District Judge James Peterson said in his ruling that Andrea Irwins lawsuit presented no evidence to suggest that city practices or procedures led to Robinsons death. Officer Matt Kenny, who fatally shot Robinson, was denied his request that he be dismissed as a defendant.

The suit is scheduled to go to trial starting Feb. 27, with a jury deciding whether Kenny acted properly in the confrontation with 19-year-old Robinson. The suit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

Irwin, as the representative of Robinsons estate, filed the case against the city and Kenny a few months after Robinson was shot by Kenny on March 6, 2015, while the two struggled in a stairwell of an apartment building on the 1100 block of Williamson Street.

The bottom line is that (Irwin) has not adduced evidence to show that Robinson died because the city turned a blind eye to obvious problems with the police departments investigation or response to officer-involved shootings. Accordingly, (Irwins) constitutional claim against the city fails, Peterson wrote in the decision.

While Peterson decided to remove the city, he noted that the ruling is not an endorsement of the investigation of the Robinson shooting.

The state Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the shooting, and Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne said Kennys shooting of Robinson was lawful. An internal review of the incident by the Madison Police Department cleared Kenny of violating department policies.

Peterson denied Kennys request for dismissal as the facts of what happened when he confronted Robinson in the stairwell are sharply and genuinely disputed.

Kenny was the first officer to respond to the Near East Side apartment after reports that Robinson ran into the street and battered two people before returning to the residence. Kenny entered the apartments stairwell after he thought he heard someone being assaulted, though Robinson had been alone.

Kenny told investigators he was in fear for his life when Robinson, who had used hallucinogenic mushrooms and other drugs, struck him in the narrow stairwell.

Irwin argues Kenny disregarded police policy by entering without backup and lied by being able to craft his version of events while examining the scene and listening to audio recordings before giving a formal statement to investigators.

The evidence in this case reveals one core dispute regarding what happened between Kenny and Robinson in the stairwell that evening, Peterson wrote. Whether Kennys use of force was objectively unreasonable is an issue that must be resolved at trial.

In the main argument as to why the city is liable, Irwin argued internal investigations of officer-involved shootings are unfairly biased in favor of the officer, causing Kenny to believe he could use deadly force with impunity, Peterson wrote.

Peterson said the argument cites the internal investigations into the fatal shootings of Paul Heenan in 2012 and Ronald Brandon in 2007, whom Kenny shot. In both cases, the officers were not criminally charged and also cleared after the police departments internal reviews.

Peterson said Irwins argument against the city, which also referenced the police departments review of Robinsons death, did not provide enough evidence to retain the city as a defendant.

If a widespread pattern had any effect on Kennys decision, it would have to have been established before he shot Robinson, Peterson wrote.
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A 37-year-old Cottage Grove man killed in a crash on Highway 30 on Sunday has been identified as Kirk U'Ren.

U'ren was driving west on Highway 30 when a speeding eastbound car went through the median, became airborne and landed on top of U'ren's SUV.

The Dane County Medical Examiner's Office said on Tuesday that U'ren's death was the result of injuries sustained in the crash.

He was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which happened at about 4:45 p.m. near Fair Oaks Avenue.

A 34-year-old Cottage Grove woman who was a passenger in U'ren's SUV was in critical condition at a local hospital.

The 25-year-old town of Dunn man suspected of causing the crash has not been identified by police because he has not been charged yet.
After nearly 27 years in prison for a sexual assault he says he didnt commit, a former Wisconsin Rapids man was back in court Tuesday, for the first of three days of hearings he hopes will lead to freedom.

Richard Beranek, 58, who has been in prison since he was convicted and sentenced in 1990 for the 1987 rape of a rural Stoughton woman, maintains he didnt commit the crime. Now with the help of the Innocence Project, he says DNA evidence is on his side.

A retired Dane County judge, the same one who sentenced Beranek in 1990, is listening to arguments about hair and DNA evidence Beraneks lawyers say should lead to a new trial.

Among the lawyers working on Beraneks case is Jarrett Adams, whose own 1999 sexual assault conviction in Jefferson County was overturned by a federal appeals court in 2006. Adams has since gone to law school and now works as an attorney for the Innocence Project in New York.

After seeking DNA testing of critical pieces of evidence starting in 2011, Beranek in June filed a motion for a new trial. Despite a briefing schedule set last year, prosecutors did not respond to the motion but said in court Tuesday that the burden is on Beranek to prove with new evidence, not that already presented at his trial, that a new trial is warranted.

Again representing the prosecution is state Assistant Attorney General Robert Kaiser, who as a Dane County assistant district attorney won the case that put Beranek behind bars for the rest of his life.

Prior to the case, Beranek had been convicted of sexual assault in Chippewa County in 1988 and Wood County in 1981. Beranek was in prison in 1989 when he was identified as a suspect in the rural Stoughton case.

Reserve Judge Daniel Moeser, who as a Dane County circuit judge in 1990 sentenced Beranek to the maximum 243 years in prison, is listening to the evidence. When he sentenced Beranek in 1990, Moeser said he cant think of a reason not to impose the maximum penalty in this case.

The jury heard the case, Moeser said at the time. The jury made the correct decision.

Beranek said he was with relatives in North Dakota when the rape occurred.

Six alibi witnesses, including three relatives, testified at his trial, all saying he had gone to the home of his sister and brother-in-law in Devils Lake, North Dakota, and was there Feb. 27 through March 6, 1987.

The woman said she was assaulted in her town of Pleasant Springs home on March 2, 1987.

Bryce Benjet, of the Innocence Project in New York City, said during the three-day hearing Beranek will present evidence from experts in hair and DNA analysis. He said the crime, which will have its 30th anniversary next month, is a terrible crime, and whats being discussed shouldnt reflect on the victim, who did nothing wrong.

The case is important for the criminal justice system to recognize when mistakes are made and correct them, Benjet said.

Beranek deserves a new trial in the interest of justice, Benjet said.

After the hearing both sides will submit briefs, and Moeser will decide later whether a new trial is granted.

DNA, hair, shaky testimony

In their motion asking for a new trial, Benjet and Wisconsin Innocence Project lawyer Keith Findley wrote new DNA evidence shows Beranek didnt commit the rape.

Mitochondrial DNA testing of all of the hairs collected from the perpetrators underwear shows that none of these hairs originated from Mr. Beranek, Benjet and Findley wrote. Results of other DNA testing on the victims underwear further support the fact that Mr. Beranek did not commit this crime.

The single hair that tied Beranek to the crime, they wrote, was from underwear left behind by the womans assailant. An FBI hair analyst, Wayne Oakes, testified in 1990 that his microscopic examination showed the hair was a match to Beranek. But recently, the lawyers wrote, the FBI has admitted Oakes testimony was false and misleading.

In a letter to the Dane County District Attorneys Office in 2015, the FBI wrote that an internal review of Oakes testimony found that on seven occasions, Oakes provided a likelihood that the questioned hair originated from a particular source, or an opinion as to the likelihood or rareness of the positive association that could lead the jury to believe that a valid statistical weight can be assigned to a microscopic hair association. This type of testimony exceeds the limits of science.

New DNA testing of the assailants underwear and the victims clothing found almost no measurable male DNA. Further testing for male DNA on the assailants underwear found a partial profile consistent with a mix of at least two males, but it wasnt enough to make a DNA identification.

Testing of sperm cells found on the victims underwear also found a mix of male DNA, including one major contributor. Beranek was excluded as the major contributor.

The brief also cites other factors, including what they called a suspect identification by the victim of her assailant. That included the passage of about two years before she chose him from a photo lineup, and a photo lineup that in itself was suggestive.
The accuracy of ACT Health's performance figures are again under scrutiny, more than five years after an employee was stood down for doctoring emergency service data.

ACT health minister Meegan Fitzharris has ordered an urgent review into ACT Health's data collection after the department failed to provide figures on its emergency department to the Productivity Commission for its annual comparison of the performance of states and territories.

Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris. Credit:Jamila Toderas

Ms Fitzharris said ACT Health was unable to meet reporting deadlines because of concerns around the accuracy of the data. A spokeswoman for the minister said these inaccuracies were not deliberate.

But the minister maintained the issues were "administrative in nature" and would not affect frontline health services.
Dangerous Romantics. Christina Wilson and Alan Hicks. Art Song Canberra. Wesley Music Centre, National Circuit, Forrest. Sunday, February 26 at 3pm. Tickets: $35, $30, $25, $15 includes light refreshments, available only at the door. Enquiries: info@artsongcanberra.org or 6286 7373.

Perhaps it is because of their very nature that poets often seem to lead dramatic, romantic, emotional or even scandalous or dangerous lives. Certainly this was so with the three poets, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron and Paul Verlaine whose poems have been set to music by many composers. They now feature in a recital, Dangerous Romantics, to be performed by husband and wife duo Alan Hicks and Christina Wilson at Wesley Music Centre on Sunday, February 26.

Canberra husband and wife duo Alan Hicks and Christina Wilson will perform a recital titled Dangerous Romantics.

Christina Wilson says, "These poets were incredibly colourful characters."

The stories of their lives indeed read like bestsellers, filled with episodes of romantic entanglements with both women and men during widespread travel. In Byron's case stoushes with the Establishment led to the Church refusing to allow a statue of him to be placed in Westminster Abbey and his adventures included encounters with the Ottoman navy during his time in Greece. Shelley was also politically active and wrote pamphlets which he distributed in hot air balloons, glass bottles and paper boats.
A Flynn man who told police anyone who denied being attracted to children "is lying" has been sentenced to prison for possessing and sending child pornography.

In October 2015, William Noel Arthur, 31, was arrested after he was caught in a Queensland police online sting, during which he sent an officer 25 photos and one video.

The AFP later took over the investigation and searched his Flynn home.

In November 2016, Arthur pleaded guilty to two counts of transmitting and one of possessing child pornography. The offences covered a period between 2012 and 2015.

In an interview with police in October 2016, which was referred to by Acting Justice David Robinson in sentencing on Monday, Arthur was asked if he was sexually attracted to children.
A survey of residents of Fluffy-contaminated houses showed more than 80 per cent had renovated their homes, exposing not only themselves but buildings and other tradespeople to the dangerous loose asbestos fibres.

Well under half of the residents wore a mask or other protective gear when they did their own renovations, and of those who knew whether their builder had worn protective gear only half said they had.

Asbestos was mistakenly thrown into an industrial waste sorting machine at the Mitchell Resource Recovery Centre. Pictured is a stock photo of loose fill asbestos from a Mr Fluffy home. Credit:ACT Asbestos Taskforce

The news comes from a survey of former and current Fluffy residents in 2016, made by the Australian National University team studying the health impacts of Canberra's Fluffy asbestos crisis.

"Given the high number of renovations  it is likely that a large number of builders and tradespeople have been exposed to loose-fill asbestos over time, knowingly or unknowingly," the report authors comment.
It's been revealed that planning minister Mick Gentleman's trip to North America last year cost taxpayers $70,538.

A document obtained under freedom of information shows a bill of $44,501 for airfares and $8701 for accommodation.

Planning Minister Mick Gentleman and members of an ACT delegation in Tuscon, Arizona, in February 2016.

Mr Gentleman was accompanied by his then chief of staff Adina Cirson, public servants Gary Rake and Ben Ponton, and several industry representatives.

When the trip was announced in February 2016, it was said non-government delegates would pay most of their own costs, with the government offering a $2000 grant to those representing peak bodies.
Some senior managers within Australia Post have reportedly been accused of manipulating data on workplace injuries so they can be rewarded with bonuses.

Comcare, the federal workplace safety and compensation agency, is investigating allegations made by current and former Australia Post managers that some senior staff delayed injury claims, recorded workers as away sick when they were injured, and paid for workers' medical expenses on corporate credit cards instead of letting them lodge compensation claims, The Australian Financial Review reports.

Managers reportedly manipulated injury rate data to secure bonuses. Credit:Christopher Pearce

Managerial and executive bonuses of up to $60,000 can depend on the key performance indicator of time lost due to injury (LTI) rates across the company, the AFR reports.

The AFR says a former manager has told Comcare that other managers explained to him the "normal practice" of delaying workers' compensation claims until the next annual reporting period to reduce the LTI rate for the current period.
The integrity of the process for developing Australia's new poultry standards is in question, with scientists raising concerns about inaccuracies and the RSPCA threatening to quit in protest.

Three animal welfare scientists sent a scathing letter, seen by Fairfax Media, to the group writing the legal requirements for poultry welfare, saying their research had been distorted in supporting papers to appear in favour of conventional caged egg production.

"The content is in general selective, and thus unbalanced, outdated on some points, and at times incorrectly referenced [and] this can mislead the debate," wrote Dr Jean-Loup Rault, Professor Tina Widowski and Professor Paul Hemsworth.

"Documents only include the sections and statements that outline the benefits of conventional cages, and omit sections that outline negative aspects ... and fail to acknowledge that there are, in fact, viable alternatives."
Industrial developers are in for a windfall with more than $90 million of sites on the market as the owners take advantage of the strong demand for developable land.

In one of the latest deals, Charter Hall's largest industrial fund, the $2 billion Prime Industrial Fund (CPIF), has boosted its portfolio with the purchase of a large parcel of land in Huntingwood for $29,715,000 from Beirsdorf, through Colliers International.

Charter Hall's largest industrial fund, the $2 billion Prime Industrial Fund (CPIF), has acquired a strategic 56,600sqm industrial parcel of land in Huntingwood from Beirsdorf.

Across town at Botany, Exxon Mobil has released the last major parcel of land, worth more than $40 million, at Coal Pier Road, Banksmeadow.

It is near Port Botany, Botany Bay and Sydney Airport. Major occupiers surrounding this land holding include Kellogg's, Visa Logistics, Toll, TNT and Bidvest. It will be offered for sale by JLL's Australian head of industrial, Michael Fenton, and head of South Sydney, Blair Peterken.
CHICAGO  State attorneys on Tuesday tried to persuade a panel of federal appellate judges that a Wisconsin inmate featured in the Netflix series Making a Murderer made a voluntary confession and was properly convicted.

Brendan Dassey was sentenced to life in prison in 2007 in connection with Teresa Halbachs death two years earlier. Dassey told detectives he helped his uncle, Steven Avery, rape and kill Halbach in the Avery familys Manitowoc County salvage yard. Avery was sentenced to life in prison in a separate trial.

A federal magistrate judge overturned Dasseys conviction in August, ruling investigators took advantage of the then-16-year-old Dasseys cognitive disabilities and tricked him into confessing with false promises that he would be all right. The state Department of Justice has appealed; Dassey remains in prison pending the outcome.

Attorneys for both DOJ and Dassey presented oral arguments to a three-judge panel at the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago on Tuesday.

DOJ Deputy Solicitor General Luke Berg told the panel detectives never made Dassey any specific promises, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Judge Ilana Rovner asked whether Dassey, whom the judge described as extremely suggestible, wouldnt have concluded based on the questioning that he would be able to go home rather than getting arrested.

Berg insisted the investigators acted properly and didnt so much as imply promises. Judge David Hamilton seemed to dispute that, telling Berg that obviously the investigators made vague promises of leniency.

Dasseys attorney, Laura Nirider, argued the detectives made a drumbeat of promises before every major admission in the confession. Hamilton, though, told her he had watched the entire interrogation and didnt think Dasseys will was subverted.

The arguments lasted less than an hour. The panel has no timetable for a decision, and it could be months before they rule.

Dassey, now 27, and Avery have contended police framed them. They say police went after them to stop a lawsuit Avery had filed demanding millions from Manitowoc County because he spent 18 years in prison for a rape he didnt commit. Avery is pursuing his own appeal.
EXCLUSIVE

Luxe brand Tiffany & Co is to boost the profile of Sydney's King Street with a flagship store that will be the envy of its peers and set the benchmark high for what is seen as the new "core of luxury" of big names along the strip.

Tiffany & Co have signed a lease at 175 King Street, owned by DEXUS Property.

It will now call 175 King Street, on the corner of Pitt Street, home after its relocation from 39 Martin Place, following the NSW government's compulsory acquisition of that property to accommodate the Metro rail system.

This will be in the middle of Louis Vuitton on the corner of King and George Streets and Chanel at the corner of King and Castlereagh Street, being dubbed as the King Street "luxe mile".
Wesfarmers chief executive-in-waiting Rob Scott has warned investors the business would look very different in 10 years' time to the retail giant it is today.

The anointment on Tuesday of Mr Scott as the next managing director of Wesfarmers, replacing the long-serving Richard Goyder in November, is not expected to test the group's commitment to its conglomerate structure.

But sources close to Wesfarmers suggest it is a much-needed changing-of-the-guard for a business that derives more than 80 per cent of its earnings from the fiercely competitive retail sector courtesy of its market behemoths Coles and Bunnings.

Mr Goyder has been leading the operation since 2005, during which time he transformed it through the $19.3 billion acquisition of Coles in 2007 and turned the supermarket chain into the standout leader in Australian grocery, a title that is now under threat from a resurgent Woolworths.
Time and again firms and institutions caught up in scandals try and blame it on a few bad apples.

It is crisis management 101. Rather than taking responsibility and looking more closely at the organisation and culture, they downplay the problem  at just about any cost.

Pizza giant Domino's is the latest company to wheel out the crisis management manual, amid allegations of widespread underpayment of workers and a business model that pushes some of its franchisees to cut corners.

Since the scandal broke, Domino's has issued statements that it has "zero tolerance" for wage fraud and says its model is profitable for franchisees.
NSW Labor Party leader Luke Foley said Ms McManus was ''an extraordinarily passionate and committed advocate for working people''. Credit:Jessica Hromas "The ACTU is a major pillar of a democratic Australia and to have a woman in the role of Secretary for the first time marks a major historical milestone," she said. "Representing working people with Governments and employers is both a privilege and a responsibility and Sally has demonstrated her leadership skills many times." Community and Public Sector Union national secretary Nadine Flood said Ms McManus was ''not just a brilliant campaigner, she is a highly strategic leader''. Credit:Jamila Toderas Burrow, who was the second woman appointed to the role as ACTU president in the year 2000 said the position of Secretary is "of enormous importance for working Australians and their families" because of the ACTU's role in campaigning for their rights, fair wages, safe workplaces and welfare.

The national secretary of a key right-wing union, Bob Nanva from the Rail Tram and Bus Union, said he and other right-wing unions would support Ms McManus' appointment as ACTU secretary. NSW secretary of the AMWU, Tim Ayres. said Ms McManus would provide exciting leadership. Credit:Jonathan Carroll "She is representative of the shift in the union movement's mindset not to be competitive with each other. Sally is a great collaborator," he said. "Whether you are in the left or the right, you cannot deny she had a prodigious work ethic and a flair for campaigning and she is exactly what we need right now in the union movement." She had helped end decades of demarcation disputes between the ASU and the RTBU.

"Normally when there are unions that have shared coverage like the RTBU and ASU in the NSW railways, it is very easy to cast a suspicious eye on each other. But Sally was incredibly good at breaking down those barriers," Mr Nanva said. "She is as adept at having a conversation with clerical workers as she is rallying a mob of railway workers. "It was her unflinching honesty, integrity and dedication to rank and file members that broke down those barriers of suspicion within our two unions, to the point where I am very happy to say we are no longer competitors. I consider her now to be a confidante." Tim Ayres, the NSW secretary of the left-wing Australian Manufacturing Workers Union said he expected Ms McManus would provide exciting leadership and generational change for the trade union movement. "She's an exciting union figure who has a lot of support around the movement who has organised some really creative campaigns, particularly the equal pay campaign and campaigns around the NDIS," he said.

"I think she is going to bring some real clout and energy and creativity to the leadership of the labour movement." Nadine Flood, national secretary for the left-wing Community and Public Sector Union, said Ms McManus was "not just a brilliant campaigner, she is a highly strategic leader driven by the interests of working people". "That's why supporting Sally as ACTU secretary is an easy decision," Ms Flood said. Unions NSW's Mark Morey said Ms McManus had shown she was comfortable working with blue and white collar workers. "She is a high quality official who is able to deliver for community sector workers and blue collar workers in rail and water," he said.

"She is smart, hard working, takes a broad view of the union movement and is able to bring different groups together to work on a common cause. And she is driven." NSW Labor Party leader Luke Foley, who has worked closely with Ms McManus and knows her well, said she was "an extraordinarily passionate and committed advocate for working people". She had served for a quarter of a century in only two roles  with the ASU and the ACTU  and had "never shown the slightest inclination to do anything else but to fight for working people". "I personally think the union movement would be making a very wise choice if Sally were to be chosen as the next ACTU secretary," Mr Foley said. "I worked closely with her for many years and I think she understands the changing world of work.

"From what I observed she was always interested in expanding the union movement's presence into workplaces where it hadn't been before." Mr Foley, who is also aligned to the left-wing of the ALP, said Ms McManus was committed to growing union membership by speaking directly with workers. "She is committed to a grass roots approach, not a top-down approach," he said. Linda White, national secretary for the Australian Services Union, described Ms McManus as dynamic and a great campaigner. "She's what we need and she has a proven record. You couldn't pick anyone better," she said.
My confidence in Australia Post was high until two years ago. I like using traditional mail, despite doing most of my communication electronically: online shopping deliveries, business-related post and I am a sucker for an old-fashioned birthday card.

Before last week, my confidence was already low and now, with the news of chief executive Ahmed Fahour's obscene salary, it's close to zero.

Two years ago, I assumed the hiccups I was experiencing were simply because I had moved from a capital city to a small town. I reasoned that I couldn't expect the same level of service and I was happy to cop this as part of my sea change.

Still, two weeks for mail to get from northern NSW to Melbourne stretched the friendship of this reasoning. And when I dared use brown paper rather than an overly engineered "post pack", it took nearly a month.
The AFP pounce on the elderly for daring to stand and think. The traffic officers of Transport Canberra now have policing responsibility for East Row and Alinga (east of Northbourne). As a former beat copper (1970s) I hang my head in shame at what community policing in Canberra has become. Woden Plaza was a social hub of south Canberra in the 1970s. Woden Police took pride in safety for huge numbers of shoppers and families being entertained. The disruptive, nasty, street crime element was kept under control.

One was written up in recently in The Canberra Times in something of folk hero status: spent most of his adult life in jail, police tried to help him in his teen years at Woden Plaza and elsewhere. Contrast with the city area today: drunks, druggies, language, and urinating. Not a policeman in sight most days. That is until those criminal pedestrians offend outside Health. Christopher Ryan, Watson Sleep is of value

Canberra Airport has regularly promoted its curfew-free status in order to advance its business objectives such as an air freight hub ("Sky's the limit for ACT", February 11, p.1). However, by definition those Australian airports that do have a curfew between 11 pm and 6 am do so to protect residents' sleep and avoid disturbance from aircraft noise overnight. Why are community and public health interests given such low priority by the Barr/Canberra Airport duo? Those living close to the flight paths would surely be adversely affected by increasing air freight traffic overnight. Murray May, Cook Not holding breath

In response to John Milne (Letters, February 14), I really do hope the Cotter Road service station/takeaway restaurant is never built. The proposed site is near the sensitive lower Molonglo Nature Reserve, thus making it entirely incompatible for the intended activities. The proponents will say (like they always do) appropriate measures will be in place to ensure fuel leakages and fast-food wrappers will be confined to the site. If they achieve that it will be a world first. Bill Gemmell, Holder Strike up the band It is deeply gratifying to hear that the newly appointed head of the ANU School of Music, Ken Lampl, has, according to school's website, "played alongside some of the world's greatest jazz musicians".

Perhaps, with some of the $12.5 million the school has been allocated across the next five years, he can re-establish the school's internationally renowned jazz department, which was so barbarically cut in2012. Geoff Page, Narrabundah Stephen Trask, in his article ("Ken Lampl named as new boss of ANU School of Music", February 10, p.6) states "the deputy head position is a first for the school". Not so. Previous deputy heads, then known as deputy directors, included Professor William Hawkey, and Professor John Luxton. Angela Giblin, Lyneham Base and baseless

Jacqui Lambie's rhetoric over Sharia law "taking over" Australia is baseless and misleading. The Koran instructs Muslims to "obey those who are in authority among you" (4:60). Lambie is using Islam as a scapegoat to further her own political agenda. Khizar Rana, Walkerville, SA Leave bail laws alone The ACT Liberals should inform themselves better before asking for yet another review of the bail laws. There is already provision for refusal of bail to a person already on bail who is alleged to have committed new offences.

In the ACT only a magistrate can grant bail if it is refused at the watchhouse and a new law was recently introduced allowing the DPP to effectively appeal the decision of a magistrate allowing bail. What more do the Liberals want? Jennifer Saunders, barrister and solicitor, Canberra Time is wasting as the heat rises inexorably and nothing is done As the temperature crept into the 40s last week, we were urged by AEMO and the NSW government to economise on our use of electricity to avoid "load shedding events" as happened recently in South Australia.

According to the Turnbull government, these blackouts are caused by over-reliance on renewable energy sources. I used the NSW Department of Industry website to tally up the energy mix over here. If everything is on line, the major contributors are coal/gas thermal at 67 per cent, followed by hydro at 25 per cent, and wind at 4 per cent. By population South Australians have, at best, a generating capacity of 0.0014MW per person, and NSW has 0.0024MW per person. But even with 175per cent more capacity per head, 92 per cent coming from steady thermal/hydro power, the recent hot spell shows the risk of blackout in NSW is still very high. The story is not as simple as the Turnbull government makes out in its dishonest attacks on the SA government. Mark Kenney's article ("PM told wind not to blame for blackout", canberratimes.

com.au, February 13) makes it clear the Turnbull government prefers a policy of deliberate deception to facing reality. Their refusal to acknowledge that the world is in transition because of climate change gets more dangerous with each year they waste. If I were living in SA I would be giving the bozos holding up lumps of coal in Parliament the flick, and investing in rooftop solar with storage as my route towards energy security. Michael Williams, Curtin In the grim austerity of postwar Britain, Aneurin Bevan told Parliament: "This island is made mainly of coal and surrounded by fish. Only an organising genius could produce a shortage of coal and fish at the same time."

Today we might say of Australia: "This continent is soaked in sunshine, blown by wind and surrounded by gas fields. Only a Liberal government could contrive a shortage of both power and natural gas." Our inability to plan for essential infrastructure means we have neither a gas pipeline bringing north-west shelf gas to the eastern states (more profit in exporting it, folks!), nor massive solar farms in the Cooper Basin and WA, nor high-voltage DC transmission to form a truly national grid. As the Chinese understand, this latter technology moves gigawatts over continents with little loss. All our energy needs could be met with only 0.4 per cent of our land under solar farms. Linking east and west, we could move supply from where it is generated to where it is needed. Distributed natural gas turbines using WA gas could provide local infill power. Our power problems stem from a lack of vision and committment to ensure our economic future. Coal is merely a fossil from the past. When politicians cease to be beholden to rent-seeking gas and coal barons, the better for all.

Prof. Michael Dopita, AM, Googong, NSW Victims of power play What is going on at ActewAGL? I had exactly the same experience this summer with an "Actual" meter read error as Steve Anderson (Letters, February6), involving a disturbingly similar unit over-read on the meter and overcharge on the bill (about 410 units and $440). Given the slew of letters recently on incorrect actual meter reads (and terrible meter read estimates) it would likely be only a tiny fraction of those who have had this experience, and that this has never happened to me before (could be the same for others?) one can only wonder what is going on at ActewAGL.?

Is this some sort of current system failure or something more Machiavellian? David Barratt, Yarralumla I refer to Anne Willenborg's letter regarding electricity pricing (Letters, February 13) and await with trepidation the prices the ACT's regulator will soon set. No draft prices have been published. Historically draft or indicative prices were provided early in the year, prior to the price changes that occur later in the year. There has been a lot of change at the regulator; the current commissioner appears to not want to release draft prices for electricity or what his decision is on how water tariffs are structured before he faces the little scrutiny afforded by the Legislative Assembly later this month.

I took the trouble to read one of the reports and was astounded by how out of touch the regulator is with the simple truth that electricity and water are essential services paid for by the people of the ACT. Perhaps ActewAGL are preparing us for double-digit price increases and will cry boohoo about how nothing is under their control and the regulator sets the prices. As the ACT government benefits from any price increases, I suspect there is a reason all is so quiet. Disturbingly quiet. Maybe we will be hearing, after public hearings, electricity and water price increases to pay for the ineptitudes of the government. It will be neatly wrapped in a package of economic horse doo-doo by the regulator with a neat economic bow on it.

Adrian Smith, Yarralumla Bernardi the betrayer Your correspondent, Mike Hutchison (Letters, February 13) accuses several others (of which I was one) of not understanding democracy because we believe Senator Bernardi should resign from Parliament following his departure from the Liberals. I remain firmly of that view. The senator was not elected for his individual merits or views but almost certainly by above-the-line voters choosing the party that had endorsed him as a candidate and placed him on its Senate ticket in a winnable position.

It is staggering to me that the electoral laws let him retain his office when he has clearly betrayed the people who put him there. Charles Smith, Nicholls Hold fire, Donald If Donald Trump really wants to ensure that the US has "the security and safety to which we are entitled" (tweet of 8 February 8), the most effective way to achieve this would be to amend the gun laws and remove the ability of US citizens to slaughter each other. But, of course, it won't happen. Anne Laisk, Weston

TO THE POINT BACKBONE SLIPS With politicians and bureaucrats being too gutless to tackle the problem, is it any wonder society is progressively being buried under the detritus of its addiction to mindless consumption ("Rubbish report reveals big rise", February 11, p.18)? Failure to eliminate the, clearly obvious, known cause represents dereliction of duty. Albert M. White, Queanbeyan, NSW DERRING DON'T

Perhaps Bill Deane (Letters, February 14) could clarify which war his grandfather fought in. It's hard to imagine the Anzacs of World War II would welcome a resurgence of religious intolerance and racial vilification. Things may have been different in the Boer War. Peter Marshall, Captains Flat, NSW WELL SPOKEN In view of the decision of the Speaker of the House of Commons to veto a possible address from President Trump , could I respectfully suggest that Birmingham is the wrong place for President Trump to address a rally. Would not sending him to Coventry be a better option? Maggie Watts, Calwell

CARBON CRAZINESS High temperature records tumble while politicians pose with a lump of coal as if it were part of the solution rather than the problem. Madness. Peter Campbell, Cook Politicians' blame gaming over the nation's power crisis only generates personal limelight; it leaves the public in the dark. M. F. Horton, Adelaide, SA

David Walker (Letters, February 13) is to be commended for his progressive views on baseload power but with dwindling light output after 7pm and insufficient wind is his argument an alternative fact? B. Ritchie, Lyons Just when you think that the Prime Minister couldn't possibly be a bigger disappointment, he announces some alternative facts on energy security. The bar is lowered even further. Rob Ey, Weston Given it was possible for Mr Morrison to smuggle a large piece of coal into Parliament, what's to stop a terrorist smuggling in a much smaller object, e.g. a gun?

John Galvin, Weston ONE IN, ALL IN What I would like to see (but undoubtedly will not): Julia Morris and Dr Chris Brown give a demonstration of the tasks set for the "celebrities" on I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here. Ken McPhan, Spence Email: letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au. Send from the message eld, not as an attached le. Fax: 6280 2282. Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Canberra Times, PO Box 7155, Canberra Mail Centre, ACT 2610.
The AFP pounce on the elderly for daring to stand and think. The traffic officers of Transport Canberra now have policing responsibility for East Row and Alinga (east of Northbourne). As a former beat copper (1970s) I hang my head in shame at what community policing in Canberra has become. Woden Plaza was a social hub of south Canberra in the 1970s. Woden Police took pride in safety for huge numbers of shoppers and families being entertained. The disruptive, nasty, street crime element was kept under control.

One was written up in recently in The Canberra Times in something of folk hero status: spent most of his adult life in jail, police tried to help him in his teen years at Woden Plaza and elsewhere. Contrast with the city area today: drunks, druggies, language, and urinating. Not a policeman in sight most days. That is until those criminal pedestrians offend outside Health. Christopher Ryan, Watson Sleep is of value

Canberra Airport has regularly promoted its curfew-free status in order to advance its business objectives such as an air freight hub ("Sky's the limit for ACT", February 11, p.1). However, by definition those Australian airports that do have a curfew between 11 pm and 6 am do so to protect residents' sleep and avoid disturbance from aircraft noise overnight. Why are community and public health interests given such low priority by the Barr/Canberra Airport duo? Those living close to the flight paths would surely be adversely affected by increasing air freight traffic overnight. Murray May, Cook Not holding breath

In response to John Milne (Letters, February 14), I really do hope the Cotter Road service station/takeaway restaurant is never built. The proposed site is near the sensitive lower Molonglo Nature Reserve, thus making it entirely incompatible for the intended activities. The proponents will say (like they always do) appropriate measures will be in place to ensure fuel leakages and fast-food wrappers will be confined to the site. If they achieve that it will be a world first. Bill Gemmell, Holder Strike up the band It is deeply gratifying to hear that the newly appointed head of the ANU School of Music, Ken Lampl, has, according to school's website, "played alongside some of the world's greatest jazz musicians".

Perhaps, with some of the $12.5 million the school has been allocated across the next five years, he can re-establish the school's internationally renowned jazz department, which was so barbarically cut in2012. Geoff Page, Narrabundah Stephen Trask, in his article ("Ken Lampl named as new boss of ANU School of Music", February 10, p.6) states "the deputy head position is a first for the school". Not so. Previous deputy heads, then known as deputy directors, included Professor William Hawkey, and Professor John Luxton. Angela Giblin, Lyneham Base and baseless

Jacqui Lambie's rhetoric over Sharia law "taking over" Australia is baseless and misleading. The Koran instructs Muslims to "obey those who are in authority among you" (4:60). Lambie is using Islam as a scapegoat to further her own political agenda. Khizar Rana, Walkerville, SA Leave bail laws alone The ACT Liberals should inform themselves better before asking for yet another review of the bail laws. There is already provision for refusal of bail to a person already on bail who is alleged to have committed new offences.

In the ACT only a magistrate can grant bail if it is refused at the watchhouse and a new law was recently introduced allowing the DPP to effectively appeal the decision of a magistrate allowing bail. What more do the Liberals want? Jennifer Saunders, barrister and solicitor, Canberra Time wasting as heat rises As the temperature crept into the 40s last week, we were urged by AEMO and the NSW government to economise on our use of electricity to avoid "load shedding events" as happened recently in South Australia.

According to the Turnbull government, these blackouts are caused by over-reliance on renewable energy sources. I used the NSW Department of Industry website to tally up the energy mix over here. If everything is on line, the major contributors are coal/gas thermal at 67 per cent, followed by hydro at 25 per cent, and wind at 4 per cent. By population South Australians have, at best, a generating capacity of 0.0014MW per person, and NSW has 0.0024MW per person. But even with 175per cent more capacity per head, 92 per cent coming from steady thermal/hydro power, the recent hot spell shows the risk of blackout in NSW is still very high. The story is not as simple as the Turnbull government makes out in its dishonest attacks on the SA government. Mark Kenney's article ("PM told wind not to blame for blackout", canberratimes.com.au, February 13) makes it clear the Turnbull government prefers a policy of deliberate deception to facing reality.

Their refusal to acknowledge that the world is in transition because of climate change gets more dangerous with each year they waste. If I were living in SA I would be giving the bozos holding up lumps of coal in Parliament the flick, and investing in rooftop solar with storage as my route towards energy security. Michael Williams, Curtin In the grim austerity of postwar Britain, Aneurin Bevan told Parliament: "This island is made mainly of coal and surrounded by fish. Only an organising genius could produce a shortage of coal and fish at the same time." Today we might say of Australia: "This continent is soaked in sunshine, blown by wind and surrounded by gas fields. Only a Liberal government could contrive a shortage of both power and natural gas."

Our inability to plan for essential infrastructure means we have neither a gas pipeline bringing north-west shelf gas to the eastern states (more profit in exporting it, folks!), nor massive solar farms in the Cooper Basin and WA, nor high-voltage DC transmission to form a truly national grid. As the Chinese understand, this latter technology moves gigawatts over continents with little loss. All our energy needs could be met with only 0.4 per cent of our land under solar farms. Linking east and west, we could move supply from where it is generated to where it is needed. Distributed natural gas turbines using WA gas could provide local infill power. Our power problems stem from a lack of vision and committment to ensure our economic future. Coal is merely a fossil from the past. When politicians cease to be beholden to rent-seeking gas and coal barons, the better for all. Prof. Michael Dopita, AM, Googong, NSW

Victims of power play What is going on at ActewAGL? I had exactly the same experience this summer with an "Actual" meter read error as Steve Anderson (Letters, February6), involving a disturbingly similar unit over-read on the meter and overcharge on the bill (about 410 units and $440). Given the slew of letters recently on incorrect actual meter reads (and terrible meter read estimates) it would likely be only a tiny fraction of those who have had this experience, and that this has never happened to me before (could be the same for others?) one can only wonder what is going on at ActewAGL.? Is this some sort of current system failure or something more Machiavellian?

David Barratt, Yarralumla I refer to Anne Willenborg's letter regarding electricity pricing (Letters, February 13) and await with trepidation the prices the ACT's regulator will soon set. No draft prices have been published. Historically draft or indicative prices were provided early in the year, prior to the price changes that occur later in the year. There has been a lot of change at the regulator; the current commissioner appears to not want to release draft prices for electricity or what his decision is on how water tariffs are structured before he faces the little scrutiny afforded by the Legislative Assembly later this month. I took the trouble to read one of the reports and was astounded by how out of touch the regulator is with the simple truth that electricity and water are essential services paid for by the people of the ACT.

Perhaps ActewAGL are preparing us for double-digit price increases and will cry boohoo about how nothing is under their control and the regulator sets the prices. As the ACT government benefits from any price increases, I suspect there is a reason all is so quiet. Disturbingly quiet. Maybe we will be hearing, after public hearings, electricity and water price increases to pay for the ineptitudes of the government. It will be neatly wrapped in a package of economic horse doo-doo by the regulator with a neat economic bow on it. Adrian Smith, Yarralumla

Bernardi the betrayer Your correspondent, Mike Hutchison (Letters, February 13) accuses several others (of which I was one) of not understanding democracy because we believe Senator Bernardi should resign from Parliament following his departure from the Liberals. I remain firmly of that view. The senator was not elected for his individual merits or views but almost certainly by above-the-line voters choosing the party that had endorsed him as a candidate and placed him on its Senate ticket in a winnable position. It is staggering to me that the electoral laws let him retain his office when he has clearly betrayed the people who put him there.

Charles Smith, Nicholls Hold fire, Donald If Donald Trump really wants to ensure that the US has "the security and safety to which we are entitled" (tweet of 8 February 8), the most effective way to achieve this would be to amend the gun laws and remove the ability of US citizens to slaughter each other. But, of course, it won't happen. Anne Laisk, Weston TO THE POINT

BACKBONE SLIPS With politicians and bureaucrats being too gutless to tackle the problem, is it any wonder society is progressively being buried under the detritus of its addiction to mindless consumption ("Rubbish report reveals big rise", February 11, p.18)? Failure to eliminate the, clearly obvious, known cause represents dereliction of duty. Albert M. White, Queanbeyan, NSW DERRING DON'T Perhaps Bill Deane (Letters, February 14) could clarify which war his grandfather fought in. It's hard to imagine the Anzacs of World War II would welcome a resurgence of religious intolerance and racial vilification. Things may have been different in the Boer War.

Peter Marshall, Captains Flat, NSW WELL SPOKEN In view of the decision of the Speaker of the House of Commons to veto a possible address from President Trump , could I respectfully suggest that Birmingham is the wrong place for President Trump to address a rally. Would not sending him to Coventry be a better option? Maggie Watts, Calwell CARBON CRAZINESS

High temperature records tumble while politicians pose with a lump of coal as if it were part of the solution rather than the problem. Madness. Peter Campbell, Cook Politicians' blame gaming over the nation's power crisis only generates personal limelight; it leaves the public in the dark. M. F. Horton, Adelaide, SA David Walker (Letters, February 13) is to be commended for his progressive views on baseload power but with dwindling light output after 7pm and insufficient wind is his argument an alternative fact?

B. Ritchie, Lyons Just when you think that the Prime Minister couldn't possibly be a bigger disappointment, he announces some alternative facts on energy security. The bar is lowered even further. Rob Ey, Weston Given it was possible for Mr Morrison to smuggle a large piece of coal into Parliament, what's to stop a terrorist smuggling in a much smaller object, e.g. a gun? John Galvin, Weston
There is a stench of desperation in the Liberals' deal to preference One Nation ahead of the Nationals in the upper house country regions in the Western Australian election in March. Voters are justified in wondering whether the same kind of desperation will lead to similar pacts around the country. The people Pauline Hanson likes to call ordinary Australians have demonstrated unequivocal anger at the same old games played by the same old parties in the same old two-party system. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson wants an inquiry into Islam. Credit:Getty Images Labor's grandstanding response to the WA deal is just the kind of cynical point-scoring voters don't like. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said he had instructed the federal ALP not to do any preference deals with One Nation, while accusing the Liberals of saying one thing (that they don't like One Nation's policies) but doing another ("cuddling up" to the party they supposedly despise.) Pot, kettle, black. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has put it in record that Bill Shorten is constantly seeking to meet with her and likes to pick her brain about policies. She also told the Senate Queensland Labor had approached her with a "grubby deal " in January which would involve Labor and One Nation "running dead" in each other's strongly held seats, while One Nation WA leader Colin Tincknell said WA Labor leader Mark McGowan had "come knocking" earlier this month to discuss preferences.

Queensland ALP secretary Evan Moorhead strongly rejected Ms Hanson's version of events. But the big question confronting the major parties is whether Donald Trump's anti-politics victory in the US will embolden more angry "ordinary Australians" to vote for Pauline Hanson whose brand of outsider politics has much in common with Trump's. In the WA election in March and the Queensland election (due early next year, but expected earlier), we will see. We will also see just what the major parties are prepared to do to cling to power in the face of this challenge. Hypocrisy driven by fear is the new political pragmatism. Arthur Sinodinos' claimed in defence of the WA deal that One Nation has "evolved" and is "a lot more sophisticated" than in the 1990s when John Howard as prime minister pledged the Liberal Party to putting One Nation last on its how-to-vote cards. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was more guarded. He said his government deals with One Nation "constructively and respectfully" because "the Australian people chose to put them in the Senate", where One Nation won four seats. That approach is both prudent and necessary considering One Nation's apparent voter appeal. Demonising Ms Hanson and her party has not worked. It risks the unintended effect of galvanising disillusioned voters into a protest vote in their favour. To swing from demonising to praising, on the other hand, smacks of toadyism and opportunism. The best way to counter the rise of One Nation is for the major parties to keep presenting the voting public with the facts to offset the lies, half-truths and conspiracy theories peddled by One Nation and its supporters. The party that Sinodinos believes has "evolved" is no less xenophobic than before. It has merely switched its focus from Asians to Muslims. Its platform states that Islam is not a religion but a "totalitarian political system", and that Muslim immigration to Australia should be stopped "until we can assure the safety of Australians". Its economic and tax policy is based on the assertion that the Australian economy is being run not for the the benefit of Australians, but instead for "the United Nations and unaccountable foreign bodies that have interfered and have choked our economy since the federal government handed power to the International Monetary Fund in 1944".
The Treasurer says, "This government inherited a black hole when it came to the funding of the NDIS". The Herald reports: "Gas multinationals claim extra $50 billion in tax credits."Obvious solution - fill the NDIS funding black hole with the right level of petroleum resource rent tax. The difficulty is we need a Treasurer with the heart to take on the multinationals, and at the same time show compassion and understanding for the disabled and most vulnerable. Mark Wyburn Garden Suburb Our natural gas leaking potential taxes Not only have multinational fuel companies exploited and exported most of our natural gas they are paying little tax (with our government's permission). Rex Connor wanted to build a national pipeline to service the whole of Australia. If that had happened we would be driving gas powered cars, using gas produced electricity and many other uses.

Not only are we giving the gas away cheaply, we seem to be unable to collect the tax. Bill McMahon Lennox Head Something stinks when multinational companies can legally wrack up billions of dollars in tax credits while the overwhelming majority of Australians pay their tax before they see their pay packet. Peter Thomas Rose Bay It's easy to criticise Donald Trump for riding a wave of protectionism and populism but Australia's LNG industry is a classic example of globalisation rewarding the multinationals rather than the country that owns and produces the resource.

At a time when Australia is crying out for a secure and affordable supply of natural gas to address its energy needs, the gas itself and the profits it generates are heading overseas, benefiting the bottom line of the multinationals instead of the locals. Yes, some compensation and return for the investment made is reasonable but, as with so many other examples of remuneration, there seems to be a stark imbalance between the big end of town and ordinary Australians. Philip Cooney Wentworth Falls Turnbull disconnect? Unbelievable. Peter Hartcher gives great credit to our Malcolm for the apparent about-face by President Trump on China and military bases in Japan ("How Malcolm Turnbull played a part in the rise of Donald Trump 2.0", February 14). Surely China and Japan played their part in these changes. I don't think Turnbull had much to do with it. Perhaps, as he suggests sotto voce, American officials are resuming their roles as keepers of the asylum.

Colin Kilduff West Ryde So Malcolm Turnbull's "action" in having Donald Trump hang up the phone on him caused an improvement in US Asia/Pacific policy? Perhaps if Australian voters all hang up on Malcolm Turnbull this will create a similar positive change in the dire state of Australian political affairs. Marshall Smither Manly It's time to wean ourselves off this finite resource I am a lifetime Liberal voter. I vote Liberal because I believe the party is the better economic manager. I do not argue on climate change because I do not have any scientific training. I do, however, believe the vast majority of scientists who say global warming is happening and is a problem.

I believe we must stop using coal for the following reasons. It is finite and  although it may be a long time into the future  it will one day cease to be available. The extraction of coal ruins thousands of hectares of good food-producing land. It also has a devastating effect on our above-ground and subterranean waterways. In the majority of Australia water is the most precious commodity we have and it should be protected at all costs. The elimination of coal is a long-term project and requires the co-operation of both sides of government. A plan could be devised that would see the elimination of coal in the not too distant future. For those who argue about the loss of jobs, one only has to look back on history to see that this argument has been forthcoming in every change that has occurred. Without exception the opposite has been the case, for example, the industrial revolution, the introduction of cars etc. In every case many more jobs have been created than eliminated. So come on Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten, get together and show us you have the interests of Australia at heart and not your political careers. Edgar Bowden Forresters Beach

Forgotten fact in SA's power blackout It is unfair to accuse the federal government of lying over South Australia's blackout of September 28 (Letters, February 14). While the public service advice concurs with the Australian Energy Market Operator reports that the blackout was due to the pylons blowing over during the storm, it omits a key fact. The updated AEMO report of October 19 makes it clear that all the synchronous thermal power stations connected at the time rode through the event of the collapsing transmission lines, whereas most of the wind farms disconnected. It is also clear from the preliminary AEMO report of October 5 that the transmission lines that blew down only cover a small region of the state. Hence, it is not unreasonable to conclude that if all the state's power had been generated by synchronous thermal power stations a total blackout of the state would not have occurred. None of this is a case against wind-generated electricity but it is possible there is a problem with its implementation in South Australia.

Ian Davis Bella Vista Give teachers the best As a teacher and principal of schools in NSW for more than 50 years, I have seen the lot ("Crackdown on families trying to game schools", February 14). I have taught in small one-teacher schools and was principal of a secondary school. I have witnessed teachers so gifted that watching them at work could give you goosebumps. I have taught in brand new schools and schools that had no running water. But every school I have been fortunate to be associated with, and there are more than 20, was intent on giving every student the absolute best opportunity to realise their full potential. In my career, the most brilliant students I have had the pleasure to teach came from schools in some of the poorest socio-economic areas of the state. The location of the school is irrelevant, what matters is the determination of the student, the support of the parents and caregivers and a principal who is capable of creating the optimum conditions for our amazing teachers to get on with the job of teaching. Brian McKeown Long Jetty

Muslims defy terrorists I hope this is a sign the lunatics are losing ("Islamic State targets Australian clerics", February 14). And a reality hit for those Pauline Hanson supporters and Reclaim Australia Nationalists who constantly say Muslims don't stand up to the terrorists. Not only do they stand up, they put their lives at risk while doing it. Respect. Phil Bradshaw Naremburn Hear alternative views It's good of Joel Meares to express some understanding of where his American Christian relatives "are coming from" in their tilt to the Trump-led right ("The best reaction to bigotry and hatred isn't anger or outrage  it's laughter", February 14).

But the dispossessed "deplorables" that he needs to empathise with are quite a bit closer to home and they're some of the readers of the Herald. Traditional views on marriage don't get a fair hearing in these stately newspaper columns. Is it any wonder that those with alternative opinions get just a little frustrated that their voice is entirely marginalised? Alan Wakeley Dural I appreciate Joel Meares' stance of laughter in the face of evil. However, I think Jesus would rather die than have such hatefulness associated with Christian values. If nothing else, Jesus is a standout historical figure of love and inclusiveness. Lindsay Smith Glenwood

Lambie is ill-informed Jacqui Lambie's rhetoric over the threat to Australia from Sharia law is baseless and misleading ("Jacqui Lambie gives two bob watches a bad name", February 14). The Koran clearly instructs Muslims to "obey those who are in authority among you". Lambie is ill-informed and is using Islam as a scapegoat to further her own political agenda. Khizar Rana Walkerville On Q&A on Monday night I'm almost certain I saw mutton dressed up as lambie. Kent Mayo Uralla

Too tough on the young Merona Martin (Letters, February 14) suggests young people "work hard and save money" like their parents did. I'm quite certain our youth would love to do just that. Instead they face high unemployment, exploitation as unpaid "interns" (slaves) and casuals, enormous university debts and ludicrous house prices. Even graduates are struggling to obtain employment. Only kids with wealthy parents can "live off their parents"; in the real world they turn 18, or even 16, and are on their own because their parents are struggling too. Visit any country town on a weekday. And now penalty rates are under attack. Would the writer like to be young now? I wouldn't. Eva Elbourne Normanhurst Fair go for pharmacists

Despite recommendations to seek assistance from a GP, counsellor or friend to address the cause of stress, the suspected "shadow shopper" from Choice who visited our country town pharmacy was only interested in purchasing a product to "cure the symptoms" ("Worry over stress advice given out by pharmacists", February 14). It is no wonder that pharmacists resort to recommending alternative medicines in such circumstances. Reports such as this demean and demoralise dedicated pharmacists who are on the frontline of community health care. Amanda Berry Scone Amalgamation decision a taste of what's to come By enforcing council amalgamations in the city but not in the bush Premier Gladys Berejiklian has shown us what we can look forward for the rest of her term ("Berejiklian government stays course on Sydney council mergers but relents on regions", smh.com.au, February 14). Namely decisions based on politics to save her job rather than decisions based on reasoned policy that will best serve the community. Graham Russell Clovelly

I see the NSW government is proceeding with amalgamations in Sydney but not in regional areas. What is the term for a half backflip? Patrick Hennessy North Narrabeen Why do country folk always get a veto on matters of public policy while city people don't? Clive Kessler Randwick Hot fashion trend

Oh Con Vaitsas (Letters, February 14), what a splendid solution to our increasingly record heatwave conditions - men out of three-piece suits and ties and into comfy cool dresses. Can't wait to see Cory Bernardi in a mini.Coral Button North Epping Liberal leanings On the Liberal Party supporting preference swapping with hard-right populist parties (Letters, February 14), perhaps it is that the Liberals are not as sophisticated as they were once. Joy Goodsell Sutherland Presidential heads up
"Keep Calm and Carry On" read the iconic Second World War morale-boosting poster. Faced with the existential Nazi threat to Western civilisation, it was a remarkably placid admonition to the British people, particularly in the days that Britain stood alone after Germany's victory in France.

To listen to some of Donald Trump's critics today, in America or abroad, you might conclude the West was facing another existential threat. These unhappy souls style themselves not merely as Trump opponents but as "the resistance" - evoking memories of the 1940s French underground. Yet urging them to "Keep Calm and Carry On" today would simply send them into greater paroxysms of rage and frustration.

A demonstrator takes part in a protest against U.S President Donald Trump's controversial travel ban. Credit:AP

What exactly is going on? Are these poor dears correct that life as we know it is under threat, or are their hysterical reactions more reflective of their own fears, inadequacies, and, most importantly, their Leftist ideologies?

First, we should remember that a large part of the anti-Trump eruption is cultural. Trump is obviously neither a conventional US politician nor a standard-issue international statesman. These differences, mostly stylistic but with substantive implications, are terribly threatening to his opponents; for his supporters, they are beyond doubt among his most attractive attributes. Trump doesn't light candles to establishment icons, doesn't talk the way smooth liberals talk, and most assuredly doesn't care what America's mainstream media say. It recalls a cartoon (famous among arms-control sceptics) of Indians on horseback circling a fort in the West, shooting flaming arrows at the wooden structure. A soldier on the parapet turns to another and asks: "Are they allowed to do that?" Trump's answer is "Yes indeed!"
After raiding a rural Janesville area home Friday, authorities have arrested a 37-year-old man allegedly connected to a methamphetamine operation, while a woman is being sought for questioning, the Rock County Sheriff's Office said.

Keith J. Rose was taken into custody when several law enforcement agencies executed a search warrant at a residence about five miles west of Janesville, the sheriff's office said. While Rose was initially detained on a probation violation, he was arrested on tentative charges of manufacturing and possessing methamphetamine, among other tentative charges, on Monday, the sheriff's office said.

Authorities are now searching for Brittany Bobzien, who is "wanted for questioning associated with this case," the sheriff's office said.

The sheriff's office said Bobzien's whereabouts are unknown, but she could be in a gray Pontiac G6 with a Wisconsin license plate of 618 ZFX.

Anyone with information is asked to call the non-emergency Rock County dispatch number at 608-757-2244.

The Rock County Sheriff's Oiffice SWAT Team and Special Investigations Unit, along with the state Department of Criminal Investigation Clandestine Lab Team and the Janesville Police Department, took part in the search of the property at 6809 West Highway A in the town of Center.

"Numerous items associated with the production of methamphetamines were located both inside and outside the residence," the sheriff's office said.

Rose is in the Rock County Jail and will make an initial court appearance Tuesday at 3 p.m., the sheriff's office said.

Last week, state Attorney General Brad Schimel and FBI agents warned a Wisconsin Legislature committee that meth use now challenges opioid abuse as the state's most pressing drug problem, the Associated Press reported.
Thousands of bats have dropped dead in the heat, falling from the trees as scorching summer conditions blasted south-eastern Australia over the weekend.

Among the worst affected areas are around Casino in northern NSW and Singleton in the upper Hunter, where residents and council workers say thousands of bat carcases have been discovered scattered on the ground in parks and along riverbanks.

Yet more dead bats remain clinging in tree canopies, and are expected to fall to the ground as they start to decompose over the coming week, Richmond Valley Council general manager Vaughan Macdonald said.

Mr Macdonald said it became clear about 3pm on Sunday that the bat colonies were in distress, as the mercury hovered around 46 degrees in the region.
The booming market for home solar storage could be thrown into disarray if proposed safety guidelines force owners to move their battery units outside.

Draft guidelines to be released by Standards Australia within weeks are expected to place restrictions on where battery packs supplied by companies such as Tesla and Alpha-ESS can be installed, with industry fears that placement within homes and garages will be banned.

"If reinforced, more than half the current players will be made bankrupt or they will pull out of Australia," Dong Lin, managing director of Alpha-ESS. "It doesn't make sense...Australia will be way behind the rest of the world."

Mr Lin, who sits on a sub-committee that represents storage companies, said confidentiality rules limit what can be discussed publicly before the guidelines' release. Still, indications are that Standards Australia will require battery units to be housed in a costly "bunker" outside even though the materials used are safer than those in mobile phones and lap tops, he said.
A former CIA deputy director who openly campaigned against Donald Trump before the US election has a word of advice for Malcolm Turnbull next time he has to get on the phone to the US President: flatter him.

"There is a way to get on his good side, which is to tell him how wonderful he is."

"Some people have figured that out. Vladimir Putin was the first one," Mr Morell said at the Lowy Institute in Sydney on Tuesday evening.

Michael Morell rose to some of the most senior positions in the Central Intelligence Agency before leaving in late 2013 and was in the room with George W. Bush during the twin towers attacks in New York on September 11, 2001 and again with Barack Obama when Osama Bin Laden was killed by US special forces.
The RSL NSW council says it is prepared to stand aside en masse and have a caretaker put in place while claims it mishandled financial misconduct allegations are investigated - but only if it gets to choose the caretaker.

The condition set by the beleaguered NSW leadership has sparked an angry response from some RSL members and deepened a stoush with the league's national board.

A message sent out to RSL members says the state council agreed at a meeting on Monday that it "will voluntarily stand aside on an interim basis pending the results of a board of inquiry into allegations of financial misconduct".

The move follows months of reporting by Fairfax Media on financial concerns plaguing the league.
End of the day. What happened?

the government is threatening people with tax rises now that its welfare savings appear doomed ;

now that its ; the opposition spent much of question time asking which taxes would go up;

spent much of asking which would go up; but the government was quite happy to parlay that into an attack on Labor's record of economic management ;

was quite happy to parlay that into an attack on ; the Senate will sit late to debate amendments to the building watchdog legislation ;

will sit late to debate amendments to the ; which means the changes to MPs' entitlements won't be discussed until tomorrow.

My thanks to Andrew Meares and Alex Ellinghausen for their photographic wizardry and to you for reading and commenting.

You can follow me on Facebook.

Alex, Andrew and I will be back in the morning. See you then.
New York: Less than two years after making her runway debut, Australian-born model Madeline Stuart, who has Down syndrome, has launched her own fashion label at New York Fashion Week.

Stuart challenged fashion industry norms with her first catwalk appearance in 2015 and is credited with changing perceptions about people with Down syndrome. She hopes to do the same with her new label, 21 Reasons Why by Madeline Stuart.

The collection's name is a nod to Stuart turning 21 this year and the extra copy of chromosome 21 that is characteristic of Down syndrome.

"It really does represent who she is," Roseanne Stuart, Madeline's mother, manager and design collaborator, said about the collection that will be sold exclusively online.
Spiro Miralis' series Underpass happened somewhat by mistake and in a moment of personal sadness. The Sydney-based photographer was heading to Greece to see his dying grandmother, when the urge to see a friend in nearby Italy took hold. So began a trip from which his series developed.

"Spiro's process of editing is where he sees the real 'art', if there is any involved, in the sequencing and arrangement of images. To him, the initial 'taking' of the picture is probably the most irrelevant part of his practice. It's the curatorship of the photographs that is really important," photographer and curator Sean Davey told Fairfax Media.

Trieste, Italy. Credit:Spiro Miralis

"Spiro's work is made from life, but not in a way that aims to document or record. He is making photographs to exist as images, as prints, that stand alone", Davey added, "there is a thread of feeling from one picture to the next, which culminates into work that, if anything, investigates the language of photography itself."

Miralis spoke to Clique about Underpass, which is on show at The Photography Room in Canberra:
The headmaster of one Sydney's most expensive private schools, Cranbrook, wrote "misleading" letters about a teacher accused of child sexual abuse at his former school and failed to report the allegations to a higher authority, a royal commission has found.

Nicholas Sampson, then the headmaster of Victoria's Geelong Grammar, paid teacher Jonathan Harvey to retire early in 2004 to avoid any formal complaints of child sex abuse being made against him.

Harvey was later found guilty of sexually abusing a 16-year-old boy known as BLF by repeatedly plying him with alcohol, fondling his genitals and forcing him into a threesome with another man in the 1970s.

Mr Sampson told the commission he was alerted to allegations against Harvey by the victim's brother, BLW, and conducted a "fairly cursory" investigation before asking Mr Harvey to retire early.
By the age of 57, Phil Hazell assumed he would still be working.

Working to save for retirement, working to pay for the holidays he planned to take with his wife, Jan.

But on Monday, Mr Hazell entered retirement much sooner than planned, completing his last day as the business development manager for an optical laboratory.

"I had a meeting with the business ... and also with my doctor, and we all thought it best I retire. I was just finding it too difficult."
The vitamins and supplements you buy could soon have a government tick of approval if they are found to be evidence-based.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration is looking to reform regulation on complementary medicines so consumers have a better understanding of whether the billions we spend on them is giving us any health benefit.

At present, a listing on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods only means the product is safe, not that it delivers its stated claims.

But a review into regulation of the industry has recommended companies apply for approval if research finds its product effective.
A Brooklyn man pleaded guilty Tuesday to striking and killing a bicyclist while driving under the influence of drugs.

Kevin D. Meister, 36, also pleaded guilty to drug possession related to the Aug. 5 crash that killed Shelton Berel, 33, of Madison, who was struck while riding his bicycle on Lincoln Road in the town of Oregon.

Meister also pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor theft, for thefts that occurred while on the job last year. In January, Meister pleaded guilty to bail jumping, for attempting to substitute clean urine for his own urine while taking a drug test for the Dane County Bail Monitoring Program on Aug. 25.

Meister entered the pleas about three weeks before he was scheduled to go to trial for Berels death.

Prosecutors did not state a maximum sentence that they would seek when Meister is sentenced by Circuit Judge William Hanrahan in about two months. But the homicide by driving under the influence of drugs conviction carries a penalty of up to 40 years of combined prison and extended supervision, and the drug possession conviction carries up to 3 years.

Each of the theft charges carries a maximum sentence of nine months in jail, and the bail jumping charge has a six-year maximum sentence.

Other charges, such as hit and run causing death, were dismissed but some may be considered by Hanrahan when he sentences Meister.

A criminal complaint states that Meister was driving to his job at a landscaping firm when he struck Berel after Meisters truck veered toward the left side of the road. After a description of Meisters truck was broadcast by local media, Meisters sister called 911 to report that it sounded like her brothers truck.

Police found Meisters truck with fresh damage. Meister initially told police that he thought he had hit a deer.

Lab tests of Meisters blood found that he had cocaine in his body at the time of the crash.

The complaint also states that investigators searching Meisters truck after the crash found materials used to cook, inject and smoke drugs in a pocket of the drivers side door.

The theft charges stem from landscaping equipment that Meister took from his employer, Glacier Landscaping, and from Sub-Zero Group in Fitchburg, where Glacier did work, according to a criminal complaint.

Meister will remain in custody until his sentencing date, which will be set later.
Rebels bikie club members shot dead a custom car builder in the driveway of his shop after a dispute over a highly prized and unique motorcycle, a court has heard.

Laurie Starling, 29, was found slumped behind the wheel of his car with his mobile phone in his hand after being shot twice outside his business the Chop Shop in West Gosford in July 2014.

Laurie Starling was found dead in his car outside his business in West Gosford. Credit:Facebook

His alleged killer, John Weston, 36, who was a member of the Rebels, is on trial for murder in the NSW Supreme Court.

Mr Weston's co-accused, who can only be identified as witness G, pleaded guilty to murder last week and will now give evidence against his former associate.
A western Sydney sheikh placed in the crosshairs of Islamic State has defiantly vowed to continue his work and says he is "unconcerned" by threats on his life.

Sheikh Shady Alsuleiman, who works with young people to steer them away from crime, was one of three Australian Muslim leaders named in an Islamic State propaganda video released on Sunday night.

Sheikh Shady Alsuleiman is featured in the Islamic State video giving a sermon in which he dismantles the idea that violent extremism will get a person to heaven.

The terrorist group called on its followers to kill the trio and other Muslim leaders worldwide because they had discouraged violence in the name of Islam and encouraged people to follow the laws of the land.

The Grand Mufti, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed, and the NSW Police Force chaplain Sheikh Ahmed Abdo were criticised in the video for working with government and police.
As the chlorine trucks rolled in on Tuesday morning, the last remaining prawn farm on the Logan River south of Brisbane was lost for the better part of the year.

Rocky Point Prawn Farm owner Serena Zipf said the federal government had failed south-east Queensland farms and it was now too late to salvage anything from the area.

The positive test results for the highly contagious white spot disease came back on Monday, shattering Ms Zipf and her close workers.

It was the seventh and final Logan River farm to become contaminated, after the sixth fell on February 6.
To all members of the Queensland Parliament, This letter is to urge all Members of the Queensland Parliament to support changes to our domestic violence laws. My daughter was Teresa Bradford. Her death at the hands of her estranged partner whilst he was on bail has left my grandchildren without a mother and me without a daughter. I am angry at the system that let her down. As a community we must never give up trying to stop domestic violence. I know that is what Teresa would want.

I am asking every politician to get behind the changes the LNP are introducing. We need to ensure the courts have the power to use GPS technology to track alleged domestic violence offenders on bail. It's time we put victims first and took away the automatic assumption of bail being granted. This is why I am also calling on politicians to support the changes to the presumption of bail and the introduction of an alert system for victims with protection orders when a perpetrator is being considered for bail or given bail or parole. The laws need to be changed so that more victims and families don't go through what my family is going through now. I call on all Members of the Parliament to support these changes being introduced.

Thank you Dale Shales Bonnie Mobbs: 'Domestic violence needs to stop' Bonnie Mobbs' daughter Shelsea Schilling. Bonnie Mobbs' daughter Shelsea Schilling, 20, was found dead in a Gold Coast unit in November 2016, next to the body of her ex-boyfriend "Lizard Man" Bronson Ellery in an apparent murder-suicide.

To all Members of the Queensland Parliament, My name is Bonnie Mobbs. In late 2016 my daughter Shelsea Schilling was murdered by her ex-boyfriend after he had been released from prison for breaching a domestic violence order. At the time of his release no one in our family was notified despite being named persons on a domestic violence protection order. Domestic violence needs to stop and we need to ensure the system protects victims of domestic violence and their families. I would encourage all politicians to support the changes being introduced by the LNP.

These changes as I understand them will reverse the presumption of bail, introduce an alert for victims and named persons on orders when a perpetrator is being considered for or is given bail and parole. I fully support the use of GPS technology to track alleged domestic violence offenders if they are given bail. We have to do whatever it takes to stop domestic violence and that is why I am supporting these changes. I am urging all Members of the Parliament to support these changes. Regards

Bonnie Mobbs Sonia Anderson: 'It's time we put victims first' Sonia Anderson's daugher Bianca Faith Girven. Sonia Anderson's daughter Bianca Girven died in hospital in April 2010, one day after she was found strangled in a van parked outside her boyfriend's house. He was charged with her murder, but later found unfit to stand trial. Dear Members of the Queensland Parliament,

As a matter of urgency, we need to step up and act as one to stamp out domestic violence and ultimately domestic homicide. Any act of domestic violence is the path to domestic homicide. I am a mother who lost her beautiful first-born daughter, Bianca Faith Girven, in a senseless act of violence in 2010. Bianca was 22, and left behind a young son, Ziggy, who was just 20 months old. Before her death, Bianca herself was a strong advocate for women's rights and supporting victims of domestic violence and homelessness. Since Bianca's death I have been continuing her work to advocate for change so we can protect and help more women impacted by domestic violence. Sadly I am not alone in what is an all too familiar story for many Queensland families. The 10 minutes prior to my Bianca's death were particularly cruel and brutal, as is often the case in these murders. Our Queensland women are the ones experiencing true terrorism, and heinous deaths.

We often hear 'enough is enough' but we need to stop the talk and start to act to make the laws work for victims and their families. It's time we put victims first and took away the automatic assumption of fail being granted in domestic violence situations. Last Sunday I spoke out in support of the alert system for DV victims being proposed by the LNP because I believe victims and families should be notified when an alleged perpetrator is being considered for bail or an offender is being considered for parole. We need to empower victims, not shut them out. Any law that increases the safety for victims must have the support of all sides of politics.
Job and funding cuts were given a "pain" ranking in documents prepared for Queensland's former Liberal National Party government, the ABC reports.

The ABC has obtained confidential documents from the period when Campbell Newman's government culled thousands of public service jobs, and slashed spending on various government programs.

Former Queensland premier Campbell Newman. Credit:Robert Shakespeare

The broadcaster cited one document, prepared for the LNP's Cabinet Budget Review Committee, that detailed savings that would flow from axing 220 jobs and 20 per cent of the budget from the environment department.

The ABC said each of 19 savings proposals was given a "pain threshold ranking" ranging from one to four, with one described as "easiest".
A north Queensland couple who won a $15 million Powerball jackpot almost threw the winning ticket out.

The Ayr couple, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Tatts Group it was the best Valentine's present ever.

A couple from Ayr in North Queensland has won a $15 million Powerball jackpot.

"It's bloody awesome. My wife's going mental," the man said.

"We couldn't believe it. We thought 'No, it can't be us'."
Cheeky barbs over the roads of central Europe provided a lighter moment during the first day of Queensland Parliament for 2017.

The LNP was expected to derail the government over Queensland Rail failings on Valentine's Day, and questions over the issue did come thick and fast during Question Time.

But a simple tweet distracted from the momentum.

The Queensland opposition media Twitter handle tweeted a photo of a dilapidated road, with the words: "DP @jackietrad is talking about infrastructure - meanwhile Regional Queensland misses out #qldpol".
"Which means we punch well above our weight in that regard." Palisade invests about $2.3 billion of "mums' and dads'" superannuation funds in regional infrastructure projects. "If I can define it, it is 'outside of the state capitals where we have a huge interest," he said. "And obviously (winning the 99-year lease to operate Sunshine Coast Airport) adds tremendously to it." Palisade invests superannuation funds from three sources - Queensland's 77 local governments, from Victorian superannuants, and their own infrastructure funds - into Queensland's regional infrastructure projects.

He knows Queenslanders are nervous about asset sales. "We transfer of the custody of an asset, frequently in a government's hands  to the same people - but managed by different people," he said. "So here (on the Sunshine Coast) we had mums and dads who were ratepayers and owned the airport," he explained. "And now we have mums and dads - as superannuants - who own the airport. "We still have the same ultimate beneficiaries of this."

Palisade will pay out to the Sunshine Coast Council $605 million during the 99-year lease to run an airport that grew 12 per cent to one million visitors last year. Mr Lloyd says superannuation funds in Australia are growing quickly and firms are interested in regional infrastructure. "The superannuation industry is doubling every five years," he said. "So there is a tremendous amount of capital for investment funding." Greg Laverty, the Sunshine Coast Council's director of economic development and major projects understands few people know of Palisade.

"When Palisade were announced as our preferred partner (to operate the Sunshine Coast Airport), there were probably not a lot of people on the Sunshine Coast, who had heard of Palisade," he said. Palisade in Queensland Townsville Palisade has a 50 per cent equity interest in Townsville's Ross River Solar Farm, which could provide 142 megawatts of solar electricity. It wholly owns the North Queensland gas pipeline, which brings gas from the Moranbah in the Bowen Basin to industrial users in Townsville.

It provides defence accommodation in Townsville and Ipswich with 30-year contracts with Watpac. Gracemere, near Rockhampton It has a 30-year lease to run the Central Queensland Livestock Exchange (CQLX) where it has committed $10 million to upgrade the old saleyards, selling beef and sheep. Gold Coast It has a 16.7 per cent equity interest in "both stages" of the Gold Coast's light-rail project.

It has a 28-year lease to operate 2800 car parks at the Gold Coast University Hospital. Sunshine Coast The Sunshine Coast council has already invested $50 million of their ratepayers' funding in a solar farm the council believes will generate enough electricity to allow the council to stop buying electricity and save $22 million over 30 years. Mr Lloyd believes there is room for an additional solar venture on the Sunshine Coast. "Wouldn't that be wonderful," he said.

In running the airport, Palisade will draw on its experience of doubling passengers at Darwin's airport to two million over the past five years, adding international flights. It is interested in Education Queensland's public-private partnerships in building schools: "We would be interested in that," Mr Lloyd said quickly. He is also aware the Sunshine Coast has a long-term interest  in 10 to 20 years - in a multi-billion light rail project and of Brisbane's high-profile Cross River Rail project. Cross River Rail? "We'd have a look at it," he said, cautiously.
They can also change due to geophysical forces: continents collide, cutting off ocean currents so heat is distributed in a new way, upsetting climate and biodiversity. They also shift due to sheer internal dynamics of the system  new life evolves to drive great planetary shifts, such as the Great Oxidation Event around 2.5 billion years ago when newly evolved cyanobacteria began emitting the deadly poison oxygen that killed all simple life forms it came in touch with. Life had to evolve to tolerate oxygen. Taking as our starting point a 1999 article by Earth system scientist Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, we can say the rate of change of the Earth system (E) has been driven by three things: astronomical forcings such as those from the sun or asteroids; geophysical forcing, for example changing currents; and internal dynamics, such as the evolution of cyanobacteria. Lets call them A, G and I. Mathematically, we can put it like this: It reads: the rate of change of the Earth system (dE/dt) is a function of astronomical and geophysical forcings and internal dynamics. It is a very simple statement about the main drivers of the system.

This equation has been true for four billion years, since the first life evolved. In his article, Schellnhuber argued that people must be added into this mix, but his theory came before the full impact of humanity had been assessed. In the past few decades, this equation has been radically altered. We are losing biodiversity at rates tens to hundreds of times faster than natural rates. Indeed, we are approaching mass extinction rates. There have been five mass extinctions in the history of life on Earth. The last killed the non-avian dinosaurs 66 million years ago, now humans are causing the sixth. The rate we are emitting carbon dioxide might be at an all time high since that time too. Global temperatures are rising at a rate 170 times faster than the Holocene baseline. The global nitrogen cycle is undergoing its largest and most rapid change in possibly 2.5 billion years. In fact, the rate of change of the Earth system under human influence in the past four decades is so significant we can now show that the equation has become: H stands for humanity. In the Anthropocene Equation, the rate of change of the Earth system is a function of humanity.

A, G and I are now approaching zero relative to the other big force  us  they have become essentially negligible. We are now the dominant influence on the stability and resilience of the planet we call home. This is worth a little reflection. For four billion years, the Earth system changed under the influence of tremendous solar-system wide forces of nature. Now this no longer holds. A new reality Heavenly bodies of course still exert some force; so does the ground beneath our feet. But the rates at which these forces operate are now negligible compared with the rate at which we are changing the Earth system. In the 1950s or 1960s, our own impact rivalled the great forces of nature. Now it usurps them entirely. This should come as a shock not only to environmentalists but to everyone on Earth. But our conclusion is arguably a modest addition to the canon of academic literature. The scale and rate of change has already been well established by Earth system scientists over the past two decades.

Recently, Mark Williams and colleagues argued that the Anthropocene represents the third new era in Earths biosphere, and astrobiologist David Grinspoon argued that the Anthropocene marks one of the major events in a planets life, when self-aware cognitive processes become a key part of the way the planet functions. Still, formalising the Anthropocene mathematically brings home an entirely new reality. The drama is heightened when we consider that for much of Earths history the planet has been either very hot  a greenhouse world  or very cold  an icehouse world. These appear to be the deeply stable states lasting millions of years and resistant to even quite major shoves from astronomical or geophysical forces. But the past 2.5 million years have been uncharacteristically unstable, periodically flickering from cold to a gentle warmth. The consumption vortex

So, who do we mean when we talk of H? Some will argue that we cannot treat humanity as one homogenous whole. We agree. While all of humanity is now in the Anthropocene, we are not all in it in the same way. Industrialised societies are the reason we have arrived at this place, not Inuits in northern Canada or smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Scientific and technological innovations and economic policies promoting growth at all costs have created a consumption and production vortex on a collision course with the Earth system. Others may say that natural forces are too important to ignore; for example, the El Ni?o weather system periodically changes patterns globally and causes Earth to warm for a year or so, and the tides generate more energy than all of humanity. But a warm El Ni?o is balanced by a cool La Ni?a. The tides and other great forces of nature are powerful but stable. Overall, they do not affect the rate of change of the Earth system. Now, only a truly catastrophic volcanic eruption or direct asteroid hit could match us for impact.
Disney's Maker Studios and Google's YouTube are distancing themselves from a top YouTube star after he made jokes construed as anti-Semitic and posted Nazi imagery in his videos.

Felix Kjellberg, known online as PewDiePie, has the most popular YouTube channel, with more than 53 million subscribers.



The Swedish YouTube star rose to fame by posting videos of him playing and commenting about video games, but has more recently branched out into non-gaming videos that show him performing skits, stunts or making jokes.

Felix "PewDiePie" Kjellberg in a still from one of his videos. Credit:YouTube

Kjellberg (pronounced SHEHL'-burg) is also one of the rare YouTube personalities to cross over into the mainstream. TMZ cameras have followed him around in Los Angeles and late-night talk hosts such as Stephen Colbert have welcomed him as a guest.

However Disney, whose Maker Studios runs Kjellberg's channels and network, said one of his most recent videos crossed the line.
A Syrian man who fled the war-torn city of Aleppo in 2014 after suffering torture and imprisonment is suing President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials over an executive order issued last month that still effectively bars the mans wife and daughter from joining him in Wisconsin, where he was granted asylum.

The man filed the lawsuit anonymously, to protect the identities of his wife and 3-year-old daughter, who still live in hiding in Aleppo. It was filed Monday afternoon in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, located in Madison, and assigned to U.S. District Judge William Conley.

The lawsuit doesnt state where the man lives, only that hes a resident of the Western District of Wisconsin. But Andrei Vrabie, a lawyer from the New York City firm of Holwell Shuster & Goldberg, which is working on the mans case free of charge, said the man is in his early 30s and lives in Dane County.

Vrabie said that an associate at the firm who lived in Wisconsin was familiar with the man and his earlier asylum case and wondered what Trumps executive order would do to the mans efforts to bring his family to the U.S.

The facts are harrowing, and this is something that stuck out to us, Vrabie said.

The lawsuit states that the executive order, which Trump promised during his presidential campaign as a Muslim ban, violates federal law and the U.S. Constitution. It asks that a judge declare sections of the order unconstitutional, and order that the government grant visas to the mans wife and daughter. It joins more than two dozen other lawsuits filed in federal courts around the U.S..

The man was granted asylum in 2016, the lawsuit states, after being fully vetted by U.S. immigration authorities, who determined that he faced certain death if he returned to Syria. Soon after that, he petitioned for asylum for his wife and daughter. His petition was being processed, but it was halted on Jan. 27, when Trumps executive order, which temporarily banned travelers from Syria and six other predominantly Muslim countries, was issued.

Every day that the mans wife and daughter are in hiding in Aleppo, Vrabie said, is one that could be their last.

A federal court order in Seattle, halting enforcement of certain sections of the executive order, was upheld last week by a federal appeals court. But the lawsuit states that the halt to the ban is only temporary and applies only to enforcement at U.S. borders and ports of entry and doesnt appear to address requests for asylum of the type the man is seeking for his family.

According to the lawsuit, the man fled Syria to escape near-certain death at the hands of two sectarian military forces. The Sunni-aligned Free Syrian Army and the government-aligned Syrian Arab Army were fighting for control of Aleppo, and both targeted the man. The FSA targeted him because he lived in a part of the city controlled by the SAA, and the FSA assumed wrongly that the man was sympathetic to the SAA.

The SAA targeted him because of his Sunni faith, and because he traveled to FSA-controlled territory to manage his familys business.

Members of both groups extorted, falsely imprisoned and tortured the man, the lawsuit states, and threatened to kill him. SAA members also threatened to rape his wife.

Members of the FSA beat me so severely I had to be hospitalized, confiscated my property and extorted me before I fled Syria, the man stated in an affidavit filed with the lawsuit. While I was in Syria for the birth of my child, members of the SAA forced their way into my house, beat me, held me hostage for several days, extorted me and threatened to rape my wife.

He fled Syria at the urging of friends, after learning he had been placed on a kill list, arriving in the U.S. in March 2014.

By the summer of 2015, the lawsuit states, conditions in Aleppo worsened, and in July 2015, the mans 3-year-old son fell three floors to his death as he tried to escape militia rocket fire.

Along with Trump, the lawsuit lists as defendants Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly; Lori Scialabba, acting director of the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services; and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. DHS, CIS and the State Department are also listed as defendants.
Principals and senior staff at Geelong Grammar knew that teachers were accused of child abuse but failed to respond in the best interests of students, according to findings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

The findings follow 13 former students telling public hearings in late 2015 that they were sexually abused by staff between 1956 and 1989, and describing a culture of cover-ups and negligence at the prestigious private school.

Principals and senior staff at Geelong Grammar knew that teachers were accused of child abuse but failed to respond in the best interests of students, according to findings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

The royal commission found that John Lewis, who was principal from 1980-1994, allowed convicted paedophile Jonathan Harvey unsupervised access to students despite knowing that the former maths teacher was accused of abuse, including trying to have sex with a student.
The woman trapped in the car in the Monash crash has been freed.

Ambulance Victoria says it took half an hour to remove her. She is aged in her 40s and has neck and back injuries.

She was treated by paramedics and is being taken to The Alfred hospital in a serious condition.

It's believed a truck and three cars were involved in the collision.

Two other women aged in their 40s have minor injuries. Both are being taken to Dandenong Hospital in a stable condition.

Age photographer Joe Armao is at the scene of the crash.
Police have released CCTV footage and images of a man they hope to identify after a woman was sexually assaulted while jogging in Melbourne's inner-south.

The 31-year-old woman was running along the foreshore on Beaconsfield Parade in Middle Park between 11pm and 11.30pm on February 4 when she was attacked.

The man police wish to speak to over the Middle Park assault. Credit:Victoria Police

A man grabbed her from behind and she was forced face down into the sand before being sexually assaulted, police said.

A man and woman came to the victim's aid, along with two other men.
Guards on duty during Victoria's worst prison riot have told a court that it could have been prevented if more experienced staff were available and fences inside Ravenhall Prison were stronger.

More than 100 people have been charged over the riot at Ravenhall Prison on June 30, 2015, which caused up to $12 million damage. The riot following the introduction of a cigarette ban.

The Ravenhall prison riot in June 2015. Credit:Courtesy of Seven News

Details of the riot emerged in witness statements released by the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday, after one of the alleged ringleaders, Marc Durbridge, was committed to stand trial over the incident in the County Court.

The court heard Mr Durbridge allegedly directed other prisoners during the riot, telling them to "Get the c---s", and led a group of prisoners through fences between two areas of the prison.
New footage has emerged of a man believed to be Jonathan Dick who is wanted for questioning over the stabbing death of his brother at Doncaster shopping centre.

David Dick, 36, was brutally attacked as he walked out of a lift at Westfield Doncaster about 6am on Friday, February 3.

He was found bleeding to death in the car park by members of a gym group. He died at the scene.

CCTV footage obtained by Channel Nine on Tuesday shows a man believed to be Jonathan walking in Melbourne's north-east about an hour after David was killed.
Australian grain production has hit an all-time high, thanks to favourable rainfall in winter and spring last year.

The winter crop harvest reached "unprecedented levels, with all mainland states set to achieve record highs", a new report said.

The report estimated that winter crop production jumped 49 per cent in 2016-17, to 58.9 million tonnes.

All mainland states produced big volumes and broke records, although there were some crop losses or damage due to flooding in some parts of New South Wales.
A man is being questioned by police after a man and a woman were stabbed in Caversham in Perth's east on Monday night.

Emergency crews were called to a house on Barbarossa Drive just before 11pm.

The stabbing occurred over a domestic dispute, the ABC's Graeme Powell reports.

A 32-year-old woman and a 58-year-old man are in a stable condition in Royal Perth Hospital.
Police are hunting for the passenger of the utility who fled from the scene of a crash that happened after an alleged police chase in Perth's southern suburbs.

One man has been arrested over the incident, which saw a high-performance Holden ute chased by police through Forrestfield, Kewdale and Manning, with the vehicle circling WA Police headquarters and getting onto the Causeway.

The car hit a traffic light camera and was then hit from behind by a police car. Credit:9 News Perth

There are reports the black ute struck a number of cars on Canning Highway, including a police car, with reports of one driver being injured.
Jakarta: "Guess you will be thinking I've gone up in smoke. There is plenty of it about," Australian Army nurse Kath Neuss quipped in a letter dated February 6, 1942.

It was characteristic Kath: a fun-loving, outgoing woman with a wicked sense of humour, whose letters home from Malaya and Singapore, where she served with the Australian Army Nursing Service as part of the 8th Division Australian Imperial Force, help bring her back to life.

Australian Sister Kath Neuss ws gunned down in the Bangka Island Massacre.

Ten days after she wrote the letter Sister Neuss was dead; executed on Bangka, an island east of Sumatra, in a massacre that ranks among the bloodiest and most infamous war crimes carried out by the Japanese during World War II.

Sixty-five years later Michael Noyce discovered a little round leather box in his mother's study. Both of his parents had died and Mr Noyce, from Sydney, was clearing up their belongings. The contents of the box still gives him shivers. His mother had kept letters Kath Neuss - her best friend and her husband's sister - had sent during the war.
Leslie Ray Charping died in late January, according to his obituary.

The 74-year-old's brutally frank remembrance stated that that was "29 years longer than expected and much longer than he deserved."

"Evil does in fact die:" Charping's daughter did not hold back in the obituary. Credit:Jessica Hromas

The obituary was posted to the Carnes Funeral Home website, according to multiple news outlets. It did not appear to still be online on Monday, but has been saved to Scribd by KHOU-TV.

According to the Scribd post, the obituary noted that Charping left behind two "relieved" children, a son and daughter, along with "countless other victims," including an ex-wife, family members, friends, neighbours, and "doctors, nurses and random strangers."
One person was killed and two injured Saturday night in a single-vehicle rollover crash on I-39/90 in Janesville.

The crash was reported at about 11:30 p.m. on the entrance ramp to northbound I-39/90 at the East Racine Street interchange, the State Patrol said.

Quanika Morris, a 24-year-old woman from Chicago, was identified as the passenger who died, the Rock County Medical Examiner's Department said.

The State Patrol said she was ejected from the vehicle, with the SUV pinning her underneath.

Morris was pronounced dead at the scene while two other people in the SUV, the 36-year-old male driver from Marshfield and a 46-year-old male, were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The State Patrol said the SUV went off the road and rolled several times into the ditch. No reason was given why the vehicle left the road.
Jakarta: In 2010 the Japanese magazine Foresight named Indonesian university rector Anies Baswedan among 20 global figures - including Vladimir Putin and David Miliband - to watch over the next 20 years.

The cover story predicted that Mr Baswedan - a former student activist opposed to authoritarian leader Suharto, a prominent political analyst and one of Indonesia's youngest university presidents - would be a future leader.

It seems Foresight showed considerable, well, foresight. Seven years later, Mr Baswedan is contesting gubernatorial elections in Jakarta, considered by many a dress rehearsal - or at least a proxy war within the political elite - for Indonesia's 2019 presidential race.

Mr Baswedan's ticket is supported by the Greater Indonesia Movement (Gerindra), the party chaired by Prabowo Subianto, President Joko Widodo's rival in the 2014 elections.
Police officers wait at the forensic department entrance at a hospital in Putrajaya, Malaysia, where Kim Jong-nam's body was taken. Credit:AAP Mr Fadzil said Kim Jong-nam had been planning to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Macau, where he had been living under Chinese protection and was quoted in 2012 as saying North Korea needed "Chinese-style economic reform". "I have conveyed the matter to the North Korean embassy," Mr Fadzil said, adding that an autopsy was planned to seek the cause of death. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un pictured in Pyongyang in 2016. Credit:AP Police were checking surveillance tapes on Wednesday to try to identify the attackers.

Police are also investigating Mr Kim's movements in Malaysia after he arrived in the country on February 6 on a flight from Macau. Kim Jong-nam's father was former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. Credit:AP Police said Malaysia has received a request to send the body to North Korea but it would not be released until completion of a post-mortem, which was being undertaken on Wednesday. Malaysia is one of a dwindling number of countries that has close relations with North Korea, which is under global sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile launches. Malaysians and North Koreans can visit each other's countries without visas. The North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur has made no comment.

South Korea's acting president and prime minister Hwang Kyo-ahn described the apparent assassination as a "brutal and inhumane" example of the nature of Kim Jong-un's regime. "Based on the understanding that this case is of great importance, our government is keeping close tabs on North Korea's movements," Mr Hwang said during a special session of his country's national security council on Wednesday. He reiterated a call for strengthened sanctions and pressure to force North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions. In October 2012, South Korean prosecutors said a North Korean man detained as a spy had admitted involvement in a plot to stage a hit-run accident targeting Kim Jong-nam in China in 2010. South Korean media outlets reported Kim's death in Kuala Lumpur was the result of a planned attack by North Korean spies, with some South Korean outlets originally claiming it had been carried out using "poison needles".

One of the outlets, Chosun, citing multiple local sources, claimed two women believed to be North Korean intelligence agents fled the airport in a taxi. "I think the two were female spies dispatched by North Korea," said an intelligence official, quoted by the Korea Joongang Daily. A South Korean government source confirmed the death to Reuters. There was no immediate comment from North Korea. In a statement, Malaysian police said the dead man held a passport under the name Kim Chol, born in Pyongyang on June 10, 1970. Kim Jong-nam is believed to have been born on May 10, 1971.

But Ken Gause, an American expert on North Korea, said Kim had previously travelled under the name Kim Chol. Mark Tokola, vice-president of the Korea Economic Institute in Washington and a former diplomat in South Korea, said it would be surprising if Kim Jong-nam was not killed on the orders of his half-brother, given that North Korean agents have reportedly tried to assassinate him in the past. "It seems probable that the motivation for the murder was a continuing sense of paranoia on the part of Kim Jong-un," he said. The North Korean leader has carried out a series of purges since assuming power five years ago which the South Korean government has described as a "reign of terror". South Korea's national news agency Yonhap quoted a source saying agents of the North's spy agency, the Reconnaissance General Bureau, carried out the assassination by taking advantage of a security loophole between Kim's bodyguards and Malaysian police at the airport.

South Korea's foreign ministry said it could not confirm the reports on Chosun regarding the two female spies, and the country's intelligence agency could not immediately be reached for comment. A US government source told Reuters it believed North Korea agents were responsible but did not provide evidence for that conclusion, and also said it was possible that Kim had been poisoned. Kim Jong-nam was for many years considered the heir apparent to his father but is believed to have fallen out of favour in 2001 after he was caught trying to enter Japan on a false passport, saying he had wanted to visit Tokyo Disneyland. The Joongang Daily quoted an intelligence official as saying Kim had been in a relationship with a woman in Malaysia and travelled there often. In 2013 Kim Jong-un's uncle Jang Song-thaek, once considered the country's second most powerful man, was executed and key figures linked to him purged. Kim Jong-nam had reportedly been close to his uncle.

In 2008 Kim Jong-nam reportedly suffered a stroke after which he travelled frequently to countries in South-east Asia and the Chinese territory of Macau. In 2012 he was reportedly having financial troubles and was evicted from a Macau hotel over a $US15,000 debt. His mother is the late Kim Jong-il's second wife, Song Hye-rim, a South Korean-born actress and one of at least three women with whom the former leader had children. The death became public late on Tuesday as the United Nations Security Council condemned Kim Jong-un for his country's firing of a ballistic missile on Sunday, the first direct challenge to the international community since US President Donald Trump took office on January 20. North Korea's media rejected the criticism on Tuesday, saying launching the missile with a range of 2000 kilometres was a "self-defence measure".
Multiple Russian aircraft buzzed a US destroyer patrolling in the Black Sea last week, in an incident the captain of the American ship called "unsafe," the Pentagon said Tuesday.

The three flybys occurred on February 10 and were first reported by the Washington Free Beacon.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Faggard, a US European Command spokesman, said the USS Porter, an Arleigh-Burke Guided Missile Destroyer, was returning from an exercise off the coast of Romania when an Il-38 sub hunting twin-engine aircraft approached at a high speed and low altitude. The Il-38 was followed by two Su-24 fighter-bomber jets and then a single Su-24.

Faggard said the aircraft did not respond to radio calls and that they did not have their identification transponders turned on. He could not confirm whether the jets were armed and would not specify the altitude of the aircraft.
David Taylor said he had three beers and shared a cocktail on the night in question. Credit:Amilia Rosa "I didn't complain. I was so sad someone had just left this life," Ms Connor said. It was revealed Mr Taylor had come to Bali after his wife, with whom he was separated, "went behind my back" and informed immigration in Australia. He was given a limited time to leave the country but had been told he could return to Australia on a different visa. Mr Taylor and Ms Connor, whose trials were held consecutively, were grilled over why they escaped relatively unscathed from the fight when Mr Sudarsa, whom they claimed attacked them, sustained 42 injuries. Mr Taylor was also quizzed on how much he had been drinking that night and if he could control himself when drunk. He said he had consumed three beers over a period of six hours and shared an arak cocktail - made from a Balinese spirit - with Ms Connor over dinner. He had not felt aggressive at the time: "That night I felt happy."

"When you are drunk can you control yourself? The prosecutor asked. Mr Taylor: "Yes." Prosecutor: "Sure?" Mr Taylor: "Yes 100 per cent." Prosecutor: "100 per cent?"

He said he had been angry at the time because Ms Connor's bag had been stolen and instead of helping him Mr Sudarsa had laughed. Mr Taylor had believed Mr Sudarsa was a fake cop and had frisked him. "If he was a policeman why didn't he help me, why did he laugh at me?" he told the court. Mr Taylor said he had been angry that he had been attacked by Mr Sudarsa and someone had threatened his life. "I didn't feel guilty until I learnt the full consequences of the fight which was two days later." Asked by a prosecutor if it was him that had caused the problem because he grabbed the police officer, Mr Taylor replied: "I searched his body and he then pushed me to the ground and punched me." Mr Taylor admitted bashing Mr Sudarsa with objects including binoculars and a beer bottle six times, as well as his bare fists, but insists he was acting in self defence and the police officer was still alive when he left him.

Ms Connor maintains her innocence insisting all she did was try to separate the fighting men. The British DJ agreed he had taken Mr Sudarsa's wallet after the fight and the couple went out to buy cigarettes after cutting up his identity cards. "Why didn't you go at the time to the police station?" the prosecutor asked. Mr Taylor said he had demonstrated good faith by attempting to go to the police station immediately after the fight. Earlier court hearings had been told an ojek (motorcyle taxi) refused to take them because they didn't have any money.

"I didn't know where the police station is in Kuta. It was late, I just wanted to go to bed," Mr Taylor said. Ms Connor was asked to explain why the victim kept biting her when she didn't do anything to him. "That's what I can't explain," she said. "That's what I ask myself: Why did he decide to bite me?" The court was adjourned until next week, when prosecutors will make their sentence request. Mr Taylor said his "biggest concern" throughout this "whole thing" was that a life had been lost.
Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Trunbull would be well placed to offer a consoling phone call to his Canadian counterpart Joe Trudeau on Wednesday.

Confused by those names?

So was White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, when he yet again embarrassingly and very publicly fumbled the name of a world leader at his daily press briefing.

The previous day, the incredibly popular Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held his first meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House, where the pair attended a round-table discussion about the advancement of women in business and held a working lunch.
Poison pens and torch guns are part of the arsenal of North Korea's spies who receive special privileges in the secretive nation where 28 million people are suffering in poverty, defectors say.

"We were taught to be ready to die for the Kim regime and if caught, to make sure we were not taken alive," said Kim Dongshik, a defector who was trained as a spy and infiltrated South Korea before he was shot in Seoul.

Suspicion surrounding the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, the estranged 46 year-old half-brother of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un at Kuala Lumpur's international airport on Monday, has fallen on the country's huge spy network.

A woman attacked Mr Kim from behind and covered his face with a cloth in what would seem to be a scene straight from the set of a James Bond movie. He reportedly told medical staff before he died the woman used a chemical spray.
From left: US President Donald Trump, with Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, Vice-President Mike Pence, Press Secretary Sean Spicer and Michael Flynn, speaks on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on January 28. Credit:AP "Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the Vice-President-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador," Flynn wrote. "I have sincerely apologised to the President and the Vice-President, and they have accepted my apology." Speaking on background, a senior White House official told reporters that Flynn walked  Trump did not push him. The National Security Council's chief had quit, he said, because of "the cumulative effect" of damaging news coverage about his communications with the ambassador. Jared Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump at the White House during the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. At left is National Security Adviser Michael Flynn; at right is Steve Bannon. Credit:Doug Mills Flynn's position was further eroded by a report on Monday, in The Washington Post, that in late January, then acting attorney-general Sally Yates told the White House that in misleading Pence, Flynn had left himself open to Russian blackmail  and that the outgoing national intelligence and CIA directors had agreed with her assessment.

The Trump administration can now expect to come under pressure for having stood by Flynn in subsequent weeks and, seemingly, not to have acted on the Yates warning. Michael Flynn has been under pressure over his contact with Russia. On Monday, the White House sent conflicting signals on Flynn's fate. Spokesman Sean Spicer said that Trump was "still evaluating" the revelations on Flynn's call to the ambassador and his subsequent efforts to conceal the nature of the conversation. Working from a completely different song sheet, White House counsel Kellyanne Conway insisted during an appearance on MSNBC that Flynn "does enjoy the full confidence of the President". Former acting Attorney General Sally Yates. Credit:AP

By some accounts, there is ambiguity in the transcript of the Flynn-Kislyak conversation. But that Flynn made the call feeds a deep distrust of him in particular, and the Trump administration in general, over their as-yet unexplained close dealings with Moscow, which include a paid appearance by Flynn at a December 2015 event in Moscow, hosted by the Kremlin-funded Russia Today cable channel  at which Flynn was honoured with a seat at Russian President Vladimir Putin's dinner table. As Flynn resigned, The New York Times reported that he was also under investigation by the US Army over the payment for his Moscow appearance which, if proved, may be breach of the emoluments clause of the Constitution, which bars former military officers from receiving money from foreign governments without congressional approval. "[Flynn's] unpardonable sin was hanging the Vice-President out to dry," Republican strategist Matt Mackowiak said. Flynn's struggle to survive coincides with a raft of seemingly well-sourced reports, from inside the administration and the agencies on a presidential transition wracked by unprecedented chaos and distrust. Flynn's National Security Council is described as anxious and chaotic  as staff struggle to make policy sense of Trump's tweets while looking over their shoulders as their loyalty is questioned over multiple leaks.

In reconfiguring the NSC, Trump has increased the military staff numbers, many of them Flynn acolytes, meaning that greater emphasis is given to military solutions than to diplomatic. At the same time, the NSC standing of the military and intelligence chiefs has been downgraded and the executive order by which Trump appointed Bannon to a permanent NSC post had to be re-issued to ensure that Trump's new CIA chief, Mike Pompeo, had the same standing. The intelligence agencies' refusal to issue a security clearance for one of Flynn's senior deputies was read in some quarters as payback for Flynn's charges that the agencies' work on Russia, in particular, was inadequate and politically motivated  but Pompeo backed the agencies' decision. Flynn, who was sacked by the Obama administration from his job as chief of military intelligence, has also seemed out of his depth, revealing surprise on being informed that both the State Department and Congress had key roles in deciding foreign arms sales and technology transfers. Apparently he was of the belief that Trump could unilaterally agree new weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. A CNN report on Friday said intelligence sources had confirmed the veracity of much of the content of what has been described as the "dodgy" dossier  the explosive 35-page report by a former senior British intelligence agent. Conversations between foreign nationals as described in the dossier did take place  and those involved were known to US intelligence to have been "heavily involved" in collecting information damaging to Hillary Clinton and helpful to Donald Trump.

There has been no confirmation of the salacious aspects of the dossier  in particular, that Russia had a compromising "sex tape", purportedly recorded when Trump was in Moscow in 2013. Former NSC analyst and counter-intelligence officer John Schindler wrote: "I can confirm from my friends still serving in the [intelligence community] that [the intelligence] which corroborates some of the dossier, is damning for the administration. Our spies have had enough of these shady Russian connections - and they are starting to push back." Schindler quotes a senior Pentagon intelligence official who told him: "'Since January 20, we've assumed that the Kremlin has ears inside the White House Situation Room  there's not much the Russians don't know at this point,' the official added in wry frustration." Flynn had a reputation for making dubious, ill-founded statements and for having no regard for documented facts. During his term as chief of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), from which he was sacked for managerial incompetence and poor judgment, his staff coined the term "Flynn facts". Loading
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Economic development officials in rural Wisconsin spurred Gov. Scott Walkers proposal to revive a troubled state loan program that was phased out two years ago after some loans were never repaid and the state lost millions, the governor said Tuesday.

We heard from a lot of local economic development folks who, particularly in smaller areas, said we are needing assistance and this is a way of doing that without adding (state funding), Walker told reporters in Madison.

The Wisconsin State Journal first reported that Walker is seeking to reinstate the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.s loan program two years after calling for it to be phased out this year amid several questionable deals and a scathing audit.

Walker scrapped the program in 2015 as the State Journal was preparing to publish an investigation showing that the governors top secretary pressed WEDC to offer a failing construction company a $500,000 taxpayer loan that has not been repaid. The agency couldnt provide documentation of a proper financial review of the company, and a subsequent review prompted by the newspapers investigation found documentation missing for more than two dozen other awards totaling more than $124 million.

The new loans, according to Walkers 2017-19 budget, would come with a few new stipulations  they can be funded only with repayments of existing loans, they cant be forgivable and they must adhere to commonly accepted commercial lending practices.

We think it makes sense, Walker said.

During the 2015-17 state budget cycle, Republicans and Walker limited new loans to $10 million in 2015-16 and $5 million in 2016-17 with no new loans after June 30 of this year. One specific type of loan for technology startups was separately capped at $3 million a year and allowed to continue.

The agency had 189 outstanding loans totaling $73.3 million as of last June 30, according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. The agency received about $9.2 million in loan repayments last year, forgave $6.7 million and wrote off $2.45 million worth of loans that could not be recouped.

In his new budget proposal, Walker wants to increase a tax credit eligibility threshold for new business investment from $8 million to $12 million. Walkers budget also gives the Department of Revenue the ability to claw back tax credits from companies in violation of a contract that is more than 4 years old.

Walker: Insurance plan wont cost jobs

Walker also dismissed the idea that switching to a state self-insurance system could result in insurance companies having to cut a significant number jobs.

I dont believe that, Walker said. We still have to have people be covered. The fact is people are still going to get their health care coverage from providers across the state. Were just going to do it in a way thats more cost-effective to the taxpayer.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said last week that switching to a self-insurance model could disrupt the health insurance industry, leading to job losses.

Fitzgerald also predicted lawmakers may not go forward with Walkers plan to boost K-12 spending by $649 million, which Walker has tied to $60 million worth of savings from moving to self-insurance.

But Walker said Tuesday that no matter what, lawmakers will have to come up with that share of the school funding.

The Legislature can make alternatives, but theyre going to have to come up with the money, he said.

Act 10 advice

Walker on Tuesday said he told Iowa lawmakers considering a bill diminishing collective-bargaining power for public workers there to look at the facts, not the hype over a similar measure championed by the governor that passed in Wisconsin six years ago.

I just told them ultimately they are going to face some of the things we faced in terms of attention and potentially protests but I told them to look at where we are in the last six years, he said.

Walker tweeted Monday that he spoke with Republican lawmakers in Iowa, encouraging them to push forward with the legislation.

The governor said Tuesday he told the lawmakers schools are the same or better and taxes are down dramatically six years after the passage of the law.

Syrian refugees

Walker on Tuesday also said he expects vetting of refugees seeking to travel to the United States will be altered after recent federal court rulings halting enforcement of President Donald Trumps executive order stopping travel to the U.S. by people living in seven Muslim-majority countries.

The governor, who once said in a letter to then-U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry that state officials would not aid any federal attempt to resettle Syrian refugees in Wisconsin, said Tuesday that he doesnt have a problem with safe refugees settling here.

As long as theyre safe, Ive got no problem with refugees, Walker said. I just want to make sure the people already here are safe.
POINTE BLANCHE:--- Port St. Maartens Crane Operator Supervisor Romeo Gumbs recently returned from Brazils Port Fortaleza where together with local partners within the Port business, conducted a field investigation and analysis at one of top carriers CMA CGM ports within South America.

The Brazilian Port Fortaleza, is part of a city with over two millions residents. The port is one of the most important and strategic maritime ports of Brazil allowing goods to be shipped to North and Central America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and Asia.

The visit allowed Gumbs to garner information about cranes, new equipment used with international partners, and operational matters that could be applied at home in continuing to build upon Port St. Maartens cargo operation of excellence.

Port St. Maarten Management is very proud of the achievements by Romeo Gumbs and the other personnel of the crane division. St. Maarten can deliver professionals who can operate at the international level. We continue to invest in our human resources because this is key to the success of the port cargo operations.

Port St. Maarten Cargo crane operations staff must ensure optimal vessel turn-around time in a safe, efficient and productive manner, and keeping within operational excellence for customers. The aforementioned is also key to attracting new businesses in order to grow the transshipment business, Port St. Maarten Management concluded.

This experience for Gumbs showcased not only the expertise talent that St. Maarten possess, but also gave him the opportunity to obtain knowledgeable Intel to increase crane operational excellence back at Port St. Maarten.

Port St, Maarten Crane operations rely on local expertise to ensure container traffic and other cargo-related activities are carried out in an efficient manner which ensures the ports esteem customers that its a reliable and professional service provider.

Port St. Maartens transshipment cargo operations have grown to double digits when one looks at the 2015 and 2016 figures of 12 per cent; provisioning numbers have also grown over the same period with a 32.5 percent increase; overall total throughput has increased by three per cent over the same period. Growth for 2017 is expected to continue on a steady pace.

Romeo Gumbs, started with St. Maarten Harbour Crane Company (SMHCC) back in 2009, prior to this he worked for a local stevedoring company at Port St. Maarten as a stevedore and checker. In 2009, Romeo was hired by SMHCC as a crane operator trainee.

Within a short time in service being trained with Global Port Training, the same company that Port St. Maarten is currently working with to set up a local training outpost in St. Maarten, Gumbs then easily and with much ambition became a full fledge crane operator.

Over the years Romeo Gumbs continues to hone his skills, producing some of the best productivity scores among his peers and becoming a role model to all existing and new crane operators under SMHCC. Gumbs has given a true meaning to operational excellence, Port St. Maarten Management said on Monday.

Gumbs did not stop there, for years after accomplishing his various certification(s) and traveling to partnering Ports internationally, he always aspired to become more, and in 2016 was successfully chosen to lead the crane operator department being the first local crane operator supervisor.

Gumbs likes to share his experiences with others and on a yearly basis he continues to participate in careers days at various high schools building upon the awareness of Port St. Maarten and the important role the cargo and crane section plays in Country St. Maarten, as a port primarily importing cargo to supply the country nationwide and surrounding islands.

Gumbs is a firm believer that Port St. Maarten is heading in the right direction and continues to invest in their employees to be the best that they can be. He believe there are challenges, as vessels are getting bigger, customers are much more demanding and rightfully so, however by continuing to stay abreast of the different trends and keeping focus on operational excellence, Gumbs is convinced that Port St. Maarten will continue to see positive growth in the business.

Romeo Gumbs will be working closely with management and the training outpost, and he is aspiring one day to become a certified train the trainer for Gottwald cranes.

Back in July 2016, Port St. Maarten welcomed three new recruits to its division St. Maarten Harbour Crane Company after they successfully completed their certification course to join the crane team. Four senior crane operators also took a refresher course and training.

The training was carried out by Global Port Training certified crane trainer Gunther Dierckx. The crane operators work under Crane Operator Supervisor Romeo Gumbs.

The training took place using the ports Gottwald Mobile Crane, the largest in the North Eastern Caribbean.

Port St. Maarten Cargo and Terminal Operations Manager Roger Lawrence pointed out that the cargo section at the port continues to invest in young local talent by inviting them to join the Port family.
WILLEMSTAD:--- Last Sunday afternoon the Dutch Caribbean Coastguard (DCCG) assisted in the interception of a significant amount of drugs by the colleagues of the Colombian Navy. The patrol aircraft of the Coast Guard, the DASH-8, followed a 'Go Fast' in collaboration with the Americans. The Colombian Navy was able to intercept the fast boot near the coast of Colombia. The go-fast left Colombia in the northern direction but had to turn back due to engine failure. A load of cocaine, totaling 412 kilos, was confiscated and the two crew members were arrested.
PHILIPSBURG:--- His Excellency Governor Eugene Holiday delivered the keynote address to teachers of The Foundation Catholic Education St. Maarten on Teachers Formation Day 2017.

Teachers Formation Day started with a Prayer Service led by our Parish Priest of St. Martin of Tours Parish, Rev. Fr. Adam Oleszczuk SVD, followed by an address from Dr. Marlon Halley, president of The Foundation Catholic Education St. Maarten.

All present were then delighted with the presentation of the keynote address from His Excellency Governor Eugene Holiday entitled The Teachers Commandment: Inspire Your Students To make A Positive Difference

His Excellency Governor Holiday reminded the teachers of a basic truth, that teaching is the mother of all professions and as teacher's it is your calling to be standard bearers of our society and as such it is incumbent on you to excel in doing so. Teachers were recommended to live by the teachers commandment to inspire each generation of students that pass through your classrooms to make a positive difference. His presentation was very uplifting and inspiring.

The morning continued with a sharing from the Executive Director, Mrs. Lilia Aventurine-Hodge, which gave the teachers some food for thought

The teachers and staff of The Foundation Catholic Education were then invited to participate in one of the 22 workshops that were prepared for them. The presenters of these workshops were from locally based institutions from the community, teachers of SKOS, NIA and Dows Musical Foundation.

We are very proud of our local presenters and would like to thank them very much for putting our theme into practice We are called to share with others They surely shared their talents and gifts with us.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Green Key jury of Sint Maarten has determined that two hotels have met the stringent environmental and safety criteria required to receive this prestigious award. This is the third consecutive year that Princess Heights Luxury Boutique Condo Hotel has achieved the Green Key while Holland House Beach Hotel on Front Street in Philipsburg has received its first Green Key award. They are part of an elite group of 2,500 Green Key establishments in 53 countries.

The Green Key Program is a leading standard for excellence in the field of environmental responsibility and sustainable operations within the tourism industry. The quality of the program is maintained via thorough documentation an d periodic audits. It is recognized by the World Tourism Organization (WTO) and United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

Considering our significant overall growth, it became even more important to focus on sustainability and to reduce our environmental footprint. The Green Key program helped us to identify areas of concern and has proposed great solutions which led to improved efficiency of the hotel, thereby creating a win-win situation Paul Boetekees, Director of Holland House, explained.

There are four principles which together form the basis of the Green Key program. The first principle is education, to educate not only the staff of the hotel but also the guests and local community. Secondly, the program is constantly on the lookout for the latest innovations in order to reduce the overall environmental footprint. Lastly, the Green Key adds value to the site and offers a promotional advantage when establishments show their engagement with the environment and sustainability issues.

Princess Heights Hotel Assistant General Manager Arnaldo Phelipa said, It is always gratifying to be certified by Green Key another year after our great efforts during the year to meet their environmental standards. We are honored to have become pioneers of hotel green practices on St. Maarten. After three consecutive years of compliance, we have strived to be a responsible and sustainable business and encourage other properties to join these eco-friendly practices. I would like to thank our passionate and engaged team for the work they do every day. It is our company philosophy that being environmentally and socially responsible is sound business practice. Congratulations to the Holland House Beach Hotel on receiving this prestigious award ".

Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) is the national operator of the Green Key Program and, along with the local Green Key jury, manages the certification of hotels such as Princess Heights and Holland House. The program is run internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). FEE is a global foundation based in Denmark from which they operate a total of five programs. All of these programs are geared towards building a sustainable future through education.

We are excited to see the Green Key Program growing on Sint Maarten. Corporate Social Responsibility is essential to a healthy community and environment and the Green Key award is an exceptional tool for demonstrating this concern noted EPIC President Natalia Collier.

For more information, contact EPIC at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit http://www.greenkey.global/
RiskVision Named Hot Company Winner for Risk Management in the Annual Cyber Defense Magazine InfoSec Awards

SAN FRANCISCO, CA  (Marketwired)  02/13/17  , the enterprise risk intelligence company formerly known as Agiliance, today announced that Cyber Defense Magazine, the industrys leading electronic information security magazine and media partner of the RSA Conference 2017, has named RiskVision the Hot Company winner in the Risk Management Solutions category. This is RiskVisions fifth recognition by Cyber Defense Magazine, including four consecutive years of being named a winner at the RSA Conference. Most recently, RiskVision was .

After many months of review and judged by leading independent information security experts, Cyber Defense Magazine is pleased to have selected RiskVision as a winner.

Were thrilled to recognize next-generation innovation in the information security marketplace and thats why RiskVision has earned this award from Cyber Defense Magazine. Some of the best INFOSEC defenses come from these kinds of forward thinking players who think outside of the box, said Pierluigi Paganini, Editor-in-chief, Cyber Defense Magazine.

RiskVision recently unveiled its latest release, themed  and innovative, threat-centric enterprise risk intelligence approach incorporating adversaries and exploits to drive real-time vulnerability and operational risk management using Big Data analytics and visualization. The RiskVision platform is the industrys first risk intelligence solution that satisfies a growing enterprise need for both integrated risk management solutions (IRMS), such as third and fourth party risk, and security operations, analytics and reporting (SOAR) use cases, such as vulnerability and incident management.

Risk management is a topic that is here to stay for the long-run and is a something that is universally top-of-mind for the 40,000 IT security and risk professionals roaming the show floor here at RSA, said Keith Higgins, CMO of RiskVision. Cyber risk is also on a very short list of key concerns for every C-level executive and board member, in 2017 and beyond. They look to their security and risk personnel  who already have a very difficult task of assessing, measuring and mitigating threats  and our goal is to provide them with the most effective, efficient and innovative solutions to predict and respond to business risk.

At RSAC 2017?

Swing the RiskVision booth #NE3208 to find out how Threat is the New Risk works and get a better understanding of some of RiskVisions latest innovations in enterprise risk intelligence.

Booth attendees can also take part in an exciting promotion where visitors will have a chance to hack their way to $100,000 if they can crack the code of the RiskVision cash vault. For more information on RiskVision at RSAC, !

To set up a meeting during the show, please contact .

Cyber Defense Magazine is the premier source of IT Security information. We are managed and published by and for ethical, honest, passionate information security professionals. Our mission is to share cutting edge knowledge, real world stories and awards on the best ideas, products and services in the information technology industry. We deliver electronic magazines every month online for free and limited print editions exclusively for the RSA Conferences and our paid subscribers. Learn more about us at

RiskVision develops comprehensive risk intelligence solutions for the enterprise. The highly decorated RiskVision platform is the industrys first risk intelligence solution designed for todays real-time, big-data, threat-centric world. RiskVisions architecture and design delivers the industrys best usability, scale, automation and time-to-deployment advantages  at a fraction of the cost of traditional solutions. CIOs and CROs of the worlds leading organizations and government agencies rely on RiskVision; customers include AXA Group, Cisco, Deutsche Bank, E*TRADE, Exelon, First Data, Fiserv, HCL, Novartis, Roche, Safeway, Sheetz, Southern Co., Time Warner, United Health Group, U.S. Departments of Defense, Health & Human Services, Justice, and Veterans Affairs, and dozens of other clients worldwide. For more information, please visit riskvisioninc.com.

Travis Anderson

925.271.8227
A Madison native and UW-Madison graduate who spent the past nine years in Chicago has returned to his hometown to help strengthen the local economy.

Tom Otto has been hired to be Madison's economic development specialist, according to a news release from the Mayor's Office on Tuesday.

Otto, who has a degree from UW-Madison in real estate and urban economics, began his duties on Feb. 6.

His position is in the city's Office of Business Resources and Economic Development, and he'll be implementing the recently-developed "Connect Madison" economic development strategy, the news release said.

Otto worked for community development groups and housing providers in Madison before heading to Chicago to be an economic development planner on Chicago's West Side.
InfoArmor Announces the Newest Version of the Award-Winning VigilanteATI(R) and VigilanteATI Accomplice(TM) Advanced Threat Intelligence Platform

SAN FRANCISCO, CA  (Marketwired)  02/14/17  , an industry-leading provider of employee identity protection solutions and elite cyber intelligence services, today announced the availability of the latest version of the award-winning VigilanteATI v3.0 and VigilanteATI Accomplice Advanced Threat Intelligence Platform for the enterprise and SME/SMB sector respectively. VigilanteATI helps enterprise organizations gain the upper hand with operatively-sourced threat intelligence from preemptive attacks to post-breach attribution. VigilanteATI Accomplice is an ideal solution for SMEs/SMBs to mitigate risk where IT Security resources and expertise is limited.

VigilanteATI offers true threat intelligence that combines operatively-sourced data with verified open-source intelligence (OSINT). Today, many vendors market their offerings as threat intelligence; however, in reality, most marketed threat intelligence is actually threat information in the form of unverified OSINT, aggregated data feeds with little or no context or other coined information. Very few vendors offer the quality of targeted information and data from the Dark Web and/or other sources that InfoArmor does to deliver contextualized threat intelligence.

VigilanteATI delivers context-rich, actionable Advanced Threat Intelligence. Leveraging trusted operative sources, VigilanteATI provides the necessary comprehensive Advanced Threat Intelligence to effectively reveal the who, what, why, when, where and how to defend against past, present and future global cyber threats. The newest version of VigilanteATI incorporates the following advanced threat intelligence features:

IP/Domain Intelligence  a comprehensive database with observed historical and contextual threat related data that identifies malicious or potentially malicious IP addresses and domains, source geo locations, proxies, CnC server data, malware signatures and other pertinent information with automated notifications of infected hosts based on customized subnet ranges. An API is available for seamless integration into the most popular SIEMs.

Vulnerability Intelligence  a scan of external facing hosts within the entire IPv4 environment that identifies known vulnerabilities such as Juniper Backdoor, Heartbleed, Shellshock, compromised FTP and others. Ideal for organizations that are heavily reliant on their supply-chain and other business partners where data is shared between external hosts.

Forum Posts  A detailed collection of dark/closed posts, messages, and chatter through the VigilanteATI secure portal. Search functionality by keyword, URL, and other client-specific criteria in real-time.

Threat Actor Database  provides access to threat actor attributes, aliases and historical data of malicious activity.

Twitter Feed  Leveraging the power of social media, our twitter feed specifically tracks bad actors, their posts and movement. By utilizing real-time information, companies can initiate preemptive countermeasures for increased security posture against attacks.

Compromised Credit Card Feed  intuitive feed that provides compromised accounts with context that includes the financial institution and pertinent account information.

Anti-Money Laundering Feed  up-to-date information of known and validated money mules who are actively operating in the underground that includes confirmed bad actors, names, aliases, account information and other pertinent information.

Compromised Account Monitoring  robust feature that monitors customer account credentials and alerts the user when they are compromised to defend against account take-over activities. Alerts include account name, password, and other metadata, as identified in the exposure.

Compromised Credentials  possessing the largest database (over 2 billion) of compromised credentials, VigilanteATI Risk Intelligence helps to prevent network intrusion and data exfiltration. Security administrators can proactively alert, suspend and reset active user accounts and passwords, and/or ensure that compromised closed accounts are truly inactive before malicious activity takes place.

Honeypot Data  through a network of global honeypots, users can obtain information such as IP source address, type of malicious activity and other correlated data. Honeypots collect high value data and precise information of the threat vector that enables an organization to better defend itself.

Malware Analysis  users can submit samples and receive a report on characteristics of the malware. This feature is ideal for SMEs/SMBs or those organizations that do not want the risk, or lack the resources of malware analysis.

Intelligence Updates  articles of general IT Security interest as well as trending topics that have been compiled by InfoArmors elite research team. URL links provide easy access to articles and posts.

Enables users to search specific criteria within the VigilanteATI database which is fully indexed and analytics capable. Data analysis, discovery of trends, and patterns fully compliment the security analysts IT tools for faster identification and remediation. Analysts can tag and categorize individual data points for future correlation and searching.

We have developed VigilanteATI and VigilanteATI Accomplice to help our customers achieve their network and data security objectives by delivering unparalleled threat intelligence in a scalable and easy-to-use platform that increases their security posture, said Ben Ouano, director of product development at InfoArmor. Our elite operative and research team delivers high-value threat intelligence that is encompassed into VigilanteATI to provide a feature rich platform that enables our customers to receive client-specific intelligence and alerts that are relevant to their organization without sifting through extraneous or unsubstantiated data. In addition, our VigilanteATI Accomplice is the only platform on the market to deliver advanced threat intelligence to the SME/SMB sector, and act as an extension of their IT security team where resources and expertise may not exist.

InfoArmors Advanced Threat Intelligence Team will be exhibiting at the in San Francisco at the Moscone Center (Booth #4503, North Hall) and will be demonstrating the latest version of the InfoArmor VigilanteATI platform.

VigilanteATI 3.0 and VigilanteATI Accomplice are available immediately. To request pricing, please contact InfoArmor Advanced Threat Intelligence sales at +1 480 302 6701, or email . Visit the InfoArmor website at for more information.

InfoArmor provides industry-leading solutions for employee identity protection and advanced threat intelligence to help organizations protect their most valuable assets. We combine an unparalleled global research network with big data analysis, actionable intelligence and customized service to meet clients dynamic security needs. From employee to enterprise, InfoArmor is redefining how organizations fight fraud and combat an ever-changing cyber threat landscape to mitigate risk on multiple levels. Today, more than 800 businesses and government agencies, including 67 of the Fortune 500, use PrivacyArmor, the industry leading employee identity protection solution, or VigilanteATI, our award-winning advanced threat intelligence platform to improve their data security posture. For more information, visit or follow in Twitter at .

2017 InfoArmor, Inc. All rights reserved.

InfoArmor ATI Corporate Contact:

Byron Rashed

InfoArmor, Inc.

Advanced Threat Intelligence

+1 480 302 6701 Main

+1 480 302 6467 Direct
Aricent and Rohde & Schwarz Cybersecurity Unveil a Unique Bandwidth Control Solution to Enhance Customer Experience for Mobile Operators

Posted by Publisher Telecommunication

Aricent and Rohde & Schwarz Cybersecurity Unveil a Unique Bandwidth Control Solution to Enhance Customer Experience for Mobile Operators and Network Equipment Providers

REDWOOD CITY, California/ Leipzig, Germany  February 14, 2017  Aricent, a global design and engineering company, and Rohde & Schwarz Cybersecurity, leading vendor of network analytics solutions, have announced a technology solution to further enhance quality of service, traffic optimization and service charging.

Aricents Traffic Detection Function capability now incorporates the deep packet inspection (DPI) engine R&SPACE 2, a state-of-the art DPI software library that uses different technologies (including pattern matching, behavioral, heuristic and statistical analysis) to classify network protocols and applications. Network equipment vendors as well as network and telecom operators around the world rely on R&SPACE 2 to get full visibility into IP-based network traffic.

Rohde & Schwarz Cybersecurity network security technology will be made available as part of Aricents Evolved Packet Core (EPC) Software Framework and Aricents Intelligent Switching Solution. R&SPACE 2 has been integrated using Aricents dynamic filtering capability to help mobile operators and service providers raise situational awareness, activate differential bandwidth control and optimize network resources.

Rohde & Schwarz Cybersecurity and Aricent plan to collaborate on various areas including:

 Differentiated quality of service and services charging based on subscriber, application and flow awareness

 Dynamic security orchestration and service function chaining using behavioral, heuristic and statistical analysis

 Advanced & reflexive firewall rules management based on traffic & application awareness

 Advanced network monitoring to help maintain security posture of a software-defined network using machine learning (ML) algorithms

We see a significant demand from our customers to bring flexible and programmable network services to core networks. We are thrilled to be working with Aricent, who have built its reputation in the data-center, mobile and wireless market. Together we can offer mobile operators and service providers the ability to reduce the time to market for security and network management capabilities, said Ulf Lange, Director of DPI.

Service providers must focus on value and not just services. Ultimately, shaping network traffic and controlling its behavior helps bring intelligence to the customer experience. said Walid Negm, chief technology officer for Aricent. The outcome is more adaptive resources that can for example deliver personalized streaming video, help parents better protect their children from harmful content or empower enterprises through be-spoke digital services. Certainly, operators themselves will be prepared to drive new revenue opportunities.

Meet Aricent at Mobile World Congress at the executive meeting room: 2UP.B7EMR, Upper Walkway, Zone B, where Aricent will demonstrate expertise in Converged IoT solutions, Mobile Edge/5G, Service Management & Orchestration/NFV and NB-IoT and turnkey technologies.

Visit Rohde & Schwarz Cybersecurity at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona at booth 6C40 and find out how to enhance your product with the protocol and application classification engine R&SPACE 2.
Convercent Closes $10 Million Round to Accelerate Leadership in Business Ethics and Compliance Worldwide

DENVER, CO  (Marketwired)  02/14/17  Convercent, the leading provider of SaaS enterprise ethics and compliance management software, today announced it has closed a $10 million round of funding. This latest round comes after a record-breaking year across all aspects of the company. Existing investors Sapphire Ventures and Tola Capital shared the round that brings Convercents total capital raised to $47 million. Convercent will use the funding to fuel its explosive growth, including investments in innovation and expansion of its sales and marketing worldwide.

We believe no other company enables enterprises to operationalize ethics and compliance programs with such depth and impact, said Doug Higgins, managing director at Sapphire Ventures. Many global brands already trust Convercent to power company-wide initiatives. As more companies put ethics and compliance at the top of the corporate agenda, we feel theres a tremendous opportunity for Convercent to lead the way. 2016 was an exceptional year for Convercent as it responded to market demand. We believe now is the time to invest further to take advantage of this market and fuel more growth.

Its proven that those companies that proactively focus on ethics are more successful in the long run. Plus, todays business environment is highly regulatory and punitive to those companies that arent prepared. The most successful companies have the best of intentions to put in ethical programs, but they struggle to integrate this with their daily operations for success, said Patrick Quinlan, co-founder and CEO, Convercent. This funding is a vote of confidence that will fuel our ability to deliver on our suite of cloud applications and eliminate obstacles deterring companies from living their values each and every day.

Convercents enterprise ethics and compliance management solution enables companies to proactively manage their ethics and compliance programs using an intuitive SaaS application. At the same time, it helps those companies instill ethical business practices in consistently addressing the needs of their employees, customers and partners. Hundreds of customers, including Ruby Tuesday, Zenefits, Kimberly-Clark Corporation and PPG Industries, use Convercent to proactively manage and measure compliance, as well as operationalize business ethics.

Convercents products and services will give us the tools and information we need to measure our ethics and compliance program and continuously improve our performance in living out the Kimberly-Clark values globally, said Kurt Drake, ?chief ethics and compliance officer, Kimberly-Clark Corporation.

The funding follows on the heels of a record-setting year for Convercent:

Convercent posted 125 percent year-over-year growth in bookings in 2016, both due to strong new customer acquisition and growth from existing customers.

Convercent experienced accelerated customer growth with a more than a 200 percent year-over-year increase in new customer acquisition for 2016. The company added more customers in Q4 2016 than in all of 2015.

In addition to growth in new customer acquisitions, the company experienced strong expansion from its installed customer base in 2016 with a 106 percent effective retention rate.

To meet increasing worldwide demand, Convercent expanded to EMEA with its international in the United Kingdom. The office will enable Convercent to be on the ground to make existing and new customers successful.

The company released, which introduced an integrated way of managing compliance, including enhancements to conflicts of interest management, case escalation routing and in-app multilingual support.

What keeps me up at night is making sure were doing the right thing as a company and supporting every single one of our employees every day. Convercent makes that a reality, said James Vitrano, General Counsel and Vice President Global Franchise DevOps of Ruby Tuesday. Convercents platform gives us the capability to reach our employees and communicate with them in an efficient, effective manner. It helps us to provide necessary transparency for our employees, as well as accountability to the outside world.

Convercent is the leading SaaS provider of ethics and compliance solutions for the enterprise. Its cloud solution enables global enterprises to implement, measure and manage modern compliance programs and instill ethics at their core of their company. Its fully integrated products bring efficiency and an intuitive user experience to risks, cases, disclosures, training and policies. With hundreds of customers in more than 130 countries  including Airbnb, Dolby Laboratories, LinkedIn, Alamo Group, Baxter, McGraw Hill Education, and Philip Morris International  Convercents award-winning GRC solution enables organizations in all industries to build a foundation of ethics and safeguard their financial and reputational health in the process. Convercent is based in Denver, Colorado and backed by Sapphire Ventures, Tola Capital, Azure Capital, Mantucket Capital and Rho Capital Partners.

To learn more about Convercent, please visit .

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Carrick block watch hears neighborhood updates

Burgh's Eye View presents multiple city data streams on an interactive map. Residents can learn about criminal incidents, check the status of 311 reports or even rent city facilities.

Carrick residents can learn about criminal incidents, check on the status of 311 reports, and even rent city facilities thanks to Burgh's Eye View, a city website that presents multiple city data streams on an interactive map.

A tutorial of Burgh's Eye View was presented by Geoffrey Arnold from Pittsburgh's Department of Innovation and Performance at February's Carrick / Overbrook Crime Watch meeting last Monday in the Concord K5 auditorium.

The website, released in 2016, allows anyone to view an interactive map of Pittsburgh and instantly see public safety data, 311 requests, building code violations, building permits, and city facility information all in a single place. The website is accessible on both computers and mobile devices.

Mr. Arnold said if a resident is concerned about a recent string of robberies, they can log on to Burgh's Eye View and filter the map by thefts to see a visual representation of where specific incidents occurred between a selected timeframe.

When a criminal incident is selected, the user can read about the specific charges of the offense, whether it's been cleared by police, the date and time, and the nearest intersection. The map does not display exact addresses in order to protect the privacy of crime victims.

In addition to viewing datasets, residents can also submit 311 requests and rent city facilities directly from the website.

The data for Burgh's Eye View is provided by the Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center and is updated nightly.

A resident asked Mr. Arnold if the website is able to show the real-time status of 311 reports. Mr. Arnold confirmed that the website does not.

Another resident asked if the website displays overdoses. Mr. Arnold said it is possible to filter the criminal incidents by overdoses; however, it ultimately depends on how police file the incident.

Residents can launch the Burgh's Eye View application on their computer or mobile device by visiting pittsburghpa.gov and clicking on the Burgh's Eye View logo on the right sidebar.

Following the presentation, Zone 3 police officer Christine Luffey addressed the shooting homicide that occurred around 3 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 5 in the 200 block of Copperfield Avenue.

A Carrick man allegedly shot and killed the victim, 28-year-old Donald Ketter Jr., from inside a rideshare vehicle after leaving the Carrick Lit Club on Copperfield Avenue and then forced the driver to flee the scene.

Police were able to speak to the driver along with other witnesses and identify and arrest the suspect Derek Vasos of Maytide Street.

Three prostitution arrests also occurred on Brownsville Road. On January 17 plainclothes police officers observed a female stumbling and attempting to flag down vehicles. When they approached her, the woman proceeded to sexually proposition the officers. She was arrested around 1:20 p.m.

The same female was arrested again on January 19 at 8:30 p.m. by Pittsburgh Police's Narcotics and Vice Unit. Police were investigating in the area when the woman allegedly motioned the vehicle to stop and made the officers a sexual proposition involving $40.

A third prostitution arrest occurred when a female plainclothes police officer was walking in the 1100 block of Brownsville Road. A man approached the officer and offered $20 in exchange for a sexual act and was arrested by detectives.

A man was stabbed three times after leaving a tavern in the 2300 block of Brownsville Road. The victim was transported to Mercy Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. Police are investigating.

A Carrick man was assaulted while walking Parkfield Street on January 21 at 9:30 p.m. by four males. The victim was dragged into a car and repeatedly assaulted. The victim suffered black eyes, stitches, a broken nose, and bruised ribs. Arrest warrants have been issued for the suspects.

Following the crime report, a resident complained about excessive panhandling at the intersection of Route 88 and Route 51. Officer Luffey advised the resident to call 911 if panhandlers become aggressive or start to tap on windows.

Another resident complained about kids loitering and asking for money in the Carrick Shopping Center.

Officer Luffey also noted a significant number of theft from automobile reports and reminded residents to lock their cars and remove all valuables.

"Every day I look through the police reports and there are at least a couple of [theft from auto reports]," officer Luffey said. "Please do not leave your valuables in your vehicle."

Officer Luffey also reminded residents the city of Pittsburgh offers a free spay and neuter program for up to five animals a year to all city residents. Applications are available to download at pittsburghpa.gov/animalcontrol.

"We're going to try to keep the pet population down," officer Luffey said.

Officer Luffey also announced that there were 71 people in attendance at the meeting.

"It's been about five years that we've been doing it and you've been strong," officer Luffey said. "This is one block watch that has not been broken."

Following the crime report, City Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak provided several. According to the Councilwoman, her office is still working hard to secure the Berg Place apartment building and Saint Basil Church and move forward with new development opportunities.

Councilwoman Rudiak also announced there is $30,000 in the city budget to address lighting and amenity needs in Philips Park. As a result, she is looking for volunteers to form a group called the Friends of Phillips Park. The group would be responsible for naming trails and planning future amenity upgrades.

Additionally, there are current plans to redevelop the entryway of Philips Park to make it appear more inviting.

Councilwoman Rudiak also said she has been speaking with a City of Pittsburgh data analyst about doing a crime analysis to determine the impact the Carrick / Overbrook Block Watch has had on the community.

According to the Councilwoman, initial discussions indicate there has been a steady decrease in criminal incidents over the last few years.

"While overdoses have been going up, crime is going down," the councilwoman said.

The next Carrick / Overbrook Block Watch meeting will be on Monday, March 6 at 7 p.m. in the Concord K5 auditorium.
When photography was invented in France in the 1820s, some artists predicted  even feared  that it would in time take the place of painting. That didnt happen, but photographers around the world consistently have recorded images that reveal...
Everything you need to know about the Irish vs. No. 5 Clemson at Notre Dame Stadium Saturday night
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Georgetown, SC (29440)

Today

Some sun in the morning with increasing clouds during the afternoon. High 79F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.
There is a major reason why many flock to the Grand Strand to play 18 holes on our various golf courses. Many options are available which include scenic, challenging or even courses that the beginner would enjoy. Read moreTee off: Plan your next golf outing along the South Strand
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Astronomers have spotted more than 100 new potential alien planets, including one in the fourth-closest star system to the sun, a new study reports.

This haul of newfound possible exoplanets, which have yet to be confirmed as bona fide alien worlds, comes from a new analysis of 20 years' worth of data gathered by the HIRES (High Resolution Echelle Spectrometer) instrument at the Keck Observatory in Hawaii.

"HIRES was not specifically optimized to do this type of exoplanet detective work, but has turned out to be a workhorse instrument of the field," study co-author Steve Vogt, of the University of California, Santa Cruz, said in a statement. "I am very happy to contribute to science that is fundamentally changing how we view ourselves in the universe," added Vogt, who designed and built HIRES. [Gallery: The Strangest Alien Planets]

HIRES detects exoplanets using the "radial velocity" method: The instrument picks up the tiny gravitational wobbles that orbiting worlds induce in their parent stars. This strategy is different from that employed by the most prolific planet hunter of all time, NASA's Kepler space telescope; Kepler watches for the tiny brightness dips caused when a planet crosses its star's face  called the "transit method."

In the new study, the researchers identified 60 so-called planet candidates, as well as 54 other suggestive signals that require further investigation before they can be elevated to candidate status.

One of the official candidates circles the star GJ 411 (also known as Lalande 21185), which lies just 8.3 light-years from the sun. Only three star systems are closer. (The three-star Alpha Centauri is the nearest system to the sun. Last August, astronomers announced the discovery of a potentially Earth-like world orbiting Proxima Centauri, one of the Alpha Centauri trio. Proxima Centauri lies 4.22 light-years from Earth.)

The possible GJ 411 planet is at least 3.8 times more massive than Earth, and it's probably too hot to be habitable, study team members said. The candidate world lies quite close to the star, completing one orbit every 10 Earth days.

The huge HIRES data set consists of nearly 61,000 measurements of more than 1,600 stars. To wring the most science possible out of this catalog  which study team members called the biggest compilation of radial-velocity planet-hunting observations ever  the HIRES researchers have shared it with other exoplanet researchers around the world.

"The best way to advance the field and further our understanding of what these planets are made out of is to harness the abilities of a variety of precision radial velocity instruments, and deploy them in concert," study team member Jennifer Burt, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said in the same statement. "But that will require some big teams to break from tradition and start leading serious cooperative efforts."

The new study, which was led by Paul Butler of the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, D.C., was published in The Astronomical Journal.

To date, astronomers have discovered 3,450 confirmed exoplanets, about two-thirds of which were found by Kepler. Several thousand more await confirmation.

And the finds should keep rolling in well into the future. For example, the European Space Agency's Gaia mission, which launched in December 2013, is expected to discover thousands of alien worlds before its work is done, as is NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), which is scheduled to lift off in early 2018.

Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.
Happy Valentine's Day  from space!

While outer space consists mostly of a cold and lonely void, it can also be a breathtaking and romantic place, with shimmering cosmic clouds shaped like hearts, flowers and rings.

From magnificent views of the Milky Way galaxy to telescope pictures of gorgeous nebulas, these images taken by astrophotographers will have you falling in love with space all over again. [Valentine's Day in Space: Cosmic Love Photos]

Astrophotographer Sergio Montufar proposed to his girlfriend, Barby, beneath the Milky Way in Cabo Raso, Argentina on Sept. 27, 2016. (She said yes!) (Image credit: Sergio Emilio Montufar Codoner

Sergio Montufar, a professional astronomer and astrophotographer at the La Plata Astronomical Observatory in Argentina, nailed a stellar wedding proposal beneath the Milky Way. He brought his now-fiance, Barby, along on a work trip to Chubut, a province in southern Argentina

"We are both very passionate about astronomy since [we were] kids, when we met," Montufar told Space.com. "It was each other's love for the stars  that joined our hearts like colliding galaxies. So, for a special person, a special moment should be done in a very special place."

Montufar's wedding proposal was literally picture-perfect.

And if this adorable photo of his engagement didn't melt your heart, perhaps this lovely image of the Heart Nebula will.

This heart-shaped cloud of cosmic gas and dust is called the "Heart Nebula," or IC 1805. It lies about 7,500 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cassiopeia. (Image credit: Ron Brecher

Astrophotographer Ron Brecher captured this luminous, red image of NGC 896, or the Heart Nebula, a cloud of glowing interstellar gas that lies 7,500 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Cassiopeia. That little tail in the bottom right of the image is a separate cloud known as the Fishhead Nebula (IC 1795). The Heart Nebula lies close to the Soul Nebula.

This stunning cosmic flower is known as the Rosette Nebula. Spanning 50 light-years across, it is the largest "rose" in the galaxy (albeit made primarily of dust, gas and baby stars). Approximately 2,500 newborn stars reside within this flowery nebula, and more continue to form out of its clouds of cosmic dust. (Image credit: Miguel Claro

Roses are red  and so is the Rosette Nebula! This rose-shaped, deep-space nebula may outshine even the most beautiful bouquets of Earth-grown flowers this Valentine's Day. Miguel Claro, a Portuguese astrophotographer, captured this deep-sky image of the floral figure from the new Cumeada Observatory in Portugal's Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve, a "starlight tourism destination" that offers some of the best stargazing conditions in the world.

Email Hanneke Weitering at hweitering@space.com or follow her @hannekescience. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
How can humans stay relevant in an age of artificial intelligence? Elon Musk thinks cyborgs are the answer.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO discussed the need for a "merger of biological intelligence and digital intelligence" during a talk today (Feb. 13) at the World Government Summit in Dubai, CNBC reported.

One of the main advantages computers have over humans is the speed at which they can send out information, Musk said. While humans are limited by the the speed of theirtyping, a computer can send out information at "a trillion bits per second," Musk said. As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more advanced, humans will also need to evolve to remain relevant, he added. [Super-Intelligent Machines: 7 Robotic Futures]

"Some high-bandwidth interface to the brain will be something that helps achieve a symbiosis between human and machine intelligence, and maybe solves the control problem and the usefulness problem," Musk said of the need for humans to merge their minds with computers, according to CNBC.

Musk has previously discussed a system that could link human brains to a computer interface. This so-called "neural lace" concept, which would add a digital layer of intelligence to the human brain, was first mentioned at Recode's Code Conference last year. Since introducing the idea, Musk has hinted at the interface's progress and has further discussed his views on an artificially intelligent future.

Musk has also expressed his fear of "deep AI," explaining that an artificial general intelligence would be "smarter than the smartest human on Earth." Though this technology is not an immediate threat, Musk said the combination of human brains with machine intelligence will ensure humanity's continued relevance.

However, one aspect of AI that is an immediate threat is the displacement of jobs, Musk said. During the World Government Summit talk, Musk specifically noted that with autonomous cars, an industry in which Tesla is a leader, AI will displace people in driving-focused positions such as truck drivers, delivery drivers and taxi drivers.

"The most near-term impact from a technology standpoint is autonomous cars," Musk said at the Summit, according to CNBC. "But there are many people whose jobs are to drive. In fact, I think it might be the single largest employer of people ... driving in various forms."

Musk estimated that 12 to 15 percent of the global workforce will be out of a job once autonomous vehicles AI take over driving duties, CNBC reported.

Original article on Live Science.
JUICE, also known as the JUpiter ICy moons Explorer, is a European Space Agency mission intended to explore Jupiter and three of its icy moons: Europa, Callisto and Ganymede. A single orbital spacecraft, with no lander, will be the first to orbit Ganymede, and one of a handful of spacecraft to visit the Jupiter system since the 1970s.

JUICE is targeted to launch in June 2022 aboard an Ariane 5 spacecraft. It will take more than 7.5 years to get to Jupiter, using gravity assists from Venus and Earth to speed the spacecraft up and get it into the outer solar system. The spacecraft is expected to be inserted in Jupiter's orbit in January 2030, starting a 2.5-year observation session of Jupiter's moons, as well as the planet's atmosphere and magnetosphere.

"During the tour, gravity assists with Callisto and Ganymede will shape the trajectory," ESA wrote in a statement. "Two targeted Europa flybys are included focusing on composition of the non water-ice material, and the first subsurface sounding of an icy moon."

The spacecraft will fly by Callisto a few times to raise its orbit inclination to about 30 degrees, allowing the spacecraft to catch a glimpse of Jupiter's poles. Naturally, it will also do observations of Callisto during these flybys. Finally, the mission will spend eight months orbiting Ganymede  the first spacecraft to do so  to learn more about this icy moon, before a planned impact on the surface.

JUICE history

In 2004, ESA asked the scientific community what would be appropriate space exploration goals in the coming years. The result was released under its Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 program. Questions the program is intended to answer include: "What are the conditions for life and planetary formation? How does the solar system work? What are the fundamental laws of the Universe? How did the Universe begin and what is it made of?"

ESA issued a call for proposals for Cosmic Vision missions in 2007, which resulted in a proposal for a Jovian mission called Laplace. Originally it was intended to include participation from NASA and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency. An early formulation suggested a mission called the Europa Jupiter System Mission-Laplace, or EJSM/Laplace, which would lift off in 2020. It would send two probes, called Jupiter Europa Orbiter (NASA) and Jupiter Ganymede Orbiter (ESA), to the moons Europa and Ganymede.

ESA had three missions planned with NASA, including EJSM/Laplace, but ESA decided to forge its path alone in 2011. A statement from the time explained there was concern with a recent decadal survey issued by the U.S. National Research Council. These decadal surveys commonly influence NASA's mission decisions. The decadal survey did not identify any of the three joint NASA-ESA missions as a priority, ESA said.

"The U.S. budget outlook also became known in February 2011," ESA added in the statement. "In ESA's recent discussions with NASA it became clear that it is quite unlikely that any of the ... mission candidates can be implemented as a joint Europe-U.S. mission in the planned timeframe of the early 2020s."

The three missions went to a competition for an ESA large-class mission selection, and JUICE was selected as the first one to be implemented in May 2012. Its proposed launch date was 2022. The other candidates were Athena (Advanced Telescope for High-Energy Astrophysics) and NGO (New Gravitational wave Observatory). Athena was selected in June 2014 for a launch date in 2022; NGO has not been selected for a launch date yet.

The instrument competition for JUICE was announced in June 2012, with selections being made in February 2013. JUICE was approved for the next stage of mission development, called implementation, in November 2014. The prime contractor is Airbus Defence & Space, who was selected in July 2015.

The Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer, JUICE, and its instruments. (Image credit: ESA)

Science objectives

While JUICE will look at the icy moons of Ganymede, Europa and Callisto, most observations will be done at Ganymede. These are the science objectives to learn at the icy moons, according to ESA:

Characterization of the ocean layers and detection of putative subsurface water reservoirs;

Topographical, geological and compositional mapping of the surface;

Study of the physical properties of the icy crusts;

Characterization of the internal mass distribution, dynamics and evolution of the interiors;

Investigation of the exosphere;

Study of Ganymede's intrinsic magnetic field and its interactions with the Jovian magnetosphere.

Additionally, the probe will look at possible life-bearing chemistry at Europa, including organic molecules. At that moon, JUICE will also seek to understand how the surface features  and specifically non water-ice material  formed. JUICE will be assisted in this endeavor by probing below the surface, which has never been done before at Europa. Among other things, this will help JUICE understand how thick the icy crust is.

Since the moons' environments are greatly affected by Jupiter, the planet will also be studied in several ways. The moons' interactions with its magnetosphere, as well as the effects of its gravity, will be studied. The mission will also track Jupiter's aurora and radio emissions, specifically watching their response to the solar wind, the constant stream of charged particles from the sun.

Jupiter's atmosphere will also come under scrutiny, ESA said, including such aspects as its chemistry, structure, weather and circulation. Since JUICE will be at Jupiter's system for several years, this will allow for long-term observations across a swath of Jupiter's area, allowing for scientists to better understand how the weather changes, and what circumstances are responsible for those changes.

Studying Jupiter is not only important to understanding the giant planet, but also to learning about other gas giants in the solar system and beyond. By making observations of the solar system's largest planet, some extrapolations can be made for Saturn (and to a lesser extent, the much smaller Uranus and Neptune.) Also, the up-close observations of Jupiter can help scientists better understand the behavior of Jupiter-size planets in other solar systems, even if they are far from Earth and hard to study in a telescope.

The scientific instruments on JUICE include:

JANUS (camera system)

MAJIS - Moons and Jupiter Imaging Spectrometer

UVS - UV imaging Spectrograph

SWI - Sub-millimeter Wave Instrument

GALA - GAnymede Laser Altimeter

RIME - Radar for Icy Moons Exploration

J-MAG (magnetometer)

PEP - Particle Environment Package

RPWI - Radio & Plasma Wave Investigation

3GM - Gravity & Geophysics of Jupiter and Galilean Moons

PRIDE - Planetary Radio Interferometer & Doppler Experiment

Past and future missions to Jupiter and its moons

Jupiter is one of the most-visited planets in the solar system. Not only is it a scientifically valuable target itself, but it also is the largest planet and makes an excellent "slingshot" for gravity assists to send spacecraft into the outer solar system to more distant targets.

NASA's Pioneer 10 spacecraft flew by the planet in 1973, and Pioneer 11 flew by the year after, both on a journey to the outer solar system. (Pioneer 11 also flew by Saturn.) Pioneer 10 was the first spacecraft to see Jupiter from close-up. Its observations include looking at Jupiter's intense radiation and magnetic field, and confirming that Jupiter had a mostly liquid interior. Pioneer 11 passed by the bow shock of Jupiter's magnetosphere, where it interacts with the constant stream of charged particles from our sun that is called the solar wind. Its observations allowed scientists to learn how the boundary of the Jovian magnetosphere changes as it interacts with the solar wind.

NASA's twin Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft each flew by the planet in 1979, in separate months. Both spacecraft are still communicating with Earth; Voyager 1 flew by Saturn in 1980 and entered interstellar space in 2012, while Voyager 2 toured Saturn, Uranus and Neptune and is still flying out of the solar system. The two spacecraft combined to take more than 33,000 pictures of Jupiter and its largest satellites. Major discoveries include active volcanism on the moon Io, hints of an icy crust on Europa, and charting activity from storm systems on Jupiter.

NASA's Galileo was the first spacecraft dedicated to visiting Jupiter and its moons. It entered orbit in 1995 and was deliberately sent into Jupiter's atmosphere in 2003, ending the mission. Some of its major discoveries included saltwater beneath the icy moons of Europa, Ganymede and Callisto; and thunderstorms on Jupiter that dwarf those on Earth. It also performed more detailed studies of Io's volcanism.

Other probes that did flybys include the NASA-ESA sun probe Ulysses (flybys in 1992 and 2004; the mission was decommissioned in 2009), the NASA-ESA Saturn-bound Cassini-Huygens spacecraft (2000) and NASA's Pluto-bound New Horizons (2007). These spacecraft took long-range pictures of Jupiter's system, watched volcanic eruptions at Io and performed observations of Jupiter's radio waves, charged particles, magnetic field and solar wind interactions.

There is also a mission at Jupiter currently, Juno, which entered orbit in 2016. Its science objectives include figuring out how much water is in Jupiter's atmosphere, mapping out the composition and properties of Jupiter's atmosphere and learning more about Jupiter's magnetic and gravity fields. It also carries a camera called JunoCam, which is dedicated for amateur suggestions for observations.

Additional resources
The Minotaur's first three stages are wrapped in thermal protection blankets to simulate conditions during the planned July 2017 launch.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.  Tucked inside a mobile service tower here at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 46 sits a trio of Peacekeeper missiles stacked on top of one another.

Wrapped in gleaming-white thermal blankets, the inert stages simulate the first three segments of a Minotaur IV rocket that will ferry an experimental satellite into orbit this summer.

Operated by Virginia-based aerospace company Orbital ATK, the solid-fueled Minotaur IV employs three decommissioned Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missiles to launch medium-size payloads into orbit. The rocket also incorporates fourth and fifth stages, both of which are powered by Orion 38 motors. Since 2000, the Minotaur rocket family has flown a total of 25 times, and from every U.S. launch site except Cape Canaveral. [How Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles Work (Infographic)]

On Sunday (Feb. 12), crews in hard hats worked to test stacking operations and the pad's new infrastructure ahead of the upcoming launch, which is currently scheduled for July 15. The U.S. Air Force mission, known as Operationally Responsive Space-5 (ORS-5), will mark the first time a Minotaur rocket has flown from Cape Canaveral.

A view of the newly renovated Launch Complex 46 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. (Image credit: Amy Thompson/Space.com)

The test activity at Complex 46 also showcased upgrades to a pad, which has not been used for launches since 1999. Mark Bontrager  vice president of spaceport operations for Space Florida, a state-run organization that oversees commercial launch operations at the Cape  explained that the pad was sitting stagnant for nearly two decades.

"We're excited to see this thing come back to life this summer," he said.

Launch Complex 46 was first used by the U.S. Navy in the 1980s to test Trident missiles. (Image credit: Amy Thompson/Space.com)

First constructed in the 1980s, Complex 46 was used by the U.S. Navy to test Trident missiles. After that, it hosted two Athena rocket launches  one in 1998 and one in 1999  before being abandoned. Recently, the complex was given new life, as multiple grants totaling $4 million allowed Space Florida to oversee the necessary upgrades to the equipment and facilities.

Orbital ATK representatives say the Cape finally got its chance to host a Minotaur launch because of the recent upgrades and the site's unique ability to support this particular launch. The ORS-5 mission's 370-mile-high (600 kilometers), 0-degree-inclination orbit could not be achieved from any other U.S. launch site, mission managers said.

Crews have been working since 2012 to complete $4 million in upgrades, which includes transforming a rusty underground bunker into a shiny new communications vault. (Image credit: Amy Thompson/Space.com)

Details about ORS-5 are classified, but mission managers have said that the spacecraft  known as the SensorSat  will help track objects in geosynchronous orbit, which lies about 22,300 miles (36,000 km) above Earth. ORS-5 will scan for orbital debris and test technologies for future space missions, mission officials have said.

Sunday's activities wrapped up in the afternoon, and the news media got a chance to take some photos.

"We were out here to test out our pathfinder operations, to ensure that all requirements were being met for this mission," said Terry Luchi, Orbital ATK's director of Minotaur programs. "It was a very successful effort that could not have been accomplished without all of our partners, including Space Florida, and the U.S. Air Force."

A view of the mobile access tower and flame trench. (Image credit: Amy Thompson/Space.com)

The inert stages will be de-stacked soon, and approximately three weeks before launch, the actual rocket for ORS-5 will be stacked. About 10 days of preflight testing will follow. On July 15, when the Minotaur IV blasts off, 500,000 lbs. (227,000 kilograms) of thrust will propel the 193,000-lb. (87,500 kg), 78-foot-tall (24 meters) rocket into orbit.

After July's expected launch, NASA will use the pad to perform a crucial test of the in-flight abort system of the agency's Orion crew capsule. That next mission, dubbed Ascent Abort 2, is currently targeted for December 2019.

But that's not all: Bontrager said the pad could possibly host more Minotaur missions in the future, as well as a number of small rockets currently in development.

"We see Cape Canaveral as the future center for global space commerce, and this pad could work out very well," Bontrager said.

Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.
Ellen Ochoa and Michael Foale, seen here as STS-56 crewmates in 1993, will be inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.

The first Hispanic woman to fly into space and an astrophysicist who turned to the stars to help him survive a dangerous collision in orbit will be inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in May.

Former NASA astronauts and crewmates Ellen Ochoa and Michael Foale will be enshrined as the Hall's 2017 class of inductees at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. A public ceremony on May 19, followed by a gala dinner hosted by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation the next evening, will welcome Ochoa and Foale as the 94th and 95th honorees in the Astronaut Hall of Fame.

"NASA's mission is always expanding with a goal to learn more and go further. Our two new Hall of Fame inductees have been pivotal in keeping that mission on course," said Dan Brandenstein, chairman of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and a former space shuttle astronaut who was inducted in the Hall in 2003. "The courage, dedication and passionate spirit exhibited by both Dr.'s Foale and Ochoa is indicative of the extraordinary individuals who have been recognized in this way." [Photos: The Kennedy Space Center, NASA's Historic Spaceport]

Ochoa, who was the 18th American woman to launch in space, and 22nd out of the 60 to date worldwide, is the ninth female astronaut to be inducted to the Hall of Fame since it opened in 1990. She logged more than 40 days in space studying solar activity and helping to build the International Space Station.

Ellen Ochoa, top left, and Michael Foale, bottom right, are seen on the space shuttle Discovery as STS-56 crewmates in 1993. (Image credit: NASA)

Foale, who holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and UK, was the first Brit to spacewalk and at one time held the record for the most time in space by an American. He spent more than a year off Earth  almost 374 days  on board five shuttle missions and one Russian Soyuz flight, conducting solar observations, servicing the Hubble Space Telescope, and living on both the Russian Mir and International Space Station.

Foale and Ochoa were crewmates on STS-56, the space shuttle Discovery's 16th mission, in April 1993. The launch marked Foale's second trip into Earth orbit since becoming a NASA astronaut in 1987, and Ochoa's first, having joined the corps three years later in 1990.

Serving as mission specialists on the five-member STS-56 crew, Foale and Ochoa helped to operate the Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science-2 (ATLAS-2) that was developed to collect data on the relationship between the sun's energy output and Earth's atmosphere and how those factors affected the planet's ozone layer. During the nine-day flight, Ochoa used the robotic arm to deploy and retrieve a satellite that observed the solar corona.

Foale's first mission, STS-45 in March 1992, was devoted to the first ATLAS. He followed that and STS-56 by joining the crew of the first shuttle mission to rendezvous with the Russian space station Mir. It was during that mission, STS-63 in February 1995 that Foale performed the first of his four career spacewalks.

Foale's fourth spaceflight returned him to Mir, this time to dock and stay for 144 days on board the orbiting complex. Launching with the STS-84 crew, Foale became the fifth American to live on board Mir in May 1997. Six weeks into the mission though, a Russian cargo ship collided with Mir as a result of a failed manual docking system test, causing the space station to begin depressurizing.

"'This is a real emergency,'" Foale recalled thinking at the time, according to a NASA oral history. "'You'd better focus on getting this sealed off here.'"

Foale and his two Russian crewmates set to work closing the hatch to the damaged Spektr module, which stabilized the station's air pressure. The impact however, threw Mir into a spin, at a rate of about once every six minutes.

"[I] put my thumb against the window, looked at the stars, and was able to tell the ground what the spin rate was," he recounted. Foale's background as a physicist gave him the basis by which to advise his fellow cosmonauts how to fire thrusters to bring the space station under control, though it ultimately took two days to recover.

Foale flew in space twice more, first in December 1999 on STS-103, the third shuttle mission to upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope, and then on Soyuz TMA-3 for a 195 day stay on board the International Space Station during which he commanded the orbiting laboratory's Expedition 8 crew.

Ochoa followed her first launch into space by flying on the third ATLAS mission, STS-66 in November 1994, on space shuttle Atlantis. As during her maiden flight, Ochoa led the deployment and retrieval of a free-flying science platform, this time a satellite that measured the variability of Earth's atmosphere.

Ochoa next lifted off with Discovery's STS-96 crew on the first shuttle flight to dock at the International Space Station in May 1999. During approach, Ochoa tracked the orbiter's trajectory using the vehicle's own radar system and a laser ranging device mounted in the payload bay. After docking, she helped transfer 4 tons of supplies for the arrival of the space station's first resident crew and operated the space shuttle's robotic arm during an 8-hour spacewalk by two of her crewmates.

The U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, as featured in Heroes & Legends at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. (Image credit: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex)

"I feel very fortunate to play what is essentially a small role in the overall assembly and operation of the International Space Station," Ochoa said prior to her second visit to the complex in April 2002. "It is just an incredible international venture."

Ochoa's fourth and last spaceflight, STS-110 in April 2002, installed a segment of the space staton's backbone truss, which required the first use of its seven-joint robotic arm to maneuver spacewalkers.

Ochoa, who today is director of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, left the astronaut corps in 2003. Foale stayed until 2013, retiring as the chief of the branch that supports Soyuz and station operations, as well as the development of new spacesuits.

Ochoa and Foale were selected for induction by a panel of astronauts, mission controllers and journalists overseen by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. To be eligible, they needed to have made their first flight into space at least 18 years ago, be U.S. citizens trained by NASA, and now be retired from the astronaut corps.

The U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame was founded in 1990 on the suggestion of the original Mercury astronauts. It is now a featured part of Heroes & Legends, a public attraction at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

Follow collectSPACE.com on Facebook and on Twitter at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2017 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved.
NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson pops out of a cargo bag during a prank on the International Space Station on Feb. 13, 2017.

NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson just pulled off a prank that's literally out of this world.

Whitson, a veteran space traveler, is one of six people living and working on the International Space Station right now. And while astronauts are usually pretty busy in space, Whitson found time Monday (Feb. 13) to surprise her Russian crewmates with a gag you could only pull off in space. As you can see here, Whitson packed herself inside a cargo bag and enlisted two partners-in-prank (NASA's Shane Kimbrough and France's Thomas Pesquet) to surprise their Russian crewmates. [Fun in Zero G: Awesome Weightless Photos]

"They were quite surprised when I popped out!" Whitson wrote in a Twitter post.

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The Russian members of the station's current Expedition 50 crew are Andrewy Borisenko, Sergey Ryzhikov and Oleg Novitskiy. I can only guess at what they thought when a seemingly innocent cargo bag floated into their module, only to have Whitson pop out.

Pesquet, a European Space Agency astronaut, apparently tried to climb in a cargo bag, too. But that didn't work out.

"I tried ... I but I didn't fit!" Pesquet wrote on Twitter.

This isn't the first time Whitson and her crewmates have had fun in space during their mission. To celebrate the Super Bowl earlier this month, they practiced some weightless tosses of their own ... using Whitson as the ball.

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And there was that time last month when Whitson decided to play with her space jello.

See more

Whitson, Pesquet and Novitsky launched to the space station last November, joining Kimbrough (who commands Expedition 50 mission), Borisenko and Ryzhikov already onboard. Later this month, Kimbrough, Borisenko and Ryzhikov will return to Earth. At that time, Whitson will take command of the space station for the second time in her career  a first for a female astronaut.

Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him @tariqjmalik and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
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Schulz is profiting from this mood. Oddly, he has even been able to attract some supporters away from the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany party. Schulz is able to combine the habits of a populist with a center-left platform, including his commitment to the European Union and to the country's liberal refugee policies. Until recently, only the AfD offered a clear alternative to Merkel. Now, the Social Democrats are as well, at least in terms of political style. Their message is clear: Merkel has to go.

Falk Odrich, 66, was recently standing behind a stall at a weekend farmer's market in Frankfurt selling Spreewald pickles as a way of supplementing his limited pension. In 2014, he had campaigned on behalf of the AfD in Erfurt. "I distributed 40,000 pamphlets and stood for hours behind the AfD stand on the city's central square," he said. He thought at the time that the AfD was the party of normal people, but party officials had barely moved into Thuringian state parliament before you hardly saw them anymore, Odrich said. Bjorn Hocke, the party's floor leader in the Thuringian state Legislature, he complained, has increasingly become a rabble rouser -- most recently with his massively criticized calls for Germany to cast aside its World War II guilt. And now, with Schulz on the ticket for the Social Democrats, Odrich intends to join the party. "I already have a membership application at home."

Isn't he bothered by the fact that Schulz, to a greater degree than many other German politicians, backs the European Union and a humanitarian approach to the refugee issue? No, Odrich said, adding that he actually finds it good: Refugees, he said, should be fairly distributed throughout Europe and not just taken in by Germany. "That was Merkel's mistake, the fact that she opened the borders without first coordinating with other Europeans."

Schulz has become a figure of promise, embodying all kinds of hopes. He has never held a position in the German government, if you don't count his stint as mayor of a Wurselen, a city with a population of 40,000 people on the border to the Netherlands. But Schulz has managed to leverage his years as Wurselen's leader into a narrative of being a man of the people. "You won't find real life in the Bundestag," Schulz says, referring to the German parliament in Berlin. "You'll find it in city halls."

Bumbling Heroes

"Oh please," German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble told SPIEGEL in an interview last week. "Mr. Schulz is no underdog who emerged from the back woods. The man spent decades in the European Parliament." That is true, and yet Schulz is nevertheless intriguing to many. His biography has been anything but straightforward: He was kicked out of school and descended into alcoholism as a young man. He managed to straighten himself out, but remained largely self-taught without a high school diploma or university degree. The last German politician to make it to the top with such an unorthodox resume was Joschka Fischer.

Germans love stories about bumbling heroes and Schulz knows how to take advantage. "Somebody asked if it is possible to become chancellor without a high school diploma," he said in Bocholt. The question shows a lack of respect, he said, before saying that he "isn't interested in the thinking of the self-proclaimed elite but that of hard-working people."

If his listeners number Merkel among the elite, that's all to the good. The greater the contrast between himself and the incumbent the better. She is the one with the Ph.D. in physics, the super-intelligent one. He is the guy who was booted out of school before graduation. She constantly exhibits restraint, having survived decades in communist East Germany by adopting a poker face and showing sufficient flexibility.

Another significant difference between Schulz and Merkel is his infectious optimism. He is the polar opposite of the morose woman who sat in Munich on Monday looking as though the candidacy for the Chancellery were a cross that CSU head Seehofer had personally laid on her shoulders. Schulz, by contrast, exudes a cheery confidence that the SPD can once again move into the Chancellery after 12 long years.

There is always a significant element of auto-suggestion in election campaigns and the almost feigned belief in victory can actually change reality. Gerhard Schroder's irrepressible pugnacity, for example, was almost enough to get him re-elected in 2005 even though everything seemed aligned against him. Now, it is Schulz who is constantly talking about victory. During his nomination at SPD headquarters in Berlin, he said: "The SPD is beginning the campaign in the expectation that it will become the largest political power in our country." His remark was greeted by rhythmic clapping as Schulz called out: "And I expect to become chancellor!"

Coquetry and Tactics

When it comes to Merkel, there are legitimate questions as to whether she will be able to generate the passion necessary to fight for a fourth term in office. She hesitated for months before declaring her intention to seek re-election. Many in the party assumed the delay was a combination of coquetry and tactics. But that is only part of the truth.

Until she was 35, Merkel was trapped behind the walls of East Germany, unable to fulfill her urge to travel. After the fall of the Iron Curtain, she was immediately caught up in the demands of politics. In 1990, she visited Joachim Sauer, who she would marry eight years later, in San Diego where he worked for a few years. Beyond that, though, she hasn't had the time for more ambitious trips.

Merkel has never publicly indulged in escapism to the degree that Sigmar Gabriel has, who often spoke about how nice life would be without the time pressures of a life in politics. But she also isn't cut from the same cloth as Kohl, who was convinced of his own irreplaceability right up until his last day in the Chancellery. She isn't only able to imagine a life outside of politics, she has also given the impression recently that she is actively yearning for it. Why, then, did she decide to run for a fourth term?

Merkel has no illusions about the effects that her refugee policy has had. In spring 2016, she openly admitted that it has led to a polarization of German society. But Merkel doesn't want to step aside right at that moment when Europe is more divided than ever before. Doing so would leave behind an incomplete tenure. And then came Donald Trump's election on Nov. 8.

Twelve days after Trump's victory, a sallow-faced Merkel stood in the foyer of CDU headquarters in Berlin and confirmed that she was once again running for re-election. She said that she had "given it endless thought" and that many had told her that in such uncertain times, she had to "once again throw my experience and those talents I possess into the ring to serve Germany."

It sounded almost as though she had been forced into the decision at gunpoint. Her long-time friend Klaus von Dohnanyi, the former mayor of Hamburg, put it like this: "Angela Merkel is a woman with an immense sense of responsibility."

Merkel has been unable to hide the fact that her renewed candidacy is a burden, also because acting has never been one of her specialties. In her political career, she never experienced much adversity on her climb to the top. She had hardly joined the CDU before Helmut Kohl handed her a seat on his cabinet. As CDU secretary general, she was forced to confront a campaign donation scandal that cast a dark shadow over Kohl's legacy and nearly torpedoed the career of Wolfgang Schauble. Ultimately, she was able to ride the scandal to the chairmanship of the CDU, defeating all of her opponents along the way. Once in the Chancellery, she has successfully managed crisis after crisis, including those afflicting global finances and the European currency. And now she is faced with Trump. It is a career that has left behind numerous scars.

Schulz's career, by contrast, has followed a much more meandering, and gradual, trajectory. He spent 10 years as a back-bencher in the European Parliament before becoming floor leader for the Socialists. In 2012, he became president of parliament before being named the Socialists' lead candidate in 2014 European elections. His selection as the SPD's candidate for the Chancellery represents the pinnacle of his career and he is backed by a party that looks ready to throw their full support behind him -- another contrast to Merkel.

Once a month, 81-year-old Franz Bauer, the son of a founding CSU member, attends a gathering of former soldiers at a bar in Grafing, a town near Munich. These days, the group of 15 "core CSU voters," as Bauer calls them, is focused on one issue above all others: "Merkel must go." As things currently stand, only two members of the group plan to vote for the CSU in September. One-third say they won't vote at all.

The rest of the group thinks it would be better to help the AfD than to support Merkel. Bauer also says he is having difficulty deciding "where to place the check mark on the ballot." He says the biggest problem is the "refugee issue." Besides, he says, "Merkel lacks empathy and the strength to mobilize people." He says Merkel's greatest weakness is her quarrel with the CSU -- and it is a conclusion shared by many in the CDU.

Contentious Issues

It may bye that Merkel sought to make peace with the Bavarian party last Monday, but she has no illusions about its stability. Seehofer isn't interested in torpedoing her re-election effort. But he wants to ensure that, should she lose, the blame lies squarely with her.

Indeed, Seehofer is less interested in the federal election than he is in the Bavarian state election that will follow a year later. The CSU currently enjoys an absolute majority in state parliament and the party boss wants to ensure that it is preserved. Should conflicts with Merkel become necessary to make this happen, he won't shy away from them -- even if it hurts the conservatives' chances in the coming general election.

There are plenty of contentious issues. One example is Merkel's approach to Russia. Seehofer considers sanctions against Russia to be the wrong approach and takes advantage of every opportunity to say as much. He sees himself as a representative of Bavarian industry, which wants to resume business with Russia and he has a meeting scheduled with Putin in Moscow next month. "Sixty percent of Bavarian economic output is based on exports," says Seehofer. "We shouldn't be going around the world wagging our fingers at others."

Seehofer believes that Merkel's approach to foreign policy is driven too much by morality. He's also not pleased that she used her first statement after Trump's election to give the president a blunt lecture on Western values. The Bavarian governor likewise soon plans to travel to Washington, with a businessman friend of his currently trying to make the necessary preparations with the White House.

Essentially, Seehofer hopes to establish a kind of parallel foreign policy for his state of Bavaria. But this is far from the only area where he may clash with the chancellor. The two are also at odds over Merkel's strategy of having established the CDU as a centrist party, thus neglecting its conservative grassroots. That is one reason Seehofer has clung to his demand for an upper limit on refugees. Merkel, though, has refused to give in. Last Monday in Munich, she said: "I do not intend to change my position" on the issue.

New Momentum for SPD

Schulz, for his part, doesn't intend to campaign against Merkel's refugee policies and also isn't likely to stir up sentiment against the EU the way Gerhard Schroder did in 1998, when he accused Brussels of "burning" through German money.

It's a recent Tuesday afternoon in the auditorium of a school in Pinneberg, a small town near Hamburg, and the place is packed with more than 300 pupils. It doesn't take long before Schulz begins talking about Europe. One-hundred years ago, he tells the students, young men "of your age" were pulled into war. And when he was a child, he continued, he constantly had to show his passport because he grew up in a part of Germany that borders the Netherlands and Belgium. It is not the kind of Europe he wants to return to, he tells his audience.

In terms of European policy, Schulz is closer to Kohl than he is to Merkel. He frames it in much bigger terms: solidarity, freedom, war and peace. For a while it seemed like viewing the EU in those terms was a thing of the past, almost sentimental. But now Trump is sitting in the White House and Marine Le Pen has her eyes on the French presidency. Everything that has been achieved in Europe is once again at stake. "Young people grew up with Europe," says Julien Bender, 31, the district head of the SPD party in the city of Freiburg. Since Schulz announced his candidacy, Bender says his chapter has gained 54 new members. "Europe is a very important issue for young people," he says.

Analysts at pollytix, a political polling and consulting firm, recognized this early on. Around a year ago, at a retreat held by the SPD's national committee, company CEO Jana Faus told SPD members that there was "enormous potential among youth. You're not taking advantage of it."

Schulz is now seeking to change that. "If Sigmar Gabriel had run, I would have voted for Merkel. Now, with Martin Schulz, that has changed," says Martin Urschel, a 29-year-old student at Oxford who is currently writing his Ph.D. dissertation on media dramaturgy. He's a classic swing voter and has voted in the past for the SPD, the CDU, the Greens and the FDP. He says he basis his voting decisions on concrete issues -- and on people.

'It's Now Up To Him'

Urschel says Martin Schulz has a clear and positive vision of the future, which is more important to him than Angela Merkel's pragmatism. Urschel discusses Schulz in a WhatsApp group together with his university friends and says he would like to see clearer statements from the SPD candidate about issues like pensions and the fight against tax evasion. "It's now up to him," says Urschel.

These, of course, are just individual voices and it is difficult to determine if they show a general trend. There are good reasons not to place too much faith in public opinion surveys, particularly since pollsters have been off the mark a number of times, most recently in the run-up to Brexit and to Trump's election.

When it comes to Schulz, German polling institute Insa seems to be going farthest out on a limb. Its most recent survey showed that 31 percent of voters would now cast their ballots for the SPD, putting the party slightly ahead of the CDU/CSU. "I couldn't believe the SPD figures," says Insa head Hermann Binkert. "We hadn't seen such a rapid ascent in the poll since we began conducting it." Of the 200 polls taken since 2012, he said that a change of about 2.5 percent was the "highest of highs."

Insa, of course, has been under fire for its evaluation methods for quite some time now. But other pollsters are also seeing a strong Schulz bump. In its surveys, pollster Forsa has seen the SPD climb 10 points to 31 percent. "Gabriel had a braking effect," says Forsa head Manfred Gullner. Many people who view themselves as Social Democrats in spirit didn't believe the SPD, as Merkel's junior coalition partner, could win under Gabriel and instead backed either Merkel, the Greens or the Left Party, Gullner says. Now they're returning to the SPD.

Both of Schulz's predecessors as SPD candidate --Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Peer Steinbruck -- also saw their poll numbers bump upwards after their nominations. Under Steinmeier, the SPD rose by four points in 2008, while under Steinbruck in 2012, it was three. But both lost their momentum.

That was partly a function of the candidates themselves, but also because voter fatigue over Merkel hadn't yet taken shape. When Gerhard Schroder ran against Kohl in 1998, the SPD experienced a seven percentage point bump and Schroder was able to stabilize those gains and win the election that fall. It isn't impossible that history will repeat itself this time around.

Still, there is a long way to go in an uncertain global political landscape and no pollsters were of a mind to go on record with a prediction. But it is safe to say that the chances for the Social Democrats are better than they have been in years.

Merkel's Party Lacks Schulz Strategy

Furthermore, the Christian Democrats don't yet have a strategy for stopping Schulz. The party is slowly going to have to start focusing on the candidate, CDU campaign chief Stefan Hennewig said during a morning meeting last week. Beyond that, a sense of helplessness prevailed. One thing those attending the meeting agreed upon is that they would not make an issue of Schulz's earlier addiction to alcohol or his lack of a high school diploma.

But how can they dent Schulz's campaign? Through direct attacks? Or would it be better to ignore him for now? Hennewig and Axel Tantzen, chief of staff to party Secretary-General Peter Tauber, debated these issues so vehemently that others nearby closed their office doors in annoyance. Even at the top of the party, there's a lack of agreement on the best way to handle Schulz. Merkel herself wants to hold back for now on direct attacks in order to prevent attracting more attention to the SPD candidate. But Finance Minister Schauble has taken another tack, accusing the Social Democratic candidate of populism and of being full of "hot air" in his interview with SPIEGEL last week.

One thing the heads of the CDU party do believe is that the concept of "asymmetrical demobilization" no longer works. The idea behind the strategy had been to position Merkel as a nonpartisan centrist, making it difficult for the SPD to mobilize its own followers. The idea has been considered obsolete ever since the AfD demonstrated that polarization can also be used to win over previous nonvoters. During the 2013 campaign, a photo of Merkel may have sufficed for making a political statement, but it will no longer work today.

Within the CDU leadership ranks, officials are counting on a reverse Trump effect. They want to send the message that, in a world that is spinning out of control, Germans should cast their votes for security and reliability. The central message should be that of a chancellor who is an anchor of stability in a chaotic world.

It remains to be seen if such a strategy can gain traction. Within the Chancellery, officials have noted that Schulz is presenting himself as the anti-establishment candidate. That's not something that Merkel can credibly do. "It's not easy to awaken curiosity in people about a person they have known for more than 20 years," says one senior CDU official.

Digging for Dirt in Brussels

Many CDU politicians suspect they will be able to find fodder for critique from the years Schulz spent in the European Parliament in Brussels. Herbert Reul, who heads the group of Christian Democrats from Germany in the European Parliament, sent out a dossier to fellow parliamentarians in an email with the subject line: "preliminary list on Martin Schulz." In it, Reul called on parliamentarians to search for unfavorable stories about Schulz. "If you are aware of any relevant incidents involving Martin Schulz, we ask you to please get in touch with our office."

And it is true that Schulz didn't always act in as principled a manner as he now likes to claim. As president of the European Parliament, he built an alliance with conservative European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and also took pains to ensure his colleague was spared of what could have been an embarrassing parliamentary investigation. There are also questions surrounding payments to Schulz's advisor Markus Engels, who has since been tapped to head the SPD federal election campaign.

That campaign is, for the moment, just as embryonic as that of the CDU. Until a short time ago, KNSK, the ad agency responsible for the SPD's campaign, had assumed that Sigmar Gabriel would be its candidate. It is now moving quickly to plan for a Schulz run.

Avoiding the Issues

For the time being, it's likely that Schulz will avoid taking concrete positions. Will he introduce a wealth tax? Will pension levels be increased? And how much more will be invested in education? The fact that details can be troublesome proved a painful lesson for the Social Democrats in recent years, with former party boss Gabriel spending nights writing position papers that he hadn't coordinated with others and then mailing them out the next morning. Merkel was defter: She would leave things open right up to the end. In this campaign, the SPD is likely to do things differently.

As imprecise as many things still remain, one thing does appear to be certain: Schulz is not going to run a campaign full of Social Democratic pipe dreams. It's also clear that it is the candidate who will determine the party's policy platforms. One of the reasons that Peer Steinbruck's campaign proved so disastrous in 2013 was that the left wing of the party forced its ideas on the candidate, who came from the SPD's conservative wing. This left both wings unhappy and also drove voters away.

Another lesson learned from the failed 2009 and 2013 campaigns was the presentation of shadow cabinets, which Schulz has no plans to do. In the past, the introduction of the team has never really caught on and these shadow cabinets were sometimes so bloated that the party joked that not even the chancellor candidate could remember all their names. Instead, Schulz will praise the work done by SPD cabinet ministers in the current government: Andrea Nahles at the Labor Ministry, Manuela Schwesig at the Family Ministry and, of course, Sigmar Gabriel, who is now at the Foreign Ministry after spending several years handling the economics portfolio.

And what of Gabriel? One might think he is having a tough time digesting the Schulz hype. In fact, Merkel even pulled him aside at a cabinet meeting a week ago Wednesday and asked if all the publicity surrounding Schulz was painful for him. Not at all, Gabriel answered cheekily. It's not just within the SPD, he said, where there is apparently a great desire for change.

Melanie Amann, Matthias Bartsch, Sven Boll, Anna Claus, Christiane Hoffmann, Horand Knaup, Ralf Neukirch, Martin Pfaffenzeller, Rene Pfister, Sophia Schirmer, Barbara Schmid-Schalenbach and Steffen Winter
Nouakchott (Mauritania), February 13, 2017 (SPS) - President of Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and Secretary General of the Frente POLISARIO Brahim Gali has called on the United Nations to assume its responsibilities and put an end to "Morocco's provocations in the region of Guerguerat."

In an interview to the Mauritanian independent news agency "El-Akhbar," the Saharawi leader said the "United Nations and its Security Council must assume their responsibilities and exert pressure on Morocco to get it to abide by UN decisions and resolutions, which provides for holding a referendum on Western Sahara people's self-determination."

The UN "should also get Morocco to respect the ceasefire agreement and allow MINURSO to immediately resume work," the Saharawi official said.

Gali denounces the "shameless complicity" of France, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, "through its support of the intransigent position of Morocco, which refuses to abide by the international legality."

"Morocco's provocations in the region of Guerguerat and its violation of the ceasefire" have also been condemned by President Gali. SPS

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RIDGEFIELD  The Restaurant Week concept is growing with numerous Connecticut towns holding their own version of the promotion meant to draw attention to local eateries.

For Ron Herman, owner of Wooster Hollow Cafe on Danbury Road, participating in Ridgefields Restaurant Week was an easy decision  especially since it is held in the dead of winter.

Its a great idea to get people excited about going to a restaurant in February, Herman said. People will always go out when the weather is nice. January and February are tough months. Its a welcomed boost in business in February.

Ridgefields Restaurant Week runs Monday, Feb. 20, through Sunday, Feb. 26, with about a dozen businesses participating. Each restaurant offers a fixed-price option that includes two or three courses. Restaurants may offer a lunch or dinner special, or both.

The event is organized by the Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce.

Restaurant Week in Ridgefield is the perfect chance to break out of the winter doldrums, Jennifer Zinzi, executive director of the Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce said. With a dozen eateries offering prix fixed menus options for lunch and dinner, its the perfect opportunity to try a new restaurant or an old favorite. Making a reservation is highly recommended.

Wooster Hollow Cafe is offering a soup or salad, sandwich or hot lunch, and dessert special for $15.17. The restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch and closes at 3 p.m. It is the third year Wooster Hollow Cafe is participating in Restaurant Week.

Last year we saw a reasonable uptick in traffic, Herman said. Were members of the chamber and its important to support their events.

Doug Grabe, owner of Little Pub on Ethan Allen Highway, participates in Restaurant Week because of a similar sense of community. He is offering a lunch special for $20.17.

Were happy to participate in restaurant week because, as part of the Ridgefield community, we feel its important to support community events, Grabe said. In addition, its a great opportunity for the Branchville neighborhood because anything that brings people from Main Street down to our area helps promote this vibrant little hamlet to folks who might not otherwise venture down the hill.

Other restaurants participating include Terra Ristorante Italiano Danbury, Luna Rossa, Bernards/Sarahs Wine Bar, Southwest Cafe, Ancient Mariner, Sucre Sale/Quiche Me, Tigers Den, Terra Sole and Baileys Backyard.

All of the prices end with 17 cents to reflect the year of the event. Many of the restaurants have specials for $20.17.

Visit the Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce website at destinationridgefield.com for complete details and restaurant offers.

cbosak@hearstmediact.com; 203-731-3338
The history of African Americans should not be defined only in the context of slavery.

Their history is also full of wonderful people who have added to the greatness of this country.

African-American inventors have created many widely used devices in the world and have contributed to international innovation. Norbert Rillieux created the technique for converting sugar cane juice into white sugar crystals. Moreover, Rillieux left Louisiana in 1854 and went to France, where he spent 10 years working with the Champollions deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics from the Rosetta Stone.

By 1913 more than 1,000 inventions were patented by black Americans. Among the most notable inventors were Jan Matzeliger, who developed the first machine to mass produce shoes, and Elijah McCoy, who invented automatic lubrication devices for steam engines. Granville Woods had 35 patents to improve electric railway systems, including the first system to allow moving trains to communicate. Garrett A. Morgan developed the first automatic traffic signal and gas mask.

Lewis Howard Latimer invented an improvement for the incandescent light bulb. More recent inventors include Frederick McKinley Jones, who invented the movable refrigeration unit for food transport in trucks and trains. Lloyd Quarterman worked with six other black scientists on the creation of the atomic bomb (code named the Manhattan Project). Quarterman also helped develop the first nuclear reactor, which was used in the atomically powered submarine called the Nautilus.

A few other notable examples include the first successful open-heart surgery, performed by Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, and the air conditioner, patented by Frederick McKinley Jones. Dr. Mark Dean holds three of the original nine patents on the computer on which all PCs are based. More current contributors include Otis Boykin, whose inventions included several novel methods for manufacturing electrical components that found use in applications such as guided missile systems and computers and Colonel Frederick Gregory, who was not only the first black astronaut pilot but the person who redesigned the cockpits for the last three space shuttles. Gregory was also on the team that pioneered the microwave instrumentation landing system.

Let our youths know about these great people. Instead of saying I cant excel because of my history, they should be saying I can excel because of my history.

Anne Harrigan is a resident of Danbury.
I t was the Rolls-Royce of corruption scandals. Britains most prestigious company bribed its way to winning contracts in Indonesia, Thailand, India, Russia, Nigeria, China and Malaysia.

As Sir Brian Leveson wrote in his final judgement in the High Court, it was devastating and of the greatest gravity that such a business should have fallen so far.

But, despite the gravity of the allegations, the authorities did not prosecute Rolls-Royce through the criminal courts.

Instead, they offered it one of their new Deferred Prosecution Agreements. That meant no criminal conviction or lengthy public trial with prolonged and damaging he-said-she-said revelations from the witness box.

The settlement was announced late one January afternoon, while the media was obsessed with the pending inauguration of the new US President. It made little impact outside the business pages.

Chief executive Warren East, who joined long after these events took place, today declared he wants to draw a line in the sand under the affair. Of course he does.

But lines in the sand should be up to the public to draw, not him. Rolls has got off extremely lightly in terms of the shame and negative publicity its actions have brought.

So lets remind ourselves of the charge sheet today. In the name of British industry, Rolls-Royce corrupted officials in poor countries to win business in energy, civil aviation and defence from 1989 in one case to December 2013 in another.

Those contracts brought profits of 260 million. The alleged bribes included:

$35 million plus a Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit car for engine contracts with Thai Airways;

$8 million for an LNG engineering deal with Gazprom;

$5 million over China Eastern Airlines, including luxury hotel accommodation and treats for officials in New York;

$3 million of free maintenance for an Air Asia officials new private jet;

The apparent bribing of a tax official to hand over a potentially explosive list of agents Rolls-Royce had used to win work.

The list of shame goes on far longer than this, and should be required reading for all bosses of exporting companies.

Levesons judgement expressed the gravity of Rolls-Royces crimes, but also told of how Rolls was so big that a criminal conviction could damage the company, affect thousands of jobs and trigger a fall in the share price.

The DPA had the opposite effect. Rolls shares jumped 6%. Today, the scandal warranted just three paragraphs in Rolls 31-page results statement.

For those us who care about Britains reputation abroad, more would have been appropriate.
A fifth of UK-based technology start-ups are drawing up plans to open European offices in response to Brexit as concerns rise about a lack of skilled workers.

Some 21% said they are keeping their headquarters in the UK but opening a European outpost, according to a survey of almost 140 UK tech and healthcare start-up executives by specialist lender Silicon Valley Bank. Of those surveyed, 11% are considering shifting their base to Europe.

The findings come amid concerns about a shortage of IT talent in the UK after Britain leaves the EU.

Three out of four start-ups said access to talent was their most important public policy issue while 96% admitted it is challenging to find people with the right skills to grow their businesses.

Phil Cox, president of Silicon Valley Banks UK arm, said that there is more hope of relaxed rules for skilled foreign workers.

These companies biggest concern for about three or four years has been access to talent and that is obviously the biggest thing theyre watching for [during Brexit negotiations], Cox said.

But there is a lot of faith in the fact that something will be figured out, especially for skilled workers being able to move across borders.
W e know already that thousands of people  perhaps more than 9,000 a year  die before their time in London as a result of particulate pollution, chiefly from diesel emissions.

What is less well-known is the effect of pollution on children.

Today more than 220 doctors from a group called Doctors Against Diesel have published a letter to the Prime Minister making clear the effect of toxic emissions on the growth of young lungs, and indeed other damaging effects over childrens lifetimes, not least greater susceptibility to heart attacks and strokes.

The damage is caused by nitrogen oxide emissions but also sooty carbon particles. The signatories call for a dramatic reduction in the number of diesel vehicles.

The Government has indeed considered a nationwide diesel scrappage scheme but the trouble is that diesel emission pollution is chiefly an urban problem whereas in the country as a whole carbon emissions may be no less of an issue, for which petrol engines are responsible.

But that is all the more reason for cities in general, starting with London, to take their own measures to combat the primary threat to our air: diesel vehicles.

The Ultra Low Emissions Zone will help but what we need now is the equivalent of a diesel version of the congestion charge, which would charge diesel vehicles, especially older, more polluting models, for entering the greater London area. Smart charging is not only a way of tackling congestion; it is the best way to target toxic emissions.

The Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling, will have to be more radical in his approach.

Electric cars could be adopted far more widely in London and elsewhere if the infrastructure were available to support them, specifically a wide network of charging points.

We dont just need to penalise toxic cars; we need to encourage clean ones.

Better cyber security

The National Cyber Security Network, which the Queen opened officially today, could not be more necessary or more timely.

It aims to address what may be the single greatest contemporary threat to national security  cyber attacks from foreign nations  as well as internet scams and online fraud affecting individuals.

Old-style state espionage and intellectual theft, particularly by Russia and China, are now being carried out online and must be tackled accordingly.

This is in part the result of the five-year National Cyber Security Strategy, which was announced last year, backed by 1.9 billion.

Formerly, national cyber security operations were conducted at GCHQs premises; the new centre, still under GCHQ, is in Victoria and its expertise will be available to business as well as Government departments.

That openness is hugely encouraging. So, we may finally see an end to fraudsters purporting, for instance, to be from HMRC, and using its logo to defraud individuals.

Internet users may already be grateful to the new organisation: it has advised sites that they shouldnt be asking people to change their online passwords regularly because it makes them in fact more vulnerable to fraud. Thats a good start.

A film with a point

The Mayor is to host the UK premiere of The Salesman, by Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, with a free screening in Trafalgar Square just before the Academy Awards.

The movie features an Iranian take on Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman but it has a new resonance because of the US Presidents travel ban on Iranians.

Mr Farhadi has said that even if he wins an Oscar he wouldnt travel to the US.

The Mayors screening usefully makes the point that London is culturally open, and all the better for it.
A wealthy resident of One Hyde Park, the Candy brothers luxury carbuncle in Knightsbridge, will this year pay a property tax of 1,400. On the ground floor of the same building is a shop selling Rolex watches. Its property tax is 244,000. Is Britain a banana republic or not?

I am not sure if Rolex counts as a convenience store for One Hyde Park, as in, Darling, we seem right out of Rolexes. Can you pop round the corner and get me a couple? But for any local shop to pay 180 times what an adjacent flat pays is barking mad.

Across London, businesses big and small are now gazing at their new business rate bills with horror.

The O2 Arenas is up 142 per cent, the Tower of London up 90 per cent and the Bank of England up 61 per cent. Harrods is to pay a staggering 18 million.

The Treasury, surprise, surprise, has calculated that it needs not pay any extra at all. The cynicism is total.

Smaller entrepreneurs have no protection. The Spitalfields delicatessen owned by the writer Jeanette Winterson last year paid 21,000 in tax.

The Treasury, surprise, surprise, has calculated that it needs not pay any extra at all

The rateable value is now 54,000 and she faces closure. Rows of shops, even in Kensington High Street, are either shut or shutting, savaged by both business rates and online suppliers, many of whom pay no taxes.

The rates paid by my local pub will go from 31,000 to 42,000. This is almost 20 times what the (much larger and richer) houses around it are paying.

We all know that public spending must be paid for and taxes must rise. But taxes should be fair and should embrace some idea of public good. Londons taxes are unfair and inexplicable. If the Communities Secretary, Sajid Javid, forces my pub to close, I will not forgive him.

Ever since Thatcher seized local business taxes for the Treasury in 1990  returning some of the revenue in block grant  their size and the property values on which they are based have been fixed by central government. National politicians, cowards by nature, have fought shy of raising these values.

Since that time London has grown hugely richer than the rest of Britain, and business tax valuations have become seriously unbalanced.

Some adjustment to the benefit of the North was in order, and for two thirds of the country business rates are now coming down. In London have they soared, but Londoners, long cosseted, should be careful how they protest.

But protest they should. For big corporations business rates are just another overhead. For small shops the sudden rise has been like boiling frogs. Values concealed by political cowardice since 2008 have grown hotter and hotter and now, suddenly, the frogs are dead in the water.

The valuation rises are dumb. In the first place they treat individual businesses the same, irrespective of profit or importance to the community, depending on the rental value of surrounding properties.

Given the Governments new freedom to permit changes of use, this is a massive incentive to any building owner to get out of high-tax commercial and into low-tax residential. It is as if Whitehall had put a bullet in the head of our high streets.

The Government has proposed some transitional relief, but this cannot possibly compensate for the swingeing rises.

First, there must be a case for discounting independent small businesses or certain classes of use, such as food shops and pubs.

As high-street campaigner Mary Portas says: These start-ups and independents are the people we want to move in to difficult areas, who hold the key to regenerating them. In countries like France mayors have the power to determine these things.

More to the point, something must end the monster tax disparity between Londons high street businesses and residential properties.

Something must end the monster tax disparity between Londons high street businesses and residential properties

While Labours mansion tax was ill-conceived, its principle was sound: that wealthy properties should pay proportionately more than poor ones.

It is absurd that a One Hyde Park flat should be liable for the same council tax as a flat a fifth its value down the road, and barely one per cent of what is paid by a local shop.

Property taxes worldwide are levied to pay for local services. Britains nationalisation of business rates has been a shambles.

Retail businesses are, in effect, subsidising wealthy home-owners property taxes. The latter have plummeted in real terms over the past quarter century, aiding the upward spiral of house prices. Business rates have soared

The last London mayor, Boris Johnson, was asleep on this case. Whitehalls war on high streets has been persistent.

It has long promoted out-of-town shopping centres and hypermarkets. The Treasurys tax indulgence of offshore retailers and home delivery is notorious.

The idea that ministers are ideally placed to oversee the shifting social economy of the London high street is palpably absurd

There is no attempt to link tax policy with town planning, despite the old mantra that pubs, cafes and high street shops are vital to cohesive communities.

When the current Business Secretary Greg Clark was planning minister he promoted easier change-of-use from commercial to housing as some vague free-market boon.

This upheaved high street rents and rates values and devastated shops other than tax-free charities and high-margin coffee bars. Clark became the patron saint of Starbucks.

The idea that ministers are ideally placed to oversee the shifting social economy of the London high street is palpably absurd.

In most big cities the character of shopping streets and the taxes imposed on them are decided by mayors and councils. They may make mistakes but they are accountable for them locally.

The Mayors recent local finance commission advocated bringing all taxes on property, including stamp duty, under the aegis of Londons local government.

The gross revenue would then be redistributed across London on the basis of need. It is a good idea. Anything is better than what we have now.
A n old warehouse in east London has been transformed into Montmartre in Paris for Secret Cinemas most ambitious performance yet  an immersive screening of Baz Luhrmanns 2001 blockbuster Moulin Rouge!.

The Standard was given an exclusive glimpse of final rehearsals for the production, which begins today, Valentines Day.

It is themed around the love story starring Nicole Kidman as a cabaret star who falls in love with poor writer Christian (Ewan McGregor).

Before the show, guests are sent an invitation detailing what character they must come dressed as  be it a corset-wearing dancer draped in feather boas inspired by Kidmans Satine, a writer like Christian, or a Moulin Rouge guest dressed up in a suit and top hat.

They are asked to gather at a Tube station, the name of which is only disclosed at a certain time. They will be met by ushers who lead them back in time to the glamour of Belle Epoque Paris.

Secret Cinema founder Fabien Riggall said it is its most advanced extravaganza yet, with 80,000 people due to take part until the end of April.

Moulin Rouge! at Secret Cinema 1 /8 Moulin Rouge! at Secret Cinema Moulin Rouge! at Secret Cinema Secret Cinema / Laura Little Moulin Rouge! at Secret Cinema Secret Cinema / Laura Little Moulin Rouge! at Secret Cinema Secret Cinema / Laura Little Moulin Rouge! at Secret Cinema Secret Cinema / Laura Little Moulin Rouge! at Secret Cinema Secret Cinema / Laura Little Moulin Rouge! at Secret Cinema Secret Cinema / Laura Little

Elements of the musical will unfold in surroundings which took months to plan, then the film will be shown. Tickets, from 49, are available at secretcinema.org
M ayor Sadiq Khan and top British film industry figures are to host the UK premiere of Oscar-nominated The Salesman to demonstrate Londons openness to the world in the face of Donald Trumps travel ban.

The film, by Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, will be screened in Trafalgar Square just hours before the Academy Awards in Hollywood.

The Mayor said the free screening for up to 10,000 people would show London was a beacon of diversity while Mr Farhadi described it as a symbol of unity against the division and separation of people. The film, nominated in the foreign language category, stars Shahab Hosseini and Taraneh Alidoosti as an Iranian couple whose lives are thrown into turmoil by an act of violence.

The director has said he will not attend the Oscars, even if he is offered special dispensation by the US government, in protest at President Trumps attempted travel ban on citizens of seven mainly Muslim countries, including Iran. City Hall aides said the screening would celebrate Londons diversity and show that the capital was open to creative talent.

Mr Khan has openly criticised Mr Trumps executive order, which has been halted by the US courts, as shameful and cruel and called for the proposed ban to be abandoned. Mr Khan told the Standard: Londoners have always prided themselves on their openness to the world, and what better way to do that than to come together to watch this powerful film in one of the worlds most famous public spaces.

Mr Farhadi, who won an Oscar in 2012 for A Separation, said: The gathering of the audience around The Salesman in this famous London square is a symbol of unity against the division and separation of people. I welcome and appreciate this invaluable show of solidarity.

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The Mayor is organising the screening on Sunday February 26 along with actress Lily Cole, producer Kate Wilson, film-maker Mark Donne and film distributor Curzon.

Award-winning director Mike Leigh, who will address the audience, said: We must show solidarity with Asghar and his principles, and against divisiveness and hate. Mr Donne, who first suggested the screening, said: I hope his work showing in this city, at this moment, sends a tremendous international signal of unity and tolerance.
Review at a glance









 We were in London on the night of Brexit and in DC on the night that Trump was elected, so dont invite us to your city on the eve of a mass group decision, Sara Quin told the Roundhouse crowd.

Harbingers of political madness they may be but the duo, completed by Saras identical twin Tegan, are also bearers of synth-pop magic. Having started life as under-the-radar indie-rockers, the Canadians latest two albums  2013s Heartthrob and 2016s Love You To Death  see them go for the pop jugular. In doing so, theyve picked up high-profile fans in Taylor Swift and are now popular enough to headline this iconic venue.

Tegan leads most of the songs but its when the sisters voices blend that the magic happens. I Couldnt Be Your Friend and Goodbye, Goodbye were slices of emotive synth-pop to move hearts and feet.

The sisters, who are both gay, have started to address their sexuality more directly in the newer material. All the girls Ive loved before told me they signed up for more, they sang on BWU, a song about gay marriage. Bolstered by a three-piece band, they rocked on Northshore before stripping things back for an acoustic interlude. The Con, the title track from their 2007 album, which Tegan described as her favourite record, was stark and desolate.

While the suspicion remains that this may be the music closest to the sisters hearts, its their new direction thats finally getting them noticed. And if last night had have been an election, this would have been a landslide victory.
M ark Thursday February 16 in your calendar as truffle cheeseburger day.

Thats because Le Bun has a new home at Old Truman Brewery and in what is fast becoming a London tradition it is giving away free food to celebrate.

The French-American burger restaurant, which originally popped-up in Soho, will be marking its launch on Brick Lane by giving away 250 free truffle cheeseburgers.

Prepare to get in line if you want one, as it will be a case of first-come-first-serve from midday onwards.

London's best burgers 1 /5 London's best burgers 30burgermain2070.jpg Coming right up: one of Shake Shacks smokeshack burgers AN23254248atmosphere_tray-b.jpg Tray bake: more Shake Shack burgers AN23861731BUN.jpg Hot hirata: an Asian steamed bun of the sort Flesh and Buns and Rock Lobsta will offer AN23247970Roasted salmon bu.jpg Fillet o' fish: The Happenstance's roasted teriyaki salmon bun

The brioche-sandwiched beef burger features an abundance of truffle mayonnaise along with American cheese.

If youd rather head down another time, the new branch is now open daily from midday to 10pm.

Like things that don't cost money? Here are the 50 best things to do for free in London.
B ased under an arch in London Fields with a sign outside it saying The Secret Smokehouse, it would be easy to write this off as just another food business. But to do that would mean missing out on sampling what is some of Londons finest produce.

Inside, where there is the distinct and delicious peaty whiff of smoked fish, I meet its founder Max Bergius who is dressed in a white lab coat and under that a huge army camouflage puffa jacket designed presumably to keep him warm during the long production days. He does looks cold, but he offsets this by talking 10 to the dozen about how, in August 2016, almost by accident, he ended up smoking fish for the double Michelin-starred chef Claude Bosi.

As he begins the long story of how his little business came about he shows me around. Occasionally as Bergius opens the door of the smoker to show me rows of gleaming orange salmon and trout, a deep whooshing, whirring sound erupts into the small space. Poking the fish to show me they still have a few more hours to go, he then he sets about dampening a pile of sawdust in a bucket. If youve got really dry sawdust it burns really quickly - but with water it burns slower and produces smoke, he explains. Here he tells me why it's emotional smoking fish at all hours of the day and night

How many products do you now make?

I make four - oak smoked salmon, oak smoked kippers, oak smoked trout and oak smoked haddock. My smoker can hold small batches and I do that about three times a week.

Ronan Gallagher

How do you smoke your fish?

They are filleted up, then put onto dry salt in trays in a fridge to cure, then put into the smoker. I use oak sawdust - Im not trying to reinvent the wheel or start infusing anything. I think that when the base product - the salmon - is this good, I dont see the point. So then it smoulders away gently, and I leave it to get on with it - but its a secret how long its in there for! You cant rush the process but you have to be flexible at this artisan level as you are constantly monitoring it, checking it, and tweaking it, whereas the more commercial makers just flick a button and leave it for a few hours. After that it comes out and goes immediately into a fridge in order to bring the core temperature down. After that, I split it into my wholesale and direct customer orders, pack them and send them. Its very simple, but very labour intensive. And its just me. Its quite emotional, which sounds really weird - but so much effort goes into it.

Where does the fish come from?

I buy from small, independent, family-run fish farms up in Scotland. I went on this magical mystery tour, ordering lots of fish from lots of different producers, and it was very obvious that the fish from the small independents is 10 times better quality because theyre not producing as much, they care about it and theyre a lot more conscious about their environment, too. You can also smell the sweetness from the boxes - its amazing. Whereas [in my experience] the fish from the other huge producers are really slimy, dirty with really pale flesh, and the bones dont really form.

So when did you first smoke fish?

When I was growing up on the West coast of Scotland. [But I got back into it] three years ago as it was part of the cathartic process of decompressing from a business Id set up. I came to a junction in my career three years ago where I had started an e-commerce platform, and the venture capital seed money I was chasing went out the window. I was used to working for myself, and Id had loads of offers coming in, and wed also just bought a little house in Stepney, but after 15 years in London I went back up to Scotland to hang out with dad and go over it all. Up there, I picked up a book on smoking to remind myself how to do it. And everyone started saying to me this is phenomenal, and I was really getting into it.

Ronan Gallagher

So how did The Secret Smokehouse come about? Did it feel important to produce something in London?

By accident! I came back to London and started doing all this consultancy work, and at the same time discovered that there was this huge infrastruture for getting people into the fishmongering industry. I got onto this wonderful course at Billingsgate Seafood School and off the back of that got a Saturday job in a fishmonger, and Id never been happier than lugging boxes of ice with fish around. That went up to two days a week, and I began pushing away the consultancy work. I then looked into starting up a fishmonger in Clapton, but the set-up costs were so huge, so instead I built a little cold smoker and started smoking fish regularly. Through that research I found that Stepney had this insane history of smoking and was the home of London cure. I found two other [small smokehouses] but I wondered why there wasnt a no-frills one. I just wanted to produce a really fab product - if you close your eyes and think of smoked salmon or kippers, that was what I wanted to produce. I started smoking inside a shed, and called it The Secret Smokeshed, and then in Stepney all the cockneys who love their seafood caught wind of it. They are such amazing people - and every single one of them who heard about it snapped my arm off.

What has the reaction been like - who do you now sell to?

So far people seem to really love it. [It started with] my local pub The Peacock which allowed me to have a Friday night basket on the bar, then that started selling out, then my milkman was taking orders on his rounds, then restaurants and hotels and friends of friends got in touch, and I had to go through the whole EHO (Environmental Health Organisation) process. I eventually gave a sample to Claude Bosi who has two Michelin stars - and he thought it was phenomenal, which was amazing. Now I sell to Wiltons on Jermyn Street - to be accepted by them too is also pretty mental. I also sell to The Modern Pantry, Ellory, The Marksman restaurants, which is amazing, and Im having conversations with lots of others. I am about to move my Saturday stall out the front to the SchoolYard area of Broadway Market.

Ronan Gallagher

Whats it like running a business in London?

Well, the support from the fish authority and the fish industry is absolutely amazing. I also just won a grant from Hackney for 2,000 to buy an electric van. Because my business is such a tiny little set-up Im under huge scrutiny from the EHO so Ive got to work in partnership with them, and Ive got a food consultant too to check Im doing everything right. What was [most] frustrating was the fact that there is all this chat about [there being support for] young start-ups when the reality is its just all chat. The paperwork [to apply] for a start-up loan is insane. Its incredibly laborious. So that start-up loan structure was very offputting.

Do you still eat your products on a regular basis?

Yes, all the time. Usually when it comes out the next day and Im slicing it up, Ill taste it - although my intuition is now so good that I dont always need to. For example the smoke is mostly done by sight - touching, feeling, smelling.

Do you still have time to eat and drink out for pleasure, or is it all work related now?

We try to, but my partner and I have a 19-month old daughter and my partner is also a makeup artist, and self employed so often on shoots. But Ive made a pact with her to say that well go and eat in the restaurants of everyone I supply to, and have a date night. We do love our food, seafood, and cooking at home.

Which other London producers do you admire?

I love other artisan producers - there are so many people doing great things. I admire and love E5 Bakehouse up the road - hats off to Ben Mackinnon for setting it up. I love that he only delivers within a 1-mile radius and hes not going budge on that.

You can buy directly from The Secret Smokehouse at Arch 367 Mentmore Terrace, E8 3RR, or at secretsmokehouse.co.uk

Follow Victoria on Twitter @vicstewart
T he mother of a teenage boy shot dead ten years ago on Valentines Day today made an emotional plea for help to bring his killer to justice.

Billy Cox, 15, was found dead in his bedroom by his younger sister at their home in Fenwick Place, Clapham, on Valentines Day 2007.

The brutal killing made national headlines after he became the third teenage boy to be shot dead in south London in 11 days, in what was suspected to be a ruthless gang hit.

Today police said six people have been arrested and tens to hundreds spoken to, but added that they are yet to catch those responsible.

The teenager, who lived on the Fenwick Estate, was shot with a handgun in the chest at close range in his bedroom. He died in the arms of sister Elizabeth, then 13, when she returned home from school to find him collapsed and bleeding.

It is believed he had at least three people in the house with him and there were no signs of forced entry, meaning it is thought he may have been known to his killers. The firearm has never been recovered.

Billy, who had attended Ernest Bevin College, had been in Acre Lane, Brixton, in the hours leading up to his death before returning home where he was found at 2.36pm.

Detective Sergeant Jason Grafham today told the Standard he believes the case is still solvable, but is hoping someone will feel comfortable to come forward with information.

He said: There is no doubt there were gang stresses and strains. I wouldnt want to give the gangs the credence of naming them. Whatever it was, there is no justification for what happened.

Some more information might get us home on this. Just one strand of information is all we need to achieve it. Im confident someone in and around that area still knows what happened. This case is solvable, we just need a bit more help.

He added: As time passes peoples lifestyles and allegiances can change and these people may want to help us get justice for Billy and his family.

A friend turned up to Billys house after the shooting, which his sister heard from outside the home, to help give first aid, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The shooting in 2007 caused then Scotland Yard chief Sir Ian Blair to call together his top officers for a crisis meeting about gun deaths.

It came days after Michael Dosunmu, also 15, was shot by two gunmen who burst into his home in Peckham and 16-year-old James Andre Smartt-Ford was shot and killed at a crowded ice rink in Streatham.

Billys mother today said her husband passed away five years ago of a broken heart over their sons death.

She added: I got home straight away [from work that day]. I saw all the police tapes around the road and by the house. My husband and the police came towards me. I shouted to my husband please dont tell me that my son is dead. My husband said yes darling, he is.

I fell to the ground. I cried and cried until I had no tears left and I wanted to die with him. I had to accept the truth that my son had left us.

Every year we have a commemoration to remember him at the temple. I miss him so much. His life was taken away at such a young age. But I have to be strong because I still have my daughter to live for.

I would like to seek justice and Im appealing for anyone who has any information about this case, no matter how small it is, to come forward and inform the police so that they can catch the person who shot him. I am sad to think that nobody is still interested in my sons case.

Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room on 020 8785 8267 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A woman is fighting for life in hospital after she was attacked in east London, police say.

Police were called by paramedics to Krithia Road in Dagenham on Monday at 10.30pm after the woman was found lying unconscious.

Detectives say the victim was knocked out after sustaining injuries during an assault.

The woman, whose age is currently unknown, was rushed to an east London hospital by ambulance where her condition is described as life-threatening.

The road and neighbouring streets around the Castle Green area were cordoned off as officers and a forensics team combed the scene for clues.

Residents said a subway near Renwick Road had also been taped off by investigators.

Barking and Dagenham police tweeted on Tuesday morning: We're currently dealing with a serious incident in the Castle Green, Dagenham area, near the A13.

Please avoid at this time & bear with us.

Officers from Barking and Dagenham are investigating the assault.

There have been no arrests so far.
A huge explosion was reported in west London last night after a cash machine was allegedly blown up on a quiet street.

Police officers were called to Ryefield Avenue in Hillingdon at 2.42am on Tuesday following reports of an "attack" on a cash machine.

The suspects had disappeared by the time police cars arrived to find the cash machine blown open, with severed wires and broken metal casing exposed.

Ryefield Avenue was blocked to traffic until almost 8am, while the pavement where the cash machine was located remained cordoned off until 10am.

Shocked residents took to social media to report being woken up by a big bang and a huge explosion.

The cash machine was located on the street out the front of Neelam Post Office and Convenience Shop.

The stores owner, Gaurav Sood, told the Standard he had been alerted to the explosion by a text from a neighbour and came rushing straight down to the scene.

There was a big police cordon blocking the road as if it was a major crime scene, he said.

I was worried my shop could have been damaged in the blast. Its scary that it happened right outside the shop but we are always weary about this sort of thing.

Scene: Ryefield Avenue was blocked to traffic until almost 8am while police investigated / Gaurav Sood

Mr Sood, 35, said his family had been running the shop for 40 years.

Its quite a shock, he added. When something like this happened it does affect you personally. My mum is shaken up.

A Met Police spokesman said there had not been any arrests yet but detectives from the force's Flying Squad continue to investigate.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or via Twitter @MetCC

You can also contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you do not want to give your name.
A 20-year-old man left his victim for dead after stabbing him twice in the chest in an unprovoked attack in west London.

Mohad Mohamed, known as 'Little M', was jailed to ten years for wounding with intent to cause GBH at Kingston Crown Court on Friday.

Police were called at about 11.35pm on July 14 last year to Richmond Road, Isleworth, and found the victim with two stab wounds to his chest.

Members of the public had rushed to help him and were giving him first aid.

It is thought that without the public's help the victim would have bled to death.

He was taken by London Ambulance Service to St Mary's Hospital and required emergency surgery in order to save his life.

Detective Constable Tony Williams, from Hounslow CID, said: "This was a shocking attack for no apparent reason which left the victim with severe life-threatening injuries.

"If it wasn't for the quick-thinking members of the public that rushed to his aid, it's very likely that the victim would have bled to death.

"The lengthy sentence handed to Mohamed reflects the seriousness of the offence and the injuries he caused."

Mohamed was originally charged with attempted murder but pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause GBH at Kingston Crown Court on January 11.
P olice officers kicked in the door of rapper Stormzys flat after being called to a burglary, Scotland Yard said.

The grime star tweeted a picture of the smashed-in front door of what is believed to be his west London home on Tuesday, telling of how he woke up to find police trying to break it down.

He wrote: Woke up to Feds destroying my front door coz apparently Im a burglar who burgles his own home.

@MetPolice need your bank details still.

Rapper Stormzy had his front door kicked in by police

Scotland Yard has now said officers were called to a report of a conspiracy to burgle a ground floor flat in West Brompton, shortly before 1am on Tuesday.

Police said they mistakenly believed the flat was empty and that it was only on forcing their way in that they found two lawful occupants.

They stayed at the flat until it had been secured and are since thought to have been in contact with Stormzy.

Fans of the 23-year-old rapper reacted with outrage on Twitter, referring to the police as class A clowns and describing the incident as absolute madness.

One joked: They were after them tour them tour tickets #soldout.

The musician's new album, Gang Signs & Prayer, is due to be released in 10 days' time.

Scotland Yard initially refused to comment on the raid, saying only that they were looking into the claims.

However the force did reply to the rapper online, telling him: If you wish to make a complaint please DM (direct message) us so we can take some more details. Thanks.

Stormzy, real name Michael Omari, also announced on Monday that his 17-date UK tour had sold out in just four days.

The Croydon-born rapper was forced to add more dates after his Brixton show sold out in four minutes.

Stormzy surprises superfan

Stormzy grew up with his mother, two sisters and brother in Thornton Heath, south London.

As recently as 2013 he was living in Southampton and working as an engineer, a job he told i-D magazine he was "rubbish at".

Stormzy has won Best Grime Act twice at the MOBO Awards. In July he spoke out about police brutality, penning an emotional open letter in response to a series of shootings in the US.
A woman is fighting for her life after being stabbed repeatedly in a late-night attack on the streets of east London.

Officers were called by paramedics to Krithia Road, Dagenham, at 10.30pm on Monday after the 29-year-old woman was found unconscious in the street with knife wounds.

She was rushed to an east London hospital in a life-threatening condition. Her family have been informed.

Detectives from Scotland Yard's Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating.

Officers are searching for a cyclist who called 999 and two people who stopped to help the woman before the ambulance arrived.

They are hoping to trace the three people who came to her aid in their hunt for a possible suspect, saying they may hold vital information about what took place.

Police believe the woman was attacked in the area around Castle Green Park and Krithia Road but have no description of the knifeman.

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Holmes, from the Mets Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: We know a male cyclist spoke to the London Ambulance Service operator and two women also helped paramedics.

We are anxious to trace them as soon as possible as potential witnesses so they can help us piece together what happened.

"We would also appeal for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area of the park last night or has any information to come forward as soon as possible, he said.

"This was a horrific attack on a young woman who has been left with very serious injuries and is fighting for her life in hospital. If you know anything please contact us."

Anyone with information should call the incident room on 020 8345 1570, contact police via 101 or @MetCC. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A Canadian bomb disposal expert has revealed the dramatic details of how a deadly World War Two device was detonated after being found in the Thames near the Houses of Parliament.

Huge swathes of central London were placed on lockdown after the lethal device was discovered near "critical infrastructure" on the Victoria Embankment in January.

Waterloo and Westminster bridges were both closed, while Westminster Underground station was shut and river traffic was halted as top Whitehall officials monitored the situation.

Now Lieutenant Mike St-Pierre, a Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) clearance diving officer who was on an exchange with British bomb disposal units, has shed light on the complex operation to save London from a potentially deadly explosion.

Discovery: the unexploded German SD 50kg bomb was dropped by an aircraft during the Blitz / Royal Navy

After receiving the call at the navys bomb disposal centre in Portsmouth, Lt St Pierre began coordinating the operation on the rapid journey to the capital alongside a police escort.

Cordons were immediately extended due to the size of the bomb, Met police boats were deployed to block river traffic and helicopters were sent to watch from above.

Once all was in place, Lt St Pierre headed down to the water to inspect the German bomb, thought to have been dropped by an aircraft during the Blitz.

The munition was intact, but there was no way to remove the fuse due to its condition, he said. This changed the dynamic of the task, because without removing the fuse the bomb is inherently more prone to potential initiation.

Suspected unexploded Second World War bomb found in River Thames

The bomb, although dropped by a German plane almost 80 years previously, was still a viable explosive device. The only option was to move it downstream, the Canadian revealed.

The navy team moved the bomb by hand, attached it to a buoyant bag and lowered it into the water before beginning to tow it out of central London at 1am.

However, their speed was limited to just four knots (about 4.6mph), with Lt St Pierre admitting it was clear we were in for a long, cold night.

The Met Police went ahead of the deadly convoy, blocking off river traffic as well as rail and Tube lines, while a helicopter hovered overhead.

Met Police called the Royal Navy to dispose of the bomb / Royal Navy

After a painstaking journey, the bomb eventually arrived at the planned detonation site near Tilbury at 5.45am. It was successfully detonated 20 minutes later  proving to be just as lethal as the day it was dropped.

It was one of those jobs that totally reinforces and validates the training we undergo. All in all, the task couldnt have gone any better, said Lt St-Pierre.

When asked what the hardest part of the job was, he joked: Have you ever had to receive a briefing from a guy with a really thick Cockney accent? Impossible. I needed an English translator.

Large crowds of tourists and passers-by had gathered at the police tape when the bomb was first dredged up on the evening of January 19.

Michael Hutchinson was waiting at a packed Westminster tube station at about 6pm when he was suddenly told to leave the area.

The 26-year-old marketing executive told the Standard at the time: I was on the platform and we were told to evacuate immediately.

I was waiting for my train and it came through at the point the announcement was made. I could see the conductor getting a call telling him to keep moving.

It is a bit shocking. When something like that happens is it a bit worrying.
C ity workers at one of Londons most historic financial institutions have reacted with fury after being told not to drink alcohol during the day.

Lloyds of London has introduced a 9am-to-5pm booze ban which could see employees sacked for gross misconduct if caught breaking the new rule.

An internal memo to employees, leaked to the Standard, reveals the ban was introduced after an analysis of grievance and disciplinary cases over the last two years found roughly half were related to alcohol misuse.

But workers at the insurance market - whose history dates back to 1688 - say they were not consulted, that they can drink responsibly during work hours and have hit out at the heavy handed measure, flooding an internal intranet site with angry comments.

The comments, seen by the Standard, claim the ban turns the insurance market into the PC capital of the world and blast bosses for not concentrating on more important things.

Insurance giant Lloyd's of London has introduced a 9-5 ban on alcohol / Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

One worker asked: Will we be asked to go to bed earlier soon?, while another questions whether employees face being breathalysed at work to enforce the crackdown.

The ban is among changes made to the Employee Guide, part of an overall HR policy review conducted throughout last year.

It means Lloyds of London employees are prohibited from drinking between the hours of 9am and 5pm from Monday to Friday.

It will apply to the Corporations 800 employees, but not brokers or underwriters from other firms based at the insurance market in Lime Street.

Among the comments on the internal intranet, one worker posted: Did I just wake up from my drunken drug induced slumber to find we are now living in Orwells 1984?

Lloyds used to be a fun place to work. Now it is the PC capital of the world where you cant even go out for a lunchtime pint anymore?

Another said: The real irony is that this policy comes eight weeks after the Christmas Party, when staff were plied with copious amounts of alcohol all evening with very little food to be found... were these the actions of a responsible employer?

Another posted: Was there really a need for this? The vast majority of my colleagues know how to drink responsibly during work hours, and would never let their lunch hour socialising affect their work or decision making.

Another post reads: This is too heavy handed...I think most people are sensible and only have a drink occasionally when celebrating success or a birthday etc. Will we be asked to go to bed earlier soon?

Others pointed out that bar One Under Lime, which bills itself as one of the Square Miles most popular drinking and dining venues, is nestled beneath the Lloyds building just metres from their desks.

One said: To avoid temptation, One Under Lime should be asked to cease serving alcohol at lunchtime, it would be hypocritical not to.

The insurance market began life as Lloyds Coffee House, opened by Edward Lloyd around 1688, where sailors, merchants and ship owners would gather for reliable shipping news.

It later became the place where seafarers could insure their vessels and has since evolved into one of the worlds leading markets for specialist insurance.

Commentators today said the ban marked a wider culture change among City workers.

David Buik, a market commentator at Panmure Gordon investment bank, said there is more competition between workers as banks and financial firms look to cut back on staff, meaning staying sober is more important than ever before.

He said: Markets are showing viscerally signs of a dog eat dog syndrome resulting in a much more responsible approach to life.

There is still plenty of great business out there but it does not fall off trees like ripe fruit. Individuals and companies need to challenge for it, hence a clear head at lunchtime these days is a prerequisite.

He added: Life is so professionally competitive now that few people working in banks or in brokers want to drink during the week. Of course it is more than made up for at night when the wine, spirits and beer flow like Victoria Falls.

Laura Willoughby, a former Islington councillor who founded Club Soda, which City workers can join to tackle dependence on alcohol, said many City firms are looking to change their culture.

She said: One reason people are cutting down is because people are ambitious and want to do well.

But companies are now thinking about the culture in their companies and are thinking about the diversity of the City. They want to recruit young talent and under-25s are now drinking less than other age groups.

"Companies dont want them to feel drinking is something they have to do to do their job.

They are also wanting to recruit people from other backgrounds, and there are a larger number of people not drinking for health and religious reasons. Its a British thing that we commiserate and celebrate with alcohol, but companies are finding its not necessarily inclusive.

The Lloyds internal memo to staff acknowledges that the London market historically had a reputation for daytime drinking, but that the time for change has come.

It says: The London market historically had a reputation for daytime drinking but that has been changing and Lloyds has a duty to be a responsible employer, and provide a healthy working environment. The policy weve introduced aligns us with many firms in the market.

Drinking alcohol affects individuals differently. A zero limit is therefore simpler, more consistent and in line with the modern, global and high performance culture that we want to embrace.

It adds: After work, if you are representing Lloyds, but no business is being conducted, you can have an alcoholic drink and the onus remains on you to be professional at all times.

Employees should decline alcoholic drinks even if offered one while with associates who are drinking.

A Lloyds spokesperson said: Our employee guidance was recently updated and provided clarification on the Corporations position on drinking alcohol during the working day, which is prohibited.
L andlords were today urged to open their doors to Syrian refugee families over fears that councils were struggling to find enough homes for them.

The Refugees Welcome campaign said that acute housing shortages across London meant the scheme was reliant on private landlords, rather than social housing.

Town halls have pledged to take in hundreds of Syrians under the official government programme but will only welcome families once homes have been found for them.

Dr Rachael Burke, of Lambeth Welcomes Refugees, called on landlords to accept lower rents because councils paid housing benefit rates which are lower than in the private sector.

Refugees: The Government originally committed to taking in 20,000 people / Vadim Ghirda/AP via World Press Photo

She said: We need to find landlords that will take tenants at what is generally around 15 per cent less than the market rate.

"I dont think people particularly know that this is what the hold-up is getting refugees over here from the camps.

In recent months, nine families from refugee camps in Jordan have moved to Lambeth under the vulnerable person resettlement programme.

The borough has agreed to take in up to 23 refugee families.

The Government has pledged to take in 20,000 Syrian refugees by the end of this parliament, but last week back-tracked on its commitment to admit 3,000 vulnerable children.

Refugees: The Government last week backtracked on a promise to take in 3,000 children / Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP

Katie Barlow, who welcomed the newest refugee family in Lambeth into her Brixton rental flat this week, said: I will never forget the look of exhaustion and relief on the mothers face as she carried her two-year-old sleeping son through the front door and lay him down on the little childrens bed, and the joy I felt that I was able to provide a place where his parents felt he was safe.

Today, for the first time, I feel proud to be a landlady. Landlords have to be willing to take an approximately 15 per cent cut in rental income; but in return they can live with the knowledge that they are helping a vulnerable family resettle away from the horrors and dangers of the ongoing crisis in Syria.

Claire Kober, chairwoman of London Councils, said: Londoners have already been incredibly generous, but we now need more houses for Syrian refugees to call home.

If you have an empty property in London that youd be willing to rent out, I urge you to contact your council.

"You may not have let the property out before but  if it is filled  your generosity could make a huge difference to a refugee family.

The Lambeth Welcomes Refugees group, along with several local churches, the South London Liberal Synagogue in Streatham and members of the South London Islamic Centre, is hosting a welcome party for the newly arrived families this week.

It has invited the Archbishop of Canterbury, along with the refugee family now living in a house in the grounds of Lambeth Palace.
L ondon grime artist Stormzy has blamed Met police officers for kicking his front door in, saying they mistook him for a burglar.

The 23-year-old musician tweeted a picture of the smashed-in front door of what is believed to be his Chelsea home this morning, telling how he woke up to find police trying to break it down.

He wrote: Woke up to Feds destroying my front door coz apparently Im burglar who burgles his own home.

@MetPolice need your bank details still.

His fans reacted with outrage on Twitter, referring to the police as class A clowns and describing the incident as absolute madness.

One joked: They were after them tour tickets #soldout.

The musician's new album, Gang Signs & Prayer, is due to be released in 10 days' time.

The incident is understood to have occurred in the early hours after Stormzy had gone to bed.

Scotland Yard refused to comment on the raid, saying only that they were looking into the claims.

However the force did reply to the rapper online, telling him: If you wish to make a complaint please DM (direct message) us so we can take some more details. Thanks.

Stormzy, real name Michael Omari, also announced on Monday that his 17-date UK tour had sold out in just four days.

The Croydon-born rapper was forced to add more dates after his Brixton show sold out in four minutes.

Stormzy grew up with his mother, two sisters and brother in Thornton Heath.

Croydon-born rapper: Stormzy / John Phillips/Getty

As recently as 2013 he was living in Southampton and working as an engineer, a job he told i-D magazine he was "rubbish at".

Stormzy has won Best Grime Act twice at the MOBO Awards. In July he spoke out about police brutality, penning an emotional open letter in response to a series of shootings in the US.

London musician: Stormzy rose to fame in the grime scene after releasing his EP Dreamers Disease

He expressed solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement following the deaths of Anton Sterling, Philando Castille - and at least two others - at the hands of US law enforcement.

I wish I had the answers to solve the f*****y that's going on right now but tbh I don't have a clue... he wrote.

All I can do is urge everyone to do more, that's what I'm going to do. Protest, march, donate, speak out, call out bulls***, build within your community, help those in need etc.

Stormzy surprises superfan

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said they were looking into the claims, but were unable to comment further.

A spokeswoman for Stormzy said: We have no comment to add at this time.
L abours candidate in the Stoke-on-Trent Central by-election has insisted he has been a champion of womens rights after he was criticised over a series of abusive tweets aimed at women.

Gareth Snell has apologised after a tweet from 2011 surfaced in which he said Coronation Streets Deirdre Barlow should be given a good slap.

In other posts he described panellists on ITVs Loose Women as squabbling sour-faced ladies, called presenter Janet Street-Porter a polished turd and said a speccy blonde girl on BBCs The Apprentice should piss off.

At a hustings event in the constituency the former local council leader said he had been a long-standing advocate of womens rights and had been proud to march against inequality in our society.

He said: I said some very silly things back in 2007, so whats that? Almost ten years ago. And I apologise for those because it was wrong.

And I think I should be judged not necessarily on what I said in 2007 but the actions that I have taken subsequently.

'Needs slap': Anne Kirkbride who played Deirdre Barlow in Coronation Street

As leader of Newcastle [under-Lyme] Council I was one of the few people to actively encourage more women to come through in politics.

Ive been proud to march with sisters from the trade union movement against inequality in our society.

Yes I said some things that were silly and I should hang my head in shame for that but I have learnt from that. You do a lot of growing up in your twenties and I know that what I said was wrong.

He also said he supported a local domestic violence project that had its funding cut by the county council.

Labour is facing a tough challenge from UKIP leader Paul Nuttall for the seat, which was left empty when former MP Tristram Hunt took up a job as director of Londons V & A Museum.

At a hustings hosted by newspaper, the Stoke Sentinel, an audience member blasted his online messages as sexist, while another pointed out some of his tweets had been sent far more recently than 2011.

Lib Dem MP John Pugh, said: Gareth can wriggle however much he wants but you can rewrite history. He said those things and believed them. He probably still does now.

The only thing we actually know he believes is that, he, like Labour, are now pro Brexit.

BLOB Jeremy Corbyns grip on Labour politics in London has been dealt a blow as the partys moderates clinched victory in two key seats.

Christine Shawcroft, a director of Mr Corbyns grassroots campaign group Momentum, lost the chair of Tower Hamlets constituency Labour Party to moderate Chris Weavers.

The chair of London Young Labour also went to moderate activist Miriam Mirwitch, who trounced Momentums Beth Foster-Ogg.

A source said: Weve had our first clean sweep of moderate candidates at London Young Labour for a decade.

Richard Angell, Director of Progress, said: Loyal Labour Party members who are staying in the party and fighting for the Labour Party that seeks to win elections turned out and elected a new generation of centre left activists that want to help Sadiq Khan change London.
T heresa May has told Donald Trump that she is looking forward to welcoming him for a state visit after a 1.85m-strong petition calling for it to be abandoned was rejected by ministers.

Downing Street said the Prime Minister had spoken by telephone with the US president as part of their "regular engagement".

A No10 spokesman said: "They discussed a range of issues, including trade and security and also discussed the President's upcoming state visit to the UK.

The Prime Minister said she looks forward to welcoming him later this year."

The Foreign Office rejected the petition calling for Mr Trump's trip to be downgraded, saying while the Government "recognises the strong views expressed by the many signatories", it did not support their demands.

Theresa May calls Trump's travel ban 'wrong'

The invitation reflected the importance of the relationship between the US and the UK, the Foreign Office said.

It said in a statement: "HM Government believes the President of the United States should be extended the full courtesy of a state visit.

Thousands of protesters march to Downing Street in Trump rally 1 /48 Thousands of protesters march to Downing Street in Trump rally Caricatures: Unflattering pictures of the UK and US leaders. AFP/Getty Images 'No to racism': Protesters outside Downing Street. AFP/Getty Images Demo: Crowds packed out Whitehall to Parliament Square. PA Thousands: Westminster police tweeted this photo. MPS Westminster 'One nationality': Many signs carried pro immigration messages. REUTERS Dogs against Trump: One protester takes a break at the Westminster rally. REUTERS Speaker: Shadow Attorney General Shami Chakrabarti speaking to the crowd. Getty Images 'Full of garbage': A sign in Downing Street. Getty Images Prime Minister: Many banners carried messages targeting Theresa May, Getty Images 'Dump Trump': The signs carried personal attacks on the US President. Getty Images No Trump: Protesters chant and march. Getty Images Never again: Some posters looked back to the past. AFP/Getty Images Packed: Many protesters remarked at the amount of people. AFP/Getty Images Standstill: Buses had to divert because of the crowds. PA Anger: People demonstrate during a protest at Downing Street in central London. PA Crowds: Hordes of people took to the streets. Getty Images Anti-Trump: Thousands of people have slammed the President's policy. Getty Images Messages for May: Demonstrators hold placards as they protest outside Downing Street. Getty Images 'Never again': Demonstrators march along Downing Street. Getty Images 'Muslim ban': Londoners marched with placards with messages for the PM. Getty Images NO: The anti-Trump rally spilled onto the road. Getty Images Humour: A sign drawing on a Mary Poppins pun. Caroline Lee Chants: The crowds were heard chanting 'shame on May'. Getty Images Welcome refugees: Protesters on Monday evening. PA Landmark: The iconic London eye seen in the background. PA 'Dangerous': One of the anti-Trump protesters. Lydia Ruffles Anti-Trump: Signs carried harsh words for the US leader. Emma Gibson Blocked: Protesters said Whitehall was brought to a standstill. Garry Knight 'Resist': A sign in Whitehall. Spectrum SINO Radio 'Bridges not walls': Many of the banners carried pro-globalization messages. Jessica Voorsanger Rally: The first crowds forming at the protest, which began at 6pm. Garry Knight United: Stop the War Coalition joined the protest. PA Gathered: People listened to speakers who fired up the crowd. Getty Images We stand together: Among the figures who were expected to attend were Lily Allen and Ed Miliband. Getty Images March: Some of the protesters holding placards. Getty Images Together: People of all ages joined in the rally. Getty Images

"We look forward to welcoming President Trump once dates and arrangements are finalised.

"HM Government recognises the strong views expressed by the many signatories of this petition, but does not support this petition."

Hand of friendship: Theresa May and Donald Trump walk along The Colonnade at the White House (Getty Images) / Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Support for the call to downgrade Mr Trump's visit because it would be "embarrassing" for the Queen snowballed after he imposed a travel ban on nationals from seven mainly Muslim countries.

The Government was compelled to reply to the petition because it garnered more than 10,000 signatures.

MPs will debate it in the House of Commons on Monday alongside a rival 300,000-strong petition in support of the state visit after they both reached the 100,000 signatures threshold to be considered for discussion in Parliament.

Meanwhile, outgoing Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe has warned ministers must make extra resources available for policing the visit, which is expected to trigger mass protests.
B ritain's cyber security boss today warned that forcing people to regularly change their passwords risks making them more vulnerable to online attacks.

Ciaran Martin, head of the new National Cyber Security Centre, said millions were being overloaded by having to change and remember new passwords if they followed all the guidance on online security.

We worked out what we were asking every British citizen to do was to memorise a new 600-digit number every month, he told BBC radio.

None of my best people can do that, so we should not be telling other people to. He highlighted really sensible guidance on the centres website which says: The more often users are forced to change passwords, the greater the overall vulnerability to attack.

"What appeared to be a perfectly sensible, long-established piece of advice doesnt, it turns out, stand up.

The NCSC, based in Victoria and officially opened by the Queen today, highlighted that when people are forced to change their password they often choose a similar one, a weaker one or one used elsewhere, which can be exploited by attackers.

The new password is also more likely to be written down, which represents another vulnerability, the experts added.

They also stressed: New passwords are also more likely to be forgotten, and this carries the productivity costs of users being locked out of their accounts, and service desks having to reset passwords.

The NCSC now recommends that organisations do not force regular password expiry. Mr Martin emphasised that people need to be helped to make sensible decisions about the degree of protection for online activities, for example a more complex password for banking.

Cyber defences needed to be built up, he said, adding that 300 million fake taxman emails had been stopped last year by changing a code used by HM Revenue and Customs. Experts had also drawn up techniques to stop smart meters used in millions of homes being targeted to cripple energy supplies across the country.

Mr Martin warned that Russia has been engaged in a sustained set of interferences in the affairs of Western countries... its our job to make sure we maximise our defences against that.

He said the NCSC could strengthen safeguards against online threats to the City, the Government, key infrastructure such as power stations, and UK businesses.

Chancellor Philip Hammond warned that cyber attacks were increasing in frequency, with 188 foiled in the past three months, and he urged business to sharpen its approach.
Y ouTube star PewDiePie has been dropped by Disney after he was accused of spreading anti-Semitic messages through his videos.

The decision came after PewDiePie, whose real name is Felix Kjellberg, posted a series of videos containing references to Nazis or anti-Semitic messages.

In one, Mr Kjellberg paid two Indians to hold up a sign which read Death to all Jews.

The Swede, who reportedly made $15m through YouTube in 2016, accepted the material was offensive but denied supporting any kind of hateful attitudes.

Disney is associated to Mr Kjellberg through Maker Studios. The company's network of YouTube stars generate billions of views each month.

A spokesman for Maker Studios told the BBC: Although Felix has created a following by being provocative and irreverent, he clearly went too far in this case and the resulting videos are inappropriate.

Maker Studios has made a decision to end our affiliation with him going forward.

Mr Kjellberg, whose channel has amassed over 14 billion video views, told the BBC it was laughable to suggest he endorsed that message but added that this was not my intention, I understand that these jokes were ultimately offensive.

He added: I was trying to show how crazy the modern world is, specifically some of the services available online and that people would do anything for five dollars.

The controversial videos have since been deleted from his YouTube channel.

Mr Kjellberg has previously been suspended from Twitter after making jokes about Islamic State.
B ritish Airways cabin crew are to stage a fresh four-day strike in a dispute over pay.

Unite said its members would walk out for four days from next Wednesday, on top of a four-day stoppage from this Friday.

Friday's strike will start at 12.01am and run until Monday at 11.59pm.

Now Unite has planned fresh dates from 12.01am on Wednesday February 22 until 23.59pm on Saturday February 25.

Members of the so-called mixed fleet have taken 11 days of action so far this year in protest at "poverty" pay, with some saying they are forced to take second jobs.

Unite regional officer Matt Smith said: "For every hour British Airways 'wet leases' an aircraft from another airline to cover striking cabin crew it costs in the region of 2,000 to 3,000.

"Our estimates put the amount of money British Airways has spent on defending the dispute and poverty pay at 1 million.

"This is money which the airline has taken a conscious decision to give to other airlines rather than addressing pay levels which are forcing hard-working mixed fleet cabin crew into financial hardship.

"We would urge British Airways to reconsider its costly intransigence and enter talks at Acas and reach an agreement."

British Airways said all of its customers will fly to their destinations during the strikes from Friday.

All flights to and from London Gatwick and London City will operate as normal, as will the "vast majority" of flights to and from London Heathrow.

The airline said in a statement: "To enable all customers to travel we will be merging a very small number of flights at Heathrow - about 1% of total flights planned. We are contacting customers on those flights with the options available to them.

"We will publish more details over the weekend in relation to further strikes called by mixed fleet Unite for February 22-25, but as in previous strikes all customers will fly to their destinations.

"Our pay offer for mixed fleet crew is consistent with deals agreed with Unite for other British Airways colleagues. It also reflects pay awards given by other companies in the UK and will ensure that rewards for mixed fleet remain in line with those for cabin crew at our airline competitors.

"Our pay offer for mixed fleet cabin crew is consistent with deals agreed with more than 90 per cent of British Airways colleagues, including many Unite members.

"More than 9,000 cabin crew, represented by a different Unite branch, this week voted overwhelmingly to accept the deal.

"The offer also reflects pay awards given by other companies in the UK and will ensure that rewards for mixed fleet remain in line with those for cabin crew at our airline competitors."

The two sides have clashed over pay, with Unite saying the cabin crew earned an average of 16,000 a year, including allowances, but BA insisting no one was paid below 21,000.

The mixed fleet work on short and long-haul flights.
T he Government has officially rejected calls for Donald Trumps state visit to be cancelled, despite a petition signed by 1.85 million people.

An online campaign, which argued that the engagement would cause "embarrassment" to the Queen, attracted huge support.

But in its official response to the petition on Tuesday, the Government insisted the US President should be extended the full courtesy of a state visit.

The response stated: We look forward to welcoming President Trump once dates and arrangements are finalised.

HM Government recognises the strong views expressed by the many signatories of this petition, but does not support this petition.

During her visit to the United States on 27 January 2017, the Prime Minister, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, invited President Trump for a State Visit to the UK later this year. The invitation was accepted.

Trump considers "brand new" travel ban

This invitation reflects the importance of the relationship between the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

At this stage, final dates have not yet been agreed for the State Visit.

Support for the petition snowballed after Mr Trump imposed a travel ban on nationals from seven mainly Muslim countries: Syria, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Sudan and Yemen.

The Government was compelled to reply to the petition because it garnered more than 10,000 signatures.

And, despite the rejection, MPs will still debate it in the House of Commons on Monday, alongside a rival 300,000-strong petition in support of the state visit.

On the same day, a huge Stop Trump protest is due to be held in Parliament Square, as part of what organiser Owen Jones called a nationwide day of action against hatred, racism and division.

Thousands of protesters march to Downing Street in Trump rally 1 /48 Thousands of protesters march to Downing Street in Trump rally Caricatures: Unflattering pictures of the UK and US leaders. AFP/Getty Images 'No to racism': Protesters outside Downing Street. AFP/Getty Images Demo: Crowds packed out Whitehall to Parliament Square. PA Thousands: Westminster police tweeted this photo. MPS Westminster 'One nationality': Many signs carried pro immigration messages. REUTERS Dogs against Trump: One protester takes a break at the Westminster rally. REUTERS Speaker: Shadow Attorney General Shami Chakrabarti speaking to the crowd. Getty Images 'Full of garbage': A sign in Downing Street. Getty Images Prime Minister: Many banners carried messages targeting Theresa May, Getty Images 'Dump Trump': The signs carried personal attacks on the US President. Getty Images No Trump: Protesters chant and march. Getty Images Never again: Some posters looked back to the past. AFP/Getty Images Packed: Many protesters remarked at the amount of people. AFP/Getty Images Standstill: Buses had to divert because of the crowds. PA Anger: People demonstrate during a protest at Downing Street in central London. PA Crowds: Hordes of people took to the streets. Getty Images Anti-Trump: Thousands of people have slammed the President's policy. Getty Images Messages for May: Demonstrators hold placards as they protest outside Downing Street. Getty Images 'Never again': Demonstrators march along Downing Street. Getty Images 'Muslim ban': Londoners marched with placards with messages for the PM. Getty Images NO: The anti-Trump rally spilled onto the road. Getty Images Humour: A sign drawing on a Mary Poppins pun. Caroline Lee Chants: The crowds were heard chanting 'shame on May'. Getty Images Welcome refugees: Protesters on Monday evening. PA Landmark: The iconic London eye seen in the background. PA 'Dangerous': One of the anti-Trump protesters. Lydia Ruffles Anti-Trump: Signs carried harsh words for the US leader. Emma Gibson Blocked: Protesters said Whitehall was brought to a standstill. Garry Knight 'Resist': A sign in Whitehall. Spectrum SINO Radio 'Bridges not walls': Many of the banners carried pro-globalization messages. Jessica Voorsanger Rally: The first crowds forming at the protest, which began at 6pm. Garry Knight United: Stop the War Coalition joined the protest. PA Gathered: People listened to speakers who fired up the crowd. Getty Images We stand together: Among the figures who were expected to attend were Lily Allen and Ed Miliband. Getty Images March: Some of the protesters holding placards. Getty Images Together: People of all ages joined in the rally. Getty Images

Prime Minister Theresa May has been criticised for offering Mr Trump a state visit too soon in his already highly controversial presidency.

Barack Obama only received an invitation after 758 days, while it took 978 days before his predecessor, George W Bush, was offered a state visit, compared with seven days for Mr Trump.

The backlash against the visit has also caused controversy in Parliament, where Commons Speaker John Bercow is facing calls to resign after branding Mr Trump "racist" and "sexist" and effectively banning him from addressing MPs and peers in Westminster Hall during the trip.

The travel ban, which sparked mass protests in the UK and around the world, has since been suspended after two states - Washington and Minnesota - sued and a federal court rejected a US government appeal.

Mr Trump has promised to take action "very rapidly" in response to the ruling, which he reacted to in customary style on Thursday, tweeting "SEE YOU IN COURT, THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE!"

Meanwhile, the president has been rocked by the resignation of his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, following reports that he misled White House officials about his contacts with Russia.

A US official has told the Associated Press that Mr Flynn was in frequent contact with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak on the day that Mr Obama imposed sanctions on Russia for presidential election-related hacking.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.
T he Duchess of Cambridge was in the cockpit today when she stepped in to a training aircraft during a visit to RAF Wittering.

The 35-year-old royal grinned as training officers from the base near Peterborough showed her the ropes in the aircraft.

Kate, who is Honorary Air Commandant of the RAF Air Cadets, met with cadets from Wing Air Training Corps in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire who were taking part in a half-term skills development camp.

Cadet Sergeant Jordan Bertolaso, a qualified aerospace instructor, talked the Duchess though the controls of the Grob tutor, a light aircraft which cadets use each year for air experience.

RAF Wittering: The Duchess sat in a training plane / Joe Giddens/PA

Cadet Sgt Bertolaso said: "It's incredible to have such a high-profile royal as our patron, especially as she has strong links to the Royal Air Force with her husband being a former pilot."

During the visit, the Duchess, who wore a burgundy blazer and a black ensemble of top, jeans and boots, was introduced to air cadets from the Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Wing Air Training Corps, who are taking part in a half-term skills development camp.

The week acts as an initial camp experience for cadets who are in their first six months of membership.

Kate took up her role with the RAF Air Cadets in December 2015, taking on the post from the Duke of Edinburgh who had been involved with the organisation for more than 60 years.

The Duchess now represents 42,000 air cadets aged from 12 to 19, and 15,000 adult volunteers at more than 1,200 units across the UK and abroad.
A fierce blaze at a Disneyland car park has left at least eight vehicles scorched and four people needing hospital treatment.

Almost $180,000 (145,000) worth of damage was caused by the fire at the theme park in Anaheim, California, on Monday afternoon.

Anaheim Police Department said seven Disney employees suffered injuries from smoke inhalation, with four of them being taken to hospital. At least four of the affected cars were destroyed.

The fire was reported at around 4.40pm (12.40am GMT) on the second floor of the six-storey Mickey & Friends car park in the attractions north-west corner.

Disneyland visitors unable to return to their cars due to the fire / AP

Pictures from the scene showed smoke billowing out of the 10,000-space car park as nervous crowds gathered outside, unable to return to their cars.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, although no foul play is suspected.
P resident Donald Trump has praised Americas outstanding trade relationship with Canada during a meeting with prime minister Justin Trudeau.

The President told reporters during a joint press conference with the Canadian leader that he would merely tweak the deal between the neighbouring countries.

Justin Trudeau, who came to the United States seeking to ensure Canada was not crippled as Mr Trump re-negotiates the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) reacted positively to the comments during the pairs first face-to-face meeting.

Mr Trump said on Monday: "We have a very outstanding trade relationship with Canada. We'll be tweaking it.

'Outstanding' deal: President Donald Trump reaches to shake hands with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the Oval Office / AP

We'll be doing certain things that are going to benefit both of our countries. It's a much less severe situation than what's taking place on the southern border."

The President pledged to work with Canada "in pursuit of our many shared interests".

In 90 seconds: Trump and Trudeau differ over border control

Mr Trudeau spoke of a special bond and the "deep abiding respect" between the two countries, though he also said that "relationships between neighbours are pretty complex".

While the two leaders stressed shared interests, their contrasting views were also aired.

Responding to questions from reporters, Mr Trump defended his refugee and immigration orders, saying that "we cannot let the wrong people in". Mr Trudeau, on the other hand, said Canada continued to "pursue our policies of openness".

Neighbouring countries: Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau held a joint press conference / AP

Mr Trudeau noted that there have been times when the two countries "have differed in our approaches".

He added: "The last thing Canadians expect is for me to come down and lecture another country on how they chose to govern themselves".

Mr Trudeau gifted Mr Trump with Mr Trudeau's father, the late Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau.

Mr Trump said he knew and respected Pierre Trudeau and would keep the photo in a "very special place".

Female workforce: The pair hosted a meeting with women business leaders in the White House / AP

At a roundtable discussion with female executives from the United States and Canada, Mr Trump and Mr Trudeau announced a task force focused on women in the workforce.

Mr Trump said it was important to ensure the economy is a place where "women can work and thrive".

Mr Trump's daughter Ivanka Mr Trump was in attendance at the meeting and helped recruit participants and set the agenda.
N orth Korean leader Kim Jong-uns half-brother has been assassinated in Malaysia, according to reports citing unnamed South Korean government sources.

South Koreas TV Chosun, a cable television network, said that Kim Jong Nam was poisoned at Kuala Lumpur airport by two women believed to be North Korean operatives, who were at large, citing multiple South Korean government sources.

The South Korean government source who spoke to Reuters did not immediately provide further details.

South Koreas foreign ministry said it could not confirm todays reports, and the countrys intelligence agency could not immediately be reached for comment.

Kim, the eldest son of late former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, was known to be based mostly outside of his home country.

In 2001, he was caught at an airport in Japan traveling on a fake passport, saying he had wanted visit Tokyo Disneyland.
T he suspected killer of a London holidaymaker has been remanded in custody after appearing in court in Tenerife.

John Vout, 27, was ordered to jail pending an ongoing investigation into Daryl Bhandals death by a local judge following the hearing behind closed doors yesterday.

The fellow Brits girlfriend Michelle Petersen, 27, who was also detained after a fight at a hotel bar in the resort of Puerto de Santiago, was released on bail.

Several witnesses were quizzed by the judge in charge of the probe into the violent altercation that led to company director Mr Bhandals death in the early hours of Saturday morning after a party where he had celebrated his 36th birthday.

The incident is said to have been sparked after Mr Vouts partner threw a cleaners wet floor sign at the dead man.

Police were unable to confirm reports father-of-two Mr Bhandal, from Woolwich, was attacked after cracking a joke about Miss Petersens make-up.

Mr Bhandal, who ran a building firm, died in hospital around 3am on Saturday after suffering severe head injuries.

Mr Vout has been officially made an investigado, a new legal term in Spain which literally means under investigation, and has not been charged.
A father who died in an avalanche in the French Alps has been named locally as Pierre Nicalek.

Mr Nicalek, 48, was a pharmacist in Pertuis, in the south-east of the country. He died alongside his 15-year-old son and 19-year-old step-son in the ski resort of Tignes yesterday morning. Their snowboard instructor Laurent Ruiz, 59, was also killed.

The family, who were on a half-term holiday, were regular visitors to the resort.

The mayor of Pertuis, Roger Pellenc, said: It is a tragedy. It is an historic pharmacy in the town, the first one in the centre.

I know this gentleman well. We will offer support, professionally and personally, at this difficult time.

A fifth member of the group was not with the rest of the party during the avalanche because he lost his snowboard on the ascent. He had been carrying it when he dropped it and it slid part-way down the slope. The instructor had told him to wait.

Tignes avalanche

The four victims had already snowboarded down the slope once and were about to attempt a second descent when the avalanche struck.

Authorities said many other people had skied and snowboarded the same route in previous days.

Initially it was feared that nine people were missing, but it was later confirmed there were no other victims.

Marion Lapouble, a spokeswoman for the resort, said: The number of individuals believed to be buried at the beginning of the search is explained by a duplicate enrolment in the course. Four people of French nationality were found, unfortunately deceased.

All the victims were equipped with avalanche transceivers, which allowed the rescuers to find the victims quickly, unfortunately without life.
T he chairman of Toshiba resigned today as the Japanese industrial giant revealed huge losses and left the UKs nuclear future in limbo.

Shigenori Shiga quit on a chaotic day that began when Toshiba missed its own deadline for releasing its quarterly trading update.

Toshiba had delayed issuing its results, but then said it was set to report a net loss of 390 billion yen (2.75 billion) in the year to March 2017. A huge $6.3 billion (5.05 billion) writedown in its US nuclear business  partly due to overruns  was blamed for the loss.

The losses could hit plans for a 10 billion power plant at Moorside in Cumbria, with Toshiba expected to announce it is scaling back its nuclear business outside Japan.

The losses could hit plans for a 10 billion power plant at Moorside in Cumbria (existing plant pictured) / Owen Humphreys/PA

It comes at an uncertain time for UK energy with French giant EDF  which will operate the Hinkley Point C plant in Somerset  last week seeing an explosion at a site in northern France.

Kevin Coyne, energy officer at union Unite, said: Toshibas announcement today that there will be yet another months delay on providing clarity over its future involvement in the Moorside project piles further agony upon this Cumbrian community.

Toshiba is attempting to recover after it emerged in 2015 that profits had been overstated for seven years, prompting its boss to step down.

The delay on a full update comes as it investigates the amount its Westinghouse subsidiary paid for US construction and nuclear plant specialist CB&I Stone & Webster in 2015.

Whistleblowers have flagged concerns that senior management at Westinghouse exerted inappropriate pressure to advance the acquisition process, Toshiba said.

Toshiba apologised, but shareholders were unsympathetic and shares dropped as much as nine per cent.
W hen I first read the script for Billions I cried, says Asia Kate Dillon, the gender non-binary actor who plays Taylor, the gender non-binary character, in this television first. I felt here was someone who was brave enough to totally and fully be themselves. Taylor really inspired me to feel finally like: Yeah, this is who I am and I dont feel any shame or need to hide it.

Pronouns. For such small words they can carry a lot of weight. Yet, negotiating the hes theys and zes of our sophisticated post-gender world neednt be confusing. Take your cue from a strangely uplifting scene in the new series of Billions, which starts on Sky Atlantic, next Tuesday at 9pm.

Damian Lewiss alpha hedgie, Bobby Axe Axelrod, is sitting legs-on-desk in his shiny, minimalist office, listening to an investment pitch from the office goofball Maffee. With his usual no-b******* perspicacity, Axe interrupts Maffee and asks to speak to his analyst instead  the real brains behind the scheme.

In strides a new character, the shaven-headed Taylor, offering a few simple words by way of introduction: Hello, Im Taylor. My pronouns are they, theirs and them. Axe regards his new employee with a smile thats equal parts amusement and admiration. Then he bids them to continue.

TODO: define component type brightcove

For those not quite up to speed, the phrase gender non-binary applies to individuals who see themselves as neither man nor woman. According to recent statistics, at least one in 250 people in the UK identify as such, and that figure goes up depending on how the question is phrased.

Dillon was assigned the gender female at birth but, like Taylor, now uses the pronoun they. Aside from that, the pair have little in common. Dillons typical everyday outfit is a T-shirt and baggy jeans, whereas Taylors style is more preppy. Taylor is a left-brain person with strong math and logic skills, analytical, objective ideal for the hedge-fund world, which I know nothing about, says Dillon.

In other words, there is a lot more to the character than their gender identity. The script doesnt focus on a sort of terrible coming-out story. Its much more well-rounded than that.

Dillons own coming-out story isnt terrible either, thanks to a childhood spent in Ithaca, a small, socially progressive enclave in upstate New York, which they describe as a microcosm of New York City. At school, a couple of the teachers called them by the affectionate nickname kid. This was before there was any talk of my gender identity, but it always felt good. It felt like, Oh, theyre seeing something about me, yknow?

TV highlights of 2017 1 /13 TV highlights of 2017 Taboo FX Networks / Robert Viglasky Girls Girls HBO The Cuckoo's Calling Steffan Hill/McAinsh/PA Guerilla BBC Top of the Lake BBC Godless Getty Images Z: The Beginning of Everything Amazon Prime Twin Peaks Motherland BBC Back Channel 4

Only within the past few years, however, has Dillon begun publicly identifying as gender non-binary, and it was Taylor who got in there first. I first started removing the she her and hers pronouns from my online material. I was just using my name in place of a pronoun and that felt really good. Then I read the script for Billions and did a little more research into non-binary and it just really clicked for me. I began integrating it right away into all of my online material and my everyday life.

Language  those pesky pronouns again  seems to be a big sticking point for those who reject the push for a more fluid understanding of gender. Getting used to a new way of speaking can be difficult at first. At one point while talking to Dillon, I find myself replacing gender non-binary with the unfortunate spoonerism non-gina-bendery. Dillon politely overlooks this, probably because, as they later say, I dont sort of have the energy to correct everyone who mis-genders me.

In any case, the reaction has mostly been positive. I enjoy talking about it often I just find that people are curious and actually more innately understanding of what Im talking about than they thought they would be. They sort of go, Oh, yeah! Why am I a man? Or Why am I a woman? I think its an important conversation for anyone to have with themselves and I happen to be someone who brings that conversation up in a room.

Leading role: Dillon on the set of Billions series two

So while Taylor wasnt specifically written for Dillon, the role couldnt have been more perfect. Dillons @eeeysia Instagram feed shows how central LGBT rights, but also Black Lives Matter, Standing Rock and other social justice issues, are in their life. Even their downtime is utilised in service of the cause: theyll admit to enjoying the occasional episode of animated sitcom Bobs Burgers but mostly its non-fiction books, such as Ta-Nehisi Coatess revered 2015 treatise on race, Between the World and Me. Im very careful with my media intake. I try and monitor it pretty carefully.

For Dillon, not only is the personal political, the professional is too. That means acting as president of Mirror/Fire Productions, starring in a 2007 production of controversial play My Name is Rachel Corrie and their most notable previous TV role as Brandy, a member of the white supremacist gang in Orange is the New Black.

This Netflix prison dramedy is famous for a cast thats diverse in all aspects except one  its almost exclusively female. Billions, by contrast, is as uber-macho as the high-finance world it portrays and revolves around a high-stakes pissing contest between two alpha males: Axelrod and his nemesis, NYC district attorney Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti).

You might imagine that Dillon would feel much more comfortable on the set of OITNB. In fact, working on both shows feels like being with family, they say, with a subtle rebuke to any simplistic thinkers whod have assumed otherwise. My impression of Wall Street growing up was certainly that it was like the big, bad place where all of the men did the bad things with our money the incredible thing about [Billions] is that it takes that evil machine and puts many human faces on it. And it puts human faces on what I would call the good machine of the law. It really dissects both of them. Morality, then, is also not so binary.

Not only does non-binary Taylor make perfect sense in the grey-shaded world of Axe capital but the intelligent grace with which Taylor claims a place in the world has a wider resonance. Billions might be exactly the show to demonstrate that, far from being some fringe issue for a niche group of spoiled, rainbow-flag-waving millennials, the struggle to be who you really are, to self-actualise, is at the centre of every humans experience.

Its certainly a subject that Dillon often finds themself mulling over. When I go outside and I look at all the people, I wonder how much of their identity, true identity, has been squelched by these social mores. Would that person just be wearing something totally fabulous right now? I wish everyone could just be free. And, really, whats so hard to understand about that?
J ake Wood has topped a poll of the nations weirdest crushes for the third consecutive year.

The EastEnders actor, who recently returned to the BBC soap after a year-long hiatus, has taken first place in Heat magazines annual list yet again.

Saying that he would have to lie down after hearing that hed reached the top spot for a third time, Wood described the accolade as amazing.

To win one was amazing, two was unbelievable, and I think Im going to have to go have a lie down for a bit with this one, he said.

Matt Sayles/Invision/AP

I dont think itll ever be topped by anyone ever again Im definitely not going to be resting on my laurels, though.

More unbelievably, Woods co-star Ben Champniss, who plays Shrimpy on the soap, has made it into second place this year.

EastEnders bus crash draws in complaints from viewers

Thank you EastEnders for letting Jake and I slip through the net, he told the magazine.

Id also like to thank my parents for blessing me with these looks, and my fiancee, for settling for the UKs second weirdest crush.

Ed Sheeran comes in at third place on this years poll, followed by This Mornings Phillip Schofield, and Rylan Clark-Neal.

The Missing character Julien Baptise, played by Tcheky Karyo, comedian Romesh Ranganathan, Jack Whitehalls dad Michael, Martin Compston and Rogue One robot K-2SO make up the top 10.

Other notable stars inside the top 25 include Piers Morgan, James Cosmo, Alan Carr and Ricky Gervais.
F ood writers the Hemsley sisters, Ella Mills and Nadiya Hussain, the 2015 Great British Bake Off winner, today urged people to get messy in the kitchen to support Red Nose Day.

They all donned aprons created by celebrity photographer Rankin for a photoshoot with him to encourage people to help raise money for Comic Relief.

The aprons, for sale in HomeSense, feature animal portraits, including Rankins whippet, Beans, and profits will go to Comic Relief.

Jasmine Hemsley said cooking for Red Nose Day was a chance for families and children at school to cook together.

People just need to be silly with it  have fun and get messy, its not about being serious or doing anything from MasterChef, she said.

The aprons were launched yesterday ready for the big day on March 24.
Students have ample opportunities to become entrepreneurs and they should become job providers than seekers, said Avinash Krishnalal Dalal, President of Micro, Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (MSME) Association while addressing the students and alumni members of GITAM University, Hyderabad chapter, on its premises on Saturday.

He inaugurated the Hyderabad chapter along with Pro-Vice-Chancellor N. Shiva Prasad, Mahesh Bank chairman Ramesh Kumar Bhang, Alumni Association president Trinadha Rao, principal Ch. Sanjay and others.

I began my entrepreneurship with ?8,000 in addition to ?40,000 loan from Dena Bank. Even Union Defence Minister Parikar and Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari started their carrier as small entrepreneurs, he said, adding that the Union Government was promoting MSME, the backbone of Indian economy with 50% of exports.

MUDRA Bank launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers loan from ?50,000 to ?2 crore without any collateral security. Grab the opportunity and become a job provider, he told the students. He asked them not to get frustrated when faced with small failures as they strengthen their motive to reach the target.

Narasimham, President of MSME Telangana chapter, explained how they worked for an industry and later became entrepreneurs. They now run the company which has about ?100 crore turnover. Had I been an employee, I may not be here in front of you, he said, adding that they were ready to provide opportunity to work for five students from GITAM every year.
I hadnt been dating Linda too long when Valentines Day rolled around. Wanting to let her know how important she was becoming in my life, I headed to the flower shop. That year, I bought my lovely girlfriend a dozen red roses and one for each of her daughters.

A year or two later I asked her to marry me and she said yes.

Today, over 25 years later, I am still madly in love with that beautiful lady. There have been Valentines Day when I could afford jewelry, but others when a card was tough on the bank statement. But no matter the gift, the greatest gift has been having her beside me through the good times and the bad.

Every Valentines Day reminds me of the love I have for Linda and how much she means to me.

For most of us, Valentines Day is a day to celebrate love. It is also great day for card companies. We send out over 150 million cards, according to www.history.com, which makes Valentines Day the second most popular card-sending holiday, behind Christmas.

It is a holiday of love, steeped in mystery with historical roots in Christianity and ancient Roman tradition.

The Christian side traces its roots back to a saint who died around 270 A.D.

There are a number of stories about St. Valentine, whose name the holiday comes from. One says he was a priest whom, when the Roman Emperor Claudius II decided single men were better soldiers than those with wives and kids, outlawed marriage for young men. according to www.history.com.

Such a law was viewed as wrong by one priest by the name of Valentine. He defied the emperor and continued to marry young lovers in secret. When the secret came to light, Valentine was sentenced to death.

Another story has Valentine dying trying to help Christians escape persecution in Roman prisons. One legend, which would make for a great movie, has Valentine in one such prison. There he falls in love with a young girl, possibly the jailors daughter who visited him in prison. In the legend, the lovestruck priest, from his prison cell, is credited for sending the very first Valentine greeting.

There is also a belief that the early church used the legend of St. Valentine to Christianize the pagan holiday of Lupercalia, a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture. The festival was celebrated every year on Feb. 15.

In the fifth century, Pope Gelasius declared Feb. 14 St. Valentines Day.

The truth is murky, at best. It could be early fake news, but by the Middle Ages St. Valentine had become one of the most popular saints in England and France.

Putting the history aside, it is a day we set aside to share cards, candy, flowers and many other gifts with those we love. Sometimes, we give gifts to friends, but hopefully you will do something special for that special person in your life.

For me, it is my beautiful bride, whom I almost lost to cancer last year. This year, I am very grateful to be able to tell her, I love you! and hold her in my arms.

I cant imagine my life without Linda by my side. She makes me whole.

That first Valentines Day I spent trying to woo a beautiful young lady and her two daughters was special. However, the many years in between has deepened our love.

Through the good times and the bad that love held strong and even grown, and today I am a blessed man.

So today, make sure to tell that special person in your life how much they mean to you. It doesnt have to be expensive gifts. It could be something simple, handmade or even an act of kindness toward them.

Pay tribute today to St. Valentine and do something special for the special person in your life and tell them, Happy Valentine Day!
A mutual friend introduced James Holland and the former Evelin Gonzalez about five years ago.

At first, Evelin spurned James interest. But he didnt give up.

Soon enough, the couple was inseparable.

About a year ago, talk of marriage began. They wanted a quick, alternative wedding, but never thought they would find themselves getting hitched just feet away from inmates housed at the Iredell County Detention Center.

Eventually, James proposed to Evelin in the mountains on Nov. 26.

The couple, originally from Mooresville, decided theyd get hitched in a civil ceremony at the Iredell County Magistrates Office.

This is the newlyweds first Valentines Day together.

This definitely feels amazing, James Holland said. Its a special year for sure, just to be able to spend as much time with each other as possible has been great.

SAYING I DO

Nestled in the corner, just a few steps from the jail entrance, is room R102. Bring two witnesses, a $60 license and a receipt of the $20 ceremony fee and an Iredell County magistrate can make a marriage happen.

On Jan. 18, the couple made their way to the courthouse accompanied by friends, Rafael Roberto and Eric Mueller, to say their I dos. There was no significance about the day they chose, James Holland said. They both had off from work that Wednesday and their witnesses could make it.

After arriving, the couple walked toward Magistrate Pam Tutterrow, who greeted them with a smile and a simple question.

Are you ready? Tutterrow asked.

Within minutes, the couple sealed the deal with a kiss after Tutterrow pronounced them husband and wife.

Tutterrow said the magistrates marry between eight and 10 people a week, with the bulk of those taking place on Friday  which provides an immediate weekend honeymoon getaway for some couples.

Weddings are one of the most positive things that happen here, Tutterrow said.

She said that some memorable ceremonies feature a room full of family and friends. You know you have a good support system backing them, she said.

Sometimes the whole room is filled with people, Tutterrow said. Sometimes its only the two witnesses.

The attire ranges as well. Sometimes couples show up show up in blue jeans. Other times they go all out with wedding dresses and nice suits, she said.

A DAY TO REMEMBER

The courthouse wedding was also important for the Hollands because it helped start the paperwork on Evelins citizenship, James Holland said. Evelin, who was born in Mexico, moved to the United States as a child.

The Hollands, who now live in Cornelius, plan to have a Christian ceremony at the Georgia home of James Hollands mother later this year. And they have their sights set on a honeymoon in Key West, Florida, in the summer of 2018.

Despite her initial misgivings, Evelin said the memories of her courthouse wedding will last a lifetime.

It made me very happy and is something Ill always remember, she said.

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LOOKING TO GET HITCHED?

A $60 marriage license from the Register of Deeds office, $20 marriage ceremony receipt from the courthouse cashier and two witnesses are required to get married at the courthouse.

For an additional $10, couples can obtain a certified copy of the marriage license at the Register of Deeds office.

Marriage licenses are valid for 60 days after they are issued.

In Statesville, marriage ceremonies are performed Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The office is also open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 704-872-7468 for more information.

In Mooresville, marriage ceremonies are performed Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Though, Tuesdays time is subject to change based on small claims court. Call 704-663-4533 for more information.

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MARRIAGE LICENSES

Marriage licenses issued by the Iredell County Register of Deeds:

2010: 982

2011: 945

2012: 976

2013: 968

2014: 999

2015: 1,074

2016: 1,089

2017: 80
By MARK EVANS STE. GENEVIEVE HERALD Scott Schmieder, county road and bridge foreman, reported to the county commission last Thursday that temperatures are getting too cold at night for much more asphalt work to be done. He said potholes had all been patched. His crews were working on Bodine Road and made call-ins to locate
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President Klaus Iohannis had better worry about the 2017 national budget within a reasonable timeframe so that Romania may get a budget this year, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Liviu Dragnea, also the national leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD, ruling), said Tuesday. He added that he discussed with Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu the meeting on Tuesday at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace and heard later on the president's statements on the 2017 national budget.

"It is the president's right to analyse, but there are various reasons popping up to delay the publication of the budget. This country needs a budget. They previously had a discussion at the Supreme Council for National Defence (CSAT) meeting concerning the budget of some organisations and they agreed there were no problems with the operation of those organisations. The budget has been analysed by the committees and passed by Parliament. I believe in the sustainability of this budget. (...) The budget is balanced and sustainable; it includes what we decided in the election campaign, and I said there will be 2 percent for defence spending to keep the deficit below 3 percent (...) In the end, should the president worry, he had better worry within a reasonable timeframe because we would like for Romania to get a budget this year, because the operation of many institutions hinges on it and in the end the economic growth of the country as well. If reasons to delay the coming into force of the budget keep popping up, then problems will indeed arise," Dragnea said at Parliament Palace.

Asked for his take on European Commission's recent forecasts for Romania reading economic growth of just 4.4 percent and a budget deficit of 3.6 percent in 2017, Dragnea pointed out that the Commission had its share of worries in the previous years as well.

Agerpres
Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu welcomed on Tuesday the Swiss Confederation ambassador to Romania, Urs Herren, on a courtesy visit at Victoria Palace, the two officials discussing the stage of bilateral relations and current topics on the EU and international agenda. "The meeting provided the opportunity for an assessment of the state of bilateral relations, both sides agreeing that the two countries enjoy, at present, a very good bilateral relation," reads a press release of the Government, sent to Agerpres.

According to the quoted source, the Prime Minister particularly appreciated the support provided through the "Swiss Financial Contribution", an instrument which projects are funded through in various fields, such as infrastructure, environment, security and the social and human development. The meeting also occasioned an exchange of views on current issues on the European and international agenda, the statement further reads.
As many as 56,400,000 people, including 46,970,000 EU citizens and 9,430,000 non-EU people, transited through Romania's border passing points in 2016, up 22.3 percent form the year before, according to a 2016 activity report by Romania's General Border Police Inspectorate. The Border Police are said to have denied entrance to Romania to 164 foreigners.

At the same time, thanks to the checks conducted by the Border Police, 2,959 internationally wanted persons, both Romanian and foreigners, were tracked down and handed over to the relevant authorities in connection with illegal migration; the officers also found 1,624 foreigners attempting to cross the border illegally. As many as 351 migration rings were uncovered and 140 smugglers/facilitators were identified.

The Border Police recorded 19,083 offences, including 8,084 infractions and 10,999 contraventions. Most of the offences were attempted or actual illegal entry; they were followed by forgery or use thereof (2,669 instances), as well as economic and financial improprieties. As many as 16,200,000 means of transportation reportedly crossed Romania's borders in 2016.

At the activity report meeting of the General Border Police Inspectorate on Tuesday, Interior Minister Carmen Daniela Dan praised the Border Police for their management of migration, saying that although pressure was high on Romania's borders, the country acted professionally to ensure security at the external borders of the European Union without affecting the European citizens' freedom of movement. "I have read very closely the evaluation of your last year's activities and synthetic data, all your impressive figures, achievements and fantastic outcomes point to a very important first conclusion: security at Romania's borders is in good hands!" Dan is quoted as saying in a press statement after the meeting.

Minister Dan also highlighted a significant contribution from Romania's Border Police to the common security of the European space by participating in FRONTEX and BESA missions.

Agerpres
Updated at 10:36 a.m.

INDIANAPOLIS  Major health insurers Aetna and Humana called off their $34 billion combination after a federal judge, citing concerns about prices and benefits, rejected the deal.

The announcement Tuesday comes several days after another federal judge shot down a tie-up between two other massive insurers. Blue Cross-Blue Shield carrier Anthem Inc. is attempting to buy Cigna Corp. for $48 billion. Anthem is appealing that decision.

Aetna, the nation's third largest insurer, had announced its bid for Humana in 2015. The deal would have given Aetna the opportunity to significantly expand its presence in Medicare Advantage coverage, which involves privately run versions of the federal Medicare program for people who are over 65 or disabled.

But Aetna's attempt to gobble up the nation's fifth largest health insurer brought in the Justice Department, which sued last summer to block that deal and the Anthem-Cigna combination.

Regulators worried, in particular, about how the Aetna-Humana deal would affect consumer choices and competition in the fast-growing market for Medicare Advantage plans.

U.S. District Judge John Bates wrote in the decision last month that neither new competition nor plans to shed some of the combined company's businesses would be enough to ease antitrust concerns. Federal regulation would likely be "insufficient to prevent the merged firm from raising prices or reducing benefits," Bates ruled.

Aetna Chairman and CEO Mark Bertolini said in a company release Tuesday that "the current environment makes it too challenging to continue pursuing the transaction."

Humana is entitled to a $1 billion breakup fee, which would amount to about $630 million after taxes. The Louisville, Ky., insurer says it will announce its 2017 forecast and provide an update on its strategic plan after markets close Tuesday.

The two deals blocked in federal courts would have melded the nation's five largest insurers into three, with UnitedHealth Group Inc. currently the biggest.

The insurers have argued that growing through acquisitions would allow them to better negotiate prices with pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and doctor groups that also are merging and growing larger. They also expect to cut expenses and add more customers, which helps them spread out the cost of investing in technology to manage and improve care.

Insurers have also said that combining would help them stabilize their business on the Affordable Care Act's public insurance exchanges.

But the American Medical Association said last week, after the Anthem-Cigna deal was shot down, that a merger would have created a health care behemoth too large to regulate and with too much control over the lives of consumers.

Shares of Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna Inc. climbed $2.47 to $124.52 late Tuesday morning, while broader indexes slipped. Humana Inc. was down 19 cents to $206.51.
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NEW YORK  Premium Point Investments LP is under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission over the valuation of structured products and other assets held by its funds, according to a letter sent to clients of the New York-based investment firm.

A spokesman for Premium Point, which specializes in mortgage-related investments via hedge and private equity funds, declined to comment. A spokeswoman for the SEC declined to comment.

The letter, sent Feb. 9 and seen by Reuters, from founder Anilesh Ahuja also apologized for the continued delay in the delivery of an audited financial statement for 2015.

It further said that Premium Point's chief financial officer, Michael Mercer, resigned on Jan. 6. Management firm Alvarez and Marsal was hired to perform related duties, the letter said.

IFR reported in August that Premium Point had sold a $6.2 billion mortgage bond portfolio, the largest sale of its kind in nearly two years.

Premium Point managed $4.5 billion as of Dec. 31, 2015, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The figure includes leverage, or borrowed money, which can inflate the figure.

Ahuja founded Premium Point in 2008 after serving as the head of the mortgage-backed securities group at Deutsche Bank AG from 2004 to 2008.
LIMA  Peru will start the bidding on a nearly 100-year old polymetallic smelter and a copper mine at about $270 million in a March 10 auction, the government said on Tuesday.

The market price for the two assets, which Doe Run Peru owned before going bankrupt in 2009, is estimated at about $400 million, said Guillermo Shinno, a government representative of the group of creditors holding the auction.

The La Oroya smelter in Peru's central Andes is seen as being worth $334 million and the Cobriza copper mine $71 million, according to the energy and mines ministry.

A 2015 auction to find a new operator for La Oroya failed to draw any bids as potential buyers fretted over liability for lingering pollution, labor contracts for some 2,200 workers, and hundreds of millions in upgrades needed for the copper smelter.

President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, a former investment banker who took office in July, pushed back a liquidation deadline for the La Oroya smelter last year in a renewed bid to revive it.

Kuczynski wants to ramp up Peru's smelting capacity to wring more value from the country's minerals, which make up more than half of overall exports.
Updated at 9:21 a.m.

PARIS  Peugeot-owner PSA Group is discussing buying General Motors' European operations, making the French carmaker the second biggest player in the region and allowing GM to focus on North America and China.

In separate statements, GM which owns the Vauxhall and Opel brands, and the maker of Peugeot, Citroen and DS cars said they were looking at a number of "strategic initiatives" with the aim of increasing profitability and operating efficiency, including through a potential acquisition of Opel.

"There can be no assurance that an agreement will be reached," the companies added. It was not immediately clear what price GM might want for the loss-making European business.

For PSA and Opel, both of which are active mainly in Europe, it is a rare opportunity to bulk up in a sector plagued by high costs, low margins and tough competition.

GM and PSA have already shared production of commercial vans and developed common vehicle platforms, a relic of their last attempt to forge a broader alliance, which was unwound in 2013 with the sale of the U.S. carmaker's stake in PSA.

GM has repeatedly failed to make Opel profitable even after shutting Opel factories in Belgium and Germany and withdrawing the Saab and Chevrolet brands from sale. The last time Opel and Vauxhall recorded a net profit was in 1999..

Together, PSA and Opel would command a 16.3 percent share of the European passenger car market compared with Volkswagen's 24.1 percent, based on 2016 data. They would overtake Renault as the closest rival to the German carmaker.

For GM, selling Opel and Vauxhall, which added almost 1 million cars to its sales, could mean abandoning the global volume race in which it is currently ranked third behind Volkswagen and Toyota, with just over 10 million vehicles delivered last year.

Selling Opel will free up GM to invest more to develop vehicles for the North American and Chinese markets, where it makes nearly all of its automotive profits, as well as to expand new businesses such as ride services, autonomous vehicles and connected commerce.

Union raises voice

Under a 2015 agreement with shareholders GM promised investors at least a 20 percent return on capital.

The Detroit-based group may keep a stake in the combined entity, one of the sources told Reuters.

What remains unclear is how PSA will cut costs in a combined group. France's PSA has 10 factories in Europe and General Motors has 11 plants.

Opel's powerful trade union representatives in Germany immediately voiced their concern that GM and Peugeot had held discussions without their knowledge.

"If it is true that GM and PSA held talks with the aim of selling Opel/Vauxhall, it would be an unprecedented breach of all German and European co-determination rights," labour union IG Metall and Opel's works council said in a joint statement.

The confirmation of talks came after sources told Reuters earlier on Tuesday that the two companies were in advanced discussions to combine PSA with the U.S. carmaker's Opel business.

Opel's problems

PSA shares traded 3.6 percent higher by 1440 GMT, having earlier been as much as 6 percent higher. Milan-listed shares in Fiat Chrysler also gained on renewed prospects for consolidation in the industry.

The French government, which owns 14 percent of PSA, had no immediate comment. A spokesman for the Peugeot family, which holds a matching stake in the carmaker, was not immediately available.

Under Chief Executive Carlos Tavares, PSA has rebounded from a 2013-14 brush with bankruptcy to reach record levels of earnings, posting a 6.8 percent automotive operating margin in the first half of last year.

The carmaker sold 3.15 million vehicles last year. Tavares has signalled openness to a tie-up that would increase PSA's scale and ability to meet growing investment demands in vehicle electrification, driving technology and connected services.

GM previously discussed a sale to Canadian parts maker Magna in the aftermath of the financial crisis, before pulling the plug on the tentative deal in 2009.
NEW YORK  As century-old Wall Street brokerages have agonized over the fate of a major U.S. regulation on retirement advice, younger Silicon Valley counterparts have coolly shrugged their shoulders.

At issue is when and how the federal government will implement the so-called "fiduciary rule" handed down by the U.S. Labor Department last year.

The rule, which aims to protect retirees by eliminating conflicts of interest for the brokers paid to advise them, was set to go into effect in April, but is being challenged by the Trump administration.

The rule is now on track to be delayed by 180 days -- creating a great deal of uncertainty about its future.

Big wealth managers and insurers most affected by the rule have welcomed signs that the new White House may roll it back. They have fought hard against the rule in court and on Capitol Hill, arguing that it would raise compliance and technology costs, while restricting brokers' ability to charge commissions and sell certain high-fee products.

Critics have said the additional costs would force brokerages to dump less well-heeled clients in favor of wealthier ones.

Startups offering digital wealth management services have taken the opposite tack, saying the rule would benefit retirees and their own businesses. Investors abandoned by big firms might move to digital providers, which offer transparent, lower-cost alternatives, the thinking goes.

In interviews since Trump instructed the Labor Department to review the rule earlier this month, executives at "robo-advisers," which manage investor money with algorithms, brushed off the impact of the rule on their business.

Although the rule might have sped up a broader shift of investor money to "robo-advisers," the trend had been gathering momentum anyway, they said.

"An expansion of the fiduciary rule would be nice for our business, but in no way affects our ultimate success," said Andy Rachleff, chief executive officer of Wealthfront, one of the largest robo-advisers that deals directly with investors.

Wealthfront competitor Betterment has encouraged Democrats in recent weeks to fight efforts to delay or gut the rule. Nonetheless, Betterment's Associate General Counsel Seth Rosenbloom said any regulatory changes would have little impact on the company's growth.

"We are sad that it looks like ... the rule might go away, be delayed or watered down," Rosenbloom said. "But we are optimistic that the attention around the issue will make for better informed investors in the long run."

Among robo-advisers that provide services to brokerages, Mike Sha, co-founder and chief executive of robo-adviser SigFig, said he did not expect the rule's delay to impact its business or partnerships at all. Wealth units of Wells Fargo & Co. and UBS Group AG use SigFig's technology and offer its online investing tools to their clients.

Robo-advisers represent a small piece of the wealth management industry, overseeing roughly $200 billion of client assets in 2016, according to consulting firm A.T. Kearney. It expects the total to surge to $2.2 trillion by 2020.

Interrupting the fiduciary rule could slow that growth for some companies. Last week, for instance, LPL Financial Holdings, said if the rule was delayed, it might move more slowly in rolling out some compliance plans, which include its robo-adviser and other new technology.

But the shift to less expensive digital options began before the rule was formalized, driven primarily by customer demand for more digital options. That trend is unlikely to be stopped with or without the rule, analysts said.

"By all projections, there is unbelievable demand for digital advice and solutions," said Kendra Thompson, a managing director in the financial services group at the consultancy Accenture. The rule is "an accelerator for digital, not an originator," she said.
The people who issue marriage licenses in Missouri generally have a happy job, but every once in a while they face a disturbing situation.

Like the pregnant 15-year-old who came with her mother to Jan Jones recorder of deeds office in Johnson County to apply for a marriage license. The future groom standing next to them was a man in his mid-20s.

Under state law, Jones, the former head of the Recorders Association of Missouri, was obligated to issue the license. Afterward, she got a call from the state Childrens Division, which had been investigating the pregnancy as a potential child protection case. The state caseworker said there wasnt much they could do now that the mother consented to the license and the couple had married.

I remain haunted by it, Jones said.

On Tuesday, members of the Children and Families Committee of the Missouri House are expected to consider a bill that would raise the earliest age to marry to 17. Right now, Missouri has one of the loosest thresholds for marriage in the country. It is one of 27 states in the nation where technically there is no age limit. Thats because parents have tremendous power to sign off on  and, critics say, possibly force  marriages on their children.

Groups that lobby against child marriage say the state is a haven for forced child marriages, drawing parents and children from around the country. Platte County, home of Kansas City International Airport, has one of the highest rates of younger teens applying for marriage licenses in the state, Jones said.

In Missouri, minors can marry as young as age 15 if they have the consent of a parent. Without that consent, youths of any age also have the option of appealing to the local courts for an order to get the license, though Jones said few do.

The current version of the bill, proposed by Rep. Jean Evans, R-Manchester, limits the use of parental consent to 17-year-olds seeking a marriage license and does away with the possibility of judicial orders for younger children.

At age 18, emancipated adults are free to marry on their own in Missouri and all other states in the nation.

National attention

Evans, who is new to the Legislature, said human trafficking is one of her signature causes. She said forced marriages by parents amount to an overlooked type of trafficking and child exploitation.

Its an issue thats gained increasing national attention.

The group Unchained at Last estimates 248,000 minors  nearly all of them girls, some as young as 12  were wed in the United States from 2000 to 2010.

It and other groups argue girls who marry so young typically cant access services such as battered women shelters and may be legally prevented from filing an order of protection. Studies further suggest poor outcomes, including high rates of divorce, lack of education, child poverty, poor physical and mental health and vulnerability to physical or verbal abuse.

In Missouri, 7,342 teens under 18 were married from 2000 to 2014, according to an analysis by the Tahirih Justice Center, an abuse prevention group that cites Missouri as having one of the highest child marriage rates in the nation.

The center said about 85 percent of those married Missouri teens were girls. In 2007, 52 Missouri girls under 15 were married, according to the groups research. In about a third of those marriages, the groom was over 21, with some in their 30s, 40s and 50s. Just 15 of the grooms were under the age of 18.

Advocacy groups such as the Tahirih Justice Center point out that when minors marry older adults they engage in relationships that would otherwise amount to statutory rape.

In Missouri, a person 21 or older can be charged with statutory rape for having sex with a child under the age of 17. Thats particularly problematic when a visibly pregnant 15-year-old girl shows up to apply for a marriage license with a significantly older groom, said Jones, who saw this firsthand in her office.

Recorders of Deeds are not mandated reporters of child abuse in Missouri, but Jones wonders whether they should be, given what they see.

Gaining support

Evans brought the issue to fellow lawmakers after extensive media coverage last year when a father brought his pregnant daughter, 14, from Idaho to get married in Kansas City. The groom was a 24-year-old man also from Idaho who was later convicted of raping the girl. Evans said the father had agreed to not to press charges if the man agreed to marry his daughter.

Im trying to make the case with people that parents arent always good parents, and they do traffic their children, she said.

The bill was first heard in committee a week ago. Numerous groups and agencies testified on its behalf, including the state attorney generals office, a lobbyist for the Recorders Association of Missouri, domestic violence prevention groups and Missouri Kids First, a child abuse prevention group.

All of them said protection of the child had to be put first, and raising the age of consent was the best way to stem forced marriage and possible child sex trafficking.

There were doubts lodged among members of the committee. Rep. Michael Moon, R-Ash Grove, for example didnt want to discourage marriage as an option in teen pregnancy. Others wondered about infringing on religious beliefs.

In written testimony on the bill, a representative with the Tahirih Justice Center argued the age of consent for all marriages should be strictly set at 18 with no loopholes regarding judicial court orders or parental consent for younger ages.

Jeanne Smoot, senior counsel with the Center, said even 17-year-olds could be forced into marriages by their parents.

At 18, they are considered adults with full rights and access the courts and services they may need, she said.

The proposed bill is HB270.

Editor's note: Since this story ran, the Missouri legislature has entered a new session, and is now considering HB 1630, which would increase the minimum age to 17, among other requirements.
In January, Rod Chapel was in St. Louis for a historic occasion.

The president of the Missouri NAACP, a lawyer who lives in Jefferson City, attended a celebration for Kim Gardner, after she was sworn in as the first African-American circuit attorney in St. Louis. On his way back to the capital city, Chapel stopped to have drinks with me at a west St. Louis County bar. We wanted to chat about another little bit of history.

As one of his final acts in office, Gov. Jay Nixon had pardoned 16 members of the so-called Medicaid 23.

Those were the 23 pastors who during the 2014 legislative session had been arrested in the Senate gallery for chanting and praying during a protest calling on senators to pass Medicaid expansion. Last summer, Chapel was part of a team of attorneys representing the pastors as they faced trespassing and obstruction charges brought by Cole County prosecuting attorney Mark Richardson.

A jury had found the pastors not guilty of obstruction but guilty of trespassing. They faced no jail time, but a possible fine. Cole County Circuit Court Judge Daniel Green has yet to sentence any of the 23, but for 16 of them, the case is now officially over.

The rest, Chapel told me in January, plan to keep fighting, appealing the case once the sentencing is finally announced.

The preachers we represent definitely feel that it is a serious issue about how people  particularly people of color  will be treated when they come to Cole County, Chapel told me on that January evening. The race issue is as important as the ability to express themselves through their First Amendment rights.

On Monday, Chapel found out firsthand how difficult it can be being a black man who wants to testify against a bill in the Missouri Capitol. On behalf of the NAACP, Chapel was testifying against House Bill 552, which is one of several pieces of legislation moving through the House and Senate that will weaken discrimination laws in Missouri.

There is no dispute that the laws will make it easier to discriminate in Missouri  on the basis of race, religion and gender. Republicans and the business interests backing them have long wanted to water down Missouris strong anti-discrimination laws. Twice, Nixon has vetoed similar measures.

This years sponsor of the Senates version of the bill, Sen. Gary Romine, R-Farmington, owns a rent-to-own business facing a current race discrimination lawsuit.

For Chapel, this sort of obvious self-dealing is madness. But on Monday, his target wasnt Romine, or even some of the business groups that support the legislation, but schools.

I have to tell you that Im kind of dismayed at the groups that have come forward today, Chapel said. He mentioned the University of Missouri and his alma mater, Washington University. Schools, where we send our children, are all in favor of expanding discrimination.  This is nothing but Jim Crow. You cannot legalize discrimination on an individual basis and call it anything else.

Then he reminded the committee why it could be so devastating for Missouri to make it easier to discriminate at this point in the states history. He talked about Ferguson. He mentioned the Concerned Student 1950 protests at the University of Missouris Columbia campus in 2015. When it comes to discriminating against black people, Missouri has been a national laughingstock, Chapel said.

Thats when Rep. Bill Lant, R-Pineville, decided he had heard enough. He cut off Chapels microphone and ended his testimony.

Chapel protested. Democrats protested.

Lant would have none of it.

Dissent, he apparently determined, is no longer an American value.

Ive never seen anything like it, Chapel told me Tuesday morning. Its nuts. He invited me to give public testimony at his committee and then wouldnt let me talk.

The NAACP president and lawyer has testified before legislative bodies numerous times. Hes a former director of the state Department of Labor and an administrative law judge, in both cases having been appointed by Gov. Matt Blunt, a Republican.

Lant can turn off Chapels microphone, but he cant, and wont, silence Chapel.

The attorney made that clear months ago when the Medicaid 23 trial concluded. On that day, he stood outside the Cole County Courthouse in front of his clients, and spoke words that seem all the more prescient today:

We as Americans have rights, Chapel said. We have the First Amendment right to free speech, and if we cant exercise that right in the Capitol, I dont know where we can.
JEFFERSON CITY  Bills strengthening protections for Missouri law enforcement are moving quickly through the Legislature, with the backing of a new chief executive who has lamented a Ferguson effect he says makes it difficult to recruit police officers.

In his state of the state address in January, Gov. Eric Greitens, a Republican, cited conversations with officers on the job who say they feel less empowered to proactively police. He then vowed to make Missouri the greatest state in America to be a law enforcement officer, firefighter or first responder.

And we need to make this a state where every citizen feels that they too are safe and protected, Greitens added.

Its the latter effort some Democrats say they arent seeing in the Legislature.

The thing that I find interesting and heartbreaking, is that in this body, we havent had one officer thats been shot down in the street and left there for hours, not one, but weve had other people of other colors who have been left in the street  and we cant work on any type of accountability legislation, said Rep. Brandon Ellington, D-Kansas City, referencing the police shooting of Michael Brown.

Brown was an unarmed black teenager killed by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in 2014. No charges were brought against Wilson, but the shooting triggered months of protests and a national debate over racially biased policing.

Two Ferguson-related reform bills were heard in a House committee on Tuesday. One, backed by Ellington, would assign numbers to law enforcement personnel to track written complaints against officers as they move from agency to agency.

Another, from House Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty, would require the appointment of a special prosecutor when charges are filed in officer-involved shootings.

Similar legislation has been filed in the past, but has stalled, along with dozens of other criminal justice reform proposals inspired by Ferguson, such as citizen review boards, body cameras for police officers, and new training protocols.

In a speech on the House floor the first day of session, Beatty said lawmakers havent done enough to tackle racial tensions that Browns shooting and ensuing protests brought to light.

Ferguson was just the tip of the iceberg and we cannot continue to ignore its existence. Ignoring the issue will not make it go away, said Beatty, D-Kansas City. The unrest in Ferguson was more than 2 years ago, and this legislature has done nothing to understand why it occurred and little to address the underlying issues to ensure that it doesnt happen again.

The only thing we want to do is give increased protections to those who arent in jeopardy, Ellington said on Tuesday.

The symbol of the law

One proposal given initial approval by the House on Tuesday would toughen penalties for those who harm police officers, expanding the heightened punishment for crimes like voluntary manslaughter and trespassing.

This law is intended to further protect those who have dedicated themselves to safeguarding our communities, said sponsoring Rep. Marsha Haefner, R-Oakville.

Law enforcement is already a protected class under Missouris special victims statute, meaning crimes committed against them bring tougher charges than the same crimes committed against civilians.

Democrats argue that as such, the bill is redundant. Republicans said the legislation would send a message of support to the states law enforcement community.

The police officer is a symbol of the law, said Rep. Nick Marshall, R-Parkville, a former prosecutor. If we dont have law enforcement officers, we might as well just close our laptops and walk out and call it quits. Because what we do here would be meaningless.

House lawmakers also gave initial approval to another priority for Greitens  an emergency alert system that would help law enforcement more quickly spread word about someone who has injured or killed an officer.

The Blue Alert system is similar to Amber and Silver alerts, which help police find missing children and senior citizens, respectively. The alerts, which are in place in 27 other states, go out statewide and include information including description of suspects and the vehicles they drive.

Sponsoring Rep. Justin Hill, R-Lake St. Louis, said he was inspired to introduce the bill after the shooting of Ballwin police officer Michael Flamion, 33, who was shot and paralyzed from the neck down during a traffic stop in July.

House Bill 302 is a tribute to Flamion  302 is his badge number.

This isnt just about saving policemen. This is about public safety in general, said Hill, a former police officer.

Concerns over proposed police reforms

Hours earlier, Hill took issue with Ellingtons proposal to track police officers, saying unfounded complaints could dog an officer throughout his or her career.

Ellington argues its a transparency issue.

(It) gives law enforcement agencies an organized way to weed out corrupt law enforcement officers and protect the identities of those officers working for the good of the people, he said in a statement.

There was no vote on any legislation heard by the House panel  just public testimony, where some concerns were raised.

Legislation mandating the appointment of a special prosecutor was met with resistance by the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, who said it would supercede the will of the people.

By electing local prosecutors, people in each jurisdiction place their trust in them, said Amy Fite, the associations president, adding that theres already processes in place to tackle any potential conflicts of interest.

Fite deemed the proposal unnecessary, saying Americas justice system is among the best in the world.

Some people would disagree, said Rep. Bruce Franks, a St. Louis Democrat and Ferguson activist.
ST. LOUIS  A federal jury late Monday found a man from Houston guilty of four prostitution-related charges, but did not convict him of forcing a woman into commercial sex acts.

Jurors in U.S. District Court in St. Louis found Thomas Thadeus Enzo Szczerba not guilty of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, a sex trafficking conspiracy charge and an enticement charge. Two of those charges carried penalties of at least 15 years in prison.

Jurors also rejected specific items in the verdict forms, finding that Szczerba did not coerce, persuade or force the woman, give her an alias to use online or restrict her food as a means of controlling her.

He was convicted of a conspiracy charge and three other charges that involved aiding prostitution.

Reached Tuesday, Szczerba lawyer Justin K. Gelfand said, We're pleased that the jury found Mr. Szczerba not guilty of all the most serious counts. In no uncertain terms, the jury rejected what the prosecution was selling.

Gelfand said that all options were open regarding the remaining charges, including an appeal.

Szczerba's co-defendant, Keisha Edwards, 30, pleaded guilty to two prostitution-related charges after a jury had been picked but before opening statements. Edwards, who used the name Stacey Monroe online, admitted using social media and websites, including her own, to advertise the woman for sex. The plea deal will likely mean no more than five years in prison for her.

Gelfand told jurors in opening statements that Szczerba earned his money as a poker player, landlord and driver, denying that he was a pimp.

He also said that the alleged victim was not forced into prostitution and was free to leave at any time.

Prosecutors said that Szczerba and Edwards befriended the woman in Houston and they all lived together for a time as the two groomed the woman for work as a prostitute. They said Szczerba forced her to work as a prostitute and kept all her earnings.
Updated: At 5:45 p.m. Tuesday with charges against two suspects.

Two men were charged Tuesday over a police pursuit in which a St. Louis officer was injured, but not shot, the day before. The pursuit stemmed from a shooting in north St. Louis County, the police chief said.

The officer was taken to St. Louis University Hospital Monday afternoon. He initially believed he had been shot during the pursuit, but doctors determined that the injury to his left hand was not from gunfire, Police Chief Sam Dotson said.

The pursuit ended near the intersection of St. Louis and North Florissant avenues, north of downtown. Dotson said a boy, a girl and two adults were taken into custody. He also said that an assault rifle, two pistols and a ski mask were found in the car they had been in.

The car crashed in the 2800 block of North Florissant Avenue after police who were pursuing it used spike strips to stop it, Dotson said. The four people inside fled, and several officers chased them.

On Tuesday, warrants were issued charging Armond Calvin, 19, with resisting arrest and unlawful possession of a firearm; and Christopher Rhodes, 20, of resisting arrest. Calvin lives in the 6700 block of Highland House Court in Affton, and Rhodes is from the 10100 block of Viscount Drive in the Castle Point area of north county. Bond for each was set at $30,000.

Also captured were two juveniles, a male, 14, and a female, 16.

During the chase, the officer who was injured heard what he believed was gunfire and thought he had been hit in the hand. He was rushed to SLU Hospital as the suspects were arrested.

The chief said the pursuit followed a shooting in north St. Louis County.

St. Ann Police Chief Aaron Jimenez said the shooting was in Northwoods, a North County city for which Jimenezs department handles police dispatching.

He said just before 5 p.m. a call came in that a person in a white Dodge Charger had fired into another car, hitting another person in the abdomen and hand. The second car crashed.

Jimenez said the Charger fled and St. Louis police picked up the chase in the city.

The gunman was firing a shotgun, Jimenez said.

Dotson said both of the adults arrested after the pursuit had criminal histories.

The officer who was injured is 29 and has been on the police force for six years.

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay tweeted: Injured officer is sitting up and in good spirits. I thanked him for his service and his bravery.
St. Peter Catholic School in St. Charles will close at the end of this school year at the recommendation of the parish pastor and the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

The school, founded in 1847 and situated at 201 First Capitol Drive, is the fourth school in the past five months the archdiocese has said it will shut down because of declining enrollment and strained finances. The parish was notified last month of the archdioceses decision.

Change is always difficult, and when it touches upon the future of our children and quality Catholic Education, it takes on even greater weight, the Rev. Stephen Bauer, pastor of St. Peter parish, wrote in the parishs Jan. 29 Sunday bulletin.

Now, the school will merge into the St. Elizabeth-St. Robert Regional School in St. Charles, about 4.5 miles west of St. Peter. The archdiocese has increasingly pursued growing such consolidated, regional schools as a solution to parish-specific schools, which, like St. Peter, often suffer from a reliance on parish funds and a smaller enrollment area.

St. Peter students who enroll at St. Elizabeth-St. Robert will receive a $1,000 tuition grant, according to the archdiocese. St. Peter will also cover fees aside from tuition for current students who attend school there next year.

St. Peters enrollment has dropped to just 109 students this school year from 321 students in 2000.

The school, which is two blocks off of the busy, shop-filled Main Street, has had fewer families to draw from for enrollment as the area around it became increasingly commercialized. In addition to the businesses on Main Street, a Schnucks moved in nearby and Lindenwood University has been expanding, said Rich Wikiera, a parent who has been part of the school board.

St. Peter already has the smallest parish boundary in the St. Charles Deanery and has had no new housing in more than 60 years, according to research compiled for the recommendation to close the school. Just 11 of its school families live within the parish boundaries.

The school is also costly to operate: The school building, which was constructed in 1924, will require $583,000 over the next five years for maintenance.

Many of the school parents are left feeling bitter by the decision to close the school, Wikiera said.

We didnt know we were in that kind of critical point until basically the point of no return, where we couldnt do anything about it, Wikiera said.

Bauer announced in October that he would recommend that the archdiocese close the school. The school board as a whole was not involved in the decision. That didnt leave much time for parents to try to revamp the schools marketing and recruitment, Wikiera said.

Bauer argued in October that the school had had marketing efforts for years, and still, enrollment had consistently declined.
JEFFERSON CITY  Republican Gov. Eric Greitens called for bipartisanship while speaking at an NAACP event at the Missouri Capitol on Tuesday, saying hes already been hard at work finding common ground with Democratic legislators.

Today, we come from many different backgrounds. We all come from different perspectives, and we all have something to offer because of that, Greitens said.

Greitens, a political neophyte and former Navy SEAL, circled back to a familiar theme, saying all Missourians should be invested in jobs, justice, public safety and education.

The fact is, today and for too long, Missouri has not done a good enough job of meeting that mission, especially for African-American young people, Greitens said, citing high unemployment rates in black communities, and the need for better college preparedness for young black students.

We will sit down and find ways to work together, he said.

The event  and Greitens unifying speech  came a day after a Republican lawmaker cut the microphone of Missouri NAACP President Rod Chapel, who on Monday testified against a bill that would narrow workplace discrimination protections.

Rep. Bill Lant, R-Parkville, had cut the mic after asking Chapel to keep his testimony on the subject of the bill. Chapel had gone on to detail racial episodes, like the shooting of unarmed Michael Brown in Ferguson and protests at the University of Missouri.

The Chairs refusal to let me speak ensured that not only my voice, but all voices of those protected anti-discrimination laws in the state were silenced, Chapel said in a statement on Tuesday.

In a letter to House Speaker Todd Richardson, Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty said Chapels testimony was appropriate and that Lant overstepped his power.

It seems the trigger that set Rep. Lant off was that Mr. Chapel simply said things Rep. Lant didnt want to hear, Beatty said. Put another way, a white man abused his power to stop a black man from expressing a contrary view.

Lant, who chairs the panel that heard the bill, acknowledged his effort to stay on topic prevented the exchange of ideas and viewpoints that is essential to our legislative process.

He said the committee would hold a second public hearing to give all sides the chance to voice their opinions.

Also speaking at the NAACP rally, Richardson admitted the House wasn't at its finest in cutting off Chapel.

"We ought to always welcome the free exchange of ideas," said Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff.

Greitens would not comment on the incident  but he did slam the media for focusing too often on conflict.

Greitens, who has held only one press conference since taking office, said reporters have ignored his request to Sen. Kiki Curls, D-Kansas City, for staff and hiring recommendations.

He also said reporters have neglected to write about work hes done with the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus and talks hes had with Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, a St. Louis Democrat who called Greitens a man of integrity at Tuesday's rally, about adequately funding prisoner re-entry programs.

That kind of cooperation doesnt make headlines, Greitens accused, because it doesnt sell newspapers.

We cant let their bad business derail our good work, he said.

A request for comment about Greitens' work with the black caucus and potential hires based on Curls' recommendations was not immediately returned.

As he left the event, Greitens declined to answer questions from reporters.
JEFFERSON CITY Even as other state programs are facing cuts, Missouris new lieutenant governor is seeking more money to run his office.

In testimony Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Mike Parson told members of a House committee that he wants more money in his budget to pay for mileage, an additional employee and for the possibility of out-of-state travel.

In all, Parson is requesting an additional $125,000 in his offices $463,000 budget at a time when Gov. Eric Greitens is planning cuts to nursing homes, higher education and state aid for school busing expenses.

Believe me, I realize what the budget looks like, Parson told members of the House Budget Committee, which is reviewing Greitens spending blueprint.

Lawmakers and Greitens are working to craft a $27.6 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. State revenues are growing slower than expected, largely because of a drop in corporate tax revenues after lawmakers moved in recent years to reduce the tax liability for companies.

That reduction, combined with higher health insurance costs for the poor and elderly, have put pressure on officials to limit new spending.

The lieutenant governor, with a salary of about $86,600, is the lowest-paid of Missouris statewide elected officials and has the smallest staff.

In 2015, former Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder also made a pitch to lawmakers to help offset some of his expenses.

Kinder, who made an unsuccessful run for governor in 2016, asked legislators to put more money in the budget for a daily expense allowance when he is working in Jefferson City.

Kinder, who said he experienced gradual impoverishment during his decade in office, said he would offset the additional money for expenses by cutting other areas of his budget.

Parson, a Republican from Bolivar who took over in January after serving in the state Senate, oversees a staff of five employees. He said he wants $35,000 in his budget for travel expenses, including money to reimburse him for mileage when he drives his personal vehicle on state business.

All I want to do is do my job. Theres nothing in there for myself, Parson said. There is no security detail. There is no vehicle. I provide my own vehicle.

Since taking office, Parson has spent most of his time presiding over the Senate. But, he said Greitens may call on him to do additional duties as the No. 2 statewide officeholder.

I think hes going to expect more out of the lieutenant governors office, Parson said, adding that he will be an advocate for boosting tourism, agriculture and senior citizen services.

Among the additional spending he is seeking is $10,000 for out-of-state travel. He said it could be used to pay for trips to meet with other lieutenant governors.

To help offset the additional cost, Parson said he is no longer employing an attorney in the office.

I believe that this is going to be a true and accurate expense of the lieutenant governors office, Parson said.

The House and Senate are working toward an early May deadline to send Greitens a spending plan.
WASHINGTON  Its still known here by some as the Zoe Baird problem.

As in Bill Clintons 1993 attorney general nominee, who withdrew when she acknowledged hiring an undocumented immigrant as a household employee.

Andy Puzder, the former St. Louis lawyer who is President Donald Trumps labor secretary nominee, has the same problem as Baird, but it has not automatically disqualified him.

The goalposts have moved, but why?

A combination of things:

More familiarity and gradual acceptance of problems that blocked or burdened past nominees.

Bigger issues on which to challenge a nominee.

And an administration that, starting with Trump himself, that has been confronted with far greater ethical challenges.

A case in point: While Democrats tried to rev up opposition to Puzder leading into his Thursday hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, the sudden resignation of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn after he admitted being untruthful about contacts with the Russian ambassador dominated questions at Tuesdays White House press briefing.

To many here, these fights are old hat.

When Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., was asked Tuesday about Puzders household employee problem, he answered that past Treasury Secretary nominees werent rejected for failing to pay taxes. That was a reference to former President Barack Obamas Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, who acknowledged not paying taxes while working for the International Money Fund, but still got Senate approval.

Baird was the first of two Clinton nominees who withdrew in 1993 because of the undocumented household employee issue. Federal Judge Kimba Wood was the second.

It created big hoopla, and even Democrats were critical, although prepared to vote for her. Then-Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., declared: Everybody doesnt do it."

Baird dropped out after a five-hour hearing, half of which was devoted to the undocumented employee.

But when Puzder revealed last week that he had employed an undocumented household worker and paid back California and federal taxes, it caused only a minor stir.

The issue could still come up in Thursdays hearing, but it would compete with more prominent concerns expressed by Democratic critics of Puzder.

Among them: His resistance to a higher minimum wage, and accusations that he runs a company  the fast-food chain CKE Restaurants  that has a poor record on worker safety. Some are likely to attack him on his companys use of scantily clad women to promote hamburgers. Some senators could question Puzder about allegations of abuse from his first wife that she has since recanted.

Veteran congressional scholar Thomas Mann said hiring an undocumented worker  even the nominee of a President who campaigned against illegal immigration  is dwarfed by conflict-of-interest issues swirling around the businessman President Trump and some of the wealthy people he has chosen for his cabinet.

Part of the answer as to why the issue has not disqualified Puzder is also who is in control.

For it to become a big deal it has got to be something that is felt keenly by Republican activists, said Mann, a scholar at the Brookings Institution and University of California-Berkeleys Institute for Governmental Studies.

Now that they control the (congressional) majority and it is their party nominee who is in the White House, they are just determined to say it is no big deal - pay back taxes and its a misunderstanding - and say, We are going to forge straight ahead and we have big agenda.

But the other is really Donald Trump and his ... refusal to deal with the conflicts of interest that arise from maintaining his business while being President of the United States, Mann said. They are so stark, are so unbelievable, are so in-your-face to critics that it renders things like an undocumented household worker really trivial, and I think that explains it more than anything else.

With interest groups buying ads for and against, Republicans are mounting a major offensive to push Puzder through. With at least four Republicans withholding judgment, they have only a small margin in a 52-48 Republican Senate.

Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Ballwin, Tuesday portrayed Puzder as a blue-collar worker who rose to CEO and therefore has a unique perspective on running the Department of Labor.

In an opinion piece in The Hill newspaper, Wagner said Puzder "knows that it is like to juggle bills and to make trade-offs by paying only the important ones first. Hes also been the CEO of a national company. In that capacity, he saw how government regulations can kill jobs, hurt economic growth, and cut workers off from the path of opportunity  the path that Andy himself took.
JEFFERSON CITY  Opponents of making Missouri a right-to-work state hope a tactic that hasnt been employed in more than three decades could help them block the anti-union law.

At virtually the same time Gov. Eric Greitens, a Republican, signed the legislation into law on Feb. 6, Missouri AFL-CIO President Mike Louis and Missouri NAACP President Nimrod Chapel filed a petition to put the law in front of voters for an up-or-down vote.

A historical review of the maneuver shows it could be successful if it goes forward.

The last time Missouri voters faced a similar ballot initiative was in 1982 when they rejected a proposed law that would have allowed larger trucks on the states major highways.

In the 26 similar referenda dating to 1914, voters rejected all of the laws but two.

Under the rarely used provision, Missouri residents may call a referendum on a new law by collecting signatures totaling 5 percent of the voters from two-thirds of the states congressional districts.

Organizers of the anti-right-to-work referendum have until Aug. 28 to collect an estimated 90,000 signatures to place the law on the ballot. That is the same day the right-to-work measure is scheduled to go into effect.

If petitioners get enough signatures, the new law wont take effect until Missourians get the chance to have their say in 2018.

A yes vote would mean right-to-work becomes law. A no means it does not.

Under right to work, employees in unionized workplaces can opt out of paying unions for the cost of being represented. Supporters such as Greitens argue that it will boost the states economy by attracting more businesses to the state.

Unions, the NAACP and others say it will weaken unions and hurt the middle class.

Railroads strike back

In 1914, the situation was reversed.

At that time, the Legislature and governor approved a law requiring railroad companies to carry an extra worker on any train with more than 40 cars.

The organization representing workers said it was a safety issue that would save lives and money.

It will save lives and limbs, and means fewer dependents upon charity, asserted an advertisement supporting the initiative in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Railroad companies, however, convinced voters that the added worker was unneeded and would drive up the cost of shipping products.

The measure was rejected.

Voters sent an even stronger message to the Legislature in 1970 when lawmakers tried to sweeten their pensions.

In the spring of 1969, legislators approved a plan to boost their pensions by 87 percent, while state employees would have received a 25 percent increase.

Legislators also would have been able at age 55 to receive a pension three times higher than a state employee would receive at age 60.

In October 1969, opponents of the change submitted 10 boxes of signatures weighing more than 200 pounds with three times the number of signatures needed to put it on the ballot in 1970, according a Post-Dispatch account of the occasion.

In the end, just 22 percent of the voters approved of the measure, which marked the worst performance of any of the prior two dozen initiatives.

Ballot effort

The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry is among interest groups that will fight to keep Missouri as a right-to-work state. It has been at the forefront of lobbying in favor of the initiative and has been vocal in support of lawmakers who backed the legislation.

The chamber will be mounting a campaign to convince voters not to overturn the law, chamber spokeswoman Karen Buschman told the Post-Dispatch Monday.

St. Louis Community College at Meramec political scientist John Messmer said he heard inklings that the tactic would be used when it became clear that Republican majorities in the House and Senate could someday have the power to push right to work across the finish line.

He said he believed the union-led effort had a good chance of success, but it may be short-lived.

Theres nothing from preventing the Legislature from changing the law right back, Messmer said.

Although voters could then try to oust local lawmakers who reversed a popular vote, Messmer said members of the Legislature werent typically targeted in this manner. Most voters, he said, barely know who their legislators are, much less the position they took on a given issue.

Chapel said first things first: The NAACP and the AFL-CIO need to get the matter on the ballot. To do so, he said, they will be leaning on churches and local clubs to get the word out on the need to enough collect signatures.

We are looking forward to working with a lot of community partners, Chapel said Monday. Its going to take everybodys help to move this forward.
Updated with comments from state NAACP president Rod Chapel and Rep. Clem Smith, D-St. Louis at 10:30 a.m.

JEFFERSON CITY  House Republicans proposed narrowing the law protecting Missourians from workplace discrimination, drew vigorous opposition from Democrats and then got into a fight with the president of the state NAACP Monday night.

Springfield Republican Rep. Kevin Austin's bill would require plaintiffs to prove their race, religion, sex or other protected status was the "motivating factor" driving a boss to mistreat or fire them rather than just a "contributing factor" to win cases like wrongful termination suits.

It would also preclude suits against other employees, instead forcing suits against companies themselves, and cap damages for successful plaintiffs.

Austin told a House committee it was meant to bring Missouri in line with federal discrimination standards.

Joseph Sklansky, associate general counsel at Washington University in St. Louis, said the measure would also correct overreach by the state's judicial system, which changed the criteria through a series of decisions in the 2000s.

Other supporters of the proposal, a long-standing item on the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry's wish list, claimed it would cut down on frivolous suits that effectively extort businesses for costly settlements.

"I've heard  anecdotally  of businesses deciding not to come here because they're afraid of the way we handle lawsuits here," said Chamber lobbyist Brian Bunten.

Democrats weren't buying it.

Rep. Steven Roberts, D-St. Louis, led most of Austin's interrogation, calling the proposal especially "insensitive" during Black History Month.

First, he questioned why Austin had effectively exempted private country clubs from employment discrimination suits, which the sponsor agreed to look at changing.

Then he asked why Missouri wouldn't be proud of stronger protections for its workers and noted the irony of a Democrat trumpeting state independence from the feds.

"What this says is that we as Missourians can't handle our own court system, so we're just going to defer to the federal government in these cases," Stevens said. "I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone agreeing with what used to be Republican doctrine."

Sheree Brewer, a postal worker from Florissant who is suing the U.S. Postal Services for allowing a colleague to post racist posters at her desk, voiced similar alarm and warned passage would embolden bigots.

"If you let employers off on their responsibility of preventing discrimination in the workplace or punishing the person who did it, that is empowering a bully," she said. "And that destroys lives."

Tom Mickes, an attorney who said he'd represented several businesses and more than 100 school districts, downplayed the doomsday rhetoric, saying the bill was about "rebalancing" the legal playing field between businesses and workers.

But plaintiff's attorney Paul Bullman of Kansas City echoed Brewer's remarks, saying passage of Austin's bill would effectively provide bullies with immunity in civil court, where victims can be better compensated.

Then Rod Chapel, president of the Missouri NAACP came to the witness stand.

He began slowly, aiming jabs the University of Missouri System, then Washington University, then K-12 schools and businesses he said were "united here in favor of expanding discrimination."

Committee chair Rep. Bill Lant, R-Pineville, grew frustrated and asked him to keep his commentary germane to the bill.

"Oh, but I am, because this is nothing but Jim Crow," Chapel retorted, referring the discriminatory laws aimed at African-Americans in the South in the 20th century. "Because this is nothing but Jim Crow. You cannot legalize discrimination on an individual basis and call it anything else."

He continued listing the state's embarrassing racial episodes, like the shooting of an unarmed black man in Ferguson two years ago and protests at the University of Missouri last November.

Then he cut out.

Lant had had enough and turned off his mic.

Rep. Gina Mitten, D-Richmond Heights, protested to no avail.

"I would note that the only man of color to testify on this bill basically had the mic cut off of him," she told Lant, "and I would ask that you would allow him to speak."

Lant replied that she had not been recognized to speak.

"Jim Crow is alive and well in Missouri," Mitten said in a statement after the hearing, "and Rep. Lant just proved it."

Chapel issued his own statement Tuesday morning.

"The Chairs refusal to let me speak ensured that not only my voice, but all voices of those protected by anti-discrimination laws in the state were silenced, he said.

Rep. Clem Smith, D-St. Louis, said Lant gave him similar treatment in a hearing last year.

"The Republican Party has super majorities in the General Assembly and five Executive Offices across the state, an awesome power granted to them by the citizens of Missouri, he said. "Will they ban all testimony of the people they aim to disenfranchise?

Lant was not available for comment Monday evening.

Former Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, vetoed similar legislation in 2011 and 2012.

The legislation is House Bill 552.
Cletus Buchholz tried to steer his son James away from the family mortuary business, telling him to find a nice desk job with a 40-hour week and a pretty secretary.

James Jim Buchholz tried to take his fathers advice. He told the Post-Dispatch in a 1986 interview: I went to college and worked semesters in between at various things, but I could never find anything I enjoyed as much as this. So much of the other work I did was routine. This is challenging. Every family is different. You have to do something a little different to please each family. You have to be flexible.

Mr. Buchholz, eventually became president of Buchholz Mortuaries Inc., which was founded by his grandfather William and now has locations in Chesterfield, Florissant and Spanish Lake.

Mr. Buchholz died Wednesday (Feb. 8, 2017) of a heart attack at a hospital in Las Vegas. He and his wife, Kathleen, had moved to Las Vegas in November to be closer to their three daughters and grandchildren. He was 69.

Mr. Buchholz graduated from Rosary High School in 1965 and attended Southeast Missouri State University and the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science.

He had worked at the mortuary since 1969, first as an embalmer and then as funeral director. He became president in 1984.

His brother, Tom, the businesss vice president, chuckled when he described Mr. Buchholz as a bear, further explaining that meant he was a staunch advocate for the general consumer.

He said his brother was actively involved in fighting against corruption in the prepaid funeral home industry and fought against a sales tax on funeral burial containers in the state of Missouri.

At the same time, Mr. Buchholz had a gentle approach with families who needed their services.

He was just trying to do the right thing for families and help them out in a difficult time, and always trying to work things out with the family so that they could have what they needed to have, said Tom Buchholz, of Dardenne Prairie.

He had a warm heart for a lot of people.

Mr. Buchholzs youngest daughter, Christina Reveles of Las Vegas, recalled that whenever her father would meet one of his childrens friends or a boyfriend, he would ask questions like they were on a job interview.

He always wanted to know the scoop on everybody. He was very business-oriented, a career man. You would think he was our boss by the way he asked people questions.

Visitation will be from 1-8 p.m. Thursday at Buchholz Mortuary West, 2211 Clarkson Road in Chesterfield. Visitation will resume at 9 a.m. Friday at St. Angela Merici Church, 3860 North Highway 67 in Florissant, until the funeral Mass at 10 a.m.

In addition to Mr. Buchholzs brother, wife and daughter, survivors include his mother, Philomena C. Buchholz of north St. Louis County; two other daughters, Julie Howell of Las Vegas and Jennifer Buchholz of Los Angeles; another brother, Donald Buchholz of Chesterfield; two sisters, Ruth Ann Buchholz-Smith of Washington, Mo., and Cynthia J. Buchholz of Chesterfield; and three grandchildren.
Five-year-old Liam was a hyperactive child, and his doctor thought a dog in the house would help calm him down.

So Liam was delighted when Gotti arrived at his Florissant home. They bonded the first time they saw each other. Gotti jumped and gave him a big kiss, said his mother, Nicole Bray. That night (Gotti) slept in his bed and woke him up in the morning. I knew he was the dog we needed.

Liam had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which made him sometimes act out in anger. He was able to communicate without the anger when he was around Gotti. The dog would know if Liam was getting upset and come over and nudge him, said his mother. He was a completely different kid when Gotti was around.

Gotti, who was named for an East Coast mobster, was actually a gentle dog, good around children, she said.

So, Bray was shocked to find three representatives of the city of Florissant at her door one day in 2011. They told me I had a week to get Gotti a new home. If I didnt, they would take him, and I would be fined, she said.

Since 2005, Florissant has had an ordinance banning pit bulls within city limits. Removing the ordinance has become a cause celebre with dog-loving activists around St. Louis, who have packed meetings of the Florissant City Council.

The council on Monday night took the first step toward ending the ban. The council took public comments on a measure that would lift the restriction and another that would strengthen the citys rules on dangerous dogs. Both were advanced for final action, expected at the councils meeting Feb. 28.

The discussion brought out dozens of residents and advocates dressed in orange to show their support for repealing the ban.

This ban is responsible for ending lives, said Andrea Castleberry of the Florissant Bully Alliance.

She showed the council members photos of pit bulls and asked if they could follow through with killing the banned dogs.

While some advocates say pit bulls are not inherently vicious but are put at risk by negligent owners and poor trainers, others at the meeting alleged pit bulls were stronger and more aggressive than other breeds.

I know that people love their pit bulls, but they are a high risk, said Alan Jones of St. Louis, citing instances of mauling by the breed.

Supporters of the ban said other restrictions should be in place on the breed, including rules governing spaying and neutering, and licensing and registration.

Grace Whitnah said she moved from Florissant four months ago because of the breed restriction. She adopted two pit bulls a couple years ago and said she received an ultimatum from the city regarding her dogs and chose to move.

A Florissant Police Department spokesman said Chief Timothy Lowery supports lifting the pit bull ban so long as the citys dangerous dog ordinance is strengthened. The spokesman could not elaborate on what changes Lowery supports.

Over 700 localities around the United States have passed breed-specific legislation, according to DogsBite.org, an organization that supports banning certain breeds such as pit bulls. Law enforcement officials around the country, including Springfield in southwest Missouri, have reported fewer pit bull attacks over time as a result of such bans.

Among the other breeds that have been targeted for bans in various places are Rottweilers, German shepherds and Doberman pinschers.

But despite the proliferation of such laws in recent decades, a number of organizations focused on animal cruelty, public health and civil rights have opposed or recommended against such laws. They include federal agencies such as the departments of Justice and Housing and Urban Development, which say bans must make exceptions for pit bulls if they are registered service animals.

In 2014, the city of Yakima, Wash., amended its pit bull ban to make exemptions for pit bull service animals. City officials there said not offering the exception could put the city in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The American Bar Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Kennel Club also oppose such laws, according to the Humane Society of the United States, another opponent.

Pit bull advocates say the breed is unfairly maligned. Its reputation for biting stems not from the nature of the dog, but from the behavior of some owners. The breed, known for its muscular build, is a favorite among dog-fight trainers.

Ive met those people  gang members, drug dealers, said Mandy Ryan, who used to be an animal control officer in Columbia, Mo. Every single pit bull that I dealt with that was aggressive, it was the owners fault, she said.

Now Ryan, of Ellisville, helps lead Missouri K9 Friends, an organization trying to overturn ordinances that ban certain breeds of dogs, most often pit bulls. With good owners, pits are friendly dogs, she said.

Florissant has an ordinance against dangerous dogs, and that should be enough, Ryan says.

Ryans group filed Sunshine Law requests for documents from the city of Florissant. They show 38 dog bite reports in Florissant in 2005, the year before the pit bull ban. Of those, pit bull mixes tied with Labrador mixes for the most bites, with five each. By 2015, dog bite reports rose to 82. Pit bulls ranked fourth among biters, with seven bites. Labradors had nine, dachshunds 10 and shepherds bit 15, according to records released by Ryans group.

Florissant seized 201 pit bulls between 2011 and last August. Of those, 164 were killed and seven were returned to their owners. The rest were adopted or given to dog rescue groups.

The political battle over the ordinance is being fought with surveys. Councilman Tom Lee said a survey of Florissant residents last year showed a fairly even split on the pit bull ban.

Ryan says that survey was worded in such a way as to encourage a response against pit bulls. So Ryans group paid to have its own survey done.

In that survey, Florissant residents were told that dog bites had risen sharply since the breed ban was passed and that the top bite offenders were not the banned breeds.

Respondents favored ending the breed ban by 55 percent, with 26 percent opposed and the rest undecided.

Pit bull advocates are placing their hopes in a bill in the Missouri Legislature sponsored by Rep. Bruce DeGroot, R-Chesterfield, that would overturn all municipal breed bans in the state.

When health officials came for Gotti, Bray argued with them, saying that Gotti isnt a pit bull. When Gotti was adopted from a shelter, the vet had pronounced him a bull mastiff.

The health officials werent buying it. To them, Gotti looked like a pit bull. He has that bully head, she said.

Bray couldnt afford a blood test to prove Gottis innocence. So she called a friend who owned a farm and agreed to take the dog. Gotti was banished.

Liam kind of went back into his shell, his mother said. He has another dog now, but its not the same connection.
WENTZVILLE  The Board of Aldermen has expanded the amount of time residents can legally shoot off fireworks around July 4.

Under a bill passed last week, firecrackers and other fireworks items can be used between noon and 11 p.m. July 3 and July 4.

The old city ordinance passed in 2015 allowed legal fireworks use only between 5:30 and 10:30 p.m. on July 4. Before that, the city banned fireworks year-round.

The expanded-hours bill was approved, 4-2, with Aldermen Matt Swanson and Cheryl Kross casting the "no" votes.

In a related move, aldermen last month voted to allow fireworks to be sold in the city from June 25 through July 5.

St. Charles, Dardenne Prairie, Weldon Spring and Cottleville also allow fireworks usage by individuals around Independence Day. So does St. Charles County in its unincorporated areas.

Bans on consumer use of fireworks continue in O'Fallon, St. Peters, Lake Saint Louis, St. Louis and all of St. Louis County. Illinois state law also bans most fireworks.
MANILA  Before Rodrigo Duterte's bloody war on drugs had even begun, allies of the Philippines president were quietly preparing for a wider offensive. On June 30, as Duterte was sworn in, they introduced a bill into the Philippine Congress that could allow children as young as nine to be targeted in a crackdown that has since claimed more than 7,600 lives.

The bill proposes to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 9 years old to prevent what it calls "the pampering of youthful offenders who commit crimes knowing they can get away with it."

"You can ask any policeman or anyone connected with the law enforcement: We produce a generation of criminals," Duterte said in a speech in Manila on Dec. 12. Young children, he said, were becoming drug runners, thieves and rapists, and must be "taught to understand responsibility."

The move to target children signals Duterte's determination to intensify his drug war, which faces outrage abroad and growing unease at home. The president's allies say his support in Congress will ensure the bill passes the House of Representatives by June.

The House would approve the bill "within six months," said Fredenil Castro, who co-authored the legislation with the speaker of the House, Pantaleon Alvarez. It might face opposition in the Senate, but would prevail because of Duterte's allies there, added Castro.

National police chief Ronald Dela Rosa recently announced that he was suspending anti-narcotics operations, which have killed more than 2,500 people, while the force rids itself of corrupt cops. The announcement came after it emerged last month that drug squad officers had killed a South Korean businessman at national police headquarters.

The killing of drug suspects has continued, albeit at a slower pace, with most following the pattern of killings that police have blamed on vigilantes. Human rights monitors believe vigilantes have killed several thousand people and operate in league with the police  a charge the police deny.

Duterte has signaled he intends to continue his drug war. In late January, he said the campaign would run until his presidency ends in 2022.

'In cahoots with drug users'

Lowering the age of criminality was justified, Castro told Reuters, because many children were "in cahoots with drug users, with drug pushers, and others who are related to the drug trade." He said he based his support for the bill on what he saw from his car and at churches  children begging and pickpocketing. "For me, there isn't any evidence more convincing than what I see in every day of my life," he said.

A controversial bill to restore the death penalty, another presidential priority, is also expected to pass the House of Representatives by mid-year, according to Duterte allies in Congress.

Supporters of the bill to lower the age of criminality say holding young children liable will discourage drug traffickers from exploiting them. Opponents, including opposition lawmakers and human rights groups, are appalled at a move they say will harm children without evidence it will reduce crime.

There is also resistance inside Duterte's administration. A member of Duterte's cabinet who heads the Department of Social Welfare and Development opposes the move. And a branch of the police responsible for protecting women and children disputes the claim that children are heavily involved in the drug trade  a claim not supported by official data.

Opponents warn that lowering the age of criminality would further strain a juvenile justice system that is struggling to cope. At worst, they say, with a drug war raging nationwide, the bill could legitimize the killing of minors.

"What will stop them from targeting children?" said Karina Teh, a local politician and child rights advocate in Manila. "They are using the war on drugs to criminalize children."

In the firing line

The drug-war death toll includes at least 29 minors who were either shot by unidentified gunmen or accidentally killed during police operations from July to November 2016, according to the Children's Legal Rights and Development Center (CLRDC) and the Network Against Killings in the Philippines, both Manila-based advocacy groups.

Dela Rosa said the Philippine National Police "fully supports" the new bill. It is "true and supported by data" that minors are used by drug traffickers because they can't be held criminally liable, the police chief said in a submission to the House of Representatives.

Some police officers working on the streets agree with Dela Rosa. In Manila's slums, children as young as six act as lookouts for dealers, shouting "The enemy is coming!" when police approach, said Cecilio Tomas, an anti-narcotics officer in the city. By their early teens, some become delivery boys and then dealers and users, said Tomas.

Salvador Panelo, Duterte's chief legal counsel, said the bill would protect children by stopping criminals from recruiting them. "They will not become targets simply because they will no longer be involved," he said.

Child rights experts say the legislation could put children in the firing line. They point to the deadly precedent set in the southern city of Davao, where Duterte pioneered his hard-line tactics as mayor. The Coalition Against Summary Execution, a Davao-based rights watchdog, documented 1,424 vigilante-style killings in the city between 1998 and 2015. Of those victims, 132 were 17 or younger.

For all but three years during that period, Duterte was either Davao's mayor or vice-mayor. He denied any involvement in the killings.

Contradictory evidence

Althea Barbon was one of the children killed in the current nationwide drug war. The four-year-old was fatally wounded in August when police in an anti-narcotics operation shot at her father, the two Manila-based advocacy groups said. Unidentified gunmen shot dead Ericka Fernandez, 17, in a Manila alley on Oct. 26, police said. Her bloody Barbie doll was collected as evidence. And on Dec. 28, three boys, aged 15 or 16, were killed in Manila by what police said were motorbike-riding gunmen.

If the bill passes, the Philippines won't be the only country where the age of criminality is low. In countries including England, Northern Ireland and Switzerland it is 10, according to the website of the Child Rights International Network, a research and advocacy group. In Scotland, children as young as eight can be held criminally responsible, but the government is in the process of raising the age limit to 12.

Critics of the Philippines' bill say lower age limits are largely found in countries where the legal systems, detention facilities and rehabilitation programs are more developed.

Statistics from the police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the government's top anti-narcotics body, appear to contradict the Duterte camp's claim that there is a large number of young children deeply involved in the drug trade.

There were 24,000 minors among the 800,000 drug users and dealers who had registered with the authorities by November 30, according to police statistics. But less than 2 percent of those minors, or about 400 children, were delivering or selling drugs. Only 12 percent, or 2,815, were aged 15 or younger. Most of the 24,000 minors were listed as drug users.

The number of minors involved in the drug trade is "just a small portion," said Noel Sandoval, deputy head of the Women and Children's Protection Center (WCPC), the police department that compiled the data.

The WCPC is not pushing to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility, said Sandoval, but if the age is to be lowered, his department recommends a minimum age of 12, not 9.

Between January 2011 and July 2016, 956 children aged six to 17 were "rescued nationwide from illegal drug activity," according to PDEA. They were mostly involved with marijuana and crystal methamphetamine, a highly addictive drug also known as shabu, and were handed over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Of these, only 80 were under the age of 15.

More detentions

Asked for evidence that younger children are involved in the drug trade, Duterte's legal counsel Panelo said the president had data from "all intelligence agencies." Panelo declined to disclose those numbers.

Among the opponents of the bill is a member of Duterte's cabinet, Judy Taguiwalo, secretary of the DSWD. The legislation runs counter to scientific knowledge about child development and would result not in lower crime rates but in more children being detained, Taguiwalo wrote in a letter to the House of Representatives in October.

Hidden by a high wall topped with metal spikes, the Valenzuela youth detention center in northern Manila is already operating at twice its capacity. Its 89 boys eat meals in shifts  the canteen can't hold them all at once  and sleep on mats that spill out of the spartan dorms and into the hallways.
Ive heard it scores of times from Americans frightened, angry or depressed about President Trump: What can I do?

I recommend to each of them the same regimen I follow myself: Exercise regularly, spend time with family and drink a quart of Everclear every night.

But such self-care, as the mental-health practitioners call it, only goes so far. For much of America  the majority of the country that did not vote for Donald Trump  the election has brought about whats known as a collective trauma not unlike the 2001 terrorist attacks.

Back then, we stockpiled duct tape, packed go bags and hatched family escape plans  giving us an illusory sense of control over the unimaginable (and, in retrospect, overblown) threats of chemical, biological and radioactive attacks. Now a majority of those on the left, as well as many moderates and conservatives, fear not some unknown terrorist cell but our own president, wary of the calamity he could unleash with his recklessness. One moment hes attacking the federal judiciary; the next moment hes assaulting Australia  or Nordstrom.

The erratic behavior makes millions of people feel powerless and out of control, which leads to anxiety, anger or despair.

But there is a better way. I consulted with leading figures in mobilization  people such as Marshall Ganz, of Cesar Chavez fame, and Harvard Universitys Theda Skocpol  and asked them to propose actions an everyday citizen might take.

We need to shift from a reactive to a strategic response, Ganz says. His solution: Join something. To the extent it brings you into a relationship with others, its worth doing. Unless it has that further dividend, it gets old.

So what to join? My friend Eric Liu, author of the forthcoming book Youre More Powerful Than You Think, says even a book club will do. Thats true, in the long run: The idea is to rebuild structures of civil society, the breakdown of which allowed the demagogic Trump to take root.

But some organizations do more than others to combat Trump. Here, then, are a few illustrative examples  though their inclusion here is not an endorsement, nor should an omission be seen as a demerit.

Organizing. The anti-Trump movement wont be a left-wing tea party. Objections to Trump transcend ideological lines, the left is fractured by identity politics, and there arent many liberal donors who will bankroll resistance the way the Koch brothers funded the tea party. But there are groups that attempt to mobilize: Indivisible. MoveOn. Peoples Action. Center for Community Change. PICO. Center for Popular Democracy. Working Families Party.

Legal. Trump has already tried to stretch his powers beyond the usual limits. The Brennan Center, the ACLU and the Southern Poverty Law Center counter him.

Media. To combat Trumps alternative facts, subscribe to your local newspaper. Contribute to NPR. Even buy the failing New York Times if you must. (Alternatively, you can send your checks to the Dana Milbank Everclear Fund, c/o The Washington Post.)

Labor. Many of the building-trades unions are foolishly hoping Trump will be their friend. But their service- and public-sector brethren  the SEIU, AFSCME, the teachers unions  are bulwarks against him.

Intellectual. Demos, the Roosevelt Institute, the Center for American Progress, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the Kaiser Family Foundation, the Economic Policy Institute and Skocpols Scholars Strategy Network all offer brainpower to counter Trump.

Party. The Democratic National Committee leadership is so weak that it may not be worth your time. But state and county party committees could use help. Skocpol recommends that if you live in a blue state, get your local committee to form a partnership with a party committee in a swing or red state.

Politics. If youd like to run for office, consult your party, or Emilys List (if youre a woman) and train with Wellstone Action. For everybody else, find out where your labors are needed. There are gubernatorial races this year in New Jersey and Virginia. Flippable.org will lead you to important state races. Swingleft.org finds you the nearest congressional swing district in 2018.

Coordination. The left is desperately in need of people to align its identity-politics factions. America Votes and State Voices are attempting, against long odds, to do that.

Join. A church or synagogue, a union, your local Planned Parenthood chapter, the Chamber of Commerce, the Sierra Club, Elks Lodge, Veterans of Foreign Wars or American Legion post: The issue and the ideology dont much matter; what matters is connection.

It is our best hope. That, and a tumbler of Everclear.
What has happened to our powers of discernment and our ability to see these people for what they are, which is that they care nothing for us?
When President Donald Trump nominated St. Louis Andy Puzder to serve as the secretary of labor, it was a slap in the face to millions of working people in this country. On the Washington University campus, it hit especially hard.

Why? Not only is Puzder the chief executive of the parent company of Hardees and Carls Jr., fast-food restaurant chains long associated with paying people as little as possible and in many instances breaking the law by failing to pay cooks and cashiers for hours they worked, but he is also a graduate of the Washington University School of Law. He currently serves on the law schools National Council and is a donor to the university.

From our perspective as working people at Washington University  one of us an adjunct faculty member for 19 years and the other a janitor for more than 22 years  we have serious concerns about Puzders nomination.

While it may seem unlikely, we have a lot in common with the tens of thousands of underpaid workers in St. Louis and tens of millions of workers nationwide  including the cooks and cashiers at Puzders restaurants  all of us struggling to make ends meet and create a better life for our families.

We live in the kind of economy that Puzder wants to maintain  one in which workers are underpaid, have few benefits and little stability, and are constantly threatened by outsourcing or automation. It is also an economy rigged for those at the top, who make millions and do not even have to play by the most basic rules: Puzder even admitted he failed to pay taxes for five years for a housekeeper employed by his family, all while he rakes in millions.

Janitors and adjunct faculty understand the challenges that all underpaid workers face. But as union members, we also know that we are stronger when we come together with our co-workers for a better future. Last year, adjunct faculty negotiated our first contract with the university after we joined Service Employees International Union Local 1. Our contract guarantees increased wages, good benefits and the stability that many working families in our rigged economy do not have. Washington U. janitors have been able to bargain for fair pay and benefits as members of Local 1. We have a voice on the job, but Puzder wants to silence working people like us.

Puzder knows full well how so much of our economy is built on underpaid jobs. Because his restaurant franchises keep pay so low, taxpayers have to put up $247 million per year to cover public benefits to help employees families make it week to week. Puzder does not have workers best interests at heart, but Trump has nominated him to run the federal agency charged with keeping American workers safe, ensuring they dont face discrimination or wage theft, and promoting good jobs.

This conflict explains why his nomination feels so shocking to us at Washington U. and so disappointing to us personally.

Like millions of others since Trumps inauguration, working people at Washington U. are standing together and speaking up. We joined Hardees employees  as well as retail workers, security officers and hundreds of others in the Fight for $15 movement  outside the Hardees chains division headquarters downtown on Monday.

We were there to make clear that no matter what Puzder claims to do for the university where he studied or the city he used to call home, his actions betray the working people who keep his businesses  and his alma mater  running. Painful as it is to say, this high-profile representative of Washington U. is the last person who should be running the Department of Labor.

Ruth Berson is an adjunct faculty member and Patricia Kinsey is a janitor at Washington University in St. Louis. Both are members of SEIU Local 1.
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Latest data shows around 8500 more Bay of Plenty DHB patients have received a First Specialist Assessment since 2008.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says increasing access to specialist care is a key priority.

The answer to increased demand is to do more, whether its assessments or operations, and thats what the Government is focused on delivering," he says.

"In the Bay of Plenty DHB 29,941 patients received a FSA last year, compared to 21,423 patients in 2008 - an increase of 40 per cent.

"Across the country 552,423 patients received a FSA in 2016, a rise of almost 10,000 on the previous year. Thats an increase of 147,912 patients since 2008 when 404,511 FSAs were carried out - a rise of 37 per cent.

He says the uplift has been accompanied by a continuing increase in the number of people receiving elective surgery.

"These results are supported by the $202 million funding increase Bay of Plenty DHB has received over the last eight years. Bay of Plenty DHB will receive an extra $32 million in new money this year, taking the DHBs total funding to $718 million for 2016/17.

"Overall an extra $568 million is being invested into the health sector this year - the biggest single increase in seven years - taking the health budget to a record $16.1 billion in 2016/17."

The Government launched the National Patient Flow project to measure the outcomes of GP referrals to hospital specialists for the first time.

The latest data shows between April and June 2016, there were around 177,400 referrals across the country for a FSA - 87 per cent of referrals were accepted.

First Specialist Assessments are defined into two categories:

- Surgical FSAs are for patients whose condition is managed by a surgeon, for example - orthopaedics, general surgery, ophthalmology.

- Medical FSAs are for patients whose condition is managed by a physician, for example - cardiology, respiratory, renal.
The New Zealand Defence Force has sent at least 20 experienced firefighters, backed by state-of-the art firefighting equipment, to help battle scrub fires in Canterbury and Hawkes Bay.

Two additional teams comprising about 12 NZDF firefighters were dispatched this morning to help get the fire at Waimarama Road near Havelock North under control.

They have joined the six firefighters who were deployed last night.

Sergeant Ben Lockton, who is leading the NZDFs firefighting crew in Hastings, said the initial crew of six  five from the New Zealand Army and one from the Royal New Zealand Air Force  helped local firefighters for more than 12 hours after arriving last night.

We were directly involved in fighting the fire and on many occasions were only about 20-50 metres away from the flames. We stayed vigilant because there were big balls of fire as some treetops were engulfed in flames.

There was a lot of smoke and it was pretty hot. We had brief breaks throughout the night so we could have a quick bite and drink heaps of water. Once we get a few hours rest well be ready to go back to work.

Three of the Armys new detachable fire pods were being used at Hastings, says Ben.

The pod can be transported on a variety of vehicles and uses an ultra-high-pressure hose with a pointed nozzle that can pierce the ground and douse burning roots.

In Christchurch, three two-member firefighting crews from the Army have been dispatched to help battle a large bush fire that started hills on Monday evening.

Staff Sergeant Jared Davidson, the Fire Master at Burnham Military Camp, said when it was seen how fast the fire was spreading help was offered immediately to the local fire authorities.

We are ready to assist for the next two to three days at this stage, says Jared.
UPDATED 7.40AM: A five-year-old girl who went missing from her Hamilton home overnight has been found safe and well.

Police say she was located this morning and is being reunited with her family.

"Police would like to thank everyone who reported possible sightings of the missing girl as well as those who expressed their concern and support for her family."

EARLIER:

A five-year-old girl has gone missing from her Hamilton home overnight.

Gloria Inoke went missing around 6.30pm on Tuesday.

She is believed to have walked off in the Ross Crescent, Fairfield area, northeast of central Hamilton.

She is described as Polynesian, olive-tanned skinned, with curly black-coloured hair.

At the time she was last seen, Gloria was wearing a grey t-shirt over a pink t-shirt and had blue trousers on, says police.

Anyone who lives in Fairfield, particularly in the Ross Crescent, Holland Road or Heaphy Terrace areas, should thoroughly check their entire properties and surrounding areas for possible sightings.

Waikato police Senior Sergeant Robbie Hermann says police, along with family and many residents, had searched the surrounding neighbourhoods and parks throughout the night.

There had been no sightings or evidence of Gloria.

The search is ongoing today. Search and Rescue have been out overnight and will keep going this morning.

We have had heaps of members of the public looking all over the place but there is no sign of her.

At this stage there was no evidence of foul play, but police could not rule anything out until they find out what has happened to her, says Robbie.

"We ask that residents check around their own properties and report any sightings."

It appeared there had been some confusion among her parents as to who had Glory on Tuesday evening, he says.

"It looks like it was a couple of hours before she was reported missing - as soon as they realised she was missing it was reported but by then it was a few hours."

Any sightings or information on her whereabouts should be reported immediately to 111.

-Additional reporting from Stuff.co.nz
New Zealanders can be confident theyre filling up their tanks with good quality fuel, according to a fuel testing report released by Trading Standards.

MBIE Trading Standards manager Stephen OBrien says while the fuel industry completes its own testing, MBIE carries out independent testing of petrol, diesel and biofuels to give consumers added peace of mind.

Trading Standards tested fuel from 115 service stations across New Zealand between July 2015 and June 2016, sampling directly from the fuel pump to ensure the fuel was the same fuel going into consumers cars.

As a result of collaboration with the fuel industry across the year, the rate of suspect fuel samples decreased to eight this year, two fewer than the previous year. Upon further analysis all samples were found to be within tolerance levels.

On the whole, our testing found fuel sold within New Zealand was of a good quality and compliant with specifications prescribed in the regulations. Trading Standards will continue our collaborative work with the fuel industry to maintain this quality for future years.

Consumers expect quality fuel when filling up at the bowser and in New Zealand, our tests show these expectations are being met.

The Fuel Monitoring Programmes Test Results 2015-16 is a technical report written for fuel industry experts, and is part of an ongoing statistically-based testing programme of New Zealands 1,200 service stations. The full report is available at www.consumerprotection.govt.nz/tradingstandards/fuel-quality
Colleagues and directors from Prensa Malaguena, as well as friends and family, came together at the AC Malaga Palacio hotel last week in recognition of the work of Liz Parry, SUR in English's retired former editor.

Director general Jose Luis Romero, editor in chief Manuel Castillo and director of publications Pedro Luis Gomez all spoke in praise of the work carried out by Liz during more 30 years with the company, much of which she served as editor.

In the presence of retired former colleagues, such as Eve Browne and Kate Rayner, Liz was then presented with a sculpture, a designer handbag and a specially-made SUR in English front page to mark the occasion.

Liz, who has recently been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) by Queen Elizabeth II, said: "There are so many much-loved people here, I've had a ball."
Last month I heard for the first time about the so-called 'Gastronomic Olympics', a biannual competition known as the Bocuse d'Or. Started in 1987 by the great French chef Paul Bocuse, the more I looked into it the more it seemed to be a commercial carve-up masquerading as a world-beating cookery challenge.

There are three stages, the first being to choose the chef who will represent his country. In the latest contest, Juan Manuel Salgado Dominguez, of Restaurant La Plassohla (Hotel Ohla, Barcelona) beat all other Spanish comers with two typical national dishes involving trout and roast lamb.

It is worth mentioning that Spanish competitors for this mega-cook-off have always complained about lack of support at national and regional level. While cooks from other countries get all their expenses covered, and in some cases even receive payment for taking part, Spanish contenders have to find their own sponsors and frequently have had trouble paying for the ingredients they use.

Salgado went on to the European phase in Budapest, where, in deference to the host country, the dishes to be judged were sturgeon with its caviar and red deer. Salgado was fortunate in finding a backer who paid for the caviar he used! The chef from the host country won (surprise!), and runners-up were Sweden, France, Singapore, Germany, China, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, Finland, Denmark, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Norway, USA, Morocco and Iceland. Spain, as always, was nowhere.

At the final last month, held customarily in Bocuse's Lyon, the designated dish was Bresse chicken with shellfish, hardly the most imaginative gastronomic creation, but typical of the region and sponsored by the Bresse chicken producers' consortium. USA, Norway and Iceland got the prizes, in that order. Worth mentioning is that in the 15 versions of the Bocuse d'Or, Norway has won five times and France eight. Spain has never made the final. Perhaps with sponsors like Pommery, San Pellegrino, Wagyu, Dubouef, Laroche, Villeroy & Bosch, Renault and Nespresso etc, Spain is not exactly the country that the organisers want to see on the winner's podium.
New York Fashion Week 2017

Jeremy Meeks, the model who was referred to as "the hot felon," poses backstage before the Philipp Plein fashion show, Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, in New York. (

(The Associated Press)

Remember the "hot mugshot guy?" Jeremy Meeks, also known as the "hot convict" and the "sexy felon," made his runway debut at New York Fashion Week.

The 33-year-old blue-eyed hunk was one of several models designer Philipp Plein had walk in his show Monday night on day 5 of the bi-annual fashion event.

Jeremy Meeks, the model who was referred to as "the hot felon," walks in the Philipp Plein fashion show, Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, in New York.

Meeks became an internet sensation in 2014 when his police booking photo went viral. His piercing blue eyes and chiseled jawline inspired memes with phrases like "Mugshot McDreamy" and "Wanted: In Bed and Alive."

Three years later, the New York Daily News reports he lived up to the hype when he modeled black pants and a black puffer coat with a fur hood at Philipp Plein's NYFW show Monday night. Backstage, the 33-year-old hunk also posed shirtless, showing off his tattoos and muscles while wearing sweatpants pulled down low enough to show his Philipp Plein boxers.

Celebrities who witnessed Meeks' runway debut included Madonna, Kylie Jenner, Tiffany Trump, Paris Hilton, Shay Mitchell, Taylor Hill and rappers Fat Joe and Tyga.

"Big thanks to @philippplein78 for believing in me... Last night was epic !!!" Meeks wrote on Instagram Tuesday.

Meeks was released from prison in March 2016 after serving a 27-month sentence on a felony weapons conviction. He was arrested two years earlier in a gang sweep by Stockton, California Police; when the department posted his mugshot on Facebook, the photo went viral as women (and men) swooned for the smooth criminal.

He signed a modeling contract behind bars and continued to keep fit, vowing to turn his life around for his wife and three children. The couple celebrated their 8th wedding anniversary six weeks ago.

"I want to thank my family and everybody for all your love, support and prayers. I'm overwhelmed and grateful for what lies ahead," Meeks told fans last year.

See more photos from NY Fashion Week 2017:
SIDNEY, N.Y. -- A Delaware County couple is facing felony charges after authorities said they sexually abused a child, State Police announced today.

Authorities uncovered the abuse while investigating a child pornography complaint, they said.

Justin D. Crandall

Troopers in Binghamton received a complaint about child pornography on Saturday, officials said. An investigation soon led to Justin D. Crandall, 28, of Sidney.

Crandall had sent sexually explicit pictures of a child to another person, state police said.

He was charged with first-degree rape and promoting sexual performance of a child, both felonies, along with endangering the welfare of a child and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both misdemeanors.

First-degree rape is brought against someone when one of the parties is younger than 11 years old, when one of the parties is younger than 13 and the other is over age 18, when one person is unconscious or otherwise physically helpless, or when physical force or threats are used, according to state law.

Jessica L. Crandall

A few days after Crandall's arrest, State Police arrested his wife, Jessica L. Crandall, 27. Authorities discovered Jessica Crandall had sexually abused a child younger than 11 years old, police said.

Jessica Crandall was arrested Tuesday for first-degree criminal sex act, a felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.

Authorities declined to say if the Crandalls abused the same child, give an exact age, or say how long the abuse is believed to have gone on for.

Their goal is to try and minimize harm to and protect the privacy of children involved in sex abuse cases, said Nathan Riegal, a spokesman for the State Police.

The two were arraigned in the Village of Sidney Court and are being held in Delaware County Jail.
Fleury1.jpg

Marie H. Fleury, 64, was beaten to death on Oct. 17, 2002, in her 3835 State Route 37, Westville, home. Her murder remains unsolved.

(New York State Police)

Marie H. Fleury, 64, of 3835 State Route 37, Westville, was beaten to death in her home on Oct. 17, 2002. As of February 2017, her murder remained unsolved.

WESTVILLE, N.Y. -- An Adirondacks man left his wife at home in October 2002 and went to a tavern.

It was the last time he would see his wife alive, said the New York State Police.

Marie H. Fleury, 64, was beaten to death on Oct. 17, 2002, inside her Franklin County home. Nearly 15 years later, troopers said her murder remains unsolved.

Robert Jay Fleury left Marie Fleury, his wife, at home around 4:15 p.m., troopers said. The couple lived at 3835 State Route 37 in Westville, about four miles south of the Canadian border.

Robert Fleury went to the Le Cordon Bleu Tavern in Trout River, troopers said. When he came home around 7:30 p.m., his wife was dead.

Marie H. Fleury, 64, was beaten to death on Oct. 17, 2002, in her 3835 State Route 37, Westville, home. Her murder remains unsolved.

Marie Fleury died of a head injury, troopers said. A hammer was found nearby, reported WCAX-TV.

Investigators previously said Marie Fleury may have been killed by people who were attempting to steal from her home, reported the Watertown Daily Times.

A $25,000 reward has been offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for Marie Fleury's death, troopers said. The reward was created through donations from "several parties," troopers said.

Troopers asked anyone with information about the homicide to call (518) 897-2000.
crime icon.jpg

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A Syracuse woman admitted today that she used a 10-year-old girl to produce child pornography.

Kerry Smith, 41, pleaded guilty in federal court to sexual exploitation of a child. She was arrested last year on charges of producing the images then texting them to another child pornographer, Jason Kopp.

Kopp, 40, of Liverpool, was sentenced to 235 years in prison in September for sexually exploiting two children for the purpose of making child pornography.

Kopp pleaded guilty in May to taking sexually explicit photos of two children with help from an aide at All Saints Elementary School in Syracuse. Neither of those victims was a student at the school.

The aide, Emily Oberst, is accused of exploiting those two victims, plus a third who was a student at the school and photographed naked in a bathroom, sources have told Syracuse.com.

The charges against Oberst are pending.

After Kopp was arrested in March, he told investigators he'd received sexually explicit images of a child from a woman he knew only as "Kerry B," court papers said.

Investigators determined the woman was Smith by examining Kopp's phone. They confronted her and she admitted she'd produced the photos and texted them to Kopp, court papers said.

Smith was accused in April of sending multiple photos of a naked 10-year-old girl to Kopp, including pictures of her genitalia, according to a federal grand jury indictment.

Smith faces at least 15 years in prison and up to 30 years. U.S. District Judge Glenn Suddaby scheduled sentencing for June 13.
Julia Gats would never say she was the best Irish step dancer. She always made it to the world competition, but she never came close to winning. So when a friend convinced her to audition for "Riverdance" while they were in Ireland, she never expected to get a call offering her the job.

And she almost missed the call, completely. Gats saw on her phone that she'd missed a call from an Irish number. She thought it was a pizza delivery or a wrong number, and couldn't get the voicemail to work.

Then she saw an email from the person she auditioned for, asking for a better phone number because he was having trouble reaching her. She called him back and he offered her a contract.

That was 2014. Gats was stunned.

When Gats and the rest of the "Riverdance" cast comes to Syracuse Feb. 28, she'll be dancing the lead female role. The show, produced by Famous Artists Broadway in Syracuse, will be in town through March 2.

Gats, 23, was offered the lead in the show in summer 2015, but she needed surgery for an ankle injury and couldn't take over the role until she healed.

Gats got her start in Irish dancing the same way many others have: her mom signed her up for Irish dance lessons when she was 6. At first, she recalled, she didn't really like it, but her mom had her stick with it.

"I was hooked a few months in," Gats said.

She competed for years, always doing well. Gats went to college at Gonzaga University for two years, then went to Ireland in the summer of 2014 to an Irish dance training program. That's when she auditioned.

"I'm from this tiny dance school in Seattle. I wasn't a world champion name," Gats said.

One of the hardest things about Irish step dancing is moving your feet so fast while keeping your upper body still. Where did that part of the dance style come from? Gats isn't sure. One theory is that at some point somewhere in Ireland, dancing had been outlawed. So people avoided being caught by prying eyes by keeping their upper bodies still while their feet danced like lightning.

Her advice to young dancers? If "Riverdance" is your goal, don't count it out.

"I never would have thought that I could make it," Gats said.

Marnie Eisenstadt writes about people, life and culture in Central New York. Contact her anytime: email | twitter | Facebook | 315-470-2246
509557490

(Brian.A.Jackson)

Abingdon, Virginia--A federal judge in Virginia sentenced a Skaneateles businessman Monday for packaging an anabolic steroid as a "nutritional supplement" when it was a dangerous drug, federal officials said.



U.S. District Judge James P. Jones sentenced Matthew Greacen, 50, the former president and owner of Nature's Chemistry, LLC, 4022 Mills Road, Skaneateles, to probation and ordered him to forefeit $55,000.



He and company vice president James W. Mills were accused of manufacturing capsules of Superdrol, an anabolic steroid, and packaging them into 44,982 bottles at the Skaneateles company in 2011.



The two were part of an operation involving several other people that illegally imported raw drug powder from China to the Danville, Virginia area, the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Western District of Virginia said. The powders were shipped to various locations around the United States, including Skaneateles.

The illegal product contained methasterone, commonly known as Superdrol, which the government said in its indictment is a "designer steroid." The product was illegally marketed as a nutritional supplement when, in fact, it was a dangerous drug, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Anabolic steroids are used to build up muscle. Some athletes and bodybuilders abuse the drugs to boost performance or improve their physical appearance.



Greacen pleaded guilty in November to misbranding a drug and impeding the Food and Drug Administration in its function of regulating drugs. Judge Jones sentenced Greacen to two years probation, including four months that he will spend confined to his home, and ordered him to forfeit the $55,000.



Mills, 50, also of Skaneateles and a former Syracuse Police detective, pleaded guilty in September to misbranding and impeding the FDA's investigation into the drug. He was sentenced by Judge Jones on Jan.9, to two years probation and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.



Mills who pleaded guilty in 2009 to perjury and resigned from the Syracuse Police Department. As part of the plea agreement with the federal government, Mills agreed to an enhancement in his sentencing guideline level for obstruction of justice based on his false testimony before a federal grand jury, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.



Mills falsely testified about his knowledge of Superdrol and the large cash payment involved in the deal, the office said. He also falsely testified that he had retired on good terms from the Syracuse Police Department when, in fact, he resigned pursuant to plea negotiations concerning another perjury investigation, the office said.

Contact Charley Hannagan anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-2161.
NYSYR-20141007-103604-Howie.JPG

Howie Hawkins meets with the Syracuse.com editorial board on Oct. 6, 2014.

(Marie Morelli | mmorelli@syracus)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Add the Green Party to the list of political entities critical of a plan to merge city and county governments.

Chairman Howie Hawkins authored a 1,500-word statement on behalf of the Green Party that champions many of Consensus' recommendations while arguing that the proposed metropolitan government isn't comprehensive enough.

"The city is reduced to a special tax district to pay on its debts and underfunded schools," Hawkins wrote. "Schools and public housing remain segregated from the rest of the county, which has the the most 'concentrated' (i.e., segregated) poverty of any metro region in the nation. This is the consolidation of segregation."

Hawkins said Tuesday he is planning to run for Syracuse mayor this fall, though the party is still working out its final ticket. He has previously run for mayor, governor, U.S. Senate and the Syracuse Common Council.

Hawkins said Central New York needs a metropolitan government, and called for a "federated model" instead of the "partial metro" model proposed by Consensus.

Consensus last week unveiled a plan that would dissolve the city and county governments and replace them with a single city-county executive and a 33-member legislature. The plan was met with criticism from Mayor Stephanie Miner and several mayoral candidates.

Under the current proposal, city residents lose their local government while towns and villages remain untouched, Hawkins said. His proposed model suggests creating neighborhood governments throughout the city that would operate similar to Tomorrow's Neighborhood Today groups but with budgetary powers.

Such neighborhood governments would increase residents' engagement in budgeting and decision-making as well as voter turnout Hawkins said Tuesday.

"I've seen this in New England where I lived for 22 years," he said. "In New England when there's a problem it's, 'What are we going to do about it?" In New York, it's, 'What are they going to do about it?'"

Hawkins also echoed calls for including the school districts in any consolidation plan. Omitting them, he said, would consolidate segregation. From his statement:

"Only a metropolitan government can overcome existing municipal and school district borderlines that - intentionally or not - enforce race and class segregation in housing, schools, and job and business opportunities. But that kind of metro government requires a metropolitan school district and metro-wide policies to enforce fair housing, inclusionary zoning, and equal employment and business opportunities."

Hawkins said he and the Green Party supports Consensus' 49 other recommendations for consolidating services, with two areas of concern. First, a metropolitan police force should come with a Citizen Review Board, like the one that exists in the city. Second, court juries should have peers drawn from individual municipalities, not the county as a whole.

Hawkins outlined additional questions about a merger, including what will happen to some laws that exist in the city but not the county. The city, for example, has residency requirements for contractors that don't exist for the county.

He also said that the most effective way to lower property taxes is through decreasing the burden of state mandates on local municipalities.
Michael Flynn

In this Feb. 1, 2017, file photo, National Security Adviser Michael Flynn speaks during the daily news briefing at the White House, in Washington. Flynn resigned as President Donald Trump's national security adviser Monday, Feb. 13, 2017.

(Carolyn Kaster / AP)

Eli Lake is a Bloomberg View columnist. He was the senior national security correspondent for the Daily Beast and covered national security and intelligence for the Washington Times, the New York Sun and UPI.



By Eli Lake | Bloomberg View



If we are to believe the Trump White House, National Security Adviser Michael Flynn just resigned because he lied about his conversations with Russia's ambassador to the vice president. As White House senior counselor Kellyanne Conway told NBC's "Today Show" on Tuesday: "Misleading the vice president really was the key here."



That sounds about as credible as when the president told CIA employees that the media had invented the story about his enmity toward the spy agency, not even two weeks after he had taken to Twitter to compare the CIA to Nazis. It's about as credible as President Donald Trump's insistence that it didn't rain during his inauguration. Or that millions of people had voted illegally in the election he just won.



The point here is that for a White House that has such a casual and opportunistic relationship with the truth, it's strange that Flynn's "lie" to Pence would get him fired. It doesn't add up.



It's not even clear that Flynn lied. He says in his resignation letter that he did not deliberately leave out elements of his conversations with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak when he recounted them to Vice President Mike Pence. The New York Times and Washington Post reported that the transcript of the phone call reviewed over the weekend by the White House could be read different ways. One White House official with knowledge of the conversations told me that the Russian ambassador raised the sanctions to Flynn and that Flynn responded that the Trump team would be taking office in a few weeks and would review Russia policy and sanctions. That's neither illegal nor improper.



What's more, the Washington Post reported Monday night that last month Sally Yates, then the acting attorney general, had informed the White House that Flynn discussed sanctions with Kislyak and that he could be susceptible to blackmail because he misled Pence about it. If it was the lie to Pence that sunk Flynn, why was he not fired at the end of January?



A better explanation here is that Flynn was just thrown under the bus. His tenure as national security adviser, the briefest in U.S. history, was rocky from the start. When Flynn was attacked in the media for his ties to Russia, he was not allowed by the White House to defend himself. Over the weekend, he was instructed not to speak to the press when he was in the fight for his political life. His staff was not even allowed to review the transcripts of his call to the Russian ambassador.



There is another component to this story as well -- as Trump himself just tweeted: "The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington? Will these leaks be happening as I deal on N.Korea etc?"



It's very rare that reporters are ever told about government-monitored communications of U.S. citizens, let alone senior U.S. officials. The last story like this to hit Washington was in 2009 when Jeff Stein, then of CQ, reported on intercepted phone calls between a senior Aipac lobbyist and Jane Harman, who at the time was a Democratic member of Congress.



Normally intercepts of U.S. officials and citizens are some of the most tightly held government secrets. This is for good reason. Selectively disclosing details of private conversations monitored by the FBI or NSA gives the permanent state the power to destroy reputations from the cloak of anonymity. This is what police states do.



In the past it was considered scandalous for senior U.S. officials to even request the identities of U.S. officials incidentally monitored by the government (normally they are redacted from intelligence reports). John Bolton's nomination to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations was derailed in 2006 after the NSA confirmed he had made 10 such requests when he was Undersecretary of State for Arms Control in George W. Bush's first term. The fact that the intercepts of Flynn's conversations with Kislyak appear to have been widely distributed inside the government is a red flag.



Rep. Devin Nunes, the Republican chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, told me Monday that he saw the leaks about Flynn's conversations with Kislyak as part of a pattern. "There does appear to be a well orchestrated effort to attack Flynn and others in the administration," he said. "From the leaking of phone calls between the president and foreign leaders to what appears to be high-level FISA Court information, to the leaking of American citizens being denied security clearances, it looks like a pattern."



Nunes said he was going to bring this up with the FBI, and ask the agency to investigate the leak and find out whether Flynn himself is a target of a law enforcement investigation. The Washington Post reported last month that Flynn was not the target of an FBI probe.



The background here is important. Three people once affiliated with Trump's presidential campaign -- Carter Page, Paul Manafort and Roger Stone -- are being investigated by the FBI and the intelligence community for their contacts with the Russian government. This is part of a wider inquiry into Russia's role in hacking and distributing emails of leading Democrats before the election.



Flynn himself traveled in 2015 to Russia to attend a conference put on by the country's propaganda network, RT. He has acknowledged he was paid through his speaker's bureau for his appearance. That doesn't look good, but it's also not illegal in and of itself. All of this is to say there are many unanswered questions about Trump's and his administration's ties to Russia.



But that's all these allegations are at this point: unanswered questions. It's possible that Flynn has more ties to Russia that he had kept from the public and his colleagues. It's also possible that a group of national security bureaucrats and former Obama officials are selectively leaking highly sensitive law enforcement information to undermine the elected government.



Flynn was a fat target for the national security state. He has cultivated a reputation as a reformer and a fierce critic of the intelligence community leaders he once served with when he was the director the Defense Intelligence Agency under President Barack Obama. Flynn was working to reform the intelligence-industrial complex, something that threatened the bureaucratic prerogatives of his rivals.



He was also a fat target for Democrats. Remember Flynn's breakout national moment last summer was when he joined the crowd at the Republican National Convention from the dais calling for Hillary Clinton to be jailed.



In normal times, the idea that U.S. officials entrusted with our most sensitive secrets would selectively disclose them to undermine the White House would alarm those worried about creeping authoritarianism. Imagine if intercepts of a call between Obama's incoming national security adviser and Iran's foreign minister leaked to the press before the nuclear negotiations began? The howls of indignation would be deafening.



In the end, it was Trump's decision to cut Flynn loose. In doing this he caved in to his political and bureaucratic opposition. Nunes told me Monday night that this will not end well. "First it's Flynn, next it will be Kellyanne Conway, then it will be Steve Bannon, then it will be Reince Priebus," he said. Put another way, Flynn is only the appetizer. Trump is the entree.
Phil Merkel of Bridgeport comes across the ice on his snowmobile onto Cooper's Landing in Bridgeport on the south of Oneida Lake Saturday afternoon. Jim Commentucci / The Post Standard

In this 2010 photo, a lone snowmobiler rides on Oneida Lake.

(Jim Commentucci)

It's been a deadly year for Upstate New York snowmobilers - particularly for those riding over frozen bodies of water.

"Clearly, there's something weird about this winter," said Dominic Jacangelo, executive director of the New York State Snowmobile Association. "So far, we've had a total of 18 (snow mobile-related) fatalities. Ten of them were on lakes and (of those) six were drownings."

Just this past weekend there were five incidents that appear to be fatals, Jacangelo said. Two were on Lake Champlain, one on Black Lake and two on Conesus Lake. For the two riders in the later incident, their helmets were found, but not their bodies have not been recovered at this point.

"The New York State Snowmobile Association is advising all snowmobilers to stay off frozen bodies of water. They are not safe this year," he said."

What's up?

"We've had cold nights, but overall it's been relatively warm this winter. The larger bodies of water have not frozen over," Jacangelo said. "You get some ice, but then you get snow cover, which ends of insulating the ice. The ice never ends up freezing solid. You end up getting a shallow ice cover. It may look fine, but it's not."

"Remember those rains in January? Those rains were disastrous for lakes freezing over," he said. "They introduced more warm water into the lakes. As a result, it takes more time (for the ice) to freeze solid."

Ted Decker, owner of Ted's Bait Shop at the northern end of Conesus Lake, said the past three years have been "kind of shady" for ice formation on that western Finger Lake.

"This year, it's gone back and forth. We've never really gotten a good hard base. The anglers often can't get out over the deep water to fish for walleyes," he said.

Decker said he knew one of the missing snowmobiler riders from the incident this weekend, which occurred during the night. "They went way out from the northern end (which is frozen over). They were right out to the cusp. It's pretty thin out there," he said.

Told about the 10 lake-related fatals, Decker said some of it may be lack of education and knowledge about safe conditions for snowmobiling - or for some, a false sense of security about the thickness of the ice.

According to the state Department of Environmental Conservation, safe ice for snowmobilers and ATV riders is 5 inches or thicker. That's not the case this year.

Saturday, two ice fisherman on Chaumont Bay had a section of 8-inch thick ice break away into Lake Ontario when they were fishing. One got off. The other was stranded on the ice with his snowmobile and had to be rescued by volunteers from the Clayton Volunteer Fire Department. (See video below shot by the stranded angler)

The snowmobile the two anglers used to get out of the ice was left behind.

Decker said this winter the ice keeps freezing, coming back and then melting again.

"It's not really good black ice. It's punky, with soft spots -- air pockets. In most cases, it never really sets well," he said.

Another factor, said James Rolf, statewide trail coordinator for the New York State Snowmobile Association is that drought-like conditions this past summer result in low water levels on a number of North Country Lakes.

The result this winter on some waterways, he said, is that you have a lot more rocks or rock piles that above the water level than usual, creating dangerous hazards when covered with snow. Of the 10 fatals on lakes this winter, four of them involve sledders hitting rocks while driving along.

Randy Jackson, senior research associate and associate director of the Cornell Biological Field Station at Shackelton Point, said typically Oneida Lake freezes over in early or mid-January and breaks up in early April. Not this year.

"The amount of ice coverage this year is well below average," he said, adding on most days this winter there has been open water on the lake.

"We've had a series of freezes, followed by breakups of the ice," he added. Factors include multiple warm fronts accompanied by winds, which prevent ice buildup.

Jacangelo said the NYS Snowmobile Association issued a warming earlier this winter on its Facebook page to its members to stay off frozen waterways.

"We plan to do it again this week," he said.

See the lastest update on all the snowmobile-related fatalities in Upstate New York so far this winter.
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Uprasenjit BHPian



Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Ipswich, UK Posts: 201 Thanked: 962 Times

Compact SUVs road-trip from Kolkata to North Sikkim - 17,800 ft!



In 2010 I visited North Sikkim for the first time, with my college friends. I used to ride a bike then and from that time I dreamt about riding to North Sikkim. Time has passed and I shifted from bikes to cars, but the dream was still there. Many people have been to Leh and other places but very few could manage to North Sikkim. And to be honest I hardly know 2 or 3 guys who has done the full circuit in their cars. Not because its tough, because Sikkimese Govt doesnt allow private vehicles. But they do allows bikers. So cheer up if you want to ride !!!



I am always attracted to Sikkim in an unknown way. There are plenty to places you can visit in Sikkim, but the northern part has a different charm. And in January-February there are high chances you will get snow on the way. I almost lost hope few years back when I heard that private cars aren't allowed. However this time we managed to get permits till Lachen and Lachung and with some luck we could manage till Zero Point and Gurudongmar.



The plan for North Sikkim started when I was in Ipswich. Like all other plans many people showed interest initially. But as time went on only few people remained. Others had some other priorities and I am sure they missed this road trip very much. This time we used the holidays of 23rd and 26th. Our plan was of 5 days but you can extend it to 7 days if you want. You wont get bored of Sikkim. Finally 9 people where ready to go. Some of them were old friends.



Kolkata - Mangan - Lachung - We started at 00:00 hours from Dankuni toll. Arony, Dip and Sinjini honored us by seeing us off at the toll plaza. Right now the Burdwan-Morgram route is the fastest and in good condition. The route crosses many small towns and villages and at night the route is almost empty. We reached Siliguri by 9 in the morning and then headed towards Mangan. Our plan was to stay at Mangan that night and arrange for permits next morning.

















Permits for North Sikkim are given from Gangtok and Mangan. And after lot of research we found out that getting permit from Mangan is comparatively easier. Once you enter North Sikkim the road condition deteriorates rapidly. We reached Mangan in the evening. Next day (Tuesday) early morning we went to Mangan District office and submitted all of our documents. The district office opens at 10am. Our permit was granted after few hiccups. As I said Sikkim Govt doesnt allow private vehicles towards North so getting permit is not an easy task. Luckily we got ours but our permit was till Lachen and Lachung only.



On Tuesday noon after having lunch we headed towards Lachung. One can get a good view of Kanchendzonga from Mangan if the weather is clear. We were lucky enough to get that view. The picture doesn't do justice to what we saw.





























The first checkpost is after Mangan. At the check post we showed our permits and gave them a copy. Mangan to Lachung took us 5 hours including breaks. We stopped several times for tea, pee and sometime when the surrounding was scenic. The entire route is very much scenic. At Lachung we booked a homestay (

























Lachung - Yumthang - Zero Point- Lachung - Lachen- We were told we wont be able to go beyond Lachung, so we had to wake up early to go to the next check post and convince the army officers and take our chances. At the checkpost we didnt had to convince much. This is an off-season so there were less amount of tourists. That helped us to get past those check posts. But they warned us to drive carefully and not to push our cars too much as there could be snow on the way. Finally we were on our way to Yumthang, one of the main places to visit in North Sikkim. For those who dont know what Yumthang is - It is a valley in North Sikkim and known as valley of flowers. It is at 11000 ft from sea level. If you visit Yumthang at the right time which is after April to Oct you will see the beautiful Rhododendrons. Otherwise in winter Yumthang is usually covered with snow.













Just before Yumthang there are many shops. They sells jackets, caps, snow boots etc and food as well. We stopped at one of them to have our breakfast. And believe me maggie didnt taste better ever. The owner also told us we wont be able to go till Zero Sikkim due to snow.

















Yumthang was covered with snow as expected. We went past Yumthang towards Zero Point. At one point we saw all the tourists vehicles were stopped and they didnt want to go further. When they saw our vehicles they said our cars wont go further. Even one of the drivers said "Baraf me rear wheel chalta hain, aapka nehi jayega". (Rear wheel drive goes better on snow, your car wont go further). This provoked us and we took our car another half kilometer until it was impossible for a two wheel drive to go. That place was 4-5 kms before Zero Point. We were both sad and happy at the same time because we couldnt make it to the top but we got a lot of snow.











I will try to keep this article short.In 2010 I visited North Sikkim for the first time, with my college friends. I used to ride a bike then and from that time I dreamt about riding to North Sikkim. Time has passed and I shifted from bikes to cars, but the dream was still there. Many people have been to Leh and other places but very few could manage to North Sikkim. And to be honest I hardly know 2 or 3 guys who has done the full circuit in their cars. Not because its tough, because Sikkimese Govt doesnt allow private vehicles. But they do allows bikers. So cheer up if you want to ride !!!I am always attracted to Sikkim in an unknown way. There are plenty to places you can visit in Sikkim, but the northern part has a different charm. And in January-February there are high chances you will get snow on the way. I almost lost hope few years back when I heard that private cars aren't allowed. However this time we managed to get permits till Lachen and Lachung and with some luck we could manage till Zero Point and Gurudongmar.The plan for North Sikkim started when I was in Ipswich. Like all other plans many people showed interest initially. But as time went on only few people remained. Others had some other priorities and I am sure they missed this road trip very much. This time we used the holidays of 23rd and 26th. Our plan was of 5 days but you can extend it to 7 days if you want. You wont get bored of Sikkim. Finally 9 people where ready to go. Some of them were old friends.We started at 00:00 hours from Dankuni toll. Arony, Dip and Sinjini honored us by seeing us off at the toll plaza. Right now the Burdwan-Morgram route is the fastest and in good condition. The route crosses many small towns and villages and at night the route is almost empty. We reached Siliguri by 9 in the morning and then headed towards Mangan. Our plan was to stay at Mangan that night and arrange for permits next morning.Permits for North Sikkim are given from Gangtok and Mangan. And after lot of research we found out that getting permit from Mangan is comparatively easier. Once you enter North Sikkim the road condition deteriorates rapidly. We reached Mangan in the evening. Next day (Tuesday) early morning we went to Mangan District office and submitted all of our documents. The district office opens at 10am. Our permit was granted after few hiccups. As I said Sikkim Govt doesnt allow private vehicles towards North so getting permit is not an easy task. Luckily we got ours but our permit was till Lachen and Lachung only.On Tuesday noon after having lunch we headed towards Lachung. One can get a good view of Kanchendzonga from Mangan if the weather is clear. We were lucky enough to get that view. The picture doesn't do justice to what we saw.The first checkpost is after Mangan. At the check post we showed our permits and gave them a copy. Mangan to Lachung took us 5 hours including breaks. We stopped several times for tea, pee and sometime when the surrounding was scenic. The entire route is very much scenic. At Lachung we booked a homestay ( Floret Hotels and Resort ) which is on Lachung-Katao road. That night we were dead tired but Samaresh managed to get some bonfire after talking to the owner and it turned out to be a fun.We were told we wont be able to go beyond Lachung, so we had to wake up early to go to the next check post and convince the army officers and take our chances. At the checkpost we didnt had to convince much. This is an off-season so there were less amount of tourists. That helped us to get past those check posts. But they warned us to drive carefully and not to push our cars too much as there could be snow on the way. Finally we were on our way to Yumthang, one of the main places to visit in North Sikkim. For those who dont know what Yumthang is - It is a valley in North Sikkim and known as valley of flowers. It is at 11000 ft from sea level. If you visit Yumthang at the right time which is after April to Oct you will see the beautiful Rhododendrons. Otherwise in winter Yumthang is usually covered with snow.Just before Yumthang there are many shops. They sells jackets, caps, snow boots etc and food as well. We stopped at one of them to have our breakfast. And believe me maggie didnt taste better ever. The owner also told us we wont be able to go till Zero Sikkim due to snow.Yumthang was covered with snow as expected. We went past Yumthang towards Zero Point. At one point we saw all the tourists vehicles were stopped and they didnt want to go further. When they saw our vehicles they said our cars wont go further. Even one of the drivers said "Baraf me rear wheel chalta hain, aapka nehi jayega". (Rear wheel drive goes better on snow, your car wont go further). This provoked us and we took our car another half kilometer until it was impossible for a two wheel drive to go. That place was 4-5 kms before Zero Point. We were both sad and happy at the same time because we couldnt make it to the top but we got a lot of snow. Last edited by Uprasenjit : 10th February 2017 at 17:18 .
Museums house most of the world's greatest art collections, often gloriously placed in exhibits. But it is often difficult for visitors to fully enjoy an artwork up close.

This is why some companies, like Google, offer alternative ways to look at artworks through augmented reality.

Today, museums attempt to bring art to more people by sharing high-resolution images of their collections. The only problem is, not all pieces can be used for personal consumption due to strict licensing.

This is where the Metropolitan Museum of Art's open access policy comes in.

High-Resolution Images Of Artworks Now Open To All

The Met Museum announced on Feb. 7 that 375,000 high resolution images of artworks in its collection are now under the Creative Commons Zero license. This means that hundreds of thousands of artworks can now be accessed, downloaded, and used however people want without needing to ask for permission or being afraid about possible intellectual property lawsuits.

The best part is that it is all for free so anyone can easily insert the work of Vincent Van Gogh, Utagawa Kunisada, Goya, and of other famous artists in their presentations.

This is all a part of Met's goal to make fine art more accessible to everyone, whichever part of the world they are in.

Public Domain Artworks

The Met Museum is not the first museum to give people open access to its collections. The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the Dallas Museum of Art, the Yale Art Gallery, and the Getty Museum have all taken similar steps far earlier. But what makes Met's action noteworthy is the sheer number of works instantly made available for unrestricted access.

Anyone can just go over to the Metropolitan Museum's website to search for images to download  just be sure to tick the check box for "Public Domain Artworks." If that is too broad and you can't be bothered to look for the "CC0" tag, you can always just choose from 20 thematic sets that the Met has arranged.

Here is one of the CC0 images under the "Arms and Armor" theme.

And here's one from "Cats:"

... and here's a Botticelli from the "Masterpiece Paintings" collection:

"Our core mission is to be open and accessible for all who wish to study and enjoy the works of art in our care. Increasing access to the Museum's collection and scholarship serves the interests and needs of our 21st-century audiences by offering new resources for creativity, knowledge, and ideas," said Thomas P. Campbell, Director and CEO of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

As part of its mission, the Met also collaborated with Wikimedia to expand the reach of its open access collections.

"Wikipedia's hundreds of millions of users from around the globe will now be able to experience The Met's greatest treasures, no matter where they live," Wikimedia Foundation Executive Director Katherine Maher said.

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Your dog probably knows when youre being a jerk  and judges you for it.

A new study showed that canines, as well as monkeys, probably know when someone is being nice or rude, and use that information as they decide on how to interact with the humans surrounding them.

This might be a peek into our sense of morality, when human studies also demonstrate that by age 1, human babies already begin to judge people by how they interact. This points to a sort of innate morality predating our behavioral training, New Scientist reported.

Naughty Or Nice?

A Kyoto University team led by psychologist James Anderson tested how other species make similar evaluations, so they first tested if capuchin monkeys would prefer people who help others. An actor struggled with a container-opening act, while a second actor either helped or refused to help. Both of them afterward offered each monkey food.

When the second actor was helpful, the monkey made no preference on where to receive the reward. But when he was not, the monkey usually took food from the struggler.

In another test, the researchers sought to know whether dogs preferred individuals who helped their owner. An owner who tried to open a container was faced with (1) an actor who either helped or refused, and (2) a passive one. When the two actors tried to offer the dog a reward, the dogs showed no preference when the first actor helped their owner. However, they tended to choose the passive actor if the first actor refused to lend a hand.

If somebody is behaving antisocially, said Anderson, they probably end up with some sort of emotional reaction to it.

In humans, he explained further, a basic sensitivity around antisocial tendencies develops into an actual sense of morality as one grows up and becomes taught. Dogs longstanding relationship with humans, too, has made them very sensitive to our behavior not just toward their kind, but other humans as well.

The findings were discussed in the journal Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews.

Other Furry Findings

A wealth of other studies on dog lends insight on the dynamics of human-canine relationships. For instance, people usually talk to their dogs like theyre human babies, and research suggested that the furry friends actually respond most readily to this directed speech when they are babies, with the slower tempo and higher pitch helping them better comprehend motives in communication.

Puppies then appeared to better react to dog-directed speech than their older counterparts, which may perceive the information in a different way based on the tone. And if human beings emerge as social animals tending to help each other during tough times, dogs also exhibited in research a similar behavior in terms of sharing food with others.

A study in Austria discovered that even dogs, not differently from chimpanzees and rats, displayed a pattern of generosity with their own kind during harsh situations. It portrayed the canines as preferring partner dogs, although the difficult task at hand may have influenced such predisposition to share.

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A study led by researchers from the University at Buffalo has confirmed that there is no link connecting immigration patterns with higher levels of crime.

Publishing their findings in the Journal of Ethnicity in Criminal Justice, Robert Adelman and colleagues found strong, stable evidence pointing to a lack of connection between immigration and crime in metropolitan areas in the United States. In fact, in locations where there are plenty of immigrants, murder, larceny, burglaries, and robberies were actually lower.

Immigration And Crime In The United States

Given the current political environment in the United States, Adelman said facts are critical, and their study offers empirical evidence debunking the idea that having more immigrants leads to more crimes.

Using offense and arrest data, previous works have also shown that foreigners, on the overall, are less likely to be involved in crimes compared to Americans born in the country.

For the current study, however, the researchers veered away from assessing immigrants individually. Instead, they explored if large-scale immigration patterns in communities can be connected to spikes in crime that have been associated with changes within cities, such as the belief that immigrants lead to fewer work openings for domestic workers or fewer economic opportunities.

Drawing from a sample comprising 200 metropolitan areas based on the U.S. Census Bureau, the researchers utilized census data, as well as the FBI's crime reporting data gathered between 1970 and 2010. They are not saying that immigrants are incapable of crime, but their work does offer proof that metropolitan areas experiencing demographic changes influenced by immigrants do not see a spike in any kind of crime for the same time period. Typically, crime levels were stable, if not lower, in communities with a lot of immigrants.

"The results are very clear," Adelman said, but noted that more research will have to be done to explore the relationship associating immigrants and crime with each other.

The results of their work already support earlier conclusions from other studies that immigrants generally have a positive effect on U.S. economic and social life.

"It's important to base our public policies on facts and evidence rather than ideologies and baseless claims that demonize particular segments of the U.S. population without any facts to back them up," Adelman added.

Trump Immigration Ban

Just days after being sworn into office, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning citizens from Somalia, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Syria, Iraq, and Iran from entering the country for 90 days on the account that it is to protect the United States from terrorist threat.

Aside from barring access for citizens of the seven countries mentioned, the executive order also put a limit on the number of refugees that would be allowed U.S. entry for the year, going from 110,000 to 50,000. It also put on hold all Syrian refugees seeking asylum In the country indefinitely.

"I am establishing new vetting measures to keep radical islamic terrorists out of the United States of America," Trump said while signing the executive order.

A New York federal judge, however, blocked part of the executive order, ruling that no individual from any of the seven specified countries can be deported if they have valid immigrant visas.

An appeal requesting the ban's reinstatement was dismissed last week, with a three-judge panel unanimously rejecting the administration's presidential authority claim.

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An algae that survived more than 500 days in the International Space Station could be the answer to humanity's quest for a food that can be grown on planet Mars.

In a nearly two-year experiment conducted on the ISS, Thomas Leya, from the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology in Potsdam, Germany, and colleagues studied how the extreme conditions of space can affect algae.

Algae Survived Extreme Condition Outside The Space Station

They found that a particular species of algae, which was placed on the exterior of the orbiting laboratory, survived the extreme temperature fluctuations, vacuum, as well as cosmic and UV radiation in space for a period of 16 months.

The algae that survived belonged to the Sphaerocystis species, which is found in the Norwegian archipelago Svalbard. Another organism that survived the harsh condition outside the ISS is a cyanobacteria that belonged to the Nostoc species found in Antarctica.

These species were selected for the study because they are known to be capable of withstanding extreme cold. The algae species protects itself by entering a dormant state wherein it forms thick walls and orange cysts that are rich in carotenoids, the chemical responsible for the carrot's orange color and is known to provide protection against radiation.

"The experiment shows that some terrestrial organisms are robust enough to cope with months of exposure to open space conditions without a space suit," said Rene Demets, from the European Space Agency who was not involved in the study.

The algae and bacteria are now added to the growing list of terrestrial organisms that can survive space. The list already includes other species of bacteria, lichen, and water bear.

BIOMEX

The study was part of the Biology and Mars Experiment (BIOMEX), which aims to understand the extent at which terrestrial life can survive in space. The experiment involved hundreds of specimens of lichens, fungi, bacteria, mosses, and algae that were exposed to extreme conditions which include temperatures ranging from -4 F (-20 C) and 116 F (47 C), near vacuum conditions and continuous blast of ultraviolet radiation.

The organisms were transported into space on July 23, 2014 and endured 16 months on the outside of the ISS having only neutral-density filters to mitigate the effects of radiation. On June 2016, the BIOMEX lab was sent back to Earth, where researchers now conduct analysis of the DNA of what survived during the organisms' stay in outer space.

Key To Growing Food Sources On Planet Mars

Nearly all of the samples that returned from the orbiting laboratory developed into new populations. The green alga, in particular, developed orange-coloured resting stages.

Researchers want to know whether the DNA of the ISS algae was damaged and to what extent.

The findings could have significant applications such as in a mission to planet Mars someday. Producing food on the Red Planet is important for survival should humans colonize this extraterrestrial worlds in the future. Algae are known to produce proteins and oxygen, which makes them a good source of food.

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Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk has attended the World Government Summit in Dubai last Feb. 13 where he outlined his thoughts on driveless technology, aliens, and the future of humanity, among others. Wedged among those themes was the claim that in order for man to keep up, he must merge with machines.

Musk's Cyborg Plan

The idea is to keep people relevant on the face of a world that will be populated by robots that are more productive when it comes to work. He has phrased his plan as the merging of biological and artificial intelligence where flesh meets metal.

The tech visionary has invoked the way a computer can communicate or process a task at a rate of one trillion bits per second whereas human brain performs at a measly 10 bits per second.

"Some high bandwidth interface to the brain will be something that helps achieve a symbiosis between human and machine intelligence and maybe solves the control problem and the usefulness problem," Musk explained.

It appears that the concept of cyborg became Musk's ideal amid his widely known suspicion for artificial intelligence. While he had no qualms adopting a simpler iteration of it, the Autopilot driver assist technology in Tesla EVs, he has consistently maintained an aversion for a thinking robot, noting how dangerous that prospect will be.

So, here, Musk wants the human brain in control over a mechanical body.

Cyborg Talk And Tesla Unionization

If you have been reading about Musk and Tesla recently, you would probably recognize that his cyborg proposal seems to be driven by the looming unionization threat at Tesla, which he has branded as morally outrageous.

"There will be fewer and fewer jobs that a robot cannot do better. I want to be clear," Musk said at the Dubai Summit. "The output of goods and services will be extremely high. With automation there will come abundance."

That sounds a bit like a veiled, albeit futuristic threat, given the accusation that Tesla has been forcing employees with excessive mandatory overtime.

We can also turn to the account of Jose Moran, the employee demanding Tesla's unionization, for insight.

"Machinery is often not ergonomically compatible with our bodies," Moran explained. "There is too much twisting and turning and extra physical movement to do jobs that could be simplified if workers' input were welcomed."

Moran also claimed that Tesla is paying its employees lower salary than the national average for autoworkers. Musk is now claiming that robots and his cyborg plan will lead to a requirement of a universal basic income.

He punctuated his vision with a remark that seemed targeted elsewhere rather than his audience at Dubai.

"A lot of people derive their meaning from their employment," Musk concluded in his cyborg plan. "So if there's no need for your labor, what's your meaning? Do you feel useless? That's a much harder problem to deal with."

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A dabbler in a multitude of fields, including rocket science, solar energy, not to mention the auto industry, Elon Musk has all the warrant to make predictions about the future, especially if his companies stand as preliminary agents that'll probably help enable his forecasts.

10 Years From Now, Automakers Will Build Cars With Full Autonomy In Mind

In terms of the auto industry, Musk says that in just 10 years, automakers will manufacture and produce cars designed with full autonomous driving capability such as driverless functionality in mind, as reported by Business Insider.

Musk thinks autonomy and artificial intelligence will incur stellar advancements moving forward, speaking at a Summit in Dubai Monday.

"My guess is that in probably 10 years it will be very unusual for cars to be built that are not fully autonomous."

At present, Tesla's vehicles are already designed and built with sensors that will enable full driverless navigation, and according to him Tesla aims to drive one of its autonomous vehicles across the country with no one behind the wheel before 2017 closes.

While Tesla has developed the technology underpinning its autonomous vehicles, it doesn't mean that the automaker has let out its Autopilot technology  that largely depends on key factors such as regulatory approval.

Other automakers mirror Musk's forecast, if a few years off from his prognosis. Ford, for instance, hopes to commercially release its Level 4 autonomous car by 2021, while others are also aiming for a 2021 launch of Level 3 autonomous vehicles.

It Will Take A While Before All Cars Can Become Fully Autonomous

But despite the visible incipience of autonomous driving technology, and in spite of Musk's clear-cut trajectory, it might take long before the impact can take shape; it might take a while before people can feel the effect of that inflection point.

Musk informed the Summit that there are about 2 billion cars globally, with annual car output hovering near 100 million, which is simply logical, according to Musk, seeing as how the average functional life of a car is about 20 to 25 years.

"[It] will take a lot of time to make enough autonomous vehicles to disrupt," he said. "So that disruption will take place over about 20 years."

Other Forecasts

While there at the Summit, Musk also dished about other forecasts, which includes his solution to economic problems ushered by automation, a future with humans as cyborgs, and underground cities, as per a report by International Business Times.

Tesla has recently been the target of heated press coverage after an employee alleged the company of poor working conditions, low wages, among others  accusations Musk has called "morally outrageous."

Musk has also been the topic of criticism for staying in Trump's advisory panel, after vehement encouragement to do otherwise. By contrast, Uber's CEO, Travis Kalanick, bid farewell to Trump's panel after a Twitter maelstrom accused him of exploiting the unrest caused by the President's Muslim Ban.

Musk reasoned out that his decision to stay with Trump's advisory council doesn't signal his loyalty or parallel beliefs to those of Trump's. His goals are to ease the world's transition to sustainable energy, among other things.

Think Musk's window checks out? Will automakers produce cars built with driverless technology off the bat? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below!

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HMD Global, the Finnish manufacturer that carries the exclusive rights to sell devices under the iconic Nokia brand, could be looking at reviving the Nokia N-series smartphones, with rumors claiming that the company will be unveiling the devices at the upcoming Mobile World Congress 2017.

However, HMD Global's plans of announcing smartphones at MWC 2017 has been reiterated in a new report, with the highlight being the return of one of the most famous feature phones in the history of the telecommunications industry.

Nokia 3310 To Make A Comeback

According to an exclusive report by prolific leaker Evan Blass on VentureBeat, Nokia will be revealing four mobile phones at MWC 2017.

Among the four devices, the one that will likely draw the most interest from mobile phone enthusiasts is a modern version of the Nokia 3310.

The homage to the Nokia 3310, which was originally released in 2000 as the successor to the also popular Nokia 3210, has been the subject of amusing stories and memes due to its massive battery life and its near indestructibility. The modern version of the device will not be converted into a smartphone and will remain as a feature phone, with a price tag of 59.

The price is equivalent to around $63, which should be a low enough cost for former users of the Nokia 3310 who would like to once again hold the device in their hands for nostalgia, and to have it function as a back-up mobile phone.

There is no word yet on what features the modern Nokia 3310 will offer users and when it will arrive in North America, but hopefully it will retain most of the functionality and design elements that allowed it to sell 100 million units over its lifetime. The details surrounding the new Nokia 3310 will be unveiled on Feb. 26 at HMD Global's presentation at MWC 2017.

Other Nokia Phones At MWC 2017

The other three smartphones that HMD Global will be unveiling at MWC 2017 are the 5.5-inch Nokia 6, which has been massively successful in China as the device is sold out within minutes each time stock is put up for sale, the Nokia 5, and the Nokia 3.

The Nokia 5 and Nokia 3 feature less powerful specifications compared to the Nokia 6 to hit lower price points. The Nokia 5, possibly the Nokia Heart spotted in benchmarks last month, will pack the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 chipset of the Nokia 6, but with a 5.2-inch display, halved RAM to 2 GB and reduced internal storage to 16 GB from 64 GB for the Nokia 6. It is also said that the Nokia 5 will come with a 13 MP rear-facing camera and and an 8 MP front-facing camera.

The Nokia 5 is said to cost 199, or about $211, compared to the 249, or about $264, price tag of the Nokia 6. The Nokia 3, meanwhile, will cost only 149, or about $158, but the specs and features of the entry-level smartphone are still unknown.

The Nokia 5 and Nokia 3, like the Nokia 6, will be powered by Android 7.0 Nougat right out of the box. Whether the three devices will be released in North America is still unknown, though hopefully such details will be revealed at MWC 2017.

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Magic Leap, an augmented reality company often accused of sputtering vague promises because of its lack of any proof of concept, is suffering yet another accusation, this time more pernicious, as it concerns workplace sexism.

Magic Leap Sexism Allegations

A new lawsuit on Monday alleges that the Florida-based company fostered a sexist workplace environment and used misleading promotional material as a means to decorate its product beyond its actual capabilities.

Tannen Campbell, the company's former VP of strategic marketing and brand identity, filed the lawsuit in a federal court in Florida.

The lawsuit alleges that Campbell was terminated because Rony Abovitz, Magic Leap's CEO, turned a blind eye to the misogyny that was occurring in the company, refusing to address a hostile working environment. Magic Leap is being accused of violations under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employers from discriminating against workers based on a number of factors, including sex.

The lawsuit further alleges that because of the working environment perpetuated inside Magic Leap's headquarters, the launch of the company's product suffered delays, a product which attracted steep funding from a number major companies.

Magic Leap was founded in 2010, with the aim to develop an AR headset that overlays 3D animations onto real environments, amassing $1.4 billion in funding along the way, from the coffers of significant names in tech, among them Google, Alibaba, and Qualcomm, with nary a product released publicly ever since. That is, until recently, when a photo of its purported AR prototype leaked, showing what appeared to be a rough rig of Magic Leap's output.

The photo's accuracy, however, was shortly clarified by Abovitz, confirming that the photo was simply an R&D test rig.

The lawsuit states that the company had demonstrated marketing and promotional assets that didn't correspond the genuine capabilities of the product. Campbell brought the concerns up to the company but she was ignored "in favor of her male colleagues" assertions that the material showcased on the company's website and YouTube were "aspirational."

Boys Club

Campbell hopped on Magic Leap's shores in 2015, at a time when no woman helmed leadership positions at the company. As per a report by Forbes, during her initial interview with the company, Campbell quipped that the advertising department was a "boys club," but Abovitz assured her he wanted to change that.

Female Brain Trust Initiative

In the first few months of her stint at the company's Campbell said she attempted to change a few things. She cobbled together a presentation which showed the low percentage of female employees working at Magic Leap, and introduced proposals to foster female inclusion in the short and and in the long term, but the lawsuit alleges that Abovitz kept putting off these meetings.

Abovitz eventually set up a Female Brain Trust Initiative (FBI) to make sure the company's product design and content was developed with women involved, but none of their proposals ever made it into the design process. Abovitz and other men also didn't show up to later meetings.

Campbell's final months working for the company saw her severed from meetings altogether. This past November, Abovitz ordered her to interview employees to collect their opinions about the company. Campbell suggested that Abovitz target branding for a wider audience, and not just employees, but Campbell still followed the orders.

Campbell presented her findings late December, but was fired.

The lawsuit alleges that the company's sexism caused it to stall development, losing out to competitors such as Microsoft with its HoloLens.

Magic Leap has yet to comment on the allegations.

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People have been waiting for a new tablet from Samsung. The Mobile World Congress (MWC) trade show is fast approaching, and the company has already hinted that it will could launch a new tablet - possibly the Galaxy Tab S3 - at its press event.

Adding to the plethora of leaks and rumors, is a new image of the supposed Galaxy Tab S3 that has surfaced online. The latest render of the Samsung tablet shows off the Galaxy Tab S2's successor including the S Pen stylus, but as a standalone accessory.

The leaked render is courtesy a German publication WinFuture.de which cites anonymous source.

What Does The New Leak Reveal?

The report affirms older assertions that the Galaxy Tab S3 will supposedly not include a slot to store the pressure sensitive S Pen stylus.

Moreover, it hints that the tablet will only be available in a 9.7-inch option and Samsung will not release an 8-inch variant of the device as it has in the past.

The Galaxy Tab S3 will apparently boast a 9.7-inch AMOLED display screen similar to Galaxy Tab S2. It would likely support a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels.

The Galaxy Tab S3 will probably be housing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor and may offer 4 GB of RAM. The device will likely be available in a 32 GB storage option.

It is expected that the device will feature a 12MP rear camera and 4.7MP front-facing camera. It is also highly likely that there would be two different models of the tablet. One of the models would support Wi-Fi connectivity only whereas, the other one may allow both Wi Fi and cellular connectivity.

The tablet will likely be arriving in two different shades - a black and silver. The latter hue will apparently be replacing the white option which is available for the Galaxy Tab S2.

The Galaxy Tab S2, Samsung claimed was its thinnest and lightest tablet at the time. Consumers would be hoping that the Galaxy Tab S3 will also be sleek and light weight.

The Galaxy Tab S2 did not offer S Pen support and the inclusion of the stylus will be a welcome addition. It will bring added functionality to the Galaxy Tab series.

Price

The tablet will likely sport a price tag of around $580 per the latest leak. Although it is believed that the model including both Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity will bear a higher price tag.

Release

The Galaxy Tab S3 is expected to debut at Samsung's press event on Feb. 26. The company's invite has already indicated that the much-awaited device may finally make its debut. The tablet has already received FCC and Bluetooth certifications, which suggest that it may release in the U.S. soon after the launch.

Whether the Galaxy Tab S3 will be able to replicate the success of its predecessor remains to be seen.

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As far as the space race goes, China is still way behind fellow superpowers United States and Russia.

This year, however, President Xi Jinping has vowed to advance the country's space program, saying he believes it will enhance national defense and security. The country's space agency aims to conduct at least 30 space launch missions this year to break records in its own history.

First on the country's bucket list for 2017 is launching its first cargo spacecraft called the Tianzhou-1 cargo resupply spacecraft, which will be sent to space for its maiden voyage in April.

Doing so will help take a step forward in China's goal of establishing its own manned space station by 2022, as reported by the country's official newspaper, the People's Daily.

China's Space Laboratory

The China Manned Space Agency said the Tianzhou-1 will be launched into space in April inside the Long March-7 Y2 rocket from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in Hainan.

The Tianzhou-1 spacecraft can carry 2 tons of fuel and 6 tons of goods, Reuters reported. The spacecraft, which was designed to fly without manned maneuvers for three months, will merge with the Tiangong-2 space laboratory.

In October 2016, the Tiangong-2 was used to carry out China's longest manned mission in space, sending two astronauts to live aboard the space laboratory for a month. Chinese astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong returned to Earth on Nov. 18 after spending 30 days in orbit inside the Tiangong-2 space laboratory.

By sending the Tiangong-2 to space, China had hoped to lay the groundwork for its own permanently manned space station once the International Space Station retires by 2024.

"Tiangong is a precursor testbed of capabilities," said space security professor Joan Johnson-Freese.

Moon And Mars Missions

China's ambitious five-year space plan includes landing a probe on the far side of the moon by 2018 as well as sending a robotic space probe to Mars. If successful, China's lunar mission will become the first to explore the dark side of the moon.

As for the plans to send a probe to Mars, China plans to explore and retrieve samples from the red planet to allow scientists to investigate the evolution of the solar system and further the search for alien life.

Details about both missions are still undisclosed, particularly on what the Mars probe would be like, how it will function, and when the actual launch will be, although the target date for the Mars mission is 2020.

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Arce stressed that "this table has a vital importance to continue giving certainties and solutions, above the whims, subway agreements and political calculations". | Read More
A woman who has alleged that Mike Erwin, a Baton Rouge state district court judge, directed a racial slur toward her at a popular local eatery filed a complaint Monday against the judge, a local pastor said.

Speaking at a news conference in front of the Baton Rouge district courthouse, the Rev. Reginald Pitcher said Kaneitra Johnson filed the complaint with the Louisiana Judiciary Commission, which can investigate judges. Johnson wrote in a widely shared and since-deleted Facebook post that Erwin  who is white  at least twice called her a "n****r" during an argument on a recent Friday night over a seat at the bar at Sammy's Grill.

Pitcher said the incident makes it "apparent" that Erwin, who is white, "has racial animosity for black people."

The president of the local branch of the NAACP, Mike McClanahan, said his organization is demanding that Erwin be immediately suspended.

East Baton Rouge sheriff's deputies responded to the incident and have since conducted a follow-up investigation into the allegations, said Casey Rayborn Hicks, a spokeswoman for the sheriff. Hicks has noted that the allegations do not constitute a crime.

Still, deputies interviewed people about the incident. Hicks said no one interviewed by deputies heard Erwin utter the slur.

Erwin, 67, hasn't publicly addressed the allegations. Reached by phone Monday, Erwin said he did not want to comment, but would release a statement on Tuesday.

A number of local black elected officials stood behind Johnson during the news conference on the steps of the 19th Judicial District courthouse downtown, including state Sen. Regina Barrow, state Rep. Pat Smith and Metro Council members Donna Collins-Lewis, LaMont Cole and Erika Green.

Johnson attended the news conference, but didn't speak. An attorney who said she was representing Johnson said she was too distraught to comment about the incident.

But Johnson provided her account of the incident on Feb. 3 in a video interview posted to Facebook on Saturday by Gary Chambers, whose blog, The Rouge Collection, has prominently featured the story and included the woman's detailed account of her alleged confrontation with the judge.

In the interview, Johnson said she was sharing a stool with a regular at Sammy's while waiting for a table when, she said, Erwin told the man, "You never give up your seat to a n****r."

"Then he (Erwin) tells him, 'You should've made her get her fat n****r a** up,'" Johnson said in the video, taped in the parking lot in front of Sammy's Grill.

Johnson last week confirmed the details of the incident and that she wrote the original post to The Advocate, but declined to speak further on the record about the altercation.

The Highland Road restaurant's representatives said last week that the judge had been banned from the eatery. A manager at the bar who confirmed the ban and the grill's owner, Sammy Nagem, declined to comment directly about Johnson's allegations. In a statement issued last week, Nagem said "we do not condone or tolerate any activity by guests that make other guests or our valued employees feel uncomfortable or unwelcome."

Erwin, a Democrat was elected to the bench in 1990. He was re-elected to a fifth six-year term in 2014.
At least five patrons at Sammy's Grill told East Baton Rouge sheriff's deputies they didn't hear state district judge Mike Erwin direct a racial slur toward a black woman at the bar, a word that the judge said Tuesday he's never used.

The woman, Kaneitra Johnson, has alleged that Erwin at least twice called her a "n****r" in an argument over a bar stool at the popular Highland Road restaurant. The judge has been banned from the eatery since the Feb. 3 incident, although the restaurant's owner has declined to comment on Johnson's specific allegations.

In a Sheriff's Office report released Tuesday, Det. John Johnson wrote that he didn't come up with anyone who could corroborate Johnson's allegations.

However, reports filed by two deputies who responded to Sammy's Grill on the night of the incident both state that another patron at the bar  whose name, along with the names of all other witnesses, is redacted  said he'd seen the altercation and said Erwin treated Johnson "like a dog." In one version, the man told a deputy that Erwin used "racist language."

Det. John Johnson's subsequent report seems to indicate the man later denied ever making those comments to the original investigating deputies and said he was 15 to 20 feet away from Erwin when he witnessed the apparent argument.

Erwin also responded to the allegations for the first time on Tuesday. In a written statement provided just after the Sheriff's Office released the detective's report on the incident, Erwin said, "Now that the Sheriff's department has issued the report  which does not find one single witness that corroborates the original allegation  I can finally defend my actions and my record as a judge."

"I never have, never would and never will utter the language I was accused of saying," the judge said.

A sheriff spokeswoman has said since Kaneitra Johnson went public with her allegations against Erwin that what was described did not amount to a crime. The detective's supplemental investigation said he looked further into what happened at Sammy's Grill after responding to complaints from the judge's office about harassing phone calls demanding that the judge address the allegations. Det. John Johnson concluded those calls were not threatening.

Representatives for Kaneitra Johnson have said they filed a complaint about the judge with the Louisiana Judiciary Commission, saying his use of a racial slur shows bias.

Court records indicate Erwin was assigned a 2010 traffic case against Kaneitra Johnson, though Johnson told both deputies and The Advocate that she didn't know or recognize the judge.

According to the original incident report filed by deputies who responded to a complaint on Feb. 3, a man who said he witnessed the argument between Erwin and Kaneitra Johnson approached deputies in the bar after they'd interviewed Erwin and the judge's companion, motioning with his head to the officers to go speak outside.

"I don't know who that old white guy is, but he had no right to talk to those girls the way he did," the man said outside the restaurant, according to one deputy. "I was sitting right next to them and heard/saw the entire incident with my wife and he talked to those girls like they were dogs using racist language."

He added that Erwin, whom he didn't refer to by name, was clearly "someone of importance" because workers and managers at the restaurant did nothing to intervene.

"I'm from Houma, La., and I'm white," the man added, according to a deputy, "but right is right and wrong is wrong and that old man was wrong." The report also mentions that Johnson's sister, also an off-duty sheriff's deputy, showed up at the scene when the man was talking to deputies.

The second deputy at Sammy's that night wrote in his report that a witness, who appears to be the same man, told him that Erwin appeared to be talking down to Johnson and "treating her like a dog" but that he couldn't make out what the judge was saying. The final report by Det. John Johnson noted that one male witness originally said the judge directed "racial language" toward a woman, but later denied making those comments to investigating deputies.

Because names were removed from reports provided to The Advocate, it's not possible to conclusively say whether that witness was in fact the same person. A Sheriff's Office spokeswoman didn't immediately respond to a request for clarification Tuesday.

The detective's report also includes statements from several patrons at the bar who said Johnson and her group were being "boisterous" and blocking the walkway between the bar area and the restrooms.

Another patron, described as a regular at Sammy's Grill, told deputies that Erwin remained polite despite Johnson and her party acting in what he described as a "very vocal and aggressive" manner. The patron said that the judge remained "polite, yet stern and clear" during the argument over a bar stool. He alleged that someone in Johnson's group referred to Erwin as an "drunk a** old f***ing white man" during the argument.

A different man told deputies he stepped between Erwin and the woman, telling Erwin not to "lower yourself to their level" since the judge has "more to lose than they do." That man also said he never heard Erwin used a racial slur during the incident.

According to the report, deputies examined surveillance footage from the restaurant to identify others near Erwin and Johnson during the altercation.

Erwin told deputies he got in a dispute with Johnson after she sat in a stool he was trying to save for a friend, the report says. Erwin said she retorted that seating was "first come, first serve" and said they argued but the judge denied using racial slurs during the conversation.

Johnson did not respond to a message left seeking comment on the report and the judge's statement. An attorney representing Johnson, Erin Rigsby, said she hadn't viewed those documents and therefore couldn't respond.

The Rev. Reginald Pitcher, who denounced the judge as racist during a news conference in front of the 19th Judicial District Courthouse Monday afternoon, called the Sheriff's Office findings "a cover-up" and said the restaurant wouldn't have banned Erwin without good cause.

"I'm going to say they're in cahoots with the judge to try to save his behind," Pitcher said. "This time around, we're not going to accept that. The young lady has no reason to lie."

Advocate staff writer Joe Gyan contributed to this report.
A suspected armed robber who forced his way inside a Glenlea Avenue home just before noon Tuesday died after he was shot by one of his victims
Louisiana's public school science standards, which are the third oldest in the nation, are headed for a major overhaul after a state panel Monday approved sweeping new benchmarks.

"So much more 21st century," Cathi Cox-Boniol, chairwoman of the study group said of the heavily revised guidelines.

After nearly two decades, state science standards under review A state panel Wednesday began reviewing science standards used in public schools, which have

The new standards were approved during a meeting in New Orleans after six months of study, including 17 gatherings of work groups that grappled with the details.

The recommendations are scheduled to be voted on by the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education when it meets March 7-8.

Kathy Edmonston, a BESE member who lives in Gonzales, attended the meeting and praised the recommendations. "We are going to listen to you because you have done such a great job," Edmonston told the group, which is called the Science Standards Review Committee.

Panel of mostly educators to review Louisiana science standards, last updated in 1997 Louisiana's top school board Tuesday approved 85 educators and others to review the state's 

The state last changed its science benchmarks in 1997.

Only New Mexico and Wisconsin use older standards.

In addition, students in Louisiana ranked 45th in the U. S. in science assessments, according to the most recent results of the nation's report card.

Cox-Boniol, an educator in Lincoln Parish who taught high school science for 17 years, said the new standards will provide students with a deeper knowledge of the subject.

"We are going from discrete statements to multi-dimensional standards that help move us away from a mile wide, inch deep (approach)," she said.

"It is a huge step from memorizing a fact, taking a test and moving on," Cox-Boniol said. "It is a huge paradigm shift, basically."

After the meeting, Edmonston said she wants to ensure that teachers have the freedom to pursue a wide range of science-related materials.

She said she will push to add an appendix to the standards that includes state-approved supplementary materials.

"I do believe there will be some debate at the BESE meeing," Edmonston said.

The committee included 39 members, mostly educators.

One work group focused on standards for students from kindergarten through grade eight.

The other was for students from ninth through 12th grades.

Any review of public school science standards can spark controversy, including topics like evolution.

While there was some public pushback, no major disputes surfaced.

Wade Warren, a professor of biology at Louisiana College in Pineville, cast the lone "no" vote on final approval of the standards.

"It appears to me that there is a wealth of scientific information that is being excluded from the standards and ultimately from the knowledge of the students who are in the classroom," Warren said after the meeting. "That is what bothers me."

A 2008 state law allows for wide-ranging discussions on evolution and other topics, including the use of alternative materials.

Cox-Boniol said that, while the committee recommended a framework, members wanted to give teachers leeway.

"We had to straddle the fence on creating standards and wading off into curriculum," she said.

"Our job is not to limit teachers," Cox-Boniol said. "Our job is to provide the skeleton, then they put the meat on it."

The review was ordered by BESE last year.

While the new standards could take effect for the 2017-18 school year, no decision has been made.
As state lawmakers meet for the third special session in a year to solve a mid-year budget gap, one issue that they will have to quickly hash out is whether to use money from the state's rainy day fund, and if so, how much.

Lawmakers entered into a special session Monday evening that must end by midnight Feb. 22.

Gov. John Bel Edwards opened the special session with a speech again touting his budget plan, which relies on the state's rainy day fund to close about 40 percent of the mid-year gap.

"Every cut and every budget adjustment we make will have a direct impact on someone in this state and we must be mindful of that," Edwards said in his opening address to legislators Monday evening.

Can't see video below? Click here.

Before his opening remarks, Edwards met privately with members of the Democratic and Republican caucuses.

Edwards has proposed a plan  the product of "hours upon hours combing through every line of the state budget"  that relies on $119.6 million from the state's reserves, which is the maximum amount that can be taken from the fund by law.

His plan would spare higher education, K-12 education, prisons and some other areas of the budget from cuts, while cutting the state Department of Health, the judiciary and the Legislature's own budget.

"Not using the (rainy day fund) would inflict more pain upon Louisianans than is necessary or advisable," Edwards said in his speech.

But some legislators, mostly House Republicans, have said they are concerned about the state depleting its savings account and they would prefer deeper cuts be made.

Use of the rainy day fund requires approval from two-thirds of the members of the House and Senate and is likely to emerge as one of the key battles in the nine-day special session.

The state savings account currently has a balance of $360 million, but the Legislature can't take more than a third of that. The state is required to put at least $25 million back into the fund each year.

Last year, lawmakers pulled $128 million from the fund to plug a budget hole shortly after Edwards took office that he says was "inherited" from the previous administration.

House Republican leadership has settled on an initial negotiating position of accepting $50 million of the $119 million in rainy day money sought by Edwards.

The House Republicans believe that various state government agencies can handle the additional $69 million in reduced spending through 5 percent cuts.

The governor has asked multiple times to have all agencies hold back 5 percent of their spending, state Rep. Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, who heads the budget-writing Appropriations Committee, said in an interview. If they all did what he requested, everybody should be able to absorb the reductions.

Edwards acknowledged his rainy day fund critics in his opening address.

"Compromise isnt a bad thing, but it is counterproductive to our mission to constantly criticize and oppose without offering a viable alternative," he said. "If collectively, you prefer more mid-year cuts than I have proposed, then propose those specific cuts and vote for them."

The Senate Finance Committee is expected to begin the rainy day discussion Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, House Republicans hope to meet with the governor again on Tuesday morning to try to find common ground before beginning Appropriations Committee hearings in the afternoon.

In a caucus meeting Monday afternoon, House Republicans discussed three different options involving the rainy day fund  using the entire $119 million, $50 million from it or none at all.

State Rep. Paul Hollis, R-Covington, was one of those who believes that the Legislature should close the full $304 million with cuts alone.

Its easy to take money from a savings account to make the budget work, Hollis said in an interview. But thats not the right approach.

Several members said last week that they were optimistic that the Legislature would reach an agreement and end the special session early.

But they still appeared to be on different tracks on Monday.

House GOP leaders also have mentioned a proposal that they unsuccessfully pitched last year. Their idea would pool money from fees and statutory dedications that enter into a debt fund. The Senate balked at the money-skimming idea after the upper chamber's budget advisers said that they worried about the unknown impact on agencies that normally receive those funds.

Republicans have also said they would like for state agencies to make movements toward more lasting cuts that can carry over into the budget that begins July 1.

The governor has called on the Legislature to focus on the budget in the regular session that begins in April to provide long-term stability.

"Until we make the structural budget and tax reforms we all agree we need, our options are limited and our problems exacerbated by the fact that there are only four months left in the next fiscal year after this special session adjourns," Edwards said in his speech Monday.
Washington, D.C.  The setting for Cheniere Energy's big invitation-only shindig to kick off Washington Mardi Gras was breathtaking.

Everywhere that guests wandered throughout the Library of Congress' two-story Great Hall were inscriptions celebrating the merits of great literature and thoughtful contemplation. Never mind that the "quiet please" sign on the observation deck overlooking the building's famed reading room seemed to mock the classic rock band's boisterous covers of "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Takin' Care of Business"  or vice versa.

The party's backdrop wasn't the only thing that created a buzz among the crowd of Louisianans in town for the festive long weekend. Also on people's lips was news that two generally warring guests, Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards and Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry, had been spotted shaking hands.

It was a small gesture, but one that encapsulated much of Washington Mardi Gras' vibe.

Yes, regular people can go, not necessarily to the private receptions but to the big 3,000-person blowouts culminating in the Saturday night formal ball and indoor parade as long as they can shell out $400 for tickets and get their requests to their elected representatives in early enough.

But at heart, this is a well-heeled insider's game, a see-and-be-seen extravaganza where all sorts of political connections are made and reinforced.

That doesn't mean the gathering is without merit.

It's an occasion for philanthropy, including Texas-based Cheniere's donations of $100,000 to help students at Louisiana's community and technical colleges make up the budget-driven shortfall in TOPS scholarship awards, $80,000 for public schools in Cameron Parish, and $25,000 to help victims of last week's tornadoes, all unveiled at the Library of Congress party.

It's a chance for state and local officials to meet en masse with their federal counterparts. This year those meetings were largely focused on Louisiana's effort to secure another $2 billion in aid after last summer's devastating floods, as well as a federal disaster declaration to get tornado recovery underway. In past years, they've centered on Katrina and Rita recovery and flood insurance reform.

And perhaps more than anything, it's an opportunity to bring a little of Louisiana's historic bipartisan camaraderie to a city where Republicans and Democrats rarely lay down their swords.

Indeed, with tension over President Donald Trump's early moves running sky high  and with politics in Louisiana inching in that direction as well  Washington Mardi Gras may be the only corner in the entire capital where Democrats and Republicans are still able to enjoy one another's company.

The Edwards/Landry handshake, which happened even as a bitterly divided Senate gathered across the street to confirm Jeff Sessions as Trump's attorney general, was just one encounter that echoed the larger theme.

Also that night, Edwards, fresh off a meeting with the state's mostly GOP delegation to strategize over flood relief, warmly recognized House Republican Whip Steve Scalise from the Library of Congress event's stage. Later in the week, new U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, nobody's idea of an Edwards ally, joined the governor at a meeting with Housing and Urban Development department officials.

And who knows how many friendly encounters occurred at the busy Washington Hilton bar, redubbed Louisiana's "65th Parish" for the event's duration.

It's been this way for years now. In 2005, after Democratic U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu campaigned against Republican hopeful David Vitter by accusing him of being President George W. Bush's puppet, a newly victorious Vitter showed up at Landrieu's annual Washington Mardi Gras karaoke party with a marionette likeness of himself and joined with Landrieu on a friendly rendition of Kool and the Gang's "Celebration." The two quickly resumed their rivalry, but it was a nice break, anyway.

Inevitably, a little partisanship has trickled into the atmosphere lately. Landry's predecessor (and amateur Elvis impersonator) Buddy Caldwell was a regular at Landrieu's party, even after he switched from D to R. As Landry was preparing to take him on in 2015, an opposition researcher filmed Caldwell cavorting with the Democrats, and the clip wound up used in the campaign.

Still, as Washington continues to divide, the we're-all-in-this-together spirit is a little something worth importing from back home. Hey, if Edwards and Landry can stand to be in the same room for a night, maybe there's still hope for Washington.
The Advocate had a fascinating article on July 16 concerning a lawsuit that may end up in the U.S. Supreme Court. It seems that the U.S. Fish 
It'll certainly be no bed of roses on Tuesday for Canberra's florists, as they prepare for their busiest days of the year.

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, florists across the territory have been going into overdrive to ensure they're able to meet the influx of orders.

Manuka Flowers owner Sue Burden with some of the many roses she will sell for Valentine's Day. Credit:Rohan Thomson

Owner of Manuka Flowers Sue Burden said with Valentine's Day falling on a weekday this year, demand for bouquets of roses has been even higher than in previous years.

"For the last two years, Valentine's Day has fallen on a weekend so we've missed the business and school trade," she said.
The ACT's chief coroner has renewed calls for a dedicated coroner, after failing to receive a response from the government on the issue for more than a year.

Chief coroner Lorraine Walker said despite asking the government to consider establishing a dedicated coroner in the ACT in 2015, there had been no movement on the issue.

Chief Coroner Lorraine Walker Credit:Lannon Harley

Currently the ACT Coroner's Court is allocated no extra resources to perform judicial coronial functions and each magistrate retains an active case load.

In the ACT Coroner's Court 2015/16 Annual Report, tabled in the ACT Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, Ms Walker wrote that this meant coronial work was often a 'secondary priority" as general magistrate duties demanded more immediate attention.
So who is setting the iron ore price, could it be day traders in China, or is it taxi drivers in Dalian, as some analysts suspect?

Take your pick on the role of such speculators but either way the sustained surge in the iron ore price has caught many investors by surprise while giving a second wind to a group of second-tier producers that have been struggling with busted balance sheets and bloated costs to stay afloat for the past few years.

Helping to nudge the iron ore price higher was a new round of speculation China will close more of its heavily polluting steel, and other, plants at least in winter, as it struggles to improve air quality. Credit:QILAI SHEN

In late trading on Tuesday, BC Iron's share price was ahead 6 per cent at 27.5, as was Tasmanian producer Grange Resources at 25.5 as Mount Gibson rallied 10 per cent to 46.2. Atlas Iron was unable to maintain earlier gains and was steady near the close at 4.7.

Among the sector's leaders, Fortescue firmed 1 per cent to $6.93.5, which was still enough to push it to post-GFC highs, as Rio rose 1 per cent to $68.97. BHP eased 11 to $26.34, hampered by the lower oil price.
Twitter has removed a series of posts by the former lover of Seven West Media boss Tim Worner after she flouted a court order preventing her revealing embarrassing details about the affair.

Seven West Media applied for an urgent injunction on Monday to stop former employee Amber Harrison posting any information about the company on her Twitter account, which was set up to air her grievances.

The terms of the temporary order, granted by the NSW Supreme Court and extended on Tuesday by seven days, are very broad and prevent her from making any comments about Seven or "otherwise bringing [the company] into disrepute".

Fairfax Media understands proceedings for contempt of court will be initiated against Ms Harrison after she flouted the order on Monday by continuing to post comments and text messages on Twitter.
Australia's leading forecasters don't believe the Reserve Bank when it says the economy will grow 3 per cent this year and 3.25 per cent in 2018. The forecasts, in Friday's "Statement on Monetary Policy", are well above the median forecasts of 2.4 per cent and 2.8 per cent released by the Australian Business Economists executive committee on Tuesday.

Elected by their peers, the executive committee comprises 21 forecasters from each of the big four banks and firms such as UBS, JP Morgan, Deutsche Bank and Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Their median forecast of 2.4 per cent matches exactly the average forecast of the 27 experts who took part in this month's BusinessDay Scope Survey.

"The committee expects the Australian economy in 2017 to grow at a pace that is similar to that of 2016," chairman Stephen Halmarick said in a statement. "Economic growth is expected to be moderate and driven by strength in net exports and growth in household consumption. Dwelling investment will also add modestly to growth, but business investment is expected to contract again."
All eyes were on the US federal courts as justices first stayed, then refused to reinstate, the Trump administration's travel ban against seven Muslim-majority countries. For Americans who fear the new administration is marching toward autocracy, these court decisions were reassuring, a sign that checks and balances will function even with Donald Trump in the White House.

In the frisson of excitement following the news, opponents of the Trump administration seemed to forget one important thing: the courts aren't the primary check on Trump's power. The Congress is. And while the judiciary may be a powerful ally against a turn toward autocracy, the Republican-led Congress is not.

The window is closing for Congress to get things done before Trump's administration becomes too toxic to partner with. Credit:Bloomberg

Right now, congressional Republicans believe it's in their best interest to support Trump  or at the very least, to not denounce him. That belief is more a function of timing than a deeply held allegiance to the president. After all, Trump should be the easiest Republican president for the GOP to oppose. He wears his loyalty to the party lightly, having most recently become a Republican in 2012. Moreover, his rejection of free trade, entitlement reform and foreign policy interventionism represents a sharp break from party orthodoxy.

Add to that his eagerness to bully some of the most sympathetic figures  civil rights heroes, Gold Star families, former POWs  and denouncing Trump, or at least distancing oneself from him, seems like an easy call. But ask a Republican in Congress to comment on Trump's actions and you'll either get a supportive statement or, more likely, silence.
Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is being urged to help plug the gap in aid funding caused by Donald Trump's reinstatement of the "global gag rule", which prohibits US dollars from going to non-government organisations that provide abortion services or give advice or referrals on abortions.

Prominent Labor Senator Lisa Singh made the plea on Tuesday night, calling President Trump's move an "attack on women everywhere." It came as billionaire philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates warned that the US aid cuts could "create a void that even a foundation like ours can't fill."

Labor senator Lisa Singh says of Triggs: "I don't think there has been anyone in such a high position of public office who has been treated so terribly." Credit:Australian Senate Hansard screenshot

In his first days of office, President Trump followed in the footsteps of past Republican presidents by reinstating the global gag rule, also known as the Mexico City Policy, which was first introduced by Ronald Reagan. Mr Trump signed the order surrounded by his team of male advisers, adding to the backlash over the policy.

In a new interview with The Guardian, Mr and Mrs Gates said Mr Trump's order went further those in the past by denying funding to any health organisation that receives US aid funding and not just those directly involved in family planning.
The decision is a departure from the department's previous determination to release incident logs from Nauru, including detailed summaries, in response to a Fairfax Media FOI request in 2015. That data, published in January last year, revealed self-harm was at epidemic levels at Australia's offshore facilities in Nauru and Manus Island, including multiple cases of asylum seekers swallowing shampoo, slicing themselves with razor blades and dousing their bodies in boiling water.

In a letter, FOI officer Joshua Hutton of the DIBP referred to the Australian Information Commissioner's guidelines, which state that information may be redacted if there is a possibility for "intangible damage, such as loss of trust and confidence in the Australian government or one of its agencies" to arise from publication.

Information relating to three incidents at the Nauru facility was released as it was already in the public domain. The department also released selective and highly-redacted records from the Manus Island detention centre.

The standard time frame for processing FOI requests is 30 days. The department delayed its determination several times in the eight months since the request was lodged in June. In August, FOI officer Brad Collins informed Fairfax Media the department would refund the costs of the FOI application because it had failed to process the request within the statutory guidelines.

A internal memo accidentally copied to Guardian Australia in October revealed the immigration department had been "freezing" FOI requests related to Nauru. In the email to colleagues, FOI assistant director Ian Campbell expressed concern and suggested "releasing the documents sooner, with the Nauru information fully exempted under grounds of international relations".
Disadvantaged school children will continue to be denied the resources they need because both major political parties are "fluffing around" on schools funding when radical change is needed, according to one of the architects of the Gonski reforms.

In a scathing speech on Tuesday, Gonski Review panellist Ken Boston said the school funding system that has developed over the past 40 years has "comprehensively failed" and needs to be overhauled.

"We are on a path to nowhere," Mr Boston, a former director general of the NSW Department of Education, said.

"The issue is profoundly deeper than argument about the last two years of Gonski funding or changes to the governance of Commonwealth-state relations.
Mounting criticism of the Commonwealth's technology efforts have been dismissed as "fake news" by the Coalition's digital innovation minister.

The government was mocked this week after two of its MPs put a forward a Parliamentary motion congratulating the government "for pursuing an extensive technology reform agenda that will change the way Australians interact with government services for the better."

Keeping a straight face: Labor digital economy spokesman Ed Husic. Credit:Andrew Meares

The move came as Fairfax revealed the latest Commonwealth tech wreck, a failed attempt to replace the Child Support Agency's system, was chewing through at least $100,000 a day in taxpayers' money, most it going to pay contractors.

Last week it was revealed the Tax Office was still struggling to recover from December's disastrous crash of its online systems and as a result, much of the ATO's digital work program this year was being abandoned in a desperate struggle to get tax time started on schedule.
A $2 billion loan for Sydney's new WestConnex motorway from the Coalition government failed to achieve its key goal of fast tracking the project's second stage by two years, the National Audit Office has found.

Instead, completion of the 11-kilometre New M5 as part of Australia's largest tollroad project is less than six months ahead of its original completion date of mid-2020.

In a report highly critical of the federal government's funding of the $16.8 billion motorway, Commonwealth Auditor-General Grant Hehir also found that upfront payments and altering milestones for later support "did not adequately protect the Australian government's financial interests".

His report, released on Tuesday, was particularly scathing of funds being paid in advance of the project's needs.
Crown witness Fortunato "Lucky" Gattellari has denied he alone ordered a murder after stealing millions from Ron Medich, the property developer now on trial as an alleged mastermind of the shooting.

Mr Medich, 68, has pleaded not guilty to ordering the contract killing of Michael McGurk, 45, a former business partner gunned down in the driveway of his Sydney home in 2009.

Ron Medich has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael McGurk. Credit:Peter Rae

Gattellari, 66, a former boxer turned business partner of Mr Medich, has pleaded guilty to arranging the murder and became the Crown's principal witness in exchange for a much shorter prison sentence.

After seven days of cross-exmamination, Mr Medich's barrister, Winston Terracini, SC, put it to Gattellari that he paid for the murder on his own.
A former Lorna Jane store manager is suing the brand for almost $400,000 in damages, lost wages and medical expenses she claims resulted from being bullied about her weight.

Amy Robinson, who ran the Brisbane airport DFO store in 2012, also says she suffered physical and psychiatric injuries due to her treatment by area manager Megan McCarthy, the Brisbane District Court heard on Tuesday.

According to an amended statement of claim, Ms McCarthy "bullied, harassed, demeaned and discriminated" against Ms Robinson, picked on her because of her weight, bullied her via social media and assigned inappropriate work hours in conjunction with her childcare responsibilities.

"McCarthy was acting inappropriately in the workplace and causing undue mental distress to its employees," the claim states.
The LNP has introduced a private member's bill to crack down on domestic violence offenders in Queensland.

The bill comes after the murder of Gold Coast mum Teresa Bradford by her estranged husband while he was on bail.

Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls has introduced legislation on domestic violence.

Her funeral was held the same day as the introduction of the bill.

Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls said action was needed now to protect victims and their families.
"We had a big list of things we had to do to get that 12-month (rent-free) lease but it did mean we didn't have to be doing all that renovation work with the constant pressure of a conventional lease and its costs over our heads. "I always had this figure of [us needing] $250,000 capital to get this off the ground so, I mean, this is just amazing as it eliminates all the stress of having to cash-flow that first year's lease cost." Paul Crozier says the basement's landlord had previously been asking $20,000 plus outgoings for a conventional lease. "It has probably saved us about $25,000-plus, to seal the deal, we needed more toilets under regulations, a cost of $10,000 to $15,000, but Renewal Adelaide came to our assistance to cover that cost. "Also, we have run it so lean these past few months, as I was there a lot on my own, so we've operated without heavy wage costs and that has allowed us to keep prices down too, which has helped us build our clientele.

This is just amazing as it eliminates all the stress of having to cash-flow that first year's lease cost. Paul Crozier "I'd say we have saved about $50,000. We are already looking for our second business." Boundy says Renew Adelaide "works to leverage start-up businesses through short-term, rent-free leases". "This approach  frees them up to focus on learning their customers, products, services and systems," Boundy says. Working from the 'Coffice'

Ryan Ebert, and business partner David Hall, estimates the physiotherapists and directors of PHW Group saved more than $20,000 in office lease costs last year because of "innovative thinking". The national company offers occupational physiotherapy, workplace training and ergonomic office design. It launched in August 2014. Last financial year it turned over between $250,000 and $500,000, Ebert reports. "The business has grown from a working-from-home and local cafes' [operation] using software such as Trello, Dropbox, Skype and other cloud-based resources to service workplaces across Australia then, as we grew, we started using The Yarraville Club [in Melbourne] to run training events, strategic planning meeting days and saved costs there," Ebert says. As the business grew, however, by 2016 permanent, albeit frugal, commercial bricks and mortar was needed.

Ebert says "thinking out of the square" resulted in a mutually beneficial inner city co-working space that "trims" lease costs while giving the SME a suite. "We thought we could combine marketing costs and save on leasing costs by partnering with [co-working space] Inspire9 and committed to build a section of their workplace as a showcase of our health-focused office design service," Ebert explains. "While there has been a bit of upfront cost, we were able to relocate our management team to the office premises and this out of the box thinking meant we combined marketing costs and leasing into one, essentially halving both of them." There's a start-up for that It's hardly surprising a bunch of start-ups are emerging, all busting to help other start-ups save money on their digs.

Ronan Bray, director of Popupshopup, says his business links start-ups with short-term premises via a portal "simple as booking a hotel room". He founded it with Daniel Rainone last year. He says it gives businesses access to space from $1 a day including legal and insurance costs. In less than a full year its turnover is "close to $100,000". "A retail space in West Perth, not in the CBD, is currently available for $59,850 per annum, which does not include GST or outgoings," Bray says, to illustrate potential savings. "[In comparison] a space on Popupshopup in the heart of Perth CBD, can be leased for one day to six months for $90 per day, which includes GST and outgoings."

Mike Rosenbaum, formerly with Deals Direct, spun off to start Spacer in 2015. The chief executive says the share platform "connects people who have space with people who need space" and can save small businesses "up to 50 per cent" on storage space. "For example a typical garage, which is 15 metres by 16 metres is going to be around $350 around the CBD in Sydney [via Spacer]; to get a commercial self-storage near CBD areas will be double that, so around $700," Rosenbaum says. "Business owners, particularly in CBD locations like Melbourne and Sydney, are paying a premium for rental space  [and] typically have to streamline their offices. "They don't want to spend $1000 a square metre filing things they don't need all the time in a premium A-grade office."

Daniel Battaglia, founder and chief executive of e-market Parking Made Easy, has never had a fixed business premises. The decision to snub formal offices was made before he hung his shingle in 2011. "Yes, that decision was made pre-launch," says the Sydney business owner. "I have been working from co-working spaces, cafes, libraries, other entrepreneur/business offices who I collaborate with, all of my team including developers, marketers, accountants and lawyers are all working virtually and the same for them; co-working spaces, home, cafes etc. Some I haven't even met in person. It wasn't a big leap for me to make." Battaglia tallies savings of "at least" $50,000 each year because he uses virtual offices.
While the residents of Werribee South are up in arms about plans to build a $288 million youth detention centre in their neighbourhood, the locals in Parkville are sorry to see the old "juvie" go.

The youth justice centre is "the nicest neighbour you could have," says Peter Iliades, who lives across the road from the compound on leafy Park Street with his wife Athena and three daughters.

"There are no wild parties, very quiet," he says. "Living here with three young girls, I would be the person who would be most worried if there was anything to fear. There has been no criminality here or noise that ruins one's serenity."

The 3000 residents who rallied on Monday night to oppose the new prison were "overreacting," says Lee Naish, who has lived alongside the centre for 16 years with his wife Donna De Palma in one of the coveted suburb's period homes.
The student's fist came out of nowhere, slicing through the air towards the principal's face.

"You never expect it to happen and when it does, it's a shock," Dennis Yarrington says.

Dennis Yarrington narrowly avoided being punched while working as a principal. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

More than one in three principals experienced physical violence at school in 2016, according to the country's largest survey of principal health. This is up from 27 per cent the previous year.
The cruise ship stranded in Melbourne after a mechanical failure is set to hit the high seas four days after it became adrift off the coast of Victoria, but not before a series of tests in the bay.

The Norwegian Star was pulled out to sea by two tug boats on Tuesday afternoon, headed for Auckland where it is expected to arrive in four days.

However, the giant cruise liner will spend the first hours of its journey undertaking mandatory sea tests. It will perform a giant U-turn in Port Phillip Bay to check its seaworthiness.

The ship, carrying 2000 passengers, lost engine power about 30 kilometres off Victoria's east coast last Friday after departing Sydney on February 6.
A woman has been sexually assaulted while waiting for an Uber car in Fitzroy.

Police have been told the 33-year-old was waiting for a car on Brunswick Street about 1.30am on January 9, when an unknown man approached the woman and sexually assaulted her.

A man armed with a knife has threatened a female postal worker in Kingston at lunch time on Monday. Credit:Marina Neil/Fairfax Media

The car arrived about 30 seconds later and the woman was able to get in and get away.

The offender, who was wearing a dark-coloured hooded jumper, fled.
WA's deadly floods have claimed a second victim, with the body of a missing 74-year-old found on Tuesday, two days after his abandoned vehicle was found submerged under a bridge.

Police said Anthony Reid was found deceased by family members about three kilometres south of the South Coast Highway, 150 kilometres from Esperance in Jerdacuttup.

SES volunteers and police searching for the missing man, now confirmed dead, on Monday. Credit:WA Police

He had been driving to Ravensthorpe on his way through to Perth on Saturday but called his wife to say he was returning home because he was having engine trouble on the flooded roads.

Mr Reid's car was found submerged in the Jerdacuttup River at 6am on Sunday.
Trump's top aides Jared Kushner and Steve Bannon have clashed have clashed repeatedly in recent weeks. Credit:Doug Mills Yates was accompanied by a senior career national security official when she alerted McGahn. What we don't know is who McGahn subsequently shared that information with and what he did after the meeting. He didn't respond to a request for comment last night from reporters. "It's unimaginable that the White House general counsel would sit on it [and] not tell anybody else in the White House," said David Gergen, who worked in the Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Clinton administrations. "In every White House I've ever been in, this would go to the president like that," he added during an interview on CNN, snapping his fingers. Donald Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Credit:AP If McGahn did indeed tell others, especially the president, how come Flynn kept his job until last night?

4. What is the status of the FBI investigation into possible contacts between Trump associates and Russia? FBI Director James Comey initially opposed Yates notifying McGahn, citing concerns that it could complicate the bureau's ongoing investigation. "A turning point came after January 23, when [Sean] Spicer, in his first official media briefing, again was asked about Flynn's communications with [Ambassador Sergey] Kislyak," Adam, Ellen and Phil report. "Spicer said that he had talked to Flynn about the issue 'again last night.' There was just 'one call,' Spicer said. And it covered four subjects: a plane crash that claimed the lives of a Russian military choir; Christmas greetings; Russian-led talks over the Syrian civil war; and the logistics of setting up a call between Putin and Trump. Spicer said that was the extent of the conversation. Yates again raised the issue with Comey, who now backed away from his opposition to informing the White House." Yates then spoke to McGahn. 5. Will Spicer and Pence apologise for making false statements to the American people? There is no doubt that both men would have called on their counterparts in the Obama administration to do so if the shoe was on the other foot, even if the falsehoods were unintentional. Their future credibility depends on coming clean and being contrite. In his resignation letter, Flynn noted that he apologised to Pence and others: "Because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador. I have sincerely apologised to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology." Will those he apologised to pay it forward to the rest of us? 6. Will Flynn face prosecution under the Logan Act? Yates and other intelligence officials suspected that Flynn could be in violation of the obscure US 1799 statute, which bars American citizens from interfering in diplomatic disputes with another country. But no one has ever been prosecuted under that law, so it is very, very unlikely. Another mitigating factor: Jeff Sessions got confirmed as attorney general despite refusing to commit to recuse himself from DOJ inquiries into Trump and other administration officials.

7. What will the Senate Intelligence Committee uncover about contacts Flynn and others affiliated with Trump had with Russia before the election? US intelligence reports during the 2016 campaign showed that Kislyak was in touch with Flynn, several sources have said. Communications between the two continued after November 8. The Russian ambassador has even confirmed having contacts with Flynn before and after the election, though he declined to say what was discussed. The committee led by Chairman Richard Burr is continuing to explore Russian efforts to interfere with the election, including the intelligence community's assessment that the Kremlin was attempting to tilt the election to Trump. Senator Marco Rubio, a member of the committee, told reporters a few hours before Flynn resigned that his contacts with the Russian ambassador are part of the bipartisan inquiry. "This and anything else that involves the Russians," Rubio said. "We're going to go wherever the truth leads us." 8. Who replaces Flynn? Trump has named Keith Kellogg, a decorated retired Army lieutenant general, as acting national security adviser. Sources say that he is one of three candidates Trump is considering as a permanent replacement. The others are former CIA director David Petraeus and Vice Admiral Robert Harward, a former deputy commander of the US Central Command. Two White House sources say that Harward emerged overnight as the front-runner to get the post. (Pence is leading the discussions.) He is seen as a safe and steady, low-profile consensus pick, which is appealing after the tumult that swirled around Flynn. Harward worked on the NSC during George W. Bush's presidency, focused on counterterrorism strategy. He's from Rhode Island and attended the Naval Academy in Annapolis. He's worked on SEAL teams and was a commander in Afghanistan and Iraq. If Trump settles on Harward  always an "if" with Trump  that's a huge win for Jim Mattis. Harward served under the secretary of defence back when he was at Central Command and remains both an ally and friend. Harward has been under consideration as a possible undersecretary of defense for intelligence.
In his resignation letter, Flynn said that in fast pace of events he had inadvertently briefed Vice President Mike Pence with incomplete information about Russian contacts.

Washington: US National Security Adviser Michael Flynn has resigned after reports he misled Trump administration officials about his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the US.

"In the course of my duties as the incoming national security adviser, I held numerous phone calls with foreign counterparts, ministers and ambassadors," the letter said.

"These calls were to facilitate a smooth transition and begin to build the necessary relationships between the President, his advisors and foreign leaders. Such calls are standard practice in any transition of this magnitude.

"Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the Vice President-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador. I have sincerely apologised to the President and the Vice President and they have accepted my apology.

"Throughout my over 30 years of honourable military service and my tenure as a national security adviser, I've always performed my duties with the utmost of integrity and honesty to those I have served.

"I am tendering my resignation, honoured to have served our nation and the American people in such a distinguished way. I am also extremely honoured to have served President Trump, who in just three weeks has reoriented American foreign policy in fundamental ways to restore America's leadership position in the world.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 13/02/2017 (2092 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The flow of individuals from the United States into Canada continues near Emerson.

RCMP reported on Monday afternoon that two groups of people were intercepted crossing the border near Emerson overnight. One group of four individuals and a second group of three individuals were found to have illegally crossed the border.

Another 21 people crossed the border overnight on Friday, a day after a town hall meeting in Emerson brought together municipal officials, RCMP and Canada Border Services members for a discussion on a how to respond to the growing number of individuals attempting to enter the country from the U.S.

There have been a total of 69 such border crossings since the start of the year, the majority of which have occurred in the last two weeks.
So far, the apocalyptic Donald Trump administration has felt like a plot line cribbed straight from the DC cinematic universe, complete with under-developed characters, creepy villains and rampant confusion. But thanks to a Twitter feud between Captain America and a real-life Nazi, were actually stuck in the middle of a Marvel film. Baby steps, people.

Last Wednesday, Hollywood everyman Chris Evans (not to be confused with Pratt, Hemsworth, and/or the star of La La Land), set himself apart from self-righteous celebrity Twitter by bagging a virtual feud with a real-life eugenicist. It all began with the confirmation of Jeff Sessions, a man whom Coretta Scott King may or may not have endorsed for Attorney General (depending on if youre asking Coretta Scott King or Sean Spicer). After former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke tweeted out a message of support for the extremely problematic Sessions, Evans picked up his proverbial Captain America shieldmore likely, an iPhone or Androidopining that if David Duke thinks youre right, then you are unequivocally wrong. This hot take earned Evans over 21,000 retweets, illustrating once again the many benefits of tweeting while chiseled. Not one to ignore the invocation of his own nameespecially when recited into a mirror three timesDuke immediately appeared in Evans mentions, calling the Captain America star a typical dumb actor. Sick burn, Duke.

Next, Evans shared a list of 25 of Dukes most offensive quotes. It took David Duke three days to download the Picstitch app and build his clap back, but boy did he ever. On Sunday, the ardent Trump supporter tweeted out four pictures of Evans standing next to several women, including ex-girlfriend Jenny Slate and Oscar-nominated actress Naomie Harris. He captioned this meticulous collage Why does Chris Evans, who plays the Jewish inspired super hero, Captain America, hate the women of his people so much?

We may never know why Evans hate[s] the women of his people so much, because that question is dumb, ludicrous, and nonsensical. However, Dukes claims about Captain Americas Semitic ancestry actually point us towards a fascinating origin story. Captain America was created in 1940 by two Jews, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby (Jacob Kurtzberg). With his blonde hair and blue eyes, the hero was built to represent the Aryan ideal, but with a crucial twistCaptain America was imagined as the bane of Nazi Germany. In Captain America Comics #1, the patriotic soldier was portrayed punching Adolf Hitler. Thats right, kidspunching Nazis is actually an age-old American pastime. Simon noted that, When the first issue came out we got a lot of ... threatening letters and hate mail. Some people really opposed what Cap stood for. Nevertheless, he and Kirby felt very good about making a political statement and taking a stand. As World War II raged on, Captain America went on to become a comic book standoutthat first issue alone sold nearly a million copies.

So when Evans first signed up to play Captain America in 2011, he tapped into a long history of righteous resistance. In fact, the first big nemesis that Evans came up against in Captain America: The First Avenger was Red Skull, a supervillain who works a day job as Adolf Hitlers head of advanced weaponry. Of course, at that point, few of us envisioned an American neo-Nazi resurgence. David Duke, with his artificial visage and atrocious politics, makes a convincing real-world Red Skull. But while the fictional Captain America likely would have fought back with an explosive master plan, Evans unleashed some platitudes instead. He responded to Dukes provocation with pointed advice: I don't hate them. That's YOUR method. I love. Try it. It's stronger than hate. It unites us. I promise its in you under the anger and fear. In 2017, Captain America is preaching self-reflection and solidarity on your Twitter timeline.

Evans Captain America was last seen in 2016s Captain America: Civil War. More recently, the actor made headlines after an amicable split with actress Jenny Slate. Yes, Slate is Jewish. No, thats probably not the only reason Evans doesnt like Nazis. The underreported-ly woke actor has also spoken out for gun control, and voiced opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline and Donald Trumps immigration policies. Apparently, many heroes actually do wear capes. Then again, hes a Patriots fan.
Stephen Colbert is ready to grill White House senior adviser Stephen Miller. And after some comments Miller made on the Sunday shows this weekend, Colbert thinks he might have his chance.

Miller spent his Sunday morning defending the presidents super-crazy charges of voter fraud, as Colbert put it. But while President Trump has claimed that he only lost New Hampshire because thousands of voters were bused in from neighboring Massachusetts, his senior adviser only kinda, sorta had the evidence to back that up.

Appearing on ABC News This Week on Sunday morning, Miller told host George Stephanopoulos his show was not the proper venue to lay out all of the evidence. Colbert shot back, OK, how about some of the evidence? Maybe any of the evidence?

Miller did suggest that Stephanopoulos speak to Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, but when he appeared on CNN earlier on Monday, he was similarly unable to provide any evidence.

The Late Show host was most intrigued, however, by Millers vow to go on any show, anywhere, anytime to assert that Trump is 100 percent correct in his baseless claims of widespread voter fraud.

Any show, anytime, anywhere? Colbert asked. Great! How about the Late Show, tomorrow, at the Ed Sullivan Theater?

To prove that Miller was up to the challenge, Colbert showed footage of him defending Trumps bogus claims on The Big Bang Theory, The Walking Dead, and as Eleven on Stranger Things.
A federal judge in Virginia just handed down one of the biggest defeats yet to President Donald Trumps travel ban. Judge Leonie Brinkema issued a preliminary injunction barring enforcement of the ban in Virginia until it can be fully argued out in court. That means it could be weeks or months before overseas travelers are again blocked from coming into the country via Virginias international airports.

The case pitted the federal government, represented by lawyers from the Justice Departments Civil Division, against the Commonwealth of Virginia, represented by State Solicitor General Stuart Raphael and Attorney General Mark Herring.

The 9th Circuit Court in San Francisco last week kept in place a temporary restraining order that a federal judge in Seattle issued against the order. That courts ruling kept the travel ban from being enforced anywhere in the U.S., but it is only temporary. Brinkemas order, meanwhile, will block the enforcement of the order in Virginia until any trial is doneat least.

Unlike temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions can become permanent. Some legal experts say the fact that Brinkema has issued this injunction means the Virginia case could potentially reach the Supreme Court before the Washington casea possibility that reporters brought up to Herring when he held a press conference after the last round of oral arguments in that case on Feb. 10.

In her ruling, Brinkema wrote that its likely Virginia will successfully argue that Trumps travel ban violates the First Amendment. The ruling cited Trumps interview with Christian Broadcasting Networks David Brody, where the president said his administration would prioritize the asylum claims of Christian refugees over refugees of other religions.

The Muslim ban was a centerpiece of the presidents campaign for months, she wrote, and the press release calling for it was still available on his website as of the day this Memorandum Opinion is being entered.

And she wrote that just because the travel ban doesnt impact all Muslims doesnt mean it isnt discriminatory.

[T]he Supreme Court has never reduced its Establishment Clause jurisprudence to a mathematical exercise, she wrote. It is a discriminatory purpose that matters, no matter how inefficient the execution.

And the execution certainly had problems. At Dulles Airport the weekend after the ban was implemented, travelers from the seven banned countriesincluding green card holders, who have the legal right to live in the United Stateswere detained for hours. The airports international arrivals area filled with protesters, volunteer lawyers, and fearful family members, all hoping the people detained would eventually be let out. The same scene played out at airports around the country, until federal judgesincluding Brinkemaissued temporary restraining orders blocking the enforcement of Trumps ban.

Tonights preliminary injunction means the legal fight over the ban is as intense as ever.
With their constant complaints about critical reportingwhich they insist on branding as fake newsPresident Trump and his minions have shown no reluctance to fabricate factoids or attempt to delegitimize journalism as an institution.

But Mondays joint White House press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau represented a new breach in what is already, after a mere 24 days of the Trump administration, a dysfunctional relationship between the president and the press.

At yesterdays confab in the gold-curtained East Room, Trump called on two U.S. reporters, and only two, from apparently supportive outletsthe Daily Caller and Sinclair Televisionand was rewarded with vaguely posed softball questions that made zero news.

I think they [the White House communications operation] make themselves look as though they are unable to risk having the president being asked questions that he would find unwelcome, said Emmy-winning independent television correspondent Simon Marks of the Washington-based Feature Story News. My concern is the steady chipping-away of the sense of accountability and the chipping-away of institutions at the heart of the democratic process.

Marks added: Its ignoring the people in the room who will ask substantive questions and instead going to people who are going to questions like, Is there anything else youd like to say, Mr. President?  I suspect they think that is a successful strategy, but at the end of the day they dont ultimately evade the questions.

The two lucky reporters were the Daily Callers White House correspondent, Kaitlan Collins, and Scott Thuman, chief political correspondent for Sinclair Televisions more than 150 stations, including the Washington, D.C., ABC affiliate WJLA.

How do you see this relationship playing out? Thuman asked Trump about U.S.-Canadian diplomacyhardly a national headline-makerwhile inviting Trudeau to compare his countrys relations with Trump to those Canada enjoyed with the Obama administration.

Now that youve been in office and received intelligence briefings for nearly one month, what do you see as the most important national security matters facing us? asked Collins, who then encouraged Trudeau to say whether he believes President Trumps moratorium on immigration has merit on national security grounds.

As the president and his guest exited the East Room, Trump seemed to have heard but ignored the question that has dominated coverage over the past three days, shouted out by ABC Newss Jonathan Karl: Does Trump still have confidence in his national security adviser, retired Army General Michael Flynn, who is under fire for allegedly discussing U.S. sanctions before Trump took office with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, and then claiming otherwise to Vice President Mike Pence, among other top officials who were publicly embarrassed after going on television to defend Flynn. Flynn resigned hours later Monday evening.

Whats more, nobody got a chance to ask about the latest missile test by North Korea, and whether its true, as widely reported, that Trump and his aides reviewed sensitive classified documents about the missile launch in front of waiters and dinner guests at Mar-a-Lago while sitting with the Japanese prime minister.

Trump wraps up the most disgraceful White House press conference in memory, taking only two questions from US outlets, both loyal, Marks tweeted.

Both @WLJA and @TheDailyCaller should be ashamed. @ScottThuman and @kaitlancollins. Disgraceful, Marks added.

By handpicking reporters, tweeted Peter Baker of The New York Times, Trump manages to get through news conference without being asked about Flynn.

And ABCs Karl tweeted: A total of 6 Qs at Trump press conferences so far:

- 3 to news orgs owned by [Trumps friend Rupert] Murdoch

- 1 to Daily Caller

- 1 to Sinclair

- 1 to Reuters.

Karl declined to comment further.

Collins, of the right-leaning Daily Caller, told The Daily Beast in a Twitter direct message: Personnel questions are interesting, but our readers want substance. They dont want Washington bullshit. They want to know where the next war is going to be. Why would I even go to the press conference if were all supposed to ask the same question?

Sinclairs Thuman didnt respond to a request for comment. Thumans company has denied striking a deal with the Trump campaign for access to the candidate in exchange for sympathetic coveragean alleged arrangement touted by Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner, now a top White House adviser, during a December meeting with business executives.

Former CBS News reporter Sharyl Attkisson, who frequently appears with Thuman on her weekly syndicated program Full Measure, defended both her colleague and his question.

Im all for asking tough questions at presidential opportunities and White House briefings, and have sat on the sidelines, frustrated, on many occasions over the years as it felt like some of those called upon in the press corps seemed to avoid asking basic questions on important issues of the day. So I understand the frustration, Attkisson told The Daily Beast.

But we in the press have to get used to the idea that we are not a monolithic group of single-minded purpose and thought working toward one common goal, Attkisson added. While some of us may see our job as agreeing upon the top question or two to ask the president to serve what we see as our needs and our audience, others of us may see our job as to ask the president questions related to the stories we are working on for our particular audience.

These two purposes may not always intersect and I understand that can be very frustrating. But bullying and demonizing one another, to the extent any of that has occurred, probably isnt going to help anything.

Simon Marks, meanwhile, noted that White House press secretary Sean Spicer (who also didnt respond to a request for comment) has shaken up the protocols of the briefing room by calling on conservative outlets and foreign reporters before he recognizes the broadcast and cable networks and major wire services sitting in the front row and previously accustomed to going first.

I think theres absolutely nothing wrong with the broadening the number of reporters who get an opportunity to ask questions of the president of the United States, provided there is a broad understanding that this being done to better the array of news outletsas opposed to it being done to avoid difficult and unwelcome questions, Marks said.

Everybody watching that news conferences understands that the president called on those reporters because he didnt want to answer questions about Michael Flynn. He didnt want to answer uncomfortable questions about what went on at Mar-a-Lago over the weekend They know those reporters are just very, very unlikely to ask those questions.
Department of Homeland Security staffers have spent a decade convincing community organizations and non-profits that their effort to counter violent extremism was an opportunity to help, and not a covert program to spy on Muslims. Three weeks into the Trump administration, some worry it was all a waste.

Four community organizations have declined $2 million in funding over concerns that a countering violent extremism, or CVE, program under Trump would unfairly put Muslim communities under surveillance. Other groups are unsure if they will follow suit. A third setprimarily focused on deradicalizing white nationalists and other domestic extremistsis unsure whether they will ever see any of the promised funds. After all, the Trump administration is expected to change the name and focus of the effort to concentrate solely on Islamic extremism.

Meanwhile, the tight-knit group of DHS staffers is anxious and worried about Trumps rhetoric on Islam and CVE, a former homeland security official who worked on counter-radicalization programs told The Daily Beast. They spent years cultivating relationships with community partners, but inflammatory language from the Trump administration may all but torpedo ties with those best equipped to carry out the effort.

CVE expansion under the last administration culminated in a $10 million grant program for community organizations, local governments, and local law enforcement agencies. Thirty-one granteesmany of whom had long-standing relationships with DHSwere announced in January, days before Trump took office. But four grantees have already turned down the funds amid Trumps executive order banning travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries.

DHS staffers have been trying to dissociate CVE from a compulsive focus on Islam since the George W. Bush administration, the ex-official said.

One, you didnt want to play into the [jihadist] narrative that the West is at war with Islam and you as a Muslim are targeted, he said. And then number two, looking at that violent extremism is carried out in all forms, and now in this country. Unfortunately, were seeing violent white supremacists, violent sovereign citizens, violent neo-nazis, and even violent anti-fascists all threatening acts of political mayhem.

But Trumps administration is stocked with people like Steve Bannon and Sebastian Gorka, who play into the clash-of-civilizations narrative. Bannon, who now sits on the principals committee of the National Security Council, once even outlined a movie that warned of an Islamic takeover of the United States. And Gorka, now an adviser focusing on national security, wrote for Bannons far-right Breitbart News and declared that ISIS was using refugees to funnel jihad into America.

And organizations devoted to the communities they serve dont want to damage that relationship by accepting money tainted with bias or suggestions of surveillance. But now, those who went out on a limb to trust DHS and apply for a grant might get burned, the former DHS official said.

The grants and grantees are currently under review in Secretary John Kellys office, according to the former official. Whether theyll be disbursed or returned to the drawing board remains unclear.

The Department of Homeland Security did not return a request for comment.

The first to pull out of the DHS program was a Dearborn, Michigan-based non-profit called Leaders Advancing and Helping Communities. It was granted $500,000 to run youth development programs. The executive board voted to pull out earlythe day before Trump announced his controversial executive order. And they have no regrets.

Were very thankful for the decision that we made, Suehaila Amen, an executive board member for LAHC, told The Daily Beast. What matters first and foremost to our organization are the communities that we serve.

The Virginia-based Unity Productions Foundation told donors it was turning down $396,585 due to the changes brought by the new administration. Its director of programs, Daniel Tutt, declined to comment further to The Daily Beast.

Ka Joog, an non-profit that works with Somali-American youth in Minneapolis, turned down another half-million-dollar grant after Somalia appeared as one of the seven countries restricted by the executive order.

I know its a lot of money but it all comes down to principle. They are promoting a cancerous ideology that is promoting divisions and we dont want to be a part of that, director Mohamed Farah told a local TV station.

And most recently, an Islamic graduate program at Claremont Graduate University turned down $800,000, a sum thats more than half of its annual budget.

[Its] a heck of a lot of money, (but) our mission and our vision is to serve the community and to bring our community to a position of excellence, Bayan Claremont president Jihad Turk said. And if were compromised, even if only by perception in terms of our standing in the community, we ultimately cant achieve that goal.

Other organizations skeptical of the Trump administrations approach told The Daily Beast that while they havent yet turned down the grant, theyre not certain if the promised money will even materialize.

We have not received any funds, Salam Al-Marayati, the president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, told The Daily Beast. We have not even received any direct communication on those funds.

Al-Marayati said MPAC is awaiting an official change in the administrations policy to decide what to do. But the purpose of their grant, nearly $400,000, was to create state-level teams of social workers, mental health professionals, and religious leaders to create a safe, non-law enforcement space.

We cherish the program, we dont want it to be tainted by the anti-Muslim rhetoric of the Trump administration, Al-Marayati said. And thats why were keeping all options openlegal, political, and legislative.

Tony McAleer, Executive Director of Life After Hate, a grantee that focuses on white nationalist and far right movements, worries more about whether his group will actually see any of the $400,000 theyve been awarded for facilitating interventions through social media.

If the Trump administration decides to reserve funding exclusively for groups concentrated on Islam, they may never see a penny of it, McAleer told The Daily Beast from a CVE conference in Berlin. He rattled off a list of violent far right supremacistsDylann Roof, the man who carried out the Oak Creek massacre, and the recent mosque shooting in Canadato illustrate the need for interventions in that sphere.

The overarching guiding principle that we use when we look at this is, does this help or hinder us working with the people that were trying to serve? And its easy for me to see that for some groups taking the grant would actually hinder their ability to serve, McAleer said. Dealing with the far right side, I dont think taking the grant would have that much of a difference.

Long-time skeptics of counter-radicalization efforts, on the other hand, are saying the new developments are no surprise.

This was clearly to be expected once the Trump administration suggested that it was going to switch from targeting extremism of all types [] to exclusively targeting Islam and Muslims, Council on American Islamic Relations spokesman Ibrahim Hooper told The Daily Beast. It was quite a natural development to reject what could perceived as a single minded attack on Islam and Muslims.

The organization has been a vocal opponent of all types of CVE programing, even under the Obama administration, and is a frequent target for critics of Islam on the far right.

Even the previous program, it was kind of a wink and a nod, well throw in a few white separatists, Hooper said. But now the veil has been torn off this facade.
The signposts are freshly paintedNO TPP; BREXIT; CALEXITbut the road turning off from globalization is a well-known one. The Trump Administration and Republican Congress are going down it at a steady, accelerating pace.

The signposts up ahead also point to recognizable danger. The next epoch in a cycle that recorded civilization has followed predictably for at least five thousand years is tribal savagery, also known as wars of identity.

What indicates that we are doomed to repeat the tragedy of decline and fall of global comity? The examples are like clues to an Agatha Christie whodunit wherein everyone turns out to be guilty.

Begin with the domestic expressions of America First in the Trump White House. The administration communicates correctly that it was elected on the promise of ending arguably unfair trade treaties not only with adversaries such as China but also with allies such as Canada, Japan, Australia, and Mexico.

The administration is also following through on its promise to close the U.S. gates to a list of untrusted identities. The nationalities include unstable suspects from the Muslim world, but the logic of raising a drawbridge points to the lists growing to include everyone who cannot prove a negative, that his or her origins are riskless.

Also, the rhetorical contest over who pays for building a wall along the Mexican border is an expression of extreme distrust toward the non-English-speaking regions of the New World.

Surprisingly, the Democratic and Progressive opposition to the Trump Administrations Republican-endorsed anti-globalization policies looks a lot like identity conflict within the U.S. borders.

Californias Secretary of State has ruled that the Yes California group can gather signatures to present a 2018 ballot that will start the CALEXIT process of allowing the whole state to vote to leave the union. This is overt secession as well as another version of closing borders, raising barriers, fearing outside identities. Polling says that 1 in 3 Californians supports departure.

CALEXIT is also a philosophical rejection of the written Constitution of the worlds oldest democracy. The ballot will ask for endorsement to remove the guarantee in the California Constitution that the state is an inseparable part of the United States of America, and the United States Constitution is the supreme law of the land.

Long before possible secession, just achieving the ballot with the fact of the necessary half a million signatures will communicate that the vineyard of liberty is withering along the Pacific.

The sanctuary cities phenomenon is another domestic illustration of identity separatism within these still somewhat United States.

The Trump administration has declared that it will deny critical fundinga siege tacticto any municipality that defies national policy on undocumented immigrants.

New Yorks Mayor Bill de Blasio responded as if wearing armor atop the walls of his fortress, Were going to defend all of our people regardless of where they come from, regardless of their immigration status.

Bostons Mayor Martin Walsh sang out the romance of religious sanctuary. To anyone who feels threatened today, or vulnerable, you are safe in Boston. Walsh then constructed a last redoubt of the imagination against Washington, If necessary, we will use City Hall itself to shelter and protect anyone whos targeted unjustly.

Overseas, the end of this current globalization epochdating from the 1945 UN, the 1947 GATT, the 1948 NATO, the 1949 Marshall Plan, the 1950 UN war in Koreais starkly obvious in Europe and Asia. The beggaring of the European Union and the rusting of NATO are symptoms, not causes, of anti-globalization.

BREXIT has restored the island of Great Britain to its natural defenses to be surrounded by the legendary wall of oak of the Royal Navy. Prime Minister Theresa May is openly searching for a restoration of the special relationship with the U.S., perhaps to reawaken the long dreamed about Anglosphere league of well-armed and prickly democracies.

Continental Europe is fragmenting into national and cultural identities that can appear to be a recapitulation of the last four centuries of imperial mayhem.

Frances anti-globalization trend likely dissuaded the socialist Francois Hollande from even running for re-election and now has raised the possibility of that nation electing Front National Marine Le Pen and her nationalist slogan, Au nom du people (in the name of the people).

Germanys pending election puts Chancellor Angela Merkel under extreme pressure to demonstrate gate-keeping by reversing her unpopular order to usher in Middle Eastern and African refugees. Merkel is also squeezed between the Trump Administrations demand for trade balance with the heavily exporting Germany and the Kremlins demand that Germany agree to an end to sanctions over the annexation of Crimea.

There is no better European example of the old ways of tribal ferocity than in the endlessly hostile Balkans, where Serbia, humiliated by NATO in 1998, is now provoking Kosovo in what looks to be a campaign to reclaim its lost province with the battle flag, Kosovo Is Serbia.

In Asia, the Peoples Republic of China practices teeth-bared annexation in the South China Sea while denouncing the U.S. as an outside aggressor and warning Taiwan that the day of reconquest is closer if it continues to treat with Trump.

As Japan rearms, its response to Chinas militarizing islands in the South China Sea is to distribute Coast Guard vessels to Vietnam and to welcome the forward basing of Americas fifth generation F-35 warplane along with the overtasked but dominating firepower of the Pacific Fleet.

The clearest example of the end of globalization in Asia is that the PRC, while claiming fair trade, is freshly defeating longstanding methods to bypass the Great Firewall, thus cutting off Chinas markets and entrepreneurs from information and trade. As China closes down access to foreign investors and enterprises, Chinese capital flight accelerates to dollar havens in North America.

What is the worst-case scenario of the present rush away from globalization and toward the violence of the supremacy of identity?

I highly recommend a new telling of the Great War, Robert Gaudis African Kaiser: General Paul Von Lettow-Vorbeck and the Great War in Africa, 1914-1918. Gaudi provides astonishing facts of ignominy, massacre and a complete absence of reason nearly five thousand miles from the battlefields of France and Belgium by hundreds of thousands of African, Asian and European soldiers who had no hope of gaining anything for themselves or their families.

The lesson I take is that, once globalization ends, it is possible that there is no stopping before the worst-case destination on the horizon.
In the conservative commentariat and intellectual classes, the deal with the devil that is Trumpism seems increasingly complete. Stalwart conservatives who for yearsin some cases decadesdefended the principles of limited government, personal liberty, and strict adherence to the Constitution have hiked their skirts and dropped their panties, swooning as Big Donnie Trump talks dirty to the media.

In a depressing twist, many members of my party and ideological persuasion have become advocates for Donald Trump on a scale that ranges from grudging to toadying, for a simple reason that seems to overwhelm all other factors: He attacks the media. Many are willing to forgive almost any sin because of it.

All it took to break the spirit of far too many in the conservative class was for Trump to leaven his deranged, autocratic rantings with fake news and duh librul media bait to compromise the ideals and credibility of a large swath of the conservative firmament. People who think of themselves as being smarter than the average bag of hammers are missing that theyre the just the latest victims of the Trump Con.

We now routinely see a formulation something like this:, Well, Trump isn't perfect, but at least he's attacking the media. It's the haute-bourgeois pleasure of watching someone else to do your dueling.

For decades, the rallying cry on the right was: If only we could overcome the liberal media monoculture, the truth and strength of our ideas would finally break through. If only we could really be heard on economic matters, on foreign affairs, and on race, the Republican Party and conservatism would finally get a fair hearing in the minds of the American people. It wouldnt have to be a zero-sum game of replacing one set of biases with another; the rightness of our ideas would carry the day.

But in a White House press room that includes staff writers for Infowars and Breitbart in press conferences, the Trump Administration isnt looking for up-the-middle coverage; theyre looking for partners in the fake news explosion that helped Trump win the election. Conservative writers and thinkers who look away from the creepy authoritarianism, apocalyptic religious war fantasies, lavish corruption, overt economic statism, and general ineptitude simply because Trump snubs the established press arent doing the movement any favors.

Lets be clear; the mainstream media deserves a kick in the ass so hard they reach orbital velocity for their professional missteps, insularity, ideological blinders, vast self-regard, and occasional outright malice against conservatives. However, as a justification for every one of Trumps failings, reveling in their misery falls wildly short of the mark. Its certainly not enough for the movement once graced by the ideas of Burke, Hayek, Kirk, and Buckley to sell so cheaply.

Its not an argument for mainstream media malpractice, Obama, Clinton, social justice silliness, George Soros, or the Pentaverate to say that imitating the worst behavior of the liberal elements of the national media doesnt honor the ideals we claim to serve. Instead, it makes a mockery of our ideas if we believe our a Trump-centric media monoculture is a positive outcome.

Yes, in 2008, the media lost their collective minds in a paroxysm of Obama-driven adulation. The superlatives flowed in an ridiculous, flowery stream of praise that bordered at times on the creepy. Yes, the One was a media absurdity. I remember emailing a reporter a snarky note after reading one of her pieces, Are you practicing writing Mrs. Katherine Obama in loopy script in your mash book? (Name changed to protect the embarrassed.)

Obama was referred to in terms so glowing, so fulsome, so toadying that it was easy to pin down the journalist class of 2008 as a group of fangirls squeeing and fainting at his every utterance. That nearly mindless adulation was still a strong element in Obama's coverage until he walked out of the Oval Office. Conservatives rightly mocked it, while recognizing that the normative power of media and pop culture had combined in one fell swoop to overcome Barack Obamas thin resume, his lack of experience, and questions about his ideological underpinnings.

Now, though, writers who just two years ago would have torn the bark off Barack Obama for picking winners and losers or for advocating some form of pie-in-the-sky everyone gets covered single-payer-ish health care plan today direct a large fraction of their ire to media outlets scrambling to find a way to process the election and governance of Trump. Rather than examine his daily assaults on conservative values, common sense, and that little thing we used to value called the truth they look politiely away as conservatives who have for decades sung the praises of free trade, low tariffs, and multilateral trade agreements now mutely nod at the brute stupidity of Trumpian economic populism... because at least hes battering CNN, The New York Times, and BuzzFeed, right?

Of course, intellectual conservatism is a fairly small pool in the great scheme of things. What really mattered then and now is that a half-dozen gatekeepers in the conservative movement decided Trump would be lucrative fodder for their audience. They monetized the transition from promoting conservative ideals to selling the umber con man with the same vigor they pitch reverse mortgages, catheters, survival food, and gold.

This constellation of media players could have at any moment pumped the brakes on Trump and Trumpism during the 2016 election, and could do so now. At any moment, Rupert or the sons could have told Roger Ailes, OK...that's enough. The as-yet unchronicled conspiracy  and I use that word deliberately  between the c-suite at Fox News, Matt Drudge, Trumpbart, Rush Limbaugh is a story waiting to be told. They and others actively elected to elide Trump's endless catalog of ideological sins, moral shortcomings, mob ties, Russian moneymen, personal weirdnesses, trophy wives, serial bankruptcies, persistent tax shenanigans, low-grade intellect, thinly-veiled racial animus, and conspiracy email-forwarding kooky grandpa affect.

The populist movement explanation for 2016 isn't entirely wrong, but it took the full throttle efforts of the high-volume media enablers to promote Trump as the singular remedy for the moral, economic, and political collapse they decried each day for their credulous viewers and listeners to make that movement happen. Even after 25 years in this movement, I can't help but feel a sense of wonder at how brazen their marketing and monetization of Trump has been, and at its spectacular cost to conservatism.
The U.S. Office of Government Ethics asked the White House on Monday to investigate and potentially discipline Kellyanne Conway for endorsing Ivanka Trumps merchandise.

Last week Conway implored people to buy Ivanka Trumps stuff during a segment on a Fox & Friends segment recorded in the White House. Government ethics experts immediately cried foul and both ranking members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Republican Jason Chaffetz and Democrat Elijah Cummings, sent a letter to the White House and OGE seeking action for the potential violation.

On Tuesday, the committee released the letter from OGE director Walter Shaub Jr. to Stefan C. Passantino, deputy counsel to the president.

Under the present circumstances, there is strong reason to believe that Ms. Conway has violated the Standards of Conduct and that disciplinary action is warranted, Shaub wrote.

The primary issue at stake with Conways endorsement of the Ivanka Trump line is that federal ethics rules dictate that an employee of the executive branch shall not use his public office for his own private gain, for the endorsement of any product, service or enterprise, or for the private gain of friends, relatives, or persons with whom the employee is affiliated in a nongovernmental capacity. Shaub also said OGE was informed previously all new senior White House appointees received their required initial ethics training.

I recommend that the White House investigate Ms. Conways actions and consider taking disciplinary action against her, Shaub concluded, asking for the White Houses answer by February 28.

The White House did not immediately respond to a question from The Daily Beast about the matter.

Ivanka Trump reportedly expressed displeasure with Conways remarks and requested that she not mention her products on television again. Conway, meanwhile, apologized to Trump and he supposedly expressed his support for her.

On the day of Conway's remarks, OGE General Counsel David J. Apol spoke to Passantino at the White House.

During the conversation, Mr. Apol requested that you notify OGE of any disciplinary or other corrective action taken by the White House in connection with Ms. Conways public statements regarding the business interests of the Presidents daughter, Shaub wrote.

OGE said it has not received any notification of action, despite White House Press Secretary Sean Spicers claim last week that Conway had been counseled following the incident.
General Michael Flynn didnt resign Monday night because he lied about his calls with the Russian ambassador and was vulnerable to blackmail. He resigned because the public found out about the lie and keeping him, at long last, became unsustainable for the Trump administration.

Just a few hours earlier, it was sustainable. White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said so. The president, she said Monday afternoon, had full confidence in Flynn. Another White House official confirmed this to Washington Post reporter Philip Rucker who reported, also on Monday, that Trump, knowing what he knew, wasnt going to decide about Flynn for a few more days.

What changed? Throw out the old saw its the cover-up that gets you. The White House ceded Tuesday that it knew about the cover-up for weeks. Its the dribbling out of the details of Flynns mission to coddle Russiain keeping with Trumps policythat presented a clear and present danger that could only be staunched if Flynn were let go.

But they want us to believe it was about the lying. At his daily briefing Tuesday, Sean Spicer said it was plain and simple a matter of trust. But in this whole mess, lying is a lesser included offense, one which this White House is particularly unsuited to cast stones at. Honesty is not the best policy there but one to be considered among other possibilities.

There would have been no resignation if what Flynn said in the taped calls, and White House knowledge of it, hadnt been exposed late Monday in a Washington Post piece. The White House counseland likely others in the Administrationhad been told by then Acting Attorney General Sally Yates that Flynn had actually made multiple calls, during the transition and going back to the campaign, to the ambassador of a sworn adversary of the United States. Flynns message to the ambassador was that President Vladimir Putin might want to hold off on retaliating for sanctions imposed by then President Barack Obama for hacking the U.S. elections. It wouldnt be that bad under the new president.

Yates' information was reportedly weeks late getting to the White House because FBI Director James Comey, who seems to be everywhere these days, asked her to hold off because of his ongoing investigation into contacts between Trump associates and Russia. But after theyd been told, Spicer put out the opposite of what the Justice Department knew to be true: that Flynn had discussed Christmas greetings, among other things, not sanctions in his calls. With that disinformation (Spicer likely didnt know the truth), Comey's request fell by the wayside and Yates, since fired by Trump for not backing him up on his travel ban but perhaps for this, proceeded to inform Trump White House counsel Donald McGahn. (McGhan, Spicer said Tuesday, immediately informed Trump.)

Whatever Flynn said, we know Putin took his outreach to heart and let the sanctions pass virtually unnoticed. Since the calls, we might ask who has done more to coddle Russia, Flynn or the president. Trump has kept praising Putin to the point of accusing the country he now leads of killing its own people as Putin has done to his internal enemies. The two countries, in Trumps telling, are morally equivalent.

To the excuses for why Flynn was let go, add leaks which Trump blamed in a tweet for all thats wrong in Washington.

On TV, Trump surrogates including former military officer Carl Higbee, whos been interviewed for a high level White House job, have dressed up the resignation in the usual nothings-been-proven talk about how Flynn had become a distraction and that this is a rough town for good people. Actually, thats true but not the case here as few people not on Trumps payroll thought Flynn was the right choice.

The only reason Flynn got appointed to the most sensitive job in the Administration is that he is a crony of Trump who stuck by him during the campaign and who could be trusted to do his bidding without asking too many questions. If National Security Adviser were a post that required Senate confirmation, Republicans, who have acquiesced to about everything else, would have balked. By a margin even wider than those who dare to question the month-old presidencythat is Republican Senators John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Jeff FlakeFlynn wouldnt have made it.

With Flynns ouster, the Wall Trump was actually been able to build around himself may crumble. Until now calls for an independent investigation into the Russian hacking have been rejected. Now, that investigation is likely to proceed, along with McCains effort to codify Russian sanctions. Speaker Paul Ryan may eventually grow a spine. Amid a running joke at his Tuesday press conference wishing wives of the leadership a Happy Valentines Day, Ryan was pinned down to admitting Flynn was rightly let go. Look for the heat to be turned up on the inquiry into the ties between Russia and Trumps former campaign manager, Paul Manafort.

Just maybe there may be less flagrant lying now from this administration. This last weekend, Trumps anointed wunderkind Stephen Miller was sent out on his first Sunday morning talk show appearances. He regurgitated Trumps insistence that theres rampant voter fraud in the country and a costly investigation should ensue. Miller brought up the fact-free claim that hordes of Massachusetts voters drove to New Hampshire to cast illegal ballots in November. Fresh denunciations of that claim came afterwards from former New Hampshire GOP chair Fergus Cullen and from current New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, a scion of the multigeneration Republican loyalists, who said it was false. Dont think Miller was freelancing.

The only praise for Miller came from Trump himself who lavished him with it. In this White House, lying is not a firing offense.

Trump is having a hard time in his public effort to replace Spicer and perhaps his chief of staff in an effort to fid one single person with the experience and maturity to mind the store. That looks easy compared to replacing Flynn. Trump has made it clear he won't hire anyone who's criticized him. In filling the open national security adviser position, that leaves almost no one.
Last week, for Americas undocumented immigrants, President Trumps crackdown began.

Over the course of several days, the Department of Homeland Security conducted an enforcement surge in the biggest cities throughout the countryNew York, Los Angeles, Chicagoas well as smaller localities, arresting hundreds of undocumented immigrants and then moving to deport them as quickly as possible.

According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), federal agents picked up more than 680 people. That in and of itself isnt necessarily shocking. Though the raids generated protests in L.A. and significant media coverage, they arent a first by any stretchduring the Obama administration, ICE agents targeted women and children fleeing violence in Central America, and arrested more than 2,000 people in one nationwide operation. Immigrant-rights activists nicknamed Obama the Deporter in Chief because of the millions of people his DHS deported.

But by the final years of his presidency, the Obama administration had changed its enforcement priorities, and insisted it was only targeting undocumented immigrants convicted of serious crimes (in the administrations view, getting a DUI or using a fake Social Security number counted as serious).

Last weeks raidsalong with new data on the enforcement surge that ICE released Monday afternoonshow that things are changing, and fast. On Jan. 25, the president signed an executive order that gave ICEs top brass radically different directions as to whom they should target for deportation. Instead of focusing on people with criminal convictions, the executive order directed them to detain people suspected of breaking any state or federal law, including immigration laws. A number of analysts have concluded that this means more than 8 million undocumented immigrants are now top priority for deportation, as the Los Angeles Times detailed.

That said, ICE has still been telling reporters that its enforcement focus is on convicted criminals. And President Trump tweeted as much on Feb. 12:

The numbers indicate thats not entirely true. Secretary John Kelly, who heads DHS, released a statement on Feb. 13 saying about 75 percent of the people apprehended had been convicted of crimes. That, of course, means that about 170 of the people arrested last week didnt have criminal convictions. And this is new.

It does appear that the Trump administration is more vigorously enforcing immigration law, casting a wider net to remove more illegal or criminal immigrants who would have been safe from deportation under President Obama, said David Inserra, who analyzes homeland-security issues for the conservative Heritage Foundation.

Though ICE says its enforcement efforts only targeted convicted criminals, gang members, and people who had already received deportation orders, the data makes it clear that when ICE agents encountered other undocumented immigrants, they apprehended them as well. And this has many immigration attorneys and activists furiousand worried.

There was definitely a strong enforcement component going on in the Obama administration, said Ben Johnson, who heads the American Immigration Lawyers Association. But at least it had the feature of having targeted results. The difference here seems to me they go into these enforcement actions with a particular intent, but theyre not committed to the results matching the intent.

Theyre OK with the fact that if we catch a lot of people who dont fit the profile of the people were going after, that will be OK, he continued. Thats the difference between the targeted enforcement action and a sweep.

ICE adamantly argues that reporters and activists should not use the word sweep to describe what happened last week.

Reports of ICE checkpoints and sweeps are false, dangerous, and irresponsible, the agency said in a release about last weeks activity. These reports create panic and put communities and law-enforcement personnel in unnecessary danger. Any groups falsely reporting such activities are doing a disservice to those they claim to support.

But Johnson argues that as long as ICE agents are detaining people who havent been convicted of crimes, then sweep is the only appropriate term to use.

Others say initial media reports have overstated the difference between Obama and Trump.

The biggest difference is that the press is covering them negatively, said Matthew Kolken, an immigration lawyer based in Buffalo, of the Trump raids. Obama spent his eight years saying he was deporting serious criminalsand he was deporting people with traffic tickets and kids with deportation orders that were entered without a lawyer, and the press just allowed him to lie.

That sentiment was echoed by Charles Kuck, a lawyer based in Atlanta. While he noted that Trump is deporting more people without serious criminal convictions (or any at all), he said that in the early years of Obamas presidency, his approach was similar.

All people remember about Obama is the last two years were nice, Kuck said. They didnt deport parents. People get used to that. But if you go back to 2013, it was horrible. The same type of fear gripped the communities. The only difference here is the rhetoric of Trump on top of the actions of ICE scare people more.

Another change? Immigrants now are increasingly likely to refuse to let ICE agents into their homes.

Online postings from a forum for ICE agentspostings that multiple attorneys flagged for The Daily Beastindicate that some agents have noticed immigrants are less likely to open the door when they knock.

The days of knocking on doors has been long gone, one user wrote on Feb. 11.

Yeah, my sup sent us an email saying we should be knocking on doors more, another user replied. I laughed

I got 10 hours to arrest an illegal alien; a third replied. when you come out that house whether by vehicle stop or consensual encounter on the street you are coming with me.

Immigrant-rights groups and the ACLU have been widely circulating Know Your Rights social-media postings, and many groups host regular training sessions on what immigrants can do if ICE shows up.

The Constitution covers everybody, Kuck said. Those pesky Amendments? They belong to everybody. Every person is covered, not just citizens.

But Trumps enforcement surge still has immigrant communities frightened.

It seems to me, from what Im hearing, that theyre arresting everybody now for simple no-license offenses, said Dan Ortiz, a Georgia immigration attorney.

Overall, he added, since Trump took office, everyones scared.
The last time comedians John Oliver and Seth Meyers saw each other was the night after the presidential election. They were tasked with performing stand-up at a charity event benefitting the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), an environmental advocacy nonprofit. And it was, given the shock victory of then-President-elect Donald Trump, a tough night for laughs.

I was also very concerned that, you know, again, its a great environmental group, but there were parts where I wanted to say, Tigers may need to just move down the pecking order for four years, because humans are endangered again, Oliver told Meyers on Monday night.

Oliver, the host of the Emmy-winning HBO series Last Week Tonight, was the main guest on Meyerss increasingly vital Late Night program, where the two pals chatted about a variety of topics, from Olivers decision to blow up a 2016 sign during his last show of 2016 to how being glued to the news for his job makes him feel like a heroin addict not being able to disengage from heroin.

Meyers lightly addressed fan concerns that the notoriously hard-working Oliver, during his two months off, was kicking back on a beach sipping on pina coladas while Trump ran roughshod over the country.

Im not sure Ive ever kicked back in my life, joked Oliver, before throwing a few surprising jabs at former President Barack Obama for living it up on vacation with billionaire Richard Branson at his private oasis in the British Virgin Islands. I tell you who, I would argue at the moment, should kick back a little lessand this might be controversial: Im a little sick of seeing photos of President Obama on vacation with Richard Branson, said Oliver. Just tone it down with the kitesurfing pictures. Im glad hes having a nice time, [but] America is on fire.

He added, I know that people accused him of being out of touch with the American people during his presidency. Im not sure hes ever been more out of touch than he is right now as hes kind of pushing [Branson] on a surfboard.

Meyers and Oliver then cracked a few jokes about how Obama should, at the very least, be requesting that people not take (and circulate) photos of him having the time of his life while were all stuck with the daily anxiety of life under President Trump.

[Obama] should be saying, Dont take pictures! Im not sure this will play well when Im going, WEEEEE! WEEEEE! Isnt this fun? Were losing public schools! WEEEEE! Youre fiddling while Rome burns? WEEEEE! Billionaires are fun people to be around!

Later in their fairly lengthy chat, Oliver aimed his ire at President Trump.

Hes always acted like the most powerful man in the worldthats how he carries himself, Im sure through his childhood as well. He dons the disposition of the most powerful man in the worldnow he actually has the power to go along with that, said Oliver. Its like The Secret was real and it worked for one person, and unfortunately it was him.Oliver then joked: What Im saying is: Trump is Oprahs fault.
Philipp Plein by Tim Teeman

Not that the rumor that fashion folk are a bunch of shameless freeloaders or anything is, ahem, true, but the mood of the assembled at Philipp Pleins grand New York Fashion Week show at the New York Public Library on Monday night definitely perked up when Plein, in a warm and open-hearted speech before the show began, revealed that he had paid for an open bar.

The drinks are on me, Plein said. Short of promising everyone that they were going home with one of his full-length silver puffer jackets, the handsome German designer couldnt have come up with a more winning sentence. And after the show he stayed true to his word with the whole library converted to a party zone, with multiple bars, dodge em cars, hot dog and cotton candy stands, DJs, and a disco.

Pleins show was a long time starting: a full heroic hour late, but the music and people-watching was so damn good nobody was antsy. The surroundingsthe atrium and halls of the NYPLwere dramatically lit with mesh fences with fluorescent tubing, with benches running along its ornate flanks, and guests including Madonna (in a fabulous red and black padded coat and dark glasses), Kylie Jenner, her boyfriend Tyga, Nas (who performed If I Ruled the World), Tiffany Trump, and a cast of Fashion Week hundreds decked in finery, including a man in a full length blue, glittering robe and a very rich-looking older woman who approached this reporter to help her post a picture of her with fellow attendees Paris Hilton and Nicky Rothschild to Instagram.

Names were misspelt, it was a riot of double spaces, and what should she hashtag, she asked? The Daily Beast did its best to help, until the woman joyously posted the picture and was hustled out of her seat. No matter: She giggled, and disappeared behind a pillar where more intrigues may have awaited. It was that kind of evening.

It was also an evening that celebrated New York. Lets make NYFW Great Again read the legend on the evenings program, with the added questionvoiced by the designer himself in his witty speechWho the fuck is Philippe Plein?

Well, thats me, the designer said to us all. It was Pleins first show in New York City, after years of showing in Milan, and so he was making an entrance. I'm a dreamer, he said. A dream chaser. I believe in my dreams until they come true. This is a dream and I can say this dream came true.

He said he knew he was defying convention by making his presence known before the show. Not only that: He was saying something. Typically a designer pops their head out from behind a screen and takes a bow, and skedaddles backstage.

But Plein was doing it his way. Make this night epic, he ordered us. He thanked people for coming, and then said the evening was all about having fun.

He lived up to his intention. Not every designer can command the services of The Kills to perform music for the runway, as a troupe of modelsmale and femaleappeared in a sequence of black bomber jackets, and tight black pants, or fitted skirts. Some carried the banner legend of Plein himself (very Moschino), some New York, and some with the legend Neighborhood Kings. The male models included Jeremy Weeks, the so-called Hot Felon, Fall Out Boys Pete Wentz, and rappers Young Thug, Fetty Wap, and a smiling Desiigner.

There were mens gray jogging trousers with artful zips in odd places, zip-up tops that went so high on the neck they looked like a Zorro-ish disguise, and some wore kerchiefs to more directly emulate the look itself. There were jackets with luxe fur sleeves, and short dresses, leotards, and short shorts with thigh-high boots. There were sleek, long puffer jackets in black and silver, and leggings with slithering silver studs. One piece featured a glittering Statue of Liberty. Another: I Love New York.

A black crop T-shirt with light blue jeans could have been worn by Jennie Garth in 90210 (the first version), while a short brown bomber jacket came with a luxe champagne ballgown with glittering studs on its hem. If the essence of the collection was street, it came with the knowledge that its wearers would be leaving the street pretty sharpish to go to a party like the one at the NYPL.

Pleins politics were plain to see: This collection was a heartfelt celebration of not just America, but New York, and all it stands for. The back of his program listed: Brooklyn Bronx, Staten Island, Queens, From the Battery to the Top of Manhattan, Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin, Black, White, New York, You Make It Happen.

The brilliant, thunderous rap music hammered a similar point home: This was a celebratory defiance of President Trumpa hailing of difference and the best qualities of urban melting pots.

Confusion descended after the end of the show, which didnt really end. Suddenly models were mixing with the people who were just watching them. Anyone want a drink? my neighbor said, at which point fashion genetics kicked in, and everyone zoomed to the nearest free bar, like pigs in a forest suddenly remembering they are there to find truffles.

Plein must have the magic touch, because the fashion folk actually ate the sliders being proffered by waiters. There were neon signs stuck to rigged-up fences proclaiming nude and lap dancing. Mostly, people took their cocktails and vodka sodas and danced to Michael Jacksons Rock With You and Dont Stop Til You Get Enough. It was a playlist straight from Pleins determined desire for everyone to let go, and enjoy themselves: an insistence on pleasure as its own resistance.

Leaving behind the merriment before glass carriages became pumpkins as they can do, it was clear the fun was not only happening inside the library. This reporter spied the Naked Cowboy on the steps, strumming away to the delight of passersby, the NYPL itself lit with rippling stars and stripes. Plein had done as he intended, and laid a cheering claim to the city.

Any NYPL readers on Tuesday morning finding a slice of lime with their Chaucer will at least know from whence it came.

Zang Toi by Brea Tremblay

Monday nights Zang Toi show was the type of fashion show that used to appear in quality rom-coms. Sometime in the first act, a Charming Small Town-type would need to go to the big show to land her dream job/impress her new boss/make magic happen with a studly love interest.

The show was in the studio spaces of Chelsea Piersthe nightlights of New Jersey twinkled away through chic warehouse windows as picturesque as any movie backdrop. The runway was classic fashion, long and rectangular, one end for a mass of photographers and the other for the stage entrance and a giant brand logo. Some gothy fashion club kids were dotted here and there but for the most part, this crowd was very well-heeled.

Two women behind me had this exchange about knee high stiletto boots:

Woman 1: Nice Weitzmans.

Woman 2: Thanks.

Woman 1: I have them, too.

Woman 2: Oh?

Woman 1: But in leather. I thought the suede was a little, you know cozy.

Woman 2: (Seethes in her suede Weitzmans)

At this point, Charming Small Town-type would be horrified by these bratty New Yorkers, but I was delighted by such shameless, pointless bitchery.

The show itself was very elegantthe clothes looked like the wardrobe of a woman who knows she will only fly First Class for the rest of her life. All of it was extremely feminine. The sportswear was draped in cashmere and fur. The suits were cut with narrow and high waists, accessorized with multiple strands of pearls. And the eveningwear featured puffed sleeves and yards of flowing sparkly silk and velvet.

Titled Brilliant Royal Blue, the collection stuck to a strict blue, black, and white color schemethe only deviation was the models very glam red lips. They also all wore the same tight chignonwhen they paraded down the runway together at the end, the effect was like very Westworld, an army of gorgeous fem-bots with the same killer hair and the same killer lips.

The designer stepped out in a tux to take a playful bow and his adoring audience leapt to their feet to clap. If tonight had been a rom-com, this would have been the moment that Charming Small Town-type would swoon at the thrill of it all and vow that she too will make it here.

Rosie Assoulin by Lizzie Crocker

Moire and other structured silk dresses or skirts are chic in theory, but they often make the wearer look like a curtain. The fabric tends to be stiff and unruly, so that the garment swallows you whole unless its extremely well-tailoredand even then you might still look like a fancy drape.

So its exciting when a designer like Rosie Assoulin comes around and does something brilliant and inventive with these fabrics, so that the garments evoke fancy drapes but also look cool and elegantthe kind of clothes Man Repellers Leandra Medine, an Assoulin fan, might wear to a wedding or brunch.

That was certainly the case with Assoulins Fall 2017 collection, though the designer looked to all kinds of upholstery when dreaming up her clothes and first footwear line, which she presented on Monday in what looked like a 19th-century drawing room.

Assoulin filled Skylight Clarkson Studios with tufted sofas and oriental rugs, assembling the furniture in a circle at the center of the room and the models at the perimeter. That way guests could recline while looking at the clothes, while servers offered them Italian pastries and tea wheeled around two-tiered vintage tea trays.

The clothes echoed the staged setting nicely. For daywear, there was a yellow-green boucle jacket and matching trousers, or plaid pants and shirts with ruffled touches.

A white, floral-printed dress and down jacket reminded me of classic Laura Ashley interiors. The most standout piece was a dramatic tiered red skirt worn with a delicate nude tank and a floral applique draped around the shoulder.

The shoes were inspired by interiors, too: spiraled, wooden heels looked like couch feet.

If you could sum up Assoulins designs in a single word, whimsical would probably be it. The concept for the show was theatrical, even meta: Assoulin recruited artists to paint watercolors of each design in the collection. There was even a ceramicist who made miniature tea sets in one corner. It doesnt get more whimsical than that.

Assoulin steered clear of trends seen on other runways this season (bell sleeves, fringe, sheer tops, fur)and the collection was all the more memorable as a result.
This past summer, a friend of mine gave me a book. I had interviewed her a few times over the years because her daughter was murdered by a man eventually sentenced to life in prison. Then, when I was also personally touched by murder, we connected through a common bond.

I admired the way she faced grief with grit and gumption. She wanted me to read Mans Search For Meaning, by Viktor Frankl.

Frankl was a psychiatrist, and a leading proponent of logotherapy, a theory of psychotherapy based in the existential question, Why am I here? He survived the Holocaust in Kaufering and Auschwitz. His wife, and most of his family, did not.

When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves, he wrote. His reaction to the hopelessness of death and sickness around him was to survive. Not through callous self-preservation but with resilience.

I have learned to accept the things I cannot change. In 2015, my late-girlfriend, journalist Alison Parker, was executed on live television along with her photographer, Adam Ward. We had just moved in together, we were blissfully in love and we were ready to begin our new life.

As the evening anchor at the television station where we worked, I took some time off, but went back and worked until this past Friday.

I left a successful career and am now running for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates.

Reading Frankl helped embolden me to make that change. I would never begin on the path toward happiness until I controlled which way I took.

Going into the newsroom each day began to numb me to the humanity on which I was supposed to be reporting. The only way I could read news of murders, protests, hatred, and loss was to insulate myself from that human emotion. Even as I connected with people in a new, profound way on TV, I was becoming a shell. The man Alison loved began to fray at the edges.

That man is being made whole now with my dedication to the service of the people who supported me during my sorrow. I was tempted to leave southwest Virginia and the Blue Ridge Mountains to go start a new life. But I feel a responsibility to stay and give back to those who continue to give me so much.

I recommend that the Statue of Liberty be supplemented by a Statue of Responsibility on the west coast, Frankl said.

We cannot have our liberties, our freedom to choose our own way, without the dedication to protect them. Journalism offered me a great outlet to highlight when freedoms were threatened.

Now I can fight for those who are most vulnerable. The mother finishing her degree to provide a better life for her children but cant because its too expensive. The brother trying to get his sister from Syria to Blacksburg, a town with a rich tradition of refugee resettlement, but our borders turn a blind eye. The daughter desperately hoping her father can be treated for opioid addiction before going to jail, but there are no services available.

This wont be an easy path. Ive already been attacked by the other side, from viewers and even some friends. But, as Frankl said, if I have a why to live for, I can bear almost any how.

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing, Frankl wrote. The last of the human freedomsto choose ones attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose ones own way.
MOSCOWThe resignation of U.S. National Security Adviser Michael Flynn may have damaged badly, if not destroyed, Moscows hopes for restoring good relations with the United States. Certainly the Kremlin seemed to be counting on him.

Hours passed after news broke that Flynn had resigned with an apology to President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for discussing, before he took office, U.S. sanctions with Russias ambassador in Washington, Sergey Kislyak. But neither the Kremlin, nor the Russian Foreign Ministry (MID) made any comment.

When other officials gathered their wits, it was to spew conspiracy theories.

Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the foreign-affairs committee in the Russian parliament, called this not just paranoia but something even worse. On Facebook he wrote: Either Trump hasnt found the necessary independence and hes been driven into a corner... or Russophobia has permeated the new administration from top to bottom.

Another member of the Russian parliament, Alexei Pushkov, tweeted after the announcement: It was not Flynn who was targeted but relations with Russia. And then he really went on a rant:

Flynn was let go not because of his failure, but because of the aggressive Russian for the Exit! newspaper noise; paranoia and witch hunt, Pushkov tweeted. Kicking out Trump was the first act, the next target will be Trump himself.

To understand this reaction, one must understand just how much confidence top Russian officials seem to have had that Flynn was their man in Washington.

Less than two years ago, Flynn, a former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency who was fired by the Obama administration in 2014, had taken a job as an analyst for the Kremlin-sponsored outlet Russia Today, RT. In December 2015, he was seated next to Russian President Vladimir Putin at a dinner celebrating RTs tenth anniversary on the air. So, its not surprising that many in Russia saw his resignation as in some respects a plot against Moscow.

Russian experts argued about who was to blame for losing Russia-friendly Flynn. Asked about the Kremlins silence, Igor Bunin, the head of the Center for Political Technologies, told The Daily Beast, We do not have to make any comments. All we need is to live through this unpleasant time and see how Mr. Trump falls under the influence of Washington establishment.

Would President Trump continue investing his political assets in fixing U.S. relations with Russia?

He will search for a safe platform for working with Russia; but he will be very careful now, Bunin said.

Dmitry Oreshkin of the independent Moscow think tank Mercator suggests theres a blind spot in Moscow, since this kind of thing could never happen under Putin.

The Kremlin still believes that the problem is some establishment without seeing that there are strong institutions and an independent press in the United States, Oreshkin said. Russian foreign-policy makers have a rather primitive KGB approach. They think that if they give former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder a job at Gazprom or dangle deals with Rosneft in front of Trump things will work out. And if not, some compromising tapes would convince Trump, Oreshkin said, explaining Moscows general approach.

So, for the moment, instead of addressing the Flynn resignation the Russian foreign ministry is commenting via a phone call two well-known Russian pranksters called Vovan and Lexus made to Maxine Waters, a Democratic representative from California and former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, who has taken strong anti-Putin positions.

The callers claimed to be Ukraines president. Waters, reportedly surprised, was noncommittal, then listened politely as they strung out an increasingly fanciful tale that eventually included a Russian invasion of Gabon in West Africa, and a claim, as RT reported, that Moscow had hacked the election system in the fictitious country of Limpopo, completely reversing the outcome and installing its puppet Ai Bolit as president. Since the situation there has become even worse than in the U.S., the ousted president of Limpopo was considering fleeing to Ukraine, they said. The names come from well-known childrens stories in Russia.

Waters remained noncommittal and said she would ask for more information on all this. (For all she knew, her interlocutor had lost his mind, and she was looking for a polite way out of the conversation.)

But the Russian foreign ministry was gleeful. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova tweeted: President Ai Bolyt from Lim-Po-Po country... Russian fairytales are becoming truth. God, dont leave America!

Mocking a United States congresswoman and hoping to improve relationships with United States at the same time would seem a strange approach to diplomacy, unless one understands just how completely many Russians had been led to believe that the Republican administration of Donald Trump was on their side, and vice versa.

Earlier, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov had told reporters that the allegation that Flynn unethically and perhaps illegally discussed critical matters of state with the Russian ambassador before taking office was wrong. In a recent interview, Peskov said: We have already said that they [such talks] did not happen.

It is not surprising that MID made no comments about the resignation, Oreshkin told The Daily Beast. Flynn just confirmed that Putin's press person was a liarand that does not surprise anybody in Russia any longer, that is his job.
Shell-shocked White House officials and their allies searched Tuesday for someone to blame for the late-night resignation of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. His supporters within a somewhat divided White House quickly decided that Flynn himself did nothing wrong.

Yes, Flynn may have spoken in secret with the Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak just as the Obama administration was imposing new sanctions on the Kremlin. And some even concede its possible that Flynn, a retired lieutenant general, wasnt entirely forthright with people like Vice President Mike Pence about those conversations.

But as White House officials tried to pick up the piecesone staffer likened the scene to Saving Private Ryan Omaha Beachsome of them maintained that the real villains in the Flynn story were the former Obama administration staffers who leaked the damaging information about him, and the media for running with it.

At least, that was the story, until White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer took to the podium. Spicer insisted that Flynn had done nothing wrongbut also squarely blamed Flynn for his own professional demise. The President was very concerned that General Flynn had misled the Vice President and others, Spicer added. The question wasn't if [Flynn] did anything improper or legal, but could he be trusted further.

It was one of a number of topsy-turvy statements in a roller coaster of a day. Spicer added that the president has been incredibly tough on Russiadespite nearly a year-and-a-half of evidence to the contrary. Then Spicer said that the White House had been aware of issues surrounding Flynns talks for weeks. On Friday, Trump seemed to indicate he had no knowledge of such problems.

Senior administration officials in Flynns camp were sounding a very different tune. One blamed many of the leaks about Flynn on holdovers from the Obama administration still working at outside law enforcement and national security agencies.

These assholes have impunity to leak classified documents to destroy an innocent man, the frustrated official told The Daily Beast early Tuesday morning. They shiv you with one hand and plug you with the other.

Flynn was hamstrung by not being able to remember exactly what he discussed with the Russian ambassador, and his inability to see the evidence against him, this senior administration official added.

There was no way for him to look at the transcripts while he was under siege, of his conversations with the Russian official, recorded by U.S. intelligence. If he had asked for it, it would have looked like he was trying to influence the process, the official said.

So Flynn apologized to Pence, according to this official. Flynn said he didnt recall the conversation because he genuinely didn't and couldnt check to see what he actually saida situation that might change if Flynn is forced to testify before Congress, in which Flynn would likely get legal counsel to defend him.

The President, for his part, had a simpler explanation.

The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington? he tweeted .

House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Rep. Devin Nunes, a close ally of the administration, told Bloomberg View that " there does appear to be a well orchestrated effort to attack Flynn and others in the administration ."

The pro-Trump cheerleaders at Breitbart News blamed Chief of Staff Reince Preibus for relying too much on Obama holdovers to keep the government running.  Theyre hiding like sleeper cells everywhere , one anonymous source told the outlet.

And longtime Trump confidant Roger Stone tweeted that Reinces purge of Flynn was a Pearl Harbor for Trump loyalists. Hope the midget is ready to rumble.

But that analysis was quickly contradicted by Spicer. The level of trust between the president and General Flynn had eroded to the point where he felt he had to make a change, the press secretary said.

House intelligence committee ranking member Adam Schiff, for one, was not particularly impressed with the about-face.

"The White House knew for weeks that Flynn had been lying about his conversations with the Russian ambassador," Adam Schiff told The Daily Beast. "They weren't going to say anything about it. It's only when the story became public that they decided they had to act."

And, outside of the pro-Trump bubble, people found it easier to fault Flynn himself for his own downfall. No one forced him to make a paid appearance in Moscow in 2015 to celebrate a Kremlin propaganda outfit. No one made him sit at the same table as Vladimir Putin, or give the Russian strongman a standing ovation. And no oneat least as far as we knowforced Flynn to call the Russian ambassador and tell him that warmer relations were ahead.

Im disappointed for him, personally, Im disappointed for him, said Gen. Tony Thomas, head of Special Operations Command. But lifes all about decisions, he said, speaking to reporters at the National Defense Industry Association conference outside Washington, D.C.

Were staying focused, but as we talk about the strategy going forward, I think its important that the government is as stable as possible, Thomas said of the recent chaos at the White House.

Were there leaks from inside the NSC? Of course there were. But the notion that these are political is wrong. These are patriots, argued a former Obama administration official in comments to The Daily Beast. They are all staff, from CIA, the State Department and Defense Department. They are...the all-star team from their respective agencies.

The reason why they are leaking is because they are cut out of the process and the process is dysfunctional, the official said of conversations he had with such staffers still working at the NSC. They are horrified. The general sense that the only way to impact policy is to get it on a morning show.

The former official said case in point was how no heed was paid to internal NSC staffers critiques of the refugee order.

They were asked at the last minute to raise objections on the immigration and refugee EO, once it had been leaked to the press. They produced seven pages of comments, criticisms and complaintsall the issues that have since come up as problems for the orderand they were ignored.

The senior administration official said the refugee order was not run out of Flynn's office.

Flynn did not reply to requests for comment, but a close friend of Flynns from years deployed in the special operations fight against al Qaeda said the transition had been a wild and wooly time when Flynn had juggled multiple phone calls with international contacts, with insufficient staff to help manage the deluge, or to keep notes on the specifics of the discussions.

Retired Lt. Gen. Joseph Kellogg will serve in Flynns place as acting national security adviser, for now. But how long he will stay in the position is, at this point, unknown. A senior administration official said retired Navy SEAL Vice Admiral Robert Harward is the leading candidate to permanently replace Flynn, ahead of retired Gen. David Petraeus. As The Daily Beast previously noted , Harward worked closely with Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis throughout his career, including serving as his deputy when Mattis headed Central Command.

Thomas called Harwardwho was involved in some of the same elite missions Thomas has led or participated in over his service"a very accomplished officer."

How long Harward will remain the frontrunner for Flynns old chair is unknown, however. Anyone who says they know what will happen is full of shit. Nobody knows who Trump will pick, a White House official told The Daily Beast.

National Security Council staff are all worried, they dont know whos going to come in and if theyre gonna bring them with them, said another official.

Rumors and counter-rumors ran quickly through the White Houses staff. Two sources said they would expect Counselor to the President Steve Bannon and his new internal think tank, the Strategic Initiatives Group, to have a bit more job security than the others. Two different sources said the exact opposite, saying Bannon and his deputies might be swept aside. No one was really sure what was informed conjectureand what was pure speculation.

Meetings scheduled for Tuesday morning were all postponed or cancelled as staffers in limbo made unlikely alliancescontingency plans if an unexpected name came through the door. Flynns deputy, K.T. McFarlane, was said to be preparing her exit, but White House officials said she was encouraged to stay.

"There is no effort to show her the door. She is very well liked," the official said. The officials spoke anonymously to discuss the sensitive personnel matter.

Everyone can be gone tomorrow and they know that and thats what it looks like at NSC right now, a White House source said, noting that these are all political appointee positions. You could be gone tomorrow. You could be gone this afternoon.

Republicans, meanwhile, were eager to move on from the unpleasant news cycle. Rep. Nunes, for one, said the Houses intelligence committee isnt going to investigate discussions between Flynn and Trump, citing executive privilege. Nunes said he was told earlier on Monday that Trump still had confidence in Flynn. When asked what had changed, the congressman replied, I don't knowthey didnt tell me.

Other lawmakers, like Republican Sen. David Perdue, were ready to declared the matter closed with Flynns resignation.

Its an unfortunate circumstance, its been resolved, Purdue said Tuesday morning. Asked about whether Congress should authorize an independent investigation into Russias influence in the U.S. government, he responded, I dont know the details of this, and we'll find out.

Asked by The Daily Beast how he expected to find out the details without an independent investigation, Perdue left without answering further questions.

I think that situation has taken care of itself, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, told reporters on Tuesday morning. I know that the Intel committee is looking into the hacking issue.

Chaffetz added that he thought Flynn did the right thing stepping down. House speaker Paul Ryan also noted during a Capitol Hill press conference that I think the president made the right decision to ask for [Flynns] resignationeven though the White House had not yet confirmed whether or not Trump actually did.

When pressed on whether he would support further investigations into Flynns activities, the House speaker deflected.

"I think we need to get all of that information before we prejudge anything," Ryan said. He also emphasized that, personally, he has long been a Russia skeptic, however.

Democrats, however, were across the board calling for an immediate, comprehensive investigation.

The contacts between Russia and the president's circle "highlights the need for open hearings, it highlights the need to use the subpoena power to get to the bottom of it, it in my view makes the case for the urgency of that effort," said Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democratic member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. "My commitment here is to make sure this is not swept under the rug."

During a press conference, House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joseph Crowley blasted Flynn, saying that Flynn was fired just because he was not a good enough liar, and that it is becoming increasingly clear President Trump is leading a very dysfunctional White House.

Republicans are already showing signs that they feel that pressure. Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn said that ongoing investigations into Russian influence should also investigate Flynn, even if he disagreed with having an independent commission to do it.

Well follow the investigation where it leads, Cornyn said.

Flynns resignation could also change the nature of these ongoing Congressional investigations by forcing them to become more transparent. The Senate Intelligence Committee is the primary panel responsible for looking into Russias election interference. Its something that Democrats have criticized due to the committees penchant for secrecy and private hearings.

Its in the intel committee primarily because they dont want it to have it be public hearings. this deserves a public airing. This is of primary importance, said Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill.

But Sen. Bob Corker, a senior GOP lawmaker on national security affairs, said he believed that the committee would hold additional open hearings into Russian influence.

This is going to go on forever if we dont address it somehow, Corker said.

The Senate Intelligence Committee has already held one open hearing on the matter, in January.

What does President Trump have to hide? Crowley asked rhetorically. We need a real investigation into RussiaThis is not going to be the end.

I do think there needs to be fulsome investigation on all angles relative to the nefarious activities that were taking place with Russia beginning in March, but even going back before that time, Corker said. I haven't come to a conclusion as to the best way for that to occur, but I know we've got to do it soon. This heightens that, obviously.

Schiff said he will be reaching out to Nunes to discuss joining forces with the Senate intelligence committees to turn their bipartisan investigation into a joint effort to excavate Russian interference with the U.S. election, focused on contacts between Flynn and other Trump officials with Moscow not just during but after the polls.

Where these contacts done at the behest of the president with his knowledge? And the other question is, if they were not, when did the president learn about the report from the justice dept and why didn't the president act sooner? Schiff said.

On the House side of Congress, Schiff said it would take support of the majority to issue subpoenas to ask Flynn and others to testify. He said he was discouraged to hear the House Speaker Paul Ryan decline to investigate, but pointed out there were also bills in the House and Senate to launch independent investigations into Russian meddling.

with additional reporting by Asawin Suebsaeng, Tim Mak, and Noah Shachtman

UPDATE 2:47 PM: This story has been updated to include comments from Sean Spicer, several senators, and White House staffers.
ROMENicholas Green was a thoughtful, imaginative 7-year-old boy touring southern Italy with his parents, Reg and Maggie, and younger sister Eleanor. On a lonely stretch of highway the night of Sept. 29, 1994, bursts of gunfire targeted their car, and a bullet hit Nicholas. After two days fighting to survive, his life ended tragically on Oct. 1 in a Sicilian hospital, and his parents decided to donate five of his organs and his corneas to seven different people.

One of Nicholass corneas went to Domenica Galletta, who had been waiting for a transplant for five years and who had never seen her daughter. Another went to Francesco Mondello, a young father. The liver went to 19-year-old Maria Pia Pedala, who went on to have a child she named Nicholas. His kidneys went to 14-year-old Maria Di Ceglie and 10-year-old Tino Motta. And his heart went to Andrea Mongiardo, who, at 15, had spent more than half of his life in hospital before Nicholass death saved him.

Sadly, Mongiardo died of lymphoma in a Rome hospital late last week, silencing Nicholass heart forever, but reminding Italians once again about the gifts of life the Green family had bestowed. Mongiardos funeral was attended by a group of young transplant recipients who credit Green with their survival, and the doctor who performed the heart transplant who came to give a final farewell to both Green and Mongiardo.

The organ donations enhanced and saved lives, but more importantly the act forever changed organ donation in Italy because of what is commonly referred to as the effetto Nicholas or the Nicholas effect. Previously, transplants were regarded with superstitious suspicions and in some cases ran afoul of the Catholic Church. But since Nicholass death, organ donation has tripled in this country, unquestionably thanks to the Green familys generosity.

Every year tens of thousands of people around the world at the worst moment of their lives resist the temptation to turn inward in sorrow or bitterness and instead put their grief on one side long enough to reach out to complete strangerspeople they cant even visualizeand transform their lives, Reg Green told The Daily Beast in an exclusive interview. The enormous increase in donations represents the generous hearts of the Italian people. I doubt that any other country in the world would have shown the compassion that Italy has. When Nicholas was killed it seems as though the whole country wanted to comfort us.

A month after the murder, two local thugs, Francesco Mesiano and Michele Iannello, were arrested for the shooting. They pleaded their innocence, even though the car from which they shot was owned by Iannello, who says he had loaned it to his brother that fateful night. They were initially acquitted in 1997 due to the fact that none of the Green family survivors could positively identify them. How could they? The killing had taken place in the dark of night with Reg Green trying to save his young family by attempting to outrun the perpetrators as the masked killers fired shots. An Italian appellate court overturned the acquittal in 1998 and convicted the duo of the murder, which was upheld by Italys high court in 1999.

Over the last 20 years, Green has written two books, The Nicholas Effect and The Gift that Heals and Jamie Lee Curtis was nominated for an Emmy for her portrayal of Maggie Green in a made-for-TV movie called Nicholas Gift. Green has become a global advocate for organ donation, speaking on the cause and keeping in touch with the those who got a second chance at life thanks to Nicholas.

During that time, Mesiano served his sentence and is now free, and Iannello, who turned states evidence against other mafiosi, managed to win house arrest. He is now living in northern Italy with his wife and two children, despite having been given a life sentence, and he has been quietly petitioning for a full pardon from Italys president. His case most probably would have gone unnoticed if Mongiardos death had not brought to mind again the murder of the little boy. Now the killers plea for a pardon is being met with fierce public opposition.

Iannello has consistently denied his guilt but the evidence was very strong against him and Francesco Mesiano, Reg Green told The Daily Beast. We have never wanted revenge, only justice, and we accepted without protest their acquittal at the first trial. Victims make very bad judges, as you know, so my opinion about his pardon is too subjective to be of value.

Iannello, who admitted to killing four other people under contract with the Calabria Ndrangheta crime syndicate, would be able to move from his house and even leave the country if he were pardoned.

Your readers will have to decide for themselves if a man who was sentenced to life imprisonment and admits to a series of other killings but who has lived outside prison for years, has paid the price for taking the life of a child, said Green.

Still, the most important legacy is not that of his sons killer, but that of his son. He saw the best in everyone so that when you were with him you always wanted to be your best, Green says of his son. On the plane on the way home, after he had been killed, Maggie was sitting on the row behind me with Eleanor. She leaned forward and said quietly, You know, I never heard him tell a lie. There was something shocking about it. It seemed so absolute. I thought about it and said that was true for me toonor any of the sneaky half-truths I and just about every other child Ive known has done.

In Italy today, the Nicholas effect is a household term that carries with it a whole history of love and generosity. Of all things I think it is the longevity of Italys loyalty to Nicholas memory that has surprised me most, Green says. One small death more than 20 years ago in a place almost no-one has been to should have been forgotten long ago by everyone except those closely connected to it.

Luckily, for the thousands of people who are alive because of the impact of that one small death, no one wants to forget it, and no one will.
Harried waiters, irritable chefs, packed restaurantsthere are a lot of reasons why Valentines Day can be a miserable night to dine out. So stay in! After all, good food trounces baubles and flowers in the romance department.

To help you channel your inner Cupid, I asked Jen Pelkaan old friend and founder of romantic new San Francisco Champagne bar The Riddler for her dream V-Day dinner menu.

APPETIZER

Mingling high- and low-end is a Pelka signature, so for the first course, theres No question: caviar, creme fraiche, potato chips, and minced chives. On the affordable end of the spectrum, look for whitefish or smoked trout roethe latter is very pretty, bright orange, and looks great. Or splurge on tiny, briny black eggs of hackleback or paddlefish. Want to go over the top? Think: osetra. Itll run you more than $100 an ounce, but as Pelka says, its the kobe beef of caviar, rich and luxurious.

Set each ingredient out in a small bowl withideallymother-of-pearl, wooden or bamboo spoons. (FYI Metal spoons react with the caviar.) Splurge on high-quality creme fraiche, but not potato chips: Weve done countless blind taste tests, says Pelka, and Lays wins, every time. This appetizer is a hit at the bar and when she entertains at home. If youre going to splurge on Champagne, do so here, and go for a spendy half bottle of Krug or some other good Champagne, or a less-pricey Cremant made in the Loire or Bourgogne regions.

ENTREE

I always go for a one-pot meal that allows you to get most of the cooking done earlier in the day, says Pelka. Then you have it in the oven and when its done its done: You dont have to be slaving over the stove or futzing around. And yes, that way you get more quality time with your sweetheart! Her go-to main course is a spin on one of British chef Yotam Ottolenghis recipes from his Jerusalem: A Cookbook. Wonderfully fragrant, simple, and luxurious, its a one-pot entree mingling basmati rice, tons of fresh herbs such as dill and cilantro, cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon. (You can find the complete recipe here.) Pelka swaps out the chicken for pork sausage, and amps up the called for yogurt with cumin and salt. As a pairing, she suggests a great-quality white Burgundy Meursault or a Pinot Noir from Washington or Oregon with juicy fruit.

DESSERT

Its practically a rule that your Valentines dinner end with a rich chocolate dessert. Pelka is smitten with a sultry, citrus-laced dark chocolate pot de creme that her chef Shannon Waters dreamt up for The Riddler. Pelka suggests pairing it with a half-bottle of slightly sweet sparkling rose that will complement the desserts notes of Grand Marnier, orange zest and unctuous dark chocolate. Served in (unused) caviar tins topped with dark chocolate pearls that look like, you guessed it, caviar, this is a sweet way to end the meal on an unexpected, decadent, and yessophisticatednote.

Dark Chocolate Pots de C reme

By Shannon Waters

Ingredients:

3 oz (90 grams) Dark chocolate, chopped.75 oz (20 grams) Grand Marnier1 tsp Orange zest2 Egg yolks2.5 tbsp (39 grams) Sugarsmall pinch SaltScant .75 cup (164 grams) heavy cream.33 cup (83 grams) Milk.25 teaspoon (1 gram) Vanilla extract2 Tbsp Dark chocolate pearls

Directions:

Add chocolate, Grand Marnier, and orange zest to blender and blend until crumbled. Set aside. Add egg yolks to large bowl, and set aside. In medium-sized, heavy bottomed pot, heat sugar, salt, cream, milk and vanilla over medium heat, stirring frequently. Once sugar is dissolved, add hot mixture to yolks slowly, in quarter cup increments, stirring after each addition so yolks do not curdle. Return mixture to pot and cook until thick, about 2-3 minutes. Pour mix over chocolate, and carefully blend. Pour mix into tins or ramekins and allow to cool, uncovered, in refrigerator for four hours, until set. Just before serving, sprinkle on enough dark chocolate pearls to cover the top of the tin. Serve chilled. This recipe makes five small (250-gram) servings.
Press Promotion

Packaging Innovations returns to Birmingham

Packaging Innovations (inc. Ecopack and Contract Pack), Label&Print and Empack 2017 returns to Birminghams NEC on 1  2 March with more on offer than ever before. The two-day event features a wealth of new show features, leading international suppliers and educational seminars.

Unmissable Content

The show is always packed with features providing visitors with invaluable opportunities to learn from and interact with influential names from within the packaging industry. In a first for the show, Campden BRI, the UKs largest independent food and drink research body, will be hosting a series of intimate, topical sessions for the FMCG industry. Topics will cover an array of subjects, from packaging defects and labelling updates, through to contact materials and openability. Campden BRI will also be hosting a competition for attendees, to see if they can guess the 'foreign body'

New for 2017 will be The Ideas Factory, which will see leading experts from non-packaging based companies form a cross-sector information sharing portal. This will allow the newest techniques and knowledge from other industries to be applied to the packaging sector.

Inclusivity is a hot topic in the industry, as companies consider the impact their packaging design has on consumers. David Wiggins of DRW Packaging Consultants will host the new Inclusivity in Packaging feature, examining how packaging can be more inclusive at the design stage to maximise appeal. There will also be a series of interactive sensory experiments designed to test show visitors motor skills and sight.

The Drinks Symposium, hosted by Felicity Murray, founder of TheDrinksReport.com, will present a series of case studies looking at the latest trends, challenging issues and pioneering concepts facing the packaging for drinks industry. Experts, including Rob Asterley, co-founder at Asterley Bros, Helen Chesshire, co-founder and distiller of Brighton Gin, and Catherine Monahan, founder and CEO of Gigglewater, will examine how, in todays crowded marketplace, original thinking, a unique story and imaginative packaging can enhance a new products desirability and create a strong brand identity.

The show also welcomes back established favourites, including The Great Innovation Debate, The Packaging Consultancy Clinic and The BIG Print Debate.

Educational Seminars

The show will feature five seminar theatres packed with over 30 hours of free-to-attend educational content. These sessions will be delivered by packaging industry leaders from companies such as Co-Op, Coca-Cola, Innocent Drinks, Lucozade Ribena Suntory and Mondelez International.

Innovative Showfloor

In addition to educational show features, the show will feature over 350 leading international suppliers, many using the show to launch new products and services.

Croxsons is focusing on adding value to glass packaging through a variety of advanced decoration techniques and closures. It will also be displaying its stunning decoration on its The House of Erick bottle.

Advanced Dynamics will be showing how, with the introduction of its Pack Leader range of labelling equipment, it now has systems ranging from its entry level table top ELF machines to the advanced PRO range, capable of dealing with the most demanding applications on all types of products including plastic and glass bottles.

Networking

As well as unrivalled show content, features and exhibitors, attendees will have the opportunity to network with over 6,000 industry peers. Dont miss the official Networking party, which take place at 17:00 on 1 March.

Registration is now open. To register for free, please visit www.easyfairs.com/PIUK, www.easyfairs.com/EmpackUK and www.easyfairs.com/Label&PrintUK or via the show team on +44 (0)20 3196 4429 or PackagingUK@easyfairs.com.

14 February 2017 - Sam Coyne The Drinks Report, news editor
Norwegian distillery releases Akevitt

The first batch of cask-aged Akevitt has been released by Oslo Handverksdestilleri. The launch completes the Oslo distillerys core line-up which includes Vidda Trr gin and Marka, a Nordic digestive bitter.

Norwegians have been steeping herbs and spices to produce akevitt since the 15th century. The specific plants used to flavour the spirit are determined by local preference and cuisine. Traditionally Norwegian akevitt is made with potato-based spirits and infused with botanicals with a predominant flavour profile of caraway. Oslo Handverksdestilleri has sourced locally foraged ingredients such as meadowsweet, heather flower, St. Johns wort, dandelion root, angelica root, yarrow, chamomile flower, sorrel, hyssop and horehound to use in its recipe.

After a long history of state monopolies on alcohol production in Norway leading to total control of the market, Oslo Handverksdestilleri claims to be bringing authenticity back to the akevitt category and is dedicated to reviving traditional customs with the creation of high quality artisanal spirits enriched with Nordic botanicals.

Distilled from a potato base spirit Oslo Handverksdestilleri Akevitt has been matured for 12 months in American oak cask.

It is customary to drink the flavoured spirit during celebrations, particularly Christmas, but its gaining traction as a cocktail ingredient around the world. Enjoyed at room temperature akevitt is often served in a tulip-shaped glass or as a shot taken during a meal.

Co-founder and partner in Oslo Handverksdestilleri, Marius Vestnes comments: Norwegian akevitt is a distinctive Scandinavian delicacy with a well-deserved reputation. It carries a sense of heritage and tradition of which we Norwegians are very proud. In completing our core range with Akevitt we now have engaging and exciting collection of Nordic spirits to offer.

Akevitt is bottled (70cl) at 41% with a UK RRP of 42.95 will be available at selected specialist retailers.

14 February 2017 - Sam Coyne The Drinks Report, news editor
Rowland managed the work of scientists who assessed human health effects of exposures to pesticides like glyphosate and he chaired the EPA's Cancer Assessment Review Committee (CARC) that determined glyphosate was "not likely to be carcinogenic to humans."

Rowland left the EPA in 2016 shortly after a copy of the CARC report was leaked and cited by Monsanto as evidence that the IARC classification was flawed.

The light of day must shine on these murky dealings

Lawyers for the plaintiffs want the federal judge in the case to lift a seal on documents that detail Monsanto's interactions with Rowland regarding the EPA's safety assessment of glyphosate.

Monsanto turned the documents over in discovery but marked them 'confidential', a designation plaintiffs' attorneys say is improper. They also want to depose Rowland. But Monsanto and the EPA object to the requests, court documents show. Rowland could not be reached for comment.

Plaintiffs' attorneys wrote in the Feb. 10 filing in the multi-district litigation, which has been consolidated in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, that Mr Rowland must now tell the court what he knows:

"The Plaintiffs have a pressing need for Mr. Rowland's testimony to confirm his relationship with Monsanto and EPA's substantial role in protecting the Defendant's business. Mr. Rowland operated under Monsanto's influence to cause EPA's position and publications to support Monsanto's business."

The EPA has spent the last few years assessing the health and environmental safety profile of glyphosate as global controversy over the chemical has mounted. The agency had planned to finish its risk assessment on glyphosate in 2015; then said it would be completed in 2016; then said it would be finished by the first quarter of 2017. Now the agency says it hopes to have it completed by the end of the third quarter of 2017.

Monsanto: plaintiffs must prove every cancer was caused by Roundup

Monsanto also made a new filing in the litigation on Friday, laying out its assertion that there is no evidence Roundup and glyphosate products are "defective or unreasonably dangerous" and said the products complied with "all applicable government safety standards". There is no evidence of carcinogenicity in glyphosate or Roundup, Monsanto said in its filing.

In a separate filing made on Feb. 8, Monsanto submitted a court brief arguing that the IARC classification of glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen is not relevant to the question of whether or not Roundup caused the plaintiffs' cancers.

IARC's approach is "less rigorous" than EPA's in evaluating scientific evidence, according to the brief, and IARC's conclusions are "scientifically unreliable".

Monsanto told the court that neither the views of IARC or EPA are necessarily relevant to the general causation issue of the litigation because plaintiffs will need to present admissible expert testimony showing the company's products in fact caused their cancers.

Now, a cunning plan to block class action suits against corporate abuses

As the litigation drags on, legislation that could potentially benefit Monsanto and numerous other companies facing consumer class action lawsuits was proposed on Feb. 9. The 'Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act of 2017' (H.R. 985) was introduced in the US House of Representatives by House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA.)

Business interests backing the law say it would reduce frivolous suits and ensure that plaintiffs receive the bulk of any damage awards rather than enriching the attorneys who bring such lawsuits.

But opponents say it would make it nearly impossible for individuals with limited financial resources to challenge powerful corporations in court. The bill would apply both to pending and future class action and multi-district litigation.

"The bill is designed to ensure that no class action could ever be brought or litigated for anyone", said Joanne Doroshow, executive director of the Center for Justice & Democracy. "It would obliterate civil rights, antitrust, consumer, essentially every class action in America."

EU Citizens' Initiative

Meanwhile in Europe, an EU Citizens' Initiative has just been launched demanding that glyphosate is banned in all EU countries. Once 1 million signatures have been received from at least seven EU countries, the proposal will have to be debated in the European Parliament.

The petition, reachable via the Stop Glyphosate website, calls on the European Commission to:

ban glyphosate-based herbicides, exposure to which has been linked to cancer in humans, and has led to ecosystems degradation;

ensure that the scientific evaluation of pesticides for EU regulatory approval is based only on published studies, which are commissioned by competent public authorities instead of the pesticide industry;

set EU-wide mandatory reduction targets for pesticide use, with a view to achieving a pesticide-free future."

Carey Gillam is a veteran journalist and Research Director for US Right to Know, a non-profit consumer education group. Follow Carey Gillam on Twitter @careygillam.

This article originally appeared on Huffington Post.
Making a return to our two favourite summer locations, Mount Maunganui and Nelson in early January 2023, we've got whiff of the first release lineup and me oh my, yes boy
What could be more fitting for a Valentines Day Taboo Trades class than some readings on commodification of the body? For todays class I chose:

(1) Martha Nussbaum, Sex and Social Justice , Taking Money For Bodily Services, pp. 276-298

(2) Carl Elliott, Guinea-Pigging, The New Yorker

(3) Cari Romm, The Life of A Professional Guinea Pig, The Atlantic (2015)

The concept of guinea pigging is one that Ive written about here before, in Medical Research Subjects: Guinea Pigs, Laborers, Or Altruists? According to the Oxford English Dictionary (as discussed by Romm), the first use of the word guinea pig as human subject of an experiment was in 1913, when George Bernard Shaw decried the ... folly which sees in the child nothing more than the vivisector sees in a guinea pig: something to experiment on with a view to rearranging the world.

As used here, guinea pigs are healthy, professional medical research subjects who make money primarily through Phase 1 clinical trials (the trials meant to assess the safety and possible side effects of medications, rather than their efficacy). As noted by Romm, The members of this group call themselves guinea pigs, or lab rats. They also call themselves professionals. This notion, of course, flies in the face of the preferred ethicists understanding of human subjects research, which likes to conceive of subjects as motivated by altruism. As noted by Elliott:

Of course, ethicists generally prefer that subjects take part in studies for altruistic reasons. Yet, if sponsors relied solely on altruism, studies on healthy subjects would probably come to a halt. The result is an uneasy compromise: guinea pigs are paid to test drugs, but everyone pretends that guinea-pigging is not really a job.

Kieran Healy and I make a similar point about egg donors in our forthcoming paper, Repugnance Management and Transactions in the Body (forthcoming, American Economic Review: Papers & Proceedings 2017, 107(5)). As we say there:

The fact that egg donor compensation occurs within a gift-based cultural account poses other problems as well. Payments of up to $10,000 are hard enough to square with a gift narrative, but participants managed it. Egg donation is physically risky, after all, and there was a general consensus that egg donors deserved something for their efforts. Besides, all market participants recognized that without some compensation there would be very few egg donors. But once incentives enter the picture they threaten to undermine gift framing entirely. Would fertility centers and patients compete for the most desirable egg donors? How do you square extremely large payments that vary with the donors beauty, intelligence, or race with the notion that payments to egg donors are mere thank-you gestures or a token in recognition of physical discomfort? (emphasis added)

So, how does Nussbaums chapter on prostitution fit into all this? In some years, I opt to assign Nussbaums chapter together with readings on sex work, but in some ways I find it a better fit with the human guinea pigs readings because Nussbaum makes her points about prostitution by analogizing to the commodification of the body more generally. Many readers, for example, will be familiar with Nussbaums famous example of the colonoscopy artist, who gets paid for having her colon examined with the latest instruments, in order to test out their range and capability.

When considered in this light, the job of guinea pig and that of prostitute (as with all cases of bodily commodification) share some similarities  and some differences as well. In the end, Nussbaum is skeptical of commodification critiques, concluding that:
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 ...
Leistikow: Hawkeyes uncover much-needed star in Kaleb Johnson

After a 200-yard day, Johnson seems as surprised as anybody that he has a starring role for the Hawkeyes down the stretch.
By PTI: New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) Delhi Health minister Satyendar Jain today said 1,000 mohalla clinics, aimed at providing free primary healthcare, will be set up across the city in the next five months.

He also said that the government is set to make Delhi Open Defecation Free (ODF) by June.

"We have constructed 8,000 toilets in the city so far to achieve the target of making the national capital ODF," Jain said.

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While listing his achievements on the second anniversary of AAP government, he said the government has built 110 mohalla clinics and 100 new clinics are set to function soon.

Delhi government has set a target of setting up 1,000 mohalla clinics across the city to provide better health services to its residents.

The Health Minister said out of proposed 150 polyclinics, 26 have also been built so far.

"We have built 110 mohalla clinics and other 100 will soon start functioning. We will set up all 1,000 mohalla clinics in four-five months.

"Apart from this, 150 polyclinics will be built by the government soon," Jain said.

Giving further details on initiatives taken up by the Health Department, he said in all government hospitals, medicines are being provided to patients at free-of-cost. Free test facility was also started in December 2016.

The government has also plan to provide Health Card and Health Insurance to every citizen, the minister said, adding the department is working on it. PTI BUN DIP

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NORWALK  Educators are invited to a free after-hours open house March 1 to learn how the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalks programs and resources  including a new STEM-focused IMAX movie  will enhance lessons to their students.

The event, called Fish School, runs from 4 to 7 p.m. The purpose of the free evening is to show teachers and other educators the many ways they can connect their students and curricula with the Aquariums unique educational programs, which help to fulfill state, Common Core and Next Generation Science standards.
NORWALK  Leaders of Norwalk Public Schools special education community have called a recent meeting with Superintendent Steven Adamowski a step in the right direction for the issue-laden program.

I can tell you that personally I have renewed optimism in the level of communication between the district and the parent group, said Eric Niederer, SPED Partners co-chair and father to a special needs son in Norwalk schools. It shows great things and we have been told the district is committed to collaboration and improving special education.

The 90-minute meeting between Adamowski, Niederer, fellow SPED Partners co-chair Margaret Kozlark and Jeff Spahr, chair of the organizations legislative committee, took place Feb. 2. That was weeks after the Dec. 20 Board of Education meeting where such a meeting between group leaders and the superintendent was requested by dozens of the districts frustrated special education parents who showed up after former chief of special education Lynn Toper announced her resignation.

During the meeting, the group discussed everything from budget concerns over the extended school year program to the search for Topers replacement, Kozlark said.

I really viewed this as not a one-time meeting, she said. I don't think we will be coming to Dr. Adamowski with every concern, but its a continuing dialogue. That's really all we wanted. When there is no discussion Its easy for both sides to have ill will  it was nice to say lets sit down and talk.

Thats good news to the special education community, as group leaders said one of the main concerns in the past has been communication.

More than 50 families with special needs children in Norwalk Public Schools are involved in Norwalk SPED Partners.

Niederer and Kozlark said they were able to reach out to many of the families before the meeting to assemble a list of topics to go over with Adamowski.

We walked through every concern on our list, Kozlark said, adding that she was happy with the amount of time Adamowski gave them.

After the meeting, group leaders said they shared a synopsis with their members.

Its been a long road and I think they are cautiously optimistic, Kozlark said. We are going to need more forward progress like this, but everyone agrees its a good start and they are cautiously optimistic.

In response to a request for Adamowski to comment on the meeting, Norwalk Public Schools spokeswoman Brenda Wilcox Williams said Adamowski meets regularly with many parent groups and that he makes every effort to be responsive to the needs and concerns of the districts families.

The district is making big strides towards improving specialized learning, and parent involvement is a critical part of that, Williams said. The superintendent appreciates the time and commitment of parents serving with organizations such as SPED Partners, as well as the Special Education Advisory Committee. These groups are making a positive impact on the quality of special education in Norwalk, as well as providing a support network for parents.

KSchultz@thehour.com; 203-354-1049; @kevinedschultz
By PTI: New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) NHRC has received over 14,600 cases of bonded labour since its inception and this "anathema of civilised humanity" still persists in many sectors, chairperson Justice (retd) H L Dattu today said.

He was addressing a gathering on the inauguration of a two-day National Seminar on Bonded Labour hosted by the National Human Right Commission at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library here.

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"Bonded labour is one of the worst violations of human rights and also the dignity of life. It is a crime against humanity, anathema of civilised humanity, denial of inalienable human rights, antithesis of decent work and a blot on civilised society that jolts the conscience of the entire nation," he said.

The rights panel chief also shared the number of complaints on bonded labour received by NHRC since 1993 and said it was "alarming".

"From its inception till January 31 this year, 14,614 cases have been received by us, out of which 13,266 have been disposed of."

Maximum violation cases were reported from Odisha (9,983) out of which 9,899 have been disposed of, according to a report released by the NHRC.

The Commission has recommended compensation in cases of bonded labour and also amendments to several provisions in Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, Dattu said.

"In order to monitor the compliance of recommendations on bonded labour, the Commission has also devised a detailed reporting questionnaire format and sent it to all the states/union territories. So far, the Commission has not received information from 12 states and 6 union territories," he added.

The NHRC chairperson also said it would be wrong to think that bonded labour is a thing of past, as it can be found even today in not only agriculture but also in other sectors of employment including brick kilns, stone quarries, salt fields, lather manufacturing units and so on.

"As long as there is poverty, unemployment, underemployment, landlessness, migration, indebtedness, the pernicious bonded labour system will continue," he lamented.

"The Commission has been receiving a spate of complaints from time to time regarding exploitation and harassment of people who have been victims of bonded labour system. Some of these complaints related to non-payment of wages or payment of wages lower than notified minimum wages," it said.

"The action and conduct of DMs in a large number of cases would amount to abatement of an offence as defined in Section 20 of the Act. In almost all cases, the DMs rest content by filing a prosecution for non-maintenance of records and registers," it said.

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From January 2006 to December 31, 2015, as many as 25,477 bonded labourers were identified across the country. Only in 277 cases it reached to the stage of conviction, according to the report. PTI KND ZMN

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Just as Wilton has begun developing our FY 2018 budget, so have the governor and the state Legislature. Facing an estimated $1.4 billion deficit in FY 2018 alone, last week Governor Malloy presented his proposed budget. For Wilton his proposals mean a more than $1 million reduction in educational aid and a $4 million bill from the state teacher pension plan. If both are adopted by the Legislature, they could mean an approximate 5 percent increase in Wiltons annual budget.

Many of you have contacted me to gain an understanding of the issues related to the teacher pension proposal. The following is an overview of the plan, the possible impact on Wilton property taxpayers and what we can do as a community in response.

The obligation for teacher pension rests with the state. Teachers participate in a defined benefit plan, funded by the state and themselves and negotiated by the governor.

Teachers contribute 6 percent of their wages to their plan. The plan is the teachers only retirement benefit, as teachers do not participate in Social Security. Neither teachers, nor the Board of Education on behalf of teachers, pay 6.2 percent employee and employer Social Security contributions.

The plan is significantly underfunded for three primary reasons: First, the state did not pre-fund the plan until 1979. That is, as teachers earned their pension benefits the state did not set aside monies to pay those benefits. Second, once the state began funding, they did not generally make the full required annual contribution until 2008 and thereafter. Third, the pension funds actual investment performance has been lower than the assumed investment rate of return.

As of June 30, 2014 the plan had an unfunded liability of over $10.8 billion, which jumped to $13.2 billion as of June 30, 2016, partially driven by a reduction in the assumed investment rate from 8.5 percent to 8 percent. This 8 percent rate still greatly exceeds recent actual investment earnings. The plan is 56 percent funded. The states required contribution for FY 2018 is 28 percent higher than FY 2017. This increase appears to drive the governors decision-making in asking towns and cities to pay one-third of the states required pension contribution.

As of June 30, 2014 Wiltons share of the unfunded liability was $101 million. To put that number in context, it was more than 10 times the unfunded liability of the Retirement Plan for the Employees of the Town of Wilton. A plan that is 91 percent funded.

The governor has proposed Wilton participate in paying one-third of the cost even though he will retain authority to negotiate the terms of the pension. He has stated the teacher contribution of 6 percent will not change, even though the rate has not increased since 1992. He claims wealthy communities account for a disproportionate share of the states total annual contribution because wealthy towns pay their teachers more. This statement is true. But, the governor also claims wealthy communities can absorb the contribution imposed without their having to increase taxes. This is not an accurate statement.

Whatever reserves we may have to fund a share of the current years $4 million contribution, an equivalent increase in FY 2019 taxes will be required as those reserves will be gone. We must exercise caution, as not maintaining adequate reserves will mean higher bonding costs for the remainder of the Miller-Driscoll renovation, planned road restoration, the upcoming police station renovation and our other bonded expenditures. Right now we are an Aaa town in a Aa3 outlook negative state. This is not the time to risk our credit rating for a one-year tax deferral.

We all recognize the seriousness of the states financial position. As Connecticut taxpayers, we expected to bear some of the burden. But if the property taxpayers of Wilton are to be asked to assume state pension obligations, we must ask the state in return to model actions we have taken with respect to management of costs associated with pension benefits. Increase employee contribution rates for defined benefit plans and place new employees into defined contribution plans. In addition, the existing binding arbitration processes, which drive up wages, should be revised. The Legislature must provide greater relief from state education and municipal mandates than proposed by the governor. These tools are essential to properly address our towns future.

Between now and the Annual Town Meeting, the members of the various town boards will be monitoring and responding to activity in Hartford. I urge you all to do the same. Please stay informed. Please write, call and or visit the governor and the Legislature and advocate for additional mandate relief and changes to pension and binding arbitration.

Sacrifices will have to be made. We must collectively decide how those sacrifices can be fairly shared.

Lynne Vanderslice is First Selectman of the town Wilton.
Love has inspired countless composers, some of whom have written pieces dedicated to, or directly inspired by, their own beloveds. Here are ten of the best musical love letters ever composed.

1. Wagner: Siegfried Idyll

Though his reputation rests on his big, long, and loud mythological operas, Richard Wagner was also capable of composing on a smaller scale. He wrote the Siegfried Idyll as a birthday present to his wife Cosima, who had recently borne him a son, Siegfried. Wagner hired an orchestra of thirteen players to perform the piece on the steps of the familys country villa at Tribschen, Switzerland on Christmas morning 1870, as his wife slept in a bedroom above. Cosima recalled:

As I awoke, my ear caught a sound, which swelled fuller and fuller; no longer could I imagine myself to be dreaming: music was sounding, and such music! When it died away, Richard came into my room with the children and offered me the score of the symphonic birthday poem. I was in tears, but so were all the rest of the household. Richard had arranged his orchestra on the staircase, and thus was our Tribschen consecrated forever.

Wagner meant for the piece to remain private, but years later, in need of money, he sold the Siegfried Idyll to a publisher, expanding the orchestration of the work. The version below reproduces the intimate arrangement of Wagners original.

2. Mahler: Adagietto from Symphony No. 5

Gustav Mahler wrote two pieces for his wife Alma, the song Liebst Du Um Schonheit (If You Love for Beauty) after a poem by Friedrich Ruckert, and this famous movement from his Fifth Symphony. Unfortunately, over time the Adagietto became associated with death; Leonard Bernstein played it at the funeral of John F. Kennedy, and the music was featured in the 1971 film, Death in Venice. Largely due to this association, most conductors have drawn out the tempo of the Adagietto in recent decades to a funereal ten, eleven, or twelve minutesand in a few cases, even beyondstretching the movement out of shape and altering its proper character. The evidence indicates that Mahler himself conducted the movement in about eight minutes, and it is this tempo that reveals the origin of the piece as a poignant love letter. The recording below follows Mahlers wishes in this regard.

3. Mozart: Great Mass in C Minor

The Mass in C Minor was likely the result of Mozarts promise that he would compose a Mass in thanksgiving to God for his marriage to Constanze Weber. It is quite true about my moral obligation, the composer wrote to his father Leopold soon after the marriage. I made the promise and hope to be able to keep it. When I made it, my wife was still single; yet as I was determined to marry her soon after her recovery it was easy for me to make it. Leopold did not approve of the union, thinking his son should concentrate on composition, and deeming Constanze unworthy of his Wolfgang. Though the younger Mozart never fully completed the Mass, he premiered the unfinished work in his hometown of Salzburg, when he returned there to introduce his new bride to his father. Constanze sang the soprano solos of the Mass at this performance, in what may have been an effort to ingratiate Constanze to the displeased Leopold. The attempt failed.

4. Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique

Obsessed with the work of Shakespeare, French composer Hector Berlioz one evening attended a performance Hamlet at the Odeon Theatre in Paris. A second obsession began that evening, when he found himself captivated by the performance of the Irish actress, Harriet Smithson, in the role of Ophelia. Ignoring his repeated advances, Smithson soon left Paris, and Berlioz turned to composition for relief from his yearning. The result was a strange, new work: the Symphonie Fantastique, which tells the tale of an obsessed lover who dreams of the woman he desires (movement one); who attends a ball, as she remains elusive (movement two); who then goes to the countryside and finds a balm for his longing, as he listens to the interplay of horn calls of two shepherds (movement three); who next takes opium and dreams of killing his beloved and being guillotined for his crime (movement four); and who finally dreams that he is in the midst of an orgiastic Witches Sabbath, as his death is celebrated by, as the composer put it in his original program notes at the Fantastiques premier, a hideous gathering of shades, sorcerers and monsters of every kind.

This is not the stuff of Hallmark cards! Berlioz did eventually succeed in getting Smithson to consent to marrying him. But their life together was miserable from the start, and Berlioz ended up having an affair with another woman.

5. Janacek: String Quartet (Intimate Letters)

At the age of sixty-three, Czech composer Leos Janacek met and fell immediately in love with the twenty-six-year-old Kamila Stosslova. Both were already married, and Stosslova was ambivalent about the composer as a man and as a composer. Nevertheless, Janacek proceeded to write more than 700 love letters to the young woman over the remaining eleven years of his life. You are so lovely in character and appearance that in your company ones spirits are lifted, he wrote in his first missive. Happy you! All the more painfully I feel my own desolation and bitter fate. Stosslova became the inspiration for female characters in his operas and for several of his compositions, including the String Quartet, Intimate Letters. He wrote to her about the third movement of the quartet: It will be very cheerful, and then dissolve into a vision of your image, transparent, as if in the mist.

6. Richard Strauss: The Heros Companion (from Ein Heldenleben)

Richard Strauss tone poem, A Heros Life, is unabashedly autobiographicalthough Strauss unconvincingly equivocated when pressed on the issueby a composer who deemed himself no less interesting than Napoleon. The piece describes in music a heros victory over his enemies (music critics?), his wonderful works of peace (his compositions?), his retirement in glory and his romantic companion. For Strauss this companion was his wife, Pauline de Ahna, whom he described as very complex, very feminine, a little perverse, a little coquettish, never like herself, at every minute different from how she had been a moment before. The music of The Heros Companion might be said to reflect this characterization of Pauline. Strauss wife would again appear as an unnamed character in the composers less musically interesting sequel to A Heros Life, the Domestic Symphony.

7. Beethoven: Fur Elise

One of the most popular piano pieces ever written, this three-minute bagatelle was not published until forty years after Beethoven died. The subject of its dedication has been an issue of much debate among scholars ever since. Who was this Elise? Some have suggested the woman in question was Elisabeth Roeckel, a friend of the composer who went by the nickname Elise, while others argue that the dedication was transcribed incorrectly and that Fur Therese was meant for Therese Malfatti, a woman who once rejected Beethovens marriage proposal. As with the subject of his undelivered letter To the Immortal Beloved, the identity of the object of Beethovens affections remains a mystery.

8. Smetana: String Quartet No. 1, From My Life

Czech composer Bedrich Smetana, known primarily for his opera, The Bartered Bride, and his cycle of tone poems, Ma Vlast (My Fatherland), also wrote this autobiographical and very personal chamber work, which details events in the composers life, including the onset of his deafness. The work, Smetana explained, was written for four instruments which, as in a small circle of friends, talk among themselves about what has oppressed me so significantly. The third movement (the one which, in the opinion of the gentlemen who play this quartet, is unperformable) reminds me of the happiness of my first love, the girl who later became my first wife. This was Katerina Kolarova, who would die of tuberculosis ten years after the couple married.

The Imaginative Conservative applies the principle of appreciation to the discussion of culture and politicswe approach dialogue with magnanimity rather than with mere civility. Will you help us remain a refreshing oasis in the increasingly contentious arena of modern discourse? Please consider donating now.

The featured image is Mozart and Constanze at their honeymoon. XIX century card, and is in the public domain, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Amy Jackson's phone was hacked and her private pictures were leaked online, say reports.

By India Today Web Desk: Amy Jackson, who returned to Chennai from London, was at a mobile store in Mumbai. Reportedly, Amy Jackson's phone was hacked and personal pictures of the actor was leaked on the internet. She was in Mumbai to catch the connecting flight to Chennai. It is believed that her phone was hacked at the mobile store.

Speaking about the incident, Amy was quoted by mid-day as saying, "I was shocked when this happened. This isn't a trivial matter and has to be taken up seriously. I will register a complaint with the cyber crime cell in London and ensure the hackers are taken to task. Cyber safety is the need of the hour."

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Amy, who was in Kerala to perform at the Vanitha Film Awards, said that she is set to rejoin the shoot of superstar Rajinikanth's upcoming sci-fi thriller 2.0.

Thanks Kerala! Next stop Chennai for Robot 2.0 shoot ?? Amy Jackson (@iamAmyJackson) February 13, 2017

Directed by Shankar, the film is made on a lavish budget of Rs 400 crore. Reports suggest that 90 per cent of the shoot is done.

Also starring Akshay Kumar, Sudhanshu Pandey and Adil Hussain, 2.0 is slated to release on Diwali.

ALSO READ: Veeram trailer- Hrithik Roshan unveils Kunal Kapoor's period drama

ALSO READ: Singam 3 box-office collection- Suriya's film heading towards Rs 100 crore

ALSO READ: Will Baahubali 2 have Shah Rukh Khan in it?

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Gov. Pete Ricketts is attempting to take the states tax policy in the right direction, however, how to accomplish his goals is a challenge.

Ricketts is right to seek to lower the states income tax rate and to lower property taxes. Hes also limiting the growth of the state budget, which is particularly needed since state tax revenue is falling short of projections.

Ricketts proposal would lower the states top income tax rate from 6.84 percent to 5.99 percent. This would be done in eight steps. A step would only kick in during years when projected state revenue goes up by more than 3.5 percent.

The governor is right to try to lower income taxes to make Nebraska more competitive as Wyoming and South Dakota have no income tax and Kansas and Missouri have lower rates. Iowa in the only bordering state that has a higher rate.

There are concerns, though, with the automatic method of reducing rates by tying it to state revenue. What would be preferable would be for state senators to assess the states situation each year and then decide whether to adjust the rate.

With the automatic reduction, the states tax rate could be going down when there are some pressing needs as is being seen in the states Department of Corrections this year.

In addition, the states economic situation could change dramatically during a year and a rate cut might not be the wisest move at the time.

One option to consider is to raise the income level where Nebraskas top tax rate kicks in. Now those levels are $29,800 for a single taxpayer and $59,700 for married couples. Those income levels are way lower than they should be for the top tax rate.

The governor also has a promising proposal that would lower property taxes on agricultural land. Under the plan, the states property tax valuation system would be switched from one based on land sales to how much income land could produce. This would take into account drops in commodity prices. This would give a much more accurate picture of the lands value.

Ricketts said in a recent column, Income potential is a much fairer measure, and will slow the growth of ag land valuation increases. If this system were in place for 2017, it would have reduced ag land valuations by about $2.2 billion.

The governor said similar income-potential valuation systems are being used in North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.

As the governor says, its time for Nebraska to join these other ag states and have a more realistic way of assessing the value of ag land.

The lingering question in all the tax debate, though, is how lost revenue would be made up for school districts and other entities.

Theres a lot to sort through in adjusting tax policy, but Ricketts has the discussion moving in the right direction.
The Independents editorial on the convention of states requires more discussion. The statement of doing nothing because there is too much division in our country is irrational. This country has been in its present state for decades and waiting for unity is a wait for old age and continued destruction.

Our current leaders have demonstrated they are impotent when it comes to making decisions pertaining to the health and financial welfare of America. What our nation needs is fiscal restraint, term limits and each branch of government staying within their domains.

The Independent agreed that the concern for the national debt is being ignored by Washington, yet reconciles that concept with one day the country will come to regret that.

Really? In the meantime we just sit and wait for a better time to clean it up, while it continues to grow? How about stop what is causing the debt now and do something to reduce it? We are tired of waiting for Washington to do their jobs. Yes, deficit spending is needed sometimes, but not as a way of life as it is now.

Your suggestion to let the voters decide has not yielded results either. The voters have had the chance to change things but it takes leadership to get a movement going. The silent majority of the people have to move in unity to make changes. Thus a convention of states is imperative for our countrys future.

The concern of a COS getting off topic is highly improbable if not impossible. All of the states must agree on the potential amendments and the probability of any inappropriate constitutional change is not going to happen.

The people must unite, with guided leadership, and reduce the federal governments self-serving undisciplined actions. We must take action so that whats left of our republic remains intact and not become a nation ruled by the elite doing what is good for themselves.

Not only should the people of Nebraska join the convention of states, but also call the governor and senators to support this movement as is happening in other states, and do it now.
Astros win second World Series title in six seasons behind dramatic moonshot

The Astros beat the Phillies in six games to win the World Series, thanks to Yordan Alvarez's 450-foot three-run home run in the clincher.
By PTI: Beijing, Feb 14 (PTI) About 30 million Chinese men will have to look for brides outside China in the coming decades or end up single, according to a new study.

The number of unmarried Chinese men between 35 and 59 will reach 15 million in 2020 and 30 million in 2050, Wang Guangzhou, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said.

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Poorly educated lower class men are far more likely to end up single, he told state-run Peoples Daily.

This is because males who only have a primary education or below increased to 15 percent in 2010.

Yuan Xin, a professor at Nankai University and expert on family planning policy, told state run Global Times that the number will likely exceed 30 million in 2050, as gender bias in favour of males at birth is still high in China.

The national average sex ratio at birth peaked at 121.

Two males for every 100 females in China in 2004, while the standard ratio set by the UN is between 103 and 107 males for every 100 females.

In 2015, the nationwide average was 113. Five males against 100 females, the seventh decrease since 2009.

Zhai Zhenwu, a sociologist at the Renmin University of China, said the continued imbalance was caused by the development of ultrasound technology in the 1980s, which aided the traditional family preferences for a son, the Peoples Daily report said.

"The family planning policy which also promoted late birth had the negative effect on increasing the desire for people to select the sex of their child.

Coupled with new, cheap and safe sex determination and selection technologies, this made the existing preference for a son become a reality," Yuan said.

China bans any testing for gender or selective abortion over gender preference.

Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on January 20 shows that China?s male population reached more than 708 million at the end of 2016, while the number of females was more than 675 million.

Chinas sixth national population census in 2010 showed that unmarried Chinese women above 30 years old accounted for 2.47 per cent of the female population - almost two times higher than the figure reported in the 2,000 census.

Yuan cautioned that recent trends of more well-educated Chinese women choosing to remain single will exacerbate the situation.

"Besides the marriage issue, a high single male population might also cause many other social problems such as sexual violence, women and child trafficking, not to mention the pension burden they will bring about when they get old," Yuan said.

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The National Health and Family Planning Commission said early this month that China would reduce its sex ratio at birth to 112 boys for every 100 girls by 20.

Already the widening sex ratio prompting rural Chinese men to marry women from neighbouring east Asian countries like Vietnam. PTI KJV UZM

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Kolkata, Feb 14 (PTI) Three persons were arrested after 540 gram of charas worth Rs 5 lakh was seized from their possession, the police said today.

Acting on a tip-off, a team from Kolkata Polices narcotic section nabbed the three -- Anil Das, Bikas Saha, and Shambu Mondal -- from Burtolla Police Station area late last night.

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Police said the team recovered 250 g, 150 g and 140 g of charas from Das, Saha and Mondal respectively.

They were produced before a local court that remanded them to police custody till Saturday. PTI SCH NN

--- ENDS ---
Question: I heard about a U.S. District Court abstaining from hearing a case. Is this the same as refusing to take a case? Why would a District Court abstain from hearing something?

The District Court, or the federal equivalent to a trail court, receives hundreds of cases a year. District Courts can and do refuse to hear any number of these cases. In order for a case to be in federal court, there must be a federal issue involved in the case. (An issue on the federal level will, in short, be one dealing with the United States Constitution or federal law.)

When a federal court abstains from hearing a case, it stays its deciding the case temporarily. Usually, a court will abstain from hearing a case because the case is not ready to be heard at the federal level. It is still possible that a case could be heard in federal District Court after it becomes capable of being tried.

The most common reason why a federal court abstains from hearing a case is because there are unresolved issues on the state level. Generally, there are two instances in which a federal court will abstain from hearing a case.

The first instance in which a court will abstain from hearing a case is when the case involves a federal question as well as a question of state law that the state itself has yet to resolveFor example, someone believes a new state law violates a provision of the United States Constitution. However, the state law involved has not been ruled on by a state court. It is entirely possible that a state court might interpret the law in a way that would prevent there from being a violation of the United States Constitution. As a result, a federal court will abstain from resolving a federal issue in a case that might otherwise not exist.

The second instance in which a federal court will abstain from hearing a case is when the case involves a pending state proceeding. In order for there to be a pending proceeding, the state court must have begun hearing a case in substance before the federal court does. (Hearing a case in substance involves more than just the filing of the case in state court; a trial or hearing related to the trial must have begun.)

A state proceeding can include both a criminal trial as well as a civil or administrative proceeding that involves an important state interest. If the case is civil or administrative in nature, but does not involve an important state interest, the federal case can proceed. The only exception to this is if the federal court enjoins the state court (or orders that the state proceeding stop) if it has been proven that the case results from harassment or bad faith.

For example, a federal employee is murdered in Texas, something illegal under both Texas and federal law, and Texas begins prosecuting the alleged murderer first. The federal court might well have to abstain from trying the alleged murderer first.

Question: I recall from when I was in school that the United States Supreme Court refuses to rule on cases that are political in nature. I never understood this. With some of the recent decisions lately, I wonder how the Supreme Court could refuse to take questions that are political. Can you explain why they have this policy?

The United States Supreme Court will not take cases that require them to decide political questions. Political questions are those that the judiciary really cannot decide, and they come in two types.

The first type of political question is that which the United States Constitution commits to another branch of government. An example of this type of political question would be those dealing with the manner in which foreign relations are to be conducted. The conduct of foreign relations is not at all within the areas of law that the Supreme Court is allowed to decide.

The second type of political question are those questions that are essentially incapable of being resolved or enforced by the judiciary. An example of this type of political question would be how the Senate is to try the impeachment of a federal judge.

The Supreme Court has decided and will continue to decide controversial cases that deal with political issues, but oftentimes issues that are political are only political because of the public interest associated with them. These controversial cases, though political because of their nature, still have constitutional issues that need to be decided by the Court.

Certain controversies that are inherently political in nature but do not fall within the two types of political questions the Supreme Court cannot hear include issues related to presidential papers and communications as well as legislative apportionment.

Have questions for Brendan Bukalski? E-mail him at askthelawyer@gmail.com, or write him, c/o The Edwardsville Intelligencer, 117 N. 2nd St., Edwardsville, IL 62025.

Editor's note  the answers provided in this column are general in nature, and should not be relied upon as legal advice or interpreted as creating an attorney-client relationship. As a general rule, all specific legal problems should be handled by an individual's personal attorney. Any submissions to the author are subject to being published and to being modified prior to publication.
For the Intelligencer

Over 30 organizations were in attendance for the fifth Lunch and Learn Workshop presented by the Social Services Safety Net. This event was the first Lunch & Learn Workshop since the second annual Social Services Safety Net Forum held by the Edwardsville Township and the Ed/Glen Ministerial Alliance. The event, which was held rcently at Bella Milano in Edwardsville, focused on providing information on local services available for veterans and their families within our community.

In June of 2015, Edwardsville Township, in partnership with the Glen Ed Ministerial Alliance, held a Social Services Safety Net Forum to bring together area social service agencies, organizations, and churches that provide services to residents of Edwardsville Community School District 7. The Edwardsville Township and Glen Ed Ministerial Alliance invited local agencies to reconvene in November 2016 to discuss how far we have come and where the Social Services Safety Net can expand. Edwardsville Township offers two assistance programs to residents, General Assistance and Emergency Assistance. These program assist residents with little to no income with shelter, utilities, food, and personal items.
A 20-year-old Springfield woman has been charged with three counts of bank robbery after she allegedly struck two locations locally in the last 21 days.

Adrianna C. Frye-Williamson faces the two charges that stem from incidents that took place Jan. 20 at the National Bank in Edwardsville and on Feb. 9 at U.S. Bank in Glen Carbon.

The announcement was made late Monday by the Assistant to the U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Illinois office in Fairview Heights.

In addition, she has been charged in the Jan. 12 robbery of a bank in Springfield, according to information from the Glen Carbon police.

It was announced that Frye-Williamson be detained without bond in the St. Clair County Jail until a bond hearing on Feb. 16, 2017.

"The offenses charged in the complaint allege (1) that on January 20, 2017, Adrianna C. Frye-Williamson committed the offense of Bank Robbery in that she by force, violence and intimidation, took from the presence of another, money belonging to and in the care and custody, control, management, and possession of the National Bank in Edwardsville, and (2) that on February 9, 2017, Adrianna C. Frye-Williamson committed the offense of Bank Robbery in that she by force, violence and intimidation, took from the presence of another, money belonging to and in the care and custody, control, management, and possession of the U.S. Bank in Glen Carbon, Illinois," the announcement stated.

If convicted, the defendant faces a term in prison of up to 20 years on each count, a fine up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release of up to five years, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

The cases were investigated by the Edwardsville Police Department, Glen Carbon Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Springfield Illinois Police.

The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Ali Summers.

Glen Carbon police were able to acquire and circulate surveillance photos of the subject shortly after the robbery took place.

On Monday, Edwardsville police issued details of the Jan. 20 arrest.

At approximately 3:56 p.m. on that date., officers from the Edwardsville Police Department responded to 2200 Troy Road, National Bank, in reference to a robbery that has just occurred, a statement from the EPD said.

The suspect was described as a white female wearing sunglasses and a hooded sweatshirt.

According to EPD, this suspect entered the bank, approached the teller, inferred she had a weapon and demanded money. She fled the bank on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.
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Linkedin Bambang Nurbianto (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14, 2017

Voting is voluntary in Indonesia, but Jakartans and voters from 100 other regions across the country will live to regret it if they stay away from the polling stations on Wednesday. And the nation may be all that poorer because of it.

Voters should take their cue from the United States, where millions of citizens are now protesting President Donald Trumps policies, including the suspension of immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries, although Indonesia fortunately is not on the list.

Many of those outraged at Trumps policies contributed to his election in November. A voter turnout of 54.6 percent was lower than the 57.1 percent that gave Barack Obama his first victory in 2008. That amounts to more than 110 million Americans who did not cast their votes in November.
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Linkedin Asmara Wreksono (The Jakarta Post) Paris, France  Tue, February 14, 2017 17:42 2090 9b519824cb3263083aedb70a0bff5d2f 1 Food Indonesian-restaurant,Indonesian-cuisine,food,AM-Hanafi,Nina-Hanafi,Paris,restaurant,#restaurant,Djakarta-Bali Free

Nestled on a small street within the hustle and bustle of Les Halles area in Paris, Djakarta Bali has been an establishment where middle class and wealthy Parisians go whenever they need to escape the city for a while and relax while enjoying authentic Indonesian food without having to fly across the globe.

Adorned with palimanan stone on its walls, gamelan music, touches of batik, wayang and other Indonesian decorative elements, Djakarta Bali, which was founded in 1978, immediately welcomes its patrons with a whiff of aromatic Balinese incense, sending its patrons to another side of the world. Little did we know this place offers more than just good food: It also offers a fascinating story.

Nina Hanafi, owner of the restaurant, greeted The Jakarta Post at the restaurants peak dinner hour, 8 p.m. on a Saturday. We were seated in what seemed to be the star seat at a dimly-lit corner, where the wall featured a picture of a man seated with Indonesias first president, Sukarno.

Thats my father, A.M. Hanafi. With Bung Karno, yes, she said, as though she could feel the question coming.

Nina is the youngest daughter of A.M. Hanafi, ex-Indonesian ambassador to Cuba in the Sukarno era. Previously a member of the republics initiator group, Menteng 31, Hanafi was known for his comradeship with Sukarno, who gave him the A.M. or Anak Marhaen" (child of Marhaen) before his name. Marhaen is a name that belonged to a farmer who inspired Sukarno in his Marhaenism ideology that aimed to better the lives of proletarians.

Read also: Les Ateliers de Paris incubator calls for international designers

A.M. Hanafi was appointed by Sukarno as the Indonesian ambassador to Cuba in 1963, before he was taken off his post and had his Indonesian passport inexplicably revoked in 1966, causing him and his family to be stateless.

After a while, the Hanafi family embarked for France with travel documents granted by the Cuban government under the Geneva Convention, where they were granted asylum. In 1978, Djakarta Bali was established in line with Hanafis aim to sustain his family, he also taught the Indonesian language.

When I was little, Indonesia was a virtual place. My parents told me we once lived there. I ate nasi goreng (fried rice), kerupuk (crackers), and spoke to my family in broken Indonesian. And still its a virtual place, almost unreal, Nina said.

I was born an Indonesian citizen, but the country revoked my citizenship and I think thats unconstitutional. I could have filed a lawsuit for this if I wanted to, but if I do that, it will never end, she added.

Nina finally got the opportunity to visit Indonesia in 1994, as a French citizen. I went to Indonesia that time because I really wanted to see the country. I was born in Cuba and lived in France, so Id never been to Indonesia before that.

My parents were patriots, they participated in building the Republic. That is why they felt so heartbroken when I decided to take French nationality, also in 1994, she said.

A.M. Hanafi and his wife, Sukendah, were finally granted their Indonesian passports back in 1999 when they were invited home by then president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid after more than three decades banned from entering the country.

AM Hanafi and Sukendah, at Djakarta Bali (Courtesy of Nina Hanafi/File)

The dishes arrived, featuring Indonesian classics; a piping hot portion of succulent ayam opor (chicken coconut milk stew), delectable sambal goreng ati (fried chicken liver with diced potato and beans) and comforting sayur lodeh (vegetable in coconut milk soup) served with warm, fluffy white rice. Paris suddenly dissolves into a distant blur; its vapors turning into familiar aromas of home.

Most of our customers here prefer the rijstaffel ("rice table" or formal dinner) sampling menu in order to discover various Indonesian dishes, Nina said. Djakarta Balis other specialties include rendang (Padang-style beef simmered in coconut milk and spices) and pepes ikan (steamed fish wrapped in a banana leaf) with cod fillet at the top of customers favorite list.

Having been featured in numerous international publications such as Gourmet, Zagat, Lonely Planet, Bottin Gourmand and more, Djakarta Bali has set its own gastronomic standards. Nina ensures quality and authenticity by importing spices such as candlenut, kaempferia galanga, bay leaves and curcuma leaves from Indonesia.

Nina is adamant about presenting traditional dishes in their most authentic form. Our cuisine has standards that are different from European cuisine and focuses on the spices more than the product itself, even if products have to always be chosen for their quality. Its slow food cooked with time and love.

Read also: Bumbu Truck: Bringing the taste of Indonesia to Americans

Djakarta Bali bears up Ninas mission to present Indonesian gastronomy, which is not very well-known in France, as it is in the Netherlands. She is not in a hurry to expand or go fusion with the food she serves in the establishment. A cuisine can go fusion once its well known and the guests have references about the original taste. For instance, Japanese sushi has many fusion versions because people have enough knowledge of the classic presentation and taste.

She also adds that aside from authentic traditional Indonesian food, the restaurant also offers other tastes of Indonesian culture, such as traditional dance performances held almost every weekend.

This restaurant is more than just a restaurant for us because its the thing that kept us together through all the hardships. Also, its what keeps us linked to Indonesia, Nina stated.

Although Indonesia has been very unfriendly to me and my parents, I was given enough knowledge to love Indonesian culture, which has become the soul of this restaurant. I run this place with so much love for Indonesia, she said. (kes)
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Linkedin Jessicha Valentina (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14, 2017 18:09 2090 9b519824cb3263083aedb70a0bff7936 1 Lifestyle pilkada,gubernatorial-candidate,fashion,#fashion Free

In less than 24 hours, Jakarta residents will make their way to polling stations and vote for their candidates. However, the Jakarta Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) has said that voters are not allowed to wear campaign paraphernalia.

The Jakarta Post has compiled outfit ideas for those who want to show their support without violating the rules.

Black attire

Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and his running mate Sylviana Murni have chosen black as their color. The candidates' supporters who look for more stylish attire may consider these two black tops. Available at Bobobobos website, the former is a Rupert Satin T-shirt for women. As for the latter, the Morning Whistle Black Vintage Polo Shirt bears a good resemblance to Agus' campaign outfit.

Rupert Satin T-shirt for women.(Bobobobo.com/File)

Morning Whistle Black Vintage Polo Shirt for Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and his running mate Sylviana Murni's supporters.(Bobobobo.com/File)

Read also: Voters warned off coming to polling stations wearing campaign attributes

The plaid shirt

Kompas.com reported that the incumbent Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama and Djarot Saiful Hidayat chose the iconic blue and red plaid shirt to symbolize that they were aiming to finish all of the programs that Joko "Jokowi" Widodo started in 2012. Their supporters who want to look for other forms of plaid shirts may check Zalora's mens and womens collections.

Red plaid shirt for men. (Zalora Indonesia's website/File)

Cotton On''s red plaid shirt.(Zalora Indonesia's website/File)

The white outfit

Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno chose white shirts as their campaigns outfit. The color is quite easy to be mixed and matched. However, those looking for unique white outfits may consider these white tops. For women, this Cora Overlap Top from Fashion Valet presents an intricate design, resulting in a chic yet casual outfit. On another note, Mazuki White Silent Shirt displays an elegant men's shirt with its unique tails. (asw)

Cora Overlap Top from Fashion Valet.(Fashion Valet's website/File)

Mazuki White Silent Shirt displays an elegant men's shirt with its unique tails.(Bobobobo.com/File)
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Linkedin Asif Shahzad (Associated Press) Islamabad, Pakistan  Tue, February 14, 2017

A Pakistani judge on Monday banned all Valentine's Day celebrations in the country's capital, Islamabad, saying they are against Islamic teachings.

The judge ruled on a petition seeking to ban public celebrations of the Western holiday, court official Niaz Saleh said. He said the order had been sent to Pakistan's media regulator to ensure a blackout on any Valentine's Day promotions in print or electronic media.

The ban applies only to Pakistan's capital as the Islamabad high court has no jurisdiction beyond the city.

The regulator in a statement directed all Pakistani media outlets not to print or broadcast anything that promotes Valentine's Day. No event shall be held at any official level and at any public place, the statement quoted a part of the court order.

Read also: Tokyo celebrates Valentines Day with insect cocktails

Later on Monday, the government issued an order to local police to enforce the court ban. A similar order was in place last year in Islamabad.

Islamist and right-wing parties in Pakistan view Valentine's Day as vulgar Western import.

However, the annual homage to romance on Feb. 14 has become popular in recent years across the Middle East and also in Pakistan.

Though some Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia also have sought to stamp out Valentine's Day, with the religious police mobilizing ahead of Feb. 14 and descending on gift and flower shops to confiscate all red items, including flowers, it is still celebrated widely in other places such as Dubai.
Let us tell you the love story of a Scottish soldier who saved a Jewish woman from the horrors of Auschwitz. They fell in love, got married, raised kids, and today, they celebrate their 71st Valentine's Day.

By India Today Web Desk: A Scottish soldier, who helped save a Hungarian Jew woman, is celebrating this Valentine's Day with the same woman, and this, is their 71st together.

It all dates back to that era when Nazi-torture was at its peak. Evil experiments were conducted at concentration camps where the Third Reich was the epitome of brutality.

Edith and her mother were the only ones from their family who weren't sent to the infamous Nazi gas chamber. They were set to work instead which saved them from a horrific death.

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Edith Steiner, 20, was one of the prisoners in Auschwitz but she was saved in time by the 23-year-old Scottish soldier John Mackay, one of the soldiers who liberated many Jewish prisoners from the Nazi camp.

Also Read: || Valentine's Day special: Why do people cheat on their partners? ||

FROM LOVE TO MARRIAGE

After the prisoners were liberated, there was a dance at the village hall to celebrate the liberation. It was then when the two met and fell in love with each other.

The couple married on July 17, 1946 and raised two children. They have seven grandchildren and five great-grand-children now.

FINDING HOME

Soon the war came to an end and the married couple returned to Scotland. They both ran the Atholl Arms Hotel in Pitclochry, before retiring to live at a care home in Broughty Ferry, Dundee.

Today, on February 14, 2017, the couple is celebrating their 71st Valentine's Day. After living with each other for all these years, their love becomes an example for lovers of the present times.

Also Read: || Rocher, roses and roaches: Zoo offers chance to name cockroaches for Valentine's Day gift ||

The couple aged 96 and 92 gives major relationship goals in the age of adultery.

--- ENDS ---
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Linkedin Khristian Ibarrola (Inquirer.net/Asia News Network)  Tue, February 14, 2017

Apart from showing signs of the so-called Napoleon complex, shorter men actually have a lot more going on for them than the rest of society gives them credit for.

According to a recent study published in the scientific journal Plos One, diminutive males carry the so-called longevity gene, FOXO3, which has been proven to extend the life span of animal test subjects.

Gathering data from more than 8,000 aging American-Japanese men in Hawaii, scientists were able to find a direct link between short stature and long life.

This study shows, for the first time, that body size is linked to this gene, said co-author and University of Hawaii professor Bradley Willcox, as per The Independent.

Read also: First-born children have higher IQs, study suggests

The FOXO3 gene, researchers found, causes slow development and smaller body size but improves the overall mortality rate of those who possess it.

Part of this revelation is that shorter men also have a much lower chance of getting any cancer disease due to having lower blood insulin levels.

To achieve such findings, researchers had to separate test subjects into two groups, particularly those who stood 5 feet-2 inches and shorter, and those 5 feet-4 inches and taller.

As it turns out, the two groups had a significant clear divide on how long each individuals life span lasted.

The folks that were 5-2 and shorter lived the longest. The range was seen all the way across from being 5-foot tall to 6-foot tall. The taller you got, the shorter you lived, Willcox revealed.

Read also: Why you shouldn't go to work when you're sick

Prior to this study, previous works have connected height to longevity in humans, based on factors including higher heart-pumping efficiency and a greater potential for cell replacement.

However, most of the data involved much smaller sample groups, contrary to this study which started in 1965 and enlisted 8,006 American men of Japanese ancestry born between the years 1900 and 1919.

Furthermore, 1,200 men from the study reportedly survived into their 90s and 100s, and 250 of those remain alive to this day.

Still, Professor Willcox stressed that tall males should not be discouraged by the findings because no matter how tall you are, you can still live a healthy lifestyle.

The FOXO3 genotype research, meanwhile, was made possible through donations from the U.S. National Institute on Aging.
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Linkedin Agnes Anya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14, 2017

Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama on Tuesday declined to comment on a recent boycott movement from the City Council against his position as governor as he is currently standing trial for alleged blasphemy.

"That is for the authority of the Home Ministry," Ahok said on Tuesday at City Hall.

On Monday, four City Council factions -- the National Awakening Party (PKB), the United Development Party (PPP), the Gerindra Party, and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) -- stated that they would refuse to hold any meetings with the governor unless there was certainty regarding his status.

"We agreed that as long as his status was uncertain, we do not want to discuss anything executive related," said Muhammad Taufik from the Gerindra Party.

Triwisaksana from the PKS cited Law No. 23/2014 on regional administrations, which stipulates that regional leaders will be suspended from their positions if they are a defendant on trial for offenses punishable by a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Ahoks position as governor will be decided by the prison term demanded by prosecutors.

The police have charged Ahok with Article 156 (a) of the KUHP on blasphemy, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. He was also charged with Article 156 on hate speech, which carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison.

The four parties planned to send a letter to the Home Minister and President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo regarding Ahok's status on Tuesday.
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Linkedin Fachrul Sidiq (The Jakarta Post) Depok, West Java  Tue, February 14, 2017

More than 190,000 children under the age of 18 in Depok, West Java, may face difficulties when enrolling in schools or processing other administrative matters, as they do not have birth certificates, an official has said.

There are 504,000 children in the Depok. However, only around 62 percent of them have birth certificates, Christie Hedy Maria Lengkey, an official with the Depok Civil Registry and Demography Agency (Disdukcapil), told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. She referred to data from the Population Administration Information System (SIAK)

Christie said that in an effort to speed up the certification process, her agency had held several activities including directly visiting some sub-districts to raise the publics awareness and establishing cooperation with schools to help parents undergo the documentation process through the schools.

She added that the efforts were conducted to achieve a nationwide target set by the Home Ministry that 80 percent children in the country should possess birth certificates by the end of 2017.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14, 2017

Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono believes the government is behind the onslaught launched by former chairman of Corruption Eradication Commission Antasari Azhar against his family's image.

Yudhoyono says he felt defamed by Antasari who claimed on Tuesday that his murder case was the result of a plot by the then president because Antasari did not comply with Yudhoyono's instructions. Antasari has alleged Yudhoyono was behind the murder case that saw the former KPK chief end up behind bars.

"I believe it is impossible that what Antasari is doing is being done without the blessing of those in power," he said as reported by kompas.com on Tuesday.

Yudhoyono claimed the clemency for Antasari granted by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo last month was politically driven.

He added that for the past two months he had heard information that Antasari would be used to attack him and his family. The attack was obviously related to Jakartas gubernatorial election, especially as Antasari's claims came a day before polling day on Wednesday.

It was also part of efforts to harm the electability of his eldest son Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono who is running in the Jakarta gubernatorial election against Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, Jokowi's close ally, the former president alleged.

"Dear ruler, be careful in using your power. Don't play with fire or you will get burned. Remember the people and be afraid of God. If a ruler is unfair, then God's justice will prevail," Yudhoyono said.

Separately, Yudhoyono's Democratic Party also filed a report with the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department against Antasari following the latter's claim of political interference in his case.

"We reported him for libel and defamation," said Democratic Party secretary general Didi Irawadi Syamsyuddin as reported by kompas.com.
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Linkedin Indra Budiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14, 2017

With regional elections just around the corner, apathy still lingers in younger voters.

Rock the Vote Indonesia, a movement promoted by the University of Indonesias politics lab, has found that the high number of politicians charged with corruption has played a role in tarnishing the image of politics among the young generation, sometimes referred to as millennials.

Irmana, research manager for Rock the Vote Indonesia, said his institution, since 2013, had been actively working to raise political awareness among people aged between 18 and 29 years. He said his group often tried to explain to millennials that politics could serve as a medium to deliver welfare to society.

They regard politics as a nefarious activity, where cheaters and bad people proliferate. We need to change that view, Irmana told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

(Read Also: Young voters in Jakarta hope for better programs)

In December 2016, as a part of its campaign, Rock the Vote Indonesia visited four cities  Jakarta, Aceh, Kulon Progo in Yogyakarta and Gorontalo  to encourage young people to vote.

Were seeing positive trends. After a number of discussions, we see that many young people now have a softer view of politics, Irmana said.

Of the 7 million registered voters in Jakarta, around 28.9 percent of them are aged between 16 and 30. (trw)
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Linkedin Arya Dipa and Suherdjoko (The Jakarta Post) Bandung/Semarang  Tue, February 14 2017

Seventeen-year-old Airin Eddy was busy on Monday, but beaming with joy as she was preparing cupcakes and chocolates for her loved ones.

The eleventh-grader of private high school SMA St. Aloysius in Bandung, West Java, said she would give the chocolates to her friends while a grand plan was underway for her boyfriend.

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Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14, 2017

The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) has reported Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo to the Indonesian Ombudsman for alleged maladministration because of his non-compliance with a Supreme Court ruling on the revocation of a permit to construct a new factory obtained by state-run cement producer PT Semen Indonesia.

Ganjar initially revoked the permit following a Supreme Court ruling in October 2012. He apparently issued a new one the next month claiming that it was an addendum, but it enabled the cement factory to continue the construction of the factory, much to the dismay of local farmers and activists.

"The governor should have fully complied with the ruling instead of [] issuing a new decree in the guise of an addendum. Such non-compliance has disgraced the Supreme Court," YLBHI lawyer Muhammad Isnur said on Tuesday.

On Jan. 16, Ganjar issued a decree to revoke the permit and ordered the suspension of the factorys construction until the company completed all necessary environmental documents, including the environmental impact analysis (Amdal), environment management plan (RKL) and environment monitoring plan (RPL).

However, the YLBHI claimed that it had been found alleged malpractice in the issuance of the gubernatorial decree last month that lacked of farmer participation.

Hundreds of farmers have demonstrated by blocking the access road to the factory. Demonstrations have been held for almost three years on the back of fears that the factory would damage the environment and dry up local springs and affect their livelihoods.
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Linkedin Bambang Nurbianto (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14 2017

Voting is voluntary in Indonesia, but Jakartans and voters from 100 other regions across the country will live to regret it if they stay away from the polling stations on Wednesday. And the nation may be all that poorer because of it.

Voters should take their cue from the United States, where millions of citizens are now protesting President Donald Trumps policies, including the suspension of immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries, although Indonesia fortunately is not on the list.

Many of those outraged at Trumps policies contributed to his election in November. A voter turnout of 54.6 percent was lower than the 57.1 percent that gave Barack Obama his first victory in 2008. That amounts to more than 110 million Americans who did not cast their votes in November.

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Linkedin Viriya P. Singgih (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14 2017

Legal experts have questioned the governments decision to approve the contract conversion of giant copper miners Freeport Indonesia and Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara, arguing that such a move has contradicted mandates stipulated in the 2009 Mining Law.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry announced Friday that it had approved the proposals of both companies to convert their contracts of work (CoW) into special mining licenses (IUPK), allowing them to process a permit extension to export their partly processed minerals.

As a result, Freeport Indonesia and Amman Mineral are obliged to comply with fiscal policies stipulated in the prevailing law, as their CoW have automatically been annulled.

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Linkedin Margareth S. Aritonang (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14, 2017

The Defense Ministry showcased 15 newly launched items of defense equipment produced by local manufacturers on Tuesday, which will be used to support primary weapons defense systems for the Indonesian Military (TNI).

The locally engineered products consist of seven items for the Navy, four for the Army and four for the Air Force; all of which were the result of the governments Rp 86 billion (US$6.45 million) defense industry development program throughout last year.

The equipment varied from mortar support for the Army to a swamp boat for the Navy. The products were from state-owned weapons manufacturer PT Pindad and several local private companies.

The development program is part of government's efforts at weapons modernization and to allow Indonesia to become gradually independent of foreign producers, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said.

All of them were made by the sons and daughters of this country. We must support and continuously develop them to build our national defense capability, he said in his office on Tuesday.

In the coming years, we will be able to make our own fighter jets and submarines, he added.

Ryamizard further lauded the locally engineered defense equipment saying that such products would not only positively impact on local producers but were also in line with President Joko Jokowi Widodos policy of nourishing the domestic defense industry.
By PTI: Bengaluru, Feb 14 (PTI) A breathtaking display of thrilling manoeuvres by military aircraft and aerobatic teams left the audience spell-bound at the 11th edition of Aero India air show that started here today.

The Bengaluru skies over the Yelahanka airbase were dazzled with somersaults and stunts by metal birds with the daredevilry of world famous aerobatics teams in full flow.

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Billed as Asias premier air show, the biennial edition of International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition - Aero India 2017 was inaugurated by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Betting high on the Defence market in India, global aerospace giants are hard selling their wares with potential deals worth billions of Dollars on offer.

Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat, Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa and Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba were also present.

Enthralling stunts were performed by helicopter display team "Sarang", Indian Air Forces "Surya Kiran" and SKYCATS- Scandinavian Air Show aerobatics teams.

It was a special occasion for Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team (SKAT) as they marked their 500th public display since formation in 1996.

SKAT, with a fleet of brand new single engine, jet powered advanced Hawk aircraft and redefined manoeuvres was back after having skipped two editions of the Aero India.

Hawk aircraft are faster and more manoeuvrable than the Kiran aircraft SKAT used earlier.

Embraer 145 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft equipped with the first ever Active Electronic Scanning Array (AESA) radar, and LUH were displayed for the very first time at the Aero show.

The air display began with Mi-17 helicopters trooping in the Indian tricolour, Indian Air Force and Aero India flags.

It was followed by indigenously built HAL products comprising Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) flanked by Cheetal helicopter, Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) and the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH).

A formation comprising Dornier Do 228, Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, HTT-40 (Basic Trainer Aircraft) and Hawk then followed.

A total of 549 companies are taking part in the event, of which 270 are Indian and 279 foreign. About two lakh business visitors are expected to attend the show, in which 72 aircraft are participating, according to the organisers.

Enthralling manoeuvres were performed by HTT-40, LCH, LUH, Tiger Moth, homegrown LCA (Tejas), Sukhoi Su-30MKI, Gripen fighter, Rafale fighter, F16, Pilatus PC-7 aircrafts.

Also there is a static display of HTT-40, upgraded Jaguar and Mirage 2000, LCH and LUH at the air show. PTI KSU RA RBS APR DIP

--- ENDS ---

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14 2017

Private carrier Sriwijaya Air plans to open direct flights from Surabaya to Jayapura in Papua, starting from Feb. 24.

Previously, passengers with the airline on flights to and from Papua had to pass through cities like Ujung Pandang in South Sulawesi.

There is rising mobility through this route. With this flight, passengers can fly back and forth between Surabaya and Jayapura in a matter of a few hours, Sriwijaya Air senior manager for corporate communications Agus Soedjono said in an official statement.

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Linkedin Prima Wirayani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14, 2017

As revenues shrunk amid a downturn in the industry, integrated oil and gas services company Elnusa posted a more than 17 percent drop in net profits to Rp 310.91 billion (US$23.3 million) last year.

The subsidiary of state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina saw its revenues decline by almost 4 percent over the past year to Rp 3.62 trillion, while its costs stayed relatively unchanged at roughly Rp 3 trillion.

The value of Elnusas assets also fell by almost 5 percent year-on-year in 2016 to Rp 4.2 trillion, while its liabilities plunged by 25.9 percent to Rp 1.3 trillion.

The main contributor to the decreased liabilities was the repayment of bank loans worth Rp 1.49 trillion carried out in 2016, Elnusa president director Tolingul Anwar said in a letter to the Indonesia Stock Exchange.

Elnusas stock, traded under the code ELSA, rose slightly by 2.37 percent to 432 during the first trading session on Tuesday.

The stock has gained 2.86 percent so far this year, according to Bloomberg. (lnd)
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Linkedin Agnes Anya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14, 2017

The Jakarta administration is facing an appeal from Agus Bambang Setiowidodo, an official in the administration, who is challenging his dismissal as head of the citys tax agency.

He filed an appeal against the Jakarta governor with the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN) last Friday following his dismissal at the end of last year, said Jakarta Employment Agency head Agus Suradika on Tuesday.

"He believes the decision [to fire him] was baseless and unfair, Suradika said.

He further explained that Setiowidodo was fired at the end of last year when former acting Jakarta governor Sumarsono ratified the regional organization bylaw.

During that time, Sumarsono dismissed the tax agency head and transferred him to the Governor's Team for Development Supervision.

Moreover, Suradika added, the former tax agency head had lodged his complaint with the Commission of State Civil Aparatus.

Nonetheless, Suradika said the administration was ready to fight the appeal in court as it had convincing data proving that the dismissal was based on proper procedures.

"If he wants to take the issue public, we will also reveal to the media our data [about his performance]," he said.
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Linkedin Stefani Ribka (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14 2017

Despite having struggled with slow industrial growth in recent years, the government has denied claims that deindustrialization is occurring, saying that the situation will improve as necessary measures are put in place.

The manufacturing industry expanded by only 4.29 percent in 2016, lower than the economic growth that stood at 5.02 percent, while its contribution to economic growth was 20.51 percent, according to the latest data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14 2017

The traffic division of the Jakarta Police said on Monday that contraflow traffic arrangements on the Cawang-Semanggi inner toll road may last until December this year and would largely depend on the time needed to complete the Pancoran overpass in South Jakarta.

This arrangement will go on until December or until the time the overpass construction is finished, Jakarta Police deputy traffic director Adj. Sr. Comr. Indra Jafar said.

The contraflow arrangement began on Monday at 6:15 a.m. Next week, it will be implemented between 5:30 a.m. and 9 a.m.

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Linkedin Margareth S. Aritonang (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14 2017

Ninety lawmakers from four political factions have agreed to use their inquiry rights to initiate a team to investigate the decision to allow incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama to return to his gubernatorial post despite being on trial for blasphemy.

The majority of supporters of the inquiry team are from the Democratic Party, with 42 out of its total 61 lawmakers having signed the petition. The rest of the supporters come from the Gerindra Party, 22 out of 73 members; the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), 16 out of 40 members; and the National Mandate Party (PAN), with 10 out of 48

members.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14, 2017

The Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) has set a target to attract 110,000 new investors by the end of 2017, a 20 percent increase from the 540,000 investors recorded late last year.

The target was similar to last year's number, which stood at 100,000 people, said IDX director Nicky Hogan on Tuesday.

The new investors are expected to come from young people. Some 80 percent of last years additional investors were aged between 20 years and 40 years, Nicky said.

(Read also: IDX mulls changing pre-closing trading rule)

Part of the effort to reach the target would include the establishment of 60 investment galleries in universities across the country by the end of 2017, Nicky said, adding that it would add to the 241 existing galleries, 85 of which were established last year.

In cooperation with a securities company, Phillip Securities, the IDX on Tuesday inaugurated the first gallery at Nusantara Multimedia University in Tangerang, Banten.

The gallery is expected to help invite some 100 new investors a year, Nicky said, adding that similar galleries will soon be established in Probolinggo, East Java, and Pidie, Aceh.

Other efforts to attract investors included the organizing of seminars, workshops and forum discussions as well as establishing stock exchange schools, particularly for corporations. (yon/bbn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14, 2017

The nation is set to export some 100,000 tons of rice this year as the commoditys production is estimated to reach a surplus, an official has said.

Mat Syukur, an expert staffer at the Agriculture Ministers division for trade and international affairs, said on Tuesday that the export plan would not affect domestic supply.

At the very least, we will export 100,000 tons of rice as planned by the minister, said Syukur as reported by tempo.co, adding that the rice production target this year was 40 million tons, a figure that would meet domestic demand.

(Read also: Rice production slows amid budget cuts)

Syukur said the country had planned to become one of the worlds top rice producers by 2045.

In trying to boost rice production, the government had introduced a number of programs including the improvement of irrigation and expansion of rice fields, including the clearance of 3 million hectares for new rice fields.

The government would also deliver tractors to help farmers cultivate their paddy fields, while to further incentivize farmers, the government would help cover premiums for farmers insurance, Syukur said.

With the program, the farmers would get compensation if their fields failed to yield. The government will pay 80 percent of insurance premiums, said Syukur, adding that Rp 6 million (US$450) compensation had been prepared for each hectare that failed. (bbn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14, 2017

Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto has said Indonesia will try to strengthen bilateral cooperation with the United States to boost trade between the two countries.

For Indonesia, America is one of our strategic markets. Therefore, trade between the two countries should be increased, Airlangga said in a statement after meeting with US Ambassador to Indonesia Joseph R. Donovan Jr. on Monday.

During the meeting, the minister said he was informed that the US government preferred to cooperate with countries through bilateral agreements.

(Read also: Indonesia, South Africa talk to boost trade)

The US is Indonesias third largest trading partner after China and Japan. The trade value from January to July last year reached US$13.2 billion, with Indonesian trade posting a surplus of $5.23 billion.

Airlangga said bilateral agreements between the two countries needed to be expanded because Indonesia wanted to increase textile exports to the country.

Currently, the tariff on our textiles is 12.5 percent, while for Vietnamese textiles it is zero percent because the two countries have a bilateral agreement with one another, he added.

Airlangga said US investors were expected to invest money in several industrial zones such as the Dumai zone in Riau, the Berau zone in East Kalimantan, the Gresik zone in East Java and the Kendal zone in Central Java. (bbn)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Mataram  Tue, February 14 2017

The Mataram Immigration Office in West Nusa Tenggara deported a Korean national on Monday over alleged visa violations.

We deported [Choi Chung-hyun] today from Lombok International Airport because he misused his visa. He claimed to be a professor from a university in Korea, Mataram Immigration official Rahmat Gunawan said.

Rahmat explained that Choi, despite entering Indonesia on a tourist visa six months ago, had opened an education business under the name PT Elite Academy Korea. The immigration office found out later that Choi sat as deputy director of the company.

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By PTI: From Lalit K Jha

Washington, Feb 13 (PTI) Asking Pakistan to stop supporting the Taliban, a top Afghan diplomat based here today said that to have better relations with Kabul, Islamabad needs to adopt a friendlier approach towards it.

"If Pakistan wants to have better relationship with Afghanistan, it better do it with friendlier means," the Afghanistan Ambassador to the US, Hamdullah Mohib told a Washington audience during an event organised by New America Foundation, a top US think-tank.

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"Pakistan have been trying to do it with forceful method," Mohib said as he cautioned Islamabad against trying to impose its will on the people of Afghanistan.

"As they (Pakistan) know through history that (forceful method) would not work. Every time there is an attack in Afghanistan the perception is that Pakistan allowed that attack. What kind of friendship is that?" Mohib asked.

"Helping and supporting Taliban is wrong. It is not going to work," he said, alleging that Pakistan continues to support safe havens inside its territory.

"I cant speak of security in Afghanistan without talking about terrorist safe havens in Pakistan," he said, adding this is the biggest cause of concern for Afghanistan and its war against terrorism.

"The objective fact is, victory in Afghanistan requires a paradigm shift in American thinking about Pakistan," Mohib said, ruling that there has not been much change in the policies of Pakistan.

Mohib said Afghanistan would like to see a peaceful and stable Pakistan as this is in its national interest.

"We have practical recommendations for both Pakistan and the US on what should be done by them," he said, as he pushed for a Afghan-led peace process and no third party intervention in the process.

Mohib said the goal of the international community should be to win the war in Afghanistan and not how not to lose.

"We need to shift the mentality from not losing in Afghanistan to winning there. We must win," he said.

"Win is only way forward. This is the only way forward for the people of Afghanistan," he said. PTI LKJ SUA SUA

--- ENDS ---
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14 2017

Indonesian victims of the collapse of a crane at the Al Haram Grand Mosque in Mecca must wait longer for their compensation, as Saudi authorities say they are still collecting data on foreign victims.

The Indonesian government has completed the administrative documents as required by Saudi authorities, Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin said on Monday.

However, the government could only wait, as Saudi Arabia was still waiting for reports on victims from other countries.

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Linkedin Haeril Halim and Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14, 2017

President Joko Jokowi Widodo is likely to make a much-awaited state visit to Australia at the end of this month, government officials say, reaffirming Indonesias commitment to maintaining good bilateral ties despite a rocky patch in its relationship with its neighbor earlier this year.

The upcoming state visit is aimed at improving the already good relations between the two countries, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi asserted.

This is an important meeting given how Australia and Indonesia are close neighbors. The two countries have good and significant cooperation in the field of investment, education and trade, Retno told reporters at the State Palace on Monday.

Both sides are currently seeking to fix an ideal date for the state visit but Indonesian Ambassador to Australia Nadjib Riphat Kesoema suggested it might occur toward the end of the month.

Jokowis visit to Canberra will reciprocate Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbulls trip to Jakarta in November 2015. The President had previously delayed his journey to Australia following a violent rally in front of the State Palace on Nov. 4 last year.

Jakarta has partially suspended military cooperation with Canberra following a brouhaha over allegedly offensive teaching materials at a military training facility last October, but Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo accepted last week an apology offered by visiting Australian Army chief Lt. Gen. Angus Campbell.

Retno however insisted that neighborly relations were in a good state, signaling a possible thawing of ties in the near future.

Earlier in the day, the minister said Indonesia remained an important partner for Australia, as the number of inbound tourists exceeded 1 million, even though these were still concentrated in Bali.

However, with the development of 10 [new] tourist destinations, we also want to encourage Australians to visit other parts of Indonesia, she said after meeting Timor Leste Strategic Planning and Investment Minister Xanana Gusmao and Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto at the security ministers office.

Meanwhile, in the bilateral meeting, Timor Leste and Indonesia discussed land border points that still require resolution. We have agreed to establish SOC [senior official consultation], a small group that will deliberate the technical matters on both countries understandings before reaching an agreement to conclude a resolution to the land borders, Wiranto told journalists after the meeting.

The SOC, which consists of delegates from both countries, will begin its discussions on March 10 in Bali and the team should report the results of the meeting to both governments, Wiranto went on without providing further details on a deadline to which the SOC should adhere.

The Indonesian delegation will be led by the Foreign Ministrys director-general for Asia-Pacific and Africa, Desra Percaya, while the Timor delegation will be led by Timor Leste deputy foreign minister Roberto Soares, Retno confirmed.

The current negotiations with Dili, although considered relatively swift compared to border disputes with other neighboring countries, have been mired in inefficiencies and a lack of progress.

Indonesia and Timor Leste have been negotiating their border since 2002, soon after the latter formalized its independence from Indonesia following a UNsupervised referendum held in 1999. Tama Salim contributed to the article.
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Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani and Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14 2017

The Jakarta Elections Commission (KPU Jakarta) has collected the funding reports from the three candidate pairs in Jakartas upcoming gubernatorial election for an audit to spot potential irregularities.

KPU Jakarta commissioner Betty Epsilon Idroos said Monday that the commission had handed the reports to the appointed public accountants for auditing. The financial reports of the three candidates are already with the auditors, Betty told The Jakarta Post.

Before handing the financial reports to the KPU Jakarta, the candidates had had their reports audited themselves.

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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14, 2017

The General Elections Commission (KPU) has called on pollsters and the media not to release quick count results before voting on Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. ended as they could sway voters.

We hope that they will not publish quick count results during the vote because it may sway public opinion, KPU commissioner Ferry Kurnia said at Borobudur Hotel, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday.

We suggest the media and pollsters wait for two hours after the completion of voting before announcing their quick count results, he went on.

Although there is no specific regulation on announcing quick count results, Ferry hoped that all parties would heed his call.

(Read also: No selfies in polling booths: KPU Jakarta)

Ferry further suggested the public and the campaign teams of each candidate relied only on KPUs official real-time count results, which would be published on the official KPU website pilkada2017.kpu.go.id.

KPU hopes to announce the official results of the elections at least one day after voting day in urban areas, while it could take up to three days to the results to come through from rural areas. (trw)
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Linkedin Corry Elyda (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14 2017

Jupri, a 73-year-old fisherman, left his room at the Marunda low-cost apartments in North Jakarta, only two months after he was relocated to the apartments from his home in Pasar Ikan in West Jakarta, in April last year.

Jupri said he was unable to make ends meet at the Marunda apartments, which are located 25 kilometers from the Pasar Ikan berth where he usually docks his boat.

It is time-consuming to go back and forth, he told The Jakarta Post recently.

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Linkedin Safrin La Batu and Indra Budiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14 2017

In his last year as General Elections Commission (KPU) commissioner Hadar Nafiz Gumay is still struggling with what he used to be very critical of when he was an activist: voter turnout.

Voters in 101 regions, including Jakarta, will cast their ballots to elect their new leaders on Feb. 15, but KPU commissioners are anxious about turnout figures given the record of past elections.

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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan, North Sumatra  Tue, February 14, 2017

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has warned residents of North Sumatra to be on alert for aftershocks following the 5.2-magnitude earthquake, centered in Sibolangit, Deli Serdang, that hit the province in the early hours on Tuesday.

North Sumatra areas have been experiencing intense jolts of varied magnitude in the past month. The agency recorded 185 earthquakes in North Sumatra since Jan. 16 up to Tuesday, spokesman of BMKG's Medan office Syahnan said.

"The strongest was on Jan. 18, which was a 5.6-magnitude earthquake and the second one occurred early morning on Tuesday and was a magnitude of 5.2 on the Richter scale," he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

The BMKG urged people to remain calm and only follow instructions from relevant agencies, such as the BMKG and the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) as well as the local administration, Syahnan said.

He also asked the public, especially those living on the west coast of North Sumatra, not to panic as the earthquakes did not have the potential to bring a tsunami. Beyond Sibolangit, the effects of the high-intensity earthquakes have been felt in places like Berastagi and Medan.

Official of Karo's BPBD Natanail Peranginangin said the Tuesday earthquake shocked local people who decided to remain outside of their houses for safety measures.
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Linkedin Haeril Halim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14, 2017

The Presidential Palace has denied that the granting of clemency by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to former anti-Corruption Eradication Commission chief and murder convict Antasari Azhar was politically driven as claimed by former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

"The clemency was granted in accordance with the law," presidential spokesman Johan Budi said at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday.

He added that the President's decision to grant clemency to Antasari was based on input from the Supreme Court. Jokowi granted clemency to Antasari last month after the latter was paroled six years early after being sentenced to 18 years for murdering businessman Nasrudin Zulkarnaen.

"There is no relation between the clemency and with what Antasari did personally," he said.

He refused to comment on Jokowi's response to allegations made by Yudhoyono.

In his latest Twitter rant, Yudhoyono claimed that Antasari's move to report him for allegedly being the initiator of the murder case was false and politically motivated. He claimed that his eldest son Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono's candidacy in the Jakarta gubernatorial election made him and his family a target of libel in order to crush Agus' chances in the election.

Antasari said at a press conference at the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department on Tuesday that he demanded Yudhoyono to speak up about the murder case. Antasari also claimed that MNC group chief executive officer Hary Tanoesoedibjo had visited him upon Yudhoyono's instructions to advise him to drop the corruption case against Agus father-in-law, Aulia Pohan.
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post)  Tue, February 14 2017

State-owned lender Bank Mandiri and securities firm Mandiri Sekuritas recently worked together to host the fifth and latest annual Mandiri Investment Forum (MIF).



This theme for this years event, held from Feb. 7-10 at the Hotel Fairmont Senayan in Central Jakarta, was reviving private investment in order to drive economic growth.



In attendance at the event were high-ranking government decision-makers and top business leaders, as well as 600 local and foreign investors.



The event was aimed at introducing these investors to investment opportunities in the real sector of the Indonesian economy. It also served to help find solutions to various challenges that have been identified in order to create economic growth that is both inclusive and sustainable.



As with previous iterations of the event, the four-day MIF 2017 was divided into a Macro Day, a Corporate Day segment for meetings between the management of large and mid-capacity Indonesian companies and institutional investors, and on-site field-trip options with policymakers and auto manufacturers.



This event has become the right opportunity for all stakeholder regulators in the field of investment to come together and settle various doubts for investors who want to place their assets in Indonesia, Mandiri CEO Kartika Wirjoatmodjo said. We hope that all who witness this event can see that now is the right time to invest in Indonesia.



The highlight of the forum, Macro Day, featured presentations and discussions by distinguished figures such as State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Bank Indonesia Governor Agus Martowardojo, IIF chief economist Bejoy Das Gupta, Dexa Medica CEO Ferry Soetikno and PT Grahawita Santika CEO Rustiyan Oen.



In their keynote speeches, ministers Soemarno and Indrawati spoke to investors about the state of the Indonesian economy and what the government was doing to improve the economy, in order to convince them to put their resources in Indonesia.





Growth performance in the past 10 years was 5.6 percent. And if you look at the other emerging countries in the world, Indonesia is performing well, only below China and India, Indrawati said.



During the Macro Day conference, Mandiri Institute advisory board chairman Chatib Basri and Institute of International Finance (IIF) chief economist Bejoy Das Gupta talked about the global economic outlook.



They warned that Trump administration is not business as usual and that there will be lots of shocks in the form of demonstrations and pushbacks leading to uncertainty.



If Trump goes protectionist, then Chinese exports will be hurt. And if that happens, Indonesia will be hurt too, Basri said.



At the conference, Bank Mandiri highlighted the tourism, creative economy and healthcare industries as places that bound with investment opportunities.

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Linkedin Dian Septiar (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14, 2017

Former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Antasari Azhar accused former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) on Tuesday of being behind the murder charges that resulted in him being sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Antasari claimed that Yudhoyono had instructed tycoon Hary Tanoesoedibjo to visit him a few weeks before his arrest to ask him not to detain former Bank Indonesia deputy governor Aulia Pohan, who had been implemented in corruption.

"I demand SBY open his mouth. He knows my case. I want him to open up to the public on what he did and who he ordered to criminalize me," Antasari stated at a press conference at the National Police Criminal Investigation Department in Jakarta, adding that Yudhoyono and Aulia Pohan were related through the marriage of their children.

(Read also: SBY never showed sympathy for me: Antasari)

Antasari spoke up after President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo granted clemency to him, saying there were irregularities in the case. Antasari was released on parole after serving eight years of his sentence. The President granted him clemency not long after.

The South Jakarta District Court sentenced Antasari to 18 years in prison in 2010 for masterminding the murder of state-owned pharmaceutical company PT Putra Rajawali Banjaran director Nasrudin Zulkarnaen. Nasrudin was killed in a drive-by shooting in Tangerang on March 14, 2009.

Antarasi said that Hari Tanoesudibyo had visited him few weeks before his arrest. He visited the police office with his lawyers to report what he said were false charges laid against him, which violated Article 218 of the Criminal Code. (dan)
By PTI: HoD

New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) Professor Anoop Saraya has been appointed as the HoD of the department of Gastroenterology and Human nutrition by AIIMS Director Dr Balram Airan, reverting his predecessors order.

Dr Saraya, however, has taken objection to certain conditions mentioned in the office memorandum and has written to Airan, seeking a fresh office memorandum related to his appointment.

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Dr Saraya had filed a petition in Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) challenging the appointment of Dr Umesh Kapil, a professor of human nutrition, as head of the department, by the former Director M C Mishra after Dr S K Acharya retired on October 31, 2016.

Dr Saraya had questioned the eligibility of Dr Kapil being made the HOD saying the latter was not a qualified gastroenterologist and not even an MD (medicine).

The office memorandum issued by Dr Airan reads that "Dr Anoop Saraya is hereby assigned the responsibilities of HOD of Gastroenterology, with immediate effect, subject to the condition that he will withdraw the Original Application (OA) filed by him in the Principal Bench of CAT.

"A letter to this effect shall be submitted by Dr Saraya to the Director AIIMS, before he takes the charge of HOD."

The memorandum also states that Dr Saraya expressed his willingness to withdraw the OA if made the HOD.

Taking strong objection to such conditions, Dr Saraya has shot off a letter to the Director saying such conditions were illegal and sought the rider attached to the offer be removed.

"Equally surprising, is the conditional offer, to me of the post of HOD of my department. Such an offer is illegal on its face and if subjected to judicial scrutiny is bound to invite adverse comment.

"It is therefore requested that the rider, attached to the offer, that I have to withdraw the OA filed by me, may be removed and the offer be made unconditional-as is indeed my right," he said.

As for his petition being pending in the court, Saraya said he was not interested in continuing any litigative exercise against his own institute. PTI PLB IKA

--- ENDS ---
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14, 2017

Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) was back ranting on Twitter to lash out at the alleged efforts orchestrated by the government to kill his eldest son's chances in the Jakarta gubernatorial race.

Just hours after former anti-graft czar and convicted murderer Antasari Azhar told a press conference that SBY might be behind the legal case that put him in prison, he took to Twitter to defend himself.

He tweeted on Tuesday that he believed the clemency granted by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to Antasari last month was politically driven to attack him.

He claimed that Antasari's statement made a day before Jakarta's voting day was aimed to defame him and spoil the chances of his son, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, being elected Jakarta governor.

"Aren't you satisfied enough in destroying my good name since November 2016 to crush Agus' electability and make him lose?" SBY tweeted, followed by "is Agus not allowed to run in the election? Has he lost this right guaranteed by the Constitution?"

"Don't lie, we all know," he tweeted, without mentioning any names.

He denied he initiated the murder of businessman Nazarudinwho Antasari had been convicted of murderingand would take the allegations to court.

"I will take legal steps against Antasari," he said adding that he would make a statement to the press on the matter.

Previously, amid rumors that SBY was behind the two large-scale rallies last year participated by thousands of people to demand the prosecution of Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama for alleged blasphemy, the former president also went to Twitter to quash the rumors.
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Linkedin Winny Tang and Dylan Amirio (The Jakarta Post) Guiana, France  Tue, February 14, 2017

Close to the equator, French Guiana, a scarcely populated country with only 158,000 inhabitants, is regarded as an ideal place to launch satellites. Mostly covered by equatorial forest, the South American country provides a stable climate, as well as invulnerability to earthquakes and hurricanes. Lying just over 500 km north of the equator, Kourou provides an advantage for satellite launches, because the earths spinning boosts the propulsion of the rocket taking the satellite into space.

In this part of Guiana, where a joint French and European spaceport has been built, Indonesias biggest telecommunication company Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) is set to release its latest satellite into space early in the morning of Feb. 15, Jakarta time. Called the Telkom 3S, the firms third satellite, which costs up to Rp 3.33 trillion (US$250 million), will provide high-definition television services, faster mobile communications and internet applications across the sprawling Indonesian archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, reaching primarily to the most remote areas.

This will be enabled by new technology, high-frequency Kuband transponders, which will cut installation time and allow faster connections.

Unlike Telkom 1 and Telkom 2 Telkom 3S has Ku-band. The benefit is that the dishes [needed to receive signals] are smaller, Telkom satellite project head Tonda Priyanto said on Sunday in Kourou.

Indonesia has long struggled with poor information and communication technology infrastructure despite the fact that many of its citizens are already highly tech-savvy.

The current administration kicked off late last year its ambitious Palapa Ring project in a bid to connect all areas nationwide through its fiber-optic network.

However, only around one third of Indonesias area can be covered by terrestrial communications systems, leaving the rest to be linked through satellite systems.

A McKinsey report released last September revealed that Indonesia could realize growth of an estimated 10 percent in the gross domestic product (GDP), equivalent to $150 billion, by 2025.

The need for satellite technology is absolute in Indonesia. Meanwhile, the supply is still low, Telkom chief technology officer Abdus Somad Arief recently said.

(Read also: Telkom 3S set to launch on Valentines Day)

Overall, the Telkom 3S satellite will carry 49 transponders, adding to the 140 transponders that Telkom currently operates through its two orbiting satellites.

Satellite builder Thales Alenia Space has handled the design, testing and in-orbit delivery of the satellite, while the satellite launch company Arianespace will be in charge of releasing the satellite into space.

During the planned launch, Telkom 3S will be positioned at 118 degrees east, to replace Telkom 2. Telkom 2, which still has a life span of about four years, will be moved to another orbital position.

In response to the satellite launch, Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara said the Telkom 3S satellite would definitely help meet the demand for better network quality in Indonesia.

I think that even if the government begins launching its own satellites, we will still be at a deficit even up to the year 2023, he said. What the government can do in the meantime is to give satellite lending rights to local companies to avoid dependence on foreign ones.
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Linkedin Viriya P. Singgih and Fedina S. Sundaryani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, February 15 2017

Gold and copper miner PT Freeport Indonesia, the countrys biggest taxpayer and oldest foreign investor, is in for another rough ride as it struggles to fight the governments demand to divest controlling ownership and resolve allegations of legislative contempt.

Freeports headache intensified last week when the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry claimed the firm had agreed to convert its contract of work (CoW) to a special mining license (IUPK), and required it to divest 51 percent of its shares and construct a smelter.

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, February 15 2017

The Defense Ministry showcased 15 newly launched items of defense equipment produced by local manufacturers on Tuesday, which will be used to support the Indonesian Militarys (TNI) primary weapons defense system.

The locally engineered products consist of seven items for the Navy, four for the Army and four for the Air Force. All items were results of the governments Rp 86 billion (US$6.45 million) defense industry development program throughout last year.

The equipment varied from mortar support for the Army to a swamp boat for the Navy. The products were made by state-owned weapons manufacturer PT Pindad and several local private companies.

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Linkedin Endy M. Bayuni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, February 15 2017

Three of them have had to close their food stalls. One man whose occupation is doing casual odd jobs has also had to forego the chance of earning a small precious daily income. Another man has to delegate his small printing shop to a member of the family. A woman has asked her husband to come home from work early to look after their three young children.

These are the six volunteers I am working with on a committee that will administer TPS30, the polling station in Kebayoran Lama Utara subdistrict, South Jakarta, during the Feb. 15 Jakarta gubernatorial election.

We are not the only ones making some personal sacrifices in the name of democracy.

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Linkedin Tama Salim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, February 15 2017

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti has encouraged fisheries businesses and importers from the Czech Republic to explore the potential benefits of direct trade with Indonesia.

Susi was in Prague on a two-day business mission on Feb. 8 to 10 to meet with local businesses and engage in talks with Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Jan Mladek in the hope of winning a big by marketing Indonesias marine products to the landlocked country.

Seeing the huge potential of bringing Indonesian seafood products into the country, Susi also urged Indonesian businesses to widen their reach.

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Linkedin Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14, 2017

Former foreign minister suggests East Asia Summit could be more than just hello-goodbye forum ASEAN fails to take advantage of Hague ruling on South China Sea

In its 50th year, ASEAN needs to take stock of its mechanisms to seek alternative ways to better manage regional crises, a discussion in Jakarta has concluded.

The 50th anniversary of the bloc is a good time for ASEAN to identify challenges and opportunities. We should take stock of what we have, said former foreign minister Marty Natalegawa on Monday.

Marty and Dewi Fortuna Anwar, a foreign policy expert who is also the Vice Presidents political affairs assistant, said the various instruments of ASEAN should be further empowered to enable the regional association to face todays global uncertainties.

Marty and Dewi were among the speakers participating in a one day discussion on middle power possibilities at a moment of turbulence in the Asia-Pacific, held by the Habibie Center think tank and the Canadian embassy, in conjunction with 40 years of relations between Canada and ASEAN. Last year, Canada appointed its first Ambassador to ASEAN, Marie-Louise Hannan, who opened the forum.

The speakers acknowledged the difficulties in reaching consensus among ASEAN members.

One area that I would have been looking for is an increase in ASEANs capacity in regards to the East Asia Summit [EAS] to be able to manage the potential for crisis in our region, Marty told the discussion.

Stressing the importance of the forum in addressing regional issues, he said the EAS could have more of an impact.

How can ASEAN make the East Asia Summit more than a simply a hello and goodbye forum, because as of now, we have an annual summit at the end of the year and then theres a vacuum of footprint, a vacuum of, dare I say, relevance, during the first nine months. And then we have a chair that comes, that welcomes and then bids goodbye, he said.

In response to suggestions that ASEAN could be among the middle powers in the face of world powers such as the United States and China, Dewi said ASEAN had always shown middle power behavior in its need for survival. ASEAN has always been preoccupied with ensuring living space and strategic autonomy since the Cold War, she said.

Paul Evans, a professor at the Institute of Asian Research and the Liu Institute for Global Issues at the University of British Columbia, urged countries in the region to maintain ASEAN centrality amid what he said was a period of global turbulence following the election of US President Donald Trump and also uncertainties emanating from Chinas leadership.

President Xi Jinping hailed the virtues of globalization in a speech last month in Davos, Switzerland, widely seen as a contrast to the protectionist instincts of the new US president.

In the face of elephants, tigers, bears and sharks, Evans said many countries now faced uncertainty in, for instance, trade arrangements in the absence of the US.

The speakers said ASEAN in recent years had failed to deliver any breakthroughs in the face of regional and global challenges.

Rene Pattirajawane, an associate fellow at the Habibie Center and a Kompas journalist, cited the ruling on the South China Sea from the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, Netherlands. ASEAN did not show any initiative in following up on the ruling that favored the Philippines.

Dewi urged ASEAN to revive a more expansive view of the region and avoid getting bogged down in red-tape. ASEAN indeed faces challenges because of its diversity, consisting as it does of 10 members and 10 dialogue partners, she added.

However, not investing in ASEAN is not an option for Indonesia, she said.

Marty said ASEAN was most effective in its transformative contribution to raising the status of Southeast Asian nations. What were once pawns in the rivalries between great powers are now independent shapers of the region, he said.

Speakers added that ASEAN should try to use the 1976 Tretay of Amity and Cooperation to ensure regional stability.
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Linkedin Haeril Halim and Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14, 2017

President Joko Jokowi Widodo is likely to make a much-awaited state visit to Australia at the end of this month, government officials say, reaffirming Indonesias commitment to maintaining good bilateral ties despite a rocky patch in its relationship with its neighbor earlier this year.

The upcoming state visit is aimed at improving the already good relations between the two countries, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi asserted.

This is an important meeting given how Australia and Indonesia are close neighbors. The two countries have good and significant cooperation in the field of investment, education and trade, Retno told reporters at the State Palace on Monday.

(Read also: Indonesia-Australia relations hit fresh snag)

Both sides are currently seeking to fix an ideal date for the state visit but Indonesian Ambassador to Australia Nadjib Riphat Kesoema suggested it might occur toward the end of the month.

Jokowis visit to Canberra will reciprocate Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbulls trip to Jakarta in November 2015. The President had previously delayed his journey to Australia following a violent rally in front of the State Palace on Nov. 4 last year.

Jakarta has partially suspended military cooperation with Canberra following a brouhaha over allegedly offensive teaching materials at a military training facility last October, but Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo accepted last week an apology offered by visiting Australian Army chief Lt. Gen. Angus Campbell.

Retno however insisted that neighborly relations were in a good state, signaling a possible thawing of ties in the near future.

Earlier in the day, the minister said Indonesia remained an important partner for Australia, as the number of inbound tourists exceeded 1 million, even though these were still concentrated in Bali.

However, with the development of 10 [new] tourist destinations, we also want to encourage Australians to visit other parts of Indonesia, she said after meeting Timor Leste Strategic Planning and Investment Minister Xanana Gusmao and Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto at the security ministers office.

Meanwhile, in the bilateral meeting, Timor Leste and Indonesia discussed land border points that still require resolution. We have agreed to establish SOC [senior official consultation], a small group that will deliberate the technical matters on both countries understandings before reaching an agreement to conclude a resolution to the land borders, Wiranto told journalists after the meeting.

The SOC, which consists of delegates from both countries, will begin its discussions on March 10 in Bali and the team should report the results of the meeting to both governments, Wiranto went on without providing further details on a deadline to which the SOC should adhere.

The Indonesian delegation will be led by the Foreign Ministrys director-general for Asia-Pacific and Africa, Desra Percaya, while the Timor delegation will be led by Timor Leste deputy foreign minister Roberto Soares, Retno confirmed.

The current negotiations with Dili, although considered relatively swift compared to border disputes with other neighboring countries, have been mired in inefficiencies and a lack of progress.

Indonesia and Timor Leste have been negotiating their border since 2002, soon after the latter formalized its independence from Indonesia following a UNsupervised referendum held in 1999.

-- TAMA SALIM CONTRIBUTED TO THE ARTICLE.
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Linkedin Masajeng Rahmiasri (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, February 14, 2017 11:05 2091 9b519824cb3263083aedb70a0bfe09c4 1 News Seoul,South-Korea,traveling,tourism,#tourism,#traveling Free

Travel-related search site Skyscanner has announced that Seoul, the capital city of South Korea, was the most-searched for destination by Indonesian travelers in 2016.

The conclusion reflects the number of searches made by Indonesian users on the site in 2016 compared to the number of searches made in 2015.

Last year, the site saw a 100 percent increase in searches about Seoul by Indonesian users. Japans Tokyo and Osaka also saw 66 percent and 60 percent increases, respectively, while Malaysias Penang recorded a 60 percent increase.

Skyscanners Senior Marketing Manager for Indonesia Yulianto Balawan said such statistics were a natural result of the ease of visa restrictions for Indonesia by Japan and South Korea.

This has made trips to those countries become simpler and more seamless for Indonesians and this will help these destinations grow in popularity in 2017, Yulianto said.

(Read also: Eight of the most romantic hotels around the world)

Meanwhile, local destinations such as Belitung and Solo also gained increased interest over the year. Skyscanner recorded a 90 percent increase in interest toward Belitung, while Solo saw a 79 percent increase in interest. This suggests an appetite for off-the-beaten-path experiences and authentic local lifestyle experiences.

Aside from revealing the destinations predicted to pique the interest of Indonesian travelers in 2017, Skyscanner also commented on Indonesian traveling trends.

Indonesian travelers are becoming savvier. They want to have the independence to plan their own trip and they are always looking for the best promo fares and cheapest prices, Yulianto said.

Skyscanner is a website owned by Chinas biggest online travel service Ctrip.com. It allows users to compare the prices of airfares, hotels, as well as rental cars from hundreds of travel sites. (asw)
Shruti Jha, 28 and pregnant, developed a rare spine tumor which left her paralysed below the waist but a dash of alcohol changed her life.

By Priyanka Sharma: A dash of alcohol can work wonders on your body and may even save your life. Ask Shruti Jha, 28, who was paralysed below the waist for several months due to a rare spine tumour and was brought to AIIMS when all other avenues failed. Her condition was made more precarious by the fact that she was pregnant.

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After several rounds of consultations, doctors decided to pump in a measured amount of "absolute alcohol", a neuro-toxic drug, into the tumour to destroy the lump. The rest is history, now recorded in the International Journal of Neuroscience.

This technique was performed for the first time in a patient with advanced pregnancy and has been pioneered by AIIMS doctors.

Dr PS Chandra, professor of neurosurgery at AIIMS who developed this technique at the institute, told Mail Today, "MRI suggested that it was a spine tumour. Many people outside opined that it was a cancerous tumour and there's no cure. So then, she was brought to the neurosurgery department at AIIMS. We immediately recognised it as 'vertebral haemangioma'.

This is a slow-growing vertebral tumour, which is not malignant. But the biggest challenge is surgery because it is extremely 'vascular' (highly bloody) and if touched by a doctor during surgery it bleeds heavily."

Presently, experts are performing "intra-arterial embolisation", where they inject some glue into the tumour. This procedure done before the surgery takes around 4-6 hours, and costs about Rs 3-4 lakh, while absolute alcohol comes for only a few hundred rupees.

Also Read: AAP government's 2 years in Delhi: 3 reasons why Kejriwal's mohalla clinics are a flop

Absolute alcohol, or 99% ethanol, causes tumour destruction by drawing water out of the cells, thus dehydrating them, and thereby altering the structure of cellular proteins. Over a longer period of time, it leads to new bone formation, thus facilitating healing in the spine.

In addition, it is a powerful embolising agent and cuts off the blood supply to the tumour. This technique has been published in the reputed journal "Neurosurgery", which is the official journal for the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, USA, and other prestigious publications.

Dr Chandra said, "As the patient was in her advanced stage of pregnancy, we could not get her to lie upside down So we put her in a lateral position. We opened the up tumour area, inserted two screws in the healthy vertebra above and below and covered the baby. Into the affected vertebra we inserted absolute alcohol."

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Also Read: FIR against Dainik Jagran for publishing UP election exit poll despite ban

Soon after the surgery, Shruti could feel relief in her legs and in delivered a healthy baby in a couple of months.

"I had lost the hope that I would be able to give birth to my child," she told Mail Today. "Now I am able to walk and even workout at the gym."

Historically, ethanol was injected into angiomas (benign tumours) and carcinoma (cancerous tumours) of the kidney and worked very well as an "embolising agent" that killed the tumour cells very fast. However, it is not suitable for all kinds of tumours.

"We have found this treatment is highly effective as it completely kills the tumour cells and over a period of time the patient is doing remarkably well and the tumour is completely gone. Also, there was new bone formation in the place where the tumour was originally present, which means there is healing in that particular area," said an AIIMS doctor.

Also watch: Nagaland crisis: Women reservation vs custom or deliberate political play?

--- ENDS ---

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One of the victims in the attack on Essex Street Saturday night spoke with Channel 7 in a phone interview. Im completely shocked, and Im appalled by it, said one of two brothers beaten up by a white supremacist gang. I feel like these organizations are sort of being emboldened to come out of the woodwork now, just because of the general sentiment thats going on. [Channel 7]

The City Council is set to approve legislation curbing laws that have allowed the NYPD to seize businesses and homes, sometimes for flimsy reasons. The police department has used the existing laws to go after bars on underage drinking charges. [Daily News]

Neighborhood activists debate whether Bloomberg-era rezonings helped communities or simply caused displacement of longtime residents. [City Limits]

The founders of the Lowline are preparing to close their temporary lab in the Essex Street Market. On balance, they believe the experiment was a big success. [Next City]

There was a four-vehicle pileup on East Houston Street. [EV Grieve]

Reminder: Theres a Valentines Day rally and press conference to save the former CHARAS El Bohio, P.S. 64. Facebook Invite.
The Karni Sena, which attacked Padmavati director Sanjay Leela Bhansali last month, alleging that he was distorting history in his film, has now demanded pre-censorship of period films.

By PTI: The Karni Sena, which was in the news a few weeks ago for attacking Padmavati director Sanjay Leela Bhansali in Jaipur, has now demanded pre-censorship of period films and plans to approach the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in this regard.

Karni Sena's protest against Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film Padmavati was because of an allegation that the film was "distorting facts".

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It even stalled the shooting of the Ranveer Singh-Deepika Padukone-starrer by vandalising the set at the Jaigarh fort in Jaipur and also assaulted Bhansali.

Though Karni Sena patron Lokendra Singh Kalvi made it clear that the demands of his organisation and the Rajput group have been fulfilled by the director, he says there are still a few points that he wants to discuss with the ministry.

"We are asking the Information and Broadcasting ministry about the pre-censorship of the historic films. We are also hoping for some support from producer and director associations and in fact they are ready to give their support. Our demands have been fulfilled by them (the Padmavati team). They have promised that they won't show any kind of personal rapport between the actors (Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh) in the movie," Kalvi told PTI.

Kalvi says his group will also try to hold discussion over pre-screening of all historic films to journalists and historians.

"We just want that all period drama, including Padmavati, should be shown to the historians and journalists prior to their release. We don't have any interest, but we just want to ensure that there is no distortion of history," he said.

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) The Supreme Court today clarified that the audience need not stand when the National Anthem is sung or played in the storyline of a feature film or part of a newsreel or documentary.

A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and R Banumathi observed this after amicus curiae and senior advocate Siddharth Luthra said it may be clarified that people are not expected to stand when the National Anthem is sung or played as a part of the storyline in a film, newsreel or documentary.

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The courts clarification came after Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi accepted the suggestion of the amicus curiae.

"In view of the aforesaid, it is clarified that when the National Anthem is sung or played in the storyline of a feature film or part of the newsreel or documentary, apart from what has been stated in the order dated November 30, 2016, the audience need not stand," the bench said.

The apex court referred to the provisions of the new legislation The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and said that the Centre may come out with a notification within a week on the lines of its interim order passed on December 9 last year.

On that day, the apex court had modified its earlier order by exempting physically handicapped persons from standing when the national anthem was played before the screening of a movie in cinema halls across the nation.

The apex court has now listed the matter for further hearing on April 18.

At the fag end of the hearing, the bench observed that the matter was required to be debated and it may be referred to the constitution bench as well.

"There has to be a debate. The order has to be debated. It may be correct. It may be not correct. It (the matter) may be sent to the constitution bench," the bench said. (More) PTI ABA SJK RKS ARC

--- ENDS ---
Theres something in this image of death that perfectly mirrors what theyve achieved with All These Countless Nights  not only a reminder of mortality that seems to ground the group and makes the music a lot more down to earth, but also a meteoric rising.For many fans, the release of Old Souls back in 2013 looked like it would be the the last release from the group whove been plagued by complications and tensions that saw lead guitarist Chris Pennells drop out in 2015. From the ashes of this fire has emerged a bright and burning Deaf Havana with a new lease of life. Drummer Tom Ogden explained the work that went into the new album, and this new chapter in the bands obvious future. I really really want people to like it, he tells me as we discuss the new albums immediate release. If they dont, Ill be upset I think, he jokes, his slight laugh not quite masking the obvious anxiety he felt about the reception All These Countless Nights would get. He neednt have worried - the album charted immediately at 5 on the UK Album chart. Prior to this, Old Souls had only managed to get to 9 and 2011s Fools and Worthless Liars, the album that arguably sparked the group into the elite rock channels within the UK, managed a measly 49. Its an anxiety that makes perfect sense when you consider where Deaf Havana are at currently. The group met when they were in college, way back in 2005. Since then, the last twelve years have seen boys turn to men, and the group lost their way over the last few years. We didnt really want to do the band anymore, Tom says, his tone somber. We all went our separate ways for a bit. For fans, this break seemed inevitable. Old Souls was good, but failed to capture what makes Deaf Havana so unique, the arena rock with heart and genuine emotion at its core. Like the band, the album seemed a bit lost. Theres an irony when listening back now to lyrics such as 'Belief is getting harder to find, cause all I know is Im wasting my time'. What changed? How did they find each other again? It was kinda like when something is taken away from you you realise how much you miss it. Tom explains, we didnt want to do it [be in the band] anymore, but as soon as we stopped doing it we missed it. It was a slow process falling back into the swing of things, it seems. We wrote a few songs together, James [lead vocals] wrote a few songs, so we just said yeah, lets give it a go again. This rebirth saw the band part ways with old management, and find a new label. The break has managed to rejuvenate the band in a way it certainly doesnt seem Tom thought was possible. For Old Souls we went in with a few songs and finished off in the studio, so it was a bit rushed. We had 12 songs for the album and no more. We just recorded them. Theres a definite note of incredulity as he compares this process to that of putting All These Countless Nights together. We had 30, 35 songs to choose from! It feels like this determination is what fuelled them to create All These Countless Things in the first place. Tom links this to the break of the band; We said if were gonna do it again, well do it properly, we wont do it half arsed like last time. The boys spent two weeks in a small Kings Cross Studio working out the kinks of the album, carefully choosing songs and putting together the album of their careers so far.It's allowed them to be incredibly creative. We actually blended two songs, Tom confesses. Listening to Pensacola, 2013 you definitely cant tell it's a hybrid. Hamburg 2013 and Pensacola (a Floridian town) seemed like a natural combination for the group. Both places that inspired James, the group put together the formers chorus with the latters verse. Lyrically, they were quite similar, a similar story. Theyre in the same key and had the same sort of feel and tempo. Its a new move for the band, and one that Tom is obviously excited about. Weve never done anything like that before, weve never had the time to work on it. The band have travelled to Mexico in order to film their latest bout of videos, the trilogy for Trigger, Sing and Fever, a trio of songs detailing similar struggles, a message of loneliness behind everything, Tom wisely says  struggles with a relationship, with the band and with alcohol. It was unbelievable, he gushes. The best thing Ive ever done with this band. It was absolutely amazing. The boys spent a week in Mexico filming the videos, and seem to have received the full star treatment. It was like a film set, it was mental. The roads were shut, the police where there protecting everything, there were horses, fireworks going offit was incredible. The best experience Ive ever had. The excitement is obvious in his voice and he tells me he hopes that Deaf Havana have a chance to go back and play gigs there.This is the first album weve ever done where weve really wanted to put all our effort into it, and really wanted to make something special, to represent us as people, as individuals, as well as a band. When listening to the album, theres a definite change in tone and pace. It seems a lot more levelled and considered than their previous works. Even songs like 'Pretty Low', which previously would have been a lot louder, more in your face, and probably faster, retain an incredible ability  the bands voice is evident (partly thanks to Jamess distinctive vocals, but its measured. It seems that Deaf Havana have learned to control themselves, and this has meant theyve produced the best music of their career. It was the fresh start we needed individually. Toms especially excited about Happiness, a chilled out song that starts with soft guitar and showcases Jamess voice. Its a gorgeous song, one of the most reflective ones on an album that feels like a redemption for the band. Its easy for young people to relate to, their drummer figures. Its an easier song for him to play, and births the albums name: all these countless nights I spend cowering in bed. L.O.V.E. is at the other end of the spectrum. In many ways, it embodies the feel of the album  a reflection of being the lowest someone can go, and recounting the ways people can be rebuilt from the perspective of a grown, mature and changed man. I think the groove to it is amazing, Tom says, I love playing it. Seattle and Cassiopeia are favourites of mine. I think together the two are the perfect embodiment of Deaf Havana  the emotional capacity and varying styles these two show remind listeners of the banda amazing ability to jump from more ballad-type, slower songs to the arena rock they learned in the shadow of Springsteen. This variation builds the album, but is never unbelievable. Theres a lot of different dynamics on it, Tom explains. We spent a lot of time making the album fluctuate. We wanted to keep it interesting. Theres more a piece of ourselves in this record than there has been in the others, he admits. Initially this seems absurd  the band are known for their honest lyrics, often chronicling the personal struggles of James, but the time and care taken to craft  theres no better word for it  All These Countless Nights is obvious to the listener. Gone are the the explosive and uncontrolled days of their youth, the new Deaf Havana is a group of men who have been to the bottom, rushed through the fires life has thrown at them, and have come through strong. The time, patience, and livelihood that this album embodies makes it the most personal one the band has done. Were in a really good place at the moment. Its the best place weve ever been as a band, Tom says  and I believe him. The bands first tour for All These Countless Nights opens next week to a sold out Manchester show. Catch them on this first run if you can  itll be a show you remember for the rest of your life.
No one can ever define exactly what constructs a happy life. Money is an entity that a lot of people strive to earn but, as shown in the survey done by InterNations, a happy life is not always inspired by earning a lot of money.

14,300 Expats living abroad in 191 countries rated their happiness on a scale of 1  7. Some of the expats, not earning the biggest of wages, and not in countries with the best of infrastructures, came out on top when evaluating their personal happiness.

Although we may never get the answer as to what makes us happiest, these countries clearly have something special allowing expats to live a happy life abroad.

These are the 17 nations where expats are happiest:

17. Portugal

Popular with people who have children, Portugal is in the top five dream destinations for expats.

Albufeira, Portugal

16. Oman

Expats usually move here because of an already secured job. Although not an obvious choice for expats, Oman came out high in the survey due to general safety and peacefulness.

Dromedary Bedouin Desert, Oman

15. Kenya

Surrounded by nature and wildlife, this has become increasingly popular amongst expats due to large growth in certain job sectors.

Nairobi, Kenya

14. Peru

The survey showed that mostly business owners move to Peru  people that already have income. The good weather, cheap cost of living and historical landscapes also create a big pull for expats.

Lima, Peru

13. Hungary

With expats earning more but the cost of living staying low, Hungary has become a prime destination.

Chain Bridge, Budapest

12. Uganda

Expats here raved about their work-life balance, saying a lot of jobs allow for flexible working hours. The ease of settling in and the beautiful natural scenery make life in Uganda a desirable choice. However, there are warnings about travelling between towns after dark and criminal activity.

Rise Watering Hole, Uganda

11. Taiwan

Appearing in the top ten in every single category, Taiwan was number one for the best overall place for expats in 2016. Healthcare and education are said to be of a high quality. Known for its busy night markets social life is ranked highly, however learning the language proves difficult.

Taipei, Taiwan

10. Spain

With around 8,000 kilometres of beach, Spain is one of Europes top holiday spots - and many claim their stress levels have decreased since living here. Along with the decent weather and job prospects, Spain has ranked as one of the places expats are happiest with.

Callela Beach

9. Panama

Famous for its canal, this is a top destination for trade and logistic experts. The contrasting skyscrapers, casinos and old colonial buildings allow for an intriguing living place. Throw in some nice weather and decent wages and expats say they're happy.

Panama City

8. Vietnam

Happy with the pleasant nature of the locals, expats in Vietnam rate the country highly, saying it is easy to make new friends. The low cost of living mixed with the beautiful scenery has allowed Vietnam to jump up 24 places in the survey since last year.

Halong Bay, Vietnam

7. Thailand

All street signs in Thailand are bilingual, with English and Thai, however Thai is mandatory in all international schools so ease of settling in is ranked highly. The low cost of living and the possible holiday destinations available whilst living there also make Thailand popular.

Phuket, Thailand

6. New Zealand

On the other side of the world, this place came out high for the ease of settling in. Healthcare, education and peaceful surroundings all add to expat happiness. With plenty of greenery expats say their stress levels decreased significantly after moving here.

Queenstown, New Zealand

5. Ecaudor

The survey revealed that most people who move to Ecaudor plan to stay there long-term. Its unique national heritage makes for a diverse and cultural living experience.

Cuenca, Ecuaudor

4. Philippines

Expats with families rank the country highly due to their friendliness towards children and good international schools. A low cost of living and a top destination for romance make this a comfortable, happy choice for expats.

Legaspi, Philippines

3. Mexico

Waiting to be explored on bikes and hikes, Mexico has a breathtaking countryside - but over 80% of its 120 million residents live in cities. Named one of worst countries for inequality and a housing shortage, living in Mexico does not come without its challenges. However, ranking highly in friendliness, ease to settle in and weather, expats find living here to be extremely satisfying.

Tulum Beach, Mexico

2. Malta

Malta may be small, but it's big in popularity. Income runs low, but social life and leisure options placed high in the survey. As a former British Colony many of the residents speak English, making settling in easy without needing to know the language. Another reason why it may also appear so high is because 70% of expats in Malta are in a relationship, which is higher than the 63% global average.

Grand Harbour, Malta

1. Costa Rica

Friendliness of the locals has come out on top as they are said to be extremely welcoming, kind and helpful. Bursting with culture, the population is diverse and welcomes people from everywhere. Housing is decently priced and the healthcare system is the best in Central America, whilst pleasant weather and serene surroundings make most expats feel like they are living in paradise.

Isla Tortuga Puntarenas, Costa Rica
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By PTI: Patna, Feb 14 (PTI) The plus two examination in Bihar began today amid reports of leak of question paper on social media which was dismissed by the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) as "false and fake".

The first sitting of the examination was marred by reports on social media about leak of Biology paper which was splashed by private TV channels.

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But, BSEB Chairman Anand Kishore dismissed the paper leak as "false and fake".

"The report of paper leak which went viral on social media in course of probe was found to be false and fake," BSEB Chairman told reporters.

12,61,793 students are appearing in the state plus two examination out of which 7,04,868 are boys and 5,56,925 girls.

The state plus two examination are being held at 1274 centres across Bihar and would end on February 25.

A large number of examinees were nabbed using unfair means and many others for impersonation.

A total of 240 examinees were expelled for using unfair means in the examination, the BSEB sources said.

Cracking whip of errant officials, the BSEB Chairman ordered suspension of two centre superintendents at Darbhanga and Gopalganj on charge of dereliction of duty.

Three invigilators have also been suspended, the BSEB PRO said.

A toppers scam had broken out in 2016 when during a media interview Arts topper Ruby Roy described her subject as "Prodikal science" in place of political science and which she had said was related to cooking.

Subsequent investigation had revealed that the rot was deep as a result of which a comprehensive probe ordered by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the degree of Ruby Roy and those of Science topper Rahul Kumar and some others were annulled.

The then Chairman of the BSEB Lalkeshwar Singh, his former JD(U) MLA wife Usha Sinha and kingpin of the exam racket Bachha Rai were arrested. more PTI SNS RG KKB

--- ENDS ---
Among some prominent voices within the RJD camp supporting Tejaswi Yadav as CM were Surendra Yadav, Ramanuj and Chandra Shekhar.

By Rohit Kumar Singh: Differences within the grand alliance in Bihar, especially between the Janata Dal (United) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal once again came to the fore on Tuesday as several RJD legislators batted for Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav to be elevated as the chief minister of the state.

Among some prominent voices within the RJD camp were legislators Surendra Yadav, Ramanuj and Chandra Shekhar, also a minister in Nitish government.

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"Time has come for Tejaswi Yadav to be elevated as the chief minister of Bihar. The way Akhilesh Yadav is governing Uttar Pradesh in an able manner, so can Tejaswi," said Ramanuj, RJD MLA from Sonepur in Chapra.

However, comments made by RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav further stoked the fire. Speaking to media persons in Hajipur, when the RJD supremo was asked about growing chorus within the party to elevate Tejaswi as the CM, he said that his son would become the chief minister in future.

Lalu , on the other hand, also tried to downplay the immediate controversy within the grand alliance as JDU leaders had warned the RJD to refrain from making such absurd demands.

Patna: BJP's politician couple doze off during former Deputy CM Sushil Modi's Janta Durbar event

"I and Mulayam Singh Yadav have now become old. Akhilesh and Tejaswi are the future chief ministers. However, there is no immediate vacancy for chief minister as of now," said Lalu Prasad.

However, JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar maintained that Lalu had also accepted the leadership of Nitish Kumar ahead of Bihar elections and there is no scope for anyone to be CM in near future.

"Surendra Yadav has been a four term MLA and an MP. He has also accepted Tejaswi as his leader. Tejaswi must be having some great quality on basis of which the RJD leaders have accepted him as leader of the RJD. However, there is no vacancy for CM at the moment."

Tejashwi Yadav jumps into Padmavati row, invites Bollywood to shoot in Bihar

--- ENDS ---
"Shiv Sena will be helping the Congress on 10 seats and the Congress will be returning the favour on 40 seats," alleged Vinod Tawde.

By Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: With just over a week left for the BMC polls, the war between Shiv Sena and BJP is getting uglier with every passing day.

Upping its ante against the Uddhav Thackeray-led party, Education Minister Vinod Tawde on Tuesday alleged that there was a tacit understanding between the Congress and the Shiv Sena.

BJP alleged:

1. "On Valentine's day, the Congress and Sena seems to have exchanged gifts in the form of seat adjustment. Shiv Sena will be helping the Congress on 10 seats and the Congress will be returning the favour on 40 seats," alleged Tawde in a press Conference.

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2. "Both the parties will be going slow in the campaign on the 'adjusted' seats. The changed strategy in the campaign will be visible in the last leg, thus helping each other," added the minister.

3. Continuing with their allegations of non-transparent and corrupt administration in the BMC, Tawde also alleged that the income of the corporators belonging to Sena has grown manifold in last 5 years.

4. Tawde presented a list alleging that the income of Shiv Sena Corporator Sujata Patekat jas grown by 3244 per cent in just 5 years, while that of Deepa Patil went up by 1969 per cent. The allegations were based on the income declared by the candidates in the election affidavit in 2012 and 2017.

5. "The jump in their incomes in phenomenal... They should also let others know how to increase income so rapidly by 'legitimate' means. They can guide the youngsters to earn some good money," quipped Tawde.

Also read: Bombay HC gives interim custody of 9-month-old to couple who 'bought' the baby

6. Tawde alleged that there were 20 such other Shiv Sena corporators whose income has shot up dramatically in the last 5 years.

7. Tawde also took pot shots at Uddhav Thackeray saying that the party president was trying to divert attention from development issues and focusing more on emotional issues that have nothing to do with Mumbai.

8. "Uddhav ji is talking about jawans on border. He is talking about all other issues that have hardly anything to do with the BMC and the development of the metropolis. He should talk about how his party plans to give a better life to Mumbaikars. But instead, he is trying to deviate the attention by bringing in emotive issues that hardly affect the life of Mumbaikars," alleged Tawde.

Also read: BMC polls: Shiv Sena ignored Shanghai's cooperation, claims BJP

--- ENDS ---
Entrepreneur Now Awards

Start From: Wednesday 22 February 2017, 06:00PM to Wednesday 22 February 2017, 09:00PM Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat. Sun.

The Entrepreneur Now Awards is an Awards night organized by BNOW.org to honor and recognize enterprising entrepreneurs and their teams in Thailand. Join us to celebrate their achievements, exchange entrepreneurial experiences, listen to inspiring stories, meet new people, expand your network and have fun! For more information, please e-mail info@bnow.org or visit www.entrepreneurnow.asia

Proudly sponsored by The Phuket News,
Fears of exploding whales as New Zealand clears carcasses

NEW ZEALAND: The grim task of clearing hundreds of washed-up whale carcasses was under way in New Zealand today (Feb 14), with the beach closed over fears the bodies will fill with gas and explode as they decompose.

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By AFP

Tuesday 14 February 2017, 10:08AM

Volunteers pour water on pilot whales during a mass stranding at Farewell Spit, on Saturday (Feb 11). Photo: Marty Melville/AFP

The sands at Farewell Spit where the nearly 700 pilot whales beached in one of the largest mass strandings ever in New Zealand were closed to the public after authorities declared the rotting bodies a health risk.

The Department of Conservation said the carcasses of more than 300 whales were being trucked to an inaccessible location where nature would be allowed to take its course.

Conservation spokesman Herb Christophers said dealing with so many dead pilot whales  each of which can be six metres long  was a logistical challenge.

Theyre being moved but they havent been cleared out yet, not by a long chalk, he said.

Its going to be a few days work just getting them off the beach.

Before the whales were moved, conservation workers in bio-hazard suits punctured the carcasses in an attempt to stop them ballooning up with gas then popping.

Ive seen exploding whales, its not a pretty sight, said Christophers.

Departmental ranger Amanda Harvey said many of the dead no longer resembled whales.

Unfortunately, when a whale heats up, a lot of pressure builds up in their body and the only option is for them to explode, she told TVNZ.

In total, an estimated 666 whales were stranded in two pods on Friday (Feb 10) and Saturday (Feb 11) at Farewell Spit, on the northern tip of the South Island.

About three-quarters of the first pod of 416 died, while the survivors and the second pod of about 250 were successfully re-floated.

Christophers said no freshly beached whales had been found today, although wildlife officers remained on high alert because of the mammals tendency to re-strand themselves.

Farewell Spit, about 150 kilometres west of the tourist town of Nelson, has witnessed at least nine pilot whale strandings in the past decade, although the latest was by far the largest.

The 26-kilometre hook of sand that protrudes out into the sea creates a shallow seabed that is believed to interfere with the whales sonar navigation systems.
Foreign mans attempted suicide visa related, say Phuket police

PHUKET: Tourist Police investigating the attempted suicide of a foreign man in Thalang this morning have said they believe the man attempted to take his own life as he had overstayed his visa and was concerned that he would be blacklisted from re-entering the country.

deathhealthimmigrationsuicide

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Tuesday 14 February 2017, 03:52PM

Police at the scene of the attempted suicide. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

A foreign man was spared death by hanging from a pedestrian bridge over the islands busiest road in central Phuket this morning (Feb 14) after the rope broke, sending him plunging about six metres onto Thepkrasattri Rd below.

Concerned onlookers called police at about 1am after noticing the man, a Westerner aged about 40 years old, with the rope on the pedestrian bridge near the Makro store in Thalang.

Just as patrol police arrived, the man jumped off the bridge, Lt Sunan Petchnoo of Thalang Police told The Phuket News. (See story here.)

The man, a German national, has since been named as 59-year-old Dr Thomas Stolzenburg from Hamburg. He is still receiving treatment in Vachira Phuket Hospital for injuries sustained from the jump.

An unnamed officer from the Phuket Tourist Police told The Phuket News this afternoon that during their investigation a woman, Miss Suwaphat Santhat, 39, came forward and told them she was a neighbour of Dr Stolzenburg.

The woman told us that Dr Stolzenburg previously lived with his Thai wife at Kata Villa in Rawai, which was close to her house. However, the couple recently separated and his wife returned to her home in Khon Kaen which caused the man some stress. The man remained at the house alone, the officer said.

Having investigated further we discovered that Dr Stolzenburg was arrested by immigration police on February 8 for overstaying his visa and he was charged for this offence.

We have been told that this caused Dr Stolzenburg even more stress as he believed that he would be blacklisted and would not be able to return to the kingdom. We believe this is the reason he attempted to take his life, the officer added.

Police are still waiting to question Dr Stolzenburg about the incident.
Foreigner spared from hanging as rope breaks over major Phuket road

PHUKET: A foreign man was spared death by hanging from a pedestrian bridge over the islands busiest road in central Phuket this morning (Feb 14) after the rope broke, sending him plunging about six metres onto Thepkrasattri Rd below.

suicidepolice

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 14 February 2017, 11:00AM

The rope broke, sending the man plunging about six metres down on Phukets busy Thepkrasattri Rd. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The rope broke, sending the man plunging about six metres down on Phukets busy Thepkrasattri Rd. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The rope broke, sending the man plunging about six metres down on Phukets busy Thepkrasattri Rd. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The rope broke, sending the man plunging about six metres down on Phukets busy Thepkrasattri Rd. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The rope broke, sending the man plunging about six metres down on Phukets busy Thepkrasattri Rd. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Concerned onlookers called police at about 1am after noticing the man, a Westerner aged about 40 years old, with the rope on the pedestrian bridge near the Makro store in Thalang.

Just as patrol police arrived, the man jumped off the bridge, Lt Sunan Petchnoo of Thalang Police told The Phuket News.

He jumped by himself. There was no one else on the bridge, he said.

Our officers ran to assist but the rope and the man fell about six metres down onto the road, he added.

The man was taken to Thalang Hospital and then transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town.

The man is unable to speak as his vocal chords were damaged by the rope, Lt Sunan said.

Hospital staff did not report any broken bones or other serious injuries.

Lt Sunan declined to reveal any details of the man, including his age or nationality.

However, Lt Suann added that patrol police responding to the incident found a Honda PCX motorbike under the bridge which was later confirmed to have been rented by the man. Nearby was a black bag, a white shirt and a pair of shoes.

We have already confirmed that the motorbike was rented from the Rawai area but the mans rented accommodation is in Karon, Lt Sunan said.

The owner of motorbike will come to the police station to give us more information this afternoon, he added.

Additional reporting by Eakkapop Thongtub
Phuket animal welfare heroine Gill Dalley to be remembered with celebration of life

PHUKET: Gill Dalley, animal welfare pioneer and co-founder of the renowned Phuket-based Soi Dog Foundation, will be remembered with a celebration of her life this Saturday as part of the funeral services held to honour her passing.

Tuesday 14 February 2017, 05:02PM

Gill Dalley, always a champion for the underdog whether an animal or a human.

Gill Dalley happy with just one of the thousands of dogs she was responsible for rescuing and transforming over the years.

Gill Dalley in January 2005, less than three weeks after she discharged herself from hospital. Before that she counselled tsunami survivors in Takua Pa and Phuket.

Ms Dalley died shortly after 1am Monday (Feb 13) at Bangkok Hospital Phuket. She was 58.

Ms Dalleys body will lie at her family home in Laguna until Saturday (Feb 18).

Friends and family are welcome to visit to pay their respects today, Thursday and Friday between 7pm 8:30pm, The Phuket News was told this afternoon.

On Saturday morning the house will be open again to friends and family from 10am for a celebration of Gills life, followed by a brief prayer led by monks before Gill's body is taken to Wat Cherng Talay at midday.

There will be another short ceremony at the temple, followed by the cremation, The Phuket News was told.

Husband John, also Co-Founder of the Soi Dog Foundation, yesterday posted a letter to well-wishers.

The letter in full read:

I apologise for the lack of personal response but have been overwhelmed with condolences which give an indication of the regard with which she was held throughout the world.

She died in my arms peacefully after fighting to the end, as always, but this was always one battle too far even for her.

I do understand that there are people who would have liked to have said goodbye, but it was Gills wish that she be remembered as she was and not in her final days.

It is absolutely no exaggeration to say that without Gill there would be no Soi Dog today.

When she lost her legs in 2004 I was fully prepared to end it then. Gill would have none of it.

I well remember her head doctor in Bangkok, who was a sikh, telling her that none of the medical team understood how she had survived, and he believed she must still have a purpose to fulfil. Gills response was; I do.

The current shelter, cat hospital and most recently the new dog hospital, were all designed and exist because of her, and were all built because of her desire to provide a refuge to animals who had nobody else to turn to.

A perfectionist, she was determined that the animals would have the best she could give them. She toiled night and day for 3 years to design and supervise the building of what is Asias largest and most modern hospital for dogs.

Another doctor back in 2004 told her that double amputees in Thailand rarely wear prosthetics because too difficult and painful to use. He also said to her I think you will be different. Once she had taught herself she told me to get rid of the wheelchair as would never use again.

Nobody was aware of the constant pain she suffered from her legs. Most of the time her stumps were covered in blisters and sores owing to the heat and humidity here not suiting the socks and liners amputees have to wear.

But she never complained and always refused to use her wheelchair when I tried to persuade her to take a break. It has remained in our storeroom for the past 12 years, and only came out this past month.

Attached are just three of many photos I have of Gill. (See gallery above  Ed.)

The first is from January 2005 and taken less than three weeks after she discharged herself from hospital managing a mobile clinic after the tsunami. Prior to that she counselled survivors and relatives of the disaster in Takua Pa and Phuket. She never stopped for three months and put off learning to walk again to complete the mission.

The second is my favourite, and shows her happy, with just one of the thousands of dogs she was responsible for rescuing and transforming over the years.

The third is what drove her. She was always a champion for the underdog whether an animal or a human. This particular dog now lives on the Yorkshire Coast in the UK. One of around 50 a month that SDF now adopts from the shelter that SHE established.

Thank you again for your kind words and thoughts.

John Dalley

Co-Founder

Soi Dog Foundation
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The couple allegedly bought the child when she was just seven days old from her biological mother who did not want her.

By Vidya : A division bench of the Bombay High Court, as an interim relief, ordered Child Welfare Committee (CWC) to hand over the custody of a nine-month-old child to her adopted parents, Patrick and Shanti Rodriques. The two had allegedly bought the child from her biological mother, Jaywanti Kamble, who did not want her. Justices Ranjit More and Shalini Phansalkar Joshi issued the order despite a strong protest by the public prosecutor that the child remain with the CWC.

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Jaywanti was already the mother of four children before Olivia was born. Her husband died two years ago and Olivia was born from a maned named Harish with whom Jaywanti was in a relationship. Jaywanti struck a deal with Patrick and Shanti as she did not want another child and allegedly sold Olivia when she was seven days old. The two families also signed an agreement in Kannada which stated that Jaywanti could not stake claim on Olivia.

Patrick and Shanti, who are from Karvar in Karnataka and also have a local Mira Road, Thane address on the record, claim that they were unable to have a child of their own despite undergoing an IVF procedure.

HOW THE CASE CAME TO LIGHT

Mumbai police's Mankhur division stumbled upon the case while investigating a missing child case. One of the accused in that case told officers that he had brokered the deal between Jaywanti and Patrick and Shanti. Following the revelation, Olivia was taken away from her adopted parents and was put in the care of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). The Rodrigueses then filed a petition in the Bombay High Court demanding that Olivia be returned to them.

Also read: Delhi child trafficking racket busted: Girls confined in almirahs, tunnels; forced to entertain clients in cubicles

The public prosecutor, Mankuwar Deshmukh, vehemently opposed the adopted parents' plea, saying that the baby was doing fine at the CWC. Deshmukh said, "The couple had not followed the adoption process and handing over the child would send a wrong message that one can buy a child."

Olivia's adopted parents told the court that Shanti is a home maker while Patrick works with an Israel firm and that they have been taking good care of her and had even taken a few insurance policies for her. They added that since the child's biological mother does not want her, Olivia should be handed over to them.

Also read: Child trafficking: 6-year-old and 17 other children rescued in a raid near Delhi

--- ENDS ---
Being single can be quite the blessing, if you have this easy-peasy chocolate cheesecake to rely on.

This super-easy chocolate cheesecake is meant to be indulged in on Valentine's Day. Picture courtesy: Pinterest/handletheheat.com

By Shreya Goswami: The pressure to bag an amazing date on Valentine's Day--that's something every single millennial would identify with. It doesn't matter if you're a guy or a girl, you know just how much dread and disappointment February 14 can pack.

But stop for a minute, and think about the one date you should have, instead of going out there and looking for a like-minded partner in this very-difficult world. Yes, we're referring to a date with food. And we have a very eligible and edible date in mind--chocolate cheesecake. Here are five reasons why you should cuddle up with a double-chocolate cheesecake on Valentine's Day.

Picture courtesy: Pinterest/Courtney Neighbor Food

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1. Chocolate cheesecake doesn't judge you because of your body type

You know a chocolate cheesecake would never be a mean body-shamer. It won't ever ask you to lose weight, or shave your legs or beard. Quite the opposite, in fact. It wants you to indulge in it without any guilt.

Also read: 5 rosy dishes that are better than a bouquet this Valentine's Day

2. Chocolate cheesecake doesn't stalk you if things don't work out

You'll never be creeped out by a chocolate cheesecake. It won't stalk you on social media, or in person for that matter. If you want to say goodbye to it after a nice, long evening, it will be understanding. It knows well enough that if you love it, you'll come back to it. It won't have to resort to temper tantrums or clinginess.

Picture courtesy: Pinterest/thefirstyearblog.stf.ire

3. Chocolate cheesecake doesn't undermine your better senses

It would never undermine your authority. If you want to stop after a few spoonfuls, or go on and indulge in more than one cheesecake, it won't mind. With a chocolate cheesecake, it's always your decision.

4. Chocolate cheesecake doesn't EVER disappoint you

Unlike a date, especially the ones that go downhill after the first few minutes, a chocolate cheesecake can never disappoint you. It is, in fact, one of the most balanced things you'll ever meet. And when the maker is kind, it will deliver everything you want from it--sweet, salty, cheesy, and tangy. It might even give you something you weren't looking for, to begin with--a stable, peaceful relationship.

Picture courtesy: Pinterest/Away from The Box

5. There's always another one around the corner

While you may not have the same assurance in the case of a good date, you do have it when it comes to chocolate cheesecake. If you're over one kind, say one made with dark chocolate, don't worry. There's always one more to try--caramel, peanut butter, blueberry, strawberry, blackberry, and white chocolate. There's a whole bunch of chocolate cheesecakes out there, to get you over one bad or average dessert.

Picture courtesy: Pinterest/Fiona Just So Tasty Picture courtesy: Pinterest/Fiona Just So Tasty

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Seriously guys, stop worrying about not having a date tonight--or ever. Just go get the ingredients below, and make yourself some scrumptious, heavenly, chocolate cheesecake. This one is going to be the love of your life!

Also read: Sexy times ahead: 5 aphrodisiac recipes to try this Valentine's Day

Ingredients:

150 gms Oreos

45 gms white butter, melted

110 gms caster sugar

120 ml whipped cream

150 gms dark chocolate, melted and cooled

200 gms cream cheese

Picture courtesy: Pinterest/Fiona Just So Tasty

Method:

1. Grind the Oreos to a coarse crumb in a food processor or mixie. Mix it gently with the melted butter, and one teaspoon of caster sugar.

2. Press the biscuit base into a cake tin lined with a baking sheet. Make sure the level is even, and refrigerate.

3. Take the whipped cream in a large bowl, and gently fold in the molten chocolate. Set aside.

4. Beat the cream cheese and remaining sugar in a separate bowl. Gently mix in the chocolate-whipped cream.

5. Take the cheesecake base out of the fridge, and pour in the chocolate and cream cheese mix. Level the top, and put it back in the refrigerator for an hour. Your chocolate cheesecake is ready to be served.

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--- ENDS ---
How many people have already voted absentee in South Dakota ahead of Election Day?

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By PTI: From M Zulqernain

Lahore, Feb 14 (PTI) Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah today claimed the target of the suicide bomber was the meeting of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the younger brother of Pakistans Prime Minister.

Sanaullah had earlier said police personnel were the target of the attack, claimed by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a splinter group of Tahreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

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"The target of suicide bomber was the meeting of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif," Sanaullah said, citing intelligence reports.

The CMs meeting which was scheduled to be held at 7.30 PM yesterday was cancelled after the blast.

Some 13 people mostly policemen including senior officers were killed when a teenage suicide bomber blew himself up after reaching near the police officers who were negotiating with protesting chemists outside the Punjab Assembly on the Mall Road yesterday. More than 80 others suffered injuries.

On the other hand, some other provincial ministers - Zaeem Qadri and Salman Rafique - and Punjab Inspector General Police Mushtaq Sukhera had claimed that the senior police officers were the target of the suicide bomber.

"The meeting of CM was scheduled at 7.30 PM yesterday while the blast took place at 6.10 PM disputing the law ministers claim," a senior Lahore police officer told PTI when his comment was sought on Sanaullahs fresh claim.

The officer further said there has been multiple security layers of the CMs security as a suicide bomber even can not reach the gate of his office building.

"It is naive to say that the suicide bomber was sent to target CM Shahbaz. Senior police officers were the target who were exposed because of no security layer at the protest demonstration," he said.

Sanaullah said the suicide bombers head has been recovered by the police.

He claimed that the information gleaned so far about the suicide bomber matches the one released by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar.

The group was involved in two major bombings in Lahore at Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park and Wagah border in the past. PTI MZ ZH

--- ENDS ---
Amulya Patnaik, Delhi police's commissioner, talks about special cell and more in his first media interaction.

By Ajay Kumar: In his first media interaction since taking charge, Delhi police commissioner Amulya Patnaik divulged little about his future plans. Patnaik spent around 30 minutes at Geo Mess on Monday and greeted journalists, but hinted little about his priority areas or steps he would undertake in the fields of law and order, traffic, etc.

Patnaik was recently promoted from special commissioner (vigilance) to commissioner of police replacing Alok Kumar Verma. The main highlight of the event was the special cell that had managed to nab 12 terrorists, including those from ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF).

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Besides, 23 arms traffickers, 38 drug traffickers and 40 wanted gangsters active in different part of the national Capital, were arrested by the special cell last year.

"Delhi police had managed to prevent all forms of terror attack in the national Capital. Besides, special cell officials had arrested six ISIS terrorists, three JeM terrorists, two from Al-Qaeda and one from KLF," said Balajee Srivastava, special commissioner of Delhi police (special cell).

Also Read: North east girls trained under Delhi Police, ready for deployment

He said police have adopted various measures to secure IGIA and set up permanent pickets across the city. However, the crime graph has registered an upward rise in the last year. Delhi police registered 2,09,515 cases in 2016 compared to 1,91,377 in 2015.

The annual report suggests that crime graph in NCR jumped four-fold since 2010, when Delhi police had registered 51,292 cases.

On the organised crime front, Delhi police nabbed 38 drug traffickers, including one Nigerian, and 23 arms dealers, recovering 330 pistols, 96 magazines, 5,877 live and 65 dead cartridges from them. Police could trace the route of arms traffickers to Bihar, UP, Jharkhand and MP. Drugs traffickers generally operated via Pakistan, Punjab, Rajasthan and border areas of Nepal. A large number of drugs are also smuggled through the porous Indo-Bangla border through Malda.

Police registered 2,155 rape cases in 2016 and 96.43% of them were committed by persons having acquaintance with the victims or their family. They registered 4,165 molestation cases in 2016, which is 30% less compared to 2015. They also registered 528 cases of murder, which is slightly higher to previous year.

Also Watch: 2 Army jawans, 4 Hizbul Mujahideen militants killed in encounter in Kashmir

--- ENDS ---
The show should have been titled Dil Bole Omkara and not Dil Bole Oberoi, as we couldn't take our eyes off Kunal Jaisingh.

By Shweta Keshri: Dil Bole Oberoi is an overdose of Ishqbaaaz that could have easily been avoided by the makers. But having said that, we can't ignore the fact that Ishqbaaz didn't do justice to Omkara's (played by Kunal Jaisingh) character and his fans. Kunal will get a chance to flourish as an actor in the spin-off. The show offers nothing new in terms of script or presentation, as it is an extension of Ishqbaaz.

Shrenu Parikh as Gauri Sharma in a still from Dil Bole Oberoi. Picture courtesy: Hotstar

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Dil Bole Oberoi kicks off in the small city of Bareily and Omkara is visiting the place to crack a deal. Gauri Sharma (played by Shrenu Parikh) is a young and beautiful girl and Kali Thakur (played by Rahul Dev) has his eyes set on her. He will be paying a hefty amount to Gauri's aunt to marry her. His first wife Jhanvi is not happy with the fact and Gauri is still unaware of the arrangement between her aunt and Kaali.

Also read: Dil Bole Oberoi is Ishqbaaz's spin-off; 5 TV characters that deserve their own series

Gauri has a typical sob story--she's poor with an ailing mother but has high self respect; and in the very first episode, her mother is critical and Gauri needs money to pay the hospital. She will remind you of Anika and both seem to be soul sisters. Just like Anika uses unique words like michmichi and tadi, Gauri has her own set of words like harharaye ke and calls bhabhi as bhaujayi.

Kunal Jaisingh as Omkara in a still from Dil Bole Oberoi. Picture courtesy: Hotstar

On the other hand, our hero Omkara, as promised to his father has turned into a stone-hearted and ruthless man. Kunal slays as Omkara; and is probably the only reason one would like to watch the next episode. His intense eyes and killer looks is a lethal combo. If Gauri is like Anika, Omkara here has become more like Shivaay (played by Nakuul Mehta), as he is now a calculative individual and no more an emotional person.

Rahul Dev as Kaali Thakur in a still from Dil Bole Oberoi. Picture courtesy: Hotstar

Rahul Dev as Kaali Thakur is good, but he has majorly been slotted in negative roles on screen. It would have been a welcome change to see him try something different on television. Kaali wants to marry Gauri, but Omkara has come to add the twist in the tale. Although the show has nothing new to offer, it will surely grab eyeballs, because of its cast and magnificent sets.

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Los Angeles, Feb 14 (PTI) Disneys Maker Studios has cut ties with YouTube star PewDiePie, aka Felix Kjellberg, after he allegedly released a series of anti-Semitic posts to his 53 million subscribers.

The 27-year-old Internet star, whose YouTube antics secured him multimillion-dollar deals with the video-sharing website and Disney, posted a video that included two men laughing as they held a banner that read "Death to all Jews", according to The Hollywood Reporter.

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Kjellberg made a total of nine other clips that made anti-Semitic comments or used Nazi imagery.

"Although Felix has created a following by being provocative and irreverent, he clearly went too far in this case and the resulting videos are inappropriate. Maker Studios has made the decision to end our affiliation with him going forward," a Maker spokeswoman said.

However, Kjellberg took to Tumblr to defend his comments.

"I was trying to show how crazy the modern world is, specifically some of the services available online. I think its important to say something and I want to make one thing clear: I am in no way supporting any kind of hateful attitudes," he wrote. PTI SSN SSN

--- ENDS ---
Taking a few classes on how to write a resume and handle job interviews is not enough to land that dream job. Instead, millenials those in their late teens till around 30 years of age believe internship,working on industry projects and taking part in competitions may work better in helping them get the jobs they want. A survey conducted by career-development portal Glints of 1,000 millennials either students or graduates of polytechnic and universities asked them about the challenges they face in entering the job market and what they are doing to overcome these challenges.

Nine out of 10 of those surveyed agreed that the workforce they will be graduating into will be radically different. However, slightly more than half of the respondents (56 per cent) believe that what they are learning in school is inadequate. As a result, 78 per cent said they have actively searched outside of school for opportunities, to take part in industry-led competitions or work internship opportunities which they believe will help them gain skills for their future job.

Eight in 10 said they were willing to sacrifice personal leisure time to take part in these opportunities. Looi Qin En, co-founder and chief operating officer of Glints, noted that university and polytechnic students are already being encouraged to go on internships. He said students are also on the lookout for opportunities on their own. Being industry- ready is not just about resume and interview preparation workshops, but having real experiences through internships, competitions and projects. This is the new norm.Many companies are also changing the way they recruit young talents. They are offering internships and holding competitions to find talent. Companies are beginning to create opportunities for students to develop and showcase their skills, while using these opportunities as avenues for talent attraction and employer branding, he said.

One example is IT solutions firm JOS, which launched a competition last year to get students to use technology to design practical solutions for modern-day problems. The Innovation Award saw over 80 submissions from student teams from polytechnics, universities and private tertiary institutions. JOS spokesman Valerie Cai said a similar competition held in Hong Kong led the company to offer internships to some of the finalists.

The company, which has 2,200 IT professionals worldwide, hopes to net some talents from Singapore. Roger Grant,co-founder of personal development firm Personna, said that in todays highly disruptive world of work, the people who are succeeding are those who are cocreating their work with their prospective employers.Actual work experience helps to differentiate between a passing hobby and a longer-term passion. It also helps you pick up valuable skills.
Mercedes-Benz is going to launch the extended wheelbase version of the fifth-generation E-Class in the Indian market on 28 February, 2017. While the standard fifth-gen E-Class was first showcased at the 2016 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in January, the long wheelbase version was unveiled at 2016 Auto China in April. The E-Class is one of the highest selling cars in its segment. Here are a few things you should know about the upcoming luxury saloon.

1) India is the first market to get right-hand drive long wheelbase E-Class

Uptil now, the extended wheelbase E-Class was only being sold in the left-hand-drive Chinese market. However, when designing the new generation of the long-wheelbase E-Class, Mercedes also developed a right-hand-drive version specifically for India. This makes India the second country to get the E-Class LWB and the first and only country where the long wheelbase E-Class is being offered in right-hand drive (RHD) configuration.

The prices of the outgoing E-Class start at around the Rs 50 lakh mark while the current S-Class has a price tag of around Rs 1 crore. The new E-Class is expected to be a bit more expensive than the outgoing car, while offering an experience that is closer to the S-Class. Also, the extra wheelbase will help the E-Class steal a march over its rivals like the handsome, feature-packed and competitively priced Volvo S90. Most of the customers in this segment are chauffeur-driven and will certainly appreciate the extra rear space.

2) No standard wheelbase E-Class for now

Mercedes-Benz is only introducing the long wheelbase version of the fifth-gen E-Class (V213), for now. No information regarding the launch of the standard fifth-gen E-Class (W213) is out yet.

3) New E-Class wheelbase is longer than the standard S-Class

The upcoming E-Class LWB has a wheelbase of 3,079mm  this is 44mm longer compared to the 3,035mm wheelbase of the standard S-Class. However, Indian S-Class customers need not worry as the S-Class sold in India is the long-wheelbase version which has another 86mm between the wheels!

4) High localisation

Instead of directly importing the complete car as CBU unit, Mercedes-Benz is trying to keep the E-Class competitive with high levels of localisation. Higher the localisation, lesser the price tag. While the chassis is being imported from China, the doors are brought in from Germany. However, the engine and gearbox are completely assembled in India. Other parts like tyres and wiring harness are being sourced from India.

5) Unique Features

The E-Class LWB offers a list of features not seen before in this segment. It has the same 12.3-inch TFT screen from the S-Class, 64-colour ambient lighting, touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel, a 13-speaker surround sound system by Burmester, as in the S-Class.

6) It offers adaptable air suspension

When it comes to comfort, air suspension is the best suspension you can bet your money on. Apart from the best in segment comfort, the E-Class LWB's air suspension also features a lift mode, which allows you to raise the ground clearance by 15mm. This will certainly come handy to tackle the rough roads in the country.

7) It will go from 0-100kmph in 6.6s

The E-Class LWB is being offered with two engine options, a 3.0-litre diesel and a 2.0-litre petrol. While the petrol mill produces 183PS of power and 300Nm of torque, the 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine offers more power and torque putting out 258PS/ 620Nm. This diesel version of the E-Class is claimed to do 0-100kmph in 6.6s and with a top speed of 250kmph. The petrol can do the 0-100kmph sprint in 8.5 seconds and has a top speed of 240kmph.

8) Seven-speed automatic transmission replaced by 9-speed automatic

While the engines are being carried forward from the outgoing E-Class, the gearbox is completely new. The outgoing, fourth-gen E-Class had a seven-speed automatic transmission. However, both the diesel and petrol version of the E-Class LWB feature a new 9-speed automatic transmission. This makes the car quick to respond to driver inputs and improves mileage as well.

Source: CarDekho
The industrial cluster around Tata Motors' Nano plant witnessed a major clash on Tuesday when a rally of farmers protesting against allocation of water to industries from a Narmada dam canal was dispersed by police using force.

Police cane-charged the farmers and burst some 40 teargas shells to disperse the rally as well as roughed up some media persons covering the event following pelting of stones by a section of participants in the rally. At least seven men in uniform sustained injuries in the stone pelting.

The incident occurred near Sanand on the outskirts of Ahmedabad when some 5,000 farmers from 38 villages in Viramgam, Bavla and Sanand talukas, under the banner of Khedut Adhikar Manch, took out the procession and headed state capital Gandhinagar to present a memorandum to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani demanding water for irrigation.

They pointed out that while the industrial cluster around Sanand, including Tata Motors' Nano plant and units of other automobile giants, had been allowed to draw water from the Narmada canal, no irrigation facility had been provided to the agricultural fields close to the Narmada canal that takes water to the Saurashtra region.

Police claimed that farmers were denied permission for the rally and were first politely informed. "But when they did not budge, we had to use force to disperse them," Ahmedabad Rural District Superintendent of Police R.V. Asari said.

According to him, seven policemen, including him, sustained injuries in stone pelting by the farmers.

"Police had denied them permission and so when the rally reached Sanand, we tried to convince their leaders not to go ahead. Even as talks were on, some persons started pelting stones. Several of my men, including me, were injured and we had to resort to mild lathicharge and fire teargas shells to disperse the mob," Asari said.

Some media persons covering the event were beaten up by cops and camera chips and other photography equipment of two local television news channels were snatched by the police. About 50 farmers were also arrested on charges of attacking government officials on duty.

The lathicharge on unarmed farmers and media persons was widely condemned by the Congress and other political parties.

State Congress President Bharatsinh Solanki said the issue would be taken up in the assembly beginning its budget session from February 20.

"The BJP is not accustomed to face any opposition. Instead of giving justice to the farmers, they ordered lathicharge on them. I condemn the action," Leader of the Opposition in state assembly Shankersinh Vaghela said.

"It is unfortunate that the farmers were beaten up for raising a legitimate demand. Such atrocities prove that this government is anti-farmer. It is their known method of remaining in power by terrorising people and suppressing every voice of dissent," Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) convenor Hardik Patel asserted.

Other Backward Classes Manch Convenor Alpesh Thakore said the OBCs would not allow the BJP leaders to move freely in Ahmedabad district if they continue with their high-handed attitude instead of meeting legitimate demand of the farmers.

The Manch, with the support of PAAS, has given a call for "Sanand Bandh" on Wednesday to protest against the police action on farmers.
Stocks turned sideways on Tuesday as investors digested a 4-session advance and traders hesitated from extending long positions in a market consolidating near 4-month highs. Overseas cues were weak to absent.

Here are the major trading events of the day:

* The Nifty snaps its 4-day winning streak and trades below 8,800 levels. The index is down 14 points to 8,791 points.

* BPCL, Hero Motor Co, Ambuja Cement, Ultra Tech Cement and Coal India dropped 1.4-2 per cent and were among 33 stocks that lost ground on the Nifty.

* Reliance Industries, ONGC, GAIL, Adani Ports and Grasim dropped 1.1-1.7 per cent and were among 17 stocks that gained on the Nifty.

* Yes Bank hit a fresh high on very heavy volumes and was the top traded stock by value on the NSE with Rs 223 crore worth of shares changing hands. Sun TV surged 2.8 per cent to 733 rupees with Rs 190 crore worth of shares being traded. Investors ramped up Sun TV after Tamil Nadu's Chief Ministerial aspirant Sasikala was jailed for 4 years by the Supreme Court in a disproportionate assets case. The politically active Maran family, which runs Sun TV, is Sasikala's rival in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

* DLF, Bank of Baroda and Hindalco were among the most active shares by volume.

* Broader markets were quiet to weak with the Nifty 100, 200 and 500 indices dipping about 0.3 per cent each.

* Bulls took a day off from Dalal Street on Tuesday as the entire sectoral space was bathed in a mild shade of red. The metals index was the top loser, down 1.4 per cent.

* The Bears were in command of sentiment with 972 shares falling compared to 604 that fell.

* The Sensex was down 33 points to 28,319 points on the Bombay Stock Exchange. Reliance Industries was the top gainer while Hero Motors lost the most. Infosys was the top traded stock by volume on the Sensex.
Days after two Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations were opened in Chandigarh, the 'City Beautiful' will have to wait longer for more such stations as the proposal for the same has hit a bumpy road.

The approval for opening three more Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations in Chandigarh is pending for about 20 months now as the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is yet to receive 'Go ahead' for it from the administration.

Three CNG stations waiting for a 'Go ahead' have been approved by the Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO).

The IOC claims to have submitted the request for the no objection certificate (NOC) to the Union Territory (UT) Administration on 1 June, 2015. But the state sector oil company is still waiting for a 'Go ahead' from the administration for 20 months now.

It is because of the inefficiency of the UT Administration that the people of Chandigarh have to wait for the CNG pumps, an IOC official said.

On the other side, the Chandigarh administration has a different take. The sources in the administration said that issuing a NOC is not the work of a solo department, but is that of eight to ten departments put together. Therefore, it is taking time, sources said.

UT administrator V P Singh Badnore has made his point straight many a time to the OIC officials who are awaiting for the nod from the administration that he wants five CNG pumps in the city promptly.

He said he does not want to see the queues outside any CNG station, therefore the facilities should be apt.

In November last year, Chandigarh got its first CNG station and the second one was opened in Mohali, situated next to Chandigarh. While inaugurating it the Union minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas,Dharmendra Pradhan, had asked to set 30 CNG stations within 2 years in the city.
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's (AIADMK) newly elected legislature party leader E Palaniswamy will meet Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao on Tuesday evening and stake claim to form the next government in the state, officials said.

The meeting will take place at 5.40 pm at Raj Bhavan, officials said.

Minister for Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports in Tamil Nadu, Palaniswamy had earlier in the day, urged Rao to let him form a government.

Palaniswamy, a loyalist of party General Secretary VK Sasikala, claimed to have the support of 135 MLAs and informed that a meeting of the AIADMK legislators was held at the Golden Bay Resort near Chennai in the morning.

Palanisamy's election comes after the Supreme Court restored the earlier conviction of Sasikala and two relatives for having assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.
All is not well at the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) under the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ministry if one goes by the number of complaints posted on the Centralised Public Grievance and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) besides over a dozen ongoing court cases filed by the employees against the alleged high-handedness of the present authorities at the Bureau.

One of the latest and perhaps the most piquant complaint to hit the BIS is that by a Pune-based laboratory whose licence was illegally suspended on the basis of an anonymous complaint which was found out to be frivolous and based on a forged document.

Interestingly, prior to suspending the licence of the said laboratory, BIS officers, including the auditing team, had not found any merit in the complaint and had recommended a closure of the complaint. Even the regional office of BIS-the Western Regional Office Laboratory (WROL) under whose jurisdiction the laboratory falls, too, didn't find any irregularity and had the same recommendation, that of closing the complaint and renewing of the licence of the laboratory.

Despite this, the BIS authorities went ahead and suspended the licence of the said laboratory. For, at the heart of this controversy was a demand for a bribe of Rs.10 lakh by two high ranking BIS officials.

What is shocking is that even when the investigation in this regard is going on, one of the two officials, who allegedly sought bribe from the laboratory, was made the head of the jurisdictional office-WROL, thus having free access to all the files, evidences and records pertaining to this matter.

The laboratory officials, including the Director and Chairman of the laboratory-HI Physix, wrote several emails to the WROL officials besides making efforts to have a meeting with the Director General (DG) of BIS in Delhi Alka Panda to apprise her of entire matter but to no avail. Even when the laboratory officials did get a chance to meet with the DG with the intervention of a Member of Parliament from Pune, but it was of no help.

After much dilly dallying, BIS had no option but to revoke the suspension order once documentary evidence proved that the complaint did not stand grounds.

However, by now, the matter has reached the Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of the Consumer Affairs Ministry as well as the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) after the laboratory officials decided to pursue the matter which had cost them financial as well as reputational loss.

When contacted, Pune-based laboratory director Pankaj Rai, said, "We have been running from pillar to post from past one year to get justice in this matter from the authorities at the Ministry as well as BIS. We had to face huge financial losses on account of the suspension of our licence. Be, we suffered a huge reputational crisis which is an irreparable loss. We are still fighting to get justice and we are hopeful it will be served in due course of time and the guilty officials will be brought to book".

The laboratory officials have already recorded their statements with the CVO of the ministry, explaining in detail how they were asked to pay bribe to get the licence renewed and have also provided all the necessary documents supporting their claims.

The Statesman tried to get in touch with the Director General, BIS Alka Panda, in this regard and had sent an email to the DG seeking a comment on this issue but got no response for over a week.
The Congress on Tuesday urged Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao to call a special session of the assembly to test the strength of rival AIADMK factions.

The Congress appeal came after the Supreme Court restored the conviction of party General Secretary V K Sasikala and two of her relatives for corruption.

"The governor must call a special assembly session to find a way forward," Congress leader Randeep Surjewala told reporters.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hailed the apex court decision.

BJP leader Nalin Kohli said: "The Governor was clear from the start that there is an uncertain situation which requires to be carefully assessed. Now whatever be the outcome in the AIADMK, it is their internal matter."

The Supreme Court on Tuesday restored the judgment of the trial court convicting and sentencing Sasikala and her two relatives  V N Sudhakaran and Elavarasi.

Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Amitava Roy set aside a Karnataka High Court order acquitting the three and the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

The AIADMK is witnessing a power tussle between the two factions led by Sasiskala and acting Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.
The two leaders participated at a White House round table with business executives and entrepreneurs within the framework of Trudeau's official visit to Washington.

By Indo-Asian News Service: US President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday expressed their willingness to work together and build "bridges" to improve bilateral trade, at the same time that they made clear their deep differences on immigration and accepting refugees.

The two leaders held their first bilateral meeting since Trump took office on January 20 and afterwards offered a joint press conference at the White House, albeit one at which few details were provided regarding how and on what they will cooperate in the coming months, EFE news reported.

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Trump did say -- in response to a question about his promise to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, signed by the US, Canada and Mexico more than 20 years ago -- that US trade with Canada is "outstanding" and that "we're going to work together to make it even better".

"We have a very outstanding trade relationship with Canada. We'll be tweaking it. We'll be doing certain things that are going to benefit both of our countries. It's a much less severe situation than what's taking place on the southern border," EFE news quoted Trump as saying.

In the case of Mexico, the President said that "on the southern border, for many, many years, the transaction was not fair to the United States."

Also Read: Trump: North Korea is a big problem, will deal with it very 'strongly'

"We're going to work with Mexico, we're going to make it a fair deal for both parties," added Trump, emphasising that "we're going to get that worked out. We're going to make it fair, but ... so that everybody is happy."

In Canada, both conservatives and liberals feel that NAFTA, implemented in 1994, has been a key element in their country's economic well-being by enhancing trade between Ottawa and Washington to the point where they are now the world's two top trade partners.

At the press conference, Trudeau emphasised that "millions of good, middle-class jobs on both sides of the border depend on this crucial partnership."

The potential renegotiation of NAFTA "is a real concern for many Canadians because we know that our economy is very dependent on our bonds, our relationship with the United States," Trudeau said.

On the other hand, Trudeau made clear that he is not going to "lecture" Trump about immigration and security policies, but he also said that Canada will "continue to pursue our policies of openness towards immigration, refugees, without compromising security."

The premier said that Canada has taken in more than 40,000 Syrian refugees without compromising national security, a situation that stands in contrast to Trump's recent immigration and travel ban, now temporarily blocked by a federal appeals court.

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Also Read: Valentine's Day banned in Pakistan week after Basant festival

That executive order suspends for 120 days the entry of refugees into the US and for 90 days the issuing of visas to citizens of seven Muslim-majority nations with histories of terrorism.

In justifying that measure, Trump said on Monday that "we cannot let the wrong people in, and I will not allow that to happen during this administration," adding that he is being "praised" for his immigration stance.

Both leaders emphasised the long-standing friendly ties between the US and Canada, and Trudeau stated that the two nations will continue to enjoy the "effective integration" of their two economies.

--- ENDS ---
Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao will ensure an able and stable government in the state after AIADMK General Secretary, who was aspiring to be the next CM was convicted by the Supreme Court in a corruption case.

SC verdict out today. Need of the hour is to enable an able and stable government in Tamil Nadu as per the wishes of the people of State. I am sure Governor Shri Rao will be at it now, Naidu tweeted.

The announcement comes shortly after Sasikala was convicted by the SC in a case of disproportionate assets, thus crushing her dream of becoming the next chief minister of Tamil Nadu.

Sasikala will now have to surrender after which she will be taken into custody and serve her remaining jail time.

The apex courts verdict came on an appeal by the Karnataka government in the disproportionate assets case involving former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister late J Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and others.
Till a few years ago, juvenile crime was rare in India. Regretfully, it is now fairly common. The factors behind the phenomenon are incomplete family care and the absence of values that promote family bonding. The obsessive concern is to pursue a life of pleasure. The concept of a joint family exists no more; society needs to revive it. The meaning of pleasure should be redefined. The integration of the family is essential and children should be brought up accordingly.

A strict code of social conduct is imperative. Television programmes ought to be selected judiciously. Only instructive and scientific shows should be allowed to run. Poverty has always bred resentment, a primary factor behind crimes. But over the years, a fast-changing and developing society has introduced other versions of insecurity. Across the socio-economic and educational groups, children are affected if parents do not spend quality time with them. To that can be added an increasingly competitive world. In lower middle class families, for instance, where both parents are working, children grow up in a vacuum. In middle class families, parents have a range of expectations from the child, including high grades in school. This often makes the school environment a threat to the child. When children fail to cope with the stress, depression may lead to substance abuse, and then crime. In high-income families, almost every amenity is provided to the child either from parental anxiety to maintain their own status in society or to satisfy the ego of the child.

According to home ministry figures, in 2010 alone, around 54,487 high school graduates were found to be involved in crime in Bengal. By 2014, this number crossed 65,000. And a significant percentage of such criminals come from Kolkata. Teen violence is a common phenomenon in India today. The very definition includes fights, gang-violence, self-mutilation, aggressive sexual activity, explosive temper and tantrums, threats or attempts to hurt others and suicide. Youngsters who indulge in violence are often involved in other kinds of criminal behaviour. They may use drugs, carry weapons, drive recklessly and have unsafe sex.

When we read about incidents in newspapers like the one in Krishnagar , we feel surprised. But we wouldnt if we paid adequate attention to the violence that we witness daily in schools indulged in by teachers or friends of a child, in public transport, or even in the safest abode for a child ~ his home.

When a child refuses to be disciplined, the usual parental response is to shout at him, punish him, or beat him. The power struggle between a child and his parents is replicated in school between the child and his teacher. Bullying is also part of a school-going childs life, but we hardly ever recognise it as violent behaviour. For some, the effects of bullying can last a lifetime, with an almost permanent effect on the psyche. Youngsters often find it difficult to cope with the pressure thrust upon them by their so-called well-wishers to continuously perform, achieve and excel in as many disciplines as possible. Anger triggers anger. If teenagers are spoken to angrily, or shouted at, they are likely to respond in the same way. Parents must not shout or resort to physical punishment too often in trying to discipline children.

The symptoms of aggression and violence among children are intense anger; frequent loss of temper or blow-ups; extreme irritability and impulsiveness; susceptibility to frustration; damage or destruction of property; lying or stealing; faring badly in school, skipping school altogether; smoking, drinking or drug use; early sexual activity; frequent arguments; consistent hostility towards authority; and inability to concentrate on studies or a sudden dip in performance.

Today, the child finds refuge in the virtual world where there is an overdose of information. Constant exposure to aggression ~ verbal and physical ~ on television news, videos and games do have an effect on the mind. It either makes the child prone to violence or creates an urge to experiment with it.

Adults must ensure that children do not go astray. At home and in educational institutions, they need to monitor the behaviour of children and behave like role models for youngsters. Early detection and counselling for those with criminal tendencies is important so that they do not end up as offenders, and dont influence others to do the same. This is possible only when parents are cognisant of what is wrong in the childs behaviour and alert to correct him/her. Teachers and parents need to be alert to these symptoms. Usually, a child is referred to a psychologist only when his parents/ teachers identify a significant abnormality in his behavioural pattern.

Adolescents must learn to control anger.. One must learn to express ones feelings to a trusted friend or confidant. Disappointment, anger or displeasure must be expressed without losing ones temper or resorting to violence. Even while facing criticism, a young boy or girl must try to find out whether any part of the critical comment is justified. If the answer is yes, he must try to change himself for the better. It is always a good idea to discuss ones problems with someone else by looking at alternative solutions and compromises. There should be no inhibition or fear in seeking professional help.

In India, the concept of delinquent behaviour is confined to the violation of the ordinary penal laws. State laws prohibit two types of behaviour among juveniles: the first includes behaviour which is criminal for adults, as for example, murder, rape, fraud, burglary, robbery, etc., and the second includes status offences like running away from home or truancy, etc.

Juvenile justice is generally regarded as a mark of fairness and an alternative system of dealing with children through laws. Here the emphasis is protective, restorative and re-integrative with care and rehabilitation. Thus, the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000, aims at evolving effective mechanisms and creating the necessary environment for care, protection, development and rehabilitation of juveniles in conflict with law.

Juvenile crime and the problems related to it have been faced in all societies. In the developing world, however, the problems are still more acute. The process of development has brought in its wake a socio-cultural upheaval affecting the age-old traditional mores. Scientific advances and concomitant industrialisation and urbanisation have ushered in a new era, which is characterised by changes in the social milieu and the attendant problems. The influx from rural to urban areas has resulted in social disorganisation and maladjustment. Juveniles are adversely affected by the changing conditions. The traditional social control system that served as a preventive check against any anti-social activity is gradually withering away. Consequently, the problem of juvenile deviance and antisocial propensities is rearing its ugly head ~ a situation that needs to be checked.

The writer is with the Eastern Institute for Integrated Learning in Management (EIILM), Kolkata
From the apex judiciary in Kabul to the provincial legislature in Lahore, the militants have in the span of a week targeted the pivotal organs of putative democracy in a volatile swathe of South Asia. And the change in labels scarcely conceals the calculated malevolence. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a relatively little known outfit that is linked to the Pakistan Taliban, has claimed responsibility for Mondays blast that ripped through a rally in the vicinity of the Punjab assembly, killing 16 and wounding at least 83 people. It is a measure of the severity of the carnage that General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the army chief and no less, has stepped in to instruct the local military commanders ~ Lahore is the headquarters of a corps ~ to assist the civilian authorities in rescue operations and arrest those responsible. Neither the military nor the police have thus far been able to track down the culprits. Much as Gen Bajwa is said to be in favour of civil-military cooperation, the intervention by the highest level of the military has somewhat overshadowed the efforts of the Punjab government, helmed by Shahbaz Sharif, the brother of the Prime Minister. Both the Nawaz Sharif administration and the Rawalpindi GHQ must be acutely aware of the Intelligence failure despite alerts advanced on 7 February in the immediate aftermath of the outrage near the Afghan Supreme Court. Both the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA) and the Pak Rangers had warned of a possible terrorist attack in Lahore. It has materialised, after all. Indeed, NACTA had even directed that all vital installations, including important buildings, hospitals, and schools be kept under strict vigilance. It is hard not to wonder whether the outrage signifies a civilian failure to respond suitably to the red signal that was flagged by the military. Palpably enough, GHQ is not convinced with the Punjab law ministers assurance that maximum preparations had been made after the threat alert was received.

The lesson cannot but be unnerving to the authorities. The Pakistan Taliban and its affiliates are far from subdued despite the offensive carried out by the army during the previous Chiefs tenure, the purported negotiations with the moderate factions of the insurgents, and the rough-and-ready justice meted out by the military courts as often as not even without a fair trial. Of course for the past few months, Pakistan, unlike Afghanistan was relatively free of mortal fundamentalism.

On Monday, Lahore has emitted the signal that for every militant killed ~ or hanged ~ two are born. The capital of Pakistans dominant province of Punjab is now under emergency. Terrorism isnt a novelty for us. Our story has been one of constant struggle against its grasp and a fight for the soul of Pakistan, was Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs rhetorical response to an ugly truth.
Samajwadi Party chieftain Mulayam Singh Yadavs on and off support for son Akhilesh is playing havoc with the latters campaign. Just last week, Mulayam addressed a rally in his home constituency of Jaswant Nagar in Etawah to seek support for brother Shivpal who has taken over the seat now. But in the course of his 30 minute speech, Mulayam also asked the crowd to vote for the Lok Dal candidate in the neighbouring Etawah Sadar seat.

His appeal was a bombshell because Akhileshs SP has a candidate contesting from that very seat. But Mulayam announced backing for his rival from Lok Dal who is a loyalist of his and Shivpals. Apparently, the brothers had sought a ticket for the loyalist but Akhilesh struck his name off the list and denied him an SP nomination.

Shivpal promptly got him a ticket from Lok Dal, a small local party that has no seats in the UP assembly currently. Lok Dal should not be confused with Ajit Singhs RLD which has also put up candidates across UP including in the Yadav belt of Etawah and Mainpuri.

It seems Shivpal has sent 40 odd of his candidates over to Lok Dal and some half dozen to RLD after Akhilesh refused to give them tickets on the SP symbol. Most of these are SP old timers and supporters of Mulayam too.

Mulayams bombshell in Jaswant Nagar seeking votes for the LD nominee seems to have rattled Akhilesh. The UP chief minister is believed to have sent word to district magistrates in different areas that Mulayam Singh will not be campaigning. He has told them not to make arrangements for the SP supremo even if a request comes from Mulayams office that he wants to address a rally.

Akhilesh has a tough fight on his hands in the third phase. This is, in fact, the most critical phase for Akhilesh. The big Yadav belt in Rohailkhand and central UP will vote in this phase and Mulayam and Shivpal carry a lot of influence in this region. Akhilesh is doing desperate damage control to counter their subterranean efforts to scuttle his chances here.

Musical chairs

The fluid political scenario in Tamil Nadu has plunged AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP V Maitreyan into a game of musical chairs. His seat in the Upper House keeps changing with his fluctuating political fortunes.

When he was Jayalalithas blue-eyed boy, Maitreyan was appointed AIADMK parliamentary party leader in the Rajya Sabha. This entitled him to a seat in the front row.

His flirtation with the BJP and frequent meetings with Narendra Modi upset Jayalalitha. She demoted him soon after the Lok Sabha elections. Maitreyan lost his prestigious front row seat and was unceremoniously shoved to the last row on Jayalalithas orders.

After her death, when O Paneerselvam became chief minister, Maitreyans fortunes blossomed again. He is close to OPS. Notice how he came out in support of OPS when he fired all those salvos at Sasikala. Anyway, OPS ensured that Maitreyan was moved up in seating hierarchy in the Rajya Sabha. From the back row, he shifted to the fourth row.

Now a request has gone to the Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari from the AIADMK that Maitreyan be moved back to the last row again. This happened after Maitreyan spoke up for OPS against Sasikala. So far, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat has not responded. Maybe it is waiting and watching to see what the outcome is of the Sasikala versus OPS battle.

Back in action

Congress election strategist Prashant Kishore is back in action in UP. And this time, he has been given the space that he always insists on when he is in thick of election management. He is working from Akhilesh Yadavs chief ministerial office on Kalidas Marg in Lucknow.

This is Kishores style. When he was Narendra Modis strategist for the 2014 Lok Sabha election, he moved into the CMs residence in Gujarat. When he joined Nitish Kumar for the 2015 Bihar assembly polls, he shifted into a room in the CMs residence-cum-office in Patna.

But the Congress did not bestow the same favour on him. When he first joined the Congress as its strategist for the 2017 assembly polls, he wanted space in the party war room on Gurudwara Rakabganj Road. But the Congress establishment managed to keep Kishore out.

In fact, the old guard pushed Kishore to the margins in UP. He earned the old guards wrath when he went public with his negotiations for a Congress-SP tie-up. He came back into the picture only when the talks with SP started floundering. Rahul and Priyanka turned to him for help. After all, he achieved the impossible by getting Nitish and Lalu together and working out a winning alliance. Once the deal with SP was sealed, Kishore was back in business

in UP.

He is now in charge of all communication management and plans the joint rallies and roadshows for Akhilesh and Rahul. He is the one who coined the new slogan for the alliance: UP ko yeh saath pasand hai.
The specifics will be adjudicated upon subsequently, what has long-term implications is the Supreme Courts accepting a case that involves its ruling on a decision of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Perhaps not entirely unprecedented, yet certainly unexpected and it brings into judicial focus the simmering stand-off between the government-controlled House of the People, and the Rajya Sabha where the NDA does not command a majority. The tipping point being the Speakers holding that the Aadhaar legislation was a Money Bill and therefore the Rajya Sabha had little role to play. The issue, which has had the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha livid for quite some time since it suspects the government of using the Money Bill route to push through its pet legislation, provoked considerable fire in the apex court on Tuesday. And in what might be perceived as a snub to the government, the Chief Justice of India insisted that the court could interfere with a decision of the Speaker if the rules of Parliament were violated, which runs counter to the general belief that there can be no challenging the decision of the presiding officer. If the Speaker says blue is green then we will ask the Speaker to say it is blue. We cant let it go as green, Mr Justice JS Khehar made it clear to the Attorney-General. Responding to the law officers highlighting the virtues of the Aadhaar regime, the CJI observed, Your object may be good, but whether it is a Money Bill or not is the question. And he added that some of the issues raised in Jairam Rameshs petition were of vital importance.

The dispute has to be perceived in the wider context of the government and the Opposition in a virtually permanent stand-off. With the former believing its majority in the Lok Sabha does not require it to seek a consensus on most issues, and the Opposition using the reverse situation in the Rajya Sabha to raise speed-bumps aplenty. Successive ministers for parliamentary affairs have cared little to try and garner the cooperation of the Opposition. That has put the Speaker in a rather awkward position, and under obvious pressure from the government she has created an impression of appearing partisan ~ which is manifest in the daily clashes in the House. In the Rajya Sabha, Opposition members have consistently queried the frequent use of the Money Bill mechanism, and even questioned the relevance of the Council if it is to be by-passed frequently. The action in the apex court could serve as a corrective, but the only lasting solution will be cooperation across the floor: something probably elusive given the confrontationist, pique-propelled politics of the day.
Chinas consulate general in Kolkata announced on Monday that the 23 Chinese crew members on a cargo ship detained more than a month ago at Indias Haldia port could probably go home soon.

The freighter Union Demeter, owned by Nanjing Tranvast Holdings, was detained by order of a court in Mumbai in December after the company failed to pay refueling expenses. Soon after the detention, the shipowner declared bankruptcy, leaving the crew members helpless on the ship.

With the joint efforts of all sides, progress has been made for resolving relevant problems. We believe that the crew members can go back home soon, the consulate general said on its website.

Consul-General Ma Zhanwu has maintained close contact with the ships captain, Dai Xiaosong, about the situation on the ship, and three

diplomats including Cai Zhifeng, deputy consul-general, have boarded the ship to see the crew members, according to the statement.

Indian government authorities said they will take unspecified measures to facilitate the crew members return home, the statement said.

The case drew public attention after Captain Dai called Jiangsu News Radio on Sunday to ask for help and said that if there was no other company to take over the cargo ship, the Indian government would not release the crew.

The food, drinking water and fuel supplies on board were nearly used up, he said, adding that the sailors were at high risk for dengue fever.

The sailors told Jiangsu News Radio they havent been paid for five months and the total unpaid wages reached 1.5 million yuan (US$218,000).

In a photo circulated on Jiangsu News Radios micro blog, the sailors stand on the ships deck and hold banners, on which they have written in English: We need help. We want to home. We want our salary.

Han Lei, general manager of Yuanteng Shipping Co, which hired the sailors, said the best solution would be for the ships owner to pay for the release of the crew and the berth, and then to sell the ship to resolve its financial problem.

But the shipowner has refused to contact the crews employer to talk about the issue, said Han, and the cost of berthing the ship at the port

has been in the tens of thousands of dollars per day.

China Daily was unable to reach the ship owner for comment as of press time.

Kong Lingming, a sailor at a shipping company in Quanzhou, Fujian province, said each sailor has insurance based on the Maritime Labour Convention, and the insurance company will pay the sailors and take over the ship if the shipowner continues to refuse to resolve the problem.

However, Kong said, such a process will take a long time, and the consulate generals help will make it possible for the sailors to go home

sooner.
It is that time of the year again! The unmistakable hint of love is in the air cannot be denied. It's the d-day for lovers as they rejoice on the day to immerse themselves into romance and sweet nothings with their partners.Love, however, is not just about roses and sweet nothings, it is also about friendship, a companionship that one shares with that special someone in the journey called life.

Harp is one such book that talks about love, life and its many mysteries that seem to boggle us everyday.

Harp by first time author Nidhi Dalmia is set in the late sixties and the story is woven through the journey taken by the protagonists.

The story evolves as they move across India, countries in Europe and the USA in search of their dreams, love and personal growth.

As the story moves, the protagonists find themselves in battle against their own heart, young minds, perturbed by the complexities that love presents.

A story about young ones finding their footing in the world as they chase their passions to make a career out of it and find themselves in the middle of cultural and social revolutions which not only changes things around them but also makes them question and ponder about the course of their lives and find answers for the quest within.

As the story takes a turn towards the end, the protagonists find themselves on crossroads with love and life, something that exists simultaneously but many times one has to choose a priority.

A story of love and heartbreaks, the book deals with real emotions written with ample use of imagery, painting vivid pictures of the faraway lands and engaging the reader with its pictorial depictions of settings and surroundings.

As Ashok, the protagonist, travels through the niche areas of Europe, the readers get a glimpse of local culture and the beautiful terrains of the inner, lesser known areas of the continent.

As the story cuts through various settings the descriptive narrative makes the journey as a reader quite interesting. At the end, the reader is left with memories of young love and its challenges, as true as life itself.
Islamabad has expressed disappointment at certain remarks made recently during deliberations in the US Senate about the presence of terrorists in Pakistan.

Some lawmakers and Commander of US forces in Afghanistan General John Nicholson said at last week's Congressional hearing that the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network still have safe haven in Pakistan.

Nicholson had also pushed the Donald Trump administration to conduct a "holistic review" of relationship with Pakistan.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry on Monday said it was upset at the allegations of terrorist centres on Pakistani soil.

"We are disappointed with some of the assertions and insinuations made in recent discussions about terrorist safe havens in Pakistan that we feel are not in sync with the current situation on the ground," Foreign Ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaria said in response to the discussions in the US on Afghanistan and Pakistan-US relations.

Zakaria, in a statement, said the discussions spoke of multiplicity of factors and singling out Pakistan and pinning the entire blame on the country for the situation in Afghanistan was "neither fair nor accurate".

He said Pakistan has been successful in eliminating the command and control structure of terrorist outfits operating across the Pakistan-Afghan border.

"Terrorist groups attacking Pakistan have safe havens in Afghanistan. The recent elimination of terrorists in Afghanistan involved in a number of heinous acts of terror in Pakistan clearly demonstrates the existence of safe havens in Afghanistan for elements attacking Pakistan," he said.

The spokesman said the nexus between Islamic State militant group and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan is a source of deep concern for Islamabad.

"We need to prevent the emergence of new and more virulent entities committed to spreading chaos and insecurity in the region. This calls for closer cooperation based on confidence and trust. Pointing fingers and throwing blame at others would be unhelpful and counter-productive," he said.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said the war against terror will be taken to its logical conclusion with greater determination.

The Prime Minister was speaking at a high-level meeting here, held for reviewing law and order situation in the country after a suicide blast in Lahore claimed 16 lives, including senior police officials.

Among others, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif attended the meeting.

The Pakistan Army and other law enforcement agencies have made exemplary sacrifices in the war on terror, he said, adding that such terror activities cannot shake their determination.

Befitting response will be given to the terrorists, the PM said, adding, "it is our national duty to weed out terrorism".

On Monday, at least 16 people, including senior police officers, were killed and 73 other injured in a strong explosion near the Punjab Assembly building in Lahore.

The bomb blast occurred at Chairing Cross, Mall Road, Lahore, killing Deputy Inspector General Traffic Capt (retd) Ahmad Mobin, Senior Superintendent of Police Mahmood Gondal and Deputy Superintendent of Police Pervez Butt.

The incident occurred as hundreds of chemists were protesting nearby against a new regulatory law, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said.


remaining of

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The message sent out by Gurung was appreciated. The spelling error? Not so much.

By India Today Web Desk: The ongoing edition of New York Fashion Week has witnessed its fair share of political fire. From underwear scribbled with messages like, "Fu*k your wall" to rap songs dissing Donald Trump, designers have resorted to fashion and made their political opinions apparent. The latest addition being renowned American-Nepalese designer, Prabal Gurung.

Having dressed up everyone from Michelle Obama to Deepika Padukone, Gurung's fall presentation on the NYFW ramp was about feminism, immigrants, body positivity and an overall idea of inclusion.

Picture courtesy: Instagram

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Also Read: F*ck your wall underwear to anti-Trump rap music: New York Fashion Week takes a political turn

With models strutting down the runway in simple black and white message tees, Gurung's show, according to the designer, was inspired by a Women's March he attended in January. While messages like, 'Voices for Choices', 'We Will Not Be Silenced' and 'Nevertheless She Persisted' provided hope in the prevailing political unrest, there were two particular quotes from Gurung's collection that raised eyebrows due to different reasons.

Also Read: When Deepika Padukone's favourite designer Prabal Gurung visited India

A black tee from the collection reading 'Love is the Resistence', misspelled the word Resistance, much to the dismay of some. "I appreciate the message he's sending. I just think someone should have spell-checked that message," PageSix quotes an insider as saying.

Picture courtesy: Instagram Picture courtesy: Instagram

Whereas, yet another tee from the collection, sported by model, Bella Hadid read 'The Future is Female'--a quote that appeared on a t-shirt reportedly, designed by Otherwild for New York's first women's bookstore, Labyris Books, and worn by lesbian photographer Liza Cowan's girlfriend, Alix Dobkin, in 1975.

Picture courtesy: Otherwild.com

"'The Future is Female' shirt at Prabal. Love him but pretty sure the original was made by @Otherwild. #creditwherecreditisdue," Twitter user, @monixdecastro was quoted as saying.

Picture courtesy: Instagram

The quote that was also used by Hillary Clinton--also in presence for Gurung's show--in a recent video, has been in existence for over 40 years and is now on resurgence owing to its relevance in today's time.

Also gracing Gurung's show were Priyanka Chopra, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ashley Graham among others.

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By PTI: New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) Draft regulations have been prepared for voluntary liquidation that can be initiated by a corporate person who has not committed any default.

The norms have been prepared under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. Under the Code, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) is already in place. "A corporate person who has not committed any default may initiate voluntary liquidation subject to certain conditions," an official release said today.

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The draft regulations would be open for comments from the public till March 8. So far, IBBI has notified the Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons and Liquidation Process regulations. The Code seeks to consolidate and amend laws relating to reorganisation and insolvency resolution of corporate persons, partnership firms and individuals in a time-bound manner. PTI RAM MKJ

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Job Title: Senior Data Management Assistant

Organisation: United Nations

High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Position No.: TMP022

Vacancy Notice: 008/2017

Reports to: Senior Field

Coordinator

Duty Station: Uganda

Post Grade: GL5

About UNHCR:

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was

established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly.

UNHCRs mandate under the Statute of the Office of the United Nations High

Commissioner for Refugees is to lead and co-ordinate action for international

protection to refugees; seek permanent solutions for the problems of refugees

and safeguard refugee rights and well-being. UNHCR has an additional mandate

concerning issues of statelessness, as it is given a designated role under

Article 11 of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

Job Summary: The Senior Data

Management Assistant will provide regular guidance and support. Subject to the

nature of the task/assignment, he/she will work independently on routine tasks,

while following instructions of the supervisor for more complex issues.

Contacts will be with the colleagues in the same duty station to exchange

information and to discuss the work plans. External contacts are not frequent.

The incumbent may play a liaison role with the national and local authorities

for gathering and exchange of data.



Responsibilities: Key Duties andResponsibilities:

Enter data mainly related to asylum

seekers, refugees and other persons of concern to UNHCR into the computer

database.

Prepare reports and project documents by

providing information, preparing tables and drafting routine

correspondence and reports.

Provide support in the compilation of data

and interpreting the statistics for various reports.

Assist in the development of forms for

data collection and analysis, if requested.

Act as interpreter in the exchange of

routine information and translate routine documents and correspondence as

and when required.

May be required to collect GIS data,

update maps and undertake field trips to project sites.

Perform any other duty, as requested.

Key Performance Indicators: The

Office has reliable and up-to-date data on persons of concern. TheOffice has reliable and up-to-date data on persons of concern.



Experience: Qualifications, Skills andExperience:

The ideal candidate for the United Nations

UNHCR Senior Data Management Assistant career vacancy should have

completed secondary education with post-secondary training/certificate in Electronic

Data Processing, Information Technology or related field.

At least five years experience relevant

to the function.

Excellent knowledge of computer software

and database applications.

Good computer skills (MS Office, including

Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access).

Excellent communication skills (written

and oral).

Knowledge of any other relevant UN or

local language.

Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or

specific training relevant to functions of the position is desired

Ability to work as part of a team but also

independently, in a multi-cultural environment.

Knowledge of the UN system.

Ability to work in remote areas.

Fluency in English and working knowledge

of another relevant UN language or local language (as applicable in the

duty station).

How to Apply:

All interested Ugandan nationals who wish to join the United Nations

High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the aforementioned capacity are

encouraged to click on the link below and follow the application instructions

after reviewing the job details.

Deadline: 28th February 2017




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 ...
But the tribe has a long way to go
The valiant act of CRPF commandant Chetan Kumar Cheetah led to the killing of top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Abu Musaib in the notorious Hajin area of Bandipora district in Jammu and Kashmir. Hajin village, which has witnessed four encounters between security forces and terrorists in the last two months, saw a major joint operation by Jammu and Kashmir police, CRPF and Army on Tuesday morning. Upon its culmination, Chetan was taken seriously injured and three Army jawans lost their lives.

Injured CRPF commandant Chetan Kumar Cheetah

When the encounter came to an end and Chetan was being transported in an air ambulance to AIIMS in New Delhi, CRPF chief K.Durga Prasad spoke to THE WEEK, disclosing details of the operation which he described as an unusual one. Without waiting for his troops to move in, the commandant of the paramilitary force had gone along with the Army to take on the terrorists.

Prasad said that when Chetan got information from the Jammu and Kashmir police about two terrorists hiding in the village, he did not waste any time and immediately moved alongside the Rashtriya Rifles. In an operation where the Army led from the front, the paramilitary trooper of the 45th battalion of CRPF was alone. But he fired sixteen rounds even after he sustained injuries. While one militant got away, another was killed  later identified as top Lashkar commander Abu Musaib.

"Chetan did not wait for his force and was in the forefront of the operation. The militants had heavy arms and ammunition and fired AK-47s and UBGLs. His arms have been fractured, he has sustained injuries to his abdomen and shrapnel pierced his eyes. While he seems to have lost vision, we still don't know how many pieces are inside. He is being transported to AIIMS in an air ambulance, said Prasad.

The CRPF chief described the incident as a planned terrorist strike which was averted after the agencies got intelligence about the movements of the duo (terrorists). Sources in CRPF said Lashkar had become active in the region once again and there were desperate attempts in the last two months to sneak in terrorists to various parts of Jammu and Kashmir hinterlands to carry out a major strike.

Hajin village is being used by terrorists to take shelter, the sources said, adding that the security forces first waited for a few hours after they received intelligence  to confirm whether any civilians were present in the area that they had cordoned off. Once it became clear that there were none, the operation was launched.
The rules will be applicable to officers of the three All India Services--Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS).

By Press Trust of India: In a Valentine's Day gift to All India Services officers, the government has played cupid and today amended rules to mandatorily allow married couples from the IAS and IPS get the same cadre state.

However, they will not get a cadre which is the home state of either of them. The amendment was cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW The rules will be applicable to officers of the three All India Services--Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS). The decision to amend the rules was triggered by the case of 2011 batch IAS officer P Parthiban, who married his batchmate and Tamil Nadu cadre IPS officer Nisha, hailing from Delhi. Parthiban is a native of Tamil Nadu and has been allocated Union Territories cadre which includes Delhi. The couple had sought either the Tamil Nadu or the UT cadre to which they belonged citing their marriage, as civil services rules allow the couple to shift to one cadre state. The earlier rule also did not make it incumbent upon the government to shift the cadres of officers mandatorily and said it may do so as far as possible. This matter was put up before a Committee that decides cases of inter-cadre transfer and deputation. The panel is headed by Secretary of Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). The ACC today approved that in cases where either of the officers cannot opt for the cadre state of the spouse in case it was also his or her home state, they can be allotted the immediate next cadre they had opted while filling out the detailed application form for civil services examination, an order issued by the DoPT said. A candidate has to give his or her order of preference of a desired cadre before appearing for main examination. The UPSC conducts the examination annually in three stages -- preliminary, main and interview-- to select IAS, IPS and IFoS officers among others. "In case of non receipt of preference within the stipulated time from the concerned officers, they can be assigned the most deficit cadre between the two subject to receipt of No Objection Certificate from the parent cadre as well as recipient cadre," the new guidelines said. After today's amendment to the rule, Parthiban and Nisha are likely to get Gujarat cadre, as earlier opted by them, according to a senior DoPT official.

Also read:

Fried chicken bouquet is the new gift of love this Valentine's Day

Bajrang Dal's V-Day warning to Odisha lovebirds: Will marry you off if we catch you

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Tamil Nadu's School Education Minister K. Pandiarajan, who had gone to meet the legislators supporting AIAMDK General Secretary V.K. Sasikala at the beach resort near here, had to return without success.



Pandiarajan went to the resort to make necessary arrangements so that acting Chief Minister O.Panneerselvam could come there and seek the legislators' support.



But the police did not allow him to proceed further to prevent any untoward incident.



The police also clamped orders prohibiting gathering of any four or more persons in Kuvathoor where the beach resort is located.



Sasikala, who came to the resort on Monday evening, stayed overnight and is present there.



On Tuesday morning, bad news came from Delhi for Sasikala and two of her relatives after the Supreme Court restored the conviction order of the trial court in the disporportionate assets case.



Soon after, the legislators elected Public Works Minister Edappadi K. Palanisamy as the leader of AIADMK's legislature party.



In the evening, Palanisamy met Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao and submitted the resolution electing him as the leader of the AIADMK legislature party and also staked his claim to form the next government.



It is not clear for how many more days the legislators would stay put at the beach resort.
The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, convicted AIADMK general secretary V.K.Sasikala in the Rs 66 crore Disproportionate Assets case. The court had restored the trial court order and had also upheld the sentence of four years imprisonment and Rs 10 crore fine. The SC had also directed Sasikala to surrender immediately.

With this order, Sasikalas prospects of becoming the chief minister of the state and leading a charismatic political career like Jayalalithaa has been doomed. It has again provided a clear picture that Sasikala cannot go ahead to form the government and that she cannot be the legitimate successor to late AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa.

The SC order has also put an end to the political stalemate in the state.

DA to FERA  Sasikalas Damocles sword

Sasikala is a co-accused with Jayalalithaa in the Rs.66 crore DA case.

Others include Sasikalas Sister-in-law Elavarasai, her nephew and Jayalalithaas disowned son V.N.Sudhakaran.

They are accused of amassing assets worth Rs.66 crore from 1991 to 199  including 810 hectares of land, gold and thousands of silk sarees, chappals etc.

Jayalalithaa and others were convicted by Justice Michael D.Cunha in this case in 2014. The sentence was for four years imprisonment and Rs.100 crore fine.

Subsequently the four were lodged in Parapana Aghrahara prison for 27 days, secured bail and went for appeal. In May 2015, the Karnataka High Court acquitted all the four.

But her troubles do not end here. In October 2000, she was convicted in the TANSI land deal case.

The Enforcement Directorate, in January 2017, had challenged her acquittal in two FERA cases in Madras High Court.
If all goes well, the Indian Space Research Organisation will script history on Wednesday. At 9.28 am, ISRO will launch 104 satellites in a single mission on its PSLV-37 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota. As of now, Russia holds the world record37 satellites launched in a single mission in 2014. This is a long shot for India, and if successful, India will prove to be a mighty player in the world's commercial satellite launch market, that too at a cheaper cost. And this is why, the US and Europe will keep a close watch on tomorrow's launch.

The ISRO had announced last year that it will be launching 83 satellites. With more and more satellites and nanosatellites finding their way into the payload, the number rose close to 100, and finally 104three Indian and the rest foreignweighing a total of 1,400kg at liftoff. The technique of adding smaller satellites is known as piggybacking. For ISRO, however, this is more than just about setting a record. We are just trying to maximise our capability with each launch, said ISRO chairman Kiran Kumar.

In PSLV's 39th flight, it will fly in 'XL' configuration, making use of additional strap-on motors to provide the extra thrust to carry increased payload. The milestone mission will also see ISRO using its Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) to determine the orbit of each satellite injected from the launch vehicle. By turning to the IRNSS, ISRO is no longer dependent on the US Global Positioning System that was used for orbit determination in previous missions.

Indian satellites

The star of the launch will be the Cartosat-2D satellite, the heaviest on board, weighing 714 kg. The primary satellite of PSLV-37, it is the fifth satellite in India's Cartosat series which are earth observation and imaging satellites. The Cartosat satellites, rightly known as India's 'eyes in the sky', are significant due to their vital role in monitoring enemy activities across the border. In fact, the first major use of the Cartosat family of satellites, especially 2C launched in June last year, was during the surgical strikes conducted by the Indian Army across the Line of Control. The satellite added more teeth to the military surveillance activities by providing high resolution images.

Besides Cartosat, the PSLV-37 also carries two Indian nanosatellitesINS-1A and INS-1Bweighing 8.4kg and 9.7kg respectively.

Other co-passengers

The major chunk of the payload is satellites from the US, UAE (Nayif-1), Netherlands (PEASSS), Switzerland (DIDO-2), Israel (BGUSat) and Kazakhstan(Al-Farabi-1). This mission will set yet another recorddeploying the largest number of satellites of a single constellation from the same launch vehicle. A total of 88 nanosatellites which form the Flock-3p constellation by US-based Planet Labs will be placed in orbit. These imaging satellites will be used for commercial, humanitarian and environmental purposes. The US also has eight more satellitesLemur constellationto be placed in orbit. These satellites will enable real-time monitoring of ships in open waters.
Gen Next has been a regular fixture at the Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) for more than a decade. Names such as Rahul Mishra and Masaba Gupta have emerged from this platform, and with every season a new freshness, in terms of design, is infused into the LFW, thanks to the younger talentmostly independent labels that have been around for under three years. After several selection rounds, four to five designers, from thousands of entries, are chosen to showcase their talent at the LFW. And, this season was no different.

Inspiration is definitely the operative word for these talented youngsters. For New Delhi-based Anirudh Chawla and Ishanee Mukherjee, their inspiration has always been animals. Their label, Poochki, is also named after their pet cat. Our first collection [2015] was about very city-focused, urban wildlife such as wasps but for this collection our hand block prints have been mostly inspired by the orient, says Mukherjee. So, they have motifs of animals like pandas and tortoises from countries such as Japan and China.

Design element: Pallavi Singh | Amey Mansabdar

Resham Karmchandani and Sanya Suri of The Pot Plant drew their inspiration from what they saw around them. People are now wearing what they like to wear, says Suri. And so, they create garments that do not restrict their consumers to age-defining womens or mens wear.

Pallavi Singh of ARCVSHwhich combines the names of her mother, Archana, and her husband, Santoshderives inspiration from a place, its history and tradition, and picks elements from there and relates it to what Indians do. Her latest collection has been inspired by Japan as they make simple things interesting in their own manner. I picked up their embroidery called Sashiko, which is quite similar to Kantha, she says.

Soumyadeep Duttas brand is all about Indian design and has the essence of Bengal, where he comes from. For this collection, his inspiration was the connecting link between the opposites of nature such as day and night. When these two meet, God is evoked, he says. In ancient ages, people wore the antariya and uttariya, which was wrapped around the body like a dhoti or a sari, and this collection has also been inspired from there, from the single drape.

Kolkata-based fashion designer Nakita Singh describes her latest collection as much more refined and mature. Her collection has been inspired by outline drawing, the very first bit of raw sketches. The theme is tropical, so there is a lot of flora and fauna with a little bit of abstract.

Soumyadeep Dutta | Amey Mansabdar

Chawla says they have experimented with a lot of sheer fabrics because it makes ones wardrobe very versatile. The duo has experimented with silk organza and though they have used a lot of cotton in the past, all the opaque fabric this time around is modal. While Karmchandani and Sanya have used only 100 per cent cotton, Pallavis entire collection uses Indian-origin fabrics such as chanderi and matka cotton. Dutta has used the age-old Bengal muslin along with some lace details. Nakitas choice of khadi and handloom cottons lend well to the fringe details in her collection to give it a messy look.

The shades in Poochkis collection are mostly black, white and tones of grey. Because of their sheer properties, we want these pieces to be versatile. If we were to use a lot of colour, chances are that they wont go with them, says Chawla.

Although Karmchandani and Suri have used lots of white, they have experimented with colours that are different so that buyers can transition smoothly from summers into monsoons. The fashion industry is also moving away from the summer and winter colours. There are no defined seasons anymore, says Karmchandani.

Nakita Singh | Amey Mansabdar

Pallavis collection revolves around the indigo and ivory colour palette. If you look at the Japanese dyeing technique, it is mostly indigo. It is a contemporary colour and I think it is the new black. Also, it goes very well with the Indian complexion, she says. Her designs also have patches of colour such as red with fuchsia and green.

Duttas collection has colours such as black and white but you will also find shades of grey, which is representative of the time when dawn and dusk as well as black and white meet.

Nakita has mostly used ivory and black because even when you draw, the base is always a white. That is why I have tried to keep the fabric as it is, just using the natural colour and adding the black thing as the graphical impact.

Anti-fits is all the new rage, and Chawla and Mukherjee have experimented with it. We try to do a lot of anti-fits because we dont do fitted stuff as sizing is a bit of a problem in this country, says Mukherjee. Gone are the days when women wanted to be stuck in these tight corsets. They are open to loose tees and shirts, says Chawla.

The Pot Plants latest collection boasts anti-fits that are very clean. We just wanted to give people easy separates that they could style however they wanted, says Suri. What you also will not see in their clothes is a lot of ruffles. We do everyday cuts, easy to drive in, easy to hang out in. For us, life is in the pajamas. So, we want to do clothes that people are comfortable in. Yes, it should be statement, but it should also be something that they want to wear because it is different, says Karmchandani.

Though Pallavi has done a few anti-fit shapes, she believes that at the end of the day women want to look beautiful and wear clothes that accentuate their curves. So, her creations are a little away from the body but clinched at the waist. Even if you dont have a narrow waist, it will make you look very feminine.

Dutta has an interesting take on cuts. Traditionally, we dont believe in cuts. We feel if something tears, we must throw it away, as it carries negative connotations. Positivity comes from the running of it, when you dont cut it. So, in my garments, I try not to give that cut, the whole garment is one stitched piece, he says.

Dutta doesnt go as far as calling his clothes anti-fits but they are certainly not darted and fitted either. Our Indian womens waists arent slim, like western women, and they also have bigger hips. So, my clothes are not oversized but they are straight fitted, he says.

As for Nakitas clothes, she points out to how the silhouettes are comfortable and relaxed, yet they are not anti-fits, which, she says, are oversized and end up making healthy people look fatter. Says Nakita: It is just about how much breathable space one would require.
Bogra's circle Additional Police Superintendent Sanatan Chakrabarti said that Abu Musa was involved several killings.

By Sahidul Hasan Khokon: Bangladesh Police today claimed that Md. Abu Musa, one of the cohorts of Gulshan Cafe attackers' Razib Gandhi has been killed in a gun fight.

Police claimed that Abu Musa was killed in a gunfight with the police at around 2.30 am in Kahalu Upazila of the Northern district Bogra.

Bogra's circle Additional Police Superintendent Sanatan Chakrabarti said, Musa was involved in killings of a homeopathy doctor Mir Sanoar Rahman from Kustia and Christian grocer Sunil Gomej from Natore district.

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Musa (32) is a resident of Pabna district's Sadar Upazila locality. Police said that the deceased was operating several illegal activities under the names of Abu Zar urf, Abu Talha, Rabin and Samiul.

Local police said that the assailants opened fire at them and Musa was killed in retaliatory firing.

MUSA KILLED IN RETALIATORY FIRING BY POLICE

Musa, who suffered bullet injuries, was rushed to Shahid Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital where he was declared dead. Police recovered a foreign pistol, three bullets and machetes from the spot of the incident.

Additional Police Superintendent also claimed that Neo JMB member Musa was one of the aides of Razib Gandhi, who operated in Pabna, Natore and Sirajganj districts and was one of the main coordinator of Gulshan attack.

Jahangir Alam urf Razib, the coordinator of Gulshan attack, was arrested January 14 from Keraniganj area in the outskirts of the capital.

Also read:

Bangladesh: Gulshan Cafe attack handler Marjan, accomplice killed in Dhaka

Bangladesh: Another mastermind of Gulshan Cafe attack arrested from Tangail

Dhaka cafe terror attack: Four arms suppliers arrested

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The appointment of seven additional dayanim to state batei din did not occur once again as the politicians on the appointment committee could not reach agreement.

The committee will convene once again after Purim, and there will not be new appointments before them despite the seven vacancies in the district level batei din, reports Director-General of the Batei Din Rabbi Shimon Yaakobi in an interview with Kol Berama Radio.

Yaakobi explained there is a total of 103 slots for dayanim of which 96 are currently filled. He explains the problem is the inability of the politicians to agree on candidates to fill those slots.

The meeting is scheduled to take place on 18 Adar, at which time the seven slots should be filled.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
By Ajay Kumar: The Gurgaon police claimed to have busted a gang involved in making forged arms licence on Monday and arrested one person.

Working on a tip-off, Mohan Lal was arrested in Gurugram village. He has revealed that his mentor Manish Bhardwaj is the mastermind of this nexus.

During a search at Bhawdwaj's house, seven firearms, including one USA and one Japan-made pistols and 55 cartridges have been recovered. Some fake arms licences and objectionable documents have also been recovered.

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During interrogation, Mohan revealed that Bhardwaj either makes fake arms licence from home or manages to obtain licences from Nagalang, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh and transfer them to Gurugram. Bhardwaj used to charge Rs 3 to 5 lakh for one licence from the clients.

ALSO READ | Inter-state illegal gun trading racket busted in Delhi, 20 pistols recovered

"Joint Commissioner of Police Gurugram has received a complaint about such illegal activities taking place in the city. During investigation, it appears that unique identification numbers of 14 licences were not matching the list of Gurugram police. These licences were fictitiously made either from home or he managed to obtain them from somewhere else," said Anil Kumar, ACP, Sadar, Gurugram.

The ACP pointed out that in every three years, an arm licence needs to renew. The mismatch data of 14 arms licences are those which came to Gurugram police for renewal. Since, their data were not with the arms wing, it turns to be fake.

Sources said the kingpin of fake arms licence is active for at least three years and he may have sold hundreds of arms licence to residents of Gurugram. The process of obtaining an arm licence is considered easier in northeastern states.

ALSO READ | Illegal casino busted in Delhi, 8 persons, including 4 girls, arrested

"The investigation in this case is currently underway and we are expecting some more recoveries of fake licenses and fire arms. Bhardwaj, currently on the run, will put behind the bars soon. Bhardwaj will put more light on how he was involved in this trade and how he would contact with his clients," said the ACP.

The demand of arms licence in Gurugram is quite high. There are trend among the unemployed persons to obtain an arms licence from the North-East so they can get jobs in private security agencies, which is a booming industry. Besides, the city also has a large number of wealthy residents who do not bother to spent lakh of rupees for it.

Obtaining an arm licence is a status symbol for them. "Obtaining an arms licence in Gurugram and other parts of NCR has become difficult. This is the reason people used to approach touts who know how to approach north-eastern states to get licences by paying extra money," said a senior police officer, who confirms that the all-India validity of these licences makes them even more attractive.

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Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel Natan Sharansky on Sunday 16 Shevat departed on a five-day trip to Africa to dedicate The Jewish Agencys new Project TEN volunteer centers in Namulanda, Uganda and Durban, South Africa.

Project TEN, dubbed the Jewish Peace Corps, brings together young Jews from Israel and around the world to volunteer in underprivileged areas across the globe. The new centers in Uganda and South Africa join existing centers in Winneba, Ghana; Oaxaca, Mexico; and Kibbutz Harduf, northern Israel.

Volunteers at the Namulanda and Durban centers have already started working on several projects in the fields of formal and informal education, youth empowerment, public health, and sustainable agriculture, most of which are centered on local children. The Namulanda center is run in cooperation with BRIT, a coalition of Israeli and international humanitarian organizations, and the Durban center is operated in partnership with the South African Zionist Federation, the Denis Hurley Centre, the Victor Daitz Foundation, the Domino Foundation, and I Care.

During the course of his visits, Sharansky will meet with volunteers at both centers and will visit several of the projects in which they are engaged. The highlights of both visits will be the festive dedication ceremonies, which will be attended by local dignitaries and representatives of partner organizations. As part of the Jewish Agency chairmans visit to Uganda, he will speak at a memorial ceremony at Entebbe airport, marking 41 years since the daring Israeli rescue mission there. Sharanskys visit to South Africa will also bring him to Johannesburg, where he will meet with Jewish community leaders, Jewish Agency emissaries, and non-Jewish supporters of Israel.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Last week, following an undercover investigation, police raided offices and homes and arrested the mayor of Tzfat and other senior officials in a real estate corruption scam.

This week, police raided Kfar Saba City Hall and made 14 arrests, including senior city officials, once again, following an undercover investigation by the Israel Police 433 Unit, Israels FBI. In this case, the simultaneous raids took place in offices and homes of those involved as well as other relevant locals. This investigation is also related to alleged corruption involving city officials.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Beyond the usual, lofty propaganda, North Koreas test of a new intermediate-range ballistic missile contains an important, potentially worrying development.

The countrys jubilant young dictator, Kim Jong Un, said the missile provides the country with another nuclear attack capability.

Sundays launch  the first major North Korean challenge for U.S. President Donald Trump  is drawing intense scrutiny from outside weapons experts because of North Koreas claim to have used solid fuel.

If true, it would be a big step forward in North Koreas quest to boost its ability to attack the United States and its close allies, South Korea and Japan. Instead of relying on missiles that have to be fueled on a fixed launch pad, North Koreas military could drive the new missiles anywhere and fire them at will from mobile launchers.

Heres a look at Sundays launch and what it means for security on an already tense Korean Peninsula.



MODERN FUEL

The fuel in solid-fuel rockets is already loaded inside, which can shorten launch preparation times, increase the weapons mobility and make it harder for outsiders to detect whats happening before liftoff.

Most of North Koreas missiles currently use liquid propellant, which usually needs to be added on a launch pad before the weapon is fired. The rockets North Korea has used for satellite launches in recent years, which were condemned by the U.N. as tests of banned long-range missile technology, relied on liquid fuel.

Liquid fuel is like a technology from the 1960s and 70s, while solid fuel is a modern fuel for missiles, said Lee Choon Geun, an analyst from South Koreas state-funded Science and Technology Policy Institute. Thats why we think their latest launch (with solid fuel) is a serious development.

Before Sundays test, analysts thought North Koreas solid-fuel weapons were limited to a submarine-launched ballistic missile that the country test-fired last August and short-range KN-02 missiles.

This latest test is important because, if confirmed, North Korea would have a missile that could be launched anywhere from a ground-based mobile vehicle. While submarines are also a stealthy way to do that, North Korea doesnt have enough of them. There are doubts that the KN-02 missile, whose range is about 120 kilometers (75 miles), can carry nuclear warheads.

North Koreas claim couldnt be independently confirmed, but Lee said video and photos of the launch appear to show that the missile used solid fuel. A South Korean defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of department rules, also said that U.S. and South Korean military surveillance equipment showed it probably used solid fuel.

North Korean media quoted Kim Jong Un as saying that North Koreas rocket industry has radically turned from liquid-fuel engines to high thrust solid fuel-powered ones.



PUKGUKSONG-2

North Korean state media said the missile launched Sunday was a surface-to-surface Pukguksong-2 that can carry nuclear warheads. It is likely to be an upgraded version of the submarine-launched missile named Pukguksong launched in August.

South Koreas military said the latest missile flew about 500 kilometers (310 miles) before dropping into international waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. North Korea said the missile made a high-altitude flight because of security worries in neighboring countries.

If the missile was fired at a normal angle, it could have flown farther. Some analysts say its maximum range could be up to 3,000 kilometers (1,870 miles), while others put it at 1,200 kilometers (750 miles).

Either way, the missile could target South Korea and Japan, where about 80,000 U.S. troops are stationed.



ICBM

North Koreas ultimate goal is a nuclear-tipped long-range missile that can attack the U.S. mainland.

In his New Years address, Kim Jong Un said North Korea had reached the final stages of preparations to test an intercontinental ballistic missile. Its not clear when that might happen.

Analysts say Sundays missile test isnt directly linked to ICBM test preparations. Still, some say North Korea may have used the launch to test some technology it will need for an ICBM.

Last year, North Korea conducted its fourth and fifth atomic bomb tests and claimed a series of technical breakthroughs in its push for a long-range nuclear missile.

But foreign analysts say North Korea has yet to develop warheads small enough to be loaded on a long-range missile designed to hit targets like the U.S. mainland. South Korean officials also believe North Korea hasnt yet developed a re-entry vehicle for a missile  something thats needed to return a warhead to the atmosphere from space so it can hit its intended target.



NORTH KOREAS MOTIVES

North Korea may have fired the missile to celebrate the Feb. 16 birthday of Kims late dictator father, Kim Jong Il. Or it could be trying to see how the Trump administration will react. Or it may just be a regularly scheduled missile test under a broader timetable for weapons development.

The test could also be an attempt to bolster internal unity in a way that doesnt provoke the United States too much, as a long-range missile or nuclear test would do, said Lee Illwoo, a Seoul-based commentator on military issues.

The missile test came as Trump hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Abe condemned the launch as absolutely intolerable, and Trump said Washington would stand behind Japan, its great ally, 100 percent.

The United States, Japan and South Korea have requested urgent diplomatic talks Monday at the United Nations, which prohibits North Korea from engaging in any ballistic missile activities.

But its unlikely that the meeting will lead to any serious punishment for North Korea, which is already under a slew of U.N. and other international sanctions.

(AP)
The Pentagon is paying hackers to test its key internal systems for vulnerabilities  and they are finding weaknesses faster than expected.

In a pilot project this past month, the Pentagons Defense Digital Service let about 80 security researchers into a simulated file transfer mechanism the department depends on to send sensitive emails, documents and images between networks, including classified ones. The effort was important enough that staff for new Defense Secretary James Mattis were briefed on the ongoing program his first day on the job.

Lisa Wiswell, whose title at DDS is bureaucracy hacker, said she told Pentagon cyber analysts to be on standby after the program started Jan. 11, but added that nothing would likely turn up for a week. Within hours, though, the first report from a hacker highlighting a risk arrived.

That was surprising, Wiswell said in an interview at her Pentagon office. I was like, I dont know what else is going to come down the pike if weve got stuff thats falling this quickly.

With concerns about cyber vulnerabilities rising across the U.S. government, the cyber firm Synack Inc. received a three-year, $4 million contract in September to carry out bug bounties across the Pentagon. The Redwood City, California-based company vetted and recruited security researchers from the U.S., Canada, Australia and the U.K., according to Mark Kuhr, Synacks chief technology officer and a former National Security Agency analyst. The exercise ran through Feb. 7, with more expected.

Because of security concerns, hackers didnt get direct access to operational networks. Instead, the digital service replicated the file transfer systems in a cyber range, a kind of digital laboratory resembling the original environment. The company also added extra security layers to make sure adversaries didnt compromise the hackers computers or enter into the range.

We had to assume that their entire laptop is compromised  the Russians are sitting on the laptops  how do we prevent them from accessing the challenge, Kuhr said. How do we prevent them from accessing any vulnerabilities that could be taken from the challenge?

Convincing senior leaders at the Pentagon that it was a safe endeavor took time and effort, the digital service said. Chris Lynch, director of the DDS, said he briefed Defense Secretary Mattiss staff on their first day in office about the program. The file transfer tool is important because it securely moves some of the most important information for Defense Department missions both within the Pentagon and in the field.

We have an absolute need to be able to relay a command, trust that its going to get to a destination and interpret that and then do what it says, Lynch said in an interview. If theres any element when you dont have trust in that pipeline, that undermines a lot of how the department works.

The digital service urged hackers to try bypassing the file-transfer protections; pull data out of a network that they werent supposed to have accessed; and own the box, or take control of the system. Officials wont specify the gaps that were discovered, but say department cyber experts are now fixing the problems.

The program grew out of earlier projects by the digital service, which is part of the White Houses U.S. Digital Service, started by the Obama administration and so far retained under President Donald Trump. Last year, the service held Hack the Pentagon, where outsiders hunted for bugs in the Defense Departments public websites. The file transfer exercise marked the first attempt to pool hacking talent for internal networks.

For Hack the Pentagon, programmers were encouraged to publicly brag about their findings and share their identities. But in the latest initiative, the select hacking group is legally barred from revealing its research. Only Synack knows their names as the hackers were kept anonymous from Pentagon officials as well.

Synack, which has done similar custom hacking programs at banks and credit card companies, also paid hackers based on the severity of the problem they uncovered. The biggest reward totaled $30,000 in the recent competition.

The experiment comes as the Defense Department faces challenges in handling cybersecurity. The department bolstered spending on capabilities and expertise to build better cyber defenses, yet during tests, critical combatant command missions remain at risk from advanced nation-state actors, according to the Pentagon testing directors annual report published in January.

Cyber-attacks are clearly a part of modern warfare, and DOD networks are constantly under attack, the report said. However, DOD personnel too often treat network defense as an administration function, not a warfighting capability, and until that approach changes, the department will continue to struggle to adequately defend its systems and networks from advanced cyber-attacks.

In addition, the need for red teams  cyber experts that test whether department networks and systems can withstand intrusions  has more than doubled in the past few years. But a significant number have left for the private sector, finding better salaries and more relaxed work settings. As a result, the remaining red teams are unable to meet current DOD demand, the testing director said.

The digital service says other parts of the Pentagon have expressed interest in doing similar tailored hacking projects, including around the security of ground command and control systems and internal human resources portals. Sometimes its the simplest cracks found in the networks that most unsettle cyber experts.

An adversary doesnt need to spend millions of dollars focusing on the most serious, complicated flaws, Wiswell said. When we do stupid basic things you bet the adversary would rather use that vector into our networks because its cheaper  weve lowered the barrier to entry.

(c) 2017, Bloomberg  Nafeesa Syeed
HaGaon HaRav Tzion Boaron Shlita has come out against chareidi colleges, explaining Unfortunately, they teach kfira (heresy), real kfira by professors with small kippot filled with all kinds of heresy and blasphemy that our ancestors could never imagine.

During the end of a Shovavim fast day last week, Rav Boaron addressed the matter of the chareidi colleges and the education of the children. He calls for Distancing from the colleges in which women are studying, learning heresy, mamosh heresy, apostasy; as all kinds of professors and lecturers with small kippot and different ideas full of heresy and hate that our ancestors could not have imagined is being disseminated. Each person should keep his wife and daughters away and they should not chas vsholom go to these schools.

The rav quoted the Mishna (Taanis) regarding the people of Nineveh, citing one who fasts during Shovavim is commended but the fast itself is not the main issue, rather it is a vehicle to achieve a different level of avodas Hashem and Yiras Shomayim.

Rav Boaron calls for increased adherence to mitzvos; especially Shabbos and watching ones eyes and distancing oneself from forbidden sights. The rav advises against reading newspapers, even the so-called chareidi ones. Shabbos is Shabbos and we must distance from reading newspapers, including chareidi and kosher ones which are all full of rechilus and loshon hora and other [unwanted] content, as if they offer a clean forum. Sit with the little ones around the table and sing with them, learn with them and study the weekly parsha with them.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Three askanim described as senior officials in Vaad for the Purification of the Camp were arrested early Tuesday morning 17 Shevat on charges of extortion, fabricating evidence, possession of drugs and offenses related to illegal wiretapping.

Two of the suspects are senior officials in the Mishmeres Tznius and are prominent persons in the Eida Chareidis and Toldos Aharon. Police raided the office on Amos Street in Geula and confiscated computers and documents. The three are residents of Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh and Haifa.

Police report they conducted a clandestine investigation for about a year before they moved in to make arrests. They are allegedly involved in crimes committed against a couple residing in the Ukraine  and traveled overseas to commit violent acts, among other charges according to police allegations.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
A military judge called President Donald Trumps scathing campaign-trail criticism of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl disturbing on Monday and questioned whether it would make the public think the soldier cant get a fair trial for walking off his post in Afghanistan in 2009.

During a pretrial hearing, defense attorneys played part of a video exhibit in which Trump repeatedly says at campaign appearances that Bergdahl is a traitor who should be harshly punished. Bergdahls lawyers argue the comments violate their clients due-process rights and that the case should be dismissed.

The judge, Army Col. Jeffery Nance, didnt immediately rule on the defense request, but called the footage of Trump condemning Bergdahl disturbing material. A written decision was expected later.

Defense lawyers played about five minutes of the footage in which Trump repeatedly used phrases such as no good traitor to refer to the soldier who was held captive by the Taliban and its allies for five years.

Bergdahl sat mostly still during the video presentation, looking away at times. By the end of the footage, the muscles Bergdahls jaw were visibly bulging as he apparently clenched his teeth.

Prosecutors say Trumps comments amounted to campaign rhetoric against actions taken by the Obama administration to bring Bergdahl home.

These comments are clearly intended to try to attack a political opponent for political gain, said Army Maj. Justin Oshana, a prosecutor.

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.

Oshana said potential jurors exposure to Trumps comments could be addressed through questioning during jury selection. He added that it would be unprecedented to dismiss the case without first trying to seat a jury.

But Nance asked, How does that relate to overcoming the black eye to the military justice system  the view the public might have?

That question goes to the heart of the defense argument that Trumps comments constitute unlawful command influence by the new commander in chief. Even the appearance of such unfairness can theoretically derail a military case.

The defenses motion, filed shortly after Trump was sworn in as president, cites more than 40 instances of Trumps criticism at public appearances and media interviews through August 2016.

Eugene Fidell, Bergdahls defense attorney, argued Monday that Trump has kept other campaign promises, so his comments about Bergdahl should be taken seriously. They played a clip of Trump promising his audience at a December 2015 campaign rally to review the case if Bergdahl got a light punishment.

Nance also took note of that statement, asking prosecutors: Youre not at all concerned about the statement he made, If I get in we will review his case  after ranting and raving about no jail time?

A White House spokesman didnt immediately respond to a phone call and email seeking comment Monday about whether Trump plans to review Bergdahls case.

Bergdahl is charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, the latter of which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. He has been assigned to desk duty at a Texas Army base while awaiting trial.

Bergdahl, who is from Idaho, has said he walked off his post to cause alarm and draw attention to what he saw as problems with his unit.

His trial is scheduled for April, but a delay seems likely after the judge set a new time frame for working out problems with the handover of classified information as part of the discovery process. He said he would give lawyers until the beginning of April to prepare a status report that will determine future dates in the case.

(AP)
The state parole board has denied early release for prison tailor Joyce Mitchell, who helped two killers escape from a maximum-security facility in northern New York in 2015.

Mitchell had a parole hearing last week at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in Westchester County. In a decision released Monday, the board said Mitchells release would be incompatible with the welfare of society.

The 52-year-old Mitchell was sentenced to 2-1/3 to 7 years in prison for helping murderers Richard Matt and David Sweat escape in June 2015 from Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora (dan-uh-MAWR-uh), near the Canadian border. She supervised them in the prisons tailor shop.

Matt was killed three weeks later by searchers in woods west of the prison. Sweat was shot and captured two days later near the border.

(AP)
Want to get a peek inside the Trump White House? Keep checking Twitter and Instagram, because the more traditional method  a formal White House tour  isnt an option.

The White House Visitors Office typically halts tours during presidential transitions, as the new president brings in staff to run the operation, but the three-weeks-and-counting lull under the new administration is unusually long.

Thats not lost on members of Congress, who handle constituent requests for tours. On Sunday, Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, cheekily tweeted at whoever monitors twitter at WH for businessman president Trump asking when the tours would resume. Making the request more urgent than your typical senatorial inquiry, he added, Mrs G wants to know.

Grassley and his wife arent the only ones wondering.

At least two dozen lawmakers have signed a letter circulating on Capitol Hill urging the swift reopening of the office that handles tours. This time-honored tradition of allowing visitors into the White House was started by Thomas Jefferson in 1805, and previous administrations have been quick to reopen the White House doors to the public, even doing so the day after the Inauguration, the letter reads. Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama all appointed a White House Visitors Office Director before being sworn in, and had reopened the White House to the public at this point.

Many of the signatories have hundreds of requests piling up.

A spokesman for Rep. Gerald E. Connolly said constituents of the Democrats Northern Virginia district submit about 100 tour requests a week. At this point, were telling them that well let them know, he said.

And its not just would-be gawking tourists who cant get a glimpse  the Trump White House has been unusually closed off. Entertaining, Trump-style, has included family meals in the State Dining Room, a screening of the animated movie Finding Dory and a private lunch Monday for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In contrast to the Clinton, Bush and Obama administrations  which all hosted hundreds of well-wishers in the days after an inauguration  the Trumps have so far limited invitees to close family and supporters.

On the White House website, a warning notes that White House Tours will be temporarily unavailable until the Trump Administration is ready to begin processing Public Tour requests.

So when will that take place?

The White House has yet to announce a new head of the visitors office, but look to Lindsay Reynolds, the chief of staff to first lady Melania Trump. When Reynolds, who was associate director of the visitors office under President George W. Bush, was named to the East Wing post, she pledged to make tours a priority.

I am working to ensure that the White House Visitors Office is fully staffed and operational and ready to accept tour requests for the public in the coming weeks after a traditional temporary closure during the transition period, she said in a Feb. 1 statement.

A spokeswoman for Melania Trump did not immediately respond to a query about when that would happen.

But it sounds like when the doors do open to the public again, they could be in for some improvements. Per Reynolds: In the meantime, we are using this time to tend to routine maintenance, updates and renovations along the tour route to ensure the guest experience is top notch. 

(c) 2017, The Washington Post  Emily Heil
All too often when ideologues are appointed to senior government positions in Israel, any and every trace of their right-wing ideology vanishes and they become a new person  one that remains committed to political correctness and not Eretz Yisrael.

Some feel that such persons gaze back at the White House lawn ceremony during which Yitzchak Rabin and Shimon Peres were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with Yasser Arafat YSVZ as President Bill Clinton looked on. They too are jockeying for their place in history, amid an awareness to become and internationally acclaimed diplomat, they must shed their right-wing skins for politically correct ones. Former President Peres used Oslo as a springboard, successfully achieving a status of the elder statesman in the international community and becoming the most respected diplomat in the world.

This is true of many but perhaps none more today the President Reuven Rivlin, who since assuming office has been a major disappointment to the right-wing as well as the religious all too often abandoning his pious Yerushalmi roots to be the president of all the people.

In his latest address, at the BaSheva-sponsored Jerusalem Conference no less, the right-wing version of the Herzliya Conference, the president spoke of calls to annex all of Yehuda and Shomron, adding he back such a plan on the condition this sovereignty is applied equally to both Jews and Arabs. Perhaps the most absurd point is the Arabs are genuinely uninterested, preferring to or compelled to remain loyal to the PA (Palestinian Authority). However, Rivlin the statesman explained todays realities dictates such a move.

He spoke of how Jews dreamed of their return to Israel for 2,000 years and how today, There are over 6 million Jews  the beginning of the Redemption. He went on to speak of how the old yishuv arrived at the realization building would have to begin outside the walls of the Old City. This, he feels has led to todays Zionism which demands settling valleys and hilltop including the Negev and the Galil. He spoke of how sovereignty has been applied in the capital and as such, there is equality for one and all and this must be the case in Yehuda and Shomron too.

He spoke of the need to enact laws that apply to both Israels character as a Jewish nation as well as a democratic on to ensure there is no contradiction between either.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
"The H1B scheme has been crucial in making US companies competitive globally in increasing their client base, in increasing their innovation. And it is the Indian tech industry, which has actually been creating jobs here (in the US)," Ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna told a news channel.

By Press Trust of India: H1-B visas, sought-after by Indian IT professionals, help make US firms competitive globally and contribute to generating jobs locally, India's envoy has said amid reports the Trump administration plans to cut down the scheme.

"The H1B scheme has been crucial in making US companies competitive globally in increasing their client base, in increasing their innovation. And it is the Indian tech industry, which has actually been creating jobs here (in the US)," Ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna told a news channel.

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"There are reports and analysis by very respected houses, which say that over 400,000 jobs have been directly and indirectly supported in the US," he said, adding that Indian tech companies had invested USD 2 billion in four years and paid USD 20 billion in taxes.

H1-B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows American firms to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The tech companies depend on it to hire thousands of employees each year.

Also read | IT stocks tumble 9 per cent on concerns over Donald Trump's new H1-B visa order

"Out of every 100, H-1B visas have resulted in support to 183 jobs in the US. This is very important because nine out of the 15 top tech companies in India are American companies," Sarna said.

"This is a relationship which is symbiotic and which has a potential of becoming even stronger for both the countries," he added.

MANY INDIANS EMPLOYED IN AMERICAN TECH INDUSTRY

India is one of the top sources for international workers in the American tech industry, accounting for a major chunk of all H1-B visas. And any move by Trump, who has vowed to put an "America First" policy, will have an adverse impact in India.

However, those demanding a revision of the policy say the programme hurt American interests.

In an op-ed piece in 'Fortune' magazine Senator Chuck Grassley, argued that the flaws in H1B programme hurt American workers, American innovation, and even H1B workers, who are in many cases "benched" without work or pay for long periods.

Grassley is Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and co-author of H1-B and L1 Visa Reform Act of 2017.

Earlier this year, he introduced the bipartisan legislation with Senator Dick Durbin to tackle these problems and return the programme to its original intent: filling gaps in America's skilled labour market.

Also read | Govt seeks data from industry to take up H1B visa issue with US

Schumer said his bill explicitly prohibits companies from replacing qualified American workers with H1-B workers. It also requires companies to post job openings and make good faith efforts to hire qualified American workers before seeking H1-B visas.

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"Companies would also be prohibited from laying off American workers 180 days prior to and following the hiring of an H1-B worker. These provisions ensure that qualified American workers are considered for jobs first," he said.

"To ensure that limited number of annual H1-B visas go to the best and brightest workers, our bill prioritises petitions, starting with foreign nationals who received advance science and engineering degrees right here in the US," he said.

--- ENDS ---
Israels prime minister heads to Washington this week for a high-profile meeting with President Donald Trump that suddenly is clouded in uncertainty.

After embracing Israels hard-line nationalist right throughout his presidential campaign, Trump appears to have softened some of his positions on key issues since taking office.

Although Wednesdays meeting is expected to be much warmer than Netanyahus famously tense encounters with former President Barack Obama, the Israeli leader will still need to tread with caution on sensitive issues like Israeli settlement construction and the conflict with the Palestinians, Iran and the war in Syria.

It is a very important meeting. It is a new president, said Sallai Meridor, a former Israeli ambassador to Washington. The positive thing is that Trumps policies are still not set, he said, so there is an opportunity to listen and to develop and to impact the strategy that is being developed in the United States.

In dealing with such a divisive president, Netanyahu will also face some potential pitfalls. Key constituencies, including congressional Democrats and many American Jews, oppose Trumps policies, while at home he is under pressure from his hard-line allies to push for policies that Trump may not support.

Ahead of the visit, Netanyahu said he would handle ties with the U.S., Israels closest and most important ally, in a prudent manner, but he steered clear of specifics.

The alliance between Israel and America has always been extremely strong. Its about to get even stronger. President Trump and I see eye to eye on the dangers emanating from the region, but also on the opportunities, Netanyahu said Monday as he boarded a plane to Washington.

Malcolm Hoenlein, a Jewish-American leader who has close ties with both Netanyahu and White House officials, said Netanyahu should set modest goals for his first working meeting with the new president. He said the objective should be to establish a good working relationship in order to tackle concrete issues down the road.

What I hope will come out of the meeting is this kind of understanding, putting the foundation very firmly in place, he said.

Here are some of the issues that are likely to come up:

SETTLEMENTS AND THE PALESTINIANS

After repeatedly clashing with Obama for eight years, capped by a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlements, Netanyahu seemed relieved by Trumps arrival.

Trumps campaign platform made no mention of a Palestinian state, and his inner circle included allies of the settler movement. The connections were so strong that a delegation of settler leaders was invited to Trumps inauguration.

Netanyahu responded by approving construction of more than 6,000 new settler homes and allowing parliament to pass a law retroactively legalizing some 4,000 settlement homes built on private Palestinian land.

His political allies have urged him to go even further, suggesting he abandon the goal of a two-state solution with the Palestinians, step up settlement construction and even consider annexing parts of the West Bank. Such ideas would have been unthinkable during the Obama years.

All the Cabinet ministers oppose a Palestinian state, including Netanyahu, said Gilad Erdan, a Cabinet minister and member of Netanyahus Likud Party.

But the hard-line euphoria may be premature. After initially greeting Israels settlement announcements with a shrug, Trump appears to be having second thoughts. In an interview with a pro-Netanyahu Israeli daily on Friday, Trump said: I am not somebody that believes that going forward with these settlements is a good thing for peace.

Netanyahu may use the meeting to seek understandings as to what sort of construction will be tolerated. Backing from Trump could also help him fend off the pressure from his hard-line rivals.

THE U.S. EMBASSY

The U.S., like virtually all other countries, maintains its embassy in Tel Aviv.

Trump took office vowing to scrap decades of U.S. policy and move the embassy to Jerusalem. But in recent weeks, he has been noncommittal, saying only that he is studying the issue.

The Palestinians have warned that moving the embassy would be explosive. Jordan, a key U.S. and Israeli ally that maintains custodial rights over Muslim holy sites in the city, has also strongly lobbied against the move.

While both men may pay lip service to an embassy move, it is unclear whether there will be any progress on the matter during the visit.

IRAN

Before taking office, Trump vowed to rip up the international deal that placed limits on Irans nuclear program. But since then, he has backed away from those threats, while seeking other ways to put pressure on the Iranian government.

Netanyahu led an unsuccessful campaign to scuttle the Iranian deal. Although that now seems impossible, Netanyahu will be looking for American assurances to keep Iran in check.

Dennis Ross, a former U.S. peace negotiator, said Netanyahu could seek promises of a U.S. military response and not just a sanctions response if Iran moves toward nuclear weapons capability.

Netanyahu is also worried about Irans involvement in the civil war in neighboring Syria. With Russian backing, Iranian forces, and their Shiite proxy Hezbollah, have helped Syria gain the upper hand.

Ross said Netanyahu will ask Trump to use his influence with Russian President Vladimir Putin to keep Iran and Hezbollah far from Israels borders.

I think at a minimum that there would be an understanding that the Trump administration will insist with Putin that an Iranian-Hezbollah-Shiite militia presence cant go below a certain line within Syria, Ross said.

BIPARTISAN SUPPORT

Netanyahu has long said that bipartisan support is the basis of Israels relationship with the U.S. Yet he is widely perceived as being much more in line with the Republicans.

One of his closest friends is Republican mega-donor Sheldon Adelson, and his ambassador to Washington, Ron Dermer, is a former Republican operative.

Cozying up to Republican figures, while repeatedly clashing with Obama, appears to have had a price. A recent poll by the market research firm YouGov found that Republicans had a much more favorable view of Israel than Democrats. With Jewish voters overwhelmingly Democratic, this perception could threaten traditional Jewish American support for Israel.

Netanyahus schedule includes meetings with top Democrats in Congress, a step that Hoenlein welcomed. It is very important to send the bipartisan message, he said.

(AP)
The White House broke its silence on the future of national security adviser Michael Flynn Monday, with a top adviser asserting that President Donald Trump retains full confidence in Flynn following reports that he misled senior officials about his contacts with Russia.

Flynn apologized privately for the controversy to Vice President Mike Pence, according to an administration official. Pence, relying on information from Flynn, publicly vouched that the retired Army lieutenant general did not discuss sanctions with Russias ambassador to the U.S. Flynn has since told the White House that sanctions may have come up in the calls.

Trump himself has still said nothing about Flynn following a Washington Post report last week confirming that sanctions were a topic of conversation. But on Monday, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said Flynn has Trumps backing.

He has the full confidence of the president, Conway said.

Flynn sat in the front row of Trumps news conference earlier Monday with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. But the president did not receive a question about Flynns future from a pair of reporters and he ignored journalists shouted follow-up inquiries as he left the room.

Trump told associates over the weekend that he was troubled by the situation, but did not indicate that he planned to ask Flynn to step down, according to a person who spoke with him recently. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. Flynn was a loyal Trump supporter during the campaign, but he is viewed skeptically by some in the administrations national security circles, in part because of his ties to Russia.

(AP)
By Shaul Wolff

On Wednesday night, Feb. 15th, at Boro Parks Palace Ballroom, The Jewish Entrepreneur (TJE) will partner with Crown Heights Young Entrepreneurs (CHYE) to host Finding Success in E-Commerce, an informational evening from leading experts in the online retail industry.

This years event is set to be the largest in its 4-year history, with over 500 people expected to attend. Interest within the frum community in the burgeoning e-commerce industry has seen rapid growth in recent times, and such events provide invaluable resources to young entrepreneurs looking to launch businesses of their own.

The events highlight will be what has become a signature feature: The E-Commerce Exchange. Industry experts will facilitate round-table discussions on a wide range of topicsfrom mastering E-bay platform, to Amazon compliance issues, to scaling a million-dollar Amazon business, and social media marketinggiving people the opportunity to have their questions answered from specialists in the field.

This is an opportunity to pick the minds of some of the most successful people in the industry, says Shmuel Schnitzer, Director of TJE. People will walk away with the knowhow to take their businesses to the next level.

From the e-commerce heavyweights facilitating discussions will be Motty Gross, founder of multi-million-dollar home appliance retailer AJ Madison, Ed Rosenberg, of Amazon Sellers Group, Dov Brafman CEO of Sharkk.com, a leading online electronics company.

Amazon is considered the greatest growth engine in world history, says Rosenberg, underscoring the value such an event has for the frum community. You can build a 10-million-dollar business with just a basement and 2 employees. You need to be fully immersed in it, and know every rule to succeed.

Dov Brafman CEO of Sharkk a fast growing consumer electronics company whose unique company culture has attracted media attention and has people lining up at their doors to fill the slots of their ever growing new initiatives, will be leading a discussion on creating a healthy company culture. A key part of our mission and vision is about empowering people, bringing out the best of them. If there is any insight we can provide to like-minded people that will help them in their journey, we want to be there for them.

Other tables and topics include

Ecommerce and Taxes: Saul Friedman, SNFCO Emerging trends in ecommerce: Motti Gross, AJ Madison Taking your business to the next level: Chaim Piekarski, CA Global Amazon Compliance Issues: Ed Rosenberg, Amazon Seller Group Social Media marketing: Pesach Tropper, Bottom Line Marketing Sourcing for dummies: Ronald Hans & Shnuer Mange,l OFS Mobile and Daily Steals Maximizing the opportunity of PPC for Amazon: Dovi Vogel, Sharkk Transitioning your traditional business to ecommerce: Marc Bodner, LR Distributors The art of buying: Praveen Arora, PCSWW Mastering Ebay: Matthew Klein, Foucus Camera Scaling your million dollar Amazon business: Kevin Leib, Feedvisor Building your own brand: Meir Shemtov, Sharkk Strategies for Starting Your Amazon Company on the Right Foot

Thursdays event will be co-hosted by Jewish Entrepreneur (TJE) and Crown Heights Young Entrepreneur (CHYE) and will attract Jewish entrepreneurs from the Boro Park, Flatbush, Williamsburg, and Crown Heights communities.

For more info and to book tickets to the event, click here.
A lawsuit by Washington state and Minnesota challenging President Donald Trumps travel ban will proceed as an appellate court considers a preliminary injunction in the case, a federal judge ruled Monday in Seattle.

The Justice Department had wanted to put the case on hold while the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decides whether a larger, 11-judge panel will review a government request to allow the ban.

But U.S. District Judge James Robart, who previously issued a temporary restraining order halting the ban, said the lawsuit can go forward. The states said that process wouldnt interfere with review by appellate courts.

Robart directed both sides to prepare for their arguments on whether Trumps travel ban should be permanently blocked.

A three-judge federal appeals court panel last week refused to toss out the injunction and reinstate the travel ban. The panel unanimously rejected the administrations claim of presidential authority in the matter.

Washington and Minnesota argued that formal evidence gathering should begin immediately in the case.

Given the gravity of the states constitutional allegations, defendants stated national security concerns and the public interests at stake, the states respectfully submit that discovery should proceed without delay, the state lawyers said in a legal brief.

Michelle Bennett, a Justice Department lawyer, told Robart there was no basis for speeding up the process, arguing the states are not being harmed because theres a temporary injunction in place.

She asked Robart to stick with a previous schedule that gives the government until April 3 to file a response to the states complaint. Robart said he was surprised by that statement, since the president had said he wants to see you in court.

After the 9th Circuit panel ruled against the Justice Department, Trump sent out a tweet saying, SEE YOU IN COURT, THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE!

Robart said there is a very sensitive time issue in the case and he wasnt prepared to slow it down.

Last week, the three-judge appellate panel sided with Washington and Minnesota, which say the ban illegally targets Muslims. Justice Department lawyers say it is intended to prevent terrorism and cant be second-guessed by courts.

Trumps ban temporarily suspended the nations refugee program and immigration from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Sudan and Yemen  nations that have sparked terrorism concerns.

In deciding whether to put Trumps order on hold, the three-judge panel said the administration presented no evidence that any foreigner from the seven countries was responsible for a terrorist attack in the U.S.

Trumps initial executive order sparked protests nationwide and confusion at airports as some travelers were detained.

(AP)
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio touted his plans to address the citys affordability crisis during his annual State of the City address.

In his address Monday night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, the Democratic mayor discussed his concern that New Yorkers are afraid they cant afford to live in the city they love.

His plan includes a mansion tax on high-end real estate sales that would help pay for affordable housing for seniors and an initiative to provide free legal advice for tenants facing eviction in housing court.

Besides affordable housing, the mayor said hes working to create more good-paying jobs in the city by providing training and support.

The mayor also made room to praise his efforts to make the city safer and the schools stronger.

(AP)
The U.S. immigration agency arrested more than 640 people from California to Georgia to New York last week, Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said in a statement Monday.

Kelly said the arrests were part of a series of enforcement operations across the country targeting public safety threats as well as individuals who have violated our nations immigration laws. Those arrested included some who had re-entered the country after being deported and others whose deportation had been ordered by an immigration judge.

About three-quarters of those arrested had been convicted of crimes including homicide, sexual abuse, child abuse, drug trafficking, battery, assault, DUI and weapons charges, according to the Homeland Security Department. The immigration raids occurred around the country, including in Georgia, the Carolinas, the Los Angeles area, New York area, Austin, Texas, which is part of the San Antonio ICE region, and six Midwestern states.

The arrests sparked outrage among immigrant advocates, who accused the immigration agency, known by its acronym ICE, of changing its deportation policies and carrying out random sweeps in the wake of President Trumps rhetoric on immigration and feared policy shifts.

Trump made immigration enforcement and border security pillars of his campaign, calling for a deportation force and telling supporters that he would get the bad hombres out of the U.S.

However, ICE officials said that the targeted enforcement actions last week were routine and that planning for them began weeks ago, before the president signed his executive order on immigration enforcement on Jan. 25. The orders stated aim is for the federal government to employ all lawful means to enforce the immigration laws of the United States.

We cannot faithfully execute the immigration laws of the United States if we exempt classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement, the order says.

It is not immediately clear what impact the order will have on future immigration enforcement, targeting and deportations. ICE officials declined to discuss the impact and did not immediately provide further guidance.

A look at the numbers

The largest number of arrests last week were carried out across the Midwest  in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Kansas and Missouri. Of the 235 people arrested in this region, 163 had criminal convictions, 60 had been previously removed from the U.S. and the remaining 12 had outstanding final orders of removal.

Further south, in Austin, Texas, 23 of the 51 people arrested had criminal convictions. In the New York area, 38 of the 41 arrested had criminal convictions, including a citizen of El Salvador who admitted to being an MS-13 gang member and a Jamaican with a criminal conviction for first degree sexual assault of a child younger than 11 years old.

In the Carolinas, ICE arrested 190 people, of whom 127 had criminal convictions.

Of the 161 arrested in the Los Angeles area, 151 had prior criminal convictions, including an Australian with a conviction for lewd and lascivious acts with a child and a previously-deported Honduran with prior convictions for drug trafficking, spousal battery, and petty theft.

This operation that we conducted is on par with similar operations that were done in the past, David Martin, director of ICEs Los Angeles field office for enforcement and removals, said in a conference call Friday.

A complete breakdown of the criminal offenses and nationalities of the more than 640 arrested nationwide was not immediately made available.

What critics are saying

Lawmakers, immigrant rights groups and worried families raised concern over the arrests as they took place last week, with many voicing skepticism that the ICE actions were routine.

While some local immigration enforcement offices released details of the operations last week, the federal Department of Homeland Security released its first national information today.

Earlier Monday, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called on ICE to provide information about the location of the raids and details of people who were arrested.

Reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targeted nonviolent immigrant families over the past week are deeply disturbing. Undocumented immigrants live in fear, and they are confused and scared. I am troubled by the lack of transparency and potential due process violations surrounding ICEs most recent enforcement actions, the New York senator said in a statement.

Expressing similar concerns, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus will meet with ICE acting director Thomas Homan Tuesday to discuss the raids.

The caucus chairwoman, Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-New Mexico), told ABC News Mary Bruce that her fellow caucus members have many questions about the wave of arrests.

How many states were affected? And I want them to give me evidence that demonstrates that this was not coordinated and not a lot a lot of collateral apprehensions, Lujan Grisham said.

The congresswoman said she doubts the administrations defense that the arrests were made for national security.

This feels more like a huge shift in policy to get to, I want to deport 11 million people, and were going to do everything in our power to stop that, she said.

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) said last week that that it got multiple calls from worried attorneys as the immigration operation picked up speed in the Los Angeles area.

What happened last week in 55 communities in Southern California was different and not business as usual. We stand by our commitment to keep our community informed and alert, wrote CHIRLA in a Facebook post Sunday.

In Phoenix, seven protesters were arrested Wednesday outside of the ICE facility while demonstrating against the apprehension of a Mexican-born woman who was later deported.

The American Civil Liberties Union told ABC News on Sunday that it plans on creating a rapid response team to combat a potential rise in deportations under the current administration. ACLU senior attorney Lee Gelernt told said that while they were not pleased with Obamas handling of deportation raids, his group is concerned that the Trump administration will expand those efforts.

Is it different than under the Obama administration?

President Trump tweeted Sunday that the crackdown is in keeping with his campaign promises.

The crackdown on illegal criminals is merely the keeping of my campaign promise. Gang members, drug dealers & others are being removed!

 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2017Kelly said Monday in the statement, President Trump has been clear in affirming the critical mission of DHS in protecting the nation and directed our department to focus on removing illegal aliens who have violated our immigration laws, with a specific focus on those who pose a threat to public safety, have been charged with criminal offenses, have committed immigration violations or have been deported and re-entered the country illegally.

ICEs focus on people viewed as posing a threat to public safety is similar to enforcement guidance under Obama. But its not clear how this guidance will be carried out on an operational level with the new administration.

In 2014, the former Homeland Security Director issued a departmentwide memorandum calling for prosecutorial discretion so that the focus in immigration cases would be almost exclusively on criminal aliens, and clarifying the departments enforcement priorities  national security, border security and public safety.

The memorandum was not purely humanitarian as there are resource concerns  such as around the amount of space available for detentions and the capacity of immigration courts  for focusing on public safety and national security threats, according to ABC News contributor and former top Department of Homeland Security official John Cohen.

The Trump administration is going to learn quickly that resources are not infinite, said Cohen.

(Source: ABC News)
One-hundred and two members of the Bnei Menashe Jewish community, which claims descent from one of Israels lost tribes, are being brought on Aliyah this week by Shavei Israel, a Jerusalem-based nonprofit that aims to strengthen ties between the Jewish people and descendants of Jews around the world.

The 102 new immigrants all hail from the northeastern Indian state of Mizoram, which borders Burma and Bangladesh and is home to the second-largest concentration of Bnei Menashe in India after that of the state of Manipur. This marks the first time since Jan. 2014 that Bnei Menashe will be making Aliyah from Mizoram. Thirty of the new immigrants will arrive in Israel on Tuesday, Feb. 14, and 72 will arrive on Thursday, 20 Shevat. They plan to settle in Nazareth Illit, Israel, which already has a flourishing Bnei Menashe community.

We are excited to be launching Operation Menashe 2017 with the Aliyah this week of 102 Bnei Menashe from Mizoram, said Shavei Israel Founder and Chairman Michael Freund. Over the course of the coming year, with G-ds help, we will bring a total of more than 700 Bnei Menashe immigrants to Israel  the largest-ever airlift in a single year.

Freund added: After 27 centuries of exile, this lost tribe of Israel is truly coming home. But we will not rest until all the remaining Bnei Menashe still in India are able to make Aliyah as well.

The Bnei Menashe claim that they are descendants of the tribe of Menashe. So far, some 3,000 Bnei Menashe have made Aliyah to Israel, including more than 1,100 in the past four years. Some 7,000 Bnei Menashe remain in India waiting for the chance.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Following the arrests of senior Vaad Tznius officials this week, residents of Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh and Haifa, it has been learned the chareidi couple arrested in the Ukraine, found to be carrying drugs, are indeed innocent. The suspects in custody in Israel planted the drugs on them to prevent their return to Eretz Yisrael.

As reported earlier, the modesty police members were trying to break up the couple due to the events that led to them getting together. When that did not succeed, it appears they felt it appropriate to plant drugs on them so they would be arrested upon arrival in the Ukraine. The couple told local police they were the victims of an evil plot, and it now appears this is indeed correct.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
A Russian spy ship was spotted patrolling off the East Coast of the United States on Tuesday morning, the first such patrol since President Trump took office, two U.S. officials told Fox News.

The Russian spy ship was 70 miles off the coast of Delaware, heading north at 10 knots, according to one official. That location means the ship is in international waters. The U.S. territory line is 12 nautical miles.

It was not immediately clear where the Russian spy ship is headed.

The ship, the SSV-175 Viktor Leonov, last sailed near the U.S. in April 2015, an official said. The ship is capable of intercepting communications or signals, known as SIGINT, as well as measuring U.S. Navy sonar capability, a separate official said.

The Russian spy ship is also armed with surface-to-air missiles.

Its not a huge concern, but we are keeping our eyes on it, one official said.

This action by the Russian military follows recent missile test launches by Iran and North Korea.

READ MORE: FOX NEWS
Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) launched an online petition addressed to Senator Charles E. Schumer today, calling on him to rescind his support for Congressman Keith Ellison to be the next Chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Keith Ellison has disqualified himself from becoming the next chair of the DNC, said Hikind. Ellison is the most polarizing choice. Not only are his views radical, but they are divisive. Whether his embracing of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan or his support of the one-sided Goldstone Report, Ellison is clearly not the leader anyone should embrace.

Ellison has a long history of being a controversial figure. Conveniently after getting elected to Congress in 2006, he then apologized for his involvement in the Nation of Islam. Why was his apology only issued after getting elected? asked Hikind. Ellisons record clearly reflects he is no friend and is certainly dangerous to the State of Israel. In 2014, he voted against funding for Israels Iron Dome missile defense system. In 2010, at a fundraiser, he said that American foreign policy is governed by Israeli interests. Is this the future leader of the Democratic Party?

Senator Schumer, are there no mainstream candidates to lead us? asked Hikind. Instead of bringing Democrats together, Ellison will further divide the Party. Senator Schumer, pull the plug on your support for Ellison. He will be a disaster for the Democratic Party, said Hikind.

To join Assemblyman Hikind and sign the petition to Senator Schumer, click here and make your voice heard!

Below is a copy of the petition at change.org:

Senator Schumer: We urge you to withdraw your support for Keith Ellison to be the next Chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Keith Ellison is a most polarizing choice. Not only are his views radical, but they are divisive. Whether his embracing of Louis Farrakhan or his support of the one-sided Goldstone Report, he is not the right choice.

o Ellison voted against funding for Israels Iron Dome missile defense system in 2014.

o In December 2010, Ellison said that American foreign policy is governed by Israeli interests.

o His antipathy towards Israel and Jews is crystal clear.

Senator Schumer, pull the plug on your support for Ellison. He will be a disaster for the Democratic Party.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
By PTI: New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) A 34-year-old havildar posted in Territorial Army headquarters allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself twice in his chest with his service rifle this morning.

Sunil Patole has left a suicide note in Marathi addressed to his parents and brother stating he took the extreme step due to family issues, said a senior police officer.

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He has sought apology from his family and said he did not want to work anymore, he added.

Patole belonged to Nashik district.

The havildar was posted at Territorial Army headquarters on Shershah Road near High Court and he shot himself with his AK-47 rifle around 7PM, he said.

Patole was rushed to Armed Force Clinic on Dalhousie Road where he was declared brought dead, said the officer.

He had been posted here for the last six months and was married with two kids.

The family members have been informed while the body has been preserved for post-mortem at the Lady Hardinge Hospital mortuary. PTI SLB TIR

--- ENDS ---
By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times

Of late a number of Frum stores have been advertising Valentines Day sales. What is worse is that some of these advertisements are appearing in religious Jewish publications. Some people have argued (incorrectly, in the opinion of dozens of Poskim that this author has spoken with) that even though Valentines day has a Christian origin, the Christian origin has nearly completely vanished in our secular society.

It is clear, however that according to the Rama (YD 178:1) it is completely forbidden. The Maharik is the source of the Ramah and a look at the original would help clarify the intent of the halacha.

Some people misread the Igros Moshe (YD IV 11:3) to say,

even in a case where something would be considered a prohibited Gentile custom, if many people do it for reasons unrelated to their religion or law, but rather because it is pleasurable to them, there is no prohibition of imitating Gentile custom.

This is, in fact a mistranslation. Rav Feinsteins exact words were, that even a matter that is certainly considered Chok HaAkum, if it is something where we observe that the entire gentile world does this, (even those) that have no connection at all to their belief and to their customs, rather [they do so] because it is more convenient for the masses to do so, there is already no prohibition of imitating gentile custom.

Rav Feinstein ztl was referring to the notion that not covering the head when eating cannot be considered a prohibition of imitating gentile custom because the universal world of non-Jews, as a whole do this  even the non-Christians.

Thus, according to the vast majority of Poskim, it is not just an act of the pious to refrain from giving chocolates to ones wife or a friend on Valentines Day  it is entirely forbidden and a Biblical violation of walking in the ways of the gentiles.

In a similar vein, we should not be holding Valentines Day sales, nor should we be advertising them. It is this authors opinion that a customer should respectfully and nicely tell the store-owner the concern.

The author can be reached at [email protected]
By PTI: New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) The Delhi High Court today stayed the AAP governments new nursery admission norm based on neighbourhood criteria, saying "a students educational fate cant be relegated to only his/her position on a map".

Terming the criteria as "arbitrary and discriminatory", Justice Manmohan said it benefits only those parents who live close to good private schools.

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There was a "potential of abuse" of the condition as many rich parents would either shift to areas close to the school they want their children to study in or would get "sham" rent receipts or documents from owners or relatives and friends to show they reside in such areas when they do not, he said.

The court noted that no mechanism to curb or examine the possibility of abuse was provided in the Directorate of Educations (DoE) January 7, 2017 notification by which it had enforced a clause in the DDA allotment letter which made it mandatory for 298 private unaided schools here to admit students from their neighbourhood.

It said that under the Constitution and Universal Declaration of Human Rights, parents have a right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children, but this notification makes such a right "an empty formality" as neighbourhood is virtually the sole admission criteria.

"State cannot impose restriction on choice just because it thinks it will be more beneficial for the child," it said and added that the effect of the notification appears to be to reserve seats for a certain section of children who stay in the immediate neighbourhood without taking into account their socio-economic or cultural status.

"Under the impugned notification, the affluent persons living close to good schools stand to benefit... Reservation for a section of the society that is neither socially nor economically or educationally backward or Scheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes/Minorities is prima facie unconstitutional," the court said.

It said the primary cause of the nursery admission chaos is the "lack of adequate number of good quality public schools and uneven distribution of good private unaided schools" in Delhi, and this coupled with the high population density of the city, results in seats being "exhausted" on the immediate distance criteria of zero to three kilometer where private schools on DDA land are concerned.

Till the quality of all public schools improves, the disparity between demand and supply will remain and "a lot more needs to be done before the public schools come at par with good private unaided schools in public perception", it said. (More) PTI HMP PPS SC

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General Motors is said to be in advanced discussions for the sale of Opel and Vauxhall to the group that owns Citroen, DS Cars and Peugeot.

According to reports by Reuters and the DPA (Deutsche Press Agency), the American carmaking giant is deep in negotiations to offload its flagship European brands to the French PSA Group.

The two have previously shared production of some SUV and MPV models, though new reports claim a permanent deal is being ironed out for PSA to become a majority stakeholder in GM's European subsidiaries Luton-based Vauxhall and Opel.

GM out of Europe? General Motors is reportedly in talks to sell its European brands, Opel and Vauxhall, to the PSA Group

If a deal is concluded successfully, an announcement regarding new French ownership of Opel and Vauxhall could be made within days, a source told Reuters reporters.

'A PSA spokesman confirmed that the company was in talks with the U.S. carmaker to deepen their partnership,' Reuters said on Tuesday.

Bertrand Blaise, executive VP for corporate communications at Group PSA, is quoted by the news agency as saying, 'We are in discussions with Opel to expand upon our existing projects,' but declined to comment further.

PSA issued an official statement on the claims, saying: 'Since 2012, General Motors and PSA Group have been implementing an Alliance covering, to date, three projects in Europe and generating substantial synergies for the two groups.

'Within this framework, General Motors and PSA Group regularly examine additional expansion and cooperation possibilities, as well.

'PSA Group confirms that, together with General Motors, it is exploring numerous strategic initiatives aiming at improving its profitability and operational efficiency, including a potential acquisition of Opel.

'There can be no assurance that an agreement will be reached.'

The Ellesmere Port plant in Cheshire is the current home of the Vauxhall Astra

A workforce of around 2,200 employees at the plant produce 47 vehicles every hour

GM's sale would include both Vauxhall and the Opel brand that's used across other European markets

GM sold its 7 per cent stake in the PSA Group in 2013 after cost savings through shared purchasing, product development and engineering fell short of expectations.

A deal between the two would see PSA up its stronghold on the European car market to 16 per cent, overtaking Renault to become the second biggest auto group in the region behind Volkswagen AG.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF VAUXHALL MOTORS 1857: Scottish marine engineer Alexander Wilson founded the company at 9092 Wandsworth Road, Vauxhall, London. Originally named Alex Wilson and Company and then Vauxhall Iron Works from 1897, the company predominantly built pumps and marine engines. 1903: The company built its first car, with a 5hp single-cylinder engine that steered using a tiller. A year later they added wheel steering. 1905: The company moved to Luton and changed its name to Vauxhall Motors two years later in 1907. 1925: General Motors Corporation bought the business for $2.5 million. 1940: Car production at the Luton plant was suspended during WW2 to build the Churchill tank. It was bombed in August 1940, killing 39 workers. It started to make passenger vehicles again in 1945. 1962: A manufacturing plant in Ellesmere Port was opened in 1962, initially making components to supply to the production lines in Luton. Two years later, the facility began making cars.

It would mean hugely popular British cars such as the Vauxhall Astra and Corsa become stablemates with rivals such as Peugeot's 308 and 208 and Citroen's C4 and C3.

Meanwhile, big names in the increasingly popular small SUV and MPV classes, such as Vauxhall's Mokka X and Zafira, Peugeot's 3008 and 5008 and Citroen's C4 Grand Picasso would also become motoring cousins.

An agreement would also open the door for the French automaker to access European-based electric-car technology as well as clear the way for GM to remove itself from the European market.

One concern here could be that the UK's decision to leave the European Union may potentially increase UK production costs for the American outfit.

The Ellesmere Port facility in Cheshire is the production facility for Vauxhall Astra models producing some 47 cars every hour.

Vauxhall UK also has headquarters in Luton, with a combined workforce of 4,500.

The Government is now being urged to seek assurances over the security of British jobs linked to the brand, with some 23,000 people employed within the Vauxhall retail network as a whole.

Len McClusky, general secretary of Unite the Union, said: 'My priority now is to speak to General Motors to seek immediate assurances for the UK plants and this loyal workforce.

'I'll also be seeking urgent conversations with the Government because everything must be done to secure our world-class automotive industry.'
Land Rover's brand new Discovery officially hits the road today with 4,000 UK orders already in the bag and up to 20,000 worldwide, reports Ray Massey from the launch in Utah, US.

The go-anywhere seven-seater - designed to cope with the rigours of extreme desert and mountain off-roading and the school-run in the urban jungle - is having its global launch in the USA

The US will be one of the biggest export markets for the new Discovery, the fifth generation of the model first launched 27 years, and we will bring you one of the first road tests later this week.

On sale: The US will be one of the biggest export markets for the new Discovery

Prices for the new Discovery start from 43,495 for the 2.0 litre 4 cylinder version. But they can go much higher, a special 'First Edition' version, limited to an initial 600 UK buyers, costs 68,295.

The new Discovery is curvier, more flexible and higher-tech than its immediate predecessor, but with seven seats as standard it is also practical, and being Land Rover needs to be much more than a pretty face  showing real mud and guts off-roading credentials.

The new 'Disco' was launched as Jaguar Land Rover today announced a 13 per cent increase in revenues to 6.5billion, with strong customer demand in the three months to December 31, 2016. Total retail sales of 149,288 vehicles, up 8.5 per cent year-on-year, were a record for the third quarter.

Land Rover itself sold 103,924 vehicles in the third quarter, down 8.7 per cent, with strong sales of the Discovery Sport offset by the run-out of the outgoing Discovery in advance of the start of sales of the all-new Discovery also officially launched today.

Last year JLR enjoyed its best ever full-year global sales of 583,313 vehicles  up three fold since 2009. Land Rover alone sold 434,583 vehicles last year - up 8 per cent year-on-year  with record performances in the UK, US and Europe.

The new Discovery has been packed with technology for the family

The new Discovery has been packed with technology for the family. That even includes a new remote control system that allows owners to configure their vehicle seating from afar via an app on their smart-phone in just 14 seconds.

Adventurer Bear Grylls recently tested it in mid-air during a sky-diving parachute jump from 12,000ft. Grylls said: 'The Land Rover Discovery is invaluable on expeditions, whether filming in deserts, jungles or mountains, yet it's still the perfect vehicle for the family's everyday use.'

Engineers also allowed their young children to 'road test' early prototypes  which led to them to ensure that up to eight electronic devices can hook up to the car's wi-fi hot-spot, up to four iPads can be stored in the centre console. There are nine USB ports and four 12-volt charging points.

Land Rover has reintroduced and upgraded the much-loved 'curry hook' - a handy push-operated spring-loaded hook on which travellers can hang the handle of a take-away, or a carrier bag, to keep it upright during journeys.

A big panoramic glass roof allows outside light to flood in. It has van-like up to 2,406 litres of load capacity when just the first two seats are up and the other five folded down.

View: A big panoramic glass roof allows outside light to flood in

There's also hill-descent control to help on steep inclines and a special 'terrain response' to monitor conditions ranging from general driving on roads, grass, gravel and snow, mud and ruts, sand and rock crawl.

For active families, the new Discovery can tow up to 3,500kg and can wade to a depth of 900mm.

It also has an autonomous reverse technology which helps the driver to guide trailers and horse-boxes into position when reversing without touching the steering wheel. So-called 'hitch assist' uses cameras to help the driver connect a trailer or caravan.

A single-piece tail-gate replaces the split tail-gate on the existing model and rises high enough to provide a shelter from rain when loading shopping. A powered 'inner-tailgate' acts as impromptu seating for a picnic. It is operated either by the remote control key or by gesture control, such as waving your foot.

The new Discovery has shed some weight too. Its single-cell body is 85 per cent aluminium, of which 43 per cent is recycled, making it nearly half a tonne (480kg) lighter.

The new Discovery will also be the first vehicle to be built at Jaguar Land Rover's new factory in Slovakia from 2018 to cope with expected rising demand

There is a choice of three engines, each linked to an eight-speed automatic ZF gear-box:

A frugal twin turbo SD4 Ingenium four-cylinder diesel producing 240 horse-power, fuel economy of 43.5mpg, CO2 emissions of 171g/km, and acceleration from 0-60mph in 8 seconds; A six-cylinder Td6 diesel producing 258 horse-power; fuel economy of 39.2mpg, CO2 emissions of 189g/km and acceleration from 0-60mph in 7.7 seconds A supercharged Si6 3.0 litre V6 petrol engine developing 340 horse-power managing just 26mpg, higher CO2 emissions of 256g/km but acceleration from rest to 60mph in just 6.9seconds

Although the bulk of the new off-roaders will be built in Britain at the firm's Solihull factory near Birmingham the new Discovery will also be the first vehicle to be built at Jaguar Land Rover's new factory in Slovakia from 2018 to cope with expected rising demand.

JLR has stressed that the UK remains 'the cornerstone of Jaguar Land Rover's business.'

It has doubled its workforce from 20,000 to 40,000 in just five years and invested more than 12billion in new product creation and capital expenditure, including at its factories at Castle Bromwich, Halewood and Solihull.

Dr Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover chief executive officer, said: 'Continuing expansion and innovation in our compelling product range have driven up global revenues and retail unit sales, led by the Jaguar F-PACE, Jaguar XF, and Land Rover Discovery Sport.

'Models such as the all-new Discovery mark the latest step in our investment programme, which will underpin long-term profitable, sustainable growth.'
In June 2015 I bought 500 shares in Aberdeen Asset Management for a total of 2,120.57.

They were worth around 420p when I invested but since then the price has fallen to 269p.

What has gone wrong? J.J, Dyfed

Choppy seas: Aberdeen Asset Management shares hit a low of 201p the following February after another 9.1 billion was pulled out of its funds and it revealed cost-cutting plans

Holly Black, ofthe Daily Mai,l replies: Seeing the value of any investment tumble is always disappointing and it looks like you've had the misfortune to invest just as shares in Aberdeen Asset Management peaked after a strong run.

Aberdeen is an investment group which runs various trusts and funds. Its fortunes largely depend on how well those funds perform and on sentiment around the areas it is investing in.

Many of Aberdeen's funds have a focus on such emerging markets as China and Thailand, which have been out of favour for a couple of years now.

Investors have been concerned about a slowdown in economic growth in these countries and the effect of a strong dollar on the value of the exports on which many rely.

Much of an investment firm's income will come from the fee it charges investors to hold its funds.

If people take money out of those funds, the company's income falls. Before you invested, the stock had been on the rise but shortly after you bought shares, their price fell after a trading update by Aberdeen.

It said its assets under management had fallen from 330 billion to 307 billion as investors moved from emerging markets and foreign exchange rates worked against the funds.

Shares hit a low of 201p the following February after another 9.1 billion was pulled out of its funds and it revealed cost-cutting plans.

In the six months to March 2016, Aberdeen revealed pre-tax profits had fallen 40 per cent and said plans to cut costs by 70 million a year were being implemented.

Stronger fund performance boosted the firm's assets and saw shares make back some of their lost ground over the summer. They dipped again as full-year results showed revenue down 14 per cent and pre-tax profits by around 28 per cent.

This is a very brief overview of just some of the factors which have affected the firm's share price but your question serves as an important reminder that if you're going to put your money in a company then you should try to follow any news or announcements about the firm.

Companies should publish their financial results and major announcements on their website. You can read the City section of the Mail to follow major company news and get updates through the day at thisismoney.co.uk too.
Shares soared 6 per cent to 1,225.0p on the back of strong winter booking figures and an improvement in first quarter revenues

TUI was the top stock this session after results showed Britons appetite for the sun shows no sign of waning.

Shares soared 6 per cent to 1,225p on the back of strong winter booking figures and an improvement in first quarter revenues.

As a result the travel giant said its net loss for the period came in at 81.6million (69million), an improvement compared to last year's 138.7million.

Its stock was also helped by last night's announcement that the firm has sold Travelopia, its luxury division, to private equity firm KKR for 381million.

The sale is part of the group's increased focus on its own-brand hotels and cruises.

The company is also in talks with Etihad for the sale of TUI Fly to create a new airline.

Fritz Joussen, chief executive of TUI Group, said: 'The sale of Travelopia is the next strategic step in sharpening TUI's profile.

'Both the Group and its shareholders benefit from the negotiated result. We have ambitious goals and want to take the TUI brand into new regions in the world in the coming years. A clear strategic direction supports this course.'

Its UK arm put in a particularly strong performance over the quarter, driven by long-haul and cruise bookings, as well as the Canaries, Spain, Cape Verde and Cyprus.



TUI said in its statement: 'UK revenues and bookings remain significantly ahead of prior year, in line with our capacity plans.

'This includes growth in long haul and cruise, as well as the Canaries, Spain, Cape Verde and Cyprus.'

But the performance was less impressive in Germany were it suffered losses of 22million.

It blamed 'higher than usual' sickness levels in October 2016 among pilots and other employees at its German airline, TUIfly.

The firm also outlined plans to lure more Chinese and Indian travellers to create 800million in extra revenues by 2022.

It said it will focus on online and use social media to help fill its hotels with more local guests from new markets.

Joussen added: 'We're looking at countries with increasing middle-class markets. South America to fill our existing hotels in the Caribbean, China and India to fill our south-east asian hotels [mainly in Thailand], plus Spain, Italy and Portugal [to boost bookings in Tui's European hotels].

'It must be digital and it must be targeted to fill our own hotels. Many have entered China and come back with a bloody nose.'
By PTI: From Lalit K Jha

Washington, Feb 14 (PTI) US President Donald Trump today said the real story behind the National Security Advisors resignation is illegal leaks, indicating that it was not the top official misleading him as being reported in the media.

"The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington? Will these leaks be happening as I deal on N. Korea etc?" Trump told his more than 24.8 million followers on Twitter.

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His tweet came a day after Gen (rtd) Michael Flynn resigned as the National Security Advisor amidst reports that he mislead the President and Vice President Mike Pence about his conversation with the Russian Ambassador on sanctions.

Flynn resigned after he apologised to Trump and Pence for not providing them all the information about his call with the Russian Ambassador to the US before Trumps inauguration.

Trump has named Lt Gen Joseph Keith Kellogg, Jr. (Ret) as Acting National Security Advisor.

Top Republican Senator John McCain said that Flynns resignation is a troubling indication of the dysfunction of the current national security apparatus.

"As our nation confronts the most complex and diverse array of global challenges since the end of World War II, it is imperative that the President select a new National Security Advisor who is empowered by clear lines of authority and responsibility and possesses the skills and experience necessary to organize the national security system across our government," he said.

McCain said Flynns resignation also raises further questions about the Trump administrations intentions toward Vladimir Putins Russia, including statements by the President suggesting moral equivalence between the US and Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine, annexation of Crimea, threats to NATO allies, and attempted interference in American elections.

"American policy toward Russia must be made clear and unequivocal: we will honor our commitments to our NATO allies, we will maintain and enhance our deterrent posture in Europe, we will hold Russian violators of human rights accountable for their actions, and we will maintain sanctions on Russia so long as it continues to violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine," McCain said.

House Democratic Whip Steny H Hoyer demanded that Congress and the American people must learn the full extent of what Trump knew about Flynns communications with Russian leaders, and when they knew it.

"We also need to know if promises were made by the Trump campaign and Trump transition team to the Russians regarding sanctions ? and what the Trump Administration may be doing to follow through," he said.

Top Democratic leaders in the House led by Nancy Pelosi have called for the FBI to accelerate their investigation into the extent of the ties between Trump and Russia.

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They have also called for passage of legislation to create an outside, independent commission to investigate. PTI LKJ ZH

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Banks and building societies are speeding up how fast you can move a cash Isa to a new provider.

Since the start of the year, industry rules have asked every firm to complete eight in ten cash Isa transfers within seven days.

And early signs suggest the main providers are upping their game.

Figures for December showed just 66 per cent of transfers went through inside seven days.

Changes: Since the start of the year, industry rules have asked every firm to complete eight in ten cash Isa transfers within seven days

That was despite three in four being switched electronically, rather than sending paper forms and cheques by post.

Coventry Building Society is processing an impressive 98 per cent of transfers within that time and Skipton BS is managing 93 per cent.

Yorkshire BS managed just 51 per cent in January  but so far in February the figure is a far higher 82 per cent. Among the banks, TSB scored an impressive 93 per cent.

But it remains to be seen whether other large savings providers are doing as well.

Not all the big banks are willing to reveal if they are meeting the new 80 per cent target.

HSBC, NatWest, Halifax and Lloyds told Money Mail to wait until the data was published on trade body websites in April.

Barclays said their January figures are not available yet. Santander, Co-op Bank and the Nationwide Building Society also failed to reveal their January performance.

The voluntary seven working days Isa transfer agreement was struck at the end of last year between City regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and industry trade bodies the British Bankers' Association (BBA), the Building Societies Association (BSA), and the Tax-Incentivised Savings Association (Tisa).

It previously took 15 days to complete and brings switches under the same time frame as more complicated current accounts.

The new, faster service applies to switching between providers rather than changing deals with your current provider.

Research by the FCA has found switching levels are low because consumers are put off by the idea of all the hassle.

The speedier service will help savers who've seen rates cut dramatically in the past year.

The average rate on cash Isas has tumbled to 0.9 per cent, down from 1.4 per cent cent a year ago  yet money in the accounts is at a record high of 261 billion.

The Bank of England base rate has fallen by just 0.25 points in the same period.

Among the worst payers are the big banks. NatWest pays 0.01 per cent on its Cash Isa  or just 1 interest a year on 10,000.

You can earn a far better 1.05 per cent if you switch to the top deal, including the new Limited Edition Easy Access Cash Isa from Paragon Bank or 1.01 per cent with Virgin Money Defined Access Isa Issue 11.

These will pay you 105 or 101 interest on 10,000.

Peter Tyler, senior policy director at the BBA, says: 'Banks are committed to supporting faster cash Isa transfers. We encourage customers to shop around for the best deal.'

Brian Morris, head of savings policy at the BSA, says: 'We are looking at ways of getting cash Isa switches faster. We need to look deeply into the process to see what the blockers are.'

sy.morris@dailymail.co.uk
By PTI: sector

New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) India and Norway have decided to target innovation projects in companies in the field of renewable energy.

"A joint call between the Research Council of Norway and Department of Science and Technology of India was launched during a week-long matchmaking workshop on renewable energy at the Norwegian Embassy.

"The call is for USD 1 million, targeting innovation projects in companies collaborating with research institutions in the field of renewable energy," an official statement said.

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Close to 80 participants from Norway and India had a comprehensive and prosperous discussion on the sector.

The representatives also discussed a wide range of topics including energy storage, grid integration, wind power, solar power, smart infrastructure based on artificial intelligence, hydro energy and off-grid solutions.

Innovation Norway, the Norwegian Embassy, The Research Council of Norway, Institute of Technology Delhi and Department of Science of Technology co-hosted the workshop.

"Our technologies do not exclude each other. I am impressed by the work that has been done India. I think that our products compliment the existing ones and create a basis for creating even better solutions.

"The goal must be to use existing resources in the best possible manner and minimize the need for investments going forward," said Jorgen Kildahl, representing Smart Energy Systems.

India has set ambitious goals in the field of renewable energy, especially within solar where the plan is to reach 100 GW capacity by 2020.

Participants in the workshop emphasised that both countries are positive to future collaboration.

The week also witnessed signing of memorandum of collaboration between NCE Smart energy Market Halden and Power Grid, B2B Roundtable with Power Grid and leading Indian Utilities, seminar on Incubation collaboration, site visits to Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited Smart grid Labs, and Indo-Norwegian Workshop on Smart Grid Technologies among others.

A Memorandum of Co-operation between Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (Powergrid) and Norwegian Centre of Expertise (NCE) Smart Energy Markets covering cooperation for 15 countries was signed.

On the last day of the week, a workshop on Smart Grid Technologies was hosted by India-Smart grid forum which welcomed NCE Smart Energy Markets in Halden to present their solutions to national and state representatives from utility and electricity bodies from Haryana, Kolkata, Delhi and Rajasthan.

Joint secretary of the Ministry of Power, A K Verma addressed the audience and in discussion with several business participants from Norway, invited them to further meetings and collaboration, the statement said. PTI TDS IKA

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MBABANE  The Executive arm of government and the Judiciary have worked hand in hand to ensure that at least 12 corruption cases are heard in the current court roll.



This was revealed by the Prime Minister (PM) Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini, who was asked what government was doing to fight corruption.

We are pleased to reveal that there are 12 corruption cases which will be heard and we have been assured that there will be more included in the following court rolls following the employment of new judges, said the PM. Among the alleged corruption cases is that of Senator Sibusiso Shongwe, who is the former Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister.



Members of Parliament (MPs) had complained about the non-handling of most of the matters after the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had made arrests, stating that the inaction on these matters always watered down the Kings speech who spoke strongly against corruption every year. This year, the King in his Speech from the Throne, said it was laudable that corruption was on the decrease and said the goal was not to decrease it but to eliminate it.



The approval of judges of the High Court specialising in corruption, commercial and related crimes, is a commendable step towards addressing some of the existing shortcomings in the judiciary, said the King.



He also recognised the fact that the country now had a full Swazi bench of the Supreme Court of Appeal, stating that this made the country fully compliant with the provisions of the countrys constitution. We now need to ensure that those found guilty are brought to book and illicit assets recovered as soon as possible, he said.
MBABANE  A truck driver at Long Distance Transport Swaziland (PTY) Limited has been suspended from work for among other things, allegedly using the f word against one of his bosses.



Michael Mphumelelo Dlamini is alleged to have said, You not a f*** Swazi and you should watch out.

It is alleged that the truck driver had directed these words to Paula Heaney who is the companys Operations Director.

Dlamini has been slapped with five charges which include using derogatory language towards a senior member of the management, violence/threats towards the senior member and insubordination.



In the first count, Dlamini is alleged to have on December 15, 2016 while at Long Distance premises in Matsapha, verbally abused Prigar Mhlanga in the presence of other employees and in the process disturbing the operations of the company.



On the same day he is alleged to have physically attacked Mhlanga (Prigar) by pushing her while threatening her, causing another senior member of the staff ( Sabelo Mlambo) to intervene to contain the situation.

Dlamini is said to have, after he was issued with a notice of suspension, allegedly refused to submit his trip sheet to Paula Heaney before vacating the companys premises.



Through his attorney Velaphi Dlamini, the truck driver yesterday moved an urgent application in the Industrial Court where he is, inter alia, seeking an order that his disciplinary hearing should start afresh.



He also wants one Thulisile Nkambule to be removed from chairing his disciplinary hearing.
MANZINI  Two friends died a brutal death after they were stabbed in separate but related incidents on the same day.



A well-known gang, who refer to themselves as the Boko Haram at Ludzeludze, allegedly speared a suspect, who was recently released on bail by the High Court, 10 times and further stoned him to death.



This was after he allegedly tried stabbing the mother of one of the members of the Boko Haram gang at her homestead on Sunday afternoon after learning that his friend had died at her doorstep.

The first murder occurred after an argument between a group of men at a popular drinking hole, known as KaMbongeni, on Sunday at around 2am.



From the shebeen, the men are said to have chased after Celucolo Dlamini, who was allegedly stabbed by one of them once in the neck.

Bleeding profusely, he managed to escape the group of men and went to a nearby homestead where he knocked hard on the main door.

The woman of the house, upon hearing the knock, opened the door, however, Celucolo had already collapsed on the doorstep, a traumatised resident who refused to be named, said.



The woman, only identified as Make Dludlu, is said to have panicked after seeing Dlamini lying in a pool of blood near her burglar door and immediately called the police.

It is alleged that the woman who came across Dlaminis body is the mother of one of the Boko Haram group members.

When the police arrived at the Dludlu homestead, Dlamini was already dead.
By Ajit Kumar Dubey: In the aftermath of terrorist attacks in Uri and Nagrota last year, the Indian Army has moved a `1,000-crore proposal to the government for securing its installations using hi-tech methods along with movement sensors to enable its soldiers to immediately detect any breach of its base-fences.

In both the attacks in Uri and Nagrota, Pakistani terrorists had breached the fences of the Army garrisons to enter and attack the personnel and had caused a loss of over 25 troops in the process.

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After these attacks, we feel there is a need for securing the bases using hi-tech fences along with deployment of movement sensors which can quickly detect any unauthorised entry attempts from any side of a base," . Sources added the force has already prepared a plan.

Investigations by the NIA and the Army into the Uri attack have suggested that the four terrorists belonging to the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) had managed to sneak in by cutting the perimeter fencing of the highly guarded army installation at two places.

Also read: Army pays tributes to soldiers killed in Kulgam encounter

After the Nagrota attack on Army's 166 artillery regiment, defence minister Manohar Parrikar had stated that some lethargy had crept in but the forces were taking measures to secure their periphery.

Seven troops had died in the attack on the Nagrota camp as two terrorists had allegedly jumped inside the campus over the security wall and tried to attack the family quarters inside there.

After the attacks by breach of fence, the DRDO had been asked to experiment with smart solutions to secure military bases. "The DRDO has been asked to try fences of different kinds - microwave, laser, smart fence - that can pick vibration and CCTV cameras that can pick movement at one kilometre," Parrikar had said.

In 2015 also, terrorist had jumped inside the Pathankot air base by crossing the security wall which had gaps in monitoring and had pitched themselves inside the campus before being busted by the Air Force Special Forces Garud.

In the aftermath of the attack, the IAF has also moved towards setting up its base security, which would use smart ways of monitoring the periphery against any breach and may also employ small-sized drones to keep an eye on any kind of movement.

Also Watch: Pakistan: Suicide blast at Lahore's Punjab Assembly kills 16, injures scores

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: From Yoshita Singh

United Nations, Feb 14 (PTI) India today called for collaborative preventive approach to address terrorist cyberattacks against critical infrastructures, underlining that current international law is not well positioned to deal with the threat.

Citing the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, India said that financial hubs are targeted by terrorists to impact a countrys economy.

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"The investigations into the heinous terrorist attacks on Mumbai in 2008 revealed the impact its perpetrators wanted to have on the psyche and economy of the whole of India.

"These attacks, including on a hospital, railway station and hotels were carefully planned and crafted from beyond our borders to have crippling effects not only on daily life in a bustling metropolis but targeted a country of a billion people," Indias Permanent Representative to the UN Syed Akbaruddin said here yesterday.

Addressing a Security Council debate on Threats to International Peace and Security caused by terrorist acts : Protection of Critical Infrastructure, Akbaruddin said big urban centres like Mumbai, New York and London have become targets as impact on cities serving as financial hubs affect the economy of the country in multiple ways.

He, however, lamented the lack of adequate international law to deal with the threat of cyber attacks, adding that despite years of concern, states have addressed few international instruments addressing issues of threats from cyberspace.

"Current international law is not well positioned to support responses to cyber attacks," he said adding that protection of critical infrastructure is primarily a national responsibility.

"However, given that much of our technologies and base templates for systems around the world are similar, threats of attacks on an international stock exchange, a major dam, a nuclear power plant, possible sabotaging of oil/gas pipelines, air safety systems of airports, or potential blocking of an international canal or straits have much wider implications and pursuant complications far beyond national frontiers," he said.

Akbaruddin said many recent terrorist attacks have revealed that accessto Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and in some cases their manipulation was an "important enabler".

"The global nature of information and communication technologies raises the necessity for an international vision and coordination on policy aspects with the aim of enhancing capabilities," he said.

He noted that Security Council decisions that impose binding counter-terrorism duties do not mention cyber attacks, while Member States have been negotiating the proposed Comprehensive Convention on InternationalTerrorismsince the latter halfofthe1990s, a period corresponding to the rise of worries against terrorist cyber attacks. (MORE) PTI YAS PMS

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By Bob Harris

Since a permit was given to build a hotel at 186th Street and 64th Avenue in Fresh Meadows about three years ago, there has been no contact with the owners of the hotel.

Fresh Meadows Homeowners Civic Association President Jim Gallagher had been told that the hotel would be used by transient Chinese students. This sparse information did not satisfy the local civic associations.

They were concerned that the owners of the hotel would use it for homeless families as has been done in other areas of Queens.

A regular hotel is definitely not the place for homeless families and other challenged homeless people.

The Liquor License Committee meeting was held on Jan. 10 at the Community Board 8 office. We learned that the Mayflower International Hotel Group owned the hotel and it is a Wyndham franchise and wanted to legalize a liquor bar on the main floor.

The hotel will provide a buffet breakfast. The bar in the lobby will hold only 75 people in an open space and will be just for hotel guests.

The hotel will only have 38 parking spaces which could be compatible for use by transient people coming from the airports but will be a problem if too many people drive to the hotel because there is little parking in the community. We learned that the hotel will have a shuttle bus to the local airports.

Since this was a hearing only for a liquor license, the civic leaders had to carefully phrase their questions to obtain some of this information.

The manager of the Mayflower Hotel, Blossom Ho, answered all questions from the committee and at a quick gathering which the leaders of the Fresh Meadows Homeowners Civic Association, the Utopia Estates Civic Association, the West Cunningham Park Civic Association, and the Meadowlark Tenants Association had with her after the hearing ended.

Ho explained that the hotel planned to serve families of local college students, businessmen visiting companies, tourists and the guests of people who were having events like weddings at nearby places. She did not know anything about the information that we had been given years ago that the hotel would be used for transient Chinese students.

The Certificate of Occupancy states that there will be 20 units per floor for transient hotel guests and also 10 Class A apt. hotel units per floor. We were not able to ask about this information after the meeting since the office was closing.

The civic associations still have more questions and would like to meet with the owners of the hotel under the auspices of state Sen. Tony Avella like the way we met with the owners of the two Marriott hotels across the expressway.

Avella had a representative at this meeting. As of this writing there has been no meeting with the owners of the Mayflower Hotel at 61-27 186th St,, Fresh Meadows.

GOOD NEWS OF THE WEEK

Community Board 10 has voted to back Assemblyman Andrew Hevesis plan to curb the citys growing homeless population. The plan is called Home Stability Support. If the state Legislature votes for this program, then families facing loss of housing who are on public assistance would have their rents subsidized so they would not be evicted and become homeless.

Federal and state housing subsidies have been reduced over the years so people are being evicted and being made homeless.

BAD NEWS OF THE WEEK

China is planning to spend more than $300 billion through 2020 on renewable energy like solar and wind. They claim they will create more than 13 million jobs in the renewable energy sector and cut greenhouse gases.

They must do this because they have terrible choking pollution in their industrial areas plus their cities are threatened by rising sea levels.

REMEMBER THE NEWTOWN 26
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By Bill Parry

A 75-year-old Dutch Kills woman was mauled to death by her own dog early Monday morning that was adopted from Animal Care Centers. Police from the 114th Precinct, responding to a 911 call around 1 a.m., discovered Louise Hermida unconscious and unresponsive in her 27th Street home with trauma to her upper torso, according to the NYPD.

EMS transported the woman to Weill Cornell Medical Center,where she was pronounced dead, police said.

Published reports indicate the woman was attacked by her pet dog, a mastiff adopted from the ASPCA, but ASPCA spokeswoman Rebecca Goldrick denied that. The dog was taken to Animal Care Centers of New York City, where it was originally adopted from.

We can confirm that the dog was adopted from ACC almost 6 years ago and was about 1 years old at the time, ACC spokeswoman Katy Hansen said. He is currently at our Manhattan Care Center. We cannot comment further because of the legal nature of this case.

Hermidas 39-year-old son was also injured in the attack with trauma to his lower left leg, according to police, who did not identify him. He was taken to Weill Cornell Medical Center in stable condition.

The city medical examiner will determine the cause of death and the investigation was ongoing, according to the NYPD.

(dog was adopted from Animal Care Centers six years ago)
Donald Trump\s national security adviser Michael Flynn resigned amid controversy over his contacts with the Russian government, a first stunning departure from the president\s inner circle less than a month after his inauguration.

The White House late Monday said Trump had accepted Flynn\s resignation amid allegations the retired three star general discussed US sanctions strategy with Russia\s ambassador Sergey Kislyak before taking office.

Flynn  who once headed US military intelligence  insisted he was honored to have served the American people in such a "distinguished" manner.

But he admitted that he "inadvertently briefed" the now Vice President Mike Pence with "incomplete information" about his calls with Kislyak.

Pence had publicly defended Flynn, saying he did not discuss sanctions, putting his own credibility into question.

"Regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador. I have sincerely apologized to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology," read Flynn\s letter, a copy of which was released by the White House.

The White House said Trump has named retired lieutenant general Joseph Kellogg, a decorated Vietnam war veteran who was serving as a director on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to be interim national security advisor.

Flynn\s resignation so early in a US administration is unprecedented, and comes after details of his calls with the Russian diplomat were made public  increasing pressure on Trump to take action.

Several US media outlets on Monday reported that top Trump advisers were warned about Flynn\s contacts with the Russians early this year.

Questions will now be raised about who knew about the calls, and why Trump did not move earlier to replace Flynn.

Flynn\s resignation will also fuel calls for an independent investigation into Russia\s influence during the 2016 US presidential election.

Earlier in the day White House spokesman Sean Spicer insisted Trump was not consulted about Flynn discussing sanctions, nor did he task Flynn to do so.

Asked if Trump was aware Flynn would discuss sanctions with the Russian envoy, Spicer said: "No, absolutely not. No way."

A former head of defense intelligence, Flynn\s encounters with Russian President Vladimir Putin had already drawn criticism.

US media reported Monday that the Justice Department had warned the White House that Flynn had misled senior administration officials about the contents of his talks with Kislyak, and that it could make him vulnerable to Russian blackmail.

The message was delivered in the last days of Barack Obama\s administration by then-acting attorney general Sally Yates  who Trump sacked after she instructed Justice Department lawyers not to defend his contested travel ban.

CNN said then director of national intelligence James Clapper and John Brennan, the CIA chief at the time, agreed the White House should be alerted about the concerns.

In the hours before his resignation, some Trump aides suggested that Flynn had the full support of the president.

Until now, Flynn had been an instrumental player in Trump\s inner circle.

He was an early supporter of Trump\s improbable bid for the presidency and has encouraged tougher policies on Iran and a softer policy on Russia.

That was a sharp break with the Obama administration, which introduced sanctions over Moscow\s annexation of Ukraine\s Crimea, support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, and what US intelligence says were its attempts to sway the 2016 election in Trump\s favor.

Washington and Moscow had also clashed over alleged war crimes in Syria, where Russia is accused of aiding the bombing of hospitals and other civilian targets. Despite this, Flynn had argued for rapprochement.

A few of Trump\s fellow Republicans had joined their Democratic foes in urging Flynn to resign over a situation that had become a major embarrassment for the ruling party.

"It is his duty to be fully transparent and forthright in his actions  anything less is unacceptable," Representative Mike Coffman, a Colorado Republican, said in a statement.

"If in fact he purposely misled the president, he should step down immediately."

Flynn\s resignation took place just days before his first official talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, discussions in which the president\s national security advisor would normally have a key role.

The Justice Department and Congress are both investigating possible links between Trump campaign advisors and Moscow, and US intelligence has concluded that Putin personally directed an operation to interfere in the US election.

On December 29, the Obama administration sanctioned four Russian individuals and five entities, and expelled 35 Russian diplomats in retaliation.

SOURCE: AFP
Strong defense, pair of goals from Shaye Bailey hands Freedom WPIAL Class 1A championship

A shutdown defense and a pair of second-half goals from junior Shaye Bailey led the Freedom Bulldogs to a convincing 3-0 win over Springdale Friday.
By PTI: Jaipur, Feb 14 (PTI) Suspected ISIS supporter Mohammad Iqbal, who is in the custody of Rajasthan police, had allegedly mobilised funds from India and China for the terror organisation, police said today.

Iqbal alias Travel Haq had alleged transferred money from China and through hawala from India to Dubai, Additional Director General of Anti-Terrorist Squad Umesh Mishra told reporters here.

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Iqbal allegedly used to transfer funds to IS operative Jameel Ahmed who was arrested by the ATS from Sikar in November last year, Mishra said.

His name cropped up during the interrogation of Jameel following which he was arrested by Tamil Nadu police earlier this month.

?Jameel and Iqbal were in touch on social networking sites. Iqbal used to transfer funds to Jameel who was based in Dubai. From Dubai, he further transferred the money to the IS in countries like Turkey, Lebanon,? Mishra claimed.

The accounts of his social networking sites and his foreign visits are being probed to ascertain further details, the police official said.

Iqbal was brought to Jaipur from Chennai on production warrant on Sunday and was placed under arrest yesterday.

He was produced before a local court where the magistrate remanded him to police custody for four days till February 18. PTI SDA AKK AKK

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North Adams, Mass.

North Adams is seeking the public's support as it pursues a half-million-dollar prize that would help boost its Main Street.

The Berkshire County town of 12,000 people, perhaps best known as the home of the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, or MASS MoCA, is a finalist in the 2017 Small Business Revolution  Main Street competition sponsored by Shoreview, Minn.-based Deluxe Corp., which provides checks and other products and services to small businesses and financial institutions.

The prize will be awarded to the town that receives the most online votes over a one-week period that began last Thursday. Voting runs through 9 p.m. this Thursday. Jodi Joseph, MASS MoCA's director of communications, says people may vote once a day per browser, per device at http://smallbusinessrevolution.org/main-street/season-two/finalist-north-adams-ma

One issue North Adams faces is how to capitalize on the more than 150,000 people who visit MASS MoCA each year but rarely venture downtown. Two blocks and a highway bypass separate the two.

The city lost some of its older downtown buildings during an urban renewal effort in the late 1960s. Today, much of the downtown is covered by parking lots.

Joseph and others would like to see more green space downtown, and to better connect the museum and Main Street, especially now that the museum is on the verge of doubling in size. MASS MoCA, in former factory buildings, has already completed renovations and is installing art for a Memorial Day opening of its new space.

The money is intended to help the winning city's small businesses, as well as meet some of its infrastructure needs.

eanderson@timesunion.com  518-454-5323
ALBANY -- A 28-year-old city man who allegedly robbed a pizza delivery driver at gunpoint Jan. 20 was arrested Friday, city police said.

Ivan D. Moore was arrested after an investigation by Albany detectives, city police spokesman Officer Steve Smith said in a news release. Moore is charged with felony robbery.

Moore is accused of pointing a silver handgun into the delivery driver's side, who was sitting inside his car at about 11:40 p.m. in front of 555 Second St., and reaching into the man's pockets to steal about $700, Moore's arrest report states.

Smith said the driver complied and Moore fled the scene.

Moore was arraigned in Albany City Criminal Court and taken to the Albany County Jail.
Albany

The state Assembly on Tuesday passed legislation that would raise the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 18 years old.

The "Raise the Age" bill was approved 81-40.

That piece is key for the Assembly's Majority Democrats as the calendar moves deeper into budget negotiation season. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has included Raise the Age legislation in his budget, but past efforts to get those under the age of 18 out of adult prisons and tried in the family court system for most crimes has fallen flat.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, D-Bronx, said at a Tuesday press conference he would not make a declaration that the budget should be held up if Raise the Age isn't included. But at the same time he made Raise the Age out to be an imperative as part of an overhaul of the criminal justice system.

"Deep-red states that have a Republican governor and Republican (legislature) have found a way to do this," Heastie said. "For me personally it's embarrassing that New York is still one of the two states (not) to do this. For me, as a speaker of color, it truly is hurtful to me that New York and North Carolina are the only ones that still treat 16- and 17-year-olds as adults."

Assembly Codes Committee Chairman Joe Lentol, D-Brooklyn, said it's likely the Democrats' legislation will be viewed as anti-police by Republicans in both the Assembly and Senate.

"What you call Raise the Age I call the Gang Recruitment Act," Assemblyman Al Graf, R-Long Island, said during afternoon debate. "This is a great tool to be able to recruit younger members of our community to enter gangs."

Graf said the legislation would enable gangs to use 16- and 17-year-olds for drug and gun sales and to commit other crimes "and the poor little misguided criminal, we're not going to hold them accountable."

Earlier in the day, Lentol said the Democrats' package of legislation is intended to improve criminal justice.

Senate Republican Majority Leader John Flanagan told reporters last month that Raise the Age is a complicated measure.

mhamilton@timesunion.com  518-454-5449  @matt_hamilton10
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Cohoes

Downtown's revitalization will see more than $9 million in residential and commercial development this year, Mayor Shawn Morse said in his second state of the city speech Monday.

CDREIT, LLC (Capital District Real Estate Investment Team) will invest $5 million in a White Street project, while Capital Companies NY will spend $4 million to renovate six Remsen Street properties, the mayor said.

A block away, Pioneer Bank will open its first branch in the city on Mohawk Street, across the street from City Hall.

"Remsen Street is coming back. It's going to be the premier street in the Capital Region," Morse said.

Most of Morse's speech concentrated on his administration's accomplishments during his first year in office. He saved the economic development news of the first two months of 2017 for the end.

Remsen Place, a $5 million development of 20 apartments and 9,000 square feet of commercial space, will be built at 12 White St., Daniel Odabashian of CDREIT said. He said the site of the former Cohoes Theater, at the corner of White and Remsen streets, is in a strong marketplace for the project.

Daniel Oh of Capital Companies NY said his firm would invest $4 million in revitalizing 95, 103, 109, 113, 122 and 130 Remsen St. Oh said the company spent about $2 million in 2016 buying Remsen Street properties.

These projects, Morse said, would build off the $3 million renovation of the Cohoes Hotel on Remsen Street into housing and the move to redevelop Cohoes Music Hall's programs.

Morse praised Pioneer Bank for opening its first branch in the city. Pioneer will move into 100 Mohawk St., a former First Niagara Bank branch that has been vacant for about five years.

"You don't expect perfection from elected officials, but you do expect progress," Albany County Legislator Gil Ethier, D-Cohoes, the city Democratic chairman, said about Morse's and the Common Council's economic development efforts.

County Executive Dan McCoy, who attended the speech, said it was good to see the progress Cohoes is making.

The city received $1.44 million in three grants since Jan. 1, the mayor told the crowd of about 100 people gathered in the Common Council chambers.

These grants include $450,000 in complete streets funding that will bring new sidewalks, roads, streetscapes and a bike lane on Remsen Street between Cayuga and Ontario streets; $140,000 to build a working canal lock model and make improvements at the city visitors center; and $850,000 in a Bridge NY grant for repairs to the culvert on Columbia Street.

A new bakery will open downtown, Morse said. Cake Streets Sweets will be in Harmony Market Place, 184-190 Remsen St.

kcrowe@timesunion.com  518-454-5084  @KennethCrowe
East Greenbush

A state deputy commissioner faces a trespassing charge for allegedly hunting on posted property in his neighborhood, according to town police and court records.

Eric S. McShane of Stock Lane was ticketed Nov. 17 during hunting season, town court records state.

McShane, 49, a deputy commissioner of the state Office of General Services, was accused by a neighbor of trespassing, police said.

"It's a false allegation," McShane said Tuesday.

The area off Stock Lane is wooded. Police said the ticket was issued by an officer in what would be termed a citizen's arrest. The trespassing ticket is the equivalent of a traffic infraction.

McShane is scheduled to appear Thursday in East Greenbush Town Court.

McShane earned $139,519 in 2016 as an OGS deputy commissioner, according to payroll records published by the Empire Center's SeeThroughNY.net website.

OGS did not respond by deadline for a request for comment on McShane's situation.

kcrowe@timesunion.com  518-454-5084  @KennethCrowe
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Troy

Troy's downtown revival is sometimes told as a story of new businesses and restored buildings, but it is really about people.

Behind every change is a person (or two or three) who takes a dream and makes it real, whose creativity, passion and energy produce something new.

The list of such people in Troy is getting long. So for the sake of brevity and simplicity I'll focus here on just one  Robert Hirsch, a downtown business and property owner who looks at the city's waterfront and envisions something magical.

More Information Contact columnist Chris Churchill at 518-454-5442 or email cchurchill@timesunion.com See More Collapse

Here's a hint: His plan includes a three-story animatronic horse.

Oh, and a biodome.

Before you dismiss Hirsch as a crackpot, I should A.) assure you that he is a rational human being and B.) tell you more about him. He certainly wears a few different hats.

Hirsch is a mechanical engineer, product developer and owner of Shandor Motion Systems Inc. He's an author and blogger. He's a husband and father.

Three decades ago, when Hirsch arrived to attend RPI, the city did not make a good initial impression. But believing in its potential and future, he stuck around anyway.

Time is proving Hirsch right. I think most people agree that Troy is becoming a much more interesting city. The momentum of downtown progress is real and even seems to be spreading to neighborhoods such as North Central and Mount Ida.

Yes, there are still sections of the city that deserve worry. And yes, there are miles of waterfront where the potential is still unrealized  to Hirsch's frustration and amazement.

"I was here when they built the jail on the waterfront," Hirsch said. "I mean, why would you do that?"

Probably for the same reason you would let a mammoth salt pile sit along the waterfront for 18 years, which is similar to the reason you'd let so much of the waterfront remain akin to an industrial wasteland. Both reveal a city that has not seen much value in the Hudson River, despite worldwide examples of how waterfronts can transform cities.

So let's get back to Hirsch's plan.

He calls the park "Trojan Encounters"  the name could probably be tweaked  and envisions it stretching from the salt pile to the old Scolite site along the South Troy waterfront.

Its biggest ideas are based on European successes. The biodome, for instance, is from the widely popular Eden Project in Cornwall, England. The horse is based on Les Machines de L'ile, an astounding artistic achievement in France that features a mammoth animatronic elephant.

In fact, seeing firsthand what that park had done for Nantes, a faded industrial town, was the spark for Hirsch's idea, he said.

The Troy version would be a Trojan horse that people could climb inside to ride. The park would also include outdoor playgrounds and an indoor recreation center with skate and obstacle parks, climbing walls and shops.

In short, the park Hirsch envisions is anything but passive. It would be an attraction for visitors from beyond the region and transformative economic development that would create hundreds of jobs. The impact would extend beyond Troy.

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The price tag? About $100 million, Hirsch thinks.

So yes, it would require significant private investment, Hirsch's preference, or even public funding. (A reminder: The state in December awarded $700 million to projects statewide, and none were this imaginative.)

Hirsh is serious about this. He has been presenting the idea to just about anyone who will listen, including city officials.

Deputy Mayor Monica Kurzejeski, formerly the city's head of economic development, called it a "crazy, awesome plan" and seemed genuinely impressed. "It's truly visionary and really big thinking," she said.

Kurzejeski stopped short of throwing city support behind the project, but did say Troy is looking for intriguing ideas for the city-owned Scolite land, where the Poestenkill meets the Hudson. The city's new comprehensive plan, she added, recommends public access to the water there and calls for using the creek to link nearby neighborhoods with Prospect Park.

That's all good news  and a vast improvement from a prior plan, ultimately rejected by the City Council, that would have turned the land over to a gravel company.

If there's a sour note here, it's this: Hirsch and his family are moving in about a year to South Africa, which he views as more receptive to creativity. But before he goes, Hirsch wants to more actively promote his Trojan Encounters plan.

Yes, the plan is a long shot. But a difficult dream is much better than no dream at all.

cchurchill@timesunion.com  518-454-5442  @chris_churchill
Apart from the fatalities, 11 other security personnel were injured in the gunfight, which came two days after two Army jawans lost their lives in an encounter on Sunday.

By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu, Shuja-ul-Haq , Ashraf Wani: Three soldiers lost their lives after an encounter broke out between militants and security forces in Pir Mohalla, Hanjin in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district. One militant, believed to be a Pakistani national and of to the Lashkar-e-Taiba, was killed in the gunfight.

11 security personnel, four from the army, one from the CRPF and six from the police, were injured.

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Commandant of 45 Battalion of CRPF Chetan Kumar Cheetah is said to be critical after being hit by 9 bullets. The officer was first flown to 92 Base hospital in Srinagar and then to AIIMS via the Air Ambulance in Delhi.

The officer has already lost his right eye during the encounter.

Several civilians were also injured in the incident and there have been reports of heavy stone pelting in the area.

Forces from the Indian Army and the Special Operations Group of the Jammu and Kashmir police cordoned off the Pir Mohalla village in the wee hours of Tuesday. They came under fire from militants holed up in a hideout following which the encounter ensued.

Arms and ammunition recovered during the encounter (ANI photo) Click here to Enlarge Arms and ammunition recovered during the encounter (ANI photo)

The encounter comes just two days after four terrorists were killed by security forces on Sunday. Two Indian Army jawans lost their lives in that encounter, which took place in the Nowpora Yaripora area of south Kashmir's Kulgam district.

Also read: J-K: 2 Army jawans, 4 Hizbul militants killed in gunfight; encounter over, search ops on

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Archbishop Kieran O'Reilly, in an exclusive interview this week with The Tipperary Star has said that he is in favour of introducing the Ministry of the Permanent Diaconate to Cashel and Emly.

In an exclusive interview in this weeks Tipperary Star, Archbishop Kieran O'Reilly, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, says that he is in favour of introducing the Ministry of the Permanent Diaconate to the Archdiocese to help deal with the demands being placed on dwindling clerical numbers.

The Ministry would allow for married men performing limited duties within the Church including baptisms, marriages, funerals etc. but would not permit the celebration of the Eucharist. And, discussions have already taken place with the Council of Priests about such a move.

By 2018 there will be 100 permanent deacons in Ireland officiating at many Church events and the 3/4 years of training required would help pave the way for the Ministry of the Permanent Diaconate in Cashel and Emly also - interestingly the Archdiocese has no parish of the 46 without a priest at the present time, despite the declining numbers.

Archbishop Kieran also speaks candidly about his Ad Limina visit to Pope Francis and reveals the message to be shared with the people on the importance of family.

See this weeks Tipperary Star for full story.
[February 14, 2017] Bank of America Merrill Lynch Provides Nearly $4 Billion in Community Development Lending and Investing in 2016

Bank of America Merrill Lynch Community Development Banking (CDB) provided nearly $4 billion in loans, tax credit equity investments and other real estate development solutions to create housing for individuals, families, veterans, seniors and the previously homeless across the United States in 2016. This effort included: $2.7 billion in debt commitments, including $36 million in FHA loans.

$1.2 billion in new equity investments.

12 green projects, including three LEED-certified properties.

13,200 housing units in 2016; 196,000 housing units since 2005. In 2016, the Community Development Banking group completed the second phase of the San Francisco Rental Assistance Demonstration (SF-RAD), the largest and most complex RAD financing in the United States to date. Over both phases, the bank provided $2.2 billion as investor and lender, which will transform nearly 3,500 public housing units at 29 properties into safe and sustainable low-income housing for more than 10,000 San Francisco residents. The project will rehabilitate the property by addressing critical safety issues, upgrading the living areas and increasing the number of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant units. The formerly public housing is now owned and managed by private entities committed to maintaining quality affordable housing. The bank also provided funding for supportive services including referrals to case management, mental health and substance abuse, and other services. For more information on CDB's RAD capabilities, click here. Other significant projects that closed in 2016 include: St. Albans Cycle of Life - A combination of a $13.6 million construction loan and $17.8 million in low-income housing tax credits helped finance 67 affordable housing units for families in Queens, N.Y. The bank also arranged $4.4 million in permanent financing. This new construction, green project is the first affordable family development built in the St. Albans community in 20 years.

- A combination of a $13.6 million construction loan and $17.8 million in low-income housing tax credits helped finance 67 affordable housing units for families in Queens, N.Y. The bank also arranged $4.4 million in permanent financing. This new construction, green project is the first affordable family development built in the St. Albans community in 20 years. N. Street Village - In Washington, D.C., the bank provided an $8.5 million tax-exempt construction loan and $4 million in permanent debt financing for the redevelopment of 95 units of affordable multifamily and supportive housing for homeless and low-income individuals and families. In 1994, the bank provided the initial debt and equity to renovate an abandoned building that became N. Street's headquarters, where they have provided supportive services, shelter and low-income housing.

- In Washington, D.C., the bank provided an $8.5 million tax-exempt construction loan and $4 million in permanent debt financing for the redevelopment of 95 units of affordable multifamily and supportive housing for homeless and low-income individuals and families. In 1994, the bank provided the initial debt and equity to renovate an abandoned building that became N. Street's headquarters, where they have provided supportive services, shelter and low-income housing. Maime D. Lee - Two charter schools and a community health facility comprise this Washington, D.C., project for which the bank provided $24.2 million in construction and mini permanent debt financing for new construction and renovation of this 80,000-square-foot facility. Maime D. Lee created 700 new charter school seats, and the health center will serice 15,000 dental and medical patients in its first year.

- Two charter schools and a community health facility comprise this Washington, D.C., project for which the bank provided $24.2 million in construction and mini permanent debt financing for new construction and renovation of this 80,000-square-foot facility. Maime D. Lee created 700 new charter school seats, and the health center will serice 15,000 dental and medical patients in its first year. Lotus Village - Nearly $11 million of new markets tax credits from the bank helped fund new construction for a 100,000-square-foot comprehensive homeless services facility for families, women and children in Miami. It will consist of a shelter with 140 units for up to 500 women, youth and children; a wellness center, including therapy rooms, daycare and playground; a neighborhood health clinic; a working classroom kitchen; a salon; an art and activities lab; a yoga and meditation room; and a pavilion, dining and social activities.



In 2016, CDB celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Bank of America Merrill Lynch Low-Income Housing Challenge (LIHC). The LIHC has continued its goal to inform, educate and attract the next generation of affordable housing professionals. Teams included undergraduate and graduate students from eight universities in California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona and New York. The LIHC has resulted in actual housing developments based on proposals created during the competition, fostering future talent while supporting CDB's commitment to providing quality, affordable housing.

The bank gained momentum on its Federal Housing Administration (FHA) multifamily lending platform in 2016, underwriting a variety of transactions across the country, with a significant concentration along the East Coast. The bank has been successfully pairing its FHA execution with Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity and equity bridge loans to provide a streamlined execution for borrowers. "We deliver the full capabilities of the bank to our clients to help create sustainable solutions that promote healthy and thriving communities," said Barry. "In 2016, we streamlined our delivery, made strategic hires and expanded our existing financial offerings to offer innovative solutions for our clients." Community Development Banking includes the Banc of America Community Development Corp. (BACDC), which serves as a development partner and provides debt and equity financing for properties in low- and moderate-income communities across the country. In 2016, BACDC was a development partner in affordable housing projects with a total cost of $159 million, including $39 million in completed projects, $73 million under construction and more than $47 million in new developments. Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 46 million consumer and small business relationships with approximately 4,600 retail financial centers, approximately 15,900 ATMs, and award-winning online banking with approximately 34 million active accounts and nearly 22 million mobile active users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Bank of America Merrill Lynch is the marketing name for the global banking and global markets businesses of Bank of America Corporation. Lending, derivatives, and other commercial banking activities are performed globally by banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A., member FDIC. Securities, strategic advisory, and other investment banking activities are performed globally by investment banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation ("Investment Banking Affiliates"), including, in the United States, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, which is a registered broker-dealer and a member SIPC, and, in other jurisdictions, locally registered entities. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Merrill Lynch Professional Clearing Corp. are registered as futures commission merchants with the CFTC and are members of the NFA. Investment products offered by Investment Banking Affiliates: Are Not FDIC Insured * May Lose Value * Are Not Bank Guaranteed. Visit the Bank of America newsroom for more Bank of America news, and click here to register for news email alerts. www.bankofamerica.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170214005374/en/

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[February 14, 2017] Humana Announces Termination of Merger with Aetna; Schedules Conference Call with Investors

Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) today announced the mutual termination of its merger agreement with Aetna Inc. (Aetna), following a ruling from the United States District Court for the District of Columbia granting a United States Department of Justice request to enjoin the merger. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Humana is entitled to a breakup fee of $1 billion, or approximately $630 million, net of tax. As previously disclosed, the company will issue a press release to provide its 2017 financial guidance and provide an update on its strategic plan. To allow for advance notification to investors, Humana has scheduled the issuance of that press release for 4:15 p.m. eastern time today, February 14, 2017, and a call with investors to follow at 4:45 p.m. eastern time. This call will be webcast and may be accessed via Humana's Investor Relations page at humana.com. The company suggests those listening over the web sign on at least 15 minutes in advance of the call. The company also sugests web participants visit the site well in advance of the call to run a system test and to download any free software needed.



For those unable to listen in to the live call, the call replay may be accessed via the Historical Webcasts and Presentations section of the Investor Relations page at humana.com, approximately two hours following the live webcast. Telephone replays will be available from 8:15 p.m. eastern time on February 14, 2017 until midnight eastern time on April 14, 2017 and can be accessed by dialing 855-859-2056 and providing the conference ID # 72762971. About Humana

Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is a leading health and well-being company focused on making it easy for people to achieve their best health with clinical excellence through coordinated care. The company's strategy integrates care delivery, the member experience, and clinical and consumer insights to encourage engagement, behavior change, proactive clinical outreach and wellness for the millions of people we serve across the country. More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company's web site at www.humana.com, including copies of: Annual reports to stockholders

Securities and Exchange Commission filings

Most recent investor conference presentations

Quarterly earnings news releases and conference calls

Calendar of events

Corporate Governance information View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170214005434/en/

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[February 14, 2017] New report from River Run helps local SMBs avoid network threats

MILWAUKEE, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, small to medium-size companies are facing more network security threats than ever. According to a recent report from International Data Corporation (IDC), 71% of security breaches target small businesses. From ransomware to socially engineered browser hacks, a business that is not properly protected can be brought to its knees - without warning - and may cost the company thousands of dollars plus potential downtime. To help small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) counter these threats, River Run has published a new eGuide, 5 Major Network Threats You Cannot Afford to Ignore. It outlines five network security threats to small to medium-sized companies, and explains how they can protect themselves against these attacks: Ransomware Inadequate password security Employees stealing data Mobile device access Emploees that travel with laptops



Matthew Minikel , Security Officer at River Run Computers Inc. "The risks are growing every day, and your company may be a hacker's next target," he cautions. Many owners of small to medium-sized businesses do not think they are at risk. They do not think it could happen to them. But they are wrong, says Minikel: "Small businesses are even more at risk than larger ones, because they do not have the resources to defend themselves. In addition, they may not be as vigilant at server updates and other preventive measures as their larger counterparts," he adds.

Download this important special report today Learn how to protect your company: http://fighthackers.com 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 http://www.river-run.com or contact the company at 414-228-7474. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-report-from-river-run-helps-local-smbs-avoid-network-threats-300406509.html SOURCE River Run

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[February 14, 2017] Roboteam Welcomes Lieutenant General Charles T. Cleveland to its Board of Directors

Roboteam Inc., the leading global provider of tactical ground robotic systems and controllers for Defense, Law Enforcement and Public Safety missions, today announced the appointment of Retired Lieutenant General Charles T. Cleveland to its Board of Directors. In his position, LTG(R) Cleveland will advise Roboteam on the development of advanced and effective unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) that will further support the mission of the Warfighter. "I am proud to be a part of this great organization, as well as helping guide their predominantly Veteran team, to build systems that aid our servicemen and women across the globe," said Lieutenant General Cleveland, Board of Directors, Roboteam, Inc. "The evolving nature of threats to our armed forces require agility, innovation and responsiveness - all which Roboteam provides and is reflected all the way down to the soldiers on the battlefield." Prior to joining Roboteam, LTG(R) Cleveland served as the three-star Commanding General of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command as well as was Commander of Special Operations Command-Central, which is responsibe for special operations through the Middle East and Central Asia. At Roboteam, he will provide direction on the advancement of tactical ground robotics as well as counsel the leadership team as they expand their customer footprint.



"We are shaping the Roboteam board with highly qualified military leaders that will guide our operations and innovation to address the dynamic threats, environments and unexpected challenges that face the Warfighter," said Heidi Shyu, Chairman of the Board. "Lieutenant General Cleveland's extensive experience with military strategy and Special Operations will inspire our specialty engineers to build next-generation robotics suited for these exact challenges." LTG(R) Cleveland's previous roles included serving as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, as well as Commander of 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) where he led the initial invasion into northern Iraq and successfully commanded a force of over 70,000 U.S. and Kurdish fighters. In addition, LTG(R) Cleveland is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, West Point and is currently the Senior Mentor to the Army War College. He retired from the U.S. Army in August 2015.

About Roboteam Roboteam designs, develops and manufactures cutting edge, user-oriented, multi-purpose, unmanned platforms and controllers for Defense, Law Enforcement and Public Safety missions. Today, Roboteam is a global operation with offices in the US and Israel serving a wide spectrum of customers with several lines of products. We created a line of lightweight, fast deployable unmanned ground systems that deliver technological and functional breakthroughs for tactical purposes with unmatched reliability. Among our customers, one can find top units within the US Military, Special Forces, EOD units and SWAT teams as well as other elite units around the globe. Roboteam's flexible architecture permits a fast development of products, supported applications and core technologies. We pride ourselves on being engineers, inventors, and close to our customers and end-users. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170214005384/en/

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[February 14, 2017] Sharing Skin-Selfies for Science: Melanoma Study Releases Participant Generated Smartphone Data to Research Community Worldwide

Sage Bionetworks and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) today publicly released data contributed by 2,798 participants in the Mole Mapper melanoma study. The app-based research study uses Apple's (News - Alert) ResearchKit to enroll participants who use the phone camera to map and measure their moles over time. Abnormal or changing moles can be an indicator of the skin cancer melanoma, so remote monitoring with the possibility of early detection holds great promise for cancer prevention. Whereas most research data are generated in a clinical or laboratory setting, Mole Mapper is crowd-sourced by individuals contributing data to the study from their own phones. Curated Mole Mapper data, consisting of mole photos and measurements together with melanoma risk factors, have been made available to qualified researchers on Sage Bionetworks' collaborative science platform Synapse and accompanied by a publication in Nature Scientific Data. This is the second such mobile health study that has been made broadly available to qualified researchers around the world. "In designing the study, we first wanted to know if research run remotely and entirely through an app could find the same melanoma risks as years of rigorous epidemiology and genetics research," said lead author Dan Webster, Research Fellow at the National Cancer Institute. "We show, for instance, that Mole Mapper participantswith red hair were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with melanoma. This is in alignment with previously published data showing that people with red hair caused by mutations in the MC1R gene have a higher risk for melanoma."



The study data also touches on a frequently asked question about moles: "Is this normal?" Stanford University researchers recently demonstrated that algorithms can accurately diagnose skin conditions by training on a large database of high-quality medical skin images. The Mole Mapper team aims to create a similarly foundational database from participant-contributed data. While clinical resources will undoubtedly be important in answering this question, most moles that are measured and monitored in a clinical setting are already suspect and may already be abnormal. "With Mole Mapper, we have a unique ability to collect thousands of measurements from 'pre-clinical' moles that people measure themselves at home," said Webster. "Over time, this can provide a basis for mole size and shape distributions to serve as a new benchmark for future studies."

The release of the Mole Mapper study data is a part of the larger mobile health ecosystem that Sage Bionetworks is cultivating. Developing open-source modules for integration into mobile applications and enabling the broad sharing of the resulting data are cornerstones of this effort. "In the promising space of mobile health, too often data is controlled by private interests," said study coauthor Brian Bot, Principal Scientist, Sage Bionetworks. "Shared data resources such as these will help enable the scientific community to more quickly determine what can and cannot be gleaned from these types of remote measurements." Additional information: To become a qualified researcher and access the Mole Mapper data, visit the public researcher portal on Synapse

The Mole Mapper study is ongoing and can be joined by anyone in the United States over age 18 by downloading the iOS Mole Mapper app or the Android Mole Mapper app

For a description of the first public mobile health data resource stemming from Apple's ResearchKit framework, see Sage Bionetworks' mPower Parkinson Study

Mole Mapper Study Video

Mole Mapper Origins Video About Sage Bionetworks Sage Bionetworks is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit biomedical research organization, founded in 2009, with a vision to promote innovations in personalized medicine by enabling a community-based approach to scientific inquiries and discoveries. Sage Bionetworks strives to activate patients and to incentivize scientists, funders and researchers to work in fundamentally new ways in order to shape research, accelerate access to knowledge and transform human health. It is located on the campus of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington and is supported through a portfolio of philanthropic donations, competitive research grants, and commercial partnerships. More information is available at http://www.sagebase.org. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170214005420/en/

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A criminal complaint was filed by the police on February 7, 2017, alleging that mangroves were cut near the Amba river in Pen on government land and that a jetty was constructed in the river without getting environmental clearance.

By Virendrasingh Ghunawat: Pen police has registered a first information report (FIR) against Jindal Steel Work (JSW), JSW Dharamtar Port, Sajjan Jindal (the CMD of JSW) and six other officials under Sections 120B, 409, 420, 447 and Section 15 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986 at Vadkhal police station.

Pen is a town and taluka in Raigad district of Maharashtra, almost 80 kilometres away from Mumbai.

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A criminal complaint was filed by the police on February 7, 2017, alleging that mangroves were cut near the Amba river in Pen on government land and that a jetty was constructed in the river without getting permission from environmental clearance among other issues on the direction of the order passed by first class Judicial Magistrate of Pen in Raigad district of Maharashtra.

FIR copy.

Uttam Sonavane, police inspector at Vadkhal Police Station, confirmed to India Today that the FIR had been registered last week and it was getting investigated by the local crime branch team. "The investigating team has been instructed to submit the report before the court by this month end."

PIL FILED IN 2014 BY ALIBAUG RESIDENTS

In 2014, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by a few Alibaug residents, including one Surendra Dhavle, alleging that in the process of expansion of its Ispat Steel Plant at Dolvi near Alibaug, JSW had destroyed mangroves and violated CRZ norms.

Surprisingly, at the time of filing the PIL in 2014, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) had not given the clearance to JSW's jetty expansion project. It was on November 26th, 2015 when the company got the environmental clearance from the Ministry.

Also read | JSW Steel eyes iron ore mines in Karnataka, other states

Petitioner Surendra Dhavle said, "The main contention in my fresh PIL filed in 2016 before the Judicial Magistrate of Pen, under the provisions of section 156 (3) of the CrPC, 1973 was - how the accused entered into a criminal conspiracy with unknown public servants and started construction of a jetty in 2011 without any statutory approvals, which is nothing but a cognisable offence under Section 15 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986."

Google image of the Amba river.

Replying to questions raised by India Today, JSW group spokesperson said, "We scrupulously follow the law of the land and all allegations against us are baseless. We take appropriate legal recourse to defend our position."

However, the PIL filed in 2014 is still pending before the Bombay High Court. Last year, in December 2016, JSW had argued in the Bombay High Court that it already had all permissions for the expansion of its steel plant from the capacity of five million tonnes to ten million tonnes.

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Also read | JSW Group to acquire IPL team: Sajjan Jindal

Meanwhile, local crime branch officials have summoned petitioner Dhavle to remain present before the police officials with all relevant details and documents to investigate the case.

--- ENDS ---
[February 14, 2017] Sunglass Hut Selects One Door to Evolve In-Store Experience

One Door, the leading provider of cloud-based merchandising execution software for retailers, today announced that Sunglass Hut has implemented One Door's Merchandising Cloud application across their store locations in Australia and New Zealand. Merchandising Cloud allows Sunglass Hut to continue to innovate and evolve their brick-and-mortar experience. "The in-store experience is integral to Sunglass Hut," said Kate Grech, marketing and eCommerce director at Sunglass Hut. "As our business continues to grow, One Door's Merchandising Cloud will assist us in delivering a consistent in-store experience, and keep pace with rapidly changing customer needs." High-fashionaccessories, and sunglasses in particular, reflect and enhance the personality of the wearer. Sunglass Hut implemented Merchandising Cloud to help each store enable unique discovery by localizing and personalizing product mixes to create a shopping experience that feels custom-tailored.



"We're very excited to be working with a leading brand like Sunglass Hut," said E.Y. Snowden, CEO of One Door. "High-fashion accessory retailers like Sunglass Hut need to offer customers a wide range of fresh and relevant products, and then enable store associates to maximize their time helping customers to make great choices. Merchandising Cloud, implemented and supported by our global team, will let Sunglass Hut collaborate and accelerate the delivery of localized products, even while simplifying the associate's job so they can focus on delivering great, personalized, in-store experiences." Merchandising Cloud is the only application that combines product and promotional visual merchandising with store information, providing each location with a unique, unified, and interactive merchandising plan. The application lets retailers capture and maintain an accurate digital model of all store attributes, floorplans, fixtures, and resources. Sunglass Hut can now plan and execute campaigns with the speed and agility of digital, while enabling store associates to better personalize the in-store experience.

About One Door

One Door is the leading provider of cloud-based merchandising software, optimizing merchandising execution at each store for the world's leading brands. One Door is privately held, based in Boston, and led by an experienced team of retail and technology visionaries. For more information, please visit www.onedoor.com or follow on Twitter (News - Alert) at @OneDoorRetail. About Sunglass Hut

Sunglass Hut is the biggest sunglass specialty retailer in the world with more than 2,700 retail locations. With a global reputation for premium sunglass brands, Sunglass Hut offers the latest designer brands along with outstanding customer service. Sunglass Hut stores are located throughout the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Latin and South America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Middle East and South Africa. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170214005430/en/

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[February 14, 2017] Wolf Greenfield Named Top Trademark Law Firm by World Trademark Review

Intellectual property law firm Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, P.C. today announced that the World Trademark Review (WTR) 1000 has ranked the firm in the gold category in Massachusetts. The WTR 1000 - The World's Leading Trademark Professionals 2017 is a prestigious ranking of leading law firms and individual practitioners offering trademark legal services around the globe. The firm has been included in the WTR 1000 each year since the list's inception in 2011. Three attorneys are being honored for individual achievement in Massachusetts. Doug Wolf, Trademark & Copyright Practice chair, earned gold honors in the Prosecution and Strategy category and silver honors in the Enforcement and Litigation category. John Welch, counsel in the Trademark & Copyright Practice and founder of The TTABlog, received gold honors in both the Prosecution and Strategy and the Enforcement and Litigation categories. Michael Albert, Litigation Practice chair, was recognized with silver honors in the Enforcement and Litigation category.



"It's an honor to be recognized for our work by the WTR 1000," said Wolf. "Our decades of experience helping clients protect and leverage their brands has a deep impact on the quality of work we deliver every day. This recognition comes as a result of the firm's rigorous analysis, strategy and execution as well as our attorneys' dedication to client responsiveness, anticipating needs, and delivering timely, cost-effective results." The WTR 1000 is the only standalone directory focused exclusively on trademark practices and practitioners, covering 70 jurisdictions around the world. View the full guide.

About Wolf Greenfield Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, P.C. is the largest Boston-based law firm focused solely on intellectual property (IP) law. The firm's lawyers are at the forefront of their fields and support leading companies, inventors, and research facilities with a full range of intellectual property portfolio management including patent, copyright and trademark acquisition, prosecution and litigation; opinions and strategic counseling; trade dress protection; intellectual property audits and due diligence; and licensing and other issues related to commercialization of intellectual property. Now in its ninth decade, Wolf Greenfield continues to represent innovators in the fields of biotechnology, chemical & materials technologies, pharmaceuticals, clean technology, electrical & computer technologies, mechanical technologies, medical devices, and consumer products. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170214005179/en/

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[February 13, 2017] Crown Castle Raises Additional Term Loans and Extends Maturity of Existing Facilities

HOUSTON, Feb. 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crown Castle International Corp. (NYSE:CCI) (Crown Castle) today announced that it borrowed $500 million of additional Tranche A Term Loans (Additional Term Loans) and extended the maturity date to January 21, 2022 on its Senior Unsecured Credit Facility (Credit Facility). The Credit Facility consists of a $2.5 billion Senior Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility (Revolver) and, after giving effect to the incurrence of the Additional Term Loans, a $2.5 billion Senior Unsecured Term Loan A Facility. The proceeds of the Additional Term Loans were used to repay outstanding borrowings under the Revolver. At closing, there was approximately $2.4 billion in availability under the Revolver. All other existing terms of the Credit Facility remain unchanged. ABOUT CROWN CASTLE

Crown Castle provides wireless carriers with the infrastructure they need to keep people connectd and businesses running. With approximately 40,000 towers and 26,500 route miles of fiber supporting small cells, Crown Castle is the nation's largest provider of shared wireless infrastructure with a significant presence in the top 100 US markets.



Cautionary Language Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on Crown Castle management's current expectations. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including prevailing market conditions and other factors. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected. More information about potential risk factors that could affect Crown Castle's results is included in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The term including, and any variation thereof, means including, without limitation. Contacts: Dan Schlanger, CFO Son Nguyen, VP & Treasurer Crown Castle International Corp. 713-570-3050



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[February 13, 2017] ITC Service Group Acquires Clear Cell Management, Inc.

CITRUS HEIGHTS, Calif., Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ITC Service Group ("ITC"), a leading provider of broadband installation, planning, design and staffing solutions to the telecommunications and IT industries, today announced the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Clear Cell Management, Inc. ("CCM"). The acquisition of CCM allows ITC to become a turnkey provider of services to the wireless telecommunications industry. CCM, with offices in the New York, New Jersey and California, adds new service lines, clients and markets to ITC's rapidly expanding platform of services and locations around the country. "I am pleased to announce this strategic acquisition," said Tim Sauer, ITC's President. "ITC has an ongoing growth strategy, and this acquisition is an important part of that plan. CCM is an outstanding addition to the ITC family. In addition to the business they bring to our portfolio, this acquisition allows us to offer the full array of wireless services to ITC's existing telecommunications clients. Rob Bradley, CCM's Chief Executive Officer will serve as Senior Vice President of ITC's Wireless Division, and he brings with him a very talented team of committed professionals. With the upcoming roll out of 5G wireless networks nationwide, ITC is perfectly positioned to support these projects on a large scale, providing both fiber and wireless solutions. I have enjoyed getting to know the entire CCM team, and I look forward to the synergies we will create for our clients in the wireless sector." "I m excited about this transaction," added Rob Bradley. "As an integral part of the ITC family, we will continue to provide excellent service and support to our wireless clients. With the financial strength and support of ITC, and its owner Moorgate Capital Partners, our combined team will provide even more value to our wireless clients and, at the same time, drive significant expansion of new markets and services. We will be able to strengthen our subcontractor and vendor relationships and also provide employees with more opportunity. I could not be more impressed with the ITC and Moorgate teams, and the emphasis they have placed on our clients and employees throughout the integration process. Our current team will remain in place to ensure a seamless transition for our clients and stakeholders."



About ITC Service Group ITC, with headquarters near Sacramento, CA, provides technical staff augmentation, OSP / ISP design and broadband installation service solutions for the planning / design, construction management, installation / maintenance of voice, data and video networks, nationwide. ITC has offices in the west and midwest and now, with the acquisition of CCM, in the northeast as well. ITC employees more than 700 people nationwide.

About Moorgate Capital Partners Moorgate Capital Partners is an independent merchant bank and advisory firm focused on the technology, media, and communications industries. Moorgate partners with industry leading executives and management teams to source and invest in middle market growth opportunities. Moorgate has offices in New York, NY and San Francisco, CA. About CCM CCM is a provider of outsourced services for the wireless communications industry, including planning, deployment, construction and management of network build-outs. CCM provides wireless carriers with comprehensive real estate site acquisition and zoning services, radio frequency and network design and engineering, infrastructure equipment construction and installation, maintenance, DAS and in-building services, small cell deployment, radio transmission base station modification and project management services. Contact: ITC Service Group

Corporate Office

7777 Greenback Lane, Suite 201

Citrus Heights, CA 95610

Phone: (877) 370-4482

Fax: (877) 360-4482 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/itc-service-group-acquires-clear-cell-management-inc-300406404.html SOURCE ITC Service Group

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[February 13, 2017] Hillstone Network Announces Server Breach Detection System

Hillstone Networks, a leading provider of network security solutions, today launched Server Breach Detection System (sBDS) to complement its portfolio of network security solutions. The Hillstone sBDS solution is a key component of Hillstone's Intranet security portfolio, protecting critical assets such as servers, and leveraging Hillstone's unique behavior-based threat detection technology to detect compromised hosts, as well as threats within the intranet. "Because of today' very sophisticated threat landscape, no single point product - regardless of how intelligent or smart the solution - is effective to secure an organization's critical assets. Multiple layers of defense is today's mandate. Data, the critical asset as the ultimate target, needs to be protected from multiple postures: server front, at the perimeter and in the cloud," said Lingling Zhang, VP of Product Management and Marketing, at Hillstone Networks. "sBDS provides security for critical assets, and adds another critical layer of security to our solution portfolio." Hillstone's solution is built on a rich set of interconnected detection engines that act in parallel to identify threats inside the network. It protects critical assets, such as servers, and identifies advanced threats that have already breached the perimeter defense. It leverages the proprietary Hillstone threat correlation analytics platform - a combination of the abnormal behavior detection and unknown malware detection technology - to offer effective and continuous threat protection. Deployed in front of critical servers, it monitors behavior and establishes a behavioral baseline. When the pattern changes, the advanced behavior detection engine alerts the other parallel engines of the event, where it is quickly pinpointed, characterized, and the IT security team is notified of the action with all of the pertinent information. The Hillstone solution is often tapped into an enterprise internal network traffic, and complement existing perimeter protection, such as Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) and Network Intrusion Prevention System (NIPS).



James Wang, analyst at IDC (News - Alert), states, "Today, the traditional security defense system are challenged to effectively secure against unknown threats; and the world's leading security vendors are working on accurately identifying unknown threats in the network through technologies such as Threat Intelligent Cloud (TIC) and AI, using combined security solutions to protect IT environments. Hillstone has always been on the cusp of technology innovation, and this release of sBDS adopts advanced security technology such as TIC and behavior analystics and is a great complement to its portfolio of security products in ensuring comprehensive security for customers' networks." Hillstone sBDS helped secure the internal network of a top engineering university hosting 25,000 students, whose network had been breached by an external threat. sBDS was able to identify the comprised host and protect the university's critical data. Mr. Zhu, a representative from the university, said, "As a top and acclaimed university, we have stringent compliance regulations; Hillstone helped us meet our compliance requirements by securing our intranet from external breaches. Now our students and staff can engage in their daily educational needs with peace of mind and the knowledge that they can safely access network assets without compromise."

For more information on the solution, visit www.hillstonenet.com. RELATED LINKS AND CONVERSATIONS Follow us on our blog, Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

View our resource library and our layered security solution portfolio.

Watch a demo. About Hillstone Networks, Inc. Networks and their critical assets need to be protected from multiple postures: server front, at the perimeter and in the cloud, for a layered security defense. Hillstone solutions provide continuous threat defense not only at traditional perimeters, but also to internal networks and its critical assets, down to each virtual machine. For physical environments, Hillstone's innovative security platform combines Behavioral Intelligence with high-performance networking, enabling organizations to find and stop threats in minutes, not months, and protect businesses' core assets. For cloud deployments, Hillstone offers a complete virtual firewall solution for perimeter protection, and leverages micro-segmentation technology to protect East-West traffic in the cloud. Established in 2006 by NetScreen, Cisco (News - Alert) and Juniper executives, Hillstone Networks is relied on by more than 14,000 customers around the world, including Fortune 500 companies, higher education, financial institutions and service providers. Hillstone Networks' US headquarters are located in Sunnyvale, California. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170213006192/en/

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[February 13, 2017] 360 to Work with International Vulnerability Platforms to Build a Global White Hat Collaboration Mechanism

BEIJING, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- 360 Enterprise Security Group announced today that during the RSA Conference, the company will hold in-depth discussions with a number of well-known vulnerability response platforms to jointly build the world's white hat collaboration mechanism, and cooperate in such aspects as vulnerability response, security testing and others to cope with the worldwide cyber attacks and the increasingly rampant global data breach and data trafficking. Cyber attacks and other crimes show clear global features The "2015 Network Security Report" issued by the National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team/Coordination Center of China (known as CNCERT or CNCERT/CC) shows that Anonymous and other overseas hacking organizations continued to attack sites in China, and in 2015 among IP addresses that implemented backdoor attacks to sites in China, 31,348 were located outside of China, mainly from the United States (13.9%), Hong Kong (6.5%) and South Korea (6.0%) and other countries and regions. According to the latest "2016 China Website Security Vulnerability Analysis Report" by 360 Internet Security Center, cyber attacks that we are facing are characterized of obvious globalization features. As of November 15, 2016, 360 Internet Security blocked 1.71 billion various website vulnerability attacks, and in the full year, the number of websites that suffered vulnerability attacks reached 636,000 (deduplicated). Among them, the overseas attackers accounted for 23.4%, and victims with IPs from outside of China accounted for 33.1%. 360 Enterprise Security Group President Wu Yunkun said cyber attacks from different countries are technically both interlinked and diversified. The resulting cyber criminal industry chain has also become borderless. For example, it has become common for cyber criminal gangs from China to set up phishing websites in Europe and the Unted States and then return to China for fraud through strict teamwork.



Global data breach and data trafficking are rampant From illegal drugs to weapons, all kinds of network databases are available in the dark web.

In a recent list exposed, a well-known dark web provider called "DoubleFlag" was selling user data stolen from a number of Chinese internet companies, and the amount of data was up to 1 billion, mainly from Tencent, NetEase, Sina and other local internet companies. In the same list, DoubleFlag also provided user data stolen from other countries such as Japan, of which the account leaked from the three Yahoo domain names alone totaled 23.59 million. Data sales trends in the dark web market began to emerge from 2016, and some data providers provided data from a number of key companies, including Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace, and Dropbox. Over the past few months, the amount of databases uploaded and sold by DoubleFlag was huge. Moreover, it began selling other information that is unique and highly sensitive, and even attractive to intelligence agencies around the world, including data stolen from the US-based Cellular Corporation (this cellular service company owns and operates the fifth largest telecommunications network in the United States and provides services for 4.9 million customers in 426 major markets across 23 states in the US), containing information like names, addresses, cities, states and cell numbers of 130 million Americans. 360 Internet Security Center recently released the "2016 China Website Security Vulnerability Situation Analysis Report". According to the report, in 2015 among the vulnerabilities recorded by the 360 Butian Platform alone, more than 1,400 could cause personal information leakage, which may leak as many as 5.53 billion pieces of information. In 2016, it collected more than 300 new vulnerabilities that may lead to personal information leakage, which may leak as many as more than 5 billion pieces of personal information. Jointly build a white-hat collaboration mechanism to curb cybercrimes Bai Jian, who is in charge of the Butian Vulnerability Response Platform, revealed that it has held several discussions with three well-known vulnerability platforms, and during the RSA Conference, the parties will also make in-depth consultations. He said, "We will cooperate on security test, vulnerability notification, etc., and sign the memorandum of understanding on cooperation at the right time." Wu Yunkun said that due to the huge number of Internet users and the complex network environment, all countries also become victims of cyber attacks and other criminal acts while benefiting from the internet. Only through extensive international cooperation to create a comprehensive, wide-ranging, multi-level, effective coordination mechanism can we effectively curb the increasingly rampant, borderless cyber attacks and other criminal activities. The vulnerability platforms from different countries each pool a large team of white hats. The number of white hats registered on the Butian Platform has reached more than 30,000, and the vulnerability platforms in the United States have issued bonuses to nearly 10,000 white hats. We should strengthen cooperation and collaboration between the vulnerability platforms of different countries and combine the respective technological advantages of Chinese and western hackers, to effectively enhance security capabilities of websites. More extensive and timely vulnerability response conducive to the realization of technology and talent sharing will greatly promote the global Internet security capabilities. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/360-to-work-with-international-vulnerability-platforms-to-build-a-global-white-hat-collaboration-mechanism-300406080.html SOURCE 360

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[February 13, 2017] ReSec Technologies Launches ReSecure Safe Browsing as Part of its ReSecure Platform Delivering Malware Prevention that does not Depend on Detection

NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ReSec Technologies, developer of innovative enterprise-grade solutions that prevent malware penetration of networks, today announced the launch of ReSecure Safe Browsing, the lightweight security agent that protects enterprises from malware hidden in files downloaded by end-users via web browsers or other web services. "Cyberattacks are becoming more creative and are diversifying their entry points, now targeting companies through employee web browsing at an increasingly higher rate. We saw a need for safer web browsing and knew that our patented Content Disarm and Reconstruction (CDR) technology could tackle the issue at hand," said Yuri Shoshan, CEO of ReSec. "At a time when companies are shifting to online platforms and hiring more and more remote workers, it's vital to deploy solutions that address 360-degress of security while being affordable and manageable to companies of all sizes." ReSecure Safe Browsing requires no browser plugins, allowing a straightforward and transparent user experience across all web browsers without affecting user productivity. The system engages automatically when an end-user clicks to download a file, fetching the file and sending it to the ReSecure Engine for processing according to company policy. After processng, ReSecure Safe Browsing delivers a clean replica file to the end-user's downloads directory and sends the original file to quarantine for future reference and analysis if needed.



The launch of ReSecure Safe Browsing follows a year of strong growth for the Company, which launched its Partner Program into North America, added protection against threats delivered by webmail with ReSecure Cloud Mail, and added and expanded customer relationships with companies such as Bezeq, Israel's leading telecommunications company. Existing ReSec customers can add ReSecure Safe Browsing as an additional module to their ReSecure Platform. ReSec can also deliver the service as a standalone solution or couple it with any of ReSec's seven additional ReSecure products for new customers.

To learn more about ReSecure Safe Browsing, please visit http://resec.co/resecure-web/. About ReSec Technologies

ReSec Technologies develops innovative enterprise-grade solutions to prevent malware penetration of networks, endpoints, and data centers. Established in 2012 by military cyber defense experts, ReSec introduced Content Disarm and Reconstruction (CDR) technology to overcome the limitations of conventional anti-malware detection methods. ReSec products and solutions are used by dozens of leading brand across major industries including banking and finance, manufacturing, telecom, healthcare and the public sector. To learn more about ReSec, visit www.resec.co or on social media via LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. Media Contact:

Yuri Shoshan

y[email protected]

Phone:+972 54-444-9991 John Melnikov

[email protected]

- IL+972-50-402-9580

- US+1-917-436-1043 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/resec-technologies-launches-resecure-safe-browsing-as-part-of-its-resecure-platform-delivering-malware-prevention-that-does-not-depend-on-detection-300406562.html SOURCE ReSec Technologies

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[February 13, 2017] Nate Prosser Joins JND Legal Administration as Senior Consultant

JND Legal Administration, a premier legal management and administration company, announced today that Nate Prosser has joined its business development team as a senior consultant. In his new role, Prosser will apply his expertise in antitrust, securities, consumer, and employment cases to benefit clients, and will leverage JND's extensive services to provide tailored solutions for their class action and mass tort needs. "With a broad legal background, Nate brings an ability that uniquely positions him to align JND's objectives while consulting with clients on their most complex matters," said David Isaac, Executive Co-Chairman and Founder of JND Legal Administration. "Nate has vast experience with class action and mass tort claims and a deep understanding of the intricacies of the administration process, making him an asset to both our team and to our clients." Prior to joining JND Legal Administration, Prosser practiced law for nearly eightyears at the nationally recognized firm of Lockridge Grindal Nauen, and litigated class action and mass tort lawsuits in state and federal courts. He has also worked as an eDiscovery and legal technology business consultant for Kroll Ontrack.



Prosser earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of North Dakota School of Law, and a bachelor's degree from Concordia College. He is licensed to practice law in Minnesota state and federal courts. About JND Legal Administration

JND Legal Administration is a management and administration company led by a team of industry veterans who are passionate about providing superior service to clients. Armed with decades of expertise and a powerful set of tools, JND has deep experience expertly navigating the intricacies of multiple, intersecting service lines including class action settlements, corporate restructuring, eDiscovery, mass tort claims and government services. JND is trusted by law firms, government agencies and Fortune 500 companies across the nation. The company is backed by Stone Point Capital and has offices in California, Colorado, Minnesota, New York, Washington and Washington, D.C. For more information about JND, visit www.JNDLA.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170213006214/en/

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[February 13, 2017] National Geographic to Make GENDER REVOLUTION: A JOURNEY WITH KATIE COURIC Available for Free, Beginning Valentine's Day

National Geographic has announced it will make the two-hour documentary GENDER REVOLUTION: A JOURNEY WITH KATIE COURIC available to stream for free, beginning Tuesday, Feb. 14, for one week. The stream will be available on National Geographic's website, YouTube channel, Facebook page, Apple (News - Alert) TV app and TV Everywhere mobile apps. Produced by Katie Couric Media with National Geographic Studios and World of Wonder Productions, the network will also air a special encore of the documentary on Monday night, February 13 at 9/8c. Hailed as "powerful" by Ellen Degeneres, "groundbreaking" by the Huffington Post (News - Alert), and "compassionate, incisive, and informed" by the Daily Beast, GENDER REVOLUTION: A JOURNEY WITH KATIE COURIC explores the rapidly evolving complexities of gender - from the moment we are born through our twilight years. To better understand this complex social and scientific issue, Couric crisscrossed the U.S. to talk with scientists, researchers, activists, authors and families to learn more about the role of genetics, brain chemistry and modern culture on gender fluidity. Her wide-ranging interviews included a conversation with Gavin Grimm, the transgender Virginia teen whose lawsuit seeking equal bathroom access is headed to the Supreme Court on March 28. With discussions that range from the scientifically enlightening to the deeply personal, Couric's unflinching search for truth sheds light on countless untold stories of struggle, understanding, ignorance, hurt and love. "I've always hoped this documentary would be a spark to ignite conversations in every corner of the country around the evolving landscape of gender," said host and executive producer Katie Couric. "National Geographic is helping to push that goal forward by making it so broadly available to audiences." In addition, National Geographic continues to partner with Picture Motion on the Gender Revolution (News - Alert) Tour, allowing any high school, college, university or nonprofit to sign up to host a free screening and discussion. To date, more than 300 groups nationwide have signed up to participate. The tour harnesses the momentum of the gender conversations happening around the globe and offers an opportunity to have an informed dialogue on one of the most complicated and evolving issues in the current zeitgeist. Groups will also be provided with an extensive discussion guide developed for National Geographic by Journeys in Film (link). Screening requests can be made at http://bit.ly/NatGeoGenderRevolution. The documentary is also currently airing on National Geographic around the globe in 171 countries and in 4 languages.



Link to downloadable trailer: https://files.natgeonetworks.com/_t89q9S_B_tmvkR

Embed link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y93MsRaC6Zw&feature=youtu.be GENDER REVOLUTION: A JOURNEY WITH KATIE COURIC is produced by Katie Couric Media, World of Wonder Productions and National Geographic Studios for National Geographic. For Katie Couric Media, executive producers are Katie Couric and Mitch Semel. For World of Wonder, Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato and Jeremy Simmons serve as executive producers. For National Geographic Studios, executive producers are Jeff Hasler and Brian Lovett. For National Geographic, Tim Pastore is president, original programming and production, and Michael J. Miller is executive producer.

About National Geographic Partners LLC: National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between National Geographic and 21st Century Fox, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic's media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children's media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 128 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, going further for our consumers  and reaching over 730 million people around the world in 171 countries and 45 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit natgeotv.com or nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170213006219/en/

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[February 14, 2017] Wirecard Facilitates Flexible Payment Solutions for PrestaShop

MUNICH, February 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- PrestaShop online shops to benefit from Wirecard's integrated payment solutions PrestaShop, a leading provider of an open-source e-commerce solution, and Wirecard, the payment processing and internet technologies expert, are to collaborate on payment processing for online shops in the future. This partnership means that merchants with an online shop created using PrestaShop will be able to offer a variety of popular payment methods from now on, such as credit cards, PayPal or SOFORT, as well as local payment methods such as iDeal and Przelewy24. Berit Willenbockel, Head of Partner Management at Wirecard: "We are delighted that this partnership with PrestaShop gives us access to numerous important online shops, which will help us to further expand our e-commerce activities." Alexandre Eruimy, Head of partnerships at PrestaShop: "We aim to support merchants in setting up professional online shops. This collaboration with Wirecard means that our users can offer even more flexible payment options to their customers, thereby improving the shopping experience." At present, over 250,000 e-commerce shopsacross 190 countries use PrestaShop. The company enables e-commerce merchants to create professional online shops. PrestaShop has its headquarters in France and offices all over Europe and the USA.



About Wirecard: Wirecard AG is a global technology group that supports companies in accepting electronic payments from all sales channels. As a leading independent supplier, the Wirecard Group offers outsourcing and white label solutions for electronic payments. A global platform bundles international payment acceptances and methods with supplementary fraud prevention solutions. With regard to issuing own payment instruments in the form of cards or mobile payment solutions, the Wirecard Group provides companies with an end-to-end infrastructure, including the requisite licences for card and account products. Wirecard AG is listed on the Frankfurt Securities Exchange (TecDAX, ISIN DE0007472060, WDI). For further information about Wirecard, please visit http://www.wirecard.com or follow us on Twitter @wirecard.

About PrestaShop: PrestaShop was founded in 2007 with a mission to provide world-class ecommerce software through open source innovation. Today more than 250,000 ecommerce stores in 195 countries run on PrestaShop technology. The company provides software that enables users to have an online store at the lowest cost possible. PrestaShop is on the 2016 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in Europe. The company also received the CMS Critic Award for Best eCommerce Solution for the Enterprise. PrestaShop is headquartered in Miami and Paris, the company is funded by Serena Capital, XAnge Private Equity and Seventure Partners. For more information, please visit http://www.prestashop.com Wirecard media contact:



Wirecard AG

Jana Tilz

Tel.: +49(0)89-4424-1363

Email: [email protected]

PrestaShop media contact:



PrestaShop

Sandra Fernandes

Email: [email protected]



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By PTI: New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) The standoff between JNU administration and JNUSU continued today with both sides trading charges and the VC Jagdesh Kumar accusing the students occupying the administration block of trying to make the university "dysfunctional" through their "illegal" siege.

The protests over UGC notification on PhD/MPhil admissions approved by decision making bodies of JNU, spilled outside the campus as scores of students, teachers and alumni participated in a march from Mandi House to Parliament and held a protest meeting at Jantar Mantar when stopped by police on the way.

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Parliamentarians D Raja, Ali Anwar and Digvijay Singh, also addressed the meeting along with JNU Teachers Association (JNUTA) leaders, criticising the university administration for present situation on the campus.

However, Kumar appealed to the university community to come forward to "save" JNU from detractors and agitators "hellbent" upon making it "dysfunctional".

Ever since the evening of February 9, the entire administration building is under "siege" by JNUSU-led students occupying the space inside the building and some other student groups "blocking" entry and exit from outside, he said.

"Hundreds of staff and officers, including the Vice Chancellor, are debarred from carrying out their day-to-day work by just a small number of unruly students," he said.

JNUSU accused Kumar of not meeting the students and making "arbitrary" decisions and "fundamental" changes in JNUs admission policy and research programmes.

"The JNU VC is shockingly announcing arbitrary decisions and fundamental changes in JNUs admission policy and research programmes through press conferences ? refusing either to discuss these in JNUs decision-making bodies, or to meet students and teachers representatives," said JNUSU president Mohit Pandey.

Replacing JNUs topic-based system of allotting supervisors to students with supervisor allotment based on a specified number of students per faculty, will destroy quality of research in JNU which is Indias best central university, he said.

The students union began its hunger strike 15 days ago days against the imposition of the 2016 UGC notification by the JNU administration at the Administration Block.

The VC however said that repeated attempts were made by the university officials to convince the students to end their agitation and meet him for discussing their grievances but they did not accept it.

"When the VC office gave an appointment to meet the student representatives on February 13, it was rebuffed," he said. MORE PTI VIT KUN

--- ENDS ---
[February 14, 2017] Pixium Vision Receives NUB Innovation Reimbursement Status-1 for 150 Electrode IRISII Bionic System in Germany

Regulatory News: Pixium Vision (Paris:PIX), a company developing innovative bionic vision systems with the intention to allow patients who have lost their sight to lead more independent lives, today announced that the German Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System (InEK) has granted NUB (Neue Untersuchungs- und Behandlungsmethoden) Status-1 for IRISII, Pixium Vision's first bionic vision system, equipped with a bio-inspired camera and a 150 electrodes epi-retinal implant with a proprietary design intended to be explantable and upgradable. The NUB process allows negotiations between hospitals and statutory health insurances on the potential reimbursement of new medical treatments in the German statutory health insurance system (detailed information on the NUB process and Status is available at http://www.g-drg.de/G-DRG-System_2017/Neue_Untersuchungs-_und_Behandlungsmethoden_NUB). Based on NUB Status-1 for IRIS II, ophthalmic hospitals can negotiate reimbursement coverage under the German statutory health insurance system for IRISII treatment for patients with advanced outer retinal degeneration due to Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). A NUB decision is valid for one year and can be renewed annually. Khalid Ishaque, Chief Executive Officer of Pixium Vision said: "After having received the CE mark for IRISII, obtaining market access and reimbursement has been the main focus as we continue on our mission towards innovative treatment options. We intend to progressively expand availability across Germany as well as other regions. Obtaining the NUB Status-1 supports our ongoing efforts to bring innovations in bionic vision capabilities to patients blinded by retinal dystrophies." The clinical centers offering IRISII initially include ophthalmic hospitals at the following university clinics: Universitatsklinikum Aachen

Universitatsklinikum Bonn



Universitatsklinikum Freiburg

Universitatsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf

Klinikum der Universitat Munchen



ABOUT IRISII IRISII is a bionic vision system equipped with a bio-inspired camera and a 150 electrodes epi-retinal implant with a proprietary design intended to be explantable and eventually upgradable for patients who have lost sight due to Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP).

The Company received CE mark for IRISII in 2016, enabling Pixium to launch its commercial activities subject to reimbursement availabilities. CE mark approval for IRISII system enables the company to file for national reimbursements. The Company is working initially with public reimbursement authorities for innovative technologies for medical devices in France (under "Forfait Innovation") and in Germany (with NUB). ABOUT PIXIUM VISION Pixium Vision's mission is to create a world of bionic vision for those who have lost their sight, enabling them to regain partial visual perception and greater autonomy. Pixium Vision's bionic vision systems are associated with a surgical intervention as well as a rehabilitation period. The company is developing two bionic retinal implant systems. IRISII, the company first bionic system, obtained CE mark in July 2016. In parallel, Pixium Vision has recently completed the pre-clinical study phases for PRIMA, a sub-retinal miniaturized wireless photovoltaic implant platform, and is planning to initiate first-in-human trials. Pixium Vision collaborates closely with academic and research partners spanning across prestigious vision research institutions including the Institut de la Vision in Paris, the Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory at Stanford University, and Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. The company is EN ISO 13485 certified. For more information, please visit: www.pixium-vision.com; Pixium Vision is listed on Euronext Paris (Compartment C). Pixium Vision shares are eligible for the French tax incentivized PEA-PME and FCPI investment vehicles. Euronext ticker: PIX - ISIN: FR0011950641 - Reuters (News - Alert): PIX.PA - Bloomberg: PIX:FP Disclaimer: This press release may expressly or implicitly contain forward-looking statements relating to Pixium Vision and its activity. Such statements are related to known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could lead actual results, financial conditions, performance or achievements to differ materially from Vision Pixium results, financial conditions, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Pixium Vision provides this press release as of the aforementioned date and does not commit to update forward looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For a description of risks and uncertainties which could lead to discrepancies between actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements and those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer to Chapter 4 "Risk Factors" of the company's Registration Document filed with the AMF under number R16-033 on April 28, 2016 which can be found on the websites of the AMF - AMF (www.amf-france.org) and of Pixium Vision (www.pixium-vision.com). IRIS is a trademark of Pixium-Vision SA View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170213006228/en/

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[February 14, 2017] Unilever Foundry and Padang & Co Launch LEVEL3

SINGAPORE, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Unilever Foundry and Padang & Co today launch LEVEL3, a co-working space that pushes the boundaries of collaboration and corporate innovation. Redefining the traditional concept of workspaces, LEVEL3 brings together Unilever, startups, and entrepreneurs to encourage innovation and create new partnerships that deliver real and meaningful business impact. "LEVEL3 stems from our mission to make sustainable living commonplace. It offers our business a direct connection with disruptive technologies and changemakers to shape the way we work -- ultimately impacting people's lives," said Pier Luigi Sigismondi, President, South East Asia and Australasia. "LEVEL3 is the springboard for startups to scale and build successful businesses." Built within the Unilever regional headquarters in Singapore, the 22,000 sq ft workspace provides proximity to Unilever brands and functions, and access to existing Unilever Foundry programmes. To date, 15 international and local startups have already established themselves at LEVEL3, including Adludio, ConnectedLife, Datacraft, EcoHub, GetCRAFT, Next Billion, Olapic, Snapcart, TaskSpotting and Try and Review. "The set-up of LEVEL3 in Singapore -- a global first for Unilever -- is a strong testament to the growing vibrancy of Singapore's startup ecosystem," said Dr Beh Swan Gin, Chairman, Singapore Economic Development Board. "LEVEL3 represents an emerging corporate innovation model that is aligned with EDB's efforts to encourage collaborations between multinational companies and other enterprises such as startups." A new model of collaboration LEVEL3 is more than a co-working space; It is a collaborative innovation community. Startups have the opportunity to interact and partner with Unilever and other ecosystem partners to solve business challenges ranging from marketing to finance, logistics, supply chain and customer development. For Unilever, LEVEL3 offers a unique point of contact to innovators and the rest of the startup community, to generate real-life problem statements, ultimately catalysing demand-led innovation. "Born through Unilever Foundry's own mission to collaborate, experiment, and pioneer for a sustainable future, LEVEL3 is a physical manifestation of this ethos," shared Jonathan Hammond, Head of Unilever Foundry. At LEVEL3, there will be learning and networking opportunities, such as fireside chats, sharing sessions, mentoring programmes and access to training and resources offered by tehnology partners.



"We envision LEVEL3 as a vibrant workspace offering global opportunities for entrepreneurs. We are passionate about connecting members of the startup ecosystem to spark collaboration and ignite innovation," commented Derrick Chiang, CEO, Padang & Co. LEVEL3 focuses on the following areas: Marketing Tech & Ad Tech, Enterprise Tech, Products & Ingredients, New Business Model Innovation and Social Impact.

For more information on LEVEL3, please refer to: L3.work For launch event images, please refer to: https://edelmanftp.boxcn.net/s/dsozpbvnm8t9rggm8jyh4si0al4gv4yk For Enquiries: Edelman for LEVEL3: [email protected]

Angela Tiong

+ 65 9139 7902 Josephine Pang

+65 9115 2743



ABOUT LEVEL3 LEVEL3 is a workspace, created by Unilever Foundry and Padang & Co, which brings together Unilever, startups and entrepreneurs to encourage innovation and create new partnerships that deliver real business impact. Launched on 14 February 2017, LEVEL3 is housed within Unilever regional headquarters in Asia -- Singapore. Startups will have access to the existing Unilever Foundry programmes, and an opportunity to solve specific business problems faced by Unilever's teams. LEVEL3 offers a network of entrepreneurs who will share their industry expertise through fireside chats, events and mentoring. ABOUT UNILEVER FOUNDRY Unilever Foundry provides a single entry-point for innovative startups seeking to partner with Unilever, enabling the company's global brands to experiment with and pilot new technologies more efficiently, effectively and speedily. It provides startups and entrepreneurs the opportunity to develop and work on global projects, access mentoring from marketing professionals, and tap into funding through Unilever Ventures. Startups are invited to apply to be part of Unilever Foundry by visiting http://foundry.unilever.com/projects/. More details on Unilever's Sustainable Living Plan can be found here: http://www.unilever.com/sustainable-living-2014/. Unilever Foundry (Unilever.com/foundry) works closely with Unilever Ventures, the Venture capital arm of Unilever. Unilever Ventures invests in early stage companies that could become strategically relevant to Unilever and can benefit from access to Unilever's assets and capabilities. One of the key areas of investment for Unilever Ventures is Digital Marketing, encompassing marketing services business with a focus on mobile marketing, digital media and video, social media, content creation, eCommerce, shopper marketing and big data. Unilever Ventures' portfolio can viewed here. ABOUT PADANG & CO Padang & Co is an innovation catalyst for corporates and government agencies, helping startups and corporates such as Unilever connect and create new opportunities for innovation. Padang & Co is the architect of LEVEL3 and will be designing the programmes and managing the space. We believe LEVEL3 is a unique opportunity to ignite innovation and ultimately generate business activity for all. APPENDIX A Adludio: "Adludio works with Unilever extensively in Europe, using our proprietary sensory advertising technology. Our presence here today marks a new chapter in our partnership. We believe LEVEL3 is the perfect workspace for Adludio as we look into scaling and building our sensory advertising business across Southeast Asia." - Paul Coggins, CEO at Adludio EcoHub: "Unilever's values and aspirations for inclusive growth and creating a sustainable future resonate with us. We believe what we do can positively impact Unilever's supply chains and ecosystems, thus reaching a broader audience. We see LEVEL3 as more than just a workplace. It is a platform for us to build and strengthen our relationships with like-minded individuals." - KK Han, Partner, EcoHub GetCRAFT: "I think it's a happy convenience that as we rapidly scale across Southeast Asia, we're also given the opportunity to work with Unilever in markets such as Indonesia and Philippines. As such, having a presence at LEVEL3 became the next logical step for us as it allows us to closely innovate together with its proximity to their regional headquarters, thus further strengthening our partnership." - Patrick Searle, Co-Founder & Group CEO, GetCRAFT Next Billion: "LEVEL3 offers us a unique opportunity to be part of a dynamic ecosystem and explore potential collaborations with Unilever and complementary partners. We're looking forward to collaborating with global brands and startups that share our commitment to creating sustainable commercial and social impact across the region." - Oliver Gilbert, Managing Director, Next Billion Olapic: "Olapic is very excited to be part of LEVEL3 in Singapore and believe our participation gives us a platform to further establish and grow our business in Asia. As a participating company in the Unilever Foundry and the subsequent investment of Unilever Ventures in Olapic, we have become a global company working with some of the top brands in Asia, helping them to enhance consumer engagement through user-generated content." - Jose de Cabo, Co-founder, Olapic Snapcart: "LEVEL3 provides the right ecosystem for startups like Snapcart where we're not just able to connect with other entrepreneurs but also big corporates like Unilever. We're very pleased to be among the first companies to establish our Singapore office at LEVEL3. We look forward to working with Unilever Foundry and Padang & Co as we expand across the region." - Reynazran Royono, Founder and CEO, Snapcart TaskSpotting: "As a Unilever Foundry member, it was the logical decision for us to set up our hub as close as possible to Unilever's headquarters. A significant part of our next phase of growth is really focused on the region and we hope that our base at LEVEL3 becomes the springboard to Asia Pacific as a whole. We're really excited to see the community develop around LEVEL3. It's looking like it will be the hotspot for entrepreneurs and that will make for great opportunities to collaborate with one another." - Karim Aly, CEO, TaskSpotting Logo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20170214/8521700839LOGO

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[February 14, 2017] Automotive OEMs Standardise Testing and Explore Alternative Powertrains to Comply with RDE Deadlines

LONDON, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Following 'dieselgate', the previously lax automobile emission testing procedures tightened and all European original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are now required to implement real driving emissions (RDE). In September, RDE testing will have a conformity factor of 2.1, which will change to 1.5 by September 2021. OEMs will be more transparent with their testing methods and results. After the implementation of RDE, adoption of World Harmonization Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) will be simpler. The European Union is currently focused on standardising testing procedures globally. Testing procedures such as RDE, WLTP and New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) will help the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) regulate and lower emission levels for all OEMs in highly urbanized areas. "Shifting from NEDC to RDE is a critical step as real driving conditions will have a greater impact on powertrain technologies," said Frost & Sullivan Mobility Research Analyst Arvind Noel Xavier Leo. "OEMs will have to look at alternative technologies as well as optimize existing technologies to meet the requirements of the RDE testing procedure." Executive Analysis of Real Driving Emissions (RDE) and their Implementation is part of Frost & Sullivan's Automotive & Transportation Growth Partnership Subscription. The research finds that the RDE phase-in and NEDC-WLTP dual testing will be implemented by 2017 in the EU, while markets such as California and China with strict emission regulations will adopt WLTP/RDE only after its implementation in Europe. Related topics in this suscription include WLTP, LED PMA policy, powertrain and EV, hybrid-electric truck and bus, and e-hailing.



Click here (https://goo.gl/0KYHrn) for complimentary access to more information on this analysis and to register for a Growth Strategy Dialogue, a free interactive briefing with Frost & Sullivan's thought leaders. One of the biggest challenges in the shift towards advanced powertrain technologies is the high costs. The shift is also a test of technical service providers' capability to adjust to the changes; service providers such as AVL, Ricardo, Continental, ICCT and Bosch have been enhancing their technologies to examine and certify OEMs' vehicles, developing low production cost technologies.

"OEMs are investing heavily in developing low production cost technologies to be implemented in their fleet. Adopting WLTP/RDE will drive improvements such as downsizing, multiple boosting systems, direct injection engines, hybridization and exhaust systems," noted Leo. "OEMs will look to optimize these technologies to obtain uncompromised results in RDE." About Frost & Sullivan Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion Executive Analysis of Real Driving Emissions (RDE) and their Implementation

MC4B-18 Contact:

Jana Schoneborn

Corporate Communications  Europe

P: +49 (0)69 77033 43

E: [email protected] Twitter: @Frost_Sullivan or @FS_Automotive

Facebook: FrostandSullivan

Linkedin: Future of Mobility  A Frost & Sullivan Forum http://www.frost.com To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/automotive-oems-standardise-testing-and-explore-alternative-powertrains-to-comply-with-rde-deadlines-300406900.html SOURCE Frost & Sullivan

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[February 14, 2017] Transportation of the Future Discussed at World Government Summit in Dubai

The future of transportation, specifically the impending arrival of autonomous cars, was a major topic at the second day of the 5th annual World Government Summit attended by 4,000 global leaders from 139 countries in Dubai. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170214005644/en/ H.E. Mohammed Al-Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Future, UAE with Elon Musk at the World Government Summit, Dubai (Photo: ME NewsWire) lon Musk, CEO of Tesla, said that although driverless cars will be a "great convenience," it will result in 12%-15% job loss. "We need to find new roles for those people" as increased manufacturing of autonomous cars will be "very disruptive and very quick."



In an earlier conversation on "The Future of Mobility" with Travis Kalanick, CEO and co-founder of Uber, he predicted roads will be populated with self-driving automobiles, eliminating traffic jams in as few as 5 years. He also said that 1.3 million individuals die annually from car accidents. "There will be no more traffic accidents" with self-driving cars." Uber will continue to evolve, Kalanick said. "We will partner with the car industry. We want cars to be available everywhere every time efficient, quick, reliable, affordable, and fully democratized. Push a button and go where you want to go." (Last month, Uber announced a partnership with Daimler to manufacture autonomous cars.)

His three year vision is ambitious: "Uber is at the beginning of becoming a robotics company," Kalanick commented. "Once movement in cities becomes autonomous, there will be all sorts of interesting robotics challenges." Musk also sounded a cautionary note to governments as technology continues to improve efficiency, saying a "universal basic income" will be necessary as there will be "fewer jobs that a robot cannot do better." Prior to the session with Musk, Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Roads and Transport Authority announced that human carrying drones are expected to be introduced into service within the public transport system by July 2017. Climate change and food security were also key themes of the day. Prime Minister of Bhutan highlighted that "1/3 of our global food supply, worth US$2.6 trillion annually, is routinely wasted." HRH Princess Haya spoke about international humanitarian crises and a UN report estimates that 50 million will be displaced due to desertification and climate change in the next 10 years. *Source (News - Alert): ME NewsWire View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170214005644/en/

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[February 14, 2017] ENGIE and Watts of Love Bring Sustainable Power Solutions to Remote Guatemalan Villages

HOUSTON, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In a move that further illustrates the company's deep commitment to being a socially responsible corporation, ENGIE announced that it will join Watts of Love in a critical initiative to bring sustainable solar lighting to remote villages without access to power in Guatemala. Watts of Love is a U.S.-based nonprofit aimed at providing people around the world with the power they need to raise themselves out of the darkness of poverty. With the support of ENGIE's U.S. retail electricity business, ENGIE Resources, Watts of Love will deliver Guatemalans 250 solar LED lanterns with built-in audio FM Radio/MP3 players. Watts of Love will also offer recipients education on proper use and care; the health and safety benefits of power; and savings, investment, and entrepreneurship principles as well as customized learning opportunities with audio/MP3 players. "ENGIE has a rich tradition of philanthropy, and the contributions we are making in our support of Watts of Love further demonstrate this commitment," said Sayun Sukduang, President and CEO of ENGIE Resources. "Our aim through this outreach is to build a cleaner, more sustainable future while raising awareness of the large number of impoverished people across the globe who are currently living without power." ENGIE employees will also have the opportunity to join Watts of Love in Guatemala to help launch the program. Today, more than 1.1 billion men, women, and children live in darkness when the sun sets. According to data from The World Bank Group, as of 2012, more than 20 percent of Guatemalans have been without access to electricity. "With the backing of ENGIE Resources, we're bringing an instrument of hope to those who need it most," said John Economou, Co-Founder of Watts of Love. "By giving the gift of power to Guatemalans in remote villages, we're providing far more benefits than the advantage of lighting alone. We're delivering a life-changig opportunity for people to improve their health, enhance their education, and positively impact their local economies."



The lights that will be supplied through Watts of Love will last up to 100 hours on a single charge. The highest setting offers the equivalent of 500 lumens, or the brightness of a 40 watt light bulb. That brightness is roughly 10 times brighter than a kerosene lamp. About Watts of Love

Watts of Love is a global solar lighting nonprofit aimed at bringing people the power they need to raise themselves out of the darkness of poverty. The organization engages in a range of projects around the world, helping to build a better future for impoverished communities and villages through safe, renewable, and life-changing solar lighting devices. For more information, visit www.wattsoflove.org.

About ENGIE Resources

ENGIE Resources, which rebranded in 2016, is the third-largest non-residential retail electricity supplier in the United States and currently serves commercial, industrial, and institutional customers in 14 markets: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington, D.C. The company serves nearly 90,000 accounts for customers having a peak demand ranging from 50 KW to more than 200 MW, with an estimated peak load totaling nearly 13,000 MW. For more about ENGIE Resources, visit www.engieresources.com or call 1-866-999-8374. Follow ENGIE Resources on Twitter and Facebook. The company offers electricity service to residential and small business customers in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington, D.C., under the brand Think Energy. Think Energy works every day to be "The Unsurprise Energy Company," providing customers transparent, competitive fixed prices, easy-to-use online tools, and excellent customer service. For more information, visit www.thinkenergy.com, or call 1-888-923-3633, or email [email protected]. ENGIE Resources & Think Energy are part of ENGIE North America, which manages a range of energy businesses in the U.S. and Canada, including electricity generation and cogeneration, natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) distribution and sales, retail energy sales, as well as services to help customers run their facilities more efficiently and optimize their energy use and expense. For more information on ENGIE North America, visit www.engie-na.com or Twitter. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/engie-and-watts-of-love-bring-sustainable-power-solutions-to-remote-guatemalan-villages-300406696.html SOURCE ENGIE Resources

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[February 14, 2017] Frazier Healthcare Partners Adds Two Vice Presidents to Growth Buyout Team

Frazier Healthcare Partners, a leading provider of growth capital to healthcare companies, announced today the expansion of its investment team with the promotion of Philip Zaorski and the addition of Ryan Lucero to the Growth Buyout team. "We are proud to recognize the achievements of Phil Zaorski with this well-deserved promotion," said Ben Magnano, General Partner. "During his tenure with Frazier, Phil has proven himself to be an important member of our team and an invaluable resource for our portfolio companies. We are also thrilled that Mr. Lucero has chosen to join Frazier as he is a well-respected professional with extensive experience in middle-market private equity. We look forward to the contributions of Phil and Ryan as we continue to seek new investment opportunities and work with our existing portfolio companies to accelerate growth and increase value." Philip Zaorski, Vice President - Mr. Zaorski joined Frazier as an associate in 2012 and has broad experience in growth buyout investing in all sectors of healthcare including multi-site provider services, outsourced provider and payor servics, medical products and distribution, and pharmaceutical services. Prior to Frazier, he worked for RBC Capital Markets in its healthcare investment banking group based in New York.



Ryan Lucero, Vice President - Mr. Lucero comes to Frazier after five years with Kohlberg and Company in New York where he focused on leveraged buyout and growth equity investments. At Kohlberg, he was responsible for the origination, evaluation, and management of investments across a variety of sectors, including healthcare, business services, and financial services. Previously, Mr. Lucero worked for J.P. Morgan in the Investment Banking Division in New York. About Frazier Healthcare Partners

Founded in 1991, Frazier Healthcare Partners is a leading provider of growth and venture capital to healthcare companies. With nearly $3.0 billion total capital raised, Frazier has invested in over 170 companies, with investment types ranging from company creation and venture capital to buyouts of profitable lower-middle market companies. The firm's Growth Buyout team invests in healthcare and pharmaceutical services, medical products and related sectors. The Life Sciences team invests in therapeutics and related areas that are addressing unmet medical needs through innovation. Frazier has offices in Seattle, WA and Menlo Park, CA (News - Alert), and invests broadly across the US, Canada, and Europe. For more information about Frazier Healthcare Partners, visit the company's website at http://www.frazierhealthcare.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170214005396/en/

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[February 14, 2017] Rolta's Q3-FY-17 Consolidated Revenue Grows 23.6% Q-o-Q

MUMBAI, February 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Rolta India Limited (Rolta), a leading provider of innovative IP-led IT solutions for many vertical segments, including Defence and Security, today announced unaudited financial results for quarter ended December 31, 2016 (Q3 FY -17). (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121023/570667 ) FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Consolidated Revenue for Q3 FY-17 at Rs. 911.23cr (Rs. 9.11 Billion) against Rs. 736.95 cr (Rs. 7.37 Billion) in Q2 FY-17, registering a growth of 23.6 % Q-o-Q.

Consolidated EBITDA for Q3 FY-17 at Rs. 254.75 cr (Rs. 2.55 Billion) against Rs. 217.12 cr (Rs. 2.17 Billion) in Q2 FY-17, registering a growth of 17.3% Q-o-Q.

Consolidated profit after tax for Q3 FY-17 at Rs. 36.94 cr (Rs. 3.69 Billion) against Rs. 54.30 cr (Rs. 5.43 Billion) in Q2 FY-17, registering a decline of 32.0% Q-o-Q.

Foreign Exchange loss for Q3 FY-17 at Rs. 16.09 cr (Rs. 1.61 Billion) against a gain of Rs. 15.79 cr (Rs. 1.58 Billion) in Q2 FY-17 impacting the profit after tax in Q3 FY-17 versus Q2 FY-17. Mr. K. K. Singh, Chairman and Managing Director said, "Rolta has consciously made efforts to remain at the forefront as a solutions provider with a sharp focus on the Digital revolution. Having made significant investments in the recent years, the Company today, is well positioned to address the huge Digital Transformation opportunities in the markets it serves." CORPORATE HIGHLIGHTS Rolta was the first company to introduce CAD, CAM and GIS in India. Mr. K. K. Singh, as the Founder of Rolta, was recently honoured by the Geospatial World Forum by acknowledging him as a 'Living Legend' in the Geospatial Hall of Fame which recognised ten such World Leaders. On the occasion Geospatial World Forum stated "They inspire us to innovate, and motivate us to work towards making the world a better place. We salute these extraordinary leaders who took the road not taken and did the impossible - took geospatial technologies out of research labs in limited sectors and introduced it into our everyday chores." Rolta's relentless efforts at indigenously developing cutting edge intellectual property was recently rewarded with the grant of patent (No. US 9,378,417 B2), by the US Patent & Trademark Office. This new patent is for an image processing algorithm used for normalization of colour remote sensing images. This technology facilitates contrast enhancement of satellite images and is critical for defence applications as it improves image interpretation for greater situational awareness. Rolta's continuous investment in R &D demonstrates the organization's unparalleled commitment to the fundamental R&D necessary to drive progress in business. This new patent is part of a series of patents filed by Rolta which uniquely differentiates Rolta products giving them a competitive edge. The Rolta OneView solution deployed by Cairn India recently won the Geospatial World Excellence Award selected by an eminent panel appointed by Geospatial World Forum. They chose this solution from a selection of over 30 nominations across the globe. This Rolta OneView solution stood out for its geospatial enabled enterprise business intelligence, predictive analytics and operational excellence with a focus on improved capacity and energy utilization of assets, risk management, improved safety and maintenance practices and supply chain optimization. Defence and Security Rolta has built a successful track record having served the Indian armed forces by developing and deploying Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) solutions. C4ISR is a crucial element for the modernisation of the Indian armed forces with a prime focus of building synergy in inter-service military operations. This indigenously developed Military-off-the-Shelf (MOTS) software continues to be enhanced with the addition of new features and functionality to act as a force multiplier. With the introduction of its most recent 64-bit release, Rolta has introduced the fourth dimension of time which places Rolta in the top league of global defence software suppliers. The modernization and digital transformation of the Indian Defence has been accorded highest priority for all future procurements. Rolta as an Indian organization with its own IP is ideally positioned to address the large opportunities based on the recent "Make India" vision and introduction of new categorization, "Buy Indian IDDM" (indigenously designed, developed & manufactured). Based on Rolta's deep defence domain knowledge and its proven BI and Big Data analytics platform, Rolta has been invited to bid for a major pan-India digital enablement initiative.This innovative solution is expected to deliver actionable insights and predictive analytics across diverse types of assets such as weapons & ammunition, vehicles, equipment, personnel, etc. Apart from being invited for all three large Make India projects announced so far, Rolta has also been invited to participate in a global RFI for another large project on Software Designed Radios (SDR).



Rolta has made significant inroads in the Homeland Security market in India by providing full range of solutions that cover Command, Control and Mission Critical Communications to equip the Police and Paramilitary forces with best of breed technologies. With the implementation of specialized communications projects across the country, Rolta has successfully established itself in the rapidly expanding mission critical communications segment. With the NAVTEX project implementation becoming fully operational along the entire coast of India including Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Rolta's presence now covers the remotest corners of the country. The Battlefield Management System (BMS) project is progressing well under the active guidance of Directorate General of Information Systems. As a part of its exclusive consortium with BEL, Rolta is responsible for complete BMS application software, GIS software and services. In addition, Rolta is working with BEL for Soldier Systems, overall system design, integration and installation.

Geospatial and Engineering Information Systems Rolta has been successfully leveraging its Geospatial expertise and proven IP in the areas of Smart Cities and e-Governance which are gaining global acceptance. A few examples of recent wins include a multi-million dollar order from a Ministry of Housing in the Middle East to design, develop and manage a Geospatial enable web portal for Land Management. With the global initiative for better Cadastral Management Rolta has been selected to create the parcel fabric database for two countries in Africa. Another government organisation in the Middle East responsible for establishing and developing of industrial cities with integrated infrastructure and services in various regions chose to engage Rolta to build a geospatially enabled mobile application. In the Smart City Transportation space a Roads and Transport Authority in the Middle who has been a long standing customer again elected to engage Rolta to enhance their spatial web applications as a single interface for issuing the No Objection Certificates to contractors. Rolta's other projects entrusted by this customer such as the traffic permit system and their ambitious multi-million dollar multi-year unified Identity and Access Management (IDAM) continue to progress smoothly with the IDAM project achieving the Go-Live milestone. Similarly, in the Smart City Utilities area Rolta had been engaged in a multi-year, multi-million dollar project in UK to develop an ambitious geospatial enabled Enterprise Asset Management solution for effective digital workforce management. Here also a key Go-Live milestone was achieved recently. As a pioneer in the Engineering area Rolta continues to grow and during the quarter won several prestigious projects. One of India's leading public sector engineering company decided to upgrade their engineering capabilities and selected Rolta for deployment of next generation 3D plant design solution for designing next-generation capital projects while remaining backward compatible with their existing infrastructure of engineering automation and procurement systems. Similarly, one of India's leading private sector Energy and Petrochemicals conglomerate engaged Rolta for standardizing discipline-specific engineering information systems. Based on the strong confidence in Rolta's design and engineering capabilities, a leading Japanese multinational conglomerate awarded additional contract for design, engineering and site support for projects being executed globally. Enterprise IT and Cloud Solutions Rolta's Enterprise IT and Cloud Solutions group is looked upon to provide cutting-edge solutions for IT Transformation, Cloud-enablement and enterprise security culminating in multi-year Managed Services engagements. During this quarter Rolta won contracts worth almost $21M from a major National Insurance and Financial Services Company in the US for their Data Centre Transformation in order to manage their growing diverse international operations and the ever expanding data. In the Cloud Solutions area Rolta has been assisting organisation cutting across industry vertical to establish their Cloud adoption strategies. Examples of this include the deployment of a Hybrid Cloud worth US $ 3.5M for by a US based speciality retailer while a leading global supplier of plastic fasteners contracted Rolta with a US $ 3.3M order to support their Cloud based supply chain applications. Other examples include building of a Cloud environment for a leading global supplier of Vision systems to support their manufacturing applications worth US $ 1.8M while a National Healthcare service provider in US engaged Rolta to enhance their Cloud capacity with a contract worth US $ 1.5M. Big Data Analytics Rolta has built an enviable track record to engage with customers in their entire BI and Big Data Analytics journey. Rolta SmartMigrate is an essential tool in automating several aspects of this journey for BI and Big Data Analytics platform consolidation cutting across industries and is gaining greater traction. One of the world's largest retail chain stores based out of North America recently signed a Master Services Agreement to consolidate their dashboards and reports on to a single platform which is expected to grow into a multi-million dollar contract. While at the other corner of the world one of the largest dairy farm in New Zealand chose Rolta to migrate their analytics to the latest in-memory analytics platform. Asset intensive industries in their quest for digital transformation have grown to trust Rolta for its rare combination of engineering know-how, deep industry domain knowledge and cross functional technical expertise, to build robust Asset Information Management systems. These successes include one of the largest utility company in Africa who recently chose Rolta for the initial phase of their project while in India Rolta is now engaged with multiple refinery majors to build their Asset Information Management Systems. Rolta has now established several marquee customers across the globe in the select industry it addressed with its flagship Rolta OneView enterprise suite. Encouraged by this growing success Rolta has now elected to leverage its robust and mature technology architecture and adapt it to new industries to serve, Oil and Gas, Refineries, Petrochemicals, Chemicals, Power Generation, Utilities including Water, Electricity and Gas, Pharmaceuticals, Transportation, e-Governance including City Operation Centres, Cyber Security and Crime Analytics for Security forces. A good example of this expansion was Rolta's ability to position its Rolta OneView product elements in a modern e-Governance and decision support system. Recently, Rolta has been awarded a US $ 2.7M contract for the deployment of a Rolta OneView based State Residential Data Hub for a State Government in India leveraging Rolta OneView. This Master Data Management Solution will bring together a variety of information available with multiple state departments and map the pan India Unique Identity Data to create a single trusted data hub. While in the traditional industry segments Rolta OneView continues to grow from strength to strength. A large power utility company in GCC chose to extend their contract with Rolta to enhance their Outage Management Analytics solution while another department within the organisation chose to deploy Rolta OneView to generate compliance reports that have to be submitted to the Electricity & Cogeneration Regulatory Authority. Rolta was recently engaged by a UK based water Utility to provide Analytics as a Service over the Cloud. With the increasingly stringent UK Government regulatory and reporting norms, several water utilities are finding that Rolta OneView with its predictive analytics could become a natural choice to meet these ongoing requirements. About Rolta: Rolta is a leading provider of innovative IP-led IT solutions for many vertical segments, including Federal and State Governments, Utilities, Oil & Gas, Petrochemicals, Financial Services, Manufacturing, Retail, and Healthcare. Rolta is recognized for its extensive portfolio of solutions based on field-proven Rolta IP tailored for Indian Defence and cutting edge Big Data Analytics. By uniquely combining its expertise in the IT, Engineering and Geospatial domains, Rolta develops State-of-the-Art Digital Solutions incorporating rich Rolta IP in the areas of Cloud, Mobility, IoT, BI and Big Data Analytics. Rolta is a multinational organization headquartered in India and the Company's shares have been publicly traded for more than 25 years in India. Rolta GDRs are listed on the London Stock Exchange for 10+ years. For additional information please visit http://www.rolta.com Media Contact :

Ramakrishna Prabhu

[email protected]

+91-22-2926-6666

Director - Corporate Affairs and CFO

Member of the Board

Rolta India Ltd.



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[February 14, 2017] IDdriven and ioSafe Enter Strategic Relationship

SACRAMENTO, California, February 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- IDdriven, Inc. (OTCQB: IDDR), developer and provider of the new breed of cloud based Identity and Access Management ("IAM") solutions, today announced it has entered into a strategic relationship with ioSafe Inc. ioSafe Inc, headquartered in Auburn, California specializes in physical data storage security with their impressive line of water- and fireproof data storage systems. ioSafe products are distributed to the Small Medium Enterprise (SME) market in the US via a nationwide network of distribution partners and resellers, and extends into Europe, South America, Africa and Australia. The company has over 100,000 units deployed worldwide. ioSafe founder and CEO Robb Moore commented, "We are excited to combine our physically secure devices with IDdriven's cyber-security products. Leveraging our channels to add virtual data security as a perfect addition to our product line makes strategic sense. Our customer base has already shown their commitment to investing in data security, and securing data access is a logical extension. IDdriven cloud based product capabilities and their seamless integration with Microsoft`s MIM and Azure Active Directory makes this a natural extension for both companies. We are looking forward to working with the IDdriven team and introducing the IDdriven product to our current client base, both SME and enterprise customers." "This is a great step forward for IDdriven. The relationship with ioSafe enables us to immediately tap into a distribution network consisting of more than 20,000 resellers in the USA an around the world," said Arend Verweij, IDdriven's Chief Executive Officer. "ioSafe's customer base is a natural fit for IDdriven. The ability to have systematic control over access for applications will add a layer of cybersecurity to the physical security desired by all of ioSafe's customers."



"The SME market is enormous, and until now did not invest in Identity Management systems as the cost and efficiency was prohibitively expensive," Mr. Verweij added. "IDdriven's cloud-based product offering with a 'monthly' service pricing model, makes it possible for many SME's to finally have the same data access controls as larger enterprises. About ioSafe

Auburn, California based ioSafe's award-winning fireproof and waterproof data storage solutions feature multi-bay servers and NAS as well as direct connect (USB) storage hardware. As the world's leader in disaster-proof hardware, ioSafe has helped its channel partners grow and protect their business customers. To learn more, visit https://iosafe.com/. About IDdriven With its next-generation IDaaS program of the same name, IDdriven, Inc. is at the forefront of the new breed of Identity Management and Access Governance solutions. Taking the complexity and upfront costs out of implementation, IDdriven automates access security for vulnerable company assets by seamlessly integrating with the solutions from Microsoft, and other cloud providers like Amazon. Founded in 2013, IDdriven is headquartered in Sacramento, California. To learn more, visit: http://www.IDdriven.com. Forward-Looking Statement Disclosure

This news release contains "forward-looking statements." Such statements may be preceded by the words "intends," "may," "will," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "predicts," "estimates," "aims," "believes," "hopes," "potential" or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond IDdriven's control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) commercialization of our software programs, (ii) development and protection of our intellectual property, (iii) industry competition, (iv) we may need to raise capital to meet business requirements. More detailed information about IDdriven and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward looking statements is contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission which are available on our website and at http://www.sec.gov. IDdriven assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Company Contact

Investor Relation:

Dorchester Group Inc.

E: [email protected]

T: +1-201-567-4415

SOURCE IDDriven, Inc.

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[February 14, 2017]

Spaceport America and FieldTripZoom Partner to Offer Virtual Field Trips and Live Streaming of STEM Content into Every K-12 Classroom in New Mexico Free of Charge

SPACEPORT AMERICA, N.M., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Spaceport America, the world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport located in southern New Mexico in the USA, and FieldTripZoom, a live and interactive educational content platform for K-12 classrooms, today announced their partnership to make a range of Spaceport America STEM and other educational content available to every K-12 classroom across the state of New Mexico - free of charge.

From the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, to the Alaska SeaLife Center, to the National Building Museum in Washington, DC, FieldTripZoom works with partners around the world to create meaningful learning opportunities that reach past geographic constrictions and uses technology that already exists in most classrooms. Real-time educational programs delivered by experts provide students with unique learning experiences aligning to national and state curriculum standards.

Programs will cover STEM, History, Career and College Readiness, Art, Music, and Literature. New Mexico teachers can go to http://www.fieldtripzoom.com and use their school email address to register without payment.

"We want every young New Mexican to have the opportunity to 'visit' Spaceport America, either physically or virtually and leave inspired because it is a national treasure playing a historic role in the future of space travel, exploration and commercialization," said Daniel Hicks, Chief Executive Officer Spaceport America. "For the remainder of this academic year, Spaceport America has sponsored a free FieldTripZoom Zone Season Pass for every K-12 classroom in the New Mexico Public and Private School Systems. This equates to approximately 165 programs offered to a variety of different grade levels through the end of the 2016-2017 New Mexico academic school year."

Spaceport America crew members from all departments help to prepare the content, lead the live virtual field trips, stream the launches live and join in for question and answer sessions direct from Spaceport America's vertical launch area or ission control. Virtual field trips entitled "What is Spaceport America?" are held on a monthly basis making it easy for teachers to program into their curriculum. And in honor of Space Week, on May 5, 2017, classrooms across the US can join the Spaceport America crew for BLAST OFF at Spaceport America from behind the scenes of a real rocket launch!







"We are excited to bring awe-inspiring content from the iconic Spaceport America in New Mexico to students throughout the world as well as hosting special programs for New Mexico K-12 public and private school students. And we are grateful to Spaceport America for sponsoring access to all our content partner programs for these same students for the remainder of this school year." said Doug Ashton, Co-founder FieldTripZoom.

Getting started:

New Mexico educators can easily book access to live streaming of content across a wide range of subjects and sign up for a free season pass by registering at: http://www.fieldtripzoom.com

If you are private school, please have your administrator contact FieldTripZoom at [email protected] for your free registration information. For additional information, or if you are having any problems registering, contact [email protected] or call 800-825-3127.

The What is Spaceport America? live stream virtual field trip to Spaceport America in New Mexico will be also available to all New Mexico schools as part of the free season pass.

Click here to view Spaceport America Program Listings (to book an event, you must register on the FieldTripZoom site): http://www.fieldtripzoom.com/zone-webinar-catalog

Spaceport America will be live streaming on the following dates so sign up now:

February 28: 3:10 EST, 1:10 PM MST

March 10: 1:10 PM EST, 11:10 AM MST

March 10: 3:10 PM EST, 1:10 PM MST

April 11: 11:10 AM EST, 9:10 AM MST

April 11: 2:10 PM EST, 12:10 PM MST

May 10: 12:10 PM EST, 10:10 AM MST

May 10: 2:10 PM EST, 12:10 PM MST

May 5: 11:10 AM EST, 9:10 AM MST

May 5: 2:10 PM EST, 12:10 PM MST

About FieldTripZoom

Based in Charleston, South Carolina, FieldTripZoom's educational content platform facilitates live and interactive experiences between leading educational content providers and K-12 classrooms. The company's content partners include leading museums, zoos, aquariums, science centers, art and history organizations, authors and other sources of unique subject-matter expertise. FieldTripZoom was a 2016 Technology Innovation Award Winner from the National School Board Association and was named a Top 10 2017 Educational Media Website Award Winner from HomeschoolBase.com. Visit http://www.fieldtripzoom.com for more information.

Twitter: @fieldtripzoom

Facebook: @fieldtripzoom

Instagram: @fieldtripzoom

About Spaceport America

Spaceport America is the first purpose-built commercial spaceport in the world. The FAA-licensed launch complex, situated on 18,000 acres adjacent to the U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range in southern New Mexico, boasts 6,000 square miles of restricted airspace, low population density, a 12,000-foot spaceway, and 340+ days of sunshine and low humidity. Some of the most respected companies in the commercial space industry are customers at Spaceport America: Virgin Galactic, SpaceX, UP Aerospace and EXOS. Visit http://spaceportamerica.com and http://gatewaytospace.com for more information.

Twitter: @Spaceport_STEM

Facebook: @SpaceportAmeicaSTEM

Instagram: @SpaceportAmericaSTEM

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spaceport-america-and-fieldtripzoom-partner-to-offer-virtual-field-trips-and-live-streaming-of-stem-content-into-every-k-12-classroom-in-new-mexico-free-of-charge-300406798.html

SOURCE Spaceport America
[February 14, 2017] Lando & Anastasi, LLP Expands Life Sciences Patent Team

Lando and Anastasi, LLP (L&A) today announced that Nathaniel Schafheimer, Ph.D., Wei Zhang, Ph.D., and Ioana Davies, Ph.D. have joined the firm. L&A continues to expand its Life Sciences practice, with the recent addition of three hires in the group. "Nathaniel, Wei, and Ioana have stellar backgrounds which dovetail well with our clients' technologies," commented Cathy McCarty, a Life Sciences partner and co-managing partner of the firm. "Adding new practitioners helps to maintain our technological currency, and these three bring a wonderful energy that complements our existing practice group," added Diana Collazo, a Life Sciences partner. Ioana Davies is an organic chemist, whose practice focuses on patent prosecution, portfolio analysis and management, and diligence in all areas of the life sciences. Prior to joining L&A, she was a medicinal chemist at Vertex (News - Alert) Pharmaceuticals for 13 years, the last 8 of which were as a senior research scientist. Ioana received a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Yale University and she completed her postdoctoral fellowship in chemistry at California Institute of Technology. She earned an M.S. degree and a B.S., with honors, in chemistry from Babes-Bolyai University (Romania). Ioana is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and is an inventor on 16 U.S. patents. She is the author of a number of scientific research articles published in well-known journals, including Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Letters,and Journal of Organic Chemistry.



Nathaniel Schafheimer works with L&A's biotechnology clients in all aspects of patent prosecution, including portfolio and diligence analyses. Immediately prior to joining L&A, Nathaniel was a Technical Advisor at Ropes & Gray in Boston. Prior to joining Ropes, he was a post-doctoral associate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he developed online biology courses on the edX learning platform covering a wide array of life science topics. Nathaniel received a Ph.D. in Biology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His doctoral research examined how ultraviolet light contributed to cataract development by monitoring the protein aggregation and structural conformation of human lens proteins. Nathaniel received both an M.S., summa cum laude, and a B.S., summa cum laude, from Brandeis University (News - Alert).

Wei Zhang has extensive knowledge in the areas of immunology, antibody protein and polynucleotide therapies. She works with clients ranging from multinational pharmaceutical companies to biotechnology start-ups on the preparation and prosecution of patent applications, freedom to operate and patentability analyses, and due diligence reviews. Prior to joining L&A, Wei worked as an in-house patent agent at Agenus, a pioneer immune-oncology company prior to joining L&A. She also interned at Boehringer Ingelheim and at the Yale University Office of Cooperative Research. Wei received her Ph.D. in cell biology from Yale University. Her doctoral research was supervised by Dr. Peter Cresswell (member of the National Academy of Sciences), and focused on regulation of major histocompatability complex antigen presentation. She received her B.S. in biological science from Peking University, and is a J.D. Candidate (expected 2020) at Suffolk University Law School. Wei is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and she is the lead author of scientific articles published in several journals, including Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America and Journal of Biological Chemistry. About Lando & Anastasi, LLP Lando & Anastasi, LLP headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, partners with clients to protect their innovations through effective intellectual property strategies, with an emphasis on creative solutions guided by a solid understanding of each client's business imperatives. Well versed in a wide range of industries including life sciences, software, cleantech, medical devices, chemical and electrical, L&A attorneys counsel clients ranging from early-stage and venture-backed start-ups to national and global corporations. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170214005117/en/

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Minutes after the Supreme Court convicted Sasikala Natarajan in the disproportionate assets case, actor Kamal Haasan took to Twitter to say that a wrong person may win at times but time changes and justice shall prevail.

By India Today Web Desk: Minutes after the Supreme Court convicted Sasikala Natarajan in the 21-year-old disproportionate assets case, actor Kamal Haasan took to Twitter to say "justice will prevail".

"It's a old song, but still; the wrong person may win at times. However, time changes and justice will prevail," the Vishwaroopam actor said.

Earlier, the actor, awaiting the judgment in the assets case, posted a tweet saying "the Marina spirit awaits judgment calmly".

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He said, "They've (Marina spirit) always respected civil order and will maintain it. Courts have a duty and so have the people".

The Marina spirit awaits judgement calmly. They've always respected civil order& will maintain it. Courts have a duty & so have the people Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) February 14, 2017

Haasan has been regularly tweeting about the power tussle between AIADMK General Secretary Sasikala Natarajan and caretaker Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.

ALSO READ: Kamal Haasan backs Panneerselvam, says Sasikala should back off. An India Today exclusive

HAASAN's CRYPTIC TWEETS

On Monday, the actor in yet another cryptic tweet said "power is of 2 kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love. Mr Gandhi (My imitable hero)".

In his earlier tweets, he had reacted to the crisis in Tamil Nadu and said there was no point blaming corrupt politicians.

"We've wasted our freedom years gambling our franchise on wrong and corrupt politicians. Let's stop blaming them. Let's become incorruptible," the 62-year-old actor tweeted.

He then followed it up with another tweet asking fellow actors to express their opinion on the crisis. "Madhavan, please talk on crisis in Tamil Nadu. We have a voice with decibel levels not conducive to bad politics. You can also disagree but do it loud please," he tweeted.

@ActorMadhavanplsTalk on crisis inTN.We have a voice with decible levels not conducive 2 bad politics U can also diagree.but do it loud pls Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) February 8, 2017

Actor Madhavan, although careful with his words, choose to speak on the subject. "Sir, we have always discussed how TN should be the best state in the world, leave alone India. With the talent and potential we have, we should have been an example to the world," Madhavan said in his response.

ALSO READ:

Kamal Haasan has posted yet another cryptic tweet on Tamil Nadu drama

Kamal Haasan at India Today Conclave: If you want to ban jallikattu, ban biryani too

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ALSO WATCH

--- ENDS ---
[February 14, 2017] Composite Simulation: Altair to Show how to Unlock the Potential of Lightweight Design at JEC World

TROY, Mich., Feb. 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Altair will present its comprehensive technology and expertise to design, analyze, and optimize composite material structural parts and assemblies for laminated, chopped fiber, and particulate composites as well as several customer successes at JEC World, the largest international show of the composite industry, on March 14-16 in Paris.

Robot Bike's customizable mountain bike made of composites and 3D printed knots has been developed with Altair's simulation and optimization technology. Picture courtesy of Robot Bike Co.



Team Rafales Class-C catamaran features an optimized composite hydro-foiling board, designed and optimized with OptiStruct. Picture courtesy of Team Rafale.



Photos accompanying this release are available at //www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8a7973ec-97b1-4914-8ad5-a47b119cb424 //www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/effc9bee-e252-49df-bea8-f447ecfaa9fe



In addition to its presence on the exhibition floor Altair will also introduce: Unlock the potential of Lightweight Design with Composite", a new conference program completely dedicated to composite simulation. The conference agenda includes presentations from renowned companies such as: PSA Group, CORIIOLIS, HENKEL, CIKONI Composite, speaking about best practice examples on how the Altair solutions help to create innovative products and to improve development processes, when working with composite material. The conference will take place on March, 15th at 2pm in the JEC conference rooms in Hall 6. Altairs expertise and collaboration with technology partners allow clients to establish a simulation-driven design process that fully leverages the lightweight potential offered by advanced materials and manufacturing methods. At this years JEC World, Altair will present its broad range of simulation solutions, with a special focus on design and simulation tools for composite material, such as OptiStruct and Altairs Multiscale Designer software. Multiscale Designer allows accurate exploration of composite material models from macro-level performance down to micro-structural characteristics and effects. Further highlights at the Altair booth include the Robot Bike, a customizable mountain bike made of composites and 3D printed knots, and an optimized composite hydro-foiling board from Team Rafales Class-C catamaran.

We consider the JEC World in Paris a 'must be' to present our solutions for the design, optimization, and analysis of composites structures, said Robert Yancey, Vice President - Composites and Additive Manufacturing at Altair. "Light weighting is important for literarily every industry and definitely more than just using lighter materials. Those materials have to be designed and optimized for maximum lightweight results and our solutions help our customers to do exactly that. Visit us at our booth and attend our conference program on March 15th to see best practice examples of how to Design the DifferenceTM with composites." In addition to its own solutions Altair is also pleased to host its Altair Partner Alliance (APA) partners Componeering and HBM nCode as co-exhibitors. Componeering specializes in structural analysis and composite structure design and is known for ESAComp, a software tool for the analysis and design of composites. HBM nCode, developer of the leading brand of durability, test and analysis software, offers its customers nCode DesignLife, the leading CAE solution for fatigue life prediction from finite element models, via the APA. Further information about Altair, its solutions, and the APA may be found at Altairs JEC World booth N68 in hall 5A and at: www.altair.com. To check out the conference agenda and to register for your free pass to JEC World and the Altair conference please visit: www.jecworld-badges.com or http://web2.altairhyperworks.com/jec-composite-2017-invitation-altair. About Altair

Founded in 1985, Altair is focused on the development and application of simulation technology to synthesize and optimize designs, processes and decisions for improved business performance. Privately held with more than 2,600 employees, Altair is headquartered in Troy, Michigan, USA with more than 45 offices throughout 20 countries, and serves more than 5,000 corporate clients across broad industry segments. To learn more, please visit www.altair.com. Media Contacts Altair Europe, the Middle East and Africa Evelyn Gebhardt +49 6421 9684351 [email protected] Altair Corporate/North America Biba A. Bedi +1-757.224.0548 x 406 [email protected]

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[February 14, 2017] BIO Announces Gary Andres as the New Senior Executive Vice President of Public Affairs

The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) announced today that long-time Majority Staff Director of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Dr. Gary Andres will be joining BIO as Senior Executive Vice President of Public Affairs. "I am delighted to have Gary join the BIO team. He brings a wealth of experiences and skills to this critical advocacy position. Gary has a deep understanding of Washington, Congress, the White House and our industry. BIO's executive leadership team and the BIO Board of Directors look forward to Gary helping us improve the public policy environment for continued innovation," said Jim Greenwood, President & CEO of BIO. As Staff Director of the Energy & Commerce Committee, Dr. Andres managed a staff of nearly 70 people and oversaw a $7 million budget. His role included oversight of legislative policy development and strategic communications for all areas of the Committee's jurisdiction - including healthcare, energy and environmental policy, consumer safety and cyber-security. Prior to joining the Committee, Dr. Andres served Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush as Deputy Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs (1989-1992) and as a member of the Cabinet Confirmation team (2001). Greenwood continued, "Gary is joining BIO at a critical time for our industry. The respect Gary commands - from both sides of the aisle - will be a tremendous asset to our organization and our industry. His experience and management skills will help us elevate our advocacy efforts and accomplish our goals - at both the federal and state level." Dr. Andres served several stints with Dutko Worldwide (1993-2001/2001-2010) - serving first as a partner and Vice President and then as Vice Chairman for Research, overseeing the firm's polling and strategic communications offerings. He also served as Vice President for Washington Research at Prudenial Securities and as Director of Government Relations for the former Southwestern Bell Corporation (now AT&T (News - Alert)).



From 2002-2010, he wrote regular columns for the Washington Times and The Weekly Standard - and has been an occasional contributor to Roll Call, The Hill, Politico and National Review Online. In 2009, Andres published the book, "Lobbying Reconsidered." Dr. Andres earned his Ph.D. In in Public Policy Analysis from the University of Illinois - Chicago, where he also earned a Master's degree. He earned his BA from Wheaton College.

He is married to Sue Andres and has five children. About BIO BIO is the world's largest trade association representing biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world's largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. BIOtechNOW is BIO's blog chronicling "innovations transforming our world" and the BIO Newsletter is the organization's bi-weekly email newsletter. Subscribe to the BIO Newsletter. Upcoming BIO Events BIO CEO & Investor Conference

February 13-14, 2017

New York BIO Asia International Conference

March 14-15, 2017

Tokyo, Japan BIO-Europe Spring Conference

March 20-22, 2017

Barcelona, Spain View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170214005915/en/

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[February 14, 2017] Powerhouse Holding Corp., a Dubin Clark Portfolio Company, Announces the Recapitalization of Supreme-Metro Corporation

Jack O'Hayre, CEO of Powerhouse Holding Corp. ("Powerhouse"), in conjunction with its capital partner, Dubin Clark & Company, Inc., announced today the recapitalization of Supreme-Metro Corporation ("Supreme-Metro") on February 3, 2017. Jason Ciavarro will remain active as Supreme-Metro's President. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in South Plainfield, New Jersey, Supreme-Metro offers full-service asphalt, concrete, and drainage services to engineers, property managers, management companies, building owners, and developers of office parks, roadways, retail centers, and parking lots throughout New Jersey. Supreme-Metro is the market leader in New Jersey and extends services into adjacent metro areas such as Pennsylvania and New York. "We are truly excited to be working with Jay and his team of top-notch professionals!" said Jack O'Hayre, CEO of Powerhouse. "Through this partnership, we will be able to continue ur growth into New Jersey, as we position ourselves for future expansion."



"I'm excited that we are expanding our company in providing additional locations and services beyond New Jersey," said Jason Ciavarro, President of Supreme-Metro. "This strategic alliance with Powerhouse builds upon both companies' core foundations, setting the stage for many years of growth and increased customer service throughout the Northeast." "We look forward to partnering with Jay and his team at Supreme-Metro," said Mike Hompesch, Partner of Dubin Clark. "The combined business is well-positioned to achieve substantial growth by providing high-quality services within an expanded geographic footprint."

Powerhouse Holding Corp., founded in 1963 and headquartered in Islip, New York, is comprised of two businesses: Powerhouse Maintenance, LLC (comprised of Powerhouse Paving, PAM Sweeping, and Orange (News - Alert) Industries) and Supreme-Metro, LLC, and specializes in the maintenance and repair of commercial parking lots and related areas for property managers/owners of predominantly commercial and industrial facilities, apartment complexes, strip malls and retail shopping centers. Dubin Clark & Company, Inc. is a private investment firm that has a 33-year history of investing in middle-market buyouts and building businesses in partnership with the managements of their portfolio companies and a national reputation for helping successful middle-market companies reach new levels of sales and earnings. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170214005939/en/

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[February 14, 2017] Optimizing Data Center Placement and Network Design to Strengthen Cloud Computing

Telecommunication experts estimate the amount of data stored "in the cloud" or in remote data centers around the world, will quintuple in the next five years. Whether it's streaming video or business' database content drawn from distant servers, all of this data is - and will continue in the foreseeable future to be - accessed and transmitted by lasers sending pulses of light along long bundles of flexible optical fibers. Traditionally, the rate information is transmitted does not consider the distance that data must travel, despite the fact that shorter distances can support higher rates. Yet as the traffic grows in volume and uses increasingly more of the available bandwidth, or capacity to transfer bits of data, researchers have become increasingly aware of some of the limitations of this mode of transmission. New research from Nokia Bell Labs in Murray Hill, New Jersey may offer a way to capitalize on this notion and offer improved data transfer rates for cloud computing based traffic. The results of this work will be presented at the Optical Fiber Communications Conference and Exhibition (OFC), held 19-23 March in Los Angeles, California, USA. "The challenge for legacy systems that rely on fixed-rate transmission is that they lack flexibility," said Dr. Kyle Guan, a research scientist at Nokia Bell Labs (News - Alert). "At shorter distances, it is possible to transmit data at much higher rates, but fixed-rate systems lack the capability to take advantage of that opportunity." Guan worked with a newly emerged transmission technology called "distance-adaptive transmission," where the equipment that receives and transmits these light signals can change the rate of transmission depending on how far the data must travel. With this, he set about building a mathematical model to determine the optimal lay-out of network infrastructure for data transfer. "The question that I wanted to answer was how to design a netwrk that would allow for the most efficient flow of data traffic," said Guan. "Specifically, in a continent-wide system, what would be the most effective [set of] locations for data centers and how should bandwidth be apportioned? It quickly became apparent that my model would have to reflect not just the flow of traffic between data centers and end users, but also the flow of traffic between data centers."



External industry research suggests that this second type of traffic, between the data centers, represents about one-third of total cloud traffic. It includes activities such as data backup and load balancing, whereby tasks are completed by multiple servers to maximize application performance. After accounting for these factors, Guan ran simulations with his model of how data traffic would flow most effectively in a network.

"My preliminary results showed that in a continental-scale network with optimized data center placement and bandwidth allocation, distance-adaptive transmission can use 50 percent less wavelength resources or light transmission, and reception equipment, compared to fixed-rate rate transmission," said Guan. "On a functional level, this could allow cloud service providers to significantly increase the volume of traffic supported on the existing fiber-optic network with the same wavelength resources." Guan recognizes other important issues related to data center placement. "Other important factors that have to be considered include the proximity of data centers to renewable sources of energy that can power them, and latency -- the interval of time that passes from when an end user or data center initiates an action and when they receive a response," he said. Guan's future research will involve integrating these types of factors into his model so that he can run simulations that even more closely mirror the complexity of real-world conditions. Media Registration: A media room for credentialed press and analysts will be located on-site at the Los Angeles Convention Center, 19-23 March 2017. Media interested in attending the event should register on the OFC website media center: Media Center. ABOUT OFC The Optical Fiber Conference and Exposition (OFC) is the largest global conference and exhibition for optical communications and networking professionals. For more than 40 years, OFC has drawn attendees from all corners of the globe to meet and greet, teach and learn, make connections and move business forward. OFC includes dynamic business programming, an exhibition of more than 600 companies, and high impact peer-reviewed research that, combined, showcase the trends and pulse of the entire optical networking and communications industry. OFC is managed by The Optical Society (OSA) and co-sponsored by OSA, the IEEE Communications (News - Alert) Society (IEEE/ComSoc), and the IEEE Photonics Society. OFC 2017 will be held from 19-23 March 2017 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, California, USA. Follow @OFCConference, learn more OFC Conference LinkedIn and watch highlights OFC YouTube. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170214006036/en/

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[February 14, 2017] Smart Grid Security Market by Solution, Service, Deployment Mode, Subsystem, Security Type, and Region - Global Forecast to 2021

LONDON, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- MarketsandMarkets estimates the global smart grid security market to grow from USD 4.29 billion in 2016 to USD 7.00 billion by 2021, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.3%. The smart grid security market is growing rapidly because of the increase in adoption of smart grid security solutions, due to the increase in security breaches targeting enterprises. However, factors such as lack of security awareness among smart grid stakeholders are restraining the growth of the smart grid security market. "IAM solution to have the highest growth rate during the forecast period"

Smart grid security solutions have been deployed in a large number of energy and utilities sector across the globe. Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions provide a business security process framework, enabling the initiation and management of user identity and related access permissions in an automated fashion. The IAM solution is expected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period because of the increasing risk over maintenance of sensitive data. "SCADA/ICS subsystem to have the largest market size in 2016"

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)/Industrial Control System (ICS) security is estimated to have the largest market size in 2016 because of the growing need to secure complex subsystems in smart grid. The growth in SCADA and ICS security is associated with the rise in security breaches targeting critical infrastructure in enterprises, where hackers try to gain access to sensitive data. Furthermore, application demand response subsystem will grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, due to the organization's need to balance the demand and supply of electricity. "APAC is expected to have the highest growth rate during the forecast period"

Asia-Pacific (APAC) include emerging economies, such as China, India, and Singapore, which are rapidly deploying smart grid security solutions. This is mainly due to the digitization of businesses and adoption of cloud services by small, medium, and large enterprises in the region.



In-depth interviews were conducted with CEOs, marketing directors, other innovation and technology directors, and executives from various key organizations operating in the smart grid security marketplace. - By Company Type: Tier 1: 48%, Tier 2: 28%, Tier 3: 24%

- By Designation: C-Level: 34%, Director Level: 46%, Others: 20%

- By Region: North America: 52%, Europe: 26%, APAC: 16%, ROW: 6%

The report includes the study of key players offering smart grid security services; BAE Systems PLC (U.K.), IBM Corporation (U.S.), Cisco Systems, Inc. (U.S.), Intel Corporation (Intel Security) (U.S.), Siemens AG (Germany), Symantec Corporation (U.S.), N-Dimension Solutions (Canada), Elster Solutions (U.S.), AlertEnterprise (U.S.), and Leidos (U.S.) are some of the companies profiled in the report. The report includes in-depth competitive analysis of these key players in the smart grid security market, with their company profiles, SWOT analysis, recent developments, and key market strategies. The report will help the market leaders or new entrants in this market in the following ways:

1. This report segments the market into various subsegments, covering this market comprehensively. The report provides the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall market and the subsegments. The market numbers are further split across different industry verticals and regions. 2. This report will help in better understanding of the competitors and gaining insights to better one's position in the market. There is a separate section on competitive landscape, which includes competitor ecosystem, mergers & acquisitions, integrations & expansions, and collaborations of various market vendors. Besides, there are company profiles of ten players in this market. In this section, market internals are provided that can put one ahead of the competitors. 3. The report also helps in understanding the overall growth of the market. It provides information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4698521/ About Reportbuyer

Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishershttp://www.reportbuyer.com For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/smart-grid-security-market-by-solution-service-deployment-mode-subsystem-security-type-and-region---global-forecast-to-2021-300407281.html SOURCE ReportBuyer

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[February 14, 2017] Domination and Profit and Loss Transfer Agreement with Diebold Nixdorf AG is Now Effective

NORTH CANTON, Ohio and PADERBORN, Germany, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated (NYSE and FSE: DBD), today announced that the Domination and Profit and Loss Transfer Agreement (DPLTA) between its wholly-owned subsidiary, Diebold Holding Germany Inc. & Co. KGaA (Diebold KGaA), and Diebold Nixdorf AG, became effective by entry in the commercial register at the local court of Paderborn (Germany) on Feb. 14, 2017. The shareholders of Diebold Nixdorf AG approved the conclusion of the DPLTA during an extraordinary general meeting on Sept. 26, 2016. The effectiveness of the DPLTA enables Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated to further integrate Diebold Nixdorf AG under German law, including the ability to issue binding operational instructions to the management board of Diebold Nixdorf AG. In the United Kingdom, the Diebold and Wincor Nixdorf brands and operations will remain distinct pending completion of the Competition and Markets Authority's review of the transaction. Diebold Nixdorf AG has been consolidated from a financial reporting standpoint since closing of the public tender offer on Aug. 15, 2016. On basis of the DPLTA, Diebold KGaA offers to minority shareholders of Diebold Nixdorf AG to acquire their shares for 55.02 ("Exit Compensation") per share ("Settlement Offer") or to receive an annual recurring compensation in an amount of 3.13 (2.82 net under the current taxation regime). Diebold KGaA appointed Deutsche Bank AG, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, as the settlement agent for the technical processing of the payment of the Exit Compensation. Detailed instructions on the tender and settlement process will be published as part of the Settlement Offer notification in the coming days in the German Federal Gazette (www.Bundesanzeiger.de), on Diebold Nixdorf's website at www.DieboldNixdorf.com and as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K of Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission following publication in the German Federal Gazette. In addition, minority shareholders of Diebold Nixdorf AG can obtain more information about technical processing of the Settlement Offer by contacting their custodian bank.



About Diebold Nixdorf Diebold Nixdorf is a world leader in enabling connected commerce for millions of consumers each day across the financial and retail industries. Its software-defined solutions bridge the physical and digital worlds of cash and consumer transactions conveniently, securely and efficiently. As an innovation partner for nearly all of the world's top 100 financial institutions and a majority of the top 25 global retailers, Diebold Nixdorf delivers unparalleled services and technology that are essential to evolve in an 'always on' and changing consumer landscape.

Diebold Nixdorf has a presence in more than 130 countries with approximately 25,000 employees worldwide. The organization maintains corporate offices in North Canton, Ohio, USA and Paderborn, Germany. Shares are traded on the New York and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges under the symbol 'DBD'. Visit www.DieboldNixdorf.com for more information. IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS The description of the DPLTA and the Settlement Offer in this press release is qualified in its entirety by the DPLTA, an English translation of which has been filed by Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release does not constitute an offer or an invitation by Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated or any of its subsidiaries to participate in the Settlement Offer in any jurisdiction where it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain statements, including those regarding the integration of Diebold Nixdorf AG and the Settlement Offer, contained in this communication regarding matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). These include statements regarding management's intentions, plans, beliefs, expectations or forecasts for the future. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated and involve risks and uncertainties; consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from those in the forward-looking statements are discussed throughout Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated's periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission available at www.sec.gov. Any forward looking statements speak only as at the date of this document. Except as required by applicable law, Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/domination-and-profit-and-loss-transfer-agreement-with-diebold-nixdorf-ag-is-now-effective-300407348.html SOURCE Diebold Nixdorf

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[February 14, 2017] 25 Hospitals in Mexico Make a Commitment to Eliminate Preventable Death

Dr. Javier Davila Torres, along with 11 officials from Mexico announced at the Patient Safety Movement Foundation's (PSMF) World Patient Safety, Science & Technology Summit that 25 hospitals signed a commitment to implement processes to eliminate preventable patient deaths. In addition, Mexico's Academy of Surgery, Federation of Anesthesiologists and College of Health Quality Professionals of the West, Guadalajara and Jalisco have joined the Foundation as "Committed Partners" that share the PSMF's mission. By signing the commitment, the hospitals commit to implementing processes, such as Actionable Patient Safety Solutions (APSS), designed to help eliminate preventable patient deaths in hospitals. To date, there are 13 easy to implement APSS available for download. To view each hospital's commitment, please visit http://patientsafetymovement.org/challenges-solutions/commitments-pledges/. "Our Patient Safety Movement began in the United States, but its vision for protecting patient lives has always been global. We are very excited to see patient safety commitments representing 33 hospitals and 3 healthcare organizations in Mexico, protecting our neighbors from preventable deaths," said Joe Kiani, Founder of the Patient Safety Movement Foundation. "Patient safety in hospitals is a global concern, and we hope all countries will join us." "We appreciate all of the physicians, nurses and multi-disciplinary teams that have stepped forward to make a commitment to the Patient Safety Movement," said Dr. Javier Davila, Patient Safety Movement's Regional Chairman for Mexico and Former Medical Director of the Social Security Mexican Institute. "This is just the begining for Mexico and we need every hospital to participate if we want to eliminate medical errors and preventable deaths."



"We are looking forward to working closely with the Patient Safety Movement. Our Institute aims to promote the comprehensive education of patient safety, and to eliminate the serious infections associated with health care," said Dr. David Kershenobich, General Director of the National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition and former President of the National Academy of Medicine of Mexico. "We were pleased to see mental health as one of the challenges addressed at this year's Summit, said Dr. Maria Elena Medina-Mora, General Director of the National Institute of Mental Health. "The people who suffer with mental health conditions live much of their life without access to proper care. Our mission is to try to provide them with quality of life and safety in their care. We are excited to work with the Patient Safety Movement."

"The Mexican Academy of Surgery, in conjunction with the Public Health sector of the Mexican Federal Government, will provide continuous medical education in different surgical specialties to academic organizations and Universities," said Dr. Jesus Tapia, President of the Mexican Academy of Surgery. "It is our hope that all of our members commit to making zero preventable patient deaths by the year 2020 their safety goal." To date, the following organizations representing 33 hospitals in Mexico have committed to one or more Actionable Patient Safety Solutions (APSS): Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion "Salvador Zubiran", Mexico City Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatria "Ramon de la Fuente Muniz", Mexico City Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia "Ignacio Chavez" Insituto Nacional de Neurologia y Neurocirugia "Manuel Velazco Suarez", Mexico City Hospital Juarez de Mexico Secretaria de Salud, Mexico City (Hospital Belisario Dominguez, Hospital General Balbuena, Hospital General Ruben Lenero and Hospital General La Villa, El Medico en Tu Casa ) Hospital Espanol, Mexico City Clinica CER, Santiago de Queretaro Centro de Atencion Integral en Salud Mental, Jalisco Hospital Regional la Barca, Jalisco Hospital de Especialidades del Nino y Mujer, Santiago de Queretaro Hospital General de Cadereyta, Santiago de Queretaro Hospital General de Jalpan, Santiago de Queretaro Hospital General De Occidente, Jalisco Hospital General de Queretaro, Santiago de Queretaro Hospital Materno Infantil Esperanza Lopez Mateos, Guadalajara Hospital Punta Sur, Santiago de Queretaro Hospital Santa Rosa de Viterbo, Santiago de Queretaro Medica Ideas, Hospital Intermedica, Medicina Actual, Pachuca Hidalgo Unidad Especializada de Atencion Obstetrica y Neonatal, Jalisco Unidad Medica de Atencion Ambulatoria IMSS Queretaro, Santiago de Queretaro Hospital General Regional No. 1 IMSS Queretaro, Santiago de Queretaro Instituto Jalisciense de Cancerologia, Guadalajara Hospital Mocel Grupo Angeles About The Patient Safety Movement Foundation More than 200,000 people die every year in U.S. hospitals and 3 million worldwide in ways that could have been prevented. The Patient Safety Movement Foundation was established through the support of the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation, and Competition in Healthcare, to reduce that number of preventable deaths to 0 by 2020 (0X2020). Improving patient safety will require a collaborative effort from all stakeholders, including patients, healthcare providers, medical technology companies, government, employers, and private payers. The Patient Safety Movement Foundation works with all stakeholders to address the problems with actionable solutions for patient safety. The Foundation also convenes the World Patient Safety, Science and Technology summit. The Summit brings together some of the world's best minds for thought-provoking discussions and new ideas to challenge the status quo. By presenting specific, high-impact solutions to meet patient safety challenges, called Actionable Patient Safety Solutions, encouraging medical technology companies to share the data their products are purchased for, and asking hospitals to make commitments to implement Actionable Patient Safety Solutions, Patient Safety Movement is working toward zero preventable deaths by 2020. Visit http://patientsafetymovement.org/. @0X2020 #patientsafety #0X2020 View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170214006403/en/

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Federal Student Aid Awards Fila Group a $35 Million Strategic Services Contract in Support of its $1.2 Trillion Loan Portfolio

Federal Student Aid (FSA), a principal office within the U.S. Department of Education, plays a central role in postsecondary education as the largest provider of student financial aid in the nation. FSA ensures that all eligible individuals may benefit from federally funded or federally guaranteed financial assistance for education beyond high school. FSA currently manages over $150 billion per year in grants, loans, and work-study funds.

Through this five year, single award IDIQ contract, Fila Group will provide FSA with a broad range of critical services including strategic planning, investment management, capital planningand investment control, enterprise architecture, data management, security architecture, and enterprise governance, among others.







"We are thrilled to provide FSA with an integrated suite of strategic services that will not only support more informed decision-making, but will also support the wiser spending of taxpayer dollars over the next five years," remarked Jonathan Keough, President of Fila Group.

About Fila Group

Founded in 2004, Fila Group provides expert advice and services in the areas of IT strategy & transformation, enterprise architecture planning & execution, capital planning and investment control, business process reengineering, and more.

Fila Group customers include: Department of Education, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Department of the Interior, Department of Labor, US Forest Service, Federal Student Aid, General Services Administration, Department of Transportation, State of Minnesota, State of Virginia, State of Washington.

Fila Group is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. For more information, please visit www.filagroup.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170214006413/en/
[February 14, 2017] SSM Health Names Laura Kaiser as Next President and CEO

Following a nationwide search, the SSM Health Board of Directors has selected Laura Kaiser as the health system's new President/Chief Executive Officer. Kaiser will begin with SSM Health on May 1 and replace William P. Thompson, who will retire at the end of April after 37 years of service with the organization. Kaiser is an accomplished health care executive with more than 30 years of experience in improving clinical quality and patient satisfaction, fueling operational performance and growth, and successfully facilitating health care integration. She comes to SSM Health from Intermountain Healthcare, where she has served as Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer for the past five years. Prior to Intermountain Healthcare, Kaiser spent 15 years at Ascension Health, serving in a number of leadership roles, including Ministry Market Leader of the Gulf Coast/Florida region for Ascension and President/CEO at Sacred Heart Health System. "Ms. Kaiser is a gifted and visionary leader with a proven track record of achieving extraordinary results," said David Cosby, Board Chair, SSM Health Board of Directors. "We believe she is the right leader to help lead our organization into the future, while ensuring the strength of our mission and providing our patients and customers with the exceptional care and service they have come to expect from SSM Health." As President/CEO of SSM Health, Kaiser will be responsible for leading all aspects of one of the lagest integrated health care systems in the nation. She will be instrumental in guiding SSM Health's transition to a value-based model of care as it strives to improve the health of the community, further enhance the patient and member experience, and lower the overall cost of care.



"It is an honor and a privilege to join the wonderful SSM Health caregiver team and to lead this extraordinary faith-based health care system with an international reputation for quality," said Kaiser. Kaiser, a Missouri native, earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management from the University of Missouri-Columbia as well as a Master of Business Administration and Master in Healthcare Administration from Saint Louis University. She is also a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

About SSM Health SSM Health (ssmhc.com) is a Catholic, not-for-profit health system serving the comprehensive health needs of communities across the Midwest through one of the largest integrated delivery systems in the nation. With care delivery sites in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, SSM Health includes 20 hospitals, more than 60 outpatient care sites, a pharmacy benefit company, an insurance company, two nursing homes, comprehensive home care and hospice services, a technology company and two Accountable Care Organizations. With more than 8,500 physicians and 33,000 employees in four states, SSM Health is one of the largest employers in every community it serves. An early adopter of the electronic health record (EHR), SSM Health is a national leader for the depth of its EHR integration. For more information, find us on Facebook and Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170214006477/en/

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[February 14, 2017] Fiber Optics Gyroscope Market by Sensing Axis, Device, Application, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2022

LONDON, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- "Fiber optics gyroscope market to grow at a CAGR of 3.61% between 2016 and 2022"

The fiber optics gyroscope market is expected to reach USD 1,037.0 million by 2022, at a CAGR of 3.61% between 2016 and 2022. The major reason for the growth of the fiber optics gyroscope is the increasing defense expenditure globally owing to the growing demand for equipment optimized with several intelligent sensors for navigation, satellite antenna positioning, and other applications. Highly complex and time-consuming manufacturing process is a major restraining factor for the growth of the fiber optics gyroscope market.



"Defense and homeland security application is a driving factor for the fiber optics gyroscope market and held the largest market share in 2015"

The defense sector uses different equipment that is optimized with several intelligent sensors for navigation, satellite antenna positioning, and other applications. Some of the major applications in this sector provided by fiber optics gyroscopes are missiles flight control, dynamic global positioning system (GPS) tracking, dynamic platform stabilization, environmental observation, ground detection, and guided ammunition, security, and earth observation applications among others. These factors are expected to propel the growth of the fiber optics gyroscope market for the defense and homeland security application.



"Asia-Pacific expected to be the fastest-growing market"

This report covers the fiber optics gyroscope market in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), and Rest of the World (RoW). The fiber optics gyroscope market in APAC is expected to grow at the highest CAGR between 2016 and 2022. North America is the largest region for the fiber optics gyroscope market. The growing ndustrial and home automation and the huge defense expenditure by the U.S. government are some of the important factors that have contributed to the growth of the fiber optics gyroscope market in this region.



Breakdown of profile of primary participants:



- By Company Type: Tier 1  35%, Tier 2  25%, and Tier 3  40%

- By Designation: C-Level Executives  25%, Directors  35%, and Others  40%

- By Region: North America  25%, Europe  35%, APAC  35%, and RoW  5%





The key players in the fiber optics gyroscope market profiled in this report are EMCORE Corporation (U.S.), Honeywell International, Inc. (U.S.), Colibrys Ltd. (Switzerland), KVH Industries, Inc. (U.S.), Northrop Grumman LITEF GmbH (Germany), Nedaero Components (Netherlands), iXBlue SAS (France), Fizoptika Corp. (Russia), Optolink LLC (Russia), and Al Cielo Inertial Solutions Ltd. (Israel). Research Coverage:

The report provides a clear analysis of fiber optics gyroscope and its requirement across different applications, devices, and regions. This report aims at estimating the market size and future growth potential of this market across different segments such as sensing axes, devices, applications, and regions. Furthermore, the report also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key players in this market along with their company profiles, SWOT analysis, recent developments, and key market strategies.



Reasons to Buy the Report:



- This report includes the market statistics pertaining to sensing axis, device, application, and geography, along with their respective market size.

- The Porter's five forces framework has been utilized along with the value chain analysis to provide an in-depth insight into the fiber optics gyroscope market.

- Major drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities for the growth of the fiber optics gyroscope market have been detailed in this report.

- Illustrative segmentation, analysis, and forecast based on sensing axis, device, application, and geography have been conducted to provide an overall view of the fiber optics gyroscope market.

- This report includes a detailed competitive landscape such as key players, in-depth analysis, and revenue of key players. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4698523/



About Reportbuyer

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Website: www.reportbuyer.com To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fiber-optics-gyroscope-market-by-sensing-axis-device-application-and-geography---global-forecast-to-2022-300407497.html SOURCE ReportBuyer

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The NIA also plans to send a team to Nepal to question three accused including Brajkishore Giri.

By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) got a shot in the arm on Tuesday after two fresh arrests were made in Ghorasahan, Motihari case.

While the agency is probing the role of ISI, which has allegedly conspired to cause derailment of Indian trains by use of explosive and IED's, the NIA will soon be able to lay its hands on Gajendra Sharma, who on Tuesday surrendered in the court of SDJM Raxaul at Motihari.

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On the petition filed by the NIA, the special NIA court, Patna issued a production warrant for the accused.

Gajendra ran a Bhojpuri music studio often renting his orchestra for marriage and other events. He is known to be the main missing link in the ISI orchestrated plan.

The Pakistan link to Gajendra connects from Sheikh Shafi, a Pakistan-backed ISI man whose trusted Lieutenant Shamshul Huda, a Nepalese man with links in Nepal, Dubai and few other countries strengthened the network.

In the larger scheme, he chose Brajkishore Giri to identify Indian men with criminal antecedents who would carry out dastardly act of placing bombs on tracks in return of money.

Gajendra, whose music business was running in losses, is known to have conspired with Giri. But with him in the net, the NIA will be able to complete the jigsaw conspiracy.

Another accused Rakesh Yadav, a 23-year-old aide was also nabbed by the NIA team. The court has his granted 4-days police remand to the NIA. Yadav is also a link to Moti Paswan and two other accused already in custody of the NIA.

Also read: Madhya Pradesh: BJP blames intelligence agencies for ISI infiltration into its ranks

An IED was discovered from the rail track and defused on October 1, 2016. One of the three suspect also claimed to have traveled to Kanpur on behest of ISI to cause derailment which claimed 150 lives. On November 20, 2016, the scheduled Indore-Patna Express train from Indore to Patna, derailed near Pukhrayan.

Interrogation of three arrested men - Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar Patel and Mukesh Yadav led to shocking claims of ISI's role in Kanpur incident.

ISI's role suspected in accident came after 3 men were arrested for murder of two youth Arun and Deepak Ram, killed on October 1 by handler Brajkishore Giri because they had failed to trigger bombs on railway tracks in Champaram near the Nepal border.

The trio in Bihar Police custody spilled beans about how they were paid Rs 3 lakh to plant explosives at Ghorasahan.

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Police stumbled on the racket while investigating the murder of two Raxaul residents in Nepal. Three people arrested in Nepal - Brijkishore Giri, Muzahid Ansari and Shambhu - and two other men were active in this group. Giri, the kingpin, had paid money to the trio arrested by Bihar Police to carry out blasts on rail tracks near Ghorasahan.

Barring Shamsul Hoda and Sheikh Shafi, both ISI handlers, all crucial arrests have been made. Leads from interrogation will further unravel the conspiracy.

The NIA also plans to send a team to Nepal to question three accused including Brajkishore Giri.

Also read: Kanpur train derailment: Prime suspect ISI agent Samshul Hoda arrested from Kathmandu

--- ENDS ---
A look back on all of our reporting of the Delphi murders since 2017

crime
By PTI: also gunned down

Srinagar, Feb 14 (PTI) Four army men, including a Major, and an equal number of militants were today killed while 8 other security personnel and a civilian were injured in two separate encounters in Kashmir, officials said.

In an encounter in Kralgund area of north Kashmirs Kupwara district this evening, security forces gunned down three militants hiding in a residential house, a police official said.

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Major S Dahiya was injured in the encounter and later succumbed to his injuries, the official said.

Earlier, an encounter took place in Parray Mohalla of Hajin area of Bandipora district this morning.

The gunbattle erupted after security forces cordoned off the area following information about presence of militants there, the police official said.

As the security forces were closing in, they came under fire from the hiding militants, the official said, adding 10 security personnel, including an officer,were injured in this.

Of them, three personnel succumbed to their injuries later, the official said.

One militant, whose identity has not been ascertained yet, was also killed in the operation, he added.

The two encounters took place two days after four militants and two soldierswere killed in a gunbattle in south Kashmirs Kulgam district. Twocivilians were also killed in that encounter. PTI MIJ AKK AKK

--- ENDS ---
Officials said that Army's 30 RR and SOG of Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a joint search operation in the area after specific information.

By Shuja-ul-Haq , Ashraf Wani: Army Major S Dhaiya, who was leading the operation in Kralgund area of Handwara, succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday.

Three militants were killed in the encounter.

As per reports, the Army and police had prior information about the presence of militants and the operation was launched. Officials said that Army's 30 RR and SOG of Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a joint search operation in the area after specific information.

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Three AK rifles and some ammunition was also recovered from the militants. The encounter is over.

This is the second encounter since morning in the valley. Earlier in the bandipora one militant was killed while as army suffered 3 causalities.

Also read: Encounter in J-K's Bandipora: 3 Army soldiers die, 1 militant killed

Meanwhile, in a pre-dawn search operation, Army and JK Police busted a hideout recovering huge cache of arms and ammunition in dense forest near Mendhar, Poonch.

Based on inputs from reliable sources, a team of Rashtriya Rifles Troops and JK Police launched a joint search operation in the dense forest near Mendhar busting a major cache of arms and ammunition along with war like stores.

The ammunition included a PIKA Machine Gun with 90 belted rounds, AK 74 Rifle, AK 47 Rifle, two UBGL Launchers, 22 UBGL grenades, two Chinese grenades, ICOM radio set with antennae and approximately 500 AK 47 rounds.

Also read: Braj region loses another brave warrior in Gopal Singh Bhadoria

--- ENDS ---
(Image credit: Dreamstime)

Let's face it  protecting your identity from thieves gets harder by the day. The moment you give your personal information to another entity  a bank, the DMV or even a medical provider  you give up control over that information and how it might be used.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, more than 17 million Americans were the victims of some form of identity theft in 2014. Most of those incidents involved fraudulent use of a credit or debit card, but the BJS added that those whose personal information was used to open new accounts were more likely to "experience financial, credit, and relationship problems and severe emotional distress."

MORE: Identity Theft Victim? Here's 6 Things You Need to Do

"Eventually, these organizations with which you entrust your personal information will be breached," said Denis G. Kelly, a Miami-based identity-theft prevention expert and author of "The Official Identity Theft Prevention Handbook" (Sterling & Ross, 2011).

"Heck, even organizations that you don't authorize to have your personal information are breached, such as the credit reporting agencies," Kelly said.

Short of hiding in a closet and using cash only for purchases, every person is at risk of identity theft. That's the sad reality.

We can't control what happens when we willingly share our information with a company or with friends. But too often, we make the identity thieves' job a lot easier by being careless with our personal information, our financial information and our Internet use.

There are several stupid things people do every day that make it easier for thieves to steal their identities. Here are a few.

Mistake No. 1: Accessing the Internet over public or insecure Wi-Fi networks

"While it may be convenient to sip on a latte at Starbucks while reviewing your online bank account, public Wi-Fi is a feeding ground for identity thieves," Kelly said.

Similarly dangerous are open Wi-Fi networks in parks, airports, shopping malls, museums and libraries. Protect yourself from Wi-Fi snoops by installing virtual private network (VPN) software, which will encrypt all Internet traffic on your laptop, smartphone or tablet.

Mistake No. 2: Posting personal information on social media

The more personal details you post on a social media site, the easier you make it for a thief to steal your identity. Think about your Facebook profile, for instance. Do you list your full birth date and year, as well as your childhood hometown? What about your parents' full names?

If so, you've just given a thief enough information to take over your identity without him having to break a sweat.

Mistake No. 3: Carrying your Social Security card in your wallet

If your wallet is stolen with your Social Security card in it, the thief won't just have your money, your driver's license and your credit cards  he'll also have your identity.

Writing down the number on a piece of paper in your wallet is just as risky, as is storing the number on your cellphone. (Stolen cellphones, especially smartphones loaded up with social media and online banking apps, are bonanzas for identity thieves.)

It's better to memorize your Social Security number, and to store the card in a locked safe or safe-deposit box. Similarly, check other ID cards  Medicare cards, for example  to make sure they don't include your Social Security number. If they do, toss those in the safe as well.

Mistake No. 4: Giving your personal information to people who call or email you

That nice-sounding lady calling from the bank says she needs your account number. That official-looking email message from the IRS says the agency needs your Social Security number  won't you please click on this link to do so?

Don't believe them. Organizations dealing with personally identifiable information, especially financial information, rarely send emails or make unsolicited calls.

Don't give your personal information, including credit-card numbers or Social Security numbers, to anyone calling you on the phone or sending unsolicited email messages. You have no way of knowing whether or not that caller is legitimate, or whether than email message came from the purported sender.

If you feel you absolutely must respond, call the institution in question  and make sure you get its number from a phone book.

Mistake No. 5: Throwing away mail, checks and financial documents intact

Thieves are not above going through your trash hoping they'll find your full name and address, bank receipts, credit card statements or even canceled or voided checks. Do the smart thing: Tear up anything with your name on it, and use a shredder for any document with financial information.

Mistake No. 6: Leaving outgoing mail in your mailbox

It's convenient to leave outgoing mail in your mailbox for the mail carrier to pick up. It's also convenient for identity thieves, who raid residential mailboxes looking for bill payments. After all, your personal checks are a jackpot of information.

Do the smart thing  drop off the mail in an official mailbox or take it to a post office.

Mistake No. 7: Letting online retailers save your credit-card number

Almost every store selling things online, from Amazon to your local stops, will offer to save your credit-card number so you won't have to type it in next time.

"It is convenient, but also puts you in jeopardy if they are hacked," said Steven J.J. Weisman, a Boston-area lawyer and college professor at Bentley University in Waltham, Mass. "And they will be hacked."

Don't be among the victims the next time a huge data breach happens. Decline the online retailers' offers, and type in your credit-card number every time.

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A beautiful new tune to round out our afternoon today, as Melbourne indie surf rockers Birdhouse release the video for rollicking new single Sweet.

We love the almost violin-esque guitar work on this one, the insistent pace built up through the interplay of jagged strums and tag-team vocals building tension throughout. The song is apparently about trying to enjoy the simple pleasures of life while traveling, but having experiences coloured by depressing realities, and that energetic melancholy certainly shines through.

The video, meanwhile, was shot in a single take by Linus Toliday and sees a series of overlapping narratives come and go throughout its four minutes, adding to the chaos felt in the lyric  check it all out below.

If youd like to see em live, have no fear: the Birdhouse boys are a staple of the Melbourne scene, having played pretty much every rock venue worth its salt, and theyll be playing a couple more shows over the next month or so as they gear up for an album release and a national tour later in the year.

If youre in Melbourne, youll be able to catch Sweet being busted out at the video launch party this Saturday Feb 18 at Revolver Bandroom (co-headlining with Chase City), ahead of their own mini-fest Birdfest kicking off March 12 at The Workers Club with Lunatics On Pogosticks headlining.
Kim Jong Nam, the older half brother of the North Korean leader, was known to be based mostly outside of his home country.

By Reuters: The estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been killed in Malaysia, a South Korean government source told Reuters on Tuesday.

Kim Jong Nam, the older half brother of the North Korean leader, was known to be based mostly outside of his home country.

Police in Malaysia told Reuters on Tuesday an unidentified North Korean man had died en route to hospital from Kuala Lumpur airport on Monday. Abdul Aziz Ali, police chief for the Sepang district, said the man's identity had not been verified.

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An employee in the emergency ward of Putrajaya hospital said a deceased Korean there was born in 1970 and surnamed Kim.

South Korea's TV Chosun, a cable television network, said that Kim was poisoned at Kuala Lumpur airport by two women believed to be North Korean operatives, who were at large, citing multiple South Korean government sources.

The South Korean government source who spoke to Reuters did not immediately provide further details.

South Korea's foreign ministry said it could not confirm the reports, and the country's intelligence agency could not immediately be reached for comment.

In 2001, Kim Jong Nam was caught at an airport in Japan traveling on a fake passport, saying he had wanted visit Tokyo Disneyland.

Also read:

Kim Jong-un's wife Ri Sol-ju's last public appearance was 7 months ago. Where is she?

North Korea's Kim Jong Un guides special operations drill targeting South

--- ENDS ---
Its been a little while since weve heard from Melbournes Oscar Key Sung but, with Valentines Day upon us and potential partners to impress, hes returned to us at just the right time. Nothing gets us in the mood for love more than some silken vox draped gently over an electro jam, and nobody does it better than Oscar.

If youre heading somewhere for post-dinner drinks with someone special later this evening, maybe bring this one up on your phone and slip it to the bar staff to chuck on repeat until you both just chug whats left of your drinks and make a dash for the door. Damn.

Having premiered the track on triple js 2017 with Richard Kingsmill recently, Oscar explains the longing behind the lyrics  that of an inconvenient but undeniable love:

When you want to be with someone, up ahead there is the idea of the two of you and how you will be together. But it is often a mirage that does not exist the way it looked in the distance when you arrive there.

Patterns emerge of a closed circuit, for instance the other pulling away as you reach out, You try and become self contained as a protection mechanism because when you tried to share everything it was too much, but as soon as you become independent thats when they want you. Then the same thing happens in reverse.

This song is about a type of love that even though it is constantly bringing up adversity, you simply cant turn away from it. Some absurd force draws you to each other. I am interested in this because its so perplexing, I want to understand but rationally I cant.

Having recently signed to Melbourne label Good Manners, Oscar will be returning to the live stage in Melbourne on Friday Feb 24 as his new label launch their Hold Tight club night with Clark (Warp Records), Corin, Planete and Jennifer Loveless packing out a tasty bill.
While Ed Sheeran was in Australia making history as the first artist to debut two new singles at #1 and #2 on the ARIA singles charts (with Shape of You and Castle On The Hill), he was the bait in a successful ticket scam in the US.

Non-profit charity The Giving Back Fund was swindled out of almost US$50,000 earlier this month for locking in Sheeran at its pre-Super Bowl concert in Texas on February 4.

Marc Pollick, President and Founder of The Giving Back Fund believed he was in touch with Sheerans manager, who had drawn up a contract stating Sheeran would perform two songs at the event in exchange for four VIP tickets to the Super Bowl. The scammer forged Sheerans signature and sold the VIP tickets on.



Source: TMZ

Pollick did eventually put two and two together when he realised Sheerans touring plans meant he was in Australia at the time. The 25-year-old was on a promotional visit to perform Novas Red Room at Sydney Opera House on February 7.

Police are currently trying to track down the scammer, and according to TMZ, have said they will press felony charges when they are apprehended.
Here's hoping the local dude earns the attention of SNL . . . Meanwhile, MSM is having a good time smacking him around . . .Read more:
CHECK HISTORIC NORTHEAST RAGE AGAINST AN UPCOMING KANSAS CITY UNIVERSITY 'MASTER PLAN DISTRICT' THREATENING TO ENCROACH ON NEIGHBORS!!!

"Kansas City University has proposed a MPD (Master Plan District) that would remove the Historic District from their properties in Pendleton Heights. This plan has been pushed through CPC (City Planning Commission) mostly under the radar to avoid public outcry. They have recently purchased many new properties that includes the Historic Colonial Court Apartments, a 1877 Victorian home, 1909 Craftsman, as well as others. These properties had tenants including many refugees living in them prior to the sale."

Ordinance No. 170109 was placed on the PZE Committee meeting agenda for February 15, 2017 with no forewarning or opportunity for public comment. It certainly appears that KCU and certain persons at City Hall are deliberately trying to push through an ordinance granting an MPD plan to KCU with very limited opportunity for public involvement.





The original MPD ordinance had a similar track record of lacking transparency. That MPD was developed and submitted by KCU with little collaboration from the neighborhoods in which it resides. KCU did meet with representatives from the Pendleton Heights Neighborhood Association; however, they did not inform the Independence Plaza Neighborhood Association as required by its proximity to the plan.





KCU did not inform or solicit comments from the residents or their representative associations in adjacent Historic Northeast neighborhoods Indian Mound, Lykins, Sheffield, and Scarritt Renaissance.





Also, the Northeast Chamber of Commerce and the Independence Avenue Community Improvement District (CID) were given no consideration while developing the MPD plan . . .

Gentrification and development controversy his the urban core in Kansas City once again and could force lower income locals from their home amid higher education expansion.To wit . . .Insider scoop from the community . . .There is concern that a condition of the sale involves people and families be evicted; confronting only 30 days notice. Many of these people that were evicted have no where to go.More local testimony and neighborhood reaction from an Ordinance sponsored by############Developing . . .
THE KANSAS CITY TOY TRAIN STREETCAR CONTINUES TO DISAPPOINT AND HASN'T DELIVERED ON SO MANY BIG PROMISES!!!

Ridership Decline After Initial Hype

The Streetcar Kills City Market Biz With Horrible Parking Problems

The Streetcars Are Euro-Trash Lemons

TKC EXCLUSIVE: THERE'S AN UPCOMING MOVE FROM THE COUNCIL TO SHUT DOWN THE UPCOMING PRIVATE VOTE ON STREETCAR EXPANSION IN MUCH THE SAME WAY THAT CLAY CHASTAIN'S BALLOT EFFORTS ARE ALWAYS DENIED!!!

was a notorious criminal who was the scourge of the streets of. And while Mr. Bass might be indistinguishable from so many other violent and dangerous hobos who occupy the streets of Downtown Kansas City . . .Why??First and foremost . . .This morning we just got a note that there were a grand total of 6 people riding one local streetcar during rush hour. Overall, toy train ridership has sufferedin riders by their own count and since the media blitz upon its grand opening.But it gets worse . . .Documented by local news and even. . . The City Market area has taken a horrific hit from confusing rules and reg and the eternal right of way for this mode of transit that hasn't delivered more biz but instead impedes loyal customers.Constant break downs, always late and mostly undependable . . . The streetcar is old tech that has a lot of problems that local news only report by way of constant rider alerts on continued breakdowns.Finally . . . It gets worse . . .The most troubling aspect of the streetcar has been the corruption of local Democracy wherein consultants were allowed to rig votes and create what critics call "The most corrupt election since the Pendergast era" with a few legal maneuvers and the same kind of private ballots that were the hallmark of Jim Crow segregation. Fact is:Sadly, all of this is defended by the current administration as part of an EPIC slate of 2017 tax increases. But we'll have more on that later.Developing . . .
CFRG: THE BONDS WILL AUTHORIZE THE CITY TO MAINTAIN TANGIBLE PROPERTY TAX RATES SUFFICIENT TO PAY INTEREST AND PRINCIPAL ON THE BONDS UNTIL FULLY PAID.





This means we give the City permission to raise property taxes to whatever level they need to pay the bonds for the next 40 years without any vote of the people.

FEAR ENDLESS KANSAS CITY PROPERTY TAX INCREASES IF CITY HALL PASSES $800 MILLION WORTH OF GO BONDS!!!

An important note from the Citizens For Responsible Government is circulating on the local Internets and it'sHere's a warning about the latest tax increase plan from City Hall:Put even more simply for our beloved TKC blog community . . .To be fair, City Hall isn't being specific with voters about what the cash will funda great deal of secrecy regarding the fine print.You decide . . .
Homegrown KC Refugees

Could you please ask Mayor James, the Council, and City Manager Schulte why they're seeking to dramatically raise property taxes over the next 20+ years on the families represented below in these statistics?





I just don't understand why you would increase the tax burden on a family who's already reliant on government assistance for things as basic as food.





While the Kansas City Star editorial board lectures readers on their moral duty to support refugees from across the globe, KCMO government seems intent on creating refugees right here in our hometown.

###########Developing . . .
Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias, currently on a visit to Vietnam, left the national capital Hanoi on Tuesday for Ho Chi Minh City, the more populous industrial centre of the country

Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias, currently on a visit to Vietnam, left the national capital Hanoi on Tuesday for Ho Chi Minh City, the more populous industrial centre of the country. On his arrival, Kotzias and the Greek delegation met the chairman of the city's People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong.

During the meeting, Kotzias referred to his talks with government officials in Hanoi and his plans to try to organise a Greek-Vietnamese business forum as part of an effort to further develop bilateral cooperation in shipping and other economic affairs. He said that Greece wished to act as Vietnam's gateway to the EU through cooperation in the transport sector and also make use of the business opportunities offered by Vietnam. He highlighted the potential for cooperation and the knowhow Greece can offer in areas such as construction, tourism, culture and maritime transport, especially through cooperation between ports in the two countries.

Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam's economic "powerhouse" and generates a quarter of the country's GDP, while businesses from more than 85 countries have invested there. There are currently 250,000 firms operating in the city and the government's aim is to double this number by 2020. The minister will depart for Athens on Wednesday, following a visit to the city's techology park and war museum.

Earlier, before departing from Hanoi, Kotzias laid a wreath at a monument erected in honour of the casualties of Vietnam's war of independence and then laid a wreath at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

Writing in the visitors' book, Kotzias said that the visit realised "the dream of a lifetime for me, to pay homage to a historic leader, Ho Chi Minh, who led his nation's struggle to defend its dignity and to preserve its national unity and sovereignty. A leader who was an inspiration for us."

The minister also visited the home of Vietnamese general Vo Nguyen Giap, who led Vietnam's forces in their successful campaign against the French in 1954, and spoke with his son.

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
President Nicos Anstasiades has sent a message to EU Commission President Jean Claude Juncker in protest of the Turkish demands to be allowed access to the four basic freedoms of the union

President Nicos Anstasiades has sent a message to EU Commission President Jean Claude Juncker in protest of the Turkish demands to be allowed access to the four basic freedoms of the union, Simerini newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The newspaper has learnt that President Anastasiades is still awaiting Junckers response to the matter.

TURKEY HAS SET PRE-CONDITIONS

The President has said: Nonetheless, the Turkish side has now emphatically set as a pre-condition for the continuation of discussions on the vital chapter of security and guarantees, its demand for extending to Turkey the four fundamental of the EU (free movement of goods, capital, services, and people), which form the cornerstone of the EU architecture and EU membership, through the comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.

President Anastasiades has also emphasised to Juncker that Ankaras demands do not only concern Cyprus but the whole EU at large, and that the pre-condition requires our immediate collective attention.

FREE MOVEMENT OF PERSONS

In the letter, the President also refers to the free movement of persons, which would in essence affect the demographic character of the island.

In particular, on the free movement of persons the Turkish demand is for free movement of Turkish citizens to Cyprus, including the free movement of workers, which would open the possibility for the granting of permanent residences to Turkish nationals. As I am certain you can appreciate such a development would have enormous consequences, both for a reunited Cyprus and the demographic character of the country, and for the rest of the EU, the letter read.

FREE MOVEMENT OF GOODS

On the free movement of goods, the President said that the demand would endanger the Cypriot economy, due to the fact that the Turkish economy is larger, and the fact that Turkey is seeking unrestricted movement of its products into the occupied areas.

The President has highlighted that Ankaras demands would be a dangerous precedent for Cyprus, the EU, and other member states.

He has requested the support of the EU Commission President in dealing with these issues.

A meeting between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot negotiators, scheduled for Tuesday, was cancelled on Monday after the Turkish Cypriot side requested the UN cancel the meeting.

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
By PTI: Kolkata, Feb 14 (PTI) Kolkata Police today claimed to have seized the laptop and mobile phone of an alleged extortionist, who was making threat calls to people including a former MP from Bihar, from a lodge here.

Acting on a tip-off that an extortion racket was being operated from a lodge in Muchipara police station limits, the police raided it last week and recovered a laptop and a mobile but the accused was absconding, DC Central Akhilesh Chaturvedi told reporters.

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Initial investigations revealed that extortion calls and texts were sent to former Bihar MP Devendra Pratap Yadav and that was later confirmed when the politician was contacted by the investigators, he said.

"We had rang up Mr Yadav who confirmed receiving the call for extortion of around Rs five crore or the caller will release video footage purportedly showing the leader accepting money," he said.

The room in the lodge was found locked from outside and the occupant was not found there.

"We waited for him to come back but when he did not return, we broke open the door of the room and found one laptop and a mobile phone," Chaturvedi said.

Later, police found that the photo identity proof produced by the occupant of the room, known as Bikram Singh, was fake, he said.

A case has been lodged with Muchipara Police Station against an unknown person under Indian Penal Code Sections 385 (putting person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion) and 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation).

A police officer, who refused to be quoted, said that video footages of former Narada news CEO Mathew Samuel were found in the laptop. PTI SCH NN

--- ENDS ---
Schools already make reference to the enosis referendum, Education Minister Costas Kadis has said

Schools already make reference to the enosis referendum, Education Minister Costas Kadis has said on Tuesday.

Answering questions of the press, Kadis said that the unofficial referendum held in 1950 is already referenced as a historical fact in schools.

He added that the historical reference to the referendum is covered during education on April 1, which references the EOKA struggle of 1955-1959, and during the independence of the Republic of Cyprus in October.

At a vote in parliament on Friday, MPs passed into law an amendment to make official reference to the enosis referendum in schools, which incited harsh criticism from the occupied areas.

On Monday, Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci requested that the UN Secretary General Special Adviser Espen Barth Eide intervene on the issue of the bill, and request that President Nicos Anastasiades not sign it into law.

However, the law does not need to be signed by the President, as it was passed into law by the parliament and already published in the official gazette of the Republic, Radio Proto reported.

In addition to a request that Eide intervene, the Turkish Cypriot side also requested a meeting of the Greek Cypriot negotiator and Turkish Cypriot negotiator not be held on Tuesday.

President Anastasiades responded in a written to Akinci on Monday, following the Turkish Cypriot leaders statements, noting that noting that there are also sensitive issues that are celebrated in the occupied areas, including the celebrations held on July 20, which marks the day of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, and the ceremonies held in November to celebrate the unilateral declaration of independence in the occupied areas.

The President said the celebrations in essence, embodies nothing but the pursuit of the secession of the partition of Cyprus.

Eide is expected to arrive in Cyprus on Wednesday, a day before a scheduled Anastasiades-Akinci meeting.

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
Greece, Cyprus, and Israel have signed a tourism agreement, on the side-lines of an international tourism exhibition IMTM 2017 in Israel on Tuesday

Greece, Cyprus, and Israel have signed a tourism agreement, on the side-lines of an international tourism exhibition IMTM 2017 in Israel on Tuesday, ANA-MPA reported.

The agreement is aimed at creating an organisation that will enhance Greek tourism and support the wider eastern Mediterranean region.

The first phase of talks on the new organisation entitled EMTTAAS (East Mediterranean Travel and Tourist Agents Associations Synergies) has been concluded. This is an initiative of the Federation of Associations of Travel & Tourism Agencies Greece, FedHATTA.

The organisation will create an effective network of synergies between the tourist offices of the three signatory countries for enhancing tourism in the region of the eastern Mediterranean. These countries, together with Greece, will form the core of the initiative to "unite" the wider region through tourism.

The aim is to boost tourism between the countries, increase cruise and ferry connections, but also to attract compatriots living in the US, Canada, Australia and Africa so as to expand their holiday when they return home.

The new organisation will be present in third markets, a "mega destination" of three continents through joint presence in fairs, roadshows and B2B meetings, in cooperation with Aegean Airlines and the airlines of member countries.

Source: ANA-MPA

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Tehran and Baghdad have agreed on designing and building industrial townships in some Iraqi provinces, a report said.



The agreement was reached in a meeting between Iranian Industry Minister Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh with his Iraqi counterpart Mohammad Shiya Al Sudani in Baghdad on Monday, Irna reported.



Industrial townships will provide the opportunity for the Iraqi investors to invest in these regions, Nematzadeh said.



He said that there a total of 750 industrial townships where over 40,000 industrial and producing units are active. We are ready to build several sample industrial townships in this regard in Iraq, he added.



The Iranian industry minister also voiced his countrys willingness to invest in industrial and technological areas as well as supplying of manufacturing machinery in Iraq.



His Iraqi counterpart said that construction of industrial townships is among priorities of the Iraqi industry and mining ministry.
Muna Noor, an Oman-based international manufacturer and supplier of plastic pipes, is set to open its flagship store in Muscat today (February 14).



The grand opening of the pipe and valve centre, in the Ghala Industrial Area of Muscat, will be joined by the undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Ahmed bin Hassan Al Dheeb.



Guests at the launch will see first-hand how Muna Noor is revolutionising the sale of pipes and valves across Oman  thanks to its stylish interior, improved layout and commercial flow.



Grant Phipps, Muna Noors group general manager, said: This Muscat flagship store shows how far we have come as a business. Not only do we have a premium product  we now have premium locations from which to retail. Im delighted with all the work that has gone into this new centre. Customers will find it easy to find what they need and will also be able to get first-hand expert advice from our highly experienced and knowledgeable sales staff.



This is not the end of our retail expansion either. So it is a case of watch this space!



Muna Noor has gone to great lengths to improve the sales process at its Muscat flagship store. This includes a brighter, open environment with less imposing trade counter to remove the physical barriers between customers and employees. Furthermore, the new retail branch offers integrated office areas that allow greater comfort and ease for our team members to greet and serve customers either on the shop floor, or in an exclusive meeting area for in-depth consultation, said the company.



The store provides the customer with a range of fast-moving stock, trade essentials and seasonal items that are available for immediate selection. To complete its attentive and premium customer service, customers may take advantage of free coffee and water in a comfortable seating environment whilst selecting products they need.



Muna Noor, which was established in 1974, has other stores in Barka, Sohar, Duqm and Salalah.  TradeArabia News Service


Dubai has tested an autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) capable of carrying a human in collaboration with a Chinese company, said the emirates transport authority, aiming to start the operation of the self-driving hover-taxi by July.



Dubai has tested an autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) capable of carrying a human in collaboration with the Chinese Ehang Company, said the emirates transport authority, aiming to start the operation of the self-driving hover-taxi by July.



Branded as Ehang184, the vehicle is fitted with a touchscreen to the front of the passenger seat displaying a map of all destinations in the form of dots, explained the Road and Transport Authority (RTA).



The vehicle has preset routes and the rider is to select the intended destination. It will then start automatic operation, take off and cruise to the set destination before descending and landing in a specific spot. A ground control centre will monitor and control the entire operation.



Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of RTA said: The trial run of the first AAV replicates Dubai Self-driving Transport Strategy aimed at transforming 25 per cent of total individual trips in Dubai into Self-driving trips using various modes of transport by 2030. The step would also enhance the integration between public transport modes and people happiness through the provision of smooth, quick and innovative mobility.



The AAV exhibited at the World Government Summit is not just a model; it is a real version that we have already experimented the vehicle in a flight in Dubai sky. The RTA is making every effort to start the operation of the AAV in July 2017, added Al Tayer.



We have addressed the highest levels of security in the designing and manufacturing of the Ehang184. The vehicle is fitted with eight main propellers, where each propeller would operate at a time, and the systems are separated from the contents of the vehicle.



In case of any failure in the first propeller, there would be seven other propellers ready to complete the flight and a smooth landing, while mitigating the impact of the fault sustained by the first propeller. The AAV is fitted with numerous basic systems all in operation at the same time, though independently. In case of any malfunctioning in one of these systems, the standby system would be capable of controlling and safely steering the AAV to the programmed landing point, explained Al Tayer.



The AAV is designed to fly for maximum 30 minutes at a maximum cruising speed of 160 km per hour (km/h), and the standard speed shall be 100 km/h. The ascending/descending speed is about 6 meters per second and the landing speed is 4 metres per second (m/s). The AAV measures 3.9 m in length, 4.02 m in width and 1.60 m in height. It weighs about 250 kg and 360 with a passenger, he added.



The maximum cruising height is 3,000 feet and the battery charging time is 1-2 hours. The AAV is designed to operate under all climatic conditions unless there is a thunderstorm. The vehicle is fitted with highly accurate sensors with a very low-error threshold and can resist vibrations and extreme temperatures.



Dubai Civil Aviation Authority was a partner in our trials defining the safety criteria required, issuing the permits for trial and inspecting the vehicle, RTA appreciates their contribution. Etisalat had contributed as well to the success of the test run of the AAV in its capacity as a prime network provider. The 4G data network is used in communication between the AAV and the ground control centre. The Company had also provided the support needed to ensure the continued communication between the AAV and the Control Centre through M2M and LTE technologies, explained Al Tayer.



He noted that the successful operation of AAV is considered a big step towards innovative and smart mobility solutions for reducing city traffic congestions.  TradeArabia News Service
The Solar Decathlon Middle East will be organised at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai, it has been announced.



The announcement was made by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, vice chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, and managing director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) at a press conference at the World Government Summit in Dubai, where Dewa is its sustainable partner.



The Solar Decathlon Middle East was created through an agreement between both the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Dewa, and the United States Department of Energy. Dubai will host two rounds of this distinguished competition. First in 2018 and then in 2020 to coincide with World Expo 2020 in Dubai, whose theme 'Connecting Minds, Creating the Future fits well with this distinguished competition.



The Press conference was attended by Ahmed Buti Al Muhairibi, secretary general of the Supreme Council; Waleed Salman, executive vice President of strategy & business development at Dewa; Marwan Bin Haider, executive vice president of innovation and the future at Dewa; Khawla Al Mehairi, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications, officials from the Supreme Council and DEWA, and local and international media.



It is my pleasure to announce the location of the Solar Decathlon Middle East, which is held for the first time in the Middle East and Africa, while were at the World Government Summit. Dewa is the sustainable partner of this summit, which has become a key forum from the UAE to the world to anticipate and shape the future, said Al Tayer.



Dubais hosting of the Solar Decathlon reflects its realisation that sustainable development is key to achieving a balance between development and sustainability. This balance will help protect the rights of future generations to live in a clean, healthy, and safe environment. This also reflects Dubais commitment to invest in innovation, which is one of the main priorities of the UAE.



The Solar Decathlon is a unique opportunity for university students to gain important experiences, implement the theories they learn, and demonstrate their skills and capabilities in innovation and design to achieve a sustainable lifestyle. It is also an opportunity for the public to watch the teams in action as they compete and challenge each other. Since opening the door for registration in this competition, it has attracted many university teams from all over the world. A total of 22 university teams from 16 countries have been shortlisted to the final stage of the Solar Decathlon. Qualified teams will design, build, and operate sustainable, cost-and-energy efficient models of solar-powered homes, with a focus on protecting the environment, and taking into consideration the climate conditions of the region, added Al Tayer.



Al Tayer noted the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park was selected to host the Solar Decathlon Middle East because it is one of the most important projects and key to developing the economy to support environmental sustainability and increase our supply of clean energy.



The solar park is the largest single-site solar energy project in the world, based on the Independent Power Producer model. It will provide 25 per cent of Dubais total power output by 2030, producing 5,000MW by 2030 and will help reduce 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. An area of approximately 60,000 sq m has been allocated to the Solar Decathlon at the solar park.



Hosting two consecutive competitions of the Solar Decathlon Middle East with cash prizes of Dh10 million, will achieve the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who once observed that, Every investment in the development of clean energy sources is at the same time an investment to protect the environment for future generations, said Al Tayer.



The teams that have qualified to the final stage of the first Solar Decathlon Middle East include the University of Sharjah, the American University in Dubai, Ajman University of Science & Technology, the American University of Ras Al Khaimah, Heriot-Watt University Dubai, New York University Abu Dhabi, and the Petroleum Institute from the UAE. It also includes King Saud University from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar University from Qatar, Dhofar University in Oman, the University of Jordan from Jordan, Virginia Tech from the USA, the University of Bordeaux from France, Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, the University of Wollongong in Australia, Gabriele D'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara and Sapienza University of Rome from Italy, Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism from Romania, Islamic Science University of Malaysia from Malaysia, National Chiao Tung University from Taiwan, National University of Sciences and Technology in Pakistan, and the University of Belgrade of Serbia.  TradeArabia News Service


Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates airline, has unveiled a unique decal featuring a rose on one of its Boeing 777-F freighter aircraft ahead of the Valentines Day.



The decal, installed at the Emirates Aircraft Appearance Centre in Dubai, is the first of its kind for Emirates SkyCargo and highlights the strong contribution made by the air cargo carrier to the floriculture industry through the transport of fresh flowers across the world, it said.



One of the first ports of call for the aircraft will be Nairobi in Kenya, where the aircraft will be loaded with a consignment of flowers headed to Amsterdam, the worlds largest flower distribution centre.



Every day Emirates SkyCargo transports fresh flowers across its global network of over 150 destinations. This includes the flowers transported on board dedicated freighters from major flower exporting countries such as Kenya and Ecuador directly to Amsterdam, as well as flowers transported in the belly hold of the aircraft from countries as far and diverse as India, New Zealand, Vietnam, Zambia, and Ethiopia. Between January and December 2016, Emirates SkyCargo transported over 70,000 tonnes of fresh flowers around the world, the company said.



Although the transportation of flowers is a year-round activity, there is a marked increase in the volume of flowers- in particular roses- being transported around Valentines Day which is the single most important annual date for floriculturists worldwide. It is estimated that close to 250 million stems of roses are grown worldwide exclusively to cater to the increased demand for flowers around Valentines Day. Emirates SkyCargo adds supplementary cargo capacity every year in the major flower trade lanes to be able to bring the additional volumes of flowers to Aalsmeer - the worlds largest flower auction house in Amsterdam - and from there onwards to other global destinations.



In the week running up to Valentines this year, Emirates SkyCargo has operated four freighters over and above the daily scheduled freighter service from Nairobi bringing close to an additional 350 tonnes of flowers into Amsterdam. Additional capacity was also deployed to supplement the thrice weekly freighter service between Quito in Ecuador and Amsterdam in order to cater to the demand around Valentines Day.



By facilitating the global export of flowers from countries such as Kenya and Ecuador, Emirates SkyCargo also makes an important economic contribution to these regions where the cultivation of flowers is an important local industry. The floriculture industry supports employment for an estimated half a million people in Kenya and over 100,000 people in Ecuador.



Cool Chain and Flowers

The journey of a flower usually begins in a farm where it is harvested by hand. The freshly harvested flowers are then sorted, arranged in bouquets and hand packed into boxes which are then loaded on the aircraft. In order to ensure maximum freshness and shelf life, the temperature in the cargo hold of the aircraft is maintained between 1 and 3 degrees centigrade.



Emirates Skycargo also offers a range of innovative cool chain solutions to ensure that the flowers are maintained at the right temperature from the origin to destination. One such solution is White Cover- an innovative temperature protection solution that is cost efficient and environmentally friendly. Designed to shield temperature-sensitive cargo from solar heat during transportation, it is water resistant, yet breathable making it ideal for the transport flowers. Handling and loading of the flowers is managed by trained Emirates SkyCargo staff helping maintain product integrity during transportation, it said.



Emirates SkyCargo has been at the forefront of the cargo industry operating a young and modern fleet of 255 aircraft including 15 dedicated freighters- 13 Boeing 777-Fs and two Boeing 747-400ERFs. The carrier also offers a number of specialised transportation solutions for customers across different business verticals such as pharmaceuticals and automobile. - TradeArabia News Service
DP World Group chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk have discussed potential uses of Tesla technology for DP Worlds global operations at a meeting during the World Government Summit in Dubai.



Topics revolved around the use of Tesla battery solutions for renewable energy storage in the global group's ports and terminals in the fast growing markets of Africa, India and Latin America.



The companys 77 marine and inland terminals in 40 countries form one of the most diverse and comprehensive operational networks in the world. Bin Sulayem is now also exploring possible implementations of Teslas state-of-the-art technology to further enhance DP Worlds impact on global trade, a statement said.



DP Worlds Rotterdam World Gateway is already employing driverless cars at its terminal, while several other DP World operations are in the process of implementing the new technology.



Teslas decision to set up its regional headquarters in Dubai, which was announced at the summit, complements DP Worlds vision to adopt innovative and sustainable transport solutions across its portfolio, it said.



Bin Sulayem, said: As a global trade enabler, we think ahead, foresee change and prepare for it. Mr. Musks vision to revolutionise transportation holds tremendous potential for enhancing our operational efficiencies and ensuring the smoother and faster movement of goods. It also resonates with our vision to lead the future of world trade and to do so in a sustainable manner so that we leave a legacy we can be proud of.



Our visionary leadership has taught us to anticipate change and this is what has led to our success as well as the rapid development of the UAE into the global business hub that it is today. Mr. Musk is at the forefront of enabling sustainable transport and energy use solutions, which is integral to our goal of protecting our environment and building a vibrant and resilient society.

Meanwhile, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) also discussed future cooperation opportunities with Elon Musk, Founder and CEO of Tesla.



Al Tayer discussed ways to enhance collaboration and exchange experiences with Tesla in renewable and clean energy, environmental sustainability and innovation. - TradeArabia News Service
Iran plans to launch six more offshore platforms at the South Pars Gas Field by March 2018, a report said.



The platforms will be installed at the remaining phases of the gas filed, which Iran shares with Qatar, Mohammad Meshkinfam, managing director of Pars Oil and Gas Company (POGC), was quoted as saying in the Iran Daily report, which cited Shana.



The platforms are being built at the Khorramshahr Yard of Iran Marine Industrial Company (Sadra).



The structures will recover gas from the reserves of phases 13, 22, 23 and 24 of the gas field, said Meshkinfam, adding that a platform will be used for recovering gas from phase 14.



Each of the platforms will be able to recover 500 million cu ft of natural gas per day.


AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala suffered a major jolt with the Supreme Court upholding the trial court's judgment convicting her in the 21-year-old disproportionate case against her. With this, Sasikala stands disqualified to take over as Tamil Nadu chief minister. | WATCH LIVE

By India Today Web Desk: AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala suffered a major jolt with the Supreme Court upholding the trial court's judgment convicting her in the 21-year-old disproportionate assets case against her. With this, Sasikala stands disqualified to take over as Tamil Nadu chief minister.

WATCH LIVE

The Karnataka government had challenged the May 11, 2015, state High Court verdict acquitting Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and her two relatives - VN Sudhakaran and Elavarasi - for allegedly amassing disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 66.65 crore during her first term as Chief Minister from 1991 to 1996.

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ALSO READ: Sasikala convicted in DA case, she must serve remaining jail term, rules Supreme Court

Dharma will win, says Sasikala after Supreme Court's verdict in DA Case

Here are the LIVE updates

Whoever is going to lead AIADMK, shouldn't be a puppet of VK Sasikala clan and should be someone whom Jayalalithaa chose. Good verdict by Supreme Court, Sasikala and her family don't deserve to lead the people of Tamil Nadu, says Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar.

Coimbatore: Panneerselvam's supporters celebrate after Supreme Court's DA case verdict that convicted VK Sasikala; raise slogans against her.

Supreme Court gave a timeline for judgment, governor must have used his discretionary power to wait till things are clear, says Ram Madhav on Sasikala verdict.

Palanisamy claims support of 135 MLAs.

Governor C Vidyasagar Rao calls EK Palanisamy for a meeting between 5-5:30 PM.

Sasikala to surrender at Bengaluru magistrate court, Tamil Nadu's top cops have reach Golden Bay resort. Section 144 imposed in Kovathur.

Amma never wanted these people to come to power: Deepa on Sasikala picking E Palanisamy as CM candidate | READ: Who is Palanisamy

Sasikala has shown her nature by removing whom she wants: Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar

Leaders including K Pandiarajan, PH Pandian, N Vishvananthan and senior leader C Ponnaiyan expelled by Sasikala: AIADMK.

Centre has no role to play, governor will take decision based on situation: Venkaiah Naidu.

Information is that Panneerselvam with police is coming to the resort, this could create law and order problems: AIADMK MP A. Navaneethakrishnan.

AIADMK leader M Thambidurai says a review petition challenging Sasikala's conviction will be filed.

Leaders and MLAs from Panneerselvam's camp are planning a visit to the Golden Bay resort to meet the AIADMK legislators staying there.

Letter signed by MLAs supporting Edapadi K. Palanisamy as the AIADMK's legislature party leader sent to governor.

Ammaa's dream party is being formed without Panneerselvam, tweets AIADMK.

Sasikala replaced by Edappadi K Palanisamy, says AIADMK.

O Panneerselvam expelled from AIADMK, says Jaya TV.

Considering the current political crisis, party cadres should make a wise decision and work for the betterment of the government: OPS

Panneerselvam sends a letter to AIADMK MLAs, appeals MLAs to decide considering the well-being of AIADMK. He said, "I call upon the MLAs of AIADMK to come together and continue the work of Amma."

4 supporters at Golden Bay Resort taken into custody.

MK Stalin: Governor should take necessary actions to form a stable government in Tamil Nadu.

There's no way that Sasikala can evade the law. She has to go to jail and serve punishment. But two things that this case shows us: Corruption never pays and even a lower court is independent whose verdict was same as the SC. She may file a review petetion but unlikely to get any relief: Soli Sorabjee

Sasikala Pushpa congratulates O Panneerselvam, says justice prevailed.

Jayalalithaa nephew Deepak Jaikumar inside the resort, discussion with Sasikala.

Sasikala meeting with her supporters inside Golden Bay resort. Next step of strategy being decided in the meeting.

Four state transport buses have entered the Golden Bay resort in #Kovathur led by two IGP rank officers pic.twitter.com/3ZIGGTbPEZ ANI (@ANI_news) 14 February 2017 In the past whenever Amma was in crisis, I also suffered this time also I will take it upon me. 'Dharma' will win: AIADMK quotes Sasikala.

Congress smells conspiracy behind posting of court case.

I was expecting the conviction. I don't think she can escape the 4 years sentence: Subramanian Swamy on SC's verdict on Sasikala DA case.

SC orders Sasikala to serve rest of her jail sentence of three years and six months as she has already served almost six months in jail.

Riot Police reaches Golden Bay resort.

Justice has been done.Judgement shows how strong & independent is our judiciary: Frmr Advocate General BV Acharya on #VKSasikala conviction pic.twitter.com/E9X3T0B3JhANI (@ANI_news) 14 February 2017 Supreme Court in its 2000-page verdict has directed Sasikala to surrender immediately.

Supreme Court sets aside Karnataka HC's order and gives VK Sasikala a jail term of 4 years in disproportionate assets case against her.

AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala suffered a major jolt with the Supreme Court upholding the trial court's judgment convicting her in the 21-year-old disproportionate case against her. With this, Sasikala stands disqualified to take over as Tamil Nadu chief minister.

Before the SC verdict actor Kamal Haasan tweeted, "The Marina spirit awaits judgement calmly. They've always respected civil order& will maintain it. Courts have a duty & so have the people."

Mettur MLA Semmalai extends support to O Panneerselvam.

30 MLA's reach Golden Bay resort.

Clear that there are disproportionate assets, question is how much?: Subramanian Swamy on Sasikala DA case.

AIADMK senior leader M. Thambidurai reaches Golden Bay Resort in Kovathur to meet Sasikala, who is already present inside.

At least 700 police personnel deployed outside Sasikala's Poes Garden residence.

Security beefed up outside Poes Garden, as precaution ahead of SC's verdict in DA case against VK Sasikala to be announced today.

Kovathur, TN: Security deployed outside Golden Bay Resort as a precaution in wake of today's judgement in DA case against #VKSasikala pic.twitter.com/FGPGp0iusz ANI (@ANI_news) 14 February 2017 Sasikala was at the Golden Bay Resort last night with her MLAs as a show of solidarity.

Meanwhile, switching of sides continued with actor and choreographer Raghava Lawrence, South Madurai MLA Saravanan and MP from Madurai R Gopalakrishnan joining the O Panneerselvam's camp.

WATCH: 5 big developments in Sasikala vs Panneerselvam tussle

ALSO READ:

Sasikala's enigma: From a video shop-owner to Tamil Nadu CM-in-waiting

Ottakara Panneerselvam: The Amma stand-in that always stood out in AIADMK

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After Sasikala's conviction in the disproportionate assets case, it is now a fight between O Panneerselvam and E K Palanisamy for the chief minister's post.

By India Today Web Desk: In a huge blow to VK Sasikala's plans to take over as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, the Supreme Court today upheld the conviction of the controversial AIADMK General Secretary in the 21-year-old disproportionate assets case and sent her to four years in jail.

But Sasikala's conviction has not ended the ugly war for power in Tamil Nadu. Hours after the apex court ruling, Sasikala expelled acting Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and 19 other leaders from the AIADMK. Her hand-picked loyalist Edappadi K Palanisamy will now stake claim to power in his meeting with Governor C Vidayasagar Rao shortly. Palanisamy has claimed backing of 135 MLAs.

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Refusing to give up, a combative Panneerselvam , who had rebelled against Sasikala alleging he was forced to step down as Chief Minister, has reached out to the MLAs in Sasikala's camp and appealed them to go by their "conscience" in taking forward the government that was led by Amma, as J Jayalalithaa was popularly known as.

HERE ARE THE LIVE UPDATES:

Will make sure that the path left behind (by Amma) will be followed by the right people: Deepa Jayakumar

Will make sure that the path left behind (by Amma) will be followed by the right people: #Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar pic.twitter.com/kI3p8BusSA ANI (@ANI_news) 14 February 2017 V K Sasikala reaches Poes Garden; greets her supporters.

Case (DA) was filed by DMK, I'll handle this; You (MLAs) have to remain resolute and make sure ppl question DMK's existence: Sasikala

Sasikala breaks down while speaking; says "no force can separate me from AIADMK; no matter where I'll be, I'll always think about party.

#VKSasikala breaks down while speaking; says "no force can separate me from AIADMK; no matter where I'll be, I'll always think about party." pic.twitter.com/ADnuVA77Ul ANI (@ANI_news) 14 February 2017 I'm sure we'll get the invitation as soon as possible as we remained quiet: Sasikala

I feel so satisfied that despite facing troubles, MLAs are supporting me: Sasikala

Late TN Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar and Panneerselvam paid tributes to Jayalalithaa at Marina Beach.

Chennai: Late TN Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar & #OPanneerselvam paid tributes to #Jayalalithaa at Marina Beach. pic.twitter.com/W8Aqi5INWs ANI (@ANI_news) 14 February 2017 Yes, it is: Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar on being asked if this is her official entry into politics Tamil Nadu

V K Sasikala leaves Kuvathur's Golden Bay resort.

Late Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar with Panneerselvam at Chennai's Marina Beach.

According to Chennai police sources, Sasikala will continue to stay at the Golden Bay resort for her second consecutive night. There is no chance of Panneerselvam visiting the resort. The situation inside is tense but under control. Her supporters have been detained and kept in separate parts of the resort. Sasikala is cooperating, has asked cop to wait as she is consulting legal remedy. Meanwhile, police is not to use force as the MLAs are elected representatives.

O Panneerselvam has reached Jayalalithaa's memorial at the Marina Beach in Chennai.

#OPanneerselvam reaches Jayalalithaa's memorial at Chennai's Marina Beach. pic.twitter.com/I788mTASlh ANI (@ANI_news) February 14, 2017 O Panneerselvam leaves residence, is heading towards Jayalalithaa's memorial.

Sasikala chairs meeting of AIADMK MLAs in Koovathur, E Palanisamy, Sengottaiyan and other ministers take part.

Not held against our wishes, we are here as a united family, says Thaniyarasu, Tamil Nadu Kongu Ilaignar Peravai at Kuvathur resort.

Another round of discussion occurring inside the resort after the return of Edapadi Palanisamy from the Governor's office.

AIADMK's V Maitreyan and PH Pandian (O Panneerselvam supporters) leave after meeting Tamil Nadu Governor at Raj Bhavan.

DGP and Chennai's police commissioner S George meeting TN Governor at Raj Bhavan, on law and order situation of the state.

Supporters including transgenders felicitate Panneerselvam at his residence after SC's DA case verdict that convicted Sasikala.

MLAs supporting O Panneerselvam are set to leave the Golden Bay resort.

MP V Maitreyan reaches Raj Bhavan

It has become a routine for the AIADMK to announce schemes under Section 110 and impose Section 144 whenever required, said MK Stalin

From the Panneerselvam camp, MP V Maitreyan and Manoj Pandian likely to meet the Governor at 7 pm

Sasikala loyalist MP Navaneethakrishnan speaks to media at Golden Bay resort, says "we are giving our support to the police. We are not doing anything that is against the law"

Sasikala not to surrender before Bengaluru court today on ground that the civil court registrar did not receive the Supreme Court order copy

Palanisamy's meeting with Governor Rao over, party cadre leaving Raj Bhavan; Palanisamy gives the Governor a list of MLAs

Chennai: AIADMK Legislature party leader Edappadi K.Palanisamy met Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao at Raj Bhavan today. #TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/0BcuJSoFin ANI (@ANI_news) February 14, 2017 O Panneerselvam might visit Governor Rao after Palanisamy's visit

Party leaders Sengottaiyan, TTV Dinakaran, Dindugul Sivanesan, Thangamani, Velumani, Jayakumar, Pollachi Jeyaraman, Thalavaai Sundaram, KP Anbazhagan accompany E Palanisamy

Palanisamy reaches Raj Bhavan to meet Governor C Vidayasagar Rao

Chennai (TN): AIADMK Legislature party leader Edapadi K.Palanisamy reaches Raj Bhavan to meet Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao. pic.twitter.com/m5fu4WO2i0 ANI (@ANI_news) February 14, 2017 Officers are there, they will take the call when to take Sasikala in custody, said DGP, Tamil Nadu

Sasikala's legal team likely to move Supreme Court; seeks 4 weeks time on health ground

Sasikala seeks more time to surrender

Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar said, "Whoever is going to lead AIADMK, shouldn't be a puppet of the VK Sasikala clan and should be someone whom Jayalalithaa chose"

ALSO READ:

VK Sasikala gets jail in DA case, loses Tamil Nadu CM bid: The story so far in 14 points

Sasikala DA case: All you need to know

ALSO WATCH

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The pictures of a stunning 22-year old Instagram star has been making rounds on social media recently. The Australian law student traveler posts about her pictures posing with exotic animals from different parts of the world.

The girl's name is Sara Kohan and she's from Sydney, Australia. According to the Daily Mail, Kohan has been traveling across the globe whenever she takes a break from school. She has taken and finished exchange courses at Columbia University and Harvard University.

Her travel destinations included the Cook Islands, Hawaii, Bora Bora, The Bahamas, Europe and South America. Now, her Instagram account (moonstrucktraveller)skyrocketed to about 250,000 followers since posting the magnificent photos.

In her pictures, the she's seen on beaches while having her pictures taken with exotic animals -- swimming with sharks, feeding reptiles, holding pigs and swimming with humpback whales. Kohan said that she really loves to engage with wildlife, especially with whales and she expressed that the feeling she felt was like, "nothing else matters."

It was the first time Kohan swam with humpback whales but she said that she has been swimming with sharks for almost seven years now. She expressed that she wants to break the stereotype that sharks are dangerous animals.

The Sun reported that Kohan worked as a part-time nanny so she can pay bills while going to school. Now that she started to document her photos about her travels on Instagram, she has risen to stardom and gained sponsorship from hotels and swimwear brands.

Kohan funded her previous travels when she was just starting but know she says that half of it are paid by sponsors. In fact, she was given accommodation by Four Seasons and Maui and the Ritz Carlton in exchange for advertising the hotels in her projects.

She said that the influence of social media has really helped her share her travels with her loved ones and other travelers. More of Kohan's pictures can be seen on her Instagram account.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
The title of "the oldest restaurant in the world" has always been a hot debate since the Guinness Book of Records placed Sobrino de Botin as the longstanding resto. Many restaurants have come afoot and contested that idea, leaving the people now with the question, "What is really the oldest restaurant in the world?"

Sobrino de Botin is located in Madrid, and it is what people considered as your typical wooden Spanish building with four floors, consisting of the cellar and restaurant. It was founded in 1725 by a Frenchman named Jean Botin and his wife who called the restaurant Casa Botin. Their nephew succeeded the restaurant and renamed it to Sobrino de Botin, which means 'nephew of Botin."

Is this truly the oldest restaurant? Here are five contenders for the said title.

St. Peter Stiftskeller in Salzburg, Austria. There's a document mentioned by the scholar Alcuin in 803 AD believing it to be the world's oldest restaurant. However, historians say, they do not possess legal papers to prove they're the oldest in the world. Stiftskeller, however, do holds the title of the oldest restaurant in Europe, if they cannot claim the global recognition. And, if not in 803 AD, the restaurant entered history books by the 1300s. This still makes it quite old.

Bianyifang in Beijing. This is China's original duck restaurant which has been existing back to the reign of the Qing emperor Xianfeng in 1416. Many locals and tourists dropped by for a taste of roasted duck cooked in a closed oven style called menlu.

Zum Franziskaner, Stockholm, Sweden. The Art Nouveau restaurant was built in 1421 during the reign of King Erik of Pomerania. They moved to Osterlanggatan in 1520, then a century later at their current address, Skeppsbron 44. People often come here for the beer.

Honke Owariya in Kyoto, Japan. This house of ramen first opened as a small confectionary shop in 1465. Perhaps their most famous dish is the soba buckwheat noodles which are still what most travelers look for after 500 years.

La Tour d'Argent, France. People question whether the restaurant had indeed opened in 1582 because the place does not offer any papers to prove its claim. It has gone so many challenges which include losing two Michelin stars over the years. However, when Disney-Pixar aired Ratatouille, where Gusteau's restaurant was inspired from La Tour d'Argent, the restaurant suddenly boosted its sales and fame once more.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
There's a hidden beach in Mexico that's taking the internet by storm. Pictures circulating in the internet show a spacious cavern below the surface of an island with white sands and clear waters. It's called Playa Del Amor, and it's located 40 miles off the coast of Puerto Vallarta in Mexico near Banderas Bay.

Playa Del Amor is part of the Marietas Islands. This archipelago is formed naturally thousands of years ago by underwater volcanic eruptions, slowly shaping them into the natural wonder they are today.

However, the islands were disturbed during the early 1900's, when the Mexican government decided to use the Marietas Islands to be a military testing site. The islands were uninhabited, making it a perfect spot to test out bombs and other military weapons. This went on for a couple of years, and the effects of all the bomb testings resulted in the creation of massive holes in the surface of the islands as well as other rock formations.

However, the practice was stopped in the 1960's when a group of environmentalists led by scientist Jacques Cousteau fought for the protection of Islas Marietas. He said that the harmful human activities in the islands will destroy its beauty, and after years of fighting, the Mexican government finally agreed to stop their actions.

The Marietas Islands were finally converted into a national park on 2005, and after years of being untouched once again, nature replenished the beauty of the islands, and the holes created by the bomb tests on the surface of the islands led to the formation of the Hidden Beach.

Now, tourists can visit the awe-inspiring beauty of Hidden Beach, however due to its protected status you first have to get a permit in order to visit Playa Del Amor. After that, a boat will take you to the Marietas Islands, and from there you will have to swim to get to the Hidden Beach.

A clear example of how nature can reclaim its natural beauty, Hidden Beach is now a popular swimming spot in Mexico. If you're after pristine waters and colorful marine life, come take a trip to Playa Del Amor.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
Traveling to the great outdoors is one way of experiencing what nature can offer. In Southern Utah, the Zion National Park can provide that kind of experience with its mountainous areas, magnificent canyons and fascinating landscapes. Here are 5 reasons to visit Zion National Park.

Getting Wet In The Narrows. For adventure seekers, The Narrows are the best place to visit. You can spend hours of hiking as your feet gets wet by the cold water coming from the Virgin River. According to Life Utah Elevated, another hiking site is Angels landing which is one of the best hiking sites across the country.

Visiting The Emerald Pools. The Emerald Pools are another beauty that should be discovered by travelers. USA Today reported that the pools are divided into three parts and each part would require travelers to hike to reach the pool. Also, each level increases in difficulty as you try to reach the last pool.

Camping. Finding a nice hotel in Utah to visit Zion's National Park is a good idea, however, it's a totally different experience when camping outdoors. The Watchman Campground and South Campground are the perfect places in Zion Canyon to stay at.

Wildlife Watching. Zion's National Park is very rich in wildlife. In fact, there are about 200 species of birds in the area. The area is home to the Peregrine falcon, bald eagle and California condor. It's even considered as one of the rehabilitation areas for the Peregrine falcon.

Canyoneering and Rock Climbing. You haven't been to Zion National Park if you haven't tried canyoneering and rock climbing. The park has some of the best spots perfect these activities. It's an activity for the experienced travelers but there are also guides that teach basic canyoneering to first-timers.

For travelers who want to experience outdoor fun, then Zion's National Park is a must try. The park is a thing of beauty that showcases what nature has to offer.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
A U.S.-born NASA engineer was required to unlock his mobile phone after he had just returned from a trip overseas. 35-year old Sidd Bikkannavar had just arrived at the George Bush International Airport in Houston after going on a nine-hour flight from Santiago, Chile. The engineer went to Chile to compete in a two-week race going from the southern tip of the country all the way to its capital in a solar powered car.

The NASA engineer posted on social media site Facebook about how officers from the US Customs and Border Protection had ordered him to provide them with his cell phone and password before they allowed him to enter the George Bush International Airport. In the Facebook post which was shared by his friend on Twitter, the 35-year old says he was detained by Homeland Security along with others who were "stranded because of the Muslim ban."

"I initially refused since it's a (NASA)-issued phone and I must protect access", said Bikkannavar. "Just to be clear - I'm a US-born citizen and NASA engineer, travelling with a US passport. Once they took both my phone and the access PIN, they returned me to the holding area with cots and other sleeping detainees until they finished copying my data."

Bikkannavar said he returned to the US shortly after President Donald Trump signed an executive order which blocked immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. Ever since the order was imposed, a Muslim civil rights organization says it has already filed 10 complaints with CBP, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice. The organization alleges that American-Muslim citizens are being systematically targeted for enhanced screening by the CBP.

Trump's ban has since been blocked in court, but the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has reported increased scrutiny of social media accounts and mobile phones owned by American-Muslims ever since the ban was imposed, according to a report from CNN. Wilfredo A. Ruiz, a spokesperson for CAIR-Florida and Muslim convert, says citizens are required to surrender their mobile phones and laptops whenever a border agent asks for them, but not their passwords or personal social media information.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
By PTI: New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) BJP today claimed Congress is not in contention in 20 of the 60 seats in poll-bound Manipur as people have seen through Chief Minister O Ibobi Singhs "game of abetting the states blockade to polarise votes".

Rejecting speculation that the ongoing blockade has harmed its bid to capture power in the state for the first time, BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav, who is handling the state polls, said lotus will bloom there after Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, two states in the region where it is in power.

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He claimed that Congress was in fight in only 40 seats, which are in the valley, while BJPs main challengers in the 20 hill seats are NPF and other local parties.

He said the Centre had sent 40 additional companies of central forces besides near 45 companies already present there to help the Congress government to break the blockade enforced by Naga groups, but they have not been used so far.

While the central government facilitated talks between these groups and the state government, Singh ensured that they failed, Madhav claimed.

"He has deliberately done it. We (central government) wanted to help people and airlifted things like petrol and cooking gas cylinders and arranged convoys carrying other essential items.

"Our charge is that the Chief Minister has a vested interest and wants the blockade to continue. Whenever some solution is in sight, he would do something to damage its prospects. People have seen through his game and understand that we have done whatever we can in our capacity to help them," he said.

He expressed confidence that his party will win a simple majority in Manipur, where it could not bag a single seat in the last assembly polls.

Six MLAs from different parties have crossed over to its camp in the run-up to the polls, scheduled on March 4 and 8.

Asked about Irom Sharmilas allegations that she was offered over Rs 36 crore by BJP to contest election against the Chief Minister, he termed these "malicious and an absolute lie".

"Rs 36 crore is not even our election budget," he said. PTI KR ZMN

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By PTI: Kalimpong (WB), Feb 14 (PTI) A new district of Kalimpong was today carved out of Darjeeling, which has seen separate statehood demands since 1980s, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee making the formal announcement here.

Announcing a slew of development projects for the newly created district at a colourful ceremony, Banerjee said "a Rs 220 crore road link project will be taken up to connect Kalimpong with Sikkim via the old Silk Route."

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She said a Rs 50 crore water supply project by the public health engineering department will be taken up soon to address Kalimpongs water scarcity problem.

Darjeeling Hills has been witness to violent statehood movements since 1986 under the leadership of Subhas Ghising and after a few years thaw, again under Bimal Gurung, the present chief executive of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, in a bid to break away from West Bengal.

While Subhas Ghising-led Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) had got the West Bengal government to set up the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC), the Bimal Gurung-led Gorkha Janmukti Morchas agitation had set the ball rolling for replacing DGHC with the present Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, a local governing body with certain powers.

"I urge all people in the Hills to live peacefully and not pay heed to any attempt of igniting violence," Banerjee said while referring to the burning down of forest and other government bungalows at Tagdah, Kalimpong and some other places in the Hills.

"We have rebuild the Tagdah bungalow and others. We will ensure all-round development of the Hills," she said after announcing the creation of the states 21st district.

"Lepchas, Gurungs, Bhutias and all others are living together, we want you to light up diyas (lamps) of peace," she said.

"We are celebrating Kalimpong Day on Valentines Day," the Chief Minister said in a lighter tone.

"After the formation of GTA, I set up several boards in the Hills for better development and all are working well," Banerjee said adding, "The new district has been formed for ensuring better development." PTI AMR DKB

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By PTI: New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) A 45-year-old homeless man sleeping near a bus stand in Chhatarpur area of south Delhi was run over by a car driven allegedly by an inebriated driver while two other were injured, police said today.

Police said the accused driver, Pankaj Thakur, was found drunk at the time of the incident.

He was later arrested, they said.

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They said the accident happened yesterday and Kanhiya, a native of Bihar, was rushed to AIIMS Trauma Centre where doctors declared him brought dead.

They said Kanhiya had come to Chhatarpur five years ago and used to work as a scrap dealer and sometimes double as domestic help in the neighbourhood.

He used to sleep on the pavement every night.

An eyewitness said the car was speeding and hit one of the corners of a bus stand near the pavement. Later it ran over the victims, hit a boundary wall and stopped.

Pankaj got out of the vehicle and tried to flee but locals managed to catch him and informed police about the accident.

"The car was being driven at such a high speed. Kanhaiya was badly hit. Two other persons sleeping next to him were also injured," he said.

Police said one of the injured has been identified as Om Prakash (45) while the other remains unidentified.

"The injured persons are homeless and usually sleep behind the Chhatarpur bus stand. They work as daily wage workers," said a senior police officer.

During interrogation, the driver told police he had borrowed the car from his neighbor to attend a get-together in Chattarpur area and was returning to his home in Ghitorni when he lost control over the vehicle.

Police said empty liquor glasses have been found from inside the car.

The accused driver was sent for the medical examination. He has been booked under IPC sections 304 A (causing death due to negligence) and 279 (rash driving), said the officer.

Police are likely to add the section of drunken driving in the FIR following the medical reports of his blood samples. PTI SLB TIR

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Mumbai, February 14

Tata Motors today reported 96.22% decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 111.57 crore for the December quarter, dragged down by losses in domestic operations and lower profit of its British arm JLR.

The companys consolidated sales during the October- December quarter were down 2.2% to Rs 67,864.95 crore as against Rs 69,398.07 crore in the year-ago period.

Vedanta Q3 profit up four-fold at Rs 1,866 cr

Driven by higher income, metals and mining major Vedanta Ltd saw its consolidated net profit jump over four times to Rs 1,866.28 crore during the December quarter of the current fiscal. Led by NRI billionaire Anil Agarwal, it had reported net profit of Rs 408.58 crore in the October-December quarter of the previous fiscal, Vedanta said in a BSE filing.

Its total consolidated income from operations of the metals-to-oil group rose significantly to Rs 20,393.03 crore during the third quarter of 2016-17, as against Rs 15,731.48 crore in the year-ago period.

Sun Pharmas net slips 5%

Drug major Sun Pharmaceutical today reported a 4.72% decline in its consolidated net profit to Rs 1,471.82 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2016.

Consolidated total income from operations, however, rose to Rs 7,912.66 crore for the quarter under review, as against Rs 7122.31 crore in the same period a year ago.

REC Q3 net profit rises 28% at Rs 1,754 crore

Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) today reported a 28.07% increase in net profit for the December quarter at Rs 1,754.4 crore.

Its total income for the October-December period declined 6.17% to Rs 5,646.35 crore from Rs 6,017.95 crore a year-ago.

GVK Power & Infra Q3 net loss narrows

GVK Power & Infrastructures standalone net loss narrowed to Rs 71 lakh in the third quarter ended December 31, 2016.

Total income has increased to Rs 18.42 crore for the October-December quarter from Rs 16.92 crore for the same period a year ago.

SpiceJet posts Rs 181.1-cr profit in Dec quarter

Low-cost carrier SpiceJet today posted a profit of Rs 181.1 crore for the quarter ending December 31, 2016.

The airline reported operating revenue of Rs 1,642.4 crore in the quarter.

On an EBITDA basis, it reported a profit of Rs 241.3 crore. Profits for the quarter were impacted by demonetisation and higher fuel prices. This is the eighth consecutive profitable quarter for SpiceJet since its turnaround after December 2014.  PTI/TNS
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 14

A domestic worker has been arrested by the Chandigarh Police for allegedly stealing Rs 6 lakh from the house of the Additional Advocate General, Punjab. The fees received from various clients was kept in the wardrobe, which was found missing from the house.

According to the police, the complainant, Reeta Kohli, a senior advocate and resident of Sector 39, reported that the domestic help, Dharmender, alias Dharma, was employed around two years ago.

In her complaint, she also stated that the accused started stealing from the house from the very beginning when he was employed as a domestic help and was reprimanded many times.

The police said the complainant had received fees from clients, which was kept in the wardrobe along with cash withdrawn from a bank. On February 6, the complainant wanted to deposit the cash in the bank. However, she could not find the envelopes in which the cash was kept. Since she was getting late for the office, she did not bother to search the envelopes. On February 12, she searched the wardrobe again and found the envelopes missing following which she submitted a complaint against the domestic help. A case has been registered.
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, February 14

Two more rape cases have come to light in the district, taking the total number of cases to eight in just six weeks this year. A minor was raped in Indira Colony yesterday while a married woman was raped at a village in Pinjore. A total of 11 rape complaints have been received so far of which three were found to be false while one was transferred to Chandigarh.

A 13-year-old resident of Indira Colony was raped yesterday on the pretext of marriage by a 19-year-old neighbour. The victim narrated the incident to her mother after which she filed a complaint against the accused, Amit, at the Sector 16 police post yesterday. The victim did not agree to a medical examination yesterday and it was held this evening.

Sources said the victim was known to Amit and both were often seen together. The accused was arrested this evening from the Rajiv Colony area and reportedly confessed to his crime.

In the second incident, a 24-year-old mother of one filed a complaint at the Pinjore police station yesterday alleging that she was raped by a man of the same village. In her complaint, the victim said Gurkirpal raped her around 7 pm when she went to collect some material at a cowshed near her place.

She raised the alarm after which her brother-in-law came and had a fight with the accused. She said the accused threatened to kill her if she narrated the incident to anyone. ASI Raj Kumar said they had registered a case under Sections 376 and 506 of the IPC and the accused was yet to be arrested.
Ronki Ram

Punjab has never imagined the "political" without the ideal of some religion. It was for this reason that the "political" remained eclipsed under a paradigm apparently religious/sacred but inherently engaged with politics. It always reacted fiercely and sporadically while responding to the "political". But at the crucial hour, invariably, the response of the civil society remained indifferent. Babbar Akalis, Naxalites, and the Sikh radicals failed to exhort the people in Punjab when the state was haunting them. An ordinary Punjabi found it difficult to build a link between their struggle and the promised alternative politics. If at all, some turned sympathetic to their kind of politics, it was more in opposition to the corresponding regimes in power rather than the attraction of an alternative poltical discourse. Such political processes often create a lot of excitement in the beginning but failed to deliver in the end.

Consequently, the failure of the emergence of an alternative political regime often adds more strength to oppressive regimes throughout the chequered history of Punjab. After the failure of the movement of the Babbar Akalis, the colonial state became not only more repressive but was shrewd enough to manipulate the locale of the "political"' at the grassroots. The same can safely be applied to the rout of the Naxalite movement in Punjab in the 1970s that added to the ferocity of the brute power of the then poltical regime manifold. The movement of the Sikh radicals too followed the suit. Though the texture of the Naxalites movement in Punjab was non-religious, it too failed to generate any unified response among the peoples divided along religious lines. They probably understood the Left movement more as an alternative to religion than to mainstream politics. How come a society deeply soaked in religious colours can chisel a purely political alternative?

That is what currently happening to AAP in Punjab. It appears more or less as a motley of yesterday's lost and fragmented radical groups that once aimed at building an alternative poltical regime/discourse and are now simply promising to teach a lesson or two to those who ruined the state. The predominant election planks that the mandarins of AAP chose was the blasphemy and family business of Badals. It promised to clean the muck within no time once voted to power. Throwing the culprits into jails was yet another catchy slogan during the poll campaign. What exactly AAP would like to do constructively one has yet to figure out! However, the silent question that did the rounds during the elections was what the Communists failed to do when they were viable, would they manage to produce in their avatar in the AAP? The promises of the AAP could have been any thing but not a concrete model of alternative politics. How the electorate of Punjab would respond to it can be seen on March 11. What difference one expects from a change, if there would be any, in the real sense of the term, is no body's guess at present.

Nevertheless, what makes this Assembly Election the most interesting is not the possibility of the emergence of an alternative politics but the defeat of the existing coalition. And still what has never been debated before and during the campaign was the bold claim of the current government in providing social security and better infrastructure in the state. What led the people to throng the rallies of the AAP and the INC despite the liberal doling-out policy of the coalition government needs a more critical look. Is it the disjunction between infrastructural development and good governance or the jugglery of the star speakers of the AAP that pulled in big crowds during the recently concluded election campaign in a large number of constituencies across the three sub-regions of Punjab?

The Punjab elections have raised many more relevant questions in addition to the stereotype of good governance versus development. Is good governance possible without/alongwith development? What policy options are available to the political establishments to synchronise development with good governance? Or do we need a new interpretation of development in the post-consensus arena of political contestation? These are some of the most vexed questions that Socratesian logic demands to be debated at the portal of electoral democracy. The eagerly awaited verdict may provide a few answers to some of them.

The writer is ICCR Chair Visiting Professor of India Studies, Faculty of International Studies, Ryukoku University, Kyoto, Japan
New Delhi, February 13

Delhi Police faced a tough time in 2016 when crime cases surged by over nine per cent in the national Capital while 73 per cent cases remained unsolved.

But not all was gloomy for the 80,000-strong force which achieved a high detection rate in heinous crimes like murder and dacoity, even as rape cases saw a marginal dip of two per cent.

According to the Delhi Police annual report, released today, 2,09,519 cases in all were reported with it in 2016 as against 1,91,377 in the previous year, a rise of 9.48 per cent.

Also, out of the total cases lodged, 1,53,562 (73.3 per cent) remained unsolved.

Delhi Police data suggests that as opposed to 2015 when 2,199 rape cases were reported, 2016 saw 2155 such cases being lodged.

Analysis of the cases shows that 96.43 per cent of the rapes were committed by persons having acquaintance with the victim or their family members and only 3.57 per cent cases involved strangers.

During 2016, 4,165 molestation cases were reported as compared to 5,367 cases in 2015. PTI
By PTI: From Aditi Khanna

London, Feb 14 (PTI) UK Prime Minister Theresa May today rejected a petition endorsed by nearly 2 million people against the state visit of US President Donald Trump to Britain, saying her government "does not support" the view.

The rejection comes after the petition Prevent Donald Trump from making State Visit to the United Kingdom attracted 1.8 million signatures, ensuring a debate in the parliament on the matter on February 20.

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Any petition crossing a million signatures has to be considered for a debate in the House of Commons, but the British government has the right to take a stand on the issue in the lead up to that debate.

The petition - to be debated later this month - called for Trump to be allowed to visit the UK but not be granted an official state visit "because it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen".

Mays official response said the government believed Trump should be extended the "full courtesy of a state visit".

"We look forward to welcoming President Trump once dates and arrangements are finalised. [Her Majestys] government recognises the strong views expressed by the many signatories of this petition, but does not support this petition," it read.

During her visit to the US on January 27, May invited Trump for a state visit later this year. The invitation was accepted.

"This invitation reflects the importance of the relationship between the United States of America and the United Kingdom. At this stage, final dates have not yet been agreed for the State Visit," the response said.

Trumps visit, expected in August-September, has been at the centre of a lot of protests and controversy, including Commons Speaker John Bercows impartiality coming into question after he said Trump should be barred from addressing the British parliament.

The petition states: "Donald Trump should be allowed to enter the UK in his capacity as head of the US Government, but he should not be invited to make an official State Visit because it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen." PTI AK ABH AKJ ABH

--- ENDS ---
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, February 14

Employees of the Haryana Government under the banner of Sarv Karamchari Sangh (SKS) affiliated to the Akhil Bharatiya Rajya Sarkari Karamchari Mahasangh will march towards the state Assembly on March 7 in support of their demands, including regularisation of temporary employees, payment of benefits of the Seventh Pay Commission to pensioners and other employees, security in government jobs and equal pay for equal work.

This was announced by state general secretary of the organisation, Subhash Lamba, while addressing a press conference here at the PWD rest house today. As many as 21 teams had been formed in the state which would organise gate meetings to make the march a success, he said.

The SKS had already extended its support to the Assembly march of the ASHA and mid-day meal workers on February 28, to farmers and agricultural labourers on March 8 and to the indefinite strike of extension lecturers, he said.

Naresh Kumar Shastri, senior vice-president of the SKS, said around seven lakh posts were lying vacant in various government departments and organisations, including posts of 50,000 teachers in different schools. Over three lakh pensioners and one lakh employees of boards and corporations had not been given pay commission benefits so far, he added.

Instead of enrolling teachers to fill up the vacant posts, the government closed around 144 schools in the state, he said and alleged the state government was vigorously pursuing the policy of privatisation and outsourcing.
Pradeep Sharma/ Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 14

Apparently fearing a backlash from non-Jat ministers, the Haryana Cabinet today failed to take any decision on the demands of the agitating Jat community for reservation in government jobs and educational institutions.

Though the Cabinet was informed about the discussions of the five-member committee appointed by the state government with Jat representatives, the Cabinet refrained from any formal discussion on the Jat issue even as crowds at statewide dharnas organised by the community are swelling with everyday.

It was widely believed that the Cabinet might take up two main demands of the agitating communityregular government jobs for 31 persons killed in last years violence and the withdrawal of cases against certain agitators.

Refusing to divulge details, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar told reporters at Faridabad that the committee had briefed the Cabinet on the issue and the government was prepared well to deal with the Jat issue. We hope that it will get resolved soon in an amicable manner and within the ambit of law. He asserted.

We are hoping for the best but prepared for the worst, the Chief Minister said when asked about the results of the ongoing talks or the strategy about handling the Jat agitation.

Official sources said Khattar held a meeting with Chief Secretary, Additional Home Secretary and the IGP (CID) to get first-hand information about the first round of talks with the Jat community and the governments strategy to deal with the issue. It was resolved to have a second round of talks with all stakeholders to iron out issues between the two sides to find an amicable solution, the sources added.

Denying media reports about the change of routes of the Metro line in Gurgaon, the Chief Minister said six metro routes had been kept unchanged.
Sushil Manav

Even as Haryana is on the edge again with Jats sitting on dharnas in 19 districts of the state, people still shudder at the thought of what transpired during the similar agitation that went amuck in February last year.

A complete breakdown of official machinery was witnessed between February 19 and 22 last year that left 31 dead, hundreds injured and loss of property worth several thousand crores.

Former Uttar Pradesh DGP Parkash Singh, who headed a committee that probed acts of commission and omission of officers during the Jat quota violence, observed that 1,196 shops were set ablaze, 371 vehicles were damaged or set on fire, 30 schools/colleges were burnt, 75 houses were set on fire, 53 hotels/marriage palaces were devastated, 23 petrol pumps were attacked and 15 religious institutions vandalised.

The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry had put the loss figures at over Rs 34,000 crore.

As many as 550 trains were disrupted and there was complete choking of road traffic, leading to heavy losses to neighbouring states like Punjab, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

Within a day of the start of agitation on February 14, Jats started sitting on roads and highways, blocking vehicular traffic. Between February 15 and 17, there were road blockades on 120 points, including on four national highways. The agitation started taking caste colours and the first incident of inter-community clash was witnessed on February 18 in Rohtak when some Jat advocates blocking a road outside the Court Complex were allegedly beaten up.

After skirmishes between agitators and police in which a person was killed and several others injured, the mob moved towards the residence of Finance Minister Captain Abhimanyu and set his house and vehicles parked inside the compound on fire.

As news of the Rohtak violence reached Jhajjar, a mob of Jat agitators went around the city on February 20, raising aggressive slogans, pelted the residence of Minister Om Prakash Dhankar with stones, looted a wine shop near the PWD Rest House and vandalised the Rest House.

The Army columns opened fire, resulting in the death of four agitators and injuries to seven others. On February 21, there was counter-mobilisation by members of the non-Jat communities in Jhajjar as a reaction to the arson and vandalism by the Jats.

Later, a mob belonging to the Jat community attacked Chhavni Mohalla, which has a significant population of Saini community, and killed two persons.

Gohana town of district Sonepat also witnessed serious disturbances on the next day. In Sonepat, the Delhi-Ambala railway track was blocked near Rajlu Garhi village. The Jat protesters thereafter assembled on NH-1 near Kamaspur village, put up blockades at several locations and disrupted water supply to Delhi by blocking CLC canal near Garhi Bindroli village in Sonepat district, forcing the police to resort to firing.

Hotel Jurassic Park was completely gutted while Hotel Park Blue, IITM-Murthal and BM College were vandalised and woman commuters were violated near Sukhdev Dhaba at Murthal.

In several other districts of the state, incidents of arson, blocking of roads and burning of private and public properties were witnessed.

The violence not only caused loss of life and property, it also shattered the social fabric of the state, which will take years to repair.

The state government not only failed to prevent the situation taking a violent turn, it failed miserably to control violence. On one hand there was violence and hate messages, but on the other hand a video message showing former national chess champion Anuradha Beniwal making an emotional appeal to the Haryanavis to end this madness when peoples properties were being burnt was like a whiff of fresh air.
Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 14

Graduating from dealing in illegal narcotics trade of charas and opium in Kullu-Manali, the international drug mafia seems to be targeting the Valley of Gods with easy supply of high end drugs like heroin, cocaine and smack, considering the large number of foreign nationals visiting the area.

Chance seizure of 15 gm of heroin in Manikaran on February 11 led Himachal police to lay its hand on a Nigerian national Oke Chikku Matthew, with 1,550 gm of heroin (worth Rs 3.77 crore) in Uttam Nagar of Delhi yesterday. This not being an isolated case had put Himachal police on the alert who are now taking a close look at the linkages to get to the mafia behind the entire illegal trade, making Kullu-Manali belt notorious for drugs.

Recent trends indicate that international drug mafia was involved in supply to areas like Manikaran, Malana and Parbati valley frequented by a large number of foreigners. We are now very minutely looking at the larger picture to get to the root cause of the problem and the mafia engaged in supplying heroin, smuggled into India from Afghanistan, admits Sanjay Kumar, Director General of Police. There have been a number of big seizures and we hope to focus on preventive detention through thorough investigation, involving the financial angle, he said.Kullu Superintendent of Police Padam Chand said Praveen Kumar Samal (26) of Keonjhar district (Odisha) was nabbed with 15 gram heroin on February 11 near the Kasol region of Manikaran valley. The SP said during interrogation Praveen revealed that he had earlier visited the Kasol region about four times and supplied drugs. The SP said Praveen revealed that he used to take the drug consignment from Delhi and supply to drug addicts here.

The SP said a team was constituted and sent to Delhi along with Praveen to trace Matthew on February 12. He said the team was able to nab the accused with the contraband from his rented accommodation in Delhi. The Kullu Police arrested the accused and brought him here.

Incidentally, the same Nigerian national, who was arrested by a team headed by a Sub-Inspector of the Himachal Police from Delhi yesterday, had been arrested from Manali in 2014 for carrying 20 gm of cocaine. However, he could not be convicted and was released in 2016, returning to the trade once again. The number of foreign nationals arrested for alleged involvement in drug trade in 2014 was 15, while six persons each were arrested in the next two years. Notwithstanding the sustained campaign by the police, data about narcotic seizure indicates a clear increase in the supply of heroin, cocaine and smack. Heroin which is being smuggled into India is bought at the rate of Rs 2,500 per gm and sold here in Kullu-Manali at the rate of Rs 6,500 per gm, mainly to foreigners, admitted police officials. Though there has been a crackdown by the state government on the illegal cultivation of cannabis and poppy which is grown to get charas and opium the new worry now is to contain the smuggling of heroin, cocaine and smack.

In 2014, a total of 644 cases were registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, which involved seizure of 557.44 gms of heroin and 206.21 gms of smack and 69 gms of cocaine. In 2015, the number of NDPS cases was 622 but seizure of heroin was 385.91 gms and 157.55 gms of smack. In 2016, a total of 929 cases under NDPS Act were registered with 634.65 gms of heroin and 209.36 gms of smack being seized.
Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, February 14

Four Army men, including a Major, and four militants were killed in two separate gunbattles in north Kashmirs Bandipora and Handwara on Tuesday.

Maj S Dhaiya was killed while leading the operation at Handwara, while three soldiers were killed in the Bandipora gunfight.

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A gunbattle broke out at Khan Mohalla in Handwara after which the security personnel cordoned off the area. Three militants were killed in the encounter.

In an anti-militancy operation in Bandipora, where three soldiers were killed, eight securitymen, including two officers, were injured. One militant was also killed.

The fierce gunfight erupted when joint teams of police, Army and CRPF laid a cordon around Parrey Mohalla, Hajin, 30 km from here, in the wee hours, after receiving an input about militants presence.

As the cordon was being laid, the hiding militants opened indiscriminate fire in which at least a dozen forces men, including an Army major and a CRPF commandant, were wounded. Three of the injured Armymen later succumbed to their injuries. A militant, suspected to be a Lashkar-e-Toiba commander, was killed in the gunfight, sources said.

The deceased soldiers have been identified as  Dharmendra Kumar, a resident of Pataliya village in Nainital district, Uttarakhand; Ravi Kumar, a resident of Meen Sarkar Tabela village in Samba district of Jammu & Kashmir; and Astosh Kumar, a resident of Sultanpur village in Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh.

The injured CRPF officer was identified as Chetan Cheetah and his condition is said to be critical. The other injured are being treated at Armys Srinagar-based hospital.

There was a massive law and order situation during the anti-militancy operation as locals tried to march towards the gunfight site. Police had to fire teargas shells to stop this.

There have been at least half a dozen gunfights in the Hajin area in the past over two months. On January 19, a top Lashkar commander and the nephew of Mumbai attacks mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, was killed in a gunfight in Hajin area.

In Kashmir, the forces have stepped up anti-militancy operations and have so far killed 16 militants, including 10 local ones, this year.
Arteev Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 14

In conflict-ridden Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspecialty Hospital, Kakryal, offers credible and affordable tertiary healthcare facility.

Earlier, patients would travel to other states to receive quality treatment in the absence of proper healthcare infrastructure, scarcity of manpower, including doctors and paramedics.

With high-end equipment and appointment of specialist doctors, the hospital has been performing to the satisfaction of its developer - Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board - since it began functioning on April 19, 2016.

Governor NN Vohra, who is also the Chairman of the shrine board, has showed keen interest in the functioning of the hospital and has been regularly monitoring its performance.

According to the statistics of the hospital till November 2016, over 47,000 patients were provided OPD consultation, while the number of IPD patients was 3,000 in eight months.

Around 450 OPD patients visit the hospital everyday, while the number of IPD patients per day is 80.

As many as 180 surgeries are performed in the hospital per month. At present, the hospital has commissioned 120 beds.

The hospital has all major streams of medicine and surgery, including cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, neurology, neurosurgery, nephrology, urology, oncology, pulmonology, gastroenterology, orthopaedics, trauma medicine, paediatrics, neonatology, obstetrics and gynaecology.

The hospital is planning to start bone marrow transplant this year, while it has also been working on starting kidney and liver transplant. It has also encouraged local doctors working outside to return and serve the people of the state.

Our tagline and our mission from Day One is high volume affordable high quality healthcare. There are a lot of centres of charity and institutions which provide free of cost facilities but they have not been able to make any impact on the healthcare market. We started our journey primarily in cardiac but later spread into multispecialty tertiary care. We have all high-end equipment to ensure the safety of the patients. Monitoring is conducted in a precise and specific manner, said Sunil Kumar CN, zonal director, Narayana Hospital and Chief Executive Officer of the hospital.

Despite several logistical challenges and difficulties, the hospital has been able to build trust among people who travel from far-off places in Kishtwar, Doda, Rajouri and Poonch to avail themselves of healthcare facilities at the hospital.

We are able to receive them (patients) in the middle of the night. Doctors stay on the campus so we are able to initiate the surgery in 20 to 30 minutes. I dont think any hospital claims that kind of ability, the zonal director said.

He claimed that the healthcare charges had been lower than most of the markets. We ensure that the patients do not feel any financial burden while receiving treatment. The charges are lower than in Chandigarh and Delhi hospitals. We are hopeful that we will able to increase the number of patients, he added.

Asked about the logistical challenges, the zonal director said the hospital had initially chosen nursing and paramedical staff from all centres of the Narayana group. A good number of doctors from the state were working in Chandigarh, Delhi and Punjab because they never had good infrastructure. They all wanted to come back. We could mobilise some of the doctors working in prestigious institutions of Delhi and Chandigarh. Initially, convincing them was difficult but knowing that NH is a brand and a mission, they showed their willingness to join us, Kumar said.

He gave credit to the shrine board for developing a credible, affordable and quality healthcare institution. We are here because of the shrine board. Without them this institution would not have been possible. We would not have come to the state had the board was not backed us. The first 3-4 months were tough. Not only mobilising manpower but also mobilising material to an unknown terrain was a challenge. The board had made it possible to mobilise manpower and material to the difficult terrain, he said.

The zonal director said: We have the highest specifications and all features of a linear accelerator. A gamma camera, again important for treatment of various diseases, has been set up which is not available in the state.

He said the hospital was in discussion with various agencies for setting up a PET scan. There is difficulty in getting isotope for the machine. We are working on the modalities. In a year, we will be able to put in place PET scan, provided the cyclotron and isotope are available. We are also in discussion with the state government over this particular subject.

He said efforts were being made to develop the institution as a high complex tertiary care transplant centre. We are making efforts to ensure that all cases are handled with precision and safety. We need to develop an organ transplant system which has not been done in the state so far. We will also ensure to build a decent institution rather than just a hospital.

GH Tantray, a patient from Doda town, said: I felt good to see quality healthcare being provided to patients there. The institution is equivalent to the PGI and AIIMS. It has made possible for people of the state to get quality healthcare facilities locally.
Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 14

Terming triple talaq a human rights issue, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said it intended to decide petitions challenging the practice under Muslim Personal Law very soon.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar said it would hear the petitions filed by Muslim women against triple talaq, the intervention applications and also the government on the issue from May 11.

The bench, however, made it clear that it was not dealing with the issue of Uniform Civil Code (UCC), which is currently being examined by the Law Commission of India.

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Many conservative Muslim groups, including Muslim Personal Law Board, have been opposing the UCC that has been a part of the BJPs poll promise for decades.

The bench will take up the matter on February 16 to frame issues that would be considered by it during the hearing beginning from May 11.

The court said it would also consider the impact of international covenants and conventions India is signatory to while decoding the matter.

After the hearing, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told The Tribune: The practices of triple talaq, polygamy and nikah halala--whether religious or not, and even if a part of personal law--are unconstitutional. They are hit by Article 14 (right to equality) of the Constitution. They perpetuate gender inequality.

Rohatgi said that in major Muslim countries such practices were prohibited by law and some countries even prescribed punishment.

In its affidavit filed in October last year, the Centre had said that gender equality was part of the basic structure of the Constitution and non-negotiable.

This was the first time the government took a stand against these practices that have inherent gender bias.

Under Muslim personal law as practiced in India, a Muslim man can divorce his wife by pronouncing talaq thrice and is also permitted to have four wives.

There are separate sets of personal laws in India for each religion governing marriage, divorce, succession, adoption and maintenance. Hindu Law has substantially changed since the 1950s; activists complain that Muslim Law has hardly changed.

Even though it may be true to say that only some women are directly and actually affected by these practices being divorced by talaq-e-bidat or being in a polygamous marriage, the fact remains that every woman to whom the law applies, lives under the threat, fear or prospect of being subject to these practices, which in turn impacts her status and her right to a life with confidence and dignity, the Centre had said in its affidavit.

Several Muslim women and women groups have challenged the practice of triple talaq, polygamy and other practices on the grounds that they violated their fundamental rights to equality, right to non-discrimination and right to live with human dignity.
Houston, February 14

An Indian-origin Muslim NASA scientist has said he was detained and forced to unlock his PIN-protected work phone at the US border by custom officials.

Sidd Bikkannavar, 35, said in a post on social media that US Customs and Border Protection officers wanted his cell phone and password -- before they would let him through at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport.



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"On my way home to the US last weekend, I was detained by Homeland Security and held with others who were stranded under the Muslim ban," Bikkannavar wrote in a Facebook post.

"I initially refused, since it's a (NASA)-issued phone and I must protect access," Bikkannavar wrote.

Bikkannavar, born in Pasadena, designs technology for space telescopes like the enormous James Webb telescope that's set to be launched into orbit in 2018.

"Just to be clear -- I'm a US-born citizen and NASA engineer, travelling with a valid US passport. Once they took both my phone and the access PIN, they returned me to the holding area with cots and other sleeping detainees until they finished copying my data."

Bikkannavar spent a few weeks away pursuing his hobby of racing solar-powered cars.

As a member of a Chilean team, he visited Patagonia in early January under the Obama administration.

He returned after Trump took office and issued the executive order on travel into the United States.

Nothing about Bikkannavar should have caused concern for CBP  he's a naturalborn US citizen, enrolled in a programme that allows individuals who've already passed background checks to quickly enter the country.

In addition, he has never visited the countries on the immigration ban, and he's 10-year employee of a major US federal agency.

"I don't know what to think about this. I was caught a little off guard by the whole thing," Bikkannavar told media here in a phone call. Bikkannavar detailed his experience on Facebook, explaining his absence to friends and coworkers.

The episode, aside from the profiling it ostensibly involved, also put him in a fix with his employers, because he was required to protect access to the phone.

"I'm back home, and JPL has been running forensics on the phone to determine what CBP/homeland security might have taken, or whether they installed anything on the device," Bikkannavar explained in the post, adding that he has also been working with JPL legal counsel and the lab has issued him a new phone and new phone number.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) filed numerous complaints in January against CBP for demanding that Muslim-American citizens give up their social media information when they return home from overseas.

Earlier this week, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly issued a statement in response, telling the House Homeland Security Committee, "We want to get on their social media, with passwords: What do you do, what do you say? If they don't want to cooperate then you don't come in".  PTI
Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, February 14

In one of the bloodiest gunfights this year, three soldiers and a top Lashkar commander were killed in north Kashmirs Bandipore district today. At least 12 security personnel, including two officers, were wounded.

Protests erupted even while the encounter was on with locals trying to march toward the site. The police lobbed tear-gas shells to quell them.

In another encounter at Kralgund (Handwara) in Kupwara late in the evening, an Army Major from Narnaul in Haryana  identified as S Dhaiya of the Army Service Corps, who was attached with 30 Rashtriya Rifles  and three militants were killed, while a jawan was injured.

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Sources said a fierce gunfight erupted in the wee hours as the security forces cordoned off a house at Parrey Mohalla Hajin, 30 km northwest of Srinagar, following information that two Lashkar militants were hiding there. Cornered, the militants jumped out of the house, opened indiscriminate fire and lobbed grenades to break the cordon, inflicting heavy casualties.

In the initial gunfight, at least 14 security men, including an Army Major and a CRPF Commandant, who were leading the assault teams, were wounded. Three Army men later succumbed to injuries. A Lashkar commander too was killed, the sources said. Another militant fled as protests erupted.

Chetan Cheetah, Commanding Officer, 45 Battalion, CRPF, sustained multiple gunshots. His condition is critical. He may be shifted to Delhi. The other injured are being treated at the Armys hospital in Srinagar.

There have been at least six gunfights in Hajin area in the past nearly three months in which seven Lashkar militants have been killed.

The encounter at Kralgund Handwara was backed by locals, the police claimed. Frequently troubled by militants, the locals helped us. A combing operation was launched during which the militants opened fire, triggering a gunfight in which three Lashkar militants were killed, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Nitish Kumar said."

In the past three days, three fierce encounters have taken place in Kashmir. Four militants, two soldiers and a civilian were killed in south

Kashmirs Kulgam on Sunday. In the subsequent clashes, another civilian was killed.
US President Donald Trump's national security adviser, Michael Flynn, has resigned in the midst of a raging controversy about his contacts with Russian officials.

By Reuters: President Donald Trump's national security adviser, Michael Flynn, resigned late on Monday under scrutiny over whether he discussed the possibility of lifting US sanctions on Russia before Trump took office.

Flynn submitted his resignation hours after Trump said through a spokesman that he was reviewing the situation and talking to Vice President Mike Pence. Flynn had promised Pence he had not discussed sanctions with the Russians but it was later discovered that the subject had come up.

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"Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the vice president-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador. I have sincerely apologized to the president and the vice president, and they have accepted my apology," Flynn said in his resignation letter.

Michael Flynn's resignation letter.

KEITH KELLOGG NAMED ACTING NSA

Retired General Keith Kellogg, who has been chief of staff of the White House National Security Council, was named the acting national security adviser while Trump determines who should fill the position.

Retired General David Petraeus, a former CIA director, is under consideration for the position, a White House official said.

FLYNN UNDER SCRUTINY FOR RUSSIAN CONTACTS

Flynn's resignation came after it was reported that the Justice Department warned the White House weeks ago that Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail for contacts with Russian officials before Trump took power on January 20.

A US official confirmed a Washington Post report that Sally Yates, the then-acting US attorney general, told the White House late last month that she believed Flynn had misled them about the nature of his communications with the Russian ambassador to the United States.

She said Flynn might have put himself into a compromising position, possibly leaving himself vulnerable to blackmail, the official said. Yates was later fired for opposing Trump's temporary entry ban for people from seven mostly Muslim nations.

Flynn, a retired US Army lieutenant general, was an early supporter of Trump and shares his interest in shaking up the establishment in Washington. He has frequently raised eyebrows among Washington's foreign policy establishment for trying to persuade Trump to warm up US relations with Russia.

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Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 14

India today kept up the pressure on Pakistan insisting it needs to shut down the terrorism factory and that there is now international concern over this.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar made these observations while participating in a panel discussion co hosted by the ministry of external affairs in Mumbai.

Western countries may not be open about Pakistan and terrorism problem but they have concerns. The issue really here is whether Pakistan is willing to take fundamental steps. They need to shut down terrorism factory, he said. Terrorism in the past was seen as our problem but now its a bigger problem. There is today international concern (on terrorism), he said.

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While India has made it abundantly clear for quite some time now that it intends to look at other regional groupings as alternatives to SAARC, the Foreign Secretary today bluntly pointed out that while India had not given up on SAARC, it nevertheless would look at other options as SAARC is stuck.

We havent given up on SAARC. We cant and we shouldnt, the Foreign Secretary said. When it comes to regional integration, we will keep looking for other opportunities since SAARC is stuck, Jaishankar said.
Chennai, February 14

All India Anna Dravidia Munnetra Kazagham general secretary Sasikala expelled rebel leader O Panneerselvam and 19 other senior leaders from the party on Tuesday within hours of her conviction by the Supreme Court in a disproportionate assets case.

Minutes later, Eappadi K Palaniswami  her 63-year-old loyalist  was elected the Legislature Party leader in a move aimed at making him the next chief minister and forestall caretaker chief minister Panneerselvam  or OPS, as he's popularly called  from taking the position, even as the latters camp witnessed celebrations at the courts verdict.

AIADMK-controlled Jaya TV claimed Palaniswami submitted a list of lawmakers who supported his claim to form government in the state at a meeting with Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao on Tuesday evening.

Deepa Jaykumar, who met O Panneerselvam later in the evening, said they would work together in the future. She had previously opposed Sasikala, when she was made general secretary of the party after Jayalalithaa died and later when the party decided she would be the next chief minister of the state.

says Deepa Jayakumar, niece of late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa

The expulsion marks another twist in the week-long saga ever since Chief Minister Panneerselvam rebelled against Sasikala alleging he was forced to step down to give way to her.

She has called him a betrayer and had accused him of colluding with DMK.

A combative Sasikala said on Tuesday that Panneerselvam had "gone against the party principles and brought disrepute" as she announced his expulsion and that of his sympathisers.

Palaniswami, a known Sasikala loyalist and a five-time MLA, is the partys strongman from Salem district and currently holds the portfolios of Highways, Public Works and Minor Ports.

He was minister in the previous Cabinet that was led by the late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa also and continued with the same portfolios.

He was retained in 2016, both by Jayalalithaa and later by her successor Panneerselvam, who has since revolted against Sasikala for allegedly forcing him to step down from chief ministership.

Minutes after the apex court delivered the verdict, Sasikala went into a huddle with her MLAs to decide on the next steps.

Security has been strengthened across the state. Police presence has been stepped up at the resort here, about 80 km from Chennai, where MLAs supporting her are housed for the past few days. Sasikala herself stayed overnight at the resort.

The expectation is that Sasikala will leave for Bengaluru to surrender in the trial court as per the apex court order.

The apex court on Tuesday quashed the Karnataka High Court verdict that had acquitted Sasikala in the disproportionate assets case and asked her to surrender herself.

Sasikala was elected AIADMK Legislature Party Leader on February 5, paving the way for her becoming Chief Minister.

Two days later, Pannerselvam rebelled against her.

Sasikala on Tuesday sacked Panneerselvam, who has been continuing as caretaker Chief Minister, from the AIADMKs primary membership. PTI/ Agencies
Chennai, February 14

Soon after the Supreme Court restored AIADMK chief VK Sasikalas conviction in a disproportionate assets case, her loyalist Edappady K Palaniswami was elected the legislature party leader.

O Panneerselvam, the caretaker Chief Minister, was sacked from the party, the latest in a series of tit-for-tat moves that the two factions have been making.

Moving quickly, Palaniswami, 63, met Governor Vidyasagar Rao and staked claim to form the government. He submitted the letter of support of MLAs, who elected him at a resort near Chennai. Though it was not announced how many MLAs attended the legislature party meeting, the Madras High Court was yesterday informed by the state prosecutor that 119 AIADMK legislators were staying in the resort on their own volition. The AIADMK has 134 MLAs in the 234-member Assembly.

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Alleging Panneerselvam had gone against the party principles and brought disrepute, Sasikala announced his expulsion and that of his sympathisers.

The Panneerselvam camp, however, said Sasikala did not have the authority to sack him, and that she had no moral or legal authority to do so. Panneerselvam appealed to those in Sasikalas camp to go by their conscience in taking forward the late Ammas government.

Meanwhile, ending days of speculation on whether she would join hands with Panneerselvam, Deepa Jayakumar, late Jayalalithaa's niece, today said she would work with him as if they were two hands of the AIADMK.  PTI
Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 14

AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikalas conviction has given the BJP many reasons to cheer given its preference for her rival Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.

But given the almost deja vu-like situation in the state ahead of Uttarakhand elections tomorrow, BJP leaders played safe to dispel the notion of either the party or the Centre interfering in matters of a state not ruled by it.

So as Sasikala pushed her nominee as the next chief minister, they left it to state Governor C Vidyasagar Rao to resolve the situation on the basis of numbers and credibility.

Welcoming the Supreme Court judgement, they cautioned that a proxy could never win peoples trust.

It is an important judgment as far as graft in politics is concerned, BJP leader Ram Madhav said.

We have no role to play in Tamil Nadu. The BJP has no interest there. To say the BJP or the government of India has a hand in it (Tamil Nadu political situation) is totally false and baseless, he added.

The Opposition, including the Sasikala faction, is alleging otherwise. But BJPs preference for OPSas Panneerselvam is referred to asis hard to miss.

According to party general secretary and Tamil Nadu incharge P Muralidhar Rao, Sasikala may have the advantage of being the AIADMK chief but unlike her mentor late J Jayalalithaa she did not have peoples endorsement.

Sasikala has the advantage of being at the top of the party but she does not have the advantage that Jayalalithaa hadhaving peoples endorsement. That is a very important factor. By appointing a proxy you can never win peoples trust, which is essential.

The Governor has to take a call in the context of the Supreme Courts verdict. It has become a new factor. He cannot go by mere numbers. He has to go by both numbers and credibility. He has to judge as to who is more viable and capable of giving a stable government, he was quoted as saying.

Uttarakhand, where incumbent Chief Minister Harish Rawat lost his post last year, perceivably due to efforts of the BJP and the Centre, polls tomorrow.

Apparently, there continues to be angst in areas of the hill state over attempts to dislodge the elected chief minister.
Chennai, February 14

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday said that although the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nothing to do with the crisis in Tamil Nadu, it is two union ministers who have been fomenting trouble in the state.

"I asked my party if they have a stand on the situation in Tamil Nadu, and they said 'no'. I asked the central government if they have a stand, they too said 'no'. There are two union ministers who have got nothing to do with Tamil Nadu but are trying to foment trouble by propping up O. Panneerselvam," Swamy told CNN News18 TV channel.

Swamy also expressed satisfaction at the Supreme Court judgement convicting Sasikala in a disproportionate assets case. Swamy is the original petitioner in the case.

Calling acting Chief Minister O. Pannerselvam a "boneless wonder", Swamy claimed that he does not have the support of "even four MLAs, let alone 40 or 45 MLAs".

Swamy, however, refused to reveal the names of the two ministers, saying he would do it at an appropriate time.  IANS
Amaninder Pal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 14

Red chillies from Punjab are being exported for the first time as traders based in Saudi Arabia have placed an order of around 12,000 quintals of processed paste of red chillies grown in the state.

The import opportunity knocked at the states doors after Punjab Agro Juices Limited (PAJL), a state governments undertaking, had, in December last year, sent two containers (400 quintals) of red chilli paste to Saudi Arabia on a trial basis.

Significantly, chillies are processed into paste in the state-run processing plants located in Hoshiapur and Abohar, which have been recently revived after these were put on sale by the SAD-BJP government.

The processed paste will be used in the preparation of several dishes popular in Saudi Arabia.

We had experimented with chilli paste processing last year and exhibited the product in Food Expo held in Dubai. A Saudi Arabia importer showed interest. Now, we have received an order of 60 containers, which will be shipped in phases in the coming weeks. It is for the first time that red chilli or product processed from it is being exported from Punjab, said PAJL MD Kahan Singh Pannu.

We are also receiving queries regarding the same product from buyers in Dubai and Russia. We are hopeful that these nations would be the next destination for the red chilli, he added.

Pertinently, in December 2015, the state had got an opportunity to export kinnow to Russia for the first time after Turkey, one of the major exporter of citrus fruit to Russia, had shot down latters warplane near Turkish-Syrian border in November that year. Punjab has 6,820 hectares (approx) area under chilli cultivation and produces around 11,780 tonnes of chilly annually.

If one goes by these estimates, 60 containers alone will exhaust over 10 per cent of the total chilli production in the state. Increase in export will definitely help Punjabi farmer to come out of traditional wheat-rice crop pattern and provide opportunity to diversify agriculture practices, Pannu added.
Staying true to her feisty off-screen personality, Kangana seems to have effortlessly slipped into her onscreen character, that of Jaanbaaz Julia.

Listen up all boys. The actress has different plans this Valentines Day, as Kangana aka Julia will be distributing whips to girls.

The idea comes from the actress daredevil persona both onscreen and off-screen.

The significance of the whip comes from the quality of taking charge, which is often exhibited by the actress.

Kangana will be going out of her way to send across the message of liberalism by handing over whips to girls.

Yes! You heard that right! The actress wants girls to recognise their superiority in a sexual relationship, take charge over the act and over their boyfriends.

With this Kangana will be seen exploring the dark side of love and putting her kinky foot forward this Valentines.

Kangana Ranaut will be seen playing the role of a liberal diva, Julia in her upcoming multi-starrer Rangoon.ANI
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, February 14

Though eight candidates are in the fray from the Gadarpur Assembly constituency, the contest is expected to be triangular between the BJP, the Congress and the BSP. Besides, four Independents and Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate are flexing muscles.

The BJP has given ticket to sitting MLA Arvind Pandey while the Congress has fielded new candidate Rajendra Pal Singh, ignoring another aspirant, Jarnail Singh Kali. Kali is now a BSP candidate. The presence of several candidates will dent the vote bank of the Congress as well as the BJP. Meanwhile, Kalis Dalit vote bank appears to be intact, says Gopal Arora, local poll analyst.

According to Arora, Gadarpur lags behind when it comes to development as the drainage system of town has been in a dilapidated condition, community health centers have no doctors and no higher education facility in the absence of degree college in the town. The town lacks female doctors. It has been unfortunate for Gadarpur residents as after the creation of the state, the segment has been represented by candidates from the Opposition, said Arora.

Creation of employment opportunities is the biggest need of the town. The only source of employment here was a sugar mill that was established when Indira Gandhi was at helm at the Centre in 1984, but it was shut after the creation of the state, rendering 2,500 local people jobless.

No one has the vision to develop Gadarpur, resulting in constituency remaining backward from every developmental opportunity, he says.

Congress candidate Rajendra Pal Singh, who began his political career as a student leader, says, I have a road map to develop Gadarpur. Other than ensuring infrastructure and employment, appropriate schemes, which can immensely benefit villages and mohallas rather than individuals, will be launched.

BJP candidate Arvind Pandey blames the state government for lack of development in his constituency. He says the Congress-led state government ignored him as he was a BJP MLA.

BSP candidate Jarnail Singh Kali is said to an influential Punjabi leader who is active in the area for the last 20 years. He garnered over 10,000 votes as SP candidate in 2007. He was runner-up in 2012 polls as he was polled 22,833 votes. The people of Gadarpur are with me as I have remained with them for the last 20 years. I have been serving the region with my own resources, Kali says.

The Gadarpur Assembly constituency has over 1.21 lakh voters, including over 35,000 Punjabi-speaking voters, 19,000 Muslims and 15,000 Bengali speakers. Besides, there are 8,000 Purvanchalis, 5000 Boksa tribals and 13,000 SC voters. While sitting MLA Arvind Pandey is dependent on the Bengali community Purvanchal voters, Kali is dependent on the Punjabi community. Kali has influence in other communities as well. The Congress candidate is banking on the support of Muslims, Dalits, Boksa community and some sections of Punjabis. This forms over half of the total voters strength in the constituency, said poll analyst Gopal Arora.
Neena Sharma

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 14

The arch-rivals BJP and Congress will battle it out in the high stake Assembly polls on Wednesday. The election is being billed as a major test for Chief Minister Harish Rawats acumen in arresting anti-incumbency and reversing the trend set in the past two elections of never repeating the incumbent government again.

Opposing him is the BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has been exhorting people to vote for the BJP by repeating the system of a double-engine government (BJP government at the Centre and the state) which will ensure all-round progress in Uttarakhand.

In all, 69 seats are up for grabs and 627 candidates are in the fray. The election to the Karanprayag seat has been deferred to March 9. A total of 74,20,710 voters will exercise their right tomorrow.

For the first time, 199 booths will be web cast and directly connected with New Delhi, Chief Electoral Officer Radha Raturi said, speaking with The Tribune.

In the build-up to the election, the Department of Excise and Income Tax carried out several raids. As of today, one lakh litre of liquor was seized by the Department of Excise and Rs 3 crore by the tax department. This cache is the highest in comparison to the last three elections, said Radha Raturi.

For the visually-challenged voters, the EVMs have been facilitated with Braille script. A desk for voter facilitation will also be set up outside the polling stations.

The election to the Karanprayag seat will be held on March 9. The notification for the election to Karanprayag was issued on February 13, the last date for filing of nomination for this seat is February 20, on February 21 the papers will be scrutinised and February 23 is the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers.

Only the BSP has been given time to nominate its candidate by tomorrow. The status of other candidates will remain the same and as of now eight candidates are in the fray.

After the death of BSP candidate Kuldeep Kanwasi, the election to Karanprayag seat has been deferred. A total number of voters in Karnprayag are 90,968, including 45,132 women. The counting will be held on March 11.

Prominent contestants - Chief Minister Harish Rawat from Kichha and Haridwar Rural, Harbans Kapoor, sitting BJP MLA from Dehradun Cantt, Ajay Bhatt, Uttarakhand BJP chief, former Cabinet minister and BJP candidate Harak Singh Rawat from Kotdwar.

Health Minister and Congress candidate Surinder Singh Negi, Forest Minister and Congress candidate Dinesh Agarwal from Dehradun Cantonment, BJP candidate and Mayor Vinod Chamoli from Dehradun Cantonment, Congress party Chief Kishore Upadhyay from Sahaspur.
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, February 14

Employees of the Election Commission reached various booths on the eve of state Assembly elections in Mussoorie today. An additional force has been deployed for the security of 29 booths in Mussoorie, including that of Landour Cantonment area.

Out of total the 24,000 votes in the Mussoorie area, 21,000 exist in Municipal Council of Mussoorie limits while 3,000 are in Landour Cantonment area. However, polling might remain low as most of the voters have left to cast their vote in their native villages in the Garhwal region.

The poll pundits fear that no attention has been drawn towards duplicate election ID cards, which could result in people polling at two places, in Mussoorie and in adjacent constituencies, namely Dhanaulti, Tehri, Sahaspur etc.

Godavari Thapli of Congress and sitting MLA Ganesh Joshi from BJP are in the fray from Mussoorie, while bigwigs, namely Manmohan Singh Mall from Congress, Urban Development Minister Pritam Panwar as independent candidate and Narayan Singh Rana from BJP are in for a tough contest from Dhanaulti.

However, the silence of voters is leaving the candidates unnerved.

Police station in charge BBD Juyal said all measures to conduct free and fare poll have been taken.
The apex court upheld the four-year jail term handed down by a lower court in Bengaluru and banned her from seeking elected office for 10 years. But Sasikala is unlikely to surrender before the Bengaluru court today.

By India Today Web Desk: In a major setback for AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala, who was aspiring to be the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, the Supreme Court today restored her conviction and four year jail sentence in a disproportionate assets case.

The apex court upheld the four-year jail term handed down by a lower court in Bengaluru and banned her from seeking elected office for 10 years. But Sasikala is unlikely to surrender before the Bengaluru court today.

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Earlier in the day, the two-judge Supreme Court bench of Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Amitava Roy set aside the May 11, 2015 Karnataka High Court order acquitting Sasikala, her two relatives and late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.

Also read | VK Sasikala gets jail in DA case, loses Tamil Nadu CM bid: The story so far

The immediate fallout of the top court verdict is that Sasikala cannot contest elections for 10 years. She faces four years in incarceration and later six years of disqualification under the Representation of People's Act after her release.

Restoring the conviction and sentencing by the trial court in "full including the consequential directions", the bench ordered the trial court to take "immediate steps to ensure" that Sasikala, Sudhakaran and Elavarasi "serve out the remainder of the sentence awarded to them and take further steps in compliance with this judgment."

The court said that the three would surrender before the trial court "forthwith".

WHAT DID THE SUPREME COURT BENCH SAY

Speaking for the bench, Justice Ghose commended the trial court for being "meticulous, sensitive, vigilant and judicious in its appraisal ..." and that "we are of the unhesitant opinion" that the High Court judgment and order "suffers from manifest errors on the face of the record, both on facts and in law and is liable to be set aside".

Justice Roy, in a concurring judgment, expressed deep concern over the "escalating menace of corruption in society".

The court said that every transaction that was taking place was in the know of each one of them living under the same address.

"The unimpeded, frequent and spontaneous inflow of funds" from the account of Jayalalithaa to those of the "other co-accused and the firms/companies involved, overwhelmingly demonstrate" their "collective culpable involvement" in the transactions ... "the same to be masked banking exchanges though involving several accounts but mostly of the same bank", the court said.

Also read | Who is EK Palanisamy, the man picked by Sasikala to be Tamil Nadu CM?

It rejecting the argument that trial suffered from "unfairness and non-transparency".

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"It is true that in course of the investigation, some documents had been seized which were not adduced in evidence being construed to be irrelevant for substantiating the charge, but it did not certainly tantamount to suppression thereof so as to afflict the trial with the vice of unfairness and non-transparency as alleged," the court said.

It also rejected the "oft-repeated grievance" of the accused that the trial court had left out of consideration material pieces of evidence brought by it, saying "suffice it to state that the decision rendered by it proclaim to the contrary".

"In all the aspects among others, income, expenditure and assets, the judgment of the trial court reveals on a plain reading that the evidence adduced by the defence as construed to be relevant had not only been taken note of but also analysed and applied for arriving at the conclusions on the issues pertaining to the adjudication," it said in its judgment.

Also read | Meet the two Supreme Court judges from Bengal who sent Sasikala to jail

Upholding the trial court directing confiscation of the movable and immovable assets of the accused, as well of properties of six companies owned by the accused, to recover the fine imposed on them, the top court: "In our comprehension, the course adopted by the trial court cannot be faulted with."

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"We are of the opinion that the order of confiscation/forfeiture of the properties standing in the name of six companies, as involved, made by the trial court is unexceptionable."

The top court verdict came on an appeal of the Karnataka government that had challenged the state High Court verdict acquitting Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and the two in the case relating to amassing disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 66.65 crore during Jayalalithaa's first term as Chief Minister from 1991-1996.

WATCH VIDEO

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Amardeep Bhattal

Yuba City (USA), February 13

It appeared to be a normal Sunday evening here with youngsters ensconced in their living rooms enjoying their games. Around 6 pm local time, law enforcement alarms about a possible catastrophe sent thousands of residents scurrying for cover to nearby towns. Within hours, Oroville, Gridley, Marysville and Yuba City resembled ghost towns as residents rushed to unknown destinations.

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Floods are not unknown in this part of America, home to more then 20,000 Punjabis. Previously, Yuba City experienced flooding in 1997 but the threat was not as serious. What pressed the panic buttons this time was the announcement about the impending danger to Oroville Dam, about 30 miles away, whose emergency spillway appeared to be fighting a losing battle.

With large chunks of earth being corroded at its base following unavoidable discharge, the spillway could have fallen apart any moment posing a direct threat to the 770-feet tall dam, the tallest in the USA. And had the dam failed, the results would have been catastrophic. Oroville city, and all nearby areas, including Gridley, Live Oak, Marysville, and Yuba City could have been wiped out within hours.

At the local gurdwaras, situated on Tierra Buenna road and Bogue Road, large congregations were preparing to celebrate Sangrand on Sunday, but the three-hour evening programmes were abruptly halted midway to sound the warning. What followed was utter chaos as motorists rushed to gas stations before hitting the highways.

Some preferred to move towards Colusa on Highway 20 while others moved towards Highway 99 en route to Sacramento. At the local Sam's Club gas station, six queues of vehicles were a pointer to the emergency. It took me nearly an hour to reach my destination on Township Road, which otherwise is a 10-minute journey.

Around 6.30 pm, the locally broadcast Punjabi Radio, abruptly halted its Shabad Kirtan programme to make an announcement about the emergency. The radio, which can be tuned in while driving, kept giving regular updates throughout the night and on Monday with listeners calling back to provide feedback.

Driving towards Roseville on Highway 99, we encountered countless vehicles, some with mobile homes in tow, moving towards Sacramento. All highways appeared choked. As darkness descended, vehicles on the highway from Marysville were akin to beads in a huge necklace. Dinner on Sunday night was merely a formality, as none had the appetite.

As the night wore on, reports from Oroville provided some comfort. Helicopter crews with night vision devices, were preparing to drop boulders and huge 1-tonne containers of rocks to reinforce the spillway. Every department is in a high state of emergency. In Sutter, and emergency operations room was in place. Temporary shelters have been opened at numerous places. Voluntary organisations have come forward with offers to take care of pets.

Gurdwaras located in Sacramento, Stockton, El Sobrante, Manteca, Delhi, and Bakersfield have opened their doors to accommodate people in distress. There have been reports of looting of stores in Oroville but the Sherif's Department appears to be in complete control now. Most stores like Walmart, Sam's Club, Lowe's and McDonald remained closed on Monday. The mail services too were affected.

The Yuba City Unified School District has ordered the closure of all schools till further notice. The local Appeal Democrat newspaper also suspended its publication today. Sunsweet Growers Inc, which employs a large number of Punjabis, has also suspended its operations till Tuesday.

By Monday evening, the authorities in Oroville have been able to bring the water level down by about seven feet. Although the target of reducing the level by 50 feet over the next couple of days appears difficult, yet every brain and muscle is working in that direction. The impending thunderstorm on Thursday may be a challenge but not an impediment to the American spirit of overcoming adversity with fortitude.
Kuala Lumpur/Seoul, Feb 14

The estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has been murdered in Malaysia, a South Korean government source said.

Kim Jong-Nam, the elder half brother of the North Korean leader, was known to spend a significant amount of his time outside the country and had spoken out publicly against his familys dynastic control of the isolated state. He was confirmed dead by the Malaysian police.

Police official Fadzil Ahmat said the cause of Kims death had not been determined yet, but that a postmortem would be carried out on the body.

So far there are no suspects, but we have started investigations and are looking at a few possibilities to get leads, Fadzil told Reuters.

According to Fadzil, Kim had been planning to travel to Macau on Monday when he fell ill at the low-cost terminal of Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Kim was taken to an airport clinic where he still felt unwell, and it was decided to take him to hospital. He died in the ambulance on the way to Putrajaya Hospital, Fadzil added.

South Koreas TV Chosun, a cable television network, reported that Kim had been poisoned with a needle by two women believed to be North Korean operatives who fled in a taxi and were at large, citing multiple South Korean government sources.  Reuters
Makassar, February 14

Indonesian authorities raided convenience stores and seized condoms in a major city to stop teenagers having casual sex on Valentines Day, an official said on Tuesday, the latest crackdown on the holiday in the Muslim-majority nation.

The mayor of Makassar, a conservative city on central Sulawesi island, led public order officers in the raids late Monday on the eve of the celebration.

Mayor Mohammad Ramdhan Pomanto said he was not against the sale of condoms but that outlets needed to be careful about whom they were sold to.

Valentines Day is often misused by teenagers to have casual sex, this can destroy the morality of the nation, he was quoted as saying in local media.

Iman Hudhead of the local public officers, similar to police but with fewer powerstold AFP that convenience stores had been failing to check teenagers IDs to see whether they were at least 18 years old, the age of consent, before selling them condoms.

We are doing this to prevent promiscuity, he said, adding that hundreds of condoms were seized in the raids in the city of 1.3 million.

It was the latest expression of anger at Valentines Day in the worlds most populous Muslim-majority country, where Islamic clerics and some pious Muslims use the occasion to criticise what they see as Western decadence.

On Monday teenage pupils, including girls in headscarves, staged a protest outside a school in the city of Surabaya, chanting: Say no to Valentine!

Celebrating the romantic holiday has also been banned by authorities in some parts of the country, as it is every year.

Despite some objections, many in Indonesia mark the occasion, particularly in major cities where cards and chocolates are widely available. Most in the country practise a moderate form of Islam.  AFP
Washington, February 14

US immigration agents detained 680 immigrants last week in the first round of raids during the Donald Trump presidency, the government announced on Monday, adding that the operations targeted individuals who represented "a threat to public safety".

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly announced the number of detainees in a press release and noted that "approximately 75 per cent were criminal aliens", EFE news reported.

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Those criminals were "convicted of crimes, including, but not limited to, homicide, aggravated sexual abuse, sexual assault of a minor, lewd and lascivious acts with a child, indecent liberties with a minor, drug trafficking, battery, assault, DUI and weapons charges," Kelly said.

"These operations targeted public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and gang members," he said.

Agents also seek to detain "individuals who have violated our nation's immigration laws, including those who illegally re-entered the country after being removed and immigration fugitives ordered removed by federal immigration judges," the head of the Department of Homeland Security said.

The more than 680 people detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) posed a "threat to public safety, border security or the integrity of our nation's immigration system," Kelly said.

He added that ICE, an agency that forms part of his department, has been carrying out raids like these regularly for many years.

He added that Trump has instructed his agencies to "to focus on removing illegal aliens who have violated our immigration laws, with a specific focus on those who pose a threat to public safety." "These professionals put their lives on the line to protect our communities and country," Kelly said about the ICE agents.

The Secretary did not specify how many of the detained immigrants have been deported nor whether they face trial in the United States for their crimes.

According to figures released on Monday by ICE, 235 of the detainees are in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Kansas and Missouri, and of those, 163 had previous criminal convictions.

Another 190 were detained in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, while 161 were arrested in Los Angeles and 28 more in the area of San Antonio, Texas, ICE said.

Immigrant defence groups have complained that the number of immigrants rounded up in the raids is being boosted by, including undocumented arrivals who have committed no serious infractions.

IANS
Panchayat elections in Odisha are being held in five phases till February 21. Of the 188 seats which went to polls in the first phase, BJP has claimed victory on 71 seats. It had won just 12 seats in the 2012 panchayat elections.

By Kumar Shakti Shekhar: BJP has made impressive gains in the ongoing panchayat elections in Odisha, stunning the ruling BJD and the main opposition Congress. The result has enthused the BJP leadership and cadres, who view it as a harbinger of the situation that would emerge in the next Assembly and Lok Sabha elections to be held in 2019.

Moreover, BJP leaders feel that far from damaging the party, as is being reported in a section of the media, demonetisation has only helped it. This may also be an indication in the ongoing Assembly elections in five states, including the most populous Uttar Pradesh.

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Panchayat elections in Odisha are being held in five phases till February 21. Of the 188 seats which went to polls in the first phase, BJP has claimed victory on 71 seats. It had won just 12 seats in the 2012 panchayat elections.

Also read | Woman told to remove black petticoat before entering Odisha CM's meeting, alleges BJP MLA

On the other hand, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's BJD has won 94 and Congress 9 seats.

Of the total 853 seats, BJP had won merely 36 in the previous elections. As against this, BJD had registered victory on 651 and Congress on 128 seats.

WHAT IS BJP's ODISHA UNIT HOPING

Talking to India Today, BJP national general secretary in charge of Odisha Arun Singh hoped that the party's final tally would be eight to nine times of the seats it had won in the 2012 panchayat polls. This comes to around 300 of the total 853 seats.

He alleged that the official machinery was being misused and the voters' list had been tampered with. "Otherwise, BJP's performance would have been even more impressive", he said.

A buoyant Arun Singh also claimed that going by the trend, BJP would form the government in the 2019 Assembly elections and drastically improve its tally also in the next Lok Sabha polls.

Singh attributed BJP's impressive performance to the following factors:

1. NAVEEN PATNAIK GOVERNMENT'S 'FAILURE' ON ADMINISTRATIVE FRONT

Arun Singh alleged that the BJD government in the state had failed on crucial fronts like water, electricity, health and housing. He said that even though Naveen Patnaik had been in power for the last 17 years, his government had failed to provide clean drinking water to the people. In the last couple of years, about 80 people have died of water-borne diseases, about 70 children have died in hospitals, 121 people have succumbed to Japanese fever and 150 farmers have committed suicide. He further alleged that electricity was not being provided for 24 hours anywhere in the state and a large number of villagers did not have pucca houses.

2. CORRUPTION

Singh alleged that massive corruption had taken place in ration cards and rations. "Massive corruption is taking place down to the block level", he said.

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3. BJP'S ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

The senior BJP leader claimed that BJP had made major strides in the expansion of its organisational structure in the state. In the last couple of years, the party has created a structure from the earlier 451 to 999 blocks. The BJP's presence has increased from one block per 100 booths to one block per 32 booths now.

Besides, Singh said, BJP had been resorting to agitations on a regular basis to raise local issues. "An agitation is held every month at the block level, once every three months at the district level and once every six months at the state level. Our approach to hold agitation is from down to top", he said.

"With such a strategy", Singh said, "we are 100 per cent sure of winning the next Assembly elections. The current result is an indicator of the same."

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Both Palanisamy and Panneerselvam have staked claim to form the government in Tamil Nadu. Now the governor will have to take all these options into account before he takes a decision.

By India Today Web Desk: It has been a day of breakneck developments in Tamil Nadu politics. First VK Sasikala Natarajan was convicted and sentenced to 4 years in jail. Then, MLAs supporting her elected Edappadi K Palanisamy as the new AIADMK legislature party leader, while O Panneerselvam appealed to all the MLAs to bury the hatchet and unite behind him. Now both of them claim to have the majority of MLAs with them. Once again, Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao has a tough decision to make.

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At the time of filing of this report, O Panneerselvam has 12 MLAs with him physically. When it comes to numbers, the Panneerselvam camp does not come anywhere close to Palanisamy camp. One would assume easily that the rest of the MLAs are in Palanisamy camp, but the big question is how many have actually signed on the letter which has been given to the governor to stake claim to the government. Sources say that the number of MLAs who have actually signed is 117.

Also read | Sasikala conviction: Setting up 10 firms in a day shows conspiracy to launder, says Supreme Court

India Today's team in Chennai also reported that some of the MLAs, who are believed to be pro-Panneerselvam, wanted to leave the Golden Bay Resorts and were held by the police there. Should that happen then the number game changes dynamically. The other big doubt that the governor needs to consider is whether the MLAs who signed the resolution letter were under any compulsion or pressure. Did someone influence them in a way that had to back Palanisamy for sure?

For the moment, it's not exactly a done deal in the battle to Tamil Nadu's throne. Both Palanisamy and Panneerselvam have staked claim to form the government. Now the governor will have to take all these options into account if and when he extends the invite.

Here are four options for him:

1 Order immediate composite floor test in which Palanisamy and OPS are asked to prove majority.

2 Invite either OPS or Palanisamy to take oath as Tamil Nadu's chief minister and give them a week to prove majority.

3 Ask DMK if they wish to explore government formation possibility.

4 Impose President's Rule and keep Tamil Nadu Assembly in suspended animation.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told India Today that now the discretion was completely with the governor on whom to invite to form the government or order floor test.

"If the Governor is satisfied that one particular group has a much larger number behind their leader, then the Governor can swear in that person and then ask him to prove his majority on the floor of the House. In case the Governor is unsure who has a larger majority then he can have a floor test in special session", said Rohatgi.

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Over the last few weeks I have had a huge increase in emails, phone calls and texts, being fully social media savvy at my senior age, minus Facebook, asking what I think about the selection of GEN (Ret.) Mattis as the Secretary of Defense. First, do not pigeon hole him into the medias titles of Warrior Monk or Mad Dog Mattis. He is a very experienced, and nuanced, leader and student of history. Having him retired as a civilian was a waste of 35 years plus in the development of a warrior and a diplomat. The worry that President Trump may lead us, as a Nation, into World War III or a nuclear exchange is an exercise for politicians, party hacks and conspiracy theorists from both sides of the political spectrum to waste their time arguing. SECDEF Mattis, now that he is confirmed, will not fall prey to party politics or reactionary responses to international incidents or provocation. Unlike previous military and civilian leaders Mattis will leave no option, be it one of cooperation or support or, on the other end of the spectrum swift and lethal off of the table as a possible response. As most professional Soldiers and Marines adhere to the policy that there are three things professionals rarely discuss. First, sex, really, most professional military people only care if you can shoot, move and communicate and do your job and care less what happens behind a bedroom door. They just dont like politicians what they should or should not accept openly. Second, religion, it is a private choice and no one cares who you are praying to when bullets are flying overhead and you are digging as deep as you can in the dirt to avoid having your butt shotjust as long as they are including you in their prayers. Third, politicsas the military is apolitical and the trust of the Nation given to our Armed Forces depends on our commitment to following the legal, ethical and moral orders of whoever is elected President of the United States. I am sure much to the chagrin of Sarah Silverman, who is calling for a coup attempt by the military to overthrow President Trump and his Administration, I do wonder what Ms. Silverman would have thought if any, not a group of, but a single Soldier, Airman or Marine would have advocated the overthrow of President Obama by coup. I am sure she would have labeled every person in the Armed Forces as militant, anarchist, and possibly even deplorable.
OKLAHOMA CITY  Deposits to the states primary operating account, the General Revenue Fund, continued to lag expectations in January, officials said Tuesday.

Pulled down by weak sales- and use-tax collections, deposits to the fund totaled $505.1 million, or 3.4 percent less than the estimate. The total was only $2.5 million below the same month a year ago.

Finance Secretary Preston Doerflinger said long-term trends support Gov. Mary Fallins call for new recurring revenue sources, including an increase in the state cigarette tax and extending the state sales tax to services.

What these January numbers are showing us is that we are a ways from any significant recovery, said Doerflinger.

There will be little recovery to state coffers without an infusion of recurring revenue, he said.

Total general revenue through the first seven months of fiscal year 2017 are $83.9 million, or 2.8 percent, below expectations, and $211.5 million, or 6.8 percent, below prior year collections. State budgets include a 5 percent cushion, which means the shortfall has not triggered automatic spending cuts, but a revenue failure in the final five months of the fiscal year is still possible.

Personal income tax revenue, one of the two primary general revenue sources, was a healthy 14 percent above expectations in January, but that was largely offset by a 6 percent sales tax shortfall.

Net corporate income tax was zero as refunds, rebates and credits outstripped payments for the fourth straight month. Corporate income tax represents a relatively small share of state revenue and is notoriously unpredictable.

Gross production tax revenue from oil and national gas was below projections but above the prior year. Motor vehicle taxes were higher than expected and higher than the previous year.
Twitter has blocked around 20 tweets by Amber Harrison to users in Australia, following yesterdays court injunction.

Lawyers for both parties met in court today and agreed to extend the injunction until next Tuesday.

The injunction forbids the former Seven employee from disclosing any confidential information belonging to Seven, including text messages, email communications, photographs and all other forms of electronic and physical documents.

Yesterday, Justice McDougall also barred her from either directly or indirectly, giving any interviews to any medium or media, or from making, authorising or procuring any public statement, publication, off the record comment, background information, publications, press releases, press conferences, or from participating in social media about matters including Seven, her departure from the company and her relationship with CEO Tim Worner.

Yesterday Harrison posted two personal text messages between her and Worner, one of which included his mobile number. While Twitter has blocked select posts, they are still visible outside Australia.

But SWM board member Jeff Kennett, who engaged with Harrison on Twitter yesterday, has now been accused of baiting her.

Shareholder activist Stephen Mayne said, The fact he was baiting her on Twitter five hours after the injunction was unprecedented.

Clearly individual Seven directors should not be publicly commenting on this matter at all, he told the AFR.

The drama comes ahead of Seven West Medias interim results tomorrow which Seven has noted is business as usual.

There is further speculation Harrison will attend next weeks court date and speak to media outside.

In other developments, Shane Wescott, of Patron Legal, vowed to fight the injunction.

Were facing a very well resourced, extremely litigious opponent who are certainly flexing their muscle, he told The Australian.

Were used to dealing with aggressive opponents.

Despite the affair making news in December it is still causing headaches and headlines for Seven in February.

In separate opinion articles in the AFR, Leanne Faraday-Brash an organisational psychologist and principal of Brash Consulting, writes, If we are to judge Ms Harrison for seeking compensation in the aftermath of a consensual relationship and its associated consequences (including the risk she is rendered virtually unemployable henceforth), then we should judge the CEO and the board, as the custodians of culture in equal measure.

Clementine Ford in the SMH writes, Seven Wests temporary injunction may silence Harrison for now, but I hope we havent heard the last from her. It isnt fair that women are made to walk while men are coddled and protected. And it isnt right that the majority of the publics enthusiasm for shaming is heaped on them, either. Harrison might be experiencing both of those things right now, but she isnt going down without a fight. Seven West would do well to heed that.

Yesterday Sevens statement on its injunction noted, It became clear late last week that Ms Harrison is now releasing or divulging commercial in confidence emails and other documents that she has no right to hold, access or release.

Parties return to court next Tuesday.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Financial Review, The Australian
Tuesday's high-profile verdict was delivered by a division bench of Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Amitava Roy, which set aside an earlier order by the Karnataka High Court that had stayed the conviction of Sasikala and three others by a trial court in the disproportionate assets case.

By Indrajit Kundu: Amid the political turmoil in Tamil Nadu, all eyes were on Supreme Court's verdict on Sasikala Natarajan on Tuesday. The apex court's ruling in the high-profile disproportionate assets case has had a direct bearing on the political future of Sasikala, current General Secretary of the ruling AIADMK party in the state.

Her dreams of becoming the chief minister for now remain a distant dream. Eager to take over Amma's legacy, Chinamma for now has no choice but to spend some time behind the bars. As the rank and file of AIADMK battle it out in the power vaccum of Tamil Nadu politics, here's a look at the two judges whose judgment sent Sasikala to jail.

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Tuesday's high-profile verdict was delivered by a division bench of Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Amitava Roy, which set aside an earlier order by the Karnataka High Court that had stayed the conviction of Sasikala and three others by a trial court in the disproportionate assets case.

ALL ABOUT JUSTICE PINAKI CHANDRA GHOSE

64-year old Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose comes from an illustrious legal background. His father late Justice Sambhu Chandra Ghose was the former Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court. After graduating from Kolkata's St. Xavier's College, Ghose got his law degree from Calcutta university and obtained Attorney-at-Law at the Calcutta High Court.

Also read | Who is EK Palanisamy, the man picked by Sasikala to be Tamil Nadu CM?

He began his career as an advocate with Bar Council of West Bengal in 1976 and was elevated as a permanent Judge at the High Court in 1997. He has also held the post of Executive Chairman of the Andaman and Nicobar State Legal Services Authority as well as the West Bengal State Legal Services Authority. Justice Ghose has also served as member of the National Legal Services Authority. In December 2012, he was appointed the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court before being elevated as judge with the Supreme Court of India next year. He is due to retire on May 27, 2017.

KNOW ABOUT JUSTICE AMITAVA ROY

Born in Kolkata, 63-year old Justice Amitava Roy too belongs to a family of lawyers. His father late Anadi Bhushan Roy was a senior advocate in Assam. His brother-in-law Justice Dipankar Dutta is a sitting judge of the Calcutta High Court. After completing his post graduation in Physics, Justice Roy earned his degree in law from Dibrugarh University in 1976. He began his legal career after enrolling with the Bar Council of Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh the same year. In 1981, he began practicing before the Gauhati High Court and has also appeared before the Central Administrative Tribunal in Gauhati.

Also read | VK Sasikala gets jail in DA case, loses Tamil Nadu CM bid: The story so far in 14 points

Between 1991 and 1996, Justice Roy served as a senior advocate of the Arunachal Pradesh government at the Gauhati High Court. He has also been a member of Assam Law Commission. In 2002, he became a judge at the Gauhati High Court and in 2013 he was elevated to the post of the Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court. He has also served as Chief Justice of Orissa High Court before being elevated as a Judge at the Supreme Court of India in 2015.

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Presnel Kimpembe, at 21, made his his UEFA Champions League debut in place of the injured Thiago Silva when Paris Saint-Germain faced Barcelona. But who is he|?

Kimpembe, who started his career at left-back, had made only a handful of first-team appearances before this season, spending much of the past two campaigns with Paris's second team in France's fourth tier. Yet a combination of injury to Thiago Silva and Marquinhos being on Olympic duty gave the youngster his chance in pre-season; he immediately impressed.

Kimpembe, who hails from just north of Paris, began the campaign at centre-back and even though the return of Thiago Silva and Marquinhos restricted first-team opportunities, his talent was noted. Several Premier League clubs are reportedly keeping tabs and in October he received his first senior international call-up by France.

The following month he signed a new deal running until 2021. "My ambitions for this season?" he said. "Win titles, play as much as possible and experience some great moments with my team-mates, the club and the fans." It doesn't get much greater than pitting your wits against Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

Paris and Belgium defender Thomas Meunier said of Kimpembe: "If I had to compare him with someone it would be Vincent Kompany. Presnel has that same elegance and aptitude. He's really a modern player: he always wants to build from the back."

Expert comment

Losing Thiago Silva is a massive blow for the French champions, especially as Kimpembe has never played a single minute in the UEFA Champions League. What a time to make your debut! Strong, quick and agile, the left-footer is fairly small for a centre-back at 1.83m but is competent in the air and has excellent poise and distribution. It's not in the air that Barcelona generally pose a threat, though.
Sidah Hawa stares towards the horizon. The scorching sun filters through the sparse shade of the tree under which she sits. Her six children huddle close as she breastfeeds Asanti, her 18-month-old baby.

"I have suffered a great deal; these past few days have been really bad," she says after a long silence. "I didn't have enough food. I had raw cassava. This is what I fed my children. When they were tired, we rested then I gave them some water."

Sidah, 30, recently arrived in Kuluba, a small dusty town in northern Uganda close to one of the many points along the border with South Sudan.

She is one of thousands of refugees streaming into Uganda since intense fighting broke out again in July last year following the collapse of a peace deal between the government and opposition forces.

South Sudanese refugees hit 1.5 million mark

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, announced today that more than 1.5 million people have now been forced to flee the country and seek safety since conflict erupted in December 2013. This makes South Sudan Africas largest refugee crisis and the worlds third largest after Syria and Afghanistan  with less attention and chronic levels of underfunding.

With an extremely volatile security situation forcing more refugees to flee, the latest influx is straining the capacity of transit and reception centres, which are too small for the growing number of arrivals.

"I walked for two days to the border, but I didn't use the main roads."

Since January 2017, more than 52,000 refugees have been received in Uganda, with the majority crossing at border entry points such as Busia, the one Sidah and her family used, to find refuge. Many refugees are using informal entry points citing the presence of armed groups on the routes to the main border points.

Thousands more have made huge detours on foot to escape South Sudan, heading south through the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or DRC, then east into Uganda for fear of attacks from armed forces present along the direct routes. Some report walking for more than a month before finally reaching safety.

The majority of the refugees are being hosted by Uganda, where a total of some 698,000 have now arrived. In less than six months, Uganda has more than tripled its population of South Sudanese refugees, hosting the largest share of the people who have fled their homes in the neighbouring country.

Ethiopia is also hosting some 342,000, while more than 305,000 otthers are in Sudan and some 89,000 in Kenya, 68,000 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and 4,900 in the Central African Republic.

Sidah Hawa and her children fled conflict in South Sudan and reached safety in Uganda after traveling for two days.  UNHCR/Michele Sibiloni

Sidah Hawa boarding a UNHCR truck to the Palorinya settlements where each family will be given a piece of land for shelter.  UNHCR/Michele Sibiloni

South Sudanese refugee Sidah Hawa being registered with her children at Kuluba transit centre.  UNHCR/Michele Sibiloni

After arriving at Kuluba transit centre, refugee children are given a medical check and vaccinated against disease.  UNHCR/Michele Sibiloni

Since January 2017, more than 52,000 refugees have been received in Uganda.  UNHCR/Michele Sibiloni

Appealing for more assistance, UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler added: More than 60 per cent of the refugees are children, many arriving with alarming levels of malnutrition Recent new arrivals report suffering inside South Sudan with intense fighting, kidnappings, rape, fears of armed groups and threats to life, as well as acute food shortage.

Sidah endured a three-day journey to the border from her home in Mogo in Yei County in southwestern South Sudan, which enjoyed relative stability until fighting spread to the area.

"I walked for two days to the border but I didn't use the main roads," she says. "We walked through the bush because if you meet soldiers they might kill you."

"I spent six days hiding in the bush with my six children."

Sarah Apayi is one of 6,000 refugees who used the DRC route to get into Uganda since the middle of 2016. Due to checkpoints and banditry along the main roads, more refugees are forced to use this longer route, walking several days to reach Uganda, usually with few belongings and limited access to food, water and other needs.

"My husband was kidnapped over a year ago after the war started," Sarah says. "I spent six days hiding in the bush with my six children trying to get to DRC. She spent another two days from Bokolo in DRC to Uganda. It was difficult because it is not safe in the bush. I was worried about wild animals but it was better to try that way than to be attacked by the rebels.

Like Sidah and Sarah, women and children continue to bear the brunt of the conflict, making up 86 per cent of refugees arriving in Uganda.

"This has been a massive, unrelenting emergency with close to 2,000 refugees arriving in Uganda daily," says Nasir Fernandes, a senior emergency operations coordinator with UNHCR. "Our number one priority is saving lives and ensuring the basic needs of new arrivals are met as quickly as possible."

Sidah Hawa queues with her children at Kuluba transit centre to get registered and have her children vaccinated.  UNHCR/Michele Sibiloni

To cope with the growing influx, new arrivals are first taken to a temporary reception centre in Kuluba, where refugees are registered by the government as soon as they arrive. They are provided with sleeping mats, blankets and sanitary materials, and children are immunised against measles and polio, while they await to be transferred to Palorinya settlement.

Palorinya settlement opened in December 2016 after Bidibidi settlement became full. Having been opened in August 2016, Bidibidi settlement has become one of the largest refugee-hosting areas in the world in the space of a few months. Preparations are underway to open a new settlement as Palorinya is already close to its hosting capacity.

Uganda is widely recognized as having progressive and forward-thinking refugee and asylum policies. Upon receiving refugee status, refugees are provided with small areas of land in villages integrated within the local host community; a pioneering approach that enhances social cohesion and allows both refugees and host communities to live together peacefully.

The process of receiving refugees at the border to place them in settlements takes an average of just three days. In addition, refugees are granted a range of rights and freedoms, allowing them to work, start businesses and freely move around the country.

"I am happy that I am finally safe."

In less than six months, Uganda has more than tripled its population of South Sudanese refugees, hosting more than half of the 1.1 million people who have fled their homes in the neighbouring country.

"The Ugandan Government deserves tremendous praise in their efforts in handling the emergency," Fernandes says. "But this crisis is not something Uganda can tackle alone. Its now absolutely vital that the international community pay attention to what is happening and supports Uganda in providing these refugees with an environment in which they can live in safety and dignity."

In 2016, the humanitarian appeal for the South Sudan response received less than 75 per cent of the funds needed to meet the demands. Without further contributions, the abilities of the humanitarian response to provide critical aid and key basic services could become severely compromised.

Sidah says she is grateful to have found peace in Uganda and a chance to start over.

"I am happy that I am finally safe," she says. "I wanted the suffering to end and I now feel that it is in the process of ending."

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The 31-year-old Polish woman has accused her Indian boyfriend, Gaurav Rana, of raping her on the pretext of marriage.

By Sneha Agrawal: A 31-year-old Polish woman has accused her Indian boyfriend of raping her on the pretext of marriage. The woman had met the accused, Gaurav Rana, in 2014 on a cruise where they both worked. While the woman worked as a waitress, Rana was employed as a gallery steward.

As colleagues, they became close and developed an affair. After their stint at the cruise, they kept in touch with each other through social media. A few days later, Rana reportedly proposed the woman for marriage

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In March 2015, the woman, along with her two friends, decided to visit India for two weeks. During the trip, she alleged to have spent a huge amount on accommodation and travel on Rana.

"He told me that he was expecting to get some money from a friend and would pay me once he received the same. Therefore, I continued to bear all his expenses," the woman said.

Also Read: Chennai horror: 7-year-old molested, suffocated, burnt, dumped on highway

Rana not only raped her, but also exploited her financially, she told police. Police have filed a rape case against Rana on February 11 this year.

The woman alleged that since Rana had promised her marriage, she continued to maintain a physical relationship.

"He told me that there was nothing wrong in establishing physical relationship with a person whom I would be marrying soon. And I trusted him," she said in the FIR.

"He continued to give me false hopes by taking me to family functions and made me meet his parents and relatives. Our relationship lasted till I was in India. Later, he blocked all means of communication with me," she further alleged.

In the meanwhile, she alleged, Rana took her to a cousin's wedding where he introduced her to a woman. But it turned out that the woman was his girlfriend, she said.

Rohit Yadav, counsel for the woman, said that Rana had taken advantage of her client's innocence and continued to exploit her. "During her stay in India, my client had been bearing all the expenditure of the accused. He would make her pay the house rent, and buy mobile phones and expensive clothes for him. He would neither return the money my client gave him to get the currency exchanged," Yadav said.

After she left India in April 2016, Rana severed all means of communication with her. She eventually got in touch with his girlfriend in India following which she decided to file a complaint with police.

ALSO READ | 5 rape cases reported recently by foreign nationals in India

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"Outlander" season 3 premiere has not been announced until now, however, spoilers and hints when it might be slated to return were teased. Adding on, cast member Caitriona Balfe talks about Claire's life in the 20th century with her daughter and Frank, but without Jamie. Here is what has been known so far.

Premiere Details and Spoilers: Caitriona Balfe Talks Claire's Life, Plus Other Details

According to previous reports, Claire (Balfe) is all set to start a new beginning. With Jamie (Sam Heughan) centuries away from her and to the fact that she thought the man is dead, Claire is ready to try living without him. Now that she is a mother, she hopes to give her daughter, Brianna, a new life and stable family with Frank (Tobias Menzies).

However, in Balfe's recent interview and with a sneak peek with what season 3 brings to Claire and Jamie this time, it seems like, all the things her character thought she could have in this "new beginning" will not happen at all.

In "Outlander" season 3, Claire focuses more on becoming a doctor. But it will not happen easily as that time, the school programs for the position is filled, mostly by white men and women, are mostly work as a nurse. She will then meet and befriends a black student named Will Johnson (Joe Abernathy).

"Claire decides to focus on her career and tries to slot Frank in. That leads to disappointment and resentment," Balfe tells TV Insider. "It's a broken marriage."

Speaking about marriage, though Claire and Frank face complications about their relationship, they will still try to hold on to their marriage. Claire will not leave her husband this time with the hopes of having a whole family for Briana which they both tries to fulfill.

"Claire and Frank are co-parenting. So it's not miserable 24/7," Balfe added.

Series To Film in South Africa, Here are the Details

Based on Cartermatt article, the cast and crew of "Outlander" season 3 will cross borders in South Africa after filming in Scotland. The series will begin shooting their remaining scenes for the third installment miles away from the show's mainland.

Reports say that the sets for "Outlander" season 3 are still under construction but the crew and producers have already been started flying to the country. As for the cast, no other words has been released.

What is known so far is the production team and cast will spend months of filming in South Africa and probably be in the country until May.

On the other hand, as of writing, the most accurate month for the series return is on Spring.
The escalating cloud war has pushed Microsoft to reduce its prices for Azure services by as much as 61 percent in some cases. Amazon Web Services (AWS) has done it in the past with Microsoft following lead giving customers huge discounts and better services like the recent Microsoft Azure IP Advantage.

Microsoft is at second place trailing behind by a mile for industry leader AWS as the top cloud service provider. However, the Redmond-based giant is intent on pushing Microsoft Azure in the lead through price cuts and better services.

Microsoft Azure Drops Price

Venkat Gattamneri, director of product marketing of Microsoft revealed that they are offering a comprehensive cloud platform for customers to innovate at the best possible prices. For this purpose, Microsoft Azure Virtual Machine Families and storage types have reduced their prices. The company hopes to break down the barrier and entice more customers to use their cloud services.

Microsoft has reduced its prices for the compute optimized instances-F series by as much as 24 percent. Meanwhile, the general purpose instances-A1 Basic has a price reduction by a whopping 61 percent. The company is also planning to drop the prices of the general purpose instances-D series soon, CIO Today reported. Previously, Microsoft already reduced the Azure Blob storage devices of customers with Azure Blob accounts by 38 percent.

Microsoft Azure IP Advantage

Not only is the Redmond giant cutting down its prices for its cloud services, but continues to add services to help their customers. As more developers, entrepreneurs, and business embrace the cloud, a new risk has also emerged. For this reason, Microsoft has launched the Microsoft Azure IP Advantage program, which is designed to help customers from such intellectual property risks.

For the last five years, cloud-based litigation rose to 22 percent based on a new study by a Boston consulting group. Patent trolls have been victorious, grabbing cloud-related patents by as much as 35 percent. The new Microsoft Azure program aims to provide customers protection from lawsuits and enable them to focus on their tasks like coding or responding to the ever-changing needs of consumers.

The Microsoft Azure IP Advantage allows customers to have access to 10,000 Microsoft patents. These patents comprise the bulk of the company's overall patent portfolio, which is the result of cutting-edge innovations by the best people across the globe according to Network Asia. Access to Microsoft patents enables customers to defend themselves against potential intellectual property lawsuits.
In commemoration of Black History Month, Marc Lamont Hill is hoping that the next generation of HBCU students will become the next wave of freedom fighters. On Feb. 2 at Xavier University, Marc Lamont Hill celebrates Black History Month by attending the school's public lecture series event. In his words, people of color should continue to aspire to be the highest offices even after having former President Barack Obama. Everyone, according to Hill, should not stop pushing for change that will uplift the community.

Marc Lamont Hill is a famous TV personality on "VH1 Live!," a BET News correspondent, a CNN political commentator and a professor of African American Studies at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. His profile boasts of great knowledge and experience behind Black History Month. When Xavier University invited him to become a guest speaker, he told the ballroom full of students and staff that the struggle in America is about getting the country to listen to itself, as reported by Louisiana Weekly.

Halfway through the month of February, Black History Month sees popular and notable personalities in different industries who are engaged and passionate about activist works and freedom rights. His presence at Xavier University has even attracted the staff and students from another HBCU, Dillard University.

Marc Lamont Hill encourages this generation to use the resources available to fight the freedom fight. He points to social media and the need to connect the campus to communities. For him, social media can be a means to raise awareness on the issues affecting the African American community.

As Black History Month continues, social media activist Shaun King is going to speak at Xavier University, as well, on Feb. 16. Recently, the senior justice writer of the New York Daily News was at Anchorage and questions the audience about what to do next with the rate of the Trump administration, as reported by The Northern Light.

Watch the video below of Marc Lamont Hill in an exclusive interview with VladTV where he spoke about his new book, "Nobody: Casualties of America's War on the Vulnerable, from Ferguson to Flint and Beyond."
With the University of California San Diego, operating rooms may get an upgrade. With the help of Michael Yip, the electrical engineering professor and director of the Advanced Robotics and Controls Laboratory, the world is now going to see a much more techy and precise operating room.

As technology continues to grow and innovate, the medical field will benefit more when it comes to precision. With the use of robots in the operating room, they can become an important tool when it comes to surgeries.

With human surgeons guiding these tools, robots can make surgeries faster and much more precise, as reported by the University of California, San Diego. Michael Yip and his engineers continue to work on advanced robotics to meet that goal. What Yip and his team are working on are intelligent algorithms that powers robots to assist as well as other tools such as "smart" endoscopes that can maneuver on its own.

For some, this kind of technology can be critical and many fear that it may soon replace human surgeons. Yip explains that his goal is not to replace human surgeons. Instead, the University of California San Diego is there to create tools that can help make surgeries accurate. When it comes to surgery, everything should be precise. Decisions are still going to be made by human controllers.

Currently, such robots are being tested in the University of California San Diego. Some are already being used in hospitals. Like the da Vinci Surgical System. This has four robotic arms and a surgeon can control two arms at a time, as reported by Phys.org. These arms can perform surgical tasks such as suction, irrigation and pulling tissue. With four arms, this reduces the number of physicians in the operating room.

These robots can move fast with human-like artificial muscles. The need for agility and speed is necessary. More research into this tech is being done by Jun Zhang and bioengineering undergraduate Taylor West. There are many more robots being tested in the University of California San Diego. Yip and the rest of the team hopes that this will be the operating room of the future.

Watch University of California San Diego's clip of a catheter robot below:
The actress looked every bit her usual, stylish self as she attended designer Prabal Gurung's show.

By India Today Web Desk: She is a powerhouse of talent, a fierce feminist and a bona fide beauty queen. She also happens to be India's most celebrated export to the West. She is Priyanka Chopra and she was recently at the New York Fashion Week.

In attendance for what is turning out to be NYFW's most political edition yet, Priyanka graced the first row at American-Nepalese designer, Prabal Gurung's show.

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Also Read: Prabal Gurung's feminist NYFW collection misspelled an important word

Inspired by the political unrest in America and the overall idea of women empowerment, Gurung's show featured models flaunting bold and relevant quotes like, 'The Future is Female' and 'Feminine with a Bite'--much to the delight of PeeCee who has often been seen wearing outfits by the designer.

Picture courtesy: Twitter/@PriyankaNetwork

Also Read: F*ck your wall underwear to anti-Trump rap music: The political fire at New York Fashion Week

And when the Quantico actress is not voicing her thoughts about body shaming or juggling between Mumbai and New York, she's spotted attending A-list events like NYFW.

Picture courtesy: Twitter/@PriyankaNetwork Picture courtesy: Twitter/@PriyankaNetwork

Dressed in an asymmetrical, grey skirt paired with a black fringed top, Priyanka looked stunning as she interacted with actress Diane Kruger, Sex and the City star, Sarah Jessica Parker and the Vice Chair for Hillary Clinton's 2016 Presidential Campaign, Huma Abedin.

Picture courtesy: Twitter/@PriyankaNetwork

This isn't PeeCee's first time at the coveted fashion event, she also attended designer Thakoon Panichgulit's show in its September edition last year.

Also Read: Priyanka Chopra is at the NYFW, and she's chill AF!

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Food ATMs are deemed to be the future of fast food. There are speculations that it may also soar to popularity in universities and campuses. According to Curiosity.com, ramen vending machines have been popular in Japan since the 1990s. However, the idea came to the United States in 2012 when Sprinkles Cupcakes launched the first 24/7 cupcake-dispensing machine in Beverly Hills, California.

The dispensers have a capacity of 600 cupcakes. They are always restocked with fresh cupcakes throughout the day. Last year, Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio also introduced a pizza ATM. It was invented by French company Paline.

The school's dining hall staff assembles the pizzas and puts them on the machine, which can carry up to 70 pizzas at a time. Customers just need to pick the toppings they want and press a button. The 12-inch pizza is then served in just three minutes.

Speaking to NBC News, Xavier University's Assistant Vice President Jude Kiah said that they were looking for a cost-effective solution to having late-night pizza on campus. There are sandwich bars and restaurants available but only the pizza ATM serves food 24/7.

University of Notre Dame Professor Timothy Carone, author of the book "Future Automation Changes to Lives and to Businesses," told Boston Globe that this technology will be part of the future. He also noted that the fast food industry will be the forefront of the automation trend.

This would definitely be popular in universities and colleges across the nation. However, it was reported that college students should break bad health habits, which include consuming too much junk food or eating a lot of microwave dinners. Check out these healthy recipes that are easy and quick to put together.

It is good to remember to eat fast food in moderation or, ideally, in lesser amounts. Hopefully, there will also be vending machines that serve healthy food in just a few minutes developed soon.
Northern College has confirmed its partnership with two other Canadian institutions. The schools will be collaborating on a new online education program. In its official website, Northern College will be working with Algoma University and Durham College to develop a new online Bachelor of Computer Science bridging program. The project's funding is confirmed to total $307,735, which is provided by eCampusOntario.

The program will be the first in Ontario. An online bridging program will be developed for students to move up from Computer Engineering Technician diploma programs at Ontario Colleges to Bachelor of Computer Science degree programs. Currently, there is still no online program that allows learners to move between the schools.

The Bachelor of Computer Science bridging program is intended to remove geographical barriers for students completing their degrees across the province. Particularly, it is for students from rural and remote communities in Northern Ontario, where access is a challenge.

Dr. Audrey J. Penner, Vice President for Academic and Student Success at Northern College said that the collaboration is expected to "ensure quality, accessible education." It will build on knowledge and expertise that students have gained from the colleges involved and is intended to support under-served students.

It will comprise of six three-credit courses which will be completed in two academic terms. Northern College and Algoma University will be providing subject matter expertise in computer programming and online learning while Durham College will be focusing on online design techniques and interactive multimedia.

Qualified graduates of Computer Engineering Technician diploma programs throughout the Ontario system will be eligible for admission to the program. The first batch of students will be starting in the fall of 2018.

According to Dr. Richard McCutcheon, Academic Dean at Algoma University, this collaborative effort is brought about by the successful partnership between the institution and Northern College. He added that Durham College's involvement "further enhances the possibilities provided by this initiative.

Dr. Elaine Popp, Durham College's Academic Vice President, also expressed her excitement for the partnership. The initiative is expected to support student mobility and make it easier for students to complete their degrees.
Republican supporter Betsy DeVos has just been confirmed as Education Secretary last week. This came after the proposal got a 51-50 vote in favor of the Michigan philanthropist, with Vice-President Mike Pence having to cast a tie-breaking vote.

It was previously reported that Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has expressed her concerns about Betsy DeVos especially with the fact that she has been such a supporter of charter schools and vouchers and might be unaware of how to handle the issues in public schools. For higher education, problems with for-profit colleges, tuition fees and Title IX are expected to arise during her period as Education Secretary.

Some universities have issued statements after her confirmation. A lot of people are hoping that, regardless of DeVos' lack of experience in public education, she may bring about a positive change in the department.

The Stanford Review, a publication run by students from the university, urged Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to "restore justice to Title IX." It was stated that, while the preponderance of the evidence imposed by the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) was seen as a "step forward," it has actually failed.

It was noted that investigations on sexual assaults on campus "usually fail to secure both relief for victims and civil liberties for the accused." The publication implored Betsy DeVos to raise the standard of proof for sexual assault cases.

The Harvard Crimson also expressed their sincerest hope that the current Education Secretary will succeed. However, they also admitted that they are concerned about the policies that Betsy DeVos may implement.

They are particularly worried about DeVos' stance on Title IX. Washington Post reported that she has stated her desire to shift from the Obama administration's commitment to fighting sexual assault on campus.

According to The Hill, West Virginia University president E. Gordon Gee also noted that DeVos did not offer specific recommendations on how to address sexual assault on campus. He believes that the most effective way to solve this issue is to treat students as adults and engage them to find solutions for recognizing and intervening in situations assault as well as to create an environment where assault is "wholly unacceptable."
Wisconsin governor Scott Walker has a proposal for the University of Wisconsin campuses that can greatly affect how the educational institution will conduct itself in the future. The proposal has something to do with how much funding each college and university receives.

Walker wants to give students some sort of an insurance for students under the UW Campus system through a performance-based funding. The governor said that students need to know what kind of education they're getting since it's their future which is on the line. He also added that students want to know if they can finish on time so that they will not be burdened by a huge student debt loan

The proposed funding system will have colleges submit their 'report card' which will be the basis on how much percentage of the funding they will receive from the government. The criteria for the supposed performance report include graduation rates, the average time of finishing the degree, the number of students who get a job, and the number of students who are in high-profile jobs in Wisconsin.

What Walker wants is accountability and transparency which is evident on how he wants the report to be presented. According to Journal Sentinel, colleges are required to post the report they created based on the given criteria so that students and parents can have informed decisions before choosing the college. Whoever gets the highest score gets the most of the $42.5 million budget for education.

Although the UW Campus system had already been doing what the governor wanted to happen, there are still some misgivings since funding has never been based on performance.

Nicholas Hillman, an assistant professor of policy analysis and education leadership at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, colleges should not be pitted against each other but rather, should be judged according to its performance. He also added that there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all policy because each college is different from one another.
Are you a single boy this Valentine's Day? Are you still waiting for THE ONE but you are 50 years old? Fear not, these tips from Bollywood's eternal virgin Salman Khan will give a boost to your romantic prospects.

By Devarsi Ghosh: Are you single? Are you lonely? Are you friendzoned? Do you think the girl of your dreams deserves to be your girlfriend but he won't look at you despite your swag and rich musical taste?

Fear not! Why fear when your bhai Salman is here?

Salman Khan - the idol of Indian single men (at least in North India; Dhanush is the idol for singles down South) and the aspirational figure of millions of heartbroken, misunderstood, bad boys with a golden heart - has, throughout his career, passed down arcane knowledge about how to get 'em ladies with your inborn swag.

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Remember, back when Salman hadn't even grown a moustache, he had said in Hum Aapke Hain Koun...!, "Log kehte hai khoobsurat ladkiyan jab jhoot bolti hai ... toh aur bhi khoobsurat lagti hai?"

Did you know this, boy? When beautiful girls lie, they look even more beautiful. Try this ASAP and in no time, you will find not one but TWO girls in your arms dancing in a field with you...

If that doesn't work, don't stab the girl or burn her into ashes. Instead, carry a knife or a can of kerosene, sure, and with prem, tell her, like Salman said in Ek Tha Tiger, "Saath chalna hoga ... zinda ya murda." It might sound like you are indeed threatening her but it's all OK as long as you are not using your weapons or touching her without consent.

If not, you can just go shirtless and tell her, like bhai did in Andaz Apna Apna, "Mussal dekha mussal ... masal ke rakh doonga"

If all this doesn't work then just go home depressed and crying. And don't listen to advice like this:

Instead, follow Salman Khan's advice from Wanted: "Tu ladki ke peeche bhagega, ladki paise ke peeche bhagegi ... tu paise ke peeche bhagega, ladki tere peeche bhagegi." In other words, Marx ki m** ki...

And then you be like...

Now, if you are still single and even Salman Khan cannot help, well then...

(This article is a work of humour and is not meant to be taken seriously. The writer tweets as @devarsighosh.)

ALSO READ: Singles worship Disha Patani on V-Day, decorate 'Virgin Tree' with condoms to lose virginity

ALSO SEE: Sick of Valentine's Day? These films will keep a bae at bay

ALSO SEE: 10 down-and-out actors of Bollywood who need our love on Valentine's Day

WATCH: Guess which city is the most adulterous in India? Find out here

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February 14 2017

The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) has published its response to a scandal surrounding lapses in building standards following collapse of a masonry wall at Oxgangs Primary School last year with a written submission calling for UK public bodies to review the build quality of all buildings constructed after the year 2000.An inquiry led by independent expert professor John Cole in the wake of the Oxgangs incident raised concerns for a further 17 schools in Edinburgh but the RIAS believes this may be the tip of the iceberg, with calls to extend checks to all newly built public buildings.Describing its intervention as an urgent call to action, the RIAS argues that it would be naive to assume that other properties built from 2000 up to and including the present day, which may also have lacked a properly resourced and structured scrutiny of the building work.RIAS president Willie Watt, commented: When major inquiry reports are published there is a tendency for everyone to breathe a sigh of relief, mutter well thats that dealt with and move on. That should not be the case with this, extremely well researched and deeply concerning report. The message is simple and the responsibility of all commissioning authorities is clear.An early process of inspection by appropriately qualified experts should proceed as urgently as the various public commissioning authorities, local, health and governmental, can muster the skilled individuals who can do this work.The Royal Incorporations own submission to the Inquiry agreed strongly that without diligent and careful checking at every stage of the building process problems are almost inevitable. In this instance it was fortunate that nobody was injured, or killed.RIAS secretary, Neil Baxter, added: This report demands a response - and dont underestimate it - that response may save lives!The Scottish government has written to local authorities to flag recommendations contained within the Cole Report.
By PTI: Shankar loses

Los Angeles, Feb 13 (PTI) Indian tabla player Sandeep Das was part of Yo-Yo Mas Silk Road Ensemble "Sing Me Home" that won the Grammy in the World Music category that also included sitarist Anoushka Shankars "Land of Gold".

It was sixth time unlucky for Shankar as she is yet to register a win despite multiple nominations in the category over the years.

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Yo-Yo Mas "Sing Me Home" features tunes composed or arranged by different global artists as it examines the ever-changing idea of home.

The album was released to accompany a documentary on Mas project entitled "The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and The Silk Road Ensemble".

Apart from Ma and Das, musicians on the album include the New York-based Syrian clarinet player Kinan Azmeh, who was recently stranded overseas when US President Donald Trump imposed a ban on travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries.

Azmeh could return to country after a court rejected Trumps travel ban order.

Das, who was dressed in red kurta, said the ensemble sent a powerful message of unity and respect for each others cultures.

"When things like this happen, it impacts us directly because a lot of us come from a lot of those countries," Das told reporters after accepting the award.

"In the current situation, I think well keep playing more music and sharing more love."

"Sing Me Home" won in a category that included Shankars "Land of Gold", which is about the global refugee crisis.

The 35-year-old Indian musician was accompanied by her husband, British director Joe Wright at the music ceremony.

"Very excited that this man is my date to the #grammys today! Its the first time hes been free to join me. #husband #JoeWright #love," she had tweeeted ahead of the ceremony.

For the event, the musician chose a red, high-slit velvet Sabyasachi Mukherjee gown.

Shankar, the daughter of famous sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar, received her first ever Grammy nomination at the age of 20 but she is yet to bag an award despite multiple nominations.

However, her late father won two individual Grammys as well as two in collaborations. PTI BK JCH BK

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UTSA professor shares tips on how to foster healthy relationships

Heidi A. Rueda studies dating habits, challenges in teens and young adults

(Feb. 14, 2017) -- Each Valentines Day, thousands of couples get together to celebrate their love. But how can you tell if the relationship youre in is good for you?

UTSA professor Heidi A. Rueda, Ph.D. is an expert in adolescent dating and relationships, particularly among Mexican American couples, teens with disabilities and teens who are parenting.

Rueda has been working to curb potential intimate partner violence since her time as a social worker advocating for women seeking help from domestic violence. Since 2011, Rueda and her colleague, Lela Rankin Williams of Arizona State University, have published 12 studies on the causes and unique cultural contexts of dating violence among Hispanic teens, including a 2014 study exploring the relationships of teens age 15-17. Her research interests lay in helping young people understand how to foster healthy, loving relationships and avoid toxic entanglements.

According to Rueda, while cultural values can often determine what someone might consider a good relationship, there are a few tenets that all healthy relationships hold.

The number one thing is that a person should be able to feel safe in a relationship, Rueda said. People must be able to balance their need for autonomy with intimacy. Its important for the two people in the relationship to be on the same page or working to be on the same page regarding what's important to them, their goals and plans for the future.

To fully enjoy being with one another, Rueda says that respectful and open communication is key. It is important to take time to build a friendship, and to practice communicating in an honest, respectful and calm way that reflects your needs and desires in the relationship.

Love isnt just about feeling attracted to someone, Rueda said. Its also about developing friendship and deciding whether you want to offer a commitment to that person. How do you do that? Respectful communication goes a long way.

In the past, creating open channels of communication could be a challenge for young people because it meant discussing sensitive issues face-to-face. Social media, however, has provided new ways to help them connect.

Teens and young adults experience much of their communication online or through social media platforms, Rueda said. This can help create open dialogue more easily, but, of course, it can also lead to new types of conflict. Teens are negotiating new types of boundaries and relationship rule-setting within online spaces.

An unhealthy relationship can make a person feel unsafe and uneasy about their life and partner, Rueda says. Excessive jealousy, cheating and physical and emotional violence are reoccurring themes in such relationships.

Not every unhealthy relationship escalates to physical or emotional violence, Rueda said. However both unhealthy and violent relationships often demonstrate issues with communication of conflict, such as putting the other person down or blaming them for issues. Couples can learn to communicate in new and healthier ways that demonstrate respect for one another. Relationships become abusive when a person is threatening to hurt you or people you care about, becomes violent toward you, forces you to do things sexually that you dont want to do or tries to control what you do.

What should a young person do if they suspect theyre in an unhealthy or toxic relationship? Rueda says that theres no one size fits all answer to this, but that the first step is seeking support.

If you suspect that youre in an unhealthy or toxic relationship, or if you are in a relationship in which violence is present, know that you are not alone, Rueda said. Seeking help from a professional who understands the importance of prioritizing safety can make all the difference. You and your partner should also make the decision that you will not enact violence in your relationship, whether emotional, sexual, or physical; nor will you accept it.

Valentines Day is just one day in which to examine your relationship and whether you feel safe and respected, Rueda says.

On Valentines Day and every other day, its important to remember that rather than simply falling in love, we all have a choice about who we spend our time with and who we offer commitment, Rueda said. Always remember that the most important relationship is the one you have with yourself. If youre in a relationship that isnt a safe one for your heart, body, mind or soul, there are people to help you to create a future that you deserve.

Currently, Rueda is working on a community-based research study with Seton Home, a residential foster care facility for girls 12 and up who are pregnant and parenting, and who have experienced trauma, often interpersonal. She is also working on an international study analyzing data from high school students in San Antonio, Phoenix and Michoacan, Mexico.

Rueda received her Ph.D. in social work and her Master of Social Work with a concentration in planning, administration and community practice from Arizona State University. She earned her bachelor's degrees in psychology and Spanish from the University of Nebraska, Omaha.

UTSA is ranked among the top 400 universities in the world and among the top 100 in the nation, according to Times Higher Education.

- Jesus Chavez

-------------------------------

Learn more about the UTSA Department of Social Work, based in the College of Public Policy.

If you or someone you know needs help or would like to speak with someone about your relationship, visit UTSA Counseling Services, or call The National Domestic Violence Hotline.

Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.
As celebrations break out at Panneerselvam's residence after the Supreme Court convicted VK Sasikala in disproportionate assets case, Twitter joined the party quickly.

By India Today Web Desk: Overturning the Karnataka High Court's 2015 judgment, the Supreme Court convicted AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala in the Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case today.

This not only takes Sasikala out of the race for chief minister against O Panneerselveam, but also puts her in jail for at least three years.

Read more:

Sasikala convicted in DA case, she must serve remaining jail term, rules Supreme Court

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LIVE: Sasikala convicted, celebrations begin in Panneerselvam camp

As celebrations break out at Panneerselvam's residence, Twitter too is going to town with the news of Sasikala's conviction.

Apart from serious news-sharing, jokes and hilarious one-liners are seeing the light of the day as well. Check them out here:

Sasikala gets her just desserts.For OPS, the timing of this #DACase is better than a Kohli straight drive. Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) February 14, 2017

Dear Sasikala, Happy Valentine's Day???? Love, Supreme Court ???

Sasikala has finally won the chair in Central Jail :) #OPSvsSasikala #OPSWINS

Adith Nataraj (@Adithnatraj) February 14, 2017

Bharath Reddy (@bharath17fuel) February 14, 2017

10 years down the line there will be a movie on Sasikala and Akshay Kumar will play Paneersevlam.

Congressi Crowd running smug on Sasikala Conviction be like..??????????????? pic.twitter.com/1jITbDne1k

And the Breakup of the year goes to #AIADMK and #sasikala ....#OPS #DACase #SasikalaVsOPS

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VK Sasikala received a major jolt as the Supreme Court upheld upheld the trial court's judgment of September 27, 2014 convicting her along with former chief minister late J Jayalalithaa in the 21-year-old disproportionate case.

By Kumar Shakti Shekhar: With AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala being convicted by the Supreme Court in the Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate case, her rival O Panneerselvam is now the frontrunner for Tamil Nadu's chief minister's post.

VK Sasikala received a major jolt as the Supreme Court upheld upheld the trial court's judgment of September 27, 2014 convicting her along with former chief minister late J Jayalalithaa in the 21-year-old disproportionate case.

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As Sasikala stands disqualified to take over as Tamil Nadu chief minister, decks are clear for Panneerselvam to be invited by Governor C Vidyasagar Rao to be invited to form government in the state. Rao may, however, ask Panneerselvam to prove his majority on the floor of the Assembly.

Also read: Sasikala convicted in DA case, she must serve remaining jail term, rules Supreme Court

Alternately, the Sasikala may still stake claim to form government asserting support of majority of the MLAs. Sasikala may prop up one of her loyalist MLAs to replace her and stake claim to form government.

In this scenario, it depends upon Governor Vidyasagar Rao to use his discretion. He has three options:

1. He may ask Panneerselvam to form government and prove majority on the floor of the House.

2. As suggested by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, Rao may "call a special session within a week's time and have a composite floor test as was ordered by the Supreme Court in the Jagdambika Pal case".

3. Though most unlikely, the Governor may invite the MLA leading the Sasikala camp to form government.

As the Supreme Court has given its verdict against Sasikala, the focus now shifts to Raj Bhavan in Chennai.

Also read: Sasikala's DA conviction and tussle with Panneerselvam: A brief timeline

Also watch: Disproportionate Assets case: Supreme Court convicts VK Sasikala

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The Supreme Court upheld trial court's verdict in the DA case against VK Sasikala and two of her family members ending her bid for Tamil Nadu CM's chair.

By India Today Web Desk: The week-long Tamil Nadu political 'jallikattu' between two of late CM J Jayalalithaa's trusted aides - VK Sasikala and O Panneerselvam - witnessed a spectacular conclusion today with the Supreme Court convicting Chinamma in a 21-year-old disproportionate assets case.

Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Amitava Roy took just eight minutes to pronounce the voluminous judgment.

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READ THE FULL SUPREME COURT VERDICT HERE

"You can understand (that it is) too much of a fatty judgment. We have taken the burden on us," Justice Ghose said.

Soon after Justice Ghose finished reading the relevant parts of the verdict, Justice Roy announced he would be making a supplementary judgment.

"We have expressed deep concern about escalating menace of corruption in the society," Justice Roy said.

It is this seven-page document, in which Justice Roy explains why he decided to add on the supplement to the main judgment, which is worth reading for its extraordinary language.

Here are some excerpts from it:

"The common day experiences indeed do introduce one with unfailing regularity, the variegated cancerous concoctions of corruption with fearless impunity gnawing into the frame and fabric of the nation's essential." "A growing impression in contemporary existence seems to acknowledge, the all pervading pestilent presence of corruption almost in every walk of life, as if to rest reconciled to the octopoid stranglehold of this malaise with helpless awe." "Emboldened by the lucrative yields of such malignant materialism, the perpetrators of this malady have tightened their noose on the societal psyche. Individual and collective pursuits with curative interventions at all levels are thus indispensable to deliver the civil order from the asphyxiating snare of this escalating venality." "This pernicious menace stemming from moral debasement of the culpables, apart from destroying the sinews of the nation's structural and moral set-up, forges an unfair advantage of the dishonest over the principled, widening as well the divide between the haves and have nots." "Such is the militant dominance of this sprawling evil, that majority of the sensible, rational and discreet constituents of the society imbued with moral values and groomed with disciplinal ethos find themselves in minority, besides estranged and resigned by practical compulsions and are left dejected and disillusioned."

WATCH: SC verdict on DA case: Sasikala convicted, massive boost for Panneerselvam's CM bid

ALSO READ

Who is EK Palanisamy, the man picked by Sasikala to be Tamil Nadu CM?

Dharma will win, says Sasikala after Supreme Court's verdict in DA Case

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Its big cities, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, are at the forefront of the transformation, as more people flock there and new high rise buildings change the skylines.

Foreign investors are taking note: They ploughed an estimated $15.8 billion into the country in 2016  setting a new record. And Vietnams policy changes are encouraging them to do so. The country relaxed its foreign ownership rules for real estate in 2015. Vietnam witnessed strong growth in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2016.

This can be attributed to a strong economy backed by political stability and relatively low labour costs when compared to the region. Manufacturing dominates FDI, accounting for 64 per cent, but 7 per cent of total FDI is attributed to real estate. The sector attracted $1.53 billion in newly registered capital in 2016 with 59 newly registered projects.

Changing ambitions, shifting gears

Vietnams upward trajectory looks set to continue, despite the slowdown affecting other Asian countries.

It posted GDP growth of 6.2 per cent last year  a figure which is forecast to rise to 6.7 per cent this year amid growing affluence and higher consumption levels of the countrys middle-class, who are developing a taste for foreign brands such as Starbucks and Louis Vuitton.

Vietnams middle-class is expected to double to 33 million people by 2020. Ho Chi Minh City is home to Southeast Asias fastest-growing middle-class, according to Boston Consulting Group.

Vietnam is projected to continue to be an optimistic, prospective destination for investment, attracting higher growth in FDI inflows.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investments Foreign Investment Agency, in January 2017 Vietnam welcomed $1.42 billion FDI, an increase of 6.6 per cent year-on-year. The implemented capital was recorded at $850 million, rising 6.3 per cent compared with the same period in 2016, despite changes in trade agreements.

In terms of economic structure, most of the total foreign capital is poured into both the processing and manufacturing sector and real estate sector, bringing in $1.01 billion and $297.36 million at the beginning of 2017, respectively.

These sectors are expected to remain significant attractors of investment activity in the months to come.

Recently, a large number of multinational companies have entered Vietnam by virtue of the countrys favourable business costs, which are highly competitive when compared with other countries in the region.

Most FDI companies from Asian countries are tending to gravitate towards the potential economic hubs of Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, and Haiphong.

Investment into these hubs has been on the rise following the successes of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Furthermore, the emerging wave of dynamic entrepreneurs and innovation in technology are major drivers in attracting foreign investment expansion in the outsourcing industry, and in lifting the Vietnamese economy as well.

The country has also benefitted from the return of overseas Vietnamese, known as Viet Kieu, who are becoming major players in spurring Vietnams economy and growing its thriving startup scene in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Such strong economic and population growth factors have led to both cities making the top 10 of JLLs latest Cities Momentum Index, with Ho Chi Minh City in second place and Hanoi in eighth.

Economic factors indicate Vietnams growth trends are sustainable well into the future Photo: Le Toan

Securing longer-term development

However, both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City still have work to do to secure their longer-term positions. The transition towards technology-based high-value activities remains at an early stage. Congestion and pollution remain serious impediments to quality of life and increasing productivity. A lack of strong higher-education institutions and technology skills may slow the transition towards a knowledge-based economy.

Such challenges will require planning and investment to overcome, yet are far from insurmountable. Indeed, with the government taking concrete steps to liberalise the business environment and create the right conditions for future growth, the country could well be on its way to becoming another success story in Southeast Asia.

Looking forward a few years, the flow of investment into the country will constantly outperform past levels, thanks to energetic demographics with more than 70 per cent of the total population of working age and well-trained. The business environment is stable and has improved, and the strong demand of the growing middle- and upper-classes, which is forecast to reach the fastest growth rate in Southeast Asia over the 2016-2020 period, can only be beneficial.

Real estate boom

Demand is increasing for office, retail, and hotel stock around the country. In Ho Chi Minh City, the countrys tallest building, the Vincom Landmark 81, is under construction.

Meanwhile, the Thu Thiem New Urban Area, a 657ha site east of the Saigon River, is earmarked to be the new central financial district. And last year, Takashimaya opened its first department store in Vietnam, within Saigon Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, a mixed-use development by Keppel Land from Singapore.

In Hanoi, the office sector is also seeing high levels of development, according to JLL research, while a new urban living project, Starlake Tay Ho Tay, is being constructed by South Korean conglomerate Daewoo. Condotels and villas are also being built in secondary cities such as Danang to woo investors in the second-home market.

Vietnams burgeoning tourism industry, which welcomed 10 million visitors last year, is driving hotel developments. The Hoi An South Integrated Resort is currently being constructed, with its first phase to be completed in 2019. Meanwhile, Halong Bay got its first five-star property, Wyndham Legend Halong Bay, last June.

There has been a lot of attention towards major tourist locations such as Danang, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc in the last two years.

Industrial real estate is also enjoying a boost. Industrial parks in the north, south, and central regions are witnessing strong activity. For instance, Long An province in southern Vietnam is experiencing strong demand for ready-built factories and industrial land. Binh Duong and nearby provinces are witnessing developments of eco-industrial parks and modern townships, invested mainly by Japanese investors.

By Stephen Wyatt - Country head, Vietnam, JLL
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Try our home page: https://vir.com.vn/ - Vietnam Investment Review - VIR
Hospitals managed by Hanoi are looking to equitisation to raise capital and upgrade services and equipment

Chairman of the Hanoi Peoples Committee Nguyen Duc Chung said that Hanoi stands ready to sell stakes of the citys public hospitals under the governments policy to equitise state-owned enterprises.

The money collected from the equitisation will be used for raising the quality of treatment services and upgrading hospitals.

Chung added that all information regarding investment and equitisation will be made transparent and public.

Some Singaporean investors are expressing interest in buying stakes in some hospitals. They are also exploring investment opportunities in areas such as cardiovascular and gastrointestinal treatment, as well as radiation oncology and a number of modern technologies, Chung said at a recent Meet Canada seminar in Hanoi, which aimed to attract investment capital from Canadian investors to Hanoi.

At present, Hanoi has 15 public hospitals (see box)  none of which have been hitherto equitised.

When receiving any queries from local and foreign investors, myself, the municipal Party Committee chief, and leaders of relevant departments such as Planning and Investment or Industry and Trade will directly help solve any issues that arise. We even work with them outside working hours, Chung said.

In Vietnam, only one public hospital, the Central Transport Hospital in Hanois Dong Da district, has been equitised. Some 51.43 per cent of the hospitals stock was acquired by locally-owned T&T Group JSC. About 30 per cent of the hospitals stakes are held by the state and the remaining stakes belong to hospital employees.

Hanoi is also seeking investments in new hospitals and upgrades to its existing ones. In late 2016, in a process taking only 26 days, Hanois authorities approved and licensed a Japanese-backed project to build a hospital in the citys Tay Ho district. This hospital, to be specialised in treating cancers and digestive diseases, commenced construction in December 2016 and is scheduled to officially commence operation in the first quarter of 2018.

Hanoi has also established a public bidding centre for medical equipment. The centre, the first of its kind in Vietnam, began operating in October 2016.

Chung added that Hanoi is co-operating with France, Japan, and other nations to improve its healthcare sector. The city is working with Japan to establish an automatic medicine distribution centre, which is expected to become operational in June 2018. The centre will provide medicine to all city-based healthcare establishments and pharmacies.

We want to create a breakthrough in Hanois healthcare sector so that by 2020, the city will become the countrys healthcare hub, he said.
Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao is likely to order a composite floor test in the 234-member state Assembly after Supreme Court upheld trial court's verdict in the DA case against VK Sasikala.

By India Today Web Desk: With the Supreme Court upholding the trial court's verdict in the disproportionate assets case against VK Sasikala throwing her out of contention for Tamil Nadu CM's post, the focus has now shifted to Governor C Vidyasagar Rao.

ALSO READ: AIADMK expels O Panneerselvam after Sasikala is convicted in DA case

The week-long war between caretaker CM O Panneerselvam and AIADMK General Secretary witnessed a dramatic conclusion today after the Supreme Court turned down Karnataka High Court's judgment acquitting Sasikala and former chief minister late J Jayalalithaa in the Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case.

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Last week, both Sasikala and Panneerselvam had met Governor Rao staking claim over the CM's chair. The governor in his note concerning the ongoing political crisis in the state had stated that he was 'constitutionally bound not to call Sasikala' for swearing-in.

READ THE FULL SUPREME COURT VERDICT HERE

Amid the fast changing scenario surrounding Tamil Nadu politics and both Sasikala and Panneerselvam camps claiming support of maximum number of MLAs, Governor Rao is likely to order a composite floor test in the 234-member state Assembly.

Meanwhile, Panneerselvam has urged AIADMK legislators to continue working towards the "left over tasks of Amma (Jayalalithaa).

"Unfinished task left over by Amma must be fulfilled, therefore I urge AIADMK MLAs and ministers to resume their work," Panneerselvam said in a letter to AIADMK MLAs.

ALSO READ:

Sasikala convicted in DA case, she must serve remaining jail term, rules Supreme Court

Dharma will win, says Sasikala after Supreme Court's verdict in DA Case

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On February 16, the Hanoi People's Court will resume a trial over corruption and money laundering charges against Vinashin Ocean Shipping Co., Ltd. (Vinashinlines).

In this trial, defendant Giang Van Hien (67, Ho Chi Minh City) has been charged with helping his son and former director of sales at Vinashinlines Giang Kim Dat (born 1977) to embezzle more than VND259.5 billion ($11.4 million). More specifically, to evade the authorities, Dat told Hien to open 22 foreign currency bank accounts to keep the embezzled money.

Dat used this money to invest in domestic real estates and transfer it abroad. Investigators have verified the sources of these assets and either froze or seized 40 domestic real estate properties, including lands, apartments, villas as well as properties in Singapore and apartments in the UK.

Money laundering is not a new crime in Vietnam, but prosecution has been challenging because of difficulties in proving the offender or the crime. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of National Assembly meetings, Senior Lieutenant General Le Quy Vuong, Deputy Minister of Public Security, said the Giang Kim Dat case is a classic graft and money laundering case.

In the Penal Code of 1999, this crime was defined in Article 251 as "laundering money and/or property obtained through the commission of crime," but it was not until the modified Penal Code of 2009 that the term "money laundering" came into official use.

Item 1, Article 3 of Decree 74/2005/ND-CP dated June 7, 2005 on "prevention of money laundering explains the concept of money laundering as the behaviour of individuals or organisations seeking to legitimise money or property through activities such as:  Joining directly or indirectly in a transaction involving money or property obtained through criminal activities  Acquiring, capturing, transiting, converting, transfering, transporting, using and cross-border transporting money or property obtained through the commission of crime  Investing in a project, a work, contribute capital to a business or find other ways to cloak or disguise or impede verification of origin, the true nature or location, the process of moving or ownership for the money or property obtained through the commission of crime

The legal framework exists, but enforcement has been difficult. Experts said money laundering charges have been rare.

Explaining this, Dr Dao Le Thu, director of the comparative legal research centre of Hanoi Law University, said the main reason was the difficulty in following the money trail. This is because financial transactions in Vietnam do not follow international standards and cash still plays a key role in the economy.

Besides, regulations are still limited in several ways: there are no charges for self-laundering or for commercial entities, or the fact that the term "money obtained through crimes" in the penal code has not seen further clarification. Whereas other countries might categorise crimes by source or severity, Thu added.

Article 324 of the 2015 Penal Code has defined money laundering behaviours more clearly as "disguising the legal origin of the money or property obtained through one's own criminal activities or that one knows to be obtained via another person's criminal activities." Therefore, proving money laundering could be easier than it used to be. However, the 2015 Penal Codes entry into effect has been postponed.
A view of Da Nang Hi-tech Park in the central a Nang city.-Photo dhtp.gov.vn

The U&I Logistics Centre, funded by the U&I Logistics JSC in southern Binh Duong province, will cover more than 5ha in the Da Nang Hi-tech Park.

The first phase of the project will be implemented in the third quarter of 2017 and the second phase will start in Q1 of 2021.

Once completed, the project will provide logistics services such as delivery of import-export products, customs procedures and transport of goods by road and inland waterways for businesses in Da Nang Hi-tech Park.

The project is expected to meet the demand for logistics services of enterprises operating in Da Nang High-tech Park. It is expected to facilitate and improve transport and trading activities in the park and help Da Nang turn Lien Chieu Port into the citys logistics centre.
The show will be a night of psychedelic rock music with the participation of the COCC, Empty Spaces, Squideye and Spring.Fall.Sea.

The COCC from Ho Chi Minh City released their debut album 6 gio (6 hours) in 2011. The gorup performed in Hanoi twice before. They will return to the capital in this time to present their some new songs from the upcoming release.

The Spring.Fall.Sea was formed in 2015 in Bangkok. They released the first album titled Deep Down, All Of Them Felt As He Did and a music video. The band self-booked a long tour in Europe and Asian countries during the last few months.

The Empty Spaces were established in 2013 in Hanoi. Their debut CD Tien hoa (Evolution) was presented to the public in the end of 2016 . Being under strong Pink Floyd influence, their songs sound like a psychedelic space trip with enchanting guitar/keyboard tunes and stunning vocals.

Founded in Hanoi one year ago, the Squideye has won music lovers hearts with their appearance at the Quest Festival 2016 in Hanoi last November.
The US has withdrawn from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which may cause the highly anticipated trade deal to fall through. Do you think that this incident will dampen investor interest in Vietnam?

The US decision to pull out of TPP was actually old news. Vietnam already knew this beforehand. In my opinion, TPP was more like a bonus to Vietnam rather than a must-have, and the country still has many buffers against the collapse of TPP.

First, there are other bilateral free trade agreements that still live on and have equal importance to Vietnam, an export machine. Second, Vietnam has a robust domestic economy, which puts the country in much better shape politically and economically than other emerging markets. The blow on export from TPP wont fall that quickly for Vietnam. I believe that Vietnam can still attract foreign direct investment (FDI) since manufacturers will be looking even more actively for cheap producers if protectionism is unleashed.

Moreover, it seems like US President Donald Trump mainly attacks China while keeping other Asian countries as allies, like South Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. As a result, unless Trump undertakes a global trade war against the entire world, and Vietnam is caught in it together with other emerging markets, I dont think Vietnam will experience great trouble.

There are concerns that foreign capital is flowing out of Vietnam due to global volatilities, and Vietnams stocks are becoming too expensive for a frontier market. What is your take on this? Can the VN-Index reach 800 points this year?

Indeed, there were net outflows from Vietnams listed stocks in 2016, but this was largely concentrated in one or two specific special-situation companies, and there has also been money coming in for initial public offerings (IPOs) and private deals that have offset this modest outflow from listed stocks.

I think investors will be attracted by a string of IPOs from big companies in 2017 and 2018. Foreign investors have actually been net buyers so far this year, as they realise Vietnam is in a sweet spot now, compared to neighbouring countries like China, India, or the Philippines, which look good but have their issues. Capital from FDI is also here to stay and the economic mood is buoyant, so I dont regard the small net outflows from stocks in 2016 as any sort of portent.

I believe the VN-Index can reach at least 800 this year, which up 14 per cent from where it stands now. There are two main drivers.

First, the government continues to accelerate capital market development, such as combining the Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City stock exchanges, launching derivatives trading in the second or third quarter of this year, and developing a proper fund management industry.

The Vietnamese government has also signalled that it means business on equitisation of state-owned enterprises. A great example is the Unlisted Public Company Market (UPCoM), which grew tremendously in size last year to surpass its parent, the Hanoi Stock Exchange.

Second, earnings growth should be satisfactory. Excluding certain loss-making outliers, earnings-per-share (EPS) growth may reach somewhere between 15 and 16 per cent in 2017.

I dont think Vietnamese stocks are expensive at all, as the average price-per-earnings ratio in the Vietnamese market is 13x on 12 or 13 per cent of EPS growth, when you put those outliers back in. This is hardly too expensive. In fact, a lot of people say Vietnam is expensive because they look at the Vietnam component of the MSCI Frontier Market Index, which only includes the four or five biggest companies Vietnam has and provides a skewed picture of the market.

At Dragon Capital, we follow 80 per cent of stocks on the market, and based on our in-depth analysis, the aggregate top 50 stocks in Vietnam are nowhere near too expensive yet.

Dragon Capital recently invested in budget airline VietJet and retailer Mobile World Corporation (MWC), among other firms. What opportunities are seeking?

Regarding VietJet, we believe that the airline, as well as related aviation companies like Airports Corporation of Vietnam, will benefit from the rise of Vietnams middle-class, which wants to travel and can afford it now. VietJet is currently among the top 10 stocks of our main fund, the Vietnam Enterprise Investments Limited.

Meanwhile, MWC is in a league of its own, with a great eye for retailing discipline and really good management. I think MWC will bring in the new era of modern trade for Vietnam.
To make the real estate market become healthier and for the conditions to be in place for people to buy houses, the government should have flexible monetary policy without sudden change and aimed at macroeconomic stability, as well as attach special importance to the real estate market.

The recovery in the economic situation has not been reflected in the real estate market in Ho Chi Minh City and neighbouring areas in the first quarter of 2010, according to property developers attending the Impact of the Economic Crisis and the Real Estate Market seminar held in the City last month. According to the General Statistics Office (GSO), Vietnams GDP grew 5.83 per cent in the first quarter of the year, while foreign direct investment (FDI) increased 13.6 per cent year-on-year to $2.5 billion, interest rates on bank loans hovered around 15-17 per cent for individual borrowers and inflation stood at 4.12 per cent, an increase of 8.51 per cent quarter-on-quarter.

According to Mr Tran Minh Hoang, CEO of Vinaland Invest, house and land purchasing power in the market has been falling strongly in recent times as inflation increases and interest rates on loans are relatively high. Due to inflation, the price of construction materials has also increased and had an impact on investors. In March the price of materials increased more 1.38 per cent. In early April the steel price rose some 15 per cent compared with mid-March and cement increased between VND300,000 ($15.8) and VND400,000 ($21) per ton.

Higher prices for houses and land were therefore difficult to avoid. Real estate investors are also encountering difficulties in accessing capital because of high interest rates and project numbers are falling as a result. The Benjaya Company from Malaysia announced in mid-April it would buy 224 flats at Topaz Twins at Bien Hoa city in Dong Nai province for VND16 million - VND25 million per sq m but would not proceed with purchases in the Amber Court project, located next to Topaz Twins, which it announced at the end of 2009 at a price of VND15 million - 17 million per sq m.

Dr Tran Kim Chung from the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) believes that if bank interest rates could be reasonably adjusted then some parts of the real estate market, like low-end housing, old urban area housing, new urban area apartments, and resort villas would have good prospect in 2010. In mid-April, CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) released its report on Ho Chi Minh Citys real estate market in the first quarter of 2010, showing relatively stable office, retail, residential for sale and serviced apartments markets.

The remarkable feature is in the retail market, with no new supply to come in the first quarter of 2010. With demand for space continuing to increase, rental rates in both the central business district (CBD) and non-CBD locations are going higher. In the CBD, department store rents increased 3.3 per cent quarter-on-quarter and shopping centre rents by 0.7 per cent, standing at $108.8 and $98.10 per sq m per month, respectively, for prime ground floor locations.

According to CBRE, vacancy remains very tight in the retail sector with shopping centres reporting only 7.3 per cent, a fall from the 7.7 per cent seen in the final quarter of 2009. CBREs analysis claims that 98 per cent of vacant space is situated in non-CBD locations, expressing the continued preference of retailers for the CBD. The retail market in Ho Chi Minh City continues to strengthen as retailers are forced to compete for the few prime locations that are available, said Mr Marc Townsend, Managing Director of CBRE. The first quarter of 2010 has seen rental prices across the city increase, a trend that will continue in the CBD in the second quarter as the Vincom Centre retail space comes on line, charging the highest rates within the CBD.

In the office market, Grade A rental rates stood at $39.60 per sq m per month at the end of the first quarter, reflecting a 2 per cent quarter-on-quarter decline. This did, however, help the vacancy rate continue its downwards trend, ending the first quarter at 15.6 per cent. Grade B and C rents also fell in the quarter, by 3.2 per cent and 5.3 per cent respectively, standing at $21.30 and $17.70 per sq m per month. Despite the rental falls, vacancies at Grade B buildings increased slightly, from 10.7 per cent at the end of the fourth quarter of 2009 to 11.4 per cent at the end of the first quarter this year, though it should be noted that there was a significant amount of new Grade B supply in the opening months of the year. The Grade A market is looking divided, as existing buildings fill out and landlords look to increase prices, but with Vincom Center coming to the market offering discounted rates in its initial leasing phase and the Bitexco Financial Tower to follow later in the year it is likely that average Grade A rental rates will remain relatively flat, said Mr Adam Bury, CBREs Manager of Research and Consultancy Services.

The residential market remained settled in the first quarter of the year despite suggestions by some commentators that the market was still overpriced and had further to fall. Prices at the top of the market, in the luxury and high-end sectors, remained flat, whilst in the lower segments the mid-end market saw prices increase by 2.9 per cent quarter-on-quarter and the affordable sector saw a 2 per cent quarter-on-quarter price increase. Interestingly, the high-end, mid-end and affordable sectors were showing year-on-year price increase of 2.7 per cent, 8.5 per cent and 8.3 per cent, respectively. The modest year-on-year price increase seen in these segments are reflective of what appears to be, at the present time, a healthy market, said Mr Townsend.

To make the real estate market become healthier and for the conditions to be in place for people to buy houses, the government should have flexible monetary policy without sudden change and aimed at macroeconomic stability, as well as attach special importance to the real estate market, according Mr Chung from CIEM. The government should also adopt policies to check the progress of projects, demand in the market, and activities in real estate networks.
Pakistani men protest against Valentine's Day celebrations in Karachi. (AFP/RIZWAN TABASSUM)

Lonely hearts looking for romance in Australia, Malaysia and Singapore were warned to beware of the growth in online love scams, while grumpy protesters in Japan rallied in recent days for an end to public smooching.

Monday's decision by the Islamabad high court was the latest attempt by authorities in the conservative Muslim country to outlaw a celebration seen by many as a vulgar and indecent Western import.

The annual occasion is increasingly popular among young Pakistanis, many of whom seize the chance to honour romance by giving cards, chocolates and gifts to their sweethearts.

The court issued the order after a petitioner declared love was being used as a "cover" to spread "immorality, nudity and indecency ... which is against our rich traditions and values".

The ruling, seen by AFP and greeted with approval by Islamist parties, also called for the electronic and print media to stop promoting Valentine's Day.

Meanwhile in Muslim-majority Indonesia, a group of school students in the city of Surabaya denounced the romantic day as a Western celebration that encourages casual sex and staged a protest.

"Say no to Valentine!" chanted the students, who were aged between 13 and 15 and included many girls wearing headscarves.

"This protest was organised as we have seen on television that Valentine's Day tends to be associated with free sex," said Pandu Satria, organiser of the demonstration. "That makes us afraid."

Several cities across the country also banned people from celebrating.

In Malaysia, where Islam is also the dominant religion, a group called The National Muslim Youth Association urged females to avoid using emoticons and an excessive amount of fragrance in a pre-Valentine's Day message.

'SMOOCHING IS TERRORISM!'

Days earlier in Japan, a group of marxist protesters known as "Kakuhido", or the Revolutionary Alliance of Men that Women find Unattractive, also called for an end to public displays of love, claiming it hurts their feelings.

"Our aim is to crush this love capitalism," the group's public relations chief Takayuki Akimoto told AFP.

"People like us who don't seek value in love are being oppressed by society," he added. "It's a conspiracy by people who think unattractive guys are inferior, or losers - like cuddling in public, it makes us feel bad. It's unforgivable."

Authorities in Malaysia, Australia and Singapore also warned of a growth in online scams cheating lonely people out of their savings.

Romance scams cost Australians more money than any other form of cheating, with those aged over 45 more likely to be stung, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said.

Romance scammers are getting increasingly manipulative so if you are going online this Valentines Day to look for love, its absolutely vital that youre able to recognise the warning signs," ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard said in a statement.
illustration photo

Apples strategic move is considered a big success of the governments Make in India policy.

Specifically, Apple is going to start assembling iPhones in India by the end of April. The company is going to cooperate with Wistron from Taiwan, instead of Foxconn. At the moment, Wistron already has a plant in Bangalore, the capitol of technology in the Karnataka state of India.

Apple chose India in spite of new president Donald Trumps threat against companies that bring jobs outside of the US. Last year, 2.5 million iPhones were sold in India, the highest ever in this country. The Indian market is expected to buy 750 million smartphones in 2020, and is one of the fastest growing markets in the world. Apple seems reluctant to miss out on this highly potential market.

Apple has put forward a list of incentives that it would like to receive from the Indian government, including a 15-year tax exemption for the parts and equipment that it imports into the country. It is not yet known whether the Indian government agreed to this, however, Apples plan sin India are at least more concrete than those in Vietnam.

Last year, there were ample rumours about a possible $1-billion data centre being built in Vietnam to serve the Asian market. Apple visited many localities, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang, to search for an ideal location. However, there have been little to no information of this project since.

There was also a rumour that Compal, one of the partners of Apple, would produce iPhones in its $500-million facility in Vinh Phuc. However, a source of VIR said that there has yet to be any move from Compal attempting to restart the project, though the company has repeatedly announced that the plant is going to start operation in 2016.

The old factory, which produced laptops, is still closed. They have not done anything, said the source, a leader of the northern province of Vinh Phuc.

Given these above happenings, one wonders whether Apple still wants to do anything in Vietnam.

The Make in India initiative was started in September 2014, with the aim to attract FDI to turn India into a global manufacturing hub. Make in India includes a comprehensive and unprecedented overhaul of out-dated processes and policies.

Along with other initiatives, such as Skill India and Digital India, the country has climbed the ranks into the global top 10 in FDI attraction in the financial year 2013-2014, with $34 billion, up 22 per cent on-year. The number rose to $44.2 billion in 2014-2015, then to $55.4 billion in the 2015-2016 financial year, the highest ever for India.

Professor Nguyen Mai, chairman of the Vietnam Association of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, said that India has an advantage in labour-intensive fields because the price of labour is half of Vietnams. Meanwhile, IT labour is abundant compared to Vietnam. He said that if Vietnam wants to compete with India in terms of FDI, it will have to watch India closely.

In the first months of 2017, Vietnam issued investment certificates to multiple big projects, such as the $284.75-million Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park 3 in Binh Duong, the $220-million tire cord project of Kolon Industries Inc. in Binh Duong, and Heinekens $185 million expansion of its Vung Tau facility. There is no big electronics production projects in sight, however.
A division bench of Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Amitava Roy directed Sasikala and the others to "immediately" surrender before the trial court.

By India Today Web Desk: In a major setback for AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala, who was aspiring to be the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court today restored her conviction in the 21-year-old disproportionate assets case. She will spend the remainder 3.6 years in prison as she has already served six months of the 4-year sentence before she got bail.

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A division bench of of Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Amitava Roy directed Sasikala and the others to "immediately" surrender before the trial court and ordered them to serve the remaining portion of their jail term. Justice Roy, in a concurring judgment, expressed deep concern over the "escalating menace of corruption in society".

The Supreme Court set aside the Karnataka High Court order acquitting late J Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and two others and upheld their conviction by a trial court. The Karnataka government had challenged the May 11, 2015 High Court verdict acquitting Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and her relatives - VN Sudhakaran and Elavarasi - for allegedly amassing disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 66.65 crore during her first term as Chief Minister from 1991 to 1996.

ALSO READ: Sasikala convicted in DA case, she must serve remaining jail term, rules Supreme Court

Dharma will win, says Sasikala after Supreme Court's verdict in DA Case

The DA case and Sasikala story so far: The case - 21 years in trial - was shifted to Karnataka from Tamil Nadu after rival DMK in 2003 pleaded that a fair trial was not possible since Jayalalithaa was in power in the state. Jayalalithaa died in December last year, leaving her trusted minister O Panneerselvam in charge of the government. But her long-term aide and companion Sasikala prevailed upon the party and was chosen its general secretary. Then, Panneerselvam resigned and AIADMK legislators elected her their leader. Sasikala was about to be sworn in when O Panneerselvam made a surprise turn and claimed he was forced to resign. Sasikala moved fast and gathered all the MLAs and put them under virtual confinement at Golden Bay Resorts in Kuvathur on the outskirts of Chennai. Support surged for acting chief minister O Panneerselvam and one by one senior AIADMK leaders announced their support to him and accused Sasikala of usurping Jalalalithaa's legacy by force. Sasikala and her family are notoriously known as Mannargudi Mafia because of the shady deals and corrupt connections of the extended family. The family had a firm grip on the AIADMK and controlled the party's mouthpiece, Jaya TV. After the Panneerselvam U-turn, Governor C Vidyasagar Rao delayed Sasikala's swearing-in. The Attorney General of India later told him to convene the assembly soon and allow both claimants to prove majority. Apart from political pressure from Sasikala, almost all legal experts called out this delay as a violation of the constitutional norms that require the governor to administer oath to whoever is elected leader of the legislature party. The Raj Bhavan kept pointing towards the Disproportionate Assets case pending against Sasikala but it was clear Governor Rao was pushing the envelope. Panneerselvam appeared to have popular support, from general public and most of the AIADMK members of parliament, but Sasikala had as many as 120 MLAs. She was not letting them go. The MLAs were restive. Some of them let the media know they were not at Golden Bay out of their own volition. The state of Tamil Nadu was tense. Recently, the protest to demand Jallikattu had turned violent on its last day. This was testing the patienece of people once again, and too soon. The Supreme Court has cleared the clouds of uncertainty. Sasikala is no longer qualified to run for the chief minister's post. The MLAs, even those fiercely loyal to her, have to elect a new leader. O. Panneerselvam has the upper hand now unless Sasikala, before leaving for prison, hoists a Jayalalithaa family member upon them. Deepakumar, Jayalalithaa's niece, has already declared her support for O Panneerselvam. The Sasikala camp may prop up Deepakumar's brother. Can Sasikala turn the tide against O Panneerselvam? We will know by the end of the day.

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You are aware that Xvid is a video codec, implementing the MPEG-4 Part 2 (Advanced Simple Profile) specification.

MPEG-4 Part 10 (Advanced Video Codec), also known as h.264 is simply the successor of this (less data required for the same visual quality)

AAC (Advanced Audio Codec) is simply MPEG-2 Part 7

VOB is MPEG-2 video I believe



"mp4" as a file extension is used to specify the container format (MPEG-4 Part 14), but it can contain all sorts of audio, video and other data encoded in any codec you want (including xvid, mp4 avc, aac, mp3 etc...)



All of these are standardized by the same committee basically.



If you don't like the mp4 container because it finds it's origins in a format designed by Apple, I'm not sure why you like the container most commonly used for Xvid more, as it's AVI, which is developed by Microsoft.



If politics rather than just quality/compatibility are your main concern, I would recommend moving to the webm or mkv container, with VP-8 or VP-9 as video codec, and Vorbis as audio codec.

Results should quality-wise not be too far off what you can expect of h264/aac, but you are using open formats that may be free of patents.
Sasikala Pushpa was the first leader from AIADMK who had revolted against Sasikala and had even raised serious questions about the treatment being given to former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu late J Jayalalitha.

By Supriya Bhardwaj: The moment the news emerged that VK Sasikala had been convicted in a disproportionate case against her, AIADMK member Sasikala Pushpa, who had been suspended from the party, rejoiced that justice had been served.

Sasikala Pushpa was the first leader from AIADMK who had revolted against Sasikala and had even raised serious questions about the treatment being given to former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu late J Jayalalithaa.

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On Tuesday, Sasikala Pushpa, who was clad in a Green sari, told India Today after the Supreme Court verdict on VK Sasikala that, "Justice Prevails".

"Family politics is over in Tamil Nadu... Gondaism is over. Today gondaism has been removed from Tamil Nadu. Rowdyism is done away with today. It is a historical judgement," Pushpa said while requesting AIADMK MLAs to support O Panneerselvam.

Sasikala Pushpa, who was suspended from AIADMK while J Jayalalithaa was alive, had spearheaded a movement against VK Sasikala's family.

"This is family of criminals. A judicial probe needs to be there on the circumstances leading to Amma's death. She (Sasikala) is the reason for death of Amma. What happened to Amma when she was there for 75 days in Apollo hospital? Had raised this issue," Sasikala Pushpa stated.

Watch Video: Disproportionate Assets case: Supreme Court convicts VK Sasikala

Also Read:

Sasikala convicted in DA case, she must serve remaining jail term, rules Supreme Court Sasikala convicted: Panneerselvam frontrunner for Tamil Nadu CM's post

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The Omnipotent Owl  Why Are We Drawn to This Ancient Symbol of Wisdom?

Like a great sage, an owl sits stock-still, seeing everything, but saying nothing. When she takes action, it is swift and precise. These bold characteristics have earned the owl both respect and fear among humans; yet any great big eyes set into a fluffy body is sure to have broad
The ruling party will hold a meeting by the end of the month to pass an amendment to a law that would bar people with a criminal record from leading political parties, an official said.

Leng Peng Long, a National Assembly spokesman, said last week that the Cambodian Peoples Partys 68 MPs would proceed as soon as possible.

Sok Eysan, a CPP spokesman, said the party was studying the proposed changes and had requested an extraordinary parliamentary session so that the amendment could be tabled.

The law is not suitable to the new situation so it is necessary to request an amendment. Moreover, it has been over two decades and the delay will not yield us anything since the election is approaching soon; therefore, it needs to be accelerated as soon as possible, he said.

Sam Rainsy, the former leader of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, stepped down on Saturday ahead of the passage of the amendment, which could have led to the CNRPs dissolution if he had stayed in the position.

Rainsy has been convicted of defaming the former foreign minister, Hor Namhong, and faces similar charges from Hun Sen and Heng Samrin, the National Assembly president.

Numerous other CNRP leaders have been targeted by lawsuits in recent months, including the new acting CNRP president, Kem Sokha.

Eng Chhay Eang, a CNRP spokesman, said the amendment was unconstitutional.

As long as the people support us, the CNRP will not worry about the amendment of the law on political parties while the other institutes believe that it would affect the opposition party.

Yeung Sotheara, a legal observer with election monitoring group Comfrel, said the amendment would undermine fair competition and could lead to chaos in the future.
An opposition lawmaker has said that the Cambodia National Rescue Party has not yet found a suitable replacement for its former president Sam Rainsy.

Rainsy resigned from the party on Saturday as the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party prepared to introduce an amendment to the law governing political parties that could have led to the CNRPs dissolution if he had remained its leader.

Kem Sokha, formerly the deputy president, took over the post temporarily until the next party conference in 2018 when a new leader will be chosen.

The draft amendment would make it illegal for a person with a criminal conviction to lead a political party.

Rainsy has been sentenced in a defamation case and would face prison if he returned from self-imposed exile in France.

Yim Sovann, a CNRP lawmaker, said following a party meeting on Sunday that the party hasnt made any decision regarding who should be elected to replace the position.

We are not an autocratic party where such a decision can be made by one individual. There are mechanisms in our decision-making process, he added.

Rainsy has been accused of defamation by Prime Minister Hun Sen, Heng Samrin, president of the National Assembly, and was convicted of defamation in a case brought by the former minister of foreign affairs, Hor Namhong.

The CPP will meet this month to pass the amendment to the political parties law.
The resignation of Sam Rainsy from the presidency of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party was met with surprise by the international community, political observers and ordinary Cambodians.

His supporters on Monday expressed mixed opinions about his decision.

Prum Sothy, 64, a tuk tuk driver, supported Rainsys resignation, claiming he had made the right decision.

Its a very good example. A leader who dares to sacrifice himself for the sake of the nation is a good leader. His act would lose him nothing, yet could earn him more support.

Mao Phat, 69, a retired civil servant, told VOA Khmer that at first he was disappointed by the news, but then he realized that Rainsys decision was for the sake of the party.

Most people misunderstand his decision. But after his explanation, we instead congratulate him for his choice, expecting that the opposition party would be able to compete with the ruling party.

In late January, Hun Sen began a legal process that could see people convicted of crimes being barred from leading political parties - and see the parties dissolved if they break the rules.

Before his resignation, Rainsy and his party faced a series of political threats, including having the immunity of lawmakers stripped and several lawsuits launched against its leadership.

Chatting over coffee at a cafe in Phnom Penh, Hul Sovannaroth, 57, said Rainsys decision was made due to the political tensions.

He is a good leader. Im so sad to hear he left the party. However, if he didnt leave, his party could be dissolved at any time because he has had so many complaints against him.

However, others were disappointed with Rainsys resignation, leaving them questioning whether they would vote in the forthcoming elections.

Sam Nang, a housewife from Kompong Speu province, said Rainsy should have informed his supporters before he quit.

I no longer want to vote. It seems like my vote means nothing. Not only me, but also other Cambodians who support him may not want to vote anymore.
Emergency workers are trying to seal a crumbling spillway on a California dam to prevent flooding of local communities. Close to 200,000 residents were ordered to evacuate from the area below the Lake Oroville Dam, after it was determined that the spillway that diverts the water overflow from the dam, might give way. Zlatica Hoke reports.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in Washington Tuesday for his first visit with Donald Trump as president. Netanyahu's frosty relationship with Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, was well documented, and Trump's campaign statements supporting Israel gave Netanyahu reasons to expect a better relationship. But recent statements by Trump may give the prime minister some pause. VOA State Department Correspondent Nike Ching has more.
Russia is expected to host Wednesday a second round of international talks on Afghanistan in Moscow, with Afghanistan representatives invited for the first time. The United States has not been invited. Russia says it wants stability and cooperation in the fight against extremists in the region. But Afghanistan officials are not happy with Russias direct talks with the Taliban, which U.S. officials say are aimed at undermining their efforts. VOA's Daniel Schearf reports from Moscow.
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The first meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump revealed vastly different ideas on immigration and border security. Those differences became especially stark during a joint briefing after talks on Monday. VOA White House Correspondent Mary Alice Salinas reports.
More than 200 of Britains top celebrities, including movie stars Ralph Fiennes, Keira Knightley and Benedict Cumberbatch, and playwrights Tom Stoppard and David Hare, have called on the British government to reinstate a resettlement program for child refugees.

Only 200 unaccompanied children have been accepted under the nine-month plan. Another 150 will be admitted in the next few weeks before it is closed.

In an open letter Tuesday addressed to Britains Prime Minister Theresa May, the celebrities describe as truly shameful the decision to stop the program. The idea that as a country we will slam the door shut after just 350 children have reached safety is completely unacceptable, they wrote.

The country we know and love is better than this, they added.

The plan to admit lone child refugees wandering in Europe after fleeing the Mideast was never a government idea in the first place. The government set it up reluctantly after lawmakers and peers passed an amendment to new immigration legislation last April. The lawmakers expected the number of unaccompanied children admitted would be more like 3,000. It took five months after the passing of the amendment for the government to resettle any child refugees stranded in Europe.

Britains "red-top" tabloid newspapers reacted furiously when the first handful of child refugees, who had been at a camp in Calais, were admitted under the plan, arguing on the basis purely of photographs that they werent kids. They raised the specter the resettled refugees posed a security risk, which some observers say influenced the governments already jaundiced attitude toward the program.

The amendment creating the program was proposed by Alf Dubs, a Labour peer who as a six-year-old was one of 669 mostly Jewish children who fled Czechoslovakia in 1939 and were admitted into Britain thanks to the voluntary efforts of a young British stockbroker, Nicholas Winton.

In their letter, the celebrities noted the plan wouldnt match Wintons efforts in wartime Europe by the time it is closed. Nor, they argue, will it compare favorably to Britains Kindertransport humanitarian program, which ran between November 1938 to September 1939 and oversaw the admittance of 10,000 mostly Jewish children who fled Nazi Europe.

The wartime government agreed to speed up the immigration process by issuing travel documents to the Kindertransport children on the basis of group lists, rather than individual applications.

Announcing the winding down of the so-called "Dubs scheme", government Minster Amber Rudd argued last Thursday, it acts as a magnet and encourages people traffickers. She said most vulnerable children were stuck in camps in Jordan and Lebanon, from where the government still intends to bring 3,000 to Britain, the number lawmakers were led to believe would be admitted under the Dubs amendment.

But refugee campaigners doubt the sincerity of the government when it comes to increasing the tally of refugees from the Mideast and Horn of Africa. Especially as a separate, accelerated arrangement to bring in unaccompanied refugee children who have family members already living in Britain is to be scrapped also.

The governments argument the "Dubs scheme" incentivizes children to make perilous journeys across Europe that risk them falling into the hands of people traffickers, is dismissed by refugee campaigners. They say with or without resettlement plans in Europe and Britain refugees will keep coming.

Ending the program will put child refugees more at the mercy of traffickers, argues Aidan McQuade, director of Anti-Slavery International, a London-based rights group.

The absence of a comprehensive approach to the refugee crisis in the Mediterranean, particularly the absence of safe migration options for vulnerable people fleeing war has been the single greatest factor to increase the risk of human trafficking in Europe over the past two years, he said.

The comparisons campaigners and Alf Dubs have drawn with the Kindertransport and the Holocaust has drawn impassioned rebuttals from opponents. Neither the Syrian civil war, brutal and unspeakable as it is, nor any other current conflict can be compared to the Holocaust, argues commentator Melanie Phillips.

Writing in The Times newspaper, she said. Todays migrant crisis is part of a mass movement of people, not all of them refugees, which threatens to engulf western Europe ... It is nauseating that the Holocaust is being used as an emotional bludgeon, so that anyone who supports restrictions on todays migrants is not only attacked as a heartless monster, but also for somehow betraying the memory of the victims of Nazism.

In January 2016, Europol, a European Union agency, estimated 10,000 child refugees had disappeared after arriving unaccompanied in Europe. The agency said it feared many had become victims of exploitation. European authorities estimated that nearly 90,000 unaccompanied children from the Middle East and Africa sought asylum in Europe in 2015.
Top Chinese officials need to "build a fence" to ensure neither they nor those around them abuse power, and must practice greater self-discipline, state media cited President Xi Jinping as saying as he drives home his anti-corruption message.

Since assuming office four years ago, Xi has waged war on deep-seated graft, warning, like others before him, that the problem is so bad it could affect the party's grip on power.

Dozens of senior figures have been jailed for corruption and abusing their positions, including China's once powerful domestic security chief, Zhou Yongkang.

Speaking at a workshop on fighting graft, Xi said leading officials must practice strict self-discipline and "eliminate special privileges", state news agency Xinhua said late on Monday.

Senior officials should "build a fence against special privileges to prevent themselves and those around them from abusing power" and use their power impartially, cautiously and legally, the news agency cited Xi as saying.
The apex court set aside the Karnataka High Court judgment of May 11, 2015 which had acquitted Sasikala and former chief minister late J Jayalalithaa in the Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case.

By India Today Web Desk: AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala suffered a major jolt with the Supreme Court upholding the trial court's judgment convicting her in the 21-year-old disproportionate case against her. With this, Sasikala stands disqualified to take over as Tamil Nadu chief minister.

The apex court set aside the Karnataka High Court judgment of May 11, 2015 which had acquitted Sasikala and former chief minister late J Jayalalithaa in the Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case. Besides being disqualified to contest elections for 10 years. Sasikala will have to surrender after the top court's verdict serve the jail term awarded by the trial court.

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ALSO READ: Dharma will win, says Sasikala after Supreme Court's verdict in DA case

The two-judge bench comprising Justices P C Ghose and Amitava Roy directed Sasikala and the two relatives - VN Sudhakaran and Elavarasi - to surrender forthwith to the trial court in Bengaluru and serve the remaining part of four year jail term. The AIADMK General secretary had served close to 6 months in jail earlier.

"According to the materials and evidence place on record, we set aside the judgement and the order of the high court and affirm in toto the judgement and order the trial court convicting the accused persons," the Supreme Court bench said reading out from the 2000-page judgment.

"Nevertheless, we reiterate that having regard to the facts, the charge framed against them by the trial court is restored," the bench said. The bench said since Jayalalithaa is no more, the proceeding against her is abated.

DHARMA WILL WIN: SASIKALA

Reacting over the Supreme Court's verdict, the AIADMK General Secretary said she is ready to fight it out.

"In the past whenever Amma was in crisis, I also suffered. This time also I will take it upon me. Dharma will win," ANI reported Sasikala as saying, citing AIADMK sources.

"Traitors have insulted Amma's soul. Amma will win" the AIADMK tweeted soon after the Supreme Court's verdict which came after a week-long bitter battle between Sasikala and O Panneerselvam over CM's chair.

DECKS CLEARED FOR PANNEERSELVAM TO TAKE CHARGE AS CM

As a consequence, decks are now clear for Tamil Nadu caretaker Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who has been locked in a bitter battle with Sasikala since last week over the CM's chair, to take over on the post.

The Bengaluru trial court had sentenced Jayalalithaa to four years in jail and imposed a Rs 100 crore fine in the disproportionate assets case. The trial lasted for 18 years.

WHAT IS THE DA CASE AGAINST SASIKALA

Sasikala and her relatives V N Sudhakaran and Elavarasi are accused of allegedly amassing disproportionate asserts to the tune of Rs 66.65 crore during Jayalalithaa's first term as Chief Minister from 1991 to 1996. Jayalalithaa was also an accused in the case.

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In May 2015, Sasikala was acquitted by the Karnataka High Court in the disproportionate case. Jayalalithaa and two other accused were also acquitted in the case.

The Karnataka government then moved the Supreme Court against the high court's ruling.

The Supreme Court had reserved the verdict in the 19-year-old illegal wealth case after 20 days of arguments in the case last year.

The apex court had sought replies from all the accused including Sasikala before the it took a break to study the records pertaining to the disproportionate assets case.

WATCH: Disproportionate Assets case: Supreme Court convicts VK Sasikala

ALSO READ:

Sasikala's enigma: From a video shop-owner to Tamil Nadu CM-in-waiting

Ottakara Panneerselvam: The Amma stand-in that always stood out in AIADMK

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Academics and students protested Tuesday outside Istanbul's Marmara University, criticizing the latest wave of firings of scholars under emergency rule.

The university saw some of its top staff fired this month, under an emergency decree that removed 330 academics nationwide, along with 4,000 civil servants.

Among those dismissed is Marmara University's internationally renowned professor Ibrahim Kaboglu, one of Turkey's foremost constitutional law experts.

There is no reason for my sacking, said Kaboglu, adding that as a law person I cannot give you any reason, because every judicial process, even the tiniest one, should have a reason and justification. And as a person who made calls for our students to be against violence, and to be for peace all my life, I cannot see any reason for my dismissal.

Since the introduction of emergency rule following July's failed coup, more than 5,000 academics have been purged, accused of supporting terrorist organizations and the failed coup.

Troubled for future of education

But this latest wave of removals included many top scholars from Turkey's leading universities, prompting fears about the future of Turkey's higher education.

These people being purged are not just democratic left-oriented people, they are very good scientists, very good academicians, warned associate political science professor Ismet Akca, himself recently removed from his post at Istanbul Yildiz Technical University. By purging them, the government is also attacking the very idea of the higher education, the very idea of the universities in this country.

Akca says he, like many of his colleagues, was fired for signing a petition calling for an end to fighting between the Turkish state and Kurdish insurgents. He says the purge is about silencing critical voices.

The list of those purged this month reads like a list of who's who in Turkish academia, in such areas as constitutional law, neurology, theater, music and political science. Ankara University, which has for decades educated many of Turkey's political leaders and diplomats, saw dozens of its staff fired.

Latest firings condemned

Last week, police violently broke up a protest by academics and students at the university, but unrest is continuing.

The latest wave of firings has been strongly condemned by opposition parties. Concern also has been expressed by former President Abdullah Gul, who is a founding member of the ruling AK Party.

Following these events with sorrow, and have seen many instances regarding these dismissed academics that do not sit well with one's conscience, and even less so with justice. The increasing frequency of events like this, particularly in the scholarly world and in universities, is both disturbing and painful, Gul said speaking to TV reporters.

In a rare show of dissent, some in the normally disciplined pro-government media have expressed criticism. These include influential columnists, some of whom condemned many of the firings outright.

Prime minister promises 're-evaluation'

Sensing growing unease, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim sought Tuesday to allay concerns, in his weekly address to his parliamentary deputies.

In order to find a judicial remedy for any injustices, if there are any, we have formed a re-evaluation mechanism regarding the latest decree. This committee will consist of seven members, who will examine all the objections and then make a decision, said Yildirim.

Critics already have condemned the move, claiming it undermines a fundamental principle of innocence until proven guilty. The independence of those on the committee also has been questioned.

Unrest is reportedly spreading to universities across the country, with students boycotting classes and holding protests.

That will most likely continue, with analysts warning further purges are likely.

Climate of fear

For students and academics at Marmara University, there is defiance and foreboding, We could be pessimistic but we are trying not to be, for continuing our struggle, said a defiant film student who did not want to give his name for fear of retribution.

Academics warn of a climate of fear in universities. Most of the people still at universities prefer to be silent; they develop auto-control mechanism, warned associate professor Akca, because there is high oppression on all of the university, there is enormous restriction of the freedom of expression, freedom of research.

Kaboglu, now jobless, continues to advocate for the rule of law and due process as the only way out of the current turmoil. If all the citizens can meet on the common ground of law, then we can see our future bright. Because everyone needs law.
Authorities lifted an evacuation order Tuesday for nearly 200,000 California residents who live below the nation's tallest dam after declaring that the risk of catastrophic collapse of its eroded emergency spillway had been significantly reduced.

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea announced that people could return home immediately. Officials said they have drained enough of the lake behind Oroville Dam so that the emergency spillway will not be needed to handle runoff from an approaching storm.

But, the sheriff said, the region 150 miles northeast of San Francisco would remain under an evacuation warning, meaning that residents must be ready to flee again if conditions worsen.

'Be vigilant'

Residents returning home "have to be vigilant," and "there is the prospect that we will issue another evacuation order ... if the situation changes," Honea said.

Rod Remocal of Biggs, west of Oroville, said the announcement "took a big load off" of him. He called it "the thrill of relief."

The decision to lift the order came abruptly, just as the evacuation order Sunday night came shortly after officials said there was no threat.

The sheriff said water was being released through the dam's damaged primary spillway without further harm to the concrete structure. Work to cover the earthen emergency spillway with rocks and cement was on pace to beat the next rain, and those storms would be less potent.

"As a result of these actions, the risks that we faced when we initiated those evacuations have significantly been reduced," Honea said.

"This reduction to an evacuation warning properly balances the need for people to resume their daily lives while at the same time being prepared to deal with future increased threat," he added.

The decision came as helicopters carried giant sandbags and cement blocks from a staging area on the south side of Oroville Dam toward the stricken spillway on the north side. Crews operating heavy equipment loaded rocks and boulders into dump trucks, which carried them over the dam and dumped them on damaged portions.

Lower water rate

Bill Croyle, acting director of the state Department of Water Resources, said that as of noon Tuesday, water was flowing into the lake at a rate far lower than the water being released.

"That means we're continuing to make significant gains," Croyle said.

The surface of the reservoir was 12 feet lower than at its height, and the water release, described as the greatest in the dam's nearly half century, will continue to lower the surface a total of 50 feet.

The National Weather Service's Sacramento office said the incoming rain would move through late Wednesday and Thursday morning, with 2 inches to 4 inches expected in the foothills and mountains. But the storm was looking colder than initially projected, meaning less snow and less runoff than last week's storms.

Officials had ordered residents to flee to higher ground Sunday after concluding that the never-before-used emergency spillway was close to failing and sending a 30-foot wall of water into communities downstream.

Over the weekend, the rain-swollen lake spilled down the unpaved emergency spillway for nearly 40 hours, leaving it badly eroded. The problem occurred six days after engineers discovered a growing hole in the dam's main, concrete spillway.

Situation stabilizes

Officials defended the decision to suddenly call for mass evacuations Sunday, just a few hours after saying the situation was stable, forcing families to rush to pack up and get out.

"There was a lot of traffic. It was chaos," said Robert Brabant, an Oroville resident who evacuated with his wife, son, dogs and cats. "It was a lot of accidents. It was like people weren't paying attention to other people."

Oroville, a Gold Rush town in the Sierra Nevada foothills, is nestled near the foot of the dam, which was completed in 1968 and at 770 feet is the nation's tallest. Houses and churches are perched on tree-lined streets near the Feather River. Ornate Victorian homes sit alongside smaller bungalows.

Local businesses, including one that sells supplies for gold-panning, dominate a downtown area that spans several blocks. A wide range of chain stores sit a short distance away along the main highway.

The region is largely rural, with its politics dominated by rice growers, orchard operators and other agricultural interests. The region is dogged by the high unemployment rates endemic to farming communities. There are large pockets of poverty and swaths of sparsely populated forests that are popular with anglers, campers and backpackers.
Rankings are important in American higher education.

Many publications produce lists of the best colleges and universities, and almost every university in the United States asks its students to evaluate their professors. However, universities rarely share this information with students.

In 1999, a computer programmer designed a website called RateMyProfessors. The site allows students from Canada, Britain and the U.S. to rate their professors on a scale of 1 to 5 in several areas. These areas included clarity, easiness, helpfulness and overall quality. The site also let students rate the professors physical appeal.

As of December 2016, RateMyProfessors listed about 17 million ratings of more than 1.6 million professors from over 7,000 schools. However, last May, the site removed clarity and helpfulness as individual qualities to be rated.

Universities rarely, if ever, use RateMyProfessors ratings to evaluate the performance of a professor. Students may find them useful. However, this system of evaluation does present problems.

Andrew Rosen, a graduate student studying chemical engineering at Northwestern University outside of Chicago, says he has used RateMyProfessors in the past. He likes that students can list comments about professors to give more information than just a rating.

But, Rosen says he's noticed a sharp gender disparity in such ratings.

So he designed a computer program to study the almost 8 million ratings of professors at U.S. universities. He says no one had ever done a study of this kind. The academic publication Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education published the findings in January.

Rosen looked at the differences in average overall quality scores between professors in different areas of study. He also looked at the differences in average overall quality scores between male and female professors.

"So across all of the disciplines on the site, theres not one discipline where females professors score higher than male professors," Rosen said. "And, of course, by that I dont mean to imply that female professors may not be as good professors as male professors. Thats not true at all. What I do mean is that students that submit these reviews may have gender biases against or for certain professors."

Rosen says students may not realize they are consistently rating women lower than men. But he says the study shows that subconscious bias among students affects their judgement. And, he says, gender is not the only thing students are considering.

Rosen found that professors with higher average scores for easy classes also had higher average overall quality scores. Overall quality scores were also higher for professors rated as good looking.

There were also major differences in how students view academic fields. Professors of mathematics and science often had lower ratings than those teaching art or language. For example, the average overall quality rating of physics professors is 3.4 out of 5. The average overall quality rating of foreign language professors is 4.

Rosen suggests this may be because professors in some fields have more experience in research than in teaching. But the rating process could also be affected by student expectations as to how professors of certain subjects should look and act.

"Some disciplines probably have different gender stereotypes. The stereotypical image of a scientist is kind of like a white male in a lab coat with a beaker, right? So, if you have a professor that doesnt fit that mold, perhaps these gender stereotypes  are causing these differences."

RateMyProfessors chose not to speak with VOA for this story. But other experts in higher education also argue these types of rating methods have problems.

Philip Stark, a statistics professor at the University of California at Berkeley, and his research partner, Anne Boring, also published a study of student evaluations of professors.

They looked at about 23,000 university-operated student evaluations of 379 professors in France. They also looked at a U.S. study of college student evaluations of an online class. Students in that class had never met their professors nor even learned their names.

Two classes secretly had a male teacher and two other classes had a female teacher.

Stark and Boring found the French students and the U.S. students both favored male professors in their ratings. And in the online classes, the students gave lower ratings when they thought their teacher was a woman. This happened despite test results showing students performed better in the classes taught by the female.

Stark says universities began about 30 years ago to use their own student evaluation systems in employment decisions. He says it proved an easy and low-cost way of measuring teacher effectiveness.

But, he says it may not be fair to judge all professors in the same way.

"It gives students a voice  It makes it really easy on administrators to rank people," Stark said. "The problem is that it may be giving students a voice in the wrong way, or we may be misinterpreting exactly what the voices are able to judge well. And in making it easy for the university, the administration to do their job, that doesnt mean that theyre doing a good job as a result."

Stark says there is no proof that male professors perform better than females. And students may not fully understand the usefulness of some material over others and so may not be fit to judge.

He suggests administrators should instead take care when evaluating teaching ability. They should consider the time and effort professors put into teaching in and outside their classes.

That way professors can be rated on their level of commitment, and not just by student opinion.
Ethiopia opened its Gibe III dam in December 2016 in the lower Omo Valley as part of a large project that includes sugar and cotton plantations, as well as dams.

Water started collecting in a reservoir behind the dam in 2015, preventing it from flowing downstream to Lake Turkana in neighboring Kenya.

Human Rights Watch says little is being done by either government to mitigate the impact and that as the plantations are developed, even more water will be diverted from Turkana, which desperately requires it.

Human Rights Watch cites data finding Lake Turkana's water levels have dropped about 1.5 meters in the past two years, and the shoreline has receded as much as 1.7 kilometers in one key fishing ground since November 2014.

Food supplies affected

Felix Horne, HRW's senior researcher for Ethiopia and Eritrea, says the developments will seriously affect food supplies and livelihoods in the Omo Valley and Lake Turkana.

What all the developments have in common is that they use a lot of water, said Horne. And the 1.5-meter drop, that is the first of those water drops coming to fruition, so it is very worrying.

Horne is referring to a 2012 prediction from independent hydrologists that once Gibe III was up and running, the water levels at Lake Turkana, which receives 90 percent of its water from the Omo River, would drop by 2 meters.They also expect water levels to drop by as much to 20 meters if the full development plans are completed.

Projects hurt people downstream

HRW argues these water projects are harmful enough to the people downstream, but climate change is exacerbating the problem.

This the other sort of long-term threat to the people of Turkana, is climate change, and it is very clear from the climatic data, but also from talking to people there that the whole pattern of rainfall has shifted over time and the entire area is getting more dry, said Horne. There is less grazing land, there is less water available and the population is also growing, so there is more conflict over what resources are left.

The decrease in resources is making it even more difficult for people to earn a living, said Ikal Ang'elei, director and founder of Friends of Lake Turkana. She says some pastoralists already had switched from animals to fishing, once livestock became less sustainable due to decreased grazing land and other factors.

Now you are seeing that the fishing they were using as a livelihood now seems to be under pressure, most likely it is going to be destroyed, said Ang'elei. So you see the worry among these communities, constantly asking, Why is the government doing this to us?

No comment from Kenya

Human Rights Watch says Kenya's government has not pressed Ethiopia on damage mitigation and has not informed communities about the project's impact. It also says Ethiopia has shown scant regard' for those reliant on the Omo River and Lake Turkana for their livelihoods.

Officials with Kenya's Ministry of Water and Irrigation were unavailable for comment, and attempts to reach Ethiopian government officials for a response were unsuccessful.

The Ethiopian government has announced it will build Gibe IV, a new $1.6-billion dam, which will produce more power than any other dam in Africa outside Ethiopia. A fifth dam also is being planned.
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is holding an emergency regional meeting in Zimbabwe on the spread of armyworms in southern Africa, which is already struggling with food shortages. The pests are destroying crops in Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

FAO coordinator for southern Africa Chimimba David Phiri said the meeting is aimed at finding a strategy to contain the situation.

Many countries are affected.... It is the countries that are going to offer solutions of a coordinated approach to control this. Now that we have this fall army worm, we cannot eradicate it. In the Americas, it has been there since 1957 and they have not managed to control it because it keeps evolving. So we cannot expect that it can be eradicated. But we have to find a plan for managing it from now onwards, Phiri said.

Experts suspect that fall armyworm might have come when the southern African region imported maize from the Americas during a El Nino-induced drought in the 2015/2016 rain season.

The three-day meeting in Harare is also grappling with other plant pests such as the South American tomato leaf miner that has been found in Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The bug has caused extensive damage, according to International Red Locust Control Organization for Central and Southern Africa Director Moses Okhoba.

He says the east Africa region is also on high alert, amid the spread of H5N1, a highly pathogenic avian influenza in 12 west and central African countries, and H5N8 in wild and domestic birds along the shores of Lake Victoria, in Uganda. He says resources are being stretched.

So we need to quickly think how quickly the region as a whole, not only in the outbreak areas, but also those states that are protected by the activities that are undertaken within the frontline states. So generally, I would say whatever we propose [at the meeting] in terms of protection is crucial to ensuring that food is secure in the region. Otherwise we end up with a disaster, Okhoba said.

The FAO says more than 40 million people need food assistance in southern Africa before the next harvest that starts in March, with Zimbabwe and Madagascar being some of the worst hit by El Nino-induced drought.
Valentine's Day celebrations on Tuesday were banned by authorities in parts of Indonesia and Pakistan, home to Asia's largest Muslim populations, saying the romantic tradition encouraged casual sex and ran counter to cultural norms.

In Indonesia, officials from the country's second largest city, Surabaya, ordered schools to prohibit students from celebrating Valentine's Day, while in Makassar, police raided minimarts and seized condoms in a bid to prevent teenagers from having sex.

"These raids were done after we received reports from residents that the minimarts were selling condoms in an unregulated way, especially on Valentine's Day," Makassar police official Jufri was quoted as saying in a media report.

Indonesia's highest Islamic clerical council declared Valentine's Day forbidden by Islamic law in 2012, saying it was contradictory to Muslim culture and teachings.

But the vast majority of Indonesia's more than 220 million Muslims follow a moderate form of Islam in a country with sizeable Christian and Hindu minorities. Indonesia is a secular country whose state ideology enshrines religious diversity.

In Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, and other parts of the country, Valentine's Day has grown in popularity with companies, like national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, looking to cash in by offering special discounts and promotions.

In Pakistan, an Islamic republic, a court banned public Valentine's Day celebrations in its capital.

The Islamabad High Court also ordered the media to "ensure that nothing about the celebration of Valentine's Day and its promotion is spread".

That hurt some businesses in the city of 2 million people. "I've sold at least 50 percent less flowers today than in past years. People just haven't come out to buy them," said Haider Ali, who works at the F7 flower market in Islamabad.

Promoting love

In other Asian countries, authorities took the opposite position on Valentine's Day, imposing preemptive measures to protect festivities and even encouraging sex.

Thailand's government, concerned with its falling birth rate, handed out vitamins to married couples to try to encourage them to have children.

While in eastern India, police placed two members of the Bajrang Dal - the youth wing of the hardline World Hindu Council - and four activists from a fringe political party in preventive detention to ensure they didn't disrupt celebrations.

Security in Bhubaneswar, capital of Odisha state, was stepped up in public spaces including parks, cinemas and malls to prevent activists from taking the law into their own hands, Deputy Commissioner of Police Satyabrata Bhoi told Reuters.

In Mumbai, the Hindu-nationalist Shiv Sena party dropped its earlier opposition to Valentine's Day after its activists had in the past beaten up couples spending the day together.

"We are neutral about Valentine's Day," said Shiv Sena Neelam Gorhe. "As far as this year is concerned, we have asked cadres not to give any violent reaction."
Philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates are highlighting global gains in reducing child mortality, while advocating more work on vaccinating kids, addressing malnutrition and empowering women in society.

In an annual letter about the work done by their foundation released Tuesday, the couple said the efforts of their organization and many others with the same goals has helped save the lives of 122 million children since 1990.

"Virtually all advances in society - nutrition, education, access to contraceptives, gender equity, economic growth - show up as gains in the childhood mortality chart, and every gain in this chart shows up in gains for society," the letter says.

It identifies malnutrition as the cause for 45 percent of childhood deaths, and as a source of lifelong consequences from stunted growth to slower cognitive development, and a greater chance of contracting diseases such as pneumonia and diarrhea.



Bill and Melinda Gates say the simplest way to address malnutrition is for mothers to only breastfeed their children for the first six months.

Breastfeeding is also a key part of addressing the rate of newborn deaths, which they say does not improve as incomes rise in the same way that many health factors do. The letter points compares Rwanda and Mali, saying that despite having economies with similar growth levels, Rwanda has half the rate of newborn deaths. It credits Rwandan efforts to promote breastfeeding within the first hour, hygienic cutting of the umbilical cord, and a higher percentage of births attended by a skilled health care worker.

On vaccines, the letter says 86 percent of the world's kids now have coverage for a basic package of vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, the highest percentage ever.

"Vaccines are the biggest reason for the drop in childhood deaths."

But vaccination campaigns have left 19 million kids not fully immunized, with many of those living in either remote areas or places in conflict.

Access to contraceptives



Another future goal the Gates Foundation is working on with other global partners is to boost by 120 million the number of women who have access to contraceptives. The initiative has a particular focus on South Asia, where only one-third of women have access now, and Africa, where that number is less than one-fifth, according to the letter.

"When women are able to time and space their pregnancies, they are more likely to advance their education and earn an income -- and they're more likely to have healthy children."

The letter also says women are more likely to have only the number of children they can support, which lessens reliance on government programs and frees up more money for kids to be educated.

Bill and Melinda Gates write that overall, limiting the power of women "keeps everyone poor."

"When women have the same opportunities as men, families and societies thrive. Obviously, gender equity unleashes women's potential, but it also unleashes men's potential. It frees them to work as partners with women, so they can get the benefits of a woman's intelligence, toughness, and creativity instead of wasting their energy trying to suppress those gifts."

Future goals



They close the letter by expressing an optimistic view, despite recognizing that certain goals, such as seeing the development of an HIV vaccine or more advances in combating tuberculosis, have not been met.



"Polio will soon be history. In our lifetimes, malaria will end. No one will die from AIDS. Few people will get TB. Children everywhere will be well nourished. And the death of a child in the developing world will be just as rare as the death of a child in the rich world. We can't put a date on these events, and we don't know the sequence, but we're confident of one thing: The future will surprise the pessimists."
A top South Sudanese general has resigned, accusing President Salva Kiir of turning the national army into a tribal force for his own Dinka ethnic group.

Lieutenant General Thomas Cirillo said the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) now works under the influence of the pro-Dinka Jieng Council of Elders rather than serving the interest of the nation.

In his six-page resignation letter, delivered to Kiir on Saturday from Addis Ababa, Cirillo accuses Kiir of all but ignoring the 2015 peace agreement between the government and opposition forces led by former South Sudanese Vice President Riek Machar.

He said Kiir and the SPLA have pursued the Jieng Council of Elders' agenda of ethnic cleansing and the forceful displacement of people from their ancestral lands.

The general also said the violence that erupted in December 2013, which triggered South Sudan's ongoing conflict, was planned and orchestrated by the government. He called the conflict a "tribally engineered war" that has killed thousands of innocent people.

Speaking Monday with VOA's South Sudan in Focus, presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny denied the general's accusations, while noting that Cirillo was a longtime commander of the SPLA.

"And he was there for a number of years, from 1991 until some few weeks ago; he was the commander of those armies," Ateny said. "This is uncalled for because he was part of the decision making within the SPLA and therefore he also bears the consequences of what the SPLA as an army has actually done."

According to the United Nations, more than three million South Sudanese have been forced to flee their homes since 2013, with 1.4 million now living as refugees in other countries.

The lieutenant general's resignation comes amid continued deadly violence between government troops and unidentified militias, as well as massive displacement of civilians, mainly in the greater Equatoria and Upper Nile regions.

Aid agencies say fighting in recent weeks between government forces and rebel forces loyal to Machar have prompted thousands of civilians to flee to Uganda.

Cirillo is the second SPLA general to resign in protest of Kiir's actions.

Lieutenant General Bapinyi Monytuil resigned in October 2016, accusing Kiir of hindering the implementation of the peace agreement.
Iran is implementing the deal on its nuclear program agreed with world powers, the head of the U.N. atomic energy watchdog said on Tuesday, amid concerns the United States will try to alter the terms.

The United States has taken a tougher stance on Iran since President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20, including saying it had put the Islamic Republic "on notice" last month over carrying out a ballistic missile test.

Under the 2015 accord between Tehran and six world powers, Iran agreed to curb its nuclear program in exchange for relief from some U.S., European and U.N. economic sanctions. Iran has always said its program is purely for peaceful purposes.

Trump's administration is considering insisting the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) toughen its policing of Iran's compliance, including demanding access to military sites, sources have told Reuters.

The United States would need support from the 34 other countries who sit on the IAEA board of governors for military site inspections.

But the new administration has so far not contacted the IAEA, the U.N. nuclear watchdog responsible for verifying Iran's adherence to the deal formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said.

"This is a very early stage of the Trump administration but we are very willing to have interaction with them as soon as possible," he told reporters on the sidelines of a summit in Dubai.

The IAEA remains in "constant interaction" with U.S. civil servants.

Amano said "Iran is implementing the JCPOA" apart from some breaches that saw its stock of heavy water slightly exceed the limit set under agreement which have been rectified.

Under the deal, Iran is allowed to have 130 tons of heavy water. Heavy water reactors can more efficiently produce plutonium, which can be used in weapons.

"Nuclear activities by Iran is reduced and so this is a net gain. What is important is to continue to implement" the deal, he said.

Amano declined to directly comment on what it would mean if the United States did try to change the deal, particularly if it did so while Iran remained compliant.

He said how Iran implements safeguards should be the same as any other country with "no discrimination and no special treatment".

"There is nothing political that will change our implementation," he said. "Implementation is very important and that requires efforts by all and ... we have a very robust verification tool."
Three months after Donald Trumps election as U.S. president and less than three weeks after a controversial executive order, his intent to restrain immigration may be crimping commerce at the busiest land crossing on the countrys southern border, some local observers say.

At the San Ysidro port of entry between San Diego, California, and Tijuana, Mexico, an accountant for Transportes California said the bus company  with routes traversing the border  has "seen a drop" in ridership. Gerardo Chavez did not specify, though he said some potential passengers are fearful because they "do not know what will happen" in terms of their immigration status.

Miguel Aguirre, a longtime San Ysidro businessman and part owner of the citys landmark McDonalds Trolley Station Building, also said he has noticed a decrease in customers in the last few months.

But, Chavez added, "most people are optimistic" that, after the first 100 days of Trump's administration, "everything is going to calm down."

Fulfilling campaign promise

As a candidate, Trump repeatedly had pledged to increase security and limit irregular immigration  especially at the southern border. His executive order, issued January 25, temporarily barred U.S. immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries.

Days later, a U.S. federal district judge in Washington state froze enforcement of the order, and that decision was upheld by a three-judge panel at the federal appeals court panel after a challenge by the administration. On Monday, a federal judge issued a new injunction to keep the ban from being implemented in the state of Virginia.

More than 14 million cars and 7 million pedestrians crossed the border at San Ysidro in 2015; last July alone, roughly 20,000 were crossing on foot every day, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The local San Diego Union-Tribune has noted San Ysidro is the Western Hemispheres busiest land port, connecting the Mexican city of Tijuana with the greater San Diego area. People frequently travel back and forth to work, shop and visit.

Everard Meade, who directs the Trans-Border Institute at the private University of San Diego, cautioned that the executive orders exact impact cannot be gauged yet.

"It is far too soon to tell if there was some kind of fear effect," he responded to VOA in an email Monday. "Most regular crossers are going for business, school and family obligations that they cannot simply cancel or postpone indefinitely."

He also said a thorough assessment "would have to account for protests in Mexico, which have shut down the border crossing every weekend since the beginning of the year. While the protests began over Mexico ending its gasoline subsidy, they have morphed into a broader protest against President Trump's proposed wall and the perceived weakness of the Mexican government in the face of provocation from the new administration in the United States."

Matters of access

Businessman Aguirre serves on the institutes advisory council. He suggested the renewed attention on the border can have a positive impact  if key people realize that frequent north-south crossings serve as economic engines for his and other U.S.-Mexico border communities.

"I believe it's a good time to realize the potential," Aguirre said.

Trump also had promised, during his campaign, to build or extend a wall along the nearly 2,000-mile border running east from San Ysidro to Brownsville, Texas. Fencing already stretches along some 650 miles.

Groups gathering at Friendship Park just south of San Diego, California, have staged various events to expand civic awareness about the measure.

On Saturday, the Border Angels  a volunteer advocacy group focused on immigration reform  organized a cross-border yoga session for the second consecutive year. (Previous sessions by other groups date to at least 2008.)

Instructor Mark Andeya offered the yoga bridge as a possible metaphor for policymakers.

"There are barriers that divide countries, and there are emotional barriers that prevent or block healthy relationships," he said, adding that certain barriers are favorable. " The idea is to learn to take the favorable and to reject from a little the unfavorable."

Carol Guensburg contributed to this report from VOA's Spanish service.
The top court today convicted Sasikala setting aside the Karnataka High Court verdict acquitting her in the 19-year-old disproportionate assets case that also involved the late CM J Jayalalithaa.

By India Today Web Desk: Moments after the Supreme Court ruled against her in the disproportionate asset case , AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala tried to present a brave stance, saying she has suffered in the past and is ready to take the apex court's latest verdict in her stride too.

"In the past whenever Amma was in crisis, I also suffered. This time also I will take it upon me. Dharma will win," ANI reported Sasikala as saying, citing AIADMK sources.

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"Traitors have insulted Amma's soul. Amma will win" the AIADMK tweeted soon after the Supreme Court's verdict.

The top court today convicted Sasikala setting aside the Karnataka High Court verdict acquitting her in the 19-year-old disproportionate assets case that also involved the late CM J Jayalalithaa.

The apex court restored in toto the judgment and the findings of the trial court in Bengaluru which had held guilty all the accused including Sasikala's two relatives, V N Sudhakaran and Elavarasi.

The verdict disqualifies Sasikala from becoming a legislator, and consequentially she can't be chief minister either ending her week-long dramatic tussle with caretaker CM O Panneerselvam for CM's chair.

WATCH: Disproportionate Assets case: Supreme Court convicts VK Sasikala

ALSO READ:

Sasikala convicted in DA case, she must serve remaining jail term, rules Supreme Court

Sasikala convicted: Panneerselvam frontrunner for Tamil Nadu CM's post

--- ENDS ---
The tragic story of the hundreds of dead whales stranded on a New Zealand beach has taken an even more grisly turn as officials say they fear some of the carcasses could fill with gas and explode as they decompose.

On Tuesday, clearing of the nearly 700 pilot whales was underway at Farewell Spit, in one of the largest mass whale strandings ever seen in New Zealand, but the public was told to stay away due to possible health concerns and the possibility the carcasses could explode.

"Unfortunately, when a whale heats up, a lot of pressure builds up in their body and the only option is for them to explode," said ranger Amanda Harvey in an interview on TVNZ.

To try to stem the possibility of explosions, conservation workers donning protective gear poked holes in the carcasses in an effort to prevent gases from building up.

"I've seen exploding whales, it's not a pretty sight," said Conservation Department spokesman Herb Christophers in an interview with AFP.

Some 300 of the carcasses, which can be up to six meters long, are being trucked to a remote location where they will be allowed to decompose, officials said.

"They're being moved but they haven't been cleared out yet, not by a long chalk," said Conservation Department spokesman Herb Christophers in an interview with AFP. "It's going to be a few days' work just getting them off the beach.

In total 666 whales were stranded Friday and Saturday on the beach which is at the northernmost part of New Zealands South Island.
Russia is expected to host a second round of international talks on Afghanistan in Moscow on February 15, reports Russia's TASS news agency, with Afghanistan representatives invited for the first time.

Russia says it wants stability and cooperation in the fight against extremists in the region. But Afghan officials are not happy with Russias direct talks with the Taliban, which U.S. officials say are aimed at undermining their efforts.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced the peace talks on February 7, during a visit by his Afghan counterpart, Salahuddin Rabbani.

China and Pakistan were at December talks in Moscow, while Iran, India and Afghanistan representatives are invited to participate at this weeks round for the first time.

It is not yet clear which representatives have accepted the invitation.

The Russian side will be represented by special presidential envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov and Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov, reports TASS.

US not invited

The essence of these talks is to get together all the countries that have at least some influence in Afghanistan: on the government, or on any informal level, on the armed opposition level, and to work out a certain consensus, so that these countries could implement it in their policies, says the Center of Contemporary Afghanistan Studies Dmitry Verlhoturov.

The United States has not been invited to participate in the talks.

The exclusion of Afghanistan from the first round raised concerns among officials in Kabul as well as in the United States.

We should not overestimate [the] real ability of [the] Afghan government to control its territory, says Director of the Analytical Center at the Institute for International Studies at MGIMO University Andrey Kazantsev. And this was probably one of the reasons why [the] Russian government sometimes acted in cooperation with other players but not with Afghan government.

Russia wants security cooperation to fight against Islamic State terrorists gaining ground in Central Asia.

Afghanistan is a place where there are many international terrorists. Many of them are with Russian passports or they are Central Asians, Russian-speaking Central Asians, who can also represent a threat for Russia, says Kazantsev.

Taliban and Islamic State

While the United Nations says the Taliban is responsible for five times as many deaths and injuries, Islamic State group attacks are growing fast in Afghanistan with a ten-fold growth in 2016.

There is (Russian) expectation that the Taliban leaders could be talked into opposing the Islamic State and defeating them, says the Center of Contemporary Afghanistan Studies Verlhoturov. What is it for? So that Afghanistan wouldn't become a shelter for the leaders and militants of the IS who would flee in case of defeat in Syria and Iraq.

U.S. officials say Russias contacts with the Taliban, along with Irans and Pakistans, lends them legitimacy and support, while undermining the Afghan government and NATO efforts to fight the extremists.

On one hand it's absurd to say that Russia doesn't strive to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan, says Verlhoturov. On the other hand, the Russian leadership is very concerned that the U.S. has acquired several big air bases there that could be used for the deployment of nuclear bombers.

Russia also looks at the conflict in Afghanistan somewhat cynically, says Kazantsev.

We know that in some parts of Afghanistan, especially in the east of Afghanistan, there is a real war between Taliban and Islamic State. So, If one terrorist wants to kill another terrorist, why should we prevent this?

The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan says thousands more U.S. troops are needed there to train Afghanistans forces to better handle threats to security.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday a meeting of the alliance's defense ministers will focus on the need for members to increase the amount of money they spend on defense.

He told reporters in Brussels ahead of the meeting that countries boosted defense spending by $10 billion last year, but that only five of the 28 NATO members are meeting the target of allocating 2 percent of their GDP to defense.

U.S. President Donald Trump criticized NATO members during his campaign, saying not enough were fully supporting the alliance financially. At one point, he suggested those who did not pay their fair share would not be automatically defended by the United States.

During his campaign for the presidency, Trump also questioned the efficacy of NATO's role in the 21st century, on several occasions calling the alliance's mission "obsolete" for what he said was an insufficient focus on terrorism.

But Stoltenberg noted that since taking office, Trump has voiced support for the alliance, both publicly and in two phone calls with him.

"President Trump has in both the phone calls also underlined the importance of fair burden sharing, and that those countries that spend less than 2 percent have to meet the 2 percent target. And I agree with him," Stoltenberg said.

New U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is traveling Tuesday to Brussels to join the NATO talks.

Stoltenberg said the alliance is looking forward to "be able to sit down with him and to discuss many different topics, including burden sharing, but also NATO's role in fighting terrorism."

The NATO chief noted that some members are struggling with economic challenges, but he said the goal is to begin to with stopping cuts in defense spending and eventually shift to meeting the full target amount.

NATO heads of state are due to meet later this year, and Stoltenberg said exactly what kind of language or proposals may emerge in order to help boost defense spending remain to be seen from that meeting and the one this week.

Stoltenberg also said he was looking forward to an upcoming meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and that NATO needs to be both firm in presenting a credible defense while also keeping diplomatic lines open.

"Especially in difficult times as these we need open political dialogue with Russia," he said.
Israel's prime minister heads to Washington this week for a high-profile meeting with President Donald Trump that suddenly is clouded in uncertainty.

After embracing Israel's hard-line nationalist right throughout his presidential campaign, Trump appears to have softened some of his positions on key issues since taking office.

Although Wednesday's meeting is expected to be much warmer than Benjamin Netanyahu's famously tense encounters with former President Barack Obama, the Israeli leader will still need to tread with caution on sensitive issues like Israeli settlement construction and the conflict with the Palestinians, Iran and the war in Syria.

It is a very important meeting. It is a new president, said Sallai Meridor, a former Israeli ambassador to Washington. The positive thing is that Trump's policies are still not set, he said, so there is an opportunity to listen and to develop and to impact the strategy that is being developed in the United States.



In dealing with such a divisive president, Netanyahu will also face some potential pitfalls. Key constituencies, including congressional Democrats and many American Jews, oppose Trump's policies, while at home he is under pressure from his hard-line allies to push for policies that Trump may not support.

Ahead of the visit, Netanyahu said he would handle ties with the U.S., Israel's closest and most important ally, in a prudent manner, but he steered clear of specifics.

The alliance between Israel and America has always been extremely strong. It's about to get even stronger. President Trump and I see eye to eye on the dangers emanating from the region, but also on the opportunities,'' Netanyahu said Monday as he boarded a plane to Washington.

Malcolm Hoenlein, a Jewish-American leader who has close ties with both Netanyahu and White House officials, said Netanyahu should set modest goals for his first working meeting with the new president. He said the objective should be to establish a good working relationship in order to tackle concrete issues down the road.

What I hope will come out of the meeting is this kind of understanding, putting the foundation very firmly in place, he said.

Here are some of the issues that are likely to come up:

Settlements and the Palestinians

After repeatedly clashing with Obama for eight years, capped by a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlements, Netanyahu seemed relieved by Trump's arrival.

Trump's campaign platform made no mention of a Palestinian state, and his inner circle included allies of the West Bank settler movement. The connections were so strong that a delegation of settler leaders was invited to Trump's inauguration.

Netanyahu responded by approving construction of more than 6,000 new settler homes in the West Bank and east Jerusalem  occupied territories claimed by the Palestinians  and allowing parliament to pass a law retroactively legalizing some 4,000 settlement homes built on private Palestinian land.

His political allies have urged him to go even further, suggesting he abandon the goal of a two-state solution with the Palestinians, step up settlement construction and even consider annexing parts of the West Bank. Such ideas would have been unthinkable during the Obama years.

All the Cabinet ministers oppose a Palestinian state, including Netanyahu, said Gilad Erdan, a Cabinet minister and member of Netanyahu's Likud Party.



But the hard-line euphoria may be premature. After initially greeting Israel's settlement announcements with a shrug, Trump appears to be having second thoughts. In an interview with a pro-Netanyahu Israeli daily on Friday, Trump said: I am not somebody that believes that going forward with these settlements is a good thing for peace.

Netanyahu may use the meeting to seek "understandings'' as to what sort of construction will be tolerated. Backing from Trump could also help him fend off the pressure from his hard-line rivals.

The U.S. Embassy

The U.S., like virtually all other countries, maintains its embassy in Tel Aviv due to the conflicting claims to east Jerusalem.

Israel claims all of the city as its eternal capital while the Palestinians seek the eastern sector, captured by Israel in 1967, as their future capital. The status of east Jerusalem is especially sensitive because it is home to Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy sites.

Trump took office vowing to scrap decades of U.S. policy and move the embassy to Jerusalem. But in recent weeks, he has been noncommittal, saying only that he is studying the issue.

The Palestinians have warned that moving the embassy would be explosive. Jordan, a key U.S. and Israeli ally that maintains custodial rights over Muslim holy sites in the city, has also strongly lobbied against the move.

While both men may pay lip service to an embassy move, it is unclear whether there will be any progress on the matter during the visit.

Iran

Before taking office, Trump vowed to rip up the international deal that placed limits on Iran's nuclear program. But since then, he has backed away from those threats, while seeking other ways to put pressure on the Iranian government.

Netanyahu led an unsuccessful campaign to scuttle the Iranian deal. Although that now seems impossible, Netanyahu will be looking for American assurances to keep Iran in check.

Dennis Ross, a former U.S. peace negotiator, said Netanyahu could seek promises of a U.S. military response and not just a sanctions response if Iran moves toward nuclear weapons capability.

Netanyahu is also worried about Iran's involvement in the civil war in neighboring Syria. With Russian backing, Iranian forces, and their Shiite proxy Hezbollah, have helped Syria gain the upper hand.

Ross said Netanyahu will ask Trump to use his influence with Russian President Vladimir Putin to keep Iran and Hezbollah far from Israel's borders.

I think at a minimum that there would be an understanding that the Trump administration will insist with Putin that an Iranian-Hezbollah-Shiite militia presence can't go below a certain line within Syria, Ross said.

Bipartisan support

Netanyahu has long said that bipartisan support is the basis of Israel's relationship with the U.S. Yet he is widely perceived as being much more in line with the Republicans.



One of his closest friends is Republican mega-donor Sheldon Adelson, and his ambassador to Washington, Ron Dermer, is a former Republican operative.

Cozying up to Republican figures, while repeatedly clashing with Obama, appears to have had a price. A recent poll by the market research firm YouGov found that Republicans had a much more favorable view of Israel than Democrats. With Jewish voters overwhelmingly Democratic, this perception could threaten traditional Jewish American support for Israel.

Netanyahu's schedule includes meetings with top Democrats in Congress, a step that Hoenlein welcomed. It is very important to send the bipartisan message, he said.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says immigration officers have arrested more than 680 people in recent raids targeting illegal migrants, most of them criminals.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said 75 percent of those rounded up for deportation have criminal records, and he described the operations as routine.

The raids took place in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, San Antonio and New York.

Kelly said the crimes committed by the undocumented migrants included homicide and aggravated sexual assault. He said the focus of the recent raids was on dangerous criminals, but said it also included anyone who had broken immigration laws.

'We're getting the criminals'

President Donald Trump said Monday that he was honoring his campaign pledge to deport criminal illegal migrants. We're getting them out. I'm just doing what I said I would.

Speaking at a news conference at the White House with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Trump said We're getting the criminals, the drug lords.... We're getting the bad ones ... People are going to be very, very happy.

Trump described the government's raids against the illegal migrants as a stance of common sense.

The number of arrests during the recent raids is similar to those carried out during operations by the previous administration of Barack Obama.

Immigrants concerned

While the raids were not out of the ordinary, news of the arrests and rumors about other raids sparked fear and confusion among immigrants.

Immigration rights activists say the government is deporting migrants indiscriminately, and not taking into account their ties to the community.

During the campaign for president, Trump promised to deport 2 million to 3 million undocumented migrants with criminal records once he took office.
Pakistan has sharply reacted to recent criticism and assertions by U.S. congressmen, the U.S. military and Washington-based, influential think tanks blaming the country for the worsening security situation in Afghanistan and calling for President Donald Trump to toughen his approach toward Islamabad for harboring the Taliban and its ally, the terrorist Haqqani network.

Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman, Nafees Zakaria, told VOA the criticism is misplaced and does not take into account massive human and economic losses his country has suffered in the fight against terrorist groups.

Zakaria cited Mondays deadly suicide bombing in the eastern city of Lahore as the latest reaction to Pakistans resolve against terrorism. The attack left at least 13 people dead and nearly 90 wounded.

These are the things which reflect that how Pakistan has been suffering and these kind of incidents make Pakistan more determined and resolute in our drive against terrorist elements. We do not draw any distinction while taking on the terrorist elements, he maintained.

'Taliban sanctuaries in Pakistan'

While testifying before a U.S. Armed Services Committee hearing on Afghanistan last week, General John Nicholson, the commander of international forces in the country, called for a holistic review of Washingtons relations with Islamabad to pressure the country to end Taliban sanctuaries on Pakistani soil.

Chairperson, Senator John McCain, and other members of the committee echoed Nicholsons words, emphasizing the need for eliminating the external insurgent sanctuaries and evaluation of the relationship with Pakistan.

We are actually disappointed with some of the assertions and insinuations made in the recent discussions in Washington about terrorist safe havens in Pakistan that we feel are misplaced and are not in sync with the current situation on the ground, lamented Zakaria.

Complex situation

He noted that the discussions spoke of a multiplicity of military and non-military factors contributing to the existing stalemate in Afghanistan.

Therefore, singling out Pakistan and pinning the entire blame on Pakistan for the situation in Afghanistan is neither fair nor accurate, nor is it borne out by the ground realities, warned Zakaria.

He reiterated that Afghan stability is in the interest of his country and Pakistan remains committed to work with the Kabul government to make 2017 a year of cooperation for regional peace and security.

Afghan leaders have welcomed calls from General Nicholson and U.S. congressmen for putting pressure on Pakistan to cut ties to the Taliban insurgency.

This is very encouraging to hear. Because you cannot talk about the state of security in Afghanistan without talking about the state of terrorist heavens and support provided by Pakistan. The two are intrinsically connected, asserted Hamadullah Mohib, the Afghan ambassador to Washington. He was delivering a public talk at New America think tank on Monday.

Pakistan optimistic about Trump

Pakistans Zakaria, however, sounded upbeat about improved ties with the U.S. under President Donald Trump, saying the countries have enjoyed a longstanding relationship.

We are cooperating in a number of areas, particularly the security cooperation between the two countries has been going on for quite sometime and one of the important elements of the security cooperation is in the counterterrorism, he said.

Trump has spoken little about exactly how he wants to deal with the longest American war in Afghanistan and whether he would adopt a hardline in dealings with Pakistan.

New Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, during his Senate Confirmation hearing, emphasized the need for remaining engaged with Pakistan to rebuild mutual trust.

Mattis also spoke by telephone with Pakistan army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, last Thursday and expressed support for his militarys counterterrorism role in a conversation that lasted for 20 minutes, according to an official Pakistani statement.

General Bajwa reiterated Pakistans commitment to counter all militant groups operating in its territory, according to a Pentagon statement.
White House national security adviser Michael Flynn has abruptly resigned, following reports of contacts he had with a Russian diplomat that may have violated federal law. The resignation of the three-star general, an early supporter of President Donald Trump's campaign, amounts to an extraordinary shake-up within the top ranks of the White House, less than a month into Trump's time in office.

Why did Flynn resign?

In late December, before the Trump administration had taken office, Flynn spoke over the phone with Sergei Kislyak, Russia's ambassador to the United States. Flynn insisted the conversation was not substantive, but it was later revealed that he had misled senior administration officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, about the discussions.

What was discussed in the call?

Flynn originally said the conversations were aimed at setting up a phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. But the discussions were much more substantive, according to transcripts of the calls, which were recorded by U.S. spies. Flynn had in fact discussed U.S. sanctions against Russia that were put in place by the Obama administration in response to Moscow's alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. election.

When did Trump learn Flynn misled him?

According to news reports, the Justice Department informed the White House last month that Flynn had not been truthful about the conversation. Acting Attorney General Sally Yates expressed concerns that Flynn had opened himself up to blackmail, since the Russians could pressure him by threatening to reveal the true nature of the phone call. Trump later fired Yates after she refused to defend his controversial travel ban in court.

Was a law broken?

Flynn's phone call could be a violation of the Logan Act, which bars private citizens from conducting foreign affairs without the permission of the U.S. government. However, many view the statute as unenforceable. In over 200 years of the statute's existence, not a single person has been prosecuted under the act.

Will there be investigations?

Following the resignation, Republican and Democratic lawmakers have called for more inquiries into Flynn's dealings with Russia. Texas' John Cornyn, the Senate's second-ranking Republican, and Missouri Republican Senator Roy Blunt of the Intelligence Committee said Flynn's actions need to be investigated. Blunt said the Intelligence Committee should talk to Flynn "very soon." But Utah Representative Jason Chaffetz, a Republican who chairs the House panel that heads such investigations, has said he does not intend to look into the issue.

Both houses of Congress have already opened investigations into alleged Russian hacking that top spy chiefs say was intended to help Trump win the election.

If there is an investigation into Flynn, much will revolve around who knew what and when, and whether Flynn was directed to discuss U.S. sanctions with the Russian ambassador. It could also focus on why the White House continued to employ Flynn for several weeks, despite being told he had been untruthful about his communications and was possibly open to blackmail.

Why is this important?

The Flynn incident is notable because it involves a top White House security official resigning over contact with a foreign government. The incident could also revive concerns about Trump's connections to Russia and further complicate his attempts to ally U.S. foreign policy with Moscow.

In addition, there are also wider concerns about the Trump administration's handling of sensitive intelligence. These concerns were heightened after Trump and his top aides were photographed coordinating their response to North Korea's recent missile test in full view of diners at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

Flynn's resignation could also alter dynamics within the White House, where senior officials are said to be jockeying over influence. It could also further strain Trump's relations with U.S. spy agencies, which he has repeatedly accused of politicizing intelligence in order to damage him.

How has Russia responded?

Putin's spokesman told reporters that Flynn's resignation was an "internal affair" of the U.S. and had "nothing to do" with Russia.

How has Flynn responded?

In his resignation letter, Flynn said he had "inadvertently" briefed Pence and other administration officials with "incomplete information" because of "the fast pace of events."
Russian experts weighed in Tuesday on the resignation of Michael Flynn as White House national security adviser and its potential impact on U.S.-Russian relations.

Boris Makarenko, chairman of the board of the Center for Political Technologies, a Moscow think tank, told VOA's Russian service that Flynn's resignation would negatively affect the reputation of President Donald Trump and his administration.

"It's his personal appointee who violated several written and unwritten rules of American politics," he said. "Above all, it is that Flynn in a public statement lied to his immediate supervisor, and thereby set him up."

Naturally, the new administration's detractors were carefully watching all of this, Makarenko said, adding that Flynn always had a very mixed reputation within the American establishment.

"Judging by what is written in the press, the resignation of the adviser of the president was not entirely voluntary," said Makarenko. "And when he made a mistake  call it what you will  he committed an impermissible deed, thus setting a record for the shortest stay in a high-level post in the White House."

Larger factors

Still, Makarenko said he thought the Russian-American dialogue depended to a much greater degree on the nations' top leaders, the long-term interests of both countries, and how these interests are interpreted by the top leadership, rather than on one specific person.

The head of the State Duma's international affairs committee, Leonid Slutsky, gave a similar assessment.

"Flynn's resignation cannot, in a global sense, affect relations between Russia and the United States, although all things considered, it looks negative," he said.

Alexander Domrin, an expert on U.S. affairs with Moscow's Higher School of Economics, told VOA that he thought Flynn's resignation would have elicited more of a response from the Russian media and expert community.

"When I saw the news in the morning, I thought that the response would be much wider," he said. "I fully expected, for example, that they would interrupt regular programming on Russian television [to discuss the Flynn resignation]. Thus far, I haven't seen any especially meaningful discussion."

President Vladimir Putin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, limited his statement on Flynn's resignation to saying that it was an "internal matter of the U.S. administration," adding that it was premature to speculate on what direction Russia's relations with the U.S. would take.

Domrin, who is also a lawyer, said the events surrounding Flynn's resignation raised many questions.

Questions on 'legal side'

"I would like to know how the bugging was set up," he said. "Then the question arises: How was the content of the phone conversations of Michael Flynn [with Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergei Kislyak] leaked to CNN? Who authorized the wiretap?"

"In short, I have more questions about the legal side of things than about the resignation itself," said Domrin.

"I still don't fully understand what happened," he added. "As for the resignation, it is unfortunate that it happened, because Flynn did not even work for one month in the post of adviser to the president on national security."

According to Domrin, the blow to the Trump administration from Flynn's resignation "is significantly more severe than all the [protest] speeches and marches" that have occurred across the country, he said. "It is, of course, a victory for the Democrats, who have a grudge against Trump. And it is a victory for the American media."

Domrin added: "If the resignation occurred because of contacts with the Russian ambassador, it is, of course, a very strong blow to the normalization of Russian-American relations."
Officials in Somalia and breakaway Somaliland took bribes in exchange for authorizing a United Arab Emirates military base in the port city of Berbera, according to Somalia's auditor general.

Auditor General Nur Jimale Farah is one of several observers questioning the propriety of the UAE base deal, which Somaliland's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sunday.

In an interview with VOA's Somali service, Jimale accused senior officials in Somaliland and the government of Somalia's former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of backing the deal for the sake of illegitimate private gains.

He also questioned Somaliland's right to reach an agreement with the UAE. Somaliland considers itself independent from Somalia, but is not recognized by any country.

The deal has none of the legal provisions needed and did not go through Somalia's legitimate public procurement, financial institutions and the parliament. Therefore, it is corrupted and illegal, Jimale said.

We know that individuals within the leadership of Somalia and Somaliland were invited to Dubai and that they were corrupted with bags full of cash to sign the agreement, he added.

Deal looked 'very secretive'

Jimale would not specify the individuals allegedly involved in the deal, and VOA could not independently verify the allegations.

Somaliland's representative to the UAE, Bashe Awil Omer, denied the bribery accusation. It is baseless and we categorically deny it, he told VOA. If they have an evidence for such allegation, they should show to the public.

Speaking to VOA on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment on this issue, a senior official in Somalia's foreign ministry refused to deny or confirm the corruption allegations, but said neither the ministry nor the Somali cabinet was given a chance to discuss the UAE deal.

We heard about the deal, which looked very secretive, the official said. It was not brought before the cabinet and the foreign ministry office. When we asked about it, we were told that the president and the prime minister's offices were dealing with it.

Abdiwahab Abdisamad, an independent Nairobi-based Horn of Africa analyst, said he also heard the agreement got a secret green light from the outgoing Mohamud administration.

As the reliable sources we are getting from the ground indicate, before Somaliland, authorities within the administration of the former head of state Hassan Sheikh Mohamud signed the agreement and Somaliland put it into vote at its parliament, only to send a message that it is a Somaliland project rather than a Somalia project, Abdisamad said.

Somaliland's Wadani and OCID opposition parties have described the agreement as illegal and unconstitutional.

Strategic importance of base

The agreement calls for the UAE to operate a base in Berbera for 25 years. Previously, Somaliland signed a deal with a UAE international port operator DP World. That deal would upgrade the port of Berbera, the largest in Somaliland.

Being part of a coalition that has been fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen, the UAE already has a military facility at Eritrea's Assab port for use. The Berbera base, which is only 90 kilometers from the shores of Yemen, will help it tighten the coalition blockade on the rebels.

Somali analysts say the base will be less of a headache for the UAE than the one in Eritrea, which is under United Nations sanctions.

Speaking at the parliament session, Somaliland's President Ahmed Silanyo said that the military base would benefit Somaliland and help create jobs.

In an interview with VOA on Monday, Somaliland Aviation Minister Farhan Adan Haybe said the deal has gone through all the Somaliland legal channels and therefore would be valid.

The base is on a lease. It can't be used by any other nation except the UAE, and can't be subleased. Haybe told VOA.

However, Jimale called on the UAE to back out of the deal, saying it violated Somalia's national and territorial integrity.

UAE has already violated our national sovereignty and airspace because of its plans to come to Somaliland without paying air space tax and without the permission of Somalia's legitimate government, Jimale said. We ask UAE to respect the international code of conduct.
A new South Korean conservative far-right coalition is forming to fight against what they say is the illegal impeachment of the duly elected president, Park Geun-hye, by the lying media and pro-North Korean establishment elites.

The pro-Park conservatives have been slow to organize in the wake of a presidential corruption scandal that erupted in October of last year.

Maybe our attempts to rescue the president are too late, or a little bit late. Why? Because the whole thing was unexpected, said Chulhong Kim, an associate professor at the Presbyterian College and Theological Seminary in Seoul, who has become a leader of a new conservative group that has yet to become a formal organization.

October surprise

President Park was brought down by allegations that she colluded with or was manipulated by her long time friend Choi Soon-sil, along with some close presidential aides, to force Korean conglomerates to donate nearly $65 million to two dubious foundations. Choi reportedly benefited from lucrative side contracts to companies owned by herself and her friends.

There were also other charges that outraged the public but carried less legal weight, that Choi used her presidential connections to gain her daughter admission into a prestigious university, and that Park was negligent in handling the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster that killed over 300 people, many of them school age children.

The fast moving scandal sparked weeks of widespread public protests across the country, and saw the presidents public approval rating plummet to below 10 percent. In December, the National Assembly voted overwhelmingly to impeach Park, while at the same time appointing a special counsel to investigate the charges. Since then Park has been suspended from office while the Constitutional Court reviews the impeachment motion, that if upheld will result in an early presidential election some time this year.

The presidents defenders contend the impeachment legislative process is overtly political, pressured by bias media coverage and unduly influenced by public demonstrations, and legally flawed in convicting Park and suspending her from office before even holding official hearings.

Under the current law, impeachment is not illegal but subsequently the immediate suspension of the president is against the principle of presumption of innocence, said Professor Kim.

Protests and term limits

Over the weekend, both pro and anti-impeachment demonstrations were held in Seoul and across the country.

Korean media reported that 750,000 pro-impeachment supporters held a candlelight vigil on Saturday evening in downtown Gwanghwamun Square despite freezing temperatures that dropped to minus 9 degrees Celsius. Moon Jae-in, a progressive leader of the opposition Democratic Party and the leading presidential contender in opinion polls, joined with the demonstrators, saying that, the voices of the people are the constitution.

The renewed surge of protesters coming out against President Park reflects concerns the Constitution Court could become deadlocked if they do not soon conclude their judicial review.

The nine member Constitutional Court must reach the required quorum of six votes to uphold the impeachment motion. However the court is already down to eight members as the term of the chief justice ended in January. Another justice will reach his term limit in March. Then the court will be down to seven members, but six votes will still be required to reach a verdict. And Constitutional Court justices cannot be replaced until the impeachment issue is resolved.

Lying media

Parks supporters also held a rally earlier on Saturday in front of City Hall. Media reports say the number of anti-impeachment demonstrators reached over 200,000, but organizers claim that more than a million people participated.

The hardline pro-Park organizers discount mainstream media reports, saying they are biased against the president and her ruling Saenuri Party, and working with opposition groups to topple the president.

I want (to say to the) dishonest media, you, please, do not deceive our people, said Jiyeon Ihn, an activist and attorney that heads us up a group called Now! Act for North Koreans! (NANK.)

Pro-American

At the conservative rallies, American flags are proudly displayed. The deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system is widely supported. And China objections about increasing U.S. military capabilities, and reservations expressed by opposition leaders, are loudly jeered.

Many of these Korean far-right activists see Parks impeachment as part of an insidious leftist, communist movement backed by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

If the attempt succeeds the future government would be pro-North Korean, anti-American, anti-free market, anti-human rights. It would inaugurate a unified communist regime in the Korean Peninsula, said Professor Kim.
During the 30-minute press conference, while Modi was busy answering questions, former minister Renu Kushwaha and her politician husband Vijay Kumar Singh remained the centre of attraction as they kept nodding off.

By Rohit Kumar Singh: In what has brought embarrassment to the party, BJP leaders were caught dozing off as former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi held his weekly Janta Durbar in Patna on Tuesday to hear the grievances of the common man.

Former minister Renu Kushwaha and her politician husband Vijay Kumar Singh, who were sitting next to Modi, were caught napping while he addressed mediapersons. As is a common feature during Modi's janta durbar, every week some BJP leader attends the event with him. Renu Kushwaha and her husband were seated next to Modi today.

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During the 30-minute press conference, while Modi was busy answering questions, the politician couple remained the centre of attraction as they kept nodding off. While Vijay Singh slept blissfully unaware of what was happening around him, Renu was seen battling sleep many times.

WHO IS RENU KUSHWAHA

Renu Kushwaha was elected to the Bihar Assembly in 2010 on a JD-U ticket after which she became Minister for Industries and Disaster Management in the Nitish Kumar government. Her politician husband, however, joined the BJP during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections after which she too quit JD-U and join BJP. Renu unsuccessfully fought the 2015 Assembly election from Samastipur on BJP ticket.

Also read | Patna: BSSC chairman confirms politicians' involvement in employment scam, Sushil Modi demands probe against Lalu

--- ENDS ---
President Donald Trump is poised to receive something Tuesday that he has been trying to get from China for a decade: trademark rights to his own name. After suffering rejection after rejection in China's courts, he saw his prospects change dramatically after launching his presidential campaign.

Trump's late triumph in the fight to wrest back his brand for construction services could prove to be the first of many intellectual property victories in China during his presidency. Each win creates value for Trump's business empire, and ethics questions about his administration.



At stake are 49 pending trademark applications and 77 marks registered under his own name, most of which will come up for renewal during his term. The president could also claw back control of more than 225 Trump-related marks held or sought by others in China, for items including toilets, condoms, pacemakers and even a Trump International Hotel.



Ethics lawyers say the trademarks present conflicts of interest for Trump and may violate the emoluments clause of the U.S. Constitution, which bars public servants from accepting anything of value from foreign governments unless explicitly approved by Congress.



Countries could use Trump's desire to control his brand to extend - or withhold - favor, especially a nation such as China where the courts and bureaucracy reflect the imperatives of the ruling Communist Party.



There can be no question that it is a terrible idea for Donald Trump to be accepting the registration of these valuable property rights from China while he's a sitting president of the United States, said Norman Eisen, who served as chief White House ethics lawyer for President Barack Obama. It's fair to conclude that this is an effort to influence Mr. Trump that is relatively inexpensive for the Chinese, potentially very valuable to him, but it could be very costly for the United States.



Eisen is involved in a lawsuit alleging that Trump's foreign business ties violate the U.S. Constitution. Trump has dismissed the lawsuit as totally without merit.



The precise value of the trademarks is uncertain, but in a 2011 letter to then-U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Trump wrote that he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to defend his brand in China.



He railed against Chinese courts for not recognizing that he was famous, writing that it appears the only two places in the world I am not well known are China and Macau.



Trump's elevated profile as president will likely make it easier to protect his brand in China, said Zhou Dandan, a lawyer with Unitalen Attorneys at Law in Beijing, which has worked for Trump since 2006. Trademark authorities will almost certainly reject new Trump applications from unrelated parties, she said, and may take back rights from existing Trump trademark holders.





Turning point

That's what happened in the case nearing completion this week.

Back in December 2006, Trump applied for rights to the Trump mark for construction services. He was rejected because China operates on a first-come-first-served principle and a man named Dong Wei had filed a similar application two weeks earlier. Trump appealed to Chinese authorities for 10 grinding years and was rejected time and again, right up until the month before he declared his candidacy.



Then something changed. China's trademark authorities published their decision to invalidate Dong's trademark for construction services on Sept. 6, 2016. Trump's application moved ahead, and if no one objects, the trademark will be registered to Trump on Tuesday. Dong could not be reached for comment.



Why is Trump winning now, after years of failure? China's State Administration for Industry and Commerce and its foreign ministry did not reply to requests for comment.



Alan Garten, chief legal officer of The Trump Organization, said the company has been zealously protecting its valuable brand internationally for more than 20 years. He did not answer questions about the ethical dilemmas Trump's China trademarks present for his presidency.



Some lawyers say Trump may have benefited from a general hardening in China's stance toward trademark squatters, but others believe politics played a role.



It would be hard to imagine that the judges, the Trademark Office and/or the Trademark Review and Adjudication Board were acting without some kind of guidance, said Dan Plane, a director at Simone IP Services, a Hong Kong intellectual property consultancy.



He added that Trump may be less successful in future cases if there's a clear decision made by an angry Chinese government to stop giving broad protection to the Trump name.



Meanwhile, the makers of Trump-branded luxury toilets at Shenzhen Trump Industrial Co. face a potent new potential adversary. They say they will defend their brand, even if it means taking on the U.S. president.



Co-founder Zhong Jiye said his Trump brand, which dates to 2002, has nothing to do with President Trump. The Chinese name brings together ideas of innovation and popularity, he said. And in English, the U makes a nice toilet-seat shape logo.



Trump toilets for the home can do pregnancy tests. Models for public use have disposable seat covers for improved hygiene. People use Trump toilets some 100 million times a year, Zhong said.



Among them, he added, are customers at Zhongnanhai, the official residence of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Not quite a month into his presidency, Donald Trump can certainly make the argument that he has delivered on his promise to bring change to Washington. The problem for Trump is that while some of those changes have been cheered by core supporters around the country, they have also motivated his opponents to challenge him at nearly every turn.

Trumps efforts to deliver on his campaign pledge to shake up Washington have produced mixed results. Trump issued a series of executive orders that pleased supporters but antagonized critics, especially his actions on immigration and health care. His public approval rating hovers around 40 percent, a historic low for a new president and further evidence that the country remains polarized as the 45th president settles in at the White House.

The Flynn scandal

The latest major distraction for Trump is the political fallout in the wake of the resignation of his national security adviser, retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn. Trump asked Flynn to resign Monday after trust eroded between the two, according to White House spokesman Sean Spicer.

Flynn came under fire after misinforming Vice President Mike Pence about the nature of his phone conversations with Russias ambassador to the U.S. late last year. Flynn initially said he did not discuss sanctions on Russia, but later conceded the matter may have come up.

Democrats in Congress have stepped up their call for a broader investigation into Russias meddling in the U.S. election campaign and contacts with Trump aides before the inauguration on January 20.

The ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Representative Adam Schiff of California, said it was time for a full inquiry into any contacts between the Trump campaign and Russian government officials. The national security adviser of the United States had misled other administration officials, who had in turn misled the American people. And they were OK with that, Schiff told reporters at the Capitol Tuesday.

At Tuesdays White House briefing, Spicer said the president never instructed Flynn to discuss sanctions with the Russian ambassador.

Trumps pledge

It was on Inauguration Day that Trumps presidency began with a bold promise of political change. January 20th, 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became rulers of this nation again, Trump said in his inaugural address.

Trumps flurry of executive orders on a range of issues in the first weeks of his presidency pleased core supporters like Jim Bowman in Wisconsin. I know this is trite, but its that people wanted change and they saw, in my personal opinion, they saw Donald Trump as someone that, like him or not, things were going to change, Bowman told AP television.

Bowman is representative of a small slice of the electorate in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania  Trump supporters who tipped those states into the Republican electoral vote column in November and enabled the businessman to become president.

So far, despite some of the chaotic moments in the Trump White House, many of those core supporters are hanging with him, said University of Virginia political analyst Larry Sabato.

So youve got perhaps 60 percent of the electorate that is persuadable. The other 40 percent, you will never reach them, said Sabato. It doesnt matter what they find out, it doesnt matter what they publish or air, Trump will still have their support.

Opposition fired up

Trumps temporary immigration travel ban sparked fierce opposition around the country and successful legal challenges in federal court.

Supporters like Trumps bold use of presidential power, but his penchant for executive authority alarms Democrats like Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut.

The independence of our judiciary means that our Constitution remains the law of the land, even if President Trump seeks to put himself above the law, Blumenthal said.

Though wary of Trumps blunt style, congressional Republicans like House Speaker Paul Ryan remain supportive as the administration fights for its travel restrictions in the courts.

Look, I know he is an unconventional president. He gets frustrated with judges. We get frustrated with judges, said Ryan. But he is respecting the process, and I think that is what counts at the end of the day.

Most Republicans prefer to look the other way when asked about Trumps habit of issuing controversial tweets, including the Republican Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell.

Im not going to try to speak for the president. He can speak for himself, and frequently does, the Kentucky Republican said.

Republican focus

Republicans in Congress are most concerned with undoing what is known as Obamacare, former President Barack Obama's signature health care law, and cutting taxes and regulations, and they are likely to stick with Trump as long as the political base they share is happy, said analyst John Fortier of the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington.

If the president is able to succeed with that Congress and some of his initiatives, I think thats helpful to him," Fortier said. "But if he starts to falter, then I think you really do see that potentially it will be much more difficult to hold the [Republican] party together.

Given some recent White House missteps, Fortier said some adjustments may be in order.

We have moved from the campaign into governing mode," he said. "People on the campaign will be moving into positions where they have to get things done, and that by its nature means some compromise and some understanding of the limits of their position.

Polarizing style

Trumps bold but at times divisive leadership style is likely to be held in check over time in a variety of ways, said American University analyst James Thurber.

And so this rule of law, transparency, and the media, and all these institutions will check him," Thurber said. "It will be agonizing for some people because of his behavior, but eventually he will be checked in terms of radical changes.

Trumps style has won both admirers and detractors. Legal analyst Daniel McLaughlin said the demonstrations against Trumps executive order on immigration have been extreme and hysterical. He added that historically the courts have given presidents great deference in dealing with immigration issues. So reasonable people can disagree, and I think a lot of the criticism has failed to appreciate that the Trump administration does have reasonable reason for what it is doing, McLaughlin said.

George Washington University law professor Paul Schiff Berman has a different view of how Trump sees his executive power: He is going out of his way, it seems to me, to be provocative, to be antagonistic, to push the limits of executive power as far as he can and so forth. And I think all of that activity is tremendously destabilizing to the constitutional democracy.

It is still very early, but for the moment, supporters and critics alike think it likely that Trumps aggressive presidential style will continue, drawing kudos from his core fans as well as intense opposition from critics.
As President Donald Trump prepares for his first meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since entering the White House, analysts say the Israeli leader hopes to forge common ground on Iran and regional issues.

Netanyahu will be the fourth foreign leader to meet with Trump face-to-face at the White House, after British Prime Minister Theresa May, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Middle East analysts say Trump and Netanyahu want to set in motion a chain of events that could block Iran, redefine Israels relationship with the Arab world, and create Israeli-Palestinian peace.

A senior Israeli Cabinet minister said Monday Netanyahu no longer supports a Palestinian state, but stopped short of confirming whether the prime minister will make his stance public during Wednesday's talks with Trump.

Netanyahu declined to elaborate on his position on the Israeli-Palestinian two-state solution as he departed for the United States.

Come with me, you will hear very clear answers, very clear answers, said Netanyahu, when asked by a reporter if he still stands by the two-state solution.

WATCH: Would Trump-Netanyahu Meeting Move Forward an Israeli-Palestinian Two-State Solution?

The Palestinians will be watching this very closely and will be looking for any hints that the U.S. policy has substantially changed, said retired Ambassador Richard Lebaron, who served as deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv from 2001 to 2004.

Two questions

David Makovsky, director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy Project on the Middle East Peace Process, points to two big questions that will likely be the focal point of talks: How to work with Arab states? How to constrain Irans influence in the region?

Makovsky, who recently visited Israel, said the Iran nuclear deal and sanctions are among the main issues on the agenda for the Trump-Netanyahu meeting.

In July of 2015, Iran and six world powers reached a comprehensive agreement, the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which curbed Tehrans ability to produce nuclear weapons in exchange for lifting stringent economic sanctions.

Trump and Netanyahu are strong critics of this deal. They have also advocated for the termination of JCPOA, which was backed by the Obama administration.

But many see an evolving approach of the Trump administration, shifting from dismantling the deal to tightening its enforcement, while increasing pressure on Iran for its recent ballistic missile test.

I was reassured by what I heard in the meetings on the intention to stick to the full implementation of the agreement, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Friday, after talks at the White House and State Department.

Enforcement

I think the debate about ripping up the agreement has essentially been settled and there are very few prominent voices [advocating that]," said Robert Satloff, executive director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, The debate is within the how do you enforce the hell out of it."

Career diplomat Lebaron told VOA he does not sense "an immediate need on either side to dismantle the agreement per se.

Instead the former ambassador to Kuwait says he expects robust" discussion on how to continue the pressure on Iran over its behavior, including its actions in Syria, Lebanon and other countries in the region.

Keeping in mind also that this agreement involves several other major powers, Lebaron added.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said Tehran will strongly confront any war-mongering policies amid increased tensions with the United States following Trump's election.

Israel-Palestinian negotiation

President Trump has made promises that were viewed as veering sharply from longstanding U.S. policy regarding the Israel-Palestine dispute.

He has pledged to relocate the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, an approach that would break decades of U.S policy, which calls for the citys disputed status to be resolved through negotiations.

Trump has also signaled that he would take a much softer approach to the settlements.

Last December, he criticized the Obama administrations decision to abstain on a U.N. Security Council resolution that condemned Israels settlement construction in the West Bank.

I expect the president to find a way to implement and fulfill these promises," said Satloff.

He added those promises have a role to play in whether Netanyahu can return home with enough political gains to enable him to withstand the pressure from Israels right-wing.

But others said the meeting could be primarily symbolic.

There is no doubt that in a certain way theres a lower expectation because, indeed, President Trump doesnt have a team in place, said Washington Institute's Makovsky. Its easier for him to say, 'Im in a listening mode.

Though Trump has expressed an intention to facilitate peace between Israel and the Palestinians, he has not indicated much sympathy with the aspirations of the latter.

The Palestinians are already seeing that in the way the president refers to settlements and so there will be some apprehension about how this may unfold, said Ambassador Lebaron.

Before flying home Thursday, Netanyahu plans to meet U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Republican and Democratic Congressional leaders. Secretary Tillerson will host a working dinner with Netanyahu Tuesday at the State Department.
U.S. President Donald Trump congratulated Betsy DeVos Tuesday for her confirmation last week as education secretary and said she is the right person to address what he described as an education "crisis" in America.

"Were going to change it around, especially for the African-American communities. Its been very, very tough and unfair," Trump said. "Thats why I want every single disadvantaged child in America, no matter what their background or where they live, to have a choice about where they go to school.

The president's remarks were made at a White House "listening session" that was attended by people who have taught at public and private schools and by parents who have home-schooled their children.

DeVos was confirmed by the Senate as education secretary last week only when Vice President Mike Pence, who is also president of the Senate, cast the tie-breaking vote. It was the first time in U.S. history a vice president broke a tie to confirm a cabinet nominee.

I want to congratulate you on having gone through a very tough trial and a very unfair trial and you won, Trump said.

Opposition to DeVos' nomination was fueled by her longtime support for school choice and a track record of describing traditional public schools as a "dead end."

Every Democratic senator voted against her confirmation, as well as two Republicans.

DeVos was temporarily blocked recently while trying to visit a public school in Washington. After the incident, several well-known critics of DeVos called on protesters to allow her to visit public schools in the nation's capital so she could become more familiar with them.

The San Diego, California, Board of Education was prepared to vote Tuesday on a resolution to invite DeVos to visit the city's public schools. But the resolution was withdrawn Monday after teacher unions complained to the labor-friendly board.

The board's president, former labor leader Richard Barrera issued a statement saying the time is not right for a DeVos visit.

"Given the polarizing nature of the DeVos nomination and confirmation vote, however, it is clear this would be the wrong time to engage the Secretary in dialog," Barrera wrote. "Now is the time for those of us who believe in public education to stand together and confront the threat clearly posed by the DeVos ideology."

DeVos' would likely receive a warmer reception in New Mexico, where Public Education Secretary Hanna Skandera said she would be welcome to any school in the southwestern state.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remained sharply at odds Monday on immigration policies, with Trump applauding his crackdown to deport undocumented migrants and Trudeau acclaiming the success of Syrian refugees in his country.

Trudeau welcomed 40,000 Syrians into Canada even as Trump has sought to indefinitely suspend entry of any Syrian refugees into the U.S., part of his court-blocked plan to halt travel to the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority countries with histories of terrorist attacks.

Asked whether he is confident the northern U.S. border is secure with the Syrians in Canada, Trump told a White House news conference, You can never be totally confident.

WATCH: Trump on biggest security threat for U.S.

But in the wake of U.S. immigration raids in recent days aimed at deporting migrants with criminal records, the new American leader declared, We're getting them out. I'm just doing what I said I would during his run for the presidency.

We're getting the criminals, the drug lords.... We're getting the bad ones , Trump said. People are going to be very, very happy.

WATCH: Trudeau discusses refugees, security

Syrians 'very successful' in Canada

Trump described the government's raids against the illegal migrants as a stance of common sense. The U.S. says that 75 percent of the 680 undocumented immigrants arrested in recent days had criminal records.

Trudeau said the Syrians who have settled in Canada are very successful and that our allies understand Canada's welcome to refugees from war-torn countries.

But the Canadian leader declined to criticize Trump's immigration policies, saying, The last thing Canadians want is for him "to come down to another country and lecture them.

The two leaders, meeting for the first time, reached more agreement on boosting the already high level of trade between between the countries, which Trudeau said amounted to $2 billion a day in cross-border transactions. Trump, during his lengthy presidential campaign, had vowed to renegotiate the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement that includes the U.S., Canada and Mexico to shape it in more favorable terms for U.S. workers.

WATCH: U.S.-Canada will remain partners

Trade relations will be tweaked

But after meeting with Trudeau in the Oval Office and over lunch, Trump said U.S. trade problems with Canada were much less severe than has taken place with Mexico, which he called very unfair.

Trump said the U.S. and Canada would be tweaking their trade relations. We're going to make it even better, Trump said.

Trudeau said his country's economic fortunes are very dependent on trade with the U.S., with 75 percent of its exports heading to America, even as U.S. corporations send 18 percent of their products to Canada. He said that Canada is the biggest trading partner for 35 of the 50 U.S. states.

The two leaders announced a new task force to promote female business leaders and entrepreneurs in the two countries.

Trudeau's schedule for the one-day visit also included talks with House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Trudeau is the third foreign leader Trump has met with since taking office last month, following a visit last weekend with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and earlier with British Prime Minister Theresa May.

WATCH: Trump on commitment to protect mutual interests

Trudeau responds on Twitter

Trump's move to block immigrants from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Somalia and Sudan from traveling to the U.S. for 90 days is on hold.

The U.S. leader signed an executive order suspending the country's refugee program for 120 days and indefinitely suspended it for Syrian refugees. Trump says the moves were necessary to protect national security.

A federal court ordered that the ban not be enforced while it is being challenged by several states, and an appeals court upheld the freeze last week. The White House has been mulling whether to appeal the decision blocking Trump's order or to rewrite it and issue a new ban. The issue could ultimately end up being decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Trudeau's government responded to Trump's order by offering those who would normally be allowed into the U.S. the opportunity to apply for temporary status in Canada.

A day after Trump signed the ban, Trudeau wrote on Twitter: "To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada."
Turkish security forces on Tuesday said they had arrested a French citizen of Turkish origin who was allegedly one of the planners behind a New Years Day nightclub bombing in Istanbul that killed 39 people and wounded 65.

Prosecutors identified the 22-year-old man by the initials A.S. and said he was arrested in Istanbul on February 12. He allegedly signed the lease on a home rented to nightclub attack suspect Abdulkadir Masharipov, who is an Uzbek national. Nine other suspects are also in custody  all linked to the Islamic State group, Turkish authorities say.

The Turkish Daily Sabah said the suspect was born in Turkey and had been living in France and Turkey. He was charged with being affiliated with a terrorist organization. Prosecutor Sadi Dogan told Turkish media that A.S. helped orchestrate the attack.

News reports, citing testimony given in court Saturday, said Masharipov admitted to being an IS follower. He was quoted as telling the court that it would be good if he was given capital punishment.

Masharipov was charged Saturday with belonging to an armed terrorist group  Islamic State  possession of heavy weapons, attempting to destroy constitutional order, and murder.

The suspect fled from the scene of the shootings by blending into the chaotic crowds, police said. Masharipov was arrested 17 days later in Istanbul after a nationwide manhunt.

Authorities said he received terrorist training in Afghanistan and that he had confessed to the Reina nightclub attack, which occurred early January 1.

Oner Bucukcu, a Turkish expert on terrorism, said IS has been conducting terror attacks in Turkey since Turkish-backed forces entered northern Syria last summer to push out IS in an operation labeled Euphrates Shield.

With the Euphrates Shield operation on, border crossings stopped and IS began to use its sleeping cells and Central Asian militants in Turkey, Bucukcu said.

Bucukcu said IS has few Turkish followers, so it has been using its Central Asian militants to conduct terror in Turkey.

Turkey has long been a transit point for hundreds of Central Asian radicals moving into Syria and Iraq to join IS.

The Soufan Group, a security intelligence firm, estimated in December 2015 that about 4,700 IS fighters in Iraq and Syria were from the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

The New Years attack in Turkey was the third within a year linked to Central Asians affiliated with IS.
A U.S. federal judge who temporarily halted the enforcement of President Donald Trump's entry ban ruled Monday that the case challenging the ban itself will move forward, while another federal judge issued a new injunction to keep the ban from being implemented in the state of Virginia.

District Court Judge James Robart ruled earlier this month that people from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Sudan who have valid visas to enter the U.S. may do so, and the nation's refugee admissions program can continue, all while courts consider whether Trump's executive order is legal.

Since that ruling, the government appealed to a three-judge panel at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld Robart's decision to pause enforcement of the ban.

The higher court has 25 circuit judges, and one of them asked last week that the entire group vote on whether to have an 11-member panel re-hear the arguments about whether the temporary enforcement suspension should remain in place. The two sides in the case are due to submit their briefs to that court by Thursday.

The Justice Department asked Judge Robart on Monday to not go any further in considering the overall legality of Trump's order until the 9th Circuit makes its decision, but Robart denied the request.

The state of Washington, which along with Minnesota is leading the legal challenge, argued holding hearings on the constitutionality of Trump's order in the lower court will not interfere with the appeal happening at the 9th circuit.

The Trump administration says it is within its authority to institute the ban, citing the need to protect the nation's security. It has also rejected criticisms that the ban, which involves majority-Muslim countries, is a ban on Muslims entering the U.S.

During Trump's campaign, he originally proposed not allowing Muslims into the country, but later altered the plan to instead target nations with links to terrorism.

District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema cited those statements in her ruling Monday in Virginia that imposed a preliminary injunction against the enforcement of the entry ban portion of the executive order. It does not apply to the refugee program.

"The question is whether the EO (executive order) was animated by national security concerns at all, as opposed to the impermissible motive of, in the context of entry, disfavoring one religious group and, in the area of refugees, favoring another religious group," Brinkema wrote.

The U.S. Constitution forbids the government from establishing an official religion or taking actions that promote or inhibit religion. Trump's order specified that refugees who are a religious minority in their country and facing persecution would still be eligible for admission to the U.S.

"Although there is no interest more weighty than a bona fide national security concern, the defendants have presented no evidence to support their contention that the EO is necessary to national security," Brinkema said in ruling against Trump.

Virginia based its case on the impacts of the ban on its state universities and community colleges, saying students were withdrawing applications, schools would lose tuition money and that Virginia students studying abroad could face inflamed anti-American sentiment.

Brinkema cited a state university official who said the ban affected international travel for at least 350 students at five of the state's biggest schools.
Cindy and her three children live in a tiny bedroom in an apartment shared with two other unrelated adults outside a major U.S. city.

Born in Guatemala, Cindy  who does not want her last name used  was brought to the U.S. when she was 5 years old. Yet she still has no legal status.

Even though I dont have papers, I feel that Im from here, Cindy says. She has been working at various jobs since she was 17.

Now 29, she has a baby on the way and wants to stay in the only country she knows, so she can make a better life for herself and her American-born children.

Of course Im proud of having been born in Guatemala, but I wasnt raised there. I dont know the culture, and I dont know what its like to live there," she says. Her biggest dream, she adds, is to get residency status in the U.S.

But now, more than ever, she is scared of being caught and deported.

Collateral arrests

Cindy is among an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., more than half from Mexico and other Latin American countries.

Some of them were targeted last week by agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which launched enforcement actions that rounded up 680 undocumented immigrants in cities around the country.

ICE said the recent operation was no different than ones it conducted during the administration of former President Barack Obama. Those also targeted individuals with criminal records, the agency said.

"President [Donald] Trump has been clear in affirming the critical mission of DHS [the Department of Homeland Security] in protecting the nation, and directed our department to focus on removing illegal aliens who have violated our immigration laws," Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said in a news release Monday.

Kelly's statement also said the specific focus is on those posing a "threat to public safety and those charged with criminal offenses."

One of Trumps signature campaign promises was to crack down on illegal immigration, promising to deport up to 3 million people involved in criminal activity.

On January 25, he signed an executive order to protect public safety that expanded the governments reach in rounding up those involved in criminal activity or with criminal records.

On Sunday, Trump, in a tweet contradicting ICE's assertion that is operation was routine, tweeted: "The crackdown on illegal criminals is merely the keeping of my campaign promise. Gang members, drug dealers & others are being removed!"

Those were not the only people netted in last week's operation, however.

Homeland Security said that 25 percent of the undocumented people rounded up last week were not criminals, and they will be "evaluated on a case-by-case basis and, when appropriate, arrested by ICE."

Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), told reporters Friday that she has had 30 years' experience working with ICE and that last week's operations were "not normal."

Salas said her organization received an unusual number of calls while the operation was ongoing in Los Angeles, including reports of people being seized in their homes and on their way to work.

Near panic

The immigrant community is full of fear. Rumors of ICE checkpoints and sudden detentions are rife.

At a Catholic Charities center in Washingtons Columbia Heights neighborhood, long a Latin American immigrant community, people standing in line waiting for food assistance spoke openly of their fears of being deported.

Catholic Charities staffer Rodrigo Aguirre says he has noticed a difference from a year ago.

Were seeing people more afraid of asking for help because they are fearful of the consequences, Aguirre said. Fear that their name might be given to immigration and that they will eventually be deported.

Such is the case of a Salvadoran woman waiting for food assistance who gave her name only as Hemelina.

She said she came across the border illegally last year, fleeing a husband who beat her, as well as gang violence.

Catholic Charities immigration lawyer Smita Dazzo said Hemelina could qualify for asylum, if she provides credible proof before an immigration judge.

Dazzo said that in her experience, most of the undocumented immigrants she sees have a well-founded fear of persecution.

"The majority of people who are coming here are really fleeing for their lives, she said. And I dont think it gets the amount of coverage it merits. Its really, really scary for these people and some of them really, honestly feel like they have no choice" but to flee.

Dazzo added she is now consulting with undocumented immigrants who have been in the U.S. for years and only now, after Trumps inauguration, are trying to fix their status.



But with so many seeking to stay, supporters of Trumps immigration policy say the U.S. must impose limits.

Dan Stein, who heads the Federation for American Immigration Reform, notes that in the past 40 years, the United States has had its highest sustained level of immigration in its history, a level he considers unsustainable.

There are simply far more people who would like to move to a country like the United States than we can possibly handle and still provide a good quality of life and a shot at the American dream for people who are here today," Stein says.

Yet the question remains over what happens to the millions of law-abiding undocumented immigrants in the U.S., with families and jobs.

Immigration activists say an immigration reform law that allows them to stay and obtain some kind of legal status is the answer.

As Dazzo, the Catholic Charities lawyer, put it: There are a lot of people who come here as children that are really upstanding citizens. They work hard, theyre family oriented  theyre exactly what you hope that Americans are.
A U.S. federal grand jury has indicted 12 suspects, including six current or former airport baggage security inspectors, in connection with a massive cocaine smuggling operation at the international airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodriguez-Velez, in a statement Monday, said the case is built on evidence that the defendants smuggled suitcases containing as much as 15 kilograms of cocaine through the airport's Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security system. Other defendants include at least one former airport security manager and suspected couriers.

Between 1998 and 2016, the statement alleges, the defendants helped smuggle 20 tons of cocaine through San Juan Luis Munoz Marin International Airport.

The six TSA workers, who face a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, were supposed to provide security and baggage screening for checked and carry-on luggage placed on outbound flights.

However, the statement describes one worker, Javier Ortiz, as picking up suitcases he knew contained cocaine from drug couriers at airline check-in counters. The statement alleges he would place those suitcases into X-ray machines monitored by TSA co-conspirators, who cleared the suitcases for designated flights.

The statement alleges another suspect, identified as Tomas Dominguez-Rohena, would then take the suitcases to their designated flights, making sure no narcotic K-9 dogs or law enforcement personnel were present as the contraband was loaded onto the aircraft.

Authorities say the probe was launched in January 2015 to detect and prosecute drug traffickers using the San Juan facility and other airports on the island as key bases for cocaine distribution abroad.

The U.S. statement said the ongoing probe also is targeting illegal weapons, human cargo, counterfeit documents and the trafficking of illegal profits from illicit activities.
U.S. lawmakers of both political parties said they approved of Michael Flynns resignation as national security adviser and urged President Donald Trump to bring order to his fledgling White House on national security matters and beyond.

That was a decision that was certainly warranted, Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona told reporters Tuesday. The vice president was misinformed [by Flynn].

In his resignation letter, Flynn said he gave Vice President Mike Pence incomplete information about his conversations with Russias ambassador to the United States. Pence went on national television to deny that U.S. sanctions had been discussed with the Russian envoy, but Flynn later conceded that the issue may have come up.

U.S. law bars unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments. Independent Senator Angus King of Maine noted that Flynn spoke with the Russian ambassador during the waning days of the Obama administration.

Private citizens, which is what general Flynn was at that point, are not supposed to be negotiating with foreign countries, King said. We can only have one president at a time.

Overarching concerns

Lawmakers said their concerns go beyond Flynns actions.

He [Trump] has to have a proper decision-making process, McCain said. There are various centers of influence in the White House that lead to a degree of disarray and disorganization, the likes of which we have never seen.

Our [congressional] oversight responsibilities are increased now because its pretty clear that this administration is incoherent on national security, he added.

He [Trump] has to select a national security adviser, said Democratic Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island. Thats step one. Step two, he has to, I think, conduct a very thorough review of his relationship with his associates and the Russians. And there are many suggestions that those associations are more than just casual.

Flynn's resignation adds to a slew of controversies concerning Russia and underscores the need for thorough congressional probes, Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia said.

This is very alarming, Manchin told VOA. We will find out the depth of that [Russian influence] and where it goes, wherever the facts take us. You want a conclusion to this, if it goes any further, any deeper. I think the public wants to know and has a right to know, and were going to look at it.

Further investigation?

But just hours after Flynn resigned, House Republicans showed limited interest in opening up new investigative avenues to pursue lingering questions about the Trump administration's links with Russia.

"I'm not going to pre-judge any of the circumstances until we have all the information," House Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters in his weekly press briefing Tuesday morning. Ryan said he would leave it up to the Trump administration to describe the circumstances leading to Flynn's resignation.

"National security is perhaps the most important function or responsibility of a president and I think the president made the right decision to ask for his resignation. You cannot have a national security adviser misleading the vice president," Ryan said.

WATCH: Ryan says Flynn 'Lost the President's Trust'

"I think that the situation is taking care of itself," House Oversight Committee Chair Jason Chaffetz told reporters after the weekly Republican conference meeting. Chaffetz said the matter was better handled in the ongoing House and Senate Intelligence Committee investigations on Russian election interference rather than in his own oversight committee.

"It's not something that the oversight committee can actually look at because sources and methods are the exclusive purview of the intel committee," Chaffetz said.

Earlier in the day, Congressman Devin Nunes, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee, said his committee would focus on investigating the leaks that revealed Flynn's discussions with the Russian ambassador.

Independent investigation

But House Democrats demanded answers to the questions they say were raised  not resolved  by Flynn's resignation, calling for an independent body to examine what Trump knew about Flynn's contact with Russia and when he knew it.

Ranking Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff said Americans should be deeply concerned the Trump administration asked for Flynn's resignation only after the news of his calls had leaked to the public and called for a thorough investigation into links between the Trump campaign and Russia.

WATCH: Schiff Says White House 'Misled' Americans

"The administration was OK with the fact that the American people were laboring under the falsehood that they had not discussed the sanctions with the Russians," Schiff said.

"If the speaker won't commit to a Congressional probe, he should allow for an independent commission and get out of the way," he continued.

And while many House Democrats used language recalling the threatened impeachment and eventual resignation of President Richard Nixon more than 40 years, they said the calls for investigation into the Trump administration were about more than partisan politics.

"We are in a fight for the soul of our democracy," said ranking member of the House Oversight Committee Congressman Elijah Cummings. "Republicans need to join us. It's not a Democratic issue, a Republican issue, it's not an independent issue. It's an American issue."
"The immediate impact of Syria is that we are witnessing huge interest worldwide in our defence hardware," said Viktor N Kladov, Director International Cooperation and Regional Policy, ROSTEC.

By Jugal R Purohit: Russia's active and unprecedented military participation in the Syrian conflict will materialize into a windfall for its defence and manufacturing industry as nations increasingly look to Moscow to aid their armed forces after having seen combat proven Russian equipment on display.

This was stated by Viktor N Kladov, Director International Cooperation and Regional Policy, ROSTEC - a Russian conglomerate consisting of 700 organisations involved in the military-industrial complex and civilian sectors. He was speaking on the sidelines of the Aero India 2017.

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"The immediate impact of Syria is that we are witnessing huge interest worldwide in our defence hardware. Whether attack aircraft or air defence systems or attack and transport helicopter, there are many nations which want them," he said.

When asked for specific countries which had sought specific equipment, he replied, "The Sukhoi 35 has been proven in combat. It is a precision strike weapon and versatile, Then the Mi28 night hunter attack helicopter is a brilliant piece of art of which we've not lost even a single chopper, then the S400 which we deployed and has acted as deterrent is attracting attention. We are seeing interest among many middle-east countries which willing to buy," he said without naming the countries or citing specific deals.

ROSTEC INDIA TIES

Among the products ROSTEC has dealt with India over rank the T90 tanks and the Sukhoi 30 MKI. The next big ticket item, however, is the deal for Kamov 226T helicopter, a deal which will help India bid farewell to the antiquated Cheetah and Chetak helicopters.

"We are going full steam ahead on the Kamov 226T deal. Last year, during the BRICS summit in Goa we signed the agreement to create a joint venture. Now all participants of the JV have been defined. In the past there were too many Indian partners and government's decision to pick the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL) is logical because HAL's huge experience. So in the JV, Russian side will be Russian Helicopters and Rosoboronexport holding 49.5 per cent and HAL will hold 50.5 per cent. Exactly the way the successful BrahMos plan was conceived and executed. The documentation for the JV is done and both the governments are approving them. Once done, we will create the JV and begin work," said.

Explaining the deal further, he added, "First 40 choppers will come built in from Russia to expedite matters since India urgently needs choppers. Gradually more technology will be transferred and more will be produced in India".

Pointing to a set of brand new engines on display in the exhibition area, Kladov said, "This is the AL41F latest generation thrust vector control engine. If India purchases the Sukhoi 35, we will provide these engines." Asked if Russia would participate in the hunt for 200 fighter jets which would be made in India, he replied in the affirmative. "We are very much committed to the Make In India campaign," he said.

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--- ENDS ---
The National Security Council has served as an advisory board for American presidents on all matters related to national security and foreign policy since it was created in 1947.

The national security adviser generally serves as chair during meetings of the council not attended by the president and is supposed to be an objective arbiter for the commander-in-chief.

Late Monday, Michael Flynn resigned as national security adviser after it came to light he misled the administration about conversations he held with Russias ambassador during the presidential transition process.

President Donald Trump has since named retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg as the acting national security adviser.

Prior to being named to the job, Flynn held a similar role as Trumps go-to national security adviser during the campaign and was the only military figure of his rank and stature to support Trump throughout the election.



Retired U.S. Vice Admiral Robert Harward, a former Navy SEAL, was offered the position after Flynn's resignation, but turned it down, citing personal issues.

Harward told the Associated Press the Trump administration was very accommodating to him but he turned down the offer because he is in a unique position finally after being in the military for 40 years to enjoy some personal time.

Each president is given wide latitude to organize and use the NSC. Some presidents have chosen to employ large NSC staffs and rely on them heavily, while others have employed small staffs and used them only occasionally.

When he took office, Barack Obama dismantled the White House Homeland Security Council created by former President George Bush in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in 2001 and folded its responsibilities in with those of the NSC.

At the time, Obamas national security adviser, Gen. James L. Jones, said the change would allow the president to make better decisions even more rapidly.

When Trump took office, he made several changes to the structure of the NSCs Principals Committee, which comprises the highest-ranking members of the full council.

Trump gave his chief strategist, Steve Bannon, a permanent invitation to the meetings, and allows his Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Director of National Intelligence to attend meetings only when issues arise that pertain to them.

Controversy

Flynn became embroiled in controversy last week when The Washington Post reported he spoke to Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak about sanctions placed on Russia, despite repeatedly denying the conversations took place.

The discussions raised concerns he may have offered the Russians some kind of assurances that the Trump administration would lift the sanctions placed on Russia by the Obama administration. Those conversations would mark a possible violation of the Logan Act, which forbids unauthorized citizens from conducting diplomacy on behalf of the U.S.

Flynn isnt the first national security adviser to resign after facing scandal.

President Ronald Reagan had two advisers step down after being convicted for connections to the Iran-Contra affair, which involved several administration officials conspiring to illegally funnel profits from arms sales to Iran to the Contras militant group in Nicaragua.

Robert McFarlane served as national security adviser for slightly more than two years when he resigned in 1985 for what he called personal reasons. He later pleaded guilty to withholding information from Congress in an attempt to cover up the arms sales.

His replacement, John Poindexter, also played a role in the Iran-Contra affair, and in 1986, also resigned after serving less than a year. He later was found guilty in connection to the scandal, but appealed the decision and had it overturned.
It's no real mystery. That's the assessment of North Korea watchers and members of the U.S. intelligence community following the apparent assassination of the eldest son of the totalitarian state's former leader, Kim Jong Il.

According to authorities in Malaysia, 46-year-old Kim Jong Nam  traveling with a passport under the name of Kim Chol  died en route to a hospital after seeking medical help at the budget-flight terminal of Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Kim, who is the half-brother of North Korea's current leader, Kim Jong Un, apparently was jabbed with a poisonous needle or a cloth by two women, according to South Korean media reports quoting intelligence sources in Seoul.

Intelligence sources in Washington say there is a strong belief the killing was ordered by Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang.

"We are aware of reports" about the death of Kim, a State Department spokesperson said on condition of not being named. "We refer you to the Malaysian authorities."

The National Intelligence Service in Seoul told VOA's Korean Service it could neither confirm nor deny that scenario.

Living in exile

The jovial and portly Kim Jong Nam had lived in exile for many years in Macau, a gambling enclave under China's control.

The Chinese had calculated that the North Korean exile, to whom it had long agreed to host, "would have been preferable as a leader to North Korea," said Georgetown University visiting professor Balbina Hwang. "That in itself is a direct threat to Kim Jong Un and, of course, must be eliminated at any costs, even fratricide."

The two half-brothers apparently had never met (they were born to different mothers, but both shared a father and grandfather  North Korea's revered founder Kim Il Sung). And there had been previous assassination threats against Kim Jong Nam, who was once considered heir apparent. But he fell from grace with his father after he tried to enter Japan on a forged passport to visit Tokyo Disneyland.

During Korea's traditional Chosun dynasty "a brother or an uncle in a royal household is a potential rival to get rid of, including killing," explained Tara O, adjunct fellow of the Pacific Forum Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Kim Jong Un put to death a powerful uncle, Jang Song Thaek, in 2013, according to several defectors from the regime.

Consistent defiance

Assassinating a rival sibling also would be in line with Kim's defiance of international norms, according to Hwang, a former senior adviser on Asian Affairs to the State Department.

His death comes just days after Kim Jong Un again defied international sanctions and fired off a new type of solid-fuel land-based ballistic missile.

"That is actually part and parcel of the message he is trying to send, not just to the United States and Japan, South Korea and others, but also to China, frankly, and also to inside his own regime," Hwang told VOA.

Kim Jong Nam "favored reform, a position China also shares," O told VOA.

Authorities in Malaysia say a dizzy Kim sought help at an airport counter Monday morning after he felt someone grab his face from behind. He was taken to an airport clinic and was referred to a nearby hospital. An ambulance was called.

"Upon arrival at the hospital, the doctor found that he is already dead," Sepang police chief Abdul Aziz Ali.

Two female assailants fled the airport in a taxi, according to South Korean media reports quoting sources.

Pending autopsy

Abdul Aziz says authorities are treating it "as a sudden death case" pending an autopsy that is expected to be performed Wednesday morning at a hospital.

"Only then can we ascertain the cause of death," said the police chief. "Probably we'll refer blood samples and contents of the stomach to the chemistry department to find out what actually caused his death."

Until then, he added, authorities will be unable to say whether the death will be classified "as a murder or not."

Kim Jong Nam's birth resulted from his father's relationship with Sung Hye Rim, a popular actress who died in Moscow in 2002.

Kim Jong Nam had stated he had no desire to lead his country and had criticized, in a 2010 Japanese TV interview, what he termed "third-generation succession." He said he hoped, though, "my younger brother will do his best for the sake of North Koreans' prosperous lives."

The Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea, under the leadership of a third-generation Kim, is one of the world's poorest countries.

One question being discussed now among analysts is why Kim Jong Un would want his elder half-brother killed at this particular juncture.

The North Korean leader may have been watching the protests in Seoul and "saw how easily the president can be brought down, and thus is feeling insecure," O speculated. "Perhaps he knows loyalty based on fear is fleeting. Perhaps the system is crumbling more than people realize. Time will tell."
South African Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba has urged residents of Rosettenville suburb in Johannesburg to stop attacking foreigners accused of perpetrating crime.

Gigaba, who toured the suburb on Monday where about 10 houses occupied by foreigners allegedly selling drugs and promoting prostitution were set on fire, said locals should report such incidents to the police instead of taking matters into their own hands.

He told residents, after touring the affected area, that the South African government is aware of their grievances and will do all it can to address them.

But he was quick to stress that it is wrong to attack foreigners. No person has the right to take the law into his or her own hands  We need to assess the whole situation concerning people said to be committing crimes before we take any action.

However, his calls fell on deaf ears as some of the residents said they are sick and tired of foreigners who are allegedly selling drugs to their children and promoting prostitution.

One of them, Teressa Zwane, said, They (foreigners) are selling drugs to our children. They are also promoting prostitution here. We are now sick and tired of them. They must go because even police are not taking any action even if we inform them about what is going on.

Malawian Elubey Mwaleni, one of the victims, said the situation is frightening as she has been left homeless.

I am totally powerless. Right now I am like a candle in the wind, just walking aimlessly looking for a place to live  I dont know whether I will get a place to live 

Zimbabwean, Kursh Ndlovu, said not all foreigners are selling drugs or promoting prostitution in Rosettenville.

We need to become brothers and sisters and not enemies. We are Africans. All people who are here are trying to eke out a living. We are not here to cause havoc but to work for our families.

Thousands of Zimbabweans live in the suburb and the nearby Turffontein, widely regarded as politically volatile.

A senior local government official was quoted recently as saying that foreigners are causing havoc in Johannesburg and as a result should be sent back to their homes.
The CIA has refused Robin Townley the level of defence accreditation required to have a seat on the National Security Council (NSC).

Robin Townley had been appointed chief assistant to the National Security Advisor, General Michael Flynn. He should have held the office of the NSC Director for Africa but he found himself left with no other option than to resign.

The Agencys decision is a quid pro quo to President Trumps Memorandum which effectively put an end to the Director of the CIA having a permanent seat on the NSC.

At the same time, the CIA is trying to prove that General Flynns contacts with the Russian ambassador, Sergey Ivanovich Kislyak, prior to the [US] Presidential Election had all the elements of a federal crime. According to the Agency, if Michael Flynn confirmed to the diplomat declarations made by Donald Trump on the need to lift sanctions imposed on Moscow, even if these declarations were in the public domain, he would [still] have committed the crime of espionage.
By PTI: Sasikalas

Amaravati, Feb 14 (PTI) Drawing a parallel between the J Jayalalithaa case, which the Supreme Court disposed of today, and that of Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, the ruling Telugu Desam Party today demanded expeditious trial of the illegal assets case against the YSR Congress president.

"There is no difference between the two cases. There, Sasikala (close aide of the late Tamil Nadu CM) misused Jayalalithaas position and amassed illegal wealth through quid pro quo deals. Jagan did the same in Andhra Pradesh abusing his father (late) YS Rajasekhara Reddys position (as CM).

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"If Sasikala got a four-year jail term for a scam of Rs 66 crore, Jagan should get many more years as he illegally amassed about Rs one lakh crore," TDP MLC and spokesman Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy told reporters here this evening.

V K Sasikala, who was leading an aggressive bid to become CM of the southern state, received a jolt when the apex court today restored her conviction in a disproportionate assets case and sent her back to jail.

Reddy said the "modus operandi" used by both Sasikala and Jagan, by floating shell companies and laundering money, were the same.

"As per the supreme courts previous directions, the cases against Jagan should be disposed of within one year. Even if he gets convicted in one out of 11 cases, he is sure to end up in jail for many years," the TDP leader said.

He said the Enforcement Directorate had already attached Jagans properties worth Rs 3,000 crore while the CBI and the ED have unearthed illegal assets to the tune of Rs 40,000 crore in name of Jagan and his companies.

"We demand a speedy trial into Jagans illegal assets cases," Reddy added. PTI DBV NSK

--- ENDS ---
Ashleigh LaThrop and Robinne Lee. (There are no photos of them in the movie, of course.) Photo: Getty Images

Fifty Shades Darker has earned plenty of criticism for its inability to present a credible depiction of heterosexual sex, lipstick removal, or Vin Diesel fandom. But there is one thing the sequel actually gets right: black women.

Darker only has two black female characters  Hannah (Ashleigh LaThrop) and Ros Bailey (Robinne Lee)  but the two of them are the movies true heroes, the only ones in this glossy version of Seattle who come anywhere close to acting like normal people. Whenever a totally unexpected and inexplicable plot device appears to threaten Christian and Anas dark and stormy romance, either Hannah or Ros is in the frame, ready to serve as our barometer of common sense: Just how crazy can this get?

As VP of Grey Enterprises, Ros Bailey is the closest thing Christian has to a friend-ish figure. (He seems to tolerate his parents and actively disdain his sister.) During one meeting, Christian sits at the head of the conference room, furiously texting Ana. As he types domineering commands  NO, his thumbs bellow when Ana asks about going to New York City on a work trip with her boss  Ros, whos sitting to his right, looks at him like hes a child. The way she quickly returns her attention to the meeting is like a visual reminder of something Ros has probably known to be true her entire career: Christian is a cartoonishly unqualified and unprofessional boss.

Back at her small Seattle publishing house, Ana has her own black work wife: Hannah. Theyre both eager assistants whove bonded commiserating about their ornery boss Jack (Eric Johnson). But after that boss makes a pass at Ana, hes fired and shes promoted to acting fiction editor. Its a laughably clunky twist: Because Christian is buying the company, he demands Jacks resignation, and of course the only person qualified to take over his workload is his assistant. Hannah, who unfortunately is not dating the billionaire who co-owns her place of work, has to stay an assistant  Anas assistant.



This is sticky transition, and Darker handles it with a hilariously glib Working Girl homage. Do you expect me to call you Ms. Steele? Hannah asks once shes managing the iCal of her less-experienced white co-worker. The delivery is pitch perfect here: Its somewhere between Rihannas response to a demanding fan and Iyanla Vanzant shouting Not on my watch! Ana doesnt catch this. I dont expect you to fetch coffee for me, not unless youre getting it for yourself, she shrugs. And as for the rest  well make it up as we go along. But thats not what Hannah asked. And Hannah, knowing this, looks at Ana blankly, mutters some well wishes, and exits the office.

But its Ros Baileys last scene that really proves Fifty Shades Darker has a handle on how black women become accessories to white peoples craziness. As Christian pilots a chopper over the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest, the helicopter suffers a mechanical failure. Its not explained  nothing in this movie ever is  but the aircraft is suddenly going down. With Ros sitting in the passenger seat looking deathly afraid, Christian mumbles something about how theyre going down. And then, in a moment of beauty and truth, Ros looks at him like he has no idea who she is. As if shell reduce herself a death with Christian Grey in a helicopter crash! Boy if you dont (Spoiler alert: They survive.)



None of this really revolutionizes the familiar black best friend trope white love stories usually trot out. But with all its messiness, Fifty Shades Darker, at least makes space for a facial expression that only black women are truly expert at: the polite, quizzical look of someone stuck in a situation that simply does not make any sense. Ros and Hannah arent full characters, but they are fully functional in their shadiness. Theyre the only two people in this self-serious saga who get to have a little fun.
Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM

Ryan Murphy is re-creating his love for Old Hollywood icons with his upcoming mini-series anthology Feud, starring Susan Sarandon as Bette Davis and Jessica Lange as Joan Crawford. The series follows the two on the set of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, where the pair had an infamously contentious relationship. For Murphy, the fixation on the screen legends comes from a place of love. And in the case of Davis, he was able to draw from a four-hour conversation he had with her when he was a young journalist. Murphy first corresponded with her when he was a kid, writing a letter to Davis because he was enchanted by her in The Letter. She did write me back. And she wrote me a couple of times, Murphy told Gayle King at a luncheon panel discussion about Feud at the Rainbow Room in New York. What I loved about her letters to me they were never like, xo, love. It would be like, Thanks for the letter. Youre sweet. Bette Davis.

While hed never met her in person during their correspondence, in the last month of her life, Daviss assistant contacted Murphy. I dont know how much longer shes going to be with us, so why dont you come now, Murphy recalled the assistant saying. I booked a plane ticket. It was the first time I had ever been to L.A., and she was very ill. She just had chemo. He remembered the meeting:



She buzzed me in with no hello or anything. So I go up the elevator and I open up the door, and she was at the very end of the hallway, dressed up. She wore a pillbox hat and was enveloped in this cumulus cloud of cigarette smoke. And so she took me in, and the first thing she said was, Do you want to hold my Oscars? To which I said yes.



And then the 20 minutes turned into a four-hour conversation. She liked me, I think, because I chainsmoked with her. This was in the late 80s. I had a really wonderful time and I got to really talk to her a lot about her pain and her regretting what it was like to be a woman and feel that you were just getting started and to be told you were done. And a lot of that reportage that I couldnt use, because a lot of what she said was off the record, I put it in the show.



It was a real honor. It put me on a path, because she was so unusual and never bent to what people thought she should be. She just was who she was. And goddammit, she was proud of that. And I remember thinking, Im going to live my life that way.



When Murphy was directing Sarandon and Lange on set, they recalled that he would sometimes do the voices of Bette and Joan to communicate what he was envisioning for a particular scene. I loved these women, and I think it was instantly clear to them that I was doing it from a place of great affection, said Murphy. Id never imitated anybody while we were doing [People v. OJ]. I dont know why I felt that, but I just felt them. I felt their pain. I understood them. I had a familiarity with them.


Jay Z and Beyonce. Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for NARAS

It took roughly three seconds for keen observers of the 2017 Grammys to note the obvious parallels between Adeles acceptance speech for receiving Album of the Year, in which she, sobbingly, declared that Beyonce deserved the award and that she, Adele, couldnt possibly accept the award, and Macklemores Instagram post, in the wake of his 2014 win for Best Rap Album over Kendrick Lamar, of a text he sent to Kendrick declaring that Kendrick should have won and had been robbed. Factually and personally speaking, both public statements were accurate, yet the queasiness they induced, the subtle condescension they evinced, and the shame they displayed smacked of dishonesty nonetheless. After all, it wasnt as if either artist refused their awards, or had, having come into their possession, given them to their rightful recipients. She cried, when she took; the more she cried, the more she took, wrote the Prussian king Frederick the Great of his rival, the pious Austrian empress Maria Theresa, and though the contexts (18th-century absolute monarchs preying on a helpless Poland, 21st-century white pop stars snagging industry awards that should go to their black counterparts) are clearly on a different scale, the hypocrisy common to each remains as relevant as ever. All tears aside, they remain the winners.

The yearly roster of Grammy winners is, if little else, a reminder that power operates not only through brute force and denials, but through culture and flattery as well. Status is a zero-sum game, and every stick applied to one is a carrot to some other. Power is a prison, but its also a gift of attentions and honors, goods and titles. In other words, its an awards show where each prize unites judges and recipients in complicity. (Unlike last nights Grammys themselves, though, the Whiteness Awards are ubiquitous and seemingly without end.)

Still, Grammy win or Grammy loss, it was clear  has long been clear  that musically speaking, triumph and status can be conferred by black artists upon themselves. Had Beyonce somehow won Album of the Year, Shining, the Tidal-exclusive single featuring herself, Jay Z, and DJ Khaled released shortly after the Grammys end, would have served as accompaniment: The song is all but literally a victory lap, a calm, quick circulation of achievements by the house of Carter-Knowles  all of this winning, from money to children to luxury goods to platinum plaques topped off by a few jaunty Drake-dissing bars. But as things stand, it does perfectly well as a miniature awards show of its own, a proof that, at least in Bey and Jays case, black artists set their own standards of winning and own their own records (and, of course, through Tidal, have their own means of distributing music). Came in 97, been winning 20 years, Beyonce sings, and she isnt lying at all. The song feels more chaser than shot, but with a history so long and so distinguished, theres a lot to chase. If there are any monarchs out there now, theyre the ones, having earned the titles fairly, through their own work. If the industry wont crown them, so what? They can do it better themselves.
Rachel Lindsay, the next Bachelorette. Photo: Bill Matlock/ABC

To some members of Bachelor Nation, the timing of the announcement of Rachel Lindsays casting as the 13th Bachelorette was bigger than the announcement itself: The current season isnt over yet, meaning the show will continue to pretend shes a contender for Nick Vialls heart for the next couple weeks. But declaring Lindsay as the Bachelorette earlier than usual makes a lot of sense. Shes a fan favorite. Shes a lawyer. (She passed the bar on the first try!) Shes age-appropriate; Lindsay is 31 years old, older than the other 23-year-olds she shared the Bachelors affections with this season. And of course, Rachels casting as the romantic lead for the next iteration of the popular franchise is historic: Lindsay is a black woman.

As a recapper of the Bachelor franchise, Ive noticed and commented on the overwhelming whiteness of the reality dating show. Only two other leads have been people of color. Juan Pablo Galavis of season 18 was the only Bachelor of color; JoJo Fletcher, the most recent Bachelorette, has an Iranian mother, but her ethnicity was rarely discussed on the show. Lindsay will be the first black lead of either The Bachelor or The Bachelorette.

ABC has led the charge in recent years for more complex portrayals for black women with shows like Black-ish and the Shonda Rhimescreated series Scandal and How to Get Away With Murder. But all the while, The Bachelorette has held court on the network like a relic from a less diverse era. Its lack of diversity is due in part to the fact that the Bachelorette has always been chosen from the cast of the preceding season of The Bachelor, itself not a sterling example of racial inclusion.

There have only been 43 black contestants on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, ever. Assuming every season starts with 30 contestants, this equates to 4.3 percent of all contestants. African-American contestants start out woefully underrepresented and they dont last long. More than half of the black Bachelor and Bachelorette contestants (59 percent) leave within the first two weeks.

The current, 21st season of The Bachelor has drawn attention for having eight black women and two Asian-American women  Vialls dating pool is responsible for 18.6 percent of black contestants in Bachelor(ette) history. If there were ever a season most likely to produce a Bachelorette of color, it would be this one. Signs were promising when Lindsay caught Vialls eye in the first episode and was given the First Impression rose, which is typically an indicator that the contestant will make it far on the show.

Recapping The Bachelor for Vulture, Ive always found it more than easy to find fodder for jokes. But throughout this current season, I have sincerely been caught off guard each week by Rachels success as a clear front-runner. Right from week one, when Rachel was given the rose because of her personality, her intellect, and her beauty, it was disarming to me, not only as a Bachelor fan, but as a black woman. In that moment I realized I was so starved for representation that I was crying on my couch, unable even to snark.

In a post-Lemonade, postMichelle Obama era, casting a black woman as the Bachelorette may seem like a frivolous victory. The fact is, though, the struggle for representation for black women is different than it is for white women. Feminist movements led by white women have tried to create distance between white women and the roles of girlfriend, wife, mother. Black women, meanwhile, have tried to reclaim these roles and, in turn, the full spectrum of womanhood. This is because of how routinely black women are criticized in terms of their womanhood. Black women are angry and unladylike. Their bodies are vulgar and lack grace. To this day, Serena Williamss body is mocked in comparison to her lithe peers. Her outbursts on the court, her critics say, are evidence of inherent unsportsmanlike behavior.

Beyonces last two albums, Beyonce and Lemonade, are love letters to her femininity. In her lyrics, she fires back at critics who ridiculed her absence from music to focus on motherhood and her decision to take her husbands last name: I took some time to live my life / But dont think Im just his little wife / Dont get it twisted. Last years Lemonade tells the story of a woman working through her partners infidelity and finding resolution in her family. Beyonce says I love you more than this job / Please dont work for me. She is stating explicitly that her relationship is more important than her career.

These brilliant albums, when taken as a whole, are Beyonces statement on the choices black women make to balance career, identity, and romance. Beyonce asserts a black woman can be both sexy and empowered; Lemonade demands that a black woman deserves to be in a fulfilling relationship with a happy, resolute ending. Celebrating black womanhood in the context of marriage and motherhood might seem reductive to some, but because theyve so often been denied those roles in pop culture, its in fact, revolutionary.

Another black woman with a public love story Ive found inspiring is Michelle Obama, who also faced her fair share of criticism in the public eye. She was attacked for her appearance by right-wing critics who compared her to animals or claimed she wasnt a real woman. Criticism even came from feminists on the left who thought one of the most professionally accomplished First Ladies leaving her career and focusing on a motherly project, childhood obesity, wasnt progressive enough. Despite all this, she left the White House with a 66 percent approval rating. Her husband thanked her in his farewell address: Michelle LaVaughn Robinson, girl of the South Side  for the past 25 years, you have not only been my wife, the mother of my children, you have been my best friend. With tears in his eyes, he acknowledged and loved all aspects of her womanhood and her connection to Chicagos South Side, a historically black neighborhood, and showed the world what deep, enduring black love could look like.

It might seem a little lofty to invoke the name of the first black First Lady and the worlds greatest living performer when talking about the first black Bachelorette. But just as the public often looks to the First Family or pop-culture icons as fairy-tale stand-ins, The Bachelor franchise often becomes a substitute for those same types of larger-than-life love stories. Vultures Kathryn VanArendonk wrote in a piece recently that The Bachelor franchise is our most-enduring modern romantic comedy. The tropes of grand romance are integral to the series: Theres an ebullient embrace, we get the delightful romance trope of people finally experiencing the relief of declared love, there are soaring strings, and it all takes place in an exotic location. The couple rides off into the sunset, and next season we get to watch love blossom between new lovers once again.

Sometimes we deserve a fairy tale, a cotton-candy romance to go with our lemonade. Seeing a black woman as the woman pursued, riding off into the sunset, would do so much to diversify the narratives of black romance. Its time for black love to be encapsulated in history, in all its forms. When you see yourself in stories, you feel valued and elevated. As a black woman writing about television, Im often asked to write about people who dont look like me. Seeing a black woman try to find love and be celebrated as a paragon of beauty and womanhood would not only be heartwarming. It might be enough to make me believe in love stories and turn down the snark once and for all.
Variant cover for The Wild Storm No. 1. Art by Tula Lotay. Photo: DC Entertainment

Two decades ago, a single publishing decision changed superhero fiction forever. Warren Ellis had been writing underappreciated comics in the U.K. and U.S. for about six years when the higher-ups at an Image Comics imprint called Wildstorm put him in charge of one of their flagship titles, a superhero-team series called Stormwatch. There, he and artist Bryan Hitch kicked off a new aesthetic approach to superhero storytelling, which they then brought into a sequel called The Authority, which went on to become the first truly cinematic superhero comic, which went on to become the foundation stone of modern superhero cinema. In many ways, the Superhero Boom began with Ellis and Wildstorm.

Now, that man and that brand are having an unlikely reunion. Last year, DC Comics  which now owns WildStorm and employs the imprints founder, Jim Lee  announced that it was bringing Ellis back into the fold and letting him run wild with the WildStorm universes characters, reimagining them for a new era. The project begins with a series called The Wild Storm, illustrated by Jon Davis-Hunt and Ivan Plascencia, which launches on Wednesday. Below, we have exclusive finished pages from the beginning of the first issue, as well as a conversation with Ellis about the unique power of Wildstorms mythology, how this new work relates (or doesnt) to the versions of his Wildstorm characters that DC has used in its main universe, whether well see his creations Apollo and Midnighter in the series, and the way Brexit plays into his conception of this reboot.

Excerpt from The Wild Storm No. 1. All images below are also excerpts, illustrated by Jon Davis-Hunt with color art by Ivan Plascencia, unless otherwise specified. Photo: DC Entertainment

How closely did you follow the Wildstorm universe when it first launched at Image?

I didnt follow it too closely  Image happened when I was fairly poor, for one thing, and also when I was developing my own approach and studying other things. I remember noting the unusually high production values  Image made great-looking comics, everybody else in commercial comics looked like they were hand-cranking a duplicating machine in comparison. And I was very taken with Jims art style on Deathblow  Jim had yet to really show the remarkable range hes capable of.

How did you get brought on board for Stormwatch and your other pre-Authority series, DV8, back in the mid-90s? And what were you tasked with doing on those titles?

As I recall, Marie Javins  my first editor at Marvel Comics, and now my editor on The Wild Storm  had told the editor-in-chief there that I was looking for work, as my time at Marvel felt like it was coming to a natural end. So I got asked to take over Stormwatch. I dont recall if I wrote a pitch first or whether I actually just got started writing  Wildstorm was a pirate ship in those days, we didnt have a lot in the way of rules. Jim had some fascinating ways of doing things. I remember the deal with covers was that covers didnt come with much of an extra fee, but the cover artist could do whatever the hell they liked without notes or approvals. This was in the days when covers at other companies had to be approved by like six different people, from thumbnails to sketch to pencils to complete art. So, as a writer, all I had to do was amuse my artists and my editor.

Photo: DC Entertainment

DV8 came later  I think it was the only time I had an actual No. 1 selling book  but I had a different editor on that, who figured the pirate ethos meant that he could completely rewrite whole chunks of my scripts and not tell anybody, and consequently that was the only book at Wildstorm I ever walked off of. Everyone else at Wildstorm was really good about it, so I stayed with the company and Stormwatch. Jim and his crew were always immensely kind to me.

Why did you transition Stormwatch into The Authority?

I discovered that no one was buying Stormwatch. And I called the office and said, hey, I just found out that nobody buys Stormwatch. They said, we know, but we all really love reading it, so were going to keep publishing it so long as you keep wanting to write it. Which was one of the most wonderful, kind things anyone in publishing had ever said to me. But I felt awful about it. They were burning money on my account. I just felt terrible. So I started thinking of ways to try and improve the situation and give something back to them so their investment would be worth something. That was the beginning of the process that lead to The Authority.

Photo: DC Entertainment

The next step was thinking a lot about Bryan Hitchs pages from his brief stint on Stormwatch. Bryan was, as I recall, thinking about transitioning out of comics at the time  he has a second career in film and television  and hes one of those rare artists who can utilize filmic language in comics and have it still be comics. Studying what he was doing in those issues, and thinking about the other things it suggested and the language he could turn it into, got me most of the rest of the way.

How did this revival come about? Did you ever expect that youd return to these characters after Wildstorm petered out?

God, no. And, you know, I never really return to anything. Which, weirdly, was the thought process I was working through when I got the call. Id started asking myself if never looking back had become dogmatic, and dogmatic thinking is never healthy thinking. So I was kicking this around intellectually, and wondering to myself what the value was of never returning to a thing or even looking back at it. And then Jim Lee calls me. Id already reconnected with my old friend Marie Javins, now a group editor at DC, and wed briefly discussed the idea of me going back to DC. And then Jim calls and says, hey, how about this? And what he asked me to do is pretty much the brief youve seen in the preview material  reboot and reinvent the line, with a free hand, creating four books through two years of publishing.

Photo: DC Entertainment

My immediate response was to think about the original books, which were really about all the stuff that Jim and his friends were interested in back then  conspiracies, alien intelligences, black ops  really paranoid stuff. And this was a year ago, pre-Brexit, preU.S. election. But it still felt right. I wrote the first six issues before Brexit, as I recall. I thought Britain would probably not leave the EU, but that the campaign would surface a lot of grim stuff. Which it did. And then Brexit. And I knew exactly which way the U.S. election would go. So, here we are a year later, with a book about secret power structures.

A lot of those early Wildstorm books were, on some level, about who really runs the world, and who gets crushed or warped in the small spaces between those giant cogs. Yes, they were big technicolor superhero books, I dont want to oversell the metaphor or anything, but a lot of those characters who rubbed up against The True Nature of Things and got broken. So I said a lot of this to Jim, off the cuff, and thats when he closed the deal and let me run with it, really.

Without giving away any plot details, what are you hoping to achieve with the revival?

For one thing, I want a new reader to be able to pick it up without any knowledge of the previous line and get a complete experience from it. This isnt 25 years later. This is a fresh start. What Im doing is gathering up the entirety of the previous material, making it a coherent whole, and recasting it in the present day with an original story line that serves the legacy of the work and, hopefully, says something new.

Photo: DC Entertainment

I mean, there were a lot of Wildstorm books. And remember I said it was a pirate ship? The world-building was all over the place. I had to sit down and write a fucking cosmology for this project. Jim Lee made me invent 12,000 years of intergalactic history and I will never forgive him.

Youve worked within the context of reboots/reimaginings of existing intellectual property a fair bit in the past, such as newuniversal and your various Ultimate Marvel projects. What are the challenges and opportunities such projects present? How much archival rereading do you do before tackling them?

Usually, I do an absolute ton of reading. A signature of my superhero genre work is that I usually have to read all of it, because I very rarely looked at that stuff as a comics reader. Back in pre-internet days, companies used to have to ship me huge boxes full of photocopies of archival material, hundreds of pages at a time. I had to write Planetary just to get all that out of my head again. I have the unusual advantage this time of having previously written a lot of the archival material, and having previously spent so much time immersed in it that I still retain a lot of the details.

Writer Steve Orlando has been doing acclaimed stories in the mainstream DC universe starring your Wildstorm characters Midnighter and Apollo. What do you think of his work on them?

I think Steve is a fine writer, and the book he writes is a good and necessary thing. So, early in the process, I made sure everyone knew I didnt want this to extinguish Steves book. Im making use of the DC multiversal structure. This is, if you like, Earth-Wildstorm, a parallel universe to the regular DC world. This means that Steves book takes place in the mainstream DC universe. That frees me to use Midnighter and Apollo, which I plan to  but they will be alternates, and very different versions. Steves book stands on its own two feet, and I dont want to mess with that.

Ooh, since youve just spilled that Midnighter and Apollo will show up, who else can you say will be around? Elijah Snow and his partners from your Planetary series? Jenny Sparks? Dastardly megalomaniac Henry Bendix?

Well, dropping those names wasnt much of a spoiler, and theyre a long way away in any case. I have a scheme. I can tell you that Henry Bendix will be along shortly  hes an original, core Wildstorm character and its not like I was going to resist dusting off the creepy old git in any case. You shouldnt, however, expect to see anyone from Planetary. I consider that book a closed project, and that whole thing had only the barest connections to the Wildstorm Universe anyway.

Even mentioning Jenny Sparks would be a spoiler. But you can expect a few more of my old Wildstorm creations to show up. But, for now, this is a book about the characters and themes that Jim and his friends created, way back when, and me, trying to do right by them.

Photo: DC Entertainment

Photo: DC Entertainment

Photo: DC Entertainment

Cover of The Wild Storm No. 1. Art by Jon Davis-Hunt and Ivan Plascencia. Photo: DC Entertainment

Variant cover of The Wild Storm No. 1. Art by Jim Lee. Photo: DC Entertainment
Photo: Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for The Music Center

Battlestar Galacticas Commander Bill Adama has found a new ship, or in this case motorcycle show, to helm. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Edward James Olmos will star in the upcoming Sons of Anarchy spinoff Mayans MC. In the series, Olmos will play Felipe Reyes, who is described as a father with a mysterious past crushed by bullets and labor who is struggling to keep his grown sons righteous and lawful. Presumably his efforts toward good behavior will quickly go astray by the pilots end, since the Mayans MC are a motorcycle gang generally causing all sorts of trouble  but hey, at least they arent Cylons.
Photo: Ben Gabbe/Getty Images

There is no love lost between Emily Ratajkowski and Donald Trump. The model and actress was a loud and proud Bernie Sanders supporter during last years primary season, attended the Womens March the day after the inauguration, and has been critical of the presidents positions on topics like abortion. So shes not Team Trump, but she is firmly Team Women, which is why she took to Twitter today to defend First Lady Melania Trump from derogatory remarks made about her by a New York Times reporter.

Sat next to a journalist from the NYT last night who told me "Melania is a hooker." Whatever your politics it's crucial to call this out for  Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) February 13, 2017

what it is: slut shaming. I don't care about her nudes or sexual history and no one should.  Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) February 13, 2017

Gender specific attacks are disgusting sexist bullshit.  Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) February 13, 2017

While the exact comment made by the journalist isnt known, the journalist in question might have been referencing Melanias ongoing lawsuit against the U.K.s Daily Mail, which ran an article last year speculating about whether or not Melania had worked as an escort during her days as a model. A Maryland judge recently dismissed Mrs. Trumps libel suit, but she refiled the complaint in New York State just last week and is seeking $150 million in damages. This is the same lawsuit in which Melanias lawyers said she had the unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bolster her brand as an extremely famous and well-known person, but that her business opportunities and earnings potential were severely jeopardized by the insinuation she had been a sex worker. Melania has already secured an apology and a retraction from the Daily Mail for the offending article, and at least for today, she has secured an ally in Emily Ratajkowski. What a time.
Jude Law as the Young Pope.

Before it launched, HBO executives didnt have particularly high hopes for The Young Pope, either in terms of critical reaction or audience response. Sure, it had a great cast (Jude Law!) and an Oscar-winning director (Paolo Sorrentino) attached, but the show wasnt a born-and-bred HBO original such as Westworld or the upcoming Big Little Lies. Instead, the network was a mostly silent co-producer of Young Pope, contributing to the shows international co-financing but leaving the creative heavy lifting to the Italian production company Wildside. And yet, despite modest expectations  or perhaps because of them  theres a strong case to be made that The Young Pope ended its first season Monday as a decent-sized win for HBO.

In terms of ratings, Young Pope hardly qualifies as a blockbuster, but it was far from a bomb: The network estimates each episode has been seen by an average of 4.7 million viewers across the networks various linear and digital platforms. Thats a fraction of the audience the networks fall hit Westworld pulled in season one (11.7 million) and below the buzzworthy summer mini-series The Night Of (7 million). But it does puts Pope on par with an HBO comedy staple such as Veep and ahead of the far more heavily hyped  and ultimately unsuccessful  Vinyl (4.3 million). Theres some evidence to suggest a sizable sliver of the shows audience sampled Young Pope and then decided to bail on it, or perhaps finish later (a relatively easy option in the streaming era). The Nielsen-supplied, linear-only audience figure for premiere telecasts of Young Pope dropped from 1.3 million for the January 15 pilot episode to 873,000 so-called live plus three viewers two weeks later, and just under 600,000 for Sundays penultimate episode (which aired opposite the Grammys and the return of The Walking Dead). But given how HBO (and Showtime and Netflix) audiences now consume programming, as well as the fact that the series doesnt boast the sort of suspense-driven whodunnit-type story lines of a True Detective or The Night Of, the erosion in linear ratings isnt as worrisome as it might have been in the past. The 4.7 million multiplatform number indicates a sizable audience liked what they saw with Young Pope and remained invested.

Tune in, of course, is not the only factor HBO uses to gauge whether a show is a success. Critical buzz is important, particularly if it results in Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. On that front, reviews of the Jude Law Vatican soap opera ended up mixed  but generally favorable. The series also became an internet meme before its first episode even aired. Of course, thats not entirely a good thing, given folks were mocking the shows over-the-top premise. But breaking through the clutter of Peak TV is a huge deal and can at least drive sampling of a show, particularly on digital platforms such as HBO Now. Better to be gently teased than totally ignored (sorry, Roadies).

Finally, the best argument to be made in favor of Young Pope being an unexpected victory for HBO is this: The network, according to a person familiar with the situation, acquired U.S. rights to the show for a relative pittance. HBO usually spends millions of dollars per episode to develop and produce a one-hour drama, with Game of Thrones flirting with $10 million an hour. Vultures sources, however, suggest Young Pope cost HBO less than some of its cheapest half-hour comedies, with the networks license fee for the series said to be somewhere in the six-figure-per-episode range. And while the network put some marketing muscle behind the shows launch, the spend was modest compared to other series campaigns. Now, HBO doesnt run commercials, so theres not a direct link between how much money it spends on a show and what it recoups in ad sales. But the limited financial (and even emotional) commitment the network made to Young Pope means HBO didnt risk a whole lot to put the show on the air in the U.S. Given the solid ratings and reviews, HBOs investment seems to have more than paid off. While this doesnt guarantee therell be a second season of The Young Pope Sorrentino has indicated hes eager to do more episodes  it does mean a sophomore outing wouldnt be at all surprising.
Humans Episode 1 Season 2 Episode 1 Editors Rating 3 stars * * * Previous Next   Previous Episode Next Episode  Anthony Flanagan as Jansen, Ivanno Jeremiah as Max, Sonya Cassidy as Hester. Photo: Colin Hutton/Kudos/CH4/AMC

In its first season, Humans told an intimate story of a family coming undone in tandem with its synth maid, as she realized her true identity. The more troubling aspects of that story remained unaddressed  namely, Joe Hawkins altering Mias code so he could have sex with her  while it focused on the Hawkins icy marriage. But for all its faults, that focus made the story more compelling. In its season-two premiere, Humans greatly expands its narrative scope, crisscrossing the globe from Berlin to San Francisco to Bolivia. This decision is understandable. A crucial aspect of the episode is Niska, a synth now hiding out as a redhead in Berlin, releasing the code that made her conscious. Seeing how it all unfurls is half the fun.

Unfortunately, the episode loses sight of what makes Humans unique by pivoting heavily toward the grand implications of Niskas act. We meet a smarmy Silicon Valley bro named Milo Khoury (Marshall Allman), who finds a conscious synth and decides to reverse-engineer the poor fellow in order to tap into a previously unexplored market. In doing so, he seeks help from the dedicated, underfunded A.I. scientist Athena Morrow (a prickly Carrie Ann Moss). The scene in which Athena examines the conscious synth offers some interesting details  he has an odd, childlike nature, and voices his own loneliness  but much of this new story line feels like a missed opportunity. Who cares about markets and money when it comes to A.I. stories? Whats intriguing is the way this step forward will impact the human beings who created synths to serve them, along with the synths understanding of identity itself. At least Athena isnt a stock character. She has a program called V that obviously has consciousness, which shes hiding from Milo and anyone else who may seek to monetize her creation.

Meanwhile, the Hawkins family is dealing with their own struggles as they try to make sense of a new world. They now know of the existence of conscious synths, but have to act like nothing has changed. Theyve moved into a different home, hoping for a fresh start. But its clear things are off. Their youngest daughter, Sophie, cant help but hope Mia will return. Meanwhile, Mattie finds regular life a bore after the exciting events of last season. How can she possibly help Mia from her suburban home? Joe and Laura are trying to repair their marriage, but some things just dont change: They lack chemistry and intimacy, making it difficult to see why they stay with each other beyond the sake of their children.

With their usual therapist not available, Joe and Laura find themselves face-to-face with a synth version. Its an awkward setting, to say the least, given that synths are a visual reminder of what happened to them. I also dont understand why any human being would want a synth therapist. How can you parse out human emotions when you dont have any of your own? Nonetheless, Joe and Laura try at one point sharing a laugh at how ridiculous the whole enterprise is. Its the only time they seem to be on solid ground with each other in the entire episode. Once Joe starts explaining why he decided to have sex with Mia, though, its a greatest hits of excuses by a cheating husband. He was a bit drunk and lonely. Laura wasnt around emotionally or physically. I wanted to do something to make you notice me, he tells her.

Hes vaguely childish and selfish. Shes distant. Theyre at an impasse and the synth therapist is not helping. During this scene, I couldnt help but wonder how Mia conceives of the incident. Although shes given focus throughout the episode, Humans has been curiously silent about her perspective of what happened.

Things get worse for the Hawkins family when Joe is fired to make room for a synth in his position. He tries to argue that a sense of humanity is needed for the position, but a synth is able to rattle off the same facts about his co-workers. The idea of human beings being pushed out of jobs for their cheaper, safer, smarter synthetic counterparts has a kernel of some interesting moral quandaries, but the episode doesnt dwell on them.

Based in Berlin, Niska gets the most fascinating story line. Donning a red wig but keeping her usual sullen attitude, she tries to move through the world unnoticed. That ends up being impossible when she meets and starts a relationship with a local, Astrid (Bella Dayne). The relationship is doomed from the start, as Astrid yearns for Niska to open up. When I touch you, I can tell someone has hurt you, Astrid says. That statement is true, but not in the way she thinks. Niska has to keep her identity a secret, which means she can only tell Astrid so much and must hide her charge port with a Band-Aid. The idea of Niska finding a true connection with a human being is an intriguing one, but this episode is so scattershot that her story line doesnt get the development it needs. Also, Astrid comes across as a bit clingy. If someone youre dating has dealt with trauma, that doesnt mean they need to immediately open up to you  especially if youve only been dating a few weeks.

Mia is dealing with her own fraught connection. Shes pretending to be a normal synth, working at a beachside cafe in the U.K. so Leo and Max wont have to resort to stealing. But she sometimes fails to hide her emotions when talking to her boss, Ed (Sam Palladio), who is already being set up as a love interest. I wanted to help, she says, after breaking down his financial situation without being prompted. This catches Eds ear: How can she want anything when shes just an android? When he asks what she means by that, shes able to quickly pivot to an excuse with the same cheery placidity that normal synths demonstrate. But it isnt only money that keeps her coming back to the cafe. She likes being around human beings. Its a stark contrast to Niska, who prefers to keep them at a distance.

Leo and Mia disagree with how they should operate. He wants a revolution, going so far to find and help newly conscious synths like Ten (Raphael Acloque) and Hester (Sonya Cassidy). But Mia stresses that they must keep a low profile, particularly since it becomes clear that some agency is hunting down newly conscious synths. How mad Mia would get if she knew Leo wanted to hold onto one of the security guards who followed them? Keeping her in the dark seems like a disaster waiting to happen.

Lets talk about the newly conscious synths for a moment. I found Ten intriguing. Hes a Spanish-speaking synth who has boundless curiosity and traveled from Bolivia to meet with Leo. Ten hasnt decided on a name yet, rattling off a few to Hester when they first link up. There is an innocence and wonder to the character. Also, Tens identity as a synth and Latino immediately opens up bold possibilities for the story. How will conscious synths deal with the racial, gender, and sexuality constructs that inform their lives? But instead of traveling down that narrative path, Ten is unceremoniously shot through the head as Leo and Max try to keep Hester out of the hands of the corporation hunting her down. I cant say I was surprised, though I was disappointed.

The premiere ends with Niska arriving at the Hawkins doorstep. She wants to face the consequences for killing a man last season  but she wants to do so with the same rights afforded to human beings, which means proving her consciousness. This season premiere lays interesting groundwork for episodes to come, but for Humans to be more than a slickly designed show with clever ideas and sharp production design, it needs to focus on the humanity of its characters, both real and artificial.
A street cat in Kedi.

In times of distress, its only natural to turn to cute animals as a distraction. If an image of a basketful of baby golden retrievers can bring you a brief moment of joy, by all means, scroll towards sanity. Twitter accounts like @EmergencyPuppy have gone viral for providing precisely this service, and now comes Kedi, a new documentary from first-time feature director Ceyda Torun, which follows a group of Istanbul street cats. Its arrived just in time.

Torun jokingly calls Kedi uplifting terrorism when we meet to chat about her charming feline flick. But the film is more than just a cute cat video blown up to feature length; its a slice-of-life portrait of Istanbul, which is crawling with the creatures that have become the heartbeat of the citys daily rhythm. She profiles seven camera-ready cats, all of whom have distinct personalities and nicknames: the Hustler, the Lover, the Psycho, the Social Butterfly, the Hunter, the Gentleman, and the Player. A good director knows the importance of a good cast, and Toruns got one hell of an ensemble.

Torun gets her camera low to the ground to stay eye level with her feline stars, but she also makes sure to give some screen time to the human citizens who take care of these strays, people who speak of their fish-loving visitors as good friends and equals. Cats have always been highly regarded in Istanbul, and folklore says a cat once saved the Prophet Muhammad from a poisonous snake. Theres even a popular saying in Turkey that goes: If youve killed a cat, you need to build a mosque to be forgiven by God. (Dont worry: No cats die in this film.)

Theres something very feel-good about Kedi, but Torun admits the films lack of conflict was hardly intentional. Initially the idea was to get every side of the story, she says. There are, of course, people who are openly anti-cats, but they also happen to be people who are anti-people. We had a really hard time trying to get people to talk to us if they didnt like cats. Its a point the movie drives home: Loving cats may make you a lovelier person.

For a film that feels like a response to troubled times, theres very little politics in the film  no mention of terror attacks or Erdogan. [The relationship between humans and cats] is a very timeless relationship and it would be an injustice to the cats and to the people who love them to suggest otherwise, Torun says. Its bigger than the politics; its bigger than small-minded politicians in our lives that come and go. The film was shot the summer following the Gezi Park protests  a series of rallies against the closing of a public park that evolved into massive demonstrations against government crackdowns on free speech and secularism  and yet theyre only mentioned by one of the interview subjects, briefly. I didnt want to include anything pessimistic; its not an activist film, Torun says. But it was a way to highlight our shared humanity, and an appreciation of an aspect of life that goes beyond language, beyond religion, beyond anything.

Kedi is at its best when it show a connection that runs deeper than passing petting. In one section, a woman says that cats  who move in a playful, feminine manner  are like surrogates for female expression under traditional Turkish norms. Although Turkey is still one of the most advanced in terms of womens rights, culturally, its still a little bit backwards, Torun says. If you do express your femininity, then youre seen as a loose woman. If you dont express your femininity, then youre seen as frigid. Whereas with cats, no one judges them. No one says, Oh, what a slut to a cat.

You also see so many men in the film who tend to these cats, and have this opportunity to be affectionate with a feminine being without it being misinterpreted, she explains. Male-female relationships in Turkey are stunted, and they can express these kinds of emotions in a healthy way  you know, with other creatures like cats.

Theres also a sense of camaraderie and community thats built from each neighborhood taking care of its cats together. In one scene, people chip in to pay a street cats vet fees, an act of instinctive generosity thats hard not to imagine seeping into interpersonal connections. Its a healthy reminder of the things that are worth holding onto. And yes, the cats are cute, too.
By PTI: Sasikalas

Amaravati, Feb 14 (PTI) Drawing a parallel between the J Jayalalithaa case, which the Supreme Court disposed of today, and that of Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, the ruling Telugu Desam Party today demanded expeditious trial of the illegal assets case against the YSR Congress president.

"There is no difference between the two cases. There, Sasikala (close aide of the late Tamil Nadu CM) misused Jayalalithaas position and amassed illegal wealth through quid pro quo deals. Jagan did the same in Andhra Pradesh abusing his father (late) YS Rajasekhara Reddys position (as CM).

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"If Sasikala got a four-year jail term for a scam of Rs 66 crore, Jagan should get many more years as he illegally amassed about Rs one lakh crore," TDP MLC and spokesman Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy told reporters here this evening.

V K Sasikala, who was leading an aggressive bid to become CM of the southern state, received a jolt when the apex court today restored her conviction in a disproportionate assets case and sent her back to jail.

Reddy said the "modus operandi" used by both Sasikala and Jagan, by floating shell companies and laundering money, were the same.

"As per the supreme courts previous directions, the cases against Jagan should be disposed of within one year. Even if he gets convicted in one out of 11 cases, he is sure to end up in jail for many years," the TDP leader said.

He said the Enforcement Directorate had already attached Jagans properties worth Rs 3,000 crore while the CBI and the ED have unearthed illegal assets to the tune of Rs 40,000 crore in name of Jagan and his companies.

"We demand a speedy trial into Jagans illegal assets cases," Reddy added. PTI DBV NSK JMF

--- ENDS ---
Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

All the distressed Democrats out there can kick back and relax, because the minority party has a plan for regime change in Washington, D.C. How do we know this? Moby, of course. The DJ, activist, and proud vegan is claiming to have insider information about what anti-Trumpers in the Beltway and beyond are doing to long-con the new commander-in-chief out of office. Hes not naming any sources, but according to the electronic-music performer, everything you read in that salacious dossier from a former British spy is true, and theres a secret widespread movement to get Trump impeached. Since social media is where all the big influencers break news of national import these days, its unsurprising that you can find Mobys Deep Throatesque revelations on Instagram. Print this out and save it for posterity should the world crumble sometime in the next four years.
The hardest skills to master are often the simplest ones. Quanticos intelligence agents must be able to shoot guns with pinpoint accuracy, read other people, know how to create wiretaps, and hack into computers with ease. On the Farm, training isnt just physical; its a mental burden, as newfound skills must be directly applied to real-life missions. In past episodes this season, those lessons have been incredibly difficult  like, say, seducing a bride at a rehearsal dinner  but this week, the show reverts to the broad, utter basics. Its time for some misdirection.

Misdirection, as Owen Hall explains early on, is the art of designing a plan to distract your target. The goal is simple: Trick someone into looking somewhere else so that you can do whatever needs to be done to accomplish your mission. As a theme for the episode, however, misdirection is too loose to tie disparate subplots together  and as a result, many of the big reveals dont land with much of a punch. Fallenoracle cant even fully nail down how misdirection is used, because it can be used in so many different ways. It isnt just the work of CIA operatives; its also the work of common criminals. A whole scene focuses on a pick-pocketing lesson because of this, as if pick-pocketing someones purse at a bar is on par with breaking into NSA headquarters to tap their information.

In the past timeline, three intertwined story lines are all running in different directions. I couldnt really parse two of them, despite watching very intently, but lets go ahead and give it a try anyway. Owen and Alex Parrish are still on the hunt to uncover the AIC, a rogue CIA operative group that supposedly commits acts of treason and terror in the name of what they consider right. To stop them, Alex and Owen hope to design a lesson at the Farm thatll simultaneously trap the AIC.

Alex recruits Harry Doyle to help her with spying on the AIC recruits who are their friends during the mission  but in return, Harry asks for a favor. He wants the files on Sir Lawrence Bishop, a rich English man whom we later find out was the very religious and oppressive father of Harrys late ex-lover Elliot. Once again, Harry provides the only true emotional story line of the episode. In a distraught scene with his roommate/enemy, Sebastian Chen (David Lim), Harry explains how he and Elliot were kept apart by Sir Bishop, and how Elliot committed suicide in front of him. Tovey carries the scene, bringing an emotional depth for the second week in a row that Quantico desperately needs.

The mission at the CIA headquarters goes fairly smoothly, except for the fact that Leon Valez is sent away from the Farm. (I guess thats the end of his very brief arc as a double agent.) Valez also wins the award for the worst line of the night when he says, I have to be spy and assassin and a traitor all at once; its not easy. Nevertheless, its a revealing admission because the show faces a similar struggle for balance. In order to be so many things at once, something always has to suffer. For Valez, he failed as a spy and got caught. For Quantico, the failure lies in its inability to let plotlines linger so they can build emotional weight.

The stories of the past timeline end with two shocker moments that both make very little sense. In one, Alex and Owen stumble upon a room with computers and a wall of photos where the data stolen from the NSA is being funneled, only to have the room explode seconds after they leave it. In the other, Sebastian tries to choke Harry to death, and would probably have succeeded if not stopped by another agent.

The Sebastian and Harry love-hate relationship reaches its peak in the present-day timeline. In the past few episodes, the stories set on the Farm have felt slow and boring compared to the darker, more brutal stories happening in the present. (These scenes  either to make them appear more grim, or to distinguish them from the scenes in the past  are shot with a blue-gray coloring so that everyone appears very serious all the time.) We pick up roughly where we left off last week: Set inside a secured perimeter, Alex and the other recruits are trapped with a group of hostages and a group of terrorists. The terrorists have blended in with the hostages, standing among them while everyone tries to escape.

Its pretty unclear to me why Alex & Co. couldnt figure out who the terrorists were, especially since so many of the hostages know each other by now. But, I digress. The whole group has to travel through a dark and scary tunnel! Fun! The first misdirection here happens when Will Olsen admits to working with the terrorists in order to make himself bait. Fine. Sure.

The second misdirection has a lot more bite to it. Sebastians presumably non-CIA girlfriend Carly Klapp steals Alexs gun, reveals herself to be AIC, and puts the gun at the base of Harrys neck. This is actually a good and surprising twist! Well done, Quantico. Carlys character has been hanging around being boring for weeks, and now, her role in the past suddenly makes much more sense. It could even lead to some entertaining dilemmas. Of course, thats probably all for naught: Sebastian shoots Carly after she shoots him, and its unclear whether shell even survive to next weeks episode.

Ultimately, Fallenoracle suffers because it introduces far too many misdirects, far too quickly. Instead of producing shock, the episode merely produces a flood of small surprises that fade once the next plot twist emerges. Like the show at large, its just too unclear what we, as viewers, are supposed to be looking for. Misdirection is a great technique for stealing a wallet, or for sneaking undetected into the NSA, but its not a good way to build a television show.
Photo: Bill Matlock/ABC

After 12 seasons of The Bachelorette featuring only white women in the titular role, it was announced on Monday evening that Bachelor contestant Rachel Lindsay  a 31-year-old lawyer from Texas  has officially been cast as the next seasons leading lady. Although the news was welcomed with open arms from fans of the long-running reality show, the timing of the historic announcement was considered peculiar, as Lindsay is still currently competing on The Bachelor to win the affections of Nick Viall. (An industry insider suggested to Vulture that ABC made the preemptive decision to announce her casting in an attempt to keep it from being spoiled by various fan websites.) Now making the requisite press rounds, Lindsay stopped by Good Morning America to discuss what it means for her to be the first black Bachelorette.

When asked if she feels any added pressure because her casting is considered historic for the show, Lindsay stressed that she doesnt, and added that she simply wants to find love like the previous contestants on the show. Im honored to have this opportunity and to represent myself as an African-American woman, she explained. And I just hope that people rally behind me like they did in Nicks season  Im just trying to find love. Even though Im an African-American woman, its no different than any other Bachelorette.


Like most Mondays in the age of President Trump, Seth Meyers returned from the weekend with a brand-new Closer Look segment. Whatever you think of President Trumps decision to take on a North Korean crisis while in the middle of a crowded Mar-a-Lago dining room, you have to admit, talking about a hostile dictatorship while a keyboardist plays in the background sounds a lot more chill than any West Wing scene. Meyers, however, is concerned that perhaps grooving to some sweet jams in an upscale private club you own and then crashing a couples wedding for a picture opportunity might not be the best way to handle such situations. Unfortunately, Trumps advisers seem a bit too tied up with other concerns to jump in  namely possible illegal phone calls with the Russian ambassador and trying to convince the public that people from Massachusetts sneaked into New Hampshire to vote illegally. While the claims of voter fraud seem to be unfounded, we would totally believe any story they want to throw our way about Bostonians somehow infiltrating the Falcons for that Super Bowl LI upset.
Im running out of ways to say that Timeless keeps getting better and better, so lets try this: Did you ever think youd see the day when a network drama left you thoroughly entertained while also teaching you the sort of historical trivia youd normally only learn while bingeing a Ken Burns documentary?

I am now officially obsessed with the fact that Al Capone had a long-lost brother, and I credit my newfound obsession to guest star Mather Zickel as Richard Hart/Jimmy Capone. The guest-star quality curve on Timeless is a steep one; when the second episode featured a laughably surly John Wilkes Booth and an Abe Lincoln who looked like he belonged in Disneys Hall of Presidents, I worried the shows need for famous historical figures would be its undoing. Things improved quickly with wow performances from Roadies Jacqueline Byers as Bonnie Parker and Mr. Robots Michael Drayer as Harry Houdini. This week, Zickel carries the emotion of Public Enemy No. 1  who even needed the Scooby Gang around once they convinced him to pull the trigger on his brother? And who could soon forget the look on his face when he did? When Timeless yammers on about fate  like Flynn does in this episode, asking a priest, What if you had the power to change the course of history?  it can feel a little like, okay, we get it. Zickel asked that same question and let his character answer it for himself, all while saying very little. Its a performance that makes Richard Hart seem totally relatable yet just as captivating as his famous little brother. And thats why Im obsessed.

Meanwhile, back at Rittenhouse-compromised HQ, the baddies from the NSA have decided that Rufus and Lucys new mission is to murder Flynns mother in Houston circa 1962. Of course, they wont be the ones actually pulling the trigger; this weeks wannabe Wyatt is onboard for the job. So you just want us to play wingman to the Terminator here? Rufus clarifies. Well, jokes on you, Terminator! Rufus does end up pulling a trigger, except its a tranquilizer gun to knock that dude out so they can take the time machine back to the present, pick up Wyatt, and chase Flynn to Chicago circa 1931.

In one of his sneakier roundabout strategies, Flynn curries favor with Capone by preempting his tax-evasion conviction, using that leverage to gain access to notoriously corrupt Chicago mayor (and yet another Rittenhouse member) William Hale Thompson. Its a long and winding road before Flynns ultimate intention is revealed: He wants to know the exact details of Rittenhouses next get-together, which wont happen until 1954. Along the way, the Scooby Gang tails him with help from famously untouchable federal agent Eliot Ness (yet another wonderful guest turn, this one from Supernaturals Misha Collins). Then Ness gets gunned down in his rat-trap apartment  quite a shocker, no?  prompting Lucy to recommend Hart as their backup point person to infiltrate Capones inner circle.

As tantalizing as that whole story line is, with its surprising twists and turns, this episode is a superlative one due to whats happening back at Mason Industries. First, Rufus hilariously trolls Mason by bugging up the computers. (When his little Eat Me message popped up, I was all, BWAHAHAHA!) Rufus thinks hes smarter than me? Well, Ill handle this myself. You get the hell out! Mason harrumphs to Jiya and everyone else within earshot. I love this slow destruction of Masons chrome-plated exterior as he grows ever more frustrated by his morally untenable position. Jiya is so right when she later compares him to the small guy behind the curtain in The Wizard of Oz. (To be fair, though, Mason comes off as equally badass when he asks Jiya, Do you really think that this childish, plucky snark is going to help you?)

After a couple more pitch-perfect jokes  Wyatt decides the gangs made-up names in 1931 Chicago are Connery, Costner, and Robert  De Niro, then later says he cant be put in old-timey jail because Im wearing button-fly jeans from the Gap  we get to the final showdown between the brothers Capone. Al (shout-out to guest star Cameron Gharaee!) reveals that he owes Flynn one more favor: To take out the colored fellow. Its a line that made me cringe not just for its retrograde casual racism, but also for how it reveals that Flynn doesnt really care about the Scooby Gang as individual people. Gah, there are so many dudes on this show who need to grow goddamn souls already.

Although Jimmy Capone does manage to take out his brother, Al still manages to lodge a bullet in Rufuss abdomen. Ever the good guy, Rufus insists he can pilot the Prototype back to the present day before needing medical attention, only to whisper, Tell Jiya before collapsing in his captains chair.

I am refusing to get upset about Rufuss condition because I refuse to believe that Timeless would get rid of Rufus  RIGHT!? Also, I cant believe theres only one more episode left this season. I have a feeling we might be heading for a cliffhanger that will be difficult to stomach. Personally, I plan to get through it by diving into the ever-growing, Timeless-inspired reading list Ive accumulating over the past few months. Which books will you be reading? Will Rufus live to fly another day? Whos gonna play Joseph McCarthy in next weeks finale, and where will he rank among Timeless super-duper guest stars? Stay tuned!
Everythings Archie!

Ever since Archie Comics scion Jon Goldwater took over the company in 2009, its been a good time to be a fan of Americas favorite 76-year-old teenager: First came the groundbreaking and daring comics, then the CWs pitch-perfect teen soap Riverdale, and now, it looks as though Archie and his pals might be expanding on the small screen. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Goldwater announced that hes signed a development deal with Warner Bros. TV.* Its possible that future shows could exist in a shared universe with Riverdale, and Goldwater says the deal extends well beyond the core gang of Archie, Jughead, Betty, and Veronica  other pieces of Archie intellectual property like Sabrina the Teenage Witch and the superheroes of their Dark Circle line are also on the table. But keep in mind that Archie Comics has a recent history of announcing adaptations that dont move smoothly to realization  were still waiting for an announced cartoon and musical, which may well come to fruition but have been put on the back burner. Nonetheless, Goldwater has long had his sights set on big game, so for him, this news is as sweet as sugar.

*This article has been updated to reflect that the deal only includes TV, not film.
The Love Witch. Photo: Anna Biller Productions

Anna Billers The Love Witch is not Hallmark material. Engrossing though the acclaimed 2016 independent sex-horror film may be, it doesnt exactly sound like an ideal date movie: Its the story of an abuse survivor who turns to witchcraft in an attempt to find true love, but whos so good at her work and so numb to the needs of her lovers that she drives a series of men to insanity and death with the pure power of her sexual and romantic energy.

However, this overview of the film  which is now available for streaming or download via its distributor, Oscilloscope Pictures  barely scratches the surface. In all the ways that count, other than, yknow, the untimely deaths of the male characters, The Love Witch is this years Valentines Day movie to beat.

For starters, The Love Witch is film as a sensual experience. The sets, the costumes, the lighting, even the cast are as decadent and delicious to look at as a chocolate-covered strawberry is to taste. Shot and edited on film to create a lush throwback look that belies the arduous process involved, its a movie designed to make every color and texture pop. Eye shadow, blush, and lip gloss look like theyd smear if you touched the screen. The countless shots of food and drink will make your mouth water. The kaleidoscopic effects of hallucinogens and occult rituals alike are recreated to intoxicating effect.

And whether male or female, human skin has rarely looked so inviting to touch as it does here. The vintage quality of The Love Witchs cinematography adds a certain distance to our view of the characters, a lack of immediacy that gives us an aesthetes view of the characters sexual liaisons. Multiple prolonged sequences of men and women getting dressed and undressed enhance our appreciation of bodies and their presence in the world. Throw in the retro styling of Samantha Robinson as the titular witch Elaine, and Gian Keys as her love interest, and the movie is drawing from the power of decades of pinup-worthy hunks and heroines.

Importantly, The Love Witch is written and shot with a near-total disregard for what men are interested in seeing and hearing. Biller shoots the movie with an eye thats as far from the male gaze as possible, focusing instead on how women (beautiful women specifically) experience the world on their own. Yes, theres a negative aspect to this: She exults about the power and freedom [female sexuality] gives her, Biller told Birth.Movies.Death, while we hear thoughts in her head about her resentment of men, blanked out expressions while shes serving men sexually and with food, and flashbacks of her abuse and coercion by men.

Still, theres a deep-down satisfaction and thrill in seeing the world in general, and the world of romantic and sexual relationships specifically, processed entirely through the viewpoint of a woman whos doing her level best to thrive in her own situation. Whatever your gender, the shock of recognition in seeing Elaine comfort her doomed lovers by condescendingly purring poor baby, like a self-aware synthesis of madonna and whore, should provide ample grist for your erotic mill. Its an all-too-rare sex-horror movie in which the prime mover of both sex and horror is a woman, and as such, its hugely exciting to behold. For men its a novelty; for everyone, its a necessity.

On an even deeper level, The Love Witch is a rare movie about love thats actually about love, as a concept. Romantic comedies, melodramatic tragedies, and even other horror romances like the recent Polish import The Lure just sort of take it for granted that the characters and the audience alike understand love: what it is, why its good, why we want it, why were sad not to have it. But over the course of this movie, Elaine and her male and female interlocutors alike engage in a robust debate about the nature of love itself. Is it spontaneous, or the result of conscious campaigning? Is love only real if you love a person for who they are, or is it better thought of as the result of a give and take, a transaction of desired states? Do men and women view love differently, and if so, what does that mean for their equality? Is sex intrinsic to love, or is it a means to the end, or does it exist independently of love entirely? Every potential answer to each of these questions gets a thorough workout over the course of the movie. Wherever you come down on any of them, youre given plenty of food for thought.

Photo: Anna Biller Productions

Indeed, the sequence at the movies center is a Renaissance Faire reenactment of a wedding ritual  a scene in which actors pretend to be people pretending to be people in love, peeling the emotion apart layer by layer. Lets Talk About Love, Celine Dion once proposed via album title; Lets Think About Love could well be this movies subtitle. If youve ever spent a few hours dissecting a movie youve just seen with a date over diner food, this is a five-course meal.

But the most romantic thing about The Love Witch is the existence of the film itself. To call a work of art a labor of love is to imply a sort of jejune passion, an amateurs enthusiasm, but nothing could be further from the case here. Taking the concept of the auteur to a whole new level, Anna Biller not only wrote, edited, scored, produced, and directed this movie  she also served as the production designer, the set decorator, the art director, and the costume designer. She personally built, knit, sewed, collected, or otherwise provided many of the films key props, from the witches altar to the characters jewelry to a rug that took her months to make. If the lengthy and thoughtful essays and interviews on her blog are any indication, she also served as the movies on-set philosopher. Short of starring in the movie herself, theres no way The Love Witch could be more Anna Billers vision.

The result is unmistakably familiar. To watch The Love Witch is to enter the headspace and heartspace of another human being as surely as falling in love.

This becomes crystal clear barely five minutes into the film. After an opening driving sequence thats a loving homage to similar scenes in Hitchocks Psycho and The Birds, we enter the Billerverse in earnest  a world where every detail is deliberate and delightful. Tucking her cherry-red cigarette case into her cherry-red purse, Elaine emerges from her cherry-red car in her cherry-red dress, then takes her cherry-red suitcase out of the cherry-red trunk to enter an apartment full of occult artwork so colorful itd make a Crayola 64-pack blush. Next, were off to a sumptuously appointed tea room in which every one of the all-female clientele is clad in cotton-candy pink; the matching floral-patterned tea set, hand selected by Biller herself, looks like something made of marzipan in the sugar-spun home of a fairy-tale cannibal witch.

By the time I hit this point in the movie, I was laughing out loud in sheer joyful admiration. Whether working in true independent form like Biller or blessed with the carte blanche freedom afforded to established and acclaimed names like Scorsese, Anderson, Tarantino, or Coen, few filmmakers have anything close to this level of confidence in their own taste and vision. Pulling this off for a single scene would be reason to celebrate. Constructing an entire film from a single intelligent, idiosyncratic worldview is close to a miracle. And from its first scene to its last, from the font choice in its opening titles to the music over the closing credits, that kind of miracle is exactly what The Love Witch delivers. Watch it with some witch you love.
By PTI: From Lalit K Jha

Washington, Feb 14 (PTI) President Donald Trumps embattled national security advisor Michael Flynn today resigned, amid allegations that he discussed US sanctions against Russia with its envoy before Trumps inauguration.

Flynns resignation came after reports that the Justice Department warned the Trump administration last month that he misled administration officials regarding his communications with the Russian ambassador to the US and was potentially vulnerable to blackmail by the Russians.

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Flynn, one of the early backers of Trump during his presidential run, remained in the top position of National Security Advisor for just three weeks.

Flynn has been replaced by Lt General (rtd) Joseph Keith Kellogg as acting National Security Advisor, the White House announced.

Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general, in his resignation letter released by the White House, apologised to President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for briefing them with incomplete information on his talks with the Russian Ambassador before the swearing in.

"In the course of my duties as the incoming National Security Advisor, I held numerous phone calls with foreign counterparts, ministers, and ambassadors. These calls were to facilitate a smooth transition and begin to build the necessary relationships between the President, his advisors and foreign leaders. Such calls are standard practice in any transition of this magnitude," Flynn wrote in the resignation letter.

"Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador. I have sincerely apologised to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology," Flynn said.

Flynn said he knows with the strong leadership of President Donald Trump and Vice President Pence and the superb team they are assembling, this team will go down in history as one of the greatest presidencies in US history.

"I firmly believe the American people will be well served as they all work together to help Make America Great Again," he said.

Flynn?s replacement General Kellogg is a decorated veteran of the US Army, having served from 1967 to 2003, including two tours during the Vietnam War, where he earned the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with ?V? device, and the Air Medal with ?V? device.

He served as the Commander of the 82nd Airborne Division from 1997 to 1998.

Prior to his retirement, General Kellogg was Director of the Command, Control, Communications, and Computers Directorate under the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the Justice Department warned the Trump administration last month that intercepts contradicted Flynns denials that he had discussed sanctions with a Russian ambassador.

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"The message was meant both to advise the administration of the apparent contradiction and to let them know that the discrepancy could, in theory, be used as blackmail by Russia against Flynn someday, according to this person," the daily said.

The warning was first reported in The Washington Post.

The Washington Post said Kellogg is one of three candidates Trump is considering as a permanent replacement for Flynn. The other two are David Petraeus, a former CIA director and retired general and Vice Adm Robert Harward, a former deputy commander of the US Central Command, the daily reported. PTI LKJ PMS

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China's representative at the UN made a pitch for countries to help Beijing protect the 'One Belt, One Road', which is an economic belt to Pakistan and Central Asia.

By Ananth Krishnan: Days after China once again effectively blocked sanctions at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) targeting Pakistani terrorist Masood Azhar, Beijing has asked members of the UN to come together "to protect infrastructure" that it is building under its "Belt and Road" plan.

As the UNSC adopted a resolution calling member states to work together to address risks facing critical infrastructure from terror, China's representative at the UN made a pitch for countries to help Beijing safeguard the massive infrastructure along its "One Belt, One Road" (OBOR) initiative, under which it is building a land economic belt to Pakistan and Central Asia, and a maritime Silk Road to Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean.

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Chinese officials have been particularly concerned about a key route of the OBOR that runs from China's troubled western Xinjiang region through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to the Gwadar port in Balochistan, seen by many Chinese experts as perhaps the most risk-prone leg of the plan.

Ironically, China last month once again placed "a technical hold" to block a bid tabled by the United States to sanction Pakistani terrorist Masood Azhar. China had last year similarly delayed India's bid to list Azhar, tabled last March, which expired in December. The UNSC has already proscribed the Jaish-e-Mohammad, Azhar's organisation.

Also read: China defends latest hold on Masood Azhar listing

"China's Belt and Road Initiative takes infrastructure interconnection as a cooperation priority," Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative at the UN, said at an open UNSC debate, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Liu said "more than 100 countries and international organisations" had joined the OBOR, and China wanted to beef up cooperation on tackling terror in areas such as "intelligence sharing, risk assessment and joint law assessment".

Beijing wanted to "effectively protect interconnection projects and trans-boundary infrastructure from terrorist attacks and to ensure the safety and security of the Belt and Road construction", he said, referring to "a series of terrorist attacks on infrastructure such as airports and mass transport stations have caused panics, and resulted in serious losses of lives and properties".

Liu called on the international community to "pay attention to the above mentioned developments and work together to fight this phenomenon," and even declared that "whenever and wherever and in whatever forms it occurs, it must be countered resolutely."

Also read: NSG membership not Obama's farewell gift: China hits back at US for backing India

Also watch: US, UK and France backed action Masood Azhar, China objected

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Sidd Bikkannavar, 35, said in a post on social media that US Customs and Border Protection officers wanted his cell phone and password -- before they would let him through at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

By PTI: An Indian-origin NASA scientist has said he was detained and forced to unlock his PIN-protected work phone at the US border by custom officials.

Sidd Bikkannavar, 35, said in a post on social media that US Customs and Border Protection officers wanted his cell phone and password -- before they would let him through at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

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"On my way home to the US last weekend, I was detained by Homeland Security and held with others who were stranded under the Muslim ban," Mr Bikkannavar wrote in a Facebook post.

"I initially refused, since it's a (NASA)-issued phone and I must protect access," he wrote.

WHO IS Mr BIKKANNAVAR

Mr Bikkannavar, born in Pasadena, designs technology for space telescopes like the enormous James Webb telescope that's set to be launched into orbit in 2018.

"Just to be clear - I'm a US-born citizen and NASA engineer, travelling with a valid US passport. Once they took both my phone and the access PIN, they returned me to the holding area with cots and other sleeping detainees until they finished copying my data."

WHY WAS HE DETAINED

Mr Bikkannavar spent a few weeks away pursuing his hobby of racing solar-powered cars.

As a member of a Chilean team, he visited Patagonia in early January under the Obama administration. He returned after Mr Trump took office and issued the executive order on travel into the United States.

Nothing about Mr Bikkannavar should have caused concern for CBP - he's a natural-born US citizen, enrolled in a programme that allows individuals who've already passed background checks to quickly enter the country.

In addition, he has never visited the countries on the immigration ban, and he's 10-year employee of a major US federal agency.

"I don't know what to think about this. I was caught a little off guard by the whole thing," Mr Bikkannavar told the media.

Mr Bikkannavar detailed his experience on Facebook, explaining his absence to friends and coworkers.

The episode, aside from the profiling it ostensibly involved, also put him in a fix with his employers, because he was required to protect access to the phone.

"I'm back home, and JPL has been running forensics on the phone to determine what CBP/homeland security might have taken, or whether they installed anything on the device,"Mr Bikkannavar explained in the post, adding that he has also been working with JPL legal counsel and the lab has issued him a new phone and new phone number.

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The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) filed numerous complaints in January against CBP for demanding that Muslim-American citizens give up their social media information when they return home from overseas.

Earlier this week, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly issued a statement in response, telling the House Homeland Security Committee, "We want to get on their social media, with passwords: What do you do, what do you say? If they don't want to cooperate then you don't come in".

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McLennan Community College Foundation is sponsoring its 15th annual Hearts in the Arts Theatre Gala on Feb. 23.

The gala will feature a McLennan Theatre performance of the Broadway musical, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

A pre-show reception will begin at 6 p.m. at Northwood House on MCCs campus, followed by the theater production at 8 p.m. at MCCs Ball Performing Arts Center and a post-show dessert reception with the student cast and crew.

Tickets cost $75. Reservations are required by Wednesday.

For reservations, call 299-8604 or reservations@mclennan.edu.

Miss Texas at the VA

Miss Texas 2016 Caroline Carothers will join the leadership from the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, community leaders, soldiers, veteran organizations and area students to honor veterans at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Stracke Auditorium (Building 6) at the Doris Miller Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 4800 Memorial Drive.

The event is part of the Veteran Administrations National Salute to Veteran Patients.

CTX Literacy Coalition

Central Texas Literacy Coalition will meet at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the West Waco Library, 5301 Bosque Blvd.

Mike Wright, general manager of KWTX-TV, will be the guest speaker.

For more information, call 7226395 or email crocketts1955@yahoo.com.

Composed screening

Baylor University School of Music will screen John Beders Composed, a 78-minute documentary film that addresses the topic of performance anxiety, at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Baylors Roxy Grove Hall.

Beder will lead a question-and-answer session after the viewing.

For more information, visit www.baylor.edu/music or call 710-3991.

Kiwanis Seniors

Waco Kiwanis Seniors will meet at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at Golden Corral, 618 N. Valley Mills Drive.

Guest speaker Ann Gilkey will discuss Nutrition for Seniors.

For more information, call Dick Rood at 399-0072.

SCV meeting

The Sons of Confederate Veterans will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Poppa Rollos Pizza, 703 N. Valley Mills Drive.

Camp member John Dickey will present Camp Douglas: A POW Camp for Confederates.

The meeting will be preceded by the groups annual birthday dinner honoring Gens. Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson at 6 p.m.

For more information, visit www.scv-waco.org. or call 772-1676.

Submit items for Briefly in printed or typed form to Briefly, P.O. Box 2588, Waco 76702-2588; fax to 757-0302; or email to goingson@wacotrib.com at least one week before an event.
Remodeling of a building near the popular Magnolia Market at the Silos downtown is drawing to a close, and already six users have signed leases to serve gourmet Mexican food, award-winning pies, metal furniture, womens clothing and more, the buildings owner confirmed Monday.

Those taking space in the 11,000-square-foot structure at 300 S. Sixth St. said they likely will open their businesses in March or April, May at the latest, and are poised to begin finish-out work if they have not already begun. Most said they jumped at the opportunity to locate near Magnolia Market at South Sixth Street and Webster Avenue.

Marshall Stewman, of Dallas, went public in August with plans to convert the aging building into something attractive to the 25,000 to 35,000 tourists who visit the Silos weekly. Crews created raised patios on each side of the building, placed awnings above the patios, installed new utility lines and and improved the parking lot.

Stewman received $294,000 in Tax Increment Financing Zone funds to help with his conversion of the old Morrison Supply Co. building into Mary Avenue Market. Of that funding, $164,000 was earmarked to build off-site sidewalks leading to the Dr Pepper Museum and Magnolia Market at the Silos.

After that, things went pretty fast, Stewman said. We had the building fully leased two months ago, and now the businesses are preparing their logos and coming-soon signs.

He said he felt the buildings proximity to Magnolia Market at the Silos would serve it well, and the pace at which occupants began to snap up space proved him right.

I also have to give a lot of credit to Gregg Glime, the real estate agent who worked the site for us, he said. He did a great job of promoting the site and lining up users.

Pedro Leon, who owns Taqueria Mexicano Grill No. 9, will open a restaurant called Hecho en Waco Mexican Cuisine that will occupy more than 4,000 square feet, making it the largest tenant inside Mary Avenue Market. Leon described the restaurant as upscale, and said diners will discover entrees that go beyond traditional Tex-Mex fare.

I hope to open in April or May, said Leon, adding he chose the location because downtown is a hot spot right now, and I see even more potential the next few years.

Joey Oglesby and Summer Herriage are moving from Los Angeles, California, to Waco, where Herriage will open a womens clothing boutique called Fox & Gray.

This is primarily my wifes store, but Im assisting with the business side, said Oglesby, a Baylor University graduate who added the shop will open between March 15 and April 1.

The vast majority of the merchandise will be priced at less than $100, and she also will carry affordable jewelry and gift items, said Oglesby. My wife is a buyer and a retail consultant based in Los Angeles, and shes worked with stores across the country, but this is her first to own. Were moving to Waco for business and family reasons.

Oglesby said he and his wife also hope to open a sno-cone trailer called Summer Snow, and hes scouting for a location.

Summer and Wade Redwine have chosen Mary Avenue Market as the second location for their Pie Peddlers shop, having opened the original 14 years ago in Glen Rose.

It does very well in Glen Rose, and we have a lot of people from Waco drive up, as well. Frankly, we get customers from all over Texas, said Summer Redwine by phone. We had been planning a second location, and Waco appeared attractive for a couple of reasons. It has the population to support our store, and it is becoming a tourist attraction, especially downtown.

She said Pie Peddlers makes its pies, including the crust, fresh daily. It typically has available 16 different flavors of fruit and cream pie.

Goodtimber Furnishings, owned by Chris and Kisha Atkin, will open by April 1 to sell furniture handcrafted from such materials as whiskey barrels and farm implements, said Chris Atkin.

We have opened a crafting shop near Hewitt, having moved it there from Houston, said Chris Atkin, who has signed a three-year lease at Mary Avenue Market.

He said the store will what he described as upscale, high-end, handcrafted modern and industrial furniture that he believes is new to the Waco market.

We will have a showroom right up the street from two wonderful people, Chip and Joanna Gaines, and their Magnolia at the Silos, Chris Atkin said.

Kelly Moorhouse for a dozen years has sold metal artwork and housewares at the trades days in Canton, and for a time secured space at Spice Village downtown.

Now shes taking 1,600 square feet in Mary Avenue Market, saying, Waco is booming, and these are good people to lease from.

Im polishing up the interior now, and I should open sometime in March or April, she said. I make my own metal art, Texas-themed jewelry, candles and more.

Stewman said a company called Impact Nutrition plans to place a small shop in the building to serve smoothies and other health-related products.
A San Antonio woman who says she suffered serious head injuries at the Magnolia Market in Waco is suing the popular tourist destination.

Nancy Brown is seeking from $100,000 to $200,000 in damages in her lawsuit, filed Monday in Wacos 414th State District Court.

Brock Murphy, a Magnolia Market spokesman, said Tuesday he was unaware of the lawsuit and declined comment.

The lawsuit, filed on Browns behalf by San Antonio attorney Michael R. Rowland, says Brown was visiting the Magnolia Market at the Silos, 601 Webster Ave., on June 14, 2016, and was injured in the outdoor dining area.

Plaintiff, while on defendants premises, suffered serious and permanent bodily injuries as a direct result of the dangerous condition created by the height and steel rods used for the canopies which are affixed to picnic tables located in an outdoor dining area on defendants premises, the lawsuit alleges.

Specifically, plaintiff, when attempting to sit down at said tables, plaintiffs head hit the low hanging and concealed steel rods, thereby causing plaintiff to suffer serious bodily injuries, according to the lawsuit.

Rowland did not return phone messages left at his office Tuesday.

The lawsuit alleges that Magnolia Market at the Silos, created by HGTV Fixer Upper stars Chip and Joanna Gaines, produced the dangerous condition, negligently allowed the area to become dangerous, negligently permitted such dangerous condition to exist and failed to adequately warn Brown of the dangerous condition.

Brown is seeking damages for past and future medical expenses, past and future physical pain and mental anguish, and past and future physical and mental impairment.

City of Waco officials estimate 25,000 to 30,000 people a week visit Magnolia Market at the Silos.
Cameron Park Zoos education coordinator, Jacquelyn Wilson, didnt truly consider herself a scientist until she went off to college.

All she knew until then was how much she enjoyed going outside to explore and discover whatever living thing she could.

I just considered that being like a tomboy, not so much a scientist, Wilson said. Then I got to college, and was like, Oh, people do this and call it science. Thats where my background started.

Now, Wilson is leading middle school students to become citizen scientists, or students who use science in everyday activities to observe the world around them, as part of Cameron Park Zoos new Science Action Club. Wilson minored in entomology at Texas A&M University.

The free club, which meets every Saturday in February and April, is a new pilot program meant to offer lessons about bugs and birds, with a focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.

The whole thing is about getting kids involved in science and STEM activities and its about citizen science, Wilson said. Teaching kids you are a scientist, and using words like we are, and not today, youre pretending to be type stuff. Its new for us, and its pretty exciting for us.

The club, initially meant to be an afterschool program for an hour a day throughout the week, was moved from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays to give students more than just 60 minutes of learning and observing. Its open to any student in fifth through eighth grade.

The trick, however, has been generating enough interest and attendance in the club. During the first meeting, only one student showed up. At the second, eight students showed. But Wilson said shed love to see that number grow, considering getting students interested in STEM is already a challenging task.

Under former President Barack Obamas administration, the U.S. Department of Education declared the United States a global leader in many areas based on work produced by scientists, engineers and innovators. Yet, while the U.S. is expected to see a continued increase in STEM jobs and career fields from now until 2020, only 16 percent of American high school seniors are proficient in math and interested in a STEM career, according to the departments website.

James Villa, a Tennyson Middle School teacher who teaches eighth-grade science at the schools Atlas Academy, can attest to the difficulties of getting students interested in STEM fields. As a STEM advocate, he teaches a combined science course  or a little bit of everything  in Waco Independent School District, he said.

He often recommends students to other programs at the zoo, and heard about the Science Action Club through word of mouth. He called the club key to generating more interest in those areas.

For a student to decide they are interested in STEM, I cant overemphasize some sort of field experience or some sort of program where they realize, I like this, Villa said. In the classroom with (standardized) testing, its a little bit more difficult to make that connection. Its the field experiences that win them over. On a smaller scale, its learning through labs, through inquiry that they get hooked in on it.

Offered through the California Academy of Sciences, the club will cover two sets of curricula: Bugs in the Schoolyard in February and Birds in the Schoolyard in April.

Bugs in the Schoolyard is about learning how to define what an insect is and the numerous types of insects in their own backyard, while Birds in the Schoolyard follows a similar structure.

One of the activities we did was we laid out a string of yarn across different types of ground, and she had to look at it like she was an ant, Wilson said referring to the student at the first meeting. She had to draw a map looking at it like she was an ant. So a pebble, she had to draw it like a mountain. Its teaching them how to look at it as a scientist and look at all the details.

Each meeting will build on the lessons learned at the previous one, but anyone can join at any time, Wilson said. Its easy enough for someone to catch on and helps put a different perspective on recess or outside activities, she said.

At different points, well be going out and doing different insect collection techniques. Theyll be exposed to learning how to use a bug net or a sweep net, or learning how to use a beat sheet, Wilson said about the February lessons. You put a sheet under a bush, and you shake the bush and insects fall onto the sheet.

Students will also use apps called iNaturalist and eBird, citizen-scientist apps that allow students to upload images of insects and animals to ask professional scientists from around the world how to identify what theyve found, down to genus and species.

Well be catching insects, and theyll be able to see some of ours, Wilson said. But we dont have a very extensive collection. We will be doing some stuff in the Ranch House, so theyll get to see our education collection of ambassador animals. But because this isnt so much a camp as it is a club  were not going to be doing a whole lot of behind-the-scenes tours. Its focused on getting out into nature, finding things in nature and how to identify what theyre seeing.

Cameron Park Zoos Science Action Club is the first for McLennan County, but might not be for long. Baylor University and representatives at the Region 12 Education Service Center are also partnering to create a Science Action Club, Didey Montoya said. As the University of Texas at Austins Outreach Coordinator, Montoya coordinates all the training and curricula for groups implementing the club across the state as part of the Texas Girls Collaborative Project. TxGCP connects nonprofits, schools and higher education institutions and companies to informing and motivating girls to pursue STEM careers.

Currently, eight groups are implementing Bugs in the Schoolyard, and 13 groups will implement Birds in the Schoolyard this spring, she said.

(The club) really empowers students to explore outside the classroom, Montoya said. The stuff they use in their clubs they can use in their daily lives. They start creating their own questions  why, when, how?

For more information, visit the Cameron Park Zoo Facebook page and click Events on the left side of the page.
By PTI: From Lalit K Jha

Washington, Feb 14 (PTI) Highlighting Indias important role in manufacturing lifesaving medicines, an international medical humanitarian organisation today urged the US Trade Representative (USTR) to refrain from demanding excessive IP enforcement measures in India that undermine public health.

In its submission to USTRs Special 301 Review, Medecins Sans Frontires/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said the important role that India plays in manufacturing lifesaving medicines is possible in part due to the public health safeguards in Indias patent law and policies.

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Thanks to price-lowering competition from India, millions of people around the world are able to access the affordable medicines and vaccines they need, including through Ministries of Health, humanitarian treatment providers like MSF and US government-funded treatment and prevention programs, like the US Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, it said.

"We urge the USTR to respect legal safeguards such as Indias strict patentability criteria; its right to issue compulsory licenses when deemed necessary in the interest of ensuring the right to health; and a balanced approach in the enforcement of private IP (intellectual property) protections," MSF said.

Additionally, pharmaceutical corporations TRIPS-plus demands such as data exclusivity that go beyond the WTO TRIPS obligations and create regulatory barriers in the registration of price-lowering generic medicines should not be requested to be implemented by India, MSF asserted.

"We specifically request that USTR refrain from demanding any excessive IP enforcement measures in India that undermine public health and Article 21 (right to life) of the Constitution of India and that interfere with judicial discretion," MSF said.

The multinational pharmaceutical industry is increasingly demanding that Indias judiciary implements IP enforcement measures in a manner that goes beyond the requirement of the TRIPS Agreement and that include mandatory and stricter injunctions and patent-registration linkage, it noted.

"These demands would have a range of harmful effects on the registration and dissemination of generic medicines and provide opportunity for abuse from multinationals," it warned.

USTR is expected to come out with its report in April.

MSF said countries should not be penalised or discouraged from making use of the public health safeguards that are intended to protect access to medicines and which are legally permitted in accordance with international trade rules. PTI LKJ SUA SUA

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Days before Baylor University regents gather for a quarterly meeting, the school launched a website that includes regent biographies, committees and committee members, governance documents, a general board email address and the meetings Friday agenda.

Weve been working on that a while, so were glad its able to be utilized now, board Chairman Ron Murff said on Monday.

For 35 minutes on Friday morning, regents will be updated by Baylors presidential search committee, which is led by Bob Brewton, Baylors 2011 distinguished alumnus.

Murff said the search committee of four alumni, three regents, two administrators, two faculty members and a student is still working.

We would hope to have something done later this spring, so that by the end of the school year weve got someone announced and ready to come, he said. But theres nothing imminent at this point.

Regents will also vote on a set of bylaw amendments based on a January report compiled by a governance review task force of three regents and three nonregents.

The vote is slated for Fridays executive session starting at 10:50 a.m., Murff said, but it could be moved to when the report is presented between 9:45 a.m. and 10:35 a.m. Executive session ends at noon, according to the agenda.

If approved, new amendments would grant voting rights to regents representing faculty, the Bear Foundation and the B Association. A second, voting faculty representative would also be added to the board.

A more rigorous regent selection process would also go into effect. A selection task force, created by the boards governance committee, would make final decisions on regent selection. At least half of the task force must be nonregents, according to the task force report.

Beginning at 8:20 a.m. Friday, the board will hear five-minute updates from Vice President of Marketing and Communications Jason Cook, faculty regent Andrea Dixon and student regents Emily Neel and Daniel Thomas.

The following committees will also present five-minute updates: academic and student affairs, audit and compliance, finance and facilities and outreach.

The minutes from Fridays meeting  including summaries of the committee reports  will be publicly released after the board approves them at its next meeting in May, Murff said.

Baylor will host a 15-minute media availability session Friday morning with Murff and governance review task force members Greg Brenneman and Doug Bech, who are nonregents.

An afternoon media availability session will include Murff, interim President David Garland and other yet-to-be-named administrators.
DALLAS  At 16, Jean was the more experienced sex worker in the East Dallas house. It was her job to ensure the new girls trial run as a prostitute went smoothly.

But when the girls john leaned in for a kiss, her body went limp, her eyes locked in an empty stare. Confused, then panicked, the man grabbed his clothes and rushed out the sliding back door to his car parked in the alley.

Jean yelled for someone to come help, knowing their pimp would be furious: no trick, no money. Then she slipped out the houses red front door to calm her nerves with a cigarette.

Jean had recognized the dead look in the new girls eyes. All of a sudden, phantoms from her own past  ones she had pushed down so deep and ignored so much  were impossible to keep at bay.

Jean had come to Texas under unspeakable circumstances.

When she was 9 years old, her mother, struggling with drug addiction, had sent Jean from Missouri to rural Oklahoma to live with her father. In fifth grade, Jeans father claimed he would begin home-schooling her. Instead, he took her into a bedroom and blindfolded her, telling her she was going to have sex with a boy she liked. Then he tied her down and raped her.

The abuse continued for years. Periodically, in an attempt to dodge child welfare investigators, Jeans father packed up and moved, dragging her from Oklahoma to Arkansas to Texas. By the time they landed in Paris, Texas, in 2009, the 13-year-old was pregnant with his child.

Jean told police about the abuse a year after she gave birth to a baby girl, and prosecutors quickly built a case against her father. A judge sentenced him to 40 years in prison; Jean and her infant daughter, meanwhile, were cast into the Texas foster care system.

For the state, that meant assuming the extraordinarily difficult job of parenting a young girl with a complex history of abuse, who was now a parent herself. For Jean and her daughter, it meant being consigned to the care of a state agency in turmoil, where kids  especially those who have suffered the greatest trauma  are at high risk of being lured into the sex trade.

Jean became one of the roughly 12,000 Texas kids in long-term foster care, or permanent managing conservatorship, the states designation for children who cannot find lasting homes with relatives or adoptive parents and are unable to be reunited with their biological families.

It is a system where, as U.S. District Judge Janis Jack wrote in a 2015 legal opinion, rape, abuse, psychotropic medication and instability are the norm and children often leave more damaged than when they arrive.

It is also a system from which many children enter the world of selling sex. Eighty-six percent of runaway children in the United States suspected of being forced into sex work came from the child welfare system, according to a 2016 analysis of cases reported to the National Center on Missing and Exploited Children. Of the 79,000 child sex trafficking victims estimated to be in the state, the vast majority were in foster care or had previous contact with Child Protective Services, according to a recent University of Texas study.

Its very easy for a trafficker to prey on those specific kids, said Dixie Hairston, who leads anti-sex-trafficking efforts in North Texas for the nonprofit advocacy group Children At Risk. Something is going wrong. These kids are not being kept safe.

In Texas, the state agency responsible for protecting them is in crisis. Officials at the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, which reviews child abuse allegations and finds homes for foster kids, say they need an additional $1 billion just to make basic reforms over the next two years, such as alleviating large caseloads for employees and addressing a severe shortage of high-quality foster homes. Thats on top of the $110 million budget shortfall the agency currently faces.

Low-paid, overworked child welfare workers quit their jobs at alarming rates; one-third of investigative caseworkers leave each year. That has led to appalling delays in the agencys investigations of mistreatment, even in urgent situations where children are considered to be at immediate risk of physical or sexual abuse. Data released by the agency last year revealed that nearly a thousand of the highest-priority children on any given day had not been seen by investigators with the states Child Protective Services division.

The agency says it has brought that number down to about 450 children each day. Investigators did not attempt to locate more than half of those kids within the 24 hours required by law. The rest could not be found.

State leaders recently approved a pay raise to keep existing caseworkers on the job and signed off on a plan to hire more than 800 new ones. Child welfare officials say they need more funding to continue that progress; lawmakers say that progress has come too slowly to warrant additional money.

Its always about funding  we know that, said Hank Whitman, the child welfare chief, during a tense exchange at a recent Senate budget hearing. We either pay now, or we pay later.

We gave you the money you asked for, said Jane Nelson, a Republican from Flower Mound and the Senates chief budget writer. We want to see results.

So far, lawmakers have shown a willingness to spend less than one-third of the additional $1 billion the child welfare agency says it needs. And that doesnt even include the costs of reforms mandated by the lawsuit, which are tied up in court. The agency has not publicly speculated on how much the reforms would cost, but one preliminary estimate by state budget analysts put it at several hundred million dollars.

Without early intervention in cases of abuse, children remain in conditions where they are likely to be vulnerable to traffickers. But even when kids like Jean are removed from troubled homes, they are plunged into a broken system  one that at best confirms their mistrust of adults and at worst perpetuates the abuse.

House with red door

Jean first arrived at the house with the red door in 2011, on a chilly morning in late autumn. She had traveled there on a Dallas city bus, holding a piece of paper with a strangers address on it.

A small-framed girl, at 51 and roughly 90 pounds, Jean walked nervously down an unfamiliar street in a poor neighborhood near Pleasant Grove, in East Dallas. When she arrived at the house on Gonzales Drive, she typed a Facebook message to send to her friend Anna, whom she had met at a residential program for foster youth.

I made it gurll, she wrote.

It was not Jeans idea to run away from the facility. That had come from Anna, who had connections to an older woman who offered to take the girls into her home.

After bouncing between a handful of different foster care placements, Jean had originally planned to live in the residential program until her 18th birthday, when she would age out of state custody. But she was miserable there. The secure campus imposed a rigid schedule and a curfew. Cellphones werent allowed. And staff had to escort the girls between buildings whose doors would not open without an employees keycard and a four-digit code.

Most of all, Jean missed her baby girl, who was then 2 years old. Child welfare workers had sent her to live with Jeans grandparents in Missouri. At the time, a suicidal Jean was sent to a psychiatric hospital.

I wanted to die, she said. When CPS did that, I said, Im done. They can go to hell for all I care.

Jean had reservations about the plan to run, but it was the dream of possibly reuniting with her daughter that pushed her to leave. She was all I had left after my dad did what he did to me, Jean said.

She picked out her nicest jewelry and clothing for the cross-town journey, stuffing everything she could not wear on her body into a backpack. On the way to school, she prayed the oversized bag would not arouse suspicion. Then, walking past her classmates, she left school grounds to catch a bus.

After two train transfers and another bus trip, Jean arrived at the house and composed herself.

Then she knocked on the red door.

Set up for rejection

The long-term foster care system sets children up for a series of rejections. Sometimes, emotionally fragile children turn to the underground sex industry, where pimps promise them the security and affection they crave.

Consider the 11-year-old whos removed from her biological parents after Child Protective Services discovers abuse at home.

Shes taken, perhaps in the middle of the night, to an emergency shelter. If no beds are available there, she may spend the night on a cot in a state office building.

She cant stay at the emergency shelter for more than a few weeks. So shes placed in a long-term shelter, or maybe a group home with several other children. If she has younger siblings, she might be separated from them, depending on where foster families are available.

Within a matter of weeks, she has encountered several caseworkers whose titles can be difficult to keep straight: the investigator, the family-based safety services specialist, the temporary managing conservatorship worker.

By the time she turns 13, she has shuffled through three or four different placements and several more caseworkers. She begins acting out at school, getting into fights, struggling with depression. Her parents have failed to make the necessary changes to get her back. Her relatives are willing to take in her younger siblings, but they fear shell be too much work. Now a teenager, she faces a low possibility of adoption. No one, it seems, wants her.

She decides to run.

I have interviewed hundreds of children, and I cant tell you how common that story is, said Chuck Paul, a former special investigator for the state who tracked down children who ran away from foster care. You seem to get bounced around all over the place, no one seems to want you or care about you. Whats the only recourse this child has if theyre upset?

More than 1,000 children in long-term foster care ran away between September 2015 and August 2016, the majority teenagers. One in four did not return.
In our decades of observing political blunders committed by voters, few rank as unforgivable and detrimental to society as straight-ticket voting. In our experience, the only ones who favor straight-ticket voting are political party hacks; voters too lazy to research the qualifications and credentials of the candidates; and weak and ineffectual office-holders and candidates whose accomplishments are so inconsequential that they must hope and pray that party affiliation alone lifts them to power.

Each election cycle, weve seen wildly unqualified candidates land in office on the strength of mindless straight-ticket voting. One year, for instance, local voters casting ballots strictly by party rather than by candidate and merit helped place into the county treasurers post someone whose only saving virtue was that he signed up to run as a Republican. In doing so, voters foolishly catapulted from office an eminently qualified Democrat.

Republican state Rep. Ron Simmons would have Texas voters spend more time deliberating about such important matters on Election Day (or preferably before). He has filed House Bill 433, which would eliminate one-punch, straight-ticket voting statewide. Texas voters would no longer be able to simply walk into a voting booth in a general election and, with one punch on the machine, put forth all candidates from either the Democratic or Republican columns.

No, Simmons doesnt suggest that most fellow Republicans arent deserving of election over Democrats. But he and others, including Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, also a Republican, believe voting ought to entail far more thought and civic engagement. For one thing, some people run under party labels, yet lack that partys basic ideology or even a basic understanding of that ideology.

Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht, a Republican, warned in his Feb. 1 State of the Judiciary of the damage of straight-ticketing voting on justice: In November, many good judges lost solely because voters in their districts preferred a presidential candidate in the other party. These kinds of partisan sweeps are common, with judicial candidates at the mercy of the top of the ticket. I do not disparage our new judges. I welcome them. My point is only that qualifications did not drive their election; partisan politics did.

Chief Justice Hecht and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick favor scuttling one-punch, straight-ticket voting in judicial races, but Straus and Simmons say the idea is good enough to employ in all general-election races. For those who feel all members of one party are the devils spawn, fine. Passage of Simmons bill wont prevent you from voting straight ticket. Itll just require you to reinforce your philosophy by voting Republican or Democratic in every individual race.

Our praise goes to Republican state Rep. Kyle Kacal who, alone among legislators representing us, sees the great merit and wisdom in Simmons bill: While it is important to note that a voter can still choose to support only candidates from a single party, the practical impact of the bill is that it requires the individual voter to make the conscious choice of selecting each candidate for elected office.
Dastardly Democrats

I offer a story about an immigrant from Croatia. He waited his turn and came here on a ship. He arrived at Ellis Island, was vetted and became a legal resident. He was employed as a coal miner in a small town in Pennsylvania. He married and raised a family. One of his children would sit on a bench and talk with him. He asked his dad if he missed his family and the old country. His dad replied that he did. But I have a new country now and I really work harder now than in Croatia. Its worth the hard work because of a good future. Here I have a vote and I use it. I can choose who to vote for without retaliation from the government or fellow citizens. I became a Democrat because they understand the poor. The Republicans are for the rich.

The boy wanted to be like his father so he became a Democrat. I was that boy and he was my father. I was a young boy when he was vetted for his last time. Im sure he passed with flying colors and is enjoying his afterlife.

Pap, you would have been proud of your Democratic Party today. A Democratic president would have put you out of work. You had a dirty job and you polluted our country. If you voted for a Republican you would have been assaulted. They believe you dont need to wait your turn and obey our laws. If you are a retailer and disagree with their politics, you had better board up your front windows. They dont believe a Muslim immigrant could save money and buy a limo and go in business for himself, so they burn the limo thinking it belonged to a capitalist fat cat. They believe in free choice as long as your choice is the same as theirs.

But this is still the country that you loved so much. Miss you, Pap.

William Bregan, Crawford

  

It has been entertaining to watch unhinged Democrats throwing temper tantrums in every way imaginable since the election of Donald Trump. Campus snowflakes at Berkeley University and New York University, with their riots, showed disrespect for our Constitution, freedom and the property of others, all because a conservative was scheduled to speak at their campus. The left is terrified of free speech unless, of course, the speech comes from an anti-American, Christian-bashing professor. University professors and many Democrat leaders like Tim Kaine are encouraging this tyrannical behavior. And, if you can believe it, with all the destruction and rock-throwing at officers, there was not a single arrest made at Berkeley. And only 11 arrests were made at the riot at NYU. If these Democrats on college campuses continue to suppress conservative speech, I believe President Trump has every right to cut off all federal funding to these bastions of hate. With all the pre-election accusations that Trump was a hater, its ironic 99 percent of all the hate is now coming from the Democrats.

Mike Cloud, Lubbock
WAVERLY  Christy Cooper is coming to the end of her term as vice president of the Nebraska State FFA.

Even though she has enjoyed everything she has done, shes especially looking forward to the next few weeks.

That is when the officers divide up and go visit every FFA chapter in the state, she said.

Cooper is the daughter of John and Karen Cooper of Waverly. Once she entered high school, she immediately got involved with the FFA Chapter and last year, as a senior, served as president of the Waverly chapter.

She admits she always had her eye on being a state officer. Cooper is the third state officer elected from Waverly in the past five years.

I did get some advice from Trevor Spath, who was an officer last year, she said. He gave me a lot of advice, told me what to expect and really encouraged me.

She has found out first hand what comes with the job.

Lets just say I havent been home much, she said. And even though Im enrolled at UNL majoring in agricultural education, I had to give up a few things. But that will change after April, as my term is coming to an end.

Along with giving a lot of speeches and visiting chapters, Cooper traveled to South Africa with fellow officers last month.

We visited a lot of different farms and did lots of sightseeing, she said. It was an interesting trip.

She said the greatest thing has been driving across Nebraska and seeing the country and meeting the people.

South Africa was amazing, but driving across Nebraska has been just as amazing, Cooper said.

Cooper said the officers would be busy up to the last day of their term.

We are doing a lot of planning of the state convention which is our grand finale, she said.

With that planning, she admitted, came nerves.

I want the convention to go perfect, with no problems, she said.

As a member of the Waverly FFA Chapter, Cooper helped her family farm, where they raise beef cattle, grow corn and soybeans and put up hay. On the farm they also have peacocks, chickens, show hogs, horses and goats.

My SAE project led me into knowing I wanted to major in agriculture, she said. And I havent given up the idea of teaching ag someday.

She plans to enjoy these next few months, and says if any FFA member is looking to run for a state office, she would be happy to talk to them.

Just the experience of what you go through is something, she said, including the intensive interview. Being an officer has differently added to my growth and personality and especially my communication skills.

She has no idea if any Waverly student will run for state office this year, nor does she think her younger sister, Kate will run in two years.

Kate likes to be out working with animals, where I like to be out and meet people, she said. Thats what I have done this year and have enjoyed every minute of it.
Sonia, who has stayed away from limelight since the last six months, is scheduled to address a public gathering in her constituency on February 20.

By Supriya Bhardwaj: BSP chief Mayawati will hold a rally in Congress president Sonia Gandhi's Lok Sabha constituency Raeareli on February 15.

Sonia, who has stayed away from limelight since the last six months, is scheduled to address a public gathering in her constituency on February 20.

Assembly Elections 2017: Full Coverage

Raebarelli and Amethi, two of the Congress's bastions where voting will be held in third and fourth phase, will be seeing a series rallies by political heavyweights.

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Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is likely to hold rally on February 17 in his mother's constituency. Whereas he will hold a rally in his own constituency, Amethi, on February 20.

Many Samajwadi Party leaders are fighting from Amethi and Raebareli. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, whose party is in alliance with Congress, is also likely to hold a rally in Raebarelli.

However, Congress's 'star campaigner' Priyanka Gandhi's campaign schedule is yet to be finalised.

ALSO READ:

Polarisation of Hindu, Muslim votes towards BJP, BSP could cause a major windfall for BJP in UP

FIR against Dainik Jagran for publishing UP election exit poll despite ban

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By Pete Mecca.

To call a female pilot a flying witch in 2017 could bring condemnation, censorship, and protesters trampling down the weeds in my front yard. So, stick with me on this: The flying Night Witches of World War II gained the nickname from an adversary, out of respect for their bravery and lethal sneak attacks. Moral of the story: never sell a female pilot short.

The conduit to flying witches most likely began with Katherine Wright, sister of the Wright brothers. Katherine not only flew with her brothers but contributed as much vigor and knowledge to the first flight at Kitty Hawk as did her famous brothers.

Harriet Quimby was the first woman in America to become a licensed pilot. Nice start, but it would take the U.S. military 65 years to accept female pilots, plus another 17 years before the ladies were allowed to saddle up in combat aircraft. Chopper pilot Major Marie Rossi was the first American female pilot to lose her life in a combat role on March 1, 1991 near her home base in northern Saudi Arabia. She was 32 years old.

Ranked as the top female Air Force pilot in the 1990s, Lt. Col. Martha McSally was the first woman to fly a fighter aircraft on combat sorties. She also flew over 100 combat hours in an A-10 Warthog over Iraq in the mid-90s. The Air Force Thunderbirds performance team recruited Major Nicole Malachowski as their first female demonstration pilot in 2006.

But the wickedest flying witches? While seemingly an inappropriate way to describe female aviators, the German soldiers fighting on the Eastern Front during WWII would disagree with any criticism of their chauvinistic characterization. They respected yet dreaded the Night Witches of the Russian Air Force, the most publicized of three units being the 588th Night Bomber Regiment.

The ladies of the 588th flew the antiquated Polikarpov PO-2 biplanes, a slow noisy aircraft developed in the 1920s. No match in aerial combat against German Messerschmitt Bf-109s or Focke-Wulf Fw-190s, PO-2s were constructed of fabric pulled over a plywood frame. They had no radio, no parachute, no guns, navigated by a stopwatch and map, and could only carry two small bombs.

So the ladies adapted. They flew only at night and at tree top level in formations of three to avoid German ground defenses. So noisy was a PO-2 that the women aviators would cut their engines as they neared the target, glide in, drop their bombs, restart their engines then head for home. With engines cut and gliding upon their target, the passing PO-2s made a swishing sound the Germans described as like a witchs broomstick in the night, thus the term Nachthexen, German for Night Witches.

Born and raised in the Donetsk coal mining area of Ukraine, Nadezhda Popova was one of the most highly-decorated and highly-publicized of the 588th aviators. She had the childhood dreams of young girls, acting and dancing and music. Then one day everything changed. She caught the aviation bug after a small plane landed near her village then signed up for glider school without her parents permission. At the age of 16 she made her first parachute jump and first solo flight. By her 18th year on earth, Nadezhda was a flight instructor.

During the German invasion of Russia her town was taken over by the Wehrmacht, her home converted into a feared Gestapo Police Station. He brother lost his life at the front and she saw civilians being gunned down by strafing German planes. Nadezhda, decided to go to war.

Rumored to have been the first female volunteer in the newly formed all-women air groups, Nadezhda described the combat in many foreign and Russian interviews. Paraphrasing a few: Our planes were tossed around in strong winds. During winter youd get frostbite looking out to spot your target, our feet would freeze in our boots, but we carried on. You focused on the target, guessing how you could get hit, and no time for emotions. If you gave in to the elements you were shot down and burned alive. We werent given parachutes. After returning from one mission, her all-female ground crew counted over 40 bullet holes in Nadezhdas flimsy aircraft.

Nadezhda described being caught in German searchlights after a deadly and challenging mission: I was attempting to maneuver away from the searchlights when I saw them switch to another plane. German fighters came in and shot her down. That was only the first one. I saw a second plane go down, then a third ignite and fall to earth like a blazing torch. We lost a total of four planes that night, eight girls burned alive. It was a nightmare, my dear friends, we had slept in bunks together. Female pilots of the 588th ranged from 17 to 26 years old. Many died without having their first kiss from a young man. Others who survived missions used their navigation pencils as lip liners in hopes of receiving that first kiss.

Shot down on several missions, forced to land on others, Nadezhda was never seriously injured. In July of 1942, she was shot down and crashed in the North Caucasus. Uninjured, she eventually found and hooked up with a retreating Russian infantry unit. She met another downed pilot, slightly wounded but witty, a male named Semyon Kharlamov. They hit it off immediately and arranged to meet again several times during the war. Both became Heroes of the Soviet Union in the same decree by Stalin. They reached Berlin together and carved both their names into the walls of the Reichstag then married after the war. Nadezhda and Semyon remained together until Semyons death in 1990. Their only son, as of this writing, is a general in the Belarussian Air Force.

The Night Witches tactics so aggravated the German High Command that a promise was issued to award the coveted Iron Cross to German fighter pilots fortunate enough to shoot down a Night Witch. A David vs Goliath syndrome was not a factor. The top air speed of a PO-2 was 110 mph, the same stall speed of German fighters; meaning to line up for a shoot down, the German fighters could lose power then crash and burn. Another factor was altitude. The Night Witches flew so low that the German fighters could plow the earth if unable to pull up in time. The old biplanes were highly maneuverable and not burdened by the weight of powerful engines. In an odd twist of fate, the PO-2s vulnerabilities proved to be useful assets.

Nadezhda obtained the rank of lt. colonel, returned to flight instructor duties after the war, and is remembered as one of the best pilots who flew into combat for the 588th all-female aviation group. She was also one of the luckiest: Nadezhda completed 852 combat sorties, including 18 in one night. She was not alone. A 588th lady pilot Rufina Gasheva flew 848 night missions, and Natalva Meklin flew an incredible 980 night missions. Both survived the war.

As with all young warriors, war generates memories, and Nadezhda was no exception. In a 2010 interview, she stated the following:

I sometimes stare into a darkness and close my eyes. I can still imagine myself as a young girl, up there in my little bomber, and I say to myself, Nadia, how did you do it?

Of approximately 314,000 United States Air Force personnel, 61,000 are female. Women are breaking barriers and filling positions traditionally reserved for only men. They have earned the opportunity, yet on the ground, in hand-to-hand combat, the jury is still out. Women have the true grit, they can acquire the training, but pluck and preparation do not equate to brute force. Perhaps the key word is brute, and hand-to-hand combat is brutal. It requires brute strength, so possibly close quarters fighting should be left to the brutes, pun intended.

Nadezhda Popova went West in Moscow, Russia on July 8, 2013. She was 91 years old.

Article by Peter Mecca

Pete Mecca is a Vietnam veteran. For story consideration or comments: aveteranssstory@gmail.com

To read Petes stories visit www.aveteransstory.us
By PTI: i-Phone to girlfriends

New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) Police today claimed to have busted a gang of alleged phone snatchers with arrest of two of its members who were planning to snatch more phones so that they could gift new i-Phones to their girlfriends on Valentine Day.

The arrested accused have been identified as Dinesh Singh (21) and Yatin Kumar (19).

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Singh, after having a Diploma in computer hardwares, was working as Computer Operator on contract basis in the Income Tax Office at ITO while Kumar is a class 12th student, police said.

They said secret information on the gang of snatchers was received yesterday following which a team was formed and a trap laid down near Chand Cinema, Kalyanpuri.

"After waiting for a while, two boys on a motorcycle reached there. The informer made predetermined signal and the team apprehended both the accused persons," said a senior police official.

The official said they used to put a paper and polythene on the back number plate of the motorcycle at the time of committing offence.

"Both the accused persons are unmarried and to attract their girlfriends, they wanted to have quick and easy money to have lavish lifestyle and to gift expensive items to them. Then, the idea of snatching mobile phones occurred to their minds and they started committing this crime," official said.

Police said the accused wanted to gift newi-phones to their girlfriends on the Valentine Day and for this, they were planning to snatch more phones.

According to police, Dinesh, who has technical knowledge about mobile phones, used to format the password-protected smartphones so that it could be sold easily.

They sold several other phones to different persons on cheaper rates on the pretext of emergency requirement of money without telling them the truth. PTI BUN TIR

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Rob Scott has been named the new Wesfarmers managing director to succeed Richard Goyder, who will step down from the role towards the end of this year.

Mr Scott, who is currently head of Wesfarmers' industrials division, will become deputy chief executive immediately before joining the board as managing director after the company's annual meeting in November.

The 47-year-old has been touted as the likely replacement for Mr Goyder for some months. This talk firmed after Bunnings boss John Gilliam stepped aside in December amid speculation he was not one of the candidates for the top job.

Chairman Michael Chaney said Mr Scott, a former Olympic rower, had shown himself to be an "outstanding executive and had demonstrated his leadership and commercial capability". His appointment continued Wesfarmers' "unbroken tradition of appointing its chief executives from within the group".
A Coalition government minister has launched an attack on the main public service union over one of the key flashpoints in Commonwealth's long industrial dispute.

Human Services Minister Alan Tudge has accused the Community and Public Sector Union of putting its own interests and those of the Labor Party above union members working at the giant Department of Human Services.

Human Services Minister Alan Tudge. Credit:Kirk Gilmour

But the union hit back on Monday, saying the minister's comments were "misleading, inaccurate and insulting", and pointing out that many of the DHS public servants resisting the government's industrial relations policies were not members of any union.

Mr Tudge is the third minister to preside over the dispute at the key department since the election of the Abbott government in 2013 but has not previously had much to say about the industrial strife wracking his portfolio.
Delhi Police on Tuesday arrested two persons and recovered 20 iPhones. Police said that the youths are infamous for stealing iPhones.

By Anuj Mishra: A bid to gift their girlfriends iPhones this Valentine's Day has landed two Delhi youths in the police net.

Delhi Police on Tuesday arrested two persons and recovered 20 iPhones. Police said that the youths are infamous for stealing iPhones.

Police have recovered a motorbike on which the accused loitered around the city and snatched expensive phones from unsuspecting commuters.

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The duo have been identified as Dinesh Singh and Yatin Kumar, both residents of East District. Police said that they wanted to gift the expensive phones to their girlfriends on Valentine's Day.

The accused were arrested after the police received a tip off regarding their whereabouts. The police had information that the duo was to visit Chand Cinema on Monday. Following the information, the police laid a trap and arrested the duo.

The duo told the police that they concealed the licence number plate of the motorbike to avoid being tracked. Singh and Kumar targeted pedestrians mostly.

After snatching the phones, they sold them off at cheaper rates. Police said that the duo sold the phones to labourers and migrant workers as they did not enquire about the ownership or bills.

Police said that the duo admitted that they committed the crime for easy cash and to pay for their lavish lifestyle.

Also read:

Delhi: 6 including two minors arrested for armed robbery

5 people rob gold worth 46 kg in Hyderabad, Police on a massive hunt for robbers

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Sydney startup Brewquets is hoping Valentine's Day lovers will abandon bunches of flowers in favour of a bouquet of craft beers.

And it's using Instagram to try to push the change.

Ryan Nelson (left) and Ryan Touliatos of Brewquets use Instagram to get their message across.

Instagram now has 7 million local users with the social media network claiming the average Australian checks their Instagram feed 11 times a day, six out of seven days a week.

The attraction for businesses is 75 per cent of Australians say they are taking action after being inspired by an Instagram post, whether it's visiting a website, searching for more information, shopping or telling a friend.
More than a third of Australians are prepared to ditch their smartphone brand and switch to a rival in 2017, threatening Apple and Samsung's domination of the local market.

Around 36 per cent of Australians aren't brand loyal when it comes to mobile phones and will buy whichever device best suits their needs when looking for their next smartphone, according to research by finder.com.au.

Apple customers are the most devoted in Australia, with 33 per cent of respondents preferring to stick with an iPhone for their next smartphone upgrade, while 21 per cent will remain loyal to Samsung. Loyalty to other individual smartphone brands  such as Sony, HTC, Google and Microsoft  remains at less than 2 per cent each.

The Samsung Note 7 recall, due to exploding batteries, saw the number of Australians intending to buy a Samsung device fall to 21 per cent from a high of 33 per cent. The majority of those people who lost interest in buying a Samsung device would still prefer to stick with Android rather than defect to Apple's iPhone  with interest in Huawei, Oppo and Google-branded Android phones increasing by more than 50 per cent.
By PTI: Amaravati, Feb 14 (PTI) Guntur district collector has issued a notice to mother of Rohit Vemula, the University of Hyderabad research scholar who committed suicide in January last, asking her to prove she belonged to the Scheduled Caste.

The notice was part of ongoing inquiry into Rohits caste, being conducted by the Revenue department following claims and counter-claims over his caste affiliation.

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While one version says he belonged to the Backward Caste, Vaddera (to which his father belonged), the other claimed he was from Scheduled Caste Mala community (which his mother Radhika comes from).

Guntur district Collector Kantilal Dande, had, in fact, submitted a report to the National SC Commission last April, saying Rohit belonged to the SC.

However, a re-inquiry was ordered following petitions against the claims of the scholars family.

As part of the re-inquiry, the revenue officials already spoke to Radhika and other family members, including her estranged husband and Rohits father Mani Kumar.

Now, the Collector issued a notice to Radhika asking her to prove that she belonged to SC community.

The SC certificate issued for Rohit would be revoked if she did not prove her claim within 15 days, said the notice that was delivered three days ago.

Rohit had killed himself in a hostel room on the HU campus last year in Hyderabad, sparking a huge political slugfest. PTI DBV NSK

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By PTI: New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) VHP today came out in support of Union Minister Kiren Rijiju over his remarks on "declining Hindu population", saying they were in the nations interest and were made by a responsible leader who himself is a Buddhist.

"Rijiju, a Buddhist, made this statement in the nations interest," VHPs International General Secretary Surender Jain said in a statement, adding Rijiju is a responsible leader.

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Jain further said, those who are criticising Rijiju for his remarks are "indulging in cheap politics and minority appeasement which will not only impact the country but even Muslims also".

He added that today all societies across the globe have accepted concept of family planning but there a section of politicians who do not want Muslims to do so, which is only hurting the community.

A controversy had erupted yesterday over a tweet by Union Minister of State for Home Rijiju that Indias Hindu population was decreasing as Hindus do not convert other people. Rijijus comment came after the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee accused the Narendra Modi-led BJP government of trying to convert Arunachal Pradesh into a "Hindu state". PTI JTR KUN ZMN KUN

--- ENDS ---
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Cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 81F. Winds light and variable..

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Partly cloudy skies early will give way to considerable cloudiness and fog after midnight. Low 67F. Winds light and variable.
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By Adam Morton

Feb. 13, 2017 | PADUCAH, KY

By Adam Morton Feb. 13, 2017 | 09:26 PM | PADUCAH, KY

After over twenty years in service, McCracken County Jailer Bill Adams is retiring.



Adams has been serving Paducah since 1995. His retirement will take effect in ninety days.



When Adams spoke at Monday's fiscal court meeting, he paid tribute to his mentor Cliff Gill. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him. He put me where I'm at," Adams said.



Adams shared memories of his time at the jail, even difficult ones such as having to come in at 2:00 a.m. for an inmate that had passed.



Adams also thanked his employees, saying he couldn't have done it with out them.



McCracken County Judge Executive Bob Leeper invited Adams to speak so he could be publicly thanked for many years of service.

Leeper also thanked Adams' family. " I appreciate the sacrifice they've made for you to serve the community." Leeper said.



Commissioners Bill Bartleman and Scott Wathen also expressed thanks to Adams.



It was not announced who will be appointed to finish out the term.
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All clear after semi crashes blocked I-24 Caldwell County; semi crashes also blocked detour route
THE 2017 LOCAL FARMING SEASON IS GETTING UNDERWAY

WEATHER AND ADEQUATE LABOR---THE TWO BIG CONCERNS

LOCAL AGRICULTURE BUSY PREPARING---AND HOPEFUL---FOR 2017 FARMING SEASON

Henderson county apple grower Kenny Barnwell told WHKP News I am concerned about having adequate labor every year. Barnwell spoke with WHKP News about two major issues facing local agriculture---unpredictable and possibly devastating spring weather, and having adequate farm labor.

How the Trump Administration will handle the immigration issue and un-documented workers, mostly from Mexico, who plant, care for, and then harvest every local crop from berries to apples remains unclear. And growers are always concerned about ICE, or the Immigration Customs Enforcement people, swooping in on their fields and sending their labor back across the border.

Vegetable grower Kirby Johnson, who grows here in the summer and in Florida in the winter, says concern over labor is why he cut back last years, and will be cutting back some this year, on the total acres hes farming.

Weather is the other big issue facing local growers. Kenny Barnwell, who grows both apples and peaches, says if the temperatures get too warm and the young apples begin to bud too soon, a late season frost or freeze can kill an entire crop. Normally, says Barnwell, local apple trees will begin to bloom by the first of April and will be in full bloom sometime in the first two weeks of April.

A value of $40 million was placed on Henderson Countys apple crop last yearswhich was described as not a full crop, but a good crop.

Kirby Johnson says the abnormally warm winter has been a big concern for him and other vegetable growers and hes hoping for more cold weather to slow things down some. Hes also worried about some predictions that this year may be a dry summer.

Johnson, who will be growing hundreds of acres of mixed tomatoes, beans, peppers and other vegetables in Henderson County, mostly in Mills River, this yearsays all of his products are available at Ingles and Publix food storesand of course at the Johnson Family Farm on Kanuga Road.

A lot more is grown and farmed in Hendersonb County, too...everything from livestock to herbs to plants and flowers, even Christmas trees. Complete information, and where to buy it all, is available at southernmountainfresh.comn.

By WHKP News Director Larry Freeman 10am 02/13./17
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This article was published 13/02/2017 (2092 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

City councillor Jeff Browaty was surprised and disappointed by Mayor Brian Bowmans handling of the controversy that led to Browatys resignation last week as chairman of the Winnipeg Police Board.

Browaty (North Kildonan) said he thought hed have a chance to meet with Bowman about a unanimous request to the mayor from the other members of the board for his removal as chairman.

Browaty was out of town but had a meeting scheduled with the mayor Monday, expecting the matter would be discussed then.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS City Councillor Jeff Browaty resigned last week as chairman of the Winnipeg Police Board.

The board issued its recommendation by letter last Tuesday morning. Browaty said the mayor instructed the police board to immediately make the letter public. The police boards petition against Browaty was based on a request made by the Indigenous Council on Policing and Crime Prevention, which advises the board.

I kind of expected and hoped for the courtesy that it wasnt made public until after I had a chance to meet with the mayor, said Browaty, who returned to Winnipeg Sunday night. When it was made public Tuesday, Browaty felt he had no choice but to resign.

The mayors office confirmed the police board made its letter public as part of Bowmans policy that its concerns should be in the open. It said the mayor planned to meet Browaty on Monday before making a decision but was pre-empted by the councillors resignation.

Browaty and Bowman have had their differences. Browaty is against the mayors plans to open Portage and Main to pedestrian traffic, and didnt support the mayors controversial imposition of impact fees on new residential developments. That led Bowman to remove Browaty from his executive policy committee.

The police board controversy started when Browaty, speaking on the floor of council in December, questioned the expense of having the citys 10,000 employees take half-day training on the history of indigenous people in residential schools, as was mandated by the mayor as part of the citys reconciliation efforts.

Browaty questioned the cost of the program for 10,000 employees, including part-timers and grass-cutters and pot-hole fillers and payroll clerks. It would amount to 5,000 man-days for the citys workforce.

But Browaty said he also made the case that police should take the training because a lot of their time is dealing with aboriginal people.

He withdrew his comments two hours later and promised to take the training, which he is scheduled to do next month.

However, the indigenous advisory council came out against Browaty, and called for his resignation after a special meeting with him. The police board then agreed with the advisory councils call to replace him.

Browaty is concerned about the way hes now perceived by some people.

I feel bad the way it all played out, he said. I believe Im fairly worldly, fairly sophisticated in my beliefs and my understanding of the world. Its the last thing I want to come across that Im some sort of as lock-em-up redneck.

The response from constituents and other Winnipeggers has been supportive overall, he said.

Im still loving my gig, and its still the best job, he said.

Browaty was away on a three-week training program sponsored by the U.S. State Department. He was nominated by the U.S. Consulate in Winnipeg. The theme was resilient cities, and Browaty travelled around the States. with 17 other city officials from China, Malaysia and Russia, among others, at no expense to Winnipeg taxpayers. Some of the stops included Washington, New York and Kalamazoo, Mich.

bill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca
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This article was published 13/02/2017 (2092 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Winnipeg mother accused of kidnapping her children after a lengthy custody dispute is headed to trial this summer.

Sandra Giesbrecht, 44, faces multiple charges including two counts of abducting a person under the age of 14. Those charges are set to go to trial in provincial court starting July 4. In the meantime, Giesbrecht is standing trial on allegations she had cellphones snuck into her childrens foster placements so she could text them covertly leading up to the alleged abduction.

A court order implemented after Giesbrechts ex-husband gained full custody of the two children prevented her from having any unauthorized contact with them. But in a provincial court trial that began last week in front of Judge Anne Krahn, Crown lawyers Alanna Littman and Sharyl Thomas are trying to prove Giesbrecht disobeyed the court order by getting an unidentified woman to pass along a cell phone to her daughter while she was at the park. The Crowns case alleges a phone number listed in the cellphones contact list as Crayon was actually Giesbrecht and that she exchanged more than 100 texts over a period of two days in early May 2016, more than a month before her children went missing for five days in June. The phone was allegedly hidden in a boxspring mattress and later discovered by CFS workers.

SUPPLIED Police scene at Bruce Park where woman was arrested. Winnipeg Police confirmed in a tweet Friday evening the missing Giesbrecht children were found.

Giesbrecht has pleaded not guilty to the breach charge and is being represented by defence lawyer Gisele Champagne. The trial, which has so far included evidence from Winnipeg Police and CFS workers, is scheduled for two more days, spread between now and March. Much of the evidence is subject to a voir dire, meaning its up to the judge to decide what will be admissable before a verdict is reached.

Winnipeg police arrested Giesbrecht in June 2016 on a Canada-wide warrant following a short pursuit with officers after her nine-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter had been missing for five days. Their father had been granted full custody of the children after a lengthy dispute in family court, and Giesbrecht was ordered to have no unauthorized contact with them. At the time of her arrest, police said they found evidence to suggest Giesbrecht had been wearing a disguise  a wig was found on the floor of the Ford Expedition SUV Giesbrecht was driving.

Back in April, Court of Queens Bench Justice Cathy Everett awarded full custody of the children to their father, lawyer Jacob Giesbrecht, after a four-week trial. Sandra Giesbrecht was only allowed to have supervised visitations once a week after the judge found her to be an emotionally unstable manipulator. She was also ordered to pay monthly child support.

Child and Family Services seized the children in January 2016 because of concerns they were being emotionally and psychologically abused by their mother. There had been two previous criminal complaints in 2014 and 2015 made against the father for alleged sexual abuse of his daughter. A lengthy investigation by police and CFS found there was no merit to the complaints and deemed they were the mothers attempts to manipulate custody arrangements.

-with files from Mike McIntyre

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @thatkatiemay
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This article was published 14/02/2017 (2091 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  Canadas national police force and its border agency have redeployed staff to Emerson to address the influx of asylum seekers sneaking across the border in order to make a refugee claim in Canada.

But additional resources for the border, the RCMP or Winnipeg community groups aiding the refugee claimants are up in the air.

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said he met with both RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson and Canada Border Services Agency President John Ossowski Tuesday Morning in Ottawa for a briefing on the latest situation in Emerson.

JUSTIN TANG / THE CANADIAN PRESS Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Ralph Goodale speaks to reporters as he arrives for a cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa on Tuesday,

Both the RCMP and CBSA are keeping a very active watch on the situation, said Goodale, prior to question period Tuesday. They are the professionals. They deal with 400,000 people going back and forth across that border every day. So they are used to dealing with large and sometimes extraordinary situations. Theyre redeploying resources to make sure that theyve got the right people at the right place to be able to, to cope with these matters.

Goodale insists the number of asylum seekers crossing the border to make a refugee claim is much lower than it was a decade ago, although he acknowledges it has increased in the last five years. The numbers in Manitoba have more than quadrupled since 2013.

In all of 2013-14, CBSA reported 68 people illegally crossed the Canadian border into Manitoba and made a refugee claim. RCMP said this week they have already picked up 69 asylum claimants who hopped over the border since January 1. There have been at least 479 since April 1, 2016.

Premier Brian Pallister is seeking assistance from the prime ministers office to address the influx of claimants. Spokespeople from Trudeaus office did not respond Tuesday to questions from the Free Press about Pallisters requests.

Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said Tuesday his department already provides funding to settlement groups such as the Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council, which is aiding the asylum seekers but wouldnt say if any additional help would be forthcoming.

We continue to monitor the situation closely and well respond appropriately, he said.

The council however receives federal funding to aid government-assisted refugees who have already had their refugee claims approved before arriving in Canada. It has been offering assistance to refugee claimants within Canada with help from private donors and the Winnipeg Foundation. The foundation provided an emergency contribution of $33,000 Monday to assist but more help is needed.

NDP Immigration Critic Jenny Kwan said the government is trying to pretend this sudden increase in people fleeing the United States has nothing to do with President Donald Trumps executive order issued last month. The order, which has been suspended by the federal court in the U.S., barred entry to the U.S. for people from seven Muslim-majority nations, including Somalia. Most of the refugee claimants coming across into Emerson are Somali.

Kwan said since Trumps election and since the order was signed, the number of asylum seekers risking their lives to get into Canada has gone up. Local lawyers who represent many of these claimants say they have not seen people crossing the border to make an asylum claim in the dead of winter before.

You dont have to be a rocket scientist to put two and two together, said Kwan.

Kwan said Ottawa has to immediately acknowledge the U.S. cannot be considered a safe nation for all refugees any longer and suspend the Safe Third Country Agreement it signed with the Americans, which requires each country to turn back any asylum seekers coming to a land border crossing.

The refugee claimants sneaking across the border are avoiding going to the border crossing because if they did they would be sent back to the U.S. If they make their claim from within Canada, they remain in Canada during the refugee processing.

Hussen said Trumps order has no affect on that agreement.

The compliance with that agreement is done by the judiciary in the United States, not by the executive, he said. So its really important that we get this right and therefore, as far as were concerned, the indications that we have is that the local American asylum system is in place. So if someone has an asylum claim to make in the United States, they get the same system that existed prior to the executive order.

mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca
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This article was published 14/02/2017 (2091 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  The federal government intends to release a national poverty reduction plan by the end of the year, the minister of families, housing and social development said Monday.

Jean-Yves Duclos held a news conference outside the House of Commons to announce he will hold public consultations and appoint a ministerial advisory committee on poverty, both of which are to report back to him by June.

So all in all, by the end of June, sometime in June, we will have all the advice that will be needed to launch this Poverty Reduction Strategy probably in fall 2017, Duclos said.

However, he noted the budget will have a reference to the promised $20-billion, 10-year social infrastructure program, which might get work on a national housing plan and child care programs on the table sooner. Duclos has been working with provincial and territorial governments for a year on a national child care plan. Housing is also dependent on ongoing work with provinces.

About $500 million will be earmarked in the budget for child care this year but Duclos wouldnt ofer any details of how that money would be spent.

Kate Kehler, executive director of the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg, said as long as the latest studies dont replicate work already done, she is fine with it, noting a public consultation process can help get the public onside with the final program.

She said the previously announced study that has Duclos department looking for case studies on poverty in six centres in Canada, including Winnipeg, is a positive way to ensure the realities of poverty in different places play into the solution.

The company hired by Ottawa to do the case studies will be in Winnipeg next month to meet with local community groups, speak to members of the homeless population and others who live in poverty every day.

Manitoba has one of the highest poverty rates in the country overall, and the highest child poverty rate among the provinces. Twenty-nine per cent of Manitoba kids  about 85,000 children  live in poverty. On reserves that rate is 76 per cent.

Kehler said in Manitoba poverty is widespread but indigenous peoples and new immigrants are at the biggest risk.

Duclos public consultations will take place online and in roundtables with local governments, businesses and community leaders. He is looking now for nominations of people with experience in fighting poverty to join the advisory committee. Theyre to help identify priority areas, align provincial and federal programs, and find ways to replicate innovative programs at the national level.

mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 14/02/2017 (2091 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Somali asylum seekers in Minneapolis planning to make the dangerous winter trek on foot across the border into Canada are being warned that its too cold to take the risk, says a community leader.

We had a meeting today with the community, Omar Jamal, director of the Somali Community of Minnesota, said by phone Tuesday. In a press release, the community said its urging Somalis not to make the journey to North Dakota and try to walk over the border into Canada.

I will be on the Somali radio (Tuesday) and all other social media, Jamal said. An estimated 200,000 Somalis live in metro Minneapolis  the largest Somali population in the U.S. Its become a crossroad for Somalis and other asylum seekers throughout the U.S. wanting to get to Canada via North Dakota and the well-worn back roads and trails to Emerson. Jamal hopes it will be seen as a potentially dangerous winter route that should be avoided.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Tracks can be seen in the snow close to the American border at Emerson.

The word is getting out, Jamal said from Minneapolis. He said another group left Minneapolis Monday night headed toward the Canadian border at Emerson, likely wearing clothing not warm enough for the hours theyll spend slogging through the snow.

They are not properly dressed for the cold, freezing weather, and dont have proper boots and gloves, the press release said. Some of the immigrants are taking children with them, it said.

There is a potential chance of death from hypothermia, and of losing limbs to frost bite, the Somali community warning said.

Please dont do this before it is too late.

The Somali community leadership may be telling refugee claimants in the U.S. to stay away but Mother Nature, over the next week along the border near Emerson, appears to be saying come hither.

Greg Janzen, the reeve of Emerson-Franklin, appreciates Jamals efforts but isnt convinced it will keep refugee claimants from coming this weekend.

I dont think its going to work, Janzen said Tuesday. If they check the weather, its warmed up quite a bit.

Environment Canada has forecast above-normal temperatures for southern Manitoba the rest of the week. At Emerson, overnight lows arent expected to drop below 0 C overnight on Thursday and Friday, which has been the busiest time for border jumpers arriving there.

We are having warm weather, so I am expecting a big influx, Janzen said.

The biggest thing right now is (asylum seekers) in the U.S. are uncomfortable, he said.

Trumps travel ban is on hold for now but there are fears U.S. immigration officials could swoop down at any time and arrest anyone who is undocumented.

Janzen said Somali community leaders warning people about the cold isnt enough to allay those fears.

I think its going to happen anyways. Theyre that scared no matter what anyone says.

Janzen said he thinks the community hall in Emerson will be available this weekend if theres another big influx of arrivals who need to take shelter.

Overnight from Sunday to Monday, the RCMP say they intercepted seven people  a group of four and a second group of three  crossing the border near Emerson. That brings the weekend total to 28 people who made their way into Canada on foot  including a family of five with a baby and two young children. The RCMP said Monday theyve picked up 69 asylum seekers crossing the border so far this year.

The asylum seekers are checked, then taken to the Canada Border Services Agency in Emerson. After theyre processed  including being fingerprinted, photographed  theyre cleared to go.

The Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council, which operates Welcome Place, has been shuttling refugee claimants to Winnipeg where they find them shelter and provide them with counselling and paralegal help to file their refugee claim. The executive director of Welcome Place on Monday held a press conference and asked the public for financial donations to help the non-profit organization help the asylum seekers.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
Opinion

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This article was published 14/02/2017 (2091 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Since last August, it has been known the Liberal government is intent on sending a force of peacekeepers to a United Nations mission somewhere on the African continent.

Canadians have been told there will be approximately 600 soldiers deployed and the budget will be approximately $450 million.

What we still dont know is to which UN mission these Canadian Blue Helmets will be sent  and that means there is no way to gauge what measure of success we can hope to achieve.

DANIEL MOREL / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Canadian peacekeepers in Haiti in 1997. Canada is considering sending peacekeeping troops to Africa.

The betting money is still on Mali being the mission Canada will most likely reinforce, but if that is the case, then the number of troops and dollars committed would mean this is just another exercise in useless tokenism.

There will be no quick fix in the Mali quagmire. The current crisis erupted in 2012 following the collapse of Moammar Gadhafis regime in neighbouring Libya.

Nomadic Tuaregs and al-Qaeda troops in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) armed themselves from the abandoned Libyan arsenals and then quickly overran the demoralized Malian government troops in the northern province.

To avert a complete collapse, France deployed a military expeditionary force  with the assistance of airlift support from the RCAF  to her former colony.

The French were able to drive the AQIM from their self-proclaimed caliphate, but the spirit of Tuareg separatism still burns bright in the region.

In July, the UN stood up the current peacekeeping mission, which presently has a combined military and police strength of close to 15,000 international personnel.

Despite the scale of this UN deployment, the rebels continue to resist and with 101 peacekeepers killed in Mali to date, it remains the UNs most deadly mission.

The final objective, or victory in the case of this international intervention, is also not clearly defined.

Malis boundaries were drafted by the European colonial powers using straight lines on a map.

As such, the Sahara-dwelling Tuaregs have almost nothing in common culturally or linguistically with their fellow Malians in the south.

The current regime in Bamako is also considered one of the worlds most corrupt so one can, therefore, somewhat empathize with the Tuaregs separatist sentiment.

Have we learned nothing from our 11-year commitment to the U.S.-led NATO mission in Afghanistan?

Canadian politicians, diplomats and military brass repeatedly told the public the Canadian military was punching above its weight in Afghanistan.

To prove that point they highlighted not only the size of our contingent, but also the fact Canada suffered the highest ratio of combat casualties among all of her allies.

Despite that contribution, Canada never had a seat at the big kids table.

Any and all major strategic decisions ultimately were made by the U.S. State Department and the Pentagon.

Our Canadian soldiers, Canadas sons and daughters, spent more than a decade risking their lives to prop up a corrupt cabal of former warlords, who were ostensibly elected under the farcical election processes staged by the West.

Our troops in Kandahar were not hated because they were Canadian; they were hated because they were seen as the enforcers of the hated Kabul regime.

One hundred and fifty-eight Canadian soldiers were killed in Afghanistan and more than 2,000 more service members were injured or wounded.

Added to this growing list of casualties are the countless number of Afghanistan veterans who are still suffering from the invisible wounds of PTSD.

We did not succeed in Afghanistan and, despite the U.S. militarys continued presence there, the country is fast devolving back into a failed state that is awash in lawless violence and abject poverty.

This failure to defeat the Taliban and stabilize Afghanistan only serves to highlight the senseless sacrifice made by our soldiers.

They endured hell and witnessed comrades killed and maimed for life, all in the service of Canada, but with no actual tangible positive effect.

Now it seems we are about to deploy a fresh wave of keen, young soldiers to a complex conflict, wherein no one seems to know how to clearly define what a victory would look like.

Lets hope saner heads prevail and that the Liberals push the rethink button before committing our troops to Mali or any other no-hope missions in which we have no vested national interest.

Scott Taylor is the founder and publisher of Esprit de Corps Magazine. He is also a bestselling author and award-winning documentary filmmaker.
Opinion

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This article was published 14/02/2017 (2091 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

This guy, hes like a maniac, OK? He wiped out the uncle. He wiped out this one, that one. I mean, this guy doesnt play games. And we cant play games with him. Because he really does have missiles. And he really does have nukes.

So spoke U.S. President Donald Trump in Iowa in January. North Korea flight-tested a ballistic missile on Saturday night that landed off Japans west coast. So what will he do now? What can he do? And is North Koreas 33-year-old dictator, Kim Jong-un, really a maniac?

South Koreas foreign ministry certainly thinks so: North Koreas repeated provocations show the Kim Jong-un regimes nature of irrationality, maniacally obsessed in its nuclear and missile development.

SEONGJOON CHO / BLOOMBERG North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appears on a South Korean news broadcast about North Koreas unidentified ballistic missile launch.

The same word was used a great deal after North Korea tested nuclear weapons in January and September of last year.

But why would it be maniacal, or even irrational, for the North Korean leader to want nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States?

After all, the United States not only has nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach North Korea, it has enough of them to eradicate the country 20 times over.

If it is not maniacal for the United States to have them, why is it maniacal for the North Koreans? Because American leaders are responsible, they explain, whereas Kim Jong-un is a maniac. Begging your pardon, but isnt that argument rather circular?

The United States is the only country that ever developed nuclear weapons with the deliberate intention of using them. It was at the end of the Second World War, when tens of millions had already been killed and moral restraints had been largely cast aside.

But the United States never used its nukes again, even when it still had a monopoly on them  and all the other known nuclear powers got them in the name of deterrence: stopping somebody else from using nuclear weapons on those countries.

The Soviet Union developed them to deter the United States from launching a nuclear strike. Britain and France got them to deter the Soviet Union. China got them to deter all of the above. And Pakistan and India each developed them because they suspected the other country was working on them.

So why cant the rest of the world believe North Korea is doing this in order to deter an American nuclear attack?

North Koreans have lived 65 years with the knowledge the United States could do that whenever it wanted, and it is not maniacal to take out a little insurance against it.

The North Korean regime is brutally repressive and given to foaming at the mouth over minor slights. But since it has actually kept the peace for 64 years (while the United States has fought three large wars and many small ones), it is hard to maintain that it is maniacally aggressive.

So why say it? Because if you dont characterize North Korea as insanely dangerous, then you cannot justify forbidding it to have ballistic missiles (which several dozen other countries have) and nuclear warheads (which nine countries have, and another four had briefly before giving them up).

Since none of the great powers want North Korea to have them, and they control the United Nations Security Council, they have managed to get special UN bans on both ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons for North Korea. Maintaining that the Pyongyang regime are maniacs is part of the program, but it does frighten those who are not in on the joke.

It would be better if the ban worked, since the world has more than enough nuclear powers already. However, the ban is essentially unenforceable and the heavens will not fall if North Korea does get a few nuclear-tipped ICBMs one of these days. It will never have very many, and they will not be used for some lunatic first strike on countries that are tens of times more powerful.

They will be for deterrence, only to be launched as an act of revenge from the grave. Just like everybody elses.

What can President Trump do about this? He could try bribing North Korea into suspending its work on missiles and bombs. That worked once before, but not for very long. There is really nothing useful to be done.

And what will he say about it? Nobody knows  probably including him.

Gwynne Dyer is an independent journalist whose articles are published in 45 countries.
The first check, valued at $2,000, is from the Winona Lodge Number 18, and the second check of equal value, is a match from the Minnesota Masonic Charities. The donations will be used to fund the citys scholarship program. The city of Winona Parks and Recreation Department believes that all children should be able to participate in sports, camps, swim lessons, and many other activities, regardless of ability to pay.
The Winona County Board approved a long-discussed water management plan Tuesday morning, agreeing to start implementation of a plan based on and intended to benefit the entire Root River watershed.

The One Watershed, One Plan is a watershed-based plan, with implementation targeted to sub-watersheds facing the greatest threat to impairment of water quality.

Winona County makes up about 12 percent of the Root River watershed.

Groups and government units in the agreement include the county boards of Dodge, Fillmore, Mower, Olmsted, Houston and Winona counties, along with the Dodge, Fillmore, Mower, Olmsted, Root River, and Winona Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

The joint powers agreement and implementation plan were approved unanimously despite concerns about the funding sources and whether the county would be able to leave the agreement at will. The county first approved a memorandum of support for the plans development in 2014.

Board member Marcia Ward said that they hadnt heard what form the money for the implementation will come in, and how it would be divided among the 13 groups in the agreement.

The plan is adaptable, its workable, its got some good things in it, Ward said. But those are some of the ongoing concerns that havent been answered and are problematic.

Board member Steve Jacob said the plan also ran the risk of competing for resources with the other organizations and of adding regulations governing water.

So far I havent seen any reduction in any of our participation in any other entities, Jacob said.

Board member Marie Kovecsi said while the states funding hadnt been determined, money was included in the governors proposed budget.

Kovecsi said forming the holistic approach to the water management was a collaborative effort on the part of their staff and others.

Theres a lot of good information the policy committee and the other committees have worked on, Kovecsi said. Winona County does have some areas that would be getting some attention.

The Winona County Board also got an update on another invasive pest in the area: the gypsy moth.

While not as targeted as the emerald ash borers, the moths can contribute to the deaths of the around 300 trees and shrubs they eat, particularly when combined with other stress factors.

Kimberly Thielen Cremers, a pest mitigation and regulatory response supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, told the board that while they werent incredibly prevalent in the state, they were encroaching from the west.

Gypsy moths are one of the nations most damaging forest pests in the nation, Thielen Cremers said. Were getting a lot of pressure  our goal is to go in and either eradicate or slow that natural spread.

There is a planned eradication of an isolated gypsy moth population in the summer of 2017, where they have gathered in the southeastern corner of New Hartford Township, on the border of Houston County. That spot is a 1,751 acre area. Since the eradication program began in 1980, the state has treated over 820,000 acres for the moths.

The treatment disrupts the moths ability to breed by the application of moth pheromones in mid-summer. The moths are confused and die before they can find a mate,.

The Department of Agriculture will hold an open house on the plans from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., March 2 at the New Hartford Town Hall.
UN chief condemns NKorea missile test: UNITED NATIONS  U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned North Koreas latest ballistic missile launch ahead of an urgent meeting of the Security Council on Monday, while U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to deal with Pyongyang very strongly. North Korea has repeatedly flouted resolutions demanding an end to its nuclear activities.

flouted six Security Council resolutions demanding an end to its nuclear and ballistic missile activities and has continued to launch missiles, escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula and in the region.

Dresden marks Allied bombing anniversary with peace chain: BERLIN  Thousands of people have formed a human chain in Dresden in a message of peace and reconciliation marking the anniversary of the deadly Allied firebombing of the eastern German city near the end of World War II. Mayor Dirk Hilbert told the crowd linking hands across the Elbe River bridge to remember the past as they view conflicts today where human dignity is trampled underfoot. Hilbert placed a white rose on a memorial to the attack by Allied bombers on Feb. 13-14, 1945. Some 25,000 people are believed to have died in the bombing, according to a 2008 official study.

More than 1.5 million are refugees from South Sudan: KAMPALA, Uganda  More than 1.5 million South Sudanese have become refugees and their humanitarian needs are overwhelming aid efforts during the countrys civil war, according to the United Nations. South Sudans civil war began in December 2013 and roughly 3.6 million people have fled their homes or become refugees, according to the U.N. The country is Africas largest refugee crisis and the third largest in the world, after Syria and Afghanistan.
Gov. Scott Walker once again is proposing big changes for Circus World.

As he did in 2013, Walker included funding in his 2017-2019 biennial budget proposal to pay for operations at the Baraboo museum, essentially handing over control from the privately funded Circus World Museum Foundation to the Wisconsin Historical Society.

The organizations historically have worked together to keep Circus World operating, and under the current agreement, the Historical Society owns the land and buildings, while the Foundation oversees operations at the site.

Walkers last attempt to assist the local site, which has at times struggled to remain financially sound, was struck down by the Legislature in 2013. However, the idea may have more traction this time around.

Last year, Baraboo Mayor and Circus World Museum Foundation Board member Mike Palm chaired a blue ribbon committee to study sustainable measures to finance the museums future operations. He said the committee decided to seek funding from the state, and the full board unanimously agreed.

The changes would make Circus Worlds six staff members state employees and create an additional four positions. The museum would receive an increase in state funding as well.

The Republican governors proposed two-year budget released Feb. 8, which requires approval from both the state Assembly and Senate, would allocate $1.2 million to pay Circus Worlds 10 employees and support other operations at the site in 2018 and 2019.

If Walkers proposal is approved, Wisconsin Historical Society Director Ellsworth Brown said the agency will work with the Foundation to maintain a public-private partnership and ensure the museums budget is met.

For the past four years there has been a need to address the structural budget deficit at Circus World Museum and to create a more sustainable operation, he said. We appreciate Gov. Walkers continued support for Wisconsin history and especially this important piece of our states heritage.

While a similar 2013 state budget proposal was met with a firestorm of controversy, Palm said he expects no such debate this time around. Unlike the previous budget proposal, Palm said the current Foundation board members and executive director of the museum support the changes, largely because they were anticipated.

I think one of the stumbling blocks back in 2013 came because the board had no idea it was coming, he said. It was much more of a reactionary response.

Circus World Executive Director Scott ODonnell said he supports an expanded partnership with the Wisconsin Historical Society.

We have worked hard since that occurrence last time to try to get back to a discussion with the state because, like most historic sites, having some public support is very important in the long term, ODonnell said. Were working with the Wisconsin Historical Society, not against it.

Both Palm and ODonnell said its too early in the budget process to anticipate any challenges that may arise throughout the transition.

We as a staff would likely have a different organizational structure  or a boss, if you will  but my guess is the average guest is not going to know any difference walking through the door, ODonnell said. I think theres a multitude of is that need to be dotted and ts that need to be crossed, but its far too early in that conversation to know if any concern would be a lingering issue.

Palm said the Foundation will continue operating, even if the Legislature approves the changes.

The board is still going to be there, Palm said. Is it going to be potentially somewhat different? I think the answer to that is, probably yes, but we dont know until things get through joint finance and continue on with the budget.

Editor's note: The story was updated to accurately reflect the current number of Circus World employees.
Stewart Thompson, who recently resigned as a teacher from Mauston High School, has been charged with child enticement, exposing a child to harmful material, and sexual assault of a student by school staff.

According to what was reported by Jason Cuevas, editor for the Juneau County Star Times, authorities say Thompson and the student began texting and Snapchatting during her junior year; he sent her a photo of his genitals, they kissed at his apartment, for her 17th birthday he gave her a Victoria Secret gift card. Shorty after that, prosecutors say they had intercourse at least 10 times. Then they started meeting in his parents cabin in Warrens.

Unfortunately, many people may question the students behavior and why she continued this romantic relationship with her teacher, or even that she seduced him or is to blame. But this is not a romantic relationship; this is not sex  its sexual assault. He was in a position of power, not only as an adult several years older than her, but also as her teacher. Classic signs of grooming include manipulating minors into having contact outside of school, giving gifts, sharing and requesting sexual texts and photos, slowly being affectionate, and eventually having intercourse. Perpetrators often make minors feel cool, special and mature.

As parents, there are things we can do to help prevent kids and teens from being sexually abused. The national organization Darkness to Light (www.d2l.org) suggests talking to kids about how its not OK for adults to act in a sexual way with them and that its not appropriate for teachers or other youth-serving organization staff to give them secret gifts, be alone with them  especially off-site  or communicate with them one-on-one outside of the school, club, or church.

Adults need to pay attention to other adults behavior and intervene if they see an adult crossing a boundary with a child. As parents, we can check to see if the organizations our kids go to have codes of conduct, sexual abuse prevention policies, and that staff are trained on sexual abuse prevention.

Hope House is trained to give Darkness to Lights free Stewards of Children workshop, a training session for adults on how to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. We also provide free services to sexual assault survivors and their family and friends, including supportive counseling, safety planning, support groups, legal assistance, and support during sexual assault nurse exams and any criminal or civil proceedings.
Columbus Public Library Director Cindy Fesemyer was among 28 public librarians from across the country selected to attend the Public Library Associations Leadership Academy training.

The PLA Leadership Academy Navigating Change, Building Community will be held March 20-24, in Portland, Oregon.

This career-changing program is designed to empower public librarian participants with the knowledge necessary to be innovative and successful leaders of change. Its groundbreaking focus develops the skills needed to work with municipal officials to enhance the position and effectiveness of the library and its activities within the community.

The PLA Leadership Academy program was developed in partnership with the International City and County Management Association (ICMA) and Adam Goodman, director of the Center for Leadership, Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., with support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

The 28 participants were selected after a review of 130 applicants.
St. Vincent de Paul gives assistance to individuals and families who are experiencing hard times, by offering them help with gas, rent, utilities, clothing and other needs.

People in the community can help by donating slightly used items. St. Vincent de Paul sorts items at the store and sells them at a very reasonable price.

Items such as clothing, pictures, books, utensils, small appliances, jewelry, furniture and any items that are saleable are accepted at the store. The store does not accept TVs or large appliances. St. Vincent de Paul staff will pick up saleable items and will also deliver on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for a minimal charge.

The people helped by St. Vincent de Paul are from the Columbus and Fall River School Districts, which means local donations are used to help individuals and families who live in the area, no matter what race or religion they may be.

St. Vincent de Paul has been active since 2004, and the store is located at 110 Meister Dr. (Meister Drive is the street that divides the old Countryside Ford used car lot and sales building on West James Street.)

The non-profit organization welcomes cash donations, which it can convert to assistance easier than selling items. All donations are tax-free.

The store has special sales days: Thrift Thursdays are held the first and third Thursday of every month. Saturdays are Senior Days, when senior citizens get 25 percent off of their purchases.

For more information about St. Vincent de Paul, call 920-623-2004, email stvinnies@att.net or write to 110 Meister Dr., Columbus, WI 53925. See the Facebook page St. Vincents at Columbus.

The store accepts credit cards, checks and cash.
UW-Os deans list, honor roll

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh officials have announced the names of area students who qualified for the Universitys deans list and honor roll in the fall semester of the 2016 fall semester: Holly Hornback, Arlington, honor roll; Gabrielle Bancroft-Hart, Cambria, honor roll; Zoe Dykstra, Cambria, honor roll; Danielle Gorsuch, Cambria, deans list; Emma Grahn, Cambria, honor roll; Madison Quade, Cambria, honor roll; Matthew Raymond, Cambria, honor roll; Logan Erickson, Endeavor, honor roll; Lily Zablocki, Endeavor, deans list; Alyssa Eggers, Lodi, honor roll; Holly Gile, Lodi, honor roll; Runxin He, Lodi, honor roll; Hunter Hix, Lodi, honor roll; Courtney Mefford, Lodi, deans list; Allison Plac, Lodi, honor roll; Rachel Porter, Lodi, honor roll; Robert Fricke, Montello, honor roll; Brett Mittelstedt, Montello, honor roll; Sarah Babcock, Pardeeville, deans list; Kelsey Ehlert, Pardeeville, deans list; Autumn Hon, Pardeeville, honor roll; Whitney Lambert, Pardeeville, honor roll; Hailey Sieber, Pardeeville, deans list; Molly Bublitz, Portage, honor roll; Miranda Garske, Portage, deans list; Mallory Haak, Portage, honor roll; Joshua Head, Portage, honor roll; Heidi Hemming, Portage, honor roll; Nicole Kolano, Portage, deans list; Elysha Ortiz, Portage, deans list; Colin Thompson, Portage, deans list; Cody Chadwick, Poynette, honor roll; Cassie Hohlstein, Poynette, deans list; Audra Jenson, Poynette, honor roll; Alison Kramer, Poynette, honor roll; Allisen Miller, Poynette, honor roll; Brady Brewer, Rio, deans list; Lauren Dishno, Rio, honor roll; Davin Anderson, Westfield, honor roll; and Taylor Olstadt, Westfield, honor roll.

To qualify for the honor roll, a student must take at least 12 credits and earn a grade-point average of at least 3.3 (out of a possible 4.0, or all As). Those with a grade-point average of 3.75 or better qualify for the deans list.

UW-W students finish with jobs

The following area students were among the many University of Wisconsin-Whitewater students to land a job before winter commencement: Zania Hasselberger from Cambria studied accounting and finance, and was hired as a staff accountant at KMA Bodilly CPAs and Consultants, S.C. in Madison; Emelia Tollison from Portage studied finance, and was hired as a casualty liability adjuster at Esurance in Madison. Commencement took place Dec. 17, 2016.

Becker in a J-Term study tour

Ivy Becker of Poynette participated in a J-Term study tour to Guatemala with Carthage College.

Students on the Spanish Language Immersion in Guatemala study tour traveled to northern Guatemala, where they studied and experienced rural life in and around an agricultural community. This tour was conducted entirely in Spanish and was designed to provide an authentic immersive linguistic experience for students who are serious about becoming fluent in Spanish. There was also a substantial service-learning component of this class as students worked on projects and shared daily life with Guatemalan students.

J-Term is a special month-long period of study in which Carthage students explore subjects outside their majors or minors, discover new interests, and test their creativity through classes held both on campus and around the world.

Fall deans list at UW-Madison

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has recognized area students named to the deans list for the fall semester of the 2016-2017 academic year: Adrian Johnson, Cambria, deans list; Peter Breunig, Lodi, deans honor list; Paige Cooper, Lodi, deans high honors; Kirsten Gasser, Lodi, deans list; Stephen Hanko, Lodi, deans honor list; Alyssa Joachim, Lodi, deans list; John Joutras, Lodi, deans list; Jeff Krueger, Lodi, deans list; Janelle Lord, Lodi, deans honor list; Katelyn Peckham, Lodi, deans list; Laurel Quinlan, Lodi, deans list; Samuel Sagers, Lodi, deans honor list; Abby Simplot, Lodi, deans list; Darby Weigel, Lodi, deans honor list; Mari Fletcher, Montello, deans honor list; Kevin Sladowski, Montello, deans honor list; Stephan Terry, Montello, honor roll; Roger Becker, Pardeeville, deans honor list; Joseph Gorman, Pardeeville, deans honor list; Taylor Hayes, Pardeeville, deans honor list; Nicole Bieno, Portage, deans list; Lindsey Hoff, Portage, high honor roll; Logan Jacobs, Portage, deans list; James McGowan, Portage, deans high honors; Arielle Mitchell, Portage, deans list; Ryan Peterson, Portage, deans honor list; Cecilia Shortreed, Portage, deans list; Lane Steinhaus, Portage, deans list; Alexandra Warzecha, Portage, deans list; Tate Zarecki, Portage, deans list; Lauren Brokish, Poynette, deans honor list; Riley Egan, Poynette, deans high honors; Samantha Freimuth, Poynette, deans list; Miah Gatzke, Poynette, deans high honors; Daniel Koch, Poynette, deans honor list; Olivia Kreyer, Poynette, deans list; Mitchell Mickelson, Poynette, deans honor list; Jordan Minick, Poynette, deans list; Tyler Niesen, Poynette, deans honor list; Casey South, Poynette, high honor roll; Kristen South, Poynette, deans list; Mark Van Etten, Poynette, deans list; Luke Verdecchia, Poynette, deans list; Lydia Weber, Poynette, deans high honors; Rachel Becker, Westfield, deans list; Ross Dahlke, Westfield, deans list; Isaac Mades, Westfield, deans list; and Emma Wagner, Westfield, deans list.

Students who achieve at a high level academically are recognized by the dean at the close of each semester. To be eligible for the deans list, students must complete a minimum of 12 graded degree credits in that semester. Each university school or college sets its own grade-point average requirements for students to be eligible to receive the distinction. Most call the honor deans list but some grant the deans honor list and deans high honor list.
Information is taken from the records of the Portage Police Department and does not represent a comprehensive list of police activity. Each individual named in this report is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Between 6:52 a.m. Feb. 6 and 6:57 a.m. Monday police responded to 206 calls.

West Cook Street and West Wisconsin Street: Police on Wednesday at 1:49 a.m. stopped Emil St Clair, 28, of New Lisbon, who was cited for operating a vehicle without a drivers license.

Walmart: Police on Wednesday at 5:18 p.m. responded to a reported theft in which Hanna Obrocht, 19, of Portage, was cited for shoplifting.

West Carroll Street: Police on Thursday at 1:11 a.m. responded to a reported domestic disturbance in which a 25-year-old Portage man was arrested and cited for domestic disorderly conduct and misdemeanor bail jumping.

Cass Street: Police on Thursday at 7:23 a.m. stopped Lannenus Hutchins, 21, of Portage, who was cited for operating a vehicle after suspension of a license as a 19th offense and driving without proof of insurance.

Portage High School: Police on Thursday at 11:14 a.m. cited a 16-year-old girl for possession of a tobacco on school grounds.

East Conant Street: A 26-year-old woman was discovered at 4:52 p.m. Thursday suffering from a suspected drug overdose, after being revived with naloxone and transferred to Divine Savior Healthcare, the woman was cited for possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia.

East Highway 33 and County Highway EE: Police on Thursday stopped Alexander Fude, 27, of Neenah, who was cited for operating a vehicle after suspension of a license as a second offense.

East Albert Street and Adams Street: Police on Friday at 10:08 a.m. stopped Bryan J. Johnson, 39, of McFarland, who was cited for operating a vehicle after revocation of a license as a second offense.

New Pinery Road and Eastridge Drive: Police on Friday at 8:59 p.m. stopped Tony Rowland, 27, of Portage, who was cited for operating a vehicle with a suspended license as a second offense.

New Pinery Road: Police on Saturday at 1:32 p.m. cited Erik Nyberg, 33, of Portage, who was cited for operating a vehicle after revocation of a license as a second offense.

West Pleasant Street: Police on Saturday at 7:16 p.m. responded to a domestic disturbance in which a 39-year-old Portage man was arrested and cited for strangulation, disorderly conduct and physical abuse of a child.

East Wisconsin Street and Washington Street: Police on Saturday at 8:33 p.m. responded to a reported accident involving a vehicle striking a power pole and leaving the scene. Randy Hobson, 57, of Portage, was located, arrested and cited for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

West Wisconsin Street and Dunn Street: Police on Saturday at 11:18 p.m. stopped Joshua Norton, 29, of Portage, who was cited for failing to stop at a stop sign, operating a vehicle after suspension of a license as a third offense, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving without proof of insurance. The vehicle was towed.

West Howard Street and Clark Street: Police on Sunday at 1:09 a.m. stopped Dustin Martinson, 29, of Reedsburg, who was arrested and cited for operating a vehicle while intoxicated as a third offense, later registering .148 on a preliminary breath test, and also cited for driving without an ignition interlock device.

West Pleasant Street: Police on Sunday at 11:53 p.m. responded to a domestic situation in which a 33-year-old Portage woman was arrested for criminal damage to property and domestic disorderly conduct. A 29-year-old Portage man was arrested and cited for criminal damage to property, battery and domestic disorderly conduct.

West Wisconsin Street and West Conant Street: Police on Monday stopped Lorraine James, 49, of Portage, who was arrested and cited for operating a vehicle while intoxicated as a fourth offense, operating a vehicle after revocation of a license, driving left of center, and driving without proof of insurance.

East Burns Street: Police on Monday at 6:51 a.m. cited Dravin Woods, 21, of Portage, for operating a vehicle after suspension of a license as a seventh offense,

West Wisconsin Street: Police on Monday at 6:57 a.m. responded to a domestic disturbance in which a 24-year-old woman of Pardeeville and 23-year-old Portage man were both cited for domestic disorderly conduct.
Organizers seek volunteers for a new community event they say is designed to educate, empower and equip individuals for progress.

Many of the organizers were leaders of the local project last year dubbed Build Portage, which resulted in several home improvements for resident Tammy Chapman and her three adopted children.

Their latest project is called Touched Twice  to be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 29 at St. Marys Church  and will feature haircuts, family portraits, health care, free clothing, live music and meals. Most importantly, leaders say, the project will feature service outreach in which individuals will be encouraged to sign up for half-hour projects such as picking up trash, raking and painting.

But the extent of whats provided at Touched Twice depends on the community response, Kevin Blau, a Portage chiropractor, and Jared Pierson, pastor at Activate Church said. Right now, theyre mostly trying to get the word out.

Were reaching out to people who want to serve, Pierson said. We want to serve people physically, to give them tangible resources that will help them progress in life, but we also want to be an advocate, a guide for a family.

Its kind of a three-pronged approach. Blau said, Were looking for health care and service providers, volunteers and financial help.

Its a neat concept: to equip people for progress.

Blau, a 1987 graduate of Portage High School, has operated Blau Family Chiropractic in Portage since 1995. Blau has taken part in two medical mission trips out of the country, to Mexico three years ago and to El Salvador last year, and over the years has volunteered in other mission trips in Madison and Reedsburg.

I was moved to do this in our own community, Blau said, noting Touched Twice is a national initiative that began in Wisconsin. The basics of the event are providing health care and food  thats how it began, he said  but it has grown to involve many other features, such as financial counseling, though it all depends on community response.

Theres no boundaries for this, Blau said. Anybody can come  high-income, low-income  our goal is to secure county agencies that can help people in need. Churches have been alerted as well, to provide twofold community efforts, to promote (whats available) so that people know its there.

Touched Twice has already gained a lot of traction, Blau said, so with two more months to go in promoting and planning, organizers are hopeful the event will be big for the community and will ultimately become an annual event.

Were excited, Blau said. We dont want to give away things, we want to empower people to know they have a part, that they can make a difference. We want to give them the tools.

Were creating a sense of ownership in our community, Pierson said.

Other project leaders Pierson noted include Rachel Seltzner from Blau, Cindy LeGrand of River Haven, the Rev. Scott Dadam of River of Life Church, retired police officer Penny Kiefer and Emil Mravik of the Portage Lions Club, among many others.

Pierson stressed that Touched Twice is not considered by organizers as a replacement for Build Portage. While there will be no Build Portage in 2017, Pierson said the popular event could return down the road.

It was one of those neat opportunities where all the puzzle pieces clicked, Pierson said, we got everything we needed so that the only thing left to do was the hard work and dedication.

People got it done.

For more information, Pierson can be reached at 608-566-4239 and Blau at 608-697-9758.
Dells Ice Castle, the thermometer tolls for thee.

With temperatures expected to soar into the upper 50s later this week, the Ice Castle Wonderland could be nearing its conclusion for the 2017 season.

So said the new Dells attractions chief executive officer Tuesday morning, in anticipation of what could be the castles last day for visitors Thursday.

We usually have not been able to come back from 57 degrees, Ryan Davis said, referring to the forecast high temperature for Saturday.

Tickets are available for the attraction through Thursday, according to the Ice Castles website, which indicates that if projected forecasts hold true we wont be open this weekend.

The possibility always exists, Davis said, that a nighttime freeze might make the attraction viable, and he suggested that anyone still considering a visit this weekend to keep visiting the website for updates, just in case.

A lot of times, we can open up at night and you cant tell the melting of ice has taken place, he said. At night, with the lights and everything, you cant tell.

The unseasonably warm weather across North America has affected the companys icy attractions this year beyond Wisconsin Dells, Davis said.

The companys attraction in Utah has been closed for two weeks, and its Stillwater, Minnesota, attraction also is advertising its final days on the companys website. (The latter attraction also was closed earlier this year, the same time the Dells Ice Castle had to close after its first week of attendance due to warmer than normal January weather.)

Its tough, he said. We lost a lot of momentum when we had to close in the middle of winter -- Id still say it was successful, a couple more weeks, even if we could make Presidents Day, thats when people are coming to town.

Whether the attraction returns will be determined later this year, once all of the ice has melted, he said.

We dont know yet -- we kind of look at it every year and see, he said. What we built (in the Dells), man, this is one of the more beautiful ones weve ever built.
High Energy Physics workshop inspires young talent

Workshop included an overview of the exciting results coming from astrophysics and how future experiments can shed more light on these results.

The 3rd High Energy Particle Physics workshop took place at iThemba LABS, Gauteng (former Schonland) February 1st to 3rd. This years edition has seen the number of registered students from all over the country increase to 45. The goal of this workshop was to give opportunity for students and young researchers to give presentations and to write proceedings. Morning plenary sessions, followed by 15 minute presentations, was the successful format across our three days. The topics covered are high-energy theory, high-E astrophysics and phenomenology (heavy ions, pp, ep, ee collisions), and experimental results from the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at the European laboratory CERN.

The workshop was opened by Professor Helder Marques, Dean of the Faculty of Sciences and the Chairman of the South Africa  CERN consortium (SA-CERN). Dr. Simon Mullins welcome the participants on behalf of iThemba LABS. Professors Alan Cornell and Bruce Mellado gave an overview of the scope and structure of the workshop, as co-Chairs of the Organizing Committee.

Introductory lectures were delivered by Dr Andrea Knue, from the Max Plank Institute for Physics, Munich and Jong Soo Kim from the Korean Institute of Basic Science. Leading members of the SA-CERN consortium such as Dr. Zinhle Buthelezi, Dr. Siegfried Forstch, Dr. Deepak Kar, Dr. Betty Kibirige, Dr. Will Horowitz, Dr. Xifeng Ruan and Professor Elias Sideras-Haddad were present at the event.

A delegation from the recently established Botswana University of Science and Technology (BIUST) was present at the workshop. The School of Physics of BIUST has shown strong interest in establishing collaborative links with South African institutions in projects pertaining to High Energy Physics.

High-energy collisions of heavy ions produce high density and high temperature state of matter that replicates the conditions of the Early Universe when quarks and gluons were not confined in the state of matter we observe today. The ALICE experiment at CERN has provided many surprising results concerning the investigation of the production of particles in this complex medium. This has helped to improve the theory of interactions considerably. More surprising results are expected in the future.

Based on features observed in the data taken by the experiments at the Large Hadron Collider, scientists from the Wits Experimental High Energy Physics and the Mandelstam Institute of Theoretical Physics in collaboration with scientists in India and Sweden, formulated the Madala hypothesis. The Madala boson is a type of boson that includes interactions with the Higgs boson discovered by the Large Hadron Collider experiments in 2012. The Madala boson is hypothesized to connect with Dark Matter in the Universe via a new intermediate boson. Data taking is resuming in June 2017 and will last till the end of 2018 followed by a two-year break. We are very excited to explore the predictions made by this hypothesis. The observation of new bosons would signify a major discovery in physics.

Professor Sergio Colafrancesco and Dr. Geoff Beck, from the School of Physics, gave an overview of the exciting results coming from astrophysics and how future experiments, such H.E.S.S., CTA and the SKA can help shed more light on these results. The use of both direct collider searches at the LHC and astrophysical probes is vital in uncovering the nature of Dark Matter in the Universe. The search for gamma-ray emission via Dark Matter annihilation in astrophysical contexts is one of cleanest ways to probe the physics of Dark Matter. The current data were discussed in terms of the various models, including also the recently formulated Madala hypothesis.

The SA-CERN consortium takes broad impact in the South African context very seriously. Human capacity and skills development play a critical role in the program. So does technology transfer. The exploration of the physics of very short distances (which is achieved accelerating and colliding particles at very high energies) involves massive technological challenges, hence helping industry to produce more sophisticated devices. This is the case of advanced electronics in South Africa. The upgrade of the electronics of the LHC experiments poses formidable technological challenges. South African industry has manufactured an electronics board for the upgrade of the ATLAS detector. The production of the board proved a challenge because of the high density of planes, as well as the extreme precision needed to link up the electronic circuits throughout the 16-layer board. The result in product was a milestone for the South African electronics industry in that this board is the most sophisticated produced to date.
Wits hosts Famelab science communication competition

This competition is an exciting chance to enhance your communications skills, and, maybe, represent your country internationally.

Wits University and the Centres of Excellence in Palaeosciences, Mathematical and Statistical Sciences and Strong Materials will be hosting the exciting international Famelab science communications competition in the next month.

The University will host one leg of the competition, which is open to all student and early career scientists in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematical (STEM) fields, while the three Centres of Excellence (CoEs) will jointly host a separate leg.

Famelab is an international competition that aims to inspire young scientists to share their work with a general audience. The goal of the competition is to share your research in three minutes in the most compelling, interesting way. The competition is broken up in a one-day of science communication workshop, followed shortly thereafter by one day of competition  called the Heat  where early career academics or senior postgraduates will compete against each other in presenting their research.

The Wits Famelab training workshop is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 22 February 2017, in the Video Conference Room on the first floor of the Maths Building, West Campus. The Heat will take place on Tuesday, 15 March 2017, in the Wits Theatre.

The CoEs workshop will be held on Wednesday, 23 February, and the Heat on Wednesday, 16 March, in the same venues.

The semifinalists of each of the Heats will be entered into a regional competition, after which the winners of the regional competition will advance to a national Heat. Success here could see the winners representing South Africa and an international Heat.

Semi-finalists of the regional competition will also receive additional training in a communications master class, presented by experts in communications techniques in order to train them in oral expression to improve their communication skills.

Who is eligible to enter?

The competition is open to postgraduate students, postdocs and early career academics between the ages of 21 and 35. The focus of the competition is on the communication of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematical (STEM) subjects.

More information:

Please visit the Famelab website for more information or contact me via the email.

Interested in entering:

If you are interested in entering the Wits leg of the competition, please contact Schalk.Mouton@wits.ac.za by no later than the end of the day of Friday, 17 February 2017. Students or academics attached to one of the three CoEs can contact their respective administrators.
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Over Charter Day weekend, William & Mary's For the Bold Campaign Chair Sue Hanna Gerdelman 76 unveiled Affording Opportunity as the official brand for the universitys fundraising effort around scholarships.

In an effort to raise greater awareness and build a strong case for support for the universitys $350 million scholarships goal, William & Mary has been rolling out the new branding and related messaging across campus and before some of its most loyal donors.

I stand before Tribe faithful today to ask all of you to invest in scholarships  doing so will provide hope and lasting change for generations of students who deserve to be here but do not have the financial means to attend, said Gerdelman at the Charter Day dinner on Saturday evening. Through this newly branded effort, we aim to inspire the entire William & Mary community to help fund scholarships so that extraordinary students can afford the opportunity to access a top-notch education at our 324-year-old university.

Affording Opportunity will serve as an umbrella for all scholarships fundraising efforts at William & Mary, including the following five scholarships areas that have been identified as priorities in the campaign:

Need-based scholarships ($200 million)

Merit-based scholarships ($25 million)

Global scholarships ($15 million)

Athletics scholarships ($50 million)

Graduate and professional scholarships ($60 million)

Since the start of the campaign, Gerdelman noted that more than $212 million has been raised for scholarships alone  through gifts of all sizes  helping thousands of high-caliber students pursue their passions without burden and allowing the university to build a vibrant community of diverse perspectives. This year alone, she added, nearly 1,500 students have received a scholarship to attend William & Mary, thanks to the generosity of donors who have supported this top campaign priority. People can learn more about the scholarships goals, read student stories and make gifts at the new Affording Opportunity webpage.

Scholarships offer so much more than just financial support; scholarships confer dignity and self-confidence, and infuse students with the belief that they belong. Scholarships also signal to students that William & Mary wants them and that they deserve the opportunity to be here, said Michael Powell 85, D.P.S 02, president and CEO of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association and chair of the scholarships subcommittee for the College of William & Mary Foundation. Those who give to scholarships are planting the seeds of hope and ambition in so many students hearts and for that we will be forever grateful."

The university has taken steps to help increase predictability and affordability of tuition by instituting the William & Mary Promise and making scholarships the No. 1 priority in its campaign. Progress has been made on this front, according to Gerdelman. Through the W&M Promise, for example, the university has been able to lower the cost and student loan debt for low- and middle-income Virginia families. William & Mary has the fourth-lowest net price among public universities in Virginia. While the university currently meets 100 percent of need for in-state students through a combination of grants and loans, it only meets 55 percent of the total need for out-of-state students. William & Mary aspires to meet 100 percent of need for all students, which only a handful of elite public universities provide.

This campaign is about people and raising the necessary resources to ensure that the university can continue to provide a rigorous, enriching and welcoming academic environment for all of its students and faculty, added Gerdelman. Scholarships are an investment in our people, our future and our ability to advance the mission of the Alma Mater of the Nation, and so it is critical that we continue to rally together and support this important cause.

More than 11,650 donors have supported scholarships since July 2011, including nearly 3,200 individuals who have given to the Scholarships Impact Fund, which was created to provide immediate-use, need-based scholarships support.
Chancellor Gates discusses foreign affairs and political climate

Packed house W&M Chancellor Robert M. Gates, former Secretary of Defense, joined President Taylor Reveley on Feb. 9 to discuss world issues. A capacity audience at Phi Beta Kappa Hall attended. Photo by Skip Rowland

Making his point W&M Chancellor Robert M. Gates, former Secretary of Defense, discussed Russia, China and the recent U.S. election during a Feb. 9 event at Phi Beta Kappa Hall. Photo by Skip Rowland

Reveley as moderator W&M President Taylor Reveley moderated the question-and-answer session with Chancellor Robert M. Gates on Feb. 9. Photo by Skip Rowland Photo - of - Hide Caption

William & Mary Chancellor Robert M. Gates 65, L.H.D. 98, the nations Secretary of Defense from 2006 to 2011, portrayed the relationship between the United States and Russia as in a dangerous downward spiral that could lead to military conflict.

Gates made the comment during a question-and-answer event before a packed house at W&Ms Phi Beta Kappa Hall on Feb. 9. W&M President Taylor Reveley moderated, and members of the audience also provided questions in a candid, 90-minute session.

U.S. and Russia relations



Gates said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has two fundamental strategies: First, reassert Russias role as a great power that has to be reckoned with on every international problem, and pointed to Syria as an example. The second strategy, Gates said, is as old as the Russian empire, [which is] creating a buffer of either frozen conflicts or friendly states on the periphery of Russia.

Thats what Georgia, Ukraine and the Baltic States are all about, he said.

This guy is not crazy, not delusional. He is a bully. He is a thug. He is a killer, but hes not delusional, Gates continued. Like a bully, the only way to stop him is to make clear that there are costs involved in his activities. When those Russian planes came within 30 feet of an American warship I would have recommended that the president send a message to Putin saying, The next time you come that close, we will shoot you down. Period. The only thing that will stop Putin is a show of force.

Following the election in November, Gates suggested to U.S. President Donald Trump that he nominate long-time friend and colleague Rex Tillerson as secretary of state. He also introduced Tillerson before the Senate, saying all that will matter [to him] is what will advance the interests of the United States.

However, Gates warned that the biggest challenge for the current administration is to thread the needle.

How on the one hand do you stop Putins interventionism, aggression, meddling thuggery and at the same time stop what I believe is a dangerous downward spiral in this relationship that could lead to a military conflict? Gates asked. Well see how theyre able to handle it.

Asked about the relationship between Trump and Putin, Gates confessed bewilderment.

I absolutely do not understand his, I dont know the right word, I dont think its admiration for Putin, Gates said, drawing gales of laughter. Im not sure what it is about him. Maybe behind all of this there is a strategic mind at work that says, We improve our relationship with Russia, it puts the Chinese on notice that we have a better relationship with Russia, it puts others in the world on notice that we have a better relationship with Russia.

The February election



In regard to the recent U.S. electoral season, Gates said tepid participation on both sides resulted in the final candidates. Theres a lesson there, he added.

One of the reasons our politics have been so polarized is that moderates  left or right  only show up in November, Gates said. They dont show up in their party caucuses in February.

The lesson of the last year in both parties is that the way the system works and the way people vote, the folks who are center-left, center-right stay home in spring and then express dismay in November.

Reveley asked if that would change.

No, Gates replied, an impish smile on his face.

Because of decades of gerrymandering, Gates explained, only 40 to 50 seats in the House of Representatives  out of 435  are actually competitive.

So the real election is not in November, but in February or March, he said. The problem of the moderates is that its really hard to set our hair on fire. Were all kind of balanced and weighing things, but the truth is none of us show up in February or March. And thats why we end up with the choices we have in November.

And dont expect a fix for gerrymandering, at least not soon. Gates said the process now in place took decades; changing it to where we should be will take an equal amount of time.

However, Gates lauded California and the state of Washington for introducing open primaries, which force candidates to reach beyond their party supporters and interact with citizens on both sides of the political spectrum. In the fourth district of Washington last year, two Republicans wound up running against each other, Gates said. In California, two Democrats ran against each other.

This open primary basically says, Youve got to figure out how youre going to win the most votes in this district, regardless, Gates said. Thats one hopeful sign.

The career politician



As prescient as they were in setting up the nations representation process, the Founding Fathers overlooked a development that Gates labeled one of the biggest problems we face.

That problem, Gates said, is the career politician.

Gates explained that the Founding Fathers expected men like W&M alumni Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe would serve in government after fashioning successful business careers and then return home.

Thats not how politics work today, he added.

I have seen this through my whole career, people who have spent their whole lives in politics, he said. Their whole being is wrapped up in being a member of Congress. Its the deference, the staff, all of the accouterments. And they cant imagine life without being in Congress. They will do anything to get re-elected to Congress. What is in the best interest of the country becomes secondary to getting re-elected. It doesnt matter whether youre a Republican or Democrat; its a bi-partisan problem, Gates said.

How many people are prepared to put their career on the line in Congress, as a matter of principle and say, This is what is in the best long-term interest of the United States of America, and if you want to defeat me, defeat me. There are very few of those people.
The strength of the annual leadership conference is the interaction between students and alumnae. Photo by David F. Morrill

Career and life: The strength of the annual leadership conference is the interaction between students and alumnae. Photo by David F. Morrill

Career and life: Jennifer Wexton '95, Stephanie Morales '09, and Linda Bryant '92 concluded the day with a panel on "Seeking Elected Office." Photo by David F. Morrill

Amy Greer '89 was this year's luncheon speaker at the National Center for State Courts. Photo by David F. Morrill

Career and life: Amy Greer '89 was this year's luncheon speaker at the National Center for State Courts. Photo by David F. Morrill

Julie Silverbrook '12, Kristine Kippins '05 and Robin Dusek '98 talked with students about "Using the Lawyer's Toolkit to Do Good Works." Photo by David F. Morrill

Career and life: Julie Silverbrook '12, Kristine Kippins '05 and Robin Dusek '98 talked with students about "Using the Lawyer's Toolkit to Do Good Works." Photo by David F. Morrill

Career and life: Lacrecia Cade '02 and Kindra Kirkeby '00 hosted a panel on "Becoming an In-House Counsel." Photo by David F. Morrill

Career and life: In a breakout session, Julie Silverbrook '12 and Robin Dusek '98 shared strategies for building an authentic personal brand. Photo by David F. Morrill

Coming back to campus is a great way to reconnect with friends. Photo by David F. Morrill

Career and life: Coming back to campus is a great way to reconnect with friends. Photo by David F. Morrill

Career and life: Michele Slachetka '08, Kara Ariail '01 and Linda Jackson '94 helped students discover how to "Become a BigLaw Partner." Photo by David F. Morrill

Career and life: Courtney Lynch '03, Laura Jacobson '11 and Brooke Rodgers '05 held a panel session on "Becoming an Entrepreneur." Photo by David F. Morrill

Cultivating mentors and champions. Developing essential soft skills. Building an authentic personal brand. These are just some of the things law students have to consider as they begin their careers.

And consider them they did, and more, at the Law Schools Fifth Annual Leadership Conference on Jan. 27.

The day-long event  titled Intentionality & Serendipity: Creating a Career and a Life  saw 15 alumnae return to campus to share advice, strategies and career wisdom with students and guests alike.

Its not a traditional conference where all day long you listen to a bunch of people speak, said William & Mary Law Dean Davison M. Douglas during his welcome remarks. This is a conference that is highly interactive.

Panel discussions were held in one of W&M Law Schools large classrooms and the McGlothlin Courtroom. Attendees could learn strategies for becoming either a BigLaw partner, an entrepreneur, or an in-house counsel, and could delve into ways of using law skills to do good works and seek elected office.

Twelve breakout sessions also allowed alumnae and students to dig deeper into issues of common concern, and to learn from each other. Among the many questions addressed were How Does a Newcomer Make Small Talk With Partners and Clients? and How are Summer Associates Really Judged?

The lunchtime keynote address was provided by Amy Greer J.D. 89. A partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, Greer discussed the intentionality and serendipity of getting from here to there in a career that has taken her from a big firm to her own firm to a regional firm to the government and then back to Big Law.

You need to be sure what your skills are, you need to work hard, and you need to reap the benefits of that hard work, Greer said.

As one of many students who attended the conference, Ana Maria Matias J.D. 17 said she enjoyed getting to meet incredibly talented, brave, and successful William & Mary Law alums.

It was reassuring to hear that although the legal arena is so expansive, staying true to yourself and your values will ultimately allow you to find the career path thats right for you, Matias said. Hearing these inspiring women made me feel optimistic about my future.

Kristin Hopkins J.D. 18 was equally positive in her assessment.

This years leadership conference was nothing less than exceptional, Hopkins said. Having the opportunity to be one on one with of the Law Schools most distinguished alumnae was not only inspiring, but also fruitful because I was able to get advice and make lasting connections with women who were in my shoes not too long ago.

The conference is the fifth in a series of annual events that feature women in law. The first, Women in Big Law, was held in 2012 in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the graduation of Virginia Mister, the first woman student at William & Mary Law School.

Subsequent conferences included Lawyers in In-House Practice in 2013, Lawyers as Leaders in 2014 and Making Things Happen, Getting Things Done in 2016.

The event was sponsored by William & Mary Law School, Office of the Dean, Office of Development & Alumni Affairs, Office of Career Services, William & Mary Business Law Review, William & Mary Journal of Women & the Law, Student Bar Association (SBA), Black Law Students Association (BLSA), Latino Law Students Association (LLSA), Public Service Fund (PSF), William & Mary Womens Law Society and the William & Mary National Trial Team.

We are really grateful that 15 of our alumnae are with us today, Douglas said. Weve been doing this for five years, and whats interesting is that each year we bring in a new group for the most part  We have such a fantastic number of alumnae who are eager to participate.




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Israel's Leftist youth do something good, but would they do it for 'settlers'?

The items have been taken to a collection point, a representative confirmed to JTA. From there, a partner aid organization is facilitating the delivery of the goods to the refugees, who wont know their country of origin. The representative said the delivery date and method could not be revealed due to the sensitive nature of the situation.

I thought people would be reluctant to support an effort they would not get credit for, Gilad Perry, Dror Israels international collaborations director, said in a statement. I was amazed to see how wrong I was. The generosity of people just caring for those who suffer from the cold winter on the other side of the border, in an enemy country, overwhelmed me.

HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed (Youth Who Work and Learn) is a sister movement of Habonim Dror, long affiliated with the Labor Zionist movement.

Perhaps this is the time to look at some statistics regarding the Jewish refugees from Gaza, who were expelled from their homes seven years ago this summer. This is from a United Nations report(!) from June 2011.

About 230 of the 1,450 families from Gush Katif (16 percent) have moved into permanent homes, according to a December 2010 report released by the Gush Katif committee.



Unemployment among former Gush Katif residents is running at about 18 percent, while under-employment is 20 percent, said the committee. Before the withdrawal, unemployment was 5 percent, with 85 percent working in Gush Katif, according to JobKatif, an NGO created to help former residents rebuild their livelihoods.



While unemployment is much worse in Gaza, the unemployment rate among the evacuees is about double the rate of the general Israeli population. Children have faced adjustment issues and the divorce rate increased, along with financial problems, say former residents. Government compensation that was received, was lower than the value of the land and did not allow farmers to re-establish their farms, according to the committee.



Shilat Kahalani, spokesperson for the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council which covers 42 Israeli settlements in the West Bank (known as Judea and Samaria to Israelis), told IRIN that many former Gush Katif residents wanted to rebuild their homes and lives in the West Bank, but were prevented from doing so by a building moratorium which was only lifted in September 2010, having been in force for 10 months.



About 380 farms existed in Gushi Katif (of which 240 were operational), but only 28 percent of the owners of agricultural land have resumed farming. Most business owners, too, have not returned to their trade and were not appropriately compensated, according to the committee.



Disengaging a community is not something that can be rebuilt easily, and many families never received promised full financial support, Kahalani said.



A June 2010 report on the findings of the Israeli State Commission of Inquiry into the Handling of the Evacuees from Gush Katif and Northern Samaria by the Authorized Authorities, placed blame on the state of Israel.



The State of Israel failed in its handling of the evacuees, it said. Five years after, most of the evacuees are still living in temporary caravan sites; the construction of most of the permanent housing has not yet commenced; and the decisive majority of the public structures in the evacuees new settlements have not yet been built.



It was a mission of the government to settle people in Gaza, said former Gush Katif resident Debbie Rosen, and there must be a solution for every settler. She received half the value of her home in Gush Katif, and she and her six children are still waiting for their new house to be built, she added. And for those who think that the Ulpana neighborhood is going to be 'evacuated' quietly with the soldiers called in to do the job embracing the residents in tears, consider this. People in my community are unwilling to be evacuated because on a personal level they witnessed the awful outcomes of such a disengagement on the lives of the Gush Katif evacuees, Binyamin council spokesperson Kahalani said.

The Jerusalem Post reports that a conglomeration of 'Zionist' youth groups has been collecting winter clothes and blankets for Syrian refugees.Because if the Syrians found out they were coming from the 'Zionist entity,' they'd probably burn them, even if they didn't really want to turn them away, because... 'Palestine uber alles.'Amazing. Leftist Israelis willing to do something for which they won't get any credit except in an article in the JPost.... Oh wait, how do you know they're Leftist? Well, if you're an Israeli, you recognize two of the three names of the groups involved, and there's a hint at the end of the article.So please forgive my cynicism. I'm all in favor of helping out Syrian refugees with clothes and blankets (but not with letting them unvetted into Israel, the US or any other western country). And there ought to be a lesson from the fact that Israelis are helping these poor people while they get nothing from any of the oil-rich Gulf countries.But I have to ask another question. Suppose - just suppose - that there were Jewish revenants (known in the international media as 'settlers') who were expelled from their homes in Judea and Samaria and Gaza, who were out in the cold and the rain today who had no warm clothing and no blankets. Would the Leftist Zionist movements be willing to take up collections for them too? They'd even say thank you. You wouldn't have to cut out all the Israeli labels for them. And you could even get credit for helping them. So would the Labor Zionist movements help them?Sadly, I think we already know the answer to that question. This is from a post I did in May 2012, citing statistics from the summer of 2011 - six years after the Jews of Gush Katif in Gaza were expelled from their homes . Hint: There were no Labor Zionists lining up to help the Jews of Gush Katif, with or without credit.That might have something to do with the violence in Amona during my last trip to the US a couple of weeks ago (violence that I did not have time to cover).If only the Labor Zionists cared as much for their own as they do for the other....

Labels: Gaza expulsion, Gush Katif, Judea and Samaria, Labor party, Syrian refugees
Rolls-Royce sees civilian nuclear power growth

14 February 2017

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Rolls-Royce said today the long-term outlook for its nuclear business was positive with renewed activities in the civilian market. There are "encouraging opportunities" in the UK and China in particular, alongside its nuclear submarine activities, the company said on the release of its 2016 financial results.

The British engineering company recorded a loss of 4.6 billion ($5.7 billion), but revenue in the group's nuclear business rose 11% year on year to 777 million. This was led by submarine programs, including refuelling projects and decommissioning activities, though civil instrumentation and control programs in France and Finland were also strong, Chief Financial Officer David Smith said. These included the first phase of upgrade work at the Loviisa nuclear power plant in Finland and maintenance programs across the French nuclear power fleet.

Lower gross margin in its nuclear business reflected the dominance of government-led submarine programs, Smith said, and was further offset by additional costs including R&D to support the initial design phase for small modular reactors (SMRs). Underlying profits for the nuclear business were 37 million before financing.

SMR opportunity



Rolls-Royce last year outlined plans to develop through a consortium a fleet of 7 GWe SMRs in response the UK government's competition to identify the best value SMR design for the country.

"We continue to invest in new designs for new opportunities  SMRs represent those opportunities," CEO Warren East said.

Other 2016 highlights for Rolls-Royce's nuclear business include the government's final approval of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant, for which it was awarded preferred bidder status for waste treatment system, heat exchanger and diesel generator contracts. It has also announced closer strategic collaboration with China National Nuclear Corporation, including engineering and training services. "The Chinese market is expected to sustain strong growth and we are well-positioned with relevant technology," it said.

The long-term outlook for its nuclear business remains positive, it said, with the UK government's confirmation of ongoing investment in the Dreadnought class of submarines.

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News



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European Commission sees progress on Energy Union

14 February 2017

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As the European Commission reports on progress made in delivering and implementing the Energy Union, trade body Foratom has highlighted the importance of nuclear energy in achieving the project's objectives.

The Energy Union, launched in February 2015, is a flagship project of European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, whose vice president Maros Sefcovic is in charge of achieving the Energy Union goals. The first report on the State of the Energy Union was published in November 2015.

Presenting the Second State of the Energy Union Report on 1 February, Sefcovic said: "The Energy Union is about more than energy and climate alone; it is about accelerating the fundamental modernisation of Europe's entire economy, making it low carbon, energy and resource efficient, in a socially fair manner." 2016 was the "year of delivery" and 2017 will be the "year of implementation", he added.

The Energy Union has five parts: energy security, solidarity and trust; a fully integrated European energy market; energy efficiency contributing to moderation of demand; decarbonising the economy; and research, innovation and competitiveness. "Progress has been made on all these dimensions," the report said.

Last year, the "vision" of the Energy Union Framework Strategy was "further translated into concrete legislative and non-legislative initiatives," it said. "It is important that the co-legislators work towards adoption of the proposed initiatives without delay and in line with the Joint Declaration of the three institutions on the European Union's legislative priorities for 2017, to allow for a swift energy transition on the ground."

The EU as a whole has continued to make good progress on delivering the Energy Union objectives, particularly on energy and climate targets for 2020. "It has already achieved considerable reductions in energy consumption," it said. "If member states' efforts continue, the European Union is on track to reach its 2020 energy efficiency targets." The decarbonisation of the European economy is also "well under way".

"Just after the entry into force of the Paris Agreement, the Commission adopted the Clean Energy package, which sets the regulatory framework for the post-2020 period, but also gives a strong push to the transition towards a cleaner economy," the report says. This package "made it clear the European Union is stepping up its efforts towards phasing out fossil fuel subsidies".

To reach the EU's climate and energy targets for 2030, annual investments of some 379 billion ($400 billion) is required over the 2020-2030 period. "Therefore, work on investments will be intensified in 2017, using all available instruments in a coherent way."

Foratom, the European nuclear trade body, said on 6 February it welcomed the European Commission's acknowledgement of the benefits of nuclear energy (energy security, low-carbon emissions and low prices) in the Second State of the Energy Union Report. The EU's goal of decarbonising the economy by more than 80% by 2050 cannot be achieved without nuclear power, it added.

"In order to ensure that 2017 will be the actual 'year of implementation' as Mr Sefcovic said, Foratom urges the European Commission to publish as soon as possible the final version of the Communication on the Nuclear Illustrative Program (PINC)." This, Foratom said, must take into account the comments of the European Economic and Social Committee, as required under the Euratom Treaty.

Foratom also hopes the Electricity Market Design proposals announced last November can be amended in both the European Parliament and Council "to bring about the introduction of market price signals that will facilitate investment in low-carbon energy sources (both renewables and nuclear) in a technologically neutral way".

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

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UK Atomic Energy Authority assesses Euratom exit

14 February 2017

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The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has published a statement from Jo Johnson, minister of state for universities, science, research and innovation, giving assurance on the future of research into fusion energy.

The government outlined its position regarding the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) in the white paper on Brexit it published on 2 February. In the UK, a white paper is a report giving information or proposals on an issue.

The white paper followed the government's publication of a bill that would empower the prime minister to leave both the European Union and Euratom. The European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) bill received the approval of Members of Parliament on 1 February. Prime Minister Theresa May has said she plans to start the formal process of the UK leaving the EU by the end of March.

The white paper says the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008 "makes clear" that, in UK law, references to the EU includes Euratom. The Euratom Treaty "imports Article 50 into its provisions".

Membership of Euratom is also a condition for Britain hosting what is currently the largest nuclear fusion experiment in the world. Based at Culham Centre for Fusion Energy in Oxfordshire, the Joint European Torus (JET) project involves some 350 scientists exploring the potential of fusion power, backed by funding from almost 40 countries in the EUROfusion consortium.

UKAEA said today that leaving Euratom "has obvious implications" - especially the continued operation of JET after 2018 and the UK's continued participation in the Iter project in France. The Iter fusion reactor will be JET's successor on the route to developing commercial fusion power.

Johnson wrote to the UKAEA: "The research done at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy is rightly recognised as world class and it has driven UK leadership in fusion R&D for many years. The government has no intention of compromising this position following the decision to withdraw from the Euratom Treaty.

"Leaving Euratom is a result of the decision to leave the EU as they are uniquely legally joined. The UK supports Euratom, and we value international collaboration in fusion research and the UK's key role in these efforts.

"Maintaining and building on our world-leading fusion expertise and securing alternative routes into the international fusion R&D projects such as the [JET] project at Culham and the Iter project in France, will be a priority.

"The government is working closely with the UKAEA management and board on ways to achieve this."

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

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History books are generally full of stories about brave explorers, most of them men. Many women, however, have worked against the expectations of society in order to discover more about the world around them. Here is a list of some of these brave women.

12. Annie Edson Taylor

Annie Edson Taylor was born on October 24, 1838 in the US state of New York. She went on to become a schoolteacher and later opened a dance studio in Michigan. On her 63rd birthday, Taylor became the first woman to ride down Niagara Falls in a barrel. She built the barrel of oak wood and iron and lined it with mattresses, hoping to find a way to earn money. After her descent, she was paid for several speaking engagements and later posed for photos with tourists.

11. Van Buren sisters

The Van Buren sisters, Augusta and Adeline, are famous for crossing the United States on motorcycle. Augusta, born in 1892, and Adeline, born in 1894, were descendants of the 8th President of the US, Martin Van Buren. In 1916, these women rode over 5,500 miles in just 60 days, dressed in military leggings and leather riding breeches. They did this to draw attention to the Preparedness Movement, a national campaign to strengthen the US military during World War I, and prove that women could serve as military dispatch riders. The idea was that if women took on this responsibility, men could serve the war in other areas. Additionally, they hoped that their journey would help women earn the right to vote.

10. Jeanne Bare

Jeanne Bare was born in France in 1740. Between 1766 and 1769, she became the first woman to take part in round-the-globe journey by ship. Bare accomplished this by disguising herself as a man. She worked as an assistant to Philibert Commerson, the naturalist for Louis Antoine Bougainvilles expedition. Prior to the expedition, she had worked for Commerson as a housekeeper, although historians believe the two shared a romantic relationship as well. Researchers also believe that the two developed the plan to disguise her as a man when Commerson was invited to join the expedition.

9. Ann Bancroft

Ann Bancroft, born in the US state of Minnesota in 1955, is a renowned teacher, author, and explorer. She is most famous for being the first woman to travel to both the North and South Poles. Additionally, she is the first woman to ski across Greenland and to lead an all-women ski trip across the ice at the South Pole. Bancroft also co-owns the Bancroft Arnesen Explore company with Liv Arnesen. In 2001, these two women became the first to cross Antarctica on skis. In 1995, Bancroft was inducted to the US National Womens Hall of Fame.

8. Annie Cohen Kopchovsky

Annie Cohen Kopchovsky was born in Latvia in 1870 and at the age of 5, moved with her family to the United States. At 24 years old, in 1894, she set off from Massachusetts to became the first woman to bike around the world. She accomplished this against a bet that two men made, claiming that no woman would be able to travel the world by bicycle. The Londonderry Lithia Spring Water Company paid her $100 to travel with an advertisement attached to her bicycle and to use the alias Annie Londonderry. She successfully finished her journey 15 months later, on September 24, 1895.

7. Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner

Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, born in 1970, is a famous mountain climber from Austria. She is the first woman to climb all 14 of the eight-thousanders without supplemental oxygen. These are the 14 independent mountains that reach over 8,000 meters above sea level (26,247 feet). Kaltenbrunner climbed the first of these peaks, Cho Oyu, in 1998 and the final, K2, in 2011. She actually had to attempt the K2 on 6 occasions; during the first attempt, her climbing partner fell to his death.

6. Junko Tabei

Junko Tabei, born in 1939, was a famous mountain climber from Japan. Despite being told that women should look after children instead of climbing mountains, she was able to find some sponsors for the Ladies Climbing Club expedition to Mount Everest. In May of 1975, she became the first woman to reach the top of Mount Everest. She went on to become the first woman to reach the Seven Summits, the highest mountains on each of the 7 continents, in 1992.

5. Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart, born in the US in 1897, was a famous author and pilot. In 1932, she became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Earhart set off from Newfoundland, Canada on May 20, 1932 and after nearly 15 hours, landed in Ireland. She went on to become the first person to fly solo from Honolulu, Hawaii to Oakland, California in 1935. In July of 1937, she took off from Oakland, California bound for Miami, Florida, announcing her intent to circumnavigate the globe. The flight made it to New Guinea after several stops along the way. From New Guinea, Earhart had severe navigation failure and the flight disappeared over the Pacific Ocean. Rescue efforts all failed and several theories about her disappearance have since been published.

4. Wanda Rutkiewicz

Wanda Rutkiewicz, born in 1943, was a famous Polish mountain climber. She began her mountain climbing interest in the Falcon Mountains of Poland. She went on to become the third woman and the first person from Poland to climb Mount Everest in 1978. In 1986, Rutkiewicz became the first woman to summit and descend the K2 peak. She planned to climb the 14 eight-thousanders, but unfortunately perished on Mount Kanchenjunga in 1992.

3. Gertrude Bell

Gertrude Bell, born in England in 1868, made a significant contribution to archaeological discoveries and mapping of the Mesopotamia, Arabia, Asia Minor, and Greater Syria regions. Her expertise influenced British policies and helped establish the modern administration of Iraq. She maintained a friendly relationship with tribal leaders throughout the Middle East and earned significant respect from British government officials, not common for a woman of her time. She will be remembered as an administrator, spy, archaeologist, author, traveler, and political officer.

2. Fanny Bullock Workman

Fanny Workman was born in the US in 1859. She received a complete formal education and began traveling the world. She became a cartographer, mountain climber, explorer, geographer, and travel writer. Workman cycled through India with her husband, where they explored the Himalayas. During these trips to the Himalayas, she broke the womens record for altitude climbing by gaining 23,000 feet in elevation. Because of her efforts, she helped break down the belief that women were incapable of climbing at high altitudes.

1. Isabella Bird

Isabella Bird was born in England in 1831. She went on to become a well-known naturalist, writer, photographer, and explorer. She is remembered for traveling by herself throughout several countries, including: China, Malaysia, India, Singapore, Turkey, Morocco, Japan, and the United States (to name a few). In partnership with Fanny Jane Butler, she helped found the John Bishop Memorial Hospital of Srinagar. Additionally, she became the first woman inducted to the Royal Geographical Society.
2017 Toyota Yaris car. (File photo)

JAKARTA, INDONESIA: Polypropylene impact copolymer resins which are produced by PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical Tbk, Indonesia's largest integrated petrochemical company, meets the specifications defined by PT Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (TMMIN) to be used as raw material for the manufacturing of car components for Toyota Vios and Yaris.

This success is a major breakthrough for Indonesia petrochemical industry in entering the automotive component sector that applies international standards which have been supplied by other countries.

In addition to a new marketing field that will continue to increase along with the development of the automotive industry, this breakthrough will support the efforts of the Republic of Indonesia government to strengthen the national industrial structure because this mutually beneficial cooperation between the company and TMMIN also improves the performance of compounding and molding industry in the country, namely PT Hexa Indonesia who adds additives and coloring in resins and PT Sugity who mould the resins into automotive components.

Besides Toyota Vios and Yaris, the company also plans to supply the models for Fortuner and Kijang Innova as well as other cars of LCGC Toyota. Currently, other brands which have used the company's polypropylene impact copolymer are LCGC Daihatsu and Honda cars and motorcycles.

Finally, the import substitution for these resins and car components can save the country's foreign exchange.

 Worldofchemicals News
[February 14, 2017] Duo Security and Intel Announce Collaboration on Native U2F Authentication for Windows Devices

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Intel Corporation announced that it will collaborate with Duo Security, a cloud-based Trusted Access provider protecting the world's fastest-growing companies, to provide native Universal Second Factor (U2F) support - as created by the FIDO Alliance - embedded into Windows systems with 7th Generation Intel Core Processors. As organizations across the world update their endpoints in the coming years, companies can utilize native U2F support and integrate their client devices with Duo to provide secure access for customers and contractors. U2F is an open authentication standard that enables internet users to securely access any number of online services, with one single device, instantly. Using public key cryptography, U2F is widely considered one of the most secure methods of authentication available, as it secures logins, helps prevent phishing attacks, and stops adversaries from stealing user credentials, all while providing strong privacy assurances to the user. Duo and Intel believe that incorporating the best authentication technologies natively into hardware will accelerate adoption of the U2F standard by making it even easier and less expensive to adopt. Duo has proudly supported U2F as an authentication metod since 2014, delivering the easier and more secure authentication methods for end users.



As two-factor authentication becomes more widely adopted, it is critical for organizations to move away from less secure secondary authentication methods such as one-time passwords (OTP) or SMS. Recently, the U.S. National Institute for Standards and Technologies (NIST) recommended against SMS as a two-factor method. As a result, Duo and Intel expect growing adoption of the U2F standard, especially as it becomes more widely available for implementation without additional capital expenditure. Duo Security will demonstrate a working prototype of Duo U2F authentication on 7th Generation Intel CoreProcessor-based systems from February 13-16 at the RSA Conference 2017 at Duo Security's booth (#1247) in the Moscone Center South, San Francisco.

The Duo/Intel prototype takes advantage of Intel's 7th Generation Core Processors that incorporate Intel Online Connect technology and provide full support for U2F that works seamlessly with Duo. Intel Online Connect allows companies to benefit from the advantages of using U2F as their second factor without having to make an additional investment in 3rd party hardware, Duo expects this to make U2F available to a much broader range of customers and help drive adoption of the standard. About Duo Security

Duo Security is a cloud-based Trusted Access provider protecting thousands of the world's largest and fastest-growing companies and organizations, including Dresser-Rand Group, Etsy, NASA, Facebook, K-Swiss, Paramount Pictures, Random House, SuddenLink, Toyota, Twitter, Yelp, Zillow and more. Duo Security's innovative and easy-to-use technology can be quickly deployed to protect users, data and applications from breaches, credential theft and account takeover. The Ann Arbor, Michigan-based company also has offices in San Mateo, Calif.; Austin, Texas and London. Duo Security is backed by Benchmark, Google Ventures, Radar Partners, Redpoint Ventures and True Ventures. Try it for free at www.duo.com.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/duo-security-and-intel-announce-collaboration-on-native-u2f-authentication-for-windows-devices-300407017.html SOURCE Duo Security

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By: Mason White WorldWideWeirdNews.com

Police in the United Kingdom, arrested a dangerous man for raping an elderly woman.

Police in London, asked the public to come forward with tips about the man after he raped the 81-year-old woman.

Detective Inspector Melissa Laremore said that they are also looking for a male who may have witnessed the incident on Rinaldo Road, Balham.

aHe was wearing a jacket with a distinctive American flag design on the back,a Laremore said.

The incident occurred after the woman got off bus number 155 on Balham High Road, at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, and the victim followed the woman before raping her.

He stole her Marks and Spencers jacket.

Police asked anyone who saw the man with the distinct American Flag jacket or if they spotted the womanas Marks and Spencers jacket, which is red, to call them.

After getting tips from the public, police arrested a 41-year-old man in Tooting. He was charged with two counts of rape and one of kidnap or false imprisonment.
Appeal Following Burglary at Rhostyllen Pharmacy

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Feb 14th, 2017

Police are appealing for information after thieves broke into a pharmacy in Rhostyllen late last night.

The incident happened at 11.30pm last night, Monday, February 13.

Two men wearing hoodies and tracksuit bottoms broke into the premises in Trinity Close and stole the till. They made off in a black Peugeot 206 being driven by a third male offender.

The till and other items from the pharmacy were later recovered along the A5152 main road to Wrexham.

DCI Neil Harrison said: Anyone with information about this burglary should call police on 101 quoting reference VO21042.

We are not linking this burglary with recent robberies at newsagents in the Wrexham area at this time.
Local Communities Invited to Take Part in Spring Clean Cymru!

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Feb 14th, 2017

Members of the public, community councils, schools and voluntary organisations are encouraged to join the big Spring Clean event to help clean up communities.

Organised by Keep Wales Tidy, the event will take place from Wednesday, March 1st to Sunday, March 5th, and involves a number of local authorities across Wales.

The campaign is part of the Great British Spring Clean which is supported by a number of organisations from across the private, public and charity sectors.

Cllr David A Bithell, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: I encourage anyone with an interest in taking pride in our environment and the appearance of our communities to take part in this event.

I am especially keen to extend the invite to all of our schools and Community Councils, as this promises to be an engaging event and their support would be welcome.

Environment Services at Wrexham Council will be supporting Spring Clean Cymru events in the county borough by arranging to pick up rubbish bags as events such as these are very much linked to our Council Plan.

He added: We want Wrexham to be an environmentally responsible place, and we want to see communities with sustainable and attractive settlements, neighbourhoods and buildings.

Were eager to see as little litter in Wrexham as possible, and invite anyone who might be interested to join Keep Wales Tidy and the big Spring Clean Cymru. Kingdom enforcement are also on board and will be continuing their clamp down on dog fouling as part of the Spring Clean.

Community Councils, voluntary groups etc., are asked to email contact-us@wrexham.gov.uk for further information about bag pick up.

More information can be found on the Keep Wales Tidy website.
Mum-of-Two Achieves Degree Ambition Studying Alongside Husband at Wrexham Glyndwr University

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Feb 14th, 2017

A mum-of-two who thought shed never get into university without A-Levels has joined her husband in studying at Wrexham Glyndwr University to build a new career.

34-year-old Rebecca Smith, of Penyffordd, only discovered that she could follow her dream of gaining a degree based on her work experience after visiting one of the institutions Open Days with her partner Tom Smith.

Both are now studying at Wrexham Glyndwr University at the same time while raising their two children, aged seven and five. Tom is studying for a BSc (Hons) Construction Management and Rebecca working towards a BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance.

Former Elfed High School and Deeside College pupil Rebecca was accepted on to the course based on her varied work and life experience. This has included spells as a beauty therapist, an administrator with the RAF and three years working in the hospitality industry in Cyprus.

Immediately prior to joining Wrexham Glyndwr University she ran her own cleaning company for two-and-a-half years.

My grandma was an accountant and I always used to help her out with tasks when I was little, said Rebecca. So its something Ive always been interested in but held back from doing because I didnt have the qualifications. I assumed you needed A-Levels and a degree.

I found out about the foundation year here and have never looked back. I wanted to do something for myself now that my children are in full-time education and the course here fits perfectly around family life. Im already thinking about studying for a Masters after Ive finished my degree.

Studying full-time at the same time as her husband has proved beneficial as theyre able to share experiences. The scheduling of timetables and deadlines also means they can maintain a good balance between study and time with the family.

My eldest son has autism, which brings extra challenges and pressures, but the university are always supportive and flexible, added Rebecca.

I was very very nervous before I started as I didnt know if my English was up to standard and I was worried about the prospect of completing assignments.

The support services here are really amazing though  every day I get an email of some sort offering help with the academic side of things.

Eventually Rebecca hopes to become a Management Accountant, while Tom has his sights set on a career as a surveyor.

She added: Its been a life-changing experience and Im so glad I did it. I never thought Id be able to celebrate putting on a cap and gown at graduation but in a few years time that could be me.

At 34 you think you are too old to go to university and change career but you are not. So many people out there think they are too old or that they cant study for a degree but Im proof that anyone can.
An appeal of the sentencing and conviction for war crimes of Royal Marine Sgt. Alexander Blackman has opened at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

Blackman was found guilty of the murder of an injured Afghan prisoner of war by a military court in November 2013. Blackmans supporters are calling for a review of his case, with a view to reducing or quashing his conviction. The murder was filmed from another marines helmet-mounted camera.

The murder took place on September 15, 2011 in a cornfield in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Blackman and his patrol found the man seriously injured by gunfire from an Apache helicopter. Blackman shot him in the chest at close range with a 9mm pistol.

After he shot the prisoner, Blackman was captured on camera stating, There you are. Shuffle off this mortal coil you c***. Its nothing you wouldnt do to us. He turned to those watching and stated, Obviously this doesnt go anywhere, fellas. I just broke the Geneva Convention.

In December 2013, Blackman was handed a life sentence, with a minimum of 10 years to be served in a civilian prison. He appealed the life sentence at the Court of Appeal in May 2014 but lost. However, the minimum term was cut from 10 years to eight.

Blackman, who served five tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, was the first serving British soldier to be found guilty of murder since World War Two.

The appeal is the outcome of a political and media-orchestrated campaign by the most right-wing forces, allied with sections of the militarywho were never reconciled to Blackmans jailingin order to overturn his conviction.

In October 2015, an unprecedented demonstration of former and serving Royal Marines, an elite unit of the British armed forces, was held in Parliament Square outside the House of Commons, before part of the crowd marched to the prime ministers residence, where Blackmans wife handed in a letter to then-Prime Minister David Cameron. The letter described Blackmans sentence as a gross miscarriage of justice and called for it to go to the Criminal Case Review Commission.

The military protest in support of Blackman was backed by the right-wing Daily Mail and Daily Express, as well as prominent Conservative and Labour politicians who argued that Blackman has been abandoned by the top brass in the armed forces and should have received a lesser sentence.

The Daily Mail launched a campaign for justice for Blackman, and within a month a fund drive had raised over 800,000, which the newspaper noted meant that Blackman can now mount a new legal campaign to have his case reviewed.

Blackman won the right to appeal after new evidence was presented relating to his mental health at the time of the killing and the fact that an alternative verdict of unlawful act manslaughter was not left as an option for the jury. The Criminal Cases Review Commission ruled that his appeal could be heard.

At the opening of the Court Martial Appeal Court, Jonathan Goldberg QC said the conditions that members of the Plymouth-based 42 Commando faced in Helmand province were austere and a breeding ground for mental health problems. He said, Only those who have been on the front line can know what it is really like. He added that Blackman had almost been killed by a grenade, while also losing a close friend.

On February 2, some footage showing the moments leading up to Blackman killing his victim was released after the BBC requested it on behalf of several media groups. Gunfire from an Apache helicopterwhich was firing at the man later killed by Blackmancan be heard in the footage, as well as someone saying: Theyve missed him and error, after error, after error. The Court Martial Appeal Court ruled that the full video of the incident would not be released.

During his trial in 2013, Blackman had denied murder, insisting he believed the insurgent was already dead when he fired his pistol into his chest at close range. At the trial, a pathologist described the physical movements of the prisoner before he was killed and said in his expert opinion he was still clearly alive.

In order to prepare the ground for the appeal, the right-wing media, led by the Times, ran a series of pro-military propaganda pieces, essentially giving a free pass for decades of British imperialist violence around the globe.

On January 26, journalist, writer and former Royal Marine Neal Ascherson wrote a column in the Times relating an incident during the so-called Malayan Emergency in 1952 and lending his support to the campaign to quash Blackmans conviction. Ascherson, who worked for the Observer for 30 years, wrote, When I was serving in Malaya with 42 Commando, six decades before Blackman would join the same unit, I did something similar to the act for which he has been convicted and sentenced. Ascherson said that the British courts had failed to grasp the context of battle and that Blackmans conviction was a piteous miscarriage of justice.

Ascherson said that no one had spoken to him about the incident in 1952. Comparing his actions to Blackmans, he said, In context, perhaps both of us were overcome by instincts stronger than the wrongness of killing.

What Ascherson conceals is that he was enlisted as part of a military force of British-led Commonwealth troops (including Australian soldiers) involved in a brutal counter-insurgency campaign, aimed at ensuring the installation of an authoritarian, pro-imperialist regime after eventual Malaysian independence. The campaign against the population, a significant part of which was led by the Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA)the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party (MCP)lasted from 1948 to 1960.

During the military campaign, 6,700 anti-British fighters were killed and more than 1,200 wounded. An estimated 2,500 civilians were killed and an estimated 810 recorded as missing.

British troops carried out repeated documented war crimes during the Malayan Emergency, such as instances during operations where they detained and tortured villagers who were suspected of aiding the insurgents. Some civilians and detainees were shot for refusing to give intelligence to British forces. There were also cases of the bodies of dead insurgents being publicly exhibited. The Scotsman newspaper lauded these tactics as a good practice since simple-minded peasants are told and come to believe that the communist leaders are invulnerable.

British forces carried out decapitations and mutilations of insurgents. A photograph of a Royal Marine commando holding two insurgents heads caused a public outcry in April 1952. The Colonial Office privately noted, There is no doubt that under international law a similar case in wartime would be a war crime.

As part of the so-called Briggs Plan devised by British General Sir Harold Briggs, 500,000 people (roughly ten percent of Malayas population) were eventually removed from the land. Tens of thousands of homes were destroyed, and the inhabitants put in internment camps in a calculated measure of collective punishment.

British imperialisms primary economic interest in Malaya was its rubber and tin deposits.

On January 27 the Times published a letter in defence of Blackman from Colonel Richard Kemp (Commander of British forces in Afghanistan in 2003). He wrote, Killing a wounded enemy soldier who is no longer a threat is a war crime under the Geneva Convention, adding, Of course it is wrong to kill an enemy fighter the way that Sergeant Alexander Blackman did. Kemp then sought to excuse it on the basis that it was an act of compassion.

He concluded, The legal protection for enemy and comrades alike must be preserved but we must also have the humanity to make allowances for the awful challenges faced by the men who volunteer to defend us in battle.

That Kemp, Ascherson and others are given an open platform to excuse previous war crimes in order to exonerate Blackman is an indication of the pro-militarist climate being created in order to allow British imperialism to perpetrate further atrocities. Blackmans war crime stemmed in turn from an overriding war crimethe invasion of Afghanistan, led by the US and Britain, in 2001. While Blackman was brought to justice, the politicians and senior military figures who planned and organised this act of aggression escaped any punishment.
Approximately 188,000 people in several impoverished towns underneath the Oroville Dam in northern California were suddenly forced to evacuate their homes Sunday afternoon amid fears that high water levels would overwhelm the structure and flood populated areas north of Sacramento. The water level appears to have subsided for the moment, but more rain is expected Wednesday that could once again put the dam at risk.

The dam was at 151 percent capacity on Saturday, triggering the use of an emergency spillway for the first time in the dams 48-year history on Sunday. That same day, officials gave evacuation orders for the city of Oroville and towns in surrounding Yuba, Sutter and Butte counties, which remained in effect on Monday. If the deteriorating dam breaks, a 30-foot wall of water will descend upon the towns below.

The dam is not functioning properly due to a massive hole 250 feet long and 45 feet deep in the dams main spillway. The risks of structural failure and of a breach at the Oroville dam have been well known for over a decade, with the government ignoring the issue and refusing to spend the relatively small amount that would be required to protect the lives of the hundreds of thousands at risk. In large part this is because the at-risk cities, including Marysville, Yuba City, Oroville, Live Oak and Wheatland, are home to mostly impoverished and working-class residents.

While weather cannot be perfectly predicted or altered, the current threat to lives and homes is entirely man-made. The condition of the dam is representative of the deteriorating infrastructure in the United States. Little to no preparations were made to protect against this well-predicted threat of catastrophe. In 1997, residents living under the Oroville dam were also forced to evacuate when water levels came within a foot of overflowing the structure.

Both the state and federal governments had been warned more than ten years ago that just such a situation involving the structural collapse of the emergency spillway could occur.

On October 17, 2005, three environmental groupsthe Friends of the River, the South Yuba Citizens League, and the Sierra Clubfiled a motion with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to have the emergency spillway covered in concrete. These organizations warned that the dam failed to meet modern safety standards and that large amounts of rain would overwhelm the primary spillway and that the emergency structure would erode. This is precisely what happened.

Furthermore, the report stated: A loss of crest control could not only cause additional damage to project lands and facilities but also cause damages and threaten lives in the protected floodplain downstream. State and federal agencies ignored these concerns. FERC claimed that the emergency spillway could handle 350,000 cubic feet of water per second and that concerns were unfounded. However, on Sunday, water flowing at less than 5 percent that figure came close to realizing the environmental groups fears.

We said Are you really sure that running all this water over the emergency spillway wont cause the spillway to fail? Ron Stork, policy director with Friends of the River told the press on Sunday. They tried to be as evasive as possible. It would have cost money to build a proper concrete spillway. He added, Im feeling bad that we were unable to persuade DWR [the states Department of Water Resources] and FERC and the Army Corps to have a safer dam.

Despite these warnings, nothing had been done during either Republican or Democratic administrations or by the Democratic-dominated legislature. The Oroville Dam was completed in 1968 and is the tallest in the United States. It sits on the Feather River, supplying water for much of the state. The state claims that the dam is still sound with the spillway inspected annually, last being repaired in 2013.

The state ordered a last-minute evacuation that would have left hundreds dead if the dam had burst this weekend.

The California Emergency Operations Center began issuing evacuation notices just four hours after giving a press conference in which the center said they expected no problems. Suddenly, the DWR warned that the spillway could fail within an hour. California governor Jerry Brown subsequently issued a state emergency order. Residents began receiving alerts via robocalls or social media and had little time to prepare. The order to leave the area was given so suddenly that traffic along evacuation routes became congested, forcing some people to abandon their cars and walk to shelter.

Rocque Merlo, an almond grower from Durham, California, described the situation many faced to the Sacramento Bee: I have friends in Gridley (one of the affected towns). They have animals, and they have one hour to get out. He added, The state wasnt being forthcoming with anybody. I dont know why Sacramento [the state capital] didnt start advising people earlier they might want to think about getting ready. Its a pretty serious deal.

The lack of communication was echoed by others affected. Im just shocked, pretty mad, local resident Greg Levias told Fox News. His wife Kaysi added that she was angry that officials had not given us more warning.

Many of the evacuees took shelter in Chico, a city located just north of Oroville, where cots were set up at the local Silver Dollar Fairgrounds. Isaac Loseth, 18, told the Los Angeles Times that the atmosphere there was hectic and uptight, with fears persisting that the coming rain this week would exacerbate the situation with the dam. Doris OKelley, 84, fled with her husband, William, who complained, Id like to see them be a little more plain about whats going on.

The potential for a catastrophe in northern California calls to mind the horrific events of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Like then, the government has ignored well-founded warnings of danger caused by a lack of infrastructure spending and sprung a last-minute plan to evacuate the 188,000 people, many of whom would have drowned stuck in traffic had the dam actually burst.

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, 15,500 of the countrys 84,000 dams are high-hazard and death could result from dam failure. Remarkably, one third of high-hazard dams lack an emergency action plan to help protect residents from flood-related disaster. The average age of dams in the US is 52 years old, with 3 percent of dams built before 1900. Two thirds of dams are privately owned. The government placed security checks in place after September 11, 2001, which make it much more difficult for organizations to research dam safety and nearly impossible for residents living under dams to even find out the dams stability.

There is no answer to be found within capitalism and the profit system to address the deteriorating social conditions and infrastructure that are too often highlighted by natural disasters. While the area around the Oroville Dam was spared destruction on Sunday, nothing will be done to prevent a similar situation from developing in the immediate or long-distance future.
The campaign of Francois Fillon, the right wing Les Republicains (LR) candidate, is on the verge of collapse, as national financial prosecutors (PNF) prepare initial recommendations in the case of the fictitious employment of his wife Penelope in no-show jobs at the National Assembly.

As popular anger builds over extensively documented allegations that she received about 900,000 for doing virtually no work, the possibility of a collapse of the campaign of one of Frances two traditional parties of government is very real. Fillons responsea press conference in which he defended paying his wife six figures for work that only he could judgeonly served to further infuriate voters.

On Friday, an Odoxa poll found that 70 percent of the population wants Fillon to withdraw, and 79 percent were unconvinced by his press conference. Fillons support is collapsing even in his own constituency, moreover: among LR voters, these figures were 53 and 61 percent, respectively. Three-quarters of the population, and 53 percent of LR voters, said they viewed him negatively.

Local LR politicians are reportedly refusing to meet Fillon at campaign rallies or organize his meetings across France, and his campaign staff is reportedly in deep crisis. While Le Monde wrote that, The political entourage of the candidate [Fillon] is paralyzed and no longer seeks out the media in order to give his positions on current events, journalist Olivier Mazerolle said that Fillon and his supporters were now at a loss, faced with the crisis.

This situation confronts LR, and indeed the entire ruling class, with a quandary. Ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy is under indictment over his 2012 campaign finances, and former Prime Minister Alain Juppe, who was convicted on corruption charges in 2004, refuses to run after his surprise defeat in the LR primaries last year. Fillon, who ran against his LR rivals pledging to step down if he were taken to court, now faces a real prospect of legal action. It is unclear whom LR would run as a candidate, however, were Fillon to step down.

The collapse of Fillons candidacyas President Francois Hollande languishes at 4 percent approval ratings, and PS officials split their support between PS candidate Benoit Hamon and former investment banker and PS Economy Minister Emmanuel Macronis part of an international crisis of bourgeois rule.

The discrediting of the PS-LR duopoly, which has ruled France ever since the general strike of May-June 1968, comes amid the election of Donald Trump in the United States, and the discrediting of the European Union (EU) by the Greek debt crisis and Brexit. As Trumps election showed, long-established certainties of bourgeois politics are vanishing into thin air, as election results repeatedly shock pollsters.

Last year, LR was widely supposed to be the odds-on winner in 2017, given overwhelming hostility to the austerity and war agenda of Hollandes Socialist Party (PS) and the still massive unpopularity of Marine Le Pens neo-fascist National Front (FN). Barely two weeks after the satirical Canard Enchaine weekly first broke the Penelope Fillon scandal, however, it now appears that Fillon will not survive to the second round of the elections in May.

What emerges from the crisis of Fillons campaign, however, is above all the bankruptcy of Frances political establishment. Despite the discrediting of the main right-wing candidate, who called for deep right-wing shock therapy with the cutting of 500,000 public sector jobs and the axing of public health spending, what is emerging is not a field of candidates more favorable to the working class.

Amid spreading protests against Trump in the United States and Europe, what is emerging is a deep, international crisis of bourgeois rule with revolutionary implications.

Fillon voters are expected to react to a withdrawal of their candidate by splitting their votes between the FN and candidates backed by the PS, and either would produce a deepening of the hated austerity, wars and police-state policies carried out both PS and LR. None of the partieswhether the PS, LR, or the FNwould have political legitimacy to continue with this reactionary agenda, however. All would face explosive social opposition.

Despite mounting press speculation about the impact of a collapse of Fillons campaign, it remains highly unclear where discontented Fillon voters would go, should he actually withdraw.

The most obvious PS-linked beneficiary, Macron, is widely seen as a weak candidate. He is only 39, has never been elected to public office before, and is leading in the polls due to favorable media coverage of his pro-business, pro-EU and pro-NATO program, which he is still yet to release. He is a former investment banker, advisor to the unpopular Hollande government, and author of an unpopular deregulation bill, the Responsibility Pact, imposed by the PS in 2015.

One sign of the uncertainty over Macron is that Le Monde speculated whether right winger Francois Bayrouone of the few not to join LRs predecessor, the Union for a Popular Majority, founded in 2002 to gather together the right behind Jacques Chiracmight suddenly run. It wrote, something is still pushing Francois Bayrou to try his luck in the presidential election. Fillon could be taken to court, the Macron bubble could burst. The left is still in ruins. Its now or never, he thinks.

With Macron stagnating or even falling in polls, at around 21 percent, it appears that Le Pen, the front-runner in the election, is currently the main beneficiary of Fillons collapse. There are now reports that after the first round of the presidential elections, she could pick up as much as 10 percent of the votethough this still places her at only 36 percent and a loss in the final round.

In a worried article titled The French election is now Marine Le Pen vs a collapsing French establishment, Britains right-wing the Spectator wrote, Brexit and Trump have created a sense that the unthinkable is possible, which could further weaken the taboo against voting for her.  [F]ew now rule out a Le Pen victory completely, and if Macrons campaign runs into serious trouble, all bets are off. Every new scandal or terrorist incident plays into her hands.

Le Pen is however saddled with her endorsement of Trump, who is deeply unpopular in France, and the continued opposition of two-thirds of the population to the FN, as the heir of 20th century fascism. Surveying in its same article the potential consequences of a victory of Le Penwho has at various points pledged to try to exit the European Union and the euro currencythe Spectator gloomily foresaw the eruption of an enormous political crisis in France and across Europe.

If she did become president, it wrote, France would face a genuine crisis, the worst for half a century. There would certainly be strikes and violent demonstrations by those who would see themselves as defending the republic against fascism. How she could form a viable government or win a majority in parliament is unclear. We would see a conflict between the Fifth Republics powerful president and its parliament under a constitutional system that one liberal critic has called dangerous even in the hands of a saint. The consequences for the euro, the EU, western security and Britains relations with one of its closest allies would be dire.
Over the past 10 days, four key lawsuits filed by Flint, Michigan, residents against Governor Rick Snyder and other state officials were dismissed by a US District Court judge. All four claims accused leading state officials of being responsible for poisoning the citys water supply. All were rejected by US District Judge John Corbett OMeara on technical grounds. OMeara has now dismissed at least 60 lawsuits related to the massive health crisis that ensued after state officials switched the citys water source to the notoriously polluted Flint River.

Two of the lawsuitsfiled by Flint residents Luke Waid and Myia McMillianwere dismissed last Tuesday on grounds that they did not fall under federal jurisdiction, due to a 60-day filing limit provision in the Safe Water and Drinking Act (SWDA). Waid filed his suit in February 2016 on behalf of his two-year-old daughter, who tested positive for high levels of lead and evidence of lead-related illness.

Filing under the SWDA, Waid sought compensation for past and future medical care, and for as-yet-unknown developmental damage his daughter is likely to have suffered between 2015 and 2016. Young children under the age of six are the most vulnerable to the toxic and irreversible effects of exposure to lead. Up to 9,000 Flint children may have been affected thus far by the lead-in-water crisis.

Class-action lawsuits filed by McMillian and another by Melissa Mays were launched on behalf of tens of thousands of Flint residents. Mayss lawsuitwhich was rejected a week earlier by OMeara on similar jurisdiction groundstargeted 14 leading officials, including Snyder, emergency managers Darnell Early and Gerald Ambrose, and several key Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) leaders including Director Dan Wyatt and spokesman Brad Wurfel.

Wurfel was the official who, after Dr. Marc Edwards and his Virginia Tech team warned residents of a serious lead-in-water crisis, called him a charlatan and told residents to relax and drink the water. The lawsuit held them directly responsible for the dangerous, unsafeand inadequately treated water that led to the ongoing health and social crisis in the city.

A fourth class action complaint, also thrown out by OMeara, specifically targeted the engineering consulting firms for Flint water.

The dismissal of the lawsuits on technical grounds comes seven weeks after the official federal investigation into Flints water crisis was hastily and quietly closed by the US House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. While the bipartisan committee assessed that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and MDEQ failed to properly treat the lead-leached water supply, and openly acknowledged that Snyder refused to hand over key documents related to his knowledge about the crisis, nothing fundamental has been done to legally or politically hold these agencies and individuals accountable.

In fact, neither Congress nor the Obama administration made any serious attempt to intervene to protect Flint residents or allow their legal claims to proceed on substantive grounds. When Obama finally visited Flint last May, he infamously told residents that youll be okay.

At the end of last December, after months of wrangling, Congress only made $100 million in funding available for Flints lead service line replacements. An initial estimate claimed that repairing all the affected lead service pipes in the city of Flint alone could cost as high as $1.5 billion.

The same month that the congressional investigation closed, it was reported there are nearly 3,000 areas across the United States that recorded lead poisoning rates at least double those found in Flint.
This weekend, Frances Socialist Party (PS) government deployed large numbers of police under the state of emergency against Paris area youth protesting the sexual assault by police of Theo, a young man seriously wounded in the rectum by police at Aulnay-sous-Bois. Several protests erupted into clashes with the security forces.

Theo was assaulted 10 days ago and seriously wounded, requiring immediate surgery and a 60-day release from work, after police penetrated him with a billy club. He was also wounded on the head and face. Once police officers took him inside their vehicle, they beat and insulted him, calling him a dirty bitch.

On Saturday, February 11, a protest organized before the courthouse at Bobigny in the Seine-Saint Denis district brought together NGO officials and private citizens who spoke at an open mic on an improvised stage and delivered remarks denouncing police violence. The crowd chanted slogans including Rapists in jail, Everyone hates the police, Justice for Theo, and No justice, no peace.

After calls were launched on social media, a crowd gathered in Argenteuil the next day to protest not only the sexual assault against Theo, but also the death of Adama Traore from police brutality last summer, as well as the suburban riots of 2005.

The PS reacted by mobilizing a large-scale police deployment. Numerous security forces intervened, particularly in Bobigny, on a walkway overlooking the site of the demonstration. The two protests in Bobigny and Argenteuil ended in clashes with police. Cars and trashcans were burned, while security forces fired teargas at the protesters.

There were several dozen arrests: 37 were arrested in Bobigny; 11 in Argenteuil, including eight minors; and on the night of Sunday to Monday, still in Seine Saint-Denis, 10 people were detained. Arrests also took place in other working class suburbs, including Drancy, Noisy-le-Sec and Bondy. Moreover, in addition to those arrested this weekend, five others were arrested after protests against the assault against Theo last weekend.

The media and the political establishment are trying to cover up the sexual assault of Theo, and more broadly the issue of police brutality, by invoking the presumption of innocence in favour of the police. However, growing popular outrage in the face of police violence underscores explosive social tensions that are rising.

Over a period of several decades, inhabitants of working class and immigrant suburbs have routinely faced insults, arbitrary arrests and acts of violence by the police. At the same time, discriminatory measures are mounting against Muslims, from the 2003 ban on veils in public schools to the ban on the burqa in 2009, which the PS continued under President Francois Hollande. This provoked large-scale rioting in 2005 and 2007 in suburbs of Paris and across France over several days. Nonetheless, police involved in cases that provoked these riots were let off scot-free.

Last summer, at Beaumont-sur-Oise, Adama Traore died under suspicious circumstances while in police custody. Police denied his family the right to see his body, and claimed that he had suffered a heart attackan explanation that his family has always rejected.

His brother, Bagui Traore, explained: They took him to the gendarmerie in Persan. I found him there, surrounded by five or six gendarmes [paramilitary police]. He was on the ground, his hands were cuffed behind his back. He was no longer breathing, he was lifeless. There was blood on his face. I saw a gendarme who was one of those who had stopped us. He was wearing a white T-shirt and I saw him come back with a T-shirt covered with blood, my brothers blood. My partner was there, she saw it also. Adama did not have a heart attack; they beat him.

The PS government is deeply unpopular and, facing rising anger in working class areas, fears the eruption of riots as in 2005 and 2007. Moreover, unlike 10 years ago, protests are unfolding in the context of the state of emergency imposed by the PS after the November 13, 2015 terror attacks in Paris, committed by Islamist networks mobilized by the NATO powers in the context of their war for regime change in Syria.

The political establishment is demanding the banning of protests and more brutal repression of the protesters. From Reunion island, where he was campaigning, conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon issued a statement denouncing the role of the government who took the risk of authorizing the protest in Bobigny.  Will there have to be people wounded for Mr. Bruno Le Roux to make a statement? Why did the interior minister authorize this demonstration, when the risks of violence were so obvious?

The barbaric violence committed against Theo underscores the profoundly reactionary character of the state of emergency, whose main target is not the terrorists, but youth and the working class inside France itself.

The PS imposition of the state of emergency has gone hand in hand with the promotion by the media and the political establishment of the police, as well as the legitimization of the neo-fascist National Front (FN). The PS arrests and deportations of immigrants, its state of emergency, its setting up of a national guard, and its attempt to inscribe the principle of deprivation of nationality in the constitution were all taken from the FNs program. This has produced a situation in which police feel empowered to commit atrocities against suburban working class youth.

As a Cevipof study found in October 2016, 56 percent of military officers and police are considering voting for the FN in the 2017 presidential elections.

This reflects the growing alignment of the outlook of large sections of the security forces with the FNs inciting of anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant racism. The 20 minutes newspaper cites political analyst Luc Rouban: I dont believe in conspiracy theories. There is not a secret takeover of the police by the FN, but a convergence of the FNs appeals, in the direction of poorer people and public servants, with the expectations of the police services.
DEAR ABBY: I am 26 years old, and my mother still walks around naked in front of me with no warning. I've told her several times that it makes me uncomfortable, but she seems not to take me seriously. In her culture (she's not from the U.S.), walking around naked is no problem. But I'm tired of seeing her breasts unexpectedly.

I'm all about positive body image, but it's strange to me to see a 62-year-old woman's breasts. Am I the one who has an issue? I'm open to any advice or recommendations. -- 'NUDIE'S' DAUGHTER IN HOUSTON

DEAR DAUGHTER: It appears you are, indeed, the one who has the issue. If you're seeing your mother walk around in a state of undress, I'm guessing that, although you are an adult, you are still living under her roof. In her house, she has the privilege of making the rules, not you. If she is comfortable walking around au naturel, you will either have to accept it or move out. The choice is yours.

DEAR ABBY: A while ago I noticed that my fiance had been hiding empty cans of beer from me. After I go to sleep (he is a night owl and I usually end up going to sleep first), he goes to the store and buys a can or two of beer. But instead of throwing the empty cans out, he hides them. When I accidentally discovered his hiding place, I told him he didn't have to hide them from me. Now, every once in a while I check the same spot, and I have noticed that he has been hiding them again.

A beer or two is OK with me, Abby, considering the stresses he deals with at work. What worries me is that he feels the need to hide the cans from me after I told him he doesn't have to. Does this mean he has a bigger problem that needs to be addressed? Please help! -- UNSURE IN VIRGINIA

DEAR UNSURE: Yes, he does. Your fiance apparently feels guilty about his nightly beer drinking, which is why he hides the evidence. The two of you need to have a serious conversation about it, preferably BEFORE the wedding.

DEAR ABBY: There is a reaction that sometimes happens when my daughter and I meet someone new that really frosts me. When someone says, "You look like sisters," I want to say, "Baloney!" In the first place, we do NOT look like sisters -- our 22-year difference is very obvious. I know the speakers think they are flattering me, but what they are really doing is making my daughter think she looks older. Please ask your readers to stop and think before making such fake-flattery comparisons. -- BALONEY IN COLORADO

DEAR BALONEY: I can ask my readers to refrain from saying it, but please explain to your daughter that the compliment is meant for you, indicating that you look young for your age -- not that she looks old for hers.

DEAR READERS: I deeply appreciate the relationship I have with you. You make my life a joy. Please allow me to wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day. -- LOVE, ABBY

Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

To receive a collection of Abby's most memorable -- and most frequently requested -- poems and essays, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $7 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby -- Keepers Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. Shipping and handling are included in the price.
Directed by Raoul Peck; written by Peck, based on an unfinished work, Remember This House, by James Baldwin

The American novelist, essayist and intellectual James Baldwin (1924-1987) is the subject of Raoul Pecks stylish, but ultimately superficial and often wrongheaded quasi-documentary, I Am Not Your Negro.

The film takes as its point of departure Baldwins proposal to his editor in 1979 that he write a piece about civil rights leaders Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr., all of whom Baldwin had met and all of whom were assassinated within five years of each other in the 1960s.

Pecks film weaves together Baldwins unfinished 30-page manuscript, Remember This House, with footage of the writer speaking before various audiencesnotably on the Dick Cavett television talk show in 1968 and at Cambridge University in England, where in 1965 he debated the question Is the American Dream at the expense of the American Negro? with arch-conservative William Buckley.

It includes documentary footage of Baldwins trip to the American South in 1957 to witness the explosive struggles of the civil rights movement for school integration and voting rights, photographs of his meetings with Evers, Malcolm X and King, as well as images of lynchings and mob violence.

Peck also includes clips from Hollywood films such as John Wayne westerns and the repugnant depictions of blacks in D.W. Griffiths 1915 Birth of a Nation, along with brief sequences from Imitation of Life (John Stahl, 1934) and Guess Whos Coming To Dinner? (Stanley Kramer, 1967) among others, by way of illustrating Baldwins observations on race relations in the US. Excerpts from the latters essays in The Fire Next Time (1963) and No Name in the Street (1972) are narrated by actor Samuel L. Jackson.

The effect is to create a relatively unmediated and intimate picture of Baldwin in much the same way that reading his writing does. At its best, Baldwins fiction creates a sympathy for humanity and its dilemmas that transcends differences of race, gender and sexuality. His novels Go Tell It on the Mountain (1953) and Another Country (1962), as well as the novella Giovannis Room (1956) and Sonnys Blues (1957), a short story, in particular are enduring works, with their vivid characters and depiction of New York Citys Harlem and Greenwich Village, and Paris in the 1950s and 60s. Baldwin captures a bohemian world of jazz clubs and walk-up apartments where young people fiercely struggle to love and create against strictures of racial prejudice, economic discrimination and the pressure of social mores that drive many of them to desperation, and in some cases tragic self-destruction.

However, Pecks I am Not Your Negro focuses on Baldwins political activism during the burgeoning civil rights movement. In 1957, after having lived almost a decade abroad, Baldwin explains how he was galvanized by a photograph of 15-year old Dorothy Counts being reviled by a white mob for desegregating Harding High School in Charlotte, North Carolina. I could simply no longer sit around Paris discussing the Algerian and black American problem. Everyone was paying their dues and it was time I went home and paid mine.

Baldwin made a tour of the American South to see Charlotte and Atlanta for himself for the first time, met with civil rights leaders and other writers and Hollywood actors who were similarly being radicalized by events, and then wrote about these experiences for the Partisan Review, Esquire and other magazines.

Baldwin was horrified by racism and racist violence, which he knew too well (and vividly described in his fiction) growing up poor in Harlem as the eldest of nine children in the 1940swell enough to want to escape when the success of his first novel and early essays in Notes of a Native Son made it possible for him to settle in France. Living abroad, he felt himself less vulnerable to attack for being black and, in his case, homosexual.

As an artist, Baldwin is a sensitive and significant figure, although here too the stagnant period left its damaging mark, as it did on his contemporaries, Norman Mailer and Saul Bellow. However, when Baldwin advances himself (seconded here by Peck) as a political figure and thinker, then one has to judge him accordingly.

Baldwins views, whose delivery bears the stamp of his experience as a boy-preacher in a Harlem Pentecostal church, are often rhetorical breast-beating and little more than appeals to the political establishment, particularly the Democratic Party, and other well-meaning, relatively conscious whites and relatively conscious blacks to come together, like lovers  to end the racial nightmare, and achieve our country, and change the history of the world. (Down at the Cross in The Fire Next Time.)

The worst sequence in the film (which is in Baldwin too) is the terribly cliched presentation of the saccharine world of Doris Day films and 1950s advertising images of the happy family in the suburban house with the white picket fence as the embodiment of the American Dream enjoyed by or accessible to the majority of white Americans, but denied to blacks. But this wasnt white Americas fantasy, or that of more than a tiny percentage of it, any more than anyone elses.

At the best of times in America, the vast majority, white and black, have struggled to get by. And if gains were made, they were made through enormous struggles. The violence of the KKK and other racist-fascist filth is an element of the violence of the American ruling elite and its agencies, which also expressed itself in the murder of union organizers, socialists and ordinary workers on the picket lines, in the Palmer Raids and the McCarthyite witch-hunts, in vigilante violence during the Depression, as well as its barbarism against various peoples around the world. Racist brutality is an element of class oppression and an expression of the harsh character of social relations in capitalist America.

Baldwins fulminations against white America and its cruel majority come across at a certain point as lazy and shallow as much as anything else. Since he was not by nature a lazy or superficial man, something more must lie behind this, above all, his own political history and the nature of the postwar period.

Baldwin describes himself at 13 as a convinced fellow-traveler (of the Communist Party) marching in a May Day parade, carrying banners, shouting, East Side, West Side, all around the town, We want the landlords to tear the slums down! I didnt know anything about Communism, but I knew a lot about slums. By the time I was nineteen, I was a Trotskyite, having learned a great deal by then, if not about Communism, at least about Stalinists. (Take Me to the Water in No Name in the Street.)

Baldwin never explains the character or content of his Trotskyism, but his brush with the socialist movement was a brief one. Like many of his generation, he moved substantially to the right in the late 1940s and early 1950s during the period of the anti-communist hysteria. While he was too smart and too angry to become a typical Cold War liberal, he became a particular variant of that social type.

By 1956, in the Nation, he was denouncing as doctrinaire and elementary those who approached the race question in America from a class-conscious standpoint and heaping scorn on the notion of black-white solidarity. (The Crusade of Indignation, July 7, 1956)

Also by 1956, perhaps not coincidentally, Baldwin was covering the First International Conference of Black Writers and Artists for Encounter magazine, which he knew to be a front for the CIA.

Peck avoids a good many questions in I Am Not Your Negro, including the increasingly snobbish and pessimistic character of Baldwins outlook, out of an apparent desire to make a case for Baldwins political and moral orientation today. The director makes use of the writer to amplify and bolster the ahistorical, racialist narrative of American history currently being promoted by layers of the black petty bourgeoisie, academics and intellectualsvery much Baldwins own milieu, but in a vastly degenerated state.

To this end, Peck splices footage of the recent protests in Ferguson, Baltimore and other American cities against police killings of black youth together with scenes from the 1950s of racist mob violence in Montgomery, Alabama. When Baldwin indignantly responds to the condescending suggestion made by Robert F. Kennedy that in 40 years or so we might even have a black president, the film cuts to footage of Barack and Michelle Obama triumphantly waving to the crowd at his 2008 inauguration.

Perhaps most telling is how little I Am Not Your Negro and Baldwin have to say about Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, the ostensible subjects of the writers Remember This House (along with Medgar Evers). Baldwin notes in his unfinished book that King and Malcolm X were coming together toward the end of their lives, but he and the film omit to explain over what. In fact, both men were moving in a generally leftward direction.

Malcolm X broke with Elijah Muhammad and repudiated the Nation of Islams anti-white racism in 1964. King began denouncing the Vietnam War and American imperialism and had taken the decision to launch a Poor Peoples Campaign to bring tens of thousands of demonstrators to Washington in the summer of 1968.

Pecks film has some historically significant footage and Baldwin is an intriguing figure, but I Am Not Your Negro is guilty of succumbing to the current and reactionary needs and demands of racial politics.
The state of Louisiana was the scene of two significant industrial accidents last week. The incidents demonstrate the dangerous conditions prevailing within American industry.

This past Wednesday, an explosion occurred at a Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) plant in the small city of DeRidder. Located in the central west region of the state, DeRidder is the seat of Beauregard Parish (county). The explosion at the containerboard mill killed three people and injured seven others. The incident involved annual repair work being performed on piping in the pulp mill area and resulted in three contractor fatalities, according to a statement released by PCA.

Sgt. James Anderson, state police Troop D spokesman, stated that welding activity was taking place in the vicinity of the tank that exploded, and that the tank contained foul condensate, which is a by-product of the cooking process, according to a report published by local news station KPLC. Louisiana State Police, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the US Chemical Safety Board (CSB) are reported to be investigating the cause of the incident.

In the latter agencys initial report, it designates welding as one of several types of hot workor spark-producing operationsthat can ignite fires or explosions. CSB Chairperson Vanessa Sutherland noted further in the report that [H]ot work incidents are one of the most common causes of worker deaths we see at the CSB, but also one of the most readily preventable.

According to a report published by the southwest Louisiana news outlet KATC, PCA has been repeatedly cited for safety violations at its facilities around the countryincluding at one plant thats seen five workers killed in the last decade. The report further states that the PCA has been disciplined with fines for at least 154 violations over the last decadesome involving death or injuryat some of its other facilities around the U.S.

An unrelated explosion occurred near a Williams-Discovery natural gas plant in Paradis, approximately 30 minutes west of New Orleans, Thursday evening. Two workers were injured, while another, previously unaccounted for, is currently considered dead.

Coming from within a Phillips 66 owned pipeline, the explosion produced a fire 40 feet in width and height, described as a large blowtorch by the St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne.

Todd Denton, general manager of midstream operations for Phillips 66, said that the workers were doing routine maintenance when the explosion happened, according to a local news report. Denton added that it will take a little time to get in there and determine what happened.  We dont know where the release point was or what caused the fire.

Local homeowners, many of whom reported hearing a loud explosion when the incident occurred, had to be evacuated to a shelter that was opened by the Red Cross at a nearby community center. Residents were allowed to return home Friday morning after the evacuation order was lifted. Although the fire was contained, firefighters were not able to put out the flames until Monday morning.

In its statement posted the afternoon after the explosion, Phillips 66 stated that the pipeline carries y-grade, or raw, natural gas liquids, and that ongoing air monitoring of the area indicates no health impacts to the surrounding community.

Its burning clean. But its not safe to go near it, Champagne told reporters while the fire was still burning, adding its just highly flammable, obviously.  If it burns off, it appears, it shouldnt be a danger. Its just a matter of getting it burned off, and theyre trying to shut it off at sources. It has been shut off at the main source, but those are miles away. So theyre looking for some valves that are closer to be able to shut it down so it wont burn so long.

The Louisiana Bucket Brigade, a local organization critical of the oil and gas industry, published an article in January headlined Louisiana Pipelines Falling Apart = 144 Accidents in 2016. It concludes that corrosion and leaks were the cause of 48 percent of all accidents. In response to these staggering figures, Anne Rolfes of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade said the oil industry will say that the problems arent so bad and minimize these accidents. The industry is like an addictunable to even acknowledge the problem.

The industry, which is a major player in the states economy and enjoys intimate political connections with the state and federal government, has seen numerous deadly accidents in recent months in the state. Last November, a fire broke out at an ExxonMobil plant in Baton Rouge injuring six workers.

An OSHA News Release from September 2011 cited ExxonMobil for violations20 serious and two other-than-seriousfor exposing workers to possible fires and explosions, among other hazards, at its Baton Rouge facility.

Dorinda Folse, OSHAs area director in Baton Rouge, stated in the release that this company exposed its workers to serious safety and health hazards by failing to comply with OSHAs process safety management regulations.

Louisiana currently ranks among the top 20 contiguous states that have counted more than 100 fatal occupational injuries annually since 2014. In the US, from 2006 to 2015, the number of fatal work injuries for wage and salary workers annually has been around 3,900 on average. In the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction industry, the average annual number of fatal occupational injuries during the same time span was just over 110. Though the Bureau of Labor Statistics has yet to publish its Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries for 2016, the manufacturing industry saw a total of 353 fatal injuries in the workplace during 2015.

Penalties are routinely imposed on companies like PCA and ExxonMobil for repeated work safety violations, but they are no more than slaps on the wrist for these transnational corporations. Such fines, as well as the toll on workers lives and the livelihoods of their families, are easily written off by these firms as the cost of doing business.
Last week, Enrique Pena Nieto issued a call for national unity during a brief televised address. It was clearly a bid to redirect social anger from the crisis-ridden PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party) government and deflect it onto to the Trump administration, which is reviled in Mexico in roughly equal measure.

Referring obliquely to the telephone exchange in which Trump thuggishly threatened to send troops into Mexico, Pena Nieto recounted that, Although we havent reached agreement on any issue, this conversation opened a space for the Mexican government and the US government to continue a dialogue.

He said these issues included national sovereignty, respect of our dignity and independence and cooperation between two countries that are neighbors, friends and allies in trade, all of which euphemistically point to the Trump administrations intention to renegotiate harsher terms for Mexicos subordination to US imperialism.

Unmentioned in the address was the PRIs inability and unwillingness to do anything other than accede on every point of substance relating to Trumps proposed border wall, plans to carry out the deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants, the potential scrapping of NAFTA and a more bellicose footing throughout the Americas on the pretext of national security, all of which are of a piece with Washingtons America-first strategy.

The Mexican president promised to provide over one billion pesos in additional funding to the countrys consulates in the United States in an effort to appear invested in the defense of immigrants of Mexican origin against predatory US immigration policies. The Mexican Secretariat of Foreign Affairs (SRE) issued a statement last Friday urging Mexican nationals living in the US to take precautions and stay in contact with their nearest consulate to obtain the necessary help, citing the recent deportation of Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos, a Mexican-born mother of two in Arizona, whose deportation was not deemed a priority for ICE officials under the Obama administration.

The case of Mrs. Garcia de Rayos illustrates the new reality that the Mexican community in US territory is living before the severest application of migratory control measures, the SRE explained. The SREs recommendation and Pena Nietos measly influx of funds to Mexican consulates is a fraud, given the PRI governments broad cooperation with the Obama administrations 3 million deportations, and the Pena Nieto administrations own heavy-handed policing of its southern border with Central America. The Trump administrations policies represent not a break, but a continuity and escalation of those pursued by his predecessor in the White House.

The PRI government invocation of nationalism is utterly cynical. It has followed Washingtons dictates slavishly in terms of the raft of the counter-reforms dubbed the Pact for Mexico, in large part engineered by Washington, including a privatization of the countrys energy sector that was essentially cooked up by the State Department during Hillary Clintons tenure.

The Mexican ruling elite finds itself in a weak position, caught between the intransigence of the Trump administration, on the one hand, and mounting social anger from its own population, on the other.

Penas nationalist appeal rings false to the broad mass of the Mexican public, which has correctly taken his address for what it is: a desperate effort to shore up public support for a despised and discredited political establishment that extends beyond Pena himself and the PRI government.

The popular reaction to Penas appeals stands in stark contrast to that of Mexicos ruling circles, which have rallied around the slogan of national unity, while disagreeing over who will be its standard bearer.

None other than Carlos Slim, the fourth-wealthiest person in the world, insists on lining up firmly behind the Pena Nieto administration. We have to support him. The whole country must do it before a special threat in relation to the US that we have not seen. He made his remarks days before the centenary of the 1917 Constitution, demagogically invoking the historical memory of US intervention in the Mexican Revolution. This nationalist bluster gives way to negotiating trade relations with the Trump administration from its present position of weakness, with Slim concluding that, the best border wall is investment, economic activity and employment opportunities in Mexico.

Expressing the most minor tactical differences with Slim, Miguel Angel Mancera, the PRD (Party of the Democratic Revolution) mayor of Mexico City, stated, It is the national unity of Mexicans, not [national unity] with the government. He continued, The president has a vote of confidence from a lot of people because hes the one who has to represent the country in a negotiation with Trump. But he has a mandate not to give in, to go in with force and dignity. If the president were to err, then a very unfavorable wave would sweep in. My proposal is not to give Mexico bad news. There shouldnt be another increase in the price of gasoline, for example.

The social basis for the embattled presidents vote of confidence, comes from within the Mexican bourgeoisie itself, while the references to the possibility of an unfavorable wave unless there are some paltry concessions in areas such as the implementation of the gasolinazo point to a deep nervousness within Mexican ruling circles.

On this point, it is unlikely that Penas recent announcement postponing the next round of fuel price hikes by one week will do anything to steer the Mexican political establishment out of the adverse currents that so trouble Mancera.

The invocation of national unity flies in the face of the deep social chasm that exists in Mexico. According to a recent Oxfam report, the countrys four wealthiest billionaires control as much wealth as the poorest half of the population. Whats more, the study points out that the top 10 percent as a whole accounts for 67 percent of Mexicos national wealth.

There can be no social cohesion with these levels of concentration of wealth globally and nationally, noted the director of Oxfam Mexico, Ricardo Fuentes Nieva.

Nevertheless, the Mexican pseudo-left, whose outlook has its material basis in the next 9 percent, also seeks to shackle the Mexican working class to a regime of inequality on the basis of national unity.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (popularly known as AMLO), head of Morena (Movement of National Regeneration) and the current favorite in the 2018 presidential elections, is in fact the initiator of the call for national unity. His recent statement, Political Accord of Unity for the Prosperity of the People and the Rebirth of Mexico, repeats his ongoing targeting of the mafia in power, while avoiding any mention of Mexicos relationship to US imperialismindeed, he has gone on record as stating that Obama, the president known as the deporter-in-chief, was a good, but not exceptional president.

AMLOs lenient attitude to the architects of the miserable conditions facing the Mexican working class extends to the mafia in power so often called out in his stump speeches. Last year he stated, we do not consider the members of the group in power, in spite of the great harm that they have caused to the people and the country, to have any ill intention, and we assure them, before their possible defeat in 2018, that there will be no reprisals or persecutions of anyone.

His frequently invoked promise to combat corruption and establish an authentic democracy is contradicted by his unwillingness to hold any of the political establishment legally accountable for mass killings, disappearances and wholesale corruption. Beginning its existence as a split from the PRD, Morena as a political party has its social base not in the working class, but in the more privileged layers of the upper middle class, with links to academics, professionals and trade union bureaucrats.

The pseudo-left organization Izquierda Socialista (Socialist Left) falsifies the historical origins and social base of Morena, falsely portraying it as a workers party burdened by an opportunist leadership: We make a call to the base of Morena  to recuperate control of the party  to demand respect for party democracy, to prevent Morena ending up becoming another version of the PRD and the rest of the parties of the regime.

It is an absurdity to speak of Morena, founded by Lopez Obrador, a bourgeois politician, in terms of recuperating control over the party by the working class. It only exposes Socialist Lefts own orientation, which is not to the Mexican working class, but to Morenas social base in the upper middle class.

For its part, the Movement of Socialist Workers (MTS), the Mexican section of the Morenoite FT-CI, counterposes to Izquierda Socialistas outright tailing behind Morena little else than a nationalist course independent of Morena: For the socialists of the MTS, the working population must reject unity with our executioners ... The unity that socialists propose is  [a] unity to achieve national independence.

Characteristically for the MTS, the rest of the worldparticularly in terms of the international working classis wholly absent from its strategy. The glaring indifference to international questions of both the MTS and Socialist Left is not merely a question of mistaken positions, but a political strategy that is rooted in the strivings of the upper middle class to maintain its privileged position within the capitalist system.

The interests of the Mexican working class cannot be defended on the basis of a strategy of national unity that presupposes a community of interest between workers and figures like Carlos Slim. Mexican workers are economically linked and united in a production process that stretches across national boundaries to the rest of the international working class, and in particular the working class of the United States. To effectively defend their social interests, this economic unity brought about by capitalist globalization must be shaped into a political unity on the basis of an internationalist and socialist program.
Tens of thousands of workers, families and youth marched through Milwaukee in the Day Without Latinos, Refugees and Immigrants protest against the Trump Administrations raft of anti-immigrant measures. The larger-than-expected turnout reflects enormous opposition to Trumps xenophobic and racist plans to deport millions of immigrants and refugees.

The demonstrations took place in the wake of last weeks ICE raids rounding up nearly 700 immigrants and following Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarkes decision to enroll the Milwaukee County law enforcement in Section 287(g) program (referring to the Immigration and Nationality Act). This deputizes local Milwaukee County police officers to carry out raids against immigrants as an extension of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The protest was striking both in the number of workers, families and youth attending to denounce the anti-immigrant policies and in the broadly working-class character of the population that attended.

The tens of thousands of marchers carried a variety of signs denouncing Trump and Clarke and opposing their anti-democratic and discriminatory measures. Workers, families and students came from across Wisconsin, and as the mostly Latino crowd marched up 5th Avenue, a cheer erupted at the sight of hundreds of Muslim protesters and others defending refugee and immigrant rights.

On January 27, Clarke announced that he enrolled in Section 287 to support the Trump Administrations executive orders and plans to deport millions of immigrants and refugees. He declared: President Trump made it clear with his Executive Order on enforcement of our immigration laws... No more catch and release of criminal illegal aliens. I will assign as many deputies to this initiative as I can. It is a public safety priority.

The World Socialist Web Site spoke to demonstrators at the rally. Yesenia said the deportations are not fair, they are breaking up families. This is their home. Even though they say they are sending them back where they came from, they dont know anything there; they live here, this is their home. And then parents have to leave their kids behind, because they are the ones that are being sent back.

Many demonstrators explained that the anti-immigration policies of the Trump administration were prepared by the Obama administration, which deported 2.5 million migrants, more than all previous presidents combined.

Jeider, a young demonstrator, noted, Even throughout the Obama Administration, this march has been going on for every single year that I can remember. There is a lack of humanity in these deportations. I see it in my house, it is right there, my parents suffer, I suffer. People are denied access to opportunities federal aid, for example. I couldnt go to the university I wanted to.

His friend Favi added, Immigrants are here for a reason. They believe this is a great place, and they are already working. Sheriff Clarkes new law is just a new way of making us fear, of keeping us on our toes, and we already live like that. It is unnecessary, and it is based on prejudice and discrimination. That should not be allowed, ever.

Milwaukee Sheriff Clarke has distinguished himself as an ultra-right and fascistic proponent of police state measures and is closely aligned with the Trump Administration. An African-American and registered Democrat, Clarke posted tweets endorsing a martial law-like response to social unrest regarding Trump and popular anger over police shootings, calling for a state of emergency and the use of all non-lethal force to quell the anti-Trump protests that erupted across the country after the elections.

Earlier in January, it came to light that Clarke had made bullying threats to the Milwaukee County chief medical examiner after the examiner released information about two inmates who died from horrific neglect in Milwaukee County Jail. Under Clarkes tenure, four people died in Milwaukee jails over a six-month period in 2016, including a newborn baby birthed by a mentally-ill woman who was laughed at by prison guards when she cried for help while going into labor. In addition, a black man died in jail from dehydration after jail staff shut off his water supply.

In Clarkes myriad interviews in right-wing news outlets, he has referred to demonstrators against police violence participating in Black Lives Matter protests as subhuman creeps and made dubious claims about the groups potential to collaborate with ISIS and that the protesters should be eradicated from American society. In a 2015 radio interview, Clarke said impoverished African-Americans turn to crimes of desperation because theyre uneducated, theyre lazy, and theyre morally bankrupt. Thats why. He epitomizes the brutal and fascistic social outlook of the American police, who serve to protect private property and the privilege of the wealthy.
After more than 90 years in Peoria, Illinois, Caterpillar Inc. announced January 31 it would be moving its corporate headquartersincluding top executives and several hundred support staffto the Chicago area. The decision is ostensibly being made in order to locate executives and top managers closer to the regions top transit hub. Ultimately, it will have a devastating impact on Peoria and the surrounding area, which has seen its higher-paying manufacturing jobs disappear in recent years.

The news came as a shock to many in the area, as Caterpillar (CAT) is closely identified with Peoria, and the company had repeatedly stated its commitment to remaining in the city. As recently as February 2015, the company had announced plans to develop a large new world headquarters campus, consolidating 3,200 downtown Peoria employees into a single location.

Just seven months later, CAT announced it would be postponing those plans indefinitely, citing poor market conditions. This coincided with the announcement that Caterpillar would be eliminating up to 10,000 positions by 2018. In fact, this was a significant underestimate of layoffs, as 16,000 Caterpillar employees have lost their jobs since that announcement. Globally, CAT has shed more than 20,000 workers since 2012.

Revenue at CAT has fallen 44 percent from its high of $66 billion in 2012, largely due to low demand for its construction and mining equipment caused by the ongoing global economic crisis and the resulting collapse in commodity prices. Through this period, CAT has seen its revenues decline monthly for over four straight years for the first time in its history.

Although CATs sales outside of the US have made up a majority of its revenue since 1970, around the time that Peorias population peaked, that proportion has continued to grow in recent years, making it more important for the company to have more direct links to the global economy.

CEO Jim Umpleby told the Peoria Journal Star, About two-thirds of our business over the last five years has come from outside the United States. We see a lot of growth coming in the international markets, and we believe that speed and agility for our senior leadership team to be able to travel around the globe is very important.

No doubt a factor in the move is a desire among CATs top executives and managers to be closer to Chicagos cultural and material amenities. Indeed, under the administrations of mayors Richard M. Daley and Rahm Emanuel, Chicago has become a veritable playground for the wealthy as well as a nexus for national politics.

Although there have been no reports about Chicago offering Caterpillar any tax benefits for moving, it is entirely possible that Emanuel has cut some deal with the company to provide it with Tax Increment Financing (TIF) money. Large corporations are routinely provided tax breaks or even direct assistance via this enormous shadow budget, which siphons property tax money from schools and libraries.

While being a major provider of jobs in the area, Caterpillar has long been known for its ruthless attitude toward its workers. Throughout the 1990s, Caterpillar workers waged a series of militant struggles against the company, including a six-month strike in 1991-1992 and a 17-month strike between 1994 and 1995.

Those militant struggles were undermined by the United Auto Workers union (UAW) and resulted in utter defeat for workers. UAW leadership gave in to essentially every demand the company made, including tiered wages, rolling layoffs, and the use of temporary and part-time workerspioneering developments that would ultimately be expanded to workers at Deere & Company and the Big Three automakers.

Although Caterpillar has claimed that only about 300 people will ultimately be relocated from Peoria to Chicago, it is likely that with the move of the companys headquarters there will be less incentive to expand operations in Peoria, and less reticence to imposing layoffs and moving or merging business units to other areas.

This will continue to contribute to the protracted economic decline of Peoria and the region. The central Illinois city has a population of 116,000 with a median household income of $45,552, compared to Illinois median income of $57,574, while its poverty rate is an astonishing 22.4 percent, nearly 9 percentage points higher than the state as a whole. Peorias official unemployment rate lies at 6.6 percent, nearly a percentage point higher than the state average.

A WSWS supporter had the chance to talk to a few local businesses about their reactions to the announcement and what they thought it meant for the area. The one sentiment that was shared was one of disgust and betrayal, feeling that the company has been lying to the city and its residents about its plans.

In spite of this sense of betrayal, one business owner was not surprised by the news. She said Caterpillar had several buildings in the area, and individual floors on many more and, slowly but surely, theyve been moving workers out of the area. Another worker said a friend of hers had repeatedly assured her Peoria had nothing to worry about, that Caterpillar headquarters would not be leaving the area.

In line with the demands imposed by globalized production, companies like Caterpillar are more than willing to pick up shop and move their operations to take advantage of lower labor or better communication and transportation links, regardless of the consequences to workers at home. Consequently, workers will find no success in pleading with Caterpillar to do the right thing and stay for the good of Peoria. The only solution is to put an end to the capitalist profit-system, which pits nation states and even workers within the same country against each other in a race to the bottom.
Less than a month into the Trump presidency, North Korea is looming as a major flashpoint after the Pyongyang regime test fired a new intermediate-range ballistic missile on Sunday. The test takes place amid mounting tensions between the US and China, North Koreas ally, over trade, monetary policy, Taiwan and territorial disputes in the South China and East China seas.

The launch drew immediate condemnation by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was visiting with Trump at the presidents Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. At a joint press conference Sunday night, Abe called the missile test absolutely intolerable. Trump declared that the US was behind Japan, its great ally, 100 percent. The US, Japan and South Korea have called an emergency session of the UN Security Council to discuss North Korea.

Trump has come under pressure from sections of the American media and political establishment to take more aggressive action against North Korea. Much of the press is portraying the missile firing as a major test of the new administration, as indicated by headlines such as North Korea first ballistic missile, challenging Trump (New York Times), North Korea missile launch sets test for Trump (Wall Street Journal), and North Korean nuclear ambitions to be defining issue for Trump (Bloomberg).

The focus on North Korea, which carried out 24 missile launches and two nuclear tests last year, reflects intense discussions and conflicts within the American foreign policy and military establishment over the past six months. A major concern is that North Korea is within striking distance of building an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of launching a nuclear strike against continental United States.

President Obama, in briefing then-President-elect Trump on security issues, reportedly advised that North Korea be placed at the top of the new administrations agenda. Obamas own policy towards North Korea, punitive sanctions plus pressure on China to strong-arm Pyongyang into denuclearising, referred to as strategic patience, has been heavily criticised as ineffective.

Trump has reacted belligerently to North Korea. When North Korean leader Kim Jong-un announced at the beginning of the year that his regime was preparing to test an ICBM, Trump tweeted: It wont happen. He also lashed out at China for failing to force its ally into line.

Yesterday, during a media conference with the Canadian prime minister, Trump declared that he would deal very strongly with North Korea, which he described as a big, big problem. His administration is currently conducting a review of US policy towards the country, which, in line with Trumps militarist orientation, will likely shift toward a more reckless and provocative use of force, along with efforts to destabilise the Pyongyang regime.

Any US move against North Korea is also aimed against China. Coming on top of the Obama administrations confrontational pivot to Asia against Beijing, the Trump administration has already made clear that it regards China as the chief threat to US dominance in Asia and internationally.

The concern in American ruling circles is that time is running out to counter the historic decline of the United States and the rise of China. Writing in the January/February issue of the National Interest, Bush administration official Evan Feigenbaum declared that Trump faced a tougher challenge with Beijing than have his eight predecessors since Nixons rapprochement with Beijing in 1972.

China is now weightier, more influential around the world, better able to resist or retaliate against US pressure, and has more tools of economic statecraft and military power than ever before. This means that Washington needs to move from reactive to activist in its approach to both China and Asia, Feigenbaum advised.

Already, Trump has gone on the offensive against Beijing, warning of trade war measures, threatening to dump the One China policythe bedrock of US-China diplomatic relationsand reaffirming that the US would back Japan in a war with China over disputed outcrops in the East China Sea. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has declared that the US will block Chinese access to its islets in the South China Sea, a move that would constitute an act of war.

US Defence Secretary James Mattis has issued a chilling warning to Pyongyang, declaring that any North Korean use of nuclear weapons against the US or its allies would be met by an effective and overwhelming response. The statement not only underlines the vastly superior American military might, which could obliterate the North Korea regime and its military and industrial capacity, but also Washingtons willingness to use it in a catastrophic war that would inevitably draw in other powers, particularly China.

The response of the autocratic, ultra-nationalist North Korean regime to US threats is utterly reactionary. On the one hand, Pyongyang pleads for US imperialism to end its decades-long isolation and economic blockade so as to integrate the country as a cheap labour platform in the global economy. On the other, its bellicose statements and striving for nuclear arms only heighten the danger of war and drive a wedge between the working class in North Korea and its class brothers and sisters in South Korea, Japan, the United States and around the world.

Likewise, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime veers between seeking a deal with Washington and engaging in a major military expansion and its own muscle-flexing. The CCP does not represent the working class, but the ultra-rich oligarchy that has been spawned by capitalist restoration since 1978.

In response to the US military build-up in Asia, China has transformed several of its islets in the South China Sea into potential military bases and matched the Pentagons provocative military exercises in the area with its own. China continues to engage in dangerous encounters with the Japanese military and coast guard around the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu islands. Moreover, while concerned about the potential for a nuclear-armed North Korea to trigger an arms race in North East Asia, Beijing has done little to curb Pyongyang.

All of this feeds into the increasingly perilous and unpredictable situation being fuelled globally and especially in Asia by the installation of President Trump. His administration is already rent by divisions over foreign policy, reflecting the broader crisis of the American political establishment at home and abroad. Amid deepening political opposition to his regressive domestic politics, Trumps America First demagogy is aimed at turning social tensions outward against an external enemy, compounding the danger that a relatively minor incident could trigger a major conflagration.

The mounting danger of world war can be confronted only on the basis of recognising that it is rooted in the insoluble crisis of the capitalist system, which once again, as in the 1930s, is fuelling national antagonisms and the growth of militarism. The answer to capitalist crisis and war is socialist revolution. The only force capable of carrying out that task is the international working class, mobilized against both the imperialist ruling elites and reactionary bourgeois regimes such as those in Pyongyang and Beijing.
The first three weeks of the Trump administration have seen an unprecedented outpouring of popular opposition to a newly installed government. Millions of people in the US and around the world have taken part in demonstrations opposing Trumps anti-democratic policies.

The protests show that despite a quarter century of unending war and more than 15 years of the war on terror, the American ruling class has been unable to create a mass popular base for imperialist war or anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant racism. On the contrary, the largely spontaneous response to Trumps attacks on democratic rights reflects the deeply felt progressive sentiments among workers and young people.

As always in the initial stages of such a process, the underlying class issues have yet to emerge openly, and the prevailing political perspective is one of protest and pressure on the existing political parties and institutions. The independent and revolutionary role of the working class has yet to find political expression.

The International Socialist Organization, one of many organizations that orbit the Democratic Party and seek to provide it with a left cover, is doing its best to prevent this from happening. In a series of articles on its Socialist Worker web site, the ISO explicitly argues that the mass protests have already shifted not only the Democrats, but even sections of the Republicans, to oppose Trump.

An editorial published February 1, The people versus the president, provides a case study in the way that the ISO works to obscure class issues and distinctions in order to confuse opposition and direct it behind the political establishment and the capitalist system.

The ISOs method of political analysis begins with the headline. What are the people? This class-less term obscures the social and political distinctions that exist among those who are opposed to Trump. It is specifically aimed at lumping together and identifying the genuine opposition of workers and youth opposed to Trumps attack on democratic rights and his right-wing policies with the motivations of Trumps ruling-class opponents.

Proceeding along these lines, the article states that the widespread protests show that Trump is going to be as widely resisted as anybody could have hopedeven if that means ordinary people have to drag their representatives into the fight.

Scare-quotes notwithstanding, the ISO identifies mass opposition to Trump with opposition from within the ruling class. The editorial goes on to state that the obeisance of the political establishment to Trump started to change the moment that Trump assumed office, when the crowd of supporters attending his inauguration ceremony were absolutely dwarfed the next day by what is being called the largest single day of protest in US history.

These protests have reversed the dynamic of November and December, the editorial declares, when the Democrats meek acquiescence to Trump seemed to paralyze many liberals That started to change in January as the growing numbers signing up for the Womens Marches pushed some unions and liberal groups into devoting resources to build the demonstration, if still behind the scenes.

Class and political distinctions are covered over. The aim of the unions and liberal groups (i.e., groups aligned with the Democratic Party) is to contain opposition of workers and youth, not give expression to it.

Finally, we have the statement: Trumps all-out assault could lead to greater opposition from the hitherto meek leaders of the Republican and Democratic Partiesin part because Trump is racing full steam ahead with a program that doesnt have the support of the majority of the capitalist class, but more importantly, because the wave of popular discontent is pressuring them to act.

Thus, popular discontent, according to the ISO, is stiffening the backbone of hitherto meek leaders among both Democrats and Republicans. Ever greater pressure will compel such leadersamong which the ISO is presumably including right-wing militarists like John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Charles Schumer and othersto really stand up to Trump.

Notably absent in the editorial is any reference to the actual content of the divisions within the ruling class. In the entire editorial, there is not a single mention of foreign policy, war, imperialism, Russia or Obama (whose election in 2008 the ISO claimed was a transformational moment in American politics). There is no mention of class except for the brief reference in the sentence quoted above.

The main focus of the Democrats campaign against Trump is his perceived softness toward Russia, which was the target of a major military and diplomatic escalation during Obamas second term. Both during the 2016 election campaign and since Trumps victory, the Democrats (and the media, along with some Republicans) have been carrying out a neo-McCarthyite campaign denouncing Russian President Putin as a war criminal and murderer and denouncing Trumps stated interest in improving relations with Russia.

That the ISO makes no mention of these issues is not an accident. It supports the anti-Russian war-mongering of the Democrats. It is, in fact, allied to the faction of the CIA and the Pentagon that is determined to maintain and escalate the confrontation with Russia, risking direct military conflict between the worlds two largest nuclear powers. The opposed faction of the US intelligence/military complex, aligned with the Trump White House, is pushing for a more immediate focus on China, believing the US can settle scores with Russia later.

The ISO has, after all, enthusiastically supported Washingtons neo-colonial wars in Libya and Syria as well as its machinations in Ukraine, where the US backed a fascist-led putsch that overthrew a pro-Russian government and installed a far-right, ultra-nationalist and rabidly anti-Russian regime in Kiev. It has hailed the various proxy forces of US imperialism, from the Islamist rebels in Libya and Syria to the fascist shock troops in Kiev, as the bearers of democratic revolutions, while churning out article after article labeling Russia as an imperialist power.

Key to the ISOs arguments in favor of a perspective of applying pressure on the Democrats is its rejection of the class criterion in the analysis of political developments. This in itself defines it as an anti-Marxist organization, since the foundation of Marxist political and historical analysis is the understanding that all political organizations, tendencies and programs ultimately reflect definite class interests.

The ISOs method is contained in its characterization of left factions within the Democratic Party. It writes, During the months after the election, it looked like [Trump] might get away with [bullying the country into meekly accepting his right-wing America First agenda]. Republicans who loathe Trumps populist rhetoric got in line behind his calls to stop trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Democratseven the most progressive of them, like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warrenpledged to find areas of common ground to work with the new nightmare of a president.

What is the significance of the designation of Sanders and Warren as progressive? Again, it serves to obscure class issues and cover up for the actual role of these Democratic Party operatives, while seeking to prevent those who supported Sanders from drawing the necessary conclusions from their experiences.

Notwithstanding their left-sounding rhetoric, neither Sanders or Warren is associated with a serious social reform policy or measures that in any way challenge the basic economic interests of the ruling class. On foreign policy, they both supported the imperialist war policies of the Obama administration.

Sanders and Warren bear major political responsibility for the election of Trump. Their support in the general election campaign for Hillary Clinton, a longstanding ally of the CIA and Wall Street who ran as the continuator of the Obama years, made it possible for Trump to posture as a defender of the forgotten American and channel discontent and anger in a right-wing direction.

Sanders played a particularly perfidious role. Presenting himself as a democratic socialist and opponent of the billionaire class, he won mass support from young people and workers, receiving 13 million votes in the Democratic presidential primaries. His aim from the outset was to serve as a lightning rod for mass discontent and growing anti-capitalist sentiment, in order to channel opposition back behind the Democratic Party.

Since the election, both Sanders and Warren have been elevated into the leadership of the Democratic caucus in the Senate by Minority Leader Charles Schumer of New York, a bagman for the bankers who gets more campaign cash from Wall Street than from any other source. They also both voted to confirm retired Gen. James Mad Dog Mattis as Trumps secretary of defense. Their pledge now to work with Trump on economic nationalist policy is not an aberration, but the logical continuation of their politics.

The Democratic Party is a political organization of the ruling class. The political function of individuals like Sanders and Warren is to give this party a left face in order to block the emergence of genuine opposition that would challenge the entire capitalist system. The role of groups like the ISO is to provide in one form or another political cover for Sanders, Warren and the party as a whole.

In other recent articles, the ISO has explicitly denounced political criticisms of the organizations and individuals heading up the demonstrations against Trump. The February 1 Socialist Worker editorial approvingly cites Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, a black nationalist and frequent contributor to the publication. The previous week, she published a piece on the web site, Dont shame the first steps of a resistance, in which she denounced as a sign of political immaturity criticism of the politically liberal attitudes of the protest organizers.

Were liberals on the march? Taylor asked rhetorically. Yes! And thank god. The movement to resist Trump will have to be a mass movement, and mass movements arent homogeneousthey are, pretty much by definition, politically heterogeneous. And there is not a single radical or revolutionary on earth who did not begin their political journey holding liberal ideas.

The development of revolutionary consciousness, however, requires precisely what Taylor and the ISO oppose: an uncompromising exposure of bourgeois politics, above all its nominally left or liberal varieties, as the basis for the development of a genuinely independent movement of the working class, based on the principles of socialism.

Contrary to the claims of the ISO, it has been many decades since one could speak of a social reform tendency within American bourgeois politics and its two-party system. In the 1930s, the American liberal philosopher John Dewey attacked the New Deal of Franklin Roosevelt as inadequate and called for a change in the economic and financial structure of society itself, declaring that only through such a change would it be possible to ensure the right of every person to work and enable everyone to live in security.

The Democratic Party rejected any such perspective and instead fully embraced the post-World War II drive of American imperialism for world hegemony. It joined the Republicans in the Cold War anti-socialist witch-hunt of the 1940s and 1950s and became no less a party of the CIA and Pentagon. For the past 40 years, as the decline in the global economic position of the United States has accelerated, the Democratic Party has moved further and further to the right, abandoning the social reform policies of the New Deal and Great Society and embracing the program of social counterrevolution openly inaugurated by the Reagan administration.

From the Populist movement at the turn of the 20th century, to the emergence of the industrial unions and the CIO in the 1930s, to the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, and the anti-war movements of the 1960s and the early 2000s, the Democratic Party has served as the graveyard of mass opposition movements in the United States. With the election of Obama in 2008, the pseudo-left organizations that had led the anti-war movement shifted sharply to the right, becoming open supporters of the wars of American imperialism.

Through its denunciations of a principled political criticism and the fight to clarify the essential political issues among workers and youth, the ISO reveals its nervousness that the opposition to Trump could herald an independent working-class movement against the entire political and economic system.

The ISO is an organization that represents the interests of privileged layers of the upper middle class. In the course of nearly 50 years of political reaction in America, bound up with the economic decay of US capitalism and a colossal growth of social inequality, these layers have benefited from the spectacular rise of the stock market and impoverishment of the working class. They are the real base of the ISO and similar organizations.

The fundamental political question posed by the emergence of Trump is the development of a new political leadership that can mobilize the working class in opposition to the entire capitalist system, on the basis of an independent, socialist and internationalist program. It is precisely this strategic orientation the ISO emphatically opposes.
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has blocked a move to require a two-thirds parliamentary vote, rather than the current simple majority, to approve a presidential declaration of emergency. He ordered the removal of a clause to that effect in the proposed National Action Plan for Protection and Promotion of Human Rights (NHRAP).

The presidents insistence on having an unrestrained prerogative to impose police-state provisions underscores the anti-democratic nature of the government and its readiness to use draconian measures against political opponents, workers and the poor.

The new NHRAP clause was proposed by a ministerial committee, for submission to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), which is scheduled to discuss the Sri Lankan human rights situation next month.

A previous NHRAP document, submitted to the UNHRC by former president Mahinda Rajapakses government, expired at the end of 2016. Rajapakses administration presented that document to UNHRC in 2011 in response to a resolution sponsored by the US that called for an investigation of war crimes committed during the final military offensive against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009.

Washington used this resolution, not to support the democratic rights of the Sri Lankan population, but to pressure Rajapakse to distance himself from China, which the US regards as a strategic rival. When pressure failed, the US helped orchestrate the ouster of Rajapakse via the 2015 presidential election, which installed Sirisena as president.

Sirisena ordered the blocking of the NHRAP clause in a cabinet meeting late last month. Mahinda Samarasinghe, a cabinet minister from Sirisenas Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), quoted the president as saying: The parliament should retain the right to impose Emergency Regulations with a simple majority  to subject it to a two-thirds majority in parliament could cause unnecessary problems.

The cabinet decided to remove the clause, Samarasinghe said, with the full agreement of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and all the ministers of the SLFP-United National Party (UNP) unity government.

Draconian emergency regulations enacted under the Public Security Act have been used by successive governments to suppress class struggles and terrorise the masses since the early 1970s and throughout the communal war against the LTTE. These laws give wide powers to the military and police on the pretexts of protecting the interests of the public, preservation of public order and maintenance of supplies or services essential to the life of the community.

Rajapakse allowed emergency powers to lapse in 2011, facing international criticisms and domestic opposition. However, he incorporated many emergency regulations into the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Emergency measures can still be declared by the president. If the emergency goes beyond 14 days it has to be approved by parliament and then extended every month with parliaments approval.

The NHRAP is not a legally-binding document, even if accepted by the cabinet and approved by the UNHRC. Nevertheless, Sirisenas directive is highly significant.

The government is facing an acute economic crisis and a rising tide of struggles by workers, students and the rural poor. It has already unleashed the military, police and court orders to suppress protests violently. The government is well aware that explosive social and class struggles are on the agenda as it implements International Monetary Fund (IMF) austerity demands by slashing living conditions, limiting welfare programs and jobs.

That is why the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government is not prepared to tolerate any limit on the use of repressive powers. Emergency regulations can be used to ban political parties and their activities, and suspend limited democratic rights.

The government is now seeking a pretext to invoke emergency powers. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe presented a note to the cabinet in late January, titled Formal Declaration of Emergency in view of the impending severe drought. Currently the country is facing a severe drought, affecting hundreds of thousands of families.

Earlier, Sirisena declared the government would use the armed forces for the relief work. Wickremesinghe reiterated this in his cabinet paper and said an emergency promulgation would facilitate the deployment of security forces. Last weekend, the disaster management ministry secretary, S.S. Miyanwala, told the Sunday Times that a decision on an emergency declaration would be taken in the coming week.

Sri Lankan governments have utilised such scenarios in the past to impose emergency powers and then use the laws to crack down on workers and the poor. In 2005, former president Chandrika Kumaratunga declared an emergency, which only lapsed three years later, in the name of facilitating relief work after the December 2004 Asian tsunami disaster. Rajapakses government used emergency powers in the ensuing years to resume the war against the LTTE and suppress working class struggles.

Last months cabinet meeting also moved unanimously to remove two further NHRAP clauses on non-discrimination and economic and social rights. According to Minister Samarasinghe, some members of the cabinet felt that the non-discriminatory clause could be exploited to decriminalise homosexuality, which remains an offence under Penal Code sections 365 and 365A.

Further uproar about decriminalising homosexuality reportedly flared in the cabinet regarding a condition proposed by the European Union to ensure non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, as part of reinstating GSP+ (General Scheme of Preferences) trade concessions. The government rejected this condition, with some ministers calling it a surreptitious attempt to recognise homosexuality.

The pseudo-left groups and NGOs promoted the election of Sirisena in office as the democratic alternative to the Rajapakse governments dictatorial methods of rule. These claims have been thoroughly exposed. The retention of full emergency declaration powers must be a warning to youth and workers: the crisis-ridden Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government is preparing to unleash ruthless attacks on their democratic and social rights.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier (Social Democratic Party, SPD) was elected as the new president of Germany by the Federal Assembly on Sunday. After stepping down as foreign minister in the coalition government headed by Chancellor Angela Merkel (Christian Democratic Union, CDU), Steinmeier will succeed the retiring head of state, Joachim Gauck, in Bellevue Castle.

The election result shows that, despite the large majority achieved by Steinmeier and the many statements congratulating him, the German party system is breaking down under conditions of growing international political and economic instability.

In the first ballot, Steinmeier was elected with 75 percent of the vote, but he received only 931 of the 1,239 valid votes, many fewer than expected. If all the electors of the five parties that officially support Steinmeierthe Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the Christian Social Union (CSU), the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Green Partyhad voted for him, he would have received 1,106 votes.

Christoph Butterwegge, a poverty researcher who stood in the election as the Left Party candidate, received more votes than expected. He received a total of 128 votes even though the Left Party only has 95 electors. The candidate of the right-wing extremist Alternative for Germany (AfD), Albrecht Glaser, received 42 votes, at least seven of which came from representatives of other parties. In addition, 103 members of the Federal Assembly abstained.

The election of Steinmeier marks a political turning point. At no time since the end of the Second World War has a president held such a prominent and key position in the state apparatus prior to taking office. The conservative Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung wrote: Steinmeier stands for the political class of this country. One of his predecessors, Horst Kohler, who was an outsider, failed because he didnt know anyone in Berlin politics. Steinmeier knows everyone.

More than any other politician of the past 20 years, the SPD politician personifies the rightward shift in German politics. As head of the chancellors office under Merkels predecessor, Gerhard Schroder (SPD), Steinmeier played a significant role in working out the infamous Agenda 2010 and the Hartz laws, which drove millions into bitter poverty. Between 2005 and 2009, and then again between 2013 and 2017, he served as foreign minister of the grand coalition under Merkel. In this role, he prepared the way for the shift in German politics to a more aggressive foreign policy.

Exactly three years ago, at the Munich Security Conference, Steinmeier, Gauck and Defence Minister von der Leyen (Christian Democratic Union, CDU) announced the return of German militarism. Germany must be prepared to intervene earlier, more decisively and substantially in foreign and security policy, said Steinmeier. He pursued this program by supporting the right-wing putsch in Ukraine, the build-up of NATO against Russia, and the military deployments in Mali, Syria and Iraq.

At the same time, the foreign ministry led a so-called review process of German foreign policy under his direction, in order to combat the continual resistance to war and militarism. It published a strategy paper, which advocated the militarization of Europe under German dominance. In countless speeches and articles, Steinmeier himself has repeatedly referred to Germanys new global role.

In his short address after the election, Steinmeier made it clear that he would pursue this project further as president. He said that in stormy times, when the world appears to have gone off the rails, everything depends on the cement that holds society together. Germany is starting to be seen by many people all over the world as an anchor of hope, he claimed. If the foundation topples somewhere else, then we must stand even more firmly on this foundation  Lets be bold. Then I will not be anxious about the future, he told the members of the Federal Assembly.

Steinmeier left no room for doubt that by being bold he meant the continued pursuit of war, which will inevitably go along with massive attacks on the working class within the country.

When Johannes Rau stood here, unified Germany saw itself confronted with difficult foreign policy decisions in the Balkans, with new responsibilities in the world, which have grown even greater today and which we have accepted, he said. Today is once again a difficult timebut ladies and gentlemen, this time is ours! We bear responsibility. And if we want to make others bold, then we need to be bold ourselves!

The presidency, which has had a primarily representative function after the experiences of the Weimar Republic, will have to be transformed once again into a political planning and power centre in order to implement these new great power fantasies.

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported that Steinmeier will bring a complete team of his own into Bellevue Castle, with whom he has worked for a long time and to whom he is bound by friendship. This team includes Secretary of State Stephan Steinlein, and previous head of planning in the SPD faction, Oliver Schmolke, as well as the 30-year-old speech writer Wolfgang Silberman, a graduate of Oxford and Harvard, and Thomas Bagger, the previous head of planning in the foreign office.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau travelled to Washington yesterday for his first face-to-face discussions with US President Donald Trump. At their conclusion, Trudeau and Trump vowed to enhance the longstanding military-security and economic partnership between the Canadian and US ruling elites, by intensifying their joint war preparations and by integrating Canada into an aggressive US-led North American trade bloc.

The joint statement that Trudeau and Trump issued at the end of three hours of meetings and a working lunch declared, no two countries share deeper or broader relations. It then went on to outline plans for closer collaboration, including in growing our economies, energy security and border security. In its most significant section, the statement stressed the joint military operations of Canada and the US. It declared the two countries indispensable allies in the defense of North America and other parts of the world, through NATO andin a reference to Canadas role in the US war in the Middle East and support for the US military build-up against China in the Asia Pacificother multilateral efforts.

The statement pledged that Ottawa and Washington will work to modernize and broaden our NORAD [North American Aerospace Defense Command] Partnership. It also praised Canadas plans to buy new fighter jets and its leading role in the US-led campaign of NATO aggression against Russia. Canada is leading one of four forward deployed NATO battalions on Russias borders in the Baltic States and Poland.

At their joint press conference, both Trump and Trudeau emphasized that the Canada-US partnership was forged in war, with Trudeau making specific reference to the two imperialist world wars of the last century, the Korean War and the Afghan War.

American and Canadian troops, declared Trump, have gone to battle together, fought wars together and forged the special bonds that come when two nations have shed their blood together.

The militarist tone reached a highpoint, when Trump, after sharply denouncing North Korea for its missile launch over the weekend, declared, We have problems just about everywhere around the globe.

Trudeau, who with the support of the trade unions won election little more than a year ago by appealing to popular anger with Stephen Harpers hard-right Conservative government, was at pains to praise Trump and demonstrate his governments eagerness to work in close collaboration with the most right-wing administration in American historyan administration that in the name of America First intends to wage trade war and massively expand US imperialist violence.

The prominence given NORAD in the joint statement is especially ominous.

The Globe and Mail reported on Monday that it is highly likely that Canada will soon fulfill a longstanding Pentagon demand and join the US ballistic missile defense shield. Its name notwithstanding, the shields ultimate goal is to make it possible for Washington to wage a winnable nuclear war with Russia, China, or any other geopolitical rival. Canadas participation in the shield would be through NORAD, which was already expanded in 2006 to include a maritime surveillance function.

An unnamed senior government official told the Globe, NORAD is the only joint-command relationship in the world. And we have to modernize it and whether that is missile [defence] or whether it is cybersecurity, it is an opportunity to begin to try to draw them out in terms of their thinking [on reforming NORAD] before we finalize our defence policy review.

The strengthened Canada-US military partnership will be underpinned by a more vigorous assertion of the two imperialist powers economic interests through an aggressive North American trade bloc, whether under the banner of the current North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) or a new alliance.

In his opening remarks to Mondays press conference, Trump called for Canada and the US to join forces in matters of international commerce, and co-ordinate closelyto protect jobs in our hemisphere and keep wealth on our continent, and to keep everyone safe.

When Trudeau, in answer to a question about NAFTA, spoke of the importance of Canada-US trade to both countries economies, Trump emphatically added, I agree with you 100 percent.

Later, in answer to a Canadian reporters question, Trump said that the changes the US will be seeking from Canada in the renegotiation of NAFTA will be tweaks, while emphasizing this will not be true of Mexico. Drawing a sharp contrast between US trade relations with Canada and Mexico, Trump declared, On the southern [border], for many, many years, the transaction was not fair to the United States. It was an extremely unfair transaction, then added, Our relationship with Canada is outstanding.

The prospect of reopening NAFTA has for months caused great trepidation within Canadas business elite and political establishment. Weeks ago, the Trudeau government made clear that it is more than ready to throw Mexico to the wolves if this is the price that must be paid for maintaining Canadas privileged access to the US market.

In the lead-up to Trudeaus White House visit, the Canadian media and political establishment overwhelmingly endorsed his policy of bending over backwards to seek an accommodation with Trump.

Underscoring the broad support within the ruling elite for close cooperation with Trump, Conservative Party leader Rona Ambrose sent a letter to Trudeau in which she proposed a bipartisan effort to find common ground with the new president. Former Progressive Conservative Prime Minister Brian Mulroney has for weeks been working informally on behalf of the Trudeau government, using his friendship with Trump and several of his billionaire cabinet ministers to make the case that the Canada-US alliance is a major asset for Washington and Wall Street on the world stage.

Trudeau has further demonstrated his commitment to align Canada with the most right-wing administration in US history in comments he made to European leaders, many of whom have advocated a more assertive European foreign policy, so as to act more independently of, and even directly confront, Washington. In conversations with British Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Francois Hollande last week, Trudeau, reports the Canadian Press, stressed that Ottawa is mindful that it is at the start of a four-year relationship with the new president, and needs, given the interdependence of the Canada-US economies, to engage constructively with Trump.

Despite this, the media has sought to portray Trudeau as having sharp ideological differences with the US President and made much of a hypocritical, ostensibly pro-refugee tweet Canadas prime minister issued the day Trumps illegal and discriminatory travel ban on people from seven predominantly Muslim counties came into force. The Washington Post hailed Trudeau as a leader of the liberal global resistance to President Trump.

Yesterday, the media was playing up a new bilateral initiative, suggested by Canada, one that aptly sums up the progressive character of his Liberal government: the establishment of a Canada-United States Council for Advancement of Women Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders. The Council was kicked off at a meeting attended by Trump, Trudeau, Ivanka Trump, and other female executives, including General Motors CEO Mary Barra, and Linda Hasenfratz, the CEO and principal shareholder of the Canadian-based auto parts transnational Linamar.

At Mondays press conference, Trudeau, while looking visibly uncomfortable, studiously avoided criticizing any of Trumps reactionary anti-immigrant measures, even after the US president ranted on about them at length. Even when specifically asked, Canadas prime minister did not refer directly to the travel ban targeting immigrants, refugees, and travellers from seven majority-Muslim countries. Instead, he emphasized Canadas commitment to secure borders, which the joint statement described as a top priority.

All that being said, relations between Canada and the US are fraught with tension and potential conflicts. The Trudeau government, for example, has identified expanding trade ties with China as key to its growth strategy; yet the Trump administration has made clear it considers China a currency manipulator and the principal threat to US global dominance.

The determination of Trudeau and the Canadian ruling class to partner with Trump will incite mass popular opposition. Tradition has it that a US Presidents first foreign visit is to Ottawa, but Trudeau chose to travel to Washington for fear that the mass protests that would have greeted Trump on his arrival in Canada would have marred their first meeting.

Trudeaus evident nervousness during the press conference as Trump vehemently defended his brutal anti-immigrant measures reflects the Liberal Prime Ministers awareness that such an open association with a right-wing demagogue and authoritarian will impact on his own standing and fuel popular opposition to his governments right-wing agenda of austerity at home and increased military interventions in partnership with the US around the globe.
CHARLESTON (JG-TC) -- A committee charged with reviewing the philosophy major at Eastern Illinois University for possible elimination is moving forward with a direction on its focuses when looking at the endangered major.

The university administration has, per contractual agreement, called upon a committee that has never been needed before, the Academic Program Elimination/Reorganization Review Committee, to review philosophy.

By contractual agreement with the EIU chapter of the University Professionals of Illinois faculty union, the university has to let this committee review a program before its potential elimination should that elimination result in the cuts to faculty numbers.

A report with the panel's review of the data in relation to the major is expected to be finished and sent to the administration by March 15.

According to a finalized outline of what they plan to look into in the next couple of weeks, members of the committee will look at what much of the Vitalization Project looked at, including program costs and enrollment histories.

However, the committee will source more up-to-date and clear numbers from the affected departments as well as the administration's numbers, said Richard Jones, committee chair.

They will also be looking at the potential effects of the elimination or consolidation of philosophy as a major and will be investigating the possible impact the elimination could have on other majors with required higher level philosophy courses that could be cut with the major elimination.

Jones noted, while it is not the committee's charge, they also plan to look at the potential growth of the philosophy program and its general marketability to the university.
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (AP) - A Florida Panhandle woman faces a child neglect charge after a 2-year-old took prescription drugs while they were driving in her car.

The News Herald reports 33-year-old Lottie Walter was arrested Monday. Police say she ran into the Panama City Beach Police Department, carrying the boy who was unconscious and struggling to breathe.

The child was rushed to a hospital for treatment and police say he's expected to recover.

Investigators say the child had access to Walter's prescription medication in the car.

No further details were immediately available.

(Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
ASHMORE -- A state agency will soon begin plugging natural gas wells in the village of Ashmore, village officials have announced.

The wells have been out of use for about 30 years and are potentially hazardous if they start to leak, village Superintendent Jake Johnson said.

Village officials asked residents to help identify and locate the "orphaned" wells, as they're called, and 11 were found in the village and seven others located in other parts of Ashmore Township.

Johnson said workers with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources should begin working on the wells by today. How long the work will take depends on the weather and other factors, he said.

The state agency has funds to plug the orphaned wells that have been identified, Johnson also said. Anyone who finds additional abandoned wells should contact the village office so officials can arrange for that work to take place later, he added.

The orphaned wells were installed around the 1950s when private gas wells were more commonly in use, Johnson explained.

He said that changed in the mid- to late-1980s when it became less expensive for utilities to provide natural gas, and the private wells have been out of use since then.

The village's announcement about the project said residents can expect to see IDNR vehicles and workers in the village while the work takes place.

The lack of use means the orphaned wells might have corroded or otherwise deteriorated and are susceptible to leaks, the announcement said. It said proper filling and plugging by the state is needed to ensure public safety.

Johnson said the IDNR's work will consist of emptying the wells of gas, filling the cavity and removing the above-ground well fixture.

The announcement said anyone who knows about additional wells or who has questions about the project can contact the village office by phone at 217-349-8332 or by email at jfreezeland@co.coles.il.us.
GRETNA, FL (WTXL) -- More than 200 people packed Gretna Elementary School to voice concerns about its potential closure at the end of the school year.

It's part of a proposal the Gadsden County School Board is presenting at seven community meetings about the district's plans to consolidate.

With the future of Gretna Elementary at risk, the community showed up to send a clear message.

"We can't let someone come in and want to just close this place down and not put up a fight," said Gretna city commissioner Anthony Baker, who studied at Gretna Elementary.

"When you make change of this magnitude, it takes some time for you to see the results of it," said superintendent Roger Milton, "but, hopefully, in time, the residents and citizens - if this decision goes through - will see it was very well worth the effort."

Students, parents, teachers and graduates urged the school board to reconsider the current proposal to close the school at the end of the year.

"Our students are leaving for a reason," one resident said. "You can close every school in this county, and it wouldn't change the dynamics."

"Let's not just make this a one-man-show," added another resident. "In other words, let us all be involved in the decision-making process."

"We don't want you to go anywhere," said school board member Charlie Frost, who represents Gretna. "We want your support. I want to let everybody know there's nothing been done yet."

"This school is a pillar of our community," Baker said. "If it closes, we lose our identity."

More than a dozen residents, including local pastors and city commissioners, publicly addressed the board in clear opposition to the proposal. While some said they understand the reasons to consolidate, they warned against closing this community school.

"There was a lot to lose tonight, and if we just sit down on our morals, then we're going to lose -- and we're going to lose big," Baker said.

The next community meeting is set for Thursday at 6 p.m. in Quincy at St. John Elementary School -- another school proposed to close at the end of this school year.

Here's the full schedule of community meetings about consolidation:

Thursday, February 16 - St. John Elementary School

Monday, February 20 - Chattahoochee Elementary School

Monday, February 27 - West Gadsden High School

Thursday, March 2 - James A. Shanks Middle School

Monday, March 6 - East Gadsden High School

Wednesday, March 8 - Stewart Street Elementary School

Monday, March 13 - School Board Workshop

To view the superintendent's proposal for reconfiguration, click HERE.
100 years ago, Feb. 14, 1917

MATTOON -- The Mattoon Memorial Hospital patients were removed from the old building to the new building today. The formal opening of the new hospital will not take place, however, until the latter part of next week. There were 12 patients in the old hospital this morning. Three were sent home, nine being left for removal to the new building. Three new patients also were received. The old building will be wrecked at an early date. The new building faces Richmond Avenue... MATTOON -- The Mattoon board of education heard a report last evening from Mr. Deal, a partner of Deal and Ginzel of Lincoln, architects of Washington School, regarding the crowded conditions of the high school. The architect found that without making an addition to the building, the only relief is by converting a closet, a storeroom and portion of the physics laboratory into a room. Mr. Deal also said a four-room addition is possible. It would be sufficiently large to accommodate all pupils for the next 10 years. The high school currently has capacity for 250 students, while there are 350 pupils being cared for... SPRINGFIELD -- Two states of Illinois, one to be formed from Cook County and the other to comprise the 101 downstate counties, are proposed by State Sen. Denvir of Chicago in a resolution introduced in the Senate this morning. Cook County, under provisions of this resolution, would be known as the state of Northern Illinois. The other counties would embody the state of Southern Illinois.

50 years ago, 1967

MATTOON -- Tokens of love were given many members of Mattoon's fairer sex on this valentine's Day. Perhaps the best valentine of all was given by Mother Nature to all residents of Illinois -- a sample of spring. Under sunny skies, the mercury pushed toward the balmy 70-degree mark here today, giving the area its most lovable valentine's Day in years. The temperature at 2 p.m. today was 61 degrees, smashing the previous record high of 55 in 1961... SHELBYVILLE -- While many Illinoisans were standing in line today to beat the Feb. 15 deadline for 1967 automobile license plates, Paul M. Willey of Shelbyville was overstocked. Willey, an employee of the Oliver Corp. plant, ordered his plates by mail and a set arrived the first week in January. On Saturday, the mail brought him a second pair, bearing the same number as the January set. Secretary of state employees were too busy handling the last-minute rush to take time to guess what happened... CHARLESTON -- A night spot for teenagers is causing a dispute in Charleston. More than 20 people who live near the "Nowhere" at Fourth and Van Buren, have petitioned the City Council complaining of noise, congested streets and other alleged annoyances. "Nowhere," owned and operated by Mrs. Louis Taylor, opened in December. To date, the council has taken no action on the petition.

25 years ago, 1992

CHARLESTON -- Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site recently received an endorsement in a statewide magazine. Writing in Illinois Issues magazine, Rusty Ayers rates the states historic sites. On a scale of 1 to 4 (with 4 being the best), Ayers rates the states 32 historic sites. Lincoln Log Cabin, the farm home of Abraham Lincolns parents near Lerna, was rated a 3  by Ayers. Only Cahokia Mounds, Lincolns New Salem and the Bishop Hill Colony rate ahead of Lincoln Log Cabin among state-run historic sites MATTOON -- An electrical problem of unknown origin apparently caused the fire at 1504 Broadway Ave in Mattoon, Fire Chief Ken Zike reported yesterday. The fire occurred in the early morning of Jan. 14. Before firemen could extinguish the blaze at 1504 Broadway, fire spread to 1508 Broadway, causing more extensive damage. Both buildings were a total loss and are scheduled to be demolished. Bev Hicks, who operated Memory Lane Antiques and Collectibles at 1504 Broadway along with Terri Freeman, said they lost about $100,000 worth of irreplaceable antiques in the fire.

100 years ago, Feb. 15, 1917

MATTOON -- Burglars entered the home of Lucien Robey Tuesday night and stole all the bed clothing and rugs. Robey found the stolen property on his front porch this morning, acting upon instructions received from a fortune teller. Robey informed police of the robbery prior to seeking assistance from a former fortune teller. The fortune teller gave to Robey the initials of a man said to have committed the crime. She advised Robey to inform the alleged thief to return the stolen property or have his property searched by police with a search warrant. This Robey did, with the results above stated... MATTOON -- According to a bulletin posted by Superintendent Millard, there were 29 accidents on the Big Four Railroad's St. Louis division headquartered in Mattoon during the month of November. These occurred in the departments as follows: Road service 3, yard service 5, shop service 9, track service 7, other departments 5. Machinist George Tureff is working nights temporarily in the place of Doyle, who is off duty on account of a toe injury, having dropped a cylinder head upon his foot. W.R. Leffler, who has been off duty for several days on account of feet burns, returned to work Wednesday evening, relieving Switchman Blakemore. The burns were sustained while Mr. Leffler was assisting in butchering hogs.

50 years ago, 1967

CHARLESTON -- A new plant of the Calderwood Corp., manufacturers of special refractories, is under construction on the north side of Charleston, along Illinois Route 130. Don Bowers, president of the firm, said production is expected to swing into action in early summer and approximately 40 people will be employed. Construction began in October... CHARLESTON -- A man who allegedly threatened a Coles County Circuit Court official after his wife was sentenced yesterday afternoon has been charged with disorderly conduct. William Leathers of Rockford, formerly of Mattoon, jumped over a railing in the courtroom and threatened William E. Checkley, a probation officer, authorities said. He was quickly subdued and taken to Coles County jail. Leathers' wife, Marilyn, was sentenced to a one- to five-year term in the Illinois Reformatory for Women at Dwight on forgery charges... CHARLESTON -- Marty Pattin and his wife Vera departed today for Hotville, Calif., where Pattin will begin spring training on Friday with the California Angels. The Charleston product is given a better-than-average chance of sticking with the parent club after fashioning a 9-2 record last summer with the Angels' Triple A club in Seattle. Pattin, 23, is a Charleston High School and Eastern Illinois University graduate.

25 years ago, 1992

SPRINGFIELD -- The Charleston drivers license center and 51 others in the state will remain open. Union workers in the Illinois secretary of states office approved a revised contract Friday that will avert 500 layoffs and the shutdown of 52 drivers services centers across the state. Six area facilities had been slated to be closed -- those in Charleston, Shelbyville, Tuscola, Greenup, Marshall and Sullivan -- with a total of 10 area employees to be laid off CHARLESTON -- While 1991 saw an increase in fire loss over 1990, Fire Chief Tom Watson said the year was average and in line with a steady decline over the last four years. Shorted electrical equipment and arson or suspected arson were the leading causes of 34 residential fires last year. The citys total losses of $291,985 show a 33.8 percent increase from last year. A Nov. 27 fire at the Carlyle Apartment buildings caused the most damage at $50,000. The largest commercial fire of the year took place on Sept. 14 at China 88, 1104 Lincoln Ave., and caused $30,000 in damages.
YAKIMA, Wash. -- For Valentines Day this year, the Yakima Herald-Republic published a story about two Selah men reflecting on their relations
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MATTOON -- The school district board will be voting on whether to approve a resolution with the Regional Office of Education that would give some access to sales tax money to the regional office for facilitation.

The Mattoon school board plans to vote on the resolution at its meeting at 7 p.m. today at the school district administrative building, 1701 Charleston Ave.

Larry Lilly, Mattoon superintendent, said the agreement essentially allows the regional office to keep the interest collected from the Coles County Facilities Tax money coming down from the state for the short period it is in the regional office's "bank account."

Lilly explained that the state collects the tax money and that money is sent to the regional office to be sent to the school districts. For the short period of time that the regional office has the money, interest grows on it.

Lilly said the agreement would allow them to retain that interest. Lilly said it will essentially offset facilitation costs for the regional office. Should every district in the county OK this agreement, this interest is expected to amount to roughly $50 total each time the money runs through the regional office.

Also during tonight's meeting, First Mid-Illinois Insurance Group and Dimond Brothers Insurance, both in Mattoon, along with other groups will be offering insurance proposals to the school district.

Earlier, the district started soliciting for bids for insurance services outside of health insurance. This includes property, casualty, workers compensation, school board legal, and other commercial insurance.
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Two videos documenting the arrest of two terror suspects in last December's shooting at an Israeli vehicle near Ofarim were released by IDF on Monday.

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The footage shows the arrest of two Palestinians, residents of the town of Rantis in the West Bank, who allegedly shot at the Israeli car at close range between the settlements of Nili and Beit Aryeh-Ofarim, wounding one Israeli civilian.

Suspected shooter arrested (Credit: IDF) ( :  ")

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Weapon is found (Credit: IDF) ( :  ")

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The night after the shooting the Shin Bet, Special Forces and IDF's Ephraim division set out to the town of Rantis and arrested the two, identified as Ahmed Nadaf and Mohammed Hawasa. Security forces later found the weapon used for the shooting.

The IDF stated that following the investigation, the two are now suspected in another shooting, an attempted shooting and of throwing Molotov cocktails and rocks at vehicles.
WASHINGTON -- The Trump administration imposed sanctions against Venezuelan Vice President Tareck El Aissami on Monday, accusing him of playing a major role in international drug trafficking.

The executive decree, the result of a years-long investigation, is bound to ratchet up tensions between the new Republican administration and the United States' harshest critic in Latin America. El Aissami is the most senior Venezuelan official to ever be targeted by the U.S.
SEOUL -- The new type of ballistic missile launched by North Korea on Sunday has a range of more than 2,000 kilometers, according to South Korea's intelligence agency, the South's Yonhap News Agency reported on Tuesday.

The solid-fuel missile, which the North said was an upgraded, extended-range version of a submarine-launched ballistic missile, reached an altitude of about 550 km and flew about 500 km towards Japan before splashing into the sea east of the Korean peninsula.
The election of Yahya Sanwar as Hamas new leader in the Gaza Strip is a significant change, and not for the better, as far as Israel is concerned. Not just because Sanwar is one of the terrorists who were released in exchange for kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit and because he is radical and very militant in his conduct and in his views, but because he thwarts any chance of a hudna (truce) in the strip and a long-term resolution of Hamas relations with Israel.

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Sanwar shatters any hopes that Israel may have had for a prisoner and body exchange deal with Hamas. He is the one who rejected the recent Israeli proposal out of hand. The conditions he sets for a future deal are publicly and politically inadmissible in Israel: As a precondition for discussing such a deal, he is demanding that Israel release about 50 of the terrorists who were freed in the Shalit deal and arrested again in 2014 following the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teens. After this condition is met according to his demands, negotiations will be launched on the release of dozens of other terrorists in exchange for the return of two bodies and two civilians who crossed into Gaza.

Yahya Sanwar. Shattering any hopes Israel may have had (Photo: AP)

Yahya Sanwar knows that these conditions are inadmissible in Israel, but he keeps demanding them while increasing his organizations motivation to carry out additional abductions in the future in order to strengthen his leverages of pressure on Israel.

Sanwars election is bad news also in terms of Hamas general orientation in the Gaza Strip. It means that from now on, all of Hamas resources in the strip will be subject to the needs of the military wing and the tunnel excavation.

Mohammed Deif will theoretically become the head of the military wing, but Sanwar will in fact be both the political leader and the supreme commander of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. Ismail Haniyeh, who is expected to succeed Khaled Mashal as head of Hamas political bureau , has a Muslim Sunni Arab orientation. He seeks to improve relations with Egypt in order to ease the pressure on Gazas residents and improve relations with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states in order to receive donations from them.

Sanwar, on the other hand, likely wants to retighten the relations with Iran, as Tehran had funded weapons for Hamas training activities and military technologies, which are much needed in the strip right now. Tehran can also transfer funding for the production of weapons and the tunnel digging through the Revolutionary Guards Quds Force and its commander, Qasem Soleimani.

Militarily unprepared for a conflict

Sanwar is not interested in an escalation with Israel right now. Not because he seeks a political arrangement with the Israelis, but because he likely wants to prepare for the next round of fighting.

Sanwar with Haniyeh. Prefers to focus right now on improving relations with Egypt

That is why he prefers, like Haniyeh, to focus right now on improving relations with Egypt and on improving the quality of life and livelihood of Gazas residents at the current stage.

Its likely, however, that under his leadership Hamas will speed up its arming and training efforts ahead of the next round of fighting. Israel is continuing to build the barrier on the Gaza border, the combination between a wall and an intelligence and warning measure which already exists along the border and which Israel keeps building at a cost of tens of billions of shekels in order to thwart the threat of tunnels infiltrating its territory and of surprise attacks on the communities located near the fence.

Sanwar knows that once this barrier is ready, his ability to harm Israel will be reduced. The new Hamas leaders response to the hundreds of vehicles and heavy engineering machines and people crowding on the Israeli side of the Gaza border will, therefore, serve as a first test of Sanwars ability to restrain himself  for now.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to resign as Minister of Communications in the coming days and hand over the position to another minister from Likud.

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Maintaining the communications portfolio has been a priority for Netanyahu, who has insisted of keeping it despite sustained criticism since his most recent government was formed.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Photo: EPA)

Netanyahu also compelled coalition members to sign agreements preventing them from promoting initiatives in the field of communications.

According to some predictions, two potential candidates stand to receive the portfolio: Minister of Culture Miri Regev and Minister of Regional Cooperation Tzachi Hanegbi.

Regev is considered one of the prime minister's closest associates due to the fact that she has defended both him and his wife in the media.

On the other hand, Hanegbi has already received some of Netanyahu's authority in the field of telecommunications due to a friendship with businessman Shaul Elovitch, who is an associate of Netanyahu's.

There is also speculation that even after a new minister is appointed, Netanyahu will continue to influence the ministry through his friendship with Director General of the Ministry of Communication, Shlomo Filber.

MK Isaac Herzog (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

According to political sources who spoke with the prime minister in recent days have concluded that, after conversations with Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit and officials from the State's Attorney Office, he will face legal difficulty defending his role as Minister of Communications.

By relinquishing control over the portfolio, Netanyahu is seeking to obviate the state's response to the High Court concerning a petition filed by head of the opposition MK Isaac Herzog into why Netanyahu is still holding the portfolio.

Herzog filed the petition to the Supreme Court claiming that Netanyahu is in a conflict of interest and therefore, should be suspended from his position as minister of communication.

The conflict of interest arises from the investigation into Netanyahu and his relationship with Arnon Milchan and Arnon Mozes, owner of Yedioth Ahronoth.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has decided to cancel the annual government-to-government meeting with Israel, scheduled for May 9.

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A German spokesman said the governments had agreed to "postpone" the annual meeting of leaders and ministers until next year, blaming the delay on the busy schedule of meetings surrounding Germany's presidency of the G20.

An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed the session has been called off, citing "schedule constraints on the German side."

Netanyahu and Merkel in Berlin during last year's G2G meeting (Photo: Reuters)

Officials in Jerusalem believe the cancelation was due to anger in Berlin over the passing of the Regulation Law, while German officials suggested the real reason for the cancelation was the feeling that the two governments were too far apart on the issue of Middle East peace to make such a meeting worthwhile.

"Our relations have been completely pared back," one senior German official said. "We have practically given up on making progress in the current environment."

This would have been the seventh annual government-to-government (G2G) meeting between Israel and Germany.

German governments have made strong relations with Israel a top priority ever since World War Two, going to great lengths to make amends for the Holocaust.

But relations have grown tense in recent years as Germany questioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's commitment to a two-state solution with the Palestinians.

The election of US President Donald Trump appears to have emboldened Netanyahu to step up building in settlements, which are seen by Germany and many other countries as illegal and an obstacle to peace because they reduce and fragment the territory Palestinians need for a viable state.

Israel has built about 120 settlements in the West Bank. About 350,000 settlers live there, with a further 200,000 in East Jerusalem.

Since Trump took office last month, Netanyahu has approved construction of 6,000 settler homes in the two areas, drawing international condemnation which the White House did not join.

The Regulation Law, which passed in the Knesset earlier this month, retroactively legalizes government-backed Jewish outposts in the West Bank built on privately-owned Palestinian land.

The law was widely condemned by the international community as well as the Palestinians.

"This law crosses a new and dangerous threshold by legalizing under Israeli law the seizure of Palestinian property rights and effectively authorizing the confiscation of privately owned Palestinian land in occupied territory," the European Union's foreign affairs representative Federica Mogherini said in a statement

In an apparent response to the passing of the legislation, the EU postponed a summit between its representatives and Israel, scheduled for February 28 in Brussels.
SRINAGAR -- Three Indian soldiers and one militant were killed on Tuesday in a gun battle in its restive region of Kashmir, in the second deadly clash between security forces and separatist fighters in three days.

Five soldiers were also wounded in the shootout in North Kashmir's Bandipora district as a joint army and police team mounted a search following a tip-off that up to three gunmen were in the area, a defence spokesman said.

"During the searches, militants hiding in a house opened fire, triggering off an encounter," Lieutenant Colonel Rajesh Kalia told Reuters. He said there were no arrests, while the remaining gunmen were unaccounted for.
Activists of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions Movement (BDS) disrupted a lecture being delivered by Israels Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon Monday evening to some 300 students in Columbia University in New York.

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Carrying signs urging boycotts against Israel, the vociferous activists drowned Danons speech to the chants of Free Palestine, from the river to the sea, Israel is a terrorist state and Israel has no right to exist, and the like.

BDS students attempt to muffle Danon's speech

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About 100 activists assembled outside the lecture theater while screaming slogans against Danon, against Israel and against the immigration policies of President Trump.

Shortly thereafter, they barged their way into the theater to prevent it from going ahead.

In light of the calls of incitement from the activists, Danon turned to the student agitators directly.

We will not be quiet in the face of lies that you spread about Israel. We will continue to make our voice heard and we will continue to insist on our righteous truth, he said.

Danon then invited the activists to listen to his lecture. Instead of inciting and lying, sit in the seats and maybe you will learn something.

He went on to say that the slogans espoused by the students represented the same problems endemic to the Palestinian people.

This is precisely the problem of the Palestinians. They lie, incite and dont recognize Israels right to exist. But I have an announcement for those studentsThe people of Israel will never leave the Land of Israel, Danon said to the sounds of a rapturous applause by pro-Israel students and neutral members of the audience.

Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon

Throughout the attempts to muffle his lecture, the pro-Israel students responded with their own booing against the hostile BDS crowd, before the latter were duly removed and distanced from the lecture theater.

Once the tensions had been abated, Danon addressed the distortion of facts prevailing in the UN, manifested most conspicuously by countless anti-Israel resolutions adopted by its members.

With the help of the new administration in the US we will see a new era in the UN, an era in which Israel receives fair treatment like all countries in the world.
Picture use

Unless otherwise stated all photos on this site are copyrighted  Jim Budd. They should not be used without authorisation and due credit. Please contact me on budmac@btinternet.com for all use. There will usually be a charge for use in commercial publications  papers, magazines, websites etc. and for other commercial uses. Photos that are used for commercial use without permission will be charged double  the fee for the use of photo and for breach of copyright. Commercial organisations asking to use photos for no payment may not always receive a polite response.
We have a friend in the White House, for the moment. An unstable, Twitter-happy friend with a big mouth and controversial standards, but still a friend. You cant choose your family, the cliche goes, and you cant choose friends in the White House who declare that they are pro-Israel either.

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For generations, America was an anchor of economic and political stability for Israel. The disputes and the disagreements all stemmed from the fact that the United States had a coherent policy and we didnt.

It allowed Israel to play for, and waste time, with the US setting the tone in the end for agreements or quarrels. But the world has changed: The Trump administrations policy is not formed, and not just regarding Middle Eastern affairs.

Netanyahu arrives in Washington. The main problem is that the Right itself has gotten used to placing half-baked ideas on the table (Photo: Avi Ohayon, GPO)

There will be a lot of goodwill in the Trump-Netanyahu meeting , but very few clear directions. All the parts and pieces are on the table, but the final product is unclear. With Donald Trump its unclear because he doesnt know; with Benjamin Netanyahu its unclear because he cant know.

On Sunday evening, while the Likud was celebrating Knesset Member Oren Hazans wedding, a Women in Green conference was held in Jerusalem on the issue of applying Israeli sovereignty to Judea and Samaria.

The music was different, the audience was different, and only a few politicians who arrived from one event and headed to the other created a link between the two celebrations.

MK Hazan is a likeable person despite all the stories about him. There are many positive aspects in a person who turns life into a joke and puts the unfathomable seriousness with which empty declarations are made into the right proportions.

Many times, his tendency to say that the emperor has no clothes provides a comic relief, and thats important. He should be congratulated: We should wish him a happy life, and mainly that he keeps making people laugh and being at the center of attention.

On the other hand, this should take place outside Israels Knesset. There are common citizens left here and there, like myself, who still see politics as a business for serious people who serve as role models.

The support for Hazan is in accordance with his political power (and he has political power) rather than with his competence. Politics is the art of compromise. When you dont know that youre compromising, a deeper problem begins. In the case of the Trump-Netanyahu meeting, its unclear where the compromise is, because the demand is unclear.

The idea of applying Israeli law to Judea and Samaria is the only message coming out of Israeli ministers today. After many years of believing in the false concept of a status quo, the public opinion in the Israeli Right has changed. It stems from public relations, from Netanyahus contradicting statements, from the dominance of movements like Women in Green.

Not every idea talks about full annexation: From Bezalel Smotrichs Maale Adumim to Pinchas Wallersteins Givat Zeev, through Yisrael Katz and Yoav Kishs annexation of the Jerusalem vicinity (Gush Etzion and Beitar Illit all the way to Maale Adumim), to the annexation of the settlement blocs and the Jordan Valley or a general statement about Area C from Naftali Bennett.

These are all allegedly reasonable ideas, which match the Rights approach, but they have no chance of being accepted as long as they are intended for conferences and declarations and as long as Netanyahu keeps supporting and opposing at the same time.

The main problem is that the Right itself has gotten used to placing half-baked ideas on the table. Annexation on the one hand without fully discussing the future of the Palestinians. Leaving things open, like Trump does.

Sundays cabinet meeting, which dealt with the issue and was defined as a good meeting by the prime ministers bureau, is a concrete example of that. The most fundamental battle between Bennett and Netanyahu was around the semantics. The former talks about an expanded autonomy for the Palestiniansan autonomy on steroidswhile the latter talks about a demilitarized state.

If they are both referring to the same area (based on todays PA territories), there is no difference between them. The thing is that they have no idea: The principles and the interpretation of slogans were not intentionally put on the table. Full Israeli military control? A Palestinian policing force, cooperation, planning the territorial sequence? The Puerto Rican model? The Yigal Allon model with the Jordanians?

Without dealing with these issues, without a clear definition of Palestinians, it is unfortunately likely that sovereignty wont even be applied to a grain of sand. Netanyahu, who is receiving personal backing from the Right, is not getting the support he needs to place a complete product on the White House table. He is alone versus Trump. He allegedly has all the ingredients, but there is no chance that this meeting will produce a cake that will satisfy the taste buds of right-wing voters.
The clash between Charles Michel, the prime minister of Belgium, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over funding for NGOs involved in the conflict and war crimes allegations highlights the sensitivity of this issue, and the need to go beyond the headlines. For many years, the government of Belgium, together with the United Kingdom and most other Western European governments, provides millions of euros, krona and dollars every year to groups that are supposedly non-governmental.

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In this process, Israeli and Palestinian groups get a highly disproportionate amount through entirely secret decision making, and this has a direct impact on our society and political system. Whether one likes or dislikes Breaking the Silence, BTselem, Yesh Din and the 20 additional Israeli recipients of Europes largesse, there is no denying that the money they receive gives them a major impact on Israel. (No groups on the right of the political spectrum receive any European funds, which explains the polarized debate in Israel.)

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel's meeting with Breaking the Silence and BTselem leaders. A slap in the face

Through humanitarian aid groups that endorse and campaign for BDS and other forms of discrimination, such as Broederlijk Delen and Oxfam, Belgium  which has its own deep political fissures  currently funds Breaking the Silence, Adalah, Yesh Din and Zochrot, a 1948 agenda organization that considers Israel, regardless of borders, to be illegitimate. The Israeli groups get between NIS 100,000 and 270,000 annually. In addition, they partner with and support groups such as Defense for Children International  Palestine (DCI-P), Health Work Committee (HWC), Union of Health Work Committees, and the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) whose officials are reportedly affiliated with a notorious terror group  the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

These activities, and, in particular, the NGO campaigns that are central to the effort to label many Israeli military and political officials, including Tzipi Livni, as war criminals, are a major concern for Israel, as reflected in Netanyahus comments to Prime Minister Michel, as well as to British Prime Minister Theresa May earlier in the week. All foreign government funding to political NGOs operating in another democracy is a violation of sovereignty and self-determination, and this issue is particularly important for Israelis.

When Michel then went and met with the leaders of Breaking the Silence and BTselem in Jerusalem, Netanyahu was forced to respond to this slap in the face. His acid response noted: "In Belgium, there are still proposals from the attorney general to put senior Israelis on trial, among them Tzipi Livni and IDF officers. The Belgian government needs to decide if it wants to change direction or continue on an anti-Israel line. Prime Minister Netanyahu has ordered a bill be drafted to prevent funding from foreign governments to NGOs that harm IDF soldiers."

The role of Belgium in NGO demonization through BDS and lawfare is similar to that of other western European countries and the EU  together, they give these Israeli NGO the majority of their operating budgets, giving them the money to pay salaries, pay for numerous lawsuits against the government in the Israeli courts, and travel in order to promote their private campaigns. But in Belgium, the intensity of the demonization and attacks against Israel (and against Jewish targets) are particularly strong and widespread, reflecting the propaganda influence of powerful groups NGOs like Broederlijk Delen.

Michel has participated in these attacks  in 2009, as minister of development cooperation, he repeated the standard NGO trope on Israeli responses to rocket attacks from Hamas-controlled Gaza, saying that "there is no word to define the degree of horror." The next year, he was denied entry into Gaza (like many others at the time). Following the incident of the 2010 flotilla to Gaza, Michels response was reflected in the standard NGO slogans: "It is imperative that the EU and its member states coordinate a strong and rapid response to this apparent force disproportionate use in the difficult humanitarian context that Gaza faces..."

The NGO-led demonization campaigns and their direct links to anti-Semitism in Belgium and in Europe have continued undisrupted for 20 years. For Israel, the hate and political warfare that these activities produce are not part of the Right vs. Left divide  efforts to indict Livni and many others who are not part of the Likud-led coalition for war crimes demonstrate the general impact. Policy differences notwithstanding, the European funding for radical NGOs targeting Israel has no parallel in the democratic world, and the double standards, as noted by Netanyahu, are not tolerable.

To end this attack and avoid the Israeli legislation regulating foreign funding that European officials and their NGO allies strongly oppose, negotiations on mutually acceptable guidelines are necessary. Instead of meetings between visiting European politicians and their Israeli clients, it would be far more useful for European leaders and members of parliaments to meet with and listen to their Israeli counterparts in the Knesset. Without a direct and sustained exchange, the confrontation will increase.
President Donald Trump described North Korea on Monday as "a big, big problem" and warned that it will be dealt with "very strongly," in response to a ballistic missile test conducted by the country's leader Kim Jong-un.

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President Trump made the comments during a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

North Korean missile launch

The test is the first experimental launch North Korea has undertaken since President Trump took office in January.

In a statement from North Korea's army, the test was referred to as a "show of force" by Pyongyang against the "rigid attitude" of the Trump administration concerning the country.

North Korean missile launch ()

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Following the launch, the Pentagon announced that the missile was a short-to-medium range ballistic missile, which doesn't pose a threat to the mainland United States.

However, the statement noted that US forces are on alert against North Korean provocations and the US will "work closely with our allies, Japan and South Korea, to maintain security."

Photo: AP

White House officials said the president was briefed on the situation and they are "closely monitoring developments."

According to a Trump administration official, the US has a variety of response options to the missile launch, including sanctions and increasing the US's military presence in the area.

National security implications over iceberg wedge salads

The only story bigger than the missile launch itself was the story of President Trump receiving news of the launch.

Images on social media and news outlets around the world appeared to show President Trump receive news of the launch while diningwith Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abeat his Florida resort, the "Mar a-Lago."

The club members snapped photos and posted them to Facebook with detailed narratives about what they were seeing unfold before their eyes Saturday night in Palm Beach, Florida.

"HOLY MOLY !!! It was fascinating to watch the flurry of activity at dinner when the news came that North Korea had launched a missile in the direction of Japan," wrote one diner.

Social media posts

In light of the various social media posts and pictures circulating around the web, complaints about the president acting irresponsibility with classified material in public began to surface.

"There's inconsistency all over the place in terms of how much Donald Trump raised national security on the campaign trail and how he is now operating as president," said Brian Fallon, who was Clinton's campaign spokesman. "And there's hypocrisy from congressional leaders who demagogued this issue, constantly accusing Hillary Clinton of doing something that was far less egregious than this very conspicuous departure from security protocols."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi wrote on Twitter, "There's no excuse for letting an international crisis play out in front of a bunch of country club members like dinner theater."

The chairman of that committee, North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr, seemed dismissive of the concerns.

"If the president didn't speak of things that couldn't be spoken of in public, then there's no problem with it," he said. He also said he saw no immediate need for a briefing on the matter.
ANKARA -- Turkish authorities have arrested a man they believe is among the planners of the New Year's nightclub massacre in Istanbul that killed 39 people, a news agency report said Tuesday.

The private Dogan news agency, citing officials from the prosecutors' office in Burdur, southern Turkey, identified the suspect only by his initials, A.S., and said he is a French citizen with an ethnic Turkish background. On him, authorities discovered a contract to rent an apartment that was used by Abdulkadir Masharipov, who carried out the nightclub attack, the agency said.
The executive director of Israeli left-wing NGO Breaking the Silence, Yuli Novak, is leaving her position after five years.

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In a Facebook post written on Monday, Novak said, "I think it is the right moment. Five years is the correct term for me. I could do more, but I don't need to. It is right that someone else will take the reins of this wild horse and take it forward. I am not leaving 'Breaking the Silence,' but organizations that are in such intense political struggles need to refresh themselves."

Yuli Novak (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

According to Novak, the organization will begin searching for a new executive director and the transfer process will take several months.

Breaking the Silence, which is made up of former IDF soldiers and officers, seeks to "expose the Israeli public to the reality of everyday life in" the West Bank.

"Until the occupation ends"

Novak, 35, is leaving the organization mainly because it is entangled in ongoing struggles with politicians and other officials.

Among them is Minister of Education Naftali Bennett, who is is spearheading a law proposal designed to completely clamp down on organizations which operate in Israel against IDF soldiers,a banner under which Breaking the silence squarely falls for Bennett.

The result of his proposed legislation would ben the organization's representatives from speaking at schools.

Last week, Novak spoke at the Barbur art gallery in Jerusalem, and shortly thereafter, the Jerusalem municipality announced its intention to cease funding for the gallery.
The Israeli ambassador to Egypt, David Govrin, was quietly removed from Egypt over concerns for his safety, the British Telegraph reported on Tuesday.

The ambassador is currently working from Jerusalem and the Israeli government hopes that he will be able to return to his post soon, the Telegraph added.
Israel's ambassador to Egypt, David Guvrin quietly returned to Israel in late 2016 from Cairo over concerns for his personal safety, it was reported in The Telegraph. The Shin Bet confirmed that due to security concerns the ambassador and his staff have yet to return to Cairo.

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Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon declined to comment on the report which was first reported in the British daily.

David Guvrin with Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi

According to the report, Guvrin was evacuated from Cairo some three months ago and is currently working from Jerusalem. The Foreign Ministry is hoping to return him to Egypt as soon as circumstances permit.

Gurvin in Cairo August

The Telegraph said the exact circumstances are unclear, but it is most likely due to a series of terrorist attacks in the Egyptian capital which claimed the lives of several people and officials.

Ambassador Guvrin was appointed last summer and in September presented his credentials to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
MANILA -- A German hostage says Abu Sayyaf militants are threatening to behead him if a ransom is not paid within 12 days to the group holding him in the jungles of the southern Philippines.

Jurgen Gustav Kantner, who also was kidnapped by Somali pirates years ago, tearfully spoke about the threat by Abu Sayyaf militants and the Feb. 26 ransom deadline in a video circulated Tuesday by the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadi websites.
A flight with units of blood that was intended to bring much needed blood to an ailing Israeli in Peru had not yet received the required authorizations to depart Tuesday.

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The flight had been set to take off from Ben Gurion Airport Tuesday morning at 9am for Lima, where Zohar Katz, 22, from Kibbutz Yotvata is currently hospitalized in critical condition from an aggressive infection.

Zohar Katz (Photo provided by the family)

Israel's embassy in Peru is working with authorities to obtain the proper authorizations

The hematologist Dr. Asher Moser, who is the deputy director of Magen David Adom's blood services, is expected to reach Lima at 2am without the blood to provide assistance in treating Katz. He is expected to help the medical team who will examine the possibility of flying Katz back to Israel for treatment.

Katz left Israel for a post-army backpacking trip in South America four months ago. Near its completion, she contracted a violent bacterial infection.

Preparing the blood for transport (Photo: MDA)

Her father Baruch said this week that he was surprised to hear from his daughter, who had originally thought that she had come down with the flu. Then bruising began to appear on her body. Baruch and Zohar's sister Or flew to Peru, where they moved her from a less desirable clinic to her current hospital.

Argentine-born MK Haim Jelin (Yesh Atid) contacted MDA to organize the aid, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also assisted.
On Tuesday, the prosecution dropped the case against the Bezalel student who had made a poster lampooning the prime minister due to lack of culpability.

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Two months after a poster depicting Benjamin Netanyahu's head with a noose adorned the walls of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem, kicking up quite a storm, the prosecution decided to close the case against the student who designed the installation.

The controversial poster

The controversial poster integrated Netanyahu's picture with a noose and former US President Barack Obama's campaign poster. A few hours later, the poster was removed. A day later, the student was brought in for questioning by the Israel Police under suspicion of incitement.

The installation, which was rapidly removed, garnered a slew of harsh criticisms from both sides of the political grid.

Minister of Culture and Sport Miri Regev addressed the issue by stating that "the freedom of art is not the freedom of incitement. This is an artistic talent to incite and to murder."

Head of the opposition, Isaac Herzog also condemned the poster and said that "freedom of speech is important and essential, but it shouldn't be used as a means to incite to cause harm to public figures. Netanyahu shall be replaced through democratic means only."

The poster put up in protest of the student's police interrogation

Two days after the occurrence, Bezalel Academy's walls were filled with additional posters, which were put up in protest of their colleague's police questioning.

The protest continued over the following day as well, with students demonstrating and striking for two hours. At the same time, the controversial posters were put back up, but then removed again by students.
Just when you thought you could open the York News-Times and not have to go through another of my columns with useless trivia being unloaded . . . well, guess again.

At least this time it is not centered around movies. Since its Presidents Day next week, I thought I would share some of the useless trivia Ive gathered over the years about our presidents.

Ive always been fascinated by the presidents. In fact, I could name them all since I was 10.

My favorite president, growing up, was James Madison (#4). I dont quite know why  probably because his wife was Dolly Madison and I loved the baked goods from the company named after her. Plus she was a real hero in the war of 1812 by saving many treasurers when the capitol was on fire  including the famous portrait of President Washington. Bitter rivals John Adams (#2) and Thomas Jefferson (#3) eventually mended their friendship towards the end of their lives -- which happened within a few hours of each other on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, July 4.

Did you know we had a woman president? Well, not officially, but in reality, a woman took over while her husband was incapacitated. In October of 1919, President Woodrow Wilson (#28) had a stroke. He had major memory loss and spoke with difficulty. His second wife, Edith, did her best to hide his condition. Even the vice-president and secretary of state were kept at bay. For five months, Mrs. Wilson screened all his calls and met with the president in private. She issued orders that always began The president says She claimed she never decided on her own, but Wilson was pretty much comatose during his illness and probably couldnt make any decisions. Once Wilson was back on the job, he always had his wife at his side to help with decisions, although he never regained his enthusiasm and energy he once had.

John Quincy Adams (#6) was a very straight-laced president, but he also liked to go skinny-dipping in the Potomac River every morning. One time his clothes were lost by his assistant who went with him. While his assistant went back to the White House to gather some clothing, President Adams laid on the banks of the river buck naked. He was humiliated by the whole experience, but that didnt stop him from continuing his morning ritual.

James Polk (#11) made four campaign promises when running for office  including not running for re-election -- and he kept all of them. Physically exhausted after leaving office, he died four months later.

We have had several presidents die in office, starting with William Henry Harrison (#9), who read the longest inauguration speech in a cold rain without a hat on. He caught pneumonia and died 30 days later and holds the record for the shortest term in history. His vice-president, John Tyler, ascended to the presidency despite Congress objecting. It was his determination to keep the presidency that set a precedent for future presidents.

That happened 11 years later when President Zachary Taylor died in office and his vice-president, Millard Fillmore, became president. Of course, Abraham Lincoln (#16) was the first president to be assassinated while in office, bringing Andrew Johnson to the office. In July of 1881, President James Garfield was shot and lingered near death for two months and passed away leaving Chester Allan Arthur to the office. William McKinley (#25) was shot during his second term and Theodore Roosevelt became president.

Warren Harding (#29) died while on an Alaskan cruise, leaving Calvin Coolidge to deal with the scandals of Hardings administration. Franklin D. Roosevelt, who served three full terms, was re-elected for a fourth term when he died. His vice-president, Harry Truman, had to deal with ending World War II including the atomic bomb. FDR kept Truman in the dark about the plans to create the bomb and it was quite a shock after his death for the new president.

Last was shocking assassination of John Kennedy. Many people remember where they were when they heard the horrible news. I was two and the only thing I remember was chaos in the house. I remember my mom crying and lots of commotion going on. I really hope we never must go through anything like that again.

My brain feels a little lighter now, thanks for sticking with me  there is more. I havent started on my TV knowledge yet that should take a few columns.
YORK  A 26-year-old man, who is a former resident of Adams County, has pleaded not guilty to first degree sexual assault of a child.

Anthony S. Hoy was arrested by Adams County authorities in late December. He was then transported to the York County Jail by the York County Sheriffs Department.

He is accused of sexually assaulting a four-year-old child over a period of time indicated in court documents to be May through December of 2016.

An investigation was conducted, involving the York Police Department because the assaults are alleged to have taken place in York.

Also involved in the investigation was the Nebraska Child Advocacy Center.

No further details of the case can be published due to the graphic details included in court documents and in an effort to protect the identity of the child.

Hoys arraignment was held in York County District Court.

Judge James Stecker explained to Hoy that the charge against him is a Class 1B felony, which carries a possible maximum sentence of 15 years to life in prison.

The case is being prosecuted by the Nebraska Attorney Generals office and the Commission of Public Advocacy will be defending Hoy.

A trial has been set for June.
YORK  An inmate at the Nebraska Center for Women will be serving additional time after being found guilty of assaulting another inmate.

Rachel Church, 24, was transported to York County District Court this past week for sentencing by Judge James Stecker.

The state is requesting a straight sentence, York County Attorney Candace Bottorf told the judge. And we are requesting that it be consecutive to the sentence she is serving now. The assault was serious and she has an assaultive criminal history going back to when she was a juvenile. It is contrary to the law to allow people to assault each other while they are incarcerated and this assault was violent.

York County Public Defender Nancy Waldron said her client has been taking a wide range of classes and participating in programs in the prison.

She has also made amends with the victim, Waldron said. She hasnt gotten in any more trouble since and was in isolation after the assault. She hopes to return to Lincoln, to get a job. She could have been paroled in December and will jam out in April.

I realize the severity of what took place, Church said. I am greatly sorry to the victim. We have since made amends. It was an argument and my temper got the best of me. I spent 45 days in isolation after that. I had a lot of time to think and I want to make changes in myself and Im taking steps to change my behavior.

You have a prior record that is considerable and concerning to the court, Judge Stecker said to Church. That includes assault, distributing a controlled substance, another assault, another distribution, delivery, aiding and abetting a felony. To your credit, you have taken classes at NCW, but inmates cannot assault inmates. You understood the consequences of your actions and you caused a lot of stitches for the victim. For the assault of a confined person, you are sentenced to 18 months in prison, to be served consecutively with your current sentence. I hope that you follow through with changes, for the benefit of your family and for yourself.

Church was returned to NCW to serve out the additional prison time.
This has been a long time in the making, but in our continuing pursuit to bring only the best of firearms, 2nd Amendment and defence related news to our readers, we are very excited to announce the next step in our evolution as a company.

As of 2020, Minuteman Review is now the proud owner and operator of Your Defence News, a website with a long history of breaking huge news stories and investigative journalism.

We hope you are equally as excited as us.

This means that now the teams of Minuteman can combine with the firepower of Your Defence News to stay at the absolute forefront for our readers.

Keep an eye. Big things are coming soon. We couldn't be more excited.

In the meanwhile, here are some of our most popular posts and categories to keep you busy.

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In timp ce lumea se indreapta spre recesiune, economia Georgiei infloreste

In timp ce razboiul din Ucraina sufoca Europa, o mica natiune aflata langa Rusia se bucura de un boom economic neasteptat. Georgia este pe cale sa devina una dintre economiile cu cea mai rapida crestere din lume in acest an, dupa un aflux dramatic [citeste mai departe]
Josh Hoyer cant say much about being on The Voice.

Even though hes in the promo spot for the NBC singing competition that starts its 12th season Feb. 27, Hoyer cant confirm hes going to be on the show.

He can only say he auditioned.

Somebody in the industry encouraged me to try out for The Voice," Hoyer said Tuesday, the day after the promo ads began to appear. I did it for a reason. The goal was to hopefully get some national exposure for our band and the original music we write, to express what our music is about and the killer players we have.

We play all over the country and hope to see more people come out to the shows -- it ('The Voice') is a really nice platform for that. The way I looked at it was back in the day, you had your 45, you got it to the right DJ, to the big radio station and thats how youd take off. To me, The Voice is the modern-day version of that, just get above the fray for a minute and hopefully, people will notice.

Hoyers got another hope that could be realized from The Voice." Even though he cant say, its clear hes going to be on the show. Hed like to get a management or booking deal.

Were still independent artists, he said. I spend probably 80 percent of my time booking the band, trying to keep us working. Not many people get to this point from Lincoln. Im hoping to get somebody interested to take that over, so I can get back to writing and playing.

Hoyer probably wont see the audition. He leaves Lincoln on Feb. 27, driving to Chicago where, on the 28th, he and his band, Soul Colossal, will fly to London, then to Belgium as they begin their first European tour.

The tour, booked by an agency called Teenage Head Music, will take Hoyer & Soul Colossal to seven countries to play 28 shows in 31 days, beginning March 2 in Hamburg, Germany.

They reached out to us, Hoyer said of Teenage Head. I still dont know how they heard of us. But they dug it and said Hey, we want to get you guys a tour here. At first, I didnt think it was real.

The shows, Hoyer said, will primarily be in 200- to 300-capacity rooms, although the final date, supporting Delta Saints in Belgium on April 1, will be in a 1,000-seat theater. Most of the shows will be 90 minutes long, which will be something of a break for the soul quintet.

When were in the States and were gigging six days a week, a lot of them are four hours a night, for little money, to be honest, he said. Its kind of nice to go someplace where they dont overwork you, provide a place to stay and treat you right.

Hoyers The Voice appearance wont mean anything in Europe. The show isnt broadcast there. But he said that from Facebook feeds, website traffic and Twitter, it appears there will be good crowds at most of the bands European shows.

The trip will be Hoyers first to Europe. But he and Teenage Head believe it wont be his last.

Our goal is to have this be the first time of many and really open some doors, Hoyer said. Teenage Head, their goal is to build bands in Europe. Theyre looking at a followup in 2019. Id like to get back sooner than that.

Before Hoyer & Soul Colossal head for Europe, theyll be playing a weeks worth of shows that began in Denver on Thursday. On Feb. 24, theyll be at the Zoo Bar for their tour kickoff show.
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A bill that would allow students from Nebraskas lowest-performing schools to get vouchers to attend private schools drew a crowd Monday, including proponents who argued it would level the playing field for low-income students and opponents who said it would hurt public education.

Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, who introduced LB608, said Nebraskas current open enrollment policies that allow students to attend schools outside their attendance areas or districts cannot accommodate all students.

For instance, 87 students requested to opt in to Elkhorn Public Schools, she said, but there were only 13 seats available, and the same situation exists with high-performing schools in Omaha Public Schools.

Clearly there are more parents and students wanting better options than there are currently afforded them by open or option enrollment, she said. Consequently, to say that choices arent currently limited to your income or zip code are disingenuous.

More than 20 people testified in opposition to the bill during the nearly four-hour hearing, raising questions of its constitutionality, the lack of state accountability required of private schools, the potential for discrimination and the damage opponents said it could do to public education, especially high-poverty schools.

I am adamantly opposed to having my tax dollars used for a private school, said Michele Tilley of Lincoln. Its not in the best interest of the state or our students.

If she lived on a private road, Tilley said, she wouldnt expect taxpayers to pay for it.

LB608 would allow students in 87 schools in the state classified by the Nebraska Department of Education as needing improvement to get vouchers -- or scholarships -- to attend private schools. The vouchers would equal 75 percent of the districts per-pupil revenue or the cost of private school attendance, whichever is less. The remaining 25 percent would go toward lowering property tax rates in the district.

A fiscal note attached to the bill estimates that if 10 percent of students in those 87 schools -- 3,047 students -- opted for vouchers school districts would pay $23.8 million to private schools. About $7.8 million would be available for property tax relief.

Linehan said shed be willing to look at returning that money to the schools, when senators questioned whether a loss of students would cause financial hardships for public schools.

Amy Shane, the superintendent of ONeill Public Schools, said although her district isn't currently one of the lowest-performing, losing 30 students to vouchers could cost $100,000 and it could jeopardize the good relationship between O'Neill's public and private schools.

I think this is a very dangerous thing, she said. This is a bill that could divide our community."

Lincoln Board of Education member Kathy Danek said she was concerned that the bill would transfer public money to a private school without the same requirements for public accountability. While private schools must be approved or accredited by the state, their students don't have to take statewide tests, which are used to classify school performance.

Danek said shes also concerned private schools dont operate under the same budget transparency rules required of public schools, nor do they have publicly elected boards.

Michael McHale, general counsel for the Nebraska Catholic Conference, was among those who said they supported the bill because it put parents in charge of their students education.

Parents have a fundamental right to direct the education of their children, he said.

In answer to questions of the bill's constitutionality, Linehan said theres been no legal test to see if the bill would pass state constitutional muster, but federal level courts have determined theres no conflict between church and state.

Two officials with a school choice organization in Wisconsin said despite the political debate, school choice programs have continued to grow in Wisconsin because of parent interest.

Christine Starr Davis, who works at LPS, said test scores say more about the demographics -- the number of children living in poverty, with disabilities, who move frequently -- than the quality of the education.

I just want to hoist the flag that scores on schools dont tell you theyre bad schools and (students) should be able to get out of there, she said. What they tell you is theres a population in that school thats more diverse. And thats not a crime in this country.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. US President Donald Trumps National Security Adviser Michael Flynn has resigned, BBC reported.

Michael Flynn is alleged to have discussed US anti-Russian sanctions with ambassador before Trump took office.

He is said to have misled officials about the conversation.

Earlier the media reported that the Justice Ministry warned the White House about the conacts late last month.

They said that Flynn might be vulnerable to Russian blackmail.

The White House informed that Lt Gen Joseph Keith Kellogg had been appointed as acting National Security Adviser.

TASS reports some officials in the administration thought the talks between the would-be national security advisor and the Russian ambassador might have sent an irrational and theoretically incorrect signal to Moscow and the sanctions could be eased.

Photo by AP
The Legislature on Tuesday danced close to a decision to leave its minority filibuster protections undisturbed, then abruptly chose to delay further consideration with a two-day target for final action.

That would take a divided and deadlocked Legislature into its 31st day in session without yet reaching agreement on its permanent rules of procedure.

Senators barely rejected a motion by Sen. Matt Williams of Gothenburg to leave the current filibuster provisions intact and operate under the Legislature's current set of rules for the remainder of the session. That proposal fell short on a 23-25 vote.

Then, the Legislature accepted Speaker Jim Scheer's request that senators continue to informally seek an agreement on the sidelines with a two-day deadline for action.

That, the Norfolk senator said, would fulfill his commitment to a group of senators who had attempted to broker a compromise agreement that quickly fell apart during Tuesday's floor debate. The Scheer motion was approved on a 33-8 vote.

A breakthrough moment appeared to emerge Tuesday when Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte argued that "there is nothing wrong with our filibuster rules" as they stand today and "we should leave it alone."

Groene, a conservative Republican leader in the nonpartisan Legislature, later added: "We won the leadership battle. Let's not turn around and kick them now."

Conservatives virtually swept the table in leadership elections on the first day of the session, blocking senators who are Democrats from committee chairmanships and denying leadership positions to independent Republican senators.

The non-partisan Legislature is composed of 32 Republicans, 15 Democrats, one independent and one Libertarian.

The current filibuster rule requires the votes of at least 33 members -- that's two-thirds of the 49-member Legislature -- to adopt a cloture motion that shuts off debate and frees a bill for an up or down vote.

Groene noted that the filibuster rule can help conservatives and Republicans, too, suggesting that without it "you might have Medicaid expansion" in Nebraska today.

A compromise filibuster rule change negotiated by six senators would have required the vote of at least two-thirds of the senators who are present and voting to impose cloture, but it did not gain much traction during Tuesday's debate.

As an alternative, Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha proposed that the votes of at least two-thirds of senators who are present would be needed to invoke cloture, with that number falling no lower than 30.

"There is no compelling reason to change the rules," Krist said, but that could be a compromise to consider if one is required.

The current filibuster rule has "kept this body nonpartisan and on course," Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus said.

Sen. John McCollister of Omaha warned that the Legislature is "drifting toward Washington-style partisan warfare" with the proposal to weaken its filibuster protections.

Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha said the proposal, first presented to the Legislature in the form of an amendment prepared by Sen. Tyson Larson of O'Neill, represented an effort by conservatives and Republicans to "rub it in" after gaining control on the first day.

"Somebody's got to give in," Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue said.

"I'm begging you guys," she said. "Knock off the politics; quit the shenanigans."
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. The traffic department of Georgias Ministry of Infrastructures and Territorial Development told Armenias Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies that on February 14, as of 10:00, the Stepantsminda-Lars highway is open for all types of vehicles in case of tire chains, the Ministry told Armenpress.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. UN Security Council strictly condemned the launch of ballistic missile by North Korea and promised to take significant steps against it, reports Interfax.

The UN Security Council members strictly condemned North Koreas launch of ballistic missiles on February 11 , 2017 and October 19, 2016. These missile launches are serious violations over North Koreas international obligations within the frames of the UN Security Council resolutions, the statement said.

The Security Council will continue to carefully follow the situation and will take further measures in accordance with the plans expressed earlier by the Council, the statement reads.

Earlier UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned North Koreas launch of ballistic missile and urged that country to return to a negotiation table.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. The regular ceasefire violations by Azerbaijan in the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact are an attempt to destabilize the situation, Defense Minister of Armenia Vigen Sargsyan said at a meeting with reporters on February 14, Armenpress reported.

In this circumstance, our goal is not to allow such provocations to achieve their goal, the Minister said.

He assured that the Armenian Armed Forces continue fully controlling the situation in the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact and the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies told Armenpress that on February 14, as of 11:00, Berd-Chambarak highway has been opened as a result of large-scale clearing operations.

All roads are open in Armenia.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Armenia Jean-Francois Charpentier expects that the talks over signing the EU-Armenia new framework agreement will end in coming days, reports Armenpress.

In a meeting with reporters on February 14, the French Ambassador said the end of talks supposes to sign the agreement.

There are still several points over which the EU and Armenia must reach an agreement. In my view, the talks are being held in rather satisfactory conditions, and I think that the two sides will sign the agreement soon, he said.

The Ambassador said the signing of the agreement will further expand the EU-Armenia, thus France-Armenia cooperation frames in various sectors: this is going to be a political dialogue, economic, legal issues, assistance directed to both the economy and the democracy, and etc.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. The ministry of emergency situations received a call at 10:15, February 14, that an explosion has occurred in a grocery store in the Lernanist village of Kotayk province. According to initial reports two people died in the blast and two others were wounded.

The ministry told ARMENPRESS multiple emergency response units were dispatched to the scene.

The victims have been hospitalized in the Medical Center of Hrazdan city.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. President of the German Bundestag Norbert Lammert said by holding constitutional referendum in Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan aims to increase his power in the country, Deutsche Welle reported.

Recently two coups took place in Turkey one after another. The first one was the military coup against the government which was elected by a democratic way, and the second one was the coup against the countrys constitution by the elected government, Lammert said, stating that under the expected changes Erdogan aims to transform to a presidential system which will increase his powers and leadership.

The Bundestag President stated that the constitutional changes will suppose freezing Turkeys accession process to the EU.

Turkeys Parliament approved the proposal on constitutional changes, which then was signed by President Erdogan. Thereafter, the proposal was put on referendum which will be held on April 16.

By the constitutional changes the country will transform to a presidential system. The number of MPs will reach to 600 from 550. The MPs can be elected at the age of 18 instead of 25.

The elections of the Parliament and the President will be held every 5 years, the same day.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. Former MP of Turkeys Parliament Ufuk Uras and composer, human rights advocate, spokesperson of "Initiative against Thought Crime" NGO Sanar Yurdatapan called on Azerbaijan to release Russian-Israeli blogger Alexander Lapshin, T24.com.tr columnist Raffi Hermon Araks wirtes, reports Armenpress.

In response to a call by Armenian MP Aragats Akhoyan who urged Turkeys leading political figures and journalists to condemn Lapshins extradition and arrest, Uras said Lapshin must be immediately released.

We want to address this call from Turkey since journalism doesnt recognize boundaries and nationality. Journalism is a public activity. Journalists cannot be taken captive and become a subject of bargaining, Uras said.

In his turn human rights advocate Sanar Yurdatapan blamed the behavior of the Azerbaijani leadership. In many countries of the world the leadership creates police states with the expectation to hold their power until the end. Unfortunately, Azerbaijan is among those countries. However we are not in a situation to tell them something since the situation in Turkey is not so different from it. We all must condemn the human rights violations both in Ankara, Baku or any other country, Sanar Yurdatapan said. He considered unacceptable what has happened with Lapshin, stating that spreading impartial and true news is every journalists duty and right.

Alexander Lapshin, the Russian-Israeli blogger who was extradited from Belarus to Azerbaijan on February 7, has been placed in the isolation cell in Azerbaijans state security service.

Lapshin was flown to Baku from Minsk on a special flight, escorted by state security agents. A group of reporters were waiting for Lapshin in Bakus airport, but Lapshin didnt give any comment to them.

The Belarus Supreme Court denied Lapshins appeal on the extradition verdict issued by the General Prosecutor of Belarus.

Lapshin faces up to 5 years imprisonment in Azerbaijan, under charges of public calls against the state, and unauthorized crossing of borders.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairing countries are making efforts in order to again create grounds for dialogue in the negotiation process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Armenia Jean-Francois Charpentier said at a meeting with reporters, reports Armenpress.

The three Co-Chairs are convinced that the conflict must be settled only through peaceful means. The current situation cannot be acceptable for any of the conflicting sides since there are casualties in both sides not only during the April events but also they continue till now in the line of contact. This situation can no longer continue, the French Ambassador said.

He said in order to reach the resolution of the conflict, it is necessary to implement the agreements and commitments reached within the frames of meetings taking place at various levels.

As time grows to maturity, France is ready to assist and host such meetings, as recently President Francois Hollande said in his speech. And finally, we must understand one thing in this context that the conflict settlement doesnt depend on mediators: it is related with the political will demonstrated by the conflicting sides, the French Ambassador said.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. After US and Germany, France is the country providing the most assistance to Armenia, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Armenia Jean-Francois Charpentier said at a meeting with reporters, reports Armenpress.

2016 was quite a busy year in terms of bilateral relations, as well as economic and other sectors development. A number of meetings were held. We achieved progress from economic perspective. An agreement was signed with the company on ensuring water supply through Armenias entire territory. The French Development Agency provided 75 million Euro for the construction of Vedi water reservoir. 40 million budget loan was provided to Armenia. Significant developments were made also in the education sector: a network of former graduates has been created in the Armenian-French university which aims to maintain constant contact between the current and former students, the Ambassador said.

He said based on the assistance provided by France in 2016, it can be stated that Frances assistance to Armenia has increased by 5 times.

The Ambassador informed that there are important programs which will be discussed, and also meetings which will be held within the frames of the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyans upcoming visit to France on March 8. One of them is the meeting with major entrepreneurs, enterprise association representatives.
Should Nebraska raise its smoking age to 21?

A bill in the state Legislature this year could make Nebraska the third U.S. state to do so. Hawaii became the first with a law that took effect last year, followed soon after by California.

Sen. Merv Riepe, a retired hospital executive from Omaha, says he proposed the change here to "disrupt the chain of youth tobacco addiction" and called it the "right thing" to do.

Nebraska's current smoking age is 18. Riepe's bill would also make it illegal to sell or share nicotine or tobacco products  including cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes and chewing tobacco  with anyone under 21.

Young people are particularly vulnerable to addiction because their brains aren't fully developed, Riepe told members of the Legislature's General Affairs Committee during a Monday hearing on the bill (LB73).

Also, he said, raising the smoking age would help keep cigarettes away from younger teenagers who are more likely to be around 18-year-olds than 21-year-olds.

And making the smoking age consistent with the drinking age would simplify ID checks by retailers, he said, because Nebraska already issues vertical driver's licenses to all minors under age 21.

The bill would cost the state an estimated $4.7 million each year in lost tax revenue. But Riepe and other supporters said tobacco use costs U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars each year in medical care and lost productivity.

"Americans' dependency on tobacco comes with a high price tag," said Linda Stones of the Nebraska Nurses Association.

The American Lung Association and Nebraska Hospital Association also supported the bill.

Trade groups representing the state's grocers and convenience stores opposed it, arguing the change would strip rights from people who are old enough to vote and serve in the military.

"I dont think it respects the rights of 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds," said Gregory Conley, president of the American Vaping Association.

People caught smoking at those ages could end up with a permanent criminal record, he said. Underage tobacco use is a misdemeanor in Nebraska.

Vaping advocates also argued that e-cigarettes shouldn't be included in the bill because they aren't as dangerous as other forms of tobacco.

Sam Salaymeh of Omaha, owner of Alohma, a chain of 14 vape shops, said vaping helped him quit his two-packs-per-day smoking habit when he returned from Iraq seven years ago.

"Freedoms a very important thing," he said.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. By the assistance of the Development Foundation of Armenia, 5 Armenian companies are taking part in TextilLegProm exhibition in Moscow from February 14 to 17 with the aim to boost export, press service of the Foundation told Armenpress.

5 Armenian companies  Lentex, Arshaluys, Alex textile, Mosini, Hello, are represented with a one pavilion in the 48th exhibition-fair of textile and light industry.

The Armenian companies are taking part in the exhibition aimed at signing foreign contracts, as well as, by using the advantages of the EAEU membership, entering the Russian market with favorable terms.

During the exhibitions held in February and September, 2016, the Armenian companies met more than 70 buyers and suppliers, as a result of which 12 contracts, worth over 740 million AMD were signed.

The EAEU membership provides better conditions for the Armenian manufacturers to export goods to the markets of the member states with competitive conditions and prices. By using this, our companies can achieve beneficial agreements with major buyers. And the recent experience shows that by participating in international exhibitions our companies record progress, Director of the Development Foundation of Armenia Karen Mkrtichyan said.

According to the January-December, 2016 data of the National Statistical Service of Armenia, Russia is the major trading partner of Armenia, with 1 billion 367 million USD trade turnover volume. The growth is 15.1% compared to 2015. The export volume from Armenia to Russia is 371 million USD, and the growth is 51.5%.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. Baku is strictly concerned over the statement made by French President Francois Hollande who said the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict must be based on the right to self-determination.

During the discussions in the Azerbaijani Parliament on February 14, lawmaker Azay Guliyev urged to address a protest note to France, Haqqin.az reports.

The lawmaker said that in a meeting with Armenians, Hollande expressed his support to the principle of the peoples self-determination. This is a vivid manifestation of pro-Armenian policy, the Azerbaijani MP said, proposing the Azerbaijani MFA to send a note of complaint to France.

He also drew the attention on the fact that the representatives of France are the ones who visit most Nagorno Karabakh.

During the annual dinner of the Coordination Council of the Armenian Organizations of France, President Francois Hollande talked about the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, stating: Clashes are over, dialogue has started and ceasefire is reached but we cannot be satisfied by a ceasefire, since it is not a solution. We have to launch real talks aimed at the conflict resolution. It will be a huge mistake to think that the situation has stabilized. We have to refer to the elements necessary for the conflict settlement enshrined in the Madrid principles. We also know that when those principles are applied, they should be based on the right to self-determination of Nagorno Karabakh and for the purpose of taking this path France will organize a new meeting with Armenia and Azerbaijan.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. With the assistance of Russia, Armenia has sent another humanitarian aid cargo to Syria.

The aircraft, loaded with food products and other first-necessity items took off from Yerevans Erebuni airport and landed in Latakia, Syria.

Vigen Sargsyan, defense minister of Armenia, reminded reporters this is the second time humanitarian aid is being sent to Syria at the order of President Serzh Sargsyan. Within the framework of CSTO, our Russian partners made an offer to join efforts and provide such assistance together, with the participation of other CSTO member states as well. And, responding to this offer, Armenia initiated the delivery of this humanitarian aid. And we are very grateful to the Russian side, that it enables the delivery of this humanitarian aid by providing the cargo aircraft, the minister said.

The defense minister attaches importance to this step, because Armenia itself has numerous times felt the importance of international humanitarian aid. This is especially important in the case of the Syrian people, because we very well remember that it was the Syrian people who opened their doors and welcomed Armenians a century ago during the worst disaster that happened to the Armenian people. All of us hope that peace will be established in Syria very soon and people will return to their normal lives. But until then, we will continue supporting the Syrian people as much as we can, and all those who are in need, the minister said.

The Armenian humanitarian aid will be equally distributed to all those who are in need. Armenian and International structures engaged in humanitarian assistance will handle the distribution of the aid in Syria. Overall, we delivered 40 tons of cargo to Syria. The aid will be delivered to everyone in need, Sargsyan said.

The minister added, as humanitarian aid Armenia is sending food products and first-necessity items, everything which people in that situation might need.

Asked if the aid will be distributed only to Syrian-Armenians, or Syrians as well, the minister said: I think humanitarian aid doesnt recognize nationality, and we would like this aid to be distributed equally to all in need. And people who appear in difficult situations usually quickly form the ability of assisting each other. I am sure the way will be found to deliver this humanitarian aid to everyone in need, regardless of ethnicity, Sargsyan said.

Ivan Volinkin, Ambassador of Russia to Armenia, expressed confidence that everything will proceed normally and the humanitarian aid will be delivered to everyone in need. He expressed hope that this delivery will be followed by others as well. Naturally it will depend on weather conditions. In any case, I think one more aircraft will be loaded, the Ambassador said.

He added that currently Syria is in a severe situation, people are suffering and they need help. We know there is a big Armenian community in Syria, and we can jointly realize this aid, by using the Russian means for delivery and the Armenian humanitarian aid, he said.

The Armenian Government allocated more than 46 million AMD from the reserve fund to send humanitarian aid to the people affected by the Syrian conflict.

Earlier in October 2016, two aircrafts with humanitarian aid were delivered from Armenia to Syria, at the order of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. Blogger, member of Talysh freedom movement Shahin Mirzoev who requested for temporary asylum from Armenian authorities days ago, has sent a letter to Talish info presenting the good conditions provided to him and his family in Yerevan.

Armenpress reports Mirzoev informed that the Armenian people received him at the highest level. The wife of the political activist, who is seriously ill, has been immediately hospitalized for treatment. The authorities of Armenia have provided Shahin Mirzoev and his two children with comfortable shelter and means of communication. At the moment the family is under the protection of the UN and the Red Cross, Talish info writes.

Citing Mirzoevs letter, the news outlet says that according to the blogger his family and the Talysh in general enjoy special respect in Armenia. He and his family feel well and safe and are very satisfied with the treatment of Armenians.

The Armenian authorities received a request on February 11 from Shahin Mirzoev for temporary asylum, since as a member of Talish Cultural Council, Talish freedom movement, journalist at the Tolishi Sado newspaper, he was obliged to flee from Azerbaijan due to the persecutions against ethnic and religious minorities and gross violations of their rights, and to arrive to Armenia with his family. Armenian authorities reacted positively to the request of Shahin Mirzoev.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan on February 13 paid working visits to Gegharkunik and Tavush provinces, press service of the Ministry told Armenpress.

Healthcare Minister Levon Altunyan, Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, Lieutenant-General Movses Hakobyan, as well as other high-ranking officials and military officials took part in the tour.

The visit launched from the city of Vardenis where the Ministers got acquainted with the conditions of garrison hospital and the city hospital and discussed issues related to uniting the medical institutions. They also attached importance to providing the best medical conditions for the citizen and soldier.

Thereafter, the Defense Minister visited one of the military units located in the eastern part of the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border. The Minister got acquainted with the conditions of the military service, as well as encouraged a number of soldiers holding the posts.

Then, the Minister visited Vahan community of Gegharkunik province. The Ministers held a meeting with the leadership of province, as well as residents of the bordering community. Welcoming the meeting participants, Vigen Sargsyan said the Defense Ministry always keeps in its spotlight the bordering settlements.

Later they visited one of the military units of the 3rd Army Corps where the construction works are reaching the end.

Their last visit was in Berd. They again got acquainted with the conditions of the military hospital.

In a meeting with reporters, the Defense and Healthcare Ministers summarized the results of their visits.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. Vice President of the National Assembly of Armenia Eduard Sharmazanov met with the students of a number of universities of Armenia who take an internship at the parliament of Armenia, the press service of the parliament of Armenia informed Armenpress.

The students asked various questions, including about the conflict settlement process of Nagorno Karabakh, nation-army ideology, parliamentary diplomacy, and preservation of national and Christian values, the role of parties in political processes.

Eduard Sharmazanov introduced the phases of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement and the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group and international community in the conflict settlement.

We expect the Minsk Group Co-chairs and the international community exclusively fair position on conflict settlement based on three well-known principles and the UN charter, Sharmazanov said.

The Vice President of the National Assembly spoke about the key actions taken by Armenia on official and diplomatic levels and stated that Our aim is to ensure our compatriots to live and create in a free and independent country. We must prove the whole world that the victory of Armenians in Artsakh has no alternative.

Eduard Sharmazanov also spoke about the preservation and dissemination of national and Christian values and highlighted the establishment of a democratic states based on those values.

At the end of the meeting Sharmazanov suggested the students that they should be optimistic while encountering problems and choose a profession competitive in the labor market.

At the request of the students Sharmazanov also expressed his opinion on Armenias domestic and external policies.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. Oppressions against indigenous minorities living in Azerbaijan have increased, particularly in the recent years, Head of the Chair of Iranian Studies of the Faculty of Oriental Studies Vardan Voskanyan told Armenpress commenting on Azerbaijani citizen Shahin Morzoevs asylum request from Armenian authorities. Shahin Morzoevs asylum request from Armenia is mainly conditioned by the oppressions against public and political figures of the Talysh people, Talysh journalists and anyone who raises issues of Talysh history in general. This particular activist has regularly been persecuted in Azerbaijan; his family members have also been harassed. Therefore, he had no other option than seek for an asylum, Voskanyan said.

He added that the indigenous peoples of Azerbaijan often perceive Armenia as a key regional player that can at least assist them in the sphere of media and communications, voicing about the oppressions against those peoples and the assimilation policy pursed by the Azerbaijani leadership.

I think this factor creates an opportunity for Armenia to assume another role. A role that supposes not only to press Azerbaijan directly, but also to act as a state voicing about the rights of all the oppressed peoples in Azerbaijan. In this regard, Armenia has the chance to assume an extremely important regional role in the near future, in fact, gaining new levers for influence in the South Caucasus, the expert in oriental studies said.

Vardan Voskanyan drew parallels between Armenia and Azerbaijan, stating that Armenias acts in this context are first of all humanitarian, while Azerbaijan uses similar cases for propaganda. Shahin Mirzoevs case can become an example for not only the Talysh people, but also for all the citizens in general, he said, adding that Azerbaijans policy is based on cynicism, while Armenia is guided by humanitarian principles.

The Armenian authorities received a request on February 11 from Shahin Mirzoev for temporary asylum, since as a member of Talish Cultural Council, Talish freedom movement, journalist at the Tolishi Sado newspaper, he was obliged to flee from Azerbaijan due to the persecutions against ethnic and religious minorities and gross violations of their rights, and to arrive to Armenia with his family. Armenian authorities reacted positively to the request of Shahin Mirzoev.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. Member of French national Assembly Henri Jibrayel has severely condemned the act of vandalization of Misak Manushyans statue. Armenpress reports the MP urges in his statement to investigate and reveal the culprits.

Misak Manushyan headed the list comprised of mainly refugees that struggled during the years of Resistance to free France from Nazism. This act is an insult for the Republic and anything France values, especially for those struggling on behalf of this country, Henri Jibrayel announced.

Parliamentarian Marie-Arlette Carlotti has also sent a letter to the Minister of Interior of France over the case.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will seek to quell protectionist headwinds when he travels to Europe to mark the EU parliament's ratification of a landmark free-trade pact with Canada.

In a speech Thursday to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, Trudeau is expected to heap praise on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

"He will talk about how it is the most progressive trade agreement in the world and how it should serve as a model for subsequent trade agreements between countries," an official in his office said.

Trudeau will also emphasize the importance of explaining the benefits of trade agreements to average citizens, given the "anxiety in the global economy particularly with middle-class citizens around the world not feeling the same benefits from the economy as they have in previous generations."

Without that buy-in, he intends to say, countries will face "larger problems."

The speech will come one day after the European Union parliament is scheduled to vote to ratify CETA.

Afterward Trudeau will head to Berlin for a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel. He also will travel to Hamburg, Germany, where he will give a keynote address at a Saint Matthew's dinner.

Coming on the heels of Trudeau's first meeting in Washington with US President Donald Trump this week, the Canadian prime minister, a fervent supporter of free trade, is not expected to directly raise the issue of US protectionism.

"He will reinforce the point that trade deals like (CETA) are important for the world rather than directly addressing any protectionism or anti-trade sentiments that are out there," the official said.

Trump, who took office January 20, repeatedly bashed the North American Free Trade Agreement between the US, Canada and Mexico on the campaign trail and vowed to renegotiate it.

With Merkel, Trudeau is also expected to discuss immigration and refugees, and Canadian security commitments in Latvia.

NATO contributions will come up. Washington has called on NATO members to boost defense spending to two percent of their economic output. Canada spends less than one percent.

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"We will reiterate... that we are quite comfortable with our contribution to NATO," the official said.

On the trip, Trudeau will be accompanied by Canadian ambassador-designate to the EU, Stephane Dion, as well as foreign affairs and trade ministers Chrystia Freeland and Francois-Philippe Champagne, respectively.

At the same time, Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan will travel to Brussels to participate in a meeting of NATO defense ministers and to Munich for a security conference.
Clarence Christensen, Jr., age 94, of Lincoln, died Feb. 12, 2017. He was born on a farm in Hooper, and helped his father with the farm until the Depression when his family moved to Fremont. There he helped support the family by delivering newspapers. In his teens, they moved to Dwight, where Clarence helped his father in the family's machinery repair shop. During high school, they moved to Valparaiso and he attended Valparaiso High School.

As a teenager, he built a ham radio, secured a license and communicated with ham radio operators around the country, even serving as an operator for the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES). Clarence survived Scarlet Fever as a child, causing him to graduate a year later. Clarence worked with his family at Christensen Implement in Valparaiso where they repaired and sold farm equipment. There he was able to purchase a ride with a barnstormer pilot, launching his love for flying.

He volunteered for the Army Air Corps to train as a B24 pilot. At 22, he flew 35 combat missions over Europe during WWII, and brought his nine member crew home safely to conclude their tour. Clarence earned two distinguished Flying Crosses for his bravery. After the war, he joined the Nebraska Air National Guard where he not only served as an aircraft instructor, but also worked as an aircraft maintenance officer earning and honoring the respect of the aircraft mechanics; finishing his career with the military as a director of operations. Clarence bridged the gap between propeller airplanes of the 1940's such as the B24 (and his favorite, the P51), finishing his career in the supersonic RF4.

None of his personal achievements surpassed his winning the prestigious Ricks Trophy Race. Representing the 173rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron, "Chris" Christensen flew his F-86D Sabre jet over the 850-mile course between Jacksonville, Fla., and Dallas, Texas, in one hour, 48 minutes and 20 seconds. He was inducted into the Nebraska Aviation Hall of Fame in 1993.

Preceded in death by his wife, Ruth; daughter Jeanne Schneider; and grandson, Anders Ukinski. He is survived by his son, Dan and family; daughter Cynthia and family; and son, John; including six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16, at American Lutheran Church, 42nd & Vine St., Lincoln, with burial to follow the reception. Burial in Valparaiso. Visitation will be held from 4  8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at Wyuka Funeral Home, 3600 "O" St., Lincoln. Memorials to the Village of Valparaiso Park Fund. Condolences www.wyuka.com
Corrine. R. (Fisher) Unruh, 97, of Mondamin, Iowa, passed away on February 11, 2017 in Missouri Valley, Iowa. Corrine was born on February 11, 1919, to William and Rose (Seiker) Fisher in Elmwood, Neb.

Corrine is preceded in death by her parents, husband, and two brothers. Survivors include her children, Joann Dwork (Paul) of Camarillo, Calif., James Unruh of Lake of the Ozarks, Mo; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A rosary will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 14, with visitation to follow until 8 p.m. at Hennessey Funeral Home in Missouri Valley. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, February 15, at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Mondamin. Burial: 2 p.m. February 15, 2017. Elmwood Cemetery, Elmwood.
BARCELONAVendo, the biller, and WebClicks, the affiliate marketing company, announced this week that they will introduce two new beers to the industry. The beers will be available to try on March 3 at the Welcome to Barcelona happy hour hosted by both companies for attendees of Mobile World Congress and the European Summit.

Invited guests will have the opportunity to taste Vendos Biller of the Year Beer and WebClicks' F***ing Awesome Ale.

The two companies will be hosting the tasting and tapas on March 3 at BierCab in Barcelona. BierCab is located at Carrer de Muntaner, 55, 08011 Barcelona. The event takes place between 6 and 8 p.m.

The Biller of the Year Beer is a little sweet, like victory, and can make you feel kind of giddy, like how we felt when we were voted best biller by the industry. We hope our guests enjoy it! says Thierry Arrondo, Vendos managing director. Its a great time to welcome the industry to our city. Barcelona is a growing hub. Its on the short list of industry power centers including cities like Montreal and Los Angeles. Were excited to give everyone attending the Mobile World Conference and European Summit an opportunity to network and get a little taste of our beer and our city.

Brad Zarich of WebClicks said of the event, The F***ing Awesome Ale is a superior combination of everything you want in an alejust like WebClicks offers everything you want in an affiliate marketing platform. It will be a fun evening to network with people attending both shows. Were looking forward to it.

For more information on this event contact Vendo or WebClicks.


Gallup, New Mexico state senator George Munoz is not pleased that a group led by Christopher Dyer, CEO of University New Mexico's Gallup campus, went on a Bigfoot research expedition and racked up $7,000 of expenses that were ultimately paid by taxpayers. The expedition was part of a Bigfoot conference Dyer organized on campus last year that he says "was the largest and most well-attended event in the history of this campus,".

From KRQE:



In response to what happened, Sen. George Munoz is sponsoring a bill that would ban public funds from being spent on "looking for or catching a fictitious creature."





"It's sad that we have to do this, that they don't have the ethics, that UNM doesn't have the ethics to stop this," Sen. Munoz said. "And now we have to draft bills to stop something that is not morally right," Sen. Munoz said.





The senator had a little fun with the bill. It also bans publicly funded searches for Pokemon, leprechauns and the Bogeyman.
It was last November when Gatineau's Voyages G Travel realized they'd become victims of fraud.

The travel agency  one of the oldest in the National Capital Region  noticed a booking for a Caribbean vacation that none of the agents in the office remembered handling.

"I'm like, this doesn't make sense," said Melanie Racine, one of the agency's owners.

"Then we realized something is off. We called the wholesalers ... and that's when we started finding more. And this was, like, a Monday when we came in. We started finding more as the week went [on], and that's when we knew we had a problem."

Racine and co-owner Kerwin Dougan say fraud has always been a problem in the industry, but since late last year, one particular scam  involving travel bookings to sunny destinations like Jamaica or the Dominican Republic  has become much more frequent.

"They really know what they are doing. I have a feeling it may be a travel agent or someone in the business," said Racine.

"It's a really bad situation out there," added Dougan, an agent with more than 30 years in the travel business.

Credit card scam

According to Racine and Dougan, the scam works like this.

First, the scammer gets access to credit cards  or more likely, just credit card numbers. Would-be travellers are then reeled in with the offer of trips or vacations at hard-to-believe prices: for instance, a $2,000 Caribbean vacation for $500.

The person taking the trip thinks he or she is getting a great last-minute deal. Naturally, the scammer insists to be paid cash up front.

The scammer then obtains some basic information about a local travel agency that may include the names of the travel agents. It's information that's usually available on travel agencies' websites.

The scammer then calls up a wholesale vacation company such as Sunwing, Tour Transat, Air Canada Vacations or any number of small or large companies. The scammer makes a last-minute booking using the identity of a real travel agent, paying for the trip with the illicitly acquired credit card number and pocketing the cash.

Story continues

The fraud may only become known after someone opens a credit card statement and discovers being billed for a trip that he or she didn't take. (Racine told CBC News she recently spoke to a woman who got her statement and was shocked to discover she had been charged for Air Canada vacations totalling about $20,000.)

Not surprisingly, the real credit card holders dispute the charges with the card company, which in turn voids the payment to the vacation carrier. By this time, however, the traveller may already be on a plane to a sunny destination and not know the cheap trip was made possible by fraud.

If the traveller is lucky, the fraud is only discovered once the vacation is over. If not, that person may be in for a nasty surprise after arriving at the airport.

"They get to the airport and they are told, 'Sorry, your booking was cancelled because it was a fraudulent booking,'" Racine said.

Easy to pull off

The fraud is simple to pull off, Racine said, because all the scammers need is a bit of easily obtained information. Travel carrier employees may not suspect anything is amiss because they believe they're talking to agents at an established agency.

"They are calling the wholesaler  for example, Sunwing  and they are identifying themselves as one of us," said Racine. "They have our phone number. So then it's a green light, they can book what they want."

Racine and Dougan say that at their agency alone, they've dealt with 10 fraudulent bookings since November 2016, costing roughly $20,000 in total. They say it's a huge headache because the carriers who have been ripped off have been demanding the travel agencies pay up.

"It's too easy to book. You can do a booking, you can just put a credit card number, names, three digit code  not even needed some times. You're in, you could put Mickey Mouse [on the booking] and it would work," Racine said.

Dougan said the carriers have been fairly understanding about the scheme and have agreed to absorb most of the losses, but he's frustrated that he's being asked to pay for a crime he neither committed nor knew about.

"You're paying a big price because they have a policy, it's your bookings, you have to pay for it, you are responsible, no matter what the situation," Dougan said.

"What if we don't have it? We'll close down."

Montreal police now involved

Voyages G Travel isn't the only agency being targeted by this type of fraud.

Christophe Serrano, director of Montreal travel agency Voyages en Direct, told CBC News he's dealing with $10,000 worth of fraudulent bookings.

"It's a real problem for us."

Serrano said he has been busy collecting evidence from other travel agencies that have fallen victim to the scam, and recently handed the files over to Montreal police.

Racine said some of the travel carriers have started putting new fraud control measures in place. Tour Transat, for one, now requires travel agents to identify themselves using a secret code rather than just their name and agency's name, she said.

Tour Transat spokeswoman Odette Trottier said in an email that the agency felt compelled to take that step.

"Unfortunately, fraud exists in the tourism industry, as it does in other sectors," Trottier said. "It is a rare phenomenon, and we always do our best to prevent it and to strengthen our control measures."

Ultimately, Racine said, she hopes her story will make travellers realize some offers are too good to be true.

"I want people to realize that when you are getting a trip that is much, much cheaper than what most people [can offer] at other agencies, there is something fishy."
Furniture retailer Ikea recruits African designers to create a new product line

Ikea has recruited some of Africas best designers to create a uniquely African line. The furniture giant said it is trying to tap into the creative explosion happening across the continent right now.

More than a dozen designers from seven African countries will work on an exclusive range that hopes to tap into the creative pulse of contemporary urban Africa, Ikea spokeswoman Johanna Martin.

We want to learn from the creative explosion which is taking place in several cities around Africa right now and spread it to the rest of the world by working with designers from several African countries that all have different takes on design, Martin told Quartz.

Furniture retailer Ikea recruits African designers to create a new product line

Going beyond prints.

Judging from the designers CVs, the range is bound to go beyond just covering an ottoman in colorful African wax print textiles. Its being seen as an opportunity to experiment with what exactly African design means in 2017. Touristy flea markets from Nairobi to Johannesburg have begun to offer the same beaded jewelry and generic wax print handbags as African designs, a lazy interpretation of the continents unique design aesthetic.

All the designers collaborating on the collection are in some way preoccupied with reimagining Africas urban spaces in cities as diverse as Cairo is to Luanda. Theyll all meet at the Design Indaba conference in Cape Town in March to bring together their ideas (after an initial meeting at Ikeas Democratic Design Center in Almhult, Sweden last year).

Furniture retailer Ikea recruits African designers to create a new product line

What would an African interpretation of Ikeas range look like?

The team includes architects Christian Benimana from Rwanda, Issa Diabate from Cote dIvoire and Nairobi-based Bethan Rayner and Naeem Bivjiall of whom have a focus on sustainable design with a social conscience. Product designers Ayse Birsel and Bibi Seck bring the innovation that drives their Dakar design studio to the project, joining fashion designers Selly Raby Kane, from Senegal, and South Africas Laduma Ngxokolo.

Story continues

The collection will launch in 2019 and its still too early to know what all these perspectives will lead to on the factory floor or whether it will be a repeat collection. But the range is unlikely to be easily available in the African cities that have inspired it. Ikeas only African outlets are in Morocco and Egypt but the company says it is constantly evaluating new markets. Perhaps Ikeas excitement about African designers will translate into optimism about African consumers.

In the meantime, innovative African designers are filling that gap. In Nairobi, Quartz Africa Innovators honoree Ciiru Wawerus FunKidz has been described as an Ikea for Africa with a range of locally designed and manufactured flat-pack furniture.

Sign up for the Quartz Africa Weekly Brief  the most important and interesting news from across the continent, in your inbox.

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TUESDAY, Feb. 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- The best gift you can give a stressed or depressed partner this Valentine's Day is extra love and support, researchers say.

They surveyed more than 1,400 couples on self-esteem, levels of depression and mutual support. The study revealed that when one partner was feeling stressed, support from their mate was associated with improved self-esteem and lower risk of depression in the future.

"Efforts from a partner to help alleviate stress may prevent the development or worsening of mental health problems and, in fact, could help keep the relationship healthy," said lead researcher Matthew Johnson. He's an assistant professor at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences, in Edmonton, Canada.

"When we experience stress, especially high levels of stress, we are particularly vulnerable and perhaps that's why partner support in those times is so impactful and long-lasting," Johnson said in a university news release.

The research found that men got a boost in their self-esteem when they supported their partner, which "made them feel better about themselves," said Johnson.

Women who received support from their partner had higher self-esteem and less depression in the future, according to the findings.

The study also found that women with higher self-esteem and men with fewer symptoms of depression received more support from their partners when facing stress.

Johnson noted that it can sometimes be difficult to give support to a partner when they really need it.

"When someone is depressed or has low self-worth, they may lash out. A partner offering support reaffirms feelings of depression and helplessness, of the feeling that they have to pick up the slack," Johnson said.

So, for Valentine's Day today and year-round, he suggested giving "invisible support" to a depressed or stressed partner.

"Studies suggest offering support your partner may not even be aware of, but would still be a helpful gesture, like taking care of a sink full of dirty dishes they haven't seen yet. You can offer support, just don't draw attention to it," Johnson said.

Other forms of support include simply listening or "handling the logistics of daily life by offering to take on tasks that aren't normally yours," such as planning meals or driving children to school, he said.

The study was published recently in the journal Developmental Psychology.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health has more on stress.
TUESDAY, Feb. 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- A baby's gender might affect a pregnant woman's immune system, a new study suggests.

For the study, researchers checked levels of immune markers called cytokines in the blood of 80 pregnant women.

The researchers found no differences in cytokine levels based on fetal sex. But they did find that "the immune cells of women carrying female fetuses produced more pro-inflammatory cytokines when exposed to bacteria," said principal investigator Amanda Mitchell.

"This means that women carrying female fetuses exhibited a heightened inflammatory response when their immune system was challenged, compared to women carrying male fetuses," she explained.

Mitchell is a postdoctoral researcher at Ohio State University's Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research.

The researchers explained that inflammation is critical in the body's response to viruses, bacteria and chronic illnesses. But excessive inflammation stresses the body and can result in achiness and other symptoms.

Higher levels of inflammation among women carrying female fetuses could help explain why they tend to have worse symptoms of some conditions -- including asthma -- than women carrying male fetuses, the researchers said.

"This research helps women and their obstetricians recognize that fetal sex is one factor that may impact how a woman's body responds to everyday immune challenges and can lead to further research into how differences in immune function may affect how a women responds to different viruses, infections or chronic health conditions [such as asthma], including whether these responses affect the health of the fetus," Mitchell said in a university news release.

The study appears in the February issue of the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development has more on pregnancy.
Krishna Kris Maharaj

An elderly British citizen has filed a final appeal against his wrongful conviction in Florida 30 years ago, which saw him sentenced to death.





Krishna Kris Maharaj, a 78-year old British businessman, was arrested in the US in 1986 and sentenced to death. He has spent three decades in prison, despite compelling evidence of his innocence, collected by his lawyer at international human rights organization Reprieve.





The US courts commuted his death sentence in 2002, but have dismissed subsequent evidence suggesting he was framed.





Since Mr Maharajs original conviction, six people affiliated with a Colombian drug cartel have said they committed the murders for which he was sentenced to death. Mr Maharajs final appeal to the US federal courts was filed earlier this month, and asks for this new evidence to be heard.





Mr Maharaj and his MP, Conservative Sir Peter Bottomley, have asked the UK Government to submit a so-called amicus briefing to the court, supporting Mr Maharajs request to be given the opportunity to demonstrate his innocence.





However, the Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, has declined to submit such a briefing. In a letter sent in December, the Foreign Office said: The Minister does not think it is appropriate to do so on this occasion, and did not give any further reasoning.





The decision appears to be at odds with previous UK actions in US legal cases. Three years ago, the Foreign Office commissioned four lawyers from an international law firm to intervene on behalf of oil giant BP, in litigation surrounding the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, because the case implicates the rights of one of the United Kingdoms largest companies.





The appeal for Mr Maharaj is filed amid concerns for his wellbeing. Last month, he was hospitalised for several weeks after becoming seriously ill with a rare skin condition. Mr Maharaj is already confined to a wheelchair, after he contracted a similar illness in 2011.





Clive Stafford Smith, Reprieves founder and Mr Maharajs pro bono lawyer for 23 years, said:





We now have no fewer than six cartel associates saying they did the murder for which Kris Maharaj was originally sentenced to death. The terrible possibility is that the US federal court will not allow us a hearing, based on the bizarre laws that govern such applications. I hope we can persuade them, but the injustice Kris has faced for three decades is why he and I are both so upset that Boris Johnson refused to intervene on his behalf. After all, what is a British passport for?





The Foreign Office's letter to Reprieve is available here.

Further detail on Kris Maharajs case is available at the Reprieve website, here.





Source: Reprieve, February 14, 2017





 | 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




'Rectify' a US TV series by Ray McKinnon (2013-) A group of exonerated death row survivors called the 'Resurrection Club' fights to abolish the death penalty in the US.





After spending years on death row in American jails, Ron Keine, Shujaa Graham, Greg Wilhoit and Albert Burrell were reborn the day they were declared innocent and released.





This is the story of four friends who, after enduring years of mental suffering and isolation from society, became activists and are campaigning to end the death penalty.





Still suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression after being incarcerated for so long despite their innocence, they joined the association of death row exonerees, Witness to Innocence.



Calling themselves the "Resurrection Club", they travel from state to state, supported by their wives and children, to lobby for an end to the death penalty.





More than 150 death row survivors have been found innocent and exonerated in the US and many have joined Witness to Innocence.



This is a story of friendship and love, a trip through the US - from Texas to Washington DC - to end an inhuman and unjust criminal justice system.





FILMMAKERS' VIEW





By Guillermo Abril and Alvaro Corcuera





In November 2009, we first heard about the 100-plus people in the United States who were once sentenced to death for a crime they didn't commit.





Juan Melendez, a man from Puerto Rico who spent 18 years on death row in Florida, showed us a documentary about his life in Madrid. He talked to us about Witness to Innocence, the only organisation in the US which brings together death row exonerees and their relatives, and told us they were going to meet soon.





Soon after, 21 survivors gathered in Birmingham, Alabama. One of us travelled there to write an article for El Pais Semanal, the magazine we work for in Spain. We decided we needed to attend another Witness to Innocence meeting, this time with a camera. That's how the idea for "Surviving Death Row" was born.





We didn't have any experience in making documentaries - we were print journalists. The first step was building a team. We brought in Luis Almodovar, a colleague at El Pais, as director of photography for the film.





Using our own money in the beginning, we were motivated by our passion. We travelled with cameras for the first time to Richmond, Virginia, in 2011, to a similar gathering to the one that had happened in Alabama a year and a half earlier. This was the first of five trips in the years to come.





Capital punishment is still legal in 31 US states and 2,905 people were on death row as of July 1, 2016. Last year, 20 executions took place in the US. Texas has executed the most convicts since the death penalty was reinstated in the US in 1976: about a third of the nearly 1,500 people dead as a result of capital punishment.





In the summer of 2011, we made a two-week road trip through Texas. The exonerees spoke at universities, schools, churches, radios and community centres, trying to turn around widespread public opinion in favour of the death penalty in the region. Greg, Albert, Ron and Shujaa were four of those exonerees, travelling together in a van. They would become the main characters in our film.





We were deeply affected by our visit to Albert's home, a run-down trailer on his sister's ranch. Albert had spent 13 years on death row and we discovered he had a small mental disability. He showed us his horses and we accompanied him to his various jobs, which included working as a junk seller.





On later trips, we travelled to Oklahoma, Missouri, Mississippi, Detroit and Washington DC and visited more exonerees in their homes.





Greg told us how he had been forced to give up his daughter for adoption when he was wrongfully sentenced to death for killing his wife. Ron showed us the ruins of the American dream in downtown Detroit where he grew up as a kid and where he still rides his Harley. Shujaa invited us to his family's house on Father's Day where he shared a meal of Southern-style crabs with his wife, sons and grandsons. His wife talked to us about the day she met him in prison. She was a white nurse. He was a "dangerous" African-American inmate, according to the authorities. They have been together since he was freed in 1981.





Watching the exonerees when they got together was a moving experience. They had long, deep conversations. Besides being friends, they were "pain mates", as we called them: people who shared the experience of surviving a miserable place. Only after they left prison had they realised that there were others like them, who understood what they had gone through. When they met, they did not have to justify anything. Nobody judged them or asked them questions. They just laughed and enjoyed their freedom together.









 | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



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Source: Al Jazeera , February 12, 2017
- Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh admits to leaving her husband

- The mother of one also reveals that she left taking her son King Andre with her

- The actress claims her husband who has access to reach their son since the breakup has not been checking on him

Tonto Dikeh and husband Olakunle Oladunni Churchill

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Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh has confirmed the breakup of her marriage. The actress made the state of her marriage known in response to an open letter written by one Joel Ikenna Maskot from Rivers state.

The actress confirmed that she and her husband Olakunle Oladunni Churchill are living separately.

In his letter to the actress, Maskot wrote:

I have been a long time passionate fan of you  Mrs Tonto Dikeh Churchill or do I remove the surname? Your movies from your early days of breaking into the Nollywood industry arrested attention anytime, as the toast of most industry movie directors for scripts. As one of your fans, it bleeds my heart to hear of the unpleasant stories coming from your home especially as you used your fans influence based to react at any latest provocation as if you are lead actress in a home movie.

My dearest Tonto Dikeh, we your fans are instrumental to your fame. Your marriage breakup is the prayers of some of your colleagues and those your actions have offended directly or indirectly. I expected that any challenge in your home should be kept private and away from social media. I want to believe that God blessed you with a loving husband who seem to give all you want but though, there is saying that he who wears the shoe knows where it pinches. Truly, your fans in Rivers state are proud of your height in the industry but we plead that you let sleeping dog lie.

The accusation and counter- accusations of smoking while breastfeeding, negative reactions of destroying properties and alleged infidelity from your husband  Olakunle Churchill cannot be confirmed by the public. We draw our conclusion from the buzzes on social media. Beware of those you draw close as your friend especially in relation to your marriage except we will eventually write a movie script about your home, marriage and social media influence and sell to major directors like Chico Ejiro, Teco Benson, Tchidi Chikere etc with a caption  Last Celebrity Marriage 

READ ALSO: Who knew Gifty of Big Brother Naija was married?

Tonto Dikeh and husband Oladunni Churchill

Its sad to think that the supposed settled marriage crisis in your union still persist indirectly as feelers have it that you choose to subject your husband to emotional torture by taking the child- King Andrea away from him because of his affection for the little boy. My prayer is that you dont take your beloved son to another controversial M*rijuana smokers home as attacked. My sister, which I choose to call you, please the drama upon drama in your home if true can be attributed to you going back to your old life of smoking. When you got married, we your fans were happy that you finally settled down inspite of our supposed believe of your reckless movie life but alas, its truly a reflection of your life in marriage even when we thought motherhood has changed you. Advising you to borrow a leaf from some notable scandal free celebrity actresses would not have been good considering your status, but am forced to tell you to screen into their marital life.

My beloved super actress, the tag controversial actress which you got stuck with you since your early days of smoking in movies, close intimacy in acting and bad girl disposition do not make us believe is your true reflection but a conscious impressive interpretation of your roles. For the sake of your son  King Andrea and the love show from your husband as posted by you each time on social media, just put your home together- indeed, its your responsibility. We are happy the family crisis is been silent and we strongly believe there is peace at home now. Besides your peace at home, the gist of you breaking things in your mother-in-laws house and pushing her down in attempt to calm you down is not only disgusting but embarrassingly misleading if we truly have to believe that.

READ ALSO: Tonto Dikeh rocks ripped jeans fashion to kids school

Tonto Dikeh confirms leaving husband

Well, I do not know much about your husband maybe because he is not a showbiz person but perhaps a philanthropist. But I think we might not judge him from social media stories. With time his true identity will be known, not only then we can write to him too. value what you have which you made us believe he is your lovely Mr X, your irreplaceable Hero and your protective superman.

Mama King, he that has ear let him hear, for the voices of the fans are the voices of fame or destruction.

I rest my case.

The actress and mother of one responded to Maskots open letter. She also made it known that she went away with her son and gave the father opportunity of coming to see him anytime he wishes but that she has blocked him from calling her. She wrote:

Dear concerned fan, Good day.

How are you and your family? My regards, love and greetings to them.

Now to address a little bit of your letter, firstly I say I do appreciate your concern. Then I move on to say thank you. When a woman leaves her husband, she takes her child because absolutely nothing else matters to her but the child. This is what I did and I happily give all access for his father to see him.

Now my question to you is that did your source also tell you that he has never called for once to ask how his son is doing? I will admit, I personally blocked his access to me for the sake of my emotional stability. But nonetheless he has the nannys no, my assistants contact, my part time helps number, and many other mediums of reaching the son your source claims I took away. He could use all possible mediums wisely if he wished to.

READ ALSO: Davido goes swimming date with baby mama and daughter (photos)

She also addressed her alleged drug use story.

Secondly I will let you go on the ill talk on smoking as I would love to believe you were just sent and ignored my drug test result or you never even saw it in the first place.

As an acclaimed concerned fan I expect you to pray and not to indirectly throw concerned shades.

What goes on in my marriage and home is my personal life, Im grateful for all the years of support you all have been giving me but when it comes to the matters of the heart have enough respect to let us go thru our moments alone.. Like I said earlier your prayers for wisdom on both parties would be more appreciated. No one knows what goes on behind closed doors. I chose to make you believe and see what I wanted you all to see in order to protect even those that did not deserve protection.

WANT MORE?: Don't miss the latest wedding gist in Nigeria

My dear friend thats called marriage!!! God bless you immensely for even thinking about my family, God has never failed, God never sleeps nor slumbers, He is a just God. He never brings us this far to leave us, We will be Ok.. Once again thank you so much my concerned friend and have a blessed day!!!

Tonto Dikeh and Oladunni Churchill had their traditional wedding on Saturday August 29, 2015 at Port Harcourt, Rivers state. The couple are yet to have their white wedding but they have a son together King Andre who will be one this February.

Source: Legit.ng
A third-shift postal worker is accused of changing the addresses of Lincoln residents and stealing mail in an attempt to gain credit card information.

The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office began investigating after getting a complaint from a Waverly woman on Jan. 25. She said her address was changed without her knowledge, and a credit card was opened in her name, Capt. Ben Houchin said Tuesday.

Investigators said the card was used at Wal-Mart, Target and Walgreens locations in Lincoln and Omaha. Surveillance footage from the businesses showed a man and his Ford Explorer, which led deputies to 43-year-old Domonic Harris, 3125 N. 70th St., Houchin said.

Harris has worked as a postal support employee at the Omaha processing and distribution center since October.

Deputies searched Harris' SUV and duplex Monday and said they found mail and identities of 50 potential victims, Houchin said.

Only one credit card has been found to be fraudulently used, but he said there could be 50 to 60 victims. Harris is accused of making about $1,200 worth of purchases with the Waverly woman's card. Investigators wouldn't say what he bought, but said they found some of the items in his possession.

Deputy Curtis Reha said he believes Harris also used his employment with the post office to steal mail from residents in southeast and northeast Lincoln.

USPS spokesman Brian Sperry said Harris is on a non-duty, non-pay status pending the investigation.

"These allegations are very concerning," he said. "These actions  if true  are not consistent with and dont represent the values of the Postal Service organization and its more than 500,000 employees, and will not be tolerated."

The sheriff's office, Lincoln police and postmaster continue to investigate.

They are trying to reach the 50 people whose mail was found. Reha said people should check their credit card statements and make sure they're still receiving mail.

Harris was arrested Tuesday and is in jail on suspicion of criminal possession of a financial transaction device, identity theft and unauthorized use of a financial transaction device. Houchin said investigators believe he is their only suspect.

The sheriff's office is looking for additional victims; investigators can be reached at 402-441-6500.
Dublin, Feb. 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "2017 Mexico Wholesale/Distributor Database" directory to their offering.



The largest privately held B2B database (over 1.5 Million records) on Mexico



Every record in this database has the following fields of information: Industry Sector, Major SIC Category, Sub SIC Category, Product/Services Description, Company Name, Address, City, Colonia, State, Zip and Telephone. Also included when available are: Fax, Web Url, Email, Contact Name, Contact Title, Total Revenue USD, Number of Employees, Years in Business, Longitude and Latitude Geo Coordinates. See above latest data statistics for more details.



Number of total companies: 207,612



Save thousands compared to our regular per record price!



SIC 50 Wholesale Trade - Durable Goods - 98,196 Records

SIC 51 Wholesale Trade - Nondurable Goods - 58,120 Records

SIC 52 Building Materials & Garden Supplies - 51,296 Records

2017 Latest Mexico Database Statistics



Previous Month Number of Records 1,604,374

Number of New Records Added 1,520

Number Of Deleted Records 376

Number Of Changed Records (Typos, Address, Name, SIC Category, Web, Email, etc.) 12,468

Total Number of Records 1,605,518

Total Company Colonia/Neighborhood 1,523,607

Total Company City 1,605,518

Total Company State 1,605,518

Total Company Zip 1,587,029

Total Company Phone 1,605,518

Total Company Fax (in Mexico many main phones are also fax line) 191,267

Total Company Web 212,027

Total Company Email 250,713

Total Company Contacts 110,778

Total Company Contact Titles 110,778

Total Company Annual Sales 595,117

Total Company Employees 604,908

Total Company Years In Business 390,811

Total Geo Coded Data 1,552,426

For more information about this directory visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/s6vvf2/2017_mexico




RADNOR, Pa., Feb. 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP reminds General Cable Corporation (NYSE:BGC) (General Cable or the Company) shareholders that a class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of purchasers of General Cables securities between February 23, 2012 and February 10, 2016, inclusive (the Class Period).



DEADLINE REMINDER: General Cable shareholders may, no later than March 6, 2017, petition the Court to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. For additional information, or to learn how to participate in this action, please visit https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/general-cable-corporation#join.

Shareholders who wish to discuss their legal rights or interests with respect to this action are encouraged to contact Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check (Darren J. Check, Esq., D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq. or Adrienne O. Bell, Esq.) at (888) 299  7706 or (610) 667  7706, or via e-mail at info@ktmc.com.

General Cable Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes copper, aluminum, and fiber optic wire and cable products for the energy, industrial, construction, and specialty and communications markets worldwide.

The Complaint alleges that during the Class Period General Cable and certain of its executive officers made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) General Cable paid millions of dollars in bribes to government officials in foreign countries, including Angola, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Indonesia, India, and Thailand, in order to secure business; (ii) the foregoing conduct was in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the FCPA); (iii) General Cables revenues were therefore in part the product of illegal conduct, and, as such, subject to disgorgement and unlikely to be sustainable; and (iv) the foregoing conduct, when it became known, would subject the Company to significant regulatory scrutiny and financial penalties. The complaint further alleges that, as a result of the foregoing, General Cables statements about its business, operations and prospects were false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

On September 22, 2014, General Cable disclosed that it was reviewing payment practices, the use of agents, and the manner in which the payments were reflected on our books and records in connection with the Companys operations in Portugal, Angola, Thailand, and India. On this news, shares of the Companys stock fell $0.93 per share, or 4.7%, to close at $18.96 on September 22, 2014.

Subsequently, on February 10, 2016, General Cable reported that it had increased a disgorgement accrual for a potential FCPA settlement to $33 million after identifying certain other transactions that may raise concerns. On this news, shares of the Companys stock fell an additional $3.05 per share, or 31.6%, to close at $6.60 on February 11, 2016.

Finally, on December 29, 2016, The Wall Street Journal reported that General Cable had entered into a non-prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice and agreed to pay $75.8 million to settle allegations it paid bribes across Africa and Asia and . . . agreed to an additional $6.5 million penalty to settle accounting-related violations. The article further reported that the Companys subsidiaries, over a period of a dozen years, paid about $13 million to third-party agents and distributors, who in turn paid bribes to government officials in Angola, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia and Thailand to get business in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

General Cable shareholders may, no later than March 6, 2017, petition the Court to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. In order to be appointed as a lead plaintiff, the Court must determine that the class members claim is typical of the claims of other class members, and that the class member will adequately represent the class in the action. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. For additional information, or to learn how to participate in this action, please visit https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/general-cable-corporation#join.

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check is a driving force behind corporate governance reform, and has recovered billions of dollars on behalf of institutional and individual investors from the United States and around the world. The firm represents investors, consumers and whistleblowers (private citizens who report fraudulent practices against the government and share in the recovery of government dollars). The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, please visit www.ktmc.com.
English French

JCDecaux, as a partner of Panama City's ambitious Smart City project, introduces new connectivity and information services

Paris, 14 February 2017 - JCDecaux SA (Euronext Paris: DEC), JCDecaux S.A. (Euronext Paris: DEC), the number one outdoor advertising company worldwide, is working with Panama City in its move to turn itself into a "Smart City" by rolling out innovative digital services.



Free Wi-Fi

JCDecaux has been Panama City's bus shelter concession holder since 2002. Working in tandem with Wigo, Panama's largest free hotspot network with more than 1.3 million unique users, JCDecaux launched free Wi-Fi service on 16 January this year at 50 bus shelters in the country's capital. Users can now access the web easily and free-of-charge through a portal that also provides transit information, such as which buses serve a particular stop. It also allows them to geo-locate the next bus on a city map and receive public-service announcements from the city government.

To fund this service and to extend it to more bus shelters, JCDecaux has chosen to explore new market opportunities, such as the sale of advertising on the Wigo connexion portal. This new connected advertising opportunity offers brands a premium audience and a perfect fit with the power of traditional networks.

Small cells

With connectivity being essential to building tomorrow's Smart Cities, JCDecaux has partnered with mobile network operators by offering them its street furniture in which to install small cells. This helps enhance coverage and performance of phone and data networks in the densest urban areas.

In mid-December 2016, for example, JCDecaux joined with Telefonica SA to install a pilot 3G small cell in a Panama City bus shelter, in order to test the device's performance.

A multi-year national framework contract has also been signed to help the operator replicate this initiative in other street furniture in Panama, where JCDecaux operates more than 550 bus shelters.

A new premium digital offering

To expand its range of new innovative digital services in Panama City, JCDecaux has installed 10 digital CIPs on masts, and manages, sells and maintains them. With a broad range of connected services and interactivity options, this premium network is a huge benefit to both advertisers and the city government, which uses it for real-time public-service or emergency announcements on Panama City's main traffic arterial routes.

These developments form part of Panama City's pioneering ambition to become Latin America's first Smart City. JCDecaux's vision is to facilitate the circulation of public-service announcements in real-time, in publicly accessible areas, using an enhanced wireless network and connected street furniture, all the while meeting advertisers' needs.

Jose Blandon Figueroa, the Mayor of Panama City, said: "I am very pleased to have inaugurated the free Wi-Fi provided by JCDecaux and Wigo in 50 Panama City bus shelters on 16 January. Wigo and JCDecaux are well renowned for their standards of user service. This joint initiative has been welcomed by Panamanians with open arms. It enables us to offer even more services to our citizens, allowing them to stay connected and abreast of general-interest messages from our city government. I am very proud that the capital of Panama is Latin America's first "Smart City", thanks to a sustainable business model and a fruitful relationship with JCDecaux, the number one outdoor advertising company worldwide and a pioneer in digital outdoor advertising."

Jean-Charles Decaux, Chairman of the Executive Board and Co-CEO of JCDecaux, said: "I would like to thank Panama City's government for the trust it has placed in us by making us a player in its "Smart City" strategy. In fitting our bus shelters out with Wi-Fi access points and small cells, and in expanding our network of digital CIPs, we have once again served notice of our determination to be one of the major players in Smart Cities and to take part in the emergence of a connected city that is ever more human, open and sustainable.

Through a virtuous ecosystem, we facilitate access to information for the greater good of cities and citizens for their mobility, as well as for advertisers and their brands. The roll-out of high-quality networks has become one of the major strategic challenges of urban attractiveness and competitiveness, and we are convinced that our expertise, our know-how and our innovative capacity will position Panama as a model "Smart City" for all of Latin America."

Key figures for JCDecaux

2016 revenue: 3,392.8 billion

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

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

No. 1 worldwide in street furniture (524,580 advertising panels)

No. 1 worldwide in transport advertising with more than 230 airports and 280 contracts in metros, buses, trains and tramways (395,770 advertising panels)

No. 1 in Europe for billboards (177,760 advertising panels)

No. 1 in outdoor advertising in Europe (731,390 advertising panels)

No. 1 in outdoor advertising in the Asia-Pacific region (236,760 advertising panels)

No. 1 in outdoor advertising in Latin America (62,860 advertising panels)

No. 1 in outdoor advertising in Africa (32,840 advertising panels)

No. 1 in outdoor advertising in the Middle East (16,280 advertising panels)

No. 1 worldwide for self-service bicycle hire: pioneer in eco-friendly mobility

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

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

Daily audience: more than 390 million people

12,850 employees

Communications Department: Agathe Albertini

+33 (0)1 30 79 34 99 - agathe.albertini@jcdecaux.com

Investor Relations: Arnaud Courtial

+33 (0)1 30 79 79 93 - arnaud.courtial@jcdecaux.com
orange

A ruined structure found at Aqaba, Jordan, was probably a church as indicated in its eastward orientation and by its overall plan, as well as

A ruined structure

was probably

as indicated in its eastward orientation and by its overall plan, as well as

A ruined structure

once probably being

was indicated by its eastward orientation, overall plan, and

Indicating that a ruined structure

was probably

were its eastward orientation and overall plan, but also the

A ruined structure

was probably

as indicates its eastward orientation and overall plan, as well as the

That a ruined structure

was probably

is indicated by its eastward orientation and overall plan, as well as by the

1. How they begin: A ruined structure / Indicating that a ruined structure / That a ruined structure ( Meaning )

2. was probably vs. once probably being ( Verb Tense & Meaning )

3. How the end ( Hint: Parallelism & Idioms! )

I know it may be tempting to start with #1 or #2 on the list. However, none of them will eliminate 2-3 options right off the bat, so let's save them for later if we need them. Instead, let's start with #3 on our list: Idioms & Parallelism.

A ruined structure found at Aqaba, Jordan, was probably a church as indicated in its eastward orientation and by its overall plan, as well as artifacts , such as glass-oil lamp fragments, found at the site.

X as well as Y

We need to make sure that both X and Y in this idiom are worded using parallel structure.

its eastward orientation and by its overall plan

artifacts

NOT PARALLEL

OK

(This option doesn't use the "as well as" idiom, so let's save it for later.)

its eastward orientation and overall plan

the artifacts

NOT PARALLEL

(This is also incorrect because it uses the phrase "but also," which needs another negative phrase such as "not only" or "not just" to go with it! We can also rule this out because it doesn't follow idiomatic formatting.)

its eastward orientation and overall plan

the artifacts

NOT PARALLEL

by its eastward orientation and overall plan

by the artifacts

PARALLEL/OK

We can eliminate options A, C, & D because they don't use parallelism for the "X as well as Y" idiom structure.

A ruined structure

was indicated by

INCORRECT

That a ruined structure

was probably a church

indicated by

CORRECT

There you have it - option E is the correct choice!

Hello Everyone!Let's tackle this question, one thing at a time, and narrow it down to the right answer quickly! First, here is the original question with the major differences highlighted inartifacts, such as glass-oil lamp fragments, found at the site.(A)found at Aqaba, Jordan,a church,(B)found at Aqaba, Jordan,a church,(C)found at Aqaba, Jordan,a church(D)found at Aqaba, Jordan,a church,(E)found at Aqaba, Jordan,a churchThere are a few things we can focus on here:If we look at the entire sentence, we can quickly spot the idiom we need to focus on:The idiom we're using here is:To help make this easier to spot, we'll go ahead and add the word "artifacts" to the end of each option. Here's how each one works out:(A) A ruined structure found at Aqaba, Jordan, was probably a church, as indicated in, as well as-->(B) A ruined structure found at Aqaba, Jordan, once probably being a church, was indicated by its eastward orientation, overall plan, and artifacts -->(C) Indicating that a ruined structure found at Aqaba, Jordan, was probably a church were, but also-->(D) A ruined structure found at Aqaba, Jordan, was probably a church, as indicates, as well as-->(E) That a ruined structure found at Aqaba, Jordan, was probably a church is indicated, as well as-->Now that we have this narrowed down to only 2 options, let's take a closer look at each one to determine which is the best choice:(B)found at Aqaba, Jordan, once probably being a church,its eastward orientation, overall plan, andThis isbecause it changes the intended meaning of the sentence. This sentence is trying to say that the structure was indicated by something, which doesn't make sense. The indication is that the structure used to be a church. The eastward orientation, overall plan, and artifacts aren't how we know it's a ruined structure - it's how we know that structure likely used to be a church.(E)found at Aqaba, Jordan,isits eastward orientation and overall plan, as well as by theThis is! It's the only option that uses parallel structure with the "X as well as Y" idiom. It also has a clear meaning - the ruined structure was probably a church, and then it lists the evidence to back up that indication.Don't study for the GMAT. Train for it._________________
Lancaster Countys engineer struck a conciliatory note recently in discussions with county commissioners in preparation for the annual tug of war over funding for road and bridge projects.

But Pam Dingman also warned that Lancaster County could be a couple of spring storms away from more painful bridge closures.

Im coming forward to you humbly saying that for more than 100 years the engineer and county board have sparred about how much money should go into infrastructure, Dingman said Thursday during the County Boards regular staff meeting.

I dont necessarily want to spar. But I would rather have an educated discussion with you about what we feel is important and what our level of service to our constituents is going to be.

Eleven bridges in the county are closed over concern that water has scoured away rock and sediment around supports, undermining their ability to support the weight of cars and trucks.

Forty-seven bridges are considered scour critical and have to be inspected after every 3-inch rainfall or every time waters run bank full for four hours. Normally, all bridges at least 24 feet long are inspected on a rotating two-year schedule.

Dingman, who is in her first elected term as engineer, oversees upgrading and maintaining county roads, but commissioners hold the purse strings, and last year they chopped $8 million from Dingmans budget request for replacing bridges and paving county roads.

The Engineers Office has a total annual budget of about $32 million, of which about $7.2 million comes from property taxes.

The budget tiff led to a contentious relationship. Last year, then-County Commissioner Larry Hudkins suggested the county hire a consultant to help Dingman with her duties, and Commissioner Bill Avery suggested she was closing bridges to get commissioners to increase her budget.

Dingman rejected the call to hire a consultant and denied playing politics, saying she has an ethical obligation to close bridges when they become unsafe.

Last week, she sought to smooth over the relationship and used the word humble several times.

When roads are closed, whether eight people or 1,000 people use them each day, the county gets complaints, she said.

Dingman has resisted publicly prioritizing specific bridges, much to the displeasure of some commissioners.

Last week, she explained she plans to rank road and bridge repairs by traffic counts and will put an emphasis on scour critical bridges, which have more stringent inspection requirements that eat up staff time.

That means repairs to bridges on paved roads will come before repairs to bridges on gravel roads.

"If its a paved road we know we have a much higher traffic count than a nonpaved road," she said.

There are at least two exceptions to the rule: two bridges in critical condition on 176th Street between Waverly Road and Bluff Road. While fewer than 100 cars use those bridges each day, if they were to close they would landlock two families and cut off access to fields for seven farmers, Dingman said.

Next on the list will be three short bridges on 148th Street, which has become a major economic corridor for the county, connecting Waverly to U.S. 34 and Nebraska 2. They and three other rural bridges will be replaced with culverts.

Another structure close to the top of the list is the bridge on Raymond Road west of First Street. It's the worst one in the county, earning a sufficiency rating of 31 on a scale of 0 to 100, Dingman said.

Closing the Raymond Road bridge, she said, would create a hardship for a large number of travelers.

We cant close stretches of road in Lancaster County where we have more than 1,000 cars a day, she said.

Her office has reduced the number of scour critical bridges in the county by 10 over the past year, although two were taken off the list by closing them permanently.

Commissioner Todd Wiltgen, who plans to be married later this year, said he learned a lesson in premarital classes that fits Lancaster County, too.

Were not alone, he said. Everyone has problems.

Across the country, I think engineers and boards are having struggles with this. Our infrastructure is crumbling and there isnt enough money.

More than 70 percent of bridges in the county were built between 1918 and 1979.

Lancaster County has 93 miles of paved roads in need of attention, 76 bridges are ready for replacement and about 32 miles of gravel roads have traffic counts high enough to warrant paving, Dingman has said.
The interior minister explained that one of the village planning [ #permalink

adkikani wrote:

haritrathi94



Here is how I would break it down:



The interior minister explained



that (presence of that suggests another dependent clause)



one of the best characteristics of the villages planning proposal was



that



it did not detract from the projects overall benefit by being a burden on the development budget.



generis



I at times falter for 10 s to know verb for phrases such as one of the best characteristics

The reason why need a singular verb was to refer to above complete phrase and not

a plural verb characteristics is that a noun in the prepositional phrase cannot be a subject of the plural verb - were. Am I correct? Here is how I would break it down:Thethat (presence of that suggests another dependent clause)of the villages planning proposalthatfrom the projects overall benefit by being a burden on the development budget.I at times falter for 10 s to know verb for phrases such asThe reason why need a singular verbto refer to above complete phrase and nota plural verbis that a noun in the prepositional phrase cannot be a subject of the plural verb - were. Am I correct?

The object of a preposition cannot be the subject of the sentence.

some of whom, all of which

 C is correct because "one of the Xs" is singular, based on the rule below. C's verb, WAS, is singular.

 Summary of the rule

one of the Xs

ONE OF THE Xs

that/who

Look for the words that or who after "one of the Xs."

that

who

one of the Xs

plural

that

who

one of the Xs

singular

Explanation of the rule

only one

does

one

does

not

many

do

Many

do

Singular

One of the athletes [Colin Kaepernick] protests injustice by taking a knee.

Meaning: He is the only athlete who chooses "taking a knee" to protest injustice.

without

Only one

does

many

do

Plural - "one of the Xs" that/who VERB

He is one of the athletes WHO protest injustice by taking a knee.

Meaning: There are many athletes who protest by taking a knee.

There is a group of athletes who all protest by taking a knee, and he is one of (he is part of) that group .

He is one of many who protest in that way.

The only thing more dangerous than ignorance is arrogance. ~Einstein





I stand with Ukraine.

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Since arriving in Johannesburg, South Africa, from his native King Williams Town in Eastern Cape, Mayenzeke Shiyani has had a hole in the wall on Commissioner Street as home.

These peculiar living arrangements have attracted a whole lot of people, who have come around to see this odd scene. Shiyani comments he misses many things from his original home, including his two sisters, his mother, and waking up to Morvite, Weetbix and Jungle Oats for breakfast.

He now spends most of his time neatly tucked away inside the large cavity, which is long enough to hold him completely stretched out in a sleeping position. It is not very high nonetheless, only about two feet tall.

He does not leave his hole very often, only to wash himself, buy some food, or sit around to hear his favorite radio stations on the small transmitter device he always carries with him.

The hours he is normally away are between 2 pm and 6 pm. I walk to the filling station with my two-liter bottle to fetch water to bath by the corner."

PAY ATTENTION: Get all the latest gossips on NAIJ Gossip App

People get curious about Shiyani's peculiar living arrangements.

The only other few possessions he has are a digital watch, some fake gold bands, a backpack, his ID book, which he has filled with photos and a poster.

His present 'chambers' may be quite humble but Shiyani has the tiny space very neatly organized and clean. Many people pass him by but do not manage to see him, because the space is partially hidden behind trees, which gives him a relative privacy. There are many homeless sleeping around the station, Captain Xoli Mbele, from the nearby Johannesburg Central Police station said.

Shiyani claims he is a high-ranking clan member back in his hometown, and a leader of soldiers, but has not made it clear yet what his intentions in Johannesburg are.

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
I am going to put it plainly. When it comes to funding for our public schools, Nebraska is out of balance. Public schools are forced to overly rely on property taxes. Each year as we enter the budgeting process at Lincoln Public Schools, where I sit on the board, there is a standard presentation we get from staff and one slide in particular comes to mind.

This slide ranks all 50 states on their funding of school districts. Each year Nebraska is ranked 49th ... 49th in state funding for schools from income and sales tax. This forces many school districts in towns and cities across the state to rely too much on property taxes for funding.

It is time for property tax reform in Nebraska. I am glad to count myself alongside the more than 17,000 signatures collected by Reform for Nebraskas future and the Journal Stars editorial board in this line of thinking. For years, Nebraskas state leaders have lauded the need for property tax relief leading to small property tax credits. It is time for a complete reassessment and realignment of our tax strategy in Nebraska.

I dont believe it was an intentional action by any one person or industry that has led to the fact that 48 percent of public funding in the state comes from property taxes (estimate by the Farm Bureau). A slow creep over time has led us to this out of balance state. A more well-rounded balance of equal portions of tax from property, sales and income taxes is a better solution for all public entities, and especially for our public schools. Nebraskas schools are too dependent on property owners under current tax policy. This over-reliance on property taxes does not make sense and endangers such a critical investment like education.

State officials, if you are serious about lowering property taxes, please do the hard work of reforming them rather than pushing the easy button and providing minimal property tax relief. If you want to see property taxes lowered, help us create a more diverse balance of funding for public schools. Diverse funding will create greater certainty in the investment we are making in our childrens future.

As a school board member I would love to lower our property tax levy, and we clearly could lower it a bit while continuing to provide great education for our students, but in order to significantly lower property taxes without jeopardizing the investment into our childrens future, we need to alter our tax policy and diversify funding for public education.

Fellow Nebraskans, if you agree with the position that we need property tax reform in lieu of another small property tax relief package, you can join the movement to push for property tax reform by advocating to your state senator, local government bodies and signing the petition at ReformForNebraskasFuture.com.
The Journal Star likes the kumbayah moments of no discord between the City Council and the Mayor ("Good to sidestep snakepit at City Hall," Jan. 30).

While everyone wants rational discussion and polite airing of differences, there is no delight when the members of an elected body have total agreement and niceties are displayed.

Democracy does not allow for a good outcome when one side rules without first a thoughtful presentation of many sides of an issue. This form of government is, in and of itself, messy.

Nor does it see cooperation as always a desired outcome or ethical one. An example is how, since 2011, PC Sports, an Iowa company, has earned over $6 million from JPA/Haymarket and another nearly $1 million from the City without competitive bids. The City Charter gives our Mayor that power.

Research shows that the owner, Paula Portz, had her husband give $1,000 on March 23, 2011 to the Mayor's campaign. No wonder she could purchase the company while on contract for Lincoln enterprises. Indeed, other companies followed this practice and received huge contracts, such as Mortenson Construction, Hampton Enterprises and others.

Nebraska and Lincoln have no "pay for play" laws. Some states do. Some see this as a type of corruption, as does Craig Holman of Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group in Washington, D.C.

All this in wonderful Lincoln. Too bad, officials have not made this issue a legal priority. It should be. Perhaps then there would be no budget shortfalls and tax increases.

Jane Kinsey, Spokesperson for Watchdogs of Lincoln Government, Lincoln
HMD Global launched the first Nokia-branded phone in January. The Nokia 6 is a mid-range Android smartphone that sells for about $245 in China.

Now HMD is getting ready to bring the phone to other markets along with a few other Nokia smartphones. Thats according to a VentureBeat report from Evan Blass, who knows a thing of two about leaks.

HMD Global Oy is the Finnish company that acquired the right to sell Nokia-branded smartphones from Microsoft last year. The company also includes some former Nokia executives, so the Nokia influence on these new phones isnt just skin deep.

According to Blass, heres what we can expect HMD to unveil at Mobile World Congress later this month:

Nokia 6  a 5.5 inch full HD phone with a 5.5 inch phone, a Snapdragon 430 CPU, 4GB of RAM, and a 16MP camera for 249

 a 5.5 inch full HD phone with a 5.5 inch phone, a Snapdragon 430 CPU, 4GB of RAM, and a 16MP camera for 249 Nokia 5  a 5.2 inch, 720p model with SD 430, 2GB RAM, and a 12MP camera 199

 a 5.2 inch, 720p model with SD 430, 2GB RAM, and a 12MP camera 199 Nokia 3  Entry-level model for 149

The company also reportedly plans to launch an update to the classic Nokia 3310 candybar-style phone. There arent many details about this new model yet, but the original Nokia 3310 launched in 2000 and earned a reputation as a workhorse of the pre-smartphone space thanks to its durable design and strong feature set.
I put together my guide to March beer and bar events earlier this week, and I came up basically empty for International Women's Day Celebrations, outside of a few dinners. (Mari Vanna, for example, promises "romantic" meals with free roses for ladies.)

There are a lot of women involved in Washington's restaurant and bar scene: Jamie Leeds of the Hank's Oyster Bar/Cocktail Bar/Pasta Bar empire; Gina Chersevani of Buffalo and Bergen; Julie Verratti and Emily Bruno of Denizens Brewing Company; Amy Bowman of the Black Squirrel, and so on.

Oh, and I should add that I've been enjoying beers from Old Ox, where Allison Lange became the head brewer in the Fall.




Kindly note that all photos on this site, unless otherwise stated, were taken by me. Please do not copy without permission.





I would love to hear from you. Drop me a line at: stories(d0t)scribbles(at)gmail(dot)com
For most of my life, I have thought of my country as a world leader.

Having lived through World War II, I remember how proud I was of our victory, how hopeful I was when we founded the United Nations and how I felt when we were willing to house the Secretariat and General Assembly in our country.

I applauded our resolve to build up the ravaged nations of Europe through the Marshall Plan and to treat our enemies, Germany and Japan, as the sites for the building of liberal democracies.

Our support for effective international cooperation and human rights held together in opposition to Soviet imperialism. Colonies emerging as nations took us as the model of a peaceful democracy.

We may have engaged in fruitless military interventions, but usually backed off before losing world respect.

We accepted refugees, including those who had helped us in military action, and were aided by those who brought knowledge and skills to our country.

We tried to create a world economy whose aim was development in a context of interdependence. We helped eliminate common diseases around the world.

Our world leadership was accepted because we wanted for others the good life we worked to create for ourselves.

I am therefore saddened that, in just a few weeks, we have been asked to turn our backs on refugees and to weaken, reject or ignore the institutions of international cooperation: our treaties, NATO and the United Nations.

Most other nations know that ending terrorism, climate change and poverty require cooperation and common goals. If we claim to want only our own safety and prosperity, we will see other nations reject our leadership and leave us behind.

Bob Haller, Lincoln
This high-resolution transmission electron micrograph of particles made by the research team shows the particles highly uniform size and shape. These are iron oxide particles just 3 nanometers across, coated with a zwitterion layer. Their small size means they can easily be cleared through the kidneys after injection. Credit: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

A new, specially coated iron oxide nanoparticle developed by a team at MIT and elsewhere could provide an alternative to conventional gadolinium-based contrast agents used for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures. In rare cases, the currently used gadolinium agents have been found to produce adverse effects in patients with impaired kidney function.

The advent of MRI technology, which is used to observe details of specific organs or blood vessels, has been an enormous boon to medical diagnostics over the last few decades. About a third of the 60 million MRI procedures done annually worldwide use contrast-enhancing agents, mostly containing the element gadolinium. While these contrast agents have mostly proven safe over many years of use, some rare but significant side effects have shown up in a very small subset of patients. There may soon be a safer substitute thanks to this new research.

In place of gadolinium-based contrast agents, the researchers have found that they can produce similar MRI contrast with tiny nanoparticles of iron oxide that have been treated with a zwitterion coating. (Zwitterions are molecules that have areas of both positive and negative electrical charges, which cancel out to make them neutral overall.) The findings are being published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, in a paper by Moungi Bawendi, the Lester Wolfe Professor of Chemistry at MIT; He Wei, an MIT postdoc; Oliver Bruns, an MIT research scientist; Michael Kaul at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany; and 15 others.

Contrast agents, injected into the patient during an MRI procedure and designed to be quickly cleared from the body by the kidneys afterwards, are needed to make fine details of organ structures, blood vessels, and other specific tissues clearly visible in the images. Some agents produce dark areas in the resulting image, while others produce light areas. The primary agents for producing light areas contain gadolinium.

Iron oxide particles have been largely used as negative (dark) contrast agents, but radiologists vastly prefer positive (light) contrast agents such as gadolinium-based agents, as negative contrast can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from certain imaging artifacts and internal bleeding. But while the gadolinium-based agents have become the standard, evidence shows that in some very rare cases they can lead to an untreatable condition called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, which can be fatal. In addition, evidence now shows that the gadolinium can build up in the brain, and although no effects of this buildup have yet been demonstrated, the FDA is investigating it for potential harm.

"Over the last decade, more and more side effects have come to light" from the gadolinium agents, Bruns says, so that led the research team to search for alternatives. "None of these issues exist for iron oxide," at least none that have yet been detected, he says.

The key new finding by this team was to combine two existing techniques: making very tiny particles of iron oxide, and attaching certain molecules (called surface ligands) to the outsides of these particles to optimize their characteristics. The iron oxide inorganic core is small enough to produce a pronounced positive contrast in MRI, and the zwitterionic surface ligand, which was recently developed by Wei and coworkers in the Bawendi research group, makes the iron oxide particles water-soluble, compact, and biocompatible.

The combination of a very tiny iron oxide core and an ultrathin ligand shell leads to a total hydrodynamic diameter of 4.7 nanometers, below the 5.5-nanometer renal clearance threshold. This means that the coated iron oxide should quickly clear through the kidneys and not accumulate. This renal clearance property is an important feature where the particles perform comparably to gadolinium-based contrast agents.

Now that initial tests have demonstrated the particles' effectiveness as contrast agents, Wei and Bruns say the next step will be to do further toxicology testing to show the particles' safety, and to continue to improve the characteristics of the material. "It's not perfect. We have more work to do," Bruns says. But because iron oxide has been used for so long and in so many ways, even as an iron supplement, any negative effects could likely be treated by well-established protocols, the researchers say. If all goes well, the team is considering setting up a startup company to bring the material to production.

For some patients who are currently excluded from getting MRIs because of potential side effects of gadolinium, the new agents "could allow those patients to be eligible again" for the procedure, Bruns says. And, if it does turn out that the accumulation of gadolinium in the brain has negative effects, an overall phase-out of gadolinium for such uses could be needed. "If that turned out to be the case, this could potentially be a complete replacement," he says.

The research team included researchers in MIT's chemistry, biological engineering, nuclear science and engineering, brain and cognitive sciences, and materials science and engineering departments and its program in Health Sciences and Technology; and at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf; Brown University; and the Massachusetts General Hospital. It was supported by the MIT-Harvard NIH Center for Cancer Nanotechnology, the Army Research Office through MIT's Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, the NIH-funded Laser Biomedical Research Center, the MIT Deshpande Center, and the European Union Seventh Framework Program.

More information: He Wei et al, Exceedingly small iron oxide nanoparticles as positive MRI contrast agents, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2017). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1620145114 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
The American College of Physicians (ACP) recommends in an evidence-based clinical practice guideline published today in Annals of Internal Medicine that physicians and patients should treat acute or subacute low back pain with non-drug therapies such as superficial heat, massage, acupuncture, or spinal manipulation. If drug therapy is desired, physicians and patients should select nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or skeletal muscle relaxants.

Low back pain is one of the most common reasons for all physician visits in the U.S. Most Americans have experienced low back pain. Approximately one quarter of U.S. adults reported having low back pain lasting at least one day in the past three months. Pain is categorized as acute (lasting less than four weeks), subacute (lasting four to 12 weeks, and chronic (lasting more than 12 weeks).

"Physicians should reassure their patients that acute and subacute low back pain usually improves over time regardless of treatment," said Nitin S. Damle, MD, MS, MACP, president, ACP. "Physicians should avoid prescribing unnecessary tests and costly and potentially harmful drugs, especially narcotics, for these patients."

The evidence showed that acetaminophen was not effective at improving pain outcomes versus placebo. Low-quality evidence showed that systemic steroids were not effective in treating acute or subacute low back pain.

For patients with chronic low back pain, ACP recommends that physicians and patients initially select non-drug therapy with exercise, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, acupuncture, mindfulness-based stress reduction, tai chi, yoga, motor control exercise (MCE), progressive relaxation, electromyography biofeedback, low level laser therapy, operant therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or spinal manipulation.

"For the treatment of chronic low back pain, physicians should select therapies that have the fewest harms and costs, since there were no clear comparative advantages for most treatments compared to one another," Dr. Damle said. "Physicians should remind their patients that any of the recommended physical therapies should be administered by providers with appropriate training."

For patients with chronic low back pain who have had an inadequate response to non-drug therapy, ACP recommends that physicians and patients consider treatment with NSAIDs as first line therapy; or tramadol or duloxetine as second line therapy. Physicians should only consider opioids as an option in patients who have failed the aforementioned treatments and only if the potential benefits outweigh the risks for individual patients and after a discussion of known risks and realistic benefits with patients.

"Physicians should consider opioids as a last option for treatment and only in patients who have failed other therapies, as they are associated with substantial harms, including the risk of addiction or accidental overdose," said Dr. Damle.

"Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain" is based on a systematic review of randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews published on noninvasive pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments of nonradicular low back pain. Clinical outcomes evaluated included reduction or elimination of low back pain, improvement in back-specific and overall function, improvement in health-related quality of life, reduction in work disability/return to work, global improvement, number of back pain episodes or time between episodes, patient satisfaction, and adverse effects.

The evidence was insufficient or lacking to determine treatments for radicular low back pain. The evidence also was insufficient for most physical modalities and for which patients are likely to benefit from which specific therapy. The guideline does not address topical therapies or epidural injection therapies.

ACP's clinical practice guidelines are developed through a rigorous process based on an extensive review of the highest quality evidence available, including randomized control trials and data from observational studies. ACP also identifies gaps in evidence and direction for future research through its guidelines development process.

ACP's previous recommendations for treating low back pain were published in "Diagnosis and Treatment of Low Back Pain: A Joint Clinical Practice Guideline from the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society" in 2007. Some evidence has changed since the 2007 guideline and supporting evidence reviews. The 2007 guideline did not assess mindfulness-based stress reduction, MCE, taping, or tai chi.
Dr. Kapil D. Sethi, neurologist at the Medical College of Georgia Department of Neurology and Movement Disorders Program at Augusta University. Credit: Phil Jones

Constant infusion of a drug now used intermittently to "rescue" patients with Parkinson's from bouts of immobility may also help avoid these debilitating symptoms and smooth out their movement throughout the day, physician-scientists say.

"As presently used, this therapy helps bridge a gap," said Dr. Kapil D. Sethi, neurologist at the Medical College of Georgia Department of Neurology and Movement Disorders Program at Augusta University.

He's referencing debilitating in-between times when the oral Parkinson's medication levodopa stops working and patients may experience periods of slow or even no movement without warning. That's when they may reach for apomorphine, a dopamine receptor agonist currently available in a prefilled syringe, which quickly and directly activates dopamine receptors in the brain. Levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which typically enables the brain to control movement, are substantially reduced in Parkinson's disease as dopamine-producing cells inexplicably become damaged and die.

The nearly 50-year-old standard treatment, levodopa, which is typically taken in tablet or capsule form and converts to dopamine when it reaches the brain, has a short half-life. Most patients must take it four times daily, but those with more advanced disease may need to take it up to eight or nine times, Sethi said. Over time, particularly young patients may experience more bouts of slowness even freezing of movement until their next levodopa dose kicks in. That in-between time is when some patients now reach for the injectable form of apomorphine as a rescue.

"Anything that can get consistent levodopa levels in the brain or constantly stimulate dopamine receptors can really improve somebody's quality of life," Sethi said. MCG and the AU Movement Disorders Program are among up to 20 sites across the nation enrolling up to 60 patients in a study that will primarily assess the safety of constant subcutaneous infusion of the apomorphine over 18 hours daily.

"We know it works," said Sethi. In fact, injectable apomorphine works quickly - in about 10 minutes - but effects last only about 30-40 minutes. By then, the oral medication, like levodopa, should have kicked in. "The new formulation will work constantly," said Sethi, ideally smoothing out these rough spots for patients.

With the right patient and right amount, the MCG movement disorders specialists and their patients already have seen injectable apomorphine work. "It's really dramatic. We have seen patients come in wheelchair-bound, and you give them a shot, and within 10 or 15 minutes, they are walking almost normally again," Sethi said. "The problem is you can't take enough injections to keep your movement smoothly on, he said. And, despite its swift action, some patients just don't want to use an injectable drug.

The infusion approach, which works much like a modern insulin pump, should also enable an eventual and significant reduction in doses of levodopa, Sethi said. The more uniform dosing also has the potential to decrease dyskinesia - uncontrolled movement, rather than just frozen movement - over time, since the peaks and valleys of drug action seem to contribute to it, he said.

Researchers will be collecting data on whether this form of therapy reduces off time and increases on time for patients with advanced disease. Participants are keeping diaries of how well they could move for the three days prior to each of their 10 study visits. Eligible patients must have an average of at least three hours daily of off time despite their existing treatment strategy and be age 30 to 80. They can have used the injectable form of the drug but will need to be weaned off it for about a week before starting the study.

Continuous apomorphine infusion was approved for use in the United Kingdom a dozen years ago. Unlike many clinical studies where some patients get the drug under investigation and others get placebo, all patients in this study will receive the drug for up to 52 weeks with the option of continuing to receive it until the Food and Drug Administration approves its usage in the United States or until the study is stopped.

New participants will be brought to the clinic for about four hours so proper dosing can be established.

Parkinson's disease is the second-most common neurodegenerative disorder in the United States, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Parkinson's is typically diagnosed at age 60 years or older, but about 5 to 10 percent of patients are diagnosed before age 50, according to the NINDS.

The cause(s) of Parkinson's is essentially unknown although some individuals appear to have a genetic susceptibility in combination with likely multiple environmental factors, Sethi said. "It's ubiquitous; it's all over the world," he said. Patients who develop Parkinson's tend to be previously healthy nonsmokers who generally take good care of themselves.

Symptoms can include hand tremors that decrease with movement, a slowness of movement that makes walking difficult so patients may develop a shuffling gait, and dementia may surface after several years. However, there may be subtle, seemingly nonspecific symptoms for 20 years prior that can include lack of the normal paralysis that occurs during REM, or rapid eye movement sleep, when you tend to dream so patients may quite literally act out their dreams.

"They talk in their sleep, they kick in their sleep, they may fall out of bed because they were fighting some demons in the middle of the night while they were sleeping," Sethi said. Problems with constipation may be an early sign that muscle control is slipping, and a reduced sense of smell also is common in this neurological disorder.

"Parkinson's is a very widespread disorder. Wherever the nerves go, they can be affected in multiple different types of systems," Sethi said.

Most diagnoses are made from symptoms although sophisticated brain studies, including magnetic resonance imaging or the DaTscan, which helps determine the location and availability of dopamine in the brain, can be helpful particularly if there are any unusual symptoms.

There is currently no injectable form of levodopa, but an infused form is under development. An inhalable and likely faster-acting form of the drug also is in the late stage of development and has already had some testing at some centers such as MCG and AU Health. A form of rescue apomorphine that can be placed under the tongue and won't require shots also is under development, along with other drug treatment options.

Patients can also have deep brain stimulation, a surgical procedure that uses a pacemaker-like device to block electrical impulses that result in a wide range of abnormal movements. The procedure can also help smooth out patient movement.

For more information about the apomorphine infusion study, contact Dedi McLane, clinical research assistant, at 706-721-4912. The clinical study is funded by US WorldMeds, developers of apomorphine continuous subcutaneous infusion.
(HealthDay)The main risk factor for developing radiation-induced optic neuropathy (RION) is radiation dose, with no indication of other significant risk factors, according to a study published online Feb. 9 in Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology.

Ian Ferguson, from Washington University in St. Louis, and colleagues conducted a retrospective case-control study at a university hospital tertiary care center. They identified 14 cases meeting criteria for a diagnosis of RION by neuro-ophthalmologic exam. Cases were matched with 31 controls without RION based upon maximum radiation dose to the optic apparatus. The authors examined patient characteristics and treatment parameters for attributes predisposing to RION in univariate analysis.

The researchers found that there were no significant associations for alternative risk factors after controlling for radiation dosage.

"These results support the literature suggesting that the primary risk factor for developing RION is radiation dosage and that additional, patient- and tumor-related risk factors may play only a minor role," the authors write.

Copyright  2017 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Annual septic shock incidence trends at 27 US academic medical centers using the clinical surveillance definition versus ICD-9 codes, 2005-2014. Credit: CHEST

Sepsis is a major public health problem and the focus of national quality measures and performance improvement initiatives. Understanding what is happening with sepsis rates and outcomes is thus an area of great importance. However, tracking sepsis rates and outcomes is challenging because it is a heterogeneous syndrome without a definitive "gold standard" test. In the February issue of Chest, investigators compared the effectiveness of claims-based surveillance using ICD-9 codes with clinical-based data and specific diagnostic parameters. Their findings suggest that surveillance based on clinical criteria is a more reliable way to track cases of septic shock.

"Our results underscore the challenges in tracking sepsis and septic shock using diagnosis billing codes, which is the current method typically used for epidemiologic studies as well as quality measures. We show, however, that an alternative surveillance method using clinical data is feasible and may provide more reliable estimates of trends over time," explained co-lead investigator Chanu Rhee, MD, MPH, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School/Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA.

Researchers examined data from 27 academic hospitals between 2005-2014 and looked for cases of septic shock using two different methods: claims data and clinical data. For claims-based surveillance, they located cases with septic shock-related ICD-9 billing codes. For clinical surveillance, they looked for patients who received concurrent vasopressors, blood culture orders, and antibiotics. When compared, they showed the sensitivity was higher for the clinical criteria than for the claims (74.8 percent versus 48.3 percent) relative to medical record reviews, but positive predictive value was comparable (83 percent versus 89 percent).

The greatest differences the team found came when looking at septic shock trends over time. Investigators found that with clinical data, septic shock cases rose from 12.8 to 18.6 per 1,000 hospitalizations, while mortality declined from 54.9 percent to 50.7 percent. Meanwhile, the results from ICD-9 codes show a much larger jump, from 6.7 to 19.3 cases per 1,000 hospitalizations, while mortality decreased from 48.3 percent to 39.3 percent.

"The incidence of patients with discharge codes or clinical markers indicative of treated septic shock steadily rose during the 10-year surveillance period, and in-hospital mortality for this population declined," stated Dr. Rhee. "The magnitude of these trends was considerably less when using clinical data compared with claims codes. Clinician record reviews suggested that clinical surveillance definitions for septic shock provide greater sensitivity and comparable positive predictive value than billing codes."

While both datasets showed an increase in cases and a decline in mortality, the clinical numbers suggest this shift has been much less dramatic than previously believed. "Tracking trends in septic shock incidence and outcomes is critical to informing the allocation of health care resources and interpreting the impact of sepsis prevention and treatment initiatives," said Dr. Rhee. "However, it remains unclear whether claims-based reports of dramatic rises in sepsis and septic shock incidence and declining case fatality rates reflect more infections, better recognition, more aggressive treatment, and/or more comprehensive coding."

Investigators also observed that other factors may influence the statistics about septic shock mortality. As more patients opt to leave the hospital setting for end-of-life care at a hospice, the number of hospital deaths from septic shock is declining. "Not accounting for this evolving societal preference can exaggerate the overall impression of improving outcomes," noted Dr. Rhee.

While septic shock continues to be an important area of focus for practitioners and public health experts, tracking clinical data may prove to be a better way to accurately observe septic shock trends. "The imperfect sensitivity of codes as well as our clinical surveillance definition suggest that both methods may still underestimate the true burden of septic shock," concluded Dr. Rhee. "However, surveillance-based clinical data may allow for more reliable estimates of septic shock burden and trends compared with administrative data."

More information: Sameer S. Kadri et al, Estimating Ten-Year Trends in Septic Shock Incidence and Mortality in United States Academic Medical Centers Using Clinical Data, Chest (2017). Journal information: Chest Sameer S. Kadri et al, Estimating Ten-Year Trends in Septic Shock Incidence and Mortality in United States Academic Medical Centers Using Clinical Data,(2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2016.07.010
Researchers at KAUST have uncovered a gene circulating in the Jeddah wastewater networks that confers resistance to last-resort antibiotics. The team also showed that a gene is carried by a strongly resistant strain of E.coli, PI7, which can survive for long distances through the municipal wastewater system. Credit: Pei-Ying Hong

An antibiotic resistant strain of bacteria found circulating in Jeddah's municipal wastewater could have severe implications for public health.

The dramatic rise in bacterial superbugs that are resistant to last-resort antibiotics poses a significant global health threat. Recently, KAUST researchers uncovered incidences of a resistance-conferring gene carried by bacteria in municipal wastewater in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The recently discovered New Delhi metallo beta-lactamase enzyme (NDM), which is carried by the blaNDM-1 gene, confers resistance to last-resort antibiotics called carbapenems. Without carbapenems, our ability to tackle potentially lethal bacterial infections is greatly reduced. The situation is exacerbated by people travelling widely, enabling resistant bacteria to spread further and faster than ever before.

"There has been an increase in infections caused by NDM-positive bacteria reported in hospitals across the Gulf," explained Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering and member of the University's Water Desalination and Reuse Center Pei-Ying Hong, who led the project team. "We began to wonder if viable NDM-positive pathogens were circulating in local communities via presence in Jeddah's municipal wastewater networks. We were also interested to see if pathogen levels spiked during times of religious pilgrimage, a time when millions of people come to Saudi Arabia from across the world."

One problem with the current infrastructure in Jeddah is that only around 50 percent of wastewater is treated in centralized sewage plants. The remainder is partially treated in septic tanks and later discharged into the environment.

Hong's team used the state-of-the art equipment in the University's Bioscience Core Lab to analyze wastewater from a Jeddah treatment plant over the course of a year. Using a molecular technique, they found that up to 104 copies of blaNDM-1 were present in every cubic meter of wastewater. While the abundance of the gene fluctuated throughout the year, there was no spike during the Hajj pilgrimage, suggesting that blaNDM-1 was already locally prevalent in bacterial communities.

When the team identified that the gene was carried by a strain of Escherichia coli called PI7, they conducted genomic investigations into E. coli PI7 to reveal concerning results.

"E.coli PI7 possesses a resistance profile organized in a genetic structure that is similar to one discovered in another bacterium in Taiwan," said the study's first author Ph.D. student David Mantilla-Calderon. "This highlights the global mobility of this genetic structure. Not only this, but E. coli PI7 is resistant to a wide spectrum of antibiotics and its genetic make-up encourages gene transfer to other bacteria." The results also indicate that E. coli PI7 remains viable even after passing through sewage networks over long distances. This raises questions about its potential environmental persistence.

Hong told us that further investigations into the persistence of blaNDM-1 in the environment are vital. She also stressed the importance of improving wastewater treatment infrastructures and of having careful surveillance of pathogens in such networks.

More information: David Mantilla-Calderon et al. Isolation and Characterization of NDM-Positive Escherichia coli from Municipal Wastewater in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (2016). Journal information: Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy David Mantilla-Calderon et al. Isolation and Characterization of NDM-Positive Escherichia coli from Municipal Wastewater in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,(2016). DOI: 10.1128/AAC.00236-16
South Africa will start commissioning new energy capacity by 2022 at the earliest, the Department of Energy said on Tuesday.

The department briefed Parliaments portfolio committee on energy on the Integrated Energy Plan (IEP) and the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which were released last year for public comment.

The department said the initial energy capacity in the base case scenario (the starting point) will come from a combination of photo-voltaic (PV) energy, wind and gas.

Commissioning for the base load power, the department said, would be highly linked to Eskoms plant retirement schedule and would include:

conventional base load, which is coal, by 2028

nuclear by 2037

1 000MW of hydropower around 2030

With regard to the energy mix, the department said gas and renewable energy would form the biggest chunk of installed energy capacity by 2050 and there would be a significant reduction in the installed capacity from coal.

Nuclear and coal will however contribute the most to the volume of energy mix that will be supplied by 2050.

Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson in November last year announced details of South Africas energy master plan  governments plans for electricity provision within the approved energy mix leading up to the year 2050.

The IEP and the IRP were subsequently gazetted for public comment and engagement on November 25 2016.

The IEP is a roadmap of the future energy landscape for South Africa, which should serve as a guideline for future energy infrastructure investments and policy development in South Africa.

The structure of the IEP is based on current energy consumption in different sectors of the economy  from agriculture, commerce and industry to residential and transport  and uses this to project future energy requirements, based on different scenarios.

The scenarios on the other hand are based on various assumptions about economic development and the structure of the economy; they also take into account the impact of environmental, energy efficiency, transport and industrial policies.

The IRP  an updated version of an earlier IRP 2013-30 plan  was also reviewed taking cognisance of the additional generating capacity that has been added to the electricity grid and the lower projected electricity needs.

According to the updated energy plan, the nuclear procurement programme would only need to come on stream by 2037.

Eskom however indicated that it would still issue a tender for the construction of new nuclear power stations by December as it still remains possible under certain scenarios that nuclear power would be required by 2025.

The updated IRP stated that a base case or starting scenario would require an additional 20GW of nuclear power, 5.5GW of wind and solar PV energy, 40GW of gas and 15GW of coal power by 2050.

In the so-called base case scenario the IRP puts limitations on how much solar and wind power can be built.

The imposed limitations elicited fierce criticism from renewable energy experts, who said the constraints placed on renewable energy by the IRP are baseless and that government showed reluctance to embrace renewable energy in South Africa.

President Jacob Zuma In his State of the Nation Address on Thursday surprised when he committed government to South Africas continued investment in renewable energy as part of its overall energy mix.

Eskom has since the middle of last year stalled the final budget quotes to preferred bidders in Round 4 and the Round 4 extension of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme.

Zuma however said that planned investments in renewable energy would go ahead.

Fin24

Now read: Flow battery could run for more than 10 years
Uber is facing resistance in South Africa, with traditional taxi operators demanding the suspension of the service until their concerns are addressed.

Taxi operators have joined forces under the #UberMustFall banner and continue to intimidate Uber drivers using violence.

In a recent incident at the Rosebank Gautrain station, taxi drivers armed with knobkerries screamed at Uber drivers and urged other taxi operators to join their cause.

The Pretoria News reported that provincial metered taxi operators feel the Uber service must fall because it is unfair to other taxi operators.

One of the biggest concerns is Ubers fee structure, which is lower than metered taxis.

Uber charges much less than us, because we operate as cabs and they as charter services. This means we charge per trip and they per person, said a driver.

The taxi operators said the playing field is not level, as Uber drivers do not require the same permits as they do.

EFF deputy chair of Tshwane Moafrika Mabogwane told The Citizen they helped the metered taxi operators organise a march against Uber last week.

We agree with their issues. Until these consultations happen, Uber and tuk-tuks must not operate, said Mabogwane.

Uber responds to taxi violence

Uber Africa spokesperson Samantha Allenberg said the small group of metered taxi operators dont reflect the sentiments of the industry.

Uber has been open to engaging with metered taxis since launch in South Africa, said Allenberg.

Many metered taxi drivers have, in fact, already been using Uber to get more passengers.

She said Uber is committed to the safety of everyone who uses the service.

All driver-partners across South Africa have access to an emergency number. This number provides them with access to a control room who will provide assistance in the event of an emergency.

We have an emergency response team that has been trained to assist a driver-partner in the case of a serious incident.

Uber is also piloting an SOS button in Johannesburg for driver-partners.

In addition to this, we ran a four-week test pilot that saw impact dashboard cameras being installed into select vehicles in Cape Town, said Allenberg.

We are deeply committed to the safety of both riders and drivers.

Now read: UberEATS expanding to more areas in Gauteng and Cape Town
YEREVAN.  According to everyone, one of the key problems of Armenia is the presence of the shadow in the countrys economy, according to 168 Zham (Hours) newspaper.

However, the shadow that exists in the political arena [of Armenia] is no lessand perhaps moreimportant.

The [political] forces that prepare to run in the elections [in the country] do everything in the shadow (). Everything happens secretly from the society, but it is presented as a process that stems from the benefit of the society.

And, by and large, in the upcoming parliamentary elections we will see the shadows battle between the power and the power, the power and the opposition, [and] the opposition and the opposition. [But] no place is given to the public in this battle, except for recording this or that shadows victory on Election Day, wrote 168 Zham.
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Stoltenberg: The alliance has no plans to change nuclear positions and deployments

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Bayramov: Azerbaijan, Armenia leaders next meeting will take place in Brussels this month

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Rally of unity in support of Karabakh kicks off in downtown Yerevan

Pentagon announces sending 8 NASAMS air defense systems to Ukraine

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Armenia Security Council chief to head for Poland, Netherlands, Lithuania

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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

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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
World War II was so massive in its destruction of all things human, environmental and material on Earth that it must never happen again. In its aftermath, thanks to the efforts of many people and nations, a worldwide United Nations organization and a framework of alliances emerged, whereby former enemies have become allies and no major conflicts have occurred over the intervening about 75 years, a major achievement. In all this, the United States has rightfully had a leadership role.

Now, the Donald Trump administration seldom, if ever, shows any understanding or respect for this history and recklessly goes forward with poorly conceived statements and actions that threaten the framework of peace that is in place. Its lack of regard for the integrity of other nations and the citizens of the world, trade and other alliances is appalling.

What can we the people do? I urge everyone to make their wishes known. I also hope the legislative and judicial branches of our government will stand firm to stop and or correct these actions, many of which clearly conflict with our nation's Constitution.

Robert L. Johnson, Hastings
YEREVAN.  The Armenia-European Union (EU) talks have reached the finish line, French Ambassador Jean-Francois Charpentier said at a press conference on Tuesday.

The diplomat noted that these negotiations are expected to be completed in the next few days, and this implies the signing of an agreement.

There are still a few unsettled provisions, stated Charpentier. [But] the negotiations are in progress under quite favorable conditions.

The ambassador added that a mutually beneficial agreement will be signed in the near future.

France, being a supporter of the deepening of Armenia-EU relations, can only express satisfaction in this connection, said the ambassador.

Jean-Francois Charpentier stressed that once the agreement is signed, it will be important to expand cooperation in economy, politics, development of democracy, and building a country of law.
YEREVAN.  The electronic system, which is introduced for the upcoming parliamentary election in Armenia, aims to increase trust in elections, French Ambassador Jean-Francois Charpentier said at a press conference on Tuesday.

When asked about the details of the election process in Armenia, however, the ambassador noted that he is a foreign citizen, and therefore he cannot speak about the domestic politics of the country.

This matter is that of the authorities and citizens of Armenia, added the French diplomat. A process which we accept and respect.

As for the installation of video cameras at the polling stations in Armenia, Charpentier stated that the objective here is not so much the improvement of technical measures, but, rather, the strengthening of trust in elections.

To see to it that the Armenian voter believes that all measures are taken so that he can freely express his will, he added.

As per the French diplomat, this is why the EU had decided to assist in the installation of technical measures and to cooperate in the form of 7 million.

We all want for the elections to be conducted in the best way, stressed Jean-Francois Charpentier. Seven million euros are serious money; it reflects the EUs wish that the elections are held better and are successful.
YEREVAN.  French entrepreneurs will get familiarized with the business climate in Armenia, French Ambassador Jean-Francois Charpentier noted at a press conference on Tuesday.

The ambassador stated that France is actively working with new Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan of Armenia, and closely following the countrys economic policy.

In tax policy, monopoly, [and] fight against corruption, said the diplomat. We cannot omit what is aimed at improving the business climate.

In Charpentiers words, the plan for the development of Armenian-French economic relations envisions two major events: The Development Foundation of Armenia will introducein Francethe opportunities of Armenia, and present its business climate and advantages. And within the framework of his visit to Paris, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan is expected to meet with the Association of Entrepreneurs.
Oleg Kravchenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, on Monday delivered a lecture, entitled Belarus and its Neighbors, at Carleton University in Ottawa, the capital city of Canada.

Representatives of the Armenian Students Association of Ottawa and the Armenian National Committee of Canada also attended the event.

A Q&A was held after the lecture, and during which the Canadian Armenian students asked a barrage of questions to the Belarus deputy FM, and which were exclusively in regard to Israeli Russian blogger Alexander Lapshins extradition from Belarus to Azerbaijan, and overall, the human rights violations in Belarus. Oleg Kravchenko, however, became perplexed and gave contradicting answers to these queries.

During his lecture, Kravchenko drew similarities between Canada and Belarus. But to the remark that Canada is a democratic state, whereas the president of Belarus rules the country in an autocratic manner for more than 20 years, the Belarusian deputy FM responded by just saying there are no flawless countries.

And responding to a question on the extradition of Lapshin, Kravchenko said: Sometimes the CIS [i.e. the Commonwealth of Independent States] conventions on extradition can contradict the UN conventions.

This view completely unmasks the true demeanor of Belarus, which is quite far from the UN conventions and numerous other international legal acts.

After his visits to Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) in 2011 and 2012, blogger Alexander Lapshin was blacklisted by Azerbaijan.

In June 2016, however, he paid a visit to Azerbaijan--but with a Ukrainian passport--and, subsequently, he published several articles criticizing the Azerbaijani authorities.

Afterward, Azerbaijan issued an international search for this famous blogger. On December 15, 2016, Lapshin was detained in the Belarusian capital city of Minsk, and based on this search.

On January 26 of the current year, the Minsk city court dismissed the blogger's appeal of the Belarusian General Prosecutor's Office decision to extradite him to Azerbaijan.

On February 7, the Supreme Court of Belarus dismissed the appeals that were filed into this case, and upheld the aforesaid decision by the General Prosecutor's Office.

On the evening of the same day, the famous blogger was extradited to the Azerbaijani capital city of Baku, where he was taken into custody.

According to analysts and human rights defenders, however, Alexander Lapshins case may become an appalling precedent that curtails the freedom of speech of foreigners and the freedom of movement of Armenian citizens.
WASHINGTONThe leadership of the Congressional Armenian Caucus on Monday called on their U.S. House colleagues to join with them in a bipartisan request that President Donald Trump honestly and accurately commemorate the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

Visit anca.org/genocide to add your voice to the Congressional Armenian Caucus in calling upon President Trump to reject Turkeys gag-rule against an honest American remembrance of the Armenian Genocide, said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. This is a vital moment. At the start of this new and disruptive era, we have an opportunity to help America break bad habits that have, for far too long, held America hostage to the irrational dictates of foreign governments. So, please, take action today and then encourage your friends and family to join you in asking their U.S. Representatives to co-sign this Congressional letter.

In a Dear Colleague letter to U.S. Representatives, Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Jackie Speier (D-CA), David Trott (R-MI) and David Valadao (R-CA) as well as Vice-Chairs Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) explained there is no debate that an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were massacred in the first genocide of the 20th century. The United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, documented the Genocide and raised significant funds to help the Armenian people in its aftermath. Their letter went on to state that A Presidential recognition would pay tribute to the lives lost, the perseverance and determination of those who survived, and to the many Americans of Armenian descent who have strengthened our country to this day.

In their letter addressed to President Trump, Members of Congress will note that Presidential action on this matter would be an extension of previous affirmation by the executive and legislative branches of government, including President Reagan, who recognized the Armenian Genocide in 1981, and the Eisenhower Administration, which did the same in a 1951 submission to the International Court of Justice. The House of Representatives has also commemorated the Armenian Genocide, through HJR148 in 1975 and HJR247 in 1984.

The letter also highlights the historic levels of U.S. assistance provided through the Congressionally chartered Near East Foundation, which raised $116 million (over $2.5 billion in 2017 dollars) to aid the victims of the Ottoman Empires mass murder of millions of Armenians, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Greeks, Pontians, Syriacs, and other persecuted peoples. The generosity of the American people saved countless lives and helped to ensure the continued survival of the Armenian culture. The letter concludes by urging President Trump to appropriately mark April 24th as a day of American remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.
One of the fatalities in the collapse of a grocery store in Lernanist village of Armenias Kotayk Province was the wife of the storeowner. (PHOTOS)

The owner of this grocery store, Gagik Aloyan, told Armenian News-NEWS.am that his wife, Almida Mesropyan, 50, was working there as a store clerk.

In Aloyans words, his wife was buried under the debris when the store had collapsed, but her two sons that were beside her could not save her life.

Gagik Aloyan added that another store clerk, Tatevik, 23, as well as a customer, Lernanist resident Anush Sargsyan, 38, also were at the store at the time of the collapse, and Sargsyan likewise was buried under the rubble and had died.

Aloyans two sons sustained injuries in this incident. One of them, Sargis, was taken to hospital with fractured bones, whereas Artur has minor injuries, and he checked out of hospital after being administered first aid.

Store clerk Tatevik is also hospitalized, and it is believed that she has a pelvic fracture.

As reported earlier, there was an explosion, on Tuesday at 10:15am, at a grocery store in Lernanist village.

The roof of the grocery store had collapsed.

The injured were hospitalized.

The dead bodies of two women were taken out of the debris, and with the help of a crane.
YEREVAN.  International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) will be introduced also for small and medium-sized companies in Armenia, Deputy Minister of Finance Davit Ananyan told reporters on Tuesday.

Ananyan informed, however, that the IFRS will be implemented in full for large companies, whereas in partfor small and medium-sized companies in the country.

In addition, a simplified financial reporting procedure will be introduced for microbusinesses in Armenia.

But private entrepreneurs will not have to provide financial reporting, just like before, since they are not considered legal entities.
Im writing to ask that my fellow Nebraskans support LB75, which would eliminate the two-year waiting period that those who have completed a felony sentence currently must wait before their right to vote can be reinstated.

There is no reason behind this two-year wait; it was solely added as a political compromise by our Unicameral back in 2005. Currently, more than 17,000 Nebraskans are disenfranchised and more than 40 percent of these people have completed their sentences. Voting is one mechanism to have our voices heard and it is one of our rights as Americans, so once someone has completed their sentence, they should have the right to vote.
System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian addressed the citizens of Armenia in connection with the upcoming parliamentary elections.

He recalled that over the years the majority of Armenian citizens voted not by choice. As long as the bright future of Armenia is ignored, they are doomed to corruption, fear and indifference. Part of the citizens who live in other countries, are mostly deprived of voting rights.

A vote is the truth, a vote is the people's will, a vote is power,Tankian said in his video address.

Tankian said he does not live in Armenia and has no right to vote, but he wants to support a sacred vote with all his heart to create an even brighter future for all of us.

To this end, we encourage the presence of independent observers at the polling stations, as the eyes and ears of your vote, the musician added.

Serj Tankian, Arsinee Khanjian, Atom Egoyan and other prominent Armenians said they would come to Armenia to observe the parliamentary elections in April 2017.
YEREVAN.  An Armenian delegation, led by Minister of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies, Vahan Martirosyan, on Wednesday will participate in the Germany-Armenia International Economic Forum, which will be convened in Germany.

Business sector representatives from Armenia and Germany also will attend this event, the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Discussions will be conducted on information technology (IT) and telecommunication, transportation and road construction, and the energy sector.

In addition, the Armenian delegation will present the countrys respective accomplishments, and with an aim to find avenues for cooperation.
The rally demanding to release Artur Sargsyan, who is charged on the case of Sasna Tserer, is over. As NEWS.am reports, the participants headed to the prosecutor's office along the Mashtots Avenue and Amiryan Street, where the police officers formed a wall and did not allow them to enter the building and submit the request to release Artur Sargsyan.

One of the employees of the Prosecutors office took the request. After that, the protesters headed to the premises of the Penitentiary Hospital, where they showed their support to Sargsyan, chanting "Freedom to Bread Provider", "Free, independent Armenia", "prisoner of conscience".

The participants of the rally handed over food they had brought for Arthur Sargsyan, then dispersed. Arthur Sargsyan, who is accused of supporting Sasna Tserer, was released on December 31, 2016, because of his health condition. On 9 February, however, he was detained.


Shabaab Claims Capturing Bases in Town, Villages in Lower Shabelle, Repelling Government Forces in Mudug
Sen. Ben Sasse said Tuesday he has named a commission headed by former Gov. Kay Orr and Cynthia Milligan, dean emeritus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business Administration, to help advise him on justice and judicial nominations for Nebraska.

That would include the U.S. attorney and U.S marshal who hold Senate-confirmed offices in Nebraska.

"In order to faithfully uphold my constitutional responsibility to give the president my best advice and consent on these nominees, I'm seeking the independent judgment of these Nebraska leaders," Sasse said.

Sasse, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Deb Fischer, Nebraska's senior senator, will recommend nominees to the White House.

After the president sends a nomination to the Senate, the Judiciary Committee will begin its confirmation process which, by longstanding precedent, requires the approval of both home-state senators, according to a news release from Sasse's Senate office.

"I am pleased and honored to have this opportunity, along with other Nebraskans, to assist Senator Sasse in finding the most qualified people for these positions," Orr said.
Credit: Yale University

A detection device designed and built at Yale is narrowing the search for dark matter in the form of axions, a theorized subatomic particle that may make up as much as 80% of the matter in the universe.

Led by Yale physicist Steve Lamoreaux, a team of scientists announced the first results of the project, called Haloscope At Yale Sensitive To Axion Cold Dark Matter (HAYSTAC). The findings appear in the journal Physical Review Letters.

"The existence of dark matter has been established with a high degree of confidence. However at present nobody knows what it is, and it remains among the outstanding questions of modern science," said Lamoreaux. "Our work is setting important limits on a leading dark matter theory."

That theory centers on the axion, a particle that was proposed in the 1980s. Lamoreaux said the axionwhich has no charge, no spin, and a miniscule amount of masshas all of the necessary properties to be a compelling dark matter candidate. The observed dark matter density in our galaxy requires roughly 10 trillion axions per cubic centimeter; however, their direct interactions with ordinary matter are so feeble that their detection requires extremely sensitive experimental techniques.

Using a new instrument built at Yale's Wright Lab, Lamoreaux and his colleagues widened the possible parameters for detecting axions. Their study demonstrates the instrument sensitivity required to detect axions that are 10 times heavier than those targeted by previous experiments.

Axion detectors use intense magnetic fields to convert axions into detectable microwave photons at a specific frequency determined by the unknown axion mass. Previous experiments have searched for low-mass axions. Pushing the search to higher masses has been challenging for scientists because it requires high-frequency detectors that are physically smaller, and the signals from axion conversion in such cases is weaker.

"Our major breakthrough was making the detector colder and quieter than ever before, by adapting amplifiers developed for quantum computing research whose noise performance approaches the fundamental limits imposed by the laws of quantum mechanics," Lamoreaux said. "With the first data from our detector, we have set limits on the interactions of dark matter axions and opened a new portion of the allowed axion mass range to experimental investigation."

The first author of the paper is Ben Brubaker, a graduate student in the Lamoreaux lab at Yale. Additional Yale co-authors are Ling Zhong, Yulia Gurevich, Sidney Cahn, and Kelly Backes. Other co-authors are from the University of California-Berkeley, the University of Colorado, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

"The axion dark matter experiment at Yale pushes the frontiers of particle astrophysics," said Karsten Heeger, director of the Wright Laboratory. "It is a shining example of a university-based experiment that uses cutting edge instrumentation and leverages local infrastructure to address one of the fundamental questions about the universe and train the next generation of scientists. We are excited to have such a world-leading effort here on campus at the Wright Lab."
Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann breaking apart as captured in Slooh's Chile Observatory feed on February 13th, 2017. Credit: Slooh

Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann has experienced a breakup on its journey past the Earth on its way toward the Sun. On the night of February 12th, Slooh members using the company's telescopes in Chile were able to view the comet as it broke into two pieces. This seems to be the continuation of a process that was first witnessed in 1995, then again in 2006.

Slooh members were among the first to confirm that the nucleus of comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann had split into at least two large pieces. "They immediately pointed Slooh's telescopes to capture the event," says Slooh Astronomer, Paul Cox. "Members will continue to monitor the comet live over the coming weeksassuming the comet survives that long."

In the coming monthsand yearsthe comet will face its two greatest challenges to survival. First, the Sun. 73P will reach Perihelion, its closest approach to the Sun, on March 16th.

"This puts the comet's nucleus under tremendous stress from the Sun's gravitational forcesand it appears that this may have been responsible for carving up the nucleus in two," explains Cox.

The question is: will 73P survive perihelion, or will this particular comet be demoted to the annals of astronomical history? If it does, it will have to contend with its second challenge: the gas giant Jupiter. In 2025, 73P will come within 31 million miles of the planet. Jupiter, meanwhile has been known to chew up comets due to its intense gravitational field.

Animation showing Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann as it flies through Slooh's Telescopes on February 13, 2017. Credit: Slooh

"It certainly feels like it's only a matter of time before comet 73P is destroyed, disintegrating into a trail of cosmic dust," Cox continues.

This isn't the first time Slooh members have witnessed this kind of cometary activity. In fact, in 2006 they watched amazed as 73P fragmented into at least 30 different pieces as it approached the Sun. It also showed similar signs of breakup in late 1995.

According to Slooh astronomers, there are three main drivers for this kind of cometary breakup:

Comets are made up of ice, dust and rocky material (the leftover builder's rubble from the formation of our solar system). It doesn't take much to disrupt this loose conglomeration. 73P is a "Jupiter-family" comet. The gravitational influence of the gas giant planet, together with that of the Sun, can simply rip these comets apart. The best example of which was comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 which broke apart before smashing into Jupiter in 1994. Solar radiation and the solar wind continuously bombard the comet's nucleusdisrupting the surface layers and generating the comet's coma and tails.

Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann captured in the Slooh telescopes in 2006. Credit: Slooh

Slooh members will be monitoring the comet over the next days and weeks, using both Slooh's Chile and Canary Islands Observatories.

Comments Cox, "One thing is certainif the end-is-nigh for this lump of primordial space rock, Slooh members will be the first to see its demise live in Slooh's telescopes."

Provided by Slooh
The geneticist David Vendrami from Bielefeld University is studying ways in which populations of scallops differ. Credit: Bielefeld University

The scallop is one of the largest edible molluscs, and gourmets consider it to be a great delicacy. To meet this demand, the fishing industry cultivates these shellfish in coastal aquafarms. In a new analysis, behavioural ecologists at Bielefeld University have confirmed that cultivated scallops developed their own genetic structure that differs from that of natural scallops. The biologists studied a total of nine populations of scallops (Pecten maximus) along the coast of Northern Ireland. They are presenting their results this Wednesday in the research journal 'Royal Society Open Science'.

'Of the nine scallop populations studied, only one shows a marked genetic difference from the others and that is the artificially cultivated type,' reports Joseph I. Hoffman, head of the Molecular Behavioural Ecology research group. New breeds are cultivated in, for example, mesh cages in coastal waters. Now and then, young scallops escape through the mesh and are thereby able to impact on natural populations. Biologists use the term population to describe a group of organisms of one species that live together in one area and are linked together genetically through reproduction over successive generations.

The researchers analysed the genetic architecture of the mollusc populations. 'Studying the genetic architecture of animal populations helps us to understand which external appearance an organism can adopt - for example, how large a mollusc can become or whether it can develop red streaks on its surface,' says David Vendrami. The doctoral student has analysed a total of 180 mollusc samples. The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute in Belfast (Northern Ireland) collected these in February 2015 during an excursion along the Northern Irish Atlantic coast.

For this study, researchers at Bielefeld analyzed the appearance and the genes of 180 scallops from the coast of Northern Ireland. Credit: Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast

The researchers have not just confirmed how breeding affects scallop populations. Their study also confirms that these molluscs adapt their shape and internal colouring very flexibly to conditions in their environment, and that they do this independently of whether they belong to the one cultivated or the eight natural populations. 'We have tested how far genes relate to appearance. However, that is very probably not the case. It is highly likely that the external characteristics of the molluscs depend on their surroundings,' says Vendrami.

Scientists at Bielefeld also used this study to compare a classical DNA analysis with a new procedure. The classical analysis proceeds by evaluating repeated short DNA sequences (microsatellites) in order to compare samples from different organisms. The modern procedure (RAD sequencing) takes less time to analyse thousands of times more DNA sequences. 'The new procedure is markedly better at finding differences in the populations than the classical approach,' says David Vendrami.

In their future research, Hoffman, Vendrami, and their colleagues will be going beyond Northern Ireland and studying samples along the entire Atlantic coast from Norway to Portugal as well as in the Mediterranean. Their aim is to find out how scallops as well as other crustaceans react to different environmental conditions in terms of their growth.

More information: David L. J. Vendrami et al, RAD sequencing resolves fine-scale population structure in a benthic invertebrate: implications for understanding phenotypic plasticity, Royal Society Open Science (2017). DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160548 Journal information: Royal Society Open Science
Researchers at Simon Fraser University found that the photoreceptors in blow fly eyes help filter out incompatible mates. Credit: SFU

Female green bottle flies attract potential mates by flashing sunlight at particular frequencies from their wings, according to research published in the open access journal, BMC Biology.

Dr. Gerhard Gries, the corresponding author, from Simon Fraser University, Canada, said: "Our study describes a new model of sexual communication in insects, which might be common to animals in general. By modulating wing beat frequency, and thus light flash frequency, the flies effectively communicate to their peers their sex, age, and possibly even mating status. Using video technology to capture and measure wing flash frequency we were able to show that male flies are attracted to specific flash frequencies and not the morphological characteristics of the female flies."

Males are strongly attracted to a wing flash frequency of 178Hz, which is characteristic of free flying young females, rather than 212, 235 or 266Hz, which are characteristic of young males, old females and old males, respectively. The slower wing flash frequency of young females could be a phenotypic trait of reproductively capable females, according to the researchers.

Flies have some of the most elaborate visual systems in the Insecta, with fast visual processing, which was thought to have evolved to match their advanced flight abilities. Males have larger eyes than females, which may help males perceive visual signals sent by females, and they have specialized 'bright zones' that increase light capture and can help them to detect females' flashing light signals. This study shows that the design and processing speed of the flies' compound eyes might also play a key role in mate recognition, as well as to support flies' agile flight and maneuverability.

The researchers filmed young and old male and female flies in free flight, filming 100 flies at a time within a wire mesh cage. They also took photographs and filmed outdoors so comparisons could be made between wing flash in direct sunlight and under a cloudy sky. The video recordings revealed that light flashes were not evident under diffuse light or outdoors under a cloudy sky.

Dr. Gries adds: "We found that on cloudy days, light flashes from the wings of flying females cannot be seen, which might help explain the low mating activity of these flies on cloudy days. This suggests that flies can apparently synchronize sexual communication with environmental conditions to optimize the conspicuousness of their sexual communication signals."

A study led by Simon Fraser University biologist Gerhard Gries found that the photoreceptors in the eyes of blow flies do more than just help them navigate around surrounding environments. They're also used in an elaborate sexual communication system to aid in their quest to find the perfect mate by filtering out incompatible candidates. Credit: SFU

Male flies were also found to be attracted to LEDs that pulsed light at a frequency that imitates the wing flash frequency of prospective mates, suggesting that it is light flash frequency, rather than the morphological characteristics of the female flies that forms the mate recognition signal. According to the researchers, the ability to distinguish between different light flash frequencies suggests that green bottle flies have numerical competence even approaching the level of mammals, birds and fish.

In this study, the researchers mounted two live females side by side; only one had fully functional wings, while the other's wings were immobilized. Males preferred the female with functional wings showing that wing movement contributed to mate selection.

Dr. Gries said: "We can now study how widespread this phenomenon is in other flies, or insects. Our findings can also be incorporated into developing more effective methods for attraction and trapping of nuisance flies in urban environments."

More information: Courtney Eichorn et al. How flies are flirting on the fly, BMC Biology (2017). DOI: 10.1186/s12915-016-0342-6 Journal information: BMC Biology
The armyworm has already caused damage to staple crops in Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Ghana, with reports also suggesting Malawi, Mozambique and Namibia are affected

International experts will hold emergency talks in Harare on Tuesday to tackle an outbreak of crop-eating "armyworm" caterpillars advancing across several African countries.

The armyworm has already caused damage to staple crops in Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Ghana, with reports also suggesting Malawi, Mozambique and Namibia are affected.

Experts say it appears to be the first time that the "fall armyworm" species from the Americas has caused widespread damage in Africa.

"So, farmers do not know really how to treat it," said David Phiri, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's coordinator for southern Africa.

"Nobody seems to know how it reached Africa," he said, adding that it started in places like Nigeria and Togo, which had it last year.

One theory is that the caterpillars arrived in Africa on commercial flights from South America or in plants imported from the region.

The caterpillars eat maize, wheat, millet and ricekey food sources in southern and eastern Africa, where many areas are already struggling with shortages after the most severe drought in recent years.

'Could be catastrophic'

Experts from 13 countries will spend three days at the summit in the Zimbabwean capital forming a battle plan to defeat the pests.

The armyworm is "spreading rapidly" in Africa and could threaten farming worldwide, the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) warned last week.

It said maize is particularly vulnerable to the larvae, which attack the crop's growing points and burrow into the cobs.

Unlike the native African armyworm, the fall armyworm does not "march" along the ground in huge numbers seeking more food, the FAO said.

"This sequence of outbreaks began in mid-December 2016 in Zambia," Kenneth Wilson, professor at Lancaster University in Britain, wrote in a briefing paper Monday.

"It is now as far south as South Africa. Because armyworms feed on many of the staple food crops they have the potential to create food shortages in the region."

The fall armyworm also attacks cotton, soybean, potato and tobacco fields.

Chemical pesticides can be effective, but fall armyworms have developed resistance in their native Americas.

"You use different methods. One of them is pesticides, another is to use biological control. Another is to use natural control, like digging trenches around the farm (or) natural predators, like birds, to eat those worms," said Phiri.

"If it is a small level of the worms, it's easy to control, using pesticides. Otherwise, it's very difficult to control it, so they will have to use different methodsincluding sometimes burning the crops."

Zimbabwe's deputy agriculture minister Davis Marapira confirmed to AFP that the pest had been detected in all of the country's 10 provinces.

"The government is helping farmers with chemicals and spraying equipment," Marapira said.

The FAO, which is hosting the Harare meeting, said armyworm outbreaks combined with current locust problems "could be catastrophic" as southern Africa has yet to recover from droughts caused by the El Nino climate phenomenon.

In December, Zambia deployed its national air force to transport pesticides across the country so that fields could be sprayed.

 2017 AFP
Christopher Uejio, an assistant professor in the FSU Department of Geography.

A Florida State University researcher has drawn a link between the impact of climate change and untreated drinking water on the rate of gastrointestinal illness in children.

Assistant Professor of Geography Chris Uejio has published a first-of-its-kind study, "Drinking-water treatment, climate change, and childhood gastrointestinal illness projections for northern Wisconsin (USA) communities drinking untreated groundwater," in the Hydrogeology Journal. The study explores the benefits of additional drinking water treatment compared to the risks created by climate change.

"Most people may not realize this, but there are about 20 million people in the country who access drinking water that isn't treated," Uejio said. "These households are particularly vulnerable to rainfall events and contamination events where disease causing pathogens can get in their drinking water sources."

Uejio's study is the first to examine how future rainfall may impact human health. He partnered with the Wisconsin Department of Health and the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin to examine the rate in which children ages 5 and under are at risk for gastrointestinal illness (GI) 30-plus years into the future between 2046 to 2065 compared to the period between 1991 and 2010.

"Wisconsin was chosen partly for its unique geography," Uejio said. "It has some underlying hydrogeology characteristics that make it a little more susceptible to ground water contamination. We also chose Wisconsin because there are some cities that do treat and do not treat their drinking water. It provided a natural comparison to see if rainfall is related to more people getting sick in these areas."

Uejio and the research team considered three different scenarios covering five northern Wisconsin municipalities with minimally treated drinking water.

The first scenario tested the amount of risk of childhood GI if climate change proceeds on its current trajectory. Uejio found that without additional drinking water treatment installation, increased rainfall from climate change could amount to an approximate 1.5 percent increase in childhood GIwith a range as high as 3.6 percent.

The gastrointestinal illnesses studied included a wide swath of sicknesses ranging from minor stomach pains to more severe symptoms that required up to 69 days of hospital care. Of the cases examined between 1991 and 2010, 7 percent of the children were admitted to a hospital.

The second scenario considered climate change plus background levels of treatment, which is what has been done historically, and projecting that to the future. When those numbers were assessed, Uejio found some continued treatment would help alleviate the impacts of climate change moving forward, but there were still elevated rates of illness among the children in communities with untreated drinking water.

The final scenario looked at a more aggressive rate of drinking water treatment in larger cities throughout the research area.

"We found, intuitively, that the rate of illness correspondingly dropped dramatically," Uejio said.

His results can inform public policy moving forward, he said.

"Even though climate change is becoming a politicized issue, what is happening on the ground is not as political," Uejio said. "We have actual communities, many rural, many whose children are becoming sick because they are drinking water that is not filtered. We have the technologies to address this disparity, and really that's much bigger than the impact climate change will have going forward. We just need the political will and the funding to follow through on that."

Uejio hopes his study will be a springboard for researchers to investigate these impacts in additional regions in the United States. Because the Northeastern and Midwestern portions of the United States are already observing more rainfall and intense rainfall events, those areas are ripe for study, he said.

More information: Christopher K. Uejio et al. Drinking-water treatment, climate change, and childhood gastrointestinal illness projections for northern Wisconsin (USA) communities drinking untreated groundwater, Hydrogeology Journal (2017). DOI: 10.1007/s10040-016-1521-9
Eelgrasses are critical to the bay ecosystem. They provide habitat and nursery grounds for fish and blue crabs, serve as food for animals such as turtles and waterfowl, clear the water by reducing wave action, absorb excess nutrients, and reduce shoreline erosion. Credit: J. Lefcheck

A new study led by researchers at William & Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science links a long-term decline in Chesapeake Bay's eelgrass beds to both deteriorating water quality and rising summertime temperatures. It also shows that loss of the habitat and other benefits that eelgrass provides comes at a staggering ecological and economic cost.

Lead scientist Jonathan Lefcheck, a VIMS post-doctoral researcher, says "Not only have we lost a huge ecological resource, there have been real economic and recreational consequences for the bay area's nearly 20 million residents. Blue crab fisheries, for example, have probably lost a year or more of catch based on the amount of eelgrass we've already lost. For silver perch, it's 10-20 years. In all, we estimate the potential economic cost to citizens at $1-2 billion."

The studybased on a comparison of VIMS' 31-year record of seagrass abundance and the Chesapeake Bay Program's long-term record of bay water qualityappeared in the Feb. 3 issue of Global Change Biology. Co-authors include Professor Robert "JJ" Orth and scientist David Wilcox of VIMS, Rebecca Murphy of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and Scott Marion of the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife.

The team's findings confirm a long-standing hypothesis that declines in bay eelgrass stem from decreased water clarity, which in turn stems from increases in human activities that lead to nutrient pollution and sediment runoff.

Orth, who initiated VIMS' annual Seagrass Monitoring and Assessment Program at VIMS in 1984, says, "It's a classic case of 'habitat squeeze.' Declining water clarity has cut eelgrass cover in half within deeper beds during the last two decades, so that the mean depth of eelgrass beds is now almost 5 inches shallower."

That might not sound like much, but given Chesapeake Bay's gently sloping bottom, a 5-inch change means the bay's fringing eelgrass beds have contracted shoreward by more than 500 feet since 1984. In fact, says Orth, it is now rare to find eelgrass growing in water deeper than about 3 feet in Chesapeake Bay.

Excess nutrients from fertilizers, wastewater treatment plants, and other sources can fuel algae blooms that shade eelgrass plants by clouding the water and growing on the eelgrass blades. Credit: J. Lefcheck

At the same time, the analysis reveals that more frequent heat waves are impacting eelgrass populations even in these shallow-water areas. The most extreme temperature-related losses were observed in 2006, when eelgrass declined 58 percent following the sweltering summer of 2005, and in 2011, when the VIMS team measured a 41 percent decline following the steamy summer of 2010.

One bright spot is that eelgrass is currently able to recover rapidly after these sharp declines. In the year following the 2005-6 dieback, eelgrass acreage increased by 55 percent, and by 2009 had reached total cover exceeding that observed just before the dieback took place. A similar rebound took place after 2010-11, with eelgrass returning to pre-dieback acreage in less than two years.

The scientists warn, however, that future recoveries are much less certain given current trends towards murkier, warmer water. They also stress that their analysis focuses on eelgrass. Other underwater bay grasses, widgeongrass in particular, have experienced recent increases in bay coverage. But widgeongrass is known for boom-bust cycles that could quickly reverse these gains, and is unlikely to replace the ecosystem services provided by eelgrass due to its different growth habit and restriction to fresher waters.

A hot and cloudy future

"Our observations suggest eelgrass is responding to two main factors," says Orth. "Declining water clarity has gradually reduced eelgrass cover during the past two decades, primarily in deeper beds where lack of light already limits growth. In shallow beds, it's more that heat waves are stressing the plants, leading to the sharp drops we've seen in recent summers."

But it's the combined effect of these two factors that gives the researchers their greatest concern. Says Lefcheck, "Declining clarity plus these hot summers is a real double-whammy for eelgrass." That's because eelgrasseswhich already need more light to survive than related land plantsrequire even more light as water temperatures rise.

Declining water clarity has cut eelgrass cover in half within Chesapeake Bay's deeper beds since 1971, just prior to Tropical Storm Agnes. Credit: The College of William & Mary

"In effect," says Orth, "any increase in water temperature subjects shallowly growing eelgrass plants to light conditions similar to those that have already largely eliminated their deeper-water cohorts."

The team's analysis shows the mean summertime water temperature in the lower Chesapeake Bay has already increased by more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit since 1984from 76.8 to 79.5 Fand that the frequency of extreme warm spells with water temperatures exceeding 82 F has doubled in the last decade. As global warming continues to raise the area's water temperaturesa conservative estimate is a further 3.5 F increase by 2040the team predicts a further 38 percent decline in eelgrass cover. And if water clarity follows its current downward trajectory during the next 30 years, eelgrass would decline an additional 84 percent. When both declining clarity and warming are considered, say the researchers, the predicted increases in temperature and turbidity would result in a loss of 95 percent of bay eelgrassa near total eradication.

To combat this downward trend, the researchers call on resource managers and policymakers to build recognition of global warming into their management strategies.

"We propose that managers must increase their water-quality targets at the local and regional levels to offset losses caused by global factors outside their immediate control," says Orth.

"Our analysis suggests that eelgrass could still persist in the face of moderate increases in temperature, if the water remains clear enough" adds Lefcheck. "But that will only happen if managers adopt an integrated perspective, and continue with their efforts to curb inputs into the bay."

Funding for the study comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Chesapeake Bay Program, NOAA's Virginia Coastal Program, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Underwater bay grasses are critical to the bay ecosystem. They provide habitat and nursery grounds for fish and blue crabs, serve as food for animals such as turtles and waterfowl, clear the water by reducing wave action, absorb excess nutrients, and reduce shoreline erosion. They are also an excellent measure of the bay's overall condition because their health is closely linked to water quality.

More information: Jonathan S. Lefcheck et al. Multiple stressors threaten the imperiled coastal foundation species eelgrass () in Chesapeake Bay, USA, Global Change Biology (2017). DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13623 Journal information: Global Change Biology
Credit: University of Warwick

Cutting-edge technology has brought Queen Elizabeth II's wedding cake back to life  thanks to research by WMG at the University of Warwick.

Professor Mark Williams at WMG, alongside the British Sugarcraft Guild (BSG), employed 3-D scanning technology to recreate a full-sized replica of a wedding cake presented to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip  which was almost totally destroyed by vandals in 2015.

The technology was able to accurately scan the cake to within 0.1mm and reproduce a high-resolution 3-D model that was then be used to digitally repair the cake.

Analysing the surviving parts of the cake  an intricate 6ft ensemble, consisting of 6 tiers  Professor Williams was able to discover exactly how it was formed, and to determine precisely how to restore its original grandeur.

The historic cake  which was originally created by Peek Frean in 1947 - weighed six hundred pounds, and at the top stood a silver model of St George and the Dragon, which was given to the royal couple as a souvenir.

Queen Elizabeth wrote how she and Prince Philip "admired the beauty of its design and the excellence of its quality."

The life-sized model was displayed in the Peek Frean & Co factory until its closure in 1989. A permanent exhibition about the company later opened in a South-East London museum  of which the cake was a major part  although during a change of premises for the museum, the cake was left behind, as it was too delicate and precious to transport.

Credit: University of Warwick

During this time, the iconic cake was vandalised, and almost completely destroyed  but will now be returned to its former glory, thanks to the innovative solutions offered by WMG.

Professor Mark Williams comments:

"It was fantastic to apply our technology to such an exciting project and help restore such an iconic cake to its former glory, especially in the year of the Queen's Golden Anniversary.

"Usually we are working on engineering-related challenges, so to be able to take our expertise and transfer that to something totally different and so historically significant was a really interesting opportunity."

The tiers of the cake were distributed to the seven BSG regions in the early Autumn 2016 together with the materials, templates and plans for the relevant tier. Initial coating of the cakes has been completed and the cakes are now ready for the detailed decoration to commence.

BSG Members' Workshops are taking place during March in the South East, Northern England, Scotland & Northern Ireland and the Chiltern Hills and East Anglia. Workshops will also be held in Central England and Wales & the South West during the early Spring.

Credit: University of Warwick

Piped trellis and flowers, moulded side panels and other detailed decoration will be produced during these workshops. A small team from the BSG will do the final assembly of the cake at the Museum in the late summer.

Judith Lynn, BSG National Vice Chairman, comments:

"The British Sugarcraft Guild was honoured to be invited to recreate the replica of the Queen's wedding cake for the Peek Frean Museum. Our members have shown enormous enthusiasm for the project and the generosity of all our sponsors has been amazing.

"The experience of working with WMG at the University of Warwick in creating the 3-D models to enable the moulded elements of the cake to be reproduced has been very rewarding. It illustrates perfectly how modern technology and traditional crafts can work in harmony to recreate such an important historic piece of sugar art."
In this study, 3-D images of the strain fields in individual nanodiamond crystals were obtained with Bragg coherent diffraction imaging. With this method, the crystal is illuminated with a coherent X-ray beam which scatters to form a coherent diffraction pattern. A series of these diffraction patterns measured from the crystal are used to reconstruct the 3-D shape and, more importantly, the strain state of the crystal. One such 3-D image of a nanodiamond is shown here, with the surface coloration indicative of local strain. Credit: Stephan Hruszkewycz

Quantum mechanics, the physics that governs nature at the atomic and subatomic scale, contains a host of new physical phenomena to explore quantum states at the nanoscale. Though tricky, there are ways to exploit these inherently fragile and sensitive systems for quantum sensing. One nascent technology in particular makes use of point defects, or single-atom misplacements, in nanoscale materials, such as diamond nanoparticles, to measure electromagnetic fields, temperature, pressure, frequency and other variables with unprecedented precision and accuracy.

Quantum sensing could revolutionize medical diagnostics, enable new drug development, improve the design of electronic devices and more.

For use in quantum sensing, the bulk nanodiamond crystal surrounding the point defect must be highly perfect. Any deviation from perfection, such as additional missing atoms, strain in the crystalline lattice of the diamond, or the presence of other impurities, will adversely affect the quantum behavior of the material. Highly perfect nanodiamonds are also quite expensive and difficult to make.

A cheaper alternative, say researchers at Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Chicago, is to take defect-ridden, low-quality, commercially manufactured diamonds, and then "heal" them.

In a paper published this week in APL Materials, from AIP Publishing, the researchers describe a method to heal diamond nanocrystals under high-temperature conditions, while visualizing the crystals in three dimensions using an X-ray imaging technique.

"Quantum sensing is based on the unique properties of certain optically active point defects in semiconductor nanostructures," said F. Joseph Heremans, an Argonne National Laboratory staff scientist and co-author on the paper.

These defects, such as the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond, are created when a nitrogen atom replaces a carbon atom adjacent to a vacancy in the diamond lattice structure. They are extremely sensitive to their environment, making them useful probes of local temperatures, as well as electric and magnetic fields, with a spatial resolution more than 100 times smaller than the thickness of a human hair.

Because diamonds are biologically inert, quantum sensors based on diamond nanoparticles, which can operate at room temperature and detect several factors simultaneously, could even be placed within living cells, where they could, according to Heremans, "image systems from the inside out."

Heremans and his colleagues, including Argonne's Wonsuk Cha and Paul Fuoss, as well as David Awschalom of the University of Chicago, set out to map the distribution of the crystal strain in nanodiamonds and to track the healing of these imperfections by subjecting them to high temperatures, up to 800 degrees Celsius in an inert helium environment.

"Our idea of the 'healing' process is that gaps in the lattice are filled as the atoms move around when the crystal is heated to high temperatures, thereby improving the homogeneity of the crystal lattice," said Stephan Hruszkewycz, also a staff scientist at Argonne and lead author on the paper.

This nanodiamond healing was monitored with a 3-D microscopy method called Bragg coherent diffraction imaging, performed by subjecting the crystals to a coherent X-ray beam at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne. The X-ray beam that scatters off the nanodiamonds was detected and used to reconstruct the 3-D shape of the nanocrystal, "and, more importantly, the strain state of the crystal," Hruszkewycz said.

The researchers found that nanodiamonds "shrink" during the high-temperature annealing process, and surmise that this occurs because of a phenomenon called graphitization. This phenomenon occurs when the surface of the material is converted from the normal diamond lattice arrangement into graphite, a single layer of chicken-wire-like arranged carbon atoms.

The study marks the first time that Bragg coherent diffraction imaging has been shown to be useful at such high temperatures, a capability that, Hruszkewycz said, "enables the exploration of structural changes in important nanocrystalline materials at high temperatures that are difficult to access with other microscopy techniques."

Hruszkewycz added that the research represents "a significant step towards developing scalable methods of processing inexpensive, commercial nanodiamonds for quantum sensing and information processing."

More information: S. O. Hruszkewycz et al. study of annealing-induced strain relaxation in diamond nanoparticles using Bragg coherent diffraction imaging, APL Materials (2017). DOI: 10.1063/1.4974865
Transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of Zika virus. Credit: Cynthia Goldsmith/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The protein that helps the sperm and egg fuse together in sexual reproduction can also fuse regular cells together. Recent findings by a team of biomedical researchers from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Argentina, Uruguay and the U.S. show this protein is part of a larger family of proteins that helps other cells bind together to create larger organs, and which also allows viruses like Zika and Dengue to invade healthy cells.

For every sexually reproducing organism, sperm and egg fusion is the first step in the generation of a new individual. This process has been studied for more than 100 years in many organisms including humans, mice, insects, plants, sea urchins and even fungi. But the identity of the molecular machineries that mediate sperm and egg fusion remained unknown.

Now, the team led by Dr. Benjamin Podbilewicz, of the Technion Faculty of Biology, and Dr. Pablo S. Aguilar of Universidad Nacional de San Martin in Argentina, has demonstrated that the protein HAP2  a long known player in sperm-egg fusion  is a protein that mediates a broad range of cell-cell fusion. Their findings were published recently in the Journal of Cell Biology.

HAP2 is found in plants, protists (e.g. algae, protozoa, and slime molds) and invertebrates, and is therefore considered an ancestral protein present at the origins of the first eukaryotic cells (cells with real nuclei). However, a closer look at HAP2 led the researchers to conclude that HAP2's roots are even older. Structural and phylogenetic analysis of HAP2 proteins revealed they are homologous to proteins used by viruses such as Zika and Dengue to fuse viral membrane to the membrane of the cell they invade.

According to the researchers, this means HAP2, FF and viral fusion proteins constitute a superfamily of membrane fusion proteins, which the authors named Fusexins (fusion proteins essential for sexual reproduction and exoplasmic merger of plasma membranes).

"Fusexins are fascinating machines that keep a structural core diversified to execute cell membrane fusion in very different contexts," says Prof. Podbilewicz. "Understanding the different structure-function relationships of fusexins will enable scientists to rationally manipulate cell-cell fusion in fertilization and tissue development. The added and very timely benefit is that it provides us greater understanding of how Zika and other viruses cause diseases in their target hosts."

The striking similarities between proteins that promote membrane fusion under very different contexts led the authors to dig into mechanistic details. Performing cell-cell fusion experiments, the researchers demonstrated that, like FF fusexins, HAP2 is needed in both fusing cells to promote membrane cell fusion. This bilateral requirement of HAP2 and FF fusexins differs from the viral mechanism of action, where fusexin is only present in the viral membrane (see figure).

The combined conservation of structure, sequence, and function imply that these proteins diverged from a common ancestor. Fusexins might have emerged 2-3 billion years ago to promote a primordial form of genetic material exchange between cells. Later, enveloped viruses took these fusion proteins to infect cells more efficiently. Finally, multicellular organisms adapted fusexins to sculpt organs like muscle and bone-repairing osteoclasts in vertebrates and skin and the vagina in worms through cell-cell fusion.

More information: Clari Valansi et al. HAP2/GCS1 is a gamete fusion protein homologous to somatic and viral fusogens, The Journal of Cell Biology (2017). DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201610093 Journal information: Journal of Cell Biology

Provided by Technion-Israel Institute of Technology
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Tiny metalic-gold particles are being used to convert sunlight into fuel. The technology is being developed in South Australia to store solar energy as an alternative to battery storage.

Researchers from Flinders University and the University of Adelaide, in collaboration with a number of international institutions, have converted solar energy directly into chemical energy in the form of methane and methanol. The process uses dynamic nano-clusters, which consist of a specific number of metalic-gold atoms that interact with the molecules in UV light.

The team built a lab-scaled device in South Australia's capital Adelaide and have been testing its effectiveness using artificial ultraviolet light. While it is still being scaled up, researchers say it has potential for industrial, commercial and domestic applications. The US Army is so interested in using the process as a potential mobile generator, which would allow troops in the field to store energy, it is now funding the research.

Lead researcher Gunther Andersson said as the world moved toward implementing more renewable energy initiatives there was a growing need for more reliable storage. "This is not completely a new idea, chemical energy storage, but the thing that is special in our work is that we use specific nano-clusters, which make the conversion far more efficient," he said. "Using a gold-based catalyst we get a about ten times more product out of it than what a contemporary catalyst would give us.

"Our lab product is working quite efficiently, at least in our research terms, and we will start to scale up the project to further test the process in the coming months."

The technology has the potential for large-scale application that could be used to help power whole cities or just your regular home. The dynamic shape of the nano-clusters makes them catalytic active, creating a more efficient production of chemical energy in the form of methanol or methane. Professor Andersson said these materials were ideal substances because they were already in frequent use and easily stored.

"Obviously there are large-scale batteries, really powerful ones, but the problem is then availability. The batteries are also not quite developed for all these things yet," Professor Andersson said. "To get long-lasting batteries for a reasonable price is a major challenge at the moment, plus you have the problem that the chemicals you use in batteries are not very environmentally friendly."

According to a recent report by the World Economic Forum, the cost of solar energy is now the same price or cheaper than fossil fuel in more than 30 countries and has declined at a 20 per cent compounded annual rate.

South Australia is cementing itself as a world leader in green energy as companies begin cracking the code to make renewables commercially viable.

Nearly a quarter of houses in South Australia have installed rooftop solar panels, making it one of the highest penetration rates in the world. It is also the largest producer of wind energy in Australia  the state's 1.5GW of wind energy represents almost half of the country's capability.

South Australia made headlines around the world when it was announced that the state - 'a place with the population of West Virginia' - had been powered by 100 per cent renewable energy for an entire working day in 2015.

Professor Andersson's solar-storage device is an international collaboration involving researchers from Flinders University, University of Adelaide, Canterbury University, Victoria University and the University of Utah.

A research paper on the solar storage process is expected to be published next month.

Provided by The Lead South Australia
The value of Toshiba shares has been sliced in half since late December

Toshiba hinted at a possible fresh accounting scandal Tuesday as it delayed the release of financial results but warned it would lose billions of dollars in its US nuclear power unit.

Its Tokyo-listed shares plunged after one of Japan's best-known companies surprised markets by failing to release nine-month earnings at midday as scheduled.

Toshibawhich was hammered in 2015 by a profit-padding scandalsaid it has requested a one-month extension for submitting earnings to market regulators.

Hours later the companya cornerstone of Japan's post-war industrial rise which now employs about 188,000 people globallyissued a grim preliminary earnings estimate.

It warned it was on track to report a net loss of 390 billion yen ($3.4 billion) in the current fiscal year to March, with losses in its atomic division topping 700 billion yen.

The firm said its chairman Shigenori Shiga would step down from his post but stay with the companya common act of contrition at scandal-hit Japanese firmsas it probes an acquisition by Westinghouse Electric, its US atomic power unit.

Toshiba shares tumbled 8.0 percent to end Tuesday's session at 229.8 yen ($2).

"The company, with deep regret, has submitted an application for approval to extend the deadline for submission" of its financial results until mid-March, it said in a statement.

Toshiba said its lawyers and an independent auditing firm were studying accounting done on Westinghouse's purchase of a US company that builds nuclear plants.

It added that managers at Westinghouse expressed concerns that senior executives had been "exerting inappropriate pressure" to speed up the acquisition.

"If there was a possibility of an invalidation of internal controls, it might affect quarterly financial reporting," Toshiba said in explaining its decision to delay reporting its results.

Toshiba chairman Shigenori Shiga will step down from his post but stay with the company

Stock selloff

The stock sell-off extended morning losses that were sparked by a report in Japan's Nikkei business daily, which said Toshiba would issue a warning to shareholders that its future is in jeopardy.

The value of the company's shares has been sliced in half since late December, when Toshiba first flagged huge losses in its atomic unit.

Toshiba once touted its overseas nuclear business as a future growth driver, filling a hole left after the 2011 Fukushima crisis slammed the brakes on new atomic projects in Japan.

But on Tuesday it confirmed speculation it would dramatically reduce its nuclear ambitions overseas and stop building new atomic power plants.

Toshiba added that it would continue making equipment used in nuclear plants.

It has approached South Korean utility Korea Electric Power Corp about buying part of Toshiba's stake in British nuclear joint venture NuGeneration.

In April-December 2015, Toshiba reported a 479 billion yen net loss due largely to the disclosure of an embarrassing profit-padding scandal, in which bosses for years systematically pushed subordinates to cover up weak financial results.

At that time Toshiba delayed its earnings announcements more than once as it grappled with the crisis that laid bare serious problems of corporate governance.

The engineering conglomerate, which makes everything from trains to memory chips, is undergoing a major restructuring.

It has already sold its medical devices unit to camera and copier maker Canon and most of its appliance business to China's Midea Group.

It is also moving to spin off its prized memory chip business.

 2017 AFP
Anesthetized hagfish that donated slime samples. Credit: Chaudhary

Hagfish are marine fish shaped like eels, famous for releasing large quantities of "slime" that unfolds, assembles and expands into the surrounding water in response to a threat or a predator's attack. This defense mechanism even works against sharks by effectively clogging their gills or choking them.

The hagfish's successful use of its defense gel is remarkable, particularly because the animal exerts no direct control over the concentration of the slime it exudes into the seawater.

Gaurav Chaudhary, a doctoral candidate in the department of mechanical science and engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), will present his work on hagfish slime during the 88th Annual Meeting of The Society of Rheology, being held Feb. 12-16, in Tampa, Florida. The research explores the hagfish's slime formation and the special properties allowing it to assemble into a solid gel without dissolving into the surrounding water.

To do this, Chaudhary and his colleagues visited the University of Guelph in Canada, where Professor Doug Fudge maintains a large stock of hagfish.

"We obtained raw slime material directly from live fish and then were able to produce our own slime samples of varying concentrations," said Chaudhary. The researchers used a rheometer, which measures the response of such unusual viscosity fluids to forces, to measure how the slime stretched and flowed over time and under various conditions.

Microscopic image of the thread cells that unravel under mixing to form the hagfishs slime. Credit: Chaudhary

The research team, led by Randy Ewoldt, an assistant professor who runs the Ewoldt Research Group at UIUC, discovered that the slime's solid- and liquid-like properties remain "self-similar" for a wide range of concentrations. This means that even though the concentration may change dramatically, the general structure and properties of the gel will not.

"The gel becomes stiffer with concentration," Ewoldt said. Their results also show that the consistency in how the slime deforms and flows exists because the slime has a similar structure at all concentrations.

"We now know that this material, 10,000 times softer than Gelatin, isn't just an ultra-soft elastic solid as earlier believed," Chaudhary said. "Rather, it has very interesting time-dependent properties. Its concentration-dependent properties are very different compared with many other biopolymer or synthetic systems. Such properties make slime distinctly ideal for assembling under uncontrolled conditions."

Slime has a myriad of potential applications. For example, it could plug or slow leaks from oil drilling equipment, or provide cell cultures with a sparse network of fibrous elements that may offer unique tissue scaffolds architectures and even support 3-D cell cultures.

"Our future efforts will focus on gaining a better understanding of the mechanics of the slime's microstructural level," Chaudhary said. "We'd eventually like to develop materials to achieve similar functionality as hagfish slime by using synthetic components, and further develop ideas and methods to better engineer the material."

More information: Network formation in an infinite sea of water: Concentration-dependent rheology of hagfish defense gel. www.rheology.org/SoR172/ViewPaper?ID=189
For quite sometime, there have been claims that Dr Olusegun Mimiko turned his back on Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

These claims stem from his service in the Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration.

Obasanjo's game plan

The outgoing governor of Ondo state, has said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo threatened him and also pleaded with him not to resign from his government as a minister.

Mimiko, who was the Minister of Works under the regime of the former President, said Obasanjo said this in order to dissuade him from vying for the office of governor of Ondo state.

The governor said this in his yet-to-be presented book titled, Mimikos Odyssey: A Biographer of Revelations.

It is gathered that the book would be presented in Akure, the Ondo state capital, on Wednesday, February 15.

READ ALSO: Buhari Vacation: Tinubu finally opens up on President's health status

Obasanjo threatened me, I never betrayed Tinubu - Governor Mimiko reveals deep political secrets

A book of revelations

In the book, the Ondo state governor equally denied betraying the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; and two former governors of Ondo State, the late Adebayo Adefarati and the late Olusegun Agagu.

He stated that Obasanjo equally promised to change his ministry and also hand him over to the President that would succeed him, who he said, would retain him.

Mimiko stressed that Obasanjo promised to do these when he knew that he (Mimiko) was going to contest against the former Governor of the state, Agagu.

He added that some close associates of the late Agagu, who were in government at the time, also begged him not to leave the cabinet.

Mimiko said when he told Obasanjo that he was leaving his cabinet, he said the ex-President said he should not leave.

Others, who he said asked him not to leave the government of Obasanjo, included Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and Mr. Akin Osuntokun.

Exodus

Mimiko stated that he did not only leave the cabinet, he also resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party and pitched his tent with the Labour Party.

Although there was no money to run the new party, he added that he was determined to forge ahead.

He said: You dont know the situation I was in then. Look, you dont know Obasanjo. I worked with him. In history, go and check it out. There are not too many people who were able to resign from Obasanjos government.

In fact, you cant do it. Sir, you cant just do it. I did not only resign, when I came to the Federal Executive Council after resignation, everybody thought they were seeing a ghost.

Obasanjo hounded me out of Abuja, virtually. We came out with a new party.

Anybody that gave N1m then, you cant imagine how we would celebrate him or her. Four months to election, we were raising money in hundreds of thousands: N100,000; N50,000; N20,000

I still remember one architect, who sent us a cheque for N1m; we celebrated it. I did not have N1m when I decided to run and challenge Agagu. I did not have N1m anywhere.

You may not believe it; that is the gospel truth. You get what I am talking about? I was ready to lose. I didnt care. the people wanted me. I could feel it. I just could touch it. Ask from anybody who served in the cabinet then.

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Yayale Ahmed was Head of Service, Ufot Ekaette was the SGF, General Mohammed was there, Nweke Junior was there.

Even people who were not in government: Ask from Akin Osuntokun; ask from Femi Fani-Kayode.

They were begging me not to go, saying, Baba threatened you publicly and you still want to go? They begged me.

Baba called me. He said, I will change your ministry, I will hand you over to the incoming President. Cant you understand? I said, Thank you, Baba. It is a privilege but I am going.

He said, You dare not. I said, I am going. He said, Okay. Try me. Do you understand the circumstance?

When he left the PDP, he said the best thing he could have done was to join the camp of the then Governor of Lagos State, Tinubu, who he said, would have given him the ticket to run in Ondo State; but he said he refused.

That time, I did not run to Tinubu. They were the two power brokers (Obasanjo and Tinubu) then. The natural thing to do was to go and hide behind these people. Tinubu would give me the ticket and give me money to run and I would be more immune from Babas bullets. I didnt go to him; I stood on my own, he said.

He added that four months to the election, he decided to form and run the LP.

Mimiko added: Four months to the election  four months, December 14, 2006  was when we inaugurated the Labour Party in Ondo State and election was April 2007. Four months and we formed a new party. We set up the structure, set up candidates.

We won all elections and we were going with our bare knuckles. I didnt go to Tinubu then. 

Tinubu's contribution and joining Action Congress

According to The Vanguard, he denied the claim that he promised to join the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria after winning the legal battle that removed Agagu.

Mimiko, who will hand over on February 24, 2017, insisted that he didnt betray Tinubu, admitting that the former governor of Lagos State contributed money towards his success at the election tribunal.

He said the claim made by Tinubu during the governorship campaign of Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), who was the candidate of the defunct ACN in 2012 that he (Tinubu) spent millions on his election petition tribunal case was not true at all.

Mimiko described the technical assistance offered by Tinubu as insignificant, adding that the assistance was not instrumental in the favourable outcome of the judgement.

Mimiko added, I did not take any money from Tinubu. He offered technical and logistic assistance, which I appreciated and which I have had occasions to reciprocate in the course of similar litigation in which he had interest when I was opportune to do so.

It is not even important now but it was also a fact that the result of the forensic expert was not part of the evidence that the judges relied upon to give me judgment.

Rifts with Agagu and Adefarati

He also denied allegations that he had a history of betrayal, saying there was no iota of truth in the allegations that he once betrayed former Ondo State Governors, the late Adebayo Adefarati and Agagu.

The governor explained that he fell out with the two former governors when they reneged on their promises to be in office for a single term and also support his (Mimikos) own governorship aspiration.

He stated: I have no history of either betrayal or treachery. It is unfortunate that both Adefarati and Agagu are dead; they separately prevailed upon me to support their governorship bid election. I supported them on condition of reciprocity during my own governorship aspiration, which they did not fulfil and over which I bore no grudge.

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 

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Asian travelers will be shunning Western holiday destinations in 2017 in favor of destinations closer to home -- and safer, according to the results of a new survey.

In an online survey that polled more than 7,680 travelers across Asia for the booking site Travelzoo, no Western destination was able to crack the top five spots.

Instead, travelers from China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore said they plan to spend their vacation time and money in destinations closer to home, with Japan emerging the most popular destination in 2017, particularly among residents of China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

More than 22 percent of Chinese respondents who said they plan to visit Japan this year are also repeat visitors.

After Japan, Australia holds much appeal for Asian tourists, with 65 percent of Chinese respondents citing safety reasons as one of its primary attractions.

"Concerns about safety from terrorist attacks weigh in heavily on Asian tourists' travel decision-making," said Vivian Hong, President of Travelzoo Asia Pacific.

"Nearly 80 percent of them travel with family so they are very mindful of the security measures. As a result, destinations within the Asia Pacific region, such as Japan and Australia, offer a compelling alternative."

Overall, 2017 will see a spike in Chinese travel, with 70 percent of respondents saying they plan to travel abroad two times or more -- an increase of 10 percent compared to the same period last year.

Similarly, nearly 30 percent of respondents in Hong Kong said they plan to travel four times or more in 2017, marking a five percent increase.

- Chinese millennials with families and money -

One of the driving forces behind the travel spike? Millennials with families and disposable income, says Hong.

"China is witnessing a generation of millennials that is becoming the dominant force in leading the travel wave," she said.

"Most of them are married and have children now. They love to spend more of their disposable income on a sunny beach holiday with their family."

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Chinese travelers are increasing their holiday budgets, with the number of tourists budgeting more than $2,040 USD on travel, marking a 10 percent increase compared to last year.

Survey results also showed that in the last 12 months, there's been an increase of 10 percent in Chinese tourists taking two or more holidays.

"Despite the upheavals of 2016, we see a clearly increased level of travel interest from Asian tourists," Hong adds.

"Asia's ascendancy in the global economy, consumer confidence in Asia remains strong and it's reflected in the travel industry. This is especially the case for China."
MOKA adds Mandiri Capital to its list of investors, which includes Convergence Ventures, East Ventures, Fenox VC, and Northstar Group

BERMVDA Coffee, one of MOKAs clients

In less than a year since announcing their US$1.9 million Series A led by East Ventures, Indonesia mobile point-of-sale (POS) startup MOKA today announced that it has raised another US$2 million of funding.

The round is led by Mandiri Capital with participation from existing investors Convergence Ventures, East Ventures, Fenox VC, and Northstar Group.

We believe that Bank Mandiris vast network of small and medium enterprise (SME) merchants will benefit from our POS and payment solution. We look forward to working with Mandiri Capital to empower local businesses in Indonesia, said MOKA CEO and Co-Founder Haryanto Tanjo.

In an e-mail to e27, Tanjo dubbed the investment as a strategic round and announced plans to leverage Bank Mandiris merchant database and sales distribution to offer their POS solution.

The Jakarta-based startup plans to use the fresh funding to speed up product development, with CTO and Co-Founder Grady Laksmono stating that they aim to attract the best talents to help the process.

Also Read: These 5 fast facts in e-commerce can help position your company well in 2017

Tanjo explained that the startup will offer vertical-specific features for F&B, retail, and services industries, though he cannot mention further details about the new features.

MOKAs products consist of an Android and iOS mobile application used by cashiers and a web-based back office to enable SMEs to access real-time data on sales report, inventory, and customer feedback.

Though MOKA declined to comment on their target numbers for this year, it claimed to have secured 2,500 monthly paying merchants.

The startups SME clients are spread across F&B, retail (fashion, etc.) and services (barbershops, salons, spas, etc.) industries. More than half of them are based in Jakarta, with the rest operating in Bandung, Bali, Surabaya, and smaller Indonesian cities.

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MOKA had also just launched a sales office in Jogjakarta this month.

We acquire merchants through a mix of online and offline marketing. We have a strong sales team that gives product demo to merchants and a support or implementation team that on-board merchants, Tanjo said.

The post Less than one year after Series A, Indonesias MOKA gets another US$2M to speed up product development appeared first on e27.
AFP News

Pope Francis warned in Bahrain on Friday that "opposing blocs" and global divisions have put humanity on a "delicate precipice", a veiled reference to the Ukraine war. "We are living at a time when humanity, connected as never before, appears much more divided than united," he said during a speech to religious leaders in the Gulf kingdom. "We continue to find ourselves on the brink of a delicate precipice and we do not want to fall." Francis, who has made religious dialogue a pillar of his papacy, was speaking on the first full day of his trip to the tiny island state, where he arrived on Thursday afternoon. His visit comes with the Ukraine war in its ninth month, and tensions growing on the Korean Peninsula. In his speech on Friday, Francis warned that "a few potentates are caught up in a resolute struggle for partisan interests, reviving obsolete rhetoric, redesigning spheres of influence and opposing blocs." "Instead of cultivating our surroundings, we are playing instead with fire, missiles and bombs, weapons that bring sorrow and death, covering our common home with ashes and hatred," he said. Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the grand imam of Cairo's prestigious Al-Azhar mosque and centre of Sunni learning, also addressed the gathering. Tayeb warned that "market economics, monopolisation of resources, greed and arms sales to the Third World" were "manufacturing victims of war". Ahead of the pope's speech, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who met Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in September, told journalists that there had been "a few small signs" of progress in negotiations with Moscow. "All peace initiatives are good. What's important is that we carry them out together and that they're not exploited for other goals," he said. The pontiff's 39th international trip since taking office comes three years after he signed a Muslim-Christian manifesto for peace in the United Arab Emirates during the first papal visit to the Gulf region, where Islam was born. The pope's visit to Bahrain has been shadowed by accusations of rights abuses, particularly against Shiites in the Sunni-ruled kingdom, allegations Manama rejects. On Thursday the pontiff criticised use of the death penalty and urged nations to respect human rights. cmk/par/ho/it
By Colin Packham and Aaron Bunch SYDNEY (Reuters) - Officials at an Australian immigration centre in Papua New Guinea are increasing pressure on asylum seekers to return to their home countries voluntarily, including offering large sums of money, amid fears a deal for the United States to take refugees has fallen through. About a dozen Bangladeshi and Nepalese asylum seekers on Manus Island told Reuters they are being repeatedly called to meet with Australian officials and pressured to take amounts of up to $25,000 to return to those countries, or face deportation. The men, who have been ruled ineligible for refugee status by Papua New Guinea, said officials are also acting with urgency on deportation notices filed weeks or months ago. At least one Nepalese man was removed from his accommodation in the middle of the night last week, they said. "They told me and others that if you go back voluntarily you will get money about $20,000, if you guys go in group you will get more money," detainee Mohammad Bilal, a crane driver who says he fled Bangladesh for political reasons, told Reuters about a meeting with Australian officials last week. Offering money to failed asylum seekers to return home is not illegal. However, the sums being offered by Australian officials have more than doubled since a year ago, and are far above the funds being offered elsewhere. Germany, for example, recently announced plans to offer up to 1,200 euros ($1,275) to asylum seekers to voluntarily return home. "Substantial assistance packages are available to help non-refugees depart voluntarily, return home and re-establish their lives in their home country," Australia's immigration department said in an emailed statement to Reuters. "In cases where non-refugees refuse to depart voluntarily, the government of PNG has indicated that it will enforce the removal of those individuals, in accordance with normal international practice." The department declined to comment in more detail. Australia does not reveal the cost of its offshore processing program. However, a 2016 report from Unicef and Save the Children estimated the policy had cost A$10 billion ($7.7 billion) over the previous three years. DOUBTS ON U.S. DEAL The Papua New Guinea Supreme Court last year ruled the Manus Island centre, which houses around 860 men, breached human rights and was illegal, adding pressure on Australia to find a new solution. But U.S. President's Donald Trump's immigration ban has thrown doubt over a swap deal agreed in the final months of the previous administration. The United States committed to take up to 1,250 asylum seekers being held on behalf of Australia on Manus and Nauru, another Pacific island nation. In return, Australia will take refugees from Central America. The deal sparked a rare diplomatic spat between the two allies, with Trump berating Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull before reluctantly agreeing to honour the deal, subject to "extreme vetting" of would-be refugees. While the numbers of asylum seekers trying to reach Australia pale in comparison to those flooding into Europe, losing the U.S. deal would be a major set-back for Turnbull. His centre-right coalition came to power on policies that deny any asylum seeker trying to reach Australia by boat from ever being allowed to settle there. OFFERING CASH There are 225 men on Manus currently eligible for deportation as so-called "double negatives" - people who have twice had their refugee claims rejected. Bangladeshi and Nepalese detainees are being targeted for both deportation and voluntary return, human rights advocates and lawyers said, because Iran does not accept deported citizens and international law prevents the return of people to war torn countries such as Syria and Afghanistan. Nationals from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar are also held in the centre. Bangladeshi detainee Mohammad Rasel told Reuters he was offered $19,500 to return to Bangladesh voluntarily, more if he convinced a group of his countrymen to go with him, during interview with an Australian Border Force official on Manus last Tuesday. Another detainee who requested anonymity told Reuters that ABF officials met with a group of twelve Nepalese men on Friday, telling them they could either accept an offer of between $10,000 and $25,000 to go home voluntarily, or be deported. Lawyers and refugee advocates have raised concerns about process. "The increased focus by the Australian and PNG governments on deporting people with negative protection assessments is deeply troubling," said Sanmati Verma, a lawyer at Clothier Anderson Immigration Lawyers who represents several people on Manus and Nauru. "All of the circumstances indicate that those people have never had their claims for protection fairly, legally or impartially assessed." The Papua New Guinea government did not respond to emailed and telephoned requests for comment on its refugee assessment practices. Sally Thompson from Refugee Rights Action Network said long delays before processing began seriously compromised detainees' mental health and many were afraid to speak freely before the migration agents supplied by the Australian government. "Those with final negative assessments from PNG Immigration have been unable to access pro bono lawyers with standing in PNG Courts who can challenge these decisions on procedural grounds," she said. ($1 = 1.3043 Australian dollars) (Additional reporting by Serajul Quadir in DHAKA; Writing by Jane Wardell; Editing by Lincoln Feast)
By Emily Chow KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Already under fire for widespread environmental damage, Malaysia's once lucrative bauxite mining industry is facing a likely death knell from neighbouring Indonesia's move to allow a resumption of exports. This time last year, Malaysia was the world's biggest supplier of the aluminium-making raw material to top buyer China, but its exports tumbled after government action aimed at reining in the little regulated industry. The latest move could spell the end for a sector that only sprang to life in late 2014 after Indonesia banned ore exports, and illustrates the risks facing miners across Southeast Asia from increasingly uncertain government policy. Copper giant Freeport-McMoRan Inc warned last week it could slash output from Indonesia amid a long-running dispute with the government, while the Philippines has ordered the closure of more than half the country's mines on environmental grounds. "Policy risk is huge in mining right now," said Daniel Morgan, mining analyst at UBS in Sydney. "In supplier policy, you've got changes to Indonesia's mining policy, the Philippines and Malaysia." A host of mining operations sprang up along Malaysia's bauxite-rich east coast to fill a supply gap after Indonesia in 2014 barred exports of mineral ores in a bid to push miners to build smelters. In 2015, Malaysia shipped more than 20 million tonnes to China, well ahead of nearest rival Australia and up nearly 700 percent on the previous year. In 2013, it shipped just 162,000 tonnes. But the dramatic rise came at a cost as largely unregulated miners failed to secure stockpiles of bauxite. The run-off from monsoon rains turned rivers and coastal seas red, contaminating water sources and leading to a public outcry. The government imposed a mining moratorium in early 2016, and shipments to China from existing stockpiles fell to 165,587 tonnes in December, with little indication the government is set to change its mind. MINING BAN Malaysia's natural resources and environment ministry said any decision to lift the moratorium would be based on how well miners follow regulations to preserve the environment rather than economic gain. Recent rains in Kuantan have caused some bauxite runoffs from existing stockpiles, minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar told Reuters. "The heavy rains proved that the mitigation was not adequate. Now by having this before me, I am not yet prepared to allow them to start the operations," he said, declining further comment on the topic. Indonesia introduced new rules last month that will allow exports of nickel ore and bauxite and concentrates of other minerals in a sweeping policy shift, but did not specify when it would resume exports. The announcement could be the final nail in the coffin for Malaysia's industry, as its miners expect China to switch to Indonesia's better quality and cheaper ore, due to lower production costs. "Indonesian bauxite miners kept a lot of stockpiles ... They can sell cheap," said a miner from local company based in Kuantan, a key bauxite mining area in the state of Pahang. "If the volume coming out of Indonesia is over 10 million tonnes, Malaysia has to say goodbye." Unlike recent ructions in nickel supply from Indonesia and the Philippines that pushed up prices, Malaysia's near exit from bauxite has had little impact on the supply chain as new suppliers emerged, particularly in Guinea in West Africa. "Some of these commodities are pretty plentiful, like bauxite for instance," noted UBS's Morgan. "When we talk to aluminium companies in China, we haven't detected that they're worried about a bauxite shortage." The greater effect may be on Malaysia's export-based economy where bauxite surged to become a key mineral shipped to China, its largest trading partner. At a bauxite price of $50 a tonne, Malaysia's 2015 exports were worth over $1 billion. The scandal-tainted Prime Minister Najib Razak's government is pushing to boost revenue as he prepares for a tough election that has to be called by end-2018. "There will be less export income," said Ooi Kee Beng, deputy director of Singapore based research centre ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. "The loss of jobs at a time when common people are facing economic difficulties will have political impact that is unwelcomed by the government." (Additional reporting by Joseph Sipalan and Melanie Burton in Melbourne; Editing by Praveen Menon and Richard Pullin)
FILE - In this May 4, 2001, file photo, a man believed to be Kim Jong Nam, the eldest son of then North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, walks out of a police van before boarding an airplane heading to Beijing at Narita international airport in Narita, northeast of Tokyo. Kim was assassinated at an airport in Kuala Lumpur, telling medical workers before he died that he had been attacked with a chemical spray a Malaysian official said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File)

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- The astonishing assassination of North Korea leader Kim Jong Un's half-brother rippled across Asia on Wednesday as Malaysian investigators scoured airport surveillance video for clues about the two female assailants and rival South Korea offered up a single, shaky motive: paranoia.

Kim Jong Nam, 46, was targeted Monday in a shopping concourse at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, said a senior Malaysian government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the case involves sensitive diplomacy. He had not yet gone through security.

Kim, who died on the way to a hospital, told medical workers before he died that he had been attacked with a chemical spray, the official said.

South Korea's spy service said Wednesday that North Korea had been trying for five years to kill Kim Jong Nam. But the National Intelligence Service did not definitely say that it was North Korea, just that it was presumed to be a North Korean operation, according to lawmakers who briefed reporters about the closed door meeting with the spy officials.

The NIS cited Kim Jong Un's alleged "paranoia" about his half-brother. Still, the NIS has a history of botching intelligence on the North and has long sought to portray the North's leaders as mentally unstable.

In Malaysia, police were searching for clues in the CCTV footage from the airport, said Selangor police chief Abdul Samah Mat. The airport is in Selangor near Kuala Lumpur.

Kim Jong Nam was estranged from his younger brother, the North Korean leader. Although he had been tipped by some outsiders as a possible successor to his dictator father, others thought that was unlikely because he lived outside the country, including recently in Macau, Singapore and Malaysia.

He reportedly fell further out of favor when he was caught trying to enter Japan on a false passport in 2001, saying he wanted to visit Tokyo Disneyland.

Multiple South Korean media reports, citing unidentified sources, said Kim Jong Nam was killed at the airport by two women believed to be North Korean agents. They fled in a taxi and were being sought by Malaysian police, the reports said.

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A Malaysian police statement confirmed the death of a 46-year-old North Korean man whom it identified from his travel document as Kim Chol, born in Pyongyang on June 10, 1970. "Investigation is in progress and a post mortem examination request has been made to ascertain the cause of death," the statement said.

Ken Gause, at the CNA think tank in Washington who has studied North Korea's leadership for 30 years, said Kim Chol was a name that Kim Jong Nam has traveled under. He is believed to have been born May 10, 1971, although birthdays are always unclear for senior North Koreans, Gause said.

Mark Tokola, vice president of the Korea Economic Institute in Washington and a former deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, said it would be surprising if Kim Jong Nam was not killed on the orders of his brother, given that North Korean agents have reportedly tried to assassinate Kim Jong Nam in the past.

"It seems probable that the motivation for the murder was a continuing sense of paranoia on the part of Kim Jong Un," Tokola wrote in a commentary Tuesday. Although there was scant evidence that Kim Jong Nam was plotting against the North Korean leader, he provided an alternative for North Koreans who would want to depose his brother.

The reported killing came as North Korea celebrated its latest missile launch, which foreign experts were analyzing for evidence of advancement in the country's missile capabilities. For the next several days, North Korea will be marking the birthday of its late leader Kim Jong Il, the brothers' father, though they have different mothers. The major holiday this Thursday is called the "Day of the Shining Star" and will be feted with figure skating and synchronized swimming exhibitions, fireworks and mass rallies.

Since taking power in late 2011, Kim Jong Un has executed or purged a slew of high-level government officials in what the South Korean government has described as a "reign of terror." The most spectacular was the 2013 execution by anti-aircraft fire of his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, once considered the country's second-most-powerful man, for what the North alleged was treason.

Gause said Kim Jong Nam had been forthright that he did not have political ambitions, although he was publicly critical of the North Korean regime and his brother's legitimacy in the past.

Kim Jong Nam had been less outspoken since 2011, when North Korean assassins reportedly tried to shoot him in Macau, Gause said, though the details of the attempted killing are murky. South Korea also reportedly jailed a North Korean spy in 2012 who admitted to trying to organize a hit-and-run accident targeting Kim Jong Nam in China in 2010.

Despite the attempts on his life, Kim Jong Nam had reportedly traveled to North Korea since then, so it was assumed he was no longer under threat. Kim Jong Nam may have become more vulnerable as his defender in the North Korean hierarchy, Kim Kyong Hui  Kim Jong Un's aunt and the wife of his executed uncle, Jang Song Thaek  appears to have fallen from favor or died. She has not been seen in public for more than three years, Gause said.

Kim Jong Il had at least three sons with two women, as well as a daughter by a third. Kim Jong Nam was the eldest, followed by Kim Jong Chul, who is a few years older than Kim Jong Un and is known as a playboy who reportedly attended Eric Clapton concerts in London in 2015. It's unclear what positon he has in the North Korean government. A younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, was named a member of the Workers' Party of Korea's Central Committee during a North Korean party congress last May. She has a position in a propaganda and agitation department and is known as Kim Jong Un's gatekeeper, Gause said.

While the most likely explanation for the killing was that Kim Jong Un was removing a potential challenger to North Korean leadership within his own family, he could also be sending a warning to North Korean officials to demonstrate the reach of the regime. It follows the defection last year of a senior diplomat from the North Korean Embassy in London who has spoken of his despair at Kim's purges.

___

Associated Press writers Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul, South Korea, and Matthew Pennington in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.
By Katy Wong HONG KONG (Reuters) - A Hong Kong court found seven police officers guilty on Tuesday of beating a handcuffed pro-democracy activist during demonstrations in 2014, a rare incident of police brutality in the financial hub that triggered public outrage. The 79 days of student-led protests paralysed parts of Hong Kong and posed one of the greatest challenges to the central government in Beijing in decades. But Beijing gave no grounds on demands for greater democracy and resentment among some residents of the city, which enjoys a significant degree of autonomy, has simmered ever since. The trial centred on an incident on Oct. 15, 2014, at the height of the protests. A group of police officers was filmed dragging a protester, Ken Tsang, to a dark corner by a pumping substation next to the protest site, where he was kicked and punched. The officers were later suspended from duty. District court judge David Dufton said in a written summary that all seven officers were "guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm", but were found not guilty of the more serious charge of causing grievous bodily harm. "The court was satisfied that by carrying Tsang to the substation where he was dumped on the ground and immediately assaulted, the only inference to draw was that Tsang was carried ... to be assaulted," Dufton wrote in a summary of the verdict. Tsang, a social worker, suffered face, neck and shoulder injuries. He was handcuffed with plastic zip ties at the time, though the court heard he had earlier thrown some liquid at police. Two senior officers among the seven convicted had not taken part in the assault directly, Dufton said, but should have been duty-bound "to prevent the commission of a crime, even by fellow police officers." Instead they had encouraged the others to carry out "unlawful personal violence" on Tsang, he added. The seven men, who had pleaded not guilty, appeared in suits and ties and showed no emotion when the verdict was read. Several of Tsang's supporters cheered in the public gallery. Outside the court, Tsang's supporters were heckled by a group of about 70 people who chanted "support our police". The court did not give a date for sentencing. Under Hong Kong law, they could be jailed for up to three years. Heavy-handed policing is rare in Hong Kong and the case triggered public outrage and deepened tension during the protests in which clashes occasionally erupted. Tsang told Reuters he needed to consider the verdict before making a statement. Hong Kong reverted from British to Chinese rule in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula that accords the city a degree of autonomy and freedom not enjoyed in mainland China. China bristles at dissent, however, especially over issues such as demands for universal suffrage. Many in Hong Kong are increasingly concerned about what they see as Beijing's meddling in city affairs. Unease about the city's future has stoked protests and has even led to calls for independence from China. (Writing by James Pomfret; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Startup Games is a 1-day event backed by the UK government and Tech City London, and supported by SGInnovate

It is like Shark Tank but in an app form  and with no actual capital involved.

Startup Games is a 1-day event that lets entrepreneurs raise virtual seed funds through a simulated investment game. The startup that raises the most virtual funds will be flown to the UK, where it will be able to meet a selected group of UK entrepreneurs and study the UK ecosystem.

The vertical-agnostic startup competition was first held in the Rio Olympic Games last year, and was won Brazil-based social networking app BeerOrCoffee, which, as the name suggests, allows users to match with people with similar interests to meet for a quick beer or coffee.

This year, Startup Games will roll out in Singapore. Backed by the UK government and Tech City London, as well as supported by Singapore government-backed deep tech collaboration centre SGInnovate, the event will be held on March 23.

Multi-stage European VC Octopus Ventures and other UK entrepreneurs, VCs, and other angel investors will be speaking at the event. Participants will also be able to receive guidance from entrepreneurs such as Jamal Hassim, CEO and founder of live-TV and on-demand video content platform SyQic; and Shobit Shukla, co-founder of location intelligence platform Near.

Also Read: 25 best fintech events you must attend in 2017

The Startup Games offers an excellent opportunity to gain exposure and access to the top Asian investors and is the perfect platform to find out more about growing your business in the UK with advice from local and visiting experts, said Warren Pain, Deputy Director and Head of Inward Investment, UK Department of International Trade Singapore.

Singapore is consistently one of the best places to do business and the UK similarly, offers a friendly environment for Singaporean and ASEAN startups looking to grow their business internationally. Low tax rates, access to finance and world class hubs, talent and accelerators are some of the many reasons why the UK remains an attractive place to do business in, added Pain.

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Startup Games said that teams with any of these three key attributes would stand a better chance to win over investors:

An innovative solution to a problem, the more pressing and global, the better; A unique product or service that has been tested and honed, and even though not at its best yet, has gain some traction and is set for further development and growth; A founding team with core skills unique to the business, that has its sights set on the world at large, and is ready to go global using the UK as a springboard to the world.

Interested participants should submit a business plan and an optional video pitch (not longer than two minutes) to this link to qualify. The closing date is on March 6.



Image Credit: Startup Games

The post Singapores version of Shark Tank will send the winner to the UK appeared first on e27.
A TV screen broadcasts a news report on North Korea firing a ballistic missile into the sea off its east coast: Reuters

Britain has summoned the North Korean ambassador to object to the firing of a nuclear-capable missile in the direction of Japan.

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said the UK "fully supports the UN Security Council's strong condemnation of North Korea's recent ballistic missile launch".

The North Korean test, which saw a missile fired 500km across the Sea of Japan and was hailed as a "success" by Pyongyang, was "a threat to international security", the Foreign Office said.

"We urge North Korea to stop its provocative actions, which threaten international peace and security, and instead re-engage with the international community, and take credible, concrete steps to prioritise the well-being of its own people instead of the nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

"The Ambassador was asked to convey this message to Pyongyang in the strongest possible terms."

Earlier on Tuesday, North Koreans celebrated the latest missile launch, which foreign experts were analysing for evidence of advancement in the country's missile capabilities.

For the next several days, North Korea will be marking the birthday of late leader Kim Jong-il, father of current leader Kim Jong-un. The holiday reaches a climax this Thursday with the "Day of the Shining Star" and will be feted with figure skating, synchronised swimming exhibitions, fireworks and mass rallies.

At the opening of a flower festival featuring a begonia named "Kimjongilia," the missile was front and centre, too.

Visitors posed and took photos in front of a painting of the missile next to a portrait of the late leader and a large arrangement of Kimjongilia flowers that were provided by a military unit. A slogan next to the missile touted the value of the North being a powerful nuclear state.

"I felt great pride and excitement when I saw the launch on TV," said Kang Kuk Hwa, who works at a greenhouse run by the North's trade ministry to grow Kimjongilia and flowers for another event held in April that features a kind of orchid named after Kim Il-sung, North Korea's "eternal president" and Kim Jong-un's grandfather.

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"As long as there is a threat from the United States, we must build up our defenses," said Kang, who is 23.

The missile tested Sunday flew about 500 kilometers (310 miles) before splashing down into the Pacific and is believed to have featured several elements  including solid fuel and new mobile launching techniques  that could indicate significant advances in the country's missile capabilities. It has been widely criticized as a violation of a U.N. resolution.

Last year, the North also conducted two nuclear tests and is believed to be moving quickly closer to having a nuclear device that can be mounted on a long-range missile.

The North has repeatedly defended the nuclear and missile programs as necessary for national defense.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press
The United States' annual message to Serbia to mark its national day made no mention of the country's bid to join the European Union, which Washington has previously supported. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Monday issued a short statement to extend to Serbia his best wishes and hopes for "a prosperous future," two days ahead of its national day. But the wording of the statement underlines the extent to which President Donald Trump's new US administration has moved on from its predecessor's support for the European Union. And it may cheer Russian President Vladimir Putin's Kremlin, which resents Europe's eastward march and is seeking to retain Moscow's historically strong influence in Serbia and the broader Balkans. In this week's letter, Tillerson hailed "Serbia's continued efforts to promote economic reform, to further strengthen the rule of law and to improve relations with its neighbors," which he described as cornerstones of "regional stability and economic growth." But he made no mention of Serbia's recent bid to join the European Union or of what the State Department has often previously referred to as its "Euro-Atlantic aspirations." Last year on the same day, by contrast, former president Barack Obama's secretary of state John Kerry underlined US support for Serbia's EU entry in the clearest of terms. "We applaud Serbia's commitment to the EU accession process and related reforms," Kerry wrote in February 2016. "The hard work of adopting EU norms and standards will lead to a more prosperous, democratic Serbia that is more fully integrated into Euro-Atlantic institutions." - Yugoslav collapse - The State Department would not issue a statement in support on Serbia's EU ambition but, speaking on condition of anonymity six hours after Tillerson's statement, one official insisted the policy had not changed. "The United States remains fully supportive of Serbias European Union accession efforts," he insisted. "We continue to appreciate our close and cooperative security relationship with Serbia, as well as Serbias growing partnership with NATO." Obama's administration was a vocal supporter of Brussels' outreach to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, believing EU membership would bind former Soviet satellites more firmly to the West. But Trump has been scornful of the European Union and multilateral treaties in general, and has even been cool on the future role of the traditionally US-led NATO military alliance. Serbia officially applied to join the European Union in December 2009 and began negotiations to do so in 2014, despite the skepticism of a significant proportion of its own population. Westward-leaning Serbs see joining the 28-nation bloc as a guarantor of stability and prosperity in a region still reeling from both the recent financial crisis and the 1990s Balkan wars. But many nationalists nurse resentment over the collapse of Yugoslavia and the NATO bombing of Serb targets during the Bosnian and Kosovo wars -- and some see Putin's Russia as a natural ally. Trump has repeatedly said that he, too, would like Washington to enjoy friendlier ties with Moscow.
Photo: Keith Fowler, Australias Department of Veterans Affairs

To survivors of the Death Railway, the 415-kilometre stretch of railway between Ban Pong, Thailand, and Thanbyuzayat, Burma, was aptly named for the untold sufferings of many Allied prisoners of war (POWs) and labourers during World War II.

Japanese forces began construction of the railway in 1943 in a bid to support its Burma campaign. In the process, some 60,000 Allied POWs and more than 180,000 forced labourers were press-ganged to build the railway. By the end, as many as 16,000 POWs and 90,000 labourers had perished from tropical diseases, malnutrition and ill-treatment.

Keith Fowler, then a private in a machine gun battalion, was one of more than 13,000 Australians who were forced to work on the railway. Many of them passed through Changi Prison in Singapore while being transported to the work sites.

Speaking to Yahoo Singapore from Sydney, the 96-year-old Fowler said, It was horrific, to put it plainly. We lost all semblance of being normal humans. Men died from starvation, beri beri, dysentry, cholera, you name it. Prisoners were only given about 85 grams of rice daily, which was often treated with lime to get rid of weevils and tasted like rotten eggs, said Fowler.

In 1942, Fowler was captured in Java by the Japanese during their conquest of the Dutch East Indies, or modern-day Indonesia, and was held for three years. He recalled the brutal bashings dished out by the Korean guards, who were worse than the Japanese. On one occasion, Fowler was beaten for lighting a fire in the camp to cook rice. At the end of it, a Japanese sergeant pointed a rifle at his throat.

And something in me said, just look him in the eye, said Fowler, whose memory remains crystal clear more than 70 years on. I had no intention of looking him in the eye (at first) because it would only have aggravated him more. But my eyes looked into his eyesfor what seemed a lifetime, he put the rifle down and walked on.

Asked if anyone ever managed to escape the railway, Fowler replied, Three British blokes tried to escape once. They (the Japanese) caught them and beheaded them.

Story continues

I reflect on it a lot

Jack Thomas was a 23-year-old private when he was captured by the Japanese in 1942. Photo: Jack Thomas, Australias Department of Veterans Affairs

Jack Thomas, 97, came from the same unit as Fowler and had served all over the Middle East before being sent to Java, where he was also captured. Like Fowler, he passed through Singapore briefly on his way to the Death Railway as part of a contingent of some 900 Australian POWs. He was later interned in Japan as well.

Speaking from Modbury, South Australia, where he had just met with family members of his old comrades, Thomas was in an introspective mood. He recalled being part of the Allied forces that defeated Vichy French forces in Syria in 1941, where he felt the same exhilaration of victory that the Japanese had in Singapore when the island fell.

I was a young man, 19, 20 years of age, conceited, cocky. Had our roles been reversed, would I have felt any different from the Japanese soldiers?

Asked how he managed to get through three and a half years of captivity, Thomas took a long pause and would only say, A lot of people did not.

Thomas vividly remembered sleeping in the mud and watching friends die through hunger, work and cruelty while working on the railway.

The veteran was later shipped to Ohama, opposite the Japanese port of Mori (now Moji-ku), on a most hazardous journey of 70 days. He worked in a coal mine that had little ventilation and was often flooded. The area was just 120 kilometres from Hiroshima, where the first atomic bomb that precipitated the end of the war was dropped.

They were not good times, he said quietly.

After the war

Both Fowler and Thomas eventually made it home to Australia, where Fowler admitted to being a nutcase for several years. I had no feelings at all when I was released. All these things I told you I had forgotten, said Fowler. It wasnt until three years after I had come home and was married, I had my first child, that I got hit like a ton of bricks (by the memories).

It was only with the help of psychotherapy that Fowler managed to recover. I realised that all the anger I was putting on the Japanese, the only person it was affecting was myself.

Im not sorry I was a POW. The experiences that I had have done me great stead, even though I had to go through all the trauma.

Thomas is also grateful to have survived the war. Time has dealt with me gracefully to reach the age of 97 after those few years of wartime experiences.

In 2015, both men were invited to travel to Japan, where Thomas visited his former place of captivity. I found the experience to be charming. Im at peace with the Japanese. I hope they are at peace with me, said Thomas.

Related stories:
Why claiming that climate scientists are in it for the money is absurd

Posted on 14 February 2017 by BaerbelW

If you are reading the comments on basically any climate change related article, it won't take long to get to one (or more!) commenters boldly claiming that "climate scientists are only in it for the money". This will often be accompanied by outrageously high $ amounts to really get anybody's hackles up but without any real evidence for their statement.

This article is intended to be a repository listing resources you can use to counter this unsubstantiated claim whenever it crops up somewhere. Some are blog posts, some are videos while others come from social media postings.

Videos

One of the best explanations of why the claim is just absurd comes from Richard Alley in this interview snippet:

Many of the scientists interviewed for Denial101x also explain why they do what they do and it doesn't have anything to do with money (big surprise!). All those expert interviews are available in the Wakelet-collection Denial101x Expert Interviews

Blog Posts

John Timmer in ArsTechnica (May 2012) - Accusations that climate science is money-driven reveal ignorance of how science is done

"One of the unfortunate memes that has made repeated appearances in the climate debate is that money isn't just influencing the public debate about science, but it's also influencing the science itself. The government, the argument goes, is paying scientists specifically to demonstrate that carbon dioxide is the major culprit in recent climate change, and the money available to do so is exploding.



Although the argument displays a profound misunderstanding of how science and science funding work, it's just not going away. Just this week, one of the sites where people congregate to criticize mainstream climate science once again repeated it, replete with the graph below. That graph originated in a 2009 report from a think tank called the Science & Public Policy Institute (notable for using the serially confused Christopher Monckton as a policy advisor).[...]"

Scott Mandia (March 2012) - Taking the Money for Grant(ed)  Part I and Taking the Money for Grant(ed)  Part II

"[...]Are scientists getting rich from grant funding? I will use myself as a case study in this post and, in Part II, I will write about others experiences.

I recall a lecture I gave on climate change back in April 2009. After I was finished, a gentleman told me that he though[sic] the whole thing was a hoax so that we scientists could get rich from funding. Before I even had a chance to reply, a voice from the crowd (my wife) yelled out, Trust me, I can tell you, he isnt making any money from this. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Nothing! The truth hurts, doesnt it?[...]"

John Timmer in ArsTechnica (February 2011) - If climate scientists are in it for the money, theyre doing it wrong

"[...] So, are there big bucks to be had in climate science? Since it doesn't have a lot of commercial appeal, most of the people working in the area, and the vast majority of those publishing the scientific literature, work in academic departments or at government agencies. Penn State, home of noted climatologists Richard Alley and Michael Mann, has a strong geosciences department and, conveniently, makes the department's salary information available. It's easy to check, and find that the average tenured professor earned about $120,000 last year, and a new hire a bit less than $70,000.[...]"

Social media

Katharine Hayhoe on her Facebook page (January 2017) - Link to public post

""Climate Change is a Hoax ....Big Money For Scientists to get Grants....Climate Change is Welfare for Scientists!!"



I receive messages like this on a regular basis. And when I point out that an earth scientist with a PhD would get a lot more money working for an oil company than a university, it's met with total incomprehension.



Why is it that people are so convinced all climate scientists are shoveling millions of dollars of government grant money into their Swiss bank accounts (and oil executives aren't shoveling billions into accounts in the Cayman Islands)?



Part of it might be because grants always seem to involve such enormous sums. And it's true, the biggest grant I was ever awarded was the stunning amount of $1.1M USD. Stunning, that is, until we break it down. Here goes!



I wrote the grant with 4 co-principal investigators from different universities. So we divided up the money about equally, giving each of us around $220,000. Still a nice amount.



The grant was for 4 years, which meant I had $55,500 to spend each year. Still nice, right?



Then the university takes 1/3 of that for "facilities & administration" costs. F&A doesn't cover the luxuries  my office has no window, I bought all my own furniture and computer  but it does give us internet, electricity, and an infernal amount of paperwork. That leaves $37,000 for me to spend each year.



With that money, I pay a graduate student the princely salary of about $25,000; I pay the university their tuition, which is around $10,000; and that leaves $2,000 left over each year. Year one, I buy the student a computer; year two, I pay for them to attend a scientific conference; and years 3 and 4, I pay for us to publish one scientific paper because yes, those cost about $2,000 as well.



BOOM - that's how a scientist spends $1.1M! Surprised?"

Other sources

One of my all-time favorites - and not mincing any words - is Ray Ladbury's comment on a Real Climate post from November 2009:

"[...]If you dont know about or understand the evidence that shows incontrovertibly that we are warming the planet, you are IGNORANT. No sin here. You can rectify your ignorance by hard study.



If you refuse to put in the hard study, then you are WILFULLY IGNORANT and your opinion is worthless.



If you refuse even to look at the evidence even when it is shoved in front of your face and still insist you understand better than all the experts, then you are a DENIALIST.



Finally, if you insist that all the scientists are engaged in a global hoax to preserve their lucrative grants (which amount in salary to about what a mid-level IT administrator would make), then you are an IDIOT."

Update Sept. 7, 2018:

Karin Kirk tackled this myth in an article for Yale Climate Communication on Sept. 5, 2018:

Climate change science comeback strategies: 'In it for the money'

It comes with two cartoons drawn by John Cook:

To link to this article you can use the short URL http://sks.to/absurd

Please feel free to suggest more links in the comments.
If youre not using Instagram Live for your small business yet, youre missing out!

Since its debut as a photo-sharing platform, Instagram has improved significantly, going from an unknown startup to a social media behemoth with more than 600 users as of December 2016.

Today, businesses of all sizes recognize the platforms incredible marketing potential as its newest feature, Instagram Live, takes business communication to the next level.

Should Small Businesses Care?

The answer is simple. Yes!

Small businesses need to pay attention to the platform for two reasons. First, Instagram Live provides a direct channel for two-way communication between your business and your audience and secondly, you probably already have an Instagram following that you can easily convert into customers using Live Videos.

Ways to Use Instagram Live

Here are some ideas for efficiently and effectively using Instagram Live for business.

Host an Interactive Q&A

Use Instagram Live to engage with your audience, answering their questions in real time. Each video feed comes with a comments section that your audience can use to engage with you as you broadcast. They can also react via likes.

Tip: Before hosting a Q&A, always let your customers know well in advance that you will be holding a Q&A session. It would be prudent to ask them to send their questions in advance via Direct Message. This should help you with preparation. You can also have them ask questions during the live broadcast. This should make for a more interactive experience.

Stream a Live Workshop or Tutorial

In a similar manner as you would with a Q&A session, inform your audience ahead of time that you will be hosting a tutorial or workshop on Instagram Live. If you own a bakery you can host a fun baking live video on how to make lemon bread, for example. Or if you own a gym then you can host a tutorial on how to keep fit during winter. The advantage with Instagram Live is that you dont have to worry so much about time limits as the platform allows you to be live for up to an hour.

Offer a Behind-the-Scenes Perspective of Your Business

Besides tutorials and Q&As, you can also use Instagram to humanize your business. Usually, when you post something on social media sites, your audience doesnt get to see the hard work that went into the production. However, a behind-the-scenes perspective opens your world to them. In a world of spam and never-ending memes, connections such as this are not easy to establish, yet Instagram Live makes it so easy for you to build a sense of transparency and trust among your customers.

Things to Consider Before Using Instagram Live

Create a Plan for Engagement

Its good to always remember that the reason why many people watch live videos is because they want to connect with the people behind the brand or business. You, therefore, need to have your broadcast plan in place with points to guide your conversation. Do your best to have answers ready for all the questions that may be asked. This will ensure you have a smooth broadcast.

Include a Call to Action

Always leave your viewers wanting more. Tell them of other ways that they can keep in touch, which could include subscribing to your newsletters or following you on other social networks. Whatever works for you.

The possibilities of how to use Instagram Live for your business are endless. The secret to success, however, lies in your creativity, so keep trying new ways to spice up your broadcasts.

Are you currently using Instagram Live for your business? What do you love most about it? Wed love to hear from you.
Future financing of highway construction remains in question.

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While last October construction final began of the long-awaited 60-kilometre bypass of Bratislava, drivers will have to wait a bit longer for the complete D1 highway from Bratislava to Kosice. Meanwhile, the Turany-Hubova stretch in northwestern Slovakia is causing the biggest headaches for the government and highway builders. After a landslide during construction, the state began reconsidering its final route.

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Currently in Slovakia, contractors are building nine stretches of highways and dual carriageways totalling more than 90 kilometres. These should be completed between 2017 and 2020. This year, the companies should complete construction of a stretch of the dual carriageway R2 Zvolen east-Pstrusa; the D3 highway stretch Svrcinovec-Skalite; the D1 highway stretch Svinia-Presov west, and the D3 stretch, Strazov at Zilina-Brodno, spokeswoman of the National Highway Company (NDS) Eva Zgravcakova informed.

In terms of construction of new stretches, everything will depend on availability of funds and the process of public procurement which is not fully under the control of NDS, Zgravcakova told The Slovak Spectator. Among the most advanced stretches are the R3 Tvrdosin-Nizna, R2 Kosice, R2 Saca-Kosicke Olsany and the R4 northern bypass of Presov.

Meanwhile, financing needed for construction of highways and dual carriageways remains in question. EU funds Slovakia is set to receive during the 2017-2020 programming period have been already allocated for existing projects. Yet it is not clear whether Slovakia will continue to receive money from the EU.

For that reason, the Robert Fico government is pushing to loosen the debt brake, an instrument Slovakia adopted back in 2011 to prevent an increase in the country's debt to critical levels. Its loosening would allow the state to borrow more money, for example, for completion of highways. Other possible sources include the state budget, other European sources, i.e. Junckers package, or public-private partnership (PPP) projects.

Is highway construction in Slovakia overpriced?

Costs for building highways in Slovakia remain in the spotlight. The Institute for Economic and Social Reforms (INEKO) think tank criticised, for example, the D3 stretch Cadca-Svrcinovec. The price for which the winning consortium will build it is about 40 million above state expertise estimates.

Also the south-western bypass of Presov, part of the D1 highway connecting Bratislava with Kosice, is subject to criticism for its high costs.

Pavol Kovacik, chair of the Association of Construction Entrepreneurs of Slovakia, perceives arithmetic comparison of prices for construction of highways as nonsense. Kovacik served as investment director at NDS until June 2016.

It is impossible to compare the price of one kilometre [of a highway] from different projects, Kovacik told the Pravda daily. This is because each highway or railway is unique. The share of bridges, tunnels, necessary investments like building anti-noise walls, anti-flood measures, replacing of drain pipes or electrical lines, among others, affect prices the most. Also relief of the land and geology have an impact.

Kovacik specified that the 7.9-km Presov bypass consists of an almost 2-km-long tunnel and 18 bridges totalling almost 3.5 kilometres. This stretch should also be built with a concrete surface, which is more expensive in the case of primary investments, but operation and maintenance of such a highway is cheaper.

The Presov bypass is a good example of how easily the fact whether a highway is expensive can be distorted, said Kovacik. Its price is not only in line with the state expertise estimate but a closer look confirms that comparison of prices for one kilometre of highway, also in relation to abroad, is misleading and inaccurate.

Construction Minister, Arpad Ersek last December said that if an analysis shows that the price of the Presov bypass is too high, he is ready to scrap the tender. For now, it is the consortium of Eurovia SK, Eurovia CS, Doprastav and Metrostav Slovakia that should build the stretch for 356 million ex VAT. The ministry is currently updating the EIA report on this project so that its construction can be financed by EU funds.

Construction of D3 highway

Earlier in January, the consortium of Strabag, Porr and Hochtief construction companies started construction of the highly anticipated D3 stretch, Cadca-Svrcinovec. particularly drivers heading to Poland or the Czech Republic will benefit from this 5.6-km stretch. Construction should last four years and cost almost 240 million ex VAT.

The D3 highway from Dolny Hricov near Zilina running up to the Slovak-Polish border in Skalite will be 60 kilometres long. Although its construction started 20 years ago, only the 8.5-kilometre stretch of Hricovske Podhradie-Zilina Strazov and the four-kilometre stretch, Oscadnica-Cadca built according to a half-profile, i.e. with half of the planned lanes, are in operation. Almost 22 kilometres of this highway are under construction and building of the remaining more than 34 kilometres has not yet started. The D3 highway should be completed by 2025, but local municipalities and companies are pushing for earlier completion, the Pravda daily wrote.

Bratislava-Kosice highway far from sight

The D1 stretch Turany-Hubova will be the next stretch to be completed on the Bratislava-Kosice highway. Other missing stretches are either under construction or their preparations are far from underway.

Read also:

Read also: Korbelka tunnel is the best highway variant for man as well as nature Read more

The stretch Turany-Hubova connects the Turiec and Liptov regions and its construction is very demanding from the point of view of environemental protection, geology as well as financing. So far, the state has been pushing for a cheaper surface variant that wiould do greater harm to the nature reservations of the Lower and Higher Fatra mountains. However, after a landslide during construction of the surface highway near Sutovo in 2013, it began reconsidering the final route; and the oldest variant with the six-kilometre Korbelka tunnel was again under consideration.

Now, the Environment Ministry is evaluating the submitted surface and tunnel variants. It expects to decide which variant is the most acceptable by this spring. However, Tomas Ferencak, spokesperson of the Environment Ministry specified that the final stance of the ministry will be in the form of the construction permission and the current ongoing evaluation process does not replace the ordinary proceedings related to issuing the necessary permits.

Experts estimate that re-routing of the Turany-Hubova stretch and its building will last about 10 years, i.e. until about 2026. Its construction will include building of the 5,851-metre Korbelka tunnel and the 2,898-metre Havran tunnel.

Costs for construction of the Turany-Hubova stretch with the tunnels are estimated at about 700 million. For now there is no funding for it in the state budget or from EU funds.
They discussed the plans for selling the eastern Slovak plant.

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Economy Minister Peter Ziga, Deputy PM for Investments and Informatisation Peter Pellegrini and Finance Minister Peter Kazimir (all Smer) met with representatives of U.S. Steel Kosice on February 13.

The talks were rooted in the so-called joint memorandum, which obliges both parties to inform each other about new developments concerning the company, Ziga wrote on his Facebook profile.

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On behalf of the government, I can confirm that the pledge still holds that the cabinet will be party to negotiations on the sale of the steelmaker, Ziga said, as quoted by the TASR newswire. Well protect the strategic interests of Slovakia and the Kosice Region and insist that employment and steel production must be preserved in Kosice regardless of who the future owner will be.

Read also:

Read also: U.S. Steel: Will they stay or will they go? Read more

Several media outlets have meanwhile reported that the American owners of U.S. Steel inked a memorandum of understanding in Pittsburgh with the Chinese He Steel Group on January 26, 2017.

I wont be commenting on that, said U.S. Steel spokesperson Jan Baca, as quoted by TASR.

Czech-based company Moravia Steel, behind which stand Slovak millionaires headed by Tomas Chrenek, was among the bidders, but the favourite hopeful was He Steel with its offer of 1.4 billion.
The newly prepared strategy, aimed to replace the 25-year-old document, is a new approach to the new challenges Slovakia faces.

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Slovakia might get a new Environmental Policy Strategy for the first time in many years, as the Environment Ministry plans to submit such a document to a cabinet session by December.

The ministry wants a new, modern and targeted strategy, said ministrys State Secretary Norbert Kurilla, as quoted by the TASR newswire. The current one is already 25 years old, and its no longer reflecting contemporary needs.

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The public can join preparation work, Kurilla added.

The current strategy has been in effect since 1993. Many changes have occurred since then in legislation, as well as in the quality and understanding of the environment, the state secretary explained.

Many partial strategies and targets have been adopted since then, but none of them have been cross-sectional and they havent created long-term targets for state environmental policy either, Kurilla said, as quoted by TASR.

The document should react to the new challenges that Slovakia faces, such as the recent smog problem.

The new strategy should not be an academic document, but should provide a comprehensible vision that would be acceptable both for experts and the broader public, Kurilla said.

We want to set a direction for measures to be adopted in the future, Kurilla added, as quoted by TASR. So, if laws or executive guidelines are approved or decisions are made on how to use finances, this should reflect the targets and measures included in the environmental strategy.

The strategy should not influence economic targets of other sectors, but should propose how to eliminate their negative impact on the environment. The Environmental Policy Institute (IEP) at the Environment Ministry will be in charge of preparing and coordinating the work. It will also cooperate with the Agriculture, Economy, Transport and Health Ministries.

As it will be an open process, we in no way want to leave the professional public and NGOs out of it, said IEP analyst Pavol Siroky, as quoted by TASR. They will be part of seven working groups.

The public can send comments on the strategy until the end of April, he added. An online form has been published on the ministrys website.

The final draft of the new strategy should be completed by the end of June. Subsequently, it will undergo a mandatory strategic environmental assessment.

We want to allow a sufficiently long time for all parties involved to comment on the strategy, Siroky said, as quoted by TASR.
The company selling fitness clothes saw rather a support of people in response to racist attacks.

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Though the advertisement depicting a black model raised uproar on the social networks, with many people leaving racist comments, nobody has returned the clothes. Conversely, hundreds of people supported the ad, the Sme daily reported.

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Following the publication of an advertisement presenting Dennis Johansen of African heritage, the company Nebbia Zilina, which sells fitness clothes, established the email somrasista@nebbia.sk (som rasista means "I am a racist") to allow customers to return the goods based on racist sentiments.

Less than 10 people have sent a message to that email to acquire information about returning the clothes, but none of the comments were racist, said CEO of the company Martin Pecko. In the end, nobody has returned the goods.

The small number of people who considered returning the clothes, is proof that the situation is not as bad as it could be, Pecko added, as quoted by Sme.

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Read also: Racist statements appear under clothes ad Read more

It is not usual for Slovak ads to depict black models, admits advertisement expert Simona Bubanova.

They usually depict the target group or somebody the target group can identify with, she told Sme.

This, however, does not mean companies try to avoid such a situation. Foreign companies usually use models of various races, she added.

Companies are becoming more aware of their social corporate responsibility and insist on the fundamental statements regarding tolerance and human rights, advertisement expert Robert Slovak told Sme. Some examples are offered by Lego or Ikea, which deliberately prepare campaigns to support tolerance.

"An increasing number of brands are aware of their corporate responsibility and try to become an example, Slovak said, as quoted by Sme.

On the other hand, observers are not surprised by the negative responses to the ad depicting a black athlete. The attitude that any difference should be rejected has made it to the mainstream also in politics, particularly following the refugee crisis, sociologist Silvia Porubanova commented for Sme.
The raid was linked to the residential complex Bonaparte, where PM Fico also rents a flat.

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Police raided the premises of well-known businessman Ladislav Basternak, suspected of tax frauds, on the morning of February 14. Police cars left the businessmans villa before 9:00, the Aktuality.sk website wrote.

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The prosecutors office later confirmed to the Dennik N daily that the raid was connected to the residential complex Bonaparte, where PM Robert Fico also rents an apartment. However, it refused to provide more details due to the ongoing investigation.

The case goes back to June 2016, when Jozef Rajtar of Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) submitted a criminal lawsuit against the building. The police at first dismissed it, but the prosecutor ordered them to deal with it, Dennik N wrote.

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Read also: Businessman Basternak explains origin of property Read more

A police car was also parked in front of the residential complex on Tupeho Street in Bratislava, where several of Basternaks firms reside. No police officers were seen close to the building so it is unclear whether they also raided those premises, the SITA newswire reported.

The police raided the businessmans villa and the residential complex on Tupeho Street already last June. At the time, they spent some four hours there. They came to take the books of his companies, also taking away the computer. They subsequently carried out a house search at the accountant's, Aktuality.sk wrote.

The police and the prosecutors office investigated Basternak at the end of last year, scrutinising whether and how he could earn 12 million and whether his property is legal. Basternak delivered his explanation of his propertys origin to the police on January 19, 2017.
The Slovak president visited Kenya for the first time and highlighted the exchange of experiences between the two countries.

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Over 100 development assistance projects have come into existence since Slovakia began to provide aid to Kenya in 2004 said Slovak President Andrej Kiska after meeting his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta and members of the countrys government in Nairobi on February 13.

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It was his first official visit to the country.

Several hundred [Slovak] volunteers have worked here, Kiska said, as quoted by the TASR newswire. Slovak projects have resulted in several thousand new jobs, and tens of thousands of farmers have had work as a result, and  much to my surprise  over 200,000 trees have been planted here thanks to Slovakia and Slovak projects.

Slovakias aid to Kenya has amounted to more than 10 million over the past 12 years. The Slovak third sector was working in the country even before Slovak government assistance began. Kenya tops the list of countries on the receiving end of Slovak aid.

Slovakia sends the aid mostly to support the development in health care, education, agriculture and administration of public affairs, Nina Mochnacova of the SlovakAid organisation told TASR.

Bilateral ties based on exchange of experience

Kenya as such is a highly stable pillar of this part of Africa, Kiska said, as quoted by TASR. It acts as a partner in the international fight against terrorism. Nairobi is home to many international institutions. Kenya is a pivot of economic development and, besides providing us with flowers, seafood and tea, somewhat surprisingly for me, it can also be a source of inspiration for Slovakia.

Kiska and Kenyatta concurred that bilateral ties are based on exchanges of experience rather than on Slovakia counselling the country.

As many as 85 percent of people have access to the internet, and mobile banking here is perhaps the best in the world, the Slovak president continued. This country is developing ... and dynamic development lies ahead for it.

He went on to praise Kenya for being a stable partner for Slovakia and the EU.

Kiskas talks with Kenyatta centred on trade, investment, the economy, education, job creation, health care and the fight against terrorism.

Kenyatta said that he is pleased with Kiskas visit, adding that he believes that it will bolster bilateral ties. He went on to remark that Kenya was among the first countries to recognise Slovakia as an independent state in 1993, reported by TASR.

Kiska also went on a tour of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), accompanied by its Director-General Sahle-Work Zewde. Having planted a tree in UNONs grounds, the Slovak president set off for a tour of a local tea farm.

More scholarships for foreign students

The president also commented on the aid in the education field, saying that Kenya has launched an education reform but it is still in need of people with a good education.

I believe that scholarships are one of the ways to go here, Kiska said, as quoted by TASR. Id like to see a zero added to the current number of 50 scholarships, so that we can speak about 500 or even 1,000 scholarships.

Forty-eight students, including six from Kenya, have received scholarships to attend Slovak universities this academic year, including Benson Kioko Kiamba, who hails from Nairobi and is enrolled in medical studies in Bratislava.

Hes now in the third year, but hes planning to go back and help his country, Kiska said, as quoted by TASR. These kinds of aid to people are the finest example not only of help, but also of building relations between countries.

He noted that scholarships are a matter of funds and the willingness to bankroll such programmes, because we do have places and foreign students at universities, reported by TASR.

Slovakia as a modern country should be more active and provide more assistance, the president stressed.
Despite lawsuits, the theatre does not plan to stop the production. It wants to present it at more schools instead.

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The Slovak National Theatre (SND) is staging a play whose aim is to show the impact of extremism to students. As well as the performance, they discuss with the students what they have seen, the Sme daily reported.

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The performance titled Natalka is based on a real case from the Czech Republic. Back in 2009, a group of extremists attacked a Roma family with Molotov cocktails, leaving a two-year-old girl with 80 percent of her body burnt.

The play has already been challenged by the far-right Peoples Party  Our Slovakia (LSNS), joined by ombudsman candidate Anton Culen. He claimed the theatre may have committed the crime of defamation of nation, race and belief. He complained about a performance of the play at a grammar school in Pezinok (Bratislava Region).

The reason is that at one point a masked man writes fascist statements which are accompanied by a swastika. Moreover, in other scenes a swastika is covered by a statue of the Virgin Mary, the SITA newswire reported.

Culen claims that the authors of the play belittled, humiliated and insulted the Catholic believers in Slovakia. He and LSNS MP Natalia Grausova even wanted to visit the grammar school in Petrzalka, where the play was performed, on February 13.

They were not however allowed to enter the premises, with Bratislava Regions Governor Pavol Freso saying that SND will also stage the play for the public in late February, Sme wrote.

When preparing the play, the SND collaborated with the civic association, Living Memory. It has opposed the LSNS accusations, saying it is not about belittling Christian thinking and feelings. It is a real story about an injured Roma girl, the destruction of a family by extremists and the fear of a mother, not the symbolism of the swastika, as reported by the TASR newswire.

The theatre uses metaphors, said Roman Polak, head of the drama section at SND, as quoted by TASR.

The theatre and the representatives of the Bratislava Region, however, consider it an effort to discredit the performance and scare off teachers.

The main objective of the play is to discuss intolerance and extremism with students and experts, according to Polak. It should also spread love and belief, as well as thinking about tolerance and the love of a neighbour. They want to continue staging the play.

Lawyer Pavol Nechala told Sme that the General Prosecutors Office should dismiss the lawsuit submitted by LSNS and Culen.
The man attacked a foreign student in a bar; now, he faces three years' prison and is the first Slovak in custody under new, stricter rules.

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The man aged 31 and identified as Peter P. from Banska Bystrica, who attacked a Frenchman aged 20 on January 12 in a night club, has been charged by the National Criminal Agency (NAKA) investigator with bodily harm and rioting, the Sme daily wrote two days later. Spokesperson for the Police Corps Presidium Denisa Baloghova informed that the motivation for the attack was the skin colour of the injured man.

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At least four people were present when Peter P., without any previous provocation, hit the Frenchman on the head with a thick glass, wounding him in the area of the temples which had an estimated healing time of 10 to 15 days.

When the people around tried to prevent the defendant from further attacks, he cursed in a very vulgar way. If convicted, he faces one to three years in prison.

The Prosecutor asked the Specialised Court in Banska Bystrica for pre-trial custody, arguing that the charged man continued to pose a threat to the community.

This is the first case of the crime of extremism when the prosecutor of the Special Prosecutor's Office (USP) has filed a proposal for pre-trial custody since the new legislation has become effective, spokesperson for the General Prosecutor's Office, Andrea Predajnova, said.

Since the beginning of 2017, an amendment to the Criminal Codes has been in effect, which should help a more accurate and effective investigation into crimes of extremism which fall within the authority of the Specialised Criminal Court in Pezinok and the Special Prosecutor's Office.

The Matej Bel University in Banska Bystrica, where the French youth studies, expressed regret and compassion for the student who became the victim of a physical attack, its Vice-Rector for International Cooperation and Public Relations, Katarina Chovancova, said for Sme. The university perceives the situation very sensitively, despite the fact that the incident happened outside the academic complex, and believes nothing like this will happen again.
MPs will continue in a special session on February 16.

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The special parliamentary session with a no-confidence motion in Prime Minister Robert Fico on the agenda, was interrupted shortly after it was opened on the afternoon of February 14. The reason was a picture of an old lady presented by Igor Matovic, leader of the opposition Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OLaNO-NOVA).

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Matovic wanted to use the picture to demonstrate how the increased energy bills will affect her life. The Speaker of Parliament and chair of the coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) Andrej Danko, however, perceived it as a violation of the new rules of procedure, the Sme daily reported.

I ask you to refrain from breaking the rules of procedure, Danko told Matovic, as quoted by the TASR newswire, adding that he had brought prohibited material to the chamber. Subsequently, he asked the opposition MP to put it away.

Matovic, however, claimed that the photographs concerned were included in an official addendum to the oppositions proposal for Ficos dismissal.

I know that you believe that youve banned this via the rules of procedure but the latter allows any MP to attach any visual documents as an addendum to an official proposal, Matovic responded, as quoted by TASR. So, these [photographs] are part of an official addendum to the proposal to dismiss the prime minister; they arent just visual materials. Its my right [to present them].

Danko however did not accept the arguments and interrupted the session, convening a parliamentary committee. After the meeting, he told journalists that the no-confidence motion in Fico will continue on February 16.

Meanwhile, Matovic was officially recorded as failing to attend the session and will face a disciplinary motion, as reported by TASR.

Coalition partners agree

Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Most-Hid party leader Bela Bugar endorsed Dankos decision to interrupt the session.

I would have done it myself, Bugar said, as quoted by TASR. Some people arent able to work as required and aim to stir up arguments instead. The opposition needs to straighten out its own ranks or sort Matovic out. If Matovics spite and the negative energy surrounding him could be used towards lighting, parliaments lights would be on for free all year round.

Another deputy speaker of parliament, Martin Glvac of Smer, weighed in by saying that parliaments rules of procedure have been made stricter partly in reaction to Matovics actions in the past.

Rather than working for the people, its more convenient for him [Matovic] to put on shows, Glvac said, as quoted by TASR.

The opposition, on the other hand, was critical. The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party said that its MPs are ready to hold expert deliberations on why the citizens of Slovakia received such steep energy bills and whos liable for this.

We regret that no expert discussion could take place today [Tuesday] but we see no point in becoming enmeshed in a personal dispute over the interpretation of the rules of procedure, the party wrote in a statement, as quoted by TASR, pledging that it was ready to engage in a constructive debate on February 14.

The party stressed that what it cares about most is to resolve the abnormal situation thats befallen people due to the greed of the sitting government and to stop such things from recurring in the future, as reported by TASR.

Matovic urges Danko to resign

Meanwhile, Matovic pointed to the fact that Glvac registered Danko in the chamber on February 14. He urged both politicians to resign.

Glvac used Dankos card, Matovic added.

Danko and Glvac committed fraud when Mr Glvac registered on behalf of Danko, Matovic told a press conference, as quoted by TASR. Subsequently, when they found out what had happened, they didnt come clean but let the session continue.

This means, in Matovics opintion, an egregious violation of the law was committed in parliament by two of its most senior representatives.

They committed fraud and then failed to admit it, Matovic added, playing a video recording of the vote as evidence.

The incident occurred during MPs registration for the February 14 session. Even though Danko was not present in the chamber, he was registered with his card as being present during the registration process. On the other hand, Glvac, who was in the chamber at that time, was listed as absent, so it appears that he may have used Dankos card instead of his own.

The OLLNO-NOVA leader conceded that a genuine mistake might have occurred, but he resents the fact that Danko and Glvac knew about this but opted to hush it up. The parliamentary rules of procedure do not allow lawmakers to register their colleagues or vote on their behalf.

If Danko and Glvac do not relinquish their seats, OLaNO-NOVA will consider taking further action, TASR reported.

The communications director for the Parliament Office, Zuzana Cizmarikova, however, responded that Danko has not violated any law as he registered himself with his own card that had been lying on his desk, TASR reported.
Virtual Field Trip

3M and Discovery Education Launch First Young Scientist Global Virtual Field Trip for K-8

Discovery Education and 3M have launched the first Young Scientist Global Virtual Field Trip for kindergarten through eighth grade classrooms with exclusive access to 3M Headquarters World of Innovation in St. Paul, MN.

The event will be broadcast live at 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST Feb. 23. Classrooms can register to attend this event by visiting this site.

During this 40-minute no-cost experience, students will be introduced to 3M scientists and engineers who are applying science to everyday life. 3Ms vice president of new platforms  growth and commercialization, Gayle Schueller, will kick off the event and introduce 3M scientists who will answer students questions live about STEM careers, scientific processes and more.

Plus, the materials and scientific thinking behind various innovations will be highlighted  from ion batteries that power smartphones to solar panel technologies. Students will see material that helps protect computers in a fire and learn how smart phones stay brighter, last longer and stay in one piece when you drop them. In addition, a number of hands-on experiments will be conducted, such as dunking a tablet in a special engineered liquid that can clean electronic components, douse fires and still allow you to take a selfie.

Co-hosting this event will be Kyle Hill, host of the Science Channels Mythbusters: The Search, science editor at Nerdist.com, and host of YouTubes Because Science. Joining him will be Hannah Herbst, 16, the 2015 Young Scientist Challenge winner. Herbst was also a 2016 White House Science Fair presenter, a United Nations guest speaker, and was recently profiled in Wired magazine.

Virtual filed trips like this help me introduce my class to locations and people we might otherwise not ever get the chance to meet, said Jessica Donaldson, a teacher at Cane Bay Middle School in Moncks Corner, SC, in a statement. I look forward to participating in this free event and explaining to my students how science really is a part of their everyday lives.

This virtual field trip is part of the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, a national competition recognizing scientific thinking and imagination in students grades 5 through 8. This year, the Young Scientist Challenge celebrates its 10th anniversary.

The Young Scientist Challenge offers students the opportunity to be mentored by a 3M scientist, compete for $25,000, and earn the title of Americas Top Young Scientist.

For more information, and to learn about submission guidelines, tips from previous winners and complete rules, visit this site.

For more information about other virtual field trips and initiatives from Discovery Education, visit that organizations website.
AV Classroom Technologies

Elementary School Deploys Classroom Mics to Boost Confidence of Students

A Southern California school has added technology that enhances "audio clarity" in its classrooms. New River Elementary School in the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District has implemented microphones that hang around the necks of teachers and students to amplify their voices through a flat panel speaker.

New River Elementary third-grade Teacher Linda Fox uses a microphone as part of an audio enhancement system that projects her voice to students.

According to Principal David Hoffman, the school used Title I funding to install the devices into all 17 of its classrooms. The cost was about $1,300 per room.

The system being used is Redact Access by Lightspeed Technologies. The deployment requires no installation and runs on a frequency that avoids interference with other technology that may be in use in the space.

"Since I've been teaching for many years without this technology, I didn't think I needed it," said third-grade teacher Linda Fox in a prepared statement. "But now that I'm using the microphones, I've noticed that I grab my students' attention quicker and I'm not losing my voice by the end of the day."

A New River Elementary third-grade student presents her project while using a microphone that will project her voice in the classroom.

Hoffman said he chose to acquire the microphones to boost students' confidence in the classroom and increase participation in lessons and discussions. "The audio enhancement systems give our students a chance to become more involved in their classrooms," he noted. "Our teachers are also assured that the lesson can be heard clearly by each student."
A healthy Mexican dinner recipe, these fresh steak tacos with charred corn tortillas are easy to make and always a crowd pleaser.

Of the three cuisines Ive written about for my Food From Our Ancestors cookbook series, hands down The Ultimate Mexican Sunday Dinner features the lightest, healthiest recipes of them all.

I learned about traditional Mexican food from a very early age during our frequent visits to Tucson, Arizona where I was born. While I didnt live there long, my family would go back for spring break to escape the Michigan winters on a regular basis.

Inevitably, every trip to Tucson would include a day trip to Nogales, Mexico close to the Arizona border. When I think back to those visits I can practically smell the fragrant cilantro, bright chilis and warm corn tortillas being freshly pressed before my eyes.

These simple steak tacos are made with leftovers from the Coffee Crusted Flank Steak I made recently but feel free to use whatever meat you have on hand. For added smokiness and flavor, I like to warm my corn tortillas up over an open flame before serving. To serve, top with a big scoop of fresh Pico de Gallo and dinner is done.

No forks required.
Out there on East 0 Street theres a man many people remember as a professor at Nebraska Wesleyan University. Hes a neighbor to retirees living at Eastmont Towers. In his working days he taught speech and directed plays at Wesleyan and the Village Theater at Brownville. Maybe he had other duties. I havent inquired.

Dr. Philip Kaye taught an adult Sunday school class at Southminster United Methodist Church. He brought many guests to his class to share their wisdom.

Among notables were the following persons, some of whom have passed away and others still active and well-known in Lincoln. Here are some of them with their mind-stretching topics that provided nourishment for the brain.

Dr. Nan Graff spoke on multiculturalism. She earned a Ph.D. in English at UNL and taught and practiced yoga.

Dr. John White, a former president of Wesleyan, told of Christian higher education in an institution noted for academic excellence.

Eugene Crump, an assistant Nebraska attorney general, also spent several years as director of the Nuclear Waste Compact Commission. He focused on Kwanzaa, an African-American observance that celebrates African heritage.

Mayor Coleen Seng told of her work on the Lincoln City Council and as mayor of a fast-growing city. She promoted growth of neighborhood associations.

Dr. Marilyn Moore, then assistant superintendent of Lincoln Public Schools, told of her work and involvement at Saint Paul United Methodist, where she used leadership skills when she chaired the Conference Council on Ministries.

Amrita Mahapatra, a woman of dignity and warmth, told of her Hindu faith and activities of Lincolns Interfaith Council. She believes in sharing faith and opposes merely explaining it.

Former Gov. Frank Morrison shared his spiritual journeys role in his long career in politics, He was governor 1961-1967 and wrote an autobiography titled My Journey Through the Century in 2001. A confidant of President John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, he was summoned to the White House after JFK was assassinated.

Dr. Anne Whitney, a Southminster organist and University of Nebraska faculty member, shared her commitment to combining art and writing.

Rev. Vicki OHara, an Episcopal priest who directed spiritual care at Madonna, brought an Angel dog and explained the uplifting role of trained canines in the recovery of patients.

Ron Hull, a member of Saint Paul United Methodist Church, told of his spiritual journey that included enabling television to help win the Vietnam War. Later he headed KUON-TV in Lincoln and became director of programming for PBS for six years. He taught part time at the UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Naomi Kaye Hull, Ron Hulls wife and sister of Dr. Philip Kaye, was a diaconal minister at Saint Paul and spoke on the changing roles of women in society and in the church.

Matt Jones shared Native American stories. A UNL faculty member and an award-winning actor, he was the president of the Capital City Kiwanis Club.

Rev. Roy Bailey related his experiences during World War II and shared the cost for a man of draft age who declared himself a Christian pacifist.

Prof. Janet Lu, a Nebraska Wesleyan faculty member, spoke on Oriental religions and shared her personal experiences

Dr. David Iaquinta discussed questions posed by Americas consumer-oriented society and asked, Is modern advertising sinful? His personal view of todays culture was buy, be happy.

Jewell Moncure told of her religious experiences and shared her thoughts as the wife of Bishop Rhymes H. Moncure Jr., then head of the United Methodist Nebraska area.

Alice Dittman, emeritus president of Cornhusker Bank, was president of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and president of the Nebraska Bankers Association. She shared her views on religion and life and was a strong advocate of people in need.

Mike Johanns, of Catholic faith, spoke of his spiritual journey when he successfully became governor of Nebraska and later the United States Secretary of Agriculture.

Dr. Philip Kaye and his late wife Zodie enriched the lives of many persons including students, colleagues, and his wide friendships in Lincoln and far beyond. I am honored to be among them, as are his neighbors in Eastmont Towers, the retirement community just south of Gateway Mall on East O Street. Cheers!
Greek economy suffers surprise contraction at the end of 2016 as Eurogroup chief insists no 'acute crisis'

The Greek economy suffered an unexpected contraction in the final three months of last year, highlighting the challenges facing the country as it faces further reform demands to unlock bail-out cash.

The economy shrank by 0.4pc in the final quarter of 2016, following growth of 0.9pc in the previous quarter, according to the country's statistics office. Analysts had expected the economy to grow by 0.4pc.

Tensions between Athens and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have reignited concerns about Greece's third, 86bn bail-out, as a summer cash crunch looms.

The IMF and Brussels disagree about budget targets needed to get the Greek economy back on track as well as controversial pensions reforms and debt relief.

The Washington-based institution argues reforms are needed to make Greece's debt sustainable in the long term.

Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the head of the Eurogroup of finance ministers, said on Tuesday that the Greek debt situation was not an "acute crisis", with sizeable payments to the European Central Bank and private creditors not due until July.

Greek debt repayments and interest

It came as Donald Trump's nominee for EU ambassador claimed that some senior economists in Greece backed ditching the euro for the US dollar.

"I know some Greek economists who have even gone to leading think tanks in the US to discuss this topic and the question of dollarisation," local media quoted him as saying.

Greek Real GDP

"Such a topic of course freaks out the Germans because they really don't want to hear such ideas."

Ministers will meet next week to discuss Greece's progress on reforms and the likely participation of the IMF in the rescue package.

Countries including Germany and Finland have said they will not participate in the third bail-out without the IMF.
(Adds comments from Shell (LSE: RDSB.L - news) statement)

By Camillus Eboh

ABUJA, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell (LSE: 0LN9.L - news) and Italy's Eni (LSE: 0N9S.L - news) have asked a Nigerian court to lift a temporary forfeiture of a long-disputed oilfield, the firms said on Tuesday.

A Nigerian court last month ordered the temporary forfeiture of assets and the transfer of operations of the OPL 245 field owned by Shell and Eni, among others, to the federal government.

The Nigerian court case is the latest of several inquiries, following those by Dutch and Italian authorities, into the 2011 purchase of the OPL 245 block which could hold up to 9.23 billion barrels of oil, according to industry figures.

In a court filing, Shell said Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had conducted "a gross abuse of process and an abuse of power" to get a court order asking for the forfeiture, according to a document obtained by Reuters.

The commission "misrepresented material facts in obtaining the ex-parte order" and it was "in the interest of justice that the ex-parte order be discharged," the document said.

According to court papers seen last month, the inquiry is investigating whether the $1.3 billion purchase of OPL 245 involved "acts of conspiracy, bribery, official corruption and money laundering."

Spokesmen for Eni and Shell confirmed both companies had filed motions to lift the court order, but declined further comment.

The Nigerian court will hear the case on Feb. 27, judicial sources said.

In a statement issued later on Tuesday, Shell said it received notice of a request for indictment related to the settlement of disputes over the OPL 245 block.

A tribunal in Milan has fixed the preliminary hearing for April 20, the company said.

"We don't believe a request for indictment is justified and we are confident that this will be determined in the next stages of the proceedings. We continue to take this matter seriously and co-operate with the authorities," Shell added.

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The oilfield's licence was initially awarded in 1998 by former Nigerian oil minister Dan Etete to Malabu Oil and Gas, a company in which he held shares.

It was then sold for $1.3 billion in 2011 to Eni and Shell. According to documents from a British court, Malabu received $1.09 billion from the sale, while the rest went to the Nigerian government.

Earlier this month, Eni backed CEO Claudio Descalzi after judicial sources said prosecutors had asked for him to be tried over alleged corruption in Nigeria.

Italian prosecutors in December wrapped up a probe into the head of Eni, its former CEO, the company itself and Shell over alleged corruption surrounding the licence's acquisition, sources told Reuters at the time. (Reporting by Camilus Eboh, additional reporting by Libby George in London and Vijaykumar Vedala in Bengaluru, writing by Ulf Laessing; editing by Ruth Pitchford, G Crosse)
(Adds BHP agreement to attend meeting, comments from union)

SANTIAGO/ANTOFAGASTA (Other OTC: ANFGF - news) , Feb 14 (Reuters) - Striking workers at Chile (Stuttgart: 704599.SG - news) 's massive Escondida copper mine and mine operator BHP Billiton said they have agreed to renew talks on Wednesday, helping to ease a copper price rally on hopes of an early settlement to the six-day stoppage.

Carlos Allendes, leader of the 2,500-strong member union, said on Tuesday it had received and accepted an invitation from the government's labor directorate to meet with BHP.

Late Tuesday, BHP confirmed in a statement that it, too, would return to the table.

News of a possible resolution of the conflict weighed on copper prices on Tuesday, traders said. Expectations of an extended stoppage at the world's biggest copper mine have helped drive copper prices to over 20-month highs since talks failed last month.

"We hope that the procedure ... allows the parties to come closer and for the strike to be resolved as soon as possible," government spokeswoman Paula Narvaez told journalists in Santiago.

A return to talks has been complicated by the company's accusations that the early days of the strike were marred by vandalism and threats.

BHP said it had filed criminal complaints over the vandalism with local prosecutors. It was also disputing whether the union had provided enough workers to ensure minimum safety requirements, as legally required.

The union has maintained that it acted in good faith and said the company was employing distraction tactics.

Although the government of the world's top copper exporter is keen for a quick resolution, the two sides were far apart when talks ended in failure earlier this month.

"The decision to begin negotiations we have taken responsibly and for the good of all, including our country, but we are capable of maintaining a strong stance and are prepared to face the longest strike in recent history," the union said in a statement on Tuesday.

The workers are demanding a significantly higher salary increase and bonus than the company has said it could offer. There also is a dispute over whether new and longtime employees should be on equal footing.

Escondida, majority-controlled by BHP with minority participations by Rio Tinto (Hanover: CRA1.HA - news) and Japanese companies including Mitsubishi Corp (LSE: 7035.L - news) , produced over 1 million tonnes of copper, about 5 percent of the world's total, last year. (Reporting by Felipe Iturrieta, Fabian Cambero and Rosalba O'Brien, Editing by Bill Trott and Richard Chang)
Getty Images/iStockphoto

The office is fertile ground for intimate relationships, and thats hardly surprising when people spend a long time together.

If youre lucky enough to get a bunch of flowers or a card from a work colleague on Valentines Day and love blossoms, in what circumstances could employers put a stop to the romance?

The right to respect for private and family life

Its difficult for employers to object to workplace relationships. Romantic ties are personal and any objections would likely to be inconsistent with the right to respect for private and family life under Human Rights law.

The European Convention on Human Rights, which is incorporated into UK law, states that everyone has the right to respect for their private and family life subject to a few limited exceptions. Although only public bodies must expressly comply with this right, its relevant to all employers (including the private sector) as courts and tribunals must interpret, as far as possible, all legislation consistently with the right.

Poor performance

Should the relationship affect the work performance of either employee, including if the relationship turns sour, the employer could invoke their poor performance procedures. However, it would be hard to dismiss the employee unless, in spite of an improvement plan being put in place and warnings being issued, an acceptable level of performance had not been reached.

Generally, employees who have two years continuous service have the right not to be unfairly dismissed. Employees could argue that their employer did not have a fair reason to dismiss, or that a fair process had not been followed.

Line manager liaisons

In the case of relationships between line managers and those staff that report to them, favouritism and perceived favouritism can be a tricky issue. In some situations it may be appropriate for employers to have policies requiring such a relationship to be disclosed, and that breaching such policies could result in disciplinary action being taken. However, imposing a general requirement on employees to disclose all personal relationships would again be likely to interfere with the right to respect for private and family life.

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Employers should apply relationship polices consistently, and our equality legislation prohibits employers discriminating against employees due to certain protected characteristics including age, sex and race, among others.

Supposing, as an example, a male manager in their fifties was having a relationship with a much younger female receptionist and the receptionist was hauled up and not the manager? There could be grounds for age and sex discrimination.

Pillow talk

Confidential information being passed on by staff could also be a problem for employers.

If an employee tells their partner about a confidential discussion with another employee this could breach confidentiality obligations. Disciplinary action might be appropriate.

In another scenario where, for instance, two employees are having an intimate relationship and one leaves the organisation to work for a competitor, there could be a real risk that the remaining employee could disclose confidential information to their partner. If this information were then passed on to the competitor, this could have serious consequences. It would be hard though for the employer to take action disciplinary against the existing employee solely on the basis that there might be a chance of pillow talk.

Usually, therefore, employers arent able to meddle with personal relationships at work.

Around 269 AD Valentine was sentenced to beating, stoning and decapitation for performing weddings for soldiers, who were forbidden to marry. If an employer frustrates your office romance and threatens to pass sentence, subject to any duty of disclosure, I would tell them politely to mind their own business.

Banning relationships is bad. Love (and not just on the Feast of Saint Valentine) is good and makes the world go round.

Matt Gingell is partner at Gannons and specialises in employment law.
FILE- In this Nov. 26, 2016 file photo, former Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart, from left, Congressman Carlos Curbelo, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart hold a news conference in Miami. Republican lawmakers from South Florida who opposed the restoration of relations with Cuba under President Barack Obama have high hopes for President Trump. Diaz-Balart says Trump officials have already met with opponents of the changes and have shown other encouraging signs. Trump has not yet released specifics of his Cuba policy. (C.M. Guerrero/El Nuevo Herald via AP, File)

MIAMI (AP)  Cuban-American lawmakers from Florida helped shape U.S. relations with the island for years until they found themselves on the outside during a historic thaw in relations.

But they could be getting the upper hand on Cuba policy again under President Donald Trump with a possible return to an earlier, more hard-line U.S. stance toward relations with Cuba's government.

"We have had more conversations with high-level Trump officials than we had in eight years of the Obama administration," said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, one of a handful of Republican members of Congress from Florida who long had an outsized role on U.S. foreign policy related to Cuba.

What Diaz-Balart and other Cuban-American lawmakers hope is that their renewed access to the U.S. government under Trump's leadership will help them reverse the steps taken by President Barack Obama and President Raul Castro to normalize relations between the two countries.

"Everything is going to be very different," predicted Rep. Carlos Curbelo, another Miami-area Republican who said he felt shut out under Obama.

The congressional delegation from South Florida, home to the largest number of Cuban-Americans in the nation, was long able to help craft U.S. policy toward the island. They had hoped to continue isolating the Castro government and both Democrat and Republican politicians went along, at least in part.

Diaz-Balart recalled that under President George W. Bush he and other Cuban-Americans persuaded the administration to grant travel visas and asylum to Cuban doctors working overseas, helping drive a brain drain from the island.

"When something came up, we could call and they responded to us immediately," he said.

But that changed under Obama, who Diaz-Balart said refused to meet with him as the administration used executive orders to lift some restrictions on travel, trade and investment and ended the so-called "wet-foot, dry foot" policy that allowed Cubans to stay and apply for legal residency if they reached U.S. soil.

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Diaz-Balart and other Cuban-American lawmakers want U.S. policy to return to where things were before December 2014, citing what he says is the Castro government's "brutal oppression." Curbelo agrees about the return to earlier policies but does not oppose the easing of restrictions on travel that allow Cuban-Americans to more easily visit family back home.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, another Florida delegation member, declined to speak to The Associated Press but recently forwarded a letter to the Trump administration calling for a policy focused on "freedom, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights" that enforces sanctions written into U.S. law. Sen. Marco Rubio, who also declined an interview request, has criticized what he calls Obama's "failed Cuba policy," and recently said he expected Trump would reverse the previous administration's order halting the asylum program for doctors.

During the presidential campaign, Trump was critical of the opening with the Castro government and said Obama wasn't paying enough attention to human rights on the island. He promised to re-evaluate the agreements with Cuba and cancel those he doesn't believe serve U.S. interests. He named several anti-Castro Cuban-Americans to his transition team, but has not yet said publicly whether he intends to reverse specific policies of his predecessor.

Some supporters of the opening with Cuba see reason for optimism. James Williams, head of Engage Cuba, a corporate-backed bipartisan group that supports improving ties to the island, said Trump may not want to reverse what he sees as the "positive progress" of the last three years.

"We have seen more positive progress in Cuba over the last two years than the last 55 years combined," said Williams, adding that a thorough review of current policy should show the Trump administration the advantages of moving toward normalization.

Diaz-Balart and Curbelo said the meetings they and others have had with officials from the new administration, as well as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's confirmation hearings, have given them hope that Obama's executive orders restoring relations with Cuba would be reversed. "Without a doubt, the days of those orders are numbered," Diaz-Balart said.

Even though Ros-Lehtinen and Curbelo did not endorse Trump, some believe they, like Diaz-Balart and Curbelo, will have significant influence on the new administration.

"They are going to be the guides of the policy toward Cuba," said Sebastian Arcos, associate director of the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University.

Frank Mora, who was deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Western Hemisphere under Obama, agreed: "Trump is going to go back to handing the foreign policy of the U.S. toward Cuba to the Cuban-American legislators."
Donald Trump wants to meet Pope Francis when he visits Italy later this year, despite the two exchanging harsh words over the Presidents plan for a wall along the border with Mexico.

Mr Trump will attend the G7 summit in Taormina, Sicily, in May, a trip that would give him the opportunity to tack on a visit to Rome to see the Latin American pontiff.

A Vatican insider told The Telegraph that the Holy See was awaiting confirmation that the President would come to Rome.

The White House confirmed earlier this month that Mr Trump would attend the G7 summit, in what would be his first visit to Europe as President. Theresa May will also attend.

The meeting between the Pope and the President could prove to be tense. The Popes overarching concern for migrants and refugees has put him sharply at odds with the Republican President, particularly after the executive order from Trump temporarily banning refugees and travellers to the US from seven Muslim-majority countries

Months before Mr Trumps election, Pope Francis criticised the plan to build a wall along the US-Mexico border, accusing the Republican candidate of not being a Christian. "A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not of building bridges, is not Christian," the pontiff said in February.

Mr Trump responded furiously, saying the criticism was disgraceful. He said: "I'm a very good Christian. For a religious leader to question a person's faith is disgraceful.

Despite the very public disagreement, Steve Bannon, Mr Trumps chief strategist, is keen for a meeting to take place.

Thomas Williams, a former priest who is the Rome correspondent for the Right-wing website Breitbart News, which was headed by Mr Bannon, said a meeting was highly likely.

Since Mr Bannon became Mr Trumps chief strategist, Mr Williams, 54, has been thrust into an unofficial role as liaison between the Vatican and Washington  the Trump administration has still not appointed an ambassador to the Holy See.

Story continues

Mr Williams was forced to leave the priesthood after it emerged that he had broken his vows of celibacy by secretly fathering a child with the daughter of a former US ambassador to the Vatican.

I know the White House are investigating the possibility and would like to set it up, he said. The Pope knows he will have to deal with Trump eventually. They dont see eye to eye, its true, but they both see it as important to have an open channel of communications. It behooves them both to forge a decent relationship. That said, I wouldnt be surprised if there is tension.

Mr Bannon has expressed alarm and concern over the Popes support for liberation theology, his pro-refugee stance and his criticism of capitalism and the free market economy.

Steve sees the Popes support for mass migration as naive, particularly migration from where there is a danger of Islamic radicalism, said Mr Williams, who worked as a theological consultant on Mel Gibsons film The Passion of Christ, which was shot in Italy.

But for Mr Trump to travel to Italy and not seek an audience with the Pope would be odd. The Pope is an important world figure and I think it would be seen as a real snub if the President didnt reach out, said Mr Williams.
Smugglers who help take migrants across the mountains from Bulgaria into Serbia are allegedly being assisted by Bulgarian police.

It comes as EU police have been deployed to Serbia to help stop the flow of migrants into Europe.

One of the most common routes now is through Turkey and into Bulgaria - which is in the EU.

But Bulgaria is not an EU Schengen country, which means there is no free movement on to northern Europe.

So migrants are using smugglers to take them to the lengthy border between Bulgaria and Serbia.

They walk over the treacherous mountains out of Europe and into Serbia themselves then get picked up by smugglers who take them on to the Serbian capital Belgrade.

Azad Ali and his family from Iraq filmed their walk across the top of the mountains. He claims Bulgarian police are helping smugglers.

He said: "We were in the mountains for three days and three nights and for two days had no food or water because the smuggler left us in the mountains.

"My kids nearly froze - their hands got black. So it was a horrible time for us. After the third day we crossed the road and a guy came with a taxi driver to take us to Belgrade."

He said: "Nobody can cross the mountains without the help of the smugglers, those people are working with the help of Bulgarian police. I saw a policeman who lifted the boot of the car and he saw migrants in the car."

Stanojevic Bratislav of the Serb border police told us the most common way migrants get across the mountains is to be taken to the border on the Bulgarian side then walk across the top themselves before being met by more smugglers on the Serb side who will take them on their journey.

He said: "Usually 99% of the time this is the modus operandi. But as soon as they are discovered they find new ways of smuggling.

"The latest one is that they park a vehicle in front of a restaurant for example somewhere by the road with the keys left in the car and the migrants will drive themselves."

Story continues

No migrant wants to get stopped in the mountains because it's evidence they came from Bulgaria and could lead to them being deported.

As the heavy winter snow begins to melt and with spring round the corner the Serbian authorities are gearing up for a new influx of migrants to try to make the crossing.

And their efforts have been boosted by police officers from EU countries including Austria, France, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic.

We joined Serb army and Serb and Austrian police patrols on the Serbian side of the border.

Serb border police are also using thermal imaging equipment which can detect body heat in human beings up to 10km (six miles) away.

They showed us footage they had filmed of migrants trying to get over the mountains.

In one video from June 2016, we saw more than 50 migrants jumping out of the bushes to be picked up in a waiting bus.

In another, from November last year, migrants were waiting at a petrol station to be picked up by smugglers in two vehicles.

In a third video from December 2014 we saw a guide escorting migrants into the town of Dimitrovgrad where they would be met by smugglers.

After being spotted on the thermal imaging cameras they were chased by a police patrol and detained.

At several nearby camps we found migrants who had made the journey.

Abdul Kadri from Afghanistan said he was pushed back twice by Serb forces before making it - others said they had tried as many as 10 times.

Once in Serbia the migrants try to get into Europe proper via Hungary.

But the Hungarian border is closed and the Hungarians are only allowing around 10 people per day to cross, which means Serbia has become a bottleneck in this migration crisis.
THIRD IN A SERIES: Drugs come across the U.S.-Mexican border in many ways  from Mexican couriers carrying backpacks across the desert to sophisticated trucking operations designed to thwart U.S. border and customs officials to elaborate tunnels. A lot gets seized, but the amount that gets through generates billions of dollars in profits for the cartels and fuels a host of problems here, from addiction to crimes committed to finance the habit.

Copyright  2017 Albuquerque Journal

The pallets marked as frozen sea cucumbers, a delicacy in some Asian restaurants, crossed easily from Mexico into the U.S. by truck at a border crossing between Tijuana and San Diego.

After all, frozen seafood moves relatively quickly through U.S. Customs and Border Protection at ports of entry along the Southwestern border. Each port has a limited budget to pay for spoilage during unsuccessful drug searches, so without specific information or indicators of drugs in the load of seafood, the loads get processed rapidly.

Once in San Diego, the seafood was flown to Buffalo, in upstate New York, where the pallets  which were actually loaded with heroin, cocaine and fentanyl  were broken open and distributed to drug dealers in western New York.

The money from the drug sales was then laundered through a series of companies, sent to bank accounts in California and then south of the border.

It was a classic Sinaloa Cartel operation, hiding the drugs in plain sight, pushing them out to consumers willing to pay hard cash, and then using legal fronts and banks to cover the money trail.

It was run by Jose Ruben Gil, known within the organization as the Mayor of Mexico.

The operation involved people throughout the drug trafficking organization who were tightly aligned with the Sinaloa Cartel, not only in smuggling the drugs, but also in arranging for the money to get back to Mexico. The volume and value of the drugs involved is considered to be too high to front to independent operators.

How lucrative?

Investigators from the Internal Revenue Service and other agencies claim that in one year, Gils operation sent $20 million from corporate bank accounts in the Buffalo area to banks in California. The money was then sent into Mexico.

The Mayor of Mexico eventually was taken down.

During the Drug Enforcement Administration investigation, agents across the country seized 52 kilograms of cocaine, 17 kilograms of heroin and 8 kilograms of fentanyl  worth millions of dollars on the street  but Gils operation continued right up until his arrest in August in Buffalo, N.Y. He and others are now awaiting trial.

Gil ran the type of drug operation that traces back to the highest echelons of the Sinaloa Cartel, according to federal law enforcement officials involved in the case.

His was a sophisticated model from start to finish.

Law enforcement officials in the U.S. say the six major Mexican cartels are reaping billions in profits every year.

Sinaloa Cartel thrives

The arrest of a player like Gil isnt much more than a hiccup to an operation like the Sinaloa Cartel.

The most recent arrest and extradition to the United States of one of the worlds best-known drug lords, Joaquin El Chapo Guzman Loera, was a much bigger threat to the cartels drug operations. In fact, there were expectations of a major fight for control of the Sinaloa Cartel.

Although a few members have turned up dead, there hasnt been a major bloodletting, yet.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration believes the cartel, which actually is a federation of several groups, has always been run by a board of directors with a first among equals or chairman like Guzman.

The two players with the most influence in the cartel today are Ismael Mayo Zambada Garcia, 68, and Damaso El Licenciado Lopez Nunez, 50.

Zambada has been around since the 1970s, when the Guadalajara Cartel was formed. For a long time, he and his sons ran operations in the Mexican state of Sonora and controlled the Plaza in Nogales and other towns south of the border with Arizona. (Note: Plaza is a term used to refer to a border drug corridor.)

He became an important figure in a group called The Federation, formed by Amado Carrillo Fuentes in the 1990s, and since 2000 has been a capo in the Sinaloa Cartel.

He has a reputation for being a savvy infighter, not afraid of shedding blood, but someone who picks his fights carefully. Zambada played a significant role in eliminating the Tijuana Cartel as a major player on the border.

Lopez Nunez came onto the scene in 2001.

He studied law at the Universidad de Occidente and became a police officer at the Sinaloa Attorney Generals Office, according to El Universal newspaper.

Lopez Nunez eventually got a job at the federal prison in Puente Grande where El Chapo was serving time after his 1993 arrest and allegedly helped him escape in 2001.

He resigned and was not jailed in connection with the escape.

He was indicted in U.S. District Court in Virginia on drug trafficking and money laundering charges with other members of the Sinaloa Cartel but has never been arrested in Mexico.

Reports suggest Zambada is ready to name his sons as his successors.

But the most capable son is in a U.S. federal prison, and the others, according to DEA observers, dont have the capacity to maintain power the way their father has over the course of decades.

The same assessment is made of Guzmans sons. All of them will have some role in the cartel, but how large remains to be seen.

Guzman is godfather to Lopezs son, and Lopez is close to another imprisoned Sinaloa capo, Ines Coronel Barreras, who is the father of Guzmans third wife.

While those signs point to Lopez taking over a larger role in the cartel, nothing in the Mexican drug world is guaranteed.

Cartels resilient

Even the biggest criminal organization takes some hits  but the cartels have been amazingly resilient.

Longtime Sinaloa Cartel boss Guzman was arrested in 2014, 13 years after he first escaped from Mexicos maximum security prison in a laundry cart.

He escaped a second time in July 2015 through a tunnel and was rearrested in January 2016 after months of international publicity that drug organizations usually like to avoid.

Unlike that of some of his competitors who are locked up in Mexico, Guzmans extradition to the United States was not derailed and was completed last month.

His longtime No. 2, Ismael Zambada, also took a hit.

In 2015, the guilty plea in a Chicago federal court signed by Jesus Vicente Zambada Niebla, now 40, was unsealed. It showed that Zambada Niebla, Zambadas most competent son, was cooperating with U.S. authorities.

The son had helped run the cartels smuggling operations from South America into Mexico and then into the United States. He also was responsible for making payments to Mexican government and police officials.

He was arrested in 2008 by Mexican law enforcement and extradited to the United States in 2009.

His defense team claimed that Zambada Niebla believed he and the rest of the Sinaloa Cartel had a deal with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency to provide information about other cartels in exchange for some sort of immunity from prosecution. The government denied the allegations, but apparently Zambada Niebla did meet with U.S. federal agents before he was arrested in Mexico.

He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a minimum of 10 years.

He described in the plea agreement the distribution of multiple tons of cocaine, often involving hundreds of kilograms at a time, on a monthly, if not weekly, basis from 2005 to 2008.

Zambada Niebla admitted that he coordinated the importation of multi-ton quantities of cocaine from Colombia and Panama into the interior of Mexico, where he arranged transportation and storage of the shipments ultimately headed for the United States.

The cartel used various means of transportation, including private aircraft, submarines, and other submersible and semisubmersible vessels, container ships, fast boats, fishing vessels, buses, rail cars, tractor-trailers and automobiles. He coordinated the delivery of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine to wholesale distributors in Mexico, who would then arrange to smuggle the drugs into the United States.

On most occasions, the Sinaloa Cartel supplied the cocaine to these wholesalers on a consignment basis because of the wholesalers long-standing relationships with key cartel figures.

Zambada Niebla in his plea deal also agreed not to contest a forfeiture judgment of more than $1.37 billion.

Video

As an extra bonus to our readers, Mike Gallagher provides additional background and insights about the Juarez and Sinaloa cartels in video interviews.

https://abqjournal.com/946286/cartels.htm
On May 10, 2016, Joe Baca and his younger brother, Carlos Baca Jr., were found executed in pools of blood in a Northeast Heights home that appeared to have been used to grow marijuana.

The brothers wrists had been bound and handcuffed, and both had been shot more than once.

Duct tape covered 29-year-old Carlos Baca Jr.s mouth, and his pockets had been turned inside out. He had been shot twice.

Joe Baca, 31, was stabbed more than 20 times and shot three times.

A bloody knife lay near the bodies, and a safe was found open and empty.

No arrests have ever been made, but the city subsequently condemned the house because of changes to the electrical system and other problems typical of marijuana grow houses.

Law enforcement wont officially say the scene was a cartel hit  perhaps over a bad debt.

But the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration was brought in to help the Albuquerque Police Department investigate because of a possible international nexus to the case.
RACINE  About $3,000 damage resulted from a fire Tuesday morning at a commercial building in the Uptown area.

The fire, which was reported at about 9:15 a.m., originated on the second floor of the building at 1232 Washington Ave. on pallets holding folded cardboard, Racine Fire Department Lt. Mike Moss said.

A sprinkler system put out the fire, which produced a lot of smoke because of plastics and other materials involved, Moss said. The building is used for storage by HFI Fluid Power Products, 1210 Washington Ave., Moss said.

The area was not occupied at the time of the fire and nearby workers were able to exit unharmed. No injuries were reported.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Fire Department was still investigating the incident, including who had access to the floor before the fire started.

Washington Avenue was closed at 12th Street until about 11:40 a.m. while firefighters worked at the scene, Moss said.
Miguel Bustamante-Conchas was selling heroin in Albuquerque and wanted to cement his status with the Sinaloa Cartel.

According to federal prosecutors, Bustamante, 40, decided he would marry off his stepdaughter, Chantilly, to the son of the cartels man in charge of packaging heroin.

According to the wiretaps on Bustamantes phone, Felix Sicairos would pay $10,000 for Chantillys hand in marriage  which would also help him gain legal status in the United States.

Bustamante, who the government maintained was in the U.S. illegally, even compared his idea to the marriage of Princess Fiona to the ogre Shrek.

Sicairos was the son of Bustamantes connection to the Sinaloa Cartel, and Bustamante believed Sicairos was sent to Albuquerque to either keep an eye on Bustamantes operation or to learn from him. The discrepancy depended on who was telling the story.

The marriage never came off, but the wiretaps that unveiled the marriage plot showed how the Sinaloa Cartel has direct ties to heroin distribution on Albuquerques streets.

Bustamante had connections to a ring of Mexican heroin dealers investigated in 2010 by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. But agents were unable to identify his role in that group of dealers  a group connected to the Sinaloa Cartel and operating in Albuquerques Northeast Heights and South Valley before they were arrested and charged.

Bustamante, who walked away from that investigation, then used some of the same houses to stash drugs as the previous group.

During the Bustamante investigation, that began in 2013, federal agents identified some trends in the heroin trade.

Among them:

 Brown powder heroin is much more common and may be replacing the black tar heroin that has been found in New Mexico for decades. The increase in brown powder heroin is the result of huge increases in poppy cultivation in Mexico and more sophisticated refining techniques for turning raw opium gum into heroin.

 Mexican cartels exert little influence on organizations the size of Bustamantes once heroin crosses the border, as long as the cartel receives its taxes.

 Mexican heroin suppliers in Albuquerque and other Western cities tend not to carry a lot of firearms, and they avoid violence. Only one pistol was recovered in the Bustamante investigation.

 Mexican heroin suppliers pass on the names of so-called facilitators who rent houses and buy cars for the Sinaloa heroin dealers setting up business in Albuquerque.

 It appears to be a common practice that the Mexican organizations pass on the numbers of their heroin addict customers to organizations that replace them.

 The price for a gram of heroin continues to drop, depending on purity, to prices between $90 to $50. DEA undercover agents typically paid $125 or more for a gram of heroin in recent years.

After his trial in 2014, Bustamante was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. After his release, he will be deported.
PANAMA CITY  Prosecutors in Panama are seeking international help in detaining two sons of former President Ricardo Martinelli in relation to an alleged scheme to launder bribes from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht.

The Associated Press obtained on Monday a copy of a request filed by anti-corruption prosecutor Tania Sterling asking for an Interpol red alert against Ricardo Alberto and Luis Enrique Martinelli.

Prosecutors claim the sons helped deposit part of $22 million that Odebrecht allegedly paid in bribes to win contracts in Panama. Odebrecht has acknowledged paying $800 million in bribes across Latin America.

Martinelli governed in 2009-2014 and lives in Miami. He has been under investigation in Panama for corruption. The ex-president wrote in his Twitter account Sunday that a show would be mounted against his sons to distract attention.
Copyright  2017 Albuquerque Journal

Police say three officers who opened fire on an armed suspect during an attempted carjacking Friday also unintentionally shot and wounded the driver of the vehicle.

The victim, Becky Nottke of Santa Fe, is chairwoman of the state Manufactured Housing Committee.

She had been in Albuquerque for the committees bimonthly meeting when a man tried to take her car in an attempt to escape from police, her co-member Scott Christensen told the Journal on Monday.

Christensen said he and Nottke were leaving the meeting at the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, on San Antonio near Interstate 25, about 1 p.m. when a man police identified as Lee Brandenburg, 41, ran through the parking lot tailed by the officers. The officers were trying to arrest him on a felony warrant.

Police shot Brandenburg multiple times in both legs and Nottke was hit once in the leg, said officer Simon Drobik, a spokesman for the Albuquerque Police Department. He declined to identify the officers at this time.

Nottke and Brandenburg are both still recovering at University of New Mexico Hospital.

Christensen, the vice-chair of the committee, said he was walking out of the meeting with Nottke and a couple of other members when they noticed police cars with sirens on nearby. He said Nottke said she was about to meet her daughter for lunch and then they all went their separate ways.

Thats when Brandenburg ran up to him and attempted to take his car, Christensen said.

I look toward him and saw the barrel of the gun, he said. I was in fear for my life, he said he was going to shoot me and I believed him.

Christensen said he started running and was about 20 feet away when he turned and saw that Brandenburg was now trying to take Nottkes car instead.

He put his gun in his mouth, grabbed her mirror and (then) started banging his pistol on the drivers side window, he said.

When the officers saw Brandenburg armed with the gun and trying to carjack Nottke, they opened fire, Drobik said. He said Brandenburg very briefly pointed the gun at officers as well.

Those officers didnt wake up that morning wanting to get into that situation, he said. But in the totality of the circumstances in that moment they thought they had to take action to stop his actions. Unfortunately the female who was being carjacked was hit by one of our rounds.

Brandenburg and Nottke were taken to the hospital. When Brandenburg is released he will be booked into the county jail on two counts of attempted armed robbery and one count of aggravated assault, Drobik said.

Christensen said he has spoken with Nottke since she was admitted to the hospital. He said she had surgery on her knee over the weekend and will have to be in a cast for quite a while.

Nottke was appointed to the Manufactured Housing Committee in 2009 by Gov. Susana Martinez, said Alex Sanchez, the deputy superintendent for the Regulation and Licensing Department. She was elected chair in 2015 and took over in December.

Christensen, a Portales resident, said he has served with Nottke for several years and the whole incident really shook him and the other committee members up. He said hes thankful the officers took the action they did but wishes he and Nottke and the other members had been able to avoid the situation all together.

In some ways theyre family, Christensen said. Ive known those people for years. How do we as a community keep a look out for each other to keep each other safe?

This is the third time this year on-duty officers have fired their weapons.

On Jan. 7, police shot and killed Gilbert Lovato, whom they were trying to arrest. Then, on Jan. 26, police opened fire on Moses Hernandez, who they say had shot another man, but no one was hit by their gunfire.
SANTA FE  A special unit overseen by New Mexicos attorney general would be assigned to investigate and prosecute on-duty shootings by police under a proposal in the state House.

The bill comes as the Albuquerque Police Department and other agencies across the state face scrutiny over how they investigate shootings by their own officers.

In Albuquerque, for example, an APD detective typically takes the lead on shooting investigations, and the Bernalillo County district attorney determines whether to pursue criminal charges  a process that critics say is rife with potential conflicts of interest.

State Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero, D-Albuquerque, said her proposal, House Bill 214, would ensure independent, transparent investigations.

I think the security the public will feel is increased by placing it in the Attorney Generals Office, she said.

Shaun Willoughby, president of the union that represents Albuquerque police officers, said he isnt necessarily opposed to investigations by the attorney general. But the city is already carrying out federally mandated reforms in APD, many of which center on how the department must investigate shootings and allegations of excessive force.

It just raises so many questions, Willoughby said of the House proposal.

The bill would create a special Use of Force Unit under the state attorney general. The unit would have exclusive power to investigate and prosecute on-duty shootings  or any allegation of excessive force  by law enforcement officers.

The proposed law also calls for excessive-force cases to be presented to a state district judge, who would determine whether theres probable cause to move forward with charges.

Operating the unit is expected to cost the Attorney Generals Office about $1.5 million a year  a potential challenge given New Mexicos budget crisis.

Roybal Caballero said she is working on an updated version of the bill that might ease the burden.

Were dealing with extreme financial constraints, she said.

A spokesman for Attorney General Hector Balderas said Balderas is talking to Roybal Caballero about how to proceed.

Attorney General Balderas is committed to improving officer safety and community safety in New Mexico, and balancing both of those needs, the Office of the Attorney General will continue to be in discussions with the Representative, law enforcement and elected district attorneys regarding this issue, spokesman James Hallinan said in a written statement.
Over 60 percent of California voters went for Hillary Clinton  a margin of more than 4 million votes over Donald Trump.

Since Clintons defeat, the state seems to have become unhinged over Trumps unexpected election.

Calexit supporters brag that they will have enough signatures to qualify for a ballot measure calling for Californias secession from the United States.

Some California officials have talked of the state not remitting its legally obligated tax dollars to the federal government. They talk of expanding its sanctuary cities into an entire sanctuary state that would nullify federal immigration law.

Californians also now talk about the value of the old Confederate idea of states rights. They whine that their state gives far too much revenue to Washington and gets too little back.

Residents boast about how their cool culture has little in common with the rest of the United States. Some Californians claim the state could easily go it alone, divorced from the United States.

Sound a bit familiar?

In December 1860, South Carolina seceded from the Union in furor over the election of Abraham Lincoln.

Lincoln did not receive 50 percent of the popular vote. He espoused values the state insisted did not reflect its own.

In eerie irony, liberal California is now mirror-imaging the arguments of reactionary South Carolina and other Southern states that vowed to go it alone in 1860 and 1861.

Like California, South Carolina insisted it could nullify federal laws within its state borders.

Like California, South Carolina promised to withhold federal revenues.

Like California, South Carolina and other Confederate states bragged that their unique economies did not need the Union.

They boasted that King Cotton had created the wealthiest class in the United States. Silicon Valley now often assumes that Google, Facebook, Apple and others are near-trillion-dollar companies that are a world unto their own.

Slavery and the extravagant income from cotton warped the Southern economy and culture. A wealthy plantation elite, with its millions of exploited slaves, ensured that there would be virtually no middle, working or small-business class.

Huge estates were surrounded by the impoverished shacks of servants. Hardscrabble farmers or small businessmen often fled westward to escape the shackles of wealth disparity.

The export-dependent Southern elite demanded unfettered free trade. It offered bitter resistance to Northern protectionism.

South Carolina elites were opposed to federal infrastructure projects such as the building of roads, canals, bridges and reservoirs, and other such unwelcome progress.

Confederates boasted that their antebellum culture was more romantic, natural, pristine, healthy and moral than was the bustle, grime and hyper-capitalism of Northern industrialism.

Southern aristocrats believed that they were culturally superior  in terms of music, art and literature  to other Americans.

Of course, this is 2017, not 1860, and California is super-liberal, not an antebellum slave-owning society.

Nonetheless, what is driving Californias current efforts to nullify federal law and the states vows to secede from the U.S. are some deeper  and creepy  similarities to the arrogant and blinkered Old South.

California is likewise becoming a winner-take-all society. It hosts the largest numbers of impoverished and the greatest number of rich people of any state in the country. Eager for cheap service labor, California has welcomed in nearly a quarter of the nations undocumented immigrants. California has more residents living in poverty than any other state. It is home to one third of all the nations welfare recipients.

The income of Californias wealthy seems to make them immune from the effects of the highest basket of sales, income and gas taxes in the nation. The poor look to subsidies and social services to get by. Over the last 30 years, Californias middle classes have increasingly fled the state.

Gone With the Wind-like wealth disparity in California is shocking to the naked eye. Mostly poor Redwood City looks like its on a different planet from tony nearby Atherton or Woodside.

The California elite, wishing to keep the natural environment unchanged, opposes internal improvements and sues to stop pipelines, aqueducts, reservoirs, freeways and affordable housing for the coastal poor.

Californias crumbling roads and bridges sometimes resemble those of the old rural South. The states public schools remain among the nations poorest. Private academies are booming for the offspring of the coastal privileged, just as they did among the plantation class of the South.

California, for all its braggadocio, cannot not leave the U.S. or continue its states-rights violations of federal law. It will eventually see that the new president is not its sickness, nor are secession and nullification its cures.

Instead, California is becoming a reactionary two-tier state of masters and serfs whose culture is as peculiar and out of step with the rest of the country as was the antebellum Souths. No wonder the state lashes out at the rest of the nation with threatened updated versions of the Old Confederacys secession and nullification.

But such reactionary Confederate obstructionism is still quite an irony given Californias self-righteous liberal preening.
Every New Mexican depends on the state having a working court system  those who have been touched by crime or civil wrongdoing depend on the court system to work for them, as do the lucky residents who have not been personally affected and would like to see justice routinely served to keep it that way.

So the facile  though defensible  excuse that there isnt enough money just doesnt wash with folks who have been hurt, who have been accused of doing the hurting, who just want to go to work and do their part to see justice delivered rather than denied. And that means the Legislature and Gov. Susana Martinez need to make sufficient funding for the states judicial system a top priority.

The system that ensures justice for the aggrieved, as well as those accused of doing the aggrieving, is all too often forced go to the Legislature, hat in hand, to beg for sufficient funds to accomplish its inviolable mission  even though it commands less than 3 percent of total state spending.

And while there are almost always efficiencies to find, the fact of the matter is that, of the roughly $8.6 million in projected court spending for the current budget year, nearly 90 percent goes to juror pay and mileage, witnesses and court interpreters, according to the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Judges, their staffs, utility bills and other expenses make up the other 10 percent.

If juror pay looks like an easy target, know that, during the special session, lawmakers cut that from $6.75 an hour to $6.25  well short of the states minimum wage of $7.50.

So far, Martinez has already vetoed two court funding proposals approved by lawmakers during this years 60-day session and is asking the Democrat-controlled Legislature to look for ways to reduce court spending. The career prosecutor should also consider her professional experience with the system and weigh in with her own ideas for cutting court expenses.

Because, while the state Board of Finance, which Martinez heads, came to the rescue last week and approved nearly $700,000 to pay jurors and avoid furloughing employees at the New Mexico Supreme Court, everyone recognizes thats a fiscal Band-Aid that falls off in mid-April and just the latest emergency infusion in a long list of similar measures.

Yes, finding more money for the court system in these trying fiscal times is a blood-from-a-turnip exercise. But a functioning judicial system is something all New Mexicans depend on and one of the core responsibilities of state government.

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.
KANSAS CITY, Kan.  As a young man lingered near death  his heart barely pumping, other organs also failing  about two dozen members of the University of Kansas Health Systems multidisciplinary team debated what to do.

Was he too sick for anything but palliative care? No one wanted to tell the 30-year-old patient that.

Should he be transferred to a more seasoned heart program, one experienced in treating such high-risk patients? Perhaps.

Or should they take him into surgery, implant a device to help his heart pump blood, try to nurse him back to better health and then  likely many months in the future, if he survived  give him a new heart?

At that point, the University of Kansas Hospital had implanted only one such device, and it went to a low-risk patient after careful planning. The hospital hadnt transplanted a heart in more than two decades, after shuttering its first program when news leaked that it had been turning away hearts for months while still adding patients to its transplant waiting list.

Now, several years into its transplant restart

effort, health system officials wanted every step to go right. Those gathered in the conference room discussing the high-risk patient knew his case could derail their momentum if things went badly.

Yet he also represented the reason the KU Health System was getting back into the heart transplant game.

We can do this, said surgeon Travis Abicht, who had transplanted 16 hearts during his final year at Chicagos Northwestern Memorial Hospital, which he left in 2015 to become the KU Health Systems surgical director of heart transplant and mechanical assistance.

Abicht, a former surgical resident at KU Hospital, brought along heart failure specialist Andrew Sauer to be the health systems medical director for heart transplant and advanced heart failure. Co-workers since 2010, both had felt the timing was right to move to the KU system.

And at this moment, in March 2016, both thought the timing was right to operate. This was a young patient, and if they could get him back on his feet, he could thrive.

It wasnt a matter of questioning whether it was appropriate to do, Abicht recalled last week. We needed team buy-in  first and foremost for the patient but also for the group.

They got it.

Since receiving a left ventricular assistance device 10 months ago, Zach Engelken has turned 31, gotten engaged and received a healthy heart.

Around KU Hospital, he is No. 4  the fourth heart recipient of the new program. The first patient received his heart in October, the second in December, the third and fourth this month. Once the hospital conducts 10, it will have enough cases to seek final certification.

The KU Health System joins St. Lukes Hospital  which performed 44 heart transplants last year, the most in this region  as the only Kansas City-area hospitals performing adult heart transplants. Childrens Mercy Hospital, which did three transplants in 2016, launched a pediatric program two years ago.

Last year, the area shipped about half its donor hearts to other regions. A second local transplant program should help keep some of those here, Abicht said.

The move also adds Kansas City to the list of similar-sized metro areas  including Cleveland, Milwaukee and Indianapolis  with two heart transplant programs. Plus it fills a void in Kansas, which has not been home to a heart transplant program since a Wichita hospital ceased doing the procedure in 2009.

Nationally, a record 3,191 patients received new hearts in 2016. More than 4,000 others remain on waiting lists, including four at KU Hospital and 16 at St. Lukes.

Engelken hopes some day to meet his donors family.

Im very grateful, the Seneca, Kan., resident said Wednesday, eight days after transplant surgery, as he rested in a fourth-floor hospital bed.

When Sauer knocked on his door and reported that tests on the new heart looked good, Engelken smiled.

Its got a good strong beat, compared to my old one, he said. I can tell. Oh, yeah, it feels great.

The hospital closed its original heart transplant program in 1995 after a Kansas City Star investigation revealed serious problems.

The hospital rebuilt by upgrading the quality of its personnel and heart treatment facilities. The transplant program is the final piece of that rebound. When KU Health System officials announced their plans in 2012 to renew the transplant program, Abicht already was paying attention.

As a teenager, he had watched heart procedures at the Wisconsin hospital where his father worked as an anesthesiologist. He had marveled at how surgeons could stop and start a heart, and how a bypass machine could keep a patient with no pulse alive. Later, when the surgeon visited the patient in intensive care, it seemed almost as if the surgery never had happened.

Its an incredible profession, Abicht said.

You see people at their worst, when they are at their most vulnerable. And you do something that essentially takes them from deaths doorstep to back to being themselves again.

He drew inspiration from KU Hospital staff while in his general surgical residency here. Hed already earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas and stuck around to attend KUs School of Medicine. So even after he went to Northwestern, where he learned from some of the best in the country, he felt a strong tug to return to Kansas.

When the first transplant surgery day arrived in October, part of the KU Hospital team went to another hospital to remove the heart from the donor. Others prepared to work on the recipient. Coordination is key, Abicht said.

Though a transplant patient might be in the operating room for six to eight hours, the furious part of the procedure  removal of the old heart and insertion of the new one  takes 60 to 90 minutes.

Little about the operation has changed over the years, Abicht said.

Much has changed, however, when it comes to heart assist devices like the one Engelken received last March. Decades ago, any such device would have been large and cumbersome.
As the Legislature in Santa Fe wrestles with a state budget shortfall, students on Monday wrestled with how that will translate to their own education at the University of New Mexico.

During a town hall-style meeting in the UNM Student Union Building, Acting President Chaouki Abdallah answered questions posed to him by some of the crowd of 50 attendees  mostly UNM students. Foremost among those questions was what happens if UNMs budget gets cut, as is likely to happen during the current legislative session, Abdallah said.

Putting the numbers into perspective, Abdallah explained that of the universitys statewide budget of $2.8 billion for all its campuses, the majority of that money goes toward funding UNM Hospital and the UNM Health Sciences Center. That leaves about $830 million to operate the rest of the universitys main campus in Albuquerque.

Of that $830 million, $200 million comes from a state allocation and $130 million from tuition. If the state mandates an across-the-board cut of just 1 percent, for example, it will impact UNM to the tune of $2 million, Abdallah said, and that could translate to programs getting cut.

Higher education in New Mexico and across the country has suffered more since the 2008 recession exactly because they (state legislators) know there is tuition, a somewhat flexible revenue stream. Consequently, if a states budget has to be cut by 1 percent, they cut higher education by 2, 3 or 4 percent, because they know there is tuition, even as theyre saying dont raise tuition, Abdallah said.

We look at reserves or we look at not filling positions, and thats where it starts to hurt, when programs and positions are not being filled, he said. We can do it for a year or two, but now were in the third or fourth year of doing that.

The answer, he said, is to find new streams of revenue, though what those might be is unclear at this point.

Abdallah also fielded questions about what some see as a nasty climate on campus regarding the tone of discourse in the wake of the recent presidential election and on-campus speakers.

The university ought to be a place of vibrant but civil discussion. The issue is very personal to me, he said, noting that he grew up in Lebanon at a time when freedom of speech became dangerous outside ones immediate family. High school students went from reasoned arguing to punching one another in the schools and pulling guns on one another outside the schools. Eventually, civil war ensued, he said.

While he didnt expect that to happen in the United States, he noted, I do fear that some of the protections that we enjoy in the U.S., that unless you lost them, you dont know how precious they are.
Copyright  2017 Albuquerque Journal

WASHINGTON  Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham said Monday shes worried that recent immigration raids by federal agents could mark the start of mass deportations nationwide, and she will meet with the head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement today to voice her concerns and learn more about the agencys plans.

Lujan Grisham, a New Mexico Democrat who is chairwoman of the Hispanic Congressional Caucus, is set to meet with ICE acting Director Thomas Homan after hundreds of arrests and deportations in multiple states over the past two weeks.

While ICE officials say the raids are targeting criminals, Lujan Grisham said she knows others have been swept up and deported.

I want to see exactly who was picked up with the deportation orders they said they had in hand that meets the felony criminal deportation priority list, Lujan Grisham said in a Journal interview Monday. What they are saying to us is that they are just working on removing felons  but thats not matching up with the information were getting from individuals and immigration lawyers and advocacy organizations.

I know theyve done collateral apprehensions, which has nothing to do with any targeted efforts, so Im really concerned, she said.

There have been no reports of mass deportations in New Mexico since President Donald Trump took office.

Trump vowed during the 2016 campaign to deport an estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. illegally, but ICE officials said Monday that they are targeting only those immigrants with criminal convictions.

Lujan Grisham and other members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus wrote to Homan on Friday requesting a meeting. He agreed, and the meeting was scheduled for today.

Trump has said  and I think hes serious  that he wants 11 million people deported, Lujan Grisham said. Is this the initiation of mass deportation? I dont have the information yet to assess it, but Im concerned enough that we want as much data as quickly as we can so we can ascertain whats going on.

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said Monday that the ICE raids are routine.

ICE conducts these kind of targeted enforcement operations regularly and has for many years, Kelly said in a statement. The focus of these enforcement operations is consistent with the routine, targeted arrests carried out by ICEs Fugitive Operations teams on a daily basis.

These operations targeted public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and gang members, as well as individuals who have violated our nations immigration laws, including those who illegally re-entered the country after being removed and immigration fugitives ordered removed by federal immigration judges, the statement said.

ICE reported Monday that officers in the Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, San Antonio, Texas, and New York City regions arrested more than 680 people who pose a threat to public safety, border security or the integrity of our nations immigration system.

Of those arrested, approximately 75 percent were criminals convicted of crimes including homicide, aggravated sexual abuse, sexual assault of a minor, drug trafficking, weapons charges and other crimes.

Lujan Grisham stressed that she has no problem with federal agents arresting and deporting those who have been convicted of serious crimes who remain in the country illegally, but she worried about collateral deportations of those who pose no threat.

Under President Barack Obama, the government claimed it was focused on immigrants who are in the country illegally who posed a threat to national security or public safety and recent bordercrossers.

More than 2 million people were deported during Obamas time in office, including a record of more than 409,000 people in 2012. At one point, his critics dubbed him the deporter in chief.

Although there have been no reports of wide-scale immigration raids in New Mexico since Trump took office, some families and communities have been on edge since Trumps inauguration.

So far, we are not seeing massive raids, but there is a lot of fear, said Fernando Garcia of the Border Network for Human Rights, representing West Texas and southern New Mexico.

Immigrant advocates in southern New Mexico say that communities reported possible raids at least twice since late January, both of which turned out to be false alarms.

Border Patrol spokesman Ramiro Cordero told the Journal in late January that in one instance, seasoned agents were showing new agents the area and met up with Anthony police to look at areas of criminal concern. The group sparked alarm in Anthony, where many fam ilies are of mixed immigration status.

Journal staff writer Lauren Villagran contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  Just six days into his presidency, Donald Trump was informed his national security adviser had misled his vice president about contacts with Russia. Trump kept his No. 2 in the dark and waited nearly three weeks before ousting the aide, Michael Flynn, citing a slow but steady erosion of trust, White House officials said Tuesday.

Flynn was interviewed by the FBI about his telephone conversations with Russias ambassador to the U.S., a sign his ties to Russia had caught the attention of law enforcement officials.

But in the White Houses retelling of Flynns stunning downfall, his error was not that he discussed U.S. sanctions with the Russian before the inauguration  a potential violation of a rarely enforced law  but the fact that he denied it for weeks, apparently misleading Vice President Mike Pence and other senior Trump aides about the nature of the conversations. White House officials said they conducted a thorough review of Flynns interactions, including transcripts of calls secretly recorded by U.S. intelligence officials, but found nothing illegal.

Pence, who had vouched for Flynn in a televised interview, is said to have been angry and deeply frustrated.

The evolving and eroding level of trust as a result of this situation and a series of other questionable incidents is what led the president to ask General Flynn for his resignation, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Tuesday, one day after the president asked Flynn to leave.

Flynn, in an interview with The Daily Caller News Foundation, said Monday there were no lines crossed in his conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

The explanation of the episode left many questions unanswered, including why Trump didnt alert Pence to the matter and why Trump allowed Flynn to keep accessing classified information and taking part in the presidents discussions with world leaders up until the day he was fired.

White House officials also struggled to explain why Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway had declared the president retained full confidence in Flynn just hours before the adviser had to submit his letter of resignation.

Later Tuesday, The New York Times reported that U.S. agencies had intercepted phone calls last year between Russian intelligence officials and members of Donald Trumps 2016 campaign team. Current and former U.S. officials, who spoke to the Times anonymously, said they found no evidence that the Trump campaign was working with the Russians on hacking or other efforts to influence the election.

The White House shakeup, less than one month into Trumps tenure, marked another jarring setback for a new administration already dealing with tensions among top aides and a legal fight over the presidents travel ban order. Flynns firing also heightened questions about the presidents friendly posture toward Russia. Democrats called for investigations into Flynns contacts, and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said Congress needed to know whether he had been acting with direction from the president or others.

Trump initially thought Flynn could survive the controversy, according to a person with direct knowledge of the presidents views, but a pair of explosive stories in The Washington Post in recent days made the situation untenable. As early as last week, he and aides began making contingency plans for Flynns dismissal, a senior administration official said. While the president was said to be upset with Flynn, he also expressed anger with other aides for losing control of the story and making his young administration look bad.

Pence spokesman Marc Lotter said Pence became aware that he had received incomplete information from Flynn only after the first Washington Post report Thursday night. Pence learned about the Justice Department warnings to the White House around the same time.

The officials and others with knowledge of the situation were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and requested anonymity.

Ahead of the Jan. 20 inauguration, Pence and other officials insisted publicly that Flynn had not discussed sanctions in his talks with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. On Jan. 26, Acting Attorney General Sally Yates contacted White House counsel Don McGahn to raise concerns about discrepancies between the public accounting and what intelligence officials knew to be true about the contacts based on routine recordings of communications with foreign officials who are in the U.S.

The Justice Department warned the White House that the inconsistencies would leave the presidents top national security aide vulnerable to blackmail from Russia, according to a person with knowledge of the discussion. The president was informed of the warnings the same day, Spicer said.

Flynn was interviewed by the FBI around the same time, according to a U.S. official was briefed on the investigation.

It was not immediately known what questions the FBI asked of Flynn or what he told law enforcement officials.

McGahn, along with chief of staff Reince Priebus and strategist Steve Bannon, also questioned Flynn multiple times in the ensuing weeks, a White House official said. Top aides also reviewed transcripts of Flynns contacts with the ambassador, according to a person with knowledge of the review process.

At the same time, the official said Trump aides began taking steps to put some distance between the president and Flynn. CIA Director Mike Pompeo and retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, a top Flynn aide, started taking part in Trumps daily security briefings.

Top Trump advisers quietly met with Vice Admiral Robert Harward last week and spoke with the former Navy SEAL again Monday, the White House official said. Harward is seen as the top contender for the job, though former CIA Director David Petraeus and Kellogg, who has temporarily stepped into the role, are also under consideration.

Spicer said other questionable incidents had contributed to Flynns firing. According to one person with knowledge of the matter, those incidents included Flynn seeking a security clearance for his son during the transition.

At the time, it was Pence who was again put in the position of defending Flynn on television, saying he had not sought a clearance for the retired generals son.

A U.S. official told The Associated Press that Flynn was in frequent contact with Kislyak on the day the Obama administration slapped sanctions on Russia for election-related hacking, as well as at other times during the transition. Spicer said Flynn was not discussing sanctions at the presidents behest.

Before he resigned Monday night, Flynn told the investigative news nonprofit affiliated with the website The Daily Caller that he and Kislyak spoke only generally about the Russian diplomats expelled by President Barack Obama as part of the previous administrations response to Moscows interference in the U.S. presidential election.

It wasnt about sanctions. It was about the 35 guys who were thrown out, Flynn said. It was basically: Look, I know this happened. Well review everything. I never said anything such as, Were going to review sanctions, or anything like that.

___

Associated Press writers Jonathan Lemire, Eric Tucker, Ken Thomas, Jill Colvin, Erica Werner and Catherine Lucey contributed to this report.

___

Online: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3461508-Michael-Flynn-Resignation-Letter.html

Follow Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC and Vivian Salama at http://twitter.com/vmsalama
RACINE  A Gurnee, Ill., man has been taken into custody as a suspect in bank robberies that occurred in Racine and Kenosha on Sunday afternoon.

Jason A. Crawford, 34, of the 7900 block of Dada Drive, was arrested in Racine on pending charges of robbery of a financial institution after he reportedly robbed the Tri City National Bank branch located inside Piggly Wiggly, 3900 Erie St., and a Guaranty Bank branch in Kenosha on Sunday.

Crawford remained in the Racine County Jail as of Monday afternoon, according to jail records. His adjourned initial appearance is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, at the county Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave.

According to the complaint from Racine County Circuit Court:

Just before 3:45 p.m. Sunday, an armed man, dressed in all black, reportedly presented a note to a teller and robbed the Tri City branch.

Police were alerted that the suspect had fled the scene in a 2004 gray Volkswagen Jetta that had Illinois license plates.

Following the incident, a vehicle matching the description was located at an apartment complex in the 4000 block of Main Street near Wind Point, not far from where the robbery occurred, and a suspect was taken into custody, according to Racine Police Department Public Information Officer Sgt. Adam Malacara.

At the complex, police located several items in a trash bin that were believed to have been related to the Tri City robbery, including: two black jackets; black shoes; and a small plastic bag containing U.S. currency that was stained with red dye. The investigating officer reported that, through his training, he knew that red dye is used to mark money stolen from banks.

Police also found several items in the Volkswagen, including: A brown paper bag with U.S. currency; a bag containing three plastic bags of capped needles, which police said are similar to those used to ingest heroin; a 9mm semi-automatic handgun; multiple ammunition magazines; and a folding knife.

Kenosha incident

Earlier in the day, at 1:42 p.m., a male allegedly approached the Guaranty Bank located inside Pick n Save grocery

store, 1901 63rd St., in Kenosha. The suspect reportedly told the bank teller he was armed and demanded money which bank staff turned over, according to a release issued Monday afternoon by the Kenosha Police Department.

Based on evidence collected during the investigation, it is believed that the man taken into custody in Racine is the same suspect from the earlier Kenosha robbery, Kenosha police said.

Detectives from the Kenosha Police Department are working with Racine police and the FBI in their investigation.
LAS CRUCES  Four years ago, a dispute between neighbors turned violent when a Las Cruces police officer threw a stay-at-home mother onto gravel and intentionally slammed her face into the rocks, causing profuse bleeding, a broken nose and a fractured wrist.

On Friday, after more than three years of legal wrangling, an eight-member federal jury awarded the woman and her husband, Jillian and Andrew Beck, both formerly of Las Cruces, $1.6 million in damages.

The verdict was reached at the end of a five-day trial in U.S. District Court in Las Cruces. The trial centered on allegations in the couples civil-rights lawsuit against Officer Isaiah Baker and Officer Joseph Campa, both of the Las Cruces Police Department.

After about three hours of deliberations, the jury determined Baker had used unreasonably excessive force on Jillian Beck in violation of the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. He also committed a battery in violation of New Mexico law, the jury ruled. Because the latter was not a criminal charge, Baker is not facing any time behind bars.

The jury further concluded that Campa had unlawfully seized and arrested Andrew Beck, also in violation of the Fourth Amendment.

The couple was awarded $1 million in punitive damages as a result of Bakers willful, malicious, wanton and reckless conduct, according to their attorneys, Margaret Strickland and Mollie McGraw of Las Cruces. The couple received an additional $600,000 in compensatory damages.

In a brief statement released Friday, the city of Las Cruces said it was planning to review the jurys decision for a possible appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit in Denver. The city was not named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

A city spokesman did not respond Monday to questions from the Sun-News. A spokesman for LCPD also declined to comment on the case on Monday.

In an interview, Strickland said Jillian Beck was relieved that the officers were going to be held accountable.

Strickland, in a statement, added: The jury sent a clear message that this type of behavior towards civilians will not be tolerated in our community.

In arguments made before the jury, Strickland and McGraw said a blue wall of silence at LCPD had shielded the officers misconduct and subsequent cover-up for four years.

The incident occurred on the evening of Jan. 5, 2013, according to the lawsuit. Police had been dispatched to the 7500 block of Vista de Oeste Place, where the couple lived with their 4-year-old son, in response to a neighbor dispute. Baker and Campa were among the officers who responded to the call.

Jillian Beck, then 26, had been upset with a neighbor who was throwing rocks and blowing an air horn in the middle of the night at another neighbors dog, the lawsuit stated.

She explained her complaint to Baker, according to the lawsuit. But as she turned to walk away from the officer, he unexpectedly grabbed her arm, twisted it behind her back, and slammed her to the ground.

At trial, it was revealed that Beck had tried to lift her head off the ground in an effort to call out to a neighbor to remove her son from the scene. But as she lifted her head, Baker slammed her face onto rocks, her attorneys said.

When she was lifted off the ground by Baker, her face was covered in blood, the lawsuit stated. Her husband then attempted to help her, but when he stepped forward, he was detained by Campa.

Andrew Beck, who testified on Feb. 7 via live video from an Air Force base in Qatar, said he thought his wife was choking on her own blood, according to his attorneys. The active-duty airman had been based at White Sands Missile Range when the incident occurred.

During the trial, a police audio recording of the incident was played for the jury. In the recording, Baker can be heard saying she got thrown and she got a face full of rocks, Strickland said. A female officer then said cool in response.

Jillian Beck was then placed under arrest and charged with battery on a peace officer, resisting an officer and disorderly conduct. The battery and resisting charges were dismissed, court records show, and she pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct.

Her husband also was arrested and charged with resisting an officer. But the charge was later dismissed, Strickland said.

According to the citys Human Resources Department, both Baker and Campa are still employed with LCPD as officers. Human resources would not say if the officers were ever disciplined over the incident.

Carlos Andres Lopez can be reached 575-541-5453, carlopez@lcsun-news.com or @carlopez_los on Twitter.



2017 the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.)

Visit the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.) at www.lcsun-news.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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LAS CRUCES  Spaceport America on Tuesday announced a nationwide partnership with FieldTripZoom, a web-based provider of live and interactive virtual field trips. The partnership will allow students across the United States to experience the worlds first purpose-built commercial spaceport. Spaceport Americas deal will allow teachers across the state to provide a range of STEM and other educational content free to every K-12 classroom across the state.

The subscription-based site provides more than 165 virtual field trips  including the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the Alaska SeaLife Center and the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. For the remainder of the 2016-17 school year, classrooms across New Mexico can access any of the virtual field trips for free.

The Spaceport America field trips will continue to be offered free to all New Mexico schools for the foreseeable future, according to Tammara Anderton, the spaceports director of marketing.

We wanted to make Spaceport America accessible to all kids in New Mexico, because their parents paid for it, Anderton told the Sun-News. And weve already seen that, for many of the states more remote schools that are cash-strapped, its nearly impossible for them to take a field trip to see the spaceport.

Spaceport America, in southern Sierra County, north of Las Cruces, was built at a taxpayer-funded expense of roughly $218.5 million.

Anderton said the spaceport plans to provide a variety of virtual field trips, describing them as building blocks. The early field trips will explain the spaceport, its purpose and its role in democratizing space through commercial space flight, Anderton explained. Students will get a behind-the-scenes look at spaceport operations.

Well help them to understand what it takes to run a spaceport. Its not just rocket scientists, she said.

On May 5, classrooms from across the state and nation can join the Spaceport America crew for a vertical rocket launch, in honor of Space Week. Later this year, the spaceport hopes to offer a Virgin Galactic launch, which is horizontal.

Jo Galvan, spokeswoman for Las Cruces Public Schools, said the free, virtual field trips will help offset some of the districts budget shortfalls this year.

This will really help supplement the educational opportunities were able to provide students this year, Galvan said. Were in a spending freeze. And student instruction  which includes field trips  would be among the last places we would try to cut. But, when every expense is being closely scrutinized, this is a great tool and opportunity to allow kids to see something they might not otherwise be able to experience.

Daniel Hicks, chief executive officer of Spaceport America, said he hopes the partnership makes Spaceport America more accessible to students.

We want every young New Mexican to have the opportunity to visit Spaceport America, either physically or virtually and leave inspired because it is a national treasure playing a historic role in the future of space travel, exploration and commercialization, Hicks said.

I spent last week in D.C. with the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, Hicks told the Sun-News Monday. Whats so exciting about the timing of this partnership is that we are really on the cusp of some major breakthroughs in commercial spaceflight, and were going to be able to take some of these historic events and bring them to our students across the state.

Hicks compared this moment in commercial spaceflight to NASAs Apollo programs of the 1960s.

The Spaceport America virtual field trips also tie in nicely with the districts Challenger Learning Center which opened in 2015, Galvan said. Every sixth-grade class visits the Challenger Learning Center twice per year for an immersive, space-flight simulation.

The first virtual field trip will take place on Feb. 28, and then at least once per month for the rest of the school year.

We are excited to bring awe-inspiring content from the iconic Spaceport America in New Mexico to students throughout the world as well as hosting special programs for New Mexico K-12 public and private school students, said Doug Ashton, co-founder of FieldTripZoom. And we are grateful to Spaceport America for sponsoring access to all our content partner programs for these same students for the remainder of this school year.

New Mexico educators can book access to live streaming of content across a wide range of subjects and sign up for a free season pass by registering at fieldtripzoom.com.

They really found a unique way to bring this experience to students across the state, so kudos to them, Galvan said.

We just want it to be fun and inspiring. This is a historic place and time for commercial space flight, Anderton said.

Damien Willis may be reached at 575-541-5468, dawillis@lcsun-news.com or @damienwillis on Twitter.



2017 the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.)

Visit the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.) at www.lcsun-news.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

_____
BERLIN  A German court has excluded two elderly Jewish American men from joining the trial of a 96-year-old former Auschwitz SS medic, because their mother was not killed in the death camps gas chambers during the time covered in the indictment.

Hubert Zafke is charged with 3,681 counts of accessory to murder for a one-month period in 1944.

The Neubrandenburg state court said Tuesday it was excluding Walter and William Plywaski, of Boulder, Colorado, from joining the trial as co-plaintiffs, as allowed under German law for victims relatives.

Their attorneys argue that Zafke was present for a longer period than covered by the indictment, and say theyll appeal.

The trial has been repeatedly delayed over the defendants health and complaints from the co-plaintiffs the judges are biased.
PITTSBURGH  For millions of workers who attend frequent meetings, the ritual gatherings often can feel like a waste of time.

People find meetings generally to be unpleasant, said Aimee Kane, associate professor of management at Duquesne Universitys Palumbo Donahue School of Business. Meetings can be notorious for wasting time.

But it doesnt have to be that way.

Because of diverse backgrounds and ideas, discussing problems and goals in a group setting can be a valuable way to get things done. Too often, meetings fall apart because they arent structured correctly, experts say.

For starters, they should have a clear purpose thats communicated to participants in advance so everyone has time to prepare, Kane said.

Its also important to use techniques to encourage equal participation, such as calling on everyone in the room in turn. Otherwise, Because of rank or personality, one person might dominate the meeting, she said.

Nisha Nair, clinical assistant professor of business administration at the University of Pittsburghs Katz Graduate School of Business, advocates brain writing, in which all participants write ideas on index cards that are then circulated to the group.

The technique helps counteract group think, or the desire to maintain anonymity in groups, which tends to stop people from speaking up and sharing their true opinions, she said.

Brain writing forces everyone to be engaged and generates more ideas, she said.

Its also helpful to write ideas on a board so people remember them, and then rank them, Kane said. That way, You see what people really prefer, not just who is talking the loudest.

In general, meeting face-to-face will be more productive than conference calls or email discussions, which are prone to misunderstandings, Kane said.

Its also important to reduce the frequency of meetings by handling simple tasks outside of the room. For example, use email to circulate information or get people to sign off on a project, she said.

I think the frustration with meetings has to do with the limitations of the human mind to process information and do it in a social setting, Kane said. Thats why when we structure them, we get better results.

For networking professional Berny Dohrmann, the most critical ingredient is setting up a system of rewards to recognize employees contributions.

Too many meetings are organized around punishment  Sales are down and we have to get them up or you are fired,' said Dohrmann, who knows a bit about punishment, having spent 18 months in federal prison in the mid-1990s in connection with a defaulted junk bond.

Find ways to use praise and recognition (for performers) and others will conform to get the praise, said Dohrmann, who for nearly 30 years has been running CEO Space, a Florida-based conference and networking company for business owners.

They will like coming to meetings because they like showing results and know they will get (recognized).



2017 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at www.post-gazette.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
CHICAGO  States are moving forward with new initiatives to help workers save for retirement, even as the Republican-led Congress tries to block rules making it easier for them to do so.

Studies show a sharp divide in retirement savings between those who have employer-sponsored plans and those who do not. The state programs are designed to fill in the gap.

Dozens of small business owners recently gathered in Schaumburg, Illinois, to learn about the new state-sponsored retirement savings initiative, Secure Choice IRA. Officials said it could help about 1.2 million workers who dont have access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan.

Its clear theres a retirement crisis, Illinois Treasurer Michael W. Frerichs told the small business owners. This is a problem not only for the families but for all of us.

Seven states  California, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Oregon and Washington, in addition to Illinois  are in various stages of implementing state-sponsored retirement savings plans.

Californias plan will automatically enroll about 6.8 million employees. Employees can opt out of the plan and employers are not required to match contributions. Payroll deductions are expected to start in 2018.

The plans with automatic payroll deduction are IRAs and are tax-deductible, which means employees get a tax incentive because they dont pay federal taxes on the money saved for retirement until theyre withdrawn.

The states programs were helped along by Labor Department rules governing automatic-enrollment and payroll deductions.

But Congress is moving to block those rules. A House vote is scheduled Wednesday.

Our nation faces difficult retirement challenges, but more government isnt the solution, Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., the chairman of the House subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pension, said in a statement. A better way is to reduce costly red tape and make it easier for small businesses to band together to offer retirement plans for their employees.

Walberg said there were concerns that these new retirement plans discouraged small businesses from offering private-sector plans and had inadequate safeguards.

A spokesman for Labor Secretary-nominee Andrew Puzder said it would be premature for the fast-food executive to comment on this issue before being confirmed.

At least 30 states have considered proposals to study or establish state-sponsored retirement savings plans over the past five years, according to the Center for Retirement Initiatives at Georgetown University.

The Labor Department estimates that as many as 70 million workers could benefit.

That includes workers like, Otto Deurloo-Willard, 31, a store manager at the Cork & Bottle Shoppe, a liquor store in Oregon. He earns $12.50 an hour, slightly higher than Oregons minimum wage. He doesnt have a retirement plan at work and said he didnt think about saving until he got engaged.

Im at a different point of my life. Im getting married, and we are planning for a life together, Deurloo-Willard said.

Americans without work-sponsored savings plans are less likely to save for retirement. Research from the nonpartisan research organization Employee Benefit Research Institute shows that 62 percent of employees with an employer-sponsored savings plan had more than $25,000 in savings and 22 percent of those workers saved $100,000. By contrast, about 94 percent of workers without access to those plans had less than $25,000, according to the 2014 study.

Those at the lower end of the income distribution are hit particularly hard, with many relying solely on Social Security when they retire, according to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.

States win when more people are prepared for retirement and financially ready to be self-sufficient, which reduces the need for state spending on elder-support programs, said Gerri Madrid-Davis, AARP Director of State Advocacy and Strategies.

Democratic state Sen. Daniel Biss, who introduced Illinois program, has called it the most efficient and least intrusive way to help people save for retirement while putting little burden on the states employers.

But Mark Grant, Illinois director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says it adds to a long list of mandates small businesses have to fulfill.

If a business can afford to do this kind of thing, they would do it for their employees, Grant said.

The plan, passed in 2015, limits participation to small businesses that have been open for more than two years and have at least 25 employees. The state hopes to fully implement it by 2018.

Jennifer Piacenza, operations manager for Palatine Welding Company, said shes excited about Secure Choice but worries that the 35 employees at her family business wont take advantage of it.

We offered a retirement program to our employees and people didnt participate, Piacenza said. We couldnt maintain it.

For his part, Deurloo-Willard says automatic retirement deductions from his paycheck are exactly want he needs.

Ive never made enough to save but what I like about this (the savings plan) is that it takes the responsibility of savings out of my hands, Deurloo-Willard said. I dont have to think about it. Its deducted from my check.

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EDITORS NOTE  Maria Ines Zamudio is studying aging and workforce issues as part of a 10-month fellowship at The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, which joins NORCs independent research and AP journalism. The fellowship is funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
WASHINGTON  In a story Feb. 14 about House Democrats efforts to obtain President Donald Trumps tax returns from the IRS, The Associated Press reported erroneously that Rep. Joseph Crowley of New York is a Republican. He is a Democrat.

A corrected version of the story is below:

Republicans block Dem effort to get Trumps tax returns

House Republicans have blocked an attempt by Democrats to use an obscure law to obtain President Donald Trumps tax returns from the IRS

By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER

Associated Press

WASHINGTON  House Republicans on Tuesday blocked an attempt by Democrats to use an obscure law to obtain President Donald Trumps tax returns from the IRS.

Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee tried to frame the issue as a matter of national security. They questioned whether Trump has any investments in Russia.

Trump has said he has no investments in Russia, and Democrats acknowledged that have no evidence otherwise. Thats why they want Trumps returns, said Rep. Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y.

The move came a day after Trumps national security adviser, Michael Flynn, was forced to resign over conversations he had with Russian officials before Trump took office.

People are concerned about Michael Flynn putting himself in a position to be blackmailed. What position is the president in? asked Crowley. Our national security is at risk.

The Ways and Means Committee has legal authority to obtain confidential tax records. The committee could then vote to make them public.

On Tuesday, committee Democrats tried to amend a routine annual oversight plan to insert a provision that called for obtaining Trumps tax returns. Republicans blocked it on a straight party-line vote, 23-15.

Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, said the panel should only use its power to ensure that tax laws are being administered properly  not to investigate the president.

As chairman of this committee I will not allow Washington to return to the bad old days when government officials used their powers to intimidate, harass and destroy their political enemies, Brady said. If Congress uses its power to rummage around the presidents tax returns for political purposes, whats prevents it from doing the same to average Americans?

Most famously, former President Richard Nixon was accused in his articles of impeachment of illegally obtaining tax records of his political enemies, and of ordering audits. Since then, federal law was changed so that neither the president nor the IRS commissioner can single out an individual for an audit.

Shunning decades of tradition, Trump has steadfastly refused to release his tax returns or to divest from his business. Instead, Trump said he has turned operation of his business over to his sons, while still retaining his stake.

Democrats tried to make Trumps taxes an issue during the presidential election, questioning his wealth and whether he generously donates to charity, as he claims. After the election, the head of the Office of Government Ethics scolded Trump for not divesting from his business, saying it is the only way to avoid conflicts of interest.

Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway has said people dont care about the presidents taxes.

Trumps tax returns would reveal a trove of information about his business dealings and his sources of income. They wouldnt show his overall net worth. But they would show his annual income and where it came from.

No one on this committee can say for sure that Trump doesnt have investments in Russia, said Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-N.J. We dont know.

Pascrell promised to raise the issue over and over and over again.

Im good at that, he said.

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Follow Stephen Ohlemacher on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephenatap
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Attorneys with the U.S. Justice Department are asking a federal judge to dismiss claims by New Mexico and the Navajo Nation that stem from a 2015 mine waste spill that fouled rivers in three Western states.

The Justice Department filed its motion Monday, following up on arguments first made by the Obama administration that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is protected by sovereign immunity and doesnt fit the definition of a liable party.

Triggered by an EPA-supervised work crew, the spill sent 3 million gallons of toxic wastewater containing arsenic, lead and other heavy metals into the Animas River near Silverton, Colorado. The mustard-yellow plume reached rivers in New Mexico and Utah, setting off a major response by government agencies and private groups.

This is not a case involving, for example, the alleged release of hazardous substances from a federal installation, or from an industrial site formerly owned or operated by a federal government agency, the motion states.

The attorneys argue that the EPA was responding to ensure that contamination created by others does not endanger the public.

Similar immunity arguments were made last month when the EPA announced it would not repay dozens of claims totaling more than $1.2 billion for economic damages resulting from the spill.

Still angered by the earlier decision, New Mexico and Navajo officials have no plans to back down from the legal fight. New Mexico was the first to sue over the spill, targeting the EPA, the state of Colorado and the owners of two mines.

New Mexico has repeatedly argued that the federal government failed to take full responsibility for the spill and alleges in its lawsuit that the environmental effects were far worse than claimed by the EPA.

I will continue to aggressively pursue litigation to obtain justice for our culturally unique population and damaged economy in order to protect New Mexicos children and families for generations to come, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas said Tuesday in a statement sent to The Associated Press.

Navajo President Russell Begaye said the tribe remains deeply disappointed with how the EPA handled the spill and the aftermath, but hes confident the court will hold the agency accountable.

The U.S. EPA repeatedly assured the Navajo Nation that it would take responsibility for its actions and make all injured persons whole, Begaye said. Now they are attempting to avoid any responsibility or liability for their recklessness and misconduct.

During the spill, water utilities shut down intake valves and farmers stopped drawing from the rivers as the plume moved downstream.

The EPA said water quality quickly returned to pre-spill levels. But New Mexico officials and others warn about heavy metals collecting in the sediment and getting stirred up each time rain or snowmelt results in runoff.

In the motion filed this week, government lawyers argue that the EPA responded to the contamination and most recently added the area that includes the Gold King Mine to its list of national cleanup priorities.
Aspiring, first-time entrepreneurs in the creative industries can join a crash course that the Creative Startups business accelerator is launching this month in Albuquerque.

The new, four-week boot camp aims to train and mentor not-yet-ready-for-prime-time entrepreneurs on how to move beyond the pre-revenue, idea stage, said Creative Startups program manager Julia Youngs.

Creative Startups, which began in 2014, already provides intensive, eight-week training courses for new businesses. But Young says the boot camps are critical to help fledgling entrepreneurs still at the baby-step level make more progress to better prepare them for entering a formal accelerator program.

Over the last three years, weve seen many locals interested in creative ventures who apply to our accelerator but are not quite ready for our full program, Youngs said. There is no local program to address their needs, so were launching the new boot camps to work with them.

The accelerator is actually launching two sets of boot camps. The first is a general boot camp open to people who have a great idea or business interest in the creative realm, which includes everything from design, games, software and film to music, publishing and performance and visual arts.

It costs $200 and will run from March 31-April 22, with sign-up open through Feb. 28. Those interested can learn more through free information sessions Wednesday at the citys Downtown Epicenter, 119 Gold SW.

The second boot camp will launch in the fall for college students at any New Mexico university. Creative Startups is partnering with the University of New Mexicos Innovation Academy to offer the boot camps as semester-long, for-credit courses to be held at the Innovate Albuquerque Lobo Rainforest building, which is expected to open this summer at Central and Broadway.

Creative Startups received $125,000 in grants through the citys Mayors Prize, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the McCune and Albuquerque Community foundations to develop and launch its boot camps, said Creative Startups co-founder Alice Loy.

About 60 percent of New Mexico applicants to our accelerator are declined because theyre not ready for the program, Loy said. Were talking about hundreds of applicants who we can help to guide forward by creating new bridges from idea to accelerator.

Creative Startups is also launching a new speaker series that will bring celebrity-like business representatives to Albuquerque for free presentations, and occasional fee-based workshops. The first features Rand Fishkin of Moz SEO, a search engine optimization company. He will speak on Feb. 21 at the Epicenter Downtown.

For more information, go here.
SANTA FE  A proposal to open New Mexicos primary elections to independent voters cleared its first House committee Tuesday.

The measure, House Bill 206, would allow voters who arent affiliated with a major party to participate in the June elections that determine who the Republican and Democratic nominees will be each year.

Supporters say the bill would boost turnout and encourage candidates to appeal to a broader cross-section of people, not just their partys base of liberals or conservatives. Its also important, supporters say, because many New Mexico races are decided in the primaries, leaving unaffiliated voters with no choice at all in the fall general elections.

A bipartisan pair of legislators, Republican Jim Dines of Albuquerque and Democrat Stephanie Garcia Richard of Los Alamos, are sponsoring the bill.

Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver also supports the idea. Some voters show up every year in the primary election hoping to vote, she said, only to learn theyre not eligible because they arent registered as a Democrat or Republican.

The bill now heads to the House Judiciary Committee, potentially its last stop before the House floor.

A similar proposal is pending in the Senate, though its already run into intense opposition by Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto, an Albuquerque Democrat and former state elections director. He has described the proposal as unconstitutional, among other objections.

The SUNNY SIDE: Solar powered state-owned buildings?

That could happen under a Senate bill that was approved without dissent Tuesday in its first assigned panel.

The legislation, Senate Bill 227, would require the state agency that oversees state-owned buildings  there are more than 700 such buildings  to adopt rules and examine ways to implement renewable energy improvements. It does not mandate such improvements actually be made.

Sen. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, the bills sponsor, said the state should take advantage of purchase agreements under which retrofit costs are paid for by green energy companies.

The state is woefully underutilizing an opportunity to save money, Steinborn said.
WASHINGTON  The resignation of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn elicited a simple but persistent question Tuesday from congressional Democrats: What did President Donald Trump know and when did he know it?

But many Republicans brushed past this echo of Watergate and another Republican president, Richard Nixon, to maintain that no special investigation was warranted and the existing Republican-led committees will handle the probe, mostly in private.

After Flynn stepped down late Monday following reports he misled Vice President Mike Pence about contacts with a Russian diplomat, Democrats demanded the formation of an independent, bipartisan panel to examine possible links between the Trump administration and Russia, including when the president learned Flynn had discussed U.S. sanctions with a Russian diplomat.

This latest push builds on an earlier call by Democrats for an independent inquiry into Moscows meddling in the 2016 election to help Trump beat Democrat Hillary Clinton.

The American people deserve to know the full extent of Russias financial, personal and political grip on President Trump and what that means for our national security, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement.

At issue is whether Flynn broke diplomatic protocol and potentially the law by discussing U.S. sanctions with Russias ambassador to the U.S., Sergey Kislyak, before Trumps inauguration. The sanctions were imposed in December by former President Barack Obama after U.S. intelligence reported that Russia had interfered in the presidential election.

Who knew about this and when? Did the president know and when did he know it? Did others at Trump transition team authorize conversations about sanctions? asked Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., the No. 2 House Democrat. After the White House was informed, who made the decision to allow Flynn to continue to serve despite the fact he misled the administration?

Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said the Trump administration ought to want a public airing of Flynns actions and the Russian governments attempts to influence the American political system.

The questions are so numerous and its really hard to get past them and begin to look infrastructure or tax reform or even confirming a Supreme Court nominee, McCaskill said.

House Speaker Paul Ryan said Flynn made the right decision to step down. But Ryan sidestepped questions about whether an inquiry is warranted.

Im not going to prejudge any of the circumstances surrounding this until we have all of the information, the Wisconsin Republican said.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah, the Republican chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said the situation has taken care of itself when asked by reporters if his panel would investigate Flynns actions.

Sounds like he did the right thing, he didnt want to be a distraction, Chaffetz said of Flynn. And it was getting to be a distraction.

Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., the chairman of the House Intelligence committee, said he intended to ask the FBI how details from Flynns conversation with Kislyak were disclosed to reporters.

Im just shocked that nobodys covering the real crime here, Nunes said. You have an American citizen who had his phone call recorded and then leaked to the media.

Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., the Senate Intelligence Committee chairman, said his panel will continue to do aggressive oversight behind closed doors. We dont do that in public, he said.

But Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, the Republican chairman of Foreign Relations Committee, said Congress needs to do whatever it takes to resolve questions about Russias relationship to the 2016 presidential election.

This is going to go on forever if we dont address it, Corker said.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he wants to know if Flynn initiated the conversations with Kislyak or if he was directed to make contact with the ambassador. He said Republicans would be pretty upset if after being elected former President Barack Obama had reached out to Iran or Iraq to change Bush administration policies.

The one-president-at-a-time policy I think has served the country well, Graham said. The idea that (Flynn) did this on his own without any direction is a good question to ask.

Republican Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Flynns resignation is a troubling indication of the dysfunction of the current national security apparatus.

General Flynns resignation also raises further questions about the Trump administrations intentions toward Vladimir Putins Russia, including statements by the president suggesting moral equivalence between the United States and Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine, annexation of Crimea, threats to our NATO allies, and attempted interference in American elections, McCain said in a statement.

___

Associated Press writers Alan Fram and Erica Werner contributed to this report.

___

Follow Richard Lardner on Twitter: http://twitter.com/rplardner
Procter & Gamble has announced a series of measures designed to support a push towards gender equality across the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and Africa region. The news was made public by Procter & Gamble during a meeting of the United Nations Secretary-Generals High Level Panel on Womens Economic Empowerment (HLP), which was held for the first time in the Middle East region and hosted by the UAE Gender Balance Council.

P&Gs commitment to gender equality is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #5  to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls globally. Mohamed Samir, IMEA President for P&G, explained that implementation of this commitment will include four key areas for 2017, which will be undertaken in partnership with UN Women and other female-empowerment organizations.

P&G has been championing the cause of gender equality both inside and outside of P&G, leveraging the strengths of our business and operations, our scale and our advertising voice to address gender bias and enable education for girls and womens economic empowerment, explained Samir.

These four areas include:

P&G will expand its supplier development and sourcing from women-owned business in our supply chains across the world, including the Indian subcontinent, Middle East and Africa.

P&G will continue to reveal gender bias and spark conversations through P&G brand advertising campaigns and encourage the wider advertising industry to do the same.

P&G will extend our programs to keep girls in school in India, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Tanzania.

P&G, working with our NGO partners on the ground, will empower women & girls impacted by the Syrian refugee crisis to realize their potential.

Gender Equality is a priority focus area of P&Gs Citizenship activities. P&G has been steadily working to improve gender equality by leveraging its unique strengths. Some of P&Gs achievements globally and in this region include:

Business & Operations

P&G India hires 50% women into entry level management roles and they get promoted into next assignments at the same progression as men

In a first for FMCG industry in India, P&Gs Hyderabad plant was one of the first plants to have 30% women across the workforce. What is unique is that these women employees operate across all shifts and operate manufacturing equipment and are not limited to peripheral tasks. In an unprecedented move, we collaborated with the government and got legal approval to allow women to work across shifts.

P&G was the first Consumer Goods Company with a license to employ women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and now employs 15% women managers in KSA across all commercial disciplines including Finance, HR, Sales & Marketing

In the US, P&G has integrated women-owned businesses into our sourcing supply chain. In P&Gs last fiscal year, the company spent 1.1 BN$ with women-owned businesses and importantly the majority of this spend is direct.

Scale

P&G and our Always brand has a 30-year history of providing puberty and hygiene education and is reaching over 17 million girls across the world each year

In India, P&G has been working with young girls in various groups across the country to understand the needs in the areas of Health & Hygiene, Personality Development etc. The companys flagship Mother Daughter Menstrual Hygiene Program has been successfully running across the country since 1995. Today, P&G runs this program with the active support of 20,000 schools educate about 4.5 Million adolescent girls annually and educate them on the importance of menstrual hygiene

Advertising Voice
Procter & Gamble has announced a series of measures designed to support a push towards gender equality across the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and Africa region. The news was made public by Procter & Gamble during a meeting of the United Nations Secretary-Generals High Level Panel on Womens Economic Empowerment (HLP), which was held for the first time in the Middle East region and hosted by the UAE Gender Balance Council.

P&Gs commitment to gender equality is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #5  to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls globally. Mohamed Samir, IMEA President for P&G, explained that implementation of this commitment will include four key areas for 2017, which will be undertaken in partnership with UN Women and other female-empowerment organisations.

P&G has been championing the cause of gender equality both inside and outside of P&G, leveraging the strengths of our business and operations, our scale and our advertising voice to address gender bias and enable education for girls and womens economic empowerment, explained Samir.

These four areas include:

P&G will expand its supplier development and sourcing from women-owned business in its supply chains across the world, including the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and Africa.

P&G will continue to reveal gender bias and spark conversations through P&G brand advertising campaigns and encourage the wider advertising industry to do the same.

P&G will extend its programmes to keep girls in school in India, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Tanzania.

P&G, working with its NGO partners on the ground, will empower women & girls impacted by the Syrian refugee crisis to realise their potential.

Gender equality is a priority focus area of P&Gs Citizenship activities. P&G has been steadily working to improve gender equality by leveraging its unique strengths. Some of P&Gs achievements globally and in this region include:

Business & Operations

P&G India hires 50 per cent women into entry level management roles and they get promoted into next assignments at the same progression as men.

In a first for FMCG industry in India, P&Gs Hyderabad plant was one of the first plants to have 30 per cent women across the workforce. What is unique is that these women employees operate across all shifts and operate manufacturing equipment and are not limited to peripheral tasks. In an unprecedented move, the group collaborated with the government and got legal approval to allow women to work across shifts.

P&G was the first Consumer Goods Company with a license to employ women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and now employs 15 per cent women managers in KSA across all commercial disciplines including Finance, HR, Sales & Marketing.

In the US, P&G has integrated women-owned businesses into its sourcing supply chain. In P&Gs last fiscal year, the company spent $1.1 billion with women-owned businesses and importantly, the majority of this spend is direct.

Scale

P&G and its Always brand have a 30-year history of providing puberty and hygiene education and are reaching over 17 million girls across the world each year.

In India, P&G has been working with young girls in various groups across the country to understand the needs in the areas of Health & Hygiene, Personality Development, etc. The companys flagship Mother Daughter Menstrual Hygiene Programme has been successfully running across the country since 1995. Today, P&G runs this programme with the active support of 20,000 schools, educating about 4.5 million adolescent girls annually and educate them on the importance of menstrual hygiene.

Advertising Voice

P&G has been sparking conversations and motivating change in brand advertising campaigns across the world, with an increased focus in the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East, and Africa.

Notable campaigns from India include Ariel Share The Load, which aims at shifting perceptions about the role of men and women in doing household chores and Whisper Like a Girl, through which the brand aims to make Like a Girl mean amazing things.
Amazon is shipping Samsungs Chromebook Plus to UK residents. This discovery was made by a user on Google+ that displayed an image of the listing page for the item on the U.S. version of Amazons website, and in clear print it say that the item will ship to the United Kingdom. This means that UK citizens can make the purchase of the item on the U.S. version of Amazon, and have it shipped to their country like any other purchase made from the UK website, although there is a significant difference in charges for the shipping and customs fees (over $100) as they will be quite a bit higher with the item shipping at those longer distances due to the import. Having said that the cost of the Chromebook Plus if it were officially released in the UK with local shipping fees would be expensive as well.

For U.S. residents that have wanted to purchase the Chromebook Plus, which is the lower cost model of the two Chromebooks that Samsung announced during CES in early January of 2017, the Chromebooks officially went on sale Sunday, although Amazons website shows that a shipping time is set at 1 to 2 months, and this is the same amount of time for shipping for both U.S. and UK residents, so shipping to the UK doesnt have any affect on the lengthening of time.

There is no indication of when the shipping time might go down, whether for U.S. or UK buyers, but chances are that more limited stock and back orders have a small part to play in the amount of time its going to take for consumers to receive the new Chromebook model. The Chromebook Plus will be joined by the Samsung Chromebook Pro, which is essentially the same Chromebook in almost every respect save for the processor type that was used. Beyond the CPU, the other specs as well as the build materials and design are all the same, right down to the size of the screen, weight of the laptop, and the integrated PEN. Its also unclear if Samsung will officially launch the Chromebook Plus in the UK, but until then its at least possible to buy one and have it imported.
Android Pay gains 9 new U.S. banks for its compatibility list, and while this is extending the amount of banks which support the mobile payment platform, 9 new banks is a significantly lower number than Google usually adds to the list whenever they update it, with the number normally being closer to 30 or 40. That being said, any new banks being supported is a good thing for the platform as it means that new establishments are continuing to adopt the new payment method, and its especially good for the people who bank with those newly supported establishments as it means theyll finally be able to utilize an easier method for paying for products and services.

Google usually adds new banks to the support list for Android Pay about once a month at the least, so this new list of banks seems to be just about on schedule, as the last time Google updated the list with new banks it was on January 12th. The nine new banks which have been added include First American Bank, First Interstate Bank, Gruver State Bank, NBKC Bank, Norway Savings Bank, Ollo, River Valley Community Bank, Timberland Bank, and Trustco Bank. This time around there arent any Credit Unions that have been added and all the banks that are now supported look to be smaller banks.

Steady support for Android Pay seems to be coming at a slightly faster pace than when Android Pay first launched, and this would be perfect timing for the pace to continue moving faster now that Android Wear 2.0 will be launched to existing devices in the near future, as Android Wear 2.0 finally introduces support for Android Pay as well which will let users pay for stuff simply by tapping their wrists to compatible payment terminals. This will of course will require that users have a compatible Android Wear smartwatch that comes with NFC integrated into the device in the first place, and this keeps things rather limited in terms of watches that can actually use Android Pay at the moment. That list will likely continue to grow in the near future too, so users who arent fond of the LG Watch Sport will eventually get more options to work with, although the LG Watch Sport is currently available from both Verizon and AT&T for those who arent keen on waiting for any other models to make use of the new feature.
The Sony Pikachu has just surfaced on AnTuTu, following its recent listing on GFXBench. Now, do keep in mind that the information AnTuTu is providing is somewhat different to what weve seen on GFXBench. According to AnTuTu, the Sony Pikachu features a 23-megapixel camera on the back, while GFXBench reported a 21-megapixel rear-facing snapper. Internal storage count is also different, on AnTuTu, the phone comes with 64GB of storage, while it has only 32GB of storage on Geekbench. Is this suggesting were looking at two different variants of this phone? Well, its quite possible, as their specifications are not exactly identical, but theyre quite similar, read on.

Both Sony Pikachu variants come with the same display, SoC. The Sony Pikachu will sport a 5-inch 720p (1280 x 720) display, along with 3GB of RAM, while it will be fueled by the Helio P20 64-bit octa-core processor, which is MediaTeks mid-range chip. This smartphone will sport an 8-megapixel front-facing snapper, and it will ship with Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box, while Sonys custom UI will be placed on top of it, of course. All in all, this seems to be Sonys upcoming mid-range smartphone, though it obviously wont be called Sony Pikachu once the company unveils it. The Pikachu part is only a codename, and as you can probably tell, it refers to a Pokemon, so thats a major hint it will sport a different name once Sony releases it. Could this be the upcoming Xperia XA2 perhaps?

It is possible this is the Xperia XA2, at least one variant of it, as that phone is also expected to ship with the Helio P20 SoC and a 23-megapixel rear-facing camera, and it is hard to believe Sony is getting ready to introduce so many similar devices. The Xperia XA2 is expected to arrive during this years Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona which will kick off at the end of this month. The company will probably introduce more than one smartphone during the tradeshow, though, probably two or three Xperia X devices, just like last year. That is more or less it, all we can do at this point is sit and wait to see what happens, stay tuned.
Samsung started the rollout of the February Security Update for the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge. The Galaxy S7 is receiving the firmware version G930FXXU1DQB7 while the update for the Galaxy S7 Edge is labeled as G935FXXU1DQB7. Apart from fixing some previously identified vulnerabilities of the Android operating system, these updates are allegedly also packed with some stability improvements and performance optimizations. The latest security patch for the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge is being pushed out as an over-the-air (OTA) update, so if youre feeling impatient, its possible to check for the update manually by opening your Settings app, selecting About device, and tapping the System updates option.

As Samsung started pushing out the new Android Security Update earlier today, the patch will presumably be available worldwide soon, probably by the end of the week. Note that the February Security Update for the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge is based on Android Nougat, so youll have to make sure youre running the latest major iteration of Android before you can download it. Naturally, if the Nougat update still hasnt rolled out in your territory and you arent comfortable with flashing your device, theres not much you can do but wait.

Earlier this week, Samsung already released the February Security Update for the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy A3, Galaxy A8, and the Galaxy J5 (2016). Prior to that, the South Korean tech giant updated the Galaxy J5 Prime and the Galaxy J7 Prime in early February. Given those latest developments, it seems likely that more Samsung-made devices will receive their Android Security Updates in the coming days. Apart from optimizing Googles security patches for its devices, Samsung is also currently preparing for the upcoming Mobile World Congress thats starting later this month. The Seoul-based phone maker is likely going to arrive at the Barcelona-based trade show with a number of new devices. Unfortunately, the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8 Plus wont be among them as Samsung previously confirmed its upcoming flagship duo will be unveiled at a later date, with recent rumors suggesting that date is March 29.
The Nokia 3 has a 5.3-inch HD screen and a 13-megapixel camera on the back of the device according to the latest rumor which also leaks the rest of the specifications for the device. Nokia is said to be preparing three new phones for an official announcement at Mobile World Congress at the end of this month, and the Nokia 3 is one of those, while the other two are said to be the Nokia 5 and a reboot of the Nokia 3310, alongside an appearance of the Nokia 6 which was already been available in India unofficially and has so far only officially launched in China. In regards to the Nokia 3, this will be one of the new Android-powered smartphones coming from HMD Global who is handling the production of Nokias new handsets.

In addition to the display (which may also potentially be a screen size of 5.2-inches) and the rear-facing camera, the Nokia 3 will also come with a 5-megapixel front-facing camera for selfies and video chat. Qualcomm is rumored to be handling the computing as the Nokia 3 will be powered by a Snapdragon 425 CPU which comes paired with an Adreno 308 GPU for the graphics processing, as well as 16GB of internal storage space and 2GB of RAM for the memory. Rounding out the leaked specifications is Android 7.0 Nougat for the software version of the Android platform, making the Nokia 3 one of the most up to date Android devices in a category that still isnt terribly saturated with other handsets, as there are still only a smaller number of devices that have been bumped up to Nougat, though that will change soon enough.

In addition to the leaked specifications, the rumor also states that the Nokia 3 will be announced on February 26th at Mobile World Congress, while alleging that it will have a release date set for March or April in Europe and potentially other markets, though nothing is officially known at this time. Whats more is that the Nokia 3 is also rumored to cost around 149 which would signify some pretty decent hardware for an entry-level Android device. Theres no mention of the Nokia 3 getting a U.S. release so there is no information on a U.S. cost. That being said, the device is rumored to release in major markets so theres potential for it to launch in more than just Europe this Spring.
The alleged Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 has just surfaced, along with its S Pen stylus. If you take a look at the provided image, youll get to see Samsungs alleged tablet. This image comes from WinFuture, and it gives us a fairly good look at the upcoming Galaxy Tab S3, presuming the image is legit, of course. Before we take a closer look at the tablet itself, its worth mentioning that the Galaxy Tab S3 is expected to land during the upcoming Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona.

As you can see, this tablet actually resembles the Galaxy Tab S2 quite a bit. Its general shape is more or less unchanged, and there are three buttons below its display. The physical home key is placed in the middle, and will probably act as a fingerprint scanner as well, while youll notice that its flanked by the overview (multitasking) and back buttons. There are two physical keys on the right-hand side of this tablet, the power / lock and volume rockers buttons. Samsungs branding is placed above the display, and thats pretty much it as far as its front is concerned. This tablet is quite similar to the Galaxy Tab S2, as weve already mentioned, but theres one significant difference between the two devices, the Galaxy Tab S3 will pack an S Pen stylus it seems, which you can see in the provided image, and a number of rumors suggested that it will happen as well. So, chances are that this tablet will get a lot of S Pen functionality, like weve seen in the Galaxy Note 7, which is no longer available for purchase.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 is expected to sport a 9.7-inch 2048 x 1536 display, along with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of native storage. Qualcomms Snapdragon 820 64-bit quad-core SoC is rumored to fuel this tablet, and a 12-megapixel snapper will be placed on the back of the device. A 5-megapixel shooter will be included on the front side of this tablet, and chances are that Samsung plans to release two different Galaxy Tab S3 variants. One variant of the device will feature Wi-Fi connectivity only, while the other one will combine Wi-Fi and 4G LTE, which means it will sport a SIM card slot. The Galaxy Tab S3 actually got certified by the FCC quite recently, which suggests that it is on the way as well.
The South Korean Supreme Prosecutors Office (SPO) confirmed on Tuesday it requested a second arrest warrant for Jay Y. Lee, Vice Chairman of Samsung Group and heir to the company. In addition to Lee, the office revealed it is also seeking to arrest Samsung Electronics President Park Sang-jin who was already questioned by the authorities over the weekend. The SPO requested a first arrest warrant for Lee last month but was denied by a judge due to a lack of evidence against Samsung Groups Vice Chairman. Lee was interrogated for 15 hours on Monday before the prosecutors filed for another arrest warrant, but the authorities have yet to provide more details on the interrogation.

The SPOs request will once again be examined by the Seoul Central District Court in the coming days as the court said a hearing on the matter will be held on Thursday morning. Lee and Park have been accused of embezzlement, bribery, and hiding of assets, while Lee is also facing charges of perjury. Both men have denied any wrongdoing and Samsung Group previously said the South Korean prosecutors are looking to use the largest business group in the country to harm President Park whos also connected to the ongoing corruption scandal in the Far Eastern country. President Park was accused of colluding with her friend Choi Soon-sil to pressure large companies in the country to donate to several organizations that are both connected to Choi and have previously financed some of Parks political initiatives. Both President Park and Choi have denied all accusations, but the latter is currently in jail awaiting trial while her daughter whos also implicit in the scandal is currently under arrest in Denmark and is awaiting extradition to South Korea.

The SPO promised to clarify its requests to arrest Lee and Samsung Electronics Park tomorrow, February 15. In the meantime, industry watchers are speculating how Lees arrest could reflect on Samsung Group in the coming months. While its unlikely that the companys short-term earnings will take a hit, the conglomerate may be forced to change or pause its strategy concerning mergers and acquisitions if Lee ends up waiting for his trial in jail.
U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Claire McCaskill recently raised concerns about the fact that President Trump is reportedly still using an unsecured Android smartphone made by Samsung. The two democratic Senators and members of the Homeland Security Committee wrote a comprehensive letter detailing their concerns to Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis. In their three-page letter sent on February 9, Carper and McCaskill explained how theyre worried about recent reports that President Trump isnt using a secure phone like it was previously believed, adding that such state of affairs is a huge national security risk. Furthermore, the Senators also reflected on reports that the current U.S. President is using his Samsung-made phone to access Twitter by saying that his tweets are considered records by the National Archives and Records Administration. As such, Trumps tweets must be preserved for historic purposes, the Senators said. Given how an ordinary phone like the one Trump is reportedly using wasnt designed to maintain a record of everything thats been said using it, Trumps tweeting isnt in line with the Presidential Records Act, the letter says.

Carper and McCaskill gave Mattis a month to respond to their concerns, meaning the current Secretary of Defense is supposed to address their letter until March 9. However, it wasnt until this Monday that Carper revealed the contents of the letter on Twitter. Former President Obama reportedly used a heavily modified version of the BlackBerry 8830 which was subsequently replaced by a customized variant of the Samsung Galaxy S4. However, neither device was able to access Twitter, which is what allegedly makes Trump reluctant to start using a phone issued by the U.S. government. On the other hand, Trump may not be tweeting by himself seeing how he once said he dictates his tweets to his executive assistant who posts them for him.

Regardless, President Trumps reported use of an unsecured Android smartphone continues to raise concerns among the U.S. politicians and agencies. If Trump truly refused to use a government-issue smartphone, that turn of developments would be unprecedented in modern American history. It remains to be seen whether the current U.S. President will publicly address these concerns in the future.
STURTEVANT  Issues between the Village of Sturtevant and the Racine Unified School District concerning the REAL School proposal are 99 percent resolved, with the exception of two major components, according to Village President Steve Jansen.

On Tuesday, district officials will meet with the Sturtevant Administration, Personnel, Policy and Legal Committee at 6 p.m. at the Sturtevant Municipal Building, 2801 89th St., to discuss some concerns the village has.

Unified is planning on relocating the Racine Engineering, Arts and Leadership School to the Sturtevant Sportsplex, 10116 Stellar Ave., for students in grades 6-12. But the village has questions regarding the open campus plan and the tax impact.

The Sportsplex was our 15th-largest taxpayer in the village, Jansen said, adding it will become tax-exempt once the school is operating. Thats going to be a bit of a hit moving forward.

On Feb. 9, the village approved a $3.8 million conceptual remodeling plan for the REAL School, presently located at 5915 Erie St., in Caledonia.

Jansen said the Sturtevant Sportsplex brings in about $56,000 in tax revenue to the village. He also added the district could pay the village the difference in lost revenue, much like how the state pays the village for the Racine Correctional Institution, 2019 Wisconsin St.

Its not unprecedented because of the prison, Jansen said. (The state) gives us payment in lieu of property taxes  thats what were asking the school district to do.

There will be no action at the meeting on Tuesday, but Jansen said the loss of revenue could have an impact on the village and options to fill that void should be presented.

There should be a discussion, Jansen said. Its not going to be a deal-killer, but its something that needs to be looked at.

Safety concerns

The open-campus aspect of the REAL School has raised some questions with the village, considering the wide age range of the students that will be attending.

Id rather nip this now, so when things are up and going everyone knows what the rules are from day one, Jansen said.

Jansen said parameters need to be worked out before the school opens.

Safety is paramount to it, Jansen said. If youve ever been out there during the daytime, traffic is crazy. I dont want kids walking down Highway 20; there are no sidewalks.
Japanese consumer electronics manufacturer VELDT recently introduced the Tottori West Family Time Watch, a smartwatch designed to help you keep track of how much time you spend with your family. The wearable was primarily made for parents looking to spend more time with their children. A parent can give their child a wearable beacon that communicates with the Tottori West Family Time Watch which tracks family time whenever the two are within 100 feet of each other. The wearable supports custom targets and will alert you if your set target wasnt met.

The Tottori West Family Time Watch was designed and manufactured by VELDT as a part of an initiative started by the Tottori Prefecture, the least populated Prefecture in Japan. The Tottori administration is trying to encourage Japanese families to visit the western parts of the prefecture and each family that chooses to do so will be awarded one of these watches. The reason why the local administration decided to promote western Tottori with a wearable is because its mostly aiming to appeal to people who are living in metropolitan areas and are used to Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Apart from bringing families together, the goal of this initiative is to promote the rural region of Tottori as a viable tourist destination. The program is only available to nine families in total and all of the spots have already been taken. Theres still no information on whether VELDTs latest creation will ever be released commercially under a different name or whether the Tottori administration is planning a similar initiative in the future.

In addition to tracking how much time people spend with their families, the Tottori West Family Time Watch also boasts a number of other features. Among other things, VELDTs wearable supports notifications, calls, and SMS messages. The device communicates with a smartphone using Bluetooth 4.0 but doesnt seem to be Internet-enabled. The family time tracking feature is directly tied to the smartphone app which visualizes the amount of time youve spent with your children using simple circular shapes of different colors. First images of the Tottori West Family Time Watch can be seen below.
Chinese tech giant ZTE is expecting that the incoming sanctions by the United States will negatively affect its financial performance. In a filing with the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, the company revealed how its representatives are still cooperating with U.S. regulators regarding the trade restrictions theyre facing, but theyre unsure how the situation will be resolved. However, ZTE didnt present shareholders with an optimistic outlook on the matter and said that its upcoming settlement with the U.S. Commerce Department will probably affect the financial performance of the company.

ZTE was initially hit with trade restrictions last March but managed to win four reprieves of the sanctions in the meantime. However, the sanctions are now scheduled to come into force in March and while the Chinese tech giant will likely manage to settle the matter with U.S. agencies, it probably wont manage to survive this crisis unscathed, as evidenced by its latest filing with the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Washington originally sanctioned ZTE due to its alleged violations of the countrys export regulations as the Chinese company was accused of importing products to Iran. As ZTEs operations are reliant on products made by the likes of Microsoft and Oracle, an inability to import components made in the U.S. would significantly impact the companys prospects. For added context, approximately one-third of all ZTEs imports currently originate from the United States.

Since the initial reprieve, ZTE took a number of steps to appease the U.S. Commerce Department. Among other things, the company hired a new Chief Export Compliance Officer tasked with dealing with relevant U.S. agencies and also reshaped its management structure. It remains to be seen whether Washington will believe thats enough but there must be a reason why ZTE isnt optimistic about its chances of completely evading any sanctions. The sanctions on Iran that the company allegedly violated were originally imposed due to the plutonium enrichment program of the Middle Eastern country and as President Trumps political platform that got him elected entailed being tougher on Teheran, the current U.S. administration may make an example of ZTE and send a clear message to all other companies thinking about interfering with its foreign policies.
GREEN BAY  He did it.

A huge get-out-the-vote effort to elect Frank Lamping to the Packers Fan Hall of Fame paid off in the ultimate way Tuesday when the Union Grove native was announced as this years inductee.

Its been a wild ride and I really, really, really appreciate this, Lamping said as he choked back tears at Lambeau Field following the announcement.

A bus with some 50 friends and family members traveled to Lambeau for Tuesdays ceremony. Lamping received a raucous ovation when he was announced as the winner, and left the stage to chants of Go Frank go.

Go Frank go was a mantra over the past several weeks as the Union Grove community rallied to Lampings cause. A Jan. 20 pep rally in support of his candidacy drew hundreds to Community State Bank, 1500 Main St., while a Facebook group quickly attracted more than 1,800 members in a matter of weeks.

Members urged people to vote for Lamping, one of 10 finalists for the award, once a day at packers.com. The monthlong vote in January went halfway toward determining the winner, while a selection committee accounted for the other half. More than 60,000 votes were cast.

This is so important to me to be in the Hall of Fame, Lamping said after the rally. The prizes are nice, but the main thing is to be honored in Lambeau Field with my name in it. Its a dream come true if I can do it.

Known as Lambeau Frank, Lamping can often be seen wearing a construction-style Packers helmet in the Lambeau Field end zone. He wore that helmet  along with his pair of Ty Detmer game-worn cleats, another gameday tradition  to the announcement Tuesday.

The 60-year-old also is battling prostate cancer. Packers President Mark Murphy, who was presented with a Go Frank Go T-shirt, noted Lamping once pushed back a surgery to ensure he wouldnt miss a Packers game.

Now, I would not recommend that, Murphy quipped.

But Lampings love of the Packers runs too deep. He has Lambeau Field sod planted in his backyard, wears Packers attire every day and has a home full of memorabilia, from Reggie White game-worn shoes to a check signed by Vince Lombardi.

As he said Tuesday, he gets goosebumps every time he walks into Lambeau Field.

Now, his name will forever be etched in the legendary stadium.

This is the biggest honor in the world, Lamping said. So I appreciate it very much.

In good company

Lamping is the second Racine County resident to receive enshrinement in the Fan Hall of Fame. Jim Becker of Racine also is among the 19 inductees.

As part of his enshrinement, Lamping will receive four club seats to a 2017 Packers home game; a $500 Packers Pro Shop gift certificate; a road trip for two to a 2017 Packers away game, including air fare and accommodations; an one-year subscription to the Packers Plus publication.
CVT

ABS

EBD

ISOFIX

The refreshed sedan launched on Valentine's Day with a host of cosmetic and tech updates. Even though it's more affordable than the Civic, the City has a premium position in India and it now comes with LED headlamps, daytime running lights, 16-inch diamond cut alloys, LED taillights, a boot spoiler, six airbags, a seven-inch Digipad touchscreen head unit with navigation and an electric sunroof in the top ZX grade. Last time we checked, the Thai model doesn't have LEDs at the back. That's pretty jazzy!Power continues to come from an 119 horsepower 1.5-liter i-VTEC petrol engine that can be ordered with either a 5-speed manual or agearbox, which is more economical. Honda even went as far as to offer seven virtual ratios and paddle shifters. The updated City also provides a 100 horsepower 1.5-liter i-DTEC diesel engine that's way more economical, averaging 25.6 km/l with its 6-speed stick shifter.For its 2017 update, the B-segment sedan offers a new front end design that connects the bright headlights we mentioned with a new chrome bar reminiscent of the new Civic. The rear gets an overly aggressive bumper design. Inside, the City gets beige upholstery with dual-tone beige and black trims. The 7.7-inch infotainment system also adds voice recognition, MirrorLink, plus 1.5 GB of internal storage and can even act as a WiFi hotspot.Indian cars are not known for their safety. However, Honda has chosen to add more tech, such as standard dual-front airbags,with, 3- Point ELR seat belts with pretensioners & load limiters, pedestrian injury mitigation technology,compatible rear seats and rear windshield defogger. However, the flagship ZX is up to Global standards, having six airbags.




First up, Joe Biden is thinking about dropping tariffs against China. But theres a spy in prison this morning that helps us understand why he shouldnt. Ill explain.





Your second brief, If youre looking for a good paying job, you might consider being a CEO for a health insurance company. One executive made $142M dollars last year. Let's talk about that.





And as always, Im keeping an eye out for developing stories. Put this one on your radar. Mexican cartels are grooming American kids online and paying them cash to traffic illegals or run drugs across the border. Ill share details.





If you enjoyed this episode of the President's Daily Brief, remember to subscribe and listen daily at podfollow.com/pdb.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Modified On Jun 19, 2017 07:28 PM By Rachit Shad for Honda City 4th Generation

A much-needed update seeks to reconquer the throne of the mid-size segment sedans

Honda Cars India has launched the facelifted version of the City at Rs 8.50 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi). Honda City 2017 is available in five variants  S, SV, V, VX and ZX (the previous model's base variant, the E, has been discontinued and a new top-end has been introduced, the ZX).

The 2017 Honda City facelift prices (ex-showroom, New Delhi) are as follows:

2017 Honda City Petrol

S : Rs 8.50 lakh

: Rs 8.50 lakh SV : Rs 9.54 lakh

: Rs 9.54 lakh V : Rs 10 lakh

: Rs 10 lakh V CVT : Rs 11.54 lakh

: Rs 11.54 lakh VX : Rs 11.65 lakh

: Rs 11.65 lakh VX CVT : 12.85 lakh

: 12.85 lakh ZX CVT: 13.53 lakh

2017 Honda City Diesel

SV : Rs 10.76 lakh

: Rs 10.76 lakh V : Rs 11.56 lakh

: Rs 11.56 lakh VX : Rs 12.87 lakh

: Rs 12.87 lakh ZX: Rs 13.57 lakh

In terms of exterior changes, Honda City 2017 now gets revamped front and rear bumpers, bigger air vents, larger and more aggressive grille and LED lighting (head and tail lamps, rear spoiler and fog lamps). It also rides on new 16-inch diamond cut alloy wheels. Apart from the existing colour options, such as White Orchid Pearl, Carnelian Red Pearl, Alabaster Silver Metallic and Golden Brown Metallic, Honda has added a new shade  Modern Steel Metallic  with the updated model.

Step inside the cabin and the first thing that catches the eye is the new 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with built-in navigation, 1.5GB media memory, MirrorLink connectivity for smartphones, voice recognition and feed from the rear-view camera. The electric sunroof now comes with one-touch open/close operation and all the reading lamps now feature LEDs. Other goodies inside the cabin include leather upholstery, automatic headlamps and wipers, six airbags (dual front, side and curtain), cruise control and automatic climate control with rear AC vents.

Engine family remains the same as the model it replaces. That means, where the 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine produces 119PS of power and 145Nm of torque, the 1.5-litre i-DTEC motor generates 100PS of power and 200Nm of torque. Customers opting for the entry-level S variant can only get the car with the petrol motor. Petrol-powered V and VX variants will be offered with either a manual transmission or a CVT. However, the range-topping ZX (petrol) will only be offered with the CVT automatic. Speaking of the warranty, the Japanese automaker is offering three years/unlimited kilometres warranty as standard, which can be extended for additional two years/unlimited kilometres, with the 2017 facelifted Honda City

The City goes head to head with the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, Hyundai Verna and Volkswagen Vento, and others. While the Ciaz is due for its respective mid-life update, Hyundai is likely to launch an all-new Verna in this calendar year.

Recommended reads for the 2017 Honda City

Read More on : City
Atlanta: Soyia Ellison, soyia.ellison@cartercenter.org

DRC Extractive Industries Governance Program: Daniel Mule, daniel.mule@cartercenter.org

En francais

KINSHASA  The Carter Center and its Congolese civil society partners will present key findings from fiscal analyses of five major mining projects in Democratic Republic of Congo at an event that will run from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, at the Sultani Hotel, 30 Avenue De La Justice.



Representatives of the Congolese partners will present key conclusions from their case studies of Kibali Goldmines (owned by Randgold Resources), Twangiza Mining (Banro Corporation), Frontier SA (Eurasian Resources Group and, previously, First Quantum Minerals), Kamoto Copper Company (Glencore), and Mutanda Mining (Glencore). The Carter Center will present a new analysis synthesizing significant findings from these studies entitled, Improving Governance of Revenues from the Mining Industry: Cross-Cutting Lessons from Fiscal and Parafiscal Analyses of Five Mining Projects.

This event, which brings together representatives from Congolese civil society, the DRC state, and extractives companies, is a unique opportunity to launch an open debate on the fiscal challenges of the mining sector and potential solutions, said Daniel Mule, the Carter Centers extractive industries governance program manager. This kind of inclusive dialogue, based on objective analysis of data, can play a key role to help DRC take action to increase transparency and accountability.

The Congolese partner organizations conducted their research after receiving mining-sector tax trainings from the Center, with support from the Fiscal Transparency Innovation Fund of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development; the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency; and the U.K. Department for International Development, which is also providing support for Tuesdays event.

The case studies are available through the links below:

They identify challenges to good fiscal governance of DRCs mining sector, including mining royalties not shared with provincial governments; minimization of profit tax payments; underpriced sales of mining assets by state-owned companies; a lack of transparency around the uses of state-owned mining companies revenues; and a failure to publish company financial statements and all contracts, annexes, and amendments related to mining projects.

The Carter Center urges the Congolese government, mining companies, and civil society to work together to address these challenges and ensure that the mining sector contributes to sustainable and equitable development in DRC.

Translation

Le Centre Carter et Partenaires Presentent les Conclusions Cles dAnalyses Fiscales du Secteur Minier en RDC

###
Daniel Patrick Moynihan was a liberal who wasnt above challenging orthodoxy, for which he occasionally found himself in trouble. His 1965 report on the decline of the black family earned him the enmity of a generation of civil rights activists. They accused him of victim-blaming. His 1993 American Scholar article, Defining Deviancy Down, which argued that American communities had come to regard formerly aberrant behavior as normal, brought angry rejoinders from fellow New York Democrats like David Dinkins and Charles Rangel. Moynihan had another late-in-life departure from the progressive canon that was less noticed, though perhaps equally profound. A powerful and well-funded federal government, he realized, was counterproductive to liberalisms aims. Those politicians and protesters across the country pledging resistance to President Trumps agenda would do well to learn this lesson.

In the 1970s, Moynihan popularized the notion that residents of richer states such as New York contributed disproportionately to the federal budget because they paid more in federal income and business taxes than they got back in Washington aid. Moynihan regularly produced a report on the flow of funds between Washington and the states and argued for rejiggering aid formulas. Despite his efforts, however, the imbalances persisted, in part because of tax increases backed by congressional Democrats that drew more money from richer states. Republicans contributed to the problem too, Moynihan complained, with their unwillingness to cut programs and subsidies beloved by their constituencies. He was frustrated by a series of Republican presidents who used the largesse from New York and other states to fund their own policy prioritiessuch as defense. Moynihan feared that the federal government was draining resources from unwilling states, weakening them.

In 1999, near the end of his Senate career, Moynihan admitted that his efforts had been flummoxed by the complexity and nuances of how Congress funds individual programs. Rather than struggle to change congressional funding formulas, Moynihan argued that what the country needed was to shrink the federal government back to the essentials outlined by the Founders (the enumerated powers) and send money back to the states by cutting federal taxes. This new federalism, as Moynihan called it, would free each state to create the kind of government its citizens wanted. Progressive states could tax more and spend more on social programs; conservative states could do the opposite. Americans would be free to live in the place that best suited them. It is time to trade, Moynihan wrote, less activism in Washington in return for more revenue at home, for whatever active measures recommend themselves to the state or municipality in question. Moynihans ideological allies, ever intent not merely on bigger government for themselves but also for everyone else, barely noted his call.

Now, blue states find themselves engaged in another titanic struggle with a Republican president over the flow of federal funds. President Trump has threatened to cut aid to sanctuary cities, often located in states that send more money to the government than they get back. Republicans are using their control of Congress and the presidency, meanwhile, to eye reductions in favored Democratic programs. All 14 GOP representatives from California recently asked the president to defer funding for the Golden States high-speed bullet traina project heavily backed by environmentalists and mass-transit advocates. Trump is also looking at reducing funding for alternative energy sources, even while making Reaganesque promises to beef up defense spending. Despite Trumps claims that Mexico will pay for his border wall, its a safe bet that any funding mechanism for itlike the proposed border-adjustment taxwill soak states that voted for Hillary Clinton.

Conservatives have long argued that states should control as much of their own residents tax money as possible, rather than funneling it to Washington. The Lefts failure to understand or embrace this idea speaks to its greatest political weakness: an unerring faith that a golden age of Democratic dominancein which progressives alone dictate how the country runsis always just around the corner. How else to explain former Senate majority leader Harry Reids assault on the filibuster, or President Obamas circumvention of Congress with executive orders? Did they never imagine that Republicans might adopt the same tactics when they regained control of the Senate and the presidency?

In Moynihans mind, the new federalism was more than just a strategy to win additional dollars for his state. It was also an answer to his warning that the federal government had taken on more than it could handle. When the Soviet Union fell, Moynihan observed, the world became dangerous and chaotic, and Washington had its hands full reacting to unanticipated crises. Moynihan wrote before 9/11, but the intervening years have only confirmed his fears of Washingtons inability to deal adequately with an increasingly untidy world. All the more reason, Moynihan observed, [T]o look to the states capacity to take on matters too readily consigned to the Federal government.

Moynihan admitted that his vision, which he described as a grand compromise between liberals and conservatives, was unlikely to be realized. But he also knew that people can change their mindsespecially when circumstances change. Could Donald Trump be the catalyst that finally turns the Lefts dream of a powerful, all-encompassing federal government into a nightmare?

Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images
The third annual Fundraising Live conference took place on 9 February, hosted by Fundraising Magazine and Civil Society Media. Above we have compiled a selection of photos from the day.

The day saw a keynote speech from Anthony Newman, director of brand, marketing and communications at Cancer Research UK, where he outlined ten key principles for fundraising growth, and a closing plenary from Mark Adminson, chief executive of the British Red Cross, on fundraising for the future.

Throughout the day there was a range of sessions including a Meet the Regulators panel session, where representatives from the Information Commissioners Office, the Fundraising Regulator and the Institute of Fundraising took questions from the floor about what this new age of fundraising regulation means for charities.

Other sessions including those featuring Mark Astarita, director of fundraising at the British Red Cross, on recruitment in fundraising; from Steve Wood, director of marketing & communications at World Vision, on the changing face of face-to-face fundraising; and Liz Tait, director of fundraising at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, on the relationship between trustees and fundraising.

For full details of Fundraising Live 2017, including the programme and a round-up of news and videos from the event click here.

If you are interested in attending Fundraising Live next year you can register now and recieve our loyalty rate, email [email protected] for more information. Or if you are interested in sponsoring, exhibiting or being part of next year's event email [email protected].
A proposed new land tax could prevent the construction of new buildings for charitable purposes, and sector bodies should be given an exemption, a group of charity infrastructure bodies has said.

A recent review proposed scrapping an existing tax on development land  the Community Infrastructure Levy  which charities are exempt from. The CIL allows local authorities to tax the increase in the value of land which comes with permission to develop it.

The review proposes replacing it with a new Local Infrastructure Tariff, which would also tax the development of land, although there are currently few details about how it would work. At present there is no proposal for charities to have an exemption.

During the development of the Community Infrastructure Levy, charities fought hard for an exemption, warning that it would derail many high-profile public benefit projects, most notably the 700m Crick Institute, Europes largest biomedical research centre.

Three bodies have responded to the new proposals by warning that charity exemptions to development tax must be preserved.

A joint statement by the chairs of the Charities Property Association, the Churches Legislation Advisory Service and the Charity Tax Group, said: While we welcome efforts to improve and simplify the current CIL rules, we are very disappointed that the Review team has not made a firm commitment to introducing an equivalent charity exemption of any successor tax.

Charities should not be penalised because the Community Infrastructure Levy has not generated the anticipated financial returns and the rationale for an exemption remains valid.

Charities should not be taxed for development of land for charitable purposes (including social housing) or when leasing land to other charities and the original CIL campaign group will be seeking urgent assurances from the Government that a charity exemption will be included if a Local Infrastructure Tariff is introduced.
Medecins Sans Frontieres yesterday released an internal review into the facts surrounding the US-led attacks into its Kunduz hospital which killed 12 charity staff.

The review concludes that the hospital was fully functioning at the time of the attacks, with surgeries ongoing, and that the GPS coordinates provided to all armed groups were accurate, with MSF teams in Kabul and New York making the relevant contacts to alert the parties of to the conflict of the air strikes.

It also concluded that that no weapon policies were being implemented and respected, and that the charity had full control of the hospital at the time of the airstrike, with no armed combatants within the hospital compound or fighting in the direct vicinity.

Dr Joanne Liu, MSF international president, said: Hospitals have protected status under the rules of war. And yet in the early hours of 3 October, the MSF hospital in Kunduz came under relentless and brutal aerial attack by US forces. Patients burned in their beds, medical staff were decapitated and lost limbs, and others were shot by the circling AC- 130 gunship while fleeing the burning building. At least 30 MSF staff and patients were killed.

MSF has said that although it was treating patients from both sides, it was not a Taliban Base.

The charity has reiterated its call for an independent investigation by the International Humanitarian Fact Finding Commission into the attacks on the hospital. It said that although the IHFFC has made itself available for an investigation, the United States and Afghan governments have yet to consent to the request.

Liu said: Consenting to the IHFFC is a critical step in demonstrating a commitment to the Geneva Conventions. Today, we are handing over this internal report to both the public and the IHFFC.

The attack on our hospital in Kunduz destroyed our ability to treat patients at a time when we were needed the most. We need a clear commitment that the act of providing medical care will never make us a target. We need to know whether the rules of war still apply.

Christopher Stokes, MSF general director, said: The view from inside the hospital is that this attack was conducted with a purpose to kill and destroy.

But we dont know why. We dont have the view from the cockpit, nor what happened within the US and Afghan military chains of command.
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.
Red Hat, Inc. provides open source software solutions to develop and offer operating system, virtualization, management, middleware, cloud, mobile, and storage technologies to various enterprises worldwide. It offers infrastructure-related solutions, such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux, an operating system platform that runs on hardware for use in hybrid cloud environments; Red Hat Satellite, a system management offering that helps to deploy, scale, and manage in hybrid cloud environments; and Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization, a software solution that allows customers to utilize and manage a common hardware infrastructure to run multiple operating systems and applications. The company offers application development-related and other technology solutions, such as Red Hat JBoss Middleware, a solution for developing, deploying, and managing applications; integrating applications, data, and devices; and automating business processes in hybrid cloud environments; The company's application development-related and other technology solutions also includes Red Hat cloud offerings, a software solution that enables customers to build and manage various cloud computing environments; Red Hat Mobile, a software development platform that enables customers to develop, integrate, deploy, and manage mobile applications for enterprises; and Red Hat Storage, a software solution that enables customers to manage large, unstructured, or semi-structured data in hybrid cloud environments. It also provides consulting, support, and training services; and realtime operating system, distributed computing, directory services, and user authentication. Red Hat, Inc. has collaboration with Juniper Networks Expand to provide a unified solution for enterprises designed to manage and run applications and services. The company was formerly known as Red Hat Software, Inc. and changed its name to Red Hat, Inc. in June 1999. Red Hat, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.
02/14/2017

While migrants streaming across a border may be a threat to democracy, cyber attacks pose an even more serious threat, a leading privacy advocacy group warns.

In the last several months, we have seen a dramatic increase in the risks to democratic institutions, said Marc Rotenberg, President of EPIC, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a Washington-based non-profit. There is now widespread concern about the Russian interference with the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election. We need enhanced cybersecurity that is transparent and accountable.

EPIC is launching a project that will study the relationship between democratic institutions and cybersecurity policy, Rotenberg said. The EPIC Project will examine three key areas: election integrity, foreign interference with democratic decisionmaking, and cyber policy.

Our effort is intended to focus greater attention on the specific threat to democratic institutions, said EPIC Policy Director Caitriona Fitzgerald. EPIC has urged Congress to update federal data protection laws and to establish a data protection agency to address the growing risk of data breach and identity theft.

EPIC also filed two Freedom of Information Act lawsuits to obtain information about the extent of Russian interference with the 2016 Presidential Election.

In EPIC v. FBI, EPIC is seeking to determine the FBI response to knowledge of the Russian interference with the Presidential election. In EPIC v. ODNI, EPIC is seeking to obtain the public release of the complete report concerning the Russian interference with the election.

Kasparov keynote

As part of the project, EPIC will be honoring former world chess champion and pro-democracy reformer Garry Kasparov on June 5 at the National Press Club.

Kasparov is author of "Winter is Coming: Why Vladimir Putin and the Enemies of the Free World Must be Stopped." He has warned repeatedly that the Russian government will seek to undermine democratic institutions in the United States and Europe.

EPIC was established in 1994 to focus public attention on emerging privacy and civil liberties issues. It has played a leading role in cyber policy for more than two decades.
Carnival Cruise Line has now received approval to sail to Cuba according to a statement.

Havana will be added to select Carnival Paradise voyages from Tampa beginning in June 2017.

The overnight visits to Havana will be featured on 12 four- and five-day cruises aboard Carnival Paradise departing from the Port of Tampa starting June 29, 2017.

Four-day cruises will depart June 29, July 13, August 24, September 7 and 21, and October 5 and 19, 2017 as well as May 3, 2018 and include a daytime and overnight visit to Havana. Five-day voyages will depart August 14 and 28, September 25 and October 9, 2017, and include a daytime and overnight visit to Havana as well as a stop in either Cozumel or Key West.

"Cuba is an island jewel unique from anywhere else in the Caribbean and we are thrilled to have this rare opportunity to take our guests to this fascinating destination," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "The opportunity to visit Havana, combined with the fun, relaxed ambiance and wide variety of amenities and features offered on Carnival Paradise, will make for a truly one-of-a-kind vacation experience," she added.
Working for a credit union can bring a lot of great benefits and opportunities. On the short list of negatives is the longand always growinglist of regulatory and compliance requirements handed to the financial industry. One compliance requirement your credit union must be aware of is PCI DSS, or the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard.

Overview

PCI DSS is a group of standard security processes designed to keep credit card information safe during data acceptance, processing, storage, and transmission. PCI DSS was created and agreed upon by American Express, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, and Visa, who work together to ensure compliance. All companies that accept, transmit, or store credit card data must comply with mandates of the PCI DSS.

Importance of PCI DSS

Working for a credit union, you probably know that all types of fraud and security breaches are rampant, with almost half of all organizations experiencing a security breach in the last year, according to Experian. The PCI DSS aims to address and reduce known danger zones for credit card information. The standards dictate procedures to be followed throughout the entire credit card process:

Card holder data usage

Transmitted data encryption

Stored data protection

Back-end storage

Compliance and consequences

As I stated earlier, all companies that accept, transmit, or store credit card data must comply with the PCI DSS; therefore, its highly likely your credit union is subject to its mandates. Even if you use a third-party credit card processing company, you must comply and are held accountable.

Though PCI DSS compliance is not required by the federal government, failure to comply may cost your credit union business and substantial penalty fees. Some states require compliance, and many businesses require proof of compliance before entering into business with your credit union. If your credit union suffers a security breach and is found in violation of any PCI DSS mandate(s), you may be subject to civil litigation and fines of $5,000 to $100,000 a month!

Unfortunately, the numerous rules and regulations that apply to credit unions are unlikely to grow less burdensome in the next few years. Fortunately, you have resources to help! For further guidance on PCI DSS requirements and information on the current state of payments, regulations, and financial technology, download our new ebook, Meeting Consumer Self-Serve Payment Demand.
One way to improve cybersecurity and protect consumers sensitive data would be to establish national standards for data security, NAFCUs Brad Thaler said in a letter Monday to leaders of a House Science, Space, and Technology subcommittee ahead of a hearing today on the issue.

Todays hearing, Strengthening U.S. Cybersecurity Capabilities, is being held by the Subcommittee on Research and Technology.

Thaler, NAFCUs vice president of legislative affairs, told subcommittee Chairwoman Barbara Comstock, R-Va., and Ranking Member Daniel Lipinski, D-Ill., that financial institutions, including credit unions, have been subject to federal standards on data security since the passage of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. Yet, retailers and many other entities that handle sensitive personal financial data are not subject to these same standards.

Americans sensitive financial and personally identifiable information will only be as safe as the weakest link in the security chain, he wrote.
Philadelphia, February 14, 2017 -- The American College of Physicians (ACP) recommends in an evidence-based clinical practice guideline published today in Annals of Internal Medicine that physicians and patients should treat acute or subacute low back pain with non-drug therapies such as superficial heat, massage, acupuncture, or spinal manipulation. If drug therapy is desired, physicians and patients should select nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or skeletal muscle relaxants.

Low back pain is one of the most common reasons for all physician visits in the U.S. Most Americans have experienced low back pain. Approximately one quarter of U.S. adults reported having low back pain lasting at least one day in the past three months. Pain is categorized as acute (lasting less than four weeks), subacute (lasting four to 12 weeks, and chronic (lasting more than 12 weeks).

"Physicians should reassure their patients that acute and subacute low back pain usually improves over time regardless of treatment," said Nitin S. Damle, MD, MS, MACP, president, ACP. "Physicians should avoid prescribing unnecessary tests and costly and potentially harmful drugs, especially narcotics, for these patients."

The evidence showed that acetaminophen was not effective at improving pain outcomes versus placebo. Low-quality evidence showed that systemic steroids were not effective in treating acute or subacute low back pain.

For patients with chronic low back pain, ACP recommends that physicians and patients initially select non-drug therapy with exercise, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, acupuncture, mindfulness-based stress reduction, tai chi, yoga, motor control exercise (MCE), progressive relaxation, electromyography biofeedback, low level laser therapy, operant therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or spinal manipulation.

"For the treatment of chronic low back pain, physicians should select therapies that have the fewest harms and costs, since there were no clear comparative advantages for most treatments compared to one another," Dr. Damle said. "Physicians should remind their patients that any of the recommended physical therapies should be administered by providers with appropriate training."

For patients with chronic low back pain who have had an inadequate response to non-drug therapy, ACP recommends that physicians and patients consider treatment with NSAIDs as first line therapy; or tramadol or duloxetine as second line therapy. Physicians should only consider opioids as an option in patients who have failed the aforementioned treatments and only if the potential benefits outweigh the risks for individual patients and after a discussion of known risks and realistic benefits with patients.

"Physicians should consider opioids as a last option for treatment and only in patients who have failed other therapies, as they are associated with substantial harms, including the risk of addiction or accidental overdose," said Dr. Damle.

"Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain" is based on a systematic review of randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews published on noninvasive pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments of nonradicular low back pain. Clinical outcomes evaluated included reduction or elimination of low back pain, improvement in back-specific and overall function, improvement in health-related quality of life, reduction in work disability/return to work, global improvement, number of back pain episodes or time between episodes, patient satisfaction, and adverse effects.

The evidence was insufficient or lacking to determine treatments for radicular low back pain. The evidence also was insufficient for most physical modalities and for which patients are likely to benefit from which specific therapy. The guideline does not address topical therapies or epidural injection therapies.

ACP's clinical practice guidelines are developed through a rigorous process based on an extensive review of the highest quality evidence available, including randomized control trials and data from observational studies. ACP also identifies gaps in evidence and direction for future research through its guidelines development process.

ACP's previous recommendations for treating low back pain were published in "Diagnosis and Treatment of Low Back Pain: A Joint Clinical Practice Guideline from the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society" in 2007. Some evidence has changed since the 2007 guideline and supporting evidence reviews. The 2007 guideline did not assess mindfulness-based stress reduction, MCE, taping, or tai chi.

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About the American College of Physicians

The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States. ACP members include 148,000 internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness.
Albert Einstein considered the origin of the Earth's magnetic field one of the five most important unsolved problems in physics. The weakening of the geomagnetic field, which extends from the planet's core into outer space and was first recorded 180 years ago, has raised concern by some for the welfare of the biosphere.

But a new study published in PNAS from Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and University of California San Diego researchers finds there is no reason for alarm: The Earth's geomagnetic field has been undulating for thousands of years. Data obtained from the analysis of well-dated Judean jar handles provide information on changes in the strength of the geomagnetic field between the 8th and 2nd centuries BCE, indicating a fluctuating field that peaked during the 8th century BCE.

"The field strength of the 8th century BCE corroborates previous observations of our group, first published in 2009, of an unusually strong field in the early Iron Age. We call it the 'Iron Age Spike,' and it is the strongest field recorded in the last 100,000 years," says Dr. Erez Ben-Yosef of TAU's Institute of Archaeology, the study's lead investigator. "This new finding puts the recent decline in the field's strength into context. Apparently, this is not a unique phenomenon -- the field has often weakened and recovered over the last millennia."

Additional researchers included Prof. Oded Lipschits and Michael Millman of TAU, Dr. Ron Shaar of Hebrew University, and Prof. Lisa Tauxe of UC San Diego.

Delving into the inner structure of the planet

"We can gain a clearer picture of the planet and its inner structure by better understanding proxies like the magnetic field, which reaches more than 1,800 miles deep into the liquid part of the Earth's outer core," Dr. Ben-Yosef observes.

The new research is based on a set of 67 ancient, heat-impacted Judean ceramic storage jar handles, which bear royal stamp impressions from the 8th to 2nd century BCE, providing accurate age estimates.

"The period spanned by the jars allowed us to procure data on the Earth's magnetic field during that time -- the Iron Age through the Hellenistic Period in Judea," says Dr. Ben-Yosef. "The typology of the stamp impressions, which correspond to changes in the political entities ruling this area, provides excellent age estimates for the firing of these artifacts."

To accurately measure the geomagnetic intensity, the researchers conducted experiments at the Paleomagnetic Laboratory of Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), University of California San Diego, using laboratory-built paleomagnetic ovens and a superconducting magnetometer.

"Ceramics, baked clay, burned mud bricks, copper slag -- almost anything that was heated and then cooled can become a recorder of the components of the magnetic field at the time of the event," said Dr. Ben-Yosef. "Ceramics have tiny minerals -- magnetic 'recorders' -- that save information about the magnetic field of the time the clay was in the kiln. The behavior of the magnetic field in the past can be studied by examining archaeological artifacts or geological material that were heated then cooled, such as lava."

Advanced dating method

Observed changes in the geomagnetic field can, in turn, be used as an advanced dating method complementary to the radiocarbon dating, according to Dr. Ben-Yosef. "The improved Levantine archaeomagnetic record can be used to date pottery and other heat-impacted archaeological materials whose date is unknown.

"Both archaeologists and Earth scientists benefit from this. The new data can improve geophysical models -- core-mantle interactions, cosmogenic processes and more -- as well as provide an excellent, accurate dating reference for archaeological artefacts," says Dr. Ben-Yosef.

The researchers are currently working on enhancing the archaeomagnetic database for the Levant, one of the most archaeologically-rich regions on the planet, to better understand the geomagnetic field and establish a robust dating reference.

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Tel Aviv University (TAU) is inherently linked to the cultural, scientific and entrepreneurial mecca it represents. It is one of the world's most dynamic research centers and Israel's most distinguished learning environment. Its unique-in-Israel multidisciplinary environment is highly coveted by young researchers and scholars returning to Israel from post-docs and junior faculty positions in the US.

American Friends of Tel Aviv University (AFTAU) enthusiastically and industriously pursues the advancement of TAU in the US, raising money, awareness and influence through international alliances that are vital to the future of this already impressive institution.
In a breakthrough for gas sensing, a group of researchers in Germany has developed a buried tunnel junction VCSEL with a single-stage type-II active region to extend the wavelength coverage of electrically pumped VCSELs

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 14, 2017 -- Vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) are small, semiconductor-based lasers that emit optical beams from their top surface, and one of their main applications is in gas sensing. Gases each have a unique set of energies they can absorb, derived from their molecular structure. These sets of absorption lines are akin to fingerprints, which enables unambiguous and sensitive detection with a suitable tunable laser like a tunable VCSEL.

There are several important gases that are detectable with mid-infrared (mid-IR) light, having wavelengths between 3 and 4 micrometers (microns), including methane, carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. Application-grade VCSELs, however, aren't yet available for this wavelength range, but the increasing need for compact, portable and affordable gas sensors is spurring demand for energy-efficient semiconductor sources of mid-IR light.

Addressing this demand, a group of researchers from the Walter Schottky Institute at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Germany set out to develop a concept to extend the wavelength coverage of VCSELs into this important regime, which they report this week in Applied Physics Letters, from AIP Publishing.

Typical VCSELs suffer in performance for the relatively long wavelengths of the mid-IR range, in part due to side effects of heating that disproportionally affect IR wavelengths. These effects are minimized by the "buried tunnel junction" configuration of VCSELs, where a material barrier is embedded between the standard p- and n-type materials of the semiconductor. This structuring results in resistancelike behavior for the device and provides tunability of the optical properties in the desired range.

"The buried tunnel junction VCSEL concept has already yielded high-performance VCSELs within the entire 1.3- to 3-micron wavelength range," said Ganpath K. Veerabathran, a doctoral student at the Walter Schottky Institute. "And so-called type-II 'W' quantum well active regions have been used successfully to make conventional edge-emitting semiconductor lasers with excellent performance within the 3- to 6-micron wavelength range."

By combining the tunnel junction VCSEL concept with these conventional edge-emitting laser designs, where the beam is emitted in parallel with the bottom surface, in this wavelength regime, the researchers created a buried tunnel junction VCSEL with a single-stage, type-II material active region to extend the wavelength coverage of electrically pumped VCSELs.

This advance is particularly noteworthy because it's the first known demonstration of electrically pumped, single-mode, tunable VCSELs emitting continuous wave up to 4 microns.

"It marks a significant step from state-of-the-art devices emitting at three microns in a continuous wave, and up to 3.4 microns in pulsed mode, respectively," said Veerabathran. "Further, our demonstration at four microns paves the way for application-grade VCSELs within the entire 3- to 4-micron wavelength range, because the performance of these VCSELs generally improves at shorter wavelengths."

It's important to note that although gas-sensing systems within this wavelength range are already available using other types of lasers, they're considered to be power hogs compared to VCSELs. They also tend to be cost-prohibitive, and are mainly used by industries to detect trace gases for safety and monitoring applications.

"The 4-micron VCSEL demonstrates that low-power, battery-operated, portable and inexpensive sensing systems are within reach," Veerabathran also said. "Once sensing systems become more affordable, there's great potential for deployment by industries, such as the auto industry for emission monitoring and control, and these systems may even find uses within our homes."

Next, the group will focus on making improvements "in terms of the maximum operation temperature and optical output power of the VCSELs," Veerabathran said. "In the future, it may be possible to extend this concept to make VCSELs emit further into the mid-infrared region beyond 4 microns. This would be beneficial because the absorption strength of gases typically becomes orders of magnitude stronger, even for relatively small wavelength increases."

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The article, "Room-temperature vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers at 4 m with GaSb-based type-II quantum wells," is authored by Ganpath Kumar Veerabathran, Stephan Sprengel, Alexander Andrejew and Markus-Christian Amann. The article appeared in the journal Applied Physics Letters Feb. 13, 2017 (DOI: 10.1063/1.4975813) and can be accessed at http://aip.scitation.org/doi/full/10.1063/1.4975813.

ABOUT THE JOURNAL

Applied Physics Letters features concise, rapid reports on significant new findings in applied physics. The journal covers new experimental and theoretical research on applications of physics phenomena related to all branches of science, engineering, and modern technology. See http://apl.aip.org.
Researchers are taking rough, defective diamonds and using high temperatures to perfect them for quantum sensing

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 14, 2017 -- Quantum mechanics, the physics that governs nature at the atomic and subatomic scale, contains a host of new physical phenomena to explore quantum states at the nanoscale. Though tricky, there are ways to exploit these inherently fragile and sensitive systems for quantum sensing. One nascent technology in particular makes use of point defects, or single-atom misplacements, in nanoscale materials, such as diamond nanoparticles, to measure electromagnetic fields, temperature, pressure, frequency and other variables with unprecedented precision and accuracy.

Quantum sensing could revolutionize medical diagnostics, enable new drug development, improve the design of electronic devices and more.

For use in quantum sensing, the bulk nanodiamond crystal surrounding the point defect must be highly perfect. Any deviation from perfection, such as additional missing atoms, strain in the crystalline lattice of the diamond, or the presence of other impurities, will adversely affect the quantum behavior of the material. Highly perfect nanodiamonds are also quite expensive and difficult to make.

A cheaper alternative, say researchers at Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Chicago, is to take defect-ridden, low-quality, commercially manufactured diamonds, and then "heal" them.

In a paper published this week in APL Materials, from AIP Publishing, the researchers describe a method to heal diamond nanocrystals under high-temperature conditions, while visualizing the crystals in three dimensions using an X-ray imaging technique.

"Quantum sensing is based on the unique properties of certain optically active point defects in semiconductor nanostructures," said F. Joseph Heremans, an Argonne National Laboratory staff scientist and co-author on the paper.

These defects, such as the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond, are created when a nitrogen atom replaces a carbon atom adjacent to a vacancy in the diamond lattice structure. They are extremely sensitive to their environment, making them useful probes of local temperatures, as well as electric and magnetic fields, with a spatial resolution more than 100 times smaller than the thickness of a human hair.

Because diamonds are biologically inert, quantum sensors based on diamond nanoparticles, which can operate at room temperature and detect several factors simultaneously, could even be placed within living cells, where they could, according to Heremans, "image systems from the inside out."

Heremans and his colleagues, including Argonne's Wonsuk Cha and Paul Fuoss, as well as David Awschalom of the University of Chicago, set out to map the distribution of the crystal strain in nanodiamonds and to track the healing of these imperfections by subjecting them to high temperatures, up to 800 degrees Celsius in an inert helium environment.

"Our idea of the 'healing' process is that gaps in the lattice are filled as the atoms move around when the crystal is heated to high temperatures, thereby improving the homogeneity of the crystal lattice," said Stephan Hruszkewycz, also a staff scientist at Argonne and lead author on the paper.

This nanodiamond healing was monitored with a 3-D microscopy method called Bragg coherent diffraction imaging, performed by subjecting the crystals to a coherent X-ray beam at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne. The X-ray beam that scatters off the nanodiamonds was detected and used to reconstruct the 3-D shape of the nanocrystal, "and, more importantly, the strain state of the crystal," Hruszkewycz said.

The researchers found that nanodiamonds "shrink" during the high-temperature annealing process, and surmise that this occurs because of a phenomenon called graphitization. This phenomenon occurs when the surface of the material is converted from the normal diamond lattice arrangement into graphite, a single layer of chicken-wire-like arranged carbon atoms.

The study marks the first time that Bragg coherent diffraction imaging has been shown to be useful at such high temperatures, a capability that, Hruszkewycz said, "enables the exploration of structural changes in important nanocrystalline materials at high temperatures that are difficult to access with other microscopy techniques."

Hruszkewycz added that the research represents "a significant step towards developing scalable methods of processing inexpensive, commercial nanodiamonds for quantum sensing and information processing."

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The article, "In-situ study of annealing-induced strain relaxation in diamond nanoparticles using Bragg coherent diffraction imaging," is authored by Stephan O. Hruszkewycz, Wonsuk Cha, Paolo Andrich, Christopher P. Anderson, Andrew Ulvestad, Ross Harder, Paul Fuoss, David D. Awschalom and F. Joseph P. Heremans. The article appeared in the journal APL Materials Feb. 14, 2017 (DOI: 10.1063/1.49748651) and can be accessed at http://aip.scitation.org/doi/full/10.1063/1.4974865.

ABOUT THE JOURNAL

APL Materials is a new open access journal featuring original research on significant topical issues within the field of functional materials science. See http://aplmaterials.aip.org.
Big cities with lots of people usually garner images of a fast paced life, where the hustle and bustle of the city is met, and at least tolerated, by those who live there. They live for the "rush" of city life, and all of the competition that lies therein.

But a new study by Arizona State University shows the opposite may be true - that one psychological effect of population density is for those people to adopt a "slow life strategy." This strategy focuses more on planning for the long-term future and includes tactics like preferring long-term romantic relationships, having fewer children and investing more in education.

The study, "The crowded life is a slow life: Population density and life history strategy," was published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Its findings provide novel insights into how population density affects human psychology, and has implications for thinking about population growth, environmental influences on social behavior, and human cultural diversity.

"Our findings are contrary to the notion that crowded places are chaotic and socially problematic," said Oliver Sng, who led the research while a doctoral student at ASU and who now is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan. "People who live in dense places seem to plan for the future more, prefer long-term romantic relationships, get married later in life, have fewer children and invest a lot in each child. They generally adopt an approach to life that values quality over quantity."

Sng, with ASU Foundation Professor Steven Neuberg and ASU psychology professors Douglas Kenrick and Michael Varnum, used data from nations around the world and the 50 U.S. states to show that population density naturally correlates with these slow life strategies. Then, in a series of experiments (e.g., in which people read about increasing crowdedness or heard sounds of a crowded environment), they found that perceptions of crowdedness cause people to delay gratification and prefer slower, more long-term, mating and parenting behaviors.

Why? Using evolutionary life history theory, Neuberg notes that different strategies are useful in different kinds of environments.

"In environments where population density is low, and there is thus relatively little competition for available resources, there are few costs but lots of advantages to adopting a 'fast' strategy," he suggested. "On the other hand, when the environment gets crowded, individuals have to compete vigorously with others for the available resources and territory."

"To be successful in this competition, they need to invest more in building up their own abilities, which tends to delay having children," he added. "Because this greater social competition also affects their kids, they tend to focus more of their time and energy on enhancing their abilities and competitiveness. So a slow strategy--in which one focuses more on the future and invests in quality over quantity--tends to enhance the reproductive success of individuals in high density environments."

Will higher densities always lead to this slow strategy? "Not at all," said Sng. "In fact, when high densities are paired with unpredictable death or disease, the theory predicts that people will become more present-focused and opportunistic."

Sng added that the "slow life strategy, when brought to its extremes, also has its own pitfalls. Consider, for example, the pre-school craze in dense places like New York City, where parents are obsessed with getting their children into the best pre-schools. There are similar phenomenon emerging in dense countries like Japan and Singapore."

"With the world's population growing," Neuberg added, "it seems more important than ever to understand the psychological effects of overcrowding and how living in crowded environments might influence people's behaviors. Applying a new perspective to an old question is allowing us to reexamine the effects of living in crowded environments."

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The research was partially supported by the Arizona State University Foundation for a New American University.
The scallop is one of the largest edible molluscs, and gourmets consider it to be a great delicacy. To meet this demand, the fishing industry cultivates these shellfish in coastal aquafarms. In a new analysis, behavioural ecologists at Bielefeld University have confirmed that cultivated scallops developed their own genetic structure that differs from that of natural scallops. The biologists studied a total of nine populations of scallops (Pecten maximus) along the coast of Northern Ireland. They are presenting their results this Wednesday (8.2.2017) in the research journal 'Royal Society Open Science'.

'Of the nine scallop populations studied, only one shows a marked genetic difference from the others and that is the artificially cultivated type,' reports Joseph I. Hoffman, head of the Molecular Behavioural Ecology research group. New breeds are cultivated in, for example, mesh cages in coastal waters. Now and then, young scallops escape through the mesh and are thereby able to impact on natural populations. Biologists use the term population to describe a group of organisms of one species that live together in one area and are linked together genetically through reproduction over successive generations.

The researchers analysed the genetic architecture of the mollusc populations. 'Studying the genetic architecture of animal populations helps us to understand which external appearance an organism can adopt - for example, how large a mollusc can become or whether it can develop red streaks on its surface,' says David Vendrami. The doctoral student has analysed a total of 180 mollusc samples. The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute in Belfast (Northern Ireland) collected these in February 2015 during an excursion along the Northern Irish Atlantic coast.

The researchers have not just confirmed how breeding affects scallop populations. Their study also confirms that these molluscs adapt their shape and internal colouring very flexibly to conditions in their environment, and that they do this independently of whether they belong to the one cultivated or the eight natural populations. 'We have tested how far genes relate to appearance. However, that is very probably not the case. It is highly likely that the external characteristics of the molluscs depend on their surroundings,' says Vendrami.

Scientists at Bielefeld also used this study to compare a classical DNA analysis with a new procedure. The classical analysis proceeds by evaluating repeated short DNA sequences (microsatellites) in order to compare samples from different organisms. The modern procedure (RAD sequencing) takes less time to analyse thousands of times more DNA sequences. 'The new procedure is markedly better at finding differences in the populations than the classical approach,' says David Vendrami.

In their future research, Hoffman, Vendrami, and their colleagues will be going beyond Northern Ireland and studying samples along the entire Atlantic coast from Norway to Portugal as well as in the Mediterranean. Their aim is to find out how scallops as well as other crustaceans react to different environmental conditions in terms of their growth.

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For the current study, researchers at Bielefeld cooperated with a series of partners: the University of Cambridge (England), der University of Duisburg-Essen, the British Antarctic Survey research institute (Cambridge), and the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute in Belfast (Northern Ireland).

David Vendrami is a member of the Marie Sk?odowska-Curie action 'Calcium in a Changing Environment' (CACHE) in which ten doctoral students of different disciplines from all over Europe are studying Europe's commercially most important molluscs. The action is being funded by the European Union. Marie Sk?odowska-Curie actions are part of the European Union's Framework Programme for Excellent Research and Innovation.

Original publication:

David L. J. Vendrami, Luca Telesca, Hannah Weigand, Martina Weiss, Katie Fawcett, Katrin Lehman, Melody S. Clark, Florian Leese, Carrie McMinn, Heather Moore, Joseph I. Hoffman: RAD sequencing resolves fine-scale population structure in a benthic invertebrate: implications for understanding phenotypic plasticity. Royal Society Open Science, http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160548, published on the 8th of February 2017.

Further information is available online at:

Shellfish study published this month (uni.news on 28.6.2016): https://ekvv.uni-bielefeld.de/blog/uninews/entry/shellfish_study_published_this_month
RICHLAND, Wash. - Two researchers at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have been elected to membership in the prestigious National Academy of Engineering. Ruby Leung and Johannes Lercher are among the 106 new members elected worldwide to the 2017 class.

The NAE is a private, independent, nonprofit institution that is part of The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. NAE focuses on maintaining a strong engineering community and bringing together experts to provide independent advice to the federal government on engineering and technology challenges.

Lercher and Leung join emeritus staff member Subhash Singhal, who is a National Academy of Sciences member, as PNNL researchers in the National Academies.

"I am thrilled that the exceptional contributions of two of our researchers have been recognized by the National Academy of Engineering," said PNNL director Steven Ashby. "Membership in the NAE is among the highest honors that a researcher can achieve, and Ruby and Johannes are most deserving. Congratulations to both of them!"

Ruby Leung

Ruby Leung is an atmospheric scientist at PNNL and also an affiliate scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. She was elected based on her leadership in regional and global computer modeling of the Earth's climate and water cycles. Leung's research has advanced understanding and modeling of the regional and global water cycles, with implications for managing water, agriculture and energy. She has organized key workshops sponsored by environmental agencies, served on panels that define future priorities in climate modeling, and has developed computer climate models that are used globally.

She has published more than 200 peer-reviewed journal articles and is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Geophysical Union and the American Meteorological Society. She earned a bachelor's degree in physics and statistics from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and a master's degree and a doctorate in atmospheric science from Texas A&M University.

Johannes Lercher

Johannes Lercher is a chemist and holds a joint appointment at PNNL and the Technische Universitat Munchen in Germany. At PNNL, he serves as the director of the Institute for Integrated Catalysis, and at TUM he is a professor in the Department of Chemistry and holds the chair of the Institute for Technische Chemie. He was elected based on his catalysis research, which focuses on the details of how catalysts work at the elementary level and using that insight to design and build better catalysts for industrial applications, including cleaner fossil fuels and renewable, biology-based fuels.

He has published more than 500 peer-reviewed journal articles, is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Catalysis and was previously elected to the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the Academia Europaea and the European Academy of Sciences. He has won numerous awards, including the David Trim and Noel Cant Lectureship given by the Catalysis Society of Australia, the Eni Award for energy research, and the Francois Gault lectureship of the European Association of Catalysis Societies. He earned undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as a doctorate in chemistry from the Technische Universitat Wien, Austria.

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The newly elected class brings the NAE's total U.S. membership to 2,281 and the number of foreign members to 249. Lercher and Leung will be inducted at a ceremony in Washington, DC in October.

Tags: Environment, Fundamental Science, Computational Science, Awards and Honors, Climate Science, Atmospheric Science, Chemistry, Catalysis

Interdisciplinary teams at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory address many of America's most pressing issues in energy, the environment and national security through advances in basic and applied science. Founded in 1965, PNNL employs 4,400 staff and has an annual budget of nearly $1 billion. It is managed by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. As the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, the Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information on PNNL, visit the PNNL News Center, or follow PNNL on Facebook, Google+, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., Feb. 14, 2017 -- Two researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Sergei Kalinin and Mariappan Parans Paranthaman, have been elected fellows of the Materials Research Society (MRS).

The professional society, which limits fellows to 0.2 percent of the MRS membership, is dedicated to the worldwide advancement of materials research.

Kalinin is director of ORNL's Institute for Functional Imaging of Materials and a distinguished staff member at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, and is an adjunct associate professor of materials science and engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He is cited for "pioneering contributions to the understanding of nanoscale ferroelectric, transport, and electrochemical phenomena in complex oxides through the development of scanning probes techniques."

At ORNL Kalinin develops novel scanning probe microscopy (SPM) techniques to measure and control local structure and properties of materials. Kalinin studies electromechanical and transport phenomena in functional oxides and molecular systems and applications of big, deep, and smart data methods for physical imaging. His accomplishments include a 2009 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, a Royal Microscopical Society Medal for SPM and three R&D 100 awards. He has authored more than 500 publications and over 15 patents on various aspects of SPM.

Kalinin joined ORNL in 2002 as a Eugene P. Wigner Fellow after earning bachelor's and master's degrees in chemistry and materials science from Moscow State University and a doctoral degree in materials science from the University of Pennsylvania.

Paranthaman, a distinguished research staff member and leader of the Materials Chemistry group of ORNL's Chemical Sciences Division, was cited for "pioneering contributions to materials chemistry, including research, development, and commercialization of materials for superconductors, solar cells, and energy storage; and for exceptional service to the materials community."

Paranthaman also serves on the faculty for the University of Tennessee's Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education. His current research focuses on the critical materials research related to additive manufacturing of permanent magnets and lithium separation from geothermal brine, electrode materials for battery applications, polymer composite films and synthesis of neutron scintillator materials for the Spallation Neutron Source Second Target Station.

An author or co-author of more than 400 publications with a google scholar h-index of 58, 35 issued US patents, and six R&D 100 awards; Paranthaman is also a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, ASM International, the American Ceramic Society and the Institute of Physics, London, UK. He received his doctorate in solid-state chemistry from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, in 1988.

Kalinin and Paranthaman will be honored at the professional society's annual meeting in April.

The Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences and the Spallation Neutron Source are DOE Office of Science User Facilities.

UT-Battelle manages ORNL for the DOE's Office of Science. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit http://science.energy.gov/.

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Image: https://www.ornl.gov/sites/default/files/Kalinin200_0.jpg

Cutline: Sergei Kalinin

Image: https://www.ornl.gov/sites/default/files/parans200.jpg

Cutline: Mariappan Parans Paranthaman

NOTE TO EDITORS: You may read other press releases from Oak Ridge National Laboratory or learn more about the lab at http://www.ornl.gov/news. Additional information about ORNL is available at the sites below:

Twitter - http://twitter.com/ornl

RSS Feeds - http://www.ornl.gov/ornlhome/rss_feeds.shtml

Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/oakridgelab

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LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/companies/oak-ridge-national-laboratory

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/Oak.Ridge.National.Laboratory
SEATTLE, WA, USA, and NES ZIONA, ISRAEL, Feb. 14, 2017: Zika remains a major public health threat, and its devastating neurological effects on newborns and infants are still being unraveled. More than ever, a vaccine is needed to protect against Zika virus, which is now considered on par with dangerous mosquito-borne viral diseases, like dengue, Japanese encephalitis or yellow fever. IDRI (Infectious Disease Research Institute) and NanoPass Technologies have signed a collaboration agreement to develop and test a new Zika vaccine based on a replicating viral RNA (rvRNA) construct administered intradermally using NanoPass's proprietary MicronJet600 microneedle device.

According to Steve Reed, Ph.D., IDRI's President, CEO & Founder, "This co-development effort with NanoPass and their committed funding will allow us to expedite development of a Zika vaccine candidate through initial clinical testing. We are excited about this collaboration with NanoPass, a company we've partnered with for many years. The combination of IDRI's rvRNA, unique formulations and NanoPass's delivery device can provide a promising platform for the development of a Zika vaccine and potentially other prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines." This agreement builds on IDRI's work recently funded through a $491,000, two-year grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, to rapidly develop a novel, safe and effective Zika vaccine by designing and formulating new RNA-based vaccine candidates.

Dan Stinchcomb, Ph.D., IDRI's Chief Scientific Officer, said that delivery is the key to developing successful RNA vaccines. "IDRI has identified delivery formulations that boost the immune response induced by our Zika rvRNA vaccine," he said. "By pairing these with an innovative microneedle device for intradermal delivery, we believe we can improve the immunogenicity and efficacy of our Zika vaccine candidate."

NanoPass's MicronJet600 microneedle device targets immune cells of the skin in a nearly painless, effective way by harnessing the skin's potent immune system to improve vaccines and/or to dramatically reduce the needed dose while achieving the same outcome. "The human skin is our first layer of defense against many infectious diseases," Stinchcomb said. "The skin contains specialized cells that can process and induce strong immune responses - that's why microneedles have the potential to be a great vaccine delivery system." Other vaccines and vaccine platforms, including seasonal and pandemic flu, and live attenuated varicella-zoster virus, have shown improved immunogenicity and significant dose-sparing using microneedle delivery.

Yotam Levin, M.D., CEO of NanoPass, added, "We are thrilled to enter this collaboration with IDRI, which expands our scope and marks our entry into vaccine development. We believe a reliable injection into the skin is critical for successful activation of broad and effective immune responses, which should be explored for RNA vaccines as well. We have been working with IDRI for almost a decade on multiple global health vaccine programs, and it is time for us to take on greater commitments and collaborative efforts in Zika and beyond."

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About IDRI: As a nonprofit global health organization, IDRI (Infectious Disease Research Institute) takes a comprehensive approach to combat infectious diseases, combining the high-quality science of a research organization with the product development capabilities of a biotech company to create new diagnostics, drugs and vaccines. Founded in 1993, IDRI has 125 employees headquartered in Seattle with nearly 100 partners/collaborators around the world. For more information, visit http://www.idri.org.

About NanoPass: NanoPass Technologies Ltd. is a pioneer in the development and commercialization of nearly painless intradermal delivery solutions for vaccines and drugs. Its flagship product, the 0.6mm MicronJet600 microneedle, is the first and only true (<1mm) microneedle to receive FDA clearance as an intradermal delivery device for substances approved for delivery below the surface of the skin. It is supported by extensive clinical data and regulatory approvals in leading markets such as US, Canada, Europe, Brazil, Hong Kong, China, Korea and more. For more information, visit http://www.nanopass.com.

NOTE: Research described in this press release is supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease of the National Institutes of Health under award number 1R21AI128992-01. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Sardinia sits at a crossroads in the Mediterranean Sea, the second largest island next to Sicily. Surrounded by sparkling turquoise waters, this Mediterranean jewel lies northwest of the toe of the Italian peninsula boot, about 350 kilometers due west of Rome.

For evolutionary biologists, islands are often intriguing, geographically isolated pockets with unique populations that can be ripe for exploration.

Now, in a new study appearing in the advanced online edition of Molecular Biology and Evolution an international team led by geneticist Anna Olivieri from the University of Pavia tackles a highly interesting question: what were the origins of the Sardinian population in the context of European prehistory and ancient human migrations?

The authors analyzed 3,491 modern, whole mitochondrial DNA genomes from Sardinia (which are only passed down maternally). These were compared with 21 samples of ancient mitogenomes from the island, a large panel of non-Sardinian mitogenomes ---and even Otzi (the nickname of Europe's oldest natural mummy, the 3,300 BCE-year old "Tyrolean Iceman") ---to better understand their origins.

Their findings show Sardinia as an outlier in the general European genetic landscape. Almost 80 percent of modern Sardinian mitogenomes belong to branches that cannot be found anywhere else outside the island. Thus, they were defined as Sardinian-Specific Haplogroups (SSHs) that most likely arose in the island after its initial occupation. Almost all SSHs coalesce in the post-Nuragic, Nuragic and Neolithic-Copper Age periods. However, some rare SSHs display age estimates older than 7,800 years ago, the postulated archeologically-based starting time of the Neolithic in Sardinia.

"Our analyses raise the possibility that several SSHs may have already been present on the island prior to the Neolithic," said prof. Francesco Cucca, from the Institute of Genetic and Biomedical Research (IRGB), at the CNR in Cagliari (Sardinia).

The most plausible candidates would include haplogroups K1a2d and U5b1i1, which together comprise almost 3 percent of modern Sardinians, and possibly others. Such a scenario would not only support archaeological evidence of a Mesolithic occupation of Sardinia, but could also suggest a dual ancestral origin of its first inhabitants. K1a2d is of Late Paleolithic Near Eastern ancestry, whereas U5b1i1 harbours deep ancestral roots in Paleolithic Western Europe.

This work provides evidence that contemporary Sardinians harbour a unique genetic heritage, as a result of their distinct history and relative isolation from the demographic upheavals of continental Europe. Anna Olivieri stresses: "It now seems plausible that human mobility, inter-communication and gene flow around the Mediterranean from Late Glacial times onwards may well have left signatures that survive to this day. Some of these signals are still retained in modern Sardinians."

"Although in the past the stress has often been on the spread of the Neolithic, genetic studies too are beginning to emphasize the complexity and mosaic nature of human ancestry in the Mediterranean, and indeed in Europe more widely," concludes prof. Antonio Torroni, from the University of Pavia. "Future work on ancient DNA should be able to test directly to what extent this more complex model is supported by genetic evidence, and whether our predictions of Mesolithic ancestry in contemporary Sardinians can be sustained."

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A NASA technologist has teamed with the inventor of a new nanotechnology that could transform the way space scientists build spectrometers, the all-important device used by virtually all scientific disciplines to measure the properties of light emanating from astronomical objects, including Earth itself.

Mahmooda Sultana, a research engineer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, now is collaborating with Moungi Bawendi, a chemistry professor at the Cambridge-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT, to develop a prototype imaging spectrometer based on the emerging quantum-dot technology that Bawendi's group pioneered.

NASA's Center Innovation Fund, which supports potentially trailblazing, high-risk technologies, is funding the effort.

Introducing Quantum Dots

Quantum dots are a type of semiconductor nanocrystal discovered in the early 1980s. Invisible to the naked eye, the dots have proven in testing to absorb different wavelengths of light depending on their size, shape, and chemical composition. The technology is promising to applications that rely on the analysis of light, including smartphone cameras, medical devices, and environmental-testing equipment.

"This is as novel as it gets," Sultana said, referring to the technology that she believes could miniaturize and potentially revolutionize space-based spectrometers, particularly those used on uninhabited aerial vehicles and small satellites. "It really could simplify instrument integration."

Absorption spectrometers, as their name implies, measure the absorption of light as a function of frequency or wavelength due to its interaction with a sample, such as atmospheric gases.

After passing through or interacting with the sample, the light reaches the spectrometer. Traditional spectrometers use gratings, prisms, or interference filters to split the light into its component wavelengths, which their detector pixels then detect to produce spectra. The more intense the absorption in the spectra, the greater the presence of a specific chemical.

While space-based spectrometers are getting smaller due to miniaturization, they still are relatively large, Sultana said. "Higher-spectral resolution requires long optical paths for instruments that use gratings and prisms. This often results in large instruments. Whereas here, with quantum dots that act like filters that absorb different wavelengths depending on their size and shape, we can make an ultra-compact instrument. In other words, you could eliminate optical parts, like gratings, prisms, and interference filters."

Just as important, the technology allows the instrument developer to generate nearly an unlimited number of different dots. As their size decreases, the wavelength of the light that the quantum dots will absorb decreases. "This makes it possible to produce a continuously tunable, yet distinct, set of absorptive filters where each pixel is made of a quantum dot of a specific size, shape, or composition. We would have precise control over what each dot absorbs. We could literally customize the instrument to observe many different bands with high-spectral resolution."

Prototype Instrument Under Development

With her NASA technology-development support, Sultana is working to develop, qualify through thermal vacuum and vibration tests, and demonstrate a 20-by-20 quantum-dot array sensitive to visible wavelengths needed to image the sun and the aurora. However, the technology easily can be expanded to cover a broader range of wavelengths, from ultraviolet to mid-infrared, which may find many potential space applications in Earth science, heliophysics, and planetary science, she said.

Under the collaboration, Sultana is developing an instrument concept particularly for a CubeSat application and MIT doctoral student Jason Yoo is investigating techniques for synthesizing different precursor chemicals to create the dots and then printing them onto a suitable substrate. "Ultimately, we would want to print the dots directly onto the detector pixels," she said.

"This is a very innovative technology," Sultana added, conceding that it is very early in its development. "But we're trying to raise its technology-readiness level very quickly. Several space-science opportunities that could benefit are in the pipeline."

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For more Goddard technology news, go to: http://gsfctechnology.gsfc.nasa.gov/newsletter/Current.pdf
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), JTC and SMRT Services Pte Ltd (SMRT) have joined forces to develop innovative solutions that seamlessly integrate multiple modes of transportation, for better connectivity and accessibility. This is in line with the Government's aim of making Singapore a living lab to develop and test new urban solutions.

A Memorandum of Understanding between the three parties was signed this afternoon, paving the way for the formation of a new 'Mobility-as-a-Service Lab'. It leverages the strengths of each partner to fulfil Singapore's vision of a car-lite society, comprising NTU Singapore's capabilities in research and development, evaluating engineering trials and data analytics, JTC's expertise in master planning of industrial parks and the development of innovative infrastructure, and SMRT's experience as a multi-modal transport operator.

The 'Mobility-as-a-Service Lab' will be the first-of-its-kind in the region aimed at improving commuters' travel experience by seamlessly integrating train and bus networks with next-generation transport modes. These include electric automated vehicles, bike sharing systems and personal mobility devices such as e-scooters. Commuters will be able to use multiple transport modes and travel to further locations conveniently, without relying on personal cars.

SMRT has been developing its Mobility-as-a-Service capabilities to provide a customised solution and user-friendly digital platform through which commuters can decide on their preferred travel mode based on time, cost and convenience. NTU Singapore's lush campus and CleanTech Park in Jurong Innovation District will be transformed into a live test-bed for the integration of multiple transportation options and new technologies.

NTU Provost Professor Freddy Boey said: "The provision of an integrated, sustainable and affordable public transportation is a key condition in improving user satisfaction while promoting sustainability. Leveraging on NTU's deep expertise in engineering and low-carbon transportation solutions, we are confident that this partnership will develop innovative transportation solutions that supports the vision for a car-lite Singapore."

Mr Png Cheong Boon, Chief Executive Officer for JTC said: "The partnership with NTU and SMRT will leverage on the Jurong Innovation District, our largest living lab, to develop and implement new urban mobility solutions. We believe that these efforts will not only improve last mile connectivity in Jurong Innovation District, but also transform commuter experience."

Mr Desmond Kuek, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of SMRT Corporation Limited, said: "The urban mobility landscape is changing rapidly as Singaporeans explore and adapt to more accessible and convenient modes of transportation. We aim to facilitate more efficient and seamless commuter journeys through the integration of mass transport modes such as trains and buses with new personal mobility options. With the development of better tools for demand aggregation, SMRT looks forward to working with our partners at NTU and JTC for more synergistic planning, operations and management of their entire transport systems to fulfil their community's needs."

Among the first few projects to be undertaken by the joint research lab will be the development of a comprehensive transport master plan for the NTU Singapore campus and CleanTech Park. Conducted by urban mobility managers, engineering researchers and land use planners from the three partners, the transport master plan will leverage on technologies and data analytics to assess the feasibility of integrating automated vehicles, new bike/scooter sharing systems and promotion of the use of bicycles and e-scooter within these locations.

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Media contacts

Nur Amin Shah

Manager (Media Relations)

Corporate Communications Office

Nanyang Technological University

Email: aminshah@ntu.edu.sg

Goh Pei Yong

Manager

Communications Division

JTC

Email: goh_pei_yong@jtc.gov.sg

SMRT Corporate Information & Communications

Media & Marketing Communications

Email: media@smrt.com.sg

About Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

A research-intensive public university, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has 33,500 undergraduate and postgraduate students in the colleges of Engineering, Business, Science, Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences, and its Interdisciplinary Graduate School. It also has a medical school, the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, set up jointly with Imperial College London.

NTU is also home to world-class autonomous institutes - the National Institute of Education, S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Earth Observatory of Singapore, and Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering - and various leading research centres such as the Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI), Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N) and the Institute on Asian Consumer Insight (ACI).

Ranked 13th in the world, NTU has also been ranked the world's top young university for the last three years running. The University's main campus has been named one of the Top 15 Most Beautiful in the World. NTU also has a campus in Novena, Singapore's medical district.

For more information, visit http://www.ntu.edu.sg

About JTC

Set up in 1968, JTC is the lead government agency responsible for the development of industrial infrastructure to support and catalyse the growth of industries and enterprises in Singapore. Landmark projects by JTC include the Jurong Industrial Estate; the Jurong Island for energy and chemical industries; business and specialised parks such as Airport Logistics Park of Singapore, International Business Park, Changi Business Park, Seletar Aerospace Park, CleanTech Park and Tuas Biomedical Park; a new work-live-play-&-learn development called one-north; and the Jurong Rock Caverns, Southeast Asia's first commercial underground storage facility for liquid hydrocarbons. JTC also develops innovative space such as JTC Surface Engineering Hub, JTC MedTech Hub @ MedTech Park and JTC Food Hub @ Senoko, which incorporate innovative features and shared infrastructure to enable industrialists to start their operations quickly and enhance productivity.

For more information on JTC and its products and services, please visit http://www.jtc.gov.sg.

About SMRT Corporation Ltd

SMRT Corporation Ltd (SMRT) is Singapore's premier multi-modal land transport provider. Our core businesses are in rail operations, maintenance and engineering as well as in bus, taxi and automotive services. Complementing these are our integrated businesses in media and marketing, as well as properties and retail management.

We are committed to Service and Business Excellence as we strive towards our vision of "Moving People, Enhancing Lives".
A genomic study of baldness identified more than 200 genetic regions involved in this common but potentially embarrassing condition. These genetic variants could be used to predict a man's chance of severe hair loss. The study, led by Saskia Hagenaars and W. David Hill of The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom, is published February 14th, 2017 in PLOS Genetics.

Before this new study, only a handful of genes related to baldness had been identified. The University of Edinburgh scientists examined genomic and health data from over 52,000 male participants of the UK Biobank, performing a genome-wide association study of baldness. They pinpointed 287 genetic regions linked to the condition. The researchers created a formula to try and predict the chance that a person will go bald, based on the presence or absence of certain genetic markers. Accurate predictions for an individual are still some way off, but the results can help to identify sub-groups of the population for which the risk of hair loss is much higher.

The study is the largest genetic analysis of male pattern baldness to date. Many of the identified genes are related to hair structure and development. They could provide possible targets for drug development to treat baldness or related conditions.

Saskia Hagenaars, a PhD student from The University of Edinburgh's Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, who jointly led the research, said: "We identified hundreds of new genetic signals. It was interesting to find that many of the genetics signals for male pattern baldness came from the X chromosome, which men inherit from their mothers."

Dr David Hill, who co-led the research, said: "In this study, data were collected on hair loss pattern but not age of onset; we would expect to see an even stronger genetic signal if we were able to identify those with early-onset hair loss."

The study's principal investigator, Dr Riccardo Marioni, from The University of Edinburgh's Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, said: "We are still a long way from making an accurate prediction for an individual's hair loss pattern. However, these results take us one step closer. The findings pave the way for an improved understanding of the genetic causes of hair loss."

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In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available article in PLOS Genetics: http://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1006594

Citation: Hagenaars SP, Hill WD, Harris SE, Ritchie SJ, Davies G, Liewald DC, et al. (2017) Genetic prediction of male pattern baldness. PLoS Genet 13(2): e1006594. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1006594

Funding: This research was conducted, using the UK Biobank Resource, in The University of Edinburgh Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, part of the cross-council Lifelong Health and Wellbeing Initiative (MR/K026992/1). Funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Medical Research Council (MRC) is gratefully acknowledged. WDH is supported by a grant from Age UK (Disconnected Mind Project). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Women who participate in obstetric and gynaecology clinical trials experience improved health outcomes compared to those who are not involved in trials, according to research by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). This is the case regardless of whether or not the treatment is found to be effective in the trial.

The review of 21 studies* included 20,160 women, and found that participants had 25 per cent better odds of improved health outcomes**, compared with non-participants. The researchers hope the results may lead to more clinicians offering trials to their patients and more women volunteering for trials in a research area that currently faces many challenges.

A clinical trial compares the effects of one treatment with another, and normally involves large numbers of volunteer patients in many centres. The results from trials help doctors understand how to treat a particular disease or condition, and are necessary to test the safety and efficacy of new treatments before they are brought into general use.

Research on the effect of participation in trials has previously not consistently shown evidence of benefit. This may be because previous work has analysed data from all medical specialities grouped together which could include wide variations in the way care is given within and outside trials.

The review, which focuses on pregnancy and reproductive health, is published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (BJOG) and is believed to be the first of its kind. It found that the beneficial effect of participating in a trial was largest when it was a high quality clinical trial, and when the trial tested an intervention that was unavailable outside of the trial.

Lead researcher Professor Khalid Khan from QMUL said: "Clinical trials are often perceived as 'experiments', 'risky' or 'dangerous'. However, our findings challenge these misconceptions, and show not only that they are safe but that there is a significant benefit associated with participation, with overall 25 per cent chance of better health outcomes."

"Interestingly, we also found that participants still experienced benefits irrespective of whether the treatment in the trial was found to be effective or not."

Worldwide over 69 million babies are born annually (776,000 in the UK), but only a small proportion of pregnant women are entered into research studies. Pregnancy and reproductive health is an area with unique challenges, dealing with controversial topics (IVF, contraception, abortion), a lack of research funding (less than one per cent of UK government spend) and ethical/legal implications (studies involving pregnant women). As such, research results from general medicine often inform practise in pregnancy patients, which does not always lead to optimum medical care.

Ngawai Moss was a participant of QMUL's EMPiRE trial - a study looking at how to control seizures in pregnant women with epilepsy. She said: "I'm very happy that I took part in a clinical trial and would do it all over again without hesitation. I would tell women who are considering whether to join a clinical trial, that the investment of their time is really quite minimal for the reward.

"In my case, the trial was pretty straightforward and mainly involved monthly visits to fill in a questionnaire and have a blood test. It was reassuring to be able to see a medical professional on a regular basis, especially as I had a complicated pregnancy. It meant I had access to the team's medical insight, advice and support on general pregnancy-related issues."

Professor Khalid Khan from QMUL added: "Women in general are often unrepresented in research, so we hope this may lead to a shift in attitudes and encourage more clinicians and women to be involved in trials. We also hope that patients recognise that research can be even safer than routine healthcare, due to the additional safeguards in place."

The researchers say that it is important to remember that research can still be associated with risk, and it is the duty of researchers and clinicians to inform patients of the potential risk and benefit of engagement in research.

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QMUL's IBIS 3 Feasibility Study is currently looking to recruit post-menopausal breast cancer survivors. The clinical trial will test three types of medicines in 18 hospitals around the UK to find out the best way to prevent the late recurrence of breast cancer. More information on joining the trial is available on the website or by contacting ibis3help@qmul.ac.uk or 020 7882 3510.

For more information, please contact:

Queen Mary University of London Press Office

press@qmul.ac.uk

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7882 3004

Notes to the editor

* Example trials analysed in the review included a trial on the use of heparin and aspirin for women with in vitro fertilization implantation failure, and a trial comparing the success of hormone releasing implants with copper-intrauterine devices as contraceptive methods.

** The review included maternal and neonatal health outcomes such as stillbirth, pre-eclampsia, pregnancy rates, Neural tube defect, spontaneous fetal death, treatment satisfaction, treatment acceptability, infant death, caesarean section rate, successful surgery, severe bleeding (abortion), and fetal outcomes.

Research paper: 'Participation in clinical trials improves outcomes in women's health: A systematic review and meta-analysis'. Simrit K. Nijjar, Maria I. D'Amico, Noshali A. Wimalaweera, Natalie A.M. Cooper, Javier Zamora, Khalid S. Khan. BJOG 2017. DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.14528. Once published, the article can be found here: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.14528/full

About Queen Mary University of London

Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) is one of the UK's leading universities, and one of the largest institutions in the University of London, with 21,187 students from more than 155 countries.

A member of the Russell Group, we work across the humanities and social sciences, medicine and dentistry, and science and engineering, with inspirational teaching directly informed by our research. In the most recent national assessment of the quality of research, we were placed ninth in the UK (REF 2014).

As well as our main site at Mile End - which is home to one of the largest self-contained residential campuses in London - we have campuses at Whitechapel, Charterhouse Square, and West Smithfield dedicated to the study of medicine, and a base for legal studies at Lincoln's Inn Fields.

We have a rich history in London with roots in Europe's first public hospital, St Barts; England's first medical school, The London; one of the first colleges to provide higher education to women, Westfield College; and the Victorian philanthropic project, the People's Palace at Mile End.

Today, as well as retaining these close connections to our local community, we are known for our international collaborations in both teaching and research.

QMUL has an annual turnover of 350m, a research income worth 125m (2014/15), and generates employment and output worth 700m to the UK economy each year.
LA JOLLA -- (Feb. 14, 2017) Salk Professor Tony Hunter, who holds an American Cancer Society Professorship, has been awarded $500,000 as part of the $1 million Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences' inaugural Sjoberg Prize for Cancer Research for "groundbreaking studies of cellular processes that have led to the development of new and effective cancer drugs." The prize ceremony, which is modeled after the Nobel Prize ceremony, will be held in Stockholm during the Academy's annual meeting on March 31, 2017, in the presence of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen of Sweden.

"Tony is an internationally recognized leader in the field of cancer research," says Salk President Elizabeth Blackburn. "He has made enormous contributions to our understanding of cancer's basic biology and his research has led to life-saving therapies. We are delighted that his pioneering accomplishments are being honored with this important new award."

Hunter studied how normal cells become tumor cells, demonstrating that a special process was necessary: tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins. His discovery led to the development of a new type of cancer pharmaceutical, tyrosine kinase inhibitors. These have revolutionized the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia and also are of great benefit in several other forms of cancer. Hunter's work has led to a complete catalogue of the 90 human genes that encode tyrosine kinases, over half of which have become targets for the development of drugs to treat cancer and other human diseases. Currently, 26 tyrosine kinase inhibitors are FDA approved for human therapy, with many more in clinical trials.

"It is a great honor to have been selected as an inaugural recipient of the Sjoberg Prize," says Hunter. "I have been fortunate to work in an inspiring and collaborative scientific community both at Salk and around the world, with excellent mentors, colleagues and students, all of whom contributed greatly to the breakthrough for which I am being honored."

"I so clearly remember the floor meeting, some 40 years ago, where Tony first announced the phosphorylation of tyrosine by Rous sarcoma viral Src kinase," says Inder Verma, Salk professor. "It was thrilling at the time and now it is amazing to think that this finding has led to the making of drugs which are saving and extending the lives of cancer patients worldwide. That is the magic of basic science."

The annual prize, which includes $100,000 as a personal award with $900,000 U.S. dollars designated as a grant for future research, is shared equally by the awardees. Hunter shares the honor with immunologist James P. Allison of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, whose work on the white blood cells known as T cells led to the development of immune checkpoint therapy drugs that promote the immune response to cancer, and are now widely used in cancer therapy.

Hunter, who holds the Renato Dulbecco Chair in Salk's Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory, is also the recipient of the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge award in biomedicine, the Royal Medal in the Biological Sciences of the Royal Society, the Wolf Prize in Medicine and the Gairdner International Award, among other prestigious honors. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Born in 1943 in Ashford, Kent, in the United Kingdom, Hunter is also a fellow of the Royal Society of London.

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The Sjoberg Prize is awarded by the Sjoberg Foundation, which was established in 2016 with a donation of $2 billion Swedish krona by the late Swedish businessman Bengt Sjoberg -- one of the biggest donations in Swedish history. The annual prize totals $1 million U.S. dollars and is shared equally between the laureates, who are chosen by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The laureates will hold open lectures at the Karolinska Institutet on March 30.

About the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences:

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences was founded in 1739 and is an independent organization that aims to promote the sciences and strengthen their influence in society. The Academy takes special responsibility for the natural sciences and mathematics, but strives to increase the exchange between different disciplines.

About the Salk Institute for Biological Studies:

Every cure has a starting point. The Salk Institute embodies Jonas Salk's mission to dare to make dreams into reality. Its internationally renowned and award-winning scientists explore the very foundations of life, seeking new understandings in neuroscience, genetics, immunology, plant biology and more. The Institute is an independent nonprofit organization and architectural landmark: small by choice, intimate by nature and fearless in the face of any challenge. Be it cancer or Alzheimer's, aging or diabetes, Salk is where cures begin. Learn more at: salk.edu.
Two studies in the February 14 issue of JAMA examine hair loss among women with breast cancer who received scalp cooling before, during and after chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy may result in hair loss (alopecia), which women rate as one of the most distressing adverse effects of chemotherapy. Scalp cooling is hypothesized to reduce blood flow to hair follicles and reduce uptake of chemotherapeutic agents. Modern methods to prevent hair loss use devices that circulate fluid in a cooling cap using refrigeration. A cap is placed on the patient prior to chemotherapy and does not have to be changed or removed until the treatment is completed.

Although scalp cooling devices have been used to prevent alopecia, efficacy has not been assessed in a randomized clinical trial.

In one study, Julie Nangia, M.D., of the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, and colleagues randomly assigned 182 women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy to scalp cooling (n = 119) or control (n = 63). Scalp cooling was done 30 minutes prior to and during and 90 minutes after each chemotherapy infusion. Hair preservation was assessed at the end of four cycles of chemotherapy. One interim analysis was planned to allow the study to stop early for efficacy.

At the time of the interim analysis, 142 participants were evaluable. The researchers found that patients who received scalp cooling were significantly more likely than patients who did not receive scalp cooling to have less than 50 percent hair loss (with 51 percent of those in the scalp cooling group retaining their hair, compared with 0 percent of those in the control group). There were no significant differences in changes in any of the measures of quality of life between the groups. Only adverse events related to device use were collected; 54 adverse events were reported in the cooling group, none serious.

"Further research is needed to assess longer-term efficacy and adverse effects," the authors write.

In another study, Hope S. Rugo, M.D., of the University of California, San Francisco, and colleagues included women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy (106 patients in the scalp cooling group and 16 in the control group; 14 matched by both age and chemotherapy regimen). Scalp cooling was initiated 30 minutes prior to each chemotherapy cycle, with scalp temperature maintained at 3C (37F) throughout chemotherapy and for 90 minutes to 120 minutes afterward.

Although scalp cooling has been available for several decades in Europe, use has been limited in the United States because of several factors, including insufficient prospective efficacy data with current chemotherapy regimens and lack of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance.

Among the 122 patients in the study, the average duration of chemotherapy was 2.3 months. Hair loss of 50 percent or less was seen in 67 of 101 patients (66 percent) evaluable for alopecia in the scalp cooling group vs 0 of 16 patients (0 percent) in the control group. Three of five quality-of-life measures were significantly better one month after the end of chemotherapy in the scalp cooling group. Of patients who underwent scalp cooling, 27 percent reported feeling less physically attractive compared with 56 percent of patients in the control group. Of the 106 patients in the scalp cooling group, four (3.8 percent) experienced the adverse event of mild headache and three (2.8 percent) discontinued scalp cooling due to feeling cold.

"Further research is needed to assess outcomes after patients receive anthracycline [a class of drugs used in chemotherapy] regimens, longer-term measures of alopecia, and adverse effects," the authors write.

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Editor's Note for Nangia et al study: This work was supported by Paxman Coolers Ltd., which contracted with Baylor College of Medicine to conduct the study. Dr. Lacouture is supported in part by a grant from the National Cancer Institute. Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, etc.

Editor's Note for Rugo et al study: The study was funded partially by Dignitana AB, the Lazlo Tauber Family Foundation, the Anne Moore Breast Cancer Research Fund, and the Friedman Family Foundation. Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, etc.

Related material: The editorial, "Scalp Cooling to Prevent Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia," by Dawn L. Hershman, M.D., M.S., of Columbia University Medical Center, New York; the article, in JAMA Oncology, "Do the Data on Scalp Cooling for Patients with Breast Cancer Warrant Broad Adoption?" by Howard (Jack) West, M.D., of the Swedish Cancer Institute, Seattle, and Web Editor, JAMA Oncology; the JAMA Patient Page, "Chemotherapy and Hair Loss,"; and images of scalp cooling and photographic results of two patients treated with scalp cooling are available at the For The Media website.

To place an electronic embedded link to these studies in your story These links will be live at the embargo time: http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2016.20939 http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2016.21038
A population of cells in early development may give rise to the ventricular chambers of the heart, but not the atria, according to a study led by researchers from the Mindich Child Health and Development Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published today in Nature Communications.

Congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect, affecting 35,000 babies in the United States each year, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Many of these defects originate as the heart chambers are forming. While much is known about the development of the heart, the formation of the four distinct chambers of the heart has lacked thorough understanding.

Using a model that traces cell lineage in mice, investigators studied the protein-coding gene Foxa2, primarily associated with endoderm and ectoderm development during embryogenesis. They discovered a population of progenitor cells expressing Foxa2 during early development that gave rise to cardiovascular cells of both the left and right ventricular chambers, but not the atria. Their research showed that atrial-ventricular segregation may occur long before the morphological establishment of differentiated cardiac structures.

"An in-depth understanding of the formation of the heart chambers will enable us to better comprehend the biology behind detrimental heart defects and how best to address them," said lead investigator Nicole Dubois, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. "In addition to informing our understanding of early heart development, we hope that these findings will also lead to new protocols for the generation of ventricular cardiomyocytes in cell culture that could potentially be used in therapeutic settings."

"There is a lot we still don't understand about this population, or the function of Foxa2 during the formation of the heart, but we think these findings provide a powerful new system to answer some of the most relevant open questions about how early heart development occurs," said Evan Bardot, PhD student and first author of the Nature Communications study.

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The National Institutes of Health (NIH/NHLBI) and the Mindich Child Health and Development Institute supported this research.

About the Mount Sinai Health System

The Mount Sinai Health System is an integrated health system committed to providing distinguished care, conducting transformative research, and advancing biomedical education. Structured around seven hospital campuses and a single medical school, the Health System has an extensive ambulatory network and a range of inpatient and outpatient services -- from community-based facilities to tertiary and quaternary care.

The System includes approximately 6,100 primary and specialty care physicians; 12 joint-venture ambulatory surgery centers; more than 140 ambulatory practices throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida; and 31 affiliated community health centers. Physicians are affiliated with the renowned Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, which is ranked among the highest in the nation in National Institutes of Health funding per investigator. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked as one of the nation's top 10 hospitals in Geriatrics, Cardiology/Heart Surgery, and Gastroenterology, and is in the top 25 in five other specialties in the 2014-2015 "Best Hospitals" issue of U.S. News & World Report. Mount Sinai's Kravis Children's Hospital also is ranked in seven out of ten pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report. The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai is ranked 11th nationally for Ophthalmology, while Mount Sinai Beth Israel is ranked regionally.

For more information, visit http://www.mountsinai.org/, or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
The first ever evidence of live birth in an animal group previously thought to lay eggs exclusively has been discovered by an international team of scientists, including a palaeontologist from the University of Bristol.

The remarkable 250 million-year-old fossil from China shows an embryo inside the mother.

Live birth is well known in mammals, where the mother has a placenta to nourish the developing embryo.

It is also very common among lizards and snakes, where the babies sometimes 'hatch' inside their mother and emerge without a shelled egg.

Until recently, the third major group of living land vertebrates, the crocodiles and birds, part of the wider group Archosauromorpha, only laid eggs.

Egg laying is the primitive state, seen at the base of reptiles, and in their ancestors such as amphibians and fishes.

The new fossil is an unusual, long-necked animal called Dinocephalosaurus, an archosauromorph that flourished in shallow seas of South China in the Middle Triassic.

It was a fish-eater, snaking its long neck from side to side to snatch its prey. The embryo is inside the rib cage of the mother, and it faces forward. Swallowed animals generally face backward because the predator swallows its prey head-first to help it go down its throat. Furthermore, the small reptile inside the mother is an example of the same species.

Lead study author, Professor Jun Liu from Hefei University of Technology in China, said: "We were so excited when we first saw this embryonic specimen several years ago but we were not sure if the embryonic specimen is the last lunch of the mother or its unborn baby.

"Upon further preparation and closer inspection, we realised that something unusual has been discovered.

"Further evolutionary analysis reveals the first case of live birth in such a wide group containing birds, crocodilians, dinosaurs and pterosaurs among others, and pushes back evidence of reproductive biology in the group by 50 million years.

"Information on reproductive biology of archosauromorphs before the Jurassic period was not available until our discovery, despite a history of 260 million years."

Evolutionary analysis shows that this instance of live birth was also associated with genetic sex determination.

Professor Chris Organ, another author from Montana State University, added: "Some reptiles today, such as crocodiles, determine the sex of their offspring by the temperature inside the nest.

"We identified that Dinocephalosaurus, a distant ancestor of crocodiles, determined the sex of its babies genetically, like mammals and birds."

This new specimen from China rewrites our understanding of the evolution of reproductive systems.

Professor Mike Benton, another co-author from the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol, said: "The analysis of the evolutionary position of the new specimens shows there is no fundamental reason why archosauromorphs could not have evolved live birth

"This combination of live birth and genotypic sex determination seems to have been necessary for animals such as Dinocephalosaurus to become aquatic. It's great to see such an important step forward in our understanding of the evolution of a major group coming from a chance fossil find in a Chinese field."

This piece of work is part of wider collaborations between palaeontologists in China, the United States, the UK and Australia.

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Last winter's El Nino might have felt weak to residents of Southern California, but it was in fact one of the most powerful climate events of the past 145 years.

If such severe El Nino events become more common in the future as some studies suggest they might, the California coast -- home to more than 25 million people -- may become increasingly vulnerable to coastal hazards. And that's independent of projected sea level rise.

New research conducted by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists and their colleagues at UC Santa Barbara and six other institutions found that during the 2015-16 El Nino winter beach erosion on the Pacific coast was 76 percent above normal, and that most beaches in California eroded beyond historical extremes. The results appear in the journal Nature Communications.

"This study illustrates the value of broad regional collaboration using long-term data for understanding coastal ecosystem responses to changing climate," said ecologist David Hubbard, an associate specialist at UCSB's Marine Science Institute. "We really need this scale of data on coastal process to understand what's going on with the ecology of the coast."

The research team assessed seasonal beach behavior for 29 beaches along more than 1,200 miles of the Pacific coast. The investigators' efforts included making 3-D surface maps and cross-shore profiles using aerial LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), GPS topographic surveys and direct measurements of sand quantities. They then combined that with wave and water level data from each beach between 1997 and 2016. Winter beach erosion -- the removal and loss of sand from the beach -- is a normal seasonal process, but during El Nino events the extent of erosion can be more severe.

"Wave conditions and coastal response were unprecedented for many locations during the winter of 2015-16," said lead author Patrick Barnard, a geologist with the USGS. "The winter wave energy equaled or exceeded measured historical maximums along the West Coast, corresponding to extreme beach erosion across the region."

The 2015-16 El Nino was one of the three strongest events ever recorded, along with the El Nino winters of 1982-83 and 1997-98. From a water resources perspective though, the most recent El Nino was largely considered a dud due to the unusually low rainfall, particularly in Southern California, which received 70 percent less rain than during the past two big El Nino events.

"However, the waves that attacked our coast, generated from storms across the North Pacific, were exceptional and among the largest ever recorded," Barnard said. "Further, the lack of rainfall means the coastal rivers produced very little sand to fill in what was lost from the beaches, so recovery has been slow." Rivers remain the primary source of sand for California beaches, despite long-term reductions in the 20th century due to extensive dam construction.

While most beaches in the survey eroded beyond historical extremes, some fared better than others. The condition of the beach before the winter of 2015 strongly influenced the severity of erosion and the ability of the beach to recover afterward through natural replenishment processes.

Unlike California, many Pacific Northwest beaches have gained sediment in the years leading up to the 2015-16 El Nino. That's due -- at least in part -- to more production of sand from local watersheds, dune growth and a series of mild winter storm seasons. Mild wave activity in the Pacific Northwest and artificial augmentation of beaches (adding sand) in Southern California prior to the winter of 2015-16 prevented some areas from eroding beyond historical landward extremes.

"It looks like climate change will bring us more El Nino events, possibly twice as many, at twice the frequency as in the past," Hubbard said. "So this is a taste of what's coming.

"First we need to understand the challenges, and those include the rising sea level and the fact that most of the problems occur during these peak El Nino events," he added. "Then we need to restore or manage our coasts in ways that will enable us to deal with these events and conserve beach ecosystems. I think that's the challenge that we as a society have to address."

"Infrequent and extreme events can be extremely damaging to coastal marine habitats and communities," said David Garrison, a program director in the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Division of Ocean Sciences, which funded the research. "While this paper stresses the effect of waves and sediment transport on beach structure, organisms living on and in the sediment will also be profoundly affected."

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Beach survey collection was funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the California Department of Parks and Recreation, the California Division of Boating and Waterways, the USGS, the Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems and the National Science Foundation.
Everyone agrees that ticks are exceedingly nasty creatures. For hundreds of millions of years, they have survived on Earth by sucking blood from their victims for days, often leaving behind terrible diseases as a thank-you note. In humans, these diseases include many unpleasant and dangerous illnesses, such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, babesiosis, Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever, and tularemia, to name a few.

No one has ever looked at why ticks, themselves, are able to survive while harboring bacteria, viruses and parasites. Now, for the first time, scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have decoded how the ingenious tick immune system fights a myriad of microbes. The study appeared today in Nature Communications.

"This basic science discovery is fascinating, and may pave the ground for new translational approaches that reduce the negative impact of tick-borne diseases in people," said Joao Pedra, PhD, the senior author on this study and an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Scientists had long assumed that the tick immune system works similarly to that of flies and mosquitoes. But ticks, which have existed on the planet for between 120 million and 443 million years, have taken an entirely different path. Dr. Pedra points out that in evolutionary terms, ticks are as far removed from insects, as humans are from fish. "Although the two bugs are seemingly alike, it turns out that the immune system of ticks is quite distinct from insects. Our discovery clarifies the ins-and-outs of how the tick immune system fights bacteria," Dr. Pedra says.

Dana Shaw, PhD, the lead author on the study and a Research Fellow in Dr. Pedra's laboratory, first noticed that ticks were missing crucial genes for a proper immune response. This observation led to the discovery of an entirely new pathway that recognizes three distinct bacteria: the Lyme disease agent, Borrelia burgdorferi, and two others that cause rickettsial illnesses, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Anaplasma marginale. After identifying components of the immune system, Dr. Shaw was able to block the tick immune response with a molecular technique named RNA interference. She also over-activated the ticks' immune system to get rid of bacteria even more efficiently. "It's really amazing what one can do in science these days. I am very fortunate to lead such talented and driven scientists in my laboratory and to work with great colleagues at Maryland and elsewhere" says Prof. Pedra.

The discovery has several exciting implications. By targeting key molecules - essentially manipulating the tick immune system - scientists may now try to make ticks less vulnerable to infection by these microbes. If ticks do not acquire these bacteria in the wild, then they won't be able to transmit the microbes to humans. Dr. Pedra and his colleagues are now pursuing work along these lines to further understand the tick immune response. "This area of research is understudied and we are only beginning to scratch the surface. That is the beauty of it." says Dr. Pedra.

Of tick-borne diseases, Lyme disease is perhaps the most well-known. It exists all over the United States, although it is more concentrated in the Northeast, Midwest and, to a lesser extent, along the Pacific coast. Researchers estimate that between 296,000 and 376,000 people per year are infected in this country. Lyme disease symptoms can include fatigue, muscle pain, joint aches, memory loss, confusion, headaches and neurological problems.

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About the University of Maryland School of Medicine

The University of Maryland School of Medicine was chartered in 1807 and is the first public medical school in the United States and continues today as an innovative leader in accelerating innovation and discovery in medicine. The School of Medicine is the founding school of the University of Maryland and is an integral part of the 11-campus University System of Maryland. Located on the University of Maryland's Baltimore campus, the School of Medicine works closely with the University of Maryland Medical Center and Medical System to provide a research-intensive, academic and clinically based education. With 43 academic departments, centers and institutes and a faculty of more than 3,000 physicians and research scientists plus more than $400 million in extramural funding, the School is regarded as one of the leading biomedical research institutions in the U.S. with top-tier faculty and programs in cancer, brain science, surgery and transplantation, trauma and emergency medicine, vaccine development and human genomics, among other centers of excellence. The School is not only concerned with the health of the citizens of Maryland and the nation, but also has a global presence, with research and treatment facilities in more than 35 countries around the world.

medschool.umaryland.edu/
According to NASA, 2016 was the hottest year on historical record. Globally, the increase amounted to nearly 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit. And while that might not sound like much of an increase, it could mean the difference between life and death for some bird populations.

Heat waves due to climate change pose an increasing threat to wildlife in many regions of the world. During heat waves, birds are especially at risk of lethal dehydration due to scarce water resources and high rates of evaporative water loss needed for cooling their bodies. High environmental temperatures were attributed to recent mass die-offs of wild birds and poultry in Australia, South Africa, India and North America suggest that birds are sensitive to extreme heat events.

With climate projections forecasting a large increase in the frequency, intensity and duration of heat waves, researchers including Tom Albright, associate professor from the Geography Department at the University of Nevada-Reno, Professor Blair Wolf from The University of New Mexico Department of Biology, and Alexander Gerson, assistant professor, Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and others mapped the potential effects of current and future heat waves on the risk of lethal dehydration for songbirds in the southwestern United States.

The research, "Mapping evaporative water loss in desert passerines reveals an expanding threat of lethal hydration," was published today in PNAS. The research was funded through a three-year, $650,000 National Science Foundation grant. NASA also funded aspects of this research, and its data and products played a role in enabling the research.

"Birds are susceptible to heat stress in two ways," explained Wolf. "When it's really hot, they simply can't evaporate enough water to stay cool, overheat and die of heat stroke. In other cases the high rates of evaporative water loss needed to stay cool deplete their body water pools to lethal levels and birds die of dehydration; this is the stressor we focused on in this study."

"This is a neat example of the kind of science enabled by two of our great U.S. science agencies: NSF (Blair's team) and NASA (Albright's team): basically mapping what you might call physiological performance and ultimately mapping the dynamics of risk," said Albright.

Using hourly temperature data and a physiological model incorporating measurements of evaporative water loss, the researchers evaluated the death by dehydration risk for five songbird species. They found that small species lose water faster than their larger counterparts, thus rendering them particularly susceptible to lethal dehydration.

"During heat waves, birds that are day active suspend almost all activity and seek cool shaded microsites," said Wolf. "At high air temperatures, the rates of evaporation needed to cool the bird increase rapidly. A 2-3C increase in air temperature can result in a doubling or tripling of rates of evaporative water loss where birds can lose 2-5 percent of body mass per hour."

"By focusing on heat waves and dehydration in birds, it allows us to focus more carefully on one piece of the puzzle," said Albright. "It allowed us to use mechanistic understanding supported by actual physical measurements of evaporation from bird's bodies.

In addition, given climate warming scenario of 4C, the risk of lethal dehydration could increase four-fold in smaller species encompassing very large parts of the specie's southwest ranges by the end of this century. The increasing extent, frequency, and intensity of dehydrating conditions under a warming climate may alter daily activity patterns, geographic range limits and the conservation status of affected birds.

"These estimates suggest that some regions of the desert will be uninhabitable for many species in the future and that future high temperature events could depopulate whole regions," Wolf said. "When combined with increasing drought projected for many of these regions, we could see precipitous declines in bird communities and increasingly severe stress on poultry as well."

The findings illustrate that conservation strategies are needed to conserve diverse plant and animal communities that supply shelter and water to desert birds amid future climate warming.

"What we were able to do here is to use individual level physiology data to inform biogeographic models so we can better understand the impact of high temperatures on these avian communities," said Gerson. "This is a big step forward to understanding local extirpation. It will raise a lot of other questions, but our contribution will help others look at how community structure might change in the future."

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University of Oregon-led examination answers why ink spilled on cards generated so many visual perceptions and may help advance the use of fractals for biomedical purposes

EUGENE, Ore. -- Feb. 14, 2017 -- Researchers have unlocked the mystery of why people have seen so many different images in Rorschach inkblots.

The image associations -- a bat, woman with a ponytail, many different animals, people, a jack-o-lantern and more -- are induced by fractal characteristics at the edges of the blots and depend on the scaling parameters of the patterns, according to a nine-member team led by University of Oregon physicist Richard P. Taylor in a paper published in the journal PLOS ONE.

Fractals are objects with irregular curves or shapes and are recognizable building blocks of nature. Trees, clouds, rivers, galaxies, lungs and neurons are fractals.

The new discovery isn't about improving inkblots for psychological assessments -- their use became controversial and mostly set aside in the last 20 years. It does, however, have implications for Taylor's efforts to design a fractal based retinal implant and for potentially improving materials used for camouflage.

"These optical illusions seen in inkblots and sometimes in art are important for understanding the human visual system," said Taylor, who is director of the UO Materials Science Institute. "You learn important things from when our eyes get fooled. Fractal patterns in the inkblots are confusing the visual system. Why do you detect a bat or a butterfly when they were never there?"

Hermann Rorschach, a Swiss Freudian psychiatrist, published 10 inkblot patterns on separate cards, five done in black and white and five in color, in 1921. To make them, he poured different amounts and kinds of ink onto cards, folded them and pressed them tightly before opening them to display symmetrical patterns of varying complexities.

Rorschach died in 1922 and never knew about the subsequent widespread use of the inkblots to help assess a person's personality and mental health. Up to 300 differently perceived images have been recorded for each of the 10 inkblots. Whether such perceptions speak to mental health, reflect a person's level of creativity or simply draw from a person's past experiences has been debatable.

It is the complexity of the inkblots that Taylor's team, which included collaborators from five institutions, has dissected.

The group analyzed the boundaries of the inkblots. The work involved scanning them and then extracting the boundaries between regions of ink absorption and unstained portions of the cards using an edge-detection computer analysis. That analysis quantified the visual complexity of the blot boundaries using a parameter called fractal dimension D.

Combining these pattern analysis results with original psychology studies conducted on the blots in the 1930s and 1950s, the researchers uncorked "a very clear trend" between the dimensional values of the cards and their ability to induce images, Taylor said.

"As you increase the D value, which makes for more visual complexity, the number of visual perceptions fall off," he said. "People see a lot more patterns in the simple ones." Inkblots with D values of 1.1 generate the highest numbers of perceived images, the team found.

The team then put their findings to a human test, generating computerized fractal patterns with varying D values. When seen for 10 seconds by psychology undergraduate psychology students at the University of New South Wales in Australia, the same trend between D values and imagery surfaced.

Fractal patterns are also found in the artwork of Jackson Pollock, whose abstract expressionist paintings captured Taylor's lifelong interest in childhood. Pollock's paintings from 1943 to 1952, Taylor has found, are composed of fractals with D values that increased from 1.1 to 1.7. That change was deliberate, Taylor said, as Pollock sought ways to reduce imagery figures seen in his earlier work.

The study is among many that Taylor and his colleagues have pursued to better understand the connection between vision and nature. In 2015, Taylor and the UO along with Simon Brown and the University of Canterbury in New Zealand obtained a U.S. patent for using artificial fractal-based implants to restore sight to the blind. The patent covers all fractal designed electronic implants that link signaling activity with nerves for any purpose in animal and human biology.

In January 2016, Taylor received a $900,000 grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation to pursue his work on fractal-based implants.

"All of our studies are highlighting an effect called fractal fluency," Taylor said. "The eye has evolved to efficiently process the fractal patterns found in nature's scenery. This reduces the observer's stress by up to 60 percent. If you don't build fractal fluency into a bionic eye, not only have you lost the ability to navigate, you've also lost that symbiotic relationship with nature's fractal patterns."

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Co-authors with Taylor on the PLOS ONE paper were R.D. Montgomery, J.H. Smith, C. Boydston and B.C. Scannell, of the UO Department of Physics; T.P. Martin of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C.; M.S. Fairbanks of the California State University's Maritime Academy in Vallejo, California, and B. Spehar of the University of University of New South Wales.

The Australian Research Council, Research Corporation for Science Advancement and W.M. Keck Foundation supported the research.

Source: Richard Taylor, professor of physics, director of Materials Science Institute, 541-346-4741, rpt@uoregon.edu

Note: The UO is equipped with an on-campus television studio with a point-of-origin Vyvx connection, which provides broadcast-quality video to networks worldwide via fiber optic network. There also is video access to satellite uplink and audio access to an ISDN codec for broadcast-quality radio interviews.

Links:

About Taylor: http://blogs.uoregon.edu/richardtaylor/

About the patent: http://around.uoregon.edu/content/patent-granted-uo-led-effort-fractal-based-nerve-connections

Keck grant: http://around.uoregon.edu/content/uo-idea-bio-inspired-implant-wins-900000-grant

Materials Science Institute: http://materialscience.uoregon.edu/

Department of Physics: http://physics.uoregon.edu/
A remarkable 250 million-year-old "terrible-headed lizard" fossil found in China shows an embryo inside the mother -- clear evidence for live birth.

Head of The University of Queensland's School of Earth and Environmental Sciences and co-author Professor Jonathan Aitchison said the fossil unexpectedly provided the first evidence for live birth in an animal group previously thought to exclusively lay eggs.

"Live birth is well known in mammals, where the mother has a placenta to nourish the developing embryo," Professor Aitchison said.

"Live birth is also very common among lizards and snakes, where the babies sometimes 'hatch' inside their mother and emerge without a shelled egg."

Until recently it was thought the third major group of living land vertebrates, the crocodiles and birds (part of the wider group Archosauromorpha) only laid eggs.

"Indeed, egg-laying is the primitive state, seen at the base of reptiles, and in their ancestors such as amphibians and fishes," Professor Aitchison said.

He said the new fossil was an unusual, long-necked marine animal called an archosauromorph that flourished in shallow seas of South China in the Middle Triassic Period.

The creature was a fish-eater, snaking its long neck from side to side to snatch its prey.

Its fossil was one of many astonishingly well-preserved specimens from new "Luoping biota" locations in south-western China. There were no known fossils like this (marine vertebrates of this age) from Australia.

Lead author Professor Jun Liu from Hefei University of Technology China, said the researchers were "excited" when they first saw this embryonic specimen.

"We were not sure if the embryonic specimen was the mother's last lunch or its unborn baby," Professor Liu said.

"Upon further preparation and closer inspection, we discovered something unusual."

He said the embryo was inside the mother's rib cage, and it faced forward; swallowed animals generally face backward because the predator swallows its prey head-first to help it go down its throat.

Furthermore, the small reptile inside the mother was an example of the same species.

"Further evolutionary analysis revealed the first case of live birth in such a wide group containing birds, crocodilians, dinosaurs and pterosaurs among others, and pushes back evidence of reproductive biology in the group by 50 million years," Professor Liu said.

"Information on reproductive biology of archosauromorphs before the Jurassic Period was not available until our discovery, despite a 260 million-year history of the group."

Professor Chris Organ from Montana State University said evolutionary analysis showed that this instance of live birth was also associated with genetic sex determination.

"Some reptiles today, such as crocodiles, determine the sex of their offspring by the temperature inside the nest," he said.

"We identified that Dinocephalosaurus, a distant ancestor of crocodiles, determined the sex of its babies genetically, like mammals and birds.

"This new specimen from China rewrites our understanding of the evolution of reproductive systems."

Professor Mike Benton of the University of Bristol said analysis of the evolutionary position of the new specimens showed no fundamental reason why archosauromorphs could not have evolved live birth.

"This combination of live birth and genotypic sex determination seems to have been necessary for animals such as Dinocephalosaurus to become aquatic," he said.

"It's great to see such an important step forward in our understanding of the evolution of a major group coming from a chance fossil find in a Chinese field."

The work is part of ongoing wider collaborations between palaeontologists in China, the United States, the UK and Australia.

The paper is published in the journal, Nature Communications.

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Two Nepali students drown in Sydney beach

A Nepali student has gone missing and a body of another has been found washed up at Maroubra Beach in Sydney on Tuesday, local police said.
The small protein ubiquitin regulates a plethora of physiological and pathophysiological processes in the human body. It lives up to its name quite literally by being ubiquitous, both in terms of its abundance and its far-reaching regulatory impact. How ubiquitin exerts its diverse functions is intensely studied all over the world. Finding answers to this question is essential to exploit the ubiquitin system efficiently for therapeutic purposes. Researchers from Wurzburg have taken a key step towards this goal. Their results reveal new ways of regulating a ubiquitin ligase.

Enzymes that determine a protein's fate

"Ubiquitin ligases are enzymes that decorate cellular target proteins with ubiquitin and thus determine the fate of these target proteins," says Dr. Sonja Lorenz, senior author on the study. Ubiquitin can act as a "molecular postal code" that can guide target proteins to specific locations in the cell, lead them to serve distinct functions, carry molecular signals, integrate into large complexes, or even be destroyed.

Sonja Lorenz heads a research group at the Rudolf Virchow Center for Experimental Biomedicine at the University of Wurzburg. Her team and colleagues study a particular ubiquitin ligase, HUWE1, that has been ascribed key roles in tumor formation and is considered a promising, yet unexploited cancer-therapeutic target. Their new results on the molecular mechanism of HUWE1 are reported in the journal eLife.

Divide and rule: breaking down a protein giant

With almost 4.400 amino acids HUWE1 is an extremely large protein. Its three-dimensional structure, for the most part, is unknown. "The enormous size of HUWE1 and its flexibility present a considerable challenge for structural biologists," says Sonja Lorenz. To get a handle on the protein giant, her research team followed the ancient Roman principle "divide et impera - divide and rule" and has initially determined the atomic structure of a portion of HUWE1 using X-ray crystallography.

This structure reveals a new and intriguing feature of HUWE1: Two HUWE1 molecules can pair up to form a complex known as a "dimer", thereby shutting down their enzymatic activities.

Imbalances with consequences

How does the cell prevent HUWE1 from forming dimers when the enzyme needs to be active? The Wurzburg researchers also provide an answer to this question: HUWE1 exists in a fine-tuned balance of inactive dimers and single, active molecules. "Various cellular factors can regulate this balance," says Sonja Lorenz.

The tumor suppressor protein p14ARF is one such factor. It inhibits HUWE1, but is frequently lost in cancer cells. The new study provides the first mechanistic explanation of how p14ARF inhibits HUWE1. "The effects of p14ARF on the structure and activity of HUWE1 are extremely exciting," says Sonja Lorenz. "They open up a range of possibilities to manipulate HUWE1 activity that we are following up on."

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Personal details: Sonja Lorenz

Dr. Sonja Lorenz holds an Emmy Noether grant from the German Research Foundation with which she established her lab at the Rudolf Virchow Center of the University of Wurzburg in April 2014. She is the deputy speaker of the new Research Training Group 2243, "Understanding Ubiquitylation: From Molecular Mechanisms to Disease", that will start in April 2017. Her studies on the interplay of HUWE1 and p14ARF are supported by the Wilhelm Sander-Foundation for medical research.

The human ubiquitin ligase HUWE1 is regulated by a conformational switch. Bodo Sander, Wenshan Xu, Martin Eilers, Nikita Popov, Sonja Lorenz. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.21036
LOGAN, UTAH, USA - Unlocking the geologic past of Utah's mighty Wasatch Fault and its earthquake history, requires a zoomed-in, nanoscale pursuit clues left over millions of years, says Utah State University geologist Alexis Ault. And what better detectives to assist her in the task than energetic youngsters, whose curiosity fuels Ault's enthusiasm.

"I'm so excited about the research, but I also have a passion and fire to explore this work with middle school students," says the assistant professor in USU's Department of Geology. "We have a lot of science before us and this is a very real and challenging opportunity."

Ault is a 2017 recipient of a prestigious Faculty Early Career Development 'CAREER' Award from the National Science Foundation. The NSF's highly competitive grant program for junior faculty, CAREER awards recognize demonstrated excellence in research, teaching and the integration of education and research. Ault's award provides a five-year grant of $631,000.

"When an earthquake occurs, the primary byproduct is heat," says Ault, who joined USU's faculty in 2014. "Each event imparts a distinct textural and thermochronologic signature on the fault rocks."

The Wasatch Fault provides an accessible natural laboratory for Utah's residents, including students at Perry, Utah's Promontory School for Expeditionary Learning. Ault began working with teachers and students from the public charter school about a year ago.

"Middle school is a time when students form their 'STEM identity,'" she says. "It's important they have role models, who can instill a passion for science that will grow. Providing field and lab broadens their horizons by helping them understand how science works and the role of technology in our everyday lives."

Technological developments students will experience first-hand are USU's scanning electron microscope in the university's Microscopy Core Facility and the USTAR Nanofab Facility at the University of Utah.

"This CAREER research provides a new window into processes that cause earthquakes in the Wasatch Fault down to the nano-scale," Ault says. "These middle schoolers will be participating in cutting-edge research relevant to their daily lives."

To pursue this project, she's assembled a team of interdisciplinary experts, including researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey and multiple universities across the country. Graduate student Rob McDermott, a USU Presidential Doctoral Research Fellow, provided pilot data for the project. David Feldon and Colby Tofel-Grehl, faculty members in USU's Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services, will assist in instructional and learning assessment efforts. Rock mechanics experts from Brown University and the University of Pennsylvania will guide students in rock deformation experiments and earthquake simulations in the lab. Collaborations will also continue with the Arizona Radiogenic Helium Dating Laboratory at the University of Arizona.

"None of this happens in a vacuum," Ault says. "We're pushing the intellectual and educational boundaries for these young students, as well as ourselves, and that's what our mission as scientists and citizens is all about."

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Tuesday, February 14, 2017

As an attorney, you will probably retain a forensic expert for a prospective litigation or investigation.

How will you know whether this person was qualified to perform the work? Could they withstand the scrutiny of cross-examination?

How will you vet the person to determine whether they are qualified as a partner for your legal case?

The 2009 National Academy of Sciences report offered recommendations for improvement of the forensic sciences. Specifically, the recommendations were made due to a lack of a scientific approach used by practitioners in many forensic disciplines. In 2016 the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) published a directive stating the phrase, To a reasonable scientific certainty may not be used by a forensic expert in their reports without quantitative data to substantiate the claim, https://www.justice.gov/ncfs/file/788566/download. The NAS report stated there is too much subjectivity in many forensic reports.

Relying on an unqualified forensic expert can kill your chances of prevailing in your case. You may even be led to pursue a case that cannot be successfully sustained.

Its imperative that you always have a qualified forensic expert on your side who will not be destroyed in deposition or on the witness stand in the trial.

Not all forensic experts are created equal. This article takes you through some steps for vetting your forensic expert.

Evidence Code Requirements

Federal Rules of Evidence 702 in California evidence code 802, define rules that are required for a forensic expert to testify as to their opinion. They require the forensic expert to possess specialized skill, knowledge, education, experience or training such that they have special abilities that can assist the trier of fact.

When conducting your interview, find out how many of the five abilities the forensic expert has. You also need to assess whether they can stand up to examination in deposition or cross examination during trial.

A key requirement not in evidence code

The forensic expert you retain may possess special skills, education, and knowledge of the subject matter of the case. However, they need to be able to go several steps further to contribute to your success.

The forensic expert needs to be capable of conveying an opinion in lay language. Your expert must be skilled at writing a report that is sufficiently detailed to be bulletproof yet is understandable by a person who is not an expert in their discipline. Ask your prospective forensic expert for a sample report from the prior case that went to trial.

You must know whether they are capable of verbally explaining their opinion in language that is understandable by a judge and/or jury. Have them explain how they reached the opinion stated in the sample report. Do they use stories to convey the concepts of the report?

Social media is your friend

To check your forensic experts validity, social media is your friend. The Internet is a valuable tool to help you easily vet your forensic expert.

Use Google, Bing, or other search engines. Using multiple engines will reveal different information. Explore the experts profiles and posts on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and other social media sites.

Frequently if the person is a member of a professional forensic expert trade organization, your search will reveal this. If they speak at conferences or publish papers in journals or write books, you will also find this information.

Read their posts. Their chosen words, pictures, and links to other sites will prove valuable in helping you to understand them. You might also find information that your opposing counsel could use in an attempt to impeach your witness.

To conduct your due diligence on the Internet, type the experts name, in different ways, into several search engines. For example, type in Mike Wakshull and Michael Wakshull.

Find out what comes up. Where did the expert go to school? Where did they get their training? Do they have a CV online? You will find a lot of information about the person.

This information is publicly available. As an attorney or a paralegal, you have access to LexisNexis. Use it to find other cases the forensic expert has worked on.

Visit the websites of the organizations of which they claim to be a member. Many forensic expert organizations post the membership list online.

Also, type the name of the persons company into the search engine. Visit their website and spend some time exploring different aspects. Their words, videos, and links can speak volumes.

In some instances, I have learned valuable information about an opposing examiner from my retaining attorney. In one case the attorney had done extensive research on LexisNexis about an opposing examiner. The examiner had opined that the signature on a warrant was a forgery, even though the judge who had signed the warrant said, I remember signing that. And thats my signature. The other examiner stood behind his statement that the signature was a forgery.

Use whatever online tools are at your disposal to detect useful information before you hire, and then again to investigate the opposing expert.

An example from a deposition

In one of my cases, I had discovered detrimental information about the opposing examiner that was readily available on the Internet. In deposition, my client attorney was able to show examples of other cases where this forensic expert had incorrectly presented evidence to support the side that retained him.

If the opposing attorney had typed his examiners name into a search engine, he would have discovered that his expert had been expelled from a leading forensics organization.

When the case went to trial, it was easy for me to demonstrate that the opposing examiner had skewed the evidence to make it appear to support the side that hired him.

Are the examiners credentials valid for the case?

Theres a forensic document examiner in Southern California who includes diplomate on his CV and website. The problem is, the organization where he got his diplomate certificate offers neither training nor credentials for forensic document examiners. The organization does offer a diplomate certificate in other disciplines and a general forensics diplomate certificate.

Not only do you want to discover where the examiner got their education and training, find out if the organization offers a credential in that area of expertise.

Does the forensic expert have the equipment necessary to perform the work? Review their CV to learn how they maintain current knowledge in the discipline. Do they speak before their peers or publish in journals?

Know the organizations

A variety of organizations offer valid certifications in different forensics programs.

Regarding forensic document examination, for example, the Board of Forensic Document Examination (BFDE) offers a valid certification that is well-recognized in the industry.

There is also the ABFDE, which is the American Board of Forensic Document Examiners. The difference is the membership. BFDE consists mostly of private examiners. ABFDEs members are mostly current and prior government examiners. Both associations are valid.

The National Association of Document Examiners and Scientific Association of Forensic Examiners also offer valid certifications. East Tennessee State University offers a graduate school certificate in forensic document examination.

What is the motive of the examiners trade organization?

Learn whether your prospective forensic expert is a member of a respected trade organization. Ask them whether their organization is a registered 501c(6) not for profit organization.

Organizations such as these require their members to subscribe to a code of ethics. A typical code of ethics requires members to remain neutral as to the parties to the case. They are advocates for the evidence. NIJ published a National Code of Ethics for the Forensic Sciences https://www.justice.gov/ncfs/file/788576/download.

Since no profit motive is involved in a nonprofit organization, and the officers and members of the organization are forbidden from gaining financially, you are assured that the members purpose in the organization is for education, networking, and maintaining currency in the field.

On the other hand, there are for profit businesses that pretend to be certifying organizations. They teach the subject of forensic document examination, and when the student completes the course, they receive a certification in forensic document examination as a completion certificate.

Many of these certified examiners have little or no experience.

Your due diligence will prove to be valuable

As a legal professional, it is imperative that you learn the details about the background and skills of forensic experts with whom you will partner on your case. This is especially true for cases where you will retain a forensic expert who is not required to hold licenses or to have specific education for their forensic disciplines.

Always assume that the parties on the other side of your case will perform their due diligence.

There are tools available to make your investigation into the person relatively easy.

When you perform an extensive investigation, not only will you greatly reduce the chances of being surprised by the other side, but you will have a qualified forensic expert on your side. Retaining a forensic expert with strong credentials and credibility will greatly strengthen the position of your case.
The British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA) is calling for DEFRA to allow all free range hens in England to be allowed outside at the end of February before producers 'go bust'.

The organisation has written to Defra Minister Lord Gardiner and Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens to highlight serious inconsistencies in the governments plan.

England has designated Higher Risk Areas (HRAs) where birds must continue to be housed after 28 February. Those farms not in an HRA must put in place enhanced biosecurity protocols, but their flocks can range.

But there will be no compulsory housing for producers in Wales, where there have been two outbreaks of the H5N8 strain this year. All flocks on Scottish farms will also be allowed outside.

Farming neighbours Dave White and Daniel Brown told FarmingUK they will soon find themselves on opposite sides of the free range divide following the Government's decision to partially lift the nationwide avian influenza housing order.

Their free range egg units are just 700 metres apart, yet come March 1 Dave White's birds will, according to the Government's chief vet, have to remain housed and will, consequently, become barn eggs.

'Inconsistent approach'

BFREPA chief executive Robert Gooch said the Government's approach is 'inconsistent'.

He said: This inconsistent approach is proving divisive among producers in the UK and will spell the end for some of our members in England who will lose their free range status.

There is a lack of common sense in an approach that allows birds on one side of the Severn Estuary to range, while across the border in England birds continue to be housed. It has created a postcode lottery.

An outbreak at a broiler farm in Suffolk this week was outside of the proposed HRA, demonstrating that there is little science available to accurately pinpoint where higher risk areas should be.

BFREPA estimates that about 150 of its members will be caught in an HRA and will be forced to downgrade their eggs from free range to barn at a cost of about 20p/dozen. They produce about two million eggs per day.

The enhanced biosecurity measures proposed for the majority of English free range flocks outside of HRAs should apply all over the country, as has happened in Wales and Scotland, Mr Gooch added.

We are calling on Defra to review its position and change the policy before we see our producers go out of business.
Farm leaders and ministers who claimed that the British sheep industry would be 'destroyed' by free trade deals with New Zealand 'need to get their facts correct', according to Farmers' for Action chairman David Handley.

Welsh rural affairs secretary previously said the British lamb industry could be severely damaged by a post-Brexit free trade deal with New Zealand.

"I do not want to say 'I told you so' but that was one of the issues we tried to get out there ahead of the referendum," she said.

But Mr Handley, who has organised protests over the price of milk in areas around the UK, said: "It really disturbs me as Chairman of FFA of the total negativity being thrown around by some Remainers who hold political office and also some who say they represent our industry and I do question their motives.

"Free trade negotiation is not going to be easy, but then neither is the place we find ourselves in at the moment and I do wish people would stop talking about 'support payments' and start talking about how we develop trade with many other countries around the world.

"I am very angry with the comments that the sheep industry is going to be doomed post Brexit and blaming New Zealand as being the major problem. These people need to get their facts correct."

'Business minded'

Phil Stocker, National Sheep Association Chief Executive, echoed the statements made by the Welsh minister and said a trade agreement would send a larger amount of sheep meat to UK retailers when the market is 'already suffering.'

"NSA understands Australia has been pushing to increase its EU quota for many years now, so there is no doubt it would send larger amounts of sheep meat to Europe and the UK given the opportunity," he said.

But Mr Handley said Brexit awarded a freedom to go forward and develop new markets for sheep farmers.

"Some we can do on our own, some we will need to operate with our partners who produce food around the world but as long as that delivers sustainable prices for our producers that is all that matters."

The FFA chairman had a meeting with Defra minister Andrea Leadsom and farming minister George Eustice to discuss the future of farming after Brexit.

"All I hear from the over 50s in my travels is this dreaded phrase 'we need support payment'.

"When will people realise no other business in the world gets subsidised as heavily as agriculture? I am not in any way saying that that is unnecessary but for us to go forward and prosper post Brexit, we have to change the way we operate and we have to become businessmen.

"There are a lot of young people currently breaking through into the dairy industry and in my travels I find them inspirational."
British vets have called on the government after a survey showed a third of vets have been affected by a lack of access to facilities.

A British Veterinary Association (BVA) survey shows that, where there have been changes to post-mortem facilities since 2014, a third of vets affected thought their access to facilities had deteriorated and, where there have been laboratory closures, three-quarters of vets had seen carcase submission rates decline.

"Disease is unpredictable, particularly new diseases and novel strains of diseases in our increasingly globalised world," said Gudrun Ravetz, president of the BVA.

"As a country we need to be alert to the threat posed to our livestock, food chain and agricultural business by disease incursions.

Disease control

Disease control was identified by BVA members as one of their top three highest priorities in relation to Brexit, with veterinary surgeons specifically citing zoonotic disease and a break down in surveillance communication amongst the issues they are most worried about.

"While we understand the need to update and, in places, consolidate laboratory services, our survey figures show how the closure of laboratories and the cutting of resource to APHA services affect vets' and farmers access to laboratories.

"Vets frontline roles must be recognised and supported, backed up by an effective, coordinated system of data capture that will enable us to make the necessary links to detect and control new disease threats, protect food safety and safeguard animal and human health."

As the UK's plans for exiting the EU progress, BVA is calling on the UK Government to ensure resources for existing disease control and eradication programmes and surveillance systems are maintained to ensure the UK has effective and adequately resourced systems for detecting new and emerging diseases.
A farmer and his dog died at a level crossing in Frampton Mansell, Gloucestershire on Tuesday (7 February).

Colin Cameron, aged 60, died when his Land Rover was struck by a train at the crossing at around 3pm.

A post-mortem into Mr Camerons death on 9 February revealed he died from multiple injuries and a file is being prepared for the coroner.

Married father of two Mr Cameron was one of the founder members of Stroudco Food Hub, a food organisation which sourced produce from local farmers and bakers.

Following the incident, officers have been speaking to witnesses and specialist search teams were called to the scene to try and establish the circumstances which led to Mr Camerons death.

Chief Inspector John Angell said: Our family liaison officers continue to support Mr Camerons loved ones, who have asked for their privacy to be respected, and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

Our enquiries at the scene have concluded for now and I would like to reiterate our thanks to the local community for the help they gave to passengers on the service involved immediately after the incident and for their cooperation as we worked in the area.

We continue to appeal for anyone who saw what happened, or feels they may have any information which would be relevant to our investigation, to contact us.

Anyone with info can call British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 reference 311 of 07/02 or text us on 61016.
A Welsh free range egg producer has been handed an 18-month jail sentence for overstocking, although the sentence has been suspended.

John Edward Morgan of Gorse Farm, Llandridod Wells in Powys pleaded guilty to two charges when he appeared before Llandrindod Wells Magistrates Court.

The first was fraud - making false representations that his company was producing free range eggs, when he knew that he was contravening regulations governing egg production as a registered egg producer by exceeding the stocking density of birds under free range status.

This was contrary to Section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006. The second was a regulatory offence committed between September 1, 2013 and May 1, 2015, of failing to keep a record of mortality levels of poultry, contrary to Regulation 24 of the Eggs and Chicks (Wales) Regulations 2010.

Magistrates sent him for sentencing to Swansea Crown Court because of the seriousness of the offences. There, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years.

John Morgan's son, Joseph Morgan, was fined by Llandrindod Wells magistrates for submitting the incorrect date of lay for the family's eggs.

The date was submitted on transport documents that accompanied his eggs to a packing centre.

He pleaded guilty to a single charge of failing to comply with the Eggs and Chicks (Wales) Regulations 2010, by not recording the laying date of eggs laid from September 1, 2013 to May 1, 2015.

Morgan was ordered to pay nearly 3,000 in total. He was fined 1,800, told to pay a contribution to costs of 1,000 and also a standard victim surcharge of 120.

'Significant discrepancies'

According to details provided by the Welsh Government, the Morgans have two free range hen houses, which have a maximum capacity of 18,000 and 16,000 hens respectively. The eggs produced are sold to Oakland Farm Eggs.

Between 2013 and 2015 a number of inspections were undertaken by egg marketing inspectors, which, the Welsh Government says, revealed significant discrepancies.

The issues included: false declarations about the number of hens placed in the second hen house; significant anomalies surrounding the number of eggs laid on a particular date, leading to forwarding of the best before dates of the eggs at Oaklands Farm Eggs; the number of additional birds in the second house exceeded the allowed maximum stocking density permitted by law and the business should not have been marketing the eggs produced from that house as free range.

The Welsh Government is considering a Proceeds of Crime Act application in order to recover the unlawful benefit obtained by the Morgans' actions.

It said it was clear from the sentences imposed that such cases would not be dealt with lightly by the Welsh Government nor by the Courts. It said compliance with regulatory standards should be a priority for all concerned.

Crackdown on overstocking

Government agencies have been involved in a crackdown on overstocking by egg producers.

As many as 200 egg producers are thought to have been involved in Government investigations into suspected overstocking on UK farms.

They have been visiting pullet rearers, seizing documents under threat of police enforcement and have been pursuing legal action against the most serious offenders.

Following the sentencing of Joseph Morgan, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) said that the case should serve as a warning to egg producers that they must comply with the rules.

A spokesperson said: Consumers rely on honest egg marketing to ensure that the eggs they buy are fresh and safe to eat, and that production methods are correctly described.

This case should serve as a warning and reminder that APHA enforces egg marketing legislation robustly and that deliberate transgressions result in tough sanctions for those not willing to comply.

Egg marketing inspections in Wales are conducted on behalf of the Welsh Government by the APHA.

More birds than allowed

Officials at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have previously issued warnings to egg producers to avoid the temptation of ordering more birds than allowed under Government rules.

In 2012 the then Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) said that farmers breaking the rules could face prosecution if they ignored warnings.

It seems that APHA  the successor to AHVLA  is now getting tough, demanding sales records from pullet rearers and taking legal action.

Sentencing John Morgan, the judge involve in the case at Swansea praised a very thorough investigation by officials and the "evident detail" that had gone into the audits of the Morgans operation.
Jersey farmers are being told to meet new standards or have their government subsidies cut.

The Jersey Government is introducing a new plan to help boost the local rural economy, while also protecting the environment.

The international quality control measures are set by an organisation known as LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming,) which promotes sustainable agriculture, food and farming.

Environment Minister, Deputy Steve Luce told ITV News: "We're asking all farmers to sign up to this LEAF mark and this looks at energy savings, biodiversity, nature conservation, community engagement; and all those boxes will need to be ticked in exchange for receiving tax payers' money.

The rural budget will remain the same as last year, with no extra money allocated by the local Government, but farmers said they are relieved it is not being reduced in a tough economic climate.

Peter Le Maistre, President of the Jersey Farmers Union: "We're pleased that the government have accepted that it's important that the standard of growing in the island, in terms of trying to achieve this LEAF mark within three years.

"It is a very big step forward as it will not only help with environmental practise within the island, but it will give us a competitive advantage, I believe, being able to market our potatoes and other crops into the UK."

However, UK farmers get larger subsidies from the government, which the Jersey Farmers Union say puts Jersey farmers at a disadvantage.
The Ulster Farmers Union has hit back at attempts by the media to link the Union to the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scandal.

The organisation, which represents 11,500 farming families across Northern Ireland, says those doing so are trying to imply that legitimate users have done something wrong.

The Union says that the media are allowing the focus to switch from the key issue of how a 'poorly designed' scheme was put in place, and why controls were 'inadequate'.

UFU says the result has been a scramble to launch 'unfair and spurious' accusations  while at the same time ignoring examples of the scheme being abused.

Set up in November 2012, the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme was an attempt by the Northern Ireland Executive to help to increase consumption of heat from renewable sources.

It offered financial incentives to farms, businesses and other non-domestic consumers to use biomass boilers that mostly burned wood pellets, as well as solar thermal and heat pumps.

But flaws in setting the scheme's subsidy rate left it open to abuse as claimants could earn more cash the more fuel they burned, with one farmer having made 1m out of renting an empty shed.

'Farmers as soft targets'

UFU chief executive, Wesley Aston said: It is wrong to see farmers as soft targets and to seek to draw into the scandal people who invested a lot of their own money in boilers to replace other, less efficient, on farm energy sources.

The UFU has admitted it pressed for a grace period to allow those with investment plans and capital commitments in place to enter the RHI scheme, since this was the basis on which the investment was made.

We will always press for fair treatment for our members. We did so over a grace period. This was with officials and not with politicians or special advisers, said Mr Aston.

The UFU chief executive added that it was no surprise that those involved with the UFU should be part of the RHI.

These are, by definition, progressive farmers who have always taken up new ideas. They were encouraged by those buying what they produce and by government to embrace this scheme, said Mr Aston.

He said those doing so included the family of the current UFU president, Barclay Bell, who has a single RHI boiler to utilise on farm woodland and to dry grain.

'Victim shaming'

Mr Aston said what was happening now was a form of 'victim shaming', in that as taxpayers farmers were also victims of a scheme put in place without adequate controls.

It seems that with the election under way some are now seeking out soft targets over RHI. I would suggest they turn the focus back to where the blame should be  on a poorly designed scheme and the lack of government audits to find and punish those breaking the rules.

Instead they are allowing those with things to hide to divert the media into chasing those who have done nothing wrong, and who invested a lot of their own money to cut costs and to meet the pressures exerted on them by those to whom they sell their end product, said Mr Aston.
50pc colleges issue voter list

Nearly half of the 60 Tribhuvan University constituent colleges have published the list of voters for the Free Student Union elections by Monday.
Waitrose has responded to concerns over confusing labels on some of its lamb ready meals.

The meals are branded Waitrose British and include Shepherds Pie, Lamb Hot Pot, Liver and Bacon and Lamb with Mint and Redcurrant. However, they are all made with New Zealand lamb.

The UK's seventh largest supermarket has since been in extensive talks with the National Farmers Union (NFU).

The supermarket chain has said it will ensure that all products have the origin of the lamb clearly marked on the front of pack.

Farmers have expressed concern over the lack of origin labelling with the product online, and Waitrose have responded by adding an online origin statement.

"To ensure the provenance of the lamb in the meals is clearer (it has always been on back of pack) we have [already] stickered all packs on the front," said a Waitrose spokeswoman.

"We are about to re-launch the range with the branding "Classic", removing the large "British" reference from the front of pack.

"This was only ever supposed to denote the origin of the recipe but we understand why confusion has arisen," she added.

'Misleading'

NFU President Meurig Raymond said the inclusion of the word British in the brand name despite the meat being sourced from New Zealand is 'misleading' for shoppers.

He said: Its frustrating for British farmers, especially those who produce lamb Waitrose could have sourced.

After extensive discussions between the retailer and the NFU, were now pleased to see some changes made: on pack-stickers to clarify sourcing put in place in the first instance, with the long-term plan of a full rebrand of the British product range to avoid confusion on sourcing.

During these discussions we urged the retailers to make the most of the high-quality British food products our farmers produce. This, we said, is the best way to celebrate British provenance with their customers. Well continue to push this message with Waitrose, and others in the supply chain, and relay any more progress on this back to the industry."
Marts to donate Scotch Lamb for St Andrew's Day campaign
In this clip from Industry Focus: Energy, Motley Fool energy analysts Sean O'Reilly and Taylor Muckerman discuss the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century's global status report for renewable energy in 2015.

Listen in to find out just how massively China is invested in renewable energy generation over the next five years, why biomass energy use is growing so quickly, which countries around the world are invested the most heavily in green power, why oil giant Saudi Arabia is planning to pour tens of billions of dollars into renewable energy by 2023, and more.

A full transcript follows the video.

This podcast was recorded on Feb. 2, 2017.

Sean O'Reilly: I wanted to quickly go down a list. This is enormous. There's a group called the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century. They, every year, put out a report on the global status report of renewable energy. You can go to ren21.net and check it out. They do this every June, so we have last June's report, and it mostly covers 2015. But anecdotally, this sort of thing doesn't get changed a lot. This thing is pages and pages long! All right, let's do a quiz. Where do you think --

Taylor Muckerman: Oh, I have the list right in front of me.

O'Reilly: Oh, you do?

Muckerman: Yeah. I can't cheat on air.

O'Reilly: Shut your computer!

Muckerman: I've seen it; it's too late.

O'Reilly: All right, fine.

Muckerman: We can quiz our listeners. Give them five seconds to guess.

O'Reilly: All right, our listeners can check this out. Google "2016 report."

Muckerman: Sorry. I ruined it. You sent it to me.

O'Reilly: I'm not going to forget this. No, I did. What stuck out to you there? You have China beating us for investment in renewable fuels --

Muckerman: And total capacity or generation as of the end of 2015 for all renewable power. That's only set to accelerate, I think, you're looking at China expected to, according to Reuters, plow $361 billion into renewable-energy power generation by 2020 -- $361 billion. That will create 13 million jobs, they estimate. And that's just over a five-year period, from 2016 to 2020.

O'Reilly: The per-capita numbers were hilarious to me. Investment in renewable power and fuel per unit of GDP, No. 1 was Mauritania, then Honduras, Uruguay, Morocco, and Jamaica. Renewable power capacity per capita, No. 1 is of course Denmark, Germany, Sweden. But, dollar for dollar, it's pretty much us, China, Germany, a little Japan and the U.K. in there.

Muckerman: Yeah, Japan is No. 3 in terms of investment in 2015. Then the U.K., and then India.

O'Reilly: Which is not surprising, because they had the nuclear problem, they have no natural resources, they don't have oil, so it's like, what are we going to do here?

Muckerman: Makes total sense, and they're surrounded by ocean.

O'Reilly: A little tricky there. I was surprised by how big biomass energy is. Is that the landfills, and it has methane burning it --

Muckerman: Yeah, the waste, heat, things like that.

O'Reilly: I was surprised by how big that was.

Muckerman: Yeah, not too shabby. A decent amount. If you think about how much we actually do waste, it's smart to use it.

O'Reilly: Yeah. It's physics. This is just energy; it's like wind. These things happen.

Muckerman: Energy can never be created or destroyed.

O'Reilly: Oh, man. That's very Zen of you.

Muckerman: Isn't that something that they say in physics?

O'Reilly: Yeah. All right, let's dive in here to a few unique interesting situations. Saudi Arabia. They obviously have a ton of sunlight, but...

Muckerman: What are they well known for, besides sunlight?

O'Reilly: Oh, I don't know, maybe they're known for going out into the desert and sticking a straw in the sand and getting oil.

Muckerman: And they are expected to dump between $30 [billion] and $50 billion into major renewable energy by 2023. So not nearly on the same level as China, but still.

O'Reilly: Well, what was the Saudi Aramco, the oil company that might be IPO'ing in a year or two, they're talking about dabbling in it a little bit, I saw this morning.

Muckerman: Maybe $5 billion in renewable-energy deals, yeah. They've asked HSBC, [ JPMorgan Chase], and Credit Suisse to go out there and try to find some companies that they might be able to buy with $5 billion of cash lying around.

O'Reilly: What do you think Saudi Arabia is thinking? I see a couple possibilities, or maybe it's all of them. Is this, we need to shift away from oil because someday we're not going to be able to use it?

Muckerman: Yeah, I think the last couple years was a gut check for them, because oil provides a pretty decent amount of subsidies for the social programs they have. So they've been losing out on a lot of that revenue. So they're trying to at least internally reduce their demand on oil.

O'Reilly: So they can sell more oil?

Muckerman: Yeah, I think that probably has something to do with it. Also, they powered their country with oil.

O'Reilly: I was about to say, they are one of the few countries that burns oil for their electricity grid.

Muckerman: Yeah. So if they can make electricity cheaper, then why not? They're looking to grow up to about 30% of their power from low-carbon sources by 2030. Right now, they have about 10 gigawatts of power from wind, solar, and nuclear.

O'Reilly: Sweet. I have to think they're trying to play catch-up with the UAE [United Arab Emirates], too. They've been doing a lot with solar.

Muckerman: I mean, they're right there -- it's the desert; they have plenty of sun right along the equator.

O'Reilly: Yeah, exactly. What else stuck out to you as you looked around the globe? As I mentioned, I'm optimistic about Africa because installing the transmission lines for traditional centralized power like we have, like a natural gas-burning power plant or something, it's a little bit of a hassle.

Muckerman: Well, if you think about it in terms of what they have done with telephones, for example. They've pretty much skipped land lines and went right to cellphones. So if you think about it, it's a similar situation. You have a cellphone tower rather than telephone lines crisscrossing the country. You can liken a cellphone tower to a solar grid, because they can be placed sporadically around the country and distributed in the regions where they're needed. So I think that's probably what's going to happen. It's just going to skip traditional power generation and go straight to renewable, more regional distribution, as needed.

O'Reilly: It almost seems like renewables are the best thing that ever happened for developing nations. I mean, that's pretty darn useful.

Muckerman: Now that it's cost-effective, yeah. Beforehand, they were just kind of waiting on it. Companies want to invest. Foreign direct investment is a big thing in this world. I don't know if it's going to be African companies that are building these solar and wind and hydroelectric power plants, but somebody is going to do it because there's money to be made.
At Sundays workshop, Fred Hutchs Dr. Hans-Peter Kiem described how he and other researchers are using Browns case as a starting point to find a less harsh and more broadly applicable cure. He and Dr. Keith Jerome co-direct defeatHIV, a Hutch-based HIV cure research group that focuses on cell and gene therapy. Their goal is to genetically engineer resistance in an HIV-infected persons own blood stem cells rather than, as in Browns case, using immune cells from a matched donor with the rare HIV-resistant mutation. The group also is working on using the immune system to eradicate or at least control HIV, just as immunotherapies are beginning to revolutionize cancer treatment.

DefeatHIV is one of six public-private research groups nationwide funded by the National Institutes of Health to research potential HIV cures.

I really want to thank Timothy, Kiem said Sunday. He really inspired and launched cure research.

'You give me hope'

When antiretroviral therapy was first introduced in 1996, hopes were high that, taken long enough, the drugs would not just suppress but cure HIV. These hopes were dashed when researchers found that the virus integrates itself into some of the longest-lived cells in the body, forming reservoirs of latent infection that roar back if medication is stopped.

But according to studies presented Sunday by Dr. Merlin Robb of the U.S. Military HIV Research Program, early treatment with combination antiretroviral therapy is at least a step toward curing HIV. Starting treatment very early after infection can reduce the size of the reservoir in the first place and prevent further damage to the immune system, making any cure developed down the road more likely to be effective, Robb said.

Other topics of discussion at the workshop included how and whether antiretroviral treatment can be safely halted under carefully monitored conditions to test if a cure approach is working (do not try this at home) and whether enough females, from mice to humans, are being enrolled in clinical trials to understand how cure approaches may work differently in different genders (no).

The workshop also focused on the how  as well as the what and why  of cure research. Laurie Sylla, a member of the defeatHIV community advisory board, which co-sponsored Sundays workshop, talked about how trust and transparency are key to HIV cure or any clinical trials.

Trial participants want to know what are the risks we know about, and what are the risks we may not know? Sylla said. And they want to know if theres a safety plan. Whats going to happen to me if I participate in this? How quickly are we going to be able to identify that Im having a bad reaction? And how quickly are you going to do something for me if that happens?

Pat Migliore, another defeatHIV community advisory board member who has been living with HIV since 1984, recounted a list of fears involved in HIV cure: that long-time survivors like her will be left behind. That postmenopausal women will be left behind. That people of color will be left behind.

Until theres a cure for everybody in this world, theres a cure for nobody, she said.

As to whether there will be a cure in her lifetime, Migliore, 60, confessed to skepticism.

But, she added, What gives me hope is seeing all of you. And Timothy, you give me hope.

A role model, again

For all of the setbacks he has suffered and the disabilities he continues to confront, Brown, an early gay activist who once modeled himself after Boy George, retains his dry sense of humor and wicked sense of fun. He finds purpose as the only member of a singular club and cheerfully embraces his role as symbol of hope.

And on Sunday, he stepped forward to be a role model once again. The only person in the world who has been cured of HIV revealed for the first time publicly that, several years ago, he started taking PrEP  for pre-exposure prophylaxis  a daily pill that lowers the risk of acquiring HIV. Although Browns immune system is now HIV-resistant, he could become reinfected should he be exposed to a less-prevalent strain of HIV that uses a different kind of receptor to enter cells.

Brown recognizes how devastating it would be to people who take hope in his cure for him to have HIV again. And if the most famous HIV-free person in the world can be an example to others at risk of contracting HIV to use PrEP, then Brown is up for the task.

As Moses Nsubuga, an HIV activist and musician from Uganda in town for the workshop and CROI, sang a Ugandan birthday song and everyone else gamely joined the chorus, Brown basked in the appreciation and declared he could handle blowing out the 10 candles.

Its OK, he said, before taking a big breath. It has worked out.

Join the conversation about an HIV cure on our Facebook page. Learn more about HIV/AIDS research at Fred Hutch.
Washington : The United States Commission for International Religious Freedom has put its credibility at stake by publishing a report critical of religious freedom in India by a Pakistan-origin author known for his anti-India stand and support to separatists, a top Hindu-American body has said.

The Hindu American Foundation said by coming out with the report by Iqtidar Cheema, director for Institute for Leadership and Community Development, in Birmingham, England, the USCIRF has put its credibility at stake.

The report has alleged religious minority communities and Dalits face discrimination and persecution in India. It claims there are constitutional provisions and state and national laws in India that do not comply with international standards of freedom of religion or belief.

In a blog post, Suhag Shukla of USCIRF wrote USCIRF simply gave its imprimatur to the British activist Cheema.

Cheema, a native of Pakistan, has been honoured by several Pakistani government bodies, and is true to Pakistans foreign policy goals as well, he wrote, alleging that the report was biased and motivated.

Shukla alleged that Cheemas work provides cover to Pakistans long-standing support of a proxy war to separate Jammu and Kashmir from India. Not surprisingly then, this report fails to mention the plight of over 300,000 Kashmiri Hindu Pandits cleansed from their ancestral homeland in the Valley at the hands of Islamist radicals. Previous commission reports have ignored the same, she said.

Cheema is also an oft-quoted source to support various organisations that endorse a separatist movement calling for a separate Sikh state, Khalistan  a cause that the vast majority of Sikhs in India refuse to support, she said.

Khalistani terrorism led to an insurgency which left tens of thousands of Hindus and Sikhs dead in the Indian state of Punjab in the 1980s. This activism took its most bizarre and dangerous turn when Cheema addressed a crowd of Sikh separatists gathered in San Francisco calling for Khalistan and shouts supporting the Babbar Khalsa, a terrorist organisation banned by the UK and India, Shukla said.

Shockingly, for the first time in USCIRFs history, the Commission makes the overtly Hinduphobic declaration that caste-based discrimination is rooted in Hindu scripture, she said.

Why would USCIRF launch a spirited defence of American churches shilling for religious converts in India? Why would USCIRF substantiate the horrendous, and easily refuted claim  one that evangelical churches make to goad converts away from Hinduism  that the scriptures of Hinduism not only condone, but divinely sanction the social evil of caste-based, she alleged.

Shukla said USCIRF is the only governmental body to ever designate India, the worlds largest democracy and secular republic as a Country of Particular Concern Watch list, or Tier 2 list in league with Afghanistan, Turkey, Russia and others.

Source : TOI
Upset Hindus are urging Nachod (Czech Republic) based award-winning Primator brewery to not use Hindu deity Ganeshs image on its IPA beer bottles, calling it highly inappropriate.

Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, said that inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts or symbols for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees.

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, indicated that Ganesh was highly revered in Hinduism and he was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to be used in selling beer. Moreover, linking a deity with an alcoholic beverage was very disrespectful, Zed added.

Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken frivolously. Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled, Rajan Zed noted.

In Hinduism, Ganesh is worshipped as god of wisdom and remover of obstacles and is invoked before the beginning of any major undertaking.

Primator IPA, with 6.5% abv, claimed to be top-fermented Anglo-American style golden brown beer with a characteristic bitterness, has won four awards and is available in three sizes.

Primator brewery, whose history goes back to 1871, makes its beer using water coming from the Adrspassko. Besides Czech Republic; it reportedly has dealers in USA, Brazil, Israel, Russia, South Korea, France, Spain, Great Britain, Sweden, Italy, etc. Josef Hlavaty and Petr Kaluza are Director and Master Brewer respectively.

Nachod, known for its magnificent castle, is a town in the Hradec Kralove region of Czech Republic.

Source : From Our Correspondent
AIG Pokhrel is head of Nepal Police pro tem

Amid looming threat of leadership vacuum in the law enforcement agency, the government on Monday decided to appoint Additional Inspector General Dinesh Chandra Pokhrel as the officiating chief of Nepal Police.
Do you have employees that you constantly need to coddle, cajole and cater to? Are their needs and wants constantly changing? Do you feel like you cant afford to pay what it takes to getand keeptop talent employees? You are about to discover 5 actionable strategies to help you findand keepthe best employees without spending the GDP of Uzbekistan in payroll. Fear not, none of the 5 strategies are about base salary, benefits or bribing. Think more effective and less expensive. Imagine your company as the sole provider; the sole source of something special that your employees are desperately looking for and cant find anywhere else. Secret #1 - Build a Community - NOT A Workforce Chances are you are not hiring people for their first job. Some are even coming from a job they hate. A job that paid the bills and nothing else. Invite prospective employees to join a community- not to sign up for another less-than-fantastic job. When you create a community of people with shared values that care about each other, the tendency to steal, quit, come in late, complain, whine or partake in other non-superfantastic behavior decreases exponentially. Typical Employee/Employer Workflow Step 1 - Comply with these many rules Step 2 - There is no step two New and Improved Community Deal: Step 1 - Build an appealing community Step 2 - Invite talented amazing people into that c...
Astronomers have discovered 60 new planets orbiting stars near the Earth's solar system.

The team of international scientists, which include Dr Mikko Tuomi of the University of Hertfordshire, also found evidence of a further 54 planets - bringing the total number of potential new worlds to 114.

A hot "super-Earth" with a rocky surface located in the fourth nearest star system to the sun was among the extrasolar planets discovered.

Researchers said the planet - named Gliese 411b - demonstrates that "virtually all" the nearest stars to the sun have planets orbiting them and some of these "could be like Earth".

The results are based on almost 61,000 individual observations of 1,600 stars taken over a 20-year period by US astronomers using the Keck-I telescope in Hawaii.

The observations were part of the Lick-Carnegie Exoplanet Survey, which was started in 1996 by astronomers Steve Vogt and Geoffrey Marcy from the University of California and Paul Butler, from the Carnegie Institute of Science, in Washington.

Dr Tuomi, who was the only European-based researcher working on the project and led analysis of the data, said: "It is fascinating to think that when we look at the nearest stars, all of them appear to have planets orbiting them.

"This is something astronomers were not convinced about, even as little as five years ago.

"These new planets also help us better understand the formation processes of planetary systems and provide interesting targets for future efforts to image the planets directly."

Dr Butler said: "This paper and data release is one of my crowning achievements as an astronomer. It represents a good chunk of my life's work."

The group's paper has been accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal.
Modifications to inherited human DNA could be permitted in future in order to treat or prevent diseases that may be passed onto future generations, two major US scientific institutions have said.

The report on gene editing is a landmark since it amounts to an official sanctioning of medical research that aims to add, remove or replace DNA in human egg cells, sperm or embryos.

Many critics have argued that powerful new gene editing techniques should never be used to alter inherited DNA. They argue that such a move would be the start of a slippery slope leading to "designer" babies with selected features such as blue eyes, high intelligence or sporting prowess.

Gene editing, which effectively allows the precise "cutting and pasting" of DNA, is already used in basic research and clinical studies that involve non-heritable "somatic" cells.

Now the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Medicine have ruled that gene editing of the human "germline" - inherited DNA - should not be seen as a red line in medical research.

Future use of germline gene editing to treat or prevent disease and disability is a "realistic possibility that deserves serious consideration", the report says.

However, the two academies point out that the technology is not yet safe enough to justify testing it on the inherited DNA of human patients.

They add that gene editing for enhancement should not be allowed "at this time" - but do not rule it out completely.

A broad public debate should be held before permitting clinical trials, even those involving non-inherited DNA, for any purpose other than treating or preventing disease, the report says.

Professor Alta Charo, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US, who co-chaired a study committee appointed by the academies to investigate the wider implications of gene editing, said: "Human genome editing holds tremendous promise for understanding, treating or preventing many devastating genetic diseases, and for improving treatment of many other illnesses.

"However, genome editing to enhance traits or abilities beyond ordinary health raises concerns about whether the benefits can outweigh the risks, and about fairness if available only to some people."

Currently research that involves modifying inherited genes in human embryos is not allowed in the US, and a number of other countries have signed an international convention that prohibits it.

Altering germline DNA is also banned in the UK, with one important exception. Parliament has ruled that inherited DNA in the mitochondria - tiny power plants in cells that supply energy - can be replaced if they are defective and the cause of devastating diseases that are passed down from mothers to their children.

Mitochondrial DNA makes up only about 0.1% of all the inherited genetic material in a human cell and does not affect key characteristics such as hair and eye colour or personality.

The academies said although heritable gene-editing trials must be approached with caution, "caution does not mean prohibition".

The study committee set out strict rules that would have to be met before advancing to clinical trials.

They include the absence of "reasonable" alternatives, restriction to editing genes that have been shown to cause or increase the risk of a serious disease or condition, the availability of credible data on risks and potential health benefits, "rigorous" oversight, and continued reassessment of "both health and societal benefits, with wide-ranging ongoing input from the public".

Dr David King, director of the watchdog body Human Genetics Alert, accused the two academies of taking "another step towards eugenic dystopia".

He added: "It is ironic that on Valentine's day, which is all about love, scientists want to make having babies part of the industrial machine. If scientists create GM babies, it will be impossible to avoid the 'designer babies' dystopia, because the line between therapy and enhancement has not been respected with any other medical technology, such as drugs, surgery etc.

"This step by scientists illustrates yet again that we cannot trust them to act responsibly. Human Genetics Alert calls for an international campaign against the creation of GM babies and human cloning."
Mr Bruton has secured an extra 15m a year to widen supports to 79 more schools from next September.

However, some schools might lose the extra resources they have had under his departments Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (Deis) for the past decade, after a new system is finalised next year to identify which ones cater for the highest numbers of disadvantaged pupils.

The Deis school support programme currently provides a range of initiatives in 641 primary and 185 second-level schools. As well as increasing annual funding for Deis to 112m, there will be closer monitoring of how effectively the extra grants and improved access to supports are used.

However, the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) said the plan is heavy on evaluating outcomes, which means additional paperwork, reporting, documenting, and gathering data.

Yet there is no provision for additional administrative support for schools to get this done. The union will insist that scarce resources must not be diverted into the monitoring and administration of the plan, said INTO general secretary Sheila Nunan.

She said the 15% funding increase is an improvement but goes nowhere near restoring cuts imposed on disadvantaged schools in recent years.

The union described the departments assurances that no school will be immediately affected by cuts arising from re-evaluation of disadvantaged levels as unacceptable. Ms Nunan said it translated to well cut back down the line, when no one is looking.

Mr Bruton said yesterday that he would have to question the continuation of funding if it emerges that schools which have been in the scheme no longer have high levels of disadvantage.

Wed have to look at can you have transition schemes to see new supports, but were also trying to make sure that the supports the put in are tailor made to be of best advantage in each individual school, he said.

His department yesterday listed 15 urban primary schools which will receive the highest levels of support, including extra teachers to allow smaller infant classes. A further 51 rural primary schools and 13 second-level schools will get assistance, with 30 urban primary schools already in Deis having their level of resources increased.

More differentiated levels of support under Deis may be introduced from 2018 to reflect varying degrees of disadvantage among students in different areas. These will be based on analysis of information held by the department itself and CSO data on social deprivation.

But Fianna Fail education spokesman Thomas Byrne said the plan overlooked recommendations from past studies that some extra funding be given to schools outside Deis which still cater for significant proportions of disadvantaged students.

There is a case for a degree of tapering of funding for schools, rather than a sharp withdrawal below the specified cut-off, said Mr Byrne.

Deis targets
North Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 14, 2017) - Lion One Metals Limited (TSXV: LIO) (ASX: LLO) (OTCQX: LOMLF) (FSE: LY1) (the "Company") is pleased to announce further results from its ongoing drilling program at its 100% owned and fully permitted Tuvatu Gold Project located near Nadi on the island of Viti Levu in the Republic of Fiji.

The Company has received results for the first diamond drill hole completed in its 2017 drill program, focused on infilling and extending mineralized lodes targeted for the first two years of planned development and production at Tuvatu. TUDDH 419 targeted a series of relatively flat lying "SKL" lodes from 71.36 to 103.64 meters, and also intersected a near surface, high grade interval of 13.52 g/t gold over 9.07 meters from 32.83 to 41.90 meters. Further drilling is planned to follow up these intersections.

"These results confirm the high grades of the lodes targeted for development and highlight the potential for wider zones of mineralization" said Lion One Managing Director Stephen Mann.

Today's results complement the results reported on Nov. 23 and Dec. 21, 2016 which included:

8.41m @ 71.41 g/t Au from TUDDH 406

4.05m @ 12.32 g/t Au from TUDDH 407

2.55m @ 13.95 g/t Au from TUDDH 408

3.92m @ 12.54 g/t Au from TUDDH 409

2.42m @ 24.07 g/t Au from TUDDH 410

1.39m @ 16.06 g/t Au from TUDDH 412

Highlights of TUDDH 419 are summarized as follows:

Tuvatu Drilling Results February 2017

Hole ID N E RL Azimuth Dip Depth m TUDDH 419 3920833.94 1876473.97 240 180 85 125.9

From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Grade (g/t Au) 32.83 41.90 9.07* 13.52 includes 5.57 21.04 71.36 72.80 1.44 19.65 83.66 85.78 2.12 14.28 101.49 103.64 2.15 3.65

* True widths of the drill hole intersection have not been determined from the information available

Dewatering

The Company recommenced dewatering of the existing exploration decline in early January, and is refurbishing the decline as dewatering progresses. Except for the limited slippage in the Core Shed Fault zone 140m from the decline entrance, ground conditions in the decline are generally very good. Drill cuddies have been prepared and ventilation fans have been installed in preparation for further diamond drilling from underground to complement the drilling from the surface.

Geotechnical Drilling

A number of geotechnical diamond drill holes were completed during January 2017 in the area of the proposed new portal planned as the main access into the gold deposits at Tuvatu. Ground conditions appeared to be very good. Further evaluation of results of the geotechnical holes will be undertaken.

Quality Control (QAQC)

Samples for the 2017 drill program are marked, logged, and cut with a diamond saw onsite, placed in sealed bags sent to the Company's Nadi office. Samples are shipped to Brisbane Qld for customs clearance, then Townsville Qld for sample preparation and multi-element ICP analysis. A Quality Control/Quality Assurance program, including the insertion of Standards and Blanks, has been implemented. The 2017 exploration program is performed under the supervision of Stephen Mann, P.Geo, Managing Director of Lion One Metals, and a 'Competent Person' under JORC. Mr. Mann has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release. Albert Siega, P. Eng., a full time employee of the Company and Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release. The Company is not basing its production decision on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability; as a result there is increased uncertainty and economic and technical risks associated with its production decision.

About Tuvatu

The Tuvatu Gold Project is located 17 km from the Nadi International Airport on the main island of Viti Levu in Fiji. Discovered in 1987, Tuvatu was advanced by previous owners through underground exploration and development from 1997 through to the completion of a feasibility study in 2000. Acquired by Lion One in 2011, the project has over 100,000 meters of drilling completed to date in addition to 1,600 meters of underground development. Tuvatu is a high grade, low sulphidation, epithermal gold deposit hosted inside a South Pacific-style volcanic caldera, along the Viti Levu lineament, Fiji's own corridor of high grade gold deposits. In January 2016 the Hon. Prime Minister of Fiji, Mr. V. Bainimarama, formally presented the previously granted Tuvatu Mining Lease to Lion One, concluding the permitting process for the development of an underground gold mine and processing plant at Tuvatu, demonstrating strong government support for Fiji's 85 year-old gold mining industry.

As per its independent June 1, 2015 NI 43-101 PEA Technical Report on the Tuvatu Gold Project, the Company envisages a low cost underground gold mining operation producing 352,931 ounces of gold at head grades of 11.30 g/t Au over an initial 7 year mine life, including 262,000 ounces at 15.30 g/t through year three, at cash costs of US$567 per ounce with all-in sustaining costs of US$779 per ounce. Total capex of US$48.6 million includes a contingency of US$6.1 million with an 18 month preproduction schedule and 18 month payback on capital. At a US$1,200 gold price the project generates net cash flow of US$112.66 million and an IRR of 52% (after tax). Tuvatu is situated upon a 5 hectare footprint inside a larger 384 hectare mining lease that contains numerous high grade prospects proximal to Tuvatu, at depth, and up to 1.50 km along strike from the resource area, giving the project near-term production potential and further discovery upside inside of one of Fiji's underexplored volcanic goldfields.

The information in this report that relates to the Exploration Results or Mineral Resources is based upon, and fairly represents, information and supporting documentation compiled by Mr. Stephen Mann, who is an officer and director of the Company and is a member of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr. Mann has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and the activity in which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person under 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC Code). Mr. Mann consents to the inclusion in this news release of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in previous news releases referred to above, and confirms that the form and context in which the findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original news releases. Albert Siega, P. Eng., a full time employee of the Company and Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release.

For more information on Lion One including technical reports please visit the Company's website at www.liononemetals.com or the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.
LIMA, PERU--(Marketwired - Feb. 13, 2017) - Minera IRL Limited ('Minera IRL' or the 'Company') (CSE:MIRL)(CSE:MIRL.CN)(BVLAC:MIRL) is pleased to announce the final assay results of its 2016 Minapampa Far East drill program, at its Ollachea flagship gold project in Puno, Southern Peru. The results have demonstrated that gold mineralization at Minapampa continues over 500m to the east and remains open to the east and at depth. The results announced today are from 5,421 m (23 drill holes) of drilling conducted in 2016 at Ollachea.

The drill hole results have been used to outline an exploration target in the Minapampa Far East mineralized zone of 370,000 to 550,000 ounces of gold contained within 3.1 to 4.6 million tonnes, grading 2.9 to 4.3 g/t gold, (this tonnes/grade range is reported within the framework of the N.I. 43-101 Restricted Disclosure Section 2.3(2)). The potential tonnages and grades are conceptual in nature and are based on drill results that define the approximate length, thickness, depth and grade of mineralization in the Minapampa Far East mineralized zone. The exploration results from the 2016 together with this interpretation will be used as the basis for estimating a maiden Mineral Resource estimate on the zone.

"We achieved our goal of proving that the mineralization continues well beyond the existing 43.101 compliant Mineral Resource. We expect that the results will expand the Ollachea Mineral Resources and will likely extend the Minapampa mine life. We believe the Ollachea Project is still significantly underexplored, with considerable potential to add to the Mineral Reserves, which are currently over 1 million ounces1", said Diego Benavides, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company.

1 Refer to previous press release dated 4 June 2014

The Company's primary objective are to advance the Ollachea Project to a construction decision and to expand the resource base through ongoing exploration. To that end, the Company expects to release a new Mineral Resource Estimate for the Minapampa Far East Area, combined with an update to the Minapampa Feasibility Study by mid-year, 2017.

Significant drill hole intercepts from the program are:

DDH16-T06 8 m downhole @ 3.69 g/t from 122 meters of depth DDH16-T07 13 m downhole @ 6.34 g/t from 143 meters of depth DDH16-T10 4 m downhole @ 11.23 g/t from 217 meters of depth DDH16-T11 21 m downhole @ 3.61 g/t from 96 meters of depth DDH16-T12 18 m downhole @ 3.4 g/t from 122 meters of depth DDH16-T14 22 m downhole @ 2.41 g/t from 176 meters of depth DDH16-T16 4 m downhole @ 16.8 g/t from 294 meters of depth DDH16-T18 10 m downhole @ 2.59 g/t from 186 meters of depth DDH16-T18 10 m downhole @ 2.65 g/t from 198 meters of depth DDH16-T19 19 m downhole @ 2.96 g/t from 188 meters of depth DDH16-T24 18 m downhole @ 2.1 g/t from 190 meters of depth DDH16-T24 7 m downhole @ 4.05 g/t from 213 meters of depth

Technical details: Minapampa Far East Drill Results

Minera IRL geologists undertook detailed two dimensional geological interpretations on cross section and in plan upon receipt of the final assay results. Mineralized zones were delimited an a nominal grade threshold of 1 g/t gold. This updated interpretation attributes mineralized intercepts to different mineralized zones when compared to the initial interpretation presented in the November 28, 2016 press release.

Figure 1 displays a plan view of the project area, while figure 2 displays a longitudinal projection of the interpreted 202 mineralized zone 202, which is the dominant mineralized structure in the Minapampa Far East zone.

Figure 1. Plan view showing Minapampa Far East drill hole traces and interpreted mineralization



Figure 2. Longitudinal Projection of Mineralized Zone 202 showing composite gold grade (g/t) and true thickness (m)



Minapampa Far East Drill Results Table

The table (included with this release) details all mineralized intercepts from all drill hole results received since the initiation of the drill program on Aug. 11, 2016. Previously reported drill holes "DDH13-T01", "DDH13-T03" and "DDH13-T04" are also in the Minapampa Far East zone and so are included here for completeness. Results are uncapped. True thicknesses are reported based on the interpreted local dip and dip-direction of the mineralization and the dip and azimuth of the drill hole trace. No minimum thickness constraint is applied.

Target for further exploration

The drill hole results have been used to outline an exploration target in the Minapampa Far East mineralized zone of 370,000 to 550,000 ounces of gold contained within 3.1 to 4.6 million tonnes, grading 2.9 to 4.3 g/t gold, (this tonnes/grade range is reported within the framework of the N.I. 43-101 Restricted Dislosure Section 2.3(2)). The potential tonnages and grades are conceptual in nature and are based on drill results that define the approximate length, thickness, depth and grade of mineralization in the Minapampa Far East mineralized zone. The exploration results from the 2016 together with this interpretation will be used as the basis for estimating a maiden Mineral Resource estimate on the zone.

Updated Resource Estimate and Timing of Future Studies

The Company will begin a resource estimate for Minapampa Far East towards the end of February 2017. The Company anticipates combining the updated Mineral Resource Estimate and the results of an updated Feasibility Study in an updated Technical Report for the Ollachea Property. The results of this work are expected to be complete by mid-year 2017.

Qualified Person

The Minapampa Far East drill program is under the supervision of Andrew Fowler, PhD, MAusIMMCP(Geo). Dr. Fowler is a full-time employee of Mining Plus Peru SAC and is an independent Qualified Person ("QP") as defined by the N.I. 43-101. Dr. Fowler has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release.

Quality Assurance - Quality Control ("QA/QC")

Thorough QA/QC protocols are followed on the project including insertion of duplicate, blank and standard samples in all drill holes. The half-core samples are submitted directly to Certimin Laboratories, Juliaca, Peru for preparation. Analysis is completed at Certimin's facility in Lima, Peru. Analysis is conducted on 50 g aliquots. Analysis of Au is performed using fire assay method with atomic absorption (AA). Certimin has been servicing the Peruvian mining industry for 21 years. It participates in international proficiency testing programs such as CANMET and GEOSTATS, and develops its services with the support of the Integrated Management System for the compliance of regulatory requirements such as ISO 9001, ISO /IEC 17025, ISO 14001, and OHSAS 18001. Dr. Fowler has reviewed the QA/QC results for the Minapampa Far East drilling program and considers that they adequately demonstrate the Certimin assay reliability.
MELBOURNE, Feb. 14, 2017 /CNW/ - OceanaGold Corporation (TSX/ASX: OGC) (the "Company") advises that the Company received an order from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources ("DENR") today calling for the suspension of the Didipio operations.

The order repeated allegations previously made by the DENR, citing " petition of the Local Government of Nueva Vizcaya for the cancellation of the FTAA; alleged damages to houses caused by the blasting operation; and the potential adverse impact to the agricultural areas of the Province". The Company was also given a period of up to three months to address the issues raised against it.

Subsequent to receiving the order, OceanaGold filed an appeal directly with the Office of the President which, in accordance with the rules and regulations, stays the execution of the suspension order. The Company anticipates that Didipio will continue to operate during the appeal process.

Mick Wilkes, President and CEO of OceanaGold said, "We are an environmentally and socially responsible mining Company that has delivered meaningful benefits to a multitude of stakeholders in the host communities that support the mine in the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino. We have the strong endorsement from our host communities to operate and are a major employer of Filipino nationals, majority of whom are from the local communities. A suspension of operations will adversely impact thousands of Filipinos directly and indirectly."

"The Didipio operation has not violated or breached any Philippines laws, rules or regulations. In fact, OceanaGold has a successful track record of operating for 27 years in accordance with Australian and Canadian standards on health, safety, environment, community and sustainability across all our operations. We strongly believe that the Didipio operation is the template for what President Duterte is seeking in his desire for a responsible mining sector in the Philippines," Mr. Wilkes added.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | www.oceanagold.com | Twitter: @OceanaGold

About OceanaGold

OceanaGold Corporation is a mid-tier, high-margin, multinational gold producer with assets located in the Philippines, New Zealand and the United States. The Company's assets encompass its flagship operation, the Didipio Gold-Copper Mine located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. On the North Island of New Zealand, the Company operates the high-grade Waihi Gold Mine while on the South Island of New Zealand, the Company operates the largest gold mine in the country at the Macraes Goldfield which is made up of a series of open pit mines and the Frasers underground mine. In the United States, the Company is currently commissioning the Haile Gold Mine, a top-tier asset located in South Carolina along the Carolina Terrane. The Company expects the Haile Gold Mine to commence commercial production in early 2017. OceanaGold also has a significant pipeline of organic growth and exploration opportunities in the Australasia and Americas regions.

OceanaGold has operated sustainably over the past 26 years with a proven track record for environmental management and community and social engagement. The Company has a strong social license to operate and works collaboratively with its valued stakeholders to identify and invest in social programs that are designed to build capacity and not dependency.

In 2017, the Company expects to produce 550,000 to 610,000 ounces of gold and 15,000 to 17,000 tonnes of copper with sector leading All-In Sustaining Costs that range from $600 to $650 per ounce sold.
Challenging mediocrity, adopting meritocracy

Over the last couple of weeks, controversy surrounding the appointment of the next Inspector General of Police (IGP) for Nepal has cluttered media headlines and discussions on social media.
TORONTO, Feb. 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Seabridge Gold Inc. (TSX:SEA) (NYSE:SA) announced today that it has entered into a letter of intent setting forth the terms under which it has agreed to purchase a 100% interest in the Snowstorm Project from Paulson Gold Holdings, LP (Paulson).

The Snowstorm Project consists of 31 square miles of land holdings strategically located at the projected intersection of three of the most important gold trends in Northern Nevada: the Carlin Trend, the Getchell Trend and the Northern Nevada Rift Zone (see map below).

The Letter of Intent contemplates that Seabridge will acquire all of the outstanding shares of the private company that owns a 100% interest in the Snowstorm Project. Consideration agreed to be paid to Paulson is: (i) 700,000 Seabridge common shares; (ii) 500,000 common share purchase warrants exercisable for four years at $15.65 per share; (iii) a conditional cash payment of US$2.5 million if exploration activities at Snowstorm result in defining a minimum of five million ounces of gold resources compliant with National Instrument 43-101; and (iv) a further cash payment of US$5.0 million on the delineation of an additional five million ounces of gold resources. The letter of intent is non-binding and closing of the transaction is subject to completion of further review of the private companys affairs and a definitive agreement and receipt of stock exchange approvals. Paulson has agreed to a 60-day exclusivity and non-solicitation period to allow the parties to complete further review and settle a definitive agreement. Canaccord Genuity Corp. acted as financial advisor to Paulson on this transaction.

The Snowstorm property consists of 700 mining claims and 5,800 acres of fee lands carefully assembled in a private company over a 15 year period and explored over the past 10 years. The Snowstorm acquisition also includes an extensive package of data generated by previous operators. Although potential targets are hidden under Tertiary cover, the existing data supports the projects outstanding exploration potential. Geological and geochemical evaluations of Snowstorm have documented hydrothermal alteration zones consistent with large Northern Nevada deposit types. Geophysical surveys have confirmed the structural settings which host large Northern Nevada deposit types. Limited drilling has demonstrated that some of the target areas are at a depth amenable to surface exploration and resource delineation.

Snowstorm is contiguous and on strike with several large, successful gold producers including the Getchell/Turquoise Ridge Joint Venture operated by Barrick Gold, Newmont Minings Twin Creeks and Klondex Mines Midas operations.

Commenting on the deal, Paulson & Co.s President John Paulson stated: We chose Seabridge as the best home for the Snowstorm project because they share our vision of the projects geologic potential and their exploration team has done an outstanding job of growing the resources and reserves on their existing projects. Moreover, Seabridges projects, particularly KSM, will provide us with significant leverage to a higher gold price.

Seabridge Chairman and CEO Rudi Fronk said: We are very pleased to gain Paulson & Co. as a shareholder. The Paulson team has a deep understanding of our business and the opportunities that lie ahead. We look forward to their advice and assistance as we grow the value of our Company. The Snowstorm Project has all the earmarks of an outstanding exploration play in one of the worlds best environments for finding large gold deposits. We appreciate the opportunity to capitalize on its outstanding potential.

Location Map of Snowstorm Project



Seabridge Gold holds a 100% interest in several North American gold resource projects. The Companys principal assets are the KSM and Snip Gold properties located near Stewart, British Columbia, Canada and the Courageous Lake gold project located in Canadas Northwest Territories. For a breakdown of Seabridges mineral reserves and resources by project and category please visit the Companys website at http://www.seabridgegold.net/resources.php.
When I arrived in Michigan in late November, it was getting cold, but the temperature hadn't hit the freezing point yet. I was constantly checking the thermometer, not because there is much of a difference between 1 degree and -1, but because I was using water inside my RV to shower and wash up. Whenever water was about to freeze, I had to empty all the tanks so that the pipes don't burst. And when the temperature did eventually drop below zero, I checked into a campground in Allendale, an hour and a half away from Lebanon, Michigan.



I was met there by the camp owner, a man with piercing blue eyes and an equally colorful haircut; a vivid blue mohawk. He helped me refill my propane tank so I could use the heater inside the RV. I asked him if he was tired by now from people inquiring about his hair, because I couldn't have been the first person to notice it. He laughed and said that he didn't mind at all. I then asked if he'd pose for a portrait and he was more than accommodating. Wanting to know more about his distinctive haircut, he suddenly opened up and told me his story:

"I worked in corporate IT for 27 years. One night, I was in a boardroom meeting and I received a phone call from home. I ignored it. Then I got a second call and my rule is, if it's twice, it must be important. So I got out to take the call. It was my four-year old daughter. 'I just wanna say good night, Daddy', she said. I yelled at her for interrupting my meeting. On the flight back home -I was on a business trip-, I kept thinking to myself, 'did I just yell at my four-year old for wanting to wish me good night?'

Soon after that, I quit my job, moved to the country, bought this land, and now I own the campground and I'm about to get a double-wide mobile home for the family. My two daughters decide what color I should do my Mohawk. On presidential election week we had it in red, white, and blue. The week before that, it was a rainbow. "

After settling into my parking spot in the falling snow, I realized that I had run out of clean clothes. But I didn't have any detergent on me, so I asked the man working on the RV parked beside me if he knew where to buy some and where to find change for the coin-operated machines. He jumped from underneath the car, smiling. "You don't need to worry about that", he said. He went inside and came back with a bottle of detergent and a bag of coins. "Here you go, please take them". I tried suggesting paying him, be he wouldn't have it. "Don't be silly, go wash your clothes. Wait, do you have gloves? You can't walk around like this in the snow. Here, take these ski gloves, I have an extra pair and I won't need them."

I didn't know what to say. Except repeating "thank you so much" over and over. I asked him what he did for a living and, like Rob, had an interesting life that took a sudden change halfway.

Tom used to work for the city in Detroit, in a youth-oriented program with a focus on inner-city kids. But he grew frustrated that he wasn't making any real difference. The community was impoverished yet he couldn't understand why all these kids would keep spending their parents' hard-earned money on expensive sneakers. This wasn't the kind of poverty that he could help solve.

'I prayed God and asked him to guide me", he told me. One day he woke up, sold all his belongings, and moved with his wife and son to Haiti. He is now a minister there, working with an organization called "Faith in Action", helping local farmers grow trees whose fruits are not common on the market, thus exportable for high prices, enabling them to rise beyond poverty.

The only possession Tom still has in the USA is his small RV. He flies to the US a few times a year to meet with potential donors who could fund buying new trees for the farmers in Haiti.

Driving to Lebanon the next day proved to be similar to many of my visits to other Lebanons. Deserted farmlands and empty streets. I thought perhaps it was the changing weather; people don't venture out into the cold as much. But animals were more resilient, and the sight of horses behind a fence told me there had to be at least some humans nearby. I parked by the fence and went walking around. I saw an abandoned house with boarded-up windows. I walked up to it to take some pictures. But as soon as I got closer, out of nowhere a mastiff started running towards me, barking. Luckily he was attached to a long chain and couldn't reach me. The door of the house that I thought was abandoned opens and a woman's voice blared: "Who is this and what do you want?"



I introduced myself from a distance and the woman walked out the door, looking to be in her late 40s, blonde with her long hair in a ponytail, dressed in hunting clothes. She was very beautiful.

"Well come on in, don't just stand outside. My name is Annette."



Once inside, had I not seen the miserable state of the exterior, I would not have guessed it was the same house. It was furnished and clean, but still humble. She must have seen the puzzled look on my face and said: "Yes, I know. The house is a mess outside, but I'm renovating it little by little, on my own."

Wanting to know more about the township and why there wasn't any people around, she laughed and said: "Honey, it's a tiny farming community here, everybody's Irish and today is Sunday. So they're still hung-over from yesterday. Anyway, how old do you think I am?"

A loaded question if there ever was one. I changed my early estimate to be more complimentary. "Early forties", I said. "Well I'm 57, how about that?", she replied. I was genuinely shocked and she seemed to enjoy my disbelief. "Yes, and I'm working on this house alone, because I don't need no man to help me out."

I thought this meant she had no family. I couldn't have been more mistaken. After she had opened up about her life, I was left in awe with this woman's strength:

"I have 14 children, 29 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren on the way. My friends call me sunshine; I got the word tattooed on the back on my neck. But it wasn't easy growing up. Last time I saw my dad was before my 9th birthday. And both he and my mother were alcoholics and abusive. She died when I was 14. I didn't have any relatives so I was put in an orphanage for 3 years. I married young and married dumb. He was a lazy, abusive, good-for-nothing, but I never fought back. I was cleaning houses in the day and milking cows in the evening to raise the kids. Do you know who Kathy Lee Gifford is? I heard her say on TV once that if you settle for what you've got, you deserve what you get. I had two choices and I picked living. It's better now. I bought these 80 acres here, got my horses and my dog Reese. My ex-husband, he's back living with his mom and dad. One day I want to retire in Florida; it's warmer there. I visited a few times and everybody looks different. But if they all get along, so what? Though I have to say, people there don't seem to have as much time talking to you as they do here."

(This article is part of Fadi Boukaram's road trip on the path of cities called Lebanon in the USA. Discover the previous stories here)
Hard truths behind de Blasio's well-staged State of the City

Monday night, New Yorks mayor was a halting afterthought at his own annual State of the City Address  the final such speech before Bill de Blasios re-election race. De Blasio still has no real vision for the city, nor any command of the street-level issues that New Yorkers face. But as New York continues to thrive, with its wealth putting it beyond day-to-day politics, the mayors no-there-there approach may be enough.

At the Apollo Theater, the mayor was the compliant, affable creation of the donors and consultants who made him (affable, at least, when not answering tough press questions). His speech was less interesting  and shorter  than the pre-show and after-show that cushioned it.

As New York continues to thrive, with its wealth putting it beyond day-to-day politics, the mayors no-there-there approach may be enough.

Before the speech, the mayors handlers had put together a parade of videos  carefully curated for their ethnic and gender content. The videos featured people who have done well  or, at least, OK  in de Blasios New York.

There were, of course, adorable preschool children. (Who can argue with that?) There was the younger woman who had helped New Yorks public-housing residents get Wi-Fi. There was the elderly woman who was able to plan her retirement, thanks to the mayors two-year rent freeze.

And, most movingly, there was Conor McDonald, the 29-year-old NYPD sergeant whose father, Steven, died earlier this year, 30 years after being shot by a teenager in Central Park. After the speech, the mayor invited more heroic  albeit on a smaller scale  employees to the stage to celebrate their accomplishments.

But de Blasio is the beneficiary of how well our city works, not its creator. The mayor could afford to extend pre-K (the city had already started it under previous years) without raising taxes or cutting other services because, thanks in large part to Wall Streets resurgence after 2008, it has more money than it knows what to do with.

Same with the citys investments in public housing: The mayor is being generous in giving out other peoples ample money. A rent freeze? New York can only do that for longtime tenants because it has an infusion of younger people willing to pay much higher rents in the same older buildings, subsidizing longtime residents.

The mayor could leave crime as an afterthought  trumpeting record-low crime rates after 17 minutes of speech-making  because after nearly three decades of crime declines, many voters barely think about it.

Yes, the mayor deserves credit for keeping crime down even as the city has drastically reduced its street stops. But this works because New Yorkers were already feeling relaxed  its easier to experiment after your predecessors have succeeded wildly.

What were the mayors policy proposals? Well, not that much; he was just there to look the part. De Blasio took some credit for City Councilman Mark Levines bill to give New Yorkers at risk of eviction free legal counsel. Again, New York can afford this $93 million annual cost only because wealthier taxpayers are pouring in the funds.

The mayor pledged to levy a new mansion tax on people selling homes over $2 million, raising $336 million annually for senior housing.

But New York already has a mansion tax for people buying homes above $1 million. The mayor, with Albanys (unlikely) permission, would thus be doubling an existing tax. This might make sense if de Blasio were to use the money to cut the sales tax or income taxes for middle-class residents. But de Blasio doesnt want to reform taxes, only raise them.

And the mayor pledged 100,000 new high-paying jobs over a decade, more than $50,000 apiece. How to do that? Well, one clue is in the fact that between 2006 and 2016, New York created nearly 600,000 new jobs, including 120,000 jobs in the higher-paying business-services sector. This goal  absent plans to increase subway capacity or do much else to support growth  involves sitting back and hoping we continue to be lucky.

On harder issues  what to do about traffic, pedestrian deaths, homelessness, heroin addiction, a possibly slowing economy  the mayor was openly oblivious. I am not going to go through topic after topic, he said.

Nope  because de Blasios consultants know that most New Yorkers arent that desperate for answers, or for change. As it is, the mayors opponents are Preet Bharara and Cyrus Vance Jr.  who may indict him for doing too well the bidding of the people who made him the star of this expensive, well-choreographed show.

This piece originally appeared in 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 following companies are subsidiares of PepsiCo: Alimentos Quaker Oats y Compania Limitada, Alimentos del Istmo S.A., Amavale Agricola Ltda., Anderson Hill Insurance Limited, Asia Bottlers Limited, BAESA Capital Corporation Ltd., BFY Brands, BFY Brands LLC, BFY Brands Limited, BUG de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Balmoral Industries LLC, Bare Foods Co., Barrhead LLC, Be & Cheery, Beaman Bottling Company, Bebidas Sudamerica S.A., Beech Limited, Bell Taco Funding Syndicate, Bendler Investments II Ltd, Bendler Investments S.a r.l, Beverage Services Limited, Beverages Foods & Service Industries Inc., Bishkeksut OJSC, Blaue NC S. de R.L. de C.V., Blue Cloud Distribution Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Arizona Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Arkansas Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Colorado Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Florida Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Georgia Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Illinois Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Indiana Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Iowa Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Kentucky Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Louisiana Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Minnesota Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Mississippi Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Missouri Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Nebraska Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Nevada Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of North Carolina Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Ohio Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Oklahoma Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Pennsylvania Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of South Carolina Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Tennessee Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Texas Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Virginia Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Wisconsin Inc., Blue Ridge Sales LLC, Bluebird Foods Limited, Bluecan Holdings Unlimited Company, Bokomo Zambia Limited, Bolsherechensky Molkombinat JSC, Boquitas Fiestas LLC, Boquitas Fiestas S.R.L., Bottling Group Financing LLC, Bottling Group Holdings LLC, Bottling Group LLC, Bronte Industries Ltd, C & I Leasing Inc., CB Manufacturing Company Inc., CEME Holdings LLC, CMC Investment Company, Caroni Investments LLC, Centro-Mediterranea de Bebidas Carbonicas PepsiCo S.L., Ceres Fruit Juices Pty Ltd, ChampBev Inc., China Concentrate Holdings Hong Kong Limited, Chipsy International for Food Industries S.A.E., Chipsy for Food Industries S.A.E., Chitos Internacional y Cia Ltda, Cipa Industrial de Produtos Alimentares Ltda., Cipa Nordeste Industrial de Produtos Alimentares Ltda., Cocina Autentica Inc., Comercializadora CMC Investment y Compania Limitada, Comercializadora Nacional SAS Ltda., Comercializadora PepsiCo Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., Compania de Bebidas PepsiCo S.L., Concentrate Holding Uruguay Pte. Ltd., Concentrate Manufacturing Singapore Pte. Ltd., Confiteria Alegro S. de R.L. de C.V., Copella Fruit Juices Limited, Copper Beech International LLC, Corina Snacks Limited, Corporativo Internacional Mexicano S. de R.L. de C.V., CytoSport Holdings Inc., CytoSport Inc., Davlyn Realty Corporation, Defosto Holdings Limited, Desarrollo Inmobiliario Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Dilexis S.A., Donon Holdings Limited, Drinkfinity USA Inc., Drinkstation Inc., Drinkstation Innovation Co. Ltd., Drinkstation Limited, Dutch Snacks Holding S.A. de C.V., Duyvis Production B.V., EPIC Enterprises Inc., Echo Bay Holdings Inc., Elaboradora Argentina de Cereales S.R.L., Enter Logistica LLC, Environ at Inverrary Partnership, Environ of Inverrary Inc., Eridanus Investments S.a r.l, Evercrisp Snack Productos de Chile S.A., FL Transportation Inc., FLI Andean LLC, FLI Colombia LLC, FLI Snacks Andean GP LLC, Fabrica PepsiCo Mexicali S. de R.L. de C.V., Fabrica de Productos Alimenticios Rene y Cia S.C.A., Fairlight International SRL, Far East Bottlers Hong Kong Limited, Food Concepts Pioneer Ltd., Forest Akers Nederland B.V., Forty-Six Peaks Holding Inc., Fovarosi Asvanyviz es Uditoipari Zartkoruen Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag, Freshwater International B.V., Frito Lay Gida Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Frito Lay Poland Sp. z o.o., Frito Lay Sp. z o.o., Frito Lay de Guatemala y Compania Limitada, Frito-Lay Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Frito-Lay Dip Company Inc., Frito-Lay Dominicana S.A., Frito-Lay Global Investments B.V., Frito-Lay Inc., Frito-Lay Investments B.V., Frito-Lay Manufacturing LLC, Frito-Lay Netherlands Holding B.V., Frito-Lay North America Inc., Frito-Lay Sales Inc., Frito-Lay Trading Company Europe GmbH, Frito-Lay Trading Company GmbH, Frito-Lay Trading Company Poland GmbH, Frito-Lay Trinidad Unlimited, Fruko Mesrubat Sanayi Limited Sirketi, GB Czech LLC, GB International Inc., GB Russia LLC, GB Slovak LLC, GMP Manufacturing Inc., Gambrinus Investments Limited, Gamesa LLC, Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Gas Natural de Merida S. A. de C. V., Gatorade Puerto Rico Company, General Bottlers of Hungary Inc., Golden Grain Company, Goveh S.R.L., Grayhawk Leasing LLC, Green Hemlock International LLC, Grupo Frito Lay y Compania Limitada, Grupo Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Grupo Mabel, Grupo Sabritas S. de R.L. de C.V., Gulkevichskiy Maslozavod JSC, Hangzhou Baicaowei Corporate Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Haomusi Food Co, Hangzhou Haomusi Food Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Tao Dao Technology Co. Ltd., Health Warrior, Health Warrior Inc., Heathland LP, Helioscope Limited, Hillbrook Inc., Hillgrove Inc., Hillwood Bottling LLC, Hogganfield Limited Partnership, Holding Company "Opolie" JSC, Homefinding Company of Texas, Hudson Valley Insurance Company, IC Equities Inc., IZZE Beverage Co., Inmobiliaria Interamericana S.A. De C.V., Integrated Beverage Services Bangladesh Limited, Integrated Foods & Beverages Pvt. Ltd., International Bottlers Management Co. LLC, International KAS Aktiengesellschaft, Inversiones Borneo S.R.L., Inversiones PFI Chile Limitada, Inviting Foods Holdings Inc., Inviting Foods LLC, KAS Anorthosis S.a r.l, KAS S.L., KFC, Kevita Inc., Kinvara LLC, Kungursky Molkombinat JSC, Larragana S.L., Latin American Holdings Ltd., Latin American Snack Foods ApS, Latin Foods International LLC, Lebedyansky, Lebedyansky Holdings LLC, Lebedyansky LLC, Limited Liability Company "Sandora", Linkbay Limited, Lithuanian Snacks UAB, Mabel, Marbo Product d.o.o. Beograd, Marbo d.o.o. Laktasi, Matudis - Comercio de Produtos Alimentares Limitada, Matutano - Sociedade de Produtos Alimentares Lda., Mid-America Improvement Corporation, Mountainview Insurance Company Inc., Muscle Milk, NCJV LLC, New Bern Transport Corporation, New Century Beverage Company LLC, Noble Leasing LLC, Northeast Hot-Fill Co-op Inc., Office at Solyanka LLC, Onbiso Inversiones S.L., One World Enterprises LLC, One World Investors Inc., P-A Barbados Bottling Company LLC, P-A Bottlers Barbados SRL, P-Americas LLC, PAS Luxembourg S.a r.l, PAS Netherlands B.V., PBG Canada Holdings II LLC, PBG Canada Holdings Inc., PBG Cyprus Holdings Limited, PBG Investment Partnership, PBG Midwest Holdings S.a r.l, PBG Soda Can Holdings S.a r.l, PCBL LLC, PCNA Manufacturing Inc., PR Beverages Cyprus Holding Limited, PR Beverages Cyprus Russia Holding Limited, PRB Luxembourg S.a r.l, PRS Inc., PSAS Inversiones LLC, PSE Logistica S.R.L., PT Quaker Indonesia, Papas Chips S.A., Pei N.V., Pep Trade LLC, Pepsi B.V., Pepsi Beverages Holdings Inc., Pepsi Bottling Group Global Finance LLC, Pepsi Bottling Group GmbH, Pepsi Bottling Group Hoosiers B.V., Pepsi Bottling Holdings Inc., Pepsi Bugshan Investments S.A.E., Pepsi Cola Colombia Ltda, Pepsi Cola Egypt S.A.E., Pepsi Cola Panamericana S.R.L., Pepsi Cola Servis Ve Dagitim Limited Sirketi, Pepsi Cola Trading Ireland, Pepsi Logistics Company Inc., Pepsi Northwest Beverages LLC, Pepsi Overseas Investments Partnership, Pepsi Promotions Inc., Pepsi-Cola Advertising and Marketing Inc., Pepsi-Cola Bermuda Limited, Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Holding C.V., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company Of St. Louis Inc., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Ft. Lauderdale-Palm Beach LLC, Pepsi-Cola Company, Pepsi-Cola Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Pepsi-Cola Far East Trade Development Co. Inc., Pepsi-Cola Finance LLC, Pepsi-Cola General Bottlers Poland Sp. z o.o., Pepsi-Cola Industrial da Amazonia Ltda., Pepsi-Cola International Cork, Pepsi-Cola International LLC, Pepsi-Cola International Limited, Pepsi-Cola International Limited U.S.A., Pepsi-Cola International Private Limited, Pepsi-Cola Korea Co. Ltd., Pepsi-Cola Management and Administrative Services Inc., Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing Company Of Uruguay S.R.L., Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing International Limited, Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing Mediterranean Limited, Pepsi-Cola Marketing Corp. Of P.R. Inc., Pepsi-Cola Mediterranean Ltd., Pepsi-Cola Metropolitan Bottling Company Inc., Pepsi-Cola Mexicana Holdings LLC, Pepsi-Cola Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Pepsi-Cola National Marketing LLC, Pepsi-Cola Operating Company Of Chesapeake And Indianapolis, Pepsi-Cola Sales and Distribution Inc., Pepsi-Cola Technical Operations Inc., Pepsi-Cola Thai Trading Co. Ltd., Pepsi-Cola de Honduras S.R.L., Pepsi-Cola of Corvallis Inc., PepsiAmericas Nemzetkozi Szolgaltato Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, PepsiCo ANZ Holdings Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Alimentos Antioquia Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Colombia Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Ecuador Cia. Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Z.F. Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos de Bolivia S.R.L., PepsiCo Amacoco Bebidas Do Brasil Ltda., PepsiCo Asia Research & Development Center Company Limited, PepsiCo Australia Financing Cyprus Limited, PepsiCo Australia Financing Limited Partnership, PepsiCo Australia Financing Partner 1 LLC, PepsiCo Australia Financing Partner 2 LLC, PepsiCo Australia Financing Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Australia Holdings Pty Limited, PepsiCo Australia International, PepsiCo Austria Services GmbH, PepsiCo Azerbaijan Limited Liability Company, PepsiCo BeLux BV, PepsiCo Beverage Sales LLC, PepsiCo Beverage Singapore Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Beverages Bermuda Limited, PepsiCo Beverages Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo Beverages International Limited, PepsiCo Beverages Italia Societa' A Responsabilita' Limitata, PepsiCo Canada Finance LLC, PepsiCo Canada Holdings ULC, PepsiCo Canada Investment ULC, PepsiCo Canada ULC, PepsiCo Captive Holdings Inc., PepsiCo Caribbean Inc., PepsiCo China Limited, PepsiCo Consulting Polska Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo De Bolivia S.R.L., PepsiCo Del Paraguay S.R.L., PepsiCo Deutschland GmbH, PepsiCo Eesti AS, PepsiCo Euro Bermuda Limited, PepsiCo Euro Finance Antilles B.V., PepsiCo Europe Support Center S.L., PepsiCo Finance Americas Company, PepsiCo Finance Antilles A N.V., PepsiCo Finance Antilles B N.V., PepsiCo Finance South Africa Proprietary Limited, PepsiCo Financial Shared Services Inc., PepsiCo Food & Beverage Holdings Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo Foods A.I.E., PepsiCo Foods China Company Limited, PepsiCo Foods Group Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Foods Guangdong Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Nigeria Limited, PepsiCo Foods Private Limited, PepsiCo Foods Sichuan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Taiwan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Vietnam Company, PepsiCo France SAS, PepsiCo Global Business Services India LLP, PepsiCo Global Business Services Poland Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo Global Holdings Limited, PepsiCo Global Investments B.V., PepsiCo Global Investments S.a r.l, PepsiCo Global Mobility LLC, PepsiCo Global Real Estate Inc., PepsiCo Global Trading Solutions Unlimited Company, PepsiCo Golden Holdings Inc., PepsiCo Group Finance International B.V., PepsiCo Group Holdings International B.V., PepsiCo Group Spotswood Holdings S.a r.l, PepsiCo Gulf International FZE, PepsiCo Hellas Single Member Industrial and Commercial Societe Anonyme, PepsiCo Holding de Espana S.L., PepsiCo Holdings, PepsiCo Holdings LLC, PepsiCo Holdings Toshkent LLC, PepsiCo Hong Kong LLC, PepsiCo Iberia Servicios Centrales S.L., PepsiCo India Holdings Private Limited, PepsiCo India Sales Private Limited, PepsiCo Internacional Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., PepsiCo International Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo International Limited, PepsiCo International Pte Ltd., PepsiCo Investments Europe I B.V., PepsiCo Investments Ltd., PepsiCo Ireland Food & Beverages Unlimited Company, PepsiCo Japan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Light B.V., PepsiCo Logistyka Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., PepsiCo Management Services SAS, PepsiCo Manufacturing A.I.E., PepsiCo Max B.V., PepsiCo Mexico Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., PepsiCo Nederland B.V., PepsiCo Nordic Denmark ApS, PepsiCo Nordic Finland Oy, PepsiCo Nordic Norway AS, PepsiCo Nutrition Trading DMCC, PepsiCo One B.V., PepsiCo Overseas Corporation, PepsiCo Overseas Financing Partnership, PepsiCo Panimex Inc, PepsiCo Products B.V., PepsiCo Products FLLC, PepsiCo Puerto Rico Inc., PepsiCo Sales Inc., PepsiCo Sales LLC, PepsiCo Services Asia Ltd., PepsiCo Services CZ s.r.o., PepsiCo Services LLC, PepsiCo Twist B.V., PepsiCo UK Pension Plan Trustee Limited, PepsiCo Ventures B.V., PepsiCo Wave Holdings LLC, PepsiCo World Trading Company Inc., PepsiCo Y LLC, PepsiCo de Argentina S.R.L., PepsiCo de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., PepsiCo do Brasil Industria e Comercio de Alimentos Ltda., PepsiCo do Brasil Ltda., PepsiCola Interamericana de Guatemala S.A., Pet Iberia S.L., Pete & Johnny Limited, Pine International LLC, Pine International Limited, Pinstripe Leasing LLC, Pioneer Food Group Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Groceries Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Group Ltd., Pioneer Foods Holdings Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods UK Ltd, Pioneer Foods Wellingtons Pty Ltd, Pipers Crisps Limited, PlayCo Inc., Pop corners, PopCorners Holdings Inc., Portfolio Concentrate Solutions Unlimited Company, Premier Nutrition Trading L.L.C., Prestwick LLC, Prev PepsiCo Sociedade Previdenciaria, Productos Alimenticios Rene LLC, Productos S.A.S. C.V., Productos SAS Management B.V., Punch N.V., Punica Getranke GmbH, Q O Puerto Rico Inc., QFL OHQ Sdn. Bhd., QTG Development Inc., QTG Services Inc., Quadrant - Amroq Beverages S.R.L., Quaker Development B.V., Quaker European Beverages LLC, Quaker European Investments B.V., Quaker Foods, Quaker Global Investments B.V., Quaker Holdings UK Limited, Quaker Manufacturing LLC, Quaker Oats Asia Inc., Quaker Oats Australia Pty Ltd, Quaker Oats B.V., Quaker Oats Capital Corporation, Quaker Oats Europe Inc., Quaker Oats Europe LLC, Quaker Oats Limited, Quaker Sales & Distribution Inc, Raptas Finance S.a r.l., Rare Fare Foods LLC, Rare Fare Holdings Inc., Reading Industries Ltd, Real Estate Holdings LLC, Rockstar Energy Drink, Rolling Frito-Lay Sales LP, S & T of Mississippi Inc., SIH International LLC, SVC Logistics Inc., SVC Manufacturing Inc., SVE Russia Holdings GmbH, Sabritas LLC, Sabritas S. de R.L. de C.V., Sabritas Snacks America Latina de Nicaragua y Cia Ltda, Sabritas de Costa Rica S. de R.L., Sabritas y Cia. S en C de C.V., Sakata Rice Snacks Australia Pty Ltd, Sandora Holdings B.V., Saudi Snack Foods Company Limited, Sea Eagle International SRL, Seepoint Holdings Ltd., Senselet Food Processing PLC, Senselet Holding B.V., Servicios GBF Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Servicios GFLG y Compania Limitada, Servicios Gamesa Puerto Rico L.L.C., Servicios SYC S. de R.L. de C.V., Seven-Up Asia Inc., Seven-Up Light B.V., Seven-Up Nederland B.V., Shanghai PepsiCo Snack Company Limited, Shanghai YuHo Agricultural Development Co. Ltd, Shoebill LLC, Simba (Proprietary) Limited, Simba Proprietary Limited, Sitka Spruce, Smartfoods Inc., Smiles and Bites Holdings S.de R.L. de C.V., Smiths Crisps Limited, Snack Food Investments GmbH, Snack Food Investments II GmbH, Snack Food Investments Limited, Snack Food-Beverage Asia Products Limited, Snacks America Latina S.R.L., Snacks Guatemala Ltd., So Spark Ltd., Soda-Club CO2 Atlantic GmbH, Soda-Club CO2 GmbH, Soda-Club CO2 Ltd., Soda-Club Switzerland GmbH, Soda-Club Worldwide B.V., SodaStream, SodaStream Australia Pty Ltd, SodaStream CO2 SA, SodaStream Canada Ltd., SodaStream Enterprises N.V., SodaStream France SAS, SodaStream GmbH, SodaStream Iberia S.L., SodaStream Industries Ltd., SodaStream International B.V., SodaStream International Ltd., SodaStream Israel Ltd., SodaStream K.K., SodaStream New Zealand Ltd., SodaStream Nordics AB, SodaStream Poland Sp. z o.o., SodaStream SA Pty Ltd., SodaStream Switzerland GmbH, SodaStream USA Inc., SodaStream Osterreich GmbH, South Beach Beverage Company Inc., South Properties Inc., Spitz International Inc., Sportmex Internacional S.A. de C.V., Springboig Industries Ltd, Spruce Limited, Stacy's Pita Chip Company Incorporated, Star Foods E.M. S.R.L., Stokely-Van Camp Inc., Stratosphere Communications Pty Ltd, Stratosphere Holdings 2018 Limited, Streamfoods Ltd, TFL Holdings LLC, Tasman Finance S.a r.l, The Gatorade Company, The Good Carb Food Company Ltd., The Pepsi Bottling Group Canada ULC, The Quaker Oats Company, The Smith's Snackfood Company Pty Limited, Thomond Group Holdings Limited, Tobago Snack Holdings LLC, Tropicana Alvalle S.L., Tropicana Beverages Limited, Tropicana Europe N.V., Tropicana United Kingdom Limited, Troya-Ultra LLC, United Foods Companies Restaurantes S.A., V-Water, VentureCo Israel Ltd, Veurne Snack Foods BV, Vitamin Brands Ltd., Walkers Crisps Limited, Walkers Group Limited, Walkers Snack Foods Limited, Walkers Snacks Distribution Limited, Walkers Snacks Limited, Whitman Corporation, Whitman Insurance Co. Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann Beverages JSC, Wimm-Bill-Dann Brands Co. Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann Central Asia-Almaty LLP, Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods LLC, Wimm-Bill-Dann Georgia Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann JSC, and Wimm-Bill-Dann Ukraine PJSC.

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Curb financial crimes, smuggling, Nidhi tells security chiefs

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi on Tuesday directed the chiefs of Nepal Police and Armed Police Force (AFP) to control financial crimes, gold smuggling and drugs smuggling.
The following companies are subsidiares of InterContinental Hotels Group: 2250 Blake Street Hotel LLC, 24th Street Operator Sub LLC, 36th Street IHG Sub LLC, 426 Main Ave LLC, 46 Nevins Street Associates LLC, Allegro Management LLC, Alpha Kimball Hotel LLC, American Commonwealth Assurance Co. Ltd., Asia Pacific Holdings Limited, BHMC Canada Inc., BHR Holdings B.V., BHR Luxembourg SARL, BHR Pacific Holdings Inc., BHTC Canada Inc., BOC Barclay Sub LLC, Barclay Operating Corp., Bristol Oakbrook Tenant Company, Cafe Biarritz, Cambridge Lodging LLC, Capital Lodging LLC, Compania Inter-Continental De Hoteles El Salvador SA, Crowne Plaza Amsterdam (Management) B.V., Crowne Plaza LLC, Cumberland Akers Hotel LLC, Dunwoody Operations Inc., EVEN Real Estate Holding LLC, Edinburgh IC Limited, General Innkeeping Acceptance Corporation, Guangzhou SC Hotels Services Ltd., H.I. (Ireland) Limited, H.I. Soaltee Management Company Ltd, HC International Holdings Inc., HH France Holdings SAS, HH Hotels (EMEA) B.V., HH Hotels (Romania) SRL, HI Sugarloaf LLC, HIM (Aruba) NV, Hale International Ltd., Hoft Properties LLC, Holiday Hospitality Franchising LLC, Holiday Inn Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Holiday Inns (China) Ltd, Holiday Inns (Chongqing) Inc., Holiday Inns (Courtalin) Holdings SAS, Holiday Inns (Courtalin) SAS, Holiday Inns (England) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Germany) LLC, Holiday Inns (Guangzhou) Inc., Holiday Inns (Jamaica) Inc., Holiday Inns (Malaysia) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Middle East) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Philippines) Inc., Holiday Inns (Saudi Arabia) Inc., Holiday Inns (South East Asia) Inc., Holiday Inns (Thailand) Ltd., Holiday Inns (UK) Inc., Holiday Inns Crowne Plaza (Hong Kong) Inc., Holiday Inns Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, Holiday Inns Inc., Holiday Inns Investment (Nepal) Ltd., Holiday Inns of America (UK) Ltd., Holiday Inns of Belgium N.V., Holiday Pacific Equity Corporation, Holiday Pacific LLC, Holiday Pacific Partners LP, Hotel Inter-Continental London Limited, Hotel InterContinental London (Holdings) Limited, Hoteles Y Turismo HIH SRL, IC Hotelbetriebsfuhrungs GmbH, IC Hotels Management (Portugal) Unipessoal Lda, IC International Hotels Limited Liability Company, IHC (Thailand) Limited, IHC Buckhead LLC, IHC Edinburgh (Holdings), IHC Hopkins (Holdings) Corp., IHC Hotel Limited, IHC Inter-Continental (Holdings) Corp., IHC London (Holdings), IHC M-H (Holdings) Corp., IHC May Fair (Holdings) Limited, IHC May Fair Hotel Limited, IHC Overseas (U.K.) Limited, IHC UK (Holdings) Limited, IHC United States (Holdings) Corp., IHC Willard (Holdings) Corp., IHG (Australasia) Limited, IHG (Marseille) SAS, IHG (Thailand) Limited, IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan LLC, IHG ANA Hotels Holdings Co. Ltd., IHG Bangkok Ltd, IHG Brasil Administracao de Hoteis e Servicos Ltda, IHG Commission Services SRL, IHG Community Development LLC, IHG Cyprus Limited, IHG ECS (Barbados) SRL, IHG Franchising Brasil Ltda, IHG Franchising DR Corporation, IHG Franchising LLC, IHG Hotels (New Zealand) Limited, IHG Hotels Limited, IHG Hotels Management (Australia) Pty Limited, IHG Hotels Nigeria Limited, IHG Hotels South Africa (Pty) Ltd, IHG International Partnership, IHG Istanbul Otel Yonetim Limited Sirketi, IHG Japan (Management) LLC, IHG Japan (Osaka) LLC, IHG Management (Maryland) LLC, IHG Management (Netherlands) B.V., IHG Management MD Barclay Sub LLC, IHG Management SL d.o.o, IHG Management d.o.o. Beograd, IHG Orchard Street Member LLC, IHG PS Nominees Limited, IHG Systems Pty Ltd, IHG Szalloda Budapest Szolgaltato Kft., IHG de Argentina SA, IND East Village SD Holdings LLC, Inter-Continental D.C. Operating Corp., Inter-Continental Florida Investment Corp., Inter-Continental Florida Partner Corp., Inter-Continental Hospitality Corporation, Inter-Continental Hoteleira Limitada, Inter-Continental Hotels (Montreal) Operating Corp., Inter-Continental Hotels (Montreal) Owning Corp., Inter-Continental Hotels (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Inter-Continental Hotels Corporation, Inter-Continental Hotels Corporation de Venezuela C.A., Inter-Continental Hotels of San Francisco Inc., Inter-Continental IOHC (Mauritius) Limited, Inter-Continental Management (Australia) Pty Limited, InterContinental (Branston) 1 Limited, InterContinental (PB) 1, InterContinental (PB) 2, InterContinental (PB) 3 Limited, InterContinental Berlin Service Company GmbH, InterContinental Brasil Administracao de Hoteis Ltda, InterContinental Gestion Hotelera S.L., InterContinental Hotel Berlin GmbH, InterContinental Hotel Dusseldorf GmbH (Germany), InterContinental Hotels (Puerto Rico) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd, InterContinental Hotels Group (Australia) Pty Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (Canada) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (Espana) SA, InterContinental Hotels Group (Greater China) Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (India) Pvt. Ltd, InterContinental Hotels Group (Japan) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (New Zealand) Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (Shanghai) Ltd., InterContinental Hotels Group Customer Services Ltd., InterContinental Hotels Group Healthcare Trustee Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group Operating Corp., InterContinental Hotels Group Resources Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group Services Company, InterContinental Hotels Group do Brasil Limitada, InterContinental Hotels Italia S.r.L., InterContinental Hotels Limited, InterContinental Hotels Management GmbH, InterContinental Hotels Nevada Corporation, InterContinental Management AM LLC, InterContinental Management Bulgaria EOOD, InterContinental Management France SAS, InterContinental Management Poland sp. z.o.o, InterContinental Overseas Holding Corporation, Intercontinental Hotels Corporation Limited, KG Benefits LLC, KG Gift Card Inc., KG Liability LLC, KG Technology LLC, KHP Washington Operator LLC, KHRG 11th Avenue Hotel LLC, KHRG 851 LLC, KHRG Aertson LLC, KHRG Alexandria LLC, KHRG Alexis LLC, KHRG Allegro LLC, KHRG Argyle LLC, KHRG Austin Beverage Company LLC, KHRG Baltimore LLC, KHRG Born LLC, KHRG Boston Hotel LLC, KHRG Canary LLC, KHRG Cayman Employer Ltd., KHRG Cayman LLC, KHRG DC 1731 LLC, KHRG DC 2505 LLC, KHRG Donovan LLC, KHRG Employer LLC, KHRG Goleta LLC, KHRG Gray LLC, KHRG Gray U2 LLC, KHRG Hillcrest LLC, KHRG Huntington Beach LLC, KHRG King Street LLC, KHRG La Peer LLC, KHRG Miami Beach LLC, KHRG Muse LLC, KHRG NPC LLC, KHRG Onyx LLC, KHRG Palladian LLC, KHRG Palomar Phoenix LLC, KHRG Philly Monaco LLC, KHRG Pittsburgh LLC, KHRG Reynolds LLC, KHRG Riverplace LLC, KHRG SFD LLC, KHRG Sacramento LLC, KHRG Savannah LLC, KHRG Schofield LLC, KHRG Sedona LLC, KHRG State Street LLC, KHRG Sutter LLC, KHRG Sutter Union LLC, KHRG Taconic LLC, KHRG Tariff LLC, KHRG Texas Hospitality LLC, KHRG Texas Operations LLC, KHRG Tryon LLC, KHRG VZ Austin LLC, KHRG Vero Beach LLC, KHRG Vintage Park LLC, KHRG WPB LLC, KHRG Wabash LLC, KHRG Westwood LLC, KHRG Wilshire LLC, KHRG Zamora LLC, Kimpton Hollywood Licenses LLC, Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group LLC, Kimpton Phoenix Licenses Holdings LLC, Kimpton Sedona Licenses LLC, Louisiana Acquisitions Corp., MH Lodging LLC, Mercer Fairview Holdings LLC, PML Services LLC, PT SC Hotels & Resorts Indonesia, Pollstrong Limited, Powell Pine Inc., Priscilla Holiday of Texas Inc., RM Lodging LLC, Regent Hotels and Resorts, Resort Services International (Cayo Largo) L.P., SBS Maryland Beverage Company LLC, SC Cellars Limited, SC Hotels International Services Inc., SC Leisure Group Limited, SC NAS 2 Limited, SC Quest Limited, SC Reservations (Philippines) Inc., SCH Insurance Company, SCIH Branston 3, SF MH Acquisition LLC, SPHC Group Pty Ltd., SPHC Management Ltd., Semiramis for training of Hotel Personnel and Hotel Management SAE, Six Continents Corporate Services, Six Continents Holdings Limited, Six Continents Hotels Inc., Six Continents Hotels International Limited, Six Continents Hotels de Colombia SA, Six Continents International Holdings B.V., Six Continents Investments Limited, Six Continents Limited, Six Continents Overseas Holdings Limited, Six Continents Restaurants Limited, SixCo North America Inc., Solamar Lodging LLC, Southern Pacific Hotel Corporation (BVI) Ltd., Southern Pacific Hotels Properties Limited, Universal de Hoteles SA, White Shield Insurance Company Limited, and World Trade Centre Montreal Hotel Corporation.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Abbott Laboratories: 3A Nutrition (Vietnam) Company Limited, ABON Biopharm (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AGA Medical Belgium, AGA Medical Corporation, AGA Medical Holdings Inc., ALR Holdings, AML Medical LLC, APK Advanced Medical Technologies LLC, ATS Bermuda Holdings Limited, ATS Laboratories Inc., Abbott, Abbott (Jiaxing) Nutrition Co. Ltd., Abbott (UK) Finance Limited, Abbott (UK) Holdings Limited, Abbott AG, Abbott Asia Holdings Limited, Abbott Asia Investments Limited, Abbott Australasia Holdings Limited, Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd, Abbott B.V., Abbott Bahamas Overseas Businesses Corporation, Abbott Belgian Investments, Abbott Bermuda Holding Ltd., Abbott Biologicals B.V., Abbott Biologicals LLC, Abbott Bulgaria Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Capital India Limited, Abbott Cardiovascular Inc., Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., Abbott Delaware LLC, Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Abbott Diabetes Care Limited, Abbott Diabetes Care Sales Corporation, Abbott Diagnostics GmbH, Abbott Diagnostics International Ltd., Abbott Diagnostics Technologies AS, Abbott Doral Investments S.L., Abbott Equity Holdings Unlimited, Abbott Equity Investments LLC, Abbott Established Products Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Finance Company SA, Abbott Financial Holdings SRL, Abbott France S.A.S., Abbott Fund Tanzania Limited, Abbott Gesellschaft m.b.H., Abbott GmbH & Co. KG, Abbott Health Products LLC, Abbott Healthcare (Puerto Rico) Ltd., Abbott Healthcare B.V., Abbott Healthcare Costa Rica S.A., Abbott Healthcare LLC, Abbott Healthcare Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Healthcare Private Limited, Abbott Healthcare Products B.V., Abbott Healthcare Products Ltd, Abbott Holding (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding GmbH, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited Luxembourg S.C.S., Abbott Holdings B.V., Abbott Holdings LLC, Abbott Holdings Limited, Abbott Holdings Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Hungary Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Iberian Investments (2) Limited, Abbott Iberian Investments Limited, Abbott India Limited, Abbott Informatics Asia Pacific Limited, Abbott Informatics Canada Inc, Abbott Informatics Corporation, Abbott Informatics Europe Limited, Abbott Informatics France, Abbott Informatics Germany GmbH, Abbott Informatics Netherlands B.V., Abbott Informatics Singapore Pte. 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4 held with fake pistol from Naya Bazaar

Police on Monday arrested four persons in possession of a fake pistol from Naya Bazaar, Kathmandu, Nepal Police said.
Shatta Movement family have signed a new dancehall sensation Rysto Weeny who aims at becoming the biggest there is in the dancehall fraternity.

Rysto Weeny whose real name is Raphael Adjei has a full album sitting at the SMF studio but will love to start his mainstream music journey with three new singles for the dancehall community.

I love to take my time do things one step at a time hence that is the reason why my label and I decided to drop the songs one at a time, Rysto Weeny opened up during a conversation.

During the chat with the dancehall artiste at the SMF studios inside DOME  in Accra, Rysto Weeny disclosed that he likes to learn. Hence has has take his time to learn from the very best of acts in the dancehall community.

I have been around for sometime now; during those times I learnt from my general- the upper class dancehall artiste soldier who passed away recently  Vybrant Faya (May His soul rest in peace) among other names hence I am really ready for this journey, he noted.

Rysto Weeny also mentioned that his love for dancehall goes back into young days in SHS where he used to freestyle to more dancehall riddims.

He calls himself the new dancehall sensation because the kind energy, style, deliver plus lineup of songs that is planned to come out will take over the industry in Ghana and beyond.

According to Rysto Weeny, the first single titled: Console produced by Ratio Be at the SMF studios. Is jam and it is for the dancehall dance lovers.

The new dancehall sensation is already making moves as he is billed to perform at the Shatta Wale Live in CapeCoast concert  February 18th at the Cape Coast Stadium.

Check out the new single from Rysto Weeny called Console.

https://soundcloud.com/nanayaw18-com/rysto-weeny-console-prod-by-ratiobeatz

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The Election Management Committee (EMC) of the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) has disclosed that the election of GHAMRO board members which was scheduled for February 22 this year has been postponed to March 8.

The committee mentioned that the decision to reschedule the date for the elections is to enable the committee to prepare adequately.

After careful consideration of the processes involved, the committee has decided to extend the whole timetable by extra 14 days to ensure that GHAMRO members have the opportunity to fully participate in the elections, the committee said in a statement.

The EMC added that the voting centres of Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi, Bolgatanga, northern Volta, Wa and Tamale remain unchanged.

The committee has announced plans of holding a press briefing on February 15, 2017 to inform members of the media on activities associated with the electoral processes.

The filing of nominations for the GHAMRO elections began on January 30 and ends on February 16, after which nominees will undergo vetting on February 23 and 24.

The committee disclosed that after the elections on March 8, inauguration of the elected board members will take place on March 22 in Accra.
The process for the approval of Madam Otiko Djaba, as Minister of Gender and Social Protection, became a subject of heated debate in Parliament recently. The Minority side, which objected to her approval by the House, argued that apart from refusing to apologise for the insults she rained on former President John Dramani Mahama, Otiko also failed to do her National Service, as demanded by law. To the Minority, approving her nomination would have meant they had condoned an illegality.

The Majority, however, thought otherwise, arguing that since Otiko Djaba completed her degree programme at the University of Development Studies (UDS) at the ripe age of 47, she qualified for exemption from doing National Service, and that the National Service Secretariat (NSS) had subsequently given her a waiver.

The Minority came back to strongly argue that at the time that Madam Otiko appeared before the Appointments Committee, no such waiver had been given, and that she herself admitted that she did not do National Service.

The back and forth arguments compelled Speaker Oquaye to call for a vote to determine the fate of the now Minister for Gender and Social Protection. As the adage goes  the Minority will have their say, but the Majority would have their way. At the end of the vote, the Majority had their way, and approval was given for Otiko Djaba to become a Minister.

Two of the Minority MPs, who are dissatisfied with the conduct of the Majority, have taken the matter to court by way of a writ they have filed at the Supreme Court. The Chronicle is happy with the decision of the two MPs to go to court, because it would help settle the legal ambiguities surrounding the two arguments being espoused by those in favour of the approval, and those who are against it.

Per the Minority argument, any Ghanaian who failed to do National Service is debarred from employment in the public sector by the NSS law, which was passed in the early 1980s. The Majority had also contended that the qualification for one to become a minister is the same as those seeking to enter Parliament, and that if a nominee qualified to become an MP, nothing should stop him or her from becoming a minister.

Indeed, Article 94 of the Constitution, which deals with the subject, states among others that, Subject to the provisions of this article, a person shall not be qualified to be a member of Parliament unless  (a) he is a citizen of Ghana, has attained the age of twenty-one years and is a registered voter;

(b) he is resident in the constituency for which he stands as a candidate for election to Parliament, or has resided there for a total period of not less than five years out of the ten years immediately preceding the election for which he stands, or he hails from that constituency; and

(c) he has paid all his taxes, or made arrangements satisfactory to the appropriate authority for the payment of his taxes.

(2) A person shall not be qualified to be a member of Parliament if he  (a) owes allegiance to a country other than Ghana: or (b) has been adjudged or otherwise declared  (i) bankrupt under any law in force in Ghana and has not been discharged or (ii) to be of unsound mind or is detained as a criminal lunatic under any law in force in Ghana.

Though we have not reproduced the entire qualification as stated in Article 94, nowhere has it been stated that if one failed to do his or her national service, he or she cannot become a Member of Parliament. On the other hand, the NSS Act is part and parcel of our enforceable laws. Therefore, if it says one must not be employed if the person fails to do his or her national service, the person must, indeed, not be employed in the public sector.

It based on all these that we agree with the decision by the MPs to go to court for the Supreme Court to help the public to untie the Gordian knot
London (AFP) - British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who notoriously sparked fury over comments about Africans made when he worked as a journalist, will visit the continent for the first time as minister this week.

Johnson will start the visit Tuesday in The Gambia, where he will meet President Adama Barrow and visit the British-funded Medical Research Council, his ministry said.

Johnson's trip is a first since the country won independence from Britain in 1965. "I'm delighted to be the first foreign secretary to visit Gambia this week," Johnson said in a statement Monday.

Barrow, who worked as a supermarket security guard in Britain when he was younger, defeated long-standing hardline ruler Yahya Jammeh in polls in December.

He then took refuge in neighbouring Senegal after Jammeh refused to accept the election result and sought for weeks to cling to power.

The new leader was welcomed home by jubilant crowds in late January after Jammeh finally left the country.

The Gambia used to be part to the Commonwealth, a grouping of countries formerly ruled by Britain.

But Jammeh pulled the country out of the Commonwealth, calling it a "neo-colonial institution" and announced his intention to drop English as an official language.

Barrow has said he wants to rekindle ties with Britain.

"I am also very pleased that Gambia wants to rejoin the Commonwealth and we will ensure this happens in the coming months," Johnson said.

The British minister also hailed the December elections in The Gambia and Ghana, saying they "highlight the continuing strengthening of democracy in West Africa".

In Ghana, Johnson will meet President Nana Akufo-Addo and visit the Blue Skies company, a juice-maker which has received financial support from Britain.

Since being appointed last year, Johnson has been pursued by reminders of highly undiplomatic comments he made about different countries and world leaders while writing for the Daily Telegraph before he became a government minister.

'Watermelon smiles'

In a column published in 2002, Johnson mocked then prime minister Tony Blair's international travel in an article with the headline: "If Blair's so good at running the Congo, let him stay there".

Gambian President Adama Barrow has said he wants to rekindle ties with Britain

He characterised the Commonwealth as having "crowds of flag-waving piccaninnies," using a derogatory term for black people that caused outrage.

He also parodied a Congolese reaction to Blair's arrival saying that "the tribal warriors will all break out in watermelon smiles to see the big white chief touch down".

The politically incorrect comments came back to haunt him when he ran for London mayor in 2008, and then again when he was named foreign secretary last year after Britain's shock Brexit vote, which brought down the government of premier David Cameron, his old Etonian schoolmate.

Johnson's colourful descriptions have not been limited to Africans.

He once compared the appearance of former US secretary of state and recently defeated White House candidate Hillary Clinton to that of "a sadistic nurse in a mental hospital".
The Foreign Affairs Ministry has dismissed claims that it has sanctioned the deportation of undocumented Ghanaians living abroad.

A press release from the Ministry is asking the public to ignore the "untruthful and cruel attempts being made by some unpatriotic elements, to twist the responses given by the Minister [Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey] when she appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament of Ghana on 23rd January 2017."

The Foreign Affairs Ministry clarifies that the Minister only sought to point out that although it had no power to interfere in the sovereignty of another country, it was mandated to engage countries where undocumented Ghanaians were residing to ensure they were treated in a humane manner when the need arises, and protect their interest by extending to them all the consular assistance that they are entitled to as citizens.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry released the following press statement:

The attention of the Ministry of Foreign affairs has been drawn to false reports being circulated on social media by some Ghanaians in the Diaspora, that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional integration, Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has sanctioned the deportation to Ghana, of undocumented Ghanaians residing abroad.

The ministry wishes to point out that these are untruthful and cruel attempts being made by some unpatriotic elements, to twist the responses given by the Minister, when she appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament of Ghana on 23rd January, 2017.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional integration wishes to point out that seeking and protecting the welfare of Ghananians abroad is one of the cardinal principles of Ghana's foreign policy. Honourable Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey articulated that very well during her vetting. She also indicated that much as missions abroad could not interfere in the affairs of any sovereign country, to have the status of undocumented Ghanaians regularised, she would engage those countries to ensure that our nationals are treated in a humane manner, whenever the need arises and do all that she can to protect their interest, by extending to them all the consular assistance that they are entitled to as Ghanaians.

Against the backdrop of an earlier question on Ghanaians bringing their experience, knowledge and skills to bear on our national development, the Honourable Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional integration added that Ghana's missions abroad could meet with our compatriots in the diaspora and appeal to them to come home to assist whenever they were disposed to. Never was it said that they would be deported.

The Ministry of Foreign affairs and Regional Integration has not issued directives for the deportation of any Ghanaians living abroad.

The general public is therefore entreated to disregard those negative reports which seek to malign the person of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional integration, Honourable Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and the Ministry as a whole.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
Hitler lookalike arrested in Austria

A Hitler lookalike has been arrested in Austria on charges of glorifying the Nazi era, local officials say.
The Minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa believes the leadership of Parliament should investigate the confusion that rocked Ghana's delegation to the ECOWAS parliament in Abuja, Nigeria recently.

The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament initially refused to swear in the Ghanaian delegation, because of some confusion over the membership of the delegation, when the House reopened for business last Friday.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Ablakwa said his preliminary investigations point to some confusion on the part of the Majority side.

Mr. Ablakwa explained that, the Majority could have avoided the embarrassing situation if it had worked out details internally as he noted that, per the formula we agreed, the Majority side had to send five members, and we [the Minority] send three members because we had eight seats to occupy on the ECOWAS parliament.

These are matters that the Majority side should have addressed internally. They should have sorted matters internally just as the minority side did before going out of our jurisdiction so that it does not appear that we went out there to wash our dirty linen in public and to give Ghana a bad name.

At this point, it is important to learn lessons. That is why I intend to raise the matter when the Foreign Affairs committee meets and I am hoping that colleagues on the committee will ask that leadership of the house looks into this matter with the view of preventing a recurrence, the MP said.

Privileges Committee should investigate matter

The Director of the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Rashid Dramani, went a step further and said the Privileges Committee of Parliament was the appropriate body to look into the matter.

Also speaking on Eyewitness News, he described the process of constituting a delegation as quite straight-forward and said, Parliament needs to look seriously into this matter because our country is better than this.

I don't know what happened and how you have a delegation constituted by our Parliament that goes to the ECOWAS parliament and there is confusion about the representation of some of the members. It beats my mind.

He continued that, the Privileges Committee is where this matter belongs to because if it is something that is bringing an embarrassment to our country and to our Parliament, I think that is the appropriate quarters where this matter can be looked into.

Background

The confusion was sparked by the refusal of the MP for Suhum, Fred Opare Ansah to step down as a Member of the delegation, after he had served notice to continue as a member because he was still a member of Parliament in Ghana.

The Suhum MP had been a member of the ECOWAS Parliament until the Majority Leadership reconstituted the Ghanaian delegation with O.B Amoah, MP for Akwapim South; Ama Pomaah Boateng Andoh MP for Juaben; Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Effutu MP; Kwabena Appiah-Pinkra MP for Akrofuom; MP for Anlo, Clement Kofi Humado; Mahama Ayariga, the Bawku Central MP and Sampson Ahi, MP for Bodi.

Ghana has eight seats in the ECOWAS Parliament, but by Mr. Opare Ansah's refusal to step down, the Ghanaian delegation jumped to nine.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin later withdrew from the delegation to the ECOWAS.



By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana
A Parliamentary aspirant in the 2015 New Patriotic Party Parliamentary primary in the Tema East constituency, Ben Ashitey, has hit back at his critics challenging his commitment and credibility in the NPP.

Responding to comments by some constituency executives of Tema East, Mr. Ben Ashitey denied claims that he worked against the NPPs interest.

He said he is a full card bearing and a committed member of the party who has helped champion the good of the party in the constituency over the years.

I am a full-time card bearing member of the NPP and under no circumstance have I ever campaigned or influenced a group of persons to vote against the NPP in the run-up to the 2016 elections

Mr. Ashitey noted that, the issues raised by some of the constituency executives at their press conference are all lies seeking to tarnish his hard earned reputation.

I have been an NPP member for a very long time and I have worked and supported the party in diverse ways so I am surprised some of the executives have launched an agenda to destroy my image for no apparent reason. During the 2016 election campaign, I together with Titus Glover and the constituency chairman campaigned vigorously to ensure a massive win for the party in the constituency so I dont get where their sudden hatred and attempt to tarnish my reputation is coming from. I dont get it? Whats their motivation?

Mr Ashitey in the 2015 NPP Parliamentary Primary contested the incumbent Member of Parliament Titus Glover, where he lost to the incumbent by 49 votes.

Since my defeat in 2015, I have continually campaigned and worked for the party so it is preposterous for some of my executives to deliberately work against my person.

Mr Ashitey further stated that, he has no family connection whatsoever with the Greater Accra Regional Minister nominee whos also the Regional party Chairman, adding that it is a mere coincidence that he has the same surname with him.

On the allegation of him being pushed or imposed on them for the position of MCE for Tema, Mr Ashitey noted that Yes, I have applied for the top position of MCE, but I did that on my own merit and conviction. I have what our constitution requires for the top job so all I did was to put in my application for the position, and if the party after perusing all applications feels I am the best candidate, I shall gladly serve the party in that capacity and ensure I deliver to the best of my ability

Mr Ashitey called on the party executives in the constituency to put aside personal sentiments and consider the good of the party and the people of Tema.

I urge my party people to put aside personal sentiments and address issues head-on, rather than involving personal interest. We are one people with a common vision so why must we tear ourselves apart over who becomes an MCE he queried

He called on the public to disregard the press conference held by some of the executives saying they are malicious and lack merit.



By: Elvis Washington/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Nobel International Business School (NiBS), Africas Premier Doctoral School has introduced a top Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) program in Ghana.

The Executive Master of Business Administration which is the first of its kind in the world is well tailored to provide practical knowledge and experience to top business leaders in the changing scope of the business environment.

Speaking at a news conference in Accra, the President and Executive Dean of NiBS, Professor Kwaku Atuahene-Gima (PhD), said, they are the first business school in the world to start programs with doctorate which is new in the world.

He added that particularly in Ghana, West Africa and perhaps Africa as a whole, they strongly believe that executives that make tough decisions in their day to day business environment have to make those decisions based on evidence.

How to get that evidence you will need to get a doctorate degree and that is why we introduce this program. This is very important because in a rapidly changing environment in Africa bad decisions can be very costly not only to the business and the workers but to the nation at large, he stated.

Prof. Atuahene-Gima noted that our leaders can only avoid making bad decisions if they had evidence to make those decisions which strongly requires the skills and capability.

That is why we have introduced this Executive Doctorate program and currently we have about 120 senior executives in the program mainly coming from Ghana and Nigeria as well as other West African countries, he intimated.

He emphasized that the school was built based on strong alliances and partnerships with very renowned institutions around the world.

Prof. Atuahene-Gima stressed that the school focuses on learning based on projects which allows students to practice what they usually learn in the real world which makes them more unique.

The Director of Graduate Programs at NiBS, Hod Anyigba (PhD) noted that currently they have three graduate programs such as Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), PhD in Business Administration and the new Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) with emerging market focus.

Our EMBA is focused on developing future executives to be able to make full assessment and very sound economic decisions in their respective businesses environment, he noted.

Mr. Anyigba indicated that the challenge is that different researchers have come from different regions of the world and have tried to implement strategies that mostly do not work in our environment.

And so in our program we are looking at how to implement locally made theory based practically with sound strategies that can work in our local business environment, he posited.

According to him, the EMBA program is first of its kind in the world because of its unique combination of 5 firsts which includes the First EMBA incorporating CEO Forum, First EMBA with Eminent CEO Fellowship Program to help unleash your CEO potential, First EMBA with teaching company partners to assess student performance, First EMBA with Corporate Performance Seal to attest to the quality of student work and lastly, First EMBA to offer 24/7 Research assistance and support for students.

Mr. Anyigba said these courses are handled by top notch professors who have rich experience in their respective fields and can deliver best practical lessons with focus on emerging markets.

One of the courses will be thought in Dubai by one of the professors followed by another trip to Rwanda, South Africa or Malaysia aimed at enriching the students with practical knowledge and experiences in the world, he stated.

Mr. Anyigba added that they use innovative approach to studies such as discovery rich performance learning approach.

He noted that one of the modules is that, apart from its practicality, students comes for lessons once in every two months for three days with the rest of the time spent on project work, cases writing, reflection paper writing etc.

According to him, these are the innovative ways that are transforming industries in other countries and for that matter they see it as a relevant strategy to introduce it in Ghana.

He added that the school has a strong international presence and affiliations with top notch universities in the world such as SBS Swiss Business School in Zurich Switzerland, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management in Frankfurt Germany, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) Ghana, International Foundation for Africa Innovation (IFAI), Mannheim Business School in Germany, Neoma Business School in France and Nordic International Management Institute in China.

Mr. Anyigba noted that their relationship with Frankfurt School of Finance & Management and Mannheim Business School both in Germany allows them to offer top notch executive education programs to companies and business executives in West Africa.

He emphasized that the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree is being awarded by SBS Swiss Business School which is ranked among the top 20 program in the Global DBA Rankings EURO 2016, Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) Degree is also awarded by SBS Swiss Business School, the Doctor of Management (DM) Degree is awarded by GIMPA as well as the PhD in Business Administration.

We have really good scholarships to give up especially to women because they believe in women empower in order to have a good representation of women in the program, Mr. Anyigba stressed.

Dr. Livingston Caesar, Program Director at the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), NiBS, indicated that the DBA program offered by his outfit is the ultimate degree for any business leader and entrepreneurs in the country.

According to him, research has indicated that many business leaders are making decisions using old methods which are mostly not based on evidence.

So as a decision making leader in the emerging markets your path should always be guided by rigorous scientific research, he intimated.

Dr. Caesar concluded that the idea of the 3year DBA program which is also accredited by the National Accreditation Board (NAB) is to train the next top generational leaders who are able to make sound business decisions based on scientific enquiry.
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The Rebecca Agroh Memorial Foundation (RAM Foundation) officially launched the Sweet Mother Gallery and the Dosoo Terrace established in memory of two very distinguished Ghanaians on Saturday, 28, January, 2017 at the residence of its founder, Dr. Ken Kwaku.

The gallery was built as a memorial to his late mother, Madam Rebecca Agroh in whose memory the RAM Foundation was established. It was the foundations project to commemorate the 70th birthday anniversary of Dr. Kwaku the founder and son of madam Agroh. Rebecca Agroh's life was committed to empowering women especially the girl child and the rural women. She was a nurse, teacher and social worker who retired as the Assistant Director of the Social Welfare Department. She also did consultancies for the UNDP and the Economic Commission for Africa.

The gallery is meant to give an account of Madam Rebecca Agroh's life as a family person and a development worker.

Guests checking out the pictures in the gallery

The Dosoo Terrace on the other hand contains memorabilia of Dr. Kwaku's late friend and brother in law, Lionel Dosoo (former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana). The terrace is a place meant for thinking and reflection. Both the gallery and the terrace are situated in the residence of Dr. Ken Kwaku in East Legon.

Some of the notable people who attended the event (which was strictly by invitation) were Ambassador Kabral Blay Amihere, Ambassador Patrick Hayford, Mr. Teddy Konu (former Registrar of University of Ghana), the Director for the Department of Community Development and Social Welfare, Mr. Avorka, Mrs. Anna Bossman, Dzigbordi Dosoo (CEO of Alure Africa Group, sister of Dr. Ken Kwaku and widow of the late Lionel Dosoo in whose memory the Dosoo terrace was built) as well as a number of corporate executives such as Mr. Richard Dugan of McOttley Holdings, Elsie Appau of Acreaty Ghana among others.

Guests were welcomed with a brief speech by the founder of the RAM Foundation, Dr. Ken Kwaku. Later in the programme, there was a presentation on the foundation by the Director of Research and Operations, Mr. Raymond Ayivor. Dr. Kwakus succinct but very emotional speech touched many. He underscored the need to show love to ones mother and to one another even in death. Mr. Raymond Ayivor also made mention of some of the successes chalked by the foundation over the years which include but not limited to the following: the construction of a $200, 000 ICT facility in Sokode  Lokoe in Ho, the Disability Support Project in Ho, and the construction of a childrens playground at Logba EP Primary school in Ziavi in the Volta region of Ghana.

Currently, the foundation is working on the Girls Impact Project which aims at teaching young girls in SHS non - traditional women vocational skills. It will begin the pilot with Ola Girls Senior High School and Tamale Girls Senior High School. The plan is to gradually expand to all ten regions.

In addition to the launch of the gallery and the terrace, this event was also used to officially launch the foundation and to showcase some of its achievement since its establishment.
14.02.2017 LISTEN

I have always believed in the principle that the worst inhuman treatment is to try to deny someone his or her right to believe. Anyone or system that takes away anyones right to believe must be reformed.

The recent vetting of the minister-designate for information has re-ignited a discourse as to whether people of different faith who find themselves in Christian schools should be made to participate in church services. This, for me, does not really pass for a debate but for the sake of building consensus.

Why would a person of different faith find himself in a Christian school? Christian schools were established with the aim of impacting the values and beliefs of Jesus Christ into people who patronize them and with the hope of modelling them into good and responsible citizens. In essence Christian schools were created to FORM AND INFORM citizens. With this goal at hand, attendance to church activities has been developed as part of the daily activities of some of these schools; some weekly. The backdrop on which someone of different faith finding himself in Christian faith based school is CHOICE. Some school of thought would disagree. They would opine that in an era of computerized placement, any student could be placed in any institution. But the same school of thought chose to ignore the fact that in the computerized placement system, students are giving the option to select some schools in which they wished to be placed with a last option of selecting any district to be placed in the event that they miss out of their selected schools. Much as I agree that with the last option one may be placed in any institution, it is most improbable that anybody could be placed in a Christian faith based school if it is not part of his chosen schools. Most of the Christian faith based schools are classified as Grade A or B schools by virtue of their performance and the competiveness in getting placed there. It leaves us with the option that students only get placed in these institutions by virtue of their choices. Christian based institutions are well known by their names or the denominations they affiliate to. It therefore becomes unimaginable how students choose to go to such institutions and yet expect not to participate in what those institutions stand for. Why would you to go to a St. Charles Minor Seminary/Senior High School or a Pope John Minor Seminary/Senior High School and want to set aside the seminary part of the institution? On what ground would you want to separate the FORMATION aspect of the school from the INFORMATION? Why would you want the school to lower its standards so that it can accommodate you?

If students chose these schools on the basis of their high performance which is hinged on the two-fold role, formation and information, why would they want to follow a portion of what makes these institutions what they are?

The proponents have taken a position that blatantly ignores the fact that if schools like Notre Dame Seminary/SHS, St. Augustine School, Wesley Girls High, Adisadel College, Holy Child School, St. Louis School, St. James Seminary school and Mfantsipim school, just to mention a few are schools most graduating pupils wish to attend, it is because these schools obtain excellent results and their graduates progress in life stemming from the rules and regulations these schools operate on.

More disturbing is the comparison that students of different faith who find themselves in Islamic schools are not subjected to same worship-rules. This is flawed in itself giving the fact that Christianity operates in a more open space than Islam. Indeed, in Islamic institution students irrespective of faith/belief system are made to dress in some style with the ladies made to veil themselves. This could be discomforting for some students, but indeed thats the rule of the school. The school exists to form students aside informing them. But for the fact that entering a mosque by anybody is not easily accessible due to the compact nature of Islam, students would have had to practice Islam in full gear in those schools. Thats to say if mosque-system had the church-like system, where there is a lot of talk (sermon and scripture studies), the same rules would have existed in these schools. I would have no issue with that. But I dare say these critics of the Christian faith based school system would have kept their mute.

Be as it may, listening to arguments on what pertains in Christian schools, there is a misconception out there. Being a beneficiary of such a system, I have colleagues who were of different faith but testifying to how attending services has helped shaped their lives. It is observed that most of these students still hold onto their respective beliefs but thankful for the opportunity to learning about the Christian faith. Students in Christian institutions are not made to abandon their faiths/beliefs, neither are they forced to embrace the Christian faith; they are asked to obey the principles and statutes upon which the schools are established for which they longed wanted to attend.

Institutions are governed by rules, regulations, principles and statutes and the school as an institution is no exception. And as far as it is, the onus lies on whoever wants to enter a particular institution to learn of the dos and donts before embracing it. It is of the known that students are briefed of these rules before the start of their studies leaving ample time for them to change their desire of studying in these institutions. I had the opportunity to apply and be recommended for special service as a professional Medical Laboratory Scientist in the military some years back. I declined despite the scathing for work at the time because I knew I could not put up with the rules and regulations governing the military. Some of my mates who thought they could put up with those rules gave it a shot of being trained there. Thats the element of choice. Indeed, rather than advocating to stop the very rules and regulations that make students want to be in Christian schools, I believe the advocacy should be channeled to the students who think they cannot put up with those rules and regulations to stop patronizing those schools. After all there are institutions where no one really cares about what others believe in. The sole government institutions like Tamale Senior high school, Navrongo Senior High School, Ghana Senior High/Technical Senior, Achimota school and many more in this bracket are options for such students.

It is worrying when you submit yourself to the shrine, you complain of being told to remove your footwear. I love to put on cap, but if I have agreed to be in the church for Mass I have to give up wearing my cap or leave the church. With the discomfort it may bring, anyone who is entering a mosque to pray has to take off the footwear as long as the fellow has agreed to enter that mosque to pray. These are specific rules that govern these institutions which are within the country and as long as you associate with the institutions, the rules ought to be followed. Again CHOICE!

There are pack of rules and regulations that govern seminary/Christian based senior high schools that make them the sort after schools. Have you ever heard students Dont bring gari and other soakables to school? Well ask a past student of St. Francis Xavier Seminary school. Have you ever heard Dont ride a motorbike whilst you are on vacation? Ask an Amicus (past student of Notre Dame Seminary school). These are rules and regulations that these institutions make in line with instilling discipline and forming the students to become responsible adults. As long as these institutions would exist and be institutions of much interests, these regulations, statutes, principles and rules cannot go away.

It is hoped that people who rather than advocating a stop to this system, would garner support to authorities in these schools so they can help create a better society. Their energies should be tailored towards re-instating the studies of religious and moral education so as to help solve the mirage of moral decay in our societies today. The earlier people eschew religious fanatism and support worthy courses, the better for our country.

God bless our homeland Ghana, and make our nation great and strong.

Maxwell Akonde

Medical Laboratory Scientist and Writer

Past Student of Notre Dame Minor Seminary/Senior Secondary School

Email: [email protected]
Even as he is being accused of blowing the lid off the Boakye Agyarko bribery scandal, self-acclaimed financier of the governing New Patriotic Party, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, is also pointing accusing fingers at some kingpins of the party for plotting the scandal because they missed out on the Energy Minister post.

Known for his no hold bar effusions, the Assin Central MP revealed that some NPP big shots whose eyes was on the Energy Minister portfolio engineered the bribery allegation to get Mr Agyarko fired by President Akufo-Addo so their favorite could be appointed.

Speaking on Adom Tvs Badwam program last week, the acerbic tongue legislator also alleged some members of the minority NDC who despise Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, and wants his leadership marred, conspired with some NPP members to make up the allegation.

In a gasping attempt to ward off claims by his co-panelist, Alhaji Bature Iddrisu, that he was neck-deep in the bribery allegation plot, Hon Agyapong vowed that attempts to smear Mr Agyarko will not see the light of day.

He rebuffed Alhaji Batures daring claim that he (Hon. Agyapong) knows something about the bribery, insisting; My name seems to pop up in every issue in this country; I dont understand why people want to drag my name into this bribery brouhaha. I am not a member of the Appointments Committee, what interest do I have in this to give out bribe. Anyone with information claiming that I have offered bribe inside my Rolls Royce car should come out with that information. If Okudzeto, Ayariga and Suhuyini have evidence to that effect, they should come out, they should name and shame. The problem I have with the media is you always rely on social media for information, you will always get it wrong if you go that way.

Hon Agyapongs revelation was in response to publication by The aL-hAJJ that the bribery scandal was engineered by NPP bigwigs who were lobbying for their favorite to be appointed Minister of Energy but had their hopes dashed following the nomination of Mr Agyarko.

The paper reported that the NPP members against Mr Agyarkos nomination and subsequent appointment decided to kick the Energy Minister out of office by blowing the lid on the alleged bribe money to members of the minority MPs on the Appointment Committee of Parliament.

This was later confirmed by NDC MP for North Tongu and member of the committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa who, together with his colleague Minority MP for Tamale North, Alhaji Alhassan Suhuyini, corroborated Hon Ayarigas bribery allegation.

I can tell you on authority that there were some NPP MPs who helped us blow the alarm, and gave us the hint about where the money is coming from, the former deputy Minister of Education in the Mahama administration noted.

The Energy Minister was alleged to have bribed minority MPs on the committee with GHC3000 each. The supposed bribe was said to have been channeled through Chairman of the Committee, Joe Osei-Wusu, and Minority Chief Whip, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka.

However, Mr Agyarko, Hon. Joe Osei-Wusu and Hon. Muntaka Mubarak have all denied the allegation. This has led to the Speaker of Parliament forming a five member committee to investigate the matter following a petition by Hon Ayariga and his two colleagues. The committee is expected to begin sittings tomorrow.

But some Ghanaians, including Kennedy Agyapong, have criticized Parliaments decision to investigate itself. Those who hold this view argue that the Speaker should have referred the matter to an independent body outside parliament.

This time around an independent body should investigate Parliament; we shouldnt leave this matter with the Speaker to settle. Once Parliament is investigating itself, we might not get the full brief; an independent body like CHRAJ must come in and do the investigations. Weve had enough allegations of bribery about Parliament, lets have another body go into the matter and bring finality to the issue, Hon Kennedy Agyapong argued.

He added: The Chairman of the Investigative Committee, Hon. Joe Ghartey himself is a ministerial nominee who will also later appear before the same Appointment Committee which has been accused of bribery to be vetted so I have a problem with his choice.

In the midst of the criticisms, others have also called for live telecast of proceedings of the committee. One such person is Director of Communications of NPP, Nana Akomea, who said The issue involves parliament itself and senior members of parliament. Parliament itself is investigating the matter and so the public interest will be served if the proceedings are done in public  that is, televised.

I will wish that parliament itself will insist [on that] because of the problem of conflict of interest. It is not an external body that is investigating parliament; it is an internal parliamentary body investigating the conduct of Members of Parliament. So, to improve credibility and the public accountability, they should have these proceedings televised.

In response to these concerns, the committee, Daily Graphic reported, has decided to open up the enquiry to the public.

Meanwhile, acting General Secretary of the NPP, John Boadu, has said that President Akufo-Addo will not hesitate to sack Mr Agyarko if it turns out that he indeed attempted to bribe the minority MPs. If there is evidence to prove the allegation against Mr Agyarko, Nana Addo will not hesitate to sack him, he is capable of doing that.
Ghanas immediate past President, John Dramani Mahama, has yet given the strongest indication he may not be a candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress for the next presidential polls.

Since his recent advice to members of the NDC to stop arguing over whether he will make a comeback and rather, focus on reorganizing the party; it seem its now obvious, the ex-president may have reasoned with his immediate family and the advice of his late father, Mr Emmanuel Adamah Mahama, to quit when the applause is loudest

Short of confirming he firmed up on decision not to make a comeback in 2020, Mr Mahama last week in faraway Kenya told a Nairobi audience, his decision was reinforced when he attended the inauguration of his successor, President Akufo-Addo, on January 7 this year. Last month, I attended the inauguration of president Akufo-Addo. When I exited my vehicle and my arrival was publicly announced at the Black Star Square, there was a loud round of applause again; I thought of my father and those words  leave when the applause is loudest.

The Ghanaian ex-president made this profound revelation when he delivered a lecture on democracy and rule of law in Africa in Kenya as guest speaker of the Mindspeak series.

An astute political pundit who wants to remain anonymous, interpreting Mr. Mahamas reference to his fathers allegory; leave when the applause is loudest, told this paper that, the ex-Ghanaian leader was signaling his disinterest in leading the NDC into the next presidential election. He added that, I wouldnt be surprise to hear former President Mahama formally announce his retirement from active politics any time soon.

Mr Mahama narrated how he has drawn useful lessons from his fathers leave when the applause is loudest advice which, he said, was contained in a letter his late father, Mr E.A Mahama, who was also a former Commissioner in the Nkrumah regime, wrote to then Gen. Ignatius Kutu Acheampong to pat him on the shoulder for some radical decisions he took during his reign as Head of State.

Despite the fact that Col. Acheampong had come to power by way of coup detat, my father was hopeful that unlike a typical coup maker, he might have Ghanas interest at heart instead of his own. In fact my father was so hopeful that he sat down and wrote Col Acheampong a letter, telling him exactly that. In that letter, my father also decided to dispense a little bit of political wisdom. He advised Col Acheampong to remember to leave when the applause is loudest, Mr Mahama narrated.

General I.K Acheampong was later disgraced when he was deposed in a palace coup, stripped of his military title, and eventually; executed following the coup by the Armed Forces Revolutionary council led by Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings.

After failing to secure a second term bid in last years election despite posting positive and unmatched infrastructural projects, there have been calls on Mr Mahama to make a comeback in 2020. National Organizer of the NDC, Kofi Adams; MP for Odododiodoo, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuije and others have all vowed to prevail on him to contest the 2020 elections.

But the Mahama family has been reported to have advised the ex-president not to make a comeback in 2020. A younger brother of the ex-president and CEO of Engineers and Planners, Mr Ibrahim Mahama told The aL-hAJJ John has given his all in politics to NDC and Ghana and we think it is just fair that we allow him to rest. We were very supportive and instrumental in convincing him to partner late Prof Mills, and when the time came for him to contest for President; we supported him and advised him to go for itnow we have again advised him not to make a comeback in 2020.

The former president himself until recently has remained tightlipped on his future political life except to implore National Executives of the party, NDC MPs and the rank and file of the party to channel their energies into restructuring the party instead of discussing whether he will make a comeback in 2020.

With discussions on whether he will lead the NDC into the 2020 elections still raging in the media and party meetings, Mr John Mahama said the advice his late father gave Col Acheampong to leave when the applause is loudest and the subsequent lesson that taught me about democracy was especially relevant now. And I wish to explain why Last December, elections were held in Ghana. I had served for four years as president. I was seeking reelectionduring the course of the campaign that led up to the election; there was one question that I was asked a number of times that bristled me. And the question was- If you do not win, would you concede. Obviously, each time my answer was yes. But I was always perplexed because what other answer was there to give?

The former President shared fond memories of how during his inauguration as president in 2012 at the Black Star square he sat and listened to the applause. It made me remember those faithful words my father had written in his letter  leave when the applause is loudest. Throughout the course of my presidency, I had both been applauded and criticized, I was revered and reviled.

Signaling how difficult it is to determine when the applause is loudest, the ex-president added that when you find yourself standing at the center of all the sound and wrath, it is difficult to determine when it is indeed the loudest.
My opposition to the New Patriotic Party is not in doubt. It is truism that during the eight year rule of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, I was one of the few Ghanaians who took on his administration and worked assiduously to march it out of power.

When the National Democratic Congress led by late Prof John Atta Mills secured victory in the 2008 elections which was later bequeathed to immediate past President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, I defended the government even at the peril of my life with hopes of denying the NPP opportunity of recapturing power.

Typical of me in the past eight years was my strong views on the leadership style of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo. It is well documented that I am not only a virulent critic of President Akufo-Addo, but I have also spent time and resources to campaign against his election as President of Ghana.

I did all that I did and, will continue to do, not because I despise Nana Akufo-Addo or I bear grudges. President Akufo Addo and I have mutual respect for each other. Indeed, I once told him in a privileged conversation that, I have no doubt in my mind that he will make a good president.

I have no axe to grind with Akufo Addo as a person, my abhorrence and strong views against him is because of the political platform on which he wanted to prosecute his presidential ambition.

Political affiliation, like religion, is based on ideology, dogma and conviction. In this instance, my political conviction is dialectically at variance with what President Akufo-Addos party stands for.

Despite my open and sometimes abrasive criticism of Akufo Addo, I have on number of occasions patted him on the shoulder any time he did something I thought was worthy of commendation. When he decided to concede after losing the last election petition, I openly praised him for saving the nation from what would have otherwise resulted in civil war in this country.

My criticism of Akufo-Addo even now that is President will not change. Similarly, I will not hesitate to praise him when he does something right. President Akufo-Addos elevation of one his longtime loyal servant, Abu Jinapor, to the position of deputy Chief of Staff is a development that must guide every young politician.

The crux of this article is actually centered on a discussion I had with Abu Jinapor some years back when he was Akufo-Addos spokesman. It has not been my intention to share this story with the rest of the world without the permission of Abu Jinapor. What I am about to do may not be fair to him, but I hope he forgives me for letting the rest of the World know what transpired between the two of us in the build up to the 2012 elections.

in 2012 when Abu Jinapor was Akufo-Addo spokesman, I called to advise him to be measured in some of the words he use in the media to describe his Northern brother, then President Mahama.

At the time, Abu Jinapors senior brother, John Jinapor, was also the spokesperson of Mr Mahama. At the same period, Abu Jinapors father, who is the Buipewura, was having problems with the Overlord of Gonjaland. The accusation then was that the Buipewura was riding on his sons closeness to President Mahama to show his disdain for the Gonja overlord.

Some even went to the extent of accusing President Mahama of supporting the Buipewura against his own hometown chief. This was a dicey situation at the time and it created a whole lot of problem for President Mahama up North.

Ironically, while President Mahama was being accused of siding with the Buipewura because of John Jinapor, one of the Buipewuras sons, Abu Jinapor, was also constantly berating Mr Mahama in the media. Abu Jinapor did not pay hid to what President Mahama was going through because of his father.

In the midst of this disturbing happening, I called Abu Jinapor to draw his attention to the torrid times President Mahama was having up North which was likely to affect his votes because of his (Abus) brother and father. I advised him to consider his fathers relationship with President Mahama, and be circumspect in his criticisms.

My intention was not to gag Abu Jinapor. All that I did was to call his attention to the fact he is a young man and he must be careful with some of the words he used on President Mahama. But Abu Jinapor was resolute in his defense of his choice of words and the job he had been assigned to do for Akufo-Addo.

He told me point blank that he had a firm conviction that Akufo-Addo would be President and that he was working unremittingly towards that goal. Abu Jinapor virtually sold out his parents in pursuit of his dream to get Akufo-Addo elected president. Not even the mention of his parents cordial relationship with President Mahama would prod Abu Jinapor to soften his stands.

I allowed him to have his way because I realized he was not ready to trade the pursuit of getting AkufoAddo elected president with his parents relationship with President Mahama. Not to talk of the privileged position his blood brother was serving in the Mahama government.

Lo and behold, Akufo Addo and the NPP lost the 2012 elections, and Abu Jinapors dream did not materialized. I planned calling him after the election to tell him didnt I warn you, but for some strange reasons I shelved that idea.

But, despite all the mockery and tribulations he suffered after Akufo-Addos defeat, Abu did not give up on the man he vowed to taste his presidency. Even his own party members had course to doubt his loyalty to Akufo-Addo after the 2012 elections to the extent that all manner of allegations were made about him.

Just as he did not give up on Akufo-Addo despite the attacks from both his own party members and political adversaries, Akufo-Addo did not also end his marriage with him after the 2012 electoral defeat. Indeed, Abu Jinapor, though was not retained as Akufo-Addos spokesperson for the 2016 elections, played varying roles in the NPPs campaign until his wish came to pass on December 7 elections.

When Akufo-Addo was sworn in on January 7 to officially take office as president, he did not forget all the sacrifices that Abu Jinapor made including selling his parents in order get him elected president.

By way for paying back Abu Jinapor for his unalloyed loyalty towards the course of getting his elected president, Akufo Addo appointed him against all odds as one of the deputy Chief of Staffs at the Flag Staff House. Regardless of Abu Jinapors age, President Akufo-Addo found him worthy enough among the pool of talented human resource at his disposal to occupy that critical position. That is the hallmark of loyalty.
Ghanas participation in this years pilgrimage to the Holy land of Mecca in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has started on a bumpy note with both vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the National Chief Imam; Shiekh Dr Osman Nuhu Sharabutu reported seething with anger over neglect.

Information filtering into the office of The aL-hAJJ indicates that vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is not a happy man as a result of President Akufo-Addo denying him the honor to reconstitute the recently announced 14 Member Hajj Board; charged to oversee this years Hajj operations.

The National Chief Imam, who is the spiritual Head of Muslims in Ghana, is also reported alarmed by the decision to constitute the Hajj Board without consulting him.

Describing the 14-member committee as too partisan, spokesperson of the Chief Imam, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, told Citi Fm, that the Chief Imam was not consulted before the announcement of the newly constituted Board.

It appears to me that the Board has been rashly been composed without taking time to study the structure and the outcome of the work of the previous committee so we can learn the lessons from there, he noted.

Meanwhile, sources at the Flag Staff House have also told The aL-hAJJ that being a Muslim, Doctor (Dr Bawumia) was of the view Hajj operations which include the appointment of members of the Board will come under his purview, but he was disappointed when the president himself performed that duty.

Though the vice president was reported consulted on the appointment of members of the Hajj board, a source added that persons he (Dr Bawumia) had promised key roles in the Hajj operations were not considered. Dr Bawumia had his own people he had penciled to manage Hajj even before we won the electionthis was because he thought he will superintend over all Muslim affairs.

We know that under late Prof Mills, Mahama as vice-president was allowed, in consultation with the National Chief Imam, to oversee Hajj operations because he is a Northerner. So being a Muslim, it would have been fair that Dr Bawumia was given the opportunity to choose people he thinks could manage the Hajj very well, but unfortunately the president thought otherwise, another source added.

Apparently, former Greater Accra regional minister, Sheikh I C Quaye, a close confidant of President Akufo Adddo; had to up-his lobbying skills in order to go pass NPP NASARA Coordinator, Kamal-Deen Abdulai and two other Bawumia loyalists to snatch the Hajj Chairmanship Job.

Though all those who missed out on the Hajj Chairman post have subsequently been made members of the Hajj board to oversee the annual holy journey to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, reports indicate that all was not well with the boards composition and functions.

President Akufo-Addo last week named Sheikh I.C Quaye and 13 others to oversee this years Hajj operations. A statement issued by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, named Sheikh I C Quaye as Chairman of the board who will be supported by 10 others.

The statement also named Dr Seidu Zakaria as Head of Medical Team, Abdulai Rahman Alhassan Gomda as Head of Communications and Dr Sani Abdulai as Head of IT.

In a related development, some regional Chief Imams have also reacted to the names of members of the Board, saying there was no consultation to include regional representatives.

Ashanti Regional Chief Imam, Sheikh Abdul Mumin Harun, is demanding that the Board be dissolved and reconstituted to include regional representatives.

It will allow for all the regional Imams to be informed. We dont want some people to blame government and say that the government doesnt like Muslims and that is why some people couldnt perform Hajj, he stated.

Members of the newly constituted Board, who have commenced work even before the official announcement, sources say, have been picking on each other. So far their working relationship has been anything but cordial. Almost all of them had intentions of becoming Hajj board chairpersons and though they missed out, they still see themselves as such. If nothing is done about it, it may affect the smooth running of this years hajj, a source close to the newly constituted Hajj board disclosed to The aL-hAJJ.

Another disturbing development that is most likely to impede smooth operations of Hajj, according to the source, is the elbowing amongst the Hajj Board members. All members believe they are at par since they were all appointed by the President and therefore are answerable to him rather than the Hajj Board Chairman.

The source further explained that conventionally, the President only appoints the Hajj Board Chairman in the consultation with the National Chief Imam and he in turn appoints members of the Board he thinks he can work with. But presently, the president appointed all members of the Board, and some of these members were persons who were lobbying for the Hajj Chairman post.

This, according to the source, if not checked, could create a situation where aggrieved members of the Board could sabotage the Hajj Chairman to ensure he fails.

In the case of those who have been appointed to Head the specialized teams, previously; it was done by the Hajj Board Chairman in consultations with others but this time round the president directly or personally appointed these persons. These are some of the things creating problems at the initial stage of this years Hajj organization and I fear it may degenerate very soon. Already some members of the Board who should have been part of the delegation to the recent Hajj conference who were dropped allegedly on the instructions of the Chairman are reported harboring anger.

Prior to the official announcement of members of the board, Sheikh I C Quaye and the Minister of Inner Cities and Zongo Development, Abubakar Saddiq Boniface were engaged in cold war over whether the Hajj board will operate under the newly created ministry.

The new Hajj Board Chairman recently flared up when The aL-hAJJ sort his views on suggestions that the newly created Inner Cities and Zongo Development Ministry will superintend the activities of the Hajj Committee.

That is stupid Tell the man going round saying this thing that he is stupidfoolish. The Hajj Committee is under the office of the President not the Inner Cities and Zongo Development Ministry. How can the Hajj Committee be under the Zongo Development Ministry? Whoever is going round saying this thing is stupid. Tell the person I said he is stupid, Sheikh I C Quaye fumed.

He angrily said Alhaji Boniface Abubakar Saddique cannot go round saying the Hajj Committee is under his ministry. Hajj Committee can never be under that ministryHajj Committee is directly under the office of the president. Nonsense! How can he go round saying this thing?

This was after the Inner Cities and Zongo Development Minister had said on an Accra based radio station, Marhaba Fm that part of his ministrys job will be to supervise the activities of the Hajj Committee, adding that; the Hajj Committee will be an agency under his Ministry.

Meanwhile, sources at the presidency have told this paper that Shiekh IC Quaye has managed to convince the President to give clear instructions to Boniface that Hajj Board is not an agency under his ministry. The Board will report directly to the president so its an agency under the presidency.

But with the concerns being raised by the National Chief Imam and leaders of the Muslim community, President Akufo-Addo and the NPP government may have to find ways to win the trust and confidence of all stakeholders or risk marring this years Hajj.
Imports, revenues slump as banks tighten lending

With banks tightening lending due to a receding supply of loanable funds, imports of luxury automobiles and industrial raw materials have dropped markedly, leading to a sharp drop in revenue collection at Birgunj Customs.
14.02.2017 LISTEN

I have been researching about this Valentine day celebration who has taken over the world for sometime now. Unfortunately my curiosity has not been satisfied. The fundamental information that is dominant from my research is that it originated from the old Roman Empire as a special day set aside for men to make sacrifices with animals and use the tails of those animals to whip their female counterparts. The females queued to be whipped since it was believed to be a source of fertility.

Elsewhere, I have also read that some two people with such names were executed on 14th February of different years in Roman, precipitating the day later to be celebrated as a Saint day. The significance per their belief, is to celebrate love. There are several other contradictory but interesting narrations about this day but that isn't my area of interest. I'm looking at it as celebrated by the current generation across the globe.

Firstly, I am a Christian and don't underestimate the significance of love to we Christians and in human race at large . Of course, it is for love that our Savior, Jesus Christ died for us. If Christians consider Valentine therefore as a Christian festival, then, the wisdom behind it must be explained explicitly in the churches to guide the youth from any distorted beliefs about the day. Most preachers have done little about this subject matter and I will say without any equivocation that I am absolutely disappointed at most Christian leaders. The day in its current state is evil and opens a very wide path to hell. I'm not a prophet of doom though.

The mere mention of the name by the youth these days, only breeds antichristian cum immoral acts.

I have had a series of interaction with friends on how they are going to celebrate this 14th February 2017. I was not only flabbergasted but worried of some of the responses. While others are planning of going out with their girl friends for all day sex, others are thinking of night clubs, swimming pools and the likes. Interestingly, I have not heard any of them talked about going to church or making a love one or friend happy at home. What then makes it a Christian festival if these are the negative thoughts about it?

What is more annoying is the outrageous demands of ladies from their supposed boy friends and partners, ranging from red shirts and accompanying combinations, new phones, cash, special outings to expensive places among others. Is that our understanding of love? It is no news to know that many people break their relationships on this profane day probably because of their inabilities to meet their expectations or because of issues of cheating and premarital sex. One can argue that the day is synonymous to indiscriminate sex day. Yes that is the fact!

If Africans have really borrowed any aspect of western culture that is unhealthy to the growth of the continent, then, certainly, some of these useless festivals like the Valentine day, is not an exception. It is one of the borrowed festivals that is deeply eating up the moral fiber of our society beyond imagination. No wonder premarital sex, adultery, lesbianism, homosexuality, among other heartless acts are considered fashionable and normal to live with. Acts that were hitherto largely alien to us. One can imagine the number of condoms that will be bought just for this day. Are the condoms being bought for offertory or special gifts?

What is more worrying is how hypocritical some religious leaders are when handling such issues. Most so-called men of God in their insatiable quest to gain more members to boom their church trade, have been pretentious over such needless immoral acts. They preach to the demand of their members and see nothing wrong in happenings that are incongruous to basic Christian beliefs . It is very pathetic. Isn't it? The way we spent our time and resources on some needless profane activities is the reason why we continue to consume without any ability to produce in this country.

Believe me, people who cannot make an average income of hundred Ghana cedis per month, may be able to spent more than an average of five hundred Ghana cedis. Unnecessarily extravagant in the name of Valentine day. A day many do not understand and cannot trace it's origin.

Students and teenagers are the worse offenders and parents have opened the flood gate for them to do what they want. You can check the dressing of teenagers tomorrow or better still go to any nearby pool or beach and see to yourself what school children do on Valentine day. I am not claiming I am an angel. I have my fallibilities too as a man but I can state that I am never a believer or celebrant of that red festival called Valentine. I personally abhor it because of how it is being celebrated though I am a known entertainer myself.

It is annoying to see people at tender age do certain things. Where are we going? Hmmmm God save us.

I urge families to show their love in their families and do not allow the young ones to go elsewhere and engage in sexual promiscuity. Couples should not cheat on each others either. The churches can better help by engaging in public preaching to correct the long standing erroneous perception about Valentine day. We cannot continue to promote immorality in the name of festivals. Enough of the profanation and moral impiety!!

Shall be back......

Denis Andaban.

denisandabanblog.blogspot.com
14.02.2017 LISTEN

As done annually, the Ghanaian Community in France Council(GHACIF) in collaboration with OGHA, Organisation of Ghanaians Abroad and several other Ghanaian groupings in France will celebrate Ghana's 60th Independence day in France. All Ghanaians and friends of Ghana are cordially invited.

Outstanding Personalities and Associations shall receive honours and appreciation. Snacks shall also be served.

Date: Monday 6th March 2017.

Time: 18h30-22h30

Venue 71-73 rue de la Briche 93200 Saint-Denis.

THEME:Uplifting Ghana from Abroad.

A voluntary Solidarity fund raise shall be made for sponsorship.

Ghana is our country, our home and we, all Ghanaians, need to have it at heart. Ghana must be a haven to live, work and raise families. We in the diaspora have to help build that sort of country irrespective of our political affiliations.

I want to trust that, with the Ghanaian Community in France and all other Ghanaians Abroad, that action is in progress. Thank you.

Participants shall receive Ghana Flags.

Osei Mensah Michael

for :GHACIF/OGHA
Paul Gyan

14.02.2017 LISTEN

Asunafo North District is one of the 22 districts of the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. Goaso, Mim, and some other 16 settlements constitutes this lush district blessed with abundant natural recourses.

To help ensure these untapped resources show a reflection in the socioeconomic lives of the hardworking locals would require an efficient leadership. A leadership with a proven track record and a vision guided by foresight. This is where Paul Gyan, affectionately called Pope perfectly fits into the developmental equation of Asunafo North Municipal District.

Mr. Paul Gyan is a registered pharmacist who had his university education from Ghana's flagship technology-based univeristy, Kwame Nkrumah Univesity of Science and Technology from 2004 to 2008 after pursing his secondary school education from Mim Secondary School. Obviously, his second cycle education in Mim has equipped him to better understand the developmental needs of the district he wish to wholeheartedly serve.

Paul does not only have a solid educational background, he also comes to the table with a rich work experience in management and entrepreneurship. Through hard work and personal financial discipline and management, he set up his own pharmacy at the very early stages of his career in 2012. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Sylvalyf Pharmacy, community pharmacy based in Sunyani.

Beyond his 8-year practising experience as a Senior Pharmacist in both the private sector and the public sector at the Sunyani Regional Hospital, he has also served in various leadership capacities. He is also a board member and the chairman of the Supervisory Committee of the Brong -Ahafo Regional Hospital Co-operative Credit Union (BARHCCUS). Additionally, he lectures at the Sunyani Technical University on part-time basis, where he imparts his knowledge and skills in management and the pharmaceutical sector to the youth of this country.

His expertise spans through the areas of effective resource mobilization, advocacy and lobbying, counselling, entrepreneurial development among many others. Apart from his experience from civil service and the private sector, Paul is an ardent and a deft political player whose calm demeanour and lively social skills brings him far more closer to the grassroots base of the New Patriotic Party. He is an active Member of the NPPs Professionals for Change group and the founder of Young Patriotic Professionals in Asunafo North Municipality.

His extensive experience in developing evaluation frameworks and evaluating social projects, results-based management, project implementation and reporting on outcomes and impacts situates him in a better position to steer the developmental affairs of the Asunafo North Municipality.
China's decision to seek investment options in Africa and Latin America will lead to the massive growth highly expected of Ghana's mining sector this year.

The development will come on the back of the high levels of uncertainties associated with the administration of US President Donald Trump and the decision by Britain to leave the European Union (EU).

The Asian giant will be compelled to embark on this move following the uncertainties associated with American and British markets due to the less favourable investment climates.

If indeed the issue of Brexit is to go through its logical conclusion and the direction of the United States is to go the way it is going, then China will be very keen in accessing commodities from areas like Africa, Latin America and the rest of the world other than the Unites States and elsewhere, CEO of the Minerals Commission Dr. Toni Aubynn remarked.

So there seems to be some bright light even in the situation of uncertainties around the world and when that happens fortunately or unfortunately it helps our key commodity which is gold, he added.

Ghana's Minerals Commission also maintains that gold prices will surge while more employment is created as a result of increased trade with China.

Global economist and author, Dambisa Moyo at this year's investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town also asserted that the US government's America first policy plus the likely increase of the Federal rate will affect investments into Africa and subsequently the mining sector.

But Dr. Toni Aubynn explains to Citi Business News global signals rather give credence to a significant boom in the mining sector.

When you are in the situation of uncertainty you want to secure some stability in gold and that is where people are thinking that well there might be some higher interest in holding gold as against keeping your wealth in other ventures.

Meanwhile Dr. Toni Aubynn has advocated the coordination of local content policies in Ghana.

According to him, a coordinated approach would benefit local businesses.

It is good that the Minerals Commission will regulate all those things but the actual local content should not even sit with the minerals commission it should be with the ministry of trade and industry because they would know and the items produced must not be just items from the mine. If we produce cables, the cables must be enough for industries that use cables.

If there are certain specifications for mining then so be it you do the mining. So I think we need to relook the approach to local content , if we keep that compartment alive we will not be able to meet the demands, Dr. Aubynn further suggested.



By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana
14.02.2017 LISTEN

When a pattern of leadership of a given place or people has been established in political Science,it becomes part of the norm,a political lexicon that may define expectations for the present and future. So it has become in Bayelsa State Nigeria five years after Governor Henry Seriake Dickson took power in Bayelsa State defeating the incumbent Governor in a wave of public approval and Ijaw ethnic yearning for a new direction.

Today ,Valentine day five years ago, Governor Dickson mounted the rostrum at Peace park Yenagoa to deliver a speech that changed governance in Bayelsa permanently. In his speech,he promised to tackle headlong the security dilemma that makes progress difficult. From the outset he declared an educational emergency and promised free education for Bayelsans. Then he would go on to tackle the intractable infrastructural malaise and provide road access to the food and oil and gas producing hinterland via completion of the three Senatorial roads. He wanted to be held accountable for not playing politics with the Ijaw national interest,with Bayelsa Development,with crime and criminality indeed security of life and property.

With the above in place ,he said his strategy for the development of Bayelsa state would involve opening Bayelsa to the world and world to Bayelsa. In this pursuit,he would run an open transparent,and accountable government. He intended to attract investors to partner with government in certain aspects of this fulfillment while making tourism a fulcrum of this investment drive. He would make Bayelsa truly the glory of all lands and the Jerusalem of the Ijaw nation. By the time he was done Bayelsa would become something of a Dubai of Africa.

At that time,these promises sounded utopian and unrealizable. Some people dismissed it as another politician promising heaven and earth.You would appreciate this sceptism when you take in the situation of things on ground at this time. Bayelsa had passed through many military and civilian governments since creation.

But it did not seem set to achieve the core objectives of the founding fathers whose vision was a unified and prosperous Ijaw national homeland that may also become the glory of all lands. How do you even get the taxes that accrue to you as an oil producing state when the exploiters of oil cannot settle here for more than a few hours? How do you build costly road across swampy areas below sea level when there is no security of life and property for even construction companies like Julius Berger that just then vacated a contract citing insecurity reasons? The major story around was abandoned projects and the politics at that time was "Upfront Mobilisation" and periodic upwards contract review.

Politicians were used to "promise and fail" saga. The people were used to picking political crumbs from their leaders table and "I'm loyal" was the political passage to daily bread while militancy reigned supreme amongst the youths. Of course money was" floating on the street "and everyone was authority as to the next move of Government because indeed the ministries typed their memos on cyber cafes while individual politicians provided often over bloated rented apartments to host Government offices in and around Yenagoa. The Local governments operated from Yenagoa and the hinterlands remained as they were. Transport into the creeks could well be imagined in its level of comfort for the visitor. So when you talk of tourism or infrastructure and you mention Dubai the rumor mills will take you to town.

You could say indeed there was no Government in place but just a contraception to keep the people satisfied just before an election. Indeed the politicians could not stay home but were often based away in decent towns and they invested there. But as soon as election timetable come out they would make Bayelsa a land flowing with milk and honey to get the people,es votes and they would build hotels where they would stay at such times as their contribution to development. When Governor Dickson came in with his far reaching vision,he once confessed that he was approached by some of these politicians to advice him that Bayelsa was not a place for his kind of good governance because the people were tuned not to appreciate it. That it was better he joined the bandwagon and spread the money around as much as possible. He rejected their proposals and fell out with many on this account.

Today,Governor Dickson and his Restoration Agenda has established the government of Bayelsa State into its autonomous phase. He built multiple secretariats annexes to accommodate all rent paying ministries and parastatals and saved billions of Naira. The Restoration Government is probably the most documented Government in sub Saharan Africa running the first open Government on the Social media and traditional channels making rumor mongering a thing of the past.

Today Bayelsa is livable and oil majors have started moving into place while the three senatorial roads have reached an advanced stage of completion. You can drive to Nembe after construction was stalked for decades arising from insecurity. Today Bayelsa State is reputed to be the safest state in the Niger Delta region from a hot house of militancy five years ago. For the first time in its history major life transforming projects have taken off to completion here.

Like the Cargo airport at Amassoma,with a 3.5 Kilometer runway built literally atop reclaimed land from water almost completed. Now with the visit of the Acting President,hope rises that Federal might may help in such difficult terrain roads going on to Oporoma,then hopefully a road will reach Agge reputed to have the deepest seaport in the region.The Road to Brass from Nembe would liberate the sea locked Brass axis industrial complex promising petrochemicals and gas to the Nigerian economy.

Then the Restoration educational miracle has within five years raised the average male Bayelsans to the most literate status nationwide as the state's annual WASC high scores continues to confound critics. More than 40 billion Naira was sunk into building model primary and secondary schools that was never imagined in the region hitherto with school uniforms and books given free to students.

On his promised human capacity building there has been numerous scholarships abroad but when the economy dampened the drive a new direction was immediately arrived at. Instead of our students being held to ransom at various capitals and government struggling to remit money in all sorts of currency,why not help establish a world class university here via public private partnership so that all others who yearn for quality education in Africa can come to Bayelsa to have their fill. This led to the establishment of the new university of Africa at Toru Orua Sagbama. The university will not be constrained by our environment and extant laws but will be global from outset with online courses and affiliations.

His approach has earned him a reelection, something unusual in this clime,international reputation and Ijaw wide acceptance. It has become Dicksonomics,a political philosophy of Bayelsa liberation.The core approach to dicksonomics is security,education, transparency,Financial prudence,and investment drive.

Dicksonomics seeks to liberate the people from ignorance through pervasive education and unfettered information flow in governance granting that each is sufficiently empowered to unleash his potentials positively via participation in shaping their own affairs. The Bayelsa Social media as a tool is reputed to be best of its kind in Sub Saharan Africa making Bayelsa state perhaps the most open Government within the same sub region. Today as Governor Dickson celebrates five years in office, Bayelsa State,the Ijaw nation and Nigeria have been impacted positively for all time.
Berlin (AFP) - Tunisia's prime minister on Tuesday rejected German claims that his country has been blocking the return of rejected asylum seekers including the key suspect in the Berlin attack, hours ahead of talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The German leader plans to press Youssef Chahed to speed up the repatriations of Tunisians, with the issue taking on greater urgency since the deadly assault on a Berlin Christmas market in December.

The jihadist attack which claimed 12 lives has been blamed on Anis Amri, a Tunisian whose asylum application had been rejected half a year earlier, but could not be expelled because of Tunisian bureaucratic delays.

Chahed however threw out any criticism.

"One thing that I must say very clearly: the Tunisian authorities have not made any mistakes," Chahed told Germany's biggest selling daily Bild.

Tunisian Prime minister Youssef Chahed chairs a 2016 cabinet meeting in Tunis

"Anis Amri was no terrorist when he left Tunisia in 2011, there were no signs that he had been radicalised.

"With regards to the identity documents, here too, the Tunisian authorities acted correctly. We are always standing in close contact with Germany," he said.

Chahed said "cooperation with Germany works very well now" but threw the ball back in Berlin's court.

'Safe country?'

"We need from the German side clear evidence that we are really dealing with Tunisians," he said, estimating the number of Tunisian citizens concerned by possible expulsions from Germany at around 1,000.

"Illegal immigrants who use false identity documents make it difficult and delay the process."

Germany has taken in over a million migrants and refugees since 2015

Merkel has been under pressure to reduce the number of asylum seekers in Germany, after the country took in over a million migrants and refugees since 2015.

While most refugees from war-torn Syria have qualified for temporary safe haven, applicants from Tunisia as well as Algeria and Morocco generally have not, because their countries are considered stable.

Last year the success rates for asylum requests was 3.5 percent for Moroccans, 2.7 percent for Algerians and just 0.8 percent for Tunisians.

Amri attack

Merkel has stressed that she wants Germany to list the three as "safe countries of origin", raising the bar for asylum requests further -- but the proposal has been held up in the upper house of parliament in Berlin over human rights concerns.

Amnesty International this week alleged that a rise in "brutal tactics" by Tunisian security forces, including torture and arbitrary arrests, are threatening pro-democracy reforms.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has voiced support for a proposal for Tunisia to set up "holding facilities" for refugees rescued from the Mediterranean

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere last year visited all three Maghreb countries to urge better cooperation on repatriations.

The question had already became a hot-button issue after New Year's Eve 2015-16, when mobs of North African men sexually assaulted and robbed hundreds of women in the western city of Cologne, sparking public outrage.

Germany worries that with the advent of spring, the number of migrants making the dangerous Mediterranean crossing will rise again.

Many are travelling via chaotic Libya, which has lacked a functioning national government since the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi.

But Berlin also hopes other regional countries can help deter migrants from heading for the EU.

Merkel voiced support for a proposal for Tunisia to set up "holding facilities" for refugees rescued from the Mediterranean.

She said that in her meeting with Chahed, they need "to calmly discuss, with mutual respect, what possibilities exist".

The German leader stressed that both countries could cooperate on security, a top issue for Tunisia with its important tourism sector.

Since the 2011 Tunisian revolution that sparked the Arab Spring, jihadist attacks have killed some 20 civilians, 59 foreign tourists and over 100 soldiers and police.

Tunisia has also been the largest country of origin for foreign fighters joining the Islamic State group, with over 5,500 of its nationals having flocked to the extremists' self-declared caliphate.
NAIROBI, Kenya, 14 February 2017, -/African Media Agency(AMA)/- Mastercard commits to empowering over 150,000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in Kenya within 2017 by giving them access to Masterpass QR. The mobile driven, Person-to-Merchant payment solution will be introduced through various financial institutions and other partners in the market from February onwards.

Delivering efficient, secure and cost effective acceptance solutions to Kenyan MSMEs is an essential step to providing the level of support required to grow and develop their businesses. With at least 80 percent of the country's most critical jobs are created by MSMs, according to Kenya's Micro and Small Enterprises Authority, it is vital to introduce solutions that drive operational efficiency in these businesses.

The regional commitment to impact over 150,000 MSMEs in Kenya within 2017 is in support of the Mastercard global goal of connecting 40 million micro and small merchants to its electronic payments network by the end of 2020. This expands on the company's Universal Financial Access 2020 commitment made in 2015.

Masterpass QR provides a fast, convenient and secure payment solution for consumers and a reliable and instant acceptance offering for merchants. Cash is no longer required, making transacting safer for merchants who will not need to worry about carrying large sums of cash around with them.

MSMEs have traditionally struggled with the cost of installing payment infrastructure such as point-of-sale devices, as well as with issues of security surrounding payment. Masterpass QR combats these challenges in a simple and user-friendly manner helping to stimulate the economy by digitizing a sector previously solely dependent on cash-based transactions.

"Kenyans are entrepreneurial by nature, and there are incredibly exciting business ideas coming from the region. We want to help these business owners to grow and prosper by delivering solutions that meet the needs of these business owners," said Daniel Monehin, Division President for Sub-Saharan Africa and head of Financial Inclusion for International Markets at Mastercard.

The mobile solution is available via various mobile banking applications in Kenya. Consumers are guaranteed the security of being able to pay for in-store purchases by scanning the QR (Quick Response) code displayed at the checkout on their smartphones, or by entering a merchant identifier into their feature phones. Users are able to use the solution at any location where Masterpass QR is accepted, locally and across the continent.

Mastercard is committed to financially including micro merchants across Africa by working with various partners across a multitude of sectors. Masterpass QR is currently being rolled out in Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania and will soon be in a number of countries across the continent. It drives efficiency and transparency for MSMEs, something many business owners in Kenya are not able to achieve currently.

Monehin said, "Kenya is leading the charge in financial inclusion, with the World Bank reporting that 75 percent of its citizens over the age of 15 having a bank account. Masterpass QR has the potential to drive that number up further and more rapidly due to the penetration of mobile devices in the market. Technology is playing an important role to ensuring all citizens have access to solutions that help move them beyond cash."
Wonder Madilo

14.02.2017 LISTEN

A business mogul and Youth Activist of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Mr Wonder Madilo, has challenged President Akufo Addo to back his campaign to protect the public purse with action by cancelling the policy that allows government officials to purchase their official vehicles.

Alarmed by ongoing accusations and counter accusations by government officials and officials of the erstwhile Mahama administration over missing state vehicles, Mr Madilo advised the Akufo Addo government to pass a law to abolish the policy.

Describing the policy as "bogus", the former President of the National Union of Ghana Students took to Facebook to share his abhorrence to the policy, which he said, has mostly carved negative public image for the country on the international scene anytime it comes up for discussion.

"Pass a law that forbids outgoing and current holders from acquiring state assets after leaving office. At least they must not possess the first right to purchase. You ( President Akufo Addo) have preached anti-corruption throughout the campaign. I dare say, it is time to bring this subject to a permanent closure," Mr Madilo noted.

Read below the full statement...

*The President must demonstrate leadership is the 'missing cars' saga..!*

For the past one month, Ghanaians woke up to allegations of missing/stolen Cars by the Outgoing NDC Administration.

Same was witnessed when the NPP left Government in 2009. The trading of insults, allegations and counter allegation by both political parties have continuously led to international embarrassment with international news portals like the BBC publishing the story.

The motive behind this agenda setting by both parties anytime they left office is not readily known; though some attribute it to witch hunting and propaganda.

Whatever the reason, personally I WONDER MADILO do not subscribe to this rather cruel approach in offloading State Assets!

Several reasons account for this position of mine!

1. Selling a car more than 2yrs Old from date of import/manufacture or first use based on STC valuation is cruel; as standard valuation practice allows for 20 -25% depreciation yearly on motor vehicles and this is what is applied in such transactions.

2. The procedure where STC values a Vehicle meant to be purchased by an outgoing official whose intention to buy same is not in doubt makes most unattractive to say the least!

3. The transitional provisions that allows for 'mutual understanding' amongst Politicians is not a 'beauty' to behold of any struggling Economy over debts!

Based on the above reasons (and I am not impugning the integrity of STC neither the Politicians involved) i call on the President to bring this subject to an END.

Pass a law that forbids Outgoing or Current Office holders from acquiring State Assets after leaving office. (At least they must not possess the first 'right to purchase'

You have preached anticorruption throughout the campaign. I dare say, It is time to bring this subject to a permanent closure!

Cancel that bogus Policy now! Enough of the embarrassment and wastage of public funds, time and resources on forming committees just to deal with this issue anytime one Government exits office.

*#LongLiveGhana*

*#LongLiveIntegrity*

Wonder MADILO

* [email protected] *
A former Finance Minister Dr. Kwabena Duffuor is urging Parliament to ensure transparency in the management of Ghanas oil revenue.

This comes as government readies to gain from the benefits of the new oil fields of Tweneboah-Enyira-Ntomme (TEN) in the next few months.

The Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) in its last three reports has pointed to problems in the management of the proceeds from oil revenue specifically in the Stabilization Fund.

Speaking at a forum organised by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), the founder of the HODA Holdings, Dr. Duffuor said the 275 Members of Parliament must lead the charge of ensuring transparency in how Ghanas oil funds are properly managed.

The forum highlighted the major issues bedeviling the management of the countrys funds with special focus on oil.
The Director, Water, Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing (MWRWH) Mr. Emmanuel Addae, has called on all actors in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector in Ghana to reposition themselves in order to surmount the funding challenges in the sector as well as partner with the Government to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on water and sanitation by 2030.

Mr. Addae said the theme: Repositioning CSOs towards achieving the WASH SDGs: The Role of Sector Partners was apt and appropriate for this years Mole Conference, especially the challenging times the sector finds itself now.

According to Mr. Addae, realizing the need to reposition the WASH sector means that, there was an admission that the sector was not well positioned now and that there was the urgent need for actors in the WASH sector to strategize effectively to ensure that they put their feet in firm ground and to do that, required the sector to forge stronger relationships with the Government. We have to find out whether our relationship with Government is good enough, are we transparent? Are we accountable? Are we diligent in what we do? and do we provide data even for our own parent organization and for that matter the Government, I believe these are some of the questions we need to ask ourselves as we reposition the ourselves, Mr. Addae emphasized.

Mr. Addae who was speaking at the 27TH Edition of the Mole Conference on 22ND November, 2016 at Big Ada in Greater Accra Region, explained that, Ghana is currently implementing the SDGs and the success of its implementation required the collective efforts of all sector actors including CONIWAS. Our dear country achieved was able to achieve the SDG on water and I can say, we were among a few in sub-Saharan Africa that achieved this feet, we therefore that we can rely on CONIWAS to help the Government to achieve the SDGs on water come 2030, Mr. Addae added.

On dwindling funding for the WASH sector, the Director, Water, charged sector actors to make cost benefit allowance for every funding they received from donors as well as ensure that their projects are of great use to the people they serve.

He said resource allocation for the WASH sector has been dwindling for several reasons, one of which he cited is Ghanas current status as a lower middle income country and as a result of that donors are now turning their attention to other least developed countries and that Mr. Addae added posed a great challenge to the sector.

In view of that, Mr. Emmanuel Addae urged stakeholders at this years Mole Conference to make cogent suggestions and strategies that would effectively mitigate the challenges in the short term and combat the challenges in the longer term.

On the Water Sector Strategic Plan, the Director, Water, of the MWRWH indicated the plan was being rolled out and it was proper for stakeholders in the sector to actively partake in its implementation as well as enable them to consort as they plan for water activities in the coming years.

Mr. Emmanuel Addae, however, expressed disquiet about Ghanas poor performance in the SDGs on sanitation, despite the strong showing the country put up in the area of water and said water and sanitation was intertwine and therefore appealed to stakeholders to put their wheels to the shoulders to ensure that Ghana achieved its objectives in sanitation by the year 2030.

Mr. Emmanuel Addae, who officially declared the conference opened called on participants to deliberate and work towards issues that will ensure that, Ghana does not only achieve its water for all policy, but improve sanitation and hygiene by 2025.
Insurance policy for migrants on anvil

The government is set to unveil a policy that necessitates migrants to purchase insurance coverage for their family members to become eligible for a work permit. The policy is expected to come into effect once Parliament endorses the Social Health Insurance Act, 2073.
Banjul (Gambia) (AFP) - The Gambia's new government has asked the United Nations to halt the process of withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) begun by the regime of former leader Yahya Jammeh.

The Hague-based court, set up in 2002, is often accused of bias against African nations, leading The Gambia, Burundi and South Africa to send notice last year they would no longer recognise the ICC's jurisdiction.

"The Government of Gambia has notified Antonio Guterres in his capacity as depository of the Rome Statue of its decision to discontinue the withdrawal notice," said a statement issued by the government late Monday, referring to the UN secretary-general.

New Gambian President Adama Barrow had promised during his December election campaign to rejoin the ICC and the Commonwealth group of nations, reversing Jammeh's more insular foreign policy.

Former Gambian Information Minister Sheriff Bojang had accused the ICC of being used "for the persecution of Africans and especially their leaders" while ignoring crimes committed by the West.

Bojang referred to the ICC as "the International Caucasian Court," a personal blow against the tribunal's chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, a Gambian lawyer and former justice minister.

Currently nine out of the ICC's 10 investigations concern African countries, the other being Georgia.

However experts point out that many of the current investigations -- in the Central African Republic, Uganda, Mali and the Democratic Republic of Congo -- were referred to the ICC by the governments of those states.
It was like a jolt from the dreamland: the raw awakening that follows a nightmare. I saw myself asking myself: what happened to the family of former Imo state governor of the second republic, Chief Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe and similar families in Nigerias south-east zone? Where are Lady Victoria Mbakwe, the widow of the late governor and her husbands children? Where are they hiding? Why are they not visibly participating in state development any more, since the demise of the governor Imo people collectively loved and adored? What is actually going on? Where is everybody? 

All through the length and breadth of Nigeria, the name and fame of Chief Sam Mbakwe resonated and towered in the eighties like a colossus which made a mushroom of his less achieving counterparts from other states in the country. For many in and out of Imo State in those days, Dee Sam, as he was fondly called by the good people of Imo State, remained the ideal governor and man of his people. He was the idol of Imo citizens. He still is the symbol of their choice of a God-sent leader. But when the man joined his ancestors years after General Buharis military junta dislodged the second republic, his family went into hiding, or so it seemed.

They went private, not because they were afraid of being hounded for stealing the peoples money. No. For unlike what happened in the civilian governments that followed, where state governors amassed immeasurable wealth at the expense of their own people, or what is happening now, where the money government should have spent on the welfare of their people is spent on security, Dee Sam was transparent to a fault. He never tampered with public money. He was one man Imo people could count on, one man whose achievements they could vouch for.

Those achievements included the Amaraku Power Station (which was later stolen by a succeeding governor), the Avutu Poultry (many of us dont know if it is still functioning), the Imo Concorde Hotel (which is refurbished almost every year these days as a channel for siphoning public funds), the Imo State University and the Imo Airport, among others. Sam Mbakwe never built mansions for himself or for any member of his family. He never bought state-of-the earth designer cars for himself or his family. He never had overflowing local and foreign accounts. He never acquired extensive plots of land in Owerri, the State Capital, not even in Obowo, his home town. He never acquired estates here and there in Owerri, Umuahia and in Abakaliki like the governors who subsequently ruled Imo State after him. He was not known to frequent the Paris Club, the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, Israel or Canada. When, for the first time, he visited the United States, he came home from Nebraska with a University for the state, a university whose many campuses he spread out at Aba, Okigwe, Orlu, Owerri and Umuahia.

In his days, Mbakwe did so much to empower the youths of Imo State. He did so much to empower the women and the physically challenged. There was the Akpodim Rehabilitation Centre. There was the Secondary School for the Deaf and Dumb at Ofekata Orodo. There was the Leper Colony at Uzoakoli. Which of the succeeding state governors remembered these great institutions for the handicapped in our local communities after Mbakwes tenure? Mbakwe was said to have spent the last penny in his pocket to make sure that Imo residents felt at home while he was their leader. He established cottage industries which offered them work. Many people were gainfully employed.

But what is happening to his family today?

It is still fresh in the minds of many of us that just a few years ago, his widow, Mrs. Victoria Mbakwe, called on governors of the South East to initiate and implement a policy that would cater for the families of deceased governors in the zone. She was particular about Imo, Abia and Ebonyi, the states which constituted the old Imo. She revealed that despite all the efforts her husband made to generally alleviate the suffering of the Igbo in Nigeria, and put them back on their feet in fierce defiance of federal opposition, subsequent governments have continued to neglect the late governors family as if they never existed. The family since been passing through a most difficult time and needed government intervention.

But the situation is intriguing.

Practically all the governors who ruled Imo State after Chief Mbakwe made good money while in office. Some, like Chief Achike Udenwa and the incumbent, Owelle Rochas Okorocha acquired plenty of lands and built many estates for themselves while in office, despite the fact that one of them was already rich before becoming governor. So, they can assume that they have provided for their families and would have no need to call on government in the future to care for them. Therefore, to get the legislature to make a law that would provide for the families of past governors and their deputies would seem trivial and unnecessary.

In a very solemn way, it shows that between the time people like Dee Sam ruled Imo and now, Southeast leaders seem to have lost the grip in terms of what is good enough for those who honestly served their states, not even with the likes of the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, and Chief Emeka Ihedioha, the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives in office.

One important thing we should always remember is that when the founding members of the South-East Governors Forum, Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu, Chinwoke Mbadinuju of Anambra, Achike Udenwa of Imo, Sam Egwu of Ebonyi and Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia sat for the first time, they had pledged to work together, irrespective of their political leanings, for the interest of the larger segment of Southeast communities.

At that time, critics of the Southeast Governors Forum alleged that the governors were not doing enough to develop the zone. They failed to attract the attention of the federal government to the deplorable condition of infrastructure in the zone, especially the roads and the absence of clean drinking water. Today, most of the federal roads in the Southeast have remained nothing but death traps and many people are worried about why the Southeast governors have not deemed it necessary to go beyond rhetoric to embark on the repair of these roads themselves and get a refund from the federal government.

Even judging from the now moribund joint economic ventures in the Southeast zone, such as the Cooperative and Commerce Bank (CCB), the African Continental Bank (ACB), the Nkalagu Cement Factory, the Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company (ANAMCO), and the Emene Floor Mills, among others, most people see the Southeast Governors Forum as a jamboree of unfeeling, uncaring political colleagues. They opine that the governors need to be more proactive in their quest to improve the lot of the South-Easterners they represent. In the same vein, the debate on a constitutional review keeps resurfacing like a recurrent decimal, for instance. All eyes are on the governors who are expected to buttress the role the National Assembly would play especially in the creation of additional states in the zone.

It is against this background that the governors of the Southeast zone should decide to pursue issues affecting their people through regional integration like the issues we have at hand. The one I have in mind is the abandonment of the families of former state actors (courtesy President Jonathan) like state governors and their deputies after the governor is demised. It should never be done. And there is the urgent call to Southeast governors to come to the rescue.

To think that after all that the family of Chief Sam Mbakwe and similar governors from the South East had done for their people, the legislature has not found it necessary to contain them in its budget is, to put it mildly, veryinsensitive. And the governor must hear this.

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A RENOWNED educationist, Theodosia Wilhelmina Jackson, has observed with concern the speech, language and communication difficulties among school children and graduates in the country.

According to her, many school children lack basic language skills to be able to communicate effectively in the English Language  the nation's official language  pointing out that there is circumstantial evidence suggesting that graduates and school children's language and communication skills have declined.

The educationist, who is the Principal of the Jackson College of Education, believes students' speaking skills have deteriorated in the past few years at all levels of education because of a fall in the teaching and learning of the English Language.

Lauding the declaration of government's commitment to make learning and speaking of French Language at the basic level of education compulsory, Mrs Jackson described the intention as a good one that needs the support of all stakeholders.

Education Minister, Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh, lamented the low level of national literacy of the French Language at a recent meeting with a delegation from the French Embassy in Accra, during which he affirmed government's vision to promote the learning and speaking of French.

This, the minister, disclosed, includes equipping French teacher trainees to be abreast with modern French Language modules as part of embracing a second foreign language to be studied in schools.

Later, Mrs Theodosia Wilhelmina Jackson told DAILY GUIDE in an interview that Ghanaians needed an average literacy in French to improve on commerce and relations with citizens of Ghana's neighbouring countries for the nation's betterment.

According to her, the absence of literacy in French had been a catastrophic setback for the nation in many spheres, and prayed for the Education Ministry to walk the talk.

For her, behaviours such as a mother reading to the child, playing rhyming games, and talking about letters and sounds to the child are important things to do at home to help improve on their (children's) communication skills.

From Ernest Kofi Adu, Kumasi




'GIRLS GIRLS For Nana Addo,' a female group within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital, has pledged its unalloyed support for Otiko Afisa Djaba, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection.

The group mentioned hard work, optimism, 'can do' spirit and love for all without discrimination, as the hallmark of Otiko, predicting success for the minister in her new assignment.

Members of Girls Girls for Nana Addo therefore pledged to give their unflinching support in various forms to Ms Otiko Djaba, whom they referred to as 'Mummy,' so that her days in the ministry would be a blessing to mother Ghana.

The message of support was contained in a press release jointly signed by Aisha Abdul Mumni, Maame Dufie, Jemimah Antwi, Umaira Haruna and Hamdala Nonni, leaders of the group.

The group is made up of young, intelligent and hardworking females from various educational, religious and ethnic backgrounds, who campaigned rigorously for the NPP in 2016 for Nana Akufo-Addo to be elected president.

Ms Otiko Djaba, who formed the group, led it to crisscross the various villages in the ten regions of the country, where they campaigned to attract more votes for the NPP.

According to them, Otiko continually displayed signs of productive, good, inspirational and visionary leadership, when they worked with her for several months before the December 7 polls.

They are therefore, convinced that Otiko will be a successful minister, claiming, Your selflessness and commitment towards the vulnerable and women empowerment in Ghana is impeccable, Mummy.

We believe with your expertise in social and rural development, the ministry will chalk successes under your tenure.

FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi


THE GREATER Accra Regional Minister-designate, Ishmael Ashitey, has declared his full support for Adjei Sowah, the Greater Accra Regional Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), to become the Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).

According to him, although his favourite candidate is very young, he has the solution to the problems facing Accra.

He believes that Mr Adjei Sowah has the qualities to change the face of Accra better than any other candidate who is vying for the position, adding, For Adjei Sowah's own is nonnegotiable.

Mr Ishmael Ashitey told DAILY GUIDE, I have Adjei Sowah. He is a very young man. I can tell you I have worked with so many people but that guy is phenomenal; he knows what he is about. I believe that when he takes over AMA, we are going to change the assembly.

All the assembly members, constituency chairmen and MPs at AMA are said to have declared their support for him.

Mr Ashitey, former Mayor of Tema, underscored, ..I will stand up and tell everybody what I think about him. I support him 100 percent. AMA is the biggest metropolis that we have. All the problems in Ghana start from there. We have brought people with big beard, old people, but we have not been able to find solution to the problems. Age does not mean anything but what is in the brain.

Two applications have been filed for the position of the AMA chief executive, including that of a female, Elizabeth K. Tawiah Sackey, former Member of Parliament (MP) for Okai Koi North.

Meanwhile, information gathered by DAILY GUIDE indicates that Albert Okyere, First Vice Chairman of the NPP in the region, is again tipped to become the mayor of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA).

The traditional authority and some party executives have declared their support for the former MCE.

However, out of the 11 applicants who have filed for the position, Alhaji Labaran Yakubu Barry, defeated parliamentary candidate of the NPP in the Ashaiman Constituency, appears to be the favourite of the presidency as well as Joseph Siaw, Vice Chairman in the area.

From Vincent Kubi, Tema
Vodafone Ghana, in its quest to deliver unmatched total communication solutions to its customers, has launched Vodafone SuperNet, a complete basket of technological deliverables that meet the needs of customers.

SuperNet provides the platform that ensures access to data for all modern digitalized tools and systems to make customers work smarter and efficient.

Vodafone Ghana CEO, Yolanda Cuba, addressing the media and guests at the launch of 'SuperNet', said Vodafone is at the forefront of the digitalization revolution in Ghana.

She said over the years, Vodafone has invested over $1.7 billion in its entire network infrastructure and operations to enhance the services it provides to customers.

SuperNet is a story about our journey in Ghana over the past eight years; our role in shaping the economy, customer experience, innovation, CSR, among others. We believe it is time to look broadly at the bigger picture. Our work as an enabler in peoples lives, the operation of companies and the general public has been tremendous, she said.

Customers want to feel confident on the network; they want assurances of a stress-free life while companies and businesses want guarantees that all their total communication needs will be met by their provider, he stated.

Whether at home, in the office or on-the-go, SuperNet offers you the comfort, resilience and reliability you require for your communications which only Vodafone can provide, she added.

Vodafone CBU Director, Agnes Essah, said SuperNet represents our commitment as a company to give our customers the power and access to do anything they want to do on our reliable network across all touch points  whether in the home, office or on the go.

By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri


AfroHomes Magazine, in conjunction with its consulting firm based in Germany, has begun a monthly series of mini exhibitions across Europe and America to sell products and services of Ghanaian companies to Ghanaians living abroad.

For us, this initiative is to show the immense market segment available to Ghanaian companies, particularly in the real estate and construction industry, financial services, insurance sector, to connect to millions of Ghanaians living abroad.

Starting this initiative, we were surprised at the sheer quantum of horrible experiences some Ghanaians encountered trying to invest in Ghana, particularly in the real estate industry, Sherwood Amankwa, the Managing Partner of Afro Homes disclosed.

Thousands of Ghanaians have become disenchanted by these horrible experiences. We are thereby using this Last Mile initiative to encourage Ghanaians in the Diaspora to rekindle their interest in Ghana.

That is why our main objective for this initiative is to directly connect them to credible companies in Ghana, Mr. Amankwah stated.

The first in the series of the event was held in Nuremberg and Dusseldorf in Germany recently.

Afro Homes was enthusiastically received by Church of Pentecost in Nuremberg and Disseldorf.

The Last Mile intiative also mounted its mini exhibition stand during the victory party of the New Patroitic Party (NPP) branch in Germany over the weekend.

The company's first client is Ahenfie Estate, a local Ghanaian real estate developer offering flexible payment options for Ghanaians in the diaspora prospecting for properties in Ghana.

Afro Homes is the first ever diaspora real estate magazine published in Germany to serve the Ghanaian communities abroad.

Officially, there are over 3 million Ghanaians living in the diaspora, they send billions of dollars of remittances to Ghana yearly, but we believe they could do more if we reassure them of the investment environment in Ghana that they can rely on, Managing Editor of Afro Homes Magazine, Raphael Ofori-Adeniran said.

He pledged the commitment of the magazine and its consulting firm to working with the Government of Ghana to create a linkage between local companies and Ghanaian and foreign investors overseas.

Afro Homes, from the stables of Investment Link Ghana Limited (ILG), is a specialized industry periodical printed in Germany with the highest quality standards that gives Ghanaians in the Diaspora crisp and succinct news and information about the real estate market in Ghana.

Afro Homes says for as little as $2,500 a month, participating companies can enjoy direct contact with many Ghanaians in Europe and America.

Afro-Homes has secured free distribution channels directly to hundreds of official associations of Ghanaians living in Germany, UK, Holland, Switzerland, Czech Republic and the USA.

We currently print 10,000 copies monthly and in our analysis of pass-along readership trends (one publication is estimated to be read by at least five people at a ratio of 1: 5); we would be reaching a readership base of more 50,000 upwardly mobile Ghanaians in the Diaspora, Ofori-Adeniran told BUSINESS GUIDE.

The publication's innovative styling and its highly relevant content of news/analysis, properties for sale and for rent, important industry data and trends and property brokerage services has attracted eager Ghanaians living abroad who yearn for a handy publication that can give them all the relevant information on local market conditions in Ghana in a single portable media medium, he added.

By Melvin Tarlue
In Ghana, it has become notoriously difficult to tell with certainty what will happen the next day. Not even your breakfast can you say is assured when you have your bread and a packet of Lipton in stock. Some nocturnals could appear from nowhere to deprive you if it by sunrise. Politics and governance in our nation has become pretty similar to the imagery above. For a moment, we were outraged by the missing of some 200 vehicles from the Presidential Fleet.

While some were seeking to know how and why as many as 200 vehicles could suddenly go missing, others were rather genuinely shocked about the supposed number of vehicles at the Presidency. It begged the question why our Presidency would have in its stock about 700 luxurious vehicles. And when answers were being sought to a myriad of questions on this subject, the President revealed that free Senior High School (SHS) was just an inch away. The latter has completely overshadowed the former, even though it is the former which made rounds in the International Media.

Many saw the total number of vehicles at the Presidency as a signal of lack of prudence in the management of our scarce resources. For example, the Administrator General was reported, barely a month ago, to have lamented over inadequacy of resources in his department, and as I recall, his department had not a single vehicle to work with. This was at a time his work was most critical, given the need for validation of state assets before or on the change of government. And yet our presidency had as many as 641 vehicles going waste.

Perhaps, we should put this in context. As a country, we are at IMF cup-in-hand. A GNA 20th October 2015 publication reported malaria as the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Ghana. Sicknesses such as cholera and diarrhoea continue to claim lives and children continue to learn under trees in many communities in rural Ghana. It becomes difficult to see reason in this growing profligacy under our circumstances.

Given the inspiring statement the President made in his inaugural speech, if a society cannot protect the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich, it would be expected that the extravagance and waste at the Presidency is an issue he will take to heart and with utmost priority. And if the presidency must stand a chance of realising Bawumenomics  the ideas, as espoused by the Vice President, of eliminating and/or reducing taxes, what he referred to as nuisance taxes, while launching free SHS, District Industrialisation programme, rail development initiative, construction of village dams and restoration of allowances; then we must start treating state resources with some sense of austerity, as this and the avenue for plundering of state coffers (corruption), are perhaps the most probable sources of additional domestic financial support.

And while many Ghanaians are ardent believers in Bawumenomics and the capacity of the Vice President and the Economic Management Team, many also see their ideas as Ghanaian version of voodoo economics akin to the yet to be implemented Trumpian prescriptions in the far west. To be fair, and for sure, no nation has embarked on large scale industrialisation, rail development, employment, and other ideas such as the restoration of allowances in as tight an economic situation as Ghanas without running a fiscal deficit or increasing taxes.

It remains to be seen how these will be executed. What is certain, however, is that the Government does not have the fiscal space to run a deficit extensive enough to yield the aforementioned  not in the continuation of the ongoing IMF intervention.

And in a hurry to obtain this needed space, we must be careful not to lay a precedent in discontinuing with IMF when the reason for such a discontinuance will probably, or rather surely, get us back there. Building any further, our debt stock through fiscal deficits in the wake of an unlikely termination of the IMF programme, will sooner signal sovereign debt crisis, the ramifications of which is rather more disastrous than obeying the IMF conditionalities. The present and ongoing experience of Greece is a foreshadow of what awaits us if we presume to take the bait.

In all these, it has become clear and increasingly important for us to recognise that economic growth and development today is rather much more convoluted than it was some decades ago, when there were no IMF, World Bank, World Trade Organization (WTO) and other transnational bodies and treaties which serve to further constrain our efforts. And while some economies such as Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan and China have managed to grow in the constrained environment through unconventional paths, counter-current to the mainstream neoliberal ideas, by undertaking structural reforms and embarking on state led industrialisation, our attempt at this approach in the pre-80s was a spectacular failure.

Our failure in this, gave us legitimate reasons to buy into the IMF/World Bank ideas of privatisation, liberalisation and trade openness as panacea to our growth challenges. But even as we patronised these, we failed to realise that the preconditions for them to work were virtually non-existent in our setting. And while Ding and Knight (2009) and Anyanwu (2014) attributes Chinas growth partly to structural changes and low population growth, what is striking, and perhaps instructive for our purpose, is that China was more open to FDI, as identified by Gallagher (2002) and less open to commodity imports.

Indeed, China joined World Trade Organisation (WTO) as late as 2001 but has still not opened fully to trade. We on the other hand, patronised wholesale the idea of trade openness and liberalisation. To be sure, even the wholesale adoption of liberalisation, trade openness and privatisation saw Ghana make significant progress in its growth trend, peaking at 15% in 2011. I am afraid, however, that the progress is not being sustained and is being deflated away. From as high as 15%, our growth rate has declined tremendously in a fashion as dramatic as the falling of a meteorite to 3.9% in 2015. Projections for the following few years show a further sloppy trajectory.

If political instability, as identified by Collier (2007) and Ravallion (2009) among others, was the cause of our slow growth between independence and the 1980s, what then is the problem since our return to stable democratization in 1992? It is perhaps leadership, Institutions, and well-designed economic and development policy. For these reasons, we have recorded boom and busts and not sustained economic growth. And for the same reasons, our economy is relatively weak today. It would therefore appear difficult for us to launch the industrialisation programme, dam construction and rail development in addition to free SHS soon without further damping our economic growth.

The more reasonable source of capital could be to enter the sovereign debt market. But then, do we have the ratings to issue debts in the international market at competitive prices? Even if this is possible, I would rather we take these steps gradually in order that we dont throw our debt portfolio out of measure. In the interim, my best bet is for the Nana-Bawumia Government to focus on strengthening the macro-economic fundamentals, resuscitate growth, and improve the business environment and the cost of doing business to revive and re-energise the Private sector. The industrialisation and other such ideas could follow in the medium to long term.

Until then, any hasty and ill-advised attempt to immediately launch these projects/programmes will, in my estimation, be a recipe for added economic destruction. This will visit a heavy blow on the Akuffo-Addo Government, as it would blow away the last bits of confidence we have left. And we all know Ghanaians are growing increasingly impatient. The political ramifications will be enormous.

As we grope about for our kind of growth and economic development model, we are yet unsure of all the right things to do. What we are sure of are the wrong things not to do. And if history has taught us nothing at all, it at least reminds us of what we did and failed so that we take a cue and not repeat them.

God bless our homeland Ghana!

By; Abdul-Mumin Ahmed

[email protected]

Student, MSc Economics, and Development

University of Glasgow, UK.
Out of my tight schedule, I still spared a moment of my precious time to peruse the Ghana internet news portals. Oops! I came across a publication on Ghanaweb under its General News of Monday, 13 February 2017, titled, I will ensure Akufo-Addo fails as President  Amaliba.

The underlying web link takes any interested public reader and a concerned Ghanaian to the full story about Amaliba throwing his tantrums.

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/I-will-ensure-Akufo-Addo-fails-as-President-Amaliba-509621

Lawyer Abrahim Amaliba, a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was doing his nuts once again. He was threatening, and has vowed, to do whatever it takes to ensure that His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo fails as a President and be rejected in 2020 when he happens to be alive and goes for re-election.

For him, he has planned this diabolic act of retribution against the last minute determination by Brother Martin Amidu to orally cross-examine Alfred Agbesi Woyome, the notorious Ghanaian swindler of the 21st Century Ghana who was probably, but surely, assisted by the NDC to defraud Ghana of GHC51.2 million. According to Lawyer Amaliba, the action taken by Brother Martin Amidu at the peak of Election 2016 campaign culminated in the defeat of then President Mahama and the NDC in their bid to seek re-election on 7 December 2016.

Let me not spend much of my precious time on this confused and malicious lawyer, but to give him a bit of education. I am a layman in the legal profession yet, I feel capable of giving Amaliba tutorials on his own field of study. Under my minutes of tutelage as may be read from this publication, if he will take my advice and explanations very seriously, he may come out a more sensible lawyer, but not the known infantile Amaliba whose expressions make him appear as a person who has never studied law in his life.

Does he understand what is meant by doing something with premeditation? For the sake of other fellow laypersons in law, let me define what is meant by premeditation as appears in the dictionaries. Premeditation means consideration or planning of an act beforehand that shows intent to commit that act. In law, the committal of premeditated crime when proved as such, carries a more serious punishment or sentence than its opposite which is unpremeditated.

From the look of things, and as stated publicly by the seemingly educated-illiterate lawyer, he is on course to commit a premeditated crime. Let him go ahead, but he should pray that he does not do anything silly to harm the person of President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, or to falsely tarnish his hard won enviable reputation or integrity. If he did, the law will hold him hard and tight by his balls and he will scream louder than a roaring lion, for that it is definite.

He has not only premeditated but also, expressed the will to sabotage His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo well over three and a half years in advance of Election 2020; wow!, what a malicious saboteur.

Does Amaliba agree with Woyome conning Ghana out of GHC51.2 million? If he doesnt, why should he be offended by Brother Martin Amindus endeavours to retrieve the money back to the State?

Brother Martin Amidu now sees that there is a more credible government in place that will take serious steps to compel Woyome to refund the money so stolen to the State hence no need for him furthering his pursuit of agenda that has earned him the accolade, Citizen Vigilante, with the concomitant public admiration.

Amiliba must be a criminal supportive of the numerous gargantuan corruptions that took place under the President Mahamas NDC-led administration or else, he would not have said what has triggered me to put out this published rebuttal.

Finally, let me define the word unpremeditated as per the dictionary. It means a crime or something unpleasant done without being planned. This in terms of prosecution carries a relatively lesser sentence because the act was committed by accident or by mistake e.g. landing somebody a punch during fisticuffs or scuffle and it results in the persons death. You did not intend to kill the person but the punch has unfortunately been fatal to result in the death of the victim. In this case, the alleged murderer will in the end be found guilty of manslaughter but not first degree murder. Is this not the case, Mr Amaliba? This is homework for you to determine where you stand  either to end your diabolic plans now or to continue with them until you land in trouble and get arraigned.

If you dare do anything silly, being at the same time a lawyer who should know better, you have yourself to blame when the law catches you by the neck or by the balls and you begin to squeal like a pig being dragged to the slaughter house to be slaughtered for bacon and sausages.

Unless you purposely place some impediments in His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addos way, and of course criminal in nature, there is no way you can ensure that he fails as a President.

The level of reasoning or the intelligence of some Ghanaian lawyers makes me want to puke. They behave as though they had never studied law. This is well exhibited by Amaliba, a private legal practitioner doubling as an NDC activist.

Even though I have decided to curtail or eventually stop writing on, or about issues pertaining to Ghana politics now that Nana Akufo Addo has been elected the President of Ghana, I will not hesitate a minute to come out to take on his enemies who will intentionally commit acts directed at ensuring that he fails in his task as the incorruptible and visionary President of Ghana, the modern day biblical Joseph, or Moses or David of our times.

By the grace of God and the efforts of discerning Ghanaians, His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo shall not fail but succeed!

Rockson Adofo

(Written on Tuesday, 14 February 2017)
I was one of the critics who felt that Ghana didn't need free senior high school education when President Nana Akufo-Addo, then flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in opposition, started trumpeting the idea ahead of election 2012.

And what was my reason? I just followed the random arguments that first of all, we needed to address challenges in the quality of our education at the basic level, senior high school level and tertiary.

But truthfully speaking, I am not sure I would have kicked against the idea if I had struggled to get secondary school education because I came from a penniless home that couldn't even provide a meal per day.

I am now tempted to think that my viewpoint on free SHS was insensitive to the plight of the thousands who couldn't get SHS education or struggled very hard to get it either because they were orphans with no help, or that their parents were too poor.

My view on free SHS has changed not because I am indecisive; but because I have gone through some introspection.

I have come across stories recently that broke my heart. First, I met a 19-year old orphan, Daniel Amoah, who had aggregate 23 after JHS. Daniel is naturally talented in electronics, but had stayed home for a year due to lack of support for him to go to school.

I got to know about Daniel's plight through my younger brother; and after seeing the things he had created with his talent, I was even poised to support him personally regardless of the burden. But I later introduced him to Citi FM's scholarship programme COPE, and luckily Daniel is now in a technical school where his talent is being honed. Daniel was lucky to have met me; but there are many others like him; whose dreams have been shattered by poverty and lack of support.

My colleague at Citi FM, Nana Ama Agyeman-Asante, recently told me another heartbreaking story of twin brothers in the Ashanti Region who both graduated with distinction from JHS; but couldn't further their education because of poverty. The youngest of the twin, Attah, decided to come to Accra to be a drivers' mate so he could raise money to go to school. But today, Atta is dead. He died from an accident while working on a VIP bus as a driver's mate  it's a sad story that brings tears to my eyes.

During the recent SHS admissions, I had to break my back to support my aunt who is a single parent, so that her only son who gained admission at Pope John SHS could enroll. But for my generosity, that boy's future would have been threatened.

And I can't forget about the sad tale of my bosom friend. In 2002, while I had the privilege reading General Arts at Chemu Senior High School through the hard work of my plantain seller mother, my best friend whose father and mother had left him to fend for himself as a result of a broken home, had to drop out of school due to poverty and lack of support.

Oscar is a brilliant guy who was reading Electrical at the Tema Technical Institute. But after he took care of himself as a 'shoe shine boy' through primary and junior high school where he was the best student with aggregate 12, he couldn't do it anymore in his second year at Tematech, and my friend painfully dropped out of school. He's 35 years now; and that misfortune has affected him greatly as he's yet to fully put the pieces of his life together. I know it's a story that still brings tears to his eyes and mine as well.

The free SHS is not just an idea or a policy, it's a dream saver; and we must all embrace it even as we make proposals to fine-tune it.

The 'unusual promise'

Indeed, President Akufo-Addo's promise back then, was unusual to many, and as human as we are; we were scared of the kind of change the determined politician was proposing. So understandably, many rubbished the idea and called it one of those vote-buying pranks.

His political opponents jumped onto the seeming public rejection, and made political capital out of it. But deep down their hearts, they knew that it was not just an ambitious idea, but it was a good and transformational one, especially when some of them benefitted from some form of free education under Ghana's first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

Nonetheless, because of political expediency, Nana Addo was bastardised, and the idea was pooh-poohed.

Then in a surprising and hypocritical manner, his opponents who won the election that year turned around to endorse the policy at the latter part of their four-year tenure, but started a shabby implementation process.

In fact, to put it bluntly, it was a deceptive free SHS implementation rechristened 'progressive free SHS', which was only meant to score cheap political points because another election was approaching.

And in the minds of the opponents, by doing this, they were also seeking to weaken the NPP, since they couldn't trumpet the same idea in the lead up to the 2016 election.

The NDC's U-turn as far as this policy is concerned, is only a firm confirmation that the free SHS idea is a good one that must happen someday. Their only fear, however, was when and how it would be done, and whether they were ready to finance it. So the rejection in the past appears to have been borne out of fear.

Nana Addo, on the other hand, has exhibited the very ingredient needed to kick-start this audacious but life-transforming project  and that is courage.

And I am deeply gladdened that Nana Akufo-Addo now president, has been consistent and honest to Ghanaians; by reiterating his commitment to fulfill the pledge he made four years ago; although this wasn't the main focus of his campaign ahead of election 2016.

In the past, I have kicked against policies such as free sandals to schoolchildren because in my view, they were a very lazy way of solving a bigger problem of parents' inability to cater for their kids.

This is President Akufo-Addo's latest comment about the free SHS policy we will fund the cost of public senior high schools for all those who qualify for entry from the 2017/2018 academic year onward; so that no one in Ghana is left in any doubts.

By free SHS, we mean that, in addition to tuition which is already free, there will be no admission fees, no library fees, no science centre fees, no computer lab fees, no examination fees, no utility fees; there will be free textbooks, free boarding and free meals, and day students will get a meal at school for free.

He added that the free SHS will also cover agricultural, vocational and technical institutions at the high school level. I also want to state clearly again that, we have a well-thought out plan that involves the building of new public senior high schools and cluster public senior high schools.

If parents, guardians and relatives know that they have to cater for their wards' basic education for them to pass out well and go to SHS for free; which of these caretakers won't invest in that area for the child to come out with a pass?

Even the lowest income earner may not need freebies like uniforms or sandals at that level for their children because already they pay less for tuition and other services in public basic schools.

Ahead of election 2016, I found myself in the Jomoro Constituency in the Western Region, where a young mother of two who sells fish told me she was going to vote for change because of the free SHS promise.

These were her words I know that when Nana Addo comes, he won't give me money, but if he implements the free SHS; that will bring me relief.

If we are going to get a point in Ghana where the least education that even the poorest person can get is senior high school education, it will mean a lot for this country.

It will mean that our literacy rate in years to come will be much higher, and there will be positive gains from that for our development as a country.

Funding for free SHS

This country deserves much more than we get from our politicians. Elsewhere, citizens are benefitting from the state in the areas of housing, health, stipends for the unemployed and several other social services.

Yet here in Ghana, we get very little from our taxes, and from the vast resources this country boasts of.

In the last decades, the only single policy that has benefitted the masses of this country is the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). And even that, a particular party kicked against it, and its MPs voted against it in parliament. I am sure they kicked against it for the same reason of the fear that we weren't ready. But we all know that today, the NHIS despite its challenges, has relieved millions of Ghanaians.

When are we going to be ready to implement free senior high school or any other massive social intervention programme? We have had every rich resource on this earth that we need to develop and make lives better for ourselves; we don't need any other resource except the courage, the commitment, the selflessness and the determination to change things drastically.

This country isn't poor  we know the 'poor country' tag is a fallacy  our so-called poverty is self-inflicted through greed, selfishness and corruption.

And so if we deal with corruption effectively, do away with greed and selfishness, industrialise our country to add value to our raw materials and create jobs and wealth, as well as improve taxation, the free SHS can be funded and sustained effectively.

The truth is; there is no perfect time to start anything. The perfect time only begins the day you make that choice courageously.

Wholesale free SHS or targeted?

But while this is a good idea, let's be guided by the hiccups the NHIS has suffered, so we don't repeat them.

Some are of the view that there shouldn't be wholesale free SHS for all, including the affluent in our society who can afford to send their children to Morning Star, Akosombo International and the likes.

Such persons think that the free SHS should be targeted at poorer children or should focus only on day students and not boarders.

My friend Nana Agyeman Agyeman-Asante argues that parents who take their children to boarding should bear the cost themselves to reduce the financial stress on government.

But on the matter of affluent parents, I do not agree with the proponents because in reality, the rich citizens pay more taxes than the poor, and so why should they or their children be denied the benefits that accrue from our collective taxes?

And on this argument, I found an interesting response from Nana Yaw Atakora Mensah who commented on a post on my Facebook wall.

Nana Yaw Atakora Mensah lives in the United Kingdom, and this is what he said, If David Beckham decides to enroll his kids in public school, it will be free for him same as my children enjoy it for free. But Beckham can afford to build a whole school for the community. When something is free for the country it doesn't matter your financial status. That itself is discrimination. It's the child that benefits from the country not his parent's financial status. Also, even child benefits are enjoyed by everyone even if your dad is Richard Branson. The idea is that, society must benefit from it without discrimination. It is not anybody's fault that some are rich and others are poor. There will be opportunities for those rich people to enroll their kids into private schools, leaving space for others to have opportunity to go the public school.

Some critics of the free SHS policy are also concerned about what will become of the quality of senior high school education when the policy is implemented.

Indeed, all these points are valid and must be thoroughly deliberated upon. I hope and pray that the government will take all these concerns into account, and hold the necessary stakeholder meetings to address these likely bottlenecks before take-off.

If it must be done, then it must be done well.

The writer is a broadcast journalist with Citi FM

By Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie


Local body staff on warpath

More than 17,000 local body officials have halted services across the country from Sunday protesting against the proposed legal measure to appoint civil servants to the local level offices.
President Akufo-Addo (Right) interacting with Michael Sidibe (2nd Left) Exercutive Director of UNAIDS and a member of the delegation

President Akufo-Addo has stressed the need to restructure the economy of Ghana to open more opportunities for local manufacturers, particularly pharmaceutical companies.

At a meeting with the Executive Director of the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Michel Sidibe, at the Flagstaff House on Friday as part of efforts to help reduce the spread and prevalence of the dreaded virus on the African continent while appreciating the work of the organisation, the president said, The development of our pharmaceutical industry, especially the local manufacturing and production of drugs, including the anti-retroviral drugs is a key commitment of our party that we made as part of the whole programme of industrial growth.

Plan

We are going to make a determined effort in this four years to try and reverse the structure of the Ghanaian economy and we've chosen the pharmaceutical industry as one of the key growth points in the programme that we have, the president..

He stressed his government's commitment to the UNAIDS call for more local involvement in the production and manufacturing of drugs that deal with HIV/AIDS and other diseases, saying, It is something that falls squarely within our own plans and to that extent it's important to have your endorsement.

For him, The idea that in the ECOWAS region, three out of four who are subject to the virus don't have access to treatment, that is a totally unacceptable set of facts and I think that whatever is required to be done to improve those statistics, it's incumbent on us to do it.

These are not statistics that cannot also be allowed to just fester as statistics on paper that every now and then we'll meetthere is a requirement that we do something and change so that the statistics can get in a better direction and Ghana's leadership on this matter within ECOWAS, on the board is something that we are going take very seriously, he assured.

Commitment

President Akufo-Addo has since pledged his government's support for the activities and operations of the UNAIDS, whilst mentioning with emphasis that the work that you are doing is work that we all us have to support with all the passion and resources at our disposal.

Aside that, he indicated, It's fortuitous for us that we have come in at a time that Ghana having a force to play in the international a frontline roll in the struggle; we now the chair of the programme coordination board.

For him, That imposes certain obligations on us and I'm confident that we are going to discharge it because we recognise the significance of the work that we have to do.

On his part, Executive Director of UNAIDS Progrramme, Michel Sidibe, commended President Akufo-Addo for his commitment to run an accountable and transparent government.

In all, he indicated, We cannot talk about fighting against HIV/AIDS without all those ingredients; AIDS have been able to show us only one thing. When you are not inclusive, you are losing; when you are not transparent, it's not working, when you are not thinking redistribution, you cannot win.

Concern

He expressed worry about the fact that only three percent of the medicines that are consumed are produced in this part of the world and the fact that in this day and age (2017) people should give birth to children with HIV/AIDS.

The UNAIDS boss, thus, appealed to the president to show leadership in helping to curb HIV/AIDS whilst pledging his own support for the government and people of Ghana.

By Charles Takyi-Boadu


Ghana has numerous tourist sites but it appears hotel rates at such attractions are quite high.

It is as a result of this that a stakeholder in Ghana's hospitality industry, Marketing Manager of Jumia Travels, Bennet Otoo, has called on government to consider wooing investors into the country to construct affordable hotel rooms in such areas to boost tourism in Ghana.

Mr Otoo said government's intention to provide affordable commercial rooms near major tourist sites would greatly attract tourists in the country and neighbouring countries.

There should be accommodation attached to tourist sites that we have. Let's say if you go the Kakum National Park, or if you go to the Cape Coast Castle, there should be accommodation facilities attached to them or guest houses owned by the Ministry or government very close to the tourist sites, he said.

According to a World Travel and Tourism Council report, the direct contribution of travel & tourism to GDP was GH4,457.9 million (3.3 percent of total GDP) in 2015, and was forecast to rise by 2.7 percent in 2016, and to increase by 5.0 percent per annum, from 2016 to 2026, to GH7,449.5 million (2.9 percent of total GDP) in 2026.

It also mentioned that the total contribution of travel & tourism to GDP was GH10,506.8 million (7.8 percent of GDP) in 2015, and was forecast to rise by 2.4 percent in 2016, and to rise by 5.3 percent per annum to GH17,997.4 million (7.0 percent of GDP) in 2026.

In 2015, the total contribution of Travel & Tourism to employment, including jobs indirectly

supported by the industry, was 6.5 percent of total employment (716,500 jobs).

This was expected to rise by 1.8 percent in 2016 to 730,000 jobs and rise by 1.6 percent per annum to 855,000 jobs in 2026 (6.0 percent of total).

The report stated that visitor exports generated GH3,699.5 million (8.1 percent of total exports) in 2015. This was forecast to fall by 0.0 percent in 2016, and grow by 2.5 percent per annum from 2016 to 2026 to GH4,736.0 million in 2026 (7 percent of total).

Ghana's travel & tourism investment in 2015 was GH1,008.4 million, or 2.9 percent of total investment.

It should fall by 1.1 percent in 2016, and rise by 3.7 percent per annum over the next 10 years to GH1,427.8 million in 2026 (2.2 percent of total).

It would be recalled that Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Catherine Afeku told the Appointments Committee of Parliament that government would work to reduce the rates hotels in the country to attract tourists into the country.

Mr. Otoo further said providing affordable accommodation near tourist sites would expand the industry and generate more income domestically and in the sub-region.

This will also help generate revenue for the country, because if I have to travel to sites from the US to Ghana and I know that onsite at Kakum National Park there is accommodation for me, and I can stay there, which is good. I don't have to pay for transport moving to find another hotel.
An Accra Circuit Court yesterday sentenced two young persons to a total of 20 years' imprisonment for abetment.

They are Hamza Salou, an errand boy and Mohammed Salou, labour.

The two are said to have on May 17 last year at Adabraka in Accra abetted one Shaibu Ibrahim, who has been convicted and another Kwesi, aka Gman Latif, currently at large, to rob the complainant, Allahadu Abdul Kadri of cash of about GH390,000.

Although the duo at the initial stages of the trial denied the charges, the judge Aboagye Tandoh, after full trial, found them guilty and convicted them accordingly.

In sentencing the two, the court stated that investigations revealed that the two had more than 264 call exchanges with the gang that robbed the Forex Bureau owner of $100,000 (GH390,000).

Mr. Tandoh opined that there is no doubt that the two convicts assisted the gang in robbing the Forex Bureau owner and accordingly sentenced them to serve as deferent to others.

Prosecuting, C/Supt. Tuaruka said the complainant, who is the owner of a Forex Bureau at Rawlings Park in Accra, had a called from a customer who needed $100,000 to transact business which he quickly mobilized and directed the customer to come to First Atlantic Bank, Liberia Road Branch for it.

The police officer stated that the complainant delegated one Kadri to go to the bank since there was heavy vehicular traffic, adding that while the transaction was ongoing, the accused persons were monitoring.

C/Supt. Tuaruka said as a result, they gave information to Shaibu and Kwesi, who went to the area of the bank to lay ambush.

The prosecution said Kadir, after exchange with the customer at the bank, left the banking hall with the Cedi equivalent of money in a bag and boarded a motorbike as the pillion rider.

He was attacked by the accused persons who were wielding pistols.

Luck however eluded them when a police officer shot one of them in the stomach while the others managed to escape.

By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson

[email protected]


Harare (AFP) - International experts at emergency UN talks in Harare warned Tuesday that crop-eating armyworm caterpillars posed a serious threat to food supplies across several African countries.

The outbreak has already caused damage to staple crops in Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Ghana, with reports also suggesting Malawi, Mozambique and Namibia are affected.

Experts say it appears to be the first time that the "fall armyworm" species from the Americas has devastated crops in Africa.

David Phiri, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) coordinator for southern Africa, told delegates that the armyworm posed "a huge threat to food security."

"We need to use our collective capacities to put up systems that will strengthen the resilience of our farmers," he said as talks opened.

"The pest... appears to be moving into the region in a north to south trajectory."

The first fall armyworms were seen in Nigeria and Togo last year, with one theory saying that they arrived in Africa on commercial flights from South America or in plants imported from the region.

The caterpillars eat maize, wheat, millet and rice -- key food sources in southern and eastern Africa, where many areas are already struggling with shortages after years of severe drought.

'Could be catastrophic'

Experts from 13 countries will spend three days in the Zimbabwean capital forming a battle plan to defeat the pests.

The armyworm is "spreading rapidly" in Africa and could even threaten farming worldwide, the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) warned last week.

It said maize is particularly vulnerable to the larvae, which attack the crop's growing points and burrow into the cobs.

Unlike the native African armyworm, the fall armyworm does not "march" along the ground in huge numbers seeking more food, the FAO said.

The fall armyworm also attacks cotton, soybean, potato and tobacco fields.

Chemical pesticides can be effective, but fall armyworms have developed resistance in their native Americas.

"You use different methods. One of them is pesticides, another is to use biological control. Another is to use natural control, like digging trenches around the farm (or) natural predators, like birds," Phiri said before the meeting began.

"It's very difficult to control it, so they will have to use different methods -- including sometimes burning the crops."

Zimbabwe's deputy agriculture minister Davis Marapira confirmed to AFP that the pest had been detected in all of the country's 10 provinces.

"The government is helping farmers with chemicals and spraying equipment," Marapira said.

The FAO, which is hosting the Harare meeting, said armyworm -- combined with current locust problems -- "could be catastrophic" as southern Africa has yet to recover from droughts caused by the El Nino climate phenomenon.

In December, Zambia deployed its national air force to transport pesticides across the country so that fields could be sprayed.

"The fall armyworm has a potential to cause a serious food security problem in sub-Saharan Africa," Ken Wilson, an ecology professor at Lancaster University in Britain, told the meeting.
The ExLA Group Gender Programme (EGGP) has rolled out the YAWC Mentorship Programme to nurture young African women for global impact and continental development. The programme falls on the backdrop of the successfully held Young African Women Congress (YAWC) in Accra, Ghana in December last year which created a unique platform for both accomplished and aspiring young women leaders to meet, interact and share ideas.

Under the programme, participants of the recently held congress have been assigned to specific speakers of the congress based on among other things, their career paths, proximity to mentor or language of fluency. Each mentor has been assigned to not more than five participants and would be expected to engage their mentees intensely for a period of 12 months. The mentorship period is expected to expose the mentee to relevant information, career-geared education and recommendations for active corporate and leadership appointments.

The Young African Women Congress has been designed to amplify the awareness and consciousness of the benefits of the women empowerment agenda to Africa. It provides the context within which young women get to meet and interact with accomplished women leaders of different sectors of life as they obtain insight to develop their own path to greatness. Through keynote presentations, plenary discussions, speeches of personal perspectives as well as career fairs, a milieu is established for delegates to have their concerns addressed while re-strategizing for greater exploits.

The YAWC Mentorship Programme is an extension of the career fair session of the bigger umbrella. The career fair provides the young participants deeper insights into the various fields of endeavour they have already chosen to embark on. Nonetheless, in order to ensure that the flame of awareness and consciousness ignited during YAWC congresses remain perpetual, every delegate is recruited into the YAWC Mentorship Programme on her own volition.

The programme is a step further to ensure that resolutions and inspirations derived from discussions during YAWC congresses are relayed into tangible positive consequences.
Britains Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson is expected to visit Ghana tomorrow, February 15, 2017.

He will meet President Nana Addo during his visit to discuss key opportunities and challenges facing the country.

He is also expected to visit the award-winning Blue Skies company, meet business leaders and young entrepreneurs supported by the Department for International Development's ENGINE project, and meet with Rising Black Stars, highlighting both countries' extensive cultural ties.

Ahead of the visit, the Foreign Secretary said:I'm delighted to be the first Foreign Secretary to visit Gambia this week and delighted to have a chance to meet the newly elected President Barrow and President Akufo-Addo of Ghana. Their elections highlight the continuing strengthening of democracy in West Africa.

I am also very pleased that Gambia wants to rejoin the Commonwealth and we will ensure this happens in the coming months. The strength of our partnerships show that Global Britain is growing in influence and activity around the world.

Boris Johnson is currently in The Gambia to meet President Barrow .

He will visit the UK-funded Medical Research Council and speak to Chevening scholars and employees and employers in the tourism industry  a huge employer during his visit to The Gambia.

This is the first recorded visit to The Gambia by a Foreign Secretary.



By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

[email protected] []@CITI97.3
14.02.2017 LISTEN

ActionAid Ghana has held the first-ever protest walk, dubbed: End Child Marriage, with a call on stakeholders to support children, especially the girl-child, in acquiring, at least, basic education before thinking about marriage.

ActionAid Ghana, the Global Social Justice Organisation, which is working to achieve social justice, gender equity and poverty eradication, has also called for extensive public education on child marriage that stands at 21 per cent in Ghana, with 41,000 girls marrying everyday globally.

Madam She-Vera Anzagira, Project Co-ordinator of the End Child Marriage Project  ActionAid, who made the call in Accra on Saturday, said the call had become urgent, looking at indicators that were showing high incidences in the various regions of the country.

The prevalence is high in Upper East, leading with 37 per cent, followed by Upper West and Northern, with Cape Coast and Brong Ahafo leading in southern Ghana, while Accra comes with the least of 12 per cent, she said.

Madam Anzagira observed that the incident was not serious in southern Ghana, due to the high literacy rate and the presence of the middle class, unlike the northern part, where abduction was on the increase.

The problem of high poverty, illiteracy and the lack of knowledge on the dangers of these practices have caused child marriage to be on the increase in the northern part of the country, she said.

Madam Anzagira noted that 700 million women, currently were married before the age of 18, while 250 million women were married before the age of 15, with 15 million girls being married every year before their 18th birthday.

According to hard facts on child marriage, 41,000 girls marry every day, 28 girls marry every minute, and every two seconds a girl gets married, she said.

She called for the intensification of plans in addressing the problem, adding; there should be more education on sex, children's rights, and life skills in the regions, as they are already happening in the southern part of the country.

Stakeholders are also not able to help due to attitudinal issues coming up, she said.

Madam Anzagira said so far, ActionAid Ghana had 340 girls clubs across Upper East, Upper West, Brong Ahafo and Greater Accra regions, where community sensitisation programmes were held frequently.

She, however, mentioned shelter, psychological and social support as some of the challenges associated with rescue efforts.

Alhaji Sani Yakubu, Deputy Director of ActionAid Ghana, said ActionAid was implementing the End Child Marriage Campaign in 12 districts across Ghana, in partnership with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

He said it was the aim of the campaign to reduce the incidence of child marriage, and to promote children's protection and well-being.

Some survivors, who had been saved from child marriage, shared their experiences with the Ghana News Agency, and thanked ActionAid for saving them and giving them hope.

The walk was supported by UNICEF, the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service, and End Child Marriage Secretariat of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

The walk, on the theme: Below 18+ Marriage = Child Marriage, started at 0600 hours from Adentan Police Station, and saw about 150 participants walking through Madina, Atomic Junction, Legon and Shiashie to the Tetteh Quarshie Roundabout.

Source: GNA

By Elsie Appiah-Osei
The Soil Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research says inadequate government support hampers effort to protect and manage the countrys soil resources.

Coordinator of Ghana Soil Health Consortium, Dr Edward Yeboah, says though the institute has made modest progress in its mandate, state response remains minimal.

At a workshop in Kumasi, he underscored the need for training and dissemination of research findings to users.

Amid global concerns about climate change, land degradation and biodiversity loss, soil is one of the most vulnerable resources.

Scientific research, protection and monitoring of soil resources have become onerous tasks at national level.

Dr. Yeboah says ground policy design and implementation is essential in this direction.

Integrated Soil Fertility Management seeks to discuss and utilize scientific and indigenous knowledge for sustainable soil fertility.

The initiative which has been around for 3 years has made progress, in especially documenting a range of improved soil management practices.

Soil scientist and Chairman of the consortiums steering committee, Professor Samuel Adiku, emphasized a holistic soil management approach for achieving food security.

Meanwhile, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture is committing to coordinate activities and harness resources various stakeholders to address the challenges.
Berlin (AFP) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday pushed Tunisia's prime minister to speed up the returns of rejected asylum seekers, as Tunis rebuffed criticism that it was blocking repatriations.

The German leader has been battling to get Tunis to take back its citizens, with the issue taking on greater urgency since the deadly assault on a Berlin Christmas market in December.

The jihadist attack which claimed 12 lives has been blamed on Anis Amri, a Tunisian whose asylum application had been rejected half a year earlier, but could not be expelled because of Tunisian bureaucratic delays.

But ahead of the meeting in Berlin, Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed threw out any criticism.

"One thing that I must say very clearly: the Tunisian authorities have not made any mistakes," Chahed told Germany's biggest selling daily Bild.

"Anis Amri was no terrorist when he left Tunisia in 2011, there were no signs that he had been radicalised.

"With regards to the identity documents, here too, the Tunisian authorities acted correctly," he said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed shake hands after a press conference at the Chancellery in Berlin on February 14, 2017.

Chahed said "cooperation with Germany works very well now" but threw the ball back in Berlin's court.

"We need from the German side clear evidence that we are really dealing with Tunisians," he said, estimating the number of his fellow citizens concerned by possible expulsions from Germany at around 1,000.

"Illegal immigrants who use false identity documents make it difficult and delay the process."

Merkel has been under pressure to reduce the number of asylum seekers in Germany, after the country took in over a million migrants and refugees since 2015.

'Safe country?'

While most refugees from war-torn Syria have qualified for temporary safe haven, applicants from Tunisia as well as Algeria and Morocco generally have not, because their countries are considered stable.

Last year the success rates for asylum requests was 3.5 percent for Moroccans, 2.7 percent for Algerians and just 0.8 percent for Tunisians.

In a press conference following talks with Chahed, Merkel noted that only 116 Tunisians were repatriated last year.

Germany has taken in over a million migrants and refugees since 2015

"That is not fast enough and here we talked about how we can improve this process," she told reporters, raising the prospect of incentives to make returning to Tunisia more appealing.

"It works better if we can make (such returns) voluntary. But we must also make it clear, that whoever does not return of their own accord, they would then be returned involuntarily," she said.

Merkel has repeatedly stressed that she wants Germany to list Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco as "safe countries of origin", raising the bar for asylum requests further, but the proposal has been held up in the upper house of parliament in Berlin over human rights concerns.

Hope in Tunisia

Amnesty International this week alleged that a rise in "brutal tactics" by Tunisian security forces, including torture and arbitrary arrests, are threatening pro-democracy reforms.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere last year visited all three Maghreb countries to urge better cooperation on repatriations.

The question had already became a hot-button issue after New Year's Eve 2015-16, when mobs of North African men sexually assaulted and robbed hundreds of women in the western city of Cologne, sparking public outrage.

German officials inspect the truck that Anis Amri drove through a packed Berlin Christmas market on December 19, 2016

Germany worries that with the advent of spring, the number of migrants making the dangerous Mediterranean crossing will rise again.

Many are travelling via chaotic Libya, which has lacked a functioning national government since the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi.

But Berlin also hopes other regional countries can help deter migrants from heading for the EU.

Merkel had voiced support for a proposal for Tunisia to set up "holding facilities" for refugees rescued from the Mediterranean -- an idea spurned by Chahed.

The Tunisian premier said the question on such facilities did not surface during the Berlin meeting.

Rather, Merkel offered more help to Tunis to "get more job training, improve its domestic security, get more investments", in a bid to persuade Tunisians to stay in their home country.

This would be "a partnership that helps people to no longer find themselves in a position where they say 'I must try to find my fortune in Europe', rather, for them to see hope in Tunisia," she said.
The British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson will visit Ghana today as part of a two-day visit that will also see him visit The Gambia.

Mr. Johnson said: I'm delighted to be the first Foreign Secretary to visit Gambia this week and delighted to have a chance to meet the newly elected President Barrow and President Akufo-Addo of Ghana.

Mr. Johnson will become the first Foreign Secretary to visit Gambia to mark the country's return to the Commonwealth.

The small West African state left the 54-country alliance four years ago claiming it was a neo-colonial institution.

But it has decided to rejoin the Commonwealth following the election of President Adama Barrow last month.

Mr Johnson, heralded the decision as an example of the global role Britain can play post Brexit .

Their elections highlight the continuing strengthening of democracy in West Africa.

I am also very pleased that Gambia wants to rejoin the Commonwealth and we will ensure this happens in the coming months.

The strength of our partnerships show that Global Britain is growing in influence and activity around the world, a statement on the Mirror said.

Mr Johnson and President Barrow will also hold discussions on fighting extremism and terrorism and how to support the growing tourism industry in Gambia.

-Starrfmonline
NEA to sign contracts to keep its senior officials on their toes

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is mulling to sign performance contracts with its senior officials in a bid to enhance efficiency. The NEA board has approved a draft of the proposed pledge, and management plans to ask its senior staff to sign the pact promising to achieve certain targets.
14.02.2017 LISTEN

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, will be grilled tomorrow by the Special Committee set up by the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye, and headed by legal luminary, Joe Ghartey, to probe the bribery allegation he and his team had leveled against the Minister for Energy, Mr Boakye Agyarko.

Ayariga had alleged that the Energy Minister bribed them with GH3,000, through the Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mohammed, to influence his smooth endorsement by the House.

Alhaji Muntaka has already denied the allegation that he was used as the conduit for the transfer of the alleged money to Mahama Ayariga and his colleagues, who claimed to have received the money.

Messrs Okudzeto Ablakwa and Alhaji Alhassan Suhuyini have all come out to state that they also received the alleged the bribe money. But Mr Boakye Agyarko, who was supposed to have given out the alleged money, has denied the charge, and actually threatened to seek legal remedies to redeem his image.

But despite this denial by both Muntaka and Boakye Agyarko, Mahama Ayariga, joined by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Alhaji Sayibu Suhuyini, went ahead to petition the Speaker to conduct investigations into the case.

In their petition to the Speaker, the three wrote: This is a joint request by Hon. Mahama Ayariga (MP) Bawku Central Constituency, Hon Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP) North Tongu Constituency and Hon Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini (MP) Tamale North Constituency to you the Rt. Hon Speaker of Parliament.

We jointly request you to carry out an internal enquiry into the veracity of the claims made by us in the allegation of attempted bribery of the Minority Members of the Appointments Committee of Parliament by a ministerial nominee. We, the three (3) Members of Parliament, will subject ourselves fully to the processes of the enquiry. Please, accept our highest regards.

It was based on this petition that the Speaker set up the Joe Ghartey Committee, with Ben Abdallah, MP for Ofinso South, Ama Pomaaa Boateng, MP for Juabeng, BT Baba, Telensi, and Magnus Kofi Amoateng as members.

After almost two weeks of preparatory works, the Joe Ghartey Committee has now set tomorrow to begin hearing of the case, which would be live on both radio and television.

The Committee has so far not announced witnesses they would invite to the appear before them, but The Chronicle gathered that Mahama Ayariga and his group, who are making the allegation, would be the first people to be invited. There is also the high possibility of an invitation being extended to the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Joe Osei Owusu, whose name also came up in the allegation, and the minister himself, Mr Boakye Agyarko.




Addis Ababa (AFP) - A huge newly-built Ethiopian dam is cutting off the supply of water to Lake Turkana in northern Kenya, rights group Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday.

The Gibe III dam, along with a network of sugar plantations, has caused the depth of Lake Turkana to drop by 1.5 meters from its previous levels since the dam's reservoir began filling in 2015, according to a HRW report.

In one part of Turkana, the world's largest desert lake, the shore has receded by nearly two kilometres, threatening the livelihoods of fishing communities.

"Ethiopia is in such a rush to develop its resources that these downstream individuals, who are completely marginalised, just aren't part of the equation," said Felix Horne, a HRW researcher.

Built at a cost of 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion), Gibe III is the third-most powerful dam in Africa and the highest, at 243 meters (800 feet) in height.

The dam, which has already caused some controversy, is expected to double the electricity output of Ethiopia.

The country was the continent's fastest-growing economy in 2015, but GDP is expected to take a hit due to a series of anti-government protests that targeted foreign businesses, and to an ongoing drought.

Environmentalists and the UN cultural body UNESCO have condemned Gibe III, saying they fear the dam will staunch the Omo River, which provides 80 percent of the water flow into Lake Turkana.

HRW has also criticised Ethiopia's government for uprooting people along the river to make way for sugar plantations.

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn dismissed criticism of the dam in a speech inaugurating the project, saying Gibe III satisfied Ethiopia's power demands and allowed it to export electricity.

Ethiopia also plans 100,000 hectares (250,000 acres) of sugar plantation in the Omo River valley, along with factories to process the cane.

Tens of thousands of hectares have already been cleared, but Horne says the development should be reduced to preserve Lake Turkana's water level.

"I think the most important thing by far is that the sugar plantations, which are very water-intensive, that those be cut back," Horne said.

At Turkana, communal clashes have broken out over access to scarce water supplies.

Should the lake drop further, Horne worries conflict will intensify.
14.02.2017 LISTEN

One of the tasks which President Muhammad Buhari laid on the shoulders of the leadership of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) was to fight corruption and all ill-related practices that were associated with the conduct of the annual Muslim pilgrimage to the Holy Land of Makkah. The directive is an integral part of the Act that established the Commission. That is what the leadership is poised to achieve through its policy reviewal under Barr. Abdullah Muhammad Mukhtar, the vibrant Hajj administrator in Nigeria and the world at large.

Every year, with the renewed spirit to achieve the mission and vision of the NAHCONs Act, preparations for the subsequent Hajj operations are begun at the end of every Hajj exercise with new policies to smoothen the way for more successes. In the past ten years, Nigerian pilgrims go to Saudi for Hajj and return back with minimal or no hitches. That is why NAHCON has come to stay. There is no single blame or regret for the creation of NAHCON and its supervision under the presidency. Rather, clear evidences are documented that the commission has grown from strength to strength recording successes upon successes since its birth. The only thing that the commission yearns to achieve soon is fiscal independence. So there is no justifiable reason whatsoever, on the part of truth and patriotism, for NAHCON to be scrapped or re-subjected to any other government organ.

Investigations have revealed that the Muslims of Nigeria and the world are happy with the performance of NAHCON under the present leadership. The host country, Saudi Arabia, since the creation of NAHCON has been full of praises for Nigeria over the conduct of Hajj, something that virtually proved impossible during the eras before the birth of the commission. The airlift operations, the accommodation arrangements, the feeding, luggage and Holy sites activities have become recurring success stories every year. In just few years, the commission will relieve the federal government of its financial obligations to it. The leadership of commission is planning fast towards being fully financially self-reliant. And with Almighty Allah being by its side, it will be to the benefit of Nigerian pilgrims and the nation in general.

One of the new critical policies introduced by the commission is in connection with the weeding away of quacks and faceless operators in the Hajj industry. In November last year, NAHCON met with the leadership of the Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON) on the need to play by the rules and regulations guiding the holy trips. AHUON President, Alhaji Abdulfatai Abdulmajeed expressed joy with the leadership of the commission for their services. Barr. Mukhtar, in the habit of carrying stakeholders along, informed the meeting of a Presidential directive over the implementation of some recommendations contained in 2015 Hajj report, where NAHCON was directed to collaborate with security agencies to stem the tide of fraudulent activities in Hajj and Umrah.

On 16thNovember 2016, the commission set up three teams on routine inspection of tour operators for its three zones: Kano, Lagos and Abuja. The teams led by the head of tour operators, Alidu Shutti and head of Inspectorate and compliance, Usman Shamaki and Muhammad Girei who were to ensure that existing companies were running their businesses according to NAHCONs regulations. They were to ascertain the true existence of companies at the addresses provided in the documents from Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and that the companies were licensed by NAHCON. The teams were also to identify unlicensed companies by NAHCON and serve themnotice of non-compliance with a 21-day notice to regularize their companies with the commission or risk further actions.

Finally, the teams were asked to visit the police, DSS and ICPC in the states to seek their support in areas of security and enforcement. They also liaised with the press. The Lagos zone team visited Kwara, Osun, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos States.

While in Ilorin, the team visited the State Commissioner of Police, Olusola Amore (CP) and the State Director, Department of State Services (DSS), Abdullahi Shinkafi both of who urged NAHCON to design a mechanism for the sanctioning of licensed companies some of which engage in unholy activities inimical to the interest of the Nigerian pilgrims. They urged NAHCON to continue to publish list of licensed Tour Operators to guide members of the public against patronizing unlicensed ones. Vibrant feedback mechanism from stakeholders was paramount too.

Investigations showed that some unlicensed operators place adverts in print and electronic media while some operators who possess either Hajj or Umrah license were operating both outings. Further, it was observed that some of the operators were using agents to source for clients, with the agents sometimes engaging in unholy acts. Kwara state recorded seven licensed companies and two unlicensed ones; Osun only one licensed company; Ondo one licensed; Oyo nine and four; Ogun seven and two and Lagos 54 and nine respectively. A total of 79 licensed tour operator companies and 17 unlicensed ones equaling 96 were recorded in the Lagos zone.

The Kano zone recorded 63 licensed and 78 unlicensed companies as follows: Bauchi four and one; Gombe one licensed; Jigawa one and one; Kano 50 and 77; Katsina one licensed; Borno two licensed; Sokoto one licensed; Yobe one licensed; and Zamfara two licensed operators.

A total number of 75 companies were identified in the Abuja zone. FCT Abuja had 50 licensed and four unlicensed operators; Kogi one and one; Niger four and one; and Kaduna 63 and 13. This meant that in the whole country 312 Hajj and Umrah companies were inspected. 204 were legal operators while 108 were unlicensed. Kano zone has the highest number of illegal companies with 78 representing 25%, followed by Lagos zone that recorded 17 illegal companies representing 5.5%, while Abuja zone has 13 unlicensed companies representing 4.2%



Moreover, investigations revealed that some legitimate companies knew the illegal operators but were unwilling to expose them due to existing relationships with them. Some honest operators have been affected negatively by the activities of unlicensed agents with the attendant dwindling revenue. Again, resistance from some licensed and unlicensed companies especially in Kano zone were met.

However, the exercise has given the commission more insights on the way forward. The commission will consider the publication of the list of unlicensed companies in the print and electronic media at the local areas where such unlicensed operators are operating, while the routine inspection would be sustained at regular intervals to ensure compliance and reduce the spread of unlicensed ones. The commission will also ensure enforcement with considerable fines on the licensed companies found wanting.

Muhammad Ajah is an advocate of humanity, peace and good governance in Abuja. E-mail [email protected]
The Western region minister nominee says he would work as a collaborator and enabler with the Gender Ministry to fight the child prostitution menace in the region.

Dr Kwaku Afriyie said although he has ideas on how to fight the teething problem in the region, he would fuse his ideas with the Gender and Social Protection ministry to find a lasting solution.

The former minister of Lands, Mines and Forestry in President John Kufuors government said "I don't submit to any moral thing but that aspect about diseases is my concern."

Sekondi-Takoradi in the Western region, now called the oil city of Ghana, is experiencing a surge in child prostitution.

Activists say the menace has increased since the Jubilee oil find, with girls being drawn in from other parts of the country and other West African countries.

The Department of Children has been working in collaboration with the Social Services Sub-committee of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly to sensitise schools and committees on the need for parents to look after their children.

There have been consistent radio talk shows, sensitisation visits to the communities and schools in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis as well as drawing attention to the dangers of child neglect and prostitution are going on vigorously to fight the canker.

The security agencies, in collaboration with stakeholders of child rights and care organisations, have also been engaged to undertake periodic swoops to minimize the menace.

The Paramount Chief of Eastern Nzema Traditional Area, Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli II who has been commenting on child prostitution has attributed the problem partly to parents shirking their responsibilities.

Awulae Amihere, whose traditional capital is Atuabo in the Western Region, believes in the maxim 'Do things within your limit' and 'Better do one thing right than do many things wrong'.

He advocated stiffer punishment in the Children's Act towards irresponsible parenting and wished the district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies could enact stiffer by-laws or sanctions on those who abuse and neglect children.

To solve the issue, Dr Afriyie told Parliaments Appointments Committee Tuesday that once the Gender Ministry rolls out its programmes relating to the issue, he would ensure they are quickly implemented in the region to curb the problem.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Abubakar Ibrahim
Rita Ako Williams, Executive Board Chairperson, Excella Consult, LLC

14.02.2017 LISTEN

For some time now, some employers of domestic workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, and Oman) commonly called the Gulf States have been in the news for allegedly abusing and maltreating domestic workers. With more than 90 percent of domestic workers being migrant workers, there has also been a mix of accounts by domestic workers, with some recounting good treatment by their employers, and others detailing stories of abuse and maltreatment. Be that as it may, migrant workers and those intending to pursue employment as domestic workers in the Gulf States must know before they go; know what their rights are, if any, and what to do when faced with situations of abuse as well as be informed about some of the positive changes that are occurring in the legal policy environment in the Gulf States concerning domestic workers.

First, for those intending to pursue work in the Gulf States, here are a few things to consider. Generally, migrating to the Gulf States occurs in the form of work visas although there may be a few exceptions. People commonly find jobs through direct/online applications, recruitment agencies, or recommendations by friends and family who live and work there. All foreigners entering the Gulf States are required to have a sponsor. This applies to visitors entering the country for residence or for work. A sponsor could be a business/company, or an individual. While most domestic workers may come under a company sponsorship (recruitment agency), some also come as direct employees of the host family. Thus, unlike majority of situations that exists in other countries where a person seeking greener pastures could travel and overstay a visa and look for work, travelling to the Gulf States as a domestic worker requires having a sponsor or an employer to pre-authorise travel for work and pay for the associated costs.

Second, it is important for one to be properly informed about the true state of salaries for a domestic worker in the Gulf States as there is a misconception about high salaries arising from the idea that the Gulf States are oil-rich nations. This misconception of high salaries has been kept alive by scammers who extort money from unsuspecting victims with a promise of jobs and high US Dollar-denominated salaries. It is pertinent to mention that domestic workers in the Gulf States are not paid in United States dollars of up to $1,500 a month as some recruiters may claim. According to an article published by HelperChoice, an online recruitment firm, the average salary in the Gulf States for domestic workers was between $384 and $440 in 2016. Prospective migrant domestic workers should flag offers for employment in the Gulf States with a salary promise of anything from $800 to $1500 as potentially a scam and advice themselves accordingly.

Third, recruitment charges also require some attention and discussion. During the process of being considered for a job to the Gulf States, a prospective employee is not required by the employer to provide money for the payment of visa processing, cost of visa, or money to buy an air ticket. It is the responsibility of the employer to bear such costs. By contrast, once in employment in the Gulf States, should the employee decide to return to their country of origin before two years of employment, the employee is required to pay recruitment charges, which may include the cost of the ticket and visa fees the employer had paid. Recruitment charges do not include the return ticket an employee needs to purchase back home.

Fourth, changing of employment is another issue worthy of note. Due to the nature of the labour law, specifically the Kafala or sponsorship system, it is nearly impossible to change jobs once sponsored, although there are exceptions. Usually, the domestic worker who was employed through an agency may be able to switch families if the employee has issues with the current family employer. However, if the recruitment was done directly without an agency acting as an intermediary, then the option of changing jobs is unlikely especially if there is a misunderstanding between the employer and employee. This is because the Kafala or sponsorship system ties the employees legal residence to the employer. In addition, the Kafala system also requires a foreign worker to obtain an exit permit from the employer if the employee wishes to exit the country or obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) if the employee wishes to change jobs. By years end, Dubai, Qatar and Bahrain had abolished the exit permit rule; however, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait still enforce it to a certain extent.

Fifth, domestic workers are excluded from coverage under the labour laws in the Gulf States, meaning that domestic workers could be employed without a contract evidenced in writing, making them vulnerable to exploitation. Without a contract and enforceable rights, domestic workers do not have standing to file a complaint to the labour commissions in the Gulf States.

Although historically the rights of domestic workers have not been enshrined in law in majority of the Gulf States, recent efforts to change the status quo are emerging. Some of these efforts include adjusting the Kafala system in some member states, prohibiting employers from retaining custody of the passports of employees and cancellation of exit permits. In addition, laws are being considered to provide rights for migrant workers. As an example, the Cabinet of Qatar earlier this week approved a draft bill which would include migrant workers in the labour law. Although details of the draft bill have not yet been revealed, it is expected that the bill would be similar to that of the 2011 bill which provided migrant rights and clearly stated the rights and responsibilities of both the domestic worker and employer.

As the draft bills continue to be under consideration in some of the Gulf States, other options aimed at addressing the issue or limiting opportunities for occurrence of the abuse of migrants must be considered. One option is to call for a total ban of the recruitment of domestic workers, including Ghanaians, from engaging in domestic work in the Gulf States. However, a total ban would not only infringe on the rights of persons to engage in employment and prohibit free movement of persons and related rights, it would also constrain the Gulf States ability to hire migrant domestic workers who make up more than 90% of the workforce in that sector.

Another option could be to adopt proper procedures to facilitate the recruitment of domestic workers to the Gulf States. This could be done by engaging a third party in performing due diligence and possibly acting as a quasi-government representative in the Gulf States that have no consulates and escalating the abuse of migrants to the consulates.

In addition, it is important that intending migrant domestic workers are provided information about agencies and organizations that they can report maltreatment or abuse before they depart from their country of origin. Some of the information could be to provide the telephone numbers of the police, immigration, and most crucially, the contact information of their nearest consulates. To date, seeking assistance from consulates has proven to be very effective as was demonstrated recently by the intervention of the Ghana Embassy in Saudi Arabia when it intervened in several cases and facilitated the rescue and return of some Ghanaian migrant workers.

Furthermore, as part of the pre-departure procedures, intending migrants could be made to submit information about their employers to immigration authorities with a waiver provided to immigration officials to share the information with consulates and accredited non-state institutions. This will enable consulates and accredited non-state actors to periodically check on domestic workers in their employment and assist when cases of abuse and maltreatment are uncovered during routine visits. The cost of these visits and assistance could be borne by domestic workers who opt to be part of this innovative and accountability program.

Finally, there must be continuous education of migrant workers in employment or who are seeking to travel as domestic workers in the Gulf States about the realities of working in the Gulf States. Special focus should be on what they need to know and how they can get help when faced with some of the aforesaid issues.

As changes continue to evolve, it is important that countries in the Gulf States continue to strike a proper balance between employers interest to fill up domestic workers positions with migrant workers and the States and employers obligations to promote, respect, and protect the rights of domestic workers.

Rita Ako Williams is the Executive Board Chairperson of Excella Consult, LLC, a consulting firm specialising in providing innovative solutions to clients in the hospitality and related services industry in Qatar and Ghana. She also serves on the Board of the US branch of the Africa Center for International Law and Accountability (ACILA-USA), a 501 (c) (3) research and education non-partisan, and non-profit think tank specialising in international law, international criminal justice, and monitoring African states compliance with international instruments.
14.02.2017 LISTEN

Now that the Gambian story has been put back on the shelf, with everyone waiting to see whether President Adama Barrow will run an administration that will prove worthy of the amount of words expended on its emergence, I feel I can tell my story of the Gambia.

It was a life and death story, and so I don't enjoy telling it. But once the recent developments had driven it from deep down my mind right up to the front, there was no way of shoving it aside.

Back in July 1981, I was quietly carrying out my functions as a freelance foreign correspondent who needed to follow every political development in my region, West Africa, in order to try and interest a foreign editor somewhere to ask me to write about it and thereby earn my keep. This wasn't something I enjoyed doing, for budgets for news-gathering were being cut all around the world  even then  and foreign editors were understandably careful not to incur the ire of their editors by commissioning too many stories from obscure corners of the world. So the answer to what we call a pitch was almost always no, and after a while, such negative responses can become quite depressing.

So, when I sent a cable to the chap on the London Economist handling Africa at the time, Nick Harman, suggesting that the overthrow of Sir Dauda Jawara as President of the Gambia and the abduction of his wife by the coup-makers, would make good copy for his paper, I didn't expect him to bite. But bite he did. With this proviso: that my copy should reach London by Wednesday morning. (I had sent the cable on Monday!)

What? Forty-eight hours to get to the Gambia and file a story?

Yes. I had to try. Nobody had asked me; I'd asked for the job and had been told how it was to be done. Take it or leave it.

Now, one rule that gets embedded on a journalist's brain after he's practised his trade for a number of years is this: get the story! In other words, the prospect of a good story coming out of a certain amount of endeavour takes over one's brain and one would move heaven and earth to try and obtain the story and tell it the best way one could.

So I studied the Airline timetables. There was only one flight that could be of use to me  the Panam flight to Dakar, which would touch down in Accra on Monday afternoon. I packed quickly and made my way to the airport. I bought a ticket from a white-uniformed Panam official and waited. Within two hours of getting the okay from London, I was on board a big Boeing-707, en route to Dakar.

I'd never been to Dakar before. I did not have a reservation at any hotel in Dakar. But once the adrenalin had been pumped into my system by the perceived existence of a good story, none of those things seemed to matter.

Someone mentioned to me that one of the top guys in the Ghana embassy in Dakar was a chap I knew slightly, George Lamptey. So, as soon as I landed in Dakar, I found his telephone number and called him at home. Now, in those days, Ghana was blessed with really good diplomats and George Lamptey was one of the very best. I discussed my plight with him and he immediately offered me a bed at his home for the night. Early the next morning, he asked his driver to take me to a taxi station in central Dakar, where I was to look for a cab bound for Kaolack, near the river crossing to Banjul.

I found a taxi, but after pocketing my advance, the driver kept waiting for more passengers, while I twirled my fingers contemplating the demise of my approaching deadline. Eventually, we took off but the passenger-touting did not cease, and we got to Kaolack just before dark.

I enquired about how to get an outboard-motor boat that could take me to Banjul. I found one, but after the owner had pocketed my money, he vanished, leaving me in the hands of a boy who could not have been more than 12 years old! This boy was to ferry me across a stretch of water bound to be extremely rough, because the sea and the Gambia River enjoyed volatile conjugal relations at that confluence?!

Clever journalist me, remembers: oh, there's a curfew in Banjul! So what? Just nip over to the Senegalese immigration post on the bank over there and beg them in broken French to tell their counterparts on the Banjul side that a journalist was being ferried over and so they should disregard the curfew rules when they saw him. Simple really.

Of course, the Senegalese officials neglected to disclose to me that they could not communicate with the Gambians on the Banjul side, due to dead phones!Even at the best of times, let alone coup time!

So, I get into the boat. The boy starts the engine. And off we go. But after we've travelled for about two-three hundred yards, the engine conks out.

The boy tries again and again to restart it. But baabu: the engine remains deadWe now begin drifting in the water. Soon, the current will grab hold of the boat and take it  where?

I now remember that I can't swim! So many reasons why one shouldn't die! But there I was. Deat's call was all over my ears.

Just as I was lighting the fire to the private hell that's deep inside my head, however, the boat's engine comes back to life. The boy expertly steers us back to safe waters and within about 15 minutes, we are on the Banjul side.

There, the boy hurriedly tosses my suitcase on to the sandy beach and no sooner have my legs touched the ground than he makes off towards Kaolack. He has heard about the curfew and the troubles in Banjul -- obviously! And he's having none of it.

I put my suitcase on my head and begin to walk. There's a blackout in Banjul and I can hardly see where to go. A small light can be seen flickering far away and I make towards that. "HALT!" a voice shouts from somewhere in the dark. I stop dead. But I can't see anyone.

"HANDS UP!"

I do as ordered. My suitcase balances perilously on my head. But it stays on. Somebody emerges from the darkness. He shines a torch at me. "Who are you and where are you going?" he asks. I tell him. I add that I had asked the Senegalese immigration post to send a radio message to warn the Gambian police that I was on my way to their city and that they should not consider me as a curfew-breaker.

The man sniggers when I say this. I don't know it yet, but in the past few hours, Senegalese troops have invaded Gambia and most Gambian policemen and officials are running away from them!

The man comes over from the dark and asks me to open my suitcase. He looks through my things. Then he says in a matter-of-fact manner, " You are very lucky! I am a policeman, and I should have shot you on sight, because that's what the curfew rules tell us to do. On your left side, a few yards away, there is a hotel. Go and check yourself in there and make sure you don't step outside again."

Then he made off.

I found the hotel. There was a receptionist at the front office, dozing by a candle. He didn't express much surprise at seeing me. He just checked me in and took me to my room and lit a candle for me.

The next morning, I checked into the best hotel in Banjul. And fortunately, I found pay dirt.

The Senegalese troops who had come to the rescue of the Jawara regime had camped near the hotel and their top officers resided there. So did a few British SAS officers who were also helping Jawara.

Shortly after I'd arrived at the hotel, a very nice Senegalese journalist informed me that Lady Chirel Jawara had been found and released from the Gambian Field Force soldiers who had abducted her on the orders of their leader, Kukoi Samba Sanyang.. We trooped off to hear her talk about her ordeal.

By 10 a.m. on the Wednesday, I had enough news to be on the telex to London with it. Nick Harman, on the foreign desk, cabled back to tell me that they'd had to remake the foreign pages in order to put my story on the front of the section as the lead story. He described my effort in getting the story in before the paper went to bed as "intrepid". But The Economist did not award bylies. So, if I'd died, no-one would have known that it was I who got that story.

Nevertheless, the cable's message was so agreeable that the encounter(s) I'd had with possible death were driven straight out of my mind. It is such small things that make ordinary human beings go to war-fronts again and again to risk their lives to bring media consumers eyewitness accounts of some of the most dangerous events on the planet.

However, I've often had to seek the reason why any sane person would risk life and limb just to tell the story of a nearly-deposed President, and his abducted wife.

I can't find any  especially since the Gambia was to be in the same boat again  14 years,and 35 years -- later!
14.02.2017 LISTEN

The Government of Ghana is liaising with three different partners from both the United States and Brazil for expert advice and services on the proposed One Village One Dam Project, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has hinted.

The development partners, according to the Minister, will offer expertise as well as provide services on affordable and cost-effective irrigation services in the country.

Officials from both countries have already held talks with Government of Ghana on the possibility of assisting the policy of constructing these affordable but efficient dams, particularly in the northern regions of the country as part of efforts towards fulfilling the governments agricultural policy.

Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, who disclosed this at a Stakeholder Consultative Workshop on Ghanas National Irrigation Policy organized by the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) said the development partners will introduce amongst others, modern irrigation systems such as mobile irrigation program, which he said had the potential of providing efficient and reliable source of irrigation for more than 50 acres of land at a ago.

He noted that the mobile irrigation can serve cluster of farms, stressing that the system will provide smallholders with a reliable source of irrigation, especially during the dry season.

According to the Minister, government is seeking to introduce a paradigm shift in irrigation in the country, adding that the era of large scale irrigation system which does not guarantee all year round availability of water for farmers will soon be over.

Dr Afriyie Akoto further hinted that plans are far advanced to relieve the burden of bearing the cost of electricity supply in irrigation farms off the shoulders of farmers even before the national policy of One Village One Dam kicks in.

We want to make sure the farmers have adequate incentives and motivation to do their work. Government wants to bear the cost of electricity so that farmers can save their little earnings as preparations are underway to commence the dam projects, he stressed.

The Food and Agriculture Minister further revealed that various committees have been put in place to conduct the necessary studies towards the implementation of the policy.

Dr. Afriyie Akoto also touched on the Planting for Foods and Jobs Policy, which he said would spearhead governments agricultural programmes in the first term of the NPP administration.




Banjul (Gambia) (AFP) - British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who in the past sparked fury over comments about Africans, arrives in The Gambia on a charm offensive Tuesday as its new government considers rejoining the Commonwealth.

Johnson is to meet President Adama Barrow and visit the British-funded Medical Research Council, his ministry said, resetting ties after years of tension with former president Yahya Jammeh.

Jammeh frequently railed against Britain's colonial rule of the tiny nation, and Johnson will be the first British foreign minister to visit since independence in 1965.

Johnson has hailed the December elections that unseated Jammeh after 22 years in power in The Gambia, saying they "highlight the continuing strengthening of democracy in West Africa".

The visit will be his first to the continent as Britain's top diplomat.

The talks with the president are expected to formalise statements by Barrow during campaigning last year that The Gambia would resume its place in the Commonwealth group of former British colonies.

Barrow worked as a security guard in Britain when he was younger and has made no secret of his wish to rekindle ties.

The Gambia has also just notified the United Nations it will rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC), reversing another controversial Jammeh move from last year.

Johnson said ahead of the visit he was "very pleased that Gambia wants to rejoin the Commonwealth and we will ensure this happens in the coming months."

Jammeh withdrew his nation from the group in 2013, calling it "an extension of colonialism", but Johnson has his own history of controversy with Britain's former territories in Africa.

Controversial comments

In a news column published in 2002, Johnson characterised the Commonwealth as having "crowds of flag-waving piccaninnies," to welcome Queen Elizabeth II, using a derogatory term for black people that caused outrage.

He also parodied reaction to Tony Blair's arrival in Congo saying that "the tribal warriors will all break out in watermelon smiles to see the big white chief touch down".

The comments came back to haunt him when he ran for London mayor in 2008, and then again when he was named foreign secretary last year after Britain's shock Brexit vote.

Diplomatic sources have said Britain is likely to target justice reform as an area in which it can provide expertise to the new government.

In a show of confidence in the Gambian tourist industry, which is dominated by British sunseekers, Johnson is taking a commercial flight to Banjul, and will also meet hoteliers.

Tourists were flown out of the country en masse in January after Jammeh declared a state of emergency when he lost the election to Barrow but refused to stand down.

On Wednesday morning, Johnson will head to Ghana to meet President Nana Akufo-Addo and visit the Blue Skies company, a juice-maker which has received financial support from Britain.
A 2016-registered BMW 7 series saloon car has been seized from the wife of former National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Yaw Boateng Gyan by the Assets taskforce formed by the presidency to retrieve assets belonging to the state from former government officials.

The car was taken from a mechanics garage by three soldiers on Friday, Mr Boateng Gyan confirmed to Asempa FMs Ekosii Sen programme on Tuesday, 14 February.

The soldiers seized the car together with two police officers and two plain-clothed men with reason that it looked like a state vehicle.

According to Mr Boateng Gyan, the soldiers returned the car on Monday, 13 February after he had rushed to Accra from the Brong Ahafo to present the documents covering the car as demanded by the taskforce.

The presidency says 208 state vehicles are missing. So far cars belonging to Mr Boateng Gyans successor Kofi Adams as well as Mr James Agyenim-Boateng, aide to former vice president Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur have been seized in similar fashion.
14.02.2017 LISTEN

Some Ghanaian Journalists on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 joined hands with communications giant [MTN Ghana] to express love for humanity by donating pints of blood towards the #MTNSaveALife campaign.

The #MTNSaveALife campaign is a special activation by MTN Ghana Foundation with the aim of collecting blood to restock the blood level at the National Blood Bank to avert the perennial blood shortage at the National Transfusion Service at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

As today [Tuesday] marks the 6th edition of the MTN Ghana Foundation annual blood donation campaign, journalists from various media houses in Accra decided to make it a memorable event by willingly donating towards this all important exercise.

The following Journalists completed their blood donation exercise before 12:00 noon - Samuel Doe Ablordepey [Daily Graphic], Jorge Kinston [Spy News Agency], Kofi Ahovi of JBA, Lawrencia Nkrumah [Citi FM], Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh [African Eye Report], El-Amisty Nobo [Media 24], amongst others.

However, speaking to the press at the MTN House, located at Ridge, on the Independence Avenue Road in Accra [Ghana], Mrs. Cynthia Lumor [Executive Director of MTN Ghana Foundation] explained the onus behind the campaign:

The World Health Organization [W.H.O] has stated that voluntary non-remunerated blood donors are the foundation of a save, sustainable blood supply.

They indicate that, without a system based on regular voluntary donation, no country can provide sufficient blood for all patients who require transfusion, she added.

Mrs. Cynthia Lumor further reiterated [based on the National Blood Bank report], that out of the 250,000 pints of blood needed yearly, only 66% is donated voluntarily. She also reckoned that the ultimate goal behind this exercise is to save lives.

The #MTNSaveALife campaign, which began from 3 centers [Accra, Takoradi, and Kumasi] six years ago has been extended to all the 10 regions of Ghana with 12 bleeding centers.

The theme for this years edition is, Operation 2017 and the target is to raise 2,017 pints of blood. The exercise exceeded its target [1,200] last year by raising a whopping 1,645 pints of blood.

Donors supporting the 2017 #MTNSaveALife campaign are; National Transfusion Service [Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital], Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital [Kumasi], Effia Nkwanta Hospital [Takoradi], Tamale Teaching Hospital, Bolga Regional Hospital, and the Cape Coast Regional Hospital.

Follow Amisty on twitter @ElAmistyNobo

Email: [email protected]
New APF Chief Shrestha conferred insignia

Newly appointed Inspector General of Armed Police Force (APF) Singha Bahadur Shrestha was conferred insignia on Tuesday.
14.02.2017 LISTEN

A lot of officers and men who fought bravely to ensure the return of the elephant to executive power in Ama Ghana are harbouring anger and pain over the developments in the Ghana Armed Forces in recent times.

When rumours were rife that Brigadier General Francis Vib-Sanziri was to be appointed the Chief of Army Staff, several senior officers including Generals and Colonels, serving and retired, opposed the idea vehemently.

Little did they know that the worst form of that decision was to follow. Some of the senior officers who hated General Sanziri are beginning to revise their notes following the decision by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to appoint Naval Commodore Moses Beick-Baffour (GH/2073) as the Chief of Staff to replace Major General Sampson Kudjo Adeti (GH/2025).

These Latter Day Saints are now saying that the angel you know not cannot be better than the devil you know.

Certainly, Major General SK Adeti is the devil who is known and appears to be repenting and is eager to do positive business with the NPP administration.

Between Commodore M Beick-Baffour and Major General Adeti, the pendulum of the opinion court is apparently in favour of the latter.

Major General SK Adeti has done his worst during the 2016 elections and his position is known.

Commodore M Beick-Baffour has been a thorn in the flesh of Akans and NPP sympathizers.

Using his appointment as the Military Secretary, Commodore M Beick-Baffour persecuted a lot of Akan officers including the Appiah-Agyapongs. He denied several Akan officers their due promotions and appointments. He assisted the Biekros to truncate the military career of the Adjaye-Gaisies with concocted pieces of evidence.

He delayed the promotions of some Akan and NPP sympathetic officers such as those of the Darkwas, Appiah-Kubis, Danquahs and Aphous while facilitating and precipitating those of the Edjeanis and Dzisis. He and the Adokpas, Akou-Adjeis, Ametepis, Agbekas and the Adetis decided the fate of several Akan and non Akan NPP sympathizers.

Commodore M Beick-Baffour had the support of the Steve Obimpehs and the Flagstaff House to decide on who gets appointments, promotions or released from the Ghana Armed Forces. It was Commodore Beick-Baffour who set the agenda with the Adokpas and rest of the Dzelukope Mafia to persuade Service Commanders to do as they wished.

Consequently, the Opoku Aduseis and Obed Akwas were just to rubber stamp decisions of Commodore M Beick Baffour and his Mafia.

They decided on which officers would attend which foreign courses-young officers, Combat Team Commanders, Junior and Senior Command and Staff, War Colleges and Institutes of Defence Strategic Studies and civil courses.

That explains why the Akou-Adejeis and Mustaphas are given courses in the USA and most preferred countries-UK, Canada, France, Nigeria and China.

The criteria for the selection of officers for these courses were doctored or prepared to favour themselves to the detriment of hardworking, intelligent and professionally upright Akan and non-Akan officers considered to be sympathetic to the course of NPP.

It is in the light of all these atrocities against the elephant fraternity that Commodore M Beick-Baffour has again dribbled his way into the forefront of the NPP pretending to be a born again. How can such a wicked hypocrite become a genuine born again NPP sympathizer?

Yet, he has managed to play his cards very well using the Ewe Caucus in the Bar, Bench and NPP to become acceptable as a preferred candidate over the Boimahs and Dzamefes to become the Chief of Staff. He has managed to beat the likes of the Omane Agyekums who have sacrificed and suffered under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) regimes of yester years and the recent past.

What concerned NPP sympathizers are asking is this simple question: IS IT WORTH DYING FOR THE NPP?

Most respondents are of the opinion that comparing what the NDC is always prepared to do for their members and sympathizers and those of the NPP; the answer is a big NO.

Imagine some of the childish and silly arguments being used to support the candidature of Commodore Beick-Baffour: that because Major General SK Adeti is an Ewe (Voltarian) and has been relieved of his appointment, another Ewe (Voltarian) must take his place.

Secondly, amongst the Ewe (Voltarian) officers who are mostly NDC sympathizers Commodore Beick-Baffour appears to be a mild NDC sympathizer.

Jesus Christ of Nazareth! If Commodore M Beick-Baffours support for the NDC is considered to be mild then I can imagine what a serious NDC supporter in the officer corps would look like!!

For those who do not know how Commodore Beick-Baffour operates, he is more dangerous than Major General SK Adeti. At least Major General SK Adeti is not a hypocrite. Neither is he a pretender.

Right from his Subaltern days (Lieutenant and Captain), Major General SK Adeti has been consistently a pro PNDC and NDC officer. Major General Adeti never for once hid his links with the P/NDC. As a matter of fact, as a young officer, Major General Adeti had the portrait of Jerry Rawlings with him and openly displayed it in his rooms (at Messes and Married Quarters).

Additionally, Major General Adeti was always ready to defend Jerry Rawlings and his two coup detats (4 June 1979 and 31 December 1982).

I may not like Major General SK Adeti because of the Southern Command pick-up and related issues but as an observer, these are character traits of honesty, bravery and consistency.

But can the same be said of Commodore M Beick-Baffour? Big NO.

Commodore Beick-Baffour has always been opportunistic. He dances to the tune of the political order of the day.

In his young officer days until Lieutenant Commander, he was always with the PNDC and NDC. He managed to get seconded to the Ghana Maritime Academy, Fisheries Department, the Ministries and appropriate Institutions and Agencies where his expertise in the Navy and the Maritime world would be useful to propel him to prosperity.

During the era of President Kufuor, then Commander Beick-Baffour managed to use the Gyaasaayars (Justice) and others to get what he wanted.

Then came the NDC under Presidents Mills and Mahama, then Captain (GN) and now Commodore Beick-Baffour would use his anchor in the Volta Region and mast in the Biekros and Faidoos to get what he wanted.

Again, under President Nana Addo, Commodore Beick-Baffour is in the limelight having washed his hands well and is set to be appointed Chief of Staff and promoted Rear Admiral which will catapult him to become the next Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) after Rear Admiral Faidoo as originally planned by the Adokpas had the NDC won the 2016 elections.

With the pieces of information on Commodore Beick-Baffuor, may I proceed to analyze some of the arguments used by the General Okyeres and their likes to justify their shameless betrayal of the cause of the helpless, already victimized and uncared for teeming supporters and sympathizers of the NPP in the barracks.

Firstly, is it not nonsense for the likes of General Okyere to think that two Akans should not occupy the seats of Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff, where were they when Air Marshal Dumashie was the Chief of Defence Staff and General BK Akafia was the Army Commander?

These two Generals were not Ewes but were all from the Anlo area of the Volta Region too.

Again where were they when General Arnold Quainoo was the Force Commander (combining the functions of Chief of Defence Staff and Army Commander) after the resignation of Brigadier General Joseph Nunoo-Mensah as the Chief of Defence Staff and Brigadier General Klutse was the Brigade Commander of 1 Infantry Bde Gp and effectively the No 2 to Quainoo in spite of the fact that we had lame duck Navy and Airforce Commanders.

Where were the General Okyeres when the Bosrotsis, Ntumys, Toppors, Kpetos, Weirs, Agumes, Agbemasus, Attopoes and Lord Attivors were in charge of all the key positions in the Ghana Armed Forces between 1982 and 1993?

The argument that if the NDC made errors, the NPP should not follow suit does not wash. They used the executive power to the advantage of their supporters and sympathizers to the detriment of the Akans and non-Akans suspected to be NPP sympathizers

.

Because of the Ewe hegemony, first class officers such as the Twumasis Oti-Prempehs, Ohene Asantes, Ohene Asares, Lemteys, Ayiteys and Addas were thrown out of the main stream to pave way for Quainoos, Dumashies, and Akafias.

Surely, the General Okyeres did not see those ones and are prepared to hurt and humiliate sympathizers of the NPP in the barracks.

Today, the rank and file of the elephant fraternity have become the laughing stock.

Ardent, vociferous and non- compromising NDC soldiers and supporters in the barracks are the ones who have been selected for duties at Castle and Jubilee House while the real combatants, warriors who sacrificed and fought for the elephant to leave the jungle and return to the corridors of power are still walking and roaming about in the barracks disappointed, dejected and uncertain about their future.

The soldiers who behaved professionally and protected the Constitution of Ghana cannot find favour with the Captain Kodas, Lieutenant Colonel Owusu Ansahs and Colonel Onwonas.

Instead, the drivers, bodyguards and clerks of the Chief of Staff, Commandants, Director Generals, Directors and Principal Staff Officers at General Headquarters, Service Headquarters, Command Headquarters, Bases and Units are the ones now enjoying thanks to the nonsense of a certain Brigadier General Emmanuel Okyere.

These parasites are the ones riding in the Toyota Landcruiser V8s, V6s, Prados and other enviable vehicles.

Some loyal soldiers of the elephant fraternity are being victimized. Some of them have been deliberately posted to Bawku, Yendi and Bimbilla while the parasites are now calling the shots.

The distressed faithfuls are crying inside themselves. Their spouses are worried. Their children are being mocked at.

This can only happen because of the nonsense of a certain Brigadier General Emmanuel Okyere who as GOC Southern Command made sure NPP lost to his mother party.

There is anger in the barracks today due to the nonsense of Brigadier General Emmanuel Okyere.

My sources have indicated that the Armed Forces Council has met for the first time under the auspices of Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia with the following as other members:

MINISTER OF DEFENCE- DOMINIC NITIWUL

MINISTER OF INTERIOR-AMBROSE DERY

MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS- MRS. SHIRLEY AYORKOR BOTCHWEY

MAJOR GENERAL OB AKWA CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF

MAJOR GENERAL WA AYAMDO-CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF

REAR ADMIRAL PK FAIDOO- CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF

AIR VICE MARSHAL M NAGAI-CHIEF OF AIR STAFF

BRIGADIER GENERAL RO SACKEY-MEMBER

COLONEL C ANKOMAH DANSO-MEMBER

FSM-MEMBER

THE CHIEF DIRECTOR AT THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE.

The main agenda for the first NPP Armed Forces Council Meeting were promotion and appointments of officers in the wake of the elevation of Major Generals OB Akwa and WA WA Ayamdo to the status of Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff respectively.

The following officers have been given appointments and promotions as follows:

1. Brigadier General WO Agyekum  Commandant MATS.

2. Brigadier General CKAA Awity  DG PA

3. Brigadier General F Vib Sanziri  DG IPSO

4. Brigadier General M Whajah - MOD (CD) PGSO

5. Brigadier General T Oppong-Peprah- GOC South Comd

6. Brigadier General PN Andoh - DG DI

7. Brigadier General AK Adu- DG IGD

8. Brigadier General INA Aryeetey  R List (Att to GHQ (Camp) for duties with MONUSCO as Western Bde Comd

9. Brigadier General ST Osabutey  R List (Att to GHQ (Camp) for duties with UNMISS as Sector Commander

10. Colonel JP Osei Owusu- A/DG DID

11. Colonel AY Nsiah  A/CSO Army HQ

12. Colonel EA Baidoo- DMP

13. Colonel S Adorkor  LO Army MOD

14. Commodore SW Anim  Naval HQ

15. Commodore M Beick-Baffour  A/COS GHQ COS
The emergency centre of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi which is described as the "centre of excellence" is now a death trap, killing five people in seven days, senior doctors at the facility have suggested.

A letter written to the Chief Executive of the Hospital and intercepted by Myjoyonline.com indicates the facility is lacking basic logistics, including oxygen needed to efficiently run the institution.

So dire is the situation that the doctors have become "shells of horror," who are "unable to endure the constant psychological assault they encounter daily."

Dr Michael Leat Chairman of Komfo Anokye Doctors Association (KADA) who wrote the letter to Chief Executive stated that the facility is no longer fit to accommodate patients including family members of the doctors in the likely event of an accident.

The doctors would not want to be used as "instruments of morbidity and mortality" because of an ill-functioning emergency ward which once used to be the Centre of Excellence.

The state-of-the-art National Accident and Emergency Centre, with a helipad on the roof, was built at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi in 2008 to serve as the nation's main referral facility for accident management.

The Centre with its four other components including a modern pathology unit with laboratories; a 280-individual-cubicle mortuary; comprehensive expansion and refurbishment of the Specialist Out-Patients-Department (OPD); supply and installation of modern equipment and spare parts and consumables for maintenance; was funded wholly by the Government at a total cost of about 75 million euro.

This was done through proceeds from the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Fund and the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

Some eight years later the facility is said to be reeling under a depressing culture of maintenance and begging for basic logistics to save lives.

The complaints about the debilitating nature of the facility is not coming from patients but from doctors who could no longer endure the long suffering of a bad maintenance culture at the facility.

In the letter headlined state of emergency services in the accident and emergency centre said the "once touted flagship of our centre of excellence is fast becoming a death trap for all and sundry."

Detailing some of the challenges the facility is going through, Dr Leat said there is "lack of readily available and sustainable oxygen.

Oxygen is inextricably linked with life hence, its absence speaks of the stench of death. "Just a day ago, five patients in the unit of the emergency department died because their oxygen supply was cut off suddenly."

"A health centre without a constant and reliable supply of oxygen is very worrying and dangerous."

The doctors also raised issues about the cash and carry system and hitches with the blood transfusion which are killing patients even faster than the pain from the accidents.

"Cash and carry system of emergency drugs: the status quo currently is for patients [to pay] upfront for all services in the hospital including emergency drugs and laboratory investigations."

The doctors find this particularly worrying because most victims some of whom are transiting to other regions may not have their relatives on hand to pay for drugs which unavoidably will lead to their deaths.

The doctors say the patients are also made to pay upfront for blood transfusion which they find problematic.

"As doctors we are sick and tired of presiding over deaths," Dr Leat said in the letter intercepted.

The doctors hope management will, without delay address their grievances and save lives.

When Myjoyonline.com contacted the Public Relations Officer of KATH Kwame Frimpong, he said he was not privy to any such letter by KABA.

He would not speak to the content of the letter except to say that as a hospital they face some of the challenges all hospitals face.

He however denied the assertion that facility lacks oxygen, stating that there is a private supplier of oxygen to the emergency.

Mr Frimpong said he would have to check with management about the existence of the letter and would officially react to the matter.

Story by Ghana|Myjoyonline.com|Nathan Gadugah
The police have assured the residents of Tema that their lives and property would be safer than ever as more security measures would be rolled to curb the robbery menace within the region.

The new Regional Police Commander for Tema, DCOP George Tuffuor has stated that he would put in place plans to ensure that police presence is strongly felt in the region.

This he explained, will be achieved, with the help of the members of the general public, since effective modern day policing calls for an all hands on deck approach.

DCOP Tuffour believes effective collaboration with the public help to efficiently fight crime promising he would engage the general public to support the police in policing the Region.

According to him, he would continue with measures that were put in place by his predecessors and reinforce existing strategies and make amends when the need arises.

The new Regional Police Commander said in consultation with partners and stakeholders within the Region, he would also a roll out new security models to compliment the existing ones.

DCOP George Tuffuor was appointed to his current position after there was massive reshuffle within the Police Administration. Prior to his current position, DCOP/Mr. George Tuffuor had served internationally and locally.

Background

The new Regional Police Commander has worked with the Education Unit of the Service at the National Police Training School.

He has also held position including serving as the Regional Commander in the Northern Region from May 2011 to April 2013 where he superintended over the maintenance of peace in Yendi, Buipe and other parts of the Region.

DCOP George Tuffuor served as the Deputy Regional Commander for the Upper East Region from 2009 to 2010 and was the Divisional Commander for Tesano until 2009 when he was transferred to the Upper East Region.

The Regional Commander holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Masters Degree in Finance from University of Ghana, Legon and he is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICA).

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Abubakar Ibrahim
Greater Accra Regional Minister Nominee, Ishamel Ashitey has said he will provide jobs for the teeming unemployed youth to prevent them for engaging in illegal activities, when approved by Parliament's Appointments Committee.

He believes illegal activities, including the land guard menace is rife especially in the Greater Accra Region because most of the youth in the region are unemployed.

People are taking advantage of these young men because they do not have jobs. That is why I am so happy with the one district, one factory policy.When we are able to give these people gainful employment, I think we will be able to reduce this land guard menace. 

The land guard menace is rife especially in the Greater Accra Region, where those involved are solely interested in safeguarding their paymasters interest in disputed lands.

In June 2013, Members of Parliament appealed to the Ghana Police Service to launch an all out war to eradicate the menace of land guards in the country but the problem is yet to be resolved.

About Ishmael Ashietey

Ishmael Ashitey is 62 years old and is a product of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, where he graduated in 1977 with a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering.

He also holds an Executive Master's degree in Governance and Leadership from GIMPA. He worked as a Mechanical Engineer at the Accra Brewery Limited for 13 years.

He served as Member of Parliament for Tema East from 1996 to 2008, and between that period, he was, first, appointed as Minister of State for Fisheries from 2001 to 2003 by former President John Agyekum Kufuor. From 2003 to 2004, he was a Minister of State for Trade and Industry.

While in Parliament, he was the Deputy Ranking Member on the Mines and Energy Committee, a Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Member on the Committee on Communications and Chairman of the Government Assurances Committee.

He has been the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party from 2010 to date. He is married with four children.



By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Juabeng Member of Parliament (MP), Ama Pomaa Boateng risks being replaced as the only female member of the Special Investigation Committee set up to probe bribery allegation in parliament.

Majority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu who had earlier moved for the legislator's replacement said he had been informed she would be arriving in Ghana from Abuja, Nigeria ahead of Wednesdays meeting of the Committee.

"The five-member committee has called to indicate to me that the honourable member will be in the jurisdiction this evening [Tuesday]," he said.

The bribery Investigation Committee is expected to commence its probe Wednesday into the claim that Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko offered GHC100,000 to be given to members of Parliament's Appointments Committee to seal his approval.

The MPs who are on the vetting Committee were offered GHC3,000 each.

Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga who made the disclosure said after they were told the money was coming from the Minister who had issues with his approval, they returned the money to Minority Chief Whip Mohammed Muntaka.

Chairman of the Committee, Joseph Osei Owusu who was implicated had said he never took money from Mr Agyarko for distribution to the MPs. He had wanted Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Aaron Ocquaye to permit him to sue the Bawku Central MP, but it was denied.

Rather, a five-member Committee was established to investigate the claim. They include;

(a) Essikadu/Ketan MP, Joe Ghartey as Chairman

(b) Offinso South MP Ben Abdallah Banda as member

(c) Juaben MP, Ama Pomaa Boateng as member

(d) Talensi MP, Benson Tongo Baba as member

(e) Yilo Krobo MP, Magnus Kofi Amoatey as member

The committee was given less than 30 days to complete its work with the following terms of reference;

(a) To establish if First Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei-Owusu took money from Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko and gave it to Minority Chief Whip Alhaji Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka.

(b) To do an internal inquiry to find out whether there were attempts to bribe members of Appointments Committee

(d) To look into the remit of complaints and assertions made by First Deputy Speaker about the matter.

But a day to its first hearing, the only female member of the Committee might be absent due to some assignments she is attending to in Abuja, Nigeria. She is undertaking a project for ECOWAS Parliament expected to last for two weeks.

Mr Kyei Mensah Bonsu had moved a motion for her replacement but later amended it, urging the Speaker to withhold the decision for Wednesday.

"I will plead that we stand the motion down until tomorrow [Wednesday] to watch the radar if she doesnt appear," the Suame MP said.

Meanwhile, a private citizen Listowell Opoku who had petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to conduct an independent probe on the issue said he would write back to the Commission to be updated on its work so far.

"In as much as I believe Parliaments work is compromised, I want CHRAJ to work. I dont want them to wait for anything," he said.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brako-Powers | [email protected]
Banjul (Gambia) (AFP) - British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson promised support for justice reform in The Gambia Tuesday after the new government declared it would overhaul its prisons after shocking footage was released of conditions inside.

Johnson met President Adama Barrow and Interior Minister Mai Fatty to reset ties with the impoverished West African nation after years of tension with former president Yahya Jammeh.

A British special advisor will be appointed to aid the justice ministry and attorney-general as The Gambia reforms a sector tarred by allegations of rights abuses, a diplomatic source told AFP.

Fatty led a tour of The Gambia's Mile Two prison on Monday for local journalists that revealed concrete cells in almost complete darkness where prisoners were living in squalor, and apologised on camera for the conditions.

Johnson has hailed the December elections that saw Barrow unseat Jammeh from 22 years in power, saying they "highlight the continuing strengthening of democracy in West Africa".

The visit was his first to Africa as Britain's top diplomat.

His talks with Barrow also cemented moves by The Gambia to rejoin the Commonwealth group of former British colonies, Johnson told journalists.

"President Barrow is determined to take Gambia back to the Commonwealth and the Commonwealth is ready to welcome Gambia back," Johnson said, saying he would do whatever possible to "speed up" the process.

Jammeh frequently railed against Britain's colonial rule of the tiny nation, and Johnson is the first British foreign minister to visit since independence in 1965.

By contrast, Barrow worked as a security guard in Britain when he was younger and has made no secret of his wish to rekindle ties.

The Gambia has also just notified the United Nations it will rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC), reversing another controversial Jammeh move from last year.

Controversial comments

Jammeh withdrew his nation from the Commonwealth in 2013, calling it "an extension of colonialism", but Johnson has his own history of controversy with Britain's former territories in Africa.

In a news column published in 2002, Johnson characterised the Commonwealth as having "crowds of flag-waving piccaninnies," to welcome Queen Elizabeth II, using a derogatory term for black people that caused outrage.

He also parodied reaction to Tony Blair's arrival in Congo saying that "the tribal warriors will all break out in watermelon smiles to see the big white chief touch down".

The comments came back to haunt him when he ran for London mayor in 2008, and then again when he was named foreign secretary last year after Britain's shock Brexit vote.

Gambian journalists had questions vetted for a brief press conference with Barrow in The Gambia and could not question him about the comments, they told AFP.

In a show of confidence in the Gambian tourist industry, which is dominated by British sunseekers, Johnson took a commercial flight to Banjul, and also met with Tourism Minister Hamat Bah.

Tourists were flown out of the country en masse in January after Jammeh declared a state of emergency when he lost the election to Barrow but refused to stand down.

On Wednesday morning, Johnson will head to Ghana to meet President Nana Akufo-Addo and visit the Blue Skies company, a juice-maker which has received financial support from Britain.
Tripoli (AFP) - The head of Libya's unity government and a rival army chief were to meet in Cairo on Tuesday to find a solution to turmoil in the country, a government official said.

The UN-backed Government of National Accord has struggled to assert its authority across the North African country since starting work in Tripoli nearly a year ago.

GNA head Fayez al-Sarraj and Marshal Khalifa Haftar were due to meet later in the Egyptian capital, the official said, without providing further details on the agenda.

However, a source close to Haftar said the general was refusing to meet Sarraj before he received "guarantees that a possible agreement not be rejected" by the powerful armed groups of Misrata in western Libya.

The planned meeting was the result of Egyptian mediation, he said.

Haftar, whose forces control much of Libya's east, is backed by a parliament based in the far east of the country that has refused to recognise the unity government.

Sarraj met Haftar in January last year in the eastern city of Al-Marj shortly after he was named GNA head.

The UN-brokered agreement that created the unity government did not give Haftar a role in the new administration, but the Egypt-backed strongman made clear he was a key player when he seized control of major oil terminals in the country's east in September.

UN envoy Martin Kobler last week said talks had made progress on "possible amendments" to the political agreement, and notably on Haftar's future role.
14.02.2017 LISTEN

"No person is particularly invulnerable to disability" was the last statement made by Mr. David Anyaele, the Executive Director of Centre for Citizens With Disabilities (CCD), as l was entering the venue of the stakeholders' meetings themed: "Sensitization for Line MDAs on Sustainable Development Goals and Disability Rights" organized by the CCD in Lagos. No doubt, there and after the meeting, this phrase kept on replaying in my head and indeed, forced me to ponder on it until I meekly accepted that even the supposed persons with abilities are liable to disabilities at some stage of their lives. This reality or better still, truth no doubt, hits me like an explosive and in fact, goes to say that there are many Nigerians, like me, who as a matter of curiosity, have never imagined what the plight of an average person with disability is in a difficult, covetous and unpromising terrain like Nigeria.

This feeling however, propelled me to do a little check on some conceivable plights of persons with disabilities in Nigeria, and l must say that the society, to a substantial extent, has been very hostile and intolerant to persons with disabilities. Apart from the truth that the government and in fact, the people, by virtual of perhaps ignorance, if not wickedness, had and have continued to take away everything and anything that supports easy and comfortable living of persons with disabilities in the society, majority of public buildings and offices in the country lack basic infrastructural facilities that provide access to all PWDs. It was also gathered that majority of Nigerians harbour negative cultural prejudices against the PWDs. They have, either by custom or perhaps, some erroneous societal beliefs or practices, been structured to treat the PWDs with so much disdains and condescension that are underscored with mere misunderstanding and uninformed assumptions. Public officials, one must confess, are worst, as many of them tend to treat PWDs as nuisance, whenever they approach government or public facilities or offices, to request or demand for their rights (services or products). It is practically as if it is a crime, if not a sin, for a person with disability to show up at such facilities, to ask for his/her rights. It is equally so sad to see that when one lives with disability in Nigeria such person is believed by the society to have lost all his/her fundamental human rights, owing to his/her impairment. And, on rare occasions, where they tend to get what is appropriately theirs, as rights from the system, the people, especially those in public offices, tends to see it as charity to the less privileged or vulnerable. This explains why many Nigerians (able) see a person with disability, has being less a human being. The PWDs are described as those with long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments, which hinder their complete and effective participation in the society on equal basis with others, but then it is imperious for one to always remember that not all persons with disabilities today were born with impairments. This shows that physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments could occur at any stage of a person's life, and that no person is particularly immune, exempted or resistant to disabilities.

My finding also emphasizes the fact that there are so many laws, acts and conventions, including provisions of the Nigerian constitution, which protect the rights of persons with disabilities, but that the government, and especially those in public offices, have through insensitivity and tactlessness made these provisions not enforceable or implementable; hence to a large extent, depriving these people their civic rights to basic infrastructural facilities. It follows therefore that the government, by so doing, has over the years been responsible for the large-scale poverty, hardship and the alleged nuisance nature of persons with disabilities in the society. This also explains the fact why these people were never considered, included or carried along in any basic developmental plans of government. They were rather seen, essentially by politicians as disabled rather than persons with disabilities, who though living with one form of impairment, are still skillful or endowed with some accessible potentials that can immensely contribute to the societal affairs. The society sees them as outcasts, rejects and worst still, animals, who are not eligible to any rights in the societal space. If not for anything, at least, the Nigerian society and perhaps, the whole world, can testify to the recent military brutality of a person with disability in Anambra state, whose only crime was that he wore a camouflage khakis.

The Nigerian constitution recognizes the civic rights of all citizens, including those living with disabilities, but over the years, they have regrettably been permanently ignored and prevented by the system from enjoying these basic rights, due to their conditions of physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments (disabilities). In other words, this means that the society has not only been using their conditions to deny them the enjoyment of basic rights, but has geometrically been increasing their vulnerability in the already multifaceted society. This situation is further complicated by poverty, gender, ethnicity and other social inequalities that other less privileged (poor) Nigerians are exposed to.

One must confess that it is so painful, and visibly a sign of backwardness in the 21st century for a country such as Nigeria, which prides itself, as the giant of Africa, to find it difficult to accept and assimilate that the PWDs must inevitably not only be catered for, but be part and parcel of all evolving plans and crucial activities of governance. It is in fact, mandatory and obligatory for the government and everyone in public office, if not including the private sector, to understand that persons with disabilities must always have rights of first-consideration, first-choice and refusal, in every governmental plan, if not all societal activities, as much as persons with abilities. Every Nigerian, especially those in public space, must be mindful that just as it is authoritative and a common knowledge to everyone that every public and private facility must have both male and female toilets, it is also essential that such public facility have all basic conveniences accessible to persons with disabilities. In other words, it dictates that for the system to guaranty the rights of the PWDs, the government must as a matter of public obligation, makes the rights of PWDs statutory and in fact, a top condition for government to approve any proposed design-plan of public and private facilities in the country. No doubt, until this is done, Nigeria is evidently not ready to protect the PWDs in the society.

Nigeria is a signatory to the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, as well as its optional protocols, which the country signed on May 28, 2007 and on October 27, 2008. This convention supports the social model of disability, which emphasizes that people are disabled by the environmental, attitudinal, and institutional barriers they face rather than their specific impairments. It follows that societal bias, cultural norms, individual behaviors and attitudes, as well as traditional settings, especially in the African countries, still largely discriminate against the PWDs in the society. It follows that despite the various instruments and undertakings of this convention, and that of the Nigerian constitution, persons with disabilities in Nigeria have continued to face barriers to their participation in societal affairs.

Considering the shameful antecedent of Nigeria with regards to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), it would not be wrong to say Nigeria does not have a blue print for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Truth be told, it is absurd that the government has again started mouthing the implementation of the SDGs, when majority of the state's actors still lack an inkling of what it is all about. It is also very disturbing to imagine that the MDGs came and gone without Nigeria achieving at least, one of the goals; hence one cannot help but to wonder how a country that could not attain the MDGs would achieve the SDGs, even when all the daunting challenges faced by the MDGs are still very much around. But since this piece is directly concerned about persons with disabilities and their statutory rights in relations to the SDGs, it would not be out of place to say that as long as persons with disabilities still cannot access public facilities and buildings, it would be difficult and in fact, a tall dream for the country to effusively and inclusively attain the SDGs. It follows therefore, that in as much as this set of people, who are one of the most vulnerable, if not most susceptible, are left out of the scheme of things, the essence of the SDGs would continue to be extremely defeated. It likewise goes to say that if persons with disabilities cannot access basic infrastructure or public facilities, it automatically means that they cannot also access the SDGs. It is often said that the basic ingredient of good governance is service to the people, and where this is not attainable, the people, whether with disabilities or not, tend to suffer more.

An adage says he who fails to plan, plans to fail. This saying goes however, to say that for the country to attain the SDGs, it must first start by putting basic necessary measures in place. First, Nigeria must as a matter of urgency ensure that all issues or matters, affecting the inclusiveness and participation of persons with disabilities in the societal affairs are made statutory and law-binding, such that the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, which Nigeria is a signatory, and the measures prescribed in the Draft African Protocols on Protection of the Rights of PWDs by states and other parties are domesticated, implemented and enforced. Second, the Nigeria Building Code and relevant provisions of the Nigerian constitution, which were advanced to end the inaccessible trends in the building industry should also be aggressively implemented and enforced, to promote and assure the fundamental human rights and freedom of the PWDs to participate fully in the society. The Disability Bill, which has been passed into law by the National Assembly, and transmitted to the President for assent for the third time, must also be assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari for immediate application.

When these are done, and statutory necessities and laws are aptly implemented and enforced, the issue of non-standard infrastructure, institutional and individual erroneous perception or prejudice about the rights of the PWDs would automatically be resolved; hence laws dictate societal activities, as well as the moral standard of the people. One of the major challenges of the MDGs is the fact that most existing buildings were old and constructed several years ago with little or no consideration for the PWDs. These buildings and structures must be modified, and universal designs must be applied to all new infrastructures. Also, policy measures must be used to eliminate prejudices, discriminatory practices, and other barriers, to the well-being of the PWDs in the society. When such policies are promulgated and implemented by the National and State Houses of Assembly, as well as enforced by other relevant agencies or authorities, public enlightenment and education would have a better footing and wings to fly.

Finally, the government must also create organs with the responsibility to inform, sensitize, educate and mobilize the people against discrimination in the provision of access to public services for the PWDs. It is also important that the government improves the judiciary and legal framework, and enforcement processes by training and retraining its personnel such as prosecutors, judges, police and correctional officers on rights of the PWDs to access public services. It must also create a special responsibility agency such as the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), to be exclusively responsible for monitoring the implementation of the necessary legislations and policies on rights of the PWDs in Nigeria. Until these, and several others, are taken into consideration, Nigeria is obviously not ready for the SDGs.

By Georges Macnobleson-ldowu,

[email protected] .
Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsus decision, to reconstitute delegates on the majority side of Ghanas Legislature, to the ECOWAS Parliament without consulting his colleagues is what has resulted in the international embarrassment that met the Ghanaian delegation last Friday January 10, 2017 in Abuja, Nigeria during the 2017 Extra Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Parliament.

The alleged confusion occurred, when it was realized that Ghana had sent nine representatives instead of the eight that it was entitled too.

It was widely reported on Friday that an unpresented embarrassment and confusion rocked Ghanas delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament following the alleged refusal of Mr. Frederick Opare Ansah MP for Suhum, to step down as a Member of the regional legislature.

He has been a member of the ECOWAS Parliament since the life of the Sixth Parliament and according to the ECOWAS Protocol a member is entitled to a four year tenure unless he or she loses his seat in his home country or becomes a member of the Countrys Executive.

It has become necessary for Ghana to reconstitute its delegation following the outcome of the 2016 general elections. Also, Dan Botwe and Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey have become Ministers of State and therefore had to resign their positions in the Community Parliament.

However, in reconstituting the delegation the Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu led majority leadership failed to take into consideration the fact that Mr. Opare Ansah is still eligible to continue his membership-haven won his seat again during the 2016 elections. Instead, he formed a new set of delegation to the Community Parliament led by Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh.

The delegation also include the MP for Akwapim South, O.B. Amoah, MP for Juaben, Ama Pomaah Boateng Andoh, MP for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin and MP for Akrofuom, Kwabena Appiah-Pinkrah representing the majority side, while MP for Anlo, Clement Kofi Humado, MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga and MP for Bodi, Sampson Ahi form the minority side.

Upon reaching Abuja, the eight member Ghanaian delegation met Frederick Opare Ansah, a sitting member who has neither resigned nor taken any appointment in the Executive and that was when the confusion started. Both Opare Ansah and Afenyo-Markin insisted they had the mandate to represent Ghana.

The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, His Excellency Honorable Moustapha Cisse, at the commencement of the Meeting on Friday refused to swear in the Ghanaian delegation insisting that they must properly sought themselves out as to who among them has the right to represent the country.

Sources within the corridors of the ECOWAS Parliament reveal to these reporters that, Alexander Afenyo-Markin finally pulled out of the delegation, but authorities in Abuja insisted on further clarifications from Accra before swearing in the Ghanaian delegation.

According to the Hansard of Ghanas Parliament for January 25, 2017, Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, in presenting the report of the Selection Committee on the composition of members to the ECOWAS Parliament explained that the the tenure of a Member in the Community Parliament is four (4) years starting from the day the Member is sworn-in. In the period of transition, representatives at the Community Parliament who are not re-elected into their respective countrys Parliament still remain in office until new representatives are elected by the respective country Parliament to take up their positions.

Contributing to motion on the floor of the House, the MP for New Juabeng, Dr. Mark Assibey  Yeboah drew the attention of the leadership of the majority side to a possible brawl since the ECOWAS Parliament had already has one old member whose tenure is still valid per the regulations of the regional legislature.

Dr Assibey-Yeboah argued that in one breath, we are saying that because the Sixth Parliament has elapsed, we have to re-compose an entirely new membership to the ECOWAS Parliament. However, if you are a Member of the ECOWAS Parliament and you have been sworn-in and you have not resigned, then our Parliament here cannot forcefully take you out of that Parliament.

He said Mr. Speaker, I was making the point that in the year 2001, we would recall that the late Hawa Yakubu, who was a Member of the ECOWAS Parliament who was nominated and approved as a Minister of State for Tourism. The ECOWAS Protocol also state that you cannot be part of the Executive in your Country and also belong to the ECOWAS Parliament. At the same time, she opted to stay in ECOWAS and so gave up her position as Minister for Tourism, he said.

He noted that, I have seen the old ECOWAS membership had Hon Dan Botwe, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchway and Hon Frederick Opare-Ansah. As we know two of them have been nominated as Ministers. If they do not resign, our Parliament cannot forcefully take them out of the ECOWAS Parliament, that is my interpretation of paragraphs 1.0 and 3.0 which I read.

So, I am only asking Leadership if the necessary consultations have been made, so that we do not have a situation where our eight new Members go to the ECOWAS Parliament and the old ones insist on staying there. Its going to be embarrassing for our Country. I am only drawing the attention of leadership to this situation which has happened in the past, he stated.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for New Juaben South made a case for Ghana to consider putting its best and experienced foot forward when it comes to sending members to represent the country in the international circles.

We complain here in Ghana that our Parliament suffers from high attrition. I see here eight new Honorable Members nominated to the ECOWAS Parliament. In the last ECOWAS Parliament, we had a Member, who had served for a longer period, for which reason, he was elevated to the position of a Deputy Speaker in the ECOWAS Parliament. Today, we are sending Hon Members and there is no experience being carried over from the old membership of the ECOWAS Parliament, he lamented.

Majority leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu declined to speak to the issue on Friday when he was reached him for an interview after adjournment of the House. Thank you, he said.

Source: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso and Jeorge Wilson Kingson
14.02.2017 LISTEN

On 27th October, 2016, parliament passed into law the Local Governance Act of 2016, Act 936 and it was assented to by the President on 20th December, 2016. The Act reviewed, amended and consolidated some major legislations affecting local governance and decentralisation in the country. A careful analysis of Act 936 brings forth some grave concerns. The Act appears to have been rushed and did not get the needed consultation with relevant stakeholders before its passage. I maybe wrong but that we have already amended portions of it less than two (2) months of it coming into being gives reasonable credence to my assertion. As you may be aware, on 31st January, 2017, parliament amended subsection 9 of section 10 of Act 936 and paved the way for the revocation of the appointment of the 30% Government Appointees to the District Assemblies. Some may say this is a partisan political move but truth must also be told. The appointment of the 30% Assembly persons has long taken a partisan political twist.

Apart from that amended section which the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development described as problematic during her vetting, there are others which I also find disturbing. Not only do some of the provisions appear problematic but have actually turned upside down laws, conventions and practices known to govern the public services of Ghana since the advent of the 1992 republican constitution.

First to look at is Section 67 (1) of Act 936. It states The President shall, in accordance with article 195 of the Constitution, appoint other staff of the Local Government Service that are necessary for the proper and effective performance of the functions of the Service. Ordinarily, there is nothing wrong with this provision. And in fact, it is more consistent with the constitution. But upon a careful analysis and reading section 67 (1) with other provisions of the Act, two problems become apparent. The first is that the drafters or should I say parliament did not mean to say ...APPOINT OTHER STAFF OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICE... but rather appoint other staff OF THE OFFICE OF THE HEAD of the Local Government Service. One can conclusively come to this conclusion if you look at the context in which 67 (1) is situated and also reading sections 66 (1), 75 (2), 76 (2), 79 (2) and the other sections that make provisions for appointments into the Local Government Service.

To be clear with the above assertion, one needs to note that there is a difference between Office of the Head of Local Government Service previously known as the Local Government Service Secretariat (LGSS) and Local Government Service. The former is a subset of the latter and hence appointing staff into the latter covers that of the former. The second problem is a derivative of the first. The omission of these six (6) words (i.e. of the office of the Head) in the crafting of section 67 (1) has created room for conflict, confusion and/or contradictions because the president is appointing staff and at the same time the Head of Service too is appointing as is evident in sections 75 (2), 76 (2), 79 (2), and 175 (3). It is also important to note the language of sections 194 (2) and 195 (2). Whiles section 67 (1) says The President shall... these two other provisions uses The President may.... Yet all are appointments into the Local Government Service.

Placing all the above in the context of the 1992 constitution and what pertains in the Public Services of Ghana raises much bigger problems. The question is, is it in the place of the Head of Local Government Service to appoint staff of the Local Government Service especially Category A and B as known in the Public Services of Ghana? I will attempt to answer this question by looking at the 1992 republican constitution and some provisions of the Public Services Commission (PSC).

Act 936 clearly recognises Article 195 (1) of the constitution which states Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the power to appoint persons to hold or to act in an office in the public services shall vest in the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the governing council of the service concerned given in consultation with the Public Services Commission. Any other time the constitution makes provision for appointments to be made by other persons in the public services other than the President, the responsibility falls on the governing board and not the Head or CEO or Chairman or Managing Director or whatever the case maybe. The only exception being Article 148 where appointment to judicial office is vested in the Chief Justice but even that is subject to the approval of the President. The Clerk and other staff of the Parliamentary Service are appointed by the Parliamentary Service Board not the speaker of Parliament or one other individual (See Article 124 (4)). Other officers and employees of the Electoral Commission are appointed by the Commission and not the Chairman of the Commission or the electoral commissioner (See Article 53). Other relevant provisions in the constitution to this effect are Articles 170, 189 (2), 226 and 238 which deals with appointment of staff of other public service organisations.

Following carefully the provisions of the constitution on this matter, one would realise that there is a clear intention to desist from vesting power of appointments into the public service to individuals heading public service organisations. Taking heed from the constitution, the Public Services Commission has meticulously provided for how appointments should be done in the Public Services through various circulars and recently, the Human Resource Management Policy Framework and Manual for the Ghana Public Services. The provisions by the Public Services Commission in accordance with its mandate attempts to give meaning to words acting in accordance with the advice of the governing council of the service concerned given in consultation with the Public Services Commission as contained in Article 195 (1). The provisions clearly put the appointment of Category A and B posts in the hands of the President. Even for posts below Category B, the Head of organisation only issues the appointment letters but the appointment is done by the governing boards. In fact, in the Civil Service which until recently the Local Government Service was part, it is the Civil Service Council that offers appointments and not the Head of Civil Service.

It is in the light of the above, that I find Section 75 (2) and other such provisions of Act 936 explicitly vesting power of appointment in the Head of Local Government Service quite problematic. In the face of Article 195 (1) of the 1992, Section 75 (2) of Act 936 mandatorily states The District Co-ordinating Director SHALL (emphasis mine) be appointed by the Head of the Local Government Service on the advice of the Council acting in consultation with the Public Services Commission. I stand to be corrected but I see section 75 (2) and the other such provisions as void.

I recognise and appreciate the provisions of Article 195 (2) of the 1992 constitution and the language of this provision cannot be used to justify this apparent inconsistency. It is a discretion given to the President and that discretion, in my considered opinion, cannot be legislated away by an Act of parliament just like that. If the framers of the constitution had wanted to give parliament the power to legislate such discretionary power of the President away, they would have expressly said so. Rather, it says The President MAY (emphasis), subject to such CONDITIONS AS HE MAY THINK FIT (emphasis), delegate some of his functions under this article by DIRECTIONS IN WRITING (emphasis) to the governing council concerned or to a committee of the council or to any member of that governing council or to any public officer. Discretion varies as the conditions dictate and the discretion of one president cannot be binding on the other even though they are both expected to be fair and candid. And this, Article 195 (2) recognises.

Not even the Public Services Commission Act of 1994, Act 482 attempted to legislate away this power and discretion of the President. Section 8 of Act 482 which talks about appointments of Public Officers maintains the provisions of Article 195 of the constitution and adds in section 8(3) that the governing councils of the public services shall consult the Commission in matters of appointments of persons to hold office in the relevant public services except otherwise provided in the Constitution.

To conclude, let me make it clear that I am one of those with the view that the President virtually appointing everyone in the Public Services is awkward and non-productive. But I will also be the last person to advocate for such powers to be taken from the President and given to an individual as Act 936 seeks to do. And if the above is anything to go by, then Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah should be turning in his grave by now because this is not what he meant when, on that faithful day, he said ...after all, the black man is capable of managing his own affairs.

Just trying to be a citizen; not a spectator. I shall be back!

[email protected]
Man held for swindling people with police job offer

Police on Sunday apprehended a man for his alleged involvement in swindling people of millions of rupees with false assurances of jobs in National Investigation Department (NID) of Nepal Police.
Accra, Monday February 13, 2017  As part of efforts to advance sustainable development through the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in science, Diplomatic Call in collaboration with UNESCO hosted a roundtable discussion to mark the 2017 International Day of Women and Girls in Science in Ghana.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/70/212 (draft A/70/474/Add.2) declaring 11 February of every year as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

The roundtable discussion, on the theme Gender, Science and Sustainable Development: the way forward which focused on the challenges faced by females in science and the solutions to these challenges was held on the 8th of February at the Oak Plaza Hotel in Accra.

The discussion saw the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Gender, UNESCO, UNFPA, the Young Diplomats of Ghana and female science students from across tertiary institutions in the country. Dr. Elsie Effah Kaufmann, well-known as the quiz mistress for the National science and Maths Quiz, presided over the discussions as Moderator.

In his opening remarks, the Head and Country Representative of UNESCO, Mr. Tirso Dos Santos noted that science plays an important role for sustainable development, with women in science playing a more crucial role in ensuring that the world does not only survive but thrives.

He also expressed concerns about the worrying trend of fewer numbers of females pursuing science related careers; which is the most important stage where the benefits of their involvement in science can be realized and felt by the world at large.

He therefore called on the various scientific research institutions, technology and engineering companies in Ghana to systematically recruit, train and do all that is possible to empower and retain female scientists in these institutions and industries.

On his part, Mr. Andrew Director of STME of the Ghana Education Service acknowledged that the Girls in Science Program under the Ministry of Education has yielded some great results although there is still more to be done. Among various interventions to whip up the interest of girls in science by the ministry is the introduction of a mentorship program at the basic and high school levels.

From the discussions, it was unanimously agreed by all the participants that it was about time more efforts and resources were invested into encouraging females to enter STEM related fields.

It should however not end at the place of whipping up the interests of young females but a well-coordinated collaboration between government, civil society and the private sector to put measures in place to see that they attain great heights in their various disciplines.
What happened to the Dominos share price?

Shares of Dominos Pizza Enterprises Ltd [ASX:DMP] were down 4.76% yesterday. Looking at the five-day stock chart, it looks like the price jumped off a cliff  and a big cliff at that.

Whats going on with Dominos share price?

Dominos is coming in for some seriously harsh treatment from the mainstream media. Theyve been hammered from pillar to post about the way the company has been managing everything from their franchisees to the way they fight competitors like Pizza Hut on pricing and deals, and even to wages fraud and illegal immigration.

In short, the media are calling this a scandal up there with the recent scandals that engulfed 7-Eleven and Caltex. It appears the mass media is waging an all-out war on Dominos.

What now for Dominos Pizza?

This kind of press is never good news. And when the scandal word starts getting thrown about, you know that there will be law firms kicking down the doors soon enough.

Now that the mainstream has a sniff of blood, theyre going in for the kill. Sometimes the market can absorb these kinds of investigations. But thats usually if theyre founded on weak or shaky information to start with.

It seems that the floodgates are open, and every day there are new reports of shady activity from franchisees and the business operations of Dominos. This leaves the obvious question: Is it time to flee Dominos for good, or will this kind of downward pressure create a fantastic buying opportunity?

Well, on one hand, it seems as though the media pressure will continue. And thats going to see investors jump ship in the short term. In that situation we would expect to see the stock price trading lower for at least a few weeks while the media coverage continues. But it will ultimately subside as the media look for something else more topical to cover.

You only need to see the downward pressure a scandal can have by looking at the stock price of Caltex Australia Ltd [ASX:CTX]. Its quite possible the same will happen to Dominos. That means wed certainly consider steering well clear of Dominos for the time being. But, at the right time, we also think it will turn again for the better. After all, this is the most dominant pizza company in Australia  and no matter how good or bad the country might be  or might become  people always eat pizza.

If youre interested to find out more about our views on the most exciting stocks on the ASX, you can access my free report, How to Buy Shares on the ASX, right here..

Sam Volkering,

Money Morning

[ampBannerMM]
President Donald Trumps national security advisor, Michael Flynn, has resigned as national security adviser over his contact with Russian officials before the US president took office.

His resignation on Tuesday, February 14, comes amid allegations that the retired three-star general discussed US sanctions strategy with Russias ambassador Sergey Kislyak before taking office, Aljazeera reports.

It is illegal for private citizens to conduct US diplomacy.

Donald Trumps national security advisor Michael Flynn quits

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Flynn, who once headed US military intelligence, insisted he was honoured to have served the American people.

"Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the Vice President elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador," Flynn wrote in his official resignation letter.

"I am tendering my resignation, honored to have served President Trump, who in just three weeks has reoriented American foreign policy in fundamental ways to restore America's leadership position in the world," he added.

Retired General Keith Kellogg, who has been chief of staff of the White House National Security Council, was named the acting national security adviser while Trump determines who should fill the position.

Flynns resignation so early in an American administration is unprecedented, and comes after details of his calls with the Russian diplomat were made public.

This as expected upped the pressure on Trump to take action.

Until now, Flynn had been a top player in Trumps inner circle. He was an early supporter of Trumps improbable bid for the presidency.

Source: Legit.ng
Revenue collection soars on sizzling realty business

Real estate transactions sizzled in the first half of the fiscal year with the collection of land registration fees soaring 150 percent compared to the same period last year.
- The Nigerian Senate has summoned the chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau Sam Saba over an abandoned office project worth N8 billion

- The Senate also queried the purchase of N5 million recharge cards by the bureau

- The lawmakers accused the CCB chairman of failing to give details and feasible presentation of expenditures made in the 2016 budget

The Nigerian Senate on Monday, February 13, summoned the chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau Sam Saba over an abandoned office project worth N8 billion.

The upper chambers accused the CCB chairman of failing to give details and feasible presentation of expenditures made in the 2016 budget.

Describing the CCB's 2016 budget presented before it as "voodoo accounting", the Senate Saba must give details of how the bureau expended N22 million release for security services, N13 million for honorarium and sitting allowance; N11.2 million for local training; and N24.6 million for welfare package, among others.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: FG adds more charges to Sarakis CCTs trial

During its hearing, the committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions chaired by Samuel Anyanwu the bureau's performance is unsatisfactory.

Anyanwu said it was unrealistic for the CCB to spend a N5 million on purchase of recharge cards.

Anyanwu said: There are aspects of the item in your 2016 budget which I would want details for, such as who were those who benefited from money appropriated for welfare, honorarium and all that."

I think we need these details to be able to know how you spent what was released to you for last year.

He said the committee needs the details to reach a decision as to whether it is necessary to remove them because we want to stop the waste of public funds.

READ ALSO: Budget padding whistleblower Hon. Jibrin in CCB trouble

Furthermore, other lawmakers said it was wasteful for the bureau to demand N4.4 billion for the purchase of a new office building, despite spending N1.4 billion on an abandoned project.

Mao Ohuabunwa, an Abia North Peoples Democratic Party senator called for transparency of spending by government agencies.

Ohabunwa said: I cant seem to come to terms with your decision to spend N1.4 billion and dump that to purchase another building for over N4 billion."

I really cannot fathom the rationality behind that decision. Second, this budget, as far as capital is concerned, is still on because the likelihood of money being released is still there, and when that happens, we would have gone past this.

READ ALSO: Federal government budgets N31 billion to fight corruption in 2017

"As per overheads, we need details of your expenditure," he said.

Meanwhile, Matthew Urhoghide (PDP, Edo South), said the committees request was to ensure that no one is left in doubt on the expenditure of government funds.

But in his response, Saba said the bureaus decision to abandon the office project was due to an interference by the Federal Capital Development Agency (FCDA).

He said the CCB had proposed N3.5 billion for an 8-floor building for the office project, but the plan was cancelled by the FCDA, redesigned and revalued at N10 billion.

Saba said the FCTA decision for revaluation and redesign was to meet the requirement for the procurement of land at the location which prescribed nothing less than an 18-floor building.

He also expressed the readiness of the bureau to seek the support of the National Assembly in getting the approval of the federal government for the allocation of a building to accommodate the agency.

He added that the CCB had proposed N2, 732, 437,287 billion; out of which N1,601,966,323 was for personnel; N435,616,600 for overhead, while N694,854,364 was for capital expenditure.

Source: Legit.ng
Acting President Professor Yemi Osinbajo stormed Imo state today, February 14, for a one-day working visit.

According to a report on Vanguard, Osinbajo will as well commission some projects in the state during his visit.

Osinbajo storms Imo state

This was disclosed by Sam Onwuemeodo, chief press secretary to Governor Rochas Okorocha, to newsmen in Owerri on Monday, February 13.

Osinbajo in Imo state

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According to the release by Onwuemeodo, the acting president will also have a special section with stakeholders in the state.

Osinbajo visits Imo

It stated: This is to inform the good people of the state and the public that Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, will arrive the state on a one-day working visit on Tuesday, February 14, 2017.

Osinbajo visits Imo

While in Owerri, the Acting President will commission one or two projects of the more than 2,000 verifiable projects executed by the Rescue Mission Government in the State with Owelle Rochas Okorocha on the drivers seat.

Osinbajo, Amaechi, Kachikwu in Imo state

Osinbajo and Okorocha visit the palace

Recall that Yemi Osinbajo on Monday, February 13, 2017 visited Rivers state for the second time in one week.

While there, Osinbajo flagged-off the reconstruction of the doctors quarters of the Braithwaite Specialist Memorial Hospital (BSMH), Port Harcourt, the capital of the state.

Source: Legit.ng
Sources of instability in Nepal

Nepal has gone through many political changes in the last century. After doing away with the the oligarchic Rana rule in 1951, a brief period with a Westminster kind of parliamentary system followed until 1960.
- The Nigeria police has again invited the publisher of Sahara Reporter's Omoyele Sowore for a meeting on Monday, February 13

- The invitation came as a text message from the State Criminal Investigations Department(SCID) in Lagos

- Sowore has also promised to honour the police invitation today, which is also his birthday

The Nigeria police has again invited the publisher of Sahara Reporter's Omoyele Sowore for a meeting on Monday, February 13 at the State Criminal Investigations Department(SCID) in Lagos.

The police in a text message sent to Sowore's phone said the publisher and his colleagues should meet with police authorities for an interview at 10 am.

READ ALSO: Acting president Osinbajo receives 18-point demand from NLC, TUC (photos)

Although the police did not state the purpose of the meeting, the text message however said the meeting will hold at the SCID headquarters in the Yaba area of Lagos.

On January 9, Sowore was physically assaulted by a man Lekan Fatodu who was fingered in a article published by Sahara Reporters.

Sahara Reporters in its publication had said that Fatodu was used as a front by the former minister of aviation to divert public funds through the office of the national security adviser.

READ ALSO: Sahara Reporters: When judgment comes upon the hangman

The matter which was before the police took a new turn after Sowore claimed that the police were dishonest in handling the matter.

Also reacting on the matter, Femi Falana, counsel to Sowore said the allegations of threat to life, criminal libel and extortion stated in Mr. Fatodus petition were false.

However, the publisher has also promised to honour the police invitation today, which is also his birthday.

Source: Legit.ng
- The Presidency said President Buhari is home sick and Nigerians should expect him any time soon because he is looking forward to be with his people

- According to Garba Shehu, Nigerians should expect a fresh Buhari

The presidency says Nigerians should expect President Buhari any time from now because he is no longer enjoying his stay outside the country.

The Presidency on Tuesday, January 14 said Nigerians should expect President Buhari any time from now because he is no longer enjoying his stay outside the country.

Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Malam Garba Shehu made this known in an interview with the Channels Television in Abuja on Tuesday.

READ ALSO: 20% of Nigeria's money in circulation is fake  Mailafia, Ex-deputy CBN governor

Garba Shehu said: As a matter of fact, we should be getting ready to see the president in fresh and that will be soon as possible.

The President (himself) is looking to being home to be with his people.

I dont think he is enjoying any longer with an extended vacation outside the country.

Garba Shehu who also spoke on the presidents telephone conversation with President Trump, says it is very undiplomatic for some section of the country to demand the release of the audio containing the conversation.

According to him, releasing such audio is an unethical and against modern day civilization.

He said: No, I dont think so; I dont think it is permitted in international diplomacy. I think if we had recorded Mr Trump in this conversation it would have offended our diplomatic relations.

I think the Americans themselves would not have recorded this conversation of president to president, he said.

Going further, Shehu believes that the conversation between Trump and Buhari will help boost the bilateral relations between Nigeria and the U.S.

Well, there wasnt enough time to talk about everything. I think the point at what will follow is in the invitation that President Trump has extended to our president (Buhari) to come over.

That is the kind of opportunity that was presented to Nigeria put all the issues on the desk.

As for their immigration policy, I think our president has been clear about one thing- the choices made by the Americans as to who to lead them in this case, Mr Trump, is entirely their own choice.

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We have no business interfering with their domestic affairs.

As to the countries that have barred, it has been clearly specified and Nigeria did not feature in the list, he added.

However, when asked about the presidents test result, he denied having any information concerning it: No, we have no information on that (test results). If he had received them, he would have been on the plane back home, he said.

Meanwhile, shortly after President Muhammadu Buhari spoke with President Trump, the president called Nigeria to condole with former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Dr. Adamu Fika over the death of his wife Hajiya Tasallah Fika.

Presidential media aide Garba Shehu confirmed the call in a brief statement on Tuesday, February 14 morning.

Source: Legit.ng
The federal government has reportedly marked out about 3,500 staff for sack with 2,100 of those to be affected from the south-south, south-east and south-west.

Some of the heads of the various ministries which plan to sack staff

The Independent reports that it exclusively got the compiled lit which was drawn from various ministries.

The report said its investigations showed that the ministry of Communications is the least affected with 66 staff to be sacked.

READ ALSO: ICPC swoops on SURE-P, recovers N6bn, 124 vehicles

It further broke the 66 affected staff into 41 from the south-south, 25 from the south-west, eight from the south-east and three from the north-central.

The figure further showed that Delta state accounts for the highest number of staff to be sacked with 14 while Akwa Ibom, Imo and Lagos have six each.

The document signed without a name and dated January 17, 2017 also shows that the ministry of Finance is to sack 503 staff with the southern zone accounting for the highest affected.

In the ministry of Education 809 are to be sent packing, but the report quoted a source as saying the list was yet to be completed adding that it might rise to 1000.

The ministry of Health will be sending away over 700 people while the ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism has 670 staff to be laid off.

The head of press and public relations at the Federal Civil Service Commission, Joe Oruche , reportedly confirmed the development adding that the ministry of Education has the highest number of staff to be laid off.

According to him, a huge number of staff would be eased off from the system when the exercise is finally carried out.

READ ALSO: Buhari, Jonathan not responsible for Nigerias problems  Gov. Ahmed

Oruche was further quoted as saying the ministries were currently recruiting about 2000 people adding that those to be sacked were not appointed in line with the rules of the Federal Civil Service.

Irregular appointments are appointments that are not backed by approved declared vacancies, in which case, government does not have the financial provision for them, he reportedly said.

He added that the commission discovered a lot of irregular appointments which are not backed by approved declared vacancies.

All appointment letters have a stipulated validity period of two months within which they must be accepted failing which the offer will lapse.

Where some were backed by approved declared vacancies, the offers were not accepted within the stipulated two months.

The commission also observed that some letters were outrightly faked and some of these faked ones are under investigation, he declared.

Source: Legit.ng
Editors note: Red palm oil has come into the spotlight as a nutrient-rich staple food following numerous health researches that were able to establish the profound medical value of the oil.

But recent researches have revealed that palm oil intake may cause cancer. In this piece, Legit.ng reviews the importance of red palm oil vis-a-vis its propensity of causing cancer so that people could know the best way to use it.

Palm oil is a vegetable oil from the fruit of the palm tree (Elaeis guineensis), which originated in West Africa and is now widespread throughout the tropical areas of America and South East Asia. From the seeds of the palm tree, another vegetable oil, palm kernel oil, is obtained, which has a composition different from that of palm oil and is mainly used for non-food applications.

A woman stoking fire at a local palm oil mill

Until now, red palm oil has been shown to contain high concentrations of beta- and alpha-carotene, and is presumed to possess a higher vitamin A value than other foods.

READ ALSO: FG set to launch rice, cassava and palm oil production in Imo state

It is amazing that palm oil provides about 7000 retinol equivalents of carotene per 100g of weight, which is about 17 times the amount of carotene in carrots. Similarly, the abundant tocotrienol (a form of Vitamin E) found in red palm oil is about 40 - 60 times more potent than tocopherol (another form of Vitamin E) in terms of antioxidant properties.

Earlier researches showed that red palm oil significantly reduces the risk of suffering an attack of stroke, enhances cardiovascular health in several ways, its anticancer nutrient known as tocotrienol blocks and mops up harmful free radicals and prevents them from causing oxidative injury to vital body organs, improves vision, protects from degenerative brain disease and improves skin health.

However, recently, a European safety agency has said that substances produced when palm oil is processed at high temperatures may cause cancer, based on animal studies.

According to WebMD, the agency studied harmful substances that form during food processing when vegetable oils are heated to temperatures of 392 F or higher. The highest levels of these substances, known as glycidyl fatty acid esters, or GEs, are in palm oils and palm fat, followed by other oils and fats. Margarines, pastries, and cakes are the main exposure sources for anyone over age 3.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)s panel concluded that average exposures are a concern for younger age groups, and high exposures are a concern for all age groups. The report does not include recommendations for safe levels.

However, the panel concluded that an infant receiving only formula (which. can contain palm oil) would be below the level of concern. The panel also said levels of the harmful substances in palm oils and fats fell by half between 2010 and 2015, due to voluntary measures by producers to improve processing techniques.

EFSA declared that palm oil is more carcinogenic than any other oil, following similar claims by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Why could refined palm oil be cancerous? The detailed EFSA report, published in May 2016; said palm oil is more dangerous than other vegetable oils when refined at temperatures above 200 degrees Celsius (200C).

Also, a recent academic study recently published in Science Daily has linked palm oil to the aggressive spread of cancer.

The academic study came out in early December, 2016, claiming to find a link between palm oil, one of Nutellas main ingredients, and the aggressive spread of cancer in mice. Nutella, popular in the United States (U.S.) and Europe, is the sweetened hazelnut cocoa spread. The chocolate spread relies on palm oil for its smooth texture and considerably long shelf life.

According to Nutellas website, palm oil is the second ingredient in the spread and gives it its creamy texture as well as its smoothness and special spread-ability.

READ ALSO: Our politicians are diverting money meant for our cooperatives  Otuoke farmer

According to Reuters and the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism, palm oil is cheaper than any alternative vegetable oil and is used in hundreds of processed food products around the globe.

High temperatures are used to remove palm oils natural red colour and neutralize its smell. This process, however, causes contaminants called glycidyl fatty acid esters (or, GE) to form. When digested, GE has a tendency to break down and release glycidol, a compound strongly believed to cause tumours. According to a report by the US National Institutes of Health, oral exposure to glycidol has caused tumours at many different tissue sites in lab mice and lab rats.

However, it has been shown that an industrial process that combines a temperature of just below 200C and extremely low pressure minimises contaminants; and the process takes longer and costs 20 percent more than high-temperature refining; and this had allowed it to bring GE levels so low that scientific instruments find it hard to trace the chemical.

Until now, several local and international studies have shown that palm oil from freshly squeezed fruits and processed at controlled temperatures is safe. The WHO and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) flagged the same potential risk that EFSA had warned of regarding GE, but did not recommend consumers stop eating palm oil.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), also, has not banned the use of palm oil in food. Meanwhile, a study published in the journal Lipids concluded: These results suggest that palm oil carotene is able to modulate the immune system by increasing peripheral blood NK cells and B-lymphocytes and suppress the growth of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.

Also, another study published in Asia Pacific Journal Clinical Nutrition assessed the bioavailability and vitamin A value of carotenes from red palm oil and found that the vitamin A values of red palm oil obtained under these conditions, a mean of 0.17 mg retinol absorbed per mg beta-carotene consumed (beta-carotene: retinol equivalency of 5.7:1) is higher than that of all other vegetable sources we have evaluated to date.

Also, preliminary research suggests that the form of vitamin E packed into the oil-palm fruit, tocotrienol, could help fight cancer and prevent strokes. Though tocotrienols can be found in rice bran, barley and wheat, palm oil has been shown to be the richest source of tocotrienol.

An associate professor in the department of nutrition at Wayne State University in Detroit, US, Pramod Khosla, said numerous test-tube studies done over the past two decades in the U.S., Canada and Malaysia show tocotrienols are very effective in killing cancer cells.

Now researchers worldwide are embarking on the critical next step: human clinical trials on cancer patients. The reason the clinical trials are being done is because the preliminary findings are so promising, Khosla said. The payoff from these trials could be big: using a natural food-based compound to prevent or treat cancer and stroke.

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Another study published in International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition said that:As regards the role of palmitic acid in cancer risk, specic studies are few but epidemiological evidence does not support a role of Saturated Fatty Acids (SFAs), palmitic acid or palm oil in cancer development.

Source: Legit.ng
Former Vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar today, February 14 visited former military president, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) in his Minna mansion in Niger state.

Atiku was received by the Niger state governor, Sani Bello on arrival at the Minna Airport

Leadership reported about the meeting earlier today but did not give details of the meeting between both men.

READ ALSO: Atiku meets Nana Akufo-Addo, gets presidential nod in Ogun state

But Premium Times quoted Paul Ibe, Atikus spokesman saying his principal paid a courtesy call on Babangida to check on his health.

Babangida welcoming Atiku to his mansion earlier today, February 14

Babangida returned to Nigeria on Sunday, February 12 after seven weeks on medical vacation in Switzerland.

Dont forget, he visited the families of Abdulkadir Kure when he died a few weeks back, but IBB was not around then so he had to return to Minna now that the former leader is back from medical trip, Ibe added.

Ibe further said Nigerians should not read any further meanings to the courtesy call as rumours had already started suggesting that they duo discussed on the 2019 presidential elections.

Atiku has has never hidden his intention to become Nigeria's number one citizen after serving as the country's vice president for eight years (1999-2007).

Generally seen as a more flexible candidate with a nationalistic outlook, a recent visit by the leadership of pan Igbo socio cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo to the former vice president recently sparked rumours of an endorsement from the foremost Igbo group.

READ ALSO: Atiku urges Nigerians to pray for President Buhari's health

Source: Legit.ng
Trump jitters

Two articles published recently throw some light on how the election of Donald Trump as US president could impact Sino-Nepal and Indo-Nepal relations.
- A group has urged Nigerians not to believe the reported call between President Trump and his Nigerian counterpart, Buhari

- The group insisted that it lacks credibility that Presidential media adviser Femi Adesina who is unaware of the presidents whereabouts to know the exact thing the two presidents discussed

- They noted that unless the white house confirm the phone call, Nigerians should disregard the report

The group said it lacks credibility that Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina who is unaware of the presidents whereabouts to know the exact thing the two presidents discussed

International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety) has given reasons why Nigerians should not believe the reported conversation between President Donald Trump of the United States of America and President Muhammadu Buhari who is on medical vacation in London.

The group said this in a statement made available on their website on Monday, January 13.

READ ALSO: Trump is not normal - US lawmakers, journalist allege

In a press statement which was signed by Emeka Umeagbalasi; and Head, Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law Programme, Barr. Obianuju Igboeli, the group accused the Nigerian Presidency of lying to Nigerians concerning the reported call.

Part of the report red: Of all the trending and unfolding dramas associated with the whereabouts and true health status of President Muhammadu Buhari, the latest is gravely disturbing and diplomatically weighty; capable of causing serious diplomatic rows between Nigeria and the new Donald Trump Administration in Washington; if found to be an extension of trending presidential falsehood, Intersociety said.

It observed that all leading local and foreign news media were hours ago awash with news of Trump speaking with Muhammadu Buhari and inviting him to Washington at a mutually convenient date.

In the said telephone discussion, President Trump was further quoted as encouraging President Buhari to keep up the good work he is doing; commended Buhari for his efforts made in rescuing 24 of the Chibok Girls and the strides being taken by the Nigerian military. Both leaders were also quoted as discussed ways to improve cooperation in the fight against terrorism through provision of necessary equipment.

President Trump was further quoted as assuring the Nigerian President of US readiness to cut a new deal in helping Nigeria in terms of military weapons to combat terrorism.

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According to the group: Such diplomatic conversations can only take place between two mentally coherent and bodily agile Presidents. If the Nigerian President is that bodily agile and mentally coherent, why is he not on seat in Nigeria? Not even the defence of doctors advice and results of medical tests can keep a hale and hearty President off his presidential seat for three weeks running, if he is truly hale and hearty, to the extent of having such weighty diplomatic conversations with the world No. 1 President at this point in time.

The same new US President said to be calling President Buhari was factually seen globally receiving the Prime Minister of Canada at the White House and at the same time or hour of the purported long diplomatic conversations with President Buhari.

Common sense and circumstances have also made mockery of the authenticity that would have been attached to such diplomatic conversations. The aspect of diplomatic calls to President Buhari from President Donald Trump at this point in time, if true, can only be pitiable or sympathetic calls and on health grounds.

This is owing to the fact that all is not well with President Muhammadu Buhari wherever he is; leading to his transfer of presidential powers and functions to his Vice President. Since there is a coherent acting President on seat in Nigeria, such weighty diplomatic calls should have been appropriately directed to the acting President.

Here is a screenshot of the group's statement on their website

The group went further to say that: Unless the authorities of the White House and the United States Department of State speak in concurrence and authoritatively from Washington DC; confirming all that Mr. Femi Adesina said President Trump said to President Muhammadu Buhari, otherwise we ask all Nigerians to ignore the statements or accept them with a pinch of salt. Not even a concurrence statement from the US Embassy in Nigeria can expressly be convincing and acceptable to all and sundry.

This is because of the likelihood of the Embassy being contaminated by trending presidential virus or falsehood, or in the name of diplomatic pressures. Funny enough, the same Mr. Femi Adesina that barely knows where his boss is or visits or joins him wherever he is, has suddenly appeared in the presence of his boss to record what he discussed with President Donald Trump, the group said.

Meanwhile, the Presidency on Tuesday, January 14 said Nigerians should expect President Buhari any time from now because he is no longer enjoying his stay outside the country.

Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Malam Garba Shehu made this known in an interview with the Channels Television in Abuja on Tuesday.

Source: Legit.ng
Just released from prison, the leader of the Biafra Zionist Federation (BZF), Barrister Benjamin Onwuka, has declared that the south-east would become independent on March 15, 2017.

On that day, he said, the Republic of Biafra would be born.

Barrister Benjamin Onwuka with other members of the secessionist group in detention

Onwuka had been in detention for three years following his arrest midway into his live broadcast to declare the Biafran independence at the Enugu Broadcasting Service which he stormed and took over.

He added that this stand was strengthened by the diplomatic relations the BZF had established with America, the Great Britain and other western powers.

Daily Post quotes him as saying: The state of Biafra will be announced on March 15, 2017 by the Zionist Federation. I, Ikedi Benjamin Onwuka will be leading Biafra. I will be the president of Biafra.

READ ALSO: Biafra protest: Top reasons of the struggle

The work we have done underground permits that America will endorse the Independent state of Biafra in March 15, 2017; we expect that this will come with the endorsement of President Donald Trump.

Claiming that former President Barrack Obama of the United States of America had approved the policy for an independent state of Biafra on October 15, 2014, he added that current President Donald Trump would have to implement the action since a sitting president in America usually do not ignore foreign policies established by their predecessors.

He was further quoted as saying: My confidence on President Donald Trump endorsing the restoration of an Independent state of Biafra hinges on the fact that ex-President Barack Obama made the approval.

Since 2015, Biafra has been accepted worldwide due to diplomatic groundwork. Without Americas support, there will be no Biafra. Now that we have gotten Americas support, Biafra Independence is realizable.

Concerning the friction that exists among the secessionist groups in Igboland, he said: There will never be a day when all the pro Biafra groups will agree on every issue but the Zionists have taken the upper hand because we established diplomatic ties with America, Great Britain and other world powers.

The MASSOB, the IPOB and others are under the zionists; the IPOB for instance has never gone beyond River Niger.

"All that Nnamdi Kanu is doing is to be insulting everybody through his radio; he is not even sparing America and Britain. So, you can even see that his actions are inimical to the Biafra dream.

The mistake our leaders made in 1967 was based on the fact that they failed to establish diplomatic relations with Russia, America and Great Britain. Nnamdi Kanu is still toeing the same line.

According to him, the new Biafran territory stretches beyond Igbo land and Niger Delta regions as it includes Kogi, Benue, Nasarrawa states and most parts of the middle belt.

READ ALSO: IPOB declares Friday protest day, set to debut significant bird

Also the maligned and maltreated people of Southern Kaduna, several enclaves within the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, including Seme Boarder in Lagos state to parts of Cameroon are part of us.

It is going to be a Biafra nation for all. The Igbo tribe will not dominate the Ijaw or Igala tribe. There will be no discrimination.

It will be a government of all. No person or region will have an upper hand. There will be free press. It is the bedrock of democracy.

All those who died in the struggle will not be forgotten. Those who laid down their lives in the Biafra struggle paid the highest price. We would look for their families and take care of them, Onwuka reportedly said.

Source: Legit.ng
Trump's national security adviser quits

Donald Trump's national security adviser, Michael Flynn, has resigned over his contacts with Russia, the White House has announced.
- The EFCC has re-arraigned two former bank chiefs on Tuesday, February 14

- The bank chiefs are being accused of involvement in a N125 billion fraud

- The case was adjourned to February 22, 2017

Francis Atuche/File Photo

On Tuesday, February 14, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC), once again arraigned Francis Atuche, a former managing director of Bank PHB, before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

Also, Charles Ojo, a former managing director of Spring Bank, on an amended 45-count charge of N125 billion fraud.

The re-arraignment was necessary, because the case was transferred from Justice Saliu Saidu, who was handling the case to Justice A.O. Faji.

The accused men pleaded not guilty before Justice A.O Faji, and they were allowed to continue on their earlier bail conditions.

READ ALSO: We gave him food  EFCC denies starving Jonathans aide

It is important to recall that the accused men were initially arraigned in 2009 before Justice Akinjide Ajakaiye, who granted them bail in the sum of N50 million each with two sureties each in like sum.

Then, they were later arraigned before Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako on February 3, 2012, and once again re-arraigned before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia on January 16, 2013, following the transfer of Murtala-Nyako.

Both judges had adopted the bail terms granted by Mr. Ajakaiye.

The EFCC accused the two former bank chiefs of granting credit facilities, manipulating shares and committing general banking fraud to the tune of N125 billion.

READ ALSO: Andrew Yakubu has 4 safes not 1 - Whistle-blower

The alleged offences contravene the provisions of Section 7(2) (b) of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act, 2004, and Section 15(1) of the Failed Banks (Recovery of debts) and Financial Malpractices in Banks Act, 2004.

Meanwhile, Nyame, who is being prosecuted by the EFCC on charges of money laundering and embezzlement to the tune of N1.6 Billion, saw his no-case submission before the FCT High Court kicked out by presideing judge Justice Adebukola Banjoko on Tuesday, February 14.

Source: Legit.ng
A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has ordered that the $9.8 million and 74,000 pounds recovered from a house belonging to former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Andrew Yakubu be forfeited to the federal government.

The order was sequel to an ex parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking an interim forfeiture of the recovered money to the federal government.

According to the official statement of the EFCC, the ex parte application was moved by Salihu Sani, counsel for the applicant.

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Justice Zainab Abubakar in her ruling on Tuesday, February 14, held That the sum of $9,772,000 (Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand United States Dollars) and 74,000 (Seventy Four Thousand Pound Sterling) which are now in the custody of the applicant (EFCC) are in the interim forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria

The anti-graft agency, on Friday, February 10, announced it recovered the money (about N3 billion in total) from the Kaduna home of the former GMD.

The huge cash was hidden in a fire proof safe, the commission had said.

The raid of the facility was sequel to an intelligence which the commission received about suspected proceeds of crime believed to be hidden in the slums of Sabon Tasha area of Kaduna.

On arrival at the facility, the caretaker of the house, one Bitrus Yakubu, a younger brother to Andrew Yakubu, disclosed that both the house and the safe where the money was found belong to his brother, Andrew Yakubu.

Yakubu, who reportedly admitted owning the money has since been arrested and is in custody of the EFCC.

Source: Legit.ng
- Fleeing Boko Haram terrorists attacked Mifa community

- An Islamic scholar was killed while a young boy's hand was broken

- Soldiers in Chibok were alerted and engaged the terrorists

As the Nigerian Army continues to report of successes in the fight against Boko Haram, the terrorists in its newest attack in Borno killed an Islamic scholar and broke the hands of a young boy.

The Nation reports that the terrorists invaded Mifa community in Chibok Local Government Area of the state on Monday, February 13.

READ ALSO: Governor Shettima attacks predecessor Sheriff over Boko Haram

It was reported that about 30 fleeing terrorists invaded the village shooting indiscriminately around 9:30 pm.

Soldiers who were stationed in Chibok were alerted and they engaged the terrorists killing one of them.

It was reported that soldiers used to be on patrol in Chibok due to the fact that it was a gateway to Sambisa forest and was a route used by terrorists.

READ ALSO: Boko Haram sets Borno village ablaze

One resident who spoke called on the army to maintain the security patrol as they were afraid to sleep at night.

You know this is getting too much, Chibok is surrounded by bush and the borders are not well patrolled. We cannot sleep well in Chibok because of dear and that is why we want the soldiers to resume their mobile patrol.

Source: Legit.ng
- 1.7 million candidates are expected to register for the 2017 UTME

- JAMB has pledged to make sure the examination centres are increased

- Only 1,561,443 candidates sat for the UTME in 2016

Prof. Ishaq Oloyede

According to official figures, about 1.7 million candidates are expected to sit for the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Ishaq Oloyede while speaking to journalists at the Information and Communication Technology Retreat on Tuesday, February 14 in Abeokuta, Ogun state revealed some facts.

According to the registrar, the board is planning to increase its Computer Based Testing (CBT) Centres in order to the make examination exercise far better.

Speaking on the number of candidates, he said: We are expecting 1.7 million candidates to sit for JAMB this year and we want to make sure we satisfy them within a week or thereabout.

Mr Oloyede also said while he could not guarantee a hitch-free examination, the innovations being put in place will send some illegal operators, who are defrauding candidates in the past, out of business.

READ ALSO: How much is JAMB form in 2017?

His words: Frankly, I cannot promise a hitch-free examination because we are testing certain things.

We are changing certain things; we want to question the status quo and we expect a fight back by interests that will be trampled upon."

Speaking on the state of the board, he said: We are going to be as flexible as humanly possible; we are not promising hitch free examination."

The registrar also said that the major objective of the retreat was for stakeholders to critique the boards processes, because we will not want to continue in the wrong direction."

READ ALSO: Universities admissions: JAMB reveals plan for candidates

On expansion, he said the body plans to create new ICT facilities, and that prospective candidates, scholars, institutions and civil society groups were brought together to critique it.

He explained: This is to enable us harvest good ideas that can improve what we are doing.

Mr. Oloyede also said that JAMB would soon begin the sale of forms for the 2017 UTME, adding that the board was also working on the possibility of conducting a mock examination.

Meanwhile, JAMB has warned prospective candidates, parents and guardians to dismiss reports that it had started the sale of the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Source: Legit.ng
Woman arrested for ditching newborn in river

Police has arrested a woman for ditching a newly born baby in a river in Damak, Jhapa.
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CARACAS  A year ago Leopoldo Lopez, a Venezuelan opposition leader, walked at the head of rallies of tens of thousands of people, calling for the exit of President Nicolas Maduro and setting off a wave of demonstrations and unrest as the country boiled with discontent. But on Friday, only a few hundred people showed up at a demonstration to support him, a day after he was convicted and sentenced to nearly 14 years in jail for his role in leading last years protests.

The small size of the crowd told the story: The opposition finds itself discouraged and off balance even as it retains hopes of winning crucial legislative elections scheduled for December.

In Venezuela, since there is no justice, protest is useless, said Sergio Reyes, 23, a flight attendant at the rally on Friday. Referring to last years protests, in which dozens of people were killed on both sides, he said, Lots of people have taken to the streets, like the students who died last year, but they did not get results because the government doesnt pay attention when people ask for change.

Mr. Lopezs wife, Lilian Tintori, read a letter to the demonstrators that he had written from prison. This sentence is not directed only against me, he wrote. It seeks to weaken the spirit of all of those who are fighting for a better country. Mr. Lopez urged his sympathizers not to become demoralized or frustrated.
Anyone who has spent time with Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, President-elect Donald J. Trumps choice for national security adviser, knows he is nothing if not blunt, especially when it comes to his near-obsessive focus on radical Islamic terrorism.

He has said on Twitter that fear of Muslims is RATIONAL, written that Islamic law is spreading in the United States and said that Islam itself is more like a political ideology than a religion. The United States, he wrote in Field of Fight, a book about radical Islam published in August, is in a world war, but very few Americans recognize it.

General Flynn, 57, a retired military intelligence officer and registered Democrat, will be the person Mr. Trump turns to when confronted with a crisis abroad. Whether it is a renewed bloodletting in Ukraine, a Russian cyberattack on the United States or a hurricane hitting Haiti, the national security adviser is supposed to be a steady hand and honest broker who can provide measured and unbiased guidance to the president about how the United States should respond.

These are not qualities readily apparent in observing General Flynn over the last few years, said Representative Adam B. Schiff of California, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee.
He has posted on Twitter that fear of Muslims is rational, written that Islamic law is spreading in the United States, and said that Islam itself is more like a political ideology than a religion. The United States, he wrote in Field of Fight, a book about radical Islam he co-wrote with Mr. Ledeen, is in a world war, but very few people recognize it.

Implicating Iran

Mr. Flynn saw the Benghazi attack in September 2012 as just one skirmish in this global war. But it was his initial reaction to the event, immediately seeking evidence of an Iranian role, that many saw as emblematic of a conspiratorial bent. Iran, a Shiite nation, has generally eschewed any alliance with Sunni militants like the ones who attacked the American diplomatic compound.

For weeks, he pushed analysts for evidence that the attack might have had a state sponsor  sometimes shouting at them when they didnt come to the conclusions he wanted. The attack, he told his analysts, was a black swan event that required more creative intelligence analysis to decipher.

To ask employees to look for the .0001 percent chance of something when you have an actual emergency and dead Americans is beyond the pale, said Joshua Manning, an agency analyst from 2009 to 2013.

Beyond Benghazi, American officials said that in time, the general grew angrier at what he saw as the Obama administrations passivity in dealing with worldwide threats  from Sunni extremist terrorism to Iran. He also saw the C.I.A., an organization he had long disdained, as overly political and too willing to advance the White Houses agenda.

In particular, he became convinced that the C.I.A. was refusing to declassify many of the documents found at Osama bin Ladens compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, because they seemed to undercut the administrations narrative about Qaeda strength at the time Bin Laden was killed.

If they put out what we knew, then the president couldve not said, in a national election, Al Qaedas on the run and weve killed Bin Laden, Mr. Flynn said before the latest election, referring to Mr. Obamas 2012 re-election bid. Even today, he talks about Bin Laden as though that was a stroke of genius. I mean, cmon!
Mr. Miller did not say what prompted the dismissal of Mr. Flynn, but two other Trump transition officials said it was tied to his Twitter posting.

The move may have cost the younger Mr. Flynn an eventual post in the White House. Until Tuesday, he had planned to join his father on the staff of the National Security Council and had even started the process of getting a security clearance, according to an acquaintance who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid upsetting the Flynns.

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.

Despite the younger Mr. Flynns abrupt removal from the transition team, there was no indication that Mr. Trump was reconsidering his choice of General Flynn, 57, a former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, to serve as national security adviser.

But beyond the tight circle around Mr. Trump, there were growing concerns in Washington about General Flynns fitness for the job, fueled by talk of his temperament, his conspiratorial worldview and his own incendiary Twitter postings.

Many Democrats were openly critical from the moment the appointment was announced last month, and several prominent Republican national security officials also quietly voiced concerns. Now, with Mr. Flynn under growing scrutiny, some are beginning to speak publicly.

The national security adviser should have a moderating effect on the instincts of the president, and it remains to be seen if Mike can do that, Michael V. Hayden, a former director of both the C.I.A. and the National Security Agency, said in a telephone interview on Tuesday.

The role of national security adviser calls for mediating the conflicting views of cabinet secretaries and agencies, and sifting fact from speculation and rumor to help the new president decide how the United States should react to international crises.
Bobby Freeman, whose Do You Want to Dance climbed the pop charts in 1958 and endured long afterward in covers by the Beach Boys, the Ramones, Bette Midler and others, died on Jan. 23 at his home in Daly City, Calif. He was 76.

The cause was a heart attack, his son Robert Freeman Jr. said on Monday. The death had not been widely reported.

Mr. Freeman was still a teenager when he wrote and recorded the song that became his signature. Sung with infectious enthusiasm and featuring a driving Latin rhythm and a joyful guitar solo, Do You Want to Dance reached No. 5 on the Billboard singles chart.
The Gateway Pundit, a provocative conservative blog, gained notice last year for its fervent pro-Trump coverage and its penchant for promoting false rumors about voter fraud and Hillary Clintons health that rocketed around right-wing websites.

Now the site will report on politics from a prominent perch: the White House.

The Trump administration has granted press credentials to Lucian B. Wintrich, the Washington correspondent for Gateway Pundit, to attend White House press briefings and ask questions of the press secretary, Sean M. Spicer.

Mr. Wintrich, an artist and writer who has collaborated with Milo Yiannopoulos, the polarizing editor at Breitbart News, attended President Trumps news conference with the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, on Monday. He was joined by the owner of Gateway Pundit, Jim Hoft, who posted on Twitter, President Trump just spoke about tossing criminal migrants and I wanted to stand up and cheer!!

In a telephone interview from the West Wing, Mr. Wintrich, 28, said he would be reporting far more fairly than a lot of the very left-wing outlets that are currently occupying the briefing room. He added, We will be doing a little trolling of the media in general here.
For the last State of the City address of his first term, Mayor Bill de Blasio broke with tradition and spoke from notes on Monday, not from a prepared speech. The goal, aides said, was to make the mayor sound more natural and less scripted.

It was not the only way the speech departed from the three previously delivered by Mr. de Blasio.

This will not be a traditional State of the City address, the mayor said toward the start of his 65-minute speech. Theres not going to be a lot of bells and whistles.

Since riding into City Hall on a message of progressive change, the mayor has used the annual address as perhaps his most powerful pulpit, arguing for the centerpieces of his agenda.

In 2014, Mr. de Blasio doubled down on his promise to bring universal prekindergarten to children across the city, proposing to pay for it with a tax on high-earning New Yorkers.
The son, who lived with Ms. Hermida, said that her dog had bitten her and that she needed help, Ms. Ortiz said.

Ms. Ortiz said she called 911, then waited outside her neighbors two-story house until an ambulance arrived.

She and emergency personnel found Ms. Hermida in the basement, bloodied, with bite marks all over her torso and arms, Ms. Ortiz said.

I almost fainted when I saw her, she said.

When police officers arrived at 12:58 a.m., Ms. Hermida was unresponsive, and was taken to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 6 a.m. Monday, the police said.

The dog had been penned in a back room in the basement by Ms. Hermidas son, whom it had bitten on the leg, Ms. Ortiz said. He was treated for wounds that were not life-threatening, the police said.
California officials have ordered the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people downstream from the Oroville Dam because overflowing waters could erode the dams two spillways and cause devastating flooding.

Yet when public interest groups warned of such a threat in 2005, state and federal officials rejected their call to line one spillway with concrete, saying it was unnecessary, The San Jose Mercury News reported on Sunday.

The danger to Oroville, north of Sacramento, is the latest wake-up call that American public works are crumbling after decades of neglect, and the federal and state governments need to spend hundreds of billions on repairs.

The crisis started after big storms and mountain runoff filled Lake Oroville beyond its capacity and a large hole opened up in the dams main spillway that releases water into the Feather River. That forced officials, for the first time in the 49-year history of the dam, to temporarily use an emergency spillway, an unlined hillside prone to erosion. Eroded material pouring downstream can damage levees along the river.
Or how about Tom Rath, the states former attorney general and a Republican, who tweeted on Sunday that allegations of voter fraud in NH are baseless, without any merit  its shameful to spread these fantasies. Even New Hampshires governor, Chris Sununu, who shortly before the election floated his own evidence-free claim about buses of illegal Democratic voters, has backed off.

But Mr. Miller had plenty more to say about the serious problem of voter fraud, which includes, as he put it, millions of people who are registered in two states or who are dead who are registered to vote. Being registered in two states is not voter fraud; its an innocent record-keeping error that happens when people move and forget to notify election offices to take their names off the rolls  people like Stephen Bannon, Mr. Trumps top White House adviser (Florida and New York); Sean Spicer, his press secretary (Virginia and Rhode Island); Jared Kushner, his son-in-law and senior adviser (New York and New Jersey); and Steven Mnuchin, his Treasury secretary (New York and California). (States purge their rolls regularly, but they dont catch everyone who moves, and theres no evidence of any multistate-registration conspiracy.)

Mr. Miller also trotted out what he called the astonishing statistic that 14 percent of noncitizens are registered to vote  but that statistic is drawn from a single study that has since been debunked.

In a reality-based world, people bringing wild claims of widespread lawbreaking should carry the burden of proof. With voter fraud, its the opposite  fact-averse Republicans have for years been hawking the idea of large-scale voter fraud and then daring others to do the real work of proving them wrong. Meanwhile, the baseless claims continue to get converted into policy in the form of stricter voting laws, like requiring prospective voters to show a photo ID  which, by the way, New Hampshire does, despite the lack of any evidence that people go to the polls pretending to be someone else. The real effect of the laws is to make voting harder for students, the poor and people of color, all groups that lean Democratic.
WASHINGTON  On paper, the fight over President Trumps Supreme Court pick offers promise for a down-and-out Democratic Party  a rare congressional showdown where a minority caucus of 48 members can assert its influence in unified opposition.

But as the nominee, Judge Neil M. Gorsuch, goes through his paces on Capitol Hill, keeping a bipartisan schedule of Senate meetings, the process has laid bare the dilemma now facing Democrats at every turn, forcing the party into disparate factions over a nominee with copious credentials but deeply conservative roots.

The nomination has particularly squeezed red-state Democratic senators, positioning them squarely between the activist fury of the left and advertising dollars on the right, where conservative groups are hitting the airwaves to apply pressure.

It has presented a showcase for eager messengers (and possible 2020 presidential contenders) like Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey and Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who brandished their anti-Trump bona fides by speaking out against Judge Gorsuch from the moment he was announced.
Mr. Trumps press secretary, Sean Spicer, has been open about wanting to expand the list of news outlets that traditionally have been regularly called on during White House briefings. He began his first briefing by calling on a reporter from The New York Post, Daniel Halper, who also got a question at Mr. Trumps news conference on Friday with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan.

Mr. Spicer did not respond to a message seeking comment for this article.

Joint news conferences with the president and visiting foreign leaders are an awkward ritual, even during the best of times. First there is the simultaneous translation, during which both leaders need to wear earpieces, something that caught Mr. Trump off guard with Mr. Abe. He did not put in the earpiece during the prime ministers lengthy introduction.

Normally, the leaders call on two reporters from each of their respective countries, ostensibly to ask both of them about their just-concluded meeting. In reality, reporters often seize the opportunity to quiz the president about the pressing news of the day, which often has nothing to do with, say, Canada or Japan.

Foreign leaders often find themselves standing uncomfortably while their host tangles with reporters about health care policy or other domestic issues. That is even truer for leaders from countries, like Canada and Japan, with which the United States has generally tranquil relations, and hence generate little in the way of juicy news.

On Friday, for example, Mr. Halper asked Mr. Trump about his reaction to the federal court ruling striking down his immigration order. The president, clearly not yet used to the drill, replied with palpable irritation: Well, your question was unrelated to what we are here for today, but I will answer it. We are going to keep our country safe.

On Monday, Mr. Trump got no such surprises. His first questioner, Scott Thuman of Sinclair Broadcast Group, asked the president how he expected his relationship with Mr. Trudeau to develop on issues like terrorism and immigration, given their notable and philosophical differences.
Melania Trump thanked the actress and model Emily Ratajkowski on Twitter on Monday night for defending her against a reporters derogatory comment.

Ms. Ratajkowski said on Twitter earlier in the day that a reporter for The New York Times, whom she sat next to at an event on Sunday, had said, Melania is a hooker. Ms. Ratajkowski, who did not identify the reporter, defended the first lady.

In a response on Twitter on Monday night, Mrs. Trump praised women who support one another, mentioning Ms. Ratajkowski by her Twitter handle. Applause to all women around the world who speak up, stand up and support other women! she wrote.
WASHINGTON  The Senate confirmed Steven T. Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs banker and Hollywood film financier, to be Treasury secretary on Monday, putting in place a key lieutenant to President Trump who will help drive the administrations plans to overhaul the tax code, renegotiate trade deals around the world and remake financial regulations.

By a vote of 53 to 47, the Senate confirmed Mr. Mnuchin, who was Mr. Trumps top campaign fund-raiser. During a long debate over Mr. Mnuchins credentials, Democrats argued that his experience on Wall Street exemplified corporate malpractice that led to the 2008 financial crisis.

The new Treasury secretary will have little time to celebrate. He will be under pressure to help finalize the Trump administrations tax plan, accelerate the rollback regulations and raise the governments borrowing limit. The administration has said it will release a comprehensive plan to rewrite the tax code in the coming weeks, and it will have to deal with the debt ceiling next month.

While Mr. Mnuchins financial acumen has been praised by Mr. Trump and Republicans in Congress, Democrats have argued forcefully that he is not up to the job. They have painted him as a symbol of everything that is wrong with corporate America.
Where could such a charge of fraud have started?

Scott Brown, a former Massachusetts senator and a Trump supporter, told Boston Herald Radio in November that 100,000 Massachusetts residents had voted in neighboring New Hampshire that month, and that 40,000 had done so when he ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in New Hampshire in 2014. People from Massachusetts could have gone up and voted that day, and quite frankly some do, Mr. Brown said, offering no evidence. Its well-known, its no secret.

Does New Hampshire have a history of this sort of thing?

Some Republicans have long claimed that New Hampshires same-day registration law, which lets people register on the day of the election, has allowed nonresidents, especially college students in neighboring Massachusetts, to vote. The law requires they show valid identification at the polls.

If they do not have such an ID, their picture is taken and they have to sign an oath swearing to their identity and that they are voting legally. After the election, the secretary of state sends out confirmation letters to those voters, who must respond. So far this year, the secretary of states office has reported no indications of widespread fraud.

What do other Republicans think?

Lots of them have emphatically rejected the whole notion of voting fraud, even though some have questioned the states same-day registration rules. Steve Duprey, a former Republican state chairman and current national Republican committeeman, wrote on Twitter: Repeating: there is no voter fraud in NH. None. Zip. Nada. Hundreds of lawyers, poll workers, watchers, press -no buses rolled in. Thomas D. Rath, a former state attorney general, tweeted: Allegations of voter fraud in NH are baseless, without any merit  its shameful to spread these fantasies. And Fergus Cullen, a former Republican state chairman, wrote: I will pay $1000 to 1st person proving even 1 outofstate person took bus from MA 2 any NH polling place last ElectionDay.

What about New Hampshires Republican governor?

Before the election, Gov. Chris Sununu alleged voter fraud, saying that out-of-state Democrats were being bused in all over the place. Asked for evidence, he modified his claim, saying, I dont want to imply I see buses coming over. PolitiFact New Hampshire said Mr. Sununus assertion was ridiculous and rated it Pants on Fire.

But unlike Mr. Trump, Mr. Sununu won the state and so for obvious reasons wants to be cautious about asserting fraud. Im not aware of any widespread voter fraud in New Hampshire; however the administration has made some strong assertions to the contrary, he told WMUR.com on Monday. I take their concerns seriously and look forward to working closely with them to learn of any evidence they may have and help address any concerns that may develop from there.

And Democrats?

Not surprisingly, top New Hampshire Democrats roundly reject the claims. There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever of major voter fraud in New Hampshires elections, said Senator Jeanne Shaheen. President Trump continues to spread a dangerous lie, and its long past time for Republican leadership in New Hampshire to stand up and defend our states electoral system. And Ms. Hassans spokesman, Aaron Jacobs, said the completely unsubstantiated claims about voter fraud have been debunked by independent fact checkers time and again.
WASHINGTON  The Trump administration is considering what to do about a Qaeda suspect being held in Yemen, a decision that presents an early test of President Trumps campaign pledge to send terrorism suspects to the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The suspect, known as Abu Khaybar, was captured last fall in Yemen and is being held there by another country, according to four current and former senior administration officials. The circumstances of his detention are not clear, but he is wanted on terrorism charges in New York.

Mr. Khaybar, who is about 40, presents an important legal and policy test for Mr. Trump, who said the Obama administration was too soft on terrorists and promised to fill the prison in Cuba with bad dudes.

Mr. Khaybars suspected affiliation with Al Qaeda gives the United States clear authority to hold him in the military prison. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has repeatedly said that terrorists should not be prosecuted in civilian courts and, as recently as last month at his confirmation hearing, said the prison at Guantanamo Bay should be kept open.
LIMA, Peru  A former Peruvian president is a fugitive, charged with taking bribes. In Colombia, prosecutors say its presidents re-election campaign accepted dirty money. And intelligence agents in Venezuela arrested journalists and researchers looking into scandals there.

Latin Americas biggest corruption scandal is shaking the continents political establishment.

It can all be traced back to Odebrecht, the Brazilian construction company, which has built major projects throughout the region and late last year settled with the United States, Brazil and Switzerland for up to $4.5 billion under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act for an elaborate bribe scheme involving $800 million in payoffs in exchange for lucrative contracts.

It was the largest anticorruption settlement in history.

Prosecutors said the company paid bribes on 100 projects in more than a dozen countries, from Mexico to Angola, in one case buying a local bank branch to hide the transactions, and even opening a division specifically dedicated to payoffs.

Throughout Latin America, the company built bridges, dams, power plants, roads and stretches of a highway to link Brazil and Peru that went more than four times over budget. Nearly three years of investigations have resulted in 77 Brazilian Odebrecht executives signing plea deals, and the companys former chief executive, Marcelo Odebrecht, is in prison.
CARACAS, Venezuela  The Trump administration announced sanctions against Venezuelas vice president on Monday, calling him a drug kingpin in its first moves against the countrys leftist government, which President Trump railed against during his campaign.

Vice President Tareck El Aissami, according to a Treasury Department statement, was being sanctioned for playing a significant role in international narcotics trafficking. The sanctions mean that Mr. El Aissami, 42, will be blocked from financial dealings with Americans and will have any American assets frozen.

Such actions against officials in the government of President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela are nothing new in a long and fraught relationship between Washington and Caracas. But the accusation that Mr. El Aissami, the next in line for the presidency, is a drug trafficker is certain to set a new, more hostile tone in relations.

This can be seen as the opening salvo of the Trump administration in dealing with Latin Americas deepest crisis, said Michael Shifter, the president of the Inter-American Dialogue, a policy group in Washington. It is hard to imagine that, with this decision, Washington will now be inclined to offer many carrots to the increasingly authoritarian regime.
After the strandings comes the gruesome cleanup.

The New Zealand Department of Conservation said early Tuesday that it had to use excavators and dump trucks to move the carcasses of more than 200 pilot whales away from the coastline, where they had become beached, and onto the sand dunes.

They are in the dunes now, beginning the slow process of rotting down, said Andrew Lamason, an operations manager for the department.

Within the past week, more than 650 whales became stranded on Farewell Spit, at the northern tip of South Island. It was one of the countrys largest pilot whale strandings ever.

Many were successfully refloated, and hundreds of whales were saved, according to the authorities.

But several had to be euthanized, others became stuck again after returning to the beach, and many could not be saved. About 400 died.
TORONTO  From Windsor, Ontario, its just a 10-minute drive over the Ambassador Bridge or through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel to downtown Detroit. People cross all the time to work, shop, visit a gallery, go to a show or a game. Taxis regularly make the trip, and theres even a Windsor city bus route through the tunnel.

But President Trumps policies about who will be allowed to cross the border have Canadians so worried that school officials in and around Windsor have decided to suspend all student field trips to the American side.

It was the prudent thing to do because there is so much confusion and uncertainty, said Scott Scantlebury, spokesman for the Greater Essex County District School Board, which represents 35,000 students, many of them immigrants or the children of immigrants. We dont want to have some student turned back at the border, or even held up for a period of time.

The school boards decision was just one sign of the growing apprehension on the Canadian side of the border.
The Big Apple Circus, which shut down and filed for bankruptcy last year, is coming back  and just in time for its 40th anniversary.

On Tuesday, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York approved a decision by the circuss board to accept a $1.3 million auction bid from Big Top Works, an affiliate of the corporate-restructuring firm Compass Partners.

Immediately, the Big Apple Circus announced that it would return this fall for the 2017-18 season, which would coincide with the 40th anniversary of the circuss first performance in 1977.

Details of the coming season  including whether the Big Apple Circus would return to Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center, where it has held its shows since the 1980s  will be announced this spring.
Ever since his breakthrough 1996 HBO special, Bring the Pain  his new set includes giant initials evoking that seminal show  Mr. Rock has maintained a secure place in the stand-up pantheon. But in contrast with peers like Bill Burr and Louis C.K., his specials are infrequent enough that every one is a major event. His current show will be released as a special on Netflix, part of a jaw-dropping $40 million deal. His last, Kill the Messenger, was recorded during the 2008 election, and its hard not to be struck by his cheerful mood then, sounding positively giddy as he pokes fun at John McCain, skewering him as a war hero who got captured.

In the recent presidential campaign, Donald J. Trump made the same point about Mr. McCain in similar language, but without the punch line. In the past nine years, the line for transgression has shifted. But Mr. Rock didnt try to adjust to it. Nor did he approach the recent election with what has become the standard alarm of many comedians. Barack Obama was the anomaly, he argued, while Mr. Trump is a return to business as usual in a conservative country always run by rich white men. Im not scared, Mr. Rock said, looking to the evils of history for comfort. Im black. The future is always better when youre black.

Comedy is about surprise, and one reason Mr. Rock has been his generations finest political stand-up is his ability to consistently go against the grain with conviction. (Unlike some, he always seems to believe the premises of his jokes.)

The rise of Mr. Trump, he concluded, taking his critique to a comic extreme, stems from our battle against bullying. We got rid of bullies, he said. When a real one showed up, we didnt know what to do.

He also discussed police shootings in an unexpected way, saying that he would think that law enforcement might try to shoot a white kid for once, just for appearances. But he also spent time sympathizing with police officers, describing work that has zero room for error and draws pay that is far too low. If his current social commentary has a common thread, its an alertness to how economics colors every issue. Whole Foods does not say No Blacks Allowed, he said. But a $7 orange does. Thats the new Jim Crow.
The book begins with the protagonist, Burnham (or antagonist, depending whose side youre on), who isnt old enough to drink yet but is debating dropping out of college to follow the Pied Piper of libertarian and contrarian thinking, Peter Thiel, to Silicon Valley. As Wolfe chronicles, Thiel, who has a degree from Stanford University and largely credits where he is today (a billionaire) to his time at that school, started the Thiel Fellowship, in 2011, which awards $100,000 to 20 people under 20 years old to say no to M.I.T., Stanford or, in Burnhams case, the University of Massachusetts, to pursue an Ayn Randian dream of disrupting archetypal norms.

Image Tony Hsieh, chief executive of Zappos. Credit... Brad Swonetz for The New York Times

It wont be giving away the ending by pointing out that it doesnt end well for Burnham.

Wolfes writing can oscillate between graciously beautiful and being almost too explicative. (I didnt need to know the name of everyone she met along her journey, but I feel as if I did.) But when her storytelling works, it works well. In one paragraph, she seems to channel Steve Irwin as he slinks up on a feral critter in the woods, talking about these strange men and women who live in the Valley and what drives them. (Changing the world, Wolfe assures us.) In another paragraph, it feels as if shes trying to channel Robin Leach while he strolls through a gold-encrusted living room, as she talks about the insane amount of money in Silicon Valley. (Wait, I thought they were just trying to change the world?)

Where I found myself getting frustrated was with Wolfes decision to omit facts that dont fit that particular part of the story. For example, when we first meet Thiel, he is lauded as a genius who made billions on companies like Spotify and Lyft and started his own hedge fund, Clarium Capital. Yes. This is all true. But Wolfe fails to note that Clarium faltered badly with misplaced bets during the Great Recession, or that his support for Donald Trump has made him largely persona non grata in Silicon Valley.

While Wolfe is a fly on the wall in her book, writing as if she is documenting history, Groth places herself smack in the center of her book and, while there, is often blissfully inebriated.

The Kingdom of Happiness doesnt take place in Silicon Valley per se, but it is definitively about tech culture. Groth follows Tony Hsieh, the creator of Zappos, as he pours $350 million of his personal wealth into downtown Las Vegas with the goal of reinventing the area as a blissful business utopia. I wont be giving away the story by pointing out that it doesnt end well for Hsieh, either.

Where Groth succeeds is by bringing you along on her journey to understand the world shes documenting. Where she fails is that she brings you along on every single painful, tedious moment of that journey.

One evening while partying with Hsieh she gets blackout drunk on vodka and ends up being dropped off at a hospital (rather than home) by an altruistic cabdriver who is concerned she has alcohol poisoning. Groth rides bikes around Burning Man with Hsieh, sits across from him on a private plane to Los Angeles, hangs out in his tony Airstream trailer, where he lives, in Las Vegas, goes to Zappos meetings, pool parties, more meetings, and over the course of the book, drinks enough fernet (nicknamed Kool-Aid in downtown Vegas) with Hsieh and the Zapponians (the term given to Zappos employees) to make me want to sign all of them up for a few weeks in rehab.
1. The resignation of Michael Flynn as President Trumps national security adviser has added to the impression that the White House is in chaos, and that the U.S. security apparatus is, as Senator John McCain said, dysfunctional.

If Mr. Flynn was not entirely honest with the F.B.I. about his conversations with a Russian ambassador, it could expose him to a felony charge. Mr. Trump knew for weeks, his spokesman said, that Mr. Flynn had misled the vice president about the conversations.
(Want to get this briefing by email? Heres the sign-up.)

Good morning.

Heres what you need to know:

 National security adviser resigns.

Michael T. Flynn quit the post he held for less than a month after it was revealed that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence about a conversation with a Russian diplomat weeks before President Trumps inauguration.

Mr. Pence is said to have told officials that he believed Mr. Flynn had lied to him in saying that he had not discussed sanctions.

 What led to the decision.

The F.B.I. examined Mr. Flynns phone calls after he came under scrutiny, and the Justice Department told the White House last month that Mr. Flynn had not fully explained himself, adding that it feared that he could be vulnerable to blackmail by Moscow.
Opel has been a problem for G.M. for decades. Once a serious rival to Volkswagen, it began losing market share in the 1990s, which was also the last time it made a profit. While the Volkswagen Group has become the worlds biggest carmaker, Opel slipped to Europes margins.

Opel has been hemorrhaging money for the last 16 years, so hard decisions are on the table in Mary Barras version of a profitable G.M., said Rebecca Lindland, an analyst with the auto-research firm Kelley Blue Book.

The G.M. unit suffered from frequent turnover in top management, friction with labor representatives and products that buyers perceived as dull or inferior. Among other things, Volkswagen was faster to offer cars with diesel motors, which are popular in Europe because of their superior fuel economy compared with gasoline vehicles.

Shares of G.M. closed up 4.8. percent on Tuesday.

In 2009, the company was on the verge of selling Opel to a consortium made of Magna, an auto parts supplier based in Canada, and the Russian lender Sberbank. But the American carmaker pulled out of the deal at the last minute, reportedly because of fear that the takeover would give the Russians access to its patents and technology.

Since then, Opels financial situation has improved under the leadership of Karl-Thomas Neumann, a former Volkswagen executive. News of the merger talks came as G.M. reported that its European division had posted a loss of $257 million in 2016, an improvement from a loss of $813 million the year before.

Volkswagens emissions scandal also presents a chance for competitors to challenge the German carmakers dominance. Volkswagens market share, including other company brands like Audi and Porsche, slipped in 2016 to 23.9 percent from 24.6 percent the year before.

But even combined, PSA and Opel would have a lot of catching up to do. Both lost market share in Europe last year to Renault and Fiat Chrysler. And all of the mid-price brands have lost buyers to BMW and Daimler, which makes Mercedes vehicles. Those two companies have increasingly offered products priced within reach of middle-class customers.
The issues facing Michael T. Flynn, the national security adviser, became too much and he resigned after less than a month on the job.

He had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other top White House officials about his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the United States.

And as he was preparing to step down, Steven T. Mnuchin was sworn is as Treasury secretary.

Mr. Mnuchin will be helping with the administrations plans to overhaul the tax code and reshape financial regulations.

Crucially, he will also help renegotiate trade deals  an issue that President Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada skirted during their meeting on Monday.
For a nation of immigrants, the United States has worked hard to keep foreigners out.

The Statue of Liberty was less than 40 years old when President Calvin Coolidge signed the Immigration Act of 1924. It barred immigration from most of Asia. It cut the overall quota of immigration from countries outside the Americas in half. And it limited immigrants from other countries to 2 percent of the number of people of that countrys ancestry in the United States in 1890  restricting immigration mostly to people from Northern and Western Europe. Those from Eastern and Southern Europe, not to say Africans, brought too many types of social inadequacy.

Physically, the bodies of recent immigrants are sounder than those of the average American stock, Harry H. Laughlin, appointed expert eugenics agent to the House Committee on Immigration and Naturalization, noted in 1922 testimony. But with this sound body we have recently admitted inferior mental and social qualities of a constitutional nature which neither education nor better environment can be expected to raise above, or even to approximate, the average of the American descended from older immigrants.

The quota system was overhauled in 1965, and immigration law today is more evenhanded. Still, the suspicion of immigrants as threats to society remains close to the surface. By claiming that people from Muslim nations threaten national security, that Mexicans are drug dealers and rapists, that immigrants take the jobs of Americans or burden taxpayers by reliance on welfare, President Trump has drawn it back to the center of political debate.

This time, suspicion is being buttressed by some economists with a proposition not too dissimilar to Laughlins: that immigrants could sap Americas vitality by bringing inferior cultural traits from their dysfunctional home countries to erode American social norms.
The growing division means that some readers are getting their news through an ever-narrowing prism. Americans who get their information predominantly from Breitbart News, a right-wing news and opinion site, for instance, or from the conservative Fox News are getting a very different version of the news from Americans who read The Washington Post or watch CNN.

Breitbart Raises Questions

Late Monday night, as the news broke that Mr. Flynn had resigned, news organizations rushed to publish articles.

Not Breitbart.

For roughly an hour after Mr. Flynns resignation letter began circulating, Breitbart did not change the main story on its home page, which was about immigration policy.

When Breitbart made the Flynn resignation its main story, around midnight, the account hewed closely to the facts of Mr. Flynns resignation and quoted heavily from his resignation letter. The site also put up a more analytical article that raised questions about the motives behind the governments monitoring of communications between Mr. Flynn and the Russian ambassador.

Democrats are clamoring for a deeper investigation of Russian ties to Trump, the article said. But the more serious question is whether our nations intelligence services were involved in what amounts to political espionage against the newly elected government.

The article also raised questions about how the news media got its information, reinforcing a distrust of the press that Mr. Trump and his administration have assiduously tried to foster.

The fact that the contents of Flynns phone conversation  highly sensitive intelligence  were leaked to the media suggests that someone with access to that information also has a political axe to grind, the article said.
In making the move, Mr. Lack is rewarding Mr. Oppenheim, who in less than two years has brought Today back into a competitive position with ABCs Good Morning America. NBC Newss most significant properties  NBC Nightly News, Meet the Press and Today  are all in good shape, and it will be Mr. Oppenheims job to keep them there. Hell also have to find a way to integrate Megyn Kelly into NBCs morning schedule, where she will face huge expectations and tough competition.

In his memo, Mr. Lack said that one of the signs of a healthy and thriving newsroom is the ability to find a worthy successor within your own walls.

Ms. Turness, a 49-year-old native of Britain who was recruited to NBC from ITV News in Britain in 2013, will return to Europe to help manage an initiative that is important to the network and Mr. Lack. (Phil Griffin will remain in charge of MSNBC.) Ms. Turnesss move removes the top female executive in television news from the hierarchy at NBC headquarters; when Mr. Lack arrived two years ago to take over NBC News, he succeeded another woman, Pat Fili-Krushel.

NBCs 25 percent stake in Euronews means that the network can, at long last, tap into an international market. This will enable it to compete more aggressively with CNN, which has a robust international presence (Euronews will be renamed Euronews NBC). Founded in 1993, the network has more than 400 journalists and is broadcast in 13 languages.

Comcast and NBC Universal do not have a big international presence, and the company had been looking for an expansion plan. Though Euronews has a wide footprint  it reaches 277 million households across Europe, Africa and the Middle East  its viewership and influence are small. As part of the Euronews move, Mr. Lack told staff members that NBC would invest in European journalism, strengthening the depth and pace of its reporting.
Before government agents should be able to go rifling through that trove of private data, they should have a very good reason based on individualized suspicion of illegal activity, said Nathan Freed Wessler, a staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union. Peoples most private details of their lives will be made bare without justification.

Image Haisam Elsharkawi

The policies that give border agents the latitude to search or seize devices were used under the Obama administration, to much criticism. Theres no available data to suggest that they are happening more under the administration of President Trump, though activists say they have anecdotally heard of more reports.

A customs agency spokesman said the agency could not comment on individual cases. But he said agents had inspected 4,444 cellphones and 320 other electronic devices in 2015, amounting to 0.0012 percent of the 383 million arrivals. In fiscal year 2016, the searches of electronic devices rose to 23,000.

Can agents force you to unlock your phone or laptop?

No. But they can ask you to comply voluntarily and make the experience rather uncomfortable if you resist. Travelers must decide how much trouble theyre willing to put up with.

You may end up losing your device, since agents could seize the device for weeks before it is returned. They could also copy the data. (That data must be destroyed as expeditiously as possible if it is not valuable, according to Homeland Security policy.)

Travelers have reported that theyve been detained for hours and questioned aggressively. Mr. Elsharkawi, whose trip included a pilgrimage to Mecca after an 18-hour layover in Istanbul, said his payment for his Turkish Airlines flight was not refunded after he missed it.

Travelers who are not citizens could have further problems, especially if theyre flying into the United States. While citizens are guaranteed re-entry, foreign nationals could be denied entry, and the law isnt clear on permanent residents, said Sophia Cope, a staff lawyer for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit organization that defends civil liberties in the digital age.
SAN FRANCISCO  Five years ago, Dominique Crenn was just another hardworking Bay Area chef running a small, ambitious restaurant. She had been cooking since the early 1990s, when she arrived in this city from her native France, but she was still off the radar for many American food lovers. She had never won a James Beard award or served as a judge on Top Chef or hit any of the other marks of culinary stardom.

But in 2013, Atelier Crenn, her sleek modernist restaurant in Pacific Heights, won two stars from the Michelin Guide, making Ms. Crenn the highest-ranked female chef in the United States  and drawing the tribe of global gastro-tourists who follow the stars. Last year, she was named the Worlds Best Female Chef by the Worlds 50 Best, a London-based group that publishes an influential (if somewhat arbitrary) annual list of the best restaurants in the world.

Since then she has shot video campaigns for LG refrigerators and Georg Jensen tableware, been the cover model for the magazine Gastronomique En Vogue, and is profiled in an episode of Chefs Table on Netflix. She has been honored by the French government for her contributions to gastronomy and culture, delivered a TED Talk on defining success, lectured at Harvard, and spearheaded a movement of chefs to help restore agriculture in Haiti.

Her vault to international fame and clout has surprised many American food lovers, who are more familiar with chefs like Barbara Lynch and April Bloomfield. And it has raised questions  some new, some age-old  about how and why some chefs, and not others, achieve celebrity.
Each time I went back, I wanted the fried eggplant in sticky, spicy caramel again. The flicker of Sichuan peppercorn in the sauce could be more pronounced, but the chile burn is just strong enough and the eggplant keeps its wonderful airy crunch even after sitting around for a while. So does the fried pork cheek in the reformed sweet-and-sour pork, stacked up above fresh pineapple chunks and a bracing vinegar sauce that is closer to the Cantonese version than to the orange ketchup sauce that glows radioactively from inside American takeout boxes.

The long, sliced slab of char siu pork glazed with honey is simple and classic; if the excellent whole squab with a glossy Peking-duck-style lacquer on its skin turned up at Royal Seafood or another traditional Chinatown restaurant, nobody would blink. Its served in five pieces, one of which is the head. One of my guests crunched away happily on it, but I was more interested in the meatier quarters.

These straight-faced Cantonese studies worked out better than Mr. Donnellys halting excursions into Sichuan. The smashed cucumber salad was barely dented and scarcely seasoned. Mapo lo mein, a promising enough idea, was short on heat and swagger and long on sweetness. (This was one of the few dishes that struck me as too sweet, but the menu as a whole relies on sugar more than it should.)

Mr. Donnelly puts more strut into his step when he freestyles. Steak tartare on rice crackers is seasoned with fried shallots and a healthy glug of fish sauce; it may be more Vietnamese than Chinese, but its great. So is the glistening scoop of chicken liver pate that you spread, with a pickled slaw of apples and radishes, on youtiao, those cruller-like sticks of fried dough. And I think my favorite invention of his is the beef and broccoli made with tender, peppery tongue pastrami.

While the kitchen is fairly consistent already, service is unpredictable. Sometimes dishes crowd the table, and other times they arrive one at a time. Once, we had two waiters shadowing us all night; another time, we sat with our menus for 20 minutes trying to catch somebodys eye. We thought somebody might take our order after an overexcited guest of mine accidentally knocked her wine glass onto the floor, but once the broken pieces were swept up, we must have put on our invisibility cloaks again.

One major inconvenience: The restaurant is so popular that reservations are essential, but Chinese Tuxedo wont take them for parties of fewer than four. When three of us showed up at 6:30 p.m., we were told we might have to wait an hour and a half. As it turned out, it didnt take that long, but if I hadnt been on the job, I wouldnt have stuck around long enough to find out.
SAN FERNANDO, Trinidad and Tobago  It is, at a glance, simple and unremarkable: a circle of flatbread as flaccid as a cotton cloth, with a texture not quite as doughy as pita bread, yet fluffier than a tortilla.

To a diner unfamiliar with the dish, it may look like an accessory, just a vehicle to get hearty helpings of meat and vegetables into the mouth. But roti, a staple of this West Indian island nations cuisine, is anything but a culinary afterthought. It is so ingrained in the culture here that the term often refers to the bread combined with its accompaniments, typically a yellow curry stew of meat, potatoes and chickpeas.

When done right, this flatbread is silky and buttery and melts on the tongue in a puddle of succulent flavors. Preparing it, though, requires a lifetime of study.

Roti arrived on the island of Trinidad around the time slavery was abolished in the late 1830s, with indentured servants from India, where the unleavened flatbread has been popular for many centuries. Dhal puri, paratha and sada are the most readily available styles of roti in Trinidad.
Another weekend in Palm Beach. Another grand party attended by members of Team Trump.

With 400 of his closest friends in attendance, the New York financier Stephen A. Schwarzman celebrated his 70th birthday on Saturday at his Four Winds estate in Palm Beach, Fla.

Partygoers feasted on short ribs, while two camels wandered along a stretch of sand and a gondolier propelled his craft across the pool. Guests were treated to a 12-minute fireworks display that could be seen across Lake Worth Lagoon. To top off the evening at what is just one of the multibillionaires many homes, Gwen Stefani sang Happy Birthday to You before taking a quick twirl with the birthday boy around a dance floor constructed inside a two-story tent where acrobats shimmied and jumped.

The cost? A person familiar with the planning who was not authorized by the host to speak on the record estimated it at between $7 million and $9 million.
None of the other states Ive lived in had such a hold on its residents that people felt compelled to name their children after it. People like Mr. Jones and Ms. Smith are proof that the mythology of Texas has a very real influence on Texans lives, shaping their identities in ways that few states could ever claim.

Why not give a baby the ultimate name? said W.F. Strong, an expert on Texas folklore and a professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Brownsville. After all, what do Texans admire and cherish more than Texas herself? If I ever have another son I think I will name him Texas: Texas Strong. There would be a lot of fun in normal parenting. Texas, why cant you behave? I can hear the kid saying, Have you read my history? 

I wanted to get to know Texas, so I invited Ms. Smith to lunch.

We met one recent afternoon at Elmos Grill in West Columbia, Tex., a short drive from her home in nearby Sweeny, a town nearly 70 miles south of Houston. One of the first things I wanted to know was whether it actually said Texas on her drivers license. She seemed to expect the question, and quickly displayed a Texas license that read Smith, Texas June. When your first name is Texas, it turns out, you get used to pulling out ID.

When I was younger, I dont know how many times Ive been called a liar, said Ms. Smith, who lived years ago in Massachusetts. People were very rude, especially when I was up North. My husband was in the service and every time I would go to a doctors appointment or something like that, theyd say, Your last name? And Id say, Parker, at that time. And theyd say, Your first name? Texas. Lady, I want your first name, not the state youre from. Sir, my first name is Texas. And they would just argue with me like Im lying to them. I would get so frustrated that I would just pull out my ID and lay it on the counter and say, Would you just take it off here? 

Ms. Smith has short reddish-brown hair, a slight raspy twang and, appropriately enough, a no-nonsense approach to life. The doctor who suggested the name, the late Dr. S. Braswell Locker, a native Texan himself, would no doubt have been proud.

Ms. Smith calls herself a country girl. She was raised on a farming ranch and started driving a pickup truck at the age of 5 or 6, using the blocks her father put on the pedals so her feet could reach. Id pick up Daddys .22 and Id go hunting by myself, or Id pick up the old cane pole and Id go fishing, she said of her childhood. Im me and thats all youre ever going to make out of me. I am who I am.

At one point in her life, when she was in her 20s, Ms. Smith considered changing her first name. But she never seriously pursued it. I would never disrespect my mother, she said. She gave me that name. The doctor gave me that name. Im not changing my name. I got to go with it.

Ms. Smith, who is now widowed, had a total of eight children. When I was in Massachusetts, I was pregnant, she recalled. My sister, she was living here in the state of Texas, and she said, Can I name the baby if its a girl? I wrote her back and I said no. J.C., my brother, was going to name the baby. And she said, OK, but I got to tell you what I got picked out. If its a girl, I want you to name her Massachusetts July. I thought, Oh, my God. 
Every week, as the New York Times crossword editor, I receive an average of 75 submissions, or more. These come from freelance contributors across the United States and Canada, both regulars and newcomers. I ask that the puzzles be sent by regular mail, because its easier for me to mark up a manuscript on paper than on a computer screen. I also dont have to be tied to my computer every working minute of the day.

A little over a year ago I started receiving submissions from a Daniel Larsen in Bloomington, Ind. My replies were supposed to go to Michael Larsen, who had an indiana.edu email address. I thought that sending emails to Daniel at Michael Larsens address was odd, but it was not for me to ask why.

The first puzzle was a no. The rejection letter, written on Feb. 11 last year by my assistant, Joel, said:

Regrets on your BERTIE AND JEEVES 15x. This is solid work, but the theme didnt excite us quite enough to say yes. Will felt that the subject of the theme would be too unfamiliar to much of our solvership.

Seven more arrived over the year. Seven more rejections. But we felt each puzzle was getting better in both the theme and the nonthematic fill.
It also leaves it feeling rather irrelevant. For in the meantime, the word has slipped free of its original intentions, diffusing rapidly throughout academia and slowly trickling into the consciousness of the mainstream press. Part of the Anthropocenes appeal was the sound of the word itself: portentous, stately, vaguely Latinate, imbued with a dark majesty. Another part of its appeal was its capaciousness  large enough to swallow the whole planet and everything that lives on it. Crutzen wished to capture the imagination and frame the world in a word that would create urgency around the issue of climate change and other slow-building dangers accruing to the earth. But the risk was always that the word would capture the imagination all too well and become more like a summons to further heroic exertions to remake the world in our own image.

In Diane Ackermans 2014 book, The Human Age: The World Shaped by Us, the author declares herself enormously hopeful at the start of the Anthropocene. She goes on to chronicle, in a mood of excited ambivalence, the good and the bad: a scary mass extinction of animals and alarming signs of climate change but also a number of promising revolutions in sustainability, manufacturing, biomimicry and nanotechnology. The novelist Roy Scranton, in his short 2015 polemic, Learning to Die in the Anthropocene, calls on us to abandon false hope in the toxic, cannibalistic and self-destructive system of carbon-based capitalism and to learn to die not as individuals, but as a civilization. And Jedediah Purdy, author of the 2015 tract After Nature: A Politics for the Anthropocene, contrives to see opportunity in the crisis. Though he acknowledges that humanity presently lacks the political institutions to act collectively on a global scale, he allows himself the hope that a new politics will arise that will be democratic in the double sense of thoroughly politicizing natures future and recognizing the imperative of political equality among the people who will together create that future. Whatever else our posterity may come to lack, it will not suffer from a dearth of grand invective or sonorous incantation.

While humanists have bent the Anthropocene to serve their own purposes, technologists have turned what began as a call for radical austerity into a renewed push for significant technological advances. The Israeli writer and historian Yuval Hararis book Homo Deus, published this month in the United States, makes the case that the 21st century will see an effort to upgrade humans into Gods who will take over biological evolution, replacing chance with intelligent design oriented around our desires. By merging with our technologies, humans could be released from the biases that plague our cognition, free to exercise the meticulous planning and invention required to save the planet from ourselves.

Hararis book is the closest thing we have to a single-volume account of the techno-futurist vision favored by our Silicon Valley elites  his work has been cited by Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg  and it is as uneasily poised at the conjuncture of standard history and science fiction, of sober analysis and mad prophecy, of nightmare and utopia, as we ourselves have come to be. The books ruthless appropriation of the Anthropocene will almost certainly be regarded as an obscenity by those who first rallied around it, a celebration of the very hubris that brought us to the brink of destruction in the first place. Unwinding the damage weve done to the earth now represents a challenge so enormous that it forces us to dream about fantastical powers, to set about creating them and in the process either find our salvation or hasten our demise.
To Needham, there was only one way to look at the matter. Whats the point in having a conservative party if were not going to fight a massive federal intervention in health care? he told me. Its one-sixth of our economy!

Needham and Chapman knew there were risks in allying themselves with King, an inveterate bomb-thrower with a deep yearning for the spotlight. But King was also a tenacious conservative. On June 16, he introduced his discharge petition, and Heritage Action began sending out emails to the foundations 661,000 members, urging them to pressure representatives on both sides of the aisle to sign it  ominously adding in a news release that those who fail to support this effort are responsible for Obamacare. The petition soon picked up two highly influential signatories: Representative Tom Price of Georgia, an orthopedic surgeon who was chairman of the Republican Study Committee, the Houses internal conservative think tank; and Representative Mike Pence of Indiana, a staunch conservative and personal hero of Needhams who refused to vote for Bushs Medicare bill in 2003.

A month later, Heritage Action turned up the heat on the 34 Democrats  most of them so-called conservative Blue Dogs  who voted against Obamacare in March but had yet to sign Kings discharge petition. In a press statement, Needham declared, I know their constituents, who will be attending town halls this August, are eager to hear why they do not support the repeal effort. In September, a single Democrat, Gene Taylor of Mississippi, added his signature. The tally reached 173, well short of what it would take for Kings bill to make it to the House floor  much less to get it passed and then sent over to the Senate, where Republicans appetite for abolishing Obamacare altogether was less acute than it was in the House.

But though the discharge petition had stalled, King and Heritage Action could justifiably declare a victory of principle and, eventually, an I-told-you-so. Overall, those who pledged fealty to repealing Obamacare fared better that November than those who didnt. As King told me recently: The Barry Jacksons and the John Cornyns were clearly wrong. Look at what happened to the Blue Dogs in 2010. There were 53 of them when Obamacare passed. Now I dont know if you can count three of them. King was exaggerating, but not by much  there are 18 members of Congresss Blue Dog Coalition today. Pelosi made them walk the plank, and they fell like tenpins after that. Since then, I dont think theres been a freshman Republican who didnt run on the full repeal of Obamacare.

Bashing Obamacare instantly became a winning Republican message  an indictment of its polarizing namesake, of big-spending Democrats and of the boogeyman of creeping socialism all rolled into one. During the 2010 midterm election cycle, opponents of the A.C.A. spent $108 million on ads pillorying it. As a reward to the 87 Republican freshmen whose victories had enabled the party to retake the House, Eric Cantor devoted part of his first day as the House majority leader to introducing H.R. 2, the Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act. It would become the first of more than 50 bills that would pass the House over the ensuing four years designed to repeal, defund, restrict or delay implementation of Obamacare. None of them stood any chance of becoming a law  they were dead on arrival in the Democratic-controlled Senate. But to Heritage Action, they served a purpose: in the organizations parlance, to lock in members, to orient the Republican Party to conservative principles so that it would do the right thing.

At times, however, what looked like the right thing was, from Needhams vantage, in fact the wrong thing. In April 2011, for example, a bill dismantling part of Obamacare did clear the House and then the Senate, and was signed into law by President Obama without hesitation. It was a measure to eliminate the requirement that small companies submit 1099 forms for all transactions exceeding $600, which essentially served as a tax to help pay for the program and which Heritage Action had condemned as burdensome and onerous, guaranteed to generate paperwork and high accounting fees.

But Heritage Action, because of its ironclad resistance to partial repeal, actually opposed the measure to get rid of the 1099 provision. Yes, it would help small businesses  but then those same small businesses would no longer care to be part of Heritage Actions crusade. As Needham later told me, We felt that when anything less than full repeal becomes acceptable, you open the door for every lobbyist in town to say: Hey, while were working on full repeal, lets fix the 1099 issue. Or lets fix the franchise-restaurant issue   the popular shorthand for an A.C.A. provision requiring companies with 50 or more employees to provide health care to anyone working over 30 hours a week. You eventually over time whittle off various constituencies that we want to keep as part of the full-repeal platform. Partial repeal would be well and good if it got rid of what Needham called a vital organ of the law: the individual mandate, say, or Medicaid expansion. But those vital organs were never going to go down if repeal was defined by Washingtons lobbying class. It would be 1099s and these heavily lobbied issues, and then well be stuck with Obamacare.
The northern cardinal is one of New York Citys most brilliantly colored songbirds. It is also one of our most abundant. In fact, the cardinal can be found in almost any season, at about any time of day in any of the five boroughs  though, in my opinion, their first calls of the spring season, generally on February mornings, are hard to top after the relatively bird-call-quiet winter.

Unlike so many of our native songbirds, cardinals do not migrate, nor do they change the color of their plumage according to season. When it snows, they are brilliant red, and when the leaves fill the trees, they are still brilliant red. Though the females are slightly less dazzling, their thick bills, sharply defined crests and other highlights are still bright red. Cardinals are probably best camouflaged in a sunstruck red maple at the height of autumn.

The birds seeming abundance is due, at least in part, to their behavior. There is no such thing as a meek northern cardinal. They are relatively large and long-tailed, and they are not at all shy about associating with humans. Put up a bird feeder of any size or style, and a cardinal or two is almost guaranteed to be among the guests. Stock the feeder with sunflower seeds, and theyll never leave.

Each year around Valentines Day, as days lengthen and the sun seems stronger, cardinals begin to make their presence known, perching on the tallest fence posts, the largest shrubs, and tree branches where they can scope the terrain. Cardinals begin to pair up long before winter ends, and as if celebrating their bond, or just the impending spring, they begin to call. Unusual for a songbird, both males and females sing  and though they are not considered the most brilliant songsters, their flutelike voice is rich and memorable.
Pedro Hernandez, a former bodega stock clerk who confessed to luring 6-year-old Etan Patz into a basement and attacking him, was found guilty on Tuesday of murder and kidnapping, a long-awaited step toward closure in a case that bedeviled investigators for decades and changed forever the way parents watched over their children.

A Manhattan jury convicted Mr. Hernandez on the ninth day of deliberations after the second of two lengthy trials that brought renewed attention to Etans disappearance on May 25, 1979, as he walked to his school bus stop alone in SoHo for the first time.

The mystery of what happened to Etan shook New York and the nation, with photographs of the smiling, sandy-haired boy ubiquitous on milk cartons, missing posters, newspaper front pages and television newscasts. The alarm caused by the abduction reverberated across America, evoking the worst fears of parents and helping to change the way the authorities tracked missing children.

The vote to convict came after jurors returned to court Tuesday following a three-day weekend and watched  for the 100th time, one juror said  Mr. Hernandezs recorded confessions. Around noon, the panel sent a note to the judge saying it had reached a verdict. Though jurors declined to discuss how their views had evolved while deliberating, they acknowledged overcoming significant divisions.
The president of Oberlin College, an Ohio institution known for its music program and left-leaning campus, will become the next head of Pace University, a sprawling private university in Manhattan and Westchester County.

Marvin Krislov, a lawyer by training, will arrive in New York in August as the eighth president of Pace, which has historically been a magnet for commuters and minority students who are the first members of their families to pursue a college degree.

On the surface, the move might seem incongruous.

Mr. Krislov, a former Rhodes scholar with three degrees from Yale, has no previous connections to Pace and has never lived in New York. He has also presided since 2007 over a rural and predominantly white college that has been roiled by politicized battles over a range of issues, from offensive murals to inauthentically prepared ethnic food and even trigger warnings for the Sophocles tragedy Antigone.

Mr. Krislov became a notable figure in the debate over identity and free speech that has unfolded across many elite campuses when he pushed back against student demands for academic and other changes viewed by some as doctrinaire. In an open letter to students in January 2016, he wrote that although he sympathized with their concerns, I will not respond directly to any document that explicitly rejects the notion of collaborative engagement.
He is 94, and she is a year younger. Asked to recount their lengthy love affair, they noted the absurdity of couching it  a romance incubated in the hell of the Holocaust  in the frilly trappings of Valentines Day.

You have a mixed story here  you wont be able to put them together, Mr. Blum said, even while acknowledging that, yes, it was young, bold love that prodded him to stand up to a Nazi guard and save his sweetheart from being sent to the Treblinka death camp.

A hasty marriage followed, and then a horrific honeymoon of sorts: stealing glances and brief exchanges under the stern watch of armed guards.

By 1941, the Nazis had taken over the Polish city of Czestochowa and established a ghetto of about 45,000 Jews. It was in this grim setting that the two met, flirted, gathered with friends, played records and danced together.

By autumn 1942, the Nazis were rounding up Jews for extermination. Mr. Blum was pulled from the line to work in the factory, while his family was pushed onward toward the trains bound for Treblinka. He would never see his family again.
That, in part, is because it is so much easier to keep up with current events than it was in the past. Rather than having to sit down and watch the nightly news, teenagers can just scroll through Snapchat and Facebook on their phones. The adults in their lives are more attuned to politics as well, and dinner tables are thick with conversation about Mr. Trumps latest executive orders. And then there is the ultimate teenage imperative: Their friends are talking about it, and they dont want to be left out.

Not only is information easy to find, it finds you, said Theo Shulman, a high school freshman at the NYC iSchool, standing at a student rally in Lower Manhattan last week opposing Mr. Trumps policies.

Even if you arent looking for it, youre going to find it, added Hayden Mosher-Smith, a classmate, who compared the trending level of political memes to those of pop stars. Like how you dont have to read a story about Zayn Malik. Youll know about Zayn Malik.

And Bernie Sanders is the new Zayn Malik, Theo said.

For students who identify as liberal, many appear to be animated by concerns about the rights of immigrants, Muslims, women and the L.G.B.T. community. At the Manhattan rally, a couple of hundred students from different schools convened at Foley Square, having walked out of class in the middle of the day. Word spread largely on social media, and the students arrived on a wet and cold afternoon, shouldering signs along with their backpacks. One sign said, Make Racists Afraid Again (or, like, for the first time).

But the interest is not confined to young people on the left. At Ms. Francis Staten Island high school, the students are a mix of liberal and conservative  Staten Island was the only one of New York Citys five boroughs to go for Mr. Trump in the presidential election. Ms. Francis is in her 16th year of teaching, and she has been through plenty of elections, but during this presidential campaign, something started to change, she said.
Its a fair bet that the first meeting on Wednesday between President Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel will feature big smiles and reassuring words. Both men are eager to demonstrate that the hostility that poisoned Mr. Netanyahus relations with President Barack Obama is a thing of the past.

But personal chemistry can go only so far. The issues facing the United States and Israel, which include addressing the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians and restraining Irans assertiveness in the region, are as tough to resolve as they are consequential. If Mr. Trump chooses to stand up for Americas national interest and not just cater to the hard-line views of Mr. Netanyahus Likud government, there are likely to be rough patches ahead.

On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Mr. Trump has set himself a high bar. Despite the failures of his predecessors, he has announced he intends to pursue a peace agreement for humanitys sake, calling it the ultimate deal. Mr. Trump reportedly will appoint his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as his special envoy. Naming a family member to this sensitive role would be a powerful signal, since there could be no doubt that Mr. Kushner speaks for the president. But it would also mean the Mr. Trump could not distance himself if the initiative collapsed. And Mr. Trump, who is learning (we hope!) diplomacy on the job, would be taking a big risk relying on someone who also has no experience in the arcane and treacherous world of Middle East peacemaking.

What kind of peace the president envisions is unclear. Since the 1993 Oslo peace accords, the United States has been committed to a two-state solution. But the Palestinian leadership is weak and divided, and, for years, Mr. Netanyahu has aggressively built homes for Israeli settlers on land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem where Palestinians hope to have their state. Now, Mr. Netanyahu is under increasing pressure from far-right members of his fractious governing coalition to officially abandon the goal of two states, the only just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As Mr. Netanyahu left Israel for Washington on Monday, he refused to tell reporters if he still backed a two-state solution.
HEBRON, West Bank  Last week, Israels Parliament passed a controversial bill that allows the government to retroactively authorize contested West Bank Jewish communities by compensating previous Palestinian land claimants. Opposition parties warn that this law could open Israel to prosecution at The Hague, and the chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, said, Israels Parliament has just approved a law to legalize theft of Palestinian land. This theme has been echoed recently at the Paris peace conference, in a United Nations Security Council resolution and by a major policy speech by then Secretary of State John Kerry, which all condemned settlements.

Israel never seems to have a good answer to accusations against the settlement enterprise. Whenever the claim that Israel stole Palestinian lands is heard, Israels answers inevitably are: We invented the cellphone, We have gay rights, We fly to help Haiti after an earthquake. Obvious obfuscation. And when pushed to explain why the much-promised two-state solution is perennially stuck, the response is always to blame Arab obstructionism.

This inability to give a straight answer is a result of 30 years of bad policy that has pressed Israel to create a Palestinian state in the historic Jewish heartland of Judea and Samaria, which the world calls the West Bank. This policy has worked to legitimize the idea that the territory of Judea and Samaria is Arab land and that Israel is an intractable occupier. Today, as Israel is beginning to walk back the two-state solution, it is not easy to admit we were wrong; and many peoples careers are on the line. This is why Israel mouths the old party line, yet takes no steps toward making a Palestinian state a reality.

But for us settlers, the truth is clear: The two-state solution was misconceived, and will never come to pass, because Judea and Samaria belong to the Jewish people. Our right to this land is derived from our history, religion, international decisions and defensive wars. Jews have lived here for 3,700 years, despite repeated massacres, expulsions and occupations  by the Romans, Arabs, Crusaders and Ottomans. And the world recognized the Jewish peoples indigenous existence in this land in the Balfour Declaration of 1917 and the San Remo Accords of 1920.
To the Editor:

Fevered media speculation about Donald Trumps psychological motivations and psychiatric diagnosis has recently encouraged mental health professionals to disregard the usual ethical constraints against diagnosing public figures at a distance. They have sponsored several petitions and a Feb. 14 letter to The New York Times suggesting that Mr. Trump is incapable, on psychiatric grounds, of serving as president.

Most amateur diagnosticians have mislabeled President Trump with the diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder. I wrote the criteria that define this disorder, and Mr. Trump doesnt meet them. He may be a world-class narcissist, but this doesnt make him mentally ill, because he does not suffer from the distress and impairment required to diagnose mental disorder.

Mr. Trump causes severe distress rather than experiencing it and has been richly rewarded, rather than punished, for his grandiosity, self-absorption and lack of empathy. It is a stigmatizing insult to the mentally ill (who are mostly well behaved and well meaning) to be lumped with Mr. Trump (who is neither).

Bad behavior is rarely a sign of mental illness, and the mentally ill behave badly only rarely. Psychiatric name-calling is a misguided way of countering Mr. Trumps attack on democracy. He can, and should, be appropriately denounced for his ignorance, incompetence, impulsivity and pursuit of dictatorial powers.
During the months after President Trumps election, Israel and many of its supporters in the United States cheered as he promised a new, warmer relationship, such as a more lenient approach to settlements in the West Bank and moving the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

But as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel travels to Washington for the leaders first official meeting on Wednesday, things have grown cloudier: Sounding like his predecessors, Mr. Trump has said that settlements dont help the peace process, and he has cast doubt on his campaign commitment to move the embassy.

The meaning of Mr. Trumps semi-pivot is unclear. But even if the American-Israeli relationship dramatically improves, there are deeper trends at work that threaten its unique qualities.

Together we have over 50 years of experience working on and watching the American-Israeli relationship, and what concerns us most is the fraying of shared values that set it apart from other bilateral bonds. Without them, interests alone wont be enough to maintain its special character. If the administration isnt careful, it will hasten the unraveling.
It promises to be a bleak four years for liberals, who will spend it trying  and, most likely, failing  to defend health care, womens rights, climate change action and other good things. But on one serious problem, continued progress is not only possible, its probable. That is reducing incarceration.

In an era of what seems like unprecedented polarization and rancor, this idea has bipartisan support. The Koch brothers and Black Lives Matter agree. The American Civil Liberties Union and the American Conservative Union Foundation agree. Bernie Sanders and Newt Gingrich agree.

Heres what they agree on:

 The United States went overboard on mass incarceration in the 1980s and 1990s.

 This has ruined a lot of lives  of those incarcerated, yes, but also others among their families and communities.

 The evidence says that harsher sentences dont prevent crime and may even lead to more crime.

 Jailing people is really, really expensive.
Frances suburbs, home to many poor immigrants, are once again gripped by unrest after the police were accused of beating a young black man and raping him with a truncheon on Feb. 2. The incident comes as outrage has barely died down over the death in police custody in July of another young black man. And it conjures memories of riots that swept France after two minority teenagers were killed while fleeing the police in 2005. In both of the earlier cases, police officers faced no consequences.

An onlooker recorded the episode this month, and the victim lived to tell the tale. The four policemen involved have been suspended and charged with assault, and one has been charged with rape. Though the judiciary will have the final word, the French police have already concluded that the anal penetration with a baton was not rape because it was not intentional. Yet, the victim remains hospitalized with injuries from which he may never fully recover.

Successive French governments have allowed relations between minority youth and the police to degenerate to this point. New legislation will only make things worse. Parliament has passed a bill that would expand the circumstances under which police officers could use deadly force, and it would strengthen penalties for contempt of police. The police had pressed for more powers after four officers were injured, one severely, when a gang of youths set fire to a police car in a Parisian suburb in October.

President Francois Hollande visited the rape and assault victim last week, saying the judiciary must be trusted to ensure that the truth is known. But while Mr. Hollande promised during the 2012 campaign to end ethnic profiling, a recent study found that young minority men were 20 times as likely to have their identities checked than the general population. On Friday, Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux announced that, beginning on March 1, the police must use body cameras to film identity checks. But this long-overdue move may not be enough to quell current outrage.
To the Editor:

Re Facing Scrutiny Over Russia Call, Flynn Steps Down (front page, Feb. 14):

While the focus of the next few news cycles will undoubtedly and deservedly fall on Michael Flynn, the media and our representatives must not let him become a scapegoat for the administration. If Mr. Flynn contacted Russian officials before the current administration took office, on whose behalf did he do so?

Ongoing investigations into Russian interference cannot be allowed to dissipate. If any other administration officials were involved, the public deserves to know. President Trump has already shown that he will silence all criticism if he can, so Congress alone must act.

Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Nancy Pelosi, along with security-minded Republicans such as Senator John McCain, must publicly and forcefully demand further investigations. Our national security depends on it.

ZACHARY MARGULIES

New York

To the Editor:

The debacle of Michael Flynns resignation as national security adviser could have easily been avoided had Republican senators exercised greater input. His appointment should have never been allowed. The confirmation process actually does the president a favor when it works the way it is supposed to. Unfortunately, the national security adviser does not need Senate confirmation. This needs to be changed.
The most successful modern publisher of ideological journalism is Rupert Murdoch. He buys media properties, or starts new ones, and turns them into conservative megaphones.

In England, he carefully nudged the venerable Times to the right, while his tabloids mocked Labour Party politicians as weaklings or Stalinists. In the United States, he transformed the once-liberal New York Post into a peppery conservative tabloid and then built Fox News from scratch.

Clearly, he enjoys both populist and elite media. And in 2007, he bought a journalistic jewel, The Wall Street Journal.

Now The Journals newsroom is embroiled in a fight over the papers direction.

Many staff members believe that the papers top editor, Gerard Baker, previously a feisty conservative commentator, is trying to Murdoch-ize the paper. There is a systemic issue, one reporter told me. The dissatisfaction went public last week, with stories in Politico and the Huffington Post. At a staff meeting on Monday, Baker dismissed the criticism as fake news, Joe Pompeo and Hadas Gold of Politico reported.
To the Editor:

Re Hit Shows on Two Continents Confront One Villain: Scalpers (front page, Feb. 13):

I was horrified to see the prices that resellers are asking for tickets to Broadway shows. As upper-middle-class Midwesterners, my family has always been excited about our occasional trips to New York and London to see the theater and art. But with ticket prices what they are, we may never be able to see Hamilton or the new Harry Potter.

Is our theater now only for the 1 percent?

SANDRA CURTISS

Wildwood, Mo.
Fearing the continued erosion of even the most basic protections for food inspection, water quality and human health, Canadian scientists filled Ottawas streets in the Death of Evidence march. That theatrical mock funeral procession became something of a cultural touchstone. It was a turning point that galvanized public opinion against Prime Minister Harpers anti-science agenda. By the next election, Justin Trudeaus center-left government swept in on a platform that put scientists right to speak and the promise of evidence-based decisions alongside job creation and economic growth.

So heres our advice as the Trump administration gears up. Spotlight and champion scientists refusal to kowtow to intimidation. Im encouraged by what has already emerged: When Mr. Trumps transition team circulated a questionnaire intended to identify staff members who had worked on climate change policies under President Obama, Department of Energy employees refused to release their names. When National Park Service employees were prevented from sharing information on social media, they created alternative Twitter accounts overnight and tweeted the truth about climate change and pollution from dusk to dawn.

Scientists who usually shy away from political engagement are condemning President Trump for handing the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Energy and the State Department to a group of men who have denied climate change or questioned the extent to which humans are responsible for global warming. Now scientists from across the country are planning a March for Science in the nations capital.

In some quarters, scientists advise their colleagues to remain quiet, keep their noses to the microscope and at most venture out to local meetings so that the average voter will know that theyre people, too, and that their work is valuable. But our experience leads to a different conclusion: Come together, speak up and speak out.

Scientists must recognize and fight political censorship, while they remain vigilant for political interference. Many federal science agencies have rules against political meddling in the scientific process. And whistle-blower protections provide federal (and some state) scientists with an additional safety net to report unethical suppression of scientific information. Researchers should confirm that reports they submit are the same as those published, and if changes have been made for political reasons, let the public know.

Share documents widely and back up data in a secure location if the administration politicizes or interferes in research. Encrypted chats, phone calls from home lines and face-to-face meetings can help spread information without the fear of political meddling. Speaking out, especially through scientific organizations, tells colleagues they need not be afraid. The warmth of community staves off the chill of censorship. Dont let science be silenced.

Evidence and objective reality are the foundation of successful policy and governance. Openness is as vital to science as it is to democracy. We cannot allow hard-won knowledge to be ignored or distorted. To fight the snuffing of the light of scientific inquiry, learn from your neighbors to the north. Reject interference. Stay vigilant and stay vocal. In other words, stay scientists.
As any account of combat in the Vietnam War will tell you, America fought an elusive enemy: guerrillas who would strike and then disappear; battalion commanders who refused to engage in open battles. But theres more to the cliche than most people realize. Even by 1967, Americas military, intelligence and civilian leaders had no real idea who was actually calling the shots in Hanoi.

To some extent, this is what the North wanted  the impression that decisions were made collectively, albeit under the gentle guiding hand of President Ho Chi Minh. But the American confusion also, inadvertently, reflected the messy, factionalized reality of North Vietnamese politics, one that historians are only now coming to grasp. Thanks to the slow if capricious process of historical declassification, the publications of renegade memoirs and histories, the dissemination of open letters by disgruntled former leaders, and the careful and painstaking research and analysis by Vietnam specialists, we now have a better understanding of who was on top in Hanoi and what battles he waged to get there.

During the war, American intelligence experts cycled through a long list of suspects. At one point or another, intelligence reports and analyses at the time named all 11 members of the top Communist leadership, the Political Bureau or Politburo (Bo Chinh Tri), as the true leader of the Vietnamese Workers Party.

The obvious choice, and the one portrayed as the Norths leader in the press, was Ho Chi Minh, a grandfatherly figure whose global travels and illustrious anticolonial career made him a world-renowned figure. Another popular candidate was Vo Nguyen Giap, the general credited with foiling superior French forces in spectacular fashion at Dien Bien Phu. Even Prime Minister Pham Van Dong, who represented the Democratic Republic of Vietnam at the Geneva talks in 1954, was put forward as the real mastermind behind Hanois war.
DOHA, Qatar  Few of the Trump administrations priorities have received as much criticism from the American foreign policy establishment as the presidents desire to improve relations with Russia. President Trumps allegedly pro-Russian policies have been the subject of conspiracy theories and scandal.

This makes little sense. There are many good reasons for the United States to reach conciliation with Moscow on issues from Eastern Europe to the Middle East. The real question will be if Washington can control its own desire for global hegemony enough to make that possible.

Unlike China, Russia is not an emerging peer competitor to the United States. Russia is a regional power struggling to retain a fragment of its former sphere of influence. Moreover, it should be a natural ally of the United States in the fight against Islamist extremism. A reduction of tension with Russia would allow the United States to concentrate on more important geopolitical issues.

Ultimately, the United States may have no choice but to work with Russia. The Wests previous strategy has run its course, as recent policy failures make clear. Plans to expand American support for the former Soviet countries ring hollow. The United States and NATO did not fight for Georgia in 2008 or Ukraine in 2014. They will not do so in the future. In these circumstances, holding open the possibility of NATO membership for these countries, as the West has done for years, is pointless. By the same token, the populations of the European Union  an organization wrestling with existential problems of its own  have no will to help Ukraine join their club in the foreseeable future. In Syria, the United States and its allies seem to be torn between wanting to unseat President Bashar al-Assad and wanting to contain the jihadists who oppose him. Russia, on the other hand, has made its position clear.
NATIONAL

An article on Friday about farmers in Californias Central Valley worried about President Trumps immigration policy misstated the northern edge of the geographical region. The Central Valley stretches from Bakersfield, in the south, to Redding  not Sacramento  in the north.



An article on Friday about how tax proposals from House Republicans and President Trump could make a promise by Steven T. Mnuchin, Mr. Trumps choice for Treasury secretary, hard to keep misstated a detail of an analysis of the House Republican tax plan by the Tax Foundation. Four of five taxpayers would see an increase of 0.2 to 0.5 percent in after-tax income, not a cut of 0.2 to 0.5 percent.

BUSINESS DAY

A Deal Professor column on Wednesday about Fannie Maes guaranteeing $1 billion in a home rental loan product misstated the state that the government put Fannie and Freddie Mac into in September 2008. They were put into conservatorship, not receivership.

The column also misstated, in some copies, information about a fund run by Bruce R. Berkowitz, a big owner of Fannie Mae preferred stock. His fund, Fairholme, manages mutual funds, not hedge funds. And Steven T. Mnuchin, President Trumps choice for Treasury secretary, did not serve on its board; he was a member of the board at Sears Holdings, along with Mr. Berkowitz.
In 1998, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood amid the ruins of an Auschwitz crematory where more than a million Jews had been murdered and stressed the dire importance of the Jewish state.

He was speaking in front of thousands of Jewish teenagers waving Israeli flags  an early stop on a tour that would take these young people from the concentration camps in Nazi-controlled areas of Poland, where Judaism nearly met its end, to Israel, where it had been reborn.

Among the young men and women in the crowd that day was 17-year-old Jared Kushner.

With President Trumps son-in-law now a key adviser in the White House, my colleague Jodi Kantor has been looking into Mr. Kushners relationship to his Jewish faith, to the leader of Israel  and how those affiliations could produce sweeping changes in Americas relationship to Israel.
A New York Times feature writer, Jacob Bernstein, has come forward as the reporter who made derogatory comments about Melania Trump at a Fashion Week event on Sunday, apologizing in a four-part tweet.

A guest at the event, the model Emily Ratajkowski, says Bernstein referred to the first lady as a hooker. Indignant about the comments, Ratajkowski disclosed them on Twitter, saying it was a Times reporter who made them but not naming him.
Valentines Day is upon us again. Its a time of candlelit dinners, heart-shaped candy boxes from the drugstore and (depending on your relationship status) watching old romantic comedies while you drink wine by yourself.

Its a great celebration. But where did it come from? And why do we care about it so much?

People have been trying to answer those questions for a long time. The New York Times pondered the days origin in 1853 but called it one of those mysterious historical or antiquarian problems which are doomed never to be solved.
Her art can be described literally in language, but the source of its power is harder to evoke. (Its better experienced in person, said Katherine Brinson, who is curating Yis Guggenheim show in late April. I mean, thats always the case, but with her it really is.) When Yi herself attempts to articulate her intention, she begins speaking in precise but broken fragments. From the beginning, she wanted to make work that completely charged all of [her] senses. Even in pieces that seem to focus on visual experience, Yi strives for full-body comprehension. A video she shot in the Amazon rain forest, for instance, was filmed in 3D; it will be shown next month at the Whitney Biennial.

Often her work involves olfaction, which she sees as a kind of feminist intervention into an industry that privileges the gaze and its historically male connotations. Smell is the sense thats most closely associated with women, and I think its a mistake to relegate it that way, she said. That gendering reflects a long history of misogynist understanding about the mind and the body. For the same show in which she painted with bacteria, Yi recreated the scent of the Gagosian Gallery, an institution that she considers industry shorthand for blue-chip patriarchy. A 2015 show at Kunsthalle Basel in Switzerland centered on the scent of forgetting, a fragrance Yi created in collaboration with a French perfumer and whose design began by imagining the perspective of a fetus in an amniotic sac. The accompanying catalog  a reprinting of Yis first monograph  was produced on incense paper infused with the scent. Visitors were encouraged to buy the book and then burn it after reading.
In True Detective, Rusts hair reflected the chronology of his nihilism: clean-cut cop haircut before he quits policing and starts drinking heavily; a messy ponytail accessorized with a handlebar mustache seven years later. The frizzy air-dried mess of his later years reflected his disillusionment, the hair equivalent of the ontological fallacy of expecting a light at the end of the tunnel (to quote another line). Whatever intelligence or innovation I had been promised by positive reviews of the show was belied by the second episode, when Rust and his partner Marty visit a brothel in a trailer park. I knew I was just watching TV, basic TV, when even a down-on-her-luck bayou sex worker had TV hair and a gym-toned body. The nuance of the male characters was not extended to the female ones. They were sometimes given makeup and costumes to make them look a little rough around the edges, but to have central roles they still had to be pretty, and have pretty hair.

This isnt to say there arent moments when TV hair makes sense. The Good Wife is about a woman forced into an archetypal role of the supportive spouse of a politician. Of course she is artificially coifed. So too with Westworld: If a rich man were to design a theme park and populate it with live-action sex dolls, one would expect the women to have a rote, cookie-cutter appearance.

But there is a direct correlation between some of the best television shows and female characters whose hair does not conform. Take Transparent, where Gaby Hoffmanns Ali goes through a series of disastrous hairstyles that reflect her difficulties settling on an identity. Thats an interesting braid ... did you join a New Wave polygamist cult? one girlfriend asks her. Annalise Keating, the character played by Viola Davis on How to Get Away With Murder has TV hair, but it demands regular upkeep by Mary J. Blige, who plays her hairdresser, and in one episode her flawless hair was famously revealed to be a wig. In fact, the less sleek the hair, the more likely a show will have a memorable female protagonist: Issa Dees cropped hair on Insecure; the unstyled look of the best friends on the stoner comedy Broad City; Dorys low-maintenance hair on Search Party.

The disastrous perm of Marcia Clark, played by Sarah Paulson on The People v. O.J. Simpson, is so outside the realm of what is usually seen on television  even period dramas about the mid-90s  that it became a subplot in one episode of the mini-series. When Clarks boss, district attorney Gil Garcetti, advises her to hire a media consultant to help her public image, she ends up at a hairdresser who gives her a haircut that will present, he says, the best version of yourself. It doesnt, in the end, but it offers at least the best possible option for a woman on television: to look like a real person.
When she was just 4 years old, Mary-Patricia Hector saw her friend having trouble remembering her lines during a preschool ceremony. So Mary-Pat, as she is called, bounded onstage, held her friends hand and recited the words until her friend found her voice.

I want to speak, I want to help people, and I want to be president, Mary-Pat said after the event to her mother, Kathleen Hector, who recounted the memory in a phone interview on Tuesday.

That was in College Park, Ga., in 2001. Now 19, Ms. Hector has parlayed her childhood instincts for helping people find their voice into a political career. This week, she is taking her first step to inhabit public office by running for a City Council seat in Stonecrest, in DeKalb County.

She will become what many say is one of the youngest candidates for an elected office in the state.

So many times, people just think that young people cant govern  and they can, Ms. Hector said in a telephone interview. If you are getting into politics for all the right reasons, you just have to pay attention to your constituents and not be afraid to be the voice for them.
Most Republicans pursued similar arguments, deflecting questions about the need for further investigations into the administrations ties to Russia. But a handful expressed concern about the pace of progress.

It is frustrating to understand how were going to get a full, in-depth look at all the things that have happened, said Senator Bob Corker, Republican of Tennessee, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. I think this episode does heighten the intensity around wanting to make sure that its fulsome and that we understand all aspects of whats occurred.

Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, identified a possible silver lining.

I just think it makes it almost impossible for them to lift sanctions now, said Mr. Graham, who introduced bipartisan legislation last week that would require congressional approval for Mr. Trump to lift sanctions against Russia. Thats sort of the good news.

Mr. Graham suggested, gently, that Republicans should take care to avoid any appearance of hypocrisy.

I think its important for us to be informed about the phone call. Did he do it by himself? Did he kind of go rogue or did somebody suggest to him to call the Russians? he said. I know we would be upset as Republicans if the Obama administration had done this.
Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin chose to focus on Mr. Flynns decision to mislead Mr. Pence on the contents of his conversations with Russias ambassador to the United States, Sergey I. Kislyak.

You cannot have a national security adviser misleading the vice president and others, he told reporters on Tuesday.

But Mr. Ryan deflected when asked about calls for congressional inquiries into the episode. Im not going to prejudge circumstances surrounding this, he said. I think the administration will explain the circumstances that led to this.

He again praised Mr. Trump, without identifying Mr. Flynn by name. As soon as this person lost the presidents trust, the president asked for his resignation, Mr. Ryan said, and that was the right thing to do.

In fact, the Justice Department informed the White House a month ago that Mr. Flynn had not been truthful about his conversations with the ambassador.

The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Devin Nunes of California, a Trump loyalist, released one of the few statements from the Republican side of the aisle, and it offered no criticism:

Michael Flynn served in the U.S. military for more than three decades. Washington, D.C., can be a rough town for honorable people, and Flynn  who has always been a soldier, not a politician  deserves Americas gratitude and respect for dedicating so much of his life to strengthening our national security. I thank him for his many years of distinguished service.

Senator Richard M. Burr of North Carolina, chairman of the Intelligence Committee, was no more forthcoming. Mike Flynn served his country with distinction, he said in a statement. The president needs a national security adviser whom he can trust, and I defer to him to decide who best fills that role.
WASHINGTON  The White House adviser Kellyanne Conways public endorsement of Ivanka Trumps product line appears to be a clear violation of the prohibition against misuse of position, and she should be disciplined, the federal governments chief ethics watchdog wrote this week in a letter to the White House.

Although President Trumps press secretary, Sean Spicer, said last week that Ms. Conway had been counseled about her statement, the White House has not clarified what that means. Experts in government ethics say that typically, offenses like Ms. Conways would result in a letter of reprimand, though it could be grounds for termination. It is up to the head of each agency  in this case, the president  to determine the punishment.

The Office of Government Ethics has not yet received notification of any disciplinary or other corrective action against Ms. Conway, Walter M. Shaub Jr., director of the office, wrote in a letter to Stefan C. Passantino, the deputy counsel to the president who is the designated ethics officer at the White House.

There is strong reason to believe that Ms. Conway has violated the standards of conduct and that disciplinary action is warranted, the letter said.
WASHINGTON  Just days into his new position as President Trumps national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn found himself in a meeting that any White House official would dread. Face to face with F.B.I. agents, he was grilled about a phone call he had had with Russias ambassador.

What exactly Mr. Flynn said has not been disclosed, but current and former government officials said on Tuesday that investigators had come away believing that he was not entirely forthcoming. Soon after, the acting attorney general decided to notify the White House, setting in motion a chain of events that cost Mr. Flynn his job and thrust Mr. Trumps fledgling administration into a fresh crisis.

Mr. Flynns rise and fall followed familiar patterns in Washington, where ambitious figures secure positions of great authority only to lose them in a blizzard of contradictions, recriminations and scandal. But rarely has an official at such a high level risen and fallen in such a dizzyingly short time, in this case just 24 days after Mr. Flynn arrived in the West Wing to take his corner office.

Given his short stay at the top, Mr. Flynns case might be quickly forgotten as an isolated episode if it did not raise other questions, particularly about what the president knew and when. Even more broadly, it underscores lingering uncertainty about the relationship between the Trump administration and Vladimir V. Putins Russia, a subject of great interest given American intelligence reports of Moscows intervention in last years elections in the United States.
The resignation under pressure on Monday night of President Trumps national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn, centers on the F.B.I.s scrutiny of his phone calls in late 2016 with the Russian ambassador, Sergey I. Kislyak. The two apparently discussed sanctions the Obama administration was developing to punish Russia over allegations of interference in the 2016 presidential election; officials have asserted that Russia hacked Democratic emails and provided them to WikiLeaks for publication to help Mr. Trump.

As a political matter, Mr. Flynns fall may have more to do with having misled the vice president-elect at the time, Mike Pence, who falsely told the public that there had been no discussion of sanctions, or with chaos and dysfunction on the National Security Council on his watch, than with any realistic legal exposure. But the affair has elevated interest in a law called the Logan Act.

What is the Logan Act?

The Logan Act is a 1799 statute that bars private citizens from interfering with diplomatic relations between the United States and foreign governments. It makes it a felony, punishable by a fine or imprisonment of up to three years, if an American citizen, without government authorization, interacts with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States.

Does the act apply to a president-elect and his transition team?

As a preliminary matter, it remains unclear whether then-President-elect Trump  as opposed to Mr. Pence  knew about Mr. Flynns conversations with the Russian ambassador. (After the announcement by the Russian president, Vladimir V. Putin, that he would not expel American officials in response to new sanctions because there would soon be a different president, Mr. Trump responded with a Twitter post that said, Great move on delay (by V. Putin)  I always knew he was very smart!)
Michael T. Flynn resigned as national security adviser on Monday night following the revelation that he had misled White House officials about conversations he had had with the Russian ambassador to the United States.

Heres a timeline of his tenure.

Nov. 18

President-elect Donald J. Trump offered Mr. Flynn the post of national security adviser, elevating the retired general and intelligence officer who saw Islamist militancy as a global existential threat.

I am pleased that Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn will be by my side as we work to defeat radical Islamic terrorism, navigate geopolitical challenges and keep Americans safe at home and abroad, Mr. Trump said at the time.

Dec. 29

Former President Barack Obama ejected dozens of suspected Russian intelligence operatives from the United States and imposed sanctions on Russia after American intelligence officials concluded that the nation had ordered the hacking of the Democratic National Committee in an attempt to tip the election to Mr. Trump.
WASHINGTON  On Monday, Michael T. Flynn resigned as President Trumps national security adviser after admitting he had misled Vice President Mike Pence about his phone calls with a Russian diplomat. In his resignation letter, Mr. Flynn sincerely apologized to Mr. Pence and Mr. Trump, blaming the fast pace of events for what he called his incomplete account. Mr. Flynn has a well-established history with Russia, but there is still much about the case that is not clear.

What We Know

 In December 2015, Mr. Flynn, then retired from the Army, attended a dinner to celebrate the 10th anniversary of RT, a Russian state-backed English-language news channel that disseminates Russian views on global affairs. He sat at a table with President Vladimir V. Putin, spoke beforehand and subsequently appeared on RT as a commentator.

 Mr. Flynn had multiple conversations with Russias ambassador to the United States, Sergey I. Kislyak, before and after Mr. Trumps November victory. He spoke to the envoy after President Barack Obama announced new sanctions against Russia to punish it for interfering in the American election. Mr. Putin did not retaliate for the sanctions, which surprised Obama administration officials but drew praise from Mr. Trump on Twitter: I always knew he was very smart!
WASHINGTON  Robert S. Harward, the retired vice admiral who is President Trumps top choice to replace his ousted national security adviser, is a hard-charging member of the Navy SEALs who rose through the ranks to top military positions and is close with Jim Mattis, the new secretary of defense.

Mr. Harward, 60, is a former deputy commander of the United States Central Command, the militarys busiest with management of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and served on the National Security Council under President George W. Bush, where he was responsible for counterterrorism issues. He is currently a top executive at Lockheed Martin, the weapons and aerospace company, overseeing business with the United Arab Emirates.

Mr. Harwards career has closely tracked that of Mr. Mattis, from the time the two worked together in Afghanistan after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks of 2001 to his tour at Central Command from 2011 to 2013, which included an assignment heading detainee operations in Kabul.

He has faced down and defeated the worlds most ruthless and deadly enemies, and he has done all that by Mattiss side, said Fran Townsend, Mr. Bushs former homeland security adviser, for whom Mr. Harward worked from 2003 to 2005. He has been in tougher knife fights than this, and won.
But that is all par for the course here in this country that, 13 years after the civil war ended, is still trying to put back together the pieces that the war ripped apart. Fourteen years of war snuffed out 200,000 lives and laid waste to Liberia, producing generals who led ritual sacrifices of children before going into battle, naked except for shoes and a gun.

By the time the war was finally over in 2003 and Charles Taylor was escorted out of the country, to eventually face a war crimes conviction, the country was left a shell. Schools were shuttered. What passed for a middle class had fled. Infrastructure was destroyed.

And current was gone, taking with it running water, streetlights, and the simple assumptions of everyday life, including walking into your house and turning on the lights, or opening your refrigerator and getting a cold glass of water. Downtown Monrovia at night looked medieval; candles in shopfronts cast their dim light on the ribbons of dirty water running down the gutters.

Liberians, as they have for decades, simply adapted. They acquired Tiger batteries, the lower-cost alternative to expensive generators, and used those to plug in their cellphones. Those cellphones they then used to light their way at night, as they traveled in the dark along rural roads and city streets.

They bought so-called Chinese lanterns every other day. In Liberia, the phrase Chinese lantern does not apply to the silk-and-satin-covered red and gold lights that people string up at Chinese New Year. Instead, it is an ugly square or rectangular battery-powered light, the kind you might use at a campground at night.

Even the wealthiest Liberians  those with access to generators  still hoard electricity as if its about to be taken from them.
So she started wailing. But she did not know what had happened, to which of her six sons. So she wailed for each one of them, naming one after another, until her elderly brother sat next to her and broke the news.

We will build your sons three new homes  pray for them, the brother, Mohammed Yasin, told her.

Shaimas two sons in Farah, after they received news of the deaths, could not get home in time. They had no money for bus tickets and their commander said he could not give them the approximately $30 they would need.

Family members in Kabul went to the bus station and paid for the tickets, and then phoned Farah so the brothers could get on board. But it was too late.

I didnt get to see the bodies of my brothers before they were buried, said Humayoon, who arrived from Farah the day after the burial. We took our lives in the palms of our hands to defend our commanders, in situations where bullets were landing all around us. And they couldnt give us 900 afghanis for a ticket so I could see my martyred brothers.

Humayoon and his brother Aref are planning to return to the battlefield in Farah when their leave is over. The city remains surrounded, and Afghan forces have suffered large casualties there. Aref recounted one dark night on which they buried 12 colleagues, digging graves by the headlights of their police Ford Rangers.

When asked about her reaction to the remaining sons returning to the battlefield, Shaima sighed. Then she said: If they stay here, they will either become thieves or addicts. What else is there to do?
In the video, five officers are seen punching, kicking and stomping on Mr. Tsang, as two officers watch. The judge, David Dufton of the District Court of Hong Kong, said that the two defendants identified as the watching officers had played a supporting role in the assault and found them guilty along with the others.

If a police officer stands by and watches his colleague beat up a suspected person, his failure to intervene is evidence of encouragement to carry out the assault, Judge Dufton wrote in his ruling.

One of the seven officers was convicted of an additional count of assault, an offense that carries a maximum sentence of one year of prison, for later slapping Mr. Tsang twice at a police station. All seven officers have been suspended from duty since they were arrested.

The officers were acquitted of the more serious offense of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The court found that the injuries to Mr. Tsang did not amount to grievous harm. Mr. Tsang suffered injuries to his face, neck and other parts of his body.

Judge Dufton rejected the arguments by defense lawyers, offered at various points in the trial, that the video could have been doctored, that the man beaten might not have been Mr. Tsang and that the officers in the footage were not their clients.
Pollution levels are worsening in India as it tries to industrialize, but the idea that policy making should be led by government is lacking, Bhargav Krishna, manager for environmental health at the Public Health Foundation of India, a health policy research center in New Delhi, said in an interview.

As air pollution worsened in parts of the world, including South Asia, it improved in the United States and Europe, the report said, crediting policies to curb emissions, among other things. The reports website that provides country-by-country data on pollution levels and the health and mortality effects.

Environmental regulations in the United States and actions by the European Commission have led to substantial progress in reducing fine particulate pollution since 1990, the report said. The United States has experienced a reduction of about 27 percent in the average annual exposure to fine particulate matter, with smaller declines in Europe. Yet, some 88,000 Americans and 258,000 Europeans still face increased risks of premature death because of particulate levels today, the report said.

A fraction of the width of a human hair, these particles can be released from vehicles, particularly those with diesel engines, and by industry, as well as from natural sources like dust. They enter the bloodstream through the lungs, worsening cardiac disease and increasing the risk of stroke and heart failure, in addition to causing severe respiratory problems, like asthma and pneumonia.
SEOUL, South Korea  He seemed like an ordinary passenger in the departure hall of the airport for Malaysias capital, awaiting a four-hour flight to Macau. Moments later, he felt dizzy and was carried out on a stretcher, apparently dying from poisoned-needle punctures or perhaps a toxic liquid splashed on his face by two women who ran away.

The ruckus caused by the mans death on Monday at the international airport for Kuala Lumpur was minor news until a thunderbolt from the South Korean and Malaysian news media a day later: The victim was Kim Jong-nam, 45, the estranged older half brother of Kim Jong-un, the unpredictable and ruthless leader of North Korea.

The death immediately turned into an international assassination intrigue connected to the opaque regime of the Kim family, which has ruled North Korea for more than 60 years.

It came as Kim Jong-un, 33, who has ordered scores of subordinates executed when he questioned their fealty, has further shaken up the ranks of his closest aides, purging the chief of the secret police less than two weeks ago. In addition, Kim Jong-un has stoked a new international crisis with a ballistic missile launching and threats of more nuclear weapons tests.
BEIJING  For 16 years, the United States has publicly refused to engage in direct talks with North Korea, arguing that doing so would reward it for bad behavior. In the meantime, the North raced ahead with its nuclear weapons program.

Yet with a new president in the White House and South Koreas leader under the threat of impeachment, a break from the longstanding stalemate suddenly seems possible.

China has urged the United States to enter talks with North Korea to end its weapons program, apparently sensing that President Trumps desire to make deals could break the yearslong deadlock on negotiations.

Beijing did so even after North Korea made another stride in its weapons program on Sunday, testing an intermediate-range missile that went into the Sea of Japan.
SEOUL, South Korea  The special prosecutor investigating the corruption scandal that led to the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye of South Korea said on Tuesday that he would try again to arrest the de facto leader of Samsung, one of the worlds largest technology companies, on bribery charges.

A court in Seoul blocked investigators from arresting the Samsung leader, Lee Jae-yong, last month, saying that there was not enough evidence that he exchanged bribes for political favors from Ms. Park.

Mr. Lee is the vice chairman of Samsung. He has been running the company since his father, Lee Kun-hee, the corporate chairman, was incapacitated in 2014.

The decision blocking the arrest was a blow to the special prosecutor, Park Young-soo, who has tried to build a bribery case against the younger Mr. Lee and Ms. Park. His team has been trying since to strengthen its case, and Mr. Parks office said on Tuesday that it had again asked a court in Seoul to issue an arrest warrant for Mr. Lee.
Mr. Trump seemed to presage a different era with all the praise he heaped on Russia and Mr. Putin. He described him as a strong, smart leader and said that Moscow seemed to be blamed for everything. And he called for better relations with Moscow to fight the Islamic State and other terrorist groups, echoing a longstanding Putin pitch.

Some voices in Moscow cautioned that Mrs. Clinton, as a calmer hand on the tiller, would be the kind of predictable leader that the Kremlin preferred, albeit a hostile one. Now, there is a sense that the Kremlin might be unsettled by the president of a far more powerful country deploying Mr. Putins favorite tactic: unpredictability.

Trump will be tamed and act more presidential, eventually, but he also has a penchant for unpredictability that works against the Kremlin, said Konstantin von Eggert, a political commentator for TV Rain, Russias only independent channel. This creates a situation in which a stronger player with the same style of unpredictability as a strategy comes on the stage. Putin did not anticipate that.

There has been a certain amount of policy whiplash on issues important to Russia. First, Mr. Trump said that NATO was obsolete, then that it had Americas solid backing. He seemed to indicate he would lift economic sanctions imposed over the Ukraine crisis, and appointed as secretary of state Rex W. Tillerson, who as head of Exxon Mobil cut enormous oil deals with Russia and spoke out publicly against sanctions.

Then the new United States ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki R. Haley, sharply criticized Russia over Ukraine, suggesting that sanctions were hinged to a peace deal there. Mr. Tillerson echoed that line.

Finally, Mr. Trump started to mix geopolitical apples and oranges, crossing issues in a way that Moscow deplores. He said maybe sanctions could be lifted in exchange for a better deal on nuclear arms. The Trump administration seemed to want the Kremlin to distance itself from Iran, its ally in Syria, and from China.

There is a cautious feeling about how Trump and his advisers designated the possible ways of improving relations with Russia, said Vladimir Frolov, an international affairs analyst. This has frightened the Kremlin because it does not correspond to Russias interests.
WASHINGTON  Russia has secretly deployed a new cruise missile that American officials say violates a landmark arms control treaty, posing a major test for President Trump as his administration is facing a crisis over its ties to Moscow.

The new Russian missile deployment also comes as the Trump administration is struggling to fill key policy positions at the State Department and the Pentagon  and to settle on a permanent replacement for Michael T. Flynn, the national security adviser who resigned late Monday. Mr. Flynn stepped down after it was revealed that he had misled the vice president and other officials over conversations with Moscows ambassador to Washington.

The ground-launched cruise missile at the center of American concerns is one that the Obama administration said in 2014 had been tested in violation of a 1987 treaty that bans American and Russian intermediate-range missiles based on land.

The Obama administration had sought to persuade the Russians to correct the violation while the missile was still in the test phase. Instead, the Russians have moved ahead with the system, deploying a fully operational unit.
New York Times journalists are in the city of Mosul to report on the battle there against the Islamic State.

MOSUL, Iraq  Any sense of normalcy on Saturday afternoon was shredded, again, when Iraqi soldiers began opening fire, their rifle barrels aimed at a white object in the bright blue sky.

Tayara musaira! someone shouted  a drone! Residents of eastern Mosul sprinted home, terrified by the latest attack by the Islamic State, and demoralized by the certainty that more would be coming.

Three weeks after Iraq declared the eastern half of this city liberated from the group, parts of the east bank of the Tigris River remain under siege. Residents say they are repeatedly targeted by Islamic State snipers, mortars and grenade-dropping drones that buzz overhead several times a day.
Saudi Arabia and its allies in the Persian Gulf are bogged down in a war against Houthi rebels in Yemen and are increasingly worried about Irans influence  a concern they share with Israel.

Syria and Iraq, longtime enemies of Israel, have been locked in lengthy wars that have drained their governments resources and given them little time to focus on issues beyond their borders.

Egypt, too, has turned inward, as its economy has worsened and a jihadist insurgency has taken root on the Sinai Peninsula.

Care is there, but attention is not, Mahmoud Yehia, an Egyptian lawmaker, said of the Palestinian cause. People are dealing with all these new internal issues now, and they have been struggling economically for years and years before that.

Supporters of the outside-in approach say that the merging of interests between Israel and Arab states like Saudi Arabia and Egypt could provide an opening.

But that approach has been tried before, without success, in large measure because of deep and nearly universal Arab opposition to Israel. Arab leaders will not dare be seen to align their interests with the Jewish state, even when there is common cause, like opposition to Iran and to terrorist groups like the Islamic State.

Last year, a survey of attitudes across the Middle East by Zogby Research Services found that 41 percent of respondents in Egypt and 39 percent in Saudi Arabia considered the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands to be the greatest obstacle to regional peace, surpassing any other issue. So while Saudi and Egyptian leaders may collaborate with Israel privately on issues of shared interest, doing so publicly could incite a blowback from their populations.
Who has appointed federal judges?

In the weeks since taking office, President Trump has derided court decisions as ridiculous and disgraceful, called the legitimacy of federal judges into question and encouraged people to blame the courts in the event of another terrorist attack.

But Mr. Trump could soon find himself responsible for appointing a greater share of federal court judges than any first-term president in 40 years, in large part because of a growing number of older judges and a stack of vacancies on the federal courts.

Trump could fill more judicial vacancies than any first-term president in decades

State of the federal judiciary at the start of a presidential term President Vacant Seats Senior Seats Median Age Expected Vacancies Trump 12% 24% 62.6 38% Clinton 14% 9% 58.6 31% Obama 6% 15% 60.6 29% W. Bush 10% 10% 57.6 26% Nixon 4% 9% 59.6 22% Carter 5% 10% 58.8 22% Bush 5% 9% 58.6 22% Reagan 5% 10% 58.1 21% Ford 3% 8% 58.3 13% Expected vacancies were calculated using a survival model that accounts for judge age, court, the party of the appointing and sitting president and when the judge becomes eligible for senior status. Controlling for these factors, the model assumes judges will retire at roughly the same rate as they have over the past 30 years.

There are 870 Article III federal court judgeships, the vast majority on district courts or appeals courts like the one that recently upheld a halt on Mr. Trumps immigration ban. These judges are appointed by the president and serve a lifetime term. (A few federal judges are appointed for limited terms.)

After Jimmy Carter took office, Congress established 152 new federal judgeships, expanding the federal judiciary by nearly 30 percent and allowing Mr. Carter to stack the federal courts despite a presidency that lasted only one term.

Mr. Trump, through a combination of demography and a growing number of vacancies, stands to enjoy a similar windfall. Democrats have long accused Republican Senate leaders of obstruction in not allowing many of the previous administrations judicial nominees to come to a vote. The most prominent example was the refusal to vote on Judge Merrick Garlands nomination to the Supreme Court, but the tactic extended to Mr. Obamas lower court nominees as well.

Right off the bat, Republicans refused to approve anyone, said Nan Aron, president of the liberal group Alliance for Justice. So you know how important this is to the Republican Party. Currently, 112 of the 870 authorized judgeships with lifetime appointments remain vacant  33 have been vacant for more than two years.

John Malcolm, the director of the conservative Heritage Foundations Center for Legal and Judicial Studies, agreed with Ms. Arons characterization. Mr. Trump has been given quite the opportunity, Mr. Malcolm said, noting that there were about twice the number of vacancies on the federal bench as there were when Mr. Obama took office  roughly an eighth of the judiciary.

Its not just vacancies. The federal bench has many judges who are older than 70. Federal judges are appointed for life, but at a certain combination of years served and age, they become eligible to accept senior status, a form of semi-retirement. If a judge enters senior status, that creates an open seat. Though it is highly unlikely, if all the federal judges who are eligible take senior status during Mr. Trumps first term, he could appoint half of the federal bench.

Importance of the Lower Courts

While the lower courts attract a fraction of the publics attention, they represent most of the federal docket. Only 15 percent of cases ever move past a district court judge to the circuit courts. Of these, only a tiny fraction make their way to the Supreme Court. District court judges are your first shot at justice, Mr. Malcolm said, and often your last shot at justice.

Those cases that do make it to the next level are still often constrained by the proceedings of the district court, where judges make what are called findings of fact (as distinguished from findings of law). Some of the most powerful judges in the world are those that initially find facts and make conclusions, said Judith Resnik, a law professor at Yale and an expert on the federal judiciary. At the appellate stage, whatever information exists is in the trial record, and that record is made at the lower court level.

This can have a big impact on the outcome of a case. Studies have shown that lower court judges appointed by Republican presidents are less likely to find constitutional violations in establishment clause cases, abortion rights claims and allegations of racial discrimination.

During the Obama administration, a great deal of political capital was spent by both parties in either confirming or blocking these lower court appointments.

Obamas Legacy

Conservatives are itching to counter eight years of Mr. Obamas appointments. During his two terms and despite Senate sluggishness, he appointed about 40 percent of the federal judiciary. The pace of female and minority appointments to the federal bench continued to increase, enough so that as of February of last year, white men no longer represented a majority of active federal judges.

Composition of the federal courts

This was absolutely astonishing, said Sheldon Goldman, a professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and an expert in presidential nominees to the federal courts. White males have overwhelmed the judiciary in the past.

At the same time, the tenor of the courts changed. While taking care to clarify that Mr. Obama had appointed a number of outstanding judges, Mr. Malcolm criticized what he viewed as a large ideological shift on the circuit courts. This led, he said, to a wave of progressive circuit court decisions and fewer splits in the circuit courts (making Supreme Court review less likely).

Trumps Opportunity

It remains to be seen what kind of judges Mr. Trump will appoint to the federal bench. Its fair to say that, given the number and pace of nominations to be made, Mr. Trump will probably not oversee the process personally, but will instead set guidelines for his staff to follow. Some presidents prefer a more decentralized approach; others set forth clear ideological litmus tests.

The appointment of judges is typically a three-legged stool, Mr. Malcolm said. Guidance comes from the home state senators, the White House counsels office and someone from the Department of Justice, typically from within the Office of Legal Policy. How the power balance shifts among these three points varies somewhat from administration to administration.

The Senate eliminated the filibuster during approval votes for lower court judges in 2013, meaning judges can now be confirmed with a simple majority vote in a Republican-controlled Senate. But any nominee still must get past the Senate Judiciary Committee. Chuck Grassley, the chairman of that committee, has said that he will continue to honor the Senate tradition of the blue slip policy, effectively giving senators veto power over judges nominated to serve the districts in their state.
On February 27, 1968, the countrys most trusted journalist broke his typically unflinching objectivity. He had seen enough, and deemed it his duty to warn the American public on a matter sliding toward national tragedy: The Vietnam War.

To say that we are mired in stalemate seems the only realistic, yet unsatisfactory, conclusion It is increasingly clear to this reporter that the only rational way out then will be to negotiate, not as victors, but as an honorable people who lived up to their pledge to defend democracy, and did the best they could.

- Walter Cronkite

It was no coincidence that, little more than a month later, President Lyndon Baines Johnson decided not to seek reelection. If Ive lost Cronkite, Johnson said in the days leading up to his March 31 national address, Ive lost Middle America.

A lone anchorman, then, weighed heavily in convincing Johnsonfamously among the most competitive politicians in historythat it was game over. Today, it seems almost unbelievable to consider the impact of a single journalist, even one of Cronkites stature and credibility.

In Cronkites day, there was no Internet to support limitless, unqualified opinions and spread innumerable lies and agenda-driven misinformation. There were no cable news networks to mask political partisanship as objective journalism. Americans got their news almost exclusively from mainstream newspapers, news magazines, and major-network television and radio programs.

Todays faux-journalismcustom-tailored information fueled by confirmation biassimply was not possible, because sources, household names like CBS, The New York Times, and Newsweek, catered to huge swaths of the American public. Their only real competitors were other formidable entities like NBC, The Associated Press, and Time. Since their reach was so broad, undue subjectivity risked alienating significant portions of their audiences  so too much slant was bad for business.

It was in the medias best interests, then, to report in a straightforward fashion that, though by no means perfect, was both factual and widely consumed. As a result, an overwhelming majority of Americans got their news from trustworthy sources and, in turn, were informed with actual facts rather than invented ones.

America may not, as Trump posits, have been greater back then, but its sources certainly were. Technology had not yet turned us into a society divided by misinformation. If you cant agree on facts, you cant agree on action; the serial liar that is our current President is but an exclamation point on a cautionary tale that has unfolded over decades.

A Fact Front Against Falsehood

It is no exaggeration that the most compulsively dishonest person ever to run for national office now occupies the White House. According to PolitiFact, an incredible 70 percent of statements Donald Trump made during his campaign were false. Only 4% were deemed totally true, and 11% mostly true.

Now that hes the most powerful man in the world, the current status-quo of react-and-report is no longer sustainable. Trumps rapid-fire falsehoods still have fact-checkers playing an absurd game of Whack-a-Mole, except now the orange-haired varmints have federal funding and nuclear codes. Trumps victory was, at least partly, journalisms failure.

The Fourth Estate must find a smarter, more effective strategy. They, the mediaand we, the peopleare in desperate need of a coalition of mainstream journalists who, through concerted and consistent defiance in the name of truth, combine to form something approaching the resounding megaphone Cronkite wielded half a century ago.

This coalition must be exceedingly massive. Considering Trump won the presidency despite endorsements from just two of the countrys top 100 newspapers, the effort would need to be unprecedented in breadth, and involve partnership between prominent print, broadcast and online players. Counteracting a media masterand, via Twitter, media circumventorlike Trump will require teamwork to the point of active, unabashed collusion.

The collaboration must also be mainstream. To be effectively credible, it must comprise not just centrist newspapers and anchorpersons, but influential talk show hosts as well. Americans must see our most marketable media personalities stick their necks outtheir personal bottom lines be damnedfor the sake of combating this singularly unacceptable moment in modern history. Im looking at you, Jimmy Fallon, Michael Strahan and Matt Lauer.

Finally, the effort must be elongated and unwavering. Cronkite polished off LBJ in a single newscast leading into election season. The newly installed Trump will need to be truth-trolled over months, even years. His followers, largely brainwashed by conservative news outlets to dismiss widely reported facts, require long-term reprogramming.

Unlikely? Certainly. Unethical? Certainly not. Calling a liar a liar is morally sound. And when that liar is the leader of the free world, its mandatory.

It also could be effective. Even if the effort is 10% successful, it would land a deathblow to Trumps reelection chances. After receiving nearly three million less votes than his opponent in 2016, hemorrhaging any support whatsoever from his base would make victory in 2020 highly implausible.

Traditional fact-checking tactics will not constrain a man as unhinged, uninformed and, as of January 20, uniquely powerful as Donald Trump. By insufficiently muting Trumps bullying bullhorn during the campaign, the media abetted our deliverance to the brink of disaster.

The result is a federal four-alarm fire, and reputable journalists, already burned, must unite to fight it as such. Business as usual will not suffice. Desperate times call for drastic media.
Pictured: The authors father, William Chae-sik Lee.

Even as the daughter of Korean War refugees, I consider myself a New Yorker. But when people find out I was born and raised in all-white northern Minnesota mining town just a stones throw from Canada, the question inevitably follows: How did your family end up there?

My father was a doctor, I say. When I asked my parents, all they would ever offer was, Thats where the job was.

My father was born in Pyongyang in 1926. Against all odds, he made it to South Korea as a teen and managed to gain admission to the prestigious Seoul National University Medical College. During the Korean War, because of his excellent English, he was selected to be a liaison officer, shepherding various U.S. military officials, including General Matthew Ridgeway, when they visited hospitals and MASH units.

These contacts set my fathers immigration in motion. Though a doctor, all FTPsforeign trained physicianshad to spend a year repeating their internships. My father did his in Jim Crow-era Alabama at a hospital that commonly hired FTPs to staff the segregated wards. A professor my father met during the war brought him to the University of Minnesota where he worked with Dr. C. Walton Lillehei, the Father of Open Heart Surgery. My father became one of the first people in the world to administer anesthesia during open-heart surgery.

After completing his residency, my father still had a major problem: he was only in America on a temporary student visa. The Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1924established during one of Americas peak times of xenophobia against Asiansset quotas based on country of origin. The quota for Korea, where the U.S. had just fought a war, was zero. Luckily, Hibbing General Hospital, which served a small mining town in a place where temperatures often stayed below zero for much of the winter had been unsuccessfully searching for an anesthesiologist and was willing to take a risk with my father.

Most of the doctors at the hospital were home grown but a good anesthesiologist was hard to find. In a small town, a lone practitioner had to take on all its demandsroutine and emergency surgeries, childbirth, painround-the-clock. Thus, the anesthesiologist in the closest urban area, Duluth, 80 miles away, was also an immigrant. Hogans Hero-accented Bernhard Boecker worked in a group practice and therefore could occasionally cover for my father, and they became close friends. I cant help wondering what my father thought when Uncle Bernie went on to become a citizen as a matter of course, while my father and mother received deportation papers the day I was born.

The hospital and town feared losing my father almost as much as my father feared deportation. Patients knew what the loss of the long-sought doctor who put people to sleep would mean and came out in droves to sign a petition to be brought to the State Department. The petition was rejected on the reasoning that, besides not wanting to set a precedent, if my father received an easement, the equivalent of a green card, hed leave Hibbing first thing. That would be what any sensible person would do.

A last-minute twist at the State Department granted my parents a stay. However, he was still an alien ineligible for citizenship. This meant he was never quite on solid ground about his immigration status, he also could not travel back to Korea and expect to be let back in.

But he kept his word and stayed at Hibbing General Hospital for forty-plus years. Hes passed on now but I know those werent always the happiest times of his life. My father overcame extraordinary odds to be educated during the Japanese colonization of Korea and then to gain entrance to Seoul National University. And, as an immigrant, to be part of medical history in the U.S. He probably didnt think the Pyongyang-Seoul-Birmingham-Minneapolis trajectory of his career was going to end in tiny Hibbing, Minnesota, but it did.

Just as there are no atheists in a foxhole, no one lying on an operating table awaiting surgery actually wants a Trump immigrant ban. On January 27, President Trump signed an Executive Order that, among other things, barred admission for anyone coming from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, an odd echo of the Immigration and Naturalization Act that barred my own parents.

While the Trump bans name screams PROTECTING THE NATION FROM FOREIGN TERRORIST ENTRY, its hollowness is evident in citing 9/11, as none of the countries banned spawned any of the 9/11 hijackers. And how about the wall to be built between the U.S. and Mexico? While Trump is so scared of Mexico, does he realize there are doctors all over the world and its their exchange of ideas bringing about scientific progress? Our son, for instance, had a neurological condition for which we learned one of the leading doctors was in Mexico. We traveled there for a treatment whose results drew admiration from our sons Brown University neurologist. We should be glad Mexico isnt building a wall to keep us out.

During this election season, I recognized many of the heartland voters, many who are hurting financially, physically, and spiritually, and who see in Trump someone who is going to save them and keep them safe. But do these people who voted for the wall and the ban know that international medical graduates made up more than 50% of the internal medicine residency slots in 2016, i.e., precisely the doctors who work with underserved populations like the rural and veterans? And that, as the New England Journal of Medicine reported, of all U.S. physicians, 24% are international medical graduates, and of them, immigrants from Muslim-majority countries dominate.

A Harvard study recently revealed that patients actually have a lower mortality rate with foreign-trained medical graduates

Anti-immigrant voters may not realize that not only is Trump not going to save them, but his policies may bar some people who might.

Marie Myung-Ok Lee is a novelist and essayist who teaches at Columbia. Find her on Facebook and Twitter.
Total commercial real estate investment across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) reached 4.4bn in Q4 2016, a 27% increase on a year ago. This took full year volumes for 2016 to just over 11bn, an 11% increase on 2015 (9.9bn), bucking the wider trend across Europe and on the continent

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Saudi aggression warplanes continue heinous strikes against civilians





SANA'A, Feb. 14 (SABA) - The US-Saudi aggression warplanes continued to launch airstrikes on several provinces over the past hours, a military official told Saba on Tuesday.



In Hodaida province, two people were killed in Saudi airstrikes on the telecommunications corporation office in Hodeida province and a fisherman was killed in Saudi air raid on al-Erj coast in Salif area. The aggression fighter jets launched four strikes on each of Zabid district and Qatabah area of Khukhah district. Two raids were launched on al-Nakhail area of al-Daraihmai district.



In Hajjah province, the Saudi aggression warplanes launched 18 air strikes on Medi and Haradh districts, causing serious damage to public and private properties.



Meanwhile, six members of a family were killed in a Saudi airstrike on their house in Mokha district Taiz province. The aggression struck twice al-Omari School in Dhubab district.



In Mareb province, Saudi fighter jets hit Serwah district eight times, using cluster bombs.



The enemy warplanes struck Mukayras district in Baidha province once, and Bayhan district in Shabwa province twice.



Meanwhile, three citizens were killed and four others wounded in a Saudi airstrike on al-Demnah area in Baqam district of Sa'ada province.



AA/AF

Saba

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[14/February/2017]
SANA'A, Feb. 14, (SABA) - The Supreme Political Council (SPC) held on Tuesday a meeting under the chairmanship of Deputy President of the SPC Qasim Labuza.

The meeting discussed the developments in the local and international scene.



The SPC stressed that it really wants a peaceful solution to the crisis to end all forms of aggression against Yemen and lifting the blockade as well as welcoming the efforts of the United Nations and its Newly-Secretary-General in this regard .



The meeting focused on the economic effects of the aggression on Yemen and the efforts of the government and businessmen to ensure the stability of the local currency exchange rate.

The meeting held the responsibility of the outgoing president Hadi and the so- Called Ben Dugher's government on the deterioration of economic conditions and stopping payment of salaries.



The Supreme Political Council condemned the declaration of the aggression of Hodeida as a military zone, stressing that it enters the overall targeting of Yemen and its infrastructure.

The SPC denounced the crimes committed by the US-Saudi aggression warplanes against innocent citizens in Mocha in Taiz, Sa'ada, Hajjah and all Yemen's regions.



The council warned of the dangers of using terrorists in the ranks of the aggression carried out by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which would cause a risk on Yemen and the region.



HA



Saba
In the future, wide-ranging composite materials are expected to be stronger, lighter, cheaper and greener for our planet, thanks to an invention by Rutgers' Richard E. Riman.

Nine years ago, Riman, a distinguished professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the School of Engineering, invented an energy-efficient technology that harnesses largely low-temperature, water-based reactions. As a result, he and his team can make things in water that previously were made at temperatures well above those required to thermally decompose plastics.

So far, the revolutionary technology has been used to make more than 30 different materials, including concrete that stores carbon dioxide, the prime greenhouse gas linked to climate change. Other materials include multiple families of composites that incorporate a wide range of metals, polymers and ceramics whose behavior can be processed to resemble wood, bone, seashells and even steel.

A promising option is creating materials for lightweight automobiles, said Riman, who holds dozens of patents and was recently named a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. The materials could be used for engine, interior and exterior applications. Other materials could perform advanced electronic, optical and magnetic functions that replace mechanical ones.

"Ultimately, what we'd like to be able to do is create a 'Materials Valley' here, where this technology can start one company after another, small, medium and large businesses," Riman said. "It's a foundational or platform technology for solidifying materials that contain ceramics, among other things. They can be pure ceramics, ceramics and metals, ceramics and polymers -- a really wide range of composites."

Riman, who has taught for 30 years in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, focuses on making ceramic materials under sustainable conditions. That means low energy with a low carbon dioxide footprint.

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His patented technology creates bonds between materials at low temperatures. It's called reactive hydrothermal liquid-phase densification (rHLPD), also known as low-temperature solidification. And it's been used to make a wide range of ceramic composite materials at Rutgers, according to an article published last summer in the Journal of the American Ceramic Society.

"Typically, we don't go any higher than 240 degrees centigrade (464 degrees Fahrenheit) to make the composite materials," Riman said. "A lot of these processes are done even at room temperature."

Riman, who earned a bachelor's degree in ceramic engineering at Rutgers and a doctorate in materials science and engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, invented the technology after studying how engineers densified Alaskan fields of snow and ice to create airplane landing strips.

"I looked at how shellfish make ceramics at low-temperature, like carbonate crystals, and then looked at what people can do with water to make landing strips in Alaska and I said we should be able to do this with ceramics, but use a low-temperature chemical process that involves water," he said.

Riman came up with the idea decades ago but didn't launch the technology until climate change became a bigger issue. "When it became important to investors to see green technology developed to address carbon emissions in the world, I decided it was time to take this technology commercial," he said.

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So he founded Solidia Technologies Inc. in Piscataway, New Jersey, in 2008. It's a startup company marketing improved, eco-friendly cement and concrete for construction and infrastructure. Concrete is a $1 trillion market, Riman noted.

"The first thing we did was show that we could make a material that costs the same as conventional Portland cement," he said. "We developed processing technology that allows you to drop the technology right into the conventional world of concrete and cement without having to make major capital expenditures typically encountered when a technology is disruptive to the marketplace. We plan to do the same thing in the advanced materials business."

Solidia Concrete products have superior strength and durability. They, combined with Solidia Cement, can reduce the carbon footprint of cement and concrete by up to 70 percent and can save as much as 528.3 billion gallons a year, according to Solidia Technologies.

The company's concrete-based products include roofing tiles, cinder blocks and hollow core building slabs. The company approaches concrete product manufacturers to see if they're interested in licensing its products.

"When you can develop technologies that are safe and easy to use, it's a game changer -- and that's just one of the many areas that we're interested in pursuing," Riman said.

His second investor-funded start-up company is RRTC Inc., which is developing advanced composite materials for myriad uses. They include electronic, optical, magnetic, biomedical, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, agricultural, electrochemical, energy storage, energy generation, aerospace, automotive, body and vehicle armor, textile, and abrasive and cutting applications.
In addition to the classic stress response in our bodies -- an acute reaction that gradually abates when the threat passes -- our bodies appear to have a separate mechanism that deals only with chronic stress. These Weizmann Institute of Science findings, which recently appeared in Nature Neuroscience, may lead to better diagnosis of and treatment for anxiety and depression.

Dr. Assaf Ramot, a postdoctoral fellow in Prof. Alon Chen's group in the Institute's Department of Neurobiology, led the research pinpointing a small, previously unknown group of nerve cells in the paraventricular nucleus, or PVN, within the hypothalamus -- a part of the brain involved in regulating many of the body's reactions. These cells' position in the PVN led the researchers to suppose that the nerve cells play a role in the stress response.

Prof. Chen explains that in the well-known stress response, the neurotransmitter corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) is released from the PVN and goes to the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland releases hormones that then cause the adrenal gland to flood the bloodstream with the "stress hormone" cortisol. The cortisol, along with the regular stress response, lowers the production of CRF, thus causing a negative feedback loop in which the mechanism slows down and stops.

A positive-feedback loop

The newly discovered nerve cells express a receptor, CRFR1, on their outer walls, which enables them to take in the message of the CRF neurotransmitter. The scientists' experiments showed that, in mice, the cortisol actually increases the number of CRFR1 receptors on these nerve cells, suggesting a positive feedback loop that could be self-renewing, rather than abating.

Working with Prof. Nicholas Justice's group at the University of Texas, Houston, Prof. Chen, Dr. Ramot, and their group first characterized this special population of nerve cells, labeling them with fluorescent proteins in the brains of genetically engineered mice. When they removed the adrenal glands of these mice, thus preventing the production of cortisol, the receptors did not appear on the PVN nerve-cell walls, while injecting synthetic stress hormones caused them to appear and restart the chain reaction.

Next, the researchers asked when and how the CRFR1 cycle is initiated. They compared mice genetically engineered to lack the receptor with a control group and exposed them to different kinds of stress, testing the hormones in their blood afterward. When the mice experienced acute stress, both groups reacted in a similar manner, and their hormone levels were also similar. But chronic stressors told a different story: The genetically engineered mice stayed calmer and had lower levels of the cortisol-like hormone.

"In other words," says Dr. Ramot, "the CRFR1 system is a separate one that evolved to deal with chronic stress." Prof. Chen adds: "Some studies have shown that patients suffering from depression have more of this receptor than average, and this suggests further avenues of research and even ways to treat, in the future, disorders that arise from chronic stress."
The butt of jokes as little as 10 years ago, automatic speech recognition is now on the verge of becoming people's chief means of interacting with their principal computing devices.

In anticipation of the age of voice-controlled electronics, MIT researchers have built a low-power chip specialized for automatic speech recognition. Whereas a cellphone running speech-recognition software might require about 1 watt of power, the new chip requires between 0.2 and 10 milliwatts, depending on the number of words it has to recognize.

In a real-world application, that probably translates to a power savings of 90 to 99 percent, which could make voice control practical for relatively simple electronic devices. That includes power-constrained devices that have to harvest energy from their environments or go months between battery charges. Such devices form the technological backbone of what's called the "internet of things," or IoT, which refers to the idea that vehicles, appliances, civil-engineering structures, manufacturing equipment, and even livestock will soon have sensors that report information directly to networked servers, aiding with maintenance and the coordination of tasks.

"Speech input will become a natural interface for many wearable applications and intelligent devices," says Anantha Chandrakasan, the Vannevar Bush Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT, whose group developed the new chip. "The miniaturization of these devices will require a different interface than touch or keyboard. It will be critical to embed the speech functionality locally to save system energy consumption compared to performing this operation in the cloud."

"I don't think that we really developed this technology for a particular application," adds Michael Price, who led the design of the chip as an MIT graduate student in electrical engineering and computer science and now works for chipmaker Analog Devices. "We have tried to put the infrastructure in place to provide better trade-offs to a system designer than they would have had with previous technology, whether it was software or hardware acceleration."

Price, Chandrakasan, and Jim Glass, a senior research scientist at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, described the new chip in a paper Price presented last week at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference.

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The sleeper wakes

Today, the best-performing speech recognizers are, like many other state-of-the-art artificial-intelligence systems, based on neural networks, virtual networks of simple information processors roughly modeled on the human brain. Much of the new chip's circuitry is concerned with implementing speech-recognition networks as efficiently as possible.

But even the most power-efficient speech recognition system would quickly drain a device's battery if it ran without interruption. So the chip also includes a simpler "voice activity detection" circuit that monitors ambient noise to determine whether it might be speech. If the answer is yes, the chip fires up the larger, more complex speech-recognition circuit.

In fact, for experimental purposes, the researchers' chip had three different voice-activity-detection circuits, with different degrees of complexity and, consequently, different power demands. Which circuit is most power efficient depends on context, but in tests simulating a wide range of conditions, the most complex of the three circuits led to the greatest power savings for the system as a whole. Even though it consumed almost three times as much power as the simplest circuit, it generated far fewer false positives; the simpler circuits often chewed through their energy savings by spuriously activating the rest of the chip.

A typical neural network consists of thousands of processing "nodes" capable of only simple computations but densely connected to each other. In the type of network commonly used for voice recognition, the nodes are arranged into layers. Voice data are fed into the bottom layer of the network, whose nodes process and pass them to the nodes of the next layer, whose nodes process and pass them to the next layer, and so on. The output of the top layer indicates the probability that the voice data represents a particular speech sound.

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A voice-recognition network is too big to fit in a chip's onboard memory, which is a problem because going off-chip for data is much more energy intensive than retrieving it from local stores. So the MIT researchers' design concentrates on minimizing the amount of data that the chip has to retrieve from off-chip memory.

Bandwidth management

A node in the middle of a neural network might receive data from a dozen other nodes and transmit data to another dozen. Each of those two dozen connections has an associated "weight," a number that indicates how prominently data sent across it should factor into the receiving node's computations. The first step in minimizing the new chip's memory bandwidth is to compress the weights associated with each node. The data are decompressed only after they're brought on-chip.

The chip also exploits the fact that, with speech recognition, wave upon wave of data must pass through the network. The incoming audio signal is split up into 10-millisecond increments, each of which must be evaluated separately. The MIT researchers' chip brings in a single node of the neural network at a time, but it passes the data from 32 consecutive 10-millisecond increments through it.

If a node has a dozen outputs, then the 32 passes result in 384 output values, which the chip stores locally. Each of those must be coupled with 11 other values when fed to the next layer of nodes, and so on. So the chip ends up requiring a sizable onboard memory circuit for its intermediate computations. But it fetches only one compressed node from off-chip memory at a time, keeping its power requirements low.

The research was funded through the Qmulus Project, a joint venture between MIT and Quanta Computer, and the chip was prototyped through the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's University Shuttle Program.
The protein that helps the sperm and egg fuse together in sexual reproduction can also fuse regular cells together. Recent findings by a team of biomedical researchers from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Argentina, Uruguay and the U.S. show this protein is part of a larger family of proteins that helps other cells bind together to create larger organs, and which also allows viruses like Zika and Dengue to invade healthy cells.

For every sexually reproducing organism, sperm and egg fusion is the first step in the generation of a new individual. This process has been studied for more than 100 years in many organisms including humans, mice, insects, plants, sea urchins and even fungi. But the identity of the molecular machineries that mediate sperm and egg fusion remained unknown.

Now, the team led by Dr. Benjamin Podbilewicz, of the Technion Faculty of Biology, and Dr. Pablo S. Aguilar of Universidad Nacional de San Martin in Argentina, has demonstrated that the protein HAP2 -- a long known player in sperm-egg fusion -- is a protein that mediates a broad range of cell-cell fusion.

HAP2 is found in plants, protists (e.g. algae, protozoa, and slime molds) and invertebrates, and is therefore considered an ancestral protein present at the origins of the first eukaryotic cells (cells with real nuclei). However, a closer look at HAP2 led the researchers to conclude that HAP2's roots are even older. Structural and phylogenetic analysis of HAP2 proteins revealed they are homologous to proteins used by viruses such as Zika and Dengue to fuse viral membrane to the membrane of the cell they invade.

According to the researchers, this means HAP2, FF and viral fusion proteins constitute a superfamily of membrane fusion proteins, which the authors named Fusexins (fusion proteins essential for sexual reproduction and exoplasmic merger of plasma membranes).

"Fusexins are fascinating machines that keep a structural core diversified to execute cell membrane fusion in very different contexts," says Prof. Podbilewicz. "Understanding the different structure-function relationships of fusexins will enable scientists to rationally manipulate cell-cell fusion in fertilization and tissue development. The added and very timely benefit is that it provides us greater understanding of how Zika and other viruses cause diseases in their target hosts."

The striking similarities between proteins that promote membrane fusion under very different contexts led the authors to dig into mechanistic details. Performing cell-cell fusion experiments, the researchers demonstrated that, like FF fusexins, HAP2 is needed in both fusing cells to promote membrane cell fusion. This bilateral requirement of HAP2 and FF fusexins differs from the viral mechanism of action, where fusexin is only present in the viral membrane.

The combined conservation of structure, sequence, and function imply that these proteins diverged from a common ancestor. Fusexins might have emerged 2-3 billion years ago to promote a primordial form of genetic material exchange between cells. Later, enveloped viruses took these fusion proteins to infect cells more efficiently. Finally, multicellular organisms adapted fusexins to sculpt organs like muscle and bone-repairing osteoclasts in vertebrates and skin and the vagina in worms through cell-cell fusion.
A study at the Gerontology Research Center demonstrated that, in blood circulation, the exosome-carried messenger molecule profile differs between post- and premenopausal women. The differences were associated with circulating estrogen and cholesterol levels as well as body composition and other health indicators. These findings enable using the studied molecules in the evaluation of health status.

"The studied messenger molecules are packed in the exosomes, which are released by the cells into the circulation. Exosomes are spherical nanoscale lipid vesicles. These small packages carry microRNA molecules, which are considered to be messengers between the cells regulating gene function," says Docent Eija Laakkonen.

The study was the first to show that specific exosome-packed microRNAs are sensitive to the estrogen levels in the circulation, which is influenced both by age and the use of hormonal therapies. The results can be exploited in evaluating the effects of hormonal contraceptives and hormone replacement therapies on the overall physiological status of women. When the regulatory mechanisms of the microRNAs are better understood, the microRNA profile can be used for recognizing individuals with a high risk for metabolic disorders, or even lowering the risk.

"It seems, therefore, that the postmenopausal declining amount of circulating estrogen changes the cargo inside the exosomes. When these exosome packages are delivered to the target tissues, the contents are released to the correct recipient cell. These delivered messages change the function of the cell," explains doctoral candidate Reeta Kangas. "The next step would be to perform functional studies in order to see how estrogen regulates the exosome cargo and how the message is further processed inside the recipient cell."

A study as significant as this, needs broad collaboration, states the leader of the study, Docent Vuokko Kovanen. This study was conducted in collaboration with the Gerontology Research Center, University of Jyvaskyla, the Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku and the Turku Clinical Sequencing Laboratory. In addition, researchers from the University of Oulu and The Finnish Institute for Molecular Medicine were involved.

The study has been published in the Scientific Reports journal by Nature Publishing.
A remarkable 250 million-year-old "terrible-headed lizard" fossil found in China shows an embryo inside the mother -- clear evidence for live birth.

Head of The University of Queensland's School of Earth and Environmental Sciences and co-author Professor Jonathan Aitchison said the fossil unexpectedly provided the first evidence for live birth in an animal group previously thought to exclusively lay eggs.

"Live birth is well known in mammals, where the mother has a placenta to nourish the developing embryo," Professor Aitchison said.

"Live birth is also very common among lizards and snakes, where the babies sometimes 'hatch' inside their mother and emerge without a shelled egg."

Until recently it was thought the third major group of living land vertebrates, the crocodiles and birds (part of the wider group Archosauromorpha) only laid eggs.

"Indeed, egg-laying is the primitive state, seen at the base of reptiles, and in their ancestors such as amphibians and fishes," Professor Aitchison said.

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He said the new fossil was an unusual, long-necked marine animal called an archosauromorph that flourished in shallow seas of South China in the Middle Triassic Period.

The creature was a fish-eater, snaking its long neck from side to side to snatch its prey.

Its fossil was one of many astonishingly well-preserved specimens from new "Luoping biota" locations in south-western China. There were no known fossils like this (marine vertebrates of this age) from Australia.

Lead author Professor Jun Liu from Hefei University of Technology China, said the researchers were "excited" when they first saw this embryonic specimen.

"We were not sure if the embryonic specimen was the mother's last lunch or its unborn baby," Professor Liu said.

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"Upon further preparation and closer inspection, we discovered something unusual."

He said the embryo was inside the mother's rib cage, and it faced forward; swallowed animals generally face backward because the predator swallows its prey head-first to help it go down its throat.

Furthermore, the small reptile inside the mother was an example of the same species.

"Further evolutionary analysis revealed the first case of live birth in such a wide group containing birds, crocodilians, dinosaurs and pterosaurs among others, and pushes back evidence of reproductive biology in the group by 50 million years," Professor Liu said.

"Information on reproductive biology of archosauromorphs before the Jurassic Period was not available until our discovery, despite a 260 million-year history of the group."

Professor Chris Organ from Montana State University said evolutionary analysis showed that this instance of live birth was also associated with genetic sex determination.

"Some reptiles today, such as crocodiles, determine the sex of their offspring by the temperature inside the nest," he said.

"We identified that Dinocephalosaurus, a distant ancestor of crocodiles, determined the sex of its babies genetically, like mammals and birds.

"This new specimen from China rewrites our understanding of the evolution of reproductive systems."

Professor Mike Benton of the University of Bristol said analysis of the evolutionary position of the new specimens showed no fundamental reason why archosauromorphs could not have evolved live birth.

"This combination of live birth and genotypic sex determination seems to have been necessary for animals such as Dinocephalosaurus to become aquatic," he said.

"It's great to see such an important step forward in our understanding of the evolution of a major group coming from a chance fossil find in a Chinese field."

The work is part of ongoing wider collaborations between palaeontologists in China, the United States, the UK and Australia.
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The U.S. has agreed to provide Kenya with twelve AT-802U light attack aircraft and two AT-504s (two seat versions of the AT-802 equipped as trainers.) The deal is worth $400 million, which comes out to $28.6 million per aircraft. Without military electronics and weapons systems these aircraft cost about $4 million each. Military type sensors, electronics and weapons systems can triple that price. Add in maintenance and training contracts, spare parts, a supply of ammo plus the usual bribes for local officials and the cost per aircraft can easily get close to $30 million. The AT-802s are meant to replace Kenyas aging (and largely inoperable) F-5 jet fighters.

Air Tractor, the American firm that makes the popular AT-802 crop duster, now offers a militarized version, called the AT-802U. This version is modified during construction to carry military sensors (like the Sniper XR targeting pod) as well as a variety of weapons. These include the GAU-19 three-barrel 12.7mm machine-gun, the M260 launcher (for seven 70mm unguided or laser guided rockets), Hellfire laser guided missiles and the Mk 82 227 kg (500 pound) bomb. This came after years of the military modifying AT-802s for combat, either for reconnaissance or as a ground attack aircraft. The T-802U comes equipped with eleven hard points for attaching weapons and sensors as well as wiring for adding fire control systems for machine-guns and laser guided missiles.

This 7.2 ton aircraft first appeared in 1990 as a crop duster. The AT-802 had a built in 3,100 liters (820 gallons) tank for insecticide or whatever. But it was soon noted that AT-802s performed well for fire-fighting duties (by dropping fire retardant). Cruising speed of the AT-802 is 356 kilometers an hour and endurance is about three hours.

In 2009 a militarized version appeared, with lightweight armor around the cockpit and key components. There was also a bulletproof windscreen. The frame was strengthened to give the aircraft a useful life of 12,000 hours in the air. This militarized version could have one or two seats plus seven hard points for up to four tons of missiles or bombs and a fire control system to handle smart weapons. The UAE bought 24 of these and in 2015 transferred three AT-802s to the Yemeni Air Force and is training more pilots and maintenance personnel to operate these light bombers. There are already some Yemeni (or UAE) pilots operating the Yemeni AT-802s there. In late 2015 the UAE (United Arab Emirates) donated four U.S. made AT-802 single engine aircraft to Jordan for reconnaissance and surveillance missions. Some have also shown up in Libya, used by local forces fighting Islamic terrorists.

The idea for the militarized version came after eight AT-802 aircraft, paid for by the U.S. State Department, were given to Colombia in 2002. These were used to eradicate drug crops under an American anti-drug program. Because the drug gangs began to shoot at these AT-802s some were modified with the addition of the same type of armor (including self-sealing fuel tanks and internal fire extinguishing system) that showed up in 2009 military version. By 2009 the customized AT-802s for Colombia had evolved into what is now the AT-802U, a military versions which has been increasingly popular for reconnaissance and bombing. Responding to all that Air Tractor decided to build new AT-802s as AT-802Us, already customized with armor, bullet proof-glass and other additions that have been added to the basic crop duster models for nearly a decade.
Naval readiness is in the news because for the last eight years the U.S. Navy has been told to put off training, maintenance of ships and aircraft and instead put as much as possible into expanding the navy to over 300 ships. The goal fluctuated between 308 and 350 but now there is the realization that readiness is more important. Any naval historian could have told you that. But its also true that politicians have an easier time getting the voters behind creating a large navy than paying for one than can actually go to sea and fight.

This is not a new problem. Since 2001 the U.S. Navy has faced growing problems maintaining the size of its fleet. At the same time the problem of how large a navy the United States needs has been around for a long time. As far back as 2004 there were loud complaints that the fleet too small to meet the nation's maritime defense needs. Historical comparisons were sometimes used, as in pointing out that the navy had fewer ships in 2004 than it did in 1930. Technically, that was true. In 1930 the Navy had 357 ships in commission, while by 2004 it had about 290. There were, however, some very important differences between the fleets of 1930 and 2004. In 1930 the fleet had only about 140 major warships (battleships, carriers, cruisers, and destroyers) plus about 80 submarines for a total of about 220 fighting ships. The rest of the fleet included 36 mine warfare vessels, about 30 gunboats, and nearly 70 auxiliaries of various types. Move forward 74 years and a smaller 21st century fleet had eleven carriers, 102 surface warships and 72 submarines. This came to 185 warships. In addition there were 36 amphibious warfare vessels, a category that did not exist in 1930. A dozen of these amphibs were 40,000 ton carriers (for helicopters and any other vertical takeoff aircraft), plus 17 mine warfare vessels, 34 logistics support ships, and 18 miscellaneous support ships. So the fleet certainly was indeed smaller than it was in 1930 but was enormously more powerful. But there were other factors to consider. In 1930 the U.S. had a lot more competition on the high seas. The British Royal Navy was actually larger than the American fleet while the Imperial Japanese Navy was around 70 percent of the size of the U.S. fleet.

By 2004 there was a lot less competition and the U.S. Navy was able to maintaining a "17 Navy standard". That means the total tonnage of the American fleet was equal to the combined tonnage of the next 17 navies (in terms of size). Even combining the two biggest potential naval competitors (the Chinese and the Russians), the U.S. Navy still had a three to one advantage in tonnage. The advantage was substantially more when you took combat power (the quality and capabilities of the ships and crews) into account.

There were other ways to show American naval domination. In 2004 there were 34 aircraft carriers (vessels capable of operating combat aircraft) and the United States owned 24 (71 percent). This was eight times more than the second leading navy, the decidedly friendly Royal Navy, which had with three V/STOL carriers. In addition, the U.S. surface warships carried four times as many VLS (vertical missile launchers) cells as the rest of the world navies combined. The U.S. submarine fleet enjoyed better force ratios against the next two most numerous underwater fleets than it did against the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

In 2004 the U.S. Navy had greater command of the world's oceans than any fleet has ever possessed. That was then, what about now? The United States still has the most powerful fleet, despite continuing Chinese efforts to build its first modern high-seas combat fleet. For the United States, after 2001 it really became a question of how much naval superiority could you afford and how best to do the most with what you got.

By 2004 many U.S. Navy leaders had realized that a larger fleet was not going to be possible. Back then the long desired goal was 375 warship fleet. In 2004 there were nearly 300 ships but that number was declining and was to shrink to as few as 200 ships by 2020. There was an inevitability to this because older Cold War era ships were wearing out and had to be retired. New ships were not be being built quickly enough to replace them. The biggest cuts were expected in amphibious ships (expeditionary strike groups being cut from twelve to eight or less) and submarines (the 2004 force of 55 nuclear attack subs could fall to under 30.) But surface ships felt the cuts as well. Instead of building 24 of the new Zumwalt class destroyers that was expected to be cut to 13. That turned out to be optimistic as only three are being built. Fewer of the new LCS (littoral combat ships) were expected (40 instead of 56). In 2004 the navy wanted to put the money saved by building fewer ships and having fewer sailors, into new technology. Building modern warships is expensive, and the most expensive ships, the nuclear aircraft carriers, are first in line for replacement. Trying to maintain fleet size at close to 300 ships would cost about $20 billion more a year than Congress appeared willing to give the navy. The war on terror was mainly an Army and SOCOM (Special Operations Command) show, and that is where any extra money went go over the next decade.

But now the war on terror has become a lot less intense and there are growing calls for larger fleet. The question should be amended to include larger than who for what.
Four B-1B Lancers assigned to the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, arrive Feb. 6, 2017, at Andersen AFB, Guam. The 9th EBS is taking over U.S. Pacific Commands continuous bomber presence operations from the 34th EBS, assigned to Ellsworth AFB, S.D. The B-1Bs speed and superior handling characteristics allow it to seamlessly integrate with mixed force packages. While deployed at Guam the B-1Bs will continue conducting flight operations where international law permit. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Richard P. Ebensberger)

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The government offensive along the Red Sea coast has gained a lot of ground (especially coastline) so far this year. In January 1st the Shia rebels controlled nearly all of the 450 kilometer Yemeni Red Sea coastline. But now most of the coastline is back under government control and the next objective will be Red Sea port of Hodeida. This has been the main port for the delivery of foreign aid for civilians in rebel held areas. The rebels are accused of expelling UN personnel needed to inspect aid shipments and the government claims the rebels have been seizing aid shipments and preventing UN personnel from verifying that the aid is going to civilians. In March 2015 Iran made a deal with the Shia rebels to modernize and upgrade Hodeida but with the intervention of the Saudi led coalition that Iranian aid effort never got going. But since then the Iranians have made themselves useful in less publicized ways and the Arab nations in the region accuse Iran of trying to seize control of Yemen via the Shia minority there.

Given the stakes the rebels are trying to win back smaller ports like Midi (north of Hodeida) and Mocha (south of Hodeida) and fighting continues there and elsewhere along the coast. The combat is most intense at night, when government air support is less effective. Last night there were over a hundred casualties and it has been that way for several days. For over a year much of the violence has been in Taiz province, which has always been heavily fought over mainly because it has a lengthy Red Sea coastline which enabled smugglers to bring in weapons and other aid for the Shia rebels. But in the last few months the government forces have concentrated on the ports (towns and cities) on the Red Sea coast.

Iran

While Yemen seems to be in trouble Iran senses victory in Syria this year and everyone is waiting to see what the new U.S. government will do about Iranian support for the Shia rebels in Yemen as well as the Shia government in Syria. The previous American government agreed to lift many economic sanctions on Iran and as part of that deal provided Iran with billions in cash and refused to put much pressure on Iran for supporting military operations in Yemen, Iraq, Syria and elsewhere (in areas that attract less media attention, like Africa and South America). That is expected to change this year but it is unclear how soon and how much.

Captured rebel commanders admit (some say boast) that Hezbollah and Iranian personnel run military training camps in the north (Saada province) where the Shia rebel tribes have their ancient homeland. Despite overwhelming evidence of Iranian weapons being supplied to the Shia rebels the Russian and Chinese support in the UN blocks any international action against Iran for this. The Arab coalition has imposed an air, sea and land blockade of rebel territories but continued control of Red Sea coast areas and the inability to search all the numerous small cargo and fishing boats operating along the coast make it possible to well-paid smugglers to get most shipments through. The continued prevalence of accepting bribes from truckers wishing to avoid a search of their cargo allows smugglers to also use a land route via Oman. Iran makes no secret of the fact that it is supplying the cash (for bribes and the rebel payroll) as well as advisors. Also important is the Iranian run media campaign that has managed to get more attention paid to civilian casualties from the Arab coalition air attacks (the rebels have no air support but kill plenty of civilians without it). The smuggling not only keeps the Shia rebels supplied with ammo and light weapons (assault rifles, machine-guns. RPGs launchers) but also some very large items, like Iranian Zelzal-3 unguided rockets. Several of these have been fired at targets in Saudi Arabia and are easy to identify by examining fragments of the missile after it hits the ground. These rockets are very large. Zelzal-3 is a 9.4 meter (30 foot) long, 610mm (24 inch) diameter, 3.9 ton missile.

Another factor the Iranians are taking advantage of is the unwillingness of the Arab coalition to risk a lot of their own troops in combat. The Yemen war is not popular with the other Arab nations because Yemen is seen as its own worst enemy and no friend of the other Arabian states. But these Arab neighbors had little choice but to intervene in 2015 when the Yemen unrest became a full civil war as Shia rebels sought to take control of the entire country. Neighboring Arab states quickly formed a military coalition to halt that. The U.S. refused to send in ground troops but the Arabs eventually did. The Arab troops made a big difference despite suffering some embarrassing defeats along the way. This was an impressive display of Arab military capabilities, which benefitted from all the money spent on high-tech weapons since the 1990s. The Arab coalition appeared to be succeeding because by 2016 pro-government forces were close enough to launch a major assault on the rebel-held capital. At that point Arab coalition casualties also increased and the Arab coalition governments were reminded of how unpopular the Yemen intervention was at home. Over the last year the Arab coalition has managed to adapt and get its offensive moving again.

UN Cant Get No Traction

The UN continues to push for peace talks but the Iran backed Shia rebels are apparently not interested, at least not yet. The rebels and Iranian media keep calling for the UN to first investigate all the civilian casualties from Arab (mainly Saudi) air strikes. Iran, sensing better opportunities elsewhere, is ignoring UN calls to participate in peace talks. The Arab coalition is not interested either because, Iranian sponsored propaganda to the contrary, the government and their Arab allies feel they are winning. The march to victory is more a shuffle forward than a sprint to the finish line but a win is a win, especially when you are dealing with chronically troublesome neighbors. Not only are UN pleas for peace talks being ignored, so are calls for more donations of cash for food and other aid. The UN has obtained only about half the amount requested. The problem is the chronic corruption in Yemen and the fact that even with so many (millions) of Yemenis dependent on food aid, a lot of this aid gets diverted by corrupt officials and local (often tribal) leaders. Pledges to deal with the corruption was what initially got the Shia rebels support from non-Shia Yemenis. That support has since faded because the Shia have demonstrated they are less concerned with reducing corruption than they are with expanding their own power. UN pleas for aid get some response from the oil rich nations backing the government and rebels, but this appears to be mainly to obtain some positive publicity in a situation where most of the news is relentlessly negative.

Poverty and hunger are nothing new for Yemen and the primary causes have been around for a long time. The population problem is the result of a high birth rate, which is sustained by ancient customs and religious beliefs. The impact of conservative forms of Islam also means there has been little economic or educational improvements, at least compared to the non-Islamic world, for a long time. The economy is primitive and unproductive. Water, food and power shortages, as well as growing unemployment make life miserable for most Yemenis. Because of all these pre-existing problems (overpopulation, water shortages, corruption) and all the unrest since 2011 Yemen is now broke, disorganized and desperate. Before the civil war began in 2011 the Yemeni GDP was $37 billion. Now it is about half that and still falling.

February 13, 2017: The Arab coalition has declared the port of Red Sea port of Hodeida to be a war zone and for foreign organizations operating there to act accordingly. This signals that the government forces are about to begin an offensive to drive the Shia rebels out of Hodeida. That would deprive the rebels of their major source of access to the outside world. Expect to see some interesting moves by Iran to assist the rebels in maintaining control of Hodeida, especially as the rebels lose access to the rest of the Red Sea coastline.

In the south (Aden) there was sporadic shooting at the airport outside the port city over the weekend. There have been about a dozen casualties. This was the result of corruption in that someone had stolen the money meant for the payroll of the tribal militia that has been guarding the airport since 2015. The UAE has been supplying the cash for this and it is still unclear who was responsible (or irresponsible) for the problem. In any event the aggrieved tribal militia closed the airport on the 10th to pressure whoever to get them paid. The provincial governor wanted to keep the airport open while the payroll problem was handled so he asked the Presidential Guard (stationed in Aden because that is where the national government is temporarily based) to go provide security at the airport. The tribal militia was unwilling to cooperate and the airport remained closed amidst occasional gunfire.

February 10, 2017: After five weeks of heavy fighting (and over a thousand casualties) government forces took control of the Red Sea port of Mocha.

February 5, 2017: Saudi Arabian air defense forces used a Patriot missile to shoot down a ballistic missile fired by Shia rebels towards a base in central Saudi Arabia (outside the capital, Riyadh). Iranian media insisted the missile landed but there was no evidence of that on the ground or posted to the Internet (from people living in the area, none of whom reported any visual or audio indications of a missile landing).

February 3, 2017: The United States sent a destroyer to join the Red Sea blockade of the Yemen coast. The United States already had an amphibious ship there, which carries nearly 2,000 marines and over 30 combat and transport helicopters. Apparently two more American destroyers are being sent into the Red Sea as well.

February 2, 2017: In the northwest across the border in the Saudi Arabian province of Jizan Yemeni Shia rebels killed a Saudi border guard (who encountered one of the landmines the Yemeni rebels had planted). The Yemenis sneak across the border at night to plant mines in or along the border road. Such violence has killed about six Saudis (or foreign workers in Saudi Arabia) a month since early 2015.

January 31, 2017: In the northwest, off the coast, three Shia rebel speedboats carrying suicide bombers sought to attack a Saudi frigate enforcing the blockade. One of the speedboats managed to explode near the rear of the ship, killing two sailors and wounding three others. The rebels, and Iranian media, claimed the damage was done by an anti-ship missile but the Saudis had a video camera watching the area where the speedboat approached and exploded. That video matched the damage seen when the 3,600 ton French built frigate returned to port.

January 30, 2017: The Shia rebels (or at least the Iranian media that first reported it) claim to have used a ballistic missile to attack a Saudi base on Zuqar Island in the Red Sea. The Iranian media claimed that there were over a hundred casualties but there was no evidence of such an attack. Similar claims have been made before.

January 29, 2017: In central Yemen (Baida province) the first U.S. commando raid in Yemen this year took place in an effort to capture or kill Qasim al Raymi, the AQAP (Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) leader. This raid was in preparation since late 2016 and depended on lots of intel and surveillance. Raymi had survived for so long by adapting to the American use of continuous aerial surveillance. So finding Raymi became a matter of combing through vast quantities of video and electronic surveillance searching for patterns. That finally produced a prediction that Raymi would be meeting with tribal and other AQAP leaders in a small mountain village this night. Some 40 special operations troops were involved, including Navy SEALs. Apparently Raymi had not yet arrived or had just left and he was not involved in fighting. It is still unclear what Raymi was doing but he is still alive. The raiding force, while a few minutes away from the target, was informed that aerial surveillance indicated that there was more activity down there. It was unclear why. The raid commander decided to proceed. Once on the ground the raiders found many in the villagers awake and using their weapons to fight back. Air support fired on houses from which the raiders were being shot at. The raid left three AQAP leaders dead, along with eleven other AQAP gunmen. Lots of documents (mostly electronic) were seized and it was not revealed if any prisoners were taken. One SEAL was killed in the fighting and the villagers claimed over fifty civilian casualties from all the shooting (by raiders and their air support). Three more of the raiders were injured when leaving because their V-22 tilt wing aircraft had engine trouble when taking off and made a hard landing. The passengers and crew were put on another aircraft and got away safely. The disabled V-22 was destroyed by another air strike.

January 27, 2017: Saudi Arabian air defense forces used a Patriot missile to shoot down a ballistic missile fired by Shia rebels at a Saudi base in Narjan province (near the Yemen border).

January 23, 2017: In the southwest government forces launched another major attack in Taiz province, causing several hundred casualties in the last few days of air and ground attacks.

January 22, 2017: In central Yemen (Baida province) an American UAV used a missile to kill a well-known AQAP training expert. This marks an increase in American UAV activity in Yemen, with four UAV attacks so far this year. There were 39 UAV attacks in 2016 and it appears 2017 will be more active than 2002 (the peak year when there were 41 attacks.)

January 21, 2017: In central Yemen (Baida province) an American UAV used a missile to kill three AQAP men in a vehicle.

January 20, 2017: In central Yemen (Baida province) an American UAV used a missile to kill an AQAP military trainer.
Open Bug Bounty  the alternative crowd security platform for security researchers

HackerOne has recently announced a $40 million investment, bringing the total amount of cash invested into the prominent startup to $74 million. The company, however, does not disclose the valuation or profitability. In light of similar VC deals, involving other crowd security companies such as BugCrowd, one may think that you need a lot of money to build your own bug bounty platform, but its not always the case.

Today lets take a look at the Open Bug Bounty platform  started in 2014 by several security enthusiasts with no VC funding, its now grown to a platform with over 100,000 reported vulnerabilities, among which 35,000 are already fixed, including vulnerabilities on Facebook, LinkedIn, Amazon and eBay websites. All this without selling any stakes in the company to VCs, keeping their independence and freedom of creativity. We managed to speak to the Open Bug Bounty team via email and asked them several questions about the platform, its history, and future expansion plans.

What is the concept behind Open Bug Bounty?

Open Bug Bounty is a 100% non-profit project aimed to make the web safer. We provide an open platform where any security researcher, can report a security vulnerability on any website. However, we do not accept any vulnerability that may harm a website or its infrastructure during the testing process (e.g. SQL injection). Our role is to validate submissions and notify website owners by all reasonable means. Once we reach the website owner, s/he gets in contact with the security researcher who discovered the vulnerability, asks for help to patch the vulnerability (if needed) and coordinates disclosure. Ultimately, website owners can thank security researcher if they want, but there is no any obligation. Usually, researchers get symbolic gifts, some cash or sincere gratitude and recommendations in their profiles.

How does your platform compare to commercial Bug Bounty platforms, like HackerOne?

We believe that a bug bounty shall be open for everyone under equal conditions, differently from private bug bounty programs that may discriminate against security researchers by nationality, experience, certifications or other criteria. We connect companies, who cannot or dont want to continuously run official bounty program but are ready to accept help from volunteers, and white hat researchers motivated to assist them. Some researchers report vulnerabilities via our platform after being unfairly prevented from participating in private bounty programs, but still wish to help. Others may prefer to use our platform after not receiving any response from an official bounty.

Researchers also use our platform as a trusted clearinghouse by using the private submission feature to validate their submissions to official bounty programs. The private submission will be validated and confirmed by us but will be accessible only via a secret link that the researcher may send alongside the official submission to independently confirm vulnerability discovery. This can be helpful when a company denies the existence of the vulnerability or says that it has been previously reported to refuse bounty payment (a frequent case, unfortunately). Afterward, such submissions can be deleted without any mention in public and thus not violating the rules of bounty payment.

Which security researchers use Open Bug Bounty?

We have people from many different countries, some of them are already working in the industry for several years, others are students. Open Bug Bounty is a great example of a volunteering project in the cyber security industry. We know that some top researchers get job offers from security companies. People start citing their Open Bug Bounty profiles with their achievements on LinkedIn and CVs. Trust and credibility of our community is continuously growing.

You recently started accepting CSRF and Improper Access Control vulnerabilities, any plans for SQL injections or RCEs?

As anyone can ethically and responsibly report a vulnerability to a website owner via our platform, everything is based on non-intrusive testing approach. Therefore, we are currently evaluating this options, but we are not ready to put them into production yet.
Great-West Lifeco Inc., a financial services holding company, engages in the life and health insurance, retirement and investment services, asset management, and reinsurance businesses in Canada, the United States, and Europe. The company offers a portfolio of financial and benefit plan solutions for individuals, families, businesses, and organizations; life, disability, critical illness, accidental death, dismemberment, health and dental protection, and creditor insurance products; and retirement savings and income, annuity, and other specialty products. It also provides employer-sponsored retirement savings plans, individual retirement and taxable brokerage accounts, enrollment services, communication materials, investment options, and education services; and fund management, investment, and advisory services. In addition, the company offers private-label recordkeeping and administrative services; and investment products, including equity, fixed income, absolute return, and alternative strategies. Further, it provides protection and wealth management products, including payout annuity products; pension products; and life, annuity/longevity, mortgage surety, and property catastrophe reinsurance products. The company offers its products under the Canada Life, Irish Life, Empower, Putnam Investments, and PanAgora brand names. It distributes its products through a network of advisors, dealers, brokers, managing general agencies, financial institutions, consultants, third-party administrators, sales force, financial planners, employee benefit consultants, banks, and multi-tied agents. The company was founded in 1891 and is based in Winnipeg, Canada. Great-West Lifeco Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Power Financial Corporation.
There's something about China that won't let Harriet Zucker give up on her. It doesn't matter what others say about the troubled dog, or even what Zucker, founder of Red Hook Dog Rescue, has seen with her own eyes. Like how angry China gets in a crate. Make no mistake: China has real issues. In fact, she was nearly euthanized three times. "If you approach her cage, she'll go ballistic," Zucker tells The Dodo. "She can't be crated." Even if she does, sometimes, calm down.

Red Hook Dog Rescue

Other dogs? She's not ready yet. Cats? No chance. So why make such an effort to work through this dog's troubles and find her a very, very specific home? "I like her," Zucker simply says. I see something in her." Probably because Zucker has seen something else with her own eyes. When she brought China to a training facility in Vermont - basically, just putting down the crate at a rural boarding facility and getting out of the way - a different dog emerged. Think ball of energy.

Dodo Shows Little But Fierce Pocket-Sized Kitten Grows Up To Be A Wild Woman

Red Hook Dog Rescue

"She ran and she ran and she picked up sticks and played with them," Zucker says. And she showed a downright dog-like obsession with balls.

Red Hook Dog Rescue

It makes Zucker just want to try. Because somewhere under all those stony layers - an avalanche of heartache, betrayal and abandonment - there's a dog looking for a chance to shine. "She probably lived in the same place forever," Zucker says. "She probably had never met other dogs, and very few people." And, at just a couple years old, China hasn't had much of a chance to do that.

Red Hook Dog Rescue

She was found last July tied to a fire hydrant in Queens, New York. The dog was so ornery, people wouldn't get close to her. Finally, an animal control officer brought her to the Animal Care Centers of New York - using a very long pole. "At the shelter, it was the same story," Zucker says. "She did poorly in a cage." China was inches from being euthanized at the shelter, when Zucker arrived and decided to take a chance on her. She didn't exactly impress her new handlers. On several occasions, even Zucker was close to having China put down. But then, China would offer a glimpse of what she could be. "She's so gentle when she takes treats," Zucker says. China recently bonded hard with the man who's taking care of her at a kennel in Long Island. She met a cow for the first time. And an emu at a sanctuary in Vermont. "She is not a fan," Zucker notes. "But curious."

Red Hook Dog Rescue

She also loves car rides, which makes Zucker wonder if she would make a perfect sidekick for a truck driver. "We learned that she's maybe not a bad dog at all," Zucker adds. And that there are no bad dogs. Just very bad beginnings.

Red Hook Dog Rescue

Not everyone can hear a cry for help amid the growling and barking. But Zucker did. And now, she's committed to taking China on this long journey - a road that's paved with training and more training - until she finally finds just the right home for her. For now, China is looking for a foster home - somewhere in New York state, where she can be the only pet in the home. No cats. No crates. Just patience. And eventually, the dog who's been pent up in her own skin will finally come out. And play.

Red Hook Dog Rescue
The friendly goat is just one of the many residents at The Gentle Barn Tennessee, a sanctuary that rescues, rehabilitates and cares for rescued farm animals  and inspires others to do the same. It was there that she struck up a sweet rapport with the delivery guy who, as it turns out, is equally as fond of her.

"When she hears his truck pull in she will drop whatever she is doing to run and see him," the sanctuary wrote on Facebook. "She will wait right outside his truck for him and sometimes even get impatient and climb in. He always brings peanut butter treats for her and gives her lots of love while he is here. The UPS man loves Pearl too, and has told us that no matter what kind of day he is having, when he sees Pearl run to greet him everything is better. Sometimes we find love in the most unexpected places!"

And what's not to love about Pearl?
Brooke Nevils doesnt merely want her name out there. She also wants her voice heard. Loudly, clearly and very forcefully. 
Donald Trump never vowed to make English great again.

So nobody can accuse the U.S. president of breaking any promises as he and his surrogates wage war on spelling, grammar, semantics, syntax, punctuation and once-accepted definitions. If this White House ever publishes a special MAGA Dictionary, the entries will include attaker, Denmakr, San Bernadino, honered, unpresidented and rediculous.

I suspect this is why Trumps signature resembles an EKG for someone who just ran a 100-metre dash: the dense, trilateral waves make it impossible to tell if hes just scribbled, Donold Trimp. If he remembers to send the First Lady a Valentine on Tuesday, theres an excellent chance it will read: Dear Melanoma, I will luv you for at leest for more years. Please be mined.

Language is contagious. This is why people often unconsciously adopt phrases and inflection tics from family and friends. You can see this most dramatically with kids. Once a word or exclamation gains currency on the playground, it boomerangs into homes and the viral replication is, to quote my daughters, Sick, right?

Whats interesting about Trumps assault on the language is that it is spreading to agencies and proxies beyond the realm of ideology. Its even infecting keepsakes.

On Sunday evening, the Library of Congress was forced to pull the $16.95 Donald Trump Inauguration Print from its online store after a typo in the pull-quote was widely mocked on social media: No dream is too big, no challenge is to (sic) great. Nothing we want for the future is beyond our reach.

Well, except for that second o in too. That was beyond the reach of the howler monkey tasked with proofreading this rediculous poster. Now, considering the first too, just five words earlier, is spelled correctly and the marketing blurb includes this print captures the essence of Donald Trumps campaign, we probably cant rule out an act of insider sabotage.

But if this was yet another example of orthographic sloppiness  and weve had dozens in the last year from Team Trump  what does it say about the culture of accuracy in this administration? Its almost as if the worker bees cant be bothered sweating the small details because the big picture seems like one big typo: He wants to spend $21.6 billion on a wall? Screw it, Im spelling it whall.

As the internal misery grows, the mistakes multiply.

Earlier on Sunday, before the poster gaffe, the U.S. Department of Educations twitter account pushed out an inspirational quote: Education must not simply teach work  it must teach life. Theres nothing wrong with the message. But the epigram was attributed to one W.E.B. DeBois, which is apparently how W.E.B. Du Bois is now spelled under new school czar Betsy DeVos.

Its a good thing they didnt try to quote Dostoyevsky.

After that error was widely mocked, the agency made matters worse with: Post updated  our deepest apologizes (sic) for the earlier typo.

A typo in an apology for a typo?

From the Department of Education?

Im starting to think this is why every member of Team Trump lies so blatantly and with such ease: words have lost all meaning to them. They are just a series of random letters. There is no objective reality, no pressure to abide by conventions. There is just cultlike subservience to a man who, based on his tweets and verbal outbursts, has the vocabulary of a third-grader.

Just watch the TV interviews Stephen Miller did on Sunday. Miller is a White House senior policy adviser who looks like he just got off a Greyhound bus after a gruelling trek from his mortician convention. His eyes are dead. He looks deeply hostile to life itself. He speaks with the vague exertion of a man struggling to dislodge a marshmallow thats stuck to the roof of his mouth.

But while rehashing debunked claims about widespread voter fraud or confusing presidential powers with how things ought to work inside a dictatorship, what Miller is ultimately doing is butchering the language.

He says things that are demonstrably untrue and uses words that mean the opposite of what he seems to think they mean. This is an alternative dialect in a world of alternative facts. What matters is sheer repetition, not empirical evidence.

No wonder Trump was so pleased with Millers TV tour on Sonday.

He did a grate job, just the gratest.

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PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIACambodias King Norodom Sihamoni will preside over the premiere Saturday of Angelina Jolies film based on a memoir from a Khmer Rouge survivor.

Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk and senior government officials will also attend the showing of First They Killed My Father at the centuries-old Angkor Wat temple complex, a spokesman for the government agency that oversees the archeological site said Tuesday.

Jolie, who directed the Khmer-language film on location in 2015-16, is also scheduled to attend.

Two free public screens are planned at the site near Siem Reap in northwestern Cambodia.

The film is based on Loung Ungs account of her survival as a child under the 1975-79 communist Khmer Rouge regime, believed to be responsible for the deaths of 1.7 million Cambodians from starvation, disease and execution.

Jolie has had an affinity for Cambodia since she began goodwill work for the U.N.s refugee agency in 2001, and her eldest son, Maddox, was adopted from the country. She also has established a foundation to promote social development in rural Cambodia.

King Sihamonis late father, Norodom Sihanouk, produced, wrote, directed and sometimes even acted in more than two dozen films made when he was in and out of power. Sihamoni has a deep interest in art and culture, focused on dance, both ballet and classical Cambodian dance.

Long Kosal, the spokesman for Apsara Authority, the agency that oversees the temple complex, said he is pleased that the movie will have its premiere at Angkor Wat.

As a Khmer Rouge survivor, I am very proud that this movie is to be screened here, as the film will recall how the atrocities and harm caused to the Cambodian people under the Khmer Rouge regime, he said, explaining that it would be a good lesson to younger generations not to let such a brutal type of regime take power.

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The photo wasnt a small thing. It was a token of insider status. It was Justin Trudeaus wristband.

On arriving at the White House on Monday for his first face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump, Justin Trudeau brought a gift, a framed print of a photo showing Pierre Elliott Trudeau and Donald Trump at a function in the Waldorf Astoria in 1981. The elder Trudeau was receiving the Family of Man Gold Medallion Award. Trump, then about 34 years old, was offering remarks at the podium. Both men were in tuxes.

Justin Trudeaus first telephone conversation with Trump was last Nov. 9, the day after he amazed the world by winning the electoral college and the presidency. Trump mentioned that he had met Trudeaus father back in the day and admired him. This was news to Justin Trudeau. But apparently detectives were put on the search, and photographic evidence was unearthed at Library and Archives Canada. Print, frame, Bobs your uncle.

Read the latest news on U.S. President Donald Trump

Now heres why it matters: Donald Trump has spent his life dividing the world into people who deserve to get in and people who dont.

Thats how he became the target, at 27, of a justice department lawsuit in 1973 that claimed he and his father refused to rent to black tenants. (The Trumps countersued; the eventual settlement included no admission of guilt.)

Its what Trump seeks to do along the Mexican border. Its why he keeps smacking his head against the courts and the U.S. Constitution as he seeks to close Americas borders to visa-holders from seven predominately Muslim countries.

Read more:

Five revealing moments from the Trudeau-Trump day

Transcript of Trudeau, Trump statements after their first meeting in Washington

Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau shake hands: an analysis

Its what he does with membership fees at Mar-a-Lago and other exclusive Trump clubs. Its what he has taken great pleasure in doing as he selects members of his cabinet.

If Trump decides youre not allowed in, you get nowhere with him. He mocks you on Twitter, makes policy just to spite you, summons the sputtering apparatus of the White House staff and the rickety machinery of government to shut you down, if any of them can manage the task.

But if he accepts you, you actually have some latitude with him. The most astonishing example so far is the way he let Gen. James Mattis do, once Mattis became his nominee as defence secretary, what nobody else had succeeded in doing: persuade Trump that torture is useless as an instrument of government policy.

Trumps attitude is summarized in the lyrics, at first comic and then haunting, of Paul Simons recent single, Wristband: Wristband, my man, youve got to have a wristband/ If you dont have a wristband, my man, you dont get through the door.

Justin Trudeau decided early that he was better inside the door than out. Two pieces of political theatre yesterday were designed to get him in.

First, the photo. It shows that when Trump spins a random old yarn over the phone, Trudeau listens and acts. And it reminds Trump that two successive generations of Trudeaus have been the kind of people who could walk through the kind of door only Donald Trump can open. Thats what a wristband does.

Second, the round table on women entrepreneurs with Ivanka Trump.

The president has been in open conflict with the Nordstrom department-store chain for a week because Nordstrom dropped Ivanka Trumps line of clothing and accessories. He has sent White House staffers out to plead her case, and castigate Nordstrom, on the news shows. In Canada, some are calling for a boycott of The Bay because the chain wont drop Ivanka Trumps merchandise.

And what does Trudeau do in the middle of all this? His office organizes an event with Ivanka Trump, sits with cabinet ministers and senior staff at a long table to hear her ideas, makes her the focus at midday of an international summit.

Trudeau could not have been signalling more clearly if he had brought navy crewmen with semaphore flags. Family is family. Trumps is welcomed and accepted, in the middle of a storm, just as Trudeaus father was accepted at some society shindig Trump attended a generation ago.

From this basis, miracles need not ensue and trouble is not banished. At their joint news conference, Trump seemed plainly bored by the bilateral issues the two had discussed, eager to change the subject to Mexicans or terrorism or Mike Flynn, his embattled national security adviser  who has his wristband, was welcomed inside the perimeter long ago, and whom Trump was therefore in a mood to defend.

Trudeaus gamble is that by getting in close to Trump  closer than many Canadians on the centre and left want him to get  hell have voice and standing inside that weird bunker, for as long as Trump influences our two countries shared life.

Paul Wells is a national affairs writer. His column appears Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

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FREDERICTONAnimal welfare advocates are welcoming proposed changes to legislation in New Brunswick that include increased fines and a new offence related to animal abandonment.

Andrea Boyd of People for Stronger Animal Protection says her group has been pushing for the changes for years.

Local Government Minister Serge Rousselle says too often people leave an animal behind when the lease on an apartment expires  and that will now be an offence with a fine ranging from $240 to $5,200.

The fine for failing to humanely euthanize an animal will now range between $240 and $10,200, while anyone convicted of holding an animal fighting contest could face a fine of up to $200,000 and be imprisoned up to eight months.

A new section will be added to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act requiring veterinarians to report when they encounter an animal not being properly cared for.

Boyd says she is still pushing the government for more changes, including protection of animals from extreme weather.

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MONTREALA Canadian military veteran with post-traumatic stress syndrome killed himself Saturday in a confrontation with police just hours after complaining about the governments handling of his case.

Carl Jason Dunphy, 39, wrote on his Facebook page Saturday morning that he had been fighting with Veterans Affairs Canada for additional help with operational stress injuries after serving three combat tours in Afghanistan.

Its eating away at my resources and my strength. Its not up to friends and spouses to deal with this because a government organization doesnt act, the native of Edmunston, N.B., wrote.

That night, the Surete du Quebec responded to a tip from the Edmunston police force about a suicidal man headed into their jurisdiction.

After tracking the individual using cellular telephone signals to the Quebec town of St-Louis-du-Ha!-Ha!, about 70 kilometres from Edmunston, officers found a man in his car with another person.

The police forced them out of the vehicle, but the man quickly jumped back into the car and turned his handgun on himself, said a statement from Quebecs Bureau des Enquetes Independantes, which investigates deaths and injuries resulting from police interventions.

No additional details about the other person in the vehicle or the actions that led up to the incident were released.

The death of Dunphy, who served with the 5e Regiment dartillerie legere du Canada, which is based in Valcartier, Que., has sent shockwaves through the military and veterans community.

Paul Nichols met Dunphy in Edmunston during the tail end of a horseback ride across Canada in 2015 to raise awareness about veterans issues.

Nichols said in an interview that Dunphy had suffered multiple concussions as a result of roadside-bomb strikes over the course of three deployments in Afghanistan and was left struggling with short-term memory as a result.

He was just a huge-hearted man who was really just trying to find his way, Nichols said from his farm in Quesnel, B.C. He told me that he was going to ride for the ones that couldnt.

Pierre-Luc Jean, a friend, said he was worried about Dunphy after reading the Facebook posting Saturday morning and felt instinctively that it was his friend who was the subject of news reports Sunday referring to an Edmunston man who took his life later that night in a run-in with police.

Dunphy had spoken openly about his experiences during three combat missions in Afghanistan as well as his frustrations getting help from Veterans Affairs Canada.

Im not his oldest friend. Its only two or three years that Ive known him but it has always been like that, Jean said in a telephone interview from his home near Quebec City.

Over the last year hes been trying to get additional psychological help. He wanted medical help as well as money for his treatments because if he wasnt able to get help (from Veterans Affairs Canada) he wanted to get it elsewhere.

A spokesperson for Veterans Affairs Canada said the government could not comment on the particulars of Dunphys case both because personal information is protected by the Privacy Act and because the mans death is under investigation.

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased as well as those first responders impacted by this tragedy, Zoltan Csepregi wrote in a statement.

The statement added: We are working hard to ensure that each and every time a veteran comes forward with a mental health concern, they receive the support they need.

But Nichols said Dunphys death shows that the governments support network is still failing those who need help the most.

Carl was in the system through Veterans Affairs. Its not like he was living in the bush somewhere on his own and decided to (end his life). He was in the system. He was an active veterans voice in his community and I think that we could have done better.

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REGINAA Saskatchewan man has been found guilty of uttering threats against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after posting expletive-laden posts on Facebook saying Trudeau should be shot.

Christopher Hayes, 41, was fined $500 and given nine months of probation, which includes a ban on attending events with Trudeau. He is also prohibited from owning firearms for three years.

In a Facebook post on March 6, 2016, Hayes wrote: Imma buot to go shoot this mother (expletive) dead.

And if the Canadian liberal voters wont stand up for all fn Canadians and demand better conduct by the Trudeau government Ill cut off the head if the snake myself and go down in the history books as the man who saves Canada, the post continued.

On July 8, 2016, Hayes posted: Am I going to kill JT? Nope. Physically harm the guy? Nope. I do think however he should be shot dead ... and I would personally thank the person who did kill him.

The defence argued that Hayes did not intend to utter a threat, but only to express an opinion. It said considering the context in which the words were written and posted, a reasonable person would not find them to be a threat to cause the death of the prime minister.

Provincial court Judge Ross Green disagreed.

I accept that Mr. Hayes did not intend to kill the prime minister and I further accept that he was frustrated by the economic problems he was facing when he made the posts on Facebook, Green said in a written statement Monday.

But ... I am satisfied that he intended the threatening words he used in both of his posts, regarding causing death to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to intimidate and to be taken seriously.

Court heard that the RCMP interviewed Hayes in April 2016, after seeing the first post, and Hayes said he wrote it out of frustration.

He claimed he was not a violent person, but said he had been working in the oilfield for 20 years and that Trudeau doesnt care about the oilfield. Hayes said that hed had a few drinks, was playing online video games and talking politics with his oil industry buddies at the time.

Hayes told the officer that he was tired of Trudeau, but that he was not going to go and do that, obviously.

Court heard that Hayes wasnt charged after the first post because the investigating officer believed Hayes understood the mistake he had made and would not do it again.

After the second post, Hayes was arrested at his home in Grayson, Sask., and charged with uttering a death threat to the prime minister.

In a 35-minute statement with police in August, Hayes said he would not kill Trudeau and said it was Trudeaus dealing with Quebec that led to the second post.

Even his mother told him to stop, Hayes told the officer. Hayes said he agreed when the officer told him that he had crossed a line.

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OTTAWAPrime Minister Justin Trudeau twice declined Tuesday to say or to guess what U.S. President Donald Trump means by tweaking the North American free trade deal as a senior Canadian official suggested the American administration hasn't got a plan yet.

Trudeaus entourage returned from what they said was a successful trip to Washington with Trumps statement that his real concerns on trade and border security lie with Mexico raising new questions about his intentions.

A Canadian official, briefing reporters on a background basis, said during meetings with Trump and his senior aides, there was no clear indication of how the U.S. would distinguish between Mexico and Canada in order to make trade fairer as Trump pledged.

The U.S. administration appears to still be trying to figure out how it can deal with what it perceives as problems with Mexico without harming or introducing problems to the northern cross-border relationship, said the official.

Nevertheless, several officials said after the meetings with Trump in Washington that he and his advisors understood the integration of supply chains and economic ties between states and provinces along the northern border.

As for any talk of import duties, or border adjustment taxes that might come through a comprehensive tax reform plan, the official who briefed reporters said it wasnt raised once by Trump or any of his officials. That was taken as an indication Trump is not as enthusiastic about it as fellow Republicans in Congress, like House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan. Ryan did raise it, but the Canadians dont anticipate any immediate moves.

Asked by reporters, Trudeau twice declined to answer what he thought Trump meant by tweaking.

The prime minister got no kudos for his visit from either the Conservatives or the NDP.

The NDP blasted Trudeau for failing to publicly decry what they called Trumps anti-immigration policies.

MP Jenny Kwan suggested Trudeau lacked courage to call out Trump's racist immigration policies, even though they are having a direct impact on Canadians.

Trudeau defended himself, saying I will say the same thing in Ottawa as I say in Washington; that he would emphasize shared concerns and disagree respectfully, clearly and honestly where necessary.

We were able to make sure that Americans understood fully and completely how many good jobs on both sides of the border depend on the close working relationship we have, said Trudeau.

Conservative interim leader Rona Ambrose said Trudeau must drop his plan for a carbon levy and reduce taxes for businesses and individuals, to stay competitive with the United States.

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said in the short term, the working relationship will improve. He said the two countries agreed on renewed cooperation on a response to dealing with the rise in opioid use and supply, and on cyber-security. He said the North American power grid is an example of where there are huge interconnections along the border and we will both want to make sure that we make that as, as resilient and, and resistant to attack as we possibly can, and we're going to explore the ways to, to do that in collaboration with each other.

As well, Goodale said the two sides agreed to more quickly to implement pre-clearance of cross-border cargo. That has been pledged before but Canadian officials have suggested the delays have been on the American side, largely due to technological upgrades needed.

Canadian officials say the result of the meetings in Washington will be a new impetus behind officials to actually implement many of the potential solutions.

Trump gave the Canadians full-throated support, saying he will work with Trudeau on a stronger trading relationship between the United States and Canada. It includes safe, efficient, and responsible cross-border travel and migration. And it includes close partnership on domestic and international security. He said trade will be a lot easier, better and faster with new technology. But when asked whether he was confident the northern border is secure, Trump said You can never be totally confident, before going off on a tangent.

Trump and Trudeau spent 15-20 minutes alone in the Oval Office at the start of the day, with no note-takers present, before their senior aides and ministers joined them for an extended bilateral meeting.

The Canadian official said the conversations were wide-ranging from immigration (the Americans reportedly expressed the belief that Canada and Australia's systems were the best in the world at bringing in people their economies need); to border security, and broader international defence issues, including North Korea and China.

There was a brief discussion on the environment, with reference only to the issue of acid rain and the health of the Great Lakes. The official acknowledged there was no in-depth discussion of climate change, although Trudeau did thank Trump in person for his approval of the Keystone XL pipeline.

Trump did not indicate who he might name as his ambassador to Canada, and Sarah Palin's name did not come up on either side, the official said. The official said a new ambassador may not be named for several more months, and the Canadian delegation impressed upon Trump and his aides that Trudeau's ambassador to Washington, David MacNaughton, is not a political fundraiser but a close collaborator of Trudeau's who has his ear, the implicit suggestion being the Americans should also appoint someone with that kind of access to the president. The official downplayed the prospect of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, also rumoured for the job, being named to the post.

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Rather than give in to demands that she resign  which a growing number of trustees called for Monday night  Nancy Elgie is instead proposing she be allowed to decide her punishment.

In an unusual move, Elgie made a plea  via her children  to fellow York Region school board trustees, saying shed prefer to sanction herself.

When the students break the rules, theres a consequence . . . the same should apply to trustees. They must lead by example, said her son, Stewart Elgie, who was joined by his siblings and children as he read a statement on behalf of his mom, who wasnt in attendance for a regularly scheduled board meeting.

At the time of the investigators findings, I said I want to do what is right to promote healing and recovery in the board and community. Over the past three weeks, I have had a lot of time to think about what that requires . . .

When a trustee breaches the code of conduct, the sanction is to be barred from a number of board meetings. Some have called publicly for such a suspension in this case and I agree that is an appropriate sanction here. Therefore, I propose a voluntary sanction that I be prohibited from participating in all board meetings for a period of three to six months, if my fellow trustees accept it, she said in her statement.

This sends a clear signal that even when such words are used with no intent to harm, there is harm nonetheless, read Stewart, who stayed for the heated meeting, which was adjourned as the parents in attendance demanded that Elgie resign.

Read more:

York board falters amid accusations of racism, Islamophobia

York board investigators overwhelmed with complainants

Trustees had discussed the issue in private before the meeting began, but the discussion could not take place in a public setting, as the meeting was adjourned.

Typically when a school board trustee is in hot water  and unless they are announcing their resignation  it is fellow trustees who determine what form the discipline should take, either a public statement of censure or suspension from a number of meetings following a code of conduct investigation. In this case, Elgie was investigated through an employee investigation, taking away any measures for her colleagues to censure her.

The meeting comes days after new trustee chair Loralea Carruthers broke her silence and called for Elgies resignation, weeks after the Georgina-area trustee apologized for using a racial slur in reference to a black parent.

If Elgie cares about this board, which I know she does, I call on her to do the right thing and we have heard from trustees at the table, the right thing is for her to resign, said Carruthers.

And one by one, the trustees asked her to step down. Among them were Trustee Carol Chan, for Richmond Hill who said:

I agree with my chair that she should step down. Racism is never acceptable, she said, adding that you can forgive, but there should be consequences.

You are powerful, you have money, you can find people to excuse you. But what about a student, they dont get any excuses, Chan said, adding that students are often suspended for days for using bad language.

Juanita Nathan, trustee for Markham, also encouraged Elgie to step down. I truly believe Nancy should step down for what she said, because that is the right thing to do.

Vice-chair Corrie McBain said she had two conversations with Elgie and told her she should step down so they can put students first.

Trustees Susan Geller and Allan Tam also called for her resignation.

While the formal meeting didnt take place, most of the trustees opted to stay to hear the concerns of parents and offer their thoughts on the racially charged discussion.

The director, J. Philip Parappally, apologized for the recent incidents of anti-black racism and Islamophobia. The racial slur recently used by trustee Elgie is unacceptable. Racism is dehumanizing and anti-black racism, Islamphobia, any form of discrimination is unacceptable, he said.

Elgie cannot be forced out because she is an elected official. The board can consider filing a code of conduct complaint against her, but has said it would be a costly and long process, where many of the findings would be discussed in-camera.

Last week, Elgies family announced she is taking an indefinite medical leave, saying she misspoke because of a head injury she suffered last October.

During the emotional meeting, parents shared their experience with racism and what they have perceived as the brush off from the trustees and the director.

I thought my story was bad, until I heard other peoples stories and that silenced me, said parent Charline Grant, one of dozens in attendance, who has a human rights complaint against the board for alleged discrimination her son has faced.

Meanwhile, at Queens Park, Children and Youth Services Minister Michael Coteau and Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown have also said Elgie is no longer fit for public office.

Ongoing issues at the York board and accusations that it ignored incidents of racism and Islamophobia, as well as questions about trustee spending and conduct, prompted the provincial government to send in two investigators.

They are expected to issue a report in April.

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After trying for eight years to have a class-action lawsuit brought by Ontario survivors of the 60s Scoop thrown out, the federal government was dealt a blow Tuesday in a stinging ruling by a Toronto judge who found in the survivors favour.

The government had a common law duty of care to take reasonable steps to prevent on-reserve children from losing their indigenous identity after they were removed and placed in non-indigenous care between 1965 and 1984, concluded Superior Court Justice Edward Belobaba.

Canada breached this common law duty of care, the judge said.

Its believed there are at least 16,000 survivors of the 60s Scoop in Ontario, who have spoken of psychological harm as a result of the loss of their cultural identity, which has affected them throughout adulthood.

The Sixties Scoop happened and great harm was done, Belobaba wrote in his 20-page ruling.

The uncontroverted evidence of the plaintiffs experts is that the loss of their aboriginal identity left the children fundamentally disoriented, with a reduced ability to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. The loss of aboriginal identity resulted in psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, unemployment, violence and numerous suicides.

The victory  the first for a 60s Scoop lawsuit in Canada  after years of legal wrangling was hailed by the plaintiffs and indigenous rights groups, who acknowledged this is not the end of the case.

The next phase is to assess the damages the government owes the plaintiffs, who were asking for $1.3 billion. Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett, who said the government will not appeal Belobabas ruling, said Tuesday she wants to get all parties to the table as quickly as possible.

I believe this is a definite encouragement that the Canadian judicial system acknowledges and states that this is truly a wrong, a legal wrong, and it isnt just somebody saying its a dark part of history, representative plaintiff Marcia Brown Martel told the Star.

Brown Martel, 53, was removed from her home at the age of 4 and placed in a series of foster homes. She recalled being told to wash off her dirty brown colour in at least one home.

The young Ojibwa girl was later adopted by a non-indigenous family at the age of 9, but the relationship broke down after her adoptive parents separated. She eventually returned to Beaverhouse First Nation near Kirkland Lake around the age of 18, where she is now chief.

The crux of the lawsuit revolves around what is known as the 1965 Canada-Ontario Welfare Services Agreement, when Canada agreed to pay Ontario for the per capita cost of extending some provincial welfare programs to Indians in the Province.

The lawsuit covers the period from December 1965, after the agreement was signed, to December 1984, when aboriginality was made an important factor in child protection and placement practices through Ontarios Child and Family Services Act.

Belobaba found that as part of the old agreement, Canada had a duty to consult the Indian bands about extending child welfare programs, but failed to do so.

I find that no Indian bands were ever consulted before provincial child welfare services were extended to the reserves and no Bands ever provided their signified concurrence following such consultations, Belobaba wrote.

The evidence supporting the plaintiff on this point is, frankly, insurmountable. In any event, Canada offered no evidence to suggest otherwise.

The Canadian government attempted to argue before Belobaba that even if it had consulted the bands, there is no evidence the bands would have provided meaningful advice or ideas to prevent the children from losing their indigenous identity.

Counsel for Canada put it this way: Would life have been different had they been consulted? This is an odd and, frankly, insulting submission, Belobaba wrote.

The judge found that had Canada consulted the bands, the government would have been provided with many suggestions on how to preserve the childs cultural identity and ensure that they were aware of all the federal benefits to which they were entitled as they got older.

If these ideas and suggestions had been implemented as part of the extension of the provincial child welfare regime . . . it follows in my view that it would have been far less likely that the children of the Sixties Scoop would have suffered a complete loss of their cultural identity, he said.

The federal government, under both the Conservatives and Liberals, tried on numerous occasions to have the lawsuit thrown out. In December, the government argued it shouldnt be judged for the actions of the past, but Belobaba found Canadas submissions missed the point.

And just last week, government lawyers tried to have the judge delay the release of his ruling because Bennett had announced she wanted to launch negotiations for a settlement with 60s Scoop survivors across the country. The government withdrew that request Friday.

Despite Bennett repeating Tuesday that the government wants to bring the parties to the table, the plaintiffs lead lawyer, Jeffery Wilson, said that is not the message the government had been communicating in court. He said his clients have wanted to sit down since they launched their lawsuit in 2009.

He described Canadas conduct in court over the last eight years as soldiers without a conscience, taking orders without a conscience.

Whether we succeeded or didnt succeed, the exercise now is for Canadians, all Canadians, to engage in a healing process to examine the harm that was done, not just to First Nations, but to a good number of caring, non-First Nations people who took on the adoption of Indian children or permanent guardianship, and who also were deprived of information that would help them in their care, Wilson told the Star.

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About 300 people attended a public consultation held Monday night by Toronto city staff involving a proposal to overhaul King St.

With standing room only, the Metro Convention Centre was packed, with some people being turned away at the door.

Among them was Jay Wall, who works nearby at Queen St. W. and Spadina Ave.

King St. has become a huge mess in terms of traffic congestion, and also has so much more potential to be greater as a public space, he said.

As a cyclist, Wall said that his greatest frustration is riding down King St. next to cars swerving in and out around street cars, which made it dangerous.

Wall said he was excited about the possibilities that were being presented in terms of addressing traffic flow, making sure the street was used by vehicles and pedestrians alike.

The east-west spine of the city, King St., is one of the busiest surface transit routes in the city ferrying 65,000 people on a usual weekday. The streets share space with cafe seating, benches, pedestrians, cyclists, streetcars and cars.

The three options available are: alternate loops with separated lanes for eastbound and westbound streetcars, and on every other block vehicle access is limited to taxis, delivery vehicles and local traffic with space for pedestrians; separate lanes for streetcars but no additional space for pedestrians; a transit promenade that would double the sidewalk space for pedestrians.

Councillor Joe Cressy said that the most preferable options appeared to be the looping and promenade options, but there were concerns about the third option as that would mean maintaining vehicles on north and south side.

The proposal is to put a transit first approach to moving people on King St. Cressy said.

King St. isnt working today. It doesnt work for drivers, it doesnt work for people on the streetcar and it certainly doesnt work for pedestrians, he said.

The city set up three stations to get feedback from residents. First was the evaluation stage, to find a way to calculate the success of the pilot. The second station was to figure to the geographical parameters of the project and to raise any concerns from locals on specific neighbourhood ideas. The third was a discussion of the three options presented with different models.

Theres a huge amount of public interest, a lot of people saying when, when! Ann-Marie Nasr of the citys planning department said. Its interesting and exciting.

Nasr told the Star they hope to have a pilot project underway by the fall, after another public consultation in April, reporting to the committee in June, and meeting with council in July.

The pilot will give us a lot of feedback, to come back and say weve done some more thinking, and here are some further refinements, she said.

Local resident Joerg Wittenbrinck is excited about the changes, especially because of safety concerns with his daughters school on King St.

Drivers stressed out by traffic make it unsafe, he said.

Its a great opportunity to have a school downtown, and with so many services around and interesting places to go and being very accessible, he said. But with so much car traffic around its not very safe.

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The Scarborough byelection is over! Time to start the Scarborough byelection!

That is, the election of Neethan Shan to fill the vacant city council seat in Ward 42 Scarborough-Rouge River opens up a vacancy on the Toronto School Board that may very well be filled with a new byelection.

Such, it seems, has long been the case in Scarborough-Rouge River, where theres always a byelection just ending or just beginning. The voters there, it appears, keep electing people who do not want the jobs they are elected to.

Consider the recent history, and see if you can keep your eye on the red ball: In June 2014, Bas Balkissoon was re-elected as the local Member of Provincial Parliament. Later that year, Shaun Chen was re-elected as the local school board trustee  and was promptly appointed chair of the board. At the same time, Raymond Cho was re-elected as the local councillor. Simple enough, right?

Except none of those people, it seems, had actually wanted the jobs they campaigned for and won that year. Or, at least, theyd all soon voluntarily leave them.

In August 2015, Chen  who had served in the head job among school trustees for just eight months, resigned to run for federal parliament. He won.

In January 2016, Neethan Shan won the byelection to replace Chen as trustee.

Then, in March of that year, Balkissoon bailed on his job as provincial representative after suddenly discovering a newfound yearning for family time, which he apparently hadnt anticipated when hed asked for a new term less than two years earlier.

In the byelection to fill Balkissoons provincial seat, both Cho (the councillor with two years left in his term) and Shan (the trustee less than four months into his term) ran. Cho won. This appeared to fulfill a longstanding ambition of Chos to escape city council, where he had served for decades even while running four times for federal and provincial seats. (Displaying the loyalty and dedication to principle he became famous for on city council, Cho once ran for the NDP, once ran as an independent Liberal, was a longtime member of the Liberal party and then twice ran as a Progressive Conservative.)

That, of course, led to the byelection to fill Chos now-vacant council seat. Shan ran  famously this was his eleventh run for office in 14 years  and on Monday night won with an impressive 46 per cent of the vote in a field of 29 candidates. Which leaves Shans seat on the board of education vacant for the second time this term, just over halfway between normal municipal elections. In 26 months since the last election, the seat has been either vacant or filled by someone actively campaigning for another job for about 15 months. Its hard to say, exactly, that the voters of Scarborough-Rouge River have been represented by a school board trustee at all this term.

This ought to reflect poorly on Shan, who is instead being greeted as a refreshing injection of progressive energy by some of his new city council colleagues  Mike Layton and Kristyn Wong-Tam apparently made the trip out to celebrate with him Monday. He is Toronto City Councils first Tamil member, which is a milestone worth acknowledging and celebrating (its about time). And perhaps he will turn out to be a great, effective inhabitant of the clamshell. The good news for him and his supporters is he gets the chance to demonstrate it now.

But there is little in his recent public record that would lead one to expect that. Campaigning, he took the bog-standard John Tory line on tax rates and the Scarborough subway  including propagating the outright falsehood that anyone could save an hour on their travel time when the subway extension was built (the truth is likely to be more like five to 10 minutes)  and was also a vocal proponent of the Scarborough First resentment politics that have become the hallmark of the populist right.

And he has the resume of a shameless opportunist, notably running for and winning public office a year ago and then spending half of the time since actively campaigning for jobs other than the one he was entrusted with.

Perhaps people overlook that last part because theyve come to expect it of school board trustees. For as long as I can remember, people have referred to and thought of the job of trustee not as an important elected office governing one of societys most vital institutions (think of the children!), but as an easy resume builder for ambitious politicians waiting for their chance at prime time. Sometimes columnists at the Star will say as much along the way to suggesting the job should be abolished and governance given to the province, which actually controls major education decisions. Longtime trustees will write in to say how essential and important the boards are.

And then their colleagues go and show how essential they think the job is: Shaun Chen resigning from the boards top job after less than a year to go to Ottawa. Michael Ford resigning as trustee just five months after taking the job to run for city council. Shan treating the job as an immediate launching pad for his other ambitions.

But forget the school board. Out in Scarborough-Rouge River that seems to be the way, across the board, these days. Run for office. Win. Then abandon the job when you get it.

Balkissoon at least retired when he did so, after a long career. Cho, Chen and Shan all had the nerve to think such cavalier attitudes to the publics trust merited election to a new, higher-paying job. And look at that: in their wisdom, the voters rewarded each of them.

They may be shameless, these politicians, but they arent exactly stupid. So let the perpetual byelection continue. Who knows, one of these days we might find a candidate who actually wants to serve in the job theyre running for.

Edward Keenan writes on city issues ekeenan@thestar.ca . Follow: @thekeenanwire

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The Immigration and Refugee Board will begin to triage and refer old and new claims for shorter hearings in March in an attempt to reduce its ballooning backlog, or at least to stop it from snowballing.

Through flexible scheduling and shorter hearing streaming, the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) hopes to increase the productivity of its 119 decision-makers by 15 to 20 per cent, said Paula Thompson, the boards chief of staff.

The redeployment, announced earlier in February, came on the heels of U.S. President Donald Trumps anti-refugee policies and Canadas lifting of the visa requirements for Mexican travellers in December. However, Thompson said the boards move was not prompted by these events.

Read more:Refugee board redeploys staff to cope with surge in asylum claims

Theres no direct relationship with whats going on in the (United) States, Thompson told the Star. So far we have seen a very negligible increase from Mexico. Its not a huge player right now. The last couple of months, we received 75 Mexican claims each month.

Data showed the IRB received an average of 1,700 new claims a month from January to August last year, but the number has skyrocketed to 2,400 cases since. Currently, there are 19,000 claims in the backlog.

Although asylum claims must be heard within 60 days under the reforms made by the previous Conservative government in 2012, Thompson said exceptions granted in the law, as well as cases returned to the board by the refugee appeal tribunal and the federal court, has contributed to the backlog.

On top of that, delays in security clearances by Canada Border Services Agency have caused hearings to be postponed and rescheduled. At least, one in 10 cases are being delayed for this reason alone, Thompson noted. While the postponed cases dont go to the end of the queue, priorities are given to new arriving claims.

Under the new triage approach, claims will be screened for short hearings if the cases are straightforward and have no issues with the identity and credibility of the claimants. Currently, an average refugee hearing lasts about three hours.

The IRB is still considering the details of the triage operation and one of the options is to refer claims from countries with 80 per cent or higher acceptance rate to short hearings. Claimants from 18 countries currently would meet that criteria, Thompson said, though other factors would be considered.

In the past year, the IRB has added more than 29 new adjudicators to the refugee tribunal and assigned the decision-makers to cases by countries with their hope their expertise in the political and human rights conditions in these regions can make them more efficient. Half the 119 refugee judges will be assigned to deal with claims in the backlog.

I dont think the processing time of the new cases will be compromised. I expect we will still be able to hear the new claims within four months, Thompson said. But diverting up to 50 per cent of our decision-making power to hear backlog will have an impact on the number of new claims we are processing. That is certain.

The IRB currently has a separate expedited program for claims from war-torn Syria, Iraq and Eritrea through paper reviews of their cases. The processing time averages at two months, with an acceptance rate between 80 and 95 per cent.

Theres always ways to improve, but if the backlog keeps going up, it does tell a story, Thompson said.

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The troubled York Region school board cannot get past all of its challenges until trustee Nancy Elgie steps down, warns Education Minister Mitzie Hunter.

Someone who uses a racial slur of that nature should not be representing the students of a diverse region, Hunter told reporters before a Liberal caucus meeting at Queens Park on Tuesday, regarding Elgies use of the n-word to refer to a black parent.

The use of a racial slur of that kind is completely unacceptable and is not tolerated at all.

Hunter also said it is apparent this issue is impeding the boards efforts to move forward after a string of controversies, including complaints that incidents of racism and Islamophobia were not dealt with properly.

Everyone has to operate on behalf of the best interests of the students of York Region and to do the right thing and to do the responsible thing, she said.

In November, after a public meeting, Elgie was overheard referring to a black parent as a n-----. The board subsequently hired an independent investigator and Elgie later admitted to, and apologized for, uttering the slur.

Now that the education minister has weighed in, observers believe it will be difficult for Elgie to hang on as trustee.

Her family has blamed a head injury suffered last October, and the resulting concussion, for the episode.

But the explanation has not sat well with parents and community members, who continue to call for Elgie to resign, as has Ontario cabinet minister Michael Coteau and Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown.

It should now be abundantly clear having heard from the community, myself as the new chair and now a majority of trustees, MPPs and the minister of education, that she needs to resign immediately, board chair Loralea Carruthers said. Our board needs to be able to tackle the serious issues we face beyond this one incident.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath also told the Star that Elgie must go.

I just feel bad for the community, she said in a telephone interview. Theres just so much pain there  and to have to fight this battle too is just unbelievable.

When the community has made it really clear that theres no other way of fixing it other than stepping down, and letting the community heal, it seems very obvious thats what she needs to do, Horwath added.

So far, Elgie has resisted all calls to give up her seat. At an emotional board meeting Monday night, Elgies family spoke, saying the 82-year-old trustee is herself proposing a suspension of three to six months.

When reached by the Star about Hunters comment, Elgies daughter Allyson Harrison said there are many different views on what is the appropriate remedy here. Some have called for suspension, some for resignation. Others  like the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion  have opposed punishment, and called for a process of investigation, understanding and learning.

She wants to do the right thing, and set a good example. When you do something that causes harm, even if it was not intentional and you apologize and take responsibility, there still should be some consequence. She believes there should be a sanction, one that reflects all the circumstances here, as well as a process to promote learning, healing and restoration.

The fact Elgie didnt resign at the outset of the controversy has stunned public relations experts.

The sad thing about all of this is that it seems to me, that on behalf of Mrs. Elgie and her family, the response has almost entirely been based on self-interest  in other words, lets save her job, lets save her position, said Bill Walker of MidtownPR and author of Crisis Communications in the 24/7 Social Media World.

In the court of public opinion, the first thing you need to do to reassure people is to make sure you are putting the public interest first, not self interest, he said. Now, however, the main message is her clinging to a position of power, and that really repels the public.

There are other ways for her to serve her community, he added.

This should have all been dealt with in one day, Walker said. Its the old story that you always talk about in the world of crisis communications, which is when you are in a hole, stop digging. Its a big cliche, but still, theres a lot of truth to it. People just want to see someone do the right thing.

Typically when school board trustees are in trouble, fellow trustees determine the discipline  either a public statement of censure or suspension from a number of meetings following a code of conduct investigation. In this case, Elgie was dealt with through an employee investigation.

The veteran trustee cannot be forced out but fellow trustees could file a code of conduct complaint against her, but have said it would be a costly and long process, where many of the findings would be discussed in private.

Several trustees on the board publicly stated at Mondays meeting they want Elgie to step down: Carruthers, Susan Geller, Corrie McBain, Juanita Nathan, Carol Chan and Allan Tam.

Last week, Elgies family announced she is taking an indefinite medical leave after seeing a head injury specialist.

The controversy is yet another the York board faces, after numerous complaints that incidents of racism and Islamophobia were ignored, as well as questions about trustee spending and conduct.

Last month, Hunter appointed two investigators to speak to parents and staff to get some answers and provide some direction. They are expected to report back in April.

While both Children and Youth Services Minister Coteau and Progressive Conservative Leader Brown urged Elgie to quit on Feb. 2, Hunter had been more circumspect because she wanted the troubleshooters to do their work.

But a damage-control effort by the Elgie family appears to have backfired, leading to renewed calls for the trustee to step down.

Elgies son, Stewart, said his family has not hired a public relations firm, but has gotten free advice from lots of different people about this whole thing.

Walker said he doesnt know of any public relations expert in North America who could flip this toothpaste back in the toothpaste tube. The situation must be causing a lot of stress for the her and family, he said, and you have to ask yourself, is this really worth it? These things dont get better, they only get worse.

Elgie has admitted to using the n-word in public when referring to parent Charline Grant, who had launched a human rights complaint about the discrimination her son faced at his high school.

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The federal government forgoes as much as $47.8 billion in uncollected taxes every year, according to a new report by the Conference Board of Canada.

These billions represent only a fraction of all taxes that go unpaid because they dont include taxes owed to the provinces and municipalities  all of which are in need of additional revenues to close budget deficits and deliver on major public works projects.

Everyone wants to make sure that everyone else is paying their fair share of taxes, said Matthew Stewart, who oversaw the research for the report, published Monday.

We wanted to use an initial study to push the (Canada Revenue Agency) into doing more work on this. . . . The first step is figuring out what the gap is, then you can come up with a plan to crack down on it.

Despite a promise during the last election campaign, Ottawa hasnt produced an official figure for the tax gap  an estimate of the difference between all tax due on paper and the actual tax revenue collected by the government.

In the interim, researchers used techniques developed by tax agencies in the U.K. and U.S. to estimate a Canadian tax gap of between $16 billion and $47.8 billion for the 2010 tax year. This lost revenue would have provided a significant boost to the $160 billion the CRA collected in federal taxes that year.

This figure is just for the federal government, and we know how strapped for cash they are right now in terms of being able to fund social programs, Stewart said. I think its surprising how large it is and how much it could fund.

Last July, instead of determining the entire tax gap, the CRA released a saying $4.9 billion in GST and HST isnt collected each year.

Beyond sales taxes, tax gaps calculated by foreign governments include tax evasion, both onshore and using the offshore tax havens that featured prominently in the https://www.thestar.com/news/panama-papers-tax-evasion.htmlPanama PapersEND revelations.

Those reports brought offshore tax evasion into the public eye, demonstrating how it impoverishes public coffers while exacerbating inequality, said Carl Hammersburg, an analyst with SAS Analytics, who consulted on the report.

Offshore is really big dollars from a smaller number of entities, but the majority of the tax gap is actually small amounts from a large number of people, Hammersburg said.

Aggressive tax avoidance  techniques that comply with the letter of a law, but contravene its spirit  as well as simple mistakes on tax filings and nonpayment of taxes round out the causes of lost tax revenues in the tax gap, according to the report.

Although $50 billion sounds like lots of money, even this high-end estimate could be too low, Hammersburg said.

I think they all underestimate the problem, which may be bigger than the upper end, he said.

The true measure of lost government revenues should include the cost of identity theft and fraud, which have been growing rapidly, he said.

Senator Percy Downe, who has been agitating for an official tax gap estimate for years, said hes happy the report has finally put a number on uncollected taxes because the government hasnt done so.

When Canadians see how big the tax gap is, they see how incompetent their tax authorities are, Downe said.

The CRA wasnt able to respond to the report on Monday.

The tax gap is important because the federal government needs a statistical basis to determine how much to invest in tax enforcement, Downe said. For every dollar you invest, its thousands back to taxes.

Hammersberg, who has worked on tax gap estimates in countries around the world, says governments will never recoup all of their uncollected taxes, but that shouldnt dissuade them from trying.

There are too many cheaters to close the whole tax gap, but gosh, if you only get half of it, thats billions of dollars, he said. This is the low hanging fruit. Its right there today. All we have to do it analyze the data and target the right enforcement.

Correction  Feb.14, 2017: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said the report was put out by Ottawa and has yet to be released.

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A mutual non-aggression pact

Trudeaus steadfast refusal to criticize Trump made news even in America. (Trudeau ducks question on Trumps travel ban, read the headline in Politico.) But just as notable was Trumps refusal to criticize Trudeau.

The president, the worlds leading advocate of revenge, was impassive even when prodded on live television. Asked a question about the Canadian border and Trudeaus acceptance of Syrian refugees, Trump chose to tout his efforts to deport illegal immigrants  most of whom are Hispanics who live far from the 49th parallel.

It was a dodge. But it was a dodge that suggested Trump would not attempt to exact retribution against a Liberal who has taken unsubtle passive-aggressive jabs at him for more than a year.

Read more:

Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau shake hands: an analysis

Transcript of Trudeau, Trump statements after their first meeting in Washington

Canadians dont want PM to lecture another country, says Trudeau

A fair shake

Vladimir Putin has the shirtless horseback ride. Donald Trump has the intense handshake. At 70, the ferocious alpha-grip is how a president obsessed with dominance shows off his physical prowess. Trudeau, former drama teacher, came prepared for the performance, suitably impressing the community of Internet people who care about handshakes.

But it was not the prime ministers counter-vigour that went viral. Rather, it was a photo, taken just before their second handshake of the day, that seemed to show Trudeau looking down disdainfully at Trumps extended hand.

The freeze-frame was irresistible. It was also misleading. The video shows that Trudeau took a half-second to notice Trumps open palm, then quickly took it with a smile.

Flynn forgotten

One of the key stories out of the joint news conference was about what wasnt asked: a question to Trump about National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, embattled over reports that he discussed sanctions against Russia with Russias ambassador before Trump took office, then lied about this to the media and to the vice-president.

HOW IS THERE NO FLYNN QUESTION!?!?!?!?! MSNBC host Christopher Hayes wrote on Twitter.

The answer: the White House made sure there was no Flynn question.

The Canadian and American media contingents each got to ask two questions. The Canadians drew names from someones palm to decide which two reporters got to do the asking. The American interlocutors, though, were selected by Trump officials. They were both from Trump-friendly outlets. They both asked softballs.

Almost normal

Were guided by the same values, President Barack Obama said when welcoming Trudeau to the White House last year. We share the same values, Trump said beside Trudeau on Monday. Americans and Canadians  our brave men and women in uniform  have paid the price together, said Obama. American and Canadian troops have gone to battle together, fought wars together, said Trump.

There was weird-handshake drama. The tone was not especially warm. There was an unprompted Trumpian ramble-boast about the size of his victory in the Electoral College. (Very, very large.) But the day was notable, in large part, for its boring conventionality. Trumps banal prepared remarks could have been ripped from any presidents speech about Canada from the last 30 years.

Ivanka in charge

The Canadians had a stroke of strategic inspiration: get in Trumps good books by doing a kind of favour for his daughter.

The executives who were part of a White House discussion the advancement of female business leaders came away with praise for the joint initiative, saying it could help concentrate attention on a crucial subject. But its most significant short-term outcome was good attention for Brand Ivanka, which has been suffering through a run of bad press related to the existence of her father.

Ivanka impressed the participating businesswomen with her thoughts on the cause. (Progressive, one said later.) And then, after they left the building, she advertised herself  tweeting a photo of her sitting at the presidents desk, a progressive prime minister behind her.

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WASHINGTONA bitterly divided Senate on Monday confirmed Steven Mnuchin as treasury secretary despite strong objections by Democrats that the former banker ran a foreclosure machine when he headed OneWest Bank.

Republicans said Mnuchins long tenure in finance makes him qualified to run the department, which will play a major role in developing economic policy under U.S. President Donald Trump.

He has experience managing large and complicated private-sector enterprises and in negotiating difficult compromises and making tough decisions  and being accountable for those decisions, said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, chairman of the Finance Committee.

Votes on Trumps Cabinet picks have exposed deep partisan divisions in the Republican-controlled Senate, with many of the nominees approved by mostly party-line votes.

Read More:

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The vote on Mnuchin followed the same pattern. He was confirmed by a mostly party-line vote of 53-47. Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia joined the Republicans.

The Senate also confirmed a less divisive nominee Monday evening, physician David Shulkin, to be secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The vote was unanimous.

Like others in Trumps Cabinet, Mnuchin is a wealthy businessman. He is a former top executive at Goldman Sachs and served as finance chairman for Trumps presidential campaign.

As Treasury secretary, Mnuchin is expected to play a key role in Republican efforts to overhaul the nations tax code for the first time in three decades. Trump has promised to unveil a proposal in the coming weeks.

Mnuchin will also be in charge of imposing economic sanctions on foreign governments and individuals, including Russia.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Mnuchin is smart, hes capable, and hes got impressive private-sector experience.

Democrats complained that Mnuchin made much of his fortune by foreclosing on families during the financial crisis.

In 2009, Mnuchin assembled a group of investors to buy the failed IndyMac bank, whose collapse the year before was the second biggest bank failure of the financial crisis. He renamed it OneWest and turned it around, selling it for a handsome profit in 2014.

Mr. Mnuchin has made his career profiting from the misfortunes of working people, said Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. OneWest was notorious for taking an especially aggressive role in foreclosing on struggling homeowners.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., said, I simply cannot forgive somebody who took a look at that banking crisis and took a look at the pain that Wall Street had sent in a wave across all of America, and thought, Ah, theres a great new way to make money, foreclosing on people. 

Rep. Maxine Waters of California, the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, called Mnuchin the foreclosure king.

Mnuchin has said he had worked hard during the financial crisis to assist homeowners with refinancing so that they could remain in their homes.

He said his bank had extended more than 100,000 loan modifications to borrowers.

But several Democratic senators raised examples of residents in their states who they said were not treated fairly by OneWest, including elderly homeowners and members of the military.

Democrats also complained that Mnuchin failed to disclose nearly $100 million in assets on forms he filed with the Senate Finance Committee.

In his testimony before the committee, Mnuchin defended his actions while heading OneWest. He said he had worked hard during the financial crisis to assist homeowners with refinancing so that they could remain in their homes.

He told the committee that his bank had extended more than 100,000 loan modifications to borrowers.

Mnuchin called his failure to disclose assets an oversight. After meeting with committee staff Mnuchin amended his disclosure forms and also disclosed his position as director of Dune Capital International in the Cayman Islands, a well-known offshore tax haven.

When pressed by Democrats to explain the omissions, Mnuchin said: I did not use a Cayman Island entity in any way to avoid taxes for myself. There was no benefit to me.

The Treasury Department is responsible for a wide range of activities, including advising the president on economic and financial issues. The department oversees the IRS, negotiates tax treaties with other countries, imposes economic sanctions against foreign governments and individuals, and targets the financial networks of terrorist groups and drug cartels.

The department also issues the bonds that finance the governments deficit spending.

Republicans and Democrats praised Shulkin, who is charged with delivering on Trumps campaign promises to fix long-standing problems at Veterans Affairs.

Shulkin, 57, a former Obama administration official, has been the VAs top health official since 2015. He secured the backing of Senate Democrats after pledging at his confirmation hearing to always protect veterans interests, even if it meant disagreeing at times with Trump.

He has ruled out fully privatizing the agency and says wide-scale firings of VA employees are unnecessary, describing the VA workforce as the best in health care.

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Syrian military helicopters systematically dumped canisters of chlorine gas, a banned weapon, on residential areas of Aleppo at least eight times late last year in the final weeks of the battle to retake the city from rebels, Human Rights Watch said in a detailed study released Monday.

The assertions in the study, if confirmed, would represent one of the most egregious uses of such outlawed weaponry in the war. It would amount to a new level of impunity by Syrian President Bashar Assad, who promised to never use chemical arms under an international treaty the government signed more than three years ago.

A UN panel that has been investigating reports of chlorine bombs and other chemical weapons in the Syrian war concluded last year that government forces had used them at least three times in 2014 and 2015. The panel is scheduled to provide an update this month.

Read more:

U.S. pushing for international action to destroy Syrias chlorine stocks

Syrian warplanes allegedly drop chlorine bombs on Aleppo, activists say

Report blames Syria and Daesh for chlorine attacks, French diplomat says

Assad and his subordinates have repeatedly denied that their side has ever used chemical weapons, calling the evidence fabricated or inconclusive.

But the Human Rights Watch report suggested that Syrian officials had not only disregarded the UN findings but also had decided to use chlorine bombs far more aggressively in the Aleppo campaign.

The report relied on interviews with emergency medical workers and other witnesses, photographs that include what appear to show spent gas canisters and analyses of video. The report acknowledged that identifying with certainty the chemical used in the attacks without laboratory testing is difficult.

There had been anecdotal and unverified accounts of haphazard chlorine bomb use in Aleppo, the northern Syrian city that became the focal point of the war in November and December. But the reports conclusions pointed to a calculated government plan to use the poison indiscriminately to either kill inhabitants of contested neighbourhoods or drive them out.

The pattern of the chlorine attacks shows that they were coordinated with the overall military strategy for retaking Aleppo, not the work of a few rogue elements, Ole Solvang, deputy emergencies director at Human Rights Watch, said in releasing the report.

In all eight instances in which the report concluded chlorine bombs had been used, it said they were dropped in areas where government forces had planned to advance. The report said the attacks, from Nov. 17 to Dec. 13, when the combatants agreed to a ceasefire, killed at least nine civilians, including four children, and hurt 200.

Chlorine, a common industrial chemical that can be fatally toxic, is not by itself illegal. But the Chemical Weapons Convention, the treaty that outlaws such arms, forbids the use of toxins to kill or injure.

The report said there had been no evidence that military forces of Russia, which helped Assads side successfully retake Aleppo, were directly involved in any chlorine bomb attacks. Nonetheless, the report said, as a military ally of Damascus, it benefited from the use of chemical weapons by Syria forces.

Russia, which helped pressure Assads government to sign the Chemical Weapons Convention in 2013, has denounced any use of such weapons and voted with the United States and other UN Security Council members to ensure accountability if they were used in Syria.

Solvang exhorted the Security Council not to let Syrian authorities or anyone else who has used chemical weapons get away without consequences.

The Human Rights Watch report was one of two detailed studies released Monday that severely criticize how the Syrian government recaptured Aleppo and the third in less than a week suggesting that Assads actions toward adversaries constitute war crimes.

The Atlantic Council, a policy research group based in Washington, said in an analysis titled Breaking Aleppo that Syrian forces and their Russian allies had made heavy use of indiscriminate explosives, including cluster munitions, that targeted civilian structures, including hospitals. That report also asserted that the Syrians had used chlorine bombs.

The Russian military, which has been aiding Assad with airstrikes since September 2015 and has helped his side regain momentum in the war, has denied bombing hospitals or other civilian targets.

Last week, Amnesty International published a study asserting that up to 13,000 people incarcerated in Syrias Saydnaya Prison, most of them civilians suspected of opposition to Assad, had been secretly executed in mass hangings without trial between 2011 and 2015. Assad suggested that the Amnesty International study had been concocted and was fake news.

The studies have come as U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking an improved relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which could include some military coordination in the ongoing Syrian conflict. But such a course by Trump would risk conferring greater legitimacy on Assad, an outcome that worries his opponents and many rights advocates.

With files from Sergio Pecanha and Tim Wallace

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How Michael Flynn got back to the White House

April 2014: Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn is relieved of duty as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Flynn will leave the position that summer and later allege that the firing stemmed from his criticism of then-president Barack Obamas efforts to fight radical Islamic terrorism.

Dec. 10, 2015: Flynn participates in a celebration of the 10th anniversary of Russia Today, the Russian-state-backed television network. He is part of a panel discussion in Moscow, for which he receives compensation.

Feb. 26, 2016: Reuters reports that Flynn is advising Donald Trumps presidential campaign. He would later tell The Washington Post that he was advising at least two campaigns.

Jul. 18: Flynn gives a speech endorsing Trump at the Republican National Convention. The New York Times editorial board later calls it grotesque for Flynns embrace of the convention crowds lock her up chant.

Jul. 22: On the Friday before the Democratic National Convention begins, WikiLeaks releases emails that are thought to have been stolen from the Democratic National Committee by Russian state actors.

Oct. 7: WikiLeaks begins publishing emails that the U.S. government thinks were stolen by Russia from the account of Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta.

Prior to Nov. 8: Flynn contacts Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, according to Post reporting. Its not clear how often the two communicated or what was discussed.

Nov. 8:Trump is elected president.

Nov. 17: President Trump names Flynn his national security adviser. The position does not require Senate approval.

Where Flynn got into trouble

Dec. 25: According to Vice-President Pence, Flynn texts Kislyak to wish him a merry Christmas and to express condolences for a plane crash.

Dec. 28: At one point, White House press secretary Sean Spicer indicates that Flynn and Kislyak spoke Dec. 28, but later corrects the date.

Dec. 29: Flynn places five phone calls to Kislyak. These calls were apparently on unsecured lines, and monitored by U.S. intelligence agencies. On the same day, Obama announces measures meant to punish Russia for its interference in the 2016 election.

Jan. 11: During his first news conference since the convention, Trump acknowledges that Russia was most likely behind the hacking at the DNC, although he says that we also get hacked by other countries and other people.

How it fell apart

Jan. 12: The Washington Post reveals the conversations between Flynn and Kislyak. What did Flynn say, columnist David Ignatius wonders, and did it undercut the U.S. sanctions?

The Logan Act bars unauthorized citizens from contacting foreign governments with an intent to influence its measures or conduct in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States. If Flynn discussed sanctions with Kislyak before being sworn in as national security adviser, that could be a violation of the act.

Jan. 13: Spicer tells reporters that there was one call between Kislyak and Flynn, during which the pair exchanged logistical information on setting up a call between Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia.

Jan. 15: Pence appears on CBSs Face the Nation and is asked about the Flynn conversations, which he characterizes as a conversation.

It was strictly coincidental that they had a conversation, Pence says. They did not discuss anything having to do with the United States decision to expel diplomats or impose censure against Russia.

He later adds: General Flynn has been in touch with diplomatic leaders, security leaders in some 30 countries. Thats exactly what the incoming national security adviser should do. But what I can confirm, having spoken to him about it, is that those conversations that happened to occur around the time that the United States took action to expel diplomats had nothing whatsoever to do with those sanctions.

Late January: Acting Attorney General Sally Yates informs White House counsel Don McGahn that Flynn was lying about the nature of his calls with Kislyak and that this made him vulnerable to blackmail by Russia.

Its not clear that the White House took any action, as Flynn continued in his position.

Feb. 1: Flynn makes an unusual appearance at the daily news briefing, declaring that the administration was putting Iran on notice for hostile actions.

Feb. 8: Flynn tells reporters from The Post that he didnt discuss sanctions in his conversations with Kislyak. Asked repeatedly, he twice says no to the question.

Feb. 9: Flynns spokesman walks that back. Flynn indicated that while he had no recollection of discussing sanctions, he couldnt be certain that the topic never came up, he says.

Feb. 10: Trump tells reporters that hes unfamiliar with the reports that Flynn now admits he may have discussed sanctions in the December calls.

Feb. 13: Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway tells MSNBC that Trump maintains full confidence in Flynn.

Later that evening, The Post reports on the Yates warning to the White House.

The aftermath

Flynn subsequently resigns. In his resignation letter, he writes:

In the course of my duties as the incoming National Security Advisor, I held numerous phone calls with foreign counterparts, ministers, and ambassadors. These calls were to facilitate a smooth transition and begin to build the necessary relationships between the President, his advisers and foreign leaders. Such calls are standard practice in any transition of this magnitude.

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LONDONAn annual report on military power throughout the world cites Chinese and Russian activity as rising threats to Western powers.

The International Institute for Strategic Studies report, released Tuesday, said analysts have noted real and important increases in Chinese military activity in the air, at sea, and in missile forces.

It said Chinese weapons systems are becoming more sophisticated and advanced.

The report says a resurgent Russia has placed the exercise of military power and even the importance of nuclear weapons at a centrepiece of its power, provoking the need for a strong NATO response.

It also says Britain has fallen below the 2 per cent defence spending target set for NATO countries, a charge rejected by British officials and some other analysts.

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In 2005, three environmental groups warned California and U.S. federal officials about what they believed was a problem with the Oroville Dams emergency spillway, the same one that was at risk of collapsing this week after storms caused the adjacent reservoir to swell.

The groups concern, which seemed to have fallen on deaf ears at the time: The emergency spillway is not really a spillway. Rather, its a 520-metre-long concrete weir that empties into a dirt hillside.

That means in the event of severe flooding, water would erode that hillside and flood nearby communities in northern Californias gold country, the groups said then.

That nearly happened Sunday, when a hole in the emergency spillway threatened catastrophic floods and prompted officials to evacuate nearly 200,000 residents.

Authorities lifted the evacuation order for the 188,000 residents Tuesday afternoon and although Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said the water level at the lake behind the Oroville Dam is low enough to accommodate an expected storm this week, residents should stay prepared to leave their homes again.

Residents returning home should be prepared for the prospect that we will issue another evacuation order, Honea said Tuesday.

Honea said the risks to the damaged spillway were significantly reduced because an inspection had found no further erosion to compromise the overall integrity of the spillway.

The National Weather Services Sacramento office said Tuesday rain was expected to move through late Wednesday and Thursday morning, with 5 to 10 centimetres in the foothills and mountains. But the storm is looking colder than initially projected, meaning lower snow levels and less runoff into Sierra reservoirs than the storms last week.

The brunt of a Friday storm appeared to be headed toward southern California, with lighter rain in the north.

Emergency crews were working Tuesday to fill a hole in the emergency spillway for floodwater from the dam.

A California dam inspector said authorities may never know the exact causes of the earth and concrete blow-outs below the Lake Oroville dam. Eric Holland of the state Department of Water Resources dam-safety division said any of a number of different problems could have caused the spillway troubles. Authorities often never discover in these cases what exactly happened, he said, because flood water has washes out everything at the scene.

In October 2005, as the Oroville Dam was going through a re-licensing process, the three groups filed a motion urging a federal regulatory agency to require state officials to armour the emergency spillway with concrete so that, in the event of extreme rain and flooding, water would not freely cascade down and erode the hillside. The upgrade would have cost millions of dollars and no one wanted to foot the bill, said Ronald Stork, senior policy advocate for Friends of the River, one of the groups that filed the motion.

When the dam is overfull, water goes over that weir and down the hillside, taking much of the hillside with it, Stork said. That causes huge amounts of havoc. Theres roads, theres transmission lines, power lines that are potentially in the way of that water going down that auxiliary spillway.

Federal officials, however, determined that nothing was wrong and the emergency spillway, which can handle 9,910 cubic metres of water per second, would perform as designed and sediment resulting from erosion would be insignificant, according to a July 2006 memo from John Onderdonk, then a senior civil engineer for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The emergency spillway meets FERCs engineering guidelines for an emergency spillway, Onderdonk wrote. The guidelines specify that during a rare flood event, it is acceptable for the emergency spillway to sustain significant damage.

Fast-forward 11 years. The erosion of the emergency spillway became severe, with only up to 340 cubic metre of water per second, according to the Oroville Mercury Register. Thats a little more than 3 per cent of what officials said the spillway can handle.

The water level in massive Lake Oroville rose significantly after potentially record-setting rain surged through the state following a long drought. The Oroville Dam, the tallest in the country, at 235 metres, remains stable, officials said as the water level fell about a metre, to a point at which water was no longer spilling over.

But the structure of the spillways, which are designed to release water from the reservoir in a controlled fashion, have crumbled.

On Monday night, Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown requested federal assistance, noting in a letter to President Donald Trump that officials are aggressively attempting to lower Lake Orovilles water levels, as another atmospheric river storm system is scheduled to arrive within 48 hours. The emergency, Brown wrote, is of such severity and magnitude that continued effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and affected local governments and supplemental federal assistance is necessary to save lives and to protect property, public health and safety, and to lessen the effects of this serious situation.

This month, a portion of the main spillway  a 915-metre-long structure lined in concrete  eroded because of the high volume of water spilling over from the reservoir, creating a craterlike hole. Officials with the California Department of Water Resources, which owns and operates the dam and reservoir, then decided to use the adjacent emergency spillway for the first time since the dam was built nearly 50 years ago.

Sheets of water began spilling over the emergency spillway and onto the hillside, carrying mud and debris into the nearby Feather River.

The emergency spillway appeared to be working as expected  until Sunday, when officials spotted a hole. That raised fears of a catastrophic flood that could wipe away Oroville, a town of 16,000 people, and prompted officials to evacuate nearly 200,000 area residents.

Stork said he believes none of that would have happened had officials listened to his and others concerns and built a proper emergency spillway 12 years ago. The two other groups that filed the 2005 motion are the Sierra Club and the South Yuba River Citizens League.

They told us not to worry. All was good. Everything was fine. Its all safe, Stork said. First of all, theyre not supposed to fail. Thats not what we do in a first-world country. We dont do that. We certainly dont do that with the nations tallest dam. An auxiliary spillway isnt supposed to cause lots of havoc when its being used.

Construction would have cost at least $100 million, Stork said, and the state contractors in southern California that buy water from northern California would have been forced to pay for it. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which provides water to 19 million people in Los Angeles, San Diego and other areas, and the State Water Contractors would have shouldered the cost and deemed the upgrades unnecessary, according to the Oroville Mercury Register.

The people who are bearing the personal risk of being killed and having their homes washed away are the people of Northern California, Stork said.

Pressed during a news conference Monday about the 2005 motion, Bill Croyle, acting director of the Department of Water Resources, said he was not familiar with the conversations that happened then.

Its the first time its ever taken water, Croyle said of the emergency spillway. We dont know exactly why this erosion occurred.

With files from The Associated Press

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POMPANO BEACH, FLA.When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with President Donald Trump in Washington this week, he will do so against the backdrop of an American Jewish diaspora more fearful and skeptical of the U.S. government than it has been in decades.

Interviews with more than a dozen top Jewish political operatives and leaders across the United States reveal deep discomfort with a refugee ban than hits close to home, alarm about some of Trumps top advisers and, most of all, overwhelming concerns about the administrations rhetoric on the Holocaust and its approach to dealing with anti-Semitism.

Those worries were present throughout the 2016 presidential election, as some of Trumps most vocal supporters included avowed anti-Semites, and his campaign occasionally employed the veiled anti-Semitic messages and images associated with the white supremacist community.

Now, concerns about the White Houses tolerance of anti-Semitism have burst to the fore after the presidents team said it intentionally omitted a reference to Jewish suffering in its Holocaust Remembrance Day statement in an effort to be inclusive. Worse yet, in Jewish leaders minds, Trumps team repeatedly dismissed ensuing criticism as pathetic and asinine.

Indeed, on the eve of Netanyahus meeting Wednesday with Trump, its hard to overstate just how much that approach has rattled the Jewish community.

Nobody can understand why the administration continues to fight efforts to just simply acknowledge, yes, the Final Solution was focused on the Jews. Hitler wanted to destroy the Jewish people, Democratic Representative Ted Deutch of Florida said in an interview, slamming his fist on a wooden table in a dimly lit community centre in Pompano Beach, north of Miami.

They cant understand why there is this hesitancy, this defensiveness, on the part of the administration here  and theyre concerned about it, said Deutch, who represents a sizable Jewish community in his South Florida district and is a Democratic co-chair of a congressional task force on anti-Semitism.

Those currents of anxiety are rippling through Republican Jewish circles too, even as many there separately hold out hope for improved relations with Israel after a sometimes-tense period under former president Barack Obama.

Theyve profoundly underestimated how unnerving the Holocaust statement was to the Jewish community, even to their supporters, said Michael Fragin, a strategist and radio host who helped direct Republican Jewish outreach in Florida during the 2004 election and has led Jewish outreach efforts for politicians including former New York gov. George Pataki and former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Andrew Weinstein, finance director of the Florida Democratic Party, added: I guess Donald Trump deserves some credit for uniting the American Jewish community.

Its a difficult and confusing situation for Jewish Americans to confront given that the president voices strong support for Israel and his daughter and son-in-law are Orthodox Jews. Many people, in fact, say they dont doubt his personal affinity for the Jewish people.

But leaders of the alt-right white nationalist movement, which attracts racists and anti-Semites, say they have been emboldened by Trumps victory. And although Trump belatedly disavowed the movement, his decision to elevate adviser Steve Bannon, who once headed the controversial Breitbart News, which Bannon himself called a platform of the alt-right, has reinforced the concern among some that anti-Semitism has a conduit to the White House (though Bannon, who has some conservative Jewish allies, has said he is no anti-Semite and has highlighted his pro-Israel beliefs).

At the same time, anti-Semitic activity is rising across the country and especially in places like heavily Jewish Florida. Jewish community centres in Florida alone have received at least 11 bomb threats since the beginning of 2017, said Hava Holzhauer, the Anti-Defamation Leagues Florida regional director, and dozens of others have faced threats nationally.

Add in Trumps Holocaust statement and the parallels some Jews see between U.S. policy toward their European relatives in the 1930s and Trumps travel ban targeting immigrants from Muslim-majority countries and its easy to understand the fear, anger and sadness coursing through many Jewish communities.

Asked whether he would consider the administration itself anti-Semitic, Deutch replied: No. My focus is on the atmosphere thats created and whether theres a clear and strong commitment to fighting bigotry and anti-Semitism. And on that issue, Im not sure there is.

When asked about those concerns, a White House spokesperson, Lindsay Walters, called them ridiculous.

The president has the utmost respect for the Jewish community, she said. He does, and always will, condemn anti-Semitism and bigotry.

Certainly, there is little question that, on a personal level, Trump is surrounded by Jews he admires and cares about, starting with his daughter, Ivanka, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, the grandson of Holocaust survivors.

Kushner has been tasked with running point on Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations and has a personal relationship with Netanyahu, which eases the minds of some Jews who otherwise are uncomfortable with the recent rhetoric from the White House, and there are a number of other high-level Jewish Trump advisers and staffers who are well-respected in the community.

Trump also continues to have a number of influential Republican Jewish allies, including mega-donor Sheldon Adelson, who dined with him last week.

And while plenty of Jewish Republicans have been bothered by the rise of the white supremacist movement and the administrations Holocaust language  and many have spoken out  there are also those eager to give Trump the benefit of the doubt because they see an opportunity to foster better relations with Israels government after what they say was a disastrous period under Obama, whom they considered to be excessively critical of Israel.

Thats why Mort Klein, the head of the Zionist Organization of America, who is close to Adelson, is willing to move on, even though Klein has repeatedly criticized the White Houses language on the Holocaust.

It was troubling, it was wrong, but in the scheme of whats important to Israel, to the Jewish people, as painful as it was  and it was painful  its not an issue that affects, directly, Israel, or policy most Jewish people care about, he said last week.

Because we had a president this extraordinarily hostile, almost any change would have been welcome, he said of Obama. Were more forgiving (of Trump) because . . . we think hes supportive in general. Even if he makes a mistake like the Holocaust issue, we dont think that has implications for issues that are more important.

(Two days later, however, Klein found himself criticizing the administration again in an interview with Politico, this time over its list of terrorist attacks that the White House alleged the media had under-covered. It left attacks in Israel off the list.)

Jews, like those who milled in and out of the kosher restaurants and tchotchke stores in a religious neighbourhood of Miami on a recent evening, said they want to give Trump a fair shot. Many said they were so scarred by Obamas tougher approach to Israel that they would not dwell on this administrations rhetoric.

Instead, they are waiting to see whether Trump will follow through on the actions he promised them during the campaign  including that he would move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and not put undue pressure on Israel as part of any peace negotiations.

Compared to Obama, I think the Trump administration is going to be 100 percent better towards our allies and 100 percent worse towards our real enemies, said Ronald Krongold, a Florida-based board member of the Republican Jewish Coalition and a longtime ally of Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor and Republican presidential candidate. The Jewish community should first of all have an optimistic view, considering where were coming from, as to what the Trump administration is going to do vis-a-vis Israel.

Trumps administration is hardly the first to have a complicated relationship with the Jewish community. President Ronald Reagan, who on the whole was viewed warmly by a sizable swath of the community, still deeply insulted many when he visited Bitburg, a German cemetery where some of Hitlers SS troops were buried.

Any president can survive a big mistake like (Trumps Holocaust statement). Bitburg was a much, much bigger mistake, said Noam Neusner, a former Jewish community liaison for president George W. Bush.

But, he continued, it will be very, very hard for even rightward-leaning Jews to support a Trump White House which fails to acknowledge critical, critical things about the centrality of the Jewish experience in the Holocaust. Its one of those things you cant look past. Its one thing theyll have to figure out.

If the Jewish communitys outrage at the Trump administrations Holocaust remarks has been nearly unanimous, the view on the White Houses attempted ban on refugees has been less so (and in fact, Stephen Miller, a top Trump aide and an architect of the ban, is Jewish).

But on that, too, there has been widespread anger among Jews on both sides of the aisle, many of them children and grandchildren of Jewish refugees themselves. Last week, around 20 rabbis were arrested in New York protesting the ban, and from Chicago to Omaha, synagogue groups have been heavily involved in resettling the refugees who make it to the U.S.

Jews grow up, from their earliest memories, knowing we have spent our history being persecuted, said Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Florida Democrat, said. We are taught that its not only important we look out for ourselves, but that Never Again has meaning through our actions, our commitment to standing up for justice for people who have no voice. . . . Throughout history, in many instances, no one stood up for us.

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CHICAGOState attorneys tried to persuade a panel of federal appellate judges that a Wisconsin inmate featured in the Netflix series Making a Murderer made a voluntary confession and was properly convicted.

Brendan Dassey was sentenced to life in prison in 2007 in connection with Teresa Halbachs death two years earlier. Dassey told detectives he helped his uncle, Steven Avery, rape and kill Halbach in the Avery familys Manitowoc County salvage yard. Avery was sentenced to life in prison in a separate trial.

A federal magistrate judge overturned Dasseys conviction in August, ruling investigators took advantage of the then-16-year-old Dasseys cognitive disabilities and tricked him into confessing with false promises that he would be all right. The state Department of Justice has appealed; Dassey remains in prison pending the outcome.

Attorneys for both DOJ and Dassey presented oral arguments to a three-judge panel at the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago on Tuesday.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported DOJ Deputy Solicitor General Luke Berg told the panel detectives never made Dassey any specific promises. Judge Ilana Rovner asked whether Dassey, whom the judge described as extremely suggestible, wouldnt have concluded based on the questioning that he would be able to go home rather than getting arrested.

Berg insisted the investigators acted properly and didnt so much as imply promises. Judge David Hamilton seemed to dispute that, telling Berg that obviously the investigators made vague promises of leniency.

Dasseys attorney, Laura Nirider, argued the detectives made a drumbeat of promises before every major admission in the confession. Hamilton, though, told her he had watched the entire interrogation and didnt think Dasseys will was subverted.

The arguments lasted less than an hour. The panel has no time table for a decision and it could be months before they rule.

Dassey, now 27, and Avery have contended police framed them. They say police went after them to stop a lawsuit Avery had filed demanding millions from Manitowoc County because he spent 18 years in prison for a rape he didnt commit. Avery is pursuing his own appeal.

Their cases gained national attention in 2015 after Netflix aired Making a Murderer, a multi-part documentary examining Halbachs death. The series spawned widespread conjecture about their innocence. Authorities who worked on the cases say the series was biased.

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KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIAThe half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was assassinated at an airport in Kuala Lumpur, telling medical workers before he died that he had been attacked with a chemical spray, a Malaysian official said Tuesday.

Kim Jong Nam, 46, was targeted Monday in the shopping concourse at the airport and had not gone through immigration yet for his flight to Macau, said the senior government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the case involves sensitive diplomacy.

He was taken to the airport clinic and then died on the way to the hospital, the official said.

Kim Jong Nam was estranged from his younger brother, the North Korean leader. He had been tipped by outsiders to succeed their dictator father, but reportedly fell out of favour when he was caught trying to enter Japan on a false passport in 2001, saying he wanted to visit Tokyo Disneyland. He was believed to have been living recently in Macau, Singapore and Malaysia.

Multiple South Korean media reports, citing unidentified sources, said Kim Jong Nam was killed at the airport by two women. TV Chosun, citing multiple government sources, said the women were believed to be North Korean agents. It said they fled in a taxi and were being sought by Malaysian police.

A Malaysian police statement confirmed the death of a 46-year-old North Korean man whom it identified from his travel document as Kim Chol, born in Pyongyang on June 10, 1970. The statement said the man had sought initial assistance at a customer service counter at the Kuala Lumpur airport and died en route to a hospital Monday.

Investigation is in progress and a post mortem examination request has been made to ascertain the cause of death, the statement said.

Ken Gause, at the CNA think-tank in Washington who has studied North Koreas leadership for 30 years, said Kim Chol was a name that Kim Jong Nam has travelled under. He is believed to have been born May 10, 1971, although birthdays are always unclear for senior North Koreans, Gause said.

In Washington, the State Department said it was aware of reports of Kim Jong Nams death but declined to comment, referring questions to Malaysian authorities.

The reported killing came as North Korea celebrated its latest missile launch, which foreign experts were analyzing for evidence of advancement in the countrys missile capabilities. For the next several days, North Korea will be marking the birthday of its late leader Kim Jong Il, the brothers father though they have different mothers. The major holiday this Thursday is called the Day of the Shining Star and will be feted with figure skating and synchronized swimming exhibitions, fireworks and mass rallies.

Since taking power in late 2011, Kim Jong Un has executed or purged a slew of high-level government officials in what the South Korean government has described as a reign of terror. The most spectacular was the 2013 execution by anti-aircraft fire of his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, once considered the countrys second-most-powerful man, for what the North alleged was treason.

Mark Tokola, vice-president of the Korea Economic Institute in Washington and a former deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, said it would be surprising if Kim Jong Nam was not killed on the orders of his brother, given that North Korean agents have reportedly tried to assassinate Kim Jong Nam in the past.

It seems probable that the motivation for the murder was a continuing sense of paranoia on the part of Kim Jong Un, Tokola wrote in a commentary Tuesday. Although there was scant evidence that Kim Jong Nam was plotting against the North Korean leader, he provided an alternative for North Koreans who would want to depose his brother.

Gause said Kim Jong Nam had been forthright that he did not have political ambitions, although he was publicly critical of the North Korean regime and his brothers legitimacy in the past.

Kim Jong Nam had been less outspoken since around 2011, when North Korean assassins reportedly tried to kill him in Macau, Gause said. He had reportedly travelled to North Korea since then, so it was assumed he was no longer under threat. Kim Jong Nam may have become more vulnerable as his defender in the North Korean hierarchy, Kim Kyong Hui  Kim Jong Uns aunt and the husband of assassinated uncle Jang Song Thaek  appears to have fallen from favour or died. She has not been seen in public for more than three years, Gause said.

Gause said that while the most likely explanation for the killing was that Kim Jong Un was removing a potential challenger to North Korean leadership within his own family, he could also be sending a warning to North Korean officials to demonstrate the reach of the regime. It follows the defection last year of a senior diplomat from the North Korean Embassy in London who has spoken of his despair at Kims purges of officials.

Evans Revere, a former U.S. diplomat and specialist on East Asia, said the killing did not mean the North Korean regime was unstable. He said it showed Kim Jong Uns brutal control and ability to eliminate opponents or perceived opponents.

Victor Cha, a former White House director for Asian affairs, disagreed.

He sacks the minister of state security last month and now kills the elder brother. Doesnt look so stable to me, Cha said.

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WASHINGTONThe acting attorney general informed the Trump White House late last month that she believed Michael Flynn had misled senior administration officials about the nature of his communications with the Russian ambassador to the United States, and warned that the national security adviser was potentially vulnerable to Russian blackmail, current and former U.S. officials said.

The message, delivered by Sally Yates and a senior career national security official to the White House counsel, was prompted by concerns that Flynn, when asked about his calls and texts with the Russian diplomat, had told Vice President-elect Mike Pence and others that he had not discussed the Obama administration sanctions on Russia for its interference in the 2016 election, the officials said. It is unclear what the White House counsel, Donald McGahn, did with the information.

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A timeline of Trumps spiraling Michael Flynn-Russia scandal

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Flynn resigned Monday night in the wake of revelations about his contacts with the Russian ambassador.

In the waning days of the Obama administration, James R. Clapper Jr., who was the director of national intelligence, and John Brennan, the CIA director at the time, shared Yates concerns and concurred with her recommendation to inform the Trump White House. They feared that Flynn had put himself in a compromising position and thought that Pence had a right to know that he had been misled, according to one of the officials, who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.

A senior Trump administration official said before Flynns resignation that the White House was aware of the matter, adding that weve been working on this for weeks.

The current and former officials said that although they believed that Pence was misled about the contents of Flynns communications with the Russian ambassador, they couldnt rule out that Flynn was acting with the knowledge of others in the transition.

The FBI, Yates, Clapper and Brennan declined to comment on the matter.

In a Feb. 8 interview with The Washington Post, Flynn categorically denied discussing sanctions with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, repeating public assertions made in January by top Trump officials. One day after the interview, Flynn revised his account, telling The Post through a spokesman that he couldnt be certain that the topic never came up.

Two officials said a main topic of the relevant call was the sanctions. Officials also said there was no evidence that Russia had attempted to exploit the discrepancy between public statements by Trump officials and what Flynn had discussed.

Flynn said earlier this month that he first met Kislyak in 2013, when Flynn was director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and made a trip to Moscow.

U.S. intelligence reports during the 2016 presidential campaign showed that Kislyak was in touch with Flynn, officials said. Communications between the two continued after Trumps victory on Nov. 8, according to officials with access to intelligence reports on the matter.

Kislyak, in a brief interview, confirmed having contacts with Flynn before and after the election, but he declined to say what was discussed.

For Yates and other officials, concerns about the communications peaked in the days after the Obama administration on Dec. 29 announced measures to punish Russia for what it said was the Kremlins interference in the election in an attempt to help Trump.

After the sanctions were rolled out, the Obama administration braced itself for the Russian retaliation. To the surprise of many U.S. officials, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Dec. 30 that there would be no response. Trump praised the decision on Twitter.

Intelligence analysts began to search for clues that could help explain Putins move. The search turned up Kislyaks communications, which the FBI routinely monitors, and the phone call in question with Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant-general with years of intelligence experience.

From that call and subsequent intercepts, FBI agents wrote a secret report summarizing Flynns discussions with Kislyak.

Yates, then the deputy attorney general, considered Flynns comments in the intercepted call to be highly significant and potentially illegal, according to an official familiar with her thinking.

Yates and other intelligence officials suspected that Flynn could be in violation of an obscure U.S. statute known as the Logan Act, which bars U.S. citizens from interfering in diplomatic disputes with another country.

At the same time, Yates and other law enforcement officials knew there was little chance of bringing against Flynn a case related to the Logan Act, a statute that has never been used in a prosecution. In addition to the legal and political hurdles, Yates and other officials were aware of an FBI investigation looking at possible contacts between Trump associates and Russia, which now included the Flynn-Kislyak communications.

Word of the calls leaked out on Jan. 12 in an op-ed by Post columnist David Ignatius. What did Flynn say, and did it undercut U.S. sanctions? Ignatius wrote, citing the Logan Act.

The next day, a Trump transition official said, I can tell you that during his call, sanctions were not discussed whatsoever.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer, in a conference call with reporters on Jan. 13, said that the conversation between Flynn and Kislyak had centred on the logistics of a post-inauguration call between Trump and Putin. That was it, plain and simple, Spicer added.

On Jan. 15, Pence was asked about the phone call during an appearance on CBS Face the Nation. Citing a conversation he had with Flynn, Pence said the incoming national security adviser and Kislyak did not discuss anything having to do with the United States decision to expel diplomats or impose censure against Russia.

Before the Pence statement on Jan. 15, top Justice Department and intelligence officials had discussed whether the incoming Trump White House should be notified about the contents of the Flynn-Kislyak communications.

Pences statement on CBS made the issue more urgent, current and former officials said, because U.S. intelligence agencies had reason to believe that Russia was aware that Flynn and Kislyak had discussed sanctions in their December call, contrary to public statements.

The internal debate over how to handle the intelligence on Flynn and Kislyak came to a head on Jan. 19, Obamas last full day in office.

Yates, Clapper and Brennan argued for briefing the incoming administration so the new president could decide how to deal with the matter. The officials discussed options, including telling Pence, the incoming White House counsel, the incoming chief of staff or Trump himself.

FBI Director James B. Comey initially opposed notification, citing concerns that it could complicate the agencys investigation.

Clapper and Brennan left their positions when Trump was sworn in, but Yates stayed on as acting attorney general until Jan. 30, when Trump fired her for refusing to defend his executive order temporarily barring refugees and people from seven majority-Muslim countries  an action that had been challenged in court.

A turning point came after Jan. 23, when Spicer, in his first official press briefing, again was asked about Flynns communications with Kislyak. Spicer said that he had talked to Flynn about the issue again last night. There was just one call, Spicer said. And it covered four subjects: a plane crash that claimed the lives of a Russian military choir; Christmas greetings; Russian-led talks over the Syrian civil war; and the logistics of setting up a call between Putin and Trump. Spicer said that was the extent of the conversation.

Yates again raised the issue with Comey, who now backed away from his opposition to informing the White House. Yates and the senior career national security official spoke to McGahn, the White House counsel, who didnt respond Monday to a request for comment.

Trump has declined to publicly back his national security adviser since the news broke.

On Monday afternoon, Kellyanne Conway, counsellor to the president, said Trump had full confidence in Flynn. Minutes later, however, Spicer delivered a contradictory statement to reporters.

The president is evaluating the situation, Spicers statement read. Hes speaking to Vice-President Pence relative to the conversation the vice president had with Gen. Flynn and also speaking to various other people about what he considers the single most important subject there is: Our national security.

And then late Monday, Flynn resigned.

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FBI agents interviewed Michael Flynn when he was national security adviser in the first days of the Trump administration about his conversations with the Russian ambassador, current and former officials said Tuesday.

The interview raises the stakes of what so far has been a political scandal that merely cost Flynn his job. If he was not entirely honest with the FBI, it could expose Flynn to a felony charge. President Donald Trump asked for Flynns resignation Monday night.

Read the latest news on U.S. President Donald Trump

While it is not clear what he said in his FBI interview, Flynn maintained publicly for more than a week that his conversations with the ambassador were innocuous and did not involve Russian sanctions, something now known to be false.

Shortly after the FBI interview, on Jan. 26, the acting attorney general, Sally Yates, told the White House that Flynn was vulnerable to Russian blackmail because of inconsistencies between what he had said publicly and what intelligence officials knew to be true.

At issue is a conversation during the presidential transition in which Flynn spoke to the Russian ambassador about sanctions levied against Russia by the Obama administration. The call spurred an investigation by the FBI into whether Flynn had violated the rarely invoked Logan Act, which prohibits private citizens from negotiating with foreign governments in disputes with the United States.

The National Security Agency routinely eavesdrops on calls involving high-ranking foreign diplomats. Flynn was not a focus of the eavesdropping, officials said.

It is not clear whether Flynn had a lawyer for his interview with the FBI or whether anyone at the White House, including lawyers there, knew the interview was happening.

Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, said Tuesday that Trump was made aware of the situation weeks ago. Spicer said the White House had reviewed the situation and determined that Flynn did not violate any laws during his call with the Russian ambassador.

Spicer said Flynn was asked to resign because he had lost the trust of the president and vice president.

In late December, Flynn spoke with Sergey Kislyak, Russias ambassador to the United States. During the call, Flynn and the ambassador discussed sanctions, according to current and former U.S. officials. In the call, Flynn indicated that the Obama administration was Moscows adversary and that relations would change under Trump.

But on Jan. 14, Flynn told Vice President Mike Pence that he had not discussed sanctions in his call. The next day, Pence went on Fox News Sunday and declared: I talked to Gen. Flynn yesterday, and the conversations that took place at that time were not in any way related to the new U.S. sanctions against Russia or the expulsion of diplomats.

Even after FBI agents later interviewed Flynn and Yates warned the White House, Flynn denied yet again  this time to The Washington Post on Wednesday  that he had discussed sanctions with the Russian ambassador.

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CARACAS, VENEZUELAThe Trump administration announced sanctions against Venezuelas vice-president Monday, calling him a drug kingpin in its first moves against the countrys leftist government, against which Donald Trump railed during his presidential campaign.

Vice-President Tareck El Aissami, according to a U.S. Treasury Department statement, was being sanctioned for playing a significant role in international narcotics trafficking. The sanctions mean El Aissami, 42, will be blocked from financial dealings with Americans and any U.S. assets of his will be frozen.

El Aissami shrugged off the sanctions, saying Tuesday that the actions only deepen his commitment to the anti-imperialist revolution started by the late Hugo Chavez.

In a series of defiant messages posted on social media, El Aissami said the miserable and defamatory aggression by the U.S. wont distract him from his job of rescuing Venezuelas crashing economy from what he called sabotage by its conservative opponents.

Theyll never be able to defeat our unbreakable resolution to be free forever, El Aissami said.

Such actions against officials in the government of President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela are nothing new in a long and fraught relationship between Washington and Caracas. El Aissami is the highest-ranking Venezuelan official to ever be sanctioned by the U.S. and the accusation that El Aissami, the next in line for the presidency, is a drug trafficker was certain to set a new, more hostile tone in relations.

This can be seen as the opening salvo of the Trump administration in dealing with Latin Americas deepest crisis, said Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue, a policy group in Washington. It is hard to imagine that, with this decision, Washington will now be inclined to offer many carrots to the increasingly authoritarian regime.

Since taking office, Trump has come under increasing pressure by both Republicans and some Democrats to take a tougher stance on Venezuela, which has suffered an economic collapse punctuated by food and medicine shortages and soaring crime, even as its government has taken a harsher stance against dissent.

In a letter on Feb. 8, 34 members of the U.S. Congress urged the president to take immediate action to sanction regime officials.

Whether the action signals a hardening U.S. stance toward Maduros socialist government or is just a carry-over of policies set in motion by the Obama administration, remains to be seen, analysts said. Under Barack Obama, the U.S. was careful not to call for the unpopular Maduros removal, as the opposition has been seeking, choosing instead to support a Vatican-sponsored dialogue aimed at avoiding bloodshed.

Patience has worn out, said Chris Sabatini, editor of Latin America Goes Global, a website that tracks U.S. policy toward the region. Theres a mounting sense of frustration, even in the State Department and on the Hill, that the dialogue is going nowhere.

For now, no additional actions against Venezuela are in the works, said a White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss policy. Its also not clear whether Trump personally signed off on the sanctions, although, in conversations over the weekend with the presidents of Peru and Colombia, he raised concerns about Venezuelas deteriorating humanitarian situation.

Trumps newly confirmed Treasury secretary, Steve Mnuchin, told reporters on Tuesday the sanctions demonstrate the presidents seriousness about fighting the scourge of drugs in the United States. Trump, he said, also wanted to to send a clear message to the people of Venezuela that America stands with them.

The Treasury Department document contained wide-ranging accusations against El Aissami, the result of years of investigation officials said.

Power and influence do not protect those who engage in these illicit activities, said John Smith, acting director of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control. Denying a safe haven for illicit assets in the United States and protecting the U.S. financial system from abuse remain top priorities of the Treasury Department.

Venezuelan officials had no immediate public comment. Maduro did not mention it during a television address Monday.

In its announcement, the Treasury Department said El Aissamis history of drug trafficking went back years through his previous political positions, which included a state governorship and establishing a national police force at the Interior and Justice ministries.

El Aissami facilitated shipments of narcotics from Venezuela, to include control over planes that leave from a Venezuelan air base, as well as control of drug routes through the ports in Venezuela, the department said.

Additionally he oversaw or partially owned narcotics shipments of over 1,000 kilograms from Venezuela on multiple occasions, including those with the final destinations of Mexico and the United States, according to the statement. It did not specify what kinds of drugs were involved.

The department also said El Aissami had protected accused drug traffickers, including the Venezuelan drug lord Walid Makled Garcia and the Colombian kingpin Daniel Barrera Barrera. The accusations linked El Aissami to shipments destined for the Zetas drug cartel in Mexico.

The department also said a Venezuelan businessman, Samark Lopez Bello, had assisted El Aissami, and faced similar sanctions.

The sanctions come as El Aissami has been consolidating power in Venezuela. He was appointed vice president by Maduro on Jan. 4 after rising from a job as a rural student leader. David Smilde, an analyst at the Washington Institute on Latin America, an advocacy group, said he is seen as the front-runner for the leftist candidacy in the 2018 elections.

Since appointing El Aissami to the post, Maduro has granted him expanded powers, including over the economy and expropriating businesses.

El Aissami also heads a newly formed commando unit, meant to root out dissidents that the government accuses of plotting coups. The group has so far arrested at least five people.

El Aissami does not have a good history on human rights, Smilde said, adding that while he was governor of the Aragua state he presided over a police force that came to be one of the most violent and abusive in the country.

With files from The Associated Press

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Across the country, we mourn the tragic loss of life of six of our fellow Canadians gunned down because of their religion in a mosque Sainte-Foy, Que. The murder by a white supremacist fuelled by the Islamophobia of Marie Le Pen and Donald Trump stands as a shocking notice of what is at stake in 2017 and beyond.

The inauguration of Donald Trump was met with the largest outpouring of anger in living memory. In Toronto more than 50,000 women and allies from all walks of life jammed Queens Park in the largest protest in decades. Many in the crowd had never been to a demonstration, while others were veteran activists dismayed at the prospect of past gains undone by a vile demagogue in the White House.

In the first month he proved the worst fears to be justified. His cabinet of billionaires representing oil and finance capital are determined to gut labour standards, public education and equality rights. Executive Orders to build a wall against Mexico, bar Muslims are conscious steps to build a climate of fear and division against people of colour and immigrants.

In Canada, the Trudeau government is positioning itself to accommodate the new reality of Trumps America First doctrine. The cabinet was shuffled, the disgraced former PM Brian Mulroney was recruited, and the Keystone pipeline decision applauded. Business leaders are trying to position themselves for future trade relations, while oil, gas and mining interests prepare to claw back measures for carbon pricing or climate justice.

There will be much to protest in the next four years. Hatred will spread as the most powerful man on Earth gives permission to xenophobes, racists and misogynists to act out their worst instincts. Workers rights, equality rights and civil liberties will be under attack by Republican majorities and the Supreme Court. Federal right-to-work legislation is been tabled. Canadian demagogues, such as Kevin OLeary and Kellie Leitch, will try to ride to power on the Trump momentum. It will become a much nastier world, and people may feel overwhelmed unless they see inspiring and effective response.

The spark of resistance was evident on Jan. 21, as millions repudiated the Trump agenda. The turnout of hundreds of lawyers at U.S. airports to assist those caught in the net of repression was a hopeful sign, along with rulings by a number of judges that challenged the legality of Executive Orders. Mayors and state governors have vowed to obstruct the repression against undocumented residents, and a sanctuary movement is blossoming.

Canadians have already responded in rallies to support our Muslim neighbours, and to publicly reject division and hate. No Canadian politician or businessman can be allowed to normalize the rule of Trump and the Republicans. Nor should they be allowed to mimic weaker rules on climate action, workers rights or corporate tax cuts. Securing economic justice so that people have decent work and dignity is vital to countering the despair that is a fertile ground for right-wing populism.

We need to be resolute in standing for the true values of Canada, but also be guided by the courageous last words of Jack Layton as he urged us to affirm our shared humanity:

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we can change the world.

But to change the direction the world seems to be heading, we need a comprehensive plan to address these troubling times.

Build powerful movements to challenge Islamophobia and all forms of discrimination, and deepen the equity agenda in schools, workplaces and the labour movement. Strengthen the refugee, migrant rights and sanctuary movements and support those in the U.S. who are working to uphold civil liberties. Rescind the Safe Third Country agreement and repeal Bill C-51.

Strengthen the goal of good jobs for all. If NAFTA is being renegotiated, delete Chapter 11 and enshrine labour and environmental rights. Secure just transition policies for those affected by transformation to a greener economy. Defend public services and fight for fair corporate tax policies. Strengthen workers rights and economic security.

Support indigenous peoples in their struggle to defend land and water, for justice for missing and murdered indigenous women, and implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Report. Justice in Canada cannot be achieved without addressing our relationships with the first peoples.

Defend the principles of professional journalism and the financial sustainability of Canadian media as a key component of democracy. We need to be informed in order to make effective judgments, and to maintain accountability of those we elect and all those who wield power in our society.

John Cartwright is president of the Toronto & York Region Labour Council.

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Canadians should be concerned that our good name is being used to add credibility to companies and individuals potentially seeking to commit tax crimes and to wash the proceeds of global fraud and corruption.

As a Canadian practicing law and operating out of the British Virgin Islands (BVI), any mention of Mossack Fonseca together with Canada is guaranteed to capture my attention.

My law firm seeks to recover assets stolen by international fraud and grand corruption. As such, a recent joint expose by the CBC, Radio Canada and the Toronto Star caught my attention. When the Panama Papers scandal broke in April 2016, the worlds focus turned on the BVI. The actions of the Mossack Fonseca offices here generated much of the criticism heaped on this small Caribbean territory.

The worlds media descended on our picturesque island of Tortola. The golden thread running through most of the attacks against offshore financial centres in the subsequent coverage was an ideological one: that the 1 per cent made too much money and used offshore company structures to conceal it.

I lost count of how many TV, radio and print interviews I conducted in an effort to respond to the onslaught.

The offshore industry in the BVI is not perfect. Neither are the offshore financial centres in Cayman, Scotland, Canada and most notably in the U.S., where Delaware is effectively the most secretive of all offshore company platforms (along with Nevada). It is disappointing that America criticizes all the other offshore providers, yet effectively ignores its own.

As for the word secretive, why is it synonymous with offshore companies? Canada was considered by Mossack Fonsecas tax advisers to be an excellent place to hide assets. Toronto tax lawyer Jonathan Garbutt aptly described the process of making a company appear Canadian (by placing wealth of doubtful origin into a vehicle that is purpose-built to cleanse it) as Snow Washing. He said that this procedure made the company appear to be as pure as the .driven snow in the Great White North.

Its the same as using a Scottish offshore limited partnership. Ostensibly, Canada and the U.K. strictly regulate financial services. In reality, they all but rubber-stamp the formation of a locally incorporated business entity.

It is repugnant that directors of some Canadian companies could have lied to the Canada Revenue Agency, based on advice apparently given by email from a Mossack Fonseca director. This is organized tax evasion at its most base. The author of these emails and anyone who acted upon this advice should be prosecuted. If it is true that Mossack Fonseca employees manufactured email chains and documents to mislead tax authorities, then this is an apparent criminal conspiracy and should be investigated.

Forensic accountant Peter Dent from anti-corruption NGO Transparency International, said he often hits brick walls in his Canadian investigations. In order to get hold of the Holy Grail of fraud investigation  genuine Ultimate Beneficial Ownership (UBO) identification documents  you need to produce some evidence of apparent wrongdoing on the part of a target company to convince a magistrate to sign a disclosure order or warrant. But having gained access to a Canadian companys records, youll often be faced with a total lack of UBO identifiers.

Those UBO identifiers need to be made available: not only to frustrate tax evaders, fraudsters and money launderers, but potentially terrorists, who might use the anonymity associated with underregulated companies to fund their murderous activities.

Anti-money laundering (AML) regulations also need to be extended to incorporators of all Canadian companies, and those companies need to know their customer. This would help bring Canada up to the Financial Action Task Forces (FATF) global standard for combating money laundering.

Its ironic that incorporators of BVI and Cayman companies have been required to adhere to this standard of AML compliance for several years, while big, dumb and happy onshore jurisdictions have been left alone.

Any system of regulation is only as good as the weakest link in its chain. Canada has shown there is still much more to do before it can prevent snow washing.

Martin Kenney is managing partner of Martin Kenney & Co., Solicitors, a specialist investigative and asset recovery practice based in the British Virgin Islands and focused on multi-jurisdictional fraud and grand corruption cases @MKSolicitors

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A public meeting about a proposal to overhaul King St. was held Monday night at Metro Hall. A Feb. 14 article about the meeting misstated the location.

A Feb. 14 article about a report on Canadas tax gap stated incorrectly that the report was put out by Ottawa and has yet to be released. In fact, as the article later stated correctly, the report done by the Conference Board of Canada was released this week.

The Immigration and Refugee Board currently has an expedited program for processing refugee claims from Syria, Iraq and Eritrea. A Feb. 14 article about the IRB's new process to reduce backlog mistakenly included Ethiopia in the list.

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Justin Trudeau achieved the seemingly impossible during his in-and-out trip to the White House on Monday: he managed to make Donald Trump boring.

And that, for Trudeau and his government, was a tremendous win.

Against the backdrop of a White House that is by all indications in chaos, alongside a president inclined to go off the rails as often as a rickety streetcar, the prime minister kept his first face-to-face meeting relentlessly focused on the traditional tedious bromides of U.S.-Canadian relations.

There was no mistaking the distinct absence of any personal warmth between the two men. It was all correct, but Trump looked like he could hardly wait for the encounter to end.

Nonetheless, their bland statements reinforced messages that the Canadian government was determined to have publicly endorsed by this new and profoundly unpredictable administration in Washington.

Trump proclaimed that America is deeply fortunate to have a neighbour like Canada. He acknowledged the profound shared interests of Canada and the United States, the fact that the two economies are deeply integrated, and that millions of good middle-class American jobs (the type the president campaigned to protect) depend on trade with Canada. He recognized the importance of making sure the border doesnt become a hindrance to expanding trade and creating jobs, despite U.S. paranoia about security.

In other words, he acknowledged that putting America First, the prime directive of his administration, should not mean kicking Canada to the curb. On the contrary, U.S. self-interest requires that the cross-border relationship be protected and even strengthened.

Thats the key message that Canadian governments of all stripes have worked to get across to U.S. administrations of all types for many decades. Simply getting Trump to buy into the basic proposition was a win.

And Trump went a bit further, recognizing that the U.S. already has a very outstanding trade relationship with Canada and hes interested only in tweaking it. Who knows what that means exactly for any looming renegotiation of NAFTA, which Trump famously denounced as the worst trade deal ever? But the tone is about as good as Canada could expect at this point. It looks very much as though Hurricane Donald will be headed south toward Mexico, not north toward us.

For Canadians eager to see Trudeau publicly distance himself from Trumps retrograde policies, the prime minister walked the line about as well as anyone could ask.

Asked about the two countries starkly different approaches to refugees and immigrants, he told a questioner that the last thing Canadians expect is for me to come down and lecture another country on how they choose to govern themselves. But he quickly followed that by saying Canada will continue to be true to its own values and be a positive example in the world.

Message sent  with no reason for the U.S. side to take offence.

Trudeaus team managed a minor coup by arranging for the two leaders to preside over a roundtable of senior women in business, including Trumps daughter Ivanka.

The U.S.-Canada council they announced for advancing women in business will quite likely come to nothing. But just having the president and prime minister take part in a session devoted to promoting women sent a positive message about Trudeaus priorities. It also did Trump a favour, giving him an opportunity to do a little fence-mending with the many women he alienated during the presidential campaign.

One good meeting does not make for a successful relationship. But its also true that a really bad first meeting could have made it a lot harder to get things on the right track with the new players in Washington.

Given how volatile Trump has shown he can be, that was always a possibility. So Trudeau deserves a pat on the back for getting out of town without leaving any obvious broken china or bad feelings behind him. In the new Washington, that counts as a victory.

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Editors' pick: Originally published Feb. 13.

The controversial U.S. Department of Labor fiduciary rule, which placed more responsibility on financial advisors to display more transparency on advisory services and fees, took another turn, and it could work out in the favor of U.S. retirement savers.

The new wrinkle happened after a new Dallas federal district judge's decision last week supporting the fiduciary rule in retirement savings and ruling against the financial industry. The Texas case is a big deal for financial advisors and their customers, advocacy groups say.

According to the AARP, the ruling "will blunt efforts to overturn the Department of Labor's (DOL) consumer-oriented rule."

This decision is the "third by a federal court in recent months agreeing that the DOL can require financial advice for retirement savers to meet a fiduciary standard. No court has ruled otherwise," AARP notes.

"These are significant victories for investors across the country," says Nancy LeaMond, AARP executive vice president. "Retirement savers should be able to get retirement investment advice in their best interest, not the interest of Wall Street."

The Texas ruling solidifies the trend toward more money management firms adopting fiduciary advisory standards no matter what the Trump administration plans to do with the DOL ruling. In a White House memorandum last week, President Trump promised to review, and possibly curtail, the Labor Department's new fiduciary standards.

"Many advisors already meet a fiduciary standard, and many more firms, agents and brokers have invested considerable time and money complying with the fiduciary rule," LeaMond says. "All advisors should meet this standard."

AARP claims the old "suitability standard," which allowed financial advisors to provide a lower standard of advice, and to charge bigger, more hidden charges, cost U.S. retirement savers $17 billion in higher money management fees annually.

Some financial industry professionals are in full agreement with the Texas ruling.

"Justice was done in Texas," states Bill Harris, CEO of San Francisco-based Personal Capital. "As one of the only financial firms advocating for working families and retirees by supporting the fiduciary rule, Personal Capital applauds this courageous ruling. With the Texas decision, you can paraphrase Mark Twain's famous quip: 'Rumors of the fiduciary rule's death are greatly exaggerated.'"

Harris says the Fiduciary Rule is necessary to protect investors who must make complex decisions about their own investments where the onus of securing a well-funded retirement is largely placed on the individual. "Without the Fiduciary Rule, conflicts of interest will cost investors their hard-earned savings in commissions and high, often hidden, fees," he says. "Based on a study of Personal Capital users' own data and the fees they are currently paying, unnecessary fees and conflicted advice leads to over 30% fewer assets for their retirement."

For the average Personal Capital user, "this means hundreds of thousands less in retirement savings and a substantial reduction in retirement readiness," he notes.

Harris isn't alone in pointing to the retirement savings landscape as key lynchpin to the DOL ruling.

"We believe in transparency as a general practice, and certainly feel that for individuals navigating the potentially confusing and murky marketplace of retirement plans, increased transparency is a good thing for the consumer," says Robert Wyche, executive wealth counselor at Waldron Private Wealth, in Pittsburgh. "With the ubiquitous and vast amount of advertising out there, holding practitioners to their word seems only fair."

The Texas fiduciary ruling will make it significantly more difficult for money managers to stick clients with higher fees, others say.

"Repeal of the fiduciary rule would imperil the retirement savings of millions of Americans," says Jon Stein, CEO at Betterment. "When big banks and brokers are allowed to prioritize their own profits, it means hidden fees and conflicts that hurt consumers. Repeal means favoring the bottom lines of the financial services industry over the American people, who deserve financial transparency and honesty."

As some industry experts point out, the ground has shifted on the fiduciary rule, and some heavy industry hitters are already adjusting to the new financial advisory reality on fees and transparency.

"Not only are investors more aware now, many firms have already taken a stance," says Carlos Garcia, a financial expert turned fin/tech entrepreneur with 14 years of Wall Street experience. "Some, like Merrill Lynch, are already pushing new marketing around the change so there's no turning back. Others, like Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo, will keep commission-based accounts regardless of the outcome. A line has been drawn."

Now, after some feathers were ruffled over the White House memo on the DOL fiduciary rule, proponents wound up having a good week after all, thanks to the Texas decision.

"In some cases the transparency will help, but for those who do not read the documentation it won't make much of a difference," says Charles Field, co-chair of Sanford Heisler's financial services litigation practice.

"The real benefit for those who do not read the documentation is that financial advisors will be under a duty to do what's in the best interest of their customers," he says. "As a result, these financial advisors will not be able to charge unreasonable fees, bury it in the fine print, and then claim transparency through fine print disclosures."

That would be a welcome development for retirement savers, who can use all the help they can get.
First there was Brexit. Then Trump.

Is it time to start getting ready for Frexit?

Investors are preparing for the possibility -- if remote -- that France ditches the euro as its home currency and brings back the franc. There's also a chance -- even more remote -- that France might exit the European Union altogether.

It seems almost unthinkable that the second-biggest economy among euro-based countries would choose to depart, but the rise of nationalism among voters around the world has given traders cause to fear surprising election outcomes. The dynamic emerged last June when Britain voted to leave the EU and was underscored by U.S. President Donald Trump's November victory on pledges to "Make America Great Again."

France will hold its first round of presidential elections on April 23, and Marine Le Pen, a far-right candidate with the National Front party who has pledged to restore the national currency and push for a referendum on exiting the EU, is leading the polls. While most candidates say she's likely to lose in the second round of voting, an unexpected victory would roil global markets.

Risks could include a steep plunge in European bank securities, a selloff of U.S. stocks and corporate bonds and a steep drop in Treasury yields, as investors seek safety in U.S. government debt. France, which currently boasts a AA credit rating from Standard & Poor's, could default if Le Pen succeeds in her push to redenominate the government's euro-based debt into francs.

"People are concerned that what should happen according to script might not happen according to script," said Scott MacDonald, chief global economist for Smith's Research and Gradings in White Plains, N.Y.

Last year's script was anything but predictable, as voters in the U.K. and U.S. latched onto campaigns tied to anti-globalization sentiment.

Le Pen stands in that camp, with her planks of exiting the euro and ending automatic citizenship for people born in the country. And, in an echo of Trump's pronouncements, she would seek to improve relations with Russia.

The Frexit risk adds to a growing roster of international trouble spots for investors, from China's slowing economy to potential trade disputes with Japan and Mexico. There's also the risk of escalated military conflict; North Korea said Monday that it had successfully tested a nuclear-capable missile over the weekend.

According to MacDonald, Le Pen garnered 25% in a Feb. 10 poll of voters' first-round election preferences. Second with 21% was Emmanuel Macron, a former investment banker who's considered socially liberal but economically pragmatic. Francois Fillon of the Republicans party, who has espoused a fiscally conservative approach, was an early favorite but has slipped to just 20% in the poll due to the fallout from revelations that he paid his wife hundreds of thousands of euros as his supposed parliamentary assistant.

Benoit Hamon, the candidate for sitting French President Francois Hollande's Socialist Party, is polling 16%; he has pledged to legalize marijuana and tax the use of robots.

So the Frexit warnings are beginning to trickle out.

Bank of America analysts wrote in a report last week that a French exit from the euro could have "far-reaching systemic implications for the global financial system." Moody's Investor Service said Feb. 3 that "financial markets do not appear to be pricing in acute fragmentation risks, suggesting that the impact of any such shock could be severe."

If France insisted on repaying its euro-denominated debt in francs, the country would be declared in default, Moritz Kraemer, S&P's head of sovereign ratings, wrote in a letter published in The Economist earlier this month, according to Reuters.

Markets have already started to price in a higher risk of deterioration in France's credit standing. The yield on 10-year French government bonds has climbed to 1.04%, from 0.69% at the start of the year. It's now 0.74 percentage point over yields on comparable German bonds -- the highest gap in four years.

A Le Pen victory could bring a stock-market rout for large U.S. banks, MacDonald said, given their exposure to France and the rest of the European Union; firms such as JPMorgan Chase (JPM) , Citigroup (C) and Goldman Sachs (GS) already are grappling with whether and how to relocate their London-based trading hubs following the Brexit vote.

"If there is turmoil in markets because of the French elections, it'll come through U.S. banks," MacDonald said. "We're talking big banks. They're international, and they have exposure around the planet."

For example, in its most-recent annual report, JPMorgan, the biggest U.S. bank, listed $26.2 billion of lending, trading and investing exposures to France -- the third-most after the U.K. ($46.7 billion) and Germany ($30.7 billion.)

French, German and Swiss banks would obviously also come under severe pressure, MacDonald said.

The smartest and easiest thing right now for investors worried about Frexit would be to reduce exposure to peripheral European countries such as Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece, he said.

MacDonald estimates that Le Pen has, at most, a 35% chance of victory in the second round of elections. A terror attack in France before the elections could sway the vote in her favor. If elected, she'd likely face resistance to a euro exit from within the French parliament, he said.

"There's a long way between here and there," he said. "But people have looked out here at the political scenario, and if it's like the U.S., we'll end up with a 'neofascist' sitting in the Elysee Palace."

EXCLUSIVE LOOK INSIDE: Citigroup is a holding in Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS charitable trust portfolio. Want to be alerted before Cramer and the AAP team buy or sell the stock? Learn more now.
Editors' pick: Originally published Feb. 14.

Carnival (CCL) won approval from the Cuban government to begin sailing another one of its brands to Havana-- following Fathom --which was the first U.S. cruise line authorized to make trips to the island.

The company said on Tuesday morning that it will send its Carnival Paradise ship, on its Carnival Cruise Line brand, to sea in June. The 2,052-passenger ship will make a series of four- to five-day trips out of Port Tampa Bay, stopping in Cuba for a daytime and overnight stay.

"Our iconic Carnival brand has carried tens of millions of passengers to the Caribbean during its nearly 45-year history, and we are excited that our largest brand will sail guests to Cuba, one of the most sought-after destinations in the world," Carnival CEO Arnold Donald said in a statement this morning.

The company is taking bookings for the trips.

Last week, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) was approved to add 25 more sailings to Cuba through the end of the year and the week before that, Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) boosted its Cuba itineraries for 2017 to 13 from four on its Empress of the Seas ship.

Carnival was the first cruise line approved to sail to Cuba after former President Obama drove the U.S. to restore diplomatic relations with the island in 2015, and then later lifted the longstanding commercial, economic and financial embargo against the country.

Carnival began making trips on its Fathom brand in May but was a bit delayed in getting its other brands approved.

Donald said today that he hopes to get more brands approved this year.

Shares of Carnival are slightly higher at $56.55 in early market trading Tuesday.
Editors' pick: Originally published Feb. 14.

President Trump has given Republicans an opening to kick the can down the road on the Affordable Care Act by saying a tax reform plan is on the way soon.

Trump said in a meeting with U.S. airline executives last Thursday that his administration is "way ahead of schedule" on taxes and would have something "phenomenal" to announce in two to three weeks. His remarks caught many -- including members of his own party -- by surprise. The GOP mantra on the Hill has generally been healthcare first, tax reform later, but as Republicans continue to struggle to come up with a plan to replace Obamacare, tackling taxes instead might give them at least a temporary out.

Republican lawmakers have promised a swift repeal of the Affordable Care Act once in power, the idea being to use a tool called budget reconciliation to dismantle much of former President Obama's signature healthcare law.

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan in an appearance on Fox News' "Fox and Friends" on February 2 said repealing and replacing Obamacare would be the GOP's first order of business and that it would deal with tax reform, likely also through reconciliation, second. One of Trump's first executive orders gave federal agencies authority to undo ACA rules.

But a lack of a clear plan on how to replace the ACA has caused consternation among many in the GOP.

"We're firing with real bullets now," Republican Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona told Bloomberg.

The president and party leaders have said a replacement will be lower-cost, provide better coverage and leave no one behind, all without a specific blueprint for a plan. Obamacare has become increasingly popular among Americans in the face of a potential repeal, and angry constituents are popping up in town hall events across the country demanding explanations from lawmakers.

"Given where they are on the Affordable Care Act, they could begin to say, 'Should we consider moving tax reform?'" said Dean Zerbe, former counsel to the Senate Finance Committee and national managing director at Alliantgroup. "I think they need to move something now."

New administrations have a short window of opportunity to move agendas forward -- hence the attention often on the president's first 100 days.

The GOP does not want to arrive at the spring without clear advancement on any major legislative front, and as midterm elections in 2018 approach, they will only be harder pressed to show voters results.

"The party is unified in wanting to remove [the ACA], but they're obviously having some birthing pains about what follows," said Zerbe. "On tax reform, the Republicans are certainly in agreement on wanting to get a tax system that's more encouraging of growth and more internationally competitive, that's got a broad appeal in the party."

To be sure, Republicans don't have a full consensus on taxes.

Trump campaigned on a more generous corporate tax rate than House Republicans. His proposal eliminates certain exemptions and filing statuses that would raise taxes for some in the middle class, something other plans avoid. Major questions about a border adjustment tax, which appears in Ryan's "A Better Way" blueprint, persist.

More broadly, Republicans pushing tax cuts that would most benefit the wealthy will have to determine how to sell it to the Rust Belt voters who put them into power. And, they'll have to figure out how much deficit increase, if any, they are willing to stomach.

The Washington, D.C.-based Tax Foundation estimated the House GOP plan would reduce federal revenue by $2.4 trillion over a decade on a static basis (meaning it doesn't take into account a potential for tax cuts spurring economic growth). The right-leaning think tank found Trump's plan would slash revenue by $4.4 trillion to $5.9 trillion, depending how it treats pass-through businesses.

Zerbe said he expects a $2 trillion tax cut plan, though he acknowledged the GOP will face pressure to craft a something that is revenue-neutral, like the proposal put forth by former Congressman Dave Camp in 2014. Even deficit hawks say a revenue neutral tax plan is unlikely to succeed.

"A lot of stakeholders are going to come out of the woodwork here," said Bill Hoagland, senior vice president at the Bipartisan Policy Center and former director of budget and appropriations for former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.

Not to mention the cries of hypocrisy sure to come from Democrats who watched Congressional Republicans resist any and all legislation that might increase the deficit under the Obama administration.

Still, the obstacles to a consensus on tax reform are shaping up to be much more surmountable than those related to repealing and replacing Obamacare.

The Washington Post in January published a recording to Congressional Republicans in Philadelphia fretting over the politics of tackling healthcare reform.

The House Freedom Caucus, the conservative coalition that in 2015 ousted former House Speaker John Boehner, on Monday initiated a push to immediately appeal the legislation without a replacement, further complicating the matter.

"It's clear that it's one thing to say repeal and replace and not know what you're replacing it with, and a lot of Republicans are finding out that this is not as simple as they first thought it would be," Hoagland, former vice president of public policy for CIGNA (CI) , said.

But when one door closes a window opens, and in this case, Trump's off-the-cuff comment on taxes has opened up a window for the GOP to put off Obamacare a little longer.
Legendary investor Warren Buffett has increased his stake in Apple (AAPL) -- in a big way.

During the fourth quarter, Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) holding company "added another 42.1 million shares of Apple, bringing its total investment to 57.4 million shares, or 1.09% of the company's stock," Yahoo! Financereported. "That position was valued at more than $6.6 billion at the end of 2016," the news site said.

Based on Apple's closing price of $135.02 on Tuesday, and assuming Berkshire's position hasn't changed, the stake is now valued at more than $7 billion, Yahoo! said.

Tesla Motors (TSLA) has been notorious for finding its way into the headlines. Whether it's because of its fastest 0 to 60 mph acceleration for a production car, self-driving capabilities or its CEO Elon Musk, it's seemingly always in the press.

So what is it making headlines for on Tuesday?

The company is apparently selling 200 Model S and Model X vehicles to the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, which will be used for limousine service with the Dubai Taxi Corporation.

The company has also opened up a store in Dubai. It also helps that Dubai is looking to increase the amount of driverless cars in the area by 2030. Given Tesla's advances in autonomous vehicle technology, it would have seemingly made the vehicles more attractive.

Tesla's vehicles also carry with them a certain aura, which likely makes them more attractive for the region's limo services.

This marks the company's first move into the Middle East, a noteworthy endeavor to go along with its recent move into India. Tesla has clearly been busy and investors will be anxious to receive updates when the company earnings reports later this month.

Shares of Tesla closed at $280.98 Tuesday, up 0.1%.

Life as PewDiePie isn't going quite so swell lately. Felix Kjellberg, better known as PewDiePie on Alphabet's (GOOGL) YouTube, has made his living off of funny and embarrassing skits along with his video game playing and commentary for years.

Made a living? Yes, and quite a living at that. It's estimated that Kjellberg generating $14.5 million in ad revenue last year alone. That's a lot of money for someone who's only 27, but who has had their videos viewed 14.7 billion times.

However, after several anti-Semitic videos not everyone is feeling the humor. Through its Maker Studios unit, Disney (DIS) had a partnership with PewDiePie. But after his latest posts, the company felt they were best off terminating that relationship.

YouTube has also taken action. The company has reportedly canceled its second season of "Scare PewDiePie," and has also removed him from the Google Preferred advertising platform.

Shares of Alphabet closed at $840.03 Tuesday, up 0.1%.

Apple, Alphabet and Cisco (see next item) are holdings in Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS Charitable Trust Portfolio. Want to be alerted before Cramer buys or sells AAPL, GOOGL or CSCO? Learn more now.



Amazon (AMZN) has seemingly got its hands all over e-commerce. Whether it's ordering toothpaste or buying cloud services, Amazon's got you covered.

But now the company is branching out even further -- and taking on some big-name competition in the process. With its venture into videoconferencing, it's going head-to-head with companies like Microsoft (MSFT) and Cisco (CSCO) .

Now known as Chime, the service features "video conferencing and communications from [Amazon Web Services] that's focused on business users."

Pricing ranges from $2.50 per month per user, all the way up to $15 per month per user, depending on the features customers are looking to get out of the service. For those trying to keep costs low though, there is a free option, but it only includes video calls and messaging between two people.

While it's sort of reminiscent of Microsoft's Skype, it's got a business element to it too. While AWS caters to companies looking for cloud, storage and web solutions, it's just another element to the platform.

The company is hoping this helps keeps the revenue growth going while also making the platform that much stickier and more attractive to current and prospective customers. Plus, with technology playing a larger and larger role in businesses today, it's becoming more likely that employees will need virtual meetings to keep up to date.

With Amazon entering the ring, it's looking to capitalize where others have failed and hopefully provide a superior product.

Shares of Amazon close at $836.39 Tuesday, down 0.02%.

This article is commentary by an independent contributor. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned.
Tableau Software, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides business analytics software products. It offers Tableau Desktop, a self-service, powerful analytics product with data; Tableau Server, a business intelligence platform for organizations; Tableau Online, a hosted software-as-a-service version of Tableau Server; Tableau Prep, a data preparation product for combining, shaping, and cleaning data; and Tableau Public, a cloud-based platform for analyzing and sharing public data. In addition, it offers Visual Query Language (VizQL) for databases, which is a computer language for describing pictures of data, including graphs, charts, maps, time series, and tables of visualizations; Live Query Engine that interprets abstract queries generated by VizQL into syntax understandable by database systems; and Hyper, an in-memory data engine technology that helps customers to analyze a range of data sets by evaluating analytical queries directly in the transactional database. Further, the company provides support, maintenance, training, and professional services. It serves organizations in various industries, including business services, energy and telecommunications, financial services, life sciences and healthcare, manufacturing and technology, media and entertainment, public sector, and education, as well as retail, consumer, and distribution industries. The company sells its products directly, as well as through indirect sales channels, such as technology vendors, resellers, original equipment manufacturers, independent software vendor, and distributors in the United States, Canada, and internationally. Tableau Software, Inc. was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.
Sumy region overnight into Tuesday sent another humanitarian aid to the city of Avdiivka, where fighting escalated significantly. The humanitarian cargo is intended for Ukrainian servicepersons, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

This is the second tranche of humanitarian aid, it includes warm clothes, food, stoves. All this aid was gathered by district administrations, city councils, caring residents of the region, and brought to the Department of Civil Protection of the Population and collection centers. We sent all this to our guys from the 15th and the 16th battalion, who now are serving in the 72nd brigade and reinforcing it, Head of Sumy Regional State Administration Mykola Klochko said.

Earlier, Sumy region sent over 20 tonnes of humanitarian aid and about 10 tonnes of diesel fuel to the residents of Avdiivka.

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Interior Minister of Moldova Alexandr Jizdan and Interior Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Avakov have discussed the need of signing a cooperation agreement on the fight against crime, the press service of Moldovas Interior Ministry reports.

Heads of Interior Ministries of Moldova and Ukraine discussed the need for signing a new agreement on cooperation in the sphere of fight against crime, as the latest document signed by the department is dated 1993 and it needs a comprehensive update, reads a report.

The two sides also discussed prospects of establishing a trilateral joint contact center in the Romanian city of Galati, with the participation of the Interior Ministries of Ukraine, Moldova and Romania.

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The talks of the International Monetary Fund on the allocation of the next tranche under $17.5 billion loan program to Ukraine show good progress.

This was stated by IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde in an interview with Reuters.

"I believe that negotiations are advancing in the right direction and a number of key issues has already been solved," Lagarde said.

However, she refrained from predicting the talks completion date. As the IMF Managing Director noted, the Fund still has to settle several issues with the Ukrainian authorities to complete the relevant process.

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In 2016, Ukraine didnt import electricity from the Russian Federation.

Energy and Coal Industry Minister Ihor Nasalyk said this during Svoboda Slova talk show on ICTV, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

2016 was the first year when we stopped imports of Russian electricity. Moreover, when we had a critical situation, in May, and we wanted to import  as an agreement on emergency aid is being developed among all the neighbors and it is like a requirement = we were denied, he said.

The minister also noted that the issue on electricity imports from Russia must not even be considered.

Im sure this will not happen. We will do everything to refuse from this position, Nasalyk said.

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Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has stated that 2016 was a year of economic recovery, and industry, construction sector, and agriculture showed the best growth rates.

He said this at a Cabinets meeting on Tuesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"I would like to emphasize that 2016 marked the resumption of growth of Ukrainian economy. We observed progress in all the economy sectors," Groysman said.

He noted that industry, construction sector, and agriculture had shown the best growth rates.

"I am glad that our country has the potential for industrial production growth. We also observe fairly significant growth in the construction sector, and agricultural production also develops. This means that our efforts will be further aimed at maintaining and accelerating the economic growth of our country," Groysman said.

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UN Security Council on February 13 approved a Ukrainian draft resolution on the protection of critically important infrastructure targets.

A draft resolution was unanimously approved as resolution 2341, Ukraines Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin said following an open debate on the resolution at the UN Security Council meeting.

The document, consisting of five pages in English version, calls on all states to strengthen efforts to improve security and protection of particularly vulnerable targets, such as infrastructure and public places.

The resolution calls upon UN Member States to develop relevant strategies to reduce risks of terrorist attacks on important targets and to share information [] to prevent, protect, mitigate, investigate, respond to and recover from damage from terrorist attacks on critical infrastructure facilities, including through joint training, and use or establishment of relevant communication or emergency warning networks.

The resolution was adopted at an open Security Council debate on vulnerabilities, interdependencies and capabilities and the cascading impacts of terrorist attacks on critical infrastructure, as well as measures to prevent them.

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Norway supports keeping sanctions against the Russian Federation until full implementation of the Minsk agreements.

This was stated by State Secretary to the Foreign Ministry of the Kingdom of Norway Marit Berger Rosland, Radio Liberty reports.

"Norway's position on support for Ukraine and preservation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity remains unchanged," Rosland said during the Ukrainian-Norwegian consultations on Monday, February 13.

As reported by the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine, the parties, in particular, discussed the progress of implementation of the Minsk agreements, and the Ukrainian side informed about the consequences of recent escalation of Russia's aggression in Donbas.

"The Norwegian side stressed the principled position of Oslo on condemnation of all manifestations of violations of the international law, and stressed the importance of keeping sanctions against Russia until full implementation of the Minsk agreements. In addition, Norway will continue to provide humanitarian aid to the population of Ukraine affected by the Russian aggression," the Ministrys statement said.

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Fight against corruption in Ukraine heads in the right direction, so now it is necessary to strengthen the effectiveness of newly created bodies and establish the anti-corruption court as soon as possible.

Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Hugues Mingarelli said this at the forum devoted to priorities of the reform process in Ukraine, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Fight against corruption in Ukraine heads in the right direction. The government has implemented new laws and established new institutions such as the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office of Ukraine. Now we have to make sure they are effective and can work without obstacles, which means that their work is treated with respect," Mingarelli said.

He added that the anti-corruption court should be established in Ukraine as soon as possible and its judges should be elected pursuant to fair and transparent procedure.

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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will discuss a package of topical issues, including the situation in Ukraine.

The NATO head said this to journalists, an Ukrinform correspondent reported from Brussels.

"I intend to meet with Foreign Minister Lavrov at the Munich Security Conference. I believe that it provides useful principles for a dialogue with Russia," Stoltenberg said.

The NATO head said that the sides would discuss a wide range of issues, including the situation in Ukraine, as well as ways to prevent its deterioration.

At the same time, he has stressed once again that Ukraine is a close partner of NATO.

"NATO will continue to support Ukraine. We provide strong political support to Ukraine, its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We also help Ukraine to modernize its armed forces and to carry out reforms," he said.

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President Petro Poroshenko congratulated Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow on having been re-elected as President of Turkmenistan.

This has been reported by the press service of the Head of State.

The parties discussed ways to intensify political dialogue between the two countries.

Special attention was paid to the intensification of economic component of bilateral cooperation. The parties reached an agreement to hold the regular session of the Joint Intergovernmental Ukraine-Turkmenistan Commission for economic and cultural-humanitarian cooperation in the nearest time.

Petro Poroshenko and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow discussed the involvement of Ukrainian companies in the implementation of infrastructure projects in Turkmenistan.

The parties emphasized the importance of restoration of direct air connection between Kyiv and Ashgabat.

ish






Dear Colleagues and Friends,Following the success of prior ESD conferences, it is our honor and pleasure to invite and welcome you to participate in the 3rd bi-annual ESD conference in Dubai/ UAE from 16th to 18th February 2017.It seems like only yesterday that we gathered in the spectacular city of Cape Town for ESD 2014. I am sure that everyone would agree that the 2014 organizing committee put together a fantastic event with a scientific and social program catering for everyone.Looking forward, we now turn our minds to the 3rd bi-annual ESD conference. For logistic reasons we had to bring the meeting into 2017  but only just so. We are particularly thrilled that we are able to bring ESD back to its cradle. It was here in Dubai where ESD was first held in 2012.One of the most significant challenges in global renal medicine including urology is to understand urinary stone disease due to the rapid increase in stone incidence and growth of the population. It is clear today that technologies can serve as a key to a much more efficient treatment, and our basic research colleagues will educate us in the various pathways of stone formation and stone prevention. New technologies, integrated medicine combining surgery, research and conservative medicine, and smart solutions will decrease the sufferings of our patients and also bring us closer to help our patients in preventing stone formation.Bringing together international urologists and leading researchers, ESD 2017 will be a showcase for the most advanced technologies and solutions for urinary stone disease. We are confident that you will benefit from the exciting range of topics as well as the technological & research solutions that are presented in this event..The theme for the Conference is Catching the New-Wave. As we are looking at ever increasing addition in surgical armamentariums and advanced research in basic sciences , urology is facing new and tougher challenges. Asurologists and researchers look for that competitive edge, thefraternity will excel with newinnovations as a cornerstone.ESD 2017 will be held in collaboration with the Emirati Urological Society (EUS) who will hold a combined session. State-of-the-art lectures from renown international experts, LIVE surgery transmitted from Germany, Hands-on workshops, poster- and video sessions all will make this an unforgettable scientific experience.Needless to say that the City of Dubai offers its own well known attractions as a major travel and tourist hub for the world. And ESD is known for its excellent social arrangements...An Event not to miss!
A multidisciplinary prostate cancer clinic relieves some of the hassle and burden of traveling to numerous clinics, as well as the anxiety of having to wait for appointments with various providers, to find out about planned treatment.For cancer patients, it is often an overwhelming process to undergo diagnosis and treatment with different healthcare providers, who practice in different clinics, and even in different cities.A multidisciplinary prostate cancer clinic relieves some of the hassle and burden of traveling to numerous clinics, as well as the anxiety of having to wait for appointments with various providers, to find out about planned treatment. At a multidisciplinary prostate cancer clinic, all the providers are available on the same day, in the same place, and can work together to formulate a cohesive treatment plan. In contrast, when you have healthcare providers providing diagnosis and treatment in different practices, everyone works in a vacuum to some extent. Providers are not knowledgeable about all the possible implications of the patients treatments. Thus, a medical oncologist may not see all the urology implications of certain cancer treatments, and a urologist may not be fully knowledgeable about the side effects of cancer treatments such as chemotherapy.Multidisciplinary clinics operate in different ways. Some are true multidisciplinary clinics; the providers are present in the same location on the same day, and work together on each patients treatment plan. So, at the end of the day, the patient receives a multidisciplinary care plan that considers every health providers expertise and perspective. Even when providers have different opinions, these differences can be discussed in front of patients, so that they understand all the pros and cons of a treatment plan. This type of communication between providers gives patients more faith in their treatment, as well as in the healthcare system. It can also be reassuring for patients to hear the same message about planned treatment from different specialists.Other multidisciplinary clinics operate as virtual clinics: the providers communicate by email or phone, but every providers perspective is considered in a timely way when coming up with the patients care plan. In contrast, a patient who receives care from various providers who are not in a multidisciplinary setting may be treated by physicians who do not communicate with each other, and whose electronic medical records (EMRs) are not even linked.It is very valuable from both the patients and the providers viewpoint to have good solid cohesive communication between the different providers in a multidisciplinary clinic. In our multidis-ciplinary advanced prostate cancer clinic, we have providers that include a participating urologist, medical oncologist, and a radiation oncologist. We also have dedicated support staff, including a clinic manager, advanced practice nurses, and physician assistants, as well as dedicated registered nurses (RNs).From the providers standpoint, it is crucial to be able to talk to colleagues about challenging cases, and make treatment plans in close collaboration with providers in other disciplines. It increases their knowledge and education about a plan of care, and makes them better doctors at the end of the day. Having providers talk to each other about a case is not usually problematic, because as physicians, we love to get an answer from colleagues and get one quickly.Now that we have oral agents for treating advanced castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) such as enzalutamide and abiraterone, questions often arise about treatment decisions, if one of these medications fail. The question that often faces urologists is whether a patient should be treated sequentially with another oral agent, or with chemotherapy. Its a real benefit to talk these complex decisions over with a doctor from another specialty. Patients with metastatic CRPC can also have urinary symptoms while undergoing oncology treatments, and its important to have a urologist on board who can treat incontinence, blockages, and infections. On the other hand, you dont want to run into a urinary tract infection while a patient is on a cytotoxic agent, so having doctors available with both medical oncology and urology expertise is vital.There are challenges to running a multidisciplinary cancer clinic. One of the problems is having adequate support staff who can handle different types of treatment. A nurse trained in medical oncology does not necessarily have expertise in performing urologic procedures such as bladder scans.Yet, for a urology nurse, performing these procedures is second nature. A urology nurse may not have much experience dealing with the complications of systemic therapy, such as neutropenic fever or intractable nausea and vomiting. Having support staff that can cover all these specific areas of expertise is important, but it can be difficult to train people to be conversant in several different disciplines.Physical space can also be an issue. For a practice to be efficient, you must have multiple rooms running at the same time. With the additional providers required by a multidisciplinary clinic, you may need additional space and support staff to keep the clinic running smoothly. The idea is not to slow down the flow of patients seen by any of the clinics doctors.In an era when doctors see increasing numbers of patients each day, and have increasing demands for documentation, the challenge is to remain efficient. When you have multiple providers in a multidisciplinary clinic, and you havent worked out the spacing and support staff questions beforehand, it can be a daunting task to optimize everyones time.You want to make sure that everyones time is used in the most valuable way. Since it can be problematic to find sufficient space to run a multidisciplinary clinic under one roof, many clinics are maintained virtually.In a virtual clinic, cases may not be discussed in the same space, but everyone is on the phone at the same time to create a treatment plan for every patient. Virtual clinics can be clinics in which providers are in the same building, but on different floors, or even in different buildings throughout the community.At Vanderbilt, we have a multidisciplinary advanced prostate cancer clinic that takes place in one space on campus. In a community setting, however, having a virtual clinic is often the only way to operate a multidisciplinary cancer clinic. As more medical centers and clinics merge, however, it will also become easier for multidisciplinary community cancer clinics to take place in a central location. Thus, patients will obtain better care, and may be able to be seen sooner for problems such as treatment complications.For clinic managers, it can be a demanding task to put together schedules in a way that makes sense for all the providers, support staff and patients involved in a multidisciplinary clinic. Medical oncologists and radiation oncologists should be in the clinic on the same days that urology surgeons are available and not in the operating room. From a scheduling standpoint, you must make sure that nurse practitioners and physician assistants, who are well trained, are available to help pick up routine care when physicians cannot be present. These allied health professionals should also be up to date on every patients care plan, and be part of making that plan, which takes time. Its helpful to encourage good communication about care plans and scheduling with regular phone calls and emails to ensure that patients experience continuity of care.In an era of bundled payments, a multidisciplinary clinic can create efficiencies, because a patient can be seen by different providers on the same day, and even at the same time, rather than having several different appointments with multiple providers. If providers can ask for opinions from other specialists, and get quick answers, it helps avoid additional physician visits and even errors. Due to the improved communication that takes place at a multidisciplinary prostate cancer clinic, lab tests are less likely to be repeated unnecessarily, and theres less risk that scans will be double-ordered, for instance.Were likely to see an increase in multidisciplinary localized prostate cancer clinics as well as advanced prostate cancer clinics in the near future. Studies have shown that establishing collaborative environments for treating localized prostate cancer is associated with triaging patients to higher rates of active surveillance, rather than treating patients with prostatectomy or radiation. Thus, a multidisciplinary localized prostate cancer clinic can be an advantage for payers, because it saves money by steering patients to less expensive interventions, and improves patient care. Eventually, multidisciplinary prostate cancer clinics will also include health professionals who provide psychosocial support, palliative care, and nutritional counseling as well as medical oncology, radiation oncology and urology. Having these support services within easy access will ensure earlier referrals and more comprehensive healthcareso theres less risk for patients to fall through the cracks.For patients, it can be a relief to be involved in a multidisciplinary prostate cancer clinic. As well as relieving the anxiety and emotional burden of having to visit providers in different offices, a multidisciplinary cancer clinic eases the physical burden of having to travel to different locations. Its also a benefit for caregivers, who can derive psychosocial benefits from having care delivered at just one clinic, where all the patients healthcare providers collaborate on a treatment plan.Although staffing can be challenging for multidisciplinary cancer clinics, it is less of an issue for clinics that are in the same practice or under one roof. The use of physician assistants and nurse practitioners in a multidisciplinary clinic will depend on the scope of a practice, local regulations, as well as how a practice already uses these allied health professionals.Yet nurse practitioners and physician assistants can be very important additions to a multidisciplinary cancer clinic, because they can take on routine follow-up cares, and enable doctors to see more patients and provide improved quality care. An RN dedicated to a multidisciplinary clinic may also be useful, since they can help with the increased documentation and paperwork involved in running these clinics.Another issue that can be problematic for multidisciplinary cancer clinics is billing. So far, our multidisciplinary advanced prostate cancer clinic has not had problems billing for services provided by different members of our professional team, or billing for facility fees. That process has been made easier by the fact that we are all practicing at the same location. Billing for healthcare provided in a virtual multidisciplinary clinic in the community, however, may face more roadblocks, since urologists, medication oncologists and radiation oncologists all practice in different settings. In the future, however, billings by virtual multidisciplinary prostate cancer clinics in the community should become easier as payers recognize the efficiencies of these clinics.Physicians who decide to participate in a multidisciplinary prostate cancer clinic should be aware that their patient volume may increase dramatically, since each discipline will be involved in devising the patients care plan in the early stages. So, a medical oncologist may contribute to the patients care plan, even before that patient transitions to chemotherapy. As these multidisciplinary clinics become busier, the challenges of having sufficient space become more difficult. Thus, having enough space and the ability to expand is important.Healthcare providers who start multidisciplinary clinics will find that patients will come out of the woodwork to attend these clinics. Patients are often eager to participate in multidisciplinary cancer clinics, because of the care coordination, quality treatment and psychosocial benefits offered there. Patients who come to these clinics know that their doctors and other healthcare providers are working in concert to make the smartest treatment decisions possible. For healthcare providers, on the other hand, a multidisciplinary cancer clinic has the potential to improve patient satisfaction through cohesive treatment plans. Such clinics also offer easy access to collaborators who can help optimize your patient care.Written by: Dr. Alicia Morgans is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She is the Clinical Director of the Genitourinary Malignancy group, and the Co-Director of the Supportive Oncology Program. She attended medical school at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and residency in internal medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Dr. Morgans completed a fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at Harvards Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center in Boston, and earned a Master of Public Health at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Morgans research assesses complications of advanced prostate cancer survivorship and treatment decision-making in advanced prostate cancer. Dr. Morgans is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group.
Andrew Puzder, center with President Trump and Vice President Pence, has faced weeks of intense criticism from Democrats and liberal groups over workplace violations at Puzde restaurants, sexually suggestive ads, and his opposition to wage regulations. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

Andrew Puzder, the fast-food executive whom President Trump nominated to be labor secretary, emerged Monday as Democrats last, best hope of defeating one of Trumps Cabinet choices as four key Republicans are on the fence about his nomination.

The unenthusiastic reception from the Republican lawmakers comes after weeks of intense criticism from Democrats and liberal groups over workplace violations at Puzders restaurants Hardees and Carls Jr., sexually suggestive ads featuring bikini-clad models eating burgers, and his opposition to wage regulations. Puzder has also been accused of domestic abuse  an accusation that was later recanted  and has acknowledged hiring an undocumented worker for his home.

Puzder, 66, has faced the most early skepticism of any nominee besides Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who won confirmation. The Republican senators who were noncommittal about Puzders nomination on Monday  Susan Collins (Maine), Johnny Isakson (Ga.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Tim Scott (S.C.)  sit on the committee that will hold his confirmation hearing Thursday. If they oppose him, his nomination is all but certainly dead.

Even if Puzder makes it out of committee, his final status may come down to a tiebreaker vote from Vice President Mike Pence similar to what happened last week for Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. It is the latest reminder of the paradox of Trumps Cabinet nominees  they have struggled for confirmation more than the nominees of any other administration in recent history, but criticism that might have in the past doomed a candidates chances may no longer prove decisive.

Some Republicans say they are willing to overlook issues related to undocumented workers or unpaid taxes for the opportunity to have a business-minded leader in the Labor Department. But the racy ads and domestic violence allegations may test some conservatives and womens groups.

Collins said Monday that she has reviewed footage of an Oprah Winfrey Show interview with Puzders ex-wife, Lisa Fierstein, who once appeared in disguise on the program to discuss the multiple times, she says, that Puzder physically assaulted her in the 1980s. Fierstein retracted the allegations, and he has always denied that he abused her.

Im going to wait until the issues that have arisen are fully explored at his hearing, Collins told reporters. I am reviewing the other information that has come to light, and Im sure all of this will be explored thoroughly, she added, without specifying what information is of concern.

Collinss revelation that senators have seen footage of Fiersteins interview with Winfrey is notable, because Democrats and other organizations have been desperately seeking the footage for weeks in hopes of airing it and derailing Puzders nomination.

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), who chairs the health committee, told reporters Monday that he worked with Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), the committees top Democrat, to arrange for senators to view a tape of the episode. Alexander said he has not seen the segment himself but he does plan to vote to approve Puzders nomination.

His former wife has said it was all not true, Alexander said. She has reiterated that in a heartfelt letter to members of the committee and has been willing to talk to members of the committee, so I dont think thats an issue.

Puzders personal wealth has also earned scrutiny that has delayed his nomination for several weeks. Federal disclosure forms delivered to the Senate last week show that most of his wealth is tied to CKE Restaurants and that he plans to divest those holdings within six months if he is confirmed to lead the Labor Department.

The White House is standing by Puzder, declaring last week that he would be confirmed. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told reporters that he is enthusiastically supporting the nominee.

Some business groups are also joining top Republicans in fighting the criticism by urging senators to back the nomination. A coalition of trade groups, including the International Franchise Association, the National Restaurant Association and the National Retail Federation, sent a letter to senators Monday praising Puzders business experience and policy acumen. Statewide restaurant associations in Maine and Alaska sent separate letters to Collins and Murkowski asking for their support.

If confirmed, Puzder would be the first labor secretary since the Reagan era to come to the role without any public-service experience.

Puzder got his start in the fast-food industry working as a personal attorney for Carl Karcher, the founder of the Carls Jr. restaurant chain. He helped Karcher avoid bankruptcy and in 1997 became executive vice president and general counsel for CKE. He then became president and chief executive of CKE in 2000, and he currently oversees 75,000 workers in 3,750 locations.

Puzder has spent much of his career promoting the idea that businesses thrive better when the government doesnt interfere. In interviews, speeches and op-eds, he has long argued that rules substantially increasing the minimum wage or expanding the number of people who qualify for overtime pay, for example, could drive up the cost of labor and decrease the number of jobs.

In an opinion piece for Forbes, he said that the Obama administrations overtime rule would force employers to cut costs elsewhere and limit some workers schedules. During a Business Insider interview last year, Puzder said that because of rising labor costs, he would consider investing in machines to replace some workers, because they never take a vacation, they never show up late, theres never a slip-and-fall, or an age, sex, or race discrimination case.

Labor groups and other critics say they are concerned about Puzders pure capitalist mind-set, noting that if confirmed, he may end up tilting the scales in favor of corporations.

But George Thompson, a spokesman for Puzder, said that if confirmed, Puzder would recuse himself from any business related to CKE and would remain impartial when it comes to rulemaking and enforcement.

Opponents also cite stories from employees at Hardees and Carls Jr. who allege they have had to work through breaks, not been paid for sick leave or been harassed on the job.

Hes going to be essentially responsible for enforcing the same laws that hes been breaking for years, said Kendall Fells, national organizing director of the Fight for $15, a group advocating for a higher minimum wage that organized lunchtime protests Monday at CKE offices in St. Louis and Anaheim, Calif., as well as restaurant locations throughout the country.

Womens groups, such as the National Womens Law Center, and labor advocates question whether he will defend female workers, citing what they say are demeaning ads that feature models eating burgers in skimpy outfits. Puzder, however, has defended the campaign as American and characterized it as a strategy for luring young, hungry guys.

On Tuesday, the Campaign for Accountability, a nonprofit watchdog, will head to a Missouri state court for a status update on its efforts to unseal Puzders divorce records, arguing that the domestic violence allegations raise serious concerns about his fitness to be labor secretary.

Yet some businesses and Republicans say they look forward to having someone in the Labor Department who understands that regulations can force businesses to make tough calls.

We dont want our workers to feel like theyre not being paid a fair wage, but we want people to understand the ramifications of it, said Peter Riggs, president of Pita Pit USA, a quick-service sandwich chain with about 600 locations in the United States and Canada. He understands what were going through.

Puzders fate will ultimately depend on whether his opponents can sway more than two Senate Republicans to vote against him.



The Republicans hesitating to publicly support him said they will make up their minds after the hearing.

No real story here, said a spokeswoman for Scott, noting that the senator hasnt been commenting on nominees until their confirmation hearing, with the exception of fellow South Carolina Republicans Nikki Haley, nominated to serve as United Nations ambassador, and Rep. Mick Mulvaney, nominated to lead the Office of Management and Budget.

Consistent with his policy on other nominees, Senator Isakson will make a final decision after Mr. Puzders confirmation hearing on Thursday, a spokeswoman said via email.

Murkowski said she will be working to learn more about Mr. Puzder leading up to and during the upcoming hearing, as well as through additional one-on-one conversations with him, a spokeswoman said.

Kelsey Snell contributed to this report.


Shakespeare Theatre Company artistic director Michael Kahn. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)

After more than three decades running Washingtons Shakespeare Theatre Company and turning a struggling operation into one of the nations preeminent classical troupes, Michael Kahn will step down at the end of the 2018-2019 season, the STC announced Monday night.

Kahn will leave having made Shakespeare a native language in the nations capital, and having done more to reshape and elevate D.C. theater than anyone since the late Arena Stage founder Zelda Fichandler. With the instincts of a Manhattan showman, Kahn catapulted classics to the head of the class by building monuments and creating institutions: The $89 million, roughly 775-seat Harman Hall, which opened in 2007, and the 451-seat Lansburgh Theatre are the citys two biggest new stages, and relocating his company into the Lansburgh from the 240-seat Folger Shakespeare Library in 1992 spearheaded the revitalization of Penn Quarter.

It was a bold move, former D.C. mayor Anthony Williams told The Washington Post in 2012. They made a big bet on the city.

The crown will pass slowly to allow for a years search, and for Kahns successor to be able to plan the 2019-2020 season independently.

Its important to say who you are in the first season as best you can, Kahn said in an interview before Mondays public announcement. And for us, you have to choose the plays about a year and a half in advance, and budget them.

So why retire now? Kahn, who got married only two years ago at age 77 to New York designer Charles Mitchem in a ceremony presided over by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, continues to direct at a brisk rate even outside his company. His dashing staging of Caryl Churchills gender-bender Cloud 9 opened the current season at Studio Theatre, and he just revisited his STC production of the 17th-century farce The Liar for Manhattans small Classic Stage Company. Kahn also took his gleeful production of The Metromaniacs to San Diegos Old Globe theater and his comic double bill of The Critic and The Real Inspector Hound to Minnesotas Guthrie  all within the past two seasons.

I enjoyed that, Kahn says in his Barracks Row office, and I enjoyed doing The Liar in New York five blocks from where I began my career  five blocks from La Mama, from the 4th Street Theater, 12 blocks from Caffe Cino. It was the East Village, and in a theater about the size of this room. It was a nice busy year for me.

But, he adds, there are not a lot of plays that I want to do that I havent done. I cant see myself just going around directing.

Kahn arrived in Washington in 1986 after tenures with the American Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford, Conn., and the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, N.J. The troupe then known as Shakespeare Theatre at the Folger was on the ropes, but under Kahns entrepreneurial hand the company swiftly raised the artistic bar and brightened the marquee with such luminaries as Kelly McGillis (an early mainstay) and Patrick Stewart (a race-reversed Othello).

These are the most difficult plays in the world, Kahn told The Post when he first took the job. They are also the best. And they demand the best talent.

[Michael Kahn comes to Washington: The Post profile from 1986]

If Kahn was accused of relying too much on star casting early on, he also developed a stable of performers who earned reputations as Washingtons leading actors. Along the way, Kahn established a new graduate-level Academy of Classical Acting and a summertime Free for All that ran for years at Carter Barron Amphitheater as Washingtons answer to Shakespeare in the Park; it continues each August at the Harman.



The Shakespeare Theatre Company's Sidney Harman Hall opened across the street from Verizon Center in 2007. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)

Retirement has been on Kahns mind for a few years. But the dramatically expanded STCs unsteady footing  the Harman opened just before the economy cratered  compelled him to wait. During the past few seasons, he has right-sized the operation, cutting back on the number of productions and reining in budgets.

STC Executive Director Chris Jennings says the company has been planning for this transition, balancing the books the past two seasons and building a cash reserve so a new artistic director can take risks.

I wanted to leave this theater in good enough shape that anybody would want the job if they were asked, Kahn says.

The job for the next leader wont be about the kind of exponential growth that Kahn drove in tandem with the explosion of theater that has marked Washington since his arrival. (STC continues to consolidate its infrastructure, which is currently strewn across the city.) The taste at the STC  winner of the 2012 regional theater Tony Award  has been surprisingly catholic and unfailingly sophisticated, ranging from the Kahn-directed Oedipus Plays that toured Greece to such edgy recent British imports as Headlongs 1984 (now Broadway bound) and Tricycle Theatres The Great Game: Afghanistan (with STC providing a special performance for Pentagon staffers).

The STCs ambition consistently has been the biggest in town: The internationally noted citywide Shakespeare in Washington festival that Kahn curated in 2007 turned out to be a blueprint for D.C. theaters current collective claim to fame, the industry-leading surge of premieres via the Womens Voices Theater Festival. Even that project creating new plays turned into a coup for Kahn as his classical troupe debuted Yael Farbers adaptation of Salome, a prestige hit (and runaway winner at the most recent Helen Hayes Awards) that makes its European debut in May at Londons National Theatre.



Michael Kahns staging of The Liar at the STC in 2010. (Susan Biddle/for The Washington Post)

The Great Game: Afghanistan, at the STC from Londons Tricycle Theatre. (John Haynes)

Some of it is isolated opportunities, and some of it is a desire to open it up, Kahn says of choices that stretch well beyond a parade of Macbeths and Midsummer Nights Dreams. Now playing in the Harman is a new production of Mike Bartletts recent London and Broadway hit King Charles III, directed by David Muse, former STC associate artistic director and current Studio head. Kahn says that the roster of now mid-career talent that has passed through his hands is a point of pride  and a ready starting point for the search committee that he wont advise.

Next up is Manhattans Elevator Repair Service with The Select (a stage adaptation of Ernest Hemingways The Sun Also Rises) . . . and, of course, the troupe has made hay with its recent forays into musicals. Next season, current STC associate artistic director Alan Paul directs Camelot.

Just to do a musical is not necessarily what I think the theater has to do every year, although its pleased a lot of people, says Kahn, who notes that the company may have just about exhausted the list of first-class musicals that square with its mission. But I dont feel a compromise at all. . . . The quality of the theater is high, whether people like something or not, and thats very important to me. The loyalty to the ambition and the quality of the work is strong. I dont think that were in any way stuck, and thats a tribute to everybody. And we have an international reputation: When I go to England and other places in Europe, people know all about us. I think thats something major for the city.



Writer-director Yael Farbers Salome at the STC, a triumph of Washingtons 2016 Womens Voices Theater Festival. (Scott Suchman)

The original press release about Kahns retirement read that he would be taking time to teach and direct. He crossed that out. I dont know, he says several times when asked about plans after he steps away. He mentions signing up with some sort of nonprofit group that would align with his liberal social and political interests  a position Kahn made plain by spurring the topical Theatrical Selections reading series among several D.C. companies as the election heated up. (Kahns choice: Bertolt Brechts furious satire of a thug coming to power, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui.)

I dont know what I could offer except my time, says Kahn, who will direct Hamlet and a double bill of Harold Pinters The Collection and The Lover at STC next season. I think I accomplished everything I set out to do for the theater when I got here. And I certainly accomplished more for myself than I ever imagined, in terms of being able to do pretty much every play I ever wanted to do, or have an influence on a community, lead a group of artists, build two theaters.

One dilemma to resolve: how to retain his Washington friendships, since he is likely to live full time in New York.

This is a very hard place to stay when you are not who you used to be, Kahn says with a laugh. Ive seen too many former agency directors or people in politics who hang around after their job, and they used to be who they were, but they arent anymore. Thats a big Washington thing. I dont want to add that to my possible distress.
In a rare step, a House committee voted 22 to 14 Monday night to block a law that would make assisted suicide legal in the District, opening a new front in the conflict between congressional Republicans and the overwhelmingly Democratic capital city.

It was one of only a handful of times in the four-decade history of D.C. home rule that members of Congress have tried to use their constitutional power to overturn a city law, and the first attempt since the GOP took control of both Congress and the White House in January.

The vote was largely along party lines, as 21 Republicans and one Democrat, Rep. Jim Cooper of Tennessee, voted yes while 13 Democrats and one Republican, Darrell Issa of California, voted no.

In a split-screen moment, as the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform was voting, more than 700 District residents and elected leaders jammed into the Atlas Performing Arts Center about a mile away for a Hands Off D.C. brainstorming session focused on ways to stop Congress from intervening in D.C. affairs.

I am inspired, said D.C. Council member Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), who organized the event and was hoarse from chanting. What Im hearing is that people want to act . . . We cant just protest and pat ourselves on the back.

D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) talks with Chaffetz before a meeting in the Rayburn House Office Building on Feb. 13. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post)

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, has pledged to intensify scrutiny of the citys laws and policies.

Chaffetz, a Mormon, singled out the Districts law allowing doctors to prescribe fatal doses of medication to terminally ill patients as a moral issue ripe for federal intervention.

Chaffetz said his opposition to the law stems from deep personal, moral conviction and that it was the District, not Congress, that prompted the committees intrusion into local affairs. I did not ask for this to come to me, he said.

He said he worried that the law will create a marketplace for death.

Our country should never facilitate, encourage or tacitly accept measures that prematurely end the lives of its people, he said.

His detractors say the move is politically advantageous terrain for hard-line Republicans: assisted suicide is legal in just six states, and D.C.s legislation has drawn national condemnation from religious groups and conservative activists.

Rep. Elijah E. Cummings of Maryland, the committees ranking Democrat, accused Republicans of ignoring the will of democratically elected leaders in a metropolis of 680,000. D.C. has more residents than Vermont or Wyoming but no voting representation in Congress.

(Claritza Jimenez/The Washington Post)

None of us was elected by D.C. voters. None of us served in the D.C. city council, where the Death with Dignity Act was approved, Cummings said. None of the members of this committee would stand for congressional interference in their own state and local affairs, and none of us should stand for it in this case.

Issa, the only Republican to side with Democrats, said the committee should use restraint in intervening in District affairs, adding that it did not appear that the Death with Dignity Act conflicted with federal laws. Assisted suicide is legal in Issas home state.

It is not for us to make a decision as to a law that we like or dislike. Its a question of whether or not the District of Columbia has exceeded its home rule mandate, Issa said. And on that, I come up short of finding so.

Despite the committee vote, it is not clear whether Congress will be able to overturn the D.C. law. Both the full House and Senate would have to vote to block it by Friday, when a 30-day window for congressional review expires, according to D.C. officials. Some say such quick action is particularly unlikely in the Senate, where Democrats could put up a protracted fight.

But the repeal bills dim prospects for final approval did not mute the outrage expressed Monday by the laws supporters, including right-to-die activists and D.C. elected officials, who rallied outside the Capitol before marching to the Atlas.

We are tired of Congress playing politics with our laws and with our city, council member Robert White (D-At Large) told the crowd at the rally. Jason Chaffetz does not live in our neighborhood, his kids do not go to our schools . . . Jason Chaffetz, we did not elect you, you do not represent us; go back to Utah  it looks like you have your hands full there.

Some say the vote to block the Districts assisted-suicide bill augurs poorly for the citys relationship with the GOP-dominated Congress under Trump.

D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) called the vote an egregious action and said the committee had sent a signal to D.C. residents that Congress has zero respect or concern for their will or the will of their elected officials.

Congress reserved the authority to intervene in D.C.s laws and budget when it passed the Home Rule Act of 1973, which allowed the city limited self-government. Federal lawmakers have periodically exercised that power, as in the 1990s, when they created a control board to pull the city from the brink of bankruptcy.

Republican elected officials have also succeeded in blocking the city from using local tax dollars to subsidize abortion services for poor women and needle exchange programs for drug users.

But incursions into city governance have stepped up over the past several years. In 2015, the House Oversight Committee voted to block a D.C. law that barred employers from discriminating against workers based on their decisions to use contraceptives, have abortions or otherwise use family-planning services.

Although the repeal effort ultimately failed, it was the first time since 1991 that the committee had voted to overturn District legislation.

Congress has also used budget riders in recent years to hamstring the D.C. government from implementing local laws.

When the District legalized marijuana, for instance, federal elected officials forbade the city to use tax dollars to regulate pot sales.

John Capozzi, a former member of the D.C. Democratic State Committee and former congressional shadow representative for the District, said Republicans in Congress have little motivation to improve their relationship with the city.

To the voters who supported Trump, D.C. local government may be synonymous with the Washington establishment the president derided on the campaign trail.

For a lot of people, theres not a big difference between Washington and the D.C. government, Capozzi said. Going after D.C., for them, its like fulfilling a campaign promise. I dont see how they have any limits.


At the Library of Congress, public affairs assistant Bryonna Head, left, and historian Barbara Bair listen as manuscript specialist Adrienne Cannon reads aloud a letter from Lewis Douglass to Helen Amelia Loguen. (Amanda Voisard/for the Washington Post)

My Own Dear Amelia: How can I express the pleasure it affords me to receive a letter written by hand of her I love. . . .

Men and women talk of love, can anyone describe it? Can any one give the reason why one person loves another to the exclusion of every one else. . . . I know many ladies, who are amiable kind, talented and refined, all that a man can wish, and yet I cannot love them or do not love them as I love you, and they may be like you, but to me they are different. . . . So I say reason or no reason, some undefinable force attracts me to you, and I have no means of resisting it and would not if I had.

Affectionately LEW.

LEW was Lewis Douglass, the eldest son of abolitionist Frederick Douglass, and he was writing to his beloved H. Amelia Loguen on June 16, 1862, from Rochester, N.Y.

Try finding this kind of heartfelt affection on a Match.com profile.

But once upon a time, before the age of tweets and Tinder, lovers took ink to paper to express their devotion to one another. So for this Valentines Day, The Washington Post asked curators at the Library of Congress to select some of their favorite love letters.

[President Warren Hardings steamy love letters]

Adrienne Cannon, African American history and culture specialist for the librarys manuscript division, focused on letters written by Lewis Douglass to Helen Amelia Loguen.

Library of Congress manuscript specialist Adrienne Cannon reads a letter aloud from Lewis Douglass to Helen Amelia Loguen. (Amanda Voisard/for The Washington Post)

The letters present a beautiful black love story, preserved for posterity, Cannon said. Lewis Douglasss singular love and devotion for Amelia Loguen inspired him to poetry, helped sustain him through war, and culminated in an enduring marriage.

They would marry after Douglass was honorably discharged from the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry following the Civil War. (His was the regiment depicted in the movie Glory.)

Curator Sahr Conway-Lanz, a manuscript historian, chose letters written by President Woodrow Wilson to the widow Edith Bolling Galt. Wilson had fallen in love with Galt a year after the death of his wife, Ellen Axon Wilson, in 1914. Conway-Lanz said the two kept their romance a secret until they were ready to make their engagement public.

This was clearly tough on both of them, he said. That longing is clear in a July 18, 1915, letter.

My precious sweetheart: There are so many things I want to say first  but I cant decide where to begin  but as a preliminary I will ease my heart by saying that which is dearest in all the world  and it is  I love you  love you  love you.

One of Wilsons advisers, Conway-Lanz said, wrote: It seems the president is wholly absorbed in this love affair and is neglecting practically everything else.

The couple married Dec. 18, 1915.

Curator Julie Miller, an early American history specialist, picked a now-famous letter by Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, written Oct. 12, 1786, while Jefferson was U.S. ambassador to France. Jefferson was a widower; Cosway was married. But that did not halt the future president.

He clearly fell in love with her, Miller said.

The 12-page letter is structured as a dialogue between his head and his heart. It is the ambivalence in the correspondence that intrigued Miller.

Seated by my fire side, solitary and sad, the following dialogue took place between my Head and my Heart.

Head. Well, friend, you seem to be in a pretty trim.

Heart. I am indeed the most wretched of all earthly beings. Overwhelmed with grief, every fibre of my frame distended beyond its natural powers to bear, I would willingly meet whatever catastrophe should leave me no more to feel or to fear.

Curator Michelle A. Krowl, a specialist in the Civil War and Reconstruction, selected a letter written by Ulysses S. Grant to Julia Dent. Grant met Dent when he traveled with his former West Point roommate Frederick Dent to St. Louis. He was quickly besotted with Dents sister Julia, and they became engaged on May 22, 1844, Krowl said. But Grants military career and her fathers condition that they wait to marry until Grants professional life was more stable postponed their marriage.



Library of Congress Civil War and Reconstruction specialist Michelle Krowl looks at letters between Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia Dent. (Amanda Voisard/for The Washington Post)

Library of Congress Civil War and Reconstruction specialist Michelle Krowl reads correspondence between Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia Dent. (Amanda Voisard/for The Washington Post)

In a letter dated Jan. 2, 1846, from Corpus Christi, Tex., Grant, who was growing impatient with their delayed wedding, begs Dent to speak with her father.

You know Julia what I think we would be justifiable in doing if his consent is still withheld and I hope you think nearly with me. . . . You alone Julia have it in your power to decide whether despite ev[e]rything we carry our engagement into effect. You have only to decide for me to act. If you will set a tim[e] when I must be in Missouri I will be there no matter if my Reg.t is still in Texas. The matter is one of importance enough to procure a leave of absence, and besides for the love I bear my dear Julia I would not value my commission to[o] highly to resign it. My happiness would be complete if a return mail should bring me a letter setting the time not  far distant  when I might clasp that little hand and call it mine.

Your Devoted Lover, Ulysses

Krowl said Grants letters clearly reveal the depth of his love for Julia and how central she had become to his life.

[An offer of my heart: A story of black love after the Civil War]

Love letters written by famed Hollywood director Rouben Mamoulian to his wife, Azadia, were written from the perspective of their pet cats.

Rouben and Azadia never had children, said senior archive specialist Laura J. Kells. Their cats were their children. . . . When he died there were 40 cats in his Beverly Hills home. He died flea-ridden.

We are all independent and free, With each other we never agree, But for once, on this day, all as one we can say: Will you pet us and feed us? Always love us and need us? Or, in short rain or shine, Be our sweet Valentine?!

He signed the Feb. 14, 1973, letter Little Pretty, Naba, Mata Hari, Tigress, Abigayil, Zorro and Chunky.



Library of Congress historian Barbara Bair holds a letter from the poet Walt Whitman to his significant other, Peter Doyle. (Amanda Voisard/for The Washington Post)

During the Civil War, Walt Whitman moved to Washington, where he met Peter Doyle, a former Confederate soldier. Whitmans letters, including those to Doyle, were recently put online by the Library of Congress.

They met one stormy night in 1865 when Whitman was the last passenger on Doyles car, according to the Library Congress exhibit. To Pete, the poet looked like an old sea-captain. We were familiar at once. I put my hand on his knee  we understood from that time on we were the biggest sort of friends.

They said it was love at first sight, said Barbara Bair, literature and cultural specialist.

They took long walks. Whitman read Shakespeare to him. Doyle read limericks. In love letters, Whitman referred to Doyle as comrade, son and darling.

Their relationship changed, Bair said, when Whitman suffered a nearly fatal stroke while working late in the Treasury building. He moved to Camden, N.J., to live with his brother and recuperate.

In a letter dated June 20, 1877, Whitman wrote:

Dear, dear boy Pete Im stopping here now for a week or two in the house I believe I have mentioned to you before, and where I wanted you to come and see me and still want you if you have a chance. But I spend most of my time down at an old farm down in New Jersey where I have a fine secluded wood and Creek and springs, where I pass my time alone, and yet not lonesome at all (often think of you Pete and put my arm around you and hug you up close, and give you a good buss often.)

Your Old Walt.

The profound portrayal of longing caused by the distance between the two lovers makes the letter compelling, Bair said.

Lucy Stone, an early women's rights advocate, is shown in this photograph around 1853. (G.W. Bartlett/Library of Congress)

Janice E. Ruth, assistant chief in the manuscript division, chose love letters between abolitionist and womens rights advocate Lucy Stone and Henry Blackwell.

Stone initially had no intention of marrying Blackwell, Ruth said, but Blackwell was persistent.

They decided to use their wedding ceremony as a vehicle for focusing on laws discriminatory to women. Stone kept her maiden name, and they eliminated the marriage vow to obey, and circulated a written protest against the 19th century marriage laws which denied women all legal standing, Ruth said.

In a letter dated Feb. 19, 1855, Stone wrote:

I received your two letters dearest Harry  the one from Ann Arbor and the other from Battle Creek, on my return from Shalamazoo (where I wrote you last.) A fervent thank God, escaped my lips as I read your deliverance from the railroad disaster. Never until then had I known how dear or how necessary you are to me. But when I reflected how barren life would be to me if you had been killed, how much of its sunshine, and its power of use, would have gone more than ever before, I felt how much I need you.
Warren Unna, a Washington Post correspondent in India who later became Washington correspondent for the Statesman, an English-language newspaper based in Kolkata, died Feb. 9 at a retirement community in Mitchellville, Md. He was 93.

The cause was congestive heart failure, said a friend, Marea Hatziolos Grant.

Mr. Unna covered national news after joining The Post in 1952. His aspirations were to cover South Asia, where he had served with the Army during World War II.

In lieu of a Post bureau there, Mr. Unna made a specialty of writing about Asian affairs from Washington by cultivating sources at embassies and international organizations.

Mr. Unna was bureau chief in New Delhi from 1965 to 1967, then returned to cover national affairs in Washington. He was one of many journalists whose names appeared on President Richard M. Nixons enemies list in the early 1970s, presumably for his reporting on the Vietnam War for The Post and for a short-lived public television program, Newsroom.

Warren Unna was a Washington Post correspondent in India who later became a Washington reporter for the Statesman, an English-language newspaper based in Kolkata. (Marea Hatziolos Grant)

He joined the Statesman in the early 1970s and remained with that publication for approximately the next two decades. He also contributed to other publications.

Warren Walter Unna was born in San Francisco on Sept. 14, 1923. He graduated in 1943 from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in international relations. He worked at the San Francisco Chronicle before coming to The Post.

In the late 1950s, he traveled widely as an Institute of Current World Affairs fellow, for which he studied the Non-Aligned Movement countries during the Cold War.

He wrote a memoir, Letters From America (1994), and in retirement did consulting for the Westinghouse and McClatchy media companies. He was a member of the Metropolitan Club in Washington.

His marriage to Louise Thompson was annulled. Survivors include a stepsister.
A man who claimed to have a bomb robbed a bank in the heart of downtown Washington on Monday, but witnesses followed him from the bank, and stopped him nearby, police said.

A suspect was arrested by police in the 1300 block of K Street NW, police said.

The robbery occurred about 11:35 a.m. at the HSBC Bank at 14th and I streets NW. The bank is in the Franklin Tower building on the northwest corner of the busy intersection.

After entering the bank, the robber approached a teller and and demanded all the cash, according to a police report, asserting that I have a bomb.

But the first teller stalled. The robber went to a second teller, again demanding cash. He said, according to the report, that he wanted twenties, fifties and hundred dollar bills. Again he claimed to have a bomb.

This time, the man got cash and fled on foot. But according to the police report, two people described as witnesses followed the robber for about a block to where he was detained until officers arrived, according to the report.

The site is on the north side of Franklin Square, around the corner from the bank.

The amount taken from the bank was about $12,000, the report said.

Police said they arrested Tide Baysden, 41, of Arlington, Va. The specific charge could not be learned immediately.

The witnesses were not identified.
Harold T. Martin III, a former contractor for the National Security Agency, was arrested by the FBI in August after authorities say he admitted to having taken government secrets. His attorney said Martin did not intend to betray his country. (Patrick Semansky/Associated Press)

A former National Security Agency contractor accused of stealing a huge cache of classified documents pleaded not guilty Tuesday to spying charges in federal court in Baltimore.

Harold T. Martin III was indicted last week by a federal grand jury, accused of violating the Espionage Act by carrying out what officials say is the largest theft of classified information in U.S. history.

Martin, 52, was arrested in August at his home in Anne Arundel County, Md., where law enforcement officials recovered dozens of computers, digital storage devices and thousands of hard-copy documents that filled six bankers boxes. Prosecutors say Martin hid classified and top-secret information in the trunk of his car, his home office and an unlocked outdoor shed.

In a brief court appearance Tuesday, Martin told Magistrate Judge A. David Copperthite that he understood the significance of the indictment charging him with taking and retaining a huge amount of classified material. The charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 10 years for each of 20 criminal counts.

If the case goes to trial, prosecutors said they expect it would last three to four weeks.

Harold T. Martin III (Anne Arundel County Police)

Martin, who has been held in a detention facility since his arrest and was dressed Tuesday in a black-and-white striped uniform, is not accused of trying to disseminate or publish the information he is accused of stealing.

Hes not Edward Snowden, Martins attorney James Wyda said during an earlier detention hearing, referring to the former intelligence contractor who gave classified material on U.S. surveillance programs to the media.

Hes not someone who, due to political ideas or philosophical ideas or moral principles, thinks he knows better than everybody else and, hence, is compelled to release government secrets, Wyda said.

Martins attorneys have previously said he took documents home not to harm the United States but to get better at his job. Martin has a compulsive hoarding habit, his attorneys said, and was taking medication for attention-deficit disorder that was a trigger for hoarding.

Martin first received security clearance on active duty in the Navy. He went on to work for seven private companies at various agencies within the intelligence community, including the CIA, the U.S. Cyber Command and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

He was a trusted insider, prosecutors said, working at the NSA from 2012 to 2015, where he was an employee of the intelligence contractor Booz Allen Hamilton. Martin was for some time in the NSAs elite hacker unit, Tailored Access Operations, which makes and deploys software used to penetrate foreign targets computer networks for foreign espionage purposes.

At the time of his arrest, Martin was enrolled in a doctorate program in information security management and doing research for his dissertation. He has an extensive background in computer security, including in the areas of encryption and secure communications.

Many of the documents Martin is accused of stealing were marked top-secret and contained highly classified information, including the names of intelligence officers who operate undercover outside the United States, according to the 12-page indictment. Among other secret documents, authorities found an NSA anti-terrorism document related to extremely sensitive U.S. planning and operations regarding global terrorists, according to the indictment.

Prosecutors described the theft in court filings as breathtaking in its longevity and scale.

Harold Martin flagrantly abused the trust placed in him by the government by stealing documents containing highly classified information, Maryland U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein said in a statement after the indictment was returned last week.

Ellen Nakashima contributed to this report.
A federal judge in Alexandria has issued a preliminary injunction against President Trumps travel ban, dealing another blow to the White House attempt to bar residents of seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States.

The executive order, Judge Leonie M. Brinkema concluded, probably violates the First Amendments protections for freedom of religion.

Brinkemas order applies only to Virginia residents and students, or employees of Virginia schools. A nationwide freeze has been in place for several days, having been issued in Washington state and upheld by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.

In her opinion, Brinkema wrote that the Commonwealth of Virginia has produced unrebutted evidence that the order was not motivated by rational national security concerns but religious prejudice toward Muslims. She cited Trumps statements before taking office, as well as an interview in which former New York City mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani (R) said that the president wanted a Muslim ban.

The Muslim Ban was a centerpiece of the presidents campaign for months, and the press release calling for it was still available on his website as of the day this Memorandum Opinion is being entered, Brinkema wrote.

The case against the order in Virginia is being litigated by the states attorney general, Mark R. Herring (D). It was originally brought by lawyers for the Legal Aid Justice Center who were representing two Yemeni brothers turned away after landing at Dulles International Airport. The brothers have since been allowed into the country.

I saw this unlawful, unconstitutional and un-American ban for what it is, and Im glad the court did too, Herring said Monday night. He said the decision lays out in stunning detail the extent to which the Court finds this order to likely violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, an attorney for the brothers, Tareq and Ammar Aziz, said the judge was calling out the ban for what it really is, a Muslim ban.

The decision is significant, he noted, because a preliminary injunction requires a higher burden of proof than the temporary restraining order issued in Washington.

At a hearing Friday, Brinkema said judges throughout the country were begging for evidence from the government to defend the ban. At the hearing, a lawyer for the Justice Department produced only a copy of the order as evidence, while arguing that Virginia has no standing to challenge the ban and federal courts have no power to weigh in on its rationale.

Brinkema rejected that argument. Maximum power does not mean absolute power, she wrote. Every presidential action must still comply with the limits set by Congress delegation of power and the constraints of the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.

She also dismissed the idea that a halt on the ban would cause any harm. On the other hand, she said, the Commonwealth produced evidence that the ban is having a negative impact on students and faculty who can no longer leave the country for fear of losing their visas or who are no longer sure they can study in the state.

(Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

Ironically, the only evidence in this record concerning national security indicates that the [order] may actually make the country less safe, Brinkema wrote, a reference to a letter from a bipartisan group of national security professionals decrying the impact of the ban abroad.

The judge concluded it was irrelevant that the ban does not cover all or even most Muslims, as long as Muslims were the target.

It is a discriminatory purpose that matters, no matter how inefficient the execution, she wrote.

However, Brinkema declined Herrings request that the order be national, saying she did not want her order to be so broad as to infringe on other courts. The order from Washington, she noted, offers nationwide relief.

Trump has said he is considering rewriting his executive order on the travel ban.
A man died Monday in a single-vehicle collision after his car left the road and hit a traffic signal control box, Montgomery County police said.

Authorities did not identify the man, citing next of kin notification.

The crash happened around 4 p.m. near Olney Laytonsville Road, also known as Route 108, and Bowie Mill Road, according to a department press release.

Investigators said the man was driving a white 2007 Honda Accord east on Route 108 when it left the road for reasons still under investigation. The release said the car struck a traffic signal control box near Bowie Mill Road.

The man was taken to a local hospital, where he later died, police said.

Authorities initially closed the roadway near the crash, but reopened all lanes around 8 p.m.

Police ask that anyone with information about this collision contact the Montgomery County Police Departments Collision Reconstruction Unit at (240) 773-6620.
Virginia Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam speaks during a news conference on women's reproductive health at the Capitol in Richmond, Va., on Monday. (Steve Helber/AP)

Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam (D) charged on Monday that a member of the state Senate had made disingenuous and inaccurate comments about abortion and long-term contraceptives for women.

As he often does, Northam invoked his background as a physician to give weight to his remarks, which he made in a news conference surrounded by advocates for abortion rights and womens health-care issues.

But in this case, the person he was criticizing is also a physician  an obstetrician-gynecologist. And a woman.

State Sen. Siobhan S. Dunnavant (R-Henrico) made her comments on the floor of the Senate last Thursday in discussing a budget amendment. The measure involved allocating federal welfare dollars for long-term, reversible contraceptives for low-income women.

[Luckily, weve got a pediatric neurologist in the chamber]

Dunnavant was advocating funding only chemical implants, and not intrauterine devices, or IUDs. The difference, she said, is that the chemical implant suppresses ovulation and therefore is not an abortifacient, meaning it doesnt cause abortion.

Pressed by Sen. Barbara Favola (D-Arlington), who said she objected to lawmakers taking any role in a womans discussion of options with her health-care provider, Dunnavant responded that she was trying to craft something that could find broad political support.

The House of Delegates had zeroed out all $6 million that had been earmarked by Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) for long-term contraceptives in its version of the budget. Restoring $3 million of that for the implant, Dunnavant said, might persuade House members to go along. Funding for IUDs would be more controversial, she said.

IUDs are designed to prevent fertilization, but if an egg is fertilized, they also prevent implantation. Many who believe that life begins at conception consider this contraception method to be a form of abortion.

There are at least 50 percent of the population thats uncomfortable spending that money on something that could be an abortifacient, so this is a good way to go, Dunnavant said during the debate. The budget amendment passed the Republican-controlled chamber on a voice vote.

Northam presided over the discussion in his role as lieutenant governor and president of the Senate, but parliamentary procedure prevented him from injecting his opinion. So he called a news conference Monday to call for full funding for IUDs.

Northam is looking to increase his profile on progressive issues as he runs for the Democratic nomination for governor, fending off a primary challenge from former U.S. congressman Tom Perriello.

[Perriello defends progressivism in his first big campaign rally]

As part of that effort, Northam also released a position paper Monday on criminal justice issues  calling for, among other things, the decriminalization of marijuana possession.

And in talking about contraceptives, the usually reserved politician took a hard line in his criticism of Dunnavant. He didnt mention her by name, but he confirmed, when asked, that she was his target.

What I heard last week was a legislator that stood up and said contraceptives, namely IUDs, cause abortions, said Northam, who is a pediatric neurologist. Its disingenuous and its offering inaccurate medical information to say that IUDs cause abortions, and we need to stop shaming women, making them think that the contraceptives that we have available in 2017 cause abortions.

Reached later, Dunnavant said she was surprised by Northams comments but not offended. Ralph and I are friends, and this is politics, she said.

She agreed with Northam that long-term contraceptives have been shown to greatly reduce unwanted pregnancies and abortions among low-income women. But, she said, she was trying to craft a compromise that would preserve some funding over objections to IUDs.

There are constituents who strongly believe these are abortifacients, she said. I believe that we dont have any definitive data that says theyre not.
In this 2012 photo, Josh Montgomery, the former president of the Iowa State University chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, displays the T-shirt at the heart of the case. (Bill Neibergall/Des Moines Register via Associated Press)

IOWA

Court says university cant forbid shirt

In a case that free speech advocates are calling a victory for college students everywhere regardless of their political views, a federal appeals court on Monday ruled that Iowa State University cannot prevent a marijuana law revision advocacy group from distributing a T-shirt with the ISU mascot on one side and a marijuana leaf on the other.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said ISU administrators including President Steven Leath, Senior Vice President Warren Madden and two others violated the First Amendment rights of two students who were top officers of the ISU chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

The students, Paul Gerlich and Erin Furleigh, planned in 2012 to print T-shirts depicting NORML ISU on the front, with the O represented by Cy the Cardinal, the university mascot. On the back, the shirt read, Freedom is NORML at ISU with a small cannabis leaf above NORML.

Although the university approved the groups design, Leath and the others blocked it, claiming it violated the schools trademark policy after being pressured by conservative lawmakers and an appointee of Gov. Terry Branstad (R), who saw a story about the groups planned T-shirt in a Des Moines Register article.

The students sued in July 2014, and early last year, U.S. District Judge James Gritzner ruled that the schools policy violated the students free speech rights and barred the university from prohibiting printing the T-shirt. Leath and the other ISU administrators appealed. The appeals court agreed with Gritzners ruling.

 Associqted Press

MISSOURI

Wife, stepson charged in KKK leaders death

The wife and stepson of a Ku Klux Klan leader found dead in Missouri over the weekend have been charged with his killing, local outlets reported Monday.

The body of Frank Ancona, 51, of Leadwood, Mo., was discovered late Saturday on a river bank in a rural part of the state, a few days after he was reported missing, Washington County Sheriff Zach Jacobsen said.

An autopsy Sunday showed that Ancona died of a gunshot to the head, Washington County Coroner Brian DeClue told The Washington Post. He said he could not elaborate on how many times Ancona had been shot or when he had died. However, DeClue said investigators were treating the case as a homicide and not a suicide.

On Monday, Malissa Ancona, 44, and Paul Jinkerson Jr., 24  Frank Anconas wife and stepson  were charged with first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence and abandonment of a corpse, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Investigators allege that Jinkerson shot his stepfather Thursday while he was sleeping and then dumped the body near Belgrade, Mo., and Malissa Ancona said in a recorded statement that she tried to clean up the blood in her husbands bedroom, the newspaper reported.

Frank Ancona was reported to be the imperial wizard for a group called the Traditionalist American Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, listed by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group. Ancona also maintained a YouTube channel, where he posted videos encouraging people to join the KKK.

 Amy B. Wang

Man breaks into state capitol, charged with vandalism: A man faced burglary, vandalism and resisting arrest charges after he allegedly broke into the ornate Pennsylvania Capitol building in Harrisburg following a night of drinking Sunday. He is accused of damaging signs and spraying fire suppressant around Senate corridors. Capitol Police identified the man on Monday as Ryan William Stump, 27, of Gettysburg. He was also charged with public drunkenness, mischief, disorderly conduct and trespassing.

 Associated Press
Hal Moore, an Army lieutenant general whose leadership in one of the earliest and bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War saved scores of lives and was memorialized in the book We Were Soldiers Once . . . and Young and in a film adaptation starring Mel Gibson, died Feb. 10 at his home in Auburn, Ala. He was 94.

In a Facebook post, his family said that Gen. Moore suffered a stroke last week but did not provide additional details.

Gen. Moores military career spanned three wars and multiple continents, beginning with a posting in Japan during the American occupation after World War II and a stint at Fort Benning, Ga., where he tested parachutes and parachuting equipment on more than 130 test jumps. At least one jump resulted in his being dragged along the ground by an airplane.

Sporting a bulldog face and a Southern accent acquired from a childhood in small-town Kentucky, he developed a reputation as an exceptional combat leader during the Korean War and in the early stages of the Vietnam War  no more so than in the Battle of Ia Drang, the first major engagement between American and North Vietnamese forces.

The battle began Nov. 14, 1965, shortly after Gen. Moore, then a lieutenant colonel, stepped off a Huey helicopter and onto a football-field-sized clearing in South Vietnams Ia Drang Valley. He and the 457 men under his command were there to track North Vietnamese Army units and search for a possible enemy base.

Gen. Moore in 2004. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his leadership during the Battle of Ia Drang, one of the earliest and bloodiest engagements of the Vietnam War. (Jamie Martin/AP)

They soon found themselves opposed by more than 3,000 North Vietnamese troops who had been hidden in mountainous terrain alongside the clearing. The American forces position, reporters and military historians later wrote, was not unlike that of George Custer, whose troops were surprised, surrounded and slaughtered at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876.

In the days before the attack, Gen. Moores troops sometimes referred to their blond-haired commander as Yellow Hair  Custers nickname. Sizing up the situation at Landing Zone X-Ray, as the Ia Drang clearing was called, Gen. Moore set about avoiding the fate of his predecessor.

Applying a first in, last out approach to combat leadership, Gen. Moore led the initial assaults on the North Vietnamese positions himself, and remained at the battles front lines until his battalion was relieved after three days of fierce, close-combat fighting.

Joseph L. Galloway, a reporter for the United Press International wire service who was present for most of the battle, later said that Gen. Moore refused three times to leave the battle and meet with generals in Saigon.

A citation for the Distinguished Service Cross, awarded to Gen. Moore after the engagement, reports that throughout the initial assault phase, Col. Moore repeatedly exposed himself to intense hostile fire to insure the proper and expedient deployment of friendly troops.

According to We Were Soldiers Once . . . and Young (1992), a nearly blow-by-blow account of the battle that Gen. Moore co-wrote with Galloway, 79 Americans were killed and 121 were wounded at Landing Zone X-Ray. An estimated 1,800 North Vietnamese were killed or wounded.

Lt. Col. Bruce P. Crandall, who was later awarded the Medal of Honor for delivering crucial supplies of ammunition and water to Gen. Moores men, and for flying through smoke and gunfire to ferry wounded soldiers out of the valley, told The Washington Post in 2007 that the battle was hell on Earth  for a short period of time.

In his book, Gen. Moore credited Huey helicopters, rather than his own tactical skill, for his units survival on the ground. Without helicopters to ferry out the wounded and deliver goods, his men would certainly die in much the same way George Armstrong Custers cavalrymen died at the Little Bighorn  cut off; surrounded by numerically superior forces, overrun and butchered to the last man.

The book, which also detailed a separate units subsequent, even bloodier engagement at Ia Drang, positioned the month-long battle at Ia Drang Valley as a pivotal moment in the wars history, one that convinced U.S. commander William Westmoreland that American forces could bleed the enemy to death over the long haul. Vietnamese commanders, it argued, were equally convinced that they could take on American forces, despite their technological superiority.

Widely praised by critics for its research, which included testimonies from U.S. soldiers whom Gen. Moore led and from Vietnamese commanders whom he opposed, the book was subsequently adapted to We Were Soldiers, directed by Randall Wallace and with Gibson starring as Gen. Moore.

Although the film was sometimes clumsy in its handling of characters and emotions, wrote Post film critic Stephen Hunter in a review, it was spot-on its portrayal of Gen. Moore. If ever a man were born to command a battle, Hunter wrote, it was Hal Moore.

Harold Gregory Moore Jr. was born in Bardstown, Ky., on Feb. 13, 1922. His father was an insurance agent, and his mother was a homemaker.

Gen. Moore graduated in 1945 from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. He received a masters degree from George Washington University in 1964 and graduated from the U.S. Naval War College that same year.

Following his service in Vietnam, Gen. Moore commanded an infantry division in South Korea and was stationed in the Washington area as deputy chief of staff for personnel at the Army Department.

He retired from the military in 1977, with honors that included the Distinguished Service Medal, three awards of the Legion of Merit, four awards of the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart. For several years, he was an executive at Crested Butte ski resort in Colorado.

Gen. Moores wife of 55 years, the former Julia Compton, died in 2004. Survivors include five children; 11 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Beginning in the early 1990s, Gen. Moore returned several times to the battlefield at Ia Drang. Traveling with soldiers who served under him, he made what was perhaps an unprecedented gesture in Vietnam: meeting in person with North Vietnamese commanders who opposed him, and on at least one occasion camping with them at the battlefield under the stars. He chronicled the trips, and lessons learned, in We Are Soldiers Still (2008), which was also co-written with Galloway.

In his books and in frequent public speaking appearances, Gen. Moore seemed focused on ensuring that the legacy of his men, and of their war, was not forgotten. At times, this led him to opine on current events  as in a 2007 interview with the magazine Armchair General, when he offered a pointed critique of the George W. Bush administrations invasion of Iraq.

In Vietnam, he said, we were trying to create a democratic country in one that had no concept of democracy. We tried to build a South Vietnamese army in the image of the American Army. In Iraq, he continued, we are repeating history.
(Video: Monica Akhtar / The Washington Post; Photo: Stephen Lam for The Washington Post)

 Authorities urgently lowered the level of Lake Oroville on Monday ahead of impending rain, stopping the flow of water over the Oroville Dams emergency spillway and apparently averting the threat of an immediate flooding disaster.

But law enforcement and water officials said they were not ready to lift a mandatory evacuation order that sent nearly 200,000 people from Oroville and points south of the dam fleeing to Chico and other nearby cities, signaling potentially significant concerns about the infrastructure meant to protect residents in the Northern California valley below.





Though the Oroville Dams integrity remained intact, spillways designed to handle overflow began to crumble and erode over the weekend as water drained from the overfull lake, leading authorities to fear that a larger failure could send a torrent of water rushing through the valley below and into area towns.

Lake Oroville is one of Californias largest man-made lakes, with more than 1 trillion gallons of water and 167 miles of shoreline, and the Oroville Dam is the nations tallest, at 770 feet. Lake Oroville is a central element of the states government-run water system, bringing water from the Sierra Nevada to the Central Valley, where it is crucial for agriculture, and to residents and businesses in Southern California.

The emergency evacuation order Sunday has residents worried about a major piece of Californias infrastructure as the region transitions from a record-setting drought to unusually large amounts of rain and snow. It could portend problems ahead as more rain is in the immediate forecast and as the melting season looms, with more snow piled on the peaks of the Sierra than there has been in years.

Heavy rains forecast for this week could again cause lake levels to rise, put pressure on the damaged spillways and jeopardize area communities. Three storms are lined up to drench Northern California, with up to nine inches of precipitation possible.

[The Lake Oroville dam stress test isnt over  more rain this week, then spring thaw]

It is unclear when residents who were ordered to flee their homes will be able to return. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said Monday that he would not lift the mandatory evacuation order until water resources officials have a better grasp of the expected risks.

This is still a dynamic situation, its still a situation were trying to assess, Honea said, noting that he does not want anyone in the community to go back home if theres a chance that they could be in harms way. Getting those people home is important to me. I want that to happen absolutely as soon as possible.



An empty Montgomery Street in downtown Oroville, Calif. More than 200,000 residents in Oroville and nearby towns evacuated Sunday evening after officials warned that the weakened emergency spillway at the Oroville Dam might collapse. (Stephen Lam/For The Washington Post)

Oroville and surrounding communities sat as ghost towns Monday, with residents having left at nearly a moments notice Sunday, jamming highways as night fell. Many of them gathered here in Chico, at temporary shelters and at the fairgrounds, waiting.

Father and son Pedro and Juan Mota evacuated from Gridley, a small town in the flood zone, along with 12 members of their extended family. Juan, 28, said a friend of his working on the dams spillway called him at 4 p.m. Sunday, ahead of the official evacuation order, and said ominously, Youve got to get out.

Its crazy. Its unreal, Juan Mota, dressed in a black Oakland Raiders sweatshirt, said as he sat on a folding chair in front of a station handing out bottles of water and bags of chips. You see this stuff in movies, people trying to get gas before it runs out and passing each other on the highway, all of that.



Evacuee Juan Mota, left, sits with his father, Pedro, at the evacuation center at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico, Calif. (Stephen Lam/For The Washington Post)

Cindy Vanneman, who lives in the Golden Oaks Mobile Homes in Oroville and does not have a car, heard about the evacuation order at 9:30 p.m. Sunday. She was whisked out of town by shuttle bus but wasnt allowed to bring Leo, her 2-year-old tuxedo cat, so she called animal rescue, hoping they could help.

I felt every emotion you can feel all at one time, Vanneman said. You dont know if you can go back home or if youll go back to see your home floating down the river. Ive been there for 17 years. But now Im definitely looking into moving. I want to live somewhere high and dry.

Much of California has felt high and dry for years, the states lengthy drought causing Lake Orovilles water levels to plunge well below capacity and making it an oft-cited example of the extent of the dryness. Now, in a dramatic shift, Northern California has experienced an extraordinarily rainy winter that has caused waters to rise to their highest levels in decades.

1 of 58 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  See photos as thousands are evacuated after Oroville Dam threatens floods View Photos About 188,000 residents near Oroville, Calif., were ordered to evacuate after a hole in an emergency spillway in the dam threatened to flood the surrounding area. Caption About 188,000 residents near Oroville, Calif., were ordered to evacuate after a hole in an emergency spillway in the dam threatened to flood the surrounding area. Feb. 17, 2017 This photo shows water continuing to move down the damaged spillway of the Oroville Dam in Oroville, Calif. California Department of Water Resources/Getty Images Wait 1 second to continue.

There was never any danger of the main Oroville Dam collapsing. The problem instead is with the dam systems spillways  safety valves along the lakes shoreline designed to release water in a controlled manner, preventing water from topping over the wall of the colossal dam.

As the lakes water levels rose to the brim after heavy rain and snow this month, unexpected erosion crumbled the main spillway, pulling off chunks of concrete and creating a large hole. Then sheets of water began flowing over the dams emergency spillway for the first time in its nearly 50-year history, coursing down a wooded hillside and carrying murky debris into the Feather River.

Once we have damage to a structure like that, its catastrophic, said Bill Croyle, acting director of the states Department of Water Resources. We determined we could not fix the hole.



The damage to the main spillway at the Oroville Dam. (California Department of Water Resources/Getty Images)

More than a decade ago, three environmental groups warned state and federal officials about what they believed was a problem with the dams emergency spillway, because it isnt really a spillway; its actually a 1,700-foot-long weir that empties onto a dirt hillside. The concern centered on erosion of that hillside in the event of an emergency.

[Officials were warned the Oroville Dam emergency spillway wasnt safe. They didnt listen.]

When the Oroville Dam was going through a re-licensing process, the environmental groups filed a motion in October 2005, urging a federal regulatory agency to require state officials to armor the emergency spillway with concrete so that, in case of extreme rain and flooding, water wouldnt freely cascade down the hillside and tear it away. The upgrade would have cost millions of dollars, and no one wanted to foot the bill, said Ronald Stork, senior policy advocate for Friends of the River, one of the groups that filed the motion.

When the dam is overfull, water goes over that weir and down the hillside, taking much of the hillside with it, Stork said Monday. That causes huge amounts of havoc. Theres roads, theres transmission lines, power lines that are potentially in the way of that water going down that auxiliary spillway.

Federal officials determined that nothing was wrong with the emergency spillway, which they said could handle 350,000 cubic feet of water per second and would perform as designed in the event of its use, according to a July 2006 memo from a senior engineer with the regulatory agency.

The emergency spillway meets FERCs engineering guidelines for an emergency spillway, the engineer wrote. The guidelines specify that during a rare flood event, it is acceptable for the emergency spillway to sustain significant damage.

Croyle said Monday at a news conference that he hadnt seen the 2005 reports and declined to comment on them.



Water surges down the main spillway at Lake Oroville. The water level dropped Monday behind the nation's tallest dam, reducing the risk of a catastrophic spillway collapse. (Randy Pench/Associated Press)

When officials decided to use the emergency spillway in recent days, flows that were a tiny fraction of the apparent limit caused serious enough erosion on the hillside to warrant the evacuation.

Anticipating a possible catastrophe for the Oroville area, about 75 miles north of Sacramento and about 25 miles southeast of Chico, the Butte County Sheriffs Office ordered evacuations, emphasizing in a news release that it was NOT a drill.

Honea called the evacuation order a critical and difficult decision and said he recognized that it would cause significant dislocations and traffic jams  which it did. Residents of Oroville, a town of 16,000, were ordered to head north toward Chico, while other nearby residents drove south toward Sacramento.

I recognize how tough this situation is on people, Honea said. I recognize that weve had to displace a lot of people.

Stork believes none of that would have happened had officials listened to his and others concerns and built a proper spillway 12 years ago.

They told us not to worry. All was good. Everything was fine. Its all safe, he said. First of all, theyre not supposed to fail. Thats not what we do in a first-world country. We dont do that. We certainly dont do that with the nations tallest dam. An auxiliary spillway isnt supposed to cause lots of havoc when its being used.

Adriana Weidman of Marysville, Calif., said she heard about the evacuation around 5 p.m. Sunday. Fearing that nearby rivers would overflow, she rushed to pack as much as she could, then got into the car with her husband and two children, she said. They headed to Colfax, Calif., about 45 miles east.

Its scary, Weidman said. Im terrified Im not going to have a home to come home to.



A man sits outside the evacuation center at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico, Calif. (Stephen Lam/For The Washington Post)

Romeo reported from Chico. Schmidt and Guerra reported from Washington. Angela Fritz and Derek Hawkins in Washington contributed to this report.
Immigration authorities last week arrested 680 people who were in the United States illegally, Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly said in a statement Monday.

The raids in at least a dozen states, which marked the Trump administrations first large-scale crackdown on people living in the United States illegally, set off a wave of panic and protest in immigrant communities over the weekend and sparked questions from immigration advocates as to whether the arrestees posed legitimate threats to public safety.

DHS, which overseas U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), said Monday that approximately 75 percent of those arrested were criminal aliens, including some who had been convicted of crimes such as homicide, sexual assault of a minor and drug trafficking.

Asked to provide further clarification, a DHS official confirmed that the term criminal aliens includes anyone who had entered the United States illegally or overstayed or violated the terms of a visa. There are an estimated 11 million people in the United States who fit that profile.

ICE declined to provide the names and locations of those who were detained in the raids, nor would the agency say how many of the 680 people had committed serious crimes.

Field offices in Los Angeles, San Antonio, Chicago, Atlanta and New York City released a total of 15 examples of people ICE took into custody last week, including one who was a self-admitted MS-13 gang member and one who was wanted for murder and attempted murder in Mexico. Seven had prior convictions for sexual assault or for lewd or indecent acts with a child, and three, including the gang member, had convictions for drug trafficking or distribution.

ICE carried out the arrests in New York, California, Illinois, Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Indiana and Wisconsin. Of those, about a quarter had no prior convictions.

ICE has characterized the raids as routine, but immigrant rights groups said the actions were out of the ordinary and that most of those swept up were not dangerous. They said ICE also handled the detentions  which activists described as playing out in homes, on the side of the road and outside workplaces  differently from how the agency had in the latter years of the Obama administration, and accused the government of sowing fear among the immigrant community.

This is not normal, Sulma Arias, field director for the Center for Community Change, said in a teleconference with reporters Monday, calling it a horrific overreach that will destroy families and undermine the American Dream for thousands.

The Center for Migration Studies of New York, a think tank that favors immigration, says there are about 3.3 million households in the United States that contain both legal and illegal residents. Most of those homes have U.S. citizens, including 5.7 million U.S.-born children.

Obama, who deported more people than any president, in his second term prioritized deportations to target public safety threats over other people with less-serious criminal violations.

More than 90 percent of those deported from the United States during the past fiscal year had been convicted of what DHS considers serious crimes, according to a Migration Policy Institute study. Activists say ICE also tended to detain people at night, which was often terrifying but less public.

The Obama administration shied away from big displays of enforcement because it would alienate their base. For Trump, it is red meat for his supporters and fulfills a campaign pledge, said J. Kevin Appleby, senior director of international migration policy for the Center for Migration Studies of New York.

Thousands of immigrants and activists rallied outside the Milwaukee County courthouse in Wisconsin on Monday for a Day Without Latinos, Immigrants and Refugees. The event was designed to demonstrate how integral the groups are to the nations social and economic fabric.
ROMANIA

Parliament endorses anti-graft referendum

Romanias parliament on Monday unanimously endorsed a presidential plan to hold a national referendum over anti-corruption measures after mass street protests forced the government into an embarrassing U-turn over a graft decree.

President Klaus Iohannis, a former leader of the center-right opposition, blasted the government over the decree, which would have effectively shielded dozens of public officials from prosecution.

The month-old Social Democrat government rescinded the decree one week ago after the biggest protests in the country since the fall of communism in 1989.

Iohannis now needs to come up with a time frame to hold the referendum. According to law, a 30-day campaign must take place before the vote.

Parliament, where the ruling coalition holds a big majority, must still vote on whether to confirm the decrees withdrawal.

 Reuters

TAIWAN

Tour bus flips over on highway, killing 32

A bus carrying tourists on a trip to view cherry blossoms flipped over on an expressway ramp in Taiwans capital on Monday, killing 32 people and injuring many, officials said.

The bus was carrying 44 people when it crashed Monday on the No. 5 expressway, the Taipei city fire department said. It said authorities were trying to determine the cause.

It happened on a curve, so the bus flipped, and that could be due to excess speed, said Tu Bing-cheng, a Taipei official.

Tu said that 32 people, all Taiwanese, were confirmed dead and that the others were sent to hospitals for treatment.

The bus belonged to a private company, he said.

 Associated Press

KOSOVO

Truth panel planned on 1998-99 atrocities

President Hashim Thaci on Monday announced plans for a truth commission to help reconcile Kosovos ethnic-Albanian majority and Serb minority, as allegations of atrocities committed during the 1998-1999 Kosovo war continue to scar relations.

Kosovo cannot build a good future if it remains a hostage to its past, Thaci said at a ceremony to unveil plans for the truth and reconciliation commission.

An estimated 10,800 Kosovo Albanians and about 2,200 Serbs were either killed or went missing during the 16-month conflict, in which Serbian forces countered an Albanian insurgency.

An estimated 1 million Albanians were forced from their homes by Serbian troops before NATO launched airstrikes and forced Belgrade to withdraw its forces.

World attention has long centered on the mass killings committed by the Serbian forces loyal to Slobodan Milosevic, while there has been less scrutiny of crimes committed by Kosovos Albanian troops.

Thaci, who led the insurgency against Serbian forces and was prime minister when Kosovo won its independence in 2008, said Monday that it was necessary to determine the facts surrounding the conflict. But he did not detail how the commission would work.

Belgrade still considers Kosovo part of its territory.

 Reuters

Turkmenistans leader wins reelection: Turkmenistans president has won reelection in a widely anticipated victory, election officials said. Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov garnered nearly 97.7 percent of the vote in the gas-rich Central Asian nation, the chairman of the election commission said. Berdymukhammedov has run the former Soviet republic with an iron fist after succeeding the equally autocratic Saparmurad Niyazov, who died in 2006.

At least 4 dead in French Alps avalanche: Four snowboarders died in an avalanche near the French Alps resort of Tignes, according to officials. The avalanche  about 330 feet wide and 1,300 feet long  struck the mountain about 6,900 feet up in an off-piste sector known as Toviere. The area is popular for its extensive slopes and stunning views. All four who died were thought to be French but were not identified by officials.

Pakistan court bans Valentines Day in capital: A judge in Pakistan banned all Valentines Day celebrations in the capital, Islamabad, saying they are against Islamic teachings. The judge ruled on a petition seeking to ban public celebrations of the Western holiday, a court official said. He said the order had been sent to Pakistans media regulator to ensure a blackout of any Valentines Day promotions in print or electronic media. The ban applies only to Pakistans capital.

 From news services
CONGO

Scores allegedly killed as troops, militia clash

The U.N. human rights office said Tuesday that it is deeply concerned about reports that more than 100 people have been killed in clashes between Congolese troops and militia fighters mainly armed with machetes and spears.

If confirmed, the office said, the reports would suggest excessive and disproportionate use of force by the soldiers.

The death toll was criticized by the local governor and a government spokesman, who called the U.N. comments hasty and improper.

Liz Throssell, a spokeswoman for the U.N. rights office, said Tuesday that the violence in the Dibaya area of Kasai-Central province allegedly involved troops who opened fire indiscriminately when they spotted militia members between Thursday and Monday.

About 39 women were among those killed, Throssell said, citing information from local colleagues and unspecified sources in the region.

The militia fighters are accused of destroying buildings and carrying out other acts of violence after their leader was killed in a police operation in August.

 Associated Press

BRAZIL

9,000 soldiers head to Rio amid security crisis

Brazilian President Michel Temer issued a decree Tuesday to deploy 9,000 soldiers in Rio de Janeiros metropolitan area until Feb. 22, one week before Carnival ends. That is almost half the number of troops used during last years Olympics.

The decision partly grants Rio de Janeiro Gov. Luiz Fernando Pezaos request to have troops police the state until March 5.

The soldiers are to help out amid police officers strike threats and riots led by anarchists during state legislature votes on austerity measures as the Carnival celebrations take off. Local police officers salaries have been delayed amid financial troubles.

The decree comes on the heels of a widespread protest that military police said kept them from patrolling for a week and sparked a crime wave in neighboring Espirito Santo state.

 Associated Press

Gambia reverses pullout from ICC: The United Nations has formally received Gambias notice reversing its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, a spokesman said. Gambia was one of three African nations that said last year that they were withdrawing from the court, which prosecutes genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Turkey detains 600 over alleged links to Kurdish militants: Turkey has detained more than 600 people in two days over alleged links to Kurdish militants, state media said. A pro-Kurdish party in parliament said the crackdown was aimed at sidelining it ahead of an April referendum on replacing Turkeys parliamentary system with a stronger presidency.

Turkey arrests suspect in New Years attack: Turkish authorities have formally arrested a French national suspected of helping to plan a mass shooting in an Istanbul nightclub on New Years Day in which 39 people were killed, a police official and the state-run Anadolu news agency said. The 22-year-old French citizen of Turkish descent was caught in Istanbul, Anadolu said.

3 Indian troops, 1 rebel killed in Kashmir: Three Indian soldiers and a militant were killed in a gun battle in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir. A spokesman said the army was conducting an operation to flush out militants from a northern village when the gun battle broke out. Both India and Pakistan claim the Himalayan territory.

 From news services
Colbert I. Kings Feb. 11 op-ed, Should you pray for the president?, discussed the current struggle in faith communities over whether to pray for President Trump and his appointees as they have routinely done for others in positions of trust. Mr. King concluded that it would be in our countrys best interest for all of us to pray that this president gets the appropriate help he needs. This reminded me of the opening scene of Fiddler on the Roof, in which the rabbis son asks if there is a proper blessing for the czar. The rabbi responds, A blessing for the czar? He ponders awhile, then pronounces: Of course: May God bless and keep the czar  far away from us. Amen!

Douglas M. Pollock, Oakton
In early January, House Speaker Paul Ryan met on the issue of tax reform with a delegation from the president-elect. Attending were future chief strategist and senior counselor Stephen K. Bannon, future chief of staff Reince Priebus, future senior adviser Jared Kushner, future counselor Kellyanne Conway and future senior policy adviser Stephen Miller. As the meeting began, Ryan pointedly asked, Whos in charge?

Silence.

It is still the right question. Former officials with deep knowledge of the presidency describe Donald Trumps White House staff as top-heavy, with five or six power centers and little vertical structure. The desire to be a big shot is overrunning any sense of team, says one experienced Republican. This will cause terrible dysfunction, distraction, disloyalty and leaks.

Trump has run a family business but never a large organization. Nor has he seen such an organization as an employee. Trump, says another former official, is ill-suited to appreciate the importance of a coherent chain of command and decision-making process. On the contrary, his instincts run instead toward multiple mini power centers, which rewards competing aggressively for Trumps favor.

This seems to be the dynamic unfolding on the weekend political talk shows. These have traditionally been venues for an administration to communicate with media and political elites (whose religion dedicates Sunday morning to the gods of policy, scandal and pith). But Trump surrogates are clearly appealing to a different audience: an audience of one, who may well tweet them a nice pat on the back. The goal  as Miller demonstrated over the weekend  is not to persuade or even explain. It is to confidently repeat Trumps most absurd or unsubstantiated claims from the previous week. This time it was electorally decisive voter fraud in New Hampshire (for which there is no evidence). Next weekend it could be the harm done by vaccination, or the possible murder of Antonin Scalia (both of which Trump has raised in the past). It is the main function of Trump surrogates to restate Trumps alternative facts in a steady voice.

(Deirdra O'Regan/The Washington Post)

It is hard for me (and everyone else outside the White House) to know exactly what is going on in the West Wing. Leaks may provide a distorted picture. But, in this case, there have been an awful lot of them, clearly from the highest levels. And they uniformly reveal a management structure and culture in which the highest goal is not to display competence or to display creativity but to display loyalty, defined as sucking up. The philosophy of competing power centers has, indeed, produced terrible dysfunction, distraction, disloyalty and leaks. Trumps failed and frightening executive order on immigration is exhibit A. But now the National Security Council seems to be in a full-scale crisis of purpose, thoroughly demoralized and trying to discern American policy from presidential tweets. With the real NSC badly weakened by the travails of the national security adviser, it seems that Bannon is developing a shadow NSC to serve his well-developed nationalist agenda.

The president may thrive in chaos, but the presidency does not. A president needs aides who will give him honest information and analysis, not compete for his favor. This may even involve checking a presidents mistaken instincts. There will always be competing power centers in the West Wing. But the White House runs best when there is, according to a former White House official, a strong chief of staff, empowered by the president to exercise absolute control over all logistics, decision-making processes and execution. He can have as many advisers as he wants, but until one person has full control over the process, chaos will persist.

What does it mean to have a president who seems so hungry for affirmation and so influenced by slights? I recall (from working in George W. Bushs White House) the briefing material that senior staff received before international visits. It always included detailed personality profiles of foreign leaders. Surely other intelligence services prepare the same way. Might Trumps impulsive (and perhaps compulsive) reactions be manipulated by enemies and allies, either to allay or to enrage?

For whatever reason, Trump sees benefits in surrounding himself with a swarm of disorder and disruption. So far, that has helped produce relatively small, self-made crises. But what about the big ones caused by the relentless flow of events? The president will face challenges of amazing complexity that must be addressed in real time, without do-overs. Will the president be able to act swiftly, on the best information and the best advice?

Silence.

Read more from Michael Gersons archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook .
George F. Will gave us fair warning that the current administration would likely not be able to improve on the market allocation of resources [Protect America from its protectors, op-ed, Feb. 12]. The Trump administration blames foreigners as destroyers of our jobs, but, Mr. Will points out, citing Netflix, Amazon and Uber, Americans are the real destroyers.

Our usual means of correcting poor governmental management involves voting the culprits out of office, but that is a slow and unsure process. If some means could be found to immediately affect those in office for poor decisions, we would be better off. But no such means comes to mind, and in any case, no party in power would agree to such a change. We are indeed in a pickle.

William Vaughan Jr., Chebeague Island, Maine
Republican Rep. Peter Roskam of Illinois has a safe seat in Congress. So whats he running from?

First, supporters of the Affordable Care Act showed up at his office for a previously scheduled meeting with his staff. But the 16 of them were turned away when Roskam staffers discovered they were accompanied by a reporter, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Next, Roskam went to the Palatine Township Republican Organizations monthly meeting, billed as open to all. But organizers shut out the general public because of intense interest. With hundreds of protesters massed outside, Roskam left through a back door. Some people chased on foot after his fleeing car.

Then, Roskam announced he would hold a telephone town hall meeting instead of the real thing. I have no plans to have one of these big, sort of circus meetings, he said, informing WGNs Rick Pearson that hes always thought those larger meetings are just not productive.

They certainly arent productive for Roskam and his fellow Republicans  not now, anyway. An early backlash against the Trump presidency has led to many verbal confrontations between Republican lawmakers and the citizenry. President Trumps face plant since the inauguration  most recently the resignation of national security adviser Michael Flynn over dealings with Russia  is only making matters worse.

(Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)

As recent town-hall meetings of GOP Reps. Jason Chaffetz (Utah), Tom McClintock (Calif.), Gus Bilirakis (Fla.), Diane Black (Tenn.) and others turn into well-publicized tongue lashings, their colleagues are ducking and running.

Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) canceled a constituent event in Southampton Village scheduled for April; his office told the Southampton Press they feared he would be harassed again by those who rallied at his recent appearance at a Rotary Club.

Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.) was caught on video slipping out of his own community event last month before its scheduled ending time. Coffmans office told KUSA that the congressman had planned to have a series of one-on-one meetings, not a town-hall event. The result: Scores were still waiting for Coffman in the lobby when he left via an unmarked exit.

In California, McClintock left his town-hall meeting with a police escort. Its the first time Ive ever had an police department have to extract me from a town hall, and Ive done well over 100 of them, he told the Los Angeles Times.

The scene is reminiscent of the tea party summer of 2009, but the energy is on the other side this time. Now, as then, the victims say the perpetrators are outsiders  Chaffetz said those who protested him included paid people from out of state, an echo of Nancy Pelosis claim of astroturfing  but now, as then, the anger is real.

Trump has become increasingly toxic, with Flynns resignation and other Russia revelations, the travel ban struck down in court, chaos involving Obamacare, attacks on the federal judiciary and a series of bizarre pronouncements on everything from Ivanka Trumps fashion line to Frederick Douglass. The Posts Sean Sullivan and Ed OKeefe found Republican members of Congress increasingly wary of defending Trump. You cant make it up, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said after Trump was seen in Facebook photos making sensitive national security decisions in his Mar-a-Lago Clubs main dining area.

Trump canceled an event in Milwaukee because his would-be host, Harley-Davidson, feared protests. The White House just canceled a visit to Ohio that had been scheduled for Thursday; no reason was given, but protests had been planned.

1 of 83 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  See what President Trump has been doing since taking office View Photos The new president is expected to make his mark on an aggressive legislative agenda. 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.

Even congressional aides have felt demonstrators wrath. Staffers for Sens. Johnny Isakson and David Perdue and Rep. Jody Hice, all Georgia Republicans, were met by hundreds of protesters last week in Greensboro, Ga., for what was supposed to be a mobile office hours event to help constituents with bureaucratic matters.

In Florida, after one of Bilirakiss listening session went badly, the local GOP tried to fight back, urging party faithful to attend the next session. Some did  but they were still overwhelmed by protesters.

And so others are retreating. A Feb. 21 town hall scheduled with Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) at the Fairview City Hall was removed from the hosts website. Fairviews mayor told CNN the session would instead be a low-key gathering.

Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.), in response to a question from WGRZ television, declared that he wouldnt have a town-hall meeting, because of demonstrators who come and shout you down and heckle you.

Then theres Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-Ohio), whose office this week edited his Wikipedia entry to remove a recently added line claiming Tiberi has steadfastly refused to hold a townhall meeting to discuss healthcare reform with his constituents.

His office, confirming its role in the Wikipedia editing, said Tiberi is instead offering to meet with the protesters in small groups  and in private.

Twitter: @Milbank

Read more from Dana Milbanks archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
The White House may be in chaos. But at least Congress is addressing the issue Americans care about most: making it easier for the finance industry to rip them off.

Last week, Jeb Hensarling (R-Tex.), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, circulated an outline of his latest plan to repeal Dodd-Frank. Dodd-Frank, you may recall, was put in place after the financial crisis to reduce our chances of having another one.

The law isnt perfect, but it did have at least one critical, mostly popular component: It created an agency dedicated solely to helping consumers fight back when financial institutions cheat or mislead them.

This agency is called the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). It oversees large banks, thrifts and credit unions, along with lots of companies in the nonbank universe, such as mortgage brokers and servicers, payday lenders, debt collectors, private student lenders and credit bureaus.

While the CFPB may not have the same name recognition as, say, the Federal Reserve, many of its actions have generated big headlines.

(The Washington Post)

Remember when Wells Fargo got caught creating millions of fake customer accounts? The bureau helped lead that investigation, which resulted in a $185 million settlement.

The bureau has also, among other things, sued pension-advance companies that fleece veterans, and it ordered the firms that left low-income users of prepaid RushCards unable to access their own money to pay $13 million in restitution and fines.

In its five years of existence, the bureau says it has recovered $11.7 billion for more than 27 million consumers.

The financial industry, understandably, is not super keen on this independent federal agency. And neither is Hensarling, who  just coincidentally?  has received generous campaign contributions from the finance industry.

Hensarlings leaked memo lays out updates to legislation he introduced last year (which, among other things, required that CFPB employees be paid less than their counterparts at other federal financial regulatory agencies).

Under the Orwellian section heading Empowering Americans to Achieve Financial Independence, the memo explains how Hensarling intends to further disempower this agency  and by extension, American consumers.

For instance, the CFPB director would become an at-will political appointee. This means that  unlike the officials who run the Fed, Federal Trade Commission or Securities and Exchange Commission  the CFPB director could be fired without cause. The bureau would cease to be an independent agency and could be pressured at any time to drop investigations of, say, friends of the president.

According to the memo, Hensarling also plans to repeal the CFPBs supervisory powers. This is a fancy way of saying the bureau would no longer have the right to kick the tires and look under the hood  that is, to regularly examine whats going on inside the institutions it regulates to make sure theyre following the law.

Even more disturbing, the bureau would no longer be allowed to punish firms that cheat their customers. At most, it could tell the firms to please stop cheating (or else!).

Yes, you heard that right. No more fines and no more penalties. Its not even clear from Hensarlings memo that the bureau could force firms to return any money theyve already pinched from consumers.

In such a world, why not grab as much as you can?

We dont know exactly how the bullet points in this memo will get translated into legislation. (A spokeswoman for the House Financial Services Committee declined to comment on the memo.) But it seems likely that consumer protections would wind up even weaker than they were before the crisis.

Thats because Dodd-Frank took the authority to enforce some consumer protection laws away from other regulators and gave them to the newly formed CFPB. Assuming those authorities arent being re-delegated to these other agencies  and the memo does not indicate that will happen  theyll remain with a bureau thats essentially powerless to enforce them.

Of course, many of these policy changes make sense if your worldview is that government should stay out of private transactions because consumers are smart enough to fend for themselves. Which brings me to the weirdest and least defensible parts of Hensarlings plan: an effort to make consumers dumber.

Hensarlings memo not only strips the CFPB of most supervisory and enforcement powers; it also eliminates the bureaus research functions, its public database of consumer complaints (so much for transparency) and even its consumer education functions. Right now, the bureau publishes educational materials on its website and partners with libraries, veterans groups and other community organizations.

Its hard to imagine what legitimate public interest lies in killing efforts to promote financial literacy. But in the con-man economy, maybe public interest is no longer a consideration.
IF THERE is one lesson that all nations with successful ballistic missile programs have learned, from the dawn of the missile age until today, it is that practice makes perfect. Testing is essential, and no one succeeds without it. North Koreas latest missile launch did not reach the intercontinental range that its leader Kim Jong Un had threatened on New Years Day, but the event did show that North Korea is steadily testing and harvesting the know-how. The United States needs a new and serious strategy to meet this challenge.

The latest launch was a solid-fuel missile , lofted in a high trajectory, that flew 310 miles before splashing down in the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea. Thats a sufficient range to worry both Japan and South Korea, vital U.S. allies. The missile may be an adapted version of one known as the KN-11 that North Korea test-fired from a submarine last year. North Korea is clearly making progress in the technology of solid-fuel missiles, which are quicker to launch and require less in the way of support facilities. The weekend test was carried out on land from a mobile launching vehicle with tanklike tracks; mobility could give the missile more capability to evade detection. As always with North Korea, there are important unknowns, such as whether the solid-fuel engines or designs are indigenous or somehow imported.

Prudently, President Trump refrained from a rash response of the kind he delivered in January, when he tweeted: North Korea just stated that it is in the final stages of developing a nuclear weapon capable of reaching parts of the U.S. It wont happen! There is nothing to be gained right now by drawing red lines. In a brief appearance before reporters late Saturday, Mr. Trump wisely emphasized the United States support for Japan while standing alongside Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The tone of their meeting, as well as the recent phone call to President Xi Jinping of China, suggest Mr. Trump is attempting to soothe worries in Asia over his isolationist campaign rhetoric.

Now, Mr. Trump needs to focus on creating a strategy to deal with North Korea. On Monday he acknowledged it is a big, big problem and vowed to deal with it very strongly. There is no plausible military solution that does not risk a major war on the peninsula. This points toward negotiation. Two recent studies  one by the Council on Foreign Relations, the other by the Asia Society and the University of California at San Diego  have suggested an approach of pressuring North Korea to freeze its nuclear and missile programs. The United States must be willing to use sticks  such as sanctions and deploying missile defenses in South Korea  as well as carrots to end the North Korean threat. These studies, and many others, have emphasized how China is central to any such strategy. Mr. Trump, with his oft-touted dealmaking skills, enjoys a fresh chance to put the matter high on the agenda with China and tackle one of the worlds most pressing security problems. He should waste no time in doing so.
A Maryland flag at the State House in Annapolis, Md. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)

Regarding the Feb. 9 editorial A return to pension gimmickry :

One of the most effective ways to solve Marylands pension crisis is to change how pension funds are invested.

Our research estimates that Maryland pays up to $590 million in fees to money managers and gets subpar returns in exchange for these fees. The states pension fund earned an average 4.85 percent return over the past 10 years  well short of the funds 7.55 percent target.

Maryland should shift at least a portion of its pension fund to passive, low-cost index funds to reduce exorbitant active-management fees and to more closely mirror appropriate market benchmarks.

With a $20 billion cumulative shortfall in our pension system, we truly cannot afford the status quo.

Christopher B. Summers, Rockville

The writer is president and chief executive of the Maryland Public Policy Institute.
David Shulkin, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017, at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. (Alex Brandon/AP)

David J. Shulkin, an internist and longtime health administrator, was unanimously confirmed Monday to lead the troubled Veterans Affairs Department, becoming the first of President Trumps Cabinet picks to be embraced by all Republicans and Democrats. He is the sole holdover from the Obama administration.

No senators dissented on Shulkins nomination in a rare show of bipartisanship following contentious battles over other Trump Cabinet selections. Shulkins approval makes him the 11th high-ranking Trump official to be confirmed by the Senate.

[Your complete guide to Trumps Cabinet confirmation schedule]

The 57-year-old Pennsylvania native will run the second-largest federal agency after serving 18 months as undersecretary for health in charge of VAs sprawling medical system, which takes care of nearly 9 million veterans a year. After a long search for a leader who could turn around a system Trump denounced on the campaign trail as a tragic failure, the president surprised critics by turning inside rather than outside for a VA leader.

Just before the vote, the leading lawmakers on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee urged their colleagues to put aside the partisanship that has defined the confirmation battles so far.

Lets find out if theres one thing we can agree on, said Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), the committee chairman.

Anticipating critics nervous that the Trump administration will turn VA over to the private sector, Isakson said, We dont want to privatize VA. We want to make it work.

Shulkin will be the first secretary who did not serve in the military, a status that has disappointed some veterans groups but did not disqualify him from what proved to be one of Trumps most difficult Cabinet searches.

Despite his relatively quick and trouble-free nod from lawmakers, Shulkin has a tall order from the president. He needs to show Trump that he can bring big changes to VA to make employees more accountable for misconduct and give veterans faster access to private doctors when they prefer outside care.

Shulkin will oversee 350,000 employees, an $82 billion budget and almost 2,000 clinics and medical centers that are overwhelmed with demands for care from aging Vietnam veterans and younger service members who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Shulkin faces drastic shortages in frontline nurses and doctors: About 45,000 medical jobs throughout the system are unfilled. Groups that advocate for veterans are on high alert three years after a wait-time scandal in which managers ordered their staffs to cover up delays in appointments at dozens of medical centers.

With Trump and other critics calling for a shift to more private care outside VA, Shulkin will be under pressure to loosen the reins of a system that limits private doctors to veterans who live too far from a VA hospital or could not get timely appointments there.

Traditional veterans group have resisted calls for more private care. But Trump said during his campaign that he would give a credit card to every veteran who wanted to see a private doctor.

Shulkin said during his confirmation hearing this month that he would seek major reform and a transformation of VA  but would not turn over vast parts of the federal health-care system to private doctors.

There will be far greater accountability, dramatically improved access, responsiveness and expanded care option, Shulkin told lawmakers on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. But the Department of Veterans Affairs will not be privatized under my watch.

Republicans have pressed Shulkin for assurances that he will act swiftly to winnow a growing backlog in appeals of denied benefit claims. The new secretary has acknowledged the benefit appeals system as a broken process, largely because VA relies on outdated technology.

Shulkin came to government with three decades of experience in patient care and leading private hospitals. The son of an Army psychiatrist, he was born on an Army base and trained at VA hospitals.
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.

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

The beginning of the presidents term has featured controversial executive orders and frequent conflicts with the media.

The beginning of his term has featured controversial executive orders and frequent conflicts with the media.

The beginning of his term has featured controversial executive orders and frequent conflicts with the media.

See what President Trump has been doing since taking office

See what President Trump has been doing since taking office

With President Trump in his fourth full week in office, the upheaval inside the administration that West Wing officials had optimistically dismissed as growing pains is now embedding itself as standard operating procedure.

Trump  distracted by political brushfires, often of his own making  has failed to fill such key posts as White House communications director, while sub-Cabinet positions across agencies and scores of ambassadorships around the globe still sit empty.

Upset about damaging leaks of his calls with world leaders and other national security information, Trump has ordered an internal investigation to find the leakers. Staffers, meanwhile, are so fearful of being accused of talking to the media that some have resorted to a secret chat app  Confide  that erases messages as soon as theyre read.

The chaos and competing factions that were a Trump trademark in business and campaigning now are starting to define his presidency, according to interviews with a dozen White House officials as well as other Republicans. Most spoke on the condition of anonymity to candidly discuss internal White House dynamics and deliberations.

Some senior officials are worried about their own standing with the president, who through his casual conversations with friends and associates sometimes seems to hint that a shake-up could come at a moments notice. Aides said they strive to avoid appearing weak or low energy  two of Trumps least favorite attributes.

(Nicki DeMarco/The Washington Post)

Staffers buzz privately about who is up and who is down, with many eagerly gossiping about which poor colleague gets an unflattering portrayal on NBCs Saturday Night Live. For the past two weeks, it has been White House press secretary Sean Spicer. But aides said Trump was especially upset by a sketch that cast White House chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon as the Grim Reaper manipulating the president  who was ultimately relegated to a miniature desk, playing dolefully with an expandable toy.

[Trump turns Mar-a-Lago Club dinner table into an open-air situation room]

On Monday afternoon, as speculation of a staff shake-up was rife on cable news channels, Trump made clear to a small group of reporters what he thought of his chief of staff: Reince is doing a great job. Not a good job. A great job, the president said.

None of this is normal, said Steve Schmidt, a Republican strategist and top official in President George W. Bushs White House, who has been highly critical of Trump and ticked through controversies that included false White House statements and the administrations halted travel ban targeting seven majority-Muslim countries. The incompetence, the sloppiness and the leaking is unprecedented.

The ongoing saga of Michael Flynn  which left the White House paralyzed for much of the weekend and into Monday  encapsulates the problems.

As scrutiny of the national security adviser has intensified over the past few days amid reports that he had misled colleagues about his talks of sanctions with a Russian envoy, administration officials found themselves in an uncomfortable holding pattern, unsure about whether to defend him and privately grumbling about the indecisiveness on high.

The problem: Trump had yet to weigh in, and aides and advisers were loath to take sides without knowing for certain whether their often mercurial and erratic boss wanted to keep Flynn or cut him loose.

(Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

On Monday, after Trump made it through a joint news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau without being asked about Flynn, a group of reporters gathered outside Spicers office for more than 80 minutes. Spicer twice declined to answer questions about Flynn. When White House chief of staff Reince Priebus walked by, he was asked whether the president still had confidence in Flynn. Priebus gave no answer.

Not long after, Kellyanne Conway, the counselor to the president, said Trump had full confidence in Flynn. Yet a few minutes later, Spicer issued an official  and conflicting  statement, saying Trump was evaluating the situation.

[As Flynn falls under growing pressure over Russia contacts, Trump remains silent]

Late Monday night, the White House announced that Flynn had resigned.

In an administration where proximity to Trump is power, aides, advisers and visitors often mill about in the West Wing, lingering long after their scheduled appointments have ended.

Its a campaign administration, said someone who recently paid a visit to the White House. You walk in and theres a pastor from Des Moines, Iowa, and a couple of small-business guys. Youre waiting for the cats and dogs to walk through.

The White House has also struggled to fill the top West Wing post of communications director, which was left vacant when Trump campaign communications adviser Jason Miller abruptly resigned in the final weeks of the transition.

Spicer, the press secretary, also has been filling the communications director job, which is more of a long-term planning and strategy post  a double-duty assignment that has left him beleaguered and battling on several fronts.

Several candidates have turned the job down, including Brian Jones, who said no after a preliminary approach by the White House. Jones, a former communications director on the 2008 presidential bid of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and a senior adviser to Mitt Romney in 2012, declined to comment.

The administration has also reached out to Ann Marie Hauser, the deputy staff director of the Senate Republican Conference and a Hill veteran.

[Trump friend says Priebus is in way over his head]

Christopher Ruddy, a longtime friend of Trumps who on Sunday publicly criticized Priebus in television and print interviews as being in way over his head, received calls from both the chief of staff and Jared Kushner  Trumps son-in-law, senior adviser and enforcer  and said Monday that he thought the White House was working to remedy its challenges.

My personal view is they know that they can improve in the area of their messaging, and theyre working quickly to do it, said Ruddy, the chief executive of Newsmax Media, a conservative website, and a member of Trumps Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla.

Other supporters of Trump say too much of the senior staffs attention seems to be taken up by internal conflicts. Only a handful of ambassadorships have been announced, for instance, and some major Republican donors in line for such posts are privately complaining that they have felt cut off from Priebus, after having enjoyed regular contact with him when he was Republican National Committee chairman.

Edward J. Rollins, a White House adviser to Ronald Reagan, said part of the problem for Trumps team is that so many top officials are big, national personalities where everything they do is amplified.

The real problem here is you have a bunch of people who were pretty much unknown four months ago, and now theyre all characters on Saturday Night Live,  Rollins said.

Outreach to Capitol Hill has also faced some setbacks. Lawmakers are comfortable with Vice President Pence  a former House member who regularly attends a weekly Tuesday lunch of Senate Republicans  but wonder how much influence he will ultimately wield with the president on big decisions.

Trumps legislative affairs team  headed by Rick Dearborn and Marc Short, both veterans of the Hill  is also considered well-liked, disciplined and professional. But congressional staffers say they have been given advance notice about some executive orders on topics such as cybersecurity and Guantanamo Bay that have never materialized, a delay they attribute to chaos within the West Wing.

There is also grumbling about Boris Epshteyn, special assistant to the president, who has started attending a Monday afternoon meeting of House communications staffers as the administrations liaison. Several aides said Epshteyn simply parrots the White House line  that everything is going great  and seems to resist detailed questions from Hill staffers.

The meetings are a good opportunity to have open lines of communication between the White House and Republicans on the Hill, said Epshteyn, who is also assistant communications director for surrogate operations. The response weve received from the Hill has been overwhelmingly positive.

On Monday, according to someone in the room, a staffer asked Epshteyn about conflicting news reports that the White House was considering rewriting its controversial travel ban executive order. Epshteyn said that nothing was off the table but that the group shouldnt necessarily believe all the reports.

When the aide asked if, at least, Hill staff could receive 24 hours notice on any changes, the room tittered, and Epshteyn joked that he was sure he would read about the exchange the next day in the media.

I kind of resent that, the aide said quietly.

After the meeting, however, Epshteyn walked over to the staffer and introduced himself, and the two had a pleasant conversation.

Abby Phillip, Jenna Johnson and Robert Costa contributed to this report.
President Trump listens during a news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the East Room of the White House on Monday. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

As President Trump stood on the world stage with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday afternoon, he carefully read from a script in a binder, adding emphasis to words here and there but refraining from using his hands to do the same.

Prime Minister Trudeau, on behalf of all Americans, I thank you for being with us today, Trump said flatly, without looking at his fellow world leader. It is my honor to host such a great friend, neighbor and ally at the White House  A. Very. Special. Place.

Trump had arrived at the lectern with a frown and remained deeply serious as he described the relationship between the two countries, alluding to tension points but not going there as he might at a campaign rally. As Trudeau took his turn speaking, Trump stood stoically, gazing out at the reporters assembled in the White Houses lavish East Room. He did not fidget quite as much as usual.

For a man who has long been fascinated by celebrities, the opportunity to share a stage with another world leader is the ultimate reminder of just how far he has unexpectedly come. His demeanor is remarkably different in these moments. It appears as though he has been cast by a Hollywood director to play the very serious role of President of the United States.

The country first got a glimpse of this version of Trump in late August when, amid upheaval in his presidential campaign, the businessman traveled to Mexico City for a hastily organized meeting with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is greeted by President Trump on his arrival at the White House Friday. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post)

[Upheaval is now standard operating procedure in the White House]

Trump built his campaign on attacks on Mexico, accusing the government of sending dangerous criminals into the United States illegally and promising to build a massive wall along the southern border. But at a news conference with Pena Nieto, Trump was quietly deferential, solemnly listening to remarks through a translator and then offering a diplomatic message of his own  without mentioning rapists, making Mexico pay for the wall or any of the other things that were key to his campaign messaging.

Trump instead focused on the history of the close and honest relationship between the two countries and the potential for working beautifully together, with broad mentions of commerce, trade, religion, security and quality of life in the two countries. On immigration policy, Trump struck a softer tone as he focused on the humanitarian crises created by illegal border crossings and drug cartels. As he read from a script, Trumps vocabulary became more varied and his sentences more complex.

A strong, prosperous and vibrant Mexico is in the best interest of the United States and will keep and help keep  for a long, long period of time  America together. Both of our countries will work together for mutual good, and most importantly for the mutual good of our people, Trump said at the time. Mr. President, I want to thank you. Its been a tremendous honor, and I call you a friend. Thank you.

The political chattering class marveled at the pivot in tone it thought that it had just witnessed. But hours later, Trump got into a Twitter fight about the wall with Pena Nieto, then delivered an impassioned speech about immigration at a campaign rally in Arizona. Even though he again read from scripted remarks, his usual, brash style was back  lashing out at the media, threatening to deport millions of undocumented immigrants and telling the stories of Americans killed by immigrants.

At one point, he declared: Were like the big bully that keeps getting beat up.

[Flashback: After subdued trip to Mexico, Trump talks tough on immigration in Phoenix]

President Trump holds a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May on Jan. 27. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post)

Since becoming president last month, Trump has entertained British Prime Minister Theresa May in late January, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe late last week and Trudeau on Monday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected on Wednesday.

With each visit, the president has continued to play the role and has focused on relationship-building that appears to be based more on personality than geopolitics. He seemed to hint that at any moment, this act could end  publicly submitting world leaders to the same treatment given to political rivals, dissenting Republicans, reporters, federal judges and anyone who gets in his way.

We have a very, very good bond, very, very good chemistry, Trump said during Abes visit. Ill let you know if it changes, but I dont think it will.

Pena Nieto canceled a scheduled visit to Washington in late January as Trump continued to insist that Mexico would pay for the border wall. At a joint news conference with the United Kingdoms May, a reporter asked Trump about his relationship with the Mexican leader.

I have great respect for Mexico, Trump said. I love the Mexican people. I work with the Mexican people all the time. Great relationships.

He added: I think a very good relationship, the president and I. And we had a talk that lasted for about an hour this morning. And we are going to be working on a fair relationship and a new relationship.

At the same news conference, a British journalist asked Trump about his praise of Russia  prompting Trump to joke that the question might sour his relationship with May.

[President Vladimir] Putin and Russia  I dont say good, bad or indifferent. I dont know the gentleman, Trump said. I hope we have a fantastic relationship. Thats possible, and its also possible that we wont. We will see what happens.

Mondays news conference with Trudeau was different because the prime minister flawlessly switched between French and English, composing long, warm sentences in both languages. Trump repeatedly put in and took out earpieces to hear a translation, but finally just flung them onto the lectern with a flick of personality that had been missing up until that moment.

In answering a final question from reporters, Trudeau  a progressive in his 40s  compared himself to the 70-year-old Republican president.

Both President Trump and I got elected on commitments to support the middle class, to work hard for people who need a real shot at success, the Canadian leader said.

Trump agreed but also one-upped Trudeau by name-dropping car manufacturers that have pledged to create more jobs and Chinese business magnate Jack Ma.

I think its going to be a very exciting period of time for the United States and for the workers of the United States because they have been, truly, the forgotten man and forgotten women, Trump said, thrusting a finger into the air and prompting a clattering of cameras that had been waiting for the president to do something besides scowl. Its not going to be forgotten anymore, believe me. So, our relationship with Canada is outstanding. And were going to work together to make it even better.

Trump then thanked the crowd and quickly left the stage.
Then-President-elect Donald Trump is seen at Mar-a-Lago in Florida in December with Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, right, and Michael Flynn, who resigned as national security adviser on Monday. (Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images)

Congressional Republicans are finding it increasingly difficult to defend President Trump after a tempestuous start to his term that has stoked frustration, fatigue and fear on Capitol Hill.

Some are at a loss for words when asked about Trumps unorthodox national security decisions. Others strain to sidestep current stumbles in hopes that conservative legislative achievements will eventually render them irrelevant. And a growing number warn that uncertainty about West Wing staffing and such controversies as Trumps unilateral immigration ban have detracted from their top priorities.

There are distractions, said Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.). They need to become more disciplined and more focused on their messages, and they have to get more active on policy development.

Both chambers and the White House will have an opportunity to address their differences during Tuesdays weekly Senate GOP policy lunch. Vice President Pence and Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) will attend and speak, according to their offices.

Many congressional Republicans have endured Trumps unpredictability  including his criticism of the federal judiciary and an immigration order that caught them by surprise and drew intense national blowback and a legal rebuke  because they believe he holds the key to passing the laws they have talked about for years.

Conservatives do and should view him as their current best chance to get conservative policy enacted into law because that was the grand bargain made, said Rory Cooper, a Republican strategist who opposed Trumps candidacy for president. The idea was they would overlook certain behaviors and distractions from President Trump in anticipation of being able to have a willing signature on the other end of conservative legislation.

[When Trump speaks, Republican policymakers shrug  and get back to work]

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), chairman of the Freedom Caucus, a conservative group of House members, put it this way: I would rather accomplish something with distractions than not accomplish anything with smooth sailing.

But on some of the major issues Republicans have vowed to tackle, including repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act and imposing tax cuts through comprehensive tax reform, there remains a glaring lack of consensus, leaving uncertainty about when and how things will get done.

In the meantime, a growing list of controversies has made it harder for some Republicans to shrug off the presidents behavior. The latest disturbance: the resignation of Michael Flynn as national security adviser over possibly illegal communication with Russia. Other surprise developments have also unnerved Republicans, including Trumps decision to effectively turn his Mar-a-Lago Club terrace into an open-air situation room.

You cant make it up, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) said with a laugh when asked about the Mar-a-Lago story as he stepped into an elevator Monday.

Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), a former chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said: I dont know if its improper. How about untoward. Thats a good word, right?

(Bastien Inzaurralde/The Washington Post)

And Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said he hadnt heard about the weekend incident in which Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe discussed a North Korean missile test with other club members nearby.

Yeah. Huh, Corker said when brought up to speed by a reporter. Thanks. Then he walked away.

[Trump turns Mar-a-Lago into open-air situation room]

The White House and some GOP congressional leaders have sought to downplay signs of discord. White House press secretary Sean Spicer argued last week that the president is actively seeking input from Congress and helping them craft an agenda to move the country forward.

Pence, a familiar face on Capitol Hill from his days in the House, has been a frequent visitor in recent weeks. He met with some GOP House members Monday.

But its clear his presence alone will not soothe concerns. Some of Trumps top allies say they have had to deal with blowback from fellow Republicans reminiscent of the skepticism that surfaced during the campaign.

Its been concerns. I dont want to overdo it, said Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.). But of course there has been some. He did not specify who was complaining.

Meanwhile, amid speculation about further White House staffing changes beyond Flynn, Republican lawmakers expressed growing anxiety about the fate of the presidents chief of staff, Reince Priebus. Priebus is seen by many on Capitol Hill as a stabilizing force in a turbulent operation.

A bunch of us feel the need to come to the guys defense. But does that help him or not? We just dont know  we just dont know, said one Republican senator who spoke on the condition of anonymity to frankly convey the feelings of several of his colleagues. But yeah, we worry about that.

Some in the presidents orbit have been critical of Priebus. Trump has defended Priebus, telling reporters Monday that he has done a great job.

[Trump friend says Priebus is in way over his head.]

High atop Republicans wish list right now is confirming Trumps nominee for the Supreme Court, Judge Neil Gorsuch. His pick of Gorsuch to fill the seat of the late justice Antonin Scalia was widely praised by Republicans on Capitol Hill. Many said it helped undo some of the damage caused by Trumps immigration ban.

However, the confirmation process has already grown complicated. Trump has bluntly called on Senate Republican leaders to deploy the nuclear option of dramatically changing Senate rules to confirm Gorsuch with a simple majority if they cant put enough cracks in the wall of Democratic resistance. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), a devotee of Senate tradition and custom, is hoping that he never has to face that decision.

Gorsuch faces a critical day on Tuesday: Five of the six senators he plans to meet with are Democrats.

Trumps early unpopularity among the public has raised questions about whether his support in Congress will further erode. According to the most recent Gallup daily tracking poll, his job approval rating stands at just 40 percent, with 54 percent disapproving.

For some Republicans, the preferred way of defending Trump is to pivot away from him altogether.

I think they are taking it very seriously, said Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, when asked about Trumps public deliberations about North Korea at Mar-a-Lago. Look at the mess the previous administration left for this administration to deal with.

Johnson then launched into an extended attack on different parts of Barack Obamas foreign policy record as president.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who has proposed a plan to replace key parts of the Affordable Care Act, said he is focused on that, as well getting up to speed on tax reform, another GOP priority.

If I react to every leak and headline and spin, he said, I end up incredibly distracted not doing my task at hand.

Kelsey Snell and Aaron Blake contributed to this report.

Read more at PowerPost
Top Republican and Democratic senators pledged Tuesday to deepen their investigation of Russian involvement in the 2016 presidential election in the wake of Michael Flynns resignation as President Trumps national security adviser, opening a new and potentially uncomfortable chapter in the uneasy relationship between Trump and Capitol Hill.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said such an investigation is highly likely, and the top two members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), stood side by side Tuesday to announce that the committees ongoing probe must include an examination of any contacts between Trump campaign officials and the Russian government.

Flynn resigned late Monday after revelations of potentially illegal contacts with Russia last year and misleading statements about the communication to senior Trump administration officials, including Vice President Pence.

We are aggressively going to continue the oversight responsibilities of the committee as it relates to not only the Russian involvement in the 2016 election, but again any contacts by any campaign individuals that might have happened with Russian government officials, said Burr, the chairman of the intelligence panel.

Added Warner, the vice chairman, The press reports are troubling, and the sooner we can get to the veracity of those press reports or not, then well take the next appropriate step.

(Deirdra O'Regan/The Washington Post)

The consensus among lawmakers came at a tense moment, when congressional Republicans were already finding it difficult to defend Trump as the tempestuous start to his term has stoked frustration, fatigue and fear on Capitol Hill.

Many congressional Republicans have endured Trumps unpredictability  including his criticism of the federal judiciary, and an immigration order that caught them by surprise and drew intense national blowback and a legal rebuke  because they think he holds the key to passing laws they have talked about for years.

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), chairman of the Freedom Caucus, a conservative group of House members, put it this way: I would rather accomplish something with distractions than not accomplish anything with smooth sailing.

Burr and Warners agreement is also striking given the partisan feuding that has characterized investigations into Russia and the election  and relationships on Capitol Hill generally. The two senators were initially at odds over whether the committees probe should include potential ties between Trump campaign officials and the Russian government, with Burr suggesting that it was outside the panels purview.

On Tuesday, Burr defended the committees right to look at those potential contacts, including any that may have occurred before Trumps inauguration. And he has the support of Senate GOP leadership; in addition to McConnell, Sen. John Cornyn (Tex.), the majority whip, and Sen. Roy Blunt (Mo.), the GOP conference vice chairman, also called for investigations into Flynns actions.

Their pronouncements contrasted sharply with remarks by Republicans in the House, who applauded Flynns resignation but for the most part stopped short of calling for further investigation.

Ill leave it up to the administration to describe the circumstances surrounding what brought [Flynn] to this point, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) told reporters.

Michael Flynn resigned Monday from his post as President Trumps national security adviser. (Evan Vucci/AP)

Some took aim elsewhere. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) said the most significant question posed by Flynns resignation is why intelligence officials eavesdropped on his calls with the Russian ambassador and later leaked information on those calls to the news media.

I expect for the FBI to tell me what is going on, and they better have a good answer, Nunes said. The big problem I see here is that you have an American citizen who had his phone calls recorded.

Democrats cautiously applauded plans to expand the Senate investigation, even though several of them had called for an independent probe run by a special prosecutor. McConnell and Republicans will certainly have more control over an in-house investigation, but even Warner said he favors that approach.

Not only do we have oversight over intelligence and counterintelligence, but it works in a bipartisan basis, Warner told reporters.

Many Democrats think the slow, painstaking but largely public process of an independent commission, such as the 9/11 Commission, is preferable to leaving the investigation in the hands of committees that work in secret, giving leaders more latitude to pull political strings.

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) called for unbiased law enforcement officials to lead a federal investigation, adding that Attorney General Jeff Sessions cannot be involved in any probe given his close political connections to the White House and Trumps presidential campaign.

In the past, such secrecy has allowed certain high-profile intelligence committee proceedings to fall victim to partisan infighting; that happened in the Senate in 2014, when then-chairman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) tried but failed to release the full torture report on CIA interrogation methods.

In the House, such divisions are already on display, as the House Intelligence Committees ranking Democrat, Rep. Adam B. Schiff (Calif.), has angled to establish at least a joint congressional inquiry to look into the allegations against Flynn.

Nunes, the committee chairman, has almost unfettered control over the process, with the unilateral power to issue subpoenas  as would be necessary to compel Flynn to testify. In the Senate Intelligence Committee, members vote on whether to issue subpoenas.

When asked if he would call Flynn to testify, Burr said: We wont exclude that.

Blunt told KTRS radio in St. Louis that the committee should talk to Flynn very soon.

I think we should look into it exhaustively so that at the end of this process, nobody wonders whether there was a stone left unturned, and shouldnt reach conclusions before you have the information that you need to have to make those conclusions, Blunt said in the interview.

The House and Senate intelligence committees had already launched broad investigations into Russian involvement in the U.S. election, including the possibility of ties between Moscow and any candidates and their campaigns.

But the news about Flynns contact with Russians prompted an ad hoc gathering of the Senate Intelligence Committee on the Senate floor Tuesday. At least seven senators participated in the long, animated discussion. One participant, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private conversation, said senators encouraged Burr to be more aggressive with the probe.

[As Trump stumbles, Hill Republicans find it harder to defend him]

Burr was told, according to the participant, that if the intelligence panel did not step up, other committees would fill the void.

Burr has been less publicly aggressive than some other Republicans, particularly Sens. John McCain (Ariz.) and Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.), who are launching their own inquiries on the Armed Services Committee. They have pushed, unsuccessfully so far, for the creation of a special committee to handle an investigation into Russia and last years elections.

Although it remains unclear who was being targeted during Flynns conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, the Russians calls are routinely monitored.

Flynns critical conversations with Kislyak took place in December  before executive privilege could apply, Democrats point out, but well after the elections were over.

In the House, Schiff said he has not yet discussed with Nunes whether the scope of the committees probe could be expanded to cover the transition period, though he noted that it ought to be a natural extension of what we do.

Over in the Senate, a similar tweak to plans would appear to be necessary to allow the Intelligence Committee to examine Flynns contacts with Russian authorities, as many leading Republicans believe is necessary.

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) suggested that it would certainly be useful to publicly release the transcripts of Flynns conversations with Kislyak.

Schiff pointed out during a Democratic news conference Tuesday that Intelligence Committee officials have not yet received transcripts or tape recordings of those conversations.

Those, I think, are things I think we ought to get as part of the Gang of Eight, Schiff said.

Added House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.): Before they destroy them.

Ed OKeefe, Mike DeBonis, Karen DeYoung, Greg Miller and Philip Rucker contributed to this report.

Read more at PowerPost
The Toshiba logo is seen as window cleaners work at the companys headquarters in Tokyo on Feb. 14. (Toru Hanai/Reuters)

The chaos at Toshiba, the Japanese corporate giant, deepened Tuesday, with its chairman resigning and the company saying it would book a $6.3 billion loss related to its U.S. nuclear business.

Analysts are now speculating about the possibility that Toshiba, which employs almost 200,000 people in Japan and has significant investments in the United States, will have to file for bankruptcy.

This is one of Japans historic corporations and its very important to the Japanese economy, so this could be very significant for Japan, said Tom OSullivan, a Tokyo-based energy analyst. It would even impact Japans sovereign credit rating if theres a knock-on effect.

The news came a day after government statistics showed that the Japanese economy grew by an anemic 0.2 percent in the three months to December, the third consecutive quarter that growth in the worlds third-largest economy had slowed.

Toshiba executives were due to deliver the companys quarterly earnings announcement Tuesday  the deadline for the Tokyo Stock Exchange rule to report earnings within 45 days  but they failed to show up. Instead, the company said that it was not ready to make the announcement and asked for another month to file.

The companys shares fell 8 percent in local trading Tuesday.

Then, after the stock market had closed, Toshiba said that it would take a $6.3 billion hit related to Westinghouses acquisition in December of Stone & Webster, a nuclear construction business, from Chicago Bridge & Iron in December.

Shigenori Shiga, its chairman, would step down Wednesday to take responsibility for the losses, the company said.

I apologize from the bottom of my heart for causing such major troubles for shareholders and investors, the companys president, Satoshi Tsunakawa, said Tuesday night when announcing the news.

Tsunakawa said Toshiba was considering selling its memory chip business to try to stanch the bleeding at the company. Its market capitalization has already plummeted by $7 billion to sit at the end of Tuesday at about $8 billion.

Toshiba, which bought a majority stake in Pennsylvania-based nuclear power company Westinghouse in 2006, earlier said that it had received internal information late last month about irregularities during the acquisition. It had learned that controls at Westinghouse had been insufficient and that the company had used inappropriate pressure to make the acquisition.

We concluded on Monday afternoon that we need further research on the internal reporting . . . and its impact on financial results, the company said in a statement, adding that its lawyers and an independent auditing firm were still poring over the details.

Japanese media reported that the delay was due to a disagreement between Toshiba's management and its auditors. OSullivan, the analyst, said he thought there had probably been a dispute about whether to issue a going concern notice, often a precursor to liquidation or bankruptcy.

My guess is that the auditors wouldnt sign off on the accounts with a going concern order, he said.

The Nikkei business newspaper, which has a record of eerily precise leaks from Japanese companies, had earlier reported that Toshiba would say it faced material uncertainty about its prospects for remaining in business.

Toshiba, which makes products as diverse as televisions and nuclear reactors, has had a rocky few years. In 2015, it was discovered to have exaggerated its profits, leading to wide-ranging restructuring and asset sales.

This has compounded huge problems with its international business. The company has been trying to deal with huge cost overruns at its nuclear plants in Georgia and South Carolina. Although it says it will finish building those reactors, it has curtailed expansion plans in Britain and elsewhere.

anna.fifield@washpost.com

Yuki Oda contributed to this report.


Police officers stand guard in front of protesters holding a flare and a banner during a demonstration against police brutality on Feb. 10 outside a police station in Marseille, France. (Boris Horvat/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images)

 When French police allegedly raped a 22-year-old black man named Theo in the Paris suburbs earlier this month, that was merely the beginning.

For almost two weeks, the outskirts of Paris and other major French cities have erupted in often violent protests: cars set ablaze, rioting late into the night. The demonstrations are mostly against police violence, but at their core they are propelled by a deep-rooted anger over structural racism and the perceived failure of the French state to address a long-volatile situation. The Theo Affair began with the case of just one young man, but it has now ignited the frustrations of Frances black community, one of the largest in Europe.

On Tuesday  largely to calm the rising waters of national crisis in a fraught election year  French President Francois Hollande made a rare appearance in the Paris suburbs, where many French citizens of African and Arab origin live in low-income housing projects far from the splendor of the center city. Days after visiting Theo in the hospital, an unusual gesture from a French president, Hollande pleaded for an end to the rioting.

[Riots outside Paris after police claim an officers alleged rape of a black man was an accident]

Justice must pass, Hollande said, after dozens of protesters were arrested during the two previous nights. When there are shortcomings, he continued, referring to allegations of police misconduct, they must be clearly denounced and justice seized.

But in the eyes of many protesters, the shortcomings in this particular case have not, in fact, been clearly denounced, and justice has not been seized.



French President Francois Hollande stands next to Theo, who charges that police officers raped him, at Robert Ballanger hospital in Aulnay-sous-Bois, France. (Arnaud Journois/Le Parisien via Associated Press)

For one, medical examiners determined that Theo  whose full name has not been released  suffered a wound from a police truncheon, which had been shoved into his rectum. But the public prosecutors office initially said that the incident constituted accidental rape, which was therefore unintentional.

This, read a statement from Representative Council of Black Associations (CRAN), Frances largest black advocacy group, was a catchphrase that would lend a laugh, were its subject not so dramatic.

The police are there to protect people, said Louis-Georges Tin, president of the CRAN, in an interview. Not to put them in danger.

Frances Interior Ministry has since suspended the four officers concerned, all of whom will be charged with assault and one for rape. But despite these proceedings, the damage has largely been done: Many in the black community said they see the notion of accidental rape as an insult and the latest example of their marginalization in a society that proudly considers itself colorblind.

Protest, in other words, is nonnegotiable.



Protesters hold a banner during a demonstration against police brutality on Feb. 10 in Marseille, France. The banner reads in French: Sorry, we have not done it on purpose. (Boris Horvat/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images)



Demonstrators gather during a protest in Bobigny in the suburbs of Paris on Feb. 11. (Aurelien Morissard/Associated Press)



A radio van burns during protests in Bobigny, France, on Feb. 11 . (Yoan Valat/European Pressphoto Agency)

I am 39 years old, said Eros Sana, a leader of the Green Party in Sarcelles, a suburb northwest of Paris. How long will I be a black French citizen and having people from the banlieues being tricked out of their rights?

We are still second-class citizens, he said. If we dont rebel, nothing will change. And things cannot stay the same.

Here in Argenteuil  another northern Paris suburb where 11 people were arrested during a violent Sunday riot  two black teenagers from the area, both 19, said they were now afraid to go out after dark, even to join the protests.

Yes, what happened is horribly racist and discriminatory, said one of them, who would only give his name as Karim. But who protects us from the police? Who is the police of the police?

Wanzi Ang, 42, an information technician who said he has lived in Argenteuil since 1989, was much less surprised by the brutal details of the Theo Affair than his younger neighbors. When asked about the case, he brushed the question aside.

Whenever theres a problem with a black man and the police, its always an accident,  he said.



A riot police officer runs through a store after about 100 alleged robbers entered a Decathlon sport shop in Bondy, a suburb of Paris, France, on Feb. 11. The group apparently tried to loot in the shop following a demonstration that took place in the nearby Bobigny suburb. (Yoan Valat/European Pressphoto Agency)



The inside of a vandalized supermarket during a protest in Bobigny on Feb. 11. (Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images)

The Theo Affair is far from the first instance of alleged police brutality against blacks and Arabs in France, even in the past year. In July 2016, Adama Traore, a 24-year-old construction worker, died in police custody shortly after three police officers pounced on his back at the same time. Likewise, in 2005, Zyed Benna, 17, and Bouna Traore, 15, (who is not related to Adama) were killed after an encounter with police in Clichy-sous-Bois outside Paris, which launched massive protests that ultimately forced the French government to declare a national state of emergency.

The difficulty, Tin said, is proving that French police disproportionately target minority suspects in a country where keeping statistics on race or ethnicity is strictly prohibited.

[Black Lives Matter movement comes to France. But will it translate?]

Despite the relative frequency with which these episodes occur, France remains a country where race  as a social distinction but also as a separate lived experience  does not officially exist. All citizens remain equal in the eyes of the state, which now refuses, mostly to apologize for stripping away nationality from Jewish citizens in World War II, even to recognize any difference. In fact, among Hollandes campaign promises in 2012 was to remove the word race from the French constitution altogether.

The main issue, Sana said, is that we have this very strong hypocrisy  since our revolution, since 1789  that all citizens are equal, and that people dont see color and gender. Its a myth of all citizens being equal, whatever color they are.

This, he said, is the meaning of the Theo Affair, which was not merely a rejection of police violence.

This founding myth is a big reason why people are mobilizing, he said.



Police officers stand on a pathway during a protest in Bobigny, France, on Feb. 11. (Aurelien Morissard/Associated Press)

A mosque is at the center of a raw debate in the South of France

As Frances far-right National Front rises, memory of its past fades

Je suis nasty: Women in Paris march against Trump

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
Gunmen stormed a hotel popular with foreigners in Libyas capital Tuesday and killed at least 10 people, including an American security contractor, before a standoff ended when two assailants set off a grenade that left them both dead, news agencies reported.

The State Department later confirmed that one of those killed was an American but did not immediately provide further details. News agencies said the American worked for Crucible LLC, a private security firm based in Fredericksburg, Va.

According to U.S. officials, the victim was David Berry, whose online profile describes him as a 12-year Marine combat veteran with extensive experience in the Special Operations and Intelligence Communities. It says he often worked in hostile and austere locations throughout the world.

The New York Daily News, which first identified the American, quoted Crucible chief executive Cliff Taylor as saying Berry had been working as a security manager in Tripoli since July 2014.

Our company was unfortunately a victim of the terrorist event, Taylor told the newspaper.

Libyan security forces surround Tripoli's central Corinthia Hotel on Jan. 27, 2015. (Ismail Zitouny/Reuters)

Libyan officials said four other foreigners  a Frenchman and three citizens of former Soviet republics, died in the rampage, the Associated Press reported. Essam al-Naas, a spokesman for a security agency in the Libyan capital, said five guards were also killed, AP said. At least 10 other people were reported wounded in the assault.

The attack underscored the deepening unrest across Libya as Islamist militants and other factions tighten their grip on cities and other key sites.

The assault on the seaside Corinthia Hotel struck at one of the few sites in Tripoli considered secure enough to host foreign visitors such as business executives and political envoys.

The full details of the attack were unclear, including the total number of gunmen and whether some escaped. But the strike appeared to have some level of coordination. A car bomb was detonated as guests and staff fled the hotel.

After a standoff lasting several hours, two attackers killed themselves by setting off a grenade, security officials said.

The hotel is frequented by journalists, business executives and other international envoys, including officials involved in U.N.-brokered talks with Libyas rival factions.

In New York, the U.N. Security Council said its members condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack . . . against the Corinthia Hotel. In a statement, the council reaffirmed full support for Bernardino Leon, the U.N. special envoy for Libya, and urged Libyas factions to engage constructively with his efforts to resume an inclusive political process aimed at addressing the political and security challenges facing the country.

Reports about the attack included several conflicting accounts, and it was not immediately possible to reconcile the various details, news agencies reported.

The AP, citing security officials and hotel staff, said five masked attackers wearing bulletproof vests stormed the hotel after security at the gates tried to stop them.

A hotel staff member told the AP that the gunmen entered the hotel and appeared to fire at random. As guests and staff fled out the hotels back doors, a car bomb exploded about 100 yards away, the AP reported.

Three guards died in the blast, the Reuters news agency reported, citing security officials.

The hotel staff member spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because he feared retribution.

He said the hotel had Italian, British and Turkish guests but that it was largely empty at the time of the attack.

It was not immediately clear who staged the attack, but the SITE monitoring service said a militant group claiming links to the Islamic State claimed responsibility.

In a Twitter post, SITE quoted the Islamic State offshoot in Libya as saying the attack was launched in solidarity with a Libyan man suspected of plotting al-Qaedas 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

Abu Anas al-Libi, whose real name is Nazih Abdul-Hamed al-Ruqai, died in a New York hospital earlier this month just days before his trial.

Tripoli has been hit with a series of car bombs and shootings in the turmoil that has engulfed the country following its 2011 civil war, which ousted longtime Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi. Two governments and two parliaments are vying for legitimacy in the country from Tripoli and Benghazi in the east.

Tripoli is currently controlled by a group called Libya Dawn, which seized the capital in August by expelling a rival force.

Most recently, a guard was killed in a shootout outside the U.N. headquarters in the city.

Julie Tate and William Branigin in Washington contributed to this report.
President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will formally inaugurate their partnership Wednesday in talks that could shape a new approach by Washington that does not emphasize a two-state peace framework for the region.

Such a move, outlined by a U.S. official before the meetings, would mark a sharp contrast to Obama administration policies that strongly supported the two-state formula as the best option for potential peace deals between Israel and the Palestinians.

Many Palestinians also would view the shift as a virtual abandonment of the principle adopted by preceding administrations, both Republican and Democratic. In a possible attempt to ease Palestinian concerns, however, Trumps CIA chief held secret talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank, according to a senior Palestinian official.

On the U.S. side, the Trump administration seeks a clean break from President Barack Obamas Middle East policies and wants to forge an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement  what the businessman-turned-president calls the ultimate deal.

A White House official told reporters that the United States will not insist on two states as the only outcome for peace.

1 of 20 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  What 19 foreign leaders have said about Donald Trump View Photos Reactions to the new U.S. president have been mixed among top politicians around the world. Caption Reactions to the new U.S. president have been mixed among top politicians around the world. Russian President Vladimir Putin In 2015 during an annual news conference with reporters, Putin said, He is a bright and talented person without any doubt. He added that Trump is an outstanding and talented personality. Pavel Golovkin/AP Wait 1 second to continue.

Maybe, maybe not. Its something the two sides have to agree to. Its not for us to impose that vision, the official said. A two-state solution that doesnt bring peace is not our goal, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the potential U.S. policy change.

While the previous administration did not insist on a two-state solution, it was presented as the best approach. That approach, however, is increasingly out of favor with the Israeli government.

In the West Bank city of Jericho, Saeb Erekat, a top Palestinian official and former peace negotiator, called any possible attempts to undermine support for the two-state solution as a disaster and a tragedy for Israelis and Palestinians.

To those who think the current system today is acceptable, having one state with two systems, which is apartheid, I dont think they can sustain it, not in the 21st century, said Erekat, a veteran of seven U.S.-brokered peace talks with Israel.

On Tuesday, CIA chief Mike Pompeo held secret talks with Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah, the Palestinian official said, marking the first high-level meeting between the Palestinian leader and a Trump administration envoy. The Palestinian official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the Pompeo visit.

The CIA declined to comment on the report.

On the Israeli side, Netanyahu is counting on the Trump administrations aggressive and skeptical U.S. approach to Iran and the 2015 nuclear deal, as well as nearly unqualified support for policies toward the Palestinians that have brought international condemnation. And to his political right at home, an increasingly powerful Israeli political constituency wants carte blanche from the new U.S. administration to turn away from the once-shared U.S.-Israeli goal of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.

As the president has made clear, his administration will work to achieve comprehensive agreement that would end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict so that Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Tuesday. The way forward toward that goal will also be discussed.

Spicer avoided any mention of Palestinian sovereignty or direct negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians as peers. That subtle change in the public U.S. stance cheers Israeli hard-liners. But Trump has also sent recent signals that Israel should be cautious about settlement building in the West Bank, a likely point of future conflict with Washington.

There is going to have to be some tough love, said David Makovsky, a former senior U.S. envoy during the most recent, failed peace push in 2013 and 2014.

As he headed to Washington, Netanyahu characterized his meeting with Trump as very important and said he believed the relationship between Israel and the United States was about to get even stronger.

The longtime Israeli prime minister has made clear that he hopes to focus much of the meeting on Iran, which he considers a threat to Israels existence and an increasingly emboldened menace in Syria and elsewhere across the Middle East.

President Trump and I see eye to eye on the dangers emanating from the region but also on the opportunities, Netanyahu said as he boarded his flight to Washington. And well talk about both, as well as upgrading the relations between Israel and the United States in many, many fields.

Netanyahu will also see Vice President Pence, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and members of Congress. He and Trump are scheduled to hold a joint news conference following their meeting Wednesday.

The visit takes place in the unexpected shadow of Michael Flynns resignation as Trumps national security adviser. The resignation occurred Monday night as Netanyahu flew to Washington.

Despite the upheaval and potential scandal surrounding the resignation just three weeks into the Trump administration, Flynns absence is unlikely to affect the agenda or U.S. positions. His hawkish voice on Iran reflects Trumps views, and he was not expected to be a main player in any White House push for a peace agreement.

For both sides, the primary objective of this meeting is to change the political theater of the relationship, said former U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy Michele Flournoy. To change the vibe, the feeling, the perception, of deep divisions between Israel and its most important ally.

For now, she and other observers said, the inevitable differences will be mentioned as little as possible. Its all kumbaya, Flournoy said.

In the short term, the veteran Israeli leader must show he can deliver on the expectations of firm U.S. support for standing against Iran, the issue that caused the biggest breach with the Obama administration and left Netanyahu looking weak. The Israeli leader tried and failed to stop the international nuclear agreement Obama instigated, going so far as to defy the White House by speaking against the deal in an extraordinary direct address to Congress.

Former U.S. peace negotiator Dennis A. Ross said the Israelis know that Trump will not tear up the Iran nuclear pact, even though he campaigned by calling it a terrible deal.

Netanyahu wants an understanding that the United States will act to deter Iran, Ross said, a declaration that any Iranian move toward a nuclear weapon will produce a military response and not a sanctions response.

In the future, Netanyahu will need to show that he is not being steamrollered in any peace effort driven by Trump and his close adviser, son-in-law Jared Kushner. Trump has already named Kushner as his chief envoy and signaled that he is looking to Arab states to help push the Palestinians toward an accommodation.

Although Trump has nominated settlement supporter David M. Friedman as his ambassador to Israel, he is also on record twice warning Netanyahu against expanding Jewish home-building in the West Bank.

No deal is a good deal if it isnt good for all sides, Trump said in an interview last week with Israel Hayom  a widely circulated free newspaper owned by a Netanyahu patron, the Las Vegas casino magnate and GOP mega-donor Sheldon Adelson.

We are currently in a process that has been going on for a long time. Decades. A lot of people think that it cant be done. And a lot of smart people around me claim that you cant reach an agreement. I dont agree. I think we can reach an agreement and that we need to reach an agreement.

In the same interview, Trump suggested he is slowing down a campaign promise to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, whose future status the United States has long insisted must be negotiated between Israel and the Palestinians.

Hours before Netanyahus departure, Israeli media published leaked information from a discussion that took place Sunday inside the security cabinet. According to the reports, Trump told Netanyahu, when the two spoke for the first time on Jan. 22, that he is determined to pursue a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.

Netanyahu responded that he still supports the two-state solution but stressed it was the Palestinians who are unwilling at this time to reach a peace deal.

We have to make every effort to avoid a confrontation with him, Netanyahu reportedly told his ministers on Sunday. Trump believes in a deal and in running peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. We should be careful and not do things that will cause everything to break down. We mustnt get into a confrontation with him.

Trumps swaggering new sheriff posture in defense of Israel on the world stage has raised a lot of hopes in Israel, said Yoaz Hendel, an Israeli military historian who chairs the Institute for Zionist Strategies.

Maybe the Messiah is there and they are going to change everything, Hendel joked as he characterized the pro-settler view that the American president might reverse years of Republican and Democratic policy by greenlighting a West Bank building boom.

There is also fear that maybe Trump will wake up one day and decide he wants the Nobel Peace Prize, Hendel said. Say to Netanyahu, Make Israel Great Again, lets cut a deal. Whats so hard? 

That would put Netanyahu on the spot, as his critics at home well know.

Naftali Bennett, Israels education minister and leader of the pro-settler Jewish Home party, called the coming White House session the test of Netanyahus life.

William Booth in Jerusalem and Greg Miller in Washington contributed to this report.
The acting attorney general informed the Trump White House late last month that she believed Michael Flynn had misled senior administration officials about the nature of his communications with the Russian ambassador to the United States, and warned that the national security adviser was potentially vulnerable to Russian blackmail, current and former U.S. officials said.

The message, delivered by Sally Q. Yates and a senior career national security official to the White House counsel, was prompted by concerns that Flynn, when asked about his calls and texts with the Russian diplomat, had told Vice President-elect Mike Pence and others that he had not discussed the Obama administration sanctions on Russia for its interference in the 2016 election, the officials said. It is unclear what the White House counsel, Donald McGahn, did with the information.

Flynn resigned Monday night in the wake of revelations about his contacts with the Russian ambassador.

[Read Michael Flynns resignation letter]

In the waning days of the Obama administration, James R. Clapper Jr., who was the director of national intelligence, and John Brennan, the CIA director at the time, shared Yatess concerns and concurred with her recommendation to inform the Trump White House. They feared that Flynn had put himself in a compromising position and thought that Pence had a right to know that he had been misled, according to one of the officials, who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.

A senior Trump administration official said before Flynns resignation that the White House was aware of the matter, adding that weve been working on this for weeks.

The current and former officials said that although they believed that Pence was misled about the contents of Flynns communications with the Russian ambassador, they couldnt rule out that Flynn was acting with the knowledge of others in the transition.

The FBI, Yates, Clapper and Brennan declined to comment on the matter.

In a Feb. 8 interview with The Washington Post, Flynn categorically denied discussing sanctions with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, repeating public assertions made in January by top Trump officials. One day after the interview, Flynn revised his account, telling The Post through a spokesman that he couldnt be certain that the topic never came up.

Two officials said a main topic of the relevant call was the sanctions. Officials also said there was no evidence that Russia had attempted to exploit the discrepancy between public statements by Trump officials and what Flynn had discussed.

[National security adviser Flynn discussed sanctions with Russian ambassador]

Flynn told The Post earlier this month that he first met Kislyak in 2013, when Flynn was director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and made a trip to Moscow.

U.S. intelligence reports during the 2016 presidential campaign showed that Kislyak was in touch with Flynn, officials said. Communications between the two continued after Trumps victory on Nov. 8, according to officials with access to intelligence reports on the matter.

Kislyak, in a brief interview with The Post, confirmed having contacts with Flynn before and after the election, but he declined to say what was discussed.

For Yates and other officials, concerns about the communications peaked in the days after the Obama administration on Dec. 29 announced measures to punish Russia for what it said was the Kremlins interference in the election in an attempt to help Trump.

After the sanctions were rolled out, the Obama administration braced itself for the Russian retaliation. To the surprise of many U.S. officials, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Dec. 30 that there would be no response. Trump praised the decision on Twitter.

Intelligence analysts began to search for clues that could help explain Putins move. The search turned up Kislyaks communications, which the FBI routinely monitors, and the phone call in question with Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general with years of intelligence experience.

[The fall of Michael Flynn: A timeline]

From that call and subsequent intercepts, FBI agents wrote a secret report summarizing Flynns discussions with Kislyak.

Yates, then the deputy attorney general, considered Flynns comments in the intercepted call to be highly significant and potentially illegal, according to an official familiar with her thinking.

Yates and other intelligence officials suspected that Flynn could be in violation of an obscure U.S. statute known as the Logan Act, which bars U.S. citizens from interfering in diplomatic disputes with another country.

At the same time, Yates and other law enforcement officials knew there was little chance of bringing against Flynn a case related to the Logan Act, a statute that has never been used in a prosecution. In addition to the legal and political hurdles, Yates and other officials were aware of an FBI investigation looking at possible contacts between Trump associates and Russia, which now included the Flynn-Kislyak communications.

Word of the calls leaked out on Jan. 12 in an op-ed by Post columnist David Ignatius. What did Flynn say, and did it undercut U.S. sanctions? Ignatius wrote, citing the Logan Act.

The next day, a Trump transition official told The Post, I can tell you that during his call, sanctions were not discussed whatsoever.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer, in a conference call with reporters on Jan. 13, said that the conversation between Flynn and Kislyak had centered on the logistics of a post-inauguration call between Trump and Putin. That was it, plain and simple, Spicer added.

On Jan. 15, Pence was asked about the phone call during an appearance on CBSs Face the Nation. Citing a conversation he had with Flynn, Pence said the incoming national security adviser and Kislyak did not discuss anything having to do with the United States decision to expel diplomats or impose censure against Russia.

Before the Pence statement on Jan. 15, top Justice Department and intelligence officials had discussed whether the incoming Trump White House should be notified about the contents of the Flynn-Kislyak communications.

Pences statement on CBS made the issue more urgent, current and former officials said, because U.S. intelligence agencies had reason to believe that Russia was aware that Flynn and Kislyak had discussed sanctions in their December call, contrary to public statements.

The internal debate over how to handle the intelligence on Flynn and Kislyak came to a head on Jan. 19, Obamas last full day in office.

Yates, Clapper and Brennan argued for briefing the incoming administration so the new president could decide how to deal with the matter. The officials discussed options, including telling Pence, the incoming White House counsel, the incoming chief of staff or Trump himself.

FBI Director James B. Comey initially opposed notification, citing concerns that it could complicate the agencys investigation.

Clapper and Brennan left their positions when Trump was sworn in, but Yates stayed on as acting attorney general until Jan. 30, when Trump fired her for refusing to defend his executive order temporarily barring refugees and people from seven majority-Muslim countries  an action that had been challenged in court.

A turning point came after Jan. 23, when Spicer, in his first official media briefing, again was asked about Flynns communications with Kislyak. Spicer said that he had talked to Flynn about the issue again last night. There was just one call, Spicer said. And it covered four subjects: a plane crash that claimed the lives of a Russian military choir; Christmas greetings; Russian-led talks over the Syrian civil war; and the logistics of setting up a call between Putin and Trump. Spicer said that was the extent of the conversation.

Yates again raised the issue with Comey, who now backed away from his opposition to informing the White House. Yates and the senior career national security official spoke to McGahn, the White House counsel, who didnt respond Monday to a request for comment.

Trump declined to publicly back his national security adviser after the news broke.

On Monday afternoon, Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the president, said Trump had full confidence in Flynn. Minutes later, however, Spicer delivered a contradictory statement to reporters.

The president is evaluating the situation, Spicers statement read. Hes speaking to Vice President Pence relative to the conversation the vice president had with Gen. Flynn and also speaking to various other people about what he considers the single most important subject there is: Our national security.

And then late Monday, Flynn resigned.

Karen DeYoung and Greg Miller contributed to this report.

Read more:

Russian lawmakers rush to the defense of Trumps ex-national security adviser

Harward emerges as front-runner to replace Flynn following talks

10 unanswered questions after Michael Flynns resignation
The target: the estranged half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The setting: an airport in Malaysia. And the possible suspect: a woman carrying a cloth treated with lethal liquid.

It adds up to a case that seems ripped straight from the pages of a spy novel.

Even by the standards of sensational news from North Korea, the details that emerged Tuesday were astounding.

Malaysian police confirmed that Kim Jong Nam  who was thought to be 45 and living outside North Korea for more than a decade  was killed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport early Monday while waiting for a flight to Macau, a center of gambling and nightlife that was among his haunts.

A woman came from behind and covered his face with a cloth laced with a liquid, Police Chief Fadzil Ahmat told Bernama, the Malaysian state news agency.

(Jason Aldag/The Washington Post)

The man was seen struggling for help and sought assistance from airport staff, he said. He was sent to a hospital in an ambulance but died on the way, Fadzil said.

I have conveyed the matter to the North Korean Embassy, he said, adding that an autopsy was planned to determine the cause of death.

His statement came after South Korean news outlets reported an even more outlandish version of events: that Kim was pricked with poisoned needles by two female agents who then escaped by taxi.

Police have since announced the arrest of a female suspect carrying Vietnamese travel documents, according to news agencies.

[Defying skeptics, Kim Jong Un marks five years at the helm of North Korea]

North Korea, with its secretive and idiosyncratic leadership, is often the subject of dramatic tales that turn out to be exaggerated or flat-out wrong.

But the Malaysian police chiefs confirmation suggests that at least part of this story is true. What is likely to take much longer to determine is whether the plot was orchestrated directly by Kim Jong Un, who recently celebrated five years at the helm of North Korea and is now locked in a showdown with the international community over his nuclear ambitions.

1 of 22 Full Screen Autoplay Close EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY" data-title="March 29, 2013 " data-max-width="4096" data-image="https://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2013/04/10/National-Security/Images/03644971.jpg?env=A" data-ratio="1.414"> Skip Ad  Aug. 19, 1981: Kim Jong Il with son Kim Jong Nam, front right, and other family members. The older son was once expected to succeed his father, but Kim Jong Un, his younger half-brother, ascended instead. View Photos His recent behavior and threats seem to have put the hermit states young ruler into a corner. Caption His recent behavior and threats seem to have put the hermit states young ruler into a corner. Feb. 16, 2012 A few months after his father's death, new North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reviewed a parade at Kumsusan Memorial Palace in Pyongyang commemorating what would have been Kim Jong Il's 70th birthday. David Guttenfelder/Associated Press Wait 1 second to continue.

Regardless, it underscores the transience of power in North Korea.

Just three years ago, Kim Jong Un had his uncle  and Kim Jong Nams mentor  executed on suspicion of building an alternate power base. Meanwhile, a slew of high-profile defections have raised questions about the stability of the regime.

Kim Jong Nam was involved in some funny business, said Michael Madden, editor of North Korea Leadership Watch, a specialist website devoted to the ruling Kim family. He was rumored to have worked in computing in North Korea  now notorious for cyberattacks  and money laundering throughout Southeast Asia.

Analysts had long considered Kim Jong Nam, as the eldest son of second-generation leader Kim Jong Il, to be the natural heir to the family dynasty.

But this assumption was thrown into doubt in 2001 when Kim Jong Nam was caught at Narita International Airport in Tokyo, trying to enter Japan with his wife and son on fake Dominican Republic passports. Kim Jong Nams bore the name Pang Xiong  fat bear in Mandarin Chinese. He told the authorities that they wanted to go to Tokyo Disneyland.

It was later revealed that he had never been in the running to be leader. Kim Jong Uns aunt told The Washington Post last year that the current leader was chosen as successor in the early 1990s, when he was only 8 years old.

In 2010, with Kim Jong Ils health steadily worsening, Kim Jong Un was officially declared heir apparent.

Both before and after the announcement, the usually reclusive Kim Jong Nam said in interviews with Japanese media that he opposed hereditary succession, something that not even Mao Zedong had done in China. But I presume there were internal reasons. We should abide by such reasons if there are any, he told TV Asahi.

[The secret life of Kim Jong Uns aunt, who has lived in the U.S. since 1998]

Kim Jong Nam was born in 1971, the son of leader Kim Jong Il and his consort, an actress named Song Hye Rim. But he grew up largely in secret, the result of founding president Kim Il Sungs disapproval of his sons relationship with Song.

He left North Korea to live with his grandmother in Moscow in 1979, according to North Korea Leadership Watch. He spent his childhood at international schools in Russia and Switzerland before returning to North Korea in 1988, the site says.

But the embarrassing incident in Japan was a tipping point, and Kim appears to have never lived in North Korea again. He reportedly lived for a period in Macau, a Chinese region. But in recent years he seems to have had homes  and families  in Beijing and Singapore as well.

He was occasionally sighted in sushi restaurants in Singapore and swanky hotel bars in Beijing but otherwise kept a low profile.

Kim did, however, return to North Korea at least one time after his younger half brother assumed the leadership  for their fathers funeral at the end of 2011.

[Ex-diplomat: Ive known that there was no future for North Korea for a long time]

Madden of North Korea Leadership Watch said Kim Jong Nam could have been involved in financing for the regime and could have run into problems as a result. But at the same time, Madden noted that Kim had publicly said he would do anything to help the new leader.

Their relationship probably took a turn for the worse in 2013, when the young North Korean leader ordered the execution of their uncle, Jang Song Thaek. Jang had been close to Kim Jong Nam and had reportedly backed him as successor.

Since then, analysts had suspected that China was keeping Kim Jong Nam in reserve as a potential replacement for Kim Jong Un, who has had strained relations with the Chinese leadership  and as a way to keep North Korea stable but make it friendlier to Beijing.

Ken Gause, a North Korea leadership expert at CNA, a research company in Arlington, Va., said there were at least three possible reasons Kim Jong Un would want to get rid of his half brother.

It could be that Kim Jong Un, who is only 33, is in the end stages of consolidating his leadership. And when the consolidation phase comes to an end in totalitarian regimes, patronage systems can be targets for purges, Gause said.

It could be a signal to China that Beijing doesnt call the shots in North Korea. Or it could be a sign of an internal power struggle in Pyongyang.

I think all of these are very possible, Gause said.

Read more:

North Korea fires ballistic missile, first since Trump elected in U.S.

Ex-diplomat: Ive known that there was no future for North Korea for a long time

Two more North Koreans said to defect, but dont hold your breath for regimes collapse

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
The State Duma building, the Russian parliament's lower chamber, in Moscow. Russian lawmakers mounted a fierce defense of President Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP)

Leading Russian lawmakers rushed to defend President Trumps former national security adviser Tuesday after he resigned amid furor over his misleading statements to senior White House officials, including Vice President Pence, about his contacts with Russia.

The heads of the foreign-affairs committees in Russias upper and lower houses of parliament chalked up Michael Flynns resignation to a dark campaign of Russophobia in Washington, and said it would undermine relations between the White House and the Kremlin.

Flynn was accused of holding discussions on the U.S. sanctions regime against Russia with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak before Trump was sworn in as president last month.

Flynn stepped down amid mounting pressure on the Trump administration to account for its false statements about his conduct.

The Washington Post reported Monday that the Justice Department had warned the White House last month that Flynn had so mischaracterized his communications with the Russian diplomat that he might be vulnerable to blackmail by Moscow.

[Justice Department warned White House that Flynn could be vulnerable to Russian blackmail, officials say]

Flynn was pushed out not because of his mistake, but because of the unfolding campaign of aggression. Russian for the Exit! shout the newspapers. Paranoia and a witch hunt, tweeted Russian senator Alexei Pushkov, referring to a New York Daily News headline.

In a separate tweet, he wrote, The mission isnt Flynn, its relations with Russia.

It is kind of a negative signal for normalizing the Russian-American dialogue, the head of the lower houses foreign-affairs committee, Leonid Slutsky, said in remarks released by his press office.

[10 unanswered questions after Michael Flynns resignation]

Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov confirmed that Flynn had some conversations and communications with Kislyak but said reports that he had discussed the U.S. sanctions regime before Trumps inauguration were incorrect.

Peskov said Flynns resignation was an internal matter for the United States and declined to comment further on it during a call with journalists Tuesday.

1 of 20 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  What 19 foreign leaders have said about Donald Trump View Photos Reactions to the new U.S. president have been mixed among top politicians around the world. Caption Reactions to the new U.S. president have been mixed among top politicians around the world. Russian President Vladimir Putin In 2015 during an annual news conference with reporters, Putin said, He is a bright and talented person without any doubt. He added that Trump is an outstanding and talented personality. Pavel Golovkin/AP Wait 1 second to continue.

Read more:

Beyond Flynn, other ties bind the White House to the Kremlin

Harward emerges as front-runner to replace Flynn following talks

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
Youre not imagining things. Mom brain exists, according to researchers. (Photo: Getty Images)

Mom brain is a common trope, used to describe that out-of-it feeling thats oh so familiar to pregnant women and new moms: searching for a pacifier only to realize that youre holding it, forgetting the name of your kids teacher, or simply feeling out of sorts.

But a study confirms that a mental haze doesnt mean youre losing your mind. You really do have mom brain.

According to research published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, pregnancy actually changes a womans brain, and the effect lasts for up to two years following the birth of a child. During pregnancy, women experience a decline in gray matter  tissue in the brain and spinal cord thats mostly made up of nerve cell bodies. Its the brains way of filtering out extra noise in order to focus on the needs of your infant. These brain changes also serve to help women forget the pain of labor and childbirth.

We certainly dont want to put a message out there along the lines of pregnancy makes you lose your brain, the studys lead author, Elseline Hoekzema, of Leiden University in the Netherlands, told Science magazine. Gray matter volume loss can also represent a beneficial process of maturation or specialization.

All of these brain changes are necessary to help establish maternal instincts. The study showed that the more gray matter lost during pregnancy, the more solid the bond between mom and baby. Interestingly, reports Science, when the women returned for MRI scans two years after giving birth, 11 of them (all of whom had not gotten pregnant since) still showed the loss of gray matter with the exception of the hippocampus, which had partially returned to normal. In fact, the loss of gray matter was so prominent that the study authors could tell who had been pregnant simply by looking at their brain scans. Fascinating!

While the studys implications about motherhood are unclear, it does suggest that what happens in the brain of a pregnant woman shapes her identity as a parent. The first two years of a babys life are crucial in the development of a secure attachment with its mother; and research shows a connection between attachment parenting and lower stress levels, higher emotional intelligence, and empathy among children.

Story continues

Of course, that doesnt mean that mothers have to co-sleep, baby-wear, or shun sleep training in order to bond with their babies. Loving and attentive parenting thats consistent makes both mom and baby happy.

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Lets keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Beauty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Captain America himself, Chris Evans, is taking on former KKK leader David Duke. On Sunday, Duke  a Holocaust denier and former Republican Louisiana state representative  posted this:

Why does Chris Evans, who plays the Jewish inspired super hero, Captain America, hate the women of his people so much? #WhiteGenocide pic.twitter.com/nGjlf42wkG  David Duke (@DrDavidDuke) February 12, 2017

Yesterday, Evans responded: I dont hate them. Thats YOUR method. I love. Try it. Its stronger than hate. It unites us.

I don't hate them. That's YOUR method. I love. Try it. It's stronger than hate. It unites us. I promise it's in you under the anger and fear https://t.co/RGnH4rrblq  Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) February 13, 2017

Duke has also been very vocal about his support for Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Thank God after 8 horrible years of black radical Marxists we finally have an AG who will defend decent American people  rather than thugs. https://t.co/fsxQHghD55  David Duke (@DrDavidDuke) February 9, 2017

Last week, Evans tweeted that if Duke is supporting Sessions, then you know the choice is wrong.

If David Duke.DAVID!DUKE! thinks you're right, then you are unequivocally wrong. The confirmation of @jeffsessions is beyond words. https://t.co/CuLUznwO6S  Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) February 9, 2017

Duke responded by reaffirming his support for Sessions, and calling Evans a dumb actor.

Story continues

Typical dumb actor  if everything I say is wrong, then when I say I oppose these Zionists wars, you must be for them, Captain America!? https://t.co/fsxQHgzdWD  David Duke (@DrDavidDuke) February 9, 2017

Captain America responded by explaining that Duke basically bashes every nonwhite American male, and said he stands by his original tweet that a Duke endorsement is a warning sign.

@DrDavidDuke well if these nuggets of bigotry are some of your OTHER thoughts, then I stand by my original tweet https://t.co/YSrOCDuyBw  Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) February 9, 2017

Did you see that Nick Cannon would send his baby mama Mariah Carey a valentine?:

More From Yahoo Celebrity:
Husband Allegedly Sent Kill My Wife Texts to His Ex-Boss Instead of His Hitman

A 42-year-old Washington father allegedly tried to send a text message to a hitman requesting the murders of his wife and daughter  but the text instead went to his former boss, who called police.

PEOPLE confirms that Jeff Lytle was arrested last week on two counts of criminal solicitation for first-degree murder.

He remains in police custody on $1 million bail and court records indicate he has yet to enter a plea to the charges he faces.

An arrest affidavit obtained by PEOPLE alleges that after receiving the text on Feb. 7, Lytles former boss was disturbed and notified the Snowhomish County Sheriffs Office.

 Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.

The message, addressed to Shayne, indicated Lytle would allegedly be willing to evenly split the $1.5 million insurance payout he anticipated receiving in the wake of the deaths of his wife and 4-year-old daughter, according to the affidavit.

You remember you said that you would help me kill my wife  Im going to take you up on that offer, Lytle is accused of texting, the affidavit states.

The message added that his wifes insurance policy is worth 1 million and if you want a bonus you can kill . Her life insurance is 500K.

The message seemingly urged Shayne to make the hit look like a robbery gone wrong or make it a accident. The text also provides his wifes work schedule and work location as well as his own, according to the affidavit.

Ill split everything with the insurance 50/50, the text allegedly concluded.

Police allege that after initially denying the message came from his phone, Lytle, a resident of Monroe, Washington, admitted to authoring the text. He said the message was his way of venting his anger at his wife, the affidavit alleges.

 Pick up PEOPLEs special edition True Crime Stories: Cases That Shocked America, on sale now, for the latest on Casey Anthony, JonBenet Ramsey and more.

Lytle told police he knows no one named Shayne, and that the text in question was written months ago following an argument he had had with his wife. He allegedly told investigators he usually deletes these cathartic messages, and theorized his daughter may have sent the message after discovering it in his Drafts folder, reads the affidavit.

According to the criminal complaint, Lytles wife told police the couple had been married for seven years and that she was aware of no marital distress. She said the couple have been struggling financially as Lytle has been out of work.




Jennifer Aniston Shows Off Her Toned Bikini Body on Birthday Trip to Mexico with Justin Theroux

Jennifer Aniston is looking great at 48.

The Office Christmas Party star celebrated her birthday on Saturday in Los Cabos, Mexico, with some friends and husband Justin Theroux. Both Theroux and Aniston looked to be in impeccable shape while relaxing by the pool, with the actress showing off her toned abs in a blue bikini.

The couple were joined on the trip by famous friends Courteney Cox and Johnny McDaid, a source tells PEOPLE, and the group arrived in Mexico via a private jet from Los Angeles.

With the nonstop L.A. rain storms, Jen was very happy to celebrate her birthday in the sun, the source says. She is renting an oceanfront villa. She loves Cabo and hasnt been in a while. She was excited about the getaway.

Over the weekend, Theroux, 45, used Instagram to wish his wife a happy birthday, sharing a rare selfie of the couple. The picture shows Theroux and Aniston close together while the actress blows a kiss to the camera, showing off her gold wedding band from their private ceremony in August 2015.

HBDJ XO A photo posted by @justintheroux on Feb 11, 2017 at 6:05pm PST

And Theroux kept the caption as simple as the couple are, writing HBDJ with a heart emoji and an XO at the end.

Theroux and Aniston have kept a low profile in recent months, resurfacing at Orlando Blooms birthday party in January, where Theroux participated in the shirtless fun with friends.

The couple also joined pals Emily Blunt and John Krasinski on a double date in New York when Blunt and Theroux were promoting their movie The Girl on the Train back in September.
Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, are planning to visit Paris nearly 20 years after the death of Princess Diana. It will be the first time Prince William has visited the city since his mothers tragic accident.

A statement from Kensington Palace read, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will undertake an official two-day visit to Paris the 17th and 18th March. Their Royal Highness visit is at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Full details of the visit will be announced in due course.

The two-day visit to the City of Light includes a reception for young French leaders from a variety of fields and a formal black tie dinner at the residence of Her Majestys Ambassador. They will also make an appearance at the Wales v France Six Nations test at the Stade de France.

Princess Diana, 36 at the time of her death, died after suffering massive internal injuries in a car accident in 1997. Her companion, Dodi Fayed, and their chauffeur, Henri Paul, also died as a result of the crash.

Prince William was only 15 years old when he lost his mother and has declined to speak publicly about her death until recently. At a visit to Keech Hospice Care in Luton, England, in 2016, the prince said, Time makes it easierI still miss my mother every day, and its 20 years after she died.

Interested in a similar video? Prince William and Prince Harry honor their mother with a statue at Kensington Palace:

More from Yahoo Celebrity:
Twitter Is Confused After Russia Weighs in on Michael Flynn Controversy with Bizarre Hamburger Tweet

The Russian Embassy to the U.S. sent out a mysterious tweet on Monday that appeared to link the controversy surrounding President Trumps embattled ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn to  a table full of hamburgers.

Flynn resigned on Monday evening amid accusations that he had discussed lifting U.S. sanctions against Russia with the Russian ambassador last December. Earlier that same day, the embassy took to its official Twitter account to claim that there have been no talks of the kind  and inexplicably included an image of a table lined with burgers, fries, ketchup bottles and paper towels.

Twitter was understandably baffled and set to work trying to decode the cryptic hamburger tweet.

@RusEmbUSA Don't get me wrong: I love hamburgers and all. But you guys are gonna have to work on your persuasion skills.  Savannah (@leftytgirl) February 13, 2017

@leftytgirl @RusEmbUSA yeah.., no pizza? Pizza really drives home a point, better than burgers.  Woonerz (@woonerz) February 13, 2017

@RusEmbUSA First, you have no credibility. Second, what does a table full of hamburgrs have to do with anything?  DraeDaye (@DraeDaye) February 13, 2017

@RusEmbUSA what's with the big roll of paper towels at each plate?

Messy  Zophie Faison (@FaisonZophie) February 14, 2017

@RusEmbUSA Definitely bringing my own food and drink to a meeting with you. #Laced  WalkNTalk (@paguyforlife) February 13, 2017

While Twitter users may differ on their hamburger-fueled conspiracy theory of choice, most seem united in their skepticism over Russias claim.

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One user even dusted off the ubiquitous Sure, Jan meme to drive that point home.




Screengrab/sacramentodispatch.com

Hollywoods movie marketing operation has discovered a new outlet  fake news.

A elaborate, yet fictitious, news story claiming that President Donald Trump met with Vladimir Putin at a remote wellness center in the Swiss Alps prior to the November 2016 U.S. presidential election is actually a promo for the upcoming film, A Cure for Wellness, from New Regency and Fox.

A Cure for Wellness, a psychological horror thriller directed by Gore Verbinksi, is set in a mysterious center in the Alps and follows a young executive who travels there in search of his companys CEO.

The article about Trump and Putin meeting at that same fictitious facility, the Volmer Institute, appeared on the The Sacramento Dispatch website, which the fact-checking website Snopes has called part of a new network of fake news sites that masquerade as the online outlets of big-city newspapers. Ads for A Cure for Wellness also appear on the site, as well as on Houston Leader, the NY Morning Post and The Salt Lake City Guardian, along with a story about how the film is leaving viewers in a catatonic state.

When some on Twitter began criticizing the marketing effort for spreading fake news, Fox and Regency responded in a statement, A Cure for Wellness is a movie about a fake cure that makes people sicker. As part of this campaign, a fake wellness site healthandwellness.co was created and we partnered with a fake news creator to publish fake news. As our movies antagonist says, There is a sickness inside us. And only when we know what ails us, can we hope to find the cure.

A Cure for Wellness hits theaters Friday.

The story, appearing on the online sites, runs under a headline that reads: BOMBSHELL: Trump and Putin Spotted at Swiss Resort Prior to Election.

The article quotes a purported employee of the Volmer Institute named Nathan Sjogren. I couldnt, in good conscience, keep this information to myself. This is bigger than me, this is bigger than my job, and while I know I am very likely putting myself as well as my loved ones in danger of coming forward, I dont know that I would have been able to live with myself had I kept quiet, the story quotes Sjogren as saying.

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As of Monday afternoon, the website for The Sacramento Dispatch and the sites for several of the fake outlets listed above began to redirect to the movies official site, acureforwellness.com. Fox didnt immediately respond to the update.

Related: A Cure for Wellness: Film Review

4 p.m.: Updated to include the websites redirecting back to the movies site.




It was a postcard of a painting that inspired director Amma Asantes 2013 movie Belle, the little-known true story of a mixed race woman raised among aristocracy. For her new film, A United Kingdom, Asante delves in a true-life tale of epic romance and political intrigue in the 1940s that is all the more shocking because its so unknown. The film details the marriage of Ruth Williams (played by Rosamund Pike), a white woman from London, and Seretse Khama (portrayed by David Oyelowo, who also produces), the Prince of Bechuanaland (now known as Botswana). Their relationship faced not only disapproval from their families, but from both their governments.

How did A United Kingdom come to you?

It was David Oyelowo. David and I go back at least two decades  he was in the first thing I ever wrote for television, (Brothers and Sisters.) He rang me up one evening, he was calling from Africa on Queen of Katwe. He said, Ive got this project about Ruth and Seretse Khama, have you ever heard of them? To my great shame, I had not. He sent me an amazing photo essay of the couple and the script. And most importantly was the incredible book Colour Bar by Susan Williams, which was a remarkable resource for me.

When you learned the story were you shocked to not have known about it before?

I was. Im also the child of African parents who were raised in a colony that they saw become independent. I thought I was raised knowing many of the stories of independence when it came to Africa. And this story prominently featured life in Britain as well. And yet I didnt know any of it.

Its almost too fantastical to be believed.

If it had come to me as a piece of fiction, I wouldnt have gone near it because its too incredible in many ways. But it was real. And so fascinating. I kept wondering, When are they going to give up and accept how things are? And they never did, and thats what makes them heroes. They took the road less traveled and not only stood up to the empire, three governments, two continents, but triumphed.

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And you shot on two continents. Is it safe to say this film is the biggest youve ever worked on?

By far. Rick McCallum is one of our producers, he did Star Wars and lots of other big movies. He said, You can have two cranes every day! That is such a joy for a filmmaker. Im like, You mean I dont have to pick the day? Like, not just four days out of a shoot when I can have one crane and its not even a crane, it only goes up like 10 feet? When people talk about filmmakers they talk about boys and their toys. I can tell you, girls like their toys, too!

What were some of the challenges of making the film?

A practical difficulty was heat. Just physically getting through the day and being able to think in such heat. And there was a drought, so we were having to wash our hair with bottled water. Another issue was the time period. With Belle, we were so far away in history, you knew you were in a different period. But the 1940s are not that far away. And were in Africa. So how do you create a period that feels historical but still recent?

Because it is recent history, was there added pressure knowing Ruth and Seretses family are still alive and will see this movie?

Its especially tough when their son is the now-president of the country. Most of their family in Botswana came to visit us, children and grandchildren. Theres a certain amount of pressure but I made a pledge to myself to do my best to honor the truth of the story, the people of the country, and the country itself. Its tough because you dont want the family to have any control over the film, and they didnt. But yes, the President flew himself to the set  in his own chopper  and it was intimidating. He sat down next to us and it was a scene where Rosamund came outside dressed as Ruth. He turned to David and I and said, Its not every day you see your mother come back to life.

What do you find to be the biggest challenge facing filmmakers today?

I would say its still funding and financing, which probably sounds ridiculous having just made three movies in four years. But it was 10 years between my first and second movies, so I was trying to make up for lost time. When you look at the figures for women directors, you realize men are able to make so many more films over that period of time because of opportunity. And theyre honing their skills all that time. So I had hoped getting funding would get easier, but it actually gets harder. People think, Someone else will fund that film, shes made movies now. When youre a first-time director, theres something exciting about that. When youre already discovered, its actually tougher sometimes. It all comes down to tenacity. There were so many times between my first two films that I thought about doing something else. I wanted to open a bakery, but I cant bake. I thought about opening a dry cleaners, but I dont like the smell. So I stuck with filmmaking.

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By Timothy Mclaughlin

CHICAGO (Reuters) - An 11-year-old girl shot in the head over the weekend died on Tuesday and a toddler was killed by gunfire during a triple shooting as Chicago continued its struggle to curb gun violence.

Takiya Holmes, 11, who was shot on Saturday evening, died Tuesday morning, Andrew Holmes, her cousin, said in a telephone interview. She was one of two young girls shot in the head in separate incidents during the weekend.

"This is a tough one," Holmes, a community activist, said. "It is a big, big loss mainly for her mother, great-grandmother and grandmother."

Takiya Holmes, whose grandmother also confirmed the death, was shot while sitting in the back of a parked car on the city's South Side, officer Jose Estrada of the Chicago Police Department's Office of News Affairs said.

Police are investigating but no suspects are in custody, Estrada said.

Later on Tuesday afternoon, three people traveling in a car were shot, including a two-year old, Chicago Police Department Superintendent Eddie Johnson told a news conference.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a tweet shortly after Johnson's news conference that the child had died.

A male in the car who also died is believed to have been the target of the shooting. The child's aunt, who was also shot and who is pregnant, is in fair condition, Guglielmi said.

Last year in Chicago, a city of 2.7 million, 762 people were murdered. The violence has drawn the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticized the city's inability to quell crime.

Murders in Chicago so far this year total 63, down from 75 for the same period in 2016, but shootings have increased from 300 to 313, Guglielmi said Tuesday prior to the triple shooting.

Also on Saturday evening Kanari Gentry Bowers, 12, was hit in the head by gunfire while playing with her friends at Henderson Elementary School, according to police.

Kanari remains hospitalized as police search for a suspect.

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"This is an example of what we are dealing with, a block by block war that is going unchecked, uninterrupted, with 10-year-olds, 11-year-olds, 12-year-olds being gunned down in the process," Alderman Raymond Lopez told a news conference.

Both girls appear to have been struck by stray bullets, local media reported.

(Reporting by Timothy Mclaughlin in Chicago; Editing by James Dalgleish)
Riyadh (AFP) - At least 12 Saudi soldiers have died on the southern border since early February, according to an unusual series of official reports released as the country fights Yemeni rebels.

In separate dispatches since February 5, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) has carried photographs of funerals for the "martyrs" it said died "defending the southern borders."

The most recent report, published late on Monday, named Jaber Haroubi as the latest soldier to be killed.

SPA also quoted the father of another military casualty, Mohammed al-Manjahi, as saying he was proud of his son.

A Saudi-led coalition began air strikes over Yemen in March 2015 to support the internationally recognised government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi in the fight against Iran-backed Huthi rebels.

The Huthis, allied with former members of the security forces loyal to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, have carried out retaliatory rocket strikes and engaged in firefights along the border.

They have also launched ballistic missiles further into the kingdom.

An earlier AFP tally of reports by the Saudi interior ministry and civil defence department found that at least 115 civilians and soldiers had been killed on the southern border since coalition operations began.

That total has now reached at least 127.

A Western diplomat told AFP last week that more than 100 members of the Saudi armed forces had likely been killed since the coalition intervened nearly two years ago.

The coalition's spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment on the tally.

- Villages mourn -

Official media have previously reported on funerals for dead troops.

But this month's series of dispatches, including photographs of slain soldiers' families bearing coffins, is unusual.

SPA said the director of the Border Guards, Awad al-Balwi, last Wednesday paid tribute to two of his men killed in the Jazan region on the frontier.

"They were among the best," SPA said he told the dead men's families while conveying condolences in their villages.

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The Saudi interior ministry regularly gives details of casualties among its Border Guard troops but other military services normally do not.

SPA on Monday reported that separate funeral prayers were held for five other soldiers killed on duty in the south.

There were no details of how they died.

The rebels' Almasirah television website said on Monday that insurgents killed an unspecified number of Saudi soldiers during an advance "towards the mountains surrounding Jazan".

The latest losses came as Yemeni government forces claimed full control of the Red Sea coastal town of Mokha on Friday and prepared a push further north into rebel-held territory.

Medical and military sources in Yemen on Monday reported renewed clashes in Mokha as well as the coastal town of Midi, which is just over the border from Jazan.

They reported eight rebels and three pro-government troops dead in fighting on Monday evening.

Six loyalist troops died on Tuesday when a coalition air strike hit their convoy north of Mokha in "error", a military source said.

The war in Yemen has left thousands dead and millions struggling to feed themselves, a toll which UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in Riyadh on Sunday left him heartbroken.

Seven ceasefires brokered between government and rebel forces by the UN have failed, while UN-backed peace talks have repeatedly broken down.
LONDON, Feb 14 (Reuters) - The MTV Europe Music Awards will take place in London this year, more than 20 years since the ceremony was last held in the British capital, channel MTV said on Tuesday. The awards show is hosted in a different European city each year. Last year's edition took place in Rotterdam. "London is arguably the world's musical epicentre," David Lynn, chief executive of MTV's parent company Viacom International Media Networks, said in a statement. "The (awards ceremony) creates an incredible buzz wherever it lands it; that will be amplified tenfold in London." The awards show was last held in London in 1996. The 2017 edition will take place in November. (Reporting By Marie-Louise Gumuchian, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
As Republicans and Democrats alike press for an intensive investigation into ties between the Russian government and the nascent Trump administration, concern about the ability of the White House to manage a national security crisis has apparently spread into the highest ranks of the U.S. military.

On Tuesday morning, speaking a conference on special operations and low intensity conflict near Washington, a prominent four-star general suggested that the chaos in the White House, which saw the resignation of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn late Monday night, could bleed into the militarys readiness.

Related: With Flynn Out, Trump Faces Pressing Questions About National Security

General Raymond A. Thomas, who leads the Pentagons Special Operations Command, told his audience, Our government continues to be in unbelievable turmoil, The New York Times reported. I hope they sort it out soon because were a nation at war. He said that his command has remained focused on its mission. However, he also told the Times, As a commander, Im concerned our government be as stable as possible.

The announcement that Flynn had resigned came just hours after a top White House adviser said the retired Army general still enjoyed the full confidence of the president. It also followed the revelation, by The Washington Post, that the Department of Justice warned the White House weeks ago that Flynn appeared to have had illicit contact with Russian officials and might be susceptible to blackmail.

Despite the warning from DOJ, Flynn was allowed to continue receiving briefings on the nations most sensitive secrets. White House counselor Kellyanne Conway confirmed Flynns continued participation in intelligence matters in an interview on ABC Tuesday morning.

The revelation that Flynn was allowed to remain in the White House Situation Room has infuriated critics of the Trump administration, including Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee.

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Related: National Insecurity: Intel Officials Increasingly Worried About Trump

General Flynns resignation is a troubling indication of the dysfunction of the current national security apparatus, McCain said in a statement Tuesday. As our nation confronts the most complex and diverse array of global challenges since the end of World War II, it is imperative that the President select a new national security adviser who is empowered by clear lines of authority and responsibility and possesses the skills and experience necessary to organize the national security system across our government.

He added, General Flynns resignation also raises further questions about the Trump administrations intentions toward Vladimir Putins Russia, including statements by the President suggesting moral equivalence between the United States and Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine, annexation of Crimea, threats to our NATO allies, and attempted interference in American elections.

Other senior senators, including the Senates second-ranking Republican, John Cornyn of Texas, have called for an investigation into Flynn.

Speaking on a radio program, Senate Intelligence Committee member Roy Blunt said that he believes an investigation is necessary and the Flynn ought to be called to testify before Congress.

I think everybody needs that investigation to happen, he said. And the Senate Intelligence Committee, again that I serve on, has been given the principle responsibility to look into this, and I think that we should look into it exhaustively so that at the end of this process, nobody wonders whether there was a stone left unturned, and shouldnt reach conclusions before you have the information that you need to have to make those conclusions.

Related: Trumps Tough Stance on Iran: Nothing to Gain, a Lot to Lose

Democrats joined in, with top party leaders also calling for immediate investigations into any White House-Russia connections and the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee telling colleagues in a closed-door meeting that more revelations about Flynns connections to Russia are likely to come out in the next few days.

However, Republicans continue to command all the levers of real power in Washington, and those in place to mount a serious investigation of the Trump administration were notably reluctant to do so on Tuesday morning.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, of California, told CNN on Tuesday that he would not be investigating the White Houses connections to Russia, suggesting that the president could be protected by executive privilege.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr said Tuesday morning that he had not made up his mind about calling on Flynn to appear before his panel.

House Oversight and Investigations Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, of Utah, said Tuesday morning that he saw no need to investigate Flynn, saying I think that situation has taken care of itself.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
Location, Location, Location -- it may seem like a cliche phrase you'd see in a real estate advertisement. But like most cliches, it comes from some truth. When you're house hunting, location is one of the most significant choices you'll make. Location affects affordability, value and your quality of life. Here are a few important points that you should keep in mind when scouting out different neighborhoods.

[See: The Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2017.]

Lifestyle

Before you even begin house hunting, consider your current lifestyle and needs. What is your current way of life (or what do you aspire to) and will the neighborhood support it? You might fall in love with a home, but if the neighborhood doesn't fit your lifestyle, it could cause unhappiness or discontentment in the long term.

It's helpful to begin your search with at least a general sense of your values, needs and priorities. Are you looking for something urban, suburban or more off the beaten path? Do you value privacy and quiet over being in the center of all the action, or vice versa? Do you have children or are you planning to have them soon?

Take a look at your daily routine and identify the things that make you happy, the things you could live without and the things you couldn't. If long daily walks on the beach are a must, you're probably going to want to narrow your search to neighborhoods that are on or close to the water. If you absolutely need a yard with a pool, it might automatically exclude the busy downtown center where homes have small yards or are primarily condo or townhouse-style homes.

Aside from the price point, your lifestyle priorities will probably be the biggest determining factor in choosing a neighborhood, or at least narrowing it down to a few potential candidates.

Amenities and Conveniences

Take time to explore each neighborhood you're considering and identify the nearby amenities and conveniences. If the neighborhood is more suburban or rural, you'll have to determine how far you are willing to travel for everyday conveniences such as grocery or convenience stores, dry cleaners, gas stations, health services and more.

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Identify or research some of the other local amenities such as parks, community centers, recreational activities, museums and other attractions. Walkability has become a bragging right for many neighborhoods. More and more home buyers are leaning toward areas where they can walk to the local coffee shop, dining spots and shopping centers.

[See: The 25 Most Desirable Places to Live in the U.S. in 2017.]

Commute Times

Ask yourself how you plan to get around. Will you be driving, walking or taking public transportation to get to and from work and other activities? For most buyers, especially those who live in an urban area with major traffic concerns, the time it takes to commute to and from work and schools is a major consideration. How long are you willing to spend in the car or commuting each day?

Consider how your commute time will affect your quality of life. Will it detract from time spent with family and friends, or do the benefits of a neighborhood with a longer commute time outweigh the costs?

Schools

If you have, or are planning to have children, schools could be a major determining factor in your neighborhood of choice. Research schools in the area including elementary, middle and high schools. You may also want to familiarize yourself with the school districts and boundaries.

[See: The Best Apps for House Hunting.]

Market Conditions and Affordability

For most buyers the ultimate decision comes down to affordability and a compromise to get the most for your money. Buying a home is a very personal decision, but it's also a huge investment. For many people, a home is one of the most important investments they will make. It's important to research each neighborhood to better understand the market trends and property values.

Working with a real estate agent who is familiar with the area can be helpful in determining if property values are on the rise, have been declining or are holding steady. Are there lots of new developments in the area? Are new businesses moving in? Are there any other external factors that could contribute to changes in home value in the area, such as a new public transportation system, changing city regulations or other conditions?

Finding the ideal neighborhood can be a balancing act of give and take, but if you've done your homework and have a clear idea of your short and long-term goals, it will make the entire search process much more manageable.

Sally Forster Jones is recognized as one of the top real estate brokers in Southern California. Sally is an expert in the luxury real estate market in Los Angeles and internationally. Her extensive knowledge ranges from residential sales, luxury and architecturally significant properties to new developments and commercial transactions. Sally is currently President of Aaroe International Luxury Properties with John Aaroe Group in Beverly Hills, California, where her team, Sally Forster Jones Group, is comprised of a full-service team of agents and real estate and marketing professionals.
MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania (AP)  Five hundred U.S. troops are arriving at a Romanian Black Sea port with tanks and hardware to bolster defense in the East European NATO nation.

The U.S. embassy said the "Fighting Eagles," 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, will be stationed in the Mihail Kogalniceanu air base in eastern Romania on a rotating basis.

U.S. Ambassador Hans G. Klemm said Tuesday the deployment underscores that "the strong U.S.-Romania strategic partnership exists in both word and deed."

He said the presence "expands our capacity ....in maintaining peace and security in southeastern Europe and the Black Sea region."

NATO's ties with Moscow deteriorated after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and supported a pro-Russian insurgency. NATO since has increased military exercises in Eastern Europe to reassure allies.
ProFootball Talk on NBC Sports

The Packers ruled out linebacker De'Vondre Campbell (knee) after he missed practice all week. That leaves rookie Quay Walker to wear the communication helmet on defense against the Lions. The only game Campbell has missed the past six seasons was Week 18 last season when he was inactive to rest for the postseason, not for [more]
Foreign nationals are arrested on Feb. 7, 2017, during a targeted enforcement operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) (Charles Reed/U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via AP)

WASHINGTON  Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been conducting what Department of Homeland Security officials describe as a targeted enforcement surge and arresting undocumented immigrants for the past week. While the arrests have generated rumors and fears that the agency is stepping up raids after the inauguration of President Trump, DHS officials insist that the activity is routine and that it is largely aimed at undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions.

ICE is not performing indiscriminate raids or sweeps or checkpoints when we go out. We know the people we want to apprehend, DHS Press Secretary Gillian Christensen told Yahoo News on Monday evening. Were not just going to random doors or pulling random cars over.

Christensen further described reports of identification checkpoints and random home visits as needless fearmongering and completely inaccurate rumors. She said the agency is eager to take the level of fear in the community down, while still doing our job. Christensen also stressed that ICE is working off target lists and that 75 percent of the people who have been arrested have criminal convictions.

According to a fact sheet distributed by ICE on Monday, the enforcement surge included operations in the Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, New York and San Antonio areas of responsibility. Christensen said the operation ended on Monday evening and described these targeted enforcement surges as very common.

Most field offices are required to do a few a year, and its not uncommon for us to do a coordinated operation with several field offices at a time, she explained.

During his presidential campaign last year, Trump said enforcing immigration laws would be one of his priorities, but Christensen pointed to a number of similar operations during the administration of President Barack Obama. The ICE fact sheet listed four different national targeted fugitive operation enforcement efforts between 2011 and 2017, with between 1,660 and 3,100 people arrested each time.

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According to the fact sheet, over 680 people were arrested in the operation this month. However, a DHS official told Yahoo News that is likely to be only a part of the total. The official said ICE put together statistics on the number of arrests before the operation fully concluded on Monday evening, due to immense public interest.

The ultimate total will probably be higher, the official said.

Christensen provided a more detailed breakdown of the people arrested by ICE during the surge. She suggested the operation involved substantial preparation and was not launched quickly.

Seventy-five percent of the people arrested were convicted criminals. Those are target lists that each field office takes the time to build. They take the time to do surveillance to ensure that they have a good shot of apprehending the folks on the target list, said Christensen.

Christensen said two other groups that are major enforcement priorities for ICE made up most of the remainder of the arrests.

The other 25 percent, thats made up of illegal re-entrants. Theyve been deported once, and they illegally re-entered the country. That group also contains immigration fugitives. Those are people who have been given an order of removal by an immigration judge and, instead of complying with that order for removal, they have absconded, Christensen said.

Yahoo News asked whether any undocumented immigrants who did not fall under those three categories may have been arrested during the enforcement surge. She conceded that some may have been.

It would be a very small number, Christensen said.

Although Christensen said she did not yet have complete information about the operation, she stressed that the vast majority of the arrests were undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions.

While DHS is characterizing the enforcement surge as a routine operation, there are some differences now that Trump has taken office. The DHS official said one of the executive orders on immigration that was signed by Trump gives individual immigration officers discretion to arrest people who are identified during raids that might not have been on the target list.

Its on a case-by-case basis. If our officers went to a house, they found their target, and there was someone there who, based on the discretion of the officers in the field, they should be arrested as part of the operation, then they have the discretion to do that, the official said.

Christensen also noted that Trump had given DHS and ICE his full support.

This is something we can do as a matter of routine, but it still falls under what the president has encouraged DHS to do, she said.
Theo James wants to help share the stories of Syrian refugees who have been displaced from their homes.

The British actor, known for his work on The Divergent Series and the Underworld movies and currently starring in the London play Sex With Strangers, says he is driven by a personal connection to their plight: his Greek grandfather Nicholas Taptiklis fled Athens during World War II, eventually making it to Damascus, Syria. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, Taptiklis later worked for the organization that was a precursor to the UNHCR to fight the spread of typhoid and tuberculosis in refugee camps.

As a High Profile Supporter with the UNHCR, James traveled to Athens in 2016 to visit refugee camps holding Syrians who had fled their country in an effort to learn more about the crisis. Since the start of the civil war in Syria, 11 million people have been displaced throughout the world. Tens of thousands of refugees have run to Greece, and now live in campsrun both officially and unofficiallyscattered throughout the country.

James says reading his grandfathers diary, which detailed his escape, shed light on the situation unfolding in Syria.

It made me think of how quickly we are able to forget recent history, James says in reference to World War II. Because it is so recent, but now, it seems so far away. It rammed home the fact that the situation were in at the moment is the biggest humanitarian crisis since then.

What James gleaned from the visit to the camps was how refugees who had left Syria were generally regular people, a contrast to how the crisis is often portrayed in the news. During his visit, he met families who had led full lives back in Syriaone man and his wife, who were in a camp with their three children, had previously worked as attorneys.

The way its presented is single males ravenously looking for job opportunities, or, in the worst case scenarios, fear-mongering about terrorism or enforcing culture, James says. But its families trying to save themselves and their kids. And they have the same ambitions they had when they left Syria.

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He was also struck by the conditions of refugee camps, and the long waiting periods refugee families face before they are resettled into new countries. Some families wait for years before even getting on the lengthy waiting lists to be resettled, James said, leaving enormous gaps in their lives. According to James, negative attitudes and political rhetoric toward refugees and immigrants in Europe and the U.S. dont help the situation.

I think the mistake is to view these people as opportunists or trying to grift a system or trying to infiltrate with plans for aggression against Europe or America, he says. These people are leaving because they have to, and they dont want to leave. Theyre escaping death.

Correction: The original version of this story misidentified the agency where Nicholas Taptiklis worked. He worked for a precursor to the United Nations Refugee Agency, not the agency itself.
By Steve Holland and Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump knew for weeks that national security adviser Michael Flynn had misled the White House about his contacts with Russia but did not immediately force him out, an administration spokesman said on Tuesday. Trump was informed in late January that Flynn had not told Vice President Mike Pence the whole truth about conversations he had before Trump took office with Russia's ambassador to the United States, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said. Pence learned of the "incomplete information" that he received from Flynn when news reports surfaced late last week, spokesman Mark Lotter said on Tuesday. Flynn quit on Monday after Trump asked for his resignation, Spicer said. The departure was another disruption for an administration already repeatedly distracted by miscues and internal dramas since the Republican businessman assumed the presidency on Jan. 20. U.S. lawmakers, including some leading Republicans, called for a deeper inquiry into not just Flynn's actions but broader White House ties to Russia. Trump has long said that he would like improved relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, said Trump only moved against Flynn because of news media attention, not concern about any wrongdoing. "The reason they lost faith or trust in General Flynn only last night when they knew for weeks that he had been lying was that it became public," Schiff told MSNBC. A timeline of events outlined by Spicer and a U.S. official showed that Trump had known for weeks about Flynn misleading the vice president. Trump, a former reality TV star whose catchphrase was "You're fired!," has often boasted of his eagerness to get rid of subordinates. But he was not quick to fire Flynn, a strong advocate of a better relations with Russia and a hard line against Islamist militants. The Justice Department warned the White House in late January that Flynn had misled Pence by denying to him that he had discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia with Ambassador Sergei Kislyak, a potentially illegal act, a U.S. official said. Flynn did talk about sanctions with the diplomat, whose calls were recorded by U.S. intelligence officials, the official said. But Pence went on television in mid-January and denied that Flynn had discussed sanctions. The Federal Bureau of Investigation interviewed Flynn in his early days as Trump's national security adviser regarding his conversations with the Russian ambassador, a White House official confirmed. Spicer stressed that the administration believed there was no legal problem with Flynn's conversations with Kislyak, but rather an issue over the president's trust in his adviser. The turning point, Spicer said, was a Washington Post story published on Thursday in which Flynn, via a spokesman, said for the first time he could not say with 100 percent certainty that he had not discussed sanctions with Kislyak. Spicer said the Justice Department sought to notify the White House counsel on Jan. 26 about the discrepancies in Flynn's accounts. "The White House counsel informed the president immediately. The president asked them to commit a review of whether there was a legal situation there," Spicer told reporters, saying it was a "trust issue." Flynn's conversations with the ambassador took place around the time that then-President Barack Obama imposed sanctions on Russia, charging that Moscow had used cyber attacks to try to influence the 2016 presidential election in Trump's favor. A U.S. official familiar with the transcripts of the calls with the ambassador said Flynn indicated that if Russia did not retaliate in kind for Obama's Dec. 29 order expelling 35 Russian suspected spies and sanctioning Russian spy agencies, that could smooth the way toward a broader discussion of improving U.S.-Russian relations once Trump took power. LEGAL FALLOUT? Flynn's discussions with the Russian diplomat could potentially have been in violation of a law known as the Logan Act, which bans private citizens from negotiating with foreign governments about disputes or controversies with the United States. There have been no modern prosecutions using the 1799 law. "The Logan Act is a red herring. The better question is whether he made any false statements to the FBI at any point, which would be a much bigger deal," said University of Texas law professor Stephen Vladeck, adding that the fallout would likely be "political" in nature. Flynn could also face legal trouble if it emerges that he violated other federal laws in his communications with the Russians, said Andrew Kent, a professor at Fordham University School of Law in New York. The Espionage Act, for example, criminalizes sharing information with foreign governments. Democrats, who do not have control of Congress, clamored for probes into Flynn, and asked how much Trump knew about his connections to Russia. U.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called for an investigation of potential criminal violations surrounding the resignation of Flynn. "What I am calling for is an independent investigation with executive authority to pursue potential criminal actions," Schumer told reporters, saying such a probe could not be led by newly installed U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions or White House lawyers. Two leading Republicans in the Senate, Bob Corker and John Cornyn, said the intelligence committee should investigate Flynn's contacts with Russia. But the highest-ranking Republican in Congress, House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, sidestepped questions about whether lawmakers should look into Flynn's Russia ties, adding that he would leave it to the Trump administration to explain the circumstances behind Flynn's departure. A broader investigation of the White House and its ties to Russia is not possible without the cooperation either of the Justice Department or the Republican-led Congress. Nothing is going to happen without some Republicans moving, Professor Kent said. Russia's aggression in Ukraine and Syria and Republican congressional opposition to removing sanctions on Russia make any White House attempt to embrace Putin problematic. Senator John McCain, a leading Republican voice on foreign relations, said Flynn's resignation raised questions about the administrations intentions toward Putins Russia. (Additional reporting by Susan Cornwell, David Morgan, John Walcott, Doina Chiacu, Lawrence Hurley and Susan Heavey; Writing by Alistair Bell and Amanda Becker; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Frances Kerry)
LAGOS (Reuters) - Dangote Group, controlled by Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote, plans to launch a rice mill with a farm scheme in Nigeria to tap growing demand for paddy in Africa's biggest economy, the company said on Monday. Rice demand in Nigeria hit 6.3 million metric tonnes (MT) in 2015, with 2.3 million metric tonnes produced at home, leaving the country reliant on imports, according to the agriculture ministry. Dangote Group subsidiary Dangote Rice Ltd will launch a pilot project starting with 500 hectares of farmland by Gonroyo Dam, Nigeria's second-largest dam, located in the northern state of Sokoto. The multi-million-dollar project will be expanded to cover a land area of 25,000 hectares across three sites in northern Nigeria by the end of the year, the firm said. "By year-end 2017, Dangote Rice plans to produce 225,000 MT of parboiled, milled white rice. This will allow us to satisfy 4 percent of the total market demand within one year," the company said in a statement. "Our model can then be successfully scaled to produce 1,000,000 MT of milled rice in order to satisfy 16 percent of the domestic market demand for rice over the next five years." Dangote Group has grown aggressively, venturing into cement, food manufacturing, oil, gas and real estate. Last month, the group launched a $100 million truck assembly plant to tap a projected rise in demand for transport as the government boosts agriculture and farmers need to move goods across the vast country. Dangote Rice said it would partner with smallholders and contract farmers to grow paddy rice for milling. It will offer inputs to farmers while the smallholders provide land and labour. At harvest, Dangote will recoup input costs and buy the paddy rice from farmers for processing at market price. The 25,000-hectare land will be cultivated by nearly 50,000 farmers, organised into groups. Dangote will engage with the groups to sign contracts with each farmer. (Reporting by Chijioke Ohuocha; Editing by Dale Hudson)
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP)  Turns out the fourth time was a charm for a 25-year-old Alaska man who won the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race Tuesday.

Matt Hall of Two Rivers crossed the finish line in downtown Fairbanks just after noon, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported (http://bit.ly/2lIfWu1). It's Hall's first win in four tries in the race that goes between Fairbanks and Whitehorse, Yukon, where the 1,000-mile Quest started Feb. 4.

He finished fourth in the Yukon Quest last year after scratching in 2015. He was third in 2014.

Hall said in a news conference at the finish line that as he went through Two Rivers near the end of the race, he could see three groups of people with flickering headlights that came out to cheer him on.

"That was pretty special," he said. "Then we rounded a corner, and there's these signs just as far as you could see on each side of the trail for every musher in the race."

Hall took command of the race when then-leader Brent Sass had problems with his team. Sass scratched in Central, which gave Hall a comfortable lead over his nearest competitor.

He said the toughest part of the race for him was a stretch on Birch Creek. Temperatures were about 50 below zero, although Hall doesn't carry a thermometer because he doesn't want to know about temperatures that low.

"I was really, really tired at that point," he said. "It was just mentally a challenge. The dogs were performing real good  they were like 'Yea, we got this boss,' but for me it was a bit of a challenge."

The world's most famous sled dog race, the Iditarod, will have its ceremonial start in Anchorage on March 4. Poor snow conditions in the Alaska Range have forced the official start to Fairbanks on March 6. The winner of the nearly thousand-mile race is expected in Nome about nine days later.

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This story has been corrected to say Matt Hall won the race on Tuesday, not Monday.
Algorithms are a crucial cog in the mechanics of our digital world, but also a nosy minder of our personal lives and a subtle, even insidious influence on our behaviour.

They have also come to symbolise the risks of a computerised world conditioned by commercial factors.

- A gift from a Persian scientist -

Long before they were associated with Google searches, Facebook pages and Amazon suggestions, algorithms were the brainchild of a Persian scientist.

The term is a combination of mediaeval Latin and the name of a ninth century mathematician and astronomer, Al-Khwarizmi, considered the father of algebra.

A bit like a kitchen recipe, an algorithm is a series of instructions that allows you to obtain a desired result, according to sociologist Dominique Cardon, who wrote "What Algorithms Dream Of".

Initially known mainly to mathematicians, the term spread as computers developed.

The brains of computer programmes are algorithms, and are thus a central cog in the internet machine.

- Where are algorithms found? -

"We are literally surrounded by algorithms," says Olivier Ertzscheid, a French professor of information technology and communication.

"Every time you consult Facebook, Google or Twitter you are exposed to choices" that algorithms calculate for us, and we are also sometimes influenced by them, he told AFP.

They reign in the finance sector, one example being high frequency trading programmes, which can execute trades in milliseconds driven by algorithms that analyze a range of market and economic factors. Their speed and rule-based nature means they can make markets volatile and have triggered so-called flash crashes in the foreign exchange and stock markets.

Police forces increasingly use algorithms to predict where and when crimes are most likely to be committed. Predpol, a software programme, claims to have contributed to double-digit drops in burglaries, robberies and vehicle theft in several US states and is also used in Kent, southern England.

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Satellite tracking and surveillance would not have reached the point they are at today without sophisticated algorithms.

- How Google began -

In the 1990s, PageRank (PR) was created in Stanford, California by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google's co-founders.

PR made it possible to class web pages by order of popularity. It became the heart of the Google research engine, which responds to key words within a fraction of a second. In addition to PR, Google uses "a dozen algorithms... to deal with spam, detect copyright infractions" and handle other crucial tasks, Ertzscheid explains.

- Facebook and the 'filter bubble' -

Facebook uses sophisticated algorithms to offer its more than 1.8 billion users worldwide personalised content, in particular on its News Feed service which compiles messages from "friends", and shares articles selected according to each users social media contacts.

One risk posed by such a system is that of "The Filter Bubble" according to Eli Pariser, who developed the concept in a book of the same name. Being surrounded by information filtered by algorithms based on one's friends, tastes and previous digital searches and choices, someone surfing the internet can be plunged unwittingly into a "cognitive bubble" that just reinforces their convictions and perspective on the world.

- Algorithms and the truth -

Another risk was exposed during the last US presidential election -- the prevalence of so-called fake news or hoaxes on Facebook and other social media. Facebook's algorithms were not designed to distinguish true from false -- a feat that is difficult even for artificial intelligence -- but the popularity of information.

Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg has sought to deflect criticism that it had been used to fuel the spread of misinformation that may have impacted the presidential race, but the company responded to growing criticism by saying new tools would be provided so users could call attention to controversial content.

- Thinking for us? -

Cardon says four main "families" of web algorithms exist. One calculates the popularity of web pages, another assesses their authority within the digital community, and a third evaluates the notoriety of social network users. The fourth attempts to predict the future.

This last one is "problematic" for the sociologist, because it tries to anticipate our future behaviour based on clues we have left on the internet in the past.

It shows up on Amazon for example as book recommendations based on past purchases.

"We build the calculators, but in return they build us" too, Cardon concluded.
When you browse online for a new pair of shoes, pick a movie to stream on Netflix or apply for a car loan, an algorithm likely has its word to say on the outcome.

The complex mathematical formulas are playing a growing role in all walks of life: from detecting skin cancers to suggesting new Facebook friends, deciding who gets a job, how police resources are deployed, who gets insurance at what cost, or who is on a "no fly" list.

Algorithms are being used -- experimentally -- to write news articles from raw data, while Donald Trump's presidential campaign was helped by behavioral marketers who used an algorithm to locate the highest concentrations of "persuadable voters."

But while such automated tools can inject a measure of objectivity into erstwhile subjective decisions, fears are rising over the lack of transparency algorithms can entail, with pressure growing to apply standards of ethics or "accountability."

Data scientist Cathy O'Neil cautions about "blindly trusting" formulas to determine a fair outcome.

"Algorithms are not inherently fair, because the person who builds the model defines success," she said.

- Amplifying disadvantages -

O'Neil argues that while some algorithms may be helpful, others can be nefarious. In her 2016 book, "Weapons of Math Destruction," she cites some troubling examples in the United States:

- Public schools in Washington DC in 2010 fired more than 200 teachers -- including several well-respected instructors -- based on scores in an algorithmic formula which evaluated performance.

- A man diagnosed with bipolar disorder was rejected for employment at seven major retailers after a third-party "personality" test deemed him a high risk based on its algorithmic classification.

- Many jurisdictions are using "predictive policing" to shift resources to likely "hot spots." O'Neill says that depending on how data is fed into the system, this could lead to discovery of more minor crimes and a "feedback loop" which stigmatizes poor communities.

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- Some courts rely on computer-ranked formulas to determine jail sentences and parole, which may discriminate against minorities by taking into account "risk" factors such as their neighborhoods and friend or family links to crime.

- In the world of finance, brokers "scrape" data from online and other sources in new ways to make decisions on credit or insurance. This too often amplifies prejudice against the disadvantaged, O'Neil argues.

Her findings were echoed in a White House report last year warning that algorithmic systems "are not infallible -- they rely on the imperfect inputs, logic, probability, and people who design them."

The report noted that data systems can ideally help weed out human bias but warned against algorithms "systematically disadvantaging certain groups."

- Digital crumbs -

Zeynep Tufekci, a University of North Carolina professor who studies technology and society, said automated decisions are often based on data collected about people, sometimes without their knowledge.

"These computational systems can infer all sorts of things about you from your digital crumbs," Tufekci said in a recent TED lecture.

"They can infer your sexual orientation, your personality traits, your political leanings. They have predictive power with high levels of accuracy."

Such insights may be useful in certain contexts -- such as helping medical professionals diagnose postpartum depression -- but unfair in others, she said.

Part of the problem, she said, stems from asking computers to answer questions that have no single right answer.

"They are subjective, open-ended and value-laden questions, asking who should the company hire, which update from which friend should you be shown, which convict is more likely to reoffend."

- The EU model? -

Frank Pasquale, a University of Maryland law professor and author of "The Black Box Society: The Secret Algorithms That Control Money and Information," shares the same concerns.

He suggests one way to remedy unfair effects may be to enforce existing laws on consumer protection or deceptive practices.

Pasquale points at the European Union's data protection law, set from next year to create a "right of explanation" when consumers are impacted by an algorithmic decision, as a model that could be expanded.

This would "either force transparency or it will stop algorithms from being used in certain contexts," he said.

Alethea Lange, a policy analyst at the Center for Democracy and Technology, said the EU plan "sounds good" but "is really burdensome" and risked proving unworkable in practice.

She believes education and discussion may be more important than enforcement in developing fairer algorithms.

Lange said her organization worked with Facebook, for example, to modify a much-criticized formula that allowed advertisers to use "ethnic affinity" in their targeting.

- Scapegoat -

Others meanwhile caution that algorithms should not be made a scapegoat for societal ills.

"People get angry and they are looking for something to blame," said Daniel Castro, vice president at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.

"We are concerned about bias, accountability and ethical decisions but those exist whether you are using algorithms or not."
On Monday, a group of animal rights organizations filed a lawsuit against the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) over the removal of thousands of animal welfare documents that were previously available online.

The suitfiled by PETA, Born Free USA, the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and other groupsaccuses the government agencies of violating the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by taking down a database of records that was regularly relied upon by animal rights groups and law enforcement.

The action from the groups comes after the USDA removed animal investigation reports and annual reviews filed under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and the Horse Protection Act (HPA) from the APHIS website earlier this month.

According to the USDA, the decision to remove the files was made in response to pending litigation and potential privacy issues. The agency said the information was still availablealbeit in a redacted formby filing a Freedom of Information Act request.

Those requests can take months or years to be fulfilled. In the lawsuit, it is noted that PETA recently received response to a FOIA request that was filed over four-and-a-half years ago. The response from the agency stated there were no records responsive to PETAs request.

The records, and immediate access to them as was previously possible via the APHIS website, are an invaluable resource to animal welfare groups, especially for tracking the activity of puppy millsfacilities that breed dogs for the express purpose of selling them and provide inhumane living conditions.

According to a statement from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), without the availability of public inspection records, The HSUS would have had great difficulty obtaining the information we needed to press the agency on these cases. The HSUS previously sued the USDA in 2005 to first make animal investigation reports public.

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Lyndsay Cole, the assistant director of public affairs for the APHIS, told International Business Times, We are unable to comment on pending litigation.

She noted, APHIS continues to work to balance the need for transparency with rules protecting individual privacy. These decisions regarding posting of materials on the APHIS website are not final, and adjustments made be made regarding the information that is appropriate for release or posting.

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PARIS (AP)  American-Egyptian author Mona Eltahawy is one of many activists and human rights advocates targeted in a sweeping cyberespionage campaign blamed on Egypt's government, The Associated Press has found.

A booby-trapped email sent to Eltahawy and examined by the AP shows that she was targeted by the same password-stealing technique used to try to compromise staff at more than half a dozen Egyptian human rights organizations. Digital clues such as matching email addresses employed to send the malicious messages and the use of the same credential-harvesting website proved the same actor was involved.

Eltahawy, a fierce critic of Egypt's government who has frequently complained about state surveillance, said she felt violated but not surprised.

"I'm used to this from the Egyptian regime," she said in a series of telephone conversations with the AP. "I'm not trying to belittle what they've done, but I'm used to this."

Officials in Cairo have yet to speak publicly about the barrage of malicious messages, also known as phishing emails, sent to civil society figures in recent months. The campaign, exposed by internet watchdog group Citizen Lab earlier this month, prompted Eltahawy to tweet that she was among its targets. Eltahawy's partner later forwarded copies of the emails to the AP.

The message itself was closely tailored to Eltahawy's concerns. An outspoken commentator on feminism, the Arab world and Egypt, Eltahawy was a constant media presence during the country's 2011 uprising. She also has a sizeable following on Twitter, where she regularly shares news about activists caught up in Egypt' grinding crackdown on dissent. Ever since Egypt's 2013 military takeover, local rights groups have had their assets frozen, their staff detained and their leaders banned from traveling abroad.

On Dec. 7, women's rights attorney Azza Soliman was arrested. In the following week, Eltahawy fielded social media messages about the lawyer's upcoming court date. So when she received an email labeled "an important document about Azza Soliman," she opened it right away.

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"I usually never go and click on documents that are sent to me by people I don't know," she said. "But because this was Azza and I was very upset about what had happened to her, I immediately went and clicked."

Eltahawy said she realized she had been fooled, especially after she received additional suspicious emails the next day and realized there was activity on her account she didn't recognize.

"Someone logged onto my computer from another neighbourhood in Cairo!" she wrote to her partner via WhatsApp at the time. "Those (expletive) bastards!"

Eltahawy and other activists blame the government for the break-in. An Egyptian Interior Ministry official insisted to AP  on condition of anonymity  that officials weren't involved. Circumstantial evidence such as bits of Arabic slang in the malicious sites' code isn't conclusive. The AP sent a message seeking comment to the email address used by Eltahawy's hacker earlier this month, but the message went unanswered. Hours later, the email account was deleted.

Eltahawy's experience demonstrates the power of phishing, which consists of deploying bogus emails to entice people to give up their passwords. It's the Swiss Army knife of electronic espionage  ubiquitous, cheap and, done well, it can break in almost anywhere. Eltahawy's hackers even appear to have bypassed an additional security measure known as two-factor authentication by sending out a second round of malicious messages.

Eltahawy paid them a grudging compliment.

"This is a testament to how good they are with these phishing things," Eltahawy said. "They know how to get you."

___

Online:

Raphael Satter is reachable at: http://raphaelsatter.com
Goldman Sachs (ticker: GS) gave Apple Inc. ( AAPL) shareholders an early Valentine's Day present on Monday, raising its price target to from $133 to $150 per share. Naturally, AAPL stock responded well to the news; shares rose about 1 percent in response to the praise, hitting 52-week highs in the process.

The $150 level represents a 13.5 percent increase from Friday's closing price of $132.12.

The question is: How realistic is Goldman's $150 price target?

[Read: The 10 Most Anticipated IPOs of 2017.]

Don't count Apple out. Apple is coming off a blowout quarter, one that beat nearly all analyst expectations and sent AAPL stock skyrocketing. Shares jumped 6 percent following the fiscal first-quarter results.

A big part of what made Apple's first quarter numbers so good were the shockingly good iPhone sales numbers, which analysts expected to be very muted following a string of disappointing results in the quarters preceding it.

Point being: just when you count AAPL out, the company shows it still has a trick or two up its sleeve. And if Goldman's right, Apple's greatest tricks are yet to come.

Goldman's thesis. The bottom line is that Goldman expects big things from the iPhone, the 2007 invention that quickly became Apple's best-selling product, transformed the business, and turned it into the most valuable company in the world.

Last quarter alone, AAPL sold over $54 billion worth of iPhones, setting a company record and accounting for nearly 70 percent of Apple's overall sales.

But Goldman expects the iPhone 8 to be a major improvement from the iPhone 7, seeing as this will be the 10-year anniversary of the first model.

Apple has been roundly criticized for not making meaningful changes from one iPhone model to the next, but this time, the tech community will be expecting something big.

"The iPhone7 didn't offer the upgrade that many consumers were looking for, but the next model is rumored to be packed with several new features. I am not sure about $150 as Goldman Sachs suggests, but extending to $143, Bloomberg's 12-month consensus target price might not quite as far fetched," says Chris Kim, senior vice president and chief investment officer at Tompkins Financial Advisors, based in White Plains, New York.

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Goldman specifically expects the iPhone 8 to come with a "3D sensing functionality" that would "enable a robust augmented reality feature set that we believe will be a key differentiator." Apple insiders have hinted before at AR and virtual reality would be major points of focus for AAPL going forward, and following the huge success of games like Pokemon Go in 2016, any iOS or phone manufacturer that makes AR easy to develop for and play with has the potential to be richly rewarded.

Not only that, but Goldman thinks the iPhone 8 will have an OLED display, allowing for the removal of the home button entirely. Some have suggested the iPhone 8 will be the first iPhone with the ability to charge wirelessly as well, would be a huge step forward.

"The phone is speculated to have some nice features that are more function than form, which tends to draw in more upgraders than normal," says Peter Karazeris, an analyst with Thrivent Financial in Minnesota.

Last and perhaps most importantly, Goldman expects the iPhone 8 to have three SKUs: the current 4.7" model, the current 5.5" model, and the yet-to-be-released 5.8" model.

The reason this additional 5.8" model would be so great for AAPL, as you might have guessed, is because it'd be more expensive than the other two, raising the average selling price for all iPhones sold and boosting the top line.

Currently the 4.7" model goes for $649 and the 5.5" model goes for $769, so seeing an average selling price at or near $800 a pop for the largest model seems quite reasonable.

But Goldman needs more than just chatter about the long-anticipated 10th iPhone anniversary to justify its $150 price target for AAPL stock.

The Wall Street bank does that by raising its projected iPhone sales for 2017 from 227.3 million phones to 230 million. For 2018, it increased its forecast from 231.5 million phones to 235.9 million.

[Read: 5 Reasons Donald Trump's Presidency Will Include a Recession.]

More importantly, Goldman is raising the earnings multiple it believes AAPL stock deserves from 14 to 16, making each dollar of earnings worth 14.3 percent more than it used to. Earnings multiples usually rise when greater growth is expected from a company in the coming years than there was previously, so a slight boost in Apple's multiple makes sense.

The consensus earnings per share estimate seen by most Apple analysts on the Street calls for $8.95 in fiscal 2017; multiply that by 16, and you get a price target of $143.20. Goldman must be far more sanguine on its fiscal 2017 projections than most on the Street, however, as a $150 price target calls for EPS of $9.37.

Why AAPL can hit $150. It might sound like a bit of a stretch that a company as large as Apple could grow its market capitalization by 13.5 percent over a short period of time, but price targets are typically given with the understanding that there will be 12 months for them to play out. Given the fact that the market itself has risen 25 percent in the last 12 months, 13.5 percent over the next 12 months isn't too much of a stretch.

Plus, Apple is blessed with a hoard of more than $200 billion in cash, $31 billion of which is greenlighted to be spent buying back AAPL stock. That should give share prices an extra boost and help lift earnings per share figures.

Finally, you never know how market psychology will play into share prices, and the de-regulatory, anti-tax nature of the Trump administration has certainly been applauded by Wall Street.

"The only upside remaining to $150 or $170 has to come from the tax benefit of Apple's large foreign capital repatriation, which is not counted into the most target prices," says K C Ma, professor of finance at Stetson University.

It's probably not factored into most models because the U.S. reducing or doing away with the repatriation tax is by no means a done deal, although it is possible. Apple has more than $180 billion in cash overseas.

Why to be cautious. So while $150 is by no means an unreasonable level for AAPL stock at some point in the next year or so, there are some longer-term concerns that investors should be aware of. The most pressing issue is probably Apple's blatant lack of innovation: Since Steve Jobs died, the only new product Apple's come out with was the Watch, a product that isn't successful enough to be broken out as its own line item and is considered by many to have been an abject failure.

[See: 7 of the Best Stocks to Buy for 2017.]

If Apple continues to shun innovation and rest on its laurels, multiples will have to come back down to earth; the iPhone is an amazing product, but it can't carry AAPL stock forever.

John Divine is an investing reporter for U.S. News & World Report, where he covers financial markets and the economy, with a focus on individual stock analysis. He has been an investor himself for over 10 years, and has been writing professionally about stocks and investing for the last five years. He previously wrote about the stock market for The Motley Fool and InvestorPlace, and his work has appeared on Yahoo! Finance, MSN Money, and AOL DailyFinance. He graduated from Appalachian State University in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in finance and banking. At Appalachian, he was a member of the Bowden Investment Group, a team of students that ran a real-money portfolio worth over $100,000. You can follow him on Twitter or give him the Tip of the Century at jdivine@usnews.com.
So you need to talk about money with your spouse -- or live-in boyfriend or girlfriend. This could be awkward.

In fact, 68 percent of Americans in relationships say finances are more of a source of tension with their partner than their sex life, according to a new report from the financial planning website LearnVest.com, which surveyed 1,000 American adults 18 and older between Dec. 8 and Dec. 13, 2016.

And your talk might not just be awkward. It may be the first time you've done it. The survey also found that one in five Americans never have serious conversations about their finances with their partner.

But you could reduce the tension if you approach your conversations strategically. Consider these methods:

[See: 10 Money Questions to Ask Your Parents.]

The "I screwed up, and it's going to cost us" talk. Maybe you rear-ended a Ferrari or you went out with friends and spent way too much. Or maybe this is really serious, and you think it's finally time to share the news that you owe a lot of credit card debt or back taxes.

Pick the right time for this talk. If you're really rattled, you may want to have your talk as soon as possible and get it over with. Your instincts to be transparent are right, but you need to try and do it when you don't have a lot of other ongoing distractions, or you'll make the situation worse.

"Talk to each other when you're calm, well-fed, hydrated and rested. Do not talk to one another in the heat of the moment," says Gretchen Kubacky, a health psychologist based in Los Angeles.

But don't wait for too long, Kubacky cautions, especially if this is news that may be time-sensitive, like a discussion about the Ferrari you inadvertently gave a new makeover.

"It only gets worse if you wait or try to hide it," Kubacky says.

The "you blundered, and it's going to cost us" talk. So your partner is making foolish financial decisions that are affecting both of you. Maybe he or she bought an expensive gym membership without consulting you, or maybe your spouse forgot to pay several bills in the last month, and you're looking at a lot of late fees and your credit card's interest is climbing. Or maybe it's something worse.

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Remember how you feel about your partner. You love your spouse or boyfriend or girlfriend, right? And you don't want to come off as a tyrant and destroy your relationship over whatever he or she has done.

"If you're already married, remember your vows, 'For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer,'" says Derek Brainard, a financial literacy coordinator who works in the financial aid department at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. "Remember, you're on the same team now."

Brainard also suggests you try and make your partner's problem about both of you. That doesn't mean you have to take blame for your partner's blunder, but nonetheless, Brainard says you'll get further if you say something like, "Let's talk about our plan to pay off our debt," instead of, "What are you going to do about your credit card debt?"

Brainard adds: "Nobody likes being lectured to, especially not your spouse."

[See: 12 Habits of Phenomenally Frugal Families.]

The "we've both messed up, and it's going to cost us" talk. You two aren't saving enough, or you're both spending far too much. In theory, this should be the least awkward type of conversation because you're both making mistakes. But not everyone is good about discussing money, and you may be dreading your partner's reaction to having a heavy financial conversation.

Prepare for this talk. Obviously, if you're good at communicating about money, you may not have to prepare for more than a couple minutes. Think about what you need to say and say it.

But if you have a partner who isn't on the same wavelength, you'll want to prepare more extensively, suggests April Davis, the CEO of LUMA, a luxury matchmaking service headquartered in Denver and available in 17 states.

Davis suggests writing down the key points you need to bring up, any pros and cons you have to discuss -- and to even think about the possible reactions your partner might have and how you'll want to react in response.

"Then try saying it out loud in the mirror. Hearing it can help you clarify what's most important," she says.

The "if I bring this up, it's going to look like I don't trust you" talk. Maybe you'd like to have a prenuptial agreement. Maybe you want to ask your new boyfriend or girlfriend about his or her credit card debt. There are a number of money-related areas where you may have a reasonable request or question, but by asking, you're going to look uncertain about your relationship.

Expect anger -- and don't give anger back. That may be what saved Viktoria Ivanova's relationship. Ivanova is a therapist in Vancouver, Canada, with a specialty in relationship counseling. That still didn't make it much easier when she decided she should talk to her live-in boyfriend about a pretty sensitive topic.

As Ivanova explains it, she and her boyfriend were almost two years into their relationship, which meant they would soon be common-law partners, per British Columbia law.

[See: 11 Money Tips for Older Adults.]

"In Canada, this meant that we would be sharing our debts and assets," Ivanova says. "While, luckily, debt was not an issue for us, I had an apartment in my name. Everyone around me -- colleagues at work, family and friends going through a divorce -- were talking about how it's important to protect your assets in case of a breakup."

Ivanova decided she should ask her boyfriend to sign an agreement stating that, in the event of a breakup, he wouldn't have any legal claim to her apartment. Not exactly a fun topic, but one that she couldn't avoid for long, she decided, with the two-year anniversary coming up.

Ivanova made sure she found a good time during a weekend when they wouldn't be distracted, and then she explained what she wanted her boyfriend to sign. He was, as she guessed he might be, insulted. He was angry, too.

But Ivanova didn't get angry or defensive and listened to him.

"I had to respect my partner's reaction and give space and time for my partner to process his feelings about it," she says.

She did. In the end, Ivanova's boyfriend didn't end up signing the form, but she feels the conversation made their relationship stronger. They're now engaged.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is rumoured to be considering a return to the DC Comics universe.

The Hollywood star and former governor of California could be set to take on a voice role in the upcoming "Wonder Woman" movie, NME reports, potentially providing the voiceover for the character of Ares. The film is set for release this June, with Gal Gadot taking on the role of the heroine.

Schwarzenegger is about to return to the big screen alongside Maggie Grace in the drama "Aftermath," which hits theaters on April 7.
Paris (AFP) - After the reported assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un's half-brother with poisoned needles, here are some previous high-profile poison attacks, fatal and otherwise.

- Poison umbrella kills Bulgarian -

September 1978: Georgy Markov, a Bulgarian dissident living in exile in London, is stabbed with a ricin poison-tipped umbrella as he is going home from his job with BBC World Service radio. He dies four days later.

- Hamas leader survives coma -

September 1997: Israeli agents working in Jordan administer poison to the leader of the Palestinian group Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, who is living there. But the agents are captured and in order to obtain their release Israel is forced to provide an antidote. Meshaal survives after falling into a coma.

- Dioxin scars Ukraine's Yushchenko -

September 2004: Ukrainian politician Viktor Yushchenko, campaigning against Russian-backed candidate Viktor Yanukovych for his country's presidency, is diagnosed with dioxin poisoning which disfigures his face. His supporters accuse the Russian secret service of being behind the incident. Yushchenko goes on to win the election.

- Arafat poison charges dismissed -

November 2004: Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat dies in a French military hospital. French experts are unable say what had killed him, fueling accusations that he was poisoned by Israel.

After a murder probe French prosecutors dismiss claims he was poisoned, after Swiss experts said they found high levels of radioactive polonium on his personal effects.

- Indonesian Munir's arsenic death -

September 2004: Indonesian human rights campaigner Munir Said Thalib dies of arsenic poisoning after a flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam. A pilot is convicted of killing him on behalf of his country's intelligence services, but in October 2006 the sentence is quashed by the Indonesian Supreme Court.

- Polonium kills ex-spy Litvinenko -

November 2006: Former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko dies in agony after drinking tea laced with highly radioactive Polonium-210 at a London hotel, in a case which plunged Moscow-London relations into a deep chill.
Aston Martin has chosen the Canadian International Autoshow as the venue for the official unveiling of its 200mph+ carbon fiber hypercar, the AM-RB001.

The company took the wraps off the concept version at its UK headquarters in July, but this will be the first time that anyone other than potential owners will have seen it in the flesh.

"The AM-RB 001 is destined to become the defining hypercar of this decade and a hugely desirable investment for collectors and enthusiasts," said Aston Martin President and CEO, Dr. Andy Palmer.

Developed in partnership with Red Bull Racing and its superstar Formula 1 designer, Adrian Newey, the AM-RB001 will boast a mid-mounted naturally aspirated V12 engine and a one-to-one power to weight ratio.

It will also use cutting-edge racing developed aerodynamic trickery so that it behaves like an F1 car in the bends and at the limits of grip. However, because all of these systems will be largely integrated to the car's underside, there won't be huge spoilers, splitters or side skirts negatively impacting on the car's visual aesthetic.

Even with such an impressive team working on the AM-RB001, there is no guarantee that it will be a decade defining hypercar -- especially as Mercedes-AMG is plotting a similar vehicle of its own that will be unveiled at this year's Frankfurt Auto Show in September.

However, in terms of its appeal to the car collecting community, the Aston boss is completely correct.

Even though this car won't be going into production until 2018 and when it does it will come with a 2 million price tag, every one of the 150 planned examples (25 of which will be track-only models) are already sold out. What's more, if a potential owner changes his or her mind, Aston won't be worried, as there's a long list of people waiting to step in and take a car if an order is cancelled.

The 2017 Canadian International Autoshow will be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and opens its doors to the public on February 17.
VIENNA (AP)  Turkish diplomatic offices around the world are gathering information in a bid to undermine organizations loyal to a Muslim cleric who Turkey believes was behind last year's coup attempt, an Austrian lawmaker said Tuesday.

Greens Parliamentarian Peter Pilz showed The Associated Press memos from the Turkish Embassy in Vienna and the Turkish Consulate in Salzburg. They show ATIB, the union of Turkish-Islamic cultural organizations in Austria, sending reports on organizations backed by U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen to diplomats, with the information then forwarded to Ankara.

Pilz said his team is working on publishing similar documents from 30 other countries in Europe, Africa and Asia. He spoke of a "global spying network," with the religious attaches of the various embassies "very often the main Erdogan agents," in reference to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey is pressing nations to crack down on the Gulen movement's network of schools and charities outside of the country. It accuses Gulen of orchestrating the July 15 coup that saw renegade military officers and soldiers use fighter jets, helicopters and tanks to attack parliament and other state buildings. Some 270 people were killed.

Gulen condemned the coup attempt and denied he was involved, though he acknowledged that some of his supporters may have participated.

In an interview Monday with the Austrian daily Kurier, Fatih Karadas, an official at the Turkish embassy in Vienna who also leads ATIB, denied the activities constituted spying. He said it was "our religious duty to conduct investigations into whether in Austria ... Turkish-origin citizens were influenced and misused or radicalized by Gulen."

Both published documents are addressed to the Turkish government's foreign department of the Office for Religious Affairs, Diyanet. One, an undated cover letter written on the letterhead of the Turkish Embassy and signed by Karadas, says "all possible ... activities" of Gulen organizations were investigated. It says these include "companies, educational organizations ... NGOs, aid organizations, (and) networks."

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The other, from the consulate, outlines the main organizations run by Gulen sympathizers and speaks of a warning issued in 2014 to ATIB functionaries against "open and sometimes covert attempts" by Gulen backers to "infiltrate the ATIB clubs." It speaks of ATIB and other religious officials "destroying all books, audio materials, video CDs, volumes of poetry, brochures (and) newspapers" issued by Gulen-affiliated organizations.

Pilz also published a Diyanet directive asking for "detailed reports over all organizations/structures, activities, educational institutions, non-governmental organizations, aid organizations, human resources, clubs carrying out cultural activities etc. of the Fetuhullaic terror organizations in countries and territories where they are active."

Officials from Austria's Interior Ministry confirmed the government was treating the documents  published in the Turkish original and German translations  as genuine, but were cautious in their reaction. Spokesman Karl-Heinz Grundboeck said Austrian anti-spying laws were applicable only in case of espionage against state institutions, and not individuals.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Thomas Schnoell said Karadas' accreditation was close to expiration and new candidates would be carefully vetted.

In Germany, also named by Pilz, an official of Germany's domestic intelligence agency said last week that 13 imams affiliated with DITIB  ATIB's German counterpart  had sent the names of alleged supporters of Gulen to the Turkish religion authority.

Burkhard Freier said Diyanet had told employees in September to report the activities of groups such as the Gulen movement, and religious attaches at consulates had passed the order on to imams. His agency did not, however, have evidence that DITIB itself was directly involved.

The matter also came up when German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited Ankara last month. She said then that the two nations must discuss any perceived problems with the Gulen movement "with each other."

___

Associated Press writers Geir Moulson in Berlin and Christopher Torchia in Johannesburg contributed.
Baghdad (AFP) - A car bomb exploded in an industrial area of south Baghdad on Tuesday, killing at least four people, Iraqi police said.

"The blast was caused by a parked car bomb in an industrial area," home to many car maintenance workshops and companies in Bayaa, a neighbourhood with a mixed Sunni and Shiite population, a police colonel said.

He said at least four people were killed and 14 wounded, a casualty toll confirmed by hospital sources.

The Iraqi capital was rocked by a wave of deadly suicide bombings during the first days of 2017 but relatively few explosions have been reported since.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast in Bayaa.

Nearly all suicide attacks are claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group, which is currently defending its last major Iraqi bastion of Mosul against a massive, four-month-old operation by the security forces.
Washington (AFP) - The US Senate has confirmed Wall Street banker Steven Mnuchin to be the next secretary of the US Treasury, overcoming fierce Democratic objection of yet another nominee to President Donald Trump's cabinet.

Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs executive, fills a crucial position in Trump's economic team. The new president has criticized opponents for delaying his nominees.

He was promptly sworn in at the White House by Vice President Mike Pence, in a ceremony also attended by Trump and Mnuchin's fiancee, Louise Linton, a Scottish actress.

Trump praised his new Treasury chief as a "financial legend with a track record of success."

Democrats have put up roadblocks to nearly all of Trump's cabinet picks to date, a sign of the political rancor infusing a confirmation process that until recent years exhibited far more bipartisanship.

Republicans, who maintain a majority in the Senate, have managed to hold a united front and confirm each nominee who has come to the floor for a vote.

Senators confirmed Mnuchin, an investment banker and Hollywood financier who also served as finance chairman of Trump's presidential campaign, on a party line vote of 53 to 48. Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia was the only crossover vote.

Mnuchin takes over a US agency with power over taxation, bank regulation, sovereign debt, and policies to combat corruption and terrorism finance.

- 'Foreclosure machine' -

During his confirmation hearing, Mnuchin fended off queries about his previously undisclosed offshore investment firms and real estate holdings, and defended his bank's foreclosure practices despite being accused by Democrats of acting as "a foreclosure machine."

Democrats sought to paint Mnuchin, 54, as the embodiment of many of the things Trump railed against in his campaign, including Mnuchin's lengthy stint at investment bank Goldman Sachs and OneWest, the bank he co-founded that has been accused of profiting from the 2008 housing crisis.

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"Mr Mnuchin's business record tells us he was directly engaged in the predatory practices that led to our financial recession and destroyed the life savings of countless American working families," number two Senate Democrat Dick Durbin said in a statement.

Senator Robert Menendez said Mnuchin "was part of the cadre of corporate raiders that brought our economy to its knees."

Critics such as Senator Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, have accused OneWest of generating profits through improper and aggressive foreclosures.

The Treasury Department in 2011 found that OneWest used "unsafe or unsound" practices in mortgage servicing and foreclosure proceedings.

Despite the ferocious criticism of Mnuchin and other nominees by angry Democrats, the Senate came together and voted unanimously to confirm David Shulkin as the next secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Shulkin would be sworn in at 3:00 pm (2000 GMT) Tuesday at the White House.

Shulkin was nominated by then-president Barack Obama in 2015 to serve as undersecretary for health at the VA.

Trump "has selected two well-qualified candidates to lead the charge on strengthening our economy and providing veterans with more of the care they deserve," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said.
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany and France must work together to ensure a "balanced" approach in negotiations with Greece that keeps the euro zone intact, French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said after talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel and other German officials. "We support Greece. I reiterated this to the chancellor and I sensed a sincere desire on her part to work towards a solution in which everyone respects their responsibilities," Cazeneuve said. "What is important is that France and Germany work together in order to preserve the integrity of the euro zone." His remarks to a group of reporters at the French embassy in Berlin come after German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble raised the prospect of a Greek exit from the euro zone in an interview with German broadcaster ARD last week. Cazeneuve, who met with Merkel on Monday and senior members of the Social Democrats (SPD) on Tuesday, said that while Greece must press ahead with reforms, it should not be forced to implement "unbearable" measures. (Reporting by Noah Barkin; Editing by Paul Carrel)
Bill and Melinda Gates have warned that the new policies and priorities of President Donald Trump could negatively impact global philanthropy, as they urged Trump and other leaders to continue to prioritize foreign aid.

In interviews ahead of the Tuesday release of their foundations annual letter, the Gateses voiced concern about the effects of Trumps America First doctrine and the Mexico City Policy, which Trump reinstated last month.

Were concerned that this shift could impact millions of women and girls around the world, Melinda Gates said in an interview with the Guardian, about the Mexico City Policy. Its likely to have a negative effect on a broad range of health programs that provide lifesaving treatment and prevention options to those most in need.

The Mexico City Policy prohibits the allocation of U.S. foreign aid to any nongovernmental organization abroad that discusses abortion as a family-planning option.

Bill Gates told the Guardian that the expansion of the policy could create a void that even a foundation like ours cant fill. In an interview with USA Today, he also said Trumps America First policy could mean a shift away from prioritizing African stability and American leadership on African issues.

With this new crowd, and with some of things they want to do fiscally, it just means were going to have to tell the story of how amazing this work is, he said.

Among the achievements cited in their letter, the Gateses said 86% of children worldwide now receive basic vaccines  the highest percentage in history. More than 300 million women in developing countries now use modern methods of contraception  also a first in history. And they predict that polio could finally be eradicated this year.

The couple addressed their 2017 letter to Warren Buffett, who in 2006 donated $30 billion to the foundation  a donation so large that, to quote Bill and Melinda Gates, it was the biggest single gift anyone ever gave anybody for anything.

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Throughout their letter, the Gateses repeatedly reference Buffetts love of a good deal.

Saving childrens lives is the best deal in philanthropy, they said. And if you want to know the best deal within the deal  its vaccines.

Its a line that could function as an appeal to another businessman who famously prides himself on making deals. While Trump has said he is pro-vaccine, he has also spread the scientifically debunked claim that vaccinations are linked to autism.

Both Melinda and Bill Gates have said they plan to work with Trump on issues that matter to them, including climate change and foreign aid. And in their letter, they voiced optimism about the state of the world.

A lot of people feel the world is getting more fragmented, and we all can point to examples of that, Melinda Gates said in the letter. But if you look along a timeline, the periods of fragmentation often come when society is digesting its new diversity.
Vienna (AFP) - Born out of defeat, initially not that popular and dedicated to a river that's more greeny-grey, the beginnings of "The Blue Danube" 150 years ago this week were inauspicious.

But Johann Strauss Junior's rousing waltz, first performed on February 15, 1867, is now one of the world's most famous and catchiest pieces of classical music.

It features in movies galore and is being performed and danced to still.

"An der schoenen blauen Donau", as it is known in the original German, began life as a choral work commissioned by the Vienna Men's Choral Society.

The main aim was to cheer people up after Austria had lost an important and bloody battle against Prussia, at Koniggratz, the previous summer.

The title was said to have been inspired by a poem but the words were penned by the society's own lyricist, a policeman who humorously bemoaned the state of the defeated country.

It was not an immediate runaway success, although an exhibition marking the anniversary at Vienna City Hall seeks to refute the belief that it was a total flop.

One glowing contemporary account even calls it a "schlager" (German for "hit") -- supposedly the first recorded use of the term.

But the piece only really took off once an orchestral version was performed in Paris later in 1867, to a rapturous reception, and soon afterwards in London.

In a tour of the United States in 1872, Strauss conducted a performance by a 2,000-piece orchestra and a 20,000-strong choir to 100,000 people.

"How am I supposed to conduct this mess?" the composer reputedly said.

- The rest is history -

Today "The Blue Danube" evokes like no other waltz the elegance of Vienna's 19th-century heyday -- which lives on in the city's ball season, currently in full swing.

It also takes pride of place in the Vienna New Year's Concert every January 1, and is Austria's unofficial national anthem.

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When Austria declared its independence from Nazi Germany in April 1945, it was "The Blue Danube" that was performed since at the time the country had no official national anthem of its own.

The national airline Austrian Airlines plays the music to passengers before takeoff and after landing. A survey in 2016 of customers found 72 percent in favour of the practice continuing.

It is also a perennial favourite on the silver screen, most famously in Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey" but also in "Cool Runnings" and "Titanic", to name but a few.

More irreverently, a sketch by British comedy troupe Monty Python showed members of an orchestra exploding one by one as they played the piece in a field.

It has also featured in madcap animated series "SpongeBob SquarePants" while in "The Simpsons", Homer, in homage to Kubrick, floats around a spaceship eating potato chips.

But apart from it simply being a nice tune, how to explain the popularity, particularly considering that Strauss wrote almost 500 other waltzes?

"There is no definitive answer," Thomas Aigner, curator at the City Hall exhibition, told AFP.

"It's a patriotic song, but not too much. Everyone can project their own memory linked to the river, to a visit to Vienna."
BRASILIA (Reuters) - A Brazil Supreme Court justice rejected an injunction that sought to remove President Michel Temer's minister in charge of infrastructure investment, Wellington Moreira Franco, who has been named in a corruption investigation. Justice Celso de Mello's ruling on Tuesday also allows Moreira Franco to keep his immunity from prosecution by lower courts. The injunction filed by a leftist opposition party sought to annul his appointment as cabinet minister, arguing that Temer was trying to shield him from prosecution. Mello ruled that was not the case. Moreira Franco was implicated during plea bargain testimony by a former executive of engineering conglomerate Odebrecht who is a defendant in the sweeping bribery and political kickback investigation known as "Car Wash." The probe, centered around state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro, has already ensnared dozens of top government, political and corporate leaders over the past two years and could implicate many more, including Temer himself, as plea bargain testimony advances. As a minister, Moreira Franco can only be charged before the Supreme Court, where a trial would drag out for months or years. Had Moreira's appointment been blocked by the injunction, any investigation of his role in the corruption scandal would have been in the hands of anti-corruption Judge Sergio Moro, who has presided over the Car Wash cases. Annulment of one of his closest aides would had been a serious blow to Temer's political standing as he strives to restore business confidence in an economy mired in a two-year recession. Temer on Monday dismissed criticism that he promoted Moreira to shield him from prosecution and vowed to dismiss any minister indicted for corruption. Until the promotion, Moreira was Temer's top adviser charged with drawing Brazilian and foreign investment for infrastructure projects. (Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu, Alonso Soto and Anthony Boadle; Editing by Sandra Maler and Dan Grebler)
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  Brazilian President Michel Temer issued a decree on Tuesday to deploy 9,000 soldiers in Rio de Janeiro's metropolitan area until Feb. 22, one week before Carnaval ends. That's almost half the troops used during last year's Olympic Games.

The decision partly fulfills Rio de Janeiro Gov. Luiz Fernando Pezao's request to have troops police the entire state until March 5. Defense Minister Raul Jungmann told a news conference that soldiers are already on the streets.

"This is pre-emptive," Jungmann said, adding that security in the state was firmly under control and resources were sufficient. "We have protests here, but that has not stopped police from working."

The soldiers are to help out amid police officers' strike threats and riots led by anarchists during state legislature votes on austerity measures as the annual Carnaval celebrations take off. Local police officers' salaries have been delayed amid financial troubles.

The deployment of soldiers across Rio state could be extended for additional days if necessary, Jungmann said.

The move comes on the heels of a widespread protest by the relatives that military police officers said kept them from patrolling for a week and sparked a crime wave in neighboring Espirito Santo state.

Authorities there opened disciplinary proceedings Tuesday against dozens of officers.

Temer has called the halt in Espirito Santo "an insurgency against the Constitution."

Procedures have been initiated to fire 151 military police, said Gustavo Tenorio, a spokesman for the state's Public Safety Department. Another 10 will be opened later this week and investigations into four senior officers have been initiated.

Because military police play a key role in providing security in Brazil, they are not allowed to strike.

Authorities insist the officers were behind the protests and were effectively holding an illegal strike.

Several hundred military police have now returned to duty in Espirito Santo. Federal troops, called in at the height of the crisis, continue to help patrol.
Note from the Editor: You may already heard of the v, v important political parody Bridget Trump? The love child of Donald Trump and Bridget Jones has been gathering fans around the world with her hilarious tweets that are remarkably similar to a certain businessman turned POTUS.

SEE ALSO: Bridget Trump's Diary: I went to the Women's March and it was so overrated

The brainchild of British comic Tiff Stevenson, Bridget Trump, is obviously very, very busy. Miraculously she found the time to share a Valentine's diary entry with us. Here's how it went:

February 13th

Gah! Another year of Valentines Day humiliation. No way will I get any cards. Toy with the idea of flirting energetically with anyone I think might be induced into sending me one, but dismiss as immoral. Instead I put the phone down on Malcolm Turnbull, fire off a couple of executive orders and listen to Elton John.

9.00 AM Nothing from Vlad, dont even know if he is in the office today. Do they work Mondays in Russia?

9.15 AM Still nothing from Vlad

9.30 AM Oh god. Oh god. I thought that my romantic mini break with sex god Shinzo Abe at Mar-A Lago would make Vlad jealouswhat if it is the opposite that is true?

10.05 AM Heart gave great lurch when I saw Vlad had been online! It was the official Kremlin account but still he is in the office and hasnt been in touch. Maybe it was because last time we spoke I accused him of cheating and he called me a frigid cow.

10.30 AM Could this day be any longer? I have a huge pile of folders and tedious security briefings to look through but I just cant bring myself to do it.

11.30 AM God I am bored.

11.45 AM Finding inner peace by reminding myself just how many enthusiastic supporters there were lining the streets of Florida. Some of them were so old and tanned. It is important that I note these small victories, as outlets such as CNN refuse to! Very dishonest of them.

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Anyway Valentines Day is a purely commercial, cynical enterprise anyway. Matter of supreme indifference to me, a bit like SNL.

Wherefore art thou Vlad?

Image: Shutterstock / MediaGroup_BestForYou

February 14th

Valentines Day Massacre.

Not to be confused with the Bowling Green Massacre which is definitely a real thing!!!

8 AM Oh goody. Valentines Day. Wonder if the post has come yet. Go downstairs in my dressing gown, it is definitely NOT a bathrobe. Maybe there will be a card from Vlad. Or a secret admirer!! Maybe Nigel? Quite excited actually.

9 AM Brief moment of wild joy when I see a bunch of flowers in the Oval Office. Read the card and I see they have been sent to Michelle, the former tenant. I put them in the bin. Its fine. I am a poised POTUS and do not need validation from bad men and criminals.

Lunch

Emergency summit with urban family. Kellyanne is really upset over accidentally plugging Ivankas products on Fox. She accused Fox of emotional fuckwittage. We agreed that me not receiving any flowers or cards from Vlad was just an alternate fact. Cheers to that!

Cocktails: 3 (a bit naughty for lunch time)

6 PM Everyone is leaving the office early for dinner dates. Just myself and Sean left. He is chewing Orbit cinnamon constantly and driving me mad. I tell him to leave and on his way out he steps on something weird. Its a red envelope. He considers calling the security team in for a sweep but I grab it off him. Then I get so nervous I pass it back to him and he reads it out.

A piece of ridiculous and meaningless commercial exploitation - for my darling little frigid cow.

I let out a massive yelp and the Secret Service come rushing in. I shout I Bridget Trump am a sex goddess once again!! and we all just fell about with laughter.

Tiff Stevenson (a.k.a. Bridget Trump) is on tour from now until May 5, including two shows at Londons Bloomsbury Theatre on Feb. 24 and 25. More information: http://tiffstevenson.co.uk
Banjul (Gambia) (AFP) - UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson visited The Gambia on Tuesday, where he hailed the arrival of a new government and its bid to rejoin the Commonwealth group of former British colonies.

Johnson met President Adama Barrow and Interior Minister Mai Fatty to reset ties with the impoverished West African nation after years of tension with former president Yahya Jammeh.

The visit was his first to Africa as Britain's top diplomat, becoming the first British foreign minister to visit The Gambia since it gained independence in 1965.

His talks with Barrow cemented moves by The Gambia to rejoin the Commonwealth, Johnson told journalists.

"President Barrow is determined to take Gambia back to the Commonwealth, and the Commonwealth is ready to welcome Gambia back," Johnson said, vowing to do whatever possible to "speed up" the process.

In a video message posted on Johnson's Twitter account after the meeting, he celebrated the British embassy soon becoming a High Commission to reflect The Gambia's return to the Commonwealth fold.

Jammeh frequently railed against Britain's colonial rule of the tiny nation and withdrew his nation from the Commonwealth in 2013, calling it "an extension of colonialism".

By contrast, Barrow worked as a security guard in Britain when he was younger and has made no secret of his wish to rekindle ties.

The foreign secretary has hailed the December elections that saw Barrow unseat Jammeh from 22 years in power, saying they "highlight the continuing strengthening of democracy in West Africa".

In his video message, Johnson praised the arrival of the Barrow administration: "They got rid of a guy who was really holding things up, and they will take the country forward."

- Britain to support justice reform -

During his visit the foreign secretary also said tackling the migration crisis was "something that is absolutely vital for Europe as much as Africa," in a nation that accounts for more citizens per capita taking boats across the Mediterreanan to Italy than any other.

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Johnson additionally promised support for justice reform in The Gambia, after the new government declared it would overhaul its prisons after shocking footage was released of conditions inside.

A British special advisor will be appointed to aid the justice ministry and attorney-general as The Gambia reforms a sector tarred by allegations of rights abuses, a diplomatic source told AFP.

Fatty led a tour of The Gambia's Mile Two prison on Monday for local journalists that revealed concrete cells in almost complete darkness where prisoners were living in squalor, and apologised on camera for the conditions.

The Gambia has just notified the United Nations it will rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC), reversing another controversial Jammeh move from last year.

- Controversial comments -

Johnson's trip to The Gambia followed his history of controversy with Britain's former territories in Africa.

In a news column published in 2002, Johnson characterised the Commonwealth as having "crowds of flag-waving piccaninnies," to welcome Queen Elizabeth II, using a derogatory term for black people that caused outrage.

He also parodied reaction to Tony Blair's arrival in Congo saying that "the tribal warriors will all break out in watermelon smiles to see the big white chief touch down".

The comments came back to haunt him when he ran for London mayor in 2008, and then again when he was named foreign secretary last year after Britain's shock Brexit vote.

Gambian journalists had questions vetted for a brief press conference with Barrow in The Gambia and could not question him about the comments, they told AFP.

In a show of confidence in the Gambian tourist industry, which is dominated by British sunseekers, Johnson took a commercial flight to Banjul, and also met with Tourism Minister Hamat Bah.

Britain could help develop the tourism sector to help give Gambians greater economic security with Britain's help, Johnson said.

Tourists were flown out of the country en masse in January after Jammeh declared a state of emergency when he lost the election to Barrow but refused to stand down.

On Wednesday morning, Johnson will head to Ghana to meet President Nana Akufo-Addo and visit the Blue Skies company, a juice-maker which has received financial support from Britain.
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain has summoned North Korea's ambassador to express its condemnation of the country's weekend ballistic missile launch, the Foreign Office said on Tuesday. North Korea said on Tuesday its missile launches were "self-defence measures", rejecting U.N. Security Council criticism of the test. The United States has demanded international action against Pyongyang's weapons programmes. "We urge North Korea to stop its provocative actions, which threaten international peace and security, and instead re-engage with the international community, and take credible, concrete steps to prioritise the wellbeing of its own people instead of the nuclear and ballistic missile programmes," a British Foreign Office spokeswoman said in a statement. "The ambassador was asked to convey this message to Pyongyang in the strongest possible terms," she added. (Reporting by Kylie MacLellan; editing by Stephen Addison)
In 2013, the Business Roundtable  a nonprofit trade association for the nations leading CEOs and one of the countrys most powerful lobbying forces  made clear its stance on corporate political transparency.

"Corporations do NOT support increased political and lobbying 'disclosure, then-Business Roundtable President John Engler declared to Fortune 500 business leaders in a letter co-signed by U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Donohue and National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons.

But the Business Roundtables hard line on corporations volunteering information about their political activities appears to have blurred  at least a bit.

In its latest Principles of Corporate Governance report, the Business Roundtable encourages corporate members to decide for themselves whether to publicly disclose political activities, such as contributing cash to so-called dark money nonprofit groups that aim to influence elections without revealing who funds them.

To the extent that the company engages in political activities, the board should have oversight responsibility and consider whether to adopt a policy on disclosure of these activities, reads the report, which echoes similarly pro-transparency statements the Business Roundtable made years ago.

Business Roundtable officials acknowledged the Center for Public Integritys request to explain the apparent change. But officials did not respond to repeated follow-up phone calls and emails seeking comment.

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The Business Roundtable indeed appears to have significantly softened its stance on disclosure of political activity, said John Wonderlich, executive director of the nonprofit Sunlight Foundation, which advocates for political transparency.

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The apparent shift, he said, reflects a growing judgement that secret political spending violates our political norms and can create liabilities for businesses and their brands.

But David Keating, president of the nonprofit Center for Competitive Politics, which advocates for political speech rights, disagrees, calling the Business Roundtables latest statement on political disclosure unremarkable.

Keating  whose legal efforts led to the creation of super PACs  noted that the Business Roundtables Principles of Corporate Governance document scolds corporate shareholders who attempt to use the public companies in which they invest as platforms for the advancement of their personal agendas or for the promotion of general political or social causes.

Other portions of the 28-page document reiterate this point, as corporations have sometimes faced efforts by activist shareholders bent on forcing the corporations to publicly disclose more information about their own politicking or financial support of political groups.

In sum, the Business Roundtable does not appear to have softened its stance on voluntary disclosure, Keating said. Disclosing ones affiliations with trade associations and nonprofits creates a roadmap for activists to pressure corporations in an attempt to starve [politically active nonprofit] groups of support and silence their voices.

These days, however, the Business Roundtable is in part led by corporate executives whose companies publicly reveal a considerable amount of information about their political practices.

Of the 23 members of the Business Roundtables executive committee, eight  the CEOs of JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America Corp., Boeing Co., Dow Chemical Co., Northrop Grumman Corp., Honeywell International Inc., General Electric Co. and MasterCard Inc.  ranked at or near the top of the 2016 edition of an annual corporate political transparency study conducted by the Center for Political Accountability and University of Pennsylvania Wharton School's Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research. (It's a study the Business Roundtable has previously criticized.)

Related story: Business groups assail political transparency

Several other Business Roundtable executive committee members led companies that also received high marks for political transparency, including Lockheed Martin Corp., CVS Health Corp., AT&T Inc. and Cummins Inc.

Often, contributions these companies publicly disclosed go to politically active trade associations. Occasionally, they helped fund nonprofit social welfare groups that took strong stances against politicians and their policies, as the Center for Public Integrity previously reported.

Since 2007, the Business Roundtable has spent at least $10 million annually on federal lobbying efforts involving numerous topics, from taxes and trade, to health care and immigration, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks such expenditures.

In 2016, it spent $15,700,000 on federal lobbying  its second-highest total in any year since 2000.

The U.S. Chamber, which with the Business Roundtable co-signed the 2013 missive against political transparency, is one of the few entities that spends more money annually on government lobbying.

U.S. Chamber spokeswoman Blair Latoff Holmes said her organizations views on political transparency have not changed and that it hasnt witnessed increased investor interests in disclosure based on the results of shareholders transparency proposals.

The National Association of Manufacturers did not respond to requests for comment.

This story is part of Federal Politics. News about ethics, campaign finance, lobbying and influence in the federal government. Click here to read more stories in this series.

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Copyright 2017 The Center for Public Integrity. This story was published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C.
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A California man accused of buying assault-style rifles used by a married couple to massacre 14 people in San Bernardino in 2015 has agreed to plead guilty to providing material support to terrorists, prosecutors said on Tuesday.

Enrique Marquez, 25, will plead guilty to conspiring with Syed Rizwan Farook in 2011 and 2012 to attack a community college and commuters on a Southern California freeway, prosecutors said.

Marquez, a friend and former neighbor of Farook, has also agreed to plead guilty to making false statements about his purchase of two assault rifles used in the shooting rampage at the San Bernardino Inland Regional Center.

Farook, 28, and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, 29, opened fire at a holiday gathering of Farook's co-workers on Dec. 2, 2015, killing 14 people and wounding 22.

Farook, the U.S.-born son of Pakistani immigrants, and Malik, a Pakistani native he married in Saudi Arabia in 2014, died in a shootout with police four hours after the massacre.

Authorities have said the couple were inspired by Islamist extremism. It was one of the deadliest attacks by militants in the United States since the Sept. 11, 2001, hijacked plane attacks.

(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by James Dalgleish and Peter Cooney)
By Deborah M. Todd

OROVILLE, Calif. (Reuters) - Nearly 200,000 Californians faced an indefinite stay in shelters on Tuesday as engineers worked around the clock to fix the United States' tallest dam before more rain arrives.

After what looks to be the wettest winter in Northern California following years of drought, more rain was forecast for as early as Wednesday and through Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

Hundreds of families were camped out in cars and tents at Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico, about 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Oroville.

"I left everything in my house. I've got a four-bedroom, two-bathroom house and I don't know what's going to happen to it," said William Rigsbay, 53, of Thermalito.

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Crews were working to shore up an emergency overflow channel at the Lake Oroville Dam, using helicopters and heavy construction equipment to place rock and other materials into areas of erosion, the California Department of Water Resources said.

The agency said the reservoir was draining at a rate that should allow it to absorb inflows from forecasted rain. The repair work was being done on the backup channel, known as the emergency spillway, which allows water out of the reservoir when capacity is reached. The primary spillway is also damaged, but it is still useable, officials said.

Water authorities had been relieving pressure on the dam through the concrete-lined primary spillway last week, but lake levels rose as storm water surged in and engineers moderated use of the damaged primary spillway. The rising water topped over the earthen backup spillway, which has a concrete top, for the first time in the dam's 50-year history over the weekend.

When the emergency spillway showed signs of erosion, engineers feared a 30-foot-high section could fail, and about 188,000 people were ordered to evacuate their homes in the Feather River valley below the dam, 65 miles (105 km) north of Sacramento. Both spillways are next to the dam, which itself is sound, engineers say.

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As of Tuesday, officials still had yet to indicate when it would be safe for people to go home.

Storefronts and strip malls were shuttered and traffic was light along California's state highway 99 near Oroville. The packed parking lot of a 7-Eleven convenience store in nearby Live Oak was one of the few signs of life along the route, other than emergency personnel. TRUMP ASKED TO DECLARE EMERGENCY

Authorities say they had averted the immediate danger of a catastrophic failure at the dam that could unleash a wall of water three stories tall on towns below.

"We're doing everything we can to get this dam in shape that they can return and they can live safely without fear. It's very difficult," California Governor Jerry Brown told a news conference on Monday evening.

On Monday, Brown sent a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump asking him to issue an emergency declaration, which would open up federal assistance for the affected communities, after an emergency overflow channel appeared on the brink of collapse.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer on Tuesday told reporters the administration would "make sure we are doing everything we can to attend to this matter" and "help people who have been impacted," adding that the dam was evidence that the United States needed to overhaul its infrastructure, one of Trump's domestic goals. In the meantime, people living beneath the dam were homeless.

Yolanda Davila, 62, of Thermalito, ended up at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico, one of only five in the area taking people with pets. She left home without medicine and dog food in the rush to find shelter before the evacuation deadline.

She said areas such as Sacramento had been issued flood warnings earlier in the week and that authorities should have warned residents near Oroville much sooner.

"We didn't have a plan. All we knew is to head north toward Chico," Davila said. "If I knew we had to get out earlier I would have went to the Bay area."

The earth-filled dam is just upstream and east of Oroville, a town of about 16,000 people. At 770 feet (230 meters) high, the structure, built between 1962 and 1968, is more than 40 feet taller than the Hoover Dam. (Additional reporting by Sharon Bernstein in Sacramento, Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee and Susan Heavey in Washington; Editing by Daniel Trotta, Louise Ireland and Lisa Shumaker)
By Deborah M. Todd OROVILLE, Calif. (Reuters) - Californians who were ordered to evacuate due to a threat from the tallest dam in the United States can now safely return to their homes and businesses may reopen, a county sheriff said on Tuesday. A previous evacuation order has been reduced to an evacuation warning, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea told a news conference, after water management officials drained enough water from the Oroville Dam to relieve pressure and avert a catastrophe. The warning means that people can return home but should be prepared to evacuate again if necessary, Honea said. Officials had ordered 188,000 people living down river from the dam to evacuate. Both the primary and backup drainage channels of the dam, known as spillways, were damaged after a buildup of water that resulted from an extraordinarily wet winter in Northern California that followed years of severe drought. The greatest danger came from the emergency spillway, which allows water out of the reservoir when capacity is reached. Though damaged, the primary spillway was still useable, officials said. More rain was forecast for as early as Wednesday and through Sunday, according to the National Weather Service, but the state Department of Water Resources said the upcoming storms were unlikely to threaten the emergency spillway. Swift action by the department to shore up both spillways while also relieving pressure on the dam averted the immediate danger of a dam failure, Honea said. A failure could have unleashed a wall of water three stories tall on towns below. State officials used 40 trucks carrying 30 tons of rock per hour to reinforce the eroded area while two helicopters dropped rock and other materials into the breach. "We're aggressively attacking the erosion concerns that have been identified," said William Croyle, acting director of the Department of Water Resources. Among those who had fled the danger zone were hundreds of families camped out in cars and tents at Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico, about 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Oroville. "I left everything in my house. I've got a four-bedroom, two-bathroom house and I don't know what's going to happen to it," said William Rigsbay, 53, of Thermalito. Storefronts and strip malls were shuttered and traffic was light along California's state highway 99 near Oroville, about 65 miles (105 km) north of Sacramento. The packed parking lot of a 7-Eleven convenience store in nearby Live Oak was one of the few signs of life along the route, other than emergency personnel. Water authorities had been relieving pressure on the dam through the concrete-lined primary spillway last week, but lake levels rose as storm water surged in and engineers moderated its use. Then the rising water topped over the earthen backup spillway, which has a concrete top, for the first time in the dam's 50-year history over the weekend. When the emergency spillway showed signs of erosion, engineers feared a 30-foot-high section could fail, leading to the evacuation order on Sunday. Both spillways are next to the dam, which itself is sound, engineers say. California Governor Jerry Brown on Monday sent a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump asking him to issue an emergency declaration, which would open up federal assistance for the affected communities. White House spokesman Sean Spicer on Tuesday told reporters the administration would "make sure we are doing everything we can to attend to this matter" and "help people who have been impacted," adding that the dam was evidence that the United States needed to overhaul its infrastructure, one of Trump's domestic goals. (Additional reporting by Gina Cherelus; Writing by Daniel Trotta; Editing by James Dalgleish and Lisa Shumaker)
California Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday evening requested federal assistance with the Oroville Dam emergency spillway crisis as mandatory evacuation orders remained in effect for about 188,000 residents downstream from the nation's tallest earthen dam.

"I respectfully request that you issue an emergency declaration for direct federal assistance for the counties of Butte, Sutter and Yuba, as a result of the potential failure of the Lake Oroville Dam emergency spillway," Brown said in a letter to President Donald Trump.

Added Brown, "As a result of the potential for catastrophic flooding, approximately 188,000 residents from Butte, Sutter and Yuba counties were forced to immediately evacuate their homes for life and safety. Officials are aggressively attempting to lower Lake Oroville's water levels, as another atmospheric river storm system is scheduled to arrive within 48 hours."

In asking for assistance, the governor said Oroville Dam emergency is "of such severity and magnitude that continued effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and affected local governments and supplemental federal assistance is necessary to save lives and to protect property, public health and safety, and to lessen the effects of this serious situation."

Also late Monday, workers scrambled to place giant sacks of rocks into portions of the eroded emergency spillway using heavy-lift helicopters. They also planned to use grout in damaged areas of the emergency spillway to prevent further erosion.

State and local officials worked into the night Sunday to evacuate thousands of residents downstream from the dam after a hole in an emergency spillway raised fears of flash floods. Oroville Dam  California's second-largest dam  is located about 70 miles north of Sacramento.

State officials have denied allegations there was lax safety at the Oroville Dam despite a report of previous warnings about the emergency spillway.

The hole found Sunday in the emergency spillway  essentially a natural hillside of soil, rock and brush  led engineers to shift major water flows away from this unlined channel. The main spillway is damaged from significant concrete erosion but was being utilized to release water from the swollen dam Monday, according to the California Department of Water Resources.

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There have been concerns about Oroville Dam safety since the erosion of the primary spillway was discovered Tuesday . The crippled primary spillway last week was unable to release a sufficient amount of water to keep up with inflows from the plentiful rains in the surrounding area.

State and federal officials failed to heed safety warnings about Oroville more than a decade ago, according to the Mercury News. The report Sunday said three environmental groups warned the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission about the vulnerability of the hillside emergency spillway.

The Oroville Dam was completed in the late 1960s when Ronald Reagan was governor of California.

FERC confirmed last week it had several engineers onsite at the Oroville Dam but Monday the agency didn't respond to requests for comment.

Earlier Monday, DWR officials denied that the state had ignored earlier concerns about the Oroville Dam's emergency spillway or had been lax in inspections there.

"We have a very rigorous schedule of inspections that is determined by state and federal regulators," said DWR spokesman Eric See. "We actually do those inspections annually."

DWR's acting director Bill Croyle defended the agency's handling of the Oroville situation and the emergency spillway's safety when questioned at Monday's press conference.

"I'm not sure anything went wrong," Croyle told reporters. "That system has been monitored. This is the first time it's ever taken water over the system."

The emergency spillway at Oroville Dam was activated Saturday for the first time ever in the dam's 48-year history after the dam reached above its capacity following a barrage of rain in the Northern California region.



However, state engineers on Sunday discovered significant erosion had occurred back towards the face of the emergency spillway at Oroville Dam after huge water outflows, meaning the structural integrity of the dam's auxiliary spillway was at risk. That led state and local authorities Sunday to order an immediate evacuation of communities downstream from the dam.

"If the emergency spillway were to fail, it would send a 30-foot wall of water downstream, resulting in catastrophic flooding," Brown said in his Monday letter to the president.

If there were an uncontrolled discharge of waters from the dam, it would flow downstream to the Feather River and tributaries and flood communities in the eastern Sacramento Valley.

On Saturday, Oroville Dam reached its elevation capacity of 901 feet, which automatically triggers the emergency spillway. At noon on Sunday the elevation topped 902 feet and by Monday at 7 p.m. after major outflows from the primary spillway the elevation was down to around 893 feet, according to the DWR data website.

Engineers were urgently working to lower the lake level by 50 feet in order to prepare for future inflows of water due to storms and precipitation.

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea told reporters at the press conference Monday there was progress with "no water flowing over the emergency spillway...and the lake levels are continuing to fall."

Even so, the sheriff said the evacuation order will remain in effect as experts were still trying to assess the damage at the Oroville Dam emergency spillway.

"We need to make sure that before we allow people back into those areas that it is safe to do so," said Honea. "I recognize that this is displacing a lot of people. I recognize what a hardship it has placed on our community."

Oroville Dam is located in the foothills of the western Sierra Nevada mountain range. The pressure is on state officials to resolve the spillway crisis at Oroville since the heavy snowfall in the Sierras will be melting in the spring and bring more water to area reservoirs.

Rain is forecast in the Oroville area as early as Wednesday night from incoming storms. The arriving storm systems are expected to be significant and remain in the Northern California region through next week.

"This is a series of storms coming in and we could see potentially 4 to 8 inches of precipitation," said Idamis Del Valle, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Sacramento.

DWR's Croyle reiterated Monday that the "dam itself is sound. We have some little pieces that are critical to the operation of the dam that have been impaired."

Also, state officials have stressed that the dam itself is a separate structure from the emergency spillway.

The cost to repair the primary spillway was estimated to be as much as $200 million, state officials said over the weekend. With the significant damage to the emergency spillway, the price tag on repairs is likely to go much higher.

Brown's request for direct federal assistance to the president could help cushion the blow of the repair costs. The state indicated Sunday it might fix the existing spillways or build new ones.

California's governor spoke to emergency response officials at the State Operations Center late Monday, then told reporters afterword he spoke to a Trump cabinet official about the request for assistance but Brown wouldn't divulge the name of the cabinet member other than to say they had been confirmed.

The governor also was asked about Trump's threat to take money away from California could impact the state's request. "I'm sure that California and Washington will work in a constructive way," Brown said. "That's my attitude. There will be different points of view, but we're all one America."





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PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodia's main opposition party named Kem Sokha as its acting president on Sunday after exiled leader Sam Rainsy resigned unexpectedly in the face of a possible ban ahead of elections. Political tension has been growing in the Southeast Asia nation, where Prime Minister Hun Sen is fighting to keep his 30-year-old grip on power and the Cambodia National Rescue Party(CNRP) could stand in his way. An emergency meeting of the party's committee said Kem Sokha, Rainsy's deputy, would become the acting president. "The CNRP knows itself, where it has come from and what it must do," Kem Sokha wrote on Facebook. Kem Sokha had already been filling the role in effect because Rainsy lives in exile. Rainsy announced his resignation on Saturday, saying it was to protect the party. In a video posted on his Facebook page on Sunday, he said there had been a risk that the party would be dissolved ahead of elections. Hun Sen has said the law will be changed to ban anyone who has been convicted of an offence from leading a party. Rainsy has been convicted of a series of defamation charges and has lived in France since 2015 to avoid them. He rejects the charges as politically motivated. Cambodia holds local elections in June and a general election next year. (Reporting by Phnom Penh newsroom; Editing by Stephen Powell)
Protectionist trade policies that could damage Canada's economy were undoubtedly on the agenda when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with President Donald Trump on Monday.

Trump has suggested that the U.S. should renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, the 24-year-old deal that allows for easy passage of goods between the United States, Canada and Mexico. Any change in border tariffs with Canada could be a disaster for a country that depends on its southern neighbor for 75 percent of its exports. The U.S.-Canadian border sees nearly $660 billion in total trade every year, including goods like car parts, petroleum, wood and aluminum.

Oil and vehicles are by far the two most important exports from Canada to the United States, accounting for more than 40 percent of movement across the border.

Companies like GM (GM), Fiat Chrysler (FCA-IT), Ford (F), Honda (7267.T-JP) and Toyota (7203.T-JP) all have assembly plants in Canada. About $58 billion in cars and car parts came from Canada last year, compared with $74 billion from Mexico. While Mexican light vehicle production has exceeded Canadian production since 2008, both grew at a higher rate last year than production in the United States.

"While it is a well-publicized fact that Mexico's domestic consumption is less than 20 percent of the vehicles it manufactures, Mexico is not North America's only export powerhouse," according to a recent report by the Michigan-based Center for Automotive Research. "Canada is even more dependent on exporting outside its own borders, with domestic consumption of just 12 percent of the vehicles it manufactures within its borders."

Changes to the fee-free exports could hit companies hard. About 80 percent of Toyotas produced in Canada are exported to the U.S., executives said in a recent earnings call.

But the United States is still by far the biggest vehicle manufacturer of the three, according to data from the international car manufacturing organizations OICA. And U.S. producers have become reliant on a trade system that allows parts to pass over the border multiple times during assembly. That's why a list of exports from the U.S. to Canada doesn't look very different from the import list.

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Canada is also a major importer and exporter of crude oil. While Canada produces nearly 5 million barrels of crude a day, that oil is coming from western Canada and is difficult to transport to eastern Canadian markets, according to government reports. Still, Canada exports to the U.S. about three times as much fuels and oil as it imports. Both measures have taken a hit in the last year as oil prices have remained relatively low.

Any import tax would likely increase gas prices in the U.S., but it could also move more investment into U.S. oil fields. Prices on other commodities, like natural gas, lumber and beef would also be expected to rise, at least in the short term.



Changes to the trade agreement would likely affect smaller industries, too: Top import categories include breads, pastries and empty medicine capsules; chemical and mineral fertilizers; and tires. Canadian chocolatiers have been growing of late, increasing exports to the U.S. by more than 25 percent in the past two years.

Knotted economies

NAFTA has also provided the U.S. and Canada access to a larger pool of employees, including Canadians working in the U.S. on NAFTA visas.

Overall, Canada is the third-largest exporter of goods to the United States, but it's America's largest export market. It depends on the U.S. for expensive manufactured items like those in the export chart above, and also for billions in agricultural goods like fresh fruit and vegetables, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative.



Canadians invested about $261 billion in the United States in 2014  up 11 percent from 2013. Foreign direct investment could suffer if new policies make the border more restrictive. U.S. companies that sell services in Canada could be affected as well, as American companies export far more services than Canadian firms sell in the U.S.

Canada's proximity to the U.S. could help its economy in other ways, if the U.S. enacts other isolationist policies proposed by the Trump administration. Canadian cities are already lining up to be the next destination for tech firms looking to hire international workers who are no longer able to work in the U.S. , for example.
Ottawa (AFP) - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will seek to quell protectionist headwinds when he travels to Europe to mark the EU parliament's ratification of a landmark free-trade pact with Canada.

In a speech Thursday to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, Trudeau is expected to heap praise on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

"He will talk about how it is the most progressive trade agreement in the world and how it should serve as a model for subsequent trade agreements between countries," an official in his office said.

Trudeau will also emphasize the importance of explaining the benefits of trade agreements to average citizens, given the "anxiety in the global economy particularly with middle-class citizens around the world not feeling the same benefits from the economy as they have in previous generations."

Without that buy-in, he intends to say, countries will face "larger problems."

The speech will come one day after the European Union parliament is scheduled to vote to ratify CETA.

Afterward Trudeau will head to Berlin for a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel. He also will travel to Hamburg, Germany, where he will give a keynote address at a Saint Matthew's dinner.

Coming on the heels of Trudeau's first meeting in Washington with US President Donald Trump this week, the Canadian prime minister, a fervent supporter of free trade, is not expected to directly raise the issue of US protectionism.

"He will reinforce the point that trade deals like (CETA) are important for the world rather than directly addressing any protectionism or anti-trade sentiments that are out there," the official said.

Trump, who took office January 20, repeatedly bashed the North American Free Trade Agreement between the US, Canada and Mexico on the campaign trail and vowed to renegotiate it.

With Merkel, Trudeau is also expected to discuss immigration and refugees, and Canadian security commitments in Latvia.

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NATO contributions will come up. Washington has called on NATO members to boost defense spending to two percent of their economic output. Canada spends less than one percent.

"We will reiterate... that we are quite comfortable with our contribution to NATO," the official said.

On the trip, Trudeau will be accompanied by Canadian ambassador-designate to the EU, Stephane Dion, as well as foreign affairs and trade ministers Chrystia Freeland and Francois-Philippe Champagne, respectively.

At the same time, Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan will travel to Brussels to participate in a meeting of NATO defense ministers and to Munich for a security conference.
Ramat Gan (Israel) (AFP) - A replica of Russian Queen Catherine the Great's imperial crown stole the show at this week's Israeli diamond market in Ramat Gan, as the industry eyes a recovery.

Set with 11,352 diamonds, Catherine II's crown took pride of place at the entrance to an enormous hall on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, as hundreds of dealers from 30 countries struck deals at Israel's sixth International Diamond Week.

Israel is one of the world's largest trading centres for rough and cut diamonds, rivalling Antwerp in Belgium and Mumbai in India.

The sparkling crown made of pearls and diamonds of more than 1,900 carats was on sale for the "modest sum" of $20 million, said Dmitry Moiseev of the Russian diamond group Kristall Smolensk which owns it.

"Contacts with buyers have been established and we are hopeful," he said.

Hundreds of traders discussed deals and examined stones in the large hall, with diamonds on show that had been cut by jewellers into bracelets, rings, earrings or decorations for luxury watches.

Despite the event overlapping with Valentines Day, the atmosphere remained serious.

"Millions are at stake," said Tomer Cohen-Tzion, a professional who cautiously removed a 36-carat stone out from a small black box. It was on sale for $1.5 million.

To protect the riches, the four buildings of the diamond exchange are monitored by sophisticated security technology and a squad of guards.

Visitors had their fingerprints registered on entry to the venue, which was equipped with shops, hairdressing salons, synagogues, air-raid shelters, banks and clinics.

Eli Avidar, managing director of the diamond exchange, said the market was showing a recovery.

"The world has been in a coma for some years," since the 2008 financial crash, he said.

"But the US is on the rise now, and China, which worried us a lot since it was frozen, this year is beginning to rise again. India is also rising."

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Last year, Israel's exports of polished diamonds fell by 6.4 percent to $4.68 billion, but Avidar predicted a rebound -- with up to 20 percent growth.

Major customers include the United States, Belgium as a link to Europe and Hong Kong as a hub for the Chinese market.

- Laser cutting -

For Avidar, the secret of Israel's success is that it specialises in "large stones, or special colours", allowing businesses to absorb the higher labour costs.

"On a stone of $500,000 to a million dollars, (wages) don't matter," he said.

The country relies on new technology, as exemplified by a newly established company specialising in laser stone cutting in the basement of the building.

The market has also opened a new auction centre.

"Israeli diamond dealers will no longer have to travel around the world to buy rough diamonds and they will be able to get supplies on the spot," Avidar said.
Chicago Mayor and former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel visited the White House Monday to discuss priorities for his city and to offer advice to Trump chief of staff Reince Priebus, a White House official confirmed Monday.

President Donald Trump has promised a tougher response on crime in Chicago, threatening to send in the Feds if the city doesnt get its murder rate under the control. If theyre not going to solve the problem  and what youre doing is the right thing  then were going to solve the problem for them because were going to have to do something about Chicago, Trump told African-American leaders earlier this month. Because whats happening in Chicago should not be happening in this country.

Emanuel also me with White House senior advisor and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner about the situation in Chicago, the official confirmed.

It is routine for chiefs of staff to meet with their predecessors, but the timing of the meeting, coming after three weeks of back-biting and turmoil in the West Wing, most notably centered around Trumps controversial executive order on immigration and refugees, was notable.It was a current chief of staff, former chief of staff thing, an official said. Emanuel and Priebus both took part in a luncheon for current and former chiefs of staff hosted by former Obama chief of staff Denis McDonough at the White House last year.

An Emanuel spokesman indicated that the purpose of the meeting was about Chicago priorities.
By Karen Pierog and Dave McKinney

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Chicago Public Schools sued Illinois on Tuesday claiming the state's method of education funding discriminates against its largely black and Hispanic student body.

The lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, uses the state's Civil Rights Act to seek to invalidate Illinois' school funding system. The district wants to avoid the fate of previous school funding lawsuits that faltered in Illinois, which like CPS is reeling from deep financial problems.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who controls CPS, said the state funding formula is "in violation of the civil rights of our children.

It penalizes poor kids in poor school districts and rewards wealthy kids in wealthy school districts - just the opposite of what we should do, Emanuel told reporters.

CPS officials have been critical of a move last year by Republican Governor Bruce Rauner to veto a bill that would have provided the district with $215 million in state money for pensions. The move punched a hole in the district's already shaky budget, leading to spending cuts and unpaid furlough days for teachers.

The nation's third-largest public school system is struggling with pension payments that will jump to $733 million this fiscal year from $676 million in fiscal 2016, as well as drained reserves and debt dependency. The fiscal woes have pushed its general obligation credit ratings deep into the junk category and led investors to demand fat yields for its debt.

The lawsuit also seeks to invalidate Illinois' system for funding teacher pensions. CPS has railed against how it must maintain and fund its own teachers' pension system, while districts in the rest of Illinois are in a state-wide retirement fund that is heavily subsidized by the state.

The lawsuit comes on the heels of a recent attempt to revamp the way Illinois funds schools and the willingness by state Senate leaders to include a new funding formula in a bill package to end the state's nearly 20-month budget impasse.

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ELUSIVE FIX

School funding has been a politically volatile subject in Illinois for decades, pitting low property tax-generating school systems or those with mostly minority students against well-funded systems in wealthy Chicago suburbs much less reliant on state funding. Since the 1970s, the sides have played to a political stalemate in the state legislature, which has rejected efforts at a statewide fix to solve the disparity between the haves and the have-nots in Illinois education.

The social ramifications of the debate came to a head in 2008, when nearly 2,000 Chicago school students boarded buses bound for one of Illinois wealthiest, highest-achieving school districts in Chicagos north suburbs and demanded to be enrolled.

The move orchestrated by advocates of Chicagos public schools and several ministers made its visual point clearly but did nothing to advance the cause for more equitable school funding in Springfield, Illinois capital.

Illinois Secretary of Education Beth Purvis said a report released on Feb. 1 by a bipartisan commission "recommends an equitable school funding formula that defines adequacy according to the needs of students within each school district."

"The governor remains focused on moving forward these recommendations and hopes that CPS will be a partner in that endeavor, Purvis said in a statement.

Language on how to achieve that adequacy or how to come up with an additional $3.5 billion for schools over 10 years, as the report recommended, has yet to surface in the legislature.

General state aid to CPS in fiscal 2017 totals $952.5 million, about the same amount as in fiscal 2016, according to the district's budget.

LONG ODDS

For 40 years, Illinois courts generally have ruled that arguments to change how public schools are funded should play out before the Illinois legislature, not in the states courtrooms. Based on that string of rulings, a prominent public education advocate in Illinois described the Chicago school litigation as a legal long-shot.

I think any time you have this kind of history, it suggests that its a very difficult bar to overcome. Having said that, I think were always hopeful something will happen that will cause the inequity issue to be addressed, said Roger Eddy, executive director of the Illinois Association of School Boards and a former state lawmaker and school superintendent.

Civil rights group the Chicago Urban League along with some parents from various districts including Chicago also sued the state over school funding using the Civil Rights Act. That lawsuit has languished in Cook County Court since 2008.

CPS CEO Forrest Claypool told reporters that his district's case was "very straightforward."

"Im not aware of another case like it because Im not sure there is any place in the country in which the state government itself choosing to fund public education says we are going to give significantly less money to African-American and Latino children in the largest school district in the state and we are going to give a lot more money to the predominately white children in the rest of the state," he said.

Michael Rebell, a professor at Columbia University's Teachers College, who tracks school funding litigation, said plaintiffs have prevailed in 23 states since 1989, while Illinois is one of 16 states where funding challenges have failed.

(Additional reporting by Timothy McLaughlin in Chicago; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
China is set to launch its second aircraft carrier later this year while the third is expected by 2021, according to media reports Monday. The news about the launch comes just months after its first indigenous aircraft carrier, named Liaoning, conducted open-sea training exercises in the Western Pacific.

Beijing is reinforcing its fleet of aircraft carriers with two more domestically built vessels, the South China Morning Post reported. The second aircraft carrier, which is provisionally named Type 001A, will launch in 2017, but may take several more years before it can enter full service in the navy, Li Jie, a Beijing-based military expert told SCMP.

In November 2016, the country declared that the Soviet-era Liaoning, which was commissioned by the Chinese navy in 2012, was "combat ready." The Liaoning, estimated to weigh about 55,000 tonnes, may be based near the disputed territories in South China Sea in a bid to tackle complicated situations.

The Type 001A vessel will weigh about 70,000 tonnes, experts said.

"There are different operational concepts between the Liaoning and Type 001A," Li said. "Based on the Varyag design, the Liaoning was designed with both weapons systems and aircraft in an equally important layout, but the Type 001A has learned from US carriers to focus on how to make aircraft on board more functional."

The Type 002 vessel  the countrys third aircraft carrier  would be equipped with at least three conventional steam launch catapults, a source close to the navy told SCMP.

While the Type 002 vessel will be the first Chinese aircraft carrier to use this type of launch system.

"There are still some technical problems applying nuclear propulsion to the carrier platform, so the Type 002 will still use steam catapults, the source said. But this is still a breakthrough compared with Liaoning and the Type 001A carrier, both of which are equipped with ski-jump ramps."

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The source added: It will [also] take a couple of years for the newest carrier to enter full service after its launch, as it takes two or three years to train carrier-based pilots.

Chinese authorities are yet to release the official names of the vessels.

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Chinese electronics giant Huawei is joining forces with the Philippines' largest telco in the hopes of rolling out a 5G wireless network in the Asian archipelago by 2020, the Filipino company said Tuesday.

Filipinos are among the world's most active Internet users, but the country also has one of the slowest average connection speeds.

Smartphone usage is also steadily growing with about 33 million people owning devices according to researchers.

Philippine Long Distance and Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Huawei agreed last month to conduct joint research and development into fifth-generation broadband wireless technology for the Philippines.

"They are one of the companies that are leading in the research and development of 5G technology," PLDT spokesman Ramon Isberto said about the Chinese firm, adding it is already involved in PLDT's landline and mobile phone services.

Chinese telecoms behemoth Huawei is the world's number three smartphone maker, operating in 170 countries.

The company has laid out an ambitious agenda for the US and global markets -- hoping to become the top producer of smartphones in the next five years despite controversy over its ties to Beijing.

Ren Zhengfei, a former People's Liberation Army (PLA) engineer, founded the company in 1987 but his PLA service has led to concerns of close links with the Chinese military and government, which Huawei has consistently denied.

The US and Australia have previously barred Huawei from involvement in broadband projects over espionage fears.

Relations between Manila and Beijing have been rocky amid conflicting claims over the South China Sea and China's militarisation of the resource-rich waterway.

But under Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who won May elections in a landslide, there has been a warming of bilateral ties as Duterte steers Manila away from the US -- its long-time defence treaty partner.

Isberto said controversy over Huawei's links with the Chinese government was not a concern, stressing that foreign companies only provide technology.

"At the end of the day, we run our networks," he said.
China is beginning to export its own weapon designs, including armed drones, worldwide and is reaching "near-parity" with the West in terms of military technology, according to a report on Tuesday.

The International Institute for Strategic Studies said that China's official defence budget of $145 billion (137 billion euros) last year was 1.8 times higher than those of South Korea and Japan combined.

It also accounted for more than a third of Asia's total military spending in 2016, the IISS annual Military Balance report said, adding that spending in Asia grew by five to six percentage points a year between 2012 and 2016.

Total global military spending instead fell by 0.4 percent in real terms in 2016 compared to 2015, largely due to reductions in the Middle East.

"China's military progress highlights that Western dominance in the field of advanced weapons systems can no longer be taken for granted," IISS director John Chipman said at a presentation in London.

"An emerging threat for deployed Western forces is that with China looking to sell more abroad, they may confront more advanced military systems, in more places, and operated by a broader range of adversaries," Chipman said.

The report found that in terms of air power "China appears to be reaching near-parity with the West".

It said one of China's air-to-air missiles had no Western equivalent and that China had introduced a type of short-range missile that "only a handful of leading aerospace nations are able to develop".

It said China was also developing "what could be the world's longest range air-to-air missile".

- Chinese exports to Africa -

The report noted that Chinese military exports to Africa last year "were moving from the sale of Soviet-era designs to the export of systems designed in China".

It said that Chinese-made armed drones had been seen in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

The report also noted that European states are "only gradually" increasing their defence spending.

Story continues

"While Europe was one of the three regions in the world where defence spending rose in 2015-16, European defence spending remains modest as a proportion of the continent's GDP," the study said.

In 2016, IISS found that only two European NATO states -- Greece and Estonia -- met the aim of spending 2.0 percent of their GDP on defence.

This was down from four European states that met the target in 2015 -- Britain, Greece, Estonia and Poland.

Britain dipped to 1.98 percent of GDP, according to IISS calculations, although that figure was immediately disputed by Britain's defence ministry.

But the IISS said it was more important that countries focus on upgrading their military equipment.

"This is made more urgent because of the degree to which Western states have reduced their equipment and personnel numbers since the Cold War," it said.
A billion-dollar Valentine's Day bounty is on the cards for Japan's retailers as women celebrate the festival of romance by stocking up on 'obligation chocolates' for men.

February 14 is a huge money-spinner for the countrys confectioners, with women traditionally expected to fork out for chocolates and gift them to boyfriends, husbands, colleagues and bosses.

This year's Valentine's Day haul is estimated at 138.5 billion yen ($1.22 billion), up three percent from 2016, according to Kinenbi Culture Laboratory, an organisation that researches Japanese holidays and other annual events.

Part of the growth, according to the organisation, is due to Valentine's Day falling on a weekday for the first time in three years, meaning more women will buy "giri choco" -- or obligation chocolates -- for the men they work with or for.

On Monday, 27-year-old Maika Suzuki visited a floor dedicated to Valentine's Day at the Mitsukoshi department store in Tokyo's Nihonbashi area to buy more than 30 boxes of chocolates for her male co-workers.

Such chocolates "are for expressing gratitude to men," she explained as she surveyed products on offer from 110 manufacturers.

"Japanese men are happy to get chocolates" as there is a culture in Japan that women give them to men, she said.

"We can also boost their pride" by giving them chocolates on Valentine's Day, she added.

Although Japan is one of the world's most efficient and high-tech societies, marketeers have exploited the countrys rigid gender roles and social pressures to conform.

Valentine's Day first appeared in Japan in the late 1950s when a firm called Mary Chocolate advertised February 14 as "the only day of the year a woman professes her love through presenting chocolate" -- establishing it as Japan's currency of romance.

But confectionery maker Ezaki Glico said in its 2016 report that only 8.7 percent of 312 female respondents gave chocolates to the men they love.

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In a sign of equality, however, the country next month celebrates White Day, a Japanese event confectioners cooked up in the 1980s to keep the cash tills ringing that sees men buy a white gift such as vanilla cookies, marshmallows and handkerchiefs for the women in their lives.

Marie Kondo, 24, bought nearly 30 boxes of chocolates for the men in her office, forking out a total of 10,000 yen.

"But I'm going to spend more for myself," she said, adding that she plans to buy chocolates from Sadaharu Aoki, a high-end Japanese chocolatier.

"To me, Valentine's Day is not a day to confess love."
GENEVA (Reuters) - Soldiers targeting the Kamwina Nsapu militia group in central Democratic Republic of Congo killed at least 101 people between Feb. 9 and Feb. 13, including 39 women, the U.N. said on Tuesday. The soldiers fired indiscriminately with machine guns when they saw the militia fighters, who were armed mainly with machetes and spears, human rights spokeswoman Liz Throssell said, citing sources in the country. "We are deeply concerned at the reported high number of deaths, which if confirmed would suggest excessive and disproportionate use of force by the soldiers," she said. Hundreds have died and tens of thousands have been uprooted in central Congo in recent months in battles between security forces and the militia, who are seeking to avenge the death of their leader Kamwina Nsapu. He was killed by the Congolese armed forces last August, after vowing to rid Congo's Kasai-Central province of all state security forces, accusing them of abusing the local population. "It appears that since then the militia have become radicalised and they are attacking state institutions, what they see as the symbols of the state. The actual roots of the conflict are very deep and very complex," Throssell said. The authority of some customary chiefs is recognised by the government and can be passed from father to son, but Kamwina Nsapu was not officially recognised. Analysts say militia violence in Congo, a tinderbox of conflicts linked to land, ethnicity and mineral resources, has been exacerbated by President Joseph Kabila's failure to step down when his constitutional mandate expired in December. Throssell did not have an estimate of the total size of the Kamwina Nsapu militia, but said there had been several attacks involving over 100 militia members. "They have a lot of popular support," she added. Many of the militia fighters are children but Throssell could not confirm if children were among the dead. The majority of the dead were thought to be militia members, but 39 women were caught in the firing line and killed during an incident in a market on Feb. 9, she said. The clashes took place in and around the town of Tshimbulu, about 160 km (100 miles) south of the provincial capital Kananga, she said. (Reporting by Tom Miles; Editing by Louise Ireland and Pritha Sarkar)
Story by Moses Kyeyune

Former Chief of Defence Forces Gen Edward Katumba Wamala is expected to appear before Parliaments Appointments Committee to be vetted as State Minister for Works.

Wamala was last month appointed to the position in a reshuffle that saw Gen. David Muhoozi replacing him as Chief of Defence Forces.

The committee will also vet newly appointed Ambassadors including the former defence Minister, Chrispus Kiyonga who was posted to Beijing-China replacing Charles Wagidoso, and the former coordinator of Intelligence Brig Ronnie Barya who was named Ugandas ambassador to South Sudan.

However, the Kyabazinga William Gabula who was also appointed Ambassador in charge of special duties in the office of the president is reportedly missing from the list.
Kellyanne Conway, President Trumps counselor, struggled Tuesday to defend her assertion that former national security adviser Michael Flynn enjoyed the full confidence of the president just hours before Flynn offered his resignation.

On NBCs Today show, Conway was grilled by host Matt Lauer, who asked her if she was out of the loop inside the White House.

No, not at all, Conway said. Both were true.

[ Timeline: The rise and fall of Michael Flynn ]

In an appearance on MSNBC Monday afternoon, Conway had suggested that Flynn had Trumps full backing despite a growing firestorm over Flynns conversations with Russias ambassador to the United States.

The Washington Post reported Monday night that Flynn had discussed American sanctions against Russia in the wake of Kremlin interference in the 2016 presidential election, which may have violated the law. According to multiple reports, Flynn initially told Vice President Mike Pence and other White House officials that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian ambassador, then later claimed he did not recall the discussion.

Shortly after Conways full confidence remark, White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters that Trump was evaluating Flynns role.

Hours later, Flynn resigned as national security adviser.

By nights end, Mike Flynn had decided it was best to resign, Conway said on the Today show. He knew he had become a lightning rod, and he made that decision.

Lauer challenged Conways timeline of events.

Had he not resigned, the president would have continued with him as national security adviser even though he misled the vice president and the administration? Lauer asked.

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That is what became unsustainable, actually, Conway replied. I think misleading the vice president really was the key here.

Youre saying that was the straw that broke the camels back, Lauer said. But the White House knew about that last month.

According to the Post, the Justice Department warned the White House in January that Flynn had misrepresented his discussions with the Russian ambassador  and that Flynn was vulnerable to future blackmailing by the Kremlin.

Conway pointed out that Flynn continued in his role as national security adviser, participating in the daily briefings and sitting in on Trumps meetings with world leaders.

As time wore on, the situation became unsustainable, Conway said.

Kellyanne, that makes no sense, Lauer shot back.

On ABCs Good Morning America, Conway was asked again about the Justice Departments warning that Flynns calls with the Russian ambassador put him at risk for blackmail.

I cant reveal what the White House knew or didnt know, Conway replied. And who in the White House did or didnt know.

For his part, Trump tweeted Tuesday that the real story was all the leaks coming from his administration.

The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington? Will these leaks be happening as I deal on N.Korea etc?  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 14, 2017

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By Andrew M. Seaman (Reuters Health) - Women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer are more likely to keep most of their hair with the help of devices that cool the scalp, according to two new studies. The devices work like refrigerators by sending fluid into a special helmet to cool the scalp before, during and after chemotherapy treatments. Cooling likely protects the hair by constricting blood vessels in the scalp and reducing chemical activity. "I think its a very exciting tool, because hair loss is such a horrible manifestation of chemotherapy," said Dr. Harold Burstein, a breast cancer specialist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School in Boston. "Whether youre a mom with young children, a teacher in a classroom or a corporate lawyer, the visible part of the chemo experience has really been that hair loss," he told Reuters Health. Cooling caps are relatively new to the United States but are established in other countries, according to one of the new studies published in JAMA. Barriers to their use in the U.S. included a lack of approval from the Food and Drug Administration and questions about their safety and effectiveness. For the new studies, one team of researchers led by Dr. Hope Rugo of the University of California, San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and another team led by Dr. Julie Nangia of the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston tested the effectiveness of two different cooling caps. Rugo's team tested a device known as DigniCap on 122 women being treated for stage one or two breast cancer at five medical centers. The women wore the cap for 30 minutes before their chemotherapy treatment, during the treatment and for 90 to 120 minutes after it ended. Scalp temperature was maintained at 3 degrees Celsius (37 degrees Fahrenheit) during treatment. Pictures were taken of participants' scalps and hair over the course of their treatments. The women measured their hair loss based on those pictures. Four weeks after their last chemotherapy treatment, about 66 percent of the women estimated they'd lost less than half of their hair. The study's results also suggest women using the cooling caps had better quality of life. A handful of women using the cap reported mild headaches and only three dropped out due to feeling cold. Nangia's team reported on 142 women at seven medical centers who were randomly assigned to the Orbis Paxman Hair Loss Prevention System or no scalp cooling while receiving chemotherapy for stage one or two breast cancer. As in Rugo's study, the scalp cooling device was worn before, during and after treatment. Hair loss was assessed by a healthcare worker. After four chemotherapy treatments, about 51 percent of women using the cooling device still retained at least half their hair, compared to none of the women who hadn't used a cooling cap. Unlike Rugo's study, Nangia's team included women who received anthracycline-based chemotherapy, in which hair loss is less likely to be inhibited by cooling caps. About 16 percent of women receiving that type of chemotherapy while using cooling caps kept at least half of their hair. Nangia told Reuters Health that differences in results at the different medical centers were likely due to improper fitting of the caps to participants' heads. Cap placement got better as the study progressed, however. Also, she cautioned, there will always be some hair loss even with the cooling caps. "I would say that most women would have some thinning of up to 30 percent of their hair," said Nangia. Rugo said women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer can inquire about cooling caps, but only one device - the DigniCap - is cleared by the FDA to be marketed in the U.S. "I think the biggest issue for patients is the cost and the fact that you are cold," she told Reuters Health. Depending on the location and number of treatments, DigniCap typically costs between $1500 to $3000 per patient and is not covered by insurance, said Rugo. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2lcXitI, http://bit.ly/2lcNsb6, http://bit.ly/2ld5fiA and http://bit.ly/2ld8I0x JAMA, online February 14, 2017. (This version of the story corrects DigniCap treatment price to $1,500 to $3,000 per patient in the last paragraph)
Couples that battle together, stay together  just ask these New Jersey newlyweds, who tied the knot after their cancer diagnoses threw off their many previous plans to get married.

Read: Couple Gets Surprise Wedding, Planned in 2 Days With No Budget So Bride's Ailing Mom Could Attend

Ashley Wood and Kevin Sochanchak were married in an emotional ceremony at the Adelphia Restaurant Saturday in Deptford Township, after winning an all-expenses-paid wedding from a social media contest sponsored by the catering hall last December.

It was everything I dreamt it would be and more, Wood told InsideEdition.com. It was like a fairytale ending to everything that weve been through.

They met in 2006, when they were 15.

At 18, Wood was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

Three years later, Sochanchak was diagnosed with Stage 4 stomach and esophageal cancer. At the time, he was given six months to live.

It was just full of shock to find out that he had cancer [after] everything we had already been through, Wood said.

Despite fighting for their health through treatments and different hospital visits, Sochanchak proposed on February 11, 2015, which happened to be their nine-year anniversary.

They continued to put off their wedding until this December, when they decided to enter a contest for a free wedding, courtesy of their favorite venue in the area.

"People had written letters, nominating us for the contest," Wood explained. Everyone kind of voted online and we won. It was like the perfect Christmas present."

Even though they had originally hoped to get married after the summer, with all the hospital stuff, we decided we might do something smaller, or keep it nonchalant, Wood explained.

Read: Boy, 5, Battling Cancer to Receive 1,000 Valentine's Day Cards Collected by Community

The couple married on February 11, exactly 11 years after they first got together.

Story continues

Wood went into remission last year, but just days before the wedding, Sochanchak was placed in hospice care.

"Were just going to be there for one another," Wood said. "Enjoy every moment. Even if we get to bad times, its going to be okay in the end."

Watch: Bride Battling Terminal Breast Cancer Gets Free Wedding of Her Dreams: 'It Was Perfect'

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Lawyers for two states challenging President Trumps sweeping limits on immigration could soon get the chance to demand information from key government officials on how they put together that executive order, and what they intended it to do.

Judge James L. Robart

That opportunity could result from a new order issued Monday afternoon by a federal trial judge in Seattle  the same judge who had temporarily blocked enforcement anywhere in the nation of the January 27 presidential order targeting foreign nationals seeking entry to the U.S. from Mideast nations.

U.S. District Judge James L. Robart cleared the way for a formal trial in his court on whether the Trump order is unconstitutional and whether it violates federal discrimination law. Those questions were not decided in a final way when the judge stopped enforcement of the executive order.

A key part of a full trial is what lawyers call the discovery process. That is the way each side in a lawsuit makes demands for information from the other side to fill out the facts on which legal judgments ultimately will be made.

Depending upon how free-ranging the judge allows that process to be, it can be deeply intrusive.

In the courthouse fight over the immigration order, for example, lawyers for the suing states  Washington and Minnesota  are expected to try to gather evidence that the executive order was intended to discriminate against Muslims on the basis of religion and was designed to favor Christians and was framed to deny fair procedures on who can be admitted to the U.S. They are likely to demand testimony under oath from officials who were involved in drafting the executive order. The legal right to demand such testimony from President Trump himself may be doubtful.

Judge Robart agreed to let the case go forward to a trial after rejecting a plea by Trump Administration lawyers to put everything on hold in his court until the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit decides whether it will reconsider a decision by a three-judge Circuit Court panel last week. The panel had refused a government plea to allow it to begin enforcing the immigration restrictions.

Story continues

Reconsideration of that order, if granted, would be before an 11-judge (en banc) Circuit Court. That court is expected to hold a vote on rehearing soon  perhaps later this week. Legal briefs for and against rehearing are due on Thursday.

Even if rehearing were to be granted, it is not clear whether that would legally interrupt the ongoing proceedings in Judge Robarts District Court. Lawyers for the two states have argued that the two proceedings are separate, so the trial can go forward.

Although some government officials have said that they might take the dispute on to the Supreme Court, that could not happen until after the Circuit Court rehearing issue is settled, one way or the other.

Meanwhile, a federal judge in Alexandria, Va., on Monday night barred the Trump Administration from enforcing the immigration restrictions, but limited the order so that the executive order only protects Virginia residents and institutions.

U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema noted that this limited scope was what the state of Virginia had sought when it first filed its challenge. She rejected the states changed plea seeking a nationwide ban on enforcement. She did note, however, that enforcement nationwide already was barred by the ruling from Judge Robart in Seattle.

The Virginia judge ruled that Virginia officials were likely to succeed, when the case goes to trial, with the argument that the order discriminates against Muslims based on their religion.

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For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android.

Legendary journalist Lyle Denniston is Constitution Dailys Supreme Court correspondent. Denniston has written for us as a contributor since June 2011 and has covered the Supreme Court since 1958. His work also appears on lyldenlawnews.com, where part of this story first appeared.

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Zurich (AFP) - Credit Suisse on Tuesday reported a net loss of 2.4 billion Swiss francs (2.2 billion euros, $2.3 billion) in 2016, after agreeing to a massive settlement with US authorities over its role in the sub-prime crisis.

Switzerland's second biggest bank also said it planned to cut between 5,500 to 6,500 more jobs in 2017 as chief executive Tidjane Thiam presses on with a major effort to reduce costs.

In a statement, Credit Suisse said its net loss was narrower than a year-earlier figure of 2.9 million Swiss francs.

"2016 was the first full year of implementing our new strategy and it was a challenging and busy 12 months," Thiam said.

"We have significantly reduced our fixed operating cost base and increased our operating leverage."

Last month, the US authorities announced a $5.28 billion settlement with Credit Suisse over its role in the sale of the kind of toxic securities that led to the global financial crisis of 2008.

Federal prosecutors say Credit Suisse has admitted that between 2005 and 2007 it knowingly deceived investors in the sale of complex securities derived from residential mortgages.

The system-wide failure of such securities in 2008 caused a cascading wave of bankruptcies and crises that touched off the Great Recession, which cost tens of millions of jobs around the world.

"We have reached an agreement with the US Department of Justice on the ... matter, thus removing a major source of uncertainty for our future," Thiam said on Tuesday.

- Cost cutting -

With the bank's US case resolved, Thiam can redouble attention on a reform effort he laid out after taking charge of Credit Suisse following a stint leading insurance giant Prudential.

Thiam wants the bank to focus more on wealth management and de-emphasise its riskier investment banking operation.

But he also prioritised trimming operational spending. The expected job losses announced Tuesday will add to the 7,250 positions cut in 2016, mostly in New York and London.

Story continues

Boosting capital is another top Thiam priority, and much attention has been focused on tentative plans for an initial public offering for its Swiss unit.

Thiam on Tuesday told the Bloomberg news agency that the Swiss IPO was "a good option" but cautioned that other scenarios were "continuously" being looked at to improve Credit Suisse's capital.

On the Swiss stock exchange, Credit Suisse shares were outperforming the overall market, showing a gain of 2.9 percent to 15.19 Swiss francs, while the blue-chip SMI index was little changed.
Berlin (AFP) - After six years of silence cult Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki returned to the screen Tuesday with "The Other Side of Hope", a call for mercy towards migrants seeking asylum in Europe.

The new comedy-drama drew cheers at a press preview at the Berlin film festival, one of Europe's top cinema showcases, where it is in competition for the Golden Bear top prize to be awarded Saturday.

Gritty and laconic in typical Kaurismaki style, "The Other Side of Hope" comes on the heels of his 2011 movie "Le Havre", and is the second instalment in a planned migration-themed trilogy.

The film recounts the melancholy fate of Syrian migrant Khaled, played by Syrian actor Sherwan Haji, who ends up against his will in remote Finland -- a hostile place on first impression peopled by taciturn, cold Finns.

A hapless former travelling salesman named Wikstrom, who is trying to get started in the restaurant business and who is played by Sakari Kuosmanen, finds Khaled sleeping behind his skip.

They first greet each other suspiciouslybut Wikstrom eventually decides to help Khaled start a new life, realising the Syrian has even bigger troubles than his own marital woes.

Kaurismaki told reporters that many Finns saw the arrival of Muslim refugees as a kind of "invasion" and that he aimed to challenge that view.

"I was very modest in wanting to change the audience. I want to change the world," he said with a wry smile.

"Europe is a tiny place. First I change Europe, then we go to Asia."

He condemned what he called an erosion of European democratic values but said Germany had set a positive example, after Chancellor Angela Merkel's government allowed in more than one million asylum seekers since 2015.

"In this sense I respect Mrs Merkel... the only politician who seems to be at least interested in the problem," he said, speaking in English.

Like many European countries, Finland has tightened its asylum policies to reduce the flow of migrants from war-torn regions such as Syria and Iraq.

Story continues

- 'Ignored' refugees suffer -

The film's 31-year-old lead actor Haji, born in northeastern Syria, ended up in Helsinki a year before the Syrian conflict erupted in 2011, after falling in love with a Finnish woman in Damascus.

"The reason why I consider myself a semi-refugee is that I cannot go back," the soft-spoken Haji, whose own family has since been forced to flee Syria, told AFP in Helsinki.

During his acting studies in Damascus, Haji was introduced to Kaurismaki's work, first with "The Man Without a Past" (2002), which won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival.

But little did he guess that years later his first screen role would be as a Syrian refugee in a Kaurismaki movie.

"This movie gives more depth to (refugees). They are human beings, who have loved ones, are loved by someone, they have history, feelings, pain, suffering. One of the sufferings of a refugee is to be ignored," Haji said.

Haji's Finnish co-star, Sakari Kuosmanen, 60, has acted in at least a dozen Kaurismaki films.

"People should do more civic activities and rebel a little more," Kuosmanen said, in a nod to his character Wikstrom who helps Khaled off the street.

Kaurismaki's previous film "Le Havre", a tale about an African immigrant boy in the eponymous French port city, was awarded the International Federation of Film Critics Prize at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.
Singapore warns of a growth in online scams.

The major stakeholders of United Engineers Ltd (UEL) have narrowed down their list of potential bidders to five companies, including Ascendas-Singbridge and Perennial Real Estate Holdings, reported Bloomberg, citing sources privy to the matter. American private equity firm KKR & Co., Malaysias Samling Group and Mulpha International Bhd were also shortlisted, and the five were invited to begin due diligence. Read more here.

The Real Estate Developers Association of Singapore (Redas) has called on the government to review the property tax for vacant private land, and to grant property tax exemption for land slated for, or under development, and also buildings undergoing renovations. Under the Property Tax Act, the annual value of vacant land is assessed at five percent of its capital value, on the assumption that the land is freehold. Redas, however, noted that a freehold sites annual value tends to be 10 percent higher compared to that of a 99-year leasehold site. Click here for the full story.

Love may be in the air on Saint Valentine's Day but authorities in Australia, Malaysia and Singapore warned Monday of a growth in online scams cheating lonely people out of their savings. Romance scams cost Australians more money than any other form of cheating, with those aged over 45 more likely to be stung, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said. Get to know the full story here.





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In a statement criticizing the White House and President Trumps former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, Democratic leaders in Congress cited tweets from a fake Flynn account.

Tuesday afternoon, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats in the House addressed the press with a joint statement regarding the resignation of Flynn and the lack of an immediate Republican-led investigation into the retired generals contact with Russia.

[ Timeline: The rise and fall of Michael Flynn ]

Just this morning, Flynn tweeted and this is a quote, scapegoat, end of quote, said Rep. Elijah Cummings. Scapegoat. He basically describes himself as a scapegoat. And so I believe we need to hold a public hearing with Flynn to get to the bottom of this.

Cummings was citing the account @GenMikeFlynn, which has just over 3,000 followers and now includes the term Parody Account in the bio. The New York Times and Newsmax Media also cited the account in reports Tuesday.

I didnt know until I heard from our colleague that the tweet from Gen. Flynn was scapegoat, said Pelosi following Cummings statement. Do you know what a scapegoat is? In a community where people want to absolve themselves of guilt, they get a goat and they heap all of the ills onto the goat and then they run the goat out of town.

I have a tweet Im going to make, and Im telling my staff right now, continued Pelosi. Its not scapegoat, its stonewall, and its exactly what the Republicans in Congress are doing.

The account for the Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee  of which Cummings is the ranking member  later tweeted an apology:

Yes, sorry, to correct the record  just learned like many others that the Flynn tweet this morning was fake. https://t.co/In9XO3r55h  House OversightDems (@OversightDems) February 14, 2017

Flynn had a verified Twitter account, @GenFlynn, but deleted it in January following criticism over some of his posts. Tuesday afternoon the account reactivated, with the last message from December 24. Flynns son, Michael Flynn Jr., who was briefly part of the Trump transition team, has tweeted links to conspiracy sites. The younger Flynn departed the team after tweeting an endorsement of Pizzagate, the conspiracy theory that resulted in a gunman firing shots at the Washington restaurant Comet Ping Pong.

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Flynn Jr. tweeted and then deleted a message Tuesday morning that a disinformation campaign against his father had won.

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Mukono Municipality Member of Parliament Betty Nambooze has faulted the education technical department for not guiding schools on how to have the minimum requirements to operate.

Reacting to the ongoing operation of schools closure where over 200 schools have been closed in Mukono District, she has accused the education department of extorting money from schools.

Nambooze says most of the private schools being closed are in better conditions than several government aided schools that have been left to operate.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The resignation of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn elicited a simple but persistent question Tuesday from congressional Democrats: What did President Donald Trump know and when did he know it?

But many Republicans brushed past this echo of Watergate and another Republican president, Richard Nixon, to maintain that no special investigation was warranted and the existing Republican-led committees will handle the probe, mostly in private.

After Flynn stepped down late Monday following reports he misled Vice President Mike Pence about contacts with a Russian diplomat, Democrats demanded the formation of an independent, bipartisan panel to examine possible links between the Trump administration and Russia, including when the president learned Flynn had discussed U.S. sanctions with a Russian diplomat.

This latest push builds on an earlier call by Democrats for an independent inquiry into Moscow's meddling in the 2016 election to help Trump beat Democrat Hillary Clinton.

"The American people deserve to know the full extent of Russia's financial, personal and political grip on President Trump and what that means for our national security," House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement.

At issue is whether Flynn broke diplomatic protocol and potentially the law by discussing U.S. sanctions with Russia's ambassador to the U.S., Sergey Kislyak, before Trump's inauguration. The sanctions were imposed in December by former President Barack Obama after U.S. intelligence reported that Russia had interfered in the presidential election.

"Who knew about this and when? Did the president know and when did he know it? Did others at Trump transition team authorize conversations about sanctions?" asked Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., the No. 2 House Democrat. "After the White House was informed, who made the decision to allow Flynn to continue to serve despite the fact he misled the administration?"

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Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said the Trump administration ought to want a "public airing" of Flynn's actions and the Russian government's attempts to influence the American political system.

"The questions are so numerous and it's really hard to get past them and begin to look infrastructure or tax reform or even confirming a Supreme Court nominee," McCaskill said.

House Speaker Paul Ryan said Flynn made the right decision to step down. But Ryan sidestepped questions about whether an inquiry is warranted.

"I'm not going to prejudge any of the circumstances surrounding this until we have all of the information," the Wisconsin Republican said.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah, the Republican chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said "the situation has taken care of itself" when asked by reporters if his panel would investigate Flynn's actions.

"Sounds like he did the right thing, he didn't want to be a distraction," Chaffetz said of Flynn. "And it was getting to be a distraction."

Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., the chairman of the House Intelligence committee, said he intended to ask the FBI how details from Flynn's conversation with Kislyak were disclosed to reporters.

"I'm just shocked that nobody's covering the real crime here," Nunes said. "You have an American citizen who had his phone call recorded and then leaked to the media."

Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., the Senate Intelligence Committee chairman, said his panel will "continue to do aggressive oversight" behind closed doors. "We don't do that in public," he said.

But Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, the Republican chairman of Foreign Relations Committee, said Congress needs to do "whatever it takes" to resolve questions about "Russia's relationship" to the 2016 presidential election.

"This is going to go on forever if we don't address it," Corker said.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he wants to know if Flynn initiated the conversations with Kislyak or if he was directed to make contact with the ambassador. He said Republicans would be "pretty upset" if after being elected former President Barack Obama had reached out to Iran or Iraq to change Bush administration policies.

"The one-president-at-a-time policy I think has served the country well," Graham said. "The idea that (Flynn) did this on his own without any direction is a good question to ask."

Republican Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Flynn's resignation "is a troubling indication of the dysfunction of the current national security apparatus."

"General Flynn's resignation also raises further questions about the Trump administration's intentions toward Vladimir Putin's Russia, including statements by the president suggesting moral equivalence between the United States and Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine, annexation of Crimea, threats to our NATO allies, and attempted interference in American elections," McCain said in a statement.

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Associated Press writers Alan Fram and Erica Werner contributed to this report.

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Follow Richard Lardner on Twitter: http://twitter.com/rplardner
(WASHINGTON)  Democrats demanded a special investigation Tuesday into possible links between President Donald Trumps administration and Russia, including when Trump learned that his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, had discussed U.S. sanctions with a Russian diplomat.

The American people deserve to know the full extent of Russias financial, personal and political grip on President Trump and what that means for our national security, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement.

Flynns resignation late Monday also prompted Democrats to press again for a no-holds-barred probe of Russias alleged interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Republican leaders have refused so far to establish a special bipartisan committee to examine Moscows meddling, arguing that the existing congressional committees are capable of handling the inquiries. But theyll be under pressure to reverse course after Flynn stepped down following reports he misled Vice President Mike Pence about contacts with a Russian diplomat.

House Speaker Paul Ryan said Flynn made the right decision to step down but he sidestepped questions about whether an inquiry is warranted.

You cannot have the national security adviser misleading the vice president and others, the Wisconsin Republican said. Im not going to prejudge any of the circumstances surrounding this until we have all of the information.

At issue is whether Flynn broke diplomatic protocol and potentially the law by discussing U.S. sanctions with Moscow before Trumps inauguration.

Republican Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Flynns resignation is a troubling indication of the dysfunction of the current national security apparatus.

General Flynns resignation also raises further questions about the Trump administrations intentions toward Vladimir Putins Russia, including statements by the president suggesting moral equivalence between the United States and Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine, annexation of Crimea, threats to our NATO allies, and attempted interference in American elections, McCain said in a statement.

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California Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, says he wants to know whether Flynn was acting on Trumps behalf or whether Trump or anyone in his administration approved his contacts with Russia. He said Flynns resignation does not end questions over his contacts with the Russians.

Pelosi said in a statement that Congress must call for a bipartisan, independent, outside commission to fully investigate Russias influence on the administration and the election.

The truth and consequences of the Russia connection: the American people deserve to know the full extent of Russias financial, personal and political grip on President Trump and what that means for our national security, she said.

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., said wrote on her Twitter account that its time for a select bipartisan committee on the involvement of Russia in this administration and election. Period. Stop. Public hearings.

Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said revelations about Flynns interactions with Russia raise grave questions about who in the White House knew about Flynns vulnerability to blackmail and exploitation by the Russian government, and when they knew about it.

Smith called for a full investigation that covers any and all connections to these events that could undermine the national security of the United States.

Rep. Eliot Engel of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said a rigorous bipartisan investigation is needed because there are far too many questions unanswered about this administrations ties to Russia.

But Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, the chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said the situation has taken care of itself when asked by reporters if his panel would investigate Flynns actions.

Sounds like he did the right thing, he didnt want to be a distraction, Chaffetz said of Flynn. And it was getting to be a distraction.
Distraught relatives in Taiwan gathered to mourn loved ones on Tuesday after a bus carrying elderly local tourists flipped on its side and left 33 dead in one of the island's worst-ever road accidents.

The group of 44 had been returning from a trip to see seasonal cherry blossoms at a farm in central Taichung region when their bus veered off a highway on Monday night on the outskirts of Taipei.

Television footage showed the top of the vehicle ripped off, with occupants tossed onto the roadside.

The latest victim died Tuesday morning after suffering multiple injuries and internal bleeding, Wanfang Hospital said, bringing the toll to 33.

It was the latest in a series of deadly incidents in Taiwan after a bus fire last July killed 25 Chinese holidaymakers.

Police are investigating whether the bus in the latest crash was speeding at the time, according to reports.

Dashcam footage reportedly from a vehicle behind the bus shows it turning off the main highway onto an adjoining road. It then flipped over, leaving behind a mangled pile of metal which was cleared later by cranes.

The bus driver's daughter identified as Kang Yi-jen described her father as overworked, according to local media.

"I think he was fatigued while driving... my father worked very hard to pay our mortgage and tuition but they are trying to lay the blame on him," she told reporters.

Some reports said the driver of the bus had been working for 14 hours straight.

But Ringo Lee of the Travel Agent Association of Taiwan said the driver had had "sufficient rest" before taking the group to the popular scenic area of Wuling.

Passengers were asleep at the time of the crash. One survivor described it as "hell."

"The bus was lopsided when it was passing the turn and people were waking up and screaming," 54-year-old Hsiao Shiu-hua told the China Times.

- Prayers for the dead -

Relatives returned to the scene of the accident Tuesday to perform a religious ritual for the dead. They threw banknotes towards the slope where the bus crashed and chanted prayers.

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Family members, some in tears, also gathered at a Taipei funeral parlour where some bodies are being stored. One said the agency that organised the trip should "take responsibility" for the disaster.

Dozens of Buddhist volunteers flanked the entrance to the hall, praying for the dead.

Ente Li was at the parlour with his 37-year-old cousin, whose sister and parents were killed.

"They were a family of four living together -- he didn't feel like going along," Li told AFP.

President Tsai Ing-wen visited the funeral parlour Tuesday afternoon and spoke briefly to relatives.

The driver had two outstanding traffic violations, including one for not wearing a seatbelt, but no drunk-driving record, according to the transport ministry.

Ringo Lee added that the 19-year-old bus was a "high-class vehicle". The ministry said it was due for a check in April.

An investigation into last year's fatal bus inferno outside Taipei found the driver had intentionally set fire to it in a suicide bid before it veered into a crash barrier.

Earlier this month, 21 Chinese tourists suffered injuries after their bus rammed into a railway bridge in southern Taiwan.
When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the White House on February 15th, the visit will be unlike any otherand not only because of the turmoil roiling the Trump administration following the resignation of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. After 11 years as prime minister, and countless meetings with American presidents and secretaries of state, Netanyahu will be greeted for the first time in the Oval Office by a Republican president. For a leader who has long endured ideological, stylistic, and personal gaps with two Democratic presidents, while being hailed as a soulmate by GOP Members of Congress and presidential candidates, he will hardly be able to believe his luck.

Indeed, relations with this particular Republican president could be especially warm. Netanyahu and President Donald Trump benefit from a valuable channel of communication between Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer and Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, each of them perhaps the single person closest to their respective leader. It is widely expected that Trump and Netanyahu will find relatively easy agreement on a number of issues.

Recommended: Why Flynn's Resignation Matters

Both have advocated tougher responses, perhaps including new sanctions, to Iran's ballistic missile program and other provocative regional activities, while maintaining, for now, the basic structure of the Iran nuclear deal. Trump has also shown interest in Netanyahus argument that the strategic alignment between Israel and the Sunni Arab states with regard to Iran and Sunni jihadist groups creates an opportunity to build a new regional security architecture, thaw Israeli-Arab ties, and use those bonds to overcome what Netanyahu sees as Palestinian weakness and recalcitrance that impede progress toward peace.

Finally, the leaders may be within reach of an accord on West Bank settlement construction, in which the United States would not criticize Israeli settlement activity within the main settlement blocs, comprising perhaps 8 percent of the West Bank and the bulk and of the Israeli settler population. A reciprocal commitment from Israel not to expand the footprint of existing settlements or build new ones could be harder to come by, due to strong opposition within Netanyahus coalition. But the White Houses repeated statements indicating its concern that further settlement construction is not helpful to prospects for peace can actually assist Netanyahu in restraining calls for aggressive settlement expansion. Meanwhile, both sides seem prepared to put the move of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalemwhich Trump had controversially pledged to do over the objections of Palestinianson the back burner.

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To a significant degree, these are all things that Netanyahu will want from Trump, and that Trump, presumably, will want to give. But Trump will want something, too. And he will be in a position to demand it.

Recommended: Why Trump's Foreign Policy Will Remain Dysfunctional

The signs of this dynamic have been clear for some time. Netanyahus surprising tweet endorsing the president's proposed wall on the Mexican border, comparing it to Israels southern border fence and calling it a great idea (which earned him a rebuke from Mexico), was a clear favor from Netanyahu to Trump. An inconvenient date for the meetingback-to-back with Netanyahus long-planned trip to Australia and Singapore, taking him out of Israel for some 10 days in the midst of swirling coalition tensions and police investigations of corruption allegations against the prime minister and his familywas another sign. And the fiasco surrounding the White Houses omission of Jews from its statement on Holocaust Remembrance Day, and tripling down in defense of the decision, suggest the American side was not concerned about putting Netanyahu in an uncomfortable position ahead of the visit.

These examples all suggest something about who really calls the shots in the relationship. But what does Trump want from the meeting? Assuming he can look beyond the Flynn-related chaos, here are three possibilities:

Whats your bottom line, Bibi? Trump will want to know, at least in broad terms, what Netanyahu wants to achieve with the Palestinians. Is it a two-state solution, as Netanyahu has advocated, in some form, since 2009? Or a version of a one-state solution, with Palestinian autonomy but no citizenship, as many in his party and coalition support? Trump has advisers in both camps. It appeared Netanyahu fell off the fence firmly on the two-state side with a speech at Bar-Ilan University eight years ago. But under pressure from annexation advocates in his coalition like Naftali Bennett to jettison two states, Netanyahu has lately faced a greater temptation to bob and weave, to define Palestinian statehood in such highly compromised terms as to make it unacceptable to Palestinians, or to avoid being pinned down on his ultimate vision at all.

Recommended: The 2017 Underwater Photographer of the Year Contest

But Trumps own words make clear he wants a deal. His cautions about settlement expansion and his go-slow approach on moving the U.S. embassy are clearly intended to preserve space for one. He wants to coordinate it with Israelindeed, until recently, the Trump administration had virtually no high-level contact with the Palestiniansand he is willing to test Netanyahus theory of working with the Arab states first. In appointing Kushner as his envoy, he is investing his familys prestige in the cause.

No surprises, in reverse. Its traditional for Israeli prime ministers, at their first meetings with American presidents, to seek a commitment to a principle of no surprises. Besides the obvious human factor (no one responds well to bad news received without warning), and political considerations (prime ministers opposition can make great hay out of a leader caught unawares) this request gives Israel opportunities to try to influence U.S. policy before it is finalized. Nevertheless, it is a sound principle between allies. But Trump will want it to be reciprocal, and it has not always been. How will Trump respond when Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, on his first visit to Israel, is greeted with a major surprise settlement announcement, as has often happened to others in the past? Netanyahu would be wise to offer the same commitment, and prove that he can make it stick.

Trust me and my friend, Putin. Trumps big demand could be on Syria, where he may seek Israeli acquiescence to a new U.S.-Russian understanding. The Trump administrations plans on Syria, which have included references to establishing humanitarian safe zones, and suggestions of linking U.S. and Russian efforts to combat ISIS, are not yet fleshed out, to say the least. But if Trump is serious about a establishing a more cooperative relationship with Russia, one can easily imagine Russian President Vladimir Putin seeking a more formal consent to Russia's position in Syria, true joint U.S.-Russian operations against ISIS, and more explicit acceptance of the perpetuation of the Assad regime.

Netanyahu has told American visitors for months that they should continue to battle ISIS, but simultaneously counter Iran, which, together with its proxy Hezbollah, he considers far more dangerous. But in a Trump-Putin bargain, Iran and Hezbollah could well gain strategically in Syria from the stabilization of their ally, Assad. That will hardly please Israeli defense planners. Netanyahu may be asked to swallow it anyway. He will need to consider how to preserve Israels core interest of not allowing Iran and Hezbollah to threaten Israel from Syria, without undercutting Trumps plans for a U.S.-Russian thaw.

Netanyahu can scarcely afford to leave Trump empty-handed on his demands. Disagreements between Trump and foreign leaders, even allies, tend to leak. On his visit to Australia next week, Netanyahu can hear first-hand what that feels like from Malcolm Turnbull.

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Its hard to imagine that an American president would actually want to disrupt a decades old American alliance with a democratic and united Europe, while making deals with an anti-American dictator in Russia. So we cling to any evidence to the contrary. Here are two developments that are giving us hope:

First, the administration is sending Vice President Pence and Secretary of Defense Mattis to Munich and Brussels to reassure worried allies. The bar is so low, it wont be hard to clear, if the administrations sane and competent emissaries just say: We are committed to NATO. Well defend our allies against aggression. We want everyone to pay their share, but we appreciate our allies sacrifices. We believe in European unity, and democratic values. Well try to cooperate with Russia but were not naive. Its sad that these never before questioned pillars of American policy need to be reaffirmed, or that doing so will now seem like a breakthrough. But the words still need to be spoken.

Second, it is looking less likely that there will be a Molotov-Ribbentrop style pact between Trump and Putin to trade sanctions against Russia for a joint fight against the Islamic State. Many people have pointed out what a strategic and moral calamity such a deal would be. It would legitimize great power spheres of influence, encourage further aggression by Russia and others, while recognizing Putins false claim to be a defender of Western civilization against terrorism. It would, in other words, give Putin what he wants in exchange for giving Putin what he wants.

What is more important, from a political standpoint, is that Republicans in the Congress, including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have said they would block any lifting of sanctions until Russia ends its interference in Ukraine. General Michael Flynns ouster from his position as national security advisor for having improperly discussed the possibility of a deal with the Russians will also make it harder for President Trump to pursue one.

But before we let ourselves rest assured, we should remember that Trump could still give Putin virtually everything he wants without taking any formal steps to lift sanctions. Here is how he could do it:

1. Make no effort to enforce sanctions. Sanctions are not self-executing. Over time, those targeted learn how to evade them, by disguising their assets, adopting new identities, and finding new agents to carry out sanctioned activities. It takes constant effort to keep up.

The Obama administration, in addition to regularly expanding the scope of the Russia sanctions, issued four separate maintenance packages, aimed at the downstream assets of the main sanctions targets, and the agents and cronies who help them hide their money. The State and Treasury Departments routinely reached out to banks and companies to warn them against questionable activities that could benefit a sanctioned Russian entity. When sanctions forced U.S. businesses to withdraw from deals in Russia, the Obama administration also pressed other countries, like Japan and South Korea, not to allow their companies to fill the void. The Trump White House could convey to State and Treasury that these efforts are no longer a priority, and endlessly delay a fifth sanctions maintenance package (which normally would come in the next few months). Sanctions would remain on the books, but lose their bite.

2. Make no effort to keep Europe united behind sanctions. Rallying the European Union against Russian aggression in Ukraine was no small feat, given the requirement that all 28 member states agree, and Russias constant efforts to compromise the EUs weakest links. President Obama lobbied repeatedly for sanctions to be renewed at G-7 summits and in meetings and phone calls with fellow leaders. The State Departments Toria Nuland and Dan Fried, and the Treasury Departments Adam Szubin, made dozens of trips to Europe to shore up the consensus. If the Trump administration does not resume these efforts (which are now frozen as agencies await new leadership and guidance), even as the United Kingdom focuses on leaving rather than leading the EU, and populist pro-Russian parties reinforced by Trumps cyber army try to weaken the French and German governments, European support for sanctions could crumble before the next renewal date in July.

And if Germany and France survive the onslaught, and seek a renewal of the EUs strong stand on Russia, Trump and Steve Bannon could quietly convey to their European friends in the Alt-Right International, like Prime Minister Victor Orban of Hungary, that the United States would be happy to see them veto a EU consensus to maintain sanctions. The weak links in the EU, including Hungary, Slovakia, and Greece, have not challenged that consensus, in part because the United States has joined Germany, France and the UK in urging them not to. If the White House starts telling them that the U.S. position has changed (whatever Trumps cabinet officials may say in public speeches), that could tip the balance.

3. Collaborate in Syria anyway, and make clear that countering radical Islam trumps defense of other values. Trump doesnt need a formal deal with Putin to start sharing targeting intelligence in Syria with the Russians. And while Obama veterans wonder whether hell go with the Turks or the Kurds in pushing the Islamic State out of Raqqa, he could choose a third option: working with the Russians to help the Assad regime advance on Islamic State territory (or at least handing them the keys to Raqqa after a Kurdish force takes it).

Meanwhile, Trump could do what Putin may want most of all: stop the maddening American habit of insisting that human rights are a universal norm; back off our irritating campaign against corruption and money laundering; let countries like Ukraine sink or swim on their own; and keep repeating the central tenet of Moscows propaganda, that Western democracies are no better than Russia and have no right to criticize anyone. If Trump keeps saying that Americas elections are rigged, that our cities are a disaster, that our journalists are dishonest, that we kill our enemies just as Russia does, Russia Today could declare mission accomplished. And Putin could give its $300 million annual subsidy to his favorite charity  like, say, the Assad regime, or a bridge to Crimea.

What can be done to keep the administration from these sins of commission, and omission? There are several steps a vigilant Congress could take. Most important, it could enact into law the four executive orders Obama issued sanctioning Russia for its aggression in Ukraine. For now, McConnell has told Republican Senators backing such legislation that he wont let it move if Trump does not actually try to lift sanctions. But for the reasons discussed above, State and Treasury, as well as our European allies, need clear direction that sanctions will stand absent a change in Russian behavior, and that they must be enforced.

Congress should also support an independent investigation into the Trump teams dealings with Russia, to ensure that any malign influence is ruled out. It should ensure that the State Department spends the money it was given last year to counter Russian disinformation in eastern Europe, and protect funding to support civil society activists and independent media in Russias neighborhood. It should hold Secretary of State Tillerson to his promise to keep enforcing human rights related sanctions under the Magnitsky law. On Syria, it should include in any sanctions bill new penalties on those responsible (Russian, Iranian, Hezbollah, and Syrian officials) for committing war crimes, and prohibit sharing military intelligence or other collaboration with Russian units that have bombed civilians.

American policy should advance American ideals and interests. Lets hope administration officials will say that in Europe this week. But lets remember that what they do, and fail to do, matters more than their words, and act accordingly.

Photo credit: DREW ANGERER/Getty Images
Donald Trump Promised He Would Never Take Vacation, Now He's Headed To His Third

Donald Trump made a bold promise just days after being elected president  he wouldnt be taking any vacations.

Now, less than four weeks into his actual term as president, Trump is already headed to his third trip away from the White House.

Donald Trump plans to head to his Florida resort, Mar-A-Lago, for the February 17 weekend, Think Progress reported. The trip has caused controversy and calls of hypocrisy against Trump for his dogged criticism of President Barack Obamas vacation time.

Trump was clear with his pledge just after winning. In his first major interview with CBSs 60 Minutes, Trump said he would take only a $1 salary as president and vowed not to take any vacations.

We have so much work. Theres so much work to be done. And I want to get it done for the people, he said (via the Indian Express).

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The U.K. government has said that it believes President Donald Trump should be extended the full courtesy of a state visit and that it does not support a petition signed by more than 1.85 million people to bar him from an official visit.

In a statement, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office explained that while the government recognises the strong views expressed by the many signatories of this petition it is rejecting the petition and will instead welcome President Trump once dates and arrangements are finalised.

During her visit to the United States on 27 January 2017, the Prime Minister, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, invited President Trump for a State Visit to the UK later this year. The invitation was accepted. This invitation reflects the importance of the relationship between the United States of America and the United Kingdom. At this stage, final dates have not yet been agreed for the State Visit, the statement reads.

The petition allowed for Trump to enter the U.K. in his capacity as head of the U.S. government, but called for him not to be invited to make an official state visit because it would cause embarrassment to the Queen.

Donald Trumps well documented misogyny and vulgarity disqualifies him from being received by Her Majesty the Queen or the Prince of Wales. Therefore during the term of his presidency Donald Trump should not be invited to the United Kingdom for an official State Visit, it reads.

A counter petition, called Donald Trump should make a State Visit to the United Kingdom, has attracted more than 309,000 signatures. Donald Trump should be invited to make an official State Visit because he is the leader of a free world and [the] U.K. is a country that supports free speech and does not believe that people that [oppose] our point of view should be gagged, the description says.

Both petitions will be debated by the House of Commons on Feb. 20.
S. President Donald Trump (R) and British Prime Minister Theresa May (L) participate in a joint press conference at the East Room of the White House January 27, 2017 in Washington, DC: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Donald Trump's trip to the UK will be delayed to avoid embarrassing him, according to reports.

The visit will be postponed until sometime between late August and the end of September, according to a report from The Guardian. That will mean that it can be held while Parliament is in recess  and MPs are not around to embarrass the President by objecting to him.

Mr Trump will head to the UK on a short visit between a Sunday and a Thursday, according to the report. It's unlikely that he'll spend much time in London because of the huge protests that are expected to greet him.

Westminster has already been filled with numerous protests against Mr Trump's Muslim ban as well as his Presidency in general.

The change was announced soon after House of Commons speaker John Bercow said that he would veto any attempt to have Mr Trump address Parliament. That has led to controversy across Westminster, and he is now facing a motion of no confidence from MPs.

The trip had initially been scheduled to happen around June, according to a comment from the London police chief last week.

It has also been suggested that the Government might look to move the visit away from London, as a way of avoiding any protests. But politicians and activists have warned the President that he won't be able to escape the "biggest protest in British history", no matter where the trip gets moved to.

Theresa May was the first European leader to meet Mr Trump in the White House, heading there just days after he was elected.

It was during that event that Ms May passed on the now controversial invitation from the Queen.
Donald Trump is falling behind, and he knows it. His Cabinet, while growing, still has too many empty seats. For a developer accustomed to hiring and firing employees at will, the laborious Senate confirmation processhearings! debates! cloture votes!must feel like the longest round of contract negotiations ever.

Last week, he tweeted his frustration, blaming Democrats for the holdup:

It is a disgrace that my full Cabinet is still not in place, the longest such delay in the history of our country. Obstruction by Democrats!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2017

There could be a bit of Trumpian hyperbole in thereits not clear that he actually checked to see if the delay is the longest in history. But at the time of his tweet, the president was correct in that he had fewer Cabinet members confirmed than every first-term president since Ronald Reagan. He had even fewer than Barack Obama, who had to find new candidates for Cabinet seats on the fly after his first choices dropped out.

Recommended: Are Deep-State Leakers Defending Democracy or Corroding It?

That said, Trump is wrong to solely blame it on the Democrats. Theyre the proximate cause of the delay, but not the whole reason for it.

Heres where Trumps Cabinet stands as of today, compared with the last five administrations. (This chart will update automatically update with the latest confirmations.)

Recommended: What Will It Take for Republicans to Finally Act?

Its hard to beat Reagan; the Senate confirmed most of his Cabinet within two days of his inauguration, records show. Bill Clinton also had a relatively easy time, clearing most of his picks within a week with the support of a Democratic Senate. The exception was Janet Reno, the first woman to serve as attorney general; she was confirmed almost two months later, after two other candidates dropped out amid nanny issue[s].

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Trumps progress tracks more closely to that of George H. W. Bush and Obama, both of whom saw protracted opposition to their nominees and multiple dropouts. Heres how quickly each administration filled its Cabinet after Inauguration Day:

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The elder Bush had to contend with a Democratic Senate eager to rein in a Republican president after eight years of Reagan. His biggest headache was the nomination of John Tower for defense secretary, which the Senate eventually voted down along party lines, a rather rare outcome. (Towers replacement? Dick Cheney, the future vice president.)

Obama also struggled to round out his team, even though he had the backing of a Democratic majority in the Senate. The core of his Cabinet was in place within a week, many with near-unanimous supportincluding Hillary Clinton as secretary of state. But he ran into trouble with his nominee for secretary of labor, then-Representative Hilda Solis; Republicans stonewalled her over her past support for pro-union legislation, before eventually acquiescing.

Obama also struck out twice with his commerce nominees, dropping New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson amid a federal investigation into political contributions and losing Republican Senator Judd Gregg over irresolvable conflicts. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius was the last Cabinet member to be confirmed, almost 100 days after Obama took the oath of office.

Trump, however, is in a different league. So far, all of his nominees whove gone up for a Senate vote have been OKd by the bodythough Betsy DeVos, who needed Vice President Mike Pences tie-breaking vote to take her seat as secretary of education, came closest to failing. But after more than two weeks, still less than half his Cabinet is in place. In every day of his administration so far, his boardroom has had the lowest occupancy rate of any presidency in the past three decades.

He blames Democratic opposition, which has certainly been stiff. Only a handful of Democrats have supported a majority of his nominees, and several voted against nearly all of them. Democratic leaders have also fought against quick votes, requiring the full 30 hours of debate for most of Trumps picks and slowing consideration to a relative crawl.

In response, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released a statement on Tuesday, decrying Democratic delay: Weve seen unprecedented obstruction from our colleagues across the aisle.  Its made the confirmation of this presidents nominees the slowest in modern history.

But Trumps haphazard transition also deserves a large share of the blame. Most presidents-elect announce their Cabinet picks within a week or two of Election Day, and only after careful vetting; its an open secret every election year that theyve worked on their selections for months. Trump instead sprinkled his announcements over a period of two months, rushing some and delaying others, publicly summoning candidates to Trump Tower for meetings and staging handshakes outside his Bedminster, New Jersey, country club.

This showmanship hid a lack of preparation, as my colleague Russell Berman has reported. A charitable explanation would suggest he was building suspense and enthusiasm for his nominees. The more likely reason is that he was caught flat-footed by his victory and further set back by the controversial demotion of Chris Christie, who for a time was his chief transition aide. After Christie, Trump floundered; many of his nominees hadnt filed the necessary ethics paperwork right up through Inauguration Day, leading to delays in their confirmation hearings. And earlier this week, The New York Times reported the Trump administration skimped on giving candidates the so-called sex, drugs, and rock n roll quiz, a battery of personal and financial questions meant to head off embarrassing revelations during public confirmation hearings.

Its hard to only blame Democrats when the administrations paperwork wasnt filed on time. Trump, of course, will blame them anyway. The practical effect of this logjam is that agencies will go leaderless longer than is necessary, or even advisable.

But it signals something else, too. Trump has shown he can move quickly when he can act unilaterallywitness the steady march of executive orders signed in the Oval Office. Getting a Cabinet confirmed by the Senate, however, requires something beyond bold action; it requires cooperation and compromise. Those are things the former businessman hasnt yet demonstrated he has embraced in the White House, at least publicly.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
By Andrew M. Seaman (Reuters Health) - People should try non-drug treatment options like massage or stretching for most cases of chronic low back pain before choosing treatment with over-the-counter or prescription drugs, according to new guidelines. If the pain began recently, the guidelines recommend superficial heat, massage, acupuncture or spinal manipulation. If patients wish to take medication, they should use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, or skeletal muscle relaxants prescribed by a doctor. Acetaminophen and steroids are not recommended for low back pain, according to the guidelines. But for chronic low back pain - defined as pain that's lasted more than 12 weeks - the American College of Physicians (ACP) recommends people hold off on medications. The new guidelines apply to low back pain that does not radiate to other parts of the body like the legs, said Dr. Nitin Damle of the Alpert Medical School of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, who is president of the ACP. Patients with low back pain that radiates to other parts of the body need further evaluation, he told Reuters Health. Low back pain is one of the most common reasons people visit U.S. doctors' offices each year, according to the ACP in the Annals of Internal Medicine. About a quarter of U.S. adults report low back pain at least one day during the previous three months. "Most back pain is self-limited," said Damle. "Its common, will go away given enough time and patients can help themselves initially by trying some heat and stretching before going to see a physician." The new guidelines are based on a review of studies that looked at the use of drug and non-drug therapies for low back pain. The review did not look at creams or injections, however. Based on the review, the ACP recommends that people who have been suffering with chronic low back pain try non-drug therapies such as exercise, acupuncture, mindfulness-based stress reduction, tai chi, yoga, biofeedback, cognitive behavioral therapy or spinal manipulation. If those methods don't work, the guidelines say the next step should be NSAIDs or the pain medications duloxetine, which is marketed as Cymbalta, or tramadol, which is marketed as Ultram. Opioids should only be considered as last resorts, and only prescribed after doctors discuss their risks and benefits with patients. "If youre going to have to use opioids, use them in the smallest dose possible with the least frequency and smallest prescription," said Damle. The new recommendations are very reasonable, said Dr. Joel Press, who is physiatrist-in-chief at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. "Anything you can do with these non-pharmaceuticals that can get you moving faster is going to get you better in the end," said Press, who was not involved in crafting the new guidelines. "I hope this reinforces to physicians and patients that a lot of these non-pharmaceutical treatments can have a lot of success," he told Reuters Health. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2kr2SUK Annals of Internal Medicine, online February 13, 2017.
PARIS (AP)  It's a drizzly day in Paris but that didn't stop lovers from around the world celebrating Valentine's Day romance in the City of Light.

On Tuesday, newlyweds Lile Araus and his bride Alla kissed in front of the Eiffel Tower in her soaked wedding dress for their honeymoon photoshoot. The couple live in Asheville, North Carolina,

Lile said: "This is the right place to bring the love of your life. You can definitely smell the love."
A Texas man has been sentenced to 120 days in jail in the death of a woman he struck while driving drunk, authorities said.

Emily Javadi was packing up her car after finishing a workout at Cole Park in February 2015 when a BMW rear-ended her vehicle, sending her flying forward into a metal pole, officials said.

The 34-year-old violinist was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The driver of the BMW, 23-year-old Travis Elwell, had a blood alcohol level of 0.175, more than twice the legal limit, The Dallas Morning News reported.

He was also speeding when he crashed into Javadis car, authorities said.

Elwell was convicted of intoxicated manslaughter and will serve 120 days in jail, a court coordinator told WFAA-TV.

After serving out his sentence, Elwell will be on probation for 10 years, during which time he will not be permitted to drink, must use a breathalyzer to start his vehicle and will take between five and six breathalyzer tests per day, the news station reported.

Read: Suspected Drunk Driver Crashes Into Medical Helicopter During Patient Transport

He is also required to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and speak at support groups for people charged with drunken driving.

Elwell is also required to spend a week in jail every year on the anniversary of Javadis death, the Morning News wrote.

Javadis mother, Emily Javadi, told the newspaper she was satisfied with Elwells jail sentence and probation terms, saying the latter keeps his punishment from becoming too lenient.

I hope he turns his life around and becomes a better person, she said.

Javadi was remembered as a vibrant and creative, as well as passionate and positive, never letting a bad day keep her from engaging her cherished family and friends and her beloved city of Dallas, loved ones wrote.

Read: 9-Year-Old Calls 911 as Her Dad Allegedly Drives Drunk With Her in Car: 'Help Me, Please!'

She graduated from the University of North Texas in 2003 and worked as a supply chain analyst at the Baylor Health Care System, according to her LinkedIn profile.

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Javadis legacy and memory has been kept alive through a foundation established in her name.

The Emily Javadi Foundation was formed to brighten the community she loved so much and to support others in their pursuit of better health, physical fitness, entrepreneurial endeavors and artistic potential."

Organizations that have benefited from the Foundation include Big Brothers, Big Sisters; Healthy Zone; the University of North Texas; Junior Players; Open Classical and I Once Was Lost Animal Advocacy.

Watch: Man Driving Backhoe Down Road Arrested for Eighth DWI

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The Hague (AFP) - Dutch voters go to the polls next month in the first of a series of elections that will be a litmus test of European politics after Brexit and Donald Trump's shock victory in the US.

All eyes are on the far-right, anti-Islam Freedom Party (PVV) and its outspoken leader, MP Geert Wilders.

If the opinion polls prove right, Wilders is on track to deliver the country's establishment Liberal party of Prime Minister Mark Rutte and his Labour coalition partner a thumping on March 15.

What may prove Wilders's best polls showing ever could in turn boost the chances of his ideological allies in both France and Germany, where elections are due later in the year.

Wilders, who has vowed to take his country out of the EU, has been riding high in the polls for months, propelled both by Trump's victory and the tensions triggered by Europe's worst refugee crisis since World War II.

But some say the polls are unreliable, while others maintain PVV supporters among the 12.6 million eligible to vote are keeping their cards close to their chests.

- Trump factor -

Despite his blond, bouffant hair and political similarities, Wilders dismisses the easy moniker of being "the Dutch Donald Trump".

But he has made no secret of his admiration for the new US president (he was a guest at the Republican convention) and like him has delighted in taking his message directly to voters via Twitter.

He even got into hot water last week for "fake news" by tweeting a photo-shopped picture of a political foe supposedly surrounded by Islamist radicals.

In recent weeks however, Rutte's Liberal VVD has narrowed the gap, and the latest survey on Sunday predicted he would win about 24 seats to 30 for Wilders.

"After Trump's election, the PVV got a boost. But the survey today shows that 25 percent of PVV voters are reacting negatively to the measures taken by President Trump," respected pollster Maurice de Hond said.

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Even though Wilders has been a politician for at least two decades, "I think people increasingly want to vote for him because they don't see enough change," said Leiden University political expert Geerten Waling.

Former harbour master Sijmen Kaper, 70, in the PVV eastern stronghold of Volendam, agreed.

"The politicians aren't listening to the people. These people aren't racists, they are people who want things done differently," he said.

- Hard bargaining -

Even if the PVV emerges as the largest party in parliament, it would fall far short of the 76 seats needed to form a governing coalition in the 150-seat parliament.

That would herald weeks, or months, of bitter horse-trading, and perhaps bestow a kingmaker role on smaller up-and-coming parties such as environmentalists GroenLinks (GreenLeft).

Many observers believe it unlikely that Wilders will end up in government.

"Nobody wants to govern with him and he will never be able to get a majority," said Waling. "So he will be a huge opposition party."

Rutte has already vowed not to work with Wilders, repudiating his radical anti-Islam platform and denouncing comments about Moroccans which saw the MP convicted of discrimination last year.

Yet Rutte recently raised eyebrows when, in a not-so-subtle bid to drain support from Wilders, he shifted his tone more to the right demanding immigrants must adopt Dutch values or leave.

Wilders himself insisted on Sunday that if his party wins the most votes, then he cannot be ignored.

"You can't just push aside 2.5 million voters ... after democratic elections," he told the WNL OP Zondag television programme.

He predicted such a move could lead "to such an unstable political assembly... that inside of a year it would collapse."

- Kingmakers -

With 28 parties competing, every vote counts with most observers predicting an unwieldy four- or five-party coalition.

Among those who may be heavily wooed are Jesse Klaver, the 30-year-old charismatic leader of GroenLinks.

In what would be a seismic upheaval in Dutch politics, GroenLinks is predicted to trample over more established parties, such as traditional Christian parties, and may even come in third.

Klaver -- dubbed the Dutch Justin Trudeau -- has urged closer cooperation between leftwing parties, to block any coalition headed by Rutte.

His lofty aim, he told AFP last year, is to halt what he calls "the right-wing wind that's blowing through all of Europe."
By Clare Baldwin and Andrew R.C. Marshall MANILA (Reuters) - Before Rodrigo Duterte's bloody war on drugs had even begun, allies of the Philippines president were quietly preparing for a wider offensive. On June 30, as Duterte was sworn in, they introduced a bill into the Philippine Congress that could allow children as young as nine to be targeted in a crackdown that has since claimed more than 7,600 lives. The bill proposes to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 9 years old to prevent what it calls "the pampering of youthful offenders who commit crimes knowing they can get away with it." "You can ask any policeman or anyone connected with the law enforcement: We produce a generation of criminals," Duterte said in a speech in Manila on December 12. Young children, he said, were becoming drug runners, thieves and rapists, and must be "taught to understand responsibility." The move to target children signals Duterte's determination to intensify his drug war, which faces outrage abroad and growing unease at home. The president's allies say his support in Congress will ensure the bill passes the House of Representatives by June. The House would approve the bill "within six months," said Fredenil Castro, who co-authored the legislation with the speaker of the House, Pantaleon Alvarez. It might face opposition in the Senate, but would prevail because of Duterte's allies there, added Castro. National police chief Ronald Dela Rosa recently announced that he was suspending anti-narcotics operations, which have killed more than 2,500 people, while the force rids itself of corrupt cops. The announcement came after it emerged last month that drug squad officers had killed a South Korean businessman at national police headquarters. The killing of drug suspects has continued, albeit at a slower pace, with most following the pattern of killings that police have blamed on vigilantes. Human rights monitors believe vigilantes have killed several thousand people and operate in league with the police  a charge the police deny. Duterte has signaled he intends to continue his drug war. In late January, he said the campaign would run until his presidency ends in 2022. 'IN CAHOOTS WITH DRUG USERS' Lowering the age of criminality was justified, Castro told Reuters, because many children were "in cahoots with drug users, with drug pushers, and others who are related to the drug trade." He said he based his support for the bill on what he saw from his car and at churches  children begging and pickpocketing. "For me, there isn't any evidence more convincing than what I see in every day of my life," he said. A controversial bill to restore the death penalty, another presidential priority, is also expected to pass the House of Representatives by mid-year, according to Duterte allies in Congress. Supporters of the bill to lower the age of criminality say holding young children liable will discourage drug traffickers from exploiting them. Opponents, including opposition lawmakers and human rights groups, are appalled at a move they say will harm children without evidence it will reduce crime. There is also resistance inside Duterte's administration. A member of Duterte's cabinet who heads the Department of Social Welfare and Development opposes the move. And a branch of the police responsible for protecting women and children disputes the claim that children are heavily involved in the drug trade  a claim not supported by official data. Opponents warn that lowering the age of criminality would further strain a juvenile justice system that is struggling to cope. At worst, they say, with a drug war raging nationwide, the bill could legitimize the killing of minors. "What will stop them from targeting children?" said Karina Teh, a local politician and child rights advocate in Manila. "They are using the war on drugs to criminalize children." IN THE FIRING LINE The drug-war death toll includes at least 29 minors who were either shot by unidentified gunmen or accidentally killed during police operations from July to November 2016, according to the Children's Legal Rights and Development Center (CLRDC) and the Network Against Killings in the Philippines, both Manila-based advocacy groups. Dela Rosa said the Philippine National Police "fully supports" the new bill. It is "true and supported by data" that minors are used by drug traffickers because they can't be held criminally liable, the police chief said in a submission to the House of Representatives. Some police officers working on the streets agree with Dela Rosa. In Manila's slums, children as young as six act as lookouts for dealers, shouting "The enemy is coming!" when police approach, said Cecilio Tomas, an anti-narcotics officer in the city. By their early teens, some become delivery boys and then dealers and users, said Tomas. Salvador Panelo, Duterte's chief legal counsel, said the bill would protect children by stopping criminals from recruiting them. "They will not become targets simply because they will no longer be involved," he said. Child rights experts say the legislation could put children in the firing line. They point to the deadly precedent set in the southern city of Davao, where Duterte pioneered his hard-line tactics as mayor. The Coalition Against Summary Execution, a Davao-based rights watchdog, documented 1,424 vigilante-style killings in the city between 1998 and 2015. Of those victims, 132 were 17 or younger. For all but three years during that period, Duterte was either Davao's mayor or vice-mayor. He denied any involvement in the killings. CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE Althea Barbon was one of the children killed in the current nationwide drug war. The four year old was fatally wounded in August when police in an anti-narcotics operation shot at her father, the two Manila-based advocacy groups said. Unidentified gunmen shot dead Ericka Fernandez, 17, in a Manila alley on October 26, police said. Her bloody Barbie doll was collected as evidence. And on December 28, three boys, aged 15 or 16, were killed in Manila by what police said were motorbike-riding gunmen. If the bill passes, the Philippines won't be the only country where the age of criminality is low. In countries including England, Northern Ireland and Switzerland it is 10, according to the website of the Child Rights International Network, a research and advocacy group. In Scotland, children as young as eight can be held criminally responsible, but the government is in the process of raising the age limit to 12. Critics of the Philippines' bill say lower age limits are largely found in countries where the legal systems, detention facilities and rehabilitation programs are more developed. Statistics from the police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the government's top anti-narcotics body, appear to contradict the Duterte camp's claim that there is a large number of young children deeply involved in the drug trade. There were 24,000 minors among the 800,000 drug users and dealers who had registered with the authorities by November 30, according to police statistics. But less than two percent of those minors, or about 400 children, were delivering or selling drugs. Only 12 percent, or 2,815, were aged 15 or younger. Most of the 24,000 minors were listed as drug users. The number of minors involved in the drug trade is "just a small portion," said Noel Sandoval, deputy head of the Women and Children's Protection Center (WCPC), the police department that compiled the data. The WCPC is not pushing to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility, said Sandoval, but if the age is to be lowered, his department recommends a minimum age of 12, not 9. Between January 2011 and July 2016, 956 children aged six to 17 were "rescued nationwide from illegal drug activity," according to PDEA. They were mostly involved with marijuana and crystal methamphetamine, a highly addictive drug also known as shabu, and were handed over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Of these, only 80 were under the age of 15. MORE DETENTIONS Asked for evidence that younger children are involved in the drug trade, Duterte's legal counsel Panelo said the president had data from "all intelligence agencies." Panelo declined to disclose those numbers. Among the opponents of the bill is a member of Duterte's cabinet, Judy Taguiwalo, secretary of the DSWD. The legislation runs counter to scientific knowledge about child development and would result not in lower crime rates but in more children being detained, Taguiwalo wrote in a letter to the House of Representatives in October. Hidden by a high wall topped with metal spikes, the Valenzuela youth detention center in northern Manila is already operating at twice its capacity. Its 89 boys eat meals in shifts  the canteen can't hold them all at once  and sleep on mats that spill out of the spartan dorms and into the hallways. The government-run center, which currently houses boys aged 13 to 17 for up to a year, is considered a model facility in the Philippines. Even so, said Lourdes Gardoce, a social worker at the Valenzuela home, "It's a big adjustment on our part if we have to cater to kids as young as nine." (Reporting by Clare Baldwin and Andrew R.C. Marshall. Edited by David Lague and Peter Hirschberg.)
The Supersonic Wall (Photo: Dyson)

The brand behind some of the worlds coolest appliances, such as the supersonic hair dryer and the bladeless fan, launched a new facility in Singapore on Monday (13 February) and it looks like something out of a sci-fi movie.

Located just beside National University of Singapore (NUS), Dysons new state-of-the-art facility houses several laboratories and breakout rooms that are designed to help engineers feel both relaxed and inspired.

Breakout area (Photo: Dyson)

Present at the launch, founder and inventor Sir James Dyson and Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry S Iswaran talked about their plans for the company and the country, respectively.

We believe in engineers and in revolutionary technology, said Sir Dyson. We invest in both, and back them with a supportive environment. Ultimately, success requires long-term investment, an international outlook and a political agenda that understands this philosophy, he added.

Cafe (Photo: Dyson)

Singapore is quite clearly at the forefront, and ambitious for the future. Dyson is ambitious also, said the 69-year-old entrepreneur.

Iswaran congratulated Dyson on the new technology centre and added, We value the role you play as an innovation-led enterprise, and look forward to deepening our partnership as Singapore charts its next phase of growth.

Dyson has over 1,000 employees in Singapore and plans to increase this number by 50 per cent.

(Photo: Dyson/Gareth Phillips)

Reception (Photo: Dyson)

Acoustic Lab (Photo: Dyson)

Project Room (Photo: Dyson)

Fluid Dynamics Lab (Photo: Dyson)

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By Andrew Torchia DUBAI (Reuters) - Egypt is making good progress in its $12 billion loan programme with the International Monetary Fund and its currency may be stabilising after plunging to record lows, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said on Monday. In November, Cairo agreed the three-year loan deal with IMF, which involved tough economic reforms, such as cutting its budget deficit and floating the Egyptian pound. The currency plunged as low as around 19.50 to the U.S. dollar in subsequent weeks. Financial markets are closely watching how the government keeps to the terms of the deal, which will determine whether it receives loan instalments on schedule. "We are seeing good progress, good ownership taken of the reforms by the authorities, a good focus on the Egyptian people and those who are most exposed in order to secure their positions," Lagarde said in an interview on a visit to Dubai. "So we have confidence that the authorities are really doing the best they can under the circumstances." The IMF expects to complete its first review of the programme around June this year, Lagarde said. The pound has rebounded in recent days as foreign investor confidence has strengthened and backlogs of U.S. dollar orders to finance imports have diminished. It was quoted among banks at around 17.0 on Monday [nL5N1FU68H]. "It has gone through a cycle of depreciation. In the last few days we have seen the value of the pound go up a little bit, and I think that might be a clear indication that the transition phase is coming to a close," Lagarde said. "And we are seeing now the pound re-appreciate and stabilise at probably the rate at which the black market was dealing with the currency" before the float. Lagarde also praised governments of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council for efforts to stabilise their finances after low oil prices slashed their income. She highlighted the GCC's plan to introduce a value-added tax next year. "There is a definite will on the part of the leadership in this part of the world to diversify sources of growth, to diversify sources of public finance, and to make sure that the fiscal situation is under control ..." she said. "Oil might go up a little bit more, it might go down a little more, but at least that VAT is certainly going to be a stable source of revenue." (Reporting by Andrew Torchia, editing by Larry King)
Harare (AFP) - International experts at emergency UN talks in Harare warned Tuesday that crop-eating armyworm caterpillars posed a serious threat to food supplies across several African countries.

The outbreak has already caused damage to staple crops in Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Ghana, with reports also suggesting Malawi, Mozambique and Namibia are affected.

Experts say it appears to be the first time that the "fall armyworm" species from the Americas has devastated crops in Africa.

David Phiri, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) coordinator for southern Africa, told delegates that the armyworm posed "a huge threat to food security."

"We need to use our collective capacities to put up systems that will strengthen the resilience of our farmers," he said as talks opened.

"The pest... appears to be moving into the region in a north to south trajectory."

The first fall armyworms were seen in Nigeria and Togo last year, with one theory saying that they arrived in Africa on commercial flights from South America or in plants imported from the region.

The caterpillars eat maize, wheat, millet and rice -- key food sources in southern and eastern Africa, where many areas are already struggling with shortages after years of severe drought.

- 'Could be catastrophic' -

Experts from 13 countries will spend three days in the Zimbabwean capital forming a battle plan to defeat the pests.

The armyworm is "spreading rapidly" in Africa and could even threaten farming worldwide, the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) warned last week.

It said maize is particularly vulnerable to the larvae, which attack the crop's growing points and burrow into the cobs.

Unlike the native African armyworm, the fall armyworm does not "march" along the ground in huge numbers seeking more food, the FAO said.

The fall armyworm also attacks cotton, soybean, potato and tobacco fields.

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Chemical pesticides can be effective, but fall armyworms have developed resistance in their native Americas.

"You use different methods. One of them is pesticides, another is to use biological control. Another is to use natural control, like digging trenches around the farm (or) natural predators, like birds," Phiri said before the meeting began.

"It's very difficult to control it, so they will have to use different methods -- including sometimes burning the crops."

Zimbabwe's deputy agriculture minister Davis Marapira confirmed to AFP that the pest had been detected in all of the country's 10 provinces.

"The government is helping farmers with chemicals and spraying equipment," Marapira said.

The FAO, which is hosting the Harare meeting, said armyworm -- combined with current locust problems -- "could be catastrophic" as southern Africa has yet to recover from droughts caused by the El Nino climate phenomenon.

In December, Zambia deployed its national air force to transport pesticides across the country so that fields could be sprayed.

"The fall armyworm has a potential to cause a serious food security problem in sub-Saharan Africa," Ken Wilson, an ecology professor at Lancaster University in Britain, told the meeting.
A man has been convicted in the 1979 killing of Etan Patz, the New York City boy whose disappearance resulted in a nationwide shift in parenting.

Pedro Hernandez, of Maple Shade, New Jersey, was found guilty Tuesday of strangling the 6-year-old, nearly 38 years after the boy disappeared on his way to the school bus stop.

Tuesday's verdict serves as a modicum of solace for the slain boys family, who has waited decades to see justice served, Etans father, Stan Patz, told reporters.

The Patz family waited a long time, but finally have some measure of justice for our wonderful little boy Etan, Stan Patz said. I'm really grateful that this jury finally came back with what I have known a long time, that this man, Pedro Hernandez, is guilty of doing something really terrible so many years ago."

I am truly relieved and, I'll tell you, it's about time, he continued. It really is about time.

Prosecutors commended Stan Patz, who never stopped hoping that the killer would one day be found.

Read: Jacob Wetterling's Killer Apologizes to Slain Boy's Parents as He Gets 20 Years for Child Porn

"It's been almost 38 years and you've always been here, and you've always shown so much courage, Chief Assistant District Attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo told Stan Patz. DA Vance always says cold cases are not forgotten cases here. We hope this verdict will finally bring you some measure of closure and some justice. And it's been such an honor to get to know you and thank you so much for your courage."

A jury made up of eight men and four women took nine days to reach a verdict, the New York Daily News reported.

The verdict came after a previous trial resulted in a hung jury. A single holdout juror in that trial refused to convict Hernandez following 18 days of deliberations.

Lawyers for Hernandez, whose IQ is just 70, reportedly argued his admissions were the result of a seven-hour police interrogation that was not recorded, and said that the evidence in Etan's murder points to another suspect in the case.

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They said Hernandezs mental illness  which they said is similar to schizophrenia  and histories of delusions lead him to falsely believe he was responsible for Etans killing.

"Pedro Hernandez is an odd, limited and vulnerable man," defense lawyer Harvey Fishbein said in his closing argument, The Associated Press reported. "Pedro Hernandez is an innocent man."

But prosecutors suggested Hernandez faked or exaggerated his symptoms.

Hernandez showed no reaction as jurors delivered their verdict, the AP wrote.

Read: Woman, 48, Arrested In Cold-Case Killing of College Student Butchered to Death in 1989

No one had been tried until Hernandez confessed to choking Etan after luring him into the basement of a SoHo bodega where he worked.

Etan vanished on May 25, 1979, the first day the boy's parents allowed him to walk to the school bus stop, located just two blocks from his family's apartment, by himself.

No trace of Etan has ever been found, and he was declared legally dead in 2001.

Parenting and policy was shaped by Etans abduction, as his disappearance embodied mothers and fathers worst fears and helped change the way authorities track kidnappings.

Etan was the one of the first missing children to be pictured on a milk carton, and in 1983, the anniversary of his disappearance was designated National Missing Childrens Day in the United States.

Watch: Police Solve 1976 Cold Case Muder of Ex-Wife of Righteous Brothers' Bill Medley

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Washington (AFP) - The head of the US Office of Government Ethics has urged the White House to investigate a key aide to Donald Trump for plugging the fashion brand of the president's daughter, saying she should likely face disciplinary action.

Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway gave Ivanka Trump's clothing a rave review during an interview with the Fox network last Thursday, with the White House seal clearly visible over her left shoulder.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer said afterwards that Conway had been "counseled" over the potential ethics breach, without providing more detail.

But on Monday, OGE director Walter Shaub wrote a letter to the White House stating that: "Under the present circumstances, there is strong reason to believe that Ms Conway has violated the Standards of Conduct and that disciplinary action is warranted."

"I recommend that the White House investigate Ms Conway's actions and consider taking disciplinary action against her," he said.

Conway urged shoppers to "go buy Ivanka's stuff" after retailer Nordstrom announced it would stop selling Ivanka Trump's clothing, a decision it said was based purely on commercial merit.

The president had previously hit out at the high-end retailer, posting on Twitter: "My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by Nordstrom. She is a great person -- always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible!"

Democrat Elijah Cummings and Republican Jason Chaffetz -- both lawmakers on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which Chaffetz chairs -- have led calls for Conway to face rebuke.

"Conway's statements clearly violate the ethical principles for federal employees and are unacceptable," the congressmen said in a letter to Shaub, requesting that he recommend "appropriate disciplinary action" against her.
Addis Ababa (AFP) - A huge newly-built Ethiopian dam is cutting off the supply of water to Lake Turkana in northern Kenya, rights group Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday.

The Gibe III dam, along with a network of sugar plantations, has caused the depth of Lake Turkana to drop by 1.5 meters from its previous levels since the dam's reservoir began filling in 2015, according to a HRW report.

In one part of Turkana, the world's largest desert lake, the shore has receded by nearly two kilometres, threatening the livelihoods of fishing communities.

"Ethiopia is in such a rush to develop its resources that these downstream individuals, who are completely marginalised, just aren't part of the equation," said Felix Horne, a HRW researcher.

Built at a cost of 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion), Gibe III is the third-most powerful dam in Africa and the highest, at 243 meters (800 feet) in height.

The dam, which has already caused some controversy, is expected to double the electricity output of Ethiopia.

The country was the continent's fastest-growing economy in 2015, but GDP is expected to take a hit due to a series of anti-government protests that targeted foreign businesses, and to an ongoing drought.

Environmentalists and the UN cultural body UNESCO have condemned Gibe III, saying they fear the dam will staunch the Omo River, which provides 80 percent of the water flow into Lake Turkana.

HRW has also criticised Ethiopia's government for uprooting people along the river to make way for sugar plantations.

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn dismissed criticism of the dam in a speech inaugurating the project, saying Gibe III satisfied Ethiopia's power demands and allowed it to export electricity.

Ethiopia also plans 100,000 hectares (250,000 acres) of sugar plantation in the Omo River valley, along with factories to process the cane.

Tens of thousands of hectares have already been cleared, but Horne says the development should be reduced to preserve Lake Turkana's water level.

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"I think the most important thing by far is that the sugar plantations, which are very water-intensive, that those be cut back," Horne said.

At Turkana, communal clashes have broken out over access to scarce water supplies.

Should the lake drop further, Horne worries conflict will intensify.
Washington (AFP) - It might have sounded the death knell for an already moribund Middle East peace process, but Donald Trump seems to have delayed plans to move the US embassy to Jerusalem.

The new US president campaigned for office on a long-standing Washington plan to move its main mission to Israel to the city that remains the focus of its conflict with the Palestinians.

To have done so would have been read by many as a signal that Washington supports Israel's claim on Jerusalem as the eternal and undivided capital of the Jewish state.

This would reassure Israel's internationally isolated right-wing government but trigger fury among the Palestinians, still hoping to make east Jerusalem the capital of a future state.

And it would have complicated Israel's delicate efforts to build a network of open and covert alliances with the broader Arab world as a bulwark against Iran and Islamist extremism.

The question is bound to come up on Wednesday, when Trump welcomes Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House and sets the tone for future US-Israeli ties.

In 1995, the US Congress passed a law ordering that the US mission be shifted from Tel Aviv to the Holy City, but every president since has delayed taking a decision on the move.

In the meantime, the debate has become a proxy for that over US support for Israel's settlement building enterprise on occupied Palestinian land in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

The previous US administration under president Barack Obama opposed the expansion of Jewish settlements, arguing that they hurt the longer-term search for a two-state solution.

But this did not hold back Trump the presidential candidate, who promised to move the embassy "fairly quickly" if he were to win.

Trump the president has been less determined.

"I am not somebody that believes that going forward with these settlements is a good thing for peace," Trump reportedly told the Hebrew newspaper Israel Hayom last week.

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Moving the embassy, he admitted, was "not an easy decision."

This would seem to fly in the face of the view of David Friedman, the lawyer tipped to become US ambassador to Israel.

In a news release to mark Trump's decision to nominate him, Friedman said he looked forward to working from "the US embassy in Israel's eternal capital, Jerusalem."

But observers in Washington agree that Trump appears to have moved away from a quick decision, towards the more traditional wait-and-see approach adopted by his recent predecessors.

"The Israelis are obviously in favor of the move," said Jonathan Schanzer, vice president of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a conservative think tank.

"But I got the sense from Israeli officials on a visit in January that the Israelis are willing to tread slowly."

Schanzer said his impression was that Israel would not push on the embassy issue if it is assured that Washington remains loyal to its primary security objectives in the region.

Robert Satloff of the Washington Institute of Near East Policy said Israelis across the political spectrum would welcome a move of the embassy but that the timing is crucial.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Six Day War -- when in Israeli eyes their victory secured the "reunification" of Jerusalem -- a sensitive date for Palestinians.

Under the Hebrew calendar, the commemoration falls in May. Coincidentally, this is also when Obama's last six-month "waiver" delaying the move expires.

"If the president wants to move forward on this, he should do so well in advance of that date lest he inadvertently feed any Palestinian sense of provocation and outrage," Satloff said.

Sooner than May does not seem likely, however.

At his first news conference after last month's inauguration, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said: "We are at the very beginning stages of even discussing this subject."
Details surrounding The Last Jedi, the Star Wars franchises upcoming Episode VIII, are still few and far between. But the cast, along with Disney and Lucasfilm, have dropped a few clues for fans to chew on until the film hits theaters Dec. 15or at least until the first trailer is released.

Heres everything we know so far about the Rian Johnson-directed installment in the so-called Skywalker saga.

The plot:

The Last Jedi will reportedly pick up right where The Force Awakens left off, with Rey (Daisy Ridley) offering Luke (Mark Hamill) his old lightsaber after finding him living in self-imposed exile at the site of the first Jedi temple on the planet of Ahch-To.

This correlates with what Johnson has said about the film, as he recently told USA Today that Whats going on with Luke Skywalker? is the question at the heart of the story and that Luke is the movies emotional entry point.

Hamill added his own thoughts on how his character will come into play, noting that the titular phrase, the last Jedi, appears to directly refer to Luke in the opening crawl of Episode VII. When you read The Force Awakens script, the very first words are, Luke Skywalker has vanished,' he told Uproxx. But down later in the crawl, and I cant quote it exactly, I saw on Twitter this morning, until Skywalker, the last Jedi, is destroyed,And I was wondering why they would use that phrase if it was used that way, because it specifies me. And I think its very ambiguous. Is the last Jedi Leia? Is it me?

Hamill also hinted that the title could even be referring to Rey, who many suspect Luke will end up training in the ways of the Force.

The story as a whole will be darker, according to several involved, with a tone similar to that of The Empire Strikes Back.

Read More: Here Are the 101 Characters Whove Died in Star Wars

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Characters:

Along with Rey and Luke, several other familiar faces from both The Force Awakens and previous Star Wars movies will return in The Last Jedi, including Finn (John Boyega), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie), Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) and Princess-Now-General Leia (Carrie Fisher), whose scenes were filmed before Fisher passed away in December.

However, the film will delve deeper than Force Awakens into exactly what makes these characters who they are. I wanted to know more about each of them, and that doesnt just mean information or backstory, Johnson told USA Today. Figure out whats the most difficult thing each of them could be challenged with nowlets throw that at them and dig into what really makes them tick by seeing how they handle that.

Benicio Del Toro and Laura Dern are also joining the cast, along with newcomer Kelly Marie Tran. Its even rumored that Tom Hardy will have a cameo as a First Order Stormtrooper.

Production:

The movies script was written by Johnsonwho began working on it while J.J. Abrams was still completing The Force Awakensand has been described as next level and clear by Driver. John Williams is returning for the eighth time in the series to compose the score.

The majority of filming took place in Ireland, Croatia and Englands Pinewood Studios.

Read More: Mystery and Excitement Surrounds Episode VIII Filming in Ireland
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  A former Dallas-area teacher's aide who faked having cancer and took a car and donations from staff and students has been sentenced to six months in prison in a separate case in West Virginia.

The Dallas Morning News (http://bit.ly/2kqAMsN ) reports that 56-year-old Kevin MaBone (MAY'-bone) was sentenced Monday in federal court.

The newspaper said he was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and pay back more than $6,800 he admitted stealing from Job Corps by using a government credit card for fuel for his personal vehicle.

MaBone admitted using the card in 2014-15, when he was director of social development at the Charleston Job Corps Center.

Police in Texas filed an arrest warrant against MaBone in January charging him with one count of theft, but authorities have said they aren't sure whether they will pursue the case.
By Daniel Levine and Kristina Cooke

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - U.S. authorities have arrested an immigrant from Mexico who was brought to the United States illegally as a child and later given a work permit during the Obama administration in what could be the first detention of its kind under President Donald Trump.

Daniel Ramirez Medina, a 23-year-old with no criminal record, was taken into custody last week at his father's home in Seattle by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The officers arrived at the home to arrest the man's father, though court documents did no make clear the reason the father was taken into custody.

Ramirez, now in custody in Tacoma, Washington, was granted temporary permission to live and work legally in the United States under a program called the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, established in 2012 by Democratic President Obama, according to a court filing.

The program protects from deportation 750,000 people who were brought to the United States illegally as children, sometimes called the "dreamers," and gives them the temporary right to work legally in the United States.

Trump, a Republican who took office on Jan. 20, has promised a crackdown on the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States, most of whom come from Mexico and other Latin American countries. A move against DACA recipients like Ramirez would represent a significant broadening of immigration enforcement under Trump.

Ramirez filed a challenge to his detention in Seattle federal court on Monday, arguing that the government violated his constitutional rights because he had work authorization under the DACA program.

Ethan Dettmer, a partner in the law firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher who is one of the lawyers representing Ramirez, said he is not aware of any other DACA recipient who has been arrested.

"We are hoping this detention was a mistake," Dettmer said.

A BROKEN PROMISE?

Another one of his lawyers, Mark Rosenbaum of the legal advocacy group Public Counsel, characterized the DACA program as a promise from the federal government's executive branch that DACA recipients would not be targeted for deportation.

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"We have no reason to believe that promise will be broken. This case should not see the inside of a courtroom," Rosenbaum said.

Ramirez was in custody and unavailable for comment. Representatives for Immigration and Customs Enforcement declined immediate comment on the lawsuit.

Emily Langley, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office in Seattle, said the Justice Department is still reviewing the case.

U.S. immigration officers last week arrested more than 680 people in the country illegally. Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said the operations, conducted in at least a dozen states, were routine and consistent with regular operations. But immigrant advocacy groups and Democrats have expressed concern that the Trump administration will escalate immigration enforcement efforts in line with the president's tough stance toward illegal immigrants.

Trump campaigned on a promise to roll back Obama's executive actions on immigration, but since assuming office he has kept his public comments on DACA vague.

In an interview with ABC News last month, Trump said his administration was devising a policy on how to deal with people covered by DACA. "They are here illegally. They shouldn't be very worried. I do have a big heart. We're going to take care of everybody. We're going to have a very strong border," Trump said at the time.

Under DACA, the government collected information including participants' addresses that potentially could be used to locate and deport them if the program is reversed.

Ramirez was brought to the United States from Mexico in about 2001 at about age 7, according to the lawsuit. The government granted him a DACA card in 2014 and renewed it in 2016, finding that he was no threat to public safety. He has a 3-year-old son, according to the complaint.

Ramirez in his lawsuit is seeking his immediate release and an injunction forbidding the government from arresting him again. A hearing in the case has been scheduled for Friday.

According to the lawsuit, Ramirez was asleep at his father's home last Friday morning when ICE agents arrived and arrested the father. When they entered, they asked Ramirez if he was in the country legally, and Ramirez said he had a work permit, the lawsuit stated.

ICE agents took Ramirez to a processing center in Seattle and he again disclosed his DACA work permit, the lawsuit stated.

"It doesn't matter, because you weren't born in this country," one of the agents said, according to the lawsuit.

Ramirez was fingerprinted, booked and taken to a detention center in Tacoma where he was still in custody on Tuesday, Rosenbaum said.

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(This version of the Feb 13th story corrects the meeting location in paragraph 3.) By Rob Goodier (Reuters Health) - Exercise may be an efficient way for obese pregnant women to lower their risk of diabetes, dangerously high blood pressure and other complications, research suggests. The study suggests that a prenatal exercise-based intervention leads to both decreased costs and improved outcomes in obese women, said Leah Savitsky, a medical student at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland who led the study. As reported at the 37th annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine in Las Vegas, Nevada, Savitsky and her team analyzed previously published research on the effect of exercise on pregnant women with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 30. The normal range for BMI - a ratio of weight to height - is 18.5 to 24.9; a BMI of 30 or more indicates obesity. (A BMI calculator is here, on the website of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://bit.ly/2bLiujh.) Based on their analyses of those earlier studies, the researchers estimated the benefit of exercise for women who are obese at the start of their pregnancy. They calculated that for every one million such women, there would be 38,176 cases of a dangerous pregnancy-related blood pressure problem known as preeclampsia among those who exercised, compared to 113,000 cases among those who didnt exercise. Exercise would also be linked to a decrease in so-called gestational diabetes, with a rate of 195,520 per million among exercisers compared to 305,500 among non-exercisers, according to their calculations. Likewise, they estimated, for every million obese pregnant women the preterm birth rate would drop from 105,059 to 90,923 with exercise, the maternal death rate would fall from 90 to 70 and the neonatal death rate would drop from 1,932 to 1,795. Based on a cost-effectiveness threshold of $100,000 per quality-adjusted life year, an exercise intervention could save money as long as expenses are held to just under $3,000. The effects of exercise may be even more beneficial than the study suggests, Savitsky said. This study did not consider additional downstream benefits on control of weight beyond pregnancy as well as the downstream potential benefits on hypertension and diabetes, she told Reuters Health by email. Women who are not obese may benefit as well. The researchers applied their model to women with a normal BMI of 18.5  24.9 and found similar improvements in outcomes among those who exercise, although the cost-effectiveness thresholds were lower. One trial that the study drew from looked at 765 women randomized to an exercise group or a control group (http://bit.ly/1QNoQzN). We showed that women who do not exercise are three times more likely to develop (high blood pressure), 1.5 times more likely to gain excessive weight and 2.5 times more likely to give birth to a large infant, said Michelle Mottola of Western University in London, Ontario, Canada, who was involved in the randomized trial. With the obesity epidemic looming in our society, perhaps we should be turning our attention to prevention of disease. It does not seem to be too late even for obese pregnant women to engage in lifestyle change that may substantially reduce health care costs, Mottola told Reuters Health by email. The current study was not designed to develop specific exercise guidelines for obese pregnant women; these women should consult their obstetricians for guidance. In the meantime, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises obese pregnant women to start with low-intensity, short periods of exercise and gradually increase as able. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2l0OKUo Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine 37th Annual Pregnancy Meeting, January 23, 2017.
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesians will vote on Wednesday in regional elections in more than 100 provinces, cities, and districts, with the contest for the powerful post of Jakarta governor turning into one of the more divisive political battles in the country's democratic era. The race to lead the city of more than 10 million is being fought by three candidates - an ethnic Chinese Christian and two Muslims - and has triggered protests and stirred religious and political tension in the world's third-largest democracy. JAKARTA CANDIDATES Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, commonly known as "Ahok", is the incumbent governor who took over running Jakarta in 2014 when his then boss, Joko Widodo, won the presidency. Purnama, 50, is the city's first ethnic Chinese and Christian leader, and has angered some Muslim voters for allegedly insulting the Koran. He has denied wrongdoing, but is on trial for blasphemy in a case that some view as politically motivated. He is backed by the country's ruling party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). Purnama's popular policies include a commitment to tackling chronic flooding and traffic jams and improving the bureaucracy. Agus Yudhoyono, the oldest son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. He retired from the military at the age of 38 to run for the governorship. He is backed by the Democrat Party and some Islamic parties. Yudhoyono's campaign has focused on improving the lives of Jakarta's poor and he has promised cash handouts to low-income families. Anies Baswedan, 47, was the former education minister in President Widodo's government. He is supported by Gerindra, a party headed by an unsuccessful presidential candidate, Prabowo Subianto. Baswedan's campaign has focused on improving public education and combating the rising cost of living. VOTING IN JAKARTA Official results are expected to be announced by around March 8-10. If no candidate achieves a majority in the first round, a runoff is expected in May between the two candidates securing the most votes. Defeated candidates can dispute the results in the Constitutional Court. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES Purnama is on trial for blasphemy over comments he made about his opponents' use of the Koran in political campaigning. If he wins the Jakarta election but is convicted of blasphemy, he is legally allowed to assume office as long as an appeals process is going on. BY THE NUMBERS Nearly 50 million voters are registered to vote in Wednesday's regional elections all over Indonesia. Of that total, 7.1 million are in Jakarta. Elections will be held for governors, mayors and regents in 101 regions throughout the country. Seven provinces, including Jakarta, will choose a governor. There will also be 18 city elections and 76 district elections. (Reporting by Ben Weir; Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Bill Tarrant, Robert Birsel)
NEW YORK (AP)  A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer tried to help two drug couriers sneak about 100 pounds of cocaine past screeners at Kennedy Airport, federal authorities said in court papers.

A criminal complaint, newly unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn, charges Fernando Marte with drug-smuggling conspiracy. Marte was in custody on Tuesday following his arrest last week.

Marte was on duty and in uniform when the couriers  a man and a woman traveling on a JetBlue flight from the Dominican Republic  arrived at JFK with two carry-on suitcases, according to court papers.

Security video shows Marte greeting the pair, escorting them past a primary inspection point and into the baggage claim area to get a cart for their bags, the papers say. Once they reached a secondary inspection point, Marte spoke to other customs officers there, investigators said.

After the conversation, the woman "was not stopped, searched or otherwise interviewed" before going outside with the bags, the papers say. But before her companion could leave, other customs officers stopped him and the woman. Both were arrested after the officers discovered bricks of cocaine wrapped in duct tape in the luggage.

The complaint says an informant told investigators Marte had also helped sneak another drug mule through airport inspection points last year. The officer has worked for U.S. Customs and Border Protection for about five years.

Robert Perez, director of the agency's New York operations, said in a statement: "We do not tolerate corruption or abuse within our ranks, and will aggressively investigate allegations of criminal or administrative misconduct by any of our personal, on or off duty."

There was no immediate response to a request for comment from Marte's lawyer.
This is for the one you can't live without.

A florist in Manila has released an odd set of Valentine's Day funeral wreaths. Naturally, they're meant to be sent with declarations of love, peppered with puns about death:

Two of Saint Jo Flowers' offerings.

Image: Saint Jo Flowers/Facebook

Puns like "I'm dying to see you" and "You have a killer smile."

SEE ALSO: Tinder's in-house sociologist explains how to score a date for Valentine's Day

The line of "bouquets" is sold by Saint Jo's Flowers, which is calling them "Pamatay na Valentine's Flowers" (or roughly, Cutthroat Valentine's Flowers).

They carry witty lines in Tagalog and English and are shaped like mini funeral wreaths, at 1 foot (30cm) tall.

"Everyone's tired of the usual roses, bouquets, so we thought of doing something different," Jojo Santiago-Calderon, the shop's creative director, told ABS-CBN.

Image: Saint Jo Flowers/Facebook

The wreaths have gone viral on Facebook:

Mashable has reached out to Saint Jo Flowers for more.
Valentine's Day seems like the perfect opportunity to break out the handcuffs and fulfill all of your Fifty Shades fantasies. But lovers take note. The London Fire Brigade has tweeted a message of caution to those who are planning on being adventurous in the bedroom.

SEE ALSO: Put your undies back on. New data reveals sexting isn't so great after all.

With the recent release of Fifty Shades Darker, LFB has warned the public about people being stuck in objects like penis rings. The number of people calling in for being trapped in penis rings is on the rise. This years figures are already equal to the combined incidences from the previous two years.

Fewer people are getting stuck in objects but '50 shades' incidents are up leaving kinky #Londoners #50ShadesofRed https://t.co/Q5c6Cmj0VZ pic.twitter.com/IxUmb3N42S  London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) February 14, 2017

The fire brigade's tweet is part of the Fifty Shades of Red campaign that was started back when the books were released. It's aim is to encourage people to think twice before getting themselves caught in a pickle (or a penis ring).

LFB has taken full advantage of the romantic holiday to reinforce that point and to remind people to make sure their smoke alarm is working.

#ValentinesDay today & love is in the air. Give it a poke, don't get overcome by smoke https://t.co/SbkhuVfR4t pic.twitter.com/HSH3tm1QOG  London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) February 14, 2017

In the words of London Fire Brigade Director of Operations Dave Brown, "If it doesn't fit, don't force it."
It's Valentine's Day and Fifty Shades Darker (you could also watch one of the vastly better alternatives) is in cinemas, and that can be a dangerous combination.

It can also drive firemen mad, as attested by this cute warning, issued by Zagreb, Croatia's Fire Department, which had to rescue a number of people from handcuffs on the Feb. 14 last year.

SEE ALSO: Dude rolls his valentine an impressive heart-shaped joint

"Feel free to have fun and be creative, but be careful. Just in case, we are here. Last year we have had only four interventions at people's homes with people stuck in handcuffs...", reads the warning, posted on the Fire Dept.'s Facebook Monday.

The warning is accompanied by photos of firemen rescuing some poor soul who appears to have forgotten the keys to their handcuffs.

Be careful out there, folks. You don't want to end up on your local fire station's Facebook page.
Paris (AFP) - Vogue Paris is to become the first French magazine to feature a transgender model on its cover, according the honour to Valentina Sampaio of Brazil for its March edition.

Calling Sampaio the "glam standard-bearer of a cause that is on the march", the French edition of Vogue describes the 22-year-old as a "femme fatale" who happened to be born a boy.

"Beyond her evident physical qualities and her sparkling personality, (Sampaio) embodies... a long and painful fight against being perceived as a 'gender exile'," Emmanuelle Alt, the magazine's editor-in-chief, writes in her editor's letter.

A sultry Sampaio, bathed in dark purple and blue light, appears over the words "Transgender Beauty", with a subtitle reading "How they are shaking up the world," on the cover to appear on newsstands February 23.

Transgender people are increasingly emerging from the shadows.

Caitlyn Jenner, a former male US decathlon star, made history by coming out with the June 2015 cover of Vanity Fair, prompting Glamour US magazine to name her woman of the year.

"Vogue supports and chooses to celebrate" transgender people "in a post-gender world," Alt writes.

She pays homage to other transgender figures who have preceded Sampaio and Jenner such as Lea T, the muse of Givenchy designer Riccardo Tisci.

She also recalls the trauma endured by supermodel Caroline Cossey, who was an extra in the 1981 film "For Your Eyes Only" and posed for Playboy that year before being outed by Britain's now-defunct News of the World tabloid in 1982.

In December, the US magazine National Geographic's cover story was titled "Gender Revolution" and featured Avery Jackson, a nine-year-old transgender girl.

Laverne Cox, who stars in the TV series "Orange Is the New Black", was on the cover of Time magazine in June 2014.

Cosmetics group L'Oreal Paris has selected 24-year-old transgender model and actress Hari Nef to represent its latest foundation cream in a global ad campaign.

Alt writes: "The day when a transsexual poses for a magazine cover and it will be no longer necessary to write an editorial on the subject, we will know that the fight has been won."
LANSING, Mich. (AP)  Michigan ordered a Flint hospital Tuesday to immediately comply with federal recommendations that were issued due to its association with a deadly Legionnaires' disease outbreak, saying the hospital's water system is unsanitary and a possible source of illness.

The order, which was issued by the state Department of Health and Human Services, said McLaren Flint has insufficiently shown compliance with recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the fall.

The hospital fired back, accusing the state of providing "absolutely no support" during the 2014-15 outbreak and retroactively casting blame after criminal charges were filed against 13 current or former state and city workers.

Some outside experts suspect the spike in cases was linked to Flint's improperly treated, lead-contaminated tap water, but the state said a review "has raised several new questions that require answers."

The state cited a report from December 2014 in which a company that tested McLaren's water said it seemed that the municipal water was not contributing to the hospital's Legionella bacteria issues and the problems instead were "likely internal to the hospital system." The state said it will appoint a monitor, conduct independent water testing and force the hospital to cooperate with requests for information.

McLaren said it already has provided much, if not all, of the information outlined in the order but plans to be fully responsive.

"Despite the fact that dozens of Legionnaires' disease cases have been reported in patients that have had absolutely no contact with our facilities, and despite the growing consensus among public health and infectious disease specialists that the city's use of the Flint River as a water source is the prime contributor to our community's Legionnaires' disease epidemic, the state refuses to broaden its perspective and hold itself and others accountable for the inaction of prior years," the hospital said in a statement.

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The state, which has come under scrutiny for mishandling the outbreak and waiting to notify the public, is following up on Legionnaires' cases after winning a legal dispute over access to records. It wants to know more about what the hospital is doing to strengthen its water system.

The order came the same day the mayor of Flint met with Gov. Rick Snyder to discuss Michigan's decision to withdraw some financial assistance that was originally offered to help the beleaguered city and its residents cope with the man-made crisis.

In a "constructive discussion," he said, he reaffirmed a state announcement from three weeks ago to stop paying a portion of customers' bills and also halt covering Flint's costs to use water from a Detroit-area system. The move will save the state more than $2 million per month.

The Republican governor said the payments will end because the level of lead in the city's water no longer exceeds the federal limit. Residents are still encouraged to use faucet filters provided by the state.

Flint Mayor Karen Weaver, who did not speak with reporters afterward, had said Monday that the credits were supposed to continue through March under a recent state law and that she was disappointed by the "short notice" that they will last instead for water used through February. She said while her goal is to get "the state out" of Flint, "we weren't ready for credits to be suspended."

Snyder's office estimates the state will have spent $41 million partially reimbursing customer bills for a nearly three-year period. Another $17.8 million has been contributed toward Flint's Great Lakes Water Authority payments.

"I explained that we had authorization really through the time period we had," said Snyder, who has apologized for his administration's role in causing and prolonging the emergency.

Weaver had said city officials previously argued that the credits  which cover roughly two-thirds of the water portion of residential water/sewer bills  should last until the water is safe to drink without a filter.

Flint's water emergency began when lead from old underground lines leached into the water supply because corrosion-reducing phosphates were not added due to an incorrect reading of federal regulations by state regulators. Elevated levels of lead, a neurotoxin, were detected in children, and 12 people died in the Legionnaires' outbreak  10 of them associated with McLaren.

Legionnaires' disease is a pneumonia caused by bacteria in the lungs. People get sick if they inhale mist or vapor from contaminated water systems, hot tubs or cooling systems  typically in large buildings such as hospitals and hotels.

___

Follow David Eggert on Twitter at https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/author/david-eggert
The abrupt resignation of National Security Advisor Michael Flynn on Monday night has left the Trump administrations already-tottering national security apparatus reeling, and highlighted deep divisions in a young White House marred by mismanagement, infighting, and leaks.

Among the names circulating as Flynns replacement are retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, acting national security advisor; retired Gen. David Petraeus; former Vice Adm. Bob Harward; and Robert Kimmitt, another retired Army officer and former State Department and Treasury official, and veteran of the National Security Council (NSC).

A key challenge for the next national security advisor will be finding a way to restore trust with Trumps cabinet secretaries and gain the confidence of the current NSC staff, many of whom were hired by Flynn. Its unclear how many of Flynns deputies and subordinates will follow him out the door.

Initial reports Tuesday said that Deputy National Security Advisor K.T. McFarland would leave the White House with Flynn. But McFarland told media outlets that the president has asked her to stay on in her current position. I just met with the president and he asked that I stay on. Im thrilled to do so, she said in a statement.

And while removing Flynn, some officials said, might make it easier to recruit for the NSC, his successor will still have to contend with rival centers of power inside the White House, especially from chief strategist Steve Bannon, who is playing an unusually prominent role on the NSC.

Harward, who worked as deputy to then-Gen. James Mattis at U.S. Central Command from 2011 to 2013, appears to be in pole position for the job, according to sources. If picked, he would likely reinforce the Trump administrations hawkish stance on Iran, one former official at Central Command said. The Gulf allies and Israel should be very reassured, he said. Harward was very strong on wanting to push back on Iranian influence and activity in the region.

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The 72-year-old Kellogg appears a less likely choice, despite his strong support for Trump from the early days of his presidential campaign, and Kimmitt had already taken himself out of the running for the No. 2 spot at the State Department last December, making his acceptance a long shot. Petraeus might have strong backing from some on the NSC and on Capitol Hill, but he still has two months of probation left on his 2015 conviction for mishandling classified information.

Flynns ouster creates a possible opportunity to fix one of the glaring flaws of Flynns NSC, according to several U.S. officials. His chaotic management style left senior cabinet officials angry and out of the loop, and coupled with suspicions over his ties to Russia, turned off qualified job seekers recruited for the many vacancies in the Trump administration.

More people will be willing to work at the NSC now, suggested a senior GOP Senate staffer, referring to the National Security Council.

Lots of people were turning down NSC postings because of Flynn, said a Trump administration official.

The senior ranks of the NSC are not just a collection of Flynn loyalists, making it more likely that the new chief would be able to work with them, said one person who has worked with NSC officials, and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Most are not Flynn people. Some are Petraeus people, some are [Defense Secretary Jim] Mattis people, and have their own appeal to Trump and Bannon in their own right, the person said.

A small group of active-duty and retired U.S. Army officers who oversee critical NSC portfolios have deep ties to Petraeus in particular, but are expected to stay.

Chief among them is retired U.S. Army Col. Derek Harvey, who sits at the head of the NSC Middle East and North Africa team. Harvey played a major role in tracking the Iraqi insurgency that formed after the U.S. invasion in 2003 and dissolution of the Iraqi army.

Michael Bell, another former colonel, serves as the NSC director for Gulf Affairs, and served stints on the Pentagons Joint Staff and a management position at the National Defense University. Both men were hand-picked by Petraeus when he returned to Iraq in 2007 to lead the surge of 30,000 U.S. troops sent to salvage the faltering war effort by waging a counterinsurgency campaign that sought the buy-in of the Iraqi population.

Then theres Col. Joel Rayburn, who is the director of the Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and Syria desk at the NSC. A highly-regarded Army intelligence officer, Rayburn not only wrote the Pentagons official history of the Iraq War, but a book published in 2014, Iraq after America: Strongmen, Sectarians, Resistance.

That suggests that the administrations tough approach to Iran will outlast Flynn, who on Feb. 2 put Iran on notice for its provocative testing of ballistic missiles and support for Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Trumps ultimate vision for dismantling what he calls Irans global terror network remains in place, the NSC advisor said. The council remains absolutely behind those ideas. There shouldnt be any question about that.

In explaining Flynns departure, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said on Tuesday that Trump was very concerned that General Flynn had misled the vice president and others.

Flynn, by his own acknowledgement, failed to tell Vice President Mike Pence that he discussed the issue of lifting some Russia sanctions during a December phone call he had with the Russian ambassador to Washington. Pence, taking Flynn at his word, denied that sanctions were discussed during a subsequent TV interview.

The president must have complete and unwavering trust of the person in the position, said Spicer.

He also said Trump was briefed on the Department of Justices concerns over the content of Flynns calls immediately after they were conveyed to White House staff shortly after the inauguration. Trump waited more than two weeks to demand Flynns resignation.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The dramatic departure of President Donald Trump's hard-hitting national security adviser creates a vacuum of power and raises a key question about U.S. foreign policy: Will the pragmatists in the administration now gain clout?

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, both known as levelheaded technocrats, stand to fill some of the void. It would be a shift that would mollify anxious U.S. allies and even Republicans who worry Trump is veering too far from traditional U.S. positions. But the duo will be contending with Steve Bannon, Trump's influential senior adviser, and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, who is already playing an outsize role in his diplomacy.

Trump hasn't named a replacement for Michael Flynn. Trump asked the former Army lieutenant general to resign Monday night amid revelations he misled Vice President Mike Pence about his contacts with Russia while President Barack Obama was still in office. Trump has tasked retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg with filling the role temporarily but is also considering two other retired military leaders to permanently replace Flynn.

"It's dysfunctional as far as national security is concerned," Republican Sen. John McCain said. "Who is in charge? I don't know of anyone outside of the White House who knows."

Critics of Trump's foreign policy plans are hoping the shakeup leads to a rethink of his desire to seek closer U.S.-Russian relations and a less hostile administration stance on Islam  a tone Flynn helped to set through often inflammatory statements about the religion. Many lawmakers from both parties were appalled to learn that Flynn, in the weeks before Trump's inauguration, discussed with Russia's ambassador sanctions that the Obama administration was imposing as punishment for Russia's alleged interference in the presidential election.

Flynn, who in 2015 was paid to appear at a gala for Russian state-controlled television network RT, was the face of Trump's potential Russia reboot, designed around working with Russia to fight the Islamic State group. In Moscow, Russian lawmakers bitterly mused that American paranoia had forced Flynn out, while analysts there surmised that the Kremlin's honeymoon with Trump was ending.

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With Flynn out, it could fall to Tillerson to step into the role of chief envoy to Russia. Tillerson, who heads to Bonn, Germany, on Wednesday on his first official trip, is widely expected to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during the trip. He has long experience with Russian leaders and was awarded a friendship honor by President Vladimir Putin when he was Exxon Mobil CEO.

Much depends on who replaces Flynn. It's unclear if Trump will go with someone having a similar world view and willingness to upset the status quo. In his brief three-week tenure, Flynn stepped up U.S. rhetoric toward Iran and helped spearhead Trump's controversial immigration order that sparked consternation and threats of retaliation in the Muslim world.

"I don't think it will slow the White House down too much," said Jim Carafano, a Heritage Foundation scholar who advised Trump's transition team on foreign policy. Carafano said Flynn's departure "takes away a trusted voice of the president" but that Trump would turn to other valued national security hands.

That could also mean an expanded role for Bannon, the conservative media executive with outspoken views about Islam who has consolidated immense influence over Trump's foreign policy. Kushner, the husband of Trump's daughter, also could broaden his portfolio, which already has him as a prime Trump emissary to key regions like the Middle East and Latin America despite his dearth of diplomatic or government experience.

Tillerson, too, has elicited concerns about his ties to Putin. But the oil man portrayed himself in a Senate confirmation hearing as well within mainstream U.S. thinking on Russia. And that view is prevailing on policy, at least for now, as the White House said Tuesday it is upholding the sanctions President Barack Obama imposed on Russia over Ukraine and the election meddling.

Tillerson, who has kept a low public profile since being sworn in, hasn't commented on Flynn's departure or on Trump's early handling of foreign policy.

But Mattis, speaking to reporters while traveling to a NATO defense ministers' meeting in Brussels, said Flynn's departure "has no effect at all" on him.

"It doesn't change my message," Mattis said.

Like Tillerson, Mattis has emerged as part of the global reassurance team  Cabinet members familiar to foreign leaders who are easing concerns that Trump will follow through on combative rhetoric about upending U.S. foreign policy. On his first official trip abroad, to South Korea and Japan, Mattis insisted the U.S. wouldn't abandon its treaty allies despite Trump's suggestions that Washington would no longer bear the burden of other nations' defenses.

"The key question is what is the connective tissue between the president and the actual policy," said Derek Chollett, who held various national security posts under Obama. "Every president reaches a point where they stop getting listened to. With Trump, it may happen sooner if there's a sense what he says isn't actually translated into policy."

___

Associated Press writers Lolita C. Baldor and Ken Thomas contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Fired by one American commander in chief for insubordination, Michael Flynn has now been removed by another.

The White House said Tuesday that President Donald Trump asked for the resignation of his national security adviser, a hard-charging, feather-ruffling retired lieutenant general who just three weeks into the new administration had put himself in the center of a controversy. Flynn resigned late Monday.

At issue was Flynn's contact with Moscow's ambassador to the United States. Flynn and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak appear to have discussed U.S. sanctions late last year, raising questions about whether he was freelancing on foreign policy while President Barack Obama was still in office and whether he misled Trump officials about the calls.

The center of a storm is a familiar place for Flynn. His military career ended when Obama dismissed him as defense intelligence chief. Flynn claimed he was pushed out for holding tougher views than the Obama administration about Islamic extremism. But a former senior U.S. official who worked with Flynn said the firing was for insubordination, after the Army lieutenant general failed to follow guidance from superiors.

Once out of government, he disappeared into the murky world of mid-level defense contractors and international influence peddlers. He shocked his former colleagues a little more than a year later by appearing at a Moscow banquet headlined by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Given a second chance by Trump, Flynn, a lifelong if apolitical Democrat, became a trusted and eager confidant of the Republican candidate, joining anti-Hillary Clinton campaign chants of "Lock Her Up" and tweeting that "Fear of Muslims is RATIONAL."

As national security adviser, Flynn required no Senate confirmation vote or public vetting of his record, and his tenure was brief but turbulent.

The Washington Post and other U.S. newspapers, citing current and former U.S. officials, reported last week that Flynn made explicit references to U.S. sanctions on Russia in conversations with Kislyak. One of the calls took place on Dec. 29, the day Obama announced new penalties against Russia's top intelligence agencies over allegations they meddled in the U.S. election process to help Trump win.

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While it's not unusual for incoming administrations to have discussions with foreign governments before taking office, the repeated contacts just as the U.S. was pulling the trigger on sanctions suggests Trump's team might have helped shape Russia's response. They also contradicted denials about such discussions of the sanctions by several Trump administration officials, including Vice President Mike Pence.

Flynn later backed off his adamant denials. On Friday, he said he "no recollection" of discussing sanctions policy but "can't be certain," according to an official, who wasn't authorized to speak publicly on the matter and demanded anonymity.

He apologized to Pence, who, apparently relying on Flynn's denials, vouched for him on television. In his resignation letter, Flynn said he held numerous calls with the Russian ambassador to the U.S. during the transition and gave "incomplete information" about those discussions to Pence.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Tuesday that Trump requested Flynn's resignation because of an erosion of trust.

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INSUBORDINATION:

Flynn's sparkling military resume had included key assignments at home and abroad, and high praise from superiors.

The son of an Army veteran of World War II and the Korean war, Flynn was commissioned as a second lieutenant in May 1981 after graduating from the University of Rhode Island. He started in intelligence, eventually commanding military intelligence units at the battalion and then brigade level. In the early years of the Iraq war, he was intelligence chief for Joint Special Operations Command, the organization in charge of secret commando units like SEAL Team 6 and Delta Force. He then led intelligence efforts for all U.S. military operations in the Middle East and then took up the top intelligence post on the Joint Staff in the Pentagon.

Ian McCulloh, a Johns Hopkins data science specialist, became an admirer of Flynn while working as an Army lieutenant colonel in Afghanistan in 2009. At the time, Flynn ran intelligence for the U.S.-led international coalition in Kabul and was pushing for more creative approaches to targeting Taliban networks, including use of data mining and social network analysis, according to McCulloh.

"He was pushing for us to think out of the box and try to leverage technology better and innovate," McCulloh said, crediting Flynn for improving the effectiveness of U.S. targeting. "A lot of people didn't like it because it was different."

It was typical of the determined, though divisive, approach Flynn would adopt at the Defense Intelligence Agency, which provides military intelligence to commanders and defense policymakers. There, he quickly acquired a reputation as a disruptive force. While some applauded Flynn with forcing a tradition-bound bureaucracy to abandon old habits and seek out new, more effective ways of collecting and analyzing intelligence useful in the fight against extremist groups, others saw his efforts as erratic and his style as prone to grandstanding.

In the spring of 2014, after less than two years on the job, he was told to pack his bags.

According to Flynn's telling, it was his no-nonsense approach to fighting Islamic extremist groups that caused the rift.

A former senior Obama administration official who was consulted during the deliberations disputed that account. Flynn was relieved of his post for insubordination after failing to follow guidance from superiors, including James Clapper, Obama's director of national intelligence, said the official, who asked for anonymity to discuss personnel matters.

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CIVILIAN LIFE:

Plunged into civilian life for the first time in 33 years, Flynn moved quickly to capitalize on his military and intelligence world connections and experience. He did so in an unorthodox way.

"I didn't walk out like a lot of guys and go to big jobs in Northrup Grumman or Booz Allen or some of these other big companies," Flynn told Foreign Policy magazine in 2015.

Instead, he opened his own consulting firm, Flynn Intelligence Group, in Alexandria, Va. He brought in his son, Michael G. Flynn as a top aide, and began assembling a crew of former armed forces veterans with expertise in cyber, logistics and surveillance, and sought out ties with lesser-known figures and companies trying to expand their profiles as contractors in the military and intelligence spheres.

One "team" member listed on the firm's site was James Woolsey, President Bill Clinton's former CIA director. Woolsey briefly joined Flynn on Trump's transition team as a senior adviser, but quit in January. Another was lobbyist Robert Kelley.

Kelley proved a central player in the Flynn Group's decision to help a Turkish businessman tied to Turkey's government. At the same time that Flynn was advising Trump on national security matters, Kelley was lobbying legislators on behalf of businessman Ekim Alptekin's firm between mid-September and December last year, lobbying documents show.

It was an odd match. Flynn has stirred controversy with dire warnings about Islam, calling it a "political ideology" that "definitely hides behind being a religion" and accusing Obama of preventing the U.S. from "discrediting" radical Islam. But his alarms apparently didn't extend to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government as it cracked down on dissent and jailed thousands of opponents after a failed coup last summer. Erdogan's power base is among Turkey's conservative Muslim voters and many affected by his crackdown are secularists.

Shortly before Trump's election, Flynn wrote an op-ed saying Turkey needed U.S. support and echoing Erdogan's warnings that a "shady" Turkish Muslim cleric living in Pennsylvania should not be protected by the United States. Erdogan accuses the cleric, Fethullah Gulen, of orchestrating the coup attempt and has requested extradition. Obama officials widely described Turkey's evidence of Gulen's wrongdoing as insufficient.

Alptekin, the businessman, told The Associated Press he met Flynn several times starting last summer. He wouldn't detail their conversations. Alptekin said he met mostly with Kelley, a former chief counsel to a congressional subcommittee, who registered with Congress as a lobbyist for Inovo BV, a company Alptekin established in the Netherlands in 2005. Alptekin also is a member of a Turkish economic relations board run by an Erdogan appointee, though he says he has no official relationship with Turkey's government.

Kelley said Flynn's consulting firm could help "do something about improving the relations between Turkey and the United States," Alptekin told the AP. He said he didn't consider any need for his firm or Kelley to register with the Justice Department as a "foreign agent in this context" because his firm was "not a government entity."

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FOREIGN AGENT?

Kelley also was a registered foreign agent for the National Mobilization Force, a Turkish-backed militia fighting the Islamic State group in Syria. Documents filed with the Justice Department show Kelley was paid $90,000 to "convey the views" of the armed group to Congress, federal officials and the media.

The Justice records do not cite any Kelley affiliation with the Flynn Group. But a December letter from Democratic senators Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., to top federal intelligence officials raised questions about whether Kelley inappropriately represented the militia on behalf of Flynn's firm, which they said raises "the potential for pressure, coercion, and exploitation by foreign agents."

Several ethics experts also said Flynn's firm should have registered with the Justice Department. "If a foreign entity is lobbying Congress on influencing U.S policy, they need to file under the foreign agent act," said Lydia Dennett, an investigator with the Project on Government Oversight, a Washington good government group.

Alptekin said Inovo BV paid Flynn's firm "tens of thousands of dollars." Kelley said Flynn's firm made less than $5,000 for its three months of work on behalf of Alptekin's company when he filed a lobbying termination notice to Congress on Dec. 1.

Kelley and Flynn Intel Group have not responded to multiple calls and emails from the AP. Flynn said in a statement that Kelley provided to Yahoo News in mid-November that "if I return to government service, my relationship with my company will be severed."

The Flynn Intel Group's website no longer operates and AP visits to three northern Virginia locations associated with the firm no longer showed any company activity or identification. Several Flynn Intel Group staffers who worked for the firm and its cyber and flight subsidiaries, FIG Cyber Inc. and FIG Aviation, departed around the November election.

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BLIMP IN A BOX

Flynn had other nontraditional business engagements.

In early 2015, he signed on with the cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks as a member of its Public Sector Advisory Council comprising retired military officers working as a "sounding board" to answer "the technology needs of the world's governments."

He advised Conversion Capital, a venture capital firm specializing in tech-oriented investments. He was briefly listed as a board director of GreenZone Systems, a technology firm headed by another Flynn Intel Group partner, Iranian-American investor Bijan Kian.

And then there was Drone Aviation, a firm that makes tethered surveillance drones. Flynn was named vice chairman and a board member in May 2016, and said he would promote the firm's "blimp in a box" concept for military and government use and expand "the role of persistent aerial solutions in the marketplace."

The company later won a $400,000 Defense Department contract. Drone Aviation paid Flynn a $36,000 annual salary and awarded him 100,000 shares of restricted stock. He was re-elected to the board after Trump's election but stepped down from the board after being offered his job at the White House.

Another venture was Brainwave Science, a Boston company publicizing its use of "brain fingerprinting," scans that the firm claims can be used to assess a person's honesty. Flynn briefly joined the advisory board in February 2016. The firm's concept is disputed by critics and one adviser left the board after media reports surfaced that he pleaded guilty in 1996 to selling stolen biotech material to Russia's spy agency.

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MEETING PUTIN

Like many former military officials, Flynn boosted his profile by appearing on television news and talk shows, including several networks connected to foreign governments. They include Qatar-backed Al Jazeera and RT, the news network aligned with the Russian government. He has said he wasn't paid for the appearances.

But a December 2015 trip to RT's 10th anniversary celebration would put Flynn in some unique company. An RT video from the Moscow event showed Flynn seated next to Putin and rising during a standing ovation following the Russian leader's address.

Flynn has acknowledged being paid for the appearance, but hasn't said who wrote the check or for how much. Flynn's webpage at All American Speakers shows a standard lecture circuit fee in the $30,000-$50,000 range.

According to another attendee at the event, Jill Stein, the former Green Party presidential candidate who won 1 percent of the popular vote last November, RT paid for the Moscow event.

Stein told the AP she turned down the network's offer to pay for her transportation and stay at Moscow's Hotel Metropol, where the event was held. "I didn't think it was appropriate for a presidential candidate to take money from a foreign government," she said.

Before dinner, Flynn was interviewed on international issues by an RT personality. He then joined Stein and others at a front table, seated with Putin and an entourage of aides. Stein said she didn't see Flynn and Putin talk privately at the table.

Flynn later told the Post that he had only a brief introduction with Putin. Flynn shrugged off the meeting as "boring."

Still, several Democratic House members have asked if Flynn accepted payment from RT and if that is a violation of the federal Emoluments Clause, which prohibits even retired military officers from accepting direct or indirect payments from foreign governments. The Army said Tuesday it hasn't investigated.

Flynn was both hopeful and skeptical about Russia relations before joining Trump's administration. In his 2016 book "The Field of Fight," Flynn warned that Russia had joined an "enemy alliance" with Iran. But he also talked publicly of Russia as a possible ally with the U.S. in confronting radical Islam.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Fired by one American commander-in-chief for insubordination, Michael Flynn has now delivered his resignation to another.

The White House said Tuesday that President Donald Trump asked for the resignation of his national security adviser, a hard-charging, feather-ruffling retired lieutenant general who just three weeks into the new administration had put himself in the center of a controversy. Flynn resigned late Monday.

At issue was Flynn's contact with Moscow's ambassador to Washington. Flynn and the Russian appear to have discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia late last year, raising questions about whether he was freelancing on foreign policy while President Barack Obama was still in office and whether he misled Trump officials about the calls.

The uncertainty about his future had deepened Monday when the White House issued a statement saying that Trump is "evaluating the situation" surrounding Flynn. In his resignation letter, Flynn said he held numerous calls with the Russian ambassador to the U.S. during the transition and gave "incomplete information" about those discussions to Vice President Mike Pence.

The center of a storm is a familiar place for Flynn. His military career ended when Obama dismissed him as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2014. Flynn has said he was pushed out for holding tougher views than Obama about Islamic extremism. But a former senior U.S. official said the firing was for insubordination, after Flynn failed to follow guidance from superiors.

Out of government, he disappeared into the murky world of mid-level defense contractors and international influence peddlers. In December 2015, he appeared at a Moscow banquet headlined by Russian President Vladimir Putin. In 2016, Flynn, a lifelong if apolitical Democrat, became a trusted and eager confidant of Trump, joining anti-Hillary Clinton campaign chants of "Lock Her Up" and tweeting that "Fear of Muslims is RATIONAL."

Story continues

As national security adviser, Flynn required no Senate confirmation vote or public vetting of his record.

The Washington Post and other U.S. newspapers, citing current and former U.S. officials, reported last week that Flynn made explicit references to U.S. sanctions on Russia in conversations with Putin's ambassador, Sergey Kislyak. One of the calls took place on Dec. 29, the day Obama announced new penalties against Russia's top intelligence agencies over allegations they meddled in the election with the objective of helping Trump win.

While it's not unusual for incoming administrations to have discussions with foreign governments before taking office, the repeated contacts just as the U.S. was pulling the trigger on sanctions suggests Trump's team might have helped shape Russia's response. They also contradicted denials about such sanctions discussions by several Trump administration officials, including the vice president. Some Democratic lawmakers want a congressional investigation.

For days, Trump had been unusually quiet on the matter. While his aides declared the president has confidence in Flynn, Trump privately told associates he was troubled by the situation. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Tuesday that Trump requested Flynn's resignation because of an erosion of trust.

Flynn's sparkling military resume had included key assignments at home and abroad, and high praise from superiors.

The son of an Army veteran of World War II and the Korean War, Flynn was commissioned as a second lieutenant in May 1981. He started in intelligence and eventually rose to senior positions, including intelligence chief for U.S. Central Command.

Ian McCulloh, a Johns Hopkins data science specialist, became a Flynn admirer while working as an Army lieutenant colonel in Afghanistan in 2009. At the time, Flynn ran intelligence for the U.S.-led international coalition in Kabul and was pushing for more creative approaches to targeting Taliban networks, including use of data mining and social network analysis, according to McCulloh.

"He was pushing for us to think out of the box and try to leverage technology better and innovate," McCulloh said, crediting Flynn for improving the effectiveness of U.S. targeting. "A lot of people didn't like it because it was different."

After leaving the military, Flynn plunged into civilian life and moved to capitalize on his military and intelligence connections and experience.

He opened his own consulting firm, Flynn Intelligence Group, assembling a crew of former armed forces veterans with expertise in cyber, logistics and surveillance. One "team" member was lobbyist Robert Kelley.

Kelley proved a central player in the Flynn Group's decision to help a Turkish businessman tied to Turkey's government. At the same time that Flynn was advising Trump on national security matters, Kelley was lobbying legislators on behalf of businessman Ekim Alptekin's firm between mid-September and December last year, lobbying documents show.

It was an odd match. Flynn stirred controversy with dire warnings about Islam, calling it a "political ideology" that "definitely hides behind being a religion." But his alarms apparently didn't extend to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government as it cracked down on dissent and jailed thousands of opponents, including many secular Turks, after a failed coup last summer.
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General Michael Flynn is out as national security advisor, with General Keith Kellogg as his acting replacement. This gives Flynn the distinction of being the sole person on the planet to have been booted by both Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump.

Kellogg is an old school 82nd Airborne infantryman who also spent time in special forces. If I recall correctly, he got in hot water in the early 1990s when as a colonel in Europe he went into Bosnia, studied the situation, and then wrote a memorandum recommending that the United States prepare to intervene in the conflict. His reasoning was that American intervention was inevitable, so it might as well come sooner, before tens of thousands of additional people died. As I recall, he got called on the carpet by Gen. Colin Powell, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs, who chewed him out partly on substance (your recommendation is wrong) but mainly on process (dont put stuff like that on paper because it is then reachable by Congress).

Kellogg is interesting in that in the Army he was a hooah commander, but in retirement got first into homeland security issues, and later worked for Ambassador Paul Bremer in Baghdad during the Coalition Provisional Authority days.

I do have to wonder what goes through the head of a two-tour, Silver Star, Vietnam vet like Kellogg when he looks at Trump.

Personal note: The oddity here, for me, is that both generals invited me to come in and speak to their people while they were in command  Kellogg at 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, Flynn at the Defense Intelligence Agency. That may not seem like much, but I was pretty radioactive with some defense secretaries and Joint Chiefs chairmen, so I think it showed courage on their parts.

I also see the name of retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward being discussed as a possible successor. Hes a tough old SEAL who served under James Mattis at Central Command, where he was in charge of planning a war against Iran.

In other news, I think Flynns ouster doesnt end the Trump/Russia story, but rather gives it legs. Trump tweeted a complaint about leaks this morning. I dont think he has seen anything yet. And I think the tweet reflects his fear of what might emerge.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump's national security adviser Michael Flynn, who resigned late Monday over his controversial contacts with Russia, is a former military intelligence chief who saw militant Islam as the main threat to global stability.

The 58 year-old retired three-star general -- a slim, energetic figure with sharp facial features -- however had accommodating views on Russia and China, two countries that former president Barack Obama regarded as the main US strategic opponents.

During the 2016 presidential campaign Flynn was one of the few high-profile former military figures who advised candidate Trump, and was on the short list to be the Republican's vice presidential candidate.

At the Republican convention that nominated Trump for president, Flynn delivered a fiery attack on Democrat Hillary Clinton, even leading the crowd in chants of "Lock her up!"

However Flynn's fate may have been sealed when news reports surfaced over the weekend that he discussed US sanctions with Russia's ambassador weeks before Trump was sworn in as president, and just as then-president Barack Obama was ordering new actions against Moscow over its alleged interference in the US election.

Obama had named Flynn to head of the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2012, but the retired general was forced out in less than two years amid a turbulent restructuring effort and clashes with his superiors.

Flynn's paid appearance at a 2015 dinner in Russia sitting next to Russian President Vladimir Putin especially raised eyebrows, as did his accommodating statements toward Moscow that suggested a readiness to accept Russia's seizure of Crimea and its support for embattled Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.

"We beat Hitler because of our relationship with the Russians, so anybody that looks on it as anything but a relationship that's required for mutual supporting interests, including ISIS, ... that's really where I'm at with Russia," he told the Washington Post in August.

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The main threat, in Flynn's view, was militant Islam.

"We have a problem with radical Islamism and I actually think that we could work together with them against this enemy. They have a worse problem than we do," he told the Post.

- Militant Islam 'metastasizing' -

The son of a Rhode Island banker, Flynn had a professional army career mainly in intelligence units. In the 2000s he served in Iraq and then Afghanistan, where he became director of intelligence for coalition forces.

After leaving the Defense Intelligence Agency, Flynn repeatedly criticized the Obama administration as inadequately focused on the Islamist threat. He even published a book titled: "The Field of Fight: How We Can Win the Global War Against Radical Islam and Its Allies."

In his book Flynn argued that Muslim countries must be forced to recognize and stamp out radical Islamic beliefs, which he says are "metastasizing" around the world.

"We're in a global war, facing an enemy alliance that runs from Pyongyang, North Korea, to Havana, Cuba, and Caracas, Venezuela," he wrote in the New York Post in July.

"Along the way, the alliance picks up radical Muslim countries and organizations such as Iran, Al-Qaeda, the Taliban and Islamic State."

Like Trump, Flynn has also criticized US allies in NATO for not putting enough of their own effort and funding into the crucial western defense treaty.

National security community critics warned that his one-dimensional views could upset well-established relationships that benefit the United States.

They also questioned Flynn's willingness to take money from Russian government-backed groups, and his support for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's harsh crackdown on dissent.
Brussels (AFP) - The resignation of President Donald Trump's national security adviser, Michael Flynn, will have "no impact" on America's message to worried NATO partners, Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said on Tuesday ahead of a key alliance meeting.

Flynn was forced from his key post late Monday amid allegations he had discussed US sanctions strategy with Russia's ambassador Sergey Kislyak before taking office.

US defence secretaries routinely visit NATO, but Mattis's trip is significant as he seeks to reassure allies -- rattled by Trump's past rhetoric on the alliance -- that America is not abandoning long-standing security doctrine to forge closer ties with Moscow.

"Frankly, this has no impact," Mattis told reporters as he flew to Brussels for a meeting of NATO defence ministers on Wednesday and Thursday.

"Obviously I haven't changed what I am heading there for. It doesn't change my message at all, and who is on the president's staff is who I will work with," Mattis said.

Flynn's departure marks a dramatic development in Trump's presidency and comes amid broad international concerns over Moscow's alleged meddling in foreign elections and Trump's friendliness towards Russian President Vladimir Putin.

And as a candidate, Trump made it clear that he has no sentimental attachment to NATO, arguing that European members don't pay their fair share and calling the alliance "obsolete."

Since his election, Trump has moderated his criticism and appointed in Mattis a strong supporter of allied cooperation.

Mattis, a retired four-star Marine Corps general, has worked extensively with international partners in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Unlike his boss, he is a fierce NATO advocate, and has said that if the alliance did not already exist, it would need to be created.

"This has been the most successful alliance in military history," he told reporters, praising NATO for its enduring role in helping the United States in Afghanistan.
The resignation of White House National Security Adviser Michael Flynn Monday night, just hours after one of President Trumps closest advisers said that he enjoyed the chief executives full confidence, raises alarming questions about the new administrations ability to put national security ahead of the presidents personal ties to his aides.

Flynn, the retired three-star Army general who rose to prominence in Trumps orbit during the presidential primary, bowed out after weeks under a cloud of suspicion that he had illicit contact with Russian officials prior to Trumps inauguration and may have suggested that sanctions levied on the Kremlin by then-president Obama would be eased after Trump took office. Matters worsened after it was revealed that Flynn misled the administration, including Vice President Mike Pence, about the content of his discussions with a Russian official.

Related: National Insecurity: Intel Officials Increasingly Worried About Trump

If the fact that Flynn was allowed to remain in the position after apparently lying to Pence wasnt troubling enough, it was reported Monday night that the Department of Justice had previously informed the White House that it believed the National Security Adviser could be subject to blackmail by Russia.

Acting Attorney General Sally Q. Yates informed the White House in late January that an ongoing investigation into Flynns ties to Russia had revealed that the Kremlin might have undue influence over the man charged with briefing the president on the most serious and sensitive issues of national security. Yates was fired by the president shortly thereafter, over her refusal to implement his executive order banning refugees and citizens of seven majority Muslim countries from entering the US.

Despite the Justice Departments concerns, and in the face of other reports that the Army is investigating whether Flynn broke the law by accepting payment from the Kremlin-run RT television channel for an appearance in Moscow, Flynn retained access to the nations most closely held secrets and, according to aides, to the presidents trust.

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Yes, Gen. Flynn does enjoy the full confidence of the president, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said in an appearance on MSNBC just hours prior to the announcement of Flynns resignation.

Related: How Long Can Trump Go Without Firing Somebody?

Conways comment was followed, minutes later, by a seemingly contradictory statement from White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, who told reporters that the President was evaluating the situation with Flynn.

Under normal circumstance, the resignation of a National Security Adviser under suspicion of being influenced by the countrys biggest rival on the world stage would throw the White House national security operation into chaos. However, by all accounts, it was already there.

Career staff on the National Security Council were already frantic with concern about their status within a new administration in which young staffers with virtually no experience in national security affairs were allowed to chair their meetings, and political staff, from the president on down, treated some classified material in a strikingly cavalier fashion.

The White House reported Monday night that Flynns position will be filled on a temporary basis by another retired general who supported Trump on the campaign trail, Keith Kellogg. Like Flynn a former Lieutenant General, Kellogg had been serving as his predecessors deputy but is not widely expected to hold the job on a permanent basis.

Related: Another Strike Against National Security Adviser Michael Flynn

One of the many questions now facing the Trump administration is where the president will turn for Flynns replacement. With the administrations relationship with the Intelligence Community already in tatters over his repeated accusations that the nations spies have acted against him personally, the IC will surely be watching closely to see if Trump looks for a candidate who can repair their damaged confidence in the administration.

Beyond that, the nation as a whole will be watching to see how -- and if -- Trump addresses reports that he allowed an aide potentially compromised by a hostile foreign power to retain access to the nations most closely guarded secrets and influence over how the government acts on them.

Trump has shown little willingness to address the Flynn issue. In separate press conferences in recent days, he has accepted questions only from friendly news outlets, like the Daily Caller website and Sinclair Broadcasting, which could be counted on not to bring up Flynn.

However, at this point, its difficult to see how even the most obsequious reporter could fail to demand an explanation for the Flynn affair from the president and his representatives.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
By Will Dunham WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An extraordinary fossil unearthed in southwestern China shows a pregnant long-necked marine reptile that lived millions of years before the dinosaurs with its developing embryo, indicating this creature gave birth to live babies rather than laying eggs. Scientists on Tuesday said the fossil of the unusual fish-eating reptile called Dinocephalosaurus, which lived about 245 million years ago during the Triassic Period, changes the understanding of the evolution of vertebrate reproductive systems. Mammals and some reptiles including certain snakes and lizards are viviparous, meaning they give birth to live young. Dinocephalosaurus is the first member of a broad vertebrate group called archosauromorphs that includes birds, crocodilians, dinosaurs and extinct flying reptiles known as pterosaurs known to give birth this way, paleontologist Jun Liu of China's Hefei University of Technology said. It boasted one of the longest necks relative to body size of any animal that ever existed. Dinocephalosaurus, unearthed in Yunnan Province, was an estimated 13 feet (4 meters) long, including a slender neck roughly 5-1/2 feet (1.7 meters) long, Liu said. It had paddle-like flippers, a small head and a mouth with teeth, including large canines, perfect for snaring fish. "I think you'd be amazed to see it, with its tiny head and long snaky neck," said University of Bristol paleontologist Mike Benton, who also participated in the research published in the journal Nature Communications. Its body plan was similar to plesiosaurs, long-necked marine reptiles akin to Scotland's mythical Loch Ness Monster that thrived later during the dinosaur age, though they were not closely related. Not laying eggs provided advantages to Dinocephalosaurus, the researchers said. It indicated the creature was fully marine, not having to leave the ocean to lay eggs on land like sea turtles, exposing the eggs or hatchlings to land predators. Many animal fossils have been found with the stomach contents intact, for example whole fish. Several factors showed this embryo was the female Dinocephalosaurus' baby, not its breakfast. Liu said it was found in a curled posture typical for vertebrate embryos. The embryo faces forward relative to the mother, while swallowed animals generally face backward because a predator will gulp prey head-first to help it get down the throat. Montana State University evolutionary biologist Chris Organ said while some reptiles such as crocodiles determine the sex of their babies through the temperature inside the nest, Dinocephalosaurus determined its offspring's sex genetically as mammals and birds do. (Reporting by Will Dunham; Editing by Sandra Maler)
By Emile Picy and John Irish PARIS (Reuters) - Francois Fillon faced down a rebellion by lawmakers in his center-right party on Tuesday, but the revolt exposed a shaky confidence inside his camp as he tries to draw a line under a scandal that could derail his bid to win power. With Fillon's election campaign once again distracted by the fallout from allegations surrounding taxpayer money he paid his wife as a salary, opinion polls show the former prime minister's difficulties paving the way for a May 7 runoff between the far-right's Marine Le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Macron. Voter surveys have painted the same picture for three weeks, when the scandal erupted, and there is disquiet within Fillon's party over whether he can turn around his slump in popularity. Fillon has said he will only step down if he is put under formal investigation. Fillon's attempts to rally his party, The Republicans, was dealt a blow by a report at the weekend which suggested the country's financial prosecutor was likely to take further legal steps into allegations of fake work by his wife, Penelope. On Monday evening dissenting lawmakers publicly dined at a central Paris restaurant to discuss whether their candidate was best-suited to represent them. "On Feb. 1st ... you asked us to hold on 15 more days on the basis that the situation would be clarified favorably," said an open letter agreed by some 40 lawmakers. "However, this period has expired, and there has yet to be any clarification. As a result, we have a real concern that our political family, The Republicans, will not be able to compete in this presidential election in a calm and dignified way." Rebel legislators demanded a "crisis" meeting to discuss Fillon's fate. Later though, during a weekly meeting between Fillon and conservative lawmakers, Georges Fenech, who instigated the letter, backed down on the demand to convene the party's political bureau. "BOULEVARD FOR LE PEN" During the meeting, Fillon stood his ground, saying that his withdrawal would lead to the implosion of the party. "It is me that knows best that the campaign is difficult because it's me getting smacked in the face by it every moment," he told his party lawmakers. "I'm hounded by the national press. I'm hounded by the judiciary. I wouldn't want to be hounded by lawmakers as well because that would make it difficult ... I have established there is no alternative better solution and that the withdrawal of my candidacy today would create a major crisis." His spokesman Thierry Solere said Fillon had received unanimous backing at the meeting. His support among voters, however, has been hurt. Opinion polls, which before the affair saw Fillon as favorite to win the presidency, now show the 62-year-old running a close third in the first round vote on April 23. An Opinionway survey on Tuesday showed the National Front's Le Pen winning 27 percent of the vote in the first round ahead of Macron on 22 percent and Fillon on 20 percent. Both Macron and Fillon would comfortably beat Le Pen in the May 7 second round, the poll indicated. However, support for Fillon in a head-to-head against Le Pen has dropped since the scandal broke. Only 59 percent back him in a contest against the far right candidate who would take France out the euro currency, compared to Macron's 64 percent, according to the Opinionway poll. In an editorial published on Tuesday, Le Monde newspaper said Fillon's troubles, divisions on the left and Macron's perceived lack of a detailed program were opening a "boulevard" for Le Pen. (Writing by John Irish; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Andrew Callus)
(This February 13 story has been corrected to delete mention of RT picking up Sputnik report) PARIS (Reuters) - French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron is a "fake news" target of Russian media and his campaign is facing thousands of cyber attacks, his party chief said on Monday. Richard Ferrand, secretary-general of Macron's En Marche! (Onwards!) party, said that Russian state-controlled media Russia Today and Sputnik had spread false reports with the aim of swinging public opinion against Macron. An independent centrist, Macron has surged in campaigning for the French election and opinion polls make him favorite to win election in May. Ferrand said that Macron, as a staunch pro-European, was a Russian target because he wanted a strong united Europe that had a major role to play in world affairs, including in the face of Moscow. Sputnik earlier this month ran an interview with a conservative French lawmaker accusing Macron, a former investment banker, of being an agent of "the big American banking system". "Two big media outlets belonging to the Russian state Russia Today and Sputnik spread fake news on a daily basis, and then they are picked up, quoted and influence the democratic (process)," Ferrand said. Russia Today said it rejected allegations it spread fake news in general and in relation to Macron and the forthcoming French election. "It seems that it has become acceptable to level such serious charges at Russia Today without presenting any evidence to substantiate them, as well as to apply this 'fake news' label to any reporting that one might simply find unfavorable," the news channel said in a statement. Russian newspaper Izvestia has also reported comments from Wikileaks founder Julian Assange who said his organization had "interesting information" about Macron, who opinion polls say would easily beat far-right leader Marine Le Pen in a May 7 runoff. In addition, Ferrand said the Macron campaign was being hit by "hundreds if not thousands" of attacks probing the campaign's computer systems from locations inside Russia. Calling for government action to prevent foreign meddling in the election campaigning, Ferrand said: "What we want is for authorities at the highest level to take the matter in hand to guarantee that there is no foreign meddling in our democracy. The Americans saw it but it came to late." U.S. intelligence agencies said in a report last month that Russian President Vladimir Putin had directed a cyber campaign to help Republican Donald Trump's electoral chances by discrediting Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential campaign. French Defence Minister Jean Yves Le Drian promised last month to boost military resources to fight foreign cyber attacks, acknowledging that France was no less vulnerable than the United States. In an election campaign which has sunk into smear and sleaze, Macron on Feb. 7 was also forced to kill rumors of a gay relationship outside his marriage to Brigitte Trogneux. The media reports about Macron emerged from Russia as erstwhile poll favorite Francois Fillon, a conservative who speaks positively of Putin, was hit by a scandal which has badly affected his election chances. He has seen his poll lead evaporate following French press allegations that his wife had been paid for being his parliamentary assistant without doing any real work. Fillon's decline has put Macron in a position to make it into a May 7 runoff vote, where polls see him winning by a large margin against far right leader Marine Le Pen, who has received funds in the past from a Russian lender and pledged to have good relations with Russia if elected. (Reporting by Marine Pennetier, writing by Leigh Thomas; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
PARIS (Reuters) - A group of French conservative lawmakers on Tuesday backed down on demanding a crisis meeting to discuss the fate of their presidential candidate Francois Fillon, a parliamentary source said. Some 40 lawmakers, led by Georges Fenech, had earlier written to Fillon requesting a meeting to discuss the "major crisis" amid ongoing allegations of fake work by his wife. The source said Fenech, a supporter of former president Nicolas Sarkozy, had now decided to not make the request during a meeting between Fillon and The Republicans' lawmakers on Tuesday. The source did not say why Fenech had backed down. (Reporting by Emile Picy; writing by John Irish; Editing by Andrew Callus)
BUTLER  Butlers Board of Works and Public Safety approved several expenditures at its Feb. 6 meeting.

Board members Eric Johnson and Tammy Davis approved a $12,500 quote from Sturtz Public Management Group to hire Kristi Sturtz as a grant writer. Sturtz will submit a grant on Butlers behalf to the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (IOCRA) for a forthcoming sewer separation project. City Planner Steve Bingham said he is certified to write grants to the Indiana Department of Transportation, but not to IOCRA.

Sturtz will submit a grant and an environmental review for sewer separation work in the city, according to acting City Superintendent Dave Wagner. Work is being planned for areas north of Main Street and east of Pearl Street.

This is actually work we wanted to do 10 years ago, but we didnt have enough money, Wagner explained. We had grant money to do the south side. Now we want to do the north side.

Wagner estimated the sewer separation work to cost approximately $1 million dollars. Were hoping to get $600,000 in grant money, he said.

Police Chief Jim Nichols presented two quotes from ERS Wireless of Fort Wayne.

The first quote, for $6,905.52, was to purchase an 800 megahertz booster to improve radio reception at the new police station.

The second quote, for $4,196.55, was to purchase six UHF analog radios as backups in the event the 800 mhz system goes down. Nichols explained DeKalb County Central Communications has recommended each police department do this, and the expense would be up to the individual departments. Nichols said his quote is from the same firm the DeKalb County Sheriffs Department and Auburn Police are using.

Both quotes were approved. Clerk-Treasurer Angela Eck said there is money in the public safety budget for both purchases.

In a separate issue, Nichols presented a $6,593 quote from Direct Fitness Solutions of Mundelein, Illinois to purchase a treadmill and stair climber for use in the workout area at the new police department. Eck said the total cost will come out of the police and fire departments budgets and Thompson Block fund, making the equipment available to any city employee.

Board members approved a request from Wastewater Superintendent Brian Moore to trade in a mower for a commercial-grade John Deere mower from Kenn-Feld Group. The purchase price is $8,350 and Kenn-Feld Group offered $2,750 trade-in on the older mower.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  Penguins at a California aquarium got more than their daily helping of fish to celebrate Valentine's Day.

Biologist Piper Dwight handed out red hearts to 14 African penguins at the California Academy of Sciences during a feeding Monday.

Visitors took photos of the animals grabbing the hearts in their beaks and waddling around their enclosure. Some even fought over the thick felt hearts that can withstand water and are adorned with messages such as "You are the water beneath my wings."

The penguins will use them to decorate their nests. Vikki McCloskey, assistant curator of the museum's Steinhart Aquarium, says it will encourage breeding and bonding by penguin couples.

She says male penguins in the wild attract a mate by making nests "look pretty nice."

The annual Valentine's event promotes conservation efforts for endangered African penguins.
BERLIN (AP)  A German court has excluded two elderly Jewish American men from joining the trial of a 96-year-old former Auschwitz SS medic, because their mother was not killed in the death camp's gas chambers during the time covered in the indictment.

Hubert Zafke is charged with 3,681 counts of accessory to murder for a one-month period in 1944.

The Neubrandenburg state court said Tuesday it was excluding Walter and William Plywaski, of Boulder, Colorado, from joining the trial as co-plaintiffs, as allowed under German law for victims' relatives.

Their attorneys argue that Zafke was present for a longer period than covered by the indictment, and say they'll appeal.

The trial has been repeatedly delayed over the defendant's health and complaints from the co-plaintiffs the judges are biased.
Frankfurt am Main (Germany) (AFP) - German investor confidence suffered a sharper than expected tumble in February, data showed Tuesday, as growing concerns over political uncertainty cast a shadow over Europe's top economy.

The closely-watched index for investors' future expectations fell by 6.2 points to 10.4 points this month, the Mannheim-based ZEW institute said in a statement.

Analysts surveyed by Factset had forecast a shallower fall to 14.9 points in February from 16.6 points in January.

"The downturn in expectations is likely to be the result of the recently published unfavourable figures for industrial production, retail sales and exports," ZEW president Achim Wambach said in a statement.

"Political uncertainty regarding Brexit, the future US economic policy as well as the considerable number of upcoming elections in Europe further depresses expectations," he added.

Germany rounded off 2016 with a strong quarter of growth at 0.4 percent, official data released Tuesday showed.

But pointers towards the future outlook have become less robust as 2017 has got under way.

The Munich-based Ifo institute's business confidence index fell in January, albeit less sharply than the investor survey, defying analysts' predictions of an increase.

Ifo's barometer however remains at a level indicating expansion, and a consumer survey from pollsters GfK found the public in "sparkling" mood in January.

In the light of the ZEW reading on Tuesday, "the more positive message from January's business and consumer confidence surveys may now be looking a little too optimistic," said economist Jessica Hinds of Capital Economics.

- Transatlantic troubles -

"Economic indicators speak for a solid start to the year 2017," the German economy ministry commented ahead of the ZEW release Tuesday, pointing to solid business confidence and high levels of employment.

Nevertheless, "uncertainties remain present, especially in the foreign trade environment," they acknowledged.

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Germany's traditional export motor -- responsible for a record 253-billion-euro ($269 billion) trade surplus last year -- faces headwinds as traditional free trade champions the United States and Britain hint at protectionism.

US President Donald Trump is mooting border taxes to put his "America first" campaign rhetoric into action -- potentially undermining business from Germany's biggest export customer.

And trade with key partner Britain could suffer if the island nation and the rest of the EU are unable to agree an amicable divorce as London moves to implement a referendum decision to quit the bloc.

German exports to countries outside its European Union neighbours already fell slightly in 2016, official data released last week showed.

Berlin can look around at a eurozone in better shape than for some time, with 1.7 percent growth in 2016 -- according to Eurostat data released Tuesday -- beating growth in the US of 1.6 percent.

Investors, though, fear the euro single currency area will suffer just as much as Germany, with ZEW's sub-index for the eurozone outlook falling 6.1 points to 17.1.

ZEW surveyed 213 financial actors in Germany between January 30 and February 13 to compile its index.
A mysterious disappearance of a penguin at a zoo in Germany has lead local police to believe that it was stolen.

The Mannheim Police posted a plea to its Facebook page on Monday, asking the public for any information involving the disappearance of a humboldt penguin from the Luisenpark zoo. According to the post, the penguin mysteriously vanished from its exhibit sometime between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, which lead zookeepers and police to believe that the animal was stolen.

SEE ALSO: Sex between snow monkey and deer shows different species may mate if they're 'deprived,' study says

Image: PolizeiMannheim/reddit

The plea took somewhat of a desperate turn when the cops revealed that the penguin was dependent on special food and its living conditions provided by the zoo to survive.

The penguin's wing is marked with the number 53, as well as an identification chip, which cops say will make the bird difficult to sell, though we're a bit confused who would like to buy a penguin in the first place.

Regardless, the zoo wants its penguin back, please.

[h/t:UPI]
Even the deepest most remote parts of the ocean can't escape our foolishness.

Scientist have found a large amount of banned chemicals in the fatty tissue of crustaceans that live in the Pacific Ocean's Mariana and Kermadec trenches.

Though the locations are 10 kilometres (six miles) deep and far from land, researchers from Newcastle University in the U.K. identified traces of prohibited chemicals once used as fire retardants in the tiny amphipods.

SEE ALSO: Why drones are a game-changer for animal research

Using deep sea landers to recover the samples, one of the chemicals scientists found were polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). PCBs were banned in the U.S. in 1979 and no longer imported into Australia from 1975, amid environmental and health fears.

The report claims that around 1.3 million tonnes of PCB was created between the 1930s and the 1970s, with about 65 percent of that contained in landfills and electrical equipment. A further 35 percent may be stuck on the coast and in the ocean.

Hirondellea gigas are voracious scavengers that consume anything that comes down from the surface.

Image: Dr Alan Jamieson

"We still think of the deep ocean as being this remote and pristine realm, safe from human impact, but our research shows that, sadly, this could not be further from the truth," the report's lead author Alan Jamieson said in a statement.

He found the shrimp-like creatures contained chemical levels comparable to some of our most degraded environments: "In fact, the amphipods we sampled contained levels of contamination similar to that found in Suruga Bay, one of the most polluted industrial zones of the northwest Pacific."

Published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, the report points out that our oceans often act as a "sink" for chemicals released by insecure landfills and industrial accidents.

It's important to remember these are human-made chemicals that do not occur naturally said Katherine Dafforn, a senior research associate at the University of New South Wales, who researches the effect of toxic chemicals on the marine environment. She was not involved in the report.

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Dafforn described the study as "scary."

"I would have thought of these trenches as far removed from any of the problems we're creating on land," she added. "I've always thought of them very far removed from human activities."

One reason why such chemicals are the focus of marine research is they don't break down quickly in any environment, persisting over decades while accumulating in living organisms in high concentrations.

"This impacts on the hormonal endocrine system, which can effect development," Dafforn explained. This could result in problems with growth and the appearance of tumours on fish, for example, as well as potentially damaging the reproductive system.

How these chemicals are falling into the trenches is still unknown, although the researchers speculate they could be delivered in part by falling carrion including dead fish and organic matter as well as falling plastic debris.

"These trenches are very deep  once something is in them, it's very hard for it to come back out," Dafforn pointed out. PCBs have a knack for finding their way into isolated environments, including the Arctic.

In Dafforn's view, there are still many "black boxes" out there when it comes to the impact of man-made chemicals on the environment. Of particular concern to her are microplastics  tiny bits of plastic that occur thanks to the breakdown of plastics bags and bottles, as well as from cosmetic products like microbeads.

In other words, we're far from done doing damage.
BRUSSELS (AP)  The eurozone's top official said Tuesday that next week's meeting between Greece and its international creditors will not yet provide a full breakthrough on the country's bailout program because more negotiations on reforms are needed.

"It really will take more time," said Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the Dutchman who chairs the regular gathering of eurozone finance ministers, known as the eurogroup.

"People are thinking that because we have a eurogroup next week, that we have to have a solution next week, but it has never been part of my plans," he told the Dutch RTL Z network.

Greece's creditors, including the eurozone countries and the International Monetary Fund, want Greece to commit to more budget savings in exchange for paying out more loans.

But after years of grinding austerity imposed as a condition of the bailout programs, the Greek government does not want any more stringent reforms. Especially as its economy is finally picking up.

To underscore Greek popular resentment of the budget cuts and tax increases, farmers held a rally in front of Greece's parliament where they handed out cabbages. Farmers elsewhere in the country maintained highway blockades with tractors.

The talks on Greece's bailout are complicated by the fact that the eurozone creditors and the IMF do not see eye to eye on how to help the country.

The IMF has taken a dimmer view of Greece's economic prospects and says that the eurozone states should ideally write off some of the loans they gave the country. Otherwise, Greece's debt will be unsustainable, it says.

The eurozone states, many of which are hesitant to admit to their voters that the money they gave Greece will not come back, are more optimistic about Greece's prospects and say it can make do by sticking to economic reforms.

The disagreement is important because the latest bailout for Greece had been negotiated on the assumption that the IMF would pitch in eventually. Without a deal, the IMF could walk away  meaning the bailout could have to be renegotiated and Greece would have to wait longer to get rescue cash. Greece faces debt repayments of 7 billion euros in July.

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EU Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis acknowledged that "the IMF is having more cautious fiscal forecasts" but said both sides were seeking to bridge the gap.

Dijsselbloem badly wants the IMF on board.

"The eurogroup attaches importance to the approval of the IMF, also for the next steps. That is my priority. And if we get it, I know for sure that in the Netherlands, Germany, there will be enough support," he said.

Dijsselbloem insisted that the financial situation in Greece is currently not comparable to 2015, when the nation was teetering on the brink of being kicked out of the eurozone and only stayed after committing to another series of austerity reforms.

The economy grew for four consecutive quarters, though it shrank slightly, by 0.4 percent, in the last three months of 2016, according to new figures released Tuesday.

There are fears that upcoming elections in the Netherlands and France could make any progress on Greece's situation difficult in coming months.

Dijsselbloem said eurozone and IMF officials still have to go back to Athens to complete talks on further reforms that are aimed at keeping Greek from backsliding on its fiscal commitments. Those decisions would then still need to be approved by the Greek parliament before they can be cleared by the eurogroup.

That would only leave agreement on a broad political outline as the maximum achievable result for Monday's eurozone meeting.

___

Gatopoulos reported from Athens, Greece.

___

Follow Casert https://twitter.com/rcasert and Gatopoulos at https://twitter.com/dgatopoulos
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  A hamstring injury has ruled opening batsman Martin Guptill out of New Zealand's Twenty20 international against South Africa on Friday and the first two matches of the five-match one-day series.

Uncapped wicketkeeper-batsman Glenn Phillips will take Guptill's place at the top of the order at Auckland, while Dean Brownlie will replace Guptill in the one-day internationals at Hamilton and Christchurch.

Selector Gavin Larsen preferred Phillips in the one-day side ahead of the vastly-experienced Ross Taylor, who spoke this week of his disappointment of repeatedly being rejected for Twenty20 selection.

Larsen said the selection was based on Phillips' form in New Zealand's recent Twenty20 Super Smash competition, in which he averaged 46 at a strike rate of 143.
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With terrible news constantly slamming everyone in the face every second, it's pretty easy to forget the innocent and kind things people do every day.

Cameron Valle who's from Dallas, Texas, but is attending school in Fayetteville, Arkansas, was texting his little sister Christen when she surprised him with an adorable gesture. While asking her brother for login credentials to use an iPad, she innocently censored the word "password."

SEE ALSO: Teenage innovators are improving the bathroom selfie, one random object at a time

I hope my sister stays 11 forever pic.twitter.com/5Uifwx7E7H  Cameron Valle (@Cameron_Valle22) February 13, 2017

When asked why she spelled password with asterisks, Christen said it was because "it has a bad word in it."

"I was just sitting in my film lecture class and she texted me that, and it threw me off but I thought it was funny when she explained herself," Cameron said in an email.

Please everyone take a moment to revel this child's innocence.

"I hope my sister stays 11 forever," Cameron tweeted with a screenshot of the text message, which has since racked up over 3,700 retweets.

"She just got her first phone, so she's never really had the opportunity to censor herself," Cameron explained. "She never cusses and gives me a hard time when she hears me say certain things."

Cameron's other sister Cassie responded to the tweet, asking her brother how Christen would spell her name, considering it also has a cuss word built in.

@cassievalley what do you mean Ca**ie?  Cameron Valle (@Cameron_Valle22) February 13, 2017
SATTAHIP, Thailand (AP)  The highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Thailand since a 2014 coup urged the country to restore democracy while reaffirming the partnership between the two nations, saying Tuesday that America needs "a strong and stable ally" in Southeast Asia.

Adm. Harry B. Harris, the head of the U.S. Pacific Command, spoke at the start of the annual Cobra Gold Thai-U.S. joint military exercises, the largest in the Asia-Pacific region.

"We look forward to Thailand's reemergence as a flourishing democracy because we need Thailand as a strong and stable ally," Harris said. "We need Thailand to get back to being the regional and global leader that it always has been."

But even as he asked Thai leaders to step up, he made it clear the U.S. remains committed to the countries' military relationship. Harris' visit, planned under the Obama administration, is widely seen as a signal that the U.S. will continue to back Thailand.

"Folks, our alliance is a big deal," Harris said. "Nations don't enter security treaty alliances lightly. It means we're in it for the long haul."

Twenty-nine countries, including China, India and Malaysia, are participating in or observing the exercises. Some 3,600 American troops are attending this year, hundreds more than last year.

Cobra Gold comes at an uncertain time for Thailand's relations with the U.S., China and Russia.

Thailand, for decades a stalwart American ally, saw relations with the U.S. cool after its military overthrew a democratically elected government in 2014. In response to the coup, the U.S. froze millions in military aid.

In the past few years, the Thai army has turned to Chinese and Russian tanks and helicopters to replace outdated American equipment. It also has been ramping up joint military exercises with China, and last year the army announced it would buy three Chinese submarines in a deal worth about $1 billion.

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China frightens many in Southeast Asia with expansionist policies in the South China Sea. However, China's claims do not clash with Thai territorial waters, paving the way for friendly relations.

"It's like a balancing scale," said Panitan Wattanayagorn, a professor at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University and an adviser to Thailand's defense minister. "Thailand is a small country between superpowers, and it has to balance to make sure the scale doesn't tip too much in one way."

With an eye on China, the U.S. has been trying to draw Thailand closer again recently, despite political differences.

"Washington is sorely trying to show the Thai junta and Southeast Asian governments that it prioritizes formal relations with them," said Paul Chambers, research director at the Institute of Southeast Asian Affairs. "In other words, geopolitics is more important than liberal values, regardless of human rights violations."
Hillary Clinton reacted to the resignation of President Trumps embattled national security adviser Michael Flynn by sharing a colorful tweet from Philippe Reines, one of her former top aides.

What goes around COMETS around, Reines wrote in a tweet directed at Flynn and his son, Michael Flynn Jr., and included a link to a page with listings for open job positions at Dominos Pizza.

Philippes got his own way of saying things, Clinton tweeted, but he has a point about the real consequences of fake news.

Philippe's got his own way of saying things, but he has a point about the real consequences of fake news https://t.co/a02sXiaHfp  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 14, 2017

Dear Mike Flynn & Mike Flynn Jr., What goes around COMETS around. And given your pizza obsessionhttps://t.co/rmyO7wyJKX xo Philippe  Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) February 14, 2017

During the 2016 presidential campaign, both Flynns used their social media accounts to spread false news stories about the Clintons.

Flynn Jr. came under fire for promoting the so-called PizzaGate conspiracy, which falsely claimed Comet Ping Pong, a Washington pizzeria, was the center of a child sex trafficking ring involving Clinton and her campaign chief, John Podesta. The furor around that fake news story culminated when a man enraged over the claims later showed up with a gun and opened fire in the restaurant. No one was injured.

The conspiracy theory first caught fire on the Internet in October amid the FBIs investigation into emails discovered on the laptop of top Clinton aide Huma Abedins estranged husband, disgraced former New York Rep. Anthony Weiner. A tweet claiming that the NYPD was looking into evidence of Clintons involvement in an international child enslavement ring first made its way to fringe message boards and websites.

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On Nov. 2, the elder Flynn shared a fake news story linking Clinton to sex crimes with minors, falsely stating that the NYPD was close to bringing charges against the Democratic nominee.

Timeline:The rise and fall of Michael Flynn

Then in early December, the gunman, who said he was self-investigating the fake news reports, opened fire inside the restaurant.

The 28-year-old gunman, Edgar Maddison Welch, told police he traveled to Washington from Salisbury, N.C., to free the child sex slaves, who never existed.

But the incident did not deter the younger Flynn, who remained defiant.

Until #Pizzagate proven to be false, itll remain a story, Flynn Jr. tweeted. The left seems to forget #PodestaEmails and the many coincidences tied to it.

Hillary Clinton at President Trumps inauguration. (Photo: Saul Loeb/Reuters)

The Trump team subsequently distanced itself from the younger Flynn, who had served as his fathers chief of staff and was helping his father during the transition.

Thats no longer the case, Vice President Mike Pence said on Dec. 6.

Its not the first time Clinton has used her social media account to respond to a Trump administration setback. Last week, after Trumps challenge to a ruling against his controversial executive order on immigration was unanimously rejected by a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, Clinton celebrated with a three-character missive.

3-0, she tweeted.

3-0  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 10, 2017

Read more from Yahoo News:
Paris (AFP) - French President Francois Hollande on Tuesday called for "justice" over the alleged rape of a black youth with a police baton, an incident that has sparked 10 nights of rioting and more than 200 arrests.

"Justice must be served," Hollande said during a visit to Aubervilliers, located in the tough Seine-Saint-Denis region northeast of Paris where a 22-year-old youth worker, identified only as Theo, was assaulted on February 2.

But Hollande also condemned the ensuing riots, which have shaken the belt of gritty suburbs surrounding Paris.

The injuries sustained by Theo during a stop-and-search operation in the suburb of Aulnay-sous-Bois have sparked clashes with police and arson attacks across the impoverished, ethnically-mixed housing estates that ring the French capital.

The interior ministry said 245 people had been arrested over the protests which began on February 4. Several dozen have been taken into custody.

Theo suffered severe anal injuries requiring hospital treatment during his arrest by four officers, one of whom allegedly sodomised him with a truncheon.

One officer has been charged with rape and the three others with assault. All four have been suspended from the force.

On Tuesday, a separate investigation was launched into claims that one of the four officers beat up another black youth in Aulnay-sous-Bois on January 26.

The youth, also aged 22 who gave his name as Mohamed K, told L'Obs news weekly that he had been punched, kicked and beaten with a baton. Pictures published by the paper showed severe swelling and bruises to his face.

Hollande said France was determined to "show that we are capable of living together in a peaceful society, but where respect is the rule and where we must be firm towards those who diverge from this principle".

Separately, leading French artists launched an appeal calling for far-reaching reforms of the police to prevent similar episodes of alleged brutality.

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The call, published in Wednesday's edition of the leftwing daily Liberation, urged the use of cameras on police uniforms, the reintroduction of neighbourhood policing and an overhaul of training policy.

The nationally-known signatories included movie director Nils Tavernier, singer Patrick Bruel, actresses Josiane Balasko and Mathilda May, and Olivier Py, director of the Avignon arts festival.

- 'Fuel to the fire' -

With presidential elections in April and May, the alleged assault, which follows the death of a young black man in police custody in another Paris suburb last year, has become a campaign issue.

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen on Monday launched a petition "to support the police" after blaming "laxism in French society" for the problems of the restive suburbs.

The head of the anti-immigration National Front party called for a "major tightening of the screws" to boost police capabilities.

Socialist presidential candidate Benoit Hamon lashed Le Pen, saying she was "adding fuel to the fire". "She encourages violence through her hateful rhetoric," Hamon said.

On Monday, Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux made an appeal for "responsibility, calm (and) faith in the justice system".

Hollande, who visited Theo in hospital last week, decided not to seek re-election.

The leftist Hamon, who won the Socialist nomination, is given little chance of getting past the first round on April 23.

The latest voter surveys show Le Pen with 27 percent support for the first round -- more than any other candidate -- although she is currently not expected to triumph in the May 7 runoff vote.
The House Oversight Committee on Tuesday asked the White House for more information about security protocols at President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago club, following reports that he discussed sensitive information in a public area Saturday night.

Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appeared to discuss North Koreas launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile in full view of guests in Mar-a-Lagos public dining room, according to social media posts and a report from CNN.

Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the oversight committee, requested more information about whether security protocols were followed during the incident, whether any classified information was discussed in public areas, and how guests and employees at Mar-a-Lago are vetted.

During a press briefing Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said there was no classified information present in the dining room and said Trump was briefed in a secure area before and after the dinner. But the incident raised questions about potential security risks at the club that has been dubbed the Winter White House.

Nevertheless, discussions with foreign leaders regarding international missile tests, and documents used to support those discussions, are presumptively sensitive, Chaffetz wrote in the letter, dated Feb. 14.

While the President is always on duty, and cannot dictate the timing of when he needs to receive sensitive information about urgent matters, we hope the White House will cooperate in providing the Committee with additional information.
Reginald Dwayne Betts knows how hard it is to overcome the odds.

They keynote speaker for the La Crosse Reads program participated in a carjacking at age 16 and landed a nine-year prison sentence. While in prison, he read works by African-American authors, including Ernest Gaines  the author of the Read, A Lesson Before Dying  and began to write poetry.

A poet, memoirist and graduate of Yale law school, Betts will share his story of going from prison to activism during a two-day visit to La Crosse starting with his keynote address at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the new student union at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. On Thursday, he will conduct a reading of his works at 7 p.m. in the Western Technical College Lunda Center at 400 N. Seventh St.

He represents the best of what the read can offer, UW-L English professor and La Crosse Reads project leader Kate Parker said. He truly is a remarkable man.

The community-wide book read is part of a $14,000 National Endowment for the Arts Big Read grant received by the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse English Department and the La Crosse Public Library. The goal of the program and its events is to draw attention to issues highlighted in Gaines eighth novel, which follows the story of a young teachers relationship with an African-American death row inmate wrongfully convicted of robbery and murder.

Parker said social and racial justice issues are important to the La Crosse community, and the book and events help people unpack and discuss issues such as an unjust mass incarceration system. Betts memoir, A Question of Freedom: A Memoir of Learning, Survival, and Coming of Age in Prison, shares his story of being incarcerated in the worst prisons in Virginia, where solitary confinement, horrific conditions and constant violence threatened his humanity.

He is the national spokesman for the Campaign for Youth Justice, and he writes and lectures about the impact of mass incarceration on American society, advocating juvenile justice and prison reform. Along with his public events, Betts will visit participants in the La Crosse County jails reading program, as well as students in the UW-L English program.

His writing and work help communities understand the power and potential every person has, Parker said. Even with these systems of injustice and discrimination.
India's Supreme Court jailed the anointed next leader of Tamil Nadu for four years for corruption Tuesday, heightening the turmoil in a state still reeling from the death of its long-time matriarch.

VK Sasikala was ordered to surrender to prison authorities after judges quashed her acquittal in a $10 million "disproportionate assets" case also involving her mentor, the late chief minister Jayalalithaa Jayaram.

There was no immediate reaction from Sasikala who was not present at the apex court in New Delhi and has been holed up in a resort close to Tamil Nadu's capital Chennai since last week.

But the verdict brought a juddering halt to the 59-year-old's meteoric rise as she was on the cusp of becoming the leader of one of India's most populous and prosperous states.

The court ordered she immediately hand herself in to begin serving her sentence, which automatically bars her from holding public office for a decade, as well as fining her 100 million rupees ($1.5 million).

The panel of judges also sentenced her nephew and niece to four years after the Karnataka High Court acquitted all of them in 2015 of any wrongdoing.

"The magnitude of the nefarious gains as demonstrated by the revelations in the case are, to say the least, startling," Justice PC Ghosh and Justice A Roy wrote in their verdict.

The ruling also said there was "incriminating evidence" against Jayalalithaa, a former film star who died last December after three stints as chief minister.

Sasikala had been anointed as Jayalalithaa's successor by the state's dominant All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and was likely to be sworn in later this week.

But she has been involved in a bitter battle with acting chief minister, O Panneerselvam, who has been trying to block her ascent.

Although there was no immediate response to Tuesday's verdict from Sasikala herself, her party issued a statement saying Panneerselvam and 19 other senior AIADMK rebels had been sacked.

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Edappady Palaniswamy, a Sasikala loyalist, was appointed AIADMK leader in place of Sasikala but Panneerselvam is likely to stay on as chief minister while the infighting continues.

"Let us bury the hatchets and stay united for the good of the party and continue the fine governance of Amma," Panneerselvam told reporters after the verdict, using Jayalalithaa's nickname.

- Firecrackers -

While the 2014 conviction sparked mass protests, Sasikala does not command anything like the same level of loyalty as Jayalalithaa and there no immediate signs of demonstrations.

Few party workers were at the party headquarters and the only people outside her residence were political rivals who celebrated the verdict by bursting firecrackers and distributing sweets.

"This verdict shows that individuals in public life should not indulge in corruption," opposition leader M K Stalin told reporters.

Sasikala has taken refuge since last week in a luxury resort alongside several dozen AIADMK state legislators, keeping a close eye on them over fears that Panneerselvam's camp might poach them before her investiture.

The corruption case dates back to late 1990s when Jayalalithaa and Sasikala were accused of profiting from the chief minister's office and amassing wealth beyond their income.

They were jointly accused of owning several bungalows, luxury cars, tea estates, eight tons of silver, nearly 30 kilogrammes (66 pounds) of gold and thousands of saris which could be not accounted for.

The court put the overall value of the assets acquired illegally at 660 million rupees, equivalent to around $10 million.

Sasikala was running a video parlour and Jayalalithaa was a budding politician when the two met, which marked the beginning of a decades-long friendship dogged by corruption allegations.

Sasikala's meteoric rise mirrored that of Jayalalithaa who came to power following the death of her own mentor and regular movie co-star M. G. Ramachandran in 1987.

But unlike Jayalalithaa, who inspired a devotion that verged on the religious, Sasikala is seen as lacking charisma and a solid power base.
Indonesian authorities raided convenience stores and seized condoms in a major city to stop teenagers having casual sex on Valentine's Day, an official said Tuesday, the latest crackdown on the holiday in the Muslim-majority nation.

The mayor of Makassar, a conservative city on central Sulawesi island, led public order officers in the raids late Monday on the eve of the celebration.

Mayor Mohammad Ramdhan Pomanto said he was not against the sale of condoms but that outlets needed to be careful about whom they were sold to.

"Valentine's Day is often misused by teenagers to have casual sex, this can destroy the morality of the nation," he was quoted as saying in local media.

Iman Hud -- head of the local public officers, similar to police but with fewer powers -- told AFP that convenience stores had been failing to check teenagers' IDs to see whether they were at least 18 years old, the age of consent, before selling them condoms.

"We are doing this to prevent promiscuity," he said, adding that hundreds of condoms were seized in the raids in the city of 1.3 million.

It was the latest expression of anger at Valentine's Day in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, where Islamic clerics and some pious Muslims use the occasion to criticise what they see as Western decadence.

On Monday teenage pupils, including girls in headscarves, staged a protest outside a school in the city of Surabaya, chanting: "Say no to Valentine!"

Celebrating the romantic holiday has also been banned by authorities in some parts of the country, as it is every year.

Despite some objections, many in Indonesia mark the occasion, particularly in major cities where cards and chocolates are widely available. Most in the country practise a moderate form of Islam.
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP)  Palm oil plantation workers killed and ate a critically endangered orangutan on the island of Borneo, according to an Indonesian lawmaker who called for police to investigate what is a frequent but rarely prosecuted crime.

Daniel Johan said Tuesday the workers shot the great ape after it ventured onto a plantation in a remote area of Central Kalimantan province, probably looking for crops to eat.

"It's a blatant offense against Indonesia's conservation laws," said Johan. "Police have to investigate this cruel action."

Photos of the butchered orangutan provided by a witness show the beheaded animal sprawled on the ground next to a man holding a rifle. One picture showed the orangutan's head floating in a pot. In another, several people are cutting up the primate's flesh.

Last July, the International Union for Conservation of Nature classified Borneo's orangutans as critically endangered. It estimates their numbers have dropped by nearly two-thirds since the early 1970s and will further decline to 47,000 by 2025.

The animals are often killed for their meat or to prevent damage to crops, a crime that can result in five years' imprisonment, but prosecutions are infrequent. Their forest habitat has shrunk dramatically over the past half century, a victim of Indonesia's rush to supply the world with timber, pulp, paper, and more recently, palm oil.

Johan said he asked the witness to report the incident to police but the person feared reprisals.

He said the plantation where the orangutan was killed is owned by PT. Susantri Permai. It is a unit of Genting Plantations Bhd., a Malaysia-based palm oil company.

In 2011, two Indonesian plantation workers admitted to killing at least 20 orangutans and proboscis monkeys for landowners looking to protect their crops.
JAKARTA, Indonesia  In the struggle against Islamic extremism, few groups have been fighting for longer than Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the Sunni organization that has become the global face of Indonesias pluralistic Islam. Founded in 1926 to prevent Saudi Arabias bitterly intolerant Wahhabism from taking root in Indonesia, its a cultural touchstone for Indonesians proud of their heritage of religious tolerance  and a symbol of moderate Islam worldwide.

But NUs work seems to be collapsing at home. The national conversation of the last five months has been monopolized by a far-right Islamist group called the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI). FPI has around 200,000 members; NU  somewhat dubiously  claims 50 million worldwide. But its the extremists who are setting the pace in Indonesia and threatening to transform NU in the process.

FPI has organized huge, racially charged rallies in Jakarta to protest the citys Chinese Christian governor, Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama, whom it accused of blasphemy for quoting a Quran verse about electing non-Muslim leaders. NU discouraged, but didnt prohibit, its members from attending them. Some NU members, wearing the groups scarves and holding its flags, even attended FPIs rallies. FPIs hyperbolic allegation went all the way to court, where the governor is now sitting trial as he runs for re-election. In charging Ahok, the police sided with FPI rather than NU, which publicly disputed the blasphemy charge. It was a stunning accomplishment for a fringe group  and one that has left the Indonesian center shaken and frightened.

NU is reliably quick to defuse anxiety about radicalism with the refrain that the real Islam is tolerant, peaceful, and inhospitable to jihad  especially in Indonesia. And its true that Indonesia has remarkably few terrorists given its population size. NU also has a prominent global profile due to its fondness for interfaith conferences, summits for Muslim leaders, and ambitious campaigns against extremism.

But there is a growing chasm between Indonesias national refrain about its tolerant, pluralistic tradition and the conservative populism that has breached public life. People on both sides are now waiting to see if the governors trial will help revive Indonesias moderate Muslim establishment or mark the beginning of its end.

The Ahok affair has been a huge wake-up call, said Alissa Wahid, a social activist, NU official, and daughter of late Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid. We have been suffering for 10 years, letting hard-liners take center stage on social issues and even commit violence, she said. The challenges for NU going forward are not small.

NU was a political party until 1984 but now concentrates on social welfare and religious education, often in tandem with other faith groups, encapsulating Indonesias syncretic mix of animistic, Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist traditions alongside Islam. The archetypal NU public figure was Abdurrahman Wahid, who was chairman of the group for 15 years before he was elected president in 1999. Yet under Wahid, far more strident groups started to elbow NU offstage.

The prominence of liberal Muslim intellectuals like Wahid made moderate Islam seem like a stable and dominant ideology, said Luthfi Assyaukanie, a researcher and co-founder of the Liberal Islam Network. But before 1998, when [the dictator] Suharto fell, the media was tightly controlled and privileged the discourse of liberal, tolerant groups like NU.

In retrospect, Assyaukanie said, the center could not hold. Suhartos authoritarianism prioritized religious tolerance  for the sake of stability, if nothing else. But when the democratic floodgates opened in 1998, conservatives could finally organize and evangelize. FPI was founded in late 1998, the sharia-promoting hard-line Indonesian Mujahideen Council in 2000, and the reactionary Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) in 2002.

I dont think NU adapted fast enough to the new media environment, said Savic Ali, a young NU member who runs its website and Nutizen, a new streaming video platform. The people who really took advantage of it were the hard right  conservative voices like that of [the celebrity TV preacher] Abdullah Gymnastiar who amass huge followings on TV and social media. Ali is spearheading an effort to raise the digital profile of NU preachers but admits theyre playing catch-up.

Indonesian Muslims, including NUs member base, are becoming more intensely and visibly conservative. A recent survey found that four in five public school religion teachers support imposing sharia, or Islamic law. And more women wear hijab, more families go to Mecca, more people pray in public spaces after 1998, Assyaukanie said.

The conservative elements within NU itself make it difficult to robustly counter these trends. Many NU ulema (religious scholars) have always been conservative, said political scientist William Liddle, at Ohio State University. During and since President Wahid, the impression that moderates dominate NU has never been accurate.

Alissa Wahid said growing conservatism within NU has been accompanied by intolerance. In the last 15 years, NU members have become not just conservative in ritual but also rude, enforcing a majoritarian perspective that dismisses all other kinds of Islam, leave alone other religions, she said. The decentralized nature of NU is another roadblock to reform: It has always been a loose alliance of religious leaders and lay members, so there is, Wahid said, a constant discussion within NU leadership about how, if at all, to enforce NU directives.

Beyond these internal issues, Saudi Arabia has also invested billions of dollars since 1980 to spread puritanical Salafi Islam in Indonesia. Despite its explicitly anti-Wahhabi origins, NU has largely neglected to address the effects of this program, Assyaunakie said. Plus, Salafi ideas are entering the organization itself, which has become steadily more conservative since the day Wahid left.

NU is not a good soldier for this battle vis-a-vis Salafism, said Ulil Abshar-Abdalla, the other co-founder of the Liberal Islam Network. It still has conservative instincts. Many members share, for instance, the fundamentalist viewpoint that Shiites and Ahmadiyya are not real Muslims; the only difference is that they dont condone violence.

And NUs own efforts in the international battle against extremism may also be hampering it at home. NUs biggest overture against Salafi encroachment was its annual congress in 2015, in which, as Margaret Scott wrote, NU leaders affirmed that Indonesian Islam is nationalist, pluralist, moderate, and democratic  as a way to fight Salafis and Saudi influence. The congress is part of a packed calendar of outward-facing NU meetings and conferences, which, according to French political scientist Delphine Alles, springs from NUs unofficial role as an international ambassador for Indonesias moderate image.

Alles recounts how Indonesias Ministry of Foreign Affairs has promoted staging international forums of inter-religious dialogue, a popular theme since the middle of the 2000s. Indonesias director for information and public diplomacy has been financially and logistically supporting NUs International Conference of Islamic Scholars since 2006. But it is a notorious fact, writes Alles, that the declarations of intentions that these forums pronounce often leave their observers with a sense of frustration because they fail to address any real points of contention.

Observers argue that the bandwidth NU devotes to targeting foreigners could be better used on promoting progressive values in terms of issues that affect its base directly. The emphasis placed by NU elites on pluralism and tolerance has, at times, translated into support for socioeconomic policies, like forced evictions, that have had devastating impacts on the poor, said Ian Wilson, a researcher at Murdoch University in Australia. This seeming disjuncture between progressive social values and acquiescence to economic policies hostile to the poor may have provided openings for neoconservatives and hard-liners to capture resentment.

In this vacuum, FPI has become an invaluable resource to embattled Jakarta slums that are targeted by Ahoks eviction program. In April 2016, for instance, when the government threatened to evict about 1,000 residents of the Luar Batang neighborhood, FPI set up a lean charity operation that provided food, clothing, and volunteers to the poor community.

Despite these hiccups, liberal Islam remains the rule, not the exception, among Indonesias political parties. The catch is that politicians tend to manifest this obliquely, Assyaukanie said.

Secular parties dont talk about Islam in straightforward terms; they couch it in issues like religious tolerance and increasing womens rights, he said. It could help if they talked about Islam more forwardly. Their failure to do so, he added, creates a vacuum for right-wing Islamist parties like PKS to set the agenda for political Islam in the country.

Still, Liddle thinks liberal political Islam fares far better in Indonesia than in other Muslim countries. [Right-wing parties like] PKS, though close to being sharia parties, are small and tarnished. Compare that with most of the Arab Middle East, like Egypt, where an Islamist party, the Muslim Brotherhood,  got 40 percent of the parliamentary vote and elected a president, he said.

Indonesia is not alone in its ideological tumult. Malaysia, a nearby moderate Muslim country, has been edging toward Islamic law in recent years. The formally secular nation of Bangladesh is seeing many of the same cultural shifts  more women wearing hijabs, higher madrasa attendance  as Indonesia has and with apparent government support. None of the progressive parties of the Arab Spring are thriving six years later, save for Tunisias Ennahdha Movement.

But, according to Rice University political scientist A. Kadir Yildirim, Indonesia has an important advantage within the Muslim world because, compared to most Arab countries, Indonesia has an established and vibrant electoral democracy, which provides an opportunity for many important discussions regarding modernization, religion-state, and democratization to take place in public view.

The obvious comparison to Indonesias experiment in Muslim democracy is Turkey, which has been similarly blindsided by its populations growing conservatism. Turkey, too, had a generation of Westernized liberalism under a strongman leader  Ataturk there, Suharto in Indonesia. But their ideological legacy was revealed to be less stable when democratic floodgates opened. In the wake of furious culture wars between Black (traditional) and White (urban progressive) Turks, its citizens have voted the conservative strongman Recep Tayyip Erdogan into the offices of prime minister and then president for more than 13 years. Indonesias next presidential election, in 2019, could be a weather vane for the countrys future course following its currently moderate, globally minded president, Joko Widodo.

Maybe its hard for moderate Muslims to create viable political platforms because moderation, as a concept, is just difficult. It is a ceaseless balancing act, especially when simplistic right-wing parties like FPI constantly extend the range of acceptable discourse.

For Indonesian moderates, the collapse of the center elsewhere  like in the United States  is a chilling warning. The essential problem of blasphemy with Ahoks case is not for us to decide, but it highlights how fear and hatred of the other have been politically exploited, Wahid said. If the Ahok case hadnt happened, she added, something else would have shaken the liberal establishment out of complacency.

The protests were fine, they were manageable, and dealing with them is preferable to something like the shocking American election. She sighed. Hopefully it wont come to that here.

Credit: ADEK BERRY/ Staff
Authorities in Taiwan are investigating what caused the islands worst highway accident in 30 years, after a bus carrying a tour group of mainly senior citizens crashed Monday, killing at least 33 people.

Dashboard camera footage captured by a nearby car suggests that the bus lost control at the exit ramp of a highway near the capital Taipei and flipped over, reports Taiwans Central News Agency (CNA).

Of the 44 people on board, 30 were proclaimed dead at the scene, including the driver and tour guide, while three others died in hospital. Eleven people were injured, according to CNA.

Speed and driver fatigue are being looked into as possible factors leading to the crash, according to the Associated Press. The speed limit of the ramp was 40 kph (25 mph), although it was not clear how fast the bus was traveling. Highway police spokesperson Ma Ling-wen said speed has not been ruled out as a cause of the accident.

The South China Morning Post reports that driver fatigue is also being considered as a possible factor in the crash, as the tour group involved in the accident was reportedly on a tight same-day return schedule.

The group was returning from a day tour viewing cherry blossoms at a central Taiwanese farm when the bus crashed, reports CNA. All of the deceased were reported as Taiwan nationals.

The crash is Taiwans deadliest highway accident in three decades. In October 1986, 42 people were killed in Taiwan when a tour bus plunged into a ravine from a winding highway. And in July last year, a tour bus carrying mainland Chinese tourists burned down after crashing on a highway near Taipeis main airport, killing all 26 onboard.
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The staff to Israel's embassy in Cairo has been ordered to stay at home because of security concerns, the Shin Bet security service said Tuesday. The Israeli Foreign Ministry has declined to comment, but Israel's Channel 2 television said that for three months, ambassador David Govrin and his staff have been working from Jerusalem. "Due to security considerations, the return of the Foreign Ministry's embassy team to Cairo has been curbed," the Shin Bet said in a brief statement. Israel re-opened its embassy in Egypt in 2015, four years after it was stormed by dozens of protesters in violence that led to the evacuation of the ambassador. The ambassador then, Yitzhak Levanon, and other staff were airlifted from Egypt after demonstrators attacked the city centre embassy in September 2012, in a protest over the shooting of five Egyptian security guards by Israeli soldiers pursuing militants who had ambushed and killed eight Israelis along the border. Ties between Israel and Egypt have become closer since the Egyptian army overthrew Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi in 2013 following mass protests against his rule. The two countries, which signed a peace treaty in 1979, cooperate on security matters in Egypt's Sinai peninsula, where Islamist militants have attacked Egyptian troops and occasionally launched rockets into Israel. Israel is also involved in talks over the sale of natural gas from its offshore Leviathan field to Egypt, but a deal has not yet been signed. (Writing by Ori Lewis, editing by Larry King)
MILAN (AP)  An Italian court has convicted a Moroccan-born man and his wife on charges of international terrorism in connection with an Islamic State plot to carry out attacks in Rome during the Holy Year in 2016.

A court in Milan on Tuesday convicted Abderrahim Moutaharrik, and his wife, Salma Bencharki, and sentenced them to six years and five years in jail, respectively.

Prosecutors say Moutaharrik, who had taken Italian citizenship, had received orders from Islamic State to carry out attacks in Italy, particularly in Rome, last year. Authorities characterized the plot as serious but not imminent at the time of their arrest last April.

The court also withdrew the parental rights of the couple, who had planned to travel to IS territory with their two small children.
COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP)  Prosecutors say a Jamaican man has been sentenced to serve more than three years in federal prison for threatening an immigration judge.

U.S. Attorney G.F. "Pete" Peterman says 42-year-old Delroy Anthony McLean was sentenced Tuesday to serve three years and five months.

McLean was in federal immigration custody awaiting deportation at the Stewart Detention Center in southwest Georgia. Prosecutors say he threatened during a hearing at that facility to "bash the head" of an immigration judge. They say he also threatened the judge's husband and repeated his comments outside the courtroom.

McLean was found guilty during a trial in October. Prosecutors say he is expected to be deported to his native Jamaica after he serves his sentence.
HOLMEN  None of the female students, teachers or staff at Holmen High School left empty-handed this Valentines Day.

Holmen Senior Zack Peterson handed out more than 625 long-stemmed roses Tuesday morning at the high school as the female students were called to the schools large group room one grade at a time. The sweet gesture was met with screams of glee and hugs from his female classmates as each received her rose.

This was such a complete surprise, senior Lily King said. Its kind of a great feeling.

Peterson said he came up with the idea as a pick-me-up for students. He said students were still grieving the death last year of sophomore Kevin Romanowski, and Peterson thought the gesture would be a simple way to help raise spirits and make sure that none of the girls felt left out on Valentines Day.

King said Petersons surprise was one of the sweetest things anyone could do. Her boyfriend lives more than three hours away, so she wont be able to see him to celebrate the romantic holiday, and this was a great way to feel included.

Its just nice to know that somebody cares, fellow senior Vanessa Clark said. It is such a super sweet surprise.

The gift set Zack back about $450 after he ordered the roses in bulk from Ecuador through Sams Club. He said he liked giving out flowers and that the reaction on peoples faces was awesome  especially after being very nervous before everyone started lining up.

The school needs a pick-me-up, he said. It is an easy way to help people feel happy.

Sophomore Alizabeth Mahlum said she needed her spirits lifted this week. It was her uncles birthday, and Valentines Day is always a somber reminder her uncle died a few years ago.

I was really surprised, she said. It wasnt a good day for me and now things have been turned around.

Even Zacks sister Abigail, a sophomore, was taken by the surprise. The family used air fresheners to mask the scent of the hundreds of roses over the weekend as Zack spent more than eight hours trimming, cleaning and arranging the flowers.

Abigail said she was happy her brother did this for her classmates and glad they appreciated the gesture. The two of them get along pretty well, and she was impressed at how hard he worked to keep the flowers surprise for everyone, including her.
Michael Flynns resignation is the end of the beginning, not the end of the story. It is the end of the beginning of Trumps unconventional tenure  a bookmark closing one of the most turbulent starts in American presidential history. But it leaves hanging more questions than it answers, and has second and third order implications that are only barely perceivable at present. It is likely the turbulence will continue.

Consider just three:

Which successor to pick? Early reports are that President Trump is inclined to reach for another senior retired general or admiral to take Flynns post.

This is understandable: retired generals and admirals have already been vetted by the national security establishment and so have or can quickly get the requisite security clearances; Trump clearly has a reflexive trust in the military, making it easier for one who has not been close to Trump before to quickly establish a bond; many (but by no means all) of the likely civilian candidates were critics of Trump during the campaign and so fall short on the political vetting score; and given the turbulence in the Administration so far, and the difficulty of intra-West Wing politics, Trump will be hard-pressed to recruit the very best civilian talent that could pass political vetting.

However, in the interests of civil-military relations, I would recommend that Trump first try to recruit a qualified civilian. It made sense to grant the waiver to allow General Mattis to become Secretary of Defense Mattis. General John Kelley is a good pick at Homeland Security. But the more Trumps national security policies take on the appearance of being run by retired military, the more the uniformed military institution  the supposedly non-partisan active force  itself gets associated with those policies. This would be problematic even if we were not in the hyper-partisan environment that is our new normal. In the present climate, it is likely to politicize the military more than is healthy for the long-term.

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Given his long-standing relationship with Trump, General Flynn was an obvious choice to be NSA  though, in hindsight, obviously also a problematic choice. There is no such obvious choice, civilian or retired military, at this point, which gives Trump the opportunity to weigh other factors more heavily, including the health of civil-military relations. I hope he does so.

And speaking of weighing other factors, the one that should loom largest is this: Trump needs to pick as NSA someone who can manage well relations with the other key figures in the White House who have unusually large roles on national security matters. For the NSC to function as designed, it must be able to seamlessly coordinate not just throughout the interagency but throughout the White House.

The foregoing suggests an out-of-the-box idea: What about Jared Kushner as National Security Advisor? Yes, there is a concern about nepotism, but those concerns have already been bridged with his current appointment. While he does not have an extensive background in national security matters, he does appear already to have a fairly extensive portfolio of responsibilities in that area. Making him NSA would align authority and responsibility more than is currently the case. Moreover, supervising the NSC staff and thus driving the policy development and evaluation process would be an intensive education that would quickly bring him up to speed on the issues he has already been tasked with handling.

And no other candidate would eclipse Kushner on the dimension that is most crucial for success in that position: unquestioned access to a President who trusts him. Sliding Kushner over would seem to offer the best chance to fuse the national security activities of the NSC with the national security activities of the other WH actors.

How to fix the problem of a too-weak NSC rather than a too-strong NSC. The first job of whomever Trump picks will be restoring the strength of the NSC. For the past 8 years, many experts inside and outside of government thought that the problem in the interagency system was an overweening NSC staff  a politically driven White House using an overly large NSC staff to micromanage affairs best delegated to Cabinets and agencies.

The opposite has been the problem of the past several weeks: a weak and demoralized NSC staff still struggling to find a way to serve a President who defies convention and does not want to operate according to traditional bureaucratic systems.

The rocky transition has been made even more difficult with the Trump administrations decision to set up a parallel national security policymaking structure in the White House, the Strategic Initiatives Group, with responsibilities that overlap those of the traditional NSC staff  but with a much flatter structure, closer connection to the President, and a much higher appetite for risk.

Flynn was struggling to protect NSCs prerogatives even as he fought for his own job. In losing the latter fight did he also lose the former? How will his successor manage?

Moreover, how to repair NSC staff morale as more and more dominoes fall? A rather high proportion of the new NSC staff got their position by virtue of their personal connection with Flynn. That suggests that if Trump brings in someone from outside, he or she may well wish to make further personnel changes, as well as corresponding changes to an organization chart optimized to suit Flynns personality. It is possible that replacing Flynn will result in the bureaucratic equivalent of a hard reset of the NSC staff, with all of the attendant loss of momentum, weakened morale, and follow-on disruptions.

What to do with the controversies surrounding Russian relations in light of Russian interference in the U.S. election? Partisans are making short-sighted arguments about the Logan Act, as if what was unusual was Flynns discussions with the Russians during the transition. This seems far-fetched. Every incoming Administration has general conversations about policy and future relations with foreign governments. If Flynn violated the Logan Act in those phone calls, so did a significant portion of the Obama team in 2008  and perhaps so did Democrat Congresswoman Tuisi Gabbard on her recent trip to Syria.

The Justice Department is not going to make the first prosecution under a 200-plus year law over an incoming National Security Advisor signaling to his Russian counterparts that the new administration intends to honor its much-publicized campaign promise of seeking a fresh start in relations with another government, and asking that government to be patient in the meantime.

What made the matter a firing offense was the way Flynn misrepresented the substance of the phone call both publicly and to the Vice President. That misrepresentation opened Flynn up to blackmail, since the Russians could easily rebut it by releasing an audiotape of the call, and put the Vice President on record saying something that was provably false.

But what likely led Flynn to misrepresent his actions  what set all that up in the first place  was the truly exceptional part of the story: Russian interference in the U.S. election, specifically stealing emails and selectively releasing them to embarrass the Democrat candidate. It was not unusual for a senior incoming administration official to be signaling a policy change to a foreign government. It was unusual for the foreign government receiving those signals to have played such a prominent and meddling role in the campaign. In light of that, Flynn should have been extra cautious in dealing with Russia, regardless of the policy direction the Trump team wanted to pursue.

Flynns departure will fuel Congressional efforts to investigate Russias involvement in the campaign, which could culminate in the establishment of an independent commission modeled on the 9/11 Commission, or possibly even an Independent Counsel modeled on the investigation of the Iran-Contra controversy. And what the second and third order effects of that kind of development are very hard to predict at this point.

The Trump administration was already off to a rocky start, and it is likely to get rockier before things improve. For the countrys sake, I hope everyone in the administration from the President on down uses this unexpected crisis to clean up their internal national security processes and belatedly establish a well-functioning system.

Photo credit: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images
TEL AVIV  Amid conflicting signals from the Trump administration about plans to relocate the United States Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Palestinian officials warn that the move could doom peace talks and end hope for a two-state solution in the region. But the Israeli government, which considers Jerusalem the united capital of the Jewish state, is pushing for the move.

The embassy in Tel Aviv, approximately 45 miles from Jerusalem, is the only American embassy not located in a nation-states declared capital city. The United States does not officially recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital. Changing that policy would complicate relations with Arab nations and with Palestinians, who still hope to move their future capital to East Jerusalem.

Jerusalem also holds significance for the three major monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Palestinians, who include both Muslims and Christians, believe they have both religious and historical claims on the city. If the Trump administration breaks with long-standing American policy and moves the embassy  as Trump promised to do during the campaign  Palestinians believe there will have no hope of being recognized as a nation-state.

How did the embassy end up in Tel Aviv in the first place?

The front of the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv on Jan. 20, 2017. (Photo: Amir Cohen/Reuters)

After the United States and the United Nations recognized Israel as a nation-state in May 1948, the United Nations made Jerusalem an international city, recognizing its cultural and religious importance to Muslims, Jews and Christians alike. From 1949 to 1967, the eastern, primarily Palestinian part of the city was under Jordanian control, while Israel held the western part. In the Six-Day War that year, Israel captured and annexed the eastern half, subsequently proclaiming the united city as its undivided capital.

But the international community mostly refused to recognize those claims, and most foreign embassies, including that of the United States, remained in Tel Aviv. In 1995, Congress passed a bill requiring that the embassy move to Jerusalem, but the bill allowed for the move to be delayed through a national security waiver. Every U.S. president since, including Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, has invoked the waiver.

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During negotiations with Palestinians, Israel and the United States, the status of Jerusalem has been a major stumbling block. Over time, the Israeli government has also expanded settlements in East Jerusalem. They are considered illegal under international law and illegitimate under current U.S. policy.

Who supports moving the embassy?

Trumps nominee for U.S. ambassador to Israel is David Friedman, a bankruptcy lawyer who supports moving the embassy. Friedman is also widely known as a strong supporter of Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and heads an organization that has provided funding for the settlements.

Reports in the Israeli press suggest that Friedman intends to set up his office in Jerusalem, even before the embassy was officially moved.

However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet last week, Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, and it is proper that not only should the American Embassy be here, but all embassies should come here.

Attorney David Friedman arrives at a private fundraiser for then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in the Manhattan borough of New York City in June 2016. (Mike Segar/Reuters)

For now, the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem still sits on the dividing line between the east and west of the city.

How is the Palestinian Authority reacting?

Yahoo News spoke with Husam Zomlot, the senior adviser to President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. He said the Palestinians are looking for clarity on what the future of the U.S. policy will be and how they can focus on creating a good deal. We hope that President Trump is going to divert the discussion from what Mr. Netanyahu might want it to be. Deals are based on a win-win formula; there has to be satisfaction on all sides, Zomlot said.

Israelis see the embassy moving to Jerusalem as recognition of their Jewish state, under one united country.

But Zomlot says such a move would end any hope for negotiating a two-state solution. Israel has formally annexed East Jerusalem. So moving the embassy anywhere in the city would be an explicit recognition of Israels annexation. Should the embassy be moved, its an abandonment; the U.S. has abandoned a two-state solution. 

He added: The two-state solution is not a Palestinian demand. The two-state solution is an international demand. Failing the two-state solution is going to be failing the international consensus.

Dr. Husam Zomlot, senior adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, speaks on the phone, saying that he hopes the United States will not move its embassy to Jerusalem and undercut peace talks. (Photo: Ash Gallagher for Yahoo News)

Zomlot said Palestinians would prefer that there be two U.S. embassies in Jerusalem, one to a Palestinian state and the other to Israel. The Israeli prime ministers office for foreign media said that no public comment would be available on the subject before Netanyahus visit to the United States.

But on Friday, local Israeli media reported that Palestinian intelligence officers had pressed the embassy issue during a visit by U.S. security officials. The intelligence officials briefed Abbas and reportedly relieved some of the concerns he had had over the changing U.S. policy.

Meanwhile, as U.S. Embassy officials await Friedmans confirmation, they will stay right where they are and continue business as usual. The Palestinians are waiting anxiously, wondering if their hopes for their own nation will suffer another setback.

_____

Ash Gallagher is a journalist covering the Middle East for Yahoo News.

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Comedian Jo Firestone stopped by The Tonight Show in character as Secretary of Education Betsy DeVosto apologize for typos that appeared on the Department of Educations Twitter feed earlier this week.

Firestones DeVos said she was very sorry for the tweet that misspelled the name of Civil Rights activist W.E.B. Du Boisand then for making another typo while apologizing for the typo. A lot of people were screaming at me and making mad faces, so I prepared a formal apology, the faux DeVos said. She then launched into a speech that was written on index card and included a lot of directions that werent meant to be read aloud.

Our sincerest Im sorrys go out to W.E.B. Du Bois, as well as to W.E.B. Du Girls, she said. It only went downhill from there with DeVos struggling to name a single state, let alone their capitals. When Fallon asked DeVos about criticism that she was not qualified for the job, she tried to reassure him, I am totally got this. Based on this sketch, she does not.
By Steve Holland and John Walcott WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's national security adviser, Michael Flynn, resigned late on Monday after revelations that he had discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to the United States before Trump took office and misled Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations. Flynn's resignation came hours after it was reported that the Justice Department had warned the White House weeks ago that Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail for contacts with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak before Trump took power on Jan. 20. Flynn's departure was a sobering development in Trump's young presidency, a 24-day period during which his White House has been repeatedly distracted by miscues and internal dramas. The departure could slow Trump's bid to warm up relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Flynn submitted his resignation hours after Trump, through a spokesman, pointedly declined to publicly back Flynn, saying he was reviewing the situation and talking to Pence. Flynn had promised Pence he had not discussed U.S. sanctions with the Russians, but transcripts of intercepted communications, described by U.S. officials, showed that the subject had come up in conversations between him and the Russian ambassador. Such contacts could potentially be in violation of a law banning private citizens from engaging in foreign policy, known as the Logan Act. Pence had defended Flynn in television interviews and was described by administration officials as upset about being misled. "Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the vice president-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador. I have sincerely apologized to the president and the vice president, and they have accepted my apology," Flynn said in his resignation letter. Retired General Keith Kellogg, who has been chief of staff of the White House National Security Council, was named the acting national security adviser while Trump determines who should fill the position. Kellogg, retired General David Petraeus, a former CIA director, and Robert Harward, a former deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, are under consideration for the position, a White House official said. Harward was described by officials as the leading candidate. A U.S. official confirmed a Washington Post report that Sally Yates, the then-acting U.S. attorney general, told the White House late last month that she believed Flynn had misled them about the nature of his communications with the Russian ambassador. She said Flynn might have put himself in a compromising position, possibly leaving himself vulnerable to blackmail, the official said. Yates was later fired for opposing Trump's temporary entry ban for people from seven mostly Muslim nations. CHANGE LESS LIKELY? A U.S. official, describing the intercepted communications, said Flynn did not make any promises about lifting the sanctions. But he did indicate that sanctions imposed by President Barack Obama on Russia for its Ukraine incursion "would not necessarily carry over to an administration seeking to improve relations between the U.S. and Russia," the official said. Flynn, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general, was an early supporter of Trump and shares his interest in shaking up the establishment in Washington. He frequently raised eyebrows among Washington's foreign policy establishment for trying to persuade Trump to warm up U.S. relations with Russia. A U.S. official said Flynn's departure, coupled with Russia's aggression in Ukraine and Syria and Republican congressional opposition to removing sanctions on Russia, removes Trump's most ardent advocate of taking a softer line toward Putin. Flynn's leaving "may make a significant course change less likely, at least any time soon," the official said. Another official said Flynn's departure may strengthen the hands of some cabinet secretaries, including Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. However, the second official said, Flynn's exit could also reinforce the power of presidential aides Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller, whom he described as already having the president's ear. Congressional Democrats expressed alarm at the developments surrounding Flynn and called for a classified briefing by administration officials to explain what had happened. "We are communicating this request to the Department of Justice and FBI this evening," said Democratic representatives John Conyers of Michigan and Elijah Cummings of Maryland. U.S. Representative Adam Schiff of California, ranking Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said Flynn's departure does not end the questions over his contacts with the Russians. "The Trump administration has yet to be forthcoming about who was aware of Flynn's conversations with the ambassador and whether he was acting on the instructions of the president or any other officials, or with their knowledge," Schiff said. The committee's chairman, Republican Devin Nunes, thanked Flynn for his service. "Washington D.C. can be a rough town for honorable people, and Flynn  who has always been a soldier, not a politician deserves America's gratitude and respect," he said. (Additional reporting by Emily Stephenson; Editing by Peter Cooney, Robert Birsel)
Milan (AFP) - A Milan judge on Tuesday sentenced a Moroccan kickboxer and his wife to jail terms over their links to the Islamic State group and placed their two children in care.

Abderrahim Moutaharrik, a competitive kickboxer, was arrested in April on suspicion of IS links.

He was given a six-year prison term while his wife Salma Bencharki, was sentenced to five years, the AGI news agency reported.

They were arrested in April after police wiretapped their conversations and concluded that they were about to decamp to Syria with their two children, then aged two and four.

Moutaharrik was allegedly recorded saying he would be willing to mount an attack on the Vatican, which IS propagandists have regularly threatened to do.

His lawyer said after the sentencing that he had never said that and that he intended to appeal his conviction.

Two other people, Abderrahmane Khachia and Wafa Koraichi, received a prison term of six years and three years, four months of house arrest, respectively, after also being convicted of links to international terrorism.

Khachia's brother, Oussama Khachia, was expelled from Italy in January 2015 for promoting IS and reportedly died in Syria later that year.

Koraichi is the sister of Mohammed Koraichi, a Moroccan who reportedly took his Italian wife and their three children to join IS in the Middle East.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns estranged half-brother Kim Jong Nam has been killed in Malaysia, South Korean government sources confirmed Tuesday.

The countrys cable television network TV Chosun reported that Kim Jong Nam died after he was jabbed by a poisoned needle at Kuala Lumpur airport by two women still at large, who are believed to be North Korean operatives.

Police confirmed to Reuters that an unidentified North Korean man died en route to the hospital from Kuala Lumpur airport on Monday. Abdul Aziz Ali, police chief for the Sepang district, said the mans identity had not been verified. Local and other media is indicating that the deceased man is Kim Jong Nam, Kim Jong Uns older brother.

Here are some of the key things to know about the exiled scion of the Kim dynasty:

Who was Kim Jong Nam?

Born in 1971, he was the eldest son of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il. His mother was Song Hye Rim, a North Korean actress who was initially Kim Jong Ils secret mistress.

Sung Hae Rang, Kim Jong Nams aunt, helped raise him along with her own children  a son and a daughter  before defecting in 1982. When he was around 27 years old, he began working at the Ministry of Public Security.

As the eldest son, why did Kim not become leader?

He was originally thought of as the heir apparent to the Hermit Kingdom. However, in 2001 he fell out of favor after he was seized by Japanese authorities at Narita airport, accompanied by a boy identified as his son, for trying to enter the country on a forged Dominican Republic passport.

Kim, who held senior positions within the North Korean government at the time, allegedly told police that he simply wanted to visit Tokyo Disneyland, ahead of being deported to China, TIME reported in 2011. The incident, coupled with the rumored defection of Kims mother (she died in Russia in 2002), led to his estrangement from his father. His younger brother, Kim Jong Un, was instead heralded as the Great Successor.

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In a 2010 interview with Japans Asahi TV, Kim said it was his fathers decision to name the younger Kim as the next leader, and that he was willing to help his younger brother when he needs it from overseas. He added that he was not interested in becoming North Koreas next leader. Thats good, because we dont think hes in the running, TIME wrote at the time.

What happened next?

After the embarrassment of 2001, Kim took up residence in the casino mecca of Macao, where he gained notoriety for his gambling habits and hard drinking. There were rumors that he was based in the former Portuguese colony to help his familys regime launder money through a shady web of banks and casinos. In 2007, Macaus Banco Delta Asia agreed to dissolve all ties with North Korea after the U.S. Treasury accused the bank of acting as the countrys willing pawn.

Who does he leave behind?

A Chosun report in 2010 found that Kim has at least three children. The oldest, Kim Han Sol, is now thought to be in his early 20s. His online media presence  with appearances on YouTube, Facebook, MySpace and the dating site Asiafind  became an occasional hot topic in South Korean and Japanese news media, TIME reported in 2012.

The same year, Kim Han Sol sat down with former Finnish lawmaker Elisabeth Rehn to discuss his life and his unusual family for a televised interview. He told Rehn that he had never met his grandfather Kim Jong Il. I was waiting for him until before he passed away, hoping that he will come find me, he said. I really didnt know that he knew that I existed.

Why was Kim Jong Nam killed?

The specific details are unclear, but this doesnt appear to have been the first attempt on his life. According to the Daily Mail, in 2011 a North Korean agent tried to assassinate Kim in Macau, but failed after a bloody shootout with his bodyguards.

It is widely speculated that Kim Jong Un felt threatened by his older brother, who had criticized the regime from afar.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's half-brother Kim Jung Nam was killed Monday while he was at Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Yonhap News Agency reported Tuesday. The 46-year-old is suspected to have been killed by two women, TV Chosun reported, citing government sources.

Details about Kim Jung Nam's assassination were not confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a South Korean government source told Yonhap. Some sources told TV Chosun that the two women involved in the assassination are believed to be North Korean operatives, who are at large. Sources also claim that he was poisoned at the airport.

Malaysian police confirmed Tuesday that Kim Jung Nam was dead but the cause of death is still unknown.

After Kim Jong Un rose to power in 2012, Kim Jung Nam  the oldest son of former North Korean leader late Kim Jong-il  moved out of the country. Kim Jong Nam was believed to be the heir apparent to Kim Jong-il, but he was exiled by his father after being arrested at Tokyo's Narita Airport while trying to enter Japan on a forged Dominican Republic passport, according to reports.

Kim Jong Nam lived in Macau until his father died in late 2011. He reportedly went into hiding in Malaysia after his uncle, Jang Song thaek, was executed in December 2013.

Kim Jong-nam previously worked for North Korea's foreign ministry, where he was assigned with resolving disputes with Japan, South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo reported earlier, adding that the job was handed by Kim Jong Un himself.

"I expect Kim Jong-un summoned Kim Jong-nam back to Pyongyang and gave him a job as he is still relatively weak and feared that other factions might support Kim Jong Nam," Toshimitsu Shigemura, a professor at Tokyo's Waseda University told the Telegraph in 2015. "It is also possible that China is looking for an alternative North Korean leader and could have thrown their support behind another member of the Kim family."

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An Onalaska angler caught with more than 2,500 panfish will have to pay more than $4,800 and surrender his fishing license for exceeding Wisconsin game limits.

Stanley Paalksnis, 74, could have been fined more than $24,000, although prosecutors requested just over $10,000 in exchange for his plea of no contest to four non-criminal citations.

Paalksnis will also lose the 15-foot boat, motor, trailer and two freezers seized during a search of his home on Nov. 4, 2015, after Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wardens watched him keep 47 bluegills on Lake Onalaska. The daily limit is 25.

In his house, authorities found 2,066 bluegills, 418 perch and 88 crappies, according to reports. The possession limits are 50 for each species.

Paalksnis told a warden that he had been selling bags of fish in Chicago for about 20 years, according to the reports.

La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke cited Paalksniss history of game violations and stated disregard for law enforcement. Paalksnis was cited eight times, and twice lost his license between 1989 and 2011.

According to police reports, Paalksnis was uncooperative and vulgar when talking to the warden supervisor, telling him if he was younger he would beat him up.

I hate game wardens, Paalksnis said. The only thing I hate more than game wardens is (racial slur for African-Americans).

Hes basically ignored the law for years, Gruenke said. He seems to be a belligerent, angry person who doesnt want anyone to tell him what to do.

Attorney Todd Schroeder said his client lives on Social Security benefits and can no longer indulge his passion for hunting because of health problems.

At his age, the meaning he finds in life is catching fish, Schroeder said.

Schroeder objected to the confiscation of Paalksniss property and requested a three-year suspension of his fishing license.

Judge Elliott Levine revoked Paalksniss license for 12 years, the maximum period allowed, noting that limits are in place to assure everyone equal rights to limited natural resources.

Hes lost his right to fish, Levine said. Hell have to find another hobby.

DNR Warden Dale Hochhausen said he plans to donate the frozen fish to a food pantry or soup kitchen.

They wont go to waste, he said.
What would the world be without another absolutely bizarre story coming from North Korea? Its hard to top a government ban on sarcasm, or a mandatory haircut styles. But the latest story may take the cake.

Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half brother of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, was killed in Malaysia Monday morning after reportedly being attacked by two women believed to be North Korean agents. Heres what we know:

The details of the attack: Kim Jong-nam was at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport getting ready to fly to Macau, China, when he reportedly said someone grabbed or held his face from behind and attacked him, a Malaysian police official told Reuters. He went to an airport kiosk complaining of feeling dizzy and ill after the attack and was sent to the airport clinic. When his condition didnt improve, he was taken in an ambulance to a hospital. He died en route.

Its yet unclear exactly how he died. South Korean television network Chosun-TV said two women attacked Kim Jong-nam with a poison needle. Other outlets, quoting Malaysian government sources, say the women sprayed poison in his face. For now, Malaysian police classified it as a case of sudden death and are awaiting autopsy results to decide further action, a Malaysian police official told the Telegraph.

Who is Kim Jong-nam? Kim Jong-nam was once considered the favored successor to his father, Kim Jong-il. He was described as a portly and easygoing young playboy who had a reformist mindset when it came to ruling North Korea. His mother, actress Sung-Hae Rym, was one of four reported wives (or consorts) Kim Jong-il had during his lifetime.

Kim Jong-nam reportedly had a falling out with his father in 2001 when he was caught using a forged Dominican Republic passport trying to enter Tokyo Disneyland. Thats when Kim Jong-il began grooming another one of his four known sons, Kim Jong-un, to take the throne.

After the incident, Kim Jong-nam reportedly fled North Korea as early as 2003, living quietly in Macau, China and traveling often to Singapore and Malaysia. But when his younger half-brother took control of North Korea upon their fathers death in 2011, Kim Jong-nam went into hiding.

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Why would Kim Jong-Un want to assassinate his half-brother? The exact details are, again, murky. But its widely believed Kim Jong-Un saw his older half-brother as a threat to the regime. And the Kim family has a habit of going medieval on family matters who fall out of favor.

Kim Jong-Un executed his uncle in 2013. And Kim Jong-Nams cousin, Lee Han-Young, was assassinated by North Korean agents in 1997 after defecting to South Korea via Switzerland in 1982.

Kim Jong-nam may have invited his half-brothers ire by criticizing him publicly. In 2011, Japanese media quoted him as saying he opposed dynastic succession. He was interviewed at length for a book on Kim Jong-Il released in 2012 in which he dished dirt on his family, said Kim Jong-Un lacked leadership abilities, and spoke out for economic reforms in North Korea.

Kim Jong-nam survived another suspected assassination attempt in 2011 in Macau. In 2012, a jailed North Korean spy in South Korea admitted to trying to organize a hit-and-run accident against the kings half brother.

What about the suspects? The two suspected North Korean operatives who reportedly killed Kim Jong-nam escaped the airport in a taxi. Malaysian police report they are still at large.

Photo credit: TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images
The wife and stepson of a slain man in Missouri  a leader of the Ku Klux Klan  were charged with murdering the man Monday. Malissa Ann Ancona was taken into police custody Monday, and Paul Edward Jinkerson, Jr., 24, was already jailed for an unrelated drug charge.

Frank Ancona, who identified himself as an imperial wizard of the white supremacist KKK, was found shot in the head and abandoned by the Missouri River last weekend. Malissa Ancona and Jinkerson were charged with first-degree murder, abandoning a corpse and tampering with physical evidence, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

A detective at the county sheriffs department said Jinkerson shot his stepfather in the head as he slept Thursday night. The police also suspect that he put Frank Anconas body in his vehicle and drove it to a nearby area, where he then dumped his body. He was 51.

Investigators found extensive blood evidence was found in the Anconas master bedroom Saturday, and Malissa Ancona told police that Jinkerson shot her husband. She helped to clean the blood and attempt to cover up the crime, she said in a police interview. Investigators also found that a safe had been broken open, and Frank Anconas guns were missing. The wife said her husband took the guns with him for a work trip.

Police have not released any information regarding the motive of the crime. However, there was tension in the marriage: Malissa Ancona said her husband was planning to file for divorce.

Before being charged, Malissa Ancona was held in police custody on suspicion of the crime. She originally proclaimed her innocence, according to media reports.

My husband wouldnt hurt anyone, he was generous, he was nice to everyone he met, she told a local news station in a story that was published Monday morning. He doesnt believe anyone should be killed or murdered or anything, he just believes in the separation of the races.

The family lived in Leadwood, Missouri, a town of about 1,000 south of St. Louis. A photo on the KKKs website shows Frank Ancona standing in front of a burning cross.

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Another of President Donald Trump's campaign promise was fulfilled last week when hundreds of undocumented immigrants were arrested in raids in at least 11 states, officials said.

Although Trump has pledged to deport as many as 3 million undocumented immigrants with criminal records, officials said the raids, which began Monday and ended Friday at noon, also included immigrants without criminal records, the Washington Post reported.

Federal agents busted into homes and workplaces in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina and elsewhere.

The crackdown on illegal criminals is merely the keeping of my campaign promise. Gang members, drug dealers & others are being removed! Trump tweeted Sunday.

An estimated 11 million immigrants are living in the U.S. illegally. Below are five common reasons people get deported compiled by alllaw.com:

1. Failure to Obey the Terms of Your Visa or Otherwise Maintain Your Status

Most immigrants living in the U.S. have their visas, which is a certificate that indicates the holder is allowed to enter, leave or stay for a specified period in a country. But there are rules that the holder has to follow to remain in the country. For instance, if youre a tourist, youre not allowed to work.

2. Failure to Advise USCIS of Change of Address

Its imperative for immigrants to keep a line of communication with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), especially in the case of a change of address. You have 10 days to notify authorities.

3. Commission of a Crime

This one is the most common of them all. Crimes include alien smuggling, document fraud, domestic violence, money laundering, fraud, espionage, sabotage and terrorism, as well as rape, murder and any other aggravated assault. Whether youd get deported on any of these crimes is entirely up to the immigration authorities and also how the crime is classified under immigration law.

4. Violation of Immigration Laws

An example of violating immigration laws is participating in a fake marriage to enable someone to come live in the U.S. or smuggling other aliens into the U.S.

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5. Receiving Public Assistance

If you have a green card in the U.S., you cannot receive financial help from the U.S. government. The immigration law says, Any alien who, within five years after the date of entry, has become a public charge from causes not affirmatively shown to have arisen since entry is deportable." Your petitioner or financial sponsor are the ones financially responsible for your well-being.

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MOSCOW/PARIS (Reuters) - The Kremlin denied on Tuesday that it was behind media and internet attacks on the campaign of French presidential frontrunner Emmanuel Macron though his camp renewed the charges against Russian media and a hackers' group operating in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, replying to a question on a daily conference call, said charges made by Macron's party chief, Richard Ferrand, were absurd. "We didn't have, and do not have, any intention of interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, or in their electoral processes in particular," Peskov told reporters. "That there is a hysterical anti-(President Vladimir) Putin campaign in certain countries abroad is an obvious fact." Ferrand said on Monday that the French centrist politician, who is now seen by opinion polls as the favorite to win election in May, had become a "fake news" target of Russian media and that his campaign was facing thousands of internet attacks. With the political air in France highly-charged in the run-up to the May election, the French government has declined to point the finger at anyone despite high-level concerns of external meddling in campaigning. An official French source said, however, that the question of cyber threats were being taken seriously and would be the focus of a defense council meeting of national security chiefs under President Francois Hollande. The source gave no date for this meeting though the satirical weekly le Canard Enchaine said on Tuesday that it had been fixed for late next week. Ferrand said Moscow looked favorably on the policies of far-right leader Marine Le Pen and center-right candidate Francois Fillon - both election rivals of Macron - and both had been "mysteriously spared" from Russian media criticism. Macron's strong pro-Europe stance was not to Russia's liking however, he said. Le Pen, who heads the National Front and is Macron's closest competitor in the race for the Elysee, wants to take France out of the European Union and supports Russian policy on Ukraine. On Tuesday Ferrand renewed those charges saying that the databases and e-mail boxes of Macron's En Marche! (Onwards) party were under attack. "If these attacks succeeded, the campaign of En Marche would become extremely difficult, if not impossible," Ferrand said in Le Monde online. He said about half of these thousands of attacks came mainly from Ukraine and had been organized and coordinated by a "structured group" and not by lone hackers. "We are in the presence of an orchestrated attempt by a foreign power to destabilize a presidential election candidate," Ferrand said and called on the French government again to take steps to prevent foreign meddling in the French election campaign. He again pointed the finger at Russian state-controlled media Russia Today and Sputnik saying they were spreading "the most defamatory" rumors about Macron, including relating to his private life and the financing of his campaign. Both Russia Today and Sputnik have denied spreading 'fake news' about Macron and say Ferrand's allegations are unfounded. Sputnik, in a comment on Tuesday, said Ferrand's accusations were false and lacked any evidence, and represented an attempt at spinning public opinion. "By citing various opinions expressed by people involved in the election campaign, Sputnik always covers events as they are," it said. (Reporting by Alessandra Prentice and Alexander Winning in Moscow and Marine Pennetier and Henri-Pierre Andre in Paris; Writing by Richard Balmforth, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Senior Russian lawmakers said on Tuesday the resignation of U.S. President Donald Trump's national security adviser showed that efforts were being made to undermine Russian-U.S. relations, but the Kremlin declined to comment. Michael Flynn resigned late on Monday after revelations he had discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to the United States before Trump took office and misled Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations. "It's obvious that Flynn was forced to write the letter of resignation under a certain amount of pressure," Leonid Slutsky, head of the lower house of parliament's foreign affairs committee, was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency. Flynn was a strong advocate for the need for softer foreign policy towards Russia and his departure could slow Trump's pledge to improve relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "The target was Russia-U.S. relations, undermining confidence in the new U.S. administration," Slutsky said, without specifying who he thought was responsible. Fellow lawmaker Konstantin Kosachev, who leads the upper house of parliament's international affairs committee, said the resignation could be a sign of growing anti-Russian feeling in the White House. "Either Trump has not gained the requisite independence and he is gradually being (not unsuccessfully) backed into a corner, or Russophobia has already infected the new administration also from top to bottom," Kosachev said on social media. The Kremlin has denied that Flynn discussed lifting sanctions with the Russian envoy and on Tuesday it declined further comment, saying the resignation was an internal matter for the United States. "We've said everything we want to say," spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call. U.S.-Russia relations deteriorated to their worst level since the Cold War under the Obama administration, which slapped economic sanctions on Russia for its annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its involvement in Ukraine's separatist conflict. (Reporting by Alexander Winning and Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Andrew Osborn and Louise Ireland)
Pakistani policemen and volunteers move the bodies of victims at the site of a bomb explosion in Lahore: Getty Images

Police in Pakistan say a suicide attacker has detonated a large bomb at a protest rally in the city of Lahore, killing at least 11 people and injuring 60.

The blast struck outside the Punjab Assembly, with police officers and journalists covering the march among the casualties.

The attacker, a member of a group allied to the Pakistani Taliban, drove a motorbike into crowds before detonating an explosive device.

Vehicles on Lahores Mall Road, a major thoroughfare that passers through the centre of the city, were also destroyed in the bombing.

Rescuers were at the scene and the area has been cordoned off.

The protest was organised by pharmacists in Punjab unhappy about new drug rules enforced by the regional government.

Police said two senior members of Lahore's security force were among the dead.

A group called Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed the attack in a text message, saying it was revenge for Pakistani military operations against Islamic militants in tribal regions along the Afghan border.

"We just couldn't understand what happened," Tufail Nabi told Geo News TV.

"It was as if some big building collapsed.

Lahore is the capital of Punjab province and was targeted on Easter Sunday last year in an attack that claimed the lives of 75 people.

People cry during the funeral of their loved ones a day after a suicide bomb attack at a park, in Lahore, Pakistan, in 2016 (EPA)

That suicide bombing targeted Christians although the majority of the dead were Muslim.

A group affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

Thousands of suspected terrorists were arrested as part of Pakistan's paramilitary crackdown on Islamist militants in the wake of the attack.
NEW YORK (AP)  The Latest on the conviction in the Etan Patz case (all times local):

1 p.m.

The father of Etan Patz (AY'-tahn PAYTS') says he is "truly relieved" that a former store clerk has been convicted in the death of his 6-year-old son, who disappeared 38 years ago in New York City.

Stan Patz added Tuesday: "It's about time."

An attorney for defendant Pedro Hernandez says an appeal is planned.

Jurors delivered their verdict Tuesday. Another jury deadlocked in 2015.

This time, jurors deliberated over nine days before finding the 56-year-old guilty of murder during a kidnapping in a case that shaped both parenting and law enforcement in the United States.

Hernandez was a convenience store clerk in Etan's neighborhood when the first-grader disappeared in May 1979. Hernandez confessed, but his lawyers say his admissions were the false imaginings of a mentally ill man.

___

12:30 p.m.

A man has been convicted in one of the nation's most haunting missing-child cases, nearly 38 years after 6-year-old Etan Patz (AY'-tahn PAYTS') disappeared in New York City.

Jurors delivered their verdict Tuesday in Pedro Hernandez' retrial. Another jury deliberated for 18 days before deadlocking in 2015.

This time, jurors deliberated over nine days before finding the 56-year-old guilty of murder during a kidnapping in a case that shaped both parenting and law enforcement in the United States.

Hernandez was a convenience store clerk in Etan's neighborhood when the first-grader disappeared in May 1979. Hernandez confessed, but his lawyers say his admissions were the false imaginings of a mentally ill man.

Etan became one of the first missing children ever pictured on milk cartons.

===

12:10 p.m.

A jury has reached a verdict in the murder trial of a man accused of killing a little boy in 1979.

Pedro Hernandez, of Maple Shade, New Jersey, confessed to choking Etan Patz (AY'-tahn payts). But his attorney Harvey Fishbein has said that his mentally ill client made it up and that the evidence points to another suspect in the case.

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The 6-year-old boy vanished on his way to school on May 25, his face was among the first on milk cartons.

The jury sent out a note Tuesday after nine days of deliberations.

An earlier prosecution ended in mistrial after jurors could not agree after 18 days; all but one wanted to convict.
HONOLULU (AP)  An autistic high school student raped a classmate while the adult assigned to monitor him was taking a nap, said a federal lawsuit accusing Hawaii's statewide school district of negligence.

The autistic student had a full-time one-on-one aide because he was known to be violent, the lawsuit filed Monday said. The aide was asleep when the 2012 attack happened during Pearl City High School band practice, the lawsuit said.

The Associated Press doesn't typically name victims of sexual assault. The 10th-grade girl was in the back of the band at the percussion section when the larger 11th-grader raped her there and then again in a curtained area of the auditorium.

The aide was sleeping in the audience section of the auditorium, the lawsuit said.

State Department of Education spokeswoman Donalyn Dela Cruz declined to comment on pending litigation. Kyle Miyashiro, who was a vice principal at the time and is named as a defendant, referred questions to the school's principal who didn't immediately respond Tuesday. The aide, Bryan Simpson, is also named as a defendant and no longer works at the school, Miyashiro said. Simpson couldn't be reached for comment.

The girl reported the rape to her mother and police, said her attorney Peter Hsieh. The autistic student was prosecuted in family court and convicted of two counts of first-degree sexual assault, Hsieh said.

"She dropped out of high school. She couldn't finish because of what happened to her," Hsieh said. But she later earned a GED diploma and is now studying bioengineering at the University of Hawaii, he said.

"She's basically turned an adverse situation as a motivator for her," he said, adding that it was her decision to pursue a civil lawsuit.

In a separate, similar case, a jury last year determined that the Department of Education failed to protect a special education student who said she was raped by a special education classmate at Waianae High School. The jury awarded the girl and her mother about $810,000 in damages, but the state appealed. The case is before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, said Hsieh, who also handled that case.

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The two lawsuits send a "loud message that there is a lack of proper training and supervision of teachers, aides and assistants," Hsieh said, "especially when it comes to children who have a history of violence."

___

Follow Jennifer Sinco Kelleher at http://www.twitter.com/JenHapa. Her work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/jennifer-sinco-kelleher.
A familiar face was the first candidate to get a close look in the University of Wisconsin-La Crosses search for a provost.

UW-Ls interim provost, Betsy Morgan, hopes to take the interim off her title. She spoke at an open forum Monday afternoon in the new UW-L student union. She is one of five finalists for the position, which was left vacant in 2015 after Heidi Macpherson was named the president of College at Brockport, a State University of New York campus.

Morgan was named interim provost in May 2015. The university started the search for the next provost in December.

More than 100 faculty, staff and students attended Morgans open forum. Morgan spoke about her history in higher education, including more than two decades as a professor and administrator at UW-L.

She said she wants to be an advocate and facilitator for faculty and students. She said she would work to continue fostering a collaborative environment among faculty and staff so that all voices and levels can have a hand in addressing issues facing the university.

She highlighted her own part in conversations that revamped the universitys academic probation policy, which is used as a warning for struggling students. The old policy was not helpful for students struggling to turn their grades around, she said, and the conversations she had with others helped craft a new policy that was more student-friendly.

That is the one thing about being provost that is pretty cool, she said. I can pick up the phone and tell people, Lets try to solve this.

Morgan fielded questions about the offices role in promoting diversity efforts and addressing students concerns about curriculum. She also fielded questions from faculty about how she would help tell UW-Ls story outside of the campus and her thoughts about the current political environment for education.

In many of her answers, she reiterated her role as a facilitator over being a top-down manager when it comes to making decisions on topics such as curriculum changes or increasing diversity on campus. She also addressed concerns about the fact UW-L has had more than half a dozen provosts over the past decade, saying she really enjoys the job and wants to continue being that person who looks at the big academic picture.

I am a product of and a proponent for public education, she said. I have seen it change lives.

After all of the campus visits, the search committee will make a recommendation to UW-L Chancellor Joe Gow, who will appoint the next provost, with the plan for the person to start their new role before July 1.
Nestled in the foothills of the Saugus Mountains, is a close-knit community where love is able to flourish without inhibition. Los Angeles Residential Community (LARC) Ranch is home to 100 developmentally disabled adults, many of whom have formed romantic relationships. There is casual dating, long-term commitments and even several marriages. Its a space where residents feel safe articulating who they are. This vulnerability and openness is what drew photographer Isadora Kosofsky to begin her project, Love the One Youre With, an ongoing multi-disciplinary work that closely follows the complexity of relationships within an often-sidelined part of society.

Kosofsky documented two couples over the course of three years. Barry, 59, and Debbie, 51, have been together for 31 years while Krysta, 24, and Nathanial, 28, were together three years before their break up last month. Its a project about intimacy. And it was important for me to make them feel comfortable so that moments that anybody can identify with were revealed, Kosofsky tells TIME. For example the conflict between closeness and distance, the balance between togetherness and solitude are many of the fundamental paradoxes that come up between two people who are in love.

Video directed and produced by Isadora Kosofsky, edited by Elissa Mirzaei, music by Josh Woodward.

Barry is a feminist and a hippie at heart, calling Debbie his Yoko Ono. He is very accepting of her and doesnt see her limitations as limitations. He once told Kosofsky: Theres so much love in the world and also so much hate. But we need to counteract that with love. Kosofsky adds: When they say unconditional love, they really mean it. They honor each other. Their relationship began when they were both living at home with their families but when Barry moved to LARC when his mother was unable to take care of him, Debbie followed soon after. We are lovers but I dont make love to her. When I put my arms around her that is making love to her, Barry told Kosofsky.

Kosofsky had been working with Debbie and Barry for a year before she decided to explore how young love manifests itself at LARC. She witnessed the love between Nathanial and Krista develop from its first blushes, when Nathanial gave Krista a rose he bought from the 99 Cents store. Nathanial would stand outside the workshop and mouth I love you Krista, I want you to be my wife, and practice saying it to her by himself, says Kosofsky. He would then repeat it so that when he spoke to her it would be clear for her to understand. They were together for three years and engaged for a time but broke up a month ago. Krista told Kosofsky they simply werent happy anymore. Its important that people understand the complexity of their relationship, she says. And that we can learn, as I have, lessons of love, intimacy, forgiveness, redemption and acceptance from them.

Kosofsky believes most people in mainstream society dont think developmentally disabled people are capable of sustaining relationships. Their difference seems to strip them of their humanness in the public consciousness, she says. So we assume that because they have different needs they therefore dont share ours. There is also a presumption that if they do experience romance its superficial, without depth or complexity. In fact I believe that special-needs love, is how love is supposed to be, she says. The director at LARC, Kathy Starkey, encourages agency among the residents, whilst also having their needs met by those around them and the wider community.

Kosofsky has been visiting the Ranch for three years and has developed an intimate bond with her subjects. I feel part of the community now in a way, she says. For me the goal is to become an occupant when Im working. Of course being a witness and holding a journalistic distance is important. But for me holding an intimate relationship with the subjects is as tantamount as the image-making process. Kosofskys goal, as with all her projects is for people to experience these lives, be brought into their world and be able to relate and identify with them.

The honesty and vulnerability of these relationships particularly struck Kosofsky. They are so unmasked, she says. It has been really wonderful to document and work with people who will readily show their emotions. The couples at LARC Ranch contend with the same highs and lows as any adult relationship; the joy of first dates, the celebration of milestones and later talk about marriage and children. This emotional honesty also manifests itself in introspection. They are aware of their own disenfranchisement, she says. But finding support in one another  as well as romantic attraction  is extremely empowering. Kosofsky credits the Ranch with providing a space for them to be safe articulating who they are.

Photography aside, her time spent at LARC has taught Kosofsky a more authentic way to love. They have shown me a fearless love. Theyre able to extrapolate meaning I think in a much more authentic way, she says. Theyve shown me a love where you open your heart without hesitation and you give. And whatever happens, happens. But at least you tried.

Isadora Kosofsky is a documentary photographer and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. You can view more of her work here.

Olivier Laurent, who edited this photo essay, is the editor of TIME LightBox. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @olivierclaurent.

Alexandra Genova is a writer and contributor for TIME LightBox. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

Follow TIME LightBox on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Paris (AFP) - An unusually long-necked marine reptile gave birth to live young 245 million years ago -- the only known member of the dinosaur, bird and croc family to not lay eggs, researchers said Tuesday.

Archaeologists examining the fossil of a female Dinocephalosaurus from Yunnan Province, southwest China, were amazed to discover the remains of a baby among the bones where her abdomen would have been.

"I was so excited when I first saw this embryonic specimen," said Jun Liu of China's Hefei University of Technology who co-authored a study published in Nature Communications.

"This discovery rewrites our understanding of the evolution of reproductive systems."

Dinocephalosaurus was a member of the archosaur family, which includes extinct dinosaurs as well as today's birds and crocodiles -- all egg-layers.

The archosaurs' sister clade of turtles also lays eggs, but a third group of reptiles called lepidosaurs, including lizards and snakes, contains some species that give birth to live young -- including some sea snakes, boas, skinks and slow worms.

Live birth is usually associated with mammals, and egg-laying is considered the original, "primitive" state of animals.

Dinocephalosaurus was a strange-looking ocean-dweller with a neck almost twice the length of its trunk -- some 3-4 metres (10-13 feet) in total.

It was a fish eater, snaking its long neck from side to side to catch prey.

The baby Dinocephalosaurus, or what remained of it, was about a tenth of the mother's size.

- Offspring, or lunch? -

At first, "I was not sure if the embryonic specimen (was) the last lunch of the mother, or its unborn baby," Liu told AFP by email.

"Upon closer inspection and searching the literature, I realised that something unusual has been discovered" -- an embryo providing "clear evidence for live birth".

Unlike prey, which would ordinarily have been swallowed head-first, the young Dinocephalosaurus was facing forward in the abdominal cavity, said Liu.

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The scientists also discounted the possibility that the tiny reptile had been inside an egg shell which simply eroded over time.

The specimen "demonstrates the curled posture typical for vertebrate embryos," and there were no calcified shell bits found, said Liu.

Archosaurs are known to lay their eggs at a much earlier developmental stage, he added -- long before the tot had grown to this size.

The new study pushes fossil evidence for the reproductive biology of archosaurs back by 50 million years, to the Middle Triassic, said the study.
Berlin (AFP) - British actors Robert Pattinson and Charlie Hunnam star in the true-to-life jungle adventure story "The Lost City of Z" about the ill-fated search for a vanished South American civilisation.

The movie, given its international premiere at the Berlin film festival Tuesday, was directed by US filmmaker James Gray ("The Immigrant") and is based on a bestseller by David Grann, a New Yorker staff writer.

Hunnam, best known from the "Sons of Anarchy" television series, plays Percy Fawcett, a British mapmaker and explorer who believed there was an advanced society in the Amazon long before the arrival of the Europeans.

Pattinson, the heartthrob from the "Twilight" franchise, is his aide-de-camp Henry Costin, who joined him on several treacherous expeditions before and after World War I looking for what Fawcett called "The Lost City of Z".

Sienna Miller ("Foxcatcher") appears as his wife Nina, an independent woman with a taste for adventure who longed to accompany Fawcett on his travels but stayed back in England to raise their three children.

The story plays up both the lengths to which Fawcett would go for recognition in Britain's rigid class system, as well as his progressive streak, with a desire to disprove Western notions of cultural superiority.

- 'Racist, colonialist view' -

Gray said those ideals appealed to him given the "wave of nationalism that's gripping the world" today.

"The whole world, the human race, has this terrible urge, need, desire, tendency to rank, to put people into categories," the director told reporters in Berlin.

"The movie unfortunately is, I think, as relevant as ever because we cannot close the book on what is clearly a -- let's be honest here -- white and very racist, colonialist view of the world."

Gray said his team spent weeks working with four native tribes in the Amazon but he resisted the urge to make an "anthropological movie" focused on exotic differences.

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"I was terrified of course of being condescending," he said. "I think we need to be reminded that we're all made of the same clay."

The film features encounters with native peoples during the treks, which were shot in Colombia, set against vivid World War I battlefield scenes from the Belgian trenches.

"I thought it was essential story-wise because it would really give full colour to the lie that is the idea of the advanced European civilisation," he said.

Faced with growing scepticism at home and a chronic lack of financing, Fawcett, a gifted storyteller, managed to capture the imagination of newspaper editors around the world, sending them breathless dispatches in exchange for cash.

The articles made him a global star in his lifetime, and heightened the tragedy around the mystery of his eventual disappearance in the Amazon in 1925 alongside his son Jack.

- 'Pretty adventurous' -

Hunnam said the work on set had been hairy at times, with scorpions, snakes and poisonous spiders often coming too close for comfort.

"It was pretty adventurous, he said. "There were all manner of things on any given day that thought it might be a nice idea to bite and attempt to kill us."

Pattinson, who has branched out to more adult fare in recent years, appearing in David Cronenberg's "Maps to the Stars" and "Cosmopolis", said it was fun getting out of his comfort zone.

"You don't get that many opportunities in everyday life to just disappear into the jungle," he said.

"When I first read the script, I loved there being areas of the world that you could still explore and were totally uncontrolled."

He said today's hyper-connected world "takes away that mystery and kind of majesty of going into the unknown".

But he admitted: "I tell myself I would kind of prefer that. But really I would probably want to have my Twitter."

The Berlin film festival runs until Sunday.
TOWN OF FOX LAKE, Wis.  More than 100 cows are back in custody after they broke out of the Fox Lake Prison Farm Thursday night.

The bovine escapees were first reported in the area of Brave Road.

According to a dispatch report from the Dodge County Sheriffs Office, a call came in at 8:30 p.m. that there were about 25 cows in the road on Brave Road.

The caller did not know who owned them, but said they were just west of Fox Lake Correctional Institution and headed for Highway AW. The caller reported the cows had cropped tails and attempted to keep the cows off of Highway AW. It appears after the break out, the cows split up, because a second person called five minutes later and reported there were cows on Lake Emily Road, just east of Fox Lake Correctional.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Public Affairs Office, about 110 of the 298 cows at the Fox Lake farm were able to leave their pens. The cows were located and it took inmates 90 minutes to return the cows to their pen. The pen was padlocked by DOC staff to ensure that he cows stayed put.

There was no indication of which cow masterminded the escape.
By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) - A federal judge has dismissed a proposed class-action lawsuit accusing CVS Health Corp of selling Vitamin C drops that are falsely labeled as "Made in the USA" because the Vitamin C is sourced from other countries. U.S. District Judge John Darrah in Chicago ruled on Monday that the plaintiff David DeMedicis, who called himself a "patriotic American" in his complaint, did not show that drops he bought cost more because they appeared to be American-made. Darrah also said the resident of Cook County, Illinois, which includes Chicago, could not show future harm because he was "now aware" of alleged deception by the second-largest U.S. drugstore chain. "Plaintiff merely alleges that he prefers products made in the United States and that he is willing to pay a premium," the judge wrote. Darrah also dismissed a claim against Woonsocket, Rhode Island-based CVS on behalf of people in eight other states, including California and New York, with consumer fraud laws similar to Illinois', saying he lacked jurisdiction. The judge said DeMedicis may file an amended complaint. CVS and lawyers for the plaintiff did not immediately respond on Tuesday to requests for comment. In his complaint, the plaintiff cited a recent survey by Consumer Reports magazine that 77 percent of Americans were willing to pay more for products labeled as made in America. DeMedicis also described himself as an "unsophisticated consumer" who desired to support American companies and jobs. In seeking the case's dismissal, CVS said the plaintiff's Alabama-based law firm had filed a dozen similar lawsuits against other companies including Wal-Mart Stores Inc. CVS also questioned why DeMedicis did not simply accept its money back guarantee. The case is DeMedicis v CVS Health Corp et al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, No. 16-05973. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
A Malaysian ship carrying aid for thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled a bloody army crackdown in Myanmar docked in Bangladesh Tuesday, days after it met with protests in Yangon.

Senior Bangladeshi officials and Malaysian diplomats gathered at Chittagong port as Nautical Aliya docked in the southern city, from where its aid cargo will be transported to Rohingya camps.

The shipment was received by local officials of the Red Crescent and International Organisation of Migration at the ports container terminal in a brief handover ceremony.

Trucks will carry the 1,472 tonnes of food, clothing and medical items to Cox's Bazar, some 200 kilometres (125 miles) south of Chittagong for distribution to tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees.

Bangladesh has allowed 25 Malaysian volunteers out of 183 people who came with the aid ship to travel with the cargo to the Rohingya camps in the southern district of Cox's Bazar, the district's chief administrator Ali Hossain told AFP.

Abdul Aziz Mohd Abdur Rahim, a representative of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and a member of parliament who travelled with the ship, called for a "long-standing solution" to the Rohingya crisis as he handed over the aid cargo.

"Thirty million Malaysians are with you (Rohingya)," Rahim said.

There was, however, no representative of the Rohingya community or any of the elders at the port.

"We hope our humanitarian efforts will pave the way to resolve the Rohingya issue and awaken the international community," Malaysian volunteer Azmi, who uses one name, told AFP.

The ship initially planned to dock at Teknaf in southern Bangladesh, where almost 70,000 Rohingya have fled from Myanmar's Rakhine state since October to escape the violence.

It also tried to dock near the island of Kutubdia on Monday, but "technical issues" forced it to travel further north to Chittagong, chief administrator of the region Ruhul Amin told AFP.

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Dozens of Buddhist monks and nationalist demonstrators last week protested the ship's arrival in Myanmar's capital, Yangon, with some waving national flags and signs reading: "No Rohingya".

Myanmar denies citizenship to the million-strong Rohingya, despite many of them living on its soil for generations.

Tens of thousands have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh bringing harrowing tales of murder and rape.

Myanmar's treatment of the Rohingya has sparked international criticism, including from Muslim-majority Malaysia -- a rare spat between the Southeast Asian neighbours.

Myanmar initially refused to allow the ship into its waters and has barred it from sailing to Rakhine's state capital Sittwe.
LONDON  The joke about losing a friend to a new relationship has been floating around for a long, long time  but these guys really took it to a whole other level.

SEE ALSO: Teen sneaks into band's VIP section by editing their Wikipedia page

Last week Ben Hull, a student at St Mary's University in Twickenham, UK, shared two images from a "funeral" they had for their friend Adam Milner.

The twist was, Milner hadn't exactly been "taken" in the traditional sense.

We held a funeral for our friend taken by a relationship #wemissyouadam pic.twitter.com/P4a08TtOVb  Ben Hull (@benhull69) February 10, 2017

At the time of writing, Hull's tweet about the fake funeral has been shared well over 6000 times.

You really can't fault the level of effort they went to.

A touching tribute.

Image: twitter/@benhull69

They even got dressed up for the somber occasion.

Not a dry eye in the room.

Image: twitter/@benhull69

"We all live on a floor together and spend a lot of time going out to nights out and all sorts, Hull told BuzzFeed.

"Then suddenly he got a girlfriend, and we saw him less and less."

At least his memory will live on.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Tuesday that Michael Flynns resignation as national security adviser highlights dysfunction in President Trumps White House and raises fresh questions about the commander in chiefs relations with Russia.

McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, praised Flynns invaluable contributions in the fight against terrorism in a written statement released hours after the retired Army lieutenant general resigned.

Timeline: The rise and fall of Michael Flynn

At the same time, General Flynns resignation is a troubling indication of the dysfunction of the current national security apparatus, the Arizona Republican said.

General Flynns resignation also raises further questions about the Trump administrations intentions toward Vladimir Putins Russia, including statements by the president suggesting moral equivalence between the United States and Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine, annexation of Crimea, threats to our NATO allies, and attempted interference in American elections, McCain said.

The senator has been a vocal critic of Trumps relatively soft line on Russia, as well as his campaign-trail statements in favor of resuming the use of interrogation tactics that fit international definitions of torture. Doing so would violate U.S. law, and the president has suggested he would defer to Defense Secretary James Mattis, who opposes such methods.

President Trump and Sen. John McCain (Photos: Ron Sachs/CNP/MediaPunch/IPX via AP, Henry Romero/Reuters)

The national security advisers job is to manage competing national security and foreign policy interests  the departments of Defense and State and the intelligence community, for example  and act as an honest broker to help the president reach a decision.

Flynn stepped down after news outlets reported that he misled Vice President Mike Pence and other senior Trump aides about his contacts with a Russian diplomat in late 2016. In his resignation letter, Flynn said he inadvertently provided incomplete information about those conversations. The vice president denied in television interviews that Flynn had discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia. The Washington Post published a detailed article contradicting Flynns initial denials, and he then acknowledged the issue may have come up.

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The Department of Justice reportedly warned the White House in late January that Flynns denials were at odds with what U.S. intelligence knew about his conversations with the Russian official.

Read more from Yahoo News:
Capping crippling weeks of disclosures about President Trumps top national security aide, the White House late Monday evening sent Michael Flynn packing and ended the drama surrounding a former intelligence maven who had won the billionaires trust despite the misgivings of many in his circle.

Trump named retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Jr. as his acting National Security Advisor, elevating at least for now the man he had first selected to serve as the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council. Kellogg, a Vietnam veteran who rose to national prominence as a senior executive rebuilding Iraq after the United States 2003 invasion, was a top policy adviser as Trump moved from New York celebrity to commander-in-chief.

Flynns departure was the first high-profile exit of a key Trump adviser, but it was unlikely to be the last. The Trump Administration had been under fire since it took power 24 days earlier, and its unclear how much one departure would make up for the tumultuous start.

The decision also did not answer the question if Flynn began the conversations with Russian officials on his own accord or if he was operating on the direction of Trump. It was not immediately clear hownow that the world knew about his contactswhat leverage Russia could exert over Flynn by way of blackmail. Congressional Democrats, meantime, were unlikely to see Flynns exit as the end of this story.

There was rare silence on the subject from the Presidentin person, on paper or by Twitterwho worked late into the evening in the West Wing.

The whole affair started with text messages between the Russian ambassador to the United States and Flynn. It escalated to incomplete information given to future colleagues and culminated with a scandal that suggested the incoming Administration had been looking to undermine the outgoing team of President Obama. The episode invoked memories of Richard Nixons 1968 backchannel conversations with South Vietnam that looked to shape the outcome that November.

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Flynns job was on the line after he apparently misled Vice President Mike Pence about the extent of his conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Pence relied on Flynns denial that he hadnt discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia with Kislyakan assertion that Pence repeated to the press and which now appears to be false.

Pence, who was the highest-ranking official who relied on Flynns word in public statements, told his colleagues that he would defer to Trumps judgement whether dismissals would be needed. Pence was not eager to pick a fight with the broader Trump orbit, but knew that his deference would only pump up the pressure on Trump. In effect, silence was the greatest tool he had to ensure Trump owned the choice that was coming.

Under fire from within and without, Flynn saw that it was time to leave.

I inadvertently briefed the Vice President-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador, Flynn wrote in a 308-word resignation letter. I have sincerely apologized to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology. Even so, he was gone before the Administration reached its 25th day in power.

A senior Administration official told reporters that Trump has identified three finalists for the permanent position: Kellogg, former Vice Admiral Bob Harward and former General David Petraeus. That last option proved the most provocative, given his own scandals in leaking classified information to a biographer, and a senior officer sought to downplay his position on Trumps short-list. At the same time, it brings a certain star power appeal for Trump.

Kellogg is a known quantity in the Trump orbit, though his influence thus far in the national security decision-making process has taken a backseat to Flynns. Harward is a former deputy of Defense Secretary James Mattis, who frequently clashed with Flynn in his first weeks on the job. Its also unclear how he might fit into the circle of fast friends of Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who distrusted Flynn.

The national security advisor is among the most significant officials inside the wide foreign policy machine for the United States. As the main White House official tasked with watching the world and representing the President and his National Security Council to the outside world, the role is sprawling and often operates in rooms without windows. They spend hours in basement bunkers looking for answers that are often impossible to find. The best national security advisors have the Presidents trust and can forge a consensus among others in that circle, such as the secretaries of State, Defense and Homeland Security. Given his apparent problems with being forthcoming, it was unlikely Flynn could have continued in that position with any degree of respect or power going forward.

Really, there were few routes available to Flynn, especially after White House officials confirmed a late-Monday report that U.S. intelligence officials were alarmed enough to warn the Trump Administration about contacts with the Russians. Ultimately, the Obama Administration gave Trumps lawyers a heads-up that Flynn was talking about things far afield from benign chatter. Flynn, a former in-house spymaster at the Pentagon, should have known his calls were being monitored. He misjudged just how in peril the move left him.

A longtime favorite of Trump and among the core group of generals whom Trump trotted out as serious endorsers, Flynn was a flashpoint inside the West Wing in recent weeks. It became clear in recent weeks that Flynn had misled Pence, Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and spokesman Sean Spicer. Flynn sent out that troika of Trump insiders to represent him contacts with Russian counterparts, only to have them all left exposed. It proved embarrassing not just for Flynn but also the President and Vice President.

But the latest controversy was far from Flynns first error, aides said. Trump was frustrated after Flynn failed to adequately brief him on an executive action that reorganized the National Security Council that also placed chief strategist Steve Bannon on the powerful Principals Committee. Career officials at the NSC are up in arms trying to adapt to the new Administration and Flynns leadership. The former Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency was dismissed by the Obama Administration over his management style.

Trump, a senior Administration official tells TIME, was initially inclined to stand with Flynn but had second thoughts. Flynn recognized that even if he stayed, his footing would be shaky. Pence would never trust him again.

The Flynn issue was the subject of a running series of high-level meetings throughout the White House late Monday, which involved Trump, the most trusted aides to the Vice President, Kellyanne Conway, White House Counsel Don McGahn and Priebus, as well as several other communications aides. It was clear from the hushed tonesand frequent text messages to reporters and outside alliesthat something was afoot. Many involved wanted to find a way to save face.

At 10:10 p.m. Flynn left the Oval Office after tendering his resignation, an official told TIME. He walked briskly as he headed to his office suite on the northwest corner of the West Wing for his final time in this job. By 11 p.m. the White House was ready to make the news public, distributing a copy of Flynns resignation letter, which was the subject of several revisions throughout the evening. He and had left the complex by 11:30 p.m.

Flynns ouster comes after a tumultuous day of mixed messages emanating from the White House about Flynn. Earlier Monday anonymous aides traded quotes musing about Flynns future. Flynn delivered the presidential daily briefing to Trump in the morning, joined him on calls with foreign leaders and was seated in a prime location at the presidents joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Just after 4 p.m. Monday, Kellyanne Conway assured reporters that General Flynn does enjoy the full confidence of the president.

But an hour later things had changed. Spicer noted that the President is evaluating the situation. It was yet the latest instance of one West Wing hand not knowing what the other was doingor if they were doing it on the Presidents orders.

This is what he asked me to communicate to you, Spicer told reporters, saying his phrasing represented the Presidents thinking after a conversation in the Oval Office. After Spicer released his statement, he huddled briefly with top aides to the Vice President, followed by a conversation with Conway.

But its worth noting: being fired by Trump does not mean going into exile. His first campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, is still cashing-in on his connections to the West Wing. Lewandowskis replacement, too, was dismissed but still advises Trumps circle from time to time. Longtime Trump adviser Roger Stone is publishing a book about how the President won, even though some in the West Wing dispute his real clout with Trump.

After all, having the Presidents cell phone number can sometimes be as effective as having an office on the same floor. And thats why many intelligence officials remain worried about Flynn.
Late Monday, National Security Advisor Michael Flynn resigned after inaccurately describing his December conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak. Thats prompted some top lawmakers to further question the relationship between the Trump administration and Russia, and left Flynn high and dry.

On Tuesday, with Washington wondering what  and who  comes next for the National Security Council, Russia reacted to Flynns resignation with a mix of feigned disinterest and open displeasure.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov refused to comment on Flynns resignation. He did note that it is too early to say whether the Kremlin still hopes for an improvement in U.S.-Russian relations, given that Trumps team has not been shaped yet.

Other Russian politicians, however, had more to say. Russian lawmaker Alexei Pushkov tweeted that Flynn resigned not because of a mistake, but because of an aggressive campaign against him. Paranoia and a witch hunt, he added. His colleague Konstantin Kosachev posted on Facebook, Even readiness for dialogue with Russians is perceived by hawks in Washington as thoughtcrime (in the words of immortal George Orwell). And the chairman of the State Dumas foreign relations committee, Leonid Slutsky, called Flynns resignation a negative signal for U.S. Russian relations.

Russian state media was firmer still in its condemnation of Flynns self-inflicted ouster. Russian state-sponsored outlet RT published a piece blaming the mainstream American media. Russian news outlet RIA put forth an article extrapolating on WikiLeaks explanation  namely, that this is all part of a destablization campaign conducted among spies, the Democratic Party, and the press.

Russian state-sponsored site Sputnik took a different tack. Flynns resignation will prompt Russia to think twice before trusting Washington and holding confidential talks on sensitive bilateral and international issues, citing Vladimir Batyuk of the Moscow-based Center for U.S. and Canadian Studies.

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In reality, Kislyak was not speaking with Washington during his December conversations with Flynn; the Obama administration was still in office. Nevertheless, Batyuk did not rule out that Flynns exit may lead to a situation when the Russian side will be wary of contacts with representatives of the Trump Administration.

The Kremlin openly cheered Trumps election victory, hoping for a more constructive relationship than it had with Obama. Flynns willingness to work with Moscow made that seem more likely. But with Flynn out, and questions swirling over Trumps intentions toward Moscow, Russia may end up regretting it.

Photo credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images
Michael Flynn resigned late on Monday as President Donald Trumps national security advisor after he offered a misleading account of his conversations with Russias ambassador to the United States that alarmed law enforcement and intelligence officials.

Flynns departure comes less than a month after he took up the job, an early exit without precedent that underscored the administrations chaotic and disorganized initial weeks in office. But his resignation offers little prospect of defusing a growing cloud over the administration about the nature of the Trump teams communications with Moscow before the president was sworn in on Jan. 20. The administration has yet to clarify if other senior aides encouraged Flynns overtures to Russia or sought to undermine the outgoing Obama administrations policies.

Flynns resignation came after dramatic revelations in the Washington Post last week that he had discussed U.S. sanctions in December with Russias ambassador, Sergey Kislyak, at a moment when the outgoing Obama administration was preparing to impose a new round of sanctions on Moscow for its meddling in the U.S. presidential election.

Flynn had initially denied that the subject came up in his conversations, but later changed his account, saying that it was possible the topic was discussed.

The Justice Department reportedly warned the White House that Flynn had not come clean about the nature of his conversations with the Russian diplomat, and expressed fears that the retired Army general could be vulnerable to blackmail from Moscow.

The accounts of Flynns phone calls to the Russian ambassador have fueled concerns among lawmakers in Congress and allies in Europe about Trumps persistent affinity for Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his willingness to consider lifting sanctions on Moscow without concrete concessions in return.

The Posts bombshell report last week, and the White Houses refusal to come to Flynns defense over the weekend, triggered intense speculation that the national security advisor could be forced to resign.

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In his resignation letter, Flynn said that because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador.

I have sincerely apologized to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology.

Flynn, a retired three-star general who served in military intelligence and as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, said he had always performed my duties with the utmost of integrity and honesty to those I have served.

Flynn said he was honored to have served under President Trump, who in just three weeks, has reoriented American foreign policy in fundamental ways to restore Americas leadership position in the world.

During the campaign, Flynn had railed against Trumps Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, for using a private email server when she was secretary of state, saying she had jeopardized national security. At the Republican Partys convention in August, he led chants of Lock Her Up!

Now Flynn faces potential legal jeopardy for his actions. Experts say its possible he could be charged for violating the Logan Act, which prohibits private citizens from conducting foreign policy, violating other criminal statutes or for possibly lying to federal investigators.

The White House said in a statement that retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, a decorated Vietnam War veteran and former commander of the U.S. Armys 82nd Airborne Division, would replace Flynn as acting national security advisor.

But its not clear if Kellogg will serve in an interim role or be named as the permanent replacement. Flynns resignation set off speculation about possible successors, including David Petraeus, the former commander of U.S. forces in Iraq. Petraeus pleaded guilty in 2015 to mishandling classified information and handing it over to his mistress and biographer. The scandal surrounding the case forced him to resign as CIA director.

Photo credit: WIN MCNAMEE/Getty Images
PODGORICA, Montenegro (AP)  Montenegro's prime minister told Russia and its allies in the tiny Balkan state on Tuesday to stop destabilizing the county while opposing its NATO bid.

Prime Minister Dusko Markovic said that those warning of unrest "in Montenegro or outside of it should keep their hands off Montenegro."

Markovic spoke after opposition pro-Russian parties denounced a call by Montenegro's special prosecutor urging the national assembly to lift the immunity of two senior opposition leaders allegedly involved in a pro-Russian plot to overthrow the government over its NATO bid.

The public prosecutor wants immunity removed so that Andrija Mandic and Milan Knezevic could be detained and eventually put on trial for criminal conspiracy and inciting "acts against constitutional order and security of Montenegro."

The parliament votes on the immunity Wednesday. Some opposition groups plan to stage street protests in front of the assembly in the capital, Podgorica.

Some 20 people  including two Russian citizens  have been suspected of participating in the October plot that allegedly included plans to kill a then-prime minister and take over power to prevent Montenegro from joining NATO.

Mandic, who made several recent visits to Moscow where he received support from the Kremlin for his anti-NATO stands, said that Montenegro's leaders are playing with fire by threatening arrests. He warned of a civil war in the state of 620,000 people which is deeply divided between those who want to join NATO and other Western institutions and those who seek close ties with traditional Slavic ally Russia.

"For them, there is no law and order," Markovic said, referring to the opposition. "The messages we heard are irresponsible."

The Kremlin, opposed to further NATO expansion in Europe, has denied involvement in the alleged coup plot. But, it has actively supported groups opposed to Montenegro's NATO membership.

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U.S. President Donald Trump's stand toward NATO, which he has described as an "obsolete" organization, and his warming of relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has worried many in Montenegro and the rest of the war-torn Balkans.

___

Dusan Stojanovic contributed from Belgrade, Serbia.
NEW YORK (AP)  There was someone important missing when the cast and creators of the film "Moonlight" joyfully crowded a Los Angeles-area stage last month to accept the Golden Globe for best film drama.

That was rising star Andre Holland and he had a very good reason to skip the party: He was across the country, working his current job  the August Wilson play "Jitney" on Broadway.

"At intermission, I remember looking glancing down at my phone and there were all these messages from people saying, 'Oh, my God! Are you there?' 'What's going on?' 'Who's going to win?' But I didn't look at any of it until after the show," he said.

Holland, who has starred in the films "Selma" and "42" and the Cinemax series "The Knick" opposite Clive Owen, isn't the kind of actor who skips work, even for a trophy. He's very selective and determined to keep growing.

"Time is something that's very important to me," he said. "There's a limited amount of it and I don't want to spend it  the little bit that I have  doing things that I don't believe in."

One of the things he definitely believes in is Wilson, a man he considers "one of the finest playwrights that has ever lived." Holland made his Broadway debut in 2009 in Wilson's "Joe Turner's Come and Gone" and returns this winter playing a young man in a cab company trying to make a better life.

Co-star John Douglas Thompson, who plays a father figure to Holland's character, said the attention the younger actor has gotten on film for "Moonlight" and onstage in "Jitney " is richly deserved.

"It's hard to find young actors who can do both with such charisma, such professionalism, such brilliant acting skills," said Thompson. "I think it's a great moment for audiences to come and see this young man and to get a good breadth of his talent."

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Film fans have already gotten a glimpse of that in "Moonlight," Barry Jenkins' acclaimed portrait of a young black man growing up in Miami. Though Holland only appears in the final third of the film, he turns in a performance full of humanity  sorrow, love, curiosity and kindness all wash over his face.

Holland credits playwright Tarell McCraney with creating such a well-drawn character and hopes the success of "Moonlight" can inspire more powerful looks at all corners of our society. "In its best form, I think if this movie continues to be a success, I hope it'll provide that platform for other people to get their stories out there," he said.

Holland, who grew up in a small town outside Birmingham, Alabama, got an undergraduate degree from Florida State University and a master's at New York University. He credits his parents, who both toiled in factory jobs, for believing in his gift.

It was his mother who took him to see Wilson's "The Piano Lesson" at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. "It was the first time that I had seen black characters onstage who were living an experience that was full and epic but also was recognizable to me," he said. "It was the first time I remember seeing myself in the work and seeing a path for myself."

Later, when he came home from college vacation in 2001, his mom showed him a photo in The Birmingham News of British actor Adrian Lester holding a skull. It turned out to be Yorick's skull  Lester was playing Hamlet at the Chicago Shakespeare Festival.

"I looked at it and I thought, 'Wait a minute. That's Hamlet. And he's black. How is that possible?' It had just had never occurred to me that that was even possible," he said.

Sensing his excitement, Holland's mom rented him a car, gave him some money and sent him off to Chicago the very next morning. He got a ticket on the cancellation line. "I'll never forget it, seeing Adrian Lester come out, walk down stage center and give the 'To be or not to be' speech. I was in tears," he said.

"My mother and my father have been there for me from Day One and without them I know none of this stuff would be possible," he said. "I want to do things that they can be proud of."

In one of those weird twists, Holland has found himself this award season with his "Moonlight" battling a film adaptation of Wilson's "Fences." He adores "Fences"  he even used one of its monologues to get into drama school  as much as he loves his film.

"I was rooting for them and still am rooting for them while also rooting for 'Moonlight,'" he said, laughing. "I hope people who saw and enjoyed 'Fences' will come and see 'Jitney' as well. They're complementary pieces."

___

Mark Kennedy is on Twitter at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits
Washington (AFP) - Between the alleged cyber-attacks on US political parties and secret dealings between presidential aides-in-waiting and Russia's ambassador, Moscow is front and center in American politics in a way not seen since the Cold War.

And that shows no signs of changing anytime soon, casting a long shadow over the fledgling government of President Donald Trump -- and what some say are its murky links with Russian President Vladimir Putin's Kremlin.

In July, US intelligence officials first reported that Moscow was interfering in the presidential election. They have since gone further, alleging Putin orchestrated a campaign to sway the vote in Trump's favor.

On Monday, White House national security advisor Michael Flynn was forced to resign over his private discussions with a Russian diplomat in December -- before Trump took office -- as then-president Barack Obama was preparing to impose sanctions on Moscow over the alleged election hacking.

After investigations by US spy agencies and the Justice Department, Congress is keen to get to the bottom of it all.

The issue has tainted Trump's election victory over Hillary Clinton, and raised fears that Moscow has found a new way to wreak havoc in its strategic rival by eroding confidence in elections, the cornerstone of American democracy.

The Republican property mogul-turned-president has made no secret of his desire to reset relations with Russia after years of tensions.

But Democrats in Congress smell blood in the water, and want deeper investigations into Russia's actions. And while some Republicans have said the issue should be laid to rest, others are starting to call for further inquiries.

The Senate Intelligence Committee has already opened a probe. And now they want to hear from Flynn.

"I would think that we should talk to General Flynn very soon and that should answer a lot of questions," said Roy Blunt, a Republican senator on the committee.

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"What did he know? What did he do? And is there any reason to believe that anybody knew that and didn't take the kind of action they should have taken?"

- Unanswered questions -

After Trump's shock victory over Clinton in November, Obama began preparing the ground to retaliate against Russia over the hack claims.

But before he announced actions on December 30 -- more economic sanctions and the expulsion of 35 alleged Russian spies -- Flynn was reportedly telling Russia's US ambassador Sergey Kislyak not to worry.

Flynn reportedly conveyed the message that the Trump administration had a different view and would work to improve bilateral relations.

He resigned Monday after admitting he had not been completely honest with Vice President Mike Pence about his phone discussions with Kislyak.

But even with Flynn gone, the issue of Russia's interference remains a potent challenge for the Trump administration.

At least four Congressional committees are looking into various aspects of Russia's alleged interference, as well as Team Trump's links to Moscow.

Flynn is not the first member of Trump's inner circle to prompt speculation.

His former campaign director Paul Manafort was previously a consultant to Moscow-backed former Ukraine prime minister Viktor Yanukovych, and also worked with Russian oligarchs linked to Putin. He eventually stepped down.

Several Republicans have ridiculed the probes as "hysteria," but Democrats and some Republicans like top Senator John McCain have emphasized their importance.

Democratic Senator Mark Warner, also on the intelligence committee, said Tuesday that probing the issue "is more urgent than ever" after Flynn's resignation.

"These developments underscore how many questions still remain unanswered to the American people more than three months after Election Day, including who was aware of what, and when."

Ben Cardin, the top Democrat of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called Tuesday for an independent commission examining the hacking as well as what Trump himself knew.

There is also the unconfirmed dossier compiled by a former British intelligence agent with multiple explosive allegations, which transfixed political Washington for weeks.

Not only does it allege that Putin sought to give Trump's campaign a boost over Clinton's, it says people associated with Trump's campaign had ongoing communications with the Kremlin during the election.

Media reports in recent weeks say US intelligence officials have confirmed parts though not all of the dossier, including possibly communications between Trump allies and Russian officials.

- 'Incredibly tough' -

Trump has repeatedly denied that Moscow helped him to his election victory, though he eventually conceded that they might have interfered in the campaign.

He also has made no secret of his admiration for Putin, tweeting in December that the Russian leader was "very smart."

On Tuesday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer insisted that Trump "has been incredibly tough on Russia."
A mother posted a loving Valentines Day card to her five children just hours before her badly burned body was found on a public beach.

Lisa Bach Williams, 31, had put up photographs of five chocolate bars and a card written to her kids, saying "I love you with all my Welsh heart," on her Facebook page Sunday.

Read: Boy, 5, Battling Cancer to Receive 1,000 Valentine's Day Cards Collected by Community

Later that night, her burned body was discovered by a security guard inside a seaside shelter on Newry beach in Wales, police said.

At this time the death is not being treated as suspicious, and the coroner for north-west Wales has been informed, read a statement from the North Wales Police.

The mother was remembered as kind and loving in tributes posted to her Facebook page.

"She was a lovely girl & loved her kids so much," wrote Tanya Rushe.

Williams was separated from her husband, according to her Facebook page. He apparently had custody of the children and was living in Ireland.

She was undergoing medical treatment, according to her posts, and had been hospitalized in recent months.

Read: Valentine's Day Dance Canceled After Old City Ordinance Banning Dancing Near Church Unearthed

People left flowers and written tributes at the beach where she died.

Its a big loss without you here with us all. Hard to believe that youre gone. You meant the world to us. Ill never forget that cute smile and how kind you were to us all, read one card.

Her children ranged in age from 5 to 14.

In her card, she also included a silver necklace with a heart pendant for one of her daughters, writing, Necklace is for you, [when youre] old enough to wear it. Love, Mam. XXXXX.

Watch: Premature Babies Celebrate Their First Valentine's Day in NICU

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Piling in for after-work drinks, around two dozen people pore over the menu at Mother's Ruin, a speciality gin bar in Cape Town, where homegrown varieties are making a mark on the global scene.

The menu is a daunting tome of 144 gins from around the globe, over 20 of them South African and steeped in the flavours of the country's unique coastal mountains.

"Those are very popular -- all the foreigners that come in here want to see what gins South Africa has to offer," says part owner Will Pretorius, whose current favourite is A Mari, a variety from Cape Town distilled with seawater.

"Gin around the world is starting to have a moment and South Africa has jumped on the bandwagon," says gin maker Lucy Beard.

In 2015, her gin distillery Hope On Hopkins was the first to be licensed in Cape Town, just as the drink began to make a stir.

"Very soon after, small gin distilleries began popping up in Cape Town and its surrounds, with quite a few on the wine farms, too," she adds.

Formerly lawyers based in London, Beard and her partner Leigh Lisk, who are both South African, turned their hand to gin after taking a year off to travel around Europe.

"There were little craft distilleries everywhere," says Beard.

"It was basically a passing comment: 'Do you think we could make gin?' We downloaded a book on distilling to our Kindles and sat in a campsite in Spain reading it."

It's a simple enough process: spirits are distilled with what gin makers call botanicals to add flavour. The only rule -- one of those flavours must be juniper.

What then distinguishes one gin from the next is everything else the distiller chooses to add to the mix.

In South Africa, that has predominantly been the flowers and herbs of the mountains surrounding Cape Town, collectively called "fynbos": sweet kapokbos, strong and fresh buchu, dry rooibos, rose geranium, wild olives, honeybush -- a mountainside riot of choice.

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- Local flavours -

"There are so many flavours to experiment with," says Simon Von Witt of Woodstock Gin, a hole-in-the-wall affair on a busy Cape Town road, with a coffee shop upfront and a distillery round the back that produces about 1,000 bottles a month.

The shop is a beehive of activity to meet an order due for export to Belgium the next day.

"Fynbos has thousands of varieties, so you're looking at a massive amount you can work with," says Von Witt.

His ingredient of choice is rooibos, a plant famous for the tea brewed from its leaves and the predominant ingredient of Woodstock Gin's bestselling variety, aptly named High Tea.

"The rooibos is quite dry and the honeybush contrasts that -- it's slightly sweet and it just brings out amazing flavours," he says. "It's such a uniquely South African plant."

Gin itself, though, has not been a typical drink in South Africa, where beer, wine and brandy dominate.

Some 78 percent of all alcohol consumed here in 2015 was beer, according to the South African Wine Industry Information & Systems body.

Gin accounted for just 0.1 percent, only ahead of South Africa's cane spirit distilled from fermented molasses.

"I like that it's easy to drink -- sometimes too easy!" said Amy Bennet, visiting the southwestern city from Durban, sipping on Inverroche, another local fynbos-tinged gin.

She began drinking gin while living in London as an alternative to the heavy beers and ales on offer, she said.

- 'Everybody's curious' -

Mother's Ruin attracts a large and varied clientele paying about 32 rand ($2.40, 2.20 euros) for a shot of top-quality local gin.

"From older people, to tourists, to young people," says Pretorius, "everybody's curious about gin... people want to taste it, experience it, see what the possibilities are with it."

But as gin enjoys its moment, the oversaturated market in South African craft beers offers a warning.

"I don't want to be in a bubble," says Von Witt.

The trick would be to make a gin that appeals "to everyone, right across the board, from millennials to the older generation".

"We're not there yet," he adds.

But Beard is hopeful.

"The fervour around it will die out eventually, but there will always be those people who love to reach for a good, craft gin," she said.
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - A tropical storm heading for the coast of southern Mozambique is expected to develop into a cyclone with winds of up to 118 to 165 kms (70 to 100 miles) per hour, the South African Weather Service said on Tuesday. Mozambique, one of the world's poorest countries which is in the throes of a debt and financial crisis, is prone to flooding and is especially vulnerable after a scorching drought last year, as soils degraded or hardened by dry spells do not easily absorb water. Heavy rains could also impact subsistence maize farmers at a time when Mozambique is one of several countries in the region battling an infestation of crop-damaging fall armyworms, an invasive species with a taste for corn. The U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization on Tuesday began a three-day emergency meeting in Harare regarding the armyworm invasion, which has threatened crops in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa. The South African Weather Service said that Tropical Storm Dineo would likely reach the cyclone stage early on Wednesday before making landfall around midnight near Inhambane, a popular diving and fishing resort town in southern Mozambique. Rains from the tropical system would move into South Africa's lowveld on Thursday, affecting sugar-growing areas and the Kruger National Park, before moving westwards on Friday. (Reporting by Ed Stoddard. Editing by Jane Merriman)
Brussels (AFP) - NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday said the top priority for the transatlantic alliance is to increase defence spending, as demanded by US President Donald Trump.

"Regardless of language, the most important thing is that we increase defence spending and that is exactly what we are doing," Stoltenberg said when asked about NATO's response to Trump's calls for it to do more to share the burden with Washington.

On the campaign trail and in his first days in office, Trump appeared to put in doubt the near 70-year US security guarantee for NATO which he dubbed "obsolete" while accusing some allies of not paying their way.

His remarks caused consternation among the allies who, stung by Russia's intervention in Ukraine, had agreed in 2014 to increase defence spending to two percent of national economic output by 2024, reversing years of cuts.

Stoltenberg said all 28 allies had agreed that commitment and they reaffirmed it last year at a Warsaw summit.

"That has been my top priority and I have raised it in all the meetings that I have had," he told a press briefing before a NATO defence ministers meeting in Brussels Wednesday and Thursday.

"In 2015, we stopped the cuts and in 2016 ... we made the first significant step in increasing defence spending by 3.8 percent" or $10 billion, he added.

He said that in two phone calls with Trump, the new president "strongly expressed his strong commitment to NATO ... but in both calls he underlined fair burden sharing."

"Those that spend less than the two percent have to meet the two percent target and I agree with him," he said.

The NATO defence ministers meeting is being closely watched as it is the first for new US Defence Secretary James Mattis, with his peers anxious to hear first hand what the new administration plans.

Mattis, who served several years in NATO, has appeared more conciliatory on the future of the alliance and relations with Russia compared with the president.

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Stoltenberg downplayed the issue when asked about possible differences or tensions within the new US administration.

"The important thing for me is that the president, the secretary of defence, the secretary of state have all conveyed the same strong message about NATO," he said.

"They stated clearly that the United States stays strongly committed to NATO and the transatlantic bond."
By Robin Emmott and Phil Stewart BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European allies will tell the United States' new defense secretary on Wednesday that NATO is not the weak alliance U.S. President Donald Trump has accused it of being, at one of the most anticipated NATO meetings in years. At their first face-to-face encounter with Jim Mattis, European defense ministers will also seek reassurances from their U.S. counterpart that Trump is committed to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which has guaranteed Europe's security for almost 70 years. "Mattis's performance is going to be really important," said Adam Thomson, a former British ambassador to NATO and director of the European Leadership Network think tank in London. "It is all about how credibly he appears to speak for the entire U.S. administration." Trump's contradictory remarks on NATO, calling it "obsolete" during the U.S. election campaign but also supporting it, as well as his praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin, have deeply unsettled allies who fear for transatlantic ties. In his debut trip to Europe as Pentagon chief, Mattis is set to echo longstanding U.S. calls that European allies invest more on defense, something U.S. defense secretaries under Republican and Democratic administrations have done for years. But experts say that message will have to be calibrated, because while Trump has eased off his criticism of NATO since taking office, he has maintained criticism of some allies for failing to make "full and proper financial contributions." "Many of them have not been even close," Trump said of European defense spending. "And they have to do that," Trump told U.S. troops in Florida earlier this month. NATO Europe argues it is increasing defense spending, upping outlays by $10 billion last year. Moscow's 2014 annexation of Crimea, Ukraine's Black Sea peninsula, and its direct support for rebels in eastern Ukraine have prompted NATO to begin sending alliance troops to Russia's borders to deter the Kremlin from any other moves. Mattis, a former NATO general who served in the U.S. military for four decades, is likely to feel at home at the alliance headquarters. But he also arrives amid renewed uncertainty in Washington after White House national security adviser Michael Flynn's resigned this week. Mattis said that resignation over Flynn's pre-inauguration discussions with Russia over economic sanctions had "no impact". One senior European NATO diplomat said allies are under no illusion that Trump might not still undo careful diplomatic work with a single message on Twitter. But they would still look for his support as they try to manage tensions with Russia. "We need to bring the family together," the diplomat said. "Things have been made to feel fragile," the diplomat added, referring to Trump's campaign remarks about NATO. MILITANTS DILEMMA NATO defense ministers from Europe, Canada and Turkey will also want to hear from Mattis, who will be first to address the 27 other defense ministers on Wednesday, on how the alliance can meet Trump's demands to do more to counter Islamic militants. NATO says it is already active, training troops from Afghanistan to Iraq, and cannot do the work of police or social workers seeking out returning foreign fighters from Syria. "We need to be clear that the response to international terrorism cannot be led by NATO, but it can a part of that," a second senior European NATO diplomat said. Mattis is also expected to host a meeting of ministers from the U.S.-led coalition battling Islamic State, which all NATO members are part of. Allies want a way forward in Syria and Iraq as U.S. military leaders scramble to complete a plan for Trump outlining ways to accelerate the defeat of the militant group. Trump has openly spoken about his hopes of working with Russia to combat Islamic State, but U.S. allies may be hesitant to be seen siding with Russia and its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in Syria's messy, multi-pronged conflict. (Reporting by Robin Emmott, editing by Larry King)
By Tife Owolabi PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria (Reuters) - Nigeria needs to offer work to people who make a living from illegally refining oil in the Niger Delta in order to achieve peace there, the African oil-producing nation's Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said on Tuesday. The government has been holding talks with militants to end attacks on oil pipelines which cut the country's output by 700,000 barrels a day for several months last year. But a military crackdown on thousands of illegal refineries in the southern swamps, which process crude oil stolen from oil majors and state oil firm NNPC, has raised tensions again. Illicit refineries process stolen crude in makeshift, blackened structures of pipes and metal tanks hidden in oil-soaked clearings deep in the Niger Delta's thick bush land. "Our approach to that is that we must engage them (illegal refiners) by establishing modular refineries so that they can participate in legal refineries," Osinbajo said during a visit to Rivers state, part of the Delta region. "We have recognised that young men must be properly engaged," he said, without giving details. He also said the government would make more provisions for an amnesty scheme for former militants who laid down arms in 2009 in exchange for cash stipends and job training. Illegal refining is one of the few businesses flourishing in an otherwise desolate region, as petrol is scarce in Nigeria due to the country's derelict state refineries. Authorities had originally cut the budget for cash payments to militants to end corruption but later resumed payments to stop surging pipeline attacks crippling vital oil revenues. "We have make more provisions for amnesty and provisions for social intervention," Osinbajo told residents of Port Harcourt, the region's major city. He has been visiting the Niger Delta since last month to calm tensions. The militants and residents who sympathise with them say they want a greater share of Nigeria's oil wealth to go to the impoverished region. Crude sales make up about 70 percent of government revenue and the attacks have deepened an economic crisis brought on by low global oil prices. Nigeria last put its crude output at between 1.7 million bpd and 1.8 million bpd, down from the 2.2 million bpd at the start of 2016. (Writing by Ulf Laessing; Editing by Jason Neely and Alexander Smith)
Reps. Vernon Laning, left, and Bernie Satrom. (Photo: North Dakota Legislative Branch)

North Dakota husbands  or for that matter wives  worried they might be deprived of their Sunday breakfasts in bed can rest easy: A bill to repeal Sunday-closing blue laws was voted down by the state House of Representatives after a plea by one legislator to set aside the morning for pancakes and scrambled eggs instead of shopping.

Arguing against repealing the law that requires most businesses to close between midnight Saturday and Sunday noon, Rep. Bernie Satrom recommended spending time with your wife, your husband. Making him breakfast, bringing it to him in bed, and then after that, go take your kids for a walk. He later clarified that he meant to say em rather than him, meaning the breakfast could be cooked, and consumed, by either spouse.

During the debate, Rep. Vernon Laning added: I dont know about you, but my wife has no problem spending everything I earn in six and a half days. And I dont think it hurts at all to have a half day off.

The comments were roundly criticized as sexist and quickly caught fire outside of North Dakota, appearing in a number of national news outlets.

A number listed as Satroms office number reached Dianne Satrom, his wife. She rejected the accusations of sexism directed at her husband, citing the dynamics of their relationship as proof.

Im my own person. Im free. Hes not sexist at all, she said, noting she recently vacationed in Maui while her husband stayed in Bismarck.

She also said her husbands comment was misconstrued as a directive for wives to serve their husbands, when the intended meaning was that couples should serve each other, bring them breakfast in bed, emphasizing the gender-neutral pronoun.

As his wife, I can tell you hes brought me breakfast in bed many times, Satrom said. The only time I brought him breakfast in bed was when he was sick.

In an email, Bernie Satrom confirmed, I frequently cook breakfast on weekends and bring it to her as a way to show my love and appreciation for the blessing she is in my life.

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Satrom said his opposition to repealing blue laws stems from concerns about how busy people are and how they seem to have limited time for family.

Echoing his wife, Satrom contended he intended, meant, and thought he said em instead of him. When he first saw the quote on a blog, Satrom said he became nauseous and incredibly sad.

Laning declined to be interviewed. In an email, he wrote, Normally, I would accept but I have responded to 4 interviews on the topic to date and quite frankly none of them reflected anything close to a balanced report of what transpired, so I am going to respectfully decline any more interviews. Thank you for your interest.

Satrom, who was sympathetic toward his colleague, said Laning is a a gentle man who treasures his wife and picked a bad time and way to try to make a point.

Read more from Yahoo News:
Shares in troubled commodities trader Noble Group soared Tuesday, their biggest rise in more than a year, after the company said it was in talks with a strategic investor.

Singapore-listed Noble said in a statement to the stock exchange that it is "currently engaged in discussions regarding a possible strategic investment" in the firm.

It did not name the company but people familiar with the talks identified the potential investor as China's Sinochem Group, Bloomberg News reported.

The report said a partnership with Sinochem would deepen Noble's ties with China, the worlds biggest consumer of resources.

The firm rallied 17 percent at one point before paring the gains to close 11.7 percent higher.

Chinese sovereign wealth fund China Investment Corp is already one of Nobles biggest shareholders.

In its statement, however, Hong Kong-based Noble cautioned that "no binding arrangements have as yet been entered into with respect to this possible transaction and, accordingly, there can be no assurance that this transaction will be concluded".

The talks are still at an early stage and the Chinese group is interested in Noble's international energy trading business, which covers oil, coal and natural gas.

"It seems like investors and traders are speculating on this deal, which is why the price went up," CMC Markets analyst Margaret Yang told AFP.

She said that despite the lack of details, the "market has started to price in the possibility of this deal going through".

Yang added that any deal with Sinochem would be good for Noble, whose shares were hammered in 2015 by a fall in commodities prices and suffered a credit rating downgrade.

It had also faced allegations by little-known Iceberg Research of irregular accounting practices.

"This will help to alleviate concerns about liquidity and also improve investor confidence in this company," Yang said of the potential tie-up.

"And for Sinochem, investing into Noble is an important step to gain exposure to the global supply chain ... so it looks like a win-win situation if the deal can go through."

Noble chairman Richard Elman told Bloomberg last year the company was looking for a strategic investor after it raised $500 million in fresh equity.

A Sinochem spokesman in China declined comment Tuesday when asked about the talks.
By Timothy Mclaughlin

(Reuters) - A controversial North Dakota bill that sought to shield motorists from liability if they unintentionally hit a protester on a roadway, injuring or killing them failed to garner enough support from lawmakers.

House Bill 1203, introduced in January by Republicans, was voted down 40-51 by House lawmakers on Monday. A transportation committee had previously voted against the bill in part because of a "negative perception," that passing it could create, Republican state Representative Gary Paur told lawmakers on Monday.

The proposed legislation was one in a string of bills that lawmakers in several central U.S. states are pushing, which would crack down on demonstrations. The bills have drawn criticism from free speech campaigners and underline the polarization over protests in the era of U.S. President Donald Trump.

North Dakota has been the site of months of protests over the Dakota Access pipeline, which at times has drawn thousands of demonstrators to the state. Republican state Representative Keith Kempenich told local media that he sponsored the bill after his mother-in-law was caught in a protest while driving.

Kempenich defended the bill Monday before a vote, saying current laws had failed to protect citizens, and that the much publicized bill was mischaracterized by the media.

"I'd like to see this bill passed forward. I think that it shows that we are willing to stand up for the citizens of this state," he said.

(Reporting by Timothy Mclaughlin in Chicago; Editing by David Gregorio)
SEOUL (Reuters) - The new type of ballistic missile launched by North Korea on Sunday has a range of more than 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles), according to South Korea's intelligence agency, the South's Yonhap News Agency reported on Tuesday. The solid-fuel missile, which the North said was an upgraded, extended-range version of a submarine-launched ballistic missile, reached an altitude of about 550 km and flew about 500 km towards Japan before splashing into the sea east of the Korean peninsula. (Reporting by Tony Munroe; Editing by Eric Meijer)
By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - North Korea said on Tuesday its missile launches were "self-defence measures", rejecting U.N. Security Council criticism of its weekend test, but the United States demanded international action against Pyongyang's weapons programmes. North Korea's ballistic missile firing on Sunday was its first direct challenge to the international community since U.S. President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20. The missile had a range of more than 2,000 kms (1,240 miles), according to South Korea's intelligence agency. It reached an altitude of about 550 km and flew about 500 km towards Japan before splashing into the sea east of the Korean peninsula. The U.N. Security Council on Monday denounced the launch, urging members to "redouble efforts" to enforce sanctions against the reclusive state, but gave no indications of any action it might take. Han Tae Song, the new Ambassador of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the United Nations in Geneva, addressed the U.N.-backed Conference on Disarmament a day after taking up his post. "The various test fires conducted by DPRK for building up self-defence capabilities are, with no exception, self-defence measures to protect national sovereignty and the safety of the people against direct threats by hostile forces," Han told the 61-member-state forum. "My delegation strongly rejects the latest statement of the U.N. Security Council and all U.N. resolutions against my country." U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood said: "All efforts to advance North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile capabilities must cease," adding: "If ever there were a situation that called for international collective action to ensure our mutual security, it is this." RESTRAINT China, North Korea's main ally, said the missile launch violated Security Council resolutions but called on all parties to "exercise restraint". The way to defuse the situation was through dialogue, China said, calling for a return to talks. U.S., Japanese and South Korean military officials held a teleconference on Monday in which they condemned the launch as "a clear violation" of multiple Security Council resolutions. The United States "reaffirmed its iron-clad security commitments" to South Korea and Japan, the Pentagon said. Han said the divided Korean peninsula "remains the world's biggest hotspot with a constant danger of war". He condemned joint military exercises carried out annually by South Korea and the United States, as well as what he called "nuclear threats" and blackmail towards his country. "It is the legitimate self-defence right of the sovereign state to possess strong deterrence to cope with such threat by hostile forces aimed at overthrowing the state and the socialist system," he said. South Korea's Ambassador Choi Kyong-lim said the test showed "the unreasonable nature of the DPRK and their fanatical obsession with the pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles". Japan's disarmament Ambassador Nobushige Takamizawa urged Pyongyang not to take further "provocative actions" that undermine peace and security in the region. (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
Police confirmed on Tuesday that the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was killed in Malaysia, apparently assassinated by two women, according to reports.

Kim Jong Nam, the older half-brother of the North Korean leader, was known to spend a significant amount of his time outside the country and had spoken out publicly against his family's dynastic control of the isolated state.

"It's another sign that Kim Jong Un is asserting his control over the regime  rather than the regime descending into chaos," said Anwita Basu, lead analyst for North Korea at the Economist Intelligence Unit, in London. "He was a threat and he was removed."

Several media reports in South Korea and elsewhere indicated that the female assassins, who are believed to be North Korean agents, attacked Kim Jong Nam at Kulala Lumpur airport with "poisoned needles." The pair escaped from the scene and are at large.

Also read: eBay founder is testing giving people free money

The apparent murder comes as tensions are rising following another North Korean missile launch, on Sunday . The isolated country is armed with nuclear weapons and has developed increasingly sophisticated missile technology  and at a faster pace than in previous years. Observers fear those weapons could be used to threaten Japan or South Korea , two critical U.S. allies and two of the world's biggest economies.

Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, on Monday issued a statement to the Security Council saying it's "time to hold North Korea accountable, not with our words, but with our actions." Her statement made pointed reference to North Korea's "enablers," an apparent reference to China , which is the only country in the world with any meaningful relations with North Korea.

The United States has a long history of leaning on China to rein in North Korea, but that strategy has never worked at slowing North Korea's weapons development.

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Also read: Treasurer threatens tax hike to fund NDIS

"With the nuclear program, that's one of those things that I feel almost is fueling the economy. A lot of North Korean revenues come from its arms dealings and its prowess as an arms technologist," said Basu. "We haven't seen any evidence of the nuclear program becoming less developed under further sanctions."

Kim family has a history of murderous rivalries

Kim Jong Nam was believed to be close to his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, whom Kim Jong Un ordered killed in 2013 shortly after he took control of the ultra-authoritarian state.

Kim Jong Nam and Kim Jong Un are both sons of former leader Kim Jong Il, who died in late 2011, but they had different mothers.

In 2001, Kim Jong Nam was caught at an airport in Japan traveling on a fake passport. He explained at the time that he wanted to take his family to Tokyo Disneyland. That embarrassing incident is widely believed to have been the reason that his father Kim Jong Il decided against him and in favor of his younger son, Kim Jong Un, as his heir.

Kim Jong Nam said several times over the years that he had no interest in leading his country.

"Personally I am against third-generation succession," he told Japan's Asahi TV in 2010, before his younger had succeeded their father. "I hope my younger brother will do his best for the sake of North Koreans' prosperous lives."

The South Korean government source who spoke to Reuters did not immediately provide further details.

South Korea's foreign ministry said it could not confirm the reports, and the country's intelligence agency could not immediately be reached for comment.

CNBC's Evelyn Cheng and Reuters contributed to this report.
By Emily Chow and Ju-min Park KUALA LUMPUR/SEOUL (Reuters) - The U.S. government strongly believes that North Korean agents murdered the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Malaysia, U.S. government sources said on Tuesday. American authorities have not yet determined exactly how Kim Jong Nam was killed, according to two sources, who did not provide specific evidence to support the U.S. government's view. A South Korean government source also had said that Kim Jong Nam had been murdered in Malaysia. He did not provide further details. South Korea's foreign ministry said it could not confirm the reports, and the country's intelligence agency could not immediately be reached for comment. In Washington, there was no immediate response to a request for comment from the Trump administration, which faces a stiff challenge from a defiant North Korea over its nuclear arms programme and the test of a ballistic missile last weekend. Kim Jong Nam was known to spend a significant amount of his time outside North Korea and had spoken out publicly against his family's dynastic control of the isolated state. If confirmed as an assassination, it would the latest in a string of killings over the decades at home and abroad meant to silence those perceived by North Korea's leaders as threats to their authority, one of the U.S. sources said on condition of anonymity. In a statement, Malaysian police said the dead man, 46, held a passport under the name Kim Chol. Kim Jong Nam has been caught in the past using forged travel documents. Malaysian police official Fadzil Ahmat said the cause of Kim's death was not yet known, and that a post mortem would be carried out. "So far there are no suspects, but we have started investigations and are looking at a few possibilities to get leads," Fadzil told Reuters. According to Fadzil, Kim had been planning to travel to Macau on Monday when he fell ill at the low-cost terminal of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). "The deceased ... felt like someone grabbed or held his face from behind," Fadzil said. "He felt dizzy, so he asked for help at the ... counter of KLIA." Kim was taken to an airport clinic where he still felt unwell, and it was decided to take him to hospital. He died in the ambulance on the way to Putrajaya Hospital, Fadzil added. The U.S. government sources said it was possible that Kim Jong Nam had been poisoned. They said it could not be ruled out that assassins used some kind of "poison pen" device. South Korea's TV Chosun, a cable-TV network, reported that Kim had been poisoned with a needle by two women believed to be North Korean operatives who fled in a taxi and were at large, citing multiple South Korean government sources. Reuters could not independently confirm those details. SECRETIVE FAMILY Malaysia is one of a dwindling number of countries that has close relations with North Korea, which is under tightening global sanctions over its nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches, the latest of which took place on Sunday. Malaysians and North Koreans can visit each other's country without visas. A phone call to the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur late on Tuesday went straight to an answering machine. Kim Jong Nam and Kim Jong Un are both sons of former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, who died in late 2011, but they had different mothers. Kim Jong Nam, the elder of the two, did not attend his father's funeral. His mother was an actress named Song Hye Rim, and Kim Jong Nam said his father kept his parents' relationship secret. The portly and easygoing Kim Jong Nam was believed to be close to his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, who was North Korea's second most powerful man before being executed on Kim Jong Un's orders in 2013. In an embarrassing 2001 incident, Kim Jong Nam was caught at an airport in Japan travelling on a forged Dominican Republic passport, saying he had wanted to visit Tokyo Disneyland. He was known to travel to Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China. Koh Yu-hwan, a professor at Dongguk University in Seoul, said Kim Jong Nam had occasionally been the subject of speculation that he could replace his younger half-brother, the country's third-generation leader. "Loyalists may have wanted to get rid of him," he said. Kim Jong Nam said several times over the years that he had no interest in leading his country. "Personally, I am against third-generation succession," he told Japan's Asahi TV in 2010. "I hope my younger brother will do his best for the sake of North Koreans' prosperous lives." His cousin, Lee Han-young, who defected to South Korea through Switzerland in 1982, was shot and killed by North Korean agents in Seoul in 1997, according to South Korea. (Additional reporting by Se Young Lee in SEOUL, Joseph Sipalan, Rozanna Latiff, Praveen Menon and A.Ananthalakshmi in KUALA LUMPUR and Mark Hosenball and Matt Spetalnick in WASHINGTON; writing by Tony Munroe and Praveen Menon; editing by Mike Collett-White, Ian Geoghegan, Grant McCool and Richard Chang)
The Trump administration has fielded calls for investigations on at least two fronts this week.

In a letter dated Monday, the U.S. governments top ethics chief called on the White House to investigate top President Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway over comments she made promoting Ivanka Trumps brand at the White House.

In a letter to Stefan Passantino, deputy counsel to President Trump, Walter Shaub, director of the Office of Government Ethics, said there is strong reason to believe that Conway violated a standards of conduct rule prohibiting presidential appointees from appearing in a television commercial to promote a product.

Here is the Office of Government Ethics' letter suggesting the WH investigate Conway for comments about Ivanka Trump's brand. pic.twitter.com/R2ALZYrwT0  Dan Merica (@danmericaCNN) February 14, 2017

In an appearance on Fox & Friends last week, Conway was asked about Nordstroms decision to drop Ivanka Trumps products from its stores. Trump himself had used his presidential platform to rip Nordstroms terrible decision.

Go buy Ivankas stuff is what I would tell you, Conway said from the James S. Brady Briefing Room, with the official White House seal in full view. Im going to go get myself some today.

Conway added: This is just a wonderful line. I own some of it.  Im going to give a free commercial here: Go buy it today, everybody. You can find it online.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer later said Conway had been counseled about her potential ethics violation after the interview but declined to elaborate.

Executive branch officials should use the authority entrusted in them for the benefit of the American public and not for private profit, Shaub wrote. I recommend that the White House investigate Ms. Conways actions and consider taking disciplinary action against her.

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Shaub asked that the White House notify his office of its findings by Feb. 28.

Meanwhile, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform chairman Jason Chaffetz sent a separate letter to White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus asking for answers to reports that sensitive information may have been shared or discussed in front of Mar-a-Lago guests as the Trump administration prepared its response to North Koreas missile test launch on Saturday.

Accounts and photographs from other diners seem to indicate these communications occurred in the presence of other guests, Chaffetz wrote. Reportedly, documents were provided by what appeared to be White House staff for the Presidents review while the dinner proceeded.

In photos posted by one guest to Facebook, Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe were seen reviewing printouts as aides held up mobile phones to provide enough light for the pair to read them.

On Monday night, Spicer told reporters that no classified information was reviewed on the patio at Mar-a-Lago and that the president was briefed in a secure area before and after dinner.

Nevertheless, discussions with foreign leaders regarding international missile tests, and documents used to support those discussions, are presumptively sensitive, Chaffetz wrote. While the President is always on duty, and cannot dictate the timing of when he needs to receive sensitive information about urgent matters, we hope the White House will cooperate in providing the Committee with additional information.

Chaffetz also requested that the White House respond to his letter by Feb 28.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  Russia has deployed a cruise missile in violation of a Cold War-era arms control treaty, a Trump administration official said Tuesday, a development that complicates the outlook for U.S.-Russia relations amid turmoil on the White House national security team.

The Obama administration three years ago accused the Russians of violating the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty by developing and testing the prohibited cruise missile, and officials had anticipated that Moscow eventually would deploy it. Russia denies that it has violated the INF treaty.

U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed that the missile became operational late last year, said an administration official, who wasn't authorized to publicly discuss the matter and demanded anonymity.

The deployment may not immediately change the security picture in Europe, but the alleged treaty violation may arise when Defense Secretary Jim Mattis attends his first NATO meeting in Brussels on Wednesday. It also has stirred concern on Capitol Hill, where Sen. John McCain, the Senate Armed Services Committee chairman, called on the Trump administration to ensure U.S. nuclear forces in Europe are ready.

"Russia's deployment of nuclear-tipped ground-launched cruise missiles in violation of the INF treaty is a significant military threat to U.S. forces in Europe and our NATO allies," McCain, R-Ariz., said in a statement Tuesday. He said Russian President Vladimir Putin was "testing" Trump.

Trump's White House is in a difficult moment, with no national security adviser following the forced resignation Monday night of Michael Flynn. He is accused of misleading Vice President Mike Pence about contacts with a Russian diplomat while President Barack Obama was still in office.

Meanwhile, a U.S. defense official said Tuesday that a Russian intelligence-collection ship has been operating off the U.S. east coast, in international waters. The official was not authorized to discuss an intelligence matter and so spoke on condition of anonymity. The ship had made a port call in Cuba prior to moving north, where it has been monitored off the coast of Delaware, the official said.

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The New York Times, which was first to report the missile deployment, said the Russians have two battalions of the prohibited cruise missile. One is at a missile test site at Kapustin Yar and one was moved in December from the test site to an operational base elsewhere in the country.

The State Department wouldn't confirm the report. It noted that last year it reported Russia was in violation of its treaty obligations not to possess, produce or flight-test a ground-launched cruise missile with a range of between 500 and 5,500 kilometers, or to possess or produce launchers for such missiles.

"The administration is undertaking an extensive review of Russia's ongoing INF treaty violation in order to assess the potential security implications for the United States and its allies and partners," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.

John Tierney, executive director of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, said strategic stability on the European continent is at stake.

"If true, Russia's deployment of an illegal ground-launched cruise missile represents a very troubling development and should be roundly condemned," Tierney said.

Sen. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, sees little reason for the U.S. to continue adhering to the INF treaty, in light of Russia's violations. He has recommended building up U.S. nuclear forces in Europe, which currently include about 200 bombs that can be delivered by aircraft. The U.S. withdrew land-based nuclear-armed missiles from Europe as part of the INF deal.

The treaty has special significance in the recent history of arms control agreements. Signed in December 1987 by President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, it has been credited with helping accelerate an end to the Cold War and lessening the danger of nuclear confrontation. It stands as the only arms treaty to eliminate an entire class of U.S. and Russian weapons  nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles of intermediate range.

The Obama administration had argued for maintaining U.S. compliance with the treaty while urging the Russians to halt violations. At the same time, the Pentagon developed options to counter Russian cruise missile moves, some of which would have involved bold military action.

At his Senate confirmation hearing in February 2014, Ash Carter, who headed the Pentagon until last month, said disregard for treaty limitations was a "two-way street," opening the way for the U.S. to respond in kind. He called Russia's violations consistent with its "strategy of relying on nuclear weapons to offset U.S. and NATO conventional superiority."
ATLANTA (AP)  A judicial official sided with Georgia in a decades-long dispute over water rights with Florida on Tuesday, recommending that the U.S. Supreme Court refuse Florida's high-stakes request to cap water use by its neighboring state.

The dispute focuses on the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin, covering nearly 20,000 square miles in western Georgia, eastern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. The Chattahoochee and Flint rivers meet at the Georgia-Florida border to form the Apalachicola, which flows into the bay and the Gulf of Mexico beyond.

The recommendation from Special Master Ralph Lancaster, who was appointed by the court to oversee Florida's suit against Georgia, isn't a final decision. The court's review of Lancaster's report and responses from each state could take months. The states' battle over water use dates back to 1990, and includes drawn-out negotiations and several lawsuits.

The initial decision was a big blow for Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who had decided to take Florida's case directly to the U.S. Supreme Court and announced the lawsuit in the town of Apalachicola with great fanfare. Jackie Schutz, a spokeswoman for Scott, said the governor's office was reviewing the report by the special master but did not offer any comments beyond that.

In the past few weeks Scott has been forced to defend the lawsuit because the state's legal fees in the complicated case have been rapidly mounting. The state has spent more than $41 million in the past 18 months alone, an amount that Republicans in charge of the Florida House say is too much.

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal said he was "incredibly pleased" by Lancaster's conclusion.

"Georgia remains committed to the conservation efforts that make us amicable stewards of our water," he said in a statement. "We are encouraged by this outcome which puts us closer to finding a resolution to a decades-long dispute over the use and management of the waters of the basin."

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Others hailed Lancaster's recommendation as a victory for Georgia following months of worry that the outcome would hurt industries that contribute millions to the state's economy. The Georgia Agribusiness Council called it "great news" for the state's agriculture industry, while the Metro Atlanta Chamber thanked Deal and others "for vigorously and successfully defending the state's water rights."

Florida's 2013 lawsuit sought a cap on Georgia's water use, blaming farmers and booming metro Atlanta for low river flows that harmed the environment and fisheries dependent on fresh water entering the area. Alabama isn't directly involved in the case but supported Florida in court filings.

Georgia, though, warned that a cap would damage the state's economy and argued that Florida didn't prove its use of water caused low river flows. The state's attorneys also said there was little proof that capping Georgia's use would substantially help Floridians.

Lancaster agreed, writing that Florida provided "no evidence" that a cap would help the state outside of drought periods and that any benefits "are likely rare and unpredictable." He also questioned Florida's decision not to include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages dams that affect the river basin, in its lawsuit.

"Without the ability to bind the Corps, I am not persuaded that the court can assure Florida the relief it seeks," Lancaster wrote.

Lancaster repeatedly urged the states' attorneys to settle during the case, to no avail.

___

Associated Press writer Gary Fineout in Tallahassee, Florida, contributed to this report.
By Jessica Resnick-Ault

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices pared gains after the settlement Tuesday, as evidence of surging U.S. crude oil stockpiles underscored concerns that shale production might limit the effectiveness of an OPEC-led effort to cut global output.

Brent crude (LCOc1) traded at $55.73 a barrel at 4:39 p.m. Eastern, off the settlement of $55.97 a barrel, which was up 38 cents but well off the session high of $56.46 a barrel. U.S. light crude (CLc1) traded at $52.94 a barrel following the inventory report by a trade group, after settling up 27 cents at $53.20.

After settlement, the American Petroleum Institute (API) said U.S. crude inventories rose 9.9 million barrels in the week to Feb. 10, far exceeding analysts' expectations for an increase of 3.5 million barrels. Gasoline and diesel stockpiles also rose, the API's weekly report said.

The U.S. government is scheduled to release its weekly data on stockpiles Wednesday morning.

On Monday, both benchmarks fell 2 percent. Both are near the middle of $5-per-barrel trading ranges seen since early December.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other exporters including Russia have agreed to cut crude output by almost 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) during the first half of 2017. The market has largely priced in these production cuts OPEC and other producers agreed to in November, said Tariq Zahir, managing member of Tyche Capital in New York.

"It would take either a supply outage or serious cuts to move it," he said. "The first month, obviously, OPEC is going to do the best it can, but after that, let's see what the second and third month bring."

Meanwhile, U.S. crude output is up 6.5 percent since mid-2016 to 8.98 million bpd, its highest since April last year.

On Monday, government data showed U.S. shale oil production for March is expected to rise by the most in five months to 4.87 million bpd.

"Oil just appears to be caught in a range at the moment and mainly focused on those supply considerations," said Ric Spooner, chief market analyst at CMC Markets in Sydney.

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Investors also wonder how long OPEC countries will stick to their agreed production cuts.

"OPEC producers want the market to believe they will stick" to the cuts, said Hans van Cleef, senior energy economist at ABN AMRO Bank in Amsterdam. "But lessons from the past have made the market deeply suspicious."

Many analysts say oil producers must cut production more quickly.

"Based on OPECs own numbers the message is loud and clear," said Tamas Varga, analyst at London broker PVM Oil Associates.

"Improve on compliance, cut production further and extend the deal for the second half of the year if you want to avoid yet another year of global oil inventory builds."

(Additional reeporting by Henning Gloystein and Mark Tay in Singapore and Christopher Johnson in London; editing by Marguerita Choy and David Gregorio)
Engineers began working on repairs Monday to the damaged concrete chute that helps to keep Northern Californias Oroville Dam from spilling over. Nearly 200,000 residents were told to evacuate amid fears of severe flooding.

Read on for a numerical breakdown of the dam, the risks and amount of water involved.

188,000 people

The number of residents urged to evacuate grew to 188,000 Monday, the Associated Press reported. Previous reports pegged the number at 100,000.

100 percent

The Oroville Dam reached 100 percent of its capacity as of Friday, up from 47 percent on that date in 2016, 45 percent the same day in 2015 and 38 percent on that day in 2014, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing the states Department of Water Resources.

200 feet long, 30 feet deep

The 200-foot-long, 30-foot-deep erosion hole that ripped into the main spillway alongside the dam, likely over the weekend, prompted officials to use an emergency spillway running through trees and brush. The hole in the main spillway continued to grow in the following days. (The spillway, not the dam, is the source of the risk.)

100,000 cubic feet per second

The department announced Sunday that, to avert more erosion of the emergency chute spilling water into a forested area, it nearly doubled the flow of the main spillway to 100,000 cubic feet per second from 55,000 cfs.

$100 million

State officials put the cost of the main spillways repairs at $100 million as of Friday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The Los Angeles Times reported a range of $100 million to $200 million.

68 inches

While Northern California normally receives 50 inches of rainfall in a given year, the region had already seen more than five and a half feet as of February, according to the Washington Post.

770 feet

The Oroville Dam is Americas tallest, beating the Hoover Dam by 44 feet, with a height of 770 feet and a crest length of 6,920 feet.

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48 years

The state of California constructed the Oroville Dam nearly half a century ago, finishing it in 1968.

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By Julia Edwards Ainsley and Kristina Cooke

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. immigration officers last week arrested more than 680 people in the country illegally, the homeland security chief said on Monday, in a broad enforcement action that alarmed immigrant rights groups.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said the operations, conducted in at least a dozen states, were routine and consistent with regular operations carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

Immigrant rights advocates said the operations, which they describe as raids, were not business as usual, and were more sweeping than operations conducted during the administration of former Democratic President Barack Obama.

Kelly said in a statement that 75 percent of the immigrants arrested have criminal records, ranging from homicide to driving under the influence of alcohol.

He said the operation also targeted people who have violated immigration laws.

Some had ignored final orders of deportation, according to ICE, the agency responsible for immigrant arrests and deportations.

Obama was criticized for being the "deporter in chief" after he deported over 400,000 people in 2012, more than any president in a single year.

In 2014, Obama's homeland security chief issued a memo directing agents to focus on deporting a narrow slice of immigrants, namely those who had recently entered the country or committed serious felonies. Immigrants who were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, for example, were treated as lower priorities for deportation.

Republican President Donald Trump promised to deport 2 million to 3 million migrants with criminal records on taking office.

At a news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday, Trump said his administration had "really done a great job" in its recent arrests of immigrants.

"We're actually taking people that are criminals, very, very, hardened criminals in some cases with a tremendous track record of abuse and problems," Trump said.

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ICE said in a statement on Monday that the operations targeted immigrants in the Midwest, Los Angeles, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and San Antonio.

The ICE statistics revealed regional differences in the profiles of the immigrants arrested. Of the 41 people arrested in New York City and surrounding areas, 93 percent had criminal convictions, while 45 percent of the 51 people arrested in the San Antonio, Texas area did.

Among the 190 people arrested in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, were 17 people who had no criminal convictions or a prior order to leave the country, according to ICE.

In a Jan. 25 executive order, Trump broadened an Obama-era priority enforcement system for immigrants subject to removal from the United States.

"Now it seems like anyone could be arrested," said Shiu-Ming Cheer, senior staff attorney at the National Immigration Law Center. "The level of fear and anxiety is much higher than I've ever seen it."

(Reporting by Julia Edwards Ainsley and Kristina Cooke; Additional reporting by Emily Stephenson; Editing by Peter Cooney and Lisa Shumaker)
Lahore (Pakistan) (AFP) - Pakistanis Tuesday mourned the victims of a Taliban-claimed suicide bomb in Lahore which killed more than a dozen people as the city's residents railed at the government for failing to protect them.

The chief minister of Punjab province Shahbaz Sharif declared a day of mourning after Monday's blast, believed to be targeting police managing a busy protest at rush hour on Mall Road, one of Lahore's main arteries.

At least 13 people were killed, emergency official Ahmad Raza told AFP, including six police officers, while more than 80 were injured. Earlier Tuesday he had put the death toll at 15, but said later that was a clerical error.

The toll could have been higher, Raza said, but for two vehicles -- a TV news van and a minivan belonging to the protesters -- which absorbed much of the impact of the blast.

Funerals were held Tuesday for some of the victims.

The Pakistani Taliban faction Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, which has vowed to attack government installations around the country, claimed responsibility for the assault.

The attack underscored the challenges faced by Pakistan in its push to stamp out militancy, even though security dramatically improved in 2015 and 2016.

Homegrown groups like the umbrella Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) retain the ability to carry out spectacular assaults, despite a military-led crackdown on extremism.

Lahore residents vented their fury at the blast site early Tuesday.

"They (the militants) have no link with Islam nor do they believe in any religion, the only thing they know is killing people, this is utterly an act of terrorism," Tariq Saleem told AFP.

Nadeem Akhter called on the government to do more to bring the situation under control. "Our children and people are being killed in these attacks," he said.

Both the UK and the US branded the attack "cowardly" in separate statements, while the EU said it was "shocked and saddened" by the incident.

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Lahore, the country's cultural capital, suffered one of Pakistan's deadliest attacks in 2016 -- a Jamaat-ul-Ahrar suicide bomb in a park last Easter that killed more than 70 including many children.

But such incidents have been rare in the city in recent years.

Cricket fans had been quick to voice fears that Monday's explosion could derail plans to hold the highly anticipated final of the Pakistan Super League in Lahore.

Pakistan's international tournaments have been held abroad for years out of security fears, and the second year of the popular Twenty20 tournament is ongoing in the United Arab Emirates.

Officials had already reassured international players they would receive "head of state" level protection in Lahore, with thousands of police deployed and bullet-proof buses.

"Now... there will be a wave of suspicion and fear in their minds," a frustrated PSL chairman Najam Sethi said on private TV channel Geo after the attack.

But he insisted Pakistanis show they are not afraid. "We will stand firm, we will fight... we will show you by having the final in Lahore."
Panama City (AFP) - Panama said Tuesday that Interpol has issued international wanted notices for two sons of former president Ricardo Martinelli on allegations they accepted bribes from disgraced Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht.

"The notifications for Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Linares and Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares have already been issued by Interpol," the head of the police service's judicial investigations branch, Marcos Cordoba, told AFP.

The "red notice" denoting an internationally wanted person has gone out from France-based Interpol to its 190 member countries, he said.

The Interpol website, however, did not include the two names on the wanted list as of late Tuesday.

Panama's special anti-corruption prosecutor, Tania Sterling, requested the red notice two weeks ago for the brothers, whose whereabouts are unknown.

Media reports quoting sources close to the investigation into the Odebrecht bribes said Martinelli's sons are suspected of receiving more than $20 million from the Brazilian construction company.

Odebrecht has admitted to paying $788 million in bribes to win fat construction contracts in 12 countries. It has agreed with the US Justice Department to pay a world record $3.5-billion fine.

Ex-president Ricardo Martinelli, a wealthy businessman who held office from 2009 to 2014, lives in voluntary exile in the United States. Panamanian prosecutors are investigating him on separate charges of corruption and spying on opponents.
By Tim Hepher PARIS (Reuters) - France honored the A380 superjumbo with a place in its national aerospace museum on Tuesday, granting it equal status with the Boeing 747 even as questions pile up over the future of the industry's biggest jets. The A380 test plane, the fourth to be built and the second to actually fly in 2005, flew to Le Bourget near Paris from Toulouse with 50 technicians who will spend months adapting it for public view. It is the first time Airbus has transferred one of its test planes to a museum and a victory for curators who for years have coveted the world's largest jetliner, designed to carry up to 853 people in all-economy seating or 544 in standard layout. The plane will see out its retirement alongside a vintage 747 once flown by Air France and is expected to become a popular tourist attraction when it goes on display in 2018. But after fewer than 10 years in service, the A380's double-decker design is less successful commercially than designers hoped. Air France recently swapped its remaining order for two A380s for three smaller Airbus A350s, symbolizing the shift in demand to a new generation of lightweight jets. Airbus insists the A380 still has a future and rejects any link between the exhibit and the A380's commercial fortunes. Boeing has also put three of its 787 Dreamliners in museums. "Museums are not just about preserving the past; they are also a window on the future," said Jacques Rocca, president of the Airitage association, set up to preserve Airbus artefacts. SHOW-STOPPER In the 1990s, Airbus's vision of the future was a super-capacity airliner able to revolutionize air travel and displace the profitable 747 by linking the world's largest travel hubs. Boeing disagreed and later developed the smaller 787, though it hedged its bets by updating the 747, with disappointing results. Since 2005, the A380 superjumbo has been a show-stopper at events like the Paris Airshow, yards from the aerospace museum at Le Bourget. Airbus and Dubai's Emirates, the largest A380 operator, say its roomy cabin is a hit with passengers. Despite this, the A380 has not proved as popular with fleet planners because of the risks of being unable to fill it up in a fragile economy, as well as advances in twin-jet design. Airbus sees demand for 1,264 very large jets like the A380 and 747-8 over 20 years: higher than Boeing's forecast of 530. But it is also expected to confirm in its annual results next week that the A380 will go back into loss after its biggest customer Emirates deferred some deliveries this year. An Airbus spokesman reaffirmed the company's delivery targets. (Reporting by Tim Hepher; Editing by Keith Weir)
House Speaker Paul Ryan said Tuesday that he supports the ouster of President Trumps national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

You cannot have a national security adviser misleading the vice president and others, Ryan told reporters at a weekly press briefing on Capitol Hill. So I think the president was right to ask for his resignation.

The comments followed a report that Flynn had discussed easing American sanctions imposed on Moscow in the wake of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election  and had misled the administration about his conversations with Moscow.

Ryan said he would leave it up to the White House to discuss the circumstances that led to Flynns ouster, but the key is this: As soon as the person lost the presidents trust, the president asked for his resignation, and that was the right thing to do.

Related: Timeline: The rise and fall of Michael Flynn

Ryans comments seemed to contradict the Trump administrations initial version of events. The White House announced that Flynn resigned late Monday, hours after Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway insisted Flynn enjoyed the full confidence of the president.

On NBCs Today show Monday morning, Conway said Flynn decided it was best to resign because he realized he had become a lightning rod, and he made that decision.

But at his daily press briefing Tuesday afternoon, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said that Trump indeed asked for Flynns resignation.

In his resignation letter, Flynn claimed that because of the fast pace of events, he inadvertently briefed Vice President Mike Pence and others with incomplete information regarding his phone calls with the Russian ambassador.

I have sincerely apologized to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology, Flynn wrote. I am tendering my resignation, honored to have served our nation and the American people in such a distinguished way. I am also extremely honored to have served President Trump, who in just three weeks, has reoriented American foreign policy in fundamental ways to restore Americas leadership position in the world.

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Ryan was also asked about reports that Trump and his aides were preparing a response to North Koreas missile test in full view of guests at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla., on Saturday night. The scene raised eyebrows among former White House security officials.

Talking about foreign policy at the dinner table is perfectly appropriate, Ryan said.

More from Yahoo News:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon on Monday strongly condemned North Korea's latest missile test, adding that the United States' commitment to protect the homeland and allies such as Japan and South Korea was "ironclad." Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis told reporters that North Korea's "unlawful weapons programs" were a clear and grave threat to national security. "We are capable of defending against a North Korean ballistic missile attack and will take all necessary measures to deter and defeat threats to our and our allies' territories and citizens," Davis added. North Korea said it had successfully test-fired a new type of medium- to long-range ballistic missile on Sunday, claiming advances in a weapons program it is pursuing in violation of U.N. resolutions. The missile was propelled by a solid-fuel engine and was an upgraded, extended-range version of its submarine-launched ballistic missile that was tested successfully last August, according to North Korea's government-run KCNA news agency. Davis said it appeared that the missile was an intermediate-range ballistic missile, the land-based variant of what North Korea has launched from submarines in the past. He added that it appeared to be propelled by solid fuel and fired from a mobile launcher. "This is one of the concerns we've had, as they have developed their capability in the missiles themselves, they have also given them a road mobile capability. Road mobile allows it to hide, to evade detection and to be able to launch with little notice," Davis said. The Pentagon said in a separate statement that U.S., Japanese and South Korean defense officials held a teleconference on Monday to discuss the launch, which they condemned as "a clear violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions." They also agreed to continue to work closely together and with the international community to address North Korea's actions, the statement said. On Monday, President Donald Trump said he would deal with North Korea "very strongly," but did not give any details. (Reporting by Idrees Ali; Additional reporting by Eric Walsh; Editing by Sandra Maler and Lisa Shumaker)
Washington (AFP) - Three retired senior military officers are seen as possible replacements for White House national security advisor Michael Flynn, who resigned in a scandal over his private phone calls with Russia's US ambassador.

- David Petraeus -

The storied army general credited with the success of the 2007 Iraq war "surge" has wanted to get back into the action for years after his career was cut short in 2012 by an affair with his biographer.

Petraeus, 64, is a counterinsurgency expert who retired as a four-star general in 2011. He was named by then-president Barack Obama as director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

He was forced to resign a year later due to his affair former military officer Paula Broadwell, who wrote his biography.

Petraeus was then prosecuted and convicted on the misdemeanor charge of mishandling classified material, for having shared his personal notebooks with Broadwell, giving her access to top-secret material.

He was reportedly considered by President Donald Trump for secretary of state, but ultimately passed over amid concern that history could damage his chances for Senate confirmation.

The celebrated general has remained in the public eye as senior advisor on global issues at the KKR investment group.

- Keith Kellogg -

The retired army three-star general was named acting national security advisor Tuesday after Flynn stepped down, elevated from his post as a executive secretary of the national security council.

Kellogg, 72, had a long career in the US Army, serving in Vietnam and Iraq, retiring in 2003 after which he was led a security consultant to software giant Oracle Corp.

He joined Trump's presidential campaign as a foreign policy and military affairs advisor in early 2016, and served on Trump's transition team helping to organize the incoming administration.

- Robert Harward -

Former navy admiral Harward is less of a public figure, but has a possible edge in being close to Secretary of Defense James Mattis. Mattis and Flynn were not close.

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Harward comes from the Navy SEALs, the tough special warfare units, and commanded SEAL Team 3, which specializes in operations in the Middle East.

He led Special Warfare task groups in Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq beginning in 2002. A year later, he was in the White House of President George W. Bush as part of the National Security Council and in 2005 moved to the new National Counterterrorism Center.

In 2009-2011, he was back in Afghanistan running the US prisons there.

After retiring in 2013, he became a representative of defense contractor Lockheed Martin in the United Arab Emirates.
With its wide boulevards, iconic architectural landmarks and alluring bistros, the City of Light has long been enchanting its visitors. Yet Paris' romantic charm -- from its Belle Epoque buildings to its brightly lit streetlamps to its cozy cafes -- makes the French capital one of the most romantic cities in the world. And thanks to the strong U.S. dollar, plentiful cost-effective accommodations and reasonably priced plane tickets, it's easy to stay on budget while enjoying cheese, wine, art and culture with your better half. Here are savvy tips for planning the perfect weekend getaway in the City of Love without paying a high price tag.

[See: 10 Romantic Getaways to Cross off Your Bucket List.]

Search for Promotions and Deeply Discounted Tickets on Low-Cost Carriers

Typically, the priciest part of a trip to Paris is the journey across the pond. However, with a little research, it's easy to secure reasonably priced plane tickets. Google Flights currently shows round-trip flights from major New York City airports to Paris for under $700 in March and round-trip routes from top Washington District of Columbia airports for less than $800. Even better, Air France is offering a variety of package deals to Paris. Currently the airline is offering an advance purchase promotion that allows you to book round-trip tickets from Washington, D.C. starting at $640 for a seven-day trip, as long as you purchase your trip 28 days in advance. What's more, if you're a Delta SkyMiles member, Air France is a partner, so you can redeem those miles for the trek over with a small fee. Alternatively, you can look for deeply discounted fares available through low-cost carriers like Icelandair.

Consider All Accommodation Options

Let's get this out of the way: Airbnb is not for everyone. Though it's easy to secure affordable rates with a peer-to-peer booking site, if you want the amenities of a hotel, a boutique may be a better fit for your needs. And fortunately, there are plenty of bargains to be had. The recently redesigned Renaissance Paris Republique, for example, offers nightly rates starting at around $200 and places guests within walking distance of must-see areas, including Le Marais, Place de la Republique, Canal Saint Martin and Gare du Nord. Inside the well-appointed accommodations, you'll find airy windows outfitted with black-out curtains spacious bathrooms, a top selling point for value-seekers. Other affordable accommodation options include Hotel du Petit Moulin, a former 17th-century bakery that features sleek interiors designed by Christian Lacroix, and the Hotel Villa Saint-Germain, which offers an enviable location in the Latin Quarter, with close proximity to the Louvre and the Notre-Dame Cathedral.

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See: 7 Off-the-Beaten-Path Romantic Vacations Under $1,000.]

Rely on Your Own Two Feet

In Paris, the best way to get acquainted with the city's charming arrondissements (districts) is on foot. Avoid transportation costs altogether by walking to must-see attractions across the city center. Alternatively, you can pick up a reasonably priced one-day metro card if you plan to explore attractions outside of Zone 1.

What to Do, See and Eat

A simple way to save on sightseeing across the city is picking up a Paris Pass, which grants you entry into 60 top city attractions, including the Musee d'Orsay, the Louvre and the Versailles Palace. Two-day adult Paris passes cost 135 euros and include a hop-on-hop-off bus tour, along with other perks.

[Read: 6 Simple Ways to Save on a Last-Minute Romantic Weekend Getaway.]

As for food, if you want to enjoy an authentic bistro meal without paying a steep price, skip the Michelin-starred restaurants in favor for more casual eateries. For mouthwatering beef bourguignon in a charming bistro, head to Bourgogne Sud, located in Neuilly, a suburb of Paris. The eatery has no website, but you can make reservations in advance on at lafourchette.com. Also make sure to pick up delectable French specialties on the go, such as a croque-monsieur, a baguette sandwich and a pan au chocolate at local cafes to trim costs. Finally, if you want to load up on delicious French staples for a picnic to remember, visit Laurent Dubois, a legendary cheese shop, which offers many locations throughout the city and boasts in-house experts to advise you on plate composition and complementary wines, according to your preferences and budget.

Sery Kim, trained as an attorney at The University of Texas at Austin School of Law, has written for U.S. News Travel since 2015. Additionally, she currently appears on-air each month for ABC and FOX while writing stories for several publications including the prestigious Travel and Leisure Magazine, Food and Wine Magazine, Forbes Travel Guide, Manifesto's Brand USA and Brand America, as well as Washington Life Magazine, Business Traveler USA and Fairmont Raffles Swisshotel Magazine. Recently, Sery also began writing for Fox News National Travel, as well as Town and Country Magazine and Washingtonian Magazine. You can find out more information about Sery on her personal blog www.AdventuresInSery.com.
A group of tourists left Keflavik International Airport in Iceland at some point during the past week and found themselves unable to stop staring at the sky.

The northern lights were perhaps the biggest attraction they'd come to see, and here were the lights, right above them, just moments after entering the country.

SEE ALSO: Police say they can't remove videos of suicide streamed live

But they were in a car on a highway, and so looking at the lights was hard.

The driver jolted left and right as everyone likely craned their necks to get a good view of the neon lights playing across the sky. Then they banked hard into a neighborhood and soon found a police car behind them.

Police in Iceland have stopped two cars driven by tourists in the past week on suspicion of drunk driving, only to find that the tourists were driving under what has been termed "the influence of the aurora."

This is not a new problem. In late 2015, Hreinn Haraldsson, the director general of Iceland's Road and Coastal Administration, was trying to figure out how to deal with tourists suddenly parking their cars in the middle of Iceland's highways to snap photos of the northern lights. Abrupt stops on highways, he said, led to accidents. These highways already had areas for tourists to pull over and take pictures, but maybe, he thought, his administration should build some more.

Perhaps. Ultimately, though, Haraldsson seemed to yield to the all-consuming maniacal power of a camera-wielding tourist.

We can never completely bar people from stopping their cars when the idea pops into their head to take a photo, whether that is of a flock of sheep or horses or anything else which captures their attention," Haraldsson said.

How true, sir.
MADRID (AP)  Police in Spain and Morocco say they have arrested 10 people allegedly involved in human trafficking across the Strait of Gibraltar, including bringing Nigerian women to Europe for sexual slavery.

Spanish police said in a statement on Tuesday that one of the suspects arrested in Morocco is alleged to have operated more than 40 migrant boats across the Mediterranean since 2008, making him one of the most prominent traffickers in what is known as the Western Mediterranean migration route.

Thousands of African migrants risk their lives each year to reach Europe by jumping the heavily guarded fence enclosing the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla or by paying smugglers to hide them in vehicles or take them across the sea by boat.

Some 16,936 migrants arrived in Spain from African countries In 2015, according to the latest figures disclosed by the Interior Ministry. Many of them end up in human trafficking rings that hold their debts.

After a year-long investigation, Spanish agents detained seven Nigerians in the eastern coastal town of Torrevieja in April 2016, where police say they found evidence of sexual slavery involving at least 39 women.

The women were forced into prostitution for more than 12 hours every day, seven days per week, and were subjected to punishment and fines that increased their debt with the traffickers, the police said.

The investigation continued after the initial arrests and led agents to three more suspects operating between Nigeria and Morocco who allegedly were in charge of finding the women and smuggling them into Europe by sea and land. The police didn't say when the latest detentions took place.

According to the police, the main suspect lived between the Moroccan cities of Rabat and Tanger and used his influence in the Nigerian community in Morocco to get access to engines and dinghies used to send hundreds of migrants across the Mediterranean sea.
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  The Polisario Front said Tuesday that since Morocco has rejoined the African Union and accepted the group's principles it must recognize Western Sahara's independence  or it could face possible sanctions or even requests to leave the regional organization.

Ahmed Boukhari, the Polisario Front's U.N. representative, said at a news conference that the independence movement will be watching what Morocco does between now and the next AU summit in July, which should give the bloc's members an indication of its intentions.

"If they are going to play games, it's not against the Western Sahara Republic, it's against the African Union and they have a right to ask Morocco: Are you a member of our family or not?," Boukhari said. "If not, there is a possibility of sanctions or even requests to Morocco to get out again."

Morocco annexed Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, in 1975 and fought the Polisario Front. The U.N. brokered a cease-fire in 1991 and established a peacekeeping mission to monitor it and help prepare a referendum on the territory's future, which has never taken place.

Morocco's deputy foreign minister, Nasser Bourita, told the website Le Desk on Feb. 5 that the kingdom would "never recognize" Western Sahara's independence.

"Not only does Morocco not recognize  and will never recognize  this so-called entity, it will redouble its efforts so the small minority of countries, particularly African, which recognize it, change their positions," Bourita said.

African leaders admitted Morocco as the AU's 55th member at a summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Jan. 31. Morocco left the AU's predecessor, the Organization of African Unity, in 1984 to protest Western Sahara's admission as a full member  the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

Boukhari cited the African Union's charter, which Morocco is now required to support. It states that "the AU shall function in accordance with the following principles: (a) sovereign equality and interdependence among member states of the union; (b) respect of borders existing on achievement of independence."

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Morocco, which gained independence from France in 1956, considers the mineral-rich Western Sahara its "southern provinces" and has proposed wide-ranging autonomy. The Polisario Front insists on self-determination through a referendum for the local population, which Boukhari estimated at between 350,000 and 500,000.

The Polisario representative said that so far he is "frustrated" at what Morocco is doing and its statements.

"I hope that it will be just an accident," Boukhari said. "I hope ... they will really engage in a very serious negotiation."

He said the Polisario Front also hopes that Morocco joining the AU "can give the African Union and the United Nations a new motivation to increase their cooperation to resolve the conflict of Western Sahara."
The Senate confirmed Tom Price as secretary of health and human services at 2 a.m. on Friday. After a contentious confirmation process, the Trump administration and the Republican-controlled Congress had finally installed one of the leading generals in its war on Obamacare in the department that oversees its programs. Price is a titan in the GOP camp that wants to repeal the health law, and is perhaps one of the few Republican lawmakers with both the vision and the experience needed to begin the daunting task.

But the battlefield under Prices feet has shifted substantially in the past few weeks. Republicans have splintered, the timeline for repeal has dragged on and on, alternative plans have propagated in the fertile soil of disunion, and some have lost their resolve. And in the turmoil over the fate of Obamacare, the idea of universal health care has emerged as a third way among voters in both parties. The health system the mainstream GOP opposes most is now one some of its voters supportpotentially making Prices task of replacing Obamacare all the more complicated.

Recommended: How High Does Russia's Influence Reach?

The political appeal of a single-payer, universal health-care system is perhaps best outlined by Jessi Bohon, a high-school teacher who attended a raucous and often angry town hall with Republican Representative Diane Black in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, last week:

Seriously urge everyone to watch this entire question from a woman at GOP #Obamacare townhall in Tennessee: pic.twitter.com/8mBGE1z6Rj  MJ Lee (@mj_lee) February 10, 2017



Bohon was able to ask Black a question, and she began with a defense of Obamacare. As a Christian, my whole philosophy in life is pull up the unfortunate, she said, referencing the laws individual mandate and how requiring healthy Americans to purchase insurance lowers costs for the sick. But Bohon went a step further in her support of expanding coverage and her criticisms of the private insurers whove complicated the law: Why dont we expand Medicaid, and have everybody have insurance? she asked.

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Its possible that Bohons question was simply an attempt to ask Black to implement policies that already exist in the Affordable Care Act. States have the option to expand Medicaid to more low-income adults under Obamacare, though Tennessee, among others, has chosen not to accept federal funds to do it. But her query and criticisms of market-based plans raise a broader question: Why rely on private insurers at all?

Senator Bernie Sanders had also made the case for government-run health care in a CNN debate on Obamacare just the night before. Although he was ostensibly brought on to defend the law against interlocutor Senator Ted Cruzs criticisms, Sanders used his platform to argue for Medicare for all. His strategy was not to forcefully defend the law against critiques from Cruz, CNN, and the audience; rather, he often agreed with Cruz that those critiques were valid. But his solution undercut Cruzs message of limited government. Why continue a system that relies on premiums at all, Sanders askedand why continue to enrich insurers that simply cannot be relied upon to act in patients best interests?

Although Bohona self-identified Hillary Clinton voterand Sanders certainly represent liberal sensibilities, several polls show that universal coverage is gaining traction among Democratic and Republican voters. A January Pew Research Center survey showed that 60 percent of Americans believe that government should be responsible for ensuring health-care coverage for all Americansthe highest mark in nearly a decadethough they are divided on whether government should be the sole provider of insurance. The recent increases nationally in support for universal coverage are mostly attributable to low-income Republicans. Over half of all Republicans surveyed who have family incomes of less than $30,000 agreed with the idea. Twenty-eight percent of all people polled in a recent Gallup survey expressed support for a single-payer system run by the government.

Recommended: Why Trump's Foreign Policy Will Remain Dysfunctional

To be sure, the conclusions that can be gleaned from the polling here are a bit murky. Last year, my colleague Olga Khazan explored how support for a single-payer, Medicare-like plan decreases dramatically when such a plan would necessitate tax increases, which it almost certainly would. Also, a Kaiser Family Foundation survey from February 2016 showed that the label matters as well. Over 70 percent of Americans support Sanderss Medicare for all plan. But they werent as enthusiastic about universal health care or single-payer health care. Although there are some real potential differences in these concepts that voters might be responding tothe term universal health care doesnt specify financing or delivery, and single-payer doesnt specify how the scheme is actually administeredthe KFF poll potentially illustrates that there are barriers to understanding whether the public actually wants and understands a universal health-care system.

Still, the upswing in support for the government provision of health care among low-income Republicans provides a real opportunity for politicians in both parties. Trump himself once promised to implement insurance for everybody. Though its easy to view that one-time vow as fluff or a misunderstanding of his own party line, it could be a lifeline for Republicans facing revolts back home in poor districts where constituents are fearful of losing their insurance coverage. An Obamacare replacement with an expanded public-insurance system would follow through on promises to repeal the ACA. And it could also replace an unstable and weakening exchange systemdominated by reviled insurance companieswith Medicare or state-branded Medicaid programs like Kentuckys Kynect, which tend to be widely trusted.

Delays give more time for the GOP to splinter and lose momentum, and for the idea of universal care to take root as a viable alternative.

That route might be too far-fetched or expensive for Republicans to pursue en masse. Although their current repeal plan might bend Republican rules on passing legislation that increases the deficit, demolishing or controlling health-care markets and extending tax-funded insurance would be outright heresy against the party line. The resistance to such an idea in the health-care industry, and among its lobbyists, might threaten Republicans in Congress who rebel, thereby reinforcing the market-based status quo.

But its not too far-fetched for Democrats, who could, by embracing universal coverage, force Republicans to at least consider altering the party line. Democrats dont face the same political risks with health care as Republicans do, not only because universal health care exists within liberal theory of government, but because a Republican-dominated Congress effectively renders many of their platforms, votes, and draft bills symbolic. The same dynamic in reverse created the anti-Obamacare fervor among congressional Republicans in the first place, and has been one of the largest factors in the GOPs electoral strength since 2010.

Recommended: Republicans' Muted Response to Flynn's Resignation

Were they to take the plunge, Democratic candidates could run as challengers in upcoming elections on a third way of health reform: neither extending unpopular pieces of a program nor rolling back coverage, but giving everyone Medicare. And if the Democratic Party were to support universal health care, that might put pressure on Republicans, who wouldnt want to lose voters who fear loss of coverage or doctors under a massive repeal.

Thus the precariousness of the Republicans position. With Price atop the national public-health system and already empowered by an executive order from the White House, Republicans in the executive branch and Congress have run out of excuses to do the job they came to do. But they face an ever-mobilizing opposition that extends across both parties, and immediate decisive action carries significant risks of causing a conflagration if people lose coverage. Paradoxically, delays give more time for the party to splinter and lose momentum, and for the idea of universal care to take root as a viable alternative as the stresses of an unfixed existing system mount. For at least some Republicans, that option might now be the most attractive now.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
Caracas (AFP) - Pope Francis is willing to meet with Venezuela's government and opposition to relaunch efforts to solve the country's volatile political crisis, a Vatican envoy said on Tuesday.

The pontiff encouraged the sides to launch talks last year to ease tensions, but the dialogue broke down in December.

An economic crisis sparked by falling oil prices has sparked opposition demands for a vote to remove Maduro.

He has refused to allow such a vote, which the opposition says is one of its conditions for holding talks.

"The pope has expressed his availability, if (the sides) consider it useful" for him to meet with them, the Vatican's envoy in Caracas Aldo Giordano told reporters.

Maduro and opposition leaders had said in recent days that they were considering going to meet with Francis -- the first pope from Latin America -- at the Vatican.
From Road & Track

Last month we heard a rumor a refreshed Porsche Cayman GT4 is coming, equipped with a sizable 4.0-liter six-cylinder naturally aspirated engine to keep up with the new turbocharged 718 models. Now, it seems a Porsche dealer in Australia is corroborating that rumor, according to a post on its Instagram account suggesting the existence of a 4.0-liter GT4 "RS."

Photo credit: CarAdvice

This weekend, CarAdvice caught a post-which has since been deleted-from Porsche Centre of Brisbane's Instagram account with a picture of what looks to be a current GT4 and the caption, "Due to high demand, a GT4 RS is on its way-with more power and a 4.0L flat-six engine, this limited model will turn heads."

This post lines up with what we heard earlier regarding the updated GT4, but could have just has easily been an impatient dealer looking to strum up some hype for a model that may not even exist.

There is however, some precedent here. The inclusion of "RS" in Porsche GT car nomenclature has been used in the past with the previous- and current-generation 911 models in their transition from regular GT2 to GT2 RS to symbolize an even greater focus in track-worthiness-so it could be the same for the GT4.

We'll just have to wait until Geneva in March to find out for sure.

via Motor Authority

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(NEW YORK)  His administration dealt a significant blow after not even a month in office, President Donald Trump must now fill a vital national security post after the resignation of embattled national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Flynn stepped down late Monday, ending days of speculation about his fate following reports that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russia.

Flynn conceded that discussions of sanctions may have come up during several calls with the Russian ambassador during the transition period leading up to Trumps Jan. 20 inauguration.

He acknowledged that he gave incomplete information about those discussions to Pence who, apparently relying on information from the national security adviser, initially said Flynn had not discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy

Trump named retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg as the acting national security adviser and a senior administration official said he was one of three candidates the president was considering to replace Flynn on a permanent basis.

Whoever emerges as Trumps choice will take the helm of the National Security Council at a time when the young administration is grappling with a series of national security challenges, including North Koreas reported ballistic missile launch. The president, who was joined at his Mar-a-Lago estate by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over the weekend, voiced solidarity with Japan.

The White House is also dealing with fallout from the rocky rollout of Trumps immigration executive order, which has been blocked by the courts. The order was intended to suspend the nations refugee program and bar citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.

Heres a look at the top named contenders for the post, which does not require Senate confirmation:

RETIRED LT. GEN. KEITH KELLOGG

Kellogg had previously been appointed the National Security Council chief of staff and, along with Flynn, advised Trump on national security and foreign policy issues during the campaign. He had been considered for national security adviser before the post went to Flynn.

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Kellogg was chief operating officer of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, the interim governing body following the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. He previously worked as executive vice president of research and technology for Virginia-based information technology firm CACI International, which works as a contractor for defense, intelligence and homeland security agencies.

DAVID PETRAEUS

The most audacious choice would likely be former CIA director David Petraeus. Petraeus, a retired four star general, was bounced from his position atop the intelligence agency in 2012 after he it was revealed that he passed on classified information to his biographer, who had also become his mistress.

But Trump during the campaign spoke sympathetically about Petraeus plight despite his frequent criticisms of his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton for mishandling classified materials. Petraeus was briefly under consideration to become secretary of State before Trump picked Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson.

RETIRED VICE ADMIRAL ROBERT HARWARD

Robert Harward, a Navy Seal, served as Deputy Commander of the United States Central Command when it was under the command of General James Mattis, who is now secretary of Defense. He served on the National Security Council for President George W. Bush and commissioned the National Counter Terrorism Center.

Upon retirement in 2013 after a nearly 40-year career in the Navy, Harward took a post as a chief executive officer for defense and aerospace giant Lockheed Martin in the United Arab Emirates. Trump has recently been in very public negotiations with Lockheed over the cost of its F-35 fighter jet program.
A bill that would give high school teachers student-loan forgiveness unanimously passed a committee on Monday. There are some conditions though. They have to stay in Oklahoma and teach here for seven years. And it's required that they were enrolled in an education program and graduated from an Oklahoma university or college. Ed Allen, President of Oklahoma City Chapter of American Federation of Teachers, joins KOCO 5 this morning to discuss this bill.
President Trump promised bold changes to the way the country handles energy and the environment to create trillions in new wealth and a flood of new jobs. But three weeks into his Administration, many in the oil and gas industry say his agenda still seems unclear.

While Trump has moved quickly to unravel a raft of environmental regulations, questions remain on major issues for the energy industry such as his tax policy, level of support for renewable energy and how hell approach international trade.

Observers say the executive orders and regulatory rollbacks so far have been minor.

Those things are really small compared to the other things coming up, says Ethan Ziendler, head of Americas and Policy at Bloomberg New Energy Finance, of the Trumps initial executive orders. Were really in early days with so many unanswered questions.

How Trump will approach tax reform and trade policy rank as perhaps the biggest uncertainties for oil and gas companies. Republicans in Congress have proposed a border adjustment tax that would require companies to pay a 20% tax on products imported rather than produced domestically. U.S. oil production has skyrocket in the past decade thanks to fracking, but the country still imports some 5 million barrels of crude daily.

Jack Gerard, who heads the American Petroleum Institute, said last month that the industry is concerned about it though API has not taken an official position, according to a Financial Times report.

Read More: How President Trump Accidentally Slowed Pipeline Development

The Administrations approach to renewable energy sources like wind and solar power could also play a role in shaping the future of U.S. energy, and the Trump administration has offered little indication how it might act. Energy Secretary nominee Rick Perry oversaw rapid growth in renewables during his time as Texas governor and renewables remain popular with many Republicans in Congress.

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Perhaps most important way Trump can shape the future of renewables is with federal incentives, including an investment tax credit set to ratchet down incrementally beginning in 2019. Renewable energy deployment will continue regardless of tax credits as the cost of solar and wind continue to decline, but tax credits provide obvious incentives to move away from domestic coal and natural gas (though it could free up more natural gas for export).

The lack of direction has sunk in with friends and foes alike. Senator Lisa Murkowski, the Alaska Republican who heads the Senates Energy and Natural Resources committee, told Politico in late January that Trumps team did not offer a direction on energy at the GOPs recent retreat. I figure my job as chairman of the energy committee is to remind them of the significant opportunities that we have within the energy space and why its important to put it at the top of your priority list, she said. (Murkowskis office did not reply to a request for comment on her remarks).

Read More: Donald Trump Says Hell Bring Back Coal. Heres Why He Cant

But for energy companies actions from Washington pale in comparison to market forces that no one entity can control. Trump can sign as many executive orders as he likes and Congress can pass laws, but the federal government cannot account for fluctuations in oil prices, advances in technology and a global push for decarbonization.

The things that are going on are beyond Trump, says Robert McNallly, an energy advisor in the George W. Bush White House. Both Trump and whoever else would have won are being pushed around my structural and market forces.

Nonetheless deregulation still ranks as a priority for most oil and gas companies, and thats one area where Trump has been very clear about his intentions. He has worked with Republicans in Congress to undo several environmental regulations and promised to undo President Obamas Clean Power Plan which mandates states come up with plans to reduce carbon emissions from power plants. Trump has also removed barriers to the Dakota Access and Keystone XL pipelines (though many energy experts remain skeptical that the latter ever be completed).

What he has done so far may help on the margin, it may lower the cost of bringing a barrel to market, says Jason Bordoff, an Obama energy advisor who runs Columbia Universitys Center on Global Energy Policy. But it makes a relatively modest difference.
Buenos Aires (AFP) - An Argentine prosecutor on Tuesday demanded a judicial investigation into alleged financial conflicts of interest by the country's President Mauricio Macri.

Macri is accused of a conflict of interest in overseeing a deal as president to settle debts incurred by the postal service in a period when it was controlled by his father's business.

His government has denied any wrongdoing.

Public prosecutor Juan Pedro Zoni filed the demand with a federal judge who must now decide whether to launch a full judicial investigation.

Prosecutors and Macri's opponents allege the conservative president's family business benefited unfairly from the financial terms of the deal, which they say effectively canceled part of the debt.

Leftist opposition lawmaker Victoria Donda branded it an "act of corruption," in comments on the radio.

Argentine authorities in December opened a separate investigation into Macri for alleged nepotism in a decree that extended a tax amnesty to his father and other officials' families.
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Demonstrators attacked the headquarters of a Lebanese television channel in Beirut on Tuesday night, protesting against a broadcast they said was insulting to Lebanese Shi'ite cleric Imam Musa al-Sadr. Around 300 people, some carrying flags of Lebanon's Shi'ite Amal Movement, tried to storm the headquarters of Lebanese channel al-Jadeed, throwing fireworks, stones and eggs at the building. Scores of police and troops rushed to the area. One policeman was injured and the army later broke up the protest. Sadr, the founder of the Amal Movement, disappeared after traveling to Libya in 1978 and is presumed dead. Lebanese media said the Tuesday demonstration had been in reaction to a broadcast comedy sketch that referred to the disappearance. Protesters broke windows, shouted insults at the channel's owner, and chanted "Here we are Nabih", referring to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, head of the Amal Movement. A security source described the attack as serious but said the army was in control of the situation. An al-Jadeed correspondent said on live television that a fire had erupted in the building, ignited by the fireworks. Various Lebanese political parties denounced the attack, and President Michel Aoun called the minister of defense and other officials to restore calm, al-Jadeed said. (Reporting by Ellen Francis and Alaa Kanaan in Beirut; editing by Andrew Roche)
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP)  Residents of Indonesia's capital vote Wednesday in an election for governor that has become a high-stakes tussle between conservative and moderate forces in the world's most populous Muslim nation. Religion and race, rather than the slew of problems that face a car-clogged and sinking Jakarta, have dominated the campaign. Answers to some of the questions surrounding the election:

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WHAT'S MADE THE ELECTION CONTENTIOUS?

The Jakarta vote is by far the most heated of the more than 100 elections for mayors and governors that will be held in Indonesia on Wednesday. Voters are polarized about incumbent Jakarta Gov. Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, a minority Christian and ethnic Chinese, who is on trial for allegedly blaspheming the Quran.

Ahok, the first ethnic Chinese governor of Jakarta and the first Christian in more than half a century, had seemed unassailably popular until the accusation of blasphemy, a criminal offense in Indonesia, surfaced in September. Protests against him in November and December, organized by hard-line Islamic groups, drew hundreds of thousands to Jakarta's streets and shook the centrist-minded government of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

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WHAT'S AT STAKE?

Ahok's blasphemy trial and the ease with which hard-liners attracted huge crowds to protest against him have undermined Indonesia's reputation for practicing a moderate form of Islam. Calls for Ahok to be killed and anti-Chinese sentiment were disturbing elements of the protests, one of which turned violent, with dozens injured and one person dying from the effects of tear gas.

Defeat for Ahok would further embolden hard-liners, who say a non-Muslim should not lead Muslims, though also deprive them of the cause celebre that has allowed them to capture a national stage. The governorship is also seen as a launching pad into national politics and possibly the presidency.

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WHO'S RUNNING?

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Ahok: He rose from deputy governor in 2014 after Jokowi, who was Jakarta governor at the time, won the presidency. Middle class Jakartans adored Ahok, 50, for his campaign against corruption and efforts to make the city livable. But brutal demolitions of some of the slum neighborhoods that are home to millions and ill-considered outspokenness on sensitive issues would become his Achilles' heel. Opponents seized their moment last year when a video surfaced of Ahok telling voters they were being deceived if they believed a specific verse in the Quran prohibited Muslims from electing a non-Muslim as leader. That led to the blasphemy charges and mass protests that sunk him in the polls, though his support has risen again following a series of televised debates.

Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono: A former army major who is the son of ex-President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Local media say he was instructed by his father to resign from the army and campaign for governor. The photogenic 38-year-old surged to a lead in opinion polls during the anti-Ahok protests in November and December, which were also given vocal backing by his father. He performed poorly in the televised debates and recent polls show his support melting away. He attended mass prayers Saturday at Jakarta's Istiqlal Mosque, where clerics urged people to vote for Muslim candidates.

Anies Rasyid Baswedan: A political party hopper who was education minister in Jokowi's government until being dumped in a reshuffle last July. Baswedan, 47, unsuccessfully sought to be the candidate for Yudhoyono's Democratic Party in the 2014 presidential election and then joined Jokowi's campaign team. After being dumped from the Cabinet, he allied with Prabowo, the main rival to Jokowi in the 2014 election, who encouraged him to become the Gerindra party's candidate for governor. In an effort to win the support of the anti-Ahok camp, Baswedan had a high-profile public meeting with Islamic Defenders Front leader Rizieq Shihab, a key figure behind the Jakarta protests. He has recently surged in the polls.

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WHEN WILL RESULTS BE KNOWN?

So-called "quick count" results compiled by researchers stationed at a sample of the 13,000 polling places will give a reliable indication of the election outcome within hours of the polls closing at 1 p.m. Some 7 million people are eligible to vote in Jakarta and official results will be declared on Feb. 27. However, it's unlikely that any of the three candidates will get the 50 percent of votes required for an outright win. That would lead to a runoff in April between the top two polling candidates. One scenario is that Ahok proceeds to the second election but is defeated by anti-Ahok voters uniting behind the remaining Muslim candidate.

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Associated Press writer Niniek Karmini contributed to this report.
WYNNEWOOD, Pa. (AP)  Two teachers at a Quaker school outside Philadelphia have been suspended over fallout from a Palestinian speaker's invitation to a school club they supervised.

The controversy is highlighting an issue for many Quaker schools: While the American Friends Service Committee supports putting economic pressure on Israel to end the occupation of Palestinian territories, many students at Quaker schools are Jewish.

Teachers Ariel Eure and Layla Helwa were put on administrative leave Monday from Friends' Central School in Wynnewood, a lawyer representing the two women told the Philadelphia Inquirer (http://bit.ly/2lfT6J8).

The lawyer, Mark Schwartz, said the teachers were told they were suspended for disobeying a supervisor and for having a "single-minded approach to a complicated issue for the community."

The teachers supervised the school's Peace and Equality in Palestine club, and invited Swarthmore College professor and Quaker Sa'ed Atshan to speak last week at the club.

Some parents complained about Atshan's involvement in a movement that advocates punitive measures against Israel, and school leaders canceled his speech.

The administration says the teachers are on paid leave while an extensive review is conducted.

"As a Quaker school, we have long-standing expectations for all members of our community  especially for our teachers, who have the responsibility of guiding young minds," it said. "There are very real concerns about the conduct of Ariel Eure and Layla Helwa for their disregard of our guiding testimonies, which include community, peace, and integrity."

About 65 students and Eure and Helwa walked out of a school meeting to protest the speech's cancellation. The teachers also attended a student meeting where the students discussed their concerns. Afterward, some students marched with signs reading "My voice will not be silenced" and "Bring back my speaker."

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Information from: The Philadelphia Inquirer, http://www.inquirer.com
In the course of my duties as the Incoming National Security Advisor, I held numerous phone calls with foreign counterparts, ministers, and ambassadors. These calls were to facilitate a smooth transition and begin to build the necessary relationships between the President, his advisors and foreign leaders. Such calls are standard practice in any transition of this magnitude.

Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador. I have sincerely apologized to the president and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology.

Throughout my over thirty three years of honorable military service, and my tenure as the National Security Advisor, I have always performed my duties with the utmost of integrity and honesty to those I have served, to include the President of the United States.

I am tendering my resignation, honored to have served our nation and the American people in such a distinguished way.

I am also extremely honored to have served President Trump, who in just three weeks, has reprinted American foreign policy in fundamental ways to restore Americas leadership position in the world.

As I step away once again from serving my nation in this current capacity, I wish to thank President Trump for his personal loyalty, the friendship of those who I worked with throughout the hard fought campaign, the challenging period of transition, and during the early days of his presidency.

I know with the strong leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence and the superb team they are assembling, this team will go down in history as one of the greatest presidencies in U.S> history, and I firmly believe the american people will be well served as they all work together to help Make America Great Again.

Michael T. Flynn, LTG (Ret)

Assistant to the President/ National Security Advisor
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., delivered a scathing condemnation of President Trump in the aftermath of National Security Adviser Michael Flynns resignation late Monday.

In a conversation with Yahoo News on Tuesday morning, Swalwell, the lead Democrat on the CIA Subcommittee of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said theres a wealth of evidence leading him to question whether Trump is loyal to the United States or Russia.

The Republicans may have the majorities in Congress and their candidate may have won the White House, but [the Democrats] are not helpless. We have the American people, and the American people will not be satisfied until they know whether the president is with us or with Russia, Swalwell said. What happened with Michael Flynn I think shows clearly that there are a lot more questions that need to be answered.

Swalwell said the White House knew that Flynn had lied about his conversations with a Russian ambassador but allowed him to maintain his top-secret security clearance and brief the president. He said the administration only dumped Flynn once the press revealed that he had discussed easing sanctions against the Kremlin, potentially violating the law. Flynn also reportedly misled Vice President Mike Pence about the discussion.

Theyre willing to keep people who have improper relationships with Russia until the public finds out and it hurts them in the realm of popular opinion, Swalwell said. Getting rid of a rotten plank does not fix a compromised platform.

The U.S. intelligence community said Russia launched a multifaceted campaign of propaganda and deception intended to sway the presidential election in Trumps favor. Former President Barack Obama leveled sanctions against the Kremlin in response.

Rep. Eric Swalwell and President Trump (Photos: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, Carolyn Kaster/AP)

According to Swalwell, Trumps behavior is also disturbing. The California lawmaker cited Trumps admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, his statements comparing U.S. government actions to the Kremlins killers, the White Houses revised sanctions that affect Russias Federal Security Service (Russias top security agency), his openness to easing other sanctions against Moscow and his skepticism toward the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which Swalwell considers the worlds greatest check on Russia.

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Then if you look at the fact that he wont release his taxes, which could clear up a lot of questions about his global financial holdings and whether there are deals with Russians, Swalwell continued, I think all of those arrows point to a single question: Who are his loyalties with?

Swalwell said there are many people in the Trump administration, including the president himself, who had personal, political and financial relationships with Russia before the election. Trump has rejected this sort of characterization and recently tweeted, I dont know Putin, have no deals in Russia, and the haters are going crazy!

The American people are concerned whether Russia is going to be paid back for the work they did to help get Donald Trump elected. I think Flynn should motivate us to want to learn more about those relationships, he said.

Robert Amsterdam, a lawyer who has represented international oil and gas companies, including Russian oil oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky, characterized this questioning of Trumps loyalty as very ill-advised commentary.

Robert Amsterdam (Photo: Julie Carr Smyth/AP)

These issues are serious enough that we need dispassionate and intelligent thought, Amsterdam told Yahoo News. This kind of commentary from a member of that committee is just sad. Theres no basis for making that kind of a comment.

However, Amsterdam said it would be worthwhile to investigate whether Trumps team and Putin had some sort of conversation or quid pro quo agreement regarding Obamas sanctions against Russia.

He said the Kremlin has been overplaying its hands  making it all but impossible for a Trump rapprochement. After he spoke to Yahoo News, the New York Times reported that, according to administration officials, Russia had secretly deployed a cruise missile, violating an arms control treaty.

Trump is an American politician who wants to succeed within the context of the United States, and everything that is touching Putin at this point looks toxic, Amsterdam said.

Yahoo News asked Swalwell if he was concerned that such a bold denunciation  questioning whether Trump is loyal to the U.S. or Russia  would remind some listeners of one of the nations darker chapters: McCarthyism. In the 1950s, Sen. Joe McCarthy, R-Wis., spread paranoia about Communists infiltrating the federal government.

In the McCarthy era, it was about a personal political belief, not whether they had been compromised personally, politically or financially by a foreign adversary. Here, with everything I laid out a moment ago for you, all of those arrows point to the question of whether there was a political or financial compromise of the president or his team, Swalwell replied. I dont care if its Russia or any other country thats not the United States. If our leaders loyalties lie anywhere but to the American people, thats a problem.

Like many congressional Democrats and Republicans, Swalwell strongly criticized the Russian government, citing Putins alliance with the Syrian government, the downing of an airliner carrying 300 by Russian-backed rebels in Ukraine, and the forceful annexation of Crimea, among other issues.

They are not our friend at all. If our president or anyone on his team had a preexisting relationship with them, we should know, Swalwell said. And we should also know if its going to make us less safe because they are going to have to pay back the help that they got to win the election.

Swalwell and Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., co-authored the Protecting Our Democracy Act, which has been cosponsored by every member of the House Democratic Caucus. The legislation would establish an independent, bipartisan commission to investigate Russias interference with the U.S. election. The Republican-controlled Congress is unlikely to embrace major legislation authored by Democrats.

Read more from Yahoo News:
LONDON (AP)  An annual report on military power throughout the world cites Chinese and Russian activity as rising threats to Western powers.

The International Institute for Strategic Studies report, released Tuesday, said analysts have noted "real and important" increases in Chinese military activity in the air, at sea, and in missile forces.

It said Chinese weapons systems are becoming more sophisticated and advanced.

The report says a resurgent Russia has placed "the exercise of military power and even the importance of nuclear weapons" at a centerpiece of its power, provoking the need for a strong NATO response.

It also says Britain has fallen below the 2 percent defense spending target set for NATO countries, a charge rejected by British officials and some other analysts.
By Ian Simpson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A vote by U.S. House Republicans on Monday to strike down a Washington, D.C., law that would allow doctor-assisted suicide has put the conservative Congress on a collision course with the liberal city that hosts it, local officials said. In the District of Columbia, where just 4 percent of the population voted for President Donald Trump, city leaders worry that Republicans will overturn progressive laws on issues like gun control and abortion, to the outrage of locals who have long complained of curtailed rights. One of the most liberal U.S. cities, Washington is unique in that the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the option to block its legislative moves. Its 680,000 residents pay federal income taxes but have no voting representative in Congress. "This is yet another attempt by this House committee to trample the autonomy of the D.C. Government and undermine our local control," Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, who signed the assisted suicide law in December, said in a statement after the signing. Monday's vote by the House Oversight Committee, headed by Utah Representative Jason Chaffetz, took the first step in overturning the measure letting doctors help terminally ill patients end their lives. The full House and Senate would now have to vote and Trump would have to sign a repeal by Friday, the 30-day deadline for Congress to act. "Congressman Jason Chaffetz has sent a signal to D.C. residents that Congress has zero respect or concern for their will or the will of their elected officials," Bowser said. Bowser called the vote a power grab by legislators who espouse states' right to make their own laws but differ when the heavily Democratic city is involved. The vote was the first in a series of Republican-sponsored measures taking on city laws. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida last month introduced legislation that would bar city lawmakers from passing gun control laws and repeal local firearm registration requirements. Rubio said the measure, aimed at Washington, was needed to protect residents' constitutional right to bear arms. The House also has approved a bill that would permanently ban the District from using local tax funds for abortions for poor women. TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION Congress granted the 68-square-mile (117-square-km) enclave a mayor and council in the 1970s and has voided only a handful of District laws since then. But Chaffetz has pledged to intensify scrutiny, saying at Monday's hearing that the assisted suicide law could create "a marketplace for death." Washington's city council has passed laws in recent years on issues dear to liberal Democrats nationally. These include a $15-an-hour minimum wage, legalized recreational marijuana and one of the country's most generous family leave laws. "The District is a progressive jurisdiction in the midst of a conservative Congress," Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District's congressional representative, said in a phone interview. Washington leaders have relied on the Senate, which has long had less appetite than the House to interfere with District laws. The city also had an ally in Democratic President Barack Obama. That protection is gone, Norton said. (Reporting by Ian Simpson; Editing by Scott Malone and Richard Chang)
By Lisa Lambert WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans lawmakers are starting to put in motion plans to destroy or defang the U.S. agency intended to protect individuals from financial fraud. On Tuesday, two Texas Republicans, Senator Ted Cruz and Representative John Ratcliffe, introduced a one-page bill to kill the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau entirely. Their move comes a few days after Representative Jed Hensarling, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, outlined a plan to limit the independent agency's power and to crimp its funding via Congress' budget process. The agency focuses on financial products such as mortgages and student loans. Next up: David Perdue, a Republican from Georgia on the Senate Banking Committee, will introduce a bill to make the CFPB more accountable to Congress by changing its funding mechanism, according to an aide. Unlike a complete elimination of the agency, which would require 60 votes, Perdue's bill could be affixed to budget legislation that could become law with a 51-vote majority vote in the Senate. Senate Democrats, including Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts and Sherrod Brown, the senior Democrat on the Banking Committee, have vowed to block changes they say would weaken the CFPB's independence. Killing the agency altogether would be a hard sell, and even some banking lobbyists have said they would be comfortable with a more restricted CFPB. The agency, which is also facing a court test, was created in the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law. Its sole director, currently Richard Cordray, serves a fixed term and its budget flows through the Federal Reserve without being subject to congressional review. Republicans criticizing the CFPB say it overreaches its authority, pushes unnecessary regulation on small banks and uses large fines to direct lenders' behavior without going through proper rule-making processes. Perdue has also struck at the agency more specifically, introducing a resolution to repeal a new CFPB regulation requiring prepaid cards to disclose their terms prominently. Hensarling's plan, which anti-CFPB lobbyists and congressional staffers are positing as a compromise, would push some CFPB powers to other agencies while making its budget subject to congressional review and its director a political appointee. Others want to see the agency become a five-member bipartisan commission. President Donald Trump, also a Republican, was elected partly on promises to lighten regulation and is expected to sign any CFPB-related legislation that reaches his desk. (Reporting by Lisa Lambert; Editing by Linda Stern and Dan Grebler)
Community colleges can be great options, but they aren't the only option for high school students with average grades who want to pursue a college degree after graduation. Most top-ranked, well-known institutions may be out of reach, but C students can find welcoming and supportive institutions -- especially if they're willing to consider unfamiliar options.

"I think getting away from the brand name is important and very, very hard," says Marissa Warren, a school counselor at Yorktown High School in New York.

She encourages students to do a broad search for schools that accept applicants who fall within their grade point average and test score range and then weigh campus fit factors, such as academics, cost, location, size, campus resources, careers services and extracurriculars, and go on college tours to narrow their list.

"First, you want to see what schools would be willing to accept a student with a C-plus average or 1000 on the SAT," she says.

To start that search, families can take advantage of free or low-price college search and fit calculators. Counselors recommend options offered by the College Board's Big Future, Cappex, COLLEGEdata and the U.S. News College Compass, which filter college options based on student interests, GPA and test scores. College guidebooks such as the U.S. News "Best Colleges" guidebook or the "Fiske Guide to Colleges" can provide insight into admissions requirements for a large range of colleges, and families can look at freshman admission profiles on university websites, experts say.

[Use technology to find the right college fit. ]

Finding schools with high retention and graduation rates can be especially important for students who struggle academically, since both are signs that students come back each year and finish with a degree. These statistics can also signal that the school has resources specifically to make sure students are invested and successful, and which families can ask about, experts say.

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Institutions with higher admission rates can also be good options to consider since that means that they're looking for more than just the top 10 percent of classes, Warren says.

Most colleges have learning centers, offer advising and tutoring services and offer freshman courses that can make the transition to college easier. A student who has struggled throughout high school may have trouble keeping up in more difficult, college-level coursework and may need to spend money and time on remedial classes. Smaller institutions or schools that automatically assign students with mentors or advisers who keep in regular contact may provide average students with the accountability that they need to excel.

"With the smaller class sizes and more one-on-one, they're going to get more of the support that they need," says Terri Tchorzynski, school counselor at Calhoun Area Career Center, a Michigan career and technical high school for juniors and seniors.

Students should take advantage of the resources offered by their high schools and reach out to their counselors, experts say. Counselors can help students research institutions, learn about local college fairs or programs, and connect with admissions representatives from colleges that accept students with similar backgrounds, grades and test scores. Showing interest and building connections with colleges now can help when it's time to apply, experts say.

"If they come in by their junior year, and they're already below that 3.0 and just an average range, we start introducing them to schools that have accepted our students in the past," says Ilyan Nunez, director of college placement at KIPP New Jersey. She encourages students to look at in-state schools to cut costs. "Since they don't have stellar grades, they won't qualify for merit aid," she says.

[Find out when a public university might not be the cheapest option.]

With a C-plus average and less-than-stellar test scores, Darryl Cunningham was worried that he wasn't the type of student that colleges were looking for. Through college application events and with the help of his guidance counselor, Cunningham was able to learn about different schools, connect with college representatives and apply -- for free -- to schools that would accept him, despite his GPA.

Now 21, Cunningham is on track to graduate with honors with a bachelor's in Christian education from Morris College in South Carolina this May. The nurturing, close-knit environment that attracted him to the college during his college visit helped him thrive. He credits the support of his professors and faculty throughout the school with helping him succeed.

"Going in I was perplexed, I was in disarray, I didn't know what to do, but I was determined to do better than I did in high school," he says.

[Get college admissions strategies for students with bad grades.]

As students begin the college admissions process, it's important to do what they can now to both increase their chances of getting accepted into institutions and excel once they get there. Experts encourage teens to study for standardized tests since good scores can boost applications, practice good time management and study skills, take challenging courses and demonstrate improvement.

Searching for a college? Get our complete rankings of Best Colleges.

Briana Boyington is an education digital producer at U.S. News. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at bboyington@usnews.com.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP)  A coalition of major outdoor companies on Tuesday ramped up a threat to get a lucrative outdoor trade show to leave Utah unless the governor and elected officials back away from policies they say threaten public lands.

Leaders of Black Diamond Equipment, Osprey Packs and 28 other outdoor companies sent a letter to Republican Gov. Gary Herbert that says Utah leaders are threatening the outdoor industry by pushing back against federal land control and management.

"We see all of these actions as an existential threat to the vibrancy of Utah and America's outdoor industry as well as Utah's high quality of life," the letter said.

The letter comes two days before Herbert is expected to meet with outdoor retailers to try to smooth the discord.

The governor's office did not immediately have a comment on the letter Tuesday.

The letter is the latest in a string of moves the outdoors industry has made to protest Utah's stance.

Organizers of the lucrative, semiannual Outdoor Retailer trade show said this year that they're considering moving the event after two decades in Utah. Some companies said they'll boycott the show as long as it remains in the state.

Tuesday's letter was signed by CEOs of companies boycotting the show, like Patagonia and Arc'teryx, and others that have pledged to keep attending, such as The North Face and REI.

In the letter, the outdoors CEOs call on Herbert and Utah officials to stop pushing for the recent declaration of the Bears Ears National Monument to be rescinded and to stop pushing for state control of public lands currently owned by the federal government, among other actions. "If that is something that you are unwilling to do, we are publicly and emphatically urging our trade group's leadership to have our show depart," the letter said.

Speaking about the dispute earlier this week, Herbert told reporters on Monday that both sides of the issue need to calm down and understand each other.

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Herbert and Utah's Legislature recently approved a resolution calling on President Donald Trump to repeal the monument. Utah's congressional delegation is also pressing the Trump administration on the issue.

Herbert and local officials object to President Barack Obama's use of the Antiquities Act to sweep the area into a national monument. They say the area is too broad and does not allow for a mix of purposes in the area, including development and drilling.

Officials have also sought to limit a president's powers under the Antiquities Act, and the state has floated the idea of launching a $14 million lawsuit against the federal government to gain control of about 30 million acres of forests, rangelands and more acres in U.S. government hands.
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  Hundreds of Romanians protested against the government for the 15th consecutive evening Tuesday after a court hearing in which one of the country's most powerful politicians denied putting no-work jobs on the public payroll.

The case against Liviu Dragnea, leader of the ruling Social Democratic Party, stems from his time as a regional party chief. Dragnea said after a hearing in his trial that he was innocent and that the testimony implicating him was false.

Prosecutors have alleged Dragnea intervened to keep two women who were working for the Social Democratic Party on the payroll of a family welfare agency. The women have pleaded guilty. The next hearing is March 28.

Romania's center-left government passed an emergency decree last month decriminalizing official misconduct, which would have helped Dragnea. But the decree sparked huge protests, with critics saying the government wanted to weaken efforts to crack down on official corruption.

Premier Sorin Grindeanu and his cabinet repealed the measure on Feb. 5, but protests have continued daily. On Tuesday, protesters gathered outside the government offices, yelling "Resign! Shame on you! Thieves!"

Dragnea is barred from being prime minister because of his conviction and two-year suspended sentence last year on vote-rigging charges. He calls the ban deeply unfair.
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  Romania's president says the government's 2017 budget plan is "risky" and he has concerns about overspending.

President Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday met the premier and finance minister to discuss the budget, which has already been approved by parliament but is not yet signed by the president.

Iohannis said after the meeting that "there is a real risk of the budget exceeding 3 percent" of gross domestic product, the European Union limit.

In 2016, Romania's budget deficit was 2.4 percent of GDP, and the new government has forecast it reaching at most 3 percent this year. The European Union, however, expects the 2017 deficit to reach 4.4 percent.

The center-left government won parliamentary elections in December with promises to hike pensions, increase student grants and scrap some taxes.
A rookie 911 operator coolly talked a father through the delivery of his own son.

Katie Farber had only worked seven shifts at Californias Ventura County Fire Department, but she knew exactly what to do when a nervous dad called for help.

Read: Disturbing 911 Calls from Mischa Barton's Meltdown Revealed: 'She Keeps on Saying She Wants to Die

Not only was his wife in labor, he could see the babys head.

Tell her to push with each contraction, with a deep breath in between, Farber told dad Supreme Dow. Make sure to support the babys head and shoulders, the 25-year-old dispatcher instructed.

Dow, the proud papa of new son Supreme Dow Jr., told InsideEdition.com the experience was a piece of cake.

I was poised, the dispatcher was poised. It was a tremendous experience, he said.

Read: Mom Faces Murder Charge After Cryptic 911 Call

His wife, Tennesha, their baby, and their 3-year-old daughter, recently paid a visit to the dispatch center in Camarillo so they could all meet Farber, who now seems like another member of the family.

She spoke with conviction, with authority. But more importantly, she sounded like she knew what she was doing, like shed been through this a million times, Dow said.

Farber also told Dow to keep encouraging his wife as she grappled with the pain.

You are a queen! he can be heard shouting on the 911 audio tape. You are queen! You are a queen! You are a queen, my woman! Push! Push! Push!

And push she did. And out popped little Supreme, perfectly healthy.

Read: 8-Year-old Boy Calls 911 After Dad's Near Overdose in Parking Lot

The couple had planned to deliver their baby at home, Dow said. He called 911 just as the babys head began to crown and wasnt on the phone longer than a few minutes, he said.

But he wanted Farber to know he considered her a big help.

Mom, dad and dispatcher embraced at their meeting. Farber held tiny Supreme Jr., now 3 weeks old.

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Because of her, I have a phenomenal story to tell, the father said.

Watch: Terrified Girl Calls 911 as Father Drives Drunk: 'Daddy Stop the Friggin' Car!'

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Paris (AFP) - An aide to French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday accused Russia of trying to derail his campaign by spreading false rumours, echoing charges of Russian meddling in the US election.

Macron's spokesman Benjamin Griveaux accused the Kremlin of mounting a "smear campaign" via state media against the 39-year-old centrist former economy minister, a staunch defender of the European Union who is riding high in polls.

"The Kremlin has chosen its candidates: Francois Fillon and Marine Le Pen," Griveaux told the broadcaster i-Tele, referring to the conservative Republicans candidate who is pushing for closer ties with Moscow, and the leader of the anti-immigration, anti-EU National Front.

Russia's choice was "for a very simple reason: they do not want a strong Europe, they want a weak Europe," he alleged.

Griveaux accused the state-owned Russia Today (RT) channel and the Sputnik news agency, both of which have French-language sites, of trying to taint Macron, who was forced last week to deny rumours of a gay affair.

The claims echo accusations by US officials that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered cyberattacks on US organisations to help Donald Trump get elected.

Moscow vehemently denied the French allegations.

"We never had, and do not have, the intention of interfering in the domestic affairs of other countries, and especially not in their electoral process," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

RT and Sputnik echoed the denials.

The allegations came as a poll showed Macron's campaign stagnating for the first time in weeks.

The Opinionway poll showed Le Pen stretching her lead in the first round of the election in April to 27 percent compared to 22 percent for Macron.

While Macron was shown easily beating her in a May runoff between the top two candidates, former frontrunner Fillon, who is battling an expenses scandal, appeared to halted his slide, gaining one point to 20 percent in the first round.

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Fillon has been dogged by revelations that his Welsh-born wife Penelope was paid for years for a suspected fake job as a parliamentary aide. He insists she played a real role.

On Tuesday, he faced down another attempted putsch from within his party, telling Republicans lawmakers there was no question of him stepping aside after winning November's rightwing primary.

A day earlier, a group of around 20 MPs from the party has said they could no longer bring themselves to campaign on his behalf.

Those present at Tuesday's meeting however said the "vast majority" of the party's MPs had reiterated their support for the 62-year-old former premier.

- Cyberattacks -

Rumours about Macron's private life had grown louder in recent weeks, in tandem with his poll surge.

Last week, he tackled the gossip head on, laughing off claims he was cheating on his wife with the head of French radio, Mathieu Gallet.

In an opinion piece in the daily Le Monde on Tuesday headlined "Russia must not be allowed to destabilise the French presidential election", the secretary-general of Macron's movement En Marche (On The Move) accused RT and Sputnik of fanning the "slanderous" claims.

"One day he is being financed by 'a rich gay lobby', the next he is an 'American agent of the banking lobby'," Richard Ferrand wrote, referencing claims by a lawmaker from Fillon's party published by Sputnik.

Griveaux on Tuesday also pointed a finger at Russia over a flurry of cyberattacks on Macron's campaign site in the past month.

"Half of the attacks, and there are hundreds a day, come from Ukraine, which is known for its links to hackers and people responsible for cyberattacks in Russia," he said.

During a visit to Algeria on Tuesday Macron said he welcomed Russia's assurances of neutrality.

"They should pass on the message to Russian media not to relay false rumours," he told AFP, adding that he would remain "vigilant".
Russia was the only country to buck the trend of falling visitor interest: AP

US tourism is suffering in the wake of Donald Trumps election, according to a new study, but there is one notable exception.

Travellers from at least 94 countries are reconsidering visiting the "land of the free" after Mr Trumps Inauguration, found digital travel agency Hopper.

The report showed a 17 per cent decline in people's interest to fly to the US in a period spanning the three weeks before the Inauguration to two weeks afterwards, based on weekly averages of billions of global flight searches.

One country that did not conform to the general trend was Russia, Hopper found.

Flight searches from Russia to the US increased 88 per cent over the stated period.

Mr Trump has come under fire for praising Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "great leader" and his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, reportedly discussed sanctions with the Russian ambassador before they were implemented, despite insisting previously that he had not.

"A lot of this stems from the fact that there just seems to be charge and accusation after charge and accusation that somehow President Trump and Vladimir Putin are BFFs. That is not true," Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to the President, told CNN at the weekend.

Despite support from Russia, the US could still be in for a travel shock.

In 2016 during the same period, global flight searches to the US fell just 1.8 per cent, suggesting a bigger deterrent for most other countries than the usuals seasonal downturn.

One likely theory is the Presidents executive order to temporarily bar nearly all travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries in the name of fighting terrorism, despite no American having been killed in an attack on US soil since 2001 by anyone from those seven nations.

The falling number of flight searches could spell bad news for the likes of museums, hotels and restaurants, as the number of people searching and booking flights is one of the first indicators of a healthy tourist industry.

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Hopper found that San Francisco is bound to miss out most. Its airport saw a decline in international interest of just under a third - 33 per cent - this year. A total of eight major airports saw a downturn of a fifth or more. Other cities to be hit hard were Baltimore (23 per cent), Las Vegas (23 per cent), Los Angeles (22 per cent) and Dallas (21 per cent).

New Yorks JFK Airport, a very common flight path from London and other major travelling hubs, saw a decline of 12 per cent.

Hopper said it had little data for Somalia, Syria and Libya, and no data for Yemen - four countries affected by the travel ban - but for the other three, Iraq, Iran and Sudan, travel searches were down 33 per cent. The travel ban was halted temporarily by a federal court judge in Washington, eight days after the executive order was signed. Mr Trump warned the case could end up in the Supreme Court.

On Mr Trumps campaign website, it said his vision was to "negotiate fair trade deals that create American jobs, increase American wages, and reduce America's trade deficit".

But the USs trade deficit of $502 billion could also be hurt by the visitor decline, as tourism is calculated as an export.

The trade deficit is determined by calculating the difference between a nations imports and exports.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Multiple Russian military aircraft came close to a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Black Sea on Feb. 10, incidents considered "unsafe and unprofessional," a U.S. official said on Tuesday.

The Russian Defense Ministry said no such incidents had occurred.

"There were no incidents of any kind on Feb. 10, related to flights by Russian military jets in the Black Sea near the U.S. Navy destroyer Porter," Russian news agencies cited a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry, Major-General Igor Konashenkov, as saying.

But Captain Danny Hernandez, a spokesman for U.S. European Command, cited three separate incidents involving Russian aircraft and the USS Porter. One involved two Russian Su-24 jets, another a separate Su-24, and the third a larger IL-38.

"USS Porter queried all aircraft and received no response," Hernandez said. "Such incidents are concerning because they can result in accident or miscalculation," he added.

The incidents involving the Su-24 were considered to be unsafe and unprofessional by the commanding officer of the Porter because of their high speed and low altitude, while the IL-38 flew at an unusually low altitude, Hernandez said.

Another U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the lone Su-24 came within 200 yards (meters) of the Porter at an altitude of 300 feet (90 meters).

In April 2016 two Russian warplanes flew simulated attack passes near a U.S. guided missile destroyer in the Baltic Sea so close that they created wake in the water.

(Reporting by Idrees Ali in Washington and Jack Stubbs in Moscow; Editing by James Dalgleish)
By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN (Reuters) - Russian jets pounded rebel-held areas of the Syrian city of Deraa on Tuesday for a second day in the first such intensive bombing campaign since Moscow's major intervention in Syria more than a year ago, rebels and witnesses said. Rebel groups on Sunday stormed the heavily-garrisoned Manshiya district in a battle dubbed "Death rather than Humiliation" saying the campaign sought to obstruct any army attempts to capture a strategic border crossing with Jordan. The army's control of the rebel held crossing and swatches of territory in the southern strip of the city would sever the rebel link between the eastern and west parts of the city. The Syrian army said the "terrorists" had failed to make gains and its troops had inflicted many casualties. State media said the armed insurgents showered civilian districts of the southern city with mortars, wrecking many homes. The opposition fighters are drawn from both moderate Free Syrian Army groups and members of a newly formed alliance - Tahrir al Sham - spearheaded by a faction that was once al Qaeda's official affiliate. A rebel source said there were at least 30 Russian sorties on Tuesday, thwarting further rebel gains in the heavily defended enclave that had allowed them so far to secure significant parts of the Manshiya. "When the regime began to lose control of some areas ... the Russian jets began their operations," said Ibrahim Abdullah, a senior rebel commander. The fighting also spread across other parts of the city as rebels fired mortars on government controlled parts of the city. Ground-to-ground missiles were also deployed from army barracks to pound rebel held quarters of the city, residents said. The battles inside the city are the most intense since an alliance of mainstream rebels, known as "The Southern Front" who are backed by Western and Arab foes of President Bashar al Assad launched an unsuccessful large scale military campaign to capture the whole city in 2015. The province that borders both Israel and Jordan has escaped the devastation wreaked by Russia's aerial bombing of northern Syria after Moscow stepped up its military involvement in Syria in 2015. The Syrian army has so far failed to recapture the border crossing, a once thriving passenger and commercial gateway with Jordan, despite repeated efforts. "There is not a single day that passes without the regime trying to make advances," Salamah Aba Zaid, a resident in Deraa said. At least half of the southern province is in the hands of Free Syrian Army rebels but groups affiliated with the Islamic State have a foothold in an area to the west of Deraa in the Wadi Yarmouk area near the Golan Heights. Aid workers said jets hit a Western-funded field hospital in Deraa and raids killed at least seven members of one family in the border area, where many residents fled in the early days of the Syrian conflict. The Washington-based International Rescue Committee, which supports the hospital that was targeted, said in a statement that four health workers were injured in the attack. (Editing by Andrew Roche and Tom Brown)
MOSCOW  Russian lawmakers on Tuesday mounted a fierce defense of U.S. President Donald Trumps former national security adviser, who resigned following reports that he misled White House officials about his contacts with Russia.

Michael Flynn resigned Monday night, conceding that he gave incomplete information about his calls with Russias ambassador to the U.S.

A U.S. official told The Associated Press that Flynn was in frequent contact with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak on the day the Obama administration imposed sanctions on Russia after U.S. intelligence reported that Russia had interfered with the U.S. elections. The Kremlin has confirmed that Flynn has been in contact with Kislyak but denied that they talked about lifting sanctions.

Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the foreign affairs committee at the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, said in a post on Facebook that firing a national security adviser for his contacts with Russia is not just paranoia but something even worse.

Kosachev also expressed frustration with the Trump administration.

Either Trump hasnt found the necessary independence and hes been driven into a corner or Russophobia has permeated the new administration from top to bottom.

Kosachevs counterpart at the lower chamber of the Russian parliament, Alexei Pushkov, tweeted shortly after the announcement that it was not Flynn who was targeted but relations with Russia.

President Vladimir Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to comment on Flynns resignation, saying that its none of our business. Asked if Moscow still hopes that relations with the U.S. are going to improve, he said it is too early to say since Trumps team has not been shaped yet.

The Kremlin earlier said that it was not expecting a breakthrough before the two presidents meet in person.

Fyodor Lukyanov, chair of the Council for Foreign and Defense Policies, a group of Russian foreign policy experts, told the RIA Novosti news agency that it is not yet clear whether Flynns departure could influence bilateral ties.

Theres nothing to influence yet, there are no relations as such. Our countries have relations shaped by the former administration which were awful, and Trump was going to change that, he said. But who he is going to change it with  Flynn, or not him, (Secretary of State Rex) Tillerson  it is not clear right now.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A senior Russian lawmaker said on Tuesday the resignation of U.S. President Donald Trump's national security adviser, Michael Flynn, suggested Trump had been backed into a corner or that his administration had been "infected" by anti-Russian feeling. Flynn resigned late on Monday after revelations he had discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to the United States before Trump took office and misled Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations. "Either Trump has not gained the requisite independence and he is consequently being not unsuccessfully backed into a corner, or Russophobia has already infected the new administration also from top to bottom," MP Konstantin Kosachev was cited as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency. Kosachev is head of the upper house of parliament's international affairs committee. (Reporting by Alexander Winning; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
Mr Flynn is under growing political pressure after the White House declined to publicly defend him over allegations he discussed Russia's sanctions before Donald Trump took office: Getty

The acting attorney general informed the Trump White House late last month that she believed Michael Flynn had misled senior administration officials about the nature of his communications with the Russian ambassador to the United States, and warned that the national security adviser was potentially vulnerable to Russian blackmail, current and former U.S. officials said.

The message, delivered by Sally Q. Yates and a senior career national security official to the White House counsel, was prompted by concerns that Flynn, when asked about his calls and texts with the Russian diplomat, had told Vice President-elect Mike Pence and others that he had not discussed the Obama administration sanctions on Russia for its interference in the 2016 election, the officials said. It is unclear what the White House counsel, Donald McGahn, did with the information.

In the waning days of the Obama administration, James R. Clapper Jr., who was the director of national intelligence, and John Brennan, the CIA director at the time, shared Yates' concerns and concurred with her recommendation to inform the Trump White House. They feared that "Flynn had put himself in a compromising position" and thought that Pence had a right to know that he had been misled, according to one of the officials, who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.

A senior Trump administration official said that the White House was aware of the matter, adding that "we've been working on this for weeks."

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The current and former officials said that although they believed that Pence was misled about the contents of Flynn's communications with the Russian ambassador, they couldn't rule out that Flynn was acting with the knowledge of others in the transition.

The FBI, Yates, Clapper and Brennan declined to comment on the matter. The White House said in a statement Monday that Trump was "evaluating the situation" regarding Flynn.

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In a Feb. 8 interview with The Washington Post, Flynn categorically denied discussing sanctions with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, repeating public assertions made in January by top Trump officials. One day after the interview, Flynn revised his account, telling The Post through a spokesman that he "couldn't be certain that the topic never came up."

Two officials said a main topic of the relevant call was the sanctions. Officials also said there was no evidence that Russia had attempted to exploit the discrepancy between public statements by Trump officials and what Flynn had discussed.

Flynn told The Post earlier this month that he first met Kislyak in 2013, when Flynn was director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and made a trip to Moscow.

U.S. intelligence reports during the 2016 presidential campaign showed that Kislyak was in touch with Flynn, officials said. Communications between the two continued after Trump's victory on Nov. 8, according to officials with access to intelligence reports on the matter.

Kislyak, in a brief interview with The Post, confirmed having contacts with Flynn before and after the election, but he declined to say what was discussed.

For Yates and other officials, concerns about the communications peaked in the days after the Obama administration on Dec. 29 announced measures to punish Russia for what it said was the Kremlin's interference in the election to help Trump.

After the sanctions were rolled out, the Obama administration braced itself for the Russian retaliation. To the surprise of many U.S. officials, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Dec. 30 that there would be no response. Trump praised the decision on Twitter.

Intelligence analysts began to search for clues that could help explain Putin's move. The search turned up Kislyak's communications, which the FBI routinely monitors, and the phone call in question with Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general with years of intelligence experience.

From that call and subsequent intercepts, FBI agents wrote a secret report summarizing Flynn's discussions with Kislyak.

Yates, then the deputy attorney general, considered Flynn's comments in the intercepted call to be "highly significant" and "potentially illegal," according to an official familiar with her thinking.

Yates and other intelligence officials suspected that Flynn could be in violation of an obscure U.S. statute known as the Logan Act, which bars U.S. citizens from interfering in diplomatic disputes with another country.

At the same time, Yates and other law enforcement officials knew there was little chance of bringing against Flynn a case related to the Logan Act, a statute that has never been used in a prosecution. In addition to the legal and political hurdles, Yates and other officials were aware of an FBI investigation looking at possible contacts between Trump associates and Russia, which now included the Flynn-Kislyak communications.

Word of the calls leaked out on Jan. 12 in an op-ed by Post columnist David Ignatius. "What did Flynn say, and did it undercut U.S. sanctions?" Ignatius wrote, citing the Logan Act.

The next day, a Trump transition official told The Post, "I can tell you that during his call, sanctions were not discussed whatsoever."

White House press secretary Sean Spicer, in a conference call with reporters on Jan. 13, said that the conversation between Flynn and Kislyak had "centered on the logistics" of a post-inauguration call between Trump and Putin. "That was it, plain and simple," Spicer added.

On Jan. 15, Pence was asked about the phone call during an appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation." Citing a conversation he had with Flynn, Pence said the incoming national security adviser and Kislyak "did not discuss anything having to do with the United States' decision to expel diplomats or impose censure against Russia."

Before the Pence statement on Jan. 15, top Justice Department and intelligence officials had discussed whether the incoming Trump White House should be notified about the contents of the Flynn-Kislyak communications.

Pence's statement on CBS made the issue more urgent, current and former officials said, because U.S. intelligence agencies had reason to believe that Russia was aware that Flynn and Kislyak had discussed sanctions in their December call, contrary to public statements.

The internal debate over how to handle the intelligence on Flynn and Kislyak came to a head on Jan. 19, Obama's last full day in office.

Yates, Clapper and Brennan argued for briefing the incoming administration so the new president could decide how to deal with the matter. The officials discussed options, including telling Pence, the incoming White House counsel, the incoming chief of staff or Trump himself.

FBI Director James B. Comey initially opposed notification, citing concerns that it could complicate the agency's investigation.

Clapper and Brennan left their positions when Trump was sworn in, but Yates stayed on as acting attorney general until Jan. 30, when Trump fired her for refusing to defend his executive order temporarily barring refugees and people from seven majority-Muslim countries - an action that had been challenged in court.

A turning point came after Jan. 23, when Spicer, in his first official press briefing, again was asked about Flynn's communications with Kislyak. Spicer said that he had talked to Flynn about the issue "again last night." There was just "one call," Spicer said. And it covered four subjects: a plane crash that claimed the lives of a Russian military choir; Christmas greetings; Russian-led talks over the Syrian civil war; and the logistics of setting up a call between Putin and Trump. Spicer said that was the extent of the conversation.

Yates again raised the issue with Comey, who now backed away from his opposition to informing the White House. Yates and the senior career national security official spoke to McGahn, the White House counsel, who didn't respond to a request for comment.

Trump has declined to publicly back his national security adviser since the news broke.

On Monday afternoon, Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the president, said Trump had "full confidence" in Flynn. Minutes later, however, Spicer delivered a contradictory statement to reporters.

"The president is evaluating the situation," Spicer's statement read. "He's speaking to Vice President Pence relative to the conversation the vice president had with Gen. Flynn and also speaking to various other people about what he considers the single most important subject there is: Our national security."

Karen DeYoung and Greg Miller contributed to this report.

Washington Post
Scientists need your help to hunt for alien planets circling distant stars in the universe.

Data about 1,600 relatively nearby stars collected over the course of 20 years by a telescope in Hawaii was just made publicly available. So now, researchers are hoping that members of the public will use their free time to comb through and find hints of planets circling those alien suns.

SEE ALSO: NASA to explore a metal asteroid that could be the core of a doomed planet

This is an amazing catalog, and we realized there just arent enough of us on the team to be doing as much science as could come out of this dataset, Jennifer Burt, an MIT scientist working with the data, said in a statement.

Were trying to shift toward a more community-oriented idea of how we should do science, so that others can access the data and see something interesting.

The dataset includes 61,000 measurements of the different characteristics of the light from the stars, which are all within 325 light-years of Earth, according to MIT.

By checking out these measurements, scientists can actually learn more about how a star wobbles in its orbit. Those wobbles can be caused by internal characteristics of the star, but if the star wobbles in a specific, regular way, it might be caused by a planet  or planets  exerting their own small gravitational influence on their host star.

The dataset will allow members of the public to look at this radial velocity information and help scientists figure out if there are any planets hiding in the noise.

So far, scientists looking at the set have already found about 100 possible alien planets (also called exoplanets), and they expect to find more.

There seems to be no shortage of exoplanets, Burt said. There are a ton of them out there, and there is ton of science to be done.

According to some estimates, nearly all stars are expected to have at least one planet in their orbits, and there are a variety of ways to detect them. In total, scientists have found more than 3,000 confirmed planets circling alien stars.

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Artist's illustration of planets around another star.

Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Aside from radial velocity measurements, scientists can also use the "transit method," which hinges upon measuring dips in a star's light as a planet passes between Earth and its host star.

Scientists also want to directly image exoplanets as they orbit stars, but because of the extreme difference in the brightness of a star versus its planet, that presents a major challenge.

In the future, space-based telescopes might be able to blot out the light of distant stars to see the planets orbiting around those stars, and ground-based observatories could also train their mechanical eyes on not-too-distant worlds to see what they might be like.

But for now, if you want to help with the exoplanet hunt just download the data, some open-source software developed by the research team and go through a tutorial that teaches you how to use it.

Happy hunting!
Redistricting, education and transportation were among the state issues raised by constituents during a listening session Monday hosted by state Rep. Nancy VanderMeer, R-Tomah, and state Sen. Patrick Testin, R-Stevens Point.

The lawmakers spent over 45 minutes listening and responding to constituents at Tomah City Hall.

Seventeen people attended the session, and five commented on the process in which legislative districts are drawn. All expressed frustration with the process and favored a nonpartisan commission to create the boundaries, which must be redrawn every 10 years to reflect updated census counts.

One speaker took aim at VanderMeers 70th Assembly District, an east-west district that extends 90 miles from west of Sparta to east of Stevens Point. Another asked if the two support a bill that makes redistricting a nonpartisan process.

Neither took a position on the bill, but Testin said, If theres a possibility for reform, Im open to it.

A federal court recently invalidated the maps that have been used since the 2012 election. Testin said there is little the legislature can do until the case works its way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Testin and VanderMeer both support Gov. Scott Walkers proposal to boost public school spending by $200 per student. Testin said he was pleasantly surprised by the governors proposal.

During the course of the campaign talking to school administrators and talking to parents, they wanted to see more K-12 funding, and rightfully so, he said.

Testin said the funding is necessary to develop Wisconsins workforce, which he said has 80,000 job openings.

There is a huge need to train up our workforce, Testin said. You cant have a skilled workforce if youre not training your future workforce.

On transportation, both said roads need improvement and neither ruled out a tax increase. VanderMeer voted against the last biennial budget because she said it underfunded education and transportation.

I have been for all options on the table, VanderMeer said. I was encouraged by he governors commitment to local road aids. However, she questioned whether smaller towns can raise sufficient revenue to qualify for state matching funds.

Testin said there is a split in Republican caucus on transportation funding. The governor has said he wont accept a tax increase to play for transportation projects unless taxes are cut somewhere else.

Its no secret its going to be the most contentious issue we take up this budget cycle, Testin said. There are some of my colleagues from the southeastern part of the state who are under the impression that our roads are fine ... but some of our other colleagues, like myself and senators from rural areas of the state, we know otherwise.

Two people brought up issues of immigration and sanctuary cities. Testin and VanderMeer said those are federal issues and urged them to contact their federal representatives.

On other issues:

Both expressed a skepticism over moving to self-insurance for state employees. My concern is for the long-term financial exposure to the state, VanderMeer said. Im looking forward to more details.

On the race for state Superintendent of Public Instruction, Testin said hes leaning toward Lowell Holtz, while VanderMeer said shes undecided. Holtz and John Humphries are challenging incumbent Tony Evers, who is seeking a third term.

Testin said he opposed a bill to break up the Department of Natural Resources into separate wildlife management and environmental enforcement units. My concern is that the DNR is trying to find efficiencies and become more accountable, Testin said. We should give them the opportunity to do that.
SEATTLE (Reuters) - A U.S. federal judge on Monday said courtroom proceedings over President Donald Trump's travel ban should continue in Seattle during an ongoing appeals court review. At a hearing, U.S. District Judge James Robart in Seattle said he was not prepared to slow down the case. Robart directed attorneys for the U.S. Justice Department and Washington state's attorney general to prepare for further proceedings in Seattle. (Reporting by Bill Rigby in Seattle; Writing by Dan Levine; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
When a good cause goes viral, it can reaffirm our faith in humanity.

Think of the recent unprecedented surge in donations to the ACLU, or the famous ALS ice bucket challenge. Both campaigns inspired many people to respond to challenges that might otherwise feel insurmountable.

But new research published in the journal Nature Human Behavior shows that this phenomenon is the exception, not the rule.

SEE ALSO: 6 ways to push your online activism into the real world in the Trump era

Sander van der Linden, a professor in the department of psychology at the University of Cambridge, recently set out to understand why some charity campaigns define a moment in our digital and cultural lives, while many others don't.

In a new article, van der Linden argues that fundraising and awareness efforts go viral when they affect the way people think and feel in very specific ways. Those campaigns tend to steer real-life and digital social networks toward a course of action, and establish a moral belief that compels people to act. They also inspire positive reactions, and convert that momentum into tangible contributions.

That combination of factors can unleash tremendous support for a cause. Van der Linden's new research isn't based on an original experiment or study, but an analysis of prominent charity efforts like the ice bucket challenge.

He looked at common characteristics of these viral campaigns and found that when many people see their peers perform an act of kindness, they feel compelled to follow suit. Instead of relying on abstract statistics, effective campaigns ask people to identify with someone who will benefit from our collective goodwill. That empathy can be contagious, especially when paired with emotional imagery. Witnessing others' generosity uplifts and inspires people, which creates a "warm glow" effect.

But going viral also has unexpected drawbacks.

"Once something gets picked up, it builds momentum until it reaches a tipping point ... It gets widespread attention and then it drops off," says van der Linden. "People move on."

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That behavior, often described as "clicktivism," can leave people feeling cynical about using the internet to support a charity campaign, compared to more substantial actions like volunteering, making regular financial donations and learning about a cause. It also leads to rapid growth that organizations may not be able to maintain.

That's effectively what happened to the ALS Association when it rallied behind the ice bucket challenge, a homegrown campaign led by three men in 2014. Eventually, more than 17 million people dumped ice on themselves and uploaded the footage to Facebook. The videos were watched 10 billion times and the callout for donations netted $220 million, $115 million of which went to the ALS Association.

But when the nonprofit tried to replicate its success the following year, the campaign fizzled out.

"I think we learned you can't capture lightning in a bottle twice," says Brian Frederick, executive vice president of communications and development for the ALS Association. "We realized [the 2014 campaign] needed to be looked at more like a historical moment, when everybody came together and did something that really had a huge impact on ALS."

Indeed, the money raised in 2014 helped fund an important genetics discovery. Now, Frederick says, the organization is focused on engaging two types of supporters: those who know a lot about ALS and whose family or friends may have the disease, and those who only recently learned about the condition. Sometimes the nonprofit creates entirely different messages and outreach efforts for each group.

Van der Linden says that some viral campaigns are short-lived because they hinge on what he calls "extrinsic incentives," like a competition. While that can turn into viral fun, it may also erode people's "intrinsic motivation" to do something because it's morally right.

Timing also matters a lot. Frederick says that when the ice bucket challenge launched in 2014, the media coverage offered a welcome reprieve from daily stories about the Ebola outbreak in Africa and the spread of ISIS in the Middle East. The following year, it was much harder to break through the din of presidential election coverage.

Van der Linden says the tempered growth of a cause like Movember is a good benchmark for balancing viral attention with long-term support.

Founded in 2003, the Movember Foundation capitalized on the evolving trendiness of "mustache culture" in order to raise awareness about men's physical and mental health. Every November, the foundation encourages men to grow a mustache and raise money for various projects around researching and preventing prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental illness and suicide. By 2015, the nonprofit had engaged more than 5 million people, raised $710 million and funded 1,200 men's health projects.

"They grow at a good rate, but it's not hyper-growth," says van der Linden. "It's not out of control."

The structure of the annual event also taps into that intrinsic motivation to do good.

"[Participants] share something with the larger movement. You do this every year because its a small part of who you are," he says.

Mark Hedstrom, senior vice president of global operations for Movember, says the foundation looks for opportunities to go viral with an approach that balances a lighthearted action with weighty subject matter.

"We may put a fun spin on mustache culture, but the conversation that sparks  these men and the women who support them become walking, talking billboards for men's health," says Hedstrom.

The key to a viral campaign that sustains its momentum, van der Linden says, is giving people incentive to keep supporting the cause on their own, independent of an annual event. That means creating what he describes as a "window" big enough to internalize a new norm or behavior. Then, organizations need to give their new supporters feedback demonstrating how their contributions made a difference.

"It's good to get people involved," says van der Linden. "But once youve done that ... you need to build a core following of people who become more and more invested in it."
Belgrade (AFP) - Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, an ultra-nationalist turned pro-European liberal, will be a candidate in the spring presidential elections, his party said Tuesday.

The leadership of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) decided "unanimously" to have Vucic as a candidate, meaning President Tomislav Nikolic, also in the SNS, will not seek another five-year term.

The 46-year old premier is widely seen as a favourite in the polls, with some analysts forecasting he could clinch the race after just the first round of voting.

Although the Serbian presidency is largely a ceremonial position, Vucic would probably remain one of the country's most powerful politicians if he won.

Since 2012, Vucic has won backing from the EU by pursuing improved relations with Kosovo, its former territory -- a key requirement for each country's EU membership bids.

He has also garnered support for the care shown to the waves of refugees travelling through Serbia over the past two years.

His government opened membership talks with the European Union in 2014, and also pledged to carry out economic reforms called for by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

But his critics say he is an authoritarian leader who has failed to live up to his reformist and graft-busting promises, and has centralised decision-making while curtailing media freedoms.

Vucic's rivals in the presidential race are expected to include Vojislav Seselj, leader of the hardline Serbian Radical Party, who last year was acquitted of war crime charges by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

Former foreign minister Vuk Jeremic and the country's ombudsman, Sasa Jankovic, are also expected to compete.

Vucic's candidacy is supported by the junior party in the governing coalition, Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), the party of ex-strongman Slobodan Milosevic, currently led by Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Dacic.

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In 1990s Vucic was a top official in Seselj's radical party, and information minister in the regime of Slobodan Milosevic during the 1998-1999 Kosovo war and NATO bombing campaign against Serbia.

But Nikolic and Vucic broke ranks with Seselj in 2008 to form the SNS, advocating improved relations with the West and Serbia's membership in the European Union.

But Vucic has also kept friendly relations with Serbia's traditional ally Russia.

He came back to power in 2012, first as a deputy prime minister and two years later as the premier, winning widespread support with a populist platform.
By Aleksandar Vasovic BELGRADE (Reuters) - The leadership of Serbia's ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) decided on Tuesday to nominate Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic as a candidate for the presidency. The presidential election is tentatively expected in April and will pit the SNS's candidate against those from a fragmented and bickering opposition. While the president's role is largely ceremonial, if he also controls the parliamentary majority he could then have huge sway over the government and a new prime minister. In a live interview with state RTS TV, Vucic said he would accept the nomination to secure stability and continuity for the country, which wants to join the European Union. "This is the most important (thing) and there's no sacrifice or risk I could not take because of that," he said. The ruling coalition, which has a comfortable majority in the 250-seat parliament, can also appoint a prime minister without a popular vote. "The president who controls the parliamentary majority, hence the government, is de facto the strongest political figure in the country. If Vucic preserves control over his party, his political power will be unlimited," said Nebojsa Spaic, a Belgrade-based media consultant. Vucic said he has no plans to resign from his current post until the election date is announced and refused to say who could be his successor as the head of the government. Earlier, Ivica Dacic, the head of the jointly ruling Socialist Party of Serbia welcomed Vucic's nomination as "the only rational and logical decision". "His victory as a joint candidate guarantees the political stability of Serbia in the future," said Dacic, who himself served as the Prime Minister from 2012 to 2014. The vote will be a key test of the popularity of Vucic and his economic reforms, which have been backed by the International Monetary Fund, as well as his bid to bring the country of 7.3 million closer to the European Union. According to polls, Vucic would win the election in the first round with more than 50 percent of votes. The party decided not to support the candidacy of incumbent President Tomislav Nikolic, a former ultranationalist and the former head of the SNS who started his five-year mandate in 2012. Vucic's nomination will have to be formally approved by SNS's local party leaders and prominent members at a main board session scheduled for Friday. The departure of Nikolic, who favors closer ties between Belgrade and Serbia's powerful ally Russia, could mean quicker moves towards EU accession and a further improvement of its ties with NATO, despite its military neutrality. It was not immediately clear whether Vucic will decide to seek a parliamentary vote alongside the presidential election, though such a move is not mandatory. In a statement, the SNS said Vucic, who is also the party president, now must start talks with his coalition partners to "try to secure wide popular support for the victory". Zoran Stojiljkovic, a lecturer with Belgrade's Faculty of Political Sciences said that Vucic's nomination was "a rational move aimed at accumulating power in all levels" and securing a victory in the first round. "What remains to be seen is who will be the prime minister, most likely Vucic will pick someone with a degree of authority, (good) ratings and with unquestionable loyalty," Stojiljkovic said. (Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic; Editing by Alison Williams and Hugh Lawson)
By Katy Wong HONG KONG (Reuters) - A Hong Kong court found seven police officers guilty on Tuesday of beating a handcuffed pro-democracy activist during demonstrations in 2014, a rare incident of police brutality in the financial hub that triggered public outrage. The 79 days of student-led protests paralyzed parts of Hong Kong and posed one of the greatest challenges to the central government in Beijing in decades. But Beijing gave no grounds on demands for greater democracy and resentment among some residents of the city, which enjoys a significant degree of autonomy, has simmered ever since. The trial centered on an incident on Oct. 15, 2014, at the height of the protests. A group of police officers was filmed dragging a protester, Ken Tsang, to a dark corner by a pumping substation next to the protest site, where he was kicked and punched. The officers were later suspended from duty. District court judge David Dufton said in a written summary that all seven officers were "guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm", but were found not guilty of the more serious charge of causing grievous bodily harm. "The court was satisfied that by carrying Tsang to the substation where he was dumped on the ground and immediately assaulted, the only inference to draw was that Tsang was carried ... to be assaulted," Dufton wrote in a summary of the verdict. Tsang, a social worker, suffered face, neck and shoulder injuries. He was handcuffed with plastic zip ties at the time, though the court heard he had earlier thrown some liquid at police. Two senior officers among the seven convicted had not taken part in the assault directly, Dufton said, but should have been duty-bound "to prevent the commission of a crime, even by fellow police officers." Instead they had encouraged the others to carry out "unlawful personal violence" on Tsang, he added. The seven men, who had pleaded not guilty, appeared in suits and ties and showed no emotion when the verdict was read. Several of Tsang's supporters cheered in the public gallery. Outside the court, Tsang's supporters were heckled by a group of about 70 people who chanted "support our police". The court did not give a date for sentencing. Under Hong Kong law, they could be jailed for up to three years. Heavy-handed policing is rare in Hong Kong and the case triggered public outrage and deepened tension during the protests in which clashes occasionally erupted. Tsang told Reuters he needed to consider the verdict before making a statement. Hong Kong reverted from British to Chinese rule in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula that accords the city a degree of autonomy and freedom not enjoyed in mainland China. China bristles at dissent, however, especially over issues such as demands for universal suffrage. Many in Hong Kong are increasingly concerned about what they see as Beijing's meddling in city affairs. Unease about the city's future has stoked protests and has even led to calls for independence from China. (Writing by James Pomfret; Editing by Robert Birsel)
LIMA, Peru (AP)  Imprisoned Shining Path leader Abimael Guzman is being tried for a 1992 car bombing in Peru's capital that killed 25 people and injured 155.

The 82-year-old Guzman is already serving a life sentence for the killing of 69 people in the Andean village of Santiago de Lucanamarca in 1983. The Maoist-inspired group began its fight against Peru's government in 1980 but was badly weakened by the 1992 capture of Guzman and many of its other leaders.

The latest legal process against Guzman began on Tuesday in a military prison. Prosecutors have called for another life sentence and an order of $122,000 in reparations for his alleged intellectual authorship of the deadly attack in a middle-class Lima neighborhood.

Guzman's lawyer, Manuel Fajardo, called the attack "lamentable" but said his client "had nothing to do with this issue."

The attack was part of a wave of car bombings in Lima that came as the Shining Path focused its attacks on Peru's capital.

A truth commission found that between 1980 and 2000, fighting among the Shining Path, Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement, the government and self-defense patrols left up 70,000 dead.

Analysts estimate the Shining Path has only 200 remaining fighters holed up the cocaine-producing region of the valley of the Apurimac, Ene and Mantaro rivers.
By Se Young Lee and Ju-min Park SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's special prosecutor's office said on Tuesday it would again seek a warrant to arrest Samsung Group chief Jay Y. Lee, a suspect in a graft investigation that may topple President Park Geun-hye. Lee, the third-generation leader of the country's top conglomerate, was questioned for more than 15 hours by the special prosecutor's office on Monday. The prosecutor is also seeking the arrest of Samsung Electronics Co Ltd executive Park Sang-jin. "We have filed for an arrest warrant for Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong and President Park Sang-jin today," the prosecution office said in a statement, referring to the 48-year-old Samsung Group chief by his Korean name. Last month, the Seoul Central District Court rejected the prosecution's first request for a warrant to arrest the Samsung chief. If Lee is arrested it would deal a serious blow to Samsung, the world's biggest maker of smartphones, memory chips and flat-screen televisions, potentially hampering strategic decision-making such as new investments and acquisitions. The prosecution office said the charges the two executives would face included bribery, embezzlement and hiding assets overseas. The prosecution also said it would also bring an additional charge of perjury against for Lee in the latest arrest warrant request. The office declined to elaborate, saying it would give a briefing on the details on Wednesday. Lee and the Samsung Group have denied wrongdoing. The Samsung Group on Tuesday declined to make either executive available but issued a statement denying bribery. "Samsung has absolutely never bribed the president seeking something in return or sought illicit favors," Samsung Group said in a statement. "We will do our best for the truth to be revealed in court." The Seoul court said it would hold a hearing on the arrest warrants request at 10:30 a.m. (0130 GMT) on Thursday. The head of corporate analysis firm CEO Score, Park Ju-gun, said if Lee was arrested it would affect some long-term operating decisions as well as his plans to consolidate management control of the group. But the impact on Samsung firms' near-term earnings would be limited because they are run by professional managers. LOOKING AT LINKS In its unsuccessful attempt last month to arrest Lee, the special prosecutor accused Lee of pledging payments to a company and organizations backed by Park's confidant, Choi Soon-sil, to win support for a 2015 merger of two Samsung affiliates. Park was impeached by parliament in December after accusations that she colluded with Choi to pressure big businesses to donate to two foundations set up to back the presidents policy initiatives. Both women deny wrongdoing Park, 65, and the daughter of a former military ruler, remains in office but has been stripped of her powers while the Constitutional Court decides whether to uphold the impeachment. If the Constitutional Court rules to uphold the impeachment vote, Park would be South Korea's first elected leader to be forced from office and a presidential election would be held. The special prosecutor has focused on Samsung Group's relationship with Park, previously accusing Lee in his capacity as Samsung chief of pledging 43 billion won ($38 million) to win support for the 2015 merger of Samsung C&T Corp and Cheil Industries Inc. Proving illicit dealings between Park, or those linked to her, and the Samsung Group is critical for the special prosecutor's case that ultimately targets Park, analysts have said. Earlier on Tuesday, special prosecutor's spokesman Lee Kyu-chul told reporters the office had told parliament it needed to prolong its investigation. The office can seek a 30-day extension to its current deadline of Feb. 28. The office of acting president Hwang Kyo-ahn, who must sign off on any such extension, could not be immediately reached for comment. (Reporting by Se Young Lee and Ju-min Park; Editing by Robert Birsel and Tony Munroe)
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - A confidential UN report is warning that the war in South Sudan has reached "catastrophic proportions for civilians" and the rise of militias risks spinning out of control, fueling fighting for years to come.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in the report obtained by AFP on Tuesday that civilians were fleeing villages and towns "in record numbers" and that the danger of mass atrocities "is real".

The stark warning followed a series of meetings that Guterres held with regional leaders and South Sudan's President Salva Kiir last month to push for an end to the three-year war.

"The security situation continues to deteriorate in parts of the country and the consequent impact of this ongoing conflict and violence, has reached catastrophic proportions for civilians," Guterres wrote.

Heavy-handed military operations by all parties, but especially by government forces loyal to Kiir, were "daily destroying homes and livelihoods," said the report sent to the Security Council on Monday.

"The rise of militias under the loose command of the SPLA or rebel commanders is spreading the fragmentation and dislocation of its territories, which risk, if this trend continues, remaining out of any government control for years to come," said the report.

Guterres has been pushing regional leaders like Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, who is close to Kiir, to put pressure on the South Sudanese leader to rein in his forces and pull back from the brink.

The UN chief urged the Security Council to take action to revive political talks to convince rebels to stop fighting and give the government legitimacy to seek international financial aid.

- Rwanda to deploy first wave in new force -

The United Nations has 13,000 peacekeepers in South Sudan, but they have repeatedly been blocked by government soldiers and rebels from areas where fighting has flared.

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Last week, a peacekeeper on patrol in Eastern Equatoria was stopped by four soldiers, dragged out of his car and beaten, the report said.

Following his meeting with Kiir, Guterres reported progress on deploying a regional force under UN command to bolster security in the capital Juba.

Rwanda is poised to send troops and helicopters in a first wave of deployment expected in March or April while Ethiopia is also preparing to contribute forces.

But Kenya has yet to schedule talks on their contribution to the 4,000-strong force and a dispute over the force's presence at the Juba airport is unresolved, the report said.

South Sudan remains a divisive issue at the Security Council after the United States failed in December to win support for an arms embargo and sanctions.

Russia, China, Japan and Egypt were among the countries that voted against a US-drafted resolution, arguing that punitive action would antagonize South Sudan's leaders and further dampen prospects for peace.

Council diplomats point to the success by West African leaders in pushing Gambia's leader Yahya Jammeh to abide by election results and cede power as proof that regional pressure can achieve results.

After gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan descended into war in December 2013, leaving tens of thousands dead and more than three million people displaced.

There is growing alarm over the humanitarian crisis in the country where more than six million people -- half of South Sudan's population -- are in need of urgent aid.
You don't need to use up your vacation days or stretch your monthly budget to treat yourself to a trip. These five weekend getaways are just a few hours by car from La Crosse, and will leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed.

1. New Glarus, Wis.

If you're not up for an international flight, a 160-minute drive will get you to the heart of New Glarus, known as "America's Little Switzerland." This pretty village in Green County has a population of just over 2,000 residents who embrace the Swiss history of the town, which was founded in 1854 by immigrants. Wander through a quaint downtown filled with Swiss restaurants, bakeries, meat markets and shops, or try a beer at the New Glarus Brewery. Be sure to snap a selfie with each of the 14 painted cows around the town. Visitors can also travel back in time with a tour of the Swiss Historical Village, which contains an 1850s log cabin, an 1890s cheese factory, a one-room schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop, and more. To get the full New Glarus experience, stay at one of the Swiss style B&Bs or country inns located downtown.

2. Cedarburg, Wis.

Cedarburg is a historic mill town about 3 hours southeast of La Crosse that offers an exciting mix of architecture and arts. Spend the weekend exploring Cedarburg's numerous galleries, and stop in the Cedarburg Art Museum to view interesting exhibits in a beautiful Victorian home. The Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts is small but memorable. Nature lovers will enjoy walking or biking the scenic Ozaukee Interurban Trail. Enjoy the evenings with drinks at Silver Creek Brewing or Cedar Creek Winery. Staying at one of Cedarburg's charming, historic B&Bs for the weekend is the perfect way unwind.

3. Minneapolis

If you're in the mood for a big city getaway, Minneapolis is just 2 hours away. Tap into your artistic side with a trip to the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Weisman Art Museum, The Museum of Russian Art or the Walker Art Center. Catch a play at the historic Orpheum Theater, and be sure to grab a few beers over the weekend at Fulton Brewing Co. and Indeed Brewing Co. Whether you love shopping, nightlife, art, or sports, Minneapolis has something for you. Hotels range from budget options to luxury suites.

4. Baileys Harbor, Wis.

When the weather warms up, it's time for a weekend getaway to Lake Michigan. The pretty lakeside town of Baileys Harbor, which is about 4 hours from La Crosse, is the perfect place to relax. The Door County town is a water lover's paradise, with fishing, water sports, swimming, kayaking, boat tours, paddle boarding, and more. Snap some photos of Cana Island Lighthouse, or just lounge on the beach with a good book. Door County Brewing often features live music for a laid-back night out. Nature lovers shouldn't miss a hike through the 1,600 acre Ridges Sanctuary. Visitors will find a range of lodging options, including budget friendly hotels, charming inns and peaceful cabins.

5. Iowa City, Iowa
By Tom Arnold DUBAI (Reuters) - Standard Chartered will consider whether it can restart correspondent banking relationships with Sudan following the proposed lifting of U.S. sanctions, a senior executive said. Anurag Bajaj, who oversees the British-based lender's correspondent banking business, where it provides services for other banks, said the bank was reviewing the implications of last month's move by the outgoing Obama administration to unfreeze assets and remove financial sanctions in return for its help in fighting Islamic State and other groups. The sanctions relief will come in six months if Sudan takes further steps to improve its human rights record and makes progress resolving its military conflicts. "How significant the unravelling of the sanctions are [in Sudan] we will look at," Bajaj, Standard Chartered's global head of banks, transaction banking, told Reuters. "Our sanctions team will review it before taking a decision," he added. For Sudan, the resumption of correspondent banking relationships will be vital to turning around its economy, which has struggled since South Sudan seceded in 2011, taking with it three-quarters of the country's oil output. But banks are likely to be cautious given the tougher immigration rules imposed by President Donald Trump on citizens from seven countries, including Sudan, that could affect the country's relations with the United States. Standard Chartered admitted in 2012 to breaking U.S. sanctions against Sudan, as well as Iran and Libya. Bajaj said Iran, which the Trump administration earlier this month imposed sanctions on following a ballistic missile test, remained off-limits for the bank as it was "sanctioned." However, he added that while the bank had cut ties with some clients in other countries to guard against the risk of falling foul of rules on sanctions or money laundering, it was still only a "minimal" number in global terms. "There's always the odd-one, rare client that will not match our risk appetite but there are also clients that we are growing our business with," he said. (Editing by Greg Mahlich)
For prospective international undergraduates unfamiliar with the United Kingdom's university system, the honors classification may be a new concept. But a better understanding of honors can be important for those who hope to remain in the U.K. for career or postgraduate opportunities after they earn their bachelor's degree.

In the U.K., students can earn a bachelor's degree in three or four years, and most degrees are awarded with honors. Honors degrees, which typically require 360 credits and a project or dissertation, are awarded at different classification levels based on students' academic performance by graduation.

[Learn five facts about earning an undergraduate degree in the U.K.]

The highest level of honors classification students can achieve is first class; this is followed by second class, which is divided into upper (2:1) and lower (2:2), and third class, the lowest honors degree.

Students unable to achieve third class may be awarded a nonhonors or ordinary degree. A nonhonors degree is typically 300 credits, without a thesis or dissertation, but can vary by school.

In the 2015-2016 academic year, some 13,900 international students received first honors degrees, and 1,400 received ordinary degrees at U.K. universities, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, which tracks U.K. higher education-related quantitative information.

While an international student enrolled in an honors program can graduate with a nonhonors degree, here are two reasons why they may want to strive for an honors classification.

1. Employment considerations: The honors degree classification specifies a student's level of achievement and specialty in a particular subject. This can help future employers understand a graduate's competency.

"An honors degree involves more specialization in one, or sometimes two or three subjects, and study at a higher academic level," says Graham Kirby, pro dean advising for science at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

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Jon Wright, international marketing manager at Cardiff University in Wales, says a student's degree classification "can matter, but it is very subjective" and differs among employers. He says that while a higher classification can be more attractive to an employer, "other things such as course content, alignment to industry need and work experience gained will all play a part."

[Read about the rules for working while studying in Europe.]

A degree with honors is a positive CV addition and "signals to the employer that the candidate is hardworking, strives to be the best and learns continuously," says Suhail Masri, vice president of employer solutions at Middle East job site Bayt.com.

Employers surveyed last year by the U.K.-based Association of Graduate Recruiters revealed that 74 percent of employers require a 2:1 degree. However, changes may be afoot. Stephen Isherwood, AGR's CEO, says that many employers -- such as EY, PwC and Grant Thornton -- are dropping the use of degree classification as a selection tool and are instead evaluating different ways to measure talent.

2. Postgraduate requirements: Many U.K. postgraduate programs require students to have an upper second class honors degree, according to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service.

U.K. universities do not usually require standardized tests like the GRE and GMAT, says Brian Hussey, lead international officer, Americas, Student Recruitment and Admissions Service at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Instead, he says a student's undergraduate major, honors classification, personal statement and references are the most important factors. However, he says most competitive programs will usually require a minimum of upper second class honors.

Stephen Tyre, pro dean advising for arts and divinity at the University of St. Andrews, says "the greater experience and depth of knowledge gained in an honors degree program will represent a distinct advantage."

Romanian national Ana-Gabriela Popa feels confident about applying for postgraduate studies next year. She graduated in 2016 with a 2:1 bachelor's in international relations and politics from the University of Sheffield in England.

"It is definitely enough for me to apply for a master's wherever I want, even though I am pretty sure I'll pursue a master's in leadership and management at Sheffield," says Popa.

[Consider grad school in the U.K., Australia vs. U.S.]

Since an honors classification plays an integral role in future employment or postgraduate studies, experts say international students should plan ahead.

"I am aware of the requirements for entering honors at St. Andrews -- a minimum grade in my degree modules," says American Harris LaTeef, a second-year modern history major. "By following my module or class grades, I can monitor my progression into honors."

Many schools also help students monitor their progress. Hussey said via email that the University of Aberdeen assesses students "through a combination of end-of-term exams and continuous assessment" and helps keep students on track.

"This is to ensure that students are given appropriate and timely advice on how to keep on track for progressing to the next level of study and successful completion of their program," Hussey said.

After graduation, LaTeef plans to remain in the U.K. for work and postgraduate studies. He says he appreciates the "greater focus on a student's independent study and learning" in the U.K. system. Achieving a high honors classification is important to him, he says, and is "certainly worth the hard work involved."

See the complete rankings of the Best Global Universities.

Anayat Durrani is a Los Angeles-based freelance education reporter for U.S. News, covering global universities, including those in the Arab region.
Hirondellea gigas, which are amphipods, taken from the Mariana Trench were found to contain high levels of persistent organic pollutants: Dr Alan Jamieson

Extraordinary amounts of toxic chemicals that were banned in the 1970s have been discovered in the bodies of sea creatures living at the bottom of the deepest ocean trench in the world.

Scientists were stunned to discover that such high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other persistent organic pollutants were to be found more than 10km (six miles) below sea level in the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. It is about 1,300km from the nearest major land mass, Japan.

And a similar situation was found about 7,000km away in the Kermadec trench, which is also more than 10km deep and about 1,500km north of New Zealand, the researchers reported in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution.

Dr Alan Jamieson, who led the study, said: The fact that we found such extraordinary levels of these pollutants in one of the most remote and inaccessible habitats on earth really brings home the long term, devastating impact that mankind is having on the planet. Its not a great legacy that were leaving behind.

We still think of the deep ocean as being this remote and pristine realm, safe from human impact, but our research shows that, sadly, this could not be further from the truth.

The pollutants were so widespread that the sea creatures, amphipods, had levels of contamination similar to those found in Suruga Bay, Japan, which Dr Jamieson described as one of the most polluted industrial zones of the north-west Pacific.

Were very good at taking an out of sight, out of mind approach when it comes to the deep ocean but we cant afford to be complacent, he added. This research shows that far from being remote the deep ocean is highly connected to the surface waters and this means that what we dump at the bottom of the sea will one day come back up in some form another.

He said it was unclear what the pollution found in the amphipods meant for the wider ecosystem and more research would need to be done to find out.

Persistent organic pollutants, known as POPs, include PCBs and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which can be used as electrical insulators and flame retardants.

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PCBs were banned by many countries in the 1970s, but the total production of the chemical since it was became widely used in the 1930s has been estimated at 1.3 million tonnes.

Industrial accidents, leaks from landfill sites and deliberate discharges saw large amounts of the chemicals get into the sea, which has often been used as a waste dumping ground.

As indicated by their name, POPs do not degrade easily and are believed to be able to persist in the environment for decades at least.

It is thought the chemicals got into the trenches as plastic debris sank to the sea bed or as contaminated animals died and floated down from the surface. The POPs accumulate in the food chain so that by the time they reach the deep ocean, concentrations are many times higher than in surface waters.

In an associated article in the same journal, Dr Katherine Dafforn of the University of New South Wales said the new research had discovered industrial pollution in a habitat formerly considered pristine.

Despite temperatures that hover around 1C and pressures over 1,000 times greater than at the surface, deep sea trenches  support significant endemic biodiversity, she wrote.

However, there is increasing evidence that the unique marine creatures in these trenches are threatened by human-made pollution.

The findings of Dr Jamiesons team were, she said, disturbing. Concentrations of PCBs and PCBEs in these tiny crustaceans were higher than baseline levels and 50 times greater than in crabs from a highly polluted river system in China, Dr Dafforn said.

This is significant since the hadal trenches are many miles away from any industrial source and suggests that the delivery of these pollutants occurs over long distances despite regulation since the 1970s.

She said the problem had come under scrutiny since Rachel Carsons seminal book Silent Spring was published in the 1960s.

New awareness of and insight into the environmental impacts of pollution inspired moves towards protection and a ban on indiscriminate use of pesticides in agriculture, Dr Dafforn said.

Manufactured chemicals such as DDT, originally used in pesticides, are part of an extensive group of carbon-based substances now classified as POPs. They also include industrial chemicals such as PCBs and PBDEs used as flame retardants.

The spotlight has hovered over these pollutants due to their capacity to remain viable over long time periods and for long-range transport in material such as soil, water and air. This has increased their pervasiveness in a variety of environments including the Arctic and now the deepest ocean.

At the same time they can accumulate at up to 70,000 times background levels in the fatty tissue of living organisms with significant magnification at higher levels in the food chain.

These factors, together with their devastating effects on the hormonal, immune and reproductive systems, have been major drivers in their regulation and elimination.
Suits creator Aaron Korsh revealed that he didnt envision Harvey (Gabriel Macht) and Donna (Sarah Rafferty) as characters that would end up as a couple when he was developing the legal drama series.

When I wrote the pilot, I wasnt like, Harvey and Donna are destined to be together, or even, Are they going to be the big will they or wont they? Korsh told USA Network.

He continued, But we definitely went through that with Mike (Patrick J. Adams) and Rachel (Meghan Markle). Do we keep them together, and what do we do about that? I think weve been somewhat successful in both keeping them together and still maintaining some dramatic tension in their relationship, but Harvey and Donna are different because I dont feel like people necessarily are going to want to see them having major conflict if they were to get together.

While Korsh is tight-lipped about whether or not Harvey and Donna will eventually become a couple on the series, the executive producer is well aware of the pros and cons of making Darvey official.

From a simplistic level, the pro of getting them together is getting that chunk of people who want it, Korsh said. I dont know what the percentage of people are who you would call Darvey shippers, but I know that theyre louder than the percentage who arent, and that they think that they comprise 240 percent of viewers. So, it would be giving that contingent what they want. And thats a big pro, right?

But Korsh also knows that theres a group of audiences that doesnt want to see Harvey and Donna get together. I think theres a group of people who really respect that Harvey and Donna have never gotten together, he said. They like that and they would actually be disappointed if they did get together from a character perspective. I also think there are some people who just dont think theyre right for each other. There are some people who root for Harvey and Scottie (Abigail Spencer). And I know there are some people who root for Harvey and Mike (Patrick J. Adams) to be together ... I certainly get tweets from them!

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Macht admitted to the New York Post in July that exploring Harvey and Donnas relationship as lovers wont interest him, but he seems to think that seeing the pair end up together in the series finale would make a good ending.

If the idea is that people want to see these two together because they see them as being great partners, thats great ... but, to be frank, when Ross and Rachel got together [on Friends], I wasnt as interested, he said at the time. If anything, Id like to see them get together at the very end.

Rafferty, meanwhile, thinks that making Harvey and Donna a romantic couple could be a great idea, but she personally feels that it would never happen on the legal drama.

I'll never say never, Rafferty told Digital Spy in January last year of the possibility of seeing the pair officially become boyfriend and girlfriend on the show. It could be amazing, and we have great writers who could create that scenario for us. But its not something that I see happening. Though I could be wrong. Ive been wrong before!

An all-new episode of Suits airs on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 10 p.m. EST on USA Network. Check out the synopsis for Season 6, episode 14, titled Admission Guilt, below:

Harvey and Mike partner on a class action suit; Louis (Rick Hoffman) needs Rachels help to impress a client; Donna and Benjamin (David Reale) refine their product.

Sarah Rafferty as Donna, Gabriel Macht as Harvey

Photo: Shane Mahood/USA Network

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Astana (Kazakhstan) (AFP) - Kazakhstan said Tuesday that a new round of Astana talks on the Syria conflict led by Russia, Turkey and Iran will take place behind closed doors, as the make-up of any rebel delegation remained unclear.

The "closed format" negotiations are set to start Wednesday in the Kazakh capital some three weeks after representatives from Damascus and the armed opposition failed to make a breakthrough at indirect talks in the city.

The meeting -- pushed by key regime supporter Moscow -- is viewed as a warm-up for UN-led negotiations on the protracted war that are due to begin in Geneva on February 23.

While Kazakh officials said they invited both the Syrian government and rebels for the new talks, several of the regime opponents who took part in the previous Astana talks told AFP that they have not received invitations.

Damascus has confirmed it will be represented again by its ambassador to the UN, Bashar al-Jaafari.

Russia is sending presidential envoy Alexander Lavrentiev while Iran said it is dispatching deputy foreign minister Hossein Jaberi Ansari.

UN envoy on Syria Staffan de Mistura said he would not participate personally in the latest Astana meeting but that his office would be represented by a "technical team".

Jordan will also be represented by a "high level delegation" government spokesman Mohamed Momani said.

The Astana initiative has left the West on the sidelines of the latest push to end the war in Syria that has claimed more than 300,000 lives since 2011.

Moscow has invited the US to participate as an observer but the State Department has yet to confirm Washington will be involved.

Talks are likely to focus on bolstering a shaky ceasefire on the ground after Moscow, Tehran and Ankara agreed to establish a "mechanism" aimed at ensuring the truce.

Russia and Iran have helped turn the tables on the ground with their military backing for President Bashar al-Assad, while Turkey has supported rebels fighting to oust the strongman.
Dyana Aljizawi had spent three days cooking more than two dozen traditional Syrian dishes  rice pilaf, hummus, salad, baba ganoush, roast chicken legs and more  and she was exhausted.

It was a busy night for the 20-year-old refugee from Syria, who was the center of attention at a gathering of the Syria Supper Club, a group dedicated to welcoming refugees through meals.

Aljizawi is one of many refugee women from Syria who have connected with their new homes and earned money by cooking and sharing traditional food with neighbors in the U.S. and Canada. Through the Syria Supper Club, the women profit from making buffet-style dinners for the specific cause of pushing back against Islamophobia and xenophobia which they say was exacerbated by President Donald Trumps election.

Im afraid to go outside because, with the current political climate and Trump, Im afraid well be sent home, back to a war zone, Aljizawi, who now lives in New Jersey with her husband, said. The U.S. is very nice, its very beautiful, but weve gone through a lot of pain here.

The Syrian civil war has displaced about 11 million of the countrys residents, sending more than 10,000 to the U.S. and 40,000 to Canada. Prior to coming to the U.S., Aljizawi lived in Egypt for a few years. Although she did not comment on too many details about her earlier life in Syria, Aljizawi said she learned to cook traditional Syrian fare from her mother around the age of 17, while living in Egypt.

Throughout the evening, dinner guests paid their compliments to the chef, marveling at her varied cooking skills at such a young age. Unlike American food, Syrian cuisine  typically heavy on vegetables or halal meat  involves a myriad of dishes, often equalling the amount people in the U.S. make for holidays like Thanksgiving. The more than 20 dishes that night were nothing, Aljizawi said.

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You should see what its like at Ramadan, she said, describing the nearly endless amounts of food she and her family would eat in Syria at the end of the Islamic holy month of fasting.

A little shy at first, Aljizawi blossomed as the dinner went on, helped along by her translator Asma Alqudah, a student at Montclair State University. By the end of the meal, giggles punctuated the corner of the dining room occupied by the young women, who spoke animatedly in Arabic and took a bunch of selfies. Alijzawi said her ultimate goals were to cook for her family and take care of her house, once she feels fully settled into her new home.

Apart from the risks of Islamophobia, other challenges have made life in the U.S. difficult for Aljizawi. Her house is too small and in rough condition, the rent is too high and she and her husband dont have adequate benefits, she said. The money she takes home from the dinners helps while he looks for a job. Dinner guests buy tickets for $50 to attend the meal, and the money goes to the Syrian women to buy the required groceries. They keep the remainder, as part of the fundraising efforts of the club.

Started by Kate McCaffrey and Melina Macall, the Syria Supper Club opens up opportunities for refugees and aims to push back against Trump. The women, who became involved in the project through Montclairs Bnai Keshet synagogue, have organized approximately 30 dinners so far, with 15 just in January, as the club grew in popularity. About 30 refugees have cooked the dinners, and different dinner guests volunteer to host the events.

Trump weighed on every guests mind at the Feb. 5 dinner, held in the days after a federal judge issued a stay on his executive order on immigration that banned travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries, including an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees. Many people see the ban as anti-Muslim, and breaking bread with refugees already in the U.S. became one way for Americans to rebel against the order, which has since been restrained by a federal appeals court in California.

The desire to connect with new neighbors, and help them have a full life has pushed Americans and Canadians in both countries to start pop-up restaurants and catering services that hire women to share recipes learned from oral tradition that may get lost in the upheaval of being displaced across the world.

In Toronto, Canada, Newcomer Kitchen invites Syrian refugee women to cook weekly meals, which are sold online for $20. Proceeds are shared among the cooks. The meals vary by week, but can include meat pies, tabbouleh, hummus, chicken, vegetables and, always, a traditional Syrian dessert.

We want to celebrate that they hold the ancient knowledge of one of the oldest cuisines in the world, co-founder Cara Benjamin-Pace said. Our goal is not to train these women into line workers in the food industry. Our goal is to bring them together and celebrate them as women and in the community.

It appears to have worked for three women who cook each week for Newcomer Kitchen. The trio have lived in Toronto for about a year and told TIME through a translator that they had been incredibly depressed before becoming involved in the project, but felt much happier now as a result of joining a close-knit community. One cook, Amina Alshaar, said she hesitated about joining because had not been exposed to such types of experiences. As a housewife, cooking one meal for her family could be exhausting, but at Newcomer Kitchen, she felt a renewed energy.

I stay here for seven hours and Im very happy. Im not tired at all, Alshaar said.

Khadija Alibrahim, another cook, said her family was shocked that she wanted to work now that she lived in Canada; they came around when they saw how satisfying it was to her. I became very happy to gather among other women, she said. If I didnt join this type of social project, I wouldnt have had the chance to be familiar with the types of social events that the kitchen holds.

Ghada Neemat said she cooks at the kitchen every week to avoid being alone. Neemat, 32, said she lost her father, brother and at least three cousins in the war.

The chance to meet Cara and getting involved in the activities of the kitchen really helped, Neemat, who is now pregnant, said. I was totally depressed before, but feel so much better now.

Canadas welcoming refugee policy shocked the women, some of whom were greeted personally at the airport by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when they arrived. Alshaar said she would need maybe 10 days to fully express her opinion on Trumps travel ban.

This is not expected of the President of the United States, she said of Trumps executive order, which caused thousands of people to be detained in airports the day after he signed it. How did they elect him?

Benjamin-Pace said Newcomer Kitchen has reached out to women in particular because they tend to be left behind once their families settle into new homes. While men tend to find jobs and the children attend local schools, the women stay home and become isolated.

Its almost like their lives dont pick up again. If you empower women, the overall development in the family is much higher, Benjamin-Pace said. Women in Syria, of course, have a very strong and powerful role. Were not trying to change them. We want to celebrate everything that they are.
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey-backed rebels have largely taken control of Syria's al-Bab from Islamic State militants, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Tuesday, but a war monitoring group said the jihadists still controlled most of the town. Syrian rebels, backed by Turkish special forces, tanks and warplanes, swept into northern Syria in August in an operation, dubbed "Euphrates Shield" by Ankara, to push Islamic State from Turkey's border and stop the advance of Kurdish fighters. "Al-Bab has been largely taken under control. Our aim is to prevent the opening of corridors from territories controlled by terrorist organisations to Turkey," Yildirim said in a speech to lawmakers from his ruling AK Party in parliament. However, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the militants remained in control of the northern Syrian town. "Battles continue on the outskirts and entry points...of al-Bab between Islamic State (IS) and the Turkish forces and the Euphrates Shield factions, amid advances by the latter in the area," the Observatory said. "The organisation (IS) still controls most of al-Bab," it added. The Turkey-backed rebels have been pressing a major offensive on al-Bab, 30 km (20 miles) south of the Turkish border, since November. The advance risks putting them in direct conflict with Syrian government forces who are closing in on the city from the south. President Tayyip Erdogan and other Turkish leaders have been saying for weeks that the al-Bab offensive was nearing an end. Further east along the border, Turkey's security forces killed a member of the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia on Monday when they returned fire from Nusaybin into Syrian territory controlled by the group, the Turkish army said. (Reporting by Ece Toksabay, Tuvan Gumrukcu in Ankara, Tom Perry in Beirut; Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by David Dolan)
AT&T will expand its AT&T Fiber internet program to five new cities this month, the company announced Monday.

The cities receiving coverage are Columbia, S.C., Jackson, Miss., Knoxville, Tenn., Milwaukee and Shreveport, La. and it is expected to be set up on a rolling basis. AT&T Fiber launched in Milwaukee Monday and is slated to be available in the other four regions by the end of February.

AT&T Fiber is the companys gigabit high-speed internet option, designed to go head-to-head with competitors like Google Fiber. With faster upload and download speeds, gigabit internet is optimized for applications like streaming 4K or high-definition video. Currently, the service only has a base of around 4 million users, but aims to roll out to additional areas soon. Coverage is also available in an estimated 650,000 apartments and condos. You can see AT&T Fibers coverage map here.

AT&T wants to reach 12.5 million locations in 67 metro areas with fiber coverage by mid-2019. As Ars Technica notes, the expansion is also a condition from the Federal Communications Commission that is tied to AT&Ts merger with DirecTV in 2015. Prices for gigabit AT&T Fiber service also run between $70 to $90 per month.

The update is the latest rollout from AT&T as it tries to establish a foothold in the burgeoning gigabit Ethernet market. AT&T Fiber, which originally launched in 2013, earned a brief reprieve from competitor Google Fiber when the side venture went on hiatus last October. However, Google quietly updated its upcoming cities list early this month for Fiber. As streaming and data consumption become a bigger part of users daily media habits, though, expect gigabit coverage to become increasingly commonplace.

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By Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - A Tanzanian court has sentenced a married couple to 20 years in jail each for illegal possession of 210 pieces of ivory from nearly 100 poached elephants, the government said on Tuesday.Peter and Leonida Loi Kabi, who pleaded not guilty, were sentenced on Monday. "The tusks weighing 450.6 kg along with five pieces of elephant bones representing the slaughter of 93 elephants were found at the home of the convicted persons," the Natural Resources and Tourism Ministry said in a statement.Famed for safaris on the Serengeti plains and home to Africa's highest mountain Kilimanjaro, Tanzania relies on revenues from tourism and wildlife safaris but has been blighted by poachers chasing ivory, mostly sold in Asia. President John Magufuli ordered security forces in October to hunt the criminals who finance poaching networks. Tanzania's elephant population shrank from 110,000 in 2009 to about 43,000 in 2014, according to census results. Conservationists blame industrial-scale poaching. The population of rhinos, classified as endangered, has also fallen. Prosecutors in 2015 charged Chinese businesswoman Yang Feng Glan, 66, dubbed the "Ivory Queen", with running a network that smuggled tusks from at least 350 elephants. She denies the charges in the ongoing court case. (Story corrects to make clear Tanzania relies on tourism in paragraph 4) (Reporting by Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala; Editing by Edmund Blair and Angus MacSwan)
By Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - A Tanzanian court has sentenced a married couple to 20 years in jail each for illegal possession of 210 pieces of ivory from nearly 100 poached elephants, the government said on Tuesday. Peter and Leonida Loi Kabi, who pleaded not guilty, were sentenced on Monday. "The tusks weighing 450.6 kg along with five pieces of elephant bones representing the slaughter of 93 elephants were found at the home of the convicted persons," the Natural Resources and Tourism Ministry said in a statement. Famed for safaris on the Serengeti plains and home to Africa's highest mountain Kilimanjaro, Kenya relies on revenues from tourism and wildlife safaris but has been blighted by poachers chasing ivory, mostly sold in Asia. President John Magufuli ordered security forces in October to hunt the criminals who finance poaching networks. Tanzania's elephant population shrank from 110,000 in 2009 to about 43,000 in 2014, according to census results. Conservationists blame industrial-scale poaching. The population of rhinos, classified as endangered, has also fallen. Prosecutors in 2015 charged Chinese businesswoman Yang Feng Glan, 66, dubbed the "Ivory Queen", with running a network that smuggled tusks from at least 350 elephants. She denies the charges in the ongoing court case. (Reporting by Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala; Editing by Edmund Blair and Angus MacSwan)
Mumbai (AFP) - India's largest carmaker Tata Motors Tuesday reported a 96 percent fall in quarterly profits, due to a cash ban which hit domestic business and weak sales at its luxury Jaguar Land Rover unit.

Consolidated net profit for the three months ending December fell to 1.12 billion rupees ($16.73 million) from 29.53 billion rupees a year earlier, the Mumbai-based company said.

Revenue fell 4.3 percent to 685.41 billion rupees.

The company's commercial vehicles business saw a "demand shrinkage" owing to the Indian government's shock move in November to withdraw high-value banknotes from circulation, it said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's demonetisation drive removed around 86 percent of India's cash at a stroke, triggering massive queues outside banks and a cash shortage that has hit businesses across the country.

"The segment witnessed major pressure with a fall of nine percent year-on-year" in sales, the company said.

Its Jaguar Land Rover business saw "lower wholesale volumes and relatively weaker product mix... and overall higher marketing expenses," the company said in its statement.

Shares in Tata Motors, part of the sprawling tea-to-steel conglomerate, fell 7.3 percent on the Bombay Stock Exchange on Tuesday.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  Authorities say a 16-year-old girl from Nebraska who admitted throwing her newborn out of a second-floor window will be sentenced as a juvenile in the baby's death.

Police say she gave birth Sept. 30 at her mother's apartment in Omaha, Nebraska, tossed the child out the window then told her mom, who called 911. The Associated Press generally doesn't name juveniles charged with crimes.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said Monday that what the girl did wasn't planned, and that "it was more of a panicked reaction." An autopsy determined that the baby was in her seventh month of development.

The teenager could be given probation or be placed in a group home or detention center at her March 24 evaluation hearing.
Text of national security adviser Michael Flynn's resignation letter, as provided by the White House:

__

In the course of my duties as the incoming National Security Advisor, I held numerous phone calls with foreign counterparts, ministers, and ambassadors. These calls were to facilitate a smooth transition and begin to build the necessary relationships between the President, his advisors and foreign leaders. Such calls are standard practice in any transition of this magnitude.

Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador. I have sincerely apologized to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology.

Throughout my over thirty three years of honorable military service, and my tenure as the National Security Advisor, I have always performed my duties with the utmost of integrity and honesty to those I have served, to include the President of the United States.

I am tendering my resignation, honored to have served our nation and the American people in such a distinguished way.

I am also extremely honored to have served President Trump, who in just three weeks, has reoriented American foreign policy in fundamental ways to restore America's leadership position in the world.

As I step away once again from serving my nation in this current capacity, I wish to thank President Trump for his personal loyalty, the friendship of those who I worked with throughout the hard fought campaign, the challenging period of transition, and during the early days of his presidency.

I know with the strong leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence and the superb team they are assembling, this team will go down in history as one of the greatest presidencies in U.S. history, and I firmly believe the American people will be well served as they all work together to help Make America Great Again.

Michael T. Flynn, LTG (Ret)

Assistant to the President / National Security Advisor
Bangkok (AFP) - Babies dressed as cupids, underwater weddings and a government vitamin giveaway to encourage procreation were all part of Thailand's imaginative and bizarre events Tuesday to mark Valentine's Day.

The Land of Smiles embraces February 14 like few other countries in Southeast Asia, with Bangkok awash with pop-up flower stalls and a roster of romantic gestures unfurling across the country.

The junta government led the love-in, doling out heart-shaped boxes of free iron and folic acid supplements in a bid to help healthy pregnancies and stimulate the kingdom's birthrate.

"In 1970, a family had an average of six children but now it's 1.6," Wachira Pengjuntr, director-general of the Department of Health, told AFP.

"In the past people ate better food, more vegetables and fruits but now lifestyles have changed... so we want to encourage more births."

In the southern tourist hotspot of Trang, couples were offered the opportunity to marry underwater -- in full wedding dress and diving gear -- in an annual publicity stunt aimed at boosting visitor numbers.

And babies at one Bangkok maternity ward were dressed up with wings to resemble the god of love.

Even Thailand's fractious political arena, a stage more accustomed to the delivery of brickbats than bouquets, could not escape Cupid's arrow.

In a widely trailed "Day of Love", the junta opened reconciliation talks with some political players in an effort to bridge a decade of conflict that has seen two democratic governments upended by coups.

Thailand's normally stern Prime Minister Prayut Cha-O-Cha was also in an affectionate mood following a poll saying just over half the country wanted to give him flowers for Valentine's Day.

"I have love for everyone -- all 70 million Thais every day -- not only on Valentine's Day. I have roses for you everyday. Thank you," he told reporters.

Thai polling data is often criticised as politically slanted.

Still the junta's unbridled passion for Valentine's Day was a contrast to more po-faced approaches in previous years -- in 2015 the generals urged young people to have a special meal or visit temples instead of having sex.
Before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus first visit to the White House since President Trump has been in office, Yahoo News and Finance Anchor Bianna Golodryga takes a look at the heated debate surrounding whether to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. On the campaign trail, President Trump promised to do this, but he has since backed away from the plan. As Golodryga explains, he is not the first president to do so.
SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) - Four Indian soldiers and four militants were killed on Tuesday in gunbattles in Kashmir, in the second outbreak of violence between security forces and separatists in three days. Three soldiers and a militant died in a shootout in North Kashmir's Bandipora district, as a joint army and police team mounted a search following a tip-off that gunmen were in the area, a defense spokesman said. Five soldiers were wounded. "During the searches, militants hiding in a house opened fire, triggering off an encounter," Lieutenant Colonel Rajesh Kalia told Reuters. He said there were no arrests. Separately, security forces shot dead three militants in Handwara district, a senior police official told Reuters. An Indian army officer was also killed in the gunbattle. India is trying to contain an insurgency in its northernmost region that is more than a quarter-century old. Protests flared last year after security forces killed a popular underground separatist leader called Burhan Wani. India accuses Pakistan of smuggling in men, equipment and counterfeit cash to back separatist fighters - a charge Islamabad denies. The nuclear-armed neighbors have fought two of their three wars since independence over Kashmir, which each claims in full but rules only a part. Four militants and two Indian soldiers were among seven killed in a gunbattle in South Kashmir on Sunday. (Reporting by Fayaz Bukhari; Editing by Douglas Busvine, Rajesh Kumar Singh and Andrew Roche)
On Feb. 1, murder suspect Mok Chun-yin was brought across the border from mainland China back to Hong Kong, ending three years on the run. Mok was accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, flight attendant Arbe Chan, whose body was found inside a wardrobe at her Hong Kong home in December 2013.

On Jan. 29, a murder-suicide shook the Japanese city of Nagasaki. Chiaki Nonaka was stabbed to death in her car by her ex-husband Shogo Temizu, who later hanged himself at his nearby home. Local press reported Nonaka, who had contacted the police to report Temizu for stalking, was killed when she brought their 2-year-old to see him.

About a month before that, on Dec. 22, a man fatally stabbed his wife and child in Seoul before he killed himself. According to their neighbors, prior to the triple murder-suicide, the man was frequently violent toward his wife.

Violence toward women does not, at first sight, appear to be a problem in Hong Kong, Japan or South Korea. Overall homicide rates are among the lowest in the world  below 1 per 100,000 people  and street crime is rare. Harassment is also uncommon: women generally feel safe when going out alone at night.

But despite the veneer of safety, the three jurisdictions actually have the highest rate of female homicide victims in the world. According to a report by the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), published in 2014, Hong Kong and Japan top the ranking  with women comprising 52.9% of the total homicide victims  followed by South Korea at 52.5%.

These are a stark contrast to figures in other countries, where women make up less than half of homicide victims (the exception is Switzerland, whose figure is 50%). In Asia, for example, the number is 12% in the Philippines, 21.9% in China, 23.3% in Pakistan and 40.8% in India. In in the U.K. it is 29.7% and the U.S. 22.2%. The worldwide average is 21.3%.

On Feb. 14, womens-rights activists around the world are commemorating V-Day, hoping to raise awareness of violence against women worldwide. The campaign, One Billion Rising, refers to the U.N. projections that 1 in 3 women will be raped or beaten in her lifetime, or 1 billion in the world.

Story continues

In the absence of wars, crime and social conflicts, women in East Asia are more likely to be harmed by men they know  intimate partners, ex-partners or family members  rather than by strangers. According to UNODC statistics, 55% of of female homicide victims in Asia are killed by their family members or intimate partners; the figure for men, on the other hand, is 6%.

With bitter irony, women run the risk of being killed by those who are expected to care for and even protect them, the U.N. body says. And in countries and cities where public spaces are deemed safe, violence against women is most likely to happen in the private domain, behind closed doors.

Women in Hong Kong, and in Asia, are disproportionately the victims of spousal battering, according to Shirley Kong, a postdoctoral fellow in social sciences at the University of Hong Kong, who does research on domestic violence, also known as intimate-partner violence. Women are greatly affected by such violence, she says, even when they are not killed.

In Japan, 1 in 3 wives experiences some sort of domestic violence and 1 in 20 has a near-death experience, says Masako Ishii-Kuntz, professor of sociology at Ochanamizu University in Tokyo, citing governments figures. Closer to 20% of female homicide victims are victims of domestic violence.

On average, a woman is killed by her intimate partner or ex-partner every three days in Japan. The same figure also applies in South Korea.

According to South Koreas national survey in 2010, intimate-partner abuse  encompassing emotional, physical and sexual forms  occurred in 53.8% of married couples, and in 81.9% of those cases, it was wives being abused by husbands. Abuse is also widespread among unmarried couples. A 2014 study by Korea Womens Hotline, a nongovernmental organization that assists female victims of violence, showed 90% of women surveyed had been physically or emotionally abused by their boyfriends.

Statistics in Hong Kong are grim as well. Around 20% of Hong Kongs households experience intimate-partner violence  and the victims are overwhelmingly female. Family violence has contributed to 25% of the citys homicides  with two-thirds of the victims women and one-third children. Yet, only 1 in 5 women who are physically assaulted by their partners report it to the police.

Intimate-partner violence is prevalent  and underreported, Kong tells TIME. The official statistics reflect only the tip of an iceberg.

Despite the ubiquity, most cases of violence against women, like the murders-suicides in Nagasaki and Seoul, hardly make a blip in the media. A few cases did receive extensive media coverage. For example, that of former British banker Rurik Jutting, who was sentenced to life in Hong Kong last November for torturing and murdering two Indonesian migrant workers in 2014. There was also the Gangnam murder  named after the upscale neighborhood in Seoul, where a woman was brutally stabbed by a man who said, I did it because women have always ignored me. It galvanized protests by South Korean women to draw attention to the misogynistic nature of the crime (and ironically, counterprotests by mens-rights activists).

But even such horrific cases rarely succeeded to spark a long-lasting and deeper public discussion on the violence or ignite policy change.

Only extreme cases that are pathological in nature like the Gangnam murder case will receive some media attention, but only for a short while, says Grace Chung, associate professor of family studies at Seoul National University. The case, she says, sparked some interest in this issue and interest in the term misogyny for the first time. However, I dont think it reached the general public far and wide.

Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan have laws that address domestic violence, but the predominantly female victims face social, economic and legal obstacles to get protection. Alleged Hong Kong killer Mok was previously charged for beating up Chan just three months before her murder, but he was merely placed on a good-behavior bond by the court. Before she was killed by her former husband, Nonaka told the police that he had been stalking her  but she refused to file a criminal complaint and the police took no real action. The South Korean man who killed his family had a prior history of domestic violence.

According to the 2013 national survey of domestic violence in South Korea, 58.3% of the respondents did not receive any legal follow-up after they called the police, and only 8.7% of the domestic-violence cases were prosecuted. In Japan, domestic violence constitutes one-fifth of all violent crime, but less than 10% of the reported abuses result in arrests. Nearly 70% of domestic-violence crime cases brought to Hong Kong courts resulted in good-behavior bonds, instead of prosecution.

What the law is concerned with and wants to protect is family, Chung alleges to TIME. Domestic violence is perceived to be a crime that destroys family. So when dealing with [such] cases or violence against wives, the law prioritizes family over protecting victims.

It is also not uncommon for women to return to their abusive husbands  60% of abused women do so in Japan. One of the most common reasons is because they lack financial resources to start a new life. Unsafe child-contact and custody arrangements, made formally or informally, also put women survivors and their children at risk for more harassment and violence.

I think its wrong to think children need to have both parents, especially if one is an abuser, or believed to be, says Ishii-Kuntz.

Kong calls on the authorities not only to improve crisis-intervention service, like providing enough shelters and holding abusers into account, but also to devote more resources to ensure post-separation recovery of women survivors and their children, who likely to suffer abuse as well.

They need housing, financial support, physical rehabilitation, psychological and social recovery, she says.

The World Health Organization has declared violence against women as a global health problem of epidemic proportions. It is unlikely to go away: At the global level, UNODC says, the average rate of homicide by intimate partners or family members is relatively stable worldwide.

Sexism is seen as the root cause of the gender-based violence, and Ishii-Kuntz believes there is only one way to change that mind-set. One key to correcting it is education, she says. Gender-equality education must be introduced at every level.
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In a guest piece for LAist, Glen Creason, author of "Los Angeles in Maps," explores the vibrant history of immigrants in early Los Angeles, and their seminal role in building the city. He has also shared a number of maps from the Los Angeles Public Library's archive.

By Glen Creason

In reflecting on the current abomination of officially sanctioned national xenophobia and bigotry, we should remember that Los Angelesdespite todays widespread protestsis a city where such base behavior is both familiar and deeply rooted in our history.

One does not have to dig too deep to find incidents like the Chinese Massacre of 1871, which featured gleeful public lynching in the Pueblo, the shunting of non-whites into the early barrio of Sonoratown and the concerted effort of carpet-bagging Americans to erase the Spanish-Mexican roots of the Ciudad de La Reina de Los Angeles.

This map showing the L.A. of 1871 has a panel on the left side depicting lynchings in the Plaza





(Click map to enlarge.)

Early local papers contained anti-Irish and anti-Italian sentiments along with jokes and cartoons about Mexicans, Indians and blacks who were portrayed as shiftless and lazy, despite the fact they practically stuck together the infrastructure of the growing city with their sweat.

This "humorous" map from 1948 displays those racist Anglo attitudes toward Mexicans, as evidenced by the caricature of a Mexican "sleeping" in the lower right corner of the map.





(Click map to enlarge.)

The great majority of the impressive structures that gave shape to the modern big city were created brick-by-brick by pathetically low-paid Mexican immigrants who ended up in poverty while being treated as second-class citizens. This racial hatred reached a sick pinnacle with the 1943 Zoot Suit riots and the beating of young people of color on the streets of L.A. for days with very little interference from the police or establishment politicians. As recently as the 1920s, popular demagogue preacher Robert P. Shuler lauded the KKK and excoriated innocent minorities while the troglodytes drooled in front of their radios.

The foundations of the roads and rails in the big city were created by hard-shelled Chinese and Irishmen who were thanked by being tossed aside as soon as the streetcars and railroads made L.A. a place of opportunity for more rubes from the East and Midwest. All of this happened with astounding rapidity, especially for the original Angelenosthe Tongva Indians who once hunted the hills of the Southland and fished along the coast while coexisting peacefully with other tribes in Southern California.

Even when a trickle of settlers came up from what would become Mexico and put down roots near the Porciuncula River there was harmony enough for an ethnically diverse pueblo. Yet, with the Missions' quest to civilize the Indians, Christianity came with oppression including paying the Gabrielenos (Anglo for Tongva) and Fernandinos in liquor then having them arrested for drunkenness and fined for public intoxication which they could work off with what amounted to slave labor. When the Missions were secularized by Mexico and the lands absorbed by ranchos, the promises made to the Mission Indians who had worked for generations were ignored and years of loyalty was repaid with repression and rejection. The short Mexican rule (1831-1850) that ended with the big, bad United States taking a huge chunk of land in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was the last gasp of a Hispanic settlement that was soon swamped with Yankees who quickly sought to Americanize their adopted land.

The odd Angelenos out were the Mexican-Californios, the Chinese, the indigenous people and those laborers who built the railroads, dug the irrigation ditches, created the harbor and cleared land for agriculture and settlement that would benefit the same newcomers who would exclude them, keep them from owning property and erase all evidence of their place in Los Angeles history.



A sanitized, very white version of Los Angeles, from a 1956 Chamber of Commerce brochure. (Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library Photo Collection)

The question is where our dear dirty Los Angeles would be without immigrants, brought in generation by generation, only changing ethnicities for the capitalists who needed cheap labor to realize their schemes in the City of the Angels and to buy the land they had gathered with the promise of California as an Eden. By the turn of the 19th century, the newcomers had managed to blur the Spanish city into another American big city with an awful lot of Spanish place names. When the old Sonoratown was rescued and turned into Olvera Street in the 1930s, and the wild and worldly Chinatown was covered over by Union Station, sanitized ethnic cities rose in their place.

Still, history records that Los Angeles was founded by people of mixed blood and allowed to grow by immigrants from all over the globe. Even at the time of statehood Spanish, French, Italian, Russian, Chinese and German were heard on the dusty streets of the old Pueblo. Many of the early colonial Los Angeles pioneers learned Spanish to communicate with the natives but came from other countries or ventured across the globe. Actually, the first American did not come ashore here until 1805, and maps continued to use Spanish and English place names for decades after Uncle Sam made his claims in Los Angeles.

Here are some of those immigrants who laid the foundation of our city's history. The lack of women pictured is not because they weren't integral to the city's founding, but simply because of the unfortunate fact that most remained invisible when the stories were told.
Frances Cleveland

Yes, its Valentines Dayand in a romantic tribute to couples everywhere, its time to turn back the pages of history to remember three White House romances.

The home of the U.S. president since late in the John Adams administration, the White House has seen its share of drama.

But of all the 44 men who served as president since 1789, only three have gotten married while they were serving as president.

Two presidents were widowed and married again, while a third was a bachelor who shocked Washington when he chose a wife.

John and Julia Tyler

President John Tyler arrived at the White House under unusual circumstances. Chosen as the running mate of William Henry Harrison in 1840, Tyler unexpectedly became president when Harrison died in 1841.

Tyler, who had been a Democrat in the past, quarreled with his newfound allies in the Whig party. Party leader Henry Clay tried his best to get Tyler to quit office; ultimately, the Whigs simply kicked the president out of the party.

But the biggest threat to Tylers presidency came as he was romancing a young woman in 1844.

Before running in the 1840 election, Tylers first wife, Letitia, had suffered a stroke and had serious health problems. She lived in the White House for almost a year until she passed away in 1842.

A year later, a beautiful young woman named Julia Gardiner came to the capital from Long Island. Tyler started pursuing a relationship with Gardiner soon after her arrival, despite the 30-year age difference. In 1844, as Tyler was courting Julia Gardiner, her family was invited to join the president on an inspection trip on the frigate Princeton.

Tragedy struck when a gun exploded on the Princeton during a demonstration, killing Gardiners father and several Cabinet members. Tyler had been detained on his way to the top deck, narrowly avoiding death.

They were married in a private ceremony in New York in June 1844. The couple left the White House eight months later and had seven children. (Tyler had eight children with his first wife.)

Story continues

Grover and Frances Cleveland

Forty years later, Grover Cleveland was elected president and entered the White House as a bachelor. He left four years later as a happily married manwho had lost an election. But in another four years, he returned to serve a second term in office.

Like Tyler, there was a considerable age difference between the president and his future wife. Frances Folsom was the daughter of Clevelands law partner, Oscar Folsom. Cleveland first met her as an infant when he was visiting Folsom as a 27-year-old friend.

Frances lost her father when Oscar Folsom was killed in a carriage accident when she was 11 years old. Cleveland was appointed to oversee her fathers estate, but he wasnt her legal guardian. When Cleveland took office, there was talk that he would get married to Frances mother, Emma Folsom, since the family was seen visiting the White House quite often.

It then came as a huge shock when the 49-year-old president announced to the nationfive days before the ceremonythat he was marrying the 21-year-old Folsom. The small, private ceremony was in the White House, with John Philip Sousa conducting the band. But Frances, who reporters had nicknamed Frankie, caused a media sensation.

Cleveland admonished the press during their honeymoon, but it didnt stop the national obsession with the first lady. In many ways, she was the most visible first lady since Dolley Madison as a fashion icon and community figure. Frances Cleveland was the youngest first lady and the only one to have a child in the White House (the couple had five children total). She was also the only first lady to serve two separate terms.

Woodrow and Edith Wilson

Edith Bolling Wilson was another important first lady who served a quiet yet important role when her husband was felled by a stroke while in office. Edith Wilson had been married before; her first husband died unexpectedly in 1908. Six years later, she was introduced to President Woodrow Wilson at the White House by Wilsons cousin.

The presidents first wife, Ellen, had died in August 1914. Edith Wilson met the president in March 1915, starting a whirlwind 10-month courtship that ended in marriage. The couple was wed in a private ceremony at the brides house in Washington. Wilson was 58 and his bride was 43 at the time of the wedding.

In October 1919, President Wilson suffered a stroke that left him partially incapacitated. The first ladys role as the unofficial president is controversial to this day.

Writing in her memoirs, Edith Wilson said she screened reports and notices for her husband, and under the advice of his doctors, let the official members of the presidents administration run the government. But historians believe she played a much bigger role in deciding some presidential matters until Wilson recovered enough to become more involved in the government.

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Paris (AFP) - Two men and a 16-year-old girl were charged in southern France on Tuesday on suspicion of planning a terror attack that the authorities believe was imminent, judicial sources said.

The three -- arrested on Friday near the coastal city of Montpellier -- were identified as Thomas Sauret, 20; his partner, a 16-year-old minor named only as Sarah; and Malik Hammami, 33.

They were indicted on Tuesday for "criminal association in connection with a criminal terrorist enterprise", the sources said.

Sauret and his partner were also charged with making and possessing explosives in an organised group.

The case is being handled by anti-terrorism investigators, the sources said.

The three had been spotted several weeks earlier for using Telegram, an encrypted message system preferred by jihadists, they said.

Police swooped on Friday after the teenager pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in a video on social media and she and Sauret, both converts to Islam, bought acetone and hydrogen peroxide -- precursors of an unstable, homemade explosive called TATP.

Police raided a flat in Clapiers, north of Montpellier, and found 71 grams (2.5 ounces) of TATP, the sources said.

"An imminent terrorist act was being prepared," Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux said on Monday.

Computer and telephone equipment seized in police searches suggest that the Eiffel Tower could have been among the potential targets, although "at this point, there is nothing indicating a plan for a clearly defined target," a source close to the inquiry said.

The suspicion is that Sauret planned to blow himself up and his partner would flee to the Iraqi-Syrian area before the attack took place.

Sauret had been placed under house detention at his father's home in the eastern region of the Ardennes from December 2015 to December 2016 after trying to head for Syria, the source said.

Hammami had been allegedly approached over the internet by Sarah, who sought an Islamic "tutor" to help her prepare for marrying Sauret.

Story continues

Hammami is described as a father of two who was going through a divorce and had a long record of drug offences. He had been a prominent poster of extremist messages on social media, the source said.

A 26-year-old man had also been among those arrests that were announced on Friday, but he was released the following day without further action.

France remains on high alert after a wave of attacks that began two years ago, claiming more than 200 lives.

On February 3, a soldier shot and wounded a machete-wielding attacker who lunged at him outside the Louvre museum in Paris while shouting "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest).

One of the most active members of the US-led coalition fighting IS, France has been the worst hit among European countries targeted by attacks claimed or inspired by the Sunni extremist group.

Parliament voted in December to extend a national state of emergency until July 15, after this year's presidential and parliamentary elections.
The second single from February 24 album "Drunk" is "Friend Zone," in which multi-instrumentalist Thundercat ponders reasons for a break-up.

Currently on a three month tour that includes stops in the US, Canada, multiple European cities, and Japan, Stephen "Thundercat" Bruner has released a second cut from fourth solo album "Drunk."

Late January single "Show You the Way" brought 70s and 80s Yacht Rock icons Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins on board, while "Friend Zone" has Thundercat alone occupying the main stage, maintaining the sort of electronic, funk and soul sounds he is known for.

The Los Angeles-born musician's resume includes work with Flying Lotus, Erykah Badu, Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar and Ty Dolla Sign.

Thundercat - Friend Zone: soundcloud.com/brainfeeder/thundercat-friend-zone
WASHINGTON (AP)  Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is heading to Germany this week on his first trip abroad as America's top diplomat, the State Department said Tuesday.

Tillerson departs on Wednesday for a meeting of foreign ministers from the Group of 20 world powers in Bonn on Thursday and Friday amid disarray in the Trump administration's national security team and European concerns over U.S. priorities on the continent as well as its commitments to NATO and other international organizations.

The State Department said that in addition to participating in large G20 sessions, Tillerson will also meet separately with counterparts from Britain, Saudi Arabia and Oman and participate in talks on Syria and Yemen. Additional meetings are also expected, although the department would not confirm a widely anticipated meeting between Tillerson and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Tillerson, who hopes to calm nervousness about the Trump administration's policies, will have his work cut out for him as he will almost certainly face questions about the abrupt resignation of Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump's national security adviser. Flynn stepped down on Monday for misleading White House officials about the substance of conversations he had with Russia's ambassador to the United States.

The G-20 comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, France, Britain, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the U.S. and European Union.
National security adviser Michael Flynn, one of Donald Trumps closest associates during the campaign and transition, resigned his post Monday night after admitting he misled administration officials about his contacts with the Russian ambassador in December. Here is a timeline of the events:

February 2016: Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, the former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, tells CNN he is advising five campaigns, including Trumps. Over the ensuing months, reports call Flynn Trumps favorite general and say he is one of the top candidates to be named as vice president on the Republican ticket.

July 18: Flynn speaks on Monday night of the Republican National Convention. During his speech he leads Lock her up chants directed at Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and says, If I did a tenth of what she did, Id be in jail today. Earlier that day, Flynn does an interview with Yahoo News Michael Isikoff in which he defends taking a payment for a Russian speaking engagement:





Nov. 17: Isikoff reports that Flynn was receiving classified national security briefings last summer while he was also running a private consulting firm that offered all-source intelligence support to international clients.

Nov. 18: Flynn accepts Trumps offer to become his national security adviser.

Dec. 14: The Washington Post and Associated Press report that Flynn had been investigated for inappropriately sharing classified information with foreign military officers while serving as an intelligence commander in Afghanistan. The Army reports concluded that Flynn had wrongly shared some intelligence, but that it was not done knowingly. No action was taken.

Dec. 29: President Barack Obama announces there will be sanctions against Russia for its involvement in the 2016 election. On the same day those sanctions are announced, Flynn speaks with Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak by telephone. Initially, transition officials say Flynn texted with and spoke by phone with the ambassador on Dec. 28, but multiple members of the transition team confirm to NPR on Jan. 14 that that version of events was inaccurate and the two spoke on Dec. 29.

Story continues

Dec. 30: Russian President Vladimir Putin says he will not respond to the Obama administration sanctions. Although we have the right to retaliate, says Putin in a statement, we will not resort to irresponsible kitchen diplomacy but will plan our further steps to restore Russian-US relations based on the policies of the Trump Administration.

Trump praises the decision:

Great move on delay (by V. Putin)  I always knew he was very smart!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2016

Jan. 13, 2017: On a conference call with reporters, transition spokesperson and White House press-secretary-to-be Sean Spicer gives the transitions account of Flynns discussion with the Russian ambassador: The call centered around the logistics of setting up a call with the president of Russia and the president-elect after he was sworn in, and they exchanged logistical information. That was it, plain and simple.

Jan. 15: In an interview with CBS News John Dickerson, Vice President-elect Mike Pence says he spoke about the matter with Flynn, who had not brought up sanctions when speaking with the Russian ambassador. Pence: But what I can confirm, having spoken to him about it, is that those conversations that happened to occur around the time that the United States took action to expel diplomats had nothing whatsoever to do with those sanctions.

Jan. 20: Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States, and Flynn officially becomes national security adviser.

Jan. 23: CBS News reports that federal investigators are looking into at least one phone call between Flynn and Kislyak.

Jan. 26: Per a Washington Post report, Acting Attorney General Sally Yates tells White House counsel Donald McGahn that Flynn misled administration officials about his discussions with Kislyak and warns that he is potentially vulnerable to Russian blackmail.

Jan. 30: The White House fires Yates for refusing to defend the executive order banning immigration from seven majority-Muslim countries.

Feb. 8: Flynn tells the Washington Post in an interview that sanctions did not come up in his discussions with Kislyak.

Feb. 9: A spokesman for Flynn tells the Washington Post that while [Flynn] had no recollection of discussing sanctions, he couldnt be certain that the topic never came up. The Post cites nine anonymous sources in the intelligence community in reporting that, based on telephone intercepts, they did discuss sanctions.

Feb. 10: While on an Air Force One flight from Washington to Florida, Trump says he will look into the reports. I dont know about that. I havent seen it.

Feb. 11: Flynn is photographed at the Mar-a-Lago resort consulting with Trump and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan as they strategize a reaction to North Koreas missile launch test.

Feb. 13

11:19 a.m. ET: USA Today reports that Flynn apologized to Pence.

4:06 p.m. ET: White House counselor Kellyanne Conway says in an MSNBC appearance that Flynn has the full confidence of Trump.

4:07 p.m. ET: Bloombergs Steven Dennis reports that House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Devin Nunes said he expects Flynn to keep his job. Nunes blamed the leaks on those who want the swamp to remain and they know that Flynn is not going to let the swamp remain.

5:07 p.m. ET: Spicer says the president is evaluating the situation.

8:30 p.m. ET: Sen. John McCain on Flynn: Ive had a lot of dealings with him. I have confidence in him. But more important than that, hes the presidents choice.

11:03 p.m. ET: CNN and the Associated Press report that Flynn has resigned.

Feb. 14

12:41 a.m. ET:

Philippe's got his own way of saying things, but he has a point about the real consequences of fake news https://t.co/a02sXiaHfp  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 14, 2017

6:41 a.m. ET:

Trump's National Security Advisor Michael Flynn resigns after destabilization campaign by US spies, Democrats, press https://t.co/vKlX1Tqek1  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) February 14, 2017

8:50 a.m. ET: McCain releases a statement on Flynn citing his resignation as a troubling indication of the dysfunction of the current national security apparatus and saying it raises further questions about the Trump administrations intentions toward Vladimir Putins Russia.

9:28 a.m. ET:

The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington? Will these leaks be happening as I deal on N.Korea etc?  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 14, 2017

9:35 a.m. ET:

Rep. Devin Nunes says the Intelligence Committee won't look into discussions between Trump and Flynn, citing executive privilege  Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 14, 2017

10:52 a.m. ET: Politico reports that Rep. Adam Schiff, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence committee, told lawmakers Monday that recent revelations about Flynns Russian conversations are only the beginning and more information will surface in the coming days. Schiff also said that any conversations between Flynn and Kislyak that took place prior to Trumps inauguration would not be covered by executive privilege.

(Cover thumbnail photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP)

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Top 5 Bike-uriosities - Week of February 13, 2017

At Bike-urious, were spending all of our time finding the most interesting motorcycles that are currently for sale for you to drool over (and maybe empty your wallet for).

1. Street Legal Open Class  2006 Service Honda CR500AF-X

Though they are no longer in business, Service Honda was well known not just for supplying OEM parts but also for the creation of an aluminum-framed open class monster called the 500AF. It all started in 1997, when, as a personal project, Service Honda stuffed a 500cc 2-stroke motor into a Honda CR250. The results were dramatic and Service Honda created an official model with the bike just a year later.

In 2006, Service Honda introduced the AF-X, which expanded beyond motocross and gave the bike lighting, a spark arrestor, side stand, and digital injection. Here's a one-owner example that's been plated in California.

It's one of Honda's best ever motors in a modern chassis, and the press at it up. MX Racer called it "the best open bike EVER" while Dirt Rider said that riding the 500AF was almost like cheating. For more on the Service Honda, check out this review from Dirt Rider.

This example has done 73 hours and 2,561 miles with just one owner. It's claimed to have been perfectly maintained and the California plate will add a lot of value for the right buyer. Choice extras include a BRP chain guide, Scotts Steering Damper, Flexx handlebars, Baja Designs dual sport kit, and M&M suspension. In addition to the standard Service Honda build, this bike was given a Pro Circuit Pipe/Silencer, ported/polished cylinder, Clark three-gallon fuel tank, and a Works Connection skid plate. Find this Service Honda for sale here on Craigslist in San Diego, California, for $9,500.

2. 1976 TriVette

During the 1970s, America was suffering through an oil embargo. Lots of small companies tried to enter the automotive market by focusing on gas mileage. Bob Keyes of Ventura, California, looked at a study that found "93 percent of the vehicles on the freeways in Southern California were being driven with only a single occupant, the driver."

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READ MORE: Is a Trike a Motorcycle? | RideApart

His thought was that having a 3,500-pound vehicle to carry around about 180 pounds of human being was highly inefficient, so he created the TriVette. Between 1974 and 1978, just 27 examples were built. Two used turbocharged VW motors, while the other 25 were powered by 58-horsepower 850cc Fiat motors. Here's one of the more common Fiat-powered examples.

The TriVette was advertised of being capable of 61 miles per gallon thanks to a light curb weight and good aerodynamics. For more on the TriVette, check out this article on Vigillante, which was run by Bob Keyes before he passed away in 2006. This example (VIN: TCC751012) has 11,355 miles and it's said to run perfectly. It's had a lot of work done including an engine rebuild with new piston rings, rod bearings, water pump, muffler, gaskets, thermostat housing, valve job, refurbed rocker arm shaft and rocker arms, and plenty more.

Find this Trivette for sale here on Craigslist for $21,000 in Windsor Hills, California.

3. Pretty in Purple  1973 Kawasaki H2

The Kawasaki H2, for all its widowmaker reputation was actually an upgraded and refined bike compared to the H1 that appeared in 1969. The Kawasaki design team really did a lot to fix the obvious flaws from the H1. Head shake was much improved (the H2 came with a stock steering damper), power delivery wasnt as peaky, and the brakes were much improved.

Three things conspired to kill the Kawasaki triples beginning in 1973. The EPA was starting to make big noise about two stroke motors, the gas crisis hit (the H2 was a high-20s mpg machine) and Kawasaki introduced the four-stroke Z1, which took the "fastest production bike" label from the H2.

The 1973 Kawasaki H2 used a 748cc air-cooled two stroke inline three-cylinder motor that made 74 hp with a five speed transmission for a top speed of 120 mph. A wet weight of 463 lbs, front disc and rear drum brakes, steel tube cradle frame and good suspension made a very, very fast motorcycle.

This particular 1973 Kawasaki H2 (VIN# H2F24314) is in Chula Vista, California, and is listed as "carefully restored to as close to original as possible." The bike has the optional hydraulic steering stabilizer and a second disc front brake, which the listing says was a dealer installed option. The build list on this bike is impressive, and the color is one that can never be unseen. The bike is currently bid at $8,100 with reserve not met here on eBay.

4. Frank  1977 Honda CB550 Custom

Called "Frank" because it's a "Frankenstein" build, this Honda CB550 was custom built by GT-Moto. The seller picked it up last October but he/she doesn't have enough chances to ride, so the bike needs a "forever home." It features parts from other Hondas, Suzukis, Harleys, Ducatis - even a Benelli.

honda-cb550-custom-rear

Highlights of the build include the cam from a Honda CB650 and a 605 big bore kit, Dyno Tech electronic ignition, front forks and calipers from a Suzuki GSX-R, Harley-Davidson wheel hub, and a Ohlins steering damper from a Ducati 996. The tank is a hybrid of a Benelli and Ducati units. This example (VIN: 2103771) also features GT-Moto's dual undertail rear suspension with Hagon shocks.

honda-cb550-custom-build

Find Frank for sale here on Craigslist outside of Dallas for $13,500. Note that this bike was recently on eBay, but 74 bids up to $7,000 were not enough to meet reserve.

5. Fiat Powered in Italy  1981 Shifty 900

Built between 1977 and 1982, the "Shifty" was a rather large motorcycle with the powertrain from a Fiat 127 - a 903cc engine and a four-speed transmission. Even the gauge cluster is lifted from the Fiat, and it's slapped onto the top of a cover on the engine where you might think the fuel tank is. The fuel tank is actually under the seat. Less than 70 Shifty 900s were ever built. (For good reason, by the looks of 'em  Ed.)

The Shifty was the brainchild of Hugh Grandis (or as the Italians called him, Ugo Grandis) in Padova, Italy. Hugo had experience at Chrysler in South Africa before he built this commercially unsuccessful two-wheeler. The Fiat drivetrain was coupled with lots of Laverda parts, Marzocchi forks, Brembo front brakes, and a Benelli seat. The motor put out 53 hp and 45 pound-feet of torque. As you'd expect, dry weight was significant at a shade under 600 pounds.

This example is said to be in excellent condition and it's ready to ride. The fuel tank was repainted in the original Ferrari 308 red, and mufflers were replaced three years ago. If you'd like to see the Shifty in motion, check out this video by Star Bikers (it's in Italian):

Find this Shifty for sale in Napoli, italy with bidding up to $3,674 and the reserve not yet met met here on Catawiki.

So, which would you put in your garage?
The Hague (AFP) - The highest court in The Netherlands on Tuesday upheld the acquittal of an antique dealer prosecuted for selling old copies of Hitler's "Mein Kampf", which is banned in the country.

Prosecutors in 2014 charged Amsterdam gallery owner Michiel van Eyck with inciting racial hatred and discrimination following a complaint from a Jewish group.

"The Supreme Court dismisses an appeal" by public prosecutors against Van Eyck's acquittal after previous similar decisions by lower Dutch courts, it said in a statement.

"The European Convention on Human Rights says freedom of expression can only be restricted if there is a pressing social need for it," the court said.

"In this case, there is none," added the tribunal in The Hague, saying Adolf Hitler's book, first published in 1925, "plays an important role in the social debate about anti-Semitic ideas."

"The court believes that the defendant wanted to sell a few historical copies because of their historical significance and not because of the anti-Semitic passages in the book."

"Neither has it been shown that the defendant supports or propagates Nazi ideology," the court said.

Van Eyck told AFP his Amsterdam-based Totalitarian Art Gallery specialised in selling objects from oppressive regimes in history and also included artefacts from the eras of Russia's Stalin and China's Mao Zedong, as well as writings by Jewish Dutch teen Anne Frank who died in a Nazi concentration camp after hiding in Amsterdam.

"I sell artefacts that form an important part of history and 'Mein Kampf' is part of that," Van Eyck said.

"I'm not surprised by the court's decision but I'm relieved that the whole issue is now behind me," he added.

Under Dutch law, the sale of "Mein Kampf" was banned in 1974 because Hitler's blueprint for the rise of Nazism and the Holocaust promoted hatred and discrimination.

Had he been convicted, Van Eyck could have faced up to six months in jail or a 7,600-euro ($8,000) fine.
By David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer called on Tuesday for an independent probe of what he called potential criminal violations surrounding the resignation of national security adviser Michael Flynn. Speaking to reporters in the U.S. Capitol, Schumer said law enforcement officers should question officials from President Donald Trump's campaign, transition team and administration staff, including Trump himself, about events leading up to Flynn's departure on Monday. He said Flynn, and potentially other Trump officials, could have violated federal prohibitions against citizens negotiating with foreign governments or receiving gifts and other benefits without authorization. "What I am calling for is an independent investigation with executive authority to pursue potential criminal actions," Schumer said. "There are potential violations of law here by General Flynn and potentially others." Flynn quit after only three weeks in the job, following disclosures that he discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia with Moscow's ambassador to the United States before Trump took office and later misled Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations. Schumer appeared unlikely to win support for such a probe from his Senate Republican colleagues, who expect the scandal to be investigated by the Senate Intelligence Committee. "The Intelligence Committee is already looking at Russian involvement in our election ... it's highly likely they'd want to take a look at this episode. They have the jurisdiction to do it," Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell told reporters separately. Schumer welcomed any involvement by the Senate committee but said the panel lacked the prosecutorial powers needed to hold potential wrongdoers fully accountable. He also said that U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions should recuse himself from any probe of Flynn's resignation because of his political ties to Trump. Schumer said career Justice Department investigators or an independent counsel could look into whether other Trump team members had contact with Russia and why the White House did not seek Flynn's resignation sooner. "Any attempt to lie or mislead must be countered by the full force of the law," Schumer added. "His resignation raises more questions than it answers. And the American people deserve to know the truth." (Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Grant McCool and Peter Cooney)
Tokyo (AFP) - Toshiba said Tuesday its chairman Shigenori Shiga was stepping down from his post as the company warned it was set to book multi-billion-dollar losses in its US nuclear business.

Hours after delaying the release of its financial results, the company issued a forecast that said it was on track to report a net loss of 390 billion yen ($3.4 billion) in the current fiscal year to March, with losses in its atomic division topping 700 billion yen.
By Makiko Yamazaki TOKYO (Reuters) - After a day of delays and confusion, Japan's Toshiba Corp <6502.T> said on Tuesday it expected to book a $6.3 billion hit to its U.S. nuclear unit, a writedown that wipes out its shareholder equity and will drag the group to a full-year loss. Hours earlier on Tuesday, the battered conglomerate rattled investors by failing to release its earnings on schedule, saying initially it was 'not ready' and then announcing later it needed more time to probe its Westinghouse nuclear business after internal reports uncovered potential problems. The figures eventually released were numbers that have yet to be approved by its auditor and Toshiba cautioned investors that a major revision was possible. Fully audited numbers are now not due till March 14 after the firm was granted a reprieve for its formal filing by Japanese regulators. Toshiba also said in a statement it could push harder to raise capital, including selling a majority stake in its memory chip arm. Previously, it had sought to sell just under 20 percent of its prize business. "Finally now people are starting to recognize that internal control problems, the accounting issues and governance issues are very real and no longer abstract," said Zuhair Khan, an analyst at Jefferies in Tokyo. "They impact the viability of the company." Shares in the group slid 8 percent, putting the company's market value at 973 billion yen ($8.6 billion), less than half its value in mid-December. Just under a decade ago, the firm was worth almost 5 trillion yen. It also announced the first top-level departure since the nuclear problems were uncovered in December: chairman Shigenori Shiga, a former Westinghouse boss brought in to the top role last year after a $1.3 billion accounting scandal in 2015 shook up Toshiba's upper ranks. Toshiba said it expected to book a 499.9 billion yen ($4.4 billion) net loss for the nine months to December, and a 390 billion yen net loss for the full year. It also ended 2016 with negative shareholder equity due to the 712.5 billion yen nuclear writedown - a charge that was first flagged in December last year. Toshiba said it would withdraw from nuclear plant construction overseas. Reuters reported this month that Toshiba was seeking at least a partial exit from ventures in Britain and India, a blow to both countries' nuclear plans. WESTINGHOUSE WOES In an earlier, separate statement, Toshiba outlined concerns at its Westinghouse business, the U.S. nuclear unit bought from the UK government a decade ago. Internal reports, Toshiba said, suggested controls at Westinghouse had been "insufficient" and it needed to look into whether senior managers at Westinghouse exerted "inappropriate pressure" during discussions over a U.S. deal to buy the company at the heart of its cost overruns, it said. "We judged that it would take about a month for external lawyers ... to conduct these further probes and for the independent auditors to review the results," Toshiba said. A source briefed on the matter said Toshiba had not been able to immediately secure the approval of its auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers Aarata. The source asked not to be identified because he is not allowed to talk the media. PricewaterhouseCoopers Aarata declined to comment, citing client confidentiality. Toshiba declined to comment on the audit process. For a graphic on Toshiba businesses, click http://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/rngs/TOSHIBA-ACCOUNTING/010031HM3FV/TOSHIBA.jpg (Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki, Taiga Uranaka, Taro Fuse, Ayai Tomisawa, Tom Wilson and Naomi Tajitsu in Tokyo, Jane Chung in Seoul and Rishika Sadam in Bengaluru, Umesh Desai in Hong Kong; Writing by Tim Kelly; Editing by Clara Ferreira Marques and Edwina Gibbs)
Ivanka Trump: EPA

More Trump-branded products are flying off shelves for the wrong reasons after a major US department store chain dropped a number of homeware items from its line-up.

Sears and K-Mart have announced they will discontinue online sales of 31 Trump Home products  as new details emerged showing sales of Ivanka Trump's brand falling in the weeks before Nordstrom Inc stopped carrying her products.

Sears and its wholly owned subsidiary, Kmart, said it was part of a push to focus their online business on the most profitable items.

Ivanka Trump's brand took a hit last week when retailer Nordstrom removed some of her items from sale. It prompted a Twitter backlash from Donald Trump, while his adviser Kellyanne Conway was accused of violating ethics laws by promoting the products on television.

President Trump tweeted: "My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person  always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible!"

The Trump Home brand encompasses furniture and bedding, as well as separate collections for lighting, mirrors and chandeliers.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer called Nordstrom's decision to stop selling some Ivanka Trump merchandise a "direct attack" on the President.

He said: "He ran for president, he won, hes leading this country, and I think for people to take out their concern on his action or his executive orders, on members of his family, [then] he has every right to stand up for his family and applaud their business activities [and] their success."

A campaign urging people to boycott businesses connected to Mr Trumps family, kick-started after the emergence of the "grab them by the pussy" comment in October, took credit for Nordstroms decision.

The Grab Your Wallet campaign has targeted more than 60 companies, including Trident, Macys, and the LA Clippers, to stop sponsoring Celebrity Apprentice and remove senior executives.
WASHINGTON  President Trump requested Michael Flynns resignation after a weekslong review of his contacts with a Russian diplomat led Trump to conclude he could no longer trust his national security adviser, the White House said Tuesday. But the internal investigation, led by Trumps government lawyer, found that Flynn hadnt violated the law.

The evolving and eroding level of trust as a result of this situation and a series of other questionable instances is what led the president to ask for Gen. Flynns resignation, press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters.

Spicer did not detail the nature of the other questionable instances, but officials pointed to news accounts of Flynns temper and of National Security Council dysfunction. And one career national security official told Yahoo News that Flynn had clashed last week with Defense Secretary James Mattis, whose judgment is known to carry great weight with Trump.

Trump removed Flynn ostensibly over a controversy involving contacts between the retired Army lieutenant general and a Russian diplomat during the transition. Apparently on Flynns say-so, top officials including Vice President Mike Pence and Spicer denied that the conversations touched on the question of U.S. sanctions imposed under the Obama administration in response to allegations that Russia tried to influence the 2016 election. Flynn at first expressed confidence that the sanctions didnt come up, then later allowed that they might have. A bombshell Washington Post report on Friday disclosed that U.S. intelligence officials possessed transcripts of the calls that contradicted Flynn. Pence press secretary Marc Lotter said Pence became aware that Flynn misled him based on news reports on Feb. 9.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer (Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

There is nothing the general did that was a violation of any sort. He was well within his duties to discuss issues of common concern between the two countries, Spicer said.

National security experts broadly agree that the 1799 Logan Act, which criminalizes unauthorized diplomatic overtures by nongovernment officials, wont be invoked  only one indictment has occurred under the law, in 1803. But they note that Flynns overtures could violate the unwritten principle of one president at a time, which reserves foreign policymaking to the sitting president.

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Spicer said Trump was not aware of the content of Flynns contacts with the Russian diplomat and denied that the president-elect had instructed his aide to discuss the sanctions. The press secretary also reaffirmed Trumps denial that top aides had been in touch with the Russian government during the campaign.

The FBI has been looking into whether erstwhile top Trump advisers Carter Page, Paul Manafort and Roger Stone had improper contacts with Russian officials during the election cycle.

After Pences public denials, then-acting Attorney General Sally Yates approached White House Counsel Don McGahn on Jan. 26 to say that the Department of Justice had information contradicting Flynns account, Spicer confirmed. McGahn immediately briefed the president and a small group of his senior advisers, then opened an internal investigation that determined that there is not a legal issue, but rather a trust issue, the spokesman said. But Spicer declined to say whether any White House officials had read transcripts of Flynns calls, or whether those records would be made public.

The New York Times reported Tuesday that FBI investigators questioned Flynn in the first days of the administration about his Russian contacts.

As the White House labored to contain the controversy, congressional Democrats and some Republicans pushed for investigations of Trumps relationship with Russia, and a few lawmakers said that Flynn himself should testify.

Did Gen. Flynn do this by himself, or was he directed by somebody to do it? Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., asked on CNN. Americans have a right to know whether or not this was a Gen. Flynn rogue maneuver, or was he basically speaking for somebody else in the White House.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said that Flynns resignation highlights dysfunction in the White House and raises further questions about the commander in chiefs relations with Russia.

The irony of this entire situation is that the president has been incredibly tough on Russia, Spicer insisted.

Trump has noticeably softened U.S. rhetoric on Moscow, frequently praised Russian President Vladimir Putin during the campaign, and recently brushed back criticism of the former KGB chiefs authoritarian rule, saying, There are a lot of killers. You think our countrys so innocent? The White House has left it to U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley to criticize Russias annexation of Crimea. And a Jan. 31 State Department statement about renewed fighting in eastern Ukraine, home to pro-Russia separatists armed and encouraged by Moscow, did not mention Russia.

The removal of Trumps senior national security aide barely three weeks into his term has rattled the West Wing and added another burden to officials already weighed down with unusually bitter infighting and the botched rollout of major policy moves like the presidents new restrictions on travel by seven Muslim-majority nations.

Early in the day, acting National Security Adviser Keith Kellogg, Deputy National Security Adviser K.T. McFarland, and Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert convened an all-hands meeting of the National Security Council. The three told rattled staffers that no one else was leaving or being asked to leave, according to two participants.

It was not clear whom Trump would name to succeed Flynn, though Spicer said the White House hopes to announce the new national security adviser this week. Leading contenders are thought to include Kellogg, a retired general; former Vice Adm. Bob Harward; and retired general and former CIA director David Petraeus, who resigned in disgrace after improperly sharing classified information with a woman with whom he was having an extramarital affair.

Read more from Yahoo News:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump made it clear he expects Russia to return Crimea to Ukraine and reduce violence in Ukraine, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said on Tuesday. "President Trump has made it very clear that he expects the Russian government to de-escalate violence in the Ukraine and return Crimea," Spicer said at a daily news briefing. "At the same time, he fully expects to and wants to get along with Russia." Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea in 2014. (Reporting by Ayesha Rascoe; Writing by Washington Newsroom; Editing by Eric Walsh)
Washington (AFP) - Donald Trump's young presidency was plunged into deep crisis Tuesday as the forced departure of a key national security aide triggered calls for an independent inquiry into his administration's contacts with Moscow.

Barely three weeks after Trump stepped into the Oval Office, the resignation of National Security Advisor Mike Flynn over his dealings with Russia's government buffeted a presidency already rocked by leaks, infighting and scandal.

The White House said late Monday that Trump had accepted Flynn's resignation amid allegations the retired three star general discussed US sanctions strategy with Russia's ambassador Sergey Kislyak before taking office.

In his resignation letter, Flynn -- who once headed US military intelligence -- admitted to "inadvertently" misleading Vice President Mike Pence about the substance of the call.

Flynn's unprecedented early departure poured fuel on demands for an full independent investigation into alleged collusion between Trump's inner circle and the Kremlin.

"This. Is. Not. Normal." said Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, insisting "Trump owes Americans a full account" of his administrations dealings with Moscow before and after the 2016 election.

- Inquiries and missteps -

The CIA, FBI and other intelligence agencies have already investigated Moscow's influence over the 2016 vote, concluding the Kremlin tried to sway the vote in Trump's favor.

Various committees in the Republican-controlled Congress are already looking into Russia's election-related hacking and the Trump campaign's links to Moscow.

But Democrats are now demanding a fuller investigation, which could bring with it the power to call Flynn and members of Trump's inner circle to testify.

Republicans seemed at odds over how to proceed, with key members of the House of Representatives appearing to rule out further investigation.

Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz -- who spearheaded investigations into Trump's presidential rival Hillary Clinton -- said any problem associated with Flynn was "taking care of itself."

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In the House -- which has the sole power to impeach the president -- Speaker Paul Ryan praised Trump's handling of the issue but refused to comment on further steps.

"I think we have to get all the information before we prejudge anything," he said.

But Roy Blunt, a Republican senator on the powerful Intelligence Committee, told a local radio station that his panel should investigate Flynn's behavior "exhaustively so that at the end of this process, nobody wonders whether there was a stone left unturned."

- Who knew what, and when? -

Flynn's resignation came after details of his telephone calls to the ambassador, Sergey Kislyak, were made public -- increasing pressure on Trump to take action.

But several US media outlets reported Monday that top Trump advisors were warned about Flynn's contacts with the Russians early this year, reopening questions about who knew about the calls and why Trump did not move earlier to replace Flynn.

The Justice Department had warned the White House that Flynn had misled senior administration officials about the contents of his talks with Kislyak, and that it could make him vulnerable to Russian blackmail, US media reported.

The message was delivered in the last days of Barack Obama's administration by then-acting attorney general Sally Yates -- who Trump sacked after she instructed government lawyers not to defend the new president's controversial travel ban.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer, when asked whether the president authorized or knew about Flynn's discussions about sanctions, said: "No, absolutely not. No way."

The Kremlin on Tuesday said Flynn's resignation was "not our business."

"This is the internal business of the Americans, it is the internal business of President Trump's administration," spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists in Moscow.

- Possible replacements -

Until quitting, Flynn had been instrumental in Trump's inner circle.

He was an early supporter of Trump's improbable bid for the presidency and had encouraged tougher policies on Iran and a softer policy on Russia.

That was a sharp break from the Obama administration, which introduced sanctions over Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea, support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, and what US intelligence says were its attempts to sway last year's election in Trump's favor.

Washington and Moscow had also clashed over alleged war crimes in Syria, where Russia is accused of aiding the bombing of hospitals and other civilian targets. Despite this, Flynn had argued for rapprochement.

Flynn's resignation came just days before Trump's first official talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, discussions in which the president's national security advisor would normally have a key role.

After Flynn quit, the White House said Trump had named retired lieutenant general Keith Kellogg, a decorated Vietnam war veteran who was serving as a director on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to be interim national security advisor.

Potential permanent replacements for Flynn reportedly include three retired military brass: Kellogg; retired general and former CIA director David Petraeus; and former vice admiral Robert Harward.
The Trump administration has put Iran on notice for its destabilizing behavior in the Middle East and violation of international norms. While I have some significant concerns about how this was done, it is perfectly reasonable and indeed advisable to take a harder line with regards to Iranian behavior that is counter to the interests of the United States and its Middle Eastern partners.

But the Trump administration should also maintain the communications channels the Obama administration opened with Iran. In life and diplomacy it is almost always better to communicate directly than not communicate, even if you disagree. After 35 years with rare sporadic communication between the United States and the Islamic Republic, establishing a direct line between the Secretary of State and the Iranian Foreign Minister was an important achievement of the Obama administration and one that should be maintained. Moreover, if the United States keeps channels open and is seen as reasonable and open to negotiation, it can isolate Iran and build international consensus when Iran violates international norms. But if the Trump administration closes the door to dialogue than it will allow Iran to portray itself as the victim of an irresponsible Trump administration and make it harder to generate international pressure .

There is Nothing Wrong with Communication

There are a number of issues where the Trump administration would benefit from direct talks with Iran. First there is explaining what putting Iran on notice means. Public statements and tweets are certainly one form of communication and using interlocutors like the Omanis is also helpful. But a direct explanation by the Trump administration to Iran of the types of actions that are truly unacceptable to the United States and will provoke an American response is valuable. Iran wants no part of a direct confrontation with the United States and this type of firm talk by the Trump team can play a useful deterrent role. However, it comes with a real risk of miscalculation and unintended escalation if the United States is too vague. The best way to clearly communicate American views is face-to-face  not through an intermediary.

Communication channels are essential for preventing an incident in the crowded waters of the Persian Gulf from spinning out of control. In January 2016 an American naval vessel wandered into Iranian territorial waters and was detained by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy. Direct phone calls between Secretary Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif quickly defused the crisis and got the American sailors released. If such an incident were to occur today could it be peacefully resolved or under the Trump administration would it escalate?

Iran is also a major player in Iraq and Syria and its actions have been harmful and counter to American interests. The Trump administration has talked about negotiating an agreement in Syria with Russia. But the Russians arent alone in supporting Assad. While they provide Assad with air power, the Iranians have tremendous leverage and investments as they provide the ground force of IRGC Qods Force operatives and Shia militias from Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. If Iranian interests are not addressed as part of a settlement they will play the role of spoiler and so they will need to a party to any negotiation.

Engagement Increases Pressure on Iran

Beyond the direct benefit of engagement, there is also a secondary benefit that the Obama administration utilized as part of a dual strategy of engagement and pressure. Being seen as reasonable and open to engagement puts the onus on the Iranian government. It helps build support for international pressure when Iran behaves in ways that are contrary to global norms and conflict with the interests of the United States and its allies.

At the start of the Obama administration, many of our partners across the globe recognized the danger posed by Irans nuclear program, but also felt the United States was at least partially at fault because of its unwillingness to negotiate directly. President Obamas early conciliatory statements combined with the Tehran Research Reactor arrangement that the United States jointly offered Iran with the other P5+1 powers both helped shift the narrative. When Iran rejected the confidence building measures on offer in the TRR agreement, the United States was able to bring China and Russia on board to pursue tougher sanctions through UN Security Council Resolution 1929. This resolution then became the starting point for tough follow-on sanctions enacted by the Obama administration and its likeminded partners with a strong assist from Congress. Over the next few years as the Obama administration squeezed Iran economically it continued to periodically meet with the Iranian negotiating team and the P5+1 both to explore the prospects of an agreement but also to continue to demonstrate to the international community that we were negotiating in good faith and the problem was in Tehran. Without this approach, we would have never gotten the biting sanctions that ultimately lead Iran to reconsider and come to the table.

But the Trump team is doing the opposite and isolating itself internationally. The public criticism of the nuclear agreement by both President Trump and Mike Flynn isolates the United States from its P5+1 partners who all believe in the deal. And even though the Trump team has continued to maintain that it will abide by the deal, the narrative is already being set that it is the unreasonable actor and if the deal collapses Iran will not be at fault. This will make it easier for Iran to cheat on the agreement or walk away without blame. It will also give it greater wiggle room to take other provocative steps such as testing ballistic missiles or supporting surrogates and proxies throughout the Middle East without facing international approbation.

A Tillerson-Zarif Meeting

An early opportunity to begin to bring engagement back into the equation will be next week at the Munich Security Conference. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has not yet confirmed his attendance, but it seems quite likely he will attend as will Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. Tillerson and Zarif should meet and ensure the channel established by John Kerry and Zarif remains open. Before this meeting Tillerson should consult closely with Gulf and Israeli partners to clarify the purpose of the meeting and make clear that the Trump administration is going into its engagement with Iran with eyes wide open.

In his meeting with Zarif he should clarify that even though the Trump administration may not like the existing Iran deal, it will plan to abide by it as long as Iran does and America will keep its word. He should reiterate that the Trump administration will be more committed to the security of its Gulf partners and less tolerant of Irans actions, especially its support for Bashar al-Assad, Iraqi Shia militias, Hezbollah, and the Houthis in Yemen, but that the United States will not close the door to negotiations with Iran on these matters.

Such a meeting would generate big news across the globe reassuring many who are concerned that the Trump team is itching for a war with Iran. It would not only be useful to keep communication channels open, but is essential to start shifting the narrative and ensuring that when it comes to dealing with Iran the United States does not find itself isolated from its P5+1 partners.

Photo credit: CARLOS BARRIA/AFP/Getty Images
The Trump administration has decided to keep President Barack Obamas top advocate for gay rights issues at the State Department in defiance of evangelical groups who called for his immediate expulsion, Foreign Policy has learned.

Randy Berry, the Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons, is continuing in his role under the current administration, a State Department spokesperson said on Monday. The move marks the latest surprise decision by President Donald Trump on gay rights as he juggles the agenda of his staunchly conservative cabinet and top aides, and his cosmopolitan, New York-bred daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

This is really surprising to me, Ross Murray, the director of programs at GLAAD, a pro-LGBT group, told FP. I dont think I can applaud it until I see what his mandate becomes in this administration.

But Berry has been really effective in that job, he said.

Berry, an openly gay career Foreign Service officer whom conservative groups have derided as Obamas top gay activist, became the first person to hold the position in February 2015.

In December, Tony Perkins, the head of the conservative Family Research Council, implored Trump to launch a major purge of pro-LGBT diplomats inside Foggy Bottom. The incoming administration needs to make clear that these liberal policies will be reversed and the activists within the State Department promoting them will be ferreted out, he said.

The special envoy position was created during the Obama years to fight back against the discrimination of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people around the globe. Conservative groups have called the office an attempt to entrench the LGBTI agenda into the United States government, and accuse it of browbeating countries opposed to gay-friendly school textbooks and same-sex marriage.

Berry repeatedly stressed that his goal was to convince foreign governments to stop violence against gays and lesbians rather than pressure every nation to allow same-sex marriage. He was mindful not to be heavy-handed or overly colonial, said Murray, who mentioned his work in countries with less tolerance for LGBT people, such as Uganda and Nigeria.

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On Jan. 20, in one of the Obama administrations final acts, it also named Berry deputy assistant secretary to the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. Conservative groups blasted that decision as an 11th-hour move to place an LGBT-friendly diplomat in a position that has influence over U.S. policies at the United Nations. The State Department spokesperson said Berry maintains his duties in both roles in the Trump administration.

The spokesperson declined to say why Berry wasnt reassigned or dismissed last month when a slew of other political and career officials were booted by Trump loyalists. A recently updated State Department organizational chart shows continued vacancies in positions opposed by Republicans on ideological grounds, such as the Special Envoy for Climate Change, a position previously filled by Jonathan Pershing. But Berrys name and position remain intact.

In recent weeks, Trump has shown himself capable of surprising the LGBT community even as it wages opposition campaigns to oppose his cabinet appointments such as Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price.

Earlier this month, Kushner and Ivanka Trump, who have a track record of supporting gay rights, worked to torpedo a draft executive order that would have overturned Obamas regulations strengthening LGBT rights for federal contracting jobs, according to Politico.

Trumps secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, pushed the Boy Scouts of America to be open to gay rights when he served as national president from 2010 to 2011. In 2013, while he served on the executive board of the Scouts, it rescinded the ban on gay scouts. During his confirmation hearing, Tillerson declined to say whether gay rights are human rights.

The Family Research Council did not respond to a request for comment.

Getty Images
(Reuters) - Highlights of the day for U.S. President Donald Trump's administration on Monday:

CANADA

Trump says the United States will be "tweaking" its trade relationship with Canada, stopping short of calling for a major realignment in a development likely to please visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

FLYNN CONTROVERSY

Trump is evaluating the situation surrounding U.S. national security adviser Michael Flynn over his Russian contacts, Trump's spokesman says, pointedly declining to make a public show of support for the aide.

CABINET

The U.S. Senate votes to confirm former banker and Hollywood financier Steven Mnuchin as Treasury secretary, installing the Trump administration's point-man on tax reform, financial deregulation and economic diplomacy efforts.

IMMIGRATION

A U.S. federal judge rejects a Justice Department request to suspend Seattle courtroom proceedings over Trump's temporary travel ban from seven Muslim-majority countries until an appeals court has fully reviewed it.

ISRAEL

Benjamin Netanyahu opposes a Palestinian state, a senior Israeli Cabinet member says, but leaves it unclear whether the prime minister would say that publicly in talks with Trump in Washington this week.

ASIA

Trump says North Korea is a "big, big problem" and that he will deal with it "very strongly" after that country said it successfully test-fired a new type of ballistic missile.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, fresh from a visit with Trump, says the U.S. stance toward North Korea is likely to become tougher.

China's Foreign Ministry is concerned that Japan has received continued U.S. backing for its dispute with Beijing over islands in the East China Sea during a meeting between Trump and Abe.

TAX RETURNS

A congressional tax oversight committee will not seek Trump's tax returns, despite calls from Democrats for a review to determine possible business ties to foreign countries including Russia, the panel's Republican chairman says.

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MARKETS

U.S. equity indexes hit record highs, with the benchmark S&P 500's market value topping $20 trillion as investors bet tax cuts promised by Trump will boost the economy.

RUSSIA

The Kremlin says there is talk of a possible meeting between Trump and President Vladimir Putin before a G20 summit in July, but there is nothing specific on this so far.

(Compiled by Bill Trott and Jonathan Oatis; Editing by Grant McCool and Peter Cooney)
One of the more bizarre spectacles of Donald Trumps young presidency came on Saturday night, when he stood with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at a press conference called after North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan. Trump let Abe speak first, standing politely in the background as he condemned the test. When Trump took his turn, there was, uncharacteristically, no mention of inauguration crowd sizes, decrying of the medias dishonesty, or settling of other political scores.

More importantly, he did not hype the threat of a North Korean missile hitting the United States. Seemingly eschewing longer prepared remarks, he offered two brief sentences: Thank you very much Mr. Prime Minister. I just want everybody to understand and fully know, that the United States of America stands behind Japan, its great ally, 100 percent. After three weeks of bungled executive orders and amateur phone calls with world leaders, Trump appeared almost, well, presidential.

On Sunday morning, White House adviser Stephen Miller said the Trump administration would very soon be sending a signal to North Korea, a great rebuilding of the armed forces of the United States. On Monday, Trump affirmed that he would deal very strongly with North Korea. Like Trumps support of Japan, a muscular response could be a helpful message to Americas allies in the region. But thats not the way to handle Pyongyang. Trump, in fact, had it right on Saturday. In addition to publicly and privately supporting Japan and South Korea, the best way to deal with North Korea, even when it cries out for international attention, is to publicly do nothing. Thats because North Korea is mostly Chinas problem, not Americas.

The initial, panicked reaction to the launch, claimed by North Korean state media on Monday as a new nuclear-capable missile, overlooks one key fact: Pyongyang is unlikely to lob missiles or nuclear weapons at the United States. Experts disagree on how long it will be until North Korea possesses the technical capability to do so. Even if it does, Washington would likely be able to shoot the missiles down long before they reached America (or before they reached Japan or South Korea, for that matter). Unless the Kim Jong Un government commits regime suicide and declares war on South Korea or Japan, dragging the United States into a conflict on the Korean peninsula, it barely poses a military threat to America.

Recommended: How High Does Russia's Influence Reach?

The real threat, instead, is that North Korea will collapse, due to corruption, mismanagement, poverty, a military coup, or a populist revolt, or some combination of all five. That collapse would leave other countriesnamely, Chinato manage the chaos.

North Koreas closest neighbor both geographically and psychologically, China has long been the Hermit Kingdoms reluctant savior. In the early 1950s, Beijing sent more than 1 million troops to fight on the Norths side against the United States and South Korea in the Korean War. And since the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, the economic and food aid Beijing provides to the country have very likely proven decisive for the regimes survival.

After all, if North Korea collapses, China would face the largest refugee crisis in its history, with thousands upon thousands of starving North Koreans fleeing across the two countries relatively porous border. Many would probably settle by the border, in Chinas northeast, destabilizing an economically lagging region. A small number of these refugees might smuggle North Korean nuclear material or weapons through Chinasome of which could end up in the hands of disgruntled Chinese, who could use it to commit violence against the state.

North Koreas collapse would also likely lead to the peninsulas eventual unification under Seoul. This would not only put another Western-leaning democracy on Chinas border, but could encourage the millions of ethnically Korean Chinese living in the countrys northeast to agitate for their territory to join a Greater Korea. Unlike the Tibetans, Uighurs, and even Mongolians, there is no independence movement among the Koreans: They dont want to join the failed state of North Korea. But if the peninsula were a healthy, unified polity, this could change, giving China another unhappy minority population to manage.

Recommended: Why Trump's Foreign Policy Will Remain Dysfunctional

The other major worry for China about Korean unification: the roughly 28,500 American troops stationed in South Korea. Many in Chinas foreign-policy apparatusand presumably some among Chinas top leadersfear that the United States treats China too much like the former Soviet Union. In other words, some in Beijing fear the United States is trying to contain China, and engender the collapse or the splintering of the ruling Chinese Communist Party. As a result, China does not want U.S. troops on its borders, which is exactly would happen if the peninsula unified. The United States has never credibly promised to remove those troops if the peninsula unified. And even if it did, Beijing may worry that Washington would break that promise, as some claim it did to Moscow with the expansion of NATO after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Chinas strong preference that North Korea remain very much alive helps explain why it provides substantial aid to Kim Jong Uns regime, and accounts for roughly 70 percent of his economys total trade. And this preference justifies Trumps restraint when it comes to the missile launch. When he meets with Chinas President Xi Jinping, rather than asking him for help in dealing with Kim Jong Un, it makes far more sense for him to let Xi ask for Americas help in negotiating with or curtailing his regime.

Pyongyang almost certainly knows that invading the South would be suicide.

As for Americas allies who happen to be North Koreas regional neighbors: Yes, North Koreas standing armyestimated at more than 1.2 millionthreatens South Korea, and Japan is a far easier target for its missiles than the United States. And yes, South Korea would face heavy casualties from a North Korean invasion. So, continuing to publicly and privately express support for those two allies is the smart way forward.

Trump is no paragon of self-control when it comes to realistically assessing the threats America faces. Far from it: He routinely exaggerates the dangers posed by Islamic terrorism and the Islamic State. But when it comes to North Korea, his reserve is laudable.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump's most senior representatives will descend on Europe this week to convince allies that his putting America first does not mean they will be left behind.

Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary James Mattis will find an international community still on edge after Trump's election win.

Trump is staying in Washington to host Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and to hire a new national security adviser after Michael Flynn's embarrassing early resignation.

But the president's key lieutenants are not unknown quantities abroad and may receive a warmer welcome than would their boss.

Retired Marine general Mattis, who will attend a NATO defense ministers' meeting in Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday, once served in the alliance and has fought alongside its troops.

Tillerson, the former chief executive of oil giant ExxonMobil, has criss-crossed the world for decades seeking energy deals, and has been honored as a "Friend of Russia" by the Kremlin.

He will encounter Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, China's Wang Yi and dozens of other new colleagues from the world's great powers at Thursday's G20 ministerial talks in Bonn.

Former Indiana governor Mike Pence, Trump's vice president, is less experienced on the international stage, although he did serve on the House Foreign Affairs committee in Congress.

But he will have one of the most crucial tasks of all, as he is expected to meet Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel at a Munich security conference before flying on to Brussels.

Merkel's Germany was former president Barack Obama's closest partner in Europe but Trump has dismayed EU capitals by aligning himself with Britain's decision to quit the EU.

And, with the Netherlands, France and Germany facing national elections, EU leaders are concerned that both the White House and the Kremlin will encourage populist nationalist forces.

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Trump's support for Brexit has raised fears in Europe that he may, wittingly or not, collaborate with Moscow to speed the disintegration of an already fragile continental union.

- 'Obsolete' alliance? -

For almost seven decades the NATO alliance has been the bedrock of European security, a shield first against the Soviet bloc then a forum for western defense cooperation.

European powers, particularly former Soviet satellites on the alliance's eastern flank, see it as the key bulwark against Russia's renewed efforts to establish a zone of influence.

But Trump the former candidate made it clear that he has no sentimental attachment to NATO, arguing that European members don't pay their way and dubbing the alliance "obsolete."

Since his election, Trump has both tempered his criticism and appointed in Mattis a strong supporter of allied cooperation -- but his warning has also borne fruit.

On Tuesday, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg confirmed that the allies' top priority is to increase their defense spending, effectively lessening the burden on the United States.

"Regardless of language, the most important thing is that we increase defense spending and that is exactly what we are doing," Stoltenberg told reporters.

Washington has long insisted that NATO members should spend two percent of their GDP on defense, a goal that few meet.

Stoltenberg said that in two calls with Trump, the new president "strongly expressed his strong commitment to NATO ... but in both calls he underlined fair burden sharing."

"Those that spend less than the two percent have to meet the two percent target and I agree with him," he added.

In a military career which culminated with him in command of all US forces in the Middle East, Mattis once worked to modernize NATO as Supreme Allied Commander of Transformation.

And, to the relief of Washington's allies, in his confirmation hearing last month before assuming the civilian defense secretary role, he renewed his commitment to the body.

"If we did not have NATO today, we would need to create it," he told US senators.

- Russian detente? -

The nomination of Mattis went some way towards reassuring nervous allies that Trump was not about to abandon them in favor of a new alliance with Vladimir Putin's Russia.

But European capitals remain nervous about the bombastic US leader's repeated calls for a new relationship with the Kremlin, focused on battling "radical Islamic terrorism."

Russia has annexed Ukraine's Crimea region, controls chunks of Georgia, supports pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine and has launched large military exercises on NATO's border.

NATO is the first line of defense for nervous eastern allies like Poland and the Baltic states and yet Trump continues to court Putin and is reportedly considering dropping sanctions.

Above all, the uncertainty is unnerving, with allies wondering who is calling the shots in a turbulent White House overseen by Trump's nationalist provocateur strategy chief Steve Bannon.

Wolfgang Ischinger, chairman of the Munich Security Conference and a former German ambassador to Washington, said he hoped his forum and the G20 would lend "clarity" to US policy.

"I think in particular of this phrase of Trump's that he trusts Mrs Merkel as much as he does Mr Putin. That scares me," he told reporters.

"This idea forming in Trump's head that suggests the United States can be equidistant between the EU and Russia is horrible. In my view it's the limit of absurdity."

The chief cheerleader of a Kremlin detente in the White House was national security adviser Mike Flynn, who resigned on Monday amid controversy over calls to the Russian ambassador.

European leaders will hope that -- with Flynn gone -- Trump and Bannon will allow the other US big guns -- Pence, Tillerson and Mattis -- to repair the unity of the West.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump asked for the resignation of his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, after his level of trust in Flynn eroded to the point that he felt he needed to make a change, White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters on Tuesday. A day after Flynn's resignation, Spicer said Trump had been concerned that Flynn had misled Vice President Mike Pence over his contacts with Russian officials before Trump took office on Jan. 20. Trump had been reviewing Flynn's situation for a few weeks, he said. Amid congressional calls for an investigation into the extent to which Flynn discussed the possibility of lifting U.S. sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to Washington, Spicer said the White House legal counsel had reviewed the situation and believed Flynn's case was viewed "not as a legal issue but a trust issue." Spicer said Trump was informed of Flynn's conversations with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak and asked counsel to review the case. "The erosion of that trust, frankly, was the issue," Spicer said. He said Trump had not told Flynn to discuss U.S. sanctions on Russia with the Russian diplomat. (Reporting By Steve Holland; Editing by Chris Reese and Jonathan Oatis)
By Daren Butler ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish police have detained more than 600 people over alleged links to Kurdish militants in the past two days, state media said on Tuesday, a crackdown the pro-Kurdish parliamentary party said was aimed at sidelining it ahead of an April referendum. Turks will vote on April 16 on replacing the parliamentary system with the stronger presidency sought by President Tayyip Erdogan. The referendum will be held under a state of emergency, imposed after an attempted coup last July. Tens of thousands of people have been arrested since the abortive coup over suspected ties to Fethullah Gulen, the U.S.-based Muslim cleric accused by Ankara of organizing the putsch. Separately 5,000 members of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) have been held, the party says. Counter-terror police on Tuesday detained 86 people suspected of ties to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group in dawn raids across Turkey, in addition to 544 held a day earlier, state-run Anadolu agency reported. "The basic goal of these operations... is to hold the referendum without the HDP," a statement from the HDP's executive committee said. Its statement, released before Tuesday's arrests, said more than 300 of its members and executives had been detained on Monday, bringing those held this year to around 1,200. A dozen of its lawmakers and tens of Kurdish mayors from a sister party have been jailed pending trial. "WE WILL NEVER BOW DOWN" The government accuses the HDP, parliament's second biggest opposition party, of being a political extension of the PKK. The HDP denies direct links with the PKK and says it wants a peaceful settlement in Turkey's largely Kurdish southeast. The PKK, designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the European Union and the United States, launched an armed insurgency against the Turkish state in 1984 and more than 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict. A ceasefire between the PKK and the state broke down in July 2015 and thousands have been killed in conflict since then. "We will never bow down faced with this persecution and pressure," the HDP said. "What they are trying to prevent with the detentions and arrests is a 'no' (vote in the referendum)." Ahead of the official launch of referendum campaigning this week, Erdogan has called for Turks to vote 'yes' to the reform by saying that the PKK oppose it and that a 'no' vote means taking sides with those behind last year's putsch. (Additional reporting by Gulsen Solaker in Ankara; Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by David Dolan and Gareth Jones)
By Jutarat Skulpichetrat CHONBURI, Thailand (Reuters) - The most senior U.S. officer to visit Thailand since a 2014 coup emphasized the importance of restoring democracy on Tuesday as he launched the annual Cobra Gold military exercise. The United States scaled down its presence at Asia's largest annual multinational military exercise as one of the former U.S. administration's steps to pressure the junta. With ties improving even before President Donald Trump took office, activists had voiced concern that Washington would put less focus on democratic change in a region where it faces an increasingly forceful China. "We look forward to Thailand's re-emergence as a flourishing democracy because we need Thailand to be a strong and stable partner," said Admiral Harry Harris, head of U.S. Pacific Command, which covers about half the earth's surface. "We need Thailand to get back to being the regional and global leader that it always has been." Harris will later meet junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha in Bangkok. Harris's attendance was planned before the inauguration of Trump, whose policy moves on Asia are closely watched after signals of potential confrontation with China over trade and territory. In the face of the U.S. measures to push for democracy, Thailand has strengthened military coorperation with China. New York-based Human Rights Watch said the change in relations with Thailand marked a worrisome shift given the military's grip on power and the arrests of activists and opponents of army rule. "It appears Pentagon policymakers are intent on using Cobra Gold as a way to reboot U.S. military engagement with their Thai counterparts," wrote John Sifton of the advocacy group in an opinion piece that first appeared in the Washington Post. The Thai junta held a referendum last year on a constitution to allow a general election. It is expected next year. On Tuesday, the military government was also due to start meetings with political groups on national reconciliation ahead of the election. Parties have welcomed the idea, but questioned whether the generals can be fair. Thailand has hosted the Cobra Gold war games since they began in 1982. This year's event will be attended by more than 8,300 personnel from 29 countries. Among them will be about 3,600 from the United States. (Editing by Matthew Tostevin)
By Lesley Wroughton and Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States blacklisted Venezuela's Vice President Tareck El Aissami for drug trafficking, the first crackdown by the Trump administration against a top official in President Nicolas Maduro's government for money laundering and the drug trade. The U.S. Department of Treasury said it designated El Aissami for sanctions under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. His associate, Samark Jose Lopez Bello, was targeted for providing material assistance and financial support for El Aissami's activities, Treasury said in a statement. Treasury also targeted 13 companies owned or controlled by Lopez Bello or other parties that comprise an international network spanning the British Virgin Islands, Panama, Britain, the United States and Venezuela. "El Aissami facilitated shipments of narcotics from Venezuela, to include control over planes that leave from a Venezuelan airbase, as well as control of drug routes through the ports of Venezuela," a senior U.S. administration official told a conference call with reporters. The Treasury Department said El Aissami oversaw or partially owned narcotics shipments of more than 1,000 kilograms from Venezuela on multiple occasions, including shipments to Mexico and the United States. Another U.S. administration official estimated the value of property blocked in Miami was worth "tens of millions of dollars." Another official suggested the value of the property seized was not commensurate with the salary of a public official. U.S. officials called Lopez Bello a "key frontman" used by El Aissami to handle financial matters and purchase assets. The Venezuelan government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Maduro frequently accuses U.S. officials of trying to smear his administration. U.S. officials denied that Monday's designations had anything to do with El Aissami's prominent political role. He is a former minister of interior and of justice. "The designation is a result of a years long investigation of narcotics trafficking by OFAC. The designation is not aimed at Venezuela or any specific sectors of the Venezuelan economy," the senior official said. As a result of these actions, Americans are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions or otherwise dealing with individuals and entities, and any assets they have under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen. DECISION PRAISED BY LAWMAKERS The move is a departure from the so-called "soft landing" approach taken by former president Barack Obama's White House, which at times had clashed with efforts by the U.S. Justice Department and Drug Enforcement Agency, working with informants in Venezuela to nab influential government officials for money laundering and drug trafficking. Since 2015, the Obama administration had sought to use behind-the-scenes diplomacy to ease acrimony with Caracas and the fallout of a string of U.S. drug indictments against Venezuelan officials, such as Nestor Reverol, the head of Venezuela's National Guard. Senior administration officials declined to say whether President Donald Trump had personally signed off on the sanctions or whether he was involved in the decision. Typical drug trafficking designations would not normally rise to the level of the president for approval, but the blacklisting of a top government official of another country is far more sensitive than typical designations. The sanctions are the first test of how the rocky relationship between the ideological foes evolves under Trump. The unpopular Venezuelan president has so far treaded carefully with Trump. While he blasted the Republican as a "thief" and "bandit" during the U.S. election campaign, Maduro later cooled his rhetoric and said Trump deserved to be given a chance and in any case "won't be worse than Obama". El Aissami, whom local media report is of Syrian and Lebanese extraction, grew up poor in the Andean state of Merida and went on to study law and criminology. He has been both a lawmaker and a state governor for the ruling Socialist Party before being tapped vice-president last month. Venezuelan opposition groups have long accused El Aissami of repressing dissent, participating in drug trafficking rings, and supporting Middle East groups such as Hezbollah. Thirty-four Republican and Democratic members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives sent a letter to Trump on Feb. 8 urging him to act against Venezuelan officials. Their letter referred to El Aissami, noting that his recent appointment as executive vice president put him in line to become Venezuela's next leader. That, they said, "is extremely troubling given his alleged ties to drug trafficking and terrorist organizations." In a joint statement Republican Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat, called Monday's move "long overdue" and praised the Trump administration for "acting quickly and decisively" against the Maduro government. Republican Senator Marco Rubio said in a statement he hoped Monday's designations were "only the beginning" of a move to pressure the Venezuelan government to stop illicit activities and free political prisoners amid its crackdown on the opposition. (Additional reporting by Yeganeh Torbati and Julia Harte in Washington, and Alexandra Ulmer in Caracas; Editing by Peter Cooney and Mary Milliken)
The U.S. Office of Government Ethics has called on the White House to investigate Kellyanne Conway for promoting Ivanka Trumps products in a TV interview last week.

This is just a wonderful line, Conway said in an interview on Fox & Friends, speaking from the White House briefing room. I own some of it. I fully  Im going to give a free commercial here. Go buy it today, everybody. You can find it online.

In a letter addressed to Deputy White House Counsel Stefan Passantino, the director of the Office of Government Ethics said Conways comments were in clear violation of rules against the misuse of an official position.

Under the present circumstances, there is strong reason to believe that Ms. Conway has violated the Standards of Conduct and that disciplinary action is warranted, Walter Shaub Jr. said in the letter, dated Feb 13.

I note that OGEs regulation on misuse of position offers as an example the hypothetical case of a Presidential appointee appearing in a television commercial to promote a product, Shaub said. Ms. Conways actions track that example almost exactly. Therefore, I recommend that the White House investigate Ms. Conways actions and consider taking disciplinary action against her.

The House Oversight Committee sent a letter to the OGE on Thursday asking it to review Conways endorsement.

Asked about Conways comments last week, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said she had been counseled on that subject  and thats it.
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Airlines canceled 1.17 percent of scheduled domestic flights last year, the best performance in the 22 years the government has been tracking the issue, the U.S. Transportation Department said on Tuesday.

The department also said air carriers are losing or misplacing luggage at the lowest rate since 1987, when the government began collecting data.

Airlines are also bumping passengers, or involuntarily preventing ticketed passengers from flying, at a record-low rate.

The cancellation rate was a significant improvement over the 1.5 percent of flights canceled in 2015 and fell below the previous low of 1.24 percent in 2002.

Cancellation rates vary with weather and other issues. In December, carriers canceled 1.6 percent of their scheduled domestic flights, compared with 0.3 percent in November.

In 2016, the carriers had a mishandled baggage rate of 2.70 per 1,000 passengers, down from 3.13 per 1,000 in 2015.

Air carriers bumped 0.62 per 10,000 passengers in 2016, compared with a 0.73 rate in 2015. It was the lowest annual rate since 1995 when the government began tracking the issue. The figure does not include passengers who give up seats voluntarily in exchange for airline compensation.

Airlines reported an on-time arrival rate of 81.4 percent, up from 79.9 percent in 2015. A flight is counted as "on time" if it is operated less than 15 minutes after the scheduled time.

Hawaiian Airlines Inc ranked first in on-time flights out of 12 major carriers ranked, followed by Alaska Air Group, Delta Air Lines Inc, Skywest Inc and United Airlines.

Travelers also made fewer complaints.

The U.S. Transportation Department said it received 17,904 complaints last year, down 11.3 percent from 2015.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Alan Crosby)
By Ned Parker and Ju-min Park UNITED NATIONS/SEOUL (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council denounced North Korea's weekend missile launch, urging members to "redouble efforts" to enforce sanctions against the reclusive state, but gave no indications of any action it might take. Pyongyang's test of the intermediate-range ballistic missile on Sunday was its first direct challenge to the international community since U.S. President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20. At a news conference on Monday, Trump said: "Obviously North Korea is a big, big problem and we will deal with that very strongly." Trump did not speak of any planned response but Washington's U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley said in a statement: "It is time to hold North Korea accountable  not with our words, but with our actions." She issued the statement after an emergency Security Council meeting on Monday that was called by the United States, Japan and South Korea to discuss the North's missile launch. U.S., Japanese and South Korean military officials held a teleconference on Monday in which they condemned the launch as "a clear violation" of multiple Security Council resolutions. The United States "reaffirmed its ironclad security commitments" to South Korea and Japan, the Pentagon said. A South Korean official said the United States has planned to deploy "strategic assets" in upcoming annual military exercises with South Korea because of the increased threat from the North. The exercises usually start in March. The official did not say what assets might be used. In the past, these have included B-2 bombers, F-22 stealth fighter jets and nuclear-powered submarines. In Beijing, China's Foreign Ministry said it hoped that under present circumstance all countries could maintain restraint and not do anything to escalate the situation. "We urge all sides to adopt a responsible attitude and make their own efforts to jointly promote the appropriate resolution of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue," ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a daily news briefing. China is North Korea's main ally and trading partner but is irritated by its repeated aggressive actions, although it rejects suggestions from the United States and others that it could be doing more to rein in its neighbour. ICBM TEST South Korea's intelligence agency estimates the solid-fuel missile launched by North Korea on Sunday has a range of more than 2,000 km (1,240 miles), according to a lawmaker briefed by the agency. That would bring large parts of China, Taiwan, Japan and Russia within range. The North has tested missiles with a range of over 3,000 km (2,000 miles) in the past, but has said it is on the verge of testing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which could eventually threaten the continental United States, which is about 9,000 km (5,500 miles) from North Korea. "We are keeping an eye out, thinking data and technology from the latest test can be applied (to an ICBM)," South Korean Defence Minister Han Min-koo told lawmakers on Tuesday. He added it was his belief that the new administration in the United States was still formulating a North Korea policy. North and South Korea are technically still at war because their 1950-1953 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. The North regularly threatens to destroy the South and the South's main ally, the United States. The Security Council did not specify what steps might be taken beyond the U.N.-sponsored sanctions regime imposed on North Korea since 2006 over its nuclear and ballistic missile tests. "The members of the Security Council deplore all the Democratic People's Republic of Korea ballistic missile activities, including these launches," the council said in a statement that also referred to North Korea's missile launch on Oct. 19. The statement "called upon all member states to redouble their efforts to implement fully the measures imposed on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea by the Security Council." Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday that he expected the Trump administration would adopt a harder line on North Korea. "I believe that the stance of the United States towards North Korea will become much tougher, that is clear," Abe said on an NHK public broadcasting news program after returning from meetings with Trump in the United States. North Korea has said any sanctions against its missile or nuclear programs are a violation of its sovereignty and right to self-defense. (Additional reporting by Idrees Ali and Emily Stephenson in Washington, Elaine Lies in Tokyo and Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
When President Donald Trump suggested recently the U.S. should prioritize persecuted Christian refugees, not all Christians in the Middle East rejoiced. We want dont priority visas. We dont want him to take us, says Habib Ephrem. Thats the wrong message and the wrong policy.

Ephrem, secretary general of the Gathering of Christians in the Middle East, is one of a number of Christian leaders encouraging Christians to stay in the region and return to their homes in Syria and Iraq, as the areas are cleared of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and other groups. Tens of thousands of Christians have been displaced in recent years, mostly languishing in camps and cramped apartments.

But Ephrem says countries that are prioritizing Christian refugees are effectively helping ISIS purge the region of different faiths. ISIS expels people from their homeland and then you take them to the West, says Ephrem. So what? You are doing the policy of ISIS?

He has gone as far as lobbying foreign governments to stop facilitating Christian migration. The U.S. does not currently give Christian refugees priority, despite Trumps suggestion, but in the past countries including Poland and Slovakia have indicated they would give preference to Christian refugees, and France has also previously offered to host Christians that fled ISIS. Other countries, like Canada, offer private sponsorship programs at are often used by churches to bring their brethren to the country.

Ephrem and others believe Iraq and Syrian Christians are deserting their earliest homelands. The Christian communities there are some of the oldest in the world; the Nineveh plains and cities in Northern Iraq are even mentioned in the Bible. The exodus of Iraqi Christians started after the U.S. invasion in 2003, but it was ISISs rapid advance in 2014 that pushed thousands to flee their villages in a matter of days. ISISs objective of creating an Islamic caliphate left Christians with few options  convert, pay, die or leave.

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Many chose the latter path. In the past year Karim Farajs Facebook feed has been filled with pictures of his Syrian Christian friends now in Europe and Canada. He says hundreds of Christians he knows have found ways to get to Western countries. Some went with visas, but most paid smugglers. His village in Hama province is now controlled by Russian and Syrian forces, he says, but its not safe. However, he stayed close by, in neighboring Lebanon, and say he wants to go back to Syria.

You cant be truly comfortable except in your own country, says Faraj, 21. Yet other Syrian Christians say they have little to return to. Go back to what? asks Joseph Youhana, a farmer from Hasakah in northeast Syria. I watched ISIS blow up our church.

Youhana and his family were held captive by ISIS for 10 months. The militants tried to force them to convert to Islam. In September, the church struck a deal with ISIS to release him, his family and more than 200 other Christians, for a sum of $3.5 million, most of it raised through donations.

Many Christian refugees say even if their villages are retaken by government or other friendly forces they will never feel secure again. As Youhana and the others were loaded on buses in ISISs de facto capital, Raqqa, bound for the Lebanese border, one of the fighters pulled Youhanas 14-year-old niece off the bus. Weve heard nothing about her since. ISIS still has her, he says, showing her picture on his phone. I will not take my daughters back there.

Youhana says that even if he felt safe enough to return, he doesnt have the money to rebuild his house. Some Christian leaders argue that instead of simply taking Christians in, Western governments should invest in rebuilding these communities and help guarantee Christians and other minority groups equal rights in their homeland.

Nafa Mayouma, 50, says that will never happen. He left Mosul just as ISIS took the city in 2014. The family stayed in northern Iraq for a few months before coming to Lebanon. Today, he prays in church in Beirut with hundreds of other Iraqi Christians. Our church in Iraq didnt want us to leave, says Mayouma. Maybe its useful for the bishops to have us stay. Not for us.

He says he knows that soon there will be few Christians left in Iraq but that hes not willing to go back and risk the safety of his family. Even if ISIS is pushed out of Mosul or even out of Iraq, Mayouma says it wont be secure. Fine, you take out ISIS. Two, three years later youll just have a bigger, fiercer group, says Mayouma, citing the various militant Islamists groups that came before ISIS in Iraq.

Ephrem says he knows asking people to stay, or return, when they are still under attack is difficult  but he says Christians and other religious minorities need to resist. He points to Lebanons civil war. Thousands of Christians fled the often-sectarian fighting, but many stayed. Today an estimated 38% of the country is Christian, though there has been no official census since 1932.

What Christians need, says Ephrem, is more allies to fight groups like ISIS and Boko Haram  not help in fleeing them. Then perhaps the ancient Christian communities could return to Iraq and Syria. Christianity began here, he says.
By Lacey Johnson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives' Oversight Committee voted on Monday to strike down a Washington, D.C. law that would allow physician-assisted suicide there. City leaders passed legislation in December that allows terminally ill patients to end their lives with a doctor's help, but the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to overturn laws in the 68-square-mile (177-square-km) district. "I worry that assisted suicide will create a marketplace for death," said Jason Chaffetz, a Utah Republican who heads the Oversight Committee. "I think it's fundamentally wrong." After hearing arguments from more than a dozen lawmakers, the committee voted 22 to 14 against the law. Overturning a D.C. law requires passage by both the House and Senate and signature by the president. It has happened only a handful of times since the city gained self-governance. Chaffetz said the current law has "serious flaws" and voiced concerns over doctors inaccurately diagnosing patients with terminal illnesses. Other Republican committee members said they opposed physician-assisted suicide for religious reasons. Gerry Connolly, a Virginia Democrat who voted in support of the district's so-called Death with Dignity Act, told opponents: "Do the right thing and mind your own business." Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, the district's congressional representative, told lawmakers they need not agree with the legislation to vote in favor. "We are asking you to agree with American doctrine that local laws are for local residents," Norton said. The city council has passed a range of laws in recent years on issues important to many liberal Democrats nationally. Among them are a $15-an-hour minimum wage, legalized recreational marijuana and one of the country's most generous family leave laws. Washington leaders have typically relied on the Senate, which has long had less appetite to interfere with district laws than the House, to block legislation affecting it. If the law is upheld, Washington will join six states that allow physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients. (Reporting by Lacey Johnson; Editing by Curtis Skinner and Cynthia Osterman)
The Hague (AFP) - A UN war crimes court Tuesday upped the ante in a battle with Serbia, asking Interpol to issue high-priority red notices for the arrest of three Serbs accused of witness-tampering.

The case has dragged on for more than two years, after the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) issued arrest warrants in January 2015 for three associates of radical Serb Vojislav Seselj.

Defence lawyers Petar Jojic and Vjerica Radeta, and former war-time associate, Jovo Ostojic were charged in December 2014 with "having threatened, intimidated, offered bribes to, or otherwise interfered with two witnesses," in two cases involving Seselj.

Ultranationalist Seselj was acquitted in his main trial in March 2016 of nine charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity arising from the 1990s Balkan conflicts.

But the three others are still wanted for trial on the separate charges, and the court based in The Hague has grown increasingly angered by Belgrade's refusal to hand them over.

Presiding judge Alphons Orie on Tuesday ordered court officials to "address Interpol seeking distribution of a red notice in relation to the accused on the basis of the arrest warrants."

He added it was clear "Serbia's continued non-compliance with its obligations obstructs the course of justice."

Interpol says on its website that red notices can give "high, international visibility to cases". Wanted persons are also flagged to border officials "making travel difficult."

The ICTY judges in 2012 handed Seselj a two-year jail term in the separate contempt case.

Seselj was allowed to travel back to Serbia in 2015 to undergo cancer treatment while awaiting the verdict in his main trial, which he did not attend.

Since then, Seselj has repeatedly lashed out at the UN tribunal, and his Radical Party was returned to parliament in Belgrade in April elections.
Damascus (AFP) - The top UN official in Damascus has warned of a "looming humanitarian catastrophe" in four besieged towns in Syria, calling for immediate access to deliver aid to some 60,000 residents.

In a statement late Monday, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Syria, Ali al-Za'atari, warned of dire conditions in the towns of Zabadani, Madaya, Fua and Kafraya.

Zabadani and Madaya, in Damascus province, are besieged by government troops and their allies, while Fua and Kafraya are under siege by the rebels.

"Sixty thousand innocent people are trapped there in a cycle of daily violence and deprivation, where malnutrition and lack of proper medical care prevail," the statement said.

"The situation is a looming humanitarian catastrophe. The principle of free access to people in need must be implemented now and without repeated requests," it added.

Za'atari said the situation was complicated by the "tit-for-tat arrangement" between the towns, whereby no aid can be provided to Madaya and Zabadani without similar access to Fua and Kafraya, and vice versa.

The linkage "makes humanitarian access prone to painstaking negotiations that are not based on humanitarian principles," he said.

"This has prevented medical cases from receiving proper treatment and evacuation. People are in need, and they cannot wait any longer. We need to act now."

The UN's last humanitarian access to the four towns was in November, the statement said, without directing blame for the lack of access at one side or the other.

Earlier this month, the UN said it had been able to deliver aid to just 40,000 people in besieged and hard-to-reach areas in January, despite requesting access to more than 900,000 people.

That made January the worst month for humanitarian deliveries in nearly a year, with approval received for just one of 21 humanitarian convoys proposed by the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.

The UN says 4.72 million Syrians are in so-called hard-to-reach areas, including 600,000 people under siege, mostly by the Syrian army, but also by rebel groups or the Islamic State group.
Photo credit: Getty

From Road & Track

Any person who has ever hit a pothole with their car has wondered: Can I get the state to reimburse me when one of these potholes damages my car?

If you have ever driven during the winter, you know how much damage potholes can do to a car. While my home state of Michigan is not the only place in the paved world with potholes, it certainly ranks among the worst. A combination of inept bureaucracy, funding shortfalls, and hellacious winters keep Michigan roads in a seemingly perpetual state of disrepair. Here is what you are up against if your car is damaged by a pothole in Michigan. Most other states have similar processes which I encourage you to search out on the internet.

Your car is damaged by a pothole. Perhaps one flattened your tire and busted your rim. If the damages are under $1,000 you can file a claim with the Michigan Department of Transportation. But the state doesn't want to be just throwing money around for people whose cars are damaged by the road. The first hurdle is that the pothole must have existed for at least 30 days before you hit it. Then, the state must have known the pothole existed for 30 days before you hit it. And you must prove the state failed to maintain the roadway in "reasonable repair" after having known about the defect for at least 30 days before you were financially injured.

Think you can beat that? The state has a handy form you submit to make your claim but they have one last bit of advice for you: "Please be advised that the majority of claims are denied under governmental immunity laws." Those include the laws that say they are only liable if they failed to maintain the roadway in reasonable repair AND that you must prove the pothole existed for 30 days before you hit it AND that someone notified the state that the pothole was there 30 days ago.

How does the average person find out how long a pothole existed before they learned of its existence? How do you prove if or when the state was notified of it? I know these questions have answers but how much effort can you put into chasing a claim that tops out at $1,000?

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Oh, and they won't pay you for any damages that might be covered by your insurance.

What if your damages are over $1,000? Don't even bother filing the form. You'll need to file a lawsuit for that. You'll still need to prove the same things mentioned above, but you'll have to do it in a courtroom with attorneys and bailiffs and judges and such. Good luck with that.

Can you get the state to reimburse you when one of these potholes wrecks your car? In theory, yes. In reality, don't hold your breath waiting for your check from the state.

Steve Lehto is a writer and attorney from Michigan. He specializes in Lemon Law and frequently writes about cars and the law. His most recent books include Preston Tucker and His Battle to Build the Car of Tomorrow, and Dodge Daytona and Plymouth Superbird: Design, Development, Production and Competition. He also has a podcast where he talks about these things.

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Washington (AFP) - The United States' annual message to Serbia to mark its national day made no mention of the country's bid to join the European Union, which Washington has previously supported.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Monday issued a short statement to extend to Serbia his best wishes and hopes for "a prosperous future," two days ahead of its national day.

But the wording of the statement underlines the extent to which President Donald Trump's new US administration has moved on from its predecessor's support for the European Union.

And it may cheer Russian President Vladimir Putin's Kremlin, which resents Europe's eastward march and is seeking to retain Moscow's historically strong influence in Serbia and the broader Balkans.

In this week's letter, Tillerson hailed "Serbia's continued efforts to promote economic reform, to further strengthen the rule of law and to improve relations with its neighbors," which he described as cornerstones of "regional stability and economic growth."

But he made no mention of Serbia's recent bid to join the European Union or of what the State Department has often previously referred to as its "Euro-Atlantic aspirations."

Last year on the same day, by contrast, former president Barack Obama's secretary of state John Kerry underlined US support for Serbia's EU entry in the clearest of terms.

"We applaud Serbia's commitment to the EU accession process and related reforms," Kerry wrote in February 2016.

"The hard work of adopting EU norms and standards will lead to a more prosperous, democratic Serbia that is more fully integrated into Euro-Atlantic institutions."

- Yugoslav collapse -

The State Department would not issue a statement in support on Serbia's EU ambition but, speaking on condition of anonymity six hours after Tillerson's statement, one official insisted the policy had not changed.

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"The United States remains fully supportive of Serbias European Union accession efforts," he insisted.

"We continue to appreciate our close and cooperative security relationship with Serbia, as well as Serbias growing partnership with NATO."

Obama's administration was a vocal supporter of Brussels' outreach to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, believing EU membership would bind former Soviet satellites more firmly to the West.

But Trump has been scornful of the European Union and multilateral treaties in general, and has even been cool on the future role of the traditionally US-led NATO military alliance.

Serbia officially applied to join the European Union in December 2009 and began negotiations to do so in 2014, despite the skepticism of a significant proportion of its own population.

Westward-leaning Serbs see joining the 28-nation bloc as a guarantor of stability and prosperity in a region still reeling from both the recent financial crisis and the 1990s Balkan wars.

But many nationalists nurse resentment over the collapse of Yugoslavia and the NATO bombing of Serb targets during the Bosnian and Kosovo wars -- and some see Putin's Russia as a natural ally.

Trump has repeatedly said that he, too, would like Washington to enjoy friendlier ties with Moscow.
Washington (AFP) - US Secret Service chief Joseph Clancy will retire in early March, the elite agency tasked with protecting the US president said Tuesday.

A former head of US President Barack Obama's detail, Clancy returned from a previous retirement to steer the agency two years ago, amid outcry over several security lapses at the White House that tarnished the agency's image.

Clancy -- who prior to his first retirement had served the agency for nearly three decades -- will officially step down once more on March 4, and new US President Donald Trump will appoint his successor.

The Secret Service, made up of some 6,500 people, is also responsible for the security of former presidents and vice presidents, as well as foreign heads of state and government on official visits.

Since the 1968 assassination of Robert Kennedy, it has additionally protected presidential candidates.

The agency has suffered a string of embarrassing scandals, including a 2014 high-profile incident in which a mentally disturbed veteran scaled the fence and burst into the White House with a knife.

The former head of the agency, Julia Pierson, resigned in the wake of that scandal.

She had initially been appointed to clean up the service after a dozen agents were found to have hired prostitutes during a 2012 presidential trip to Colombia.
The United States has informed South Korea it will send strategic assets to a joint military exercise next month in the wake of last weekends North Korean ballistic missile test.

The North said the medium-range ballistic missile it tested Sunday was capable of carrying a nuclear payload.

The Yonhap News Agency reported Tuesday the U.S. planned to send F-22 stealth fighters and a nuclear powered submarine for the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises.

"We are in talks with the U.S. to determine the size of U.S. strategic assets to be deployed and the range of their exposure to local media," the Ministry of National Defense said in a report to lawmakers, adding the biggest-ever joint exercise will show the North that the South and its allies are ready to combat Pyongyangs nuclear and missile threats.

The KCNA news agency reported the North successfully test-fired a Pukguksong-2 solid-fuel ballistic missile, which traveled 300 miles before splashing down in international waters in the Sea of Japan. The missile test coincided with Japanese President Shinzo Abes visit to the United States and prompted a pledge by U.S. President Donald Trump to stand with allies against the Hermit Kingdom.

The deployment of strategic assets could be the strong signal White House policy adviser Stephen Miller said the U.S. would send in response to North Koreas actions.

"[The missile launch] is not only an explicit and clear violation of related [U.N. Security Council] resolutions but also a grave threat to the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and the international community as a whole," Seoul's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

missile test

Photo: KCNA/Reuters

Defense officials from South Korea, the U.S. and Japan held an hourlong video conference early Monday to discuss the situation and condemned Sundays launch as a clear violation of U.N. resolutions banning such tests.

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The North has refused to end its nuclear program in exchange for economic aid and an easing of sanctions, which have strangled its economy.

In addition to missile tests, Pyongyang conducted a nuclear test in September, its fifth since 2006. It is believed the bomb tested in September had a yield of 10 kilotons to 30 kilotons, but it is unclear whether the North is testing hydrogen bombs and whether it is using plutonium or uranium, the BBC reported.

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SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP)  The United States has stiffened its travel warning for El Salvador, urging Americans "to carefully consider the risks of travel to El Salvador due to the high rates of crime and violence."

The travel warning issued Tuesday replaces one issued a year ago, which urged travelers to "remain alert to their surroundings."

Both advisories warned of "critically high" violence and crime. But last year's warning noted that "tens of thousands of U.S. citizens safely visit El Salvador each year for study, tourism, cruise ship visits, business, and volunteer work," language that did not appear this year.

Killings peaked at 104 per 100,000 residents in 2015.

Homicides fell by about 20 percent in 2016, but El Salvador remains one of the most violent countries with 81.2 murders per 100,000 residents.
Former Mexican President Vicente Fox, who emphatically informed U.S. President Donald Trump Mexico would not pay for his border wall, Monday warned his country would not be cut out of the North American Free Trade Agreement either.

Trump met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Monday at the White House and the two talked in glowing terms about the close relationship between the two nations, issuing a joint statement following their first official meeting.

No two countries share deeper or broader relations than Canada and the United States, the statement said. We are bound together by our history, our values, our economy, our environment and our resolve to improve the lives of our citizens, the statement said.

Both Trump and Trudeau appeared pleased with their encounter, which also was attended by Ivanka Trump.

A similar meeting with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto scheduled for Jan. 31 was canceled by Pena Nieto after Trump said there would be no point to the meeting if Mexico was unwilling to pay for the border wall and blamed NAFTA for U.S. job losses.

Trump has said he wants to renegotiate NAFTA, calling the deal one-sided and blaming it for gutting U.S. manufacturing.

Fox said Mexico would not sit still if Canada and the United States decide on a bilateral deal to replace NAFTA.

Trump has insisted a wall along the nearly 2,000-mile U.S. border with Mexico would be paid for by Mexico. His administration has floated the idea of a 20 percent tax on Mexican imports, which would raise the price of everything from fruits and vegetables to automobiles. An internal Department of Homeland Security report last week estimated the cost of the wall would be more than $21 billion, way higher than Trumps estimate of $8 billion to $12 billion.

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Fox has said forget it on numerous occasions.

Hes also cheered on his successor, encouraging him to maintain his stance against Trump.

Last week, immigration agents conducted numerous raids around the country, scooping up hundreds of undocumented immigrants. Trump has said such raids would be focused on people who had committed crimes but many of those detained last week had no criminal records.

The administration said 75 percent of those arrested were criminals.

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A second international trailer for Emma Watson fairytale movie "Beauty and the Beast" delivers late January's final trailer in a minute less.

Superimposed with Japanese subtitles, this second international trailer omits some of the threads leading up to Belle's internment within the Beast's mansion -- her father's capture, her suitor Gaston's vanity -- in favor of greater brevity.

Still present are the mansion's talking tea set, clock, wardrobe and candlestand, as well as some of the difficulties that Belle (Emma Watson) and the Beast (Dan Stevens) must overcome, as well as an excerpt from their duet, the film's title track.

"Beauty and the Beast" is being prepared for launch the week of March 17, which is when it arrives in most international territories; it opens in France and Australia (among others) the following week, Belgium and the Netherlands the week after, South Africa on April 14 and Japan on April 21.

Beauty and the Beast Japanese trailer

Disney Japan: youtu.be/Yxhgx-PBF88

Comicbook.com: youtu.be/MQRTJ3-0_jQ
NEW YORK (AP)  His administration dealt a significant blow after less than a month in office, President Donald Trump must now fill a vital national security post after the resignation of embattled national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Flynn stepped down late Monday, ending days of speculation about his fate following reports that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his discussions with Russia prior to Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration.

Whoever emerges as Trump's choice will lead the National Security Council at a time when the young administration is grappling with a series of national security challenges, including North Korea's reported ballistic missile launch.

The White House is also dealing with fallout from the rocky rollout of one of Trump's executive orders on immigration, which has been blocked by the courts. The order was intended to suspend the nation's refugee program and bar citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.

Trump named retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg as the acting national security adviser, one of three candidates the president has under consideration:

RETIRED LT. GEN. KEITH KELLOGG

Kellogg had previously been appointed the National Security Council chief of staff and, along with Flynn, advised Trump on national security and foreign policy issues during the campaign. He had been considered for national security adviser before the post went to Flynn.

Kellogg was chief operating officer of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, the interim governing body following the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. He previously worked as executive vice president of research and technology for Virginia-based information technology firm CACI International, a contractor for defense, intelligence and homeland security agencies.

DAVID PETRAEUS

The most audacious choice would likely be former CIA director David Petraeus. A retired four-star general, Petraeus was bounced from his position atop the intelligence agency in 2012 after he it was revealed that he had passed classified information to his biographer, who had also become his mistress.

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He later pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor charge of mishandling classified information. He was also fined $100,000 and remains on probation.

But during the campaign, Trump spoke sympathetically about Petraeus' plight despite his frequent criticisms of his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton for mishandling classified materials. Petraeus was briefly under consideration to become secretary of state before Trump picked Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson.

RETIRED VICE ADM. ROBERT HARWARD

Robert Harward, a former Navy SEAL, served as deputy commander of the United States Central Command under Gen. James Mattis, who is now defense secretary. Harward served on the National Security Council under President George W. Bush and commissioned the National Counter Terrorism Center.

Upon retirement in 2013 after a nearly 40-year career in the Navy, Harward became chief executive officer for defense and aerospace giant Lockheed Martin in the United Arab Emirates. Trump has recently been in very public negotiations with Lockheed over the cost of its F-35 fighter jet program.
The White House will reopen for public tours on March 7, following an unusually long closure at the start of Donald Trumps presidency.

I am excited to reopen the White House to the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come each year, First Lady Melania Trump said in a statement on Tuesday. The White House is a remarkable and historic site and we are excited to share its beauty and history. I am committed to the restoration and preservation of our Nations most recognizable landmark.

The announcement comes after at least two dozen lawmakerswho handle constituent requests for White House tourssigned a letter urging the tour office to reopen, the Washington Post reported on Monday.

Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama all appointed a White House Visitors Office Director before being sworn in, and had reopened the White House to the public at this point, the letter said, according to the Post.

Republican Sen. Charles Grassley on Sunday made a personal request about when the White House would open. Mrs G wants to know, he said in a tweet.

The First Ladys chief of staff, Lindsay Reynolds, said earlier this month that the tour office would reopen after a traditional temporary closure during the transition period.

In the meantime, we are using this time to tend to routine maintenance, updates and renovations along the tour route to ensure the guest experience is top notch, Reynolds said in a Feb. 1 statement.
Washington (AFP) - The White House on Wednesday struggled to contain fallout from the resignation of the US national security advisor, as Moscow denied reports of contacts between Donald Trump's presidential campaign and Russian officials.

The New York Times reported that US intelligence agents intercepted calls showing that members of Trump's 2016 campaign had repeated contacts with top Russian intelligence officials in the year preceding the November 8 presidential election.

US intelligence agencies concluded in January that Russia had intervened in the US electoral process at least in part to help Trump. US agents are now trying to determine whether the Trump campaign cooperated with Moscow to disrupt Democrat Hillary Clinton's campaign, The Times reported.

The newspaper, citing current and former US officials, said that no such evidence has yet emerged.

Former Trump advisor Paul Manafort, who was among those campaign officials heard on the calls, told The Times that the claims were "absurd."

Trump himself took fresh aim at the media in a tweet Wednesday, without mentioning the Times.

"The fake news media is going crazy with their conspiracy theories and blind hatred. @MSNBC & @CNN are unwatchable. @foxandfriends is great!"

In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the latest allegations.

"Don't believe newspaper reports, it's very difficult at the moment to differentiate them from falsehoods and fabrications," Peskov told reporters.

- Trump warned about Flynn -

"If you don't mind let's wait and let's not believe anonymous information, which is information based on no fact," he said.

The White House admitted Tuesday that Trump was told three weeks ago that ousted national security advisor Michael Flynn may have misled colleagues about his Kremlin contacts.

The retired three-star general and former head of US defense intelligence initially denied discussing sanctions strategy with Russia's ambassador Sergey Kislyak before taking office, a move that may have breached US law on negotiating with foreign powers.

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Flynn was asked to resign on Monday, after what the White House said was an internal investigation that showed no wrongdoing but "eroded" trust.

Flynn is the third Trump aide to step back amid questions about his ties to Russia since the mogul began his improbable White House bid.

- Misleading Pence? -

His departure follows those of Manafort and Carter Page, an early foreign policy advisor to the candidate.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer strongly denied that Trump had instructed Flynn to discuss possibly rolling back sanctions that Obama imposed on Russia.

The White House had painted Trump's final decision as based on Flynn misleading Vice President Mike Pence.

But it emerged Tuesday that Trump kept Pence in the dark for two weeks.

Spokesman Marc Lotter said Pence only learned the issue in media reports.

The unprecedented early resignation of a key staff member has rocked an administration already buffeted by leaks, infighting and legal defeats.

When first informed, on January 26, that Flynn may have made misleading statements about his talks with Russia's envoy, Spicer said the president "instinctively thought that General Flynn did not do anything wrong."

The White House legal counsel "determined that there is not an illegal issue, but rather a trust issue," Spicer said.

"The evolving and eroding level of trust as a result ... is what led the president to ask for General Flynn's resignation."

The White House also insisted that Trump -- despite repeatedly professing admiration for Vladimir Putin and suggesting sanctions could be lifted -- "has been incredibly tough on Russia."

In a new hardening of the US line on Russia, Spicer added that "President Trump has made it very clear he expects the Russian government to de-escalate violence in the Ukraine and return Crimea."

The State Department expressed concern that Russia is in breach of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, after reports that Moscow had deployed an operational ground-launched cruise missile unit.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov plans to meet his US counterpart Rex Tillerson on Thursday in Germany, when both diplomats will be in Bonn for the G20 ministerial talks, a foreign ministry spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Lavrov will "discuss bilateral relations, which were taken into a dead end by the previous administration," the spokeswoman said.

Also on the agenda: "the main international crises which our countries have cooperated on and must cooperate," as well as "regional issues," she said.

- Inquiries and missteps -

The White House's efforts are likely to do little to assuage concerns on Capitol Hill about Russia's influence in US politics.

Republicans and Democratic lawmakers have now called for an investigation into what occurred, although they differ sharply on the scope and powers.

Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren insisted that Trump "owes Americans a full account" of his campaign and administration's dealings with Moscow.

The Senate's top Republican Mitch McConnell said it was "highly likely" that Flynn would have to testify before an intelligence panel.

The Times also reported that the FBI had interviewed Flynn on his calls with the Russian diplomat days into his job.

The CIA, FBI and other intelligence agencies have already investigated Moscow's influence over the 2016 vote, concluding the Kremlin tried to sway it in Trump's favor.

Various committees in the Republican-controlled Congress are looking into Russia's election-related hacking and the Trump campaign's links to Moscow.
Embattled National Security Advisor Mike Flynn is the subject of an evaluation from President Trump, the White House said Monday, after a tumultuous 96 hours has left his job security in doubt.

Flynns job is on the line after he apparently misled Vice President Mike Pence about the extent of his conversation with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the presidential transition. Pence relied on Flynns denial that he had discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia with Kislyakan assertion that Pence repeated to the press and which now appears to be false.

The president is evaluating the situation, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said in a statement to reporters. Hes speaking to Vice President Pence relative to the conversation the Vice President had with Gen. Flynn and also speaking to various other people about what he considers the single most important subject their is: our national security.

The controversy comes after Flynn walked back his previous denials about discussing Russian sanctions Friday, saying he couldnt be 100% certain that there was no discussion of sanctions on the call. On Thursday, the Washington Post reported that federal officials are reviewing records of Flynns contacts with Kislyak, and that U.S. intercepts left little doubt that sanctions came up on at least one call.

On Friday, Flynn tried to damage control within the West Wing. Flynn met once with Pence and other top aides and spoke with the Vice President again by phone by phone. Officials said that Flynn apologized to Pence. A spokesperson for Pence did not immediately respond whether Pence has accepted the apology.

News of Trumps evaluation of Flynn capped a day of mixed signals on his status from the White House Monday. Anonymous officials began the day suggesting Flynns time in the West Wing is numbered. Other aides pushed backalso anonymously. When Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held a joint press conference at 2p.m. Flynn was seated prominently in the first row, between senior advisors Stephen Miller and Jared Kushner.

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The simple question is, does the president still have confidence in his National Security Advisor, one television reporter said loudly in earshot of Flynn and other senior aides before the news conference began. But the question did not come up during the formal part of the event, and Trump ignored shouted questions on the subject from the media.

By 4 p.m., White House Counselor Kellyanne told MSNBC that,  Yes, General Flynn does enjoy the full confidence of the president. Minutes later she repeated the same to reporters inside the West Wing.

But barely an hour later President Donald Trump was striking a different tone. After a meeting with Spicer and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, Trump directed reporters to Spicers comments. Just put out a statement, he said as he returned to the White House residence. Spicer cast his statement as reflecting Trumps most current thinking and referred reporters to Conway on whether she had discussed Flynns situation with the president Monday.

This is what he asked me to communicate to you, Spicer told reporters, saying his phrasing represented the presidents thinking. After Spicer released his statement, he huddled briefly with top aides to the Vice President, followed by a conversation with Conway.

Spicer suggested Trump would find it inappropriate if Flynn had discussed sanctions on the call. Again, thats why hes saying hes evaluating it, Spicer said of Trump.

Flynns contacts potentially ran afoul of U.S. law regarding interference in foreign diplomacy. That statute has never been prosecuted, and Flynns role in the transition would complicate any such effort. The more pressing issue, aides say, is the erosion of trust in Flynn within the West Wingparticularly among the Vice President and his team.

But the latest controversy is far from his first error, aides said. Trump was frustrated after Flynn failed to adequately brief him on an executive action that reformed the National Security Council that also placed chief strategist Steve Bannon on the powerful Principals Committee. Career officials at the NSC are up in arms trying to adapt to the new administration and Flynns leadership. The former Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency was dismissed by the Obama administration over his management style.

Spicer maintained that Flynn was still carrying out all of his duties as National Security Advisor while the review is in progress, and that he has been involved in the planning and execution of the presidents meetings with three foreign leaders this week.

It was unclear how long Trumps review of Flynns position would last, leaving the senior staffer on the hot seat for an undetermined time.

I dont have an update, Spicer said. This is the president looking at the situation. If he has an update, whether tomorrow or next week, hell let me know and Ill let you know.
By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Senior Roman Catholic cardinals from the around the world defended Pope Francis on Monday against a spate of recent attacks from conservatives challenging his authority. In an unusual move, nine cardinals in a group advising Francis on Vatican economic and structural reforms issued a statement expressing "full support for the pope's work" and guaranteeing "full backing for him and his teachings". The statement was unusual in that the cardinals - from Italy, Chile, Austria, India, Germany, Congo, the United States, Australia and Honduras - customarily issue statements only at the end of their meetings, which are held four times a year. The statement said the cardinals expressed their solidarity with the pope "in light of recent events," which Vatican sources said was a clear reference to the attacks. On Feb. 4, mystery activists working under cover of dark plastered posters around Rome criticizing the pope for moves seen as targeting conservatives in Church. They featured a picture of a stern-faced pontiff and the slogan: "Where's your mercy?" The posters accused Francis of several controversial acts, including what they called "the decapitation of the Knights of Malta." This was a reference to an ancient Catholic order of knights which is now a worldwide charity. Its former grand master, or top leader, handed in his resignation after he and his main backer, American Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, lost a battle with the Vatican for control of the order. Last week, a fake electronic edition of the Vatican daily newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, was sent anonymously to Vatican officials and journalists. It poked fun at the pope for not having responded to a rare public challenge in November by four conservative cardinals, led by Burke, who accused him of sowing confusion on important moral issues such as homosexuality and divorce. Cardinals are the highest-ranking Catholic prelates below the pope and those under 80 years old can vote in a conclave to elect his successor. Burke has become a rallying point for conservatives who think the pope is taking the 1.2 billion member Church too far to the left and accuse him of showing more concern for social issues such as poverty and climate change than moral doctrine. The cardinal was demoted from a senior Vatican position in 2014 and shunted to the post of chaplain to the Knights of Malta. On Jan 28, he was effectively sidelined from that post as well when the pope appointed a delegate to help run the order until a new grand master is elected. (Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Tom Heneghan)
Actor Hugh Jackman has announced that his skin cancer has returned yet again.

Read: Hugh Jackman Surprises 9-Year-Old Wolverine Fan With Cystic Fibrosis

The X-Men actor posted an image on Instagram with a bandage covering his nose Monday, announcing that the disease he has battled five times before had reemerged. However, he is fine.

Another basal cell carcinoma. Thanks to frequent body checks and amazing doctors, all is well. Looks worse with the dressing on than off. I swear! #wearsunscreen A post shared by Hugh Jackman (@thehughjackman) on Feb 13, 2017 at 12:42pm PST

He wrote: Another basal cell carcinoma. Thanks to frequent body checks and amazing doctors, all is well. Looks worse with the [bandage] on than off. I swear! #wearsunscreen.

The actor has been treated for skin cancer six times.

Read: Hugh Jackman Honors Late Fan Who Painted Wolverine Image With Just His Mouth

According to the American Cancer Society, 3.3 million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer each year. Of those patients, eight out of 10 have basal cell carcinoma.

Jackmans new movie, Logan, opens in theaters Friday.

Watch: Woman Acts as Surrogate Mother of Twins for Sister Who Can't Have Kids Due to Cancer

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LUSAKA (Reuters) - Zambia and Zimbabwe will give French engineering firm Razel-Bec the task of making safe the Kariba Dam, whose wall is swelling, raising the risk of cracks in the structure designed to hold back up to 180 billion cubic meters of water. A collapse of the dam could pose a risk to 3.5 million people in Zambia and Zimbabwe as well as Malawi and Mozambique further downstream, according to a 2015 report by global risk managers AON. "It is a real risk that the dam could fall without that effort being put in place," Dam Maintenance Engineer Farai Furasa told Reuters, referring to the planned renovation. "Some forces are pushing towards the dam wall and digging into it and the water could slip underneath the dam and cause it to collapse." The Zambezi River Authority, which manages the dam on behalf of the two countries, plans to reshape the plunge pool at the dam's base and repair the spill-way, which controls the release of water, within five years. The dam was built in the 1950s. Kozanai Gurukumba, its safety manager, told journalists on Monday the expansion should be completed by the end of 2020, while work on the spill-way to contain the swelling in the dam wall is expected to be done by 2022. "It has taken a while in terms of procurement process but the contract is now official," he said. "We expect the contractor Razel-Bec of France to take possession of the site by mid next month," Gurukumba said. He said the $294 million cost of the work would be funded through a combination of grants and loans. The hydroelectric dam has installed capacity of 1,626 megawatts of electricity shared between Zambia and Zimbabwe, but severe drought in the region has reduced power generation, hurting the economies of both countries. (Reporting by Chris Mfula; Editing by Ruth Pitchford)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)  The founder of ZeekRewards has been sentenced to nearly 15 years behind bars for his lead role in an $850 million online Ponzi scheme that bilked nearly a million people in the U.S. and abroad.

Paul Burks, 70, was given three concurrent prison sentences of 14 years and eight months Monday after being convicted in July on four felony fraud charges, news outlets reported.

Burks had been free on bond for the past 4  years and could have been sentenced to up to 59 years under federal sentencing guidelines.

U.S. District Judge Max Cogburn Jr. indicated Burks most likely will spend his final days in prison, given his multiple health issues, including cancer.

"While this sentence is much lower than called for by the sentencing guidelines, it is still a severe punishment, particularly given our client's age and health," said Noell Tin, one of Burks' attorneys. An appeal of Burks' July conviction is in the works, Tin said.

Burks owned ZeekRewards.com, a Lexington, North Carolina-based website which gave incentives for recruiting new investors to an online auction site Burks also ran called Zeekler. On that site, customers were charged up to $1 to bid for the chance to buy heavily discounted consumer products such as iPads.

The site made fanciful promises of 125 percent returns at a time when the economy limped out of the Great Recession.

The scheme would have needed a miracle on the order of "the loaves and the fishes" to make good on that pledge, Cogburn said.

Investments were capped at $10,000, but people could invest on behalf of their spouses, children or other relatives. Some mortgaged homes to raise their investment and almost 90 percent of the people who bought in to the operation lost money.

"The scheme got out of hand, more than Mr. Burks may have thought was going to happen," the judge said. "But anyone could have seen what was going to occur outside himself and his (marketing) cheerleaders."
(Getty Images)

What better way to celebrate Valentines Day than with some delicious chocolate? Feel like a side of rodent hair with that?

Read on to find out everything you never knew you wanted to know about the sweet treat.

Chocolate does have insect legs in it  and its OK to eat

The FDA says so. In fact, a batch of chocolate is only unsafe to eat if one subsample contains 90 or more insect fragments. Anything less is A-OK. Oh and dont forget rodent filth; to be deemed unsafe for consumption, the chocolate in six 100 gram subsamples needs to have an average of more than 1.0 rodent hair per 100 grams, regardless of the size of the hairs or hair fragments. Yummy!

(Walmart)

Monopoly champ? Competitive chocolate eater? You dont need to choose between your two loves

Chocolate-opoly from Hasbro is a a decadently delicious property trading game for chocolate lovers. In this sweet twist on the classic board game, players buy, sell and build chocolate factories. Keep your cravings in check or get sent to Chocoholics Anonymous. Play your cards right and you may be chosen as a Supertaster or meet your (oddly pleasant sounding) Death by Chocolate.

Its a small market

Just six companies, including Nestle, Mars and Cadbury, account for around 80 per cent of the worlds chocolate market.

People are very serious about their Toblerones

British chocoholics freaked out in November 2016 when Toblerone increased the distance between the mountain peaks of each chocolate bar, blaming higher costs for ingredients. Same price, 10 per cent less chocolate.

Swiss people naturally love chocolate

Europeans alone consume around 40 per cent of the worlds cocoa per year, 85 per cent of which is imported from West Africa. Unsurprisingly, Switzerland has the highest per capita consumption, averaging in at about 12 kg a year in 2012. Rounding out the list of top chocolate-consuming countries are Ireland, the UK, Austria and Belgium. The U.S. falls in at No. 15.

The chocolate chip cookie was a complete accident

In 1930, Ruth Graves Wakefield ran out of bakers chocolate while whipping up some Chocolate Butter Drop Do cookies. All she had on hand at the Toll House Inn she owned and operated was a block of Nestle semi-sweet chocolate that had been given to her by Andrew Nestle of the Nestle Company. She chopped it up, threw it in and hoped for the best. Andrew Nestle later acquired the recipe from Ruth Wakefield in exchange for a lifetime supply of free chocolate, and the Toll House cookie eventually came to be known as the chocolate chip cookie.

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I want candy

In Canada, children get about 9 per cent of their daily sugar intake from confectionary items, adolescents 10 per cent and adults 5 per cent.

A Canadian holds the Guinness World Record in the fastest time to eat 15 Ferrero Rocher!

In October 2014, Peter Czerwinski, also know as Furious Pete, achieved this feat in only 2 minutes 22 seconds. Dont try this at home. Or do.
Lindsay Lohan was spotted in NYC. (Photo: Getty Images)

Lindsay Lohan is back in New York City in the midst of Fashion Week, three days after confessing that she was scared to return, due to her passion for Islam.

The 30-year-old star, who has recently spent time in London and Turkey, headed to a taping of The View at ABC Studios on Friday, decked out in a $3,500 black Gucci bomber jacket and black leather leggings and carrying a $1,850 tiger-print Gucci bag. She had a huge smile on her makeup-free face and gave a peace sign to photographers, despite telling the Daily Mail on Friday that her interest in Islam has made her feel ostracized in her home state.

Lohan wore a Gucci bomber jacket, leather leggings, and a Gucci purse in NYC. (Photo: Getty Images)

Ive studied the Quran for quite some time, she told the newspaper during a Facebook Live Q&A session. Its a process to convert to anything. I respect all religions.  Its a beautiful religion, and I am a very spiritual person.

Lohan explained that she finds peace in group prayers and added, I was scared to come here with everything going on, because of my personal beliefs.

However, Lohan told the Daily Mail that she hasnt converted to Islam.

Lindsay Lohan, President Recep Tayyib Erdogan of Turkey and his wife, Emine, and a Syrian refugee. Photo credit: Instagram/LindsayLohan

In the Daily Mail Q&A, Lohan also called for unity under President Donald Trump, saying, He is the president  we have to join him. If you cant beat him, join him. Meanwhile, she expressed her desire for a pro-refugee policy.

The actress even opened a nightclub, called Lohan, in Athens, apparently to thank Greece for opening its doors to refugees. And during her recent trip to Turkey, she spent time with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and a 7-year-old Syrian refugee.

Lohan has made appearances in Turkey wearing a headscarf. And her Instagram bio reads Alaikum salam, a greeting of peace in Arabic. Back in April 2015, however, Lohan was ridiculed for posting an Arabic meme that read, Youre a donkey instead of her intended Youre beautiful.

She also has some ambitious ideas: Lohan told the Daily Mail that she wants to meet with Trump and Vladimir Putin, and invite former her Mean Girls co-star Rachel McAdams, Angelina Jolie, and Brad Pitt to join them, to help soften Trumps stance on immigration.

Story continues

Read More:

The Most Body-Positive Moments at New York Fashion Week  So Far

Singer Who Wore MAGA Grammys Dress Speaks Out: I Am 100 Percent a Trump Supporter

Lindsay Lohan Is Back With Another Fashion Collaboration

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration, delivered fresh to your feed, every day.




In a country like Japan where being super-skinny is considered to be the most attractive body type, social media star Naomi Watanabe stands apart.

The gorgeous 29-year-old model, designer and comedian has more than 6 million followers on Instagram where she regularly snaps photos of herself rocking her designs  and in 2016 she was even named Vogue Japans Woman of the Year.

While that may not seem unusual for us in North America, Watanabe, who is 220 pounds, doesnt exactly look like what the ideal female body is supposed to by Japanese standards  and thats exactly why people are loving her.

ALSO SEE: Ashley Graham brings diversity to the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue

Japan is not like the U.S. You dont see many plus-sized women around here, Watanabe said in an interview with the Washington Post. But rather than trying to change other peoples minds, I would like to help change the minds of bigger women, to help them feel good about themselves.

Watanabes main claim to fame is her clothing line called Punyus, which is a play on the Japanese word for squishy. The inspiration behind the line ranges from kawaii to street to hip hop, and it provides alternatives for bigger women who literally cant find cute clothing elsewhere  most stores in Japan only stock up to a womans size medium.

Sometimes women come up to me in the street and start crying, saying, Thanks to you, I have clothes that make me feel cool, Watanabe told the Post.

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Her Instagram page is like a pastel high-speed rollercoaster and it showcases Watanabe in both sexy and silly poses, like lounging seductively on a boat or pulling funny faces while trying to eat the other people in the picture.

ALSO SEE: Internet bullies fat shame plus-size bloggers honeymoon photos

And we love that she doesnt take herself too seriously  in an interview with a fashion blog, Watanabe said her workout routine involves lying on her back, eating curry and rice while doing leg lifts.

Thats not to say shes promoting gaining weight  she just wants to let other women know that its OK to be comfortable in your own skin and to be proud of yourself.

Japanese women are changing, and there are loads more women who can express themselves and many fewer women who just say yes to everything like before, Watanabe said. I see more women becoming super-strong and confident, and it helps me grow, too.

Let us know what you think by tweeting @YahooStyleCA.
Photo credit: Getty

From Town & Country

Donald Trump has reportedly picked his longtime friend, concert pianist, and Sound of Music aficionado Patrick Park to be his ambassador to Austria.

In an interview with the Palm Beach Daily News, Park revealed that he has received unofficial confirmation of the position as well as a note from President Trump, which read, "on to your next chapter, Ambassador!"

"My father was in the Air Force and my stepfather was a Navy man," he told the publication. "They served our country and their president. I would be thrilled to serve my country and President Trump if I have the chance. I have known this man almost 20 years. Seeing the great things he has done makes me want to be part of his team. I'm excited beyond words."

Perhaps some of that excitement stems from his love of The Sound of Music, the Julie Andrews classic, which is set in Salzburg. He says he's seen the film about 75 times, and he knows "every single word and song by heart."

"I've always wanted to live in the Von Trapp house," he said.

Park, like many of Trump's appointees, does not appear to have any previous government experience. In fact, it's quite common for plum ambassadorships to be given to friends or big campaign donors, though the practice is sometimes frowned upon.

But he seems to want to hit the ground running, having spoken to the Swiss and Hungarian ambassadors at the recent Red Cross Ball at Mar-a-Lago. "They want me to visit them in Washington, and the Austrian ambassador in Washington said he wants us to go for lunch," Park said.

He's heading to Vienna soon, to check out the embassy. Then, he'll travel to Salzburg-why else?-"to see if the Von Trapp house is for rent."

[h/t Palm Beach Daily News]

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An Apple logo hangs above the entrance to the Apple store on 5th Avenue in the Manhattan borough of New York City, July 21, 2015. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo (Reuters)

By Noel Randewich

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Inc's share price hit an intraday record high on Tuesday for the first time in almost two years as investors raised bets that a 10th anniversary iPhone will boost lackluster sales.

The stock touched an intraday all-time high of $135.09, beating its previous intraday high of $134.54 set on April 28, 2015.

Its final level of $135.02, a gain of 1.30 percent, was Apple's second consecutive record closing price.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway said in a filing it more than tripled its stake in Apple during the December quarter to 57.4 million shares from 15.2 million shares.

It is unclear what Berkshire paid for its Apple shares, but so far in 2017 their value has increased by $1.1 billion, and legendary investor Buffett's increased interest in Apple could boost already positive sentiment on Wall Street.

The S&P 500's largest component has climbed 50 percent from its low in the first half of last year and is up almost 17 percent so far in 2017, with many investors betting that Apple will mark the iPhone's 10th anniversary with a dramatically improved model.

Many on Wall Street also believe that strong sales of the iPhone 6S two years ago have left a larger-than-normal base of customers ready to upgrade.

"Were holding it, we look for opportunities to buy," said Jeff Carbone, co-founder of Cornerstone Financial Partners in Charlotte, North Carolina. "Consumers feel better, people spend more money. There's still a lot of good to come from Apple."

The Cupertino, California, company reported strong December-quarter results on Jan. 31. Although it gave a cautious outlook for the current quarter, Wall Street expects revenue to grow this year after sinking nearly 8 percent in fiscal 2016.

Apple's stock recently traded at 14.3 times expected earnings, the highest level since April 2015 and significantly higher than the average price-earnings ratio of 12 over the past five years, according to Thomson Reuters Datastream.

Apple ranks ahead of 87 percent of its peers in the StarMine Price Momentum stock picking model, which assumes long-term price trends tend to continue and that short-term trends tend to revert.

(Reporting by Noel Randewich; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Andrew Hay)
Its still unclear what President Donald Trump really knows about the cyber, and whether hes learning anything new while in office, but he does love to tweet. Worse, he reportedly uses an old Galaxy S3 phone to do it. Thats apparently his own unsecured handset, which he shouldnt be touching in the first place. To make things worse, reports also note that the president received a safe smartphone to replace his personal device, but he doesnt seem to be using it.

Following the string of reports that detailed Trumps phone preferences, a couple of senators wrote a formal letter, inquiring about the kind of smartphone the most powerful man in the country uses.

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According to ZDNet, Senators Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Tom Carper (D-DE) asked the governments Defense Information Systems Agency if Trump was given a secure smartphone. They also wanted to know more details about the device, and whether the department locked the handset.

The letter actually starts with a reference to the report that first noteds Trump inclination to use his old Android when hes bored at the residence. The senators are worried. If the reports are true about Trump using his unsecured, aging handset, then the handset might be a serious liability.

Just like we told you a few weeks ago, the security risks associated with the use of an unsecured phone include hackers ability to access the device to turn on audio recording and camera features, as well as engaging surveillance tools that allow location and other information tracking features. Thats why the senators want more explanations.

The national security risks of compromising a smartphone used by a senior government official, such as the President of the United States, are considerable, they rightly point out.

The letter was released Monday, but it was dated February 9th. It could not have landed at a worse time for the White House. Trump and his advisors were criticized for having used a public venue to discuss sensitive security matters related to North Koreas recent missile test, and for having used smartphones to illuminate highly-confidential papers  CNN has that real story.

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Trending right now:

See the original version of this article on BGR.com
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Daimler has struck an agreement with workers at Mercedes-Benz's biggest transmission factory in Germany, under which work on electric vehicles (EVs) will be based at the plant near the carmaker's home town of Stuttgart. German carmakers are investing heavily in EVs but their engines require fewer workers to build than more complex combustion motors, and labor bosses have been pushing for Daimler to produce more EV parts itself to safeguard jobs. The Untertuerkheim transmission site, which employs 19,000 people, would be particularly hard hit by the shift to electric cars. Under the agreement announced on Tuesday, Mercedes will set up an e-technology center in Untertuerkheim, where prototypes for electric powertrains will be built, and the plant will start producing components for electric vehicles, Daimler said in a statement. Daimler said its agreement with workers also paved the way for a further capacity expansion of combustion engines in Untertuerkheim, for instance for a new generation of highly efficient. (Reporting by Maria Sheahan; Editing by David Holmes)
Let this be a lesson for anyone out there aspiring to become a huge YouTube star: just because you can amass a huge following, doesnt mean that anything goes when it comes to content. Disney and YouTube have independently taken action against Felix Kjellberg, better known as PewDiePie and the biggest star on YouTube, after he posted various videos that contained anti-Semitic jokes.

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Disney fired Kjellberg after an inquiry from The Wall Street Journal concerning some of his videos. Apparently, millions of people watched a video posted on January 11th on Kjellbergs channel that included two men laughing while holding a banner that read Death to all Jews.

The Journal further said that since August, Kjellberg posted no less than nine separate videos that include anti-Semitic jokes and Nazi imagery.

Although Felix has created a following by being provocative and irreverent, he clearly went too far in this case, and the resulting videos are inappropriate, a Maker Studios spokesperson told the news site. Maker Division is owned by Disney.

PewDiePie saw a meteoric rise on YouTube by posting videos of himself playing video games and making jokes. He currently has more than 53 million subscribers who keep returning to see his clips. The Journal says that Kjellberg took down the January 11th video and two others, but not before they had racked up around 23 million views between them.

His YouTube popularity helped him score multimillion-dollar deals with Disney and YouTube.

Google wasnt happy with Kjellberg act either. The company canceled the second season of PewDiePies reality show and pulled his channel from its premium advertising program, Variety reports. Weve decided to cancel the release of Scare PewDiePie season 2, and were removing the PewDiePie channel from Google Preferred, a spokesperson said.

Google previously pulled ads from the offending videos, and Kjellberg apparently removed some of them himself.

Story continues

The YouTube star, meanwhile, defended himself and said that he was only critiquing the absurdity of an internet service  in this case, Fiverr, which lets people advertise jobs that only costs $5. That, however, was not a good enough excuse for either Disney or Google.

Trending right now:

See the original version of this article on BGR.com
The Galaxy S8 will probably have an awkward fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone. But it's starting to look like Apple is definitely integrating its Touch ID fingerprint scanning technology into the iPhone 8's screen.



The company was just awarded a patent for technology that allows for reading fingerprints on a display panel.



This iPhone 8 concept shows how Touch ID could be integrated into the screen. Credit: Handy Abovergleich

This iPhone 8 concept shows how Touch ID could be integrated into the screen. Credit: Handy Abovergleich

The new panel would use "interactive pixel" formations for a number of functions, including scanning fingerprints using infrared (IR) emitting and sensing LED sensors. This is according to Apple U.S. Patent No. 9,570,002, which U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted and published today (Feb. 14), which is titled "Interactive display panel with IR diodes."

MORE: $1,000? That's Not the Most Shocking iPhone 8 Rumor

This is just the latest sign pointing to an all-screen Touch ID sensor, lining up with other iPhone 8 rumors. The patent notes that each "display element" could "include organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), semiconductor-based LEDs, or other light-emissive devices," so it would work with the expected curved-OLED iPhone 8 panel.

Apple iPhone 8 Rumor Roundup

While the patent could allow for the whole screen to be a fingerprint scanning sensor, it also allows for a virtual home button. One diagram shows that this technology could be implemented with a denser grouping of interactive pixels on the bottom section of the panel, creating a larger space that's still close to where the current home button is.

Image: US Patent Office

Image: US Patent Office

It must be noted that a patent isn't proof that the iPhone 8 will go all screen up front. Companies often apply for patents for reasons other than pursuing the final product. But given the numerous other reports and rumors on this subject, a Touch ID screen on the iPhone 8 looks very close to a lock.



(Source: AppleInsider)

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CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP)  Computer chips that store personal information and could be used to pinpoint someone's location could not be implanted in humans without consent under a bill Nevada state lawmakers weighed on Monday.

Lawmakers on a judicial panel considered whether Nevada should join at least four other states in banning mandatory identification markers in people as a precaution to keep the emerging technology from creeping into workplaces, prisons or hospitals.

Republican Sen. Becky Harris of Las Vegas, sponsor of the legislation, said she's worried computer chips could pose serious risks to human rights and public health.

"This is a completely new issue," Harris said. "I just want a safety measure in place until we better understand the technology and the reasoning behind people's desire to require implanting chips."

ACLU of Nevada Policy Director Holly Welborn said there's no impending need to protect people against mandatory microchipping, but there's no question the technology would violate rights to personal autonomy and privacy.

"There really aren't, under any circumstance, any justifications for that type of a tracking device on a human being," Welborn said.

The chips are currently used to track goods, find lost pets and make no-swipe credit card purchases.

Sean Sullivan, Washoe County deputy public defender, said the bill may also prohibit radiologists from using tattoos as permanent identifiers of where on patients to aim treatment. Others voiced concerns that it would forbid families and legal guardians of Alzheimer's patients from deciding to put computer chips in those patients, who often wander in later stages of the disease.

The Senate Committee on Judiciary did not vote Monday on Senate Bill 109.

Radio frequency identification or RFID technology can be encapsulated in glass tubes roughly the size of two grains of rice and can be injected under skin.

Story continues

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the chips for use in humans in 2004. Two employees at an Ohio-based surveillance company stirred public debate in 2006 when they embedded the chips in their forearms to access protected vaults and police images.

Wisconsin, North Dakota, California and Oklahoma subsequently enacted legislation banning any required implantations, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Welborn said municipalities in Canada, Sweden and Australia have considered, but not enacted, laws mandating the chips for certain groups, such as criminals considered a potential threat to society.
HDM Global is rumored to unveil four handsets under the Nokia brand during this years Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. The most interesting thing about this new rumor is that the company will release a "modern version" of the classic Nokia 3310.

HMD Global may have already debuted the Android 7.0 Nougat Nokia 6 smartphone in China, but the device hasnt reached other territories yet. The company will officially launch the Nokia 6 in other regions during its MWC presentation.

As a refresher, the Nokia 6 comes with a 5.5-inch full HD 1080p display, a Snapdragon 430 processor with 4GM of RAM and 64GB of storage. The handset also comes with 16MP/8MP cameras and a front-facing fingerprint sensor.

Nokia 6

Photo: HMD/Reuters

The device sells for around US$247 when converted from its Chinese price of CNY 1,699. The Nokia 6 is said to sell for 249 (around US$263) when it launches at MWC 2017.

The other two smartphones that HMD Global will unveil is expected to have lower specs than the Nokia 6 to make their prices even cheaper. First up is the Nokia 5 which is said to come with a 5.2-inch 720p HD display, 2GB of RAM and a 12MP rear-facing camera, according to Evan Blass from VentureBeat.

Those lower specs will apparently make the Nokia 5 50 cheaper than the Nokia 6 with a price tag of just 199 (around US$210). The other smartphone, believed to be called the Nokia 3, will have an even lower price of 149 (around US$157). Unfortunately, Blass report didnt give out the Nokia 3s specs only stating that the device will be an entry-level Android smartphone.

Lastly, HMD Global will be showing off a new version of the classic Nokia 3310 feature phone. For those who arent familiar with the original Nokia 3310, the device was first released back in 2000 and was one of the most successful phones ever released by Nokia at the time. The Nokia 3310 gained its reputation for being extremely durable, while also delivering long battery life. Nokia was able to sell more than 100 million units of the 3310, according to Phone Arena.

Story continues

Nokia 3310

Photo: Phone Arena

Theres no word yet on what exactly the new Nokia 3310 will look like, nor is there any information on any of its specs. However, the phone is said to sell for just 59 (around US$60).

HMD Global will launch the new phones at MWC 2017 on Feb. 26. The company is expected to target the European market, while distribution to other countries is still unknown.

Related Articles
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is due to formally open Britain's National Cyber Security Centre alongside her husband Prince Philip, and a host of government ministers including finance minister Phillip Hammond (AFP Photo/Arthur Edwards) (POOL/AFP/File)

London (AFP) - Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday inaugurated Britain's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), spearheading the country's efforts to combat a growing wave of cyberattacks notably from Russia.

The 90-year-old monarch formally opened the London hub alongside her husband Prince Philip, 95, and a host of government ministers including finance minister Philip Hammond.

"The cyberattacks we are seeing are increasing in their frequency, their severity, and their sophistication," Hammond said at the official opening.

"In the first three months of its existence the NCSC has already mobilised to respond to attacks on 188 occasions."

The finance minister vowed to "invest the necessary resources" and called for a "team effort" to counter the attacks against businesses and individuals.

The centre is one element of a 1.9 billion ($2.38 billion, 2.24 billion euros) government strategy unveiled in November to tackle cyber threats.

As part of its bid to tighten security, the government is opening 100 posts at the new hub to be filled by private sector employees on secondment from their permanent jobs.

The Duke of Edinburgh joked to staff that it was important "to hire more people who do not predate the internet," according to an official NCSC tweet.

Part of Britain's communications spying agency, GCHQ, the London hub is aimed at implementing preventative measures such as better securing state websites and email accounts.

At the opening, agency chief Robert Hannigan said "this morning began a new chapter in nearly 100 years of GCHQ's service to the country."

Staff are also preparing for a major "category 1" cyberattack, which is expected to happen sooner or later, CEO Ciaran Martin said in a Sunday Times interview.

The centre chief accused Moscow of targeting political institutions and parliamentary organisations in incidents "well evidenced by our international partners".

Story continues

"Over the last two years there has been a step change in Russian aggression in cyberspace," he told the newspaper.

Martin's comments come after US intelligence agencies accused Moscow of interfering in the country's November elections, which prompted the outgoing administration to impose sanctions on Russian agencies.

Cyberattacks on government departments seek information on policy, including energy and diplomacy, while state-sponsored attacks on companies can be aimed at stealing intellectual property, Martin said.
Heres something you dont see every day: a massive scandal in South Korea could see the head of the countrys largest conglomerate jailed and the president removed from office.

In the latest chapter in the ongoing saga thats almost too crazy to believe, South Koreas special prosecutors office on Tuesday confirmed to reporters that it will once again ask the court for a warrant to arrest Jay Y. Lee, the third-generation billionaire chief of the Samsung Group. Lee, a suspect in a bribery probe that reaches all the way to the president of the country, was questioned for more than 15 hours on Monday. The 48-year-old executive was apparently unable to convince authorities of his innocence, and it now appears as though is arrest is imminent.

Don't Miss: Mesh is the hottest trend in home Wi-Fi, so we tested every top system to find the best

Lee has long been a suspect in an investigation into payments made by Samsung to several companies run by South Korean president Park Geun-hyes friend, Choi Soon-sil. The payments, totaling approximately $25 million, were allegedly made to help push through the controversial 2015 merger of Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries Inc.

Samsung has acknowledged making the payments to Chois consulting business and two foundations, but denies that they were tied to its lobbying efforts to gain approval for the merger.

We have filed for an arrest warrant for Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong and President Park Sang-jin today, the South Korea special prosecutors said in a statement to Reuters. According to authorities, Lee will face charges including bribery, embezzlement and hiding assets overseas. This new arrest warrant will also lump in an additional charge of perjury, though it is currently unclear how Lee allegedly perjured himself.

Samsung once again denied any wrongdoing in a statement to Reuters. Samsung has absolutely never bribed the president seeking something in return or sought illicit favors, a Samsung Group spokesperson said. We will do our best for the truth to be revealed in court.

Story continues

Trending right now:

See the original version of this article on BGR.com
Verizon

Verizon is offering unlimited data. Again.

The US wireless carrierone of the nations largesteliminated unlimited data plans for new customers in favor of usage-based offerings back in 2011, as it and other carriers struggled to cope with customers skyrocketing data usage. It was one of the last major providers to nix the offering, following rivals AT&T and T-Mobile.

Since then, unlimited plans have made a comeback. Carriers are using them to undercut one another on price and poach customers from the competition.

Verizon said it will once again offer unlimited data, talk, and text to new and existing customers starting on Feb. 13, in addition to its 2GB-, 4GB-, 5GB-, and 8GB-a-month data plans. The offering also includes HD video streaming, a mobile hotspot service that turns phones and tablets into WiFi hubs, calling and texting to Mexico and Canada, and up to 500MB per day of roaming in Mexico and Canada.

AT&T currently only sells unlimited data plans to customers who also subscribe to the companys DirecTV or U-Verse TV service.

All four major US wireless carriersAT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprintnow each offer some version of an unlimited plan. But while unlimited data is back, but it may no longer be the great bargain it once was. For one thing, its more expensive.

In 2011, the last year Verizon offered unlimited data, the plan was $29.99 a month for a single line. That was later bumped up to $49.99 a month for grandfathered accounts. Now, Verizon is offering unlimited data, talk, and text for an introductory price of $80 a month for a single line, or $45 a month per line for four lines.

Story continues

To get those rates, customers need to sign up for paperless billing and automatic payments. Otherwise, the service will cost $85 per line per month. A spokesperson for Verizon did not say how long the introductory pricing would last.

The higher rates might be worth it for customers who burn through a lot of data. It is cheaper than the extra-large data buckets the company was previously touting. Verizons 16GB and 24GB plans (which have reportedly been replaced by the unlimited offering) were $90 and $110 per month, respectively.

At the introductory rate, its also a little cheaper than AT&Ts unlimited data offering for TV subscribers, which is $60 per month, plus $40 per line. But its more expensive than Sprints Unlimited plan, which is $50 per month for a single line, and goes as low as $90 for five lines. T-Mobile also offers four lines for $40 each, including taxes and fees, when subscribers sign up for automatic payments.

Unfortunately, Verizons data plan also isnt as unlimited as its name suggests. Verizon said that it may throttle speeds for customers who use more than 22GB of data on a line during any given billing cycle, like AT&T does. (T-Mobile defaults to lower quality video streams on its unlimited plan, and slows speeds for the top 3% of data users who use more than 28GB per month, when the network is congested.)

To be fair, thats a lot of data. The average US wireless customer reportedly uses around 2GB of data per month. But that threshold is likely increasing with the proliferation of streaming services like Netflix and Spotify, and improved video and sound quality.

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Actress turned activist Shailene Woodley stopped by the Late Show, where she discussed her October arrest during a protest of the Dakota Access pipeline at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota. Woodleys issue with the pipeline, like many others, is that if it were to rupture, oil could leak into the Missouri River, ruining the water supply for thousands of people or more. After her arrest, Woodley took issue with something else: her mug shot.

With Stephen Colbert holding the photo for all to see, Woodley said, I wish I had known that this was going to be as public as it was. I would have made, like, a face. I feel like Im looking at the person like, Are you kidding right now?

Colbert, on the other hand, thought she looked serene.

Woodley also talked about the moment she was arrested. She said that she was on Facebook Live at the time and that her mother was there with her when it happened. Woodley handed the phone to her mother and told her to keep recording.

Woodley said, The look on her face  she wasnt there. She was shocked. I cant imagine, actually, what it would be like to see your daughter handcuffed and taken away.

Check out what John Oliver is most afraid of from a Trump presidency:

Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Khail Anonymous, on Twitter.
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How many places in the world can boast being EVEN prettier in the rain? Lets be honest here. Not that many. Rain and travel isnt a good mix, right? In general, it freaking sucks.

Well, Im here to tell you there is one place in New Zealand you should see on a rainy day, and that is Milford Sound.

Milford is one of those hyped up spots in New Zealand that actually lives up to its reputation. Ive been probably a dozen times by now and it never gets old and Im always keen to go back. Always.

Ive visited every which way possible by now, including driving there in Aston Martin (more on that later) but I still hadnt done the famous Milford kayak with Roscos. So when my friend came for a visit, I knew I had to take her to Milford for a paddle. Did I ask her if she enjoys kayaking? Rainy day kayaking? 14 kilometer rainy day kayaking? I might have left that part out.

But life is always an adventure in New Zealand am I right?!

So if your forecast for a Milford trip is rain with a chance of a ton of rain that is sometimes sideways, dont fret. Youre in luck. And since Milford is one of the wettest places in the world averaging 21 feet of rain per year, its highly likely going to be pissing down when youre there. Accept it. Embrace it. Grab a rain jacket and move on.

And like I was rambling on before, Milford in the rain is, how should I phrase this, DOPE AS HELL.

Why you ask? Because hundreds of temporary waterfalls start to gush down the huge walls of the fiord turning it into a real life Middle Earth meets Jurassic Park. It is unreal. It looks like something that shouldnt exist with towering mountains popping out from the fog and waterfalls tumbling down from the clouds, like a relic of a bygone age. Its mystical, its moody, its a cliche spiritual travel experience that transports you into another world. You literally feel like you are not on earth anymore. Youve traveled back in time to a place without internet or humans and pterodactyls might fly over your head at any moment. Oh wait, thats just the sightseeing helicopters.

Whatever, you get my meaning right? Milford on a sunny day is pretty. Milford on a heavy rainy day is fucking glorious.

Rudyard Kipling (you know, The Jungle Book guy) called Milford the eighth Wonder of the World. Right you are Rudyard, Milford definitely is up there on the wonder list.

Ive seen it from basically every possible angle except down at water level. Thats where the kayaking comes in. It was time to kayak Milford Sound.

Roscos Kayaks is a New Zealand local legend and a classic kiwi business started by, yes you guessed it, Rosco. These are the guys you go with when you want to kayak Milford. Theyve been around for years, Ive got a ton of friends whove guided for them, and that very small New Zealand friend of a friend knows them definitely comes into play here. It feels like a family experience.

They have trips around Milford for pretty much every kayaking ability, so I booked us on the Stirling Sunriser. Its solidly intermediate. Can I do a chin up? Do I have biceps? Sure dont, but I can do a slow paddle in a tandem kayak for a few hours and Im enthusiastic. Good attitude will take you far on adventures guys.

You meet at Deep Water Basin in Milford (remember there is no phone reception or service past Te Anau to Milford so sort your stuff in advance) and sort all the clothes and gear. Youll get a dry bag to put anything you need in, like a ton of cameras and a candy bar if youre me, before jumping in the water taxi with the kayaks and heading out towards Stirling Falls to start the trip.

Stirling Falls is one of only two permanent waterfalls in Milford Sound and you start the adventure paddling past it as close as you dare. 151 meters in height, its pretty impressive when you are up in front of it, something I hadnt realized on my other trips.

Now am I saying that Milford Sound on a rainy day is a super comfortable experience? Um, yeah no. Rain is rain, even in New Zealand, and Milford is a huge glacier carved fiord covered in temperate rainforest, which is not to be confused with tropical rainforest. It is not what I would describe as hot.

But trust me, you dont get cold when youre working, and I wasnt cold at all on this trip. And when your skin is covered, the sandflies cant eat you. Bonus.

Roscos gives you everything you need including classic kiwi polyprops (stripey thermal layers) and waterproof outer layers. Bring something like Teva sandals to wear inside the kayak, not hiking boots.

Luckily the rain in Milford is often changeable and also its quite sheltered from the wind, especially in the morning. We were on the fiord for a few hours and it was only raining for part of it. Sometimes just spitting a bit here and there, other times you face a world-ending deluge that makes you hate life. But luckily those passed quickly.

I have this memory of when we started to cross from one side of the fiord to the other and it started to rain so hard I actually couldnt see. I was legit paddling with my eyes shut. Go ahead and imagine what words were going through my head because I definitely am not allowed to write them out on the blog. Im sure my friend wanted to kill me at that point.

But then all of a sudden someone flicked a switch and it stopped and I blinked and opened my eyes and it was like the world was silent and had hit the refresh button. The water of the fiord was so still it was a reflection. It looked like inky glass and it smelled so fresh and earthy while all around me huge waterfalls tumbled down to the water. It was as if Milford was alive.

Is this real life? Dont think so.

Moments like that or seeing baby seals playing around on the rocks while endangered penguins swim by and dolphins leap in the distance make the wet bum and wrinkly fingers worthwhile.

You can see Milford Sound easy enough but to experience it hands-on kayaking along the length of it is truly remarkable and not something youll likely soon forget, rain or shine.

Would you go kayaking in Milford? Have you ever visited a place more beautiful in the rain? Spill!

Many thanks to Roscos for hosting me in Milford, like always Im keeping it real, all opinions are my own, like you could expect less from me.
Monday, February 13, 2017

Twenty-two asylum-seekers crossed from the United States into Manitoba during the first weekend of February. Another 21 were intercepted this past weekend.

Desperate individuals, including families, are braving below-zero temps to walk their way across the northern border and into Canada. Some 270 individuals have crossed the border in the last 10 months.

Farhan Ahmed, one of the early-February border crossers, came to the United States from Somalia by way of Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico. His U.S. asylum application was denied in 2015. He planned to file a second claim but decided there was "no hope" after Trump's executive order barring Somalis from entering the country. He decided to try for a new life in Canada.

A Grand Forks taxi driver who spoke to the CBC, said he picks up riders at the Grand Forks bus depot "all the time" and, for $200, he drives them to the Canadian border. According to Border Patrol officer Eric Kuhn,

the most popular route is a decommissioned border crossing at Noyes, Minn., and Emerson, Man., where people can use a state highway to drive right up to the barricade between the two countries, get out of the vehicle and walk over.

Other migrants follow railroad tracks or, like Ahmed, cross farmers' fields.

The danger at this time of year, of course, is the cold. One man who crossed on Christmas Eve lost his fingers to cold.

As long as people do not feel safe in the United States, this northern migration will continue, whatever the dangers.

-KitJ

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2017/02/asylum-seekers-continue-to-flee-us-into-canada.html
Tuesday, February 14, 2017

The Ohio Supreme Court has reinstated an attorney suspended for his unauthorized access to email accounts of several former colleagues in the wake of his termination from law firm employment.

The suspension

... it is ordered and adjudged by this court that pursuant to Gov.Bar R. V(12)(A)(3) and consistent with the opinion rendered herein, respondent, Brandon Louis Azman, Attorney Registration No. 0087246, last known business address in Arlington, Virginia, is suspended from the practice of law for a period of one year, with six months stayed on the conditions that he commit no further misconduct and that he pay the costs of these proceedings. It is further ordered that if respondent fails to comply with the conditions of the stay, the stay will be lifted, and he will serve the entire one-year suspension.

The misconduct is described in the report of the Board on Professional Responsibility and involved at least 20 such intrusions over a two-week period in late August and early September 2013 using passwords he had learned while employed at his firm.

The attorney had stipulated to the misconduct. (Mike Frisch)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2017/02/the-ohio-supreme-court-has-reinstated-an-attorney-suspended-for-his-unauthorized-access-to-email-accounts-of-several-former-c.html
In a little over one year, Chinese-based development banks have made $3 billion available for projects in a number of countries.

Yet some observers question whether the banks will provide support for Chinas One Belt, One Road program. It seeks to expand trade between Europe and Asia, similar to the ancient Silk Road linking China and the West.

The new banks are the New Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, known as the AIIB.

The New Development Bank was the idea of China and four other countries: Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa  a group known as BRICS. The New Development Bank says its members have equal voting power in the bank, which is based in Shanghai.

The AIIB is based in Beijing. China has the largest share of voting power in the bank. Fifty-six other countries are also members. They include Britain, France and Germany  three non-Asian allies of the United States.

Jin Liqun is the head of the AIIB. He recently said the United States could still become a member. The administration of President Barack Obama decided against joining when the bank was set up in 2015.

Jacob Kirkegaard is with the Peterson Institute of International Economics, based in Washington, D.C.

Kirkegaard said, Setting up AIIB and showing that Beijing intends to play by the established rules has helped China.

However, he added that the development banks are helpful mostly for diplomatic or political reasons. He said they will not help China in economic competition with American businesses.

Julian Evans-Pritchard is an economist for the research company Capital Economics. He says, China has gained in terms of soft power because it could bring several European powers on the table through AIIB. This could increase cooperation between China and European countries, he adds.

The AIIB most recently approved a loan to build the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline. The pipeline will transport natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe. The project would support Chinas One Belt, One Road plan, to connect Europe through Central Asia.

Will the U.S. become a member?

Speaking to Chinese media, AIIB head Jin suggested that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump may choose to join the bank.

I was told that many in his team have an opinion that Obama was not right not to join the AIIB, especially after Canada joined, which was a very loud endorsement of the bank.

The Trump administration has yet to comment on the AIIB. Some observers do not believe the United States is likely to join. They say such a move would give added credibility to the bank.

Jin said that, at first, the U.S. government resisted the AIIB because it appeared to be in competition with established banks like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Lourdes S. Casanova is with the Emerging Markets Institute at Cornell University in New York. She says the United States will not join because of the importance of investments in public works projects domestically. She also says the U.S. has been critical of multilateral organizations.

In the past year, the AIIB has lent $1.7 billion for nine projects. They include roads in Tajikistan and Pakistan, a hydro power project in Pakistan and a port in Oman.

However, experts note that all these projects have been studied and approved by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. The problems, they say, will come when the AIIB must identify good projects on its own.

Evans-Pritchard says many project are not good investments. Local opposition to some projects could be another problem, he notes.

There is a risk of running protests in several countries were projects are planned, he says. There is a protest against an industrial zone in Sri Lanka, which is part of the OBOR program.

The One Belt, One Road, or OBOR, program may also face opposition from protectionist governments in Europe. They may be less willing to increase economic ties with other countries.

Im Mario Ritter.

Saibal Dasgupta reported this story for VOANews.com. Mario Ritter adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

intend  v. to want to, to mean to do something

advantages  n. benefits, good results of doing some action

soft power  n. gaining influence through economic and cultural ties

domestically  adv. taking place or having to do with ones home country

multilateral  adj. involving many different countries our groups
South Korean media say the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been killed in Malaysia.

A South Korean government official said that Kim Jong Nam was killed Monday, the Yonhap news agency reported.

The official did not provide additional information.

Two unidentified female agents reportedly used poisoned needles to kill Kim at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The two then fled the area in a taxi. The women are believed to have been working for North Korea.

South Koreas National Intelligence Service neither confirmed nor denied the story.

Kim Jong Nam spent large amounts of time outside North Korea. He also had voiced disapproval of his familys control of the country.

He and his younger brother, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, are both sons of former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. However, they had different mothers. The older brother was once considered to be the heir of his father and was expected to lead the country.

However, Kim Jong Nam fell from favor with his father in 2001. That year, he attempted to enter Japan with a false passport, reportedly to visit Tokyo Disneyland.

Since that time, he has lived mainly in the Chinese territory of Macau.

Kim Jong Nam was believed to be close to his uncle, Joang Song Thaek. Joang was considered the second most powerful man in North Korea, but he was executed in 2013. Kim Jong Un reportedly ordered his execution.

In previous years, Kim Jong Nam expressed disinterest in leading North Korea. Personally, I am against third-generation succession, he told Japans Asahi TV in 2010.

Kim Jong Il died in December 2011, when Kim Jong Un took power.

I hope my younger brother will do his best for the sake of North Koreans prosperous lives, he reportedly said.

Im Mario Ritter.

Mario Ritter wrote this story for VOA Learning English. His report was based on a report by Wayne Lee, Reuters and other news sources. George Grow was the editor.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

heir  n. the person who has the legal right to receive property when its owner dies

fall from favor  expression. to once be considered very good but no longer so

succession  n. the state of having followed someone else to assume a position, title or other office
From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.

In the United States, February 14 is Valentines Day -- a day to celebrate lovers and loving relationships. Images of red hearts are everywhere. Lovers say nice things to each other, like I love you with all my heart or I love you heart and soul.

After all, many cultures view a big, beautiful, red heart as the traditional sign of love.

But maybe it shouldnt be. Maybe the symbol of love should be a big, soft, gray brain. As it turns out, love is more an activity of the brain than an affair of the heart.

Over the years, research has shown that love affects the brain in many ways and in a number of areas. Psychology Today magazines online blog looked at some studies and noted the results.

The blog explains that researchers generally use a technology called functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI, to study the brain. This technology can follow movement of blood inside the brain.

When a thought, substance, movement, or anything else activates a part of the brain, blood flow to that area increases. So, fMRIs can identify both the exact location in the brain and the amount of blood.

The magazine reports that these love studies note something similar: that a brain on love looks a lot like a brain on drugs.

In 2010, researchers at Syracuse University in New York state worked with other scientists in West Virginia and Switzerland.

Syracuse professor Stephanie Ortigue led this study. Ortigue and her team found that falling in love created the same "euphoric feelings as using cocaine." They found that 12 areas of the brain work in tandem to release euphoric-inducing chemicals such as dopamine, oxytocin and adrenaline.

When we are smitten with someone, chemicals such as adrenaline make our face turn red, our hands sweat and our heart beat faster.

The website Health.com describes dopamine as the brains pleasure chemical. It activates the reward circuit in our brain and plays a role in drug addiction and falling in love. Dopamine makes lovers feel happy and energetic about each other.

Oxytocin is known as the love hormone because it deepens feelings of attachment. Oxytocin is the hormone that plays a role during pregnancy, nursing and in mother-baby attachment.

Ortigues team also found that falling in love affected intellectual areas of the brain and not just the pleasure and reward center of the brain where drug habits may begin.

As a side note, they also found that falling in love takes about a fifth of a second.

In 2012, researchers at Concordia University in Canada with teams in Switzerland and the United States looked at sexual desire, or lust, and long-term attachment, or love, more closely.

They wanted to know if lust and love affected the brain differently.

The researchers of this study asked the study subjects to look at sexy, erotic pictures of strangers and photographs of loved ones. Then the researchers recorded their brain activity with fMRIs. They found that love and lust activate specific, but related areas of the brain.

What they found, for the most part, is that sexual desire and love seem to affect two parts of the brain the most: the insula and the striatum. Its no surprise that they found these are also parts of the brain most often affected by drug use.

But now, lets get back to lust versus love.

Lustful, sexual desires begin in the pleasure center of the striatum. As these feelings develop into attachment love, they appear to still be processed in the striatum but in a different area. This area is activated by love. And it is involved in the process of giving value to things that give us pleasure, like food, sex and drugs.

Jim Pfaus of Concordia was the lead writer of a report on that study. He told Psychology Today that, Love is actually a habit that is formed from sexual desire as desire is rewarded. It works the same way in the brain as when people become addicted to drugs.

So, if you celebrate Valentines Day remember that your feelings of love are really a complicated chemical reaction happening in your brain -- which if you like science -- is actually kind of sexy.

However, if your partner isnt so scientifically-minded, maybe keep the science to yourself and instead give them a gift of flowers or chocolate this Valentines Day.

And thats the Health & Lifestyle report. Im Anna Matteo.

Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

Check your understanding of the story by taking this reading quiz.

Quiz - Love: A Chemical Explosion in Your Brain Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

___________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

symbol  n. something that stands for or suggests something else by reason of relationship, association, convention, or accidental resemblance; especially : a visible sign of something invisible <the lion is a symbol of courage>

affair  n. a romantic or passionate attachment typically of limited duration

euphoria  n. a feeling of well-being or elation : euphoria  adj.

tandem  n. in partnership or conjunction

dopamine  n. Biochemistry : a compound present in the body as a neurotransmitter and a precursor of other substances including epinephrine, acting within the brain to help regulate movement and emotion

to be smitten with someone  slang expression to be captivated and strongly attracted to someone <He was smitten with her beauty.>

circuit  n. a neuronal pathway of the brain along which electrical and chemical signals travel

erotic  adj. of, devoted to, or tending to arouse sexual love or desire <erotic art> : strongly marked or affected by sexual desire
Apple is nearing completion of its new spaceship headquarters in northern California.

The company has been secretive about the project, just as it is about its new product development. But Apple officials have said they plan to move into the new headquarters in 2017.

Reuters news agency quotes people involved with the project as saying the move could happen as early as this spring.

Construction began in late 2013 and the cost of the project is estimated to be at least $5 billion. The building is located in Cupertino, California, near Apples current headquarters.

Many people have compared the design and construction to the way Apple has developed its most successful products. These methods include extreme attention to detail and creating visually pleasing features.

Worlds largest piece of curved glass

Apple employees and people involved in the construction have not said much publicly about the project.

However, some employees did tell Reuters that one iPhone design theme found throughout the building is rounded edges and corners. Some also said the elevator buttons reminded them of the iPhones home button. Even the toilets seemed similar to the iPhones square shape with rounded corners, they added.

The main structure of Apples new headquarters was built as a complete circle with glass walls on all sides. It rises up four levels from the ground. Apples late chief Steve Jobs once described the future building as looking like a spaceship landed.

Jobs presented his plans for the project to local officials in June 2011, just months before his death. In the presentation, he outlined his plans to make a beautiful building inside and out.

He noted that using curved glass all the way along the building would be expensive and complex, but well worth the effort. Theres not a straight piece of glass in the building, he said.

The main building actually houses the worlds largest piece of curved glass. Thousands of smaller pieces were used to make a continuous glass wall that will stretch more than six kilometers.



The property includes a 1,000-seat auditorium for meetings and product launches. Employees also get access to a large fitness center, as well as sitting areas and cafes to buy food.

New home for over 14,000 employees

The entire property  also known as Apple Campus 2  was built to hold all the companys employees in the area  up to 14,000. The campus includes research and testing buildings. It also has an Energy Center to store the power Apple generates itself.

The company says the property will be powered by 100 percent renewable energy. Architecture company Foster + Partners has overseen the project. It called the building one of the most environmentally sustainable projects in the world.

The area inside and all around the building will be landscaped like a park, with more than 8,000 trees and plants. Steve Jobs said it was his goal to make 80 percent of the property green space. Much of the parking is hidden underground.

There will also be running and biking paths and hundreds of bikes available for employee use.

Apples goal of engineering and design perfection seemed to be very much alive throughout construction. One union official said every detail  no matter how small  always required approvals from Apple managers.

The official told Reuters that all materials and operations were checked and rechecked by Apples in-house team and construction contractors. Workers often wore gloves to protect the more delicate parts of Apples new spaceship.

It's like a painting that you don't want to touch," the official said. "It's definitely going to be something to see, if they let you in."

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from Reuters and other sources. 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

corner  n. the point where two edges meet

elevator  n. machine that carries people up and down in buildings

curved  adj. having a rounded shape

landscaped  adj. adding plants, trees or grass to improve the appearance of land

gloves  n. pieces of clothing worn to protect the hands

delicate  adj. easily damaged or broken


Russian officials hope the new U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will work to improve relations between the two countries despite the resignation of Michael Flynn, the national security advisor.

Flynn resigned Monday night following reports that he had not told the truth about his contacts with Russian officials. In his resignation letter, Flynn admitted that he had given incomplete information about his phone conversations with Sergey Kislyak, Russias ambassador to the United States.

Last week, the Washington Post and New York Times newspapers reported that Flynn had talked with the ambassador about economic restrictions, or sanctions, that the Obama administration had placed on Russia. The Trump administration had earlier denied that Flynn had done so.

Relations between the two countries worsened after Russia annexed Crimea and began to support separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine in 2014. The United States answered those moves with economic sanctions and bans on visas for some Russian officials.

Flynn was often seen as President Trumps key contact with Moscow. In 2015, he was paid by Russia to attend a dinner for Russia Today, a state-funded television network. He sat next to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the event.

Russian reactions to Flynns resignation

The Associated Press news agency reported the criticisms of Konstantin Kosachev, a member of Russias parliament. Kosachev said on Facebook that removing a national security adviser for his contacts with Russia is not just paranoia but something even worse.

But later in the day, Russian officials were less critical.

Leonid Slutsky is chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the lower chamber of parliament. Soon after Flynns resignation he said it was a negative signal for relations between the United States and Russia. But later he said it cannot fundamentally influence Russia-U.S. ties.

Dmitry Peskov is a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Associated Press asked him if Russia still hopes that relations with the United States will improve. He said it is too early to say since Trumps team has not been shaped yet.

Alexei Makarkin is an analyst at the Moscow-based Center for Political Technologies. He said Tillerson would be negotiating with Russia, not Flynn.

As the former head of the oil company ExxonMobil, Tillerson developed close business ties with Russia. In 2013, Putin even gave him the Order of Friendship. Tillerson is to meet this week with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Im Anne Ball.

Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the VOA and AP reports for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

annex  v. to add (an area or region) to a country, state, etc.; to take control of (a territory or place)

paranoia  n. an unreasonable feeling that people are trying to harm you, do not like you, etc.

shape  v. to influence the development of (something)
LINGUIST List 28.845

Tue Feb 14 2017

Confs: Discourse Analysis, General Linguistics/Sweden

Editor for this issue: Kenneth Steimel <kenlinguistlist.org>

10-Feb-2017Maria Graziano Connecting Discourse in Speech and GestureConnecting Discourse in Speech and GestureDate: 30-Mar-2017 - 31-Mar-2017Location: Lund, SwedenContact: Maria GrazianoContact Email: < click here to access email > Linguistic Field(s): Discourse Analysis; General LinguisticsMeeting Description:You are cordially invited to the workshop Connecting discourse in speech and gesture, organized by Maria Graziano, Emanuela Campisi and Marianne Gullberg.It will be held on 30-31 March 2017 in Lund, Sweden, and is funded by the Birgit Rausing Language Program.Theme:An extensive body of work has demonstrated that to construct meaning in discourse, speakers must arrange words morphosyntactically and according to pragmatic and discourse principles, such as emphasizing relevant topics, marking transitions between information, indicating ones own view about what is being said, clarifying the information status of information, etc. To achieve this, speakers use a range of linguistic cohesive devices (e.g., referring expressions such as the doctor, she; connectives such as because). In addition, gestures have also been shown to play an important role in discourse management. For example, gestures are systematically associated with referential expressions such that their presence depends on the referent's information status. Moreover, at a meta-discursive level, gestures can express pragmatic meaning, such as expressing the illocutionary force of the utterance (e.g., the so-called mano a borsa or finger bunch (a gesture in which all fingers are extended and held together so that they are in contact with one another at their tips) is used in some discursive contexts to express an unspoken question). However, several issues remain unclear about how speech and gesture are deployed together as cohesive devices in connected discourse.The aim of the workshop is therefore to promote a discussion about the interplay between speech and gesture in discourse construction, by bringing together scholars working on speech and/or gesture as cohesive devices from different perspectives.Workshop Details:It will consist of three sessions spread over one and a half days, followed by a closing discussion. Confirmed speakers are:Emanuela Campisi, Universita degli Studi di Catania, ItalySandra Debreslioska, Lund University, SwedenMaria Graziano, Lund University Humanities Lab, SwedenMarianne Gullberg, Lund University Humanities Lab, SwedenJudith Holler, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, the NetherlandsElena Levy, University of Connecticut, USADanielle Matthews, University of Sheffield, UKAdam Kendon, University College London, UKElisabeth Engberg-Pedersen, University of Copenhagen, DenmarkTed Sanders, University of Utrecht, the NetherlandsPracticalities:Participation is free of charge but seats are limited so registration is required. Refreshments in breaks are offered to all participants, but non-speakers will have to provide their own lunch.Both students and researchers are welcome.Deadline for Registration:Register by 20 March 2017 by sending an email to: dl_spegedishumlab.lu.se
It is often asserted that the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 proved that HWA was right and he really did see the future.

This of course is nonsense. Herbert W. Armstrong said that Christ would return within twenty years in his book Mystery of the Ages. (PCG has since deleted those words so someone in there knows HWA spoke nonsense.) How convenient for them to forget this.

Also Herbert W. Armstrong never said the Soviet Union would collapse. He thought it would survive intact until a few years after Christ's return. It shows how biased some many in the COGs are that they never seem to notice this. This inconvenient truth is just tossed into the memory hole.

It is true that HWA said that some Eastern European states would break away from Moscow's orbit and join the European Empire he said would arise at any moment. But he never talked of the Soviet Union collapsing. He did not teach that. Also he portrayed the rise of the European Empire to be far quicker then what has actually happened. In Mystery of the Ages Christ was supposed to return by 2005 at the most.

So assertions that the fall of the Berlin Wall somehow prove that HWA was right is just complete nonsense spread by people who, for whatever reason, are still in denial that HWA was a false prophet who merely talked out of his own "human reasoning".
A Lakeland Electric employee was hospitalized Monday after she was attacked by a "pit bull type" dog, according to Polk County Sheriff's Office detectives.

Linda Dionne, 59, victim of attack

Deputy forced to shoot, kill dog after it turned to attack

Dog owner arrested, charged with 3rd degree felony

Officials said Linda Dionne, 59, activated the emergency button on her radio while at 941 Fish Hatchery Road.

Lakeland Electric and Lakeland Police both attempted to contact Dionne on the radio and received no response. Lakeland Police then asked the Polk County Sheriff's Office to respond, since the home was located in an unincorporated area.

When the first deputy arrived on scene, they found Dionne being attacked by a dog they described as "pit bull type." The deputy was able to get the dog off of Dionne, at which point the dog, named "Sophia", turned to attack the deputy.



The deputy then shot and killed Sophia. A second dog, also described as a pit bull type dog, later menaced other law enforcement officers arriving on scene. Two deputies and a Lakeland Police officer shot at and missed that dog, scaring it under the house.

The second dog was later taken into custody uninjured and brought to county animal control.

Polk County officials said the owners of Sophia (pictured) were ordered to keep her either caged or muzzled, and that the dog was considered "dangerous." (Photo: Elexindra Allen)

The dogs' owner, Matthew Overton, 21, was arrested when he arrived at the home. Overtons fiancee, Elexindra Allen, said the Lakeland Electric worker should not have come on to her property because they had a "Beware of Dog" sign.

Its posted on my front gate," said Allen. "My gate was closed. She had to open my gate and its 'Beware of Dogs.'

Sophia had a prior history with Polk Animal Control. Officials had previously declared the dog dangerous after a June 27, 2016, incident.

On that occasion, the dog bit the pants of Pat Jeffries, who was unable to get into the house and was forced to hide in a car.

I was inside my car and the dog was scraping my leg with its teeth, said Jeffries, describing the attack last summer.

Jeffries also told us that Overton and Allen's dog had gotten loose on other occasions since then.

I told Polk County this was going to happen one day and it has happened, said Jeffries.

Dionne was treated at the scene and later transported to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center for what deputies described as "serious lacerations to both arms and legs from dog bites." She was released from the hospital late Wednesday afternoon.



Overton was charged with a 3rd degree felony in reference to the attack, as deputies said he did not follow an order to cage or muzzle the dogs. Upset about her fiance's arrest, Allen told us the dogs were secured.

I know she was in the cage," said Allen. "I dont know how she got out of the cage. I dont know why my gate got open. I dont understand any of this.
It's natural to want to find that special someone, especially around Valentine's Day, but don't forget to guard your heart and your wallet when you're looking for love. If you decide you want to sign up for a matchmaking service, its important first to do your research.

Not long after getting divorced, Susan Moriarty decided to try a matchmaking service.

"I had turned 50 last year and I was ready to find somebody else in my life. Everybody wants to be with somebody and in love, Moriarty said.

Moriarty filled out a form online and got several calls from Tampa Singles asking her to try their service. She finally agreed to go into their office for an in-person meeting to hear about what they do.

"You get assurances that youre meeting people of a high caliber. They're doing all this legwork to make sure that the candidates you're meeting are quality people and also interested in finding true love," Moriarty said.

Susan Moriarty



It wasn't cheap. The Tampa Singles package she chose cost $6000 for 10 dates.



My immediate reaction was Oh no, thats too much. I cant do that. Their argument is, Well, you spend money on beauty products and keeping yourself up. Youre worth it. Im like, okay, so Im going out for a $600 dinner.

She made a decision on the spot and decided to go for it, but ended up having second thoughts.

The Cooling Off Rule

If you sign up for a matchmaking service and start feeling like you made a mistake, you have three days to ask for your money back. It's called the 'cooling off rule. Under Florida law, if you contract for services to be provided in the future, businesses must give you a complete refund if you cancel within 72 hours.

Moriarty missed the cut-off by two days. When she called on day five, she was told she could not get a full refund or even a pro-rated refund.

Calls to Tampa Singles to inquire about the policy were ultimately returned by a woman named Rebekah C. She did not want her last name used, but said she was the companys Assistant Director.

We always honor the three-day right to rescind, Rebekah C. said, but would not say if they ever provide pro-rated refunds.

Giving it a Chance

Moriarty agreed to go on two dates set up by Tampa Singles, but says the matches didn't meet her designated criteria for things like age and height, which had been shared with the company.



"Both were nice individuals, but not what I was looking for, Moriarty explained. The big thing for me was the age. The one was much younger. The other was much older than I was looking for.

She called to complain and again asked for a pro-rated refund, but Tampa Singles said no. They told her it can take time to make a match and to be patient, but Moriarty says the salesperson offended her.

She said, Youre not patient. This is why you dont have anybody. Youre alone and you will always be alone, Moriarty quoted the salesperson as saying to her.

I know we urge people to continue on, but that doesnt sound like something we would say, Rebekah C. said when asked about the comment, adding She only went on two dates. Im sorry she (Moriarty) felt that way.

Do Your Research

Moriarty wasn't the only one dissatisfied with her Tampa Singles experience. An online search revealed Tampa Singles has a 'C' rating from the Better Business Bureau, with more than 30 complaints.

The BBB actually issued an Alert on the company, because it was deemed to have a pattern of complaints against it.

Tampa Singles is ranked number one for volume of complaints in this industry for West Florida, said BBB Public Relations Director Bryan Oglesby. A lot of the pattern we see is that customers dont believe they get what they signed up for.

Rebekah C. from Tampa Singes said the BBB complaints represent only a fraction of their clients.

We have dozens of success stories for every complaint, she said and offered to put us in touch with a satisfied client.

The Matchmaking Process

Tampa Singles says on its website that it goes through an extensive search process, which includes an in-person screening and a personal compatibility assessment to help you meet the right person.

We have 10,000 first dates a year, Rebekah C. said. We dont guarantee a match. It is a process.

Tampa Singles put Consumer Wise in touch with Linda Toole, who says she met her husband Jim through the service.

Linda Toole and her husband, Jim. (Photo: Linda Toole)

I had moved from Tampa to Lakeland, and I just wanted to go out and meet someone," said Toole. "Im not the kind of person who goes to bars."



Toole says she signed up for Tampa Singles service and paid $3,000 for a package of six dates. She says she met Jim Toole on the first date and says it clicked. They got married one year later.

It is a leap of faith," said Toole when asked if she would recommend the service. "And yes, it worked out for me, but I have read some of the reviews online now; so whether it always works out, I dont know. But if you have the money and youre looking for someone who is not a one-night-stand, take a chance. It is a chance, but I wouldnt change it for anything in the world.



Lesson Learned

Moriarty decided to stop using Tampa Singles after those two dates and the comment from the sale person that upset her. She filed a challenge on her credit card payment for the $6000 she paid, but the challenge was ultimately declined because her request came after the 3 day right to cancel.

Her only recourse now would be arbitration, but that is an expensive process, which she does not think she will pursue.

Even though the matchmaking service didn't work for Moriarty, she did learn a hard lesson.

I should never have made that decision right then and there," she said. "I should have looked into what I was really getting for the money. My advice now is look into any company before you sign on the dotted line."

Here are some tips to protect yourself:

Conduct an online search on the company (type the company's name with the word "reviews" or "complaints" and read what others are saying)

Look for a pattern of negative reviews

Check a company's BBB rating and look for a pattern of complaints

Ask what the process is for making matches

Don't feel pressured to sign a contract on the spot; slow down, take time to think about it

Ask what happens if they don't have any matches that meet your criteria

Ask to see current photos and profiles of available matches before you pay

Ask how long a company has been in business

If you have any questions or concerns as a consumer, you can contact the Florida Division of Consumer Services via their website or by calling 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) for English speakers or 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832) for Spanish speakers. Their primary mandate is to educate consumers, and they also handle consumer complaints. Those who wish to file complaints can do so via the Consumer Services website.


Michael Flynn, the retired general who was an early Donald Trump supporter, has resigned as National Security Adviser, Spectrum Networks has confirmed.

National Security Adviser Michael Flynn resigns

Flynn admits to not giving "complete information" about phone calls with Russia ambassador

Gen. Keith Kellogg acting adviser

Flynn's resignation comes amid growing reports confirming Flynn's alleged ties and communications with Russian officials leading up the president's inauguration.

The newest report in the Washington Post said the Justice Dept. had warned the Trump administration last month that Flynn misled administration officials about his communications with the Russian ambassador to the United States.

The Justice Dept. even said Flynn was vulnerable to blackmail by the Russians.

Flynn was also unable to refute a Washington Post report last week that he talked with the Russian ambassador about recent sanctions imposed on Russia by the Obama administration about the country's meddling in the 2016 election.

The report said Flynn seemed to imply to Russian ambassador that sanctions against Russia would be eased. This conversation took place before the president's inauguration.

In his resignation letter, Flynn admitted he did not give complete information about his phone calls with the Russian ambassador.

Flynn said he was honored to serve with the president, who had "reoriented American foreign policy in fundamental ways to restore America's leadership position in the world" in just three weeks.

"In the course of my duties as the incoming National Security Advisor, I held numerous phone calls with foreign counterparts, ministers, and ambassadors. These calls were to facilitate a smooth transition and begin to build the necessary relationships between the President, his advisors and foreign leaders. Such calls are standard practice in any transition of this magnitude.

"Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador. I have sincerely apologized to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology."

The discussion with the Russian ambassador was a brief of protocol, and some experts say it was possibly illegal.

Reports over the last month show several intelligence agencies were investigating Flynn, including the FBI and the Army.

Flynn was already a controversial figure in Trump's inner circle when he was named National Security Adviser.

He was Defense Intelligence Agency director under the Obama administration from 2011 to 2014. Reportedly, Flynn was forced out of the DIA because he clashed with superiors over his management style.

Flynn accused the Obama administration of not wanting to hear the truth about Syria and ISIS.

He was also chided during the 2016 election for posting links to fake news on his Twitter account.

Gen. Keith Kellogg has been named acting National Security Adviser. Also on the short list is retired General David Petraeus.

Information from AP and CNN were used in this report.
The U.S. Senate confirmed Treasury Secretary nominee Steven Mnuchin Monday night, despite objections to the former by Democrats.

Meanwhile the vote to confirm Dr. David Shulkin as VA secretary was unanimous in his favor.

Senate confirms Steve Mnuchin, David Shulkin

Tuesday: Linda McMahon vote

Thursday: Senate committee hearing on Andy Puzder

D.C. DIGEST: Latest News | Find your Congressman | Washington D.C. Calendar

The Senate held several hours of debate for Mnuchin Monday, in which Democrats strongly objected to his role in the 2008 housing crisis.

The final vote was 53-47, with West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin the only Democrat voting in favor.

Mnuchin's a former Goldman Sachs executive. He also bought and helped turn around the former IndyMac Bank, renaming it OneWest. The bank was accused of aggressive foreclosures on struggling homeowners, including elderly homeowners and members of the military.

The Senate voted party line for Mnuchin's confirmation, with Sen. Bill Nelson, D-FL voting against Mnuchin and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida voting for him.

President Trump swore Mnuchin in Monday night.

Shulkin was also confirmed as VA secretary nominee. Shulkin is a former Obama administration officials who served as the Veterans Affairs Dept.'s top health official since 2015. He is not a member of the military, making him the first VA secretary who was not a veteran.

However, he has strong backing from Democrats after ruling out fully privatizing the VA and saying wide-scale firings of VA employees were unnecessary, thus disagreeing with President Trump.

Shulkin will be sworn in on Tuesday.

The Senate is also expected to vote on Linda McMahon's confirmation as Small Business Administration head on Tuesday.

On Thursday the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee is expected to finally take up the nomination of Andy Puzder as Labor Secretary. Sources with in the Senate say at least four Republican senators may vote against Puzder, putting his nomination in jeopardy.

Information from AP, CNN used in this report.
Ketchikan, AK -- My Place Hotels of America is thrilled to announce My Place Hotel-Ketchikan, AK officially opened its doors on February 9, 2017! The new hotel is the brand's 29th location to open nationally, and the second to open in the state of Alaska! Located at 3612 North Tongass Avenue, the 3-story, extended stay hotel offers 64 guest rooms with waterfront views of the Tongass Narrows. Conveniently located between the KTN Airport ferry terminal to the north and the AMHS ferry terminal to the south, My Place guests will enjoy easy access to the airport, and a plethora of local restaurants and shops. The community of Ketchikan is invited to join the area's first My Place Hotel in celebrating its Grand Opening on Thursday, March 9th, from 3:00 to 7:00 PM.

Responsible for the brand's territorial development in Alaska, Oregon and Washington is Joe Dinger, VP of Development at Pacific Northwest My Place Hotels, LLC. (PAC NW). Dinger said Ketchikan already has a few great lodging options to host visitors throughout the year, but there's nothing else quite like My Placea new, affordable hotel which not only appeals to the nightly traveler, but those who will be in the area for weeks or months at a time.

"We are excited and humbled to be welcomed to the community of Ketchikan, Alaska! Our mission is to provide an affordable, high-quality lodging option for the local residents, the people of neighboring islands, and those visiting this wonderful city from afar through the year," Dinger said. "We welcome you to join us. Our team's promise is to ensure My Place Hotel-Ketchikan, AK is your Southeast Alaskan home away from home!"

Ketchikan's newest hotel now serves area travelers as the only newly built extended stay hotel. At the helm of operations is Ketchikan's own Carol Domme, the property's general manager. While the journey to opening day has been rigorous, it's also extremely rewarding, Domme said.

"It's very exciting to be on the cutting edge of something new, and I feel so honored to be part of everything," Domme said. "My Place has provided us with all the support and training we need to make this a tremendous success, and Ketchikan has made us feel so welcome in the community! We have a dynamic staff in place, ready to provide exceptional guest service for our new guests and our old friends alike!"

My Place Hotel-Ketchikan, AK is independently owned by PAC NW, and operated by Legacy Management, LLC. Having recently joined Legacy Management and completed the My Place Managers' training in the latter half of 2016, Regional Manager Ken Jenks is also inspired by the process of opening the state's second My Place Hotel in Ketchikan.

About My Place Hotels

All My Place Hotels locations offer modern amenities at an affordable price including nightly, weekly and monthly rate options. Each guest room features a My Kitchen, complete with a cooktop, a microwave and a full refrigerator. My Place Hotels offer pet friendly accommodations, include on-site laundry facilities, complimentary high-speed internet service and a 24-hour My Store, located in the hotel lobby and stocked with an array of supplies for the guests' convenience.

My Place Hotels of America is a franchise company that focuses on providing a clean and comfortable facility, with modern amenities, and great customer service, all at an affordable price. The company is based out of Aberdeen, S.D., and offers franchisees a new construction brand, designed to ensure quality, consistency and the highest of standards for delivering marketplace value. The brand currently has 47 hotels open across 21 states with over 120 hotels in the pipeline. For more information on franchising with My Place Hotels, please visit myplacehotels.com/franchising or contact Terry Kline at (605) 725-5685.

To book your stay at My Place, please call the toll-free reservation line at: (855) 200-5685, or visit myplacehotels.com. In celebration of our partnership with the American Hotel and Lodging Association, we invite you to Stay Rewarded. Earn 1,000 points by enrolling using this link by Independence Day:

myplacestayrewarded.com/SignUpKiosk?kioskcode=AHLA

Please click here to get up to date with the latest news from My Place Hotels!

Ngoc Thach

Director of Public Relations - My Place Hotels of America

+1 605 725 5993

My Place Hotels of America
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More than two decades ago, with Donald Trump already atop a real-estate empire, a young Justin Trudeau set out to explore the world.

He toured Europe and Africa with friends, hiding their beer from customs agents before boarding the Trans-Siberian railway to China. On the train, he sketched, read War and Peace and gazed at the remnants of the Soviet Union. It was a defining trip, hed later write, that left him praising both diversity and compromise.

Both values will be tested today. The now-45-year-old Canadian prime minister  hailed by Joe Biden as one of the last champions of liberalism  heads to Washington for his first meeting with Trump, 70, whose bellicose statements and immigration restrictions reveal a deep gulf between the two leaders. They will meet privately at the Oval Office, attend a roundtable with women executives and a hold a joint press conference at 2 p.m.

But U.S. liberals hoping for Trudeau to emerge as Trumps foil shouldnt hold their breath. Hes already bit his tongue and focused almost exclusively on an economic relationship that accounts for three-quarters of Canadas exports. The White House visit will test just how far Trudeau can go to woo the president and preserve trade without selling out his core values.

We both got elected on commitments to strengthen the middle class, and support those working hard to join it, Trudeau said last week. And thats exactly what were going to be focused on.

He has little choice. Nearly two-thirds of all Canadian trade is with the U.S., the highest ratio of Group of 20 nations and quadruple all but Mexico. Almost all of Canadas oil goes to the U.S. and most of the countrys manufacturing is geared toward meeting U.S. demand. Americans hold CAD2.3 trillion (USD1.8 trillion) in Canadian assets, almost exactly the same amount held by Canadians in the U.S.

A Deutsche Bank AG report this month that looked at the potential impact of Trump policies on all the U.S.s major partners found Canada would be among the hardest hit, forcing the country to cede about $70 billion in trade to the U.S.

Till now, Trudeaus strategy has been to avoid becoming what his ambassador to the U.S. called  collateral damage in a trade war they consider to be largely aimed at Mexico.

Three senior emissaries  Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan  laid the groundwork for Trudeaus visit with their own trips last week to preach Canadian trade. Freeland has coined the lawmaker-by- lawmaker approach granular diplomacy and the trio, along with two other ministers, will join Trudeau at the White House to hammer home their message.

Trudeau and his team will also meet House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in the afternoon. Bloomberg
In 2014, billionaire Jack Ma, founder of online retail giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., declared his ambition to make Chinas hospitals better, drugs cheaper and people healthier.

Others in Chinas tech universe were becoming equally bullish on health care, and that year alone, investment in the internet health sector surged about sevenfold to USD1.4 billion. Since then, billionaire Robin Lis search engine Baidu Inc. has built a mobile application for physicians to give online consults, while Tencent Holdings Ltd. has invested in various startups. Ma pushed his plans forward via Alibaba Health Information Technology Ltd., attempting to bring hospital services online and build an internet pharmacy hub.

Three years on, most Chinese technology companies, from bigger players to small startups, are struggling to make money off those ventures. Ali Healths fledgling drug tracking and online pharmacy businesses were crippled by sudden regulatory changes, and its Hong Kong-listed shares are more than 70 percent below their 2015 peak.

Investment in Chinas digital health industry dropped 10 percent in the last quarter of 2016, extending a 41 percent decline in the previous three months, according to researcher VC Beat. At least 26 startups in the field have shut down, according to ITJuzi, a Beijing-based database tracking internet companies.

A lot of people started realizing in 2016 that many projects were losing money and had no hopes of making any, said Wang Yipei, a former investment manager at Fosun Groups venture capital arm, who now is working at a public hospital in Beijing.

Billionaires like Jack Ma have good reason to see potential in Chinas health-care sector: Millions are developing chronic conditions like diabetes and cancer as they age, and they are more willing to pay for expensive treatments. Connecting patients, drugstores and doctors via the internet seemed like a lucrative model.

Todays water, air and food safety, will definitely lead to many diseases facing our families in ten years, Alibabas Ma said at a forum in 2014 pointing to the opportunities that lay ahead for those who could help provide solutions.

Ali Health had envisioned a future where any Chinese patient could see a renowned doctor on its online consultation platform, take the prescription to its e-pharmacy, and have the drugs delivered through a traceable network all the way to the patients doorstep.

Instead, regulators last year ended pilot programs that allowed a few e-commerce websites, including Alibabas Tmall, to sell over-the-counter drugs. Ali Health had planned to draw a service fee from such online sales.

The drug watchdog last year also abruptly scrapped the enforcement of a drug-tracking system it had contracted Ali Health to develop and operate, crippling the companys main revenue stream. Regulators have also shown no signs of permitting online sales of prescription drugs, a move that investors have long hoped for.

Baidus chairman, Robin Li, told a Shanghai conference in November that a dearth of medical data made it difficult for his company to develop the artificial intelligence algorithms it was working on.

Chinas entire health-care database hasnt been brought online, said Unicorn Studios Liu. For places that have data, they wont share it with you. Without data, how can you talk about online health care.

In a statement last week, Baidu said that it will close some of its medical businesses and merge the rest into its AI and search units, narrowing its health ambitions to focus on the medical AI project, which analyzes medical data to assist in web consults. Baidu has previously sought to compete in overcrowded fields such as online doctors appointments.

Chinas government, meanwhile, has taken some steps to support the online health-care market to help lessen the burden on its overburdened public system. It has allowed doctors to practice at multiple places and boosted private health insurance with tax breaks.

Despite the challenges, many entrepreneurs are reluctant to give up on online health. In recent months, Ali Health acquired a brick-and-mortar drug-store chain that was also qualified to act as an e-pharmacy. Parent Alibaba said an important source of health revenue will come from online sales of non-prescription drugs, and that more than 3,000 corporations, focused on everything from drugs to nutritional supplements, have signed up on its product tracking platform since June.

A lot of companies have paid a hefty price and flopped, but that doesnt mean there are no opportunities, said Eric Yu, a Beijing- based director at Matrix Partners. Work in accordance with policy and help add value to existing service providers, and youll find plenty of opportunities. Bloomberg
One of Hong Kongs four richest dynasties is preparing for a leadership transition that may test the adage that family fortunes dont last beyond three generations.

Adrian Cheng, the Harvard-educated heir apparent of New World Development Co. and Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd., is in focus after his 69-year-old father, Henry, recently went on leave because of an unspecified illness. The companies declined to comment on media reports that the senior Cheng had a stroke.

When the 36-year-old scion ultimately takes over from his father, he will be in charge of a conglomerate that controls one of the citys biggest property developers, runs the Carlyle Hotel in New York City and operates a chain of jewelry stores that generates about 80 percent more revenue than Tiffany & Co. globally. Today, the family controls four listed companies with a total market value of more than USD25 billion, as well as some that are closely held.

Yet challenges abound for Cheng. If he were to take over now, he would be facing declining margins in the familys main property-development business and slumping demand for high-end jewelry. Hed also face the challenges of retaining decades of connections his elders built up and rebuilding investor trust after past family missteps raised concerns about corporate governance.

He needs to prove himself, said Joseph P.H. Fan, a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong who has researched family-run businesses for two decades. He doesnt need to be a know-it-all in business operations because the professional teams will do it for him, but he needs to prove hes capable of bringing everyone together.

Despite his youth, the grandson of the late magnate Cheng Yu-tung has been groomed for years and already juggles more than a dozen titles, including vice chairman of New World Development and executive director at Chow Tai Fook.

The Cheng clan isnt alone in preparing for succession, which is increasingly looming large at some of the biggest businesses in Hong Kong, where the landscape is dominated by a handful of tycoons.

Thats as those moguls, many of whom were Chinese refugees who fled Japanese invaders in the 1940s, approach retirement age. Henderson Land Development Co.s billionaire chairman Lee Shau Kee turned 89 last month, an anniversary that Hong Kongs richest man, CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd.s Li Ka-shing, will hit in July.

As to the Cheng familys next leader, below are some of the biggest challenges he faces:

PROPERTY, JEWELRY DOWNTURNS

Hong Kong may boast the worlds most-expensive housing market, but thats not necessarily benefiting New World. Higher land costs are likely to squeeze developers profit margins, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. The brokerage estimates projects using land bought last year will probably yield margins of 22 percent when they are completed, versus returns of 32 percent on real estate bought in 2011.

To cope with the tougher environment in Hong Kong, New World in recent years has been looking to increase its proportion of property in Chinas first-tier cities by disposing of projects in smaller cities  a move that Macquarie Group Ltd. analyst Raymond Liu in December applauded as likely to unlock value.

At Chow Tai Fook, profits have fallen for two and a half years to their lowest levels since 2011 as an anti-corruption drive in China sapped demand for luxury products and as tourism in Hong Kong waned. In December, retail sales in the city dropped for their 22nd straight month, dragged down by a slump in demand for jewelry, watches and valuable gifts.

Though Cheng declined to comment for this story, he said in an interview last year that he would step up Chow Tai Fooks focus on attracting millennials by introducing more fashionable jewelry designs and pushing his brands globally.

In the next 10 years, Chinese brands, Chinese originality, Chinese creativity will be part of the worlds realm, Cheng said in November. People will be going back and talking about whats cool in China, instead of whats cool in the U.S.

Cheng, who is an art enthusiast and has a bachelors degree from Harvard University, has opened shopping centers merged with galleries and a mall targeting children.

DWINDLING CONNECTIONS

At his grandfathers funeral last year, pallbearers included current and former heads of Hong Kong and Macau, as well as the only two people in the city richer than the deceased: Li Ka-shing and Lee Shau Kee.

The proceeding helped illustrate how connected his grandfather was. For Adrian Cheng to succeed, it will be crucial for him to retain relationships within the family and stakeholders because Hong Kong has barely known this guy, said Chinese Universitys Fan. Family firms lose almost 60 percent of their value each time leadership is transferred from one generation to the next, as they fail to pass on intangible assets such as relationships and trust, according to Fan.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Shares of the Cheng familys New World Development have, on average, traded at 45 percent of the companys book value in the past five years, the worst performer based on that measure in Hong Kongs benchmark Hang Seng Index, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Behind the discount are governance concerns. When Henry Cheng first took over the family business in the late 80s, he kicked off a series of acquisitions, including the purchase of the Ramada hotel chain and Wing On (Holdings) Ltd. That drove up the family empires debts so high that the founder stepped back in and sold some assets.

Though past stumbles have soured investors perceptions about the group, the younger Cheng is in a position to reverse those perceptions, according to Raymond Cheng, Hong Kong- based analyst at CIMB Securities Ltd., who isnt related to the family behind New World.

Even if Henry were to take a long leave, I dont see a problem elevating Adrians role, the analyst said. It wouldnt be bad news for him to fully take over. Prudence Ho, Daniela Wei, Bloomberg
Twenty eight residents have lost more than MOP4.9 million in an online scam. In a press conference yesterday, the Judiciary Police (PJ) said that the residents had all met a woman on a mobile chat application, who lured them in with a falsified story.

According to the PJ, the events were first reported by one of the victims, who claimed to have met the alleged female suspect after she proclaimed herself to be a manager at a wedding design company.

The suspect claimed she could help people obtain 10 percent discount coupons for hotels located in the NAPE area.

These fake coupons were said to be eligible for use when booking feasts.

One victim gave the woman a total of more than MOP80,000 in two separate installments.

The woman then told the victim that she would settle the banquet payment after the banquet was finished.

Upon hearing this, the victim then booked banquets from one of the hotels the suspect supposedly said she could obtain a discount.

However, after the banquets were finished, the victim could not contact the suspect, having been told by the hotel that no such coupons ever existed.

In the past two days, the PJ received 27 similar complaints. All cases involved money scams with amounts ranging from MOP70,000 to MOP770,000.

According to the PJ, the woman has already left Macau.The PJ further stated that the victims handed over the money to the suspect by cash or cheque.

In a separate case, a mainland woman lost RMB1.2 million after having believed a self-proclaimed VIP room operator and businessman who allegedly worked in the diamond industry, the PJ said yesterday.

The story dates all the way back to November 2015, when the female victim got to know the man through an online chatting application.

The suspect is a male mainland resident who, in January of this year, met the victim face-to-face in Macau.

Following their meeting, the suspect took the victim to several of Macaus VIP rooms in casinos.

After the visits, the victim was convinced by what the man told her in relation to his business, especially as he paid for all of her food and accommodation expenses.

As a consequence, she became interested in investing in the suspects business after he told her that she could double or triple what she invested.

Later in January, the victim gave the suspect RMB800,000 in cash to invest in his diamond business, although no receipt was ever signed by or given to the victim.

A few days later, the victim transferred an additional MOP400,000 to the suspects bank account.

After the last money transfer, the victim questioned the suspect about the moneys usage. At that point, she started to suspect that she might be a victim of fraud.

Victim trusted Malaysian police officer

A male Macau resident has lost around MOP20,000 after trusting a Malaysian police officer who might have never existed, Judiciary Police (PJ) told the media yesterday.

On January 27, the victim made contact with a self-proclaimed male resident of the US through an online chatting application.

On February 1, the American told the victim he was coming to Macau on a flight with a layover in Malaysia.

On February 3, the suspect said he had arrived in Malaysia, but had been arrested because he was carrying USD84,000 in cash.

The victim then received a phone call from a Malaysian police officer who told him that he could pay HKD4,800 to help this American.

The victim did what the policeman told him to do, and even kept receiving several calls, also from said police, telling him that more money should be delivered in order to process the legal affairs concerning the so-called American.

After settling the last payment on February 5, the victim realized that he might have been victim of a fraud, whereby he decided to report the situation to the police.
Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the countrys law enforcement agencies to intensify the fight against illegal gambling.

The Executive Order, issued this month, came after the controversial illegal online operations of Macaus gambling tycoon Jack Lam.

Lam, the head of Jimei International, who operates Fontana Leisure Park and Casino in Clark, Pampanga, was supposedly given a gambling license by Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), however he illegally expanded operations in Clark Freeport.

Since the government failed to regulate the industry, Duterte announced in December that he was ordering the closure of all online gaming operations.

The new executive order requires the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation and relevant agencies to combat against prohibited gaming activities across the country.

Media outlet Manila Bulletin explained that the order also imposed certain restrictions on online gaming operations in the economic zones of Cagayan, Aurora and Bataan.

The Executive Order No. 13 includes the restriction of the operation of online gaming operators outside economic zones where they obtained the licenses, and sharing or transfer of such licenses to another party.

The State condemns the existence of illegal gambling activities as a widespread social menace and source of corruption, as it has become an influential factor in an individuals disregard for the value of dignified work, perseverance and thrift, the order read, as quoted by the media outlet.

Meanwhile the president clarified jurisdiction and authority of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) and other agencies in the regulation and licensing of gambling and online gaming facilities.

Duterte pointed out that confusion on the jurisdiction and scope of authority of gambling operators has contributed to the increasing illegal gaming activities in the Philippines.

The order also stated that an online gambling license shall not be assigned, shared, leased, transferred, sold or encumbered to any other party. Thus operators that wish to operate outside the governments jurisdiction must apply for a separate license with the appropriate authority.
A Transportation Infrastructure Office (GIT) representative acknowledged that at the moment there are no local people with the needed skills to run the Macau Light Rapid Transit (LRT) project. The model of the LRT is a novelty for Macau and in regards to the implementation of the project, Macau lacks seasoned professionals to manage the LRT project. Consequently we are thinking about hiring someone from outside with experience in operating light rail projects, said GITs deputy director, Ng Keng Chung yesterday during a press conference held at the Transport Bureau (DSAT).

GIT organized a meeting with local journalists to present the law draft that will serve as a basis for the operations of the future LRT Company which entered public consultation yesterday.

The bill proposes that the LRT be funded by a publicly-owned company. The government will create a company which is integrally publicly owned to be able to run the LRT. We are not going to include any funding from abroad or from private entities, Ng Keng Chung explained.

According to Ng, the basis of the decision for creating a publicly owned company was the fact that outsourcing a private company with the needed experience to run the transport system could lack in flexibility on the management of the LRT. The government felt that its power to supervise in case of a formal concession could be compromised, since the company will run autonomously and will be responsible for expenditure and income.

When questioned on the constitution of such a company and when it would be created, Ng did not reply in concrete terms, instead noting that the bill currently under public consultation only defines the guidelines of each party, namely the government and managing company. For the time being, thats what we are doing. We havent yet stepped to the creation of the company, he added.

Ng also noted that although it was assumed that no people with the required skills to run the LRT are in Macau at the moment, the government hopes to have local people with capacity to manage the LRT system in a short period of time. Thus, the need to train local staff could be one of the conditions stated clearly in the the contract with the management company.

The government will delegate competences on this company to run the daily operations of the LRT, Ng said, adding that the government will also inspect whether or not the company is fulfilling its duties.

In response to a question on when such a law could be delivered to the Legislative Assembly (AL) to be discussed and approved, Ng said: We expect that with the collection of these opinions we should be able to perfect and improve this first draft into the final law draft to be presented to the AL. Presumably we expect to finish the writing of this law draft within this year.

As for the document that is now in public consultation for 60 days until April 13, Cheang noted that experiences from the interior of China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Portugal inform its main focus to grant the security of the operations and a good quality of service, establishing the duties and responsibilities of the operating company.

In terms of security, responsibilities for accidents and compensation to passengers over damage caused was targeted in the draft document, which sets a base line of MOP200 million for the indemnity insurance to be hired by the company.

The document also establishes a list of duties, responsibilities and penalties for passengers including the payment of fees from MOP2,000 to 10,000 and, in some cases, an additional penalty between 5 and 15 years of imprisonment for crimes related to security violations, the launching of projectiles against the trains and the stopping of operations, among others.

Also discussed were the operations and constructions in the surroundings of the LRT facilities. Special protection areas were created that disallow any works in the air or soil in the surrounding areas of the LRT without prior consent from the authorities, namely the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT).

The consultation plan establishes residents must be able to access the consultation document via an opinion box, in addition to phone, Internet or post. As Ng said, public clarification sessions are also planned to take place from March.
The Association of Returned Overseas Chinese Macau has listed as one of its working strategies the closer connection of Macau to Chinas One Belt One Road initiative, according to the president of the association, Liu Yiliang, who unveiled the information during an association dinner with local media last Friday.

In 2016, the association invited overseas Chinese leaders from more than 10 countries and regions to come to Macau, where they discussed the promotion of economy and trade communication and cooperation among overseas Chinese businessmen and enterprises with Macau and Mainland commercial industries.

Moreover, the association organizes forums, seminars, workshops and outbound visits to unify overseas Chinese in contributing to the aforementioned Chinese strategy.

Last year, more than 50 companies from Indonesia visited Macau to participate in the citys Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair, as remarked by Liu.

The Association of Returned Overseas Chinese Macau was established in June, 1986. It has now become an organization with overseas Chinese members coming from around 60 countries. JZ
In a scathing indictment of Pakistans treatment of Afghan refugees, a human rights group charged yesterday that the country is forcing hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees back to their homeland, which is still beset by war and crushing poverty. It also said that a USD400 stipend the United Nations refugee agency gives to refugees who return to Afghanistan is tantamount to a bribe to convince reluctant Afghans to leave Pakistan.

The exodus amounts to the worlds largest unlawful mass forced return of refugees in recent times, the Human Rights Watch report says.

Both the U.N. and Pakistan denied the allegations. In an interview, Indrika Ratwatte, Pakistans country representative for the U.N. refugee agency, said there was police harassment and arrests of Afghan refugees in mid-2016, particularly in the border province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but it was ended and refugees who returned, went home voluntarily.

There were incidences of pressure and harassment especially in KP but they were addressed, said Ratwatte. But does it amount to forced return. No. it doesnt.

Still, the report was harsh in its criticism of the U.N. agency for not condemning what it insisted is Pakistans forced return of the refugees.

Meanwhile, Pakistan cited security concerns for seeking Afghan refugees return to their homeland, particularly after several brutal attacks by militants in Pakistans northwest, which the government linked to insurgents hiding out in neighboring Afghanistan. The worst attack was in December 2014 against an army public school in which 150 people were killed, most of them children.

At its peak in the 1980s Pakistan sheltered an estimated 5 million Afghan refugees as Afghan guerrilla fighters battled invading Russian troops aided by the United States and other western countries. Today there are still 1.3 million registered Afghan refugees living in Pakistan, says Ratwatte, some of them for 37 years. Pakistan currently hosts the worlds largest protracted refugee population, he said. There are hundreds of thousands of unregistered Afghan refugees living in the country as well.

Attacking the U.N. refugee agencys $400 stipend to returning refugees, Gerry Simpson, one of the authors of the HRW report told The Associated Press in an email interview: What is now needed is not more money to incentivize return to harm, but more money to help Pakistan protect Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

Yet last year, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani told refugees in Pakistan to come home, promising them shelter and opportunities. About 380,000 registered Afghan refugees returned to their homeland along with an estimated 250,000 unregistered refugees who were living in Pakistan without legal documents, Ratwatte said.

Tens of thousands of returning refugees were settled in a makeshift camp on a barren piece of land in Afghanistans eastern Nangarhar province, which Afghan elders in Pakistan described as desolate and dangerous.

They want us to come back to the desert? asked Amanullah Nusrat, principal of a school for Afghan refugee children in Peshawar, not far from the border with Afghanistan. The Afghan government is asking refugees to come back but how? There is no shelter, no water, no security.

Nusrats school, Hazrat Maryam School, is a grimy white single story cement building where about 500 Afghan refugee children sit on the floor in crowded classrooms. Before last years exodus there were 800 students, said Nusrat. The others returned to Afghanistan, pushed out by the Pakistan authorities, he said.

Afghan refugees are hostage to the fluctuating relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan and a sharp deterioration in their relationship last year caused Pakistan to launch a heavy handed push for refugees to return to Afghanistan, said Nusrat sitting in the schools courtyard surrounded by half a dozen tribal elders.

Most of Nusrats students were from Afghan provinces that border Pakistan. Some students had never seen their homeland, and others had returned with their families only to move back to Pakistan because the security made it impossible to stay, they said.

Zarmina, who gave only one name, is a teacher who is originally from Kabul. She said that despite the Talibans ouster nearly 15 years ago, it is still dangerous for women, citing a rise in domestic violence in her homeland. She also lamented the increasing presence of the Taliban and the emergence of new militant groups in Afghanistan such as the Islamic State group affiliate, headquartered in eastern Nangarhar province.

Whenever one group ends fighting, then another group comes up, she said.

Waqar Maroof Khan, the Pakistan governments point man on refugees, said the refugees who returned did so voluntarily. Pakistan has also extended the deadline for refugees to return to Dec. 31, 2017. But Human Rights Watch said it should be extended to the end of 2019.

We want them to go back in dignity and honor, he said.

Yet Fazle Mulla Tarakai, an Afghan elder originally from Afghanistans eastern Kunar province, said last year Pakistan used loudspeakers on mosques in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to tell refugees to go home and to warn Pakistanis that anyone found helping the refugees would be fined.

In some areas police entered forcibly and refugees left without anything, said Tarakai. Kathy Gannon, Peshawar, AP
The United States, Japan and South Korea have requested urgent diplomatic talks at the United Nations yesterday over North Koreas latest ballistic missile launch, with Seoul condemning what it called serious military and security threats and predicting more such tests.

A spokesman for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations said Sunday night that the meeting is expected to take place Monday. The spokesman spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.

The U.N. Mission for Ukraine, which holds the rotating Security Council presidency, later confirmed that closed consultations on North Korea will take place today [Macau time].

The banned missile test, which was conducted early Sunday, is seen as an implicit challenge to President Donald Trump, who has vowed a tough line on Pyongyang but has yet to release a strategy for dealing with a country whose nuclear ambitions have bedeviled U.S. leaders for decades.

North Korean state media said leader Kim Jong Un was at the site to observe the launch and expressed pleasure at the Norths expansion of its strategic strike capabilities.

These are serious military and security threats, Jeong Joon-hee, spokesman at the Ministry of Unification, told reporters. Pyongyang has no intention of backing away from its goal to become a country with nuclear weapons.

A report on the launch carried yesterday by the Norths Korean Central News Agency said Kim watched from an observation post and gave the order to fire the Pukguksong-2, which it said was a Korean style new type strategic weapon system.

It is believed to have flown about 500 kilometers (310 miles) before splashing down into the ocean in international waters.

The report said the test proved the reliability and security of a new mobile launching system, the solid fuel that was used and the guidance and control features of the ballistic missile. Solid fuel can give missiles longer range and make detecting them before launch more difficult because they can be readied faster than liquid fuel missiles.

The report also said the test verified control and guidance capabilities and said the missile can be tipped with a nuclear warhead.

It suggested the launch conducted in a lofted style, which puts the missile into a high trajectory rather than a lower one that gives it more range, in order take the security of the neighboring countries into consideration.

It added that Kim expressed great satisfaction over the possession of another powerful nuclear attack means.

Now our rocket industry has radically turned into high thrust solid fuel-powered engine from liquid fuel rocket engine and rapidly developed into a development- and creation-oriented industry, not just copying samples, he said. Thanks to the development of the new strategic weapon system, our Peoples Army is capable of performing its strategic duties most accurately and rapidly in any space: under waters or on the land.

North Korea had warned it was ready to test its first intercontinental ballistic missile. The U.S. Strategic Command, however, said it detected and tracked what it assessed to be a medium- or intermediate-range missile. The reports of the launch came as Trump was hosting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and just days before the North is to mark the birthday of leader Kim Jong Uns late father, Kim Jong Il.

Appearing with Trump at a news conference at Trumps south Florida estate, Abe condemned the missile launch as absolutely intolerable. He read a brief statement calling on the North to comply fully with relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions. He said Trump had assured him of U.S. support and that Trumps presence showed the presidents determination and commitment.

Trump followed Abe with even fewer words, saying in part: I just want everybody to understand and fully know that the United States of America stands behind Japan, its great ally, 100 percent.

Stephen Miller, Trumps chief policy adviser, said Trump and Abe had displayed an important show of solidarity between their nations.

The message were sending to the world right now is a message of strength and solidarity; we stand with Japan and we stand with our allies in the region to address the North Korean menace, Miller said during an interview Sunday with ABCs This Week.

China, facing criticism that it is not doing enough to pressure North Korea to drop its nuclear program, said yesterday that the root cause of North Korean missile launches is friction with the United States and South Korea. Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China opposed the launch, which violated U.N. Security Council resolutions that call for an end to North Koreas nuclear and missile tests.

The firing of the missile is a major challenge for the Trump administration, said George Lopez, an expert in economic sanctions and nuclear disarmament and a professor emeritus of peace studies at the University of Notre Dame.

The Sunday test of an intermediate-range ballistic missile by the North Korean regime is in clear violation of past United Nations Security Council resolutions and recent warning from the U.S., Lopez said. As such, it is a significant challenge to the Trump Administration because it has yet to develop its policies toward the region, toward North Korea, or its role in the UN and its use of economic sanctions. So we may learn a lot about Mr. Trumps crisis diplomacy in the coming days.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the missile was fired from around Banghyon, North Pyongan Province, which is where South Korean officials have said the North test-launched its powerful midrange Musudan missile on Oct. 15 and 20.

The missile splashed down into the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, according to the U.S. Strategic Command. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters it did not hit Japanese territorial seas.

The North conducted two nuclear tests and a slew of rocket launches last year in continued efforts to expand its nuclear weapons and missile programs. Kim Jong Un said in his New Years address that the country had reached the final stages of readiness to test an ICBM, which would be a major step forward in its efforts to build a credible nuclear threat to the United States.

Though Pyongyang has been relatively quiet about the transfer of power to the Trump administration, its state media has repeatedly called for Washington to abandon its hostile policy and vowed to continue its nuclear and missile development programs until the U.S. changes its diplomatic approach.

Just days ago, it also reaffirmed its plan to conduct more space launches, which it staunchly defends but which have been criticized because they involve dual-use technology that can be transferred to improve missiles.

Our country has clearly expressed its standpoint, that we will continue to build up our capacity for self-defense, with nuclear forces and a pre-emptive strike capability as the main points, as long as our enemies continue sanctions to suppress us, Pyongyang student Kim Guk Bom said Sunday. We will defend the peace and security of our country at any cost, with our own effort, and we will contribute to global peace and stability.

South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, who is also the acting president, said his country would punish North Korea for the missile launch. The Foreign Ministry said South Korea would continue to work with allies, including the United States, Japan and the European Union, to ensure a thorough implementation of sanctions against the North and make the country realize that it will never be able to survive without discarding all of its nuclear and missile programs. Eric Talmadge, Pyongyang, AP
TWIN FALLS  Idaho Power Co.s board of directors have decided to make some executive changes in hopes of enhancing the companys customer focus and planning for the future.

Adam Richins will be promoted to vice president of customer operations and business development, effective March 1. Richins has been general manager of customer operations engineering and construction since January 2014. He joined the company in 2011 in the legal department.

Customer satisfaction and business development are top priorities for our company, and Adam has demonstrated an ability to work effectively with customers, helping to enhance the customer experience and support the companys brand, Idaho Power and IDACORP President and CEO Darrel Anderson said in a statement. I am confident his demonstrated leadership in engineering, construction and process improvement will help make him successful in his new role.

Vice President of Customer Operations Vern Porter will also have a title change in March, becoming the vice president of transmission and distribution engineering and construction and chief safety officer. His nearly 30 years of experience will add an emphasis on safety at Idaho Power.

Finally, Senior Vice President of Operations Lisa Grow will become the senior vice president and COO; and Brian Buckham, the companys vice president and general counsel, will be senior vice president and general counsel.
TWIN FALLS  Richard Allen of Twin Falls has been named the 2016 Person of the Year by the Irrigation Association.

Allen, teaches water resources engineering at University of Idahos Kimberly Research and Extension Center. He is an expert on agricultural evapotranspiration and water consumption. Allen was recognized at the 2016 Irrigation Show and Education Conference Dec. 5-9, 2016, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The award is given to someone outside the commercial irrigation industry whos contributed toward the acceptance of sound irrigation practices.

I am honored to receive this award from the Irrigation Association, and to have the opportunity to help advance water management technologies needed to conserve our national water supplies as well as to produce more food in developing countries, Allen said in a statement. I am impressed with the wide range of technical advancements that we have seen within the irrigation community over the past 30 years.

Allen has helped IA by teaching association classes, developing center pivot training materials and authoring chapters in IAs irrigation design book.
TWIN FALLS  With aging, maxed-out fire stations, the city took a first step to hire an architect that can determine what improvements will be needed  and at what cost.

The City Council voted unanimously Monday to start the process that will evaluate relocating Station 2 and renovating two older stations. Fire Chief Tim Soule said the fire stations meet current needs, but are in fair condition and are aging.

Adequate in my opinion is not a standard, Soule told the Council.

Improving the citys fire stations will help meet future needs and allow the fire department to hire women firefighters, he said. It currently is restricted because facilities are not gender-neutral, Soule said.

The priority is to relocate Station 2 from Falls Avenue to another area of the College of Southern Idaho campus. While providing a larger facility that can contain apparatuses now stored outside, the move will increase response time in the northeast area of town and decrease it in the northwest, where much development is occurring. Eventually, another fire station will be needed in the northeast, Soule said.

Our stations are located really well for our demographic and where its concentrated, he said.

Crews respond to the majority of calls within 4 minutes, including those for emergency medical response. But the fire department has gone from responding to 460 calls in 1977 to an estimated 4,200 in 2017.

We have significantly increased our workload, Councilman Chris Talkington said.

Only 11 percent of calls are incidents happening at the same time, Soule said. The fire department has gone from about four to 13 calls per day on average. Its staffing level, however, has remained almost the same in 50 years.

Were bumping up the need for additional personnel, Soule said.

With nowhere to put them, he hopes to relocate the fire station before seeking grant money to help fund new personnel for the first three years. Costs for the Station 2 relocation may be offset with local partnerships.

Noting a recent pay increase aimed to increase employee retention, Councilman Greg Lanting said the city also needs to provide a good environment to keep its firefighters.

I want them to stay with us, he said. We trained em, I want to keep em.

Also at the meeting, the City Council voted 5-2 to adopt a new city code realigning with the state code to eliminate a competitive disadvantage on taxicab companies and drivers. The new code will no longer require these to be licensed by the city. Cities are not allowed to regulate ride-hailing companies like Uber or Lyft.

Talkington and Councilwoman Ruth Pierce cast the dissenting votes. Talkington expressed concerns about the publics safety in not being sure of who theyre riding with and their qualifications.

Other council members expressed their disapproval with the state legislators action to prevent regulations of ride-hailing companies.

This Legislatures gotten into a mode lately where theyre pre-empting cities from doing anything, Lanting said.

The Council also adopted a resolution authorizing Mayor Shawn Barigar to sign an agreement to develop signals and a turn bay at various intersections on Shoshone Street; a $2,000 payment for a portion of the local match will be included.
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FILER  A Twin Falls County sheriffs deputy fired several shots at a suspect and missed after the man fled police Sunday night, the sheriffs office said in a statement. Officials did not say whether the suspect was armed or why the deputy fired.

Its extremely rare for deputies to fire their weapons. Sundays incident marked the first time in at least five years, though there have been accidental discharges in that time.

The suspect, Dennis Leroy Barnes, 37, of Buhl was injured during the chase and flown to St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Boise. A hospital spokesman said Monday afternoon he was not authorized to disclose Barnes condition. County Prosecutor Grant Loebs said he didnt know the cause of Barnes injuries, but guessed he was injured because he was fleeing police and drove his car off the road.

The incident began about 10:30 p.m. when a Filer officer attempted a traffic stop on Barnes, who fled when a second officer arrived, sheriffs office spokeswoman Lori Stewart said in a statement.

A Twin Falls County sheriffs deputy whose name was not released also joined the chase, along with Filer and Buhl officers. The chase ended when Barnes ran off a dead-end road, coming to an abrupt stop.

Before Barnes was detained, the deputy fired the shots, Stewart said. No one was injured by the gunfire. The sheriffs office did not say how many shots were fired.

Outside agencies from a special critical-incident task force are investigating the shooting, and the sheriffs office referred questions to Loebs, the county prosecutor.

At the moment, I dont know much about it, Loebs said. Im waiting for the results of the investigation.

Loebs declined to identify the deputy who fired his gun because the investigation is pending. He said there is no timetable for the investigation to be complete.

The deputy has been placed on administrative leave during the investigation, as is standard protocol when a deputy fires a weapon.

Barnes has a long history of minor, mostly non-violent criminal convictions in Twin Falls County, court records show. He was first convicted in 1998 for misdemeanor petit theft and in 1999 for possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was convicted of several misdemeanor driving offenses and three more misdemeanor petit theft charges in 2014 and 2016. His only felony conviction came in 2014 for forgery, and his only violent crime is a domestic violence conviction from last year, when he elbowed and pushed a woman.

Barnes was most recently charged with a felony count of forgery and a misdemeanor count of theft by deception for filling his pickup with gasoline and charging it to the credit account of a business where he didnt work. Prosecutors say Barnes has pulled off the same scam countless times in and around Buhl.

Barnes was due in court Jan. 26 in that case, but when he didnt appear for his hearing, District Judge Richard Bevan issued a $100,000 bench warrant for his arrest.

We expect Barnes to be transported back to Twin Falls soon where he will be held  on an outstanding $100,000 warrant for failure to appear  and to face new charges in connection with this incident, Stewart said in her statement.

Barnes will be charged with eluding police stemming from Sunday nights chase, Loebs said. When he returns to Twin Falls to be arraigned will depend on when doctors release him from the hospital.
BOISE  Wiener dog races could soon be coming to a fair near you if Rep. Clark Kauffmans bill to legalize small dog races at county fairs becomes law. It passed the House Tuesday.

Kauffman, a Republican from Filer, which hosts the Twin Falls County Fair, said he brought the bill at the request of the fair, which tried to book a small dog race but the vendor wouldnt come to Idaho because of the law banning dog racing. The law was passed in the 1990s and was intended to end greyhound racing in the state. It doesnt provide an exception for small, exhibition-type dog races.

The bill limits the size of the track to 150 feet. It applies only to county fairs and doesnt allow gambling.

Kauffman described one such race, the Fido 500, calling it fun, educational and entertaining.

They run three at a time on a W-shaped track and everybody wins, Kauffman said. Everybody gets a biscuit.

The shows, he said, encourage people to adopt rescue dogs, and the dogs are introduced with a bit of history of the breed and its story. Kauffman went into some detail about one of them, the Chinese crested dog. Chinese crested dogs have been frequent winners of the Worlds Ugliest Dog contest.

The bill passed the House with three No votes, including Kauffmans seatmate Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome. Bell said later on Tuesday she voted against it because she regretted a vote she cast early in her legislative career, at the behest of the horse racing industry, to allow dog racing. She said she was sickened later when she found out how the racing dogs were treated and the lengths to which they are pushed to make them run.

I just couldnt bring myself to vote for dog racing again, she said.

Bell said she loves the fair, and there is already plenty there to enjoy without dog racing.

Maybe those little guys run because they want to, but that wasnt the case at the dog track, she said.

Kauffmans bill isnt the only one this year to create a legal exemption for a certain type of dog race. Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, is sponsoring one to carve out an exemption for sled dog racing.

The bill now goes to the Senate.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to state accurately that the maximum track length allowable under the bill would be 150 feet.
BOISE  Idaho would end mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes under one of three bills introduced Monday in the state Legislature that would bring other sweeping changes to drug laws.

Another would make changes to civil asset forfeitures, narrowing the scope of when certain property can be seized when connected to drug cases and adding some additional protections for property owners. The third would allow heroin dealers to be charged with second-degree murder if a customer overdoses and dies.

Monday was the deadline to introduce bills in all but a few privileged committees, and the House Judiciary and Rules Committee had a full agenda as a result, voting to introduce 10 new bills and rejecting an 11th, to regulate bail enforcement agents.

Boise Democrat Ilana Rubel and Nampa Republican Christy Perrys proposal to get rid of mandatory minimums provoked the most debate. Rep. Greg Chaney, R-Caldwell, said he views changing the law as giving judges the flexibility to decide whether they are dealing with notorious Mexican drug kingpin el Chapo or a teenager who made a mistake.

I dont see this as weakening our stance on drugs, he said. I see this as recognizing there are human beings who make some really stupid choices.

Idaho has mandatory minimum sentences ranging from one to 15 years in prison for crimes involving marijuana, cocaine, meth and heroin.

Rubel and Perrys bill would leave the current maximum sentences  which can be life for some of these drugs  in place, but would get rid of the mandatory minimums. Judges could still impose the current minimums in cases where they think they are appropriate, Rubel said, but they could also take the circumstances into account and impose lesser sentences in cases where they think a less harsh sentence is justified.

We are spending over $7 million a year currently incarcerating people under these nonviolent mandatory minimum sentences, she said.

Aside from drugs, Rubel said, the only other crimes in Idaho with mandatory minimum sentences are murder, repeated sexual molestation of a child and causing grievous bodily injury when driving under the influence. She said the current laws havent had much deterrent effect, saying drug crime has increased greatly since the state adopted them in 1992.

Rep. Luke Malek, R-Coeur dAlene, was the only lawmaker to vote against introducing the bill. He said he believes there is a deterrent value in the laws and that drug users arent the ones being targeted with them.

These are true criminals that we are going after with these statutes, he said.

Seizing assets

Civil asset forfeiture allows police to take cash, cars, guns and other items used in the furtherance of drug crimes. Law enforcement says the practice is a valuable tool in going after drug traffickers and criminal organizations by taking away their resources to commit more crimes, but critics say the laws have been overused and the standards for seizure are too broad with not enough protections. Rubel and Rep. Steve Harris, R-Meridian are sponsoring the bill.

In their enthusiasm, some of these laws crossed the line of due process and created perverse incentives for law enforcement, Harris said.

While Harris said there havent been reports of the same kind of abuses in Idaho as elsewhere, Idahos forfeiture law has many of the same flaws as in states that have had such problems.

Their bill would allow seizure of a vehicle only if it is connected to drug trafficking, not for simple possession.

The bill would also allow property that is found near a controlled substance to be seized only if it is connected to the crime in a meaningful way. If the bill passes, for example, possessing U.S. currency would not be grounds for a seizure or forfeiture; police would have to get a judges approval to keep property, among other changes.

Weve worked with law enforcement and prosecutors, and I think we have a good compromise here before us, Harris said.

Heroin dealers

Reps. John Gannon, D-Boise, and James Holtzclaw, R-Meridian are sponsoring the heroin bill, modeled on one in Minnesota, which is one of a number of states where heroin dealers can be charged with murder if a customer dies.

I think we ought to print this (bill) because it brings attention to the epidemic of heroin, Holtzclaw said. Its terrible. Absolutely terrible. Its a growing problem, and it needs our attention.

The committee voted unanimously to introduce the bill, although some lawmakers worried the language was too broad and could end up catching up people who are addicts themselves rather than the dealers Gannon and Holtzclaw said they are trying to target. Gannon said the bill is precise enough as it is worded now.

I think its pretty well understood what a sale is, as opposed to sharing or a situation where someones being furnished heroin, he said.
JEROME  Gary Jordan stepped out of his shop south of Jerome Thursday just as the ground shook.

I could feel the percussion, Jordan said. It sounded like a propane tank blew up.

Jordan, who lives several miles from the Snake River Canyon, went looking for smoke but couldnt find any.

At the same time, Jerry Callen was busy trying to save his sisters house from floodwater. His sister and her husband were away on vacation last week when massive flooding hit the Magic Valley.

We were fighting the flood a mile north (of the canyon), said Callen. The canyon was roaring like a jet engine. We knew something had happened.

Reality hit when Callen returned to Triple C Farms where he and his two brother farm on the canyon rim. A 50-foot by 100-yard section on the rim had collapsed under the floodwaters.

Hes seen rocks slide from the canyon wall into the talus below, but never a chunk this size, the 63-year-old Jerome County native said.

I lost some canyon-front property and a whole bunch of rock chucks, he joked Monday.

But then the gravity of the situation set in.

When the piece of the canyon wall tore away from the bedrock, it created a fresh fracture in the rock behind it. A large crevice now runs east and west along the rim. Water from a broken levy poured into the new crack and out the canyon wall far below.

The new crevice has left that piece of the canyon wall in jeopardy.

Jerome County Commissioner Roger Morley said the crevice should be considered a safety risk. He plans to visit the site Tuesday.

Callen agrees. A stick of dynamite might remove the risk, he said.

My nephew Todd Capps flew his drone over the rim Thursday and took a video, Callen said. We wouldnt have known the extent of it if he hadnt.

By Friday, the flooding had subsided, but the crevice had widened by a foot.

Callen now has nightmares about that piece of the canyon.

I dreamed I was pushing the piece into the canyon with my loader and my loader followed it, he said. Then I woke up.

View Todd Capps' video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOFfs1FZVEE&sns=fb
RUPERT  Minidoka County commissioners put a preliminary dollar amount Monday on the expected county expenses from the flood.

Minidoka County School District closed schools Monday because of road conditions, and Acequia Elementary School will likely be closed for several days.

Sixteen Idaho counties out of the 44 have declared emergencies.

Mini-Cassia officials are monitoring the floodwaters, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expected to arrive in Cassia County Tuesday to assess the Lower Goose Creek Reservoir and dam at Oakley.

Minidoka County

I dont think weve seen the worst of it yet, said Kim Vega, Minidoka County emergency management coordinator.

Minidoka County commissioners added the countys $50,000 expected expenses to its emergency declaration Monday, an amount that can be amended as needed. The costs are direct expenses to the county, like buying sandbags. Other costs like losses to business or individuals along with infrastructure damage are not yet known.

Minidoka County Sheriff Eric Snarr said the only main arteries north of Meridian Road still open are 400 West Road and 600 West Road.

We may lose those roads this week as the snow continues to melt, Snarr said.

Many roads in the county remain underwater, and others have been washed out or are impassable from damage.

Some roads still have up to 4 feet of water over them, Snarr said. The county did not have enough signs to mark all of the closed roads.

If motorists go around a road-closed barricade and they get stuck they will be issued a citation, Snarr said.

You are also taking away resources that could be used somewhere else and endangering not only your own life, but the lives of your neighbors and emergency personnel who rescue you, he said. Just because you drove a road yesterday doesnt mean its there today.

Snarr said the sheriffs office has received calls about contaminated wells, and if there is standing water around a well it must be tested before it is used.

We have homes that are flooded with 5-feet of water in the basements and the living rooms are flooded, he said.

Gary W. Davis, with the Idaho Office of Emergency Management, told the Minidoka County commissioners that the flooding in the county is the result of a combination of precipitation, temperature and new farming practices.

New irrigation techniques have eliminated many ditches that used to run alongside roads that helped channel some of the melting snow away from the farms.

Officials at Lake Walcott State Park are asking people to stay off the lake ice, which has standing water on it.

Cassia County

Officials continued to assess water accumulation in the Lower Goose Creek Reservoir in Oakley Monday, after a canal flood channel was opened last week to release some of the water.

The county also has an emergency operations center at the Oakley Fire Department and a flood information hotline can be reached at 208-878-7104.

Cassia County Sheriff Jay Heward said the amount of water coming into the reservoir from Birch Creek decreased over the weekend.

There is still quite a bit of capacity there, Undersheriff George Warrell said. At this rate if it stays cool the reservoir will fill in 62 days.

The water level in the reservoir went down considerably Monday morning to afternoon.

Warrell said the decrease is because of water drawn out through the flood channel and the fact that the temperature was in the single digits in the Goose Creek area this morning, which slowed the melting snow.

The water in the flood channel had not yet reached 1100 S., he said.

Birch Creek Road and 1600 South and 1700 South between 600 West and the mountain road are closed because the flood channel breaches the roadways.

There are a couple of roads in the Malta-Almo area that remain underwater and other county roads that are closed because of damage.

A bridge in the Goose Creek area washed out and has stranded a herd of cattle, Warrell said, but the animals are being fed.

Stream flows in Malta, Almo, Elba and Albion have all gone down and the floodwater has receded west of Burley, he said.

You are also taking away resources that could be used somewhere else and endangering not only your own life, but the lives of your neighbors and emergency personnel who rescue you. Just because you drove a road yesterday doesnt mean its there today. Minidoka Sheriff Eric Snarr on motorists who drive through flooded roads
Black Friday? Check. Holiday weekend? Check. Unofficial food hangover day? Naturally. Meanwhile, here's what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and Out the Door. (You can also get "5 Things You Need to Know Today" delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.)

1. Russia investigation

2. Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe has a new president. Emmerson Mnangagwa has been sworn in as the country's new leader following Robert Mugabe's resignation this week after nearly four decades of rule. Mnangagwa was vice president under Mugabe, and has vowed to serve as the interim president until elections are held next year. Known as "The Crocodile" for his political cunning and longevity, the 75-year-old Mnangagwa fled the country after Mugabe fired him earlier this month, a dismissal that triggered the political turmoil and apparent military coup that led to Mugabe stepping down.

3. Submarine search

The search for a missing Argentine sub carrying 44 crew members continues, and the latest news isn't good. The Argentine navy says a noise detected near the last known location of the sub on the day it vanished was consistent with an explosion. A spokesman called the sound "an anomalous, singular, short, violent and non-nuclear event." Teams from a dozen nations have been searching by air and sea for the ARA San Juan, which was last contacted off the coast of Argentina on November 15. Experts say the sub has enough air to last seven to 10 days, if it remains fully underwater.

4. Oscar Pistorius

A South African high court more than doubled the prison sentence of Oscar Pistorius, the former Olympic and Paralympic sprinter who was charged with murder after shooting and killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013. Pistorious previously was sentenced to six years in prison for the murder, which he says was an accident after he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder. Prosecutors argued the punishment was too lenient, and this new ruling increases Pistorius' sentence to 13 years and five months. Steenkamp's family says she "can now rest in peace" after a more appropriate allotment of justice has been served.

5. Rohingya crisis

Could the path be paved for the persecuted Rohingya to return to their homeland? Myanmar and Bangladesh have signed a memorandum of understanding on the return of possibly hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees to their homes in Myanmar's Rakhine state, but details -- like how such a return would be orchestrated and whether the refugees' safety could be guaranteed -- are fuzzy. An estimated 615,000 Rohingya refugees have fled across the border into Bangladesh since August, when a new outbreak of violence began between the Myanmar military and armed militants in the area.

BREAKFAST BROWSE

People are talking about these. Read up. Join in.

These are the 11 hottest toys for this holiday season

Let's see, there are creepy finger puppet monkeys and ... a Teddy Ruxpin? What year is it?!

Your deep-fat fryer could actually help cool the Earth

This is absolutely not an excuse to deep-fry the holiday ham.

A homeless vet gave a woman his last $20, so she helped raise thousands to thank him

And it makes for the most perfectly delicious post-Thanksgiving story.

Increasing light pollution may mean the end of starry nights

This virtual AI politician wants to run for office

Or, the latest thing to make you wonder if we're actually just living in a dystopian novel.

AND FINALLY ...

The ideal holiday dinner

Lots of pets and no talking? This is how we're trying to be. (Click here to view.)

CNN's Evan Perez, Jim Sciutto, Katelyn Polantz and Marshall Cohen contributed to this report.
Controversial executive orders have been a hallmark of Donald Trumps young presidency, but its worth noting that there is one that he has so far refrained from issuing. During the presidential campaign, Trump said he would defund  that is, stop providing federal funding to  Planned Parenthood. He can advance that goal by executive order if he wants.

The federal government does not generally pay for abortions. But the government is the largest source of funds for Planned Parenthood, which performs more abortions than any other organization in the U.S. The second fact has made opponents of abortion want to change the first fact.

In recent years, they have sought legislation to accomplish this goal. But the administrations of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush believed that existing legislation allowed the executive branch to cut off a significant portion of that funding, and their arguments held up in court.

Those Republican administrations relied on a legal provision saying that federal family-planning programs should not be used in programs where abortion is a method of family planning. On the authority of that provision they issued regulations saying that recipients of family-planning funds could not counsel abortion or make abortion referrals, and had to use separate finances and locations for providing abortions. The Supreme Court upheld the regulations in Rust v. Sullivan.

The Clinton administration rescinded the regulations, and the George W. Bush administration did not reinstate them. During the Obama administration, opponents of Planned Parenthood funding sought legislation to cut it off. Their tactic made sense given the liberalism of the administration. Executive action gradually fell off the agenda, and even many anti-abortion activists are unaware of the Reagan-Bush history.

During the presidential primaries, though, Jeb Bush proposed reinstating the old regulations. If President Trump went that route, he would have one more controversy on his hands, and he may feel that he has enough already. He may feel, as well, that he is doing enough to satisfy abortion opponents.

But those opponents may nevertheless ask him: If you oppose federal funding for Planned Parenthood and you have the power to do something about it, why dont you?
February 13, 1923February 8, 2017

Geneva passed peacefully from this life February 8, 2017 after a hard fought battle with cancer.

Geneva was born February 13, 1923 in Manard, Idaho on the Camas Prairie being one of 12 children. Geneva met the love of her life, Gilbert Dean Eskridge, while attending school in Fairfield, Idaho. They married on June 1st, 1941 in a civil ceremony in Carey, ID.

Geneva touched many hearts with her nurturing, loving, fun, adventurous life and determined spirit that never accepted defeat. She was a devoted mother to her four children. Her skydiving escapades when she was just 91 and 92 are inspirational as well as her message to stay active and to enjoy every second of this life.

Geneva spent her life caring for others and she always put the needs of others above her own. This devotion was seen in the work she chose to do as a physicians assistant, nurses aid, lab technician and OR scrub technician. With her husband she also had many adventures prospecting for precious metals and operating Alpine Assay, Inc in Twin Falls, Idaho, for many years.

Survivors include sons and daughters-in-law, Wayne Eskridge and Rosemary Wickhowski of Boise, ID and Thomas Dean Eskridge and Linda Joan (Wall) Eskridge of Molalla, OR; daughter and son-in-law Debra Eskridge Otterstein and Michael William Otterstein of Cove, OR; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Geneva was preceded in death by her parents William J. and Luella Hickenlooper Packham; several brothers and sisters; her husband Dean Eskridge and daughter Joan Eskridge Boozer Benson.

At Genevas request there will be no service and her cremains will join her husband in Mountain View Cemetery in Camas County, ID.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made online to FattyLiverFoundation.org or by mail to 3938 E. Shady Glen Ct, Boise, ID 83706.
By Jeremy Douglas and Joseph Gyte

2016 was a year of rising terrorist activity for the Asean region. Arrests and deaths of terrorist suspects in Indonesia more than doubled to 170, Malaysia faced a steady stream of travel attempts of foreign terrorist fighters to Syria or Iraq and witnessed its first successful Daesh attack in June, and the Philippines suffered from an increase in bombings and hostage-takings conducted by Daesh affiliated groups, including Abu Sayyaf. Less covered in the international media, Thailands Deep South experienced a dramatic upsurge in attacks to over 800, resulting in over 300 deaths and 600 injured.

Unfortunately, this trend is not expected to subside in 2017. Without effective collaboration between Asean countries, it is predicted that the level of terrorist violence will increase further.

Daesh has shown great interest in this region. In June last year, a propaganda video instructed their supporters to focus on Southeast Asia, telling them to join their regional branch in the Philippines if they cant make it to Syria or Iraq. Now, as Daeshs territorial control in the Middle East diminishes, their need to disperse and move elsewhere is becoming a reality. As a result, it is predicted that many foreign terrorist fighters from Southeast Asia now in the Middle East there are believed to be more than 1,000will return home to continue their campaign and potentially declare a caliphate.

Several militant groups in the region have already pledged allegiance to Daesh and have adequate manpower and connections to be a viable threat in the region. Southeast Asia also provides an extremely hospitable environment for Daesh to thrive. Using ongoing conflicts and pockets of instability, and capitalizing on racial and religious intolerance, Daesh could gain power and momentum in the region.

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Daesh has frequently used the suffering of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar as justification for their cause and recruitment. Now, the recent sectarian violence in Rakhine has led to increasing attempted attacks on Myanmar interests and protests in Muslim majority countries; Malaysia and Indonesia. This could lead to an environment in which Daeshs claim of legitimacy is strengthened.

Long-running conflicts in both the Philippines and Thailand also provide fertile breeding grounds for violent extremism. Protracted insurgencies in both countries provide Daesh with the opportunity to exploit deep-rooted grievances to garner support, resources, and potentially start exercising control.

As well as potential local support for Daesh, Southeast Asia has exceptionally porous borders, which combined with highly sophisticated smuggling networks, provides easy entry into, and movement within, the region for persons, weapons, and resources.

Although there is clear cause for concern, there are many actions which could help mitigate these risks.

Indonesias immigration offices in Batam and Depok last year rejected close to 1,400 passport applications, mostly for suspected intentions of travel to become foreign terrorist fighters. Unfortunately, screening processes in many parts of the region are usually poor to non-existent, and it remains easy for terrorists to move from one country to the next. Building on the successful border liaison office mechanism and network to address transnational crimes, UNODC has started assisting border officials to recognize and prevent the movements of foreign terrorist fighters. Dismantling smuggling networks and preventing corruption at border checkpoints will further assist.

Throughout the region, counter terrorism investigators and prosecutors are hindered by inadequate legal frameworks. In line with UN Security Council Resolutions, Universal Legal Instruments Against Terrorism, and International Human Rights Law, it is essential that Asean countries update their terrorism related legislation. Notably, traveling for the purpose of conducting or facilitating terrorist activities has only been criminalized by one Asean nation, Malaysia. Without this legal backing, Asean remains vulnerable to the movements of terrorists.

While Asean countries have improved collaboration and intelligence sharing, it still occurs in an ad hoc and inconsistent fashion. Regular and efficient information sharing through formal and informal channels, within and between countries of the region, needs to be seriously enhanced.

Lastly, there is no Asean plan for the prevention of violent extremism or PVE. In much of the region, local grievances and root causes of terrorism are left unaddressed and Daeshs propaganda goes unchallenged; leaving communities vulnerable to radicalization. It is important that Asean develops a regional PVE plan which is subsequently tailored for each country.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of recommendations; however, if all Asean nations implement a common approach, including what we are recommending, risks posed by terrorists in the region would be significantly reduced.

Jeremy Douglas is the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific and the former UNODC Representative for Pakistan. Joseph Gyte is a UNODC Counter Terrorism Consultant for Southeast Asia.

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The worlds largest exporter of roses is an Indian firm, Karuturi Global, which has leased 3,000 square kilometers of land in Ethiopia.

I talked today about globalization and the price system using Valentines Day and the rose market as a jumping off point. I spoke at the Sarla Anil Modi School of Economics at NMIMS in Mumbai. The students were excellent. Lots of well informed, enthusiastic questions, and debate.

Here is a bit of what I said:
Egypt and Lebanon expressed their shared resolve to stand together against the dangers of terrorism challenging the whole region.

This came during the meeting in Cairo between President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Lebanese President Michel Aoun who was on his first visit to Egypt as Head of State.

In a joint press conference that followed their meeting, Sisi acknowledged that terrorism has been of concern to the region and stated that he has agreed with Aoun on the importance of standing together against the dangers of terrorism. Both countries are affected by terrorism but Cairo has been worse hit in comparison to Beirut.

Sisi assured his guest of Cairos support in his efforts to preserve stability and development in Lebanon.

He said a free, strong and stable Lebanon is a powerful force for the Arab world while hailing it is a pioneering model in the region for resolving political conflicts.

President Aoun applauded the unprecedented relationship between the two countries and said that Lebanon relies on Egypt in the attempt to resolve Middle Eastern crises. He pointed out that the six years long war in Syria has affected Lebanon and other neighboring countries and hopes that Cairo could spearhead efforts to reach a political solution.
Iraq fighter jets dropped bombs on a house in an orchard, in Anbar province, believed to be hosting a meeting of senior members of the Islamic State, including its leader Abu Bakr Baghdadi.

A statement from the military mentioned the names of 13 commanders who were killed in the airstrike and amongst them were Abu Janat al-Rawi, a top Islamic State security leader, media official Abu Zaid and the groups leader in Tal Afar Abu Asid.

Baghdadis whereabouts are unknown amid reports that he must have sustained injuries during the attack.

The ISIS officials were discussing the collapse happening in Mosul and other strategic plans because the groups control over the city continues to shrink due to the advancing Iraqi forces and their allies. They also convened to choose a successor for him (Baghdadi), according to the Iraqi military statement without stating the reasons. IS is an al-Qaida breakaway group, and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was announced to be its leader on May 16, 2010, following the death of his predecessor Abu Omar al-Baghdadi.

It is unclear if the ISIS leader has returned to Syria. The Iraqi military confirmed that he arrived in the region of Qaim, Iraq, from Syria in a motorcade that was being carefully monitored by its intelligence agency.

Just like Mosul in Iraq, Raqqa serves as the hub of the group in war torn neighboring Syria. Baghdadi has a $25 million bounty on his head. There have been numerous claims of him being killed or injured in airstrikes since he took over the leadership of the extremist group and declared the territory under its control as Islamic Caliphate in June 2014.

Airstrikes were also conducted in western Iraq killing around 64 ISIS militants, reportedly including 24 suicide bombers.
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.
Six journalists have been arrested in Cote dIvoire over the weekend for spreading false information about a mutiny by security forces in the West African nation.

Demobilized soldiers in the country have launched mutinies in a coastal city last week, bringing the threat of unrest back to Africas fastest-growing economy.

The mutiny follows protests across the country last month by security forces and troops that left four dead, shut down Abidjan port, one of Africas biggest, and disrupted businesses in the worlds top cocoa producer.

Regarding recent action taken by the military  we have come to believe that certain media organizations are spreading false information in a bid to encourage soldiers to revolt, said a statement from the public prosecutor broadcast on national television on Sunday.

The journalists were arrested on suspicion of breaking the law, which forbids inciting rebellion among the military, attacking state authority and publishing false information relating to defense and state security, the statement added.

The editor and owner of the independent dailies LInter and SoirInfo were arrested and held in a police camp in the capital Abidjan, along with the editors and owners of the opposition newspapers Le Temps and Notre Voie.

The journalists will be questioned to find out where responsibility lies for the alleged false information, the prosecutor said.
The United Nations troops have repulsed armed militiamen over the weekend from entering the town of Bambari, in the eastern part of the Central African Republic.

A statement released by MINUSCA said it has intervened using a UN attack helicopter to stop militiamen of former Seleka rebel group, the Front Populaire Pour la Renaissance de la Centrafrique (FPRC), from entering the town.

MINUSCA had no choice but to stop the advance of elements from the FPRC coalition to avoid a confrontation in Bambari that would have had grave consequences for the already traumatized civil population, the statement noted.

A death toll had not yet been established.

Central African Republic descended into conflict in 2013 when the mostly Muslim Seleka rebels overthrew the Christian president Francois Bozize.

That ushered in a brutal reign with many atrocities committed. When the rebel leader left power, a backlash by the Christian anti-Balaka militia against Muslim civilians followed.

Since November, FPRC fighters have been fighting the mostly Fulani Union for Peace in Central Africa (UPC) around Bambari, killing dozens and displacing around 20,000 people, Reuters reported.
January 2017: Georgia exports over 4m bottles of wine to 26 countries

Georgia exported almost 4.3 million bottles of wine to 26 countries in January 2017, bringing in $8.8 million to the economy.Revenue increased by 141 percent in comparison to January of 2016, while the volume of exports increased by 184 percent, said the Georgian National Wine Agency.The top five countries that imported Georgian wine in January 2017 were:1. Russia  2,861,471 bottles2. Ukraine  402, 858bottles3. China  372, 440 bottles4. Poland  156, 302 bottles5. Kazakhstan  106, 284 bottlesWine exports also increased to the European Union (EU), to China and other traditional export markets for Georgia, said the Georgian National Wine Agency.Last month exports of Georgian wine to the following countries increased by: China  725 percent (372,440 bottles) Estonia  250 percent (48,432 bottles) Russia  198 percent (2,861,471 bottles) Kyrgyzstan  186 percent (38,700 bottles) Kazakhstan  164 percent (106,284 bottles) United Kingdom  113 percent (14,328 bottles) Ukraine  102 percent (402,858 bottles) United States  100 percent (32,940 bottles) Latvia  84 percent (61,128 bottles) Poland  37 percent (156,302 bottles) Lithuania  21 percent (54,228 bottles)Meanwhile, Georgia exported 896,986 bottles of Georgia-made brandy to eight countries in January 2017. This was a 59 percent increase year-over-year (y/y).So far this year, Georgia has generated $2.25 million from the sale of brandy abroad.In total, Georgia has sold $21.7 million worth of alcoholic beverages in January 2017, including wine, brandy, chacha and others  a 229 percent y/y increase.
Shah Deniz 2 project 87% complete

The Shah Deniz 2 project is 87% complete, Gordon Birrell, BPs regional president for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, told reporters on Monday, APA-Economics reported.Efforts are going on successfully to carry out the off-shore platforms to be constructed by BP and underwater pipelines as well as to extend the Sangachal terminal and the South Caucasus Pipeline, the BP president said, noting that the project is 87% complete.Were expecting to obtain the first gas next year and after that we will begin exporting it. In short, we are working according to a schedule, he added.
Detained while protesting transfer of tree

By Messenger Staff

Members of the United National Movement (UNM) opposition were detained on February 5 as they protested a traffic jam caused by the transfer of a 100-year-old Magnolia tree currently owned by the ex-Prime Minister and founder of the current ruling Georgian Dream party, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili.UNM members Elguja Bagrationi and Bondo Tedoradze were arrested at a rally held during the transfer of the huge tree.Elguja Bagrationi and Bondo Tedoradze were impeding the transfer of Bidzina Ivanishvilis trees. They were demanding the legal opening of the road, as due to the trees, the road was practically blocked. Police officers arrested them and took them to a police station, the opposition members said.The Interior Ministry's press service said the people were arrested for disobeying the lawful demands of police officers.Last year, Ivanishvili also transported a 100-year-old tulip tree along the Black Sea coast, from where it was then transferred to Ivanishvilis dendrological park in Shekvetili, in western Guria region.Ivanishvili, who united several opposition parties and created the Georgian Dream coalition prior to the 2012 Parliamentary elections, defeated the nine-real rule of the United National Movement party and served as PM for a year.Before coming to politics, even photos of him were rare, but people respected him for his philanthropic activities, and this public approval played a key role in his eventual victory.After winning the elections, Ivanishvili became Prime Minister, but quit the post shortly afterwards, saying he was moving to the civil sector in order to empower the field.Current opposition is sure that the statement had nothing to do with his real intentions, and Ivanishvili still controls the party that he formed and then quit.If not for maintaining political influence and power, it seems unlikely that the government would allow someone to dig up ancient trees and replant them, and aid and abet them by blocking off roads.Moreover, opposition insists the trees themselves are rare and will be at risk during their transfer. Moving them also creates traffic problems, but most importantly, the trees were public property; everyone could see them when visiting the seaside region, they grew naturally in the area, and there was simply no need to move them.However the truth is that transfer of trees to the dendrological park initiated by Ivanishvili means that the trees would be better taken care and the park itself will be open for the general public. as for the blocking of the road it took couple of hours to carry out the hole process and opposition claims are targeted at discrediting Ivanishvili's philanthropic. activities.
The News in Brief

Georgia Closes Gulen-Affiliated School in Batumi



The National Center for Education Quality Enhancement (NCEQE), an agency at the Georgian Ministry of Education, which studies the conformity of educational institutions with the standards set by the Georgian legislation, decided to close down the Batumi Refaiddin Sahin Friendship School, operated by the Chaglar Educational Institutions, a Gulen-affiliated network in Georgia.



The NCEQE authorization council cancelled the school's authorization, a certificate required for any institution to carry out high educational activities in Georgia, at its meeting on February 3, citing significant problems with respect to student enrolment.



The decision led to an outcry among teachers, parents and students of the school, who are arguing that the move is politically-motivated.



Principal of Batumi Refaiddin Sahin Friendship School, Elguja Davitadze, issued an open letter to the Prime Minister of Georgia, naming the NCEQE decision as illegal.



The reason for cancelling the authorization was the transfer of six non-Georgian students from Turkish-language classes to Georgian-language classes, in the absence of any law or regulation with respect to changing the sectors, but the termination of the Turkish sector and [the subsequent] transfer of students to the Georgian sector was implemented in accordance with the decision of the very same authorization council on September 4, 2015, Davitadze stated in the letter.



Davitadze added that the NCEQE conducted unplanned monitoring process three times in the past few months based on artificially-created and non-existent reasons. The decision raises questions that it is part of a deliberate policy of restricting and barring the work of the Sahin School in Georgia, he added.



Davitadze called on the Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili to protect rights of 340 students, their parents and teachers and do not allow illegal closure of the school, which has been in the countrys service for many years.



Education Minister Aleksandre Jejelava, who commented on the issue February 6, said that the school violated concrete legal requirements.



Unfortunately, the school, as well as other schools, the authorization of which was also cancelled, did not meet concrete, very concrete legal requirements and you can verify this with the NCEQE, that Georgian schools are also monitored just like the Turkish and French schools, Jejelava stated.



He also added that the school documentation "did not comply" with legal requirements, "in other words the documentation of school students was not complete."



Public Defender Ucha Nanuashvili, who commented on the issue on February 6, linked the decision to "the political processes" in Turkey.



"Political processes of a neighboring country should not be reflected in the countrys educational institutions, which are registered by our legislation, have certification and work in compliance with legislation," Nanuashvili explained.

(Civil.ge)







Roe dear, wounded by poachers, dies



A roe dear, wounded by poachers in the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, has died.



Poachers wounded a roe deer in the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park couple a days ago.



According to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, during anti-poaching activities, the rangers heard gunfire, and as a result of the search operation, they found a wounded roe deer.



According to a trail in the snow, the roe was supposedly wounded by two people. The poachers managed to escape, and their identities are unknown.



The roe was taken to the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park Administration and was rendered medical assistance.

(ipn)




Bank of Georgia acquires large portfolio from ProCredit Bank

One of Georgias leading banks, Bank of Georgia (BOG), has strengthened its position in the small and medium sized (SME) segments by cutting a deal with ProCredit Bank Georgia to acquire its SME portfolio.ProCredit Bank Georgia is currently the third largest bank in Georgia by total assets and market share of gross loans. The BOG acquired ProCredit Bank Georgias small and medium sized portfolio in December 2016.The transaction added 2,400 micro and small business clients and a net value of 120 million GEL (about $45 million/42*) loans to the BOGs retail banking loan portfolio.This transaction, which largely reflects individual loans of less than $100,000 value, further strengthens BOGs position in the small business and micro segments.The transaction directly serves the banks strategic target to enhance its retail business by growing the micro, small and medium sized enterprise loan portfolios within the next three years.
Azerbaijan most likely source of TAPs second phase

Azerbaijan is the most likely source of second phase of gas transportation to Europe via the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), Ulrike Andres, Commercial and External Affairs Director of the TAP AG told New Europe.However, in line with EU regulations, any shipper who wishes to take part in TAPs open seasons may do so as long as they comply with the requirements for participation, she added.Andres pointed out that the first phase of TAPs 10 billion-cubic-meters capacity is booked on ship or pay.However, there is a minor amount of capacity available for short-term transportation and capacity might be made available on the secondary market, should there be demand from shippers, she added.Earlier, deputy CEO of Russias Gazprom Alexander Medvedev said that the company is discussing the possibility of using Poseidon and TAP to export gas to Europe.Federico Ermoli, Vice-President of Italys Snam company, which is one of TAP shareholders, said that the pipelines capacity can be expanded and used for delivering Russian gas to Europe.Moreover, CEO of Fluxys Pascal De Buck told reporters on the sidelines of the European Gas Conference that this is a very good idea.TAP is a part of the Southern Gas Corridor which is one of the priority energy projects for the EU.The TAP project envisages the transportation of gas from the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz gas and condensate field to the EU countries.The pipeline will be connected to the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) on the Turkish-Greek border, run through Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Italy's south.TAPs shareholders are BP (20 percent), State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (20 percent), Snam (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagas (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).
Opposition summons Envoy to Russia

By Messenger Staff

The United National Movement (UNM) opposition party is summoning Zurab Abashidze, the Prime Minister's special representative for relations with Russia, to Parliament after his planned meeting with Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin.UNM member Salome Samadashvili appealed to Parliaments Foreign Relations Committee to summon Abashidze to the session."We need to respond to the statement that was made a few days ago by Zurab Abashidze, who said that the visa-free regime with Europe was achieved due to our limited dialogue with Russia.This is a direct attempt to mislead our society, as if we must first develop our relationship with Russia in order to have success in terms of our Euro-Atlantic integration, Samadashvili stated.She said that in fact the opposite is true, and the irreversible European path of Georgia would help the country regulate relations with Russia.One of the factors of the success of our European project was our dialogue with Russia, Abashidze said several days ago. He called the European Parliament's decision historic and added that "this is clear evidence that the country has a reasonable foreign policy.Abashidze is very likely to make an additional explanation over his statements.He is very likely to say that he meant the peace ensured by the current Georgian government, i.e. the Governments current relations with Russia, helped the country to carry out the reforms that were essential for Georgia to be granted visa liberalisation with the EU.From this point of view, if he really means this, Abashidze is right, because if Georgia was at war with Russia neither visa liberalisation nor any other success would be possible for Georgia.
The News in Brief

Georgia Supreme Court judges silent over who 'pressured' them



Two Supreme Court judges have still not revealed who tried to put pressure on them in a case about the ownership of a large TV station critical of the government.



Judges Besarion Arveladze and Paata Katamadze, who told the prosecutor general in a letter that they were being pressured, walked out of a meeting of the High Council of Justice on Friday without making comments to the media.



The High Council is a body responsible for appointing judges and assessing their performance.



Arveladze and Katamadze are presiding in a private lawsuit over the ownership of Rustavi 2, a TV channel sympathetic to the United National Movement party and a constant thorn in the side of the current government.



Despite the high public interest, the Prosecutor Generals Office is withholding the text of the complaint letter sent to the office by the two judges.



Rustavi 2s director claims the judges were pressured by the domestic intelligence service, the State Security Agency, to silence the governments most vocal critical voice, while the Prosecutor General claims that it appears that the threats came from a former government official linked with the United National Movement.



The case caused uproar in a country whose justice system Europe and the United States have spent millions on reforming. (DF watch)







President : future elections will be deviation from normal electoral pace



As Georgias President Giorgi Margvelashvili has declared, future parliamentary elections will cause constitutional collision once constitutional changes are made.



Margvelashvili made his remarks to Iberia TV in an interview.



In response to former parliamentary speaker Davit Usupashvilis assumption that Margvelashvili may resign as the rule of electing the president might be abolished, Margvelashvil said it is early to discuss such issues.



The artificial appointment of the presidential elections will naturally cause a constitutional collision, as according to one version of the constitution, the president will be elected, and according to another variant, he will be granted his power by the government. In general, further elections will be a deviation from the normal electoral pace, he remarked.



According to him, the public needs the institute of the presidency. (IPN)







Georgian artists, Project ArtBeat set for VOLTA New York fair



Some of the most celebrated contemporary artists from Georgia will exhibit their works at one of the highlight events of the international art scene in New York next month.



Artists Lado Pochkhua, Levan Mindiashvili and Tamara Kvesitadze will be among creators representing 96 gallery venues from across the world at the VOLTA NY fair in New York.



Celebrating the 10th anniversary edition of the global fair, the participating galleries and artists will come together at the city's Pier 90 venue from March 1-5.



Described by fair director Amanda Coulson as "an inspiring force for artistic discovery, the VOLTA NY event will focus on solo presentations.



The three Georgian creators featured at the exhibition will represent galleries from Tbilisi, Berlin and New York.



Tbilisi-based Project ArtBeat will take up booth E6 at the occasion to present works by Lado Pochkhua.



The New York-based Georgian artists exhibits will showcase his series The Book for the New Aristocracy.



[Pochkhua] will create a salon simulacra in the gallery booth while considering the existential emptiness of modern power, said Project ArtBeat in a preview of the display.



Born in Sokhumi, Georgia, Pochkhua graduated from Tbilisi State Academy of Arts with a degree in painting and printmaking in 2001.



Currently based in New York, his works have been exhibited at exhibitions and venues including the 2009 Prague Biennale, while he has also featured at the inaugural exhibition of the Brooklyn Box Gallery in New York.



The VOLTA fair will also exhibit works by Levan Mindiashvili, who will represent New Yorks The Lodge Gallery at the occasion.



Dealing with subjects including "preconditions created by sociocultural constructions, Mindiashvilis work is based on varying art disciplines.



The artists hand-produced sculptures often visualise images of his experiences from places of his past residence and seek to challenge established understandings of "truth.



Mindiashvili graduated from the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts in 2003 and the National University of Art of Buenos Aires in 2012. His past artistic series include Borderlines, which focused on the connection between urban landscapes and identity and was exhibited at the Lodge Gallery in 2014.



The Brooklyn-based artists portfolio also includes the 2016 display Unintended Archaeology, for which he collaborated with another Georgian creator Uta Bekaia.



The participation of Georgian artists in VOLTA NY fair will also be marked by the display of works by Tamara Kvesitadze.



Representing Berlins Galerie Kornfeld, Kvesitadze is currently featured within the exhibition Supper Club in the German capital.



Founded in 2005 by dealers Kavi Gupta, Ulrich Voges and Friedrich Loock, VOLTA brings together contemporary creators and galleries for two international art occasions - VOLTA, held in Basel, Switzerland, and VOLTA NY, hosted in New York.



The 2016 edition of the Basel occasion featured Georgian artists from Project ArtBeat as newcomers of the display. (Agenda.ge)




Gov. Rick Scott was in Tampa on Monday where he singled out State Rep. Shawn Harrison, R-Tampa, as one of nine Republicans who voted for a bill that would kill Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida (Photo courtesy of Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa)

@JeremySWallace

Call it the Rick Scott retribution tour.

Sure, the Republican Governors office called his stops in Cape Coral, Tampa, Panama City, and Jacksonville this week the Fighting for Floridas Jobs tour. But they all coincidentally have one big thing in common.

All four stops have been in the districts of four of the nine House Republicans who last week voted to killed two of his most cherished agencies: Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida. And in each stop Scott was sure to remind business leaders that their locally elected representative was part of the group of 9 Republicans defied him and voted to completely eliminate those two agencies, which Scott says have been keys to Florida creating 1.2 million private sector jobs since he was elected.

House Republicans have moved to kill the agencies, saying both are a forms of corporate welfare that put the government in the role of picking some companies over others to get funding.

In Tampa on Monday, Scott responded by literally standing in Rep. Shawn Harrisons district at Tampa when he went off on the Republican for backing the plan.

I am shocked, right here locally Shawn Harrison voted against Visit Florida and Enterprise Florida, Scott told reporters after repeatedly telling business leaders at the Museum of Science and Industry that Harrison voted for the bill to kill the agencies.

Harrison responded on Twitter, telling supporters that as a small business owner he's never taken incentive dollars and that "taxpayer funded job creators should prove themselves!"

Later it was off to Flagler Beach, where Scott launched into Rep. Paul Renner, whose district include Flagler Beach.

I was shocked last week your local state Rep. Paul Renner presented a bill in a House committee to completely eliminate Visit Florida and Enterprise Florida, Scott told dozens of local business owners.

In case anyone didn't catch the name, Scott went after Renner two more times during the roundtable and singled him out again when speaking to the media later. At one point he accused Renner of essentially saying he thinks Flagler Beach has enough jobs and doesnt need any more.
via @katieglueck

When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with President Donald Trump in Washington this week, he will do so against the backdrop of an American Jewish diaspora more fearful and skeptical of the U.S. government than it has been in decades.

Interviews with more than a dozen top Jewish political operatives and leaders across the country reveal deep discomfort with a refugee ban than hits close to home, alarm about some of Trumps top advisers and, most of all, overwhelming concerns about the administrations rhetoric on the Holocaust and its approach to dealing with anti-Semitism.

Those worries were present throughout the 2016 presidential election, as some of Trumps most vocal supporters included avowed anti-Semites, and his campaign occasionally employed the veiled anti-Semitic messages and images associated with the white supremacist community.

Now, concerns about the White Houses tolerance of anti-Semitism have burst to the fore after the presidents team said it intentionally omitted a reference to Jewish suffering in its Holocaust Remembrance Day statement in an effort to be inclusive. Worse yet, in Jewish leaders minds, Trumps team repeatedly dismissed ensuing criticism as pathetic and asinine.

Indeed, on the eve of Netanyahus meeting Wednesday with Trump, its hard to overstate just how much that approach has rattled the Jewish community.

Nobody can understand why the administration continues to fight efforts to just simply acknowledge, yes, the Final Solution was focused on the Jews. Hitler wanted to destroy the Jewish people, Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., said in an interview with McClatchy, slamming his fist on a wooden table in a dimly lit community center here in Pompano Beach, north of Miami.

More here.
Sally Morrow/March of Dimes (KANSAS CITY, Mo.) -- Roses are red, violets are blue, these preemies are special, and this hospital wanted to make sure they knew.



Cupid visited the preemies and their parents at Saint Lukes Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, to celebrate Valentines Day.



The babies each received hand-knit hats with hearts.



The parents received special Valentines cards made from their babys footprints, along with professional photos taken by volunteers, who at one point were parents of preemies themselves.



"It was astonishing the way they take time out of their lives to knit a hat or make those Valentines with his footprints in the shape of a heart," Kyle Wilkinson, father to baby Jake Wilkinson, born on Feb. 4, told ABC News. "We dont know these people at all. Using their time to make our time more comforting was really eye-opening."



The NICU nurses and March of Dimes volunteers organized the efforts to help make the familys time in a typically stressful situation seem more "normal."



"Every day a child is in the NICU can be frightening and uncertain, but holidays are especially tough, as families miss the normal joys of celebrations at home," Rebecca Keunen, March of Dimes/NICU Family Support Coordinator, wrote to ABC News.



These unexpected celebrations meant the world to Kyle and his wife Katie, who said it makes them feel like theyre not alone.



"They do a great job of making you feel like this is normal," said Katie. "A lot of families go through this, more than we know."



"The biggest thing is that theyve taken this time in our lives, which could be really scary and troubling, and made it a celebration," Kyle added. "Theyve made it really normal. Were celebrating our son just as we would be if he was born full term."



The parents of the preemies also wrote love letters to little ones.



"Its so nice to be able to connect with him in that way," Katie said of her newborn, James.



It was certainly a sweet celebration for the families.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
@PatriciaMazzei

The Trump administration's move Monday to sanction Venezuelan Vice President Tareck El Aissami and accuse him of being a drug kingpin drew immediate support from Miami Republican lawmakers.

Five days ago, 34 members of Congress from both political parties -- led by Miami Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez -- urged President Donald Trump in a letter to target El Aissami and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's inner circle. The letter was also signed by Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, and several Florida representatives.

Here are some key reactions from Monday:

Rubio:

The Venezuelan government is run by corrupt, incompetent and criminal thugs who have inflicted misery on their own people and routinely used violence to crush dissent. For years, Ive talked about how Venezuelan regime officials are committing crimes in Venezuela, stealing from the Venezuelan people and then spending their riches living in the lap of luxury in Miami. Todays announcement further confirms how true this is, and the extent to which corrupt and criminal Venezuelan regime officials have been allowed to freely travel and prance around U.S. soil with impunity.

Im hopeful this is only the beginning of making sure the Maduro regime feels pressure to cease its illicit activities, free all political prisoners, tolerate dissent, and respect the will of the Venezuelan people, who voted to abandon the disastrous path of Chavez and Maduro.

U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo:

The rise to power of Tareck El Aissami has been an alarming development for anyone desiring a future of freedom, democracy, and dignity for the Venezuelan people. These sanctions send a strong message of solidarity to the people of Venezuela and against the gangsters who have destroyed that country and brought so many Venezuelans to the point of starvation. Im grateful the Administration took such swift action after my colleagues and I urged the President to sanction this Maduro thug last week. I look forward to continuing to work with this Administration to prioritize human rights and hold corrupt regimes accountable.

U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart:

I thank President Trump and his administration for taking swift action on our letter to sanction a corrupt and dangerous Maduro regime operative. I greatly appreciate the ability to work closely with the White House on such an important issue to our national security within our hemisphere. Human rights abuses and corruption inVenezuela continue to escalate, and El Aissamis recent appointment as Maduros right-hand thug will only worsen conditions for the Venezuelan people. El Aissami is an infamous narcotrafficker under investigation by the U.S. government for drug crimes.

I commend the Trump Administration for taking a strong stand against the oppressive, anti-American Maduro regime, and I look forward to working with the White House in pressing for human rights, rule of law and a restoration of democratic institutions for the Venezuelan people.

Ros-Lehtinen (with Menendez):

Adding Tareck El-Aissami and Samark Jose Lopez Bello to the Treasurys Specially Designated Nationals list is long overdue, but we welcome these sanctions because they signal a fundamental step in charting a positive role the United States can continue to play given the deteriorating crisis in Venezuela. Last week, we led a bicameral and bipartisan letter to the administration calling for action against Maduro regime officials responsible for the Venezuelan peoples suffering and we welcome this and any additional efforts to support Venezuelans languishing under this corrupt and repressive regime. With democracy under total siege in Venezuela and without any due process or rule of law left, we can and must do more to hold the Maduro regime accountable, including all those in the kangaroo court responsible for the unjust incarceration of Leopoldo Lopez. We commend the Administration for acting quickly and decisively as the human rights violations, political persecution and impunity in Venezuela cannot go unpunished.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston:

Placing Tareck El-Aissami and his key front man Samark Jose Lopez Bello on the Treasurys Specially Designated Nationals list is an important move that will allow the United States to play a much tougher role in reversing the dramatically worsening political and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela.

The corrupt Maduro regime has shredded any due process protections, and unleashed a brutal campaign of political persecution and human rights abuses. I strongly support these sanctions, and the swift push to punish those responsible for using it as an excuse to further pillage and punish the Venezuelan people. These sanctions are overdue, and ensure that the United States cannot be used as a financial haven for these illicit, narco-stained assets.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R):
MISSION, Kan.  For 16-year-old Noah Vittengl, who is just beginning to drive, being able to tell a red light from a green light is rather important.

Its been difficult trying to figure out what light is what and what color is what, the Blue Springs high school student said recently.

A few minutes later, Vittengl was witnessing the world with colors a lot closer to what most people see, with the help of special eyeglass lenses that correct deficiencies that make some people colorblind.

Its awesome, he said with a big grin. Everything just seems more vibrant and clear. Before, the colors were kind of like a blur and not necessarily big and bright. Now its like, whoa!

Vittengl and two other colorblind men got a more accurate picture of the everyday world when they were each given a free, promotional pair of the special eyeglasses at the Brill Eye Center in Mission. Brill has been offering the technology, known as EnChroma, for about six months and is the only practice in four states to do so.

This is an innovation that is really making a difference in peoples lives, said Raymond J. Brill of the eye center. Whether its for safety, like with stoplights, or for aesthetics, like looking at flowers and artwork, or just for everyday life, like looking at food and being able to tell whether the steak is rare or not.

The technology used by EnChroma, a company based in Berkeley, California, was developed in 2010 with funding from the National Institutes of Health. Eyeglasses with EnChroma cost about $269 to $349. They can also be made with prescription lenses. The lenses are effective for about four out of five people with red-green color vision deficiency. They are not a cure for colorblindness.

Being colorblind is a hereditary condition that affects the cones in the eye that perceive color. It is far more common among men, affecting about one in 12. About one in 200 women is affected, but those women will pass the trait to their sons. It is estimated there are about 90,000 colorblind people in the Kansas City area.

To them, the produce section of a supermarket, the arrangements in a flower shop and the magic of a rainbow are dull and drab. Theyre used to it because they were born with it. Its normal until they make the discovery, usually in childhood, that there is more to the world than what they perceive.

Ryan January, a 37-year-old IT professional from Olathe, was in the third grade and was helping his mother decorate cupcakes for a class treat. His job was to sort candy bits by color.

She kept getting more and more frustrated throughout the evening, January recalled. Soon afterward, they went to the optometrist.

Austin Mitchell-Goering, a 22-year-old junior at the University of Kansas originally from Baltimore, was in middle school art class and drawing with crayons.

Id always get the blue and purple confused, so I would always have to ask the person next to me, he said. I scratched a little mark into the purple one so I wouldnt use that for the sky anymore.

Mitchell-Goering plays on the KU lacrosse team. Sometimes the boundary lines are red on a green surface. That can be a problem for someone who is colorblind.

On a recent afternoon, Mitchell-Goering and January also got to see the world as most people do.

I can see differences in the grass, Mitchell-Goering said. Theres, like, live grass and dead grass. Now I can differentiate everything.

January looked around and described a slow, subtle effect, like someone turning up the color saturation knob. The painted yellow lines in the street, which looked faded before, now popped off the ground.

The sky is a much more vibrant blue, he said. The (blue) building in the background here just keeps getting brighter and brighter. Its strange. It feels great.
Did you know the infant brain forms 2.5 million neural connections every hour? That's a whopping 60 million connections every day. Under ideal situations of a loving, nurturing environment, these synapses flourish.

On the other hand, it is thought that severe or chronic stress and trauma impacts the way these connections develop. Under-development in certain areas of the brain can affect basic functions such as trust or empathy. Unused synapses are pruned out in favor of those that are utilized more often. Thus, in situations of abuse or neglect, the brain might focus primarily on recognizing and reacting to danger. This becomes the dominant paradigm, and other areas of learning and development can be compromised.

Children who live in unpredictable, abusive situations experience near constant fear and stress to their fragile systems and developing brains. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that in 2012, 1,640 children died from abuse or neglect in this country. That is more than four child deaths every day. Many more children are injured from maltreatment  in 2012 approximately 686,000 (1,879 a day)  or may witness loved ones being injured. To compound the problem in Montana, it is estimated that nearly 20 percent of our children experience the grueling reality of chronic poverty. Imagine the effect living in such terrifying environments might have on the developing child.

In fact, much research is being done regarding the effects of trauma on the developing brain, and the long-term effects on bodies and behavior. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study, which numerically scores specific traumatic situations experienced in childhood, indicated that the more trauma the participants experienced as children (higher ACE score) the more health related problems they had as adults. Remarkably, findings showed an alarmingly high degree of childhood trauma among the mostly middle-class members of the first study.

We must ask ourselves, is trauma so pervasive in our society that it crosses all economic boundaries?

Apparently, the answer is yes  and the reasons are as varied as the families themselves. Parents may have been mistreated as children, and have no model for positive parenting now. There may be cognitive delay, mental health issues or substance abuse. Perhaps, more often than not, there may be a basic lack of experience or knowledge about what children need to thrive and develop properly. After all, as many of us know, children don't come with instruction manuals.

How do we tackle such massive, complicated issues? This call to action requires innovative measures. But we dont need to reinvent the wheel. Many countries already routinely utilize mother-baby nurses to visit new parents in their homes and assist with issues ranging from breastfeeding to newborn care to parenting skills. While not yet routine in the U.S., the idea is taking hold, and the Missoula City County Health Department offers these visits at no charge to families.

Other early childhood programs help empower parents to empower themselves and their children, and build self-esteem in both. Parents learn to understand their children's needs, practice positive parenting techniques, and develop personal and vocational goals that promote self-sufficiency. Many of these well researched evidenced-based programs are demonstrating positive outcomes in families. The Health Department offers a variety of these programs, again at no charge to families.

It makes sense to invest in early childhood and parenting programs that help families be the best they can be. It is estimated that every dollar spent on prevention and early intervention will save $5 later. Business communities understand this, knowing that a well-prepared work force begins in childhood, and that up-front investments are dollars well spent.

So, while children may not automatically come with instruction manuals, there is certainly information available. Lets use it to promote well-adjusted children who grow to become happy, healthy, well-prepared adults.
Coming soon

Red Cross blood drives  The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood to help ensure a readily available blood supply for emergencies. Donors of all blood types are needed. To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor app, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767. Donors are encouraged to make appointments and complete the RapidPass online health history questionnaire at redcrossblood.org/rapidpass to help reduce wait times.

Flathead County

Bigfork: Thursday, Feb. 23, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Glacier Bank (Bigfork), 8251 MT Hwy 35

Kalispell: Friday, Feb. 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Kalispell Blood Donation Center, 126 North Meridian Road; Friday, Feb. 17, from 10 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., Kalispell Regional Medical Center, 310 Sunny View Lane; Monday, Feb. 20, from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., Kalispell Blood Donation Center, 126 North Meridian Road; Friday, Feb. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Kalispell Blood Donation Center, 126 North Meridian Road; Friday, Feb. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Flathead County Health Department, Flathead County Health Department, 1035 1st Ave West; Monday, Feb. 27, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Moose Lodge, 2158 Hwy 2 East; Monday, Feb. 27, from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., Kalispell Blood Donation Center, 126 North Meridian Road; Tuesday, Feb. 28, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Flathead Valley Community College, 777 Grandview

Lakeside: Tuesday, Feb. 21, from noon to 3:45 p.m., Lakeside QRU Community Hall, 201 Bills Road

Lincoln County

Eureka: Tuesday, Feb. 28, from noon to 5 p.m., Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, 500 Dewey Ave.

Libby: Thursday, Feb. 16, from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., VFW, 114 West Second Street

Missoula County

Bonner: Monday, Feb. 20, from 2 to 6:15 p.m., Potomac Greenough Community Center, 29827 Potomac Road; Sunday, Feb. 26, from 11:45 a.m. to 4 p.m., Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 8985 Hwy. 200 E.

Missoula: Thursday, Feb. 16, from noon to 4:15 p.m., Northwestern Energy, 1801 Russell; Friday, Feb. 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Missoula Blood Donation Center, 2401 North Reserve Street, Suites 6 and 7; Monday, Feb. 20, from 2 to 6 p.m., Missoula Blood Donation Center, 2401 North Reserve Street, Suites 6 and 7; Wednesday, Feb. 22, from 8:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m., onXmaps, 1925 Brooks Street; Thursday, Feb. 23, from 10 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., Federal Court Building, 201 East Broadway; Thursday, Feb. 23, from 2 to 6:15 p.m., Holy Spirit Parish, 130 South Sixth Street East; Friday, Feb. 24, from 9 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, 5705 Grant Creek; Friday, Feb. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Missoula Blood Donation Center, 2401 North Reserve Street, Suites 6 and 7; Monday, Feb. 27, from 2 to 6 p.m., Missoula Blood Donation Center, 2401 North Reserve Street, Suites 6 and 7; Tuesday, Feb. 28, from 10 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., Neptune Aviation, 1 Corporate Way.

***

Fitness, dance classes  For more information on the following classes offered by the Lifelong Learning Center, call 406-549-8765 or visit missoula.classes.com:

Beginning/Intermediate CoreAlign-Wednesdays, Feb. 1-24, 7-8 a.m., Alpine Physical Therapy, $104.

Introduction to CoreAlign, Wednesdays, Feb. 1-22, 5:35-6:35 p.m., Alpine Physical Therapy, $55.

Introduction to Pilates Reformer, Wednesdays, Feb. 1-22, 9:30-10:30 a.m., Alpine Physical Therapy, $55.

OULA Palooza!, Friday, Feb. 10, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Dickinson Lifelong Learning Center, $11.

Red Willow Center  For more information on the following classes at the learning center, 825 W. Kent, call 406-721-0033 or visit redwillowlearning.org:

Ongoing classes include "Yoga for Wellness" at noon Mondays, $12 or $40 for four weeks; "Mindfulness Meditation" at 12:10 p.m. Tuesdays, $12 or $40 for four weeks; "Yoga Beyond Cancer" at 4 p.m. Tuesdays, $40 for four weeks; "Yoga for Wellness" at 10 a.m. Wednesdays, $12 or $40 for four weeks; "Yoga for Chronic Pain" at 5 p.m. Wednesdays, $40 for four weeks plus $50 for prerequisite screening' "Meditation for Veterans" at 1:15 p.m. Thursdays at Missoula Vet Center, 910 Brooks, free.

Ongoing programs

AA and Al-Anon  For the latest Alcoholics Anonymous meetings list, visit aa-montana.org or call the Missoula hotline at 406-543-0011. For more information on Al-Anon and Alateen, which are 12-step recovery programs for relatives and friends whose lives have been affected by alcoholism, visit mt.al-anon.alateen.org.

Acupuncture for cancer caregivers  Missoula Community Acupuncture, located in the Radio Central Building, 127 E Main St., Suite 314, offers free acupuncture treatments for friends, family, nurses, doctors or anyone who takes care of cancer patients 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays. No appointment is necessary. For more information, call Michael Peluso at 406-926-1611.

Adult Asperger's support group  An open meeting for those with Asperger's as well as their family and friends is held 6-7:30 p.m. every Thursday at the University Center, Room 215, on campus. Contact Monique Casbeer at 406-721-3947 or Cindy Bacon Janego at cjanego@communitymed.org for more information.

Alzheimers support  Meets the second Wednesday of each month at noon at the Summit Independent Living conference room, 700 S.W. Higgins Ave. Another group meets the fourth Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Missoula Senior Center, 705 S. Higgins Ave. For more information, contact Jackie Johnson at 406-549-3433 or jackiej45@yahoo.com.

Alzheimers caregivers support group  Meets the fourth Monday at 6:30 p.m. of each month at the Missoula Senior Center, 705 S. Higgins Ave. For more information, call Jackie Johnson at 406-549-3433.

Arthritis programs  The Montana Arthritis Program offers physical activity and self-management education programs, such as the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program, Walk with Ease and Stanfords Chronic Disease Self-Management Program. Classes are available in several communities including Florence, Hamilton, Kalispell, Libby, Missoula, Plains and Polson. To find a class or for more information, visit dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/arthritis.

Bereavement support groups  Frontier Hospice offers open door meetings 6-7 p.m. Thursdays at the following locations: The Springs at Whitefish on the first Thursday; Rising Mountains Assisted Living Community in Bigfork on the third Thursday; and Frontier Hospice in Kalispell on the second and fourth Thursdays. Call 406-755-4923 for more information.

Breast cancer support group  Meets the first and third Wednesday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon at the Montana Cancer Center, St. Patrick Hospital Broadway Building, second floor. Call 406-329-5656.

Cancer Center support group  Meets noon-1:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Montana Cancer Center, 500 W. Broadway. For more information, call Bonnie at 406-240-0996.

Cancer Resource Guide  The online guide covers resources including support groups, treatment centers, camps and retreats, in Missoula, Mineral and Ravalli counties. It is available at cancerresourcesMT.org.

Cancer support group  A support group for anyone affected by cancer meets noon-1 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays at the Polson United Methodist Church, 301 16th Ave. For more information, call Tammy at 406-883-7284 or 406-824-2868.

Celebrate Recovery  The Christian-based 12-step recovery program meets 6-9:30 p.m. every Friday at Christian Assembly Foursquare Church, 1001 Cleveland St. Dinner is available from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and child care is provided for ages birth to 11. For more information, call 406-721-6884 or email cafc@4bible.com.

Cheerful Heart  Lake County cancer patients in treatment can receive a massage and help with hair and skin problems, free of charge, from local therapists and cosmetologists. Other non-medical services include transportation to treatment and doctor appointments, running errands, yard work and meal preparation. Appointments may be scheduled by calling 406-883-3070.

Colorectal Cancer Support Group  Meets 1-2 p.m. the third Friday of every month through March 20, Community Cancer Care Conference Room, 2827 Fort Missoula Road.

"Coping, Education & Support for Women with All Cancer Types"  The support group for women in all stages of cancer treatment or survivorship will be held noon-1:30 p.m. the second Monday of every month through March 14, 2016, at the Community Cancer Care Conference Room, 2837 Fort Missoula Road. For more information, call Deb Rivey at 327-3912, Terri Paxinos at 406-327-3957 or Kimberly Hardwick at 406-327-3906.

Diabetes program  At 6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month, there will be a short presentation on a topic related to the management of Type 1 diabetes at the YMCA, 3000 S. Russell St. It will be followed by the option for socializing in the foyer or being active together at the Y. A fee of $5 per person will be collected at the door for those choosing to use the facility. Designed for ages 14 and older, children are welcome but must be accompanied by a parent/caregiver.

Double Trouble in Recovery  The 12-step program for people with mental health and addiction issues meets 3-4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Winds of Change Recovery Mall, 2685 Palmer St., No. C (second floor). Coffee is provided. For more information, call Veronica at 406-721-2038.

Epilepsy support group  Meets the first Monday of the month from 2-3:30 p.m. at the Summit Independent Living Center, 700 S.W. Higgins Ave., Suite 101. Patients, friends, family and caregivers welcome. Call Debbie at 406-721-0707 for more information.

Free health exams  Women ages 30 to 64 who meet necessary income guidelines and either have no health insurance or have insurance that will not pay for breast and cervical health exams can receive free exams through Partnership Health Centers Montana Cancer Screening Program. Call 406-258-4162 for more information.

Gentle yoga class  The Missoula Senior Citizen Center, 705 S. Higgins Ave., offers a class that focuses on balance training, back strength and core conditioning through gentle yoga matwork every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 9 a.m. Fee is $4 per class. All ages welcome. For more information, call 406-543-7154.

Health Insurance Assistance Service  Montana cancer patients can call the American Cancer Societys 24-hour toll-free number to be connected to a health insurance specialist to ask about coverage and insurance programs specific to the state. The number is 800-227-2345.

Mens cancer support group  Open to men in all phases of testing, treatment and followup, the group meets the fourth Tuesday of the month from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Montana Cancer Center, 500 W. Broadway. It is facilitated by Gary Weisbrich and Tom King. Call 406-329-5628 or email gary.weisbrich@providence.org for more information.

Narcotics Anonymous  Meets at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Alano Club, 8 Third Ave. W., Polson. Call 406-883-4135.

National Alliance on Mental Illness  NAMI Missoula meets every Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon in the lower level (behind the cafeteria) of the Providence Center. It is open to anyone affected by mental illness or interested in learning more about the group. The NAMI Connection group for adults living with mental illness meets 1:30-3 p.m. Thursdays at the NAMI offices, 202 Brooks St., Room 210. Call 406-880-1013 with questions.

NAMI Family Support Group  National Alliance on Mental Illness Missoula meets Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 202 Brooks St., in Room 210. The peer-led support for adult family members, caregivers and loved ones of individuals with mental illness is free. For more information, call 406-880-1013 or email namimissoula@gmail.com.

My No-Nonsense Nutrition Program  A seven-week webinar course to improve your nutrition and fitness. Faith-based approach to better health. Free initial consult with Judy Gilman, registered nurse, diabetes and wellness educator. mynononsensenutrition.com or 406-546-7819.

Overeaters Anonymous  Local meetings include 7 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 202 Brooks St. A meeting for newcomers is at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday followed by a "Back to Basics" meeting at 7 p.m. at St. Paul's. Everyone who wants to stop eating compulsively is welcome. There are no dues, weigh-ins or lectures. For more meeting information, visit oa.org.

SAA  For the latest Sex Addicts Anonymous meeting list visit saa-recovery.org, call the Missoula hotline at 406-241-4005 or email MissoulaBetterway@yahoo.com. SAA is a 12-step fellowship of men and women who share experience, strength and hope for the purpose of finding freedom from addictive sexual behavior and helping others recover from sex addiction.

S-Anon  Local meetings are held weekly for this recovery program for people affected by another persons sexual behavior. Visit sanonmontana.org or call 406-544-1271 to learn more.

Stroke and Brain Injury Support Group  Meets the second Thursday of each month from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Providence Center, 902 N. Orange St., in the dining area on the fourth floor. For details, call 406-329-5784.

Tai Chi for Arthritis  Class offered 9:15 a.m. Mondays at the Missoula Senior Citizens Center, 705 S. Higgins Ave. $4 per class. All ages welcome.

Tai Chi Chih  Classes are offered at the following locations: Missoula Senior Citizens Center, 705 S. Higgins Ave., 9:15 a.m. Wednesdays, $4 per class; PEAK Health & Wellness Center, 5000 Blue Mountain Road, 11 a.m. Tuesdays, call 251-3344; and The Womens Club, 2105 Bow St., 9 a.m. Fridays, call 406-728-4410.

TOPS  Take Off Pounds Sensibly, an affordable, nonprofit, weight-loss support and wellness organization, meets at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the First Christian Church, 2701 S. Russell St. Another TOPS meeting is 6:30 p.m. Monday at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 2512 Sunset Lane. For additional meetings, go to tops.org, click on "Find a Meeting" and enter your ZIP code or call 800-932-8677.
A Missoula Sentinel High School social studies teacher is the latest to seek the Montana Democratic Partys nomination to replace Republican Ryan Zinke, Montanas lone congressman, whos expected to be confirmed in the next couple of weeks as President Donald Trump's U.S. Secretary of the Interior.

Gary Stein is the second Democrat from Missoula to throw his name in the mix. Dan West, a Sentinel High graduate who was a political appointee at NASA under the Obama Administration, made public his intentions last week.

Stein, 55, has never served in an elected position. In a press release Monday he said he is a long-standing rank and file member of the Missoula Education Association and has served as an officer for the association for many years.

Stein said he was motivated by what he sees as a crisis in the federal government.

Were at a very critical time in our nations history, he said. We cant allow a particular political point of view or political practice to dominate the country.

After watching from the sideline for so long, Stein said he has reached critical mass in his life.

I hope Ive been doing something good, being a teacher for 27 years, he said. I hope Ive contributed to the community and to society, and I feel strongly this is the moment Im getting the call. You cant rely on somebody else, and I dont see anybody else I have faith in to get all messy in the world of politics. Why not me?

In his lone run for public office, Stein lost to Dave McAlpin in the 2008 June primary for a seat in Missoula House District 94.

Stein is perhaps best recognized in state political circles for his appearances as an analyst for Montana Public Broadcastings election night and political coverage from 2006-2014.

***

He and West join at least six others who've said theyll try to win the approval of Democratic county central committee members to challenge for Zinkes seat. They include Flathead Valley musician Rob Quist of Creston and Lee Link Neimark of Whitefish; state representatives Amanda Curtis of Butte and Kelly McCarthy of Billings; Bozeman attorney John Meyer and Tom Weida of Deer Lodge.

Nick Lockridge, the state Democratic Partys special projects coordinator, said none are technically candidates unless theyre already raising money.

Everythings sort of informal at this point, Lockridge said.

Unlike the Montana Republican Party, the Democrats are requiring no filing fee.

If somebody were to jump in the race at the convention  and thats actually a possibility  it would be a roadblock to have to do so, Lockridge said.

County central committees can each send four delegates to a nominating convention in Helena, which Lockridge said would be held as soon as possible if Zinke is approved to Trump's cabinet and resigns his seat.

Political insiders were still guessing Monday when the U.S. Senate will debate and vote on Zinkes nomination, which has been endorsed by Montanas senior senator, Democrat Jon Tester.

An announcement of the Senate timetable for hearings for the remaining nominees to President Donald Trumps cabinet was expected Monday night following confirmation hearings for Steven Mnuchin for Treasury secretary and David Shulkin for secretary of Department of Veterans Affairs. One report earlier in the day indicated that Zinkes hearing will be fourth in line and may not come up until after a congressional recess next week.

Greg Gianforte of Bozeman, unsuccessful 2016 gubernatorial candidate, is the highest profile Republican seeking Zinkes seat. Others include state Sen. Ed Buttrey of Great Falls; state Rep. Carl Glimm of Kila; Dean Rehbein of Missoula, and Drew Turiano of East Helena.

Stein teaches U.S. history and psychology at Sentinel. In his press release he said he was born and raised on Long Island, New York, and moved to Missoula at age 18 to attend the University of Montana, graduating in 1985 with a bachelors degree in history. He earned his masters in Fine Arts from UM in 2000 through the Creative Pulse program.
From new bridges to noise-reduction walls to roundabouts to the removal of dangerous piers in the Blackfoot River, a total of $136 million in transportation infrastructure upgrades is planned for the Missoula area over the next several years.

Shane Stack, an engineer with the Montana Department of Transportations Missoula Division, gave an overview of all the projects currently scheduled for the Missoula area over the next four years. Stack spoke at Monday's City Club Missoula gathering.

They include a $28 million reconstruction of Russell Street, including the replacement of the old bridge with a wider span. Work on that project is expected to commence this spring. Plans are also in the works to replace both Interstate 90 bridges over the Blackfoot River in Bonner  a $22 million endeavor. (See related story).

The Russell Street redesign actually consists of two projects. The work from the intersection of Broadway and Russell to Idaho Street will cost about $20.7 million. Engineers are trying to acquire private land to reconstruct Russell from Idaho to the intersection of Dakota Street as well. That part of the project would include putting a stoplight at the intersection of Wyoming and Russell and moving the Milwaukee Trail bike/pedestrian crossing underground.

Stack said that MDT has to acquire a total of 35 parcels of private land to move the project forward, and so far only about 16 to 17 have been purchased. The work on the bridge is expected to begin regardless of private land purchases. Its scheduled to be completed in 2019.

Stack also said that a major reconstruction of the Van Buren interchange at Interstate 90 is scheduled to start in 2018 for an estimated cost of $7 million. That project includes a noise wall  meant to reduce the amount of traffic noise heard by Rattlesnake neighborhood residents  that will be 15 to 18 feet high. There will also be two large roundabouts to keep the flow of traffic steady.

Major I-90 resurfacing projects are scheduled for Missoula, Frenchtown and Huson. Work to widen the Madison Street Bridge is already underway, and the MDT is planning on widening the Higgins Avenue Bridge  including adding a 13-foot-wide bike/pedestrian path on the downstream side of the bridge and a 12-foot-wide path on the upstream side  in 2020.

A lot of good investment is happening in Missoula transportation infrastructure, Stack told the crowd.

He said that Montana faces some tough decisions in the coming years, because the federal gas tax hasnt been able to provide enough money to fix infrastructure in the state. Increasingly, property taxes have been used in recent years to fill the gap.

Before 2012 the gas tax was funding transportation infrastructure, but now when you pay income taxes and property taxes, you are paying for more of the road system, he said.

Jeremy Keene, an engineer at WGM Group in Missoula, said that a review by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2013 found that much of Montanas infrastructure is in bad shape. For example, most of the 180 public wastewater systems are 75 to 100 years old, and it would take up to $900 million to bring them up to modern standards.

There are 5,300 miles of public water pipes in Montana, and it would take between $12 billion and $15 billion to bring them up to standards or replace them. Right now, the state is only funding about $165 million a year in water and wastewater upgrades.

There are 75,000 miles of public roads in Montana, and about 46 percent are in poor or mediocre condition. It would take an estimated $14.8 billion to repair them, and Montana is covering only a quarter of that cost right now.

Keene said that historically, Montana has gotten a federal return of between $1.20 and $1.30 from the federal government for every dollar it sends in taxes. However, states that arent getting as much have complained, and the budgeting process is getting more scrutiny every year.

Its been a pretty good deal for us, but we may not see our same share of federal funding in the future, Keene said. He said that Tax Increment Financing is an effective way for communities to encourage private investment to make infrastructure upgrades. For example, $7 million in TIF funds for a new road in the Southgate Mall area is expected to spur $71 million in private investment.
If the citys future plans meet with reality, in a few decades the gap between Scott Street and North Reserve above the railroad tracks will be host to a bustling neighborhood addition that combines nearly every type of land use into a symbiotic extension of the Westside.

Monday, the Missoula City Council added the North Reserve Scott Street master plan to the citys long-term development goals.

The plan looks to fill in the industrial area with mixed-use housing, commercial areas, parks and industrial zones in a swirl of uses connected by trails and a couple of main thoroughfares.

Chris Behan, assistant director of the Missoula Redevelopment Agency, told the Transportation and Planning board back in December that filling in that portion of town will make for a unique addition to Missoulas residential and commercial development.

Theres so many things, opportunities and strengths, in this area, he told the board, adding that right now, its virtually devoid of basic infrastructure.

Their plans also look to add an exit from Interstate 90 at Coal Mine Road.

Ward 1 representative Bryan von Lossberg compared it to the White Pine Sash site in the former Sawmill district, which has seen affordable housing developments pop up over the last few years as the industrial uses disappeared.

The council also approved using federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality improvement, or CMAQ, grants to fund an upgrade to the citys Missoula In Motion website.

The website, created by Ride Amigos, would offer improved services for all the programs MIM offers, including its yearly Commuter Challenge and community-based route maps that give Missoulians options for biking or walking on trails and side streets. It also provides user-submitted feedback on route quality.

Ward 4 representative John DiBari voted against funding the new site, as he didnt think MIM staff gave clear goals or measures for how the new software would serve more than the 400 or so current users.

Transportation Planning Manager Jessica Morriss said the current site doesnt work very well, so not many use it. Shes confident more people will get involved on the new program.

DiBari was the only council member to vote against the contract, which would pay Ride Amigos $48,000 over three years for its software.

Mayor John Engen proclaimed Feb. 14 Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women Awareness Day, inspired by Canadas years-long practice of doing the same.

His resolution cited statistics that said almost half of all Native American women in the United States have been raped, beaten, or stalked by an intimate partner and they are 2.5 times more likely than other women to be sexually assaulted.

The United States has done little to address the issue, said Shelly Fyant, a Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribal councilwoman.

Unsolved and unprosecuted cases create a hole in your heart that never heals, she said.

The council also set a public hearing on redistricting city council wards in advance of the 2017 election on March 13. The changes could affect Wards 1, 2, 4 and 6 depending on the option chosen.
Undersheriff Jason Johnson of the Missoula County Sheriff's Office has retired from the department after more than 20 years in law enforcement, Sheriff T.J. McDermott confirmed on Tuesday.

After months of negotiations, Johnson purchased a Missoula-based company called Montana Electronics last week.

I was just being super-cautious if the deal was going to go through before making any announcement, Johnson said, adding that he officially left the sheriffs office on Friday.

McDermott, who said Johnson was a close personal friend in addition to being his undersheriff, said he fully supports Johnsons move. The undersheriff always wanted to own his own company, he said.

"He just had an incredible opportunity that he wanted to chase," the sheriff said.

Montana Electronics is a communication company that provides a variety of services, including the radios used in law enforcement patrol cars and ambulances.

Theres still some connection to my old life there, Johnson said, adding that his company also works with large businesses like Knife River. Twenty years of being in the customer service business, law enforcement-wise, prepared me well for this job.

The firm also owns subsidiaries that provide emergency paging services for hospitals and fire departments, as well broadcast towers around the Missoula area that it leases to cell phone carriers or television and radio stations.

As I got closer to my 20 years in law enforcement, a person starts to think about what they want to do next, Johnson said. I always wanted to own my own business.

Johnson started his law enforcement career as a reserve deputy in 1997 before going to work for the Conrad Police Department for almost two years. He then worked for the Ravalli County Sheriffs Office from 2000 to 2005 before coming back to Missoula.

People asked me if I was going to run for sheriff. I never had intentions to. I knew my career was kinda coming to a close in the next couple of years. I had made the decision to stand by T.J.s side. Hes a very close friend of mine and we made a good team, Johnson said.

He said the decision to leave was very, very difficult but he felt the opportunity to finally realize the dream of owning his own company was too good to pass up.

Johnson, who was closely involved with the Montana Special Olympics, said he has been asked to stay on as the director of the Montana Law Enforcement Torch Run despite his retirement. He said hes also been working with a pair of detention officers and two deputies in Missoula who will be taking a more active role in Special Olympics.

McDermott said he would announce a new undersheriff Friday. Johnson will stay on as a reserve deputy. Johnson said when he first started as a reserve in Missoula in 1997, his badge number was 19.

It just happened that badge number was available again, so Im going to be RD 19 again, he said.
Saif Alsaegh is a Montanan, through and through.

He has the Patagonia jacket and Chacos. He loves craft beer. He has a beard  because "everyone in Montana has a beard."

Alsaegh, 26, is a second-year MFA student in University of Montana's Media Arts program. He grew up in Baghdad, and came to America on a full ride to the University of Great Falls several years ago. There, he got his business degree and after graduation decided to do what he truly loved: art.

"One of my goals as an artist here in the U.S. is to connect people to each other, to find common ground where we can share our humanity in peace," he said.

He published a collection of poetry, "Iraqi Headaches," in 2013. His work has been featured in other publications over the years.

Six years after moving to the States, he misses Montana when he leaves. On a trip to Nashville, he had to watch "A River Runs Through It" to cure his homesickness.

"I don't have that feeling for Iraq," he said. "Iraq is associated with pain. Montana is associated with beauty."

***

Now, he worries what could happen if he chooses to travel abroad.

Next month, his and his brother Fady's experimental film "Alazeef" premieres at the Cinema du Reel documentary film festival at the Pompidou Center and other venues in Paris, "probably the biggest screening we've had so far."

The film focuses on an Iraqi soldier in the week before Desert Storm in 1991. They use striking imagery and a variety of music  Swedish, Iraqi, French, heavy metal  to guide the story.

"We try to bridge the East and West," he said. "We want to separate the governments from the people.

"One of the main points of the film is to humanize 'the other,' in this case, Americans."

Early on in Alsaegh's UM academic career, faculty suggested he work closely with assistant professor of media arts Talena Sanders as his work leaned experimental.

"There's a long history of a relationship with poetry and experimental films," Sanders said. "In a lot of ways, his poetry background rolls over into how he works on film."

Alsaegh and Fady work on their films over the phone and Skype, taking the time difference into account because Fady lives in Turkey. Fady sent Alsaegh a W.B. Yeats poem, "An Irish Airman Foresees His Death," that stuck with Alsaegh, as it humanizes that soldier in the same way the Alsaegh brothers bring humanity to their Iraqi soldier.

Part of the poem reads, "Those that I fight I do not hate; those that I guard I do not love."

But Alsaegh is no longer going to the festival.

"I don't want to leave in case something happens and I can't come back," he said, referring to the recent travel ban ordered by President Donald Trump. The ban included Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Although last week the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's halt to the travel ban, there's still too much uncertainty, Alsaegh said.

"When his film was accepted to Cinema du Reel, we talked about if he could go and what that would mean, because even before Trump took office, his status as an asylum seeker still made it very uncertain whether or not he could travel," Sanders said.

She sought advice from immigration lawyers, who said it was risky. Sanders and Alsaegh still thought they could make it work  and then the travel ban came down.

"We couldn't risk him getting trapped in France," Sanders said. "It's very unfortunate because this is a big festival in our field and it's going to be a big premiere for his film, and a big opportunity for him to meet other filmmakers and curators. He misses out on that opportunity as a result of these restrictions."

***

It's a feeling that reminds Alsaegh of Iraq.

"Because of the policies of the new administration, we're back to feeling uncertain again," he said. "We come to escape the uncertainty of death, the safety that we don't have.

"Everything is condensed and surreal in Iraq. There's the routine of war. That's harder than the war itself. It's not the bombs, it's the routine of uncertainty of will I live or not, will I come back home."

He wishes people understood that refugees are not fleeing their countries to start the same chaos in America. Missoula has welcomed 67 refugees since last fall, 12 of whom arrived since Trump's executive order.

"Nobody flees (expletive) situations in Iraq and other countries to restart that here," he said. "There's no refugee or immigrant that has the energy to start (expletive) here. They're fleeing.

"I think in general, Americans are smarter than this."

It's been too long since Alsaegh has seen his family. His brother, sister-in-law, mother and aunt now live in Turkey. They're trying to come to America, but they continue facing delays.

Alsaegh's father died a couple of months ago, and he wasn't able to be with his family. They used Skype so he could be there, in some way, for the Catholic Mass.

Alsaegh was told that his story would be better received by Americans because he's Christian and "westernized."

"That's sad, but it's fine," he said.

***

Alsaegh grew up watching American troops roll down the streets of Baghdad, but "I never hated Americans."

"My friends and I back home, we all liked America growing up, even if we didn't necessarily like (George W.) Bush," he said. "We watched 'Friends,' 'Seinfeld,' 'Titanic.'"

The irony played out on their TVs. Saddam Hussein would give a speech against America, and the next program on TV would be a Hollywood movie.

"He's doing a dance all the time in his work of navigating this tension between the longing for home and the memories of home, and the relative security of his life in the U.S. and the freedom he has to make work that can be critical or experimental," Sanders said.

Alsaegh is now working with Humanities Montana as a speaker, heading to schools, universities and bookstores to screen his films, read his poetry and tell his life experiences.

"I'll share my art, which reflects who I am," he said. "I want to promote peace and communication. If we isolate Iraqis and people from other countries, distance turns into ambiguity and ambiguity turns into hate."

He's thankful for UM, as administration, faculty and students have all voiced their opposition to the travel ban.

"I think they're on the right side of this whole issue," he said.

Someday, Alsaegh would like to own a cabin in western Montana where he can focus solely on his art.

"Eventually I just want to be left alone to make art," he said.
A 19-year-old woman has been charged with vehicular homicide while under the influence following a Friday crash near Missoula that killed her 20-year-old boyfriend.

Trai Ann Dewey made her initial court appearance Monday, where Justice of the Peace Marie Andersen set her bail at $50,000.

Around 7 p.m. on Friday, troopers were dispatched to a crash near Evaro Hill on U.S. Highway 93 where a northbound Dodge Durango driven by Dewey swerved into oncoming traffic and was T-boned by another vehicle, according to the Montana Highway Patrol.

The passenger of the Durango, identified as Joseph Neal Bremner of Browning, was killed in the wreck.

According to a court affidavit, Dewey told a trooper she and Bremner had been smoking marijuana before leaving Missoula to drive to Polson. Inside her vehicle, investigators allegedly found marijuana, a broken bottle of malt liquor and what they believe are psilocybin mushrooms.

On Monday, Chief Deputy County Attorney Jason Marks said Dewey also had an active arrest warrant at the time of the crash for a prior driving under the influence of marijuana charge that she had not shown up to court for.

Public defense attorney Susan Boyer said Deweys parents wanted to bring their daughter back home to Billings and would make sure she came to court when required. She said Dewey also wanted to attend Bremners funeral later this week. Boyer reminded Andersen that the road conditions on Friday evening were bad.

Andersen set the $50,000 bail requested by Marks, and allowed Dewey to be screened for pretrial supervision, saying if released she will be on drug monitoring.
Gov. Steve Bullocks request to the current legislature to expand and upgrade the 65-year-old Montana Historical Society facility has been misrepresented by some as unneeded pork. This characterization is both wrong and ridiculous. Fortunately, however, members of both political parties recognize the real and critical need to care for and provide access to priceless collections belonging to the people of Montana and provide ongoing economic development  jobs during construction and development of enhanced tourism dollars in the future.

Montana Territory was created by the signature of President Abraham Lincoln in 1864. The Montana Historical Society was created the following year by one of the first acts of our first Territorial Legislature. It is the second-oldest state historical society west of the Mississippi. That fact, and that it was prominently housed in our state capitol building after its completion in 1901, shows the deep respect for Montanas history of our states early citizens. It is a respect we believe is still shared by Montana citizens of today.

It was 1949 when Gov. John Bonner, with support of the Sons and Daughters of the Montana Pioneers and the states veterans organizations, persuaded the legislature to put the final funding in place for the Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building, the current home of the Montana Historical Society. Now this 65-year-old facility is outdated and in constant need of repair. The ability to provide appropriate environmental conditions for important artifacts, irreplaceable works of art and archival material gets more difficult with each passing year. Exhibition and research space is severely restricted. The need for the proposed Historical Society Heritage Center project is real and indisputable.

Sadly, Montanas Heritage Center has been rejected by the last five legislatures, last session by only one vote. Surrounding states have invested in their heritage facilities and are reaping the benefits. A recent study by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Montana estimated the Montana Heritage Center would have a comparable economic impact on Montana, generating an additional 78,000 history-related tourist visits each year, with spending by these visitors of $7.5 million. Not only is the investment in safeguarding and showcasing Montanas history necessary, it is an investment with a real economic return. Montana has a powerful opportunity to invest in sustained economic development in a vital driver of Montanas economy  tourism now and into the future.

The Montanas Historical Society has been dubbed the Smithsonian of the West. Its collections have become even more historically significant, complete and valuable over time. Montana can do a far better job with our priceless historical assets than it is doing. It is therefore very important to contact your state senators and representatives, and strongly direct them to vote for the Montana Heritage Center.

More than any other project it will serve our sense of pride in our shared Montana heritage. It will address the extreme and pressing need for improved conditions. It will bring untapped rewards from the resource of our history. Our ancestors, men and women, immigrants and Native Americans, rich and poor, progressives and conservatives, all made Montana history together. Our history is our unifying and common bond. We share it equally and together. We urge you to direct our Legislature to meld our Montana pride of heritage with economic development.

Just as our parents and grandparents made their commitment and investment in Montana history, it is now our turn to pass on to our children and grandchildren what was passed on to us.
This month the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee advanced President Trumps nominee, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, to head the Environmental Protection Agency.

Approved by the committee, he moved one step closer to overseeing the federal agency empowered to ensure clean air and clean water for all Americans. Unfortunately, the EPA is also the agency that Pruitt has spent decades working to undermine.

President Trumps selection of Scott Pruitt may be good politics, but his appointment would create a public health disaster. Our bedrock environmental laws passed congress decades ago with broad bipartisan support. The Clean Air Act passed in 1970 unanimously, save one vote. The Clean Water Act also was wildly popular when it passed. Republican president Richard Nixon established the EPA to enforce these and other environmental protections. The agencys authority was strengthened by another Republican, George H.W. Bush.

Today, as in the past four decades, protecting our air and water, ensuring the health of our families, has enjoyed strong bipartisan support not only from elected officials but also by a majority of Americans.

Scott Pruitts track record as Oklahoma attorney general paints a bleak picture of what his leadership of the agency would mean for American families. Pruitt joined polluters in a staggering 14 lawsuits against the very agency he has been selected to lead. These suits aimed to dismantle critical public health safeguards ranging from the Clean Water Rule that protects drinking water sources for 117 million Americans, including 230,000 people here in Montana, to the Mercury and Toxic Air rule that protects our kids and other vulnerable citizens from highly damaging pollution.

As attorney general, he delayed legal action to clean up major poultry pollution plaguing his states waterways. He led the opposition to EPAs Clean Power Plan, which set the first-ever national limits on carbon pollution. Pruitt even dismantled the environmental control unit of his own office. And these are only examples.

In a nutshell, Pruitts track record as attorney general set environmental protections backwards not forward. And it has been difficult to find anything AG Pruitt did to protect the health of the Oklahomans during his time in that office. As Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey noted during Pruitts confirmation hearing, Oklahoma has been ground zero for asthma problems, which affect 1 in every 10 kids in the state. Pruitt couldnt name one time that he filed a case in support of kids with asthma.

Pruitts knowledge of science, which should underpin all decisions made by the EPA, is lacking, as is his familiarity with some of the most basic and pressing issues facing the agency he hopes to direct. He has said human-caused climate change is a matter of continuing debate. He had no comment on how much lead in drinking water could harm humans nor on the potential health impacts of exercising outdoors on a day with poor air quality. In fact, Scott Pruitt could not identify one EPA safeguard that he actually supports.

Ironically, Scott Pruitts loyalty to fossil fuel interests is easier to identify. Pruitt accepted approximately $350,000 from the fossil fuel industry, including the infamous Koch brothers. And more than once he put his official attorney general letterhead and his signature on letters objecting to EPA policy written by oil companies and sent them to the agency he is now hoping to oversee.

Scott Pruitt is outside the mainstream in his actions and views when it comes to protecting our air and water, stopping the worst impacts of climate change and keeping our families healthy. The vast majority of Americans continue to support a clean and healthy environment and the rules and laws designed to keep it that way.

Montanans and all Americans deserve an Environmental Protection Agency administrator who will fight to protect the air we breathe, the water we drink and the planet we love. Scott Pruitt fails on all these accounts. Were calling on our Sens. Jon Tester and Steve Daines to stand with science, our families health, clean water and clean air and reject President Trumps nomination of Scott Pruitt to head the EPA.
The end of the election season and the beginning of the year offer a welcome opportunity to put politics aside and work across the aisle on what matters most to Montanans. While we may not always agree on the details, Montanans believe in sharing the responsibility for developing strong, vibrant communities while protecting what sets our state apart from so many others  a wealth of public lands and wild places.

For nearly 10 years, members of the Kootenai Forest Stakeholders Coalition  a partnership of recreationists, business owners, mill operators and conservationists  have remained dedicated to finding common-ground solutions to our most difficult public land management challenges. Our work together hasnt always been easy, but it has been valuable. People who once sat on opposite sides of a courtroom now find themselves sharing a table at the local diner.

Last year, the coalition reached consensus on nearly the entire 2.2 million-acre Kootenai National Forest. Building on the Three Rivers Challenge in the Yaak, this agreement sets aside backcountry for future generations, designates recreation areas for both winter and summer uses, and lays out principles that keep a steady flow of logs to local mills. Just as important, our agreement serves as a framework for how we will work together into the future.

We know each election brings change. But what hasnt changed over time is how we work together on our public lands.

A recent, bipartisan Colorado College poll found seven out of 10 respondents preferred protecting water, air and wildlife while providing recreational opportunities. Eighty-two percent support improving access for hunters, hikers and other recreationists. Here in Montana, that same poll found six out of 10 people oppose transferring national public lands to the states.

Last fall while candidates were debating, we were busy holding open houses in Noxon, Troy, Libby and Eureka. We spoke to dozens of people about what matters most to them on our public lands. At one point, a local business owner in Libby commended the group for the years of hard work, saying, Its exciting to see the diversity of participants and their unity in moving the proposal forward in this polarizing political climate.

In that spirit, we have worked tirelessly to boost local economies by maintaining forest jobs and supporting forest service projects. We also agreed on the importance of safeguarding snowmobile access as it exists today in areas like Northwest Peaks, Drift Peak and Saddle Mountain. We also believe its essential to secure wildlife habitat and ensure our wilderness heritage for future generations in Roderick and Saddle Mountain, Scotchmans Peaks and areas adjacent to the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness.

In the coming year, we will continue to sit down with our neighbors in search of ways to move forward together. After another long election season, we look forward to getting back to the work of setting our differences aside to protect our public lands legacy.

If you have questions or would like to participate, please visit our website at kootenaifuture.org.
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines' office has received hundred of phones calls, letters and postcards from Montana citizens asking him to vote against the confirmation of Betsy Devos for the secretary of education.

It is important for Montana voters to understand that Betsy Devos contributed $5,200 to Daines' election effort in 2014. Moreover, her family contributed $46,000 to the same campaign. They are not Montana citizens. Her record shows little or no support for public education.

I think it is important for Montana voters to see if Daines supports his Montana constituents or will vote for millionaires who have bought his support. Maybe the larger question is for he for people/kids or for big money?

Daniel Adcock,

Missoula
Thank you, Sen. Keith Regier, for introducing Senate Bill 97 to Prohibit Application of Foreign Laws in Montana Courts.

For more than two centuries, hundreds of thousands of courageous men and women have given their lives to protect Americas sovereignty and freedom.

American constitutional rights must be preserved. State legislatures have a role to play in preserving these constitutional rights. If states did not have such a role to play, why then do states have constitutions which often mirror, echo and reinforce the U.S. Constitution?

America has unique values of liberties which do not exist in some foreign legal systems.

Included among, but not limited to, those values and rights are:

Freedom of religion

Freedom of speech

Due process

Right to privacy

Right to keep and bear arms

Civil and criminal Law serve as the bedrock for American values: We are a nation of laws. Unfortunately, increasingly, foreign laws and legal doctrines are finding their way into U.S. courts, especially in family law cases. This is a means of imposing an agenda on the American people while circumventing the U.S. and state constitutions.

Born and raised in Belgium, I became a U.S. citizen in 1995. I fear that we might be losing our rights. Freedom of speech comes to mind. People like Brigitte Bardot in France, Oriana Fallaci in Italy, Geert Wilders in Holland and Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff in Austria were hauled to court for speaking out against a certain group. Mark Steyn and Ezra Levant were summoned before a tribunal. Others were fired from their jobs.

The embrace of foreign legal systems, some of which are inherently hostile to our constitutional liberties, is a violation of the principles on which our nation was founded.

Caroline Solomon,

Bigfork
BILLINGS  To increase its fight against aquatic invasive species Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is requesting an additional $11.5 million from the Montana Legislature over the next two years.

This is not business as usual, but rather a new way of going about the work of natural resource conservation and, frankly, protecting hydro-power facilities, irrigation and infrastructure, Martha Williams, newly appointed FWP director, told the Joint Natural Resources and Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday.

The appeal is a tough ask in a session committed to cutting the states budget, noted Rep. Carl Glimm, R-Kila, during FWPs budget hearing before the subcommittee.

Broken down, the request is $5.9 million for fiscal year 2018 and $5.5 million in 2019. An additional $2.3 million is being requested for seasonal staff to hit the ground running in 2017. Much of the $2.3 million would come from leftover federal and state funds.

When asked if the $5.5 million would likely be an additional cost every year going forward, FWP chief of Operations Dustin Temple said, I would think so.

That was reaffirmed by John Tubbs, director of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, who noted that there is no technology to make the mussels go away. DNRC and FWP are partnering in the aquatic invasive species fight.

Until otherwise demonstrated we are going to be in this battle, and it may not be 100 percent successful  for quite some time, he said. Well beyond this directors tenure, I suspect.

The request comes after FWP went on high alert last November following the detection of zebra mussel larvae in Tiber Reservoir and suspect detections in Canyon Ferry Reservoir, the Missouri River below Toston Dam and the Milk River.

According to a 2001 U.S. Department of State study, maintenance of pipes clogged with zebra mussels costs the power industry up to $60 million a year, and temporary shutdowns due to insufficient water flow can cost more than $5,000 an hour. The total cost to the United States of the zebra mussel invasion was estimated at $3.1 billion over the next 10 years. Hence FWPs urgency in stemming the invasive species proliferation.

To that end, last week FWP announced it was creating a bureau specifically to address the threat, adding a division bureau chief to its staff to lead the effort. On Tuesday the agency revealed it was also asking for 14 additional full-time employees. Already there are 6.5 full-time aquatic invasive species employees.

Tubbs said his agency and FWP would be aggressively seeking federal dollars to help offset the costs, as well as money from hydropower companies like Avista and NorthWestern Energy that may pass on their additional costs to customers. Another source of income would be funds from the sale of a state boat decal that Tubbs said could generate about $4.1 million every two years. That figure is based on 69,000 in-state boats at a cost of $25 per boat and about 6,750 nonresidents at a cost of $50 per boat. Tubbs said hed like to see hydropower companies contribute a similar amount, roughly $4 million.

I dont know if I can count on the federal government for 50 percent. Thats a goal, he said, although FWP representatives had already hit up U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, in his pending new role as secretary of the Interior, for possible help.

The fact that FWP and DNRC were cooperating on the fight against aquatic invasive species raised concern about who would be held responsible in the event of any problem. Tubbs pointed to Williams, who has been on the job for only a week and a half, as the point person.

I will take responsibility, she said. The buck stops with me.

Creation of the AIS response has been so fast moving since the first detection in November that the budget and other details were hashed out over the weekend. Creation of the new AIS bureau chief was temporarily being funded by other vacancies, all because FWP wants to have personnel and a plan in place when ice comes off reservoirs this spring and boaters begin trailering their rigs across the state from lake to lake.

We need to throw the kitchen sink at it, Williams said, noting that different states, tribes, local communities and legislators are collaborating in the effort.

Glimm said in future communications its important both departments stress the extent of the danger aquatic invasive species present. The traditional message of clean, drain and dry all boats, trailers and fishing equipment isnt dramatic enough, he added.

Rep. Janet Ellis, D-Helena, suggested that the Legislature pass a resolution stressing support for the AIS fight as a way to strengthen the statement to the public as well as possible federal and private cooperators.
HELENA  In a two-day budget presentation, attorneys from the Office of the State Public Defender gave frustrated testimony, with some saying they were so overburdened they fear losing their license.

Chief Public Defender Bill Hooks presented the agencys budget challenges, including high staff turnover and an increasing caseload, to the Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement and Justice subcommittee on Monday and Tuesday.

Instead of using OPD's prior budget as a starting point, the 2015 Legislature made a rare decision to rebuild the agency's one-time-only budget from scratch. Now OPD officials are responsible for explaining why the committee should build back each section of their budget for the next biennium.

Over the interim, OPD created a mitigation plan to address a $3.5 million shortfall and improve future efficiency. The Legislature also created a task force to study OPD and draft reform legislation. Several of those bills, including one to hire an agency director to oversee the reform, are making their way to the governor.

Even with the mitigation plan, which took measures such as eliminating contract attorneys in certain regions and implement a hiring freeze, attorneys said their caseload is too high to adequately provide the competent and effective representation that's required. Some attorneys said the mitigation plan didnt solve anything and asked the committee for resources to run an efficient agency while giving clients quality representation.

Alisha Backus, a public defender in the Kalispell office, said shes required to take all types of cases even though she only has a year and a half of experience. Right now, shes the lead counsel on a deliberate homicide case. Because the agency eliminated contract attorneys to save money, Backus is required to practice in five courts. She often spends six hours driving from Kalispell to Eureka and Libby to represent her clients.

Her caseload averages twice the recommended amount, and she works every weekend to make sure she provides required representation, although she said its often the bare minimum.

Im terrified everyday that I go to work that Im going to lose my license, Backus said. My stress is through the roof.

Nicole Gallagher, an attorney in Billings, said her office is down five or six attorneys. The bar recommends attorneys handle 150 felony cases per year, which Gallagher said shell easily surpass.

Because of the hiring freeze in the mitigation plan, Gallagher said shes not able to manage her caseload and is also worried about losing her license.

If Im not giving competent and effective representation, that is a license issue, she said. Its frustrating that were discussing budget cuts to our office when its abundantly clear the criminal justice system is growing.

Attorneys also came to the committee to emphasize the importance of their work and the benefit of employing social workers to help attorneys navigate issues such as a homeless client or a child who might testify against a parent.

Rachel Wanderscheid said shes been in the Helena OPD office for three months, but has struggled to help clients with issues beyond the legal system. Because attorneys often function as social workers without professional training, Wanderscheid said attorneys leave OPD for private practice.

Thats because of the emotional level of this work that doesnt exist in other types of law, she said. I dont want to be that type of person.

The committee has the option to approve the governors request for approximately $67 million, modify his proposal, or start over and do something unique. While agencies across the board were asked to submit a 5 percent budget reduction plan as a starting point, no other action has been taken by the committee. Executive action is scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
LINCOLN  This years lone woman, Laurie Warren, pulled into Lincoln at 8:54 p.m. Monday night as the champion of the Montana Race to the Sky 300-mile sled dog race.

Fifteen-year-old Spencer Bruggeman of Great Falls, believed to be the youngest musher to finish the long course in a Race to the Sky, was 82 minutes behind, coming in at 10:16 p.m., 10 seconds before his father, Brett Bruggeman. The other three teams that started the race withdrew along the way.

Warren, 53, has trained pack mules for more than 25 years at her ranch near Council in the high desert of West Central Idaho. Her victory made it five in a row for women mushers after Alaska's Alea Robinson in 2013, Jenny Greger of Bozeman in 2014 and Iditarod veteran Jessie Royer the past two years. None of the three competed in Race to the Sky this year.

It was the first 300-miler for Warren, who competed in the Adult 100 the past three years.

She said the hardest part of the race for her team came Monday evening when they passed the Whitetail Ranch east of Ovando for the third time.

This time we went by and the dogs thought we were going to rest. They were really sad when we went past the checkpoint, Warren said as she unharnessed her team Monday night.

This year's course was rerouted due to avalanche danger between Seeley Lake and the traditional turnaround at Owl Creek, near Holland Lake. Teams traveled the almost 50 miles between Whitetail and Seeley Lake four times.

This takes a race-hardened team and driver ... back and forth on the same trail over and over.  It kinda messes with your head if you let it, Race to the Sky veteran Laura Daugereau wrote on the races Facebook page Monday.

Warren, 53, pulled out of the last checkpoint Monday at 9:27 a.m., with 70 backcountry miles ahead of her to the finish line in Lincoln.

The Bruggemans pulled out within 10 seconds of each other an hour after Warren left, following a mandatory six-hour layover in Seeley Lake. Warren never faltered, adding to her hour lead on the final stretch.

Rick Larson of Sand Coulee won the Adult 100 from Lincoln to Seeley Lake early Sunday.

From what Rick told me of the trail just coming off the 100 mile race. It is HARD! Like concrete hard. This takes a lot of team management, Daugereau wrote. Extra care to keep your team hydrated and protect feet and wrists  and because of the booties to protect feet, risk shoulder soreness from slipping on the Ice.

Mark Stamm of Riverside, Washington, seeking to become just the second three-time winner, withdrew from the race after reaching Seeley Lake in the early-morning hours Monday. Neal Bowlen of Park City, Utah, also withdrew at Seeley Lake. That cut in half the original starting field of six after Clayton Perry of Power was injured on Saturday night and hospitalized with a concussion.

Larson finished the Adult 100 at 7:16 a.m. Sunday, followed by Joe Carson of Wasilla, Alaska, at 7:40 a.m.

In third place was Roy Etnire of Seeley Lake at 8 a.m. Fourth went to Dave Bush of Bend, Oregon, at 9:10 a.m. Fifth place went to Steve Riggs of Olney at 9:15 a.m. and sixth was Steve Madsen of Cougar, Washington, at 9:18 a.m. Bino Fowler from Bend, Oregon, came in at 1:30 p.m. in seventh place followed by Adam Buch of Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada, at 2:32 p.m., earning him the Red Lantern Award as the last-place team.

Notes: Royer, who lives and works in Darby and Fairbanks, Alaska, raced in the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest for the first time. The leaders were approaching the finish line in Fairbanks at noon Tuesday. Royer was in eighth place, roughly 180 miles from the end. She's entered in her 15th Iditarod in Alaska, starting March 4. ... Meg Conklin of Boise, along with the Herbst family, received the Sportsmanship Award. Conklin, a 13-year-old junior musher, helped get Bozemans Maeva Waterman and her team into the next checkpoint after Waterman took a wrong turn early in the race. Kali Herbsts family helped bring in Perrys team after he was injured. ...The Best Cared for Team Award was presented by Dr. Kathy Topham to Carson for excellence and professionalism taking care of his team. ... An awards ceremony for the 300-mile race was set for 6 p.m. Tuesday in Helena at St. Paul's United Methodist Church.
BUTTE  A Tennessee woman who pleaded guilty to smuggling drugs across the country to the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge was sentenced Friday at Missoula's federal court house to 14 months in prison.

Between April and August 2015, Lauren Hoskins, 26, was one of two women in Tennessee who transported drugs to Erin Bernhardt, a prison laundry worker, who would exchange them for cash bribes from inmates including Ian Barclay. According to court records, Barclay would sell the drugs and pay a former inmate, Cordero Metzker, who would pay the Tennessee women's' supplier.

Hoskins pleaded guilty on Sept. 6 to aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and suboxone, a painkiller and opioid withdrawal drug.

Hoskins was arrested by U.S. marshals in Memphis, Tenn., on Dec. 15 after her bail was revoked for failing drug tests and skipping meetings.

Hoskins was the last of the smuggling ring's members in custody to be sentenced. Bernhardt was sentenced to 14 months in prison, Barclay 92 months, and Metzker to 36 months.

The other woman from Tennessee, Rachel Ross, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute drugs in August, but skipped bail before her sentencing on Dec. 1. An arrest warrant was issued for Ross on Dec. 6.
DEER LODGE  Two Montana State Prison inmates accused of nearly beating a fellow inmate to death recently pleaded not guilty in Deer Lodge district court to attempted deliberate homicide charges.

Richard Earl Burkhart, 37, and Ray Ellis Weatherholt, 56, are accused of attacking a prisoner on Oct. 5, 2010, in Close Unit III, by punching, kicking and strangling the man.

County Attorney Lewis Smith said Monday the prosecution of these cases  which is occurring more than six years after the reported incident -- was delayed because further investigation and location of witnesses were needed.

Court records show the incident started when the victim returned to his cell from the shower, but the door didnt close. The correctional officers view from his position in the monitoring booth was blocked by a construction worker. When he opened the doors to the Burkhart and Weatherholt cells, the two inmates saw the other mans door was open and began assaulting him.

Correctional officers ordered them to stop, but they refused.

The man allegedly crawled out of his cell onto the second tier walkway in an attempt to get away from his assailants.

The record indicates that Weatherholt said, Kill him, kill him, kill him.

Although the victim was punched and kicked, and allegedly had his head slammed repeatedly against the wall and floor, he continued to defend himself. One of the men attempted to strangle him, and Burkhart allegedly stomped on his head numerous times as they took turns kicking him. Weatherholt is accused of throwing him down the stairs to the lower tier in the unit.

According to the court record, the altercation lasted more than seven minutes before correctional officers were able to stop it. The prison has a response team for incidents and policy requires at least two officers for each inmate that is out of their cell, so they had to call for back-up and that took a few minutes.

The victim was treated for his injuries and survived.

Burkhart was sentenced in September 2008 in Powell County to five years for riot and 10 years for accountability criminal mischief during the October 2006 prison riot. The sentences are being served concurrently and were being served consecutive to an underlying sentence for deliberate homicide in Cascade County.

Recently, Great Falls District Judge John Kutzman overturned the 2004 deliberate homicide conviction against Burkhart. He ruled there were issues with evidence after the trial that should have been presented to the defense. Cascade County prosecution has appealed the ruling to the Montana Supreme Court, but Burkhart continues to serve the 2008 sentences.

Weatherholt was sentenced in Yellowstone County in October 2009 to 25 years for assault with a weapon-persistent felony offender.
A Tennessee woman who pleaded guilty to smuggling drugs across the country to the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge was sentenced Friday at Missoula's federal court house to 14 months in prison.

Between April and August 2015, Lauren Hoskins, 26, was one of two women in Tennessee who transported drugs to Erin Bernhardt, a prison laundry worker, who would exchange them for cash bribes from inmates including Ian Barclay. According to court records, Barclay would sell the drugs and pay a former inmate, Cordero Metzker, who would pay the Tennessee women's' supplier.

Hoskins pleaded guilty on Sept. 6 to aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and suboxone, a painkiller and opioid withdrawal drug.

Hoskins was arrested by U.S. marshals in Memphis, Tenn., on Dec. 15 after her bail was revoked for failing drug tests and skipping meetings.

Hoskins was the last of the smuggling ring's members in custody to be sentenced. Bernhardt was sentenced to 14 months in prison, Barclay 92 months, and Metzker to 36 months.

The other woman from Tennessee, Rachel Ross, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute drugs in August, but skipped bail before her sentencing on Dec. 1. An arrest warrant was issued for Ross on Dec. 6.
Among the Affordable Care Acts more familiar components  prompting uninsured individuals to purchase coverage on the exchanges, allowing young adults to stay on their parents health insurance plan until age 26, or the provision of coverage for people with pre-existing conditions  is a lesser known provision that established the Prevention and Public Health Fund.

Upon its inception, the fund, whose mission is to improve health outcomes and enhance quality in health care, was meant to expand and sustain national investment in prevention and public health.

Repeal of the ACA would most certainly affect this fund and its outcomes, as well as its continued potential to improve health care quality and the nations health itself.

Investments from the fund to date have focused on a range of science-based actions, including strengthening public health infrastructure; providing immunizations and screenings; preventing tobacco use; strengthening the public health workforce and related training; enhancing research and strengthening the surveillance and tracking of communicable disease; and implementing a variety of community and clinical prevention initiatives.

Since Federal Fiscal Year 2012, the fund has provided investment in Montana to support personnel navigating people to the federal health exchanges; to the University of Montana for funding professional training to improve detection of and early intervention into Alzheimers disease and other related dementias; to UM to develop and implement a tribal suicide prevention and early intervention strategy; and to Montana State University to develop a comprehensive approach to prevent suicide within Montana University System units.

Other funding established throughout the country has gone toward implementing chronic disease self-management programs and programs designed to prevent falls among the elderly; programs that enhance hospitals ability to promote breastfeeding; diabetes and heart disease programs; investment to improve public health surveillance and laboratory capacity; programs that allow public health entities to better respond to events such as foodborne infections and waterborne diseases; efforts to increase vaccine coverage; programs to enhance capacity at state and city levels to prevent and eliminate childhood lead poisoning; and programs that improve physical activity and nutrition in early childhood educating settings.

President Donald J. Trumps new Health and Human Services secretary, Tom Price, has advocated for specific repeal of the Public Health and Prevention Fund, calling it a slush fund. In November, Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, told the online science journal Nature that if Price was confirmed as HHS secretary,  Wed be working very hard to try and change his mind to convince him that prevention is an important issue he should champion.

Ah, prevention. Even at the local level, here in Butte-Silver Bow, it is sometimes difficult to portray the value of prevention. Much work occurs at the Butte-Silver Bow Health Department to prevent something from happening, such as an outbreak of whooping cough. I have often said to my staff that if were truly competing for the county budgetary dollar, the guy filling the pothole  a pothole that you can see visibly as something that can damage your vehicle  may take funding priority over the public health nurse who works to prevent disease. If this nurse is going a great job, disease will not occur. Youll never see, feel or be harmed by it.

Prevention is hard to explain, so policy-makers, at the local, state and federal levels, will often opt for more tangible, see-able items.

When I speak to people about prevention, or about funding prevention efforts, I like to bring up cancer. Because prevention has had a lot to do over the years with decreasing cancer rates.

The first anti-smoking campaign was established in 1964, when the U.S. populace began receiving education about the fact that smoking causes lung cancer, which can cause death. Since 1971, when the last television advertisement promoting cigarettes appeared, smoking has declined by half, and the rate of lung cancer has also declined.

That first anti-smoking campaign, and all of the tobacco campaigns that followed, are prevention efforts that have saved people's lives.

The Prevention and Public Health Fund, a gem embedded in the Affordable Care Act, is not a slush fund. Rather  like uninsured people obtaining coverage, like young adults remaining insured, like people with pre-existing conditions protecting their health  it is a valued part of our society.
BILLINGS  Two senators  both from Montana  are taking very different approaches to last week's U.S. Senate showdown with Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Sen. Steve Daines, who gaveled Warren into silence on the floor of the Senate, is using the moment as a fundraiser. Last week, Jon Tester didn't mention that Warren had come up at a White House meeting he attended in which President Donald J. Trump apparently referred to her several times as "Pocahontas."

The D.C. press is reporting a much more contentious meeting between President Donald Trump and red state Democrats than the one Tester described last week to home-state media.

Trump referred to Sen. Elizabeth Warren more than once as Pocahontas, according to Politico, and told red state Democrats, including Tester, that he was glad Warren, a first-term senator from Massachusetts, was the face of the Democratic Party.

Warren came up as Trump discussed an episode on the senate floor earlier in the week in which the Massachusetts Democrat was gaveled down by Montana Republican Daines.

While Tester hasnt mentioned Warren in the past week, Daines has done the opposite, making an anti-Warren appeal to Montanans for campaign donations.

The reference to "Pocahontas" is a slur intended to criticize Warren about her earlier claim that she was one-thirty-second Cherokee. The claim was proven false, prompting some to call her "Fauxcahontas" during her 2012 election campaign.

Testers version of the luncheon, told to the Montana press after the Feb. 9 meeting, was more subdued.

Asked what his impression of the meeting was, Tester replied, "Dont take this the wrong way, but it wasnt confrontational at all. It was just flat non-confrontational, Tester said. It was very open conversation, very, very much, very much an open dialogue. He (Trump) did more talking than everybody else and Vice President (Mike) Pence did less talking than everybody else. But everybody in that meeting had the opportunity to visit with the president directly, and I appreciate that."

The Gazette presented Tester on Monday with eight questions for this article. The senator answered none of them. His communications director, Marnee Banks, issued the following statement.

This is a perfect example of why Washington is so broken. What matters most is that Jon used his opportunity with the president to raise specific concerns that Montanans brought directly to him. Jon left the White House with a personal assurance from President Trump that he will address Jons concerns to provide Montana seniors with better access to Medicare.

In addition, Trump brought up his belief that there was wide-spread voter fraud in the 2016 election. For weeks, Democrats have argued theres no proof of wide-spread voter fraud.

Tester represents tribes from seven American Indian reservations in Montana. His is the former chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. He and Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., are current Senate Indian Affairs Committee members and the only ones also among the six Democrats at the luncheon.

The Warren discussion stemmed from a floor debate Feb. 7 concerning the confirmation of Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions to be attorney general. Daines was overseeing the debate and ordered Warren to take her seat after she began to read from a 1986 letter by Coretta Scott King, in which the civil rights leader said Sessions had undermined the rights of black voters.

Warren was gaveled down under a Senate rule that prevents lawmakers from disparaging fellow senators, Daines told The Gazette.

The morning after the incident, Montanas Republican senator posted a video clip of Warren being gaveled down.

Over the weekend, the Daines re-election campaign emailed Montanans asking for donations so he could stand up to Elizabeth Warren. In the campaign solicitation, Daines said Warren took the Senate floor to spew hyper-partisan rhetoric to disparage a fellow senator and conservative champion Jeff Sessions.

Tester might not be talking about Warren, while Daines mentions her often, but the two Montana lawmakers are on the same path, said Jason Thielman, of Daines for Montana.

I think were on the same course recognizing the relative popularity or acceptance of the standard bearer of the Democratic Party, Thielman said. Theres hardly a person who is more out of sync with Montanans than Elizabeth Warren."

Thielman said Sen. Daines has real concerns about facing a political attack from Warren, the liberal leader of the National Democratic Party who represents the activist leftist wing.

Without a doubt, Montanas American Indians would be offended by Trumps use of Pocahontas, Thielman said. Daines is also a Senate Indian Affairs Committee member.

They would find it objectionable, he said.

There are at least three different conservative political groups with either TV ads, literature or billboards targeting Tester.

Right Way Initiative has issued mailers to Montana voters asking Tester to Support the Trump Economic Agenda.

The Judicial Crisis Network is pressuring Tester to support Neil Gorsuch for Supreme Court.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee put up two billboards in Billings on Monday morning calling on Tester to Do Your Job and confirm Trumps nominee.
MISSOULA  Saif Alsaegh is a Montanan, through and through.

He has the Patagonia jacket and Chacos. He loves craft beer. He has a beard  because "everyone in Montana has a beard."

Alsaegh, 26, is a second-year MFA student in University of Montana's Media Arts program. He grew up in Baghdad, and came to America on a full ride to the University of Great Falls several years ago. There, he got his business degree and after graduation decided to do what he truly loved: art.

"One of my goals as an artist here in the U.S. is to connect people to each other, to find common ground where we can share our humanity in peace," he said.

He published a collection of poetry, "Iraqi Headaches," in 2013. His work has been featured in other publications over the years.

Six years after moving to the states, he misses Montana when he leaves. On a trip to Nashville, he had to watch "A River Runs Through It" to cure his homesickness.

"I don't have that feeling for Iraq," he said. "Iraq is associated with pain. Montana is associated with beauty."

***

Now, he worries what could happen if he chooses to travel abroad.

Next month, his and his brother Fady's experimental film "Alazeef" premieres at the Cinema du Reel documentary film festival at the Pompidou Center and other venues in Paris, "probably the biggest screening we've had so far."

The film focuses on an Iraqi soldier in the week before Desert Storm in 1991. They use striking imagery and a variety of music  Swedish, Iraqi, French, heavy metal  to guide the story.

"We try to bridge the East and West," he said. "We want to separate the governments from the people.

"One of the main points of the film is to humanize 'the other,' in this case, Americans."

Early on in Alsaegh's UM academic career, faculty suggested he work closely with assistant professor of media arts Talena Sanders as his work leaned experimental.

"There's a long history of a relationship with poetry and experimental films," Sanders said. "In a lot of ways his poetry background rolls over into how he works on film."

Alsaegh and Fady work on their films over the phone and Skype, taking the time difference into account as Fady lives in Turkey. Fady sent Alsaegh a W.B. Yeats poem, "An Irish Airman Foresees His Death," that stuck with Alsaegh, as it humanizes that soldier in the same way the Alsaegh brothers bring humanity to their Iraqi soldier.

Part of the poem reads, "Those that I fight I do not hate; those that I guard I do not love."

But Alsaegh is no longer going to the festival.

"I don't want to leave in case something happens and I can't come back," he said, referring to the recent travel ban ordered by President Donald Trump. The ban included Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Although last week the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's halt to the travel ban, there's still too much uncertainty, Alsaegh said.

"When his film was accepted to Cinema du Reel, we talked about if he could go and what that would mean, because even before Trump took office, his status as an asylum seeker still made it very uncertain whether or not he could travel," Sanders said.

She sought advice from immigration lawyers, who said it was risky. Sanders and Alsaegh still thought they could make it work  and then the travel ban came down.

"We couldn't risk him getting trapped in France," Sanders said. "It's very unfortunate because this is a big festival in our field and it's going to be a big premiere for his film, and a big opportunity for him to meet other filmmakers and curators. He misses out on that opportunity as a result of these restrictions."

***

It's a feeling that reminds Alsaegh of Iraq.

"Because of the policies of the new administration, we're back to feeling uncertain again," he said. "We come to escape the uncertainty of death, the safety that we don't have.

"Everything is condensed and surreal in Iraq. There's the routine of war. That's harder than the war itself. It's not the bombs, it's the routine of uncertainty of will I live or not, will I come back home."

He wishes people understood that refugees are not fleeing their countries to start the same chaos in America. Missoula has welcomed 67 refugees since last fall, 12 of whom arrived since Trump's executive order.

"Nobody flees (expletive) situations in Iraq and other countries to restart that here," he said. "There's no refugee or immigrant that has the energy to start (expletive) here. They're fleeing.

"I think in general, Americans are smarter than this."

It's been too long since Alsaegh has seen his family. His brother, sister-in-law, mother and aunt now live in Turkey. They're trying to come to America, but they continue facing delays.

Alsaegh's father died a couple of months ago, and he wasn't able to be with his family. They used Skype so he could be there, in some way, for the Catholic Mass.

Alsaegh was told that his story would be better received by Americans because he's Christian and "westernized."

"That's sad, but it's fine," he said.

***

Alsaegh grew up watching American troops roll down the streets of Baghdad, but "I never hated Americans."

"My friends and I back home, we all liked America growing up, even if we didn't necessarily like (George W.) Bush," he said. "We watched 'Friends,' 'Seinfeld,' 'Titanic.'"

The irony played out on their TVs. Saddam Hussein would give a speech against America, and the next program on TV would be a Hollywood movie.

"He's doing a dance all the time in his work of navigating this tension between the longing for home and the memories of home, and the relative security of his life in the U.S. and the freedom he has to make work that can be critical or experimental," Sanders said.

Alsaegh is now working with Humanities Montana as a speaker, heading to schools, universities and bookstores to screen his films, read his poetry and tell his life experiences.

"I'll share my art, which reflects who I am," he said. "I want to promote peace and communication. If we isolate Iraqis and people from other countries, distance turns into ambiguity and ambiguity turns into hate."

He's thankful for UM, as administration, faculty and students have all voiced their opposition to the travel ban.

"I think they're on the right side of this whole issue," he said.

Someday, Alsaegh would like to own a cabin in western Montana where he can focus solely on his art.

"Eventually I just want to be left alone to make art," he said.
Outdoor magazine editor to speak

The Montana Tech Public Lecture Series continues at 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, in CBB 102 on the campus. Guest speakers will be Tom Dickson and Luke Duran, editor and art director of Montana Outdoors magazine.

Dickson has been the editor of Montana Outdoors for the past 15 years and before that worked as a writer for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and managing editor of Fins and Feathers magazine. Over the past two decades his articles and publications have won 17 first place awards from the Association of Conservation Information and two first place awards from the National Association of Government Communicators.

Duran has been the art director of Montana Outdoors since 2002. During that time the magazine and its articles have won more first and second place awards from the Association for Conservation Information that those of any other state conservation agency in the United States.

Snowmobile fun-run at Wise River

A snowmobile fun-run to raise money for the Shriners' Children's Hospital is planned Saturday, Feb. 18, with sign up from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Wise River Club.

Lunch will be served at the warming hut, and door prizes and gifts will be awarded at the Wise River Club at 5 p.m. Proceeds specified for the children's hospital will go to the Butte Bagdad Shriners.

Details: Tom David, 406-832-3258.

Chili cook-off at Alano Club

The Butte Alano Clubs annual chili cook-off will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 4, at 721 S. Utah St.

Nine local chili chefs will be participating in the event, which is a fundraiser for the Focus Recovery Group. Suggested donation is $5, and beverages will be sold by the Alano Club. A 50/50 raffle will also take place. Details: 406-723-9809.

Butte CPR grant apps available

Butte Citizens for Preservation and Revitalization is accepting grant applications for the Historic Improvement Program. Since 1997, Butte CPR has paid out over $70,000 through this grant program to assist in facade improvements that honor the historic character of buildings throughout Butte.

One or more grants will be awarded to either residential or commercial applicants who meet the appropriate criteria. To be considered for an award, buildings must be circa 1950 or earlier, and improvements must be compatible with the historic character of the building and visible from the street. Grants range from $600 to $2,000. The deadline for applications is May 1.

Butte CPR is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of historic buildings in Butte. For grant guidelines and to apply for a grant, go to http://www.buttecpr.org/services/grants.php. Questions? contact us at info@buttecpr.org or call 406-782-3682.
When I read the opinion on 2-2-17 in The Montana Standard, written by the Missoulian, stating not only was Sharia law not a threat but also, Montana would be the 10th state to allow religious bigotry to override common sense. I knew I had to bring some solid facts forward to contest this and illustrate that Sharia is, in fact, a very real and deadly serious threat. The Montana Senate has passed SB 97 to prevent foreign law from being used in Montana; now this goes before the Montana House of Representatives for a vote.

Contrary to what was said, Sharia law has been used in court in many U. S. states (see a list below). Our Constitution does not allow this, yet it has been done anyway. Therefore, Sharia law is a real threat to U. S. citizens and this trend needs to be stopped before it even starts in Montana!

Imam Rauf, who tried to erect the Ground Zero Mosque, argues that Sharia law is compatible with the U.S. Constitution. Andrew McCarthy, former assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, says in response to this:

What I think the Imam (Rauf) means about this is that there are mechanisms within the Constitution [such as amendments] that can be exploited to completely change the constitutional system . If laws get enacted, or if litigation is brought in courts, the Sharia agenda can be advanced. So he (Imam) sees in our Constitution the sort of loopholes and mechanisms that he can use to advance Sharia, in that sense its (the Constitution is) Sharia-compliant.

That is exactly the type of manipulation that has been used in the cases that have applied Sharia in the United States. Montana cannot allow this!

Why would any legislator not want to create an additional firewall, a safeguard, for our Montana citizens when they see this cancer creeping into courts in other states? I urge our legislators to get Senate Bill 97 passed and prevent Sharia law in Montana! I commend Senator Keith Regier of Kalispell for his wisdom in introducing this bill!

Although this is not a comprehensive list of all U. S. cases using Sharia law, my research reveals enough evidence to cause genuine alarm. Here is a sample of cases I found that used Sharia law:

 Marriage: In re Marriage of Obaidi, Washington State trial court; Aklieh v. Elchahal, Florida; Rahman v. Hossain, New Jersey; S. D. v. M. J. R., New Jersey.

 Divorce: Chaudry v. Chaudry; and Aleem v. Aleem

 Child Custody: In re Marriage of Malak, California; S. B. v. W. A., New York, 2012; Charara v. Yatim, Massachusetts, 2010

 Attempts in criminal law: In People v. Jones, the defendant beat his wife to death. At trial, the defendant attempted to use Islamic law -- permitting him to discipline his wife  saying it negated any criminal intent he had to commit murder or do great bodily harm 

In E. Band of Cherokee Indians v. Sequoyah, the victim of domestic violence attempted to stop the prosecutor from using pictures of her taken by a victims advocate agency as evidence to prosecute her husband due to Islamic law.

 Honor killings: One clear case involved Faleh Almaleki of Phoenix, Arizona, who was convicted of killing his daughter for refusing an arranged marriage with an Iraqi male.

Rahim Alfelawi was prosecuted in Michigan for murdering his daughter for living an American lifestyle.

The Missoulian article stated that, Nowhere in America is Sharia or any other foreign law the law of the land. Not the law of the whole land, as stated, but certainly it has been used as law in some courts in America.

A common argument I observed in these cases is that religious tolerance prohibits discrimination in favor of Islam in court. This is a very dangerous and specious line of reasoning for America, indeed.

Sharia is an absolutely terrifying system of laws for women. Please look up Islamic law and related cases on the internet, you will be shocked! Women under Sharia have no rights as we know them here. The women marching recently in Helena should be back there, fervently insisting that SB 97 gets passed. Citizens please contact your Montana representatives.
I write in support of our great Senator, Steve Daines. It is great to see him working with the administration to help "drain the swamp." His actions combined with Senate leader Mitch McConnell to shut down another senator for violating senate rules shows his sincere interest in helping our country move forward. With so many lip-flapping left wing politicians in our government, trying to destroy our country, a Senator like Steve Daines is more than necessary and does our great state proud.

Now that you have shown us your abilities in Washington D.C., maybe you could bring your gavel back home to Montana and help "DRAIN THE SWAMP BACK HERE AT THE HARRISON VA HOSPITAL.'' You could start at the office of the director. While veterans sit in wait for treatment, this director sits on her golden throne, protected from veterans, and protected by her caretakers outside her door. She is unavailable to see or talk with veterans.

I have been waiting since October 2016 for medical care, (OVER FOUR MONTHS) with no treatment in sight. I am 68 years old. I have another veteran friend who needs treatment also but he has given up and decided to pay the price out of his own pocket so that he could get private medical care. He is 80 years old. This treatment needs to immediately cease and the swamp needs to be drained at Montana's Veterans Hospital, starting with the director.

Please help us Senator Daines. More detailed information available, upon request by you, Senator Daines. The disrespect shown to our elder veterans especially,has got to immediately cease. No elderly veteran should even enter this hospital without a guardian with him/her to protect them from the disrespect and abuse shown at this hospital. Bring a younger son/daughter or alert spouse with you to avoid being abused by this corrupt administrative/medical staff.

Not all staff members are corrupt but the majority of the leadership needs immediate replacing. No excuses.
Over 1,000 Montanans rallied to show their strong support for our public lands at our state Capitol on a cold, January day. It was a sign of a healthy democracy  cars, trucks, minivans and buses full of Montanans converged on the Peoples House from all corners of our state. Families, young couples, grandmas, grandpas, college kids and the young at heart were smiling and cheering as a broad cross-section of Montanans took to the podium to loudly proclaim their love of the greatest treasure in the treasure state: our public lands. It was truly a shining moment, full of harmony and good will, with a little biting humor thrown in (we are Montanans, after all).

Unfortunately, the response that was received from the Senate majority floor leader left many of us cold and disheartened. Sen. Fred Thomas, R-Stevensville, from his lofty perch on the third floor of the Capitol, claimed that the concerns of outdoor enthusiasts were completely fake. He also said that concerns over how the state of Montana would manage 27 million acres of public land, with no plan in place to do so, have no merit.

Proponents of the transfer and sale of public lands use a common refrain in their push to steal land that belongs to all Americans: Trust us, but we have to get the lands before we tell you how theyll be managed. To us, that sounds a lot like we need to pass the bill so we can know whats in it.

Congress, not wanting to wait for anything, has already started the assault on public lands. H.R. 621, while recently pulled by the sponsor, would have sold 3.3 million acres of public land. H.R. 622 would eliminate Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management rangers who help keep hunters and hikers safe in the backcountry, and help our game wardens and sheriffs catch bad guys on the back roads of Montana. Further assaults on public land are in the works under Orwellian named bills that would end the public involvement in public land management or hand management of public lands over to states or even individual counties, who are ill-equipped to handle the massive amount of work and costs involved.

On the home front, the Montana Legislature has repeatedly tried to pass anti-public land bills and resolutions, attempted to legislatively manage our wildlife and as this session unfolds, they will bring more bills to try and advance the unpopular and unwise notion of transferring public lands out of public hands.

A recent Colorado College Poll has shown that 88 percent of Montanans want improved access to public lands and 58 percent of Montanans oppose the transfer and sale of public lands. Being outdoors and enjoying all Montana has to offer is not partisan and its not an issue that our elected leaders should ignore us on to push out-of-state snake oil pitches. Montanans love all of our public lands. That includes our beautiful mountains, forests and streams, many of which are on federal national forests and other lands.

All Montanans want to see the proper stewardship of our public lands. We invite Senator Thomas to join us in working with local collaboratives that seek common ground on these issues. This would be a much better use of his time and talents, instead of telling concerned Montanans that their fears are fake, and their love of public lands is misplaced.
Undeterred by Gov. Steve Bullocks veto two years ago, Sen. Roger Webb introduced a bill Monday that would require a hearing before a patient found guilty but mentally ill can be transferred from the Montana State Hospital to the State Prison.

The three-term Republican argued that the current transfer procedure  which involves a review board composed of state employees and does not grant the patient any representation or notice  is a violation of due process rights and undermines the intent of judges who sentence convicts to intensive treatment only found at the hospital.

All were asking for is an independent review board. Absolutely I dont want just folks employed by (the Department of Public Health and Human Services), which is kinda like the fox watching the hen house, he said. This is about accountability. And it gives the individual a fighting chance at his own civil rights.

Supporters included Disability Rights Montana, the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Montana, a father whose son at the state hospital was threatened with transfer to the state prison, and former judge Nels Swandal, a Republican senator from Wilsall.

What were most concerned about as judges is making sure the individual who is guilty but mentally ill is taken care of. Most of the time its not their fault what happens, he said. They dont belong in prison. They cant get along (in general population) and end up in solitary confinementAll this bill does is make the Department prove before they transfer somebody that its in their best interest.

Webbs measure is similar to one he carried in 2015. It passed the Senate, 45-5, and the House, 97-1, but was vetoed by Bullock. A mail vote to override the veto failed to reach the necessary two-thirds approval, falling short 16 votes in the House and 6 votes in the Senate.

In a May 2015 veto letter, Bullock wrote the bill would create an additional and costly taxpayer-funded hearing to second guess the recommendations of the inmate treating professionals. It gives GBMI inmates special rights after they have already received full due process of law when they were found guilty, sentenced and had the right to appeal.

His letter also noted overcrowding at the forensic unit of the state hospital and called the transfer process rare.

In the last five years, 26 people have been transferred from the state hospital to the state prison and only two have been transferred back, Webb, DPHHS officials and others testified.

Bullock Communications Director Ronja Abel said in a written statement that Bullock is monitoring the bill, but declined to say whether he intended to veto it this year.

The Governor continues to have concerns about the potential cost to taxpayers resulting from the bill, the failure to recognize the recommendations of treatment professionals, and the safety of staff and patients, she said.

DPHHS Administrator Zoe Barnard, who oversees the division that includes the state hospital, read testimony that, in many places, matched the governors veto letter word-for-word.

Again, this is a clinical review with clinicians, she said. The few instances of transfers from the prison back to the state hospital is an indication the current system results in placements that are legal, fair and based on the needs of the inmate.

A few months after Bullocks 2015 veto, Disability Rights Montana filed a lawsuit against the state that alleged four forensic patients were denied due process rights in the transfers. The case was dropped March 31.
MUSCATINE, Iowa  The Muscatine Community School District announced Tuesday morning it is working with the Muscatine Police Department, Muscatine County Attorney's Office and Aligned Impact Muscatine with United Way to lower chronic absenteeism rates in the district.

The coalition will focus on keeping students 6-11 years old in school, official said at a joint news conference Tuesday.

Shauna Dennison, Central Middle School assistant principal, said more than 17.6 percent of Central students were chronically absent in the 2015-16 school year.

The school, police department and AIM already inform parents of a child's absence through phone calls, home visits and letters, with a goal of making parents aware of the problem, and helping them be more comfortable addressing the issue.

"It's really made a difference in our data; it's really improved," Dennison said. "I think one of the things that's helpful is it's made the community more aware of how important it is that the kids are in school."

After 18 unexcused absences, a letter is sent referring parents to Muscatine County Attorney Alan Ostergren, who has two options: civil enforcement  a fine  or criminal penalty.

"I'm like the principal's office for the principal's office," he said.

Keeping kids in school is the goal, Ostergren said, and he would be "perfectly happy" if he never filed a civil action or criminal charge for truancy.

"It's one of those cases that if you have to file it you hope you get to dismiss it because you've had a positive impact," he said.

Whitney Pena, a school resource officer with the Muscatine Police Department, said she will talk to parents and ask what the school district can to do help students get to school.

"Our goal in this is not to arrest the parents, it's to get the kids to come to school," she said.

Dennison said phone calls have helped identify students in crisis, who can then be referred to the help they need.

Mike McGrory, school district assistant superintendent, said absenteeism can cause students to lose valuable time learning.

"Then what happens is it compounds every year and they get farther and farther behind," he said.

Lt. Jeff Jirak said he has encountered students who were chronically truant 20 years ago and who are now entering the criminal justice system.

"I would love nothing more than...getting that curbed so that way we're not seeing them 20 years down the road," he said.
MUSCATINE, Iowa  A Mississippi River Parkway Commission has asked Muscatine County officials for $500-$2,000 to support its mission.

Dan Petersen, a Muscatine County representative on the Mississippi River Parkway Commission, made the request during Monday's Muscatine County Board of Supervisors meeting.

Commission members held their annual meeting in Muscatine Monday to discuss ways to encourage tourism along the Mississippi River.

"It's a commission that was started back in the 1920s or '30s," Petersen told county officials. "It was set up to go up the Great River Road and enhance its beauty and encourage tourism."

Ten counties in Iowa border the Mississippi River, but Petersen said the group has been "scraping the bottom of the barrel" financially.

The group focuses on websites, Petersen to promote tourism internationally as well as in the U.S.

"When a foreigner comes to America, the Mississippi River is the third most popular attraction," he said.

Petersen said the group has improved its websites, providing more information about harvest seasons and other attractions. And, he added, there is an effort to create a bike race or ride along Great River Road.

"It's all through volunteer work," he said.

The supervisors did not take action on the request.

In other business, the Board of Supervisors:

Set a public hearing for 9 a.m., Monday, March 6 to discuss vacating various alleys in the county.

Discussed a cold storage building the county plans to build at 3610 Park Ave. West. County Engineer Keith White said t the building will house his crews' vehicles, many of which are often left to sit outside.
MUSCATINE, Iowa  Plans for the new high school gym were among topics discussed at Monday night's Muscatine Community School District school board meeting. Board members also learned about the district needs from a University of Iowa expert and dealt with the budget consequences of declining enrollment.

High school gym

The district budgeted $4.43 million for work on the high school gym entrance and weight area for Fiscal Year 2017. The board approved a resolution to seek bids for the project.

Conversation: Tyler Riley, architect at FEH Design, showed the board some conceptual drawings and plans. The new gym will have two floors and will feature concession stands and a weight room. The exterior of the building will have a lot of glass and a large Muskies sign. On the inner walls, there will be vinyl photos of Muscatine athletes. The renovated gym, he said, will be available for summer 2018 graduation, with construction beginning in April. Board member Nathan Mather emphasized that money for this project will come from a different funding stream that cannot be used anything but facilities improvement.

Its not like were trying to build a palace and not educate the kids, he said.

Whats next? The bid date is set to March 16 and there will be a public hearing on the plans in the March board meeting.

Declining enrollment

Background: The district lost 86 students between October 2015 and October 2016, which translates to a loss of $535,116 in state funding next year. To cushion districts who experience declining enrollment, the state offers a budget guarantee, which allows districts to make up the difference in funding by drawing on local property taxes.

Conversation: The board approved the budget guarantee resolution. By the districts estimation, the projected increase to local property taxes may translate to a 42 cents increase per $1,000 of property taxes.

Whats next? The budget guarantee needs to be approved before April.

Needs assessment

Background: Last August, the board hired the University of Iowas Center for Evaluation and Assessment to study the districts needs. Experts from the university did an online survey of students, parents and staff and conducted focus groups with school leaders.

Conversation: Liz Hollingworth, director of the Center for Evaluation and Assessment, presented some of the findings of the assessment. Some of the district's challenges, according to the survey, were drugs in the community, cyber-bullying and supporting at-risk students. Teachers also said they feel unprepared to address the emotional needs of students. The needs assessment also identified areas of strength, for example, 88 percent of respondents said that teachers in the district cared about students.

Whats next? The board will use the results of the assessment to tailor services and programs in the district.
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 []
Jeremy Clarkson, the popular host of Amazon original The Grand Tour, and previously BBCs Top Gear, has included Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on his list of most annoying airports.

Writing on Twitter this Saturday, Jeremy made a list of the top 5 most annoying airports he has been to, and included Nairobi alongside Englands Gatwick and Luton, New Yorks JFK and Atlanta, Georgia.

Right. Jeremys top five most annoying airports guide, Gatwick, Luton, JFK, Nairobi, and Atlanta (mainly because I dont like the carpets), he tweeted.

Its unclear when Jeremy was in Nairobi, but it must have been after the introduction of new, strict security measures.

One guy asked him why he included Nairobi on the list, and he had this to say.

Anyway, Kenya Airports took note and hopefully theyll use the feedback.
Kenya Airports Authority(KAA) has condemned the alleged harassment of Uber drivers at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where they are reportedly not allowed to operate.

In a statement on Monday, KAA noted they had received complaints from members of the public.

This follows a social media outrage last week after an Uber taxi was clamped by KAA officials and its driver accused of conducting illegal business of picking customers from the airport.

The driver was fined Sh 15,000 for his car to be released.

An Uber customer also accused KAA officers of corruption after he ordered an Uber taxi whose driver was arrested upon arrival at the airport and his vehicle clamped.

The same happened to the second vehicle he ordered.

All this time I was recording this. When KAA officers saw me recording they asked me to delete the video and threatened to arrest me, he said.

He said they released him thinking he had deleted the recording.

In its statement, the Airport Authority urged airport users to use the officially registered yellow taxis to avoid such incidents, until a solution is found.

Read the full statement below:

Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has received concerns raised by the Public about alleged harassment of Uber drivers at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

We wish to reiterate that KAA does not in any way condone any form of harassment of our esteemed customers, clients, users and/or stakeholders at any of our airports and neither does the Authority nor our staff dictate the choice of transport for airport users.

We however encourage our customers and airport users to use the officially registered Airport Taxis (Yellow Airport Taxis) that can be found at various designated waiting and pick-up points within the airport.

Meanwhile, KAA is in discussions with other non airport registered taxi service providers to establish a commercial arrangement that is similar to the existing arrangement with the registered providers to officially allocate them space to wait and pick up their customers at our airports.

This will be announced to the travelling public in due course.
The son of celebrity couple Diamond Platnumz and Zari, Prince Nillan, is following in the footsteps of his older sister, Princess Tiffah.

Over the weekend, the two-month-old baby boy was unveiled in a corporate sponsored party just like his sister was unveiled in 2015.

The party dubbed Nillans 40, courtesy of GSM Group of Companies was held in Madale, Tanzania on Saturday and marked Nillans 40 days since birth.

The bash was attended by family, close friends and various artists from the Wasafi stable.

The photos:
Anti-narcotics detectives have arrested five more drug trafficking suspects and recovered 17 kilograms of heroin worth Sh170 million and Sh18 million in cash.

The five, including a female law student, were arrested on Sunday night in sting operations in Mombasa and Kilifi counties.

The Kenya Law student identified as Wendy is linked to the two Seychelles citizens arrested on drug trafficking charges and deported on Saturday.

Coast Regional Coordinator Nelson Marwa on Monday said the student was a girlfriend of one of the two Seychellois.

Two of the suspects were arrested with two kilogrammes of the heroin while the others were seized with 15 kilos of the drugs which was being hidden at a house in Bamburi for local distribution, Mr Marwa said at the Bamburi Police Station.

Mr Marwa said four vehicles belonging to the suspects are also being detained for further investigations.

The suspects were charged at Shanzu Law court on Monday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the two deported Seychellois suspects had been on the Interpol wanted list for close to two years, and are alleged to have been involved in the trafficking of heroin worth close to Sh1 billion into their country in 2015.

The two, 42-year-old Nedy Micock and 32-year-old Vivian Domingue, were arrested at an apartment in Mombasas Nyali area on Friday night.
SHANGHAI  President Donald Trump is poised to receive something Tuesday that he has been trying to get from China for a decade: trademark rights to his own name. After suffering rejection after rejection in China's courts, he saw his prospects change dramatically after launching his presidential campaign.

Trump's late triumph in the fight to wrest back his brand for construction services could prove to be the first of many intellectual property victories in China during his presidency. Each win creates value for Trump's business empire, and ethics questions about his administration.

At stake are 49 pending trademark applications and 77 marks registered under his own name, most of which will come up for renewal during his term. The president could also claw back control of more than 225 Trump-related marks held or sought by others in China, for items including toilets, condoms, pacemakers and even a "Trump International Hotel."

Ethics lawyers say the trademarks present conflicts of interest for Trump and may violate the emoluments clause of the U.S. Constitution, which bars public servants from accepting anything of value from foreign governments unless explicitly approved by Congress.

Countries could use Trump's desire to control his brand to extend  or withhold  favor, especially a nation such as China where the courts and bureaucracy reflect the imperatives of the ruling Communist Party.

"There can be no question that it is a terrible idea for Donald Trump to be accepting the registration of these valuable property rights from China while he's a sitting president of the United States," said Norman Eisen, who served as chief White House ethics lawyer for President Barack Obama. "It's fair to conclude that this is an effort to influence Mr. Trump that is relatively inexpensive for the Chinese, potentially very valuable to him, but it could be very costly for the United States."

Eisen is involved in a lawsuit alleging that Trump's foreign business ties violate the U.S. Constitution. Trump has dismissed the lawsuit as "totally without merit."

The precise value of the trademarks is uncertain, but in a 2011 letter to then-U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Trump wrote that he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to defend his brand in China.

He railed against Chinese courts for not recognizing that he was famous, writing that "it appears the only two places in the world I am not well known are" China and Macau.

Trump's elevated profile as president will likely make it easier to protect his brand in China, said Zhou Dandan, a lawyer with Unitalen Attorneys at Law in Beijing, which has worked for Trump since 2006. Trademark authorities will almost certainly reject new "Trump" applications from unrelated parties, she said, and may take back rights from existing "Trump" trademark holders.

That's what happened in the case nearing completion this week.

Back in December 2006, Trump applied for rights to the Trump mark for construction services. He was rejected because China operates on a first-come-first-served principle and a man named Dong Wei had filed a similar application two weeks earlier. Trump appealed to Chinese authorities for 10 grinding years and was rejected time and again, right up until the month before he declared his candidacy.

Then something changed. China's trademark authorities published their decision to invalidate Dong's trademark for construction services on Sept. 6, 2016. Trump's application moved ahead, and if no one objects, the trademark will be registered to Trump on Tuesday. Dong could not be reached for comment.

Why is Trump winning now, after years of failure? China's State Administration for Industry and Commerce and its foreign ministry did not reply to requests for comment.

Alan Garten, chief legal officer of The Trump Organization, said the company "has been zealously protecting its valuable brand internationally for more than 20 years." He did not answer questions about the ethical dilemmas Trump's China trademarks present for his presidency.

Some lawyers say Trump may have benefited from a general hardening in China's stance toward trademark squatters, but others believe politics played a role.

"It would be hard to imagine that the judges, the Trademark Office and/or the Trademark Review and Adjudication Board were acting without some kind of guidance," said Dan Plane, a director at Simone IP Services, a Hong Kong intellectual property consultancy.

He added that Trump may be less successful in future cases "if there's a clear decision made by an angry Chinese government to stop giving broad protection to the Trump name."

Meanwhile, the makers of Trump-branded luxury toilets at Shenzhen Trump Industrial Co. face a potent new potential adversary. They say they will defend their brand, even if it means taking on the U.S. president.

Co-founder Zhong Jiye said his Trump brand, which dates to 2002, has nothing to do with President Trump. The Chinese name brings together ideas of innovation and popularity, he said. And in English, the "U'' makes a nice toilet-seat shape logo.

Trump toilets for the home can do pregnancy tests. Models for public use have disposable seat covers for improved hygiene. People use Trump toilets some 100 million times a year, Zhong said.

Among them, he added, are customers at Zhongnanhai, the official residence of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  Up, up and away: Dubai hopes to have a passenger-carrying drone regularly buzzing through the skyline of this futuristic city-state in July.

The arrival of the Chinese-made EHang 184  which already has had its flying debut over Dubais iconic, sail-shaped Burj al-Arab skyscraper hotel  comes as the Emirati city also has partnered with other cutting-edge technology companies, including Hyperloop One.

The question is whether the egg-shaped, four-legged craft will really take off as a transportation alternative in this car-clogged city already home to the worlds longest driverless metro line.

Mattar al-Tayer, the head of Dubais Roads & Transportation Agency, announced plans to have the craft regularly flying at the World Government Summit. Before his remarks on Monday, most treated the four-legged, eight-propeller craft as just another curiosity at an event that views itself as a desert Davos.

This is not only a model, al-Tayer said. We have actually experimented with this vehicle flying in Dubais skies.

The craft can carry a passenger weighing up to 100 kilograms (220 pounds) and a small suitcase. After buckling into its race-car-style seat, the crafts sole passenger selects a destination on a touch-screen pad in front of the seat and the drone flies there automatically.

The drone, which has a battery allowing for a half-hour flight time and a range of up to 50 kilometers (31 miles), will be monitored remotely by a control room on the ground. It has a top speed of 160 kph (100 mph), but authorities say it will be operated typically at 100 kph (62 mph).

Al-Tayer said the drone would begin regular operations in July. He did not elaborate.

The Road and Transportation Agency later issued a statement saying the drone had been examined by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and was controlled through 4G mobile Internet. The agency did not immediately respond to further questions from The Associated Press.

The United Arab Emirates already requires drone hobbyists to register their aircraft. However, drone intrusions at Dubai International Airport, the worlds busiest for international travel, has seen it shut down for hours at a time in recent months.

EHang did not respond to a request for comment. In May, authorities in Nevada announced they would partner with EHang to test the 184 to possibly be cleared by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

The drone may be a techno curiosity for now but Dubai  the commercial capital of the oil-rich UAE and home to the long-haul carrier Emirates  has bold visions for the future and the 184 fits right into its plans.

Dubais ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, announced in April he wanted 25 percent of all passenger trips in the city to be done by driverless vehicles in 2030. To that end, Dubai already has had the box-shaped driverless EZ10, built by Frances EasyMile, cruise nearby the Burj Khalifa, the worlds tallest building.

In October, Dubai signed a deal with Los Angeles-based Hyperloop One to study the potential for building a hyperloop line between it and Abu Dhabi, the Emirati capital.

A hyperloop has levitating pods powered by electricity and magnetism that hurtle through low-friction pipes at a top speed of 1,220 kph (760 mph). Elon Musk, the co-founder of Tesla who appeared on Monday at the Dubai conference, first proposed the idea of a hyperloop in 2013.

Musk, who took no questions from reporters on Monday, later launched his Tesla car brand in Dubai at an event organizers said was not open to international media. Musk has come under criticism for serving on a business council advising U.S. President Donald Trump.

A hyperloop has levitating pods powered by electricity and magnetism that hurtle through low-friction pipes at a top speed of 1,220 kph (760 mph). Elon Musk, the co-founder of Tesla who appeared on Monday at the Dubai conference, first proposed the idea of a hyperloop in 2013. The craft can carry a passenger weighing up to 100 kilograms (220 pounds) and a small suitcase. After buckling into its race-car-style seat, the crafts sole passenger selects a destination on a touch-screen pad in front of the seat and the drone flies there automatically.
The school district agreed to grant a temporary construction easement to the city at its Feb. 6 meeting so that Calistoga can replace the Berry Street Bridge.

The Calistoga Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees authorized the city to use a section of the districts property at Calistoga Elementary School needed to remove the existing bridge, which was built in 1919 and is considered functionally obsolete by the city.

A temporary pedestrian bridge with temporary utilities will be placed across the Napa River so students will still be able to walk to and from school. The new bridge will allow better flow in the river.

Two property owners who have refused to grant access and easement rights to the city are in a legal battle over the city exercising its eminent domain rights. One of the property owners, Scott Lestrange, spoke to the trustees at the meeting voicing his concerns about safety for the children.

Julie Elkeshen, clerk of the board, said she had full confidence in the city and that she believed the city will ensure everyones safety.

Due to environmental regulations the city is restricted in the timeframe  from about June to November  in which it can work on certain aspects of the bridge that would require them to be in the creek bed.

The bridge replacement has been on the citys radar for at least a few years, but was delayed at one point to conduct additional studies to determine if any threatened or endangered species would be affected during construction, but none were found.

Funding for the $2.3 million bridge is being provided by a grant from the Federal Highway Administration and Caltrans. The bridge will be under construction about the same time as the Lincoln Avenue Bridge will be replaced. The city had hoped to avoid that, but neither project can wait due to their deteriorating conditions.

The new bridge will have wider sidewalks and will take about a year to complete.
What am I drowning in? I feel pushed under and surrounded by the surreality of what the man they call Donald Trump does in a building they call the White House.

I try to remind myself when lost in the chaos that this is why I love history; its unpredictable, ever so tangled in itself, and yet horrifyingly beautiful. Its Nixon, its Franklin, its Gates, its Obama. Its Mr. Rogers on a breezy morning when the valley still felt still. Before these devices called our names, before it all happened. The happening of happening, the un-stillness of self. It was Kony, swine flu, and Pikachu. A google search just to search, a grab for anything; broad and open.

Now I feel strangely neither here nor there. I read the call of executive orders, I watch the news, I sustain feeds of thought and reckless hate online. I see signs, so many signs, and my heart feels heavy. I think of those, those voices of bitter protest against a protest of hope. Those who sit instead of standing, those faceless remarks. They would be happy if we all went into our little homes, bought wine online, and never spoke our minds again. Get a job you liberal!

It makes one wonder, what happened? For we all know even through our most humble ignorance that men of shadow and light have held high office and made mistakes, some greater than others, some more gentle, some more brash and yet we have survived. But now before our eyes, out of fire and greed, arises the beast of mankind. A man of hollow skull and hollow heart. A man who now captures the soul and futures of millions of Americans. It disturbs me. It drowns me.

I see in him our failings as a country. The reality of the situation. The reality that a lot of my friends growing up in this valley are racist. The reality that sexual assault is everywhere. Our president touches women, rich women. I have friends whose moms are rich women. I wouldn't touch them. I was taught as a child to treat others as I would like to be treated. But it feels foolish now. Like a tuxedo on my first day of school. Unnecessary entirely.

Perhaps that is the point: A man with orange face and blonde wig is shaking at the pillars of my society and I dont like it. Please stop it. You are stomping all over my values and identity. And I want to think highly of my millennial self, of this town. Of this country.

I want to think that we respect each other and can live in peace. Without fear. I want us to listen to each other. I want our country to enjoy art. Books. Science. Law. I want the rule of knowledge to be one of purity. Safe from Bannon and Tillerson and the monster they keep.

For if it wasnt for the immigrants that bring forth this grape to harvest we would be just like any old town in this country. People would say, You're from California. Thats so cool. Do you live next to the ocean? and you would say, No. I just live in Napa. But a lot of us would like that though, right? Right.

So go ahead then, you brave patriot. Take away abortion rights. Ban Muslims. Build your wall. Start war.

Let the world hear the roar of its master. We the bigot of humanity, we the ferocious and free.

Syd Caulfield

Napa
Napa Sunrise Rotary is reaching out to the community for suggestions for this years Grand Marshal in the Fourth of July parade. You speak and we listen.

Last year, you suggested amazing groups and organizations. Should it be a Horse Club this year? Napa 4H? What about Youth Softball? Last year we honored Community Projects. What a great organization.

Put on your thinking caps and let us know ASAP who you want as this years Grand Marshal.

Email me today at doris@dorisgentry.com.

Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.

Rotary club membership represents a cross-section of the community's business and professional men and women. The world's Rotary clubs meet weekly and are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds.

Rotary membership provides the opportunity to become connected to your community. Work with others in addressing community needs. Interact with other professionals in your community; assist with Rotary International's international humanitarian service efforts. Establish contacts with an international network of professionals. Develop leadership skills. Involve family in promoting service efforts.

For more information, contact me or visit napasunriserotary.net.

Doris Gentry

Napa
Monday, Feb. 6

2049 -- A VINE bus broke down near Silverado Trail and Deer Park Road.

2343 -- A large tree fell on Silverado Trail south of Pope Street, blocking both lanes.

Tuesday, Feb. 7

0344 -- An officer reported curbside flooding all over town. Public Works was notified.

0439 -- The fire department responded for a lift assist on Pope Street.

0745 -- Report of flooding in a building on La Fata Street. The pumps werent working due to a power outage.

0901 -- Report of sparks coming from power lines near Main Street.

1023 -- A caller was trying to get to Helena Hospital for surgery, but Sanitarium Road was closed. Police gave the caller an alternate route.

1351 -- A deputy talked to an officer about a dog possibly stolen from Angwin.

1555 -- A caller reported buying a computer that was shipped, but never delivered to its destination.

2313 -- Report of a driver weaving and tailgating near Main/Sulphur Springs. Police arrested the 22-year-old St. Helena man on suspicion of DUI.

Wednesday, Feb. 8

0118 -- Police responded to a loud music complaint on Peppertree Circle.

1802 -- Report of a suspicious man acting confused and trying to open car doors in a Hunt Avenue parking lot.

Thursday, Feb. 9

0621 -- Medical aid for a fall victim on Pope Street.

0919 -- A tree fell and blocked Spring Mountain Road.

1005 -- A big rig got stuck on the railroad tracks near White Lane. The railroad police were notified.

1425 -- A suspect in a silver Camry reportedly entered a parking lot on Highway 29 near Whitehall Lane, smashed the window of a parked car, and stole a purse.

1601 -- The staff of a Main Street store asked police to come deal with shoplifters. The staff had detained one suspect, and another had left on foot.

1724 -- A tree fell and blocked Spring Mountain Road.

1845 -- Police were notified of a dispute involving the purchase of a car. Police determined it was a civil matter.

Friday, Feb. 10

0237 -- Police assisted a big rig driver who missed a turn near Main Street and Deer Park Road and needed to turn around.

0735 -- Medical aid on Madrona Avenue.

1113 -- Two locked storage containers were broken into on Main Street. Power tools, hand tools, and a computer printer/scanner were stolen.

1115 -- Report of an occupied white car parked in a red zone on Main Street for two hours.

1154 -- Report of a flatbed trailer parked near Main/Pratt for more than three weeks.

1229 -- Report of suspicious circumstances and possible drug activity on Hunt Avenue.

1246 -- Report of an ongoing problem with a young man in a Mustang who constantly drives way too fast on McCorkle Avenue.

1342 -- Report of a toddler left unattended in a car seat in a Main Street parking lot.

1438 -- Medical aid for an elderly woman who fell and hit her head on Hunt Avenue.

1500 -- Report of a green Jaguar blocking a driveway on Oak Avenue.

2128 -- Report of a vehicle-vs.-pedestrian hit-and-run across from the gas station in Angwin, leaving the pedestrian with a severely broken leg. The car was described as a black Camry. The driver later returned to the scene and was arrested.

Saturday, Feb. 11

0622 -- Non-injury accident at Highway 29 and Lodi Lane.

0834 -- Report of two suspicious men hiding in the bushes behind the gas station at Main and Pope.

0957 -- Police assisted with a child custody exchange.

1150 -- Police were asked to provide cover for a sheriffs deputy serving a warrant on Hunt Avenue.

1217 -- Non-injury hit-and-run on Main Street near Elmhurst Avenue.

1243 -- A driver reported colliding with the northbound train while she was exiting an office on Main Street south of Grayson Avenue.

1304 -- Medical aid on North Crane Avenue.

1323 -- A cars tires were slashed on Mitchell Drive.

1326 -- A caller requested extra patrol on Crane Avenue, due to numerous cars speeding.

1626 -- A skunk was caught in a trap on Crane Avenue.

1837 -- Report of a tree down blocking Palmer Drive.

2213 -- Report of a possible drunk driver swerving and weaving on Highway 29 near Whitehall Lane.

Sunday, Feb. 12

0304 -- Kids were seen throwing something onto the roof of a building near Main/Hunt.

0753 -- Police were asked to check on the well-being of an elderly man on Pope Street.

1401 -- Report of a small grass fire on Valley View Street.

1418 -- Report of a dog barking and panting in a parked car on Hunt Avenue.

1434 -- Report of a reckless driver weaving and traveling at erratic speeds on northbound Silverado Trail near Highway 128.

1819 -- A driveway was vandalized on Stockton Street.

2020 -- A man on Adams Street said his son was drunk and hed like him to leave.

Monday, Feb. 13

0811 -- Report of construction starting early at 7:30 a.m. on McCorkle Avenue.

1227 -- Report of a large German shepherd running loose on Charter Oak Avenue for two hours.

1546 -- A caller said he had used a lot of crystal meth and didnt feel good. Police arrested the 23-year-old St. Helena man for being under the influence of drugs and for violation of probation.

1602 -- A fence on Hunt Avenue was damaged in a hit-and-run.

1618 -- A woman said a co-worker was verbally harassing her at their workplace on Main Street.

1810 -- A man reported he'd been bitten by a dog on Pope Street.
I have been reflecting a great deal recently on public versus private morality. Most religions and to a certain extent cultures agree in broad brush-strokes on what it means to be a good person. With regard to our treatment of others, the Ten Commandments  dont lie, dont steal, dont kill, dont covet or commit adultery, take care of family  cover most of it. We know what righteousness (to use an old-fashioned term) looks like in an individuals life. But we dont seem to apply those same standards to ourselves as a society.

The largest and loudest religious voices on the public stage for many years have been with regard to issues of what I would call private morality  the choices individuals make, how they live their lives  and how these particular issues intersect with our countrys laws: same-sex marriage, birth control, abortion, to name a few. The Episcopal Church has been one of only a handful of religious voices offering dissenting or more nuanced views on these topics. I would hazard a guess that most non-religious people equate the dominant religious voice on these issues with the sum total of what religion has to say in the public sphere. But religious sentiments focused primarily on private morality, personal holiness, and individual salvation are a relatively modern phenomenon.

The Judeo-Christian tradition is one of social holiness, of public morality. The Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament, are about the cohesion of a people based on a covenant with God which asked them to reflect Gods character not only individually, but as a society. This is particularly manifest in how the people of God were to treat the most vulnerable among them: the widows, the orphans, the foreigner.

In the New Testament, Jesus boils it down even further: Love your neighbor as yourself. Crossing every social barrier and breaking down every type of exclusion, Jesus came to show us the way of self-giving love. That love is transformative and redemptive for individuals unto eternity, certainly, but I believe the transformation and redemption of the kingdom (also translated reign, empire, government or kin-dom) of God which Jesus came to inaugurate begins here and now. As people of faith, we are about the business of helping make the words we pray come true: Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. When asked what that kingdom, or what public morality, looks like, we need look no further than love your neighbor as yourself. What we would want for ourselves and our children, that is what we are to work for on behalf of all people.

I recently returned from El Salvador where I spent a week at the board meeting of Cristosal, a nonprofit which advances human rights in Central America through rights-based programming, research, and learning, working particularly on the issue of forced displacement by violence. The human rights lens recognizes the inherent dignity, equality, and inalienable rights of every human being.

A rights-based approach addresses the dis-empowerment and dependency engendered by traditional charity models, which are strongly critiqued in Robert Luptons book Toxic Charity. It repositions the poor from being objects of charity to citizen partners, architects and owners in their own process of development. As the poor and victims of violence claim their dignity and improve their lives, we who accompany them are also transformed  public morality, the kingdom of God, comes into focus.

A bus full of North American board members, clergy, and visitors had an experience of the kingdom of God on Feb. 5. Our bus was out of place on the dusty roads in the community of tin shacks called April 30  30 de Abril, named for the date these 500 families had to evacuate their homes along the river during a flood, and resettle here.

Rather than teach something or bring something to this community, we came to learn. We assembled in a makeshift church of bamboo posts and tin roofing, surrounded by the art work of children who were receiving certificates for participation in a course promoted by the adults of their community, with the partnership of Cristosal.

The adults of April 30 who had recently completed a diploma course in human rights taught us in small groups about their experience applying human rights concepts to the legalization of their land, and we produced posters together depicting the process with the help of the children. The statement of the president of the community stuck with many of us the most: I have dignity, he said simply.

It is the moment in our history to re-claim our heritage as people of faith. Through private morality, being a good person, we honor the image of God in ourselves and others. But we are called to more. We are called to be a good society, a country that cares for its most vulnerable, recognizes our global interconnectedness, and respects the dignity of every human being. In so doing we help Gods kingdom come on earth as in heaven.
Courtesy Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.(NEW YORK) -- From "An Affair to Remember" to "Sleepless in Seattle," New York City's Empire State Building is an icon for romance in film. On Tuesday, real-life couples exchanged vows at the top of the world-famous -- and romantic -- New York landmark.



Fourteen couples wed in individual ceremonies at the Empire State Building's 86th floor observatory as a part of the Empire State Building's Valentine's Day weddings contest.



Jean-Yves Ghazi, director of the observatory for the Empire State Building, called the historic structure the "most romantic place on earth," adding that hundreds of applications were submitted for the contest.



"It's an open application," he told ABC News. "It's based on originality, what the meaning actually has for them to be married on top of the Empire State Building."



"This is the only day of the year when we actually wed couples ... it's so gratifying to be able to host these events," Ghazi said. "It's about making this happen, this dream a reality for 14 couples."



"This is our 23rd year of celebrating this special day," Ghazi said. "Love is in the air, literally!"



Meet some the couples who were chosen for this year's Valentine's Day weddings:



Krista Owens and Danielle Reno of Wantagh, New York, and Levittown, New York



Krista Owens, a New York Police Department officer, and her new wife, Danielle Reno, donned matching "just married" sneakers at Tuesday's wedding.



Owens and Reno met through mutual friends and live on Long Island.



After they found out they won the wedding contest, they were "really exited" but also "really stressed," as they had just a few weeks to get ready for the ceremony, the couple told ABC News. They plan to have a larger celebration in June.



"I, Danielle, take you, Krista, to be my wife, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our union. I will trust and respect you, laugh and cry with you, loving you faithfully, through good times and bad. I will help you to make your dreams come true, even the small ones, and to love you more than I love myself. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love from this day forward."



Andrea Hurtado and Andrew Reed of Cutler Bay, Florida



Andrew Reed met Andrea Hurtado shortly after he enlisted in the Army. Even though Reed spent five years stationed in Kentucky and served two deployments in Afghanistan, he kept his long-distance relationship with Hurtado alive through phone calls and Skype.



They now live together in Florida and their family traveled from Florida for Tuesday's ceremony.



Hurtado's grandmother told ABC News she was in disbelief when her granddaughter told her about the Empire State Building wedding.



"They got engaged here in New York. It was beautiful -- sunset, Brooklyn Bridge," she said.



Hurtado's grandmother called it a "very unique, beautiful wedding."



"Some memory she's gonna have," she said. "She's gonna have a lot to tell her children."



As Hurtado and Reed wed in front of the New York City skyline, officiant Kelly Lemons said, "When the two of you met through mutual friends eight years ago in Miami, the timing was not ideal for togetherness -- Andrew had just enlisted in the Army. In the months that followed your chemistry grew, and after Andrew deployed, Andrea would write frequently, the old fashioned way -- with letters. Mail days became the days Andrew most looked forward to. And after four months of training he expected to see his parents, but was pleasantly surprised to see Andrea, as well. Something very special was happening."



"Long distance is tough enough," the officiant continued, "but you two have lasted through five years of it, including two deployments to Afghanistan. We all would acknowledge Andrew's strength in his service, but Andrea, too, deserves credit for her strength of heart in trusting your love. There is nothing you can't get through together."



After the wedding, Hurtado told ABC News she was "so grateful."



"This has been an unbelievable experience," she said. "We couldn't have wanted it any other way."



Her new husband called the wedding "very fitting" since they got engaged in New York. "We're very lucky and very happy," Reed told ABC News.



Laura and David DeMusz of Middletown, Delaware



For high school sweethearts Laura and David DeMusz, Valentine's Day is a vital part of their story.



The duo fell in love when they were 15 years old. During a Valentine's Day dance, David DeMusz asked Laura to marry him while "My Forever Valentine" was playing.



They wed on Valentine's Day in 1998 and are now renewing their vows on their 19th wedding anniversary.



Yanqiu Wang and Huan Yang of China



Landmarks have marked important relationship milestones for Yanqiu Wang and Huan Yang.



The two met at the Canton Tower in Guangzhou, China, and then fell in love.



At the Macau Tower in Macau, China, Huan proposed.



Their tradition continued Tuesday at the Empire State Building.



Catherine Malat and Eric LeStrange of Milford, Connecticut and Shelton, Connecticut



Catherine Malat and Eric LeStrange knew each other in the 80's, but then they lost touch and they married other people.



After Malat's divorce, she contacted LeStrange through Facebook.



A few months later, a relationship blossomed.



Cynthia Eska and Joseph Moccia of Berkeley Heights, New Jersey



Joseph Moccia was serving in the United States Marine Corps when his relationship began with Cynthia Eska three years ago.



When Mocci was on military leave, one of the couple's favorite dates was going to the top of the Empire State Building.



Jennifer Cuatt and Christopher Langmack of North Salem, New York



For Jennifer Cuatt, the Empire State Building is a meaningful part of her family history. After her great-grandfather emigrated from Slovakia to the United States, he worked as a plaster worker and helped build the Empire State Building.



Jennifer and Patrick Davenport of Port Orange, Florida



The Empire State Building holds a special significance in the Davenports' relationship. The Florida couple got engaged at the Empire State Building, and two years later, they had their wedding there. On Tuesday, Jennifer and Patrick Davenport returned to renew their vows.



The couples' background information was provided by Empire State Realty Trust.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Two terms have entered common usage over the past year: alternative facts and fake news. The former was first used as Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to the President, defended the White House Press Secretarys false claims about the crowd size at the recent inauguration.

In an era of 24/7 cable news, Wikipedia, and the Internet, it has become more challenging to distinguish fact from fiction as to whats happening in the nation and world. Accordingly, California Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez recently introduced a bill requiring the state to add lessons on how to distinguish between real and fake news for 7th to 12th graders.

One of the goals of education is to develop critical thinking skills, which can be summarized as the ability to analyze and evaluate information objectively in order to form a judgment.

In his book, Excellent Sheep, William Deresiewicz observes, The truth is there are powerful forces at work in our society that distrust critical thinking and deny the proposition that democracy needs an educated citizenry.

The Oxford Dictionary announced a couple of weeks ago that post-truth is its 2016 Word of the Year. Post-truth is defined as an adjective, Relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.

As Berkeley Professor Alva Noe observes, When it comes to post-truth, feelings, identifications, anxieties and fantasies matter. Not arguments. Not facts.

Katherine Connor Martin, the head of United States dictionaries at Oxford University Press, suggests that post-truth reflects a step past truthiness, the word Merriam-Webster and The American Dialect Society chose as their Word of the Year in 2015.

Truthiness originated on The Colbert Report, a satirical mock news show, and refers to The quality of preferring concepts or facts one wishes to be true, rather than concepts or facts known to be true. As Stephen Colbert put it, I dont trust books. Theyre all fact, no heart.

A September 2016 Economist magazine article, The Art of the Lie, observes, Post-truth politics has many parents. Some are noble. The questioning of institutions and received wisdom is a democratic virtue. It concludes the danger is when autocrats and dictators use the techniques of post-truth to silence opposition. Cast adrift on an ocean of lies, the people will have nothing to cling to. For them the novelty of post-truth may lead to old-fashioned oppression.

Many English and composition teachers use the classic Little, Brown Handbook to guide students in the writing process, grammar and usage, research and documentation. A section entitled, Distinguishing Fact, Opinion, Belief, and Prejudice, offers guidance in the Age of Post-Truth and Truthiness.

Facts are Verifiable and can be determined to be true by research and evidence. Facts provide crucial support for the assertion of an argument. An example would be, Russia was a mortal enemy of the United States during what was known as the Cold War.

Opinion is An honest attempt to draw a reasonable conclusion based on factual evidence. One must always let the listener know what the evidence is and how it led to arriving at an opinion. An example would be, The Academies of Science from 80 countries, many scientific organizations that study climate, and about 97 percent of publishing climate researchers conclude that human activity is largely responsible for climate change.

Beliefs are Convictions based on cultural or personal faith, morality, or values. Capital punishment and abortion are legalized murder are examples of beliefs that are often confused with opinion. Such statements are not based on facts or other evidence and cannot serve as the thesis of formal arguments. Nonetheless, beliefs are often expressed as facts or opinion, especially when appealing to the emotions of those who already share the belief.

Prejudices are described as Half-baked assertions based on insufficient or unexamined evidence. Unlike beliefs, prejudices can be tested and disproved based on facts. An example would be All Muslims hate Christians. Were this true, how would one explain that it is a Muslim who has the only keys that open the doors each day to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, which houses two of the holiest sites in Christianity, Calvary and the tomb where Christ was reportedly buried?

At best, prejudices are careless oversimplifications. At worst they reflect a narrow-minded view of the world. In either case, they are not likely to survive the strict scrutiny of cautious observers.

Post-truth and truthiness may be the words of the year; however, truth is essential for democracy to survive.
The trained wine taster learns to look at individual structural components in a wine such as the acidity, tannins, body, alcohol, and flavor intensity levels, dissecting the wine with surgeon-like precision to assess each individual part.

In the end, it is the overall balance of these components that helps separate a great wine from a good wine. For more than nine years, some of the Napa Valleys finest winemakers have gathered each month at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone for the St. Helena Star/Napa Valley Vintners Tasting Panel to assess the regions fine wines. Flights of wines are tasted blind, ranked and discussed by these veteran tasters.

Would a group of discerning wine enthusiasts, tasting some of these same wines blind, rank them any differently from tasting panelists?

The match was on. Taking place at the St. Francis Yacht Club, the event was organized by Peter Stoneberg, a member of the clubs wine buying committee, with the Napa Valley Vintners providing wines that were poured at the Tasting Panels previous two sessions (in December and in January) on cabernet sauvignon. A packed audience of the Yacht Clubs wine members joined in the early evening tasting event, held Feb. 2.

What were these wine enthusiasts looking for in a wine? What made a wine their favorite of a flight? Answers to that question included comments such as not a bitter taste at the end; looking for bright fruit, not grippy; and not just oak but fruit too. Interestingly, these answers reveal that balance is at the heart of their decisions as well.

Of course, the curious will want to know: did that lead both groups to rate the wines the same? The following wines placed first in their flights at the Tasting Panels cabernet sauvignon sessions at the CIA:

PureCru Napa Valley 2012 MC Signature ($50)

A powerhouse team led by Mitch Cosentino that is micro-handling fruit for master blends. This wine is 84 percent cab, but merlots richness and cabernet francs aromatics are deemed critical to the overall finesse and structure of the wine. Concentrated red fruits share the stage with a complex mix of spices.

Castello di Amorosa 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($55)

The Tasting Panel has time and time again chosen wines made by Brooks Painter as top picks in their blind tastings. No other winery has so consistently received raves. Everything is generous about this 2013 cabernet sauvignon, but it is beautifully integrated and balanced. Sturdy tannins are balanced by vibrant fruits flavors that are layered with aromas of fresh forest and sweet spice.

Groth Vineyards & Winery 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville ($60)

Recent vintages are being made in a richer, more concentrated style, and this wine is no exception. With the same viticulturalist, vineyards and just two winemakers over the decades, a taste of Groth cabernet vintages almost becomes an inside look at Napa Valleys growing seasons. Deep, captivating aromas follow with a silky smooth palate leading to firm tannins on the finish.

Rombauer Vineyards 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon ($55)

Iconic for its toasty, buttery chardonnay style, Rombauer is also standing out for its cabernet sauvignon. Ritchie Allen is director of Viticulture and Winemaking, working with Associate Winemaker Luke Clayton and Assistant Winemaker Andrew Holloway. Blacks fruits mingle with dark spices in this big, juicy cabernet.

Saunter Wines 2014 Swagger Cabernet Sauvignon ($55)

Winemaker Thomas Brown cut his teeth at Turley Estates as assistant winemaker to Ehren Jordan and now makes wine at Saunter and a few other estates. Saunters motto is to slow down and let each moment ripen to its fullest. A bottle of this cab, a porch swing, and wine glass should aid in that philosophy quite nicely. Sweet oak spices dominate this richly textured wine.

Top wines for St. Francis Yacht Club wine members include:

Davies Vineyard 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Diamond Mountain District ($100)

Diamond Mountain, the Schrams, and the Davies have an incredible lineage. In 1862, Jacob Schram chose this area to plant grapes, and was vocal among vintners for using better grapes than the Mission grape that was popular at the time. The Davies, when they purchased the Schram property in 1965, continued that drive for quality and produce what many consider the best U.S. sparkling wine: Schramsberg. Proprietor Hugh Davies now brings top reds like this one to the forefront. The 2013 Diamond Mountain cab has dark fruit mingling with generous sweet spices.

Ideology Cellars 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Oak Knoll ($58)

Ideology Cellars began when Bob and Joni Williamson purchased the Koves-Newlan Estate in Oak Knoll, and it has led them on a path to accolades from top wine magazines. A balanced sip of deep rich fruit, lively acidity, and a complex weave of integrated spice flavors.

Patland Estate Vineyards 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon ($110)

Patland Estate is dotted with several Tuscan villas, soaring cypress trees, flowering bushes, and olive trees; a place that was earlier called Terra Del Cuore (land of the heart in Italian). Adding to the visual beauty are Henry and Olga Patlands wines, made by winemaker Jay Buoncristiani. A silky cab with plenty of oak spice.

Charthia Cellars 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon ($85)

Charles and Cynthia Keller blended wines  and names  when they first created Charthia Cellars, choosing the universal symbol for metamorphosis, the butterfly, for their label. Their 2013 cab has concentrated red fruits with a spicy finish.

While the first-place wines were different in each of the tastings, two of the Yacht Club favorites  Patland Estate Vineyards and Charthia Cellars  came in second place at the Tasting Panel session at the CIA. With the scores for first and second-place wines often being very close, there is some symmetry in the results. Other first-place wins of the Tasting Panel, however, came in at various rankings at the Yacht Club event, including fifth and sixth places. Putting this into perspective, there were generally no more than seven wines to a flight.

So while no hard conclusions can be made, one Yacht Club member summed up the evening perfectly by saying, There were no bad wines here tonight.
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg briefed media on Tuesday (14 February 2017) on the agenda of this weeks meetings of NATO Defence Ministers. On Wednesday and Thursday, Ministers will address the Alliances response to a more challenging world. We will stress the importance of fair burden-sharing and higher defence spending, said Mr. Stoltenberg. He welcomed that defence spending among European Allies and Canada has increased by 3.8% in real terms in 2016, higher than expected. Ministers will also focus on the fight against terrorism, and threats stemming from the Middle East and North Africa.
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis to NATO headquarters on Tuesday (14 February 2017). He thanked Lithuania for its contributions to NATO missions and its leadership on defence spending. The two leaders also discussed the deployment progress of NATOs enhanced forward presence in the eastern part of the Alliance. German and Belgian troops are already arriving in Lithuania, sending a clear message: NATO Allies stand united, said Mr. Stoltenberg. He noted that NATOs deployments are defensive in nature and stressed the importance of NATOs two-track approach to Russia: strong defence combined with meaningful dialogue.
As Cal State Fullerton moved up the ranks as a top national university, so has demand for admission as the regions high school graduates and community college transfer students make their university selections. For fall 2017, CSUF received nearly 70,000 applications for admission from prospective students  an all-time high.

The University received 45,394 applications for fall from entering freshmen and 24,545 applications from community college and other upper-division transfer students  for a total of 69,939 applications, a nearly 3 percent increase over fall 2016, according to the Office of Admissions. Last fall, CSUF had a record enrollment of 40,235 students, the highest enrollment in the 23-campus California State University system.

The demand for the high-quality education offered at CSUF continues to grow, said Darren L. Bush, interim associate vice president for student affairs, who oversees admissions.

We hear a lot of positive feedback about our wide range of degree programs and our welcoming, and caring environment. We have a huge demand in Orange County, and were seeing a steady increase in applications, including from prospective students in Riverside and Los Angeles counties, as well as other areas of California, so we know that Cal State Fullerton is in high demand.

A number of factors contribute to CSUFs desirability among prospective students, including top-sought programs in business, nursing and kinesiology. Moreover, CSUF offers a depth and breadth of educational programs with tuition fees well below the national average  while being recognized as a top institution in the West for students graduating with the least debt. Last falls U.S. News & World Report ranking also heralded Cal State Fullerton as a top national university. The campus previously had been included in the much narrower regional universities category.

CSUF President Mildred Garcia has noted that over the past four years, the University has seen the achievement gap  or opportunity gap between underrepresented students and their Caucasian peers  eliminated for transfer students and cut in half for entering freshmen. A 24 percent improvement in six-year graduation rates also has been achieved. For the first time in CSUFs history, more than 10,000 bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees were awarded to the 2016 graduating class.

Bush also pointed out that more incoming freshmen are prepared for the rigors of college, which is contributing to the increase in applications. CSU and CSUF initiatives and programs have boosted the college readiness of high school students entering the CSU. In fall 2016, for example, 81.46 percent of the 4,426 freshmen entering CSUF were ready for college-level coursework in math and English without the need for remediation  compared to nearly 49 percent in 2009.

As CSUF, which offers a diverse, inclusive environment, continues to work toward becoming the model public comprehensive university of the nation, Garcia declared at the start of this academic year: Education has the transformative power to help students achieve their dreams. Lets keep reaching higher.
Trini Nguyen

After winning a national award for her research, Cal State Fullerton student Trini Nguyen is confident about doing the math.

Nguyen, who is studying applied mathematics, won an outstanding research award at the January national joint meeting of the Mathematical Association of America and the American Mathematical Society in Atlanta.

With about 300 students participating in the research poster session from universities across the country, she competed in the applied mathematics category with her project, a Mathematical Model to Noninvasively Detect Dry-Eye Disease. Only the top 15 percent students of each mathematical category received an award.

Under the mentorship of Charles H. Lee, professor of mathematics, Nguyen is focusing on developing a mathematical model to predict the thicknesses of the tear layers of the eye, as well as writing a computer program that can quickly detect and diagnose dry-eye diseases.

Nguyen also has been collaborating with mentors, Stan Huth, a retired engineer who worked at an Orange County optical company, and Nattapol Ploymaklam, a professor of mathematics at Chiang Mai University in Thailand, who has been helping remotely with the math model and computer programming.

This research interests me because I can apply mathematics to a problem a lot of people experience every day, said Nguyen, a senior. By being involved in this research experience, I hope to understand applied mathematics on a deeper level and become a better scientist.

By working on this research project, Nguyen, who is minoring in computer science, also has had the opportunity to sharpen her programming skills and learn more about other disciplines, such as physics.

Working with a faculty mentor like Lee also has helped her to achieve her academic goals. Dr. Lee is constantly pushing me outside of my comfort zone so that I can arrive to solutions myself. I am a better student now because of him.

Nguyen, who plans to graduate in 2018, is a scholar in the Universitys Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) program and serves as treasurer of the CSUF Math Club. She aspires to earn a doctorate in applied mathematics and teach at the university-level.
Red hot oysters

Many turn to oysters for Valentines Day energy, UF researchers say

With Valentines Day around the corner, you might be thinking about revving things up by eating a few oysters. Weve all heard that oysters are aphrodisiacs, but researchers with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences say theres more to the story.

Oysters might be perceived as an aphrodisiac because they have a high proportion of glycogen, a form of stored carbohydrate that can give you energy, said Peter Frederick, a research professor with the UF/IFAS department of wildlife ecology and conservation.

Leslie Sturmer, a regional UF/IFAS Extension agent specializing in molluscan shellfish aquaculture, says the high nutritional content of oysters helps people feel good, hence the reputation for being an aphrodisiac.

Oysters have a high zinc content, have very little fat and are full of essential vitamins and minerals, she said. So, consumers who eat oysters regularly may attribute extra energy to the oysters.

Directions: Heat a saute pan to high heat; add the butter and garlic, saute the fresh oysters for 2 minutes. Remove them from the saute pan; add the heavy cream, Creole seasoning and saffron. Reduce the cream until it thickens, put the oysters back into the cream and add your favorite hot sauce. Cook for another 2-4 minutes and serve over linguini. Top with the fresh Parmesan cheese.

Illustration by Michael McAleer

While scientists are not sure that oysters are an aphrodisiac, they are sure that more and more people are falling in love with the creatures. Oyster bars are popping up across the country, and prices have never been higher, Sturmer said. Branding is focusing on the different taste of oysters from different bodies of water, she said.

The French use the word terroir to describe the characteristics of a vineyard or cropland  soil composition, slope of the land, climate  that gives unique local flavor to food. The word merroir (from the French word for the sea mer) has now come to be applied to the taste of seafood, and particularly oysters, Frederick said. Consumers say that oysters from Apalachicola taste different from those in Cedar Key, and oysters from individual rivers in the northeastern U.S. have their own, well-defined merroir, he said.

Consumers request oysters based on location, which reflects brininess, saltiness and mineral flavors, Frederick explained. They know what they want, and the depth of flavor appreciation has exploded.

For more information on oysters, click here.
Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Tuesday that Japan and the United States would aim to strengthen trade and investment ties between the two countries as well as among Asia-Pacific countries."We will discuss economic policies and strengthening of trade and investment relations and economic cooperation among countries in the Asia-Pacific region as well as Japan and the United States," Aso told reporters after a cabinet meeting.At a weekend summit between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Donald Trump, Japan and the United States agreed to establish a bilateral economic dialogue, which will be led by Aso, who also serves as deputy prime minister, and Vice President Mike Pence to address fiscal and monetary policies as well as infrastructure projects and trade. REUTERS AKC 0542 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-1149223.Xml
'Operation Clean Money' saw an overwhelming response, since its launch. Till February 12, more than 5.27 lakh taxpayers have already submitted their response. Out of the 7.41 lakh accounts confirmed by the 5.27 lakh taxpayers, the cash deposit amount has been confirmed in more than 99.5 percent accounts. The Income Tax Department (ITD) had initiated 'Operation Clean Money' on January 31 for the e-verification of large cash deposits made during November 9 to December 30, 2016. E-mails and text messages were sent to 18 lakh taxpayers for submitting online response on the e-filing portal. The department has noted that taxpayers have increased the cash deposit amount in nearly 90,000 accounts and provided details of additional 25,000 bank accounts in which cash was deposited. The explanation of cash deposit submitted by the taxpayer is being analysed in the context of nature of business and business profile in the earlier returns of the taxpayer. This exercise has identified around 4.84 lakh taxpayers not yet registered with the e-filing portal. SMS has been sent on the mobile number of these unregistered persons. Income Tax Department is keeping a vigil on the PAN holders who have still not registered on the e-filing portal or who have not yet submitted their online response. Such taxpayers are advised to register themselves at the e-filing portal and submit online explanation. In order to facilitate online responses, the last date for their submission has been extended up to February 15 and a detailed list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) has also been issued to assist the taxpayers in submitting their response. The taxpayers should submit their response within this further extended period with a view to avoid enforcement actions under the Income-tax Act and other applicable laws. (ANI)
Experts from India and Norway recently took part in a workshop organised jointly by Innovation Norway, The Norwegian Embassy, The Research Council of Norway, Institute of Technology Delhi and the Department of Science of Technology which focussed on cooperation between India and Norway in the energy sector. The participants were representatives from leading companies and educational and research institutions. Primarily the workshop functioned as a match-making and networking conference. The various parties have had a unique opportunity to exchange experiences, technology and solutions that can be utilised for future co-operations. A delegation from Norway and other participants signed a Memorandum of Collaboration between NCE Smart energy Market Halden and Power Grid, B2B Roundtable with Power Grid and leading Indian utilities. The Indian government has set ambitious goals in the field of renewable energy, especially within solar. The plan is to reach 100 GW capacity by 2020. With this in mind, the timing and relevance of this week should not be underestimated. During the matchmaking workshop for R and I industrial projects for the joint call, close to 80 participants from Norway and India have had a comprehensive and prosperous programme on the topic of renewable energy. The representatives discussed a wide range of topics including energy storage, grid integration, wind power, solar power, smart infrastructure based on artificial intelligence, hydro energy and off-grid solutions -- all highly relevant topics in the Indian energy sector. "Our technologies does not exclude each other. I am impressed by the work that has been done India. I think that our products compliments the existing ones and creates a basis for creating even better solutions. The goal must be to use existing resources in a best possible manner and minimize the need for investments going forward," said Jrgen Kildahl, representing Smart Energy Systems. Amongst the delegation were representatives from companies such as Statkraft, Eltek, WindSim and Daman. Individual meetings with potential partners were also scheduled. The delegations were put in different groups according to their field of expertise and met with leading Indian companies such as Amplus Solar, Airtel and Tata Consulting. In one of the plenum sessions, Ole Jakob Srdalen from Eltek elaborated on the different use of energy storage and the solutions Eltek provide. This is technology that is highly relevant for an Indian market that has high capacity (and even higher goals) for Solar Power. A joint call between the Research Council of Norway and Department of Science and Technology of India was launched. The call is for USD 1 million, targeting innovation projects in companies collaborating with research institutions in the field of renewable energy. It is safe to say that both countries are positive to future collaboration, something emphasized by all participants. The workshop manifested as both a platform for knowledge and technology exchange and as a mapping of future commercial possibilities. The week has been full of immediate and potential long term outcomes. A Memorandum of Co-operation between Power Grid Corporation of India LTD (Powergrid) and Norwegian Centre of Expertise (NCE) Smart Energy Markets covering cooperation for 15 countries was signed. Power Grid is the government owned central transmission utility of India. Nordpool sees potential delivery of consultancy services and systems and the solutions the Norwegian companies have presented has caught good attention and found commercial partners are found. stfold University College met MDI Gurgaon during the Roundtable for incubation collaboration and followed up with a spontaneous visit to the school known as one of Indians best business schools. Carl-Morten Gjeldsnes and ystein Johnsen, Research Director are excited to tell that they will establish an exchange collaboration and maybe also research collaboration in a longer term. Hvaler municipality is a test bed for the new solutions being developed by the industry. They are proud to showcase how they work with the services to reach end users. They have discussed with Indian stakeholders how their experiences can be liked to street lightening, waste management etc. On the last day of the week, a workshop on Smart Grid Technologies was hosted by India-Smart grid forum and welcomed NCE Smart Energy Markets in Halden to meet and present their solutions and products to National and State representatives from utility and electricity bodies from Haryana, Kolkata, Delhi and Rajasthan. Joint secretary of the Ministry of Power, Mr. A. K. Verma addressed the audience and in discussion with several business participants from Norway, he invited them to further meetings and collaboration. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh's revenue has taken a big hit -- first due to demonetisation and now because most government employees are out on election duty. Officials in the concerned departments fear that the revenue targets for the current fiscal might take a knock of 25-30 per cent. The Sales Tax Department, an official told IANS, has seen a drop in collections in the past three months. While it earned Rs 4,494 crore in tax in November, the collection slipped in December and is set to go down further in January and February due to engagement of employees and officials in election duty. The Excise Department, the cash cow, has also taken a beating in revenue collection. An official said that as against a target of Rs 1,443 crore in December, the collection was down at Rs 1,345 crore. With elections for the 403-seat Uttar Pradesh assembly underway, even sale of liquor has fallen, partly because of strictures from the Election Commission. The stamp and registration revenue target was Rs 12,130 crore but has been downsized in a big way, with collections dropping to Rs 9,222 crore. The target for this month has been scaled down to Rs 13,953 crore from Rs 16,319.60 crore (a loss of Rs 2,366 crore). The Sales and Trade Tax target has been revised from Rs 57,940.30 crore to Rs 51,508.93 crore. The ongoing elections have also hit hearings and disposal at revenue courts. By a conservative official estimate, in Lucknow alone more than 12,000 cases have come to a halt as officials are on election duty. All cases being heard in the district magistrates' courts and other revenue courts have now been given dates after March 14, by when probably a new government would be in place. Cases pending before officials of five tehsils in Lucknow and others have also been deferred till March. And with traffic police too deployed on election duty, even traffic in Lucknow is affected. For about five days, traffic snarls have become the order of the day. A police officer told IANS that 45 Senior Head Constables, 50 Head Constables and 280 Constables have been pulled out for 26 days of election duty. Finding itself short-staffed to manage traffic -- not to speak of increased VIP movement due to the elections -- the traffic department is trying to rope in NCC cadets and Civil Defense wardens to help them out. The Haj pilgrimage process too has been put on hold in more than one way. The lottery taken out to name the lucky selected ones that usually takes place between March 1 and 8 has been shifted to a later date. And as politicians are busy campaigning, wooing voters, there are thousands who are hit by election blues and have become collateral damage! (Mohit Dubey can be contacted at mohit.d@ians.in) --IANS md/mr/sac ( 479 Words) 2017-02-14-14:38:07 (IANS)
She can be seen doing daredevil fighting scenes and breaking bones in films, but actress Taapsee Pannu says in real life, she cant even slap a person. Taapsee showcased her fighting skills in "Baby" alongside Akshay Kumar. She will next be seen fighting her way in "The Ghazi Attack" and "Naam Shabana". Talking about it during a visit to IANS headquarters here, she said: "Till now, whatever you have seen, like even though I can identify myself as Meenal Arora (character from Pink') in a lot of ways... I cannot even slap a person in real life, forget about fighting the way I do in films." Taapsee, who is currently busy promoting her forthcoming film "Running Shaadi", says this is the first film where she is totally in her comfort zone. "This is my domain and have total control over it. I was chosen because I had to just come as myself on screen. It's a blessing for an actor to portray a character that is everything like herself. I didn't have to put in any kind of efforts in terms of accent, body language or style," said Taapsee, whose character exudes a carefree attitude. "There were a lot of things that I spontaneously added in the film, which were retained in the end. It was the most comfortable character that I could portray on screen," she added. Directed by Amit Roy, "Running Shaadi", which also features Amit Sadh, is slated to release on Friday. --IANS sas/rb/vt ( 260 Words) 2017-02-14-15:18:07 (IANS)
Actor George Clooney and wife Amal "casually mentioned" they were expecting twins to TV host Julie Chen. Chen has now revealed how the news of the pregnancy first came to light, reports etonline.com. Chen, who is married to CBS' chief executive Leslie Moonves, said: "Here's the truth of the matter. My husband and I saw George and Amal about almost three weeks ago and they casually mentioned that they were expecting twins. We were all like, 'Is it a secret?' and George kind of went, 'No.' But we didn't feel right telling anybody." After speculation began to mount about whether the couple were expecting their first child together, the "Talk" co-host decided to go public with George and Amal's baby news. "My producer said, 'We might report on it.' I'm like, 'No, it's true! It's totally true! He said it wasn't a secret. Let's break the news!' I've been dying to tell." But before she announced the news to the world, Chen first spoke to her husband. She explained: "I called Leslie first because they're old friends. Leslie knows him for so long. He goes, 'You know what? I think it's OK.' ..This is news everyone celebrates! How could you want to keep it a secret?" Chen's confession comes after George's mother Nina said the Hollywood star will make a "great" dad. Nina also revealed the "Money Monster" actor and Amal, 39, personally came to visit her and George's father Nick in order to deliver the happy news. "We were with them and they told us together. We were all together, and it was lovely. It was just a personal moment," she said. --IANS ks/rb ( 288 Words) 2017-02-15-01:36:07 (IANS)
It's a movement that began during Christmas in 2012 with a competition to select the "cleanest" family in this village. The festival-specific contest in the village, located about 80 km from Assam's largest city Guwahati, has now morphed into the ambition to win the "Cleanest Village in Asia" title once held by Mawlynnong in neighbouring Meghalaya. "Since then, we have discussed the issue. If Mawlynnong can become the cleanest village in Asia, why not us? We have everything -- a village bigger than Mawlynnong with abundance of nature, beautiful landscape and very generous and hospitable people," Elvin Phangso, a local teacher, told IANS. To this end, the residents of Shikdamakha village in nature-rich Karbi Anglong district are leaving no stone unturned to go one step ahead of Mawlynnong. The villagers here, right from the young one to the oldest, are conscious about cleanliness and hygiene and no one litters the road in the village, not to talk of their individual houses. Use of plastic is a strict no-no. The villagers use bamboo-made baskets for storing garbage in front of each of the 89 households and in every corner of the village, and the accumulated garbage is disposed of at regular intervals. The residents also undertake community sweeping of the streets every week to ensure that cleanliness and a proper drainage system are in place. All households of Shikdamakha also have sanitary toilets to ensure hygiene and cleanliness. "We have made a committee to ensure that everyone is made aware of cleanliness and hygiene. Every week, people of the village come in groups to sweep the roads and ensure that there is no stagnant water in the drains," said Holvis Maslai, the Gaolia Gaonburah (kind of village headman) of Shikdamakha. The word "Shikdamakha" in Tiwa language means "hillocks of traps", according to Maslai, and local folklore suggests that ghosts used to trap humans here. As for Mawlynnong, located about 90 km from the Meghalaya capital Shillong, it is a small hamlet inhabited by mainly Khasi tribe people. Here, the waste is collected in the dustbins made of bamboo, directed to a pit and then used as manure. It was a community initiative started long back in the village that finally helped Mawlynnong earn the status of Cleanest Village in Asia in 2003, as rated by Discover India magazine. After the initial success of the community initiatives, now Mawlynnong has banned use of plastic completely and villagers often go for rainwater harvesting. According to Meghalaya government statistics, close to 250 tourists visit the village almost regularly, which fetches good revenue to the locals. Mansing Rongpi, the MLA from Baithalangso constituency, under which Shikdamakha falls, said the village has achieved first position among the villages in Assam as far as cleanliness is concerned. "Mawlynong in Meghalaya has earned the status of Cleanest Village in Asia. We can do this here as well. Today it's just the start. I hope the people of Shikdamakha will continue this journey of cleanliness and from now on, Mawlynnong's status of cleanest village will not go unchallenged," Rongpi said. The MLA said that at present there is not much infrastructure to welcome tourists but assured that he, along with the local community, is trying to promote home stays. "We also have plans to go for infrastructure upgradation in the village to attract more tourists. This village is more accessible from Guwahati than Mawlynnong. It's only 80 km fom Guwahati while Mawlynnong is 190 km from the Assam capital." "Once we upgrade the infrastructure, I am sure we would see lots of tourists here and the locals would earn well from their visits," Rongpi hoped. Indeed, villages like and Shikdamakha and Mawlyngnong prove that the vision of a clean India is not limited to just the urban space. (Aditya Baruah can be contacted at aditya.assam@rediffmail.com) --IANS ah/nir/vm ( 650 Words) 2017-02-14-12:32:06 (IANS)
The plea has been filed by a Delhi-based lawyer M L Sharma, who has said that the treaty is unconstitutional.

The treaty was signed on September 19, 1960 by India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan President Ayub Khan. It is one of the most liberal water-sharing pacts in the world.

However, Sharma says the treaty is invalid as it was signed by Nehru and Khan, and that it should have been signed by the President of India.

The agreement covers six rivers - the three eastern rivers of Ravi, Beas, Sutlej and their tributaries and the three western rivers of Indus, Jhelum, Chenab and their tributaries.

Water from the eastern rivers has been allocated to India, and New Delhi is obligated to let 80 percent water from the western rivers flow to Pakistan. The treaty gives the lower riparian Pakistan more 'than four times' the water available to India. (ANI)
Questioning the recent choice of words used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi against the grand old party, the Congress on Tuesday asserted that it is high time somebody taught him to speak in a civilized manner. Referring to Prime Minister's speech at Lakhimpur Kheri, rally Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar averred that the former is a master of making false allegations without substantiating them. "Modi is a master of making false allegations. It's not only that he makes false allegations, he never carries them through to any kind of conclusion. He jumps like a grass hopper from one allegation to another allegation," said Aiyar. "Making these allegations is part of democratic politics but a Prime Minister is a Prime Minister, I just expect him to use language which is befitting of a head of a government . I am afraid Modi doesn't seem to know how to speak in civilized language. It was alright when he wasn't the Prime Minister it was okay. It is time when somebody taught him how to speak in civilized manner," he added. Taking a jibe at Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's repeated assertion of 'kaam bolta hai', Prime Minister Modi yesterday threw light on the rising crime rate in Uttar Pradesh and accused the Samajwadi Party of fooling the people. "They (Akhilesh) say 'kaam bolta hai', but several projects here are incomplete. What is speaking volumes are the instances of women harassment in the state," Prime Minister Modi said while addressing a rally here. "The people of Uttar Pradesh are not fools. They're well aware that criminals are still operating their gangs from behind bars," he added. Prime Minister Modi also accused the Samajwadi Party of not fulfilling the promises made to the people of the state. "A scam that you (Akhilesh) promised to look into from the tenure of Mayawati ji was not done. Can the Chief Minster answer why was it not probed?" he added. Prime Minister Modi also taunted the newly-formed alliance between the Samajwadi Party and Congress while stating that nothing can redeem their past misdeeds. The campaigning for the second phase of the politically crucial Uttar Pradesh assembly elections will come to an end this evening in 67 constituencies spread over 11 districts. Polling in these constituencies will be held on February 15. (ANI)
The scientists who were involved in the prestigious satellite project, offered prayers for the successful launch of PSLV-C37 tomorrow, temple sources said.

The ISRO scientists team carried a model of the PSLV-C37 and placed at the feet of the deity in the sanctum sanctorum. Special rituals were performed by a team of temple priests.

However, the 48-hours countdown for the launch of 104 satellites in one mission aboard workhorse Polar Satellite launch vehicle that will be on its 39th journey, began at Sriharikota, today.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will be opening a new chapter in the history of space exploration and set to create a world record by this launch.

The mission aims to put 714 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for earth observation and 103 co-passenger satellites together weighing about 664 kg at lift-off into a 505 km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO) at 9.28 am from Sriharikota on Wednesday.

The co-passenger satellites comprise 101 nanosatellites, one each from Israel, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and 96 from United States of America (USA), as well as two Nanosatellites from India. The total weight of all the satellites carried onboard PSLV-C37 is about 1378 kg.

Though, ISRO has mastered the art of launching multiple satellites in one mission like it did in June early last year, where 20 satellites were launched including 19 foreign satellites, it is a challenge to put 104 satellites in the same orbit.

Currently, Russia holds the record of launching maximum satellites in one mission when it lobbed 37 of them in 2014 followed by NASA's 29 satellites.UNI KNR CS 1000

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Egypt has offered Indian companies to develop several of its ports, including Alexandria. A presentation in this regard was made to a delegation of Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), which is currently visiting the country. The meeting with the Egyptian Minister of Transport focused on means of cooperation in this sector as the Minister presented investment opportunities in the mega projects of developing ports of Damietta, Alexandria, Dekheila, Safaga and Sharm El-Sheikh. He said that Egypt would set up several logistical zones to support transportation in these ports. During their meeting with Egypt's Minister of Trade and Industry, the Indian entrepreneurs said that they were optimistic about the long-term potential in Egypt and look forward to mutually beneficial win-win collaborations. They also highlighted that India had a significant economic presence in Egypt with over 50 companies and joint ventures and an investment exceeding USD three billion. The 17-member business delegation from the CII is led by Ajit Gupte, Joint Secretary, Development Partnership Administration (DPA1) is on a visit to Egypt to participate in a seminar to scout investment opportunities in the country. The delegation members were drawn from various sectors, including agri-business, infrastructure, chemicals, power, food industry and business services. During their visit, the delegation met with several Egyptian Ministers including Minister of Trade and Industry, Minister of Petroleum and Minister of Transport along with senior officials from General Authorities for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) and Suez Canal Economic Zone Authority.UNI RBE JW SB 1011 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0364-1149294.Xml
Two militants, believed to be foreigners, were killed and nine security personnel and a civilian were injured in a fierce encounter in the north Kashmir district of Bandipora this morning, official sources said. However, defence ministry spokesman was not available for confirmation. The injured soldiers were airlifted to the Army base hospital where the condition of some was stated to be critical. Sources said on a tip-off, the Army and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police launched a joint search operation at Parray Mohalla Hajan in Bandipora district late at 0300 hrs. However, when the security forces were sealing a particular area in the village, militants hiding there opened fire with automatic weapons and hurled hand grenades. The fire was returned ensuing an encounter. In the initial militant firing, nine soldiers were injured. Due to darkness, the search operation was stopped to avoid any civilian casualty, the sources said. However, all exit points were sealed to foil any attempt by militants to escape, they said, adding that with the first light this morning, the operation was resumed. Militants again opened indiscriminate fire when security forces tried to enter the area, they said. In the return fire, two militants were killed and several security personnel were wounded. A civilian was also injured in the shootout. The operation was on when the reports last came in. The encounter took place after four militants, a civilian and two soldiers were killed and three jawans injured in south Kashmir district of Kulgam on February 12. One civilian was also killed and over a dozen others injured when security forces opened fire and burst teargas shells to disperse demonstrators in Kulgam and Anantnag after the encounter. The Army had paid tributes to Lance Naik Bhandoriya Gopal Sinh Munimsinh and Sepoy Raghubeer Singhat Badami Bagh Cantonment yesterday before their mortal remains were sent to their native places for last rites.UNI BAS SB 1002 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-1149282.Xml
Police forces burst teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge to disperse demonstrators trying to disrupt search operation launched by security forces against militants at Hajan in north Kashmir district of Bandipora today. Residents of Parray Mohalla and adjoining villages hit the streets in Hajan Bandipora when security forces were conducting search operation against militants hiding there. However, when the demonstrators were prevented from entering the operation area, they starting pelting stones forcing the security forces and police to resort to lathicharge, which had no impact as they continued stone pelting. Later, security forces burst teargas shells to disperse the demonstrators and restore normalcy in the area. So far, two militants were killed and nine security personnel, including a senior officer of CRPF, and a civilian injured. The body of one militant was recovered from the house where they were hiding.UNI BAS SHS SB 1018 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-1149291.Xml
The way Karnataka Bengaluru was growing andfacing severe scarcity of drinking water, time was not far that thegovernment will have to take steps to pump water from Krishna river,over 450 km away from the city, a former top official today said. Retired IAS officer and a social activist S M Jamdar has saidthat it may not be a wonder if in a decade water from Alamattireservoir across Krishna in Bagalkot district is supplied to SouthKarnataka due to increasing scarcity of water in Bengaluru. Addressing a seminar on Water Revolution campaign organisedjointly by Central Water Commission and Dharwad AgricultureUniversity here last evening, he said that according to 2011census, the population of Bengaluru was 88 lakh and by 2021 it mightescalate to 1.80 crore. At present 8 TMC of water is fixed for the city for popularconsumption from Cauvery river, but actuality 18 TMC of water isbeing drawn due to increased population, apart from usage of wateris also made by industries. With this, huge quantum of water usedfrom major share of Cauvery water reserved for Karnataka will be engulfedby city in the near future, he felt. Due to the enormous usage of Cauvery water it might not bepossible to have so huge storage in the reservoir. As such theGovernment might look to avail water from Alamatti reservoir. Hefound some grave lapses on the part of the Government in watermanagement. Mr Jamdar suggested that the Government and agriculture experts shouldwork towards convincing farmers in Old Mysore area to adopt microirrigation to grow sugar cane and paddy, which demand morewater and resort to short term and less water consuming crops tosave water from wastage. According to global experts using open irrigation systems,growing each kg of rice require 5000 liters of water and suchwastage cannot be sustained in India due to growing population. Mr Jamdar also said that by 2050, 48 TMC of Cauvery water will beutilised by Karnataka State and even it might not be possible tosatisfy the need of drinking water then due to population growth andvagaries of monsoon. Chief Engineer of Central Water Commission R K Jain who spoke onthis occasion said that the Commission has identified Yadagiri inKarnataka and another village in Kolar district as pilot villagesunder Water Revolution campaign and models of saving water will bemade ready. He also said that even solar system is also used forsaving and distribution of water. Vice Chancellor of the UniversityDr D P Biradar presided.UNI XC RS CS 1037 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0284-1149304.Xml
Ending one of the longest ever legal battles, the curtains came down on the sensational Disproportionate Assets (DA) case against former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa (since deceased) and three others, including her close aide V K Sasikala. The more than two-decade long legal wrangle, which witnessed several twists and turns over the years as the accused repeatedly sought legal remedy for various issues, ended with the two Judge Bench comprising Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Amitava Roy restoring the Trial Court order convicting Sasikala, V N Sudhakaran and Sasikala, after cases against J Jayalalithaa was abated following her demise. Following is the timeline of events that began in 1996, with the then Janata Party leader Dr Subramnaian Swamy filing a complaint against Ms Jayalalithaa alleging amassment of wealth disproportionate to her known sources of income. 1996: June 14: Dr Subramanian Swamy files a private complaint against JayalalithaaJune 21: The Principal District and Sessions Judge directs Police officer Letika Saran to investigate the private complaint. June 18: The then (DMK) government directs DVAC to register an FIR against Jaya for allegedly amassing unaccounted assets. 1997: June 4: Charge sheet filed in Chennai against Jaya, Sasikala two others in the Rs. 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case. Oct 21: Court frames charges against Jaya, Sasikala, V.N.Sudhakaran, and J Ilavarasi. 2001 : AIADMK wins Assembly polls, Jaya takes over as CM, despite being convicted in TANSI caseJuly : Jaya forced to step down as CM. December : Madras High Court acquits her of all charges. 2002: March: Jayalalithaa Takes charge as Chief Minister again. Nov. 2002 to Feb 2003: 76 witnesses were recalled and they resiled their previous statements.2003 : Feb 28: DMK leader K. Anbazhagan moves Supreme Court for transfer of trial.Nov 18: SC transfers trial to a Special Court in Bangalore stating 'fair trial was not on in Chennai.Dec. 2003 to March 2005: Special Court set up at Bangalore B.V.Acharya is Special PP 2010: Jan. 22: Supreme Court clears way for trial of DA case and trial commencesDec. 2010 to Feb, 2011: Witnesses re-examined by the prosecution. 2011: May 16: AIADMK back in power, Jayalalithaa becomes CM again.Oct. 20- 21; Nov 22-23: Jaya appears in person,answers Special Court's questions. MORE UNI GV CS 1114 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-1149337.Xml
The Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi today completes two years of its term, a period which saw it launch several initiatives in some key sectors such as healthcare, education, drinking water supply, power tariff and checking corruption. It also witnessed frequent confrontations between the Delhi government and the office of the Lt Governor. After it rode to power in the National Capital by winning 67 out of 70 seats in the 2015 Assembly polls under the leadership of its party convenor Arvind Kejriwal, the AAP launched initiatives like the 'mohalla clinics' which earned praises from the United nations. Earlier, former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan had praised the Delhi government's Mohalla Clinics project which is aimed at providing free health services to all. In its two years rule, the Kejriwal government claims to have undertaken several efforts to bring reform in the fields of education, including increase in the allocation for education in the state budget and setting up 100 model schools. These two years have seen AAP government's endeavour in transforming the education scene in the state through various initiatives launched from time to time like leadership skills, developing schools with modern amenities, parents teachers meet and the most important being reining in some private schools to stop them from looting parents. To tackle rising pollution, the government has implemented two phases of odd-even scheme. While the first was a success, the second phase evoked a mixed response. There were confrontations between the office of Lt Governor and Delhi government on the issues like--appointments, and proposals made by the AAP government on issues like Mohalla Clinics, Bills seeking to hike salaries of MLAs, slashing of DTC bus fares etc. Recently, the LG has given nod for 300 Mohalla Clinics in govt-run schools with certain riders to the AAP government. Further, the government found itself surrounded with controversies over its Ministers and MLAs alleged involvement in various cases. The most controversial one was the sex tape of former AAP minister Sandeep Kumar, which led to his removal from the Cabinet. Of the 67 legislators, all together 13 MLAs were arrested by Delhi police on various charges. However, many of them were let off after the police failed to provide any evidence in the Court. On the eve of the second anniversary of the Arvind Kejriwal government , a survey indicated that the Delhi government was able to achieve positive results in some key sectors. The survey was conducted by LocalCircles, a community social media platform to understand how the citizens feel about the performance of the Aam Aadmi Party government. The findings show that Delhi citizens believed corruption in the government offices has somewhat reduced and the government schools are getting more funds and attention from the government. Water and electricity bills have also reduced and the Mohalla Clinics have made healthcare accessible to the poor.UNI DS/AR JW SB1104 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0364-1149310.Xml
The Ministry earlier sanctioned an amount of Rs 171.90 crores for developing a stretch of 25 Km in the National Highway 44 from Panisagar till Kumarghat of Tripura in January this year.

The work for widening the National Highway 44 in a 25 Km stretch from Panisagar till Kumarghat is a 5.5 metres wide road length started with provisions for shouldering on both sides.

The state government had sent DPR for a 22 Km stretch of the National Highway 44 from Jolaibari to Belonia.

DPR for developing a stretch of 104 Km of the National Highway from Panisagar till Mungiakami was also sent to the central government.

The state government was also learnt to moot a proposal to send DPR with a proposed expenditure of Rs 90 crores from Ambassa to Mungiakami.UNI BB AD1209

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An ambulance of Gorakhnath hospital, carrying a patient along with his family, was en route to Lucknow when the mishap took place late last night. At around 0030 hrs, the ambulance rammed into a stationary truck near border of Khalilabad.

Sources said that patient Ramchandra, Shushil, Manoj, Shweta, Kamal, Brijnath Vishwakarma, Bhim Ji and his son were killed on the spot.UNI XC-JDM MB JW 1229

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However, the maiden participation from the Chinese remained limited to the delegation level.

China is represented by the five-member team, all belonging to People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

The delegation is headed by Major General Wang Qiang besides Maj Gen Qiang. The team comprises of Senior Colonel Gao Zhikuan, Col Huang Xinyang, Lt Col Jiang Jiaji and Maj Li Yiu.

The Defence Ministry has been inviting the Chinese for the air show, while the western neighbour Pakistan was never considered for the invitation.

The participation of Chinese Air Force team is significant with China supplying its "all weather friend" Pakistan JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft. UNI MK SB 1244

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The Jammu Master Plan-2021, currently in vogue, was prepared in the year 2004, for an estimated population of 19.29 lack covering an area of 305 Sqkm, official spokesman here said.

He said that to take care of the future development requirements of Jammu City upto 2032, the revised Master Plan for the city has been formulated, keeping in view that the physical growth of Jammu City, has spread upto Bishnah and Samba.

The Jammu Local Planning Area under the revised Jammu Master Plan-2032 will be spread over an area of 652.33 Sqkm including whole Municipal Corporation of Jammu, Municipal Committees of Ghomanhasan, Bishnah M.C, Bari Brahmana M.C and Vijaypur, he added.

The total villages included in the revised JMP will be 324 including the 103 villages of extended local area of JDA, said the Spokesman.

He further said that the Cabinet also approved extension of Amnesty Scheme for Domestic Electricity Consumers, 2015 upto March 31, 2017.

The extension of the scheme upto 31st March-2017, will provide an opportunity to the left out domestic consumers, to avail the benefits, under the scheme and clear their pending electricity bills.UNI VBH JW 1248

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Over 55 million researchers, academics and students across the Asia-Pacific, including India, will benefit from a new phase of dedicated research and education (R&E) networking - Asi@connect - which was inaugurated at the Asia Pacific Advanced Network 43 (APAN43) meeting here. Asi@connect, co-funded by the European Union (EU), aims to seamlessly extend and build on the successful Trans-Eurasia Information Network (TEIN) initiative. During the launch ceremony, which was hosted by the Indian Asi@Connect partner NKN (National Knowledge Network), delegations from the European Union, the Korean Government and the Indian Government welcomed the kick-off of Asi@Connect and encouraged the R&E network community to build on achievements to date and further strengthen cooperation between Asia and Europe. Talking about the significance of the project, Ambassador of the European Union to India Tomasz Kozlowski said, "The EU has long recognised the potential of promoting people-to-people connectivity. AsiaConnect is an excellent example of regional integration, with the R&E communities of 21 Asia-Pacific countries inter-connected by powerful high-capacity, high quality Internet links. This project will be a vehicle for promoting a peaceful, secure, open and cooperative ICT environment between Asia and Europe, and in turn benefit society as a whole." "There are unlimited fields of world-class research which can profit from the powerful links we have created together. Sharing data and working together on astronomy, meteorology, climate change monitoring, or early warning in case of natural disasters are just a few examples," he added. President of TEIN*CC Dr Hye-Joo Yoon said, "Building on the considerable achievements of the predecessor phases, Asi@Connect will enable the connection of more countries at higher speeds, roll out advanced network services and contribute to achieving development goals through improved access to education and research resources, thus bridging the digital divide in the region." With a substantial five-year EU co-funding commitment of Euro 20 mn until 2021, Asi@Connect is designed to support the countries across the region to develop and deploy new network services, facilitate human capacity building and knowledge exchange, extend the R&E footprint to connect additional Asia-Pacific countries among others. The launch event was also attended by Suk-Joon Son, Director of Network Promotion Sector, Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning of the Republic of Korea, Dr R Chidabaram, Principal Scientific Advisor, Dr Neeta Verma, Director General NIC/ National Knowledge Network (NKN) and Dr SV Raghavan, Chairman Technical Advisory Committee, NKN.UNI RBE SB 1318 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0427-1149528.Xml
Union Minister of Finance Arun Jaitley today said that the Central Government has nothing to do with the changing political events in Tamil Nadu.Talking to media, Mr Jaitley said the recent political events in Tamil Nadu are personal matter of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). And with these events, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Central Government have nothing to do.Mr Jaitley said it is a matter of AIADMK that how they will choose their leader. Governor there will take necessary decision as per constitution.Apex court has convicted Sasikala under disproportionate assets case today and sentenced her for four-year imprisonment which has created tornado in Tamil Nadu's politics.UNI JDM MB SDR SNU 1538 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0431-1149748.Xml
Electioneering for the Local Bodies Election, known as mini Assembly elections for 460 Zilla Parishad (ZP) circles and 930 Panchayat Samiti (PS) seats in eight districts of Marathwada region here, which are going to polls on February 16, will come to end this evening, while the fate of the candidates will be decided on February 23. The region, comprising Aurangabad, Jalna, Beed, Osmanabad, Latur, Nanded, Parbhani and Hingoli districts, in which a total of 460 ZP circles in eight districts and 930 PS seats falling in 76 PS, for which 2,295 and 4,085 candidates are in poll arena respectively, sources said. All necessary arrangements have been made by all district election administration with the help of more than 50,000 election duty staffers to ensure smooth and fair elections, they added. About 70-lakh voters will cast their votes to elect the above local bodies representatives as ZP and PS Samiti members on February 16. Reports reaching here from all the constituencies stated that as few hours were left for open campaigning, most of the candidates have decided to take out motorcycle rallies, Padyatras and get together at specific places in their respective constituencies mostly in rural areas. There is no major alliance except at few places with major parties. The local bodies election, especially in rural pockets, are known as the mini Assembly election in the state. All the major parties are also facing rebellion after denial of tickets to the aspirants. In this local bodies election, the opposition and the BJP alliance partner Shiv Sena mainly focused on the issue of 'Demonetisation' and charged that BJP has failed to fulfill their poll promises. Shiv Sena has already given threat to BJP that they will submit their ministers' resignation from state ministry and pull out from the government after the results of local bodies and corporation election on February 23. Political bigwigs, including state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, BJP State President Raosaheb Patil Danve, Women and Child Welfare Minister Pankaja Munde-Palve, Water Supply Minister Babanrao Lonikar, Sambhaji Nilangekar-patil and Prime Minister Nardendra Modi, among others, addressed rallies for election. On behalf of Congress, former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Narayan Rane, MPCC chief Ashok Chavan, all district chiefs also addressed in support of their candidates. While in NCP, senior party leader and former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, Supriya Sule, Opposition Leader in the state Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde, who were the star campaigners for NCP nominees in the region. The Shiv Sena deputy leader Dr Hemant Kohle, Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam and Chandrakanat Khaire, etc., addressed several rallies in the region. Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar, also addressed rallies at a few places in the region in support of their party candidates. Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in the entire region, to ensure smooth elections. No untoward incident was reported so far during the campaigning, police sources said. UNI VKB NV RJ SNU 1606 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0098-1149808.Xml
Students across Assam used the occasion of Saint Valentine's Day, celebrated worldwide as a day dedicated to love, to display their support for an alleged victim of eve-teasing in Jorhat town of the state, who had recently taken to Facebook to narrate her tale of abuse. Students in different parts of the state, including Nagaon, Jorhat and Tezpur, came out in spontaneous support of the victim today, stating that they will use the occasion to create awareness against crimes against women. Support demonstration for the victim was staged in main city Guwahati also. The students, talking to local television channels, were vocal in criticism of a state minister yesterday for allegedly trying to give political connotations to the matter and questioning the victim for not approaching the police first. The victim, a student of JB College of Jorhat in eastern part of the state, had last week narrated on Facebook alleged that incidents of regular eve-teasing by motorbike-borne boys on way to her home in Jorhat town. Her Facebook post had led to protests by students in Jorhat and the police had also registered a case and have launched investigation to identify and nab the culprits. State Parliamentary Affairs minister Chandra Mohan Patowary had raked up a controversy yesterday by identifying the victim as a Student Federation of India (SFI) member, which has led to allegation of Mr Patowary trying to politicize the issue. Mr Patowary had further commented that the victim should have approached the police before posting on Facebook, which has also to criticism against the minister as the general public claimed that the distrust of common man on the police had led the girl to not go to the police station. The minister had made the statements during a Zero Hour discussion on the matter in the state Legislative Assembly yesterday.Assembly Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami, who is the Jorhat MLA, had also expressed his concern at the incident in the House and said, "In fact, I am ashamed. The police have given me a report. I have spoken to the family members. I am meeting all concerned this week."UNI SG RN 1607 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0311-1149824.Xml
Union Civil Aviation Minister AshokGajapathi Raju today urged the private sector to come in a big wayto invest in Airports under the regional connectivity policy. Talking to newsmen after the inauguration of the 11th edition ofAero India expo here, he said the government alone could not investin new airports under the policy and investment must come fromoutside also. He said Airport Authority of India has over the next five yearsinvest Rs.17,500 crore on airport infrastructure and navigation.This was not enough to sustain the level of growth currently theaviation sector was witnessing and private sector should also chip in.The sector has been growing more than 20 per cent year-on-year andlast year the growth was 23 per cent. He highlighted the need to synergies the strength of both civiland defence aviation for greater growth. He said civil aviation wasa job creater with a multiplier effect as every job in the sectoradds six more from outside. He said currently there were 70 active airports in the countryand the ministry was attempting to add 50 more airports. He said cargo also had greater economic opportunity and there wasneed to harness the potential. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar who was also present said that boththe Ministries were working with good rapport during the last two-and-a-half years. Some of the defence air bases which double up ascivilian airports also were opened up more by better utilisation ofair space. With regard to Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facilities hesaid some impediments, including taxation issues were there. Thegovernment was attempting to resolve these issues and enable MROfacilities come up as early as possible to prevent aircraft frombeing flown outside the country for such requirements.UNI CNR RS CS 1615 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0284-1149821.Xml
Mr. Ambani will be kitted in Flying Overalls, G suit, FlyingBoots and Helmet with oxygen mask for the sortie that would takeplace between 1200 and 1300 hrs tomorrow.

Reliance Defence Ltd. has set up a Joint Venture with DassaultAviation of France which has signed up with the Indian Air Force forsupply of 36 Rafale. The joint venture would take up execution ofoffset obligations.

He would be the second top industrialist of the country to fly ina fighter jet ten years after Ratan Tata had during the 2007 AeroShow had flown in an F-16.

Three Rafale fighters single-seat Rafale C and two two-seatRafale B will participate in air demonstration at Aero India 2017.In addition to this, Rafale will also fly 'solo' as part of thedaily air display. This is the third Aero show in which Rafale ispresent actively. UNI MK CNR MSP CS 1654

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Thales and state owned Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the 11th edition of the Aero India to assess the opportunity for the transfer of technology of the STARStreak missile capability to India with the support of the Governmentof the United Kingdom (UK). Through this MoU, Thales and BDL seek to jointly offer a "Make in India" solution to help service growing international demand for this product. The STARStreak missile operates at a speed in excess of Mach 3 to defeat fast-moving threats and those with short unmasking times. The three-dart 'hittile' configuration maximises lethality and the highly-accurate laser beam riding guidance enables engagement of low-signature targets and is immune to all known counter measures. STARStreak has already been integrated with a wide range of Radar, IR Sensors, and Command and Control systems. It can be used in a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPADS) role as a single or multi-launcher configuration and is also available integrated into both light and heavy High Mobility Vehicles. The STARStreak missile is in service in the UK Army and has been procured by the defence forces of a number of countries worldwide. The fastest missile in its category, STARStreak is unique due to its three laser-guided darts, which cannot be jammed by any known counter measure. It has the capability to defeat any air target even armoured helicopters as the last line of defence. Thales is investing in the transfer of technology to India for the STARStreak missile. In the spirit of cooperation between the two countries, including under the Indo-UK Defence Equipment Cooperation MoU, this initiative has the full support of UK government. The association will play a strategic role not only in supporting the 'Make in India' vision of the Indian government but also in giving a boost to the excellent bilateral relations between India and the UK. Alex Cresswell, Executive Vice President for Land & Air Systems activities at Thales, said: We are proud to join hands with Bharat Dynamics Limited for the strategic transfer of technology of our flagship STARStreak missile from the UK. Also, we are thankful to the government of the UK for their strong support to this initiative. Sharing technology has been one of the key ingredients of Thales' strategy for India. We would continue to work in this direction and realise our objective to make in India and export from India through such endeavours. Mr. V Udaya Bhaskar, Chairman and Managing Director, Bharat Dynamics Limited said, "BDL is very much pleased to partner with Thales for obtaining transfer of technology for STARStreak Missiles. BDL is strongly looking forward to business opportunities outside India to supply the latest defence equipment",he said.UNI CNR MSP CS 1708 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0284-1149942.Xml
Kannur district, considered Kerala's most volatile due to the violent rivalry between the CPI-M and the BJP/RSS, can be brought back to normalcy, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday. "Even though previous peace talks have not earned the desired results, normalcy can return to Kannur... when the peace talks between the top leaders, percolate to the grass roots in the parties," Vijayan told reporters here on Tuesday soon after taking part in a peace meeting. Top leaders of his Communist Party of India-Marxist, the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh and as well as from other parties participated in the meeting to diffuse the political tension lurking in this district, where, over the years, the rival parties have lost a good number of their cadres and supporters on account of the violence. Vijayan, who himself hails from Kannur district, and represents Dharmadom assembly constituency which saw four people getting killed in political clashes between these two parties after he assumed office in May last year. Former state BJP president P.K. Krishnadas told reporters after the meeting that his party will fully cooperate with all efforts which will bring peace in the district. While both the CPI-M and the BJP has always blamed one another, the Congress blames both these parties for the situation in Kannur district. "The only way for violence to end in Kannur is both these parties should jointly decide to lay down arms. The issue surfaces when people in this district change from BJP to CPI-M and vice versa, for their own existence. We welcome all efforts by the government, but mere sitting round the table and discussions won't help... instead the desire for peace should come from the heart of hearts of these parties," Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala told media persons in the state capital. State Congress president V.M. Sudheeran said that the need of the hour is police should be given a free hand to deal with the situation. "What we have seen over the years are the real culprits who do the crimes are shielded and instead others are fielded as the culprits. This has to end once and for all," he said, according to a press release. --IANS sg/vd ( 381 Words) 2017-02-14-18:10:07 (IANS)
A drug peddler, who used to sell narcotics to teenagers, was arrested here and 275.45 gm of heroin, valued at Rs 7.5 lakh, recovered from his possession, Delhi Police said on Tuesday. According to police, the accused, identified as Munna, 24, a resident of New Seemapuri area in east Delhi, was arrested on February 11 at around 8 a.m. after a tip-off from some minor children who were in the habit of consuming drugs obtained from him. "Munna was arrested when he was on his way to supply heroin to some of his agents in his area," Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Nupur Prasad said. "On questioning, Munna disclosed that he and his three associates, Salman, Sonu and Pampu, were supplying heroin. The gang members used to purchase the heroin from Loni, in Ghaziabad district in Uttar Pradesh, and supplied it in small packets to teenagers in various parks," Prasad added. He also confessed to selling 2,000 packets of heroin in a day. Police are looking for his associates who were absconding, the DCP said. --IANS sp/sm/dg ( 188 Words) 2017-02-14-18:14:08 (IANS)
A day after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar rejected the Opposition`s demand for CBI probe in the job recruitment scam in Bihar Staff Selection Commission(BSSC), BJP today asserted that a probe by CBI or any other competent agency was a must to get to the bottom of the scam in view of suspected involvement of Ministers, MLAs of ruling parties and high ranking officers in it. Questioning the capability of Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct an impartial probe, former Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi told newspersons here that it was incomprehensible how Patna Senior Police Superintendent Manu Maharaj heading the SIT would interrogate Ministers, legislators and secretary level officers whose involvement in the scam was suspected from the outset. "When CBI could conduct probe Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh, why the premier investigating agency can not probe government job racket in Bihar," he wondered. He said the SIT`s limitation could be well understood as it had not even disclosed names of these high profile people who exercised their influence to secure government jobs for their candidates. Mr Modi said (BSSC) suspended Secretary Parmeshwar Ram had disclosed names of two ministers who sent him SMS messages for illegal appointment of their candidates during theinitial probe by SIT. He said similarly more than 12 MLAs of ruling parties also faced accusation of exerting pressure on BSSC bosses to ensure that their candidates secured government jobs through unfair means.MORE UNI DH IS BM -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0214-1150104.Xml
A branch of the National Centre for Disease Control will be set up in Odisha soon. Official sources here today said NCDC Additional Director S K Jain has discussed about it with state Secretary for Health and Family welfare P K Meherda yesterday. Dr Meherda has assured to provide all assistance for the proposed centre to be set up at an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore. Sources said land for the project would be identified soon. Odisha government had given a proposal to the central government to set up a branch of the centre in the state earlier.UNI BD BM -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0214-1150205.Xml
Over 1000 youths across Mizoram today donated blood under the banner Blood for Your Valentine today. Giving blood to the needy patients became a tradition in the Christian-dominated state since 2010 when the Aizawl-based Association for Voluntary Blood Donation conceived the idea. In Aizawl, blood donation camp was organised at Mizo Higher Secondary School by Mizoram State AIDS Control Society and the Aizawl-based Association for Voluntary Blood Donation, at Aizawl Civil Hospital. The blood donation drive was graced by Aizawl mayor P C Lalhmingthanga. He said giving blood means saving one's life. "Giving blood to the needy people is an ultimate form of showing love to our fellow human beings," Mr Lalhmingthanga said. In Lunglei, 212 people donated their blood, 97 of whom were females. In Lawngtlai, 72 people, including 19 females, donated their blood. Reports other district capitals were yet to arrive. Meanwhile, the gift shops in Aizawl were crowded with young people buying gifts for their dear ones. Candle light dinners and parties were held by lovers and married couples in hotels, restaurants, farmhouses and also in some picnic spots outside the city to mark the Day of Love.UNI ZS BM -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0214-1150230.Xml
All India Congress Committee secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik today rubbished the media report that Collectors of Goa have been empowered to look into the issue of dual citizenship of Indian citizens residing in the state, saying that the report is not factually correct as thenotification was issued in order to protect the voting rights of Goans. In a statement here, he said since a number of Goans had registered their births in Portugal, it was argued by some that they ceased to be Indian citizens, which was not the correct position of law. Mr Naik said the issue of dual citizenship was altogether a different matter and the Union Government, it appeared, was not inclined to consider the issue. However, the Congress in Goa had decided to pursue the matter with the government, which was an independent matter, not covered by present notification, he said. The senior Congress leader said the limited object of the notification dated November 22, 2016, was to ensure that the names of those who had merely registered their births in Portugal should not lose their voting rights in Goa. Stating that he had taken up the issue vigorously with the Home Ministry, and that had even introduced a bill to amend The Citizenship Act 1955, Mr Naik said instead of issuing the notification, it would have been ideal if the central government had accepted his amendment, introduced in the Rajya Sabha, which he had proposed to section 9 of Citizenship Act, 1955. The Rajya Sabha MP added that he had proposed to add a proviso after sub-section (1), which said that no citizen of India shall be deemed to have lost his citizenship merely on grounds of his or her availing the facility conferred by the order enacted by the Portuguese Government by registering their births in Portugal, to the Indian citizens residing in the territory of erstwhile Union Territory of Goa, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, then ruled by the Government of Portugal, unless such Indian citizens voluntarily apply for the citizenship of that country with specific intention of renouncing the citizenship of India, he informed. ''The procedure presently adopted by the central government is cumbersome and would create tremendous hardships as, by this procedure, every citizen who has registered his or her birth in Portugal purely with a view to get a better access to education in foreign universities, will have to appear now, before the collector to prove that he or she is the citizen of India with proof of documents which have not been specified yet in thenotification,'' he said. ''Object of the notification is to only know whether an Indian citizen residing in Goa has voluntarily acquired citizenship of another country. It is only those Indian citizens, residing in Goa, who have obtained Portuguese passports will cease to be Indian citizens and therefore will have no voting right but others will enjoy their full voting right,'' he said and added that the Centre which spoke of ease of doing business, Digital India, simplification of laws, facilities for NRIs, had made a mess of citizenship issue.UNI AKM SS SW RJ 1902 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-1150124.Xml
Karnataka Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs T B Jayachandra today termed the Supreme Court verdict on Disproportionate Assets Case sentencing AIADMK General Secretary Sasikala and others by quashing the High Court acquitting them earlier as a Victory for Law. "It is a victory for the law. We went on appeal in he Apex Court since the High Court had acquitted all of them including late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, her close aide Sasikla, foster son Sudhakaran and Ilavarasi. Our Advocates have presented the case very well and it is the victory for the Law," Mr Jayachandra told newsmen who asked him for his reaction on the SC verdict. Replying to a question, he said he has not received the judgement copy and cannot react further. About the case also I don't want to speak since it belonged to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka came to picture since the Apex Court transferred the case for further hearing and other than that Karnataka has no role.UNI MSP CS 1815 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0284-1150080.Xml
The BCGS has visited Goa to participate in the sea exercise as part of International seminar on Regional Cooperation for safe and secure seas scheduled from February 7 to 11.

The ship on her return leg to Bangladesh entered Chennai and it will be here till February 17. During the visit at Chennai, various events are planned by Indian Coast Guard (ICG) for mutual interaction to develop inter-operability between the two maritime Coast Guards.

BCGS Tajuddin (Pennant number PL 72) a Leader Class offshore patrol vessel, was commissioned on January 12 this year. The length of ship is 87 M (285 ft), Draught 3.2 M(10 ft), Beam 10.5 M(34 ft), Depth 5.5 M (18 ft) and with a speed of 25 knots.

The BCGS Tajuddin is commanded by Captain MD Hasan Tarique Mondal (G) NPP, PSE ,BN. The present complement of the ship is 12 officers and 106 enrolled personnel.

During the period of stay, the BCGS Tajuddin Commanding officer would be calling on the Coast Guard Regional Commander, Inspector General Rajan Bargotra, TM and other important dignitaries in Chennai. In addition, a reception will be hosted by Rajan Bargotra onboard ship ICGS Samudra Paheredar tomorrow. As part of cross training, Bangladeshi crew will be visiting on ICGS Samudra Paheredar, a Pollution Control Vessel and ICG crew will visit Bangladesh Coast Guard ship BCGS Tajuddin . Visit to Maritime Rescue Co-Ordination Center (MRCC) / Remote Operating Station (ROS) has also been planned for Bangladeshi crew. A friendly volleyball match between ICG and Bangladesh Coast Guard will also be organized at on February 16. The BCGS Tajuddin will depart Chennai Port on February 17 with ceremonial farewell organized by ICG.UNI CS-GV ADB2000

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The opposition Congress today demanded actions against senior BJP leaders Ananth Kumar and BS Yeddyurappa - including an FIR - if necessary - for allegedly "admitting" in a video footage how political power and public office are "misused" for collecting money through devious means."A video of shameful and sinful conversation between Ananth Kumar and Yeddyurappa is now available.....Are they telling the truth? If it is true, whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah will ask them to resign and register an FIR?," Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala told reporters here.In the video footage - also circulated in the social networking site by the Congress party's official twitter handle, the Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar is show purportedly saying, "You have paid money when in power, I have also paid when in power, can somebody say how much money I have paid". However, the authenticity of the video could not be immediately established.In a tweet later, Mr Surjewala also said, "the Video footage show real face of BJP leaders and contrary to what Prime Minister has been saying, they take bribes and also give bribes".The charge against Ananth Kumar and former Karnataka Chief Minister Yeddyurappa comes at a time when the Karnataka unit of BJP is gearing up gradually preparing for the 2018 assembly elections in the state - that is due in the month of May (next year).The Congress had wrested power from BJP in 2013 polls which took place in the backdrop of serious corruption charges against Mr Yeddyurappa, who also had quit BJP.The Congress spokesman also claimed that the "disgraceful conversation" took place in a Bengaluru meeting of BJP, which was also addressed by another Union Minister of Statistics and Programme DV Sadananda Gowda.Among other things, Mr Surjewala wanted to know: "How was this money generated and where did it go? How much money was given and where was it used?""The 125 crore Indians want to know where that money came from and how it was used. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi-ji talks about fighting black money. Is it not a case fit for invoking the Prevention of Corruption Act?" Mr Surjewala said. He also alleged that said the central government is misusing the ED, Central Bureau of Investigation and the Income Tax department against political rivals in anticipation of defeat in the assembly elections in the five states."Faced with an imminent defeat in the five election-going States, is the BJP leadership using the agency of CBI, ED or Income Tax as mere pawns in their game of deception so that completely unfounded and fake allegations can be leveled against political opponents?," he wondered.UNI DEVN NAZ SHK 1909 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0445-1150201.Xml
He said that the incident occurred at around 0600 hrs this morning while Sukhdev Singh, posted as a head constable at Alipur police station was waiting for a bus.

"The driver of the tempo was arrested. The incident occurred after Rakesh lost control over the vehicle," the official said.

He said that Sukhdev was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead.UNI DS SHK 2119

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A local court today issued summon to Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra and general secretary Nilesh Kumar in a forgery case under the garb of advocate verification rules. First Class Judicial Magistrate Sarika Bahalia while prima facie finding the charges against Mr. Mishra and Mr. Kumar correct issued summons to them. They were issued summons under sections 420 and 468 of Indian Penal Code. The court fixed the date of next hearing on February 29. An advocate of local civil court Umesh Kumar Sigh had lodged a complaint petition against the duo in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate on July 25 last, accusing them of committing forgery under the garb of advocate verification rule. CJM had handed over the case to his junior later. Three witnesses had deposed before the court on behalf of the complainant. Documentary evidences were also produced in the court by the advocate during the hearing of the case. UNI XC DH IS KK -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0212-1150492.Xml
Jammu and Kashmir National Conference today sought an empowered Delimitation Commission headed by a retired judge of the High Court to reorganise the Panchayats and their Wards in a time bound manner. Rejecting the ongoing delimitation of panchayats in the state as a politically motivated process, Provincial President National Conference Devender Singh Rana today said,"the current process being carried out by lower rung officials of the rural development is just a farce and mockery of democracy." Mr Rana said the government should go ahead with the conduct of Panchayat elections as per schedule but the hush hush manner in delimiting these units would be strongly resisted. He blamed the PDP-BJP combine for trampling the spirit of three-tier democracy by weakening the grass roots level decision making institutions as per a sinister political strategy. "Not only the Panchayats and wards are being redrawn as per political expediencies of the ruling alliance but the ultimate decision has been left to lower level functionaries of the rural development department'', he said, adding that this move has evoked immense resentment in rural areas. Elaborating on the clandestine delimitation of panchayats, the Provincial President said the composition of wards is being manipulated to suit the political interests of the coalition partners. He said such an exercise will defeat the purpose of empowering village communities, who hold key to rural development and emancipation. The Provincial President also referred to illogical reference point of 2011 Census for carrying out delimitation of Panchayats even as 2017 legal and duly notified voter lists were available. He called for making 2017 voter lists as referral point for redrawing Panchayats and Wards by way of delimitation. "We vociferously demand that 2017 base datum to be made referral point", he said. Mr Rana questioned the intent of PDP-BJP dispensation with regard to strengthening the grass root level democratic institutions in the state and referred to the measure of indirect election of Sarpanches by undertaking amendment to J&K Panchayati Raj Act 1989 last year. On the linking of Aadhar with distribution of food grains through CAPD outlets, the Provincial President questioned the rationale behind such move when most of the people in Jammu and Kashmir are yet to get their cards due to non-payment of dues to the agency designated to issue unique identification numbers. UNI VBH PY SHK 2137 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0298-1150508.Xml
"Such an act by an inmate shall be construed as an attack on the prison. Guards will be equipped with modern weapons within a fortnight. The incident shall be inquired into by a team comprising the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and two jail officials," the officer who inspected the prison today told media.

A reward of Rs 10,000 each was announced vis--vis the arrest of undertrails Om Prakash Jat and Anil Rathod.

Last year, eight ultras of the proscribed Students' Islamic Movement of India escaped from the Central Jail, Bhopal after murdering a guard. Just hours later they were neutralised in an encounter.UNI XC-AC SW SHK 2148

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A local court today extended remand periods of six people in a case linked to collaborating with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) presented the accused before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate. Satna's Balram Singh; locals Dhruv Saxena, Mohit Agrawal and Manish Gandhi were remanded in police custody till Saturday whereas Jabalpur's Manoj Bharti and Sandeep Gupta are to remain in judicial custody at least till February 27. After an 11-member gang of youths involved in making funds available on the directives of Pakistan-based handlers to secret agents was busted on Thursday, Maharashtra ATS personnel took a youth into custody during a raid at a dwelling at Indore's Khizrabad Colony. Sources in the ATS said the accused, vis--vis Friday night's action, was identified as Jadil Pervez hailing from Ujjain District's Unhel town. For more than a month he was staying at his sister's place in Indore. The ATS questioned Pervez at the Crime Branch's Indore office in connection with a case registered in Mumbai. The youth was in constant touch through social media with an accused apprehended in the Maharashtra capital for anti-national activities. In another pointer towards the subversive activities of India's western neighbour, Director General of Police Rishi Kumar Shukla revealed that the gang was connected to the ISI. "The modus operandi was hawala via parallel phone exchange set up through the medium of the Internet," the top officer told the press on Thursday afternoon at the Police Control Room in Ujjain divisional headquarters. The gang's network is suspected of being spread in other states. Certain people associated with phone companies are also complicit. On Friday, five members of the gang were remanded in police custody till today. Singh, Gwalior's Kush Pandit, Jitendra Thakur, Ritesh Khullar, Jitendra Yadav and Trilok Singh Bhadoriya were presented in court on Thursday evening. Singh was remanded till today whereas the others were remanded till Sunday. In excess of 1,000 subscriber interface module cards, SIM boxes and electronic equipment were seized from their possession. Spies Satvinder and Dadu who passed on Army details to the ISI and were arrested in Jammu in November received money from Singh who managed several bank accounts and was in constant contact with Pakistani operatives. The gang was busted with cooperation of central agencies as well as agencies of Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh after the espionage case came to light. Two persons each from Gwalior and Satna were subsequently taken into custody. Searches by the ATS are continuing here, in Gwalior and Satna. A young woman, who was living with Saxena at New Minal Residency, is also being questioned. Saxena's photographs with ruling BJP bigwigs went viral. He has been described as an office-bearer of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha's Information Technology (IT) Cell. Some posters show him with District BJYM President Anshul Tiwari though the latter denied that Saxena is an office-bearer. J Yadav is said to be the brother-in-law of a BJP corporator. The sequence of events assumed political hues with principal opposition Congress state President Arun Yadav demanding an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation or some other federal agency. CPI(M) state Secretary Badal Saroj insisted that the leaders be subjected to interrogation. "The gang's kingpin was an office-bearer of the IT Cell. The pictures feature the Chief Minister and several of his ministerial colleagues. This is the 'true nationalism' of Narendra Modi, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the BJP," Mr Saroj averred in a statement. A report from Satna said executing a vanishing act in order to avoid being put through the wringer, more than two-dozen acquaintances of Singh have gone underground. Raids were conducted yesterday by the ATS to collar his younger sibling Vikram but he continues to be on the run. An empty almirah and a bag belonging to Singh were seized from a dwelling. Intelligence agencies obtained information related to transactions carried out through accounts in two banks. An eye is being kept on a couple of doctors, a cloth trader and two office-bearers of a Hindu outfit. The owner of the place where Singh lived on rent was cross-examined. Based on leads obtained from him, police are on the lookout for a youth and are also endeavouring to gather information about a Nagod-resident woman used as a 'conduit' by Singh to deliver funds.UNI Team-AC PY SHK 2125 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0044-1150524.Xml
Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar, who too was there at Marina along with Panneerselvam's supporters, extended her support to him.

Jayakumar, who had earlier announced she would announce her political journey on February 24, now said: "My political journey begins today."

It was last Tuesday Panneerselvam after meditating at Jayalalithaa's memorial dropped the bomb that he was forced to resign as Chief Minister by AIADMK General Secretary V.K.Sasikala so that she can occupy his post.

--IANS vj/vd

( 107 Words)

2017-02-14-22:10:06 (IANS)
He also said his party having 41 legislators would support any move to bring down Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government in the state.

Mr Pawar alleged that the new BJP leadership tried to prevail upon Shiv Sena, which resulted in strained relationship between the two parties.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray also said his party's future relationship with BJP will be decided on how far they are going to stretch it.

The rumors are agog that Mr Fadnavis government would fall if Sena comes to power on its own in election to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) having a budget of Rs 40,000 crore.UNI JM SS PY SHK 2209

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Tired of the usual box of chocolates? Try a bug cocktail or a caramel creepy crawly for Valentine's Day.A Tokyo bar on Sunday offered courageous couples and curious gourmets a special menu of desserts and drinks made with insects ahead of tomorrow's holiday."They are crispy like the skin of walnuts and go pretty well with chocolate," Sayumi Makino, 20, told Reuters Television at the Duranbar in central Tokyo.The menu ranged from a cranberry and water bug cocktail to caramelized worms with almonds and cashews. The whipped cream on some desserts included the internal fluids of giant Thai water bugs, known for their sweet taste.While insects can be found in some regional cuisines, bugs are not a common menu item across Japan.Yuta Shinohara, a university student who organised the bug cocktail night, said he wanted to promote an alternative food culture."I love insects and I think it's really fun to eat them," he said, adding they were a sustainable food source too.Insects can be a rich source of fat, protein, vitamins, fibre and minerals, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).The composition of unsaturated omega-3 and six fatty acids in mealworms is comparable to that in fish and higher than in beef and pork, it says.Globally, at least 2 billion people eat insects and more than 1,900 species have been used for food, according to the FAO, which said entomophagy could play a key role in food security and environmental protection. REUTERS JW AN1601 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-1148366.Xml
The demonstrators convened on the avenue where riot police and barricades were staked out to avoid any untoward developments, as a sea of Mexican flags and anti-Trump signs flocked near the embassy, reports CNN.

The march comes amid protests in the United States against Trump and the administration's deportations of undocumented immigrants as well as his executive order barring travelers from seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the country.

Other than immigration, protesters also expressed their concern about the possibility of new taxes on Mexican goods and remittances, as well as the prospect of the United States withdrawing from a trade deal with Mexico.

Last Sunday, Trump had asserted that the deportations should come as no surprise, as the crackdown on "illegal criminals" is merely the keeping of his campaign promise. (ANI)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met former Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and voiced his support for his appointment as a UN envoy to Libya. The United States on Friday blocked Fayyad's appointment to lead the UN political mission in Libya, saying it was acting to support its ally Israel, who objected to the appointment, haaretz.com reported. Abbas' office said on Tuesday that two had met in the morning and spoke about Israel's attempts to block the appointment. Fayyad's nomination for the post, Abbas said, proved that the UN holds him to be a diplomat of international standing whose experience can help peace and global stability. On Saturday it emerged that Knesset Member Tzipi Livni was offered a senior position at the UN as well, a day after US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley vetoed Fayyad's appointment. Netanyahu confirmed on Sunday that he opposed Fayyad's appointment and said at a cabinet meeting that he was briefed on the impending appointment several days ago. "I said that the time has come for parity in the attitude toward Israel, and that the Palestinian side can't be given freebies all the time," he said. "The time has come for the Israeli side to get status and appointments if [Fayyad] is tapped" for the position of special UN envoy to Libya. --IANS lok/ ( 232 Words) 2017-02-14-07:18:08 (IANS)
The UN Security Council denounced North Korea's weekend missile launch, urging members to "redouble efforts" to enforce sanctions against the reclusive state, but gave no indications of any action it might take.Pyongyang's test of the intermediate-range ballistic missile on Sunday was its first direct challenge to the international community since US President Donald Trump took office on January 20.At a news conference yesterday, Trump said: "Obviously North Korea is a big, big problem and we will deal with that very strongly."Trump did not speak of any planned response but Washington's UN ambassador Nikki Haley said in a statement: "It is time to hold North Korea accountable - not with our words, but with our actions."She issued the statement after an emergency Security Council meeting yesterday that was called by the United States, Japan and South Korea to discuss the North's missile launch.US, Japanese and South Korean military officials held a teleconference yesterday in which they condemned the launch as "a clear violation" of multiple Security Council resolutions. The United States "reaffirmed its ironclad security commitments" to South Korea and Japan, the Pentagon said.A South Korean official said the United States has planned to deploy "strategic assets" in upcoming annual military exercises with South Korea because of the increased threat from the North. The exercises usually start in March.The official did not say what assets might be used. In the past, these have included B-2 bombers, F-22 stealth fighter jets and nuclear-powered submarines.South Korea's intelligence agency estimates the solid-fuel missile launched by North Korea on Sunday has a range of more than 2,000 km, the South's Yonhap news agency said. That would bring large parts of China, Taiwan, Japan, Russia and the tip of the Philippines within range.The North has tested missiles with a range of over 3,000 km in the past, but has said it is on the verge of testing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which could eventually threaten the continental United States, which is about 9,000 km from North Korea."We are keeping an eye out, thinking data and technology from the latest test can be applied (to an ICBM)," South Korean Defence Minister Han Min-koo told lawmakers today.Trump tweeted "It won't happen!" after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said in January the North was close to an ICBM test.REGULAR THREATSNorth and South Korea are technically still at war because their 1950-1953 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. The North regularly threatens to destroy the South and the South's main ally, the United States.The Security Council did not specify what steps might be taken beyond the UN-sponsored sanctions regime imposed on North Korea since 2006 over its nuclear and ballistic missile tests."The members of the Security Council deplore all the Democratic People's Republic of Korea ballistic missile activities, including these launches," the council said in a statement that also referred to North Korea's missile launch on October 19.The statement "called upon all member states to redouble their efforts to implement fully the measures imposed on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea by the Security Council."Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said yesterday that he expected the Trump administration would adopt a harder line on North Korea."I believe that the stance of the United States towards North Korea will become much tougher, that is clear," Abe said on an NHK public broadcasting news program after returning from meetings with Trump in the United States.North Korea has said any sanctions against its missile or nuclear programs are a violation of its sovereignty and right to self-defense.REUTERS SHS RAI1140 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1149361.Xml
The most senior US officer to visit Thailand since a 2014 coup emphasised the importance of restoring democracy today as he launched the annual Cobra Gold military exercise.The United States scaled down its presence at Asia's largest annual multinational military exercise as one of the former US administration's steps to pressure the junta.With ties improving even before President Donald Trump took office, activists had voiced concern that Washington would put less focus on democratic change in a region where it faces an increasingly forceful China."We look forward to Thailand's re-emergence as a flourishing democracy because we need Thailand to be a strong and stable partner," said Admiral Harry Harris, head of US Pacific Command, which covers about half the earth's surface."We need Thailand to get back to being the regional and global leader that it always has been."Harris will later meet junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha in Bangkok.Harris's attendance was planned before the inauguration of Trump, whose policy moves on Asia are closely watched after signals of potential confrontation with China over trade and territory.In the face of the US measures to push for democracy, Thailand has strengthened military coorperation with China.New York-based Human Rights Watch said the change in relations with Thailand marked a worrisome shift given the military's grip on power and the arrests of activists and opponents of army rule."It appears Pentagon policymakers are intent on using Cobra Gold as a way to reboot US military engagement with their Thai counterparts," wrote John Sifton of the advocacy group in an opinion piece that first appeared in the Washington Post.The Thai junta held a referendum last year on a constitution to allow a general election. It is expected next year.Today, the military government was also due to start meetings with political groups on national reconciliation ahead of the election. Parties have welcomed the idea, but questioned whether the generals can be fair.Thailand has hosted the Cobra Gold war games since they began in 1982. This year's event will be attended by more than 8,300 personnel from 29 countries. Among them will be about 3,600 from the United States. REUTERS SHS NS1221 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1149454.Xml
A top Pakistani bomb squad officer has been killed along with another policeman while trying to defuse a bomb in the southwestern city of Quetta, police said today.The commander of the city's bomb disposal unit and a colleague were killed late yesterday, hours after another blast killed at least 13 people and wounded more than 80 in the eastern city of Lahore.The blasts were claimed by different militant factions and did not appear to be related. They came after a period of relative calm had bolstered hopes for an overall improvement in security."They died on the spot, their bodies blown up," Abdul Razzaq Cheema, deputy inspector general of police in Quetta, said of the two officers.The Sunni Muslim militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi's Al Alami faction claimed responsibility on Tuesday.In the eastern city of Lahore, police were combing the site of the Monday suicide bomb blast that went off in the midst of a protest by chemists and pharmaceuticals manufacturers, near the provincial assembly.A militant group called Jamaat-ur-Ahrar, a faction of the Pakistani Taliban who have been battling the state for years, claimed responsibility.Five policemen were also among the 13 dead in Lahore.The Jamaat-ur-Ahrar faction, which killed more than 70 people in a Lahore park in an Easter Day bombing last year, said the attack marked the start of a new campaign to target government departments and officials."You are on our target across the country," the group said.REUTERS SHS RAI1316 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1149526.Xml
The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said on Monday that El Aissami had played a "significant role in international narcotics trafficking", a news release said.

"OFAC's action today is the culmination of a multi-year investigation under the Kingpin Act to target significant narcotics traffickers in Venezuela and demonstrates that power and influence do not protect those who engage in these illicit activities," said John Smith, acting director of OFAC.

El Aissami, who was appointed Vice President of Venezuela in January, is a former Interior and Justice Minister and Governor of the country's Aragua state.

The Treasury Department said he "facilitated shipments of narcotics from Venezuela to include control over planes that leave from a Venezuelan air base, (and) narcotics shipments of over 1,000 kg from Venezuela on multiple occasions, including those with the final destinations of Mexico and the US", CNN reported on Tuesday.

In addition, the department said El Aissami was linked to coordinating drug shipments to Los Zetas, a violent Mexican drug cartel, and provided protection to a Colombian drug lord.

Monday's action imposed sanctions on El Aissami that prohibit anyone in the US from doing business with him, and freezing any assets the US.

A senior administration official said sanctions are "not a reaction to El Aissami's role as executive Vice President of Venezuela. The designation was the result of a years-long investigation of narcotics trafficking by OFAC".

An intelligence document obtained by CNN linked El Aissami to 173 Venezuelan passports and ID's, that the report said, were issued to individuals from the Middle East, including people connected with the terrorist group Hezbollah.

The report said that the official who ordered the issuing of the passports was El Aissami, who "took charge of issuing, granting visas and nationalising citizens from different countries -- especially Syrians, Lebanese, Jordanians, Iranians and Iraqis."

--IANS soni/vt

( 337 Words)

2017-02-14-14:56:07 (IANS)
An associate of Venezuelan Vice President Tareck El Aissami has denied drug trafficking after the United States blacklisted both men in the Trump administration's first move against the socialist government.The US Department of Treasury yesterday sanctioned El Aissami and an associate, Samark Lopez, on accusations of masterminding an international network shipping drugs to Mexico and the United States.There was no immediate response from Venezuela's government, although El Aissami, 42, did tweet pictures of himself receiving an official Chinese delegation in Caracas.But Lopez said in a statement on his website late yesterday that the listings appeared "politically motivated.""Mr Lopez is a businessman who has known Tareck El Aissami for a number of years," the statement said. "Mr. Lopez is not a government official and has not engaged in drug trafficking."Samark Lopez will seek all legal, administrative, and judicial remedies possible."President Nicolas Maduro's government has frequently cast US and opposition accusations of drug-trafficking, corruption and human rights abuses as a false pretext to justify meddling in Venezuela and a push to topple him.Maduro, 54, narrowly won election in 2013 to replace the late Hugo Chavez, but his popularity has plummeted amid a brutal economic crisis in the nation of 30 million people.El Aissami, whom local media report is of Syrian and Lebanese extraction, grew up poor in the Andean state of Merida and went on to study law and criminology. He had been both a lawmaker and a state governor for the ruling Socialist Party before being named vice president last month.Venezuelan opposition groups have long accused El Aissami of repressing dissent, participating in drug trafficking rings, and supporting Middle Eastern groups such as Hezbollah. He denies those allegations.REUTERS SDR PM1816 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-1150082.Xml
NATO's European allies and Canada increased defence spending by 3.8 per cent last year, or 10 billion dollar more than 2015, the alliance said today, and said Britain was keeping up with its target after a report said London missed its goal.Russia's annexation of Crimea has given the alliance new momentum after years of cuts, but differences remain about the pace of investment. The International Institute for Strategic Studies, a security think tank, said only Greece and Estonia met a target to spend 2 per cent of economic output on defence.A NATO official told Reuters that five allies, including Britain, met or exceeded NATO's benchmark in 2016. NATO is expected to release its full 2016 figures next month.Europe's low expenditure has long been a sore point for the United States, which puts up 70 per cent of alliance funds, and US President Donald Trump has made change a priority, saying allies have "been very unfair to us" for not spending more.NATO will tell new US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis tomorrow in Brussels that Europe is responding."We are making a significant step forward but we have a long way to go ... it is not enough," Stoltenberg told a news conference, saying Trump raised the issue in the two phone calls the two men have held.However, Russia's 2014 annexation in Ukraine and the rise of Islamist militancy - not US pressure - led to last year's increase in European spending, NATO diplomats and analysts said.Stoltenberg said the Baltic states of Latvia and Lithuania, who fear a repeat of Crimea, were on course to meet the 2 percent goal, while Romania was also heading towards that level.Germany is increasing spending by 2 billion euros (2.13 billion dollar) in this year's budget.However, IISS's study said Britain's level fell slightly to 1.98 per cent in 2016 as the economy grew faster than defence outlay. Poland also slipped, it said.Britain said the IISS figures were incorrect as the think tank presented its figures in US dollars and so had been impacted by exchange rate fluctuations."NATO's own figures clearly show that the UK spends over 2 per cent of its GDP on defence," a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said in a statement."Our defence budget is the biggest in Europe, the second largest in NATO, and it is growing each year as we invest 178 billion pounds (221.88 billion dollar) in new equipment."In 2015, only Greece, Estonia, Poland and Britain hit the 2 percent NATO target. British Prime Minister Theresa May, who discussed the issue with Trump last month, has warned EU leaders to raise their defence spending.Stoltenberg acknowledged difficulties. "The picture is still mixed, some allies are still really struggling," he said when asked about budget constraints in Italy, which is trying to reduce its budget deficit following the euro zone crisis. REUTERS SDR BL1922 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-1150277.Xml
A reshuffle of Egypt's cabinet will involve nine ministers, including those responsible for investment and agriculture, Egypt's state television said today.The cabinet reshuffle will also include merging the investment ministry with the ministry of international cooperation. The current International Cooperation Minister Sahar Nasr is nominated to head the combined ministry.A vote in parliament to confirm the new cabinet is expected today.REUTERS SDR PM2004 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-1150399.Xml
The United Nations special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, plans to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu during a visit to Moscow later this week, RIA news agency reported.RIA earlier reported that de Mistura would visit Moscow on Thursday. REUTERS PY BD2207 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-1150576.Xml
Britain has summoned North Korea's ambassador to express its condemnation of the country's weekend ballistic missile launch, the Foreign Office said today.North Korea said today its missile launches were "self-defence measures", rejecting UN Security Council criticism of the test. The United States has demanded international action against Pyongyang's weapons programmes."We urge North Korea to stop its provocative actions, which threaten international peace and security, and instead re-engage with the international community, and take credible, concrete steps to prioritise the wellbeing of its own people instead of the nuclear and ballistic missile programmes," a British Foreign Office spokeswoman said in a statement."The ambassador was asked to convey this message to Pyongyang in the strongest possible terms," she added.REUTERS PY BD2225 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-1150586.Xml
MANAMA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Monday for joint efforts from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to fight terrorism, especially in work with conflict-stricken regions.

He made the remarks at an event co-hosted by the Bahrain-based Middle East and North Africa office of the International Peace Institute and his Bahraini counterpart Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.

"The Islamic countries are going through a crucial period which requires the region to deal with terrorism including the Islamic State (IS)," said the Turkish president.

"I urge the GCC countries to help us in this fight and to take responsibility, or else we will lose more brothers and witness more conflicts," he said.

Erdogan highlighted the seven-year-long civil war in Syria, where children cannot go to school and are living with bombs dropped on a daily basis.

"It is up to us now to solve this issue as Muslims are harming each other and this bloodshed should stop," said the president. "We need Syria, like the rest of the region, to be free from terrorism."

He said Turkey was providing help to more than 2.5 million Syrian refugees, and that what happens in neighboring Syria would also affect Turkey.

In his address, Erdogan said he had informed former U.S. President Barack Obama and the sitting President Donald Trump of the significance of the region, and called upon GCC countries to give more financial support.

On the issue of the IS, the Turkish president said his country had pushed back these terrorists and killed thousands of them.

"Islamic State is involved in terrorist activities and killing of innocent people, and such acts have nothing to do with Islam and those cannot be called Muslims," he said.
UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council is scheduled to meet behind closed doors at 17:00 EST (2200 GMT) on Monday to discuss the launch of a ballistic missile on Sunday by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), diplomats said here.

The closed council meeting will be held at the request of the United States, Japan and South Korea, the diplomats said.

Earlier Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a statement issued by his spokesman, strongly condemned the latest move by Pyongyang, saying "This action is a further troubling violation of (UN) Security Council resolutions."

Under relevant UN resolutions, the DPRK is barred from staging ballistic missile launches or nuclear weapons tests.

"The DPRK leadership must return to full compliance with its international obligations and to the path of denuclearization," the statement said. "The secretary-general appeals to the international community to continue to address this situation in a united manner."

The DPRK on Monday claimed it had successfully test-fired Pukguksong-2, a surface-to-surface medium- and long-range ballistic missile.
TRIPOLI, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Libya's UN-backed government said on Monday that the recent memorandum of understanding signed between Libya and Italy does not include resettlement of illegal immigrants in Libya.

Under the deal, illegal immigrants will be returned to their home countries after necessary medical care is provided, said Government Spokesman Ashraf Al-Thulthi in a press conference.

The deal also requires the government to develop immigrant reception centers, he added.

Libya is a preferred transit country for illegal immigrants hoping to cross the Mediterranean into Europe. Many of the migrants are reported to be drowned on the way.
GENEVA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Office of the UN Special Envoy for Syria announced Monday that a new round of intra-Syrian peace talks are scheduled to kick off on Feb. 23, with rival delegations expected to arrive in the Swiss city "on or about Feb. 20."

"UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura is actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to ensure a successful confirmation of arrangements for the convening of intra-Syrian negotiations in Geneva," the envoy's spokesperson Yara Sharif said in a written statement.

"We can confirm that [invitations] letters have been sent, and also that consultations are continuing," she added.

The UN-mediated peace talks seeking to broker a political end to the conflict, which has killed an estimated 400,000 people since March 2011, were scheduled to start on Feb. 8 before being postponed twice.
UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- An inter-agency humanitarian convoy delivered food, health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene and other emergency items to Syria's Ar Rastan area in northern rural Homs for 107,500 people in need, Farhan Haq, the deputy UN spokesman, told reporters here Monday.

Some health, non-food items, nutrition and water and sanitation supplies were removed during the loading process, Haq said at a daily news briefing here.

The UN continues to call for unconditional, unimpeded and sustained access, including for all health and medical-related items, to the 4.7 million people in hard-to-reach locations across the country, including more than 640,000 in besieged locations, Haq said.

"We also remain deeply concerned for the situation of civilians impacted by anti-Da'esh operations in and around Al Bab," Haq said, adding that it is estimated that around 30,000 civilians have fled Al Bab city and its surroundings since late December.

Da'esh, or the Islamic State (IS), is the terrorist group whose fighters seized part of territories in Iraq and Syria.

"The UN and partners are providing assistance to those who are displaced, including through setting up reception and transit centres to receive and provide basic assistance to those in need," he said.

Up to 10,000 civilians remain in Al Bab city, facing increasingly difficult conditions under Da'esh control, including severe movement restrictions.
BUJUMBURA, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Burundian National Media Council (CNC) has warned journalists tarnishing the east African country's image, the CNC vice-chairman said Monday at the celebration of the World Radio Day.

"Media freedom is real in Burundi. This is a warning against journalists using internet to tarnish Burundi's image, who claim that there's no media freedom here (in Burundi). There are over 33 media companies including more than 24 radio stations, six television stations and three government owned media houses," CNC Vice-Chairman Gabriel Bihumugani told a press conference.

According to him, there is "good collaboration" between the CNC and media in Burundi.

The world radio day is however celebrated in the east African nation at a time when three radio stations have been banned from broadcasting since they were destroyed in the aftermath of the failed coup plot against President Pierre Nkurunziza on May 13, 2015.

The three radio stations include Radio Bonesha FM, the African Public Radio (RPA) and Radio-Television Renaissance.

The destruction of those radio stations accused of collaborating with coup plotters took place on May 14, 2015 at the announcement of the failure of the coup plot.

Bihumugani said, "Radio Bonesha FM can reopen at any time because no charges are weighing on it."

He however indicated that the place where it was based is still subject to investigations, adding that the radio stations should look for another place.

"The other two radio stations -- the African Public Radio (RPA) and Radio-Television Renaissance have said that they will reopen after inter-Burundian talks taking place in Arusha, Tanzania. But the African Public Radio (RPA) has been violating the convention linking it to the CNC through roadcasting incendiary messages," Bihumugani said.

He underlined that the CNC will "never plead" for its reopening, but rather called on jurisdictions to sue it.
MAPUTO, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Mozambican police authorities said on Monday that three people were killed by thunder lightning strikes during the rains last week in northern Nampula province.

"The police has been in the scene and collected the bodies, handed them to the families for funeral services." Police spokesperson Zacarias Nacuti said to the media.

During this rainy season in Mozambique, a number of incidents are reported and most of them are caused by thunder lightning strikes.

Last week, the police authorities said 47 people died since the rainy season started in October last year, most of them were killed by thunder.
U.S. President Donald Trump (R) attends a joint press conference with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on Feb. 13, 2017. U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday vowed to deal with Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) "very strongly", calling the Asian country a "big, big problem." (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday vowed to deal with Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) "very strongly", calling the Asian country a "big, big problem."

Trump made the remark at a joint press conference with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, after the DPRK launched its ballistic missile on Sunday. But the U.S. president did not elaborate on what actions he planned to take in relation to the DPRK.

"We have problems all over the Middle East. We have problems just about every corner of the globe no matter where you look," Trump said when asked about the most important national security issues facing the United States.

Trump on Saturday vowed U.S. support to Japan in a hastily called joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Florida.

"I just want everybody to understand and fully know that the United States of America stands behind Japan, its great ally, 100 percent," Trump said.

The DPRK claimed on Monday it had successfully test-fired Pukguksong-2, a surface-to-surface medium- and long-range ballistic missile, and its top leader Kim Jong Un guided the test firing, according to the state news agency KCNA.

On Monday, China said it is opposed to the DPRK's test-launch of the ballistic missile, which is in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

China calls for all parties concerned to exercise restraint and jointly maintain stability in the region, Geng Shuang, a spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry, told a routine press briefing.

Earlier Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a statement issued by his spokesman, strongly condemned the latest move by Pyongyang, saying "this action is a further troubling violation of (UN) Security Council resolutions."
U.S. President Donald Trump (R) attends a joint press conference with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on Feb. 13, 2017. U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday vowed to deal with Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) "very strongly", calling the Asian country a "big, big problem." (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday vowed to deal with Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) "very strongly", calling the Asian country a "big, big problem."

Trump made the remark at a joint press conference with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, after the DPRK test-fired its ballistic missile on Sunday. But the U.S. president did not elaborate on what actions he planned to take in relation to the DPRK.

"We have problems all over the Middle East. We have problems just about every corner of the globe no matter where you look," Trump said when asked about the most important national security issues facing the United States.

On Monday, the Pentagon strongly condemned the DPRK's ballistic missile launch and vowed to "take all necessary measures to deter and defeat threats to U.S. and ally territories and citizens."

"The North American Aerospace Defense Command determined the missile launch did not pose a threat to North America," said Jeff Davis, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Defense. "We also worked very quickly with our Japanese and South Korean allies to make sure it did not pose a threat to them either."

On Saturday, Trump vowed U.S. support to Japan in a hastily called joint press conference with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Florida.

"I just want everybody to understand and fully know that the United States of America stands behind Japan, its great ally, 100 percent," Trump said.

The DPRK claimed on Monday it had successfully test-fired Pukguksong-2, a surface-to-surface medium- and long-range ballistic missile, and its top leader Kim Jong Un guided the test firing, according to the state news agency KCNA.

Earlier Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a statement issued by his spokesman, strongly condemned the latest move by Pyongyang, saying "this action is a further troubling violation of (UN) Security Council resolutions."

China said Monday it is opposed to the DPRK's test-launch of the ballistic missile, which is in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

China calls for all parties concerned to exercise restraint and jointly maintain stability in the region, Geng Shuang, a spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry, told a routine press briefing.

Related:

China opposes DPRK's missle test-launch

BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- China was opposed to the test-launch of a ballistic missile by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), which was in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, said a Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Monday. Full story

International community condemns DPRK's missile test-firing

BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The international community has generally denounced the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) over its latest test-launch of a ballistic missile on Sunday. Full story

DPRK claims successful test firing of medium-long range ballistic missile
LONDON, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- A bold vision to transform London's Thames Estuary into a hub for the creative and cultural industries was unveiled Monday by London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

The mayor said the project would bring thousands of jobs and growth to benefit London and the wider south east corner of England.

The proposal spans seven London boroughs as well as the counties of Essex and Kent, and is expected to generate 44 billion U.S.dollars a year to London's economy.

Khan's plan would see the Thames Estuary transformed into a global center of excellence for the creative industries, with several large-scale developments proposed.

The mayor called on government ministers to put the creative industries at the heart of their industrial strategy.

A spokesman for the mayor said: "The creative industries are Britain's biggest growth sector, with 1.3 million people working in the creative economy across London and South East."

The mayor's plan outlines a future where the Thames Estuary becomes an internationally-renowned center for major creative production facilities for building, innovating and testing new ideas -- supporting growth, championing a low carbon economy, providing job opportunities and investing in a skilled workforce.

The vision document, which has been submitted to the Lord Heseltine, head of the Thames Estuary 2050 Growth Commission, identifies the potential for several large-scale national hubs which add up to one of the largest investments in industrial infrastructure since Canary Wharf was built in the 1980s.

The proposals include London's largest film studio complex in Dagenham, a national theater-making studios complex in Bexley, a state-of-the-art facility and foundry for manufacturing large-scale artworks and sculptures, including Britain's biggest 3D printing center.

It will also see a new national center for experiential arts in Woolwich and studios in Purfleet that will be Britain's leading independent media production facility.

Mayor Khan said: "London leads the way across the whole of the creative economy, from fashion to film, design to gaming, performing arts to the visual arts. It's only right that we build on this success and transform the Thames Estuary into a world-class center for creative production, leading global innovation, developing the talent of the future and cultivating world-changing ideas."
RAMALLAH, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Executive Committee of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) decided on Monday to head to the United Nations Security Council against Israeli settlements' expansion in the West Bank.

The PLO declaration was made Monday night in an official statement issued in the aftermath of a meeting held in Ramallah, chaired by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

"On the light of the frantic settlement's expansion in the West Bank and Jerusalem, the PLO will head to the Security Council to demand it to bear its responsibility to protect its resolutions and oblige Israel to abide by it," it said.

Over the past few weeks, Israel escalated its settlement building and expansion in the West Bank. In addition, the Israeli parliament had passed last week a bill that legalized settlements' construction and expansion.

"The PLO is activating all mechanisms to confront the Israeli settlement and this includes applying to the judiciary council of the International Criminal Court in The Hague to investigate Israeli officials immediately," said the PLO statement.

The statement called on the international community to help implementing the recent UN resolution 2334, which condemned Israeli settlement in the Palestinian territories and called for halting it.

Settlement is the thorny question that caused a freeze to the peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Bilateral talks, sponsored by the United States, stopped in April 2014 after it lasted for nine months without achieving any progress.
Screenshot of a twitter user's post shows a glaring typo of Trump's Print. (Xinhua Photo)

NEW YORK, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- An inauguration portrait of U.S. President Donald Trump has been removed from the online store of the Library of Congress because of an obvious typo.

The print of Trump, which was sold at 16.95 U.S. dollars on the Library of Congress's website, includes a quote from the president's November victory speech - but misspelt "too" as "to."

"No dream is too big, no challenge is to great. Nothing we want for the future is beyond our reach," the quote reads on the poster.

The page selling the print was removed Sunday evening at some point between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.local time, according to thehill.com.

On the original page, the Library of Congress described the print as one that "captures the essence of Donald Trump's campaign for the presidency of the United States."

Social media users were quick to point out the error.
Road over the Oroville Dam closed for a time Tuesday due to the spillway threat. (Web pick)

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- An official in Northern California said Monday evacuations due to possible failure of the emergency spillway at Orville Dam remain in effect.

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea told a press conference Monday afternoon that evacuations starting Sunday afternoon was "a difficult decision to make."

While authorities did not provide exact number of evacuees, an estimated 180,000 people were ordered to leave home.

Honea said the situation at the emergency spillway was stable as of Monday morning.

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) said that the order to evacuate was based on information it had received.

The information raised concern that erosion at the head of the spillway threatens to undermine the concrete weir and allow large, uncontrolled releases of water from Lake Oroville, the second largest man-made lake in the state of California, capable of storing more than 3.5 million acre-feet, or 4.4 cubic kilometers, of water.

While reaffirming that Oroville Dam, the tallest in the United States with an earthfill embankment 770 feet, or 230 meters, high on the Feather River east of the city of Oroville, is sound, the DWR clarified that the dam is a separate structure from the emergency spillway.

The DWR said Sunday afternoon a hole developed in the emergency spillway structure, a concrete lip on the north side of the dam, as water cascaded down the dirt ravine. Flow over the spillway weir began Saturday morning and the erosion appeared to be spreading upward toward the structure.

Officials said if the structure were undercut by the enlarging chasm, it could fail, and the water behind that barrier would come down the hill uncontrollably into the diversion pool and down the Feather River, setting the stage for the possibility of massive flows exceeding the capacity of downstream channels and flooding into Oroville and communities south of the city.

To avert more erosion at the top of the emergency spillway, the DWR had doubled the flow down the dam's main spillway, so as to lower the water level in the lake more rapidly and stop water flowing over the emergency spillway.

There was no word from the DWR and local authorities on when people would be allowed back into the area, and Chris Orrock, a spokesman for the state agency, said people would not be let back until officials are confident that the area is safe.

Oroville is about 113 kilometers, north of California's state capital of Sacramento, or 240 kilometers northeast of San Francisco.

Oroville Dam was built by the DWR from 1961 to 1968 as one of the key features of the California State Water Project (SWP) to serve mainly for water supply, hydroelectricity generation and flood control.
PARIS, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) should improve its defense policy and boost action to better ensure security in a context of growing threats, French President Francois Hollande said on Monday.

At a telephone talks with NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Hollande stressed France's "commitment to the development of a more ambitious European defense policy."

"NATO must continue to show its ability to adapt its missions to a context of growing menaces," the French leader said in a statement released by his office.

"The coherence of the alliance's action is the best guarantee of its effectiveness," he added.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the law enforcement at the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA) Winter Conference in Washington, U.S., February 8, 2017. (REUTERS/Joshua Roberts)

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday vowed to deal with Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) "very strongly", calling the Asian country a "big, big problem."

Trump made the remark at a joint press conference with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, after the DPRK test-fired its ballistic missile on Sunday. But the U.S. president did not elaborate on what actions he planned to take in relation to the DPRK.

"We have problems all over the Middle East. We have problems just about every corner of the globe no matter where you look," Trump said when asked about the most important national security issues facing the United States.

On Monday, the Pentagon strongly condemned the DPRK's ballistic missile launch and vowed to "take all necessary measures to deter and defeat threats to U.S. and ally territories and citizens."

"The North American Aerospace Defense Command determined the missile launch did not pose a threat to North America," said Jeff Davis, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Defense. "We also worked very quickly with our Japanese and South Korean allies to make sure it did not pose a threat to them either."

On Saturday, Trump vowed U.S. support to Japan in a hastily called joint press conference with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Florida.

"I just want everybody to understand and fully know that the United States of America stands behind Japan, its great ally, 100 percent," Trump said.

The DPRK claimed on Monday it had successfully test-fired Pukguksong-2, a surface-to-surface medium- and long-range ballistic missile, and its top leader Kim Jong Un guided the test firing, according to the state news agency KCNA.

Earlier Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a statement issued by his spokesman, strongly condemned the latest move by Pyongyang, saying "this action is a further troubling violation of (UN) Security Council resolutions."

China said Monday it is opposed to the DPRK's test-launch of the ballistic missile, which is in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a joint press conference with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, Feb. 13, 2017. U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday vowed to deal with Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) "very strongly", calling the Asian country a "big, big problem." (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday vowed to deal with Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) "very strongly", calling the Asian country a "big, big problem."

Trump made the remark at a joint press conference with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, after the DPRK test-fired its ballistic missile on Sunday. But the U.S. president did not elaborate on what actions he planned to take in relation to the DPRK.

"We have problems all over the Middle East. We have problems just about every corner of the globe no matter where you look," Trump said when asked about the most important national security issues facing the United States.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a joint press conference with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, Feb. 13, 2017. U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday vowed to deal with Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) "very strongly", calling the Asian country a "big, big problem." (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

On Monday, the Pentagon strongly condemned the DPRK's ballistic missile launch and vowed to "take all necessary measures to deter and defeat threats to U.S. and ally territories and citizens."

"The North American Aerospace Defense Command determined the missile launch did not pose a threat to North America," said Jeff Davis, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Defense. "We also worked very quickly with our Japanese and South Korean allies to make sure it did not pose a threat to them either."

On Saturday, Trump vowed U.S. support to Japan in a hastily called joint press conference with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Florida.

"I just want everybody to understand and fully know that the United States of America stands behind Japan, its great ally, 100 percent," Trump said.

U.S. President Donald Trump(R) speaks at a joint press conference with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, Feb. 13, 2017. U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday vowed to deal with Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) "very strongly", calling the Asian country a "big, big problem." (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

The DPRK claimed on Monday it had successfully test-fired Pukguksong-2, a surface-to-surface medium- and long-range ballistic missile, and its top leader Kim Jong Un guided the test firing, according to the state news agency KCNA.

Earlier Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a statement issued by his spokesman, strongly condemned the latest move by Pyongyang, saying "this action is a further troubling violation of (UN) Security Council resolutions."

China said Monday it is opposed to the DPRK's test-launch of the ballistic missile, which is in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

China calls for all parties concerned to exercise restraint and jointly maintain stability in the region, Geng Shuang, a spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry, told a routine press briefing.
Lai Meisong (2nd R), founder and chairman of China's ZTO Express, poses after ringing opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, the United States, Oct. 27, 2016. China's ZTO Express started trading under the ticker symbol "ZTO" at the New York Stock Exchange Thursday, after raising over 1.4 billion U.S. dollars in its initial public offering - the largest one in the U.S. so far this year. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Bilateral trade and investment remain a source of stability for China-U.S. relationship, and are worth great attention by both sides, John Frisbie, President of the U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC) told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Bilateral trade surged from 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in 1979 to 519.6 billion dollars in 2016, an increase of 211 times, data from China's Commerce Ministry showed. Bilateral investment also witnessed similar booming increases over the past 38 years. By the end of 2016, bilateral investment accumulated over 170 billion U.S. dollars.

"Top-level communication is necessary to manage the large and complex U.S.-China relationship," said Frisbie.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump held a lengthy and "extremely cordial" phone conversation last Thursday on numerous topics, during which they agreed that the two sides would engage in discussions on various issues of mutual interest.

"The U.S.-China Business Council is pleased the two presidents spoke by telephone regarding a range of issues in the relationship," Frisbie said. The call was the first between the leaders of the top two economies in the world since Trump's inauguration in late January.

According to a report released by the USCBC, U.S. is expected to export 525 billion dollars of goods and exports to China by 2030, with its share in total U.S. exports rising to 10 percent from current 7.3 percent, reflecting the enormous size of China's market and faster growth of middle class consumers.

Frisbie said at the launch of the report that the negative impact of trade with China, which was widely discussed during last year's U.S. presidential campaign, failed to provide a balanced assessment that incorporates the positive effect of the commercial relationship with China.

"The trade and investment relationship needs attention, to ensure it remains a source of stability for the overall relationship," Frisbie told Xinhua.

The USCBC report showed that the U.S.-China trade relationship actually supports roughly 2.6 million jobs in U.S. across a range of industries, including jobs that Chinese companies have created in U.S.

As China's middle class consumers continues its rapid expansion over the next decade, whose number will exceed the entire U.S. population by 2026, U.S. companies are facing significant opportunities to tap into this new and lucrative customer base that can further boost employment and economic growth, said the report.

American companies hope China can move forward with reforms and openings that will create positive momentum for both sides, Frisbie told Xinhua.

Despite slower Chinese economic growth and more fierce competition from Chinese companies, 90 percent of American companies that are doing business in China remain profitable, and 72 percent are optimistic about their business outlook in China, a separate USCBC survey report showed.

Most American companies continue to see China as their priority market, and expected China and U.S. could reach a high-standard bilateral investment treaty to address concerns of business communities from the both sides.
HELSINKI, Feb. 13 (Xinhua)-- Finland and Uruguay signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the bioeconomy in Helsinki, said the Finnish government on Monday.

The MoU includes topics related to the development of the use of biomass into energy, biomaterials and mechanical wood processing industry, in order to enhance the sustainable use of natural resources, biodiversity, as well as water protection and monitoring.

Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez is making a two-day visit to Finland on Monday and Tuesday. The signing of the memorandum of understanding was on the top agenda of his visit.

The Finnish government said that the cooperation with Uruguay may offer increasing opportunities for the Finnish export of machinery and equipment, consultation tasks as well as different kinds of research projects.

Vazquez met Finnish President Sauli Niinisto on Monday.

At the press conference held after the meeting, Niinisto said the world is facing different challenges, for example, in the EU, the Brexit and the aftermath of the financial crisis. Similarly, in South America, the Mercosur bloc which aims to promote free trade and the fluid movement of goods, people and currency, has been in trouble.

He emphasized that both Finland and Uruguay's relations with the United States are important. "Particular concern is the rise of protectionist ideas," he stressed.

Vazquez suggested that the fraternal union between different countries fighting against discriminations and respecting social aspects is the only way to improve humanity.

Both the two presidents stressed the close economic ties between the two countries and expressed their satisfaction with the signing of the memorandum of understanding.

Niinisto said he believed that the investment would benefit both Uruguay and Finland.

"We are looking for solutions to the unsolved issues. We have high hopes that this investment can be realized, " said Vazquez.

President Vazquez is accompanied on his visit to Finland by several ministers of the Uruguayan cabinet and a business delegation, aiming to promote the economic and trade cooperation with Finland.

During his visit, Vazquez will also meet the speaker of the Finnish parliament and the Finnish prime minister.
Photo taken on Feb. 13, 2017 shows the United Nations Security Council holding an open debate on protection of critical infrastructure against terrorist attacks at the UN headquarters in New York. The UN Security Council on Monday unanimously adopted resolution 2341 (2017), calling upon member states to consider developing or further improving their strategies for reducing risks to critical infrastructure from terrorist attacks. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Monday unanimously adopted resolution 2341 (2017), calling upon member states to consider developing or further improving their strategies for reducing risks to critical infrastructure from terrorist attacks.

The 15-member Council reiterated "the need to strengthen efforts to improve security and protection of particularly vulnerable targets, such as infrastructure and public places, according to a UN press release posted on its website.

Attacks against objects and sectors such as banking and finance, telecommunications, emergency services, air, maritime and rail transportation, and energy and water supply -- perceived as "attractive targets" for terrorist groups -- can result not only in civilian casualties, but also damage property on a large scale, disrupt proper functioning of public services, and create chaos in societies, says the press release.

Further in the resolution, the Security Council -- the UN body with the responsibility for maintenance of international peace and security -- also underscored the importance of partnerships at all levels and with public and private stakeholders, it says.

The resolution was adopted at an open Security Council debate on vulnerabilities, interdependencies and capabilities and the cascading impacts of terrorist attacks on critical infrastructure, as well as measures to prevent them.

Noting that international counter-terrorism cooperation -- especially in the area of critical infrastructure -- has been limited, Maria Luiza Viotti, Chef de Cabinet of the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, called on all international community to unite in a coordinated response and outlined the importance of a coordinated response comprising all actors and stakeholders.

Also cautioning that the consequences of an attack in today's interconnected world could be far reaching, Jurgen Stock, the Secretary-General of the International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO-INTERPOL) said: "one attack on a single point of failure could lead to the disruption or destruction of multiple vital systems in the country directly affected, and a ripple effect worldwide."

"In an interconnected world, we will not succeed in protecting national infrastructure in isolation. This is why initiatives ... and the steps ... by the international community are essential," he underlined.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Wife and stepson of Frank Ancona, professed leader of the Traditionalist American Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, were charged with first degree murder on Monday, days after the husband and father was shot dead in what law enforcement officials called a "tragic and senseless act of violence" .

Ancona's body was found with gunshot wounds to the head on Saturday on the banks of the Big River in Washington County, Missouri, by a family who went there to fish, according to a report from the New York Times website.

The 51-year-old was killed in a marital quarrel at his home last Thursday, and his body was then left at a remote location, said the report, quoting local authorities. His death was believed with no connections with his membership in the KKK.

On Monday, Ancona's wife, Malissa Ancona, 44, and stepson, Paul Jinkerson Jr., 24, were charged with a range of crimes in connection with the killing, including first degree murder and the abandonment of a corpse, according to the St. Francois County Sheriff' s Department.

In an interview with The New York Times earlier this month, Ancona said he had been a member of the Klan for more than 30 years. He formed the Traditionalist American Knights in 2009 and was identified as the "Imperial Wizard" for the group.

There are at least 29 separate, rival Klan groups currently active in the United States, and they compete with each other for members, dues, media attention and the title of being the true heir to the Ku Klux Klan, which was founded in 1865, said Mark Potok, a researcher at the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks extremism in the country.

Ancona's group was not considered the largest or the most influential iteration of the Klan, said the report.

However, the group's website and fliers contained racist cartoons and violent messages. In a photo on the group's website, Ancona, in a white hood, was standing in front of a burning cross.

"The media will tell you The KKK is dead, gone, irrelevant," Ancona said in a statement on the group's website. "They have tried since the birth of the Klan to downplay the influence and power of the KKK... Let me tell you they are the haters. They have engaged in a campaign to destroy our Race, culture, and heritage."
LOS ANGELES, Feb.13, ( Xinhua) -- A single mother in Utah state became a celebrity in social media after she posted a picture of her dressed up as man to take her son to a "dads and doughnuts" school event before the Valentine's Day.

Whitney Kittrell posted her "father-son" picture and wrote her true story in Facebook, which went viral since last Wednesday.

Kittell's son came home one day with a flier about the kindergarten's breakfast event "dads and doughnuts". As she became a single mom three years ago, she asked her son if he wanted to go with his grandfather.

"He just smiled and said, no, I want you to go. You're my mom and dad." Kittrell wrote.

Kittrell made her decision to go with him as a "father."

She painted mustache and beard on her face, tied up her hair, put on a hat, a black T-shirt and sweat pants, and headed to school with her son.

"I made a promise with myself that I would do anything I could, even if it meant going out of my comfort zone, to give my kids a 'normal' life and the same experiences as other kids," Kittrell wrote.

Kittrell felt embarrassed but couldn't help to smile as her son introduced her to his friends as his mom and dad.

"Mom, I know that you'll always be there and do anything for me. Thank you. I love you," he told her after the event and hugged her tight.

Kittrell's Fackbook post won almost 200,000 likes and shared by over 100,000 people until this Monday.

Many of the people touched by Kittrell left comments for her.

"As the son of a single mother, you are a true hero. Mothers like you deserve the world." Steph Meow from Missouri commented on Kittrell's story.

Dorothy Terry from Canada posted for her, "That is awesome. You are the true meaning of an awesome mom."

"Amazing lady and wonderful mom," Rose Bertrand from New Hampshire commented, "I'm sure he'll remember this day for the rest of his life and show the same love to his own kids one day."

In less than a week, Whitney Kittrell goes from a single mom to an internet celebrity mom.

"It's extremely overwhelming," she told Xinhua this Monday, "but it's been touching to see that just by being myself and loving my kids that I've made an impact nationally."
BRUSSELS, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The fourth Brussels chocolate salon "Salon du Chocolat" over the weekend has brought together more than 130 chocolate manufacturers, distributors and confectioners offering a visual and interactive experience.

Many famous Belgian chocolate companies such as Leonidas and Pralibel expressed eagerness and willingness to explore the Chinese market and also emphasized the challenges they faced in the market.

Neuhaus Company, which has chocolate stores in Shanghai, said although the company wanted to open more stores in China, one of the difficulties they had was not fully understanding the flavor preference and shopping habits of Chinese people.

The audience appreciated a number of new products which combined chocolate with various different materials. The most fascinating scene was the "chocolate Eiffel Tower" which was 3 meters tall and 350 kg in weight.

It has taken a Belgian chocolate master and Belgian famous chocolate brand Leonidas about 550 hours to finish the masterpiece.

Wonderful chocolate fashion shows were staged for the audience.

Also during the salon, chefs made cooking explanation about their secret recipe of chocolate food. A chocolate classroom was set up by organizers for children to enable them to learn the production process of chocolate, cocoa knowledge, and make their own favorite chocolate in person.
Alex Wong/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- House Oversight and Government Reform chairman Jason Chaffetz says he will not immediately investigate former National Security Advisor Michael Flynns interactions with Russia, but may consider launching an inquiry in the future.



[Flynn] cant mislead people, and that seems to have resolved itself with the White House taking some decisive action, Chaffetz, R-Utah, told ABC News Tuesday in the Capitol. But Im not going to close off any doors to any possibilities of what we may or may not do.



For now, Chaffetz says he will focus his attention on other controversies surrounding the Trump administration, such as the presidents lease of the Old Post Office from a federal agency; Kellyanne Conways comments promoting Ivanka Trumps business interests; and whether the president held sensitive discussions of a North Korean missile test in public.



I am sending a letter to Reince Priebus about what happened at Mar-a-Lago, Chaffetz said, referring to the president's chief of staff. I do want to understand, 'Was there classified information in a nonsecure setting?'



The letter sent by Chaffetz Tuesday demands an explanation of whether proper security protocols were followed when the president, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and their aides discussed North Korea's missile test in the dining room of the Mar-a-Lago club on Saturday night. Chaffetz's letter asks the White House to identify documents reviewed at the dinner table and whether any were sensitive or classified.



Some guests at the club posted photographs on social media showing documents on the president's table.



The White House has pushed back on suggestions that national security matters were discussed during the public dinner, with press secretary Sean Spicer saying Monday that those at the table were only "reviewing the logistics for the press conference" about the matter. Spicer said the president was briefed on details of the missile launch in a secure location ahead of the dinner and then again after the dinner and prior to the press conference.



As to the resignation of Michael Flynn on Tuesday, Chaffetz called it the right decision.



I do believe that if you mislead somebody, which it looks like he probably did, then there are consequences to that, and hes no longer there in the White House, he said. At this point I am holding out all my options. I want to see what else the White House has to say about this but thats where were at.



Rep. Elijah Cummings, the ranking Democrat on the Oversight Committee, called for an investigation by an independent panel such as the 9/11 Commission.



No senators, no members of Congress, but a group of distinguished citizens, well-informed, who have the best interests of the country in mind, to look at this whole episode with Russia and come up with recommendations. But first of all, come up with findings as to how it happened and try to make sure it doesn't happen again, said Cummings of Maryland. This is so much bigger than Trump. This is so much bigger than this moment. We're talking about the future of our democracy.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Monday "strongly condemned" the most recent ballistic missile launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), saying that "these launches are in grave violation of the DPRK international obligations under UN SC resolutions."
UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Monday "strongly condemned" the most recent ballistic missiles launches by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), saying that "these launches are in grave violation of the DPRK international obligations under UN SC resolutions."

The 15-nation UN body was "unanimous" in condemning the DPRK ballistic missiles launches on Feb. 11, 2017 and Oct.19, 2016 while the council met behind closed doors here on Monday afternoon, Boloymyr Yelchenko, the Ukrainian permanent representative to the United Nations, who holds the rotating council presidency for February.

The closed council meeting, which kicked off shortly after 17:00 EST (22:00GMT) on Monday and lasted about 50 minutes, took place at the request of the United States, Japan and South Korea.

"The members of the Security Council deplore all the DPRK ballistic missile activities, including these launches, noting that such activities contribute to the DPRK's development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and increase tension," the council president said while reading a press statement from the most powerful UN body.

"The members of the Security Council further regretted that the DPRK is diverting resources to the pursuit of ballistic missiles while DPRK citizens have great unmet needs," the statement said.
Rescuers work at the blast site in eastern Pakistan's Lahore, Feb. 13, 2017. At least 14 people were killed and 60 others injured when a suicide bomber hit protestors outside provincial assembly in Pakistan's Punjab province on Monday evening, officials said. (Xinhua/Sajjad)

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- A splinter group of Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for Monday evening suicide attack targeting protestors in capital city Lahore of Pakistan's east Punjab province, which left 14 people killed and 60 others injured.

Asad Mansoor, spokesman for Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan Jamaat ul Ahrar group said in a statement that its member Nasrullah carried out the attack.

Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera, Inspector General Punjab Police said that the attacker tried to enter the crowd of protestors at about 6:10 p.m. (local time), but blew himself up when a policeman tried to stop him for checking.

The bomber's target was the crowd of chemists and pharma manufacturers who were protesting against a newly introduced act by Punjab government, in front of the provincial assembly the at the busy Mall Road of the city.

The protestors blocked the road for traffic and the blast happened when two police officers including Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) Zahid Gondal and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) traffic police Captain Mobeen were negotiating with them to give way to the traffic.

Sukhera confirmed that the killed people included six policemen.

The injured people including, policemen, chemists, and newsmen have been shifted to nearby state-run hospitals where a state of emergency has been declared.

Hospital sources said that death toll is feared to rise as nine among the injured people are in critical condition.

Paramilitary troops Rangers took charge of the security at hospitals where the injured people were shifted.

Punjab government announced one day mourning over the incident and the national flag will fly on half-mast at all the government building across the province on Tuesday.

Traders and Lawyers also announced one day mourning and all the markets and courts in the city will remain closed on Tuesday.

Several vehicles including a Digital Satellite New Gathering (DSNG) van of a local TV channel were completely destroyed in the explosion.

Police and contingent from Pakistan army and Rangers reached at the blast site have sealed the area for investigation.

Police also arrested two suspects near the blast site who were shifted to some unknown place for investigations.

Both the country's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain condemned the blast and directed hospital administration to provide best possible medical treatment to the injured people.

The PM directed the senior officials of Punjab government to reach at the blast site.

He also vowed to root out the evil of militancy from the country.

Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa also condemned the explosion and expressed sorrow over the loss of precious lives.

He also directed the troops to help civil government to arrest the people involved in the heinous crime of killing innocent people.
UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Monday "strongly condemned" the most recent ballistic missile launches by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), saying that "these launches are in grave violation of the DPRK international obligations under UN SC resolutions."

The 15-nation UN body was "unanimous" in condemning the DPRK ballistic missile launches on Feb. 11, 2017 and Oct.19, 2016 while the council met behind closed doors here on Monday afternoon, Boloymyr Yelchenko, the Ukrainian permanent representative to the United Nations, who holds the rotating council presidency for February.

The closed council meeting, which kicked off shortly after 17:00 EST (22:00 GMT) on Monday and lasted about 50 minutes, took place at the request of the United States, Japan and South Korea.

"The members of the Security Council deplore all the DPRK ballistic missile activities, including these launches, noting that such activities contribute to the DPRK's development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and increase tension," the council president said while reading a press statement from the most powerful UN body.

"The members of the Security Council further regretted that the DPRK is diverting resources to the pursuit of ballistic missiles while DPRK citizens have great unmet needs," the statement said.

"The members of the Security Council expressed serious concern that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea conducted these ballistic missiles launches after the April 15, April 23, April 27, April 28, May 31, June 21, July 9, July 18, Aug. 2, Aug. 23, Sept. 5, and Oct. 14 launches, as well as the nuclear test of Sept. 9, in flagrant disregard of the repeated statements of the Security Council," the statement said.

The DPRK has claimed that it had successfully test-fired Pukguksong-2, a surface-to-surface medium- and long-range ballistic missile, and its top leader Kim Jong Un guided the test firing, according to the state news agency KCNA.

Under relevant UN resolutions, the DPRK is barred from staging ballistic missile launches or nuclear weapons tests.

"The members of the Security Council reiterated that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea shall refrain from further actions, including nuclear tests, in violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions, and comply fully with its obligations under these resolutions," the statement said.

"The members of the Security Council called upon all member states to redouble their efforts to implement fully the measures imposed on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea by the Security Council, particularly the comprehensive measures contained in resolutions 2321 (2016) and 2270 (2016)," said the statement.

"The members of the Security Council reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in North-East Asia at large, expressed their commitment to a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to the situation and welcomed efforts by Council members, as well as other States, to facilitate a peaceful and comprehensive solution through dialogue," the statement said. "The members of the Security Council stress the importance of working to reduce tensions in the Korean Peninsula and beyond."

"The members of the Security Council agreed that the Security Council would continue to closely monitor the situation and take further significant measures, in line with the Council's previously expressed determination," the statement said.

Earlier Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the DPRK's latest launch of another ballistic missile, saying that "this action is a further troubling violation of Security Council resolutions."

Guterres said in a statement issued here by his spokesman that "The DPRK leadership must return to full compliance with its international obligations and to the path of denuclearization."

Related:

Trump vows to deal with DPRK "very strongly" after Pyongyang's missile launch

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday vowed to deal with Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) "very strongly", calling the Asian country a "big, big problem." Full story

China opposes DPRK's missle test-launch

BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- China was opposed to the test-launch of a ballistic missile by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), which was in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, said a Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Monday. Full story

International community condemns DPRK's missile test-firing

BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The international community has generally denounced the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) over its latest test-launch of a ballistic missile on Sunday. Full story

DPRK claims successful test firing of medium-long range ballistic missile
Photo provided by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Feb. 13, 2017 shows a test firing of a surface-to-surface medium- and long-range ballistic missile Pukguksong-2 on Feb. 12, 2017. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday claimed it successfully test-fired a surface-to-surface medium- and long-range ballisticmissile Pukguksong-2 and its top leader Kim Jong Un guided the test firing, according to the state news agency KCNA. (Xinhua/KCNA)

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Monday "strongly condemned" the most recent ballistic missile launches by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), saying that "these launches are in grave violation of the DPRK international obligations under UN SC resolutions."

The 15-nation UN body was "unanimous" in condemning the DPRK ballistic missile launches on Feb. 11, 2017 and Oct.19, 2016 while the council met behind closed doors here on Monday afternoon, Boloymyr Yelchenko, the Ukrainian permanent representative to the United Nations, who holds the rotating council presidency for February.

The closed council meeting, which kicked off shortly after 17:00 EST (22:00 GMT) on Monday and lasted about 50 minutes, took place at the request of the United States, Japan and South Korea.

"The members of the Security Council deplore all the DPRK ballistic missile activities, including these launches, noting that such activities contribute to the DPRK's development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and increase tension," the council president said while reading a press statement from the most powerful UN body.

"The members of the Security Council further regretted that the DPRK is diverting resources to the pursuit of ballistic missiles while DPRK citizens have great unmet needs," the statement said.

"The members of the Security Council expressed serious concern that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea conducted these ballistic missiles launches after the April 15, April 23, April 27, April 28, May 31, June 21, July 9, July 18, Aug. 2, Aug. 23, Sept. 5, and Oct. 14 launches, as well as the nuclear test of Sept. 9, in flagrant disregard of the repeated statements of the Security Council," the statement said.

The DPRK has claimed that it had successfully test-fired Pukguksong-2, a surface-to-surface medium- and long-range ballistic missile, and its top leader Kim Jong Un guided the test firing, according to the state news agency KCNA.

Under relevant UN resolutions, the DPRK is barred from staging ballistic missile launches or nuclear weapons tests.

"The members of the Security Council reiterated that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea shall refrain from further actions, including nuclear tests, in violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions, and comply fully with its obligations under these resolutions," the statement said.

"The members of the Security Council called upon all member states to redouble their efforts to implement fully the measures imposed on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea by the Security Council, particularly the comprehensive measures contained in resolutions 2321 (2016) and 2270 (2016)," said the statement.

"The members of the Security Council reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in North-East Asia at large, expressed their commitment to a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to the situation and welcomed efforts by Council members, as well as other States, to facilitate a peaceful and comprehensive solution through dialogue," the statement said. "The members of the Security Council stress the importance of working to reduce tensions in the Korean Peninsula and beyond."

"The members of the Security Council agreed that the Security Council would continue to closely monitor the situation and take further significant measures, in line with the Council's previously expressed determination," the statement said.

Earlier Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the DPRK's latest launch of another ballistic missile, saying that "this action is a further troubling violation of Security Council resolutions."

Guterres said in a statement issued here by his spokesman that "The DPRK leadership must return to full compliance with its international obligations and to the path of denuclearization."
SYDNEY, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Australia's largest energy company has called on the Federal Government to end its "blame game" over renewable energy.

Catherine Tanna, Managing Director (MD) of Energy Australia, said that energy prices in Australia would continue to skyrocket unless the government embraces renewable energy sources.

"I am worried about our customers and what will happen with their bills," Tanna told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) from Energy Australia's headquarters in Melbourne on Tuesday.

"We've seen that customers over the weekend in some places in Australia used 25 per cent more than usual.

"In a couple of months when these bills turn up they are going to get a surprise and I am worried about that because I know that the cost of living is a concern for them."

Tanna said that while renewables were more expensive at the moment, they were the only viable option long-term.

"As at today, newer forms of energy are more expensive than some of the older forms of energy, but over the next 20 years those older, cheaper forms of energy are going to retire," she said.

"That's a reality and that's why we need a plan to transition into those newer forms of energy."

The comments by Tanna came in the wake of Energy Australia, the largest operator of coal-fired power stations in Australia, taking out an unprecedented full-page advertisement in a national newspaper calling for a non-partisan push for clean energy.

Tanna's comments echo the sentiment of a joint statement issued by an alliance of 18 groups, including the Business Council of Australia, the Australian Aluminium Council and World Wildlife Fund.

"We need urgently a national plan to transition to a lower-emission economy," Tanna said.
CANBERRA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Australian scientists have successfully identified 91 genes, 38 of which are new, linked to autism and other intellectual disabilities, the University of Adelaide said on Tuesday.

Prof. Jozef Gecz, head of neurogenetics at the university's Robinson Research Institute, said the study aimed to better characterize the "genetic architecture" of autism compared to other spectrum disorders, but his team found just eight of the 91 genes were unique to autism.

"There is a growing need to distinguish genes that are more likely to be associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and which ones with intellectual disabilities (ID)," Gecz said in a statement released on Tuesday.

"This research aimed to address some of these difficult questions by looking at a very large, international cohort of 11,730 cases."

He said while ASDs and IDs are often labelled in one group, known as neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDDs), researchers were keen to identify which of the thousands of genes linked to NDDs were unique to either ASDs or IDs.

While Gecz's research uncovered and identified 91 genes, including 38 brand new ones, just eight were found to be unique to autism, which would make it marginally easier to identify the disorder.

"For a small group of genes (25) there was a bias for primary diagnosis of ID or ASD, that is, eight genes were primarily affected in patients with ASD and 17 genes primarily in patients with ID. However, the majority of the 91 genes were affected (mutated) in both groups," he said.

"When patients with mutations in the ASD genes were looked at, these were less likely to have seizures, congenital anomalies or microcephaly. In opposite, they were more like to have macrocephaly, that is, increased brain size, which has previously been associated with some subtypes of autism."

Gecz added that the "majority" (65 percent) of all genes were inherited, meaning "not all of them are sufficient on their own to cause the disease".
SYDNEY, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Papua New Guinea Member of Parliament Wera Mori is out on bail Tuesday after being charged with a number of serious offences in Port Moresby, following a joint investigation by local police and the Ombudsman Commission dating back to 2015.

The offences Mori is charged with include two counts of official corruption, armed robbery, obstruction of police duties, deprivation of liberty, preventing the course of justice, break and enter, theft and causing disaffection within the police force.

But the MP from Chuave has denounced the charges, which were laid on Saturday.

"I am a victim of a malicious cover-up scam involving a corrupt policeman who is closely associated to the former Chauve MP Jim Nomane," he told the Pacific Islands News Association.

The scandal comes just two weeks after Prime Minister Peter O'Neill ordered an investigation into a fraudulent land deal allegedly involving two of his most senior ministers.

Defence Minister Fabian Pok stands accused of using government funding from Kumul Consolidated Holdings to pay Public Enterprises Minister, William Duma and his associated company 19 million U.S. dollars to acquire his private land in order to relocate a naval base.

"The land is 10 kilometres inland from the sea, so how do you build a naval base ten kilometres inland in the bush." Papua New Guinea opposition leader Ben Micah told the Australian Broadcasting Company.

Prime Minister O'Neill in recent years has also faced alleged corruption scandals, in July 2016, he survived a motion of no confidence put forward by the parliament. .
SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, who is serving as the acting president, on Monday denounced the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s attempt to advance its missile capability.

During a cabinet meeting, Hwang strongly condemned Pyongyang's attempt to continue to advance in its missile capability through "endless test launches," expressing deep concerns about it.

He has served as an interim president since President Park Geun-hye was impeached on Dec. 9.

His comments followed the UN Security Council's unanimous condemnation of the DPRK's most recent launches of ballistic missiles on Sunday and in October last year.

The DPRK test-launched an intermediate-range Pukguksong-2 ballistic missile for the first time on Sunday, soaring 550 km and traveling 500 km towards the country's eastern waters. In October, the country test-fired a Musudan ballistic missile that is known to have a range of 3,000-4,000 km.

Hwang said those launches were provocative acts that can never be tolerated as it threatens peace in the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia and it is a flagrant challenge to the UN Security Council resolutions and repeated warnings from the international community.

He instructed cabinet members to closely cooperate with the international society and its allied nations to make the DPRK give up its nuclear and missile programs through strong sanctions and UN Security Council resolutions.
WELLINGTON, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Trade ministers of New Zealand and Mexico will this week hold their first talks since United States President Donald Trump withdrew his country from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay left for Mexico Tuesday to discuss the future of trade between the two countries with Mexican counterpart Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo.

Both countries are members of the TPP, a 12-nation trade pact signed in New Zealand last year, which has 11 members and an uncertain future after the U.S. withdrawal.

McClay said on Tuesday that New Zealand would be looking for more involvement with the Pacific Alliance, a Latin American economic integration bloc comprising Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.

"It is timely that we sit down and discuss how to move our trading relationship forward. I expect our discussion to include next steps for TPP, bilateral trade opportunities and greater involvement with the Pacific Alliance," McClay said in a statement.

"Mexico is already our largest trading partner in Latin America, and there is huge scope to further advance our economies, boosting trade and investment, and working together more closely in the Asia-Pacific region," he said.

"Trade liberalization and fair access to markets are essential for the continued growth and stability of our economy. The government will continue to push for better access for New Zealanders and our exporters in all parts of the world."
SYDNEY, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Australian prawn farmers are in turmoil, as yet another outbreak of white spot disease was confirmed Monday, at a farm in Queensland.

The disease is a highly infectious viral infection that affects crustaceans, leaving them marked with small spots, and killing off vast swathes of the prawn stock in farms.

"This is the largest emergency aquatic animal disease response ever in Queensland," said Queensland Biosecurity chief biosecurity officer Jim Thompson.

Prawn farming was a 413 million (Australian dollar) business last year, and employs over 5,000 people, yet the latest outbreak, one of many in the past few months, threatens to put the whole industry in doubt.

Serena Zipf, the owner of the farm that tested positive on Tuesday, told ABC Radio that she is concerned about not only her future, but the future of every prawn farmer in the country.

"The entire prawn industry is affected as of today," Zipf said.

Zipf went on to stress that farmers had been treated with contempt by authorities, and warned that the safeguards and assistance being suggested was based on "old science".

But Thompson says treatment had started on the Zipf farm, and assured all other farmers affected that they will be able to get back to work sometime this year.
CANBERRA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government declared on Tuesday the Berlin Christmas market truck attack as an "official terrorist act", and offered compensation to Australians directly impacted by the event.

According to a statement released by Australia's Attorney-General George Brandis and Human Services Minister Alan Tudge, the government will offer Australians caught up in the attack more than 57,000 U.S. dollars as they continue to deal with their grief. No Australians were killed or injured but many witnessed the harrowing event.

"Today we announce the Turnbull government has declared the attack in Berlin, Germany on Dec. 19, 2016 a terrorist act," said the statement, released on Tuesday.

"This declaration means eligible Australian residents harmed as a direct result of this terrorist attack may be able to seek a one-off payment of up to 75,000 Australian dollars (57,000 U.S. dollars) through the Australian Victim of Terrorism Overseas Payment (AVTOP) scheme."

On Dec. 19, 2016, a truck was driven through the Christmas market in Breitscheidplatz, injuring dozens and killing 12 civilians, and the statement said the Australian government extends its "deepest sympathies to victims and their families."

"The Turnbull government condemns this attack and extends its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those killed and injured and to the government and people of Germany," the statement said.

"The Australian government's AVTOP scheme ensures Australian victims of terrorist events overseas have access to financial support. It is an important acknowledgement of their pain and suffering," the statement added.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on Venezuelan Vice President Tareck El Aissami for playing a significant role in international narcotics trafficking.

In a statement, U.S. Treasury Department also blacklisted Samark Jose Lopez, a Venezuelan national in the United States, as El Aissami's primary frontman.

Any assets those individuals may hold under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen, and U.S. citizens are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them, said the statement.

The action is "the culmination of a multi-year investigation under the Kingpin Act to target significant narcotics traffickers in Venezuela and demonstrates that power and influence do not protect those who engage in these illicit activities," said John Smith, a senior official of the Treasury Department.

El Aissami was appointed as executive vice president of Venezuela in January 2017. He previously served as governor of Aragua state and Venezuela's minister of interior and justice.
SYDNEY, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 200 italian sailors arrived in Australia on Tuesday in time for Valentine's Day, and have berthed in Sydney.

Italians commonly self-style themselves as the world's greatest lovers and the sailors will spend a week in the city, sampling the local attractions, and romance.

It is not all fun and games, with the trip being part of a bid by the ship's maker, Fincantieri, to secure the contract by the Australian government to acquire nine new ships for the Royal Australian Navy.

The Italian ship previously docked in Fremantle, and after this week will make its way to Melbourne, before returning Europe.

Valentine's Day is a celebration of love held on Feb. 14 every year, named for the Italian saint, St. Valentine.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- An ex-Republican leader in the northeastern U.S. state of New Hampshire is posting a reward of 1,000 U.S. dollars to any potential tipster who can first provide proof of voter fraud in the state in the 2016 presidential election.

Fergus Cullen, former chairman of the New Hampshire Republicans, tweeted that evidence of a single illegal vote, cast by any Massachusetts resident who boarded a bus to New Hampshire and voted illegally, will suffice.

"I will pay 1,000 dollars to 1st person proving even 1 out of state person took bus from MA 2 any NH polling place last ElectionDay #mapoli #nhpolitics," Cullen tweeted on Feb. 10. ' "Anyone claiming buses bring 100s from out-of-state to NH to vote has never tried to rent several buses," he tweeted. "Go ahead, call around."

Resonating to President Donald Trump's similar claim, Cullen said that illegal voters are the reason both he and outed Republican Senator Kelly Ayotte lost New Hampshire to their Democratic rivals in November.

Trump, though winning the electoral college handily, has repeatedly claimed that he lost popular votes to Democratic rival Hillary Clinton due to mass voter fraud. However, U.S. mainstream media argued that there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud anywhere in the country.

It has never once been documented, studies that suggest it could be happening have been discredited, and election officials in states where it has been alleged say such allegations are baloney, according to a report from the Boston magazine.

Cullen's proposal came days after Trump was reportedly riffed with senators about a conspiracy in Massachusetts to sabotage the election in the swing state.
HANOI, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- A joint venture in Vietnam has been allowed to offer double-decker buses and airport transport services in seven cities and provinces whose tourism sectors are thriving.

The Transport Ministry has agreed in principle to allow Hai Van, a transport joint venture between a Vietnamese firm and a Singaporean company, to offer the services on a trial basis in five years in Hanoi, Quang Nam, Da Nang, Thua Thien Hue, Lam Dong, Kien Giang and Ho Chi Minh City, daily newspaper Tien Phong (Pioneer) reported on Tuesday.

The joint venture will run many open top double-decker buses mainly to serve tourists, and other kinds of buses to transport people between the localities' centers and airports.

According to some local experts, the fact that the ministry has so far permitted only one firm to launch the services may lead to business monopoly.

Vietnam transported 317 million passengers in January, up 7.7 percent against January 2016, said the country's General Statistics Office.

Specifically, its road transport sector served 297.6 million passengers, up 7.7 percent.
By Matt Walsh

CANBERRA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Australia is failing to "close the gap" on Indigenous disadvantage, with the government conceding it has, for the ninth consecutive year, failed to hit its targets in tackling the major social issue.

Accompanying the release of the 2017 Closing the Gap report, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Australia was failing to hit its targets for reducing Indigenous disadvantage in six of the seven categories, which are life expectancy, child mortality, employment and four education-based indicators.

Turnbull told Parliament that the government was not seeing "sufficient national progress" in closing the gap in life expectancy, with Aboriginal Australians still expected to die 10 years younger than non-Indigenous Australians, while there had not been a significant decline in child mortality rates since 2008.

"This report demonstrates that all Australian governments have much more work to do," the Prime Minister said. "I'm very saddened and disappointed that the target to halve the gap in Indigenous child mortality is not on track."

"We must redouble our efforts to reduce smoking rates during pregnancy, continue to improve immunization rates, lift rates of anti-natal care, reduce fetal trauma and keep our children safe," he said.

Turnbull said while the Closing the Gap report showed "improvements" in reducing mortality from chronic diseases, life expectancy was "not accelerating at the pace it should", while Indigenous incarceration rates and rates of domestic violence amongst Indigenous communities were deemed to be far too high.

Overall, just one of the seven targets - halving the gap in Year 12 attainment in high school - was on track. Indigenous Australians remained behind their non-Indigenous counterparts on a number of other, education-related targets.

"We've seen improvements in reading and numeracy for Indigenous students, but this target is not on track. Last year, 640 more children needed to read at the Year 3 benchmark to halve the gap. This year, that figure is around 440," Turnbull told Parliament.

Concluding his address to Parliament in front of a number of Indigenous community leaders, Turnbull said his government would "not shy away from responsibility".

"We will uphold the priorities of education, employment, health and the right of all people to be safe from family violence," he said.

Meanwhile Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said a "new approach" was needed to help the government reach his targets. He said Indigenous leaders should be consulted in.

"The first Australians must have first say in the decisions that shape their lives. A new approach that means a stronger voice for the National Congress of Australia's First People and the resources to make it happen," Shorten told Parliament.

Earlier, former Prime Minister and instigator of the Closing the Gap program, Kevin Rudd said Turnbull "must place" closing the gap at "the top" of his political agenda.

"It doesn't happen unless you have a Prime Minister who really cares. I will call upon Mr Turnbull to put this at the top of his Prime Ministerial agenda, otherwise people do fall away," Rudd told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Monday night.
WASHINGTON, Feb.13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Flynn resigned Monday over a phone call with a Russian diplomat, becoming the first senior government official to leave the Trump administration.
Rescuers work at the site of a bus accident in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan, Feb. 14, 2017. A tour bus that overturned Monday evening on a highway in Taipei has left 33 people dead as of Tuesday afternoon, according to local authorities. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)

TAIPEI, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- A tour bus that overturned Monday evening on a highway in Taipei has left 33 people dead as of Tuesday afternoon, according to local authorities.

The bus was carrying 44 people, including the driver and a tour guide, most of whom were senior citizens. Thirty people were confirmed dead at the site, and a further three were announced dead after medical treatment failed, the local fire authority said.

The remaining 11 passengers are receiving treatment in six hospitals.

Families of the victims arrived at the site after the accident, chanting sutras and praying.

There were no tourists from the Chinese mainland or foreign countries on the bus.

While returning from a one-day cherry blossom tour in Taichung city, the bus, which was suspected of speeding, crashed into a guardrail at about 9:06 p.m, veering off the highway in Nangang district. Authorities have not determined the cause of the accident.

Cranes hoisted the bus at around 12:00 p.m. Monday, with the roof almost separated from the bodywork due to the hard crash.

The 19-year-old bus was run by Taipei-based Dielianhua travel agency, which has been reported for traffic violations before.
SYDNEY, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- When it comes to contemporary Chinese art, Sydney's White Rabbit Gallery is among the world's most prestigious in the world.

Its founder Judith Neilson is also a philanthropist and has donated six million Australian dollars (4.6 million U.S. dollars) to the University of New South Wales art program.

In order to recognize her contribution, the University has announced it will establish the Judith Neilson Chair in Contemporary Art, it has been announced Tuesday.

"It is imperative that UNSW and Australia contributes to research and dialogue in contemporary Chinese culture internationally. Judith's visionary and generous gift ensures UNSW Art & Design students, staff and wider communities can participate in these important conversations," said UNSW Dean of Art & Design Prof. Ross Harley.

"The emergence of contemporary Chinese art over recent decades has shifted visual culture internationally and will continue to shape and transform China as a global cultural, social and economic power."

The professional chair will allow researchers from the University of New South Wales art and design program privileged access to the gallery where they can develop new-found understandings of China's global contributions to art and culture.

"Chinese contemporary art reflects the history and transformation of China and is a mirror on the world beyond. It is alive with ideas and energy, vibrant, often humorous, imaginative, technically superb and utterly compelling," said Neilson.

"We must give the work, the artists, the distinctive and shared traditions the rigorous critical attention they deserve."
SYDNEY, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Former Australian Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, called on the Australian Government to officially recognise Palestine on Monday, ahead of a visit by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu next week.

Hawke penned a harsh rebuke to Israel in the Australian Financial Review, despite being well known for his support of their sovereignty, and says the Israeli government's decision to construct 2,500 new settlements on the West Bank in January displayed "contempt" for the United Nations.

"Australia was there at the very beginning. The least we can do now, in these most challenging of times, is to do what 137 other nations have already done, grant diplomatic recognition to the State of Palestine," Hawke said.

In late January, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said she was concerned about Israel's new settlements in the West Bank, but refused to condemn them, despite pressure from Palestinian groups in Australia.

In a letter to the Australian Government, from the Palestinian Ambassador to Australia Izzat Abdulhadi, Palestine called on Australia to take stronger action against what they feel was an "illegal" operation by Israel.

"I kindly urge the Australian government to apply pressure on Israel to halt its illegal settlement activities and abide by international law," Abdulhadi wrote.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will arrive in Australia next week, via the United States.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (Xinhua)-- Steven Mnuchin, a former banker, was confirmed on Monday by U.S. Senate as Treasury Secretary.

Mnuchin won in a 53-47 Senate vote in which only one Democrat, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, voted in favor, and the rest supports are all from Republicans.

The confirmation is expected to help President Donald Trump's administration to push ahead with its goals to dismantle financial regulations and slash taxes.

Mnuchin, 54, was Trump's top fund-raiser during the presidential campaign.

The U.S. Senate Finance Committee once postponed votes on him out of concerns that the treasury secretary pick may give false testimony on foreclosure practice by OneWest Bank, of which Mnuchin was former chairman.
WASHINGTON, Feb.13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. National Security Adviser Michael Flynn resigned Monday night after days of reports over whether he discussed American sanctions against Russia in a phone call with a Russian diplomat before President Donald Trump's inauguration.

Flynn has been the first senior government official to have left the Trump administration since the new leader taking office in January.

Retired Army Gen. Keith Kellogg, a top policy adviser for Trump's presidential campaign, was appointed acting national security adviser, according to local media reports.

Earlier on Monday, it was revealed that the Justice Department had informed the White House that Flynn was not fully forthright about his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the United States and could be vulnerable to blackmail by Moscow.

Flynn's status was considered perilous after it was disclosed that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence about his communications with the ambassador, local media reported.
SYDNEY, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Disgraced mining magnate, Clive Palmer says he plans to sue the Australian prime minister for 10 million Australian dollars (7.7 million U.S. dollars) for defamation.

The former federal member of parliament claims that after his company Queensland Nickel collapsed at the beginning of 2016, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull besmirched his name, along with the Employment Minister Michaelia Cash, who he also plans to sue for 250,000 Australian dollars (191,900 U.S. dollars).

"They've lied to people about Queensland Nickel and my role in it. They've said things designed to damage me, personally, in the public's eyes, which were not true and they did that for political reasons," Clive Palmer told the Australian Associated Press on Tuesday.

Palmer will face court in Brisbane on Wednesday, where liquidators will question the fall of Queensland Nickel, which had a debt value of 300 million Australian dollars (230 million U.S. dollars) and left 800 workers jobless.

There is still a chance Palmer could face criminal charges for the matter.
KATHMANDU, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the central bank of the Himalayan nation, has received to store 24 million 1000-rupee currency notes printed and delivered by the China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation (CBPM).

Before their storage, Bhuban Kadel, executive director of the Nepalese central bank, who oversees the currency management department, had checked the notes. He was utterly impressed by the quality of the notes, particularly considering the cost was far lower than the bank had previously paid to another printer.

"The quality is as good as the ones that were printed earlier in another country but the cost is less than half of the amount we had earlier paid," Kadel told Xinhua.

Getting 200 million notes printed in China saved the Nepalese central bank 3.76 million U.S. dollars, according to Kadel.

Timely delivery of these notes was important for the central bank to provide grant aid to earthquake victims as promised by the Nepalese government.

After finding that the notes available were insufficient to meet the requirements for providing the grants to the quake victims, the central bank had ordered printing the 1,000 rupee notes without revising the specifics, which were earlier planned to be changed.

"The second and third consignments under the first batch have also arrived in Kolkata, India from where we will take delivery next week of one of the consignments," said Kadel.

The NRB will take delivery of all 1,000 rupee notes in three batches. Under the first lot, 84 million notes have been delivered.

The Chinese state-owned company had won the tender last August to print 1,000-rupee notes which is the largest denominated currency notes in Nepal.

The same Chinese company had earlier printed Nepal's 100-rupee notes as well,which were delivered in June 2016. It was the first time that any Chinese company was involved in printing Nepal's currency notes.

Nepal had earlier been getting its notes printed by Indonesian, French and Australian companies, among others.

According to the Nepalese central bank, the same Chinese company also signed the contract to print 260 million 5-rupee notes recently at a lower cost than the previously paid for.

"Thanks to China, we have saved million of rupees from printing in other countries," said Chintamani Siwakoti, deputy governor of the Nepalese central bank.
MEXICO CITY, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Mexicans marched on Sunday through the Mexican capital city to protest the migration and trade policies of U.S. President Donald Trump.

The same day, Trump's aide Stephen Miller said new measures on immigration to "keep Americans safe" is being worked out.

Between 15,000 and 17,000 people participated in Sunday's two separate marches which converged on the Angel of Independence monument, according to police.

"No wall, no wall," the demonstrators repeatedly chanted. Among the demonstrators were Mexican historian Enrique Krauze and Enrique Graue, the rector of the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

"This is not the moment to look to the past. It is the moment to look to the future and send a message that we need sovereignty, strength and equality with our neighboring country," Graue told the press during the march.

Many of the protesters were dressed in white and carried Mexican flags, in a show of unity against Trump, who is seeking to build a border wall and renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico.

One of the banners read: "Gracias, Trump, for unifying Mexico!"

Some of the activists made a wall out of cardboard boxes at a corner of the Angel of Independence monument as a sign of rejection of the border wall Trump believes will reinforce U.S. national security.

"This march might be coming a little late but better late than never," Mauricio de Maria y Campos, a researcher from the College of Mexico's Economic Studies Center, told Xinhua.

"The Mexican people are aggrieved by this racist attitude that was shown during the (electoral) campaign and is being crystallized now when he (Trump) is president," he commented.

Campos, a former director-general of the U.N. Industrial Development Organization, said that policies such as the wall, mass repatriations or blocking all citizens of specific countries from entering the United States are in violation of universal human rights.

Last month, Trump signed an executive order which bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya and Yemen from traveling to the United States for 90 days, stops accepting refugees for 120 days and indefinitely halts refugees from Syria.

Last week, hundreds of undocumented immigrants from a dozen Latin American countries have been arrested in at least six U.S. states including California, following Trump's executive order to broaden the scope of immigration enforcement targets.

"We are contemplating new and additional actions to ensure that immigration is not a vehicle for admitting people into our country that are hostile to its nation and its values," presidential aide Stephen Miller said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

"As a result of the president's order, greatly expanded and more vigorous immigration enforcement activities are taking place," said Miller.

Earlier, Trump tweeted: "The crackdown on illegal criminals is merely the keeping of my campaign promise. Gang members, drug dealers & others are being removed!"

On the 2016 campaign trail, Trump pledged to deport 2 million to 3 million undocumented immigrants with criminal records.

There are estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living across the United States.
HANOI, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- A total of six people were killed and over 10 others were hospitalized for alleged food poisoning in Vietnam's northern Lai Chau province, according to local authorities on Tuesday.

Initial information from Lai Chau people's committee showed that after attending a funeral and having meals in Ma Ly Chai commune, Phong Tho district in Lai Chau, six people were dead and over 10 others were hospitalized.

Ha Trung Dung, deputy chief of Emergency unit of Lai Chau provincial general hospital said on Tuesday that three patients were admitted into his unit at late hours of Monday.

Among the three, two are now in stable condition while one in critical condition.

The cause of the incident was under investigation, said VNA, adding that all the victims belonged to Ha Nhi ethnic minority's group.
URUMQI, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Per capita disposable income for rural residents grew 8 percent year on year to reach 10,183 yuan (about 1,454 U.S. dollars) in 2016 in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

"It is the first time the figure beat the 10,000 yuan mark," said Xu Bin, head of the regional statistics bureau.

The regional economy grew 7.6 percent year on year in 2016, 0.9 percentage points above the national growth rate. The region's GDP reached 961.7 billion yuan (139.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2016, with continued expansion of the tertiary sector.

Xu said that policies to boost employment were the main reasons for the growth of rural incomes. The local government has helped farmers to find jobs in cities other than their hometown.

He said that taxes had been reduced for small businesses in rural areas and loans were given to farmers, adding that farmers made more money in 2016 from cotton growing, a main agricultural industry in Xinjiang.
WASHINGTON, Feb.13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. National Security Adviser Michael Flynn resigned Monday night after days of reports over whether he discussed American sanctions against Russia in phone calls with a Russian diplomat before President Donald Trump's inauguration.

Flynn is the first senior government official to leave the Trump administration since the new leader took office in January.

Retired Army General Keith Kellogg, a top policy adviser for Trump's presidential campaign, was appointed acting national security adviser, according to local media reports.

A possible replacement for Flynn was retired General David Petraeus, also a former CIA director, who was scheduled to meet Trump on Tuesday, according to a Politico report.

Other options for the post include Stephen Hadley, who served as national security adviser to former President George W. Bush; Tom Bossert, who now oversees cyber security under the Trump administration; retired Admiral James Stavridis, a former NATO supreme commander; and John Kelly, head of Department of Homeland Security, said the report.

Flynn spent the weekend with Trump in Florida at the president's Mar-a-Lago resort and was part of the delegation welcoming Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to the White House earlier on Monday.

Flynn's resignation came amid rampant reports that he lied about improperly discussing U.S. sanctions on Russia by the Obama administration with the Russian ambassador to the United States in December, weeks before Trump's inauguration.

Flynn acknowledged speaking to the ambassador then but denied discussing the sanctions. Vice President Mike Pence was reportedly misled and went on television to back up Flynn.

Earlier on Monday, it was revealed that the Justice Department had informed the White House that Flynn was not fully forthright about his conversations with the Russian ambassador and could be vulnerable to blackmail by Moscow.

Flynn, a retired three-star general, was forced out as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2014. He was one of the first and most active military officers to back Trump during his presidential campaign.

Related:

Trump's National Security Adviser Michael Flynn resigns

WASHINGTON, Feb.13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. National Security Adviser Michael Flynn resigned Monday night after days of reports over whether he discussed American sanctions against Russia in a phone call with a Russian diplomat before President Donald Trump's inauguration.

Flynn has been the first senior government official to have left the Trump administration since the new leader taking office in January. Full story

Russia, U.S. "natural allies" in anti-terror cooperation: Russian diplomat

MOSCOW, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Russia and the United States are "natural allies" in fighting terrorism, a Russian deputy foreign minister in charge of counter-terrorism said on Monday.
SINGAPORE, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Resale prices for Singapore's non-landed private residential flats rose 1.1 percent in January month-on-month, according to estimates released by Singapore Real Estate Exchange (SRX Property) on Tuesday.

SRX Property said the rise is bigger than the 0.5 percent gains seen in December and November 2016.

The rise applied across all locations in January month-on-month. Resale prices for downtown area, city fringe and suburban area rose by 1.9 percent, 1.5 percent and 0.4 percent respectively on a month-on-month basis.

Year on year, SRX Property said resale prices for Singapore's non-landed private homes in January were up 0.3 percent compared to January 2016.

The gradual recovery in the resale market as buyers moderated their asking prices was also reflected in the rise in transactions, said SRX Property.

As for volume, an estimated 526 non-landed private residential units were resold in January, a 9.1 percent increase from the 482 units resold in December 2016. While on a year-on-year basis, resale volume in January was 29.9 percent higher compared to 405 units resold in the same period last year.

Compared with the peak in April 2010, resale volume was down by 74.3 percent compared to the 2,050 units resold at that time.

The overall median Transaction Over X-Value (TOX), which measures whether people are overpaying or underpaying SRX Property's estimated market value, rose from -5,000 Singapore dollars (-3,526.34 U.S. dollars) in December to -4,000 Singapore dollars (-2,821.07 U.S. dollars) in January.

Private homes are those developed by private developers. About 80 percent of the resident households in Singapore live in public housing units built and sold by the government. The private homes are typically more expensive than public housing units.
MEXICO CITY, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- A Mexican physics major will join a Latin American crew to take part in a simulated mission to Mars, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) announced Monday.

Yair Israel Pina will be part of the six-member team heading to the Mars Desert Research Station in the U.S. state of Utah.

The complex is operated by the Mars Society, a U.S. non-profit organization which runs a "full-scale analog facility" to support earth-based research to further space exploration.

The team, called LATAM 1, plans to study the effects on humans of living and working conditions on the Red Planet during a simulated mission from April 29 to May 17 this year.

"I'm happy because to walk among the stars, you must first learn to walk on Earth," Pina said.

"I was chosen based on the experiments I proposed, including protocols to measure radiation in Martian environments, which I developed here at UNAM," Pina explained.

"At the station we will be able to conduct experiments and tests with the whole team. That will help space agencies travel to another planet," he added.

In October 2016, Pina was chosen by U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to be a student researcher.
ISLAMABAD, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Tuesday criticized the recent missiles tests by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) that has also prompted condemnation by the United Nations.

The DPRK on Monday claimed it successfully test-fired a surface-to-surface medium-and long-range ballistic missile Pukguksong-2 and its top leader Kim Jong Un guided the test firing, according to the state news agency KCNA.

"The latest missile test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is a violation of the UN Security Council Resolutions," the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said.

"Pakistan calls upon the DPRK to refrain from any step that undermines the prospects of regional peace and stability," the ministry's spokesman said in a statement.

He said Pakistan has consistently supported a nuclear weapons free Korean Peninsula, as agreed by all parties, adding that "it calls upon the DPRK to refrain from actions which run counter to the objective of reaching a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the issue within the framework of the Six Party Talks."
Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn meets with Wan-Hea Lee (1st L), representative for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Feb. 14, 2017. Prak Sokhonn met with Wan-Hea Lee for the first time on Tuesday after the two sides reached a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) two months ago. (Xinhua/Sovannara)

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn met with Wan-Hea Lee, representative for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Cambodia, for the first time on Tuesday after the two sides reached a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) two months ago.

The Cambodian government renewed in December the MoU allowing the OHCHR to continue its operational presence in Cambodia for another two years, after the OHCHR promised not to interfere in the country's internal affairs.

"Wan-Hea Lee informed the minister that this year was the starting year of re-strengthening cooperation between the OHCHR and the Cambodian government, and she vowed to do her best to build trust and confidence between the two sides," the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chum Sounry told reporters after the meeting.

For his part, Prak Sokhonn suggested that the OHCHR strictly respect Cambodia's sovereignty and not interfere in Cambodia's internal affairs in conformity with the UN Charter, said Sounry.

Both sides also agreed to hold regular consultations once every three months.

Cambodia has consented to the field presence of the OHCHR in the country since 1993 through a bilateral agreement, known as the MoU, which has been renewed several times.
Turkish photographer Burhan Ozbilici (R) speaks during an interview in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on Feb. 13, 2017. Ozbilici won the World Press Photo 2017 contest with his picture showing the assassination of the Russian ambassador on December 19, 2016, the World Press Photo foundation in Amsterdam announced on Monday. (Xinhua/Sylvia Lederer)

THE HAGUE, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Turkish photographer Burhan Ozbilici won the World Press Photo 2017 contest with his picture showing the assassination of the Russian ambassador on December 19, 2016, the World Press Photo foundation in Amsterdam announced on Monday.

On the picture, named An Assassination in Turkey, the off-duty police officer Mevlut Mert Altintas shouts after shooting Andrei Karlov, the Russian ambassador to Turkey, at an art gallery in Ankara, Turkey. The killer wounded three other people before being killed by officers in a shootout.

"Suddenly I heard a gunshot," Associated Press photographer Ozbilici reacted in a statement. "It was very loud. People were running away in panic, and the ambassador's body was lying on the ground. The gunman raised his left hand, pointed his finger and shouted twice, 'Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar'".

"I remember thinking: 'I might be killed or injured, but the Russian ambassador has been shot.' This is very big news, so as a journalist it is my responsibility to stand and do my work," he added.

Mary F. Calvert, member of the jury, said that the image epitomizes the definition of what the World Press Photo of the Year means.

"Every time it came on the screen you almost had to move back because it's such an explosive image," she said. "It was a very difficult decision, but in the end we felt that the picture of the Year was an explosive image that really spoke to the hatred of our times."

The contest attracted a total of 80,408 images, from 5,034 photographers from 125 countries, and the jury of the 60th annual World Press Photo Contest gave prizes in eight categories to 45 photographers from 25 countries. Ozbilici also won the category Spot News, Stories with his series of pictures on the Assassination.

Chinese photographer Wang Tiejun finished second in the category Daily Life, singles, with her picture Sweat Makes Champions.

On the picture, four students of a gymnastics school in Xuzhou, China, do toe-pressure training for 30 minutes in the afternoon.

Paula Bronstein from the United States won this category with The Silent Victims of a Forgotten War.
NEW DELHI, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- India's top court Tuesday found V.K. Sasikala, head of ruling party - All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Khazagham (AIADMK) in southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, guilty of corruption in a 21-year disproportionate assets case.

The conviction has ended her dream to become the chief minister of the state and rendered her ineligible for the post.

"The Supreme Court today convicted AIADMK general secretary V.K. Sasikala in a disproportionate assets case," a court official said. "The court found Sasikala and two others guilty under the Prevention of Corruption Act."

As per the court ruling Sasikala will be jailed for four years.

The case was originally against J. Jayalalithaa, the four-term chief minister of Tamil Nadu. Sasikala along with other two were accomplice in the case. The case dating back to the 1990s was based on fact that during Jayalalithaa's first term as chief minister, she misused her office to amass assets in a shared fortune with Sasikala and other two.

The court judgment has not detailed Jayalalithaa's role because of her demise. The 68-year-old Jayalalithaa died in December last year after an illness.

Sasikala has already served almost six months in jail in the case and now has to serve the remaining imprisonment of three years and six months.

The conviction will bar Sasikala from contesting elections for the next 10 years.

The top court has directed Sasikala, who is presently in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, to surrender immediately before police.

Sasikala, a lifelong associate of Jayalalithaa last week approached state's Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao staking claim for the post.

However, her ambitions split the party with incumbent Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam opposing her move and thereby pushing state into political crisis.

Initially Panneerselvam announced resignation and supported her move to become AIADMK's legislature party leader, however, later on he revolted against Sasikala saying he was forced to resign.

The apex court Tuesday set aside Karnataka high court's order of 2015 of exonerating Jayalalithaa and Sasikala. The high court had overturned a trial court's verdict. However, the Karnataka government had challenged the high court verdict in the Supreme Court.
BAGHDAD, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least two people were killed and seven others wounded on Tuesday in a car bomb explosion in southwestern the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, a police source told Xinhua.

The blast occurred in the morning when a booby-trapped car detonated at the industrial area in the Shiite neighborhood of Baiyaa, the source said on condition of anonymity.

The explosion destroyed at least seven nearby cars and caused damages to many shops and buildings, the source said.

The attack took place as the Iraqi security forces tightened security measures and blocked many streets leading to downtown Baghdad ahead of a rally scheduled in the afternoon to march in the funerals of protesters killed on Saturday's demonstration when clashes erupted between the security forces and thousands of people, mainly followers of the influential Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

The demonstrators protested over the widely spread corruption in the country and demanded a change in the election commission, which they argued that the electoral body is under the influence of leading parties.

Tuesday's car bomb attack also came as the Iraqi security forces backed by anti-IS international coalition are carrying out a major offensive to drive out the IS militants from its last major stronghold in and around Mosul.
by Xinhua writer Luo Jun

BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The recent proposal of a controversial border tax on imports by U.S. House Republicans will not only set back global trade rules and hurt the interests of Washington's trading partners, but also cost U.S. consumers and its global influence dearly.

Though there are some good intentions behind the bill, including raising the competitiveness of American products and fostering favorable conditions for the domestic manufacturing industry, it could never meet the goal without paying a much higher price.

The proposed border tax plan immediately shocked the European Union (EU) and other U.S. allies, and may prompt the biggest dispute in the World Trade Organization, as it goes against basic economic principles and established world trade rules.

A radical increase on import tax would put a heavy burden on domestic consumers, retailers and other businesses, as well as overseas trade partners of the United States.

The unilateral disruption of a trade balance could very likely trigger counter measures from other countries, even a chain reaction across the global trade landscape, with the worst case scenario being a trade war that causes losses on all sides.

China, whose biggest trading partner is the EU and which is undergoing economic upgrading to higher-end production and to rely more on domestic consumption, is unlikly to be the hardest hit by the U.S. border tax.

However, as China is the biggest trading partner and the third largest export destination of the United States, the border tax bill will do more harm than good to the United States. In the past eight years, U.S. imports to China have witnessed an increase of 66.4 percent, according to official statistics.

On one hand, American consumers will be forced to tighten their belts on surging import prices without reliable alternative products, and thus further lower their living standards hit hard by the 2008 financial crisis.

On the other hand, the border tax could push Washington's top trade partners to turn from the United States to rely more on each other for favorable free trade arrangements, which would offset any competitive edge of U.S. exporters brought by the tax plan.

Washington could even foresee an undesired decrease of its global influence as a result of weakened trade relations with major countries around the world.

The strong opposition and warning of retaliation from the EU, whose largest trading partner is the United States, is a reminder to the Donald Trump administration that the protectionist tendency could be a friendship killer.
Chinese President Xi Jinping makes remarks when addressing the opening session of a workshop on the 6th Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, attended by senior provincial and ministerial officials, at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, Feb. 13, 2017. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Hi, here's what you need to know about China.

BEIJING -- China on Monday firmly opposed the affirmation made by U.S. and Japanese leaders that the U.S.-Japan security treaty covered China's Diaoyu islands in the East China Sea.

"China expressed grave concern at and firm opposition to the statements [concerning the Diaoyu islands] made by Japan and the United States," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a daily press briefing. "We firmly oppose that Japan asked for the endorsement of the United States on its illegal territorial claim in the name of the U.S.-Japan security treaty." xhne.ws/LdD4E

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BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping on Monday told leading officials to practice strict self-discipline and eliminate special privileges.

Xi made the remarks when addressing the opening session of a workshop on the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. The workshop at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee was attended by senior provincial and ministerial officials. xhne.ws/8zKbl

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CHENGDU -- Southwest China's Sichuan Province reported two human H7N9 avian flu cases Tuesday, bringing the total number of infections in the province this year to six.

One of the patients is a 60-year-old man surnamed Huang, in Pengxi county, while the other is a 48-year-old woman surnamed Zhou, in Zhongjiang county. They are both in critical condition, according to the provincial health and family planning commission. xhne.ws/8I3kC

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BEIJING -- China plans to launch its first cargo spacecraft via a Long March-7 Y2 carrier rocket in April, sources said Monday.

The Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft, which departed from north China's Tianjin on Feb. 5, arrived at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province on Monday for assembly and testing, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). xhne.ws/ugIll

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TAIPEI -- A tour bus that overturned Monday evening on a highway in Taipei has left 33 people dead as of Tuesday afternoon, according to local authorities.

The bus was carrying 44 people, including the driver and a tour guide, most of whom were senior citizens. Thirty people were confirmed dead at the site, and a further three were announced dead after medical treatment failed, the local fire authority said. xhne.ws/aDqRG

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UNITED NATIONS -- China on Monday called for international cooperation to protect infrastructure in countries along the Belt and Road against terrorist attacks.

"China's Belt and Road Initiative takes infrastructure interconnection as cooperation priority to support the countries along the Road to improve their infrastructure development, achieve mutually beneficial win-win cooperation and synchronize development to benefit all," Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said at an UN Security Council open debate on the protection of critical infrastructure against terrorist attacks. xhne.ws/JMPhD
SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- South Korean prosecutors independently investigating the scandal involving impeached President Park Geun-hye on Tuesday made their second request for the arrest warrant for Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, an heir apparent of Samsung Group.
SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- South Korean special prosecutors have submitted to opposition lawmakers their call for an extended investigation into a scandal involving impeached President Park Geun-hye.

Spokesman of the independent counsel team, which launched its probe on Dec. 21 last year, told a press briefing on Tuesday that the parliament had requested an opinion on the revised law to extend investigation.

In response, the team had submitted its opinion on the need for extension to the lawmakers, the spokesman said.

The biggest opposition Minjoo Party and the minor opposition People's Party have reportedly pushed the revision of law to lengthen the probe into the presidential scandal.

The independent counsel's probe is scheduled to end on Feb. 28. It can be extended for 30 days if Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, who is serving as acting president, allows it, but possibility seems low as Hwang is one of the closest aides to the impeached leader.

Minjoo Party floor leader Woo Sang-ho said Monday that unless Hwang allows the extension, the parliament will amend the law, calling on the acting president to make his position clear in upcoming days.

Given the Righteous Party, which splintered away from the ruling Liberty Korea Party, expressed a position in favor of the need to extend the investigation, the amended law is highly likely to be passed in the parliament.

The spokesman said investigations into other conglomerates would be hard to be launched given the remaining period allowed for the special probe, adding that other conglomerates have not been subject to an official probe.

The special investigation has been centered on Samsung Group, the country's biggest family-run conglomerate, which is suspected of providing tens of millions of U.S. dollars to President Park's longtime friend Choi Soon-sil in return for getting help in the 2015 merger to create a de-facto holding company.

Other conglomerates, including Lotte, SK and CJ, are suspected to have been involved in the presidential scandal, but official probes have yet to be launched.

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong was summoned by the special prosecutors Monday for the 15-hour questioning. A court refused to issue an arrest warrant for Lee last month.

The special prosecutors sought arrest warrant for the Samsung heir again on Tuesday.
NAIROBI, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The UN refugee agency said on Tuesday that it has repatriated some 4,753 Somali refugees in Kenya by road between Jan. 16-31 before a court suspended the closure of the world's largest refugee camp in northeast Kenya.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in its bi-weekly Update that in total as of Jan. 31, 44, 365 Somali refugees had returned home since December 8, 2014 when the UN agency started supporting voluntary return of refugees in Kenya.

"During the reporting period, 4,753 refugees were supported to voluntarily return to Somalia by road. Road convoys are organized from Dadaab to Dhobley on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays," it said.

According to UNHCR, flight transporting returnees to Mogadishu remained temporarily suspended during the month of January owing to the security situation in Mogadishu during the current presidential election process in Somalia.

During the period under review, the UNHCR said it the Voluntary Repatriation Cross Border Meeting was held on Jan. 31 to deliberate on security situation in the 12 areas of return, the impact of drought on repatriation and reintegration process, cross-border peace building projects and enhancing provision of country of origin information as well as monitoring and management of cases of returnees with specific needs.

The UN refugee agency also said ten flights were organized during the period under review, transporting 1,030 non-Somali refugees to Kalobeyei at the Kakuma camp in northwest Kenya.

The latest report comes after Kenyan High Court blocked the government's decision to shut down Dadaab refugee camp which mainly hosts Somalis, terming the move as unconstitutional.

High Court Justice John Mativo in his ruling termed the directive by Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery and his Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho as arbitrary, null and void.

Justice Mativo said the government's orders to repatriate Somali refugees living in the world's largest refugee camp were discriminatory and amounted to collective. He also described the orders as excessive, arbitrary and disproportionate.

The UNHCR has since called on Kenya to be flexible in terms of a return time frame in order to meet the different elements of the plan that was devised in 2016, citing a concern that rigid time frames would be difficult to meet.
SHIJIAZHUANG, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- In a farmer's home in north China's Hebei Province, resides an well-preserved imperial decree issued over 300 years ago.

Wu Ruxiang, 75 of Linxi County, said the decree was granted to his ancestor during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) praising him as an official and his wives.

The decree was written on 1.2-meter scroll and endorsed by Emperor Kangxi in 1684, said Yang Zunyi, a local history enthusiast.

Composed of 325 Chinese characters and a Manchu version, the decree describes county head Wu Chenglong of Nanchuan county in Sichuan province as "capable" and "never forgetting his responsibility to the people." His late wife surnamed Liu and second wife surnamed Chen were described as "virtuous and devoted" for preserving excellent house-keeping traditions.

In the decree, the emperor conferred Wu the title of "Wenlinlang," a bureaucratic rank, and honored his wives as "ruren," a title usually conferred on officials' wives.

Zhang Xia, curator of the county cultural center, said Wu was a renowned family in Qing Dynasty, with six members in four generations being officials.

"The decree has provides historical references to the official ranks and the social culture of Qing Dynasty," said Zhang.
BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will travel to Germany to attend the informal meeting of G20 foreign ministers and the annual Munich Security Conference from Feb. 15-18.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang made the remarks at a routine press briefing.

Wang was invited by German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel and chairman of the Munich Security Conference Wolfgang Ischinger

China appreciates Germany's preparations for the G20 Hamburg summit in July, Geng said.

The foreign ministers' meeting will focus on the 2030 sustainable development agenda, peace and partnership with Africa, he said.

China hopes the meeting will address major global challenges, and send a positive signal of support for multilateralism, global management and an innovative, open and inclusive world economy, said the spokesperson.

Calling the Munich Security Conference an important annual forum in global strategic and security field, Geng said Wang will expound on China's position on issues including the current international situation and security cooperation.

The Munich Security Conference brings together 500 participants including heads of state and government, as well as foreign and defence ministers.
SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least three Indian army troopers and a militant were killed while as five troopers wounded Tuesday in a fierce gunfight between militants and Indian troops in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir.

The gunfight erupted at village Hajin in Bandipora district, about 32 km north of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"In today's gunfight we have killed a militant," Indian military spokesman in Srinagar Col Rajesh Kalia told Xinhua. "While fighting the militants, our three soldiers were also killed and five others wounded."

The wounded troopers were immediately removed to military base hospital in Srinagar.

Officials said the village was cordoned off on specific intelligence information suggesting presence of militants in a house.

"No sooner we reached near the house, militants hurled a grenade and gunfight started," a police official said. "The gunfight has ended with the killing of militant."

Local media reports said a paramilitary trooper and four policemen were also wounded in the standoff.

On Sunday four militants, two troopers and two civilians were killed in a similar gunfight and subsequent protests in the region.

A guerrilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in Indian- controlled Kashmir since 1989. Gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently across the region.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.
BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday offered to help the Philippines after an earthquake struck a southern Philippines province last week.

Red Cross Society of China is to offer 50,000 U.S. dollars to the Philippines for relief work, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang at a daily briefing, adding that Foreign Minister Wang Yi had conveyed sympathy to his counterpart in the Philippines.

China believes that the Philippines will overcome their difficulties and recover from the earthquake in an early date, said Geng.

Eight people are reported killed in a 6.7 magnitude earthquake near Surigao City in the southern Philippines Friday night.
HARARE, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- More than 105 million condoms were used in Zimbabwe last year thanks to a successful promotion of condom use as an effective HIV prevention method, local media New Ziana reported Tuesday.

Zimbabwe joined on Tuesday to commemorate International Condom Day. The day, which coincides with Valentine's Day, was set to recognize the importance of condoms as a dual method for prevention of unplanned pregnancies as well as sexually transmitted infections.

According to a statement by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, it remained committed to strengthening the promotion of condom use that the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations AIDS Agency recommended as a proven method of preventing the spread of HIV.

"Zimbabwe has recorded one of the most successful condom programs and in 2016 alone, managed to distribute a total 105 million male condoms countrywide," said the ministry.

The ministry also called for increased funding for condom programs.

Zimbabwe remains saddled by a heavy burden of HIV and AIDS though prevalence rate has declined from 24 percent to 14 percent.
BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- China has congratulated Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov on his re-election as Turkmenistan's president, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday.

China respects the choice made by the Turkmen people and supports Turkmenistan in walking the path best suited its own situation, Geng Shuang said at a daily press briefing.

"We believe that Turkmenistan will maintain political stability and prosperity and make more achievements under the leadership of Berdymukhamedov," Geng said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Berdymukhamedov Monday.

Geng said that China is ready to work with the Turkmenistan side to strengthen mutual support and strategic coordination, deepen pragmatic cooperation in various fields, and advance bilateral ties.

Berdymukhamedov secured his third term in Sunday's presidential election with a landslide victory, according to preliminary data released on Monday by Turkmenistan's Central Election Commission.
JAKARTA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government on Tuesday sent 5,000 tons of rice in humanitarian assistance to Sri Langka which has been hit by drought.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo witnessed the delivery of the aids in a rice ware house in the country's capital.

"As a friendly-nation and one of the biggest countries in Asia, naturally, we stand together with Sri Langka in facing this difficulty," President Widodo said.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi noted that Indonesia and Sri Langka have historical ties as the two nations jointly took part in establishment of non-aligned movement and the Asia-Africa movement.

Minister Retno said the humanitarian aid is part of the country's diplomacy to contribute to world peace and prosperity.

"This humanitarian diplomacy will persist as Indonesia has strong commitment on that," she added.

In December, Indonesia delivered humanitarian assistance to Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State of Myanmar.
File photo taken on on April 17, 2015 shows a burnt vehicle at the site of xenophobic attacks in Johannesburg Town, South Africa. (Xinhua/ Zhai Jianlan)

JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- South African Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba called for peace in Rosettenville, south of Johannesburg, on Monday, where local people have burned some foreigners' houses.

The minister said this while addressing some safety and community leaders at Yeovile police station in Johannesburg.

A week ago, South Africans started burning houses owned by Nigerians accusing them of running brothels and selling drugs in the area. Last weekend the locals met again and torched 12 houses owned by foreigners, mostly Nigerians. A night club was also set alight.

The government officials toured the area on Monday to calm the tensions between foreigners and South Africans.

Gigaba warned community leaders not to incite hatred and violence against foreigners. He said, "Leaders have a responsibility at all times to be measured in their public pronouncements, there could be lives that are lost, property could be destroyed which belongs to private individuals and they would have invested enormously in the development and maintenance of that property."

He warned that the law will take its own course if South Africans violate the law by intimidating, threatening and attacking foreigners.

Gigaba said Rosettenville has been targeted as the problem area for xenophobia. He said they will drop outreach programs and talk to South Africans and foreigners to bring about peace in the area.

He also said, "South Africa is highly attractive to immigrants, both regular and irregular. The irregular migrants would include the silent seekers who arrive in South Africa without documentation."

The Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba has been raiding some foreigners' houses in Rosettenville in company of law enforcement agents looking for drugs and ladies doing prostitution.

The mayor who belongs to the opposition political party (Democratic Alliance) has been criticized by many for inciting xenophobic attacks in the City. He said illegal foreigners are the ones committing crimes and must leave.

A student body, South African Students Congress (SASCO) slammed the mayor on Monday for inciting violence.

Ownabile Lubhelwana, SASCO regional chairperson said, "they greatly condemn Mashaba for the xenophobic remarks he made to the residents of Rosettenville, Johannesburg. The remarks made by the mayor incited violence, led to the incineration of about 12 houses and also threatened lives of our fellow students. Johannesburg is a cosmopolitan city that consists of young scholars from all over the continent."

The students accused Mashaba of suffering from serious xenophobic gestures. They encouraged those in positions of leadership to talk responsibly to avoid inciting hatred toward others.

Lubhelwana said, "Instead of addressing problems, the mayor is busy inciting violence against our fellow students from various African countries."

Two weeks ago four houses owned by Nigerians were burnt in the same area. The local police said they have arrested nine suspects in Rosettenville on Sunday.
File photo taken on June 5, 2014 shows Kenyan police officers check 302 pieces of ivory, including 228 elephant tusks seized in a warehouse during a raid in the port city of Mombosa. (Xinhua)

DAR ES SALAAM, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- A Tanzanian court has sentenced a couple to 20 years imprisonment after it had convicted them last week on smuggling ivory valued at 1.1 million US dollars.

The Kisutu Resident Magistrate's Court in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam jailed the couple -- Peter Kabi and Leonidia Kabi -- on Monday after it was satisfied with evidence adduced by the prosecution that convicted the couple to the offence.

The couple was convicted with three offences of leading organized crime, unlawful possession of government trophies and engagement in ivory trade.

The prosecution alleged that the couple was arrested on October 27, 2012 at their home in Kimara in Dar es Salaam in possession of 510 pieces of elephant tusks weighing 450.6 kilograms and five pieces of elephant bones all worth 1.1 million U.S. dollars.

The prosecution added that the couple were found in possession of the ivory without a valid license from the Director of Wildlife in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism.

The prosecution charged that the couple killed 93 elephants to get the 510 pieces of ivory.

Biswalo Mganga, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), said the government intended to file an application seeking confiscation of property belonging to the couple.

"The state cannot let people benefit from government resources they acquire illegally," Mganga told a news conference shortly after the judgment.

"We will file an application to the court requesting the confiscation of the house used to store the elephant tusks," said Mganga.

A government census of 2015 in Tanzania revealed that 60 percent of elephants had been lost over a period of five years.

Tanzania's elephant population is one of the largest in Africa. But according to data released by the government in June 2015, between 2009 and 2014, the population had dropped from 109, 051 to 43,521.
HANGZHOU, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- China has extended penalty restrictions against people who default on their court orders, keeping them from traveling by plane, applying for loans and credit cards, or getting promoted.

"There has been 6.73 million defaulters on the Supreme People's Court's (SPC) blacklist," said Meng Xiang, chief of the SPC's enforcement bureau.

So far, 6.15 million people who defaulted have been restricted from purchasing plane tickets and 2.22 million barred from travelling by high-speed train, which are usually more expensive.

The SPC has cooperated with airlines and railway companies from December last year to bar those who default from purchasing tickets, based on ID card information and their passports, according to Meng.

Previously, the ban was only based on ID card numbers, and many bought tickets with their passports to circumvent the ban.

"In addition, the SPC signed memos with 44 units including the National Development and Reform Commission to share information of defaulters in order to extend penalty restrictions," Meng said.

Altogether 71,000 people who defaulted have been restricted from serving as corporate representatives and executives, according to SPC figures.

The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, a major commercial bank, has rejected more than 550,000 loan and credit card applications from people who have defaulted.

"The courts include government staff, members of local legislative and political advisory bodies, and Communist Party of China congress delegates on its blacklist, with some receiving punishment including expulsion and demotion," Meng said, without disclosing exact figures.

The deterrent is effective, and nearly 1 million defaulters have voluntarily fulfilled their court orders.
File photos of U.S. president Donald Trump and Nigeria president Muhammadu Buhari. (Xinhua)

ABUJA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump and his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari have held their first telephone conversation, discussing mainly how to strengthen cooperation between their two countries, an official statement said.

The telephone conversation was at the request of the American president, said the statement released by Femi Adesina, spokesman of the Nigerian leader.

The two leaders discussed on Monday ways to improve on the fight against terrorism through the provision of necessary equipment, according to the statement.

The Nigerian government described the conversation as "cordial", in which Trump assured Buhari of U.S. readiness to cut a new deal in helping Nigeria in terms of military weapons to combat terrorism.

During the conversation, Trump encouraged Buhari, who has been on vacation in London since Jan. 19, to keep up his good work in Nigeria and also commended him for the efforts made in rescuing 24 of the Chibok girls and the strides being taken by the Nigerian military against terror group Boko Haram.

"Buhari also congratulated Trump on his election as President of the United States, and on his cabinet," the statement noted.
MANILA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least 28 Filipinos are infected daily with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which overtime results in the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), 24 of which are the young ones, National Youth Commission (NYC) Chairwoman Aiza Seguerra said Tuesday.

During the launch of the "Virus Ends With Us" anti-HIV campaign on Tuesday, also Valentine's day, in the Philippine presidential palace Malacanang, Seguerra said at least 85 percent of new HIV infections daily are aged between 15 to 30 years old, and those aged between 15 to 24 accounts for 62 percent.

"There is a growing HIV epidemic among young people," she said, citing that the problem of HIV is getting worse due to lack of knowledge about the virus and ways of its spread and prevention, as well as discrimination and misconceptions against those who undergo HIV testing.

She said the government needs the public's support for anti-HIV campaign undertaken by the Departments of Health and Education.

"Because we believe that we love each other, it is timely to take the issue of HIV seriously," she said, adding that the NYC is also pushing for the lowering of the age limit to 15 from 18 for those who can undergo HIV testing without their parents' consent.

She said parents are encouraged to talk to children to provide them adequate information not only about HIV, but also about issues like sex, drugs, and mental health.

It aims to enlighten the parents and educators about the best ways to approach taboo issues as well as help adults be open minded if their children get infected with HIV.

Seguerra added that parents and educators should also be pragmatic and remove any malice when explaining the issues.
BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- A mobile app that allows users to pass information on to Beijing police is being field tested.

"Chaoyang Resident HD" was designed to collect information from the public through text, pictures or video clips, according to the Public Security Bureau of Chaoyang District of Beijing, which helped develop the app.

The app focuses on child abduction, suspicious characters, missing elderly people, traffic violations, and lost property.

On Tuesday, a message about a nine-year-old girl who went missing in Fengtai District on Sunday was displayed by the app.

"Chaoyang resident" is a well-known phrase online, often cited as a source by Beijing police in the investigation of celebrities involved in drugs or prostitution who usually live in the city's posh Chaoyang District.
NAIROBI, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned on Tuesday that severe drought is pushing up food prices sharply in East Africa.

According to the FAO's latest Food Price Monitoring and Analysis Bulleting (FPMA), soaring cost of basic staples is an extra challenge for pastoralists as livestock prices fall.

"Drought throughout East Africa has sharply curbed harvests and pushed the prices of cereals and other staple foods to unusually high levels, posing a heavy burden to households and special risks for pastoralists in the region," the FAO said.

The UN agency said insufficient rainfall in most areas of the sub-region has put enormous strain on livestock and their keepers.

It said poor livestock body conditions due to pasture and water shortages and forcible culls mean animals command lower prices, leaving pastoralists with even less income to purchase basic foodstuffs.

Local prices of maize, sorghum and other cereals are near or at record levels in swathes of Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda and the Tanzania, according to the report.

Poor rainfall in recent months has dented farm output in the sub-region, where food stocks were already depleted by the strong El Nino phenomenon that ended only last year

According to the FAO, Somalia's maize and sorghum harvests are estimated to be 75 percent down from their usual level, and some 6.2 million people, more than half of the country's total population, now face acute food insecurity with the majority of those most affected living in rural areas.

"In Kenya, where eastern and coastal lowlands as well as some western areas of the Rift Valley all suffered below-average rainfall, maize prices are up by around 30 percent, with the increase somewhat contained somewhat thanks to sustained imports from Uganda," the FAO said.

The report said beans now cost 40 percent more in Kenya than a year earlier, while in Uganda, maize prices are now up to 75 percent higher than a year earlier.

Prices of maize increased by 23 percent in January in Mogadishu, capital of Somalia, and in key market towns of central and southern Somalia, coarse grain prices in January have doubled from a year earlier.

In South Sudan, food prices are now two to four times above their levels a year earlier, exacerbated by ongoing insecurity and the significant depreciation of the local currency.

"With an earlier than usual depletion of household stocks during the coming lean season and preliminary weather forecasts raising concerns for the performance of the next rainy season, prices are likely to further escalate in the coming months," it said.

The report said shortages of pasture and water caused livestock deaths and reduced their body mass, prompting herders to sell animals while they can, which is also occurring in drought-wracked southern Ethiopia.

"This also pushes up the prices of milk, which is, for instance, up 40 percent on the year in Somalia's Gedo region," it said.
BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- On Valentine's Day, shops and stores often make promotions to attract couples, but it is Beijing singles who are benefiting this year.

Gofun Chuxing, a company which provides car-sharing services in Beijing, placed a random 100 cars in the street to offer free use for singles. A gift pack including Gofun car rental coupons is an extra surprise.

Gofun is using the idea to raise its popularity and promote car-sharing among young people.

Gofun was launched in February 2016 by Beijing Shouqi Group, a leading auto leasing company, as the sharing economy started to flourish in China.

After downloading an app, registering an account, uploading an identity card and driving license, Liu Xiaoqian, 26, finished the registration process in minutes.

Apart from a refundable deposit of 699 yuan (102 U.S. dollars), she only spent one yuan per kilometer and 0.1 yuan per minute for her drive.

"It is pretty cheap and convenient driving from my home to nearby shopping malls," said Liu, who works in adverting. "I do not need to spend more money on parking, gasoline and car maintenance. Car sharing is a new life concept."

"Gofun has put 1,100 cars in Beijing and we aims to have more cars if we get more car licenses," said Tan Yi, Gofun Chief Operation Officer.

"We had a pretty good market performance last year. Our cars were borrowed at least once each day, running about 30 kilometers on average, equal to an office worker's average commute each day," Tan said.

In other cities, car-sharing services are also springing up.

Car2go, a car-sharing service provider under automotive giant Daimler AG, was launched in April 2016, in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, the first city Car2go chose to enter in the Asian market.

More than 400 Benz Smart cars were put into major urban areas of Chongqing, covering 60 square kilometers, the company said.

By now, Car2go has more than 118,000 registered members and has offered over 115,000 car services in Chongqing, now a top 10 Car2go city.

"Car2go is a 'free flow' car rental and sharing service model. It makes a full combination of car and smartphone technology," said Guan Guozheng, chief operation officer of Car2go, China.

Car2go asks for a 99 yuan deposit and 1.19 yuan per kilometer and 0.59 yuan per minute per drive. Fees for parking, insurance and gasoline are included.

As more people choose car-sharing, the service has encountered problems such as theft of cars and a lack of parking.

"Every car is installed with a global positioning system. We are following the car in case it is stolen," said Wu Mao, an employee with car-sharing company Youche, based in Guangzhou, capital city of China's southern Guangdong Province. The city already has five car-sharing companies in the market.

"China's car-sharing service is just emerging and it needs time for people to get used to it. We have similar problems in other countries," Guan said. "China has a huge market potential and we believe the car-sharing service will develop well in the future."

By June 2016, China had a total of 135 million private cars, making about 260 million trips a day, according to the Traffic Management Bureau of the Public Security Ministry.
BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese banks extended 2.03 trillion yuan (about 295.7 billion U.S. dollars) of new yuan loans in January, up from 1.04 trillion yuan a month ago, central bank data showed Tuesday.

The M2, a broad measure of the money supply that covers cash in circulation and all deposits, grew 11.3 percent from a year earlier to about 157.6 trillion yuan, according to an online People's Bank of China statement.

The M1, a narrow measure of the money supply which covers cash in circulation plus demand deposits, rose 14.5 percent year on year to 47.25 trillion yuan.
BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- China is considering revisions to the 1984 Maritime Traffic Safety Law to prioritize searches for survivors over searches for property.

The Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council announced Tuesday it is soliciting public opinions on revisions.

The draft states that it is the right of the people in distress at sea to be rescued without charge, adding that life should come before the environment and assets.

Passengers have the right to be informed of developments during maritime accidents when vessels are in distress, and are obliged to obey the instructions of the captain, the draft reads.

The captain should organize evacuation and be the last to leave the vessel if it is to be abandoned.

The State Council and local governments should set up maritime search and rescue centers, if needed, to organize, coordinate and command rescue operations.

In addition to professional maritime rescue teams established by the government, civilian groups are also encouraged to set up rescue teams and participate in operations.

Crews of vessels and maritime facilities are forbidden from concealing, delaying or falsifying reports on maritime accidents.

According to the white paper "Development of China's Transport," an efficient safety regime and maritime emergency aid system has been established in China.

The white paper, released in December, said the nation has improved its maritime search and rescue capability and increased the number of volunteers.
MOGADISHU, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- An international charity on Tuesday warned of a potential famine in parts of Somalia without funding to support millions of food insecure people.

CARE International said consecutive droughts over the last two years, exacerbated by one of the strongest El Nino events ever recorded, have completely depleted people's food supplies and killed their livestock.

"We are observing the same warning signs that preceded the famine in Somalia six years ago," CARE's Country Director in Somalia Raheel Nazir Chaudhary warned in a statement

Despite repeated early warnings in 2011, the response to that crisis was too slow, and more than 260,000 people have died, according to the statement.

The charity said prices for livestock, families' main income, have plunged by 70-85 percent, while prices for water and food have skyrocketed.

In some areas, the price for a barrel of water has risen from 2 U.S. dollars before the drought to 10 dollars today.

"A threefold increase in water costs means it is out of reach for a vast majority of households. We are already seeing people spending half their income on water and many families are forced to migrate in search for food and pasture," Chaudhary said.

According to CARE's latest assessments in Somalia, families have to sell goats for 15 dollars whereas they could earn 70 dollars before the drought.

"The forecasts are bleak. If it won't rain in the coming months, famine will become a possibility in Somalia. We need funding now to prevent families from tipping over the edge into severe hunger," Chaudhary said.
MADRID, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Spanish security forces arrested a 44-year-old Algerian jihadist suspect in the northern city of Bilbao on Tuesday.

The man was detained on charges of praising terrorist actions, indoctrination and spreading propaganda for the Islamic State (IS) through social network sites, the Spanish Interior Ministry said.

The suspect is also confirmed as having previously supported the organization Al-Qaeda, through the use of several online profiles.

His radicalization had increased in recent months, during which he hardly left his home, while his activities were developed under "careful security measures, especially his connections to the internet", according to the Spanish Interior Ministry.

The propaganda he distributed is reported to have had a special abundance of content praising martyrs and those which justified the deaths of non-believers, who he described as "dogs".

The Ministry added that among his contacts were people related to drug smuggling and others who are under investigation for terrorism in other countries in the European Union.

Spanish investigators are working to discover all of his contacts in order to open new lines of investigation, it said.

This is the ninth arrest of a suspected jihadist supporter to take place in Spain in 2017 and the 187th since Spain was placed on a level 4 anti-terrorist alert in June 2015.
News program about the death of Kim Jong Nam, the older half-brother of the DRPK leader and the eldest son of late leader Kim Jong Il, is seen on TV at the Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Feb. 14, 2017. The half-brother of top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un has been killed in Malaysia, South Korean cable news channel TV Chosun reported on Tuesday citing multiple government sources. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The half-brother of top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un has been killed in Malaysia, South Korean cable news channel TV Chosun reported on Tuesday citing multiple government sources.

Kim Jong Nam, the older half-brother of the DRPK leader and the eldest son of late leader Kim Jong Il, has been found dead in Kuala Lumpur early Monday, the Chosun TV said.

He has been based outside the DPRK since he was caught trying to enter Japan on a fake passport in 2001.

Multiple South Korean government sources were quoted as saying that the half brother seemed to have killed at a Kuala Lumpur airport at about 9 a.m. Malaysian time (0100 GMT) Monday.

Yonhap news agency reported that South Korea's foreign and unification ministries declined to confirm the killing.
JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- A total of 16 militants loyal to Islamic State (IS) have been killed and two others injured in the eastern Nangarhar province over the past 24 hours, a spokesman for Nangarhar provincial government said Tuesday.

The operations, according to spokesman Attaullah Khogiani, covered some villages in Haska Mina and Kot districts, during which some hideouts of the IS fighters have also been destroyed.

However, the official didn't say if there were casualties on security personnel. The IS outfit, which has been fighting in parts of Nangarhar province over the past nearly two years, is yet to make comment.

Government forces launched major operations against IS insurgents in Nangarhar province on Sunday.
ISLAMABAD, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Tuesday summoned a senior Indian diplomat and lodged protest over the killing of three soldiers in a latest incident of cross-border firing, officials said.

Pakistan army said late Monday that three soldiers were killed in "unprovoked firing" by Indian forces on the Line of Control in the disputed Kashmir region.

Mohammad Faisal, who heads the South Asian affairs at the Foreign Ministry summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner J.P. Singh and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violation by the Indian occupation forces on February 13.

"The deliberate targeting of civilians and soldiers is indeed condemnable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws," a Foreign Ministry statement said.

The Director General urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding, investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations, instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire in letter and spirit, and maintain peace on the LoC, the statement said.

There has been escalation along the LoC, the de facto border, between the two countries in the disputed Kashmir region, since suspected militants killed 19 soldiers in the Indian-controlled Kashmir in September.

The Indian military blamed the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad group for the attack saying Pakistan was behind the attack, but Islamabad rejected the charges and suggested independent investigation.

Pakistan and India had declared ceasefire in 2003, however, firing exchanges do take place from time to time and the cross-LoC firing has increased in recent days.

Both countries accuse each other of ceasefire violations.
CAIRO, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Thirteen Egyptian workers kidnapped in Libya were freed by the Egyptian Armed Forces in cooperation with Libyan military, a military statement said on Tuesday.

The workers were kidnapped by militants who asked for ransom, official news agency MENA reported.

"Measures have been taken to bring them home," military spokesman Tamer El Refaei said in the statement.

Another criminal gang has also kidnapped 23 Egyptians in Ajbabia area in Libya in August and released them after receiving ransom.

Thousands of Egyptians defy the unrest in Libya for employment despite of government's warning to avoid the war-torn country.
MADRID, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Adopting new technologies is key to a sustainable tourism sector in the future, UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)'s secretary general Taleb Rifai said in a communique ahead of an international conference on "Smart Destinations" in Spain.

New technologies will "define 21st century tourism, which is committed to protecting ecosystems, local cultures, and social development", Rifai said.

The event looks to bring together government representatives and the private sector along with researchers and academics to address issues such as the introduction of digital applications in the tourism industry to help introduce more customized services, while protecting natural, social and cultural environments.

"It will be impossible to capitalize on the potential of tourism in aspects such as job creation and socioeconomic development if we do not commit to and move towards sustainable practices that are respectful of the environment and local communities," Rifai said.

The conference will include a presentation on research related to 21st century tourism and as well as businesspeople who have already developed products or services in the smart destination sector.

Starting on Wednesday, the two-day conference will be held at the city of Murcia in the southeast of Spain.
Visiting Norway's foreign minister Borge Brende (L) shakes hands with Serbian foreign minister Ivica Dacic in Belgrade, Serbia on Feb. 14, 2017. Foreign ministers of Serbia and Norway are to look into greater investment in Serbia, visiting Norway's foreign minister Borge Brende said here Tuesday. (Xinhua/Nemanja Cabric)

BELGRADE, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers of Serbia and Norway are to look into greater investment in Serbia, visiting Norway's foreign minister Borge Brende said here Tuesday.

"We have seen a lot of Norwegian investments in Serbia in the past years, and we will look into this topic more this spring when (Ivica) Dacic goes to Oslo for an official visit," Brende told a press conference.

He noted that the region of the Western Balkans was still fragile but praised Serbia's desire to contribute to stability as well as the country's dedication to its EU integration process, which he said was positive for attracting more investors.

Serbian foreign minister Ivica Dacic said: "Norway is one of Serbia's biggest bilateral donors with more than 250 million euros (266 million U.S. dollars) donated in the past 10 years for political reforms, recovery after floods, migrant crisis, and other purposes."

He noted that during the past year, the overall trade exchange between the two countries amounted to around 60 million euros and urged for this to increase.

"Norway is interested in investment, while we are interested in their experiences. We informed our guest about our strategic goals: to become a member of the EU, a source of stability in the region, as well as to settle all open issues with other countries through dialogue," Dacic said.
BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- A workshop gathering provincial and ministerial officials started on Monday, as the country increasingly looks to "key minorities'" role in promoting economic and social development.

At the opening session of the workshop on the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, President Xi Jinping made a speech calling on leading officials to use their power "impartially, cautiously and legally."

"Leading officials should strengthen their political capability, firm their political ideals, uphold political direction, be steadfast in their stance and strictly observe political rules," said Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

Such workshops date back to late last century and are now part of the CPC routine. In 1999, a financial seminar at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee was attended by provincial and ministerial officials.

Since then, workshops on major strategic plans have been held almost every year, with topics covering deepening reform, promoting rule of law and implementing decisions of plenary sessions of the CPC Central Committee.

This year's workshop focused on and brought up requirements for "key minorities," which was first raised at a workshop in February 2015, referring to the small group of officials at provincial and ministerial level who have both big power and responsibilities.

The term has since been regularly brought up. Last month, senior CPC leader Liu Yunshan asked organization departments to practice strict intra-Party political life and strengthen intra-Party supervision, focus on "key minorities" and promote comprehensive and strict governance of the Party.

According to Xin Ming, a professor with the Party School, this group of officials is crucial to governing the country, as many are members of, or alternate members of the CPC Central Committee.

Provincial and ministerial officials act as connectors, carrying out the policies of higher authorities and making decisions for lower ones, said Guo Xiangong, director of the Party building division of the Party School of the CPC Henan Provincial Committee.

For the central authorities, these officials follow their policies and guidelines, while to city, county and township-level ones, they are the decision makers, he said.

Their understanding of the policies and guidelines of the central authorities directly decides the implementation and effect of policies, he added.

Cai Songtao, Party Chief of Lankao County in Henan Province, said that such workshop has benefited Lankao in many ways.

"As a local official, I sometimes do not grasp the essence of central instructions. Provincial officials deliver instructions more accurately after a workshop, and we can follow them more easily," said Cai.

At a similar workshop last year, Xi stressed the new concept of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, to promote economic and social development during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020) and achieve the country's goal of becoming a moderately prosperous society in an all-around way.

Based on guidelines made by provincial authorities after last year's workshop, Lankao County has tackled poverty through industrial development, urbanization and public services, and fulfilled various tasks as scheduled, Cai added.

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Xi orders leading officials to fight special privilege

BEIJING, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping on Monday told leading officials to practice strict self-discipline and eliminate special privileges.
KIEV, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The number of Chinese visitors to Ukraine has risen to a 10-year high in 2016 amid a liberalization of the visa regime and surging cooperation between the two countries, official data showed on Tuesday.

A record of 20,555 Chinese citizens, including 19,599 from China's mainland, visited Ukraine last year compared with 13,602 visitors a year ago, Ukraine's State Statistics Service said in a report.

In June 2016, Ukraine started issuing 15-day entry visas for Chinese businessmen and tourists upon their arrival at the Kiev Boryspil Airport if they have a document confirming the business or tourist purpose of the visit.

Four months later, the visa-on-arrival policy was extended to the airport of Ukraine's southern Black Sea resort of Odessa.

Cooperation between Ukraine and China saw a significant upsurge last year due to the normalization of the situation in the East European country, with increasing business, cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
Yu Zhengsheng (R), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, meets with Speaker of the Mozambique Parliament Veronica Macamo in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 14, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- China and Mozambique pledged Tuesday to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in multiple areas.

The pledge came as top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng met with Speaker of the Mozambique Parliament Veronica Macamo, who was heading a delegation of business people on a five-day visit to China.

Hailing the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation between China and Mozambique last year, Yu said China was willing to work with Mozambique to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in multiple areas and push forward the implementation of the agreements reached during the 2015 Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

At the summit, China committed to a 60-billion-dollar fund that would deepen its relationship with Africa over the next three years.

Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), called on both countries to continue to firmly support each other on core interests and issues of major concerns.

He said the CPPCC will conduct more exchanges with the Parliament of Mozambique to elevate bilateral ties.

Macamo said Mozambique highly appreciated China's long-term assistance since the east African country gained independence in 1975.

Mozambique is committed to lifting "the brotherly bilateral ties" to a new high, she said.
YANGON, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's second meeting of the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference scheduled for Feb. 28 has been postponed to late March, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of the President Office U Zaw Htay told Xinhua Tuesday.

The delay for holding the conference is due to the fact that ongoing political dialogue is not yet finished, U Zaw Htay said.

A total of 700 representatives are still estimated to take part in the five-day conference.

U Zaw Htay encourages groups that have not signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) to join the signing in the conference.

State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, who is also chairperson of the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC), emphasized the importance of the UPDJC in Myanmar's peace process and highlighted that the organization is neither working for the National League for Democracy (NLD) nor the government but for the emergence of the union.

Chairman of the Joint Cease fire Monitoring Committee Lt. Gen. Ya Pyae also called for placing emphasis on avoiding armed conflicts in order to hold the second meeting of the Panglong Peace Conference successfully for national reconciliation and peace.

Myanmar government and eight armed groups initiated the NCA on Oct. 15, 2015 and the first meeting of the 21st Century Panglong Conference was held on Aug. 31, 2016.

Meanwhile, Myanmar begun last month to hold the first national region-oriented political dialogues separately in three areas of Tanintharyi region, and the race-oriented political dialogue in Hpa-An, the country's southeastern Kayin state.

The subject-oriented political dialogue is to follow in Nay Pyi Taw Council area.

The outcome of all regional dialogues will be submitted to the second meeting of the Panglong Peace Conference in March in accordance with the NCA.
PARIS, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- France on Tuesday asked the United Nations' Security Council to respond over alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria, reiterating calls for sanctions against Syrian officials, a spokesperson said.

"The use of weapons of mass destruction is a war crime and a threat to peace. Impunity is not an option," Romain Nadal, foreign ministry's spokesperson said at a daily press briefing.

"It is up to the Security Council to act. France ... continues to discuss with its partners at the Security Council to adopt a resolution to punish those responsible for these attacks," he added.
South African President Jacob Zuma (R) talks with police officials at the Nyanga Police Station in Cape Town, South Africa, on Feb. 14, 2017. The South African government will do everything to restore peace and safety in crime-stricken communities, President Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday. (Xinhua/DOC/Kopano Tlape)

CAPE TOWN, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The South African government will do everything to restore peace and safety in crime-stricken communities, President Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday.

Zuma made the pledge during a visit to Nyanga, a Cape Town community plagued by drugs, murder, carjacking and other human contact crimes.

Zuma undertook the visit as part of the Presidential Siyahlola Monitoring Programme to gain a first-hand account of work that is being done to fight crime in the area.

The visit came after Statistics South Africa announced that South Africans were feeling unsafe and that 41.7 percent of households believed crime had increased in their areas in the last three years compared to 31.2 percent in 2010.

Zuma interacted with police officials and members of the public at the Nyanga Police Station to obtain their views on what can be done to bring about an end to crime and to encourage stronger partnerships in the fight against crime.

Zuma committed the government to assist the police station and ensure that there's significant coordination in the criminal justice system to increase the level of prosecution as there were complains that criminals do not get prosecuted.

"We are concerned with regard to the coordination within the criminal justice system, there should high levels of prosecution because we cannot co-exist with criminals because they undermine the rights of our citizens. We have encouraged the police to continue working hard to fight drug abuse in this area,"Zuma said.

Nyanga Police Station Commissioner, Brigadier Vuyisile Ncata briefed Zuma on a number of crime awareness projects aimed at addressing root causes and contributors of crime as well as initiatives to mitigate crimes directed at vulnerable groups.

"The police station is now working very well with the Community Policing Forum in fighting crime and the partnership with community is improving but more still needs to be done to improve the situation," Ncata said.

The police station has also undertaken some positive social crime prevention programmes in the past year.

In a collaboration between the South African Police Service and the Department of Basic Education, which entails the linking of affected school to local police stations, the police station's Social Crime Prevention officers liaise with schools to provide crime orientated programmes, visits and, where required, the necessary searches to be conducted.

"The visit was very successful and we received a report of the Station Commissioner and we will engage the departments in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster to attend to challenges faced by the police station," said Zuma.
VIENTIANE, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathered in Lao capital Vientiane on Tuesday for the 52nd ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC).

The meeting aims to continue discussions on the ASEAN Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Action Plan 2016-2025 and exchange views on matters of mutual interest. Participants intend to draw up plans to implement collective steps to carry forward the key initiatives and deliverables that will make ASEAN more competitive and innovative, according to Lao state-run news agency KPL.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Lao Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Houmphanh Intharath said that Intellectual Property (IP) is crucial to this endeavour. ASEAN formed the AWGIPC in 1996, consisting of the heads of the ASEAN IP offices. The focus was initially on meeting the challenges of IP, but over time, it has broadened to work towards the creation of a vibrant IP ecosystem for businesses.

With the AWGIPC commitment to building on the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Intellectual Property Cooperation and making intellectual property a vehicle of deeper economic integration in ASEAN, it thus contributes to the goals of AEC 2025.

Working together as a regional bloc, ASEAN countries have the potential to become one of the world's most important players in the global intellectual property landscape and achieving the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint by 2025, the minister told the meeting.

"With intensified collaboration among ASEAN member states, and with each one of our countries striving to develop its respective IP systems, we can achieve a robust and highly integrated intellectual property ecosystem and our region can become the hub of intellectual property in this part of the world in the next 5 to 10 years according to the new ASEAN IPR Action Plan 2016-2025, which has underlined 19 initiatives to be implemented within the next ten years," said the official.

The meeting of the Working Group is scheduled to last till Friday.
CAIRO, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian parliament approved on Tuesday a 9-minister cabinet reshuffle in economic and service sectors including the merge of two ministries into one, the Egyptian state TV reported.
BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- China's foreign trade still faces downward pressure despite improvements in January, a senior commerce official said Tuesday.

"Uncertain and unstable factors are increasing. Difficulties facing China's foreign trade are not short term," said Wang Dongtang, deputy director-general of the foreign trade department under the Ministry of Commerce.

The rise of trade protectionism, sluggish overseas demand, and increasing domestic production costs are potential restraints on China's future exports growth, he added.

However, Wang said, the foreign trade fundamentals have not changed and the country still retains advantages in this regard.

China's trade started this year with a strong rebound, with exports and imports both up significantly.

Exports rose 15.9 percent year on year in January, up from 0.6 percent in December, while imports increased 25.2 percent, up from 10.8 percent, customs data showed Friday.

Exports to the European Union, China's biggest trade partner, climbed 13.6 percent year on year in January.

In the same period, exports to the United States, China's second-biggest trade partner, rose 17.2 percent, and those to emerging economies also jumped.

The ministry will continue to implement pro-trade policies and strengthen trade cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road to boost foreign trade, Wang said.
COTONOU, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Benin's government plans to develop a legislation to protect forests under serious threats of destruction in the country.

A source close to the ministry in charge of quality of life and sustainable development, who has requested anonymity, on Tuesday revealed this to Xinhua here in the capital Cotonou.

The source believes that the envisaged legislation will enable the absolute prohibition of logging in forests and over the entire country as well as of timber exportation.

In April last year, Benin suspended lumber exportation and permits for forest products exportation.

The West African country loses over 70,000 hectares (ha) of forest per year out of 2.65 million ha of existing forest vegetation, according to the latest report from the directorate of forests and natural resources in Benin.

The main causes are identified as bush fires, extension of cultivated areas, logging for timber products, firewood or charcoal.

The report summed up the consequences of deforestation in the lost of the bio-diversity and the degradation of exposed lands that will see a decreasing agricultural productivity.
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) --Tanzanian conservation authorities said on Tuesday plans were afoot to establish a geo-park, making the east African country the first south of the Sahara to establish a geo-park.

A geo-park is a unified area that advances the protection and use of geological heritage in a sustainable way, and promotes the economic well-being of the people who live in the park.

Andrew Lowassa, a cultural heritage officer with the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) said to be known as the Lengai-Ngorongoro geo-park, the project will run through Karatu, Monduli, Ngorongoro and Longido districts in Arusha region enhancing the country's tourism industry.

Lowassa said it was only a matter of time before the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) endorsed the country as the latest geo-park in the world.

He said in January this year Tanzania sent to UNESCO a nomination dossier for considering Tanzania to join the revered league of geo-parks in the world.

Once UNECSO endorsed Tanzania as the latest geo park, the country will become the latest geo-park, said Lowassa.

Lowassa singled out the attractions found in the four districts as the major highlights of the envisioned geo-park.

Lowassa said the NCAA will be working with UNESCO to ensure that the world heritage status was achieved by the country through attractions found in the four districts.

At present, there are 119 UNESCO global geo-parks in 33 countries with Morocco being the only country in the northern part of the African continent to reach that status.
A view shows part of the Umayyad mosque as seen from Aleppo's ancient citadel, Syria January 31, 2017. Picture taken January 31, 2017. (Reuters/Xinhua)

DAMASCUS, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Syrian army captured the Hayan gas field in central province of Homs, following battles with the Islamic State (IS) militants, pro-government al-Watan online newspaper said Tuesday.

The capture of the gas field came automatically after the Syrian forces took the al-Muher area in the eastern countryside of Homs, where several oil and gas fields are located.

The IS seized Hayan and other fields in eastern Homs when they captured the ancient city of Palmyra in December of last year.

The condition of Hayan is still unknown as the IS announced last month that it had blown it up.

Earlier this month, the IS also said it detonated pipelines around Hayan.

With daily production of three million cubic meters of gas, Hayan field is the largest facility feeding electricity in central and southern Syria.

The facility's establishment cost the government over 280 million euros (about 297 million U.S. dollars).
VALLETTA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Nine Malian migrants are set to be released from detention and deported, Malta Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela announced on Tuesday.

The men have been held in detention for three months pending the arrival of official documents that would allow their deportation to Mali.

A protest against their continued arrest was scheduled to be held Tuesday.

Abela told a press conference the nine men were failed asylum seekers, part of a group of 33 migrants arrested in November pending their deportation to Mali.

The other migrants were released from arrest last year.

The minister said the deportations were part of a wider EU initiative to repatriate migrants from five African countries.

A constitutional case has been filed by a Maltese lawyer challenging the validity of the deportation of these men, who have lived in Malta for between two to eight years.
BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese atomic energy official said the country will fine tune its nuclear energy safety standards, develop its emergency response system and improve the management of spent fuel.

Wang Yiren, vice head of the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence, told Xinhua that during the 13th Five Year period (2016-2020), China will undertake a number of nuclear-related projects.

Research into the processing of spent fuel will be conducted, according to Wang, who is also deputy head of China Atomic Energy Authority.

In response to concerns over the safety of inland nuclear power projects, Wang said such worries are understandable, but assured that the projects would be secure.

As energy demands in inland regions have increased, the need for inland nuclear power projects has increased, he said.

Wang said the authorities have also organized expert discussions on the construction of nuclear power stations at sea, to support offshore oil and gas exploitation and the country's islands.

The official also pledged efforts to ensure the supply of uranium resources and nuclear fuel for nuclear energy development.
CAIRO, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian parliament approved on Tuesday a 9-minister cabinet reshuffle in economic and service sectors, including the merge of two ministries into one, the Egyptian state TV reported.

The reshuffle involves new chiefs for the ministries of agriculture, parliamentary affairs, supplies, local development, planning, education, higher education, transport and newly-merged investment and international relations.

Sahar Nasr who already leads the ministry of international relations is now in charge of the investment ministry as well, while Ali Moselhy, who has been in charge of the parliament's economic committee, is approved as the new supplies minister.

The other seven new ministers include Abdel-Moneim al-Banna as agriculture minister, Hala Younis as planning minister, Mohamed Hesham al-Sherif as local development minister, Omar al-Khattab Arafa as parliamentary affairs minister, Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar as higher education minister, Tarek Shawky as education minister and Hesham Arafat as transport minister.
BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Microsoft founder Bill Gates on Tuesday officially opened his WeChat public account by sharing a Chinese translation of the 2017 Annual Letter, written by himself and Melinda Gates.

Starting in 2009, Bill Gates has released the letter at the beginning of each year. This year, the letter highlighted progress in global health and development during the past 25 years.

This post had clocked up more than 30,000 reads and received over 1,700 likes within two hours of its release Tuesday evening.

In a 30-second video shared earlier on the account, followers of the official account were greeted by Gates in Chinese.

"Hello, welcome to my new WeChat public account," he said.

"This is my personal blog, where I will talk bout the people I meet, the books I am reading, and what I am learning," he continued in English.

"I hope you will join the conversation," he added.

As China takes an increasing leadership role in health, development and global affairs, according to a media statement released by the account Tuesday, Gates will use the WeChat public account to discuss positive examples of international collaboration in areas of health, energy and philanthropy.

The public account will accept questions from Chinese about the Annual Letter and the new account by the end of February. Gates will select two to three to answer in later posts.

In 1975, Gates and Paul Allen co-founded Microsoft, which became the world's largest PC software company. Over the years, successful stories of entrepreneurship have gained him popularity in China.

Gates opened a Weibo account six years ago.

Some influential international figures, such as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Apple CEO Tim Cook and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde, have accounts on China's microblog Sina Weibo. They regularly post updates on their work and lives, and extend seasonal greetings to Chinese netizens.

Renowned British scientist Stephen Hawking opened his Weibo account last April. He has over 4.2 million followers.
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian police said Tuesday the man from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) who had died Monday at a Kuala Lumpur airport was holding a passport under the name Kim Chol.

Khalid Abu Bakar, chief of the Malaysian police, said 46-year-old Kim, who was born in Pyongyang, sought medical assistance at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 Customer Service Counter before he died enroute to a hospital.

According to the police, investigation is in progress and a post-mortem examination request has been made to ascertain the cause of death.

While police only identify the man by citing his travel documents, South Korean news media have reported the man was Kim Jong Nam, the elder half-brother of DPRK's top leader Kim Jong un.
SHENZHEN, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- A netizen who bragged on China's social media site Weibo that she had dined out on pangolin, an endangered species, is the subject of an investigation by police in Guangdong Province, south China, authorities said Tuesday.

Weibo user "Zhanfangdeduoduo" boasted of her penchant for "delicacies" including pangolin, snake, swan and owl in posts from 2011 and 2012.

Screenshots of the posts were shared by a user who appears to be an employee of the Orient Science and Technology College of Hunan Agricultural University, on Feb. 12.

The screenshots quickly drew attention online and they were deleted by the suspect soon after.

Forest police in Shenzhen city on Monday identified the user by her surname Lin and confirmed that they had taken her in for questioning.

It has been alleged that in another, unrelated, post that went viral on Sina Weibo earlier this month, Guangxi officials allegedly invited investors from Hong Kong for a pangolin reception meal.

The case is still under investigation but has fanned public concerns over the trafficking and trade of pangolins in China.

The pangolin is under second-class state protection in China. It is often smuggled into China because their meat is considered a delicacy and their scales are believed to have medicinal qualities.

The sentence for those who catch, kill, buy or sell state protected animals could be up to 10 years in prison plus fines.
PRETORIA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- A survey released by Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) on Tuesday show that many people are living in fear of crime in the country.

The Victims of Crime Survey was released by Statistician general, Dr. Pali Lehohla in Pretoria at a press briefing. He said many people living in the country feel that violent crimes are increasing.

The report shows that 43.3 percent of Indian and Asian headed households are afraid to walk in the park alone or go to open spaces. About 30.4 percent African and Black headed families and 46 percent of white headed households also fear to do the same.

"Despite the improvement over the last five years, South Africans feel that violent and property crimes are increasing to the extent that the majority of households do not feel safe enough to walk alone in parks or to allow their children to play freely in their neighborhoods. One in five households do not allow their children to play on their own in the area they live," Lehohla said.

About 90 percent of households believe young girls are vulnerable to human trafficking. According to the survey, people have lost faith in the police with the level of satisfaction having declined from 64.2 percent in 2011 to 58.8 percent in 2015/2016.

Many believe the police do nothing when called upon to assist. It also showed that the police have declined in visibility in the last five years.

"This is an indictment, that people have lost hope in what police could do about crime. This fear affects production in the country," he said.

Over 41.1 percent of people in South Africa believe that crime has increased.

This is despite that South African households experienced a decline in housebreaking and home robberies from 931,000 incidents in 2010 to 807,000 in 2015/16. Theft also declined by 2 percent last year, according to the Crime Statistics of 2016.
TOKYO, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Japan's education ministry released on Tuesday a draft of new curriculum guidelines which require elementary and junior high schools to teach in classes that China's Diaoyu islands as well as a group of disputed islands currently under control of Republic of Korea, are "inherent" territory of Japan.

While asserting Japan's sovereignty over the two disputed island groups, the teachers will not be required to tell the students about Japan's neighbors' claims over the islands "in parallel" with Japan's claims, according to the education ministry.

It is the first time that the Japanese ministry decided to make such requirements in the guidelines that stipulate what must be done by schools.

The guidelines will be formally published next month and fully implemented for elementary and junior high schools from fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2021, respectively.

Curriculum guidelines for elementary, junior high and senior high schools are revised roughly every 10 years, according to local reports.

The release of the draft guidelines came after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump affirmed in Washington D.C. that Article 5 of the U.S.-Japan security treaty covered the Diaoyu islands.

China on Monday expressed grave concern at and firm opposition to the statements concerning the Diaoyu islands made by Japan and the U.S..

"We firmly oppose that Japan asked for the endorsement of the United States on its illegal territorial claim in the name of the U.S.-Japan security treaty," China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a daily press briefing.

"Diaoyu island and its affiliated islets are China's inherent territory. No matter what anyone says or does, the fact that the Diaoyu islands belong to China cannot be changed," Geng said.

"China will never waver in its determination and will safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity," he added.
PLEVEN, Bulgaria, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian wine production sector is stable and wants to increase its exports to China, Minister of Agriculture and Food Hristo Bozukov told reporters here on Tuesday.

After a period of stagnation, things have been stabilized thanks to European aid and subsidies, Bozukov said during the celebration of the feast of the wine growers, which was held at the vineyards of the Institute of Viticulture and Enology.

Areas of new vineyards and the production of wine increased, the minister said.

Meanwhile, Bulgarian wine was competitive in global market thanks to its quality and relatively low cost, Bozukov said.

Bozukov told Xinhua that Bulgaria exported to China more than five million liters of wine in 2016. "We hope that the export to China will increase," he said.

Statistics from his ministry showed that 38,712 hectares of vineyards were harvested in the country, production of grapes reached 261,820 tons, and the production of wine has amounted to 1.3 million hectoliters.

Wine production is a traditional occupation for people in the Bulgarian lands since the time of the Thracians.
TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday condemned a recent deadly terrorist attack in Pakistan's city of Lahore, Press TV reported.

"Through such inhuman and brutal measures, terrorist groups seek to target the determination of regional nations in fighting terrorism," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying.

Qasemi expressed sympathy with the Pakistani government, people and families of the victims over the terrorist attack, saying that the Islamic republic would always stand by Pakistan in their battle against terrorism.

A suicide attack targeted protestors in capital city Lahore of Pakistan's east Punjab Province Monday, leaving 14 people killed and 60 others injured.
BRUSSELS, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- A passenger train and a cargo train collided on Tuesday morning in southern Luxembourg, leaving one person dead and two others injured, Luxembourg police said.

The head-on collision between the trains occurred between Bettembourg yard and Zoufftgen in southern Luxembourg, they added.

According to local authorities, the passenger train "went through a stop signal", causing the death of its driver and injuring an employee of Luxembourg train company CFL in charge of controlling the passengers' tickets as well as the driver of the cargo train.

"The cargo train's driver managed to run at the rear of the vehicle, and thanks to this, his life in not in danger," said Luxembourg's Transport Minister Francois Bausch at a press conference.

The two persons injured were sent to hospital. The driver is severely injured and the employee is a state of shock and slightly injured, said the local police.

About 100 rescue workers are at the scene with psychological workers. Services on the line are suspended for 48 hours while rail replacement bus services have been put in place.

The Luxembourg train company CFL asked travelers to postpone their trip or to find another way of transportation.
NAIROBI, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Three UN human rights experts on Tuesday called on Kenya to cease its systematic crackdown on civil society groups, which has intensified in the lead-up to national elections scheduled in August.

The UN Special Rapporteurs on freedoms of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai; on freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye; and on the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst said in a joint statement that they were extremely alarmed at the increasing number of attacks on civil society as the elections draw closer.

"It appears that there is a systematic and deliberate pattern to crack down on civil society groups which challenge governmental policies, educate voters, investigate human rights abuses and uncover corruption," the UN human rights experts said.

"These issues are extremely important in a democracy, and attempting to shut down the debate taking place in the civic space threatens to irreparably taint the legitimacy of the upcoming elections," they added.

The call came just a month after the Kenyan Interior Ministry called for the closure of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) deemed to be "not properly licensed".

A government circular alleged the groups had been involved in "nefarious activities" and claimed they posed a serious threat to national security including money laundering, diversion of donor aid and terrorism financing.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) -- the leading human rights NGO in the country - was also threatened with investigation, amid allegations of mismanagement and other offences.

Officials have also called for the KHRC's financial assets to be frozen. The experts said the authorities should not have discretion to arbitrarily shut down associations, to decide which ones can register, or to interfere in their day to day operations.

"The right to freedom of association is a fundamental right, and like all fundamental rights, its exercise cannot be predicated upon government permission," the experts said.

Several high-level officials have publicly condemned foreign interference with the electoral process, especially through NGOs working in the field of civic education.

The experts also highlighted as an obstacle the government's failure to implement the country's Public Benefit Organization (PBO) Act, which was signed on January 14, 2013, and has not been gazetted. The legislation aims to provide a better enabling environment for NGOs.

"It is astonishing that four years after its passage, the PBO Act has yet to be operationalized, despite a court order directing the government to do so," the experts said.

The experts urged the Kenyan government to gazette the law immediately and more generally, to improve the environment for civil society ahead of the elections.

"Elections are a time when governments should give people more space -- not less -- to organize, voice their concerns and express their collective will. We call on the government to expand this space, not to contract it," said the experts.
LUSAKA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- A French firm has been awarded a contract to start rehabilitation works at a dam owned by Zambia and Zimbabwe, a senior Zambian government official said on Tuesday.

Rehabilitation works of the Kariba Dam, situated south of Zambia and bordering Zimbabwe, will commence next month after the two governments managed to raise 294 million U.S. dollars required.

Minister of Finance Felix Mutati said Razel-Bec has been awarded the contract to start rehabilitation works at the dam.

The Zambian minister, during a signing ceremony held at the dam in Siavonga district, urged the contractor to expeditiously implement the works and offer jobs to local people.

The Zambian minister further assured that the dam will not collapse and that all 3 million people downstream were safe, according to state broadcaster, the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation.

The rehabilitation of the dam is being financed by the European Union (EU), the World Bank, the Swedish government and the African Development Bank (AfDB) while the two governments have also contributed counterpart funding.

EU Ambassador to Zambia Allessandro Mariani said the rehabilitation project will give the dam walls a new lease of life while World Bank Country Representative Ina Ruthenburg said the dam was a symbol of close collaboration between the two countries.

Rehabilitation of the plunge pool will commence next month while works on the spillway gates are expected to start in 2018 and the whole project will be completed by December 2020.

Plans to rehabilitate the dam started in 2014 after experts advised that it should be repaired after cracks emerged on its walls.

Experts had warned that Africa's largest man-made lake, which measures 226 kilometers long and in some places 40 kilometers wide, would collapse if nothing was done to repair it.

Built between 1956 and 1959, the dam provides more than 50 percent of the two country's electricity.
TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Iraq have signed an agreement to design and build industrial townships in some Iraqi provinces, semi-official Fars news agency reported on Tuesday.

"Industrial townships will provide the opportunity for the Iraqi investors to invest in these regions," Iranian Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh said during a meeting with his Iraqi counterpart Mohammad Shiya al-Sudani in Baghdad on Monday.

There are a total of 750 industrial townships in Iran where over 40,000 industrial and producing units are active, Nematzadeh said, adding that "We will build several sample industrial townships in Iraq."

Iran is also ready to invest in industrial and technological sectors in Iraq and to supply manufacturing machinery to its neighbor, he said.

For his part, the Iraqi minister said that construction of industrial townships is among priorities of the Iraqi industry and mining ministry.

"Given Iran's experiences in building in construction of such townships, Iraqi is willing to cooperate with Iran in this field," al-Sudani added.
JERUSALEM, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Israel's Shin Bet security service confirmed on Tuesday that the staff of Israel's embassy to Cairo has been recalled over security concerns.

Local media reported that Ambassador David Govrin had been working out of Jerusalem over the past few weeks and he is not expected to return to Egypt soon.

"Due to security considerations, the return of the foreign ministry's embassy team to Cairo has been curbed," the Shin Bet said in a statement.
ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Flower market flourished in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa as the east African country celebrated Valentine's Day with great warmth on Tuesday.

Flower stores, gift shops, hotels, and restaurants were busy treating couples with special treatment in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa in connection to the Valentine's Day, a day celebrated every year on February 14 to cherish love and long-term relationships.

Majority of local media also gave a special coverage for the day. Romantic songs and programs that celebrate love and long-term relationships were part of the media coverage for the Valentine's Day on Tuesday.

Giving flower to the loved ones is one way of celebrating the Valentine's Day that is enjoyed by majority Ethiopians in the capital.

Makeda Abebe, flower vendor in Addis Ababa, said that flower market is at its boom every February 14.

"Most of them are buying flowers to express a unique and romantic message to let their lovers know how much they mean to them," she said.

"Valentine's Day, like in any other western world, can be used in Ethiopia to take advantage of the shared culture and build a business that will support the country and its people," she said.

"It's amazing that I have one full day to celebrate my love," said a young man who was buying a flower as a present to his fiancee.

Many foreigners have also enjoyed the day in Ethiopia. A Chinese man, while buying flowers in the streets of Addis Ababa, said celebrating Valentine's Day in Ethiopia's is "a new experience".
A girl tramples on the grapes to show the process of making wine during a traditional ceremony celebrating the harvest of grapes in the southeast village of Nedialsko, Bulgaria, Oct. 2, 2011. (Xinhua/Wang Meng)

PLEVEN, Bulgaria, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian wine production sector is stable and wants to increase its exports to China, Minister of Agriculture and Food Hristo Bozukov told reporters here on Tuesday.

After a period of stagnation, things have been stabilized thanks to European aid and subsidies, Bozukov said during the celebration of the feast of the wine growers, which was held at the vineyards of the Institute of Viticulture and Enology.

Areas of new vineyards and the production of wine increased, the minister said.

Meanwhile, Bulgarian wine was competitive in global market thanks to its quality and relatively low cost, Bozukov said.

Bozukov told Xinhua that Bulgaria exported to China more than five million liters of wine in 2016. "We hope that the export to China will increase," he said.

Statistics from his ministry showed that 38,712 hectares of vineyards were harvested in the country, production of grapes reached 261,820 tons, and the production of wine has amounted to 1.3 million hectoliters.

Wine production is a traditional occupation for people in the Bulgarian lands since the time of the Thracians.
TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Luxembourg signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to boost trade relations and to support investments in both countries, semi-official Fars news agency reported on Tuesday.

"Iran's general policy is to improve ties with European countries, Luxembourg in particular," Iranian Economy Minister Ali Tayyebnia said in a meeting with the visiting Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn.

"The MoU is an indication of the two countries' good will and interest to promote economic relations," Tayyebnia was quoted as saying.

The recent visit by the governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) to Luxembourg would also help further boost of banking relations between the two countries, he added.

Asselborn underlined his country's enthusiasm for increasing cooperation with Iran in economic and banking fields.

He also stressed his country's interest in signing an agreement with Iran on the ease of taxation and to start negotiations to cooperate in air transportation.

Asselborn arrived in Iran's capital Tehran on Monday seeking to explore new opportunities in the bilateral relations with the Islamci republic.
File photo taken on March 12, 2015 shows an old woman is seen outside her mud-house in drought-hit Baringo, northwest Kenya. (Xinhua)

NAIROBI, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned on Tuesday that severe drought is pushing up food prices sharply in East Africa.

According to the FAO's latest Food Price Monitoring and Analysis Bulleting (FPMA), soaring cost of basic staples is an extra challenge for pastoralists as livestock prices fall.

"Drought throughout East Africa has sharply curbed harvests and pushed the prices of cereals and other staple foods to unusually high levels, posing a heavy burden to households and special risks for pastoralists in the region," the FAO said.

The UN agency said insufficient rainfall in most areas of the sub-region has put enormous strain on livestock and their keepers.

It said poor livestock body conditions due to pasture and water shortages and forcible culls mean animals command lower prices, leaving pastoralists with even less income to purchase basic foodstuffs.

Local prices of maize, sorghum and other cereals are near or at record levels in swathes of Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda and the Tanzania, according to the report.

Poor rainfall in recent months has dented farm output in the sub-region, where food stocks were already depleted by the strong El Nino phenomenon that ended only last year

According to the FAO, Somalia's maize and sorghum harvests are estimated to be 75 percent down from their usual level, and some 6.2 million people, more than half of the country's total population, now face acute food insecurity with the majority of those most affected living in rural areas.

"In Kenya, where eastern and coastal lowlands as well as some western areas of the Rift Valley all suffered below-average rainfall, maize prices are up by around 30 percent, with the increase somewhat contained somewhat thanks to sustained imports from Uganda," the FAO said.

The report said beans now cost 40 percent more in Kenya than a year earlier, while in Uganda, maize prices are now up to 75 percent higher than a year earlier.

Prices of maize increased by 23 percent in January in Mogadishu, capital of Somalia, and in key market towns of central and southern Somalia, coarse grain prices in January have doubled from a year earlier.

In South Sudan, food prices are now two to four times above their levels a year earlier, exacerbated by ongoing insecurity and the significant depreciation of the local currency.

"With an earlier than usual depletion of household stocks during the coming lean season and preliminary weather forecasts raising concerns for the performance of the next rainy season, prices are likely to further escalate in the coming months," it said.

The report said shortages of pasture and water caused livestock deaths and reduced their body mass, prompting herders to sell animals while they can, which is also occurring in drought-wracked southern Ethiopia.

"This also pushes up the prices of milk, which is, for instance, up 40 percent on the year in Somalia's Gedo region," it said.
KARIBA, ZIMBABWE, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The world's largest man-made dam shared by Zimbabwe and Zambia is set for rehabilitation to secure long-term reliability of power generation after the two governments on Tuesday signed a deal with a French contractor to carry out the work.

The Kariba Dam rehabilitation project, set to start in May this year, involves re-shaping of the Kariba Dam plunge pool to address safety deficiencies as well as refurbishment of six flood gates to enhance operational control of reservoir releases.

The 300 million U.S. dollars project is jointly funded by the World Bank, European Union, the African Development Bank, Swedish government and the Zambezi River Authority, a bi-national organization managing the dam on behalf of the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The rehabilitation project, to be done by Razel-Bec, will be done in phases with rehabilitation of flood gates expected to be completed in about eight years while the plunge pool is earmarked for completion in 2020.

Several senior government officials from the two governments witnessed the signing ceremony at Kariba Dam wall where they thanked the cooperating partners for the support which they said will ensure continued power generation by the two countries.

"My expectation is that the project will progress smoothly," said Zimbabwean Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa.

He said the project would avert a potential risk of dam wall failure as well as guarantee the safety of people living downstream the Zambezi River.

ZRA chief executive Munyaradzi Munodawafa said dam wall failure had potential to affect 3 million people in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.

"No wonder why it's a regional issue. Failure of this dam wall has catastrophic consequences," he said.

Zambian Finance Minister Felix Mutati said the signing ceremony marked the start of the implementation stage of the project after four years of technical preparation.

"The rehabilitation project is the first major landmark since the dam was commissioned in 1960. It's a landmark that has strengthened the bond of Zimbabwe and Zambia," he said.

Constructed across the Zambezi River which divides Zimbabwe and Zambia between 1956 and 1959 and commissioned in 1960, Kariba Dam is the largest man-made reservoir in the world.

The dam is a double curvature concrete arch dam, 128m high and with a crest length of 617m.

It has capacity to hold 181 billion cubic meters of water, of which 61 billion cubic meters is usable storage for power generation.

The two countries equally share the water resource for power generation.

The dam supplies water to two underground hydropower stations with a total capacity of 1,830MW generating more than 10,035 GWh of electricity annually.

The North Bank Power Station is operated by ZESCO in Zambia and has an installed capacity of 1,080 MW while the South Bank Power Station is operated by Zimbabwe Power Company and currently has an installed capacity of 750 MW, with projects underway to increase this to 1,050 MW.

Chinese firm Sino Hydro is undertaking a 300MW expansion project at a cost of 300 million dollars on the Zimbabwean power plant after earlier embarking on a 360MW expansion project on the Zambian side.

Zimbabwe expects the first unit of the expansion project to come on stream by end of year.
WINDHOEK, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's President Hage Geingob has urged parliamentarians to be orderly and demonstrate honesty and commitment in 2017.

Speaking during the official opening of the fifth session of the sixth parliament Tuesday in Windhoek, Geingob called on the parliamentarians to rededicate themselves to maintaining a quorum in order to uphold the electorate's interests.

"The tabling, and subsequent passing of Bills during the upcoming year will depend on our ability and commitment towards remaining united and holding hands, across all political affiliations and across the three Organs of State; the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary," he said.

Geingob said the parliamentarians must be cognizant of the reality facing the country amid the current economic headwinds, saying that their work this year was cut out for them.

"The task may be daunting, but Namibia is not called the Land of the Brave for nothing. We have been elected to deliver on a promise of a better future and it is a promise we cannot rescind no matter what challenges we face," he said.

Geingob described the presence of Namibia's former presidents Sam Nujoma and Hifikepunye Pohamba at the opening as a unique legacy.

"It is a unique situation anywhere in the world to see a sitting President and former Presidents regularly attending events together," he said, adding that when they travelled to Havana, Cuba, last year to attend the memorial of Fidel Castro many leaders and dignitaries from other countries remarked at the uniqueness of the unity between the three.

"It is a Namibian legacy; a legacy born in the blood, sweat and tears of struggle and a legacy which will culminate in the realization of a peaceful, united and prosperous Namibia. Let us therefore value it, appreciate it, cherish it and protect it," he said.
STRASBOURG, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Addressing the European Parliament meeting for its plenary on Tuesday, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen made a strong appeal for Europe at a time when the continent faces ongoing external and internal divisions.

"The European idea is great. It is unique. It is worth all the effort," said the president in his first official foreign trip, arguing that the challenges facing the European Union (EU) could only be tackled together.

Van der Bellen's speech came as the Union continued to struggle with the rise of populism and anti-European sentiment. The Brexit vote in June 2016 was a shock to European unity. With French far-right leader Marine Le Pen running for president of France in May on the promise of a "Frexit" platform, the European project has never seemed more at risk.

"In Europe it has unfortunately become a trend to say that we need to decide between love of our homeland and love of Europe, the need to help the people of our homeland and the need to help others," Van der Bellen lamented. "I believe this leads us astray."

"We are perfectly able to love our own homeland and also the European idea," he insisted.

The Austrian president himself is no stranger to populist politics, having only narrowly beaten far-right candidate Norbert Hofer (Freedom Party of Austria) in May 2016, and being forced into a re-run the election in December after the first vote was annulled following challenges to results.

Van der Bellen noted that it was important that his first speech outside of Austria be addressed to the European Parliament in a show of his belief in the Union, and that he was glad the signal had been received.

Originally a member of the Greens, the Austrian president encouraged strong pro-European politics: "It is possible to win elections while being clearly in favor of the EU."

He also warned against extremist politics: "No single problem will be solved by violating people's dignity, rejecting everything that is different, restricting fundamental rights, constructing new walls and nationalism. We will only create new problems."

The value of the European project is "European peace" that has followed the establishment of the European Union. "On the basis of this peace, we can accomplish a prosperity and growth that countries acting on their own are not capable of," he said.

Alexander Van der Bellen was born in Vienna in 1944, the son of refugees who had fled the Soviet Union. Before entering national politics, he was a professor of economics at the University of Vienna. He served as a member of the Austrian parliament from 1994 to 2012, and was leader of the Greens from 1997 to 2008.
KIEV, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman on Tuesday has urged the activists to release the railway line to the eastern region of Donbas, which was blocked in a move to stop the trade between Kiev and pro-independence insurgents.

"This is unacceptable. It is necessary to differentiate the fight against illegal trade and the fight against the Ukrainian people," Groysman told the cabinet meeting.

The blockade of the railway line has already led to the anthracite coal shortages in Ukraine, Groysman said, adding that the further freeze of coal supplies may cause an energy crisis in the East European country.

Besides, the blockade will affect the energy-intensive metallurgical sector, which generates more than 20 percent of the country's exports revenues and provides about 300,000 jobs for Ukrainians, the Premier stressed.

On late January, a group of nationalist activists has blocked the movements of trains, transporting coal and other raw products from the rebel-held area to the government-controlled territory in eastern Ukraine.

The protesters claimed that the trade between Kiev and insurgents is illegal at the time, when the two sides are involved in the military conflict in eastern regions.

After the confrontation started in April 2014, Kiev has banned trade with the rebel-controlled areas in Donbas, except for goods that are labeled as strategic.
GENEVA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- A total of 1,588 asylum requests were made in Switzerland last month, 178 fewer than in December 2016, the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration said Tuesday.

Representing a 10 percent drop, the agency reported the number of asylum requests made in January this year is also 56 percent lower than the number of applications made over the same period in 2016.

This is mainly due to the near total closure of Balkan migration routes in March last year, it added.

According to statistics, most asylum seekers looking for refuge on Swiss soil last month hailed from Eritrea (335 requests), Syria (113) and Guinea (120).

A further 99 Afghan nationals also sought asylum in the confederation.

A total of 533 people were granted asylum in the country last month, a further 674 were given temporary admission while 568 people left the country or were repatriated.

According to official figures, over 27,200 refugees sought asylum in Switzerland over the course of last year.
LONDON, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) ambassador to Britain was on Tuesday summoned to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office following the nation's recent ballistic missile launch, the foreign office announced.

"The UK fully supports the UN Security Council's strong condemnation" of DPRK's recent ballistic missile launch, a foreign office statement quoted a spokeswoman as saying.

The statement urged DPRK "to stop its provocative actions, which threaten international peace and security, and instead re-engage with the international community, and take credible, concrete steps to prioritise the well-being of its own people instead of the nuclear and ballistic missile programmes."

"The Ambassador was asked to convey this message to Pyongyang in the strongest possible terms," the spokeswoman said.

The statement followed the UN Security Council's unanimous condemnation of the DPRK's most recent launches of ballistic missiles on Sunday and in October last year.

DPRK on Monday said it successfully test-fired a surface-to-surface medium-and long-range ballistic missile Pukguksong-2, according to the state news agency KCNA.

Under relevant UN resolutions, the DPRK is barred from staging ballistic missile launches or nuclear weapons tests.
UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least 32 UN personnel were killed in deliberate attacks in 2016, mostly peacekeepers, the Standing Committee for the Security and Independence of the International Civil Service of the UN Staff Union announced Tuesday.

Farhan Haq, the deputy UN spokesman, told the daily news briefing that the union said that those who were killed include two security guards, one civilian staff member and one contractor.

For the third year in a row, in 2016, the greatest loss of life was recorded in Mali, where at least 23 personnel were killed.

In the past five years, almost 240 United Nations personnel have died in deliberate attacks.
BEIRUT, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri stressed on Tuesday that the country's decision is in the hands of the Lebanese state and not in the hands of individuals, leaders or regional or international powers.

Hariri made the remarks in a speech during the commemoration of his late father, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who was assassinated 12 years ago in a suicide bombing.

He asserted that "the Lebanese, us in the forefront, will not allow Lebanon to be handed over to foreign axes," adding that the country does not seek rivalry, and will not bear being an arena for conflicts of others.

Lebanon entered a phase of more than two and half years of presidential vacuum following the end of the 6-year term of former president Michel Suleiman in May 2014.

The sharp political division in the country at the time between the Western-backed March 14 camp and the Iranian-Syrian backed March 8 camp hindered the presidential elections due to the lack of quorum during the 42 sessions it held to elect a new president.

The vacuum was ended by election of former army commander General Michel Aoun as the 13th president of Lebanon.

Hariri, leader of the March 14 camp, made an unexpected initiative back then, which endorsed the nomination of Aoun, a leader of the March 8 camp.

"We made initiatives when initiatives were needed to rescue Lebanon and we have the courage to confront when confrontation is needed in order to defend the state," Hariri said.

He said Lebanon is secured legally and constitutionally, and the political efforts "should concentrate on preventing any attempt to remove it from this scope."

He said that "no authority can be higher than the authority of the State.

However, Hariri asserted that he would not compromise on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) that is prosecuting five members of Hezbollah in absentia for their presumed role in the assassination of his father.

He vowed to stand ground over the STL, as well as Lebanon's stance on the Assad regime, illegal arms and Hezbollah's involvement in Syria.

The country has not organized parliamentary elections since 2009 and the legislature has instead twice extended its own mandate. The last polls were held under an amended version of the 1960 electoral law and the next vote is scheduled for May.
STRASBOURG, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The sovereign debt crisis that has rocked Greece since late 2009 came back onto the European agenda with a Tuesday debate at the European Parliament here.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Union (EU) auditors will be looking to see how promised economic reforms have been implemented in exchange for rescue funds, the last of which in August 2015, was Greece's third financial bailout since 2010. Members of European Parliament, however, called for more urgent action to improve the situation.

European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis argued that Greece was implementing significant structural changes across all areas of the economy and had made major fiscal efforts. "There is no room for complacency," he added, before stating that a staff-level agreement between Greece and its creditors should be "within reach."

Responding to the vice president, MEP (member of the European Parliament) Udo Bullmann (Socialists & Democrats group, Germany), asked, "If we are on the right path, why do we hear voices from member states who are worried about Greece leaving?"

Bullman also underlined the increased gravity of the situation in Greece with the heavy presence of refugees since the beginning of the European migrant crisis.

MEP Manolis Kefalogiannis (European People's Party group, Greece) assigned the responsibility for much of the problems facing the country today to the current Greek government: "It is important that our country emerge finally from the crisis and that it orientate itself towards Europe. What we need is to get investment going again."

"Young people are out of a job, SMEs have been closing down, and there have been savage cuts to pensions too," lamented Notis Marias (European Conservatives and Reformers group, Greece). "The implementation of these measures has turned Greece into a huge cemetery."

Dimitris Papadimoulis (European United Left/Nordic Green Left, Greece) argued: "Eurostat figures show that Greece is returning to growth and has fulfilled objectives. We have a primary surplus which is four times bigger than that agreed and for 2016, despite the IMF's forecasts, we have growth."

Doubt related to the role of the IMF within the eurozone was also expressed by Sylvie Goulard (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, France): "Following years of debate, we are still in crisis management mode, with a huge grey cloud above our heads."

Non-aligned Greek member Georgios Epitideios demanded: "How can this Union have a future when its leadership collaborates with IMF loan sharks to impose on Greece's proud people new intolerable measures tantamount to genocide?"

Sven Giegold (Greens/European Free Alliance, Germany) thought that Greece could overcome its difficulties, though he noted: "Policies [in Greece] are being carried out which actually have a background in the politics of other member states."

The IMF and EU member states have disagreed on the policies the Greek government should implement for the country to emerge from its economic slump and also on whether it is in need of debt relief, something that the IMF has been promoting.

The eurozone's finance ministers will meet in Brussels on Feb. 20 to discuss the situation.

Greece currently has enough money to fund itself until July, when the country has to make a 7 billion euros (7.4 billion U.S. dollars) debt repayment to creditors.

Meanwhile, the financial crisis has taken its toll on the Mediterranean country and the people living there. Greece's government debt increased from 109.4 percent of gross domestic product in 2008 to 179.7 percent in 2014 and currently stands at 177.4 percent, according to Eurostat.

The country's unemployment rate has also remained high: from nearly 8 percent in 2008 to 27.5 percent in 2013 before slightly dropping to 24.9 percent in 2015.
SANTIAGO, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Chilean Minister of Foreign Affairs, Heraldo Munoz, denied Tuesday that his country would lead regional opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump's protectionist policies.

"We are not seeking to lead. We will only work with all our partners from Latin America and other regions who share the same perspective. This means we will take a specific role, but simply do what we feel is best for the national interest," Munoz told a press conference.

However, the minister was clear that Chile remains in favor of free trade and integration.

"This has given very good results. It has created prosperity, it has generated jobs, it has allowed us to lower poverty, tackle inequality...and Chile continues to reject protectionist moves," he outlined.

Trump recently pulled his country out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, made up of the U.S., Chile and 10 other countries. Chile said that it disagreed with Washington's decision but declared the deal was dead.

Munoz announced that Chile's President Michelle Bachelet and Argentina's President Mauricio Macri had agreed to hold a meeting of foreign and trade minister from the Pacific Alliance and Mercosur.

"This is an important sign at a time when international uncertainty...and protectionist and isolationist signs are rising around the world," he said.

"At such times, we need to be clear and firm that we will continue to follow openness and international economic integration. There is no other path. The path of protectionism sparked trade wars and recession in the past," he concluded.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during a press conference in Berlin, capital of Germany, on Dec. 20, 2016. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi)

BERLIN, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday pressed Tunisia's visiting Prime Minister Youssef Chahed to cooperate more effectively on deporting rejected asylum seekers.

The issue turned into a hot topic in Germany after delayed deportee Anis Amri killed 12 people and wounded some 50 others in a terror attack on Berlin's Christmas market on Dec. 19, 2016.

Merkel's government wants to voluntarily deport around 1,500 illegal Tunisian migrants. She also wants Tunisia to speed up repatriation procedures and set up refugee camps and in the North African country to curb the influx of migrants.

"This is where we must work faster," Merkel said.

She announced her plans to support voluntary returnees to Tunisia, offering educational opportunities and financial support for business start-ups. But she also emphasized that: "If you do not accept this voluntary return, we must say we must also do it involuntarily."

However, Chahed said the terrorist Amri came to Europe in 2011 and waited some five years to commit the attack, so how he got radicalized was the question.

In an interview with local newspaper Bild, Chahed rejected Merkel's proposal on building shelter camps in Tunisia, adding Merkel should "calmly discuss the feasibility."

On Sunday, hundreds of people surrounded the Tunisian parliament to protest against the possible return of the failed asylum seekers, fearing extremists might be among them.
KAMPALA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan military has sent a team of 100 officers to Equatorial Guinea to help build capacity and professionalization of the west African nation's army, a spokesperson said here on Tuesday.

Brig. Richard Karemire, Uganda's military spokesperson, told Xinhua by telephone that the Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF) training and mentoring team will help in training, equipping and building capacity in a bid for the country to have a professional army.

The group under the leadership of Lt. Col. Wycliff Keita will be in the west African country for one year under a bilateral agreement and a Pan Africanism cause.

"It's true we have sent our troops in line with section 40 of the UPDF and Pan African goals in helping, supporting and building capacity of each army," said Karemire.

Uganda has been helping in building the capacities, equipping and training of regional armies and police force.

The Ugandan military helped train and build capacity of the Somalia soldiers in its bid to help pacify and stabilize the volatile Horn of African country.

The Uganda Police Force is currently training over 100 police officers from Somalia and South Sudan at its training School in Kabalye in midwestern Uganda.
MEXICO CITY, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray on Tuesday called on Latin America and the Caribbean countries to champion "globality" and free trade.

Though Videgaray did not mention Mexico's neighbor to the north, it was clear he wanted the region to take up those objectives at a time when the United States has relinquished its traditional leading role and wanted "America First".

"Today, the region is faced with a great opportunity to rise again as a region of volition, opportunity and leadership in promoting peace and an open world, a society that encourages global integration, that is against barriers, that believes in globality, in freedom, including freedom of trade, and in the promotion of a sustainable world with equitable development for all," said Videgaray.

The minister spoke during an official ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of Tlatelolco Treaty, an agreement signed in Mexico City on Feb. 14, 1967 to ban nuclear weapons from Latin America.

Addressing delegations or representatives from at least 26 countries, which ratified the treaty, Videgaray also warned "the nuclear threat, as the geopolitical rearrangements continue to be visible and tangible today."

"That is why it now is the time to take the next step towards disarmament," he said.
BANJUL, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said here on Tuesday that he had confirmed from Gambian president Adama Barrow that the West Africa country expected to return to the Commonwealth.

Former president Yahya Jammeh withdrew his country from the Commonwealth in 2013, accusing the body of being a "neo-colonial institution".

"We have a great conversation with President Barrow who has a fantastic ideas taking this country forward," Boris said at a press conference in Banjul Tuesday.

"I am proud to report that President Barrow is going to take the Gambia back to the Commonwealth. I talked about that last night to the Secretary General of Commonwealth and she's determined to speed that up to get it done as soon as possible," Boris added.

The British Foreign Secretary arrived in Banjul Tuesday, marking the first-leg of his two-day visit in Africa that will take him to Ghana where he's scheduled to meet with new president of Ghana Nana Addo.

While in Gambia, he had a meeting with President Barrow, before he was taken on a tour of the UK-funded Medical Research Council.

"President Barrow has described that this is a new opportunity for the Gambia, this is a New Gambia. That's something we want to support," Boris stressed.
ANKARA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- A total of 834 people linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) have been detained over the last two days in anti-terror operations across Turkey, the Turkish Security Directorate said in a written statement on Tuesday.

The operations took place in 37 different provinces, including the capital Ankara, Adana, Mersin, Konya,and Antalya, the statement said.

At least 86 suspects were detained on Tuesday while other suspects were captured on Monday.

The nephew of Sirri Sakik, the mayor of the eastern province of Agri, was also arrested in Mus.

During the raids, two AK-47s, 11 pistols, 15 shotguns and 437 cartridges were seized.

According to the statement, the operations were carried out in response to PKK senior cadres' orders to militants to launch attacks in the so-called "spring offensive," marking the 18th anniversary of the capture of Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the terrorist group.

Abdullah Ocalan was captured on Feb. 15, 1999 in the Kenyan capital Nairobi and brought to Turkey for trial.

The group is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S., EU and Turkey, but its senior cadres have long managed to avoid capture by using the mountains in Turkey's southeast as cover as well as in areas of northern Iraq.
A file photo taken on May 25, 2009 shows the then French Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Jean-Pierre Lacroix speaks to the press at the UN headquarters in New York. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday announced that he intends to appoint Jean-Pierre Lacroix, a French diplomat, as under-secretary-general for peacekeeping operations for one year.

Lacroix, 56, will assume the position on April 1, 2017 after his predecessor Herve Ladsous steps down. Lacroix is currently director for the United Nations and International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, France.

Ladsous has been serving as UN peacekeeping chief for six years.

In a statement, Guterres also announced that UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman will stay at the post for another year until April 1, 2018.

Feltman, a U.S. diplomat, assumed his position in 2012.

The two posts of under-secretary-general are among the most important and high-ranking UN positions. They have long been held by France and the United States, the two Security Council permanent members.

In the statement, Guterres also announced the establishment of an internal review team to go through the UN peace and security strategy, functioning and architecture.

The team will submit recommendations by June 2017 in order to initiate a process of consultations with member states and take appropriate action to reform UN peace and security sector, according to the statement.

Under such circumstances, Guterres explained that senior officials working in the peace and security pillar should be maintained for another year for their experience and expertise. However, there is one exception for Ladsous who is unavailable for an extension of current mandate.
CWU: Pay pension sums for Telco, TSTT!

CWU head Joseph Rem, said 200 to 300 retirees were affected.

He accused RBC Trust Company of not making timely payments of pension orgdue increases to these sums.

We had a settlement for the 2011 to 2013 collective bargaining period.

Our pensions are pegged to our final salary and since August last year, based on the 2011 to 2013 collective agreement, RBC has not paid the adjusted pension for 200 to 300 retirees.

They also have to pay a retroactive payment.

This lump-sum payment should plug the shortfall in past payment of pension calculated at a lower salary than a workers final salary, upon which the true quantum should be paid. Remy said that against that background, the CWU has embarked on a series of protests demanding that RBC honour its commitment to those retirees. RBC, to us, is really disrespecting the citizens of TT. In the face of their refusal and their contempt towards retirees, they want to lay off 200- plus workers. They want to challenge the Registration, Recognition and Certification Board. And they came and raised their bank charges this week here. We are totally upset with RBC.

We are demanding that the Pension Fund Management Committee take steps to have RBC removed as trustee for our pension fund. He said for each of the TSTT and Telco Pension Funds, this committee is made up of representatives of both the union and each respective company. The Telco Pension Committee is chaired by an independent person, while the TSTT Pension Committee is chaired by TSTTs vice-president for industrial relations/human resources.

Remy said if each of 200 retirees is owed $36,000 to $50,000 in a lump sum, the full cost would be $800,000 to $1 million. Saying that actuaries have given clearance for the two pension funds to pay out these lump sums and to increase the monthly pension paid, Remy said RBC must now do so. While the bank is laying off workers, he said the hike in bank charges means it should instead be ensuring it has hired enough staff to process these pension payments.

Remy bemoaned that even as RBC staff had waited five years for the Bank, Insurance and General Workers Union to be approved as representatives by the Registration, Recognition and Certification Board, the bank management is now challenging this by filing a judicial review in the courts.

RBC told Newsday the 200 retirees would get their pension hike after February.

RBCs corporate communications senior manager, Nicole Duke-Westfield, said in a statement the bank was aware of the unions concerns over the timely payment of adjusted pensions.

She said RBC always tries to work with clients, in this case TSTT, to provide apt products, services and advice to suit their financial needs.

In the case of our trustee service, our clients would normally provide direction about payment amounts, and RBC uses this direction to issue cheques. This process is not affected by the number of RBC
CJ: Judge wrong to order CL disclosure

Chief Justice Ivor Archie and Justices of Appeal Peter Jamadar and Prakash Moosai ruled that the judge who is presiding over the case between the conglomerate and Proman Holdings, failed to demonstrate direct relevance of what he ordered, had on the case before him.

The three appellate judges also held that the judges ruling on the disclosure did not meet requirements of specific disclosure in accordance with the Civil Proceedings Rules and rules of the Supreme Court.

The judges were presiding over a procedural complaint brought by CL Financial and Clico against Proman and Process Energy, which purchased CLFs shares in Methanol Holdings (Trinidad) Limited in February 2009, days after government bailed out the conglomerate.

CLF is asking the court to reverse the sale of shares as it was not authorised by the State or by the government- appointed board of CLF.

At the appeal, attorneys Representing CLF and Clico argued that the main issues before the judge were the legality of the sale, whether it was in the best interest of the company and whether it was undervalued.

It is a question of law and other transactions wont assist the judge on the legality of the sale, submitted Senior Counsel Deborah Peake, who appears with attorney Fyard Hosein SC, for CLF and Clico.

Appearing for Proman Holdings and Process Energy was attorney Jonathan Walker.

Peake in her arguments against the judges disclosure order, recommended that Promans attorneys file a fresh application for disclosure as they too had conceded that the original order of the judge was too wide.
Magistrate reprimands and discharges woman for abandoning baby ten years ago

She had abandoned the boy in 2007 in a ward at the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) and has not seen him since.

Yesterday, a magistrate in San Fernando in freeing Hospedales- Charles of a charge of abandoning the child, told her that she must make every effort despite the predicament, to re-establish a connection with her son.

It is never too late to reconnect with your child, Senior Magistrate Gloria Jasmath presiding in the San Fernando Magistrates court, told the mother who was 24 years old when she was charged with the offence.

It was in November 2007 when it was alleged that Hospedales- Charles took Toby who was two years old, to SFGH where she placed him on a bed at Ward 13 and left.

A nurse reported the matter to the San Fernando Police Station when she discovered Toby on November 13.

H o s p e d - ales-Charles, of Enterprise Village, Chaguanas, was arrested and charged with child abandonment.

The charge alleged that she left her child, who was an infant, at the SFGH without the protection of an adult.

When she had appeared before a magistrate, no plea was taken and she was remanded into custody.

Hospedales-Charles was eventually granted bail after the police took a decision to proceed with the case summarily.

The case was called on several occasions before different magistrates in the San Fernando Magistrates court and on each, attorney Ainsley Lucky had announced that he was prepared to proceed with the case.

On one occasion, he told a magistrate that Hospedales- Charles wanted to plead guilty from the inception. Last week Monday, when she appeared before Jasmath, the woman pleaded guilty and Lucky made a stirring plea in mitigation for her, saying it had been her intention for the past ten years, to so plead.

Lucky said that Hospedales-Charles was a woman who had just turned 24 and she became a mother who was not fully equipped emotionally and physically, to take care for a child.

She has lived each day in regret since, he added, because the child was taken from her and given to the father.

Jasmath adjourned the hearing for yesterday for sentencing and when Hospedales- Charles re-appeared, she was in tears. The magistrate told her that keeping in mind that ten years had passed, and that her child had grown from two years to ten years without the mother ever seeing himthere would be no useful purpose in sending the mother to jail, she added. She reprimanded and discharged Hospedales- Charles and told her that she must make every effort to get to know her child who is, the court heard, living with his father.
Policeman arrested while on duty

He was relieved of his firearm by one of the arresting officers, Newsday was told.

He was later taken away by his colleagues to the Fraud Squad office in San Fernando where he remains in custody. A file is expected to be submitted today to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for directions on how to proceed.

Newsday learnt that the officer who has two years service, was wanted in connection with multiple counts of forgery including uttering false documents, obtaining credit via a valuable security (altering cheques and cashing it), larceny and money laundering.

At 9 am yesterday, police sources said, under the leadership of Ag Snr Supt Totaram Dookie who is the Head of Fraud Squad, a team of officers including Sgt Bachoo, Cpls Badree, Bassarath and WPC Adams went to the San Fernando Police Station and placed the surprised constable under arrest.

Following the arrest, two houses -- one in Ramnanan Street, Marabella and the other in Lower Hillside, San Fernando -- were searched and a number of household appliances seized. It is believed the items were purchased with money falsely obtained. The officer, Newsday was told, has been under investigation for the fraudulent acts allegedly committed over a period of time against an elderly man known to him.
Police family in court for assault

Acting Sgt Rameshwar Gopaul (who is a former court prosecutor), his son PC Anil Gopaul and daughter SRP Tia Gopaul, stood before Senior Magistrate Debra Quintyne who read out the charge that on June 11, the three assaulted David Rampersad.

The charge came after an investigation which spanned several months by officers of the TT Police Services Professional Standards Bureau.

After the matter was adjourned to April 10, Ag Sgt Gopaul and his daughter SRP Gopaul quickly left the courtroom while his son PC Gopaul remained inside the court for several hours
More cold case cops

Responding to a question in the House of Representatives on Monday, Dillon stated the unit is being strengthened with extra officers who have distinguished themselves so they can address outstanding investigations. Dillon also said attempts to strengthen law enforcements detection rate is also being pursued through the establishment of a DNA database. The minister said a DNA custodian recently came on board .

He also said the Police Service will be introducing additional technical software to aid in the management of homicide investigations. Earlier in the sitting, the Anti-Terrorism Amendment Bill 2017 was laid in the House. While the Order Paper showed it being listed in Dillons name, it was announced as being laid in the name of Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi .

The AG first spoke about the bill at a post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Anns on February 2 .
Security officer on murder charge

Morgan of Salazar Trace, appeared before Senior Magistrate Gail Gonzales in the First Court and was not called upon to plead as the charge was laid indictably. The magistrate read the charge which alleged that on February 6 at Naparima Mayaro Road in New Grant, he murdered Sambury.

Sambury, 38, who also lived in New Grant on the outskirts of Princes Town, was shot three times outside a supermarket. Sambury was rushed to the San Fernando General Hospital where he subsequently died. Sgt Stephen Ragbir of the Princes Town Police Station laid the charge.

Yesterday, Morgans attorney John Heath told the magistrate that his client had received threats from relatives of the deceased. Saying he was concerned for Morgans safety, Heath added he would write the Commissioner of Prisons on the issue of protection (while his client is in custody).

The State has 12 witnesses in the matter, court prosecutor Sgt Roger Richardson said. Morgan was remanded into custody as murder is a non-bailable offence, and the case was adjourned to March 13.
Dimanche Gras to celebrate Icons

The show will have two segments -the crowning of the National Calypso Monarch and an international celebration of some of TTs cultural trailblasers who have excelled in the art form.

Of his plans for the February 26 show at the Queens Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, Wiltshire said: This year an additional segment, ICONS would be added.

I would not like to give away too much, but I can promise a very exciting, eclectic and engaging show. As it has been over the last few years, the main part of the show would be the Calypso Monarch final, that is expected to take place between 7 pm and 9.30 pm.

This will be followed by the ICONS segment from 9.30 pm to 11.30 pm.

This segment will honour a few of TTs treasured cultural icons, namely recent winner of the prestigious Victoires de la Musique, (the French equivalent of the Grammys) Calypso Rose (Mc Cartha Linda Sandy-Lewis), mas designer extraordinaire Peter Minshall, international soca stars Machel Montano and Bunji Garlin (Ian Alvarez), and pan pioneer Dr Anthony Williams.

Awards will be presented to each of these icons, after which there will be an international celebration of the national stars, beginning with a performance by internationally-acclaimed pannist Robert Greenidge. A host of foreign acts will follow including Rupee (Rupert Clarke) of Barbados, Teddyson John (St Lucia), Terri Lyons (TT), Skinny Fabulous (Gamal Doyle, St Vincent) and Kreesha Turner, Canadian/ Jamaican recording artiste and songwriter.

Each artiste will give a one song cameo performance, and make way for a sub-segment of the ICONS, titled: Seeds Of The Icons.

This segment will see performances by the children and grand children of some of TTs cultural legends such as the Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts), Ras Shorty I (Garfield Blackman), Merchant (Dennis Franklyn Williams) and SuperBlue (Austin Lyons), with Kernal Roberts, Nailah Blackman, Sekon Sta (Nesta Boxill) and Fay Ann Lyons, each performing one of their respective fathers and grandfathers classics.

Presented by the National Carnival Commission (NCC) in collaboration with the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO), the show will also feature performances by Bunji and Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez, MX Prime (Edghill Thomas), Ravi B (Ravi Bissambhar), Ella Andall and Devon Matthews, Omardath Maharaj and Raymond Ramnarine.

Apart from Greenidges performance, steelband music will welcome patrons to the event and the national anthem will be played on the pan.

Also, Wiltshire said, as tradition dictates, the Carnival King and Queen will make their presence felt to ignite the Merry Monarch celebrations.

Asked how he felt about the opportunity to produce the show Wiltshire said: I am very pleased to be given the opportunity, I have expressed my interest to be considered and tendered for the last four years. He then promised: The entire show will run an extremely entertaining four hours, 15 minutes, with a 15-minute intermission.
Imbert: No FATCA repeal

He dismissed a blog from former US diplomat James George Jatras, released by the Opposition on February 2, supporting Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessars letter to US President Donald Trump on whether FATCA would be repealed.

The blog was released while the JSC was meeting on the bill.

Imbert also produced an August 2013 report from Price- WaterhouseCoopers (PWC) which showed that Persad-Bissessars former adminis tration knew the risks TT faced, if it was not FATCA compliant, were real.

Based on the last communication I had with the United States which is last week, the United States has informed me...that is the United States Embassy has informed me that in all their communications with the US Treasury, there has been no change to the the United States position on the implementation of FATCA and on the requirement for compliance by this country with all of the positions of the inter-governmental agreement, Imbert declared. Imbert added this information was shared with JSC members including Opposition MPs Dr Bhoe Tewarie, Dr Tim Gopeesingh and Opposition Senator Gerald Ramdeen.

Referring to the PWC report and comments from local economists Indera Sagewan-Alli and Valmiki Arjoon, Imbert said this is not something, we as a Parliament should be playing politics with. He said it is clear that everyday transactions by ordinary citizens would become very costly and complicated because FATCA affects bank to bank relations. After highlighting several examples of this, Imbert said the Bankers Association have made the point before the JSC and in other fora that, non-compliance with FATCA will have a severe and adverse effect on TT
Have independent bullying probe

In making the call, the NPTA is calling on the schools principal, the school supervisor and teachers to recuse themselves from the at the Mayaro Government Primary School to be removed from investigations into incidents at the school which led to nine year old student, Tristan Khans elbow being broken.

Inv e s t i g a t i ons were conducted by the principal and the school supervisor.

Based on reports from said investigations, the Ministry of Education and the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association concluded that - contrary to Khans own testimony - Khans elbow was broken by accident as the boys were simulating wrestling acts. Blame was further passed on to the children, as teachers said they were warned just the day before about the practice.

Because the principal and the Ministry could possibly be implicated in the matter, President of the Assocation, Zena Ramatally, is calling for an independent investigation to ensure fairness.

The incident needs to be thoroughly investigated to come to the truth for the benefit of both the victim and the alleged bully.

We are not trying to come down on the alleged bully, but we are seeking his benefit as well. The principal is ultimately responsible for the safety of the students in the school. They are claiming the boys crawled through a fence in the school to get to the recreation ground. Did the principal leave the hole in the fence? Was the Ministry of Education notified of the hole in the fence? Did the teacher employ duty of care? These are the questions that need to be answered by an independent investigation. Newsday could not reach Education Minister, Anthony Garcia, nor Minister in the Ministry of Education, Dr Lovell Francis, for comment.

Ramatally said going forward, a national policy needs to be implemented to sensitise students about the difference between play and bullying. She also called for at least one Health and Safety Officer to be installed in all schools to ensure students are always supervised and that their environment is safe.

Also concerned about the fairness of the investigations, attorneys representing Khan yesterday submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the Education Ministry to get access to the reports.

Douglas Bayley, one of the attorneys being instructed by former Attorney General, Anand Ramlogan, said the Ministry would have 30 days to respond to their request.

A pre-action protocol letter was sent to the Ministry on February 9 threatening legal action for the negligent failure of the education system to proactively intervene to stem a pattern of bullying against Tristan.
Prisons canteen staff welcomes audit

Newsday reported exclusively that over $2 million from prison canteens cannot be accounted for and this has resulted in a police investigation.

Prisons Commissioner Sterling Stewart has already indicated he was forced to call in the police after certain discrepancies were reported and he is now awaiting the outcome of a probe led by ASP Ajith Persad of the Port-of- Spain CID.

However, disgruntled canteen staffers yesterday said other persons within the service are responsible for collecting cash from the days sales and not them. Civilian staff at the prisons canteen do not handle cash for purchasing, receiving or payment of goods for distributors.

The canteen funds are used to fund many prison events such as Annual Children Christmas Party, Annual Sport and Family day, Boat Rides all of which never seem to generate revenue, a staffer said. Newsday was also told that for the past week canteen staffers have been subjected to embarrassing statements about missing funds and a sudden increase in prices on all items sold at the canteen. They are calling on Prisons Commissioner Stewart to meet with them to discuss the matter.
Let public discuss terrorism law

Mohammed said members of the newly- formed group, Muslims of Trinidad and Tobago (MOTT), were yet to see the proposals to the amendments to the legislation in its entirety.

The amendments are expected to be laid tomorrow in the House of Representatives.

The only plan that we really have is to ask for it (proposals) to go out for public consultation and for us to have a meeting with the Attorney General (Faris Al-Rawi) as well, Mohammed said.

He said the MOTT will write to the AG this week requesting a meeting with him.

If we had the draft we could have given a more detailed position on the issue or suggestions as to what we are okay with in the legislation and what we are not okay with, Mohammed added.

He agreed with head of the Islamic Front Umar Abdullah, that several of the proposals contained in the anti-terrorism legislation infringed on the movement of Muslims.

You cant assume that you are going to commit a terrorist act and then charge you, he said in relation to one of the bills proposals.

When you judge people, you have to have evidence, he said.

There are a lot of scenarios where people may want to go to Syria and to go to other countries that might be restricted. At present, Mohammed said there were several humanitarian groups doing relief work at hospitals and shelters in Syria during its ongoing civil war.

If people in Trinidad want to go there to be involved in this type of work, then you cannot tell them not to go because if Trinidad was to have a disaster tomorrow, you would be depending on foreign people to come in and help us as well, just as in Haiti. Mohammed added: While we have Trinidad people who are going out and joining ISIS, at the same time you cannot judge all of them in the same way.

America has people who joined ISIS, England, France, all over have people who have joined ISIS but at the same time they did not tell their citizens that they cannot go to this country and that country.
New housing starts in 2017

The first set of PP projects expected to break in the first week in March, just after Carnival.

We have a number of other projects in the pipeline all across the country, he disclosed.

Mitchell acknowledged that while this does not go a long way with 120,000 applicants on the Housing Development Corporations (HDC) waiting list, we are exploring other avenues. He also announced that Cabinet agreed to adjustments to the Affordable Mortgage Programme offered through the TT Mortgage Finance Company (TTMF) to increase the number of persons who can qualify to own their own homes.

Mitchell explained, Citizens who are able to access the Governments Affordable Mortgage Programme, those mortgages do not only towards the purchase of Government houses. It can also go towards the purchase of private sector (homes). He said Cabinet has agreed to implement adjustments made to the programme last September as articulated by Finance Minister Colm Imbert in his 2016/2017 Budget presentation at that time.

In respect of the two percent regime, Mitchell said the maximum qualifying income for applicants has been increased from $10,000 per month to $14,000 per month.

The property value under this regime has been increased from $850,000 to $1 million.

On the five percent regime, Mitchell said the qualifying income has been increased from a lower limit of $14,001 to $30,000. Property value under the five percent regime has been increased from $1.2 million to $1.5 million. Recalling the programme started in 2006 under the then Patrick Manning administration, Mitchell said Government was expecting a lot more citizens to access this programme. Mitchell, who is also San Fernando East MP (formerly represented by Manning from 1976 to 2015), added. These are benefits

which I am not sure that you can measure. Manning died last July.
Education Ministry launches remedial initiative

This after diagnostic testing found specific skill gaps among the students in Mathematics and English Language Arts including Creative Writing. The statement said the testing found there were 2,478 students with deficits in English Language; 2,619 with shortcomings in Mathematics and 1,794 with deficits in both English Language and Mathematics.

Minister of Education, Anthony Garcia, said the Form One Initiative was conceived in response to data from the 2016 Secondary Entrance Assessment Examination (SEA) which identified several students who were about to enter the secondary school system but had numeracy and literacy deficits.

He said these students were found in 56 secondary schools in the countrys seven education districts.

The Ministry of Education said it had conducted teacher training to equip the teachers with skills and strategies to help students fill the knowledge gap and had also provided training workshops with principals, teachers, school supervisors and district teams aimed at sensitising them to the various needs of the students as well as their role in re-tooling the students.

Garcia said, We are in the business of education and it is our mandate to ensure that every child in this country, who is of school age, has an opportunity to access quality education. If we are to ensure that our children benefit from the quality education that we are supposed to give to our students, there must be certain things in place.
Al Rawi: More EU FATCAs on the way

In 2013, the Kamla Persad-Bissessar- led Government, he said, signed onto the Global Forum and committed Trinidad and Tobago - as they did with FATCA with the United States in 2013 - to comply with 15 other versions of FATCA with 15 other countries in the European Union. Speaking to the motion in the House of Representatives yesterday, to adopt the Joint Select Committee (JSC) on the Tax Information Exchange Bill, 2016 to make TT FATCA compliant, Al Rawi said, The Global Forum is going to be determining in a matter of a couple of days - between February 20 and 24 in France - a fast track mechanism to do exactly what we are doing under the Tax Information Exchange Act for the Global Forum. From 2013 to 2015, the past administration, he said, did not do a shred of work on the issue.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert, he said, had to approach the Global Forum to say Government was in default, and seek a way out.

To this end, he said, the Global Forum has invited Government to a meeting in France to figure out an accelerated forum.

If we dont have it in place by June 2017, crapaud smoke the national pipe, he said.

Commenting on the JSC report, Al Rawi said, We have done everything possible - everything possible to come up with a law that meets the scrutiny of members. Opposition Senator Gerald Ramdeen, he said, complimented Imbert for the management of the JSC, and the verbatim report shows fulsome agreement on the minutes, the round robin process, and engagement with the public.

He said he was not schedule to speak but because of Opposition MP Dr Roodal Moonilals contribution, which he did not agree with he spoke. It was supposed to be one speaker on each side of the House, he said.

Unlike the Opposition that was not aware of the deadline for compliance, Al Rawi said, The country knows that the deadline for demonstrations of commitment was February 2017. The PNM administration was committed to the course of action, he said, because the last government elected to go down this route.
Australians fleeing areas of heavy Islamic settlement to protect our daughters, says senator

Self-segregation has become a reality in Australia, says Senator Malcolm Roberts, with people fleeing areas of heavy migrant settlement, especially Islamic settlement.

(Article by Jack Montgomery from Breitbart.com)

This is not only white flight, it is every kind of flight. Every type of Australian is fleeing these new ghettos claimed the One Nation populist, citing research on diversity and societal cohesion which suggests the countrys identity and social fabric are beginning to fray.

Culture and integration matter to Australians, he told colleagues in the Australian parliaments upper house, condemning the coldness and arrogance of [the] political elites who refused to recognise this.

In our fraying society, self-segregation has become a reality. We the people are seeking to protect our children, our daughters, our property, our liberty, he stated bluntly.

Sex attacks on women and girls have become increasingly common in Europe since the advent of the migrant crisis. The German authorities and media came under heavy criticism for apparently attempting to cover up an outbreak of mass sex attacks on New Years Eve 2015/16, while assaults in neighbouring Austria rose by 133 per cent in 2016.

More recently, Sweden was shocked when a gang rape was live streamed on Facebook, and Italian populist Matteo Salavini called for the introduction of chemical castration for sex offenders after a Nigerian migrant was accused of attempting to rape a 62-year-old woman working at an asylum centre.

If immigrants are to assimilate we should be choosing those from cultures with a track record of ready assimilation, argued Senator Roberts, pointing out that Australians had few complaints about Buddhists, or Sikhs, or Hindus, or Jews or Catholics or Protestants and so on.

How can we expect people wedded to an ideology masquerading as a religion that specifically precludes assimilation, to assimilate and integrate? he asked. We cant.

Speaking in the same debate, crossbencher Jacqui Lambie praised U.S. President Donald J. Trumps attempt to temporarily restrict travel from seven Muslim-majority states identified as countries of concern by the Obama administration as on the right track.

Lambie further suggested that would-be visitors to Australia who do not share our democratic beliefs and respect [our] liberties should be denied entry. Advocates of Shariah law, the strict religious legal code practised by Islamic State and in Saudi Arabia, were highlighted as a source of particular concern.

Shariah law is an anti-democratic cancer that doesnt belong in a free society, she said. How could someone who thinks it is okay for women to be treated like possessions of men and like second- or third-class citizens share Australian democratic beliefs? she asked.

Sharia law  is anti-democratic. Show me a successful democracy in the Middle East that imposes the death penalty on gay people for being gay, imposes the death penalty on women who are unfaithful to their husband and denies the right of the Jewish people to live in peace in Israel.

If [people] support Shariah law and want it in Australia, dont let them in, advised Lambie. They are obviously supporters of the terrorists, their law and their culture.

Read more at: Breitbart.com

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UN gun grabbers indoctrinating children to abide by civilian disarmament

Reports in late January said that President Donald J. Trump was considering executive action that would dramatically reduce U.S. contributions  financial and otherwise  to the United Nations, which would be a significant blow, considering American taxpayers foot 25 percent of the UNs annual budget.

The Daily Wire reported that the order may call for a funding decrease overall of at least 40 percent, adding that Trump is not at all pleased with the UNs (or the Obama administrations) treatment of Israel:

The move comes a month after the UN Security Councils egregious anti-Israel resolution, labeling the Old City of Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and the Jewish Quarter illegally occupied territory.

There is more behind Trumps move to decrease overall UN funding besides just Israel; the 45th president is also seeking to reign in out-of-control federal spending, and while any effort by him to cut back on finances for the global organization will be portrayed as selfish and uncaring, the fact is that Obama left Trump with a $20 trillion national debt that he doubled over his two terms in office. (RELATED: See why the mainstream media is not reporting on the upcoming economic upheaval at Collapse.news)

And Trump is none too pleased with the UNs blatant anti-Americanism; whenever the globalist organization needs something, it runs to Washington, but whenever it makes policy, it almost always contravenes the U.S. Constitution.

Now, the UN has been caught developing lesson plans for children that portray all firearms in a negative light, and is decidedly anti-Second Amendment. As reported by The New American:

The United Nations (UN) is offering lesson plans for teaching American and Canadian children about the benefits of civilian disarmament and to familarize (sic) them with the process by which the international community, regional organizations, and the UN encourage the practice of disarmament.'

The six lesson plans, titled Disarmament Education Programme: A World Without Weapons were developed by the United Nations Association in Canada. They serve as little more than indoctrination into acceptance not only of disarmament  which historically has led to authoritarianism and enslavement  but also global governance.

Besides being incredibly naive, such lesson plans interfere, intentionally, with the constitutional framework of America; Canadians are accustomed to being disarmed, but Americans are not, and it doesnt really matter what anyone else thinks about it  we have the right to keep and bear arms.

But since the UN is not a real sovereign body and has little authority over the United States outside of legitimate, Senate-approved treaties, it cannot impose its anti-gun agenda on our country. So schemers there have decided to do what the liberal Left-wing education industry in the U.S. has been doing for decades: indoctrinating school-aged children early and often to accept certain narratives, even if theyre phony (like so-called global warming) or not in their best interests as young Americans (anti-Second Amendment curriculum). (RELATED: Lies dispelled and phony narratives revealed  find out at Hoax.news)

For example, as The New American notes in revealing the content of the lesson plans:

During the second class period devoted to Lesson One, kids are instructed that in order to end the violence, they must cooperate in creating a culture of change at local, national, and global levels. They must begin immediately to analyze cultural messages and the prevalence of armament in our society so that they may begin to identify allies who will join them in working toward disarmament.'

Then the propaganda really gets bad. Kids are instructed to analyze the rationale for gun ownership, and afterward pick out successes and challenges in the campaign to ban small arms and light weapons.

Obviously, that does not comport with our Constitution and, once they get old enough, their right to own a firearm if they so choose.

Our founders were not perfect men. They anguished over issues like slavery and womens rights, devising the most perfect document they could given the times, the demands of various factions and the differences among states. The main thing to understand about them, however, is that they wanted to create a governing document that recognized that all human beings have certain inalienable rights, and included the process for changing and adapting as times changed (the amendment process, for instance, and Congress ability to legislate).

The inherent right to self-defense and the right to stand as a free people against government tyranny necessitated the need for personal firearms ownership. Heres hoping President Trump follows through on decreasing aid to the UN and thereby preventing it from infecting the minds of our children with the inclinations of sheep.

J.D. Heyes is a senior writer for NaturalNews.com and NewsTarget.com, as well as editor of The National Sentinel.

Sources:

NaturalNews.com

TheNewAmerican.com

BigGovernment.news

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One of the challenges facing the Internet of Things (IoT) is the disparate networks and technologies around the world. Bringing many of the operators together under one platform, while taking into account geography and the systems that are in place, is something that is still being hammered out. Nokia has created a new solution called worldwide IoT network grid (WING) that will introduce new business opportunities by providing a multi-county federation of Internet of Things connectivity services.





Service providers and enterprises are going to be able to leverage the WING platform for global IoT connectivity and services grid delivering a unified view of Internet of Things devices, subscriptions, billing and customer care. According to Nokia (News - Alert), WING is going to bring its experience across different technologies and services along with a portfolio of products, including a global services command center and the Nokia IMPACT IoT Platform with new subscription management for eSIM, and Nokia's M2M Core as a service.

Any of the connected things that become part of the Nokia WING ecosystem can be managed as they are being deployed or transported globally with a single technology. The WING solution can be deployed easily and quickly, this according to Nokia, to provide ubiquitous connectivity, device management, security and analytics. The connectivity is made possible with intelligent switching between cellular and non-cellular networks.

IoT connectivity as a managed service is an answer for enterprises to the current IoT deployments that are hampered by the patchwork of business agreements to connect devices around the world. Nokia WING will provide one global IoT grid. We cannot do this alone, and we are reaching out to communication service providers across the globe to collaborate with us so that we can extend the benefits of the connected world to more industries, said Igor Leprince, head of Global Services at Nokia.

As part of the service, Nokia is going to provide a comprehensive package that will include provisioning, operations, security, billing and dedicated enterprise customer services from key operations command centers. Using IMPACT IoT to manage devices, subscription and analytics, connections will be configured as things that are being transported across geographical borders and the different networks of operators come together.

This will give CSPs new business opportunities by joining a global federation of IoT connectivity. They will be able to start delivering services for enterprises that are looking for worldwide coverage for their Internet of Things deployments. Nokia says WING can be fast tracked, and that it will also be available as a full white label managed service model so it can be offered under their own brand.
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The United Nations Operations in Cote dIvoire (UNOCI) has completed its mission after 14 years of presence in the West African country with the majority of its uniformed personnel to depart by 15 February, including the Moroccan contingent.

Moroccan peacekeepers have been deployed as part of the UN mission in Cote dIvoire since 2004 where they have shown professionalism and dedication to their mission.

Speaking before the Security Council, Aichatou Mindaoudou, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Cote dIvoire said that the west African country is on the path to durable stability.

With a new Constitution and an inclusive legislature, Cote dIvoire is presented with the opportunity and momentum to fully consolidate the countrys achievements towards long-term stability, Mindaoudou said.

All peacekeepers are now due to leave the country in four months, as agreed by the Council and the Government in resolution 2284 (2016), with the majority of the Missions uniformed personnel to depart by 15 February, she said.

The UNOCIs 22nd Moroccan Contingent is composed of 705 peacekeepers deployed in Duekoue, Guiglo, Touleupleu, Tai and Danane.
Head of the UN-backed Presidency Council (PC) Faiez Serraj and east-based army super commander Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar have flown to the Egyptian capital for direct talks under the aegis of the Egyptian government.

The two protagonists arrived in Cairo Monday for several-day talks in a move to find a solution to the Libyan political crisis, Libya Heralds reports.

Libya descended into chaos following Muammar Gaddafis ouster in 2011 in a NATO-backed revolution. Armed factions vying for power wreaked the stability of the country. The UN-backed PC born out of the Libyan Political Accord (LPA) in December 2015 and installed in Tripoli in March last year has been unable to assert its power.

Field Marshall Haftar, aligned with rival Beida-based government, has refused to pledge allegiance to the PC. According to the LPA, the Libyan army command should remain in the hands of the PCs Head but Haftar and Libyan internationally recognized parliament, the House of Representatives (HoR) objected the provision.

Serraj is reportedly accompanied by Fathi Majbri, the PC member from Cyrenaica. Haftar on the other hand is accompanied by Abdul Basset Al-Badri, the Libyan ambassador in Riyadh and his close political adviser and friend.

Both Serraj and Haftar have been under pressure to meet for negotiations.

An early meeting between the two, scheduled for Monday, was postponed after neither side agreed to conditions set by the teams. Egyptian officials met separately with the two sides in an attempt to blow up hurdles.

According to the Libya Herald, Egyptian President was to chair a meeting between the two sides this Tuesday, a way to put pressure on the two of them. The Egyptian government has blocked media access to the talks.

It is reported that Serraj intends to announce in the few days to come a mini-government with a unified Libyan army headed by Haftar in cooperation with all military officers from across Libya.

The initiative has gathered the support of Algeria, Turkey, Tunisia and Egypt, which also pledged to back it up on the international front, Libya Express reports quoting a source, which spoke under condition of anonymity.
Morocco, one of the major allies of the West in MENA region, has become a powerful and successful investor in Africa thanks to the solidarity based South-South cooperation spearheaded by King Mohammed VI.

After seeing the positive results of the Moroccan African policy based on win-win partnerships, Spain, which is Moroccos closest European neighbor and one of its strategic partners, wants to join in this endeavor.

During a meeting held in Rabat on Monday with his Moroccan peer Salaheddine Mezouar, Spanish top diplomat Alfonso Dastis said the North African Kingdom can help his country invest and expand in Africa.

Africa is the continent of the future and we want to strengthen our presence in Africa and we are convinced that Morocco can help us achieve this goal, stressed Alfonso.

Spain is Moroccos major trade partner for the third consecutive year, he added, noting that Rabat is the 2nd trade partner of Madrid outside the European Union.

According to the Spanish foreign Minister, the two countries can work together to unlock the potential of the African continent. Morocco, which has rejoined lately the African Union, is currently the second major investor in Africa.

Its private companies are present in several African countries operating in banking, telecommunication, construction, insurance, housing, electricity, fertilizers, air transportsrevving up social and economic development of Africa.

King Mohammed VI has paid several visits to African countries and is about to undertake a new tour that will lead him to six African states, namely Ghana, Zambia, Guinea, Mali, Cote dIvoire and Kenya.

During the royal visits paid to African countries since 2000, Morocco signed nearly a thousand agreements in various fields of cooperation seeking to boost partnership in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, vocational training, health, water, solar energy, electricityand launched landmark strategic projects such as the Africa Atlantic Gas Pipeline project in Nigeria.

This project will provide African natural gas to Europe and will benefit the whole of the West African region. Among the other major projects launched by the Moroccan Sovereign in Africa, there are fertilizer production plants set up with both Ethiopia and Nigeria.

These projects will benefit the continent as a whole as they will improve African agricultural productivity, food security and rural development, one of the major challenges facing Africa.

Undoubtedly, the agreements Morocco signed with African countries offer huge business and investment opportunities for triangular cooperation wherein Spain and other countries can make their input.
The Spanish ruling party led by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has once again shattered hopes nurtured by the Polisario front and its lobbyists to see Spain recognize the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).

The Peoples Party (PP) actually rejected a motion tabled before the Senate by the Catalonia republican leftist party (The Republican Left of Catalonia  ERC).

It is no surprise that the Peoples Party (PP) of Mariano Rajoy poured cold water on the official recognition of SADR. The party has for many years balked at supporting the pseudo-state proclaimed by the Algeria-backed Polisario.

Catalan lawmakers supporting the separatist thesis last week drafted a motion proposing the official recognition of the Sahrawi Republic and establishment of diplomatic ties with the separatist movement.

Besides the PP, the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) and Ciudadanos (center right) also rejected the motion.

The separatist movement is significantly losing ground in Spain. It has been forced to close down several of its representations for lack of support. Some Spanish associations which used to back the separatists have reconsidered their endorsement.

Several members of the movement have been named in cases of torture and crimes against humanity, involving Spanish victims.
iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) -- The Pentagon says Russian aircraft flew low and fast above an American destroyer in the Black Sea last week in an "unsafe and unprofessional" manner and a Russian intelligence vessel has been detected heading north along the eastern coast of the United States.



On Feb. 10, the Navy destroyer USS Porter noted three unsafe and unprofessional encounters with Russian military aircraft while in the Black Sea. In each of the incidents Russian aircraft approached the destroyer at an unspecified "low altitude" and some were at "high speed".



The Russian aircraft did not have their transponders on and did not respond when the destroyer's crew hailed the planes on radio.



Such incidents are concerning because they can result in accident or miscalculation, said Lt. Colonel Michelle Baldanza, a Pentagon spokesman.



Russia's Defense Ministry denied any incidents occurred on Feb. 10 between Russian aircraft and the USS Porter. "All flights of our aircraft are done and have been done in neutral waters of the Black Sea in accordance with the international rights and security demands" said Igor Konashenkov, a Defense ministry spokesman.



Last April Russian fighters repeatedly buzzed an American destroyer in the Baltic Sea, with one pass coming as close as 30 feet to the USS Donald Cook. That incident was one of several close encounters between the U.S. and Russian militaries in 2016, but officials have said recently that such encounters had become infrequent.



At the time of the incident Baldanza said the destroyer was "conducting routine maritime operations in international waters in the Black Sea following the conclusion of Exercise Sea Shield."



According to Baldanza the first encounter involved a Russian Ilyushin 38, a maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft. The plane "flew in an unsafe and unprofessional manner due to the unusually low altitude" above the USS Porter.



The second incident involved two SU-24 fighters and the third a different Su-24. A U.S. official said that on one pass one of the fighters flew 300 feet above the USS Porter.



Meanwhile American officials are not expressing concern about the presence of a Russian intelligence gathering ship headed northward along the East Coast. The White House deferred comment to the Defense Department on this issue.



According to a U.S. official, the Russian intelligence vessel Viktor Leonov was located 70 miles off the coast of Delaware yesterday in international waters heading in a northerly direction. American territorial waters extend 12 miles out to sea.



The official said the speculation is that the Russian ship is headed near the U.S. Navy's submarine base at New London, Connecticut.



Russian military monitoring of U.S. sub bases used to happen frequently during the Cold War, but became infrequent after the fall of the Soviet Union.



In 2015, another Russian spy ship made its way south along the East Coast past the sub base at Kings Bay, Georgia, but was apparently mapping underwater communications cables off the Florida coast.



If the Leonov follows previous deployment patterns it will eventually head to south to Cuba.



The official says there is not much concern about the Leonov's movements or its intelligence gathering capabilities.



The Russian ship was in the mid-Atlantic a month ago and made a port of call in Kingston, Jamaica in early February.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Michael Flynn. Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post/Getty Images

Last December, Michael Flynn spoke with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak and discussed U.S. sanctions against that country in retaliation for its successful hacking of Democratic Party emails. While not illegal, the discussion was highly irregular, given that Flynns candidate was elected in part due to the hacking, and incoming administrations are not supposed to undermine the policies of the sitting president. The chronology of the events makes it appear as though Trump was aware of and even authorized Flynns discussion: Russia repeatedly threatened retaliatory action, and then quickly decided not to, after which Trump praised Russias decision and called Vladimir Putin smart. If Trump was not aware of the conversation, then Flynn would have been vulnerable to blackmail  a fact Trumps acting attorney general made clear to him last month.

So which is it? Did Trump know about Flynns undermining of U.S. diplomacy, but tell the public he didnt? Or did he allow an official he knew to be vulnerable to Russian blackmail to have access to the highest levels of American intelligence?

Republicans so far have expressed no interest in discovering the answer. The partys responses have fallen into three overlapping categories.

1. Move on. When asked about Flynn keeping his role despite being vulnerable to blackmail, Kellyanne Conway blandly replied, thats one characterization  were moving on, touting some of the exciting candidates who might replace Flynn. Representative Chris Collins repeated the phrase move on four times in a short CNN interview.

2. What about the leaks? The issue Republicans want to investigate isnt what we know, but why. Which intelligence officials are leaking the administrations lies?

The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington? Will these leaks be happening as I deal on N.Korea etc?  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 14, 2017

Trump's National Security Advisor Michael Flynn resigns after destabilization campaign by US spies, Democrats, press https://t.co/vKlX1Tqek1  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) February 14, 2017

House Intelligence Committee chairman Devin Nunes told reporters he wants an investigation of  the FBI. Breitbart solemnly notes, the more serious question is whether our nations intelligence services were involved in what amounts to political espionage against the newly-elected government.

3. Leave Trump alooooone. Republicans insist they do not support any probe of Flynns actions or what Trump may have known. Its taking care of itself, insists House Oversight Committee chairman Jason Chaffetz.

What about House Speaker Paul Ryan? Ryan is known for his fanatical belief in informational security. The Speaker once held such strong views on classified information that he demanded Hillary Clinton be denied access to classified briefings during the campaign because she had shown, by using a private email server, she could not be trusted with the nations secrets. The consequences for the safety of our nation are grave, he wrote solemnly. Clintons actions may have allowed our enemies to access intelligence vital to our national security. Ryan has learned from that episode to be far less judgmental. And now today, even the prospect that Trump allowed intelligence to be exposed to a staffer whom he knew to be potentially vulnerable to Russian blackmail strikes him as unworthy of investigation.

Today, Ryan said, Im not going to prejudge the circumstances surrounding this. And since Ryan is not forcing an investigation, he wont post-judge, either. No prejudging, no post-judging, no judging of any kind, just moving on.
Out like Flynn. Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

It isnt easy to name President Trumps scariest appointment. Deciding whether its worse to have Steve Bannon on the National Security Council  or Jeff Sessions running the Justice Department  is like deciding whether its worse to have El Chapo as your NA sponsor or Joseph Kony as your babysitter.

But before he was ousted for lying to the vice-president about his (potentially) illegal communications with a Russian ambassador, Michael Flynn had a strong case for being the worst of the worst. In a White House full of anti-Muslim conspiracy theorists, Flynn was quite likely the most paranoid; and almost certainly, the most powerful.

As national security adviser, Flynn worked in closer proximity to the Oval Office than other top foreign policy aides  a key distinction in a White House led by a man (infamously) predisposed to agree with the last person who spoke with him.

We cant know precisely what bad ideas Flynn whispered into the presidents ear. But heres a sampling of the ones he shouted into the public discourse:

1. Fear of Muslims is rational.

2. Democrats have imposed Sharia law in parts of Florida.

3. Barack Obama is a jihadi who laundered money for Muslim terrorists (to be fair, Flynn merely retweeted this sentiment).

4. The Mexican border is lined with Arabic-language signs that guide radical Islamists into the United States.

5. Islamic scholars who claim that violent jihadism is not an authentic expression of their religion are merely trying to confuse in order to control.

6. North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and the Islamic State have all formed an enemy alliance ready to wage global war on the United States.

Flynn does not like having his intelligence assessments (and/or paranoid delusions) subjected to internal debate. Days after the 2012 attack on the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, Flynn concluded that Iran was responsible  and informed his subordinates at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) that their job was now to prove this hunch correct.

One of Flynns underlings at the DIA claimed that this I conclude, you substantiate approach to intelligence gathering defined Flynns tenure at the agency.

Mr. Flynn said that the first thing everyone needed to know was that he was always right, the anonymous official told the New York Times. His staff would know they were right, he said, when their views melded to his.

To insulate his ideas from critical feedback, Flynn staffed his White House office with less-well-established Islamophobes.

And the new national security adviser wasted little time before working to translate his bigoted intuitions into policy: According to Reuters, a Flynn-led faction within the White House had been pushing to add the Muslim Brotherhood to Americas list of foreign terrorist organizations.

This would be a bizarre and radical departure for American foreign policy. Its true that some groups affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood commit political violence against civilians, like the Palestinian group Hamas. But the original Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt  and its offshoots in Turkey and Tunisia  had foresworn violence and sought to achieve Islamist rule through democratic means. Branding the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group would strain relations with Americas Islamist allies, including the current Turkish government; reframe the war on terrorism as a war against political Islam in all of its forms; and open any Muslim-American citizen who has donated to a so-called Muslim Brotherhood affiliate to the threat of prosecution.

That last point is worth dwelling on  especially because CIA director Mike Pompeo and Attorney General Jeff Sessions both supported a bill that designated a Muslim civil-rights organization, the Council on Islamic-American Relations, as such an affiliate.

For these reasons and others, analysts at the State Department and CIA have opposed the move. Now, the counter-jihadist wing of the Trump White House has lost its leading advocate.

Whats more, early reports suggest that Flynns departure will allow the (comparatively) sane James Mattis to amplify his influence within the administration: A senior White House official has told the Daily Beast that a longtime Mattis colleague, retired Navy SEAL Vice Admiral Robert Harward, is the leading candidate to fill Flynns shoes. In the meantime, the disorder Flynns absence will produce at the National Security Council may create a vacuum that the (reassuringly Bannon-less) Pentagon can fill.

NSC dysfunction provides even more opportunities for Mattis to reassert Pentagon nat sec supremacy over the WH, which is a great development  Lachlan Markay (@lachlan) February 14, 2017

Beyond removing one of the most deranged cooks from Trumps kitchen, Flynns departure is also an encouraging sign that the administration can put political expedience over loyalty or ideology. Following reports that Flynn had misled Vice-President Pence, Steve Bannon reportedly led the push for the formers ouster. That Bannon backed the firing of a fellow Islamophobic crank suggests that, for all his accelerationist bluster, the former Breitbart mastermind remains a political strategist  and, thus, a man who is willing to tell the president when he needs to bow to external pressure. Unless Bannon just hated Flynn, and wanted to increase his personal power by removing other longtime Trump loyalists from the presidents orbit.

So, okay, its hard to sustain optimism about the Trump White House for any length of time. Even without Flynn, the presidents foreign-policy team is pretty darn dystopian. As Voxs Zach Beauchamp notes, a broad swath of Trumps inner circle  including Sessions, Pompeo, Steve Bannon, and Kellyanne Conway  is affiliated with a movement that views the American Muslim community as a fifth column.

And the fact that Mattiss growing influence is worth celebrating is, itself, kind of terrifying: The retired general was kicked out of the Obama administration for being too hawkish on Iran  and, reportedly, pushed for the Navy to intercept an Iranian ship last week, so as to search for weapons that Tehran might be sending to Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Which is to say: Mattis wanted to commit an act of war against Iran to protect Saudi Arabias sphere of influence.

Nonetheless, Mattis does not believe that Judeo-Christian civilization is facing an epochal struggle against an Islamo-Fascist alliance composed of Iran, Al Qaeda, North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba, and maybe, just maybe, Barack Obama.



Until last night, that was more than we could say about President Trumps national security adviser. If Flynn is, in fact, replaced with a Mattis lackey, his resignation will go down as the best news America has received since Trumps inauguration.


Omarosa Manigault in Trump Tower on January 16, 2017. Photo: BEHAR ANTHONY /SIPA USA/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Somehow Gateway Pundit bloggers showing off their new White House press credentials in a tweet featuring a Pepe the Frog emoji was not the most troubling report about the White House press corps on Monday. A reporter claims that during an argument just outside the Oval Office last week, Omarosa Manigault, Apprentice star turned White House communications official, physically intimidated her. She said Manigault also told her that the Trump administration has collected dossiers of negative information on her and several other journalists.

According to the Washington Post, the exchange between Manigualt and April Ryan, American Urban Radio Networks White House correspondent, took place outside White House Press Secretary Sean Spicers office. She stood right in my face like she was going to hit me, Ryan told the paper. I said, You better back up.  She thought I would be bullied. I wont be.

Post reporter Abby Phillip was one of several people who witnessed the incident. Phillip said she didnt hear every word, but Ryan told her afterward that she felt Manigaults behavior was Secret Serviceable, meaning it warranted intervention by law enforcement.

Ryan also said that during the encounter Manigault told her she was one of several African-American journalists whom the White House is keeping dossiers on. I said, Good for you, good for you, good for you, Ryan said.

When asked to comment on the report, Manigault told the Post via email, My comment: Fake news!

Ryan used to be so close with Manigault that the former reality star had asked her to be in her wedding party. However, their relationship soured last fall when Manigault sent her a link to a report from the Intercept and fretted, This story suggests that as a reporter, you are (or were) a paid Clinton surrogate, adding, I pray this is not true! This could be hurtful to your legacy and the integrity of your work. The story used hacked emails to show how the Clinton campaign tried to elicit favorable press coverage, but it did not say the Clinton team paid journalists.

Manigaults alleged reference to dossiers on journalists is new, but during the campaign she said of Never Trump Republicans, Trump has a long memory and were keeping a list.

Its been nearly a year since Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields accused Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski of physically assaulting her. Authorities decided not to pursue battery charges against Lewandowski, citing lack of evidence. Breitbart chairman Stephen Bannon, who sided with the Trump team over Fields, is now White House chief strategist.
South Korean news reports on the death of Kim Jong-nam. Photo: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images

Kim Jong-nam, the older half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was killed in a Malaysian airport Monday after he was sprayed in the face with an unknown liquid, police said Tuesday. The attack was carried out by two women who escaped the Kuala Lumpur airport by taxi after the attack, according to TV Chosun, a South Korean news channel.

The deceased  felt like someone grabbed or held his face from behind, a police official told Reuters. He felt dizzy, so he asked for help. Kim Jong-nam died in an ambulance on his way to a hospital.

The oldest son of Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong-nam was seen as the heir apparent in North Korea throughout the 1990s. But that reportedly changed after he was caught with a forged Dominican passport in 2001 as he was trying to sneak his way into Japan to attend Tokyo Disneyland. The subsequent fallout from that incident led to Kim Jong-uns grooming to take over for the Dear Leader.

Kim Jong-nam, meanwhile, moved to Macau and regularly traveled to China and Singapore, earning a reputation as a playboy. He spoke occasionally about the goings-on in his home country, and it was rarely positive. In a 2012 book, an author quoted an email exchange with Kim Jong-nam in which he said that his younger half-brothers regime will not last long.

Without reforms, North Korea will collapse, and when such changes take place, the regime will collapse, he wrote, according to Japanese journalist Yoji Gomi. I think we will see valuable time lost as the regime sits idle fretting over whether it should pursue reforms or stick to the present political structure.

On Tuesday, Kim Jong-un was already being blamed for his brothers death, with one South Korean politician saying the killing was a naked example of Kim Jong-uns reign of terror. If the North Korean dictator did indeed order Kim Jong-nams killing, it wouldnt be the first time he signed the death warrant for a family member. In 2013, his uncle and North Koreas second-in-command was convicted of treason and sent to a gun range where his body was turned to pulp by anti-aircraft machine guns.
Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

National Security Adviser Michael Flynn resigned on Monday night following reports that he misled Vice-President Mike Pence and other Trump administration officials on his conversations with Russias ambassador to the United States in December.

I inadvertently briefed the Vice-President-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador, Flynn said in a resignation letter the White House emailed to journalists. I have sincerely apologized to the president and the vice-president, and they have accepted my apology.

Breaking: text of Flynn's resignation letter pic.twitter.com/KGue1cJFzL  Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) February 14, 2017

For weeks Flynn has insisted that he didnt discuss anything of substance in his conversations with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak, which occurred as the Obama administration was imposing sanctions on Russia over the countrys alleged election meddling. Its a breach of protocol for a member of the transition to discuss policy with a foreign government, and it may be illegal. Pence repeated Flynns denial on Face the Nation days before the inauguration, and in his first White House briefing Press Secretary Sean Spicer said sanctions never came up.

However, the call was captured as part of a routine wiretap of Kislyaks communications, and last week nine current and former U.S. officials told the Washington Post that transcripts show Flynn made explicit references to election-related sanctions. Flynn walked back his previous denial and, by Monday afternoon, his future in the administration was uncertain  so much so that Kellyanne Conway said on MSNBC that Flynn had the full confidence of President Trump just before Spicer said the president was evaluating the situation.

Then, around 9 p.m., there were two new bombshells. The Post reported that last month acting attorney general Sally Yates told the Trump White House that Flynn had misled them about the calls, and was potentially vulnerable to Russian blackmail. In the final days of the Obama administration Yates conferred with James Clapper, the director of National Intelligence at the time, and John Brennan, who was then CIA director, and they agreed that they should share their concerns about Flynn with the Trump administration.

Yates informed White House counsel Donald McGahn, but its unclear what he did with the information. She was later fired for defying Trumps executive order on immigration. A source tells Politico her briefing on Flynn did not play a role in her dismissal.

Meanwhile, the New York Times reported that the Army has been investigating whether Flynn received money from the Russian government during a trip to Moscow in 2015, which may violate the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution. As reported last month, U.S. intelligence agencies were already looking at Flynns communications as part of an investigation into Russias attempts to influence the U.S. election.

While Flynn received a security briefing from the Defense Intelligence Agency before his trip to Russia, defense officials said he may not have filed the required paperwork. They were reportedly surprised when video surfaced of Flynn seated next to Russian president Vladimir Putin at a dinner honoring RT, the state-run Russian news organization. As TPM notes, Flynn has publicly admitted that he was paid to speak at the event.

A senior White House official told the Post that Trump was planning to wait several days to make a decision on Flynn, but he chose to resign owing to the cumulative effect of negative news coverage. There obviously were a lot of issues, but the president was hanging in there, the official said. Buying some time was part of the plan, and I think Flynn just figured, if its imminent to the boss, then lets make it immediate.

However, the Times reported that White House chief strategist Steve Bannon asked for Flynns resignation, which he has been pushing for since Friday.

The White House said General Keith Kellogg, who most recently served as National Security Council chief of staff, will be the interim national security adviser. In addition to the drama surrounding Flynns calls to the Russian ambassador, the Times reported over the weekend that the National Security Council has been in disarray under his management.

Well, that's one way to describe it. pic.twitter.com/RFahttkpff  Eric Geller (@ericgeller) February 14, 2017

Prior to Flynns resignation, Politico reported that the White House was looking at potential replacements. Kellogg, Vice-Admiral Robert Harward, former deputy commander of the U.S. Central Command, and retired general David Petraeus are said to be under consideration. Petraeus, who was convicted in 2015 of passing classified information to his mistress, is scheduled to meet with Trump at the White House on Tuesday.

While Democrats were pleased by news of Flynns resignation, they said many questions remain unanswered. Representative Adam Schiff, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, noted that the committee is still investigating the Trump campaigns alleged ties to Russia.

The Trump Administration has yet to be forthcoming about who was aware of Flynns conversations with the Ambassador and whether he was acting on the instructions of the president or any other officials, or with their knowledge, Schiff said.

Democratic representatives John Conyers Jr. and Elijah Cummings called for a classified briefing by the Justice Department and FBI over the alarming new disclosures about Flynn. We need to know who else within the White House is a current and ongoing risk to our national security, they said.

Republican representative Devin Nunes, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, did not seem interested in pursuing the matter. On Monday afternoon, he predicted Flynn would keep his job, saying, It just seems like theres a lot of nothing there.

He continued defending Flynn, even after his resignation. Washington, D.C., can be a rough town for honorable people, and Flynn  who has always been a soldier, not a politician  deserves Americas gratitude and respect for dedicating so much of his life to strengthening our national security, Nunes said in a statement. I thank him for his many years of distinguished service.

This post has been updated throughout.
Another rich man joins Trumps cabinet. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Former Goldman Sachs partner, hedge-fund founder, and producer of the Entourage movie, Steve Mnuchin was confirmed by the Senate Monday night as the next United States secretary of the Treasury. The Senate voted nearly along party lines, with only West Virginias Joe Manchin breaking from his Democratic colleagues, who had previously labeled Mnuchin greedy and dubbed him the foreclosure king. He was confirmed with a 5347 vote.

At a swearing-in ceremony Monday night, President Trump said Mnuchin, who followed in his fathers footsteps at Goldman Sachs before starting his own hedge fund, will fight for middle-class tax reductions, financial reforms that open up lending and create millions of new jobs, and fiercely defend the American tax dollar and your financial security.

After a contentious confirmation battle that focused, in part, on his role atop a bank that profited wildly off the foreclosure crisis, Mnuchin steps into a job that will present some early challenges. Among the earliest will be dealing with the March 15 expiration of the debt-ceiling suspension and finalizing Trumps phenomenal tax plan, which is currently being crafted by Gary Cohn, head of Trumps National Economic Council and the former president of Goldman Sachs.
Those who advocate for sound, evidence-based research about autism are extremely alarmed about Donald Trump, and for good reason: In addition to Trumps ties to Andrew Wakefield, the disgraced British doctor whose debunked research helped fuel the false idea of links between childhood vaccines and autism, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a notorious anti-vaxxer himself, told reporters back in January that Trump planned to tap him as chair of a commission on vaccine safety. There is no question at this point that Trump has significant connections to a pseudoscientific medical movement that spreads dangerous, disproven ideas.

Today, Trump gave nervous observers yet more reason to worry. It occurred at a White House event in which Trump and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos met with a bunch of educators. Trump seemed to fixate, for a moment, on one educator named Jane (her last name is hard to make out) after she explained that she is the principal of a special education center in Virginia.

The sequence starts at about 5:38 in this video:

After Jane noted that many of her students have autism, Trump asked, Have you seen a big increase in the autism, with the children? Jane replied in the affirmative, but seemed to couch her response as being more about an increase in demand for services  she didnt explicitly agree theres been a big increase in the overall rate. Trump continued: So whats going on with autism? When you look at the tremendous increase, its really  its such an incredible  its really a horrible thing to watch, the tremendous amount of increase. Do you have any idea? And youre seeing it in the school? Jane replied  again, in a way that seems a bit noncommittal vis-a-vis Trumps claim  that the rate of autism is something like 1-in-66 or 1-in-68 children. To which Trump responded: Well now, its gotta be even lower [presumably meaning higher, rate-wise] than that, which is just amazing  well, maybe we can do something. (Jane had the rate right, and Trump is incorrect that it has crept higher.)

Trump is broadcasting a very inaccurate and misleading claim about autism  one that you often hear from the Kennedys and Wakefields of the world, but which experts flatly disagree with. Purveyors of this claim often point out that autism rates have increased significantly since the early 1990s, but as Steve Silberman, an autism expert and the author of NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity, told Science of Us, that has to do with diagnostic criteria and awareness, not the prevalence of the condition itself.

Theres no consensus as to whether or not theres been any significant increase in the actual prevalence of autism, period, said Silberman. The real debate is whether or not there has been a small increase, and there are a number of factors that could play a role in that small increase. For instance, its well established that older parents have more autistic kids and people are waiting longer to get married and have kids now, so there may be a small increase there. Some people claim that there are some environmental factors  notably, not vaccines  that may be contributing to a small increase. But the consensus is that there has been no huge, startling, horrible, as Trump said, increase in autism. And the CDC estimate has been flat for a couple of years, just as they expected it to be, because the major source of the increase that started in the 1990s was broadened diagnostic criteria and much more public awareness of what autism looks like.

Part of what fuels the anti-vax movement is this misperception: If not too long ago autism wasnt a crisis (advocates for autistic people are not fans of such phrasing, for understandable reasons), but today it is, then it makes sense to look for a scapegoat like vaccines. The data we have suggests this simply isnt the case. Unfortunately, as Silberman pointed out, influential anti-vaxxers seem to have the ear of the president, and that could be contributing to his false beliefs about autism rates.

Its bad enough for the president to be trafficking in and helping to spread such dangerous pseudoscience, but Silberman said whats doubly frustrating is the opportunity cost: Time and attention spent on what are in reality autism nonissues could suck up resources that might otherwise be directed at the many gaps the U.S. has in this area. As Silberman explained, theres still a great deal public-health researchers dont know about the adult autistic population in the U.S. We dont even know how many autistic adults are out there, trying to get by with no support, because a national prevalence survey of autism has never been done in the United States, he said.

Once many autistic people are done with high school, they lose access to many vital sources of support, in some cases rendering them effectively invisible. To Silberman, thats the sort of thing the president of the United States should be focusing on  not bunk claims that were in the midst of some sort of scary autism epidemic. Unfortunately, the president doesnt grant much credence to scientific consensus. Trump tends to listen to people who he thinks are rogues, who are pushing against conventional wisdom, especially at the expense of so-called experts, said Silberman. And just as he does in so many areas of public life, Trump is listening to the wrong people and trusting the wrong people.
It is risen.

One of the most iconic phones ever released is coming back. HMD Global Oy, the Finnish company that finally ended up with the Nokia brand name after Microsoft bought and then stripped Nokias mobile division for parts, says it plans to announce a new version of the Nokia 3310 at the Mobile World Congress, set to be held in Barcelona at the end of the month.

Phone-leaker Evan Blass has the scoop at VentureBeat:

But perhaps the most interesting of these devices, at least from the perspective of mobile enthusiasts, is not a smartphone at all, but a modern version of a classic workhorse of a feature phone, the Nokia 3310. [] At just 59, this new incarnation seems priced competitively enough to win over nostalgic former owners for use as a second phone.

Released in September of 2000, the Nokia 3310 was a little brick of a phone with a battery life that could extend for over a week. It sold astoundingly well  126 million total units worldwide  at a time when cell-phone adoption was just beginning to take off, meaning it was the first cell phone for millions of people. Its distinctive 13-note ringtone is Prousts madeleine for the early aughts: listen to it and instantly be transported back to playing Snake and T-9 texting. Plus, it was famously, absurdly tough. As its legend has grown, its been shot, blown up, run over by a tank, and turned into a meme.

Theres no word what a modern version of the 3310 would look like, though Nokia (and other manufacturers) have started releasing dumb phones that ditch internet connectivity, apps, cameras, and pretty much everything you find in most smartphones, leaving you with just a dial pad, a small screen, a speaker, and a microphone. If you cant wait for the re-release and just want to get away from checking your email all the time, push notifications, and that anxious feeling of God, I really should get a picture of this, youre in luck. There are plenty of Nokia 3310s of very dubious provenance (i.e., possibly fake) available for about $20 on eBay right now.
Photo: Vogue Paris

A fashion magazines March issue is the second biggest of the year, after the unbelievably hefty September one. And French Vogue just made their March issue an even bigger deal by putting a transgender model on the cover for the first time. Brazilian model Valentina Sampaio appears in a metallic dress, with the cover line reading Transgender beauty: How theyre shaking up the world.

This cover is about the importance of [human] rights, and that we still need to make progress on an awful lot of stuff, French Vogue editor in chief Emmanuelle Alt told American Vogue. The accompanying story features Sampaio modeling the latest spring collections, photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. We can only hope for more fashion spreads like this on our side of the Atlantic.
Jax. Photo: Courtesy of Bravo

As this season of Vanderpump Rules crawls towards the inevitable  Katie and Toms wedding  Ive been anxiously awaiting their bachelor and bachelorette parties. The road toward their nuptials has been peppered with speed bumps, but this particular celebration, down in New Orleans, has the most potential for drama. Travel (a reliable harbinger of disaster in the Vanderpump universe) combined with clashing personalities, copious booze, and an alarmingly incompatible betrothed couple is a recipe for excellent reality television. If youre not convinced, the episode is titled Beads, Beers, and Tears. Theyre spelling it out for us: This is not going to go well.

In fact, there are tears before anyone even gets close to New Orleans  Stassi cries about her breakup with Patrick while shes packing. Meanwhile, over at Ariana and Toms apartment, Arianas mom, Tanya, is visiting, and she gets to hear all about how Katie is now texting the couple blaming them for her fights with Tom. In related news, Bravo shouldve launched a spinoff show with all the moms yesterday.

Lisa visits Pump to check in on preparations for the upcoming Daily Mail party, where she learns that theyve asked James to DJ, because apparently terrible British things attract each other. She warns him that shell personally kick his ass if he acts up, and I thoroughly believe her.



Muumuu. Photo: Courtesy of Bravo

Because the bachelor/bachelorette party is apparently not sufficient time for everyone to spend drunk and hating each other, Scheana is first hosting another pool party at her mom Erikas house. Tom Schwartz shows up wearing a fabulous coral muumuu, while Katie shows up mad at Tom. After many drinks, Katie is left discussing the fight from last episode with Brittany and Stassi, while Tom Schwartz unloads on Kristen and Scheana. After much goading, he goes over to Katie to attempt an apology, but shes not having it. At one point, Jax compares their relationship to a stinky room  instead of finding the source of the stink, they just Febreze the situation and hope it goes away. Its actually a pretty apt analogy.

After a few packing montages, the group lands in New Orleans and checks into their hotel. Katie and Tom have a luxurious suite, complete with champagne, courtesy of Lisa, and when they call to thank her shes in the midst of feeding her miniature horses. I have never yearned for wealth as strongly as I did during that scene.

Miniature horses. Photo: Courtesy of Bravo

The group hits up Bourbon Street  where we must witness the indignity of Jax mama-birding Brittany a shot  while Scheana and Shay go to a quiet dinner for their second anniversary. Scheana gives him a boudoir book filled with suggestive photos of herself, and if I may just offer one small suggestion, Scheana, I think you couldve taken the book to the next level if it played an autotuned message from you when opened. Just a thought. Anyway, they proceed to have a sad conversation about how losing each other is the worst thing that could happen, and, well, we all know how this story ends.

After their dinner, they meet up with the rest of the crowd, where Stassi is cranky that Ariana is doing something alternative, a.k.a. hanging out with both men and women. Tom Sandoval and Katie are talking about her issues with Tom Schwartz over to the side, while Ariana and Tom Schwartz are having their own separate heart-to-heart. As if that wasnt already going to anger Katie, Tom Sandoval tells her she should consider couples therapy. Katie says she didnt come to New Orleans to have all these issues thrown in her face, which is understandable, but also  youve chosen to have every bit of your wedding filmed for a reality TV series that thrives on conflict.

As an interlude to all the terrible fighting, we get a check-in with James: He asks Lisa for his job back and reveals that hes not working on Friday, Wednesday, Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday, and its not because he read that Tim Ferris book. Lisa turns him down, showing that you can be loving to your miniature horses but a swift arbiter of justice nonetheless.

Back in New Orleans, to top off the first part of the bachelor/bachelorette celebrations, Stassi is crying to Brittany about her breakup. Stassis spent half her screentime this season crying about her breakup and nobody seems to care. When Jax joins them, she demands that he say sorry for how he treated her, and, after refusing for a while, he finally breaks down crying and apologizing profusely. Stassi is miraculously cured by this  its so vindicating  and leaves. Jax is then left alone with Brittany, who is furious at him for never feeling even a fraction as remorseful any of the times hes disrespected her. (Remember Sandwichgate?) Welcome to the light, Brittany.

Read past Vanderpump Rules recaps here.
Photo: Melanie Stetson Freeman/Christian Science Monitor/Getty

Several summers ago, when New York City was syrupy with an August heat, I found myself in a place good Christian girls like me had been instructed never to go  down on Bleecker Street, in the waiting room of Planned Parenthood.

I grew up in a conservative Christian environment, the kind that thought evolution was at odds with the scriptures and that fretted about the satanic influence of Harry Potter. At youth group and Sunday school we were frequently warned against the evils of sex before marriage and the slippery slope that ran toward it; we received devotional literature offering guidance on how to maintain ones purity.

Planned Parenthood was discussed rarely but never positively. We heard about it in terms of the indiscriminate murder of Gods fetuses, of the women who didnt like condoms and so had hundreds of abortions, of its evil (and, of course, nonexistent) human-tissue trafficking enterprise. A place like that was none of our concern, though; if we stayed pure we had no need of it.

Growing up, I was curious about sex, but Id never known it to be associated with anything besides sin, so I tried as much as possible to ignore any questions that bubbled to the surface. Abortion was against Gods will, we were taught, and though occasionally it occurred to me that there must be exceptions to every rule (what if the mothers life was in danger? what about rape?), these questions, too, I suppressed  faith, after all, was all about commitment in the face of doubt. We never discussed methods of contraception, STIs, or healthy relationships outside of marriage. If we were good, that information was all irrelevant. I was an A student, eager to please, and it was in my nature to follow the rules, so I never challenged what Id learned. And anyway, who would I ask?

Abstinence is easy for married youth leaders with waning libidos to preach, and as a socially awkward teenager it was easy enough for me to accept. There was even a certain comfort in the mandate; it imbued my loneliness with purpose. But to be a teenager in love is a different story.

I met him in history class in our senior year of high school. Our chemistry was instantaneous and overwhelming. He was a nerd with a mischievous streak  wed skip school to go to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. And there was the kissing. We could kiss for hours, until we were flushed and our lips were chapped and raw. In those moments, the church and its teachings seemed to exist on an increasingly distant plane, but afterward, the shame of having stepped to the edge of that downward slope (and the terrifying notion of Gods omnipresence extending to the backseats of cars) was crippling. My boyfriend had grown up a practicing Catholic, and he too was overcome with guilt in the face of sexual desire. Together we focused our willpower on repressing ourselves so as not to anger the Lord.

We were married before we could legally drink. Finally, we could shed the guilt  sex miraculously transformed from mortal sin to gift from God when we put on those wedding rings. Our faith was stronger than ever. We went to church and joined a new Bible study; we were studious about what it meant to have a Godly marriage. We were a shining example to those younger than us, obedient to His commandments, and for a while we were happy.

Through our first years together we had stayed close to home and church, but then his job sent him to Texas for a six-month stint, and I was accepted to graduate school in New York. We agreed six months apart would be hard, but it was temporary and we didnt worry too much about the ramifications  marriage, after all, was permanent.

But outside the watchful eye of our community, it didnt take long for it all to unravel  when I arrived for a visit a few months into our long-distance run, I could tell immediately he was having sex with someone who was not me. The part of his infidelity I could not guess was that the other woman was a man, or men, rather, random encounters of the Craigslist variety.

People assumed the revelation of his sexual orientation made the affairs easier to stomach, but in the end it didnt much matter. I had steered clear of the hatred for gay people that some in the church peddled, and anyway neither a righteous anger nor a scientific rationale couldve overridden my sadness  he had been my husband and my best friend, and now he wasnt. I was shocked and devastated in the usual ways; I cried, and lay in bed and could not eat.

I avoided my family, worried they would judge my husband and me for the divorce we were planning, for his sexuality, or some failing of my womanhood or intuition. The few friends I did speak to offered their prayers, but had no concrete advice. I moved into a room share in Washington Heights, two mattresses beside one another on the floor, the other claimed by a Russian woman who sat cross-legged and stared at me through the night. I was new to the city and knew no one well enough to confide in anyone. Most of all I felt betrayed, not only by my husband, but by God and the church  I had tried so hard to follow the rules; I had done what I was supposed to, and still I had ended up alone. Religion had hollowed out a void in my life, but could not pull me from it.

It occurred to me after a while that my husbands high-risk sex also left me exposed to disease, but I was afraid to go to the doctor. My whole family and many of our church mates attended the Christian-advertised practice, where the doctor had more than once asserted her allegiance to God over patient in her reluctance to prescribe me birth control even after I was married.

So with limited knowledge about sexual health care and nowhere else to turn, I found my way to Planned Parenthood, through the metal detectors and bag search meant to keep patients safe from the threat of violence by Christian extremists. The staff did not look at me with disappointment when I told them I needed to be screened. The nurse was understanding with my questions about the different types of HIV tests and their corresponding exposure windows, was gentle with the needle. That afternoon I received more compassion and support from her than I had from most of my religious community. I was both surprised and relieved that the clinic contained none of the horrors Id imagined, that it was in fact just a regular doctors office with regular humans getting information, medicine, check-ups. It was the first of many moments in which I would learn and relearn that being Christ-like  taking care of people no matter who they are or where they come from  had little to do with what went on in the church each week.

Everyone deserves respect and efficacy from their health-care providers, regardless of their choices or circumstances. Yet I cant help but see my own experience as a microcosm for the way in which the right values ideology over the physical well-being of its constituents. The repealing of the Affordable Care Act, even as the reddest states rely the heaviest upon it, is one example; the proposals to cut the Department of Justices Violence Against Women grants and the constant threat to defund Planned Parenthood are others. Yes, some of it is a numbers game, the budget cuts and debt reduction the Republican Party touts. Then theres the obvious misogyny  prescription birth control, breast and cervical cancer, pregnancy, and abortion are all womens health issues in which the male-majority lawmakers perceive themselves to have little stake. But I think the most formidable force at play is a belief that a vulnerable person has arrived in her bad situation by her own choice, because she is lazy in her pulling of bootstraps, because she is somehow deficient, or morally bereft. The truth, though, is always more complex, because there is no life devoid of interaction with and interdependence upon one another. Or perhaps there is a simpler way of saying it: Sometimes one can follow all the rules and still need a doctor.

Planned Parenthood helped me at a time no one else would, and the care they provide has saved hundreds of thousands of lives. Now, as many of us are beleaguered with uncertainty in the future of our health care and country at large, we need what they have to offer both in literal medicine and figuratively, as a symbol of equity, empathy, and perseverance in the face of constant attack. As long as good Christian girls are made out of flesh and blood, they may well need them, too.
my vajeen is made of quinoa and vitamin d

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My vageen is made of teeth

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i laughed out loud

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I tried hard to not be spoiled on this show

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Lol at both of our posts getting approved. Sorry for the spoiler.

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They tried to silence us #wepersisted

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Bless you!!!

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Deal

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good thinking

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bookmarking it now

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Works 4 me

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Good plan!

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Yeah that sounds good

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so my top 4 is so fucked now that both daniell's are gone.



i knew Rachel wasn't gonna get the rose (well i based it on the rumor that's now been confirmed, woo!) but i didn't anticipate raven or kristina going this far :(

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If we didn't have to lock in so soon, I think I could've done better

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i love rachel's outfit

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This show is really only bearable for me when I have discussion posts to follow along with

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I fucking hate Nick so fucking much I hope he dies alone.

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No u







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What is UP with those wicker coozies?

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I've decided if I go to Bimini, I'm bring my own foam koozie, not dealing with wicker shit

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I legitimately think he's kind of emotionally stunted and will probably be like 40 and alone.

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I'm all for a man showing emotions but so many tears omg

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thats like only 4 years away so probably lmao

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So wait is she going to leave at the end of this date?

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I feel like that will take a lot of the ~suspense~ out of it

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omg yeah we haven't gotten to finland yet

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Rachel is so awesome, she just seems so sweet to everyone on the show. her and nick have had really cute dates so far, curious to know what happens on the show btwn them where she doesnt get the rose

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I agree she seems so likable and sweet

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that last one!

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kumail is always posting fantastic stuff. he, billy eichner, and andy richter are my trinity lately 

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Mine is Patton Oswalt, Seth MacFarlane, and Michael Ian Black.

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I'm still shook that Conan's goofy right hand man turned out to be such a badass

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Rob Delaney has been making me LOL lately. Extremely on-point political commentary juxtaposed with jokes about his butthole.

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Tweet and Facebook/social media this to keep it in the news so it compounds with all the other negative press.

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we honestly need a complete overhaul of the executive branch. clean that shit out

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your icon <3

and also props for giving camille grammer the recognition she deserves!!

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We need to clean America out TBH

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This branch needs an enema!

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DRAIN THAT SWAMP YEEEHAW

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America needs one hell of a laxative.

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how likely is it that this is the beginning of the end?

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i wish but i highly doubt it

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Oh you sweet summer child

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lol mte

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Lol mte. He once said his supporters/GOP will stand with him even if he kills someone on live television and I truly believe that, they'll always excuse his behaviour nomatter how heinous it is. He will finish the 4 years and am starting to believe he'll serve another term (if he doesn't die that is).

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It's like some weird Watergate / Iran Contra hybrid scandal. Things are sounding extremely similar to the way they sounded before Nixon resigned... but at a much faster pace. It hasn't even been a month yet.



What I wouldn't give to hear Obama and Biden's conversations right now.

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Probably close to zero.

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The beginning of the end was the BuzzFeed leak, I can't imagine this administration lasting even another six months.

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Not likely. House could/should be using Oversight Committee to start investigations now, and Impeachment is done in the Senate, but Repubs have shown/continue to show, they value nothing above Party. They will put up with DJT until they can get all the Right-Wing items they want -gutting Medicare, SS, Medicaid, regulations, and finally, getting the hard Right-wing Gorsuch on the SCOTUS. They fear the Trumpanzees base, so that's why they don't just bounce SCROTUS Trump now. They'll ride him, and his idiot base as long as they can, then maybe, just maybe they'll get rid of him for Pence, and hail it as a victory. Ignoring the part where they allowed our country to get screwed by a hostile foreign power in the meantime, just so they could get what they wanted.



Case in point, the only two Senators who make any noise about Russia, Graham and McCain, still vote totally straightline Repub. even on Tillerson. Whom both know to be a Russian plant as well. And look how both treated Warren. Yeah, they're just as scummy as the rest of them, and they're as close to Repubs with a conscience.



The only way anything gets done is if the House and or Senate can be flipped in '18. Which is why every Dem needs to start working on special elections this year (so we don't lose ground/gain a little now) and start working for '18. It will be tough for Dems in the Senate especially. But if we just get the House, then WE control the Oversight Committee, and that can be as retroactive as we want it to be. :)



But that doesn't mean press and pressure aren't important. They are! The word needs to get out about what traitors/traitor enablers ALL Repubs in Congress are, as much as possible. So that it might penetrate the bubble of some of those less insane Independents who will be needed in '18.

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Many of us only wish, but likely not.

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He is not gonna be the last to go, that's for damn sure.



The press needs to push this ALL THE TIME. This cannot leave the headlines.

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If 9 officials did not leak to the press, Michael Flynn may still be on the job. What did @realDonaldTrump know and when did he know it? https://t.co/ATmTd3wlvS  Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) February 14, 2017

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i wouldn't be surprised if chump told him to call in the first place

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He 100% did, let's be real. If he hadn't (or at the very least, didn't know about it), Flynn would have been fired/resigned days ago. But because he did know he was hoping to keep Flynn and his loyalty around.

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like a boss is gonna fire an employee after a phone call he ordered them to make............

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Ted, watch your back!

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fuck this is so so wild

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From his twitter bio:

Husband of Betty, the love of my life. Father of two great kids. USAF veteran. Member of Congress. In that order. Also, I don't take orders from Vladimir Putin.



lmao

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In trying to keep up with all the other bullshit, this story has actually been something I haven't read about too much beyond the headlines yet. He was supposedly warning the Russians about the sanctions coming from the Obama administration, right? Beyond that, what were they thinking he was involved with?

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That he was compromised, his interest wasn't with America but with Russia. They're also investigating whether he took payments from Russia in 2015.

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Ty bb

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Flynn has been rumored to be compromised back when he was working in the pentagon (this is all speculation). The army has been investigating him back since 2015* when he visited Moscow. Sally Yates informed the Trump admin of that they believe Flynn was compromised weeks ago, but admin they did nothing about it.



Edited at 2017-02-14 05:29 am (UTC)

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Before Trump took office, Flynn had a series of phone calls to the Russian ambassador, in one instance reassuring the ambassador that Obama's sanctions wouldn't stand when the Trump admin took over. When people got whiff of calls, Flynn was like, no biggie just coordinating flights and christmas and shit, Pence parroted those sentiments to Sunday talk shows. Flynn "misdirecting" the admin is the sword he is falling upon. That's what started on Friday, but that's the tip of the iceberg.

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It's also been rumored that he's been in contact with Russia even during the campaign.

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They also say he may have taken money from the Russians which is against the law for someone in the military to do.

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I am going to laugh so. fucking. hard. if there's concrete evidence of him taking money from Russia during the campaign.

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I've seen rumors of Petraeus as a replacement.

Can he even get a security clearance anymore?

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if anyone should be locked up because of emails, it should be him. how the fuck is Trump going to justify hiring Patreus after making such a huge deal about Hillary's emails?

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Being ashamed of hypocrisy would require having shame or caring about being hypocritical.

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This is your friendly reminder that if Trump gives the NSC job to Petraeus, Petraeus would have to notify his probation officer of it.  Steven Rich (@dataeditor) February 14, 2017 The short list is filled with batshit people, but the fact that Petraeus is on the list is so fucking wild.

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It's insane but so is this admin. I want to say he won't get it because he has too much baggage but let's be real, in Trump's America:

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This gif, lol...even though it's true and depressing as hell:-/

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New American National Anthem:





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If Petraeus gets the job, I better not hear one goddamn word from my conservative relatives EVER again about how Hillary mishandled classified information.

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Finally everyone is catching on to the TREASON. Trump will not make it a year. Pence and Ryan and Chaffetz better go down with him.

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You know Ryan is going to bed tonight dreaming of that Gerald Ford path to the White House.

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eughhhhhhhhhh

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wtf is this alternative timeline...

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Oh lord

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i'd like to think ryan tanked his presidential electability by hitching his wagon to the trump train crash but after november i don't know anything anymore. i question everything

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More like pissing his pants at the prospect and looking up real estate in Guam.

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Oh god the schadenfreude of watching Chaffetz go down would make my head explode.

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Chaffetz is already out. I'm even willing to bet they try a recall on him.

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Mitch McConnell too

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Tomorrow is going to be fun.

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Kumail yes! Don't hold back!

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this has been the most exhausting three weeks ever



I need a leave of absence from this country

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It's been just three weeks? wtf It feels like 1000 years

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Mte

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Ikr, it literally feels like it's been forever when not even a month has passed. Lord in heaven.

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It hasn't even been a month?! For fuck's sake

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Lol Pod Save America mentioned this and some smart ass said that when you're stressed time feels slow 

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It really does. I'm still wondering how so much crap has happened just over these three weeks.

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the worst part that it feels like an eternity and it like yeah not evena fucking month

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Lol I think the world as a whole needs a leave of absence from America. I've ages 12 years in these weeks and am not even American so Idk how you'll are functioning.

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3 weeks...........

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Hopefully this is just the first domino to fall, but there's way too much trash that needs to be taken out before we can ever feel safe or secure again.

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I hope the FBI is completely taken out in my lifetime. Restructured into a different organisation and better personnel put in place. The GOP should also not be let off the hook.



Trump and his admin are the symptoms, the real sickness lies with the spineless GOP and their cohorts.

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Edited at 2017-02-14 05:28 am (UTC)

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lol

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lol

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lmao

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lmao

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lol

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lmao

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I needed this laugh, thank u

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Hahaha best comment of 2017!!!

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Deceased and typing from my coffin

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arrested development!

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nnnnnn

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lmfao

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hahah

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I appreciate the icon/gif combo!

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LOL

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lmao

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Cackling from my urn because I'm deceased. XD

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I love this show.

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Lol irl.

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i love how joy hates trump so much that she will relate literally any conversation back to him just so she can bitch about him lol. i feel her on that one. and i love how murderous joy, sunny and whoopi look at jedediah any time she speaks

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OMG bb your icon! 

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lmfao i don't watch the view but that's awesome what a queen.







Edited at 2017-02-14 08:26 pm (UTC)

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there's a woman at my job like that, I swear to god she's like "speaking of mashed potatoes, did you hear what that piece of shit Bannon did?!"

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I'm the same way lol. If someone starts in on Trump, I'm just like, .



Flynnghazi will be no different.

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I love that Joy calls the Trump sons Hanz and Fritz.

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I'd rather not have a NSA at all then have to live through another Trump appointment

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Trump knew that Flynn was lying to Pence.

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I just CANNOT get over the hypocrisy of the right wanting to just gloss over all of these MAJOR ethics violations. Like Hillary couldn't sneeze in Arkansas without being blamed for giving a baby in Florida a cold yet Trump can apparently discuss nuclear policy in the middle of a restaurant and be complicit in shady ass communication with Russia and those aren't worthy of investigation. Bullshit!!!

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Senate Intel Chair Richard Burr confirms to reporters that investigation into Russia election meddling extends to Trump Transition.  Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) February 14, 2017

Richard Burr said this. fucking. richard. burr.

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Does Pence have enough Machiavellian flare to idk team up with Priebus/Ryan/McConnell/other sane(ish) Republicans and stage their own coup against the forces of darkness? I seriously can't even recall hearing that man speak before

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I mean, didn't we all, at the time, assume that they were lying about the content of those phone calls. If Pence really believed it, then I don't even know what to say.

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Flynn's resignation fills me with delight but also despair because I feel like Republicans will do nothing to investigate further and Orange Shitler will continue terrorizing us :(

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There's blood in the water now, which is something we desperately needed.

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Yeah but Republicans seem to be rushing to sweep this under the rug and wash their hands of it, and Democrats are basically powerless. I need some intrepid journalists to unleash hell quick before Trump does some other crazy thing to distract us all.

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idk, even prominent Repubs are saying there needs to be an investigation. They will get on board to save their own skins.

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I was just listening to the radio and I forget but some high-ranking Repub was claiming that Flynn's resignation was basically a self-contained incident and merits no further investigation. WHAT THE FUCK. This is seriously bullshit

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yeah i'm cautiously happy/excited.

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Senate Intel Chair Richard Burr confirms to reporters that investigation into Russia election meddling extends to Trump Transition.  Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) February 14, 2017

here's some hope!

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hope this has a effect that will cause them all to tumble down

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of course they were, until Washington Post leaked it.

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Oooh shit.

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I think this is just the tip of the iceberg, there is going to be some MAJOR shit uncovered here which I am hoping renders the entire election corrupt and his presidency illegitimate.

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from your lips to god's headphones

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God this is like dirty talk to me.

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Yes, yes. I'm not here for Pence and the repubs getting another day. They were complicit in all this, plus throw the trash FBI in the fire pit too.

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I've been dreaming about this since election night.

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P L E A S E

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The entire administration needs to go.

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is jedidiah or w/e still caping for tr*mp?

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she's still acting like people only voted for trump because they didnt have jobs under a democrat.

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yikes

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wait, so what about the unemployment rate steadily dropping since 2009, while Obama was in office? i dare her to explain that to me without using "fake news" or "alternative facts"

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Wait, I thought the reason for his empty ass inauguration was bc they were all at work?

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Did anyone see KAC's latest with Matt Lauer? It was an utter disaster and she looked wrecked as fuck.



At this point, my dream of her live, on air meltdown seems like it's becoming more and more of a possibility.

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I just watched a clip on twitter. She didnt have her normal self-righteous tone. She sounded like someone let out all the air from her balloon head.

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Yup, her trademark insane sing song voice and serene smile were noticeably absent.

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She seems exhausted. Every day it's something new and I'm kind of loving that she's drowning in it all.

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Lol yeah it was great. She's losing steam fast.

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I serve at the pleasure of @POTUS. His message is my message. His goals are my goals. Uninformed chatter doesn't matter.  Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) February 14, 2017

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When you're so deep in shit that you can't outsmart Matt Lauer you are truly fucked.

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When I read a few people say that she looked tired, I thought there wouldn't be much of a difference, but she looks like she hasn't slept in days. I expected her to remove her microphone, quietly say "fuck it, I need a nap," and leave, or fall asleep mid-interview.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy_mF7-FkeQ



I saw that earlier and she seriously did look like a mess, more than usual. Particularly her eye makeup was literally messy, it gave me the feeling of someone crying and smudging their mascara lol like did she just have a cry of frustration before coming on that show? And she looks exhausted.



Welp, she only has herself to blame. I saw that earlier and she seriously did look like a mess, more than usual. Particularly her eye makeup was literally messy, it gave me the feeling of someone crying and smudging their mascara lol like did she just have a cry of frustration before coming on that show? And she looks exhausted.Welp, she only has herself to blame.

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Watching this news feed on Saint Valentine's Day like

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LOL I love this scene so much

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hahahaha

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lmfao nice

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lolololololololol

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Where are you seeing that about Kushner?!

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lmao how long til he quits

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the truth about that kushner douche is finally coming out sis did you read this? http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/02/jared-kushner-donald-trumps-true-believer the truth about that kushner douche is finally coming out

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Christie is a dumbass, but he could actually whip the WH into shape and do some real damage (damage has already been done, but I mean more/worse damage)

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Oh so this could mean Reince is getting the boot too, interesting

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Jason "no need to investigate republican corruption" Chaffetz needs to resign from the overight committee next

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mfte, what a joke he is. The Russians must have some primo dirt on him for him to be this stubborn.

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Yessss. Let his house of cards be the next to fall.

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Lol this is always so fun to watch

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I can and cannot believe this bitch thinks these people were hired protestors as if there are people who live in red districts who vote blue or even people who voted red out of party loyalty and are now pissed af like

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hmmt how about you call out the trumpets that are part of your workplace?



he'd prob lose his job i guess

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Is there verifiably more than the one who has nothing to do with the movies and was removed from having anything to do with the MCU? Ike somebody?



Not being snarky, genuinely asking.

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did y'all hear how Spice Gurl called our prime minister Joe; calling him that from now on.

Joe Trudeau has a nice ring to it.

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yes. how long until he ~resigns~?

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until his blood pressure gives out (all that negativity must hard on his body. sad!)

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Lmaoooooo he's gonna get the axe next

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no don't validate it.

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Noooooooo

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i love that his downfall is in some part due to melissa mccarthy <3

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I was expecting trump to cause a margaret trudeau-related international incident, so us-can relations still exceed my expectations

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Joe Trydeau, rolls right off the tongue. I really hope Justin makes a joke about it somehow when he's back here lol

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Wind power has now overtaken hydroelectric as the largest single source of clean energy in the United States. With 82 thousand MWs of total installed capacity at the end of 2016, wind turbines exceeded the 80 thousand MWs generated by the nations hydroelectric dams. This comes on the heels of the EIAs short-term energy outlook which predicts wind and solar power will continue to account for the fastest growth in the U.S. energy sector, repeating a trend from last year. The EIA predicts wind power will reach 94 thousand MWs by 2018.

Wind hasnt surpassed hydroelectric power in all categories, however; in terms of actual power generated, dams still out-perform wind turbines, as they tend to stay on for more of the year. But with few dams planned for construction, its likely wind power will exceed hydroelectric in actual power produced in the next few years.

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has reported that 10 thousand MWs in new power is currently under construction, including the Amazon Wind Farm off the coast of Elizabeth City, NC, the nations first large off-shore wind farm. Last year, 8200 MWs was added, most of it in the years final quarter.

Much of the growth is being driven by Texas, by far the countrys largest producer of wind power and the industrys leader in adding new capacity. Texas produces 20 thousand MWs, around a quarter of the national total, and maintains more than 11 thousand turbines, which produce 13 percent of the states total power. Texan interest in wind power, which grew under Governor Rick Perry, has wind energy advocates hopeful that Perrys current role as Secretary of Energy wont prove an impediment to additional growth. Related: Oilfield Services Rush To Raise Capital As Oil Recovery Holds

Further interest in wind power may be generated by the sectors growing role as a job creator. Wind power provides employment for about 100,000 people nationwide, far more than the coal industry. Bloomberg has reported that wind power advocates and developers have been urging the federal government, which has shown considerable interest in rejuvenating the U.S. coal industry, to instead shift their attention to wind power.

Much of the sectors growing capacity is coming in rural areas, chiefly in the Midwest. North Dakota, to name one example, has seen 3 thousand MWs installed in the past decade, and one-third of that total in just the last 10 months.

Internationally, the U.S. remains way behind China in terms of wind power capacity. Of the 54 GW installed worldwide in 2016, China accounted for 42 percent, or 23.3 GW. According to Chinese projections, by 2030 wind turbines will supply 26 percent of total electricity demand. China cannot produce electricity with the same efficiency as American turbines, according to Bloomberg, chiefly due to inadequate transmission lines. Related: The Oil Majors To Watch In A Trump Threatened Iran

In Europe, another leader in wind power, 12.5 GW was added, a slight decrease from 2015.

Since the U.S. election last year, the big question facing renewable energy is whether the new Trump Administration, outwardly hostile to non-fossil fuels and critical of climate change advocacy, will prove a hindrance to growth in their sector. Some investors are optimistic, confident that the plummeting cost of wind turbines, the attraction of constructing new wind farms in rural or low-income areas, and the strong demand will continue to propel growth. As one advocate for wind power noted in the Dallas Morning News, 88 percent of wind capacity installedwas in states that voted for Trump.

Wind power has attracted strong interest from major U.S. corporations. Google is backing a plan to build a 225 MW wind farm in Oklahoma, bringing the companys renewable energy portfolio to 2.6 GW. Amazon is constructing turbines in North Carolina to power a server facility. The GM factory in Arlington, TX receives half its power from wind turbines, and plans are set for that figure to reach 100 percent by 2018. The car manufacturer announced plans last November to power fifteen of its factories with wind power and plans on meeting all of its energy needs with renewables by 2050.

The announcement of New Yorks planned 90 MW off-shore wind farm offers further indications of potential growth in the wind power sector. Despite the potential obstacles, economic and political, wind power will continue to be an attractive option for adding new electricity capacity.

By Gregory Brew for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The worlds biggest oil company is preparing for its IPO and it plans on relying on one of the worlds smaller investment banking firms. Saudi Aramco has tapped Moelis & Co., a firm started by Ken Moelis less than a decade ago as an advisor for the IPO.

Moelis is certainly not the worlds smallest investment bank  its not even all that small  the firm is publicly traded. But compared to giants like Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and Morgan Stanley, Moelis is tiny. Despite that, Moelis & Co outmaneuvered its larger rivals to win the biggest equity advisory mandate in history  not just in the history of the firm, but in all of history in all the world.

Moelis & Co, which trades under ticker symbol MC, has a market capitalization of slightly under $1B. And that is after the stock has seen a massive run-up in price over the last few months. And this $1B firm will be advising Saudi Aramco, which should carry a valuation of roughly $2 trillion once it goes public.

MCs accomplishment is enormous, but it also highlights how much work the firm has ahead of it. Much like the proverbial dog that catches the car, now MC has to pull off what will not be an easy assignment. If it does so with aplomb, business at the investment bank could boom. If things do not go well, MC could be relegated to the third tier of boutique investment banks for years to come. To say that this is a high-pressure assignment is an understatement.

Related: OPEC Reports First Output Deal Results: 890,000 Bpd Cut

The Saudi Aramco IPO is going to be tricky for a few reasons. First, the oil company is enormous. With a valuation of $2 trillion, Saudi Aramco is worth roughly one-tenth of the value of all 500 in the S&P 500. In other words, this oil company is about 50 times the size of the average large American company. For that reason, just finding enough investors to fulfill demand will be difficult.

Moelis & Co. wont be responsible for getting investors to buy the Saudi Aramco deal  other banks will do that as part of a broad syndicate once the IPO moves closer  but if MC does not structure the deal properly and lay the right groundwork, the offering could become a debacle.

At this point, deal insiders say that the plan is to sell just 5 percent of Saudi Aramco sometime during 2017. That might not sound like much, but at a $2 trillion valuation, even 5 percent is 100 billion dollars of securities. That money has to come from somewhere, and one year is not that long a time frame to structure the deal. Related: Mafia, Guns And Clans: The Big Libyan Oil Heist

The IPO of Saudi Aramco is the most visible part of deputy crown prince Mohammad bin Salmans strategy to overhaul the Saudi economy and privatize the state-centric oil system which is bloated and inefficient in many respects. Moreover, Riyadh is planning to use the IPO proceeds  roughly $3,000 for every person in the country  to start diversifying the Saudi economy as a whole. That plan hinges on a successful IPO for Aramco.

Moelis & Co is not the only bank working on the deal or with the Saudi government. JPMorgan for instance is also involved. But Moelis & Co. will play a primary role in bringing public the firm that produces one out of every nine barrels of oil. So far, in preparation for the IPO, Aramco has reportedly sought advice on among other issues, what exchange to list on, what its regulatory exposure will be, what type of disclosure and filings will be needed for the notoriously secretive company, and what kind of dividend policy it should adopt.

Its going to be a busy 2017 for Ken Moelis and his team.

By Michael McDonald of Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Oil prices are flat on Tuesday as both OPEC and U.S. shale exert influence on crude markets which continue to be in wait and see mode

(Click to enlarge)



Chart of the Week

(Click to enlarge)

 The EIA expects U.S. tight oil will rise to 6 million barrels per day over the next decade, which will mean tight oil accounts for more than half of total U.S. oil production.

 Tight oil also makes up nearly all of the production growth in the U.S. going forward, with most conventional fields already developed.

 However, the EIA expects that by the mid-2020s, U.S. tight oil production peaks and then plateaus. Shale wells suffer from faster depletion than conventional oil fields, and so most of the best shale plays will see their output peak within the next decade before they begin to decline.

Market Movers

 Energy Transfer Partners (NYSE: ETP) received the final easement needed to complete construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline last week. Native American tribes filed for an injunction in federal court to stop construction in recent days but a judge denied the request.

 The U.S. State Department said on Friday that it finds no adverse impact from the expansion of Enbridges (NYSE: ENB) Alberta Clipper Pipeline, which carries oil to Minnesota and Wisconsin. Unlike other pipelines, the Clipper has attracted much less controversy. The State Dept. finding should ease the way for expansion.

 A new report finds that Canadas oil sands industry will reach Albertas CO2 emissions cap by 2026 unless new technologies are developed to lower emissions. The cap stands as a looming threat to oil sands production if emissions keep rising.

Tuesday February 14, 2017

Oil is flat out of the gates this week with a continued wait-and-see approach, as the IEA put it. OPEC compliance looks good but U.S. drilling continues to rise.

U.S. oil exports rise. Since the ban on crude oil exports was lifted a little over a year ago, exports from the U.S have proceeded slowly. However, exports are finally beginning to pick up steam, averaging 623,000 bpd so far in 2017, up 42 percent from the same period a year earlier. U.S. crude exports could rise to 900,000 bpd at some point this year. Helping U.S. exporters is the steeper discount between WTI and Brent, making U.S. crude more competitive on the international market.

Glut of refined fuels in Asia. Refining production of gasoline and diesel in Asia will exceed demand by 750,000 bpd this year, according to BMI Research. The firm expects the glut to persist through 2021 at least, a staggering supply overhang that could weigh on prices. It will also weigh on the profits of refiners in Asia as margins are set to remain low for the foreseeable future. Part of the reason for the glut is the wave of refining complexes planned years ago that have come online. But the demand side of the equation is also to blame, with Chinese oil demand growth set to slow to just 1.7 percent per year for the next eight years, after growing by an average of 5 percent for the past decade.

Energy investments lose swagger. With oil prices doubling over the calendar year in 2016, the energy sector offered some of the juiciest returns for investors  energy was the best performer in the S&P 500 last year, rising by 24 percent. Now, with oil prices stagnating in the $50s, the fat returns are over. The S&P Energy sector is down 3.6 percent year-to-date.

Saudi Arabia cuts deeper. According to OPECs latest monthly report, Saudi Arabia says that it has cut production much deeper than it was required as part of the deal reached last November. Saudi oil production dropped to 9.748 mb/d in January, lower than the 10.06 mb/d cap that it had agreed to. The reduction of 717,600 bpd since last fall has helped the group adhere close to its target. OPEC has done particularly well, theyve surprised most analysts, Spencer Welch, director of oil markets and downstream at IHS Markit, told Bloomberg. Saudi Arabia has made a particular effort to boost compliance.

OPEC compliance to fall? It should be noted, however, that some analysts see this as the high watermark for compliance. Saudi Arabia will be under pressure to increase production as temperatures rise in order to offset demand, and the idea of front-loading steep cuts was intentional in order to inspire confidence in the deal from the market. In other words, things look good on the compliance front, but investors should remain skeptical. Meanwhile, Kuwaits oil minister said that he and other OPEC officials are leaning on non-OPEC members to increase their compliance with the deal. The non-OPEC countries participating in the deal are posting a 50 percent compliance rate right now.

Iraq output to fall. Bloomberg reports that Iraqs production could hit a seven-month low in March due to maintenance and seasonal fluctuations, which could help Iraq meet its obligations under the OPEC deal. March exports could drop to 3 mb/d from 3.64 mb/d in February. Iraq promised to cut 210,000 bpd as part of the agreement and some field maintenance could allow them to achieve that target.

18 U.S. automakers want Trump to relax fuel efficiency standards. The CEOs of 18 major carmakers sent a joint letter to the Trump administration to rollback fuel efficiency requirements set during the Obama administration for model years 2022-2025, which would require company fleets to average greater than 50 miles per gallon. Related: Is $60 Oil Within Reach?



Indias oil demand plunges unexpectedly. As the Chinese consumer market matures, its oil demand growth has slowed down. India is expected to take the mantle of the largest source of annual consumption growth. However, recent data shows that Indias oil demand in January plunged by the most since May 2003 due to a currency shortage. Fuel consumption dipped by 4.5 percent, a shocker given the projections for rapid growth in demand for years to come. The culprit is said to be a government crackdown on high-valued currency notes, which is cutting into economic activity.

Trump admin softens tone on foreign policy. President Trump reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the One China policy last week, and the NYT reports that some top advisors recently told their European counterparts that the administration would carry out the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran rather than rip it up as promised on the campaign trail. If true, that would significantly lower the tensions between the U.S. and Iran, taking one massive oil market risk off the table.

Oil discoveries hit new low. According to IHS Markit, the global oil industry only logged 174 new discoveries last year, compared with an average of 400 to 500 annually before 2014. Lower oil prices have forced companies large and small to scale back exploration. With large oil fields offshore less competitive, the industry is becoming increasingly reliant on shale, which enjoys lower upfront costs and thus, less exploration risk. But the dearth of new discoveries could lead to a supply shortfall five to seven years from now. Discoveries dropped to their lowest point in nearly seventy years in 2015, only to dip further last year. The one positive note is that exploration spending is set to increase in 2017, so discoveries are likely to rebound.

By Evan Kelly of Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Oilfield Services Rush To Raise Capital As Oil Recovery HoldsChinas independent refiners, the so-called teapots, are importing Russias Urals grade with the drop in the Brent/Middle East spreads as OPECs cuts have made the Dubai and Oman crudes more expensive.

The increased Chinese imports from Russia could further boost Russias position as Chinas largest crude oil supplier, after it recently overtook Saudi Arabia to top the ranking.

Russia last year overtook Saudi Arabia as Chinas biggest supplier of crude oil thanks in large part to increased demand the teapots. The average daily amount that Russian companies exported to China in 2016 stood at 1.05 million barrels, up by 25 percent from 2015. Saudi Arabias average daily shipments to the worlds second-largest oil consumer were 1.02 million barrels daily in the period, an amount representing a slight 0.9-percent uptick on 2015.

Now in early 2017 the drop in the Brent/Middle East crude spreads has opened the arbitrage window for Russias Urals  which is priced against the Brent - to head to Asia.

According to Reuters sources with knowledge of trade schedules, Shandong Wonfull Petrochemical Group has bought 2 million barrels of the Urals crude grade for delivery this month and in May.

The Urals quality is good; it is also very similar to Oman, and has better refining economics, one source told Reuters. Since Oman crude has become more expensive with the OPEC cuts, teapots are replacing Oman with Urals, according to traders.

Related: Europes Big Oil Breaks Even At $50-60 Per Barrel

Unlike Chinas state oil companies that are bound by long-term contracts with Saudi Arabia, the small refineries are taking advantage of Russias exports and the narrow spread between the Brent and the Middle Eastern benchmarks Oman and Dubai.

According to trade sources quoted by Reuters, Lukoils trading unit Litasco would be sending 1 million barrels of Urals crude, part of which it would sell to an independent refiner in China. In addition, Reuters shipping data show that Litasco and Unipec -- the trading unit of Sinopec  are expected to send two Suezmax tankers to China, loading from Novorossiisk in the middle of February.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Just as Libya loads its first tanker from a new floating storage platform in the offshore Bouri oilfield, authorities have detained four senior oil executives over fraud related to the vessel.

Authorities on Monday arrested four senior executives from Mellitah Oil and Gas, which operates the Bouri field in a joint venture between the National Oil Corporation and Italys Eni, according to Libya media reports.

The authorities allege that the four abused their power and wasted public money in the acquisition of the 120,000-ton Gaza storage tanker, which is part of the US$425-million floating storage and offloading vessel (FSO).

More specifically, the authorities allege that the contract price of the Gaza was inflated, and claim that an 11-month delay in the delivery of the vessel was not reimbursed in line with a penalty clause for five percent of the contract value.

The names of those arrested have not been released officially.

On Monday, the new FSO loaded its first tanker from the Gaza platform, which was constructed in South Korea. The platform arrived in May 2016 and began pumping crude in January 2017. The new platform replaces an ageing Italian platform.

The platforms storage tanks have a capacity to hold 1.5 million barrels.



Related: Artificial Intelligence To Reveal The Biggest Secret In Oil

Production began in the Bouri oilfield in 1988. It was discovered in 1976.

The news comes as Italian oil giant Eni is working to increase its activities in Libya, despite the political chaos, and despite the fact that other supermajors have withdrawn entirely.

In January, Eni launched exploratory drilling for gas offshore.

The political situation in Libya is still such that the continuation of current production levels is uncertain at best. While the country is now producing 715,000 barrels per day, down from its Ghaddafi heydays of 1.6 million bpd, the ongoing power struggle and rapidly shifting alliances render stability elusive, and allows smuggling to thrive.

Last week, forces of the Misrata militia announced the creation of yet another guardthe Libyan National Guard (LNG)ostensibly to protect institutions. Yet they have already engaged in clashes with the flailing UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA). This has pushed GNA closer to its main rival, General Haftar of the Libyan National Army (LNA).

Then, on Monday, unnamed sources told Libyan media that the head of the GNAs Presidential Council was planning in the coming days to propose the formation of a mini-government that would have a unified military council headed by General Haftar.

If successful, this new alliance could help unify Libya, at least temporarily.

By Damir Kaletovic for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Shells Nigerian subsidiary has committed US$1 billion for the development of the Niger Delta, the Vice President of the federal government, Yemi Osinbajo, said. Osinbajo is on a tour in the Delta, aiming to appease through dialogue the militant groups that have crippled Nigerias oil industry over the last couple of years.

The money will be released in US$500-million annual installments, to be used to provide clean drinking water, conduct health impact assessments, and supply remediation technologies to local communities, who tried to sue Shell for failure to clean up an oil spill in the area. The case was heard by the London High Court, which ruled that it is outside its jurisdiction: Shell Petroleum Development Company is registered in Nigeria, so a Nigerian court should be the one to hear the case.

The federal government has demonstrated determination in its attempts to appease the Niger Delta militants who have been blowing up pipelines for two years now, inflicting substantial damage to the infrastructure and cutting Nigerias oil production to a level that granted the country exemption from the OPEC oil production cut agreement.

Recently, perhaps thanks to the efforts to come to a mutually beneficial solution to the problems of the oil-rich Delta, the attacks have become rarer, with the government pledging support for the impoverished communities living there.



Related: Europes Big Oil Breaks Even At $50-60 Per Barrel

Now, during his tour of the Delta, the Vice President  and acting President  reiterated President Buharis commitment to amnesty for the militants and to the vocational training of the locals to ensure employment and pull them out of poverty.

Meanwhile, rumors about President Buharis health are rife: he has not been seen in public for a month, and although official sources insist he is in good health, there is speculation that he has gone to London for medical treatment, with some recalling the fate of another Nigerian President, Umaru Musa YarAdua, who died in office after extended medical treatment abroad, which the government attempted to conceal at the time.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
By Dan Lucas

I was not a supporter of Donald Trump in the Republican primaries, and I had enough misgivings about him that I didnt vote for him in the general election. I would have voted for him if I lived in a battleground state, but I dont  I live in deep blue Oregon.

Despite that, when it began to look like hed win on election night I was as excited as if my team was winning the Super Bowl! Now in fairness, I can only imagine what that feels like, since Im a Minnesota Vikings fan.

I was also excited that Republicans held onto control of both chambers of Congress, and that they now control so many governorships and state legislatures.

CBS reported Republicans have expanded their power in state capitols to their strongest levels in decades. 33 of 50 governors are now Republican, a 95-year high not seen since 1922. Daily Kos notes that Republicans control both legislative chambers in 32 states, and Democrats only control the legislature in 13 states. One of those 13 is Oregon.

As a Republican, whats not to like?

I am grateful to have a president now who shows respect for law enforcement and the military. I am beyond grateful that someone besides Hillary Clinton will be appointing Supreme Court justices for the foreseeable future. I have been very pleased, and at times pleasantly surprised, by Trumps cabinet picks and key appointments so far  notably Judge Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court, Gen. Mattis for Secretary of Defense, Sen. Jeff Sessions for Attorney General, Gov. Rick Perry for Secretary of Energy and Gov. Nikki Haley as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

There was one aspect of Trumps supporters that I completely missed. I was humbled and chagrined to see how we as a county had been letting down a large, unrepresented segment of our fellow Americans. The people living in the rust belt whose jobs had left, and all of the other Americans who were suffering silently with no spokesperson, no lobbyists and no one advocating on their behalf. A year ago Peggy Noonan called them the unprotected. They found an advocate in Donald Trump. For his supporters, Trump may be a flawed messenger, but at least he was carrying the message and he was the only who was.

I am cautiously optimistic. For me, the big victory was the Supreme Court nominees being selected by someone other than Hillary Clinton. The rest is gravy. Im still concerned by some of the same things regarding Trumps temperament and character, but Ive been pleasantly surprised with many of his conservative appointments and actions so far.

And speaking of Trumps character, Im amazed at the hypocrisy on the left in some of their most virulent criticism. A great deal of the outrage expressed in the recent womens marches was about despicable comments Trump made in 2005. He also has a history of credible allegations of sexual assault and unwanted advances. He should be held accountable for all of that, but these same people marching are OK with what Bill Clinton has been reliably accused of doing? Rape and sexual assault. And theyre also OK with Hillarys unrepentant suppression of any of the women who said they had been victimized by her husband? One of the women who says she was victimized by Bill Clinton tweeted that Hillary has called Bills victims bimbos, sluts, trailer trash, whores, skanks. Where were the protest marches against the Clintons?

Hollywood has come out strongly against Trump, but they fawn over the likes of child-rapist Roman Polanski and accused child abuser Woody Allen.

Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it. I am more than OK with holding President Trump accountable for the things he does and says, but that accountability needs to be in proportion and it needs to be fairly and evenly applied.

In the meantime, it would be nice for everyone to take a step back from the overreaction to Trumps victory and to actually give him a chance.

Dan Lucas is an independent researcher and policy advocate, and the past editor of Oregon Catalyst. Follow his work at www.dan-lucas.com or contact him at [email protected]
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D.

Despite an eight percent increase in general fund revenues, Governor Kate Brown and some lawmakers say the State of Oregon is facing a $1.7 billion budget shortfall in the 2017-19 biennium. In her inaugural address, the governor blames more than $1 billion of the shortfall on the states choice to expand Medicaid and other taxpayer-funded insurance. The Census Bureau estimates that about one in four Oregonians are in the states Medicaid program.

In addition to the expansion provided by the Affordable Care Act, the governor seeks new state money to expand single-payer public insurance to those who are not lawfully present in the United States, under a program called Cover All Kids.

Although the federal government pays a large portion of the costs of Medicaid expansion, the states share of the costs is growing under the ACA. The huge costs of Medicaid mean even a small increase in Oregons share has big impacts on the states budget. State Senator Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, incoming co-chair of the Ways and Means Committee for Human Services indicates that about one-third of the deficit at the Oregon Health Authority comes from what she called a minuscule reduction in the federal match. This deficit is certain to grow as federal support for expansion shrinks over time, as outlined in the ACA.

The state has massively underestimated the costs of Medicaid expansion in Oregon. A 2013 report prepared for the state estimated that the Medicaid expansion would cost Oregons general fund $217 million in the upcoming 2017-19 biennium. Janelle Evans, budget director for the Oregon Health Authority, now estimates a cost to the states general fund of at least $353 million. For the federal government, the cost of Oregons Medicaid expansion will cost more than $3.5 billion over the next two years.

Oregon simply cannot afford the ACAs Medicaid expansion and Governor Browns expensive new entitlement. Nationally, expansion costs and enrollment have grown much faster than projected. Previous expansions of the Medicaid program have resulted in crowding out, the process by which taxpayer funded Medicaid replaces private health insurance. These earlier expansions have seen crowd-out rates ranging from 15 percent to 50 percent, depending on the type of expansion. Not only does the expansion crowd out private insurance, government spending on the expansion crowds out funding for other state and national priorities, such as education, infrastructure, and defense.

In Congress, repeal of much of the ACA is imminent. Oregon Congressman Greg Walden, incoming chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, is working on a timeline for repealing major provisions of the health care law, including the expansion of Medicaid. In the absence of repeal, Congress should consider an enrollment freeze approach. A freeze would halt new enrollment while allowing current enrollees to stay in the program until their incomes climb above eligibility limits. It would be an intermediate step towards repeal with immediate benefits for taxpayers and current enrollees.

However repeal of the ACA rolls out, Oregons congressional delegation should be at the forefront of ending the Medicaid expansion as soon as possible. While Congress works through the details, Oregon can take steps in the upcoming legislative session to protect the states fragile finances. One first step would be to opt out of the ACAs Medicaid expansion and reject Governor Browns proposal to expand coverage even further. As noted in the governors inaugural address, the states choice to expand Medicaid is the single largest source of the impending budget deficit. Rejecting the health care laws expansion is the clearest path to fiscal solvency and financial responsibility.

Eric Fruits, Ph.D. is president and chief economist at Economics International Corp., an Oregon based consulting firm specializing in economics, finance, and statistics. He is also an adjunct professor of economics at Portland State University, an Academic Advisor to Cascade Policy Institute, and author of Cascades report, The Oregon Health Plan: A Bold Experiment That Failed. This article originally appeared in The Oregonian on January 27, 2017.
Hawkish US Think Tanks

14 February, 2017

By Asif Haroon Raja

The two leading US think tanks namely Hudson Institute and the Heritage Foundation have advised the Donald Trump administration to adopt tough measures against Pakistan. In their view Pakistan is not doing enough in controlling terrorism and is making its soil available for export of terrorism into Afghanistan, thereby threatening the US vital security interests in the region. They have suggested a critical review of intelligence on Pakistans involvement in supporting terror since in their view the previous administrations have been taking a lenient view. In their estimation, Pakistan is not an American ally and has been playing a double game by cooperating occasionally and partially.



In their recommendations they have stated that Pakistan must be firmly asked to fully share the US counterterrorism objectives, end its support to the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani network (HN) and given stern warning that failure to do so would deprive it of the status on non-NATO ally within six months and result in declaring Pakistan as a State sponsor of Terrorism. In their assessment, China and Gulf Arab States share the US concern about Pakistans tolerance of terrorist organizations/individuals. They hasten to add that Pakistan being an important country should also be induced by offering a mutually beneficial trade and investment package, while continuing humanitarian and social assistance programs.



It is a well-known fact that there are 1984 think tanks in USA with 350 in Washington. Both Heritage and Hudson are among the 50 most influential think tanks. Other important ones are American Enterprise Institute, Centre for Security Policy, Foreign Policy Research Inst, Institute of Foreign Policy Analysis, Brookings Inst etc. These institutes are required to provide research solutions to a variety of world problems and then lobbying for policy changes. Perceptions are built and the US policy makers influenced to formulate foreign policies or make changes in policies, and frame responses to external challenges.



These intellectual institutes are however mostly controlled by the Far-Right Zionist lobby which is pro-Israel and guided by American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPIAC). Of the 30 top executives of the major think tanks, 19 are Jews (63%), whereas Jews are mere 2% of the total population. 94% of American Jews live in 13 key Electoral College State, who play a predominant role in the election of US president. Zionist lobby is closely aligned with Indian lobby in USA. The two lobbies besides having influence over think tanks and media, also have strong influence over the US Congress and play a big role in the election of each member. It is therefore quite logical to assume that like hundreds of anti-Pakistan reports dished out by the US think tanks, US Congress, New York Times, Washington Post and Voice of America, this report was also manufactured by these lobbies that are hostile to Pakistan. Purpose is to influence the new administration to pursue old policies to keep Pakistan in the dock.



Rather than focusing on foreign policy and security issues, these think tanks work on tutored themes and burn midnight oil in justifying the crimes of USA, Israel and India against humanity, painting the targeted Muslim countries particularly the radical groups in black and blaming the victims of aggression as terrorists or sponsors of terrorism. Pakistan has been the biggest victim of Indo-US-Israeli propaganda since 2005. Since none of the sinister objective against Pakistan could be accomplished through covert means, the propaganda continues unabated and this report is in continuation of the malicious campaign.



I may like to ask the wise guys of the two think tanks some probing questions:



Whether their counsels helped USA in winning the war on terror, or at least in improving their image. If not, have they ever prepared a paper highlighting why the US has failed to achieve its stated and hidden objectives after fighting the longest war in its history and spending over $ 1 trillion, where the US went wrong and how could it make amends to restore its lost prestige. (I have).



Instead of the next door neighbor Pakistan feeling insecure, how come the US located 7000 miles away and across the seven seas feel threatened by the chaos in Afghanistan which it had intentionally created?



I want to know as to what are the accomplishments of the US-NATO forces and in what way they have fared better than Pakistan to ask it repeatedly to do more? In my reckoning, the US need to do a lot more.



Can the US deny that CIA in league with RAW, NDS, MI-6, Mossad and BND been exporting terrorism into Pakistan since 2003 with the help of its proxies created in FATA, Swat, Baluchistan and Karachi? Can it deny that RAW and NDS are still supporting them?



Why the ISAF withdrew bulk of 1, 30, 000 troops from Afghanistan in December 2014 without eliminating its principal objective of eliminating terrorism?



Was it because of resurging Taliban power which it couldnt defeat, or the sagging morale of ISAF soldiers due to mounting war casualties, suicides, in-house attacks, huge number of post stress disorder cases and uninspiring military leadership?



Isnt it true that the morale of occupying forces drawing handsome salaries drooped because they had no cause and that they were fighting a wrong war for selfish motives of the elites?



When the US accepted in principle that the Taliban could neither be defeated on the battlefield nor cowed down and decided to quit Afghanistan by December 2014, what was the need for keeping behind a token force along with airpower? Did it really expect that what the combined military force of 48 countries couldnt achieve, would be accomplished by ANSF rived in so many discipline problems?



Isnt it a fact that rather than accepting defeat in good grace and quitting honorably, the US military brazenly blamed Pakistan for all its failures? Can the prestige and honor of the sole super power be restored by making Pakistan a scapegoat?



Pakistan security forces and ISI on the other hand successfully broke the back of terror network and demolished all the sanctuaries, communication and command infrastructure from FATA and settled areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, enfeebled foreign backed separatist movement in Baluchistan and demolished the militant structure of MQM in Karachi. All this was done single-handed against all odds and astounded the world. USA is among the ones acknowledging Pakistans spectacular successes.



If Pakistan had fought the war with ill-motives and without a genuine cause, could it have achieved the miracle?



It is now an open secret that the US had occupied Afghanistan under a preconceived design and with sinister objectives against Pakistan and other regional countries. It has been calculatingly inflaming terrorism in the region and particularly in Pakistan and at no stage made any sincere effort to quash terrorism.



Had the US been sincere and serious in eliminating terrorism as professed by George W. Bush and his successor Barak Obama, it would have made Pakistan its strategic partner and banked upon it based upon its astounding performance in the war against the Soviets in the 1980s.



The US relied upon India which has nothing in common with Afghans and is a far distant neighbor. Driven by acute animosity against Pakistan, India kept pressing US military to focus on Pakistan rather than on consolidating its gains in Afghanistan. Gen Mc Chrystal, Gen Petraeus and former Secretary Defense Chuck Hegel publically declared India as a problem child.



Wasnt it a big mistake on part of the US to sideline the Afghan Pashtuns that are in big majority, and instead rely upon minority Tajiks, Uzbeks and others in Northern Alliance and unpopular and inefficient regimes of Karzai and of Ghani?



One may ask as to why the US has been striving hard since 2011 to have dialogue with the Taliban who are supposed to be the foes and are still vying to make them agree to talk? And why Pakistan is being asked to stay away from them? Concept of good and bad Taliban is the brainchild of USA and not of Pakistan. In its view, all those agreeing to talk are good and those refusing to talk are bad.



Since 2008, the Taliban are constantly gaining ground in Afghanistan and are striking targets in all parts of the country including Kabul and northern and western parts. Their resurgence became menacing after 2014 and coming spring offensive will prove highly perilous for the unity government in Kabul and for the 3, 50,000 ANSF supported by 12000 Resolute Support Group that have failed to stem the tide. So how come Pakistan is responsible for their dismal performance particularly after it cleared the last stronghold of North Waziristan in 2014 where HN was based?



The US has been suspecting and distrusting Pakistan from the outset since it was never made an ally. Marked as a target, friendship was a ruse to deceive Pakistan, make it complacent, weaken it from within through covert operations and then extract its nuclear teeth at an opportune time. This feat if achieved would have justified its most expensive Afghan venture. So who has been playing a double game??



Rather than learning lessons from past mistakes and blunders and taking corrective measures by working out a face saving formula, the two think tanks have suggested the same old remedy which will prove counterproductive.



Pakistan has been kept on the leash all these years. So, what tough measures are now being suggested? The threat of declaring Pakistan a terrorist state, or to make the financial assistance condition based, or drone war are coercive tools in use for over a decade.



What is so new suggested by the sages and that too at a time when Pakistan has weathered all the pains, its armed forces are fully battle inoculated and have proved their mettle, its nuclear and missile programs are vibrant and in safe hands, it has overcome its energy and economic crisis, it is no more isolated, it is a coalition partner of ascending power and has other options as well? On the other hand, USA is a declining power ruled by controversial, unpredictable and unpopular president, annoying everyone including the Americans other than the most detestable Israel and India. How has the Trump administration responded to Irans tough response? It is on a weaker wicket to threaten nuclear Pakistan.



The writer is a retired Brig, war veteran, defence analyst, columnist, author of five books, Vice Chairman Thinkers Forum Pakistan, DG Measac Research Centre. asifharoonraja@gmail.com
Pakistans bloopers 14 February, 2017 By Asif Haroon Raja

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In search for security in the face of Indias belligerence and dangerous designs together with Afghanistans hostility, Pakistan blundered to join SEATO and CENTO in 1954 and earned the hostility of Afghanistan, former Soviet Union and China. India took these western pacts as an excuse to make a U turn on Kashmir issue.



The defense pacts helped Pakistan under Ayub Khan to develop its economy and defensive capability, but the pacts were designed to contain communism and not to provide security against India or to help in resolving Kashmir dispute. These pacts proved inconsequential during the wars with India in 1965 and 1971 and played no role in preventing truncation of Pakistan in 1971.



Despite the fact that Pakistan played a key role in the China-US detente in 1971, enabling USA to withdraw its forces from Vietnam, the US always kept India above Pakistan, knowingly that India was aligned with Soviet Union.



Supply of arms by the US and western countries to India after the Indo-Sino border clash in 1962 impelled Pakistan to lean on China since arms provided by the two rival camps had tilted the military balance in favor of India. This shift irked USA.



War against Soviets and Fallout Effects



Pakistan again blundered to let the US make FATA a launching pad and use Jihadis as proxies to fight Soviet forces in Afghanistan in 1980s in return for $3.5 billion economic/military assistance spread over 5 years. Although the Jihad directed by the ISI achieved its goal of ousting the Soviets from Afghanistan, but Pakistan had to suffer at the hands of KGB-KHAD-RAW nexus as well as that of Al-Zulfiqar throughout the 10-year war.



The Afghan Jihad gifted Pakistan with drug and Kalashnikov cultures which militarized the society and intensified sectarianism. It also bred misgivings in Pak-Iran relations.



Instead of rewarding Pakistan for the huge price it paid to defeat a super power and for paving the way for the US to become sole super power, it was not only left high and dry by self-serving USA but also punished for pursuing nuclear program, which it had ignored till 1989, by imposing harsh sanctions in 1990. Worst was Indo-US embrace in 1991 followed by Indo-Israel alignment, giving shape to Indo-US-Israel axis, which raised the specter of Islamic bomb.



Sanctions under Jewish inspired Pressler Amendment weakened Pakistans economy, multiplied its debt, impacted the democratic era (1988-1999) and handicapped Pakistan to combat fallout effects of Afghan war.



The only positive outcome of the bloody war was the completion of nuclear program under Gen Ziaul Haq, which was otherwise not possible. It raised the stature of Pakistan among the Muslim world. Fear of bomb in the basement prevented India under Rajiv Gandhi from converting Indian Exercise Brass-tacks into full-fledged war in 1986/87. Likewise, war over Kashmir in 1990/91 in the wake of armed uprising in Indian occupied Kashmir was also averted due to nuclear factor. Benazir rather than fulfilling American agenda of rolling back nuclear program enhanced missile program.



In the First Gulf War in 1991, while Egypt got its $7 billion external debt waived off without deploying a single soldier, as a reward for legitimizing the US-NATO intervention in the Gulf, Pakistan got nothing despite deploying over 10,000 troops in Saudi Arabia because of the then Army chiefs pro-Saddam statements which annoyed Saudi Arabia and USA.



Pakistans support to the Taliban from 1996 till September 2001 antagonized Northern Alliance (an amalgam of non-Pashtun Afghans under Ahmad Shah Masood) and brought them under the influence of Iran, India, West and Russia.



War on Terror after 9/11



Pakistan once again blundered after 9/11 by ditching friendly regime of Taliban in Afghanistan at the behest of Washington and befriending untrustworthy USA that had left Pakistan in a lurch during its testing times.



Pakistan learnt no lesson from the repeated betrayals and happily accepted all the demands of USA under the fond hope that this time it will not deceive and will compensate for its past wrongs by making Pakistan prosperous in return for fighting the US imposed war on terror on its soil. But the US had a fixed agenda of disabling Pakistans nuclear program covertly, separating Baluchistan and making Pakistan a secular state. Gen Musharraf and not Pakistan was made the darling of the west.



Pakistan after earning the animosity of Taliban on account of its full support to the US to occupy Afghanistan also antagonized the tribesmen of FATA when the Army launched an operation in South Waziristan (SW) in 2003 at the bidding of USA to flush-out Al-Qaeda and its supporters.



Pakistani Taliban started a guerrilla war against the Army and in December 2007 formed Tehrik-Taliban-Pakistan (TTP) under Baitullah Mehsud with tentacles in all the seven agencies of FATA.



The Afghan Taliban and Pakistani Taliban believing in one ideology are in collusion and pursue shared goal of establishing Islamic Emirate. The two entities had however divided their areas of responsibility; Taliban confining their fight in Afghanistan against occupying forces and their collaborators and the TTP fighting against Pak security forces. Their partner Al-Qaeda remained operative on both sides of the divide. Haqqani network aligned with Taliban headquartered itself in North Waziristan (NW) and remained friendly toward Pakistan till their ouster in June 2014.



The TTP was hijacked by foreign agencies in its formative years and was heavily funded, equipped and trained to fight Pak Army and to convert Swat, Bajaur, SW and NW into fortresses.



Annoyed by Musharraf regimes decision to impose ban and freeze funds in 2002/03, Kashmir focused Jihadi groups and other militant groups veered towards TTP. By 2013, an amalgam of over 60 militant groups had come under the wings of Hakimullah led TTP in NW.



TTP leaders had pledged allegiance to Taliban supreme leader Mulla Omar in 2008 and had accepted him as Ameerul Momineen. Their pledge remained intact till mid 2014 after which many pledged allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakar Baghdadi since they had got a wind of death of Mulla Omar in April 2013 which was intentionally kept secret.



Syria-Iraq based ISIS has made inroads in Afghanistan with the help of India and has established itself at Nangarhar and is in collusion with Khalid Omer Khurasani led Jamaat-e-Ahrar, an offshoot of TTP and with Fazlullah. The two had fled from Mohmand Agency and Swat to Afghanistan after the military operation Rah-e-Rast in 2009. Fazlullah was nominated Ameer of TTP after the death of Hakimullah in early 2014.



Operation Zarb e Azb launched in June 2014 succeeded in pushing out all militant groups including HN from their last stronghold in NW. All the runaway TTP leaders and fighters have been given sanctuaries by NDS and RAW at Nuristan, Kunar and Nangarhar from where they are undertaking cross border terrorism inside Pakistan. HN is fighting its war from eastern Afghanistan, its traditional stronghold.



The US, India, Afghanistan, Israel, NATO strategic partners based in Kabul since November 2001 have been constantly weaving plans and conspiracies to harm Pakistan. They have been fueling terrorism in Pakistan with the help of their paid proxies in FATA, Baluchistan and Karachi and at the same time pressing Pakistan to do more.



Unable to stabilize Afghanistan after fighting the Taliban and al-Qaeda for 15 years, both Kabul and Washington are blaming Pakistan for its failures. The duo wants Pakistan to fight elements of Afghan Taliban and HN, supposedly in FATA and Baluchistan, and to force them to lay down arms and sign their drafted agreement.



Field commanders of Taliban movement disfavor peace talks since they have suffered the most. After forcing USA to pullout bulk of ISAF troops in December 2014, they have gained a definite edge over the ANSF supported by a small US-NATO force and initiative is in their hands. 29 districts are in their full control and 34 districts are being contested. They dont want to come to terms with collaborators who have plunged the country into the vortex of vices which they had eliminated during their 5-year rule. They dont want an agreement on dictated terms and without meeting their basic demands. The Taliban and HN feel that Pakistan is once again siding with their opponents to undermine their sacrifices. In its bid to please the US and unpopular unity government in Kabul, Pakistan is fast losing whatever goodwill Taliban have for it.



India has successfully brainwashed all segments of Afghan society and poisoned their minds against Pakistan. There is widespread hatred against Pakistan both at government and people to people levels.



Destabilized Afghanistan suit USA and India since it enables both to retain their presence and continue with their covert operations.



Entry of Russia in Afghan Affairs



After China, Russia has begun to slowly make inroads into Afghanistan. Its entry in Afghan affairs is likely to change the dynamics of Afghan imbroglio.



The newly emerging politico-economic axis of Russia-China-Central Asian Republics-Pakistan which is drawing strength from CPEC is likely to grow stronger if Iran and Turkey, both resentful of USA joins it.



There are reports that Russia is supplying arms to the Taliban to tackle the threat from the ISIS, aspiring to establish Khurasan State. Russia is also pleading the Taliban case in the UN for taking off their names from the blacklist. The Taliban have exuded confidence in the Russia-China-Pakistan grouping to pursue peace in Afghanistan.



Supply of arms to the Taliban by Russia is worrisome for Kabul and Washington. After all, Moscow has not forgotten and forgiven the perverse role of USA in its fragmentation. Provision of stingers to the Mujahidin in 1988 had forced the Soviets to hasten their exit from Afghanistan. To avenge its humiliation, Russia may be aspiring to make Afghanistan a graveyard of USA. This wish is achievable if it supplies surface to air missiles to the Taliban, enabling them to contest the airpower. If so, it will make the position of 12000 strong Resolute Support Group based in five military bases tenuous.



Pakistans Responses



Pakistani leaders have been dancing to the tunes of America, myopically thinking that by abiding to its dictates, Pakistan will remain safe and so will be their power and wealth. Lure of dollars and fear of USA were other factors which made the weak-kneed and morally corrupt rulers to stick to their policy of appeasement. They made no change in this self-defeating policy despite suffering colossal human and financial losses.



While the US has spent $1.7 trillion in Iraq war, and over $1 trillion in war in Afghanistan including $104.1 billion in its reconstruction, it grieves over $20 billion given to Pakistan in the last 15 years, 50% of which is CSF (close support fund  repayment of provisions and services provided by Pakistan). As against this meagre assistance, Pakistan has incurred an economic loss of $118 billion in fighting the war and has also suffered 60,000 fatalities.



Excessive tilt of USA towards India as exhibited by Indo-US economic, defence and civil nuclear deals, revelations made by Raymond Davis in January 2011 about American dangerous agenda, stealth raid in Abbottabad in May 2011 followed by Memo scandal in October and deadly assault



on Salala in November that year, do more mantra, condition based aid and stoppage of CSF brought no change in Pakistans US centric foreign policy.



Indias open ended belligerence when seen in context with ever growing Indo-US collaboration culminating into 3 military agreements in 2016 and the US outright biased stance against Pakistan having a direct bearing on security of Pakistan forced our policy makers to lean more heavily upon China and to get closer to Russia.



Tiding over energy crisis, righting economic indicators, curbing terrorism and above all CPEC have helped in improving the overall economic health and image of Pakistan and instilled confidence in the rulers to confront internal and external challenges more confidently.



However, the US enchantment that was at the verge of fizzling out has been reinvigorated by Donald Trumps telephonic chat with Nawaz Sharif. He showered heaps of praises upon him and Pakistan, referring him as a terrific guy, rating Pakistanis among the most intelligent people, amazing and exceptional. These accolades coming from the most freakish and bigoted US President astounded all and sundry. Anti-Nawaz and anti-Pakistan elements were expecting a roughshod treatment from loudmouthed Trump. His unexpected tributes and exclusion of Pakistan from the banned Muslim States has made Nawaz and his team rapturous and they are still in a state of ecstasy. Idea of getting out of the US spell has been shelved.



While the Muslim world is tense and scared, Pak leadership is relaxed and appears to be all set to once again get duped and fall into the deceptive trap and get bled. They are optimistic that the US under Trump will not betray Pakistan and will be more friendly and cooperative in addressing socio-economic and security concerns. This confidence has been further bolstered by friendly chat of Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa with US Secretary Defence Mattis and US Commander in Afghanistan Gen John Nicholson, both admiring Pakistans sacrifices and role in war on terror and wanting a holistic review of Pak-US relations.



Future Challenges



The challenges faced by Pakistan are however far from over. Up to 80% success has been achieved against terrorism which had become an existential threat to the existence of Pakistan. The current government deserve credit for giving a go-ahead to intelligence driven operations in NW, Baluchistan and Karachi, and the national action plan. However, the Army, Rangers, FC and ISI deserve special applause for achieving spectacular results in all the three troubled regions.



100% results couldnt be achieved due to safe havens provided to the runaways of TTP in Afghanistan, backing to BLA, BRA and BLF in Baluchistan by foreign agencies, and obstacles created by Sindh administration in Karachi. All random acts of terror in Pakistan emanate from Afghanistan.



On the economic front, notwithstanding upturned macro-economic indicators, bullish stock exchange, healthy foreign exchange reserves and fast-paced development works, constantly



increasing debt burden is a matter of anxiety. Not so satisfactory progress on 20-point NAP needs acceleration.



Management of western border by Pakistan is not to the liking of Kabul and India since it will curtail cross border terrorism. This process as well as return of Afghan refugees, rehabilitation of displaced persons and FATA reforms must continue without any letup. Likewise Rangers operation in Karachi must reach its logical end at the earliest.



Success in war on terror, economic turnaround, CPEC, and Russian support have defeated Indias plan to isolate Pakistan and to get it declared a terrorist state. Although Pakistan today stands on a stronger wicket, agenda of Indo-Afghan-US nexus against Pakistan remain unchanged.



Till 2008, Russia was anti-Pakistan and pro-India. Change in regional dynamics has brought a thaw in Pak-Russia relations and the latter is now keen to develop stronger economic and defence ties with Pakistan. Russia is mindful of the Afghanistan based Daesh and wants Pakistans cooperation to build a firewall against the emerging threat. For this reason, Russia is taking deep interest in Afghan affairs and has cultivated ties with Taliban much to the chagrin of Kabul regime and Washington. Russo-China-Pakistan grouping aimed at restoring peace in Afghanistan and CPEC has once again enhanced the importance of Pakistan. Friendly regime in Kabul is a geostrategic necessity for Pakistan.



Recommendations. Pakistan policy makers will have to play their cards shrewdly and configure the foreign policy best suited to guard Pakistans national interests. While keeping USA and EU in good humor and engaged in mutually beneficial economic/military cooperation, but without compromising core interests and dignity, efforts should be made to further expand economic/military cooperation with Russia, draw it towards CPEC and to make Pakistan member of Eurasian Economic Union. Besides veering Iran into CPEC, Gwadar port should augment Chahbahar port. Land, air, maritime and internal security must be strengthened to ward off external threats and treacherous designs. Focus should be on getting rid of foreign crutches and instead strengthening own economic legs by drawing full benefits from the emerging opportunities provided by CPEC so as to make Pakistan politically, economically and militarily self-reliant.



The writer is retired Brig, war veteran, defense analyst, columnist, author of five books, Vice Chairman Thinkers Forum Pakistan, DG Measac Research Centre. asifharoonraja.gmail.
Role of USA-Israel-India in fomenting Islamic radicalism 14 February, 2017 By Asif Haroon Raja

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China develops new, longer-lasting bird flu vaccine: Ministry Non-resolution of Palestinian and Kashmir dispute gave rise to Islamic radicalism. After the Islamic revolution in Iran in 1979, the ten-year Iran-Iraq war ended inconclusively in 1988 but militarized and radicalized the two countries. Iraq under Saddam Hussain was supported by the two super powers, the west and the Arab world. While Iran completed its revolutionary cycle under Imam Khomeini and started to assert its authority in the region, Saddam claimed the leadership of Arab world. Israeli aggression in Lebanon and persecution of Palestinians gave birth to Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza Strip and heightened radicalism.



The war in Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989 in which Pakistan played a key role, radicalized the region. CIA assisted by Saudi Arabia was instrumental in collecting Jihadis from Muslim countries, converting religious seminaries into training venues and providing funds and weapons to organize proxy war and converting FATA into a base of operation. The collective effort succeeded in pushing out occupying Soviet forces from Afghanistan in February 1989, but the whole muck of ten-year war fell upon Pakistan. Harsh US sanctions from 1989 till 2001 impeded Pakistans development and economic growth. It also curtailed efforts to reduce poverty and to counter the fallout effects of the Afghan war in the form of Kalashnikov and drug cultures and sectarianism. Marriage between USA and India enabled India to intensify its human rights violations against the Kashmiris in Indian occupied Kashmir (IOK), which further intensified radicalism in Pakistan and gave birth to several Jihadi groups.



On November 9, 1989, Berlin wall fell, reuniting East and West Germany after 40 years of division. In retaliation to capture of Kuwait by Iraqi forces in August 1991, the US under George H. W. Bush militarily intervened in Iraq with the blessing of Gorbachev. Soviet Union collapsed on December 26, 1991 and Yeltsin replaced Gorbachev. These earth shaking events paved the way for the US to become the unchallenged sole super power and none could compete its political, diplomatic, economic and military strength. Bush senior drafted the neocons inspired New World Order (NWO), which gave out broad outlines of making America great. The threat of communism was replaced with Islam.



After fragmentation of Yugoslavia, dissolution of Warsaw Pact and integration of East Europe into Western Europe, membership of NATO was gradually increased to 28 members and made into a formidable military machine. Bill Clinton who took over from Bush senior, being highly pro-India, treated Pakistan unfairly. His 5-hour officious visit to Pakistan in March 2000 during which he behaved like a Viceroy visiting a colony cannot be forgotten by Pakistanis. It was during his tenure that a Jerusalem based Israeli think tank Institute for Advanced Strategic & Political Studies (IASPS) came out with a paper in 1996, titled Clean Break, which envisaged rebuilding Zionism, atomization of Iraq and breaking it into three states based on ethnic-sectarian lines.



IASPS wrote another paper in 2000, Rebuilding Americas Defenses for a New American Century. The two documents openly spoke of the need to destabilize the Middle East so as to reshape Israels strategic environment. The plan focused on destruction of oil rich Iraq and removal of Saddam Hussain and installation of Hashemite monarchy in Baghdad, followed by systematic destruction of oil rich Libya, and then Syria and Egypt. It suggested increasing the number of forward US military bases.



Although the apparent objective of Zionists is to crush all dissent and make USA all powerful so that it could rule the world unopposed, in reality the Zionists consider themselves to be the chosen people to rule the world. They want to achieve their goal by placing their gun on the shoulder of USA.



Overall recommended strategy hinged on fomenting open-ended chaos to achieve overlapping strategic objectives in Middle East. The brains behind these rabid thoughts were a gang of eight Israeli-American neocons. They were Richard Perle, Douglas Feith, James Colbert, Charles Fairbanks Jr, Robert Loewenberg, David Wurmser, Meyrav Wurmser and Paul Wolfowitz. This group had got influenced from Israeli journalist Adid Yenons book Breakup of Syria published in 1982. He had suggested that Israel should breakdown all Arab states into small quasi states. Israeli leaders have all along advocated regime changes in Arab world to install puppets but their preferred choice is Balkanization.



Lt Col Ralph Peter wrote an article Blood Borders in 2006 suggesting change of boundaries in Middle East. His write up and the map are in use in training of NATO Defense College for senior officers.



When the US became the sole super power, it was infused with the ambition of gaining complete hegemony over the world for next 100 years. Its aim has been to disempower and neo-colonize 1.5 billion Muslims, and rob their oil, gas and wealth. The US succeeded in establishing bases in almost all Gulf States after encouraging Saddam to capture Kuwait in August 1991 and then destroying Iraqi infrastructure in November 1991 and imposing harsh sanctions on Iraq. Capture of Iraq in May 2003, Arab Spring, regime change in Libya and civil war in Syria were in accordance with the pre-conceived plan to foment chaos in whole of Middle East, let Muslims kill Muslims on ethnic and sectarian basis and to divide the targeted states one after the other. Splitting of Yugoslavia into seven states engineered by Richard Holbrooke was in their mind.



Former Supreme Allied Commander NATO Gen. Wesley Clark had revealed in 2004 that Pentagon had made a plan to target seven countries in five years. The countries in order of priority were Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Iran. He also disclosed that initial target after 9/11 till as late as 20 September 2001 was Iraq and not Afghanistan.



Once George W. Bush junior assumed power with the support of Israel and Neocons in January 2001, he unfolded his Muslims specific offensive doctrine based on pre-emption, preventive action against rogue states, shock and awe, opening of torture chambers and unilateralism. Global war on terror was launched to achieve geostrategic and geo-economic interests. He



boasted that terrorism will be eliminated from the face of the globe to make the world peaceful. He crowed, We will launch a crusade against terrorism; we will smoke them out of their holes. Drunk with power, he had arrogantly stated that, 21st century will be New-American Century. He defined Iran-Iraq-North Korea as axis of evil.



Man from Texas was thunderously applauded by the home audience and European allies. Tomahawk cruise missiles, cluster bombs, daisy cutters, B-52 bombers, drones and laser guided munitions were used extensively to destroy Afghanistan and enable Northern Alliance forces to capture power. He used a huge hammer to kill a fly. The country was destroyed but the fly flew away.



His next target was heavily sanctioned Iraq which was invaded in March 2003 under fake charges and after raining tons of bombs, it was captured in May with the help of Iraqi Shias and Iraqi Kurds. Even after destroying Afghanistan and Iraq and installing puppet regimes in the two occupied countries to launch reign of terror against opponents, radicalism rather than getting curbed touched new heights since he was never sincere in eliminating it.



Once Obama took over power in January 2009, he introduced Pakistan specific Af-Pak policy with ulterior motives. He reinforced US combat force in Afghanistan with two troop surges, accelerated drone war in Waziristan, twice changed the top ISAF commanders abruptly, and chanted the slogan of disrupting, defeating and destroying Al-Qaeda in Af-Pak region by making full use of drones and availing the services of so-called ally Pakistan that had been silently bled from within under a pre-planned scheme to steal its nukes. Emphasizing on counter terrorism and drones while disregarding root causes of terrorism heightened radicalism in Pakistan.



Behaving like a good boy, Pakistan fought the US imposed war on terror on its soil as a frontline state and helped the US in netting about 600 Al-Qaeda operatives, thereby forcing Al-Qaeda to shift its base to Arabian Peninsula. Soon Al-Qaeda under the leadership of Egyptian Ayman al-Zawahiri with its main base in Yemen morphed into an international organization. Killing of Osama bin Laden in May 2011 brought no change in the fighting capability and grit of Al-Qaeda since it gave birth to more dangerous terror groups like ISIS, Al-Nusra Front, Khurasan group and Boko Haram. ISIS is now the most dangerous terror group which has made inroads into Afghanistan as well. Likewise, the Afghan Taliban couldnt be defeated despite using full force and torture and divisive tactics.



The US-NATO troops pulled out of Iraq in 2011 and from Afghanistan in December 2014 without achieving any of the stated objectives of eliminating Al-Qaeda, defeating Taliban, eradicating terrorism, imposing its brand of democracy and improving the lives of the common people of the occupied countries. The US property/security contractors, arms merchants, drug mafias and oil tycoons made billions under the garb of rebuilding the devastated cities and infrastructure of the two countries.



Not satisfied with the ruination of the two sovereign states Afghanistan and Iraq that were stable and well governed, and are now in a mess and rived in deep turmoil, the US then destroyed



prosperous Libya in 2011 and initiated civil war in Syria the same year, which was also a stable country. The US has now got badly stuck in Syria.



Fate of Iraq has been sealed and has no future as a unitary state. Likewise Libya and Syria have been sufficiently debilitated. Sudan has been divided and oil-rich South Sudan that had been independent is mired in turmoil. Yemen and Lebanon are also unstable and considerably enervated. Iran has been forced to roll back its nuclear program, but several sanctions have not been lifted. Somalia has been turned into a failed state. CIA has been using drone extensively as a choice weapon.



The 21st century crusaders have succeeded in altering the geography and demography of the Arab world. 250 million Arabs are today defenceless, destitute and despondent and tens of thousands have sought refuge in Europe.



Pakistan has rendered maximum sacrifices in war on terror and has suffered 60,000 human casualties and financial loss of $118 billion but is in bad books of USA despite the fact that it is the only country which has defeated and ousted the foreign backed terrorists from FATA.



As a result of anti-Islam and anti-Muslim policies and injustices, the US is rated as the most unjust and hateful country of the world. Both Bush and Obama along with their western allies are solely responsible for wreaking havoc upon the targeted countries in the Muslim world through senseless war on terror and for making the world much more insecure and dangerous than it was prior to 9/11. Over 4 million people, mostly innocent men, women and children have lost their lives in this insane war and 12 million have become refugees. Countless numbers have been crippled, orphaned, widowed, rendered homeless, or have lost sense of living.



Israel and India, the strategic partners of USA, have taken full advantage of war on terror, and have been brutally massacring and torturing the hapless Palestinians in Gaza and West Bank, and in IOK respectively. The US has been fully supporting India and Afghanistan in their massive covert war against Pakistan since 2003 using Afghan soil. USA, Israel and India are hand in glove stirring up radicalism and terrorism in pursuit of their imperialist agenda.



With this dismal background, Donald Trump has come on the centre stage and is chanting the old slogan of eradicating Islamic terrorism from the face of the earth. He has already begun to flex his muscles against the peeved Muslims. Like his predecessors, he is pleasing Israel and India at the cost of severely bruised Muslim world. His target countries are no different to the ones disclosed by Gen. Wesley Clark. His predecessors have used all kinds of most deadly weapons against the militants for the last 15 years but to no avail. He is also pro-use of force, but it is to be seen what new weapon or strategy he has up his sleeve? The only weapon that has so far not been used is the nuclear weapon! The other course open to him is to trample few more Muslim countries.



One thing which puzzles me is the exclusion of Pakistan from the list of seven. Its an open secret that nuclear Muslim Pakistan, which has now become the pivot of CPEC is a thorn in the flesh of



Indo-US-Israel-Afghanistan nexus. Pakistan must remain cautious and vigilant of this most dangerous nexus, and without annoying USA, play its cards dexterously to fit into the emerging axis of Russia-China-Iran, which will surely act as a safety valve against isolation and military adventurism. At the same time, it should keep its armed forces in readiness and nuclear deterrence serviceable. Last but not the least, the snakes in the grass towing foreign agenda must be dealt with an iron hand. Opportunist political leaders must desist from pursuing politics of agitation and animosity and should keep national interests uppermost in these critical times.



The writer is retired Brig, war veteran, defence analyst, columnist, author of five books, Vice Chairman Thinkers Forum Pakistan, Director General Measac Research Centre, Member Executive Council Ex Servicemen Society and Tehreek Jawanan Pakistan. asifharoonraja@gmail.com
4 Effective Ways to Promote Your Business and Brand

If you desire to have a company that stands out in your industry, that is distinct from your competitors, you should create a concise action plan for branding and promoting your business. Promoting your brand will help you to create a special identity for your business. This will take some time to achieve but you can use the following tips to start promoting your brand.



1. Establish a Powerful Physical Presence



To develop your reputation in the business world, one of the initial steps you must take is to ensure that people can easily see you. Choose an office location that is prominent on a popular road or street with professionally designed and installed signage. Advertise your brand and products in places where your target audience will see you. Be sure to appear at vital corporate and industry events where you and your employees can meet new prospects and promote your enterprise. Where possible, hire well groomed NYC promo models to represent and promote your company in a unique way. Always remember that visibility is the key to effective branding.



2. Create a Good Mental Impression on People



If you want to increase your appeal as a startup or small business, you need to appeal to your target consumers intellectually. Think about the critical questions that potential clients will have about your business and provide intelligent and sincere answers to them. For instance, you should ask questions like: "What unique opinion(s) do we have to share with our audience?", "What type of image are we creating in the minds of our immediate community?", "What are the features or qualities that set us apart from our competitors?"



3. Use Social Media to Promote Content



Social media has emerged as one of the best tools for promoting your brand. Just as you use your social media pages and profiles to send out direct promotional messages, you should also use them to create and promote content that will resonate with your audience and followers. This content does not have to sell your products directly, although you may use it to link to other pages that sell your product as a solution to a problem. Primarily, you should create content that talks about an important event in your industry or that provides tips for solving problems for your prospects. Note that if your social media pages provide very useful information, you will quickly develop a large following within a short time, as your content goes viral.



4. Attend Important Industry Exhibitions



Taking up a stand at important exhibitions is one way to meet a large of number of potential customers and business partners. You should take a position at a prominent place where people can see your roll up banners and branch at your stall. For high profile industry exhibitions in large cities, you can hire well trained New York brand ambassadors to give people a fantastic first impression about your company. Using this type of service will make people view your company as a customer-focused business and this will help you to capture many leads during each exhibition.



Promoting your brand requires consistent application of the tips and ideas provided here. If you dedicate enough time and resources to promote your business to your prospects, you will eventually reap the rewards in form of increased sales and high return on your marketing investment.
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...
George Oppong Weah, Senator of the Montserrado Country in Liberia, paid a courtesy call on President Akufo-Addo on Tuesday, February 14, 2017, to congratulate him on his election as President of the Republic, and also to discuss issues of mutual concern and benefit to the two countries.



According to Senator Weah, the conduct of Ghanas 2016 elections, which resulted in a peaceful change of government, has cemented Ghanas position as the true beacon of democracy on the African continent, one which should be emulated by all countries on the continent.



The Liberian Senator also applauded the resilience of President Akufo-Addo, who was successful at his third attempt at the Presidency, describing it as a lesson for all of us. If you dont succeed at your first attempt, try again.







It was the hope of Senator Oppong Weah that the period in office of President Akufo-Addo will be marked by an increase in bilateral relations between Ghana and Liberia, as well as the realization of the vision of continental integration, which, he said, will inure to the benefit of the African peoples.



With the election of a new President of Liberia slated for October 10 this year, Senator Weah urged Ghana, President Akufo-Addo and ECOWAS to help ensure that the polls are credible, so that the results gain acceptance by all the stakeholders involved in the process.



On his part, President Akufo-Addo thanked the Liberian Senator for the courtesy of his visit, assuring him that Ghana will continue to support and advocate for the deepening of democracy in countries within the region.



President Akufo-Addo indicated that the bonds that exist between Liberia and Ghana would be strengthened even further in the coming years, assuring that Ghana, together with ECOWAS will do its best to ensure that the upcoming polls pass off peacefully, so that the will of the Liberian people upheld.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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

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President Donald J. Trump continues to insist torture absolutely works, a jagged departure from fact, law, and morality. Within days of his inauguration, the White House was already circulating a draft executive order to reopen CIA black sites and review currently approved interrogation practices, presumably with a view to fulfilling Trumps campaign promises to bring back waterboarding and a hell of a lot worse.

Public outcry has forced the new administration to walk back some of the interrogation provisions, although it still calls for the continued use of the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. But one wonders where Trump gets his conviction about the supposed usefulness of torture in the first place  certainly not from his Secretary of Defense, CIA Director, or Attorney General, who have all rejected a U.S. return to torture. Indeed, the consensus of military, intelligence, and foreign policy experts is that torture does not provide anything close to accurate intelligence, and, in fact, harms national security.

More to the point, torture is anathema to civilized nations, and it is absolutely prohibited under U.S. and international law, without exception. The question of whether or not torture works is a misdirection, as if it could somehow be justified if it were shown to be effective. It cannot, and the question itself is an exercise in moral disengagement. It overlooks the fact that torture is antithetical to the United States values and identity.

The countrys first president and the drafters of the U.S. Constitution championed basic principles of human dignity and prohibited the infliction of cruel and unusual punishments. Centuries later, President Ronald Reagan reinforced this commitment when he signed the UN Convention against Torture in 1988.

Trumps position on torture is fundamentally ahistorical  he fails to recognize that torture has been condemned throughout history because of its moral and legal futility. The Unites States leaders have forbidden the use of torture since its earliest days because it puts Americans in harms way. Any normalization of torture by the current U.S. leadership will put the country on par with enemies that have no moral center; if Trump allows torture, the United States becomes the very evil it purports to be fighting.

The Bush administrations decision to use torture as a weapon of war after 9/11, in contravention of American laws, values, and military doctrine, has been deeply damaging to democracy and to the countrys reputation as a nation built on law. And while President Obama rightfully ended the CIA program and Congress enacted laws to reinforce the ban on torture, no one who carried it out has been held to account. And Guantanamo  a site and symbol of U.S. torture  remains open.

So it should come as no surprise that torture advocates, who have never had the law or facts on their side, recognize the current moment as an opportunity. Perhaps if President Trump read the Senate torture report or listened to his national security advisors, he would have a better understanding of why the United States cannot be a nation that tortures. Torture has always been and always will be illegal, immoral, and counterproductive. Executive orders, and even tweaks to federal law, do not change this fact.

As we at Physicians for Human Rights have shown time and time again, all forms of torture inflict severe and lasting physical and psychological harm. This damage is not limited to victims; it extends to perpetrators as well. As the global standard for torture investigations, the Istanbul Protocol, states: Torture is a profound concern of the world community. Its purpose is to destroy deliberately not only the physical and emotional well-being of individuals but also, in some instances, the dignity and will of entire communities.

The United States repudiation of torture is one of the most important ways the country has historically distinguished itself from its enemies. Yet President Trump would like the American public to believe that torture is suddenly a policy option, a justifiable tool for intelligence, or a valid weapon of war. He is mistaken. And if we start debating tortures effectiveness, weve ceded the accepted convention that, first and foremost, it is harmful and wrong.
This blog will focus on political images I have found all around the Internet, though I will intersperse some commentary and quotes that I find interesting.
Douglas V. Gibbs is a proud member of the American Authors Association

Douglas V. Gibbs is a proud member of the Military Writers Society of America.
MoveOn.org, a liberal advocacy organization, has reserved the community room in the basement of Crandall Public Library in Glens Falls at 4 p.m. Feb. 24 for "a community meeting with Congresswoman Stefanik," according to the library's meeting calendar.
SOUTH GLENS FALLS  When they opened Common Roots Brewing Co. in December 2014, owners Bert and Christian Weber never expected to come so far so fast.

We just started distributing in Boston and New York City late last year and early this year, and we are regularly getting invited to the Beer Advocate Extreme Beer Fest in Boston, said Christian, who is the son in the father-and-son partnership. There is a call for our beer in a lot of places, but we dont want to cannibalize what we are doing up here to send beer out of town. We dont even have enough for our own distributor.

Thanks to the state, that supply shortage is about to change.

Last month, the brewery received a $100,000 Empire State development grant that will allow it to streamline its brewing process and nearly double its production capacity.

Its going to allow us to buy a larger bulk grain management system with an outdoor silo, a new mill and an automatic auger, Christian Weber said. We will also be able to install a new canning line that will be able to fill 60 cans a minute.

Right now, the brewery has 10 20-barrel fermenting tanks, and usually four of them are tied up with Last Light IPA, its most popular beer. The grant will help nearly double that capacity by adding three 60-barrel fermenters.

That will allow us to try new beers, new styles and variants, Christian said. We are really excited to be chosen for this grant.

We never expected to be where we are after two years, he said. The community has been great to us.
SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Two residents of southern Washington County were arrested early Saturday on felony drug charges for allegedly possessing cocaine, police said.

Joshua E. Bates, 29, of Greenwich, and Cheyenne R. Harrington, 23, of Salem, were arrested at 3:39 a.m. after Saratoga Springs Police spotted suspicious activity in a car parked in a lot off Caroline Street, police said.

Each faces a felony count of criminal possession of a controlled substance, according to Saratoga Springs Police. Harrington also faces a misdemeanor count of criminal possession of a controlled substance, while both also face a non-criminal unlawful possession of marijuana charge, police records show.

Both are free pending prosecution in Saratoga Springs City Court.
QUEENSBURY  The jury hearing the case of the central New York man accused of killing a Glens Falls resident last summer got a science lesson Tuesday as the Warren County District Attorneys Office wrapped up its case.

The prosecution rested its case against Robert M. Henry late Tuesday afternoon, and the defense can present witnesses in Warren County Court starting Wednesday.

Defense lawyer Tucker Stanclift would not say if he would call any witnesses or if Henry planned to testify.

Tuesdays testimony focused on handling of evidence by Glens Falls Police and State Police, and the lack of forensic evidence tying anyone to Jenks death.

Stanclift pointed to what wasnt done, such as decisions not to test certain items in Jenks home for DNA, and on the absence of genetic material found under the fingernails of either the victim or defendants and lack of fingerprints of the defendants found in Jenks Dix Avenue home. DNA tests that were done were inconclusive and found material from multiple people.

Warren County Assistant District Attorney Travis Brown pointed out that whose DNA was where is irrelevant if the DNA doesnt show who choked Jenks to death.

No DNA was found on Jenks neck or body that ties either defendant to infliction of the fatal injury.

Running that (test) for DNA, would that tell you whose hands were around Kevin Jenks neck? Brown asked State Police Investigator Erin Manns.

No sir, Manns replied.

Stanclift has also taken issue with the lack of surveillance video from the Ilion motel where Henry lived from the days after the killing and before the suspects arrest. The suspects had cars full of stolen items going in and out of the building for two days before police caught up with them.

The hotel manager testified the business had a video system, but police did not retrieve the video.

Warren County Assistant District Attorney Matthew Burin said the business was condemned the day after the arrests and has since changed owners.

Warren County Judge John Hall questioned whether the prosecution should make a record for the jury about the video, and Stanclift said it was clear to him why the video wasnt seized.

They (police) felt they had overwhelming evidence and they didnt need it, he said.

Henry, 46, of Ilion, faces a nine-count indictment that includes counts of second-degree murder, robbery, burglary and grand larceny.

Police said Henry, a former resident of the Glens Falls area, knew the 58-year-old Jenks and arranged a visit to his home for a sexual liaison last July 6, but planned to rob him instead. He and co-defendant Kevin S. Chapman tied up Jenks, looted the home and then one or both men strangled Jenks, authorities believe.

Tuesday was the start of a third week of testimony, and Hall told jurors they could expect to start deliberations Thursday or Friday.

Chapman pleaded guilty to second-degree murder late last year, and testified against Henry last week. He told the jury that Henry choked Jenks to death.

Henry and Chapman both confessed to being involved with a robbery of Jenks at his home, during which he was tied up and gagged, but they have each blamed the other for the death.

Much of the trial has focused on Henrys use of Jenks debit cards and credit cards after his death.

Henry is a four-time felon who faces up to 25-to-life if convicted of murder, or up to 25-to-life if convicted of any felony and sentenced as a persistent felon.
GLENS FALLS  About 80 people demonstrated outside the Glens Falls district office of U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, on Tuesday to demand she meet with constituents in a town hall forum.

What do we want? Joe Seeman asked, speaking through a bullhorn.

Town hall, the group shouted.

When do we want it? Seeman asked.

Next week, the group answered. Next week, the House is on recess for a district office work week.

MoveOn.org, a liberal political advocacy group that organized the demonstration, has already reserved the community room in the basement of Crandall Public Library at 4 p.m. Feb. 24 for a town hall forum, to be held whether Stefanik attends or not.

Today is Valentines Day. In honor of that, lets make a date with our suddenly missing congresswoman, said Heather Lynn, a MoveOn.org organizer.

Stefanik is willing to meet with small groups of constituents to discuss issues, said Tom Flanagin, the congresswomans spokesman.

All groups have been encouraged to reach out to her office to request in-person small group meetings to ensure productive issue discussions instead of nationalized political events where the sole purpose is political theater, Flanagin said.

Flanagin said Stefanik held more than 500 meetings with business owners, farmers, community organizations and small groups in 2015 and 2016.

Sara Carpenter of Queensbury, one of the demonstrators, said she has spoken with Stefanik staff members in Glens Falls and with the congresswomans district director in Watertown to arrange a small group meeting, and so far has not been successful.

Carpenter said she wants to talk with Stefanik about the cost of her husbands chemotherapy treatments for leukemia.

My goal is to get the insurance carriers, the patient and doctors all together with Stefanik, she said.

The demonstration in Glens Falls on Tuesday was similar to demonstrations taking place around the nation in recent weeks.

Indivisible, a national political organization that several former Democratic congressional aides organized, is promoting a strategy based on the tactics of the tea party movement that formed around the time President Obama took office.

An online guide the group published advises activists to attend town hall forums and publicize when members of Congress dont hold forums, to confront members of Congress at ribbon-cuttings and public events about racism, authoritarianism, and corruption, to visit district offices and demand meetings, and to place coordinated calls to congressional offices.

Organize your local group to barrage your members of Congress with calls at an opportune moment about a specific issue, the Indivisible advocacy guide suggests.

Contact with Stefaniks offices has picked up dramatically, but it appears many of the calls and emails are coming from outside the district, or are repeat calls from the same individuals, said Flanagin, Stefaniks spokesman.

Our records indicate 5,069 incoming calls, letters and emails in January of this year, versus 2,162 in January of 2016 and 1,975 in January of 2015, he said.

Some of those participating in Tuesdays demonstration, such as Seeman, are longtime political activists.

Others are new to advocacy.

Linda Huden of Queensbury said it was her second demonstration. The first was in New York City on Jan. 21, the day after President Donald Trumps Inauguration.

Huden said she and others are motivated by fear of Trumps policies about immigration, health care and education.

Im afraid were making enemies right and left, she said.

Christine Elms of South Glens Falls said she is concerned in general about Stefaniks votes to rescind executive orders President Obama issued, but shes not familiar with specific orders.

Elms said she appreciates that Stefanik expressed opposition on her congressional office Facebook page to President Trumps executive order banning travel to the United States from several countries, an order that courts have temporarily blocked from being applied.

I did see that she doesnt agree with the travel ban, which is a good thing, said Elms, the Green Party candidate for South Glens Falls village trustee.

Stefanik won re-election in November, receiving about 63 percent of the vote.

Matt Funiciello, the Green Party congressional candidate in 2014 and 2016, participated in the demonstration on Tuesday.

Funiciello said he agrees with the demonstrations goal to raise awareness of issues.

Its a good sense of community, he said.

On the other hand, Funiciello continued, he is disappointed that national political organizations are attempting to manipulate us into puppets from behind the scenes.
FORT EDWARD  A Hudson Falls man who police said was part of a group that sold drugs from a Hudson Falls restaurant has pleaded guilty and agreed to forfeit his home as part of a plea deal.

Michael P. Santana, 36, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony, for sale of unspecified narcotics last summer that led to his arrest along with the arrest of his brother and a third man. They were accused of selling cocaine, heroin and marijuana from Chef Jeffs, a John Street eatery next to Santanas home.

Santana agreed to serve a three-year prison sentence to be followed by two years on parole, and also agreed to forfeit a home he owns at 55-1/2 John Street, Washington County District Attorney Tony Jordan said.

Jordan said the case was the first time his office had seized a drug dealers home.

We were able to develop a strong enough connection to show the house was purchased with the proceeds of criminal conduct, Jordan said.

County property tax records show Michael Santana and Mary Santana bought the property for $65,000 in 2012. It is assessed at $67,000.

Santana and Cody J. Olden have pleaded guilty, while charges remain pending against Alfonso E. Fons Santana, 41. Jordan said the plea deals do not require Michael Santana and Olden to cooperate against Alfonso Santana should his case go to trial.

Alfonso Santana was charged with felony criminal possession of marijuana and misdemeanor counts of conspiracy and criminal possession of a controlled substance. The latter charge alleges he possessed hashish. He is free on bail and his next court date was not available Tuesday.

Michael Santana and Alfonso Santana are co-owners of the restaurant building at 53-55 John Street, and prosecutors are also seeking forfeiture of that building as part of the case against Alfonso Santana. That building is assessed at $101,400.

Last Septembers arrest wasnt Alfonso Santanas first felony drug-related arrest in the region.

He was also arrested in 2013 when police searched the home next to the restaurant where he lived and seized more than a pound of marijuana and nearly $22,000 in cash, police said. Santana pleaded guilty to misdemeanor criminal possession of marijuana and agreed to forfeit the cash, court records show.

Michael Santanas lawyer, William Montgomery, did not return a phone call for comment Monday. Santana is scheduled to be sentenced March 3 by Washington County Judge Kelly McKeighan.
QUEENSBURY  The town may change its zoning to attract developer Bhavik Jariwala, who is considering a hotel project off Northway Exit 19.

At issue is a restriction for buildings that are 70 feet tall. The current rules in the enclosed shopping center zone require such buildings to be built on about 10 acres of land, said town Supervisor John Strough.

The density requirement really gets in the way of anybody who wants to do 70 feet, he said at Mondays Town Board meeting.

The board will hold a public hearing on the topic at its next meeting, Feb. 27. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the Queensbury Activities Center, 742 Bay Road.

Strough wants to change the zoning by getting rid of the acreage requirement.

I dont think we need this. I would like to pull it from our zoning code, he said.

He noted that the code has setbacks and parking requirements that would remain if the acreage rule was removed.

We have already built into the zone all the limits I think that zone needs, he said.

He confirmed that Jariwala came to him about the zoning requirement. He has previously explained that Jariwala wants to build a hotel tall enough to be seen from both the Northway and Aviation Road.

The hotel would be built on vacant property next to Aviation Mall and behind the Ambrosia Diner on Aviation Road.

Jariwala has also been considering a hotel at Exit 18, but another hotel is being built across the street from his proposed location. At that location, he had been planning to build a Hilton Home2Suites hotel.
A record 1.2 million Chinese tourists visited Australia in 2016, according to statistics released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Monday. Jessica Noack from the ABS Migration Analysis and Reporting Team said there had been "phenomenal growth" in the number of visitor arrivals from China over the past 40 years, explaining that in 1976, just 500 Chinese tourists visited Australia.

"China has almost caught up with New Zealand as the most popular source country for visitors to Australia," Noack said in a statement released on Monday.

"After China, visitors from Vietnam had the highest growth rate over the past 40 years, growing from 100 in 1976 to 70,500 in 2016. United Arab Emirates had the next highest growth rate, increasing from 100 in 1976 to 40,900 in 2016, while visitors from South Korea grew from 1,200 in 1976 to 286,000 in 2016."

Noack said that while New Zealand remained the source nation with the highest number of visitor arrivals to Australia in 2016, with more than 1.3 million, the ABS expects China to take over first place in the not-too-distant future.

"In 2016, New Zealand was still our top source country. After New Zealand and China, the most popular sources of travelers in 2016 were the United States (714,700), the United Kingdom (709,600) and Singapore (443,600)," Noack said.

According to the ABS, 38 percent of all short-term trips were made to New South Wales, where Sydney is the state capital, followed by Victoria (Melbourne) with 25 percent, and Queensland (with tourist towns Brisbane, Gold Coats and Cairns) accounting for 22 percent.

(China Daily 02/14/2017 page5)
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Mnuchin's confirmation came down nearly on a party-line vote of 53 to 47, with no Republicans voting against the confirmation.

Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia voted for Mnuchin. Manchin was also the only Democrat to vote for Attorney General Jeff Sessions' confirmation.

Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs banker and hedge fund manager, came under fire during his confirmation for various mistakes in financial disclosures to the Senate, as well as several previous investments.

Mnuchin's fund invested in a mortgage lender called IndyMac at the height of the housing crisis (the name was later changed to OneWest). The lender's subsequent foreclosures on homeowners was called out by opponents as proof that the Treasury nominee profited from the financial woes of everyday Americans. Democrats claimed Mnuchin's company used tactics such as robo-signing to foreclose on as many people as possible. Some Republicans even called out the lending practices at OneWest.

Mnuchin contended that his firm invested in IndyMac/OneWest after the company had already developed a large amount of bad loans and government regulation prevented him from preventing more foreclosures.

Additionally, Mnuchin failed to disclose roughly $100 million in assets  mostly real estate  and a series of offshore entities in his first financial disclosures, correcting the error just hours before his confirmation hearing. Democrats said this was evidence of Mnuchin lying, while the Treasury pick said it was a simple clerical error.

Republicans have advocated for Mnuchin based on his financial services experience and saying Democrats objections were not sufficient to block the nomination.

The questions regarding the foreclosure practices and disclosures led the Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee to boycott a vote on Mnuchin's and newly confirmed Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price's advancement to the full Senate.

Republicans suspended the standing rules of the committee the next day to advance the nominations without a single Democrat casting a vote.

Senate Democrats continued to decry Mnuchin's nominations during debate on Monday, but did not have the votes to block the nomination.

Mnuchin has downplayed some of Trump's more aggressive rhetoric on economic issues such as trade, instead focusing squarely on the need to simplify and decrease US taxes and regulation.
READ ALSO: US pledges to work with Ghana to deepen good governance

Ahead of the visit, the Foreign Secretary said: Im delighted to be the first Foreign Secretary to visit Gambia this week and delighted to have a chance to meet the newly elected President Barrow and President Akufo-Addo of Ghana. Their elections highlight the continuing strengthening of democracy in West Africa.

I am also very pleased that Gambia wants to rejoin the Commonwealth and we will ensure this happens in the coming months. The strength of our partnerships show that Global Britain is growing in influence and activity around the world.

Boris Johnson is also expected to visit the award-winning Blue Skies company, meet business leaders and young entrepreneurs supported by the Department for International Developments ENGINE project, and meet with Rising Black Stars, highlighting both countries extensive cultural ties.

He is currently in The Gambia to meet President Barrow .
The sources, who spoke with either Trump or top administration officials, said Trump campaign aides were starting to draft lists of potential replacements for the chief of staff, who formerly served as chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Included on the lists of possible replacements were top White House aides Kellyanne Conway and Rick Dearborn, economic adviser Gary Cohn, and lobbyist David Urban, Politico reported.

The Politico story came after Chris Ruddy, the CEO of Newsmax who is a Trump confidant, said during CNN's "Reliable Sources" on Sunday that Priebus' ouster was perhaps necessary. Ruddy said the botched rollout of Trump's executive order temporarily barring travel to the US from seven majority-Muslim countries and a mishandling of other key functions of his post were reasons Priebus needed to be let go.

"The White House is showing not the amount of order that we need to see," Ruddy told CNN. "I think there's a lot of weakness coming out of the chief of staff."

Ruddy subsequently spoke with The Washington Post and The New York Times, going into further detail on his thoughts about the White House chief of staff.

"A lot of people have been saying, 'Look, Donald has some problems,' and I think he realizes that he's got to make some changes going forward," Ruddy told The Post, adding: "It's my view that Reince is the problem. I think on paper Reince looked good as the chief of staff  and Donald trusted him  but it's pretty clear the guy is in way over his head. He's not knowledgeable of how federal agencies work, how the communications operations work. He botched this whole immigration rollout. This should've been a win for Donald, not two or three weeks of negative publicity."

Speaking with The Times, Ruddy said Trump "doesn't waste a lot of time" if he believes someone is underperforming at a job.

"If he thinks somebody is not performing, he moves pretty quickly," he said.

But later on Sunday evening, Ruddy announced on Twitter that he spoke with Priebus and seemed to be more optimistic about the aide's future in his current position.

Ruddy tweeted: "Reince just briefed me on new WH plans. Impressive! CNN today my personal view. Told him I have 'open mind' based on his results."

"Jared Kushner tells me COS Reince is doing 'amazing job,'" he added. "Disagrees with me!"

In his Times interview, Ruddy said Priebus "gave me a briefing on all the things they are doing to improve and streamline communications" and added: "He asked me if I would keep an open mind as they make progress. I said, 'Absolutely.'"

But Ruddy said he would not retract his earlier criticism. The pair agreed to meet for dinner in the near future, he told The Times. A decadelong friend of Trump and a member of his Mar-a-Lago Florida club, Ruddy said he spent a half-hour with Trump on Friday night following the president's dinner with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Tension between the factions in the White House loyal to either Priebus or chief strategist Steve Bannon, the former head of Breitbart News, have boiled over into media reports frequently since Trump took office, though the two men have gone on the record to say they get along very well.

Though the White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment from Business Insider, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the administration's deputy communications director, gave Priebus credit for Trump's early moves in office in a statement to The Times.

"The president has made unbelievable progress in just his first 21 days, bringing back jobs, saving taxpayers money, and securing the nation," she said. "Reince has successfully led the team that has implemented President Trump's agenda."
Jeffrey Lewis, the founding publisher of Arms Control Wonk, told Business Insider in an interview that the missiles were likely 9M729s, a ground-based adaptation of Russia's Kalibr missiles that famously debuted by striking targets in Syria, nearly 1,000 miles away, from the Caspian Sea.

Officials say the missiles violate the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty, or INF, because they have a range of 620 to 3,420 miles and fire from ground-based launchers, enabling Russia to hit European capitals from its homeland.

"We knew it was coming for a long time," Lewis said of the missiles. Russia "started testing in 2008. In 2011, the Obama administration decided it was a compliance problem."

The treaty between the US and Russia represents one of the few successful arms-control achievements in the two superpowers' fraught relationship. In the 1980s, Russia began developing nuclear missiles of an intermediate range that could strike targets in western Europe.

By 2014, President Barack Obama concluded that Russia had violated the INF. Lewis said that last year at an INF special verification meeting, the US confronted Russia with evidence of its violation, to which the Russians responded with "capricious arguments" that the US had also violated the treaty.

"None of the Russian accusations amount to the US, in secret, deploying a large number of missiles that violate the treaty," Lewis said. "The US does not have ground-launched intermediate-range forces anywhere."

Even though both the US and Russia have intercontinental ballistic missiles that can travel around the world, intermediate-range missiles pose significant and destabilizing risks.

"With ICBMs, you can do things to reduce the range, but they're not optimal," Lewis said. "There's a reason militaries want optimized range."

In response to Russia building missiles that seem custom-made to strike NATO capitals like Paris or London, the US and NATO pursued a two-track approach, with each developing intermediate-range arms to target Moscow from western Europe and pushing for arms-control agreements with Russia.

"US cruise missiles and ballistic missiles that could reach Moscow in minutes terrified the Russians," Lewis said.

Eventually, Russia and the US agreed to stop developing and deploying intermediate-range weapons to halt the nuclear militarization of Europe. By May 1991, almost 2,700 weapons had been dismantled.

But now the US faces a "compliance nightmare," according to Lewis, because the missiles that violate the INF belong to a family of missiles made by Russia, some of which do not violate the treaty.

"You're not going to be able to shut down their production facilities, because you'd have to shut down all of their facilities," said Lewis. And if Russia is deploying the missiles with battalions that have other missiles, then the other missiles become violations by extension.

Without the INF, the US could consider placing nuclear weapons across Europe to counter Moscow's nuclear threat.

Lewis said the US needs to revisit the two-track solution to countering Russia, but with conventional, not nuclear, arms. The US should "start a lot of programs to scare the hell out of the Russians" while also pushing for treaty compliance, he said.

"We need to remind Russians why they wanted this treaty in the first place," said Lewis.
Meanwhile, the White House sent mixed signals about his future in the job. One of Trump's top advisers said he still had "full confidence" in his national security adviser, but the White House press secretary said later that Trump was "evaluating the situation."

Flynn's admission came in the form of an apology to Vice President Mike Pence, USA Today reported, citing a White House official. Pence had defended Flynn in an interview with CBS last month, saying he "didn't discuss anything

continues to "enjoy the full confidence of the president."

White House press secretary Sean Spicer said in a subsequent statement that Trump is "evaluating the situation" involving Flynn.

Trump "is speaking to Vice President Pence relative to the conversation the Vice President had with General Flynn and also speaking to various other people about what he considers the single most important subject there is  our national security," Spicer said.

When pressed by Kornacki about whether Trump was bothered by the fact that Flynn may have lied to White House officials, including the vice president, about the calls, Conway replied that Kornacki was "asking hypotheticals."
The move marks the first time in more than five years that Verizon, the nation's largest carrier in terms of total subscribers, will have an unlimited offering. The carrier recently started forcing heavy users who had stayed on old unlimited plans to move to new offerings.

Executives at the company have downplayed the need for unlimited plans in recent months, too, though the carrier started allowing customers last fall to pay for unlimited usage in 30- and 60-minute increments.

The new plan comes on the heels of other renewed and aggressive pushes into unlimited data from rival carriers, most notably T-Mobile, which has grown in recent months while Verizon's mobile division has slowed, and in August replaced all its existing mobile plans in favor of one unlimited offering called T-Mobile One.

T-Mobile's plan has faced criticism, however, for downgrading all video streams to a non-high-definition resolution unless subscribers pay an extra $15. It also does not allow subscribers to access LTE speeds when using their phones as a mobile internet hotspot by default.

Verizon appears to be directly going after those complaints. The carrier says its unlimited plan allows users to stream video at an "HD" resolution and that it includes up to 10 GB of LTE mobile hotspot data before cutting that to 3G speeds. The carrier did not specify whether it allows videos to stream above a 720p resolution, the minimum threshold for HD video, though.

Verizon says the plan also provides unlimited calling and texting to Canada and Mexico, along with 500 MB a day of LTE data in those countries. A $10-a-day pass allows for that same amount of data outside of North America.

Verizon is keeping other tiered data plans available alongside the new unlimited plan, including a 5 GB a month offering, as well as its S, M, and L plans. Currently, those plans go from $35 a month for 2 GB of LTE data to $70 a month for 8GB of data. Verizon previously offered plans with larger data buckets on its site, but those will now only be available in stores or over the phone.

The $80-a-month starting point makes Verizon's unlimited plan costlier than T-Mobile One, which starts at $70 a month for a single line, and Sprint's unlimited data plan, which normally costs $60 a month. But it is less expensive than AT&T's unlimited plan, which starts at $100 a month and only comes bundled with a subscription to the carrier's DirecTV or U-Verse services.

Like some of those rival offerings, Verizon's plan requires you to enroll in auto-billing to get the lowest price possible. While its four-line group plan is $45 a month ($180 total), Verizon says a two-line plan costs $70 a month per line ($140 total), while a three-line plan costs $54 a month per line ($162 total).

Verizon is still generally seen as having the fastest and most widely available network in the US, though a recent study from the mobile-analytics firm OpenSignal found that T-Mobile has largely caught up when it comes to average speeds.

In any case, Verizon's new plan comes with the same caveat as every other unlimited offering: It's not technically unlimited. Verizon says any line that uses more than 22 GB of mobile data in a month may see its data "prioritized" behind other customers in times of network congestion. T-Mobile, Sprint, and AT&T warn of similar limits, too.
Consolidated net profit for the three months ending December fell to 1.12 billion rupees ($16.73 million) from 29.53 billion rupees a year earlier, the Mumbai-based company said.

Revenue fell 4.3 percent to 685.41 billion rupees.

The company's commercial vehicles business saw a "demand shrinkage" owing to the Indian government's shock move in November to withdraw high-value banknotes from circulation, it said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's demonetisation drive removed around 86 percent of India's cash at a stroke, triggering massive queues outside banks and a cash shortage that has hit businesses across the country.

"The segment witnessed major pressure with a fall of nine percent year-on-year" in sales, the company said.

Its Jaguar Land Rover business saw "lower wholesale volumes and relatively weaker product mix... and overall higher marketing expenses," the company said in its statement.
Currently, there are about 432,780 SHS students in the country per the 2015/16 academic year data, and the government spends GHS2, 312 on each student per year.

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The president, Nana Akufo-Addo over the weekend said the free public SHS education was aimed at building an educated populace for speedy national development and progress.

"By free SHS, we mean that in addition to tuition, which is already free, there will be no admission fees, no library fees, no science centre fees, no computer laboratory fees, no examination fees, no utility fees. There will be free textbooks, free boarding and free meals and day students will get a meal at school for free.

"Free SHS will also cover agricultural, vocational and technical institutions at the high school level," Nana Addo said.

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Many have since kicked against the move, saying it will not be feasible. A retired Ghanaian diplomat, K.B Asante said the implementation will not be sustainable especially with the financial situation of the country.

The Head of Economics at IMANI, Patrick Stephenson has also said the government's implementation of the free Senior High School (SHS) policy will fail due to the current economic conditions.

Some analysts believe the country should rather focus on accessibility and retention of students in schools due to questions over how the policy can be sustained.

The government has said that it will channel a large percentage of the countrys oil revenue into the education sector.
According to a post on the church's Facebook page, the General Overseer of Shammah Miracle Embassy who is popularly called Commander 1, allegedly commanded his female congregants to come to church with soaps so that he would pray on them for the purpose of seducing men.

READ ALSO: Pastor makes members masturbate to make church floor sacred

Below is what the church posted on its page:

"ANOINTED SOAP"

Stylish and flamboyant clergyman, Prophet Anointed Bernard, popularly known as Commander 1, last week asked his church female members to bring various soaps to church so that the soaps can be anointed by a special prayer.

Church members mostly females stormed the Shammah Miracle Embassy church which is located at Old Avondale Complex in Avondale, with soaps of different colours and shapes, for the Prophet to pray and get it converted to supernatural soaps.

According to Prophet, once a soap is prayed on, it will enable the ladies to lure men into love relationships, among other uses of the supernatural soap.

Last month, Prophet Anointed Bernard asked his members to bring out their bank cards and prayed that God should miraculously credit their cards."

READ ALSO: SA pastor commands followers to eat piece of cloth

This incident comes weeks after the controversial prophet became the talk of the country following his prayer for divine recharge cards to enter the phones of his church members.
Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Adusei Poku explained that the mortuary attendant was compelled to seize the corpse after the family of the deceased failed to pay arrears for services rendered and rather decided to sneak out the corpse.

I have spoken to the mortuary man; he is a disciplined person; it was a private job which has nothing to do with the hospital, he told Accra-based Adom FM.

A community burial ground at Tema Community 9 was thrown into disarray after a morgue worker stormed the grounds to retrieve a corpse.

The popular morgue worker, with the Tema General Hospital, decided to seize the dead body over an amount of GH40 owed him.

According to some eyewitnesses, the incensed mortuary man in the company of a colleague, while the body was being interred, seized the coffin, opened it, picked out the dressed corpse and started heading back to the mortuary.

This was after the family of the deceased had apparently failed to pay the full amount for the aggrieved worker's service.

Reportedly, while the man was away preparing other bodies for burial, the family snuck in and "stole" the corpse.

With the fear that he would not be able to retrieve his money from the family after the burial, the mortuary attendant decided to take back the corpse.

Family elders in the company of some friends, however, managed to save the situation which paved the way for the deceased to be buried.

Many have since hit hard at the mortuary attendant for taking such an action.

But Dr Adusei Poku maintains that it was within the rights of the mortuary attendant to have acted that way, especially when the deceased family failed to pay him for his services.

He, however, said that the hospital cannot be blamed for what had happened as the agreement reached was between the mortuary attendant and the deceased family.

Dr. Adusei Poku believed that the family of the deceased should have pleaded with the mortuary attendant about their plight and he would have allowed them to bury their relative.
Chairman of the Committee, Mr Ken Amankwah, unveiled this at a news conference on Monday during the launch of the I Pledge campaign to Ghanaians in support of the countrys Diamond Jubilee celebration and mobilising for the nations future.

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Before we can work together, we first need to commit to something that we all believe in. The pledge campaign encourages all Ghanaians to be supportive of the government and the country, he said.

Here are the key activities:

1. Lord Commey, the Chairman of the Sub-committee on Events, said there would be the launch of a Jubilee Technology Start-up Challenge for the many talented young Ghanaians to unearth talented innovators whose innovations will accelerate some strand of Ghanas development.

2. He said tales from yesteryears, a documentary featuring older people recounting their experiences and memories of the pre-independence struggle, independence, and the post-independence era, would also be running on television.

3. Lord Commey said there will also be a launch of a Jubilee Youth Entrepreneur Challenge. He said the move is to solicit business ideas from young people across the country and reward the most-likely-to-be- profitable ideas.

4. There would also be a lecture on the theme: Mobilising for Ghanas future, to herald a series of nationwide lectures outlined for the year-long programme.

5. There would also be a national flag-draping campaign where businesses, as part of their corporate responsibility, are being asked to adopt the major roads near their offices and decorate them with flags, buntings, balloons and lights.

6. The Committee also announced a night of choral music, the highlight of which would be the launch by the National Symphony Orchestra of a rendition of the National Anthem using only local instruments.

7. The Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB) would mount a photo exhibition depicting the colonial times. The board would subsequently transform parts of the Christianborg Castle, the former seat of government at Osu, into a museum space.

8. As part of efforts to celebrate the countrys former leaders, there would be the inauguration of a Presidential Museum which would be a legacy project. The move is also to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the GMMB, which falls on February 5.

9. There would also be the Know Your Ghana campaign, a domestic tourism campaign spearheaded by the Presidency, which would be launched at the photo exhibition.

Lord Commey said that when the perpetual flame was lit on Independence Day, a torch would also be lit using the flame.

10. There would also be a relay torch for all regions. This torch will embark on a relay throughout the whole of Ghana, region by region, and return to its starting point on March 6, 2018. Chiefs, opinion leaders, local celebrities and Ghanaians from all walks of life will be part of this relay, Lord Commey said.
Speaking at a lecture in Kenya dubbed Mind Speak ex-president Mahama said African leaders who leave power when the applause is loudest earn the respect of their citizens.

Leave when applause is loudest, Mahama said this was contained in a letter his father, a minister in the Nkrumah regime, had written to the then Head of State, General Kutu Acheampong, telling him to leave when the applause is loudest.

READ ALSO: Registrar of Health Facilities Regulatory Agency dismissed

Throughout the course of my Presidency, I was both applauded and criticised. I was both revered and reviled. When you find yourself standing at the centre of all that sound and fury, it is difficult to determine when it is, indeed, the loudest.

When the ball is in your possession, you do your best to move it forward, but then you must inevitably pass that ball to the next player and wish him or her the best in making progress because the victory that comes is not claimed by you or any of the other players.

He cited the 2016 electioneering in Ghana when President Nana Akufo Addo was declared the winner. He said the positive responses he gave and developments after the December 7 general election when he called the winner, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to concede defeat to him, was one major reason the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) requested him to participate in two missions to Banjul, The Gambia to get Yahya Jammeh to accept the will of the Gambian people and hand over power to Mr Adama Barrow, but which he refused.

READ ALSO: Tema General hospital throws weight behind mortuary attendant in seized corpse saga

He added that he was applauded by many when he was introduced at the swearing-in ceremony of Nana Akufo Addo on January 7, 2017.

Last month, I attended the inauguration of President Akufo-Addo. When I exited my vehicle and my arrival was publicly announced, there was a loud round of applause. Again, I thought of my father and those words: Leave when the applause is loudest.

Suddenly, I understood those words in a way I never had before, he said.

Former president Mahama said even though democracy is non-negotiable, it must not be a one-size-fits-all system.

Each country has to find the type of democracy that best fits the needs of its citizenry; each democracy has to be shaped by the will of the people, by their collective voice, he stressed.

He, however, emphasised that regardless of the form that democracy took, each democracy, at its core, is a system of governance that is fuelled by the will of the people.

We need to work at it, we need to stay the course of structural reform.
Mr Lord Commey explained that the GH20m allocated to the celebration by the government of Nana Addo for the Ghana @ 60 anniversary is for activities spanning the whole year and not for a one-off event.

Lord Commey addressing the media said "when I check the 59th anniversary celebration budget of the march past alone at the independence square it was close to GH4 million and the records are there, and that was the records are there."

He noted that "At the end of the exercise, Ghanaians will be proud of it. Apart from the first phase, the other programmes are private peoples initiatives and what they are asking from the committee is some support, for example the Musicians Union of Ghana, (MUSIGA). If you talk to Obuor and co., this is MUSIGA putting things together and they want to be associated with Ghana@60 and we are giving them the support  they have their own sponsorship."

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According to him, such a policy will not work without the needed infrastructural projects.

The setting up of these factories across the country will, not only, commence the rapid industrialisation of Ghanas economy, but also, will result in the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs needed by the masses of unemployed Ghanaian youth.

Speaking at a business breakfast meeting in Accra on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 he said "I always say that since you are not going to create jobs in the short term in your cities, youve got to focus on rural districts. And how do you do it? Its not going to be easy. I was very happy that in the governments campaign to be elected, it did talk about one-district-one-factory [policy]. I dont believe you can do that. I dont believe you can do one-district-one-factory nor do I believe there is a need for it."

He added that "there is a need to have for each district of Ghana, an industrial development plan that will have a focus on transformation of the district economy and a focus on job creation, so, if that job creation, as a result of the plan, is coming through one factory, then so be it."

"As far as he is concerned, "it is the structure of the district economy that will determine what should be done there: maybe that structure is going to lead to more emphasis on agriculture, maybe that structure is going to lead on construction, maybe that structure is going to lead on services, depending on the skills set available. So, we need to have for every district, a plan in terms of what is going to change and how that change is going to lead to more jobs.
President Donald Trump named retired Lt. Gen. Joseph Keith Kellogg the acting national security adviser.

The news came soon after a Washington Post report suggested some US officials believed Flynn could be susceptible to Russian blackmail and after he faced new scrutiny over a call with Russia's ambassador to the US during which the pair apparently discussed US sanctions.

The report from The Washington Post on Monday night said Sally Yates, the acting attorney general at the time, in January warned the White House that Flynn had misled officials about his correspondence with Sergey Kislyak, Russia's ambassador to the US.

Trump fired Yates at the end of January after she refused to enforce his now-suspended travel ban.

oth the director of national intelligence and the CIA director at the time, James Clapper and John Brennan, expressed concern that "Flynn had put himself in a compromising position" with Russia and agreed that Vice President Mike Pence deserved to know he had been misled. It remains unclear what White House counsel Donald McGahn did with that information.

Flynn said he apologized to Pence on Monday, saying he may have discussed the Obama administration's sanctions with Kislyak before Trump was sworn in, which would've been a breach of protocol. Flynn had previously contended that US sanctions never came up during his conversations with Kislyak.

"Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the vice president-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador," Flynn wrote in his resignation letter Monday night. "I have sincerely apologized to the president and vice president, and they have accepted my apology."

President Barack Obama announced new sanctions on Russia in late December for that country's alleged role in election-related cyberattacks.

Major fallout

As the evidence of Flynn's discussions mounted, including transcripts of calls, a spokesman said Flynn "indicated that while he had no recollection of discussing sanctions, he couldn't be certain that the topic never came up."

The damage had already been done, however, as The New York Times reports that three administration officials familiar with the situation reportedly said Pence, who made several television appearances to defend Flynn, was incensed at the national security adviser for apparently withholding information.

Earlier Monday, the White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, said in a statement that the White House was "evaluating the situation" with Flynn. A senior Trump administration official also said officials were aware of the matter and were "working on this for weeks."

Mounting pressure

Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers had urged Flynn to resign. On Monday, Republican Rep. Mike Coffman of Colorado released this statement:

"As national security advisor, Michael Flynn is responsible to the President, Vice President, and the American people. It is his duty to be fully transparent and forthright in his actions  anything less is unacceptable. If in fact he purposely misled the President, he should step down immediately."

Rumors of Flynn's removal were also fueled when sources close to the White House told Politico on Monday that Trump's senior adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, was taking part in the search for potential replacements for Flynn. One of these replacements could be retired Gen. David Petraeus, according to Politico, which said he was scheduled to meet with Trump this week.

"They are trying to figure out the solution to Flynn right now," one of Politico's sources said. "The problem is they don't have it yet. They need to get a solution."
It's been a busy few weeks for President Donald Trump. We decided to step out of the newsroom to ask people from different parts of the country what they thought about Trump's presidency so far. We asked about the president's Twitter account, his immigration ban, and the "America first" philosophy.
His wife, Idara Bishop took to Instagram today February 14, 2017, writing,

"So pathetic that the more we pray for a better Nigeria, the more things become so sour, few minutes ago, I saw a strange number calling and the voice I heard was my hubby's voice.

I was surprised to see him used a strange number to call, I quote him "Baby pray for me,I've just been robbed by Robbery men in warri, and all my gadgets and money have been taken away from me, threatening to kill me also,I'm stranded and the event I'm supposed to attend here, I can't make it anymore, no contact to communicate with anyone for direction, except yours"

For the first time I'm feeling this way, how on earth can someone do this to another man, even to the one that God has given to this country and the world as a gift of antismile to clear away people's sadness.

I pray only to God to touch their minds, and as they have said, they will return the phones and other items taken, but only and if money will be paid to them without informing the police, which is not a problem.

I pray for my husband's safety and that of my family, may God continue to keep and preserve my household, also pray for the safety of all my husband's colleagues."
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Top 10 African Authors of All Time The pace of present African literature is moving at a high-speed; more defiant in both style and tone than those of the great independence writers generation. Here, the subjects of taboo are widely explored. The emerging African authors of this generation are not afraid to go further afield for the literary fodder. Meanwhile, since the birth ...

Maina Kageni Biography  Daughter, Salary and Gay Rumors Maina Kageni is one of those Kenyans who has remained as interesting as ever in the eyes of the public. A strong Red devil fan and lover of football, the man is currently a Breakfast Show presenter with Mwalimu Kingangi on Nairobis Classic 105 Radio Station. Many questions have always emerged on the man in serious ...

Kalekye Mumo  Biography, Boyfriend and Salary Kalekye Mumo has been described as someone who is as vibrant as she is beautiful, a Kenyan radio queen, TV host and media personality, movie actress, Musician, businesswoman, and fashionista but what else is there to know about this Kenyan icon, Kalekye Mumo and her co-host Shaffie Weru have been among the most listened to radio presenters ...

Julie Gichuru Bio  Age, Husband & Children In Africa, women have a long history of bringing under control obstacles to keep their heads above the water. So, it comes as no surprise whenever African women are recognized and decorated across the continent and globe for performing brilliantly well in their various fields of endeavor. In Kenya for instance, a list of national ...

Jeff Koinange Biography  All About His Age, Wife  Shaila Koinange & Family Jeff Koinange is a well-known Kenyan journalist. He currently hosts Jeff Koinange Live on KTN. Koinange has served as a journalist in the United States and has also worked for a few U.S. broadcasters. He was born in Kenya but attended college in the United States, which may explain his accent. There are several interesting ...

Caroline Mutoko Biography  Age, Daughter & House Caroline Mutoko is a Kenyan radio presenter, famously known for hosting a morning breakfast show on Kiss 100 FM. The station is based in Nairobi and ranks among the highly-rated radio stations in Kenya with online streaming services as well. Learn more about the Kenyan-born journalist. Caroline Mutokos Age and Bio Born on January 4, 1973, Caroline is ...

The Most Stunning News Presenter In Kenya Discloses Her Real Age  You Would Not Believe It In modern African societies, it is often regarded as impolite or outright lack of disrespect to ask a woman of her age. We also have seen celebrities lie about how old they are when asked their age. People, mostly women have refused to let people know their real age, despite being public figures. The few ...

Demystifying Chimamanda Ngozi Adichies Biography, Husband & Education Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian novelist, non-fiction writer, short story writer and actress. As a seasoned Nigerian writer, she has been called the most prominent of a procession of critically acclaimed young anglophone authors that is succeeding in attracting a new generation of readers to African literature. She has been making Nigeria proud in the global scene ...

Wole Soyinka  Biography, Wife, Children, Family, Quick Facts Professor Wole Soyinka, a great and brilliant Nigerian writer and political activist, who was the first African to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. The name, Wole Soyinka, is a household name both in Africa and beyond especially in the field of literature. With over 50 pieces of work, his writing includes poems, novels, memoirs ...

5 Most Vulgar Kenyan Radio Presenters It appears being vulgar is the real deal nowadays especially for the fact that the world is becoming more exposed and civilized. Sadly, but true, young people are constantly being exposed to images, discussions, and content that most people would deem detrimental to the African culture and moral statutes. This is because most of us ...

6 Sexiest News Anchors In Kenya Some news anchors have been stealing eyes every time they appear on-screen. Most of us hardly concentrate on the programme they present as our entire focus is usually on their striking physique and beautiful faces. It is common knowledge that Kenyan women are amazingly beautiful. From the celebrities to the everyday woman, they are all in ...

Interesting Oprah Winfrey Quotes To Keep You Motivated Oprah Winfrey is one of the worlds most powerful women in the media and business sectors. Her life is the typical success story that motivates and lifts ones morale. One amazing thing about this media mogul is her sincerity about past hurts, mistakes, healing, and success. The renowned talk show host and media personality is the first ...

Chinua Albert Achebe Biography- Family, Net Worth & Death Chinua Albert Achebe, of blessed memory, was a Nigerian prolific author best known for his inventive style of writing and simplicity of expressions. Famed as one of the finest writers Nigeria has ever produced, Achebe lived and died an international hero and a literary giant, who left behind unforgettable legacies and footprints in the sands of ...

Steve Harvey  His Wife, Kids & Height Steve Harvey is an American comedian, actor, radio and TV show host, producer and an author of different relationship advice books. Steve Harveys Early Life Born in Welch, West Virginia, on January 17, 1957, as Broderick Stephen Harvey, Steve was the last of five children. His family relocated to Cleveland when he was young and there, he attended Glenville High School from ...

Intriguing Things You Should Know About Danny Kokers Rise to Fame and Who His Wife Is Danny Koker is popular as the star of the History Channel reality TV series, Counting Cars. Prior to him appearing on the show, the TV personality was a musician who had embarked on a number of national tours with his rock group, Counts 77. He and his group have released quite a number of songs ...

Fun Facts You Didnt Know About Andy Cohens Rise to Prominence and His Partner Andy Cohen is one of Americas top media personalities who gained prominence after helping to bring the Bravo network back to life. He also hosted a couple of shows on the network, including the popular nightly series Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. After rising to the position of head of production and development at ...

Tracing Isha Sesays Career Until CNN, Her Worth And Why She Divorce Her Husband As far as journalists of African origin go, Isha Sesay is one of the most famous on the continent  and by extension, the world. The Sierra Leonean and British journalist has had a successful career since she joined the industry in 1998. In that time, she has worked for a host of major media ...

Open Secrets of How Joanna Gaines Balances Her Career With Being a Wife and Mother Joanna Gaines is the co-founder of Magnolia Homes, a business she runs with one goal: converting houses to homes. She doubles as the lead designer of the company which she co-owns with her husband, Chip Gaines. Lady Gaines gained massive popularity when she became a co-star with her husband on the HGTVs show, Fixer Upper. ...

Juicy Details of Ayesha Currys Love Story With Stephen, Her Family Members and Recent Pursuits When your husband is one of the greatest basketballers that the NBA has ever seen, then it bestows on you the status of a celebrity wife  and may not even demand that you do anything extra to maintain that status. However, Ayesha Curry, the wife of multiple NBA champion, Steph Curry, is not one ...

What Is Tarek el Moussas Ethnicity, Why Did He Divorce His Wife and Who Is He Dating? Tarek El Moussa has made himself one of the most recognizable men on reality television, especially to fans of HGTV. Thanks to his expertise in the world of real estate, Tarek has become a national star. But even to his hardcore followers, there are questions about Tarek El Moussa that remain unanswered, such as his ...

Fun Facts About Natalie Beckers Lonely Childhood and Eventual Career Success Natalie Becker is an actress of South African descent who became famous for her appearance in films like The World Unseen and The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior. A multitalented individual, Natalie is also a television/radio presenter. She is also a co-founder of the Thought Leader Global Media which she runs together with ...

Top 3 Female CNN News Anchors You Didnt Know Were Africans CNN is one of the leading news agencies in the world. The satellite and cable news network was founded in 1980 by Ted Turner and has been one of the best sources of news for a number of years. It also boasts of the best journalists and presenters all around in media broadcasting. The company is a ...

Channels That Aided Katie Pavlichs Growth as a Journalist and All About Her Marriage To Friedson If you have ever come across any Fast and Furious featuring Barack Obama, it is the handiwork of Katie Pavlich. The book which claims to have exposed Obamas bloodiest scandal and the shameless cover-up thereof, has been earning Pavlich much praise and fame ever since it was published in 2012. Nonetheless, Pavlich is more famed ...

Is Oprah Winfrey Married? Husband, Children, Biography, House, Facts Oprah Winfrey is a billionaire philanthropist, talk show icon, producer, actress, and writer. The media icon famously dubbed The Queen Of All Media owns and hosts the highest-rated television program in the media circle. Read more about the powerful television star below. Oprah Winfrey Biography Oprah was born as Orpah Gail Winfrey on January 29, 1954, to a ...

Who Is Arsenio Hall, What Happened To His Talk Show and Why Do Fans Think He Is Gay? He is one of the funniest beings to have graced the comedy constituent of the American entertainment industry. Arsenio Hall has a reputation for the rib-cracking disposition always portrayed in his comedy roles. He is not just a comedian; he is also an actor and a former talk show host for his popular show, The ...

What Is Woah Vicky Famous For and Who Are Her Family Members? Like most social media celebrities in this digital era, Woah Vicky is one of those stars that have utilized the internet as a powerful tool to propel themselves to instant fame. The social media space, such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, etc., offers lots of people the right opportunities and potentials to become superstars overnight. Not everyone achieves ...

Where Is Michael Strahan Since His Retirement From The NFL and Who Is His Partner? Michael Strahan is a retired American football player turned media personality. He played the defensive lineman position and holds the record for most sacks in a single NFL season. He also only played for the New York Giants throughout the entire 15-year professional career that saw him win a Super Bowl ring. In February 2014, ...

How Wendy Williams Went From Being a College DJ to Having Her Own Talk Show and More About Her Divorce Wendy Williams is a former radio personality, now talk show host, who is known for her outspokenness and brash no-nonsense attitude. She gained fame and notoriety for her on-air clashes with celebrities before moving on to host her own talk show. Since 2008, Williams has hosted the nationally syndicated television talk show, The Wendy Williams Show. ...

Who is Sunny Hostin? Her Husband, Family & Net Worth Sunny Hostin is no ordinary Latina  American lawyer but also a successful columnist, multi-platform journalist, and social commentator. A happily married woman and mother of two, Hostin is the Senior Legal Correspondent and Analyst for ABC News and co-host of ABCs popular morning talk show, The View. She is a legal expert popularly known as a former ...

Who Is Robert Costa and Is He Married, Who Is His Wife? Robert Costa is a political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC who is regarded as being part of Americas next generation of journalists. The University of Notre Dame graduate, who is of Italian/Portuguese descent, has been lauded for his fresh political perspectives in an industry full of old heads. In addition to his work listed above, Costa ...

Team Valor Pokemon Go  7 Key Facts You Need To Know Team Valor Pokemon Go  The craze of the new game Pokemon Go is one that took the gaming world by storm sending teenagers and adults alike into a frenzy and one of its teams Team Valor, has proven to be instrumental in making it so. Before the game was created, Pokemon was a cartoon ...

Sheryl Underwood  Husband, Family & Net Worth She is known for her trademark smile which can be described as the brightest and broadest smile ever seen on planet earth. She is none other than Sheryl Underwood the comedian, actress, and TV host whose funny wits has left America in great awe. Although Sheryl has risen to become an important personality in the industry, ...

Team Mystic Pokemon Go: 7 Facts You Need To Know And Signs You Are One Team Mystic of the break out game Pokemon Go is a team that is full of sass and chivalry. With an enchanting monicker, Team Mystic stands out from the rest of its counterparts and deserves to take the crown as champion in the Pokemon gaming-verse. To be a member of this exceptional team of Pokemon battle ...

Exploring Guy Beahms Dr Disrespect Persona, Wife and Why He was Banned Permanently From Twitch Guy Beahm who is popularly known by his online alias  Dr DisRespect, is an award-winning Twitch.tv streamer. He has leveraged on the Twitch platform to become an internet personality that is quite widely known. His online success is just more proof that anyone who is good at what they do can attain celebrity status ...

Critical Facts About Lee Ann McAdoo  The Infowars Anchor Lee Ann Mcadoo is a conservative journalist and television host whose interests in conspiracies and astrology has established her as a famous American reporter. Often referred to as Wonder Woman, McAdoo is a reporter who works for InfoWars.com, a controversial right-wing website run by radio show host, Alex Jones. Who Is Lee Ann McAdoo? Lee Ann McAdoo was born on 7 ...

Millie Weaver  Age, Husband & Infowars Career Millie Weaver is an American model, journalist, political activist, and social commentator. The young and beautiful journalist rose to fame working as a reporter for a controversial right-wing website InfoWars.com. Also known as Millennial Millie, Weaver is a social media influencer with over 100,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel and over 35,000 followers on Twitter. Who Is Millie Weaver and What Is ...

Is Jessica Tarlov Married? What Are Her Height & Weight? Jessica Tarlov is an American political consultant, strategist, and analyst whose influential and regular TV presence has made a popular figure. A good example of beauty with brains, Tarlov has appeared on various TV networks, mostly the FOX News Network where she is known for her liberal views on political analysis and insights. She is also the senior director ...

Who Is Kelly Rebecca Nichols  Alex Jones Ex-Wife? Kelly Rebecca Nichols is the ex-wife of controversial American radio show host, Alex Jones. She got nationwide attention following her divorce and subsequent custody battle with her estranged husband. Nichols, who worked with PETAs public relations department, was herself no stranger to controversies as she was involved in several publicity stunts of the non-profit animal rights ...

Who Is Bree Morgan  Cole Sprouse Ex-Girlfriend And What Is She Up To Now? Although Bree Morgan became famous through the Instagram, she also sapped some dose of popularity from Disneys sweetheart, Cole Sprouse of the Sprouse brothers. She is not only an Instagram star but also a YouTube vlogger whose popularity has long exceeded the ordinary level. Bree is conspicuously prominent on the internet and has her digital savviness ...

Does Vanna White Have Husband or Children, What Is Her Net Worth / Salary? For over three decades, Vanna White has been a household name, famous as the co-host and letter turner of the iconic NBC game show Wheel of Fortune. The talented and beautiful television personality is also an actress with several TV series and films to her credit. Since making her Wheel of Fortune debut in 1982, she has become one ...

Liz Wheeler  Biography, Husband & Net Worth Liz Wheeler is the kind of girl who sets the room on fire whenever she comes around. In this situation, however, she sets our screens on fire each time she appears as the host of One America News Tipping Point. She is, therefore, a presenter, publisher, consultant and a member of the Board of Zoning ...

Betty White  Net Worth, Children & Husband The entertainment industry will remain indebted to personalities like Betty White who brought something extra to the table and kept the world entertained for donkey years. The comedienne, actress, and writer graced the big screens in the early 50s as a show host and has been a delight since then. She is the queen of ...

Is Bill Nye (The Science Guy) Dead or Alive, What Are His Net Worth & Education? Everyone will always remember Bill Nye as the Science Guy. Besides his TV show Bill Nye the Science Guy, he is well-known for his Netflix show Bill Nye Saves the World which started airing in 2017 as well as his appearances in many famous media projects as a science educator. The star studied mechanical engineering ...

Is Cesar Millan Dead, Who Is The Wife & What Is His Net Worth? Cesar Millan is the famous dog whisperer who often stirs up mixed emotions. The Mexican-American is precisely speaking, a dog behaviorist; he has been in the game for over 25 years. His Emmy-nominated television series, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan further pushed his method and tactics into the limelight. The series was produced from 2004 ...

Is Thomas Sanders Gay and Does He Have A Boyfriend? By the time Vine was shut down in January 2017, Thomas Sanders was already popular within and beyond the internet community for his heavy involvements on the online video hosting platform. After the tragic shutdown of Vine impacted on the growing career of the multi-talented personality, he immediately switched over to YouTube where he continued to upload ...

Is Shepard Smith Gay, Who Is The Boyfriend & What Is His Net Worth? There are only a few media personalities who are as bold and confident as Shepard Smith. Apart from his impressive stint at Fox News Channel which includes but not limited to his classic news delivery, upfront stance on virtually every issue and much more; he loves his job as much as he loves his personality. Smith ...

Is Milo Yiannopoulos Gay? His Husband and Net Worth Milo Yiannopoulos is a popular writer, journalist, polemicist, public speaker, and political commentator who is also known as the founder of The Kernel, an online blog. He has been said to be among the list of 100 weird and influential people in the United Kingdom. He appeared on this list as a result of personal beliefs and ...

Does Ryan Seacrest Have A Wife Or Girlfriend, What Is His Net Worth? From radio to television, Ryan Seacrest is a household name and a force to be reckoned with in showbiz. The radio personality, television host, and producer is best recognized as the host of the popular TV talent search contest American Idol. Heres how the media personality who always knew what his lifes ambition was and diligently pursued ...

Is Anderson Cooper Gay, Who is The Boyfriend or Husband? For many, the thought of becoming a millionaire by writing and talking about other people appears unachievable but this is the reality of the prominent American journalist Anderson Cooper who gathered millions of dollars for conducting accurate political analysis and other vital reports on TV. He is the main anchor of the CNN news show Anderson ...

Is David Muir Gay or Does He Have A Wife, What Is His Salary? David Muir is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who works for the ABC broadcast-television network and anchors the ABC World News Tonight with David Muir program while also co-anchoring the magazine program 20/20. The Ithaca College graduate, whose show has become the most-watched newscast in America, has covered stories from all across America and the world; reporting ...

Joel Osteen  Divorce Rumors, Net Worth & Family Members Joel Osteen is an American Televangelist, Senior Pastor of Lakewood Church based in Houston, Texas, a husband and a father of two. He is an author of many books, seven of which are New York Times Best Sellers and his televised sermons capture more than 7 million viewers per week and 20 million every month ...

Who Is Todd Chrisley? What To Know About His Children, Gay Rumors & Net Worth Premiered on the USA network in 2014, Chrisley Knows Best is one of the most watched family reality TV shows in the U.S. The series which is currently in its sixth season is centered around U.S real estate mogul Todd Chrisley and his family. The show reveals Todd the patriarch of the Chrisley family as a strict dad who rules ...

Who Is Shannon Bream Of Fox News? Her Husband, Children & Net Worth Shannon Bream who hosts the iconic primetime program started her journalism career in the late 1990s debuting as the evening and late-night news reporter for the CBS affiliate, WBTV. The beauty from America currently works for the Fox News Channel and she is best known for anchoring the primetime program. She also hosts Americas News ...

Is Troye Sivan Gay, Who Is His Boyfriend and What Is His Net Worth? Troye Sivan is an Australian singer and songwriter best known for songs like Happy Little Pill, Youth, Heaven (with Betty Who) and The Boyfriend Tag (with Tyler Oakley) which have all garnered him different awards and ranked on the Billboard Charts. Sivan, who was born in South Africa but now resides in the United States, is ...

Did iDubbbz Have Cancer, Is He Gay and Who Is His Girlfriend Now? iDubbbz is one YouTuber who has made a career out of courting controversy. Renowned for his absurdist channels and comedy video series, the Los Angeles based personality is the owner of two channels, iDubbzTV, and iDubbzTV2, as well as the brains behind comedy video series such as Content Cop, Kickstarter Crap, Gaming News Crap, and ...

Inside Greg Gutfelds Love Story With Wife Elena Moussa and Why Fans Thought He Was Gay Greg Gutfeld is a seasoned American television producer whose career in the media industry has spanned over a decade. He is a man of many talents who makes extra income through comedy, journalism, and editorial works. Gutfeld regularly appears on Fox News Channel as a panellist and co-host of the political talk show The Five ...

Works That Made Bo Burnham A Household Name and How Much He Is Worth Now One of YouTubes first viral stars and the worlds most exciting young comedian, Bo Burnham, has always amazed critics and comedy aficionados alike. Often regarded as the Justin Bieber of comedy, thanks to his fresh looks, floppy blond hair and hoodies, he has a multi-faceted career bigger than many comedians twice his age. It wouldnt ...

Is Louie Anderson Gay And What Is His Net Worth? Louie Anderson has one of the most abstract faces in the industry and equally knows how to use it to his advantage. He is not only a stand-up comedian but also an actor and television host who is known for his distinctive comic wits. Some of his notable projects include Family Feud, where he was ...

Is Don Lemon of CNN Gay, Who is His Partner and What Is His Salary? Don Lemon has risen to become one of the most recognizable faces on CNN over the past few years. The fiery journalist, who anchors CNN Tonight with Don Lemon, is liked and somewhat disliked for his strong and candid opinions on a variety of matters that do not just include politics but also race, significantly, matters that ...

Is Rachel Maddow Gay, Who is the Wife and How Much Does She Earn in Salary? Rachel Maddow is an award-winning American journalist, political commentator, and television news anchor. She is best known for hosting the popular nightly TV show The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. Prior to this, she hosted a talk radio program on Air America Radio from 2005 to 2010. As of now, the TV sensation co-anchors MSNBCs ...

Demystifying Pokimane  Her Real Name, Ethnicity & Boyfriend Like most social media celebrities in this digital era, Pokimane Thicc is one of those stars who took advantage of the internet to make a name for herself. Given the unlimited potentials which the social media space offers, many people have been instantly propelled to fame just by posting creative online contents. Not only has ...

A Breakdown of Kris Jenners Net Worth, Sources Of Income and Relationships Over The Years Standing outside and looking in, Kris Jenner looks like the oil that greases the wheels of the entire Kardashian/Jenner machine. She has been dubbed a momager and rightfully so because she seems to have had a part to play in the trajectory of each and every one of her daughters individually and the Kardashian brand ...

Pursuits That Brought Liza Koshys Fame To its Zenith and Her Love Life Since David Dobrik Liza Koshy is an American actress who has leveraged YouTube as a platform to promote her comedy while also serving as a television host on occasions. She is talented and funny and has gathered a lot of fans from around the world. Koshy started on Vine in high school and was able to get millions of ...

Alex Aiono Biography  Inside The Life Of The American Singer Not everyone who started from the streets has attained the heights where Alex Aiono is currently. His story could be referred to as the perfect definition of rising from Grass to Grace. He came into the limelight after he started out as a YouTuber, singer, and producer. One fascinating thing about the young YouTuber is ...

Virginia Vallejo Biography And Her Love Story With Pablo Escobar Virginia Vallejo can be referred to as one of the oldest whistleblowers in history after her involvement with Pablo Escobar which made her famous. Over the years, many questions have been raised about her relationship with the drug lord and why she endangered her life to be with him despite his notorious acts. The death ...

Princess Love Bio  Ethnicity, Real Name & Parents For many people, Princess Love is simply Ray Js wife but there is so much more to this feisty lady than meets the eye. She is a star in her own right and has many feathers on her cap. Princess Love is a reality TV star, a model, video vixen, and fashion designer. She and her ...

Who is Papa Franku Also Known As Filthy Frank or Joji, Where is He Now? The social media as we all know today has given people the opportunity to be creative and innovative and at the same time, make something of themselves. YouTube is one of the known social platforms we have today that makes it possible for people to express their God-given talents and post videos they created to ...

Who Is Molly Qerim, How Did She Become a Famous Sports Anchor and Who Is Her Husband? Molly Qerim is an American sports anchor popularly known for moderating First Take, a highly rated sports talk show, on ESPN. Prior to joining ESPN, Qerim hosted Fantasy Live and NFL AM on NFL Network. It is quite obvious that the widely acclaimed television personality is in a class of her own when it comes ...

Safiya Nygaard  Height, Parents & Net Worth Safiya Nygaard is an American YouTuber, writer, content producer, and director who is popular for posting makeup, beauty and fashion videos on YouTube. Her videos regularly top at least one million views, thanks to her lively character as well as her willingness to experiment with outrageous outfits and different beauty products. Here are the things to ...

The Rigors of Sunlen Serfatys Career Journey Until CNN and Fun Facts About Her Personal Life CNN correspondent, Sunlen Serfaty is an Emmy Award-winning journalist known for covering a broad range of breaking news stories, national news, and Washington politics. She has been able to garner widespread recognition for herself which even goes beyond the sphere of her work. Her profile also increased with the extensive work she did in covering ...

Demystifying Jazz Jennings Real Name, Boyfriend & Family Of One The Youngest Transgenders Jazz Jennings is an unusual personality who became famous as a transgender activist and was recorded as the youngest documented public figure to be seen as transgender. She is also a YouTube personality and spokesmodel for brands, her fans, and other transgenders. She fought for acceptance in her high school with her super supportive family for over ...

Inside Fred Armisens Life  Ethnicity, Romantic Relationships and Gay Rumors Fred Armisen is an award-winning American comedian, he is also a writer, an actor as well as a musician. He was a cast member of the legendary comedy show, Saturday Night Live for 13 years and also one of the brains behind the successful satirical show Portlandia. Find out more about this incredibly talented guy ...

Ed and Lorraine Warren Biography: Cases, Kids, and Family Life Have you ever woken up with fear you could not explain, or felt a strange presence that made the hair at your nape rise or even experienced strange occurrences around you? Well, these were some of the promptings that made the well-known paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren delve into trying to explain the ideas ...

Truth About Tony Romos Wife, Kids and Life Since His NFL Retirement Tony Romo grew from the field as a quarterback to the screens as an American Football Analyst. He was a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the richest football league in the world (NFL) before retiring. As a junior, he was honored as an All-Ohio Conference Member, an Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and ...

Who is Brittany Venti, The Controversial Game Streamer and YouTuber? In recent times, many people live stream themselves playing video games. This has become a popular pastime on the internet and many highly skilled gamers have become internet celebrities through this means. However, some of them rather than becoming renowned for their gaming skills and great commentary, have become controversial and infamous. A good example ...

Rob Dyrdeks Family: His Kids And Relationship With Wife Bryiana Noelle Flores A multi-talented star and an elite pro skateboarder, Rob Dyrdeks success story began at a remarkably young age. Yet another proof that schooling doesnt always correlate with success, Rob has established himself not just as a phenomenal sportsman but also as a successful entrepreneur. Besides perfecting his skill as a natural talent on the board, ...

xChocobars  Biography and Everything You Should Know About Her Having distinguished herself and recorded massive successes in an industry notably dominated by men, it is very safe to say that Xchocobars deserves all the attention and cash she makes from her career. A household name on Twitch (a smart live streaming video platform), the online-gamer is popularly known for streaming classic games such as Stardew ...

Everything To Know About Mary Padian, Her Boyfriend and Net Worth Mary Padian is a famous American television reality personality best known for her involvements on the Reality show Storage Wars. She also has her own shop called Mary finds where she displays her antique collections. Since her childhood, Padian has been a creative learner. At the time, she used to create new items out of reusable ones and ...

Betsy Woodruffs Family Life: Is She Married or Related To Bob Woodruff? An old name in the world of journalism, Betsy Woodruff has warmed her way into the hearts of many with her impressive talents. Through hard work, Woodruff has carved a niche for herself in a very competitive field. Betsy has strong family and work values and is also an advocate for equal opportunities for everyone ...

Matpat (Matthew Patrick)  Wife, Height & Net Worth As far as internet business is concerned, Matpat remains one of the most dynamic and seasoned figures. He boasts a wealth of experience that has helped him in growing his business from one level of greatness to another. Like most successful people, MatPat started out small but today, he makes millions of dollars from his ...

Facts About Ricegum  His Girlfriend, Real Name & Net Worth Ricegum is an online gamer and YouTube sensation who ditched college; took advantage of the digital era, and made a name for himself on the internet. Though he began as a gaming YouTuber, Ricegum soon gained recognition as a controversial internet star following his many diss tracks. Here is everything you need to know about the youngster ...

Joy Taylor Once Married MLBs Richard Giannotti  Inside Look At Her Love Life and Family The erosion of the sexist idea that women have no business in sports broadcasting created a host of women celebrities who attained fame outside of modeling and acting. One of them, Joy Taylor, a radio personality and TV host for Fox Sports 1, has been in the industry since 2009, becoming one of the most ...

What To Know About Conan OBriens Wife, Kids & Family Today The name Conan OBrien is one that jumps right at you almost immediately you start talking about the most popular television hosts in the USA and this is no surprise because the man behind that name has risen to become one of the most admired men in the business. Known for hosting the late-night talk ...

David Letterman  Net Worth, Wife & Son In all of American, one man whose face has been seen frequently by late night TV talk show lovers is none but David Letterman. The comedian and TV show veteran has been hosting late night talk shows for more than three decades. His Late Night with David Letterman show began on February 1st, 1982 aired ...

Demystifying Sssniperwolfs Family Background And The Boyfriends Shes Had Since she launched her eponymously named channel in 2013, Sssniperwolf has been on the rise when it comes to video game influencers. She is one of the biggest names in the online gaming subgenre of YouTube videos. Real name Lia Shelesh, she started with Call of Duty: Black Ops II but has diversified with other ...

Lester Holt  Wife, Family & Net Worth Lester Holt is a multiple award-winning journalist, newscaster, reporter, and actor who has worked for notable media houses like WCBS TV, CBS, MSNBC and among others. His remarkable feat in journalism has endeared him to the hearts of many and earned him some awards and recognitions. Read on to get acquainted with his biography, ethnicity, ...

What Is Louis C.K. Doing Now, Where Are His Family And How Much Is His Net Worth? It is not easy to make it in comedy. It takes more than a funny bone and the ability to elicit a few giggles from a listening audience. For all the complexities that go into making a successful career in comedy, Louis C.K, the Washington D.C-born comedian, did it. For years, he was at the ...

The Progression of Hoda Kotbs Career, Her Ancestry and Family Life Hoda Kotb gained fame as a television host and news anchor for NBC. She anchors the shows signature show Today, and it has been an excellent vehicle for her skills in front of a camera. Kotb has won several awards, including Daytime Emmys and Peabody Awards. Simply put, she is one of the most successful ...

Jerry Seinfelds Family: All About The Amazing Comedians Wife and Kids Apparently one of the highly important entertainers in America, Jerry Seinfeld is a man of many talents. A very funny man, he is considered to be one of the most successful comedians in the USA who has been in the business as a professional rib-cracker for more than 40 years. As an actor, he has ...

The Rigors Of Sarah Silvermans Rise To Prominence And Rundown Of The Men She Has Dated A comedian, writer, and actress, Sarah Silvermans art and craft is as unique as you would ever find. Her poignant use of comedy to discuss social issues such as race, sexism, politics, and religion has gained her an impressive following. As unorthodox as her style is, so is her life experiences. She previously suffered from epiglottitis ...

Who Is Hannibal Buress, Does He Have A Wife or Girlfriend & Why Was He Arrested? Making people laugh when they are tense or not in the mood is a tough order and to ply the trade, it must indeed take some guts and expertise, this is what the humor maker, Hannibal Buress has been able to achieve and sustain after his inital teething process. The African-American is a screen writer, stand-up ...

The Success of John Mulaneys Career Efforts Since His Work On Saturday Night Live and Facts About His Wife John Mulaney had been working as a professional comedian for years before Saturday Night Live changed his status for life and like many who are now his fans, you probably did not know of him then. However, that changed when he joined the sketch comedy show in 2008. Since then, he has been one of ...

Jeff Dunham  Wife, Children and Net Worth Ventriloquism is a very subtle method of making an inanimate object (like a puppet, doll or dummy) appear to be saying words which are actually coming from the person (holding the inanimate object). In effect, the individual throws his/her voice to the puppet and can even appear to be having a conversation with it. Not ...

Ellen DeGeneres  Net Worth, Wife  Portia de Rossi & Parents Ellen DeGeneres is an American female standup comedian who has proven that whatever a man can do, a woman can also do. Since her journey as a standup comedian started in 1981, she has held swirl as one of the finest comedians America and the world at large has seen. She is often referred to ...

Revisiting Joan Rivers Death  The Daughter, Husband & Net Worth She Left Behind Joan Rivers was a renowned American comedian, TV host, writer, and actress. Her brand of comedy consisted of scathing one-liners and no individual or topic is spared. She hosted her own talk shows in the 80s and 90s and was a pioneer for women in stand up comedy. She was the first woman to host a late night ...

The Struggles of Margaret Chos Childhood, How It Influenced Her Career Growth and Love Life Margaret Cho is best described as a comic star who knows how to maneuver everything related to life into a rib-cracking joke. She is also known to criticize every social and political problem, especially those involving race and sexuality. Apart from her talents as a comic actress, she does amazingly well as a singer and ...

Where Is Eric Bolling Today? Who Is His Son & What Is His Net Worth? Eric Bolling who was once a notable figure on Fox News, is an American TV personality, an author, and versatile Journalist. As a political and financial analyst/commentator, he anchored discussions bothering on finance for Fox Business Channel. Here is everything there is to know about his career, family, and allegations that led to his exit ...

Who Is Chelsea Handler and Does She Have A Husband or Boyfriend? Chelsea Handler is one of Americas top female comedians. She is also an actress, writer, television host, producer, and activist. She is known to be very outspoken even with things that are very personal. In separate interviews with The New York Times, Handler revealed that she had an abortion twice when she was 16. She has authored five books ...

How Did Laura Lee Achieve Fame, How Much is She Worth and Who is Her Husband? Laura Lee is a popular American YouTuber, make-up artist and beauty blogger. From posting videos of her makeup routines on Instagram, Lee has transformed into a beauty influencer and a YouTube sensation. Today, her YouTube Channel has over 630 million views and 4.5 million subscribers. Asides having millions of followers across all social media platforms, ...

Madison Gesiotto Bio  Ethnicity, Parents & Measurements Madison Gesiotto is no ordinary woman; although she excelled in quite a number of pageants and competitions while she was in school, it is her views on politics and issues in America that has made her name known to most people. She possesses beauty and intelligence in a seemingly equal measure and has been able ...

Who Is Lil Tay? Parents, Brother, Sister, Age, Net Worth, Ethnicity Child stardom is nothing new in the entertainment world. With the advent of social media, we have seen more stars made from the internet than ever before, and Lil Tay is one of them. Her uploaded rap videos trademark is cursing, swearing, cash-throwing, and use of obscene languages. Her fame went wild after she dropped ...

What To Know About Tig Notaros Wife, Kids and Family Today Tig Notaro is an American stand-up comic star, writer, actress, and radio analyst. Since she started her career in 2001, she has become one of Americas best comedians, particularly when it comes to observational comedy. One prominent aspect of her routine involves her family, which includes a wife and two children. Interestingly, Tig Notaro is part ...

Who Is Chantel Jeffries? What To Know About Her Age, Ethnicity & Net Worth Chantel Jeffries is a lady of many talents. Beyond being celebrated as a DJ, she has fared well as a model, an actress, musician, and as an artist. She first rose to fame on Instagram where she has a large following. However, in recent times, she has hit the spotlight for her rumored relationships with some ...

Is Ellen DeGeneres Married, Who Is The Brother  Vance DeGeneres and Family Members? Ellen DeGeneres is one of a kind celebrity in todays world as she has used her wealth for the greater good for many people. She has served a host of famous awards shows like the Grammy, Primetime Emmy and Academy Awards. Moreso, she is probably one of the most decorated entertainment personalities around the world and ...

Carli Bybel Bio  Height, Boyfriend & Net Worth Video blogging is now on the rise and YouTube is the place where most of it happens. If you are a lady who cares about her looks or a guy who likes to help his woman out with her looks, then one person whose name rings a bell when it comes to giving beauty tips ...

Who Is Lexy Panterra? What To Know About Her Ethnicity, Boyfriend & Net Worth Lexy Panterra is one of the YouTube personalities whose breakout came through the Twerk dance videos she posted on her social media handles and YouTube which has so far generated over 13 million views for her. From there on, she created her LexTwerkOut workout program in 2014. She is sure very talented as she as moved ...

Who Is AnneMunition? What Is Her Ethnicity & Does She Have A Girlfriend or Boyfriend? AnneMunition is a professional gamer and content creator of American origin. She is one of the most sought-after streamers on Twitch  a popular online platform for watching and streaming videos, especially video games. AnneMunition has almost half a million followers on Twitch and her channel has accumulated at least 13 million views. Her favorite games ...

Norm MacDonald  Former Wife, Son & Net Worth Recently, 59-year-old former Saturday Night Live stand-up comic Norm MacDonald caused a not-so-funny stir when he expressed his personal opinion about the #MeToo movement speaking in defense of Louis CK and Roseanne Barr. Following the backlash of his actions, he is diligently doing damage control for his questionable opinion by posting a public apology on ...

Inside Iliza Shlesingers Life With Husband and How Much She is Worth Now Witty, spontaneous, and truly humorous, Iliza Shlesinger is an American comedian who is clearly proving that the stereotypical claim that women are not really funny is not only incredibly wrong but completely outrageous. Having been in the game for more than 10 years, Shlesinger has grown bigger with each step, stunning fans with her incredible ...

Who Is Nessa Diab? Details of her Parents, Ethnicity & Relationship With Colin Kaepernick Nessa Diab has gained more fame as the girlfriend of different footballers than in her career. She is currently with the popular National Football League (NFL) player, Colin Kaepernick, and has stood by his side during his most trying times. Also known for her mononym, Nessa, she recently engaged in a tweet battle with the ...

Samantha Bee  Inside the Life of Full Frontal Comedian and Presenter We have over the decades seen various brands of humor and personalities who have walked the ropes. One of the formidable forces in the world of comedy is no other than the iconic Samantha Bee of the Daily Show who now runs her own television show on TBS channel. She is a Canadian-American political commentator, ...

What Happened To Jessica Williamss Boyfriend And Which Are Her Best Works? Jessica Williams is a woman who has a lot of feathers in her cap  and keeps acquiring more. The former senior political correspondent of the comic Daily Show, who is also a comedian and actress whose recent movie appearance include starring as a playwright just recovering from a recent split with her boyfriend, Damon, and ...

Who is Nicole Byer? Here are 5 Facts You Need To Know About The Comedian Nicole Byer, an American comedian, actress, and writer, made a name for herself after she played supporting roles on MTVs prank show Ladylike and the reality show Girl Code. The latter was a series that featured comedians who analyzed in minute details, all the issues that young women deal with daily, from period to dating, to weird friendship dynamics and questions about sex. Currently, ...

A Closer Look At Bart Kwans Ethnicity, Height & Personal Life Bart Kwan is one of few Asians who is known for being successful in the comic industry at an international level. His fame broke out after the YouTube channel which he created with his close pal Joe Jo garnered up massive followings. The talented duo has been running the channel since 2007 and their success ...

Heres How VanossGaming Achieved Fame Online, His Worth and Other Facts About The Gamer For many years, the decision to drop out of college to pursue an online career was considered to be foolish and self-destructive by conventional wisdom. It was no different when Evan Fong, popularly known as VanossGaming, dropped out of college to pursue a YouTube career. However, that radical move paid off, and he stands shoulder to ...

Desi Perkins  Ethnicity, Net Worth & Husband YouTube is littered with videos of makeup tutorials by different people but if you are interested in learning how to do your makeup like a pro, there is just one person on that platform who you must follow. She is none other than Desi Perkins! She is a popular make-up artist, Instagram star, and vlogger. Desi, ...

The Phases of Casey Neistats Pursuits and His Love Story With Candice Pool YouTuber, vlogger, filmmaker, and creator extraordinaire; these are just a few hats that Casey Neistat wears and the story of how he got here is incredible. A native of Connecticut, Neistat started out by making refreshingly-authentic short films and videos that featured content that was based on everyday life and called attention to serious issues. He ...

Connor Franta  Inside The Life of American YouTuber YouTube has produced a lot of young celebrities in modern times and Connor Franta happens to be one of them. Apart from being a YouTuber, the young American is also an entrepreneur, entertainer, and writer. His journey to fame began almost a decade ago when he started a self-named YouTube channel where he uploads content ranging ...

Rhett and Link  Bio, Who are Their Wives, Net Worth and Family Facts Rhett and Link refer to an American comedy duo who are very popular on YouTube. They are known for their comic songs, viral commercials, skits and the daily show, Good Mythical Morning. Good Mythical Morning is the most watched daily show online, averaging 100 million views in a month. The show has featured guests such ...

A Walk Through The Maze of Ryan Higas Career Pursuits And Relationship With Arden Cho Ryan Higa is not only celebrated as a YouTube star, but he is also famed for appearing on television screens as an actor and comedian. Nigahiga, his Youtube channel, has gathered over 20 million subscribers and billions of views with his different comic acts, short films, and music videos uploads. With the rise in his career, ...

What to Know About The Shows That Made Craig Ferguson a Star and His Family Ties Rising to the top of your profession can sometimes be a hard and difficult process. It requires days and nights of working consistently hard to be better than what you were yesterday. It requires not giving up when all of your experiences seem to be pushing you to quit. It is because of these challenges ...

David Dobrik Married Liza Koshy for One Month  Inside His Family and Relationships David Dobrik is a YouTube sensation who has garnered fame not just for his vlogs but his love life too. Given his career as a YouTuber, his channel is one place where he shares his romantic escapades. With a cute boyish look like his, this Slovakian young man is definitely a good catch, and not ...

Merrell Twins Bio  Ethnicity, Parents & Boyfriend One of the beautiful things about modern life is social media. As rudimentary as it might seem, it could turn out to be the greatest thing that would be invented in the next 50 years because of its impact on human life. Very few tools have revolutionized human behavior and culture as much as social ...

Who Is Bunny Meyer, Is She Married & What Is Her Net Worth? Bunny Meyer is a YouTube celebrity who has amassed over 8.8 million subscribers with 1.5 million viewers on her channel. She is popularly known as Grav3yardgirl and is one of the highest-paid YouTubers in the world. She initially started out as a fashion designer and later chose the path of a YouTuber. Grav3yardgirl has used her knowledge on fashion, makeup, ...

Ninja  Inside The Life of The American YouTuber and Internet Personality Ninja is a talented video game player known for his mastery of Fortnite and other seemingly difficult games he plays with ease. The video gamer made a career out of what is ordinarily the hobby of many people and has since then amassed a huge online following. Find out about him here, including the controversies that ...

What Is Eva Gutowskis True Sexuality and How Did She Rise So Fast As an Influencer? Ever since Eva Gutowski joined YouTube in 2011, it has been an interesting journey for her, moving from one milestone to the other. Backed by an army of young women and teenage girl fans known as Evanators, she has risen to become one of the most-talked-about personalities in the digital stratosphere. She has also leveraged ...

Emma Chamberlain Biography  Age, Height & Net Worth Before now, people in the entertainment industry could only achieve popularity after many years of dedication and hard work but since social media came into the scene, massive success and overnight popularity became possible. That is the story of Emma Chamberlain who encountered fame as a fifteen-year-old. Emma is one of the many young people who became ...

Anna Akana  Ethnicity, Boyfriend & Net Worth There is a new crop of YouTubers known by their different contents with a very strong uniqueness that stands every one of them out, some upload video games, some fashion while some others have comedy video contents to showcase on their channels. Anna Akana has used her platform to showcase her comedy contents to the ...

Revealing Truths About Lilly Singhs Ethnic Background, Family and Her Relationship With Yousef Erakat Lilly Singh is an Indian-Canadian YouTube personality, actress, and comedian also known as Superwoman. She kicked off her YouTube career in 2010 with the launch of her channel IISuperwomanII and followed it up with a vlog channel in 2011. This paved the way for her fame and success which led to a world tour. The ...

Who Is Andrea Constand, Is She Married and What Is Her Connection With Bill Cosby? Many people got sexually molested but could not voice out due to the stigma victims suffer and what will become of them thereafter. Very few of the victims danm every consequence to seek justice and bring the perpetrator to the book, like Andrea Constand. She never got any media buzz, not until her friend cum molester; ...

Who Is Lazarbeam (Lannan Eacott)? Here Are Facts You Need To Know Lannan Eacott became a person of interest after his YouTube channel, LazarBeam pulled him to the limelight. Initially, he started with uploads of Madden Challenge videos before deciding to build his own channel in January 2015. Within the space of three years, his YouTube channel had gathered over 7 million loyal subscribers. Today, he has not ...

Puzzling Facts About Wengies YouTube Success and More About Her Fiance Among the many YouTubers who have succeeded in winning the hearts of millions of people is Wengie. She is a Chinese-Australian YouTube personality, vlogger, singer, and voice actress. Wengie is famous for a lot of things, from her simple life hacks, DIYs, craft ideas to fun experiments, tricks and pranks. Her content portfolio also includes hair tutorials, diet & fitness tips, lookbooks, ...

Is Jeffree Star A Billionaire and How Much Does He Make On YouTube? If looks can be deceptive then theres no other person who proves this maxim better than Jeffree Star. A quick look at Stars pictures would likely leave you wondering whether or not to tag him a male or female. But who says being controversial has to be a curse? For Star, his looks have caught ...

The Place of Rosanna Pansinos Career Hats In Her Rise To Fame and Facts About Her Personal Life There are a few phrases that could summarize Rosanna Pansinos rise to fame. None of them can do it better than the famous axiom, no knowledge is lost. Her popularity YouTube comes out of her foray into other professions, specifically acting. Although acting now occupies one of the major professional hats in Rosannas resume, it was ...

Muselk (Elliott Watkins) Biography  Age, Girlfriend and Net Worth The new and best in-thing in terms of career is video gaming and we have over time seen young men and women make massive income from an activity that was purportedly designed to serve as a hobby or a relaxation activity. One of such individuals is the Australian-born YouTube Celebrity and Twitch streamer, Muselk, whose ...

PopularMMOs Biography: 5 Interesting Facts You Need To Know We have over the years seen social media millionaires, especially on the YouTube social platform. These celebrities cum millionaires have made names for themselves after carving out niches on the internet, and a typical example of one of such exciting media personality on the YouTube is American Minecraft gamer and YouTube star, PopularMMOs whose channel ...

Jason Nash Once Married Marney Hochman  What To Know About His Ex-Wife and Kids The now-defunct video-sharing app Vine was the path that led Jason Nash to fame. With it, he built an audience of over two million followers, which he parlayed into a significant YouTube career. That move has seen him become one of the most popular personalities on the internet, with the cash income to go with ...

Where Does Dantdm Live? What Do We Know About His Net Worth, Wife and Brother? Most parents buy video games for their kids to occupy their time leisure, while other parents frown at their kids when they play video games. Despite the disparity, every parent would be proud of their child if he/she eventually turns a celebrity or millionaire through playing video games like Dantdm. Biography of Dantdm Dantdm was born Daniel ...

LaurDIY  Biography: 5 Facts You Need To Know About The YouTuber LaurDIY is the YouTube channel of Lauren Riihimaki which she created on December 1, 2011, when she was still a college undergrad with the sole aim of giving Do It Yourself (DIY) as well as practical fashion and beauty tips to her followers. She has used the channel to establish herself as a YouTube personality ...

Lachlan Ross Power  Bio And Family Life Of Australian The YouTube Star It is amazing the varied sources of income that the internet has made possible in this day and age. Internet fame can get its holder a whole lot of monetary and social benefits, but it must be noted that it does not come easy or cheap. For those who desire fame, content is the sacrifice ...

Alfie Deyes  Bio and Net Worth: Everything You Need To Know Alfie Deyes is one internet personality you definitely would like to know about. He boasts of over 10 million subscribers on three of his YouTube channels and has three bestseller books to his name. He is probably the most renowned young personality on YouTube today and his vlogging empire continues to grow by the day. ...

Colleen Ballingers Love Story With Husband Erik Stocklin and How Much She Is Worth Now Colleen Ballinger is an American comedian and YouTuber who is a very funny, adventurous, and highly talented woman. She is also an actress, singer, and writer. Collen is widely known for her work on YouTube where she posts content on her channel, Miranda Sings. The comedian has gained many subscribers over the years and has ...

Who Are The Dude Perfect Members and How Much Are They Worth? Entertainment in the 21st century can be digested in many forms and with platforms like YouTube, the creators and purveyors of entertainment have been democratized. Today, one of the most popular platforms to exhibit ones creative talents is YouTube, even though there are other platforms like Twitter, Facebook, who suffer in comparison to YouTube because ...

Who Is Rudy Mancuso, What Is His Earning Power and What Do We Know About His Girlfriend? Rudy Mancuso started his internet journey on Vine. He would later transition to YouTube where he solidified his place among the internets most beloved comedic creators. He is now regarded as one of the renowned internet personalities in the world, with a presence in mainstream TV and film projects like Comedy Centrals Drunk History and ...

Vsauce (Michael Stevens) Biography and Net Worth: All You Need To Know The advent of YouTube and the internet as a whole revolutionized how human beings consume information. With each passing year, the percentage of learning that is done in a traditional classroom decrease as a seismic shift to internet-based learning happens in our education industry. From open courses online to YouTube classes and videos, there are ...

How did Jake Paul Make His YouTube Big Break and Who is His Wife? One of the most interesting Social Media personalities of the 21st century is the young and popular Jake Paul whose elder brother is the famed Vine star, Logan Paul. Jake has utilized the power of the internet to bring himself to the limelight with a channel named JakePaulProductions that has amassed up to six billion ...

5 Facts You Need To Know About Reaction Time (Tal Fishman)  The American YouTuber Before 2015, the leading meaning of reaction time was the amount of time it takes to respond to a stimulus, until Tal Fishman started his channel, Reaction Time on YouTube and the dominant meaning changed. Today, a google search of Reaction Time would deliver Tal Fishmans videos and YouTube channel link with a few physics ...

Grace Helbig  Net Worth, Boyfriend and Family Life of The YouTuber Grace Helbig is an American internet personality, comedian, actress, and writer. She became popular due to her daily vlog series, DailyGrace, which ran on My Damn Channel from 2008 to 2013. Helbig is also popular for her own indie series on YouTube, ItsGrace, which she launched in 2014. Her vlogs which feature random stuff such as ...

Mark Wiens Bio  Ethnicity, Wife and Parents Food is a great way to connect with people. We all love to eat, if not for the pleasure of food, the satisfaction of quenching hunger, and the very process of providing and sharing that food is part of the strongest bonds that bind humanity together. Maybe it is our historical connection to food, where ...

Is Filthy Frank Dead, What Happened To Him and How Much Is He Worth? As George Kusunoki Miller, he was a nobody. However, as Filthy Frank, George was one of the most famous internet personalities on the planet. The Filthy Frank Show, a sketch series on his YouTube channel, TVFilthyFrank, was one of the platforms most influential creations. He is the reason a crazy dance song, Harlem Shake, made it ...

CaptainSparklez Bio  Net Worth, House and Cars of The Famous YouTuber Sometimes, what society wants from its citizens is quite different from what the citizens want for themselves. This is evident in the life and career of video blogger and American YouTube personality, Jordan Maron famous for his YouTube channel CaptainSparklez. He dropped out of school after discovering his talent in playing an online game called Minecraft. ...

Who is Simply Nailogical (Cristine Rotenberg)? Here are Facts You Must Know Canadian Youtube personality, Simply Nailogical (Cristine Rotenberg) originally started out polishing and designing nails even before it became a trendy culture in the social media. Simply Nailogica started out her showbiz career in her early days as a child actress, acting in commercials for game and toy companies. Aside from acting, she is blogger, vlogger, specializing ...

5 Interesting Facts You Need To Know About Huda Beauty In the world of entrepreneurship, it is interesting when an individual has a mentor who he/she looks up to, this yield more productivity on the part of the individual. The iconic and rich American beautician and makeup artist Huda Kattan nicknamed Heida is the founder of the Huda Beauty blog which is number one Instagram beauty blog ...

Is Dino MasterChef Gay? Details About His Ethnicity, Girlfriend, Where He Is Now Food, for the better part of the early years of human life, was nothing more than what we needed for survival. There was no artistry or curation to the method of cooking. The scarcity of food left no room for artistic expression until we figured out agriculture and we could make as much as we ...

Who Is Gabbie Hanna And How Did She Become Famous? As the world shifts to digital media and depends more and more on streaming services for its news and entertainment content, YouTubers have become one of the leading creators in the new media world. Their understanding of the online audience: how to create, maintain, and increase followers, are all handy skills that have primed them ...

Jacksepticeye  Height, Girlfriend & Net Worth Jacksepticeye is a YouTuber and actor who gained popularity with a series of gaming videos he uploads on his channel to the delight of millions of his subscribers. He is Known primarily for his comic video game series titled Lets Play and his vlogs. His channel was formerly ranked 46th in the list of most subscribed ...

Chris Heria Personal Details: About His Wife, Height & Ethnicity Background In this generation, keeping fit has become one of the major criteria for being hale and hearty. In fact, most occupations these days are majorly concerned with ones body mass, weight and looks. Unlike the past where most people have to register in a gym to keep fit, social media has made it quite easy ...

Everything You Need To Know About Game Grumps Gaming is becoming incredibly popular on YouTube these days with game vloggers make millions of dollars out of them yearly. One of the most popular up-coming gaming YouTube channels is Game Grumps. The Lets Play series was created in 2012 and celebrated its fifth anniversary on July 18th, 2017. In six years of its existence, the ...

Daithi De Nogla Biography, Girlfriend and Net Worth YouTube has created an avenue for many to make wealth and become famous from the comfort of their homes while having fun. Many have built a career out of the platform, uploading numerous videos that have earned them the admiration of viewers across the globe. For Daithi De Nogla, he is loved for his humorous commentary on ...

Does Phoebe Robinson Have A Boyfriend or Husband and What Do We Know About Her Family? Phoebe Robinson is a New York-based comedian, writer, and actress. She is best known as the co-creator and co-host of the WNYC Studios podcast 2 Dope Queens. Just like some other female comedians, she never had any original plans of becoming a stand-up comedian even though, according to her, she took a class on a whim at Carolines on Broadway. After ...

Who Are Lex and Alana from Listed Sisters? What Is Their Ethnicity & Is the Show Cancelled? America is a country built on diversity. Everywhere you look all over the country, a countless number of immigrants or children of immigrants have become an integral part of the fabric of the country. From entertainment to business, immigrants are creating a niche for themselves and climbing to the summit of their respective professions. One ...

Riveting Facts About Danielle Lombard And What She Is Best Known For The American entertainment industry is one that provides many avenues for aspiring hopefuls to express their talents and become famous. From films to television shows and game shows, there is no shortage of ways for men and women who desire fame to pursue and earn it in the United States of America. Another tested medium ...

Unearthing New Details About The YouTube Success And Personal Life of Alex Burriss of Wassabi Productions Wildly hilarious and truly audacious, Alex Wassabi is an American YouTuber who has become a very popular face on the video-sharing platform after having garnered millions of subscribers over the years by keeping people glued to his channel with his witty parody video releases. If you have always loved parody videos, there is every chance ...

Everything You Need To Know About H2O Delirious H2O Delirious whose full birth name is reported to be Jonathan Gormon Dennis has successfully kept himself mystified by hiding his face behind the masks leaving his loyal fans speculating who he really is for many years. The American YouTube star is easily identified by the Jason Mask Style with make-up which he wears on his ...

Who Is HolaSoyGerman and What Happened To Him? German Garmendia has certainly seen it all when it comes to internet success. His channels, HolaSoyGerman and JuegaGerman are in the top twenty most subscribed channel on YouTube. The Chilean YouTuber found a way to tap into one of the worlds greatest inventions and make a living from it. He has been able to build ...

Who Are Glenn Becks Family, What Is His Net Worth And What Happened To Him? The American political commentary space is filled with different personalities. A few of them, through their rhetoric, charisma, and resources have been able to build a large following of men and women who listen to them for insight and direction for various political and social issues in the United States. For Conservatives, the story is ...

Following Charissa Thompsons Rise Through The Ranks Of Sports Casting and All About Her Boyfriend Superstar TV host and sportscaster, Charissa Thompson, has been hailed as one of the highest-profile women journalists in America, and the reason is there for all to see. She has worked for popular establishments such as Versus, Yahoo! Sports, ESPN, GSN, and Big Ten Network. She currently hosts the popular pre-game show, Fox NFL Kickoff, ...

Is Chris Kattan Gay or Does He Have A Wife? What Is His Net Worth? Chris Kattan is a popular American comedian and actor. He has appeared in several comic movies and TV series such as The Middle, A Night at the Roxbury and Bunnicula. Kattan is, however, most popular for his six-year stint as a cast member of Saturday Night Live. During his time on the legendary show, he ...

Everything You Should Know About the Rise of Insta Star Claire Abbott and Why She Gave It All Up A lot of young Americans have shot into the limelight for uploading different kinds of videos on YouTube. Some of these young stars include Connor Franta, Desi Perkins, Emma Chamberlain, the Dolan Twins (Ethan and Grayson), and Claire Abbott. The latter became a social media celebrity for uploading sexy bikini pictures of herself on social media. Apart from ...

5 Facts You Need To Know About The YouTube Channel  h3h3Productions H3h3Productions is a YouTube channel that specializes on Comic responses or reactions of other contents or trendy stories. The celebrity couple that created the channel has over time racked up sizable views for their commentaries and contents. Even though they had their own fair share of copyright cases, thankfully they scored an unprecedented victory in all ...

Lilypichu Bio  Height, Brother and Love Story With Albert SleightlyMusical Chang Like most popular internet celebrities, Lilypichu is one of those Twitch streamers who spend their lives on camera. From daydreaming about the possibility of becoming a full-time professional streamer, she grew to live out her dreams on the popular live streaming platform where people play games, make crafts, and showcase their day-to-day activities. Given the rise of ...

KSI  What To Know About His Girlfriend, Brother  Deji Olatunji & Net Worth Assuredly, when Internet inventors Vint Cerf and Bob Khan created the technological masterpiece, they probably did not know how massive the creation will be harnessed by many for different purposes including as a platform for earning money through content creation. One of such person who smiles to the bank regularly today for spending time creating ...

The Interesting Progression and Highlights of Carrie Keagans Career as a Host and Actress Carrie Keagan has garnered huge fame through her various stints on television. She is not just your regular TV host but one with a difference. Keagan has hosted several high profile events and TV shows, including VH1s Big Morning Buzz Live and Fox News Channels Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld. However, not many know she ...

The Gist On Elise Jordans Marriages And Her Rise To Prominence Political commentaries tend to be boring when it is handled by someone who does not have a knack for it. However, when you see the likes of Elise Jordan run the same commentary, you will have a lot of reasons to look forward to watching her again as the journalist is well-versed in the field ...

What Is Timmy Thick Best Known For and How Successful Is The Star? Thanks to the internet, many people whose talents would have ordinarily gone unnoticed have become famous. A very good example of this modern-day internet celebrity is Timmy Thick, an American social media star. He became popular on Instagram due to his penchant for posting raunchy pictures of himself. He also often posted videos of himself ...

What Does Heather Storm Do For a Living and Who Is She Dating? Reality Television is a great way to make a name for oneself as well as amass a fortune. Heather Storm can attest to this as she is one of those who have made a name and earned a lot from reality TV. She made her name appearing on shows like Car Fanatics, Awesome Autos, and, ...

Matt Carriker Biography  Net Worth, Wife & Height Unlike your regular veterinary doctor next door, Matt Carriker chose to spice up his noble profession with the unusual. Though he is known to many as a medical practitioner, Carriker is better renowned as a YouTube star and an animal lover. Having recorded huge successes on his various YouTube channels, the vet doctors name and ...

Jillian Mele of Fox News Career Achievements, Husband & Measurements There are quite a good number of presenters on radio and television who listeners and viewers may never wish to miss any of their shows because of their sensational golden voice, beauty or the special way or artistry they anchor their shows. Jillian Mele is one of such. She has been at the top of ...

Who is Gillian Turner of Fox News? Her Fiance or Husband and Net Worth Gillian Turner is well-known as a news correspondent for Fox News Channel but before she became a TV personality, she built an intimidating resume working for different institutions, including the American government. She served in different capacities at the White House National Security Council during the administration of former US Presidents  George W. Bush and Barack Obama. ...

Gloria Govan Bio  Age, Ethnicity & Height Even as Gloria Govan is famous as an American actress, author, a TV host, and reality television star, shes more popular as the wife of the former NBA player, Matt Barnes. She became known after appearing on the Florida version of the reality television series, Basketball Wives and later, Basketball Wives: LA  after Matt was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Sadly, ...

Michael Fishmans Interesting Start as an Actor and Why He Divorced His Wife of Many Years When one door closes, another one opens. As silly as that axiom may seem, it is the story of the resurgence of Michael Fishman, who plays D.J Conner on the popular show, Roseanne. Having played the character for several years as a child actor into his teenage years; when the show originally ended, Michael did ...

Who Is October Gonzalez  Tony Gonzalezs Wife? All You Need To Know October Gonzalez is a popular American TV host and media personality. Additionally, she is also a model. Gonzalez has hosted several TV shows such as Beat Shazam, Entertainment Tonight, and Rachel Ray. She has also featured in several reality TV shows. Gonzalezs fame is not just due to her profession but also because of her ...

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Joe Rogan Has A Step-Daughter and 2 Other Kids With Wife Jessica Ditzel  Meet His Family Joe Rogan is a popular American stand-up comedian and TV host. His journey to stardom began in the late 80s and has seen him host several shows, the most popular is the game show titled Fear Factor. The exciting show dares contestants to face some of their greatest fears and embark on challenging stunts. The ...

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Holly Sonders Wiki, Plastic Surgery & Why She Divorced Her Husband  Erik Kuselias After trying everything within her capacity to have a low key wedding, Holly Sonders was drawn to the public because of her husbands controversy at his workplace. Well, the two are rumored to be divorced but the article below will give more light on how true these rumors are. Meanwhile, Holly Sonders is yet to ...

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QVC Shawn Killinger Bio  Husband, Net Worth & Facts To Know Shawn Killinger is a prominent TV personality who has worked her way to the top. Though not initially a journalist by training, she defied the odds and today has established herself as a household name, as well as, worked alongside some industry legends. More than just being a reporter, newscaster, and anchor, heres all you ...

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Marty Lagina Bio  Siblings (Martina and Rick Lagina), Net Worth and Wife Marty Lagina is an American engineer and businessman who has risen to fame as a reality TV star. This is thanks to his involvement in the adventure TV series, The Curse of Oak Island. The Curse of Oak Island is a long-running TV series which airs on the history channel. The show aims to solve ...

Is Jordan Schlansky Just A Character or a Real Life Person and What Does He Do? The world of late-night television is an interesting one. Shows during that time are geared towards giving viewers comedic relief from a long day at work through interviews and comedy sketches. The often charismatic host of this show requires the balancing talent of a producer whose primary job is to deliver great episodes. It is ...

Heres How Wealthy Jimmy Kimmel Is From All The Phases of His Career, Marriages and Sons Health Jimmy Kimmel is a renowned late-night talk show host known for his charm, wit, and the A-list guests he features on his show. As the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! On ABC, Jimmy has been serving comedy to television viewers for years which played a pivotal role in launching him into mainstream fame and enabled ...

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What Happened to Shane Kilcher? His Injury Update, Net Worth and More Shane Kilcher is well-known thanks to the Discovery Channel series Alaska: The Last Frontier. It is a show that documents the daily lives of the extended Kilcher family, people who live without plumbing or modern heating. The episodes follow their routines as they rely on hunting and farming for their nutritional needs as well as ...

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5 Interesting Things You Need To Know About Kelly Nash Ever heard of the lady who gained national prominence for taking a selfie with a dangerous ball just a few inches away from hitting her? Its no other person than Kelly Nash, an American sports broadcaster currently working as host of The Rundown show which airs on MLB Network every weekday at 2 pm ET. ...

Understanding The Height of Fame John Oliver Achieved With The Daily Show and How He Met His Wife Without knowledge of who he is and his exemplary career, John Oliver cuts an unassuming figure of a regular man but he is one of the most influential personalities in America, especially on television. Since he began his career in 1998, he has been a loud and unapologetic agent of change, using his wit and ...

Why Did Big Chief Leave Street Outlaws, Where Is He Now And Why Did He Divorce His Wife? Justin Shearer, otherwise known by his professional name Big Chief is a famous street racer and television personality. He is famously known for being one of the main characters on the racing reality television series, Street Outlaws. Justin, who had been a significant part of the show since its premiere in 2013, appeared in a ...

Who is Josina Anderson of ESPN? Her Husband and Family Facts There has been a gradual paradigm shift in the world of sports which has today produced the likes of Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, and other female athletes that are pulling great feats in different sporting fields. Their achievements have also been followed by the emergence of female sports journalists such as Jillian Mele, Eboni Williams, ...

Is Brittany Wagner Married, Who Is The Husband, How Old Is She? Brittany Wagner has been an inspiration to a lot of sports youngster. She has won the hearts of many athletic students with her role as a life coach and an academic counselor. She is well groomed in her career and has worked over a decade for The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and The National ...

Tati Westbrook Bio  Age, Husband & Net Worth With five videos dished out every week, alongside running her own brand, beauty guru, and YouTube superstar Tati Westbrook has proved to the world that theres utterly no impossibility or limit to whatever one is passionate about. Tati is best known for being the owner and manager of the worlds most-viewed beauty and lifestyle YouTube channel, ...

Cathy Areus Long Road to Becoming a Freelance Journalist and What to Know About Her Kids An American freelance journalist, news analyst, and author, Cathy Areu has built a lasting reputation for herself on cable television. Popular for her skillful and sassy presentation of professional views on varying topics including cultural and feminist issues, Cathy is an inspiration to many women across the globe. In addition to being a journalist, she ...

Tucker Carlsons Love Story With Wife Susan Andrews, their Children and Net Worth Today On the TV screens, Tucker Carlson is that fiery fellow who passionately dishes out his conservative and often controversial views on issues of national importance. Such brazenness has fetched him many enemies, especially on the left-wing, but it has also helped him cement a reputation as one of the foremost broadcast journalists in America. His ...

Paige Wyatts Net Worth, Boyfriend and Where She Is Now Paige Wyatt became popular after the Wyatt family began running the reality television show, American Guns. The Wyatt family comprises Rich Wyatt (father), Renee Wyatt (mother), Paige and Kurt Wyatt (children). Rich Wyatt originally ran a gun shop, the Gunsmoke Guns in Wheat Ridge, Colorado which is outside of Denver. The business which he ran together ...

The Progression of Howard Sterns Career As A Media Personality And Why He Divorced His First Wife Howard Stern is a legendary American radio host, who has also done some notable work as an actor, producer, author, as well as photographer. The radio personality achieved worldwide fame as a result of his self-titled radio program, The Howard Stern Show. As a professional radio personality, he has worked in different radio stations. Since 2006, ...

Lisa Joyners Biography  Ethnicity, Net Worth and Other Key Facts Lisa Joyner is an American Journalist, TV talk show host, and actress. Some of her well-known works are her correspondences for the Los Angeles based TV KCBS, inFANity show, Find My Family Show including her film and television appearances in Brimstone, American Sweetheart, The Bold and The Beautiful among others. Lisas passion for reconnecting people with their biological families ...

Amanda Balionis Rise Through the Ranks of Sportscasting and the Identity of Her Boyfriend Amanda Balionis is an American sportscaster currently working as a golf broadcaster for CBS Sports. Among so many of her works in the field of sports reporting, Amandas PGA Tour coverage seems to be the most popular so far. She covered the Super Bowl working with CBS Sports social media team in Atlanta, where she ...

Dissecting Charles Paynes Sexual Allegations, Its After Effects and More About His Wife Charles Payne had a respectable career as an analyst on Wall Street before he made the transition to television and became a contributor and later a host on Fox. In that time, his expertise has come under scrutiny, and he has been at the center of at least one major controversy. The major controversy in question ...

Erik Asla And Tryra Banks Split: Everything You Need To Know Tyra Banks and Erik Asla have called it quits! The couple, who began dating in 2013 and have a son named York Banks Asla, has decided to end what everybody taught was the perfect relationship. Neither person has come out to give a reason for the breakup, but what is obvious right now is that ...

What to Note About Dr Terry Dubrows Qualifications, TV Works and Marriage to Heather Kent In the realm of people that we expect to see regularly on our screens, medical doctors are closer to the bottom of the list. Aside from the fact that their work has little correlation with TV, they are presumably too busy to pursue life as TV personalities. Yet, a few of them have usurped this ...

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Is Simon Cowell Gay? Does He Have A Wife or Girlfriend and Why is He Famous? Simon Cowell is a well-known talent show judge, TV producer, entrepreneur and one of the most popular TV personalities that Britain has ever produced. In conjunction with his company, Syco, Cowell is the brain behind hugely successful talent hunt shows such as The X-Factor UK, The X-Factor US, Britains Got Talent, Americas Got Talent and ...

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Pacyga, who is a second time offender confessed to making a recording of the act with the intent to use it as child pornography, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) alleged.

The offender committed the crime at her residence on Sunday, February 5, 2017 according to a report by Mlive News.

She is now being held at the Muskegon County Jail where she is awaiting trial for two charges of felony.

The serial offender has also been stripped of her parental rights while the infant is under the care of the MDHHS.

ALSO READ: Police parade 2 men who raped woman inside mosque

Timothy Maat, the Muskegon County Chief Assistant Prosecutor confirmed Pacyga as a habitual offender who already has felony home invasion to her credit.
New Telegraph reports that the deceased simply identified as Mrs. Egunjobi, had lived in London for the most part of her life and only came back home recently and had been managing the shop opened for her by her children.

It was gathered that Egunjobi had taken some alcoholic drinks at a local joint and became intoxicated.

When she started misbehaving, the suspect reportedly offered to lead her home so that she would not be injured, however when he got to her shop, he took advantage of her and raped her to death at about 11 pm on Sunday, February 12, 2017.

The Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) in the area, Bamidele Ayeyemi, narrated that he and his group were patrolling the area that night when a man who went to defecate in a nearby bush close to the womans shop, discovered that her shop was opened and raised an alarm thinking that armed robbers had broken into the shop.

Immediately we heard the man shouting 'thief, thief', some of my boys and I called for reinforcement and went round the market.

Unfortunately, when we moved closer to the womans shop, the suspect opened the door and bolted.

When the suspect was trying to escape from the scene, one of us was able to identify him as Dare. That was how we started searching for him in the community, Ayeyemi said.

Another resident who identified himself simply as Balogun, said after the remains of the woman had been taken care of, they went to report the incident to the head of the community and policemen at Mowe Division.

What surprised us was that it was the same suspect who promised to take care of the woman so as not to sustain injuries that later took advantage of her.

We searched the community for about four hours before we finally apprehended him in the ceiling of an uncompleted building where he was hiding.

We then handed him over to the police for appropriate action.

It was learned that Garuba was still making love to the woman without knowing that she had died.

The suspect's mother, Jumoke Musa, said that she was fed up with the attitude of her son after doing everything to make him turn out well

I have done everything to prevent him from becoming a hoodlum. I left him with his fathers family after his fathers death because I have remarried and I did not want to endure his way of life.

Even while staying with me in my present place, I have bailed him countless times for different offences he has committed in the community.
Alimi who recently got a chieftaincy title of Ashiwaju, seized the opportunity of Valentine's Day to tell his husband how much he means to him and how love making with him has been heavenly.

Read the post here:

"To my husband, my best friend and the cheek outspoken one in the relationship (yes he is the cheeky outspoken one).

Thank you for loving me with all my fault and my madness. To you, loving was easy, laughing was pleasurable and love making was heavenly.

Happy Valentine's Day. #valentines #happyvalentinesday #samelove #gaycouple #interacialcouple #interacialgay"
This time around, the General Overseer of Shammah Miracle Embassy was seen praying on soaps for his female members to use to lure men into love relationships.

According to a post on the church's Facebook page, the controversial Prophet Bernard who is popularly called Commander 1, allegedly commanded his female congregants to come to church with soaps so that he would pray on them for the purpose of seducing men.

Read what the church posted on its page:

"ANOINTED SOAP"

Stylish and flamboyant clergyman, Prophet Anointed Bernard, popularly known as Commander 1, last week asked his church female members to bring various soaps to church so that the soaps can be anointed by a special prayer.

Church members mostly females stormed the Shammah Miracle Embassy church which is located at Old Avondale Complex in Avondale, with soaps of different colours and shapes, for the Prophet to pray and get it converted to supernatural soaps.

According to Prophet, once a soap is prayed on, it will enable the ladies to lure men into love relationships, among other uses of the supernatural soap.

Last month, Prophet Anointed Bernard asked his members to bring out their bank cards and prayed that God should miraculously credit their cards."
The latest abduction happened around 5am today while security guards were asleep after a long night of vigilance. Farm workers who were hoping to spend February 14 celebrating Valentines Day with their loved ones were whisked away at gunpoint.

The sound of strange voices woke me up early this morning, Isaac Ayuba, a farm worker who was lucky to escape, told Newsroom Nigeria.

Before I know what was going on, I saw a man ordering me to open the door to the room where I slept.

I noticed there were other men in the premises. I counted six of them and they were all armed. They were ordering my colleagues to open their doors, he said.

ALSO READ:Man paraded naked for killing kinsman so he could snatch wife

One of the other men fired his weapon and the whole place was in commotion. Even the armed man standing at my door was confused. So I used the door to push him aside and ran towards the fence. He shot at me as I did but missed.

That was how I escaped, he said.

Isaac and a farm manager called the police who visited the facility and found no one. All the other workers had been kidnapped.

and three other farms workers are missing, Isaac said, The police did not find them.

The police are understood to be investigating the case.

At about 8pm on January 20 2017, a lady and three men had been kidnapped in the same community.

The lady, identified as 24-year-old Ifeoluwa Olabiyi, a graduate of Nutrients and Biotechnology, Ladoke Akintola University (LAUTECH), had only resumed work on the farm two weeks before.

They were freed after kidnappers were reportedly paid 2 million and some bottles of gin.

Reports say the kidnappers initially demanded 20 million.
Adewole said this during the commissioning of the Maternity and Neonatal Wards and Central Pharmacy Building at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife in Osun.

The minister commended the hospital management for the effective services rendered for the masses, charging them to publicise the hospital services for more patronage.

He dismissed speculations that the hospitals services were limited and that it had no effective medical equipment.

He reiterated the plan of the Federal Government to provide standard healthcare for people across the nation.

He emphasised that the Rapid Response Initiative (RRI) of the Federal Ministry of Health would continue to provide quick assistance especially to the less privileged.

The RRI will continue for the citizenries to benefit the more.

Majority of the commoners that cannot afford their hospital bills will have their free medical treatment including surgeries, he said.

One of those who benefitted from a free hernia surgery, Mr Idris Oluwaseun, lauded the federal government for treating his ailment of several years.

Also, Ms Basirat Adesiyan, appreciated the federal government for giving her the opportunity to partake in the free eye surgery and for obtaining free eye glasses.

Earlier, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Prof. Victor Adetiloye, acknowledged the commitment of the minister in moving healthcare services forward across the country.

Adetiloye described OAUTHC as the best hospital in the country, noting some of its achievements in surgeries to include the separation of Siamese twins and over 300 laparoscopic surgeries.

Others include the first renal transplantation; 11 successful kidney transplantations; small incision cataract surgeries; developing the vitreo-retina surgery, therapeutic gastrointestinal respiratory and oncological endoscopic procedures performed on routine basis, and 16 open heart surgeries, among others, he said.

The CMD, however, said that the hospital management needed fund for the welfare of the staff and equipment, calling on philanthropists to complement government efforts at taking the hospital to greater heights.

Adetiloye appreciated the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, for contributing highly to the development of the hospital.

He said the monarch ordered two containers of medical equipment, which he, however, said were seized by men of the Nigerian Customs Service.
According to punch, the increase is expected to take effect from March 1, 2017.

This was announced to newsmen the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Abiodun Dabiri.

Dabiri said the increase is as a result of the current economic situation in the country.

He also added that the government is committed to protecting commuters from arbitrary increase.

Dabiri said As a result of the economic downturn, public transport has been severely impacted as all related costs have escalated beyond any financial projection.

Although the government is focused on a strategic reform of the public transport operations to create a world-class public transport that is modern, cost-effective and safe, the government has to consider the request of the operators for an upward review of bus fares due to the current prices for some of these schemes, which have stayed constant for more than six years.

The current financial crunch has seen average cost of operations increase to about 110 per cent. With the cost of fuelling going up by 71 per cent, oil prices up by 64 per cent, tyre by 90 per cent, continued operations are threatened.

In order to avert a collapse of the scheme, which currently serves over 500,000 commuters daily, the Lagos State Government has to consider the request of the operators for an upward review of bus fares. Consequently, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has approved a fare increase for the operators effective from Wednesday, March 1, 2017. The average increase approved ranges from 20 per cent to 50 per cent on different routes.

Also, there were reports that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode promised to banish yellow buses, popularly referred to as danfo, from the busy roads of Lagos.

ALSO READ:Ambode will soon ban danfo from Lagos roads

Is the increase in BRT fares part of the plan to phase out the danfo buses?
Mohammed stated this on Monday in Abuja at a dinner organised in her honour by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on her appointment as Deputy UN Secretary-General Designate

New UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had in December 2016 appointed Mohammed as his Deputy.

Mohammed said her appointment was a great honour and a huge task but promised not let the nation down.

The minister said that she had spent four years at the UN shaping the life of others around the globe which, she said, she did with satisfaction.

Mohammed thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for giving her the opportunity to serve within and outside the country.

She said her development as `a made in Nigeria product`, `bred in Nigeria`, `panel beaten in Nigeria` had prepared her for the UN job

She said that Guterres appointed her because of the moral imperative to encourage others, especially as the world is currently facing a huge task.

Mohammed said her experience in the National Assembly, during which she faced the lawmakers on various issues, had also made her stronger to confront the global task.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama, said that Mohammeds appointment to the UN was a blessing to Nigeria.

He said We are confident that her appointment was a win-win to Nigeria and the UN.

To have her in the UN will make the implementation of the Sustainable l Development Goals (SGDs) achievable for Nigeria and the world.

According to him, Mohammed has been a source of pride for the nation because her appointment has made Nigeria to be respected at the world level.

Amb. Olushola Enikanolaye, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that the appointment of Mohammed was a great advantage and honour to the country.

He said The elevated position occupied by Mohammed is the highest ever held by any Nigerian in the UN system.

Thus we are celebrating an illustrious Nigerian daughter, a person of integrity, quality, committed and advocate of environmental rights, dedicated champion of sustainable development.

She now has the unique platform to continue her model as a source of inspiration not just for the women of Nigeria but Africa and the rest of the world.

He commended Guterres for appointing her as his deputy and also thanked former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki moon for appointing Mohammed as his Special adviser on Sustainable Development Goals.

He expressed confidence that Mohammed would represent Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world well at the UN.
This was contained in a statement by the EFCC on Tuesday, February 14, 2017.

The order was sequel to an ex parte application by the EFCC seeking an interim forfeiture of the recovered money to the federal government.

The ex parte application was moved by Salihu Sani, counsel for the applicant.

In her ruling, Justice Zainab held that The sum of $9,772,000 (Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand United States Dollars) and 74,000 (Seventy Four Thousand Pound Sterling) which are now in the custody of the applicant (EFCC) are in the interim forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Operatives of the EFCC stormed a building belonging to the former NNPC boss on February 3, and recovered a staggering sum of $9,772,000 stashed in a huge fire proof safe.

On February 8, 2017, Yakubu reported to the Commissions Kano Zonal Office where he admitted being the owner of both the house and the money recovered.
You know this is getting too much, Chibok is surrounded by bush and the borders are not well patrolled, a resident of the area said.

We cannot sleep well in Chibok because of fear and that is why we want the soldiers to resume their mobile patrol, he added.

The terrorists are said to have killed an Islamic scholar during the invasion before they were chased back by soldiers of the Nigerian Army.

Chibok made international headlines in April 2014 after more than 200 girls were kidnapped from the village by Boko Haram.

ALSO READ: Osinbajo receives rescued Chibok girls in Abuja
The Maasai Shuka cloth is also called the African blanket but it is attributed to the Maasai people of East Africa as their traditional clothing.

The Maasai people of East Africa are some of the most prominent people in Africa. According to history, the Maasai originated from the north of Lake Turkana (north-west Kenya) in the lower Nile Valley. They began migrating south in the 15th century and arrived in the long trunk of land stretching across central Tanzania and Northern Kenya during the 17th and 18 century.

The Maasai territory reached its most dominant size in the 19 century when they covered most of the Great Rift Valley and adjacent lands from Dodoma and Mount Marsabit.

So today, they live in arid lands along the Great Rift Valley in Tanzania and Kenya and are known for their unique way of life, as well as their cultural traditions and customs. But a majority of them live on the Masai Mara National Reserve of Kenya.

The population of the Maasai people is currently at around 1.5 million

A hypothesis suggests that the Maasai warriors and soldiers by instinct are a descendants of a lost Roman legion that either deserted the army or became lost in the southern fringes of the Roman Empire.

So the tales of the Maasai people are often stories of strong warriors who formerly proved their mettle in the tribe by hunting and killing wildlife. The Maasai have, however, in recent times joined the fight to preserve wildlife and channelled their warrior energies into other avenues like the Maasai Olympics.

They lead a semi-nomadic life, their houses are loosely constructed and semi-permanent. The houses are usually small, circular houses built by the women using mud, grass, wood and cow-dung.

Maasai people are often identified in pictures with a traditional getup that includes; the Maasai shuka cloth, colourful beaded necklaces and sometimes an iron rod.

Dress code for the Massai people varies by sex, age and place. Young men, for instance, wear black for several months after their circumcision. Although, red is a favoured colour among the Maasai. Black, Blue, checkered and striped cloth are also worn, together with multicoloured African garments.

The Maasais shuka cloth is often coloured red with black stripes. The red colour of the traditional Maasai shuka is similar to what is believed to have been the uniform of the Massai soldiers who were fighting for the Roman Empire.

The shuka cloth can alternatively be blue, striped or checkered and is known to be strong and thick to help protect the Maasai from the harsh weather and terrain of the savannah, hence the moniker; the African blanket.

Origin of the Maasai Shuka Cloth

According to history, during the pre-colonial era, the Maasai people actually donned leather garments but by 1960s they began to replace sheepskin, calf hides and animal skin for a more commercial material that is wrapped around the body  the material was called Shuka in the Maa language.

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These claims are not 100% authentic, thus, the origin of the Maasai shuka cloth remains a much-disputed topic.

One side insists that the shuka cloth emerged when fabrics that were used as a means of payment during the slave trade, which landed in East Africa, were subjected to dying using black, blue, and red natural dyes that were obtained from Madagascar.

Another side explains simply that the Maasai cloth was brought in by Scottish missionaries during the colonial era. The two explanations have a basis in history that makes it hard to discount them completely.

However, the methods of production of the Maasai shuka cloth have evolved. It is usually manufactured in Dar es Salaam and even in China, bearing the text, The Original Maasai Shuka on the plastic packaging.

Also See: 40 Ghanaian Proverbs About Different Aspects Of

Life You Should Know

Even more interesting is the fact that the Maasai shuka cloth is gaining international prominence. The cloth has started popping up frequently in the global fashion world. In 2012, for instance, Louis Vuitton featured red and blue Maasai shuka in their Spring/Summer collection 2012, using the fabric to fashion hats, shirt, and scarves.
The phone call took place at 3:45pm Nigerian time at Trumps request.

Below are five important things that were discussed by both leaders, according to a statement released by Buharis spokesman, Femi Adesina:

President Buhari is currently in London for a medical vacation.

He left Nigeria on January 19 and was meant to resume on February 6, but he wrote the Senate to extend his leave indefinitely.

The presidents silence has given rise to fears and rumours that he is in worse shape than the presidency wants to reveal.

ALSO READ: President extends vacation in London

However, various government officials have insisted that Buhari is hale and hearty.

Buhari has also been seen in pictures with his wife and All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders, Bola Tinubu and Bisi Akande in London.
Shehu also said that the president is no longer enjoying his vacation in the United Kingdom.

He made the revelation on Tuesday, February 14, while appearing on Channels TV.

As a matter of fact, we should be getting ready to see the president in fresh and that will be soon as possible. The President (himself) is looking to being home to be with his people, Shehu said.

I dont think he is enjoying any longer with an extended vacation outside the country, he added.

Shehu also said that details of the recent conversation between Buhari and US President, Donald Trump will not be released to the public.

No, I dont think so; I dont think it is permitted in international diplomacy. I think if we had recorded Mr Trump in this conversation it would have offended our diplomatic relations, he said.

I think the Americans themselves would not have recorded this conversation of president to president, he added.

Buhari spoke to Trump on Monday, February 13, from London.

The Nigerian president has been in London since January 19 when he began his medical vacation.

Buhari was due to resume on February 6 but he wrote the Senate on February 5 to extend his vacation indefinitely.

ALSO READ: President extends vacation in London
Trump placed a call to the Nigerian President from Washington in what was his first official conversation with an African leader since his inauguration on January 20.

The White House made the initial announcement that Trump would speak with Buhari and South African President, Jacob Zuma by phone on Monday, but it did not provide any further details.

Also, the White House website did not list a readout of Trumps talk with Buhari among the statements and releases of February 13.

Readouts of the US Presidents Call with President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia and one of a call between Vice President, Mike Pence and President Michel Temer of Brazil are listed.

All local and international news reports on the details of the call cite a statement released by Buhari spokesman, Femi Adesina on Monday.

President Muhammadu Buhari this afternoon from London spoke to President Donald Trump on telephone at the request of the American President, the statement read.

The conversation was cordial and President Buhari congratulated Trump on his election as President of the United States, and on his cabinet. The two leaders discussed ways to improve cooperation in the fight against terrorism through provision of necessary equipment.

President Trump encouraged President Buhari to keep up the good work he is doing, and also commended him for the efforts made in rescuing 24 of the Chibok Girls and the strides being taken by the Nigerian military.

President Trump assured the Nigerian President of US readiness to cut a new deal in helping Nigeria in terms of military weapons to combat terrorism. President Trump also invited President Buhari to Washington at a mutually convenient date, it added.

News of weapons aid for Nigeria was initially hailed as a sign that Trump might take Africa seriously but the lack of communication seems to confirm fears that Africa ranks very low on the US Presidents list of priorities.

The conversation between Trump and Zuma has also not been acknowledged or referenced on the White House website.

However, a statement by Zumas office said that he and Trump discussed ways to strengthen the already strong bilateral relations between the two countries and the quest for peace and stability on the African continent.

ALSO READ:5 important things Trump said during phone conversation with Buhari
Or not.

The problem with 'The Donald' is that he's unpredictable and spontaneous.

So, we have to read as much meaning into his conversation with Buhari as we would the rising and setting of the sun.

But he could have snubbed Nigeria altogether and heavens won't fall. It was within his rights not to ring the leader of Africa's most populous country.

Making that phone call to the Presidents of South Africa and Nigeria may signpost better bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United States than former U.S President Barack Obama offered.

And Obama was good for Africa in more ways than one.

America's first black President hosted the first U.S-Africa leadership summit which was attended by 37 heads of state, launched "Power Africa" which was aimed at lighting up a continent plagued with electricity woes and launched "Trade Africa"-- a programme set up to improve trade relations between the United States and Africa.

But Obama didn't deem it necessary to visit Nigeria as he made stops across the continent in all of eight years.

The former U.S President visited Africa five times but Nigeria didn't make it to the White House itinerary under Obama.

It was a snub felt round the country.

Johnnie Carson who served as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs in the first Obama administration, noted that Obama not visiting Nigeria for eight years was an opportunity missed.

According to Carson: "President Obama has traveled to Africa five times during his presidency  but he has not visited Nigeria, the continents economic, political, communications and petroleum giant, and its most important state. It is the continents largest economy  almost twice the size of South Africas and a third larger than that of Egypt.

"It is also the continents most populous state, with 180 million people, its largest Muslim country, and its largest democracy.

"The President has visited every major country on the continent except Nigeria, and it would be a mistake for him to leave the White House without a stop in Lagos or Abuja.

"Some have suggested that security may be a concern because of but if the president can travel safely to wherehas carried out high profile attacks in the center of the city, he should be able to travel safely to Abuja or Lagos.

"He is bound to make one more trip to Europe, and a stop in Nigeria  similar to his 2009 visit to Ghana  would not be a major diversion".

Under Obama, the United States also cited poor human rights record and corruption for why it wasn't throwing its full weight behind Nigeria's efforts to root out terrorist sect Boko Haram.

At some point, the U.S refused to sell badly needed weapons to Nigeria as the West African country battled an insurgency that has claimed close to 30,000 lives and displaced millions since 2009.

But if Trump is to be believed, all of that may just be about to change.

According to the Nigerian Presidency's version of what was discussed in that famous phone conversation between Trump and Buhari, "President Trump assured the Nigerian President of US readiness to cut a new deal in helping Nigeria in terms of military weapons to combat terrorism".

Will Trump be better for Nigeria than Obama was?

Given his love for "alternative facts" and "fake news", it would be wiser not to read too much into what Trump does or doesn't do.

Trump doesn't strike one as a character to be relied upon in the long term. A man with a disposition for going off script, shouldn't be trusted to save the world.

However, it's still early days in the Trump administration. At this point, all bets should be off.

But calling the Nigerian leader during his first few weeks on the job and inviting Buhari over to the White House, may just suggest that Nigeria can look forward to better days and better bilateral relations with Trump as America's number one citizen.

Or not.
Mr Bassey Nkanga, DPR Operations Controller in charge of Akwa Ibom and Cross River, made the announcement on Monday in Eket in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that personnel from the department field office in Eket operating with a team of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), arrested the marketers.

He said that each of the nine marketers would pay N1 million fine for violating government seal.

There are some filling stations we sealed for selling above government approved pump price of N145 per litre.

The operators went ahead and sold petrol from pump sealed by DPR and they were caught.

Nine of them were caught in the act while selling with the seals; they were arrested and detained, he said.

The Operations Controller advised marketers to carry out their business legitimately within the laws governing their operations.

He warned marketers not to sell petrol above government approved pump price of N145 per litre.

He said that owners of private depots should not sell the product above government depot price of N133. 28k per litre.

In a related development, Nkanga has disclosed that three filling stations in Akwa Ibom have been sealed for diversion of kerosene meant for sale in the state.

They are kerosene from Port Harcourt approved for sale in Akwa Ibom.

We are still looking for the product because they were not delivered in the state, he said.

We will not sleep; we will make sure that adulterated kerosene business is completely eradicated in the state, Nkanga vowed.
He made the comments on Monday, February 13, at the monthly Power Sector and Stakeholders Meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The 3,500MW to 3,800MW that we have been able to keep on the grid over the last few months will be assisted greatly if we can have the gas pipelines back and add 3,000MW to it. That means we will be able to deliver well over 6,000MW if the gas pipelines are safe, Fashola said.

Consumers are more resistant to payment when they dont have electricity, and I will be, too, and you will be too, he told the power investors and other stakeholders at the meeting.

We see that they (consumers) pay more when the power is more stable. Of course, there are issues also at the retail end  metering, estimated bills.

You will see that government has begun to act. The Vice President, representing the President, is going round those Niger Delta communities, engaging them more openly, more robustly.

The idea is to bring them to the table to stop the vandalism while the issues that agitate them can be treated and resolved. I believe that if we are successful as we expect to be, we should be able to, sometimes, this year recover all the 3,000MW that has been lost to gas pipeline outages, he added.

Fashola had earlier blamed the poor power supply in the country on a lack of funds.

According to Fashola, theres no money to pay for the supply of gas to power stations.

ALSO READ: Nigerians criticize Fashola over drop in electricity generation
He said this while speaking to South-West Governors at their quarterly regional meeting which held in Ekiti state on Monday, February 13, 2017.

According to Daily Post, Fayose described the challenge as an impediment to the development of agri-business and agricultural investment in the South-West.

The Ekiti Governor also called on Governors in the region to unite as brothers, adding that it is the only key to developing the South-West.

According to him, it is not our own making that we are brothers from the same zone, and if we are serious about developing this zone, we have no option than to be our brothers keeper.

Therefore, to move the Southwest zone forward, we must respect the political beliefs and opinions of others and we must not do anything that will undermine one another.

Adding that The federal government 2017 budget is about N7 trillion and the only capital project allocated to Ekiti State is the Akure  Ado Ekiti road to which N250 million was earmarked. What can N250 million do on Akure  Ado road that is begging for reconstruction? There is even no guarantee that the N250 million budgetary provision will be made available at the end of the day. I am sure this is applicable to other states too compared to other zones.

ALSO READ:Fayose prays for Buhari to get well soon

We must therefore ask pertinent questions. How much did the federal government allocate to irrigation, construction of dams and storage facilities to boast agriculture in the Southwest?
Iwejuo is charged alongside a former aide to ex- president Goodluck Jonathan, Warampa-Owei Dudafa, on a 23- count charge of N5.1 billion fraud.

He made the claim during his examination-in-chief by his lawyer, Sunday Abumere, in a trial-within-trial, ordered by the court to determine whether or not his statements to the commission were voluntarily obtained.Recounting his ordeal, he said: I was a banker before this whole thing started but I got suspended because of the ongoing case.

I was invited to my banks head office on May 10, 2016, for an onward movement to the EFCCs office to be interrogated on an issue.

On arrival at the place, I was taken to one Orji Chukwuma, who told me that I need to help them on this issue and that they want me to be a witness against the first accused (Dudafa).

Two other officers of the EFCC said the same thing to me.

I was later given a paper to write my statement but it was withheld because I was told that was not what they wanted me to write.

During this period, I did not eat anything for two days; When I wanted to go and eat, Orji told me I could not go because there was no officer that will follow me to the canteen.

My phone was later taken away from me and I was guided on what to write. I was told i wont be detained if I co-operated with them, he said.

Iwejuo testified that he wrote more than 11 statements at the EFCCs office.

Dudafa, who earlier, in his concluding evidence, in the trial-within-trial, insisted that he wrote his statements under duress.

Further hearing in the matter has been adjourned to Feb. 21.

Some of the companies allegedly used by the duo in committing the offences include; Seagate Property Development; Investment Ltd, and Avalon Global Property Development Company Ltd.
Mr Bokolo Tonworio, the NUT Chairman, Bayelsa chapter, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa that the decision was taken after a meeting with the governor and members of the State assembly.

The chairman said that the union had appealed to the Bayelsa governor to pay the outstanding salaries of primary school teachers in the state.

Tonworio said that the members urged the governor to take responsibility for the welfare of teachers including regularly paying their salaries, adding that Seriake accepted their plea.

He said that it was unconstitutional for any state government to allow only the local government to decide the fate of teachers.

According to him, teachers like other workers in the state have been thrown into hardship following the non-payment of about six months salaries owed them by the government.

He said that the primary school education remained the bedrock of education and appealed to the state not to destroy the foundation.

In our case in Bayelsa, the local councils lack or are already showing lack of capacity to pay their workers and insisting that local council pays them will not be possible."

It means there is no future, no hope, and that the case of primary school teachers in Bayelsa becomes a helpless situation as it is the first in the history of the state."

The governor has finally agreed to take responsibility of the primary school and to pay the remaining salaries owed us, he said.
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An Abeokuta Magistrates Court which handed down the judgment, said it found the men culpable going by the evidence adduced and diligent prosecution.

The Magistrate, Mr Idowu Olayinka, said investigations showed that the duo committed the offences and, therefore,contravened Sections 383 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun 2006.

Olayinka, who sentenced them to three years imprisonment each on each count, said the sentences should run concurrently.

In addition, he said the convicts would pay a fine of N20,000 to the bank after they must have refunded the N2 million or part of it.

ALSO READ: EFCC drags Pastor to court over alleged N26M fraud

Earlier the prosecutor, Insp. Augustine Ozimini told the court that duo and others at large committed the offences on April 14, 2015 at about noon at a Fidelity Bank located at Omida in the state capital.

According to him, the duo conspired to steal the N2 million from the banking hall.

Idris, a staff of Fidelity Bank, got to know Sulaimon at the Mosque where he goes to pray and Sulaimon introduced him to one Alfa Isiaku Ramon.

On April 14, 2015, Sulaimon said he went into the banking hall and told Idris not to give Alfa Ramon any money, but Ramon went to bank and collected the sum of N2 million from Idris, the banker.

Unfortunately for Idris at the close of work, the bank noticed in its account a shortfall and during investigation, the bank was able to link the missing money to Idris.

The bank through its CCTV camera discovered that Idris gave Ramon money packed in a nylon without any bank transaction.

After Ramon collected the money which he said he had early asked Idris to loan him to do business, he disappeared.
In the suit, the anti-corruption crusader, Raji Rasheed Oyewumi, asked the Federal High court sitting in Abuja to disqualify the Saraki and 10 other senators from taking part in the screening and confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as the substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC).

Oyewumi accused Saraki and the other senators of bias if they are allowed to screen Magu.

Senators joined in the suit dated February 13th, 2017 are Godswill Akpabio, Jonah Jang, Aliyu Wammako, Stella Oduah, Theodore Orji, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Ahmed Sani, Danjuma Goje, Joshua Dariye and Adammu Abdullahi.

Others are the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Magu.

The plaintiff said the senators would be unfair in screening Magu given that they all have pending cases before the EFCC.

He also alleged that Saraki and others are threatened by Magu's emergence as the EFCC chairman.

He asked the court to determine whether Senate President and other senators will not violate the provisions of Section 56, 172 of paragraph 1 and 9 of the fifth schedule to the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) if they jointly or severally participate in or vote during the screening or deliberation on the nomination of Magu for the position of Chairman of the EFCC in view of their ongoing cases of financial and economic crime.

Oyewumi also prayed the court for an order of injunction restraining the Saraki from presiding over or participating in the screening, deliberation, and voting on the nomination of Magu as EFCC chairman.

In the supporting affidavit of the originating summons, the plaintiff said Saraki was biased in the confirmation of Magu when he failed to read the Acting Presidents letter on the floor of the Senate until July 14th, 2016 - three weeks after.

He also said they failed to consider his nomination until December 15, 2016, six months after the letter was received from the Acting president.
The Chairman of the committee, Sen. Abu Ibrahim, gave the assurance on Monday in Abuja.

According to him, eight of those projects were awarded to Bauchi State.

He said that awards, which did not reflect federal character, would be investigated by the committee.

He said the committee would obtain relevant documents from the Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Dambazau and act accordingly to ensure that the contract was equitably implemented.

The committee chairman also decried what he called the poor funding in the 2017 budget of the Nigeria Police Force and called for improvement.

Following the huge role the Police carry out in the country, there is a need to improve their funding.

The budgetary allocation to the Police is very poor and needs to be reviewed upward, he said.

ALSO READ:5 Reasons Patience Jonathan should run for Senate

Ibrahim assured of the committees readiness to assist through the powers of appropriation to see to the upward review of the budget.
"Baba Buhari didn't anticipate the problem that we are in," Lawal said.

"The people who caused this problem are the one challenging the government. I tell you that they will fail in the name of God. In fact, they have failed.

"You are aware of the economy that the president inherited, the economy in which revenue has virtually collapsed. The infrastructure is no where to be seen, roads were dilapidated, schools dilapidated. The hospitals were abandoned," he added.

The SGF said that President Buhari is aware of the sufferings of Nigerians.

"I assure you that by the grace of God, in the next one year, Nigeria will have a booming economy. We know what they were doing to try to sabotage the activities of government to bring Nigeria back to economic prosperity.

"This, I can assure you. I assure Nigerians that the president is aware of the temporary suffering we are going through. It pains him. But the pains have to be borne this way for prosperity and goodness to return to our country," he added.

The protesters, however, clashed with the Police while trying to forcefully gain entrance into the villa.

Addressing the supporters at the Unity Fountain, special assistant to the President on media and publicity Garba Shehu, apologised for the initial obstruction by the security agents at the main gate of the presidential villa.

"The war against corruption has enemies, very powerful enemies. Enemies who has resources, a kind of monies that even the government doesn't have. So we need a popular support like your own otherwise the war against corruption will be defeated," he said.
Ortom made the condemnation at the town hall meeting of Benue stakeholders at the Benue Peoples House in Makurdi.

The governor said that the attacks undermined the efforts of his administration at ensuring lasting peace between the herdsmen and farmers in the area.

He wondered why security operatives posted to the area to maintain law and order would be attacked by the same people they were sacrificing their comfort to protect.

He said the attacks were unwarranted and charged the leaders in the area to produce those who attacked and killed a soldier, for prosecution.

Ortom also reiterated his resolve to ensure that no part of the state was under occupation by herdsmen.

He denied ceding lands to herdsmen in Agatu, insisting that the administration had not reneged on its earlier commitment to ranches.

A cross section of the stakeholders condemned the attacks and urged the governor not to give up on ranches as opposed to grazing routes.

Mr Sebastian Hon, SAN, advised the Federal Government to tone down its interest in grazing routes across the country.

ALSO READ: Governor Ortom says no grazing land for herdsmen in Benue

Hon suggested that the Sambisa forest be cleared and made a colony of gazing for herdsmen.

Also speaking, a former military governor, Gen. Lawrence Onoja, advised the Federal Government to abandon its quest for grazing routes in the country, saying the plan was not feasible.
According to her, it was just a game and she didn't think anything of it.

Also Read: undefined

"It was just a game," CocoIce said to Pulse Nigeria. "That was basically... You know when I say 'it's your girl CocoIce (raps in indigenous language).

"The bad girl Coco, the naughty girl Coco came out during the truth or dare, and it wasn't more than that. Because, even the next day when I woke up, I didn't think anything of it."

"I don't have regrets doing it, but I didn't think anything of it. I just thought 'yes, it was for fun,' and that was it."

Also Read: undefined

In a brief chat with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu during the Sunday, February 12, 2017, Live Eviction Show, CocoIce said she had told God to allow her get evicted once she fulfils his purpose in the house.

"I loved it, but I said to God when I was coming, when it's time for me to go home, when I have fulfilled whatever purpose you sent me there for, please let me go."
Johnson's trip is a first since the country won independence from Britain in 1965. "I'm delighted to be the first foreign secretary to visit Gambia this week," Johnson said in a statement Monday.

Barrow, who worked as a supermarket security guard in Britain when he was younger, defeated long-standing hardline ruler Yahya Jammeh in polls in December.

He then took refuge in neighbouring Senegal after Jammeh refused to accept the election result and sought for weeks to cling to power.

The new leader was welcomed home by jubilant crowds in late January after Jammeh finally left the country.

The Gambia used to be part to the Commonwealth, a grouping of countries formerly ruled by Britain.

But Jammeh pulled the country out of the Commonwealth, calling it a "neo-colonial institution" and announced his intention to drop English as an official language.

Barrow has said he wants to rekindle ties with Britain.

"I am also very pleased that Gambia wants to rejoin the Commonwealth and we will ensure this happens in the coming months," Johnson said.

The British minister also hailed the December elections in The Gambia and Ghana, saying they "highlight the continuing strengthening of democracy in West Africa".

In Ghana, Johnson will meet President Nana Akufo-Addo and visit the Blue Skies company, a juice-maker which has received financial support from Britain.

Since being appointed last year, Johnson has been pursued by reminders of highly undiplomatic comments he made about different countries and world leaders while writing for the Daily Telegraph before he became a government minister.

'Watermelon smiles'

In a column published in 2002, Johnson mocked then prime minister Tony Blair's international travel in an article with the headline: "If Blair's so good at running the Congo, let him stay there".

He characterised the Commonwealth as having "crowds of flag-waving piccaninnies," using a derogatory term for black people that caused outrage.

He also parodied a Congolese reaction to Blair's arrival saying that "the tribal warriors will all break out in watermelon smiles to see the big white chief touch down".

The politically incorrect comments came back to haunt him when he ran for London mayor in 2008, and then again when he was named foreign secretary last year after Britain's shock Brexit vote, which brought down the government of premier David Cameron, his old Etonian schoolmate.

Johnson's colourful descriptions have not been limited to Africans.
George made the comments on Monday, February 13, while speaking to journalists.

I have never met this young man but I must say that I am impressed with his performance so far especially in the area of infrastructural developments, George said according to Vanguard.

I dont know everywhere in Lagos because I hardly go round but I must sincerely commend him on what he is doing in Epe Local Government. I am very proud of what he is doing there. I passed through Epe recently and I thought I was in a different state.

I want to appeal to him that when he is done with Epe, he should head back to my local government, which is Lagos Island so that when he leaves office, not will Epe people remember him for his performance, but the entire Lagos will remember him and say yes, there was one Governor that passed through here and his name is Akinwunmi Ambode.

I also must commend him in the area of traffic management especially in the area of traffic decongestion in the state. He is a Yorubaman and he is doing his best but I know that we as opposition will do better when we get there.

My advice to him is that he should ensure that the standards of living of Lagosians are improved especially in the areas of education and healthcare. I must commend him because it is not easy governing a state like Lagos. Lagos is like the New York of the United States," he added.
Fayose called on the Governors to unite as brothers and not let party affiliation make them undermine each other's efforts.

He also asked the South-West Governors to adopt a unified approach that will stop Fulani herdsmen from destroying agricultural investment in the South-West.

Read the Governor's full speech below:

I welcome you specially, to this very important meeting, which is aimed at fostering unity and development in the Southwest States.

Particularly, I appreciate my brother governors for this visit, which to me and the people of Ekiti, is historic. It is historic because the meeting is holding in my state, not minding that the last meeting was my first attendance. I appreciate you.

I also acknowledge our collective patriotism in fostering unity and development in the Southwest States. No doubt, your sincerity at the last meeting held in Ibadan, Oyo State won me over and I am now more than ever before, committed to the integration and collaboration of the Southwest States.

Most importantly, it is not our own making that we are brothers from the same zone, and if we are serious about developing this zone, we have no option than to be our brothers keeper.

Therefore, to move the Southwest zone forward, we must respect the political beliefs and opinions of others and we must not do anything that will undermine one another.

To me, national politics should add value to us, and not divide us.

Americans go about fighting their political battles without undermining the collective interests of their country, and that is the kind of spirit with which we must operate if the Yoruba nation must regain its pride of place in the Nigeria nation.

We must constantly ask ourselves; where is the Southwest in the scheme of things in Nigeria?

This gathering must however not be about talk, talk and talk all the time. There must be affirmative actions; else, we will lose the confidence repose in us by our people. We must take decisions on what to do that will make the difference in the lives of our people in the immediate.

With the present economic realities, it has become pertinent that the necessary political will is put behind agriculture, education,

security and physical infrastructures on the long run.

For Instance, in the area of education, it is time for us to have a common curriculum.

Also, we must ensure cooperation among our security chiefs, such that if a car is stolen anywhere in the region, it will be found before being taken out of the region.

This task may appear enormous, but if we are determined and speak with one voice, as a people, it is achievable.

However, in promoting agriculture, we must take into consideration the menace of herdsmen, which has become major impediment. The question is, how do we continue to encourage our people to embrace farming when their investments are being lost daily?

We must therefore adopt a common strategy to curb this menace before we are consumed by hunger.

Apart from the herdsmen, there is also need for us to use our influence to secure assistance from the federal government in the area of construction of dams for irrigation as well as storage facilities. No doubt, if we must make agriculture the mainstay of our economy, as in the time of old, it must be mechanised and we must use our reach and influence to get the federal government to do the needful in the Southwest, as being done in other zones.

History will forever remain kind to the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo for his leadership role and developmental strides.

He was the rallying point for the Yoruba nation because of his selflessness and sense of patriotism. We must take a cue from him.

We must be reminded that even though the then Yoruba nation was balkanised into states, which we are privileged to lead at this time, we still remain one entity, with common language, tradition and culture. I therefore want to appeal that for this Regional Integration to achieve the desired objectives, politics must play the back role while we collectively determine our place, benefits and status as Yoruba nation in the Nigerian nation.

For instance, in the 2017 federal government budget, the Southwest is one of the least beneficiaries.

The federal government 2017 budget is about N7 trillion and the only capital project allocated to Ekiti State is the Akure  Ado Ekiti road to which N250 million was earmarked. What can N250 million do on Akure  Ado road that is begging for reconstruction? There is even no guarantee that the N250 million budgetary provision will be made available at the end of the day. I am sure this is applicable to other states too compared to other zones.

We must therefore ask pertinent questions. How much did the federal government allocate to irrigation, construction of dams and storage facilities to boast agriculture in the Southwest?

We must equally take collective interest in the annual national budget to ensure that states in the Southwest are adequately catered for. This we must do by using our technical people to study the budget and make inputs on our behalf.

One other germane issue I will want us to look into is the federal government $1 Billion Eurobond, re-payment of which is to be made from source (before accruing to the federation account) and expected to last till 2032.

As representatives of the people of the Southwest, whose future will be affected by this $1 billion Eurobond, I expect that we look beyond party politics and ask questions as to the beneficiaries of the bond, its repayment and what the Southwest will benefit from it.

We must therefore constantly engage our representatives in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the National Assembly and impress it upon them that they must use their positions positively for the zone.

I must not end this address without mentioning the rail project that we discussed in our last meeting. This project will go a long way in changing the economic fortune of the zone and this initiative must not be allowed to die.

In closing, while appreciating the efforts of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, it is my pleasure to welcome you all to Ekiti where we always come first in education. I thank you for conceding the hosting of this meeting to my state, not minding that I have only attended once. This brotherly love, I will not take for granted. I see this as the new beginning for the Southwest.

ALSO READ:Fayose seeks solution to Fulani herdsmen menace
Jonathan also said that the PDP will bounce back to power in 2019.

The former president made the comments on Monday, February 13, during a meeting with PDP delegates in Abuja.

PDP is still the biggest and the strongest party, irrespective of what happened in 2015 general elections, Jonathan said.

Yes, we lost the presidential election but that doesnt diminish us. Every other party still knows that PDP is a leading party. Losing the Presidency is something temporary.

We should be able to get that position back as long as we are able to get our acts together. I am happy that you people are working towards that, he added.

ALSO READ: 5 Important things Jonathan told U.S lawmakers about Nigeria
It was widely reported last week, and backed by picture evidence, that Tinubu and another chieftain of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande, paid a visit to the President in the United Kingdom amid rumours of Buhari's ill health.

In a statement issued on Monday, February 13, by Tinubu's spokesperson, Alhaji Tunde Rahman, he said "mischief- makers" are behind the false reports.

Rahman stressed that Tinubu and Akande indeed visited the President at the Abuja House in London.

The statement said: "The report about the so-called denial of the visit is the handiwork of mischief- makers.

"I felt we should not dignify that with a response.

"That report beggars belief.

"Asiwaju Tinubu and Baba Akande were in London.

"The reason they travelled to the United Kingdom was to see President Buhari. And they visited him last Thursday and held discussions with him at the Abuja House in London.

"After the visit, the President, as a mark of respect, saw off his guests to the door.

"Pictures were taken during and after the visit and released to the media by The Presidency.

"These pictures were international headlines.

"How can anybody in his or her right senses be saying there was no such visit?

"Its simply crazy! I cant just get it."

ALSO READ: Tinubu is settling with his political enemies

Buhari, whose medical vacation in the UK ended last week, had written the Senate on the need to extend his stay. This further fuelled speculations that all is not well with the President's health.
So, you mean as a Muslim sister, I won't be getting gift items from Muslim brothers? YES and don't feel hated if you're not "loved" today.

365 days make a year but February 14 is the world's recognized day for expressing and showing love to the loved ones to make them happy and assure them of their love for them, but Islam does not encourage this.

ALSO READ : Muslim students protest against Valentine's Day

This is not because Islam frowns at sharing of gift items with loved ones but because Islamically, Valentine's Day is not a day Muslims look forward to to celebrate their lovers. As a Muslim, you've got everyday to celebrate your family and friends.

Islam encourages Muslims to give out gifts generously to promote love and harmony. Prophet Muhammad said:But this is not to be done because of a festival or holiday.

Apart from the fact that lovers day has a zero value in Islamic Calendar, its celebration is believed to have lost its essence and has synonymously become a festival of lust, deception and casual sex because the celebration is now predicated on romantic love largely outside the framework of marriage. The ripple effect of this is the spread of fornication and immoralities. Little wonder condoms are one of the best gifts items for expressing love on Valentines' Day.

A Muslim is informed that casual sex is not permitted in Islam and any event or festival that promotes it is regarded as haram- highly prohibited.

ALSO READ :Pakistan Government bans Valentine's Day

Festivals in Islam are part of laws and religious ceremonies about which Allah says

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) also stressed this point when he said (Eed means festival)

Valentine's Day is not one of these religious ceremonies and festivals. It is not in Islam that Muslim should engage in any practice that is not established in their religion.

This explains why a lot of Muslim dominated countries are campaigning against Valentines Day while some have prohibited the citizens from observing the holiday

In a bid to discourage sexual activities valentines day promotes, a court in Pakistan has placed a ban on the lovers day celebration and also banned the country's media from covering valentines related events.

Also, in Indonesia, students between 13-15 age bracket have protested against Valentine's day in the country because they believe it promotes casual sex.

In Malaysia, Association of Muslim Youths have also discouraged muslim youths from wearing Valentine themed dress and avoid the use of emoticons and fragrance in the name of celebrating lovers day.
The event is an interactive session and fireside chat with a focus on Branding and Marketing Strategies for Startups (which is the theme for this edition).

The event is scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 18, 2017, at Cafe Neo, Adeyemi Lawson Street, Ikoyi, Lagos.

MEST has bucketloads of experience in training, investing and incubating technology startups across different ecosystems and it believes (according to the press release) that branding is not viewed as a top priority for startups.

ALSO READ: Incubator is now accepting applicants from South Africa

To answer the questions that founders and stakeholders may have about the importance of branding while building a company, MEST has invited leaders in the space to talk about why prioritizing branding/marketing is important for startup founders.

Ferdy 'Ladi Adimefe of Imaginarium Creative and Bode Pedro of Casava Limited have been enlisted to speak at the event and the talks will be moderated by Neku Atawodi-Edun, General Manager at MEST Lagos Incubator.

Other details are as follows:

Date: Saturday, 18th February, 2017

Time: 4:30pm
Army spokesman Colonel Tamer al-Rifai said in a statement the 13 "were abducted by an armed criminal group in the Ajdabiya region".

The statement said their liberation had been made possible by "coordination with the general command of the Libyan army", without elaborating.

The Libyan National Army is loyal to Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the strongman in eastern Libya and a rival of Fayez al-Sarraj, leader of the Tripoli-based and internationally recognised national unity government.

Libya has been mired in political and security problems since the 2011 revolution that overthrew longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi, with rival militias jockeying for power.

In February 2015, the Islamic State group released video footage it said showed the beheading of 21 Coptic Christians, most of them Egyptian, who had been abducted in Libya.
Kazakhstan has invited Syrian rebels and government officials to peace talks on Wednesday and Thursday in Astana, after a first round last month organised by regime backers Russia and Iran and rebel ally Turkey.

The Syrian government's position comes after the "success... of the Syrian state in freeing numerous civilians and soldiers kidnapped by terrorist groups", the agency cited an official source as saying.

On Wednesday, the authorities handed over 55 detainees -- who were mostly women and included eight children -- in exchange for the release of 57 civilians including 19 children from the coastal city of Latakia who had been held by the rebels since 2013.

Official media broadcast images of President Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma receiving the former hostages.

The announcement of the prisoner swap came after Assad dismissed a report released last week by Amnesty International accusing the Syrian authorities of hanging up to 13,000 people over five years in a government prison.

The Astana talks are to be followed by a new round of UN-sponsored peace talks in Geneva on February 20.
The Islamic State, however, claimed responsibility for the attack, a report said on Tuesday.

The man, who was not identified by name, was detained in Istanbul two days ago and later formally remanded in custody.

He was apparently identified over his involvement in leasing the flat used by the alleged gunman, Abdulkadir Masharipov.

Masharipov was formally remanded in custody over the weekend.

He was captured in Istanbul in January, after a two-week manhunt.

Masharipovs wife and more than a dozen others had also been arrested.

The attack on the Reina nightclub just hours after midnight sent shockwaves through Turkey.
But the wording of the statement underlines the extent to which President Donald Trump's new US administration has moved on from its predecessor's support for the European Union.

And it may cheer Russian President Vladimir Putin's Kremlin, which resents Europe's eastward march and is seeking to retain Moscow's historically strong influence in Serbia and the broader Balkans.

In this week's letter, Tillerson hailed "Serbia's continued efforts to promote economic reform, to further strengthen the rule of law and to improve relations with its neighbors," which he described as cornerstones of "regional stability and economic growth."

But he made no mention of Serbia's recent bid to join the European Union or of what the State Department has often previously referred to as its "Euro-Atlantic aspirations."

Last year on the same day, by contrast, former president Barack Obama's secretary of state John Kerry underlined US support for Serbia's EU entry in the clearest of terms.

"We applaud Serbia's commitment to the EU accession process and related reforms," Kerry wrote in February 2016.

"The hard work of adopting EU norms and standards will lead to a more prosperous, democratic Serbia that is more fully integrated into Euro-Atlantic institutions."

Yugoslav collapse

The State Department would not issue a statement in support on Serbia's EU ambition but, speaking on condition of anonymity six hours after Tillerson's statement, one official insisted the policy had not changed.

"The United States remains fully supportive of Serbias European Union accession efforts," he insisted.

"We continue to appreciate our close and cooperative security relationship with Serbia, as well as Serbias growing partnership with NATO."

Obama's administration was a vocal supporter of Brussels' outreach to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, believing EU membership would bind former Soviet satellites more firmly to the West.

But Trump has been scornful of the European Union and multilateral treaties in general, and has even been cool on the future role of the traditionally US-led NATO military alliance.

Serbia officially applied to join the European Union in December 2009 and began negotiations to do so in 2014, despite the skepticism of a significant proportion of its own population.

Westward-leaning Serbs see joining the 28-nation bloc as a guarantor of stability and prosperity in a region still reeling from both the recent financial crisis and the 1990s Balkan wars.

But many nationalists nurse resentment over the collapse of Yugoslavia and the NATO bombing of Serb targets during the Bosnian and Kosovo wars -- and some see Putin's Russia as a natural ally.
Everyone knows Valentines day but maybe not about the martyr who is traditionally honoured on that day.

While today is all flowers, chocolates, cards, gifts and the lovey-dovey feeling, St Valentine did not have any of those sweet things. He devoutly professed his faith as a Christian and died to uphold the message of modest love.

St Valentine is one saint who has the most inconsistencies in his history; however, he is still recognized for his service of love and sacrifice.

Here are 5 quick facts you never knew about the Catholic priest:

1. He Was a Priest

The details of his ordination are not known. The Catholic church appears to recognize 3 different saints bearing the same name; though it is largely believed that they all could be the same person (perhaps at different stages of his life).

According to Catholic Online, St Val did exist.

Whoever he was, Valentine did really exist, because archaeologists have unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to St. Valentine. In 496 AD Pope Gelasius marked February 14th as a celebration in honor of his martyrdom.

2. He Defied the Orders of Emperor Claudius II

The Emperor saw marriage as a threat to the strength of his army. He believed marriage made young men unfit to become soldiers; as such an open relationship was becoming the trend. The emperor made a decree that banned marriage.

St Valentine, as a priest and Bishop, upheld the sanctity of marriage by marrying willing couples in secret.

3. He was Arrested & Tortured

For flouting the decree of the emperor, St Valentine was arrested, stoned, beaten and tortured.

4. He worked Miracles

While in prison he tried to convert his judge to Christianity. History records that while St Valentine was under house arrest, the judge challenged him to restore the sight of his daughter.

St Val took the challenge and laid his hands on the girl and her sight was restored. Another account says the healed girl was his Jailers daughter.

See Also: 150 Cute Love Quotes For Him or Her

5. He Was Beheaded

After healing the blind girl, the judge surrendered to Christianity, he released detained Christians and was baptized as well.

Still proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ and refusing to bow to idols, Emperor Claudius arrested him and ordered his execution. On his death day, he left a note for the healed daughter of the judge/jailer. On it was signed, Your Valentine.

Some analysts believe this is why we give goodwill cards on Vals day.

St Val was buried on the Via Flaminia to the north of Rome.

6. His Remains Are Found in Several Parts of the World

By a stroke of fate, his remains are found in reliquaries in several parts of the world.

St Valentines skull is housed and adorned with flowers, at the Basilica of Santa Maria, Cosmedin, Rome.

Fr. John Spratt received a gift from Pope Gregory XVI in 1836 containing a small vessel tinged with St. Valentines blood. This gift now stands placed at Whitefriar Street Church in Dublin, Ireland.

Other alleged relics were found in Prague in the Church of St Peter and Paul at Vysehrad; in the parish church of St. Marys Assumption in Chelmno Poland; at the reliquary of Roquemaure in France; in the Stephansdom in Vienna; in Balzan in Malta and also in Blessed John Duns Scotus church in the Gorbals area of Glasgow, Scotland.

7. He is the Patron Saint of Love

St Val is the patron saint of happy marriages, against fainting, beekeepers, love, plague and epilepsy.

8. His Feast Day

St Valentines feast day falls on the 14 day of February, the believed date of his death. History suggests that he died in the middle of the month.

Another historical account also says that the feast of St Val was created to replace the pagan holiday, Lupercalia where young boys and girls are romantically paired in a festival that honours a Roman god.

9. He is Represented in Pictures with Birds and Roses.

10. Brazillian Scientists Have Given Him a Face

Considering the centuries gone from the time of his death, no one could tell what he looked like. According to Daily Mail, a group of Brazilian scientists have used a model of the skull of the saint to digitally trace what he would have looked like where he still alive today.
Turning the ship before it hits the iceberg
A Toyota Camry stolen late Monday in Rock Island crashed 30 minutes later off East River Drive in Davenport, flipping onto its roof, police said.

Authorities from both cities responded to the scene of the single-vehicle accident at 9:52 p.m.

The eastbound car left the roadway just east of the intersection of East 4th Street and East River Drive and landed on the western edge of the Block Ready Mix Group property.

When police arrived, an unknown number of occupants had fled the scene, Davenport Police Cpl. James Quick said.

The beige Camry with Illinois plates was reported stolen at 9:22 p.m. from a 7-Eleven convenience store at 1700 18th Ave., Rock Island, about three miles south of the eventual crash site.

Rock Island Police Sgt. Kirk Pattison said the owner of the vehicle left it running in the parking lot.

At the scene of the accident, Rock Island Police Officer Eugenio Barrera inspected the severely damaged car for evidence, including fingerprints, before a tow truck removed it from the premises shortly before 11 p.m.

The Rock Island and Davenport departments are investigating the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Rock Island Police Department at 309-732-2677 or the Davenport Police Department at 563-326-6125.
DES MOINES  Iowa lawmakers heard from several speakers Monday who urged them to approve sweeping changes to Iowas collective bargaining law to give local elected officials the ability to create what one called a culture of excellence and innovation.

However, the great majority of speakers were against the changes that likely will be debated in both the Iowa House and Senate this week and told lawmakers to stop swift boating the public by suggesting the legislation is either reform or innovation.

At issue are identical 68-page bills in the Senate and House  House File 291 and Senate File 213  that majority Republicans say tweak a 16-page, 43-year-old law that would limit the subjects that non-public safety workers can bring to the bargaining table, change arbitration rules, alter how unions are certified and eliminate the longtime practice of gathering dues through payroll deductions.

It also treats public safety employees differently than other public employees. Those not involved in public safety would be able to bargain only for base wages. Under current law, the can bargain for insurance, hours, vacations, holidays, overtime compensation, and health and safety matters.

Before the hearing, Democratic legislators called on majority Republicans to slow down and listen to Iowans who flooded legislative forums over the weekend to voice their opposition to the collective bargaining changes.

Iowans are angry. Iowans are confused. Iowans are concerned, said House Minority Leader Mark Smith, D-Marshalltown.

Union members who spoke at the two-hour public hearing were angry and concerned, but there seemed to be little confusion about their opposition to the proposed changes.

The proposals represent a direct attack on public employees, Jon Thomas, a police officer and member of Teamsters Local 238, told members of the House Labor Committee.

He also called it politically misdirected. Thomas said that he and many other law enforcement officers have conservative values and vote Republican, but didnt vote Republican to get stabbed in the back.

Every legislator who supports this bill should expect to be challenged by a public employee in 2018 because those who vote for the legislation are representing the special interests who funded your last campaign, not your constituents.

Pete Clancy, a Cedar Rapids high school teacher, called HF 291 an attack on women because the majority of teachers are women. By denying teachers the ability to bargain for anything other than base wages would take the professional status away from hardworking woman and men.

Opposition to the bills reflects scare tactics from organizations trying to protect their turf, Drew Klein of Americans for Prosperity said. States with limited or no public employee collective bargaining still have schools, law enforcement and emergency services, he said.

Not only will Iowa survive, but thrive under the proposed changes, Klein said. Its not the unions that make Iowa a great place to live  reform will be great for Iowa.

Nicole Crain of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, said she wanted public employees to know that the private sector values them.

The work you do does not go unnoticed, she said, and argued that by removing the current legal barriers of collective bargaining public employees will have the opportunity to excel and be rewarded accordingly.

For many of those who spoke, it was not where they preferred to spend their evening.

Im more comfortable saving lives than testifying, said Lynnette Halstead of Marion, a registered nurse at University Hospitals and member of SEIU 199.

Many of her co-workers and union sisters and brothers feel the system is rigged against the,

That brought a lot of people out to the polls, Halstead said. No matter who they voted for, they didnt vote for this.

Only a fraction of the 1,000-plus people who signed up to speak had the opportunity during the hearing. That didnt stop them from voicing their opposition as the Statehouse labor gathering turned into an hours-long rally, joined by several Democratic lawmakers who pledged to resist the bills, which likely will be debated in both the House and Senate this week.

Union members filled the Capitol rotunda, both the first floor and second, chanting Kill the bill and Vote it down, and displaying their pro-union posters from about 5 p.m. throughout the hearing.

Democrats accused the GOP of "railroading" the bills that were introduced just one week ago.

However, House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, R-Clear Lake, said her party has used the normal process for handling legislation,

So the bill was introduced, subcommittee, committee, public hearing and then we'll have a full debate on the bill, she said. In addition to the action in the House, the Senate had a two-hour subcommittee meeting to hear from the public.

The Speakers office has indicated debate may continue to Friday. Democratic leaders said they intend to discuss each of its 67 sections in detail.
Here's the afternoon forecast from the National Weather Service. It will be sunny with a high near 47 degrees. West winds between 10 to 15 mph will gust as high as 25 mph.

Tonight will be mostly clear with a low around 23 degrees. Northwest winds will gust as high as 25 mph.

 The Iowa Legislature is scheduled to debate the collective bargaining bill today  at 3 p.m. in the Senate and 4 p.m. in the House. Check back later for live updates from Des Moines.

Davenport teen charged in pizzeria, gas station robberies

A Davenport teenager adjudicated last year for a pair of robberies now faces charges in adult court after police say he robbed a pizza restaurant and gas station.

Daviaonta Isiah Duax, 16, was arrested Monday on three counts of first-degree robbery, a Class B felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison, for a robbery at Little Caesars Pizza, 2900 E. 53rd St., on Feb. 8, and Express Lane, 1909 Harrison St., on Jan. 23 and Feb. 6. Read more.

 Check out where crimes are being reported in the city and who has been booked into the Scott County Jail.

 Check out this video. It's a hobby that keeps participants on their toes.
STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 14, ARTSAKHPRESS: During the discussions in the Azerbaijani Parliament on February 14, lawmaker Azay Guliyev urged to address a protest note to France, Haqqin.az reports.

The lawmaker said that in a meeting with Armenians, Hollande expressed his support to the principle of the peoples self-determination. This is a vivid manifestation of pro-Armenian policy, the Azerbaijani MP said, proposing the Azerbaijani MFA to send a note of complaint to France.

He also drew the attention on the fact that the representatives of France are the ones who visit most Nagorno Karabakh.
DES MOINES  There was no divine intervention Tuesday at the Iowa Statehouse, but it came close as four Catholic bishops pressed the GOP-led Legislature and Gov. Terry Branstad to consider "the common good" in making collective bargaining changes that limit some rights public workers currently have.

Iowa's diocesan bishops  Archbishop Michael Jackels of Dubuque; Bishop R. Walker Nickless of Sioux City; Bishop Martin Amos of Davenport; and Bishop Richard Pates of Des Moines  walked a fine political line by declaring neutrality on the House and Senate bills but making clear that Catholic social teaching supports the rights of workers and their ability to bargain collectively.

"We're kind of in the middle because we can see good on both sides," Nickless said.

The bishops made their annual sojourn to the Statehouse on the day the House and Senate began debate on bills to revamp Iowa's 1974 collective bargaining law and used the occasion to push for moderation by both political parties to act in the best interests of Iowa families and communities.

"What we are really looking for is the common good that benefits everybody," said Pates, noting that requires balancing the limitations on public finances with the rights of workers to form unions and negotiate, recognizing "compensation is not only determined by what is in your pay envelope but other things like health care, vacations, retirement."

Last week, the Iowa Catholic Conference issued an official statement that was sent Gov. Terry Branstad, who is a Catholic, and every legislator expressing concern about provisions of the 68-page legislation that would limit the items that can be bargained as well as what an arbitrator can award for a pay raise.

The bishops also affirmed the role of labor unions in helping workers receive fair pay and benefits and improved working conditions that can help set standards for workers in other situations.

Pates, who offered the morning prayer at the start of House proceedings by referencing the teachings of St. Thomas of Aquinas that "in the middle stands virtue," said he did not get a lot of feedback from majority Republicans other than "they're listening. They haven't been too specific in their reactions."

Jackels conceded there is "a lot of power" when both houses of the Legislature and the governor's office are held by one political party, but he noted there are "two other powers above that: God and the power of the people."

The bishops said they have a good relationship with the governor on a personal level, but they do not compromise their positions in talking with him, and he understands that.

"We're not Republican, and we're not Democrat, and we're very forthright with him about that," Pates said.

Jackels said he understands the political "drama in this building" and the external influences, but he added, "I would hope the governor would be swayed by reason and by the common good, and if he were, I can't think how reason and the common good could lead you to support this bill."
DES MOINES  Secretary of State Paul Pate is counting on technology to save his office, but that will take additional appropriations from the Legislature, he told lawmakers Tuesday.

Technology will save us in the end, he told the Administration and Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee, or we wont be able to keep pace.

The business services division of his office processes 800 to 1,000 filings every day, handles 61,000 phone calls a year, processes 500,000 searches and filing requests, deals with 12,500 walk-in customers and processes 81,000 credit card transactions and 55,000 paper checks.

We dont need people opening letters all day," he said. "We need them online helping people because business customers want government on their schedule  available online 24/7.

The challenge, however, is that the secretary of states computer hardware is so old that Oracle will no longer service it after May 31. Pate said his office likely will be going out online to look for parts to keep technology running until it can be replaced.

Pate requested a $1.44 million base budget, plus ongoing operational support of $300,000 for status quo staffing. Personnel costs and pass-through expenses  Capitol Complex Association fees, IT expenses and other shared services  have increased about 34 percent in the business services and election services divisions, he said.

Pate asked for $575,000 to cover annual operational deficits on top of the $1.44 million base budget for election services, which is involved in about 260 elections a year. Part of the increase would be used to maintain state-required election night reporting, he said.

After eight years of frozen appropriations, his office will experience staff reductions without additional funding, Pate said. That will increase the time needed to deliver services to Iowans and Iowa businesses.
DES MOINES  Legislation to make sweeping changes to Iowas 43-year-old public employee collective bargaining law is either a much-needed breath of fresh air or vendetta politics, according to opening arguments of what the floor manager said is likely to be a spirited discussion.

Senate File 213 will put taxpayers back in charge, Senate Labor and Business Relations Committee Chairman Jason Schultz, R-Schleswig, said Tuesday afternoon in opening what is likely to be a days-long debate.

However, Sen. Nate Boulton of Des Moines, ranking Democrat on that committee, called the bill the point of no return in attacks on collective bargaining and said Democrats were fighting to stop this freight train that is barreling toward our public workers.

After nearly 41/2 hours of debate on the first of more than a dozen amendments Boulton told senators this bill is not modernizing, its marginalizing. This isnt tweaking  this is destroying.

The Senate voted down his amendment 29-21 and adjourned until Wednesday.

The House continued to debate past 10 p.m. before adjourning for the night.

Schultz called the changes necessary to allow state and local official to develop employment contracts that make sense for taxpayers and employees (and) innovate with the times, reward their best employees and manage their finances without fear that unions or unelected arbitrators will stand in the way.

Shortly after 8 p.m., the House opened debate with Republicans offering an amendment that reinstated some of Chapter 20 provisions removed in the original.

Weve had public hearings, weve listened to our constituents, weve listened at public hearings, weve listened at subcommittee, weve listened throughout the process, so we think these are good decisions to make, floor manager Rep. Steve Holt, R-Denison, said.

The amendment reinstates proper cause for suspensions and dismissals, makes grievance procedures, seniority and any benefits related to seniority, and release time permissive topics for bargaining, clarifies that public employers must provide health insurance coverage for fulltime employees as well as part-time employees if they are currently doing so and reinstates the right of appeal of civil service commission decisions to district court, but requires the court to give deference to the commissions ruling.

It also gives Department of Transportation enforcement officers the same bargaining rights as police and firefighters.

We made a decision based on the difference between a controlled and uncontrolled environment, Holt said. When a firefighter goes into a burning building when a police officer approaches a vehicle in the middle of the night or a domestic violence call theres simply no OSHA regulations. Its a totally uncontrolled environment so that led to the reason we categorized them the way we did.

It also makes changes to ensure federal transit funds to Iowa cities will not be jeopardized, Holt said.

The amendment makes it a little better, but its still a bad bill, according to Rep. Bruce Hunter, D-Des Moines, ranking Democrat on the Labor Committee.

Its nice that theyve moved some items to permissible, but the bottom line is that when you go into a negotiation and want to talk about safety equipment or something that is on the permissible list, youre giving up something to do that, he said. Theres nothing to give up any more.

If Republicans were really listening they would scrap the bill, because of the estimated 1,100 people at the House Labor Committee public hearing Monday only four spoke in favor, Hunter said.

However, Holt said that was to be expected.

At public hearings youre going to hear predominantly from those who are opposed to something, Holt said. The folks that are good with what youre doing are not the ones who are going to make the trip up here.

Instead of listening to those who were there Monday, Hunter said, Republicans were listening to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who talked to GOP lawmakers via Skype during the hearing, and the Koch brothers and corporate backers. Theyre the ones who want this bill. Not the people of the state of Iowa.

Senate Democrats are listening, too, Senate Minority Leader Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, said, And there is not a single management side person who has told me they want this bill. Not a single one.

One management side person who wants the bill is Gov. Terry Branstad. He weighed in again Tuesday evening on a radio call-in show, saying there are some egregious things in our present law that need to be corrected.

I think its the right thing to do, he said.

Several speakers referred to the historic nature of Chapter 20, which was approved by a GOP-controlled Legislature and signed by a Republican governor. It was, Boulton said, a system of reason and compromise that has served our state well for decades.

Now, Republicans seem intent on seeing it gutted and replaced by one which throws away reason and does so in a way that only compromises Iowas future, Boulton said.

Iowas Chapter 20 bargaining law has been hailed as a bipartisan achievement for the long-term benefit of our state, he said. History will judge us by where we take our stands today.

Leaders on both side of the legislation, predicted the debate will continue today, but were unsure how many more days.

Were going to be talking as long as we have to, Hunter said.

And the debate wont be pretty, warned Sen. Rich Taylor, D-Mount Pleasant.

They say alls fair in love and war. Well, the wars just starting and Im hoping that youre really prepared for that because this isnt going to be pretty, Taylor said after nearly four hours of debate on the first of more than a dozen amendments.

Youre attacking people in their homes, youre attacking their kids. Youre making decisions that are very serious and its not just about tearing down collective bargaining. Youre ruining peoples lives and you need to be aware of that.
PIERRE | A legislative panel gave its support Tuesday to an exemption for employees of custom harvesters to allow them to haul up to 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel without needing a hazardous materials endorsement.

The House Transportation Committee voted 10-0 to endorse House Bill 1124, submitted by Rep. Lana Greenfield, R-Doland.

Custom harvesters usually have their own combines and work freelance to harvest crops for farmers  usually for the same farm each harvest season. Machines have increased in size, and fuel isnt readily available in some parts of rural South Dakota, Greenfield said. She added that harvesting could finish faster with the exemption.

Bruce Nelson, a harvester from Clark, said crews use a lot of foreign help who arent eligible for hazmat endorsements. He said Kansas has approved it and North Dakota is proceeding toward it.

The South Dakota Farmers Union and the soybean association supported the bill.

HB1124 now heads to the full House of Representatives.
PIERRE | A legislative panel gave its support to a West River lawmaker's proposed requirement that state plows should remove snow and ice from the full width of state highways through South Dakotas many smaller communities.

The Senate Local Government Committee voted 4-2 last week to endorse passage of Sen. Ryan Mahers measure, S.B. 58.

Maher, R-Isabel, wants to force the state Department of Transportation to fully clear the state highways that double as main drags through communities with populations of 2,500 or less. That would include the parking spaces on the streets in front of businesses.

Sidewalks would remain the responsibility of the businesses and the local government.

Maher acknowledged hes trying to use the legislation to force action in Isabel, a town of about 135 people roughly 175 miles northeast of Rapid City. He said DOT removed the snow in past years. This winter DOT still plows the main route of state Highways 20 and 65, but the snow that piles up has been left for the city and the businesses to dispose of.

Were at a standstill, Maher said about negotiations. He would like the arrangement to split the cost one-third apiece between the property owner, the city and DOT.

Yvonne Taylor from South Dakota Municipal League spoke in support. Transportation Secretary Darin Bergquist testified against the requirement. He said it would change snow removal responsibilities that have been in place for 50 years.

The legislation would affect 152 other communities, according to Bergquist. He said DOT has difficulty hiring enough snowplow drivers and cant afford to buy the additional equipment for the city work and cant afford to hire people to run it.

Bergquist said DOT would need to contract for the work. Neither he nor Maher had an estimate of how much the contracts might cost.

Bergquist said $20,000 per year on average per community  which he described as purely a stab in the dark  would total about $3 million statewide.

Bergquist said the dispute in Isabel is a difference of opinion whether the full width includes parking. Some communities want snow plowed to the middle for the community crews to remove, he said.
PIERRE - South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard recently issued an Executive Proclamation honoring 2017 as the Centennial Celebration of South Dakota Farm Bureau.

In the proclamation, Daugaard recognized the role South Dakota Farm Bureau plays to serve its members and enrich their lives through advocacy, rural community support, and policy development.

"South Dakota Farm Bureau members surface issues and develop policy based on their beliefs and concerns, and provide strong advocacy work at the local, state and national levels and take action for farm and ranch families and rural communities," added Daugaard in the proclamation.

SDFB Board members were on hand to receive the executive proclamation during a ceremony in the Governor's Office.

Established in 1917, SDFB represents more than 16,000 farm, ranch and rural families in South Dakota. In conjunction with the Centennial year, applications are now being accepted for the South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) Federation Centennial Community Initiative grant. SDFB will be reinvesting $100,000 in local communities for community improvement projects in 2017 as part of the organizations centennial year.

The Centennial Community Initiative is a grant program for community projects that make a difference, have high visibility and reflect Farm Bureaus mission and vision.

Grants of up to $5,000 per county could be awarded by SDFB, and additional monies will be contributed on top of the state award to each project by county Farm Bureaus. Award dollars will be dispersed during the SDFB Centennial year and projects will be showcased in November at the centennial celebration November 17-18, 2017 in Sioux Falls.

For additional information and to download the complete application visit www.sdfbf.org.
A coalition of schools, school organizations and agricultural organizations will gather in the Rotunda at the Capitol Building Tuesday to deliver a united message focused on education funding and property tax relief.

The press conference is scheduled for 9 a.m. Mountain Time and is the culmination of a multi-year effort to find collaborative opportunities between various groups that have the same goals.

The platform, Taxpayers and Education United - Property Tax Reform: Its not a spending issue; its a funding issue, was developed with two guiding principles. The first is that adequate and sustainable funding of high quality K-12 education is imperative for the Nebraskas future. The second calls for tax reform that reduces the over-reliance on local property taxes to ensure the tax system is fair for all of the states taxpayers.

The former is necessary to develop the well-educated workforce necessary for economic development and a high quality life as education reduces poverty, boosts economic growth and increases income. Low levels of state funding for education is at the heart of the states property tax problems, says an issue paper being distributed by the organizations involved.

The latter principle calls for a fair and balanced tax system, noting that the state ranks 49thin the percentage of K-12 funding that comes from the state and seventh in the highest effective property tax rate. Nebraskas public schools receive 33 percent of their funding from the state, compared to the national average of 47 percent. Conversely, 49 percent of the schools funding comes from property taxes, compared to the national average of 29 percent.

Chadron Schools Legislative Committee met with Farm Bureau when they attended the Nebraska Association of School Board conference last month. To present the two guiding principles with a local perspective, the Legislative Committee took the opportunity to meet with several senators during that time as well, using district-level statistics to reinforce the call for the state to find a way to satisfy those principles.

Among those statistics:

*Chadron graduates have a lower risk of poverty, participate in the labor force at higher rates, are three times less likely to be unemployed, are less likely to use Medicaid, school lunch programs and Supplemental Nutritional Assistance programs.

*Over the last 10 years, Chadrons spending has increased an average of 1.2 percent per year.

*Over a four-year period, the districts spending of $35.4 million created an economic impact of 65.1 million.

*Chadrons state aid has decreased 1.5 percent per year over the last 10 years, while other income also decreased by 4.3 percent per year. That resulted in an increase of property taxes by 7 percent.

*Chadrons state aid has decreased by $1 million in the last six years; Omahas and Lincolns aid has increased by $132 million and $80 million, respectively.

Chadrons Legislative Committee and their desire to build collaborative associations to work for property tax relief and adequate education funding began in the wake of a bond failure in 2012.

The snowball is starting to grow, said Superintendent Dr. Caroline Winchester Monday. She encouraged other boards and administrators to duplicate Chadrons efforts with their own local statistics and join the effort to promote the two guiding principles to state legislators.

Chadron board member Boone Huffman said he was disappointed at attendance by western Nebraska school boards at a meeting with Sen. Tom Brewer during the NASB conference. Only Chadron and one other school were represented. Senators want to hear from board members and parents, Huffman said, urging more local residents to get involved. Meet with senators when possible, or write or call them, he said.

Still, the board was pleased Monday to know that the efforts have continued since that conference last month and will take another step forward with Tuesdays press conference.

Were hoping thats a loud message, said board member Jim ORourke.
The arraignment of a licensed health care professional in Dawes County District Court has been continued to March for procedural reasons.

Traci Westemeier was scheduled to be arraigned on one felony count and two misdemeanors last week, but her attorney, Amy Patras, requested a continuance until March 7, telling the judge she is considering filing a plea in abatement in the case. A plea in abatement is generally used to allege a defect in the court records of the proceeding.

Westemeier is licensed as a respiratory care professional with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. She is charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor theft and criminal impersonation.

Court documents allege that she stole morphine pills from three homes in Crawford between July and October 2016, entering two of the homes by claiming she was with the pharmacy and was conducting a pill check.

Also in District Court last week, Mark Nelson entered pleas of not guilty to one felony, three misdemeanors and an infraction. He is facing a felony count of driving to avoid arrest, as well as misdemeanor charges of fictitious plates, willful reckless driving and theft by unlawful taking. He is also accused of a stop sign violation. Nelson allegedly drove off without paying for gas at Common Cents in August 2016 and failing to stop when police tried to pull him over.

Thomas Catches also made his first appearance in District Court on a motion to revoke his probation. Public Defender Jerrod Jaeger was appointed to defend Catches in the case.
A Rapid City woman accused of kidnapping her children walked free Friday after her attorney made a case for downgraded charges and the prosecutor agreed.

Alissa Hayes, 22, was originally charged with two counts of first-degree kidnapping after police said she had taken her two minor daughters from the care of the Department of Social Services in August.

However, Friday morning in 7th Circuit Court, the charge was changed to a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. She pleaded guilty to that and received a suspended sentence.

The twist in the case came when Alecia Fuller, Hayes lawyer, moved to have Hayes' original charges dismissed because of a substantial defect in the institution of the prosecution.

Fuller argued that the more appropriate charge against Hayes was a misdemeanor  taking, enticing away or keeping of unmarried minor children by a parent  rather than the felony kidnapping.

In a brief, Fuller said the South Dakota Legislature has made an exception to the overly broad and harshly punished kidnapping statutes for a parent who takes back a child from someone who has legal custody.

The legislature obviously considered the specific instance of a parent taking a child from the lawful legal custody of another and deemed that criminal conduct to be a Class 1 misdemeanor, Fuller wrote.

The States Attorneys Office conceded the matter and entered into a plea deal with Hayes before the judge could rule on Fullers request, Deputy States Attorney Wayne Venhuizen told the Journal.

I believe that this was the appropriate charge for them to plead to, Venhuizen said. It fits the circumstances better. He and Fuller both recommended a suspended jail sentence.

When asked why Hayes had originally been charged with a felony, Venhuizen said he didn't know, that he had taken over the case from another prosecutor.

Hayes admitted taking her then 2- and 6-year-old daughters during an Aug. 30 visit supervised by the Department of Social Services. Hayes said she took the girls after hearing that "something bad was going on in the (foster) home.

The girls were found with Hayes in a Rapid City home on Aug. 31 after authorities had received a tip.

Fuller and Venhuizen declined to elaborate on the problem at the foster home.

Hayes father, Ronald Hayes, alleged to have driven their getaway vehicle, also received a suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting his daughters misdemeanor offense, Venhuizen said.

Rapid City police said Hayes has a history of abusing methamphetamine. She lost custody of all three of her children after her youngest daughter was born with methamphetamine in her system.

Hayes was given credit for the 151 days she had been detained at the county jail.
STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 14, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: Mirzoev informed that the Armenian people received him at the highest level. The wife of the political activist, who is seriously ill, has been immediately hospitalized for treatment. The authorities of Armenia have provided Shahin Mirzoev and his two children with comfortable shelter and means of communication. At the moment the family is under the protection of the UN and the Red Cross, Talish info writes.

Citing Mirzoevs letter, the news outlet says that according to the blogger his family and the Talysh in general enjoy special respect in Armenia. He and his family feel well and safe and are very satisfied with the treatment of Armenians.

The Armenian authorities received a request on February 11 from Shahin Mirzoev for temporary asylum, since as a member of Talish Cultural Council, Talish freedom movement, journalist at the Tolishi Sado newspaper, he was obliged to flee from Azerbaijan due to the persecutions against ethnic and religious minorities and gross violations of their rights, and to arrive to Armenia with his family. Armenian authorities reacted positively to the request of Shahin Mirzoev.
PIERRE | A panel of state senators recommended Monday asking South Dakota voters to amend the state constitution so future constitutional amendments would be more difficult to pass.

In addition, the Senate voted 27-5 on Senate Bill 77 to require fiscal analysis notes for initiated measures and constitutional amendments if there is a potential cost. The bill now heads to the House for consideration.

Debate on the fiscal-notes requirement began last week and resumed Monday.

Sen. Ernie Otten, R-Tea, said he decided to pursue the fiscal notes in response to the complaints after the November election.

Officials of local governments said they faced additional costs from passage of the victim-rights constitutional amendment known as Marsys Law.

Otten said his goal is that voters be better informed. The fiscal note would be prepared during the 60-day window when the attorney general writes the ballot explanation and title for votes.

Were not stopping anybody. Were not holding anybody up, Otten said. There would be a 50-word explanation about whether it would have a public cost. "Were just adding some extra information, he said.

Also, Sen. Jim Bolin, R-Canton, wants to require that any proposed constitutional amendment get two-thirds support from each chamber of the Legislature to get onto the ballot and that when it does, it should get at least 60 percent approval from voters.

The Senate Local Government Committee voted 6-0 to endorse Senate Joint Resolution 2. It heads to the full Senate, where debate could start as early as today.

Bolin said constitutional amendments should be more difficult to accomplish. Will it make it more challenging? No question about it, he said.

The only opposition came from David Owen, representing the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce. Owen focused on the 60 percent passage requirement, saying recent history suggests it would be too much of a filter.

Owen said only two of the 16 most recent constitutional amendments reached 60 percent approval or more.

Regarding the requirement of a two-thirds majority in the Legislature, Owen said it makes sense. Again looking at the 16 most recent attempts, four failed to get the two-thirds in the Legislature, he said.

Bolin noted that the Marsys Law victim-rights measure that was on November's ballot was actually a constitutional amendment. Laws passed by voters are through initiated measures, which wouldnt be affected by Bolins proposal.
BISMARCK, N.D. | A federal district court judge has denied a temporary restraining order sought to stop drilling in the Dakota Access pipeline project underneath the Missouri River reservoir known as Lake Oahe.

Judge James Boasberg denied the order following Monday afternoons hearing in Washington, D.C., and required the pipeline company to provide updates Feb. 21 and every Monday thereafter on when oil will begin to flow through the pipe.

But he said he'd consider the arguments more thoroughly at another hearing on Feb. 27.

That gives the tribes hope that they still might prevail, Cheyenne River Sioux Chairman Harold Frazier said.

"To put that pipeline in the ground would be irreparable harm for us in our culture," he said.

The restraining order was sought by the Cheyenne River Sioux on grounds that the pipeline would interfere with its indigenous freedom to practice religion in pure, clean water. The Cheyenne tribe has been party to an overarching lawsuit that the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe brought in July against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after the Corps had approved a permit for the river crossing, without writing an actual easement. That larger lawsuit remains unsettled.

The Corps issued an easement last week at the order of President Trump, overturning the Obama administrations 11th-hour decision to stop the pipeline and conduct an environmental review examining alternate routes. The company says once the pipe is bored and connected, oil can start flowing, sometime before early summer.

The pipeline is just north of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, where protesters have been gathered since summer, but Standing Rock did not join the request for the temporary restraining order. The two reservations are adjacent to each other along Lake Oahe.

The judge did not comment on his decision in court filings.

Chase Iron Eyes, member of the Standing Rock Sioux and law project attorney, said the decision was disappointing but not surprising.

The tribes will continue to pursue legal remedies through the courts, seek an injunction against the pipeline and push for the full environmental impact statement to be completed, said Iron Eyes, pointing out that the Sioux are proud to be the spear tip for the resistance.

Native nations have always provided the spiritual foundation for those who seek to push  toward a place that respects what the West calls natural resources, but what we term sacred relatives from our Mother Earth.

Up to 400 people continue to occupy the main anti-Dakota Access protest camp near the Standing Rock reservation on the Cannonball River floodplain. Iron Eyes said he is urging them to move to higher ground for safety, but that individuals are making their own decisions whether to stay or move.

As many as four other protest camps are being established on Standing Rock by the Cheyenne River Sioux bands.

Meanwhile, a number of veterans are at the camps and still arriving, according to Anthony Diggs, spokesman for Veterans Stand, a group that has benefited from recent internet crowdfunding to the amount of $182,000 from 3,500 donors, according to the site.

Diggs, a U.S. Marine Corpsman in 2003-07, said he and other veterans are in camp to help with the cleanup of the main Oceti Sakowin camp ahead of possible spring flooding and provide supplies, logistical support and communications, where needed.

Iron Eyes said the Corps told him it will follow up its Feb. 22 deadline to vacate the Oceti Sakowin camp by coming in after that date to remove any remaining structures. Standing Rock crews and others are in their third week of clearing abandoned campsites and have made substantial progress working with the camp residents.

If the Corps comes in as promised, Diggs said, we will be non-violently demonstrating ... and clearing out the Oceti camp. Weve been called to serve by the Cheyenne River Sioux, and we are here in service to them.
Three men behind attempted terror attack in Moscow receive prison sentences

MOSCOW, February 14 (RAPSI, Oleg Sivozhelezov)  The Moscow District Military Court has found three members of the organized group guilty of planning a terror attack in Moscow in 2015 and sentenced them to prison terms ranging from three to fourteen years, RAPSI reported from the courtroom on Tuesday.

Three men were found guilty, among other crimes, of being members of a prohibited terrorist organization, attempt to join this organization and illegal possession and production of explosives prepared for attempted terror attack. Aslan Baysultanov was sentenced to 14 years in prison and fined 400,000 rubles (about $6,900); Elman Ashayev was sentenced to 12 years and fined 300,000 rubles (about $5,200); Mokhmad Mezhidov was sentenced to three years in a penal colony.

According to preliminary investigation, Baysultanov and Ashayev joined subdivision of the Islamic State terrorist organization, which is prohibited in Russia. In February 2013, Baysultanov came to Syria where he participated in sabotage and terror attacks against government forces. After he returned to Russia at the end of 2013, he and Ashayev obtained weapons and ammunition used to construct explosive, which they planned to use in terror attack in Moscow.

In October 2015, activities of Baysultanov and his co-conspirators were revealed by the Federal Security Service (FSB). Three men admitted their guilt in part.
The petition submits the office of the prosecutor of the ICC should open an investigation into possible crimes against humanity committed by individuals and corporate actors.

On Monday morning, a 108-page legal submission from the Global Legal Action Network (Glan) and the Stanford International Human Rights Clinic was submitted to the court, detailing what the network describes as the harrowing practices of the Australian state and corporations towards asylum seekers.

AUSTRALIAS offshore immigration detention regime could constitute a crime against humanity, a petition before the International Criminal Court from a coalition of legal experts has alleged.

As recent leaks reveal, these privatised facilities entail long-term detention in inhumane conditions, often including physical and sexual abuse of adults and children, Glan said in a statement.



The conditions and resulting hopelessness have caused what experts describe as epidemic levels of self-harm among those held on these islands. Based on original research, the communication is the most comprehensive submission on crimes against humanity perpetrated outside of context of war.

Heads of government and other state officials are not immune from prosecution by the ICC, but the prosecution of an Australian government official  either sitting or retired  would be unprecedented.

The prosecutor would need to be convinced Australias crimes constituted a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack.

The operation of the International Criminal Court is governed by the Rome Statute, to which Australia, which controls the offshore detention regimes on Nauru and Manus, is a party.

Article 7 of the Rome Statute defines a crime against humanity as, among nine other offences, deportation or forcible transfer of populations; imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law.

Glan is a non-profit legal organisation, based in London and Dublin, pursuing legal actions to address human rights violations in the global south.

Read the complete article here
Russian court upholds detention of Ukrainian journalist charged with spying

MOSCOW, February 14 (RAPSI, Evgeniya Sokolova)  The Moscow City Court has upheld a ruling of the Lefortovsky District Court extending detention of Ukrainian journalist Roman Sushchenko, who stands charged with espionage, RAPSI reported from the courtroom on Tuesday.

The court has dismissed an appeal filed by journalists legal defense. The case was considered behind closed doors, Sushchenko is to stay in detention until April 30.

According to Russias Federal Security Service (FSB), the Ukrainian citizen "purposively collected classified information about the Armed Forces and National Guard of Russia." Leak of data abroad could cause damage to the national defense capability, the FSB claimed.

On October 7, charges were brought against Sushchenko. He could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.

Ukrinform news agency earlier confirmed that Sushchenko has been acting as its reporter since 2002. Since 2010, he has been working as Ukrinforms personal correspondent in France. According to the agency, Sushchenko arrived in Moscow on private business during his vacation and was arrested immediately upon his arrival.

Ukrinform repelled accusations against Sushchenko calling him "a journalist with years of unblemished professional reputation".
Sentence of Hizb ut-Tahrir member upheld by Russian Supreme Court

MOSCOW, February 14 (RAPSI, Oleg Sivozhelezov)  The Supreme Court of Russia has upheld a 5-year prison sentence delivered to the resident of Dagestan, Girey Aminov, for participation in activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir terrorist organization banned in Russia, the courts press office told RAPSI on Tuesday.

Aminov was convicted and sentenced on December 5, 2016. He appealed the ruling. The Supreme Court therefor has dismissed Aminovs appeal against the North Caucasus District Military Courts decision.

According to law enforcement authorities, Aminov joined the terrorist organization and took part in studying its activity and specialized literature, participated in distribution of leaflets and other events in support of Hizb ut-Tahrir.

Hizb ut-Tahrir (the Party of Islamic Liberation), founded in Jerusalem in 1953, is banned in several Arab and Central Asian countries. Russia's Supreme Court banned the group from operating on the territory of the country in 2003, describing it as a terrorist organization.

Hizb ut-Tahrir members are regularly arrested by the police across Russia, mainly in big cities in central Russia, the Volga region and Siberia.
Russian businesswoman ordered to pay $9,600 to Depardieu

MOSCOW, February 14 (RAPSI)  The Moscow Commercial Court has collected 591,000 rubles ($9,600) from businesswoman Yelena Lazareva in favor of film star Gerard Depardieu, RAPSI learnt in the court on Tuesday.

The court granted Depardieus claim and ordered Lazareva to pay the plaintiff 500,000 rubles of unjustified enrichment plus interest.

According to the actors lawyer, Depardieu found the transfer of 500,000 rubles ($8,100) from his account to the defendants account allegedly as a loan. However, Depardieu and Lazareva have signed no agreements. Lazareva has not replied to the information request and further plaintiffs claim.

Earlier, Depardieu has filed three lawsuits seeking in total over 7.2 million rubles ($116,600) from Lazareva. Reportedly, audit conducted during the period from 2013 to 2015 revealed several unconfirmed transactions from the actors account for legal services allegedly rendered him by Lazarevas firm GlavbuhAudit.

Depardieu said in late 2012 that he had decided to renounce his French citizenship ahead of the government's planned implementation of a 75 percent tax rate for the wealthy. In January 2013, he obtained a Russian passport, however, preserving his French citizenship as well. He later obtained permanent residence registration in Saransk, the capital of the Russian region of Mordovia.
January marks the beginning of a new year. For cattle producers across the state, it also marks the beginning of a new calving season. For the next few months, producers are charged with the difficult task of ensuring the next generation of their herd is delivered successfully and survives.For any breeder, the next generation is crucial for the development of a herd and the future of a business. New calves bring with them the advancement of genetics to improve the overall quality of a herd.The biggest thing is to have a plan in place, said Nicole Kenney, University of Minnesota regional extension educator and member of the Beef Team.From the time the cows are first bred to hours after they calve, every step needs to be thought out. Producers should be prepared for any and every potential situation that could arise.There are several tools available to producers to ensure a successful calving season. It is up to the producer to review those tools and determine what is best for their operation.Proper record keeping during the breeding season is crucial to being prepared for the calving season. There are several different computer programs and apps available to assist with record keeping.I think they can be very useful if you use them consistently, said Kenney, to that end just plain old written records in and of themselves  as long as you keep them  are useful as well.Using the search phrase cattle record keeping or cattle breeding calculator yields several Internet results. Some programs are extensive and will track an entire herds data, birthweights, weaning weights, pedigree and more.Other programs are simple  enter the breeding date and it will calculate the next cycle date and calving date.Proper research and evaluation of an operations needs will help determine what is best for a producer. With so many program options available, it is important to read product reviews and even consult with local extension staff. Free trials are a great way to test a program out before making a purchase.The key to any program is consistent and good record keeping, said Kenney.Some producers are utilizing web based cameras to help them keep an eye on their cows. As a cow nears her due date, she is moved into a calving pen. Securely and properly mounted above that pen is a camera that broadcasts to a computer, tablet or phone.With a camera focused on the cow, the producer is able to keep track of how that cow is progressing through her delivery. With a simple check of a phone or computer, the producer can note when a cow goes into labor, if she is struggling and needs assistance, and when a calf is born. The camera also allows them to check if a newborn calf has been properly cleaned off by the cow, if it has gotten up, and if it has received colostrum, all without having disturbed the cow.Early calving in Minnesota has the added difficulty of unpredictable weather. Temperatures can fluctuate between well below zero to the mid-40s.Sub-freezing temperatures can be deadly to new born calves. It is important to have a plan in place should a calf need to be warmed up.The more milder temperatures reduce the risk of freezing, but muddy conditions can also cause problems. Kenney said, bedding an area so calves and cows have somewhere warm and dry to lay down can be really beneficial dealing with the mud we get with these fluctuating temperatures.The first few days of life can be critical and the calf is very vulnerable to pathogens. There are some management things we can do, she said, trying to decrease pathogen exposure of young calves to areas where older calves have already been, is successful.The goal is to minimize risk as much as possible, but also be as prepared as possible should something happen. It is important to work with a veterinarian who can make recommendations on proper medications and administration of those medications should there be a problem.It is always a good idea to clean out the medicine cabinet prior to calving. Throw out any expired products and consult with the veterinarian on the latest innovations.With thorough planning and preparedness, the calving season should be successful for beef producers, despite the weather.
Political Incorrectness Paradoxes, and Anything else out of left field.
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"BULLSHIT! That bullet didn't even hit me!" they cried as the space ship starts to play the destruction animation, and Player 1 life counter drops by one. Similar cries of BULLSHIT! are heard all over the world as thousands of people lose an imaginary life to imperfect collision detection every day. Do you want random people on the internet to cry bullshit at your game? Well do ya punk? Bounding boxes are used by many games to detect if two things collide. Either a rectangle, a circle, a box or a sphere are used as a crude way to check if two things collide. However for many games that just isn't enough. Players can see that something didn't collide, so they are going to be crying foul if you just use bounding boxes. Pygame added fast and easy pixel perfect collision detection. So no more bullshit collisions ok? Code to go along with this article can be found here ( https://github.com/illume/pixel_perfect_collision ). Why rectangles aren
Former Vice President Joe Biden will return to upstate New York next month for a speech at Colgate University.

Colgate announced Monday that Biden will be the next speaker in the Kerschner Family Series Global Leaders series. He's scheduled to speak at 6:15 p.m. Friday, March 24 in Sanford Field House.

The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are required. More information about Biden's appearance will be posted at colgate.edu/globalleaders.

Biden's speech will come a little more than two months after he left office. He served as vice president from 2009 to 2017.

His last public appearance in upstate New York was in May 2016, when he spoke at the Syracuse University College of Law commencement ceremony.

Biden, a Syracuse law school graduate, visited upstate New York multiple times as vice president.

In November 2015, he appeared at Syracuse University as part of the It's On Us campaign to raise awareness about campus sexual assaults. Earlier that year, in July, he announced that the Rochester area would host a photonics hub.

In June 2014, Biden made a surprise trip to Auburn to attend his niece's wedding.

Biden visited the Rochester area with his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, for a speech at Monroe Community College in January 2014. The Bidens touted community colleges during their stop in the region.

Since leaving office, Biden announced that he'll lead the University of Pennsylvania's new Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement in Washington D.C. The university also announced he has been named the Benjamin Franklin Presidential Practice professor.

Biden has also been named chairman of the new Biden Institute at the University of Delaware.
AUBURN  An Auburn woman has denied a connection with two armed robberies in Cayuga County.

Emilie Keeney, of 109 Washington St. Apt. 2, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to six felonies: two counts of second-degree robbery, three counts of second-degree burglary and one count of fourth-degree conspiracy.

The 23-year-old was arrested last fall after the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office investigated two armed robberies  one at a farm in Scipio, the other at a farm in Fleming  in which money and other property were stolen.

According to sheriff's deputies, Keeney was involved in the robberies, which occurred Aug. 27 and Sept. 1. Her co-defendants  Devin Meacham-Wheeler, 20, of 9576 Route 38, Conquest, and Christopher Johnson, 20, of 65 Owasco St., Auburn  were also charged with multiple felonies.

At her arraignment Tuesday in Cayuga County, Keeney told Judge Mark Fandrich about her criminal history, including a recent misdemeanor conviction in Auburn City Court.

In September 2016, a jury convicted Keeney of resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration for pushing a state trooper during an altercation outside a restaurant in downtown Auburn. She could face up to a year in jail for that crime.

In addition, Keeney could receive up to 15 years in prison and five years post-release supervision if convicted of robbery.

Keeney has been released from jail on $10,000 cash, $20,000 bond. She is due to appear back in court May 23.
Guwahati : Arunachal Pradesh governor P.B. Acharya has extended his heartiest greetings to the people of the State, especially to Singpho community on the auspicious occasion of Shapawng Yawng Manau Poi.

He expressed hope that the sacred occasion will usher in harmonious subsistence and socio-cultural growth of our rich tradition.

In his message, the governor said that according to Singpho mythology, the Singphos are the descendents of Shapawng Yawng, who was the sixth brother, first born on this earth and called himself as Singpho. Tingli Yawang, son of Shapwng Yawng, in order to get blessings from his father and the creator of 'Mathum Matha,' the world, conducted the first Manau poi as offering of prayer to Bhikan Gundan Poi, the Almighty. Later, the festival came to be known as Shapawang Yawng Manau Poi in the memory of their ancestor Shapawng Yawng. People turn up in their best and with enthusiasm add colour flavour to the festive occasion, he added.

The governor further said that Shapawng Yawng Manau Poi, with its ritualistic ceremony and dances, cultural programmes, community feasts, literary activities and interactions sessions has become a medium in preserving our heritage. Intellectual sessions, where important topics like preservation of customs, traditions and assets, social and economic development of the community are dwelled on involving eminent scholars from the State and aboard, definitely help in carrying forward the age of accent of community.

On the propitious occasion, I pray to Shapawng Yawng to bless each one of us with peace, progress and prosperity,aA Acharya said in his message.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
Indian paramilitary soldiers stands guard outside a base camp near the site of a gun battle with suspected rebels in Hajin Village some 38 kilometers (23.75 miles) northeast of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017. Photo: AP

SRINAGAR: The Indian army says three soldiers and a militant were killed in a gunbattle in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir.

Col. Rajesh Kalia says the army launched an operation Tuesday to flush out militants from a northern village following a tip that some rebels were hiding there. He says soldiers had cordoned off Hajin village when a fierce gunbattle broke out in which three soldiers and a rebel were killed.

At least five other soldiers, including an army officer, were wounded in the firefight.

There was no independent confirmation of the incidents.

Rebel groups in Indian-controlled Kashmir have been fighting for independence or a merger with Pakistan since 1989. More than 68,000 people have been killed in the fighting.
Guwahati: Security forces had apprehended a linkman of ULFA(I) and NSCN(K) in Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday, officials said on Monday.

Kohima based defence PRO Colonel Chiranjeet Konwer said that , in the series of intense operations on underground outfits, delivering yet another blow to ULFA(I) and NSCN(K), the Jairampur Battalion under the aegis of DAO division conducted a successful operation in Old Khamdo village in the Sunday evening.

Alan Rai, a linkman of ULFA(I) and NSCN(K) was apprehended based on specific intelligence about presence of one cadre trying to terrorize and attempting forced extortion in Old Khamdo village.

The battalion swiftly launched an operation and apprehended the linkman with blank letter heads of ULFA(I) and NSCN(K).

"Post spot interrogation he admitted allegiance to ULFA(I) and NSCN(K), further divulging that he has been actively assisting and acting as Ranapio for both the organizations for last four years during which time he has had regular contact with Self Style Sergeant Rupam Asom of ULFA(I)," Konwer said.

The security forces has been carrying out aggressive operations in the South Arunachal Pradesh and this apprehension has struck a blow to the extortion activities being carried out by the underground cadres of the group in the area. The operation has tightened the noose around the gp and has brought relief to the local population.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
Guwahati : Supporting the Union MoS Home Kiren Rijiju's remarks on Hindus, an Assam minister on Monday said that, Hindu is not a religion, but also a culture.

Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that, Hindus should not be seen in a context of a religion but a culture.

The Assam minister's statement came after, Rijiju slammed Congress's allegations over the BJP-led government said that Narendra Modi-led BJP government was trying to convert Arunachal Pradesh into a Hindu state.

The Finance and Education minister of the BJP-led Assam government said that, the Hindu culture is there for over 500 years ago.

"Hindu is a culture and so there is no question arised of converting any particular state to any religion," Sarma said.

The Assam minister's remark came after MoS Home Kiren Rijiju earlier said that Hindu population is reducing as minorities flourish by converting people.

Supporting to Rijiju's remark, the Assam minister said that, the indigenous population in Assam has gradually reduced following illegal influx from Bangladesh since past couple of decades.

"Our indigenous population is coming down every day, only because of huge illegal influx from Bangladesh. It is not related to conversion, it's related to only influx," Sarma said.

"For which, the indigenous people of Assam now reduced to a minority," the Assam minister said.

Following the allegations made by Congress, Rijiju said in his tweet that, Hindu population is reducing in India, because Hindus never convert people. Minorities in India are flourishing unlike some countries around.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
Police inspect a tour bus, which crashed after an accident on a highway in Taipei, Taiwan, on February 14, 2017. Photo: Reuters

TAIPEI: At least 32 people were killed when a tour bus crashed near Taipei on Monday night, with television footage showing the bus careening toward a road barrier before flipping on its side.

Of 44 people on the bus, 30 were pronounced dead at the scene and two died in hospital, the fire department said, adding that 12 people were still being treated in hospitals around Taipei, the capital.

Many of the passengers were elderly, although the age range was early 20s to late 60s, according to city authorities.

The trip had been arranged by the Tieh Lien Hua Travel Agency, according to Taiwans tourism bureau.

An official with the agency said the tourists were likely all from Taiwan, but that it was still looking at passenger information.

We are making efforts to help with the emergency response and will fully cooperate, Chou Chi-hung told Reuters by telephone.

It was unclear what caused the crash. Local television showed a video of the bus shot from behind flipping onto its side and skidding toward the hillside after it hit a road barrier when negotiating a highway interchange curve.

Ambulances and fire trucks were lined up along the bend of the road as rescue workers used a crane to lift the battered bus from its wheels, after all the passengers were pulled from the wreckage.

Prosecutors need to get on the site, said cabinet spokesman Hsu Kuo-yung on live TV.

The crash is the latest accident involving tour buses in Taiwan. Earlier this month, another Taiwanese tour bus carrying Chinese tourists crashed into a bridge in southern Taiwan, injuring some passengers.

It followed a grisly murder-suicide last year in which 24 Chinese tourists were killed after the driver set their moving bus on fire.
"I would like to say 'This book is written to the glory of God', but nowadays this would be the trick of a cheat, i.e., it would not be correctly understood."--Ludwig Wittgenstein



"Talk to me about the truth of religion, and I'll listen gladly. Talk to me about the duty of religion and I'll listen submissively. But don't come talking to me about the consolation of religion or I shall suspect that you don't understand."--C.S. Lewis
AUBURN  An Auburn man who was arrested two days in a row has pleaded not guilty to several felonies in Cayuga County.

Charles E. Henry, Jr., of 55 Market St. Apt. 9, was first arrested Jan. 25 after Auburn city police officers allegedly found him sleeping in his car outside of Dunkin' Donuts on Grant Avenue with 32 envelopes of heroin. The 33-year-old was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal possession of stolen property and remanded to Cayuga County Jail on $10,000 cash, $20,000 bond.

However, after posting bail Jan. 26, Henry was arrested a second time, as New York State Police said officers found him in Weedsport with more than $50,000 worth of stolen property. He was then charged with second-degree criminal possession of stolen property and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Henry pleaded not guilty to all charges Tuesday in Cayuga County criminal court before Judge Mark Fandrich. He was remanded to jail on $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond and is scheduled to be back in court May 16.

Also in court:

 A Weedsport woman has admitted to possessing heroin at the Cayuga County Jail.

Brittany Saroodis, of 8444 Hoyt Road, pleaded guilty Tuesday to first-degree promoting prison contraband  a class D felony  and second-degree harassment. The 25-year-old said she bit her father on the shoulder during an altercation in November and, upon being booked at the jail, officers found five packets of heroin, a Xanax pill and two antidepressants concealed in a plastic bag in her hair.

In exchange for her plea of guilty, Fandrich agreed to sentence Saroodis to no worse than six months in jail plus five years probation. However, if Saroodis gets into any further trouble, she could face up to seven years in prison.

Saroodis is scheduled to be sentenced April 18.
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Feb-13-2017 19:45 TweetFollow @OregonNews 41 Orphans From Aleppo Will Live in Jarablus The other six orphans will live with their relatives in Idlib.

The plight of the orphans reached those that could help the most.

Photo: IHH

(ISTANBUL, TR) - With the help of IHH (The Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief), 41 of the 47 orphans that caught the attention of the world after asking for help while they were stuck in their orphanage during the Aleppo siege, have moved from Idlib to Azez. The world knew of the orphans after their call for help. Turkey responded to the call and lend a helping hand. Following the evacuations from Aleppo, 41 orphans were settled at the temporary refugee centre that was established by IHH in Idlib. The orphans, whose needs were covered by IHH, were sent to Azez with the guidance of Turkey, IHH and AFAD teams. The orphans who are now staying at the temporary refugee centre will later go to Jarablus. Gratitude to the Turkish Nation and IHH Ten-year-old Yasmin, one of the orphans, said that "Life was very difficult while we were there, the planes attacked every day and targeted nearby places, we were very scared, we couldn't go outside and play, we only ate one meal a day." Yasmin, also thanked the people of Turkey and IHH for helping them and saving them from the bombs. Most of the orphans who do not have both parents will continue their lives in Jarablus with their accompanying companions. The other six orphans will live with their relatives in Idlib. Source: IHH International _________________________________________

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Feb-13-2017 22:21 TweetFollow @OregonNews I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO, A FILM REVIEW I Am Not Your Negro is one of five nominations for best feature length documentary at the 2016 Academy Awards.

Baldwin said that The history of the Negro is the story of America. And its not pretty.

(SAN FRANCISCO) - Race in America is a tough persistent issue, and we often delude ourselves into thinking that we are progressing toward more inclusiveness and less racism. It took political courage for President Truman to integrate the armed forces in 1948, an act many never forgave. Martin Luther King famously stated that "the moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice. And indeed it does... sometimes, as when the Brown vs Board of Education decision (1954) held that school segregation was unconstitutional. Then the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s gained ground, often at a heavy cost to those determined to bring racial equality into everyday life. I can remember being shocked In 1965, when in Army training in Louisiana, seeing, for the first time in a local laundry, big signs for White and Colored above each of the two front doors. And I remember stories from some of the black soldiers in my platoon that were equally shocking. Measured against that, and measured against eight years of a black president, we appear to have come a long way. Yet today the goal of true equality seems more distant than ever. Even with the protests of Black Lives Matter, we seem increasingly slipping backward, in every sense. Some historians felt that after Obama was first elected, we had become a post-racial society. Clearly such is not the case. James Baldwin, the black writer who gave us classics like Go Tell it on the Mountain (1953), Notes of a Native Son (1955), The Fire Next Time (1963) and many more essays and novels, traveled widely in the South witnessing first-hand both the triumphs and despair of the Civil Rights Movement and remained to the end of his life one of its most intellectual and influential spokespersons. He was a close friend of many major black leaders, including Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and Medgar Evers. After their murders in the 1960s, Baldwin began work on a book about their lives and their impact on America. Although a prodigious writer, he never finished this work before his death from cancer in 1987 at his home in the south of France. Many film makers had sought access to Baldwins manuscripts and letters, but his estate declined - until now The result is an extraordinary film, I Am Not Your Negro, by Raoul Peck, a Haitian-born documentary film maker (Lumumba). Gay and black like Baldwin, Peck was given free rein by Baldwins sister. One of their discoveries was a 30-page manuscript for a book to be calledRemember This House, about race in America and the lives of Dr. King, Malcolm X and Evers. Peck was determined that his film be in Baldwins own words, and that is what he has done, using archival clips of Baldwin in interviews and lectures for most of the film. I Am Not Your Negro is packed with riveting interviews, mostly of Baldwin but also of other major figures of the era. So accustomed are we to reading Baldwin that to hear him speak is a revelation. Peck begins with Baldwin on The Dick Caveat show in 1968, eloquent, powerful and nothing less than perfectly articulate. Baldwin said that The history of the Negro is the story of America. And its not pretty. Peck uses chapters, marked by strong graphic black and white titles, to follow Baldwins life, particularly during the 1960s. In a chapter entitled "Paying My Dues", Baldwin admits that after seeing photographs of a young black woman being harassed by a hostile white crowd as she is trying to enter a newly integrated school that he felt ashamed to be in France while needed in the US. He credits a white school teacher for paying attention to him as a ten year old, giving him books to read and discuss. She took him to plays and films, which changed his life. The FBI kept Baldwin under surveillance and produced a large dossier, which concluded that he was a dangerous individual. Of course Baldwins homosexuality only added to the suspicion. This is followed by a chilling clip of J Edgar Hoover encouraging citizens to report suspicious and un-American behavior. Baldwin ties racism against blacks to the treatment of the American Indians, and Peck uses Hollywood film clips to illustrate the point. Peck also uses many clips to show Hollywoods demeaning view of blacks: submissive, childlike and sometimes dangerous. There is another clip that shows five or six little black girls, hopping around in white bunny outfits. At first its cute and funny, but then the poignancy sinks in: these black children are trying to become white, a theme echoed in a later section of the film. Baldwin tells whites that blacks wonder What is our future in this country? He talks about the death of the heart of the white community, which has turned many into moral monsters. Peck has very carefully selected archival footage and stills, some of the Civil Rights struggle. Its almost unbearable to watch the ugliness of crowds shrieking at black students, police clubbing people, white crowds with hateful signs and hateful faces, then the faces of recent victims of police violence. I am familiar with many of the images normally seen in accounts of the struggle, but much of Pecks footage was new to me. Peck uses Samuel Jackson to narrate Baldwins writing; Jackson is good but lacks Baldwins forcefulness. This is a brilliant film and I loved what Peck has done. Never have I seen so much packed into 95 minutes, nor said that I would have been happy with another half hour. The coda, with its proud black faces, is as powerful as I have ever seen. Peck has given us a great film, a landmark. I believe we, as Americans, are obliged to see this tremendous portrait of James Baldwin and an era in America. I Am Not Your Negro is one of five nominations for best feature length documentary at the 2016 Academy Awards. Interestingly, a related film, 13th, about race and the criminal justice system, is also in competition. Screening at the Embarcadero, the Alamo Drafthouse (SF) and the California (Berkeley). See it on the big screen. _________________________________________

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Recently, a client asked Judy Wolf, the NY SBDC's Government Contracting Coordinator , if there was a source the compiled information on all matchmaker events taking place in NY, CT, MA, NH, and VT.Unfortunately, she wasn't aware of such a resource. Fortunately (for the rest of us), she pulled together some really useful information for those states.From Judy:In NYS, matchmaker events tend to be coordinated on an agency-by-agency basis. For NY, I'd recommend getting on the mailing lists for the agencies that most frequently organize them, such as the regional PTACs and the SBA.I do know of the following: March 28 North Country PTAC Matchmaker in Watertown: http://www.wbenc.org/calendar-all/2017/3/28/2017-north-county-ptac-matchmaker-ny  The SBA Albany Matchmaker this year is June 20: https://www.sba.gov/offices/district/ny/syracuse/resources/albany-matchmaker-expo  The SBA Buffalo Matchmaker looks like it's going to be May 10 this year The Monroe County PTAC is holding a matchmaker Oct 25 this year. Information will be posted on their web site. The NY SBDC will be working with Supplier Connection to host a matchmaker event with private industry in the fall, so stay tuned for that! There's a DoD Northeast regional matchmaker event taking place in RI on Mar 23: http://www.ribusinessmatch2017.org I also contacted the following asking about any known resources compiling matchmaker events in the other states you listed: VT PTAC: I spoke with a rep who said that they typically partner on the various matchmakers held in VT, so their web site ( http://accd.vermont.gov/economic-development/programs/ptac ) is a good one to keep an eye on. The Chamber is holding a matchmaker Manufactured in VT ( http://manufacturedinvt.com ) on Sep 27 in Essex Junction if you want to take a look at that one. NH: The best contact is the NH Economic Development Government Contracting Assistance Center. Their web site is http://www.nheconomy.com/sell-to-the-government , and they hold an annual statewide matchmaker each December.In case they're useful to you, here are the PTAC web sites: NY PTACs: http://www.aptac-us.org/find-a-ptac/?state=NY  VT PTACs: http://www.aptac-us.org/find-a-ptac/?state=VT  CT PTACs: http://www.aptac-us.org/find-a-ptac/?state=CT  MA PTACs: http://www.aptac-us.org/find-a-ptac/?state=MA  NH PTACs: http://www.aptac-us.org/find-a-ptac/?state=NH  Here's a listing of their current trainings/events highlighted nationwide: http://www.aptac-us.org/contracting-assistance/ptac-training-events/ And SBA district office web sites: SBA Syracuse (usually holds the Albany Matchmaker in June): https://www.sba.gov/offices/district/ny/syracuse  SBA Buffalo (typically holds one around Small Business Week; looks like it's going to be May 10 this year): https://www.sba.gov/offices/district/ny/buffalo  Here are all the SBA district offices nationwide: https://www.sba.gov/tools/local-assistance/districtoffices Thanks Judy! For more information on NYS events, the NYSBDC procurement team maintains a event calendar on our website: http://www.nysbdc.org/procurement.html
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump's embattled national security adviser Michael Flynn resigned late Monday night, following reports that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russia. His departure upends Trump's senior team after less than one month in office.

In a resignation letter, Flynn said he held numerous calls with the Russian ambassador to the U.S. during the transition and gave "incomplete information" about those discussions to Vice President Mike Pence. The vice president, apparently relying on information from Flynn, initially said the national security adviser had not discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy, though Flynn later conceded the issue may have come up.

Trump named retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg as the acting national security adviser. Kellogg had previously been appointed the National Security Council chief of staff and advised Trump on national security issues during the campaign.

The Justice Department warned the Trump administration weeks ago that contradictions between the public depictions and the actual details of the calls could leave Flynn in a compromised position, an administration official and two other people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press Monday night.

One person with knowledge of the situation said the Justice Department alerted the White House that there was a discrepancy between what officials were saying publicly about the contacts and the facts of what had occurred. Pence  apparently relying on information from Flynn  initially said sanctions were not discussed in the calls, though Flynn has now told White House officials that the topic may have come up.

A second official said the Justice Department was concerned Flynn could be in a compromised position as a result.

The White House has been aware of the Justice Department warnings for "weeks," an administration official said, though it was unclear whether Trump and Pence had been alerted.

The people insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The Washington Post was the first to report the communication between the Justice Department, including former acting attorney general Sally Yates, and the Trump administration.

Flynn apologized to Pence last week, following a Washington Post report asserting that the national security adviser has indeed discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Trump was consulting with Pence on Monday about his conversations with the national security adviser. Asked whether the president had been aware that Flynn might discuss sanctions with the Russian envoy, Spicer said, "No, absolutely not."

Trump, who comments on a steady stream of issues on his Twitter feed, has been conspicuously silent about the matter since The Washington Post reported last week that Flynn had discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy. A U.S. official told The Associated Press that Flynn was in frequent contact with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak on the day the Obama administration slapped sanctions on Russia for election-related hacking, as well as at other times during the transition.

Flynn's discussions with the Russian raised questions about whether Flynn offered assurances about the incoming administration's new approach. Such conversations would breach diplomatic protocol and possibly violate the Logan Act, a law aimed at keeping citizens from conducting diplomacy.

Earlier Monday, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said Trump had "full confidence" in Flynn, though her assertions were not backed up by other senior Trump aides. Spicer would say only that Flynn was continuing to carry out "his daily functions."

Flynn was spotted near the Oval Office just after 10 p.m. Monday. Amid the uncertainty over Flynn's future, several of the president's top advisers, including chief of staff Reince Priebus and counsel Don McGahn, ducked in and out of late-night meetings in the West Wing.

Several House Democrats called on Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, to launch an investigation into Flynn's ties to Russia. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi called for Flynn to be fired, saying he "cannot be trusted not to put Putin before America."

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said that if Pence were misled, "I can't imagine he would have trust in Gen. Flynn going forward." She said it would also be "troubling" if Flynn had been negotiating with a foreign government before taking office.

It's illegal for private citizens to conduct U.S. diplomacy. Flynn's conversations also raise questions about Trump's friendly posture toward Russia after U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Moscow hacked Democratic emails during the election.

The controversy comes as Trump and his top advisers seek to steady the White House after a rocky start. The president, who seeks input from a wide range of business associates, friends and colleagues, has been asking people their opinions on his senior team, including Spicer and Priebus.

Advisers have privately conceded that the White House spit out too many disparate messages in the first few weeks, though they also note that the president's own tweets sometimes muddy the day's plans before most of the White House staff has arrived for work.

Trump voiced support for Priebus Monday, saying the chief of staff was doing, "not a good job, a great job." But he did not make a similar show of support for his national security adviser.

Flynn sat in the front row of Trump's news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier Monday. The president did not receive a question about Flynn's future from the two reporters who were called upon, and he ignored journalists' shouted follow-up inquiries as he left the room.

Over the weekend, Trump told associates he was troubled by the situation, but did not say whether he planned to ask Flynn to step down, according to a person who spoke with him recently. Flynn was a loyal Trump supporter during the campaign, but he is viewed skeptically by some in the administration's national security circles, in part because of his ties to Russia.

In 2015, Flynn was paid to attend a gala dinner for Russia Today, a Kremlin-backed television station, and sat next to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the event.

Flynn spoke with the vice president about the matter twice on Friday, according to an administration official. The official said Pence was relying on information from Flynn when he went on television and denied that sanctions were discussed with Kislyak.

The administration officials and those who spoke with the president recently were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and insisted on anonymity.

The controversy surrounding Flynn comes as the young administration grapples with a series of national security challenges, including North Korea's reported ballistic missile launch. The president, who was joined at his Mar-a-Lago estate by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over the weekend, voiced solidarity with Japan.

The White House is also dealing with fallout from the rocky rollout of Trump's immigration executive order, which has been blocked by the courts. The order was intended to suspend the nation's refugee program and bar citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.
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New parents Alexis Liu, a co-owner of Beacon Coffee and Pantry in North Beach, and Scott Clark, a former chef at San Francisco fine dining spots like Benu and Saison, are taking an alternate approach to their lives and careers with Dad's Luncheonette, an unpretentious eatery in an old train caboose beside Highway 1. After months of dreaming, painting, and tinkering with the menu, they're finally calling "all aboard" at Dad's this Thursday, although the caboose won't be leaving its permanent station in Half Moon Bay.

"We didn't find the caboose, the caboose found us!" Liu explains to SFist, "It's been parked on the side of Highway 1 for decades, so we've seen it many times driving up and down the coast." That roadside sight and the ticket out of stressful high-end dining it represented became more enticing after the birth of the couple's daughter, Frost, a year ago.

"It's hard to go to work 16 hours a day and feel accomplished and full," Clark, who was previously Saison's chef de cuisine told the Half Moon Bay Review. "When we had Frost, there was a disconnect between life and work. The two should be in harmony for the family unit to function."

The new setting certainly does promise to be harmonious. "Half Moon Bay and the surrounding area is an amazing convergence of the beach and the country," Liu tells SFist. "There really aren't too many communities like it. It's a magical place." Eventually, Liu hopes to expand her Beacon operation to Dad's with its own coffee counter. For now, Four Barrel is creating a custom blend of Dad's Coffee, which will be in their Cold Brew and Dirty Chai Pie.

Liu and Clark have put the finishing touches on their menu, inspired by the region's coastal farming. "One of the headliners will be the Hamburger Sandwich, which lies somewhere between a hamburger and a patty melt," says Liu. "The beef is aged, organic, grass-fed beef ground in house and the bread is coming from a great family run bakery right down the street. The star of the show is the egg you can get on top  laid by some happy chickens at Ben's Coastside Farms." Vegetarians, needn't worry: There's a chicken fried hen of the woods mushroom burger with your name on it. This is Half Moon Bay, after all... do I even have to say that the mushrooms are local?





Dad's Luncheonette  225 Cabrilla Highway South (at Kelly Avenue) Half Moon Bay, Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Related: Hippie Vegan Techies Convert Half Moon Bay Farm To Animal Sanctuary


A 17-year-old male who was beaten with his own skateboard suffered serious injuries Saturday, following an afternoon altercation in Golden Gate Park.

Police say that the confrontation occurred at 4:45 p.m. Saturday, near Alvord Lake in Golden Gate Park.

According to the San Francisco Police Department, the 17-year-old victim got "in an altercation with" two men in their 20s. Over the course of the dispute, one of the men took the victim's skateboard and hit him with it, leaving him with injuries police say are life-threatening.

The victim, police say, was transported to San Francisco General Hospital. The suspects fled on foot in an unknown direction, police say. As of Monday morning, they remain at large.
Robert Askins's somewhat frightening, wholly hilarious black comedy Hand to God is less likely to scare off too many unsuspecting Christians unclear about its blasphemous premise in its run at Berkeley Rep as it apparently did during its 2015 run on Broadway. Religion, especially a Texan brand of hypocritically wholesome Christianity, is ripe fodder for humor in these parts, and it was clearly Askins's hope to shake theatergoers up a bit while making them laugh with the delightfully angry and vengeful creation of Tyrone, a cute sock puppet turned, possibly, possessed by Satan. As voiced with Beetlejuice-esque zeal by young actor Michael Doherty, who must also play the more innocent Jason whose hand is also possessed by Tyrone, the puppet becomes both a wicked modern take on the ancient, violent trickster puppet tradition of Punch & Judy, and a truth-hurling enemy of all things phony and righteous.

Tyrone first comes to life innocently enough, as the after-school creation in Jason's mom's church puppet group, which is attended by two other teens about Jason's age. As mom Margery, actress Laura Odeh delivers a broadly comic if not always nuanced performance, as Margery struggles to understand why her usually obedient son is suddenly rebelling, just as both of them are dealing with the recent death of her husband. They are joined in the puppet group by Jessica (Carolina Sanchez), who is at work on her own girl puppet and seems to have a crush on Jason; and Timothy (ACT grad Michael McIntire) who only has eyes for the older, widowed Margery. Margery meanwhile has had to fend off advances from Pastor Greg (David Kelly), and [SPOILER ALERT] perhaps wouldn't mind a roll in the hay with the teenage Timothy.

Tyrone delivers opening and closing monologues in the show discussing the all-too-convenient trope of saying "the devil made me do it," with Christians over the centuries blaming all manner of wrongdoing on demonic possession  when, in reality, right and wrong are constructs, Tyrone says, and we all have "devils" inside us.

What transpires, though, is a hilarious, at times shockingly violent romp, tightly directed by David Ivers, through moral ambiguity and revenge, with the audience never totally sure if Jason himself has been taken over by a split personality, or if he could be, indeed, a victim of demonic possession.

The set by designer Jo Winiarski, an extremely tidy and dynamic one on the small Peet's Theater stage, is a great asset to the production as well, with Jason and his possessed puppet able to appear and disappear as from the gates of hell, several times over. And clocking in at just 80 minutes, it's a tidy two-act play as well, with little to no time wasted.

Askins is a playwright obviously possessed with a fearlessness and flair for the strange, as well as a Sam Shepard-influenced drive to push characters to a frenzied, inevitable breaking point. He says the wackiness of the premise wasn't calculated, he just says in an interview he started to think "What if it's a puppet? What if all these hyper-masculine, out-of-date ideas about the masculine are put in the mouth of a puppet, and then it just did the thing?" And he admits both that he actually hates puppets, and that the play grew out of his own humorous take on growing up in Texas, finally saying, "Alright, let's get weird. Let's get really fucking weird."

Hand to God is weird, for sure, but also perfect in its way without even having to be too mean-spirited about Christian believers. And Tyrone answers the question "What if you took a Muppet and gave him teeth, both literal and figurative, and made the kids leave the room?" The result isn't pretty, or nice.

'Hand to God' plays at Berkeley Rep through March 19. Find tickets here.
Kevin Ebach, a 25-year-old San Francisco Lyft driver and educator who overheard comments from two male passengers that he considered to be harsh and disparaging toward others, including homeless people, posted about the experience and paraphrased their words on Facebook in a somewhat well-circulated post. Ebach was prompted to do so, according to the post, when one of the passengers identified himself as the director of San Francisco's Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, Jeff Kositsky.

The Bay Area Reporter writes that Kositsky has apologized to Ebach privately, although he did admonish Ebach for eavesdropping, which apparently didn't keep Ebach from publicizing Kositsky's private words further in the form of sharing that apology.

"I was a bit boozy and goofy from being tired and feel that my privacy has been violated," Kositsky wrote. "I am not embarrassed by anything that I said last night but feel very shamed by the context in which it was presented. I also feel unfairly judged by someone who does not know me at all."

Kositsky claimed that the remarks directed at homeless people, whose tone gave Ebach offense, were made by his co-passenger "out of frustration that this has not been corrected."

"I have spent the better part of my career working to end homelessness; as a case manager, running shelters and developing affordable housing, Kositsky reportedly added. Yesterdays conversation does not reflect who I am or what Ive done for nearly thirty years.

In a personal Facebook post to his own page referencing the public events, Kositsky wrote that "My friend and I were talking about his professional frustrations," according to the Bay Area Reporter who read the post. We were also making light of things we shouldnt have. I am sorry for offending Kevin and anyone who has read his Facebook post."

Ebach maintains that he's in the right. You should know that if youre in a Lyft, Im not a therapist, he says. While he doesn't go revealing everything said by everyone in his Lyft, Ebach says he was encouraged to do disclose this conversation because "people in the same field as me, it made it more jarring, more upsetting to me. Ebach is a public school teacher.

Kositsky's on-the-record comments about homelessness, such as these in the Chronicle or even these less formal remarks on Reddit, are more measured but not necessarily scripted or "PC." When asked by one questioner in his Reddit session what one thing he would give homeless people if he could, he responded "a home." Since that answer didn't satisfy the asker, he submitted a second option: "socks."

Related: New Homeless Czar Jeff Kositsky Pens Chronicle Credo

Director Of New Homelessness Department Keeps It 100 On Reddit AMA


On Saturday, the nation's largest annual Chinese Lunar New Year celebration, with one of the only nighttime illuminated parades in the country as well, came down Market Street and circled Union Square, drawing locals and tourists for a Year of the Rooster spectacle celebrating the lunar year 4715. The parade traces its SF roots back to Gold Rush times, and is a huge point of pride for the city's large Chinese American community.

More than 100 groups participated in the parade, as ABC 7 reported, and it was sponsored again by Southwest Airlines and put on by the San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce  an organization that was long led by local powerhouse Rose Pak, who sadly died last year, meaning this was the first parade in decades without her.

As the Chronicle amusingly noted over the weekend, "People would be forgiven if they believed Pak, the Chinatown power broker who died in September at age 68, had been the parades master of ceremonies. That honor has belonged to the Rev. Norman Fong for 25 years. Pak just grabbed the microphone from him and yelled out what she pleased, when she pleased  just as she did in city politics." They added, "Her quips, bellowed from the grandstand at Jackson and Kearny streets, ranged from humorous to mean, but they were almost always pointed and pertinent to Chinatowns interests."

Check out some photos of this year's parade.
An armed carjacking and subsequent crash stopped traffic for 11 hours in the southbound lanes of Interstate 17 south of Munds Park on Sunday.

When it was over, the suspect was in serious condition from injuries suffered in the crash while drivers caught in the backup on Highway 89A through Sedona were frustrated.

Erikee Lynn said she sat in a line of traffic at Oak Creek Canyon for an hour and a half. Another driver said she waited until 7:30 p.m. to leave Flagstaff for Phoenix but still hadnt reached the top of the switchbacks by 9:30 p.m.

Flagstaff resident Diane Sulzer was lucky enough to be heading in the opposite direction from Jerome.

The line of cars coming down from Flag was backed up from inside Sedona City limits to around Slide Rock, mostly stopped, or in spots just inching along, she said.

According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the suspect was seen driving recklessly southbound along I-17 north of Camp Verde in a red Mustang at 9:51 a.m.

The report said the Mustang collided with a vehicle, after which the suspect went to the northbound section of the interstate on foot and used a rifle to carjack a white GMC SUV.

Highway patrol troopers were reportedly shot at by the suspect but no officers were injured.

The chase ended when the suspect crossed the median into the southbound lane and drove head-on into a commercial semi-truck 15 miles south of Munds Park.

The suspect then confronted a Yavapai Deputy Sheriff assisting in the pursuit, who reportedly discharged his weapon at the suspect. However the report makes no mention of the suspect sustaining any injuries from the discharged weapon.

The driver of the semi-truck was reported to have minor injuries and was transported to a hospital via ambulance.

The suspect was evacuated via medical helicopter and is currently at Flagstaff Medical Center with serious life-threatening injuries.

In all, I-17 was closed from 10:20 a.m. to 8:58 p.m.

According to DPS, the long traffic delays were largely determined by the fact that the crash required a high amount of medical attention such as a helicopter evacuation for the suspect and the multiple crime scenes because of the armed carjacking and live rounds fired by the suspect.

You really have three separate crimes scenes here that involve a pursuit, shots fired and a collision, DPS Public Information Officer Quentin Mehr said. No one likes being backed up in traffic for 10 hours but these investigations take time so we can bring the proper charges when the time comes.

ADOT officials got out the word as soon as possible.

We put out information through news releases and social media to advise travelers of the closure, ADOT Public Information Officer Ryan Harding said. We also activated overhead message boards along Interstate 40 in both directions and on I-17 southbound advising of the closure.

ADOT advised southbound drivers to take Interstate 40 west to Highway 89 at Ash Fork or east on I-40 to State Route 87 in Winslow.

But many drivers attempted to descend 89A through the switchbacks to Sedona, causing at least a 6-mile backup, according to ADOT.

With more than 2,000 people on the slopes at Arizona Snowbowl and due to head south, employees rushed to get information out to visiting skiers and snowboarders.

Snowbowl General Manager J.R. Murray said that when he received the news his staff quickly got information out all over the mountain.

We did alert as many guests as we could in the lodges and when guests left the ski area, Murray said. We also alerted anyone who returned ski equipment, but it is difficult to reach everyone as guests spend most of their time on the mountain and then head directly to their cars.
SIOUX CITY | Had it not been for a college professor who encouraged her to consider law school, Julie Schumacher might have been the one writing this story rather than being the subject of it.

While studying English and communications at the University of South Dakota in the late 1980s, Schumacher had far different goals than someday becoming an Iowa district court judge.

"I wanted to be a reporter," she said.

She was majoring in English and communications. She wrote for the Volante, the USD student newspaper.

But at the urging of an English professor, she checked out the Creighton University School of Law and, after visiting with students and graduates, decided to pursue a law career instead.

Schumacher was appointed a district court judge in Iowa's 3rd Judicial District, which covers 16 Northwest Iowa counties, in January, fulfilling a longtime goal. She doesn't regret putting away the reporter's notebook and forgoing a journalism career.

"There are aspects of it I think would be very intriguing, but I'm happy with my career choice," said the Orange City, Iowa, native and Spalding Catholic High School graduate, who now lives in Crawford County.

Rather than taking photos and writing news stories, Schumacher has spent her career first trying cases, and now presiding over them. That writing background, however, has proven beneficial, given the importance of clear communication when relaying information, whether it be in a court motion or a ruling.

"I still do a lot of writing as a judge," she said. "I've never regretted having this writing background."

After her 1993 graduation from Creighton, Schumacher spent 20 years in private practice in Denison, Iowa, during which time she also served 19 years as an assistant city attorney for Denison and four years as an assistant Crawford County Attorney.

While working a variety of criminal and civil cases, Schumacher gained the attention of judges in the district. The late Richard Vipond, who retired as the 3rd District's chief judge, was the first to suggest to Schumacher that she had what it took to be a good judge.

So in 2010, she applied for a district judge opening. One of two finalists, Schumacher was not chosen, but she wasn't discouraged.

"From having such good judge mentors, I know you don't just get it the first time," she said.

In 2012, Schumacher applied for an associate judge opening and was appointed and sworn in in February 2013. Presiding over misdemeanor criminal cases, juvenile court, small claims and civil cases, she figured, would give her judicial experience. Schumacher loved the work, but kept her eyes on the district judge openings.

"It was definitely a goal for me to advance to district court," Schumacher said.

She was the runner-up again for a district judge opening in 2014, then applied a third time last year after District Judge Mary Jane Sokolovske retired. Again a finalist, Schumacher interviewed with Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds in December.

On Jan. 6, Schumacher was sitting in Judge Vipond's former chambers in Denison when she received the call from Branstad informing her that he'd chosen her for the judicial opening.

"I was happy to hear it," Schumacher said. "I felt like I'd worked really hard to get to that point."

Schumacher must wait just a little longer to step up to the district bench. With a statewide hiring freeze in the judicial branch currently in place, she'll continue to work as an associate judge until her position can be filled. It means spending up to four days a week in Woodbury County Juvenile Court, a task Schumacher is fine with.

"No matter what I do in my judicial career, I'll always consider the work I do in this courtroom as the most important," she said while seated inside a Woodbury County juvenile courtroom in which she not only hears delinquency cases, but also makes decisions that help children who have been abused or face other difficult circumstances.

It may be a few months before Schumacher finally assumes the district court bench seat that she's spent six years pursuing, but it will be worth it.

"I'm very much looking forward to it," she said. "It's a position I've always wanted."
SIOUX CITY | The collective bargaining reform bill working its way through the Iowa Legislature could put the federal funding Sioux City and other cities receive for transit operations and capital projects in jeopardy if it's not amended to exempt local transit employees.

House Study Bill 84 and Senate File 213, which contain substantial changes to Iowa's 43-year-old collective bargaining law, could have a side effect of making transit agencies in the state ineligible for federal funds.

That's because the Federal Transit Act requires as a condition of financial assistance  the interests of the employees affected by the assistance shall be protected under arrangements the Secretary of Labor concludes are fair and equitable. That includes preserving the rights, privileges and benefits  under existing collective bargaining agreements, among others.

Assistant City Manager Mike Collett, who oversees Sioux City Transit operations, said he has been alerted to the potential changes, which were raised to him initially by the city's transit union.

He said to his understanding, the worried impact is "far from certainty" but, if the city were to not receive the funding, the situation would make a "very significant" impact.

"It really comes down to how the Department of Labor would interpret this change," Collett said.

Collett said Sioux City received about $1.5 million last year in federal funds to support transit operations. The city also receives federal funding to support capital purchases, with funds typically covering 80 to 85 percent of transit bus purchases.

The city bought three buses last year, leveraging approximately $1 million in federal funds, he said, although that number varies drastically from year to year.

Mark Little, Metropolitan Transit Authority general manager in Waterloo, said the legislation would keep the northeast Iowa city transit from operating.

That shuts it down, Little said. We couldnt operate without federal funds.

Little said he has been in contact with lawmakers to make them aware of the impact, and a member of the national Amalgamated Transit Union was slated to speak on the issue at a public hearing slated for Monday night.

But so far he has gotten little indication the proposed bill will be changed.

Waterloo receives about $1.6 million in federal funds for its operating costs annually, and its capital funds vary annually. Little said Met Transit has received as much as nearly $1 million for capital improvements, and received about $250,000 in the previous fiscal year.

Calls to the chairmen of the labor committees in the Iowa House and Iowa Senate for clarification were not immediately returned to the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier.

Little said a similar collective bargaining bill passed in Wisconsin in 2011 initially included the transit union in its collective bargaining changes but ultimately exempted it when the federal funding was at risk.

A story in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel from 2011 confirmed Wisconsin lawmakers ultimately exempted transit workers from the bargaining changes if their systems would lose federal aid as a result.

Iowa receives about $39 million in federal funds for its public transportation systems, about half of which goes to operating costs and the other half for capital improvements. Iowa sends about $60 million in federal fuel tax funds to Washington, D.C., annually, Little said.
SIOUX CITY | A one-year extension to the contract for a union representing hundreds of city employees passed unanimously during Monday's City Council meeting.

The vote extended the contract of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 212 -- which represents more than 350 workers, including the city's operations, field services, technical and clerical staff -- through 2020. It was originally set to expire in 2019.

A similar contract extension, regarding the Sioux Gateway Airport employees, was deleted from Monday's council agenda because the airport employees had voted down the proposed extension.

Chris De Harty, president of Local 212, said the changes were a reaction to the impending overhaul of Iowa's collective bargaining law being pushed through Iowa's Republican-led Legislature.

Under the proposed changes, public workers such as schoolteachers and street workers would no longer be guaranteed the ability to bargain over health insurance, vacation time, work schedules or other non-wage issues. Public safety employees would be exempted.

"Hopefully we can get things changed in the future and in the next election try to get public employees' rights back," De Harty said.

De Harty said the contract was a compromise -- the union had originally asked for a two-year extension -- but he said it allowed the union to negotiate benefits that it may not be able to under the impending legislation.

The agenda item passed 4-0 without any discussion from the council.

Under the extension, the current union contract that expires in 2019 will not change. After Jan. 1, 2019, health insurance deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket expenses will double. Prescription co-pays and premiums will also increase.

Workers will receive a 2.25 percent cost-of-living adjustment after July 1 of that year.
SIOUX CITY | Six applicants told the Sioux City Council why they believed they are the best choice to fill its vacant seat Monday in the final wave of interviews before the council makes its selection.

A total of 14 people -- four of them former council members -- have applied for the seat, which has been vacant since Keith Radig resigned Jan. 3 to take his new position on the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors.

The City Council has been interviewing each candidate during open-session meetings and plans to name its appointee Feb. 27. Interviewees answered similar questions Monday on why they wanted the position, whether they would run in a potential special election scenario, and what issues they would like to emphasize if they entered the role.

Jason Geary, who served on the council from 2004 to 2008, said the council needs to appoint an experienced person because it takes a year to 1 1/2 years to become fully up to speed.

"I want to serve because I feel that the community needs someone experienced in this position," he said.

Amanda Beller, a Sioux City businesswoman, told the council she would stress economics and quality of life projects.

I would say my biggest asset is probably energy and enthusiasm, she said.

Jacob Bossman, who has worked as a staffer for Sen. Chuck Grassley for 12 years, said the City Council could benefit from a youthful representative to provide diversity of age.

"I think its important to have someone our age in positions of leadership to let them know that not only can you be involved but we need you," he said.

Resident Jake Jungers said he would like to bring youth and long-term vision to the council, specifically working with local business owners to keep them investing and adding jobs in the community.

"There's 13 other people that are running for the same spot, but none of them besides one or two issues have a vision for the future that they're going to live in, so that is my goal," he said.

Resident Tom Venesky, a six-year member of the Transit System Advisory Board, said he wants to support economic development and work with the government to expand city transit hours.

"We need these bus routes to run later. Life does not stop at 5:30 p.m. It continues," he said.

Resident Carlos Venable-Ridley said he believes the next council member needs to represent the city's diversity and should be a "rank-and-file" member. He said he wants to see more people involved in decision-making, especially those under 25.

"That's our city itself," he said. "The people with gray hair -- we make some of the decisions, but we fail to involve the citizens it's going to impact."
SOUTH SIOUX CITY  A last-minute settlement agreement from the city of South Sioux City to residents displaced by noxious sewer odors was rejected by attorneys representing more than 20 of the residents.

The agreement would have required displaced residents to sign a confidentiality agreement with the city and prevented residents who are staying at local hotels from losing their temporary housing, which has been financed by the city and Big Ox Energy for the past few months.

Big Ox Energy operates a renewable energy plant in the Roth Industrial Park that had originally been tied to the odors in the homes of the displaced residents.

Some residents have been staying at either the Marina Inn or Candlewood Suites since late October, but those stays were set to come to a close Tuesday.

At Mondays council meeting, city attorney Wayne Boyd said he sent the citys settlement offer earlier that morning to Omaha-based Domina Law Firm and Sioux City attorney Brian E. Buckmeier, who, combined, represent more than 20 displaced residents including children.

In their response, Boyd said the attorneys told him several items in the agreement needed to be revised before any sort of deal could be reached.

Mayor Rod Koch elaborated more on the city's offer during Monday's meeting.

The gist of it is the city of South Sioux City will come in  and some details will be worked out  but to go in your house, try to work with you, try to fix, try to help you get where you need to be, Koch said. Theres some things that need to be discussed, obviously, and we are open to discussing things.

Koch said the council and the displaced residents, some of who attended Mondays meeting, needed to work together to resolve this issue.

From my perspective, I think, we need to keep moving forward here, he said. We had a bump in the road and I think we need to keep grinding to make this work; we need to keep going. We cant stop, because we dont really have any options to stop trying.

After Kochs appeal, the meeting was open to public comment, where numerous displaced residents and others who weren't directly impacted by the agreement shared their thoughts on how the city has been handling the ordeal.

Kirk Campbell said he approached the city back in November to test the drywall in his home for signs of the noxious odor, but got no response. Councilman Dennis Nelson asked him at the meeting if he would allow them to perform testing on it now.

"Not now, Campbell said. I dont trust anybody anymore.

Nelson followed up by asking if Campbell would allow a neutral third party to collect a drywall sample for testing instead of someone from the city or Big Ox.

I dont trust Big Ox or the city, Campbell reiterated. There was a time for that, three months ago, three and half months ago.

Before the meeting ended, Koch told the crowd that he thought the city's settlement agreement came out too quick, but he and other officials want to remedy the situation.

"You don't understand; we're homeless tomorrow," one spectator blurted out.

"That's why we don't want to walk away from it," Koch said.
DAKOTA CITY | Dakota County authorities early Tuesday stopped a stolen vehicle whose drivers had led police on a chase from near Omaha.

Dusty Nash, 31, and Shelbi Nichols, 23, were arrested and booked into the Dakota County Jail on numerous charges, including felony flight to avoid arrest and possession of a stolen vehicle, Dakota County Sheriff Chris Kleinberg said.

The vehicle was stolen in Arkansas, Kleinberg said, and authorities began a pursuit in Washington County just north of Omaha and headed north. Kleinberg said he had not yet seen all the reports from the chase and was unsure if the pursuit was on U.S. Highway 75 or 77.

The vehicle was stopped early Tuesday morning near the Kingsbury interchange at U.S. 75/77 and Interstate 129 between Dakota City and South Sioux City after it ran over spike strips that had been set out on the highway by Dakota County Sheriff's deputies.

Kleinberg said deputies continue to fill out incident reports and more information will be released later.
License suspensions

Motorists who drive on a suspended license would no longer face jail time for a first offense under the terms of legislation given preliminary Senate approval Monday.

Violators now can be incarcerated for up to six months. SB 1160 would reduce that to an unspecified civil fine.

The same legislation would also remove criminal penalties for not having current registration on an out-of-state vehicle and for failure to wear required corrective lenses.

SB 1160, which now needs House approval, would give judges more power to impose restrictions on someone's driving rather than entirely suspending their licenses. For example, it could include the ability to drive to and from work, school, doctor and probation officer.

Trapped kids and animals

Individuals who break into locked cars to rescue children and animals would no longer face civil liability under legislation approved Monday by the Senate.

SB 1001 provides immunity from damages to someone who uses "reasonable force'' to enter an unattended vehicle if he or she has "a good faith beliefs'' that the minor or pet is "in imminent danger of suffering physical injury or death'' unless rescued. The measure requires that a would-be rescuer first notify a peace officer, first responder or animal control agency and, after breaking in, remain with the vehicle until someone arrives.

The measure, which now goes to the House, says immunity does not apply if the person uses "more force than is necessary under the circumstances'' or "commits any unnecessary or malicious damage.''

Student journalists

Without dissent the Senate on Monday to protect newspapers produced by students from most administrative intervention.

SB 1384 which now needs House approval guarantees freedom of speech and press to school-sponsored media in kindergarten through colleges and universities. More to the point, it precludes limits solely because the newspaper is supported by the school or the facilities are owned by the school.

The legislation has some exceptions, including allowing intervention to halt libelous or slanderous content or stories that constitute an "unwarranted invasion of privacy.'' Other exceptions from free-press standards for student papers include violations of state or federal law or any story that "creates the imminent danger of inciting students to violate the law or district regulations or materially and substantially disrupts the orderly operation of the public school, community college or university.''

Water rights

A Senate panel on Monday rebuffed a plea from some Pinal farmers to change Department of Water Resources rules they say affect the value of their land.

Current law allows farmers to continue to pump as much groundwater as they have been using forever, as long as it is for agriculture. They also can convert 94 percent that water right for industrial and municipal uses.

The issue is that new developments -- or the cities where they build and get their groundwater -- have to replenish any water they pump.

In a bid to reduce groundwater draw, DWR is reducing the amount of water that can be credited to a development from buying up a farmer's water rights. At some point, that credit will reach zero, leaving developers instead having to buy water from the Central Arizona Project to replenish the groundwater supply.

Tiffany Shedd who owns 3,000 acres of farmland told members of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water that will mean landowners who decide years from now they no longer want to farm would find no buyers for those water rights since developers could not use them. She argued that is taking away property rights without compensation.

Sen. Steve Smith, R-Maricopa, sponsor of SB 1280, urged colleagues to overrule the DWR rules and halt the reduction in those "extinguishment credits.'' But Sen. Frank Pratt, R-Casa Grande, said he does not want the legislature overriding existing regulations, noting the opposition of other agricultural interests in the area
SIOUX CITY | A 20-year-old man shot a juvenile Friday night after stealing his cell phone and food and led to a two-hour standoff with police.

Darius Wright, of Sioux City, has been charged with attempted murder.

And Wright, Dontaiven Drappeaux, 18, and, Tykell Robinson, 20, have been charged with first-degree robbery.

The standoff with SWAT lasted from midnight to 2 a.m. Saturday at 423 16th St., which is at the intersection of the 1600 block of Pierce Street.

According to court documents, several people were walking near the 1600 block of Pierce Street at 11:25 p.m. Saturday and were approached by Wright, Robinson and Drappeaux and one of them brandished a handgun.

The three then stole a male juvenile in the group's cell phone and several food items he had just purchased at Kum and Go, 1373 Pierce St. Wright then shot the juvenile in the torso, and the small caliber bullets pierced his lung and liver. He was taken to Mercy Medical Center-- Sioux City for serious injuries.

Sioux City Police Sgt. Terry Ivener said at 3 a.m. Saturday authorities were first notified after the injured juvenile went back to Kum and Go to call for help.

Minutes later while police were at the gas station, more gunshots were reported from the area where the juvenile was robbed and shot.

"So we split the officers to both places and the (victims) said, 'Hey, that was the place that was shooting at us,'" Ivener said.

Upon arrival to the apartments, police knocked on the door and found spent gun shell casings.

"They wouldn't come to the door, but the neighbor said that people were in there. So we thought we had a possible barricaded subject, so we called SWAT," Ivener said. "When we know people inside have guns, we did what we needed to do."

Authorities surrounded the premises and blocked off streets while the SWAT team arrived. Police called for the occupants inside to "come out with your hands up" over an intercom system numerous times.

Sioux City SWAT and crisis negotiators arrived on scene at approximately 12:30 a.m. Saturday. The SWAT members went up to the door of the apartment fully equipped with protective gear and assault rifles and demanded the occupants to exit the building. Residents in the entire building-- and neighboring homes-- were forced to evacuate while police set a parameter around the building for more than two hours.

At about 1:20 a.m., two of the suspects came out separately from the building with their hands in the air and surrendered to officers' commands. The suspects were taken into custody.

BREAKING VIDEO suspect exits the building at gun point. He's one of two to come out so far, police are calling for another @scj @SUX911 pic.twitter.com/MGy2gOV9os  Alex Boisjolie (@scjAlexB) February 11, 2017

Ivener said that one of the three charged was stabbed at the gas station, but was uncooperative with police.

The documents said that Wright was arrested for attempted murder and first-degree robbery. And Robinson and Drappeaux were arrested and charged with first-degree robbery in connection with the incident.

Robinson is also awaiting trial for an armed home invasion last year.

The investigation is ongoing.

The release asks if anyone has information about the crime, contact Crime Stoppers at (712) 258-8477.
SIOUX CITY | Patients undergoing inpatient cancer treatment at Mercy Medical Center will now receive care on a different floor.

The Dr. Joseph Washburn Oncology/Palliative Care Center at Mercy Medical Center is moving from the seventh to the eighth floor of the downtown Sioux City hospital. There, oncology patients will be on the same floor as general surgery and urology patients.

Dave Smetter, vice president of communications and community development for Mercy, said oncology patients will be placed in contiguous rooms in an area on the eighth floor. Nurses trained in oncology will continue to be assigned to them.

Smetter said a decline in the number of cancer patients receiving inpatient treatment at the hospital was a driving factor for the move, which involved "a lot of consideration and analysis." He said better cancer treatments and technology are leading fewer cancer patients to need inpatient treatment.

"We have been kind of experimenting with it for a while. We kind of had them in that area, but as we've done that and we've looked at the analysis of that, it just makes a lot of sense just because of the lower numbers that we're seeing and making sure that we have the right staff at the right place at the right time," he said.

Smetter said all the services oncology patients received on the seventh floor carry over to the eighth floor. The nurses who worked on the seventh floor in oncology are retaining their jobs and will continue to be the ones administering chemotherapy in the new oncology area, he said.

"If those nurses need some extra assistance, there's a whole floor of nurses available to come help them," he said.

The 15-bed Harold and Mary Bomgaars Center for Cancer Care on UnityPoint Health  St. Luke's fourth floor also shares an area with general surgery, according to Eileen Hansen, a registered nurse and manager of surgery and oncology for St. Luke's.

Smetter said Dr. Joseph Washburn's legacy will continue in the new space. Washburn, the first radiation oncologist in Sioux City, practiced full-time from 1979 until 1996. He started the oncology program in Sioux City and worked to establish the Siouxland Regional Cancer Center, which is now the June E. Nylen Cancer Center.
* Danny Lee Barnes, 44. Lee is 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 190 pounds. He is wanted by the Iowa Department of Corrections for parole violation. Barnes was living at the Residential Treatment Center in Sioux City after being convicted of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. He cut off his ankle bracelet and fled.
SOUTH SIOUX CITY | South Sioux City school officials investigated odor reports Monday at the high school.

Superintendent Todd Strom said two students complained about a potential gas odor near the gymnasium before 11 a.m. He said school maintenance and grounds crew responded and conducted indoor air quality testing throughout the building every hour, which did not detect the presence of any gases or chemicals, such as hydrogen sulfide gas that forced the evacuation of several homes in a nearby neighborhood last fall.

Every hour, we did testing and surveys and interviewed the students, Strom said. We had no abnormal activities as far as health requests and no immediate detection of foul odors throughout the day.

"We have an indoor air quality measurement instrument that we use that responds to any complaints regarding indoor air quality and measures different components, he added. That gives us different concentrations levels and they were all normal.

Strom said he was not aware that any students went home as a result of symptoms related to the smell. There were no additional odor reports after the initial complaints in the morning, he said.

The superintendent said it is unknown if the odor was connected to sewer problems the city has been dealing with for several months. Beginning last October, hydrogen sulfide gas entered more than a dozen homes through a sewer line the homes shared, at the time, with Big Ox Energy's renewable fuels plant.

The odor issue was brought up by concerned parents at Monday night's meeting of the South Sioux City Council. Mayor Rod Koch said that the city would investigate the matter Tuesday.
SIOUX CITY | Sioux City police are investigating whether two assaults on women in the city's Morningside area Sunday night are related.

Police received a report at 9:17 p.m. Sunday of a female Morningside College student being grabbed from behind while walking up to the Hindman-Hobbs Center on the college's campus. The student screamed and fought off the attacker, who ran away, said Lori Noltze, Sioux City Police crime prevention officer.

At 9:28 p.m., police received a report that a female desk clerk at the Comfort Inn, 4202 S. Lakeport St., had been grabbed. The woman reported that a man came behind the counter and tried to put his hands down her shirt. After a brief struggle in which the woman received some scratches, she was able to call police, and the attacker fled, Noltze said.

Neither woman reported that her attacker displayed a weapon or threatened to use one.

Both women were unable to get a good look at their attacker, Noltze said. One of the women reported he was wearing a blue bandana over his face and wore a blue hoodie with the hood drawn tightly and covering most of his face. The other woman said she believed her attacker was wearing dark sweats, Noltze said.

"We're not sure if it's the same guy," Noltze said.

Noltze said investigators are reviewing security camera footage at both locations and talking to witnesses who may have seen someone matching the attacker's description in the area.

In the wake of Sunday's incident, Morningside College security has emailed students a reminder to take necessary precautions when out at night, said Rick Wollman, vice president of communications.

Those precautions include calling security to request an escort if walking alone at night, walking in pairs or groups at night and not using earbuds when walking alone at night. Wollman said students are encouraged to call campus security or police if they observe suspicious activity or someone who doesn't belong on campus acting suspiciously.

"The type of incident that happened Sunday evening is a rare occurrence on our campus," Wollman said.
DAKOTA CITY | A state prosecutor has asked that two men charged with killing and dismembering an Emerson, Nebraska, man stand trial for murder at the same time, rather than separately.

Andres Surber and Brayan Galvan-Hernandez together planned and committed the crime, and the same witness testimony and evidence would be offered against each man if they were tried separately, said Corey O'Brien, an assistant in the Nebraska Attorney General's Office who is serving as a special deputy Dakota County Attorney in the case.

Consolidating the cases "... would save the time, resources and expense of separate trials; thereby promoting judicial economy," O'Brien wrote in his motion, filed Friday.

A hearing has been set for March 14 in Dakota County District Court.

Surber, 26, and Galvan-Hernandez, 18, both of Wakefield, Nebraska, have both pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony. Surber also is charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

Galvan-Hernandez is scheduled to stand trial on May 9. Surber's trial date has not yet been set.

They are charged with shooting Kraig Kubik, 41, of Emerson, on Nov. 1 with a 9 mm firearm and dismembering his body. Investigators found a severed arm and leg in the trunk of a car at an abandoned farmhouse in rural Dixon County. The rest of Kubik's remains were found four days later in a creek about four miles away. Autopsy results showed a gunshot wound to Kubik's head.

O'Brien said in his motion to consolidate the cases that the charges are the same and that Surber and Galvan-Hernandez could have originally been charged jointly in the same indictment.

A consolidated trial would not compromise either man's rights, O'Brien said, and would not prevent a jury from making an independent judgment about each man's guilt or innocence.

Defense attorneys have yet to file a response to the consolidation motion.
SOUTH SIOUX CITY | Another pumping incident at a temporary lift station in South Sioux City resulted in the release of as much as 50,000 gallons of industrial sewage into a ditch near Interstate 129 Friday.

The spill came at the same site where, on Wednesday, a pump failure had resulted in the dumping of 95,000 gallons of sewage.

Tim Higgins, a technical expert for utilities with McClure Engineering, said the second incident occurred around 7 p.m. Friday. Crews are still investigating the exact cause.

Higgins said part of the struggle with the lift station, located at I-129 and C Avenue, is that it isn't a typical setup with constant flows. He said the industries using the station have different production levels and water usage, making flows vary throughout the day.

"That makes it really difficult to get those pumps set to a level that will manage everything for the most part," he said. "Our problem is those varying flows."

The temporary lift station is part of the city's plan to reroute industrial sewage around homes in a five-block area of Red Bird Lane and Lemasa Drive. The city has been working with McClure Engineering throughout the process to reroute industrial sewage, which had been tied to odors in the homes, away from the residences.

A separate force main is scheduled to be expanded to the Roth Industrial Park later this spring. The temporary lift station that failed Wednesday and Friday will no longer be needed after that. Higgins said he hopes construction will begin April 1.

An investigation of Wednesday's incident, Higgins said, showed that a seal failure disabled one of the pumps, and the other couldn't keep up with the flow by itself. Higgins said replacement of the first pump and changes to the second have strengthened them both, and stronger pumps are on the way.

Brian McManus, a spokesman with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, said the NDEQ is continuing to oversee cleanup and has ensured that neither spill affected any rivers or streams in the area.
SIOUX CITY | A Sioux City man has pleaded not guilty to having sexual contact with a juvenile female.

Richard VanCleave, 34, entered his written plea Monday in Woodbury County District Court to single counts of third-degree sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of a minor.

According to court documents, VanCleave arranged to meet a 13-year-old girl at a Sioux City hotel on Jan. 30. The girl told VanCleave she was 13, but he told her he didn't care "as long as he didn't get caught," court documents said.

Prior to their meeting, VanCleave sent naked photos of himself to the girl and had her send him naked photos of herself, court documents said.
SIOUX CITY | A special board that recommended salary increases for Woodbury County elected officials appears to be headed back to the drawing board.

The Woodbury County Compensation Board voted, 3-2-1, on Feb. 6 to freeze the pay of county supervisors and recommend raises between 3 percent and 6 percent for elected county department heads. For a recommendation to be official, however, it must be approved by at least four of the six compensation board members, county Attorney P.J. Jennings has advised.

County Auditor Pat Gill pointed out the problem three days after the meeting, and later that same day Jennings wrote a memo confirming that the state code requires another vote.

Jennings' memo will be discussed Tuesday by the county supervisors at its weekly meeting. County Board Chairman Matthew Ung on Monday said he would like to see the compensation board meet again by Friday, and no later than Feb. 21.

The board of supervisors must act on the compensation board recommendations by March 15, which is the deadline for the supervisors to finalize their fiscal 2018 budget.

Each Iowa county has a county compensation board to recommend the level of pay to prevent the elected officials from approving it directly. In Woodbury County, two members are appointed by the supervisors and one each is named by the county attorney, auditor, sheriff and treasurer.

Under state law, county supervisors can approve or reject the recommendations, or reduce the increases by the same percentage.

At the Feb. 6 meeting, Frank Baron, the treasurer pick, Brian Buckmeier, the county attorney's representative, and Doug Phillips, the sheriff's pick, recommended no raise for the five supervisors, 6 percent for Treasurer Mike Clayton, 5 percent for Sheriff Dave Drew, 4 percent for Jennings, and 3 percent for Gill. Casting dissenting votes were Tim Bottaro and Katie Colling, who both represent the supervisors. Al Sturgeon, who represented the auditor, abstained.

The current annual pay is $39,461 for the county board chairman, $33,151 each for the four other supervisors, $120,805 for the attorney, $100,033 for the sheriff, $84,624 for the auditor and $82,115 for the treasurer.
Four owners of the coal-fired Navajo Generating Station outside Page will end their stake in the facility after the land lease with the Navajo Nation expires in December 2019. That means the plant will close unless another entity decides to take over.

Salt River Project, operator of the power plant bordering Lake Powell, said the decision was made because the cost of electricity from the three-unit, 2,250-megawatt plant is more expensive than power generated by burning natural gas, and a "turnaround" in that trend may be years away.

SRP has an obligation to provide low-cost service to our more than 1 million customers and the higher cost of operating NGS would be borne by our customers, the utility stated in a release.

According to a November report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the cost of coal-fired power at NGS is about $38 per megawatt hour while other electricity on the market in the region was about $25 per megawatt hour in the first half of 2016.

SRP is one of the plant's owners, along with Tucson Electric Power Co., Arizona Public Service Co., Nevada-based NV Energy and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

In the press release, the utilities left open the possibility that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the Navajo Nation or another entity could take over NGS operations after 2019. In its own statement, the bureau said it plans to explore ways to operate the plant economically into the future.

The closure of NGS has the support of the Central Arizona Project, which uses that power to pump water to millions of people in the Valley.

The Central Arizona Water Conservation District, which runs the CAP canal, has found alternative energy sources that are lower-priced than NGS, Deputy General Manager Thomas McCann said in a statement.

If no one steps up to run the coal-fired power plant, its 2019 closure would be followed by a two-year decommissioning process. SRP noted that it still needs to work out an arrangement with the Navajo Nation to allow for that process to take place. Without such an agreement, the plant would need to cease operations this year to finish decomissioning by 2019.

TRIBAL LOSSES

The closure of the Navajo Generating Station also would have direct impacts on the Kayenta Mine, which is the power plants sole coal supplier. Together, the power plant and the mine employ an estimated 750 people.

The mine sits on both Hopi and Navajo land and both governments depend heavily on royalties from coal mining.

For the Hopi Tribe, those revenues make up as much as 80 percent of its annual operating budget, Tribal Chairman Herman Honanie said on Monday.

The elimination of those revenues would be detrimental to the tribe, but a three-year buffer will at least allow the tribe an opportunity to breathe, assess the situation and plan accordingly, Honanie said in an interview.

For its part, the Navajo Nation stated in a 2012 press release that it receives about $25 million a year in royalties and lease fees from NGS and the mine.

A statement issued by President Russell Begaye on Monday demanded that the power plants owners stick to an agreed-upon lease amendment, still going through federal environmental review, to continue operating the plant until 2044. He also called on President Donald Trump to get involved.

This dilemma provides an opportunity for the Trump administration to live up to its promise to the American people that it will stand behind the coal industry, the statement said.

EXPENSIVE ENERGY

But a lifting of regulations wont change the economics facing NGS, said Karin Wadsack, a project director at Northern Arizona Universitys School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability

Coal isn't going to get cheaper to get out of ground, said Wadsack, who was a lead facilitator of the working group that developed an agreement to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from NGS. The fact that renewables are becoming more and more competitive with fossil fuels is tilting the equation further against coal, she said.

Additionally, the cost of NGS power is only projected to increase in the coming years under the new lease agreement with the Navajo Nation and nitrogen oxide controls required by the EPA.

Wadsack was doubtful that the Bureau of Reclamation, or another entity, could figure out a way to operate the power plant profitably when its four other owners had failed to do so.

Taking over the plants operations would be a huge gamble, she said.

With countries like China scrapping many of its plans to build new coal-fired power plants, its also unlikely that coal exports will become a booming market, Wadsack said.

Knowing the coal plants days were numbered, federal agencies like the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency had committed to helping the Navajo and Hopi tribes transition their economies beyond coal, Wadsack said.

But the idea was that it was something that could be worked on for two decades not two years, she said.

At NAU, Wadsack works on a project providing technical support for clean energy policy and projects to tribes impacted by the power plant, but much of that direct work started just this year and has so far gathered mostly baseline data, she said.

While acknowledging the economic impacts of NGS going out of business, environmental groups celebrated the idea that the power plant could close 25 years sooner than expected. Last year, NGS was the nations seventh largest emitter of greenhouse gases, according to the EPA.

NGS has already spewed more than half a billion tons of climate-altering pollution, as well as numerous other harmful pollutants, into the atmosphere since opening in 1974," the Sierra Clubs Sandy Bahr said in a statement. "An anticipated closure in 2019 is great news for public and environmental health, and for anyone who has ever been frustrated by the site of haze at the Grand Canyon."

Tribal environmental groups called this an opportunity to switch to a new type of energy development.

"Now its time for the Navajo Nations president to send a loud and clear signal that we are open for business  the business of cleaning up Navajo Generating Station and the business of developing our vast renewable energy resources," said Percy Deal of Dine CARE.

Coconino County Supervisor Lena Fowler knows the detrimental economic impacts of a NGS closure but said she isnt sure whether she would support another entity taking over operations. Fowler is heading up a regional effort to create a Page higher education center and an economic development plan to help the region bounce back when the power plant closes, whether that happens sooner or later.

Asked whether the closure of the plant 25 years sooner than expected indicates that transition planning should have begun sooner, Fowler replied, I think everything should have started earlier.
I am writing this Letter regarding all of the proposed changes in Chapter 20 of the Iowa Code and the changes that the Legislature is proposing.

Chapter 20 has been around for a long time and it has worked well in the majority of issues it deals with regarding public sector employment. I would be the first to admit that some minor changes would be beneficial, but the wholesale gutting of the law is not in the best interest of our city long-term. It seems like our public employees are under attack because of the influence of outside interests that believe all public sector employees and most government officials care only about themselves.

I believe that the vast majority of employees want to do a good job. If you feel otherwise I would encourage you to ride with a police officer on Friday night, or ride with a snow plow operator during a blizzard, or work with a utility crew to fix a broken water main in minus-10-degree weather, or fight a fire in the middle of the night in winter weather. These jobs are very difficult, but our employees do them every day and I personally think they do way above average in their performance.

As for our teachers, I think we ask an awful lot from our educators when we have parental participation at an all-time low. I have children who are teachers and I know how much they want their students to do well. But when so much time is spent trying to comply with all of the state and federal regulations rather than teaching, their jobs are difficult at best. I am proud of my kids and what they are trying to accomplish because they and the majority of their fellow teachers are trying to make a difference in the lives of young people.

I know I will be criticized for writing this Letter. I also want you to know these are my views and I am not speaking for the City Council. I just feel like taking away, in my opinion, the vast majority of the public employees' rights to bargain in a fair manner will cause morale issues for quite some time. I havent always liked some of the settlements we have had over the years, but I truly think the system works and that anything more than some minor tweaks in not in the citys best interest. - Bob Scott, mayor, city of Sioux City
The Feb. 5 Mini Editorial sized up the Democrats quite well as far as being poor losers and the fact that we should work together.

The ex-president applauds protesters for standing up for American values. Really? Breaking storefront windows, pulling people from their cars and beating them and starting fires are not American values. What we are witnessing is anarchy alive and well in the USA with the Democrats' blessing.

Keep it up and we will vote the rest of you out in the next election. Give it a rest guys, we're on to you. - Daryl Wielenga, Orange City, Iowa
Every February 14, America's romantic drives are transmuted en masse into chocolates, jewelry and fancy dinners. How do marketers achieve this remarkable feat? According to evolutionary psychologists, they do so by tapping into deep-seated patterns of thought and behavior that predate Hallmark, and perhaps humanity itself, by thousands or millions of years.

Evolutionary psychologists view human behavior as the expression of mental traits that helped previous generations reproduce. For example, imagine that an early human named Thag had genes that made him want to mate, while his neighbor Ug did not. Thag would probably father more children, and his children would inherit those mating genes, making the future of humanity slightly more Thag-like than Ug-like. Such an evolutionary lens can help scientists make predictions about modern society, from when people are likely to cooperate to which children are at greatest risk of abuse.

Gad Saad, an evolutionary psychologist and professor of marketing at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, uses this evolutionary approach to study how and why people buy things. He writes the Psychology Today blog "Homo Consumericus," and he is the author of several books, including "The Consuming Instinct: What Juicy Burgers, Ferraris, Pornography, and Gift Giving Reveal About Human Nature." In this edited interview with Inside Science, Saad explains how expressions of romance in American culture, particularly in heterosexual relationships, may be less arbitrary than they seem.

INSIDE SCIENCE: Can biological evolution offer any insights into a cultural phenomenon like Valentine's Day?

GAD SAAD: Ultimately, the Valentine's ritual is one in which all of these Darwinian imperatives are manifesting themselves. I mean, it's a marketer-created event, but that ultimately pulls at our Darwinian strings. It's an opportunity for our mating rituals to manifest themselves. And so from that perspective, then, it makes sense to study that phenomenon. 

IS: So what about giving gifts to your romantic partner? How might that have evolved?

GS: In 2003, I had published a paper with one of my former doctoral students where we looked at the motives that men and women give gifts to one another. And we broke up those motives into two types: into tactical motives, and situational motives. Tactical motives would be "I give gifts with my partner to have sex with her."  Situational would be, you know, "I give gifts when it's his or her birthday. The situation demands it."

And what we found is that when it comes to situational motives, there were no sex differences. In other words, men and women equally give gifts for situational reasons. But tactical reasons -- men were much more likely to use them. In other words, men use gift-giving with an ulterior motive, or to communicate something. To communicate generosity, to communicate wealth, to communicate my interest in you. 

If you then ask men and women "why do you think the opposite sex gives you gifts," here you get an incredible finding. Men think that the reason why women give them gifts is the same reason why they give gifts to women. So if you give me a gift, it's because you're trying to have sex with me, from a male psychology. Whereas women are blatantly aware that the reason why men give them gifts is different than why women give men gifts.

.

IS: Why is it so important for women to be able to know the motivation of a man giving them a gift?

GS: Right, so, here there are two evolutionary principles at work. Parental investment theory is a theory that was proposed by [Rutgers anthropologist and evolutionary biologist] Robert Trivers that basically says that if you want to understand sex differences within any species, simply look at the minimal obligatory parental investment that is required of each sex. Now, for most species, it is much more weighted toward females. And that certainly is the case for humans. Even though human males are really good dads compared to other mammalian species, we still don't invest as women do in terms of a minimal obligatory investment. Therefore, we would expect that the cost of making a sub-optimal mate choice looms much larger for women than it does for men. They have to be more judicious in their mate choice.

But -- and here's the but part -- in some cases, women are shopping for good genes. That's a short-term mating pursuit. In that case, they might actually not care whether the man is going to stick around or not. For example, when women cheat on their long-term partner, they typically cheat with a man who is of superior genes.

IS: How might these different pressures that men and women face, based on how much they have to invest in a child -- how might those shape other aspects of gift-giving behavior?

GS: When it comes to Valentine's, I mean, yes -- it is a tango between a man and a woman. But it's really an opportunity for a man to exhibit all of those characteristics that women desire: attentiveness, generosity, and so on.

IS: Is there anything about Valentine's Day that presents a puzzle or a surprise for an evolutionary psychologist?

GS: I could answer on a personal level, and this may not be relevant for your article. But I don't usually like to have some external agent ask me to participate in a ritual, you know?  I don't like the idea that there is a marketer-determined day on February 14th where I'm supposed to exercise this Darwinian imperative.

IS: Do you have any insight into how we might have gotten there? If we have these biological, psychological tendencies that make it so that we're going to be engaging in these behaviors anyway, how did we end up with a specific day when someone else is telling us we have to?

GS: A good marketer is one who doesn't go against human nature, right? And so therefore, whether they do it consciously while realizing what they're doing, or they do it instinctively without knowing the fundamental ultimate cause, they are in the business of trying to find ways to get you to spend. And so it's not difficult. You don't have to be, you know, the president of [the Human Behavior and Evolution Society] to understand, "hey, if I can create a day where I can get you to celebrate this very basal mating ritual, it's likely to work." And guess what? It does.

IS: What kinds of reactions or objections would you expect people to have to the way that we've been talking about Valentine's Day?

GS: People have a disdain of imagining that some of the things that they do, and in this case something as wonderful as sort of celebrating the love that you have for each other, could be explained by 'vulgar biology,' right? Somehow it removes the mystical nature, the mystery of love, if you somehow vulgarize it by explaining that 'here is the fundamental biological reason why you're doing this.' Of course, it doesn't. I mean, the love that I feel for my wife doesn't suddenly disappear or get cheapened if I also explain the evolutionary reason why romantic love has evolved.

By the way, romantic love, in case you don't know, evolved precisely because we're a bi-parental species. I mean, if you need to have a male and a female stay together long enough to successfully rear children for many years, then you'd want them to evolve the emotional system that permits for romantic love to evolve, right? I'd need to have that romantic bonding mechanism with you so that I can stick around long enough. For a species where you don't have bi-parental investment, then you don't expect this bonding mechanism to occur.

Now, the fact that I just explained this doesn't take away from the magic that we actually experience when we fall in love with someone
The following companies are subsidiares of Pfizer: AH Robins LLC, AHP Holdings B.V., AHP Manufacturing B.V., Agouron Pharmaceuticals LLC, Alacer, Alpharma Holdings LLC, Alpharma Pharmaceuticals LLC, Alpharma Specialty Pharma LLC, Alpharma USHP LLC, American Food Industries LLC, Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc., Angiosyn, Array BioPharma, Ayerst-Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, BIND Therapeutics Inc., BINESA 2002 S.L., Bamboo Therapeutics, Bamboo Therapeutics Inc., Baxter International - Marketed Vaccines, BioRexis, Bioren, Bioren LLC, Blue Whale Re Ltd., C.E. Commercial Holdings C.V., C.E. Commercial Investments C.V., C.P. Pharmaceuticals International C.V., CICL Corporation, COC I Corporation, Catapult Genetics, Coley Pharmaceutical GmbH, Coley Pharmaceutical Group, Coley Pharmaceutical Group Inc., Continental Pharma Inc., Covx, Covx Technologies Ireland Limited, Cyanamid Inter-American Corporation, Cyanamid de Argentina S.A., Cyanamid de Colombia S.A., Distribuidora Mercantil Centro Americana S.A., Encysive Pharmaceuticals, Encysive Pharmaceuticals Inc., Esperion LUV Development Inc., Esperion Therapeutics, Excaliard Pharmaceuticals, Excaliard Pharmaceuticals Inc., Farminova Produtos Farmaceuticos de Inovacao Lda., Farmogene Productos Farmaceuticos Lda, Ferrosan A/S, Ferrosan International A/S, Ferrosan S.R.L., FoldRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Foldrx Pharmaceuticals, Fort Dodge Manufatura Ltda., G. D. Searle & Co. Limited, G. D. Searle International Capital LLC, G. D. Searle LLC, GI Europe Inc., GI Japan Inc., GenTrac Inc., Genetics Institute LLC, Greenstone LLC, Haptogen Limited, Hospira, Hospira (China) Enterprise Management Co. Ltd., Hospira Adelaide Pty Ltd, Hospira Aseptic Services Limited, Hospira Australia Pty Ltd, Hospira Benelux BVBA, Hospira Chile Limitada, Hospira Deutschland GmbH, Hospira Enterprises B.V., Hospira France SAS, Hospira Healthcare B.V., Hospira Healthcare Corporation, Hospira Healthcare India Private Limited, Hospira Holdings (S.A.) Pty Ltd, Hospira Inc., Hospira Invicta S.A., Hospira Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, Hospira Ireland Sales Limited, Hospira Japan G.K., Hospira Limited, Hospira Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Hospira NZ Limited, Hospira Nordic AB, Hospira Philippines Inc., Hospira Portugal LDA, Hospira Produtos Hospitalares Ltda., Hospira Pte. Ltd., Hospira Pty Limited, Hospira Puerto Rico LLC, Hospira Singapore Pte Ltd, Hospira UK Limited, Hospira Worldwide LLC, Hospira Zagreb d.o.o., ICAgen, Idun Pharmaceuticals, Industrial Santa Agape S.A., InnoPharma, InnoPharma Inc., International Affiliated Corporation LLC, JMI-Daniels Pharmaceuticals Inc., John Wyeth & Brother Limited, Kiinteisto oy Espoon Pellavaniementie 14, King Pharmaceuticals Holdings LLC, King Pharmaceuticals LLC, King Pharmaceuticals Research and Development LLC, Korea Pharma Holding Company Limited, Laboratoires Pfizer S.A., Laboratorios Parke Davis S.L., Laboratorios Pfizer Ltda., Laboratorios Wyeth LLC, Laboratorios Wyeth S.A., Laboratorios Pfizer Lda., MTG Divestitures LLC, Mayne Pharma IP Holdings (Euro) Pty Ltd, Medivation, Medivation Field Solutions LLC, Medivation LLC, Medivation Neurology LLC, Medivation Prostate Therapeutics LLC, Medivation Services LLC, Medivation Technologies LLC, Meridian Medical Technologies Inc., Meridian Medical Technologies Limited, Monarch Pharmaceuticals LLC, Neusentis Limited, NextWave Pharmaceuticals, NextWave Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, P-D Co. LLC, PAH USA IN8 LLC, PF Americas Holding C.V., PF Asia Manufacturing B.V., PF PR Holdings C.V., PF PRISM C.V., PF PRISM Holdings S.a.r.l., PF Prism S.a.r.l., PFE Holdings G.K., PFE PHAC Holdings 1 LLC, PFE Pfizer Holdings 1 LLC, PFE Wyeth Holdings LLC, PFE Wyeth-Ayerst (Asia) LLC, PHILCO Holdings S.a r.l., PHIVCO Corp., PHIVCO Holdco S.a r.l., PHIVCO Luxembourg S.a r.l., PN Mexico LLC, PT. Pfizer Parke Davis, Parke Davis & Company LLC, Parke Davis Limited, Parke Davis Productos Farmaceuticos Lda, Parke-Davis Manufacturing Corp., Parkedale Pharmaceuticals Inc., Peak Enterprises LLC, Pfizer, Pfizer (China) Research and Development Co. Ltd., Pfizer (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Pfizer (Perth) Pty Limited, Pfizer (Thailand) Limited, Pfizer (Wuhan) Research and Development Co. Ltd., Pfizer AB, Pfizer AG, Pfizer AS, Pfizer Africa & Middle East for Pharmaceuticals Veterinarian Products & Chemicals S.A.E., Pfizer Anti-Infectives AB, Pfizer ApS, Pfizer Asia Manufacturing Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Asia Pacific Pte Ltd., Pfizer Atlantic Holdings S.a.r.l., Pfizer Australia Holdings B.V., Pfizer Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Pfizer Australia Investments Pty. Ltd., Pfizer Australia Pty Limited, Pfizer B.V., Pfizer BH D.o.o., Pfizer Baltic Holdings B.V., Pfizer Biofarmaceutica Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Pfizer Biologics (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd, Pfizer Biologics Ireland Holdings Limited, Pfizer Biotech Corporation, Pfizer Bolivia S.A., Pfizer Canada Inc., Pfizer CentreSource Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Chile S.A., Pfizer Cia. Ltda., Pfizer Colombia Spinco I LLC, Pfizer Commercial Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Commercial Holdings TRAE Kft., Pfizer Commercial TRAE Trading Kft., Pfizer Consumer Healthcare AB, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare GmbH, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare Ltd., Pfizer Consumer Manufacturing Italy S.r.l., Pfizer Corporation, Pfizer Corporation Austria Gesellschaft m.b.H., Pfizer Corporation Hong Kong Limited, Pfizer Croatia d.o.o., Pfizer Deutschland GmbH, Pfizer Development LP, Pfizer Development Services (UK) Limited, Pfizer Domestic Ventures Limited, Pfizer Dominicana S.R.L, Pfizer ESP Pty Ltd, Pfizer East India B.V., Pfizer Eastern Investments B.V., Pfizer Egypt S.A.E., Pfizer Enterprise Holdings B.V., Pfizer Enterprises LLC, Pfizer Enterprises SARL, Pfizer Europe Finance B.V., Pfizer Export B.V., Pfizer Export Company, Pfizer Export Holding Company B.V, Pfizer Finance Share Service (Dalian) Co. Ltd., Pfizer Financial Services N.V./S.A., Pfizer France International Investments, Pfizer Free Zone Panama S. de R.L., Pfizer GEP S.L., Pfizer Global Holdings B.V., Pfizer Global Supply Japan Inc., Pfizer Global Trading, Pfizer Group Luxembourg Sarl, Pfizer Gulf FZ-LLC, Pfizer H.C.P. Corporation, Pfizer HK Service Company Limited, Pfizer Health AB, Pfizer Health Solutions Inc., Pfizer Healthcare Ireland, Pfizer Hellas A.E., Pfizer Himalaya Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Holding France, Pfizer Holding Ventures, Pfizer Holdings Corporation, Pfizer Holdings Europe Unlimited Company, Pfizer Holdings G.K., Pfizer Holdings International Corporation, Pfizer Holdings International Luxembourg (PHIL) Sarl, Pfizer Holdings North America SARL, Pfizer Hungary Holdings TRAE Kft., Pfizer Inc., Pfizer Innovations AB, Pfizer Innovations LLC, Pfizer Innovative Supply Point International BVBA, Pfizer International LLC, Pfizer International Markets Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer International Operations, Pfizer International S. de R.L., Pfizer International Trading (Shanghai) Limited, Pfizer Investment Capital Unlimited Company, Pfizer Investment Co. Ltd., Pfizer Investment Holdings S.a.r.l., Pfizer Ireland Investments Limited, Pfizer Ireland PFE Holding 1 LLC, Pfizer Ireland PFE Holding 2 LLC, Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Ireland Ventures Unlimited Company, Pfizer Italia S.r.l., Pfizer Italy Group Holding S.r.l., Pfizer Japan Inc., Pfizer LLC, Pfizer Laboratories (Pty) Limited, Pfizer Laboratories Limited, Pfizer Laboratories PFE (Pty) Ltd, Pfizer Leasing Ireland Limited, Pfizer Leasing UK Limited, Pfizer Limitada, Pfizer Limited, Pfizer Luxco Holdings SARL, Pfizer Luxembourg Global Holdings S.a r.l., Pfizer Luxembourg SARL, Pfizer MAP Holding Inc., Pfizer Manufacturing Austria G.m.b.H., Pfizer Manufacturing Belgium N.V., Pfizer Manufacturing Deutschland GmbH, Pfizer Manufacturing Deutschland Grundbesitz GmbH & Co. KG, Pfizer Manufacturing Holdings LLC, Pfizer Manufacturing Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Manufacturing LLC, Pfizer Manufacturing Services, Pfizer Medical Technology Group (Belgium) N.V., Pfizer Medicamentos Genericos e Participacoes Ltda., Pfizer Mexico Luxco SARL, Pfizer Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pfizer Middle East for Pharmaceuticals Animal Health and Chemicals S.A.E., Pfizer New Zealand Limited, Pfizer Norge AS, Pfizer North American Holdings Inc., Pfizer OTC B.V., Pfizer Overseas LLC, Pfizer Oy, Pfizer PFE ApS, Pfizer PFE AsiaPac Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Australia Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Australia Pty Ltd, Pfizer PFE B.V., Pfizer PFE Baltic Holdings B.V., Pfizer PFE Belgium SPRL, Pfizer PFE Brazil Holding S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE CIA. Ltda., Pfizer PFE Chile Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Colombia Holding Corp., Pfizer PFE Colombia S.A.S, Pfizer PFE Commercial Holdings LLC, Pfizer PFE Croatia Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Eastern Investments B.V., Pfizer PFE Finland Oy, Pfizer PFE France, Pfizer PFE Global Holdings B.V., Pfizer PFE Ireland Pharmaceuticals Holding 1 B.V., Pfizer PFE Italy Holdco 2 S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Italy Holdco S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Pfizer PFE Limited, Pfizer PFE Luxembourg S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Mexico Holding 3 LLC, Pfizer PFE Netherlands Holding 1 C.V., Pfizer PFE New Zealand, Pfizer PFE New Zealand Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Norway Holding S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE PILSA Holdco S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Peru Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Peru S.R.L., Pfizer PFE Pharmaceuticals Israel Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Pharmaceuticals Israel Ltd., Pfizer PFE Private Limited, Pfizer PFE S.R.L, Pfizer PFE Service Company Holding Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer PFE Singapore Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Singapore Pte. Ltd., Pfizer PFE Spain B.V., Pfizer PFE Spain Holding S.L., Pfizer PFE Sweden Holding 2 S.a.r.l., Pfizer PFE Sweden Holding S.a.r.l., Pfizer PFE Switzerland GmbH, Pfizer PFE Turkey Holding 1 B.V., Pfizer PFE Turkey Holding 2 B.V., Pfizer PFE UK Holding 4 LP, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 1 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 2 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 3 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 4 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 5 LLC, Pfizer PFE spol. s r.o., Pfizer PFE Ilaclar Anonim Sirketi, Pfizer Pakistan Limited, Pfizer Parke Davis (Thailand) Ltd., Pfizer Parke Davis Inc., Pfizer Parke Davis Sdn. Bhd., Pfizer Pharm Algerie, Pfizer Pharma GmbH, Pfizer Pharma PFE GmbH, Pfizer Pharmaceutical (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Pfizer Pharmaceutical Trading Limited Liability Company (a/k/a Pfizer Kft. or Pfizer LLC), Pfizer Pharmaceuticals B.V., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Global B.V., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Israel Ltd., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Korea Limited, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals LLC, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Pfizer Pigments Inc., Pfizer Polska Sp. z.o.o., Pfizer Private Limited, Pfizer Production LLC, Pfizer Products Inc., Pfizer Products India Private Limited, Pfizer Research (NC) Inc., Pfizer Romania SRL, Pfizer S.A., Pfizer S.A., Pfizer S.A. (Belgium), Pfizer S.A. de C.V., Pfizer S.A.S., Pfizer S.G.P.S. Lda., Pfizer S.L., Pfizer S.R.L., Pfizer SRB d.o.o., Pfizer Saidal Manufacturing, Pfizer Sante Familiale, Pfizer Saudi Limited, Pfizer Seiyaku K.K., Pfizer Service Company BVBA, Pfizer Service Company Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Services 1, Pfizer Services LLC, Pfizer Shared Services Unlimited Company, Pfizer Shareholdings Intermediate SARL, Pfizer Singapore Holding Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Singapore Trading Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Spain Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Specialties Limited, Pfizer Strategic Investment Holdings LLC, Pfizer Sweden Partnership KB, Pfizer TRAE Holdings Kft., Pfizer Trading Polska sp.z.o.o., Pfizer Transactions Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Transactions LLC, Pfizer Transactions Luxembourg SARL, Pfizer Transport LLC, Pfizer Ukraine LLC, Pfizer Vaccines LLC, Pfizer Venezuela S.A., Pfizer Venture Investments LLC, Pfizer Ventures LLC, Pfizer Worldwide Services Unlimited Company, Pfizer Zona Franca S.A., Pfizer spol. s r.o., Pharmacia, Pharmacia & Upjohn Company Inc., Pharmacia & Upjohn Company LLC, Pharmacia & Upjohn LLC, Pharmacia & Upjohn S.A. de C.V., Pharmacia Brasil Ltda., Pharmacia Hepar LLC, Pharmacia Holding AB, Pharmacia Inter-American LLC, Pharmacia International B.V., Pharmacia LLC, Pharmacia Limited, Pharmacia Nostrum S.A., Pharmacia South Africa (Pty) Ltd, PowderJect Research Limited, PowderMed, Purepac Pharmaceutical Holdings LLC, Redvax, Renrall LLC, Rinat Neuroscience, Rinat Neuroscience Corp., Roerig Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Roerig S.A., Sao Cristovao Participacoes Ltda., Searle Laboratorios Lda., Serenex, Servicios P&U S. de R.L. de C.V., Shiley LLC, Sinergis Farma-Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Site Realty Inc., Solinor LLC, Sugen LLC, Tabor LLC, The Pfizer Incubator LLC, Therachon, Thiakis Limited, Treerly Health Co. Ltd, US Oral Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd, Upjohn Laboratorios Lda., Vesteralens Naturprodukter A/S, Vesteralens Naturprodukter AB, Vesteralens Naturprodukter AS, Vesteralens Naturprodukter OY, Vicuron Holdings LLC, Vinci Farma S.A., W-L LLC, Warner Lambert, Warner Lambert Ilac Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Warner Lambert del Uruguay S.A., Warner-Lambert (Thailand) Limited, Warner-Lambert Company AG, Warner-Lambert Company LLC, Warner-Lambert Guatemala Sociedad Anonima, Warner-Lambert S.A., Whitehall International Inc., Whitehall Laboratories Inc., Wyeth (Thailand) Ltd., Wyeth AB, Wyeth Australia Pty. Limited, Wyeth Ayerst Inc., Wyeth Ayerst S.a r.l., Wyeth Biopharma, Wyeth Canada ULC, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare LLC, Wyeth Europa Limited, Wyeth Farma S.A., Wyeth Holdings LLC, Wyeth Industria Farmaceutica Ltda., Wyeth KFT., Wyeth LLC, Wyeth Lederle S.r.l., Wyeth Lederle Vaccines S.A., Wyeth Pakistan Limited, Wyeth Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Company, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals FZ-LLC, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Limited, Wyeth Puerto Rico Inc., Wyeth S.A.S, Wyeth Subsidiary Illinois Corporation, Wyeth Whitehall Export GmbH, Wyeth Whitehall SARL, Wyeth-Ayerst (Asia) Limited, Wyeth-Ayerst International LLC, and Wyeth-Ayerst Promotions Limited.

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AbbVie Inc. discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells pharmaceuticals in the worldwide. The company offers HUMIRA, a therapy administered as an injection for autoimmune and intestinal Behcet's diseases; SKYRIZI to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults; RINVOQ, a JAK inhibitor for the treatment of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients; IMBRUVICA to treat adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), and VENCLEXTA, a BCL-2 inhibitor used to treat adults with CLL or SLL; and MAVYRET to treat patients with chronic HCV genotype 1-6 infection. It also provides CREON, a pancreatic enzyme therapy for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency; Synthroid used in the treatment of hypothyroidism; Linzess/Constella to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and chronic idiopathic constipation; Lupron for the palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer, endometriosis and central precocious puberty, and patients with anemia caused by uterine fibroids; and Botox therapeutic. In addition, the company offers ORILISSA, a nonpeptide small molecule gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist for women with moderate to severe endometriosis pain; Duopa and Duodopa, a levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel to treat Parkinson's disease; Lumigan/Ganfort, a bimatoprost ophthalmic solution for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension; Ubrelvy to treat migraine with or without aura in adults; Alphagan/ Combigan, an alpha-adrenergic receptor agonist for the reduction of IOP in patients with OAG; and Restasis, a calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant to increase tear production, as well as other eye care products. AbbVie Inc. has a research collaboration with Dragonfly Therapeutics, Inc. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is headquartered in North Chicago, Illinois.
Multiple sources are confirming the U.S. State Department intends to keep Randy Berry as the nations special envoy for LGBTI people.

Berrys bio page remains active on the State Department website. An openly gay career foreign service officer, Berry took on the LGBTI special envoy position in April 2015.

This is really surprising to me, Ross Murray, Director of Programs at GLAAD told Foreign Policy Magazine. I dont think I can applaud it until I see what his mandate becomes in this administration.

Berry served as U.S. Consul General in the Netherlands (2012-2015) and New Zealand (2009-2012). He has 24 years of foreign service officer experience with postings in Bangladesh, Egypt, Uganda and South Africa.

An unnamed State Department source told the Washington Blade that Berry continues in his role under the new administration.

There has been some concern as to the future of LGBT issues inside the Trump administrations State Department. Last year, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins called for the removal of activists who promote LGBT matters abroad.

During his Senate confirmation hearing, incoming Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was asked how he intended to protect Americas work on human rights of all people  no matter who they love.

The United States needs to stand firmly for all human rights, Tillerson responded. This includes support for basic political freedoms such as freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, as well as non-discrimination against women, minorities, and a shared commitment to protect the human rights of all people, no matter who they are or whom they love.








A Russian LGBT rights advocate has disappeared in eastern Ukraine.

Human Rights Watch in a Feb. 9 press release said Grey Violet and Victoria Miroshnichenko arrived in the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic, which pro-Russian separatists control, on Jan. 31.

The organization said Violet, who is transgender, and Miroshnichenko planned to stage a public performance in the city of Donetsk in support of the LGBT community and record it on video.

Human Rights Watch said Violets friends last heard from her at around 11 a.m. on Jan. 31.

The friends told Human Rights Watch they received information that indicates security officials from the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic detained Violet and Miroshnichenko shortly after they arrived in the region. MediaZona, an independent Russian news website that two members of Pussy Riot launched, quoted a friend who said local authorities told Violet and Miroshnichenko were not in the custody of police or security officials.

It is distressing that no one has been able to find out where Grey Violet and Miroshnichenko are since they arrived in the DNR 10 days ago, said Human Rights Watch Ukraine researcher Tanya Cooper in the Feb. 9 press release. Their sudden disappearance requires prompt and effective investigation.

Cooper told the Washington Blade on Monday that Human Rights Watch has no more news about Violet and Miroshnichenko and their well-being. She said her organization has urged the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights to ask authorities in the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic about the activists fate.

This is a truly horrible situation, Cooper told the Blade. Theyve been missing now for two weeks.

Pro-Russian separatists have governed the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic in eastern Ukraine since 2014.

They have banned the promotion of so-called gay propaganda to minors. LGBT activists in the region with whom the Blade has spoken say the ongoing conflict between Ukrainian troops and the separatists has adversely impacted their work.

- Michael K. Lavers, Washington Blade courtesy of the National LGBTQ Media Association
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.




Antarctic Cave NASA

Mt. Erebus is at the end of our world  and offers a portal to another.

Its our planets southernmost active volcano, reaching 12,448 feet (3,794 meters) above Ross Island in Antarctica. Temperatures at the surface are well below freezing most of the year, but that doesnt stop visits from scientists: Erebus is also one of the few volcanoes in the world with an exposed lava lake. You can peer over the lip of its main crater and stare straight into it.

Its also a good stand-in for a frozen alien world, the kind NASA wants to send robots to someday. Thats why Aaron Curtis, a post-doctoral scholar at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, spent the month of December exploring ice caves beneath the volcano. For several weeks, he tested robots, a drill and computer-aided mapping technology that could one day help us understand the icy worlds in our outer solar system.

It was Curtis seventh visit to Mt. Erebus, which he made on behalf of both JPL and the Mt. Erebus Volcano Observatory. He traveled with several colleagues who were studying everything from the age of the rocks to the composition of gasses emitted from the lava lake.

Ocean worlds like Europa are sure to be distinctly more alien than Erebus. Europas temperatures are hundreds of degrees below freezing; its ice is certain to be different than that of Earths; its surface is bathed in Jupiters radiation.

But there are some similarities that make Erebus a good testing ground for future technologies.

We think some features of these caves are similar to what you might see on a moon like Europa, Curtis said.

Frozen beauty

For the ancient Greeks, Erebus was an entrance to the underworld. Its a fitting namesake: scientists have discovered that Mt. Erebus has its own underworld  though one of stunning beauty.

The volcanos gases have carved out massive caves, which are filled with forests of hoarfrost and cathedral-like ice ceilings. Curtis said the heat from Erebus keeps the caves cozy  close to 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius)  and drives warm gases out of vents at the surface, where they freeze into towers. Within the caves, the mixing of warm and cold air forms icy chimneys that reach toward the ground.

While pursuing his doctorate at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Curtis wrote his dissertation on the formation of these caves. He said that in recent years, scientists have also discovered a diverse array of microscopic organisms living in their interior. These extremophiles, as theyre known, suggest that life might be possible on distant planets with similar cave systems.

Tools for an Icy Moon

Curtis joined JPLs Extreme Environments Robotics Group in 2016, where engineers are developing nimble machines that can climb, scurry and rove across difficult terrain.

Aaron Parness, manager of the Robotic Prototyping Lab, said Mt. Erebus was a good testing ground for some of the robots and instruments in development. When a member of the group is conducting field research, they often test each others work. Its part of the rapid design prototyping that steers the groups efforts.

Field testing shows you things that are hard to learn in the laboratory, Parness said. We jump on those opportunities. Even if the prototype isnt ready to work perfectly, it doesnt mean it isnt ready to teach us lessons on how to make the next iteration better.

Curtis tested several unique projects at Mt. Erebus. There was the Ice Screw End Effector (ISEE), a kind of ice drill designed for the feet of a wall-climbing robot called LEMUR. The drill would allow LEMUR to attach itself to walls, while also pulling out samples of the ice with each step. Future designs might be able to check for chemical signs of life within these samples.

ISEE hadnt seen much field testing before this trip  just the ice growing inside a fridge at JPL.

Were trying to get a feel for what kind of ice this drill works in, Curtis said. He added that ice can be plastic or brittle depending on different densities, humidity and other factors. The ice caves under Erebus proved to have much higher concentrations of air than expected: The differences involved can be like trying to climb a marshmallow versus a light metal.

Another test was for PUFFER, an origami-inspired robot that can sit flat during storage and puff up to explore a wider area. PUFFER has driven extensively around JPL, in Pasadenas Arroyo Seco and other desert environments  but not on snow. Curtis joysticked the robot around using newly designed snow wheels, which have a broad, flat surface.

Another tool that that could be helpful for future explorers is a structured light sensor used for creating 3-D cave maps. JPLs Jeremy Nash and Renaud Detry provided the sensor, which relies on computer vision to map the interior of a cave.

Curtis said that ice is a hard material to 3-D model, in large part because its so reflective. Light has a tendency to bounce off its surface, making it difficult for a computer to read that data and reconstruct a space.

Ice sparkles, and the sparkly crystals look different from each angle, Curtis said. Its like a hall of mirrors.

Adventurous Science

Make no mistake about it  a research trip to Mt. Erebus isnt exactly a vacation.

Curtis and his colleagues faced three large blizzards during their trip, each lasting around a week. That led to travel delays when supply helicopters couldnt make safe passage.

The team also dealt with limited energy in a region that experiences six months of night, blocking out sunlight for solar cells. Wind turbines on the volcano are the most common form of energy, though they face their own challenges: frost builds up on the blades, causing them to vibrate themselves to bits.

But the chance to conduct research in such a desolate and awe-inspiring location is hard to pass up.

When I smell that hydrogen sulfide perfuming the minus-25-degrees-Celsius air, theres nowhere Id rather be, Curtis said.
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Late last year, a new kind of coffee shop entered the increasingly saturated London cafe market. The New Blacka high-design, businessperson-oriented cafe concept that originated in Singaporeopened in November, gaining popularity among both office workers and coffee enthusiasts alike.

The coffee outlet follows in the footsteps of The New Black Singapore, founded in 2012 by Malaysian-born designer and entrepreneur Phoa Kia Boon. The companys strategy is to provide better coffee to corporate environments, so they chose a location in the Square Mile, the financial and commercial heart of London.

The cafe immediately stands out among the competition of coffee chains and independent artisanal shops thanks to its modern and bold interior design. Phoa designed the store, including the fit-out and furnishings such as wooden tables and benches with metal cup holders, and steel counters and cabinets. The shops ceramic cups, tableware, and takeaway paper cups are also expressions of the cafes unique style and attention to detail.

The New Blacks state-of-the-art coffee equipment features four Modbar and Alpha Dominche Steampunk machines, one Nuova Simonelli Clima-Pro grinder (used for the house blend) and one Mahlkonig EK 43 grinder (used for guest coffees which are pre-ground and dosed in custom-made airtight pods).

Our outlet is a coffee theater, says Phoa Kia Boon, an exhibition that people can come and explore. Customers who enter The New Black are invited by baristas to a sophisticated and nuanced tasting experience. We want to say to our customers: coffee is complex, but come inside and let me help you through it.

The New Blacks goal is to make specialty coffee accessible to people who might not have previous knowledge or experience with this type of coffee. A big focus is placed on service and on training baristas to assist customers in the best possible way. We have found a way to serve customers that maybe others failed to see, says Phoa.

Everything in the store is designed to encourage customers to have a meaningful interaction with the front of the house. Baristas face the customers while they prepare the drinks; a set of benches is placed in front of the brew bar to let people sit down and watch the filter coffee being made. The first time I visited the coffee shop I spent a moment admiring the space, and immediately a barista came to greet me and offered to help me choose my coffee.

Baristas working in artisan cafes are focused on their craft, says Phoa. He believes that as a result they tend to overlook the customers. We want to serve our customers better and differently, continues Phoa. We run The New Black as a business. There is a brand behind the shop. Not just art.

Equally important is the quality of the coffee they serve. The New Blacks launch menu featured a house espresso, Big Trouble, by North Carolina roaster Counter Culture Coffee with whom they have a longstanding relationship. Customers who want to go for more adventurous blends can choose between Aussie coffees Small Batch Roasting Company and Single O, Norwegian Tim Wendelboe, and American Verve Coffee Roasters. The New Black also features local coffees roasted by Workshop Coffee, Assembly Coffee, and Square Mile Coffee Roasters. The menu will evolve, says Phoa, as they gauge their London customers preferences in new roasts.

To help customers appreciate the complex and distinctive taste profiles on offer, The New Black developed a simple visual representation of the coffee flavor wheel commonly used by roasters. We use the taste wheel to identify the flavors of each coffee. People will understand the visual flavors more than the words, like in wine, says The New Blacks director Sonja Wittenberg.

The taste wheel is projected across the backlit black wall and also displayed on iPad tablets placed along the coffee counter. Glossy paper menus placed on each table provide further information on the featured roasters, other hot and cold drinks (Mork Chocolate; Press juices), and food pairing options, where coffee or tea are paired with locally sourced pastries. The New Black has partnered with some of Londons premium suppliers to provide freshly baked food: St John Bakery doughnuts; Babelle caneles; The Bread Factory cakes.

For The New Black, London is the real market, while Singapore was the companys lab, a place to test out the companys business strategy. We are a premium brand, stresses Phoa. We are not excited about quantity of sales, we are interested in creating an established premium coffee shop.

The New Black wants to become known globally for being really good at coffeeand in a short time, theyve already become known for a very new, very premium, coffee experience in London.

Giulia Mule (@mulia) is a Sprudge.com contributor based in London. Read more Giulia Mule on Sprudge.
As Dr. Timm Gudehus contends with the flurry of activity surrounding the Centaur Equine Specialty Hospital in Shelbyville, Ind., which opens its doors for business on February 20, he does so with a tremendous amount of anticipation and a level of excitement that may only rival capturing a classic race.

Obviously there are still many tasks to complete such as hiring a groundskeeper, hiring staff such as an office administrator and such, he said. However, all of our equipment is here except for the 4DDI Equimagine machine, which should be here in March and we expect our facility to begin aiding the horsemen and horse industry in the area as soon as we begin accepting patients.

With the first shovelful of earth turned over in October of 2015, the $8.8 million Centaur Equine Specialty Hospital will complement the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicines Large Animal Hospital in West Lafayette, Ind. Constructed in Shelbyville, Ind., the facilitys existence was brought into reality by donations from Purdue alumni, the new Centaur Gaming, Shelby County and the city of Shelbyville. The hospital is located within two miles of Indiana Grand Racing & Casino and is an hours drive from Hoosier Park in Anderson.

This new facility complements Purdue University's longstanding commitment to serving the equine industry and will continue to build on what the Indiana Horse Racing Commission and so many in Indiana's horse racing industry have worked toward for the last 20 years  making Indiana a top-notch racing state and a recognized leader in the sport," said Rod Ratcliff, Centaur Gaming chairman and CEO at the ground-breaking ceremony. His organization pledged $3.1 million to name the facility.

Consisting of 17,000 square feet, the Centaur Equine Specialty Hospital arrives at a point in time where Indiana is on the cusp of establishing itself as an elite horse racing state. With pari-mutuel racing only existing in the state for a little more than three decades, Hoosier Park will host the 2017 edition of the Breeders Crown, while also providing a purse structure that is one of the more lucrative harness racing sire stakes programs in the nation and is responsible for 2016 Horse of the Year Always B Miki, 2015 Horse of the Year Wiggle It Jiggleit and 2015 Breeders Crown champions Freaky Feet Pete and Colors A Virgin.

"Shelbyville and Shelby County are excited about the groundbreaking for the new Centaur Equine Diagnostic and Surgical Center," said Shelbyville Mayor Tom DeBaun in an Oct. 2015 press release. "This project is a great model of public and private partnerships between the City of Shelbyville, Shelby County, Centaur Gaming and Purdue University. Now that construction is beginning, we look forward to the completion of a beautiful equine specialty referral hospital that will have a significant positive impact on our community."

Although Indiana may be relatively new on the racing scene, Purdues Large Animal Hospital, the only veterinary facility of its kind in the state, has long been in the forefront of equine medicine. The facility conducted the first arthroscopic joint procedure on a horse in the mid-1970s and implemented one of the first high speed treadmills in 1996.

Since Indiana authorized slots legislation, Purdue received monetary support from these funds to advance its equine research program, which remains one of the best in the country.

One of our goals for this hospital is to advance our research program to improve diagnostics and therapeutics and provide more educational opportunities for horse owners, trainers, caregivers, veterinarians and veterinary students to optimize the health of horses, said Kevin Doerr, director of communications and public affairs for the College of Veterinary Medicine. With the advanced technologies this facility will provide, not only are we confident we can meet and satisfy the needs of the horse industry, but also demonstrate our expertise in the field of equine medicine.

The facility will be operated like an advanced private specialty equine practice with the equine specialists treating the patients. Veterinary students will have educational opportunities that involve observing the characteristics of how a private specialty equine practice functions as well as assisting the staff veterinarians where needed.

We feel Dr. Gudehus was an excellent choice to head this project and the hospital team and look forward to the leadership he will provide.

Gudehus brings a unique perspective to the Centaur Equine Specialty Hospital and a prolific background. An equine surgeon by trade, who has primarily been involved in private practice throughout his career, Gudehus is a native of Germany and obtained his veterinary degree in Munich. He then completed an internship in equine orthopedic surgery in California and was a resident at the Louisiana State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He was also a staff surgeon in Auckland, New Zealand, and has been deeply involved with horses since his youth as a semi-professional rider of show jumpers.

Since I have been involved in private practice for most of my career, I possess a different perspective to apply to operating this facility, Gudehus said. For instance, we have decided to focus on equine surgery, diagnostics and emergency medicine rather than implementing a rehabilitation program or ambulatory medicine. In my experience a rehabilitation facility is very labor and time intensive. Therefore, we should concentrate on these aspects of the hospital prior to incorporating any additional services.

The Centaur Equine Specialty Hospital will provide world-class technology, with equipment that very few centers of its kind around the world possess. The hospital will offer advanced diagnostic imaging, shockwave therapy, nuclear medicine, regenerative medicine, endoscopic laser surgery and specialized equine orthopedic and soft tissue surgery.

We will offer dynamic endoscopy, scintigraphy and Im especially excited about the 4DDI imaging machine, Gudehus said. There are not many equine hospitals that have the capacity for diagnostics we will have and there have already been hospitals for human medicine that have reached out to us in regards to our equipment.

Im just thrilled to be a part of this. We have hired three technicians and another veterinarian to be on site and just hired another equine surgeon that will be on board in July to share those responsibilities with me.

We now are planning to have our Grand Opening ceremony in April in conjunction with the start of the racing season. I have been reaching out to local horsemen and it appears they are just as excited as we are for the hospital to be in their community. We already have accepted patients and look forward to the opportunity this facility represents for not only the University, but for the entire horse industry in Indiana.

(USTA)
Longtime horse enthusiast Christina Talley, 50, passed away at Penninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, Md. on Friday, February 10 after a long two-year battle with cervical cancer.

Ms. Talley, who was born in Bel Air, Ohio, was the daughter of the late Jack and Martha Talley. She is survived by her significant other, Curtis Daniels, four children, five grandchildren and several uncles, aunts, nephews and nieces.

A horse enthusiast throughout her life, she cared for horses owned by her father, renowned Delmarva-area harness race caller Jack Talley, who also owned and trained a number of harness race horses. Later she became an owner of horses with Go Nurse, her favourite. Go Nurse won Horse of the Year at Ocean Downs in 2001.

A funeral Service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Salisbury Baptist Temple, Salisbury, Md. At 10 a.m., a one-hour visitation will be held prior to the services. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Salisbury Baptist Temple, 6413 Hobbs Road., Salisbury, Md. 21804.

Arrangements are in the care of Holloway Funeral Home, P.A., 501 Snow Hill Road, Salisbury, Md. 21804.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Christina Talley.

(with files from Dover)
It has been announced that Diamond Creek Farm has donated an A Rocknroll Dance breeding to Pacing For The Cure.

Pacing For The Cure is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire others to join the cause, create hope for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) survivors, and believe that a cure will be found. Pacing For The Cure raises funds to support MS survivors medical equipment needs and the necessary research to find a cure.

Pacing For The Cure is proud to announce that its sponsor, Diamond Creek Farm, has been very generous to offer a 2017 breeding to A Rocknroll Dance. With his first crop of pacers to hit the racetrack this year, there has never been a better time to breed your mare to A Rocknroll Dance. He was the first horse to win three consecutive starts in sub 1:48. That kind of mile will compete for a long time at any racetrack in the country; especially in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes where he stands.

By acting now on this very special Valentines offer, you will be supporting Pacing For The Cures new program, Stud Fees for Scooters while breeding to a colt that had dominated the racetrack with his grit, toughness and heart. Survivors in need of medical equipment can go to the Pacing For The Cure website and fill out a Mobility Aid Application. All applications will be reviewed and considered.

With the generosity of donors to date, Pacing For A Cure has provided a motorized scooter to an MS Survivor in need in Pennsylvania and last year donated to the Multiple Sclerosis Research Institute (MSRI) to support cutting edge human immunology research to find a cure for this debilitating disease.

If you have an interest in the A Rocknroll Dance stud fee to support Pacing For The Cure, please visit ongait.com via this link, email Jeff at [email protected] or contact Diamond Creek Farm at 717-638-7100 and mention Pacing For The Cure.

(With files from Pacing For The Cure)
Trotting sire Dr McDreamy passed away on Monday, February 13 in a paddock accident at Ohio State University ATI, according to co-owner Ross Rice.

Dr McDreamy, an 11-year-old son of American Native-Colors Of The Wind, raced from 2008-2010 and won 13 of 37 starts and earned $223,981 with a mark of 3,1:53.3 at Balmoral Park.

As a stallion, he stood for five years in Indiana and produced 52 foals, with 19 starters that earned a combined $293,792.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Dr McDreamy.

(USTA)
Give your horse the best Valentine's Day gift by being the greatest champion for equine welfare that you can be.

A full herd of online learners signed up in less than 20 minutes after Equine Guelph announced the official launch of thehorseportal.ca. The feedback has been extremely positive for the new online learning community resulting from an innovative industry partnership including ten provincial equestrian federations across Canada. The inaugural courses offered are: 'Equine Welfare - Canada's Code' and 'Equine Biosecurity - Canada's standard.'

Students so far say thehorseportal.ca is easy to navigate and rave about the wonderful content and interactivity. Horse enthusiasts are coming together from all backgrounds: from just starting out in the industry to facility owners and operators of large and small stables, new horse owners, boarders and professionals committed to life-long learning and staying up to date on the latest advances.

Content in the first two short courses has already been reported as very helpful to those considering facility renovations and management practices to optimize their horse's well-being. Learning the basics on Canada's two new national standards imparts important knowledge to make the best informed decisions for the health and welfare of horses. Many of the students who had not heard of the new Equine Code of Practice are quickly realizing its value in evaluating whether changes need to be made or not pertaining to their horse's management.

Students of the biosecurity course are finding many simple changes they can make to help protect their horses from infectious disease on and off their property. The course guest speaker, Dr. Alison Moore, Lead Veterinarian, Animal Health & Welfare at Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs was also a contributor to the new National Farm-Level Biosecurity standard for the Equine Sector. Moore is well versed in articulating the reality of biosecurity being more about diligence than difficulty. Moore stresses the importance of having a biosecurity plan and being able to communicate it clearly with every member of the barn community.

The herd dynamics are fantastic at thehorseportal.ca as aha moments are shared, connecting evidenced-based course content to student experience and resulting in practical applications. The discussion forums are full of statements such as, I didn't know what I didn't know or I learned that lesson the hard way and I've always done that but I didn't really know why.

"This is an online community where science, practical application and discussion come together to facilitate learning," says, Equine Guelph director, Gayle Ecker. "Students from Equine Guelph have been making a difference  the knowledgeable horse owner or caregiver is well equipped to have meaningful proactive discussions with their horse healthcare providers. Equine Guelph looks forward to partnering with the equine industry around the world to bring horse people together to learn about equine welfare and care as a community."

Join the herd for the next offerings:

'Equine Welfare - Canada's Code'  March 6 - 24

'Equine Biosecurity - Canada's Standard'  April 10 -28

For more information, head to thehorseportal.ca

(Equine Guelph)
Morrisville College is pleased to announce that its annual yearling sale will be held on Sunday, September 17 beginning at 12:00 noon.

The New York breeding and racing program has been a strong economic supporter of the Morrisville Equine Program for many years. The Morrisville College students greatly appreciate hosting the sale and making industry contacts with the consignors. These industry connections often lead to internships and further employment for our students.

In the 2016 Morrisville Sale, a total of 81 yearlings comprised of 59 trotters and 22 pacers sold for an average price of $13,656. That represents the highest average of any sale in the state for 2016. The Morrisville sale attendance was very impressive and all the seats were full until the last yearling went through the ring.

Entries are now being accepted for the September 17 sale. Entries close May 15.

Entry forms are available online or call Mary Taylor at 315-684-6355.

For more information, visit morrisvillesale.com.

(Morrisville College)
Contact: Caitlin Edwards, 630-260-6200 ext 7226, cedwards@christianitytoday.com CAROL STREAM, Ill., Feb. 14, 2017 / Standard Newswire / -- Findings from a national survey on church compensation will be used to create one of the best-known resources for church compensation reportsthe Compensation Handbook for Church Staff . This resource is published by the Church Law & Tax Team of Christianity Today and helps church leaders determine a fair wage for pastors around the country.Church employees are encouraged to take this anonymous survey to help the Church Law & Tax Team receive an accurate representation of church compensation nationwide.This resource provides compensation profiles classified by part- and full-time positions, church size, church budget, and geographical setting. Each position's compensation levels are presented based on several personnel characteristics, including years employed, denomination, region, gender, and educational training.The data gathered from survey results will shape the 2018 Compensation Handbook for Church Staff. It will also build the foundation needed for the upcoming online compensation tool the Church Law & Tax Team is creating.The $750,000 grant awarded to Church Law & Tax (CLT) by Lilly Endowment Inc. focuses on the National Initiative to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders, and the first step in this project is to gather research from pastors and church staff with this survey, the 2017 National Church Compensation Survey To learn more about the tools the Church Law & Tax Team currently offers to help pastors and church staff with compensation, visit ChurchLawAndTax.com Christianity Today is a nonprofit, global media ministry centered on Beautiful Orthodoxystrengthening the church by richly communicating the breadth of the true, good, and beautiful gospel. Reaching over five million people monthly with various digital and print resources, the ministry equips Christians to renew their minds, serve the church, and create culture to the glory of God. Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly familyJ.K. Lilly Sr. and sons J.K. Jr. and Elithrough gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business. The Endowment supports causes in religion, education, and community development. Lilly Endowment's religion grantmaking is designed to deepen and enrich the religious lives of American Christians. It does this largely through initiatives to enhance and sustain the quality of ministry in American congregations and parishes.


From my interview with the late, great Tony Scott in 2006:

KM: This question is asked so often and hard to answer, but I am curious: Do you have a favorite film?

TS: True Romance. I love all my films but True Romance was the best screenplay I ever had. And all that was Quentin. It was so well crafted. But I did change the end. Originally in Quentins version [Christian Slater dies] and Patricia [Arquette] pulls over on the freeway and she puts a gun in her mouth [she doesnt die]. I shot the film in continuity, so by the time I got to the end of shooting the movie, I had fallen in love with the two characters. It was a love story. I wanted these characters to live!

Theres a scene early in True Romance in which Patricia Arquettes call girl Alabama (not a whore, theres a difference! she insists), is so full of love and feeling and guilt, that Im always (I mean, like every time I watch it) taken aback with emotion. Shes just so moving, so sure to prove her ability to come clean that you want to reassure her its all going to be OK. And when you first see the movie, youre a bit worried for her. How will he (Christian Slaters Clarence) react? Is he going to be angry with her? Its a moment of truth where a macho ego might lash out at a woman whos just pretended attraction, romance and compatibility (though shes not pretending, she realizes, to her delight and fear). Its also the kind of scene many critics take for granted because, well, it occurs in what would be termed a pulpy action movie. A brilliant pulpy action movie and now a classic and an influential one, notable for the excellence of Quentin Tarantinos screenplay, but not a movie in which people win Oscars (but of course they should  listing and discussing all of the exceptional, oddball, sometimes brilliant performances in this movie could fill a book).

And though True Romance (directed by Tony Scott) is a lot more than action, and was certainly praised, and Arquette did indeed receive kudos by many, still, within confining categories, her skill of showing such complex feeling in the picture is not recognized enough. Not in the way, again, an Oscar-seeking performance with a big important speech would be praised. Well, Alabama hasa big, important speech because shes a young woman in a seedy, dangerous profession (lord knows how she got there) and now shes overwhelmed with a passionate purity of feeling  love. And thats terrifying. She also wants Clarence to know shes not a habitual liar or damaged goods or a bad person after revealing to him that their dream date was actually paid for by his boss. How will he react? Refreshingly and wonderfully (it feels so progressive watching it today), hes not mad:

Alabama: I gotta tell you something else. When you said last night  was one of the best times you ever had  did you mean physically?

Clarence: Well, yeah. Yeah, but Im talking about the whole night. I mean, I never had as much fun with a girl as I had with you in my whole life. Its true. You like Elvis. You like Janis. You like kung fu movies. You like The Partridge Family. Star Trek

Alabama: Actually, I dont like The Partridge Family. That was part of the act. Clarence, and I feel really goofy saying this after only knowing you one night and me being a call girl and all, but I think I love you.

It takes a great actress and a clever, expressive screenplay to balance all of those feelings with such romance, fun and sadness (what has Alabama been through before that?) and Arquettes angst and relief that Clarence isnt going to haul off and smack her is so palpable, the viewer buys her insta-love without a doubt. And you buy his love towards her, and not just for her blonde hair and big boobs. The girls got heart, as James Gandolfini says as he beats the shit out of her (Ill get to that other powerful Arquette moment later). I think I love you. Hey, thats the best Partridge Family song (she may not even know that since she doesnt even like them). But, boom! They are married.

Their swoony beginning seems too good to be true but their chemistry cannot be denied  its real. But their future? Thats where the fairy tale is amped up and enters, not just mythic Bonnie and Clyde terrain but the world of the Brothers Grimm or L. Frank Baum  Oz with bullets, cops and mobsters as flying monkeys. Detroit is not Kansas but neither is Hollywood and so their love, writ large, the kind that makes a person crazy and brave and stupid, mirrors the fantastical dominion theyre driving into. And Clarence is nobly stupid at first. Or perhaps hes nobly stupid throughout the entire movie  hes clever and cool and even admits hes an amateur  but hes as lucky as fuck. Thinking hes nabbing Alabamas clothes but is, in fact, actually stealing a suitcase full of cocaine from her Big Bad Wolf pimp (the hilariously, terrifying thinks-hes-black Gary Oldman), and then kills him, Clarence figures they can sell the goods in L.A. and escape their lives, forever.

And then all of  this: He says goodbye to his comic book store job, his papa ex-cop (a moving Dennis Hopper, whose Sicilian speech with consigliere Christopher Walken is now famous), drives off with Alabama in his beat-up classic Cadillac, meets up with his L.A. actor pal with a stoned roommate (Michael Rapaport and a scene-stealing Brad Pitt), gets in contact with a Hollywood producer (Saul Rubinek) and his nervous actor/assistant (Bronson Pinchot) and the insanity begins. Actually, the craziness started back with Oldman, Walken and Hopper, but Clarence and Alabama arent entirely aware of all of the layers and levels and twists and turns that are and will happen, culminating in a showdown at the Beverly Ambassador Hotel  cops, bodyguards and mobsters all in a standoff. This is one hell of a story  so vividly written, so smart and hilarious, so violent and nuts, that yes  this is how love can feel too.

It all winds together and explodes in an exhilarating, surrealistic swirl through the unabashedly entertaining, hyped-up and artful direction of the late, great Tony Scott and a poetic, perfecto Tarantino. As I said, I see it as part fairy tale, but also part splashy Hollywood satire about movie people who pile in the coke while making pulpy war pictures, and struggling actors audition for T.J. Hooker while their lovable loafer roommates recline on the couch all day, smoking out of honey bear bongs. With that in mind (and if you live in Los Angeles) its not even that unrealistic. Like Mulholland Dr. and The Big Lebowski after it, youll recognize this Los Angeles on those days when the air feels chemically off  and all of this heightened chaos and absurdity crashes down on you. (I know some of you readers know exactly what Im talking about) Tom Sizemore screaming/directing Bronson Pinchots Elliot, a now wired-up narc with, Youre an actor. Act, motherfucker! is a sublime metaphor of how on edge talent feels in this town.

Clarences negotiations with the coke-buying producer resonates for multiple reasons. Is Clarence ass-kissing to get the deal done like every Hollywood jerk? Yes. But, no, hes not. Hes genuinely sincere in his admiration of the producers movies. Even his guide, the ghost of Elvis Presley (Val Kilmer, post Lizard King) in a bit of sublime fantasia during which the movie again, recollects the dream of Oz  Elvis as Glenda the Good Witch  reassures him hes not being an asshole. And Clarence, the Sonny Chiba-loving movie fan, talks to the producer almost as if hes talking about the real-life film hes currently found himself in:

You know, most of these movies that win a lot of Oscars, I cant stand them. Theyre all safe, geriatric coffee-table dogshit All those assholes make are unwatchable movies from unreadable books. Mad Max, thats a movie. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, thats a movie. Rio Bravo, thats a movie. And Coming Home in a Body Bag, that was a fuckin movie.

And Tony Scott well understood that speech. Scott, who mysteriously, tragically took his own life in 2012, was a popular but supremely underrated director (among critics), one who was often accused of being a lot of flash and crass. He certainly indulged action, sex, explosions and quick cutting (fantastically in many pictures, from The Hunger to The Last Boy Scout to Man on Fire to Unstoppable), but he had wit and intelligence, a dark view of the world met with a smile. His films could be brutal, but they never lacked humanity.

He told me in a 2006 interview: I have no regrets. I love the fact that people will continue to employ me and pay me to do what I want to do, which is attempt another world. Thats what so great even about this. I get the opportunity to do new things. I get the chance to do the research, educate myself and I get the chance in touching this word.

Attempt another world and touching this world  what a beautiful way to explain his artistry and love. And he as he expressed to me and others, he loved True Romance  he loved Tarantinos superlative script and he loved all of those brilliant performances. You can feel it in every inch of the movie, right down to the smallest roles. From Oldman to Pitt to Samuel L. Jackson to, of course, James Gandolfini. Which brings me back to Arquette as Alabama and her showdown with Gandolfinis hitman. Its a painfully violent, terrifying scene, and Scott and Tarantino spare Alabama no comfort  but they also dont exploit or condescend to her. Her ferocity in fighting back, her loyalty to Clarence, even the way she breathes and lunges and screams, blood dripping down her face, smiling in his face, middle finger extended high, fills the viewer with a range of emotions, much like her angst-filled confession of love on the rooftop. Shes surviving, and its bloody as hell, but its supremely moving. When I asked Scott about this scene, he was thrilled by my admiration, stating it was multi-layered in terms of charm, humor and violence at the extreme. Patricia is unique, he said. Shes got this angelic childlike quality yet, shes got this strangeness.

Indeed she does. And her sweetness and strangeness match the pictures pulpy lyricism. When composer Hans Zimmers Badlands homage chimes in, at both beginning and end, and Arquettes loving, haunting narration is heard, an ode to Sissy Spacek, you feel a wistfulness that, though a cinematic hat tip, belongs to Clarence and Alabama as well. Theyve earned that music. And after all the guns and coke and blood and Hollywood craziness, it leaves one with a feeling that bad times are behind you, and hopefully love is in front of you (though one can never be sure). Alabama watches Clarence run on the beach with their child in a final scene that looks like a dream from heaven  as if their characters never made it out alive, and Clarence really, truly got to meet Elvis. But they do make it out alive. Its a movie. And, as Scott would say, theyre attempting another world.
The following editorial appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Friday, Feb. 10:

By historic standards governing Cabinet appointments, President Donald Trumps nomination of Andrew F. Puzder as labor secretary would be in deep trouble. But this is not like any administration in history.

The Senate is dominated by a 52-48 Republican majority that already has seen fit to confirm nominees who in past administrations would have been sent packing. Historic standards do not apply in a hyper-partisan era where GOP senators fear losing their jobs if they insist on qualified, conflict-free public servants.

The Senates Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has postponed hearings on Puzders nomination three times to allow the nominee to sort through a variety of problems that in any other year would be disqualifying. Puzder is a onetime St. Louis trial lawyer and current chief executive of CKE Restaurants, whose St. Louis headquarters are in the process of moving to Nashville, Tenn. Puzder is perhaps closer to Trumps style than the presidents other nominees.

He is brash, outspoken, misogynistic, combative and uninterested in quarantining himself from his financial interests. Like many of Trumps nominees  Rick Perry at the Energy Department, Betsy DeVos at Education, Ben Carson at Housing and Urban Development  he is almost uniquely unqualified for the duties of the office to which he seeks confirmation.

The Labor Departments official mission is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

This is almost the opposite of Puzders mission in his 16 years heading the fast-food company that operates Hardees and Carls Jr. restaurants.

The company currently is being sued in California for wage theft. The case deals with how CKEs corporate-owned restaurants switched managers back to hourly wages after the Obama administrations Labor Department extended overtime pay to salaried workers earning less than $47,476 a year.

Puzders attitude may be skewed by the fast-food industrys reputation as employer of last resort for the uneducated and undermotivated. This part of the service sector is where a lot of job growth is found. He has been a vocal opponent of a $15-an-hour minimum wage that might attract better workers. He has mused about replacing workers with robots: Theyre always polite. They always upsell, they never take a vacation, they never show up late, theres never a slip-and-fall, or an age, sex, or race discrimination case.

Add this to the fact that he hired an undocumented immigrant as a housekeeper and reveled in TV commercials featuring bikini-clad supermodels pitching 1,000-calorie burgers to his testosterone-crazed target demographic. And, like Trump, he has balked until this week at divesting his assets.

Theres every reason for the committee to send him back to Nashville. A robot would be better.

The Kelly twins offer a vital sign for space travel

The following editorial appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Monday, Feb. 6:

When astronaut Scott Kelly returned to Earth after nearly a year on the International Space Station, he was 2 inches taller than his twin brother, astronaut Mark Kelly. When Scott left for the mission, he and his earthbound brother were the same height.

What happened? Scientists at NASA are poring over the data compiled from the Twins Study, information that benchmarks Scott and Mark Kellys genomic and physical markers before and after Scotts yearlong mission on the space station.

So far weve learned that being in space for prolonged periods does have an effect on the chromosomes, bone structure and even the content of the culture in an astronauts gut. Scotts DNA and RNA underwent hundreds of mutations in space that gradually returned to normal once he was back on Earth.

Scott Kelly exhibited declining bone density, but a healing hormone kicked in during his exercise regimen on the space station. Still, his cognitive abilities and muscle dexterity showed signs of having slowed a bit once he returned to Earth.

That will be a factor to consider when astronauts land on Mars after six months traveling through space. Setting up their living environment on the planet will present both physical and mental challenges.

NASAs plans for manned missions to Mars in the 2030s are still in the early stages. The rival civilian space programs that have popped up are shooting for a Mars mission in the early-to-mid-2020s. Whoever gets to Mars first will be better prepared for the challenges of space travel thanks to the Twins Study.

Trump: Presidential school-yard bully

The following editorial appeared in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Friday, Feb. 10:

President Donald Trump has picked yet another fight with an American business, this time Nordstrom.

He says the retailer is treating his daughter so unfairly, but Nordstrom says it is pulling Ivanka Trumps clothing line due to lack of sales.

Its business, and a businessman should understand. But in a Trumps tweet, being a businessman or president matters less than standing up for Ivanka.

It doesnt help that Kellyanne Conway, his official counselor and frequent spokesperson, is telling the public to buy Ivankas stuff.

Ivanka is a big girl. She can fight her own business battles and not violate government ethics.

Luckily, Nordstrom isnt feeling the hurt of Trumps ire. Stock prices are actually up, but other companies havent been so lucky.

Lockheed Martins stock temporarily plummeted because of a Trump tweet last year.

His bullying of businesses hurts the jobs he champions. If he wants to keep and create American jobs, then he needs to stop trash-talking American companies.

These companies shouldnt have to fear the fury of a Twitter-happy president.

Trump needs to stop picking needless fights. Hes got more important things to do.

Plain on Ukraine: US policy needs to become unambiguous

The following editorial appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Tuesday, Feb. 7:

What is happening in eastern Ukraine is gaining attention for two reasons: the likely financial involvement in Ukraines affairs by President Donald Trump and some of his close advisers, and the fact that fighting there has resumed between U.S.-backed Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed Ukrainian separatists.

U.S. support of Ukrainian government forces and Russian support of Ukrainian separatists is troubling. The conflict continues to evolve into a proxy war between Russia and the United States. The conflict is expensive and really of no profound interest to the U.S. Does NATO need one more member? If the United States were able to influence European Union decision-making, does the EU need one more poverty-stricken member? Does the United States need to be at war with Russia?

America should be concentrating its resources on repairing and modernizing its own infrastructure, not fiddling around in combat in Avdiivka, Donetsk and Luhansk  in effect, in Russias backyard.

It is true that fighting has resumed in eastern Ukraine. It is also true that the conflict there has continued for three years, with an estimated 10,000 killed and many thousands more Ukrainians displaced. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is charged with overseeing both sides observation of the terms of the so-called Minsk peace process. The OSCE recorded some 7,000 ceasefire violations on Feb. 1 alone.

It is also true that U.S. policy under Trump toward Russia and Ukraine remains relatively opaque. Trump has talked on the phone to Russian President Vladimir Putin and to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, to what end the American people dont know yet. Trumps new ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, made a statement at the U.N. Security Council Feb. 2 to the effect that the United States favors extending economic sanctions against Russia until it withdraws from Crimea, occupied since 2014, a position that Trump has not yet untweeted or otherwise disowned, in spite of his intention to improve relations with Russia.

U.S. policy needs to become clear and unambiguous. If America is to remain involved in Ukraine, Trump needs to enunciate a cogent rationale for that involvement. He will need to square it with improving relations with Russia, if that is also his intention.

The real education of Betsy DeVos

The following editorial appeared in Miami Herald on Wednesday, Feb. 8:

Its not that Betsy DeVos is a billionaire, or that she, her husband and kids didnt attend public schools. Its not even that her family has given donations to the very people who made her education secretary on Tuesday that makes her an unqualified and unsettling choice for the position.

No, its her antipathy for public schools, what she once called a dead end.

Yes, its the 21st century, and public schools have to change if they are to keep up with the free market, which has made deep incursions into their territory. But unless the charters shes pushing throw open their doors to the tough-to-teach, the disabled, the English-challenged children, they will be left behind, as they are too often.

With Vice President Mike Pence voting in her favor, breaking the 50-50 Senate deadlock  the first time ever this has occurred for a cabinet position  DeVos will now implement President Trumps plan to steer $20 billion in existing federal public-education funds into vouchers that pay for private schools.

This appointment brought another first: DeVos will be an education secretary with zero public-education experience.

But she does have a long record of anti-public education activism. She is considered a major force in dismantling the nations public school system, which she says has failed our students, a simplistic overstatement. She believes  with all her heart and money  that vouchers to private and religious and charter schools are the way to fix the nations education crisis. She and her organizations, like the American Federation for Children, have spent $33 million to support school privatization efforts.

DeVos is no friend of the public school system, whose educators say charter schools and vouchers for private schools cannibalize the public school system  a system that still educates 90 percent of the nations children. Charters and private schools are also criticized for selectively skimming the cream of the crop among students, while public schools take all.

Its a shame that DeVos, like other Trump cabinet nominees, will be charged with dismantling vital and effective departments from within. Its a cruel joke that stands to benefit the few and, perhaps, the privileged, while leaving the vast majority of students, including those who parents are ardent Trump supporters, out in the academic cold.

DeVos has a steep learning curve. Public school systems, doing the heavy lifting across the country, need to remind her of that every single day.
Yuu Asakawa is a seasoned veteran who has played in various legendary titles including Love Hina as Motoko Aoyama, Azumanga Daioh as Sakaki, Fate/stay night as Rider, Akame ga Kill! as Leone and we cannot forget she also voiced as Megurine Luka from Vocaloid. What sets her apart from other voice actresses is her embracing the English language which allows her to interact with her English speaking fans. Although we missed her at Anime Expo back in 2010, we were lucky enough sit down with her at Anime on Display and chat a little about her freelance voice acting work.

Probably the first question you might ask is regarding her outfit. Asakawa-san was wearing a Doctor Who inspired 'kimono' dress which she received as a gift from a fan who had saw she mentioned it on her Twitter account. She noted the difficulty of importing goods from overseas into Japan and was overjoyed and thankful to her fan.

Asakawa-san started an English Twitter account, @Julia320, back in 2010 in anticipation for her first American appearance at Anime Expo. When preparing for the interview, we had a hard time finding a definitive answer why she chose the name online so we decided to ask.

Regarding Twitter, some of Asakawa-san's favorite moments using Twitter is to interact with other guests and fans before a convention and is really happy to meet them for the first time in person.

Asakawa-san has spent most of her career with a talent agency, which is typical of most voice actors in Japan; however, in 2014 she went freelance.

Regarding current or future projects, many fans are aware she is the voice of Type-Moons original Rider from the Fate series and reprised her role, as well as several new characters, in the recent mobile cellphone game, Fate/Grand Order. While she couldnt go into details, she hinted of her continued and future involvement with the title. Possibly new characters or scenarios?

Asakawa-san also expressed interests in working on English titles being one of the few seiyuus who can speak English. She is a huge fan of Resident Evil and would love to be able to voice a character from the series in English and Japanese one day.

On the topic of Resident Evil's Leon Kennedy and zombies, as our final question, we had to ask her one of the hardest questions she has ever had to answer to date!

Asakawa-san hopes to be able to meet more of her fans in future so please follow her on Twitter! Don't forget to check out a few additional photos we snapped up below.
More than 60 businesses have benefitted from the program, which was extended through May 1 while a permanent program is in the works.
Love Overwhelming will relocate its administrative headquarters to a small, house-like building at 618 14 Ave. south of Tennant Way, its director announced Monday.

If the city of Longview approves, the beige rental building also will become the organizations new emergency homeless shelter, Chuck Hendrickson, Love Overwhelmings executive director, confirmed with The Daily News on Monday evening.

The building used to house the woodworkers union. It is located opposite the Longshore credit union building and is flanked on the north by buildings owned by Superior Tire. Both those businesses were aware of LOs intentions to move into the commercial neighborhood, but representatives could not comment on the move Monday. Other nearby buildings are Healthy Hounds and the St. Vincent de Paul building, which border the back of the new LO location.

Hendrickson is scheduled to give a media tour of the building today.

Love Overwhelming currently houses about 45 people a night at 304 Cowlitz Way in Kelso. From the street, the building at 618 14 Ave. appears too small to house that many people, but it is larger than it looks and has a large, auditorium-like room that can be divided up with privacy screening, Hendrickson said.

We could definitely get 45 people in there, he said.

Love Overwhelming must move out of its existing location because the Emergency Support Shelter for battered women sold it to Cowlitz County. The county has given Love Overwhelming until May 1 to move out.

A City of Longview moratorium on emergency homeless shelters expires April 15. But the City Council still is working to develop an ordinance regulating where shelters can be located and how they must operate. Whether LO can locate a shelter on the 14th Avenue property will depend on the outcome of that process.

We think its a great location. But until the city goes through its process we dont know if they want a shelter there or not. We hope that it does, Hendrickson said.

The citys ad hoc committee on emergency shelters, which is helping craft the new emergency homeless shelter ordinance, is meeting Wednesday. Hendrickson said he intends to address the group.

Hendrickson said Love Overwhelming will put up a privacy fence around the 14th Avenue property to regulate who comes and goes from the site. It also has decided to allow residents 24-hour access to the shelter, which is not currently allowed at the Kelso location. Both measures, among others, would be attempts to curb vagrancy, drug use and other problems that have arisen around the Cowlitz Way location, he said. In addition, he said there is no public property adjacent the new location, as there is at the Cowlitz Way site (the County Administration Building courtyard). Its harder to chase people off public land than private land, he said.

Love Overwhelmings shelter has been treated as a pariah in part because it does not require sobriety as a condition of entry, though drugs and alcohol are prohibited inside. An early lack of supervision led to numerous police calls and complaints at the Kelso location.

Hendrickson said LO representatives have approached business owners and represenatives in the 14th Avenue area.

We had some good conversations but there are concerns, Hendrickson said, adding that the shelter hopes to establish a working group to address the shelters relations with the neighbhoorhood.
The Washington Examiner, via Middle East Forum, by by Cinnamon Stillwell and Clifford Smith

Should taxpayer dollars be used to fund meetings between American terrorists and Palestinian radicals? San Francisco State University, a public university notorious for sympathy to violent radicals, apparently thinks so. Last year, it sent Americans who served time in prison for crimes ranging from bombing the United States Senate to conspiracy to murder to meet with fellow former "political prisoners" at An-Najah University in the West Bank.

Described by Hamas as a "greenhouse for martyrs," and by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy as a hub for the "terrorist recruitment, indoctrination and radicalization of students," An-Najah entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with SFSU in December 2014. The "Freedom Behind Bars Workshop," organized by Memorandum of Understanding architect and SFSU professor Rabab Abdulhadi, is the first known event facilitated by the memorandum.

Participants in the "Prisoner, Labor, and Academic Delegation" to An-Najah that culminated in the workshop included four self-described American "political prisoners" who met with self-described Palestinian "political prisoners" for the purpose of sharing "presentations about the marginalized histories of colonial repression, racism, and resistance in Palestine and the U.S."

Should U.S. taxpayer dollars be used to fund meetings between American and Palestinian terror convicts?

To describe these four as "political prisoners," akin to former Soviet Union refusenik Natan Sharansky or protesters imprisoned in Iran's "Green Revolution," is both inaccurate and insulting. They are common criminals or radicals who employed violence and terrorism to effect political change in the U.S. rather than engaging in the democratic process. That they would make common cause with Palestinian radicals who prefer terrorism to negotiation makes perfect sense.

Case in point: Delegation member Laura Whitehorn is a longtime communist radical, who, along with six members of a Weather Underground-initiated organization, was convicted of bombing the U.S. Senate, three military installations in the Washington D.C. area, and four sites in New York City, including the Israeli Aircraft Industries building, between 1983 and 1985. Whitehorn's goal, according to the indictment, was "to influence, change and protest policies and practices of the United States Government concerning various international and domestic matters through the use of violent and illegal means." She was sentenced to 20 years in prison and served 14 years before being paroled in 1999.

American terrorists Claude Daniel Marks (left) and Laura Whitehorn (right) in attendance.

Another delegation member, Claude Daniel Marks, was on the FBI's Ten Most-Wanted list for his role in a conspiracy to free Oscar Lopez, the Chicago leader of the Puerto Rican separatist group Fuerzas Armadas de Liberacion Nacional from the federal penitentiary at Leavenworth. The plot involved blowing up the maximum-security prison, landing a helicopter in the confusion, and freeing Lopez. Marks surrendered to the FBI in 1994 after nearly a decade living under an assumed identity. Under a plea bargain, he plead guilty to charges stemming from the aborted escape attempt and was sentenced to prison.

Once linked to the Weather Underground and other domestic terrorist groups, Marks signed a 2008 statement of "solidarity" with former Weather Underground terrorist Bill Ayers.

An-Najah delegation member Manuel La Fontaine was convicted of the attempted murder of Silvano Campos in a Daly City, Calif., gang dispute. Seventeen-year-old William Tejada, who identified La Fontaine as the shooter, was later tortured and murdered by the Daly City Locos Gang for talking to the police about the shooting.
It is earlier revealed, with an official teaser, that the Lenovo-owned Motorola will announce its Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus smartphone at an event on February 26. While contributing to the leaks already surfacing on the Internet, a tech blog, Tech Tip has suggested that the handset will be launched with a starting price of EUR 189 (around Rs. 13,500).

The blog reported that the 2GB RAM with 16GB storage would come with the price mentioned above, while, the upper variant with 3GB RAM with 16GB storage will be priced at EUR 209 (around Rs. 15,000). It also suggests that the handset will be available for sale, soon after its launch.

While, a popular leakster, known for Lenovo smartphone leaks, Roland Quandt of winfuture.de on Twitter also suggested the same European prices and said that the prices of Moto G5 models would be comparatively low. As compared to the launching prices of Moto G4 models, which were introduced with a starting price of Rs.12,499 in India.

The parent company, Lenovo has launched a teaser which says Hello Moto with date and time pinned on it as 26.02.17 and 4:30 pm local (9.00 pm IST) respectively. A white coloured smartphone shading the background is enough to guess the news.

With this official announcement, it is all sure that Motorola is now all set to raise the curtains over Moto G5 and Moto G5 plus models. These are the successors of last year launched Moto G4 and Moto G4 plus models respectively.

Though nothing has been said to the feature of the phone yet, through industry insiders, it is expected that Moto G5 plus will shine with its 5.5-inch full HD (1080p) display. It will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chip paired with 4 GB of RAM. Internal storage capacity is believed to be coming in the range of 16 GB and 32 GB.

For picture savvies, the smartphone will flaunt a rear camera of 16-megapixel and a selfie shooter of 5-megapixel. It will run on Android Nougat platform upon unwrapping and will bear a 3,080 mAh capacity battery inside it.

Now coming to Moto G5, the model is rumoured to be not coming with a fingerprint scanner which can create a little disappointment, though. But, on the other hand, it will be a 16 GB internal storage model having 13 MP rear camera at its back side and a 5-megapixel of secondary camera at front.

The Moto G5 smartphone will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor, 2GB of RAM and will be featured with a 5-inch full-HD (10801920 pixels) display. Rumours also suggest that it will be fueled with a small 2800mAh battery.
tech2 News Staff

Bengaluru is gearing up for the 11th edition of Aero India 2017. Aero India is considered the largest airshow in Asia and will span over four days from 14 Feb to 18 Feb. Over 540 companies from aerospace and defence sector will be joining the Air Show.

The companies that will join the air show include Lockheed Martin, Boeing, BAE Systems, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Airbus among others. The Air Show will see defence officials from Government of India in addition to other high ranking officials from 30 nations around the world.

The air show in Aero India 2017 is not the only event as the four day event listing includes a Global CEOs conclave on Aerospace and Defence manufacturing opportunities in Andhra Pradesh under 'Make in India'. One of the major goals of this edition is to promote 'Make in India' initiative for defence manufacturing. Defence Ministry will start the conclave with the welcome address along with address by P Ashok Gajapathi Raju, the Minister for Civil Aviation and Manohar Parrikar, Minister of Defence.

One thing to note is that participating in this event is not an easy affair for foreign companies, as they to have to shell out anywhere from Rs 42,000 to Rs 54,000 per square meter of space with Indian companies shelling anywhere from Rs 32,603 to Rs 41,918 for the same amount of space.

This is not limited to the use of space but extends to private terraces for the companies with better view of the airfield and sky as reported by Hindustan Times. The event is critical for countries as well as defence contractors as the top government officials and dignitaries are always on a lookout for better partnerships and deals for military or even civil aviation equipment for their country.

According to the small amount of details, Rafale, Gripen, F-16 and other home-made light combat aircrafts will hog the skylines as always. Defence ministry has expected that the crowd can reach more than two lakh when looking only at business visitors that are attending the airshow.
tech2 News Staff

Please follow the live blog for the launch of ISRO Satellite PSLV-C37.

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle spaceflights by Isro are among the cheapest possible ways of putting satellites into orbit. Isro is the space agency under the Department of Space that is mostly in charge of the Indian Space program, including development of technology, transfer of the technology to industries, and launching satellites for Indian use. Antrix is the commercial wing of Isro, and is a company wholly owned by the Government of India.

The launch of 104 satellites in a single mission started off as a far less ambitious effort that would still have set world records. Initially, there was a plan to launch 68 satellites in a single mission, some time in late 2016 itself. An increasing number of satellites were accommodated into the PSLV, with the number going up to 83, then 103, and finally 104. The launches were pushed back every time more satellites were added to the mission.

Finding space for smaller satellites in an existing and scheduled launch is known as "piggybacking". Companies such as Innovative Solutions In Space specialise in finding piggyback opportunities for microsatellites, nanosatellites and picosatellites. The "launch services" section prominently displays the Indian "workhorse" rocket, the PSLV. The US company Planet Labs was able to find space on the PSLV launch for a constellation of 88 Dove satellites, through the help of Innovative Solutions In Space. The PSLV mission with the CartoSat-2D on board would have been launched by India anyway, adding satellites is a way for Isro to bring down costs. More than half of the cost of the launch is expected to be recovered from the 101 foreign satellites on board.

For US companies, the economics of Indian spaceflight is a threat. They allege that India is distorting the market by heavily subsidising the launches. There is even a policy in place that prevents private US companies from using the PSLV, and every time a company does this, it has to get a waiver. During a hearing in April last year in the US, on challenges and opportunities of small satellites in the commercial launch industry, Eric Stallmer, the president of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF) gave testimony.

"CSF opposes efforts to facilitate a government-subsidised foreign launch, companyin this case, Isroto compete with US companies. Such a policy runs counter to many national priories and undermines the work and investment that has been made by government and industry to ensure the health of the US space launch industrial base. At the same time, we have to be cautious not to squeeze out the US satellite manufacturers and operators that have immediate launch needs which cannot yet be served by the aforementioned US launch vehicles that are still in development." reads the testimony.

In the 1990s itself, the US evaluated if subsidised US governmental launches should be allowed to compete with launches from the private sector. The US found that the subsidised Space Shuttle launches were unviable. Since 1994 there has been a policy in place to encourage private US space flight, with a national policy put in place that required that US agencies purchase launch services from private US companies for their requirements.

Amidst increasing US co-operation with India on the space programs of the two countries, the private US space industry raised concerns about the cheap Indian spaceflights. lliot Holokauahi Pulham, CEO of Space Foundation had said, "I think the concern about using Indian boosters is not so much the transfer of sensitive technology to a nation that is a fellow democracy, but rather whether the Indian launches are subsidised by the government to a degree that other market actors would be priced out of the market."

"Currently, the Indian launch vehicle PSLV has a sweet spot and has the capability of launching some of these satellites right now in a timely manner. We dont want to see United States launches going overseas by any means, whether its to India, Russia or whomever else. But right now, from the satellite, you know, producers and manufacturers, they need to get their assets up in the sky as quick as possible," Stallmer said.

A PSLV launch costs a fraction of what other comparable rocket launches cost. The Falcon 9 by SpaceX manages to keep costs low by re-using some parts of the launch vehicle. The Proton rocket from Ukraine, the HII-A from Jaxa, the Long March by CSNA and the Atlas V by United Launch Alliance all cost many times the cost of an Indian PSLV spaceflight. Governments providing subsidies to spaceflight to remain competitive, and is nothing new. Russia, China and Europe are known to offer subsidies to rocket launches. Arianespace, the company that manages Ariane-5 launches, requested help from the ESA in 2014 after facing stiff competition from SpaceX.

On concerns by certain sections in the US about Isro launches as it is being subsidised by the government, Antrix CMD Rakesh Sasibhushan said, "Our competitiveness will give answer for this. All launches are subsidised, it is not that we are subsidising or somebody else is subsidising. These government subsidies in the form of R&D investment comes in all launch programmes, now some private industries have come up who have started questioning, let them question," he said.

"We have our own programme, we are competing with the world, we will try to be more competitive and probably that will provide the answer," he added. Rakesh said small satellites are going to become a large market and it can be exploited by Indian Industry. "Isro can play a technology providers role there. We would like to get this across to as many industries as possible to see that tomorrow the country is benefited by this."

Isro scientists and engineers are paid about an eighth of the salaries paid to people in similar positions in the Europe and the United States. Isro is merely adding nanosatellites to an existing and planned launch schedule, saving costs by increasing the number of "piggybacking" satellites.

Antrix CMD has said that the launches are subsidised by the Indian Government, with investments in research and development that will benefit private industries in India as well. All of these factors allows the Indian space program to be incredibly competitive in the worldwide market, and by all indications, Isro will only become even more competitive.

With inputs from PTI

This story is a part of a series on the world record launch of 104 satellites on a single mission by Isro. The stories in the series are:
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Ahead of Valentine's Day on Tuesday, the National Muslim Youth Association (Pembina) in Malaysia has advised Muslim women against using emoticons in text messages or wearing fragrance. Pembina's guide published on its official Facebook page on Monday said Muslim women should avoid seven things while dealing with "non-mahram", or men they can marry, even outside the day commemorating love.

Besides avoiding the use of emoticons and wearing "excessive" fragrance, the guide also urged Muslim women to avoid making their voice sound sweet, and to cover up their intimate parts, Malay Mail Online newspaper reported. The Malaysian Islamist group also warned Muslim women against being alone with non-mahram men, and select the appropriate time to deal with men like daytime and not at night. It also told Muslim women to keep their text messages simple for non-mahram men.

The guide is part of Pembina's annual anti-Valentine's Day campaign, claiming that the celebration threatens the faith of Muslims and leads to illicit sex. Earlier on Monday, the group released a list of five things Muslim youth can do to reject the day, such as publicly chastising unmarried couples who are dating. The group also suggested youth to wear Pembina's anti-Valentine's Day T-shirt, put up its posters in public, and urge their friends to join Islamic or beneficial activities on the day.

The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has also consistently opposed the celebration of Valentine's Day among Muslims, claiming that it possesses Christian elements.

IANS
tech2 News Staff

Dont let the stream of media reports online fool you, torrent sites aren't necessarily being banned.

Google and other search engines  we assume that this includes Yahoo and Bing  are currently in discussions with industry bodies and EU regulators on implementing a voluntary code of conduct for dealing with copyright infringing content. That's all.

The details of this code have not been revealed, however. Its just as possible that Google will decide to ban torrent sites as it is for Google to ban PewDiePie from YouTube for not keeping his word.

If youll go through the original report on the situation on TorrentFreak, youll note that there is no mention of the word ban or even torrent in the entire report.

In fact, lets just quote Baroness Buscombe here, The search engines involved in this work have been very co-operative, making changes to their algorithms and processes, but also working bilaterally with creative industry representatives to explore the options for new interventions, and how existing processes might be streamlined. Buscombe is an English barrister, regulator and politician and a member of the House of Lords.

Does she say that Google is banning torrent sites? No, she doesnt.

Again, allow us to reiterate. There is no announcement of any sort that Google is even thinking about banning torrent sites. Any mention of such a possibility is pure speculation at this point.

(Also read: The dummy's guide to reading news on the internet)

Thats not to say that Google has not done its part in fighting copyright infringement in the past. In its How Google Fights Piracy report (PDF) for 2016, Google highlights that fact that it received over 1 billion DMCA takedown requests last year alone. Google acquiesced to 90 percent of the requests.

In the report, Google explains that there are more than 60 trillion addresses on the Web, but only an infinitesimal portion of these have any connection to piracy. Google also points out that despite this, theyve made a significant effort to prevent infringing web pages from appearing [on search results].

Google has taken a number of steps to ensure this happens. For a start, Google has a system in place for swiftly dealing with take-down requests. In its current form, the system can handle tens of thousands of requests a day. Each request is processed within an average of six hours, claims Google.

These tweaks to algorithms and prompt response to DMCA notices has apparently cut down SEO traffic to torrent sites  including The Pirate Bay and Kickass  by as much as 90 percent. Google also does its part in promoting legitimate alternatives to torrent-related queries.

For example, a search for Breaking Bad download will not take you to The Pirate Bay. The system isnt yet perfect of course, as the top results will lead you to lesser known torrent sites and illegal streaming services. The point is that the main offenders have disappeared from top search results.

The problem is that there are so many such services that its impossible to ban them all pre-emptively.

The keywords here are cut down SEO traffic. Torrent sites still get a lot of traffic directly, i.e., someone typed out the address and went to the site directly. They didn't search for the site.

Google is also very much against censorship of any kind and has explained that it does not see the banning of a site as a viable option.

Think about it, if someone wants to pirate and is looking for a particular torrent, they're not going to Google for that torrent. One will simply enter the address of one's favourite torrent site, look for that torrent and then download it. Google doesnt even come into the picture.

This proposed voluntary code of conduct can only achieve a further down-ranking of torrent sites and copyright infringing content, nothing more.

The torrent sites will remain on the internet and there's nothing anyone can do about word of mouth.
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Samsung Group chief Jay Y. Lee was questioned by South Korea's special prosecutor for more than 15 hours as part of an investigation into a graft scandal that threatens to topple President Park Geun-hye. The 48-year-old executive, the third-generation leader of the country's top conglomerate, made no comment as he was shown on live television leaving the prosecutor's office in southern Seoul in a black car early on Tuesday.

Lee, who has denied allegations of bribery through Samsung Group spokespeople, had arrived at the office on Monday morning. South Korea's special prosecutor has focused on Samsung Group's relationship with Park, accusing Lee in his capacity as Samsung chief of pledging 43 billion won to a business and organisations backed by Park's friend, Choi Soon-sil, in exchange for support of a 2015 merger of two Samsung companies.

Proving illicit dealings between Park or those linked to her and Samsung Group is critical for the special prosecutor's case that ultimately targets Park, analysts have said. The prosecution has also identified four other Samsung executives as suspects and have summoned three of them. Samsung Group President Chang Choon-ki was questioned on Sunday and Samsung Electronics President Park Sang-jin and another executive were quizzed on Monday.

Park, Choi, and Samsung Group have denied bribery accusations. Park was impeached by parliament in December and South Korea's Constitutional Court will decide whether to uphold that decision. She has been stripped of her powers in the meantime.

Lee arrived at the prosecution office in southern Seoul early on Monday in a black sedan, dressed in a dark blue suit and tie and flanked by Samsung Group officials and his lawyer. "I will once again tell the truth to the special prosecution," Lee told reporters, while protesters outside the office held up signs calling for his arrest.

Executives questioned

The special prosecution team said investigators were questioning two other Samsung executives as suspects. Both are officers of the Korea Equestrian Federation and have been questioned previously in the case. One of those two, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd president Park Sang-jin, did not respond to reporters on his arrival at the special prosecution team's office.

Lee Kyu-chul, spokesman for the special prosecution office, told a news briefing the office would decide soon whether to make a second arrest warrant request for the Samsung Group chief. He did not comment on other details, including what Jay Y. Lee said during questioning. Prosecutors would also consider whether to seek arrest warrants for four other Samsung Group executives identified as suspects, the spokesman added. The prosecutor's office had previously said it would not seek arrests for any Samsung executives other than Lee.

In January, the special prosecutor sought a warrant to arrest Samsung chief Lee after questioning him for more than 22 hours, accusing him of paying bribes to win the state pension fund's support for the controversial merger of Samsung C&T Corp and Cheil Industries Inc. However, a Seoul court rejected that request.

Chang Choong-ki, deputy head of Samsung Group's corporate strategy office, known informally as its "control tower", was questioned as a suspect on Sunday and returned home hours later. Shares in Samsung Electronics were down 0.9 percent by 0600 GMT on Monday, compared with a flat wider market.

"The issue will have limited impact on share prices, except if the worst-case scenario happens, since political issues previously did not have a big influence on share prices or earnings," said Bae Sung-young, a stock analyst at Hyundai Securities.

Reuters
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Tata Communications Ltd will invest $300 million into expansion of network, platform and software during 2017-18, and is also looking at acquisitions in new service areas such as Internet of Things, mobility and cloud. "In telecom, networks need to to expand in terms of scale and reach to create infrastructure closer to customers. So, there is a natural amount of spend that is required...We will be spending $150 million on network, and $150 million into platform, software and other capabilities," Vinod Kumar, MD and Group CEO, Tata Communications Ltd told .

He said that half of the overall capex would be channelised towards "augmenting network capacity" both the domestic and international leg. Tata Communications -- which last month announced that Tata Communications (Netherlands) has made an investment into Teleena Holding to become single largest shareholder with 35 per cent stake -- said it continues to look for similar investments.

Tata Communications (Netherlands) BV is a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Tata Communications Ltd. Asked if the company is looking for more acquisitions, Kumar said, "We are always looking... We will continue to look for...technology specific investments in the areas of our new services to help us augment our capability and go to market faster," he said.

The acquisitions or investments will be targeted at areas such as security, IoT, mobility and cloud, he said.

However, he did not divulge the ticket size. The investments in Teleena Holding bolsetered the company's cross-border mobility services capability, he said adding there are no immediate plans to increase the stake. "They have created advanced technology in the space and we will use that technology as a cornerstone for the service that we are building. There is no plan to immediately increase the stake," he said.

Kumar said that Tata Communications' debt would come down to the extent of $300 million as a result of two transactions -- divestment of data centre, and sale of South Africa-based telecom arm Neotel to Liquid Telecom. "We have $1.4 billion of debt and that will come down by about $300 million when we finish these two transactions (sale of datacentre and Neotel). It is already reflecting on our balance-sheet...these moves are already strengthening the balance sheet," he said.

On whether the company had plans for further asset sale, he said, "No". Meanwhile, in a BSE filing, Tata Communications announced successful completion of Singapore data centre joint venture transaction with ST Telemedia (STT), a global investor in communications, media and technology businesses.

PTI
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International law is not prepared to deal with cyberattacks even as the interconnected world faces threats on a scale never seen before, India has told the Security Council.

The world body is not ready to act on an anti-terrorism treaty dealing with cyber terrorism and even the Security Council's decisions that impose binding duties on member countries to combat terrorism do not mention cyber attacks, India's Permanent Representative Syed Akbaruddin said on Monday.

Challenging the international community, he asked: "Since we can discern the threat and there is an understandable global angst, can we look at options for strengthening international law against terrorist cyber attacks?"

And lowering the bar, he asked: "If we are not willing to negotiate a treaty on terrorist cyber attacks, can we at least start by clarification of the applicability of certain anti-terrorism treaties to terrorist cyber attacks?"

Speaking at a Council debate on protecting critical infrastructure from terrorist attacks, Akbaruddin said: "Threats of attacks on an international stock exchange, a major dam, a nuclear power plant, possible sabotaging of oil/gas pipelines, air safety systems of airports, or potential blocking of an international canal or straits have much wider implications and pursuant complications far beyond national frontiers."

He slammed the world organisation for its inability to agree on the proposed Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism which definitions of crimes that may be broad enough to include cyber attacks. .

"The possibility of terrorist cyber attacks has not catalysed negotiations even after 20 years," he said.

Major financial hubs like Mumbai, New York and London have become terrorist targets because attacks on them can impact the nations' economies in several ways, he said.

"The investigations into the heinous terrorist attacks on Mumbai in 2008 revealed the impact its perpetrators wanted to have on the psyche and economy of the whole of India," he said.

"These attacks, including on a hospital, railway station and hotels were carefully planned and crafted from beyond our borders to have crippling effects not only on daily life in a bustling metropolis but targeted a country of a billion people."

IANS
About me I'm Avi Green

From Jerusalem, Israel

I was born in Pennsylvania in 1974, and moved to Israel in 1983. I also enjoyed reading a lot of comics when I was young, the first being Fantastic Four. I maintain a strong belief in the public's right to knowledge and accuracy in facts. I like to think of myself as a conservative-style version of Clark Kent. I don't expect to be perfect at the job, but I do my best. My profile

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Trump, Trudeau fail to end differences on refugees, trade

US President Donald Trump (l) shaking hands with Canada;s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at White House in Washington.

US President Donald Trump and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau failed to paper over differences on the treatment of refugees during a joint public appearance Monday, but appeared to tone down harsh trade rhetoric.

The two leaders avoided directly criticizing each other after a meeting in the White House, but made it clear they did not see eye-to-eye on Trump's efforts to ban refugees and travelers from seven majority-Muslim nations.

Trump defended his controversial immigration decree as "common sense" and demurred when asked if Canada's open door policies posed a threat for the United States.

"You can never be totally confident," Trump said when asked about America's northern border, before vaunting his Department of Homeland Security's migrant round-ups.

Recent days have seen the arrest of hundreds of undocumented migrants across the United States.

"We're actually taking people that are criminals-very, very hardened criminals in some cases, with a tremendous track record of abuse and problems, and we are getting them out," Trump said.

Civil rights group say migrants with no criminal record are also being caught in the dragnet.

Trudeau said that "Canada has always understood that keeping Canadians safe is one of the fundamental responsibilities of any government."

"At the same time, we continue to pursue our policies of openness towards refugees without compromising security."

The gulf between the two neighbors was always going to be difficult span: Trump has painted Syrian refugees as terrorists-in-waiting, while Trudeau has traveled to Toronto's Pearson International airport to greet them.

After striking up a much-flaunted "bromance" with president Barack Obama, Canada's youthful liberal leader was in Washington to woo a septuagenarian Republican, with whom he shares little in common.

Trudeau is the third foreign leader received by the Republican mogul since he took office on January 20, following meetings with Britain's Theresa May and Japan's Shinzo Abe.

Trudeau visit got off to an awkward start, when he arrived at the White House early and his limousine was forced to wait on the driveway for around five minutes before Trump came out.

The two men then greeted each other with a handshake and headed into the Oval Office.

While there was little common ground on migration, Trudeau and Trump did appear to narrow the gap on trade.

Trump had vowed to put "America first" and rip up the North America Free Trade Agreement, but significantly toned down that rhetoric after meeting Trudeau.

Trump called for trade to be "reciprocal," but said he wanted to only "tweak" rather than gut the terms of trade.
UGC inks performance deal with 37 public varsities

Prof Abdul Mannan, Chairman, UGC is seen witnessing a deal signing ceremony on annual performance with 37 universities held at UGC office in the city on Tuesday.

Campus Report :



Thirty seven public universities signed Annual Performance Agreement (APA) with University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh on Tuesday at UGC auditorium for establishing good governance and excellence in higher education and research in their respective institutions. Prof Abdul Mannan, Chairman, UGC was present at the agreement signing ceremony as chief guest. Prof Dr Mohammad Yousuf Ali Mollah, Member, UGC was special guest. Prof Dr M Shah Nowaz Ali, Member, UGC presided over the ceremony. Md. Shamsul Alam, Acting Secretary, UGC and representatives from universities signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations.

Md. Mizanoor Rahman, FCMA, Director, Finance and Accounts Division, UGC delivered the welcome address.

Prof Mannan, in his speech urged all to discharge their duties by maintaining honesty, sincerity, integrity and best manners for establishing good governance and also excellence in higher education and research in their respective institutions. Besides, he stressed the need for upholding the best practices in manners and activities to curb the corruption. The Chairman of UGC called upon the university authorities to properly utilizing the public money to turn Bangladesh into a developed and prosperious country by 2041.

Prof Yousuf Ali Mollah urged the university authorities to perform administrative, academic and development activities with commitment, accountability and transparency to survive in this globalized world.

Prof Shah Nowaz Ali, in his presidential speech called upon the all concerned to be respectful to the government rules and regulations while accomplishing the duties to reduce corruption.

It may be mentioned here that the main purpose of Annual Performance Agreement is to make the activities of universities under education ministry dynamic, vibrant and transparent.

Vice-Chancellors, Pro-Vice-Chancellors, Treasurers, Registrars and Directors from 37 public universities and high officials from UGC, among others were present.
One arrested for killing BCL leader in Jessore

Jessore Correspondent :

Sharsha police arrested Raju, main accused in Bangladesh Chhatra League leader Noor Hossain Biplab murder case. He confessed his involvement in the killing before a first class magistrate on Monday, said Moniruzzaman, officer in-charge, Sharsha police station.

The OC told News men that Raju was arrested from Kazirber village under Sharsha upazila along with a one-shooter gun and a bullet Sunday night. He confessed his involvement in the killing after he was taken to a first class magistrate in Jessore on Monday. ' Raju is a resident of Matipukur village of the upazila,' police said.

Noor Hossain Biplab, 18, vice -president, Ulashi union unit Bangladesh Chhatra League was killed over a feud between two factions of the ruling party at Nabharan under Sharsha upazila in Jessore on February 11 night.

At least 10 houses were set on fire and Jessore- Benapole Road was blocked by unruly people in protest.

Moniruzzaman, officer in-charge, Sharsha police station told that Biplab was tortured to death by miscreants over a feud between Shahanur Member and Hasan Member at around 9:30 pm on Saturday. He was rushed to Sharsha Upazila Heath Complex where the attending doctor declared him dead.

The two factions are known as fellows of two public representatives at the area, said locals. 'The killed was supporter of Benapole Municipality mayor Ashraful Alam Liton,' they added
Satkhira mustard growers happy with good harvest

UNB, Satkhira :

Mustard growers of the district are all happy after having a good harvest of mustard with a high-yielding new variety, 'Bari Sarisha-14', this year.

According to agriculture officials, the farmers here harvested 1.5 metric tons of mustard per hectare by cultivating the new variety, which is double than the local variety 'Tori-7'.

A field camp on the mustard harvest was recently held at Bharashimla field in Kaliganj upazila to promote the new variety-'Bari Sarisha-14'.

As soil of the area has been found slat-tolerant one, farmers have the opportunity to make money by easily cultivating this new mustard variety, the agriculture officials said.

As part of the expansion of mustard cultivation, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) encouraged the farmers to bring their lands under 'Bari Sarisha-14' variety.

Dr Md Abdur Rouf, joint secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, said the cultivation of 'Bari Sarisha-14' variety is easy as the farmers can harvest their crop within 75-80 days at minimum cost.

"It can be cultivated after harvesting Aman paddy as the farmers won't face any problem in cultivating Boro paddy," he said while speaking during the camp.

Bottle gourd farming on fisheries lands gaining popularity

Bottle gourd farming on fallow lands of fisheries is gaining popularity in the district due to its less production cost.

"The abandoned lands beside fisheries are fertile, which is the main reason behind the growing production of this vegetable," said farmer Ayub Ali Sana of Kamarali village in Kalaroa upazila.

He said they are cultivating bottle gourds on such lands throughout the year and they even do not need to use any pesticide as these places are free from insects. Each gourd is now selling in between Tk 20 to Tk 40, Ayub Ali said adding that it is possible to produce gourds worth about Tk 20,000 to Tk 25,000 per acre.

Kazi Abdul Mannan, Deputy Director at the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) office of the district, said this time farmers cultivated bottle gourds on about 741.316 acres of land of the 1606.18 of fallow lands in fisheries.
Recovery of classified loan is major challenge in banking sector

Economic Reporter :

Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Fazle Kabir today said recovery of the classified loan is the major challenge in the banking sector which is likely to create a barrier to achieve the projected GDP growth.

"Classified loan witnessed around 10.34 percent (in September 2016) in the banking sector. But the rate is very high in the state-owned banks," he said while addressing as the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of the "Banking Related Orientation Workshop-2017" at BB headquarters in the city.

Fazle Kabir said Bangladesh has set a target to achieve the GDP growth 7.2 percent in the current financial year 2016-17 (FY16).

Recovery of the classified loan would play a vital role to achieve the 8 percent GDP growth targets in future through providing the rising demand of huge finance from the loan, he added. He said BB has taken various steps including conducting a diagnostic survey on foreign currency and to find out the causes of down trend of the remittance inflow.

Two research teams of the central bank will soon visit Malaysia and Middle Eastern countries to find out the reasons of falling trend in the inflow of remittance, he added. Among others, BB's deputy governors, president of Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) and members of ERF attended the workshop.
Malaysian varsity team meets DU VC



A two-member delegation of Malaysian universities on Tuesday called on Dhaka University (DU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique at his latter's office on the campus.

Director of the Center for Research and Innovation Management of the National Defence University of Malaysia Professor Dr Azizi Bin Miskon led the delegation.

Other team member was the Head of the Engineering department of the University Technology Malaysia Professor Dr Norliza Mohd Noor.

Professor of DU Electrical and Electronic Engineering department of Dr Md Atiqur Rahman Ahad was present at the meeting, among others, said a DU press release.

During the meeting, they discussed the possibilities of undertaking joint collaborative academic and research programmes in the University of Dhaka, the National Defence University of Malaysia and the University Technology Malaysia.

Exchanges of teachers, students and researchers among the universities were also discussed in the meeting. However, they also agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard soon.

Malaysian Professors are now on a visit to Bangladesh to attend the IEEE international conference on Imaging, Vision and Pattern Recognition, it said.




Poverty rate in BD declines 1.74 pc annually, JS told



The rate of poverty in Bangladesh is declining at about 1.74 percent every year thanks to various "poor-friendly initiatives" of the present government, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said on Tuesday.

"The poverty rate in the country is decreasing at about 1.74 percent every year due to different poor-friendly programmes and plans taken by the present government," he said.

The planning minister came up with the statistics while replying to a scripted query from treasury bench member Md Abul Kalam (Natore-1) in the House.

According to the seventh five-year plan (2015-16 to 2019-20) being implemented by the present government, he said, the poverty rate and extreme poverty rate by 2020 would be 18.6 percent and 8.9 percent.

Kamal said the poverty rate is coming down to a desired level because of poor-friendly development strategies of the government.

He said the present government has given importance to various fields for improving living standard of the people and alleviating poverty meaning socioeconomic development of the poor.

To execute different poor-friendly programmes, he said, the government has increased investment in development budget and taken measures for generating employment.

"Besides, we have been providing various initiatives to encourage private investment and have ensured investment-friendly environment side by side with helping boosting productivity in agriculture sector," Kamal said.

The minister said various projects like "ekti bari ekti khamar", "ashrayon", "grihayon", "adarsho gram", "guchcho gram", "ghore fera kormosuchi" have been implementing alongside distribution of food free of cost among ultra poor and distressed people, keeping block allocation for increasing employment in rural areas and food for work and test relief programmes.

He said under the social safety net programmes, various allowances like allowance for elderly people and allowance for distressed, widow and husband abandoned women are being given.

Kamal also said Palli Sanchay Bank has been set up as part of a government decision to encourage the rural people in savings and use the savings in rural economy.




How long to wait for Teesta water

THE Teesta water is flowing at its historic low this time wreaking havoc on the bio-diversity and agriculture of northern Bangladesh. We don't know how long Bangladesh will have to wait for the Water Sharing Agreement to mitigate the perils of the people of the region. A national daily on Tuesday navigated the issue at a time when the Prime Minister is going on an official visit to India soon hoping she would be able to break the debacle this time.



Two Indian Prime Ministers visited Bangladesh in the recent past and withheld signing of the Water Sharing Agreement citing last minute hitch with West Bengal state government on the issue. But our point is that Indian domestic issues can't keep Bangladesh deprived of its legitimate water over the decades when India is taking all sensitive concessions from Bangladesh like land connectivity and setting up the giant Rampal Power Plant ignoring public protest.



We fear given the drastic fall in the Teesta water this year, a bilateral treaty will be meaningless when the riverbed will totally dry up. The desertification in the region is heading towards that ominous direction. The Teesta's flow has dangerously fell at Nilphamari's Dalia point to 2,768 cusecs on an average in the first 10 days of January against the historical average flow of 7,010 cusecs during the period from 1973 to 1985. It will be even worse in February. For the past two years the decreased flow - recorded in every February - has been seriously impacting farming and people's livelihood.



We must say the Indian central government and the Chief Minister of West Bengal must immediately acknowledge the big ecological disaster Bangladesh is facing for the past few years in absence of enough water in the riverbeds and its tributaries. Why India is not paying heed to our immense suffering is the big question.



That said, fair share of Teesta water is Bangladesh's lawful geographic right. We are not demanding a favour. Indian water authorities have been withdrawing water at various points from this cross-border river, particularly in the lean seasons. They are taking advantage in absence of an agreement by installing irrigation dams and power projects diverting the flow and deprecating the lower riparian Bangladesh.



We say, our government must realize if the predicament cannot be resolved through bilateral or diplomatic means, it needs to resort to other solutions like taking the issue to international forums to find out a solution. It can't be expected from a friend that they will use Teesta water unilaterally acting deliberately to punish Bangladesh. Given India's geographical advantage to control river at the upstream, the ball is now in Indian court and we hope it will fairly play it taking Bangladesh's legitimate concern into consideration.






Panic grips city dwellers

Md Joynal Abedin Khan :

The snatching incidents have increased in the city and its adjacent areas in the last ten days through the tight security measures of the law enforcing agencies.

The muggers snatched huge money in cash, a privet car and two auto-rickshaws and ornament and other valuables from the people by shooting and dragging them.

At least 23 people, including seven bullet-hit, received severe injuries that already has been created a panic among the city dwellers.

About 28 cases of mugging were lodged with different police stations in the last ten days, Police and victims sources said.

Besides, many victims did not file complains with the police stations as they have no confidence to return their lost things by complaining with cops. As result, police have no real statistics of such as mugging incidents, they said.

However, Police officials could not arrest not a single person in connection with the snatching incidents, according to them.

Following the incidents, Police on Friday launched a 10-day special drive to check the snatching incidents in the capital. They added.

In this context, Dilruba Shapna, a city dweller, said that her android mobile was mugged by armed muggers

in the city Shewrapara area on Tuesday evening.

Earlier, muggers took away Tk three lakh after shooting Nila Zaman in the city's Kamlapur area on Monday morning.

On February 12, a gang of snatchers stabbed a jewelry trader with machetes and took away Tk 32,000 from him in the city's Sayedabad area.

On February 10, two traders were beaten, stabbed and mugged by miscreants at Tikatuli early in the morning. The victims are Alam Mia, and Shafiqul Islam, fish traders and live in a rented residence in the city's Kaptanbazar.

Besides, miscreants snatched Tk 12 lakh from a man named Sajib by wielding arms in front of Builders Bhaban in New Market Thana on February 7.

In the same day, muggers shot a man named Moniruzzaman by stopping his motorcycle in Dhaka University campus.

On February 6, an armed-gang robbed Tk six lakh from three passengers by shooting them in a broad-day light after stopping a mini-bus in front of Jahangirnagar University on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway. The bullet injured men were identified as Sanwar Hossain, 40, his two business partners Abul Hossain, 39, and Tutul Mia, 30.

On February 5, muggers snatched Tk 500,000 from a mother and her daughter after firing shots at them in broad daylight at the city's Uttara. The bullet-hit women, Shahna Karim and Natika Rejwana Karim were admitted to a city hospital.

Muggers shot a readymade garment (RMG) staff and snatched away Tk two lakh at Banasree on February 4. The injured was identified as Mukitul Islam.

Abdul Baten Joint Commissioner of the Detective Branch Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), said, "Law enforcers are now working to catch muggers.

The illegal small firearms have become widespread recently which also increase threats of such crimes, the police official said.

We are hunting for the professional snatchers and their cohorts," the Joint Commissioner said.

DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media and Public Relation) Masudur Rahman admitted that street crimes had increased recently.

'We have asked the city dweller to inform police and take escort when they carry amounts,' the DC said.

In a query, he said that some consecutive the snatching incidents had created a panic among the inhabitants of the capital.

"We have not seen any crime-free society in the world. As a result, crime-free country will never build up. So we are trying to control on crimes in the city," he said.


Beatrice Public Schools current elementary school arrangement will remain unchanged, at least until the School Boards next meeting.

The Beatrice Public Schools Board of Education discussed converting Cedar Elementary School into a preschool-only building and spreading grades K-5 throughout the districts other three elementary buildings.

BPS superintendent Pat Narouth said a declining elementary enrollment and benefits from expanding the preschool program were all driving factors for the proposal, though the board ultimately voted to table discussions until its next meeting.

Narouth said that regardless of the decision to not take action the board will eventually have to make changes somewhere, and Cedar is the likely location.

Whether preschool was on the table or not, I still think we have to look at Cedar, he said. I think is up to the board and how they feel comfortable with that, but when you start to look at the fiscal use of resources and facilities, I would tell you were at a point where were going to have to make some reductions and reductions over time.

If the board eventually approves the conversion as proposed, Paddock Lane, Lincoln and Stoddard schools would be near capacity of about 250-260 kids per building. Cedar would have roughly 200 preschool students, as it would have a program for both 3 and 4-year-olds.

Narouth said that moving the Cedar students into the other sites would result in slightly larger class sizes, but believes it will be manageable for teachers and students alike.

Based on six sections, the average class sizes for kindergarten would grow from the current average of 19 to 22. Projections for other class sizes were: First grade, from 19 to 22; Second grade would stay at 19; Third grade from 20 to 22; Fourth grade from 19 to 24 and Fifth grade would hold at 22.

Board member Doris Martin expressed concern with the potential larger class sizes, and how it could impact the one-on-one interaction children benefit from.

I just dont see how we can possibly believe that its beneficial or would put students first if we put that many K-1-2 students in a classroom, she said. I understand that we need to save money, but I think we need to look maybe other places than those students that are just beginning to learn to read and learn math.

If the conversion is approved, the school would also move to have a full-time para-educator in each kindergarten classroom.

By having dual sections, two groups of each grade level at the other schools, Narouth has stated it provides teachers with an opportunity to share ideas and also gives each school the ability to shift students who might not be compatible with each other to a different classroom.

Board member Janet Byars, who made the motion to postpone action and continue discussion at future meetings, said during the meeting she only received the details of the reorganization in an email Friday and was uncomfortable voting on the proposal.

I think its totally irresponsible of me to make a decision based on last minute numbers and Im not going to do it, she said. If I have to vote tonight, my vote will be no. That doesnt mean that at some point in time I wouldnt be willing to look at it again.

Eight people spoke during the public hearing portion of the meeting  it was stated the School Board limits its public hearing discussion on a given subject to 20 minutes  all in opposition to reorganizing the elementary school arrangement.

Christie Moore alleged the School Board is trying to overstress the elementary schools in the ultimate pursuit of building a centralized elementary school, which voters have defeated two bond issues for.

As I sit here tonight I realize your agenda is to outsmart the public, she said. The very public that elected you to represent them. I find it strange that everyone can see the logic behind simply finding or building a facility for the preschool program, and problem solved. Just so the public is clear to your plan, it makes no sense to split up a school and disperse them into three other schools to allow room to expand the preschool program.

Carla Schuster raised an issue during the public hearing that there wasn't a specific proposal on the agenda, and opposing community members found it difficult to voice their opposition to a vague issue, she argued.

Some parents expressed opposition to reorganizing the elementary schools for fear it would ruin friendships and ultimately hurt their childrens education.

Others who spoke in opposition questioned if the schools are reorganized if parents would get a say in what school their children attend.

Given the issues with reorganizing the schools, Narouth instead asked that the board approve an Option B cost saving measure Monday, which would result in a one-year cost savings of $379,000.

The measure included a variety of items including resolving the school psychologist issue, resolving school site issues and other items, though the board was also hesitant to vote on this measure and raised questions if the items included needed board approval in the first place.

Martin also took issue that the cost savings included an item to remove orchestra.

I think its a little unfair to cut orchestra when it hasnt even been out in the public, she said. I just think that seems kind of sneaky on the part of the boardIm not comfortable with that.

Action on this item was also postponed.

The School Board will next discuss the issue at the committee of the whole meeting, where no action will be taken. That meeting is Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. at the Central Administration Building. The boards next regular meeting, where the issue may be voted on again, will be March 13 at 7 p.m. at the Central Administration Building.
Love, smile, red roses all around

Staff Reporter :

People, especially young men and women, celebrated Valentine's Day in the city and elsewhere in the country showing feelings of love and affection to each other on Tuesday.

The day was a festival of romantic love as many people exchanged cards, letters, flowers or presents with their spouses or partners. The common symbols of Valentine's Day were hearts and red roses.

"Valentine's Day, a way of showing just how much one love someone. Its a fondness that consumes me. I just want to show my profound tender, passionate affection for another person," a youth, also a student of Dhaka University, said.

In capital Dhaka, with flowers especially red roses, thousands of young men and women mostly college and university students with their beloved one started thronging the Dhaka University campus and other recreation places since morning and passed busy times. Most women were found wearing sarees and flowers carefully, and quite attractively, tucked in their locks while their beloved young persons were found wearing traditional panjabis and some carrying bouquets and exchanged their love and affection.

Apart from the open spaces, they also arranged a romantic meal in different restaurant in the city.

Many young people celebrated their love for their partner by sending cards or letters, giving gifts or flowers and arranging meals in restaurants or romantic hour on the open spaces.

Besides, some people celebrated the occasion to present lavish gifts, such as jewelry. Many restaurants and hotels had special offers yesterday.

Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is an annual event celebrated on February 14.

It originated as a Western Christian liturgical feast day honoring one or more early saints named Valentinus, and is recognized as a significant cultural and commercial celebration in many regions around the world, although it is not a public holiday in any country.


6 held in city, put on remand

Court Correspondent :

The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court of Dhaka on Tuesday placed six persons on a 4-day remand each for leakage of question paper.

Magistrate Nur Nahar Yeasmin passed the order after Detective Branch (DB) Inspector Abdus Sobhan produced them in the court seeking a 10-day remand each. The six accused persons are: Raju Ahmed, Faisalur Rahman alias Akash, Juhaire Ayaj, Mohiuddin Emon, Shadhin Al Mahmud, and Kazi Rashedul Islam alias Roni.

Inspector Abdus Salam said in his remand prayer that the suspects needed to be quizzed to unearth the mystery of the incident. Earlier, the detectives arrested them for their alleged involvement in the SSC examination question paper leakage.

A team of Detective Branch of police conducted drives in different parts of the city on Monday night and arrested the accused. Later, DB Sub-Inspector Kamrul Hossain filed a case with Kalabagan Police Station of the city under the ICT Act.


Embarrassing situation at Edn Ministry

M M Jasim :

The officials of the Ministry, including top bosses, are in embarrassing situation as they have already failed to check the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Examination' question papers leakage.

The Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid had repeatedly denied the allegation of question papers leakage in the last few years. But the question leakage continues.

In the recent time, the Minister firmly told the media there is no scope to leak any question. But the persons involved with question leakage proved that the claim was vulnerable. The detectives, however, arrested six students in connection with the question paper leakage.

Accused Md Raju Ahmed, Md Foysalur Rahman alias Akash, Md Juhair Ayaz, Mohiuddin Imon, Shadhin Al Mahmud and Rashidul Islam alias Rony aged between 22 and 25 years were students of different polytechnic institutes. They were also admins of various Facebook groups such as All Board Examinee, SSC Question 2017 Dhaka Board and SSC Question 2017 Barisal Board, the police official said.

They distributed fake question papers via messenger group on Facebook using fake IDs and on messaging site Whatsapp. Each question paper was sold between Tk 500 and Tk 25,000.

A case was lodged against them with Kalabagan Police Station. The Ministry officials told The New Nation that the SSC question papers leakage tarnished the image of the ministry.

"Almost all the officials and top bosses of the Ministry are in embarrassing situation as the questions were leaked. The Minister was compelled to say that a probe committee would be formed and the examination might be taken again subject to the committee's report," an official of the Ministry wishing anonymity told The New Nation on Tuesday.

The officials said it is now open secret that the question was leaked. As the arrested six students were involved with the question papers leakage, the Ministry could not deny the fact.

"Some of my colleagues of different government offices and relatives called us and said that the Ministry failed to check the question paper leakage. Definitely it is our failure. We are really in embarrassing situation," another official of the Ministry said.

Dhaka Board Chairman Professor Mahabubur Rahman told The New Nation that the Board held five to six meetings with the law enforcing agencies. They also are looking into the matter.


"EBA Plus" facility in UK market likely

The United Kingdom (UK) is considering to extend additional trade benefit to Bangladesh under the "Everything But Arms (EBA) Plus" scheme after the country's exit from the European Union.

British trade officials came up with the plan at a meeting with Bangladesh High Commission officials in London recently.

They also assured Bangladesh of continuing with all the existing trade benefits under the European Unions' EBA scheme after the Brexit, officials said on Tuesday.

Presently, Bangladeshi goods enjoy duty-free and quota-free market access to the UK under the scheme.

"We have already launched official talks with the UK government for continuing Bangladesh's current trade benefit in the UK even after the country's official divorce from the EU," a senior commerce ministry official told The New Nation yesterday.

He said, "We are not only trying to retain all existing benefits, but also going beyond the current facilities".

The UK is Bangladesh's third-largest export destination where the country exported goods worth $3.2 billion in fiscal year 2015-16. Bangladesh earned $17 billion from exporting goods to the EU in that fiscal year.

The Commerce Ministry official said that the UK trade officials at the meeting with Bangladesh high commission members also hinted of going beyond the current trade facilities for Bangladesh. They asked for preparing a proposal in this regard seeking additional trade benefits under EBA Plus scheme.

"We have already started preparing the proposal in consultation with the stakeholders," he said.

The official also said that the ministry last week held a meeting with trade experts, representatives of concerned trade bodies seeking their suggestions to be enclosed in the proposal.

"The proposal will be sent to the British authorities through the Bangladesh High Commission in London soon. We hope the British government will endorse our proposal considering our historic relationship with the UK."

On June 23 last year, the people of Great Britain voted through a referendum for their country's exit from the decades old continental bloc, EU. Following the development, many countries, including Bangladesh, enjoying trade benefit in the UK under EU's EBA scheme were afraid of losing the preferential trade benefit.


Aggrieved persons can sue WB

Law Minister asks them to take legal advice

Staff Reporter :

Although the World Bank had accused Bangladesh for 'corruption conspiracy' in constructing Padma Bridge, the country has no scope to file any case against the global lender in this connection.

"The WB is not above the law. But as per the contract, Bangladesh Government cannot file any case against the bank, because Bangladesh is a signing authority. However, the aggrieved persons, who had to bear personal loss, can take legal advice to file compensation suit against the WB," Law, Minister Advocate Anisul Haq said on Tuesday.

The Minister was talking at "meet the press" organized by Law Reporters Forum at Dhaka Reporters Unity in the city's Segun Bagicha.

"In 2012, the ACC had initiated an investigation after a newspaper ran report about the corruption conspiracy for getting construction contract of the Padma Bridge. At that time, the WB said it would supply ACC some information about the matter. But the ACC should file a case in this connection. The WB also said the then Communication Minister Abul Hossain, former Setu Division Secretary Mosarraf Hossain and some other officials of the same ministry were behind the conspiracy of corruption."

Anisul Haq, who was Legal Adviser of Anti-Corruption Commission [ACC] at that time, had a meeting with three WB representatives where former ACC Chairman Golam Rahman, Md Badiuzzaman [next chairman] and Shahabuddin Chuppu tok part.

Referring the meeting, he further said: "One of them had demanded in the meeting to make Abul Hossain an accused in the case filed by ACC. He also suggested to take Abul Hossain to remand for getting actual information."

"The ACC asked them whether they [WB] had enough evidences in this regard, except the papers submitted to the ACC. In response, they said no. As per their provided documents, it was seen that four persons met Abul Hossain. But they did not hold any talk about monetary transaction. At one stage, the WB had expressed desire to conduct investigation along with ACC. But the WB was refused due to absence of legal option to conduct investigation by any foreign agency in Bangladesh. If it is done, it would not possible to file any case as per existing law," the Minister said.

"In this situation, the WB representatives told us that no fund would be given to Bangladesh. They further proposed to keep a WB squad with ACC investigation team. It was also rejected due to absence of legal option One of the WB representatives was chief prosecutor of International Criminal Court Jose Antonio Ocampo Gaviria, who was later accused in a criminal case.

"So far as I know, the statements of these witnesses are now in the hands of ACC. The ACC should make the documents public," he said.

In contrary, the ACC proposed the WB to keep a lobbyist team in touch with ACC for getting regular update of investigation. The WB agreed and later sent a three-member team of experts where Ocampo and a member of Hong Kong ACC were included.


Trump nat`l security adviser resigns

Michael Flynn

Reuters, Washington :

President Donald Trump's national security adviser, Michael Flynn, resigned late on Monday after revelations that he had discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to the United States before Trump took office and misled Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations.



Flynn's resignation came hours after it was reported that the Justice Department had warned the White House weeks ago that Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail for contacts with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak before Trump took power on Jan. 20.



Flynn's departure was a sobering development in Trump's young presidency, a 24-day period during which his White House has been repeatedly distracted by miscues and internal dramas.



The departure could slow Trump's bid to warm up relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.



Flynn submitted his resignation hours after Trump, through a spokesman, pointedly declined to publicly back Flynn, saying he was reviewing the situation and talking to Pence.



Flynn had promised Pence he had not discussed U.S. sanctions with the Russians, but transcripts of intercepted communications, described by U.S. officials, showed that the subject had come up in conversations between him and the Russian ambassador.



Such contacts could potentially be in violation of a law banning private citizens from engaging in foreign policy, known as the Logan Act.



Pence had defended Flynn in television interviews and was described by administration officials as upset about being misled.



"Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the vice president-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador. I have sincerely apologized to the president and the vice president, and they have accepted my apology," Flynn said in his resignation letter.



Retired General Keith Kellogg, who has been chief of staff of the White House National Security Council, was named the acting national security adviser while Trump determines who should fill the position.



Kellogg, retired General David Petraeus, a former CIA director, and Robert Harward, a former deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, are under consideration for the position, a White House official said. Harward was described by officials as the leading candidate.



A U.S. official confirmed a Washington Post report that Sally Yates, the then-acting U.S. attorney general, told the White House late last month that she believed Flynn had misled them about the nature of his communications with the Russian ambassador.



She said Flynn might have put himself in a compromising position, possibly leaving himself vulnerable to blackmail, the official said. Yates was later fired for opposing Trump's temporary entry ban for people from seven mostly Muslim nations. A U.S. official, describing the intercepted communications, said Flynn did not make any promises about lifting the sanctions.



But he did indicate that sanctions imposed by President Barack Obama on Russia for its Ukraine incursion "would not necessarily carry over to an administration seeking to improve relations between the U.S. and Russia," the official said. Flynn, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general, was an early supporter of Trump and shares his interest in shaking up the establishment in Washington. He frequently raised eyebrows among Washington's foreign policy establishment for trying to persuade Trump to warm up U.S. relations with Russia.

A U.S. official said Flynn's departure, coupled with Russia's aggression in Ukraine and Syria and Republican congressional opposition to removing sanctions on Russia, removes Trump's most ardent advocate of taking a softer line toward Putin.



Flynn's leaving "may make a significant course change less likely, at least any time soon," the official said.



Another official said Flynn's departure may strengthen the hands of some cabinet secretaries, including Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.



However, the second official said, Flynn's exit could also reinforce the power of presidential aides Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller, whom he described as already having the president's ear.



Congressional Democrats expressed alarm at the developments surrounding Flynn and called for a classified briefing by administration officials to explain what had happened.



"We are communicating this request to the Department of Justice and FBI this evening," said Democratic representatives John Conyers of Michigan and Elijah Cummings of Maryland.



U.S. Representative Adam Schiff of California, ranking Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said Flynn's departure does not end the questions over his contacts with the Russians.



"The Trump administration has yet to be forthcoming about who was aware of Flynn's conversations with the ambassador and whether he was acting on the instructions of the president or any other officials, or with their knowledge," Schiff said.



The committee's chairman, Republican Devin Nunes, thanked Flynn for his service.



"Washington D.C. can be a rough town for honorable people, and Flynn - who has always been a soldier, not a politician -deserves America's gratitude and respect," he said.
PM leaves for Germany tomorrow

UNB, Dhaka :

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leaves here on Thursday (Feb 16) for Munich, Germany on a four-day official visit to attend Munich Security Conference (MSC) and hold bilateral talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Prime Minister and her entourage will depart Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 9:45pm by a flight of Etihad Airways and reach Munich International Airport on Friday morning via Abu Dhabi.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Germany Imtiaz Ahmed will receive the Prime Minister at the airport. From the airport, Sheikh Hasina will go to Munich Marriott Hotel where she will be staying during her tour.

On the same morning, she will attend the opening session of the MSC. In the evening, Hasina will attend a reception to be hosted by the Lord Mayor of Munich. On Saturday, the Prime Minister will hold a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

According to sources at the Foreign Ministry here, the meeting will cover various issues of bilateral relations, including trade, investment and climate change. After holding the meeting, she will attend the panel discussion of 'Climate Security: Good COP, Bad Cops'. On the same evening, the Prime Minister will leave Munich for Dhaka via Abu Dhabi. She will arrive in Dhaka on the evening of February 19.
Comilla Divn to be named as Mainamati Divn

UNB, Dhaka :

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the new division in Comilla will be named as 'Maynamati Division'.

From now on, there will be no division based on the name of the district concerned rather new division would come up with a different name, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal quoted the Prime Minister as saying at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) meeting.

The Planning Minister briefed reporters after the meeting held at the NEC conference room in the city.

During her visit to Comilla, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced to form a new division in Comilla.

Mustafa Kamal also hoped the people of Comilla will accept this new name gladly.

He said, the meeting approved the 'Bangladesh regional weather and climate services' project at an estimated cost of Tk 979.98 crore, aiming to enhance the capacity of government agencies concerned to provide reliable weather and climate information. Eleven projects were approved yesterday involving an estimated cost of Tk 3,684.50 crore, said Kamal. "Of the total project cost, Tk 2,641.99 crore will come from the national exchequer, while Tk 88.43 crore from the organisation's own fund and the rest of Tk 954.08 crore from project assistance," he added. Out of the approved 11 projects, seven are new while the four revised ones.

The Planning Minister said out of the total cost of Tk 979.98 crore for the Bangladesh Regional Weather and Climate Services project, the government will provide Tk 92.30 crore while the rest of Tk 887.68 crore will come as project assistance from the World Bank. Bangladesh Meteorological Department, Bangladesh Water Development Board and Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) will jointly implement the project by June 2021. He said the project will be implemented in three components. Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) will implement the component A titled 'Strengthening information services and advance forecasting system'. The component B titled 'Strengthening water science related information services and advance forecasting system' will be implemented by the Bangladesh Water Development Board, while the 3rd and C component titled 'Improving agriculture weather related information' will be implemented by the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).

The Ecnec meeting also gave nod to the 'Supply and establishment of LED road lamps, CCTV, camera and CCTV control centers under Dhaka North City Corporation areas' with an estimated cost of Tk 442.14 crore.
Robert Dean Baehr, 82, of Beatrice. Memorial services Friday, Feb. 17, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the American Lutheran Church of Filley with Pastor LuRae Hallstrom officiating. Inurnment at 10 a.m. in the Evergreen Home Cemetery of Beatrice. Memorials are suggested to the familys choice with Ervin Huls and Ron Weiss in charge. Military graveside honors will be conducted by the United States Marine Corp and Fisher Post #367 of the American Legion of Virginia. A guestbook for signatures will be available from 8 a.m. Wednesday to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Fox Funeral Home, where the family will receive visitors from 7 to 8 p.m. on Thursday.
LINCOLN  Members of a grand jury investigating the fatal shooting of a man by a Lincoln police officer have been studying a 3-D reproduction of the scene using technology that attorneys and law enforcement believe will help all involved better understand what happened.

Before this technology was introduced, jurors typically relied on photos, satellite images and maps to place them at the scene.

"This takes all the guessing out of all of that, and everybody gets a common understanding of the area they're looking at," Attorney Joe Kelly said.

The Lincoln Journal Star reports that the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office bought a 3-D scanner in 2015 to assist in crime and motor accident investigations

The scanner has a laser that can measure and record 20 million to 40 million points at a scene. Investigator Drew Bolzer said the scanner is so sensitive that it can even note the color of objects. Once the scene is scanned, data is uploaded into a 3-D printer that creates scale renderings of the scene. Bolzer said the scaled renderings are accurate to within 1/10,000th of an inch, or the thickness of a piece of paper.

Kelly said the renderings can help judges, jurors and attorneys familiarize themselves with the scene of the shooting.

Capt. Josh Clark showed the scanner's renderings while testifying at the investigation into June 26 killing of Germichael Kennedy.

The scanner has yet to be tested at a criminal trial in Lincoln, but Kelly said he's confident it will withstand any legal challenges.

"It's like DNA (evidence) in that its uses  that 3-D use  were being utilized by many, many other professions other than trial attorneys long before we were using it in court," he said.

The scanner is worth $80,000. Sheriff Terry Wagner said his office used forfeited assets to pay for the hardware and training in its use.
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.
Rumors are swirling* that Canon, which had originally intended to introduce a 6D Mark II in 2016, might be killing off the model altogether.

Why? Well, it's speculation still, but there have been indications of an all-new Canon camera model on the way, and the rumor mill has quickly spun that into a full-frame mirrorless. This is unsubstantiated, although it does seem relatively logical. And the Canon 6D is Canon's entry-level full-frame SLR, and a full-frame mirrorless to compete with Sony's very successful A7[x] series would presumably cross-cannibalize with the 6D. So Canon might put the 6D update on the shelf on order to give the new camera a better chance.

The Canon 6D "Mark I," introduced in the Fall of 2012 and still current

It's also possible that Canon will make its mirrorless camera larger-than-FF, AKA "medium format," to join the Hasselblad and Fuji medium-format mirrorless models...and prevent those brands from making inroads from that front.

Rumors have circulated regularly of a Canon medium-format camera for many decades now. The first one I heard about was in the mid-to-later 1980s, when it would have been a film camera. And no doubt Canon has done due diligence over the years with mock-ups and prototypes; the details would mostly be proprietary, though, so full disclosure is impossible.

Another unsubstantiated rumor...an industry legend, who is gone now, once told me that his friends at Canon privately confessed to him that Canon was only afraid of one company, and it was "not Nikon, and not Leica." That company was Fuji. That was surprising at the time, because that was way back when Fuji essentially just dabbled in the camera market. As we all know, Fuji isn't dabbling any more. So that might support the idea of a FF+ sensor mirrorless camera from Canon, as it would answer Fuji. Japanese companies traditionally pay the most attention to what their Japanese competitors are doing...and not what we consider their Japanese competitors, but what they consider their Japanese competitors.

This is probably pretty far out yet, in any eventif there's one thing that seems fair to generalize, it's that Canon does not move as fast as some more nimble companies...such as...er, well, Fuji. But either a full-frame or medium-format mirrorless model from Canon, if either proves to be true, would be very big news indeed in our little corner of the World.

Mike

*Here's one.

Original contents copyright 2017 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

Shot from a cannon.

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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)

Featured Comments from:

Speed: "A Canon medium format camera would require a whole new set of lenses. Lenses that wouldn't work on their APS-C cameras, their full frame cameras or their cinema cameras. I think you need to analyze Canon based on the markets that they serve such as professional wedding/portrait/school, studio, advertising, architecture/real estate, video advertising/marketing, broadcast (news, feature, documentary), on-line video and so forth. When Canon moved into cinema it was priced right, their existing lenses were a powerful feature, and the 5D Mark II had put their foot in the door. By the way, there is a big price gap between the 6D to the 5D Mark IV. Plenty of room for something new and different."

Jack: "One thing that mitigates against the notion of a Canon digital medium format is the question of where the sensors are going to come from. Canon has pretty much used exclusively its own sensors in its DSLRs. Furthermore, Canon's dual-pixel sensor technology is fundamental to PDAF on Canon mirrorless (at the moment). The thing is, as far as I know Canon's never made a chip-making machine (stepper) capable of making chips that large. Few steppers areabout the only option is Nikon's venerable NSR-4425i stepper from the late 20th century, only available pre-owned. Either way, whether buying Sony sensors like everyone else is doing, or buying used Nikon steppers, Canon would have to go out-of-house for digital medium-format sensors. Well, unless they've decided it's worthwhile to build their own wide-format stepper, which I really doubt."

ADDENDUM from Jack: "I've learned that Canon does indeed make steppers that can produce medium-format-sized chips. Their new FPA-5510iX can go up to 56x52 mm. That's big enough for a 645-sized frame (56x42).



"So I'm going to go way out on a limb and suggest that if Canon ever does go medium format, it might be 645, not the 'almost 127' of current medium-format sensors (excluding Phase One)."

Verve: "The 6D is so good and so reasonably priced that I bought two of them, and they have serve me well. I sincerely doubt that Canon will kill the 6D. I fully expect a 6D version II will follow the original."
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The sextoy market is growing quite rapidly in India right now.

Although it is not a big trend, it is a hot topic on the internet as it is secretly expanding its market.

In this article, we will focus on sextoy and introduce recommended sextoy for Indian beginners of sextoy by gender.

India, the birthplace of the Kama Sutra, is very strict about sex.

Also, premarital sex is basically not allowed. Therefore, there are many people who are sexually restricted.

But what happens when you continue to be sexually restricted?

Frustration may build up and you may end up taking your sexual stress out on your partner.

If you are able to adopt sextoy in a timely manner, you can get rid of those problems.

I want to have more exciting sex than Im having now.

I want more variation in masturbation

I want to get even stronger pleasure than I do on my own.

If you have any of these problems, please stay with me until the end.

What is sex toys for Indian?

Sextoy, as the name implies, is a toy used during sex and masturbation.

It is a generic term for vibrators, Egg-vibrators, Electric massagers, dildo, handcuffs and condoms.

They are used to make regular sex more exciting or to make masturbation more pleasurable.

Because sextoy is very stimulating, it can help you to get rid of the problems and frustrations of being in a rut of sex with your partner for a long time, or if you are unhappy with the lack of pleasure in sex with your partner.

The ability to satisfy your desires with movement, texture, and size, which cannot be done by a normal human being, can help you to be satisfied with sex and, as a result, improve your relationship with your partner.

It is also said to help improve sexual dysfunction (inability to get an erection or ejaculate) and difficulty in feeling during sex (insensitivity), which is attracting more attention than in the past.

In recent years, the demand for sextoy has increased due to the spread of smartphones and the Internet and the increasing number of people using online shopping.

Even those who are concerned about the appearance of sextoy (and find it difficult to purchase) can now easily obtain it by using mail order.

In the case of online shopping, most of the stores have taken steps to ensure that the contents of the products delivered to you are not revealed, so you can purchase them without your family members knowing.

Until a while ago, you had to go to the store where the adult goods were sold to buy them, so it was quite a hurdle to overcome.

Also, many people may have an image that sextoy is somehow embarrassing to own.

But nowadays, some of them are so stylish and cute that you cant believe they are sextoy at a glance.

More and more people are using them for travel and outdoor use because they are not too bulky and are suitable for carrying around.

Sextoy situation in India

Before introducing the recommended sextoy for Indians, lets talk about one of the sextoy situations in India in recent years.

In India, due to the high concentration of population, the following six cities have particularly high sales of sextoy in India.

Mumbai

Kolkata

Bangalore

Delhi

Chennai

Hyderabad

These cities account for roughly 70 percent of sextoy sales in India.

In the future, the percentage of sextoy use will gradually increase in other cities in India as well.

If you never talk about sextoy publicly, that girl in your neighborhood might be a sextoy user too.

If you are interested in sextoy, you dont have to suppress your desire for it.

What are Sextoys for beginner?

Among all sextoys, sextoy for beginners are vibrators, dildo, masturbators, Sex Lubricants, and condoms.

Sex Lubricants and condoms, which are familiar to people who have had sex, are also a great beginners sextoy.

I will explain the details of each toy later, but there are many sextoy products that are painful to use and can only be used after some anal expansion.

I assume that the Indian readers of this article are people who have not had much experience with sextoy.

If such people use professional sextoy suddenly, they are at risk of injury or trauma.

Therefore, to introduce sextoy, you need to start with a beginners version and gradually become familiar with it.

Advantages of using sextoy for Indians

There are three advantages of using sextoy for Indians

You can masturbate in a wide variety of ways.

Can have stimulating sex

Can develop new sexual zones

If you try to masturbate with your own fingers or hands, it tends to be a pattern.

However, with sextoy, you can easily masturbate in a variety of ways.

You will definitely be fascinated by the attraction of new stimulation.

Also, your daily sex life will be more exciting than ever.

There are many things in sextoy that are visually stimulating and give you a strong and intense feeling of pleasure.

This allows you to see your partners promiscuity in a way that you wouldnt normally see it.

When you are in a relationship, sex with your partner may become a pattern, but it can also eliminate these problems.

It can also lead to the development of new sexual zones (which is the training of sexual stimulation to allow you to feel orgasms).

For more information on the development of new sexual zones, see the following articles

[Women's Erogenous Zone]How to find and develop, 7 hidden sexual zones !![In India] In this issue, we will dissect the female erogenous zone! ..." Many of you may be like that. Men, in particular, shou...

Thus, the use of sextoy can only be a good thing for the men and women of India.

Sextoy for beginner men in India

So, lets continue with the recommended goods for Indian sextoy beginners.

For ease of understanding, we will introduce them by gender. Lets start with the men!

The following five goods are recommended for novice Indian sextoy men

Masturbator

Cock rings

Love Doll

Sex Lubricants

Toys for the prostate

Lets check each one in detail.

Masturbator

The masturbator is a sextoy for men that elaborately reproduces a womans vagina, mouth, and anus, and is one of the most popular sextoy products.

It is used by men to masturbate, and it is popular because it provides stronger stimulation and pleasure more easily than using hands.

Most are made of good quality silicone, and their softness is something that cannot be achieved with ones own hands.

They can provide stronger pleasure than a real womans vagina, so be careful not to overuse them. (You wont be able to have an orgasm in a womans vagina anymore.)

Again Male masturbators are a wonderful toy. I do not need any favourite timing, bothersome bargaining. You do not have to worry too much.

Revolutionize your masturbation time! ! !

Made in Japan is a wonderful kinky toy.#sextoysindia #SexToyIndia #Japanhttps://t.co/4k70QGzoTP pic.twitter.com/tRVdxTKPpa   SEXToys India PR  (@SextoysIndia) November 12, 2018

Some of them are disposable, while others can be washed and used over and over again, so its fun to buy a few to use depending on your mood.

If you want to know more about masturbator, please click here

Really pleasant male masturbation and how to do it Are you in a rut with your daily masturbation routine? I'm going to show you five ways men masturbate that you might ...

[For Beginners] How to choose and use a male masturbator without fail Gentlemen.Have you ever used a masturbator? The person who sees this article is probably the one who has not experien...

Cock Ring

A cock ring is literally a ring-shaped sextoy that is worn on a mans penis.

It maintains an erection by binding the penis with a ring of rubber and blocking blood flow.

It is sometimes used as an accessory to be worn on the penis, and may be made of metal or plastic as well as rubber.

In some cases, cock rings have parts or vibrators attached to them that stimulate the vagina, so they kill two birds with one stone, giving a woman pleasure while maintaining an erection.

Cock rings are also sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction.

It can help with erectile dysfunction, where the penis doesnt get hard when you get an erection or doesnt last long when you try to insert it.

Men who are prone to breakage or who are unsure of the hardness and size of their erections can use a cock ring to increase the size of their penis and maintain an erection for a longer period of time.

Cock rings vary in price from around RS700 to over RS2000 with a vibrator function.

Some of them do not fit your penis, so you should check the size of the cock ring before you buy.

You should know the size of your partners or your own penis when it is erect.

[Penis enlargement] What is a cock ring? Types and usage Cock rings can make your penis bigger and harder. It also makes sex with women more fulfilling and increases your sat...

Love Doll

Love dolls, also known as Dutchwives, are dolls with the appearance of a woman who can experience simulated sex.

There are dolls that look like a woman, but they have no face and only have their breasts and lower torso cut off, and some dolls are so realistic that they can actually be mistaken for real women.

Some expensive dolls can cost more than 1 million yen, and the quality of the doll is easily influenced by the price.

The higher the price, the higher the quality of the doll will be, the closer it will be to the real woman, and the cheaper the doll will be, the less elaborate it will be, making it look like a real doll! Something is wrong! That is also true.

You cant go wrong if you choose a balance between price and taste.

There are stores that allow you to make custom-made love dolls, so you can create a girl of your choice.

You can make a girl of your choice. You can start with inexpensive love dolls at first, and once you get used to it, you can try custom-made love dolls.

If you want to know more about Love doll, please click here

Thorough explanation of the charm of sex dolls! Have you ever heard of sex dolls that are used primarily for pseudo-sex purposes? It is a doll that is quite close to...

Sex lubricants

Sex lubricants are used as a substitute for lubricating fluid during sex or as a lubricant for men to use masturbator rules.

It is not uncommon for women to have difficulty getting wet, depending on their physical condition, or to have difficulty getting wet due to their constitution.

Forcing the penis into the vagina at such times can cause painful intercourse.

There are various types of Sex Lubricants, some with a warming effect, some with a cooling effect, and some with a scent.

Changing the Sex Lubricant used during play is recommended as a good sex accent.

If you want to learn more about Sex Lubricants, click here.

What is sex lubricant?Explain the difference and usage of each ingredient The word "sex toy" may seem like a hurdle to overcome, but lotion is actually one of the most familiar sex toys. Many...

Toys for the Prostate

Another sextoy for men is prostate toys.

The most famous prostate toys include Enemagra, which was originally a prostate massager developed by an American urologist to treat an enlarged prostate line.

Modern prostate toys are imitations of Enemagra that have spread as sextoy for men.

Many people think of prostate toys as being used by gay men, but in fact they are often used by straight men.

What is the prostate?

The prostate is an organ found only in men. It is a walnut-sized organ located deep in the pelvis, just below the bladder, and its primary role is to protect and nourish sperm.

You cannot touch the prostate gland from outside the body, but you can touch it by inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus.

By inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus and touching the prostate and developing it, you can feel intense orgasms.

Orgasms felt in the prostate are mainly dry orgasms, which are orgasms that do not involve ejaculation. (You can also feel orgasms with ejaculation through prostate stimulation.)

The prostate is called the male G-spot, and dry orgasms can be much more intense than ejaculation.

Therefore, men who are able to develop a prostate can become addicted to the pleasure.

sextoy for beinner women in India

The following are the recommended goods for Indian women who are new to sextoy.

The following three are recommended for use by women who are new to sextoy.

Vibrator.

Dildo

Electric Masserger

Lets check out what each one is in detail.

If you want to check out womens toys, click here.

[BEST25]Sex Toys for Women in IndiaThat Can Help You Have an Orgasm There are many women who pretend to feel orgasm during sex. But don't worry, you don't have to pretend to feel orgasm...

Vibrators

A vibrator is a sextoy that vibrates with an Egg-Vibrator to provide stimulation and is often referred to simply as a vibrator.

Some vibrate as well as rotate, and there are many variations of sextoy.

It is quite a popular sextoy, and is well recognized by people who do not know much about sextoy.

Its usage is similar to that of a massager, but it is more compact and easier to carry than a massager, and many of them look as cute as a lipstick or a macaroon, so they are popular among women.

For a while, a famous influencer on twitter said, This is good! You may have heard of the topic of this article by introducing the recommended vibrators.

Vibrators are great for women to use on their own, but they are also recommended for men who have difficulty satisfying women with sex.

Since it is powered by electricity, it is far less tiring than moving your hands by yourself.

This makes it easier to satisfy a woman with sex because you can caress her for longer than usual.

Vibrators are mainly used on the female side, but they can also be used on men.

When used on men, they are used to attack the nipples and glans, and in both cases it is recommended to wear a condom for hygiene reasons.

Introducing how to use the vibrator, its purpose, and how to choose it! Vibrator uses the vibrations caused by the rotation of the motor to provide stimulation. It is one or two of the most...

Dildo

A dildo is a model sextoy made to mimic a male penis.

It can be made of silicone, elastomer (think of it as a material similar to PVC), metal or glass.

A dildo can be used by a man for his female partner during sex, or by a woman for masturbation to get pleasure from it.

They are mainly inserted into women, but some can be used in the male anus as well.

It is sometimes used synonymously with vibrators, but the vibrator is not the same thing as a vibrating device.

A model of a penis that does not vibrate is a dildo.

Some of them have suction cups that can be attached to the floor or wall so that you can enjoy realistic masturbation without using your hands.

For fun, there is a dildo made in the shape of your partners penis.

This one is also popular as a gift, and if youve been together for a long time and are having trouble finding a gift for your partner, you might want to pick one.

To learn more about dildo, please click here.

What is Dildo: Orgasms with Dildos for Men and Women A dildo is a model of a male organ that is used by women for masturbation and by men to stimulate the prostate gland. Th...

Electric Masserger

A Electric Masserger is a hand-held electric massager, also known as a handheld massager, and can usually be purchased at electronics stores.

It was originally designed to relieve stiff shoulders and back pain, so the hurdle of buying one in a physical store is quite low.

Many people may have seen or used it in some form or another, as it is often installed in leisure hotels.

Such a massager is highly recommended for beginners because it is easy for women to get pleasure from it when they use it during masturbation.

It is larger than Egg-Vibrator and vibrations are stronger than those of Egg-Vibrators and vibrators, so even just hitting the clitoris can give you a great deal of pleasure.

For those women who have never had an orgasm during sex with their man, the massager may be a good way to get a feel for what it feels like to have an orgasm.

It looks and feels like an electric massager, so you wont have to feel awkward if your roommate finds out.

If you are in a rut of having sex with your partner, if you want to feel an orgasm through masturbation, or if you are thinking of using a sextoy, why dont you try it from a simple massager?

To learn more about Electric Masserger, click here.

What is a massager? Introducing types, selection methods, and usage Originally, the Magic-wand vibrator and the massage machine were sold as a home massage machine used for the back and th...

How to choose a sextoy for Indian

Now that weve covered the different types of sextoy, heres how to choose one.

Especially if you are trying sextoy for the first time, pay attention to the following three points:  Does the size fit you (the partner)?

Does the size fit you (your partner)?

Is the environment able to produce sound without problems?

Price range

First of all, the choice of size is quite important.

Most sextoy are used against or inserted into the genitals, but the genitals are very delicate organs for both men and women.

For this reason, using an inappropriate size may cause damage.

Secondly, the environment should be able to produce sound without problems.

Some sextoys not only wear, but also rotate and vibrate. Its easier to get pleasure from something that moves than something that doesnt, but the fact that it moves means that the internal rotors make some noise.

If you live in a house with thin walls or if you have roommates, you may not be able to concentrate because of the noise, so it is best to choose one that is silent or has a low noise level.

Especially in India, where many people live with their families, it is very important that you dont have to worry about sound when you use it.

Finally, there is the price range.

The price range of sextoy ranges widely, from around RS500 at the cheapest to RS10,000 or more at the highest.

Its good to consider how much money you can afford and how much you want to buy.

Do you want your family to not find out about sextoy?

I live with my family and want to use sextoy without them finding out! If you are a man, you should buy a camouflage sextoy that does not look like a sextoy at first glance.

For men, there are many masturbators that do not look like a sextoy, and for women, there are vibrators that only look like cosmetics.

If you choose such a type, youll be safe in case your family members find out.

How to buy sextoys in India

The best way to purchase sextoy is through online shopping.

For more information on how to purchase sextoy, please see the article below.

Sextoy is one of them.

Therefore, you can easily get sextoy in India by using online shopping.

SexToysINDIA is a long established and stable sextoy store and you can have sextoy delivered to any place in India.

They also offer cash on delivery, so those who are worried about shopping with a credit card do not have to worry.

Of course, the latest security is in place, so your information will not be taken out when you use your credit card.

To begin with, many people may be concerned about whether they are legally allowed to purchase sextoy.

ikmAs it turns out, its not illegal.

Right now, it is not open to the public because the Indian adult market is still in the development stage, but it will gradually spread from now on.

Take advantage of sextoy and open the door to new pleasures and culture.

Cautions for Indians using sextoy

When using sextoy, keep the following three things in mind

Keep sex toys clean

Watch out for electrical leakage

Beware of the heat generated by the body while using a sex toy

As I mentioned earlier, many sextoy products are used for the delicate zone.

Therefore, it is most important to keep the sextoy itself clean. It is very important to keep the sextoy itself clean, because if a slight scratch is created by friction, bacteria can enter and breed there.

It is safe to wear a condom when using the masturbator, just in case.

In addition, many sextoy devices are powered by a power source, so if they are not waterproof, there is a possibility of electric shock or malfunction due to wetness.

Some may even develop heat during continuous use. If the fever becomes too much, you may get burned, so be careful.

If you get a fever during use, stop driving the sextoy immediately and refrain from using it.

You will enjoy sex more if you keep it safe and use it correctly.

Summary

What did you think?

In this article, we have introduced the recommended sextoy for the beginners of sextoy in India.

The sextoy market is growing rapidly in India and it will continue to grow steadily in the future.

As India is a rather closed-minded country, it can be difficult to be open about ones sexual habits and values.

However, being faithful to ones desires by properly dissolving ones sexual desire is very effective for ones physical and mental health.

If this is your first time to learn about sextoy, or if you are interested in using sextoy, why not give it a try?

Indian Sextoys for ur best! will introduce you to sextoy and other trivia about sextoy, sexuality, and sexuality for men and women.

I want to read more! If you think its a great idea, please bookmark it.
If you bought a lottery ticket in Benton, check it now.

A Circle K store in Benton sold a winning Quick Pick ticket with a prize of $11.25 million, according to Tuesday a news release from Illinois Lottery.

The ticket, purchased at the Circle K at 224 N. Main St., matched all six numbers  02 - 21 - 33 - 36 - 37 - 41  in the Monday drawing. The Circle K will receive a bonus of $11,250 for selling the winning ticket.

The Illinois Lottery urges the winner to immediately sign the back of the ticket and keep it in a safe place until they visit one of the lotterys five prize centers in Chicago, Des Plaines, Rockford, Springfield or Fairview Heights. Winners have one year from the original drawing date to claim their prize.

 The Southern
Carterville Police Department, Illinois State Police and Jackson County Coroners office are conducting an investigation into the death of Tammy Charles, 44, of Carterville, according to a news release from Carterville Police Chief Heather Reno.

At 4:23 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, Carterville Ambulance Service responded to a report of an unresponsive female at a residence in the 900 block of East Grand Avenue. The female, later identified as Charles, was transported to the Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, where she was pronounced dead.

The release stated that an autopsy was completed Monday. Reno expects the official autopsy report that includes toxicology screening to take 4 to 6 weeks to complete.

There are questions that we want answers to before we say it was natural causes, Reno said.

Based upon the investigation, police say there is no indication of any ongoing threat to the general public.

 The Southern
A common request I receive from Nebraskans is for help getting bureaucracy off their backs. Especially over the past eight years, federal agencies have far too often violated the separation of powers and legislated through red tape.

A study by the American Action Forum found the cost to our economy of the Obama administrations midnight regulations, or regulations passed after the election of President Trump, totaled $157 billion. With 99 regulations issued in December alone, the Obama administrations monthly regulatory churn more than doubled in its final weeks.

The House has spent the first few weeks of the new Congress focused on undoing this regulatory damage. We are working rule by rule to get rid of as many onerous, job-killing regulations as possible. President Trump has joined us in this effort, requiring agencies to kill two major regulations for every new one implemented.

An important tool Congress can use to reduce regulatory burdens is called the Congressional Review Act, or CRA. In order to maintain Congresss constitutional role in setting federal law, the CRA provides a streamlined process, including expedited Senate consideration, to overturn newly finalized rules by the executive branch. A CRA resolution only requires 51 votes to pass in the Senate rather than the usual 60.

When the Obama administration finalized its Waters of the U.S. rule, or WOTUS, in 2015, I introduced a resolution to block it using the CRA. The Senate version of my resolution passed both chambers but was vetoed by President Obama, along with all the other CRA bills passed by the last Congress. Thankfully, President Trump has expressed his desire to sign these CRA resolutions when they reach his desk.

Many of the Obama administrations midnight rules targeted domestic energy production. The Bureau of Land Managements Methane Rule has been estimated to cost the industry anywhere from $110 million to more than $1 billion per year while providing little environmental benefit. Despite rapid growth in oil and natural gas production, methane emissions have already declined significantly in recent decades. The Stream Protection Rule, a duplicative regulation with a new flowery name, would cost tens of thousands of mining jobs and put up to 64 percent of U.S. coal reserves off limits.

The House has used the CRA to block both of these damaging regulations. To achieve U.S. energy independence, we should be embracing all forms of American energy rather than strangling them with the heavy hand of the federal government.

Another midnight regulation by the Obama administration threatened the constitutional rights of millions of Americans. In December, the Social Security Administration finalized a rule to automatically add Social Security beneficiaries with representative payees to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Approximately 4.2 million Americans have representative payees, and as the Ways and Means Committee explored in a recent hearing, there are numerous concerns about how beneficiaries end up on the representative payee rolls in the first place.

Receiving help to manage ones Social Security benefits does not correlate with the capacity to own or judiciously use firearms. However, under this rule, these law-abiding Americans would be reported to the NICS list with no judicial review and forced to go through an appeals process to be removed. The House used the CRA to block this rule and protect Americans Second Amendment and due process rights.

We have many more CRA bills to work through in the coming weeks, as the Obama administrations regulatory labyrinth will take time to dismantle. To strengthen our economy and ensure greater opportunity for Americans, cutting regulations must remain a top priority.
A 12-year-old is in custody Tuesday in connection to a Friday shooting death of a Cave-in-Rock woman, according to a news release from Hardin County State's Attorney Daniel K. Cockrum.

On Friday, Laura J. Ghalyon, 48, was found shot to death in her home. At about 4 a.m., an individual called the Hardin County Sheriffs Office and reported a death as the apparent result of a firearm discharge.

The release states that after authorities confirmed Ghalyon's death, deputies placed the 12-year-old in custody, where the juvenile remains at this time. Because of the juvenile's age, the identity is being withheld.

The investigation is ongoing and will continue to be handled by the Illinois State Police and the Hardin County Sheriffs Office.

 The Southern
CARTERVILLE  Jarrod Echols once saved his little sister from drowning in a Southern Illinois farm pond. Today, he is protecting his country working for the Executive Office of the President in Washington, D.C.

Echols, a John A. Logan College graduate, was 10 years old when his 8-year-old sister, Morgan, fell through the ice on a pond in rural Murphysboro on Dec. 22, 1998. The story of his heroism was widespread in local media.

Theres no question what he did that day saved our daughters life, said Paul Echols, Jarrods father.

Today, while little can be revealed about his efforts, Echols continues to put the safety of the others first while working on the front lines of the nations cybersecurity.

Echols is a member of the White House Information Technology Team, identifying and combating threats to the president's network.

His parents, Paul and Sheila, gave him an early introduction to technology by purchasing the familys first desktop computer in 1996.

It was the beginning of an amazing evolution of computer technologies and I was in the middle of it, Echols said. I was completely hooked.

To make sure their son was staying on track with homework, his parents password-protected the computer. Echols, however, would soon find a way around it.

Of course, this is something he would not reveal to his parents.

Echols attended Murphysboro High School. There, he learned about dual credit courses offered through John A. Logan College. While in high school, Echols "began (his) college education to learn more about computers.

I had amazing instructors who came from the career field with real world experiences, Echols said. This made their lectures much more intriguing.

Echols especially pointed to the instruction of Professor Mark Rogers.

Mark Rogers stood out the most, especially since his focus was network security, Echols said. He always went into amazing detail on how to secure the network based on his own experiences outside the classroom. The classes included a lab, which allowed me to practice hands-on with the equipment and software.

Because of the foundation of success he found at John A. Logan College, Echols went on to obtain an undergraduate degree in Information Systems Technologies (IST), and a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

His MPA degree required an internship in government or a non-profit prior to graduation. In 2012, he accepted an internship with the United States Senates Cyber Security Department. After fulfilling the internship, he was offered a job with a contractor, which allowed him to remain with the Senate, working in their Cyber Security Operations Center.

A few years later, he had the opportunity to move from a contractor position to a federal government position. With that change, he was offered a the chance to lead the Senate Cyber Threat Intelligence Team. This year, he was offered the position as a member of the White House Information Technology Team, supporting the Executive Office of the President.

An incredible journey, he said, that took direction at John A. Logan College.

As I look back, I will never forget the foundation of my success began at John A. Logan College, Echols said.

Echols father is a highly-decorated police investigator. To see his son fighting crime at such a high level gives him, understandably, a great sense of pride.

Echols said his fathers work is what caused him to go in the career direction he did.

As I learned more about computers and helped others, I noticed that some of the computer problems were being caused by the malicious actions of others, Echols said. All of my life, I heard the stories of how my father helped find clues from crime scenes and sought justice for victims. That appealed to me. Therefore, I decided I would focus my studies in the area of computer and network security. From a cyber standpoint, it is very similar to what my father did.

Today, Echols sister works as an emergency room physicians assistant for Southern Illinois Healthcare based in Carbondale, also helping the lives of others.

Its amazing where life can take you, Paul Echols said. Twenty years ago, I took Jarrod to visit the FBI Academy. Last summer, with his connections in Washington, he took me. I know my sons abilities, education, and concern for others has taken him to the right place. But hes always had a knack for being in the right place at the right time."
CARBONDDALE  When Mona Kerns was approached and asked about working for a new Southern Illinois Healthcare division working with seniors, she said no.

And continued to say no.

But, eventually, she changed her mind, she said, coming to feel a newfound respect for the group of Southern Illinoisans she came to refer to "aging up" and "mature adults."

The last Friday of this month, Kerns will retire from her job as manager of SIH's Second Act program, a resource and educational outreach program for people 50 years and older, leaving the company after 35 years. SIH will celebrate her retirement with an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Carbondale Civic Center. The public is invited to attend.

At the end of the month, she plans to join her husband in Louisville, where the couple plans to retire and be near their daughter, Valerie Pifer, son-in-law and two grandchildren  Hunter, 7, and Hadley, 3; their son, Greg, lives in St. Louis.

She talked about starting with SIH, beginning as a candy striper at St. Andrews Hospital in her hometown of Murphysboro. The hospital was then run by an order of nuns, and after her candy-striping work, she was asked to apply for an administrative position by Sister Cunegunda, an administrator, in 1981.

She said she was given the opportunity to rise through management, and then was approached with being the manager of what was to become the Second Acts program.

"I basically got to put the wheels on the bus," Kerns said. It wasnt my idea. It was a commitment that the executive management of SIH decided (to do). It was important to do that, to provide additional services that were still needed for mature adults."

When the program started in 1999, it had only eight members, or seniors from the community who signed up for it. In past 10 months, the program saw 2,127 people attending its various classes and 587 attending some of its sponsored trips.

SIH's Communications Manager Rosslind Rice called her a 'dynamo."

"My director was marveling at just how much Mona has changed the lives of senior citizens in the region through this program to help them get out of the house, travel, and socialize," Rice said. "A few years ago, Mona created 'star' groups to connect her members with each other based on their interests (knitting, cards, for instance). She's quite the dynamo."

Succeeding Kerns as Second Act manager will be Tracy Herron, a fellow SIH staffer.

Anyone wanting to become a member of SIH's Second Act program can call 877-480-4040.
On the wall outside my office hangs a framed copy of one of the first pieces of legislation I worked on. The bill increased the number of Iraqi translators who could come to the United States. Serving alongside our troops, these translators had put themselves and their families at grave risk in service to our country. Among those who have benefited from the policy were members of the Yezidi tradition, a peaceful, ancient faith that ISIS has targeted as part of their extermination campaign against Christians and other religious minorities, including innocent Muslim communities.

America has long opened her arms to persons fleeing persecution who wish to rebuild their lives and become good citizens. My hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska is a diverse and welcoming community with a number of first-generation Americans, and we are the better for it. However, when there is chaos and disorder at the border, or uncertainty in immigration policy and procedures, this undermines the ability of our country to be generousor worse, affects our safety.

President Trumps Executive Order, Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry to the United States, suspended all new-refugee admissions into the United States for 120 days. In addition, it blocks all travelers for 90 days from seven "countries of concern"Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen (a list created by the Obama Administration in 2015). Refugees from Syria are banned indefinitely. Travelers from these countries with a green card will be allowed to enter since they are permanent United States residents.

From my perspective, I believe it is reasonable to pause and review our refugee policy from dangerous parts of the world. But the implementation of the policy has caused confusion, difficulty, and concernsome of which was clarified throughout last week.

As an example, a Yezidi man named Nawaf, who translated for our military, visited my office last Monday night requesting help for his wife Laila. Two of his brothers live in Lincoln. Although I did not recognize him at first, I remembered that a president of a university in Iraq once told me about a Yezidi student who had become the class valedictorian of an Iraqi university, and I began to piece the story together. Nawaf arrived in America last year. Following 18 months of vetting, his wife was awarded a special visa a week and a half ago, but as Nawaf, with great composure, told me, Laila was barred from entry.

Immigration and refugee policy always involves difficult choices. A country has to consider absorption capacity, the possibilities of assimilation, and the necessity of accepting the values of the host country. A review of policy in Europe sheds some light. Germany recklessly threw open its border recently. Waves of personsmany young single menentered the country, sparking an uptick in crime and violence, and possibly the conditions for more terrorist attacks. Confusion still continues as to who is where. Germanys rapidly considered and naive refugee policy has unwittingly created an anti-immigrant backlash, as well as political turmoil.

Immigration and refugee movement should always be a matter of last resort. Everyone can't come to the West. Rather, it is the responsibility of governments around the world to create the conditions in which persons can live securely. If this breaks down, robust humanitarian assistance and repositioning persons in nearby safe zones creates the possibility of a right of returnavoiding the trauma of uprooting from one's home and culture.

Yet, with all of the complex considerations surrounding immigration, it is always important to remember that we are dealing not with statistics, not with remote policy, but with the lives of real persons. Happily, last Friday morning, after my office worked successfully on her case, Laila arrived. With open arms and flowers, Nawaf greeted her at the airportand welcomed her to America.
WASHINGTON -- I seem to be surrounded by fellow citizens who are indelibly confused. They are everywhere. Americans who, after previous election losses, would have simply grumbled and grouched, are now disconsolate, and their opposites, who everyone agrees won the election, seem to be unusually uncertain about it, as well.

And I? Well, I seem to be like a poor soldier caught between two armies: those who absolutely, utterly and without pause hate President Donald Trump and can barely pronounce the word "president" anywhere near his name, and those Trumpists who are still so angry about the "establishment" and how it humiliated them that they cannot abide any rational discussion.

Then when you read about the scene in the White House, with the president strolling around, not quite knowing where he is, surrounded by a mere six or eight close aides, systems and structures unattended, the question of what judgments to make hangs, lonely indeed, over the morning sky.

But being the rational, thoughtful person I am, I have determined to offer up to my confused fellow citizens and compatriots-in-hope some alternatives to despair, anger -- and just doing nothing.

Please appreciate my dilemma. I could have written about what is surely a Russian attack on eastern Ukraine right after Trump spoke to the Ukrainian president, showing how strong and virile is Trump's man, Vladimir Putin. I could have composed something about the American drone strike on faraway Yemen, and even posed the delicate question: "What the hell are we doing in Yemen?"

But why not use this time -- and now I am being serious -- in sober study of some questions underlying all of this? Let's think about why Americans voted for Trump, about who these voters really are, and why their inner rage and their outer political expression have changed this country, without many Americans even suspecting it.

Why did the so-called "elites" -- the word given to virtually anyone who graduates from college today -- so blind themselves to that white working class "out there" between the oceans? Why did so many experts offer so little to these seeking citizens?

So, let's say that seriously studying up on where we are as a nation is one way to productively fill our days. And others?

Well, we could, instead, effectively take on the rhetorical rags of the president and his followers, employ his and their vulgar language, tweets and tricks, hang on the repetitive cable news accounts so lacking in any human impulse, and wallow in the noise and chaos of that world.

(Please don't think I'm being only critical. I may be one of the few Americans who are tempted to agree that, when Trump told Fox News' Bill O'Reilly when he criticized Putin, that "We've got a lot of killers," and that a lot of people have died at America's hands, Trump was right! There, I've said it. Shoot me.)

In fact, many American liberals haven't hesitated at all to embrace the president's vulgar language. At the humongous and much-praised "women's march" after the inauguration, Madonna was spouting out about "f---ing" this and that to the ladies, while "pussy" was on posters all through the crowd. How inspiring! I guess that shows the conservatives that they don't have to "f---" the liberals -- the liberals can do it to themselves!

Then, of course, there are those Americans who want to establish a new politics that, as difficult as it might be, would blend the best of the liberal critique of society (human rights, civil rights, moderate welfare programs, control and punishment for Wall Street malefactors, a principled foreign policy, for starters); and the best (yes!) of what Trump offers so many Americans (true legal immigration control, bringing rogue American corporations home, a return to the Protestant ethic in capitalism, the creation of jobs here, instead of exporting them, to name a few.)

Mikhail Gorbachev was quoted as saying, "It's never too late to do something good." With apologies to the fellow who destroyed the Soviet Union he tried to save, I'd say, "It's never too late to do something smart."

I saw an old friend of mine the other day, Dr. Alush Gashi, a respected doctor and parliamentarian from Kosovo whom I knew during the horrible Balkans wars of the 1990s. He asked me, about America, "Do you think the Trump experience will wake up the fuzzy old American establishment that brought him on?"

I said I didn't know.
The battle over Alabama Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions nomination to be President Donald Trumps attorney general will be painted in the most divisive and partisan terms.

And South Carolina Sen. Tim Scotts vote for Sessions will be portrayed as nothing short of predictable by a conservative Republican not breaking with the GOP majority.

But because of the nature of the debate about Sessions, with allegations of racism and discrimination front and center, Scott decided he had to make known his views. And they are particularly pertinent coming from an African-American lawmaker from the South.

Scott stepped forward to address the Senate about tolerance, race and moving forward as an American family.

Speaking directly to the controversy regarding Coretta Scott Kings words from 1986 being heard before the Senate, Scott made the case for Senate rules while noting the letter by the widow of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. could, and perhaps should be, read by each and every member of this chamber. Regardless of if you disagree with her conclusions, her standing in the history of our nation means her voice should be heard.

And so should Scotts. Words about his life experience, his life as a senator and his support for Sessions should be known beyond the Senate record.

Amid the focus on Sessions past as part of a South where once systemic discrimination was the norm, Scott reminded senators of his background.

 When I leave the United States Senate one day, I'm still going to be black, an African-American. Black every day, black every way, and there's no doubt.

This is an important part of the conversation, because as I read through some of the comments of my friends on the left, you will wonder if I ever had an experience as a black person in America.

From there, Scott reminded senators he is a Southern black, a product of Charleston, where slaves came into America, where the Civil War began.

My grandfather, who passed away at 94 years old last January, knew a very different South. Separation, segregation, humiliation and challenges.

Scott said he is an example of change. God in his infinite wisdom made me black, born in Charleston, South Carolina, for a purpose.  It was also Charlestonians who in 2010 had a choice between Strom Thurmonds son and a young  African-American guy named Tim Scott  They gave me the privilege of representing them in Congress over the son of Strom Thurmond. Over the son and the namesake of one of the most popular governors in South Carolina, Carroll Campbell Jr.

I thank God that the South Carolina that I have come to know, the South that I've had the experience to enjoy, is a different South.

That said, Scott said he faces much ridicule for his conservative positions and for simply being a Republican.

I've been called everything that you can think of from a racial perspective. Good, not too often. Bad, very consistently. So I understand that there is room for progress. There is a need for us to crystallize what we're fighting about, who we're fighting for, and how we're going to get there.

Scott offered examples of his critics harsh words while stating that Sessions, too, has faced undo and unfair criticism.

Scott said he did not take the decision on Sessions lightly, bringing the nominee to Charleston to meet with African-American pastors and learning more about Sessions record than the rhetoric.

There has been a distortion in many arenas, in many echo chambers about who he is and why I support him, Scott said.

Scott cited examples of how Republicans and Democrats, including African-Americans, in Alabama and elsewhere in the South have experiences with Sessions that show the man is not a racist.

Of Sessions, Scott noted:

 His vote in favor of a 30-year extension of the Civil Rights Act.

 His spearheading the effort to award the congressional gold medal to Rosa Oarks, an Alabama native and civil rights icon.

 His backing by Alabama native Condoleezza Rice, who has said, Sessions has worked hard to heal the wounds in Alabama brought on by the prejudice and injustice against the descendants of slaves.

 The words of Alabama Sen. and Democratic leader Quinton Ross. I feel confident that Jeff Sessions will be an attorney general that will look at it from all perspectives to just do what's right for the citizens of the United States."

 His work as U.S. attorney on civil rights cases.

We have an obligation to judge a man not by the color of his skin nor by the state of his birth, but by the story his life tells and by the content of his character.

Jeff Sessions has earned my support, and I will hold him accountable if and when we disagree moving forward.

But Scott made a plea for more. And it should be echoed in the context of his experience and the divisiveness over Sessions that, at least in part, can be attributed to those who paint Southern Republicans as intolerant at best and racist at worst.

This should not be about Republicans and Democrats. It's not about us. It's about the American people. And if we remember that point as we move forward, our nation will be able to heal where we hurt. We'll be able to disagree without being disagreeable.
February 13, 2017

BAGHDAD  Iran has reportedly appointed Brig. Gen. Iraj Masjedi as its new ambassador to Baghdad, replacing Hassan Danai Fer, according to Iranian media reports on Jan. 15.

Masjedi is a prominent leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and serves as an adviser to Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the Iranian Quds Force. Masjedi confirmed the news himself in an official statement but did not say when he would officially assume his new position.

Saudi Minister of State for Gulf Affairs Thamer Sabhan, who served as the first Saudi ambassador in Iraq after 2003, attacked Masjedi on Jan.15, calling him an internationally wanted war criminal.

Faleh al-Fayyad, the national security adviser and head of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), was quick to reply on Jan. 22, saying, Our relations with Iraq are not determined by other parties, a jab at Saudi Arabia. Fayyad welcomed Masjedi as the new ambassador to Iraq and did not miss an opportunity to praise him, calling him a brother. We have good memories of Masjedi and his long history of supporting Iraq. There is no doubt that he will play an important role in improving relations and defending the interests of both countries, Fayyad said.

Haidar al-Moul, a parliament member for the Shiite National Alliance, called, albeit reluctantly, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry to vet Masjedi and to investigate whether he is a war criminal.

He classed Masjedis presence as part of Irans military expansion in Iraq. Many media outlets reported that Masjedi is working on strengthening the military and political presence of the PMU and other armed factions.

There is not much information available on Masjedi, who has been described by the Washington Institute as a "seasoned Quds Force operative." "What is clear is his reportedly deep involvement in Quds Force activities in Iraq over the past several years, many resulting in the death, injury or kidnapping of US and coalition personnel as well as the assassination of Iraqi provincial officials who did not see eye to eye with Tehran, the article read.

Al-Monitor sought commentary from several parliament members, but all refused to comment on Masjedis appointment.

Homma Amin, a parliament member for the Kurdistan Alliance, called his appointment an internal Iranian affair, saying, We do not have a problem with Masjedi or any other person. We are concerned about the Iraqi blocs that fear to antagonize Iran and that have yet to comment on this issue.

According to the Kurdish Rudaw media outlet, which has ties to the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Masjedi is an intermediary between it and its rival Kurdish party, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, headed by Jalal Talabani.

Kurdish media outlets quoted Nazem Dabbagh, a representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Tehran, as saying, The choice of Masjedi for this position reflects the interest of Iran in Iraq and in the political parties in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region. This step has clearly been made to serve Irans agenda.

Abdullah Akraa, the head of relations with Iran for the KRG, described Masjedi as a moderate person whose relations with Kurds go back 30 years.

Regarding Iraq's Sunni political parties, which view Iran as a threat, Atheel al-Nujaifi, the former governor of Ninevah province and head of the Ninevah Guard, said Jan. 12, There is no doubt that appointing Masjedi, who is a top adviser to commander Qasem Soleimani, as an ambassador to Iraq has implications that go beyond the diplomatic scope of work.

He added, Masjedis military experience and ties with the armed factions in Iraq and Syria will affect the type of relations he holds in Iraq as well as the relations between the two countries, at a time the region is getting ready to start a new chapter in the post-Islamic State [IS] period.

Masjedi is the third Iranian ambassador to Baghdad to come from the Revolutionary Guard.

Mazen al-Zaydi, the editor-in-chief of Iraq's al-Mada, said in an interview with Al-Monitor, All Iranian ambassadors to Iraq, appointed since the occupation of Iraq, have two things in common. First, they have Iraqi origins and were deported by Saddam Husseins regime in the 1970s under the pretext of having Iranian origins. Second, they all have a military background and belong to the Quds Force, which plays regional roles in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.

Zaydi considers this point an indication that Iran continues to view Iraq as a confrontation line, threatening its national security. Iran is involved in the war in Syria. Thus, appointing a military ambassador goes in line with the nature of the challenges it is facing in the region.

Masjedis appointment comes at a time of possible clashes between the new US administration under Donald Trump and Iran, especially in the post-IS period.

Notably, Masjedi believes that Iraq and Syria serve as a buffer zone for Irans security. The hypocrite extremist groups seek to destroy the sacred Shiite shrines. IS wanted to control Aleppo and Mosul in order to wage attacks on the borders with Iran, Masjedi said in mid-January.

Zaydi added that most of the diplomats assigned to Iraq have military backgrounds, including the ambassadors from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The Iraqi authorities must work to find a solution to prevent Iraq from turning into an arena for the military representatives of regional countries.
Doctors in Denial has been instrumental in getting one of the apologies the women of the unfortunate experiment have been seeking for years. The release of Dr Ron Jones bookhas been instrumental in getting one of the apologies the women of the unfortunate experiment have been seeking for years.

On TVNZs Sunday programme Auckland District Health Board chief medical officer, Margaret Wilsher, admitted they had regrets but have to yet to issue a formal apology.

However last evening (13 February) as around 150 family, friends and colleagues of Ron Jones and AUT joined to celebrate the launch of the book, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists president Ian Page made a formal apology.

The New Zealand committee of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists deeply regrets the events referred to by Professor Jones.

Clare Matheson, who Ron Jones said had championed the cause of the forgotten women was at the launch to hear the apology. Her response to the crowd following Ian Pages statement was after all these years, to have that official recognition was one of the most moving moments of my life. A genuine apology is a very meaningful thing and it can allay certain grievous emotions and things, so it must do good.

Photo - Clare Matheson and Ron Jones

Doctors in Denial | Ronald W Jones

Otago University Press

RRP $39.95

When Dr Ron Jones joined the staff of National Womens Hospital in Auckland in 1973 as a junior obstetrician and gynaecologist, Professor Herbert Greens study into the natural history of carcinoma in-situ of the cervix (CIS)  later called the unfortunate experiment  had been in progress for seven years. By the mid-1960s there was almost universal agreement among gynaecologists and pathologists worldwide that CIS was a precursor of cancer, requiring complete removal. Green, however, believed otherwise, and embarked on a study of women with CIS, without their consent, that involved merely observing, rather than definitively treating them. Many women subsequently developed cancer and some died. In 1984 Jones and senior colleagues Dr Bill McIndoe and Dr Jock McLean published a scientific paper that exposed the truth, and the disastrous outcome of Greens experiment. In a public inquiry in 1987 Judge Sylvia Cartwright observed that an unethical experiment had been carried out in large numbers of women for over 20 years. Since that time there have been attempts to cast Greens work in a more generous light. This rewriting of history has spurred Ron Jones to set the record straight by telling his personal story: a story of the unnecessary suffering of countless women, a story of professional arrogance and misplaced loyalties, and a story of doctors in denial of the truth.
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By Azernews





By Laman Ismayilova

YARAT Film Club invites everyone to enjoy Interrupted memories movie, devoted to 70th anniversary of Victory Day on February 16.

Directed by Elkhan Jafarov, the film is based on a true story. The main character is an Azerbaijani man - Daniyal Abdullayev who recalls his youth memories.

For him, as the defender of the Brest fortress, the war began in 1941. During the battles, he got into a concentration camp in Dubica, and later escaped to join the partisans in those territories.

About 200 residents of Brest participated in the crowd scenes. They acted as the defenders of the citadel, as the partisans, as the prisoners of war and as the Germans in the movie. The first part of the movie was shot in Belarus - Brest and Minsk.

There are two parallel storylines developed in the movie. These are the Great Patriotic War and the tragic episode from the history of modern Azerbaijan - the war in Karabakh.

Abdullayev, who was fighting against Nazis, fifty years later, stands for the protection of Karabakh from Armenian occupants. Russian mercenary, who was fighting for the Armenian side, kills the veteran and discovers his diary and finds out that the old man was fighting along with his grandfather during World War II.

The cast include Shamil Suleimanov, Bahruz Vagifoghlu, Gulzar Gurbanova, Rza Rzayev, Gurban Ismayilov, Javanshir Hadiyev, Rovshan Agayev, Mikhail Kaminsky, Andrei Milyuhin and Veronica Plyashkevich. Some well-known Russian, Georgian and German actors took part in the movie, too.

The film is produced by Azerbaijanfilm film studio named after Jafar Jabbarli.

Admission is free. The screening starts at 19:00.

For more information, please contact:

+99412 505 1414
By Azernews





By Nigar Abbasova

The state agencies slashed the number of business inspections in 2016, rather focusing on creating opportunities to boost the small and medium entrepreneurship in Azerbaijan.

Deputy Economy Minister Sahil Babayev said that some 60 inspections on entrepreneurship activity were carried out in 2016, while the number of analogical inspections was about 60,000 in 2015.

He made the remarks during a joint meeting of the Club of Exporters of the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) and American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan (AmCham) in Baku on February 14.

The inspection of entrepreneurs' activities in Azerbaijan has been suspended for the period of two years from November 1, 2015. The exceptions from the law include check-ups which are held by State Commission to Combat Corruption under Prosecutor Generals Office, as well as cases which endanger health or life, pose hazards to the state security or economic interests.

The government does not exclude the prolongation of a moratorium imposed on business inspection.

Babayev went on to say that over the past two years, the government has been continuously taking steps to improve the business environment.

Among the steps taken in this regard, the official mentioned the reduction in the number of licenses for conducting business activity, introduction of the investment promotion mechanism, as well as reforms carried out in the customs sphere.

As of today, entrepreneurs obtained relevant certificates for implementation of projects worth more than 1 billion manats ($ 547,000), he said, adding that these projects will allow to open more than 7,000 new jobs.

Speaking about the export expansion, Babayev emphasized that the main goal is not only to achieve expansion of the non-oil export, but also expansion of the export geography.

To increase awareness about local production, the country is sending trade missions to various countries. Besides, the country appoints trade representatives to the countrys diplomatic missions abroad with a view to expand Azerbaijan`s economic and trade relations with foreign countries, protect economic interests of Azerbaijan, increase export of Azerbaijani goods and services.

Babayev further mentioned that Azerbaijan is currently in talks with Turkey on giving customs privileges to the exporters of goods, produced in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

"Turkey imposes high tariffs on imported production, namely on the import of agricultural production, to secure its domestic market. We are currently in talks to expand export of our production to Turkey and in this regard we want to get customs privileges for supplies of goods produced in Nakhchivan," he said.

Turkey became the main trade partner of Azerbaijan in 2016, while trade turnover between the countries amounted to $2.3 billion.
By Azernews





By Laman Ismayilova

A commemorative event dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide will be held in Paris, Azertac reported

Organized by the European Azerbaijan Society, the concert will feature performances by Nazrin Rashidova, Lionel Andrey and Chagall quartet.

The Khojaly genocide is one of the most terrible and tragic pages of Azerbaijan history.

Khojaly, the second largest town in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, came under intense fire from the towns of Khankendi and Askeran already occupied by the Armenian armed forces in 1992.

About 613 civilians mostly women and children were killed in the massacre, and a total of 1,000 people were disabled. Eight families were exterminated, 25 children lost both parents, and 130 children lost one parent. Moreover, 1,275 innocent people were taken hostage, and the fate of 150 of them remains unknown.












By Azernews





By Rashid Shirinov

The Republican party of Armenia, which is led by the President Sargsyan, risks to lose its power at the National Assembly of the country. The reason is that a new bloc has been formed in Armenia in the run-up to parliamentary elections scheduled for April 2.

At the recent meeting, the Board of the Heritage party made a decision to join the bloc created by the former Foreign Minister of Armenia Vartan Oskanyan and former Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan.

Following the decision, Seyran Ohanyan, Vartan Oskanian and Raffi Hovannisian signed a Memorandum on cooperation and the establishment of an electoral bloc with the Heritage and Consolidation parties of Armenia.

Three political figures will unite efforts to form the power of a new quality and for a radical change in the country, said the Deputy Chairman of the Heritage party Armen Martirosyan.

He announced that the Justice and Peoples parties, as well as a number of public organizations, joined the bloc.

Thus, increasing numbers of political sides gather together to confront Serzh Sargsyan and his entourage. It is likely that the Armenians will follow them too, as they are tired of suffering from the illogical and harmful policy of the current Armenian government.

The Armenian president, who is holding the post for almost nine years, constantly loses popularity in his country.

The power of a state consists of the authority of its leadership and of its attitude to the people. But Sargsyan has neither gained that authority nor improved the life of Armenians.

The poor economic indices of this Caucasian country and worsening life leaves no choice for the people but to migrate. The national debt of Armenia approaches to $6 billion, the 18-percent unemployment rate is the highest in the CIS area, and the state budget suffers from deficit every year. Furthermore, the GDP of Armenia has fallen by more than a billion dollars since 2008. That's what Sargsyan will leave in heritage for the nation after two terms in office as the president.

In addition, Armenia was issued three new credits for $180 million at the end of 2016, which shows that the government, and personally Sargsyan, cannot find a way to give an impetus to the Armenian economy, but to drag it into a deeper hole.

All these failures tremendously weakens the Armenian government, thus instigating numerous protests against the current authorities Armenians refuse to stay here  about 60,000 people left Armenia in 2016, while this number was near to 50,000 in 2015.

Increasing demands for the resignation of Sargsyan testifies for loss of credibility of the current government.

?n late 2016, Armenians shared several unflattering photos, in which they showed all the contempt for the president. For example, in one of the photos Sargsyan was shot while making the New Year congratulation on TV, and there were obscene gestures in the foreground, showing what people think about their president.

Another photo was taken during the protest of mothers whose sons died in non-combat conditions in the Armenian army. Sargsyan had met with the mothers and pledged to establish justice for their children, but, as usual, did not fulfill his promises. To protest, the women gathered in front of the presidents residence and burned and trampled the photos of Sargsyan from their meeting.

The policy of the Armenian government, which intends to preserve the status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh, isn't supported by majority of Armenians; therefore, people gather in front of government buildings to show the authorities their protest. However, their calls are, as always, being left without attention. Due to this, thousands of Armenian young men are being sent for military service in Nagorno-Karabakh where some of them become victims of the Armenia-incited war.

Even if Sargsyan had some remains of authority, by the end of 2016 he lost them too. So, now it's high time for the president to sit and think twice about his policy leading nowhere.
By Azernews





By Kamila Aliyeva

The forthcoming two-day talks in Astana on monitoring the ceasefire regime in Syria will serve as a groundwork for the much-anticipated reconciliation of Geneva peace talks which are scheduled for February 23.

The participants of the next meeting on Syria in Astana will discuss the monitoring of violations of the ceasefire regime and sanctions against violators, the head of the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan Kairat Abdrakhmanov said, TASS reported.

"In particular, the question of the fixation mechanism of the violations of the ceasefire regime, as well as the application of sanctions against violators will be discussed," he said.

According to the information from the guarantor countries - Russia, Turkey, and Iran, the document on the establishment of Task Force overseeing the ceasefire is going to be adopted at the meeting.

He explained that the document should formalize the activities of this group.

The forthcoming meeting will focus on the implementation of the ceasefire regime in the Syrian Arab Republic, on the measures to stabilize the situation in particular areas, on the adoption of rules for a joint operational group, and agreeing upon further measures on the consolidation of ceasefire regime, as well as on other practical steps in light of the upcoming intra-Syrian talks in Geneva.

"This is one of the most urgent issues, because the more the sphere of dissemination of the ceasefire expands, the more it is likely that in the end, peace, order, and stability will be restored in the Syrian land," the minister added.

The delegations of Damascus, Syrian armed opposition, UN representatives and Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura and representatives of Jordan and the United States were invited to the upcoming high-level meeting scheduled for February 15-16, 2017.

Kazakh foreign minister said that Turkish side is expected to provide information on the composition of its delegation and the armed Syrian oppositions participation in Astana talks.

Abdrakhmanov confirmed that "the delegations of the Russian Federation and the Syrian government have already arrived, while Iranian and Jordanian delegations are expected to come soon."

The participation of representatives of Jordan in the talks is an attempt to further decrease the flow of weapons into Syria as this country used to be a transit country for weapons and insurgents.

There is still no information about the participation of the representatives of the United States, although earlier Russia expressed its hope that the U.S. delegation will come as observers to the second round of talks.

"Information on the U.S. participation is yet to come," Abdrakhmanov said.

The first Astana talks on Syrian settlement brokered by Russia, Turkey, and Iran took place in the Kazakh capital on January 23- 24. They came as the first since the beginning of Syrian civil war in 2011 when the government of Syria and the armed opposition sat together at the negotiations table.

The talks resulted in Moscow-Tehran-Ankara agreement on the establishment of a tripartite mechanism to monitor the ceasefire in Syria.

Many experts assessed the agreement between Russia, Turkey, and Iran on the establishment of a tripartite mechanism as a step to a political solution which might end the six-year war.

Armed conflict continues in Syria since March 2011. Government troops are confronted by militants of different armed groups. Russia has begun airstrikes on terrorist facilities in Syria since 30 September 2015. The Russian military involvement follows an official request from President Bashar Assad to President Vladimir Putin.

The UN has repeatedly tried and failed to end the Syrian conflict, which has killed 300,000 and displaced 11 million since its beginning 6 years ago.
$30 million in funds available to cities and counties for recovery from Hurricane Matthew, western wildfires, and tropical storms

Contact: Ford Porter

Ford Porter govpress@nc.gov

Governor Roy Cooper today urged local governments affected by four 2016 natural disasters to apply for disaster relief funds immediately.Cooper said.Local governments are encouraged to apply for grants from $30 million in funds available through the Disaster Recovery Grants Program, offered in partnership by the Golden LEAF Foundation and the N.C. Department of Commerce's Rural Economic Development Division.The funds will aid recovery from Hurricane Matthew, wildfires that affected North Carolina's western counties, Tropical Storm Julia, and Tropical Storm Hermine. Grants will be awarded to local governments for repair, replacement, or construction of infrastructure projects like water, sewer, sidewalks, and storm damage, or similar projects.The Disaster Recovery Grants Program was authorized in December when the North Carolina General Assembly passed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2016, which allocate funds to both the North Carolina Department of Commerce's Rural Economic Development Division and the Golden LEAF Foundation. The two organizations developed a partnership to accept applications and distribute relief funds to qualifying projects.Projects that address urgent disaster relief, disaster recovery, and community resiliency will be prioritized. Initial applications for funding are due March 3, 2017, and initial grant awards will be distributed by April 6, 2017.For more information on eligibility and how to apply for the Disaster Recovery Grants Program, visit goldenleaf.org or nccommerce.com Disaster Recovery Grants Program representatives are holding meetings in Duplin, Craven, Wake, Pasquotank, and Martin Counties within the next two weeks to encourage affected local governments to apply for funding. Meetings have also been held in Henderson and Robeson Counties. More information is available from NC Commerce.
Arab Financial Services (AFS), a leading payment processing company in the Mena region, will host the first edition of the Middle East & Africa FinTech Forum in Bahrain on March 29.



The event, sponsored by Bank ABC and the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), will examine the latest trends and will see a discussion of both the challenges and opportunities in the Fintech sector. It will also provide an in-depth analysis of ways in which the financial industry in Mena can adapt to the dynamic technological changes driving the sector forward.



The Middle East & Africa FinTech Forum will see participation from a wide range of stakeholders including government officials, regulators, leading professionals and industry experts recognised locally and regionally.



Themed Fintech Disruption in the Financial Industry, the forum will provide an excellent networking opportunity for industry experts and key stakeholders, and is expected to be attended by individuals and organizations that will have a direct impact on the immediate future of FinTech within the region.



The forum will be opened by Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj, Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain, and will include panel discussions on the move towards a cashless economy; the regional FinTech opportunity; signs and measures of success; disruptive innovations in the financial industry; and more.



Sael Al Waary, chairman of AFS, said: FinTech aims to deliver innovative solutions in a rapidly evolving world while disrupting the financial industry. The regional financial sector has developed considerably over the past two decades and with this forum, we are hoping to bring the FinTech ecosystem together, helping connect start-ups, technology companies, investors, financial institutions and regulators to build stronger relationships and create opportunities for everyone.



B Chandrasekhar, chief executive officer of AFS, said: FinTech is an innovative and fast-growing sector presenting tremendous opportunities. This event will allow us to understand and analyse the FinTech revolution and help us position Bahrain as a leader in the journey towards a digital, cashless economy.



AFS is already a key player in providing new FinTech services and we have already introduced several innovations such as the first frictionless payment solution, in partnership with Batelco and Ithmaar Bank, in addition to Data Analytics, Loyalty, m-Commerce and e-Commerce solutions. We look forward to working with other local and regional organizations to introduce FinTech based solutions in the region.



The forum will be held at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay.  TradeArabia News Service
Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA) will feature a large pavilion dedicated to one of the UAEs largest petrochemical, chemical, oil and gas hubs at the StocExpo Middle East Africa to be held in Dubai, UAE on April 26 and 27.



The exhibition will feature over 100 international and local suppliers showcasing a broad range of the latest technologies, new products and valuable industry services. Exhibitors will reflect the entire supply chain, from tank design, construction and maintenance, through to innovations in metering and measuring, pumps and valves, automation and loading equipment and inspection and certification services.



Highlights of the exhibition will include:



 A display of manufactured gangways and loading platforms from SafeRack, that provides turnkey services to carriers of crude oil, natural gas and liquid products.



 The launch of the new FT7000 electronic rack monitor by first-time exhibitor Dixon Group, who will be showcasing their FloTech-branded overfill prevention system and Bayco petroleum products.



 Timm Elektronik will also be presenting its Overfill Prevention Controller EUS-2, a new generation of overfill prevention which puts future technology into practice today, with bus system interconnectivity specifically for use in hazardous areas.



 The unveiling of the new CorroLogic Aboveground Storage Tank (AST) dispensing system, for the protection of tank bottoms against soil-side corrosion, by Cortec Middle East. The system is designed to be integrated into the foundation structure of new tanks, as well as tanks undergoing complete floor replacement.



Nick Powell, StocExpo and Tank Storage portfolio director said: We are delighted to be partnering with one of the regions leading oil trading hubs. The support of the Hamriyah Free Zone Authority is extremely valuable to the growth and success of the show and we look forward to working together.



Rakesh Ranjan, chief development officer, (HFZA) said: StocExpo Middle East Africa is the perfect place to showcase our capabilities and attract leading petrochemical, chemical and oil & gas companies.  TradeArabia News Service
The demand for edible oil across Mena is on track to record a 5.3 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) by 2021, far outstripping the forecasted 3.8 per cent global average, according to Euromonitor International, the market research provider.



Euromonitor International also reported that soaring demand for olive oil, particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, is the result of an influx of Arab and Southern European expatriates and an increase in the number of health-conscious consumers.



Growing health awareness is enabling more oil brands to penetrate the market, a trend that is set to further extend consumer awareness and, therefore, build category sales, stated the Euromonitor report.



Oils from vegetables, nuts and fish are also in high demand among increasingly health-conscious consumers, along with low-impacting processing oils, in which nutrients are immune to heat - such as virgin olive oil, raw coconut oil and cold pressed walnut oil.



The growing interest in edible oils has given rise to a specialised Fat & Oils segment at next months Gulfood 2017, the 22nd edition of the worlds largest food and hospitality exhibition, which runs from February 26 to March 2 at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).



For the first time in its 30-year history, Gulfood 2017 will boast an evolved format where finished food and beverage products are divided into eight specialist sectors- a change designed to generate more direct access, deeper market insight and greater business potential for the 5,000 local, regional and international exhibitors and tens of thousands of visitors.



This dedicated segmented approach will greatly increase accessibility and trading potential as global food producers and traders establish new supply routes to reach customers and monetise opportunities in emerging markets, explained Trixie LohMirmand, senior vice president, Exhibitions & Events Management, DWTC.



It creates a heightened experience for buyers and traders of the various product groups by connecting them with the right experts in one place. This enables them to acquire greater market insights and make strategic purchasing decisions in a shorter timeframe.



The concept has received a welcome response from Gulfoods international exhibitor base, with 84 companies featuring in the Fats & Oils segment alone, including the worlds top olive oil producers from Italy, Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Tunisia and Algeria.



The Italian pavilion will feature key brands including Costa DOro, an innovative leader in the olive oil market segment globally; top selling olive oil producers Oleificio Zucchi and Olitalia Group; and family-owned extra virgin olive oil specialists Oleificio Rocchi.



Taking part in Gulfood for the fourth time, Xavier Vallet, export manager at Oleificio Zucchi, said: We have been producing high quality products since 1810, covering at first seeds oils and then also olive oils in which we have developed recent significant innovation such as traceability. Extra-virgin olive oil, pure olive oil and organic extra-virgin olive oils have gained popularity over the years, but as edible oils producers were are keen to showcase oils such as sunflower, soy, grapeseed and mixed seeds, and the versatility they offer. We have also launched our new product line made specifically for our B2C audience.



Being hosted in the Fats & Oils segment at Gulfood will allow us to meet important partners from countries located in the Middle-East in order to expand our business.



With the number of health-conscious consumers on the rise, UAE-based olive oil producer IFFCO, will be showcasing its Rahma Extra Virgin Olive Oil Special Harvest, which it claims has just 0.3 per cent acidity compared with 0.8 per cent found in most Extra Virgin Olive Oil.



This Olive Oil is produced by processing a rare variety of Olives. The process involves hand picking the best-quality olives, which are immediately taken to the mill in weather-controlled containers to ensure the fruit is in its freshest state before processing, said Sudhakar Gupta, director Business Development at IFFCO Group.



This is a unique proposition in the GCC region because no other known brand has this variety available for sale. Users of this variety are either consumers who missed having Olive Oil of high quality from their home country or existing users of Extra Virgin Olive Oil who enjoy adding a delicacy to their dining table.



This dedicated segment at Gulfood provides us with the perfect platform to showcase our high-quality products.



The biggest names in this important food commodities segment will be in Dubai to explore a market with consistently rising demand, concluded LohMirmand. The stage is set for some major deals to be struck.



Gulfood 2017 will feature 120 national pavilions including first-time participants Malta, Finland, Somalia and Azerbaijan, while international heads of state, ministers, government officials and scores of national trade associations eager to ink lucrative bi-lateral trade agreements will be among thousands of anticipated visitors.  TradeArabia News Service
McLaren Automotive has announced the first details of its new Composites Technology Centre based close to the campus of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) at the University of Sheffield.



Built with support from Sheffield City Council, the new Centre will be responsible for the development and manufacturing of the Monocell and Monocage carbon fibre chassis in future McLaren cars, said the company.



This next generation Monocell will be built using advanced automated manufacturing techniques developed in conjunction with the AMRC.



The new facility is due to start construction in early 2017 with the first pre-production carbon fibre chassis expected to be delivered to the McLaren Technology Centre in the second half of 2017 using trial manufacturing processes in the AMRC before going into full production by 2020, it said.



The creation of the new McLaren Composites Technology Centre represents the companys first purpose-built facility outside of the current McLaren campus. Formed through a partnership between McLaren Automotive, the University of Sheffields AMRC and Sheffield City Council, the new Composites Technology Centre will create more than 200 jobs through a combined investment of nearly 50 million.



The target is that the new centre will deliver cost savings of around 10 million when compared to costs of today and 100 million of GVA (gross value added) benefit to the local economy by 2028.



Opportunities for expansion thereafter create an ambition of doubling that to 200 million. The in-sourcing of the manufacture of the carbon fibre chassis also increases the average percentage (by value) of a McLaren car sourced in the UK by around eight per cent from its average of around 50 percent, depending on model, the company said.



The AMRC was established in 2001 as a 15 million collaboration between the University of Sheffield and aerospace giant Boeing with the purpose of using Sheffields traditional expertise in materials and machining, and applying those skills for future technological development. In 2004, the AMRC moved into the purpose-built Advanced Manufacturing Park in Sheffield and, in 2008, opened the Rolls-Royce Factory of the Future. In 2012, the Factory of the Future expanded to include an enlarged Composite Centre.



In 2015, the AMRCs Factory 2050 was opened as the UKs first fully reconfigurable assembly and component manufacturing facility for collaborative research, capable of rapidly switching between different high-value components and one-off parts. The 7,000-sq-m building is home to the ARMCs Integrated Manufacturing Group with open-plan desk space integrated with high-tech assembly and manufacturing  much like the existing McLaren Production Centre in Woking, Surrey. The new McLaren Composites Technology Centre will be sited near to the AMRC campus.



The McLaren Composites Technology Centre will be housed in a 7,000 sq m building set over four acres and will be responsible for the research and development of future Monocell and Monocage carbon fibre chassis as well as the manufacturing of the chassis itself. The 200 new employees will comprise approximately 150 production staff and 50 manufacturing support staff. - TradeArabia News Service


Lawyers for NCGA say confirmation process enhances transparency; Cooper's team instead refers to it as 'tyranny'



From left, Superior Court Judges Todd Burke, Jesse Caldwell III, and Jeffrey Foster hear arguments on Friday from lawyers representing Gov. Roy Cooper and the General Assembly in a lawsuit challenging the legislature's power to force confirmation hearings on Cabinet officers. (CJ photo by John Trump)

"We agree with the chief judge who said questions about these nominees' qualifications, potential conflicts of interest, and willingness to follow the law are 'relevant and germane.' But for the governor's lawyer to compare a simple confirmation process to ensure transparency and accountability to our taxpayers to 'tyranny' makes absolutely no sense. Does Gov. Cooper think Sen. Elizabeth Warren is a 'tyrant' for commanding answers from President Trump's cabinet nominees? Does Gov. Cooper think President Trump's cabinet should have been seated without Senate confirmation?"

A three-judge panel heard arguments Friday over whether to grant a temporary injunction blocking Senate confirmation of Gov. Roy Cooper's Cabinet nominees.That same panel - Superior Court Judges Jesse Caldwell III, Todd Burke, and Jeffrey Foster - on Tuesday issued a temporary restraining order in favor of Cooper, who has filed a lawsuit citing constitutional issues in the confirmation process, the root of which came with a measure, House Bill 17 , passed by the General Assembly in December.The injunction would effectively extend the TRO until the lawsuit goes to trial in March.Cooper names in the lawsuit Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, and House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland.The hearing in the Wake County Courthouse on Friday lasted more than 2 1/2 hours as lawyers from both sides presented arguments that largely centered around separation of powers and the Senate's constitutional limits to advise and to consent.Cooper, say his lawyers, believes the Senate confirmation process as defined in House Bill 17, particularly Part III, Section 38, violates the separation-of-powers clause and, as a consequence, inserts the Senate into a core function of the executive.Attorney Noah Huffstetler III, representing Berger and Moore, said the confirmation as stated in the law is simple, straightforward, and transparent, all the while displaying the virtue of efficiency.Cooper's team argued the Senate is simply failing to follow the law.Attorney Jim Phillips, representing the governor, said Cooper's claims stand on their merits and referred to the case as an example of legislative overreach. He said the Senate is treating the separation-of-powers clause as the proverbial "bump in the road" and that the legislative interpretation of "advise and consent" interferes with a core function of the governor in appointing his Cabinet, whose members will set the course for the state and uphold the law. The Senate process, as written in the law, causes irreparable in a number of ways, not the least of which involves a failure to follow statutes and the state constitution.Cooper, Huffstetler and his team argued, can't possibly show irreparable harm unless and until a nominee comes before the Senate and is disapproved.The Senate, despite Cooper's legal maneuvers, have nevertheless tried to proceed with the confirmation processWednesday, senators waited for Larry Hall, the veterans and military affairs secretary nominee, to appear at a scheduled hearing. Hall never showed Committee Co-Chairman Wesley Meredith, R-Cumberland, said the confirmation hearing would be reset, pledging,The judges Friday directed pointed questions at both sides. A list of questions for nominees, though legitimate and germane, said Caldwell, could prove cumbersome and inherently time-consuming. If the legislature thought the executive branch was out of control, Burke asked, then why hasn't already been proposed and passed. Why is it now so compelling?The defendants' team called the confirmation process a positive thing for North Carolina, as that relates to open government and a strong system of checks and balances. It's good, sound public policy and is probably overdue, they said.To a judge's question, Cooper's team responded that the separation-of-powers clause is a protection for the people against tyranny.In a news release, Berger's office shot back.
Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates airline, has unveiled a unique decal featuring a rose on one of its Boeing 777-F freighter aircraft ahead of the Valentines Day. The decal, installed at the Emirates Aircraft Appearance Centre in Dubai, is the first of its kind for Emirates SkyCargo and highlights the strong contribution made by the air cargo carrier to the floriculture industry through the transport of fresh flowers across the world.
Passengers are constantly looking to technology to improve their travel experience - from planning flights and accommodation to translating another language at a restaurant or settling costs after the trip.



Having some help on your phone is a must when going out and about and travel provider HolidayMe has rounded up the top travel apps that will make every stage of a trip easier and more enjoyable.



1.Yelp (Free on iOS and Android)

No matter where the destination, one of the prime factors of a holiday is going to be food, and thats where Yelp comes in! With its outstanding database of restaurants, convenient filters, images, reviews, ratings, and a lot more; Yelp can pretty much help travellers zero in on the best place to head out for a meal, for a drink, or even for a coffee!



2. TripIt (Free on iOS and Android)

If theres one app travellers can rely on to manage a travel like a pro, its got to be Tripit. This wicked app is indeed an indispensable tool that helps people organise their travel in a systematic way. All that needs to be done is forward all travel details and confirmation emails (hotel bookings, car rental info, flight details, restaurant reservations etc.) to a Tripit address (free), and the app will convert all this info into a convenient and easy to follow trip itinerary  all of this in a neat little folder that can be accessed anywhere, anytime!



3. Instagram (Free on iOS and Android)

A stellar combination of remarkable social networking features, flawless photo sharing capabilities, amazing filters and photo-editing effects; make Instagram one hell of an app. Hands down one of the most popular photo apps out there, Instagram is what every traveller needs in order to capture and share their ultimate travel moments with friends and loved ones.



4. Gas Buddy (Free on iOS and Android)

This nifty app allows travellers to enter a ZIP code or uses their phones GPS to help them spot the closest gas station around them, and that too, ones with the cheapest fuel prices (in USA and Canada)! Since this is a community-driven app, users can also update the latest real-time fuel prices in their area!



5. XE Currency (Free on iOS and Android)

XE currency is one of the top apps for foreign exchange rates. XE currency helps travellers keep a check on how much theyre spending. In a matter of seconds, this intelligent app gives comprehensive and accurate currency exchange rates, letting users know exactly how much theyre spending in their home currency!



6. GateGuru (Free on iOS and Android)

If air travel is something that is done pretty often, add GateGuru to the arsenal of travel apps right away. Air travel entails a lot of delays often, long stop-overs at unfamiliar airports, endless waiting at the airport, and what not! While waiting at the airport, rather than letting boredom get the better of you, allow GateGuru to use its database and help you discover a hoard of cafes, stores, restaurants, souvenir stores, and more. Whats more, you can even use the app to rent a car, to check your flight status, arrival-departure times, gate number alerts, and a lot more!



7. AirportParking (Only available on iOS  Free)

Not many of us are blessed with airports that are located close to the city centre. Most airports are far-flung, which means travelling to the airport via cab/taxi/public transport can cost a bomb. In such a scenario, drive down in your own car would seem more sensible, and you can allow AirportParking to handle the rest. This brilliant app helps you find, book and reserve discounted parking from a database of over 100 airports (USA, UK, Canada, Ireland). You can even compare parking lots based on the location, price, services, and user reviews.



8. Google Maps (Free on iOS and Android)

Google Maps is the ultimate app in the market for maps and navigation, with flawless street views, satellite data, and 3D views of Google Maps make getting from point A to point B unbelievably easy. Furthermore, the apps clean and intuitive interface, and its incredible mapping accuracy, make it an absolute must-have for travellers.



9. PackPoint (Available on Android  Free)

Anyone who knows what a nightmare packing can be, will appreciate this handy app. Just tell this ingenious app where youre heading, with whom and for how long, and itll suggest you a list of what all you need to carry! Be it clothes, essentials or even gadgets, let this bad boy tell you what goes into your suitcase!



10. Foodspotting (Free on iOS and Android)

The app acts like a visual guide and suggests places where travellers can find dishes they're craving for  within their locality! Be it pizza or paella, dosa or dumplings, burgers or burritos, they can just tell the app what they fancy eating and enter their location, and the app will spit out a list of visual recommendations and reviews from fellow app users. - TradeArabia News Service
Christine Allison

Memorial services for Christine Allison, 58, were held Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, at the First United Methodist Church, with Kandi Henderson officiating. She died Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017, in Casper. Bustards Funeral Home is assisting the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Casper Humane Society or the American Cancer Society.

Sharon Rose Haddix

No services for Sharon Rose Haddix, 59, are planned at this time. She died Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017, in Casper. Bustards Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Mary E. Hein

Memorial services for Mary E. Hein, 83, were held Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, at the First United Methodist Church, 318 East Second St. She died Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, at Newcomer Funeral Home, 710 East Second St. Newcomer Funeral Home is assisting the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Central Wyoming Hospice, the First United Methodist Church, or the Dementia Care of Wyoming.

Ann Manka

Funeral services for Ann Manka, 92, were held Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, at Newcomer Funeral Home. Burial will be at Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery. She died Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017, at the Life Care Center in Casper. Newcomer Funeral Home is assisting the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1350 East C St., Casper, WY 82601.

Frank Muratore

Services for Frank Muratore, 92, were held Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, at the Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery Chapel, with military rights accorded by the Wyoming Army National Guard and the Natrona County United Veterans Council. He died Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Casper. Mr. Muratore served in the U.S. Army. Bustards Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Alice Irene (Spencer) Barr

Graveside services for Alice Irene (Spencer) Barr, 86, were held Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, at the Glenrock Cemetery. She died Friday, Feb. 3, 2017, at the Life Care Center in Casper. Newcomer Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Richard Rick Kostenbauer

Memorial services for Richard Rick Kostenbauer, 69, were held Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, at Newcomer Funeral Home Chapel. He died Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017, at the Wyoming Medical Center. Mr. Kostenbauer served in the U.S. Navy during Vietnam. Newcomer Funeral Home is assisting the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Casper Shrine Club, 1501 West 39th St., Casper, WY 82604.

Sandra Sandy Elaine Ledbetter

Funeral services for Sandra Sandy Elaine Ledbetter, 61, were held Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, at Bustards Funeral Home, with Pastor Rodney Austin from the Set Free Church officiating. Interment will follow at the Highland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 12 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, at the funeral home. She died Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017, in Casper. Bustards Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Aurora Lynn Rohrer

A celebration of life for Aurora Lynn Rohrer, 16, was held Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, at the Kelly Walsh High School Auditorium. She died Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017, at Wyoming Medical Center in Casper. Newcomer Funeral Home is assisting the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kelly Walsh Dance Team.

Thomas G. Schumann

Memorial services for Thomas G. Schumann, 92, were held Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, at the First Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Mark Tippin officiating. He died Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Casper. Mr. Schumann served in the U.S. Air Force. Bustards Funeral Home is assisting the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Casper.

Sharon Ann Spaulding

Memorial services for Sharon Ann Spaulding, 68, were held Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, at Bustards Funeral Home. She died Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017, in Casper. Bustards Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Sandra L. Sandy Blair

Funeral services for Sandra L. Sandy Blair, 65, were held Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, at Bustards Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Highland Cemetery. She died Monday, Feb. 6, 2017, in Casper. Memorial contributions may be made to the Central Wyoming Hospice or the Casper Humane Society.

William Bill Bon

Funeral services for William Bill Bon, 93, were held Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, at the St. Marks Episcopal Church, with military rights accorded by the Natrona County United Veterans Council and the Navy Funeral Honors. He died Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017, in Casper. Mr. Bon was a World War II Veteran serving as a Naval Officer. Memorial contributions may be to a charity of the donors choice.

Beverly Burd

Memorial services for Beverly Burd, 88, were held Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, at Highland Park Community Church. She died Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, at Wyoming Medical Center. Newcomer Funeral Home is assisting the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Central Wyoming Hospice and Transitions.

Robert Paul Garner

Services for Robert Paul Garner, 52, were held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, at Bustards Funeral Home, with Fr. Stephen Ziton officiating. He died Monday, Feb. 6, 2017, in Casper. Mr. Garner served in the U.S. Army.

Donna Marlene Wirth

Funeral services for Donna Marlene Wirth, 83, were held Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, at Lighthouse Baptist Church. Private burial will be held at a later date. She died Monday, Feb. 6, 2017, in Casper. Bustards Funeral Home is assisting the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimers Disease Research, the Alzheimers Association or the local chapter or the Central Wyoming Hospice and Transitions Program.
A Natrona County judge sentenced a Casper man Tuesday to more than six years in prison for forcing an elementary-aged girl to touch his genitals.

Rick Olsen will serve the Natrona County District Court sentence at the same time as his 80-month sentence from federal court for possession of child pornography.

State and federal law enforcement arrested Olsen in May after they found sexual images of prepubescent girls on his phone, court documents show.

During the investigation into the porn, agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the FBI found a message that said Olsen had been hands on with a young girl, according to the documents.

The agents contacted Casper police for help investigating the allegations of sexual abuse. In an interview, the girl, who is now 8, told investigators that Olsen once forced her to touch his penis when she was younger, according to the documents. She said the abuse happened between May 2014 and June 2015.

A federal judge sentenced Olsen to a maximum of 80 months in prison in November after Olsen pleaded guilty to the child pornography charge. He will serve his sentence for the sexual abuse of a minor charge concurrently.
Wyoming has not always been my home.

My arrival happened almost by accident. I was looking for a job, and there was one here.

But the decision wasnt easy. I come from a land of endless glittering lakes, of swaths of golden beach and of small mountains of piled-up snow. My family lives there. My memories and history are there.

But an opportunity had arisen, and on careful calculation it was one that made sense. I could come try out Wyoming for a couple of years  live in an entirely new and wild and lovely landscape, brimming with ochres and azures Id seen only on childhood trips to Arizona  and reevaluate after that. If I loved it, I could stay. If the adventure had run its course, I could go.

Ill admit the latter sounded more likely at the time. I was prepared to love my new home, but my family would be so far away. I wasnt sure I could do it.

By the time I started really worrying, though, it was too late  I had already decided. We stuffed a moving van with too many things, weighed down my slightly rusty compact car with the rest and set off.

The traveling party  my mother, myself and my darling round orange cat  set off for the West one morning. The cat, though elderly, asthmatic and at least partially blind, was a surprisingly good traveler. She began the journey with a plan to aggressively sniff every 18-wheeler we passed, and when she wasnt menacing oncoming traffic through the passenger window, she slept happily on the heating pad that covered my lap. Days later, she achieved what I have to imagine is a rare milestone among indoor cats from Michigan: She witnessed the faces of the presidents carved into Mount Rushmore. (She sniffed those, too.)

My mother, meanwhile, drove every mile between Wisconsin and Wyoming. We had meant to share the driving, and I kept offering, but once she felt the pull of being away, of driving roads shed never driven before, she wanted to keep going.

The region was going through what I now realize was less of a polar vortex and more of just plain winter, and temperatures were in the minus 20-degree range when we woke each morning in a different hotel room. But there was no snow, and winds were light. We watched in awe as the blue sky stretched above us, as endless as the glittering lakes we knew.

I feel freer here, my mom observed from behind her sunglasses, holding the wheel somewhere in Nebraska.

I had thought my journey would take me farther from family, add distance between me and the people I loved most. I had not anticipated that we could grow to love this land and this place together.

I also did not anticipate the warmth that would be waiting here. I dropped off my mother at the airport early on the morning of my first day at work and sobbed all the way home. But when I reached the office an hour or two later, when I met many of the people who would eventually become family, I learned to relax. It didnt happen right away. Too much was still too new. But with each passing day, I found myself leaning deeper into this new life.

That was three years ago last week.

The darling orange cat lived out the rest of her days in the arid West, sniffing contentedly at passersby through the apartment windows. These days, a blue-eyed beauty  still mostly a kitten when I found her at the shelter here  clambers onto my lap. The rusty car and I traveled many more miles together, but it wasnt young even then. It has since been replaced with a vehicle that starts when I turn the key.

I continue to be amazed at my great Western adventure. Ive swum miles in Alcova Reservoir and scrambled on riverside rocks. Ive seen the Tetons and visited Yellowstone National Park. Ive sipped beer in Ten Sleep and played in a fresh layer of snow in the Bighorns. Ive soaked in Thermopolis and navigated the curve in the interstate near Green River. Ive stood beneath a mammoth statue in Worland and gone on a reporting assignment in Rawlins. Ive wandered the Capitol in Cheyenne and devoured vegetarian food in Laramie. And I have so much left to do.

Every day, I look out the window of my new Wyoming home, the one I revel in sharing with someone I love, and let my eyes trace the long, low slope of Casper Mountain. I think of the friends Ive made here  of the people who have come to mean so much to me in this relatively short time  and I am very, very grateful.

Thank you, Wyoming, for a wonderful three years.
CHEYENNE  The $91 million that the Wyoming Senate cut from public education will be used as a bargaining chip with the House as the two chambers negotiate the budget bill and other legislation, the second-ranking Republican in the upper chamber of the Legislature said late Monday afternoon.

I dont think the majority of the Senate is interested in having all $91 million (in cuts) coming in the next school year, said Senate Majority Floor Leader Drew Perkins of Casper. But I think what were trying to do is create a vehicle for negotiations with the House.

The Wyoming Senate passed a budget bill Friday that cuts from public education and employee salaries and benefits. It slashes $91 million to K-12 schools, effective next school year.

At the same time, Senate File 1 also provides more money than previously proposed to suicide and substance abuse prevention, the University of Wyoming and the states community colleges.

The House was still working on its version of the budget bill, House Bill 1, Monday evening. The Legislatures lower chamber was debating amendments at press time.

The Senate finished its work on the budget Friday. Usually the House finishes the same day.

Gov. Matt Mead made $250 million in cuts over the summer. The Legislature is now debating cutting or spending savings for another $156 million to balance the states two-year, $3 billion budget. Schools are funded separately from other government, and face an anticipated $400 million annual shortfall in coming years for a budget thats now sits at $1.5 billion annually.

On Monday, the House didnt get to the budget bill until the afternoon. The Legislatures lower chamber discussed other bills in the morning and early afternoon, leaving representatives confused as to why a bill thats so exigent has been delayed.

Democratic Rep. Stan Blake of Green River posted to Twitter: 2:37 in the afternoon and now we are starting to finish House Bill 1, 3rd reading amendments. Dazed and Confused.

If the House adopts a budget bill, then both chambers will begin the process of reconciling their bills differences. The final budget bill has to be the same in both chambers.

Education cuts

Perkins said the $91 million reduction to education was just $12 million more than what is proposed in House Bill 236 or Senate File 165, legislation that originated in each chamber that proposes sweeping changes  and cuts  to schools.

The cuts in the House and Senate education bills would be made over a number of years. The cut advanced Friday during the Senates budget discussions would be immediate if adopted by the full Legislature, said Perkins, the Senate leader.

The difference was it accelerated it, it would be in the next school year, Perkins said. Were trying to find some ways that will have some meaning for negotiations for the House.

The House education bill comes with a 0.5 percent sales tax increase if the rainy day fund is drained below $500 million. The sales tax goes away under certain financial conditions, too.

But in the Senate, the House bills sales levy is in peril because Senate President Eli Bebout, R-Riverton, has said he opposes any tax increases.

The House, meantime, is not considering any measures to decrease school funding by $91 million.

Employee cuts

The Senate also passed a budget amendment Friday that would take 2 percent from the pot of money that pays for employee salaries or benefits, Perkins said.

Gov. Matt Mead and his agency heads will be able to choose how to realize those figures  which will save the state over $6 million a year starting July 1, if the House agrees to a similar measure.

The executive branch could realize the savings through removing vacant positions or cutting salaries or benefits. Last year, Perkins said the state was able save roughly $40 million just because it had put away more money for benefits than it needed. If the state is lucky again, another so-called rate holiday could fulfill the Senates 2 percent reduction requirement, he said.

Perkins said hes talked to people in the private sector who are suffering.

They would love to have to deal with a 2 or 4 percent reduction, as opposed to a 35 to 40 percent reduction, he said. The whole point of the budget is to decrease spending from the general fund.

Senate budget

The original version of the budget bill had $2.1 million in cuts to the contract for substance abuse and suicide prevention. The Senate restored that cut by $1 million from some unexpected Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund money that came to the state, Perkins said.

The House rejected a similar measure Friday and the differences will have to be settled in negotiation between the two chambers.

The Senates budget also provides an additional $1 million to the University of Wyoming and $600,000 to the states community colleges that had been cut out of the budget bill.

Otherwise, most of provisions in the original budget bill remain intact, Perkins said.

In a prepared statement, Bebout said he was proud of the work his chamber did on the budget.

The Senate passed a budget bill that reflects responsible, conservative principles. Republicans in the legislature are working for Wyoming to keep government limited, to return local control to Wyoming communities and to be responsive to the needs of Wyoming families, he said.
Much as Martin Center readers may disparage Marxism, there is one author who deserves our attention. Antonio Gramsci was an Italian Marxist who lived and wrote around the turn of the century, and his most important contribution was to a theory of cultural hegemony, one that explains why the academic Left is so up in arms about Trump's election.The idea of cultural hegemony is well known today, but used in such a vague and cliched way that it deserves a fresh look. Gramsci's point is that raw power only succeeds within a discourse that legitimizes it. That discourse doesn't need to be logically or factually correct, but it needs to create a shared understanding that legitimizes the exercise of power. For example, since 9/11, rhetoric exaggerating the danger of terrorism has been used to justify curbing Americans' civil liberties.Since those already in power employ the intellectual class to justify their own positions, anyone seeking change must create space for an alternative discourse, one in which the marginalized can imagine that change is possible. Thus, the "counter-culture" was born. With slogans like "don't trust anyone over thirty" and "question authority," radicals in the 60s and 70s cracked open the previously dominant discourse and made it possible for others to believe in their vision for society.The 70s ended a long time ago, but Gramsci's heirs today dominate college faculties, social media, and newsrooms. In short, progressives now control cultural discourse. No matter how much academics cling to their fantasy that they are "speaking truth to power," the counter-culture isn't "counter" anymore-it's the status quo.Justified by that discourse is the concrete exercise of power: the monolithic left-wing attitudes of federal workers who make law in today's administrative state. Directly or indirectly, the State now makes its presence felt in every corner of our lives, and progressive discourse rationalizes it all. The academic Left now provides an apologetic for State control over ever more of Americans' daily lives, just like the medieval theologians that justified Church control.Take the opposition to Betsy DeVos's nomination for Secretary of Education, for example. She and her supporters understand her agenda as a reaction to the failure of public education-a system that traps those at the bottom in a cycle of poverty while protecting those in power, like school administrators and families who can afford to move out of underperforming districts.Instead of confronting this argument directly, the Left stigmatizes anyone who challenges their position. Even prior to this election cycle, an article by Professor Terran Lane in thereferred to inadequate enthusiasm for spending tax dollars on public education asand one can find plenty of similar examples.The crucial point here is how Professor Lane conflates two different things: education itself, and the interests of those whom the current system empowers. Labels like "anti-education" and "anti-intellectual" protect educators' self-interest by delegitimizing alternatives they don't dominate.That way, speakers can render impossible debates about the best ways to educate 21st Century American children by preemptively asserting that alternative visions of education are, in this looking-glass world, actually schemes to prevent education.No need to address critics' arguments. No need to wonder whether more government spending is really the best answer. By excluding critics from acceptable discourse, one can prevent the American people from even imagining alternatives-exactly what Gramsci insisted those in power would always try to do.The real problem with Betsy DeVos isn't that she opposes education, but rather the unapologetic nature of her attack on the power structures in American education. That threatens those power structures in a way Gramsci would have understood.And education is just one example of a widespread practice. A colleague of mine once told me that those (like me) who applauded Justice Scalia's jurisprudence did so because we want a return to the racial politics of the 1780s.Anyone familiar with the arguments for small government-some of which were old before Columbus sailed West-knows how silly such charges are, but Gramsci helps us understand why a left-wing professor might make them, and perhaps even believe them. If the racist label sticks, it prevents well-meaning individuals from even imagining a world in which the State returns power to citizens.Again, notice how this protects the interests of those in power. Four of the five richest counties in the U.S. are now suburbs of D.C.-enriched by profiting off the government's extensive control over the economy. How can this inequality be justified and protected? By calling critics racist, of course.In fact, I think this explains much of why the professoriate is so inflamed over Trump's election.He is no radical conservative; he's a former Democrat who once donated money to Hillary Clinton's senate campaign. But by his-and his associates'-disregard for the limits the Left tries to set on permissible thought, he's creating space for a new counter-culture. When Trump publicly shrugs at progressive shibboleths, it empowers others to imagine alternatives, just like the 60s slogans did.In short, he directly attacks professors' (and the media's) usefulness to those holding real power.That makes 2017 an exciting time for conservatives, especially in academia. I imagine this is what the 60s radicals felt like, knowing that by our lives and our teaching we open others' eyes to alternatives that those in power try to stamp out.I don't know what policies Trump will pursue as president, but his campaign and election have already accomplished something important by empowering a new counter-culture. The academic Left will bring out their tired old smears and attack the ethics and motives of their opponents, but the election suggests that more and more Americans see those insults for the self-serving rhetoric they are.For the sake of our students' education, let's make the most of this chance.
A budget amendment advanced in the Wyoming Senate would restore funding to the University of Wyoming and the states seven community colleges.

The measure would also exempt the institutions from a budget bill provision requiring Gov. Matt Mead to identify 75 positions for elimination in coming years. But similar amendments failed in the House on Monday, meaning the restored funding and job cut exemption will be subject to negotiations between the House and Senate.

The university and the community colleges have both faced budget cuts as Wyomings energy industry languishes amid a two-year downturn. UW has lost around $42 million in funding, while the Community College Commission instituted an 8 percent, $20.2 million cut earlier this fiscal year.

But the Senates budget amendment, sponsored by Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie, would give the university more than $1 million and the community colleges more than $590,000.

It would also protect the schools from a provision in the budget bill that would mandate the governor either eliminate 75 positions by June 30, 2018, or cut equivalent funding to programs and activities.

However, Chris Boswell, UWs vice president for governmental and community affairs, said the position-elimination provision wouldnt have affected the university or the community colleges regardless.

Rothfuss said Friday that because the university and the colleges receive their funding in a lump-sum block grant, a cut to their budget will hit them immediately. He added that the institutions also have worked to cut their budgets, and he accused agencies of not taking the same approach.

We cant treat the agencies and colleges and university equally, he told fellow lawmakers.

Sen. Michael Von Flatern agreed that the schools had done their part to trim their budget during a tough economic time. He warned that if the schools were cut again now, then they might be reduced more in the future.

But Sen. Bruce Burns, a Sheridan Republican, argued that UW and the seven community colleges needed to continue doing their part. Nobody wants to be cut, he said.

As to whether we think its fair, is it fair to any other agency? he said.

Ultimately, the Senate passed the provision by a vote of 17 to 13.

On Monday, three days after the Senate approved the amendment, the House killed two similar provisions to its budget bill. The amendments would have exempted the University of Wyoming and the community colleges from being considered in a provision in the proposed budget that would force Mead to identify 75 positions for elimination by next year.

Rep. Dan Furphy, R-Laramie, said 400 employees will soon be gone from UW, given the number of cuts and early retirement offers that the school has implemented.

Four hundred employees in our community losing their jobs is having a very negative impact on our economy, he said.

However, Rep. Bob Nicholas, a chairman of the Joint Appropriations Committee, said that 100 positions were already vacant.

Rep. David Northrup, R-Powell, tried to restore $590,000 that the budget bill removes from community colleges. That amendment, too, failed.

He argued it was a matter of fairness. Colleges obtain a portion of property taxes, but since property values vary wildly throughout the state, some recent property tax decreases have been more detrimental to some than others. He said UW doesnt rely on property taxes.

Rep. Lloyd Larsen, R-Lander, successfully argued against Northrups budget amendment, saying no one college will have to absorb the cut.

Were spreading this cut over seven community colleges, he said.

Another amendment would have slashed UWs block grant by $1.2 million. Roy Edwards, a Gillette Republican, said he wanted university salaries to decrease by 4 percent but he couldnt cut them since salaries are part of the block grant. If private industry is suffering, people shouldnt have to continue funding UW, he said.

Lawmakers rejected the budget amendment, agreeing with Rep. Tom Walters, who called it a poke in the eye to UW.
CHEYENNE  A Senate committee on Monday scaled back a bill that modifies the penalty structure for marijuana possession and closes the edibles loophole for marijuana-containing products.

House Bill 197 was passed by the House of Representatives last week on a 52-6-2 vote. Under the House version of the bill, each consecutive marijuana possession offense  regardless of the form of the drug  carried higher penalties, provided the crimes occurred within a five-year look-back period.

But the Senate Judiciary Committee approved amendments to the bill that extend the look-back period to the originally proposed 10 years and drops the plant form of marijuana out of the bill completely, meaning the tiered penalty system would apply only to edibles and other THC-containing products.

The latter amendment also means the existing penalty structure for the plant form of marijuana would remain in place.

The committee did not take a vote on the bill, instead deciding to table the issue until Wednesday or a committee meeting next week.

Committee members said that would allow time to review changes to the bill, as well as proposed changes offered by state agencies and others.

Under the proposed law as amended by the Senate committee, someone caught with 8 ounces of a marijuana-infused product would face a fine of up to $200 and/or 20 days in jail for a first offense. The punishments increase to a felony on the fourth offense.

The goal of the bill, originally sponsored by Rep. Jared Olsen, R-Cheyenne, is to close the edibles loophole, which refers to the situation in Wyoming law that does not adequately address edibles or other marijuana products, compared with the plant form of marijuana.

The Legislature has attempted to close the edibles loophole in the past, but lawmakers have been unable to come to an agreement on the issue.

In September, the Legislatures Joint Judiciary Interim Committee discussed a complete overhaul of marijuana punishments that would have created a tiered system of penalties for all forms of marijuana. But at its November meeting, the committee declined to move forward with that bill.

Law enforcement representatives have spoken in favor of Olsens bill, saying it gives clarity on how to deal with edibles and other marijuana products.

However, there were still concerns over what weight limits should be in the law and the availability of treatment options for those convicted of marijuana possession.

In addition, other lawmakers have been in favor of decriminalizing marijuana possession, at least on the first offense, and attempts in the House were made to insert such a provision in Olsens bill.

Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne, said she wasnt comfortable with moving the bill forward as now written, in part due to the concerns brought to the committee and the number of amendments offered for the bill.

This bill is not ready for prime time, she said.

But Sen. Larry Hicks, R-Baggs, argued the Joint Judiciary Committee has been working on the issue since the edibles loophole emerged and said something needs to be passed.

This is one of those issues we are never going to come to consensus on in the state of Wyoming, he said.

The committee may decide to advance the bill after it is discussed again. If the bill is changed in the Senate, those changes must be reconciled with the version passed by the House.
Twenty-four hours before Ina Road was set to shut down for two years, Hooters in Marana announced Tuesday that it would be closing for good this Sunday.

The reason: Restricted access because of the $148 million state Ina Road improvement project that will cut off traffic from both sides of Ina near Interstate 10. The road closures will go into effect early Wednesday and continue through 2019.

Unfortunately with the restricted access due to Ina road closures and construction, it is time for us to close this site, Dave Peterson, the regional manager for the Colorado-based Hooters franchise operator, announced in a written release. The franchisee owns the Ina Road restaurant and a new Hooters that recently opened at 7280 E. Broadway.

Hooters, meanwhile, will move the Marana restaurant, located inside Bedroxx Bowling at 4385 W. Ina Road, to West Irvington Road and Interstate 19, across the street from a new shopping plaza set to open in 2019. Peters said he also expects to open in 2019.

Hooters Marana opened in early 1999 in what was then the New West/Gotham night club. The club closed in 2002 and Bedroxx opened in spring 2003.

Peterson said business started falling off months ago when the initial Ina Road construction began. Several businesses, including Chuys and Waffle House, both located on Ina near I-10, closed late last spring and early summer.

Our goal is to hopefully be able to ride it out, but weve seen the sales drop drastically and we had to make a decision, Peterson said.

We had a great run and we have a lot of loyal people in that area who have been a part of us that whole time.

Bedroxx owner Cyndi Johnson said Hooters still has months left on its current lease, which she said expires in October. As of Tuesday, no one from the restaurant had officially informed her of Sundays closing; she said she learned of it from Hooters employees.

Johnson said that according to the lease agreement, Hooters needs to give her 60 days notice that it wants out. Once that happens, she said she plans to expand Bedroxx into the Hooters space and create a laser tag room and more activities to appeal to adults and kids.

We want to make Bedroxx a one-stop shopping: we want stuff for adults, stuff for teens, stuff for kids, she said.

Johnson said she isnt too worried that the Ina Road closing will greatly impact her business. Bedroxx, which hosts bowling leagues and private parties including its popular kids birthday parties, is more of a destination business. People usually set out to go to Bedroxx and will find their way even if it means taking a detour, she said.

We have the worst location as it is, but they still manage to make it here, Johnson said. Were hoping we can plug it through the next 24 months. Look at the bright side: In 24 months, were going to be a great location.
Microblading, an eyebrow-shaping trend popping up on social media feeds, isnt regulated in Arizona and may come with health risks, according to experts.

Generally, microblading is small incisions into the skin, implanting pigment under the skin in the upper dermal layer, said Adele LaVoie, a licensed aesthetician and owner of French Method Salon in Phoenix.

The procedure lasts 12 to 18 months and requires frequent touch-ups, LaVoie said. She also acknowledges the health risks that come with microblading.

The biggest risk is infection, LaVoie said. There are risks for people who have autoimmune disorders with the infection not being able to heal properly.

When a consumer goes into a licensed salon, theyre assuming all the services are regulated by the board, and thats not the case all the time, said Joanne Ayotte, compliance department manager for the Arizona Board of Cosmetology.

The simple fact that theres an incision in the skin puts that particular service beyond our scope of practice, Ayotte said.

LaVoie suggested microblading isnt regulated because its so new, but Ayotte said thats not the case.

It has nothing to do with the fact that its new, it has to do with the fact that its invasive, says Ayotte.

People who are considering microblading their brows should research extensively to make sure your technician is experienced, LaVoie said. It will lower your risk of infection or a botched job.
The Salt River Project, Tucson Electric Power and other owners of the Navajo Generating Station voted Monday to keep the plant running through 2019  if a lease extension agreement can be reached with the Navajo Nation.

The agreement avoids a shutdown of the plant this year, preserving for now some 1,000 jobs, but the plant would be closed after late December 2019 unless the Navajo Nation or some other entity decides to operate it.

The utility owners do not make this decision lightly, Mike Hummel, deputy general manager of SRP, the plant's operator and biggest owner, said in a news release.

Hummel said Navajo has allowed Arizona to grow and thrive, but "SRP has an obligation to provide low-cost service to our more than 1 million customers and the higher cost of operating NGS would be borne by our customers.

SRP said keeping the plant open for now could allow the Navajo Nation or another entity to operate the plant after 2019, "although the current non-governmental group does not intend to be participants at that time."

Without the lease extension, owners would be forced to shut down the coal-fired plant later this year to allow enough time for decommissioning work to be completed before the current lease expires, TEP and SRP said.

"This gives us more time to weigh the options," TEP spokesman Joe Barrios said. "But whatever we consider ,we're looking for cost-effective options that better serve our customers."

The three-unit, 2,250-megawatt facility is located in Northern Arizona near Page on land leased from the Navajo Nation.

Phoenix-based SRP operates the plant and owns 43 percent of its output. Other owners include the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Arizona Public Service and NV Energy. TEP is the plants smallest stakeholder with ownership of 7.5 percent, or 168 MW.

A lease extension would continue power production, maintain plant employment and preserve revenues for the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe, providing continued support for the area economy.

SRP's Hummel said the owners focus now is to secure an agreement with the Navajo Nation that would allow the plant to continue to run through the end of its lease on Dec. 22, 2019 and allow removal and restoration activities, which could take up to two years.

The U.S. Department of the Interior wants "to explore ways in which the plant could operate economically post-2019, said David Palumbo, deputy commissioner of operations for the Bureau of Reclamation.

Palumbo said the agency recognizes that the Navajo Generating Station is an economic driver throughout the state of Arizona, for local economic activity and Native American employment near the facility as well as for users of CAP water.
Conrad Tao is the first to admit hes not the greatest tourist, which is kinda sad considering his piano career takes him all over the world.

Actually, Im a really terrible tourist, said the 22-year-old piano protege, whose resume includes being the only classical musician named to Forbes 30 Under 30 musicians list in 2011. He won a prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant the following year.

I tend to show up mostly to do my work.  But one of my favorite things to do when Im anywhere is to spend time with players and musicians who have been there a long time and sort of show me around, give me a sense of what its like to actually live in a place. I like getting a feel for how people actually live in a place.

This weekend, he will play a pair of Gershwins works, one  the seminal Gershwin classic Rhapsody in Blue  that hes played before and the composers I Got Rhythm variations, which hes never played before.

I think my approach with both of these pieces is really to try to somehow capture some kind of 20s sound, some kind of specific 1920s energy, he said during a phone interview late last week.

I think the 20s were an interesting, strange cocktail of American pop culture and I think both of these pieces reflect that, said Tao, an Illinois native whose resume also includes playing violin and composing.

My guide post always is the scene in the King of Jazz where the camera basically descends into a piano and inside the piano there is another piano and a full orchestra and showgirls and feather boas and its just this kind of unimaginable over-the-top presentation. That tends to inform my approach with most Gershwin but specifically with Rhapsody in Blue. Ill try to bring some of that extravagance mixed with a sort of from-the-ground-up street sensibility, as well, which informs a lot of the Gershwin.

Getting comfortable with new people: Music making is a social thing and ... thats one thing I find really beautiful about making music is this collaborative experience and this meeting point that happens between people. ... I enjoy that first rehearsal and I enjoy that process of feeling out different interpretive quirks and personal choices.

Thats why this is so exciting: I like performing because it provides for that spontaneity. Its one of those things I chase after.
Mark Lamont Wall Jacquan Rodgers



Captain William Chrismon

Beaufort County Sheriff's Office

Sunday February 12, 2017 around 11a.m. Washington Police, Fire and EMS responded to the 1100 block of Washington Street due to a domestic related assault. Upon arrival officers found A 19 year old female who was transported to Vidant Beaufort hospital due to a non-life threatening injury. Three suspects fled the scene in a white Ford Explorer which was located unoccupied near Manual Drive. The vehicle had been reported stolen by the Greenville Police Department. Around 4:30p.m. officers arrested three suspects in this case and charged them with the below charges.Mark Lamont Wall age 18 of Robert Drive Greenville, Jayquan Rodgers age 19 of Mosby Circle Apts, Greenville, and Zyquan Tyhiem Moet Smith age 16 of Greenville were all charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, discharging a firearm in to occupied dwelling, possession of a stolen vehicle and breaking and entering a motor vehicle. All three were placed in Beaufort County Detention with $1,000,000 bonds pending appearances.The investigation is ongoing.
We've collected a few front pages from newspapers.com to give you a look at some Feb. 14 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.
In this year leading up to Arizona's centennial, on Feb. 14, 2012, we'll reprint a story or excerpts each day from the Arizona Daily Star or T
Proposition 131 would make Arizona one of the last states in the country to create an office of lieutenant governor who would succeed the governor.
Industrial hemp

State senators took the first steps Monday to allowing Arizona farmers to grow industrial hemp.

SB 1337 creates an exception to marijuana laws for plants where the concentration of tetrahydrocannibinol, the psychoactive element of marijuana, is less than 0.3 percent.

Sen. Sonny Borrelli, R-Lake Havasu City, held up examples of products made from hemp, ranging from rope to lotions, with the raw materials imported from elsewhere.

Weve been missing out on a multi million-dollar industry, he told members of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Public Safety. And Sen. Lisa Otondo, D-Yuma, said allowing farmers to grow the crop and have it processed here would reduce the trade deficit.

The only concern came from attorney Bob Lynch, who represents irrigation districts that would supply water to farmers.

SB 1337 was approved on a 6-1 vote. It still needs to clear the Senate Appropriations Committee .







Trapped kids, animals

Individuals who break into locked cars to rescue children and animals would no longer face civil liability under legislation approved Monday by the Senate.

SB 1001 provides immunity from damages to someone who uses reasonable force to enter an unattended vehicle if he or she has a good faith beliefs that the minor or pet is in imminent danger of suffering physical injury or death unless rescued. The measure requires that a would-be rescuer first notify a peace officer, first responder or animal control agency and, after breaking in, remain with the vehicle until someone arrives. The measure now goes to the House.

On Twitter: @azcapmedia
The Ina Road and I-10 traffic interchange in Marana will close Wednesday, and remain that way for the next 25 months, officials said.

Ina Road at I-10, including the east and westbound on and off-ramps at Ina, will close at 1 a.m. Wednesday. Scheduled to close at the same time is the westbound I-10 frontage road from the Orange Grove on-ramp to Cortaro Road, according to an Arizona Department of Transportation news release.

Ina Road east and west of I-10 will remain open during the 25-month closure, and ADOT will ensure that all business in the work zone are accessible throughout the project.

The closure is part of the $2.1 billion reconstruction project, designed to improve traffic flow in the area by widening I-10 and adding an extra lane in each direction, and widening Ina from Silverbell Road to Camino de la Cruz, the release said.

Several short-term closures related to the project are scheduled through next weekend:

The right lane of east- and westbound I-10 between Avra Valley and Sunset roads will be intermittently closed from 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, to 5 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15 , for overhead sign work.

, for overhead sign work. Westbound I-10 between Sunset and Cortaro roads will be narrowed to one lane from 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, to 5 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18 , for striping.

, for striping. Eastbound I-10 between Twin Peaks and Orange Grove roads will be narrowed to one lane from 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, to 5 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, for striping.
CHEYENNE, Wyo.  Inspectors from the Wyoming Department of Transportation will be monitoring bridges over the Bighorn River for any possible damage from ice jams and high water.

WYDOT District Engineer Pete Hallsten says ice was still stuck against some bridges Monday.

The ice jams caused the river to swell nearly 5 feet over flood stage this past weekend, forcing the evacuation of about 100 homes in Worland.

Hallsten says inspectors will be checking all the bridges over the Bighorn where flooding occurred to make sure they are structurally sound.

WYDOT crews also have been supporting efforts to control the flooding by hauling sand, sandbags and concrete barriers to areas threatened by flooding.

___

10:30 a.m.

A National Weather Service meteorologist in Riverton says the flooding in central and northern Wyoming this past week is unusual for this time of year.

Al Ross says in his 20 years he's never seen flooding this bad in the middle of February.

He says a combination of heavy snowfall over the last few months, a rapid warmup in the last week and frozen ground and rivers caused flooding in Fremont and Washakie counties. More than 100 homes were evacuated over the weekend in Worland because of high water.

Ross says the current flooding danger could persist for another two or three days in parts of Wyoming.

___

10 a.m.: The flooded Bighorn River has started receding at Worland where more than 100 homes were evacuated over the weekend.

A rapid snowmelt and ice jams sent the river nearly 5 feet above flood stage over the weekend. The National Weather Service says the river had dropped about 3 feet by Monday morning.

Kelly Ruiz of the state Homeland Security Office says some evacuated homeowners are being allowed to retrieve belongings if the water has receded from their homes.

Ruiz says she doesn't yet have any specifics on homes or businesses damaged.

She says with the situation stabilizing in Worland the concern now is with the Greybull and Manderson areas downstream in neighboring Big Horn County.

About 60 National Guard troops and a dozen firefighters are deployed to the area.

___

9:40 a.m.: Residents along the Bighorn River in northern Wyoming are battling major flooding with the help of National Guard troops and others.

The flooding began over the weekend when warm temperatures melted snow and ice jams caused water to back up.

More than 100 homes were evacuated in Worland.

Kelly Ruiz of the state Homeland Security Office says about 60 guard troops are deployed to the Worland area to help with sandbagging efforts. Another dozen personnel who normally fight forest fires in the summer are heading to neighboring Big Horn County.

Ruiz says she doesn't yet have any specifics on homes or businesses damaged.
A bill that would require hunting and fishing outfitters to report information about who their clients are, where they take them and the animals their hunters harvest met stiff opposition from the outfitting industry on Tuesday.

House Bill 290, carried by Rep. Tom Jacobson, D-Great Falls, had its first hearing before the House Business and Labor Committee. No action was taken.

This is the heavy hand of government, said Jean Johnson, lobbyist for the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association, and flies in the face of a bill two years ago meant to reduce paperwork for licensing boards.

She said the hunting information could be gathered by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks through its annual surveys.

Proponents of the bill, like retired Conrad farmer Joe Perry speaking for the Montana Sportsmen Alliance, said the information is vital to the public.

It basically boils down to managing public trust critters and how youre able to do that without a set of data available, Perry said.

According to testimony in the hearing, the Board of Outfitters had been supplying the information to FWP until outfitters in the group outvoted public interests on the board to do away with the requirement.

Rep. Sue Vinton, R-Billings, asked Jacobson if the bill is meant to settle the dispute on the board. He responded he didnt know what she meant, but Perry said, Yes, thats essentially true.

Although MOGA spoke against the bill, five fishing outfitters and the Fishing Outfitters Association of Montana spoke in favor of the measure. They see the reporting of where they fish with clients as necessary information that allows FWP to manage public and outfitted use on rivers that are becoming increasingly more crowded.

Our support is grounded in the fact that outfitters make private income on a public resource, said Robin Cunningham, executive director of FOAM.

He said that 413 Montana outfitters, 49 percent of all outfitters in the state, provide fishing services. Those small businesses already provide information on the stretches of stream they float as part of their operation plans.

Craig-area fishing outfitter Mark Raisler also noted that tensions between outfitters and the public can sometimes be strained. He said that greater transparency can help build trust between the groups.

Without this information public perception could fall even farther, he said. And I dont believe thats the right way to go.

Ken McDonald, Wildlife Division administrator for FWP, said the information would be helpful in crafting river recreation rules as well as provide a greater understanding of new extended elk hunting seasons and how they are meeting three-year requirements to extend access to private lands to reduce elk populations where they are over population objectives. Part of that assessment will be looking at the balance between the regular season harvest and the so-called elk shoulder seasons.

We need to have as much information as we can to know if were meeting or not meeting that performance criteria, McDonald said.

Yet Johnson said she couldnt remember FWP ever requesting the data when the Board of Outfitters gathered the information in the past. She added that although she could see where the fishing outfitters were coming from, there was no need to codify the requirement in state statute. She asked the committee to table the bill.

Jacobson said the state would want to know how much timber a company had cut from state land, since thats a public resource. Outfitters should be no different since they also harvest a public resource, he added.

I dont think thats too much to ask, he said. I would like to think an entity could be forthright and transparent.
As the faculty meeting at the UAs Lunar and Planetary Lab came to a close, planetary dynamicist Renu Malhotra leaned in to Dante Lauretta, who is leading a space mission to an asteroid, and said:

You have some telescopes  some cameras  on your mission. Could you open those up while youre really close to this Trojan point and take a look around? Whats in the neighborhood?

Lauretta is the principal investigator for NASAs OSIRIS-REx mission, which launched in September 2016 to retrieve a sample from an asteroid named Bennu.

Lauretta and NASA were not planning to do any science on their 1-year cruise to the asteroid. They would, at some point, test the spacecrafts cameras, which were built in a clean room at the Michael Drake building just north of the University of Arizona campus.

Malhotras casual suggestion three years ago has turned that rehearsal into an all-out science mission.

On Thursday, the OSIRIS-REx team began directing the spacecrafts on-board cameras to search for Earths Trojan asteroids and will continue the search until Feb. 20.

What they see might provide information about Earths early building blocks, the impact potential of near-Earth objects and changes in Earths orbital history.

Malhotra is a Regents Professor and the Louise Foucar Marshall Science Research Professor at the UA.

Meeting Malhotra

In faculty meetings, people have to strain to hear her talk, said Timothy Swindle, director of the Lunar and Planetary Lab. But everybody does, because what she says is worth hearing.

Malhotra does groundbreaking research in orbital dynamics of the solar system and in extra-solar planetary systems.

She became a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2015 and was awarded the Harold C. Urey Prize in 1997 for her theoretical work on planetary migration.

She had studied the orbital relations between Pluto and Neptune and found evidence that the outer planets formed much closer to the sun, then migrated into their current orbits. The theory gained acceptance over time and provides an explanation for recent discoveries of Jupiter-sized planets that closely orbit distant stars.

Lauretta described Malhotra as brilliant  obviously  probably the best or one of the best in her field.

Everyone knows shes good, Swindle said. If she says something, everyone takes it seriously.

Mission origins

Malhotra became interested in Earth Trojans while trying to figure out why one side of the moon has many more craters than the other.

She and her team created a model simulation including the Earth, moon and everything known about near-Earth asteroids and tried to replicate the impact pattern found on the moons surface.

It didnt match what we actually see.

This discrepancy is telling us that theres some hidden population of asteroids (Trojans) that arent incorporated in the model, Malhotra said.

The only place where a significant population could be hiding is in stable gravitational pockets, known as Lagrange points, just in front of and behind Earths orbit.

They are stable for long periods of time, Malhotra said. But there are little forces over hundreds of millions of years that can knock them out.

What makes these Trojans different from other near-Earth asteroids is that they move more slowly toward the Earth and moon, she said, and preferentially hit one side of the moon.

Adding this population to the model produced a match. She had found the answer. But so far, only one Earth Trojan has been seen.

She needed a way to look for more.

Malhotra attended an OSIRIS-REx team meeting and noticed the spacecraft would pass right by a stable Trojan area. NASA engineers were initially hesitant to add to the mission, just to avoid any risk, but Lauretta and Malhotra persisted. Now, we await the results.

All about Trojans

When first discovered, the asteroids trapped in Jupiters Lagrange points were named after Greek and Trojan heroes, Lauretta said. Eventually, they collectively became known as Trojans.

These stellar hitchhikers are common: Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune all have them. Jupiter has 6,000 such companions.

Scientists were unable to confirm the existence of any Earth Trojans until 2010, when one was detected using NASAs NEOWISE Space Telescope project.

Since Trojans either lead or follow Earths orbit, astronomers would need to point ground-based telescopes toward sunrise and sunset, when the sky is too bright to see them.

Space telescopes in Earth orbit are not much better. Turning telescopes too close to the sun can damage the on-board electronics. OSIRIS-REx is well beyond Earth orbit and wont be pointing toward the sun.

If we find something it will be totally mind-blowing, Malhotra said. The trapped asteroids could provide samples of the early building blocks of the Earth.

The search could also reveal if there are potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroids hiding there. Its this blind spot in our near-Earth asteroid surveys, Malhotra said. Theyre close and yet so far.

Malhotra said shell be just as happy if the mission doesnt see Trojans. It could be because something eroded them away. Or, Malhotra asked, Could it be that the Earths orbit has changed? Thats more interesting.

If Earths orbit has changed drastically sometime in its history, Trojans could have shaken loose of it.

To Lauretta, the mission presents the OSIRIS-REx team with a unique opportunity to rehearse every step of the camera search it needs to perform as it approaches Bennu.

If Bennu has asteroid companions, the spacecraft needs to see them  and avoid them.
A Billings couple is facing federal drug charges after law enforcement found about two pounds of meth in their home.

Agents investigating the case also had learned that the husband, Raymond Thomas Tetzlaff, 34, was armed with several pistols and was prepared for a gun fight with law enforcement, said court records filed in the case.

When law enforcement officers arrested Tetzlaff last Thursday as he left his residence at 1226 Yale Ave., they found he was carrying two firearms.

Tetzlaff and his wife, Crystal Busby-Tetzlaff, 35, also arrested on Feb. 9, appeared in court Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Cavan. A criminal complaint charges the couple with possessing meth with intent to distribute, a crime that carries a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison and a $10 million fine.

The pair waived their right to a preliminary hearing, and the case will be presented to a grand jury for indictment. Cavan ordered them held in custody pending a detention hearing request.

The Tetzlaffs are suspected of supplying meth for distribution to at least one other person, Sean Patrick Gilmore, 46, of Billings, who was arrested last week and is facing federal charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

An agent with the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force said in court records that officers seized meth from Gilmore on Feb. 7 and suspected that Raymond Tetzlaff might be his supplier.

The next day, agents got information that Tetzlaff was in fact Gilmores source for meth and that Tetzlaff had several pounds of the drug at his house at 1226 Yale Ave.

In addition, agents learned Tetzlaff was armed, prepared for a gunfight and was preparing to remove all drug and gun evidence from his home and associated shop outside of Billings, court records said.

On Feb. 9, agents surveilled Tetzlaffs house and detained him when he left at about 4:20 p.m. People inside the house, including Crystal Busby-Tetzlaff, saw officers and shut the door.

Agents, however, entered and removed everyone to prevent evidence from being destroyed.

After getting a warrant, agents searched the residence and vehicles and seized nearly two pounds of meth from inside the house and about four ounces of meth from a bag Tetzlaff was carrying when he left the house.

In addition, agents also found digital scales, numerous plastic baggies and drug ledgers.

Both Tetzlaff and Busby-Tetzlaff have a previous federal drug felony convictions.

Gilmore also has a prior federal felony drug conviction, court records said.

Days before the search of the Tetzlaff residence, the investigation led to a Feb. 7 search of a building at 1270 Lockwood Road where Gilmore worked and was suspected of distributing meth from the shop, court records said.

Agents executing a search warrant found almost 5 grams of meth, more than $2,600 cash, paraphernalia, a digital scale, dozens of meth pipes, prescription medications and two firearms, a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol with a loaded magazine and an unloaded 12-gauge slide action shotgun.

Gilmore told an agents after waiving his rights that there were user amounts of meth in the shop and no other drugs or guns in the shop. He claimed he worked as a mechanic in the shop.

During a Feb. 10 appearance before Cavan, Gilmore waived a preliminary hearing and his case also will go to a grand jury for an indictment. Gilmore remains in custody. The crime of being a felon in possession of a firearm carries a maximum 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
HELENA  The Montana House has given initial approval to a measure that would require the governor to pay for use of the state airplane to travel to campaign events.

Monday's 58-42 vote mostly followed party lines, with one Republican joining Democrats in voting no. The bill must pass a final vote before it goes to the Senate.

Rep. Brad Tschida (SHE'-duh) is one of several GOP lawmakers who complained last year that Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock used the state plane for a combination of campaign events and official business during his re-election bid.

The Missoula Republican's bill would require the governor's campaign to reimburse the state for the cost of a charter aircraft if it's used for campaign events. The governor would not be able to use the plane for campaign activity within 60 days of an election.
With growing concerns over the impact on jobs and the economy of the UK after leaving the European Union (a.k.a. Brexit), individual people, as well as businesses, want to know what plans are in the works to deal with the coming changes.

Dealing with post-Brexit environment

The Hon Robin Walker MP, Minister of The Department for Exiting the European Union, the leading government agency for coping with the coming changes, and Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport, recently announced a meeting with a dozen arts and culture organizations to discuss what impact the UK exit from the EU will mean for the culture sector.

Cultural events and institutions such as museums and theatres were responsible for adding 27 billion to the United Kingdom's economy in 2015; that constituted 1.6 percent of the total United Kingdom GVA (Gross Value Added) for that year, so cultural activities are not just essential to the life of the nation but also an important economic force.

Culture, media, and sport

Culture Secretary Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP said in the January 11 government news announcement that the country will continue to be "outward looking post-Brexit, and promoting our world-leading arts and culture will be hugely important," going forward.

Brexit Minister

Ironic because of where the discussions were held Department Minister Robin Walker MP pointed out that just because the UK is leaving the EU it doesn't mean "were pulling up the drawbridge on the continent.

Roundtable discussion

The meeting at Portcullis House included heads of the following cultural groups who participated in a number of discussions intended to explore priorities when dealing with the forthcoming Brexit negotiations:

Arts Council England

Heritage Lottery Fund

British Council

National Museums Directors Council

Museums Association

National Theatre

Royal Opera House

Science Museum Group

Association of British Orchestras

UK Theatre/Society of London Theatre

ONE Dance UK

Association of Independent Museums

Article 50

The negotiations are expected to begin in about three months when the Prime Minister activates the provisions of the Article 50 Treaty of Lisbon which outlines the procedures necessary when a country voluntarily leaves the EU..
The future of the National Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) has been thrown into doubt with the recent election of Donald #trump. It is apparent that the new president does not share the same sentiments towards this alliance that his many predecessors do. That is why Theresa May must ensure that the Government meet its defence spending targets if the organisation hopes to survive.

Trump's commitment to NATO

The outcome of the meeting between the Prime Minister and the President in Washington last month showed that Trump is open to the ideas of other world leaders.

Many reports in the mainstream media about the American billionaire wanting to the alliance to become 'obsolete' are over-exaggerated. It is not that the new president despises NATO, he just believes that it needs to operate better.

But last month's meeting between these two leaders showed what an influential role Britain can play in a post-Brexit environment with May as Prime Minister. With a pro-Brexit president occupying the White House, there has never been a better time for Britain to help shape American foreign policy. That is why the Prime Minister scored a significant policy victory for not only Britain, but Europe, too, by persuading the President to declare his support for the military alliance.

The future for NATO is safe, for now.

Doubts over NATO's existence

Regardless of the Prime Minister's meeting with the US President, these are still early days. As Harold Wilson said: 'A week is a long time in politics.' Considering Trump has been in office for nearly a month, it goes without saying that he has already started to fulfill many of his manifesto promises and establish himself in the way a businessman would.

But the news today that the Government failed to meet its NATO obligations make embarrassing headlines. These figures were announced by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). According to the IISS, the figure fell to 1.98% in September 2016.

This leaves May's administration in an unenviable position. Poised with the task of ensuring fellow allies achieve their own spending targets, it is difficult for the Government to practice what they preach.

This also enables Trump to lecture many European nations, including Britain, over failing to achieve their defence spending targets.

Britain's role in Europe

With Britain leaving the EU and the future of this military alliance in jeopardy, May must separate herself from David Cameron's disastrous legacy of 'creative accounting' when it came to meeting the 2% spending target. Regardless of their feelings towards Britain over Brexit, other European countries must follow Britain's lead in keeping NATO alive by meeting the 2% spending target. With the future of Russia becoming increasingly unpredictable and the EU on the verge of collapsing, we need this military alliance to continue to preserve global peace.

It is clear Trump is a man of his word. If numerous countries, including Britain, cannot meet their spending requirements, the President will not succumb to the idea that America should always defend Europe when this continent's countries are capable of building their own armies. This is why NATO is in crisis.
President Donald Trump will be granted 'full courtesy' when he visits the United Kingdom later in the year, despite a petition signed by almost two million people asking for the President's invitation to be revoked. The online petition, which will be debated in parliament on the 20th February, stated Trump should be able to enter the United Kingdom but he shouldn't be granted an official state visit 'as it would be an embarrassment to the Queen'.

Trump's state visit to go ahead

Last month, when Prime Minister Theresa May visited Donald Trump in Washington, she invited Trump to Britain on an official state visit.

Typically, a state visit includes meeting the royal family and addressing parliament-historically, US presidents aren't invited to the UK on a state visit until several years after their inauguration. However, given the United Kingdom's perilous position post-Brexit, Theresa May was quick to establish a relationship with the new president.

In a short email sent to the signatories of the petition, the Foreign Office said: 'We recognise the strong views expressed in this petition.... but we do not support this petition. Donald Trump's invitation is a sign of the importance of UK-US relations. A final date has yet to be agreed on the visit'.

The visit could be moved from London to Brexit heartland, where Trump support is likely to be stronger and security risks are lower.

Nigel Farage, though, has argued that Trump should hold a rally at Wembley stadium.

The Speaker of the House, John Bercow, said that he would refuse Trump the permission to speak in Westminster Hall due to parliament's opposition to sexism and racism. Bercow's remarks drew widespread ire and inspired James Duddridge MP to begin collecting signatures for vote of no confidence motion against the speaker.

Protests will go ahead

Owen Jones, a prominent member of Stand Up to Trump, said: Trumps state visit will witness the biggest demonstrations against bigotry and divisive politics in British history. Regardless of where he goes, we will march in our millions against his collusion with Westminster'.
president Trump set a personal Twitter record Monday when, for the first time in months, there was no White House Tweet about anything this morning and, in fact instead of his usual 5-7 a.m. flurry of tweets, his first tweet today was a few minutes before 11 a.m. and merely announced his upcoming meeting with Canadian PM Trudeau.

With a President who tweets everything from dissatisfaction with the fact that he is in a government with checks and balances and a constitution, to whether he is smarter than Mark Cuban, it is surprising that there has been no response today about his lying national security advisor or North Koreas missile launch.

North Koreas provocative missile launch about which President Trump had earlier tweeted, it wont happen, generated only a mild statement about the action by Kim Jong-un, which is widely seen as the long-expected early challenge to the White House.

Could the lack of definitive response be because the White House lacks a national security advisor whom President Trump can rely on for truthful answers? His chief security advisor, Retired General Flynn was caught lying about contacts with Russia.

Trump quiet on Flynn

In addition to the North Korea action, another prominent news item which the White House has not commented on, either from the President, or spokespeople, is the spate of reports, many from inside the new Administration, that flynn lied to many people about his Russian phone calls - prevarication is not something which you would want to learn about the highest security advisor to President Trump.

Flynn, the White House National Security Advisor to President Trump is on the hotplate these days after lying to the Vice President about his contacts with the Russian Ambassador to the US while President Obama was still in office and therefore had the sole US word on diplomatic matters such as sanctions.

However, that isnt the first problem Flynn has had.

The life-long Democrat (his words) had a distinguished military career where, among other things, he was in charge of the famous Seal Team 6 which later took down Osama Bin Laden.

After Flynn left Afghanistan, President Obama appointed the general to head the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the militarys equivalent of the CIA.

That was 2012 but just two years later President Obama was forced to oust General Flynn from his position at the DIA (Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling,), pushed out by the undersecretary, Michael Vickers. Flynn told the New York Post that he was fired for trying to change the culture of the DIA. In truth, it is widely thought that Flynn was appointed to do exactly that, shake up the 17,000 person agency which many see as largely laid back and too complacent.

This dismissal turned Flynn into what Politico Magazine called The Americas Angriest General, because of the way he instantly turned on his previous sponsor and backer President Obama.

Leaked emails from the extremely highly-respected former Sec.

of State Colin Powell shed light on why Flynn was forced to retire. Secretary Powell, who was born in Harlem, New York-born of Jamaican immigrants, was also former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff . Asked why the now "right-wing nutty" Flynn lost his job, "Abusive with staff, didn't listen, worked against policy, bad management, etc," were Powells reply

Flynn consulting

After being forced out of the military, Flynn started Flynn Intel Group, which is currently viewed as a major conflict of interest because during the Summer of 2016, as Candidate Trumps advisor, Flynn began getting classified national security briefings because Trump declined to attend them. But this was happening while the company bearing his name was lobbying for the government of Turkey and more.

(NOTE: your reporter has had many interactions with both the CIA and DIA both through The National Press Club and organisations such as SIGCAT and obtaining credentials to pass into the CIA Headquarters compound in McLean/Langley, VA.)
The Billings City Council Monday approved up to $700,000 in tax increment financing as part of $4.65 million in planned improvements to the McDonald Building, 124 N. 29th St.

The vote was 10-1, with Councilman Chris Friedel voting against the proposal.

Completed in 1907, the building was the first YMCA in Montana and, most recently, a Wendys franchise restaurant and corporate offices.

The proposal is for A&E Architects to occupy the ground floor and 12 residential units to be constructed on the second and third floors.

The TIF grant will be paid over three years following completion of the redevelopment.

This is exactly what downtown Billings needs, said Councilman Al Swanson.

If you buy into urban renewal at all, this project fits the bill, said Councilman Larry Brewster. Projects like this are a key to redeveloping downtown.

When a structure is no longer contributing to the economic vitality of an area, thats when we need to look at revitalizing it, said Councilman Rich McFadden. Thats a form of blight.

The project looks fantastic, Friedel said, but my issue is, what is the public benefit for taxpayers? That property has been empty for only a year.

Following another public hearing, the council voted 10-0, with Councilman Brent Cromley abstaining, to approve a tax abatement for 7th Avenue Hospitality LLC for developing the 95-room extended stay Home2 Suites by Hilton at 2611 Seventh Ave. N.

The abatement, applied during construction, which was completed late last year, and for four years following, is on property taxes on $6.7 million of what the Montana Department of Revenue said will be assessed in the $8 million range.

At the most, that will be about $50,000 annually thats abated, affecting both city and school district coffers, according to Assistant City Administrator Bruce McCandless.

Twenty-six jobs, including 16 full-time and 10 part-time jobs, have been added as a result of the hotel opening, said Patrick Klugman with Big Sky Economic Development, which administers the tax abatement program for the city. Hourly workers will be paid $10-$15 per hour, with salaried workers earning $35,000 to $55,000 annually.

Don Cape of Bozeman, the developer, said the abatement will help the hotel to hire additional staff to help keep guests safe at night. Some of the hotel furniture has already been borrowed, he said. We hope to get it back, he told the council.

Its a great hotel, but not necessarily in a great neighborhood, he said.

The project also received federal New Markets Tax Credits. Without those credits, the hotel would not be sitting there, Cape told the council.

As part of its consent agenda, the council unanimously approved a request to reject all the bids and to re-bid replacing the pool operations center at Rose Park. A 2016 arson fire heavily damaged the current bath house.

At about $1.9 million, the lowest bid to build the new operations center was about $500,000 higher than expected. Parks Director Michael Whitaker said the current bath house will be used one more season, with construction of the operations center to begin in August, after the swimming season concludes.

"We hope better weather and an expanded construction season will bring the bids in lower," Whitaker told the council.

Value engineering will save about $159,000 on the Yellowstone Kelly Interpretive Site project. The new contract price is about $349,000.

Bill Cole, who's spearheaded project fundraising, said the value engineering won't reduce the project's quality. The interpretive site, at Swords Rimrock Park, is expected to be completed this year.

The council voted unanimously to put off until Feb. 27 a public hearing on a proposed ordinance allowing hobbyist beekeeping within city limits.
February 13, 2017

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan repeated his governments intention to create a safe zone in northern Syria that would be expunged of terror and where our Arab and Turkmen brothers will find the opportunity to resettle. Speaking at a news conference during an official visit to Bahrain, Erdogan explained that Turkeys goal was to establish a zone that would cover up to 5,000 square kilometers (3,000 square miles), and he urged the US-led coalition to act in concert with Turkey in a planned offensive against Raqqa, the self-proclaimed capital of the Islamic State (IS).

US President Donald Trump has also raised the possibility of establishing a safe zone in Syria and tasked the Pentagon with coming up with plans for one. Russia remains firmly opposed to the concept, however, especially one along the Turkish border, where opposition rebels could potentially regroup and relaunch their fight to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

If such a zone is established at all, it would likely be along the Jordanian border. A coalition official told Al-Monitor that details remain vague, but the idea is not to create a traditional safe zone, which would require the presence of a large number of ground troops, but rather to bolster security for the forces already controlling the area. The official was referring to an area bordering Jordan controlled by a CIA-vetted rebel coalition called the Southern Front, an approach that analysts say could simultaneously help to disrupt Iranian activities in Syria, protect Jordan from radical Sunni Islamists and put pressure on IS.

All is not quiet in the areas currently under Turkish control.

On Feb. 12, protests erupted in Jarablus after the local council, citing security concerns, forbade female teachers from wearing the niqab, the Islamic head covering that fully conceals the face, tweeted Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi, a researcher on radical Islamist groups.

Erdogans comments on a safe zone came as Turkish troops and their Free Syrian Army (FSA) proxies inched their way into the IS-held town of al-Bab. The semi-official Anatolia News Agency reported the combined force of Operation Euphrates Shield had entered al-Bab from the west, capturing 40% of the town proper so far.

Another Turkish soldier died in the offensive today, raising the death toll among Turkish troops since they entered Syria in August to 73. The investigative journalism site Bellingcat confirmed that Turkey has also lost at least eight Leopard tanks and a Sabra tank during the al-Bab offensive.

Meanwhile, FSA units closed in from the south of the town, taking control of the Tadef junction and halting the advance of Syrian regime forces, according to Anatolia. The report points to the continued risk of clashes between regime forces and the rebels and Turkey. Russia is struggling to de-escalate the situation, but on Feb. 9 accidentally killed three Turkish soldiers itself when it dropped a bomb on a building housing them near al-Bab.

President Vladimir Putin rang Erdogan to convey his regrets, but a Kremlin spokesman blamed Turkey, saying Russian pilots had been guided by coordinates from Turkish partners. The Turkish Armed Forces swiftly rebutted the claim, saying the men had been there for 10 days and that Russia had been alerted to their position a day prior to the incident.

Some commentators speculated that with CIA Director Mike Pompeo visiting Ankara, the Russians had acted deliberately to warn Turkey against reviving plans for a safe zone with the United States. A likely explanation is that the Russians misaimed. Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said the deaths were being investigated but added, According to initial information we received, its a total accident.

Whatever the truth, Ankara is having a difficult time justifying the rising number of casualties for an operation whose goals remain blurry at best. Turkey says the aim is to defeat IS, but also to crush the Syrian Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG), which remains the US-led coalitions most efficient partner against IS on the ground.

Turkey continues to shell YPG positions in Afrin and west of Manbij as part of an effort to prevent the Syrian Kurds from linking territories they control to the east of the Euphrates River with Afrin to its west. Turkish officials suggest, however, that they would not oppose an autonomous Syrian Kurdish administration so long as it is confined to the east of the river. They are demanding that the Kurds pull out of Manbij, situated to the west of the Euphrates. Erdogan has repeatedly threatened to drive the YPG out of Manbij, which the YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces wrested from IS in August, if they fail to comply.

Linking up with Afrin is as dear to the Syrian Kurds as controlling Kirkuk, the Kurdish Jerusalem, was to the Iraqi Kurds. Thanks to IS June 2014 assault against Iraqi forces, they were able to fulfill their dream. With the Syrian Kurds' westward access to Afrin cut off by the Turkish move on al-Bab, the YPG is unlikely to relinquish its foothold in Manbij.
Two senators  both from Montana  are taking very different approaches to last week's U.S. Senate showdown with Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Sen. Steve Daines, who gaveled Warren into silence on the floor of the Senate, is using the moment as a fundraiser. Last week, Jon Tester didn't mention that Warren had come up at a White House meeting he attended in which President Donald J. Trump apparently referred to her several times as "Pocahontas."

The D.C. press is reporting a much more contentious meeting between President Donald Trump and red state Democrats than the one Tester described last week to home-state media.

Trump referred to Sen. Elizabeth Warren more than once as Pocahontas, according to Politico, and told red state Democrats, including Tester, that he was glad Warren, a first-term senator from Massachusetts, was the face of the Democratic Party.

Warren came up as Trump discussed an episode on the senate floor earlier in the week in which the Massachusetts Democrat was gaveled down by Montana Republican Daines.

While Tester hasnt mentioned Warren in the past week, Daines has done the opposite, making an anti-Warren appeal to Montanans for campaign donations.

The reference to "Pocahontas" is a slur intended to criticize Warren about her earlier claim that she was one-thirty-second Cherokee. The claim was proven false, prompting some to call her "Fauxcahontas" during her 2012 election campaign.

Testers version of the luncheon, told to the Montana press after the Feb. 9 meeting, was more subdued.

Asked what his impression of the meeting was, Tester replied, "Dont take this the wrong way, but it wasnt confrontational at all. It was just flat non-confrontational, Tester said. It was very open conversation, very, very much, very much an open dialogue. He (Trump) did more talking than everybody else and Vice President (Mike) Pence did less talking than everybody else. But everybody in that meeting had the opportunity to visit with the president directly, and I appreciate that."

The Gazette presented Tester on Monday with eight questions for this article. The senator answered none of them. His communications director, Marnee Banks, issued the following statement.

This is a perfect example of why Washington is so broken. What matters most is that Jon used his opportunity with the president to raise specific concerns that Montanans brought directly to him. Jon left the White House with a personal assurance from President Trump that he will address Jons concerns to provide Montana seniors with better access to Medicare.

In addition, Trump brought up his belief that there was widespread voter fraud in the 2016 election. For weeks, Democrats have argued theres no proof of widespread voter fraud.

Tester represents tribes from seven American Indian reservations in Montana. His is the former chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. He and Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., are current Senate Indian Affairs Committee members and the only ones also among the six Democrats at the luncheon.

The Warren discussion stemmed from a floor debate Feb. 7 concerning the confirmation of Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions to be attorney general. Daines was overseeing the debate and ordered Warren to take her seat after she began to read from a 1986 letter by Coretta Scott King, in which the civil rights leader said Sessions had undermined the rights of black voters.

Warren was gaveled down under a Senate rule that prevents lawmakers from disparaging fellow senators, Daines told The Gazette.

The morning after the incident, Montanas Republican senator posted a video clip of Warren being gaveled down.

Over the weekend, the Daines re-election campaign emailed Montanans asking for donations so he could stand up to Elizabeth Warren. In the campaign solicitation, Daines said Warren took the Senate floor to spew hyper-partisan rhetoric to disparage a fellow senator and conservative champion Jeff Sessions.

Tester might not be talking about Warren, while Daines mentions her often, but the two Montana lawmakers are on the same path, said Jason Thielman, of Daines for Montana.

I think were on the same course recognizing the relative popularity or acceptance of the standard bearer of the Democratic Party, Thielman said. Theres hardly a person who is more out of sync with Montanans than Elizabeth Warren."

Thielman said Sen. Daines has real concerns about facing a political attack from Warren, the liberal leader of the National Democratic Party who represents the activist leftist wing.

Without a doubt, Montanas American Indians would be offended by Trumps use of Pocahontas, Thielman said. Daines is also a Senate Indian Affairs Committee member.

They would find it objectionable, he said.

There are at least three different conservative political groups with either TV ads, literature or billboards targeting Tester.

Right Way Initiative has issued mailers to Montana voters asking Tester to Support the Trump Economic Agenda.

The Judicial Crisis Network is pressuring Tester to support Neil Gorsuch for Supreme Court.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee put up two billboards in Billings on Monday morning calling on Tester to Do Your Job and confirm Trumps nominee.
What's the best way to make sure a message gets heard? Try to muzzle it.

Both liberals and conservatives are newly rediscovering the political power of this phenomenon, known as the Streisand Effect.

The term refers to what happens when an attempt to censor information backfires and instead unintentionally draws more attention to the censorship target. Its namesake is Barbra Streisand, who in 2003 sued a photographer for including a photograph of her Malibu home among a series of 12,000 aerial images documenting California coastal erosion. Thanks to the lawsuit, which was unsuccessful, this previously little-seen photo soon received enormous publicity and hundreds of thousands of views.

Plenty of other celebrities, companies and government agencies have come to rue the times they inadvertently publicized things they were trying to smother. Meanwhile, provocateurs and activists have learned how to weaponize the Streisand Effect, using censorship attempts to amplify their own voices.

After all, suppression of speech not only generates more public interest, as bystanders scramble to learn what all the fuss is about; it can also win the speaker sympathy and the moral high ground.

So far this month, there have been two major  and, in different ways, instructive  examples of political speech being amplified by censorship.

On Feb. 7, during Senate debate over the confirmation of Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., as attorney general, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., began reading a 1986 letter from civil rights icon Coretta Scott King. King had opposed Sessions's nomination to a federal judgeship, on grounds that he had used his position as a federal prosecutor to suppress black votes.

As she read King's letter, Warren was stopped, scolded and formally silenced by Republican senators. These senatorial snowflakes, it seems, were more interested in silencing speech they disliked than rebutting it. The primary consequences were to energize the left and make King's once-obscure letter go viral.

Warren has not indicated that she was trying to goad her colleagues into silencing her. But she could have hardly conceived of a better way to magnify her message, or her own stature.

"She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted," Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., declared, in phrasing that seems perfectly scripted for a 2020 presidential campaign ad.

A week earlier, on the opposite coast, a completely different kind of character from the other side of the political spectrum appeared to leverage the Streisand Effect for less noble purposes.

Milo the pro troll

Milo Yiannopoulos, Breitbart writer and sleazy professional troll, has built a career out of stoking Pavlovian outrage and censorship attempts from the left in order to build his audience on the right. He has mocked Jews, Muslims, African Americans, feminists, people who are overweight and the LGBT community (though he himself is gay), among others.

Clearly, the goal is to bait his intellectual opponents (not all of whom are liberal, mind you) into trying to forcibly silence him.

Sometimes you're not trying to score. Sometimes you're just trying to draw a foul.

Sure enough, Yiannopoulos's opponents happily oblige, with heckles, threats and sometimes even violence  such as the riots that erupted at the University of California at Berkeley this month, which led to the cancellation of his talk and his evacuation from campus.

The riots didn't silence Yiannopoulos, however; instead, the resulting coverage megaphoned his ugly message to a much broader audience and will help him sell more books, schedule more lucrative speaking gigs and receive more sympathetic tweets from our sitting president. (President Trump, under the guidance of former Breitbart publisher Stephen K. Bannon, has also proved especially adept at alchemizing liberal indignation into self-aggrandizing news coverage.)

Making speech martyrs

There are many compelling arguments for why protecting free speech, including speech you disagree with or even abhor, is important. It's enshrined in our Constitution; it is among the sacred liberal values we promote throughout the world; free and open dialogue helps advance scientific inquiry; and so on.

But one underappreciated argument is self-interest. Forcibly silencing and thereby martyring your opponents  rather than employing counter-speech to expose them as wrong or, better yet, ridiculous  may be exactly what they want you to do.
Environmentalists are in a lather over White House executive orders they claim will lead to the extinction of the endangered rusty patched bumblebee. One is an executive order (EO) halting any new rule making by any agency for two months until a department or agency head reviews and approves the regulation. Just like Obama did when he took office in 2009.

Donald Trump also signed an EO called the one in, two out rule, which requires eliminating two regulations for every new one thats generated. Any existing regulations or policies already rolled out wouldnt be affected by the orders.

Enviros are worried the bumblebee species Bombus affinis will face extinction under these EOs.

First US bumblebee species listed as endangered after numbers plummet https://t.co/RuvsLi52YN via @Wildlife_Focus pic.twitter.com/AWqn8yihmI  Iain S Byrne (@iainbyrne) January 24, 2017

Rusty patched bumblebee

Shortly before President Obama left office, the once-abundant rusty patched bumblebee was added to the Endangered Species Act. Since the mid-1990s, its population has dropped nearly 87 percent. Scientists blame the losses on a variety of factors, including pesticides (neonicotinoids), environment loss, and disease from parasitic fungus.

Now the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is adding another extinction factor to the list: The Trump presidency.

A senior NRDC attorney said the new administration has put the rusty patched bumblebee back on the path to extinction. They believe it can be saved but only if the White House backs down.

A quick guide to every executive action @realDonaldTrump has taken https://t.co/YaWOsCuTXl via @bi_politics  Michael F Ozaki MD (@brontyman) February 12, 2017

Killer queen

But bumblebee populations remain dependent on a queen, who remains dormant during the winter.

Once the queen emerges in the spring, she spends the next month creating her colony. The order placing new regulations on hold and causing activists so much alarm will have already expired by late March. Its also unclear if the EO would even affect existing endangerment findings.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS,) the endangerment listing of the bumblebee allows the agency to take steps to prevent further losses.

Midwest regional director Tom Melius pointed out the listing allows the FWS and its partners to devote more resources toward preventing further bee decline.

Watch The First-Ever Robotic Bee Pollinate A Flower [VIDEO] https://t.co/vPBNVLHix2 pic.twitter.com/lELRfMDUDg  The Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 12, 2017

Confirming Ryan Zinke

FWS said while the bumblebee may be a small cross-pollinator, it is part of the natural mechanisms that sustains our world. FWS estimated bumblebees pollinate about a third of all U.S. crops. Without insect pollination, most vegetation wouldnt survive and the world would have to resort to hand pollination, a costly endeavor.

In 2009, Rahm Emanuel wrote a similar EO when Obamas administration took office in 2009.

But this time around Democrats are slow-rolling the confirmation of Trumps Interior pick, so activists are blaming the wrong branch of government. Based on the order, Rep. Ryan Zinke can approve and enforce this recent ESA addition once he's confirmed.
The #Trump boycotts continue  reaching deep into the power circles of New York Fashion Week.

This week, industry players are demanding a boycott of #Trump Models, only days after celebrities Tyra Banks and Jessica Alba and companies Nordstrom and TJ Maxx switched out their Trump products.

Hair stylist, models, stylists and makeup artists are all resisting working with Trump-represented catwalk models  and it's given fashion week an even more politicized angle.

Fashion site Refinery 29 reported on Thursday that hairstylist #Tim Aylward announced he was no longer working with Trump Models.

The agency represents a wide range of models and personalities such as Paris Hilton, Carol Alt and lesser-known names. His post went viral and drew support and acclaim.

Fashion designers love to be political

#fashion designers are no strangers to speaking out against issues that they care strongly about  from AIDS, to LGBT issues to #immigration and even more personal issues, such as when Alexander McQueen wore a T-shirt supporting Kate Moss in her time of media scrutiny.

But there has never been such a coordinated and one-sided response, as seen this past week in #New York. Never before have stylists, makeup artists and others embraced the cause en masse, together with big name designers.

Styles influenced by protests

Unsurprisingly, the content of the past week's fashion shows have veered toward all things protest-related, with white bandanas of unity and #Planned Parenthood pins featured on prominent celebrities and at big events.

Calvin Klein sent models down the runway to David Bowie's song #This is Not America.

Prabal Gurungs celebrated show featured models strutting along to John Lennons Imagine, brandishing T-shirts with catchy slogans such as 'The future is female', 'We will not be silenced' and 'Revolution has no borders'. The models also sported the white bandanna of unity.

Designer Christian Siriano presented models in ruffled, metallic gowns, in a seemingly traditional show until a model stepped onto the catwalk wearing a T-shirt that said 'People are People'.

The Depeche Mode song of the same name played out to a roar of thunderous applause. The shirt can be bought online from Siriano to help the #American Civil Liberties Union.

Trump is a big challenge for the fashion industry

Trump has presented the fashion industry with various challenges since he made derogatory remarks about women in the election cycle. From the thorny issue of how to dress the First Lady to doing business with Ivanka Trump, it has been a complicated time for those used to working with and embracing the President and his family's wardrobes.

Traditionally it has been good for business to dress the POTUS's family. #Michelle Obama's enthusiastic relationship with up-and-coming American designers such as Jason Wu and Tracy Reese galvanized the fashion industry's relationship with the White House unlike ever before.

It also helped paint Michelle Obama in a flattering light since she was seen as supporting fresh talent.

Not everyone is anti-Trump

Trump Models asserts that it is at 'the forefront of cultivating a wide range of innovative and vibrant talent which personify the trends of the fashion industry'. It also employs a significant number of #immigrants on US visas, which people pointed out on Twitter yesterday.

Others voiced their disagreement with the #Trump Models boycott. Suzy Schwartz wrote on Sunday: 'banning @TrumpModels only effects the models and the agency and the agents. Zero effect on Trump. It's so wrong!!!'
Donald Trump has been known to work outside of the traditional boundaries of being the president. During his recent meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Trump tested those boundaries once again.

Trump at Mar-a-Lago

Over the weekend, news broke that North Korea had conducted a controversial missile test that only added to the strain between the country and its enemies. At the same time, Donald Trump and Shinzo Abe were together during a weekend meeting at Mar-a-Lago, the president's resort in West Palm Beach, Florida. In what took many by surprise, the two world leaders held an impromptu national security meeting, and did so surrounded by the public while eating dinner.

As reported by The Hill on February 13, the reaction from the people was stunning.

Trump conducts national security meeting in public during Mar-a-Lago dinner https://t.co/o0IDncLFLw pic.twitter.com/J3oHA0tNU8  The Hill (@thehill) February 13, 2017

With Donald Trump and Shinzo Abe enjoying their dinner and drinks, they were quickly joined by advisors who helped work on a joint response over the aforementioned North Korean missile tests. The situation became even more curious, as advisors used the light from their cellphones to look at documents that were delivered as the night moved on. The Hill notes that if the advisors didn't use secured cell phones, it could lead to a national security concern due to Mar-a-Lago having a public internet that hackers could tap into.

That Mar-a-Lago member deleted his FB post with photos of Trump's team apparently reading North Korea docs by iPhone flashlight. Screenshot: pic.twitter.com/JSBukvlP0Z  Lachlan Markay (@lachlan) February 13, 2017

CNN first broke the story, and elaborated that "guests gawked around them," while others snapped photos and posted them to various social media platforms.

Mar-a-Lago member Richard DeAgazio posted photos of the incident on his Facebook page, while writing, "HOLY MOLY!!," before going into further details of what happened. Not long after the post was made, it was quickly removed, but not before a screenshot was taken to keep it documented.

Moving forward

This isn't the first time that Donald Trump has pushed the boundaries of national security, and it's not likely to be the last.

Ever since he announced his campaign for president, the former host of "The Apprentice" vowed to be a "Washington outsider," and to run the country in a way that has never been seen before. Whether people agree or disagree with his tactics, Trump's presidency is turning out to be unlike any other in history.
Despite repeated warnings about a systemic failure of Californias oroville dam, Gov. Jerry Brown (D) is coming under new fire for not fixing the concrete spillway over costs despite multiple warnings. Now the spillway is falling apart and more rains are coming. The dam provides water to one of the largest farming communities as well as local residents. Brown, however, did find billions of dollars to spend on his high-speed train and illegal immigrants.

He even hired former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to fight Trumps policy agenda for the princely sum of $25,000 a month.

Now Brown is asking the same administration for federal assistance despite declaring war with the White House on everything from sanctuary cities to global warming to the temporary travel ban. Critics say Browns priorities are misplaced and hes doing what hes always done for decades: Being an obstructionist.

Jerry Brown joins anti-Trump 'resistance' in unusual State of the State speech https://t.co/cFiu5OIpHQ  Christopher Cadelago (@CapitolAlert) January 24, 2017

Crumbling infrastructure

For years Brown has blamed the California drought on climate change, using the natural phenomenon to push draconian global warming regulations. But scientists have written numerous studies showing the drought wasnt unusual and there have been longer dry spells in the past.

Brown, however, maintained it was mans fault. And his supporters have reiterated the governor couldnt have predicted the disastrous rain and snowfall across the state.

After getting pummeled by heavy rain for weeks, Californias reservoirs are largely filled with many of them overflowing. Instead of reinforcing the crumbling dams infrastructure during the drought, Brown spent state funds creating welfare programs for illegal immigrants, including free drivers licenses and paid college tuition.

He also funneled billions into the high-speed rail that has been a pet project for decades. Currently its behind schedule and over budget.

In California, all eyes on dam's eroding spillway as storms loom https://t.co/yXOit47F15  Esfandiari (@nezy_esfandiari) February 14, 2017

Racing against the clock

With rain expected on Thursday, officials are trying to fix a giant sinkhole that formed on the dams concrete spillway and strengthen the walls.

The damage was so great, 188,000 people had to be evacuated and are still waiting to return home. And parts of the dams wall are also buckling. Officials are trying to reduce the lake level another fifty feet before the heavy rains return.

The San Jose Mercury News reported that since 2005, various groups concerned about erosion have been asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to force California to strengthen the walls of the Oroville dam with concrete. FERC denied the request, citing the states unwillingness to spend the needed $100 million in repair costs. But when Brown prepared a "wish list" of projects for Trumps $1 trillion anticipated infrastructure project, the dam wasnt included.

U. of California rolls out $25M to fund illegal immigrants' education https://t.co/9JxMPhVa2p  The Washington Times (@WashTimes) May 12, 2016

Train to nowhere

The $100 billion high-speed rail, however, did get added. Browns spending billions for a train to nowhere and aiding illegal immigrants is angering his constituents. The conservative group Turning Point USA noted Brown spends $25 billion a year supporting illegal immigrants and nothing on repairs for the Oroville dam.

Now, fixing the spillway will cost the state $200 million, twice the original estimate. And the dams walls need to be reinforced ahead of the rains or the state could see a breach and thousands of residents could be flooded.
CNN has confirmed that Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn has resigned from his position as national security adviser. On Monday evening, two White House sources revealed to CNN that Flynn handed in his letter of Resignation to President Trump and Vice President Pence, who have accepted his resignation without question.

Flynn was vulnerable to Russian blackmail, claims White House

Flynn's departure is the result of media reports which surfaced earlier in the day, in which the Justice Department warned the Trump administration in January that Flynn intentionally misled White House officials about his communications with Russia's ambassador to the U.S., thereby making the National Security Adviser vulnerable to Russian blackmail.

In a copy of Flynn's resignation letter obtained by CNN, he acknowledges briefing then Vice President-elect Mike Pence with incomplete information regarding his communications with the Russian ambassador. In his resignation letter Flynn apologizes to President Trump and Vice President Pence.

Flynn's departure after less than one month on the job makes him one of the shortest-tenured presidential advisers in recent history. According to CNN, Flynn will be replaced by Gen. Keith Kellogg, formerly the chief of staff for the National Security Council.

Flynn's troubles began last week after a Washington Post story publicized his conversations with ambassador Sergey Kislyak regarding the sanctions levied by Barack Obama over Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 presidential election, which violates a law prohibiting private citizens from directly negotiating with foreign governments.

Possibly replacements include Gen. Petraeus and Vice Admiral Harward

Gen. Kellogg will serve as interim National Security Adviser, but is expected to contend for the full-time position. Other contenders for the adviser position include Gen. David Petraeus and former Vice Admiral Bob Harward.

Flynn was one of Donald Trump's earliest advisers on national security issues, and was a fixture on the campaign trail during Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.
Attorney General for the Trump administration Jeff Sessions was finally confirmed by a 52-47 senate vote last Wednesday and within a couple of days, he reportedly started rolling back bathroom rights for transgender people. Now entering the fourth week of the Trump presidency, his administration would be happy to know that America and the media are exhausted from what Peggy Noonan -- via the Chicago Suntimes -- referred to as going through a "cloud of crazy."

A vote for the new attorney general for the Trump White House was at the center of a battle between Republicans and Democrats who felt Jeff Sessions was too cozy with President Trump and therefore would implement the President's agenda no matter how extreme it was.

As we can see thus far it's true. But the Attorney General's history of racist comments from the past was also one of the reasons all but one Democratic voted against him. Anti-LGBT rights and racism, however, is just par for the course for most of the members of Trump's cabinet and even those Republicans who voted for Sen. Jeff Sessions.

New attorney general is no Loretta Lynch

Along with the attorney general's nomination fight, Sen. Elizabeth Warren made headlines that Tuesday when during a Democratic filibuster to stall votes for his confirmation, she was interrupted by Republican Majority leader Mitch McConnell as she was quoting Coretta Scott King. Coretta was the widow of civil rights leader Martin Luther King and the quote was from a letter she had sent to the United States Senate in 1986, saying that Jeff Sessions should not be confirmed to the U.S.

District Court for the Southern District of Alabama.

Obstructing Jeff Sessions from the beginning is exactly the view shared by almost every Democrat. A look at how he sees all major issues confirms the complete destruction of everything attorney general Loretta Lynch had built at the Justice Department, under Obama. For instance, his stance on immigration has been consistent where he doesn't believe they should have a path to citizenship.

In an op-ed piece he wrote as recently as 2015 for "The Washington Post", he promoted his view of enforcing a systematic slowdown on immigrants, which falls in line with Trump's view that undocumented workers depresses the wage for Americans and is one of the causes for unemployment.

Attorney General will be persistently anti-American

Who is Jeff Sessions? USA TODAY lays out his voting record and key remarks. You decide https://t.co/63X4bTBqb7  USA TODAY (@USATODAY) February 9, 2017

Also, Attorney General Loretta Lynch saw the reality of bad cops. But Jeff Sessions will take the complete opposite position of everything that has been established as law or right, given to Americans so far. An article by "USA Today" titled: "Who is Jeff Sessions? We'll let him tell you," published after his confirmation, provides a thorough update on what Jeff Session's tenure as the new attorney general under Trump will look like. It's been reported that after Jeff Sessions was nominated, Trump held a meeting with six Calfornia sheriffs who have said they're excited to work with the new attorney general, saying that they did not support sanctuary cities or like to be told how to enforce the law.

This already confirms an open opportunity for the new attorney general to target Liberal pockets of political resistance.

Even the unhinged Sherrif David Clarke who declared war on President Obama last year is highly supportive of Sessions and according to various reports, is ready replace ICE agents to go after immigrants. Trump's attacks on the media, his the signing of executive orders and chaos he's thrown the country into, no one who thought he would is even that surprised by it. But the reality is surreal. There is no doubt people should expect the same kind of extreme rule of law enforcement from Jeff Sessions. Because, in a climate of defiance and bold opposition, Attorney General Jeff Sessions wants Trump's totalitarianism to become a reality.
President #Donald Trump today lost his Senior Security Advisor, General #Michael Flynn, as a result of the controversy his contacts with Sergey Kislyak, Russias Ambassador to the United States. While the reasons behind the resignation involve serious issues of national security the Flynn case is also a lesson for President Trump and his senior staff. Will they learn the message?

Political reality

Nobody doubts that at times politicians lie. It is part of their work and not for the banal reason many believe that they have things to hide. Politicians at times lie because they cannot reveal everything they know about upcoming changes in regulations which may affect share prices of major companies, or about details of ongoing investigations because revealing the truth may put at risk possible persecutions.

Sometimes they have to lie to protect national security or interests.

Former General Flynn did not resign because he lied for these reasons. Flynn resigned because he had lied to cover up what was at best unethical behaviour on his part. In fact, his activities broke the Logan Law on contact with a foreign government, but worse still with a government suspected of having interfered in last Novembers presidential election.

Controversial nomination

His original nomination as National Security Adviser was controversial from the beginning, not just because of his behaviour in service, but also because of his working contacts with Russia. This should have caused him to be careful with his behaviour as a public figure.

Yet these doubts did not stop him from having contacts with the Russian Ambassador during the lead up to the Inauguration and his eventual confirmation as the countrys highest authority in matters of security.

Worse still, Flynn lied when confronted on the conversations by specifically stating that these conversations did not touch matters relating to the Obama Administrations most recent sanctions on Russia.

He had forgotten that such conversations do not go unnoticed and uncontrolled by the countrys intelligence community.

He not only embarrassed Vice President Mike Pence who repeated the lie, but he also compromised the image of President Trump and the new Administration. Strangely the question being asked is not how he got his nomination, but why he was not removed from the position long ago rather than having to wait for his resignation.

Realpolitik

The incident involving Michael Flynn was an important lesson of Realpolitik for all the members of the new Administration beginning with the man occupying the Oval Office. Donald Trump and his staff have made truth an issue in American politics since the beginning of the presidential campaign, particularly in relation to the Press when it questioned their reporting of figures and perceptions of Donald Trump candidate and then President.

The controversies of fake news and alternative facts were never about the figures given by the Press Corps. The worries of President Trump and his staff were those of the publics image and perceptions of the new Presidency.

The Flynn Case clearly shows that sooner or later the reality of any situation will be revealed and the damage caused to the image is much greater than if the problems had been addressed at the proper time.

Damage control is too late and harmful for the reputation of the White House, nationally and internationally.

The lesson

Flynns resignation is a hard blow for Donald Trump and will follow him for time in the future as the investigations of the former general continue. But the resignation will serve nothing if he and his staff do not understand and learn from the lesson.

The future will not remember the Trump Administration by its press briefings and the performance of staffers on television programmes. The future will remember and judge the current White House by what it does and does not do in the four or eight years it is in Office. Actions talk, not words. That is the true lesson.
The House Taxation Committee took executive action to kill House Bill 330. HB330 would increase the top Montana income tax rate from 6.9 percent to 8.9 percent. HB330 would add around $12 million to the Montana general fund in 2018, and about $50 million in 2019.

With HB330, individuals reporting over $400,000 of taxable Montana income would pay a rate of 8.9 percent on taxable income exceeding $400,000 per year. An income of $500,000 would be burdened with $2,000 more taxes; $100,000 times 2 percent.

In 2003, Montana Senate Bill 407 extended two generosities to the top 1 percent of Montana income taxpayers. 1. A credit for capital gains tax (only eight other states allow such an oddball credit to reduce state income tax liability). 2. Cutting the top tax rate from 11 percent to 6.9 percent.

In 2006, just one year after the (SB407) tax cuts took effect, households making more than $500,000 received almost half of the tax cut. That amounted to an average tax cut of $30,500 a year per household (approximately the median wage in Montana). In other words, the wealthiest received a tax cut that is equivalent to the amount most Montanans make in a year.

"Meanwhile, households with annual incomes less than $65,000 (81 percent of all Montana households) received, on average, $23.

That quote is from the Montana Budget and Policy Center's July 16 report. Read it and communicate with your legislators.

Bob Williams

Stevensville
Technology is making the world even smaller and so anyone with a smart phone, tablet or pc can keep up with developments in real time as alerts fly around the world. Secretary of State Rex W Tillerson will be kept busy responding to comments and queries from around the world not only about the North Korean missile test and how the White House reacted to it in every way, but also about the Flynn resignation. News that was spread not only by the traditional news services, but in the case of the missile test, by Twitter from private citizens.

Russia again

A report today gave a good example of not only of the speed of communication, but also of how other governments can use any incident to slant the perceptions of the news.

In response to American national security advisor Michael Flynns resignation Monday following the Russian contact scandal, Reuters reported the comments of a senior Member of the Russian Parliament.

Konstantin Kosachev told the RIA Novosti news agency of Russia Either Trump has not gained the requisite independence and he is consequently being not unsuccessfully backed into a corner, or Russophobia has already infected the new administration also from top to bottom.

Without a proper interview with Kosachev it would not be possible to give all the possible interpretations to this statement, but it is a clear sign of how closely politicians around the world follow the developments in American politics, without avoiding his attempt at manipulating President #Donald Trump .

Friends and foes

This interest comes not only from Americas traditional foes such as Russia and China. Kosachevs comment clearly indicates Russian interest and undoubtedly China was just as interested in the weekends developments in America. But in many ways the interest is even more intense in countries with close ties with the United States, both diplomatically and commercially.

Any adverse situation affecting the worlds major superpower can have greater effects on the foreign and commercial policies of these allies.

For these reasons Michael Flynns resignation as National Security Advisor and even more pertinently the unusual reaction by President Donald Trump to the North Korean missile test by effectively holding a National Security Council meeting in an unsecure setting at his Mar-a-Lago resort in front of paying guests of the resort who then tweeted images of the meeting would have raised eyebrows around the world.

With these two incidents new Secretary of State Rex W Tillerson will have his job cut out for at least the near future responding to comments from Americas allies. These reactions would almost certainly coincide with the contents of the famous dissent memo of a thousand senior State Department Staff in reply to the Trump Administrations Moslem ban that is currently blocked by the courts.

Tillerson will have to address two issues with foreign governments. Naturally the first will be the Flynn resignation and its effects on relations with Russia. This will be delicate, but the second issue will almost certainly be of more interest to foreign leaders.

The Secretary of State will have to address the issue of security on the part of President Trump in the wake of the Mar-a-Lago security dinner as few if any world leaders will want to risk their conversations being picked up in unsecure settings such as the Trump owned resort.

The answers to these questions will define how foreign leaders will deal with the White House in the future.

The Trump foreign policy agenda has suddenly become much more complicated and it will be rex w tillersons job to satisfy Americas allies and foes that the White House will handle all its international business to the best standards possible. On the weekend the foreign policy tests of the new Administration truly began.
Over the last week, one of the biggest political stories was the press conference held by Donald Trump. In typical fashion, Alec Baldwin and "Saturday Night Live" took aim at the president-elect.

SNL on Trump

For the first time since he was elected, Donald Trump held a press conference at Trump Tower in New York City last Wednesday. The press conference made headlines when Trump and incoming White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer denied the recent CNN report that alleged Russia was planning to blackmail the president-elect using "compromising" information.

Trump even lashed out at Buzzfeed for reporting that Russia had a sex tape in their possession that allegedly showed Trump hiring prostitutes to take part in a "golden shower." During the press conference,Trump refused to allow Jim Acosta of CNN to ask a question, referring to the network as "fake news." As seen on "Saturday Night Live" on January 14, Trump was mocked in typical fashion.

"Saturday Night Live" kicked off the show with a cold open mocking the aforementioned press conference, with Alec Baldwin playing the part of Donald Trump. Instantly, the Baldwin version of Trump went right into "pee pee" jokes, taking an obvious shot at the "golden shower" allegations by Buzzfeed. Throughout the segment, Baldwin and the rest of the cast continued to use Trump as the butt of the joke, inserting humor about his alleged ties to Russia, complete with a shirtless satirical version of Vladimir Putin.

SNL closes

When the issue came up about Donald Trump signing over control of his business to his two sons, Eric and Donald Trump Jr., Baldwin referred to them as "Beavis and Butthead." The rest of the cold open added shots about Kellyanne Conway, as well as Trump's recent meeting with comedian Steve Harvey.

Baldwin closed the show with more "golden shower" humor, before adding the familiar "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night."

As of press time, the former host of "The Apprentice" has not responded to the "Saturday Night Live" skit, though he has in the past. In addition to hitting back at Alec Baldwin on various occasions, Trump went as far as calling for the show to be cancelled just weeks before the election.
Over the last week, the biggest political story has been a CNN report that claimed Russia was planning to blackmail Donald Trump using "compromising" information. After "Saturday Night Live" mocked a press conference addressing the issue, Trump was forced to speak out.

Trump on "SNL"

Alec Baldwin made his return to "Saturday Night Live" over the weekend, playing the familiar role of Donald Trump. The cold open skit was a satirical take on a press conference Trump had earlier this week at Trump Tower in New York City. One of the main themes of the skit was the alleged "golden shower" sex tape that Buzzfeed reported on, referring to the claim that Russia was using that as part of the aforementioned blackmail.

As expected, Trump has denied all of the allegations made against him, despite the story instantly going viral across social media. One day after the skit aired on "SNL," the billionaire real estate lashed out on his Twitter account on January 15.

.@NBCNews is bad but Saturday Night Live is the worst of NBC. Not funny, cast is terrible, always a complete hit job. Really bad television!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2017

"@NBCNews is bad but Saturday Night Live is the worst of NBC. Not funny, cast is terrible, always a complete hit job," Donald Trump wrote on his Twitter account on Sunday night, before adding, "Really bad television!" Trump's outrage at the sketch comedy show dates back to over a year ago when "SNL" poked fun at the former host of "The Apprentice" during the Republican primary and the general election.

President-elect Donald Trump only wants to talk about what is really important in this country. #SNL pic.twitter.com/1rSIJydIIJ  Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) January 15, 2017

Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized Alec Baldwin for his "sad" impression of him, while going so far as predicting the show's cancelling shortly before Election Day.

Despite Trump's negative reaction, Baldwin and the cast have received rave reviews from critics, and the show has performed well in the ratings.

Moving forward

In less than a week, Donald Trump will be sworn in as the next commander in chief on Inauguration Day. While Trump is getting ready to head into the White House, more than 100,000 protesters are planning to be in Washington, D.C. this Friday to voice their opposition. In addition, Alec Baldwin, along with filmmaker Michael Moore and many others, will be holding their own protest outside of Trump Tower.
In less than a week, Donald Trump will head to Washington, D.C. and be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. In the weeks leading up to the inauguration, liberal backlash has only increased, which has led to opposition in the right-wing media, including Fox News.

Fox News fires back

When Donald Trump first announced his campaign for president, he quickly came under fire for his controversial comments about illegal immigrants from Mexico. For the rest of his campaign, Trump would have a cloud of controversy hanging over his head, while critics labeled him "racist," "sexist," "misogynist," "Islamophobic," and many other terms that have been used more frequently by those on the left of the political spectrum.

It's become common place for more liberal celebrities to express their outrage over Trump, including Rosie O'Donnell who called for "martial law" to prevent the president-elect from taking office. After Rep. John Lewis announced he would be boycotting the inauguration, Fox News host Judge Jeanine Pirro decided to respond, as reported by Fox News on January 15.

"Pray tell, Congressman, what's not legitimate?" Jeanine Pirro asked of John Lewis, before noting that Donald Trump "won by a large electoral college margin and in spite of efforts to do a recount, nothing changed." "Did you not take an oath to support the Constitution?" Pirro wondered, before stating, "You, a Congressman for 30 years know how to amend the Constitution if you don't like it."

Michael Moore announces massive anti-Trump protest with Alec Baldwin and Mark Ruffalohttps://t.co/uuMDN2rdvN pic.twitter.com/8otW6oQxJU  The Hill (@thehill) January 15, 2017

Pirro on liberal Hollywood

"As for those liberal Hollywood leftists in need of a lobotomy like Rosie O'Donnell, they are straight up Communists," Jeanine Pirro said.

"Are you nuts?" she asked in reference to O'Donnell's comments about martial law. "Put on your big-girl pants and come to grips with the fact Donald Trump is your president!," the Fox News host continued, before telling liberals to "Swallow your pride. Get in line. Stop thinking you're so damn important."

Trump nemesis Rosie ODonnell calls for martial law #Trump https://t.co/pjupxotA9E  Trending Now! (@virwire) January 14, 2017

Moving forward

The election of Donald Trump has only highlighted the wide political divide in the United States.

For more conservative news outlets like Fox News, Trump's election has been seen as a clear victory after years of attacking the Obama administration. On the left, the thought of the former host of "The Apprentice" making it to the White House had never been serious thought, but is now a reality that many still refuse to believe is true.
Unbeknownst to many, Tom Cruises mother Mary Lee South died in her sleep last week at the age of 80. The mother of one of Hollywoods most recognizable actors struggled with health problems over the years. The 54-year-old Jack Reacher actor, along with his sisters Lee Ann DeVette, Marian Henry, and Cass Mapother, held a memorial service for their mother at her local Church of Scientology over the weekend. A native of Louisville, Kentucky, South was born Mary Lee Pfeiffer and was a special-education teacher when she married Cruises father, Thomas Cruise Mapother, III.

Tom Cruises passion for acting came from his mom. In a 1986 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, South said she had always been interested in theater, but never did anything with it. She further stated that during her time growing up, going to Hollywood was considered to be really risque.

A star is born

South stated that she saw something in her only son at a young age and would encourage him to get involved with a local theater. However, Cruise had a greater love for sports. Sidelined from wrestling due to a knee injury, Cruise found himself being persuaded by his mother to try out for his high school production of Guys and Dolls. Afterward, Cruise asked his mom if he could wait 10 years to pursue a career in show business.

She gave the green light and he waited tables before his big break in Movies came, making him a major box-office star.

Investing in a childs success

In 2006, Cruise told People magazine that his parents marriage was a tumultuous one and ended in divorce in 1974. Cruise also described his father as a bully. After moving back to the U.S.

from Canada, South worked several jobs to take care of her children. Cruise helped out by taking a paper route and would massage his mothers feet after a hard day at work. When he was 16, his mother married Jack South in 1978, and the family settled in New Jersey. Mary Lee South, who often accompanied her famous son on the red carpet, said she always believed her boy would be successful. In return, Tom Cruise said that he knew she was proud of him.
HANOI - China remained the biggest trade partner of Vietnam in the first month of 2017, according to Vietnam Customs on Monday.

Vietnam's exports to China went up 34.4 percent year-on-year while imports hiked 0.4 percent, helping reducing the country's trade deficit with China, said the customs.

South Korea and the United States were also among main trading partners of Vietnam last month. Vietnam saw growth in its exports to and imports from South Korea, with respective rises of 29.4 percent and 30 percent year-on-year. The country's exports to the United States rose slightly at 0.3 percent while that of imports climbed 14.6 percent year-on-year.

In January, Vietnam earned $14.34 billion from exports, down 13.5 percent over the previous month. Major revenue earners included cell phones and accessories, accounting for 16.2 percent of the national total exports, garment and textile, making up 15 percent, computers, electronic products and accessories, taking up 10.5 percent, among others.

The United States topped markets for Vietnamese garment and textile with revenue of nearly $1.08 billion, up 5.8 percent year-on-year, followed by Japan with $253 million, and South Korea with $215 million.

Most computers, electronic products and accessories of Vietnam were exported to China last month with revenue of $365 million, some 1.12 times as much as that of the same period last year, said Vietnam Customs.

Meanwhile, exports of these products to the United States went down 9.7 percent year-on-year to hit $163 million.

During the month, Vietnamese exported nearly $1.17 billion worth of footwear, down 4.8 percent year-on-year, with top sales to the United States of $379 million and China of $77 million.

Last month, Vietnam's exports of wood and wood-related products to China went up over 40 percent year-on-year, while those to the United States decreased by 6.6 percent year-on-year.

Also, Vietnam recorded sharp increase in rubber exports to China, with 131.4 percent year-on-year, said Vietnam Customs.

In the first month, the country spent nearly $13.19 billion on imports, down 22.8 percent against December 2016. As a result, Vietnam enjoyed a trade surplus of over $1.15 billion in January.
Despite policy changes and rhetoric from the Trump administration on immigration and trade, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder said there is still an opportunity to build upon the established bond between China and the US.

"We need to wait and see what happens with the administration," Snyder, a Republican, said in an interview on Feb 11 at the Chinese New Year Gala hosted by the Detroit Chinese Business Association (DCBA) in Detroit. "I appreciate they have new ideas, but let's build on what we have done over the last few years."

Snyder, who has conducted several trade missions to China during his administration, noted that more than 11,000 Chinese students are studying in Michigan and several Michigan-based companies, including Amway, Kellogg, General Motors and Ford Motor Co, have large investments in China.

"It's not a one-way street and now we are seeing strong investment from the Chinese back here. Let's keep building on those ties," he added.

Jerry Xu, president of the DCBA, echoed the governor's comments and told those attending his organization's event that "this celebration serves as the foundation for the growing economic ties between China and the US."

Snyder said the Chinese are active investors in Detroit and that they will find ample opportunity to invest in Detroit's comeback.

Snyder also said that he thinks Michigan can develop a niche market to lure Chinese tourists to the state. He said many Chinese will want to visit New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas on their first trips to the US. "But many are starting to come back a second and third time. It's on those trips that I think they will want a more natural and outdoor experience and Michigan offers the best outdoor experience. It's why I introduced the Pure Michigan (tourism campaign) in China in the last couple of years," he said

Johan de Nysschen, president of GM's luxury car division Cadillac, also addressed the audience.

"China is an important market for Cadillac and it is the fastest growing luxury brand in China," de Nysschen said. "Cadillac can play an important role in fostering closer economic ties between China and the US. We can contribute to growth and job creation in both countries."

Last week Cadillac announced that it sold more cars in China in the first month of 2017 than it did in the US. In 2016, Cadillac sold 170,000 vehicles in the US and 116,000 in China, and de Nysschen said Cadillac will try to achieve sales of 150,000 vehicles in China in 2017.
Despite policy changes and rhetoric from the Trump administration on immigration and trade, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder said there is still an opportunity to build upon the established bond between China and the US.

"We need to wait and see what happens with the administration," Snyder, a Republican, said in an interview on Feb 11 at the Chinese New Year Gala hosted by the Detroit Chinese Business Association (DCBA) in Detroit. "I appreciate they have new ideas, but let's build on what we have done over the last few years."

Snyder, who has conducted several trade missions to China during his administration, noted that more than 11,000 Chinese students are studying in Michigan and several Michigan-based companies, including Amway, Kellogg, General Motors and Ford Motor Co, have large investments in China.

"It's not a one-way street and now we are seeing strong investment from the Chinese back here. Let's keep building on those ties," he added.

Jerry Xu, president of the DCBA, echoed the governor's comments and told those attending his organization's event that "this celebration serves as the foundation for the growing economic ties between China and the US".

Snyder said the Chinese are active investors in Detroit and that they will find ample opportunity to invest in Detroit's comeback.

Snyder said many Chinese will want to visit major US cities on their first trips to the US. "But many are starting to come back a second and third time. It's on those trips that I think they will want a more natural and outdoor experience and Michigan offers the best outdoor experience. It's why I introduced the Pure Michigan (tourism campaign) in China in the last couple of years," he said.

Johan de Nysschen, president of GM's luxury car division Cadillac, also addressed the audience.

"China is an important market for Cadillac and it is the fastest-growing luxury brand in China," de Nysschen said. "Cadillac can play an important role in fostering closer economic ties between China and the US."

Last week Cadillac announced that it sold more cars in China in the first month of 2017 than it did in the US. In 2016, Cadillac sold 170,000 vehicles in the US and 116,000 in China, and de Nysschen said Cadillac will try to achieve sales of 150,000 vehicles in China in 2017.

paulwelitzkin@chinadailyusa.com
The city of Oroville is empty after an evacuation was ordered for communities downstream from the Lake Oroville Dam, in Oroville, California, US February 13, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

SAN FRANCISCO - The fear of possible failure of the emergency spillway at Oroville Dam in Northern California, the United States, forced Sunday about 180,000 people to evacuate along the Feather River.

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) said that the order to evacuate was based on information it had received.

The information raised concern that erosion at the head of the spillway threatens to undermine the concrete weir and allow large, uncontrolled releases of water from Lake Oroville, the second largest man-made lake in the state of California, capable of storing more than 3.5 million acre-feet, or 4.4 cubic kilometers, of water.

While reaffirming that Oroville Dam, the tallest in the United States with an earthfill embankment 770 feet, or 230 meters, high on the Feather River east of the city of Oroville, is sound, the DWR clarified that the dam is a separate structure from the emergency spillway.

The DWR said Sunday afternoon a hole developed in the emergency spillway structure, a concrete lip on the north side of the dam, as water cascaded down the dirt ravine. Flow over the spillway weir began Saturday morning and the erosion appeared to be spreading upward toward the structure.

Officials said if the structure were undercut by the enlarging chasm, it could fail, and the water behind that barrier would come down the hill uncontrollably into the diversion pool and down the Feather River, setting the stage for the possibility of massive flows exceeding the capacity of downstream channels and flooding into Oroville and communities south of the city.

To avert more erosion at the top of the emergency spillway, the DWR had doubled the flow down the dam's main spillway, so as to lower the water level in the lake more rapidly and stop water flowing over the emergency spillway.

As highways leading out of the area were clogged, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea was quoted as saying by local newspaper Oroville Mercury Register that the decision to evacuate tens of thousands of people was an "extraordinarily difficult" one to make.

There was no word from the DWR and local authorities on when people would be allowed back into the area, and Chris Orrock, a spokesman for the state agency, said people would not be let back until officials are confident that the area is safe.

Oroville is about 113 kilometers, north of California's state capital of Sacramento, or 240 kilometers northeast of San Francisco.

Oroville Dam was built by the DWR from 1961 to 1968 as one of the key features of the California State Water Project (SWP) to serve mainly for water supply, hydroelectricity generation and flood control.
People mourn Zhang's death on Facebook. [Photo/Facebook]

The Italian capital of Rome will pay tribute to Chinese art student Zhang Yao by naming an avenue or square of the city in her name to commemorate her bravery in defending her rights, according to oushinet.com, a Chinese-language news website that focuses on Europe news.

The former 20-year-old student of Rome's Academy of the Fine Arts was fatally hit by a train while pursuing her belongings that were robbed from her as she was heading back from the immigration office on Dec 5 last year.

The city council and the mayor believe Zhang's bravery in defending her rights as a female and citizen is very touching and full of justice. They claimed Zhang is a role model for people of all nationalities. The Rome City Council believes it has the responsibility to name an avenue or square after her to show respect and support to legislation and liberty.

The proposal has been officially approved and the city council is set to hold a formal naming ceremony in the future.

About 200 mourners commemorated the student as they laid white roses and daisies outside the train station on Dec 11, two days after Zhang's body was found in a ditch near the train track.

The death of the aspiring artist, and only child of her family, caused her father to collapse during the memorial ceremony. The local Chinese community in Rome was shocked and angry as foreign students have always been preyed on in Italy.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is planning to take over a vacant detention facility in Hardin, which closed last year after the agency pulled its previous contract.

BIA spokeswoman Nedra Darling confirmed the agency is negotiating a lease to operate the Two Rivers Detention Facility, which has housed mainly Native American inmates.

"We anticipate a lease being signed in April 2017," Darling said in an email to The Gazette.

The reopening of the prison would be a welcome sign for Hardin officials, who've been hopeful that it would add more than 100 jobs to the depressed market there, though employment levels have never reached triple digits.

Last fall, Hardin Mayor Jack Lane said the opening of the prison would be a "lifesaver."

There were signs of activity at the prison in November, when federal government help wanted ads appeared for cooks and correctional officers. BIA personnel began meeting at the prison with the director of the local Two Rivers Authority.

But most public officials are still in the dark about what's happening at the facility. Hardin Common Council minutes usually contain a note that they're still waiting for word.

On Jan. 17, Lane told the council that his public works supervisor received word that a signed lease with the BIA was near.

We were supposed to have some kind of contract by November," superintendent of public works Russell Dill said Monday. "Then it was moved to January. Other than that I dont have any information, to tell you the honest truth.

The BIA has allowed no information about why it ended its contract with Two Rivers in November 2015, leading to the facility's closing. That contract was with a previous operator, Emerald Correctional Management, which left town in August.

On the local end of the negotiation with the BIA is Jeff McDowell, executive director of the Two Rivers Authority, which has been subsidized with funds from the city of Hardin. McDowell has rebuffed all inquires from The Gazette.

In the red

The plight of the detention facility has received much attention since the Two Rivers Authority issued bonds worth $27 million in 2006 to build it. The prison immediately ran into problems when Montana county and state correctional agencies declined to house prisoners there.

The bonds used to finance the building depend solely on revenue from prisoner contracts to be repaid. The bondholders are private and the city, as well as its taxpayers, have no obligation to the debt.

Still, the once-touted economic development project has been a blemish for Hardin. No payments on the bond principal have been made since 2008 and no interest payments since 2009, according to a recent bondholder disclosure.

The prison sat empty about nine of its 10 years  the only revenue came from a BIA contract from 2014 to 2015 that brought as many as 250 inmates. The income during that time wasn't enough to cover operating expenses, let alone pay down the debt.

If a deal with the BIA goes through, the facility will have more than just interest and principal payments, new documents show.

On Jan. 30, bond trustee U.S. Bank issued a "notice for further bondholder funding." It noted that bondholders have already given advances of $875,000 toward the prison's operation. Those advances also collect interest.

Additionally, the bondholders' reserve fund sits at $3,000. The original bond agreement called for a reserve requirement of $2.6 million.

The trustee document indicates that if a deal with the BIA comes soon, it might be just in time. With the reserve nearly depleted, the trustee warned that it wouldn't be able to keep up basic payments, even on a dormant building.

"Up until now, the Trustee used funds for insurance, repairs and utility services to attempt to preserve the (prison) in a mothball state," the document states.
Steven Mnuchin, US President Donald Trump's pick for treasury secretary, was confirmed by the Senate on Monday evening after a lengthy, partisan process.

The Senate voted 53-47 to make the 54-year-old Wall Street financier the 77th US treasury secretary.

Mnuchin was immediately sworn in at the White House by Vice-President Mike Pence, in front of Trump and Louise Linton, Mnuchin's domestic partner.

Trump praised Mnuchin and said "our nation's financial system is truly in great hand."

During a seven-hour Senate debate that started at noon, Democratic lawmakers, such as Minority Leader Charles Schumer, accused Mnuchin of being anti-working class. Trump had pledged to help American workers since launching his presidential campaign in mid-2015.

The Democrats described the former Goldman Sachs executive as incapable of being tough on Wall Street, another Trump campaign promise. They accused him of profiteering from mortgage foreclosures when he was heading the One West Bank during the 2007-2008 financial crisis.

Mnuchin is the third treasury secretary from Goldman Sachs since 1995. The other two were Henry Paulson under President George W. Bush and Robert Rubin under President Bill Clinton.

Democrats boycotted his Senate Finance Committee confirmation vote on Jan 31, but the panel approved Mnuchin the following day after Republicans changed rules.

Bernie Sanders, a senator from Vermont, tweeted shortly before the Monday vote that "Trump's pick of Steve Mnuchin to run the Treasury shows he wants to cater to the same Wall Street executives that hurt working families".

Mnuchin will face huge tasks in tax and financial regulation reform. And his remarks on Trump's campaign rhetoric of naming China a currency manipulator have been closely watched.

In a Jan 19 Senate hearing, Mnuchin said he was willing to label China a currency manipulator if warranted. The message has been widely interpreted to mean there would be no immediate action.

Trump also has softened his tone in the past months. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal last month, Trump said that he wouldn't name China a manipulator on his first day in office as previously promised. "I would talk to them first," he was quoted as saying. "Certainly they are manipulators. But I'm not looking to do that."

The softened tone has helped ease concerns that the Trump administration might start a trade war with China, triggered either by labeling China a currency manipulator or by imposing a 45 percent tariffs on Chinese exports, as Trump once threatened.

As described by the White House, Trump had a "lengthy" and "extremely cordial" phone call with President Xi Jinping last Thursday night. It came on the eve of a visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Most US economists no longer believe that China is manipulating its currency to gain a trade advantage. Instead, they point out that the Chinese government has intervened to prop up its currency, renminbi (RMB), also known as yuan, thereby helping the US economy become more competitive.

These include Fred Bergsten of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a main critic of China's currency policy not that long ago.

The US Treasury headed by Jack Lew under the Obama administration also said in its report last October that China met only one of three criteria to be labeled a manipulator. The report also credited China's recent efforts to prop up its currency as helping prevent a rapid depreciation that would hurt the world economy.

The next US Treasury report to assess the foreign exchange practices of major trading partners is due on April 15.

If the US Treasury names China a currency manipulator, it will be required by US law to start bilateral negotiations to resolve the issue. It could result in punitive tariffs on Chinese goods.

The International Monetary Fund also may be asked to provide its expert evaluation if the Trump administration does not choose a path of unilateralism.

At the January hearing, Mnuchin said currency manipulation is a serious infraction of free trade principles and needs to be effectively addressed.

"As treasury secretary, I will ensure that we defend American jobs by combating currency devaluation utilizing the reporting and monitoring functions of the Treasury and legislative processes established by Congress," he said.

He said he would work through existing multilateral institutions such as the IMF, G7 and G20 to address currency manipulation as an unfair trade practice and also work with major trade partners bilaterally.

Mnuchin is estimated to have a net worth of as much as $500 million. He was the national finance chairman of Trump's presidential campaign.

chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com
BOZEMAN  A 43-year-old man has pleaded guilty to a drug charge filed after he caused a meth lab explosion at a Bozeman hotel in June 2015.

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports Matthew Robert Bendz pleaded guilty Monday to felony criminal production of dangerous drugs. Under a plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend that Bendz receive an 8-year suspended sentence and that he take part in treatment court.

His sentencing is set for March 27. Bendz has been jailed since his arrest last August.

Bendz suffered injuries to his arms, face and eyes in the explosion. He was treated in Salt Lake City for his injuries, which included a chemical burn to his face.
The former president of a Grand Forks health care facility was appointed to the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education on Tuesday by Gov. Doug Burgum.

Casey Ryan was president of Altru Health System from 1997 to 2014. He would take a seat on the board effective July 1, if approved by the Senate.

Ryan would replace board member Kari Reichert, who chose not to seek a second four-year term.

He has been on the University of North Dakota School of Medicines Faculty Academic Council since 2015. Ryan previously served as assistant dean for the school and as a teacher.

Ryan, a Grand Forks native, graduated from Colorado College in 1971 with a bachelors degree in biology. He graduated from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in 1975 and completed his residency in internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic graduate school in Rochester, Minn., in 1978.

The board has seven voting members who can serve up to two four-year terms and one student member that serves a one-year term.

Board President Kathleen Neset was appointed to a second term last week and also is awaiting a confirmation vote from the Senate.

More information on the North Dakota University System and board members can be found at www.ndus.nodak.edu.
Gov. Doug Burgum has rejected a plea by North Dakotas American Indian tribes to give them exclusive rights to host internet gambling and sports betting in the state. But Burgum did endorse the tribes appeal to lower the legal gambling age from 21 to 19 at American Indian casinos and to allow use of credit or debit cards to bet. The tribes asked Burgum to approve the gambling expansion under tribal-state agreements. The tribes wanted gamblers using mobile devices to place bets that would be funneled through computer servers on tribal land. Burgum says state law doesn't allow that.
The damage could have been worse after a fire broke out at a United Tribes Technical College student's housing unit Sunday night. The next day, a pile of torn-up insulation and destroyed baby toys and a bike laid outside the house.

It was a fairly bad fire," said Bismarck Rural Fire Department Chief Michael Voigt.

The Bismarck Rural Fire Department got a call of a fire at student housing unit #162 around 7 p.m. When they arrived on scene, all the occupants of the house  including several kids and two adults  were out safe.

Dennis Neumann, a spokesman for UTTC, said in an email Monday that the family was moved to temporary lodging on campus on Sunday. They may also be moved into a new three-bedroom unit, similar to the one they had.

The storage unit affixed to the house went up in flames. However, the fire did not extend into their home, Voigt said. When firefighters arrived, the smoke in the storage area was so thick that it was almost down to the floor.

Voigt said an occupant of the house and campus security attempted to put out the fire using extinguishers and buckets of water. When that failed, they called 911.

The fire caused heavy smoke damage in the attic, because the smoke filled the storage unit and had nowhere to escape, Voigt said.

The fire in the storage unit was out within 3 to 5 minutes with 25 gallons of water, Voigt said.

They had tried to fight that fire themselves, and it was just too big and that delayed our response by them not calling right away," said Voigt, adding that 911 should be called as soon as a fire is spotted.

Neumann said, however, that the college's security director, Joely Heavy Runner, told him that 911 was called as soon as the fire started in the storage space, because security officers were notified by dispatch of the fire.

The cause of the fire was inappropriate disposal of smoking materials in a trash container, Voigt said. A cigarette was placed in a garbage can, which spread to materials next to it and caused the fire.

Voigt said it's not clear how long it takes for a discarded cigarette to start a fire. It can depend on what's in the garbage can, how and where it falls and the availability of oxygen.

It really is a freakish deal, and thats why its so important when people are smoking that they dispose of that stuff properly," Voigt said.

He said people should have dedicated receptacles to put cigarettes and other smoking materials in for that purpose.

Voigt said estimated damage from the fire is about $30,000. Neumann said an itemized damage estimate from a smoke mitigation vendor reaches $50,000.

"Were looking at it on the positive side, and thats, well, the house can easily be fixed; all the personal possessions are totally usable," Voigt said.
February 12, 2017

Turkeys Operation Euphrates Shield, which entered its 170th day Feb. 11 having seen the loss of 65 Turkish soldiers, is at its most critical juncture. In an operation launched the night of Feb. 7 from Aqil Hill, a dominating feature west of al-Bab, about 1,300 Turkish troops (700 commandos, 400 tank personnel and about 200 special forces) and nearly 2,000 Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters took part. Thirteen Turkish soldiers were killed in the operation. Security sources told Al-Monitor that about 800 Islamic State (IS) militants and 10,000 civilians are still in the town center of al-Bab. IS uses these civilians as "live shields," and the Turkish army and the FSA now face tough urban warfare as they move toward the town center.

As of noon Feb. 11, Turkish troops and the FSA had captured al-Bab silos, the al-Bab Sport Center in the west and the Zahra Mosque area in al-Bab's northwest. Turkish military sources said they have secured 25% of the town center and that heavy clashes are ongoing in the western and northern neighborhoods of al-Bab.

On another nearby front, the Syrian army and its allied militias have seized the Abu Taltal area about 2 miles to the south of al-Bab and are pushing toward the town. If this advance continues, in a day or two the Syrian army and its allied militias will be entering al-Bab, raising the specter of a clash between Turkish army/FSA forces and the Syrian army. There are already reports of rocket exchanges and occasional clashes between the FSA and Syrian army militias to the southwest of al-Bab. In short, the ground has become hot at al-Bab and the next week or so may well determine the fate of Turkeys Operation Euphrates Shield that was launched Aug. 24.

There were two other important recent developments. First was the arrival of CIA chief Michael Pompeo to Ankara on Feb. 9. We were told that on the agenda of his meetings in Ankara were combating IS, the Raqqa operation, the future of Syria, Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria, the latest situation in Mosul and the Kurdistan Workers Party's Syrian offshoots the Democratic Union Party and the People's Protection Units (YPG), which Turkey considers terrorists. Ankara was also prepared to strongly raise the extradition of Gulen movement leader Fethullah Gulen from the United States.

The other major development was in the field. At 8:40 a.m. on Feb. 9, a Russian warplane that took off from Syrias Khmeimim air base hit a building near al-Bab. Three Turkish tank personnel quartered in the building were killed and 11 others were wounded.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said of the attack that killed the Turkish soldiers, Russian planes were operating according to coordinates supplied by our Turkish partners. There shouldnt have been any Turkish soldiers at that location.

The Turkish military command reacted quickly to the Russian claim. Chief of Staff headquarters said that Turkish soldiers had been at the same location for the previous 10 days and that their coordinates were confirmed to Russians at 11:11 the night before.

In a previous such incident in November, three Turkish soldiers were killed in attack by a Syrian plane.

The question to ask is whether this "friendly fire" attack that coincided with the Ankara visit of the CIA director was an accident Russia wasnt fully responsible for or whether Russia wanted to teach a lesson to Turkish officials not to get too close to the United States as they were conferring with Pompeo. Russia, in its explanation, said that it prepares target lists with information the Syrian army provides from the ground and that this intelligence data is coordinated with Turkey, indicating the fatal attack wasnt really all Russia's fault.

What is interesting is that it is not Russia but Turkey that is striving to prove it was an accident and downplay it. However, many in Turkey believe the Syrian army might have manipulated the field intelligence and intentionally misled the Russian air force to attack the Turkish soldiers. This "Assad has misled Russia" thesis is popular in pro-government circles in Ankara.

Kerim Has of Moscow State University told Al-Monitor he doesnt believe Russia was seeking to punish Turkey. Anyway, Turkey has been carrying out its operations in northern Syria mostly within the parameters drawn up by Russia. Moreover, Moscow has managed to get Ankara to support Russias new Syria approach. The best two recent examples of this were Ankaras lack of reaction to the Russian proposal for cultural autonomy for Syrian Kurds in the draft Syrian constitution and Ankaras apparent easing of its demands for Assad to give up his post, he said.

Has said the Russian air attack on Turkish soldiers indicates a serious deficiency in intelligence cooperation between NATO member Turkey and Russia in the al-Bab region. Russia, to maximize its interests in Syria, will want to use Turkeys pain from this incident and push for deeper cooperation in military and especially in intelligence fields. We should not be surprised by a more intense joint military planning in their Syria operations, he added.

Of course, the United States would not be very pleased with closer Russia-Turkey military-intelligence relations.

Has also doesnt believe that Russia will approve of the expansion of Turkeys sphere of influence in northern Syria to totally dominate the al-Bab region. He doesnt think Russia will look favorably upon Turkeys participation in a Raqqa operation after al-Bab.

Al-Bab is attributed strategic significance by Turkish public opinion, with mostly chauvinistic media reporting and constant bombastic references to it by top officials. Whether al-Bab is captured is important for domestic political consumption, as the referendum on an executive presidency nears. The liberation of al-Bab before the April 16 constitutional referendum on presidential powers could be played up by the Justice and Development Party government as a Turkish military victory.

But al-Bab is gradually losing its strategic importance in the war against IS as the emphasis shifts to Raqqa. About 220,000 civilians live in Raqqa and about 10,000 IS militants are deployed there. Will IS defend Raqqa to the end, as it is doing at Mosul and al-Bab? IS defenses and fortifications in Raqqa and in its periphery suggest it will be a fight to the end. Clashes in Raqqa, more than a special forces operation, will be conventional urban warfare where tanks, heavy armor and artillery will have to be used. The infantry assault against Raqqa today is mostly by the heavily Kurdish YPG in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). This force has already reached 8 miles from the north and northwest of Raqqa as part of the Wrath of the Euphrates Operation. The key question now is who will provide the heavy armor (tanks and armored fighting vehicles) and long-distance artillery that will be badly needed. Without sufficient armor and artillery support, the SDF will not be able to clear out Raqqa, even with US air support.

That may explain why James F. Jeffrey, a former US ambassador to Ankara, says a Turkish army-SDF combination supported by the US is an indispensable requirement to liberate Raqqa.

Here are the available options for those that will participate in the Raqqa operation:

A Turkish-FSA operation supported by the United States: This is the option Turkey is trying to have the United States accept. The goal is to remove the Democratic Union Party (PYD) from the equation and thus its control of the Kurdish Kobani canton to the east of the Euphrates River and north of Raqqa. But it is also known that the United States doesnt favor this option that sidelines the SDF. A Turkish and SDF operation with US support: Washington strongly supports this option, but it is resisted by Turkey because of its reservations about the Kurdish PYD. Washington will have to work very hard to persuade Turkey to accept this option. With US and Russian support, a Turkish-FSA and Syrian army operation. Given the power struggle between the United States and Russia and the inevitable questions of how much accord there could be between Ankara and Damascus, this is an option with a very low probability. A SDF joint operation with the Syrian army with the support of the United States and Russia. Washington would definitely go for it; it would mean sidelining Turkey should Ankara totally reject options 2 and 3. A PYD and Syrian army operation under Russian support; it is not clear whether the United States would approve an option that leaves it out.

All these options have a major problem: The United States and Russia have not decided whose influence will dominate Syrias north. I believe Russia thinks of all of northern Syria as its area of influence, while Americans see the east of the Euphrates as the US zone of influence and the west of it as Russias. As this US-Russia imbroglio about northern Syria plays out on the field as more blood and tears, it is time for those in Washington and Moscow to decide what they want and play their cards honestly.
Conservative groups who have faced invasive questions from the IRS have expressed alarm at the tax agencys decision to hire a former police officer who was convicted of illegally accessing FBI records and providing information to a person who was the subject of a counterterrorism investigation involving a figure associated with al Qaeda.

The IRS hired Mohammed Weiss Rasool, or Weiss Russell as he is known to the agency, to serve as a financial management analyst, which is three steps removed from the highest level career position. In his position he will be working on audit related issues and will have access to tax information that could be of great benefit to opponents of a group or individual subjected to an audit.

Republican Senate Candidate Christine ODonnell testified to Congress that her private tax records were illegally accessed by a Delaware Department of Revenue employee who leaked that ODonnell was supposedly delinquent on her taxes according to the IRS. However, when confronted about the issue, the IRS claimed the supposed tax lien was a mistake, but by then the damage had been done.

She told congress that in January 2013, she was told by a US Treasury Department special agent that her tax records were compromised and misused.

During the 2012 presidential election campaign, it was leaked that Mitt Romney had made a $10,000 donation to the National Organization for Marriage, which supports traditional marriage. NOM has said the information could have only come from tax records.

Ironically when such breaches occur, the IRS often tells individuals who have had their records violated that they are not allowed to release any information about the breach because of laws that prevent the release of taxpayer information. They claim that this law applies even to those who are the victims of having their records compromised.

Now, the agency has hired Rasool, an immigrant from Afghanistan who came to America in 1983, who improperly accessed the Fairfax police squad, where he was a sergeant, to help a friend out he met at a local mosque. His friend was worried about three vehicles that were following him and asked Rasool to check out the plates. Rasool discovered the plates were not licensed to an individual, but from a licensing company, a sure sign they were used by law enforcement. Rasool then passed the information along to his friend.

This is absolutely outrageous, said Chris Farrell, director of investigations at Judicial Watch, a government watchdog group. Rasool has already demonstrated hes not worthy of a position of trust within the government  hes already broken one public oath  the last place youd want him is at the IRS.

Judicial Watch has demanded the IRS explain its reasoning for hiring Rasool in light of concerns about other incidents involving the agency leaking tax information and who it was at the agency or within the Obama administration who made the final decision to hire him.
Asserting that "maritime muscle flexing" by some countries and other factors have made the Indo-Pacific region "more contested and more volatile," naval chief Admiral Sunil Lanba on Tuesday said the engagement of the Indian Navy in these oceans was symbolic of India's dream for this region.

IMAGE: Admiral Sunil Lanba, chief of naval staff, centre, spoke on 'The Indo-Pacific: Portents and Possibilities' at the geo-economic summit co-hosted by the Gateway House and the ministry of external affairs, at the Taj Palace hotel, Mumbai on February 14, 2016. Photograph: Vaihayasi Pande Daniel/Rediff.com.

Speaking on 'Indo-Pacific: Possibilities and Portents' in a conference organised in Mumbai by the Gateway House and the ministry of external affairs, Admiral Sunil Lanba, chief of naval staff said: "The region is witnessing a global power shift from the west to the east. The US rebalancing a rising China. The emergence of traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges. This maritime region has always been of immediate relevance to the resident stake-holder, but has now gained greater eminence during an era of major global churn. The Indo-Pacific is thus certainly passing through interesting times."

Lanba started out by first explaining and highlighting the importance of the region: "The interplay between politics, economics and technology as the principal drivers for getting value out of resources has been highlighted.... My intent is providing a geo-strategic backdrop to the whole context of geo-economics, with security being the central theme. The topic of Indo-Pacific possibilities has special significance as a regional dynamic of this notional space has come to bear great significance for international geopolitics and economic well-being of the entire world.



"As the name suggests, the term Indo-Pacific broadly symbolises the area comprising two great oceans -- Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. The term is still evolving and is increasingly being accepted as a concept in the strategic discourse.

"The geographic extent of this terminology could have multiple interpretations. But in the contemporary world the notion essentially brings the Indian Ocean and the western part of the Pacific into one strategic arc.

"Some analysts would have us believe that 21st century is the century belonging to Asia. It is generally acknowledged that the geopolitical, the geo-economic and particularly the geostrategic focus is in the process of shifting to the shores of the Indian and Pacific Ocean. And more precisely to the Indo-Pacific region. The existing nebulous regional environment in the Indo-Pacific is also marked by several (rival) powers who are pursuing for greater space on the global stage."

Citing statistics, the navy chief said, the region is "home to more than 60 per cent of the world's population. The world's leading and rising economic giants powered by demography and technology, the region has emerged."

He added that the Indo-Pacific is a centre of global manufacturing and service industry. And that it also had the world's most important trade routes. "The importance of the Indo-Pacific sealink for global trade cannot be overstated The area accounts for about 60 per cent of the world's global exports and imports in volumes... It may be safely asserted that Indo-Pacific is the fastest growing economic region of the world."



Lanba cautioned, "Even though the possibilities of the Indo-Pacific region are exciting from the economic perspective, the portents are clearly discernible from a maritime security perspective."

IMAGE: The naval chief is in the house. Photograph: Vaihayasi Pande Daniel/Rediff.com.

The navy chief said the region is confronted with both traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges. "As regard to traditional maritime challenges, one observes sovereignty issues, territorial disputes, contradicting positions on international norms are defining national interactions in the region.

This has led to an escalation of maritime muscle flexing by various countries in the region. This resurgent maritime dynamic in the wider context has been termed, in some quarters, as historically unprecedented and hitherto unseen. You can observe that regional military modernisation decisions are being driven by action-reaction dynamics. Force levels by one country have become contingent upon the known, assumed and anticipated capabilities of other countries. This has indeed made the Indo-Pacific region more contested and potentially more volatile.

"What is interesting to note however is that nations with vastly differing international views and divergent national interests are at the same time significant trade partners and are economically well connected. There is a tremendous balance where nations of the region committed on one hand to the pursuit of economic growth are also displaying a concurrent desire to bolster the capabilities of their armed forces. This current pursuit of growth and defence has given rise to an interesting situation in international relationships."

Since the players of the Indo-Pacific region are not always alike in their aspirations, the States of the region therefore cooperate with one set of countries for economic gains and are dependent on another set of countries for security-related issues, he said.

"Quite naturally the contradictions are also emerging within this narrative... Organisations, both international and regional, created for enabling cooperation among countries of the region, are being undermined with unilateral policy pronouncements and display of economic hegemony by some countries. In addition, maritime economic arteries passing through the region are increasingly becoming vulnerable to non traditional threats."

Lanba said though piracy had been contained, in 2016 there had been reports of five incidents of piracy and 80 armed robberies in the region. Most of these attacks were claimed by terrorist groups based in the Philippines. "These are indicative of trends where distinctions between traditional piracy and maritime terrorism is fading rapidly." Coordinated patrolling and enhanced surveillance has helped the situation although the region is still vulnerable to these "asymmetrical threats."

He added, "Any disruption of oil or trade flow in the region will have a detrimental impact on the regional as well as global economy. Therefore it becomes essential that peace and security prevails in this region."



Increasing urbanisation, higher population density, climate change, pollution and illegal fishing pose threats to the region and its ecosystem and cause tension and insecurity. The Indo-Pacific region is prone to natural disasters that brought in their wake human suffering, while affecting and destroying the "economic capabilities and infrastructure in these countries.''

Lanba quoted figures from an Asian Development Bank study that said the cost of damages, from climate disaster in the region between 2010 and 2015, had amounted to in excess of 335 billion dollars.

The navy chief drew attention to the fact that the Indo-Pacific region is also exposed to a mix of other criminal activities like human trafficking, arms trade and drugs, in addition to geopolitical tensions.

"Despite the numerous maritime challenges, the Indo-Pacific region underpins the Asian growth story. And we in India today have a major stake in this region."

The navy chief said India is charting its course of economic growth using a civilisational ethos of realism, co-existence, cooperation and partnership. In achieving this role, the navy will continue to be 'net security provider' in the Indian Ocean region.

To achieve these goals, the navy has taken a number of initiatives such as humanitarian assistance, disaster relief operations (for example, Operation Raahat where the Indian Navy rescued Indian and citizens of 47 other countries after civil war broke out in Yemen), anti-piracy missions, Indian Ocean naval symposium and resource-sharing with other navies, Lanba maintained.

He hoped the Indo-Pacific emerges as a "region of opportunities" and assured the audience the navy will do its utmost to play its role as India's maritime power. He said in his opinion all the engagements (like those listed above) of the Indian Navy are "symbolic" of India's dream for this region.

The admiral explained that "lack of trust and differing ultra nationalist perceptions" can cause tensions in the region. But the "silver lining" was, he said, that an analysis of what had happened in many instances in the past showed that the countries in the region have managed to "find a way around the contradictions" and continued to do business with each other.

The most effective way to overcome the "existing trust deficit" that exists between the states of the Indo-Pacific was to "enhance the level of engagement and interactions with each other," he felt.



"In spite of the centrality of the ocean to all countries in the region, maritime governance structures and a combined approach towards resources, resolving maritime threats and challenges have not been accorded the deserved prominence." He said he strongly believes that the "full potential towards fostering a positive and cooperative environment has not yet been fully realised" in the Indo-Pacific region.

Regional organisations, that can bring about better cooperation between countries of the region, through a variety of exercises like operational exchange, information sharing and many more, needed to empowered.

That he said, would help ensure that "nations of the region can act as capable and adaptive partners rather than argumentative, tense competitors." That would inculcate a sense of collective responsibility and ownership.

He said no one knew it better than the countries in the region that "Confrontation would be only bring disaster and distress." It would crush the dreams of economic empowerment for the masses of people in this region. India being so centrally located in the Indo-Pacific made her role even more key.

Lanba told the audience he would leave them with some "food for thought." The goal of the human race is to strive for "betterment." The term betterment is itself comparative. Comparison leads to competition.

"Competition leads to conflict. We have learned from history that conflict defeats the very purpose of betterment... One of the ways to avoid conflict is to make "all stakeholders (in this region) equitable partners in the development process" and basing interactions on mutual respect is very important. His wish he said was to see that the Indo-Pacific region becomes a region of equal opportunity.
United States President Donald Trumps embattled national security adviser Michael Flynn on Tuesday resigned, amid allegations that he discussed US sanctions against Russia with its envoy before Trumps inauguration.

Flynns resignation came after reports that the Justice Department warned the Trump administration last month that he misled administration officials regarding his communications with the Russian ambassador to the US and was potentially vulnerable to blackmail by the Russians.

Flynn, one of the early backers of Trump during his presidential run, remained in the top position of National Security Adviser for just three weeks.

Flynn has been replaced by Lt General Joseph Keith Kellogg (retd) as acting National Security Adviser, the White House announced.

Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general, in his resignation letter released by the White House, apologised to President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for briefing them with incomplete information on his talks with the Russian Ambassador before the swearing in.

In the course of my duties as the incoming National Security Adviser, I held numerous phone calls with foreign counterparts, ministers, and ambassadors. These calls were to facilitate a smooth transition and begin to build the necessary relationships between the President, his advisers and foreign leaders. Such calls are standard practice in any transition of this magnitude, Flynn wrote in the resignation letter.

Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador. I have sincerely apologised to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology, Flynn said.

Flynn said he knows with the strong leadership of President Donald Trump and Vice President Pence and the superb team they are assembling, this team will go down in history as one of the greatest presidencies in US history.

I firmly believe the American people will be well served as they all work together to help Make America Great Again, he said.

Flynns replacement General Kellogg is a decorated veteran of the US Army, having served from 1967 to 2003, including two tours during the Vietnam War, where he earned the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with V device, and the Air Medal with V device.

He served as the Commander of the 82nd Airborne Division from 1997 to 1998.

Prior to his retirement, General Kellogg was Director of the Command, Control, Communications, and Computers Directorate under the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the Justice Department warned the Trump administration last month that intercepts contradicted Flynns denials that he had discussed sanctions with a Russian ambassador.

The message was meant both to advise the administration of the apparent contradiction and to let them know that the discrepancy could, in theory, be used as blackmail by Russia against Flynn someday, according to this person, the daily said.

The warning was first reported in The Washington Post.

The Washington Post said Kellogg is one of three candidates Trump is considering as a permanent replacement for Flynn. The other two are David Petraeus, a former CIA director and retired general and Vice Adm Robert Harward, a former deputy commander of the US Central Command, the daily reported.

Image: US Vice President Mike Pence shakes hands with National Security Adviser Michael Flynn in Washington, DC. Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images
There is no way to prove this, but see if you agree with me: The average American parent would be glad to see his public high school celebrate Martin Luther King Day with tributes to the Civil Rights movement, lectures on the history of slavery and Jim Crow and discussions of the challenges faced by blacks and other minorities in America today. Actually, it's not really a guess, because curricula like that are found throughout the nation.

The program that is being imposed on Winnetka, Ill., by contrast, is a hard-left indoctrination that could have come straight from the pages of Howard Zinn. Held on MLK Day itself in 2016, this year's seminar day on race, "Understanding Today's Struggle for Racial Civil Rights," is scheduled for Feb. 28.

The school-wide program will feature a full day of lectures and seminars, and as the title betrays, the slant is built in. As one of the parents who has protested the content noted, civil rights are for everyone, aren't they? There are no "racial" rights. That was Martin Luther King Jr.'s point, or one of them.

New Trier High School has scheduled two keynote speakers and dozens of seminars for its 4,000 students to choose from among. One or two are unobjectionable, like "Black Gospel Music: Make a Joyful Noise!" or "Rap With a Social Conscience" (though much would depend upon which rap was discussed). But the rest of the offerings are thoroughly turgid agitprop. Students can attend a session titled "Seeing the Unseen: The Bias All Around You" or learn to "recognize our own implicit biases." They can attend seminars about "cultural appropriation," "trans people of color navigating the U.S.," "race, class, and police interactions," "systemic racism in housing," "myths" about affirmative action in college admissions, and "21st century voter suppression."

High school students range in age from 14 to 18, so you might imagine that some care would be taken to avoid speakers whose social media are rife with profanity, racial epithets and sexual content. No. Political radicalism means all is permitted. John the Author, one of the invited speakers, has a song titled "Blackenomics," which includes the following lyrics: "I don't wanna be king, but I'm the only one ready for it now/ Cause all these other n----- selling out/ Individualism is all these (obscenity) yelling about/ Divide and conquer. White supremacy the silent monster."

One might have hoped, in a program dedicated to civil rights and mutual understanding, that the guests might steer clear of racism and anti-Semitism themselves. Kevin Coval's poem "Occupation" says this about Israel: "Fascist ones believe in one monotheism, a walled prison/ Israelis sleep through the night." Monica Trinidad will conduct a talk titled "We Charge Genocide: An Emergence of a Continued Movement." Her Twitter feed encourages people to boycott an Israeli dance troupe ("Don't dance with Israeli apartheid!") with a link to the BDS (boycott, divest, sanction) hashtag. She tweeted a picture of mounted police officers with the comment: "Get them animals off those horses."

So, one might suppose that New Trier parents would be enraged. Yet the pushback has been about as polite, substantive and reasonable as you could possibly wish (especially in our bitter era). On their website (www.parentsofnewtrier.org), they suggest adding other speakers to achieve -- wait for it -- intellectual diversity. They note that, in contrast to what the seminars hammer home, people of the same race do not necessarily think alike. Among the speakers the parents group recommends: Shelby Steele, Jason Riley, John McWhorter and Star Parker.

Rather than marinate in doctrinaire leftism heavily inflected with a Black Lives Matter sensibility, the parents object, why not have students volunteer for the day (Chicago is 16 miles south)? The website offers other volunteering suggestions: "Good News Partners (Rogers Park), Connections for the Homeless (Evanston), Pastor Corey Brooks from New Beginnings Church in Woodlawn and 'ProjectHood.org.'"

Despite multiple requests, school officials have refused every appeal from dismayed parents. No to additional speakers. No to adding another seminar at a later date for different viewpoints. No to requiring that parents sign off on their children's seminar panel choices. No to postponing the program until parental input could be considered.

New Trier has very few black students, but the father of one wrote this: "This group (the small group of faculty and students who developed the program) does NOT represent the best of black Americans and does not advocate anything that has a track record of making black lives better."

These "check your privilege" brainwashing sessions have become commonplace at colleges. Parents don't seem to know or care enough to protest. The New Trier parents group is a sign that resistance to deadening propaganda is alive and well -- and polite.
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One out of every five Montanans gets health care through Medicare. That was 201,000 of us last year  everybody over age 64, along with some disabled adults.

With so many Montanans depending on Medicare, questions and problems frequently arise. Good communication is crucial to resolve them. Many Montanans turn to our congressional delegation for help, hoping that a U.S. senator or representative can get the answers needed.

That source of help has been severely hampered since the Trump administration took over the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. CMS employees wont talk to congressional offices; they say theyve been told not to talk or correspond with Congress.

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., wrote a letter to President Donald Trump on Feb. 2, asking him to lift the order you have given that bars federal agencies, particularly the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services from communicating with members of Congress.

Meanwhile, Montanans kept calling about medical claims and enrollment. Hospitals, clinics and doctors offices contacted his office about Medicare issues. So when Trump invited Tester, Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., and eight other senators to lunch Thursday, Montanas senior senator brought along a pocketful of email printouts showing unsuccessful attempts at communicating with CMS on a Medicare issue that a Montana hospital needs to resolve.

When Tester brought up the CMS communication ban, Trump seemed genuinely surprised and said that shouldnt be happening and looked at Reince Priebus, Tester told The Billings Gazette later. I said Ive got an email trail that shows this is going on.

Tester gave Priebus the emails, and the White House chief of staff gave his cell number to the senator.

"To be fair to the president, I dont think he knew about, Tester said. I had the impression they were going to fix it.

Tester said he will be back in touch with the White House early this week if the communication blackout continues.

Tester described the lunch meeting as a free-flowing conversation between the president, four GOP senators and six Democratic senators. Tester brought up other issues at the White House: the effects of the Trump hiring freeze on veterans claims processing, support for public lands and transparency in campaign finance. The critical point is that the senator communicated, the president communicated.

When the flow of information is blocked between the executive and legislative branches  as has happened with CMS  during the past few weeks, Congress cannot do its oversight work. When government cuts out information to the public, citizens are denied their right to fully participate in their government.

Think about what CMS silence means for senior citizens who are just trying to get the health care coverage theyve earned and being fearful that a claim wont be paid and theyll be stuck with the bill, or for small, rural Montana clinics that serve all in need in their community trying to deal with a huge federal agency in Washington, D.C.

As Tester wrote to Trump in the letter he hand-delivered Thursday: The recent communication ban puts Montana seniors at risk.

We join Tester in calling for opening better lines of communication with CMS  and throughout the federal government.

-- The Billings (Mont.) Gazette
The North Dakota House voted Monday to change laws governing the states angel fund and seed capital income tax credit programs before repealing both in less than three years.

Opponents of House Bill 1045, however, warned that North Dakota needs to boost its startup industry.

I think its critical that North Dakota retains its position as an investor as well as an entrepreneurial-friendly state, said Rep. Pam Anderson, D-Fargo. Funding is the No. 1 unmet need.

House Finance and Taxation Committee Chairman Craig Headland, R-Montpelier, urged lawmakers to pass the legislation. He said theres a lot of abuse with the current law.

The bill would merge the angel fund investment tax credit with the seed capital investment tax credit into a single incentive designed to encourage investment into small to medium-sized businesses that are either startup companies or companies that are seeking venture capital to expand their business, said Rep. Ben Koppelman, R-West Fargo.

The bill includes a sunset date of April 1 for the angel fund tax credit, meaning it wouldnt be allowed for investments made on or after that date, according to a fiscal note attached to the bill. Current law allows for an income tax credit for investing in an angel fund thats certified by the state Commerce Department.

The bill reduces the credit rate on the newly dubbed angel investor seed capital investment tax credit from 45 percent to 25 percent of the investment. It also increases the maximum number of credits allowed from $3.5 million to $10 million.

Koppelman said the bill seeks to ensure North Dakota taxpayers arent funding businesses with operations outside of the state. The angel fund program became a flashpoint in the contentious governors race for the Republican endorsement last year, when the campaign for Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said Doug Burgum, a businessman who co-founded a venture capital firm, was the poster-child for out-of-state investments.

Burgum, who is now the governor, said at the time that he supported making changes to focus more on in-state investments.

Another section of the bill repeals both tax credit programs effective for the taxable years after 2019. But the Legislature will be back in session in early 2019, and Headland said lawmakers will have a chance to review the incentive.

Hopefully well have some good information as to whether its working, he said.

House Bill 1045 passed on a 61-30 vote.
HA NOI  Vietnamese tra fish exporters should see Asia as an answer to difficulties they are facing in markets like the US and the EU, experts and officials say.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has estimated a 10 per cent increase in tra fish export value this year to US$1.7 billion.

It has also said that China could overtake the US as the largest buyer of tra fish from Viet Nam.

The ministry has also responded to the problems exporters are having with leading markets like the US and the EU by advising them to focus on exploring Asian markets and tapping better the domestic market potential.

The Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) said that export of tra fish to the US and the European Union would continue to face difficulties, including competition with other kinds of fish in the EU market, anti-dumping duties and more stringent inspections of Vietnamese tra fish by US agencies.

An article in the Thoi bao Kinh te Viet Nam (vneconomy) paper yesterday cited experts as saying local firms should pay more attention to the three-billion-population strong Asian market, including China and ASEAN.

Local firms would find it easier to export to China, where Vietnamese tra fish products met required food standards and fetched reasonable prices, it said.

VASEP has estimated that tra fish exports to China will account for 20 per cent of the total this year. However, it has cautioned exporters to focus more on ensuring high-quality products rather than boosting export volumes.

The importance of quality was also stressed by Duong Ngoc Minh, chairman and general director of Hung Vuong JSC. He said tra fish exports to China and Hong Kong could surge by almost 30 per cent, year-on-year, but added firms should closely control the quality of their tra fish products to avoid trade barriers.

High demand

Like the agriculture ministry, Minh also urged local enterprises to explore the domestic market further by selling tra fish products through the supermarket system.

VASEP general secretary Truong inh Hoe said the most important thing at present was the availability of tra fish needed for export processing. In the last quarter of 2016, tra fish processing plants had reduced their capacity by 30 per cent over the previous quarter because of a drop in output. This happened at a tine when demand had decreased by 40 per cent.

At present, tra fish prices have increased by VN1,000 per kg against the previous month and VN2,000-3,000 per kg year-on-year.

The agriculture ministry said last months output of tra fish fell by 4.8 per cent year-on-year to 71,400 tonnes against the same period last year.

VASEPs Hoe said Viet Nam has 100 tra fish processors and exporters, with 20 of them accounting for 70-80 per cent of local production. Local processors and exporters should find solutions to ensure that there is sufficient supply of tra fish to meet market demand.  VNS
Investment funds are expected to perform better this year, following the successful 2016, on expectations that more individual investors will purchase their own investments.  Photo VIR

HA NOI  Investment funds are expected to perform better this year, following the successful 2016, on expectations that more individual investors will purchase their own investments, reported au tu Chung khoan (Securities Investment) newspaper.

Two factors that will make investment funds attractive to individual investors this year include the trading of some 1,500 companies in the securities market, which will bring investment opportunities to individual investors.

However, that also means individual investors will face risks if they decide to purchase investments on their own, as there are so many options, and investors may not choose correctly.

Another factor is the profit that an investor can make from entrusting investment funds with their money.

Individuals are allowed to invest at least VN1 million (US$44.4) in an open-end fund and could have the opportunity to obtain profits that are higher than the markets average, as their money will be managed by a professional asset management firm and used to invest in local assets.

Entrusting a professional asset management company will make it easier for individual investors to make money from the securities market, rather than dealing with a group of products and services by themselves.

According to Bao Viet Fund Management Company (BVF), investment funds saw strong increases in recent years by proving that their investment portfolios were efficient. This has made investment funds more popular and favoured by investors.

BVF reported that there are now 18 open-end funds, including five bond investment funds and 10 stock investment funds. The total value of the open-end funds reached more than VN3 trillion in 2016, a yearly increase of 41 per cent.

At VietFund Management (VFM), as of the end of 2016, two open-end funds, VF1 and VF4, saw annual growth rates of 19.3 per cent and 16.4 per cent, and average growth rates of 17.3 per cent and 18.3 per cent for the last five years, respectively.

At MB Capital, an investment arm of Military Joint Stock Commercial Bank, investment funds and investment portfolios managed by the company had an average growth of nearly 15 per cent in 2016.

At SSI Asset Management Company, open-end fund SSI-SCA has reached a growth rate of 43.4 per cent since its founding in September 2014, higher than the growth rate of 9.9 per cent for the benchmark VN Index on the HCM Stock Exchange during the same period. In 2016, SSI-SCA fund rose 24.1 per cent, compared to the markets growth of 14.8 per cent.

More participation from institutional investors, such as investment and asset management funds, will help reduce the number of individual investors in the securities market and cause the market to operate in a more sustainable manner, according to the Chairman of the HCM Stock Exchange Tran Van Dung.

The ratio of the number of individual investors in the securities market now is 99 per cent, and it will be difficult to reduce that ratio in the next three to five years, Dung said.

He noted that there are some solutions that need to be put in place to reduce that ratio.

Firstly, the market must be transparent. Transparency will bring fair investment opportunities to all investors. Then, individual investors who are not skillful and professional will entrust professional asset management firms with their money.

Secondly, market regulators need to have comprehensive policies that encourage more foreign investors to enter Viet Nams securities market. Those policies include the lifting of the local market from frontier levels to emerging levels.

Thirdly, the market should develop a system of pension funds and improve the network of participating insurance-finance companies.

When those three solutions are implemented, the ratio of institutional investors in the securities market will increase and the market will operate more sustainably, Dung said.  VNS
Cuttlefish and octopus exports this year are expected to increase by four per cent from last year to reach US$470 million, according to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Producers and Exporters (VASEP).  Photo

HCM CITY  Cuttlefish and octopus exports this year are expected to increase by four per cent from last year to reach US$470 million, according to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Producers and Exporters (VASEP).

VASEP general secretary Truong inh Hoe said that Viet Nam earned $440 million from cuttlefish and octopus exports last year, a year-on-year increase of three per cent, with South Korea, Japan and the EU the largest import markets.

Exports of frozen cuttlefish and octopus contributed 34 per cent and 32 per cent of the total exports, respectively, and dried and processed products the rest.

Demand from Japan, the EU and other markets recovered significantly in the last few months of the year, but exports to the largest import market of South Korea, which accounted for 38 per cent of total cuttlefish and octopus exports, fell strongly.

In the last few years, a scarcity of raw materials was a hurdle for mollusc exporters, who had to depend on imported sources.

The situation is expected to continue this year, with imports of raw materials forecast to increase strongly in the first quarter of the year.

Global demand for this kind of mollusc will not be high, but there is drastic competition among export countries, he said.

VASEP forecast cuttlefish and octopus exports just slightly higher than four per cent this year, Hoe said, adding that exports in the first quarter were estimated to reach $80 million, a year-on-year decrease of 1.93 per cent.

While exports to South Korea and Japan could fall slightly in the first quarter, exports to EU will rise but not by much.  VNS
A corner of the lab of the Vietnam - Australia Seafood JSC.  Photo vietuc.com.vn

HA NOI  Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh has called on the Australian Government to allow the import of prawns and uncooked shrimps again soon.

In a note sent to the Australias agriculture and water resources department on February 9, Anh expressed concern about the negative impact of the suspension of imports on Vietnamese shrimp raisers and exporters.

On January 9, the Australian department had announced that it was suspending the import of prawns and uncooked shrimps from all Asian nations, including Viet Nam, after an outbreak of white spot disease was reported in five aquaculture sites on Logan River in southeast Queensland, as well as in the shrimps in the river, in December last year. The suspension is supposed to last for six months.

Under the suspension, the batches of prawns sent to Australia as of January 9 would be destroyed or re-exported, while the batches that arrived before that date or were in transit in Australia would undergo rigorous examination before it was allowed to be used.

Anh has proposed to the Australian Government to revert to the previous regulations that were in place before January 9 on the batches of prawns already imported to Australia, the batches which were en route from Viet Nam to Australia, and the batches that have been produced under contracts between Vietnamese and Australian firms.

In a meeting in Ha Noi on February 10, the deputy minister of industry and trade Tran Quoc Khanh briefed Australian ambassador to Viet Nam Craig Chittick on the huge losses caused by the suspension to Vietnamese shrimp farmers and exporters.

Khanh has also requested Australia to devise alternative measures and lift the suspension soon so that the growing trade relations between the two nations is not affected.

The MoIT will continue to work with concerned agencies from both countries to convince the Australian Government to end the suspension as soon as possible.

According to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Export and Processing, Australia is not a big shrimp importer for the country, but it is a strong potential market because demand has been consistently on the rise.

Viet Nam is among the four largest seafood suppliers for Australia, occupying 11.2 per cent of the market share. Its shrimps export value to Australia annually crossed US$100 million.  VNS
The paucity of skilled IT (information technology) workers in the country was highlighted yesterday as the FPT Corporation opened its second software village, F-Ville 2, in Ha Noi.  Photo vozforums

HA NOI  The paucity of skilled IT (information technology) workers in the country was highlighted yesterday as the FPT Corporation opened its second software village, F-Ville 2, in Ha Noi.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Vu uc am noted that Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had in a recent meeting expressed his wish to have a million people working in the IT and digital content sector in Viet Nam in the shortest possible time.

However, there are just 300,000 employees in the sector now, so we have much work to do, he said.

am said enterprises other than FPT should also establish software villages with tens of thousands employees if the dream of making the hi-tech zone an international software hub is to be realised.

The village was established by FPT Software, a part of the FPT Corporation. It is located in the F-Ville complex that was licensed in 2012. With a floor area of 28,000 sqm, F-Ville 2 can have 3,000 people working it.

The new villages predecessor, F-Ville 1, opened in 2013, covering an area of 16,000sqm. It currently has 2,000 employees.

The software village F-Ville is the first and largest software export centre built in the Hoa Lac Hi-tech Zone. FPT is committed to continuing its investment in education, infrastructure development, research and development so that the software village can become a global centre for digital transformation services, said FPT chairman Truong Gia Binh.

He said the 5,000 employees of F-Ville will work with FPT Softwares staff in Japan, the US, Germany, France, Slovakia, Singapore and South Korea to research and implement projects for Japanese customers.

Tsuyoshi Okubo, managing director of Honda Techno Fort (Japan), one of 100 Japanese customers of FPT Software taking part in the event yesterday said: Honda and FPT have been co-operating since 2014. I think that the growth of FPT at present is an inevitable result of the vision and strategic thinking of the corporations leaders with their experience in many fields.

In the future, we hope to contribute our efforts along with you towards boosting economic development co-operation between Viet Nam and Japan, he said.

Japan is the most important market for FPT Software, bringing in revenues of more than US$100 million last year. The company has set itself the goal of being listed in the top 50 IT service companies in Japan this year. - VNS
HA NOI  The Peoples Committee of the central Binh inh Province licensed an investment certificate to Japan-based Marubeni Lumber Co Ltd to invest in a project worth US$5 million during a ceremony held on Monday.

The project, located in the provinces Nhon Hoi Economic Zone (EZ), is the first foreign direct investment (FDI) project that has been implemented in the zone since its establishment in 2005.

A representative of Marubeni Lumber Co Ltd said the project, covering an area of 10ha in Park A in Nhon Hoi EZ with an operation period of 50 years, would be implemented in the second quarter of this year and completed in the second quarter of 2018.

Once completed, the project will provide wood and wood products for export, such as industrial wooden goods and wooden furniture. The investor will also lease land for factory construction.

The project is expected to help increase export volume for Binh inh Province, contributing to the growth of the provinces wood processing industry, creating jobs for more than 200 labourers and stabilising the provinces social welfare.

Marubeni Lumber Co Ltd plans to raise the projects investment capital to $20 million in phase two. The company hopes to attract more investors, especially Japanese firms, to the project.

Also at the ceremony, Saigon-Nhonhoi Industrial Park Corporation signed a contract with Marubeni Lumber Co Ltd to lease land-use rights of Park A in Nhon Hoi EZ to the Japanese company.

In February alone, Binh inh has, so far, granted investment certificates for two FDI projects.

The previous project is a garment factory funded by a Canadian investor in An Nhon Town.  VNS
HA NOI  The Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) on Monday submitted a proposal to the Government to renegotiate the high import duty on Vietnamese tuna products in Japan.

The association has proposed to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) that it negotiate to remove Japans import tariff on Vietnamese tuna, as has been done in the case of Thailand and the Philippines, so that Vietnamese tuna products can be sold at more competitive rates in the Japanese market.

Japan is one of Viet Nams eight major tuna export markets, VASEP said. However, since 2013, Vietnamese tuna exports to Japan have reduced mainly because of higher import tariffs on Vietnamese tuna products against those imported from countries such as Thailand and the Philippines.

As per data with Japans customs office and VASEPs partners in Japan, for canned skipjack (code 1604.14.010) exported to Japan, Thailand has enjoyed a preferential tariff of 3.2 per cent from April 2009 and 1.1 per cent from April 2011. In April 2012, the import tariff was removed completely under the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA), reports vietnamplus.vn.

In comparison, Viet Nams canned skipjack gets charged an import tariff of 6.4 per cent though the Viet Nam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (VJEPA) came into effect in October 2009.

As a result, Vietnamese canned tuna products cannot compete with Thai tuna products in the Japanese market, the VASEP said.

The situation is similar for other products such as canned yellowfin tuna (code 1604.14.092) and frozen tuna loin (code 1604.14.099) imported to Japan. The import duty for those products shipped from Thailand to Japan was 4.8 per cent from April 2009, reduced to 1.6 per cent in April 2011 and removed in April 2012.

Under the Generalised Systems of Preferences (GSP), the Philippines paid an import duty of 4.8 per cent, which was cut to 2.4 per cent in April 2011 and to 1.2 per cent in April 2012. The duty was finally removed in April 2013.

These products imported from Viet Nam are charged a duty of 9.6 per cent despite the VJEPA. Viet Nam and Japan have not drawn up a schedule to remove import duty on tuna products, according to the association.

The tuna market plays an important role in the performance of Viet Nams fishery industry and the economy in general. The total export value of tuna is $450 to $550 million a year.

The association said it hoped the MoIT would renegotiate the terms as soon as possible and create favourable conditions to improve the competitiveness of Vietnamese seafood products in the global market. - VNS
HA NOI  The US and Japan imported garments and textile products worth US$15 billion from Viet Nam in 2016, the Viet Nam Textile and Apparel Association (Vitas) has said.

This accounted for 53.5 per cent of the garment and textile sectors export turnover of $28.3 billion last year.

To meet its revenue target of $30 billion from exports in 2017, the sector will increase shipments to the US and Japan and maintain an export growth of 6 per cent in the two markets, Vitas said.

In 2016, Viet Nams apparel market performed lower than expected, with exports bringing in $28.3 billion, or 90 per cent of the target, up 5.7 per cent year-on-year.

Vitas attributed the low export turnover to fewer export orders because of fierce competition from foreign textile and garment producers as well as a decline in global demand. - VNS
HAI DUONG  The Viet Nam Environment Administration (VEA) will collaborate with the Hai Duong Department of Environment to tackle the environmental incident recently caused by a Chinese textile company, said Luong Duy Hanh, director of the VEAs Environment Protection and Control Department on Monday.

The Pacific Crystal Textile Company, located in Lai Vu industrial park in Kim Thanh District, was fined VN672 million (US$29,372) last week by the Hai Duong Peoples Committee for discharging toxic wastewater with 5 technical indicators exceeding permitted thresholds, including pH and colour levels, total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD).

The severity of the case is yet to be determined, Hanh told the Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper.

According to Hanh, the Pacific Crystal company was not a target of inspection of the VEAs 2016 environmental inspection plan.

The Hai Duong Peoples Committee is responsible for supervising the companys retrieval and re-treatment of the untreated wastewater, for which the VEA will provide support should problems arise.

The VEA would collaborate with the Hai Duong environmental department to revise the case, determine its level of severity and impose charges in accordance with the regulations, he said.

Currently, the company remains in operation; local authorities did not request the firm to stop its production activities after the incident.

The discharge of untreated wastewater from Pacific Crystal was caused by a leak from a wastewater pipeline that leads from the company to the detention basin of the Lai Vu industrial park, according to Vu Ngoc Long, director of the Hai Duong environmental department.

A businessman whose company is located in the park was concerned that Pacific Crystal has only been operating for a year with some 100,000 tonnes of chemicals but has already caused environmental pollution.

"It means that the risk for environmental pollution will be much higher by the time the company operates at full capacity, especially when it estimates to use three times as many chemicals as the Taiwanese steel corporation Formosa, which caused the disastrous mass fish death in April last year," he said.

According to Vu Xuan Dung, deputy director of the industrial parks management board, at the beginning of 2016 -- when the company had just begun operations -- it discharged untreated wastewater a few times and killed fish in the parks detention basin.

However, since its machinery system was being tested at the time, the company only received warnings from the parks management board.

Pacific Crystal began operations at its $425 million plant in December 2015. It specialises in manufacturing fabrics and raw materials for textiles.

Last year, a wave of Chinese textile companies came to Viet Nam and installed textile manufacturing and textile dyeing factories in a number of provinces so as to take advantage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership in advance, said Hoang Duong Tung, deputy head of the VEA.

The VEA had warned these companies about environmental pollution risks that might sprout from their textile dyeing processes, he said.  VNS
The North Dakota House defeated a bill Monday that would have allowed drivers who injured or killed somebody who was intentionally blocking traffic to avoid liability.

House Bill 1203 was introduced in reaction to the monthslong protests over the Dakota Access Pipeline. Some of the demonstrations have taken place on roads, and primary bill sponsor Rep. Keith Kempenich, R-Bowman, said the legislation moves responsibility to the initiating party.

I think it shows that were willing to stand up for the citizens of this state, Kempenich said.

But Rep. Marvin Nelson, D-Rolla, said the bill could have unintended consequences for people intentionally blocking a roadway during a parade, as he did often during his campaign for governor last summer.

Thats the problem with this, is that its not just one situation, he said.

The bill said a driver who, while exercising reasonable care, injures or kills a person who is intentionally obstructing vehicle traffic on a public road may not be held liable for any damages. Similarly, a driver who unintentionally injuries or kills somebody obstructing traffic would not be guilty of offense.

Rep. Mike Brandenburg, R-Edgeley, said some people have had to taken an alternate route to avoid the protesters in Morton County south of Mandan.

They scare our people, he said. Why should little kids have to have nightmares of idiots in masks pounding on windows, pounding on the hoods, riding on the hoods and not letting people through on a road thats supposed to have a speed of 55 mph?

Protest leaders have contended that much of their actions have been peaceful. There have been 660 protesters arrested since Aug. 10, according to information provided Monday by the North Dakota Joint Information Center.

The bill failed on a 41-50 vote.

Meanwhile, the Senate Judiciary Committee took up several protest-related bills Monday. Among them were bills preventing people from wearing masks in order to avoid being identified while committing a crime and another elevating riot offenses, both of which passed the House last week.

The committee didnt take immediate action on the legislation Monday morning.
HCM CITY  The chairman of HCM Citys Peoples Committee has urged the citys Can Gio District to promote the area as a sea tourism destination.

Nguyen Thanh Phong, who spoke with district authorities about socio-economic development targets in 2017, said the district had great potential, with 10km of coastline, 34 square kilometres of beach area, and mangrove rainforest.

Le Minh Dung, chairman of Can Gio Districts Peoples Committee, said the district welcomed more than 1 million tourists last year, a surge of 54 per cent over the previous year. Tourism revenues reached VN380 billion (US$16.72 million) last year.

This year the district hopes to receive 1.25 million visitors with tourism revenue of VN500 billion ($22 million), he added.

Dung has asked the city to order the Sai Gon Water Company (Sawaco) to speed up progress of projects to supply clean water for the district as there is a shortage in some areas.

He also asked the city to send doctors from HCM City to work in the district on a rotational basis, especially after the 200-bed Can Gio General Hospital opens.

He said the move would help Can Gio ensure a sufficient supply of doctors as the district is facing a shortage of high-quality healthcare staff.

In addition, district authorities said they would like the Government to officially acknowledge Thanh An Commune as an island commune.

To address problems facing salt workers, Phong has asked district authorities to create favourable conditions for them or help them find another job.

Phong also urged the district to speed up the Can Gio General Hospital project.

The Can Gio mangrove forest of 31,000 hectares is home to more than 200 various species of wildlife and 150 species of flora. UNESCO recognised the wetlands as a world biosphere reserve in 2010.  VNS
HA NOI  Love is in the air, with products wrapped and presented on store shelves, waiting to be bought by love birds for their significant others. This year, the array of Valentines gifts on offer is more diversified than ever, with a wide range of products to suit all tastes and budgets.

The most popular products remain chocolates and flowers. Elaborate cakes and desserts are increasingly catching the eyes of punters, pushing suppliers to meet demand and attracting customers with competitive prices.

At supermarkets and trade centres in the capital, imported chocolates from brands like Gillia and Alfredo have been on display since the beginning of the month. Boxes of chocolates range in size, with prices from VN100,000 ($4) to 400,000 ($18).

This Valentines Day, uniquely flavoured chocolates are garnering attention, with specialties like matcha, wine, almond, and cherry chocolates tempting buyers. Each box contains 20 to 30 pieces, with prices from VN300,000 ($13) to 400,000 ($18).

Le inh Tung, from Lang Street in ong a District, said Valentines is an opportunity for couples to show their love and affection for each other. Throughout his own three-year relationship, he bought chocolates for his girlfriend every year. Previously, I only bought traditional chocolates, but this year I chose a box of 20 matcha chocolate pieces to change the mood, as my partner and I love breakfast with matcha dishes, said Tung.

Le Ha Anh, an online seller of chocolate, said she and her husband moved to Poland last year. Cakes and chocolates here are high quality and so delicious. Among them, Karmello is one of the best. My family all love the brand so much. I make use of this and sell the chocolate online. Each box has 30 different coloured pieces, with prices from VND350,000 ($15). This kind of chocolate is a best seller, and attracts even more customers on this special day, said Anh.

Cakes are also a popular choice. Cake chain Tous Les Jours has offered a discount programme on their most popular cakes, with prices ranging from VN280,000 ($12) to 320,000 ($14).

Flowers are a perennial favourite amongst lovers, especially roses. Nguyen Thi Chi, who works at a flower shop on Nguyen Phong Sac Street, said each rose is priced between VN20,000 and 50,000. At flower shops in Ha Noi, imported roses have been introduced to customers earlier than scheduled, and bouquets are given catchy names like Gentle Love, Innocence, Thinking Of You, Mixing Love, Eternal Rainbow, with prices from VN600,000 ($26) to 2.5 million ($110) for more elaborate creations.

Imported roses from Ecuador and roses from the Central Highlands are highly-sought after this year. Nguyen Thi Ngoc, owner of a flower shop in a Lat, said this years Valentines Day has seen a high number of orders. Many customers take this chance to express their love to their partners, so each bouquet is wrapped carefully. They also hire shops to deliver to the ones they love as a surprise, she adds.  VNS
The Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) forum will hold its first event of 2017 with the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM1) to be held from February 18 to March 3 in the central coastal city of Nha Trang.  Photo viettimes.vn

HA NOI  The Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) forum will hold its first event of 2017 with the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM1) to be held from February 18 to March 3 in the central coastal city of Nha Trang.

The National Committee for APEC 2017 announced at a briefing yesterday that some 1,500 delegates from 21 member economies, international and regional organisations and businesses are expected to attend the SOM1.

The event will include 56 meetings, workshops and dialogues among 38 APEC committees and working groups across a wide range of topics, such as trade and investment liberalisation, business facilitation, natural disaster response, human resources development, education, business travel facilitation, ocean and fishing, e-commerce and services.

Delegates will discuss and reach agreements on priorities for the 2017 APEC Year on promoting sustainable, inclusive and innovative growth, regional economic connectivity, and the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises and micro-enterprises in the digital era. Food security, sustainable agriculture and climate adaptation are also on the agenda of the meetings.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Viet Nam Bui Thanh Son, as Chairman of the APEC Senior Officials Meetings in 2017, will preside over SOM1.

Viet Nams 13 ministries and agencies will preside over or assume chairmanship and vice chairmanship of committees and working groups. The Ministry of Industry and Trade will preside over the Budget and Management Committee and the APEC Automobile Dialogue; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will preside over the APEC Policy Support Unit; the Ministry of Finance will preside over the APEC Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures; the Ministry of Science and Technology will preside over the APEC Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance, the APEC Policy Partnership on Science, Technology and Innovation; the Ministry of Planning and Investment will preside over the Human Resources Development Working Group; the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will preside over the APEC Policy Partnership on Food Security.

The APEC Finance Central Bank Deputies Meeting will also be held in Nha Trang City, presided over by the Ministry of Finance.  VNS
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Nikolaos Kotzias in Ha Noi yesterday.  VNA/VNS Photo Thong Nhat

HA NOI  Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked the Vietnamese and Greek governments to boost ties in the marine-based economy, maritime navigation, shipbuilding, agriculture and tourism, adding that Viet Nam wishes to enhance ties with the European Union, including Greece.

During a reception in Ha Noi yesterday for visiting Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Nikolaos Kotzias, Phuc said that given their 40-years of bilateral diplomatic ties, the two countries should facilitate visits at all levels, raising mutual understanding and collaboration between the two sides.

Viet Nam values Greeces support for the development of Viet Nam-EU ties and the Greek legislatures approval of the Viet Nam-EU Partnership and Co-operation Agreement, he said, asking Greece to back the signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.

He expressed his hope that Greece will support Viet Nams stance on the East Sea issue, including the settlement of disputes by peaceful means, the objection to the use of force or threat to use force and abidance by international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Kotzias, for his part, said Greece has great potential for goods transit thanks to its geographical location as a gateway from Asia to Europe.

He affirmed that Greece backs Viet Nams strengthening of ties with the EU as well as Viet Nam-Greece ties in shipbuilding and culture.

Counterparts talks

Earlier, during talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Pham Binh Minh, the Greek high-ranking official said Greece wished to strengthen co-operation in all fields with Viet Nam.

Kotzias said Greece appreciates Viet Nams increasingly important role in the region and the world and the countrys achievements in national defence and socio-economic development.

Minh expressed his belief that Kotzias visit to Viet Nam will contribute to deepening co-operation between the two countries, and discussed how to further promote it, focusing on enhancing visits and conducting political consultation between the two foreign ministries.

They agreed to continue encouraging and making it easier for their business communities to foster partnerships and share experience, especially in terms of ship building and repair, maritime shipping services, seaport exploitation and logistics services, education-training, culture and heritage preservation.

The two sides agreed to accelerate negotiations on avoidance of double taxation, on maritime transport and on visa exemptions for diplomatic passport holders.

Minh and Kotzias also compared notes on international and regional issues of common concern, and agreed to continue co-ordinating closely at international and regional forums, especially at the United Nations, the ASEAN-EU, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

As an ASEAN member, Viet Nam will help Greece expand co-operation with the grouping and its other member nations, Minh said, whilst Kotzias affirmed that Greece backs Viet Nams comprehensive relations with the European Union (EU).  VNS
Currently water from Dau Tieng is taken to HCM City through open channels for agricultural, industrial and household use.  Photo zing.vn

HCM City  HCM City Party Secretary inh La Thang has urged the Peoples Committee to begin work on laying a pipeline to bring water to the city from Dau Tieng Dam in Tay Ninh Province.

Dau Tieng is very important for HCM City because it ensures water security and safety, Thang said during a visit to the reservoir on Sunday.

Currently water from Dau Tieng is taken to HCM City through open channels for agricultural, industrial and household use.

It is not safe and wastes water, especially when water is not needed for irrigation but the lake gates are still opened.

Ho Van Lam, general director of the Sai Gon Water Supply Corporation, said the pipeline is estimated to cost around VN10 trillion (US$450 million).

Thang said, It is a big investment and the corporation should draw up a proposal in the second quarter of this year to solicit investment.

During his visit, Thang also called on the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to amend the operational regulations for the lake which are over 30 years old.

Related authorities must protect it better because HCM City and several neighbouring provinces use water from it.

Thang expressed concern about hundreds of households, mostly ethnic Vietnamese coming back from Cambodia, who are living on the dam water and generating wastewater.

Factories should not be allowed to discharge their waste into the lake and raising fish in cages should be banned.

He called on the authorities to instal equipment to monitor the lakes environment.

He instructed HCM City authorities to release billions of small fishes (there are 500 million available now) in the reservoir to feed local residents.

The Dau Tieng  Phuoc Hoa irrigation system, with 270sq.km of water surface, is the biggest irrigation system in Viet Nam and supplies water to HCM City and Tay Ninh and Long An provinces. It irrigates over 108,000ha.

On February 10 the Government had issued a decision recognising Dau Tieng as a construction of national importance.  VNS
A NANG  The city of a Nang has started a pre-feasibility study to relocate the citys railway station and redevelop the space with an urban project at a total cost of VN15.44 trillion (US$683.2 million).

The citys chairman, Huynh uc Tho, announced the plan after a meeting with the citys relevant agencies, departments and representatives of the World Bank and Asia Development Bank (ADB).

Tho said the project would be a crucial part of dealing with the citys traffic congestion and act as a face-lift for the citys future.

As scheduled, the new railway station will be built in Lien Chieu District on a space of 43.1ha, with a new 18.21km rail line and an improvement of 7km of old track, as well as a new 80.1ha cargo station on the site of the current Kim Lien station.

The removal project also covers an upgraded Le Trach cargo station on 9.6ha, a new bridge for trains spanning the Cu e River, and five lane fly-over bridge at the road-railway crossing.

The railway station removal, which costs nearly VN5.8 trillion ($257 million), has been included in the citys Master Plan for 2030 with a vision to 2050.

The city is also planning an urban redevelopment project with synchronised public transport routes connecting to the new railway station, with total investment of VN9.677 trillion ($428.2 million).

As planned, the new railway station will help link the key North-South railway system with the on-going construction a Nang-Quang Ngai Expressway, the East-West Economic Corridor and Viet Nam-trans road transport  the National Highway No 1  and new Lien Chieu deep sea cargo port.

According to the a Nang railway station management board, the station, which was built in 1902 in the citys downtown Hai Phong street, was not able to handle the rising number of train passengers travelling to the city.

Around 20 trains arrive, depart and pass through the station daily, carrying about 75,000 people to the city.

The central city, situated at the end of the East-West Economic Corridor, which links Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and Viet Nam, plays an important role as a logistical centre for the coastal central and Central Highlands regions.

The railway removal project is part of a strategy to develop a Nang as a green city by 2025, and an economic hub and driving force for boosting development of the central and Central Highlands regions.

Under the adjustment plan, the city will develop public transport with 15 bus routes, eight Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes and three metro routes, which aim to reduce carbon emissions, as well as address overcrowding and traffic congestion.

Last year, the Government issued special regulations concerning a Nangs investment, budgetary status and decentralisation.  VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has agreed with a proposal from the Ha Nois Peoples Committee to lower the level of the Hong (Red) River dyke and asked local authorities to plan an itinerary.

Earlier, the municipal Peoples Committee proposed lowering a 1.1-km section of the dyke running from the Thang Loi Hotel to An Duong mouth gate in Tay Ho District from 13.4 metres to 12.4 metres.

The local authorities said that the height reduction would facilitate the construction of a flyover at the An Duong-Thanh Nien crossroads. It will also help residents living along the dyke reach Nghi Tam road more easily and widen the road by one lane.

The proposal also included the replacement of the soil-made structure of the dyke by an L-shaped reinforced concrete barrier to ensure flood safety.

According to the proposal, several hydropower dams such as Hoa Binh, Son La, Lai Chau dams were built on the upper reaches of the Hong River. These dams control water flow on the river and prevent floods in Ha Noi. Authorities will study constructing a route running along the Hong River to support the rivers existing dyke system so the elevation reduction is possible.

Chu Phu My, director of the citys Department of Agriculture and Rural Development told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the proposal actually asks for permission to build a concrete wall as high as the dyke and to lower the dyke surface.

As the Hong River section from Thang Loi Hotel to An Duong mouth gate plays an important role in ensuring the safety of the city centre, MARD asked local authorities to urge agencies to design plans to ensure that the height of the dyke is not lower than the water level proposed in the project.

The ministry also asked Ha Noi to plan to protect, manage and operate the dyke safely when floods rise.

Local authorities were also directed to receive comments from the Viet Nam Irrigation Association and experts in irrigation.

The proposal has received both agreement and criticism from experts. According to Dr ao Trong Tu, advisor at the Viet Nam River Network, the proposal is feasible because it does not damage the dykes structure or scenery.

Meanwhile, some experts said the dyke is very important. Its height reduction might result in unforeseen consequences in the flood season.

Vu Xuan Thanh, head of the dyke management department under MARDs Water Resource Directorate told Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper that the dyke is important, especially during unexpected rainy seasons. When water levels in reservoirs increase, the water level can exceed the designed capacity by 2.6m.

Sometimes, the dyke system is not high enough to avoid floods so we cannot neglect it, the water releases from China also make it difficult to manage, he said.  VNS
A NANG  Two college programmes at the a Nang University of Science and Technology were officially recognised as passing the quality level of the ASEAN University Network (AUN).

A ceremony was held yesterday at the a Nang University  University of Science and Technology (UST) to receive the AUN-QA quality certificates for the Electronics-Telecommunications and Embedded System programmes which scored the second highest assessment rates throughout the Southeast Asian region.

The AUN reviewed the general education quality of the Electronics-Telecommunications and the Embedded System programmes  the former was opened in 2006 and the latter two years later - based on 18 assessment criteria.

The two programmes of the a Nang University UST also had the highest scores among 65 programmes assessed by the AUN in Viet Nam so far.

Education and Training Deputy Minister Bui Van Ga hailed the impressive assessment results achieved by a Nang University UST, stressing that educational quality assessment was compulsory to all universities and colleges in Viet Nam.

It is an important step to standardise the education, training and research activities of the universities, as well as to publicise the quality of educational institutions for students to make appropriate selections, he said.

As the limited funding was restricting the educational system to invest in and raise the quality of all programmes and majors, focusing on developing particular programmes, both in infrastructure and lecturer staff, to catch up with international standards was another good option, Ga said.

The a Nang University UST has made an example for us to further increase the number of high-quality programmes in the higher education system, he said.

Viet Nam so far has some 90 college programmes accredited by international and regional educational quality assessment organisations like the AUN-QA and the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).  VNS
HCM CITY  Two children were killed and several other people were injured, two grievously, in the southern province of Binh Duong on Monday when a public transport bus crashed into a car and several motorbikes at a traffic signal.

The deadly accident occurred at 5pm at My Phuoc  Tan Van Street in Di An town.

Nguyen Thi Kim Lan, nine, and her sister Nguyen Thi Thanh Nga, two, died on the spot, and their mother, Le Thi Kim Chung, 35, and another woman were severely injured.

Several other people were slightly injured, according to the local police, who said the bus was speeding en route from Ben Cat town to Di An when it crashed into the car.

It then hit at least four motorbikes, dragging them for more than 10 metres, before crashing into and knocking over a lamp post before coming to a stop.

Tran Huu Tai, 30, of Hau Giang Province, the driver, fled the scene, according to the police.

There were no passengers in the bus.

The police are investigating.  VNS
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem described the U.S. border with Mexico as a war zone last year when she sent dozens of state National Guard troops there. Noem said theyd be on the front lines of stopping drug smugglers and human traffickers. But newly released records from the National Guard show that in their two-month deployment, the South Dakota troops didnt seize any drugs and sometimes went days without encountering any migrants at all. Noem justified the deployment and a widely criticized private donation to fund as a state emergency because of drugs making their way across the southern border to South Dakota. But the records cast doubt on whether the deployment was effective in addressing that.
THANH HOA  Police have arrested three more men in a criminal ring accused of using psychotropic drugs to commit frauds in the central province of Thanh Hoa.

Trinh Huu Van, 41, from Trieu Son District; Vu Van Chanh, 45, from Yen inh District; and 44-year-old Ho Van Trong from Hung Nguyen District were arrested on Sunday following a three-month investigation into five fraudulent cases in which the victims were drugged and partially lost consciousness.

Earlier, in December last year, Thanh Hoa police arrested three men -- Le Sy Tung, 33, and Nguyen Ngoc Cau, 28, both from Trieu Son District, and Le uc Hung, 31, from Tho Xuan District. They allegedly rented a car with a driver, who was given a soda or beer with the psychotropic drug mixed in it. Under the influence of the drug, the driver lost the card games he played with the group and was forced to choose between writing a debt note and giving the car to the swindlers to pay off the debt.

The police said the group had successfully stolen five cars since August last year until their arrest.

Investigation into the swindling racket is ongoing.  VNS
LAI CHAU  At least seven people died following a suspected case of food poisoning in the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau on Monday, the provincial Peoples Committee reported.

The committee also reported 12 others were hospitalised, four of them treated at Lai Chau Provinces General Hospital, and the rest at Phong Tho Districts hospital.

The initial investigation showed that on February 10, a 60-year-old man from an ethnic minority, died suddenly after consuming rice and home-made alcohol at a family party in Ma Ly Chai Commune, Phong Tho District. He was complaining of a headache and nausea.

Many villagers attended the three-day funeral. As of Monday evening, a number of attendees complained of similar symptoms. Seven people have died.

According to witnesses, victims drank home-made alcohol and ate Chinese-made candy bought at the local Si Lo Lau market.

Forensic examinations in Lai Chau Province have revealed the cause of the deaths to have been food poisoning.

All victims show the same symptoms of headaches, vomiting, and mydriasis, a forensic investigator said.

The Ministry of Healths Food Safety Department director Nguyen Thanh Phong said yesterday a health expert team from Ha Noi-based Bach Mai Hospitals Poison Control Centre was moving to Lai Chau Province for further investigation.

Doctor o Van Giang, director of Lai Chau Provinces General Hospital said all patients who had not died were recovering gradually, but more people with similar signs of food poisoning from the commune were being transferred to the hospital for observation.

The hospital was testing samples from dead victims to determine the specific cause of the incident.  VNS
KHANH HOA  An explosion occurred on Tuesday in the city of Nha Trang, in the central province of Khanh Hoa, killing one man and severely injuring a further two.

A loud explosion was heard at around 9am from a factory of the 510 Construction Co, JSC on Truong Son Street in Vinh Truong Ward.

First responders to the scene reported a hole in the roof of the factory, and three people unconscious on the ground.

A preliminary police investigation showed that an oxygen-fuel tank exploded when the workers were using it to weld and cut metal.

One of the workers, 42-year-old Le Xuan Huy from Thanh Hoa Province was killed by the blast. Nguyen Tan Thanh, 33, from ak Lak Province and inh Hong Nien, 53, from Nghe An Province, were critically injured and are receiving treatment.

Further investigation into the blast is currently underway.  VNS
ONG NAI  The first case of totally drug-resistant tuberculosis in the southern province of ong Nai is being treated at the provincial Lung Hospital.

The information was released by the hospital on Tuesday.

The 62-year-old patient, who remains anonymous, is from Bien Hoa City. He was hospitalised in September 2015 for treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Despite long-term treatment, his condition did not improve and he still tested positive for tuberculosis bacteria.

The ong Nai Lung Hospital sent his medical samples to HCM City-based Pham Ngoc Thach Hospital for testing. Results revealed that he suffered from totally drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Bui Van Thinh, head of the Tuberculosis Male Patient and Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Ward under the provincial hospital, said the patient is under treatment and supervision at the hospital.

At present, his condition is gradually improving and he has tested negative for tuberculosis bacteria.

Nguyen Ngoc Khanh, director of the ong Nai Lung Hospital, said totally drug-resistant tuberculosis was a dangerous disease and occurred in patients suffering from drug-resistant tuberculosis, who did not receive proper treatment or caught the disease from another totally drug-resistant tuberculosis patients.

Treatment for totally drug-resistant tuberculosis was very difficult and prolonged, while medicines to treat the disease had several side effects that could be fatal, he said.

Khanh said the tuberculosis could spread quickly, so the hospital had a separate area for drug-resistant tuberculosis patients, which was far from areas housing patients with other lung diseases.

The hospital warned that residents with symptoms of prolonged coughing who had used different medication but their condition not improved and those suffering from high temperature in the afternoon and were losing weight should visit the hospital for timely treatment.  VNS
PODGORICA, Montenegro  Montenegros parliament on Monday moved towards lifting the parliamentary immunity of two pro-Russian opposition MPs over their suspected involvement in a foiled coup last October.

It follows a request by prosecutor Milivoje Katnic for parliament to allow Andrija Mandic and Milan Knezevic, both leading MPs from the opposition Democratic Front (DF), to be prosecuted and detained.

Montenegrin authorities have accused the alleged coup plotters, including DF leaders, of seeking to seize parliament and assassinate former premier Milo Djukanovic on the day of the October 16 elections.

The DF is a fierce opponent of Montenegros bid to join NATO and has been behind violent protests against the Adriatic nations proposed membership in the alliance.

DF leaders have repeatedly denied involvement in the plot, claiming the government set them up.

On Sunday, 52-year old Mandic, whose driver was arrested last week also on suspicion of involvement in the plot, warned the prosecutor that "clashes" could erupt if the DF leaders were charged.

Mandic and Knezevic are suspected of "creating a criminal organisation... and preparing an attempt on the constitutional order and security of Montenegro," according to a statement on the parliament website which added that MPs are set to vote on the issue Wednesday.

Parliament is expected to lift their immunity, given that the opposition has boycotted parliament since it reconvened following the election.

Knezevic accused Djukanovic of being behind the prosecutors request.

"If anything happens to me or Andrija... (Djukanovic) will be marked as a culprit," Knezevic told reporters.

Another high-profile DF member, Nebojsa Medojevic, urged supporters "not to act on their own" following the latest development.

"We are quiet, we calmed down activists, we will not contribute to the launching of a civil war in Montenegro," Medojevic said.

"But neither will we watch this quietly," he added, without elaborating. Authorities have accused "Russian nationalists" of orchestrating the plot, saying pro-Moscow Serbs were hired to carry it out.

Some 15 Serbs were arrested on the eve of the elections, while authorities have also launched a manhunt for two Russians who are on the run.

Djukanovic, a veteran politician who led Montenegro either as prime minister or president for almost 25 years, quit the government after the polls, despite his Democratic Party of Socialists victory.

His close ally and new premier Dusko Markovic confirmed the countrys intention to join NATO later this year.

Russia has branded Montenegros NATO bid "a provocation", however.

If Podgorica joins the alliance, NATO will reinforce its presence in the Balkans as Greece, Croatia and Albania are already members.  AFP
BOKEO  Under an MoU, 11 provinces across four countries have agreed to co-operate on tourism advertising, cross border facilities and tourism infrastructure development including tourism route connectivity, human resource development, and integration facilitation for international tourists.

Eleven provinces across four countries in the upper Mekong basin have agreed to join in a development co-operation agreement that will seek sustainable tourism integration across the sub-region and its borders.

Officials from these provinces signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the mechanism of their co-operation last Saturday at the conclusion of a half-day meeting held in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Bokeo province.

Under the MoU, the provinces have agreed to cooperate on tourism advertising, cross border facilities and tourism infrastructure development including tourism route connectivity, human resource development, and integration facilitation for international tourists.

The provinces include Bokeo, Luang Namtha, Oudomxay, Phongsaly, Luang Prabang and Xayaboury of Laos; Xishuangbanna prefecture of China; Son La and ien Bien Phu of Viet Nam; as well as Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai provinces of Thailand.

Looking towards tourism advertising, participants will look to cooperate in building a single website for a more systematic approach with tourism sites, routes, accommodation, restaurants and security guidance for each province being listed.

In addition, the provinces have agreed that free Wi-Fi will be provided at most tourism services destinations to provide better communication for tourists.

Speaking at the meeting, Bokeo province Deputy Governor Dr Khamking Euaymanihak said The free Wi-Fi will be a channel of advertising where visitors can share their travel experiences including tourist sites and attractions with their friends directly and timely.

Another important aspect of the agreement includes cooperation in identifying cross-border tourism points and investing in these areas to attract more tourists to identified sites. The provinces will also look to provide mutual assistance in the promotion and improvement of tourism infrastructure namely identified tourist sites, hotels, restaurants, and tourist services facilities in equal quality and to similar standards.

Provinces will seek to cooperate in building more systematic and integrated facilities that will be more convenient, comprehensive, faster and modern, such as the improvement of the transportation systems between countries including the road links between Huayxai, Luang Namtha and Xieng Khuang in Laos and Kunming in China, the road between Huayxai in Laos and Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai in Thailand, and the road between Huayxai and Oudomxay in Laos and ien Bien Phu, Son La, and Nghe An in Viet Nam.

The parties will also identify ideal upstream Mekong River water tourism routes and goods transportation routes linking all four countries, which according to the programme, could be the Lancang River Tour which will connect the provinces of Xieng Khuang, Chiang Sen, Bokeo, Xayaboury, Oudomxay, and Luang Prabang.

Improvement of tourist service mechanisms at border crossing points for more convenient and faster border crossing will further be a focus of the cooperation through timely supervision and coordination between officers at the international border checkpoints who can promptly deal will any difficulties which may disturb tourists at these checkpoints.  Vientiane Times/ANN
DAVENPORT -- Most of the focus on the proposed overhaul of Iowas collective bargaining law has been on how it limits public workers in negotiations.

But the plan also would limit raises an arbitrator could award to workers.

Proponents say the limits will help taxpayers. Unions argue it guts what little power the bill leaves them.

The proposal by legislative Republicans doesnt limit raises governments can give to public workers. But it does restrict arbitrators who settle disputes, limiting awards on base wages to the lesser of two amounts: 3 percent or the increase in the U.S. Department of Labors Consumer Price Index for urban areas in the Midwest.

Over the past five years, the increase in the CPI for Midwest urban areas averaged about 1 percent. Over the past 10 years, the average was about 1.6 percent.

The limitation applies to arbitrator awards in disputes involving unions that arent predominantly made up of public safety workers. Police and firefighter unions arent affected by it.

Its rare arbitrators have to settle disputes between labor unions and government. But Danny Homan, president of AFSCME, Council 61, said governments will gain the upper hand knowing if a dispute goes to arbitration the award is limited.

Will another employer offer more than the CPI during the course of whatever were going to call bargaining? They may, but if the employer wants to force the issue, this is going to be how theyre going to do it, he said. Thats not called bargaining.

Proponents of the bill say there is nothing preventing local and state governments from offering employees higher raises than what arbitrators are allowed to award.

They can award a 5 percent raise, Rep. Dave Deyoe, R-Nevada, the chairman of the House Labor Committee, said.

A spokesman for Gov. Terry Branstads office said the new legislation is aimed at evening the scales.

The intent of this bill is to restore fairness to the Iowa taxpayers and give local governments, schools and state government greater flexibility in managing their resources, said Ben Hammes.
Legion Post sets coming events

WATERLOO  American Legion Post 138 at 728 Commercial St. has several events planned.

Shrimp and fries will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, with bingo at 6:15 and 7 p.m. Open pool is planned, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Grilled chicken, brats and hot dogs are set for 11 a.m. Wednesday, and lasagna will be served at 11 a.m. Thursday.

The menu at 11 a.m. Friday will be ham and cheese.

A pepper tournament will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday. On Sunday, bingo is planned for 1:15 and 2 p.m.

Fairbank group to hold breakfast

FAIRBANK  The Fairbank Community Club's waffle and sausage breakfast is set for 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Sunday at the Fairbank American Legion.

Belgium waffles, toppings, sausage and drinks will be served. Carry-outs are available.

Cost is a donation. All profits benefit Fairbank projects.

Support group meets Thursday

WATERLOO -- The Waterloo / Cedar Falls chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society will have a support group meeting from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Covenant Medical Center, wing G, 4th floor, room 10.

"Resilience: Addressing the Challenges of Multiple Sclerosis" will be the topic for the evening. Sue Schlette will lead a discussion.

All patients, families and anyone interested in learning more or about this topic is encouraged to attend.

For more information, call Shirl at 235-8946.

School to hold winter carnival

WAVERLY -- St. Pauls Lutheran Schools winter wonderland carnival will start at 6 p.m. Monday at the school

The entire community is welcome.

In addition to the carnival games, there will be a meal available at St. Pauls Lutheran Church in the Parish Hall at 5 p.m. Game and meal tickets may be purchased prior to the event at the school. Tickets also will be available throughout the night of the event.

The money raised by the carnival will help support the teachers, students and St. Pauls Lutheran School.

Blood drive set at high school

CONRAD -- There will be a blood drive from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at BCLUW High School, 602 Grundy St.

To schedule an appointment, go to lifeservebloodcenter.org or call (800) 287-4903.

UIU will host graduation fair

FAYETTE -- Upper Iowa University will host a free graduate fair Feb. 22 for students interested in furthering their education as well as community members who wanting to pursue a postgraduate degree.

Faculty and staff members from each of UIUs five graduate programs will be there to provide information and answer questions from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Student Center ballrooms at UIUs Fayette Campus.

RSVP is helpful but not required, and participants can drop in at any time throughout the three-hour event. Call Colene Sassmann at (563) 425-5931.
A House committee has rejected a proposed amendment aimed at helping Gov. Doug Burgum fulfill a campaign promise to give his salary back to North Dakota taxpayers.

Proposed amendments to the governors office budget bill would reduce Burgums annual salary from $132,964 to zero dollars. But Rep. Mike Brandenburg, R-Edgeley, chairman of the Government Operations Division of the House Appropriations Committee, said it just doesnt quite work right.

The division sent the governors office budget to the full Appropriations Committee last week without the amendment to eliminate the governors salary, Brandenburg said Monday.

We suggested that it would be the perfect thing to give to his favorite charity, he said. The state cant just not pay somebody.

The no-pay amendment would be effective until Burgum is no longer serving as governor or until the end of his four-year term, whichever comes first.

Mike Nowatzki, Burgum's spokesman, said the option to have the governor donate his salary to charity is still on the table. He noted the budget still has to go through the Senate.

In a campaign ad released just before the state Republican convention last year, Burgum said he would give my salary back to the taxpayers. But that pledge has run into hurdles since then.

Shortly after taking office in mid-December, Burgum said attorneys were looking into how he could turn down his pay.

"You would think that as governor that on the first day you could say, 'I refuse my salary,'" he said at the time. "But this thing is hard-wired into a bunch of different places.
CHARLES CITY -- A Charles City man arrested in December for allegedly harboring a 14-year-old runaway now faces a felony charge of enticing that same girl for a sexual purpose.

Mark Lynch, 34, is accused of enticing or attempting to entice a minor under age 16 with the intent to commit an illegal sexual act or sexual exploitation, according to the trial information filed last week by the Floyd County Attorney Rachel Ginbey.

His arraignment is set for Feb. 28.

Lynch was arrested Dec. 10 on a misdemeanor charge or harboring a runaway after police found a 14-year-old Ohio girl who was listed as a runaway or missing child, according to a Charles City Police Department statement.

Lynch pleaded not guilty to the harboring charge and his trial was scheduled for Thursday. However, a motion to postpone the trial has been filed, as well as a motion for that case to be combined with the enticing a minor case as they are both part of one alleged occurrence.
WATERLOO  Waterloo police are investigating graffiti at Lost Island Water Park.

General Manager Eric Bertch discovered the vandalism to empty pools and buildings on Friday morning. He believes the vandals struck sometime between 7 p.m. Thursday and 7 a.m. Friday.

It wasnt clear how they entered the park. All of the gates were locked, and there were no signs of forced entry.

We are disappointed there are people in the community that feel it necessary to commit such senseless acts, especially on a facility that really doesnt have any enemies. I dont know why anyone would feel the need to deface property like this, Bertch said.

Graffiti included Hail Trump and BlackLivesMatter. There were also swastikas, according to the police report.

No equipment was damaged, Bertch said. He said cleanup will be at a later date.

The park doesnt have security cameras, but Bertch said this may change.

Illegal after-hours forays into the park arent common in the winter.

This time of year its pretty rare. Normally we have people that try to get in when we have water in the pool for a midnight swim, Bertch said. He said the park has security during that time of the year to chase away the intruders.

When its 20 degree out, we dont expect to have any issues like this, he said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Waterloo Police Department at 291-4340 ext. 7 or Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers at 855-300-TIPS (8477).
WATERLOO  A Waterloo man who allegedly emptied a convenience store while armed with a handgun before he was shot in the foot by police Sunday has been arrested on weapons charges.

Joseph Alexander Manuele, 48, was arrested Monday night after he was released from UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital. He faces a misdemeanor charge of carrying weapons and a felony count of going armed in connection with the incident at Kwik Star on Broadway Street. He was taken to the Black Hawk County Jail, and bond was set at $100,000.

Manuele attended his initial court appearance in a wheelchair, keeping his eyes closed and sitting quietly as Judge Brook Jacobsen attempted to confirm his identity.

Manuele stated his name was Joshua. Jacobsen then asked about his October date of birth.

Thats the date of birth of this new flesh, Manuele responded. But my real date of birth is twelve, twenty-five.

Twelve, twenty-five of what year, sir, the judge asked.

Zero, zero, zero, zero, Manuele answered.

He shrugged when asked if he wanted the Public Defenders Office to represent him and when asked his address. He nodded when asked if he lived on Edwards Street, which is blocks from the convenience store.

Court records shed more light on what happened inside the store after Manuele entered around 2:50 p.m. Sunday, displayed a handgun and began yelling for innocent people inside to leave.

Manuele shouted he had just shot out a window at the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store about three blocks away. He also told people inside he was looking for Vincent.

A short time after police arrived, he stepped out of the store and fired a shot into the air, and officers returned fire, striking him once in the foot, according to police and court records. He was taken to the hospital.

After the shooting, Manuele told police Vincent had punched him in a dispute over a girl sometime in the past, court records state. He went on to tell investigators he fired at the thrift store because he knew it was empty and closed on Sundays because he had shopped there.

Manuele stated he fired the round to make a statement that there was no going back (at) that point, according to an affidavit written by an Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation agent.

Manuele went on to tell investigators he went to Kwik Star looking to shoot Vincent.

Manuele stated that had he identified someone as Vincent, he would have unloaded on him with his gun, and Manuele clarified that by saying unloaded on him he meant shooting all of the remaining rounds in his gun at him, the affidavit states.

Two Waterloo police officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave pending an Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation review of the shooting, which is standard procedure.
WATERLOO  A Waterloo man was taken to the hospital after he accidentally shot himself in the leg Sunday night.

Chadreon Torele Gilley, 22, told police he was carrying a handgun and was getting out of his vehicle behind Prime Mart, 508 Broadway St., about 7:50 p.m. Sunday when the weapon fired, police said.

Gilley entered the store where he found a woman to give him a ride to UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital, and authorities were notified.

Officers checked the Broadway Street location and were unable to locate his vehicle and the weapon, police said.

Graffiti reported at water park

WATERLOO  Waterloo police are investigating graffiti at Lost Island Water Park.

General Manager Eric Bertch discovered the vandalism to empty pools and buildings Friday morning. He believes the vandals struck sometime between 7 p.m. Thursday and 7 a.m. Friday.

It wasnt clear how they entered the park. All of the gates were locked, and there were no signs of forced entry.

We are disappointed there are people in the community that feel it necessary to commit such senseless acts, especially on a facility that really doesnt have any enemies. I dont know why anyone would feel the need to deface property like this, Bertch said.

Graffiti included Hail Trump and BlackLivesMatter. There also were swastikas, according to the police report.

No equipment was damaged, Bertch said. He said cleanup will be at a later date.

The park doesnt have security cameras, but Bertch said this may change.

Illegal after-hours forays into the park arent common in the winter.

This time of year its pretty rare. Normally we have people that try to get in when we have water in the pool for a midnight swim, Bertch said. He said the park has security during that time of the year to chase away the intruders.

When its 20 degree out, we dont expect to have any issues like this, he said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Waterloo Police Department at 291-4340 ext. 7 or Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers at 855-300-TIPS (8477).

Help sought

in laundry theft

WATERLOO  The owner of a coin-operated laundry is picking up the pieces after a thief stole cash and equipment and broke change machines last week.

The suspect struck about 4 a.m. Thursday, breaking into an office area where he was able to tear open the backs of wall-mounted change machines, said Phil Akin, owner of Clean Laundry, 709 Progress Ave.

In addition to money and a bucket of tokens, the burglar took two laptop computers, spare parts, electronic equipment and nine cases of laundry soap packets.

All told, Akin is looking at a $35,000 loss from theft and damage.

Weve never had anything like this at any of our locations, Akin said.

The businesss security camera captured images of the suspect, who appears to be a white male dressed in a black hooded jacket, black pants and black shoes. He arrived in a dark colored Ford with a red dealer promotional license plate.

Clean Laundrys Progress Avenue location remains open and is being staffed by workers who will make change until the bill changers can be replaced, Akin said. He also is asking customers to bring their own coins.

The break-in came weeks after Laundry Plus, 1010 E. Mitchell Ave., was targeted by people who broke open machines to remove money.

Akin said a repair parts company in Cedar Rapids reported numerous laundry businesses in Waterloo, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City have been hit.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Waterloo Police Department at 291-4340 ext. 7 or Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers at 855-300-TIPS (8477). Tips also may be left at www.cvcrimestop.com. Tips also may be sent with TipSoft or by texting the word CEDAR plus the information to CRIMES (274637).

Search turns

up equipment

WAVERLY  Authorities uncovered a number of stolen tools and equipment when they searched a Waterloo home and storage unit Friday in connection with an investigation into recent rural Bremer County burglaries.

Investigators recovered a $20,000 Polaris Ranger utility vehicle, a John Deere mower valued at $10,000, power washers and other items while executing search warrants at a home at 2841 Logan Ave. and a storage unit, according to the Bremer County Sheriffs Office.

Charges are pending, according to the sheriffs office.

The sheriffs office said they have received numerous reports of theft and break-ins to buildings in the past two weeks.

Items still at large include a large Snap-On tool chest full of tools, a Craftsman 5600 watt generator and a black Sno-bird tilt snowmobile trailer.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Bremer County Sheriffs Office at 352-5400.

1 critically hurt

in buggy crash

McINTIRE  One person was critically injured in a crash involving an Amish carriage with seven occupants Sunday night.

Marshall Peters, 34, of Toeterville, struck the carriage from behind with a 2009 Hyundai on County Road A-23, the Mitchell County Sheriffs Office said. The crash was reported about 9:40 p.m., two miles west of McIntire.

Carriage driver Ura Petersheim, 47, of McIntire, was transported by Mayo One helicopter to St. Marys Hospital, Rochester, Minn. The other occupants of the carriage were transported to Mitchell County Regional Hospital in Osage.

Petersheim was listed in critical condition at the time of the flight, according to the sheriffs office. The condition of the other occupants is not currently available.

The sheriffs office said the investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.
WATERLOO  Waterloo police are investigating an overnight shooting that sent one woman to the hospital.

Officers were called to the 800 block of Kern Street around 11 p.m. Monday and found a woman had been shot in the leg in a drive-by shooting. Tonya Jean Taylor, 50, suffered non-life threatening wounds, and paramedics with Waterloo Fire Rescue took her to an area hospital for treatment.

No arrests have been made in the case.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Waterloo Police Department at 291-4340 ext. 7 or Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers at 855-300-TIPS (8477).
CEDAR FALLS  University of Northern Iowas Faculty Senate is among the groups on campus opposed to changes in the states collective bargaining law.

United Faculty stated its opposition nearly immediately after Republican chairmen of the House and Senate labor committees introduced the legislation last week. A survey conducted by United Faculty revealed individual faculty members were mostly opposed to changes.

Since then, the Northern Iowa Student Government, Graduate Council and Professional and Scientific Council all passed resolutions in opposition to the changes. On Monday, the Faculty Senate joined them.

At this time, I think it is critical for the Faculty Senate and the faculty union to stand in unity against changes to Chapter 20, yes, but tomorrow, next year, next month, whatever comes from here on out, United Faculty Vice President Becky Hawbaker said after the vote. I also want to thank the Senate for standing not only for the faculty union, but for AFSCME, for the thousands of graduates of our teacher education program who are teaching in Iowa, for all the public unions.

Faculty Senate members said it is unusual for their body to weigh in on legislative actions. Members typically defer to the faculty union or speak individually. But the resolution Monday was supported nearly unanimously, with no opposition and one abstention.

It might be unusual, but I would say the times are unusual. Now is the time, I think, for the faculty to speak very clearly with one voice about defending the university, said UNI professor Scott Peters, who is not currently on the Faculty Senate but has served as its chairman and also as chairman of the faculty.

Faculty Senate member David Hakes, who was the lone abstention, raised concerns about whether the body should be making political statements.

While initially the Faculty Senate discussed a brief resolution stating its opposition to the changes, it ultimately approved a three-paragraph statement outlining collective bargainings history on campus and why changes would be detrimental to the campus and the public good of all Iowans.

Therefore, as representatives of the faculty of the University of Northern Iowa, we support the freedoms and rights protected for over forty years by Chapter 20 of the Iowa Code and oppose any actions that would infringe upon them, reads the final paragraph of the resolution that was originally composed by Timothy Kidd, current faculty chair and past chairman of the Faculty Senate, but ultimately amended by the full body.

Faculty Senate Chairwoman Gretchen Gould said with the resolutions adoption, it will be sent to lawmakers along with the other resolutions passed on campus.
WATERLOO  The threat of underground contamination led Black Hawk County to reconsider a jail parking lot repair.

The county Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to rescind its Jan. 24 decision to repair the lot along the West Fifth Street side of the jail.

Building Maintenance Superintendent Rory Geving had previously estimated it would take $500,000 to remove rubble from the former Ellis Hotel, which is buried under the lot and causing it to sink.

Further research indicated the hotel rubble likely contains cancer-causing asbestos, which is more costly to remove.

That is a game changer, Geving said. I think its safe to say there is something in there, asbestos. How much? I have no idea. We wont know until we expose it.

Waterloo city officials buried the rubble on site when they tore down the Ellis Hotel in 1986. The county built the parking lot over the debris in 1993 and has faced multiple repairs as the material decays and causes the ground under the lot to settle.

Geving presented three options to the supervisors Tuesday to deal with the situation and expects to return next week with more information.

One option involves digging down 2 feet and replacing it with compacted material and a new parking lot for $175,000. A second option digs down 4 to 6 feet, removing some of the rubble, for $300,000.

A third option would go down 8 feet and remove all of the estimated 4,500 tons of asbestos-laden material for a cost of $700,000.

This is the most positive approach to minimize the risk of slab on grade settlement, Geving said. You are basically eradicating the problem before moving forward.

The change in course will make it much more difficult to complete the repairs this year.

Geving and Sheriff Tony Thompson dont want the lot out of service at the same time a different contractor is replacing the jail security system. That project is slated to start in July.

Board members suggested it might be better to start the parking lot project in 2018.

County Finance Director Susan Deaton said the boards proposed budget for fiscal year 2017-18 does not include any funding for the parking lot project. The supervisors could approve a bond issue to cover the costs if work is done next year, or the county could take the money from its cash reserves.
WATERLOO  Ron Corbett has been thinking a lot more about state policy lately.

As founder of Engage Iowa, he is putting together proposals on the states three Es  economy, education and environment. His years of experience as a state lawmaker and mayor of Cedar Rapids give him a unique perspective.

He compared the process to a horse on a carousel: mesmerizing on its first go-round but less so as time goes on.

Thats the challenge sometimes with public policymakers is theyve seen the issue come around so many times. So if you have the same person looking at the same issue, youre probably going to get the same solution, Corbett told the Waterloo downtown Rotary on Monday.

Thats one reason hes not seeking another term as mayor. Hes speaking to the grassroots about Iowas future.

I noticed too much top-down decision making and not enough bottom-up decision making, Corbett said.

One example: Republican Gov. Terry Branstads executive action to privatize the states Medicaid system.

Now, the public is dealing with the ramifications of that decision. It only makes me stop and wonder had a little more time been spent reaching out to the health care providers, the recipients of Medicaid, and done a grassroots decision, maybe that the process may have been improved, Corbett said.

Most questions focused on Engage Iowas proposal to raise the sales tax by one cent. Three-eighths of a cent would go to the voter-approved Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. The remaining five-eighths would reform the state income tax.

While some in the audience balked at the idea of raising the sales tax, Corbett said he hasnt heard of many Iowans moving to Florida to get a better tax rate on refrigerators but has heard of them moving to reduce their income taxes.

Corbett said the proposal, put together by Dermot Hayes, a professor of economics and finance at Iowa State University, would spur growth.

Were seeing it today as we watch whats happening in the Legislature. A 1.1 percent allowable growth for schools; cuts to the University of Iowa, Iowa State and UNI; cuts to your community college; court system closing down for one or two days. See, these are symptoms of a slow-growth state, Corbett said.

E.J. Gallagher III asked Corbett if he plans to run for governor. Corbett acknowledged he may, but said whatever his future it is separate from his work with Engage Iowa.

He wants to see how Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds handles the transition to governor before making a decision.

Branstad has been selected by Republican President Donald Trump to be ambassador to China. He is expected to be confirmed, and Reynolds will replace him at Terrace Hill.
HAMPTON  More than 200 people attended a meeting Monday evening in Hampton to question local law enforcement officials about a decision to revoke Franklin Countys sanctuary policy for undocumented immigrants.

The county has a large Latino population.

Franklin County Sheriff Linn Larson, who was elected in November, made the change Jan. 23  three weeks after he was sworn into office and two days before President Donald Trump signed an executive order to defund sanctuary jurisdictions that refuse to comply with federal immigration law.

Larson said he changed the sanctuary policy because it forced him to pick and choose which law enforcement agencies he would work with, and as sheriff, I dont have the right to make that determination.

Robert Schaefer, police chief in Hampton, said nothing will change for undocumented residents unless they commit a serious crime.

However, those at the meeting, including many local immigrants, had lots of questions. They wanted to know if undocumented immigrants face deportation if they are picked up for not having a valid drivers license or if they report a crime. They also expressed concerns about racial profiling.

Some asked questions in English, others in Spanish. Questions in Spanish were translated by an interpreter.

Gunda Brost, an immigration lawyer from Cedar Falls, said most undocumented immigrants are not a safety threat.

Brost said people are being deported for driving without a valid license. She also said Trumps executive order regarding sanctuary municipalities is likely to be overturned in court.

We are living in an atmosphere of trust and fear, Brost said. Communities need to decide which side they are on.

Larson was chief deputy under former Franklin County Sheriff Larry Richtsmeier, who did not seek re-election in November.

In 2014 the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa sent letters to sheriffs in all of Iowas 99 counties telling them they were not required to honor Immigration and Customs Enforcement retainers without a warrant and they could be held liable if sued for violating the U.S. Constitution.

The letters were sent after the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia ruled ICE cannot force local authorities to hold people without a warrant.

Shortly afterward 23 Iowa sheriffs  including Richtsmeier  said they would not honor ICE detainer requests without a judges order.

Larson said his new policy simply states the Sheriffs Office will work with any law enforcement agencies that request assistance, including ICE.

He said if someone without legal status is stopped for a traffic violation, such as running a stop sign, he or she will be issued a citation and will have the option of seeing a judge or paying the fine, just like anyone else.

However, if an individual arrested on a criminal charge such as assault or theft and booked into the county jail is also suspected of being in the country illegally, local authorities will contact ICE.

ICE then has 48 hours to decide if a federal warrant should be issued or if the individual should be released, according to Larson. The detainee remains in local custody while immigration officials make that decision but is under the authority of ICE, he said.

Larson noted the Franklin County Jail can only hold people for 24 hours, and if people need to be held longer they are transported to the Hardin County Jail.

When asked about those charged with not having a valid drivers license, which undocumented residents in Iowa are unable to obtain, Larson said it is not his intention to change the way tickets are handled.

However, he said any law enforcement officer in Iowa has the right to transport someone to jail for no drivers license rather than just issue a citation.

We call that officer discretion, Larson said.

Larson said officers will not walk down the street looking for people possibly in the country illegally. He also said individuals who report crimes will not be questioned about their legal status.

However, when asked if detainees undocumented family members who are not charged with local crimes could also be under risk of deportation, he said he couldnt answer for ICE.

Larson offered a similar answer when asked if those detained for 48 hours will have access to an attorney, but also said, that would seem like a right a person should have.
DES MOINES (AP)  Legislative debate stretched several hours Tuesday night at the Iowa Capitol as Republican lawmakers tried to fast track votes on a bill that would eliminate most collective bargaining rights for public workers in the state.

In the end, one key vote from the GOP-controlled Senate was put on hold until today after Democrats led hours of discussion over an amendment to gut the bill. That attempt eventually failed. Separately, the Republican-majority House began examining the bill Tuesday night amid procedural moves by the minority party. The House also deferred on the bill and adjourned.

Lawmakers had assembled in the legislative chambers to discuss identical versions of a bill that would prohibit workers like teachers, nurses and correctional officers from negotiating over issues such as health insurance, evaluation procedures and extra pay. The legislation is similar to a 2011 Wisconsin law on collective bargaining.

I dont get this bill, said Democratic Sen. Tony Bisignano. Its mean-spirited and its ugly. Its an attack on workers.

Iowas collective bargaining law, passed in 1974, requires more than a dozen mandatory subjects of discussion for the states roughly 180,000 public sector employees. That would be reduced to base wages under the proposal, which was made public one week ago. Republicans moved quickly over several days to pass procedural votes in time for floor votes Tuesday.

The legislation is expected to pass amid support from GOP legislative leaders, Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, the incoming governor. However, the timing of final votes remained unclear.

Republicans argue the bill would give local employers more flexibility with their budgets and would allow them to reward top workers. The arguments are backed by the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, a powerful lobbying group in the state. The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency, which offers analyses on proposed legislation, said theres not enough information available to determine the total fiscal impact of the bill.

GOP Sen. Jason Schultz said the bill will put taxpayers back in the drivers seat.

It will allow state and local officials to develop employment contracts that make sense for taxpayers and employees, he said.

Democrats and union organizers have continuously shot down that assessment. Hundreds of people also challenged it during a public hearing Monday night at the Capitol.

Public safety employees, like law enforcement officers and firefighters, would be exempt from some of the bargaining provisions in the bill, though they would still be subject to other proposals. They include a requirement that unions manually collect dues and that they hold more frequent elections on whether to dismantle.

Both provisions were key aspects of the Wisconsin bill. Since its passage, union membership in Wisconsin has dropped 40 percent.

Wisconsins legislation led to massive protests in that state, though such turnout is not expected in Iowa. Iowa has long been a right to work state, which means private-sector companies are prohibited from reaching labor agreements in which workers have to pay fees to the unions as a condition of employment. It generally means less union participation in the state.

The public galleries in the Senate were filled during floor debate, though there was a considerably smaller turnout at the Capitol compared to the previous night. Mary Beth West, a kindergarten teacher in Des Moines, said she was in the building to support her brothers and sisters.

I dont know whats going to become of this, but I need to be here every step of the way so I know Ive done everything I can, she said.
DES MOINES  Lawmakers heard from a handful of speakers who urged them to approve sweeping changes to Iowas collective bargaining law to give local elected officials the ability to create what one called a culture of excellence and innovation.

However, the great majority of the 37 speakers Monday were against the changes and told lawmakers to stop swift boating the public by suggesting the legislation is either reform or innovation.

At issue are identical 68-page bills in the House and Senate majority Republicans say tweak a 16-page, 43-year-old law.

The bill would limit the subjects most public workers can bring to the bargaining table, changes arbitration rules, alters how unions are certified and eliminates the longtime practice of gathering dues through payroll deductions. It also treats public safety employees differently than other public employees. Those not involved in public safety would be able to bargain only for base wages. Under current law they can bargain for insurance, hours, vacations, holidays, overtime compensation and health and safety matters.

Before the hearing, Democratic legislators called on majority Republicans to slow down and listen to Iowans who flooded legislative forums over the weekend to voice opposition to the changes.

Iowans are angry. Iowans are confused. Iowans are concerned, said House Minority Leader Mark Smith, D-Marshalltown.

Union members who spoke at the two-hour public hearing were angry and concerned, but there seemed to be little confusion about their opposition.

The proposals are a direct attack on public employees, Jon Thomas, a police officer and member of Teamsters Local 238, told members of the House Labor Committee.

He also called it politically misdirected. Thomas said he and many law enforcement officers vote Republican, but didnt do so to get stabbed in the back.

Every legislator who supports this bill should expect to be challenged by a public employee in 2018, because those who vote for the legislation are representing the special interests who funded your last campaign, not your constituents.

Pete Clancy, a Cedar Rapids high school teacher, called the plan an attack on women because the majority of teachers are women. By denying teachers the ability to bargain for anything other than base wages would take the professional status away from hard-working woman and men.

Opposition to the bills reflects scare tactics from organizations trying to protect their turf, said Drew Klein of Americans for Prosperity. States with limited or no public employee collective bargaining still have schools, law enforcement and emergency services, he said.

Not only will Iowa survive, but thrive under the proposed changes, Klein said. Its not the unions that make Iowa a great place to live.  Reform will be great for Iowa.

Nicole Crain of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, said she wanted public employees to know the private sector values them.

The work you do does not go unnoticed, she said. She argued removing the current legal barriers of collective bargaining, public employees will have the opportunity to excel and be rewarded accordingly.

For many of those who spoke, it was not where they preferred to spend their evening.

Im more comfortable saving lives than testifying, said Lynnette Halstead of Marion, a registered nurse at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and member of SEIU 199.

Many of her co-workers feel the system is rigged against them.

That brought a lot of people out to the polls, Halstead said. No matter who they voted for, they didnt vote for this.

Only a fraction of the 1,000-plus people who signed up to speak got the opportunity. That didnt stop them from voicing their opposition as the Statehouse labor gathering turned into an hourslong rally, joined by several Democratic lawmakers who pledged to resist the bills, which likely will be debated in both the House and Senate this week.

Union members filled the first and second floors of the Capitol rotunda chanting Kill the bill and Vote it down and displaying pro-union posters until the hearing ended.

Democrats accused the GOP of railroading through bills introduced just one week ago.

However, House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, R-Clear Lake, said her party has used the normal process for handling legislation.

The speakers office indicated debate may continue to Friday. Democratic leaders said they intend to discuss each of its 67 sections in detail.

When the hearing closed at 8 p.m., opponents of the bills clapped, stomped and chanted Kill the bill for nearly 10 minutes and heckled members of Americans for Prosperity as they left a meeting at the Capitol.
DES MOINES  Secretary of State Paul Pate is counting on technology to save his office, but that will take additional appropriations from the Legislature, he told lawmakers Tuesday.

Technology will save us in the end, he told the Administration and Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee, or we wont be able to keep pace.

The business services division of his office processes 800 to 1,000 filings every day, handles 61,000 phone calls a year, processes 500,000 searches and filing requests, deals with 12,500 walk-in customers and processes 81,000 credit card transactions and 55,000 paper checks.

We dont need people opening letters all day. We need them online helping people because business customers want government on their schedule -- available online 24/7.

The challenge, however, is that the Secretary of States computer hardware is so old Oracle will no longer service it after May 31. Pate said his office likely will be going out on Craigslist and other services to look for parts to keep technology running until it can be replaced.

Pate requested $1.44 million base budget plus ongoing operational support of $300,000 for status quo staffing. Personnel costs and pass-through expenses -- Capitol Complex Association fees, IT expenses and other shared services  have increased about 34 percent in the business services and election services divisions, he said.

Pate asked for $575,000 to cover an annual operational deficits on top of the $1.44 million base budget for election services, which is involved in about 260 elections a year. Part of the increase would be used to maintain state- mandated election night reporting, he said.

After eight years of frozen appropriations, his office will experience staff reductions without additional funding, Pate said. That will increase the time needed to deliver services to Iowans and Iowa businesses.
Editor's Note: This editorial states no immigrants from the seven nations on President Trump's travel ban committed acts of terror in the U.S. since 2001. In fact, two Somali-born immigrants caused numerous injuries in separate knife-wielding attacks (one after driving a car into crowd) in 2016.

Defying insults from President Donald Trump, a federal appeals court determined he didnt present sufficient evidence to justify an executive order barring immigration from seven Mideast nations.

While Trump responded to the decision on Twitter  SEE YOU IN COURT, THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE!  concerns about the flawed executive order had the administration considering a different tack.

The order  Trumps attempt to honor a campaign pledge to keep out potential terrorists infiltrating among refugees  seemed problematic from the outset, rushed through without much thought about its ramifications.

It barred refugees from any country during the following 120 days and Syrians indefinitely. Citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen would have been barred for 90 days. The secretary of state and director of National Intelligence were to establish the information needed from any country to determine within 30 days whether its citizens are who they claim to be and not a security risk.

After a lower court judge blocked several sections of the order, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco reached a 3-0 decision to uphold the ruling.

The judges wrote, the government has pointed to no evidence that any alien from any of the countries named  has perpetrated a terrorist attack in the United States. Instead, it added, the administration took the position that we must not review its decision at all. We disagree.

Although the executive order was directed at seven predominantly Muslim nations, the court didnt state whether it is was discriminatory based on religion. In December 2015 candidate Trump had called for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our countrys representatives can figure out what is going on.

The Geneva Conventions, which are incorporated into U.S. law, prohibit discrimination against refugees on the basis of religion, as does the Immigration and Nationality Act in the issuance of visas. Trump had promised exceptions for Christians.

The Immigration and Nationality Act does state, Whenever the President finds that the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, he may by proclamation, and for such period as he shall deem necessary, suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate.

After hearing the oral arguments, Trump castigated the judges, maintaining even a bad high school student could understand his authority. However, the court cited a World War II-era Supreme Court precedent that the courts have a duty in time of war as well as in time of peace, to preserve unimpaired the constitutional safeguards of civil liberty.

Syria has been on the State Departments State Sponsors of Terrorism list since its inception in 1979. Iran and Sudan are currently on it; the others had been.

Last year the U.S. took in 10,000 Syrian refugees, 86,000 since 2014. According to the Migration Policy Center, most came through family reunification, not as refugees or seeking asylum.

No foreign-born citizens of the countries listed have committed acts of terrorism in the U.S. since 2001. The Sept. 11 terrorists were from Saudi Arabia (15 of 19), the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Lebanon  nations not on the list.

Trump adviser Stephen Bannon and then U.S. attorney general nominee Sen. Jeff Sessions reportedly pushed the order through without vetting by cabinet officers responsible for implementation.

The Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel didnt review it. Instead, according to Politico, senior House Judiciary Committee staffers helped draft the order. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, werent briefed.

The orders lack of enforcement details created confusion. The Department of Homeland Security initially stated it barred legal permanent residents with green cards, although Reince Priebus, the White House chief of staff, contradicted that on Sunday talks shows. A day later, the DHS said green-card holders werent a threat.

Questions arose about foreign students, workers and others with visas. Even Iraqis approved for entry after assisting the U.S. military were initially barred.

Trump maintained, Its working out very nicely. The court disagreed, citing the administrations shifting interpretations.

We cannot say that the current interpretation by White House counsel, even if authoritative and binding, will persist past the immediate stage of these proceedings, the judges wrote.

Trump accused the court of making a political decision, but the evidence indicates the executive order was hastily concocted and implemented, bypassing basic management and political processes while glossing over constitutional questions.
By The Associated Press Feb. 13, 2017 | 03:48 PM | NEW YORK, NY

Verizon is the latest mobile carrier to bring back unlimited plans, but its version is pricier than offerings from rivals T-Mobile and Sprint.

AT&T only lets customers sign up for unlimited plans when they also subscribe to DirecTV, which AT&T owns. But its prices are similar to Verizon's for a family; Verizon is cheaper for an individual.

Verizon has long been pushing customers off the company's old unlimited plans with rate hikes. But such plans, once common, have come back into vogue as competition between carriers heats up. Carriers have to snatch customers from each other to grow, as most U.S. adults already have a smartphone.
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by Swetha Celestine Barboza

KUWAIT, FEB 14, 2017: William Wordsworth once wrote, the Virgin Mary is 'our tainted nature's solitary boast'. In 2017, Mary will receive special attention in the Vicariate of Northern Arabia because Bishop Bishop Camillo Ballin has declared it as a 'Marian Year'.

This is to mark the centenary year of the famed Marian apparitions reported in 1917 by three shepherd children, Lucia Santos and her cousins Jacinta and Francisco Marto at the Cova da Iria, in Fatima, Portugal.



The parish has planned numerous initiatives to enhance knowledge and to help the laity grow in our love for our Lady. Nearly 120 faithful attended the first Marian-centered event, planned by the Salmiya Parish Youth (SPY) of Saint Therese of Child Jesus Church, Kuwait on February 9. The youth organised Marian Knight - an evening with Mother Mary.



The event featured quizzes, hymns, puzzles and riddles about Mother Mary. The organisers of the event started the evening with a prayer led by Levi Almeida followed by a medley of hymns dedicated to Mother Mary.



Shayne Nair hosted the event. "It gave me immense pleasure to see the number of people who had come in the name of Mother Mary. I was glad that we could organise such a wonderful event that could give people more knowledge about Mother Mary. My team of volunteers did a brilliant job of keeping the participants on their feet," he said.



The judges for the event were Kenneth Remedios, Michelle Remedios and Clarence Pires. A total of 18 games were conducted.



Father Xavier D'Souza, who is the Youth Director for the Vicariate of Kuwait, lauded the youth for their effort. "Splendid and tremendous work by the SPY that united people young and old to reflect and learn about our dear Mother Mary," he said.



The participants showed immense interest in all the activities conducted. The event ended with participants singing hymns to Mother Mary.
Carlo Ratti Associati and Dubais Museum of the Future developed ''Sun & Shade'', a digitally-controlled canopy that couples the cooling of outdoor areas with solar power generation  contributing to climate-change adaptation in cities. International design and innovation office Carlo Ratti Associati, in collaboration with Dubais Museum of the Future, has developed a dynamic, reflecting canopy which can provide digital shading and climate adaptation in cities.

Image  Carlo Ratti Associati

The first working prototype  called ''Sun & Shade''  unveiled in Dubai during the 2017 World Government Summit, as part of the ''Reimagining Climate Change'' exhibit at the Museum of the Future.

The Sun & Shade canopy is based on an array of mirrors that track the sun. Much like a sunflower, each mirror can move on a double axis and reflect the suns rays away from the ground  allowing the precise control of the desired level of shading and natural cooling underneath. Reflected rays, in turn, are concentrated on a photovoltaic receiver, located a safe distance away, that generates electric power.

Image  Carlo Ratti Associati

''In developing Sun & Shade we were inspired by the Middle Eastern tradition of shadowing in architecture and public space'', comments Carlo Ratti, Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston and a founding partner of Carlo Ratti Associati.

Image  Carlo Ratti Associati

''Sun&Shade aims to bring this concept to the next level, allowing shadowing to be digitally controlled. While reflected sun is concentrated far away, producing heat at a safe distance from people, the space underneath the canopy cools down.''

The result is a system whose applications could be extraordinary in terms of increasing climate comfort, potentially allowing vast outdoor portions of cities such as Dubai to become inhabitable all year long  while producing clean energy for the community.

Image  Pietro Leoni

Sun & Shade always knows where the sun is. Based on the suns location and on the users input, it can tilt mirrors to different degrees, allowing people to interact with sunlight in creative ways - from selecting the precise level of shading underneath, to composing dynamic drawings with light to reinterpret the traditional patterns of Arabic architecture.

Another way to think about the project is to imagine it as a reinterpretation of a small concentrated solar power (CSP) plant, which as a result of its controllability can be used in urban areas, and not only in rural ones. Concentrated sun could also be used for more experiential and communal uses  such as roasting food on a sun-heated stone plate.

Image  Pietro Leoni

''We are excited to debut Sun&Shade at the Reimagining Climate Change exhibition in Dubai, and to showcase its incredible potential for helping cities adapt to climate change'', says Antonio Atripaldi, project manager at Carlo Ratti Associati.

''The canopy is half power infrastructure, half architecture for public space. With its hybrid nature, it allows us more control over our surroundings. In the near future, we can imagine extending the canopy to cover streets or open squares in hot, arid climates such as Dubais, allowing people to enjoy the outdoors all year round. Conversely, in a cold place we could concentrate rays underneath the canopy, to heat the environment.''

Image  Carlo Ratti Associati

Sun&Shade is featured within ''Reimagining Climate Change'', an exhibition which highlights the inevitability of major environmental change in our lifetime and the importance of adapting to it proactively. The exhibit, produced by Dubais Museum of the Future in partnership with global design firm Tellart, proposes original new ideas for how we can deal with the consequences of climate change, focusing on food, water and urban environments.

Speaking on the occasion of its opening, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, commented: ''The UAEs strategy is to inspire people to innovate and come up with solutions for the future.''

Image  Carlo Ratti Associati

Sun & Shade is part of Carlo Ratti Associatis ongoing research into using digital technologies for climate adaptation. Previous projects by the company include Local Warming (presented at the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale), Cloud Cast (unveiled at Dubais Museum of Future Government Services in 2015), and the ongoing renovation of the Agnelli Foundations headquarter in Turin, Italy (to open in spring 2017).

At a time when climate change is becoming increasingly pressing, Carlo Ratti Associati aims to explore how architecture can help its prevention and adaptation.

Project facts

Project name: Sun&Shade

Architect: Carlo Ratti Associati

Team: Carlo Ratti, Antonio Atripaldi, Pietro Leoni, Emma Greer, Nicola Scaramuzza) in collaboration with Dubais Museum of the Future. With the consultancy of international climate engineering firm Transsolar and digital design studio Atmos

Mechanical and Electronic Engineer: FGM Works

Software Engingeering: Tonicminds srl

> via Carlo Ratti Associati
"Oaxaca FilmFest, simply the best Festival experience on the planet."

BERLIN, GERMANY, February 14, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Oaxaca FilmFest has joined The Ministry of Cultures and Arts for the State of Oaxaca to help introduce and roll out the state's new film commission.



The international film festival is embarking on its eight edition. It has screened the works of Olivier Assayas, Guillermo Del Toro, Clint Eastwood, Takashi Miike, and Martin Scorsese and has been dubbed the last three years by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the Top 50 Festivals in the world. The first seven years have generated almost $4,000,000 dollars in economic stimulus to the region and in 2016, nearly 15,000 audience members participated in the eight day event.



The new film commission is the brain child of the Secretary of The Ministry of Cultures and Arts for the State of Oaxaca Ana Vasquez Colmenares under the direction of the new governor Alejandro Murat Hinojosa. The project will be spearheaded by Eva Bodenstedt.



In collaboration with the director of IMCINE Jorge Sanchez Sosa and Juan Carlos Rivera Castellanos from The Ministry of Tourism the objective is to present Oaxaca as a film destination.



Oaxaca FilmFest being established already as a destination festival on the international circuit is a huge advantage for the new project. Oaxaca FilmFest currently receives more submissions than any other festival in Mexico and works with over 90 countries.



Director, writer, and producer Patricia Chica comments "Oaxaca FilmFest is a destination festival that every indie filmmaker must attend at least once!"



While Spotlight Magazine goes even further, "Oaxaca FilmFest, simply the best Festival experience on the planet."



Furthermore, the state has a long history of generating great productions of all budgets and genres.



Carmin Tropical by Rigoberto Perezcano (Mexico), Club Sandwich by Fernando Eimbcke (Mexico), Espiral by Jorge Perez Solano (Mexico), La Nina by David Riker (USA), Los Angeles by Damian John Harper (German), Nacho Libre by Jared Hess (USA), Under Fire by Roger Spottiswoode (USA), and Y tu mama tambien by Alfonso Cuaron (MEXICO) were all developed in the region.



Oaxaca Film Commission is included in this year's Mexico In Focus section at the European Film Market during Berlinale. Hosting a reception that will include mezcal and the great Oaxacan cuisine of Manuel Banos of Restaurant Pitiona and winner of Mexico's first Top Chef Rodolfo Castellanos of Restaurant Origen. Mexico will present multiple films and various other activities including "New Frontiers: Creating Original Content in Mexico and Latin America".



Harnessing the energy of Berlin and the passion for film, the European Film Market is the business epicentre of one of the most important international film festivals in the world, the Berlinale. The market will be held from the 9th-17th of February this year.



For more information about Oaxaca FilmFest visit www.oaxacafilmfest.com or write [email protected]



For more information about Mexico In Focus visit



http://www.imcine.gob.mx/mexicoinfocus/efm.html#tabs-2



Oaxaca FilmFest is passionately committed to providing Audiences, Filmmakers, and Screenwriters around the globe with an excellent and unique cinematic experience.



# # #
Feb 14, 2017 | By Benedict

Instructables user Blake Hawkins, a Kansas 17-year-old with a passion for making, has built an incredible 3D printed vending machine designed to fit inside a regular school locker. The unusual creation scooped First Prize in the Instructables Arduino Contest 2016.

Most of us went to school with somebody who tried to make money off their fellow students, whether through selling essays, betting on the softball, or undercutting the canteen. Never before, however, has there been an in-school moneymaking scheme as slick as this one. Hawkins, an incredibly talented 17-year-old maker, has built a fully functional vending machine that can be set up inside a regular school locker. The 3D printed and laser-cut Soda Locker has a working coin slot, is powered by an Arduino, and cost around $160 to make.

In addition to creating something that is just really really cool, Hawkins seems to be onto something from a business perspective here. When I was at school, staff eventually phased out all the junk food from the vending machines until all you could get was bottled water and juice. That might not have happened everywhere, but the healthy eating in schools imperative of the modern era has brought about a potential black market for sugary snacks and drinks. With Hawkins 3D printed Soda Locker, any student could make a tidy sum from bootlegging Mountain Dew and Coke.

After jokingly coming up with idea for the Soda Locker with friends, precocious Instructables user Hawkins thought Hey, why not just build the thing? The rest is carbonated beverage history. After months of work and $160 spent on various materials and components, the maker eventually completed his invention, which features an Arduino brain, a coin acceptor, a magnetic reed switch, and an LCD screen. Using the schools Epilogue Mini 24-inch laser cutter, the maker was able to fabricate an acrylic control panel and enclosure, before using a 3D printing service to create the can-dispensing channel and other parts.

Hawkins had to overcome a few challenges (such as static electricity tricking the machine into dispensing products), but eventually got the machine working perfectly. Arguably the most important part of the Soda Locker is its ability to accurately receive money and dispense the right products. To get this right, the maker programmed the Arduino to recognize pulses sent from the coin acceptor. (One pulse for a nickel, two pulses for a dime, and five pulses for a quarter.) Once theyve paid up, customers can then choose from two beverage options, with the machine able to store two rows of six cans in 3D printed holders.

The internal dispenser for the Soda Locker was designed in Fusion 360 and 3D printed through the MakeXYZ 3D printing service. Makers looking to emulate Hawkins entrepreneurship can print out the parts using their own 3D printers by following the projects Instructables guide. For anyone with a locker going unused, Hawkins thinks the project could be a worthwhile venture. Lockers just aren't what they used to be, he says. With so many schools moving to electronic devices for books, lockers become less of a space for your books, and more of a question of: What am I going to do with this? Accordingly, the maker invites prospective Soda Locker franchise owners to pop open a can of your favorite drink and come along!

In addition to being the coolest wheeler-dealer in schoolhe used a personalized can in the vending machine to ask his girlfriend to promHawkins also scooped First Prize in the Instructables Arduino Contest for the Soda Locker. Show-off. Unfortunately, his school reportedly shut down the Soda Locker scheme because it violates school rules. Ever the optimist, Hawkins is now negotiating with the powers that be in order to make the locker a charity venture or a way for school clubs to raise money.

See the 3D printed Soda Locker in action below.

Posted in Fun with 3D Printing

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JimmiNi wrote at 10/22/2017 11:32:15 AM:x8SzW6 http://www.FyLitCl7Pf7ojQdDUOLQOuaxTXbj5iNG.com




Natalie Carnes at Republics of Letters:

They are locked in opposition, the two fictional sisters. Sisters in blood, Elizabeth Costello calls them, but not in spirit. Elizabeth is an aging Australian novelist imagined by J. M. Coetzee. In his story The Humanities in Africa, she has traveled to Zululand to celebrate her sister Blanche, now Sister Bridget, who is receiving an honorary degree from a university there. Once a classicist, Sister Bridget long ago abandoned the academic path to pursue a religious vocation with the Sisters of the Marian Order. Now she administers their hospital, Blessed Mary on the Hill.

The opposition between the sisters pivots on humanism and beauty. Sister Bridgets support for making and venerating crucifixes repulses Elizabeth, who describes the tradition as mean, backwards, squalid, and stagnant. Elizabeth asks: What does Blanche have against beauty that she would import into Zululand this Gothic obsession with ugliness and death?[1] Sister Bridgets fetishization (as it seems to Elizabeth) of the crucifix elevates suffering and mortality over and above the best humanity is capable of being. Why not instead turn to the Greeks, whose art presents humanity in its prime of life: healthful, vigorous, and strong (130)? For her part, Sister Bridget accuses Elizabeth of cherishing a conception of beauty rejected by the ordinary people of Zululand and around the world. Ordinary people have freely chosen the crucifix over Greek statues, Sister Bridget claims, because it speaks to their condition in a way the ideals of Greek beauty do not (14041).

more here.
Cheryl Bentsen in Boston Magazine:

At Clare College, Gates began collecting the best minds of his time, albeit for a purpose he had yet to conceive. He was homesick at first, and desperate for any sign of familiarity. Everyone he spoke with kept asking if hed met a young man named Anthony Appiah. You figure when white people do that theyre talking about a black person but are too polite to say it, Gates says. Im thinking, motherfucker must be black, right? After hooking up with Kwame Anthony Appiah (his full name), Gates was introduced to Wole Soyinka, a Nigerian who was then teaching at Cambridge. The three men formed an unusual trio. Very much the elegant aristocrat, Appiah, then just 18, was the son of Joe Appiah, a prominent Ghanaian lawyer and politician, and the nephew of the King of the Asante, Otumfuo Nana Opoku Ware II; on his mothers side, he was the grandson of Sir Stafford Cripps, former chancellor of the British Labour Party. Soyinka, 16 years Gatess senior, was a playwright, novelist, poet, and essayist from the Yoruba region of Nigeria who would later become known in the West as the Shakespeare of Africa. Rounding out the trio was Skip Gates, a poor young student from Appalachia. Meeting Appiah, Gates says, It was love at first sight. He is the smartest human being I have ever met. He was also someone Gates constantly tried to emulate, by wearing little silk neck scarves, as Appiah did, by growing his hair like his. He was everything I wanted to be. He was pure reason, but very sensual. He loved life. He loved to eat. He loved wine. He loved drama and art. And he seemed to respond to me and to Sharon. Adds Sharon: Skip was taken with Anthonys aristocratic lineage. He seemed like a prince to us.

Appiah was a frequent dinner guest at Adams and Gatess off-campus digs, where after a night of good food, wine, and talk, Appiah invariably ended up sleeping on the sofa by the coal stove. Skip was sort of an evangelist for African American causes about which I knew nothing, says Appiah. He seemed worldly to me. He had a big Afro, and a big white felt hat, the kind you saw in blaxploitation movies. And as a stringer for Time, he was going to Paris to see James Baldwin and Josephine Baker, and Kathleen and Eldridge Cleaver. After I met Skip, I began to learn to think about race in western culture.

But there was just one issue in their friendship that created a bit of awkwardness. Im sure I was as homophobic as anybody, Im embarrassed to say, Gates says. Being Americanblunt and unsubtleI had to figure out how to deal with it.

More here. (Note: At least one post throughout February will be in honor of Black History Month)
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Deborah Gaines and Jerry Ryan

Ron Hutchins and Richard Cameron plan to get married. They live in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Jeffery Salter

How old when first met: Both 52

How they met: We had seen each other around town, Deborah says, but formally met when he offered to fix a broken link on my website.

First date: Unofficially, wine on my porch after he fixed the website. Officially, two nights later at a restaurant and microbrewery.

How you knew he was the one: A couple of months after we met, my son forgot his clarinet and called home to get someone to drop it off. Jerry heard the message, found the instrument and drove it to the middle school on his way to the office.

The best thing about love later in life: Its a gift, pure and simple. No timetable, no agenda  just two people enjoying each other.

The secret to lasting love: Valuing what we have instead of wanting things to be perfect. I used to think if things went wrong, or if we didnt always feel loving, that something was wrong with the relationship. Now I just let it all happen. Sometimes we drive each other crazy, but that doesnt mean we love each other any less.

Ron Hutchins and Richard Cameron

How they met: We met at our local gay bar  Alibi, says Richard, 53. I was out with a friend. Ron walked by, and lightning hit me. I said to my friend, That is the man Im going to marry! I realize we couldnt get married back then legally. But it was love at first sight for me."

First date: Our first date didnt go so well. Ron (who is 55) said he would come to my condo the following night after rehearsal (hes a theater choreographer), but the lighting directors flight was delayed, and Rons schedule became so late that I decided hed bailed on me. I was already on one of the dating websites to find another date. I met a guy online who was knocking at my door. Then Ron showed up. Now there were three of us looking at each other, and Ron said, Im going to be a gentleman and just say goodnight. This could have been a deal breaker, but I got lucky. I called Ron the next morning, and he said, You hurt my feelings. He told me the story of the late flight, and I felt like an ass. I made up for it, inviting him over for another meal.

How you knew he was the one: I knew we were destined to be together when Ron said Im going to be a gentleman and just say goodnight and You hurt my feelings.

The best thing about love later in life: Its that you know what your breaking points are. You know if you can get through a difficult disagreement. You have a disagreement and know enough not to throw everything away that you have both wished for your entire lives. Sometimes one just has to give in and move on to the positive moments.

The secret to lasting love: Its honesty. You are human. You are both going to mess up, but if you are honest you can get through anything! Love and true friendship is the key. Make date nights or we time. Light candles, play favorite music, watch a movie in bed and share a special dinner with your favorite comfort foods. Enjoy the moment. Relationships over 50 are easier and more enjoyable. So when that AARP card comes in the mail, just know its the best time of your life!

Robby and Treva Scharf met in February 2013 and got married in May 2014. They live in Beverly Hills, Calif. courtesy Robby and Treva Scharf

Robby and Treva Scharf

How old when first met: Robby was 56, and Treva was 50.

How they met: We initially met on Facebook. Robby private messaged me in November 2012 about a mutual high school friend who was having problems and suggested we do an intervention, Treva says. We werent able to help our friend, but I remember thinking, What a nice guy to care so much. I was single at the time, going through breakup hell and depressed about turning 50, so I had my own problems to deal with. It was a real low point in my life.

First date: Since it appeared I was never getting married, I decided to throw myself a big 50th birthday bash in February 2013 to celebrate my singleness instead of having a pity party. I invited half of Facebook, including Robby. We met in person that night and went on a real date the following week.

How you knew he was the one: I knew he was the one because he drove the relationship without his foot on the brakes. He was direct, fearless and didnt play games. He knew what he wanted, and he proceeded with confidence, even though he was a marriage virgin, too. I was able to sit back and enjoy the ride  which was a first because I was always in control when it comes to love. We got engaged six months after we met and got married nine months after that.
How many people have already voted absentee in South Dakota ahead of Election Day?
Firmus, Malaysias leading info-security service and consultancy, has been named Malaysias 2016 Cyber Security Company of the Year.

The home-grown IT security company was recognised for its key achievements, market presence, revenue growth performance and breadth of innovative offerings. The company had previously won Information Security Services Provider of the Year in 2012.

The Malaysia Cyber Security Awards is an annual flagship event organised by by Cyber Security Malaysia, an agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI). The Awards recognises the efforts of cyber security professionals, home-grown SMEs and global organisations by honouring the most distinguished and innovative individuals, business and public service providers in the Malaysian IT security industry.

Chief Executive Officer of Firmus, Alan See, said that the award was an affirmation of Firmuss commitment to excellence and innovation in information security. See received the award on behalf of the company from the Minister for MOSTI, Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau, at The Royale Chulan Kuala Lumpur on 19 October 2016.

Winning the award is testimony that our dedication towards treating our customers and our colleagues meticulously with care is the right ingredient for success, he said, adding that Integrity is a very important component in our approach to business. We can afford to lose deals, but we cannot afford to lose trust and relationships.

See said that Firmus will be setting up a new Cyber-Security Threat Analysis Center (CyberTAC) to provide cutting edge Cyber Threat Intelligence services to the market. Through CyberTAC, existing and future Firmus clients can look forward to a more robust suite of security offerings that include threats intelligence, social network risk mitigation, cyber footprint management, anti-phishing, rogue sites discovery, among others.

The traditional approach towards security testing is now the bare minimum and is no longer sufficient to provide the necessary security assurances required in todays deeply connected networks, said See. Through CyberTAC, you can expect improved services from Firmus resulting from our efforts to ensure our client solutions processes meet the increased demands of the industry for speed and efficiency without compromising security.

ABOUT FIRMUS

Firmus Sdn Bhd (https://firmussec.com) is a Malaysian regional info-security service and consultancy company. Established by IT Security Veterans in 2008, Firmus offers a comprehensive suite of security solutions and services (https://firmussec.com/services/) that address internet security and risk management requirements.

Among the companys core services include critical infrastructure protection, risk assessment and compliance, security testing as well as training. Firmus currently serves more than 100 customers across multiple industries with banks and financial institutions being its major clientele group, other clients hail from the telecommunications, airlines, broadcasting, airports, shipping ports, gaming, etc industries.

Media Contact

Company Name: FIRMUS SDN BHD

Contact Person: Alan

Email: info_my@firmussec.com

Phone: +603 6204 0808

Country: Malaysia

Website: http://firmussec.com
Class A Office Complex to Provide Modern Work Environment

PHOENIX, Ariz.  The Muller Company, in a joint venture with investment firm Harbert Management Corporation, announced that the $20 million redevelopment of Sky Harbor Towers office complex is nearing completion of its first phase. The 13.6-acre, two-building office campus located at the intersection of Interstate 10 and State Route 143 is anticipated for move in this spring.

The redevelopment of 4605 and 4615 E. Elwood St. will deliver 215,000 square feet of state-of-the-art, amenity-rich office space to the Sky Harbor submarket of Greater Phoenix. The property features renovated lobbies, ample parking and a new pedestrian-friendly courtyard with shaded outdoor meeting areas situated around a central fountain. The second phase will modernize the fitness center, and the on-site cafe for casual inside/outside dining.

During 2015, a portion of the original three-building Sky Harbor Towers property was acquired by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) for its freeway widening project. The Muller Company positioned the campus for future success by demolishing the smallest of the propertys office buildings and expanding parking capacity to an abundant 6/1,000-square-foot ratio.

Our goal with the remaining four- and seven-story buildings was to create an engaging campus environment that offers the appointments of a Class A mid-rise office complex and caters to tenants in the new economy, says Stephen J. Muller, principal with The Muller Company. This project is surrounded by low-rise call center style properties. Sky Harbor Towers will stand out in the area landscape as offering a more appealing workstyle environment with logically-sized work areas, plentiful natural light and an active courtyard with outdoor work areas for an employee-friendly campus feel.

Sky Harbor Towers mid-rise buildings provide expansive window lines and balconies. The buildings floors offer scalable flexibility that can accommodate any size of operation. The redevelopment project has been meticulously designed, inside and out, to cater to 21st-century companies with a young, dynamic workforce, adds Muller.

The Muller Company selected Colliers International in Greater Phoenix to market Sky Harbor Towers. Colliers Executive Vice President Charles Miscio and Vice President Ryan Timpani are the buildings leasing agents.

Sky Harbor Towers occupies a coveted location at the critical intersection of Interstate 10 and State Route 143, adjacent to Sky Harbor International Airport, says Miscio. More than 300,000 vehicles pass by this property each day, which offers prospective tenants impressive visibility with many signage opportunities. The campus is located in the exact heart of the citys freeway system to attract labor from throughout Greater Phoenix.

The Muller Company has acquired and operated over 30 million square feet of office, industrial and retail space in Arizona and California since its inception in 1979. This marks the second joint venture between The Muller Company and Harbert Management Corporation. The two companies also own the Diablo Technology Park in Tempe, Ariz.

For more information about Sky Harbor Towers, see www.skyharbortowers.com.

Harbert Management Corporation

Harbert Management Corporation (HMC) is an independent investment firm focused on fundamentally-based private and public market strategies. HMC seeks investments forecasted to yield mid- to high-teen returns. The companys mission is to provide strong and consistent returns to help our clients meet their investment objectives and preserve initial investment capital. HMC is an opportunistic investor who invests alongside its clients on equal terms and conditions. See harbert.net

About The Muller Company

The Muller Company is a privately held real-estate investment, development and management firm with a proven track record of enhancing the value of their properties. Since its inception in 1979, The Muller Company has acquired and operated over 30 million square feet of office, industrial and retail space. The Muller Company has assembled a property portfolio of over $4 billion in value, across greater Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego County, the Inland Empire, Northern California and Arizona. With over 35 years of experience in acquiring and repositioning commercial properties, The Muller Company has partnered with institutional owners such as Blackstone, Green Oak, Northlight Financial, Harbert Management, Walton Street Capital, Colony Capital, GE Capital, Rockwood Capital, PCCP and Oak Tree Capital just to name a few. See themullercompany.com

Media Contact

Company Name: The Muller Company

Contact Person: Anne Monaghan / Monaghan Communications

Email: anne@MonaghanPR.com

Phone: 949.460.5380

Address:18881 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 400

City: Irvine

State: California

Country: United States

Website: http://www.themullercompany.com/
TUCSON, AZ Dr. David Skinner, MD, PhD, MBA, has redefined the standard of outpatient medicine by energizing Southern Arizona Urgent Care (SAUC) to becoming the fastest growing urgent care facility in southern Arizona.

As a fresh 2008 graduate of Arizona State Universitys MBA program, Dr. Skinner dove straight into the business of healthcare. Staying local, Dr. Skinner founded a pain clinic to help individuals with unrelenting pain better manage their chronic conditions. By doing this, he grasped the synergistic importance of caregivers committed to healing and of establishing sustainable business models to serve his community.

With his business background, Dr. Skinner was able to observe the world of the healthcare system from a new mindset. I found that there was no continuum of care between the hospital and the neighborhoods where the patients lived, he says. Too many patients were being lost to follow-up and patients were seeking haven in the emergency room instead of their local communities. With a new vision in mind, Dr. Skinner wanted patient healthcare to be a system that prioritized both the patient and emphasized a holistic experience. It was this vision that motivated Dr. Skinner to found Southern Arizona Urgent Care during his second year of medical school.

I wanted to bridge the gap between emergency and preventative care, while still creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. I wanted my patients to trust me and feel comfortable around me and others that I work with. By building good relationships and making people comfortable I hoped it would keep them coming to our door. Dr. David Skinner, Founder

Dr. Skinners dream of accessible healthcare of the highest quality began to take shape just after a few years. SAUC had the ability to offer a number of important patient services, including workers compensation evaluations, in-house radiology, in-house laboratory, in-house medications, routine vaccinations, and of course the means to treat almost everything else that might bring one into the doctors office. With his vision finally coming to fruition, Dr. Skinner completed his Internship in Neurology and transitioned out of residency to fully focus his efforts on improving community access to caring providers through the SAUC model of care.

Making the move back into the business world is what helped make Dr. Skinners vision of the complete healthcare experience come to life. SAUC now has four locations in Tucson, Marana, and Oro Valley, says Dr. Skinner. Locals and other people from a variety of areas receive quick and convenient healthcare when they need it. Dr. Skinner is set to have a network of 12 SAUC locations in Tucson by the end of 2017, thus achieving his goal of serving the healthcare needs of his entire community through sustainable, community-oriented business.

Southern Arizona Urgent Care PLUS exists to provide a one-of-a-kind healthcare experience to every person who walks through our doors. This all-inclusive urgent care concept and design will assure each individual receives an accurate diagnosis and resolution to their concerns in the most effective and efficient way possible. Visit https://southernarizonaurgentcare.com to learn more.

Media Contact

Company Name: Southern Arizona Urgent Care

Contact Person: JANET BELNAP

Email: janet@sauc.com

Phone: +1 (520) 900-7023

Address: 6303 E. Broadway Blvd. Suite 161 Tucson, AZ 85710

Country: United States

Website: https://southernarizonaurgentcare.com/
McEwen Mining Inc. (NYSE:MUX) (TSE:MUX) and Lexam VG Gold Inc. (TSE:LEX) (OTCMKTS:LEXVF), have entered into an agreement pursuant to which McEwen Mining would acquire all of the issued and outstanding securities of Lexam by way of plan of arrangement and Lexam would become a wholly-owned subsidiary of McEwen Mining.
CORAZON TO RAISE UP TO $3M VIA SHARE PURCHASE PLAN



Share Purchase Plan To Raise AUD$3M

Perth, Feb 14, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Corazon Mining Limited ( ASX:CZN ) ( CRZNF:OTCMKTS ) announces its intention to conduct a share purchase plan (SPP or Plan) to raise up to $3 million to fund the next phase of exploration at its projects in Canada and Australia.



- SPP to raise up to $3 million



- SPP provides existing shareholders with an opportunity to subscribe for discounted shares in Corazon



- Funding provides capacity to:



- complete proposed phase 2 drilling of the Company's compelling nickel-copper-cobalt targets at the Lynn Lake Project in Canada



- define and test extensions to the high-grade cobalt mineralisation at Cobalt Ridge, Mt Gilmore Project in New South Wales



Share Purchase Plan



Under the SPP, the Company is giving Eligible Shareholders the opportunity to purchase up to $15,000 worth of fully paid ordinary shares in the Company (Shares) at an issue price of $0.035 per Share, irrespective of the size of their shareholding, without incurring brokerage or transaction costs.



The right to participate under the Plan is optional and is available exclusively to shareholders who are registered as holders of Shares at 5.00pm (WST) on the Record Date of 13 February 2017 and whose registered address is in Australia or New Zealand (Eligible Shareholders).



The Company reserves the right to close the SPP early and scale back applications in its absolute and sole discretion should the total demand exceed $3 million. When determining the amount (if any) by which to scale back an SPP application, the Company may take into account a number of factors, including the size of an applicant's shareholding in the Company, the extent to which an applicant has sold or bought additional shares in the Company after the SPP record date and the date on which an application was made with earlier applications given precedence.



In the event that less than $3 million is applied for, the full amount of shortfall of the Plan may be placed at the discretion of the board of the company. The placement of the shortfall of the Plan (if any) is subject to the Company receiving shareholder approval in accordance with ASX listing Rule 7.1. A notice of meeting to seek this approval will be issued in due course.



Under the ASX Listing Rules, the offer under the SPP must be not less than a discount of 20% to the volume weighted average market price (VWAP) for the Shares over the last 5 days on which sales in the Shares were recorded before the day on which the issue was announced.

The VWAP of Shares traded on the ASX during this period was $0.033 per Share. The closing price of the Company's Shares at the close of business 13th February was $0.042 per Share.



The Plan will have different participation levels, being:



Total amount payable Shares to be issued Offer A $15,000 428,571 Offer B $10,000 285,714 Offer C $5,000 142,857 Offer D $2,000 57,143



Indicative Timetable

Record Date for Share Purchase Plan 13 February 2017 Announce Share Purchase Plan 14 February 2017 Dispatch Share Purchase Plan booklet to Eligible Shareholders and release Offer Letter on the ASX On or before 20 February 2017 Share Purchase Plan Opens 23 February 2017 Closing Date for Share Purchase Plan 8 March 2017 Quotation on ASX of new Shares under the Share Purchase Plan 10 March 2017

These dates are indicative only. The Company may vary the dates of the Offer indicated above and reserves the right to close the SPP early.



Issue of Options to Directors and Employees



Additionally, in accordance with a remuneration review, the Company resolved in December 2016 to issue up to 40,000,000 options to directors and employees, exercisable at $0.035 per option expiring three years from the date of issue. The issue of these options is subject to the Company receiving shareholder approval in accordance with ASX listing Rules 7.1 and 10.11, at a subsequent General Meeting. A notice of meeting for these issues will be dispatched in due course.



Exploration Program



The proceeds of the SPP will be used primarily for exploration activities at Corazon's Lynn Lake Project in Canada and the Mt Gilmore Project in New South Wales, as well as for general working capital purposes.



In relation to the capital raising, Corazon's Managing Director, Mr Brett Smith, said: "We were keen to give our shareholders the opportunity to participate further in the next exciting phase of the project and we have determined that the SPP is the fairest way to achieve this. Following completion of the SPP, we will be fully funded for the second phase of exploration at the Lynn Lake Project. The results to date have been very encouraging and we are particularly excited to be able to immediately continue the drill program into the next phase."



Phase 1 Drill Programme Complete



Corazon has completed its Phase 1 Drilling programme at Lynn Lake Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project in Canada. This programme comprised five (5) holes for approximately 1,600 metres of core drilling, testing high priority geophysical anomalies within the Fraser Lake intrusive Complex. An update on the status of the drilling programme have been provided in the Company's ASX releases dated 6th and 13th of February 2017.



Phase 2 Drill Programme



With the completion of Corazon's initial phase of drilling at Lynn Lake, the Company is now undertaking planning and targeting for Phase 2 Drilling, proposed to commence later this month. Further detail on drill targets will be provided in due course. First assay results from Phase 1 Drilling are expected to be available later this month and all assay results are on track to be received by the end of March 2017.





About Corazon Mining Ltd





Corazon Mining Limited (ASX:CZN) (OTCMKTS:CRZNF) is a base metals explorer with projects in the historical nickel-copper Lynn Lake mining camp, Canada's 3rd largest nickel producing region. Corazon's recent acquisition of the Victory Nickel Project has reunited the Lynn Lake Mining Field for the first time since 1976.
Half year results and business update



Strong Organic Performance

Sydney, Feb 14, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - The Board of Australian communications specialist MNF Group ( ASX:MNF ) is very pleased to report strong organic growth for the six months ended 31 December 2016. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 22% to $10.0 million, with net profit after tax (NPAT) increasing by 21% to $4.9 million, compared with the same period a year earlier. Revenue for the half increased organically by 9% to $91.4 million.



The company's solid performance for the half included:



The large increase in net profit for the period versus the prior corresponding period are attributable to solid organic growth in all three operating segments: Domestic Retail, Domestic Wholesale and Global Wholesale:



- The Domestic Retail segment benefitted strongly from recent success in the Government segment, with gross margin up 12% on prior year; this segment is expected to continue to perform strongly with the recent announcement that MNF has been selected for the Victorian Government TPAMS panel.



- The Domestic Wholesale segment continues its strong organic growth due to the monotonic increase in its recurring revenue streams; this segment is also expected to continue this momentum as well as adding additional revenue streams in the form of the Telstra Wholesale MVNO agreement which was announced in December 2016.



- The Global Wholesale segment contributed strong growth during the period, and is expected to continue to perform well with the addition of its new PoP in Hong Kong launched only in December 2016.



Business Outlook and Guidance:



The directors believe the business is currently on track to meet our previously stated organic forecast. Subsequent to the half year end, MNF announced the acquisition of Conference Call International (CCI). The combined business will produce an upgraded 2017 forecast with EBITDA and NPAT of $23.7m and $11.6m respectively, and a revised EPS forecast to 16.7cps after capital raising dilution.



With a discerning and conservative approach, the Board of MNF Group will continue to actively search for further acquisition opportunities; whilst we remain totally committed to driving growth and performance within the business. The criteria being sought after are: customer bases which can be migrated to the company's network giving a high return on investment, or intellectual property and network assets which can be integrated into the company's existing eco-system to provide additional growth opportunities, or additional capabilities which complement the company's stated strategies.



The MNF Group board remains very confident that the company will achieve strong organic growth in the coming year and well into the future.



Investor Teleconference:



There will be a teleconference and results presentation held on Tuesday 14 February at 4:00 pm AEDT. For details please check http://mnfgroup.limited/investors



A recorded version of this presentation will be made available for later viewing at the same web address.



To view the half year results and business update, please visit:

http://media.abnnewswire.net/media/en/presentations/rpt/ASX-MNF-2A997902.pdf





About Symbio Holdings Limited





Symbio Holdings Limited (ASX:SYM) is a software company changing the way the world communicates.

Symbio's technology replaces old-fashioned telecom networks with software, making it faster and easier to deliver modern cloud-based communication services, unlocking endless new applications for calling, messaging and phone numbers.

Symbio is the backbone for the global cloud communication industry. Over 500 service providers - from telecom start-ups to the world's biggest software companies - rely on Symbio for the connectivity, quality and expertise they need to solve complex communication challenges.

Headquartered in Sydney, Symbio powers billions of calls and messages each year, owns networks in three countries and employs over 450 staff worldwide.

For more information about Symbio visit www.symbio.global
iSignthis enters agreement with Calforex and GoInterpay



Calforex Chooses Paydentity Digital KYC Service

Melbourne, Feb 14, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - iSignthis Ltd ( ASX:ISX ) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with foreign exchange business, Calforex and sister company GoInterpay.



Highlights:



- iSignthis to provide services to complement and support existing Calforex KYC procedures.



- The patented Paydentity service will assist in meeting AML requirements for the North American customer base whilst also providing an opportunity for global expansion.



- Subsidiary company GoInterpay to integrate and utilise iSignthis for identification of UBO's, key controllers and Directors.



- Service to go live in AU 4QFY17.



iSignthis will provide Calforex and GoInterpay with their Digital KYC (Know Your Customer) enhanced due diligence solution. Calforex will be utlising the iSignthis Digital KYC solution to support existing processes and verify the identity of end users using their platform. The iSignthis service will allow GoInterpay to verify the identity of key controllers, ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs) and directors in the business. The service is set to go live in the 4th quarter of the 2017 Australian financial year.



Calforex provides foreign exchange cash, bank note, wire, and EFT services to individuals, financial institutions, importer/exporters, and law firms in Canada. GoInterpay is a global payments provider built solely for retailers.



Together Calforex and its subsidiary GoInterpay, have over 500,000 end users, key controllers, UBOs and directors. As Calforex and GoInterpay continue their growth and expansion, new end users, key controllers, UBOs and directors will need to be subject to KYC.



The iSignthis Digital KYC service will allow Calforex to extend their reach with the opportunity to on-board to an enhanced due diligence leavel any of the world's 3.5Bn financially included persons.



Calforex is a trading name of Calgary Foreign Exchange Ltd, which is registered as a Money Service Business (MSB) in Canada.



About Calforex



Founded in 1983, Calgary Foreign Exchange Ltd., doing business as Calforex, provides foreign exchange cash, bank note, wire, and EFT services to individuals, financial institutions, importer/exporters, and law firms in Canada. It offers private client and corporate currency exchange services, including bank notes, wholesale bank notes, foreign bank drafts, purchase USD bank drafts, outgoing bank transfers to the United States, outgoing wire transfers, incoming wire transfers, travelers' cheques, buy back programs, maple leaf gold/silver coins, immigration/emigration, hedging, and travel services.



Read more about the company here: http://www.calforex.com



About GoInterpay



GoInterpay leverages the strength of Calforex in the currency market and their experienced payments team to deliver unparalleled service in the international payments market. Boasting an impressive list of local payment options throughout the world and unbeatable savings on currency conversion for merchants located all over the world GoInterpay is truly a force in the PSP landscape. GoInterpay offers merchant account, risk management, and currency/settlement services to merchants located all over the world.



Read more about the company here: http://gointerpay.com





About iSignthis Ltd





iSignthis Ltd (ASX:ISX) (FRA:TA8) is a hybrid monetary financial institution and also a RegTech leader in remote identity verification, payment authentication with deposit taking, transactional banking and payment processing capability. iSignthis provides an end-to-end on-boarding service for merchants, with a unified payment, electronic money and identity service via our Paydentity(TM) and ISXPay(R) solutions.

By converging payments and identity, iSignthis delivers regulatory compliance to an enhanced customer due diligence standard, offering global reach to any of the world's 4.2Bn 'bank verified' card or account holders, that can be remotely on-boarded to meet the Customer Due Diligence requirements of AML regulated merchants in as little as 3 to 5 minutes. Paydentity(TM) has now onboarded and verified more than 1.5m persons to an AML KYC standard.

iSignthis Paydentity(TM) service is the trusted back office solution for regulated entities, allowing merchants to stay ahead of the regulatory curve, and focus on growing their core business. iSignthis' subsidiary, iSignthis eMoney Ltd, trades as ISXPay(R), and is an EEA authorised eMoney Monetary Financial Institution, offering card acquiring in the EEA, and Australia.

ISXPay(R) is a principal member of Mastercard Inc, Diners, Discover, (China) Union Pay International and JCB International, an American Express aggregator, and provides merchants with access to payments via alternative methods including SEPA, Poli Payments, Sofort, PRZ24 and others.

Probanx Solutions Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of iSignthis Ltd, provides API based access to CORE Banking solutions, SEPA Core, SEPA Instant and SEPA business scheme, for neobanks, banks, credit unions and emoney institutions, and provides a bridge to the Eurosystem's Central Bank of Lithuania's CENTROLink service.


Drilling Results to Expand Arcadia Lithium Project

Perth, Feb 14, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Prospect Resources Ltd ( ASX:PSC ) (the "Company") is pleased to report significant assay intersections of up to 1.85% Li2O from Phase 3 Diamond (DD) and Reverse Circulation (RC) drill holes located to the immediate West of the conceptual pit design derived from the Scoping Study completed in December 2016. These positive results confirm the continuity of the Main Pegmatite (MP) and Lower Main Pegmatite (LMP) to the west.



- Additional drilling results to expand Arcadia Lithium Project



- Arcadia Lithium Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) Update



- Prospect Resources expands Technical and Marketing team with key recruits



- Additional drill results to be incorporated into the ongoing PFS that will see an updated pit design and Mineral Resource estimate, along with the declaration of Ore Reserves.



- The PFS is well progressed and is on track for completion in the 1Q 2017, and includes all requisite scale metallurgical testwork, engineering, geotechnical, mining, offtake, marketing and social studies.



- In order to fully complement and support the PFS and mine development programs at Arcadia, the Company has hired technical staff with reputable experience of the Lithium/pegmatite geometallurgy, marketing and products development sectors. The Company is now confident it has a team that can achieve the timelines and project development objectives of taking Arcadia into production.



In response to these additional results and the positive impact they are expected to have on the Arcadia Lithium Mine PFS, Mr Hugh Warner (Chairman) was excited about Arcadia's prospects:



"The Arcadia Lithium Project and the team developing it have once again validated the world class potential and scale of the Arcadia Lithium Project. Our ongoing objective to rapidly realise production of quality spodumene and petalite concentrates is being realised with our progress to date and supplemented by our new capacity in the technical and marketing team. With all aspects of the PFS falling into place, we see very exciting times for Prospect and the Arcadia Lithium Mine as we develop this project to production. In addition, efforts to turn surface rights into arable land has also resulted in the establishment of a significant maize crop by the company to support Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiatives, making Prospect Resources a "green" company in many respects".



Results from DD and RC drilling to West of the Conceptual Pit (Scoping Study)



Drilling results received from the West of the conceptual pit outline and current MRE confirm the extension of the MP and LMP along strike and downdip to the West and Southwest. Below is a plan showing the additional drill results to the West of the conceptual pit outline which incorporates much of the updated Mineral Resource estimate (released on December, 2016) as well as a summary of these drill results.



Prospect has now completed some 92 DD (10,200m) and 90 RC (6,200m) holes, many of which were not included in the Company's updated JORC reportable Mineral Resource estimate released in December 2016.



The Arcadia pegmatite swarm now has a recognised strike of approximately 4.5km, and Prospect has drilled some 2.5km of this strike length to the North East of the historic Arcadia Lithium Mine. The South West extension covers an area of approximately 1.3km along strike stretching from the historical Arcadia Pit to the historical Green Mamba Lithium deposit.



The Company currently has 2 RC rigs that are testing the Southwest extension of the pegmatites as well as performing sterilisation drilling over proposed plant and tailing facility sites located to the north of the current proposed pit. Following completion of the rainy season in February, drilling will continue to test the South West and Northeast strike extent of the Arcadia pegmatite swarm, with the objective of achieving the Exploration Target of 80 - 100 Mt grading 1.2 - 1.5% Li2O.



Arcadia Pre-Feasibility Study update



The following is a summary of work performed as part of the Pre-Feasibility Study due for completion in the 1Q 2017:



1. Run of Mine (ROM) stockpile, communition and process plant sites identified (see Figure 2 in the link below).



- Sterilisation drilling in progress



2. Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) site identified (see Figure 2 in the link below).



- Sterilisation drilling in progress



- Rock stability analysis complete.



- TSF design in progress



3. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and approvals



- First EIA approval obtained from Government



- Local stakeholder and interested and affected parties engagement in progress



4. Process Plant Design nearing completion and long lead engineering items identified



Several engineering companies have been engaged by the Company for the pricing for the anticipated equipment, fabrication and construction requirements and discussions are ongoing with regards prices and technical selection. It is anticipated that the long lead items and engineering firms will be selected in February so that orders can be placed immediately following the positive results of the PFS. Crushing and milling equipment (generally considered long lead items) have been selected from in-stock/on continent items and so, the project is expected to be completed in a very short time as compared to other hardrock lithium projects being developed globally.



5. Product Specifications settled, subject to potential customer feedback



- Production of spodumene and petalite concentrates



- Engagement with potential customers is ongoing focusing on product specification for offtake



6. Process metallurgical testwork



- Underway at FT Geolabs in South Africa



- Underway at Nagrom Laboratories in Australia



A simple process involving very little automation has been selected as appropriate to the ore types encountered at Arcadia and considering the logistics of operating from Zimbabwe. The process involves closed circuit crushing followed by Dense Media Separation (DMS) for coarse petalite and spodumene separation with all rejects being milled and passed to flotation for fine grained petalite and spodumene recovery. High intensity gravity separation is proposed to recover tantalum bearing minerals.



7. Surface Rights



- Farm Lease signed covering the proposed mine, TSF and process plant footprints



Technical Team



Lee John - General Manager, Operations - Lee is a Minerals Processing Engineer and a local of Zimbabwe. He has more than 25 year's experience in mining and minerals processing and more than 18 years in management roles, including COO, CEO. Lee's African experience includes operating mining projects within Congo (DRC), Zambia and Zimbabwe with consulting experience in over 15 other African countries.



Lee's remit is to manage the design, construction and operations of the Arcadia High Grade Lithium Project. Some 50% of his salary package is performance based with hurdles based on key indicators including production dates and rates of production (KPIs).



Mike Kitney - Consultant, Metallurgy, Process Design - Mike is a practising metallurgist with over 46 years with experience in mineral processing ranging from R&D, operations management. Also latterly project design, construction and commissioning.



Minerals exposure includes alumina, phosphate, gold, copper, tin and lithium. In the latter case Mr Kitney has specific experience in spodumene beneficiation and downstream lithium carbonate plant design, construction and commissioning.



He also holds an MSc degree in Mineral Economics.



David Miller - Consultant Marketing and Off-take - David is a mining engineer with 33 years' experience in the mineral resource industry. In the last ten years he has held in a number of senior business development roles including the assessment, development and product marketing of lithium, tin and tantalum projects.



Farming



As part of its commitment to local stakeholders and as part of the Company's CSI, a large part of the project's surface areas has been planted with maize, and the first crop has been growing at an astonishing rate - as can be seen from the below image (see Figure 3 in the link below). This crop is less than 2 months old. The Company's farming operations will provide an additional source of income and employment for the local communities and region.



To view the complete release including tables and figures, please visit:

http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/334M3TM2





About Prospect Resources Ltd





Prospect Resources Limited (ASX:PSC) is based in Australasia with operations in Zimbabwe and is a publicly listed company. We are committed to creating value for Prospect's shareholders and the communities in which our company operates. Our vision is to build a Southern African based mining company of international scale.
Focused on the expansion, development, extraction and marketing of its existing base and precious metals discoveries in NSW



Approved West Wyalong Copper-Gold Target Drill-Test Plan

Sydney, Feb 14, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Argent Minerals Limited ( ASX:ARD ) (Argent, or the Company) is pleased to report that regulatory approval has been received for the West Wyalong diamond drilling program.



The West Wyalong project is strategically positioned within an active gold producing region in central NSW.



Highlights:



- Regulatory approval has been received for the West Wyalong diamond drilling program, allowing Argent to commence during the last week of February 2017.



- This program, totalling 2,300 metres in six holes, is the first drilling to be conducted by Argent to test the Theia and Narragudgil geophysical targets.



- Five diamond holes have been designed to test the Theia coppergold porphyry target and potential system over a strike length of 1.8 kilometres, with the deepest hole to be drilled to a depth of 500 metres.



- One diamond hole has been designed to test the Narragudgil epithermal gold target to a depth of 400 metres.



- Key positions identified in conceptual model derived from detailed analyses of geochemical and geophysical assessments will be drill tested.



- Up to $200,000 of direct drilling costs will be co-funded by the NSW Government, merit based, Cooperative Drilling fund.



- Expenditure will result in Argent increasing its interest in the West Wyalong project to 70%.



About the drill program



The six-hole drill program has been designed for a total length of 2,300 metres with the deepest hole to reach 500 metres depth.



The plan has been developed to drill key positions on the Theia and Narragudgil targets to test for the occurrence of a copper-gold porphyry system and associated epithermal gold mineralisation that is based on Argent's conceptual model for the area.



Figure 1 (in the link below) is a plan view illustrating the position of the hole collars, the planned hole traces and depths over the combined high resolution geophysics and induced polarisation (IP) survey results, as announced on 13 May 2016 - West Wyalong IP survey reveals additional gold target.



The holes will be drilled to a design of 270 degrees (True) azimuth (ie. to the west), and a dip of 70 degrees. Five holes will test the Theia copper-gold porphyry target and potential system derived from coincident multi-survey geophysical anomalies over a 1.8 kilometre distance in the north-south strike direction. Drillholes are generally designed to 350 metre depth and the deepest hole to 500 metres. A single hole has been designed to test the potential for epithermal gold mineralisation at the Narragudgil target to a depth of 400 metres.



About the conceptual model



The conceptual model guiding the drill program is based on results from the high resolution magnetic survey which shows clearly distinguishable structural features that may be extensional faults associated with a potential intrusion and possible telescopic epithermal system.



The interpreted extensional faults are illustrated as red dashed lines in the figure (see the link below), and were interpreted from consistent geometry of the low magnetic features. The areas of lesser magnetic intensity which appear to link the main intrusive element with the faults are possibly resulting from high rates of hydrothermal fluid flow (blue arrows in Figure 7 in the link below).



The potential fluid flow areas are coincident with high resistivity values observed in the recent ground IP survey that would be expected from intense silicification.



A basal unit of the Narragudgil Volcanics with high magnetic signature (black dashed line in the south of the image) can be observed 'draping' over the Theia anomaly target area, which is consistent with disruption of existing geology during later stage intrusion. This is based on the geology being sub-vertical and younging to the east.



Each of the described features above have coincident geochemical signatures supporting this conceptual model, elevated copper and gold at Theia, elevated zinc to the east of Theia, elevated molybdenum to the north and south of Theia, and elevated gold and copper at the Narragudgil target area.



About the drilling approvals and schedule



The regulatory drilling approval included a new condition requiring Argent to submit details of the post-drilling rehabilitation plan no less than 14 days prior to drilling commencement. The resultant delay allows drilling commencement next week, but no earlier than 22 February 2017 for compliance with the new condition.



Although drillholes are located well beyond the statutory minimum from dwellings, Argent has decided that any possible interaction with a local dwelling should be considerate and reasonable, therefore drill shifts have reduced to daylight hours only. The program schedule is planned to be completed within a 70 day period, subject to factors outside the control of Argent such as weather and drilling conditions.



About the 50% NSW Government Cooperative Drilling funding



On 26 October 2016 Argent announced the award of $200,000 of NSW Government funding for the Company's West Wyalong project. The heavily contested funding award was granted to the Company following the evaluation by an independent expert panel of the West Wyalong project's prospectivity and technical basis, as well as the soundness of the Company's financial management.



Under the Funding Deed executed by the NSW Government and Argent, NSW Cooperative Drilling will refund 50% of the direct per-metre drilling costs on the drilling contractor's invoices up to a maximum of $200,000 within 30 business days of the Company producing the reports required by the Funding Deed.



About the strategic location of the West Wyalong gold targets and the 70% interest to be earned



Figure 8 (see the link below) illustrates the strategic positioning of the West Wyalong project in which Argent will have earned a 70% interest by incurring the expenditure for the drilling program as scheduled. The local tenement map has been updated with the recent expansion of Evolution Mining's footprint and the entrance of Goldfields to the local area.



To view tables and figures, please visit:

http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/63481J8E





About Argent Minerals Limited





Argent Minerals Limited ( ASX:ARD) is an Australian publicly listed company with a 100% interest in a silver/gold project at Kempfield NSW. Work is underway on the preparation of an EIS and a feasibility study for the first stage of the project which will involve heap leaching some 8.8 million tonnes of mainly oxide and transitional material to produce over 9.5 million ounces of silver and 15,000 ounces of gold over a 5 year mine life. Argent is also earning up to a 70% interest in two other NSW projects - gold at West Wyalong and base metals at Sunny Corner.


Appointment of Directors

Perth, Feb 14, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Cash Converters International Limited ( ASX:CCV ) ( CKKIF:OTCMKTS ) ('the Company') is pleased to advise that Ms Ellen Comerford and Ms Andrea Waters have been appointed to the board of directors with effect from 9 February 2017.



Ms Comerford has over 30 years of financial services experience across a range of banking and insurance businesses. Most recently Ms Comerford was Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Genworth Australia ( ASX:GMA ) (an ASX top 200 listed company), successfully leading the company through an IPO in 2014. She has also held various positions with leading global title and speciality insurance company, First American Financial Corporation ( NYSE:FAF ), both in Australia and internationally, including CEO and Managing Director for the Australian and New Zealand operations, and Chief Operating Officer for the International Division. Prior to this, she was at Citigroup ( NYSE:C ) for approximately 14 years. Ms Comerford brings significant experience in enhancing performance culture within businesses with a commitment to promoting diversity and she is a member of Chief Executive Women.



Ms Comerford is also a non-executive director of Hollard Holdings Australia and Hollard Insurance Company in Australia and Heartland Bank Limited in New Zealand.



The Chairman of Cash Converters International Limited, Mr Stuart Grimshaw said: "We are very pleased Ellie has agreed to join our board. Having had a successful executive career with her wide financial services knowledge encompassing 30 years in the industry, Ellie will add further depth to the broad experience of our current board. Given her extremely relevant and recent executive and financial services experience Ellie will also Chair the Remuneration Committee."



Ms Waters is a Chartered Accountant with an extensive career at KPMG, as a Financial Services Audit Partner (until 2012), specialising in managed investments and superannuation. Andrea has extensive experience with audit committees, and using this knowledge, she is a professional Non-Executive Director, with a strong passion for implementing and improving governance and audit structures within business operations. Ms Waters is also accredited with facilitating the Financial Literacy for Directors and Driving Financial Performance modules for the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Company Director Course.



Ms Waters is also a non-executive director of Bennelong Funds Management Ltd (also Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee), Care Super, CityWide Service Solutions (also chair of the Audit Committee) and the Lord Mayors Charitable Foundation.



The Chairman of Cash Converters International Limited, Mr Stuart Grimshaw said: "Andrea agreeing to join our board will add richer experience, especially in the areas of audit and risk. With her specialist and deep knowledge of audit, risk and audit committees, Andrea's appointment is timely in regard to the current risk and compliance challenges the Company is facing. Andrea is the ideal candidate for the role of chair of the Audit Committee of which she will lead following the half-year results announcement."



As a result of these Board member additions, ex-Chairman and current director Mr Reg Webb will retire from the Board upon these appointments.



Mr Grimshaw said: "The Company and Board are indebted for the service that Reg has made to Cash Converters over many years of which 10 were as Chairman of the Company. He has overseen a transition of the Company and the Board in this time and we wish him a long and successful retirement."



These new appointments will be as independent non-executive directors and, as a result, the current board will comprise six directors - three of which are independent non-executive directors.





About Cash Converters International Ltd





Cash Converters International (ASX:CCV) is a franchised retail network listed on the ASX. It specialises in the sale of second-hand goods. The Cash Converters group employs modern retailing practices, professional management techniques and high ethical standards to the management of its stores throughout the chain which appeal to a wide cross section of the community. As a result, Cash Converters has been able to position its outlets as credible retail merchandise stores, resulting in a profitable market for the group.
February 14, 2017



Charlestown, Indiana: The Robber Baron City Government

Indiana passed laws restricting eminent domain -- the ability for government to force citizens to sell their property, supposedly for the public good (but also used to yank people's property and hand it over to developers, under the color of law).

Well, when one sleazy way to take what doesn't belong to the government falls, another seems to rise up in its place.

Scott Shackford writes at Reason:

The mayor and city officials of Charlestown, Indiana, a rural community with a population of less than 8,000, are trying to arrange to hand over hundreds of homes to a private developer. He's not using eminent domain to do so. Instead, the city stands accused of deliberately finding excuses to burden the community's residents with thousands of dollars of fines that will be waived if they sell their properties to the private developer. The property-rights-defending lawyers of the Institute for Justice (you may recall their efforts to stop abuse of civil asset forfeiture) are stepping in to represent several property owners in this community and are seeking an injunction to stop the city from trying to use code violation citations to essentially force property transfers.

From the Institute for Justice:

The citations state that the owner accrues penalties of $50 per violation, per day. Multiple citations are issued per property, which means that a single property will begin accumulating hundreds of dollars in fines each day. The fines can be for things as minor as a torn screen, weeds taller than eight inches or chipped paint. In many cases, the fines begin the day the citation was issued, not the day the owner received it. So owners can easily be on the hook for thousands of dollars in fines before they even receive notice, and the fines continue to accrue until the owner is able to repair the property. The city knows that many of the residents cannot afford to pay these exorbitant fines, leaving them only two options: Sell their home to Neace Ventures or raze it to the ground to have the fines waived. The scheme would be bad enough if Neace were offering fair market value for the homes, but it is not. The inspections regime has been a windfall for Neace. Not only has it compelled more than 140 homeowners to sell--it has also forced them to sell at a considerable loss. Most of the homes have a tax assessed value of between $25,000 and $35,000, and they would be worth much more if the city had not caused the market to collapse by announcing in 2014 that it was going to destroy every home.

This is obscene and theft -- lipsticked up to look like willing real estate deals.

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Could you imagine possessing the talent to take oil paint to a blank canvas and create a masterpiece extraordinary enough to win an Air Force level award?Staff Sgt. Matthew Knopf, a 310th Aerospace Medical Flight health services management supervisor, received the award for most accomplished artist in the 2016 Air Force Art Contest.He was presented the award Feb. 12 by Col. David Miller Jr., the 460th Space Wing commander. Knopf received a $300 Amazon gift card as well as an Air Force certificate. His painting took first place of 326 contestants.The 33-by-46 inch painting, titled Hopeful Negotiations, was done with oil paint on a canvas. Knopf said it took roughly 400 painting hours.The inspiration came from a photo taken by a friend of Knopfs from the 1st Combat Camera Squadron at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. The photo was taken in Afghanistan in 2013 during a meeting with local elders, he said.While deployed to Afghanistan, Knopf often visited the 1st CCS in search of inspiration. He said he would pick high resolution photos after spending time looking through their database. The most recent series he did was titled Faces of Deployment and included mostly portrait photos taken by his friends.Knopf added that two of the three paintings he submitted to the contest were chosen from this series, and the other, a detailed photo of a lions face, was from his wildlife series.The three paintings I chose to submit were some of my favorites in the series, he said.His favorite one was a piece he could stand back and look at with deep appreciation, because it was an overall exceptional painting, he added.I have a love for the craft of painting, with a passion for hyperrealism, Knopf said. I find this to be one of the most challenging styles of art.He began painting at a young age, he said. Knopf joined the Air Force after receiving his bachelors degree in fine arts.Fine art, to me, is the honing of a craft and a deep understanding of a medium, Knopf said. This is what I strive for with each new piece.Outside of military-inspired artwork, Knopf also enjoys painting nature and wildlife, especially since moving to Colorado.He added that he doesnt get to paint as often as he did while on active duty; he has a busy schedule trying to balance being a fulltime student as well as an Air Force reservist.His entry and others from the contest can be found at MyAirForcelife
Airmen eligible for the new Blended Retirement System began receiving email notifications Feb. 10 from myPers with information regarding their benefits so they can make the decision best suited for their individual needs.The myPers notification includes details of the new retirement system, a link to mandatory training about the opt-in process and how to enroll in the BRS. While the one-year window in which to make a decision doesn't open until Jan. 1, 2018, all Airmen should take advantage of training and informational resources as they become available.Only those active Airmen who, as of Dec. 31, 2017, have served fewer than 12 years, or Reserve Airmen who have accrued fewer than 4,320 retirement points, will have the option of electing BRS or remaining in the legacy retirement system. Airmen with greater years or points will be grandfathered under their legacy retirement plan.The new BRS will ensure nearly 85 percent of military members leave the service with retirement savings, as opposed to just 19 percent today. It is one of the most wide-reaching and significant changes to military pay and benefits of the last 70 years. For the first time, service members will receive automatic and matching contributions from the Defense Department to their retirement and have control over their investments.The opt-in course provides Airmen an understanding of both the current and new retirement systems so they can make a fully-informed decision, and includes component-specific scenarios as well as retirement comparison calculators to assist with decision making. Airmen can use knowledge gained from this course combined with their personal assessments of career goals and financial situations to decide which system is best for them.After completing the mandatory opt-in course, eligible Airmen should provide a copy of the training certificate to their unit training manager. Prior to the opt-in window, Airmen are advised to contact their personal financial advisors for additional counseling and assistance. Counselors at the local Airman and Family Readiness Center can also assist with financial literacy training.BRS information is continuously updated on myPers. Click "Retirement" from any military landing page. In addition, a live chat feature on BRS is available for Airmen. To chat live with a Total Force Service Center representative, go to the page and allow about 30 to 60 seconds to enable a representative to come online.For more information about Air Force personnel programs, go to myPers . Individuals who do not have a myPers account can request one by following the instructions on the Air Force Retiree Services website
Leadership course sets PACE for deployed Airmen

The first Profession of Arms Center of Excellence course held in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility was conducted at Al Udeid Air Base, Feb. 10-14, 2017.



The training focused on four professionalism goals including: sparking a strong commitment to the profession of arms, motivating a mindset that enhances trust and effectiveness, promoting relationships that strengthen an environment of trust, and fostering a culture of dignity and respect.



Four sessions were held in order to better target leadership experiences that range between military grades. The first session accommodated senior leaders, group commanders, squadron commanders, chiefs, first sergeants and their spouses. Additional sessions targeted grades E-1 to E-6, and combined grades E-7 to E-9 and O-1 to O-4. A session was also provided for company grade officers who had previously attended the course. In total, 457 service members across the Air Force, Navy and Army attended the training.



The training sessions were intended to inspire optimism in relation to the attendees individual and professional lives, while the course itself was designed to help individuals focus on exemplifying a more attuned version of themselves, as well as those around them.



It is about human to human interaction and can be extremely beneficial to Airmen at Al Udeid because of the constant rotation of members, said Senior Master Sgt. Tracey Booth, the 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron operations superintendent. Every time a new Airman arrives here, you have to rebuild that trust in leadership.



Being the first PACE course held in theater, it was a historic milestone towards enhancing productivity in deployed units and supporting warfighters.



We are the best Air Force in the world, but does that mean we cant be better? said Lt. Col. George Sanderlin, the PACE course senior professionalism instructor. Leadership is a mountain without a top because it doesnt matter how good you are, there is always one more step you can take to be better.



Booth added that giving Airmen the opportunity to attend this training at Al Udeid AB assists with a number of communicational facets, allowing Airmen to take the knowledge home with them and utilize it in their everyday life wherever they may be stationed.



Part of this lies in that PACE also identifies personal skills that may guide healthy relationships at work, home and within the individuals local community.



This is the first PACE course I have attended and I found that it provided good communication tools to better yourself as a leader, said Master Sgt. Herb Williams, a 379th Air Expeditionary Wing inspection planner. Through introspection, you can get past your personal communication barriers, and at the end of the day it will make a difference in your leadership evolution.
An outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) was declared in Ghana on 7 July 2022, after a test on an index case who died 24 hours after presenting to a health facility in the Ashanti region with symptoms of Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHF) returned positive after his death.
Rights activist Irom Sharmila is contesting against Manipur Chief Minister and Congress candidate Okram Ibobi Singh in the Assembly elections to be held next month. Since she has shown her willingness to join active politics, she has hit the headlines with controversies. She is known for her fight against Armed Forces Special Powers Act(AFSPA), Sharmila is a political greenhorn while Congress has been in power in Manipur for three successive terms under Ibobi Singh. In August last year, this Iron Lady broke her 16-year-old hunger strike, the worlds longest such campaign, and declared that she wants to become the chief minister so that she could press for repeal of the contentious AFSPA.

While launching her party PRJA in October last year, Sharmila had said she would contest from two seats  Thoubal and Khurai. While she belongs to Khurai, Thoubal is the Assembly constituency of the chief minister. PRJA, was recently alloted whistle as the partys symbol, is likely to field altogether 10 candidates for the Assembly elections to be held on March 4 and 8.

Manipur will vote for 60 assembly constituencies which will be held in two phases, the counting of votes will take place on March 11. Whereas, BJP is leaving no stone unturned for coming to power in Manipur, however, Irom Sharmila has exposed that she was offered Rs. 36 crore to contest the elections on the BJP partys ticket. Just after breaking her fast, she met a BJP leader who suggested that she will need lots of money depending on current system of politics. He told her that she will need on an average Rs. 36 crore for fighting the election. If she has no funds she has to generate the funds and there can be a way out if she contests elections on BJP ticket. This is what she has told media, but BJP denied any such interaction between her and any leader of the party. BJP leader Ram Madhav has, however, rubbished Sharmilas claims.

The Iron Lady of Manipur, Irom Sharmila, has reiterated her allegation that the BJP had offered her a ticket and to finance her campaign with Central funds  a hefty Rs. 36 crore. After lots of hullabaloo, she named a local BJP leader who had made the offer. The allegations of the activist  has triggered controversy, the alleged offer of Rs. 36 crore has become the biggest talking point in the on-going assembly elections in the state after she made the claim. Entire social media attacked BJP supporting the allegations of Sharmila. The Congress has alleged that the BJP offer shows, how the party is trying to poach people with money power.

Irom Sharmila, while she was on protest neither the state nor the centre had done anything to alleviate her protest. It took 16 years for her to realise that laws of this country is sometimes unhelpful. It is clear that unless you have political support for your movement, even 60 years fast will not help you. At last, Supreme Court had to come to her rescue. She ended her fast after the apex court judgement questioned the immunity enjoyed by the security personnel under AFSPA in disturbed areas. The Supreme Court is of the view that there is no concept of absolute immunity; from trial to the criminal court for Army man who commits an offence. Her story of entering politics is somewhat similar to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. In 2000, Parivartan filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) demanding transparency in public dealings of the Income Tax Department, and also organised a Satyagraha outside the Chief Commissioners office. Kejriwal and other activists also stationed themselves outside the electricity department, asking visitors not to pay bribes and offered to help them in getting work done for free. The Delhi government enacted a state-level Right to Information (RTI) Act, which allowed the citizens to access government records for a small fee. Parivartan used RTI to help people get their work done in government departments without paying a bribe.

In 2002, the group obtained official reports on 68 public works projects in the area, and performed a community-led audit to expose misappropriations worth Rs. 7 million in 64 of the projects.

Along with other social activists like Anna Hazare, Aruna Roy and Shekhar Singh, Kejriwal came to be recognised as an important contributor to the campaign for a national-level Right to Information Act (enacted in 2005). He resigned from his job in February 2006. In 2012, he launched the Aam Aadmi Party, and the party won in the 2013 Delhi Legislative Assembly election. Following the election, he took charge as the Chief Minister of Delhi on 28 December 2013. Kejriwal resigned 49 days later, on 14 February 2014, stating he did so because of his minority governments inability to pass his proposed anti-corruption legislation due to lack of support from other political parties. On 14 February 2015, he was sworn in as Chief Minister for a second term after his party emerged victorious in the Delhi Assembly election.

Since then, Congress and BJP tirelessly keep on attacking Arvind Kejriwal and his political party Aam Admi Party. Now here is one more activist, Irom Sharmila, who is giving nightmare to BJP and Congress in Manipur. Lets wait and watch whether she makes it to power or not.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@afternoonvoice.com)
Setting aside on earlier Karnataka High Court order, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Tuesday convicted All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (AIADMK) general secretary V.K. Sasikala in connection with a 19-year old disproportionate assets case. She has been ordered to surrender to the law enforcement authorities immediately to serve the remainder of her four-year jail term.

She also will not be able to contest elections for 10 years or hold public office.

The verdict comes in the backdrop of the ongoing power struggle within the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu  between Sasikala and the incumbent Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam.

The pending disproportionate assets case that posed a legal hurdle against Sasikalas taking over as the chief minister, dates back to 1996. Late J. Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and her two relatives, Ilavarasi and Sudhagaran, were convicted in the case that alleged that the former chief minister owned assets far exceeding her known sources of income.
Michaels wrote. Unfortunately, my personal beliefs as a private citizen have been positioned inaccurately. I have never claimed that I dont believe in vaccines. I am pro-safe and effective vaccines and pro scientific discovery. As a journalist, I strive to ask hard questions. Scientific consensus does not equal complacency. It is a challenge to scientists to verify the science or push it forward.

In 2011, she testified before the Massachusetts Legislature in favor of a bill to add parental choice to the list of reasons why some Massachusetts kids dont have to be immunized as a requirement for attending school

The decision was made that [Michaels] is not a good fit for Greater Boston and she wont be working there, Jim Braude, host of WGBHs Greater Boston tells the Globe. She was to report science stories for his program.

Mish Michaels, a former Boston TV weatherperson (she referred to herself as the station scientist), has lost her job with the PBS affiliate in the city because she doesnt believe in vaccinations, the Boston Globe reports.

The unfolding story of meteorologist Mish Michaels and how she lost her job at WGBH in Boston is a case in point. Michaels was hired as a science reporter, but when her past statements about vaccine safety concerns came to light, she was fired.

Note: I grew up watching WGBH, Boston's Channel 2, public television. Sesame Street in 1969. Thalassa Cruso's Making Things Grow with my Mom. Maggie Lettvin in the blue leotard leading a TV exercise class before Jane Fonda felt any heat at all, let alone "the burn." And Zoom in the 1970s. Remember this? "Send a SASE to Zoom! Box 3-5-0, Boston Mass OH TWO ONE THREE FOUR! Send it to Zoom!" WGBH told reportert Mish Michaels to "zoom" to another job over her sensible reporting on vaccinations. By Anne Dachel THE CASE OF MISH MICHAELS

Dan Kennedy: I think transparency is what we should be aiming for. The widely held view that the anti-vaxxer stuff is dangerous nonsense.  I dont know how you can have a science reporter who is so far off the mainstream on a really important scientific issue. 

Callie Crossley: WBGH, through its premier programming, has done a definitive documentary debunking this alleged research about a connection between autism and vaccines. That was done right, here produced right here with a lot of scientistsI mean they went line by line with every kind of issue that has been brought up by those concerned really allowing those people who advocated for some of those views to have a chance to speak about it and to get other scientists. 

If you have research that has been debunked properly, thats a tough one.

Tom Fiedler: Right from the start, science is evidence based, so to the best we can conclude, the evidence shows vaccinations do not cause these issues with children.  If you have someone who is to be the science reporter who holds views that clearly are not evidence based, I think Dan is absolutely right, that that would call into question virtually every other position you had taken. Unfortunately the fact that she took what may have been her private views, turned them into advocacy positions, I think thats where you cross the line, and its a disqualifying line.

On the surface, the action by WGBH seemed appropriate. Michaels advocates dangerous, debunked theories on scientific issues. Viewers were told that WGBH has looked into this issue in a fair and balanced manner, weighing the evidence on both sides, and she simply isnt credible.

ACTUALLY, what WGBH did was more promotion of vaccine fraud. I wrote about Mish Michaels in my book, and what no one is saying here is that she did the work of an investigative journalist and it wasnt what new outlets wanted to hear.

Back in 2011 Michaels did raise concerns over vaccine safety. In her words, she said she had to ask difficult scientific questions and go beyond scientific consensus, and what she discovered was that no one was allowed to look into this issue. When she brought up her concerns with her daughters pediatrician, she was no longer able to visit the practice.

When Michaels found out about the Pace Environmental Law Review story, Unanswered Questions, about dozens of children who had been compensated by the federal government for claims of vaccine-induced autism, she and another reporter wanted to cover it, but news outlets wouldnt touch it.

(Unanswered Questions was mentioned on Fox 25 Boston, and it had a huge response. In fact it was the number one news story for five days in a row, with hundreds and hundreds of comments.)

Im sure this is why WGBH fired Michaels. She had uncovered facts that challenged official vaccine disclaimers. How could the government be paying vaccine injury victims for damage that included autism at the same time they assured parents that their children couldnt develop autism from vaccinations?

The pretense by the WGBH panel that they had earnestly examined the claims on both sides is of course, more phony propaganda. WGBH wanted the discussion shut down. Any lingering doubts could raise more questions about the motives and conflicts of those people telling parents that every child can be vaccinated with no worries about side effects.

The fact that the WGBH panel didnt specifically talk about any of the concerns Mish Michaels raised in 2011 when she testified before the Massachusetts State Assembly on a parental choice bill is proof that they want the public to know whats really going on. Furthermore, its a clear warning to everyone in the media: You will not contradict any vaccine safety claims. Your employment depends on it.

One of the investigators in the Unanswered Questions story was Louis Conte. This is what he said about the media and the vaccine compensation revelation.

The release of the paper was greeted with media silence. I spoke to journalists who flat out told me that their networks or their editors were pressured to not cover this story. One highly placed investigative journalist at a major network told me, I cant believe what you found. This shou8ld be our lead story. Its shocking. And Ive been told that I cant cover it.

I asked Louis for his reaction to the WGBHMish Michaels story. Heres what he had to say.

It is profoundly sad to me that WBGH fired Mish Michaels for expressing her concerns about vaccine safety to the Massachusetts Legislature. WBGH chose to disregard over two hundred years of American tradition supporting the right to free speech and the right to speak openly in a

legislature.



What WGBH did was more than just damage Ms. Michaels career. This station has just sent the message across the nation that investigative journalism is dead. Any journalist who investigates any pharmaceutical product and finds problems now faces the stark reality that they are risking their livelihoods.



Let us keep in mind that "scientific consensus" once asserted that Thalidomide was safe. "Scientific consensus" once asserted that Vioxx was safe.



Until they were not.



The commentators on the Beat the Press panel stated that the belief that vaccines cause autism was a fringe belief.



This is simply not so. The research that the "scientific consensus" is based on is of a severely dubious quality.



The DeStefano CDC Vaccine Safety paper on the MMR vaccine and autism is an open question because one of the researchers, Dr. William Thompson, has come forward stating that the paper is fraudulent because the researchers altered the study design and destroyed showing that the

MMR vaccine was associated with autism.



The science relied on to disprove that thimerosal, a mercury-based vaccine preservative, was produced under the leadership of Poul Thorsen in Denmark. Thorsen also manipulated his findings by excluding data showing that autism rates declining in Denmark after thimerosal was

removed from vaccines. Thorsen then went on to steal over 1 million dollars from US tax payers and has been under federal indictment for five years. He remains a fugitive, living openly in Denmark.



This is the current state of the research that the "scientific consensus" so, proudly defended by the WGBH panel, is built on.



However, Mish Michaels didn't address these studies when she courageously spoke her mind to the Massachusetts Legislature. She spoke about a paper published in the May, 2011 Pace Environmental Law Review that I co-authored with Mary Holland, Robert Krakow and Lisa

Colin called Unanswered Questions from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program: A Review of Compensated Cases of Vaccine-Induced Brain Damage.



In Unanswered Questions we found 83 compensated cases of vaccine-induced brain damage in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP) that also featured autism. This number is alarming because we were able to access less than 200 compensated cases. As of 2011, there were over 1,300 cases compensated.



We wanted to look at all of the compensated cases but the government blocked our efforts by advising us that our request would take five years and cost $750,000.



Essentially, what we found was that the NVICP understood that autism was often an end result of and often accompanied vaccine-induced encephalopathy.



The government knew that autism was connected to vaccine injury. They even compensated the victims. They just didn't tell anyone about it.



Mish Michaels, as a journalist, found that concerning. While I've never spoken to her about the paper, it is obvious from her testimony that the findings of Unanswered Questions, caused her to ask questions and speak out.



In May of 2011 the authors of Unanswered Questions held a press conference on the steps of the US Court of Claims.

The White House was a few hundred yards to our left. While the conference received some media coverage, I spoke to some reporters who indicated that they were told NOT to cover the paper. One member of the press said she found the paper shocking and that it should be the lead story on every news outlet in the nation. She also said that she was not allowed to cover it.



Mish Michaels has been fired for talking about Unanswered Questions, a social-legal research paper which has never been retracted and whose findings have never been challenged. It is a paper that I put significant work into because I felt that an important truth needed to

be stated in an open, professional and proper way. I know that my co-authors felt the same.



If Michaels has been fired for talking about this paper, then those who fired her should look at this paper.



It is my profound hope that Ms. Michaels will get an opportunity to work again in an environment where journalists can ask tough questions and present information that allows the public to think for themselves.
A love that knew no boundaries thrived in Edgefield during, after Civil War
February 8, 2017

CAIRO  Two non-official visits by Egyptians to war-torn Syria within less than two weeks have sparked speculation that a rapprochement between Cairo and Damascus might be in the works. An Egyptian talk show host and a production crew landed Jan. 7 in Aleppo, while on Jan. 19 members of the Egyptian Engineers Syndicate, led by syndicate head Tareq al-Nabarawy, arrived in Damascus at the invitation of Nabarawy's counterpart, Ghiyath al-Qutaini.

The media visit was announced when Youssef al-Hosiny, host of Bitawqit al-Qahira (Cairo Time) on the satellite station ONTV, tweeted, I am on my way to the airport, flying to Syria, the eagle of the East, to learn and report what happened to the free Aleppo, and Damascus, the Pearl. Ill be back, God willing, to Cairo, with a different and hard-hitting episode.

Ibrahim Gad, a member of the production team, told the Huffington Posts Arabic edition Jan. 10 that only the show's content production team accompanied Hosiny and that the trip had been arranged in coordination with Egyptian authorities. The team met with Egypts charge daffaires in Syria, Mohamed Tharwat.

A source at ONTV told Al-Monitor that the purpose of the visit was to record the destruction of Aleppo and the prevailing atmosphere. The source said the timing of the visit  after government forces and their allies took full control of Aleppo  was merely coincidental, not arranged by the TV station or Hosiny to tout President Bashar al-Assad's victory.

A report based on the trip aired Jan. 24 on ONTV, eliciting criticism on a number of websites opposed to Assad, such as Almodon.com. Hosiny opens the program standing in a graveyard where victims of the Aleppo war are buried. He says, We ask you to pray that God grant a peaceful rest to those martyrs who fell victim to terrorism and armed groups that unfortunately controlled the city for a while.

In another segment, he says, The martyrs died in defense of their country, territory and honor. Unfortunately, they were killed at the hands of terrorism and armed groups that held the Syrian city of Aleppo for a while before being freed. This, some anti-Assad websites argued, represents an attempt to brand all the armed opposition factions as terrorists and apostates and is an example of Hosiny deliberately turning a blind eye to the roles of Syrian fighters, Russian bombing and Iranian militias in destroying Aleppo.

Of note, Hosiny was not the only media figure who traveled Jan. 7 from Egypt to Syria. Moustafa El Saeed, a journalist with the semi-official Al-Ahram, wrote Jan. 7 on his Facebook page, At the Cairo airport. Flying to Damascus, then to eastern and western Aleppo, and Tartus.

As for the engineers' visit, Nabarawy announced Jan. 19 that he had brought with him a draft agreement on cooperation to present to Qutaini and for discussion with Syrian engineers on activating it. The most important terms of the agreement is that each syndicate operates as an umbrella protecting the other syndicates members working in its country, Nabarawy said in a statement. The cooperation protocol suggests cooperation to exchange expertise and take advantage of the syndicate members expertise in the implementation of national development projects.

On Jan. 24, a number of the Egyptian syndicates general assembly and popular council members criticized the Syria visit to the Youm7 newspaper; they also complained about a Jan. 21 meeting with Syrian Prime Minister Imad Khamis. They argued that the delegation had gone beyond the syndicates role as a labor union by venturing into the political sphere and demanded that an internal investigation be opened into the matter.

In a statement to Youm7, they said, As we previously objected to any political interference in the syndicates affairs and to the [Muslim] Brotherhood board delegations visit to Gaza [in 2012 and 2013, when Brotherhood members controlled the syndicates board], we oppose the visit to Syria, which is political, and we have nothing to do with politics. These principles have not changed.

Commenting on the criticism, Nabarawy told Al-Monitor, It was a technical, vocational and syndicate visit that has nothing to do with politics. It showed Egyptian engineers willingness to take part in the reconstruction of Syria to meet the Syrian peoples needs. This matter is one of honor for any Egyptian engineer, devoid of any political considerations. We signed a protocol for cooperation with Syria, similar to the protocol previously signed with Iraq and that did not ignite criticism back then.

On Nov. 15, the US House of Representatives passed a bill imposing sanctions on any countries or companies providing the Syrian government financial support or conducting business with the Assad regime, which has been accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. Some observers therefore interpreted the media and engineers' visits as backdoor channels to avoid being sanctioned while working to arrive at an eventual Cairo-Damascus rapprochement.

Ashraf Abdel-Aziz, an Arab affairs researcher at the Regional Center for Strategic Studies, dismissed the idea of the Egyptian government using unofficial parties to broker a rapprochement with the Syrian regime. He told Al-Monitor, This is because Egypt does not support the Assad regime, but does support stability in Syria, in order to preserve the regions security. Also, the US bill distinguishes between support for the Syrian regime and support for the Syrian people through humanitarian assistance."

Amid speculation about the true nature of the recent visit, the possibility remains that they could indeed have been nonpolitical endeavors as billed.
February 14, 2017

Even as reports were emerging of Yahya Sinwars Feb. 13 election to replace Ismail Haniyeh as the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, other reports from Gaza are pointing to a significant decline in the health of Mohammed al-Deif, the commander of the movements military wing. Some Gaza sources even claim he is at deaths door.

Deif is considered a living legend for surviving all Israeli attempts on his life. The top of Israels most wanted list was injured in September 2002, during the second Palestinian intifada, when two missiles fired from an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) helicopter hit a car in which he was traveling on Salah al-Din Street in Gaza City. Deif was severely injured, sustaining head wounds and face burns, and lost his sight in one eye. He underwent complex treatments by doctors sent from Egypt to Gaza and survived.

Deif survived another assassination attempt in July 2006, when the IDF attacked a house where he was staying. Once again, he was seriously hurt, forced to undergo a series of orthopedic treatments and vacate his position as head of the Hamas military wing. Command of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades was handed over to Ahmed Jabari, who was subsequently killed by Israel in November 2012 on the eve of its Operation Pillar of Defense in the Gaza Strip.

Deif was once again called to take charge despite his serious disabilities, the fierce headaches from which he suffered and the daily use of painkillers in order to keep going. During Operation Protective Edge, in August 2014, another attempt was made to take him out, when an Israeli aircraft fired a missile at a house in which he was staying with one of his wives and two of his children. The wife and the children were killed in the attack. Deif survived, once more.

Over time, each injury he sustained only added to Deifs glory and to the belief in his immortality and protection by Allah. Even after Operation Protective Edge, and despite his declining health, he is still considered the dominant figure of the Hamas military wing. But according to sources in the Gaza Strip, he is gradually growing weaker. Deif can no longer carry out the demanding tasks of a military leader. According to a reliable source in Gaza, who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, in recent months Deif has been suffering memory lapses or, as the source described it, blurred thinking, probably the result of the head injuries he sustained in the attempted assassination in 2002.

The persistent reports of Deifs deteriorating health are known to Israeli defense authorities. An Israeli defense source confirmed on condition of anonymity that Deifs fingerprints have fallen off the Israeli radar screen in recent months, telling Al-Monitor that two familiar figures had taken over command  Deifs deputy, Marwan Issa, and Gazas new Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar.

Sinwar, who was freed by Israel as part of the 2011 deal for the return of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, was the most senior Palestinian prisoner released. His release was obtained at the insistence of his brother, Mohammed Sinwar, the commander of the Khan Yunis Division of Hamas and one of the few people who knew where Shalit was being held captive. At the time, Mohammed Sinwar made the deal for Shalits exchange conditional on freedom for his brother, among other Palestinian prisoners. When the released Hamas prisoners arrived at the Rafah crossing in Gaza, a black Mercedes awaited senior prisoner Sinwar. He was picked up by commanders of the military wing as befits a commander in chief back from the wars.

Yahya Sinwar identified the vacuum in the leadership of the military wing as a result of Deifs partial incapacity, and paved his way wisely to the top. He knew how to take advantage of the title he had been given  liaison between the military and political wing  the real meaning of which was the de facto head of the military wing. Deif still holds the title of commander in name, by virtue of his past glory.

Sinwars election to lead Hamas in Gaza created a sea change within the movement, blurring the line maintained since its inception between its political and military wings. The process of electing Hamas new leadership is still ongoing and will be completed once Haniyeh is elected as the chief of Hamas' political bureau (instead of Khaled Meshaal). The election of Sinwar as Hamas leader in Gaza is part of this process. Deif continues to carry the title of Hamas military branch chief. Nobody will take this title away from him, as long as he is alive. But in view of his medical condition, Sinwar will be the one de facto ruling directly also over the military branch, having been one of its founders.

One of the heads of the Fatah movement in Gaza told Al-Monitor that merging the two positions could benefit Hamas and the Gaza Strip as a whole. Ever since Hamas overthrew Fatah and took power in June 2007, the heads of the military wing  Deif, Jabari, Issa and others  intimidated the heads of the political leadership. Jabari and Deif used to straighten out and bend the political leaders to their will, forcing Hamas seniors Haniyeh and Meshaal to dance to their tunes and to heed the threat of their weapons. Now, there is one leader wielding all the power, who is expected to rule ruthlessly.

In his appointment as the leader of Hamas in Gaza, Sinwar assumes responsibility for the movements political, diplomatic and military activities, and will no longer have to hide behind the gradually disappearing Deif. Israeli defense officials share this assessment. They see this as an inevitable stage in the development of Hamas.

It is hard to say how long Deif will continue to retain the military commanders title. But, as mentioned previously, another inspiring figure is already emerging from the wings: Yahya Sinwar, sentenced to three life terms in an Israeli jail but released, and chosen this week to lead Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
February 14, 2017

The political engagement and business deals reached by Iran and Sweden during a recent official visit to Tehran were overshadowed by the attire, or lack thereof, of the female members of the Swedish delegation. Indeed, in the aftermath of the visit by the high-ranking Swedish political and business delegation, hard-liners raised a storm in the Iranian media by lashing out at the lack of observance of the Islamic hijab among Swedish women at a party where trade contracts were reportedly signed at the residence of the Swedish ambassador.

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven arrived in Tehran on Feb. 10 and was officially received by President Hassan Rouhani at Saadabad Palace. On Feb. 11, Lofven met with the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a rare invitation for a Western leader.

You are known as a man of action and practical steps, and it is expected that you will act in such a way that agreements will not merely remain on paper, Khamenei said to Lofven, referring to various agreements between Iran and some European governments that havent been realized. Iran and Sweden signed five memoranda of understanding involving technology, research, roads, information technology and women and family affairs during the Swedes' visit.

Hossein Shariatmadari, the chief editor of the hard-line Kayhan, wrote Feb. 12, In an unexpected and questionable occurrence, the ceremony for signing trade contracts between Iran and Sweden was held at the residence of the Swedish ambassador and not our countrys official institutions. He added, Pictures of the mentioned ceremony indicate that the female members of the Swedish prime ministers delegation were in attendance without [wearing] hijabs. It has been said that the Swedish prime minister and the ambassador had insisted that the ceremony be held at the Swedish ambassadors residence so that these women could attend without [observing the] hijab.

Iranian law states that all men and women  including visiting dignitaries, ambassadors and their staff  must observe the Islamic dress code. For women, this involves covering the hair. Hijabs are not mandatory on embassy grounds or at diplomatic residences. Deputy Foreign Minister for European and American Affairs Majid Ravanchi and other senior Iranian officials were in attendance at the Swedish ambassadors residence.

The Swedish politicians knew that the presence of high-ranking [Iranian] officials in the mentioned ceremony could suggest that our countries officials do not respect Islamic laws, Shariatmadari wrote. By making decisions such as signing contracts at the ambassadors residence, sending diplomatic messages through email and Twitter and negotiating [with foreign officials] while strolling, the [incumbent] 11th government and the Foreign Ministry have fueled serious doubts that [they] want to  make foreign relations uncontrolled and out of sight of high-ranking officials.

By high-ranking officials, Shariatmadari means the supreme leader, who appointed him editor. Moreover, the references to emails, Twitter and strolling all embroil Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who was vehemently criticized by hard-liners for exchanging emails and taking a walk with former US Secretary of State John Kerry during the nuclear negotiations that led to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

In keeping with Shariatmadaris criticism, hard-line member of parliament Seyyed Hossein Naghavi Hosseini said in an interview Feb. 13, [Signing] contracts and agreements outside an official [Iranian] venue and [instead] at the residence of an ambassador, who is our guest, is the diplomatic humiliation of the Islamic Republic of Iran and humiliation of the Iranian nation.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghassemi rejected the hard-liners' assertions and claims that formal agreements between the Iranian and Swedish governments were signed at the ambassadors residence. One of the top agendas of the ceremony at the Swedish ambassadors residence was the opening of the Economic Bureau [trade mission] of Sweden in Iran by the prime minister of this country, Ghassemi said Feb. 13. The signing of agreements [between the private sectors of Iran and Sweden] as the symbol of the beginning of practical cooperation of the private sectors was done at the opening of the bureau. Ghassemi also stated that the signing of contracts between the countries' private sectors at the Swedish ambassadors residence was not contrary to any international procedure.

The Iranian government was not alone in coming under attack over the wearing of the hijab. The Swedish government also took fire at home, but conversely, because officials did wear hijabs during the visit. Eleven of the 15 members of the Swedish delegation were women. Jan Bjorklund, the leader of the opposition Liberals, called the hijab a symbol of oppression for women in Iran, and alongside other critical voices, said that the Swedish delegation should have demanded exemptions from Iranian law.

Meanwhile, exiled Iranian activists also attacked the Swedish delegation for donning the head covering. Masih Alinejad wrote on her Facebook page, This is a discriminatory law and it's not an internal matter when the Islamic Republic forces all non-Iranian women to wear hijab as well. Swedish Trade Minister Ann Linde saw the affair from a different perspective, asserting that she and other female members of the Swedish delegation were obliged to respect Iranian law.

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom reacted much as Linde did. If you go there [Iran] as a visitor, and especially if its an official visit, you observe the law. You do it out of respect for their legislation. You also follow diplomatic protocol, Wallstrom said. The important thing is what you bring up [during meetings] and what this visit is really supposed to be about. It was important to go there and have the important conversations that were held. You can then in other ways support what civil society and womens organizations are fighting for. But its not the right opportunity, so you have to make a choice.

Of Bjorklund's criticism, Wallstrom said, Hes desperate for attention. What he is saying is ignorant.
February 14, 2017

On Jan. 15, Iranian lawmakers approved a new law that would oblige state-run and public organizations to accept early retirement requests of female employees who have worked at least 20 years, without pushing any age limit. At present, the age limit for early retirement of women covered by the Social Security Organization (SSO) is 52. The law needs to be approved by the constitutional watchdog, the Guardian Council, before going into effect.

The legislation, which is part of the sixth Five-Year Economic Development Plan (March 2017-March 2022), has prompted a swift outcry by pension authorities. Given that most pension funds rely heavily on government resources to meet their obligations, officials have complained that the move would impose a heavy financial burden on not only struggling pension funds but also the state budget.

In August 2016, First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri had revealed that the administration covers 70% of pension costs, while some funds, such as the Armed Forces Social Security Organization, are fully state funded.

A day after the controversial Jan. 15 vote, Deputy Minister of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare Hojjatollah Mirzaei called on the Guardian Council to stop the naive decision, warning that it will affect 150,000 employees within an immediate time frame. He further warned that the legislation will impose a financial burden of about 100 trillion rials ($3.08 billion) on the Civil Servants Retirement Organization (CSRO), the countrys second-largest fund, if it goes into effect.

Indeed, the law could deprive the CSRO from pension premiums payable by 530,000 female employees over at least a decade, given that these employees have only worked 18.5 years on average, according to member of parliament Kamaloddin Pirmoazzen, as reported by the Aftab News website. Of note, the CSRO is barely able to meet 20% of its financial obligations at present, with the rest coming from the state.

Other estimates suggest that the legislation will impose 1 quadrillion rials (nearly $31 billion) in extra costs on the 22 existing pension funds over the next five years, leading economic newspaper Donya-e-Eqtesad reported Jan. 23. The sum excludes the 4 quadrillion rials ($124 billion) of costs that populist lawmakers have imposed on pension funds through 28 different votes similar to that on Jan. 15 over the past four decades. Indeed, lawmakers have so far never approved a bill that would boost contributions to pension funds.

The SSO, which covers almost half of the labor force in the country, is the only pension fund in decent shape. However, critics now fear that the persistent approvals of populist pension legislation will eventually drag down the countrys largest pension fund, too, causing a social and economic disaster. Yet it is not just lawmakers who should be blamed for the situation. Consecutive administrations have also failed to push hard enough for reforms, let alone warning the public about the repercussions of the populist pension policies.

Given the critical state of Irans pension funds, there is an urgent need for the authorities to immediately make smarter choices when it comes to caring for senior citizens  especially as the country is getting older. One social security expert noted in an October 2015 speech that Irans elderly population will reach 10 million in 2021, up from 6.2 million in 2015.

Moreover, if the Jan. 15 law is ratified by the Guardian Council, it will lower womens labor force participation. While most countries are encouraging greater female participation in the economy, the implementation of the legislation could be interpreted as an effort to isolate women from their roles in the job market and eventually replace them with a younger male labor force. This policy, which is backed by many ultraconservatives in Iran, is in clear conflict with calls by the moderate incumbent administration for the stronger presence of women in society.

In the education sector alone, a large number of experienced teachers will be given an option of early retirement  a development that would be a major blow to the education system, Mahnaz Ahmadi, the director of Women's Affairs at the Education Ministry, told ISNA news agency Jan. 25.

In a Jan, 25 interview with the official IRNA news agency, Essa Mansouri, the deputy minister of cooperatives, labor and social welfare responsible for employment and entrepreneurship development, underlined the need for action in favor of a more female labor force. Noting that Iran is ranked 139 among 144 countries when it comes to the gender gap, he called for strategic planning on a national scale to mitigate this gap.

The participation rate of women in the labor force was as low as 25% on average between 2005 and 2016. Although the new law is supposed to be part of a strategic development plan, it seems in essence to be against the development of a more female labor force, as it would further weaken the social status of Iranian women. However, it seems that conservatives are not too upset about this prospect. In an editorial published by Qods newspaper and republished by Fars News Agency Jan. 29, Yasser Jebraili dismissed arguments made by liberals, accusing opponents of the Jan. 15 law of letting in a Western conception of development. The liberal conception of development, he said, makes women exhausted by an intense workload and heavy social responsibilities. The article voiced support for the Jan. 15 vote, urging lawmakers to not yield to pressure.

Lastly, although the new law makes early retirement for women optional, social security experts are noting that those retiring under the legislation will only receive two-thirds of their final salary. Given the already generally low salaries in Iran, experts believe that retirees will not receive enough to survive, warning that the law could create more economic and social headaches for the government in the years to come.
February 13, 2017

With a new US administration that has not made its opposition to the nuclear deal a secret, Irans foreign minister and chief nuclear negotiator Mohammad Javad Zarif took aim at those inside Iran who continue to try to sabotage the implementation of the nuclear deal and reveal contents of his confidential testimonies about those talks.

During the hourlong Feb. 11 video interview with Entekhab website, Zarif said the domestic criticism gave the opposing sides in the nuclear talks the wrong impression that Irans negotiators did not have the backing of Irans so-called hard-line resistance groups and that the negotiators were operating against Irans national interests. Zarif continued that the disclosures from his closed-door testimonies to parliaments National Security and Foreign Policy Commission were detrimental to the talks and later the implementation, which he described as even more time-consuming than the deal.

One of the most spectacular leaks came in December 2016 from Iranian parliamentarian Javad Karimi-Ghoddousi, who said that Zarif had conceded to the commission that he had made a mistake in trusting US Secretary of State John Kerry. Zarif and Kerry held numerous bilateral negotiations during the nuclear talks, and the ability of the two to resolve difficult issues was instrumental in the passing of the nuclear deal.

On whether he actually ever said he made a mistake, Zarif said his use of the word mistake was in regard to making a statement publicly and not the nuclear negotiations. Zarif said he hoped that his other comments to the commission would remain confidential, not necessarily from the Iranian people but from the opposing sides in the nuclear negotiations.

In response to claims by US President Donald Trump that the nuclear deal was the worst deal ever negotiated, Zarif said Trump is not aware that when someone enters a negotiation, they do not achieve everything they want.

In response to criticism by some parliamentarians as to why he spoke English during the nuclear talks rather than the native Persian, as former nuclear negotiators had done, Zarif said, Language is a tool. He likened his use of English to fighters using a foreign-made plane or tank in battle and added the language one uses does not change their identity.

Zarif was unbothered by the comments of the Obama administration that the nuclear deal had prevented Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The Americans can make claims, but the reality of the matter is that they did not want Iran to have one centrifuge, Zarif said. As a result of the nuclear deal, Iran will be permitted to operate more than 5,000 centrifuges. Zarif also said that up until the final days the opposing side had tried to convince Iran to accept only keeping the older IR-1 (first-generation) centrifuges and that Iran was ultimately able to keep the more advanced IR-8 centrifuges.

On criticism from former nuclear negotiator and 2013 presidential candidate Saeed Jalili regarding the nuclear deal, Zarif said, I certainly dont agree with him, and neither me nor a large segment of society agrees with his policies; otherwise, they would have voted for him. In response to whether he will declare himself a candidate in the upcoming presidential election, Zarif said, I can say this with certainty that I will never be a candidate in the presidential election because I dont see this ability within myself.

In regard to Quds Force Cmdr. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, one of the key members of the resistance groups in Iran, Zarif said there are at times differences of viewpoints. However, he added, We were able to pursue an appropriate working relationship. As an example, he referenced the Aleppo cease-fire, which allowed help to reach the predominantly Shiite Syrian towns of Foua and Kefraya.
February 14, 2017

The stand taken this week by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict brings to mind the witticism of late Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, on the eve of his departure for the October 1991 Madrid Peace Conference: The sea is the same sea, and the Arabs are the same Arabs. In other words, only a fool would believe that the leaders of the Arab world and the PLO, who accepted the invitation of President George H.W. Bush to sit for the first time next to a Zionist leader, had come to terms with the existence of a Jewish state. And only a leftist defeatist would hand them any territories.

Netanyahu is formulating a slightly more refined version of the same approach. The prime minister argues that he does support a two-state solution, meaning the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, as he stated in his 2009 Bar-Ilan speech. But, woefully, the sea is the same sea, and the Palestinians remain the same Palestinians. At their Feb. 15 meeting in Washington, Netanyahu will try to convince his host, President Donald Trump, that those torpedoing the two-state solution are the Palestinians, who refuse to recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people, and not the Israelis who have been keeping them under occupation for 50 years and stealing their land.

Already in their first phone call after Trumps victory, Netanyahu tried to convince the president-elect that the peace process is stuck because of the Palestinian refusal to pronounce the magic formula Israel is the homeland of the Jewish people. This argument is presented to conceal the fact that Netanyahu will arrive at the White House without any government mandate to present an outline for a diplomatic arrangement with the Palestinians. He did not ask of his ministers nor did he receive any approval to offer the Arab states a comprehensive deal of the sort Trump referred to in an interview with Israel Hayom published Feb. 12.

As far as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is concerned, recognizing Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people is tantamount to alienating Israels 1.5 million Arabs. Opposite him is Netanyahus coalition partner, HaBayit HaYehudi Chair Naftali Bennett, who has threatened that uttering the words Palestinian state in the Oval Office will set off a political earthquake.

Almost five years ago, in March 2012, Benny Begin, then a minister in the Netanyahu government, realized that the emperor was naked and that the two-state solution that the prime minister had offered was a sham. Meeting with students at the Hebrew University, Begin said the Bar-Ilan speech and the two-state concept had not even been brought up for debate by the government, nor would it be. This is not the position of the government, noted the Likuds champion of democracy. This is what enables someone like me to be a member of the government and to operate.

In the March 2015 elections, Netanyahu portrayed himself as the sole force capable of blocking the left's attempts to establish a Palestinian state and to hand over territories to radical Islamist forces. If you are prime minister, a Palestinian state will not be established? one interviewer persisted. Netanyahu simply responded, Indeed.

Barely two months later, Netanyahu once again donned the emperors invisible clothes. The prime minister told European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on a visit to Jerusalem that he does not believe in a one-state solution for the two peoples and supports the establishment of a Palestinian state. He blamed the Palestinians for refusing to recognize Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people and blocking the advancement of negotiations.

All thats left is to choose one of two options: perpetuating the rule by one people over another and thus undoing the democratic nature of the state, or annexing all the occupied territories and granting equal rights to all the inhabitants, thereby undoing the Jewish nature of the state. But Netanyahu is sitting on the fence, not choosing, and making his personal survival his raison d'etre. Before his very eyes, the demographics are making Israel the occupier less Jewish, and political reality is making Israel less democratic.

The right's nationalistic interpretation of the words Jewish state encourages the demonization of Jews who refuse to walk the path of the right and nurtures the hatred of others. Jewish nationalism is being used by the Netanyahu-Bennett-Miri Regev government to shatter democracy and equality. Thus the national camp headed by Netanyahu is removing the underpinnings of the good old Zionist vision.

The right-wing settlers turning Israel into a binational state have a loyal partner in the non-Zionist left. At the joint Jewish-Arab rally held in Tel Aviv on Feb. 4, I met many leftist activists who have lost all hope of a two-state solution. They cheered the leader of the Joint List, Knesset member Ayman Odeh, who called to replace the Zionist Camp (whose Knesset representatives absented themselves from the event) with the Democratic Camp. The difference between Odeh and Netanyahu is that the first proposes granting equal political rights to Jews and Palestinians living peacefully in one state, whereas the prime minister believes that the Jewish people will have to forever live by the sword, and democracy be damned.

The president who Netanyahu will meet at the White House Feb. 15 is not a Peace Now activist nor a romantic liberal. As Trump said over and over during the election campaign and in his inauguration speech, the interests of his country take precedence over every other consideration. This list includes the Netanyahu governments insatiable appetite for private Palestinian land and the Palestinian desire to shake off the Israeli occupation. Trump has said more than once that he is interested in forging a deal that puts an end to their conflict. The controversial executive orders issued since he took office indicate that he's trying to practice what he preaches.

Shamir learned the hard way what happens to an Israeli prime minister when he tries to impose his will on an American president who does not fear the Jewish lobby. Shamir wanted to build settlements for Jews as well as get US aid for taking in Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union. He ended up being kicked out of the White House and out of power. Weve already predicted that Netanyahu will one day miss President Barack Obama.
February 13, 2017

There are strong signals coming from Amman that Jordan is calibrating its strategy on Syria in light of recent political and military developments. At the heart of this shift lies Jordans readiness to chart a more independent course in dealing with the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, using King Abdullah IIs good working relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin to secure a cease-fire in southern Syria, initiate reconciliation efforts between the regime and moderate rebel groups and tribal leaders in the south, and focus military efforts on fighting the Islamic State (IS) and Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra) in the Syrian Badia.

Before heading to Washington Feb. 2 on a working visit that culminated in a meeting with US President Donald Trump, Abdullah stopped in Moscow Jan. 25 to discuss the situation in Syria with Putin, Jordans role in fighting terrorism and the political process on Syria that was launched in the Kazakh capital of Astana on Jan. 15. The king also brought up the situation in southern Syria, whose stability is directly linked to Jordans national security.

On previous visits to Moscow following Russias military intervention in Syria in September 2015, Abdullah and Putin had reached what was described by local observers as a gentlemans agreement to spare southern Syria military strikes and allow Jordan to use its influence with Free Syrian Army groups and local tribes to prevent the advance of jihadi fighters and facilitate the handover of border crossings to the regular Syrian army.

Following the fall of eastern Aleppo in December and the slow advance of the Iraqi army to liberate IS-held Mosul, Jordan wants to make sure that fleeing IS militants do not head to the Syrian Badia, inching closer to its borders. Two makeshift refugee camps on the Syrian side of the border with Jordan represent an ongoing threat to the kingdom. Jordan believes both camps have been infiltrated by IS fighters and may be used as a launching pad for strikes against it. Last October, IS claimed responsibility for a suicide car bomb attack that killed and injured a number of security personnel manning a humanitarian entry point to the Rukban camp.

During his meeting with Trump, Abdullah was briefed on the possibility of establishing safe zones in Syria, and the president highlighted Jordans critical contributions to defeating IS, according to a White House statement. While Jordan has not officially reacted to Trumps vague proposal, Amman has an interest in seeing such safe zones established in southern Syria. Jordan hosts more than 600,000 Syrian refugees at a huge financial cost, and setting up safe zones inside Syria could encourage some of them to return voluntarily to their homes.

What is more important, however, are the positive messages Amman has been sending to the Syrian regime. On Dec. 30, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordanian armed forces, Lt. Gen. Mahmoud Freihat, told BBC Arabic that liaison officers from both sides remain in touch and that Jordans training of Syrian rebels in the south is aimed at fighting IS terrorists, not the regime in Damascus. He also warned of an Iranian land corridor, extending from Tehran to Lebanon, through Iraq and Syria. On Feb. 9, Bassam al-Badareen, the Amman correspondent of London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi, reported that top Syrian security official Gen. Ali Mamlouk had secretly visited the Jordanian capital at least four times in the past few months.

When the Syrian uprising erupted in March 2011, Jordan supported rebel demands but insisted on a political solution. It later joined the Friends of Syria group, which demanded Assad's removal. It also allowed the establishment of a US-led Military Operations Center near Amman that coordinated rebel operations in southern Syria. There have been unconfirmed reports that Jordan has scaled back the center's activities in recent weeks as part of its attempt to open back channels with Damascus.

On Feb. 4, the Jordanian armed forces announced that its unmanned fighter planes had destroyed various IS sites in southern Syria, including one that the jihadis had seized from the Syrian army. Damascus, which had previously criticized Jordan for its support of Syrian rebel groups, did not comment on the operation.

In another sign that Amman is strongly backing the Astana process, Jordanian officials joined a technical meeting on the Syrian cease-fire in the Kazakh capital on Feb. 6. It was the only Arab country that Moscow invited to the meetings. The pro-government daily Addustour quoted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as saying Feb. 13 that Jordan is helping in bringing additional factions into the Astana process. A day later, the same paper reported that Lavrov had again stressed Jordans role in influencing a number of groups in the Southern Front. Jordan has confirmed its participation in the second round of Astana talks Feb. 15-16.

In a meeting with Jordanian journalists Feb. 5, Abdullah stressed the importance of having the cease-fire in place in southern Syria, according to the Jordan Times. The government has not, however, commented on the sudden eruption of fighting Feb. 13 in the divided city of Daraa between the regular Syrian army and a number of rebel groups led by Jabhat Fatah al-Sham.

Political commentator Mohammad Abu Rumman wrote in Al-Ghad Feb. 6 that two direct developments have forced Jordan to adopt a new military-strategic approach to southern Syria. One is the presence of the so-called Jaish Khalid Ibn al-Walid army, an IS affiliate, in the Yarmouk River basin, not far from the Jordanian border. The other is the series of terrorist attacks that took place in Jordan last year and were claimed by IS. IS had not targeted Jordan directly in the past, but with this shift, we now find ourselves in an open war with this group, Abu Rumman said.

By joining the Astana process and signaling a change in its position toward Damascus, Jordan is looking out for its own interests in anticipation of the Russian-sponsored political talks firming up and expanding the cease-fire, paving the way for the Geneva talks that will start Feb. 23. Preserving peace and stability in southern Syria and protecting Jordan's northern borders are now Amman's top priorities, as Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi announced Feb. 9. He denied having had contacts with Tehran on safeguarding Jordans northern border. Both Washington and Moscow are supportive of Jordans balancing act on Syria  for now.
February 13, 2017

On Jan. 26, Lebanese judge Rabih Maalouf issued a court order stating that homosexuality is a personal choice, and not a punishable offense. Maalouf is the fourth judge since 2009 to go against Article 534 of the Lebanese penal code, which states sexual acts that contradict the laws of nature are punishable by up to a year in prison.

In 2013, the Lebanese Psychiatric Society stated that homosexuality is not a mental disorder and does not need to be treated. In 2015, the society updated the statement, calling for the abolition of Article 534.

These are all small steps aiming to decriminalize homosexuality. This is not a victory, Bertho Makso, a Lebanese activist from the nongovernmental organization Proud Lebanon, told Al-Monitor. The real victory will be when Article 534 is changed or abolished. But now the priority is to educate people to avoid homosexuals' persecution and make change happen.

Makso said, This ruling is very important because the judge used a different law about personal freedom not affecting society, adding that the duty of the court is to protect human rights and people's dignity. Maalouf referred to Article 183 of the penal code  which states, An act undertaken in exercise of a right without abuse shall not be regarded as an offense  and to the International Convention of Human Rights that Lebanon signed in 2006.

According to a source close to the Ministry of Justice, who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, This ruling adopts a different position than the three previous rulings, whose judges had argued over the impossibility to define 'nature' to rule out criminalization by Article 534.

She added, I am convinced of this last approach because it brings same-sex conduct out of this text by using logic. Plus, the Lebanese law cannot be opposed to international conventions, having more power than the penal code.

But she is not optimistic in regard to the amendment or abolition of Article 534. I really doubt this law can be abolished because of the composition of the Lebanese parliament," she said. "They are very inspired by religious texts and the Quran says, for example, that homosexuality is a sin and it shouldn't be talked about publicly. It is a real barrier for LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] freedom. The only good thing is that most judges  even conservative ones  no longer use jail time as a punishment for homosexuality. Usually it is a fine they have to pay when they are released. The judicial trend in Lebanon is not to be too harsh, but the problem is in the detention part, where LGBT people are often subjected to humiliation and sometimes even torture by the Internal Security Forces [ISF].

The ISF was in fact using anal examinations on people suspected of same-sex relations, which Human Rights Watch denounced in a 2012 report, saying that Lebanese public prosecutors often order invasive and abusive, anal examination procedures for men suspected of homosexual sex.

The same year, the Lebanese Order of Physicians banned doctors from carrying out the egg tests  whereby a metal egg-shaped object is inserted into the rectum  on suspected homosexuals as it is related to torture, according to the physicians order. Subsequently, a statement by the Ministry of Justice urged the countrys public prosecutor to ban the tests.

The police have threatened people with this test since 2013, but they are no longer subjecting people to it, Makso said. Now they use other techniques available to prove that someone is homosexual  by checking his cellphone's applications, contacts and pictures on social media. Still, members of the LGBT community are proved to be arbitrarily detained and tortured, even psychologically.

Nasser, whose name has been changed at his request, told Al-Monitor, As a gay man in Lebanon, I have absolutely no complaints. I get a free pass, like most other gay men before me.

He said, The dividing lines are 'women versus men,' 'cis versus trans and rich versus poor  not urban and rural. Gay and trans women and men have it harder than cis gay men. Gay men can take a seat and stop playing victims. For Nasser, the best way to change the situation for good is more rights over one's own body and personal rights' awareness being discussed in schools in order to make a real political and attitude change in the long term.

In regard to educating the public on the issue, Makso said, We will continue leading small fights, but again we have to work on society  maybe with the public support of famous figures and in collaboration with the media."

Education and awareness seem to be the only solutions to create a more tolerant society and legal system toward LGBT people in Lebanon, with small victories like the Jan. 26 court order.
February 13, 2017

Hamas members incarcerated in Israeli prisons recently held elections to determine their leadership for 2017-19. Although these elected members remain behind bars, they have great influence within the Hamas leadership outside prison and they weigh in on major Hamas decisions.

Prisoners participated in all 22 Israeli prisons, including the largest  Ketziot  as well as Ofer, Ramon and Megiddo. There are about 1,800 Hamas prisoners among 7,000 total Palestinian prisoners from different factions, according to Riyad al-Ashqar, the former director of the media office in the Palestinian Ministry of Prisoners Affairs in the Gaza Strip.

The elections, held in late January, determined the "supreme leadership body" for all Hamas prisoners.

These elections took place over four stages," Abdel Rahman Shedid, the director of the Asra Media Office, a Palestinian prisoner rights advocacy group, told Al-Monitor. "In the first stage, 360 members representing the Hamas General Conference were chosen to elect the Shura Council, composed of 51 members distributed over the various prisons. The second stage was held to elect the 11 members of the supreme leadership body from among the members of the Shura Council. The president of the body was elected in the third stage, and his deputy in the fourth."

Mohammed Arman and Abbas al-Sayed were elected president and deputy, respectively. The other nine members elected were Ahmad al-Qudra, Mahmoud Shraiteh, Othman Bilal, Munir Mirhi, Salama al-Qatawi, Muammar Shahrouri, Bilal al-Barghouti, Islam Jarrar and Ashraf Zughayar.

Moussa Doudine, who is in charge of prisoner affairs for Hamas, spent 18 years in Israeli prisons and was deported to Qatar in 2011. He told Al-Monitor about the significance of prison elections, which have traditionally been held every two years since they began in 2004.

Every Hamas prisoner participates in the elections. The president of the Hamas supreme leadership body inside jails is the effective Hamas leader in the prisons. The prison election results are part of the Hamas leadership echelon. The president and deputy president are members of the General Shura Council of Hamas and the president of the body is a member of the Hamas political bureau, the highest echelon in the movements leadership, Doudine told Al-Monitor.

It was no coincidence that Hamas prisoners elections took place at about the same time as the movements Feb. 3 internal organizational elections in the Palestinian territories and abroad. This timing highlights the importance of Hamas prisoners to the movements leadership.

The electoral process is a formal one, Ashqar, the former media office director, told Al-Monitor.

Hamas prisoners inside Israeli jails have a detailed electoral system that outlines the electoral process in full, starting with the eligible voters and candidates, schedules, committees supervising the process, the electoral ballots, the electoral statement, all the way to the announcement of the election results," he said. "The system also covers the time limits and ways of dealing with post-election objections.

Apparently, no matter where elections are held, they are steeped in bureaucracy. Mohammad Sabha, a senior Hamas prisoner in the West Bank who was released by Israel in May 2015 after 15 years in prison, confirmed this. He previously served as president of the prisoners' supreme leadership body.

Elections start with forming central committees in every prison, with subcommittees in every department supervising the electoral process and composed of three prisoners. The subcommittees report to the central committee," Sabha told Al-Monitor. "On election day, prisoners are gathered in the prison yard. The committee members sit at a table with the ballot box, while prisoners cast their votes and the box is closed in front of them. In some prisons, ballots are distributed to prisoners inside their cells through food and cleaning prison workers."

The election results are communicated to prisoners through smuggled cellphones or by lawyers. The ballot is secret, as prison electoral law prohibits electoral propaganda and campaigning.

Commenting on the Israel Prison Service's (IPS) stance regarding these elections, Doudine said, The IPS does not facilitate the electoral elections, of course. The elected prisoners are [often] isolated in other departments inside prisons. But eventually, the IPS has to deal with the elected members as they are the representatives of prisoners; otherwise, this would lead to unwanted chaos in Israeli prisons, which would cause [the IPS] trouble.

Ashqar said, Often, the IPS does not interfere in the electoral process inside prisons, as it deems it an internal affair for Hamas prisoners. However, if dangerous prisoners, as per Israeli classification, are likely to win the elections, the IPS tries to hinder the process by transferring prisoners with high chances of winning between prisons until the end of the elections.

Hamas is keen on involving all its prisoners in the election process without exception. However, the prisoners who are about to finish their time in prison are only allowed to vote, not run, in the elections.

Hamas' prison supreme leadership body manages the movements affairs inside Israeli jails, representing prisoners from the West Bank, Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip and the Arab citizens of Israel. Most of the prison body members are young, classified as dangerous and are serving lengthy prison sentences. They are the ones whom Israel refused to release in the 2011 prisoner swap deal with Hamas in the West Bank.

Most of the members elected are affiliated with the leadership of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas military wing, who are sentenced to life in prison.

Local elections also are held to determine the leadership in every prison, Mohammed Hamada of Jerusalem told Al-Monitor. Hamada, who served 14 years in an Israeli prison and was deported to Gaza in 2011, said prisoners are elected to serve as the prisoners' version of a warden, his deputy and committee members who handle security, finances, culture and social issues. Members are elected for six months.
February 13, 2017

On Feb. 11, Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council, stated that Iran is considering providing its air space to Russian military jets in order to support Syrian government ground operations.

The news bothered Israel, which a few days before the announcement had signaled its concern about ties between Moscow and Tehran. In an effort to calm the mood, Russian Ambassador to Israel Alexander Shein noted, On the whole, the role of Russia in Syria is accepted by our Israeli colleagues with understanding. The only reservation they have is for them it would be best if there were US-Russian rather than Iranian-Russian cooperation in surmounting the Syrian crisis and fighting terrorism in the Middle East. He said that Israel drew its own red lines, which is the transfer of modern weapons to Hezbollah and the creation of an anti-Israel platform in the Golan Heights that would involve both the group and Iran.

Maneuvering between Iran and Israel is not an ordeal. Political and military contacts between Russia and Israel are on the rise. Trying to make sense of what drives Israels major foreign policy imperatives and how they are shaped is getting even more important for Moscow.

First it should be said that Israelis consider their state to be in rather good shape both politically and economically. That assumption has certainly some solid ground: The countrys gross domestic product is growing, the high-tech industry is blooming, the political system is stable, Iran is not posing a direct threat to the security of the country and the Syrian army, as well as Hezbollah fighters, are preoccupied with the civil war in Syria. That does not mean Israel as a state is relaxed, because both domestic and external challenges are serious and have to be dealt with urgently and at the same time wisely.

The Israeli government is considered by both wings of the local political elite to be extremely populist. It lacks strategic views, especially on political developments and the Palestinian issue. The prime minister is under an official investigation for different corruption cases. Because of pressure from external challenges, there is a high possibility that a new election will take place within the course of this year. There are signs that elite groups have started to prepare themselves for a potential campaign.

Israelis view the Palestinian issue as an inner problem, but a problem that seriously affects Israels international standing. Both right- and left-wing politicians are offering their own ideas on how to address it. They believe that the time has come at least for Israel to formulate a distinct strategic plan for the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Proponents of this notion believe that a defensible solution for the conflict will likely bring the country to a new era both locally and globally. However, few in Moscow expect any bold moves in this direction in 2017, as Israelis would like to see what happens in Syria and what the US politics in the Middle East will be, because both aspects have direct implications on Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

One of the most sensitive tracks in Russian-Israeli relations is that Iran is still perceived in Tel Aviv as a major threat to Israels security, notwithstanding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Israelis worry about future nuclear developments in Iran, but Tel Aviv would again rather wait to see what Tehran is up to next. Irans activity in Syria and its support of Hezbollah and Hamas together with general incitement against the Jewish state make Israelis feel uncomfortable with the ayatollah regime. There is no doubt that Israel will not tolerate Shiite militias on its borders.

Israel is not a party at war in Syria. It does not support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the Islamic State (IS) is not threatening Israel directly. However, Israel looks carefully at whats going on in order to ensure the security of its northern borders.

Israels stable relations with Turkey, Egypt and Jordan are positive spots in the overall unstable situation in the Middle East, and Moscow welcomes such developments. Israelis tend to praise their positive developments with Saudi Arabia, and the Israeli expert community prefers to become closer to this Sunni power because it is more moderate toward Israel now. But the mainstream view from Russia is that since the Saudis are a very conservative state that tends to support fundamental Islam all over the world, their positive inclination toward Israel is more of a tactical move than a real desire to build working relations with the Jewish state.

Relations with the United States are another point on Russias radar screen for Israel. The United States is Israels strategic partner, and the Barak Obama administration reiterated this status even though the Israeli establishment wasnt particularly happy with its policy toward the country. It feels like there is much uncertainty in Israel over expectations from the Donald Trump administration, but the general notion is that he will be much friendlier to Israel. One major caveat Israelis have is that Trump might continue Obamas politics to shrink the US presence in the Middle East. That move would leave Israel alone in this unfriendly  if not hostile  to the Jewish state region that is extremely shaky nowadays. So there seems to be a strong movement among experts and politicians to shape a new modus operandi for the country without Americas back behind Israel.

A recent trend in Russia is to consider itself a potential major partner to Israel  a capable substitute, at least partially, for the United States. Having effectively returned to the Middle East, Russia is seeking to become a fair moderator in the region striving for its general stabilization. And Israel is perceived as a favorable partner in this scenario. But it takes two to tango: Israel is interested in building effective bilateral relations with the country that operates in a close proximity to its borders, but most probably no more than that. There are few signs that this attitude could change, unless major shifts occur in Russian domestic and foreign policy. For instance, Russias multifaceted cooperation with Iran is a big obstacle for a comprehensive partnership with Israel.

In a nutshell, Israels current most serious problems are within the country, including the Palestinian issue. Notwithstanding turmoil in the Middle East and potential major shifts in US foreign policy, Israel today is seen as strong enough to overcome its current challenges. To ensure its security in the future, Israel will have to create a framework in which it is able to have a say when local and world powers are mapping the regions fate.
February 13, 2017

6th of OCTOBER CITY, Egypt  Dozens of Syrian actors had to leave Syria in the wake of the civil war that broke out in March 2011, and they mainly moved to three Arab countries  Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt. However, Egypt was the most important destination for them, despite the difficulties they faced there, including the differences between the Egyptian and Syrian dialects.

Al-Monitor met with Syrian actor and producer Farouq al-Shami at his home in 6th of October City in Egypt. Shami left Syria in 2012 because the crisis bred a lack of security and an inadequate work environment.

He said, I left for Egypt because it has been the most suitable environment for artists, and it gives us better opportunities in the arts field. Besides, before the Syrian crisis, I participated in Egyptian series, and I realized that my professional life would be in Egypt.

Shami began his artistic career with theater in 1994, then he moved to television series in 2001. He participated in 55 dramas and 15 Arab-produced series. He said he received several acting opportunities and appeared in Egyptian series in 2014, two years after arriving in Egypt.

He continued to say, It took me two years to find my producer and artist friends [he knew before] after arriving in Egypt. Then, I starred in my first Egyptian series Ostaz wa Raees Kesm [Teacher and Head of Department].

Shami is currently producing around a movie that includes 20 real-life stories of Egyptian army and police victims who died during battles against Egyptian terrorists. Egyptian businessmen are funding the production, and the movie will be shown in cinemas soon.

Meanwhile, a Syrian television star, Firas Ibrahim, who participated in more than 94 series and played the lead role in 85 of them in Syria, struggled to work in drama in Egypt. He settled there in 2012 after the Syrian war began.

Ibrahim, who also works in production, told Al-Monitor, I did not take on any new production or acting project due to the ongoing Syrian crisis. Emotionally, I could not do it. My life hasnt been the same. But, after a few years, I realized I had spent all I had and returned to drama. I played the lead role in two series in Lebanon in 2016  Madrasat al-Hob [The School of Love] and the historical series Qudat Uzama [Powerful Judges]. I also founded my own production company and I am preparing several cinematic works in Egypt. I am ready to act again.

Ibrahim, who lives in 6th of October City, believes Egypt is important for Arab art. But he said he never had the dream of going regional because Syrian productions are already popular in the Arab world. He said, Syrian artists are already popular and highly regarded in Syria, but their popularity has increased due to the 90 million Egyptians. This is good for the Arab artists success in Egypt.

Young Syrian actor Bassam Ali, who has been in Cairo for a year and participated in the Egyptian series Al-Khanika [The Mental Asylum] in 2016, told Al-Monitor that his starring in Egyptian drama is a huge shift and achievement.

Syrian refugees in Egypt are expected to reach around 124,000 by 2018, according to a survey conducted by the Interim Syrian Government. They have blended into Egyptian society and established businesses such as restaurants, while Syrian actors resumed their acting careers in Egypt.

Ali, who graduated from the Faculty of Journalism at the University of Damascus in 2007, entered the world of art in Syria in 2010 through the series Matloub Rijal [Men Needed] and Dhakirat al-Jasad [The Memory of the Body]. He participated in 16 series before having to leave Syria in 2012, when he headed to the UAE.

He added, The Syrian war was never suitable for drama work. I traveled to the UAE, where I worked on a docudrama produced by Abu Dhabi State Channel that has yet to be broadcast, which depicts the life of former UAE Emir Sheikh Zayed al-Nahyan, and on two series with MBC  'Forsa Thaniya' [Second Chance] and 'Fitnat Zamanha' [Strife]. I stayed in the UAE until 2016, then moved to Cairo after one of the producers of Al-Khanika nominated me to act in it. I am still in Egypt because it gives any Arab artist wider popularity as it is the Arab version of Hollywood. Still, I would like to return to Syria when the dust settles.

Syrian artists have trouble speaking Egyptian dialect and mastering articulation of sounds, as Egyptian series are mostly done with actors who speak with an Egyptian accent. It is also difficult for Syrians to connect with Egyptian production companies, as so much is based on personal connections.

Ahmad al-Dare, a Syrian journalist who lives in Egypt and is editor-in-chief of the Studio Alfan website, told Al-Monitor that Syrian art has been affected by the Syrian crisis at home and abroad. The war led to a production crisis due to the economic downturn that affected all aspects of life. Many artists left Syria to work abroad.

Dare pointed out the weakness of Syrian drama despite massive productions. He said, In 2016, 28 series were filmed, but they focused on quantity rather than quality. Only two or three series succeeded. The rest were worthless, but they were just serving as a distraction for the public. Many Syrian artists found better opportunities in Egypt.

He added that several Syrian artists achieved success in Egypt because the Egyptian audience embraced them. Others did not achieve much because they did not get golden opportunities to pursue their work due to their lack of artistic self-development or just because they werent popular enough to shine in Egyptian drama.
February 13, 2017

US President Donald Trumps pick to serve as envoy to Israel is coming under intense scrutiny for his ties to West Bank settlements as the White House and the Israeli government continue to clash over the issue.

David Friedmans Feb. 16 nomination hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee comes one day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds his first official meeting with Trump.

Netanyahu is under pressure from his right flank to pronounce the death of the two-state solution. Meanwhile, Trump last week told an Israeli newspaper that he wants to revive the peace talks with the Palestinians and that settlement growth isnt helpful.

Friedman is stepping into that diplomatic minefield with his own history of derogatory comments toward peace activists that have made him a prime target for left-leaning American Jews. Senate Democrats, however, are also busy poring over his financial disclosure form, which Al-Monitor is making public for the first time.

The forms most interesting feature is Friedmans role as president of the American Friends of Bet El Yeshiva, a West Bank outpost of 1,300 families a stones throw from Ramallah. The hilltop settlement was first established in 1977 near the biblical Bethel, where Jacob dreamed of a stairway to heaven.

Friedman, the son of an Orthodox rabbi, has called Bet El a critical component in our collective battle for the safety, security and unity of the State of Israel and poured millions into developing the township. Plaques with his name and those of family members adorn buildings throughout the town.

For his critics, that commitment is exactly what precludes Friedman from making a good ambassador.

Its troubling that you have the ambassador-designate [be] someone who has raised millions of dollars to further this settlement enterprise that is a huge obstacle to Israels future as a Jewish and democratic state, said Dan Kalik, the chief of staff for J Street, one of the groups leading the unprecedented push to reject a nominee for ambassador to Israel. Hes far outside the mainstream of the American politics on this, and I think hes far to the right of the current Israeli government, which has a stated policy [of support] for a two-state solution.

The disclosure form obtained from the Office of Government Ethics merely lists Friedman as the president of American Friends of Bet El Yeshiva, with no description of the nonprofits purpose. Separate tax filings with the federal Internal Revenue Service simply describe its mission as aiding the students, faculty and administration of Bet El Yeshiva.

The nonprofits main annual expense, according to its IRS filings, is its annual fundraising dinner for Bet El. In 2014, American Friends of Bet El Yeshiva spent $171,000 for the dinner and sent $2 million to Israel under the rubric of general support for school.

Support from American Friends of Bet El Yeshiva (Source: IRS filings)

Other records, however, indicate that the nonprofit has a broad understanding of just what exactly that means. Tax filings with the state of New York, where the nonprofit is registered, clarify that aid to students encompasses supplying them with books, housing, and to provide for their religious and moral convictions.

Those records suggest that Friedmans nonprofit is deeply involved in supporting the Israeli settler movement beyond merely helping students with their religious studies. A website for the dinner, a $500-per-couple affair touted as the largest and most prestigious New York dinner of any Israel organization, confirms that impression with a long list of causes that stand to benefit from the glitzy fundraiser: from the settlements Israel Defense Forces preparatory academy, to a family tourism operator, to a 120,000-circulation newspaper.

Together those organizations make up the Bet El Institutions, which share in the proceeds from the dinner. The American Friends of Bet El Yeshiva did not respond to a request for comment.

Bet El Institutions is the largest provider of livelihood to the town's residents and the reason for the influx of most of the town's young couples, reads the website for the dinner, which is registered to Bet El Institutions' director of development, Baruch Gordon. Creating these facts on the ground in the face of the international community's desire to uproot us is perhaps our most significant accomplishment.

Gordon has called Friedman a pioneer philanthropist and builder of Jewish institutions and housing projects in Judea and Samaria, Israelis preferred term for the West Bank. Gordon did not respond to a request for comment.

The Bet El Institutions website goes on to describe the recent establishment of online educational content and campus-based programs to push back against what it calls the distressing state of Jewish identity amongst Diaspora young adults, the acceptance of a two-state solution within the mainstream American Jewish community and the anti-Israel atmosphere taking hold on many North American university campuses.

Our exciting new initiative inspires and trains students with the tools to successfully delegitimize the notion of a two-state solution and to engage the most politically active  and often the most hostile  students on their campuses, the website states. While the people and students at Bet El carry the burden of defending Israels frontlines, register for our dinner to show them and the world unwavering support for the return of the Jewish People to all parts of their ancient homeland.
February 10, 2017

CAIRO  The World Bank's global growth forecast for 2017 has something for everyone  from doubt, to caution, to cautious optimism. And while not mentioning US President Donald Trump by name, the report makes it clear his policies could change things considerably for much of the world, including Egypt, for better or for worse.

On Jan. 10, the bank slightly downgraded its 2017 global growth forecast from the 2.8% predicted in June 2016 to 2.7%. Yet the predicted growth is still an improvement over last year's 2.3% and is equal to 2015's.

According to the World Bank, the new US administration and Britain's pending exit from the European Union are responsible for much of the suspense.

Lingering uncertainty about the course of US economic policy could have a significantly negative effect on global growth prospects, the report said. The same uncertainty could be why the bank trimmed Egypts real gross domestic product growth to 4% this year from 4.3% in 2016.

It also said, however, that "significant fiscal stimulus in major economies  in particular, the United States  could support a more rapid recovery in global activity in the near term than currently projected, and thus represents a substantial upside risk to the outlook."

Especially concerning for Egypt, which is already suffering an economic crisis, is the potential effect of Trumps decision on Jan. 23 to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The TPP is a trade deal aimed at fostering economic ties among 12 countries: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, the United States, Singapore and Vietnam. The agreement is expected to reduce custom tariffs among member states, or cancel them in some cases. It's also designed to boost investment flow among these countries.

The TPP was signed but has been awaiting ratification by the signatories. To be brought into force, each member state needs to approve relevant legislation.

Egypt, although not a TPP member, does not seem safe from the potential repercussions of the US pullout. The Suez Canal  one of the main sources of foreign-exchange flows into the Egyptian treasury  is one of the fundamental trade corridors between North American TPP members on the one hand, and Australia, New Zealand and the Asian TPP members (Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Japan) on the other.

Medhat Nafi, who heads risk management at Egypts Stock Exchange, told Al-Monitor, Of course the Suez Canal would benefit from the growth in trade between Asia, Australia and North American countries under the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Cutting or lifting custom tariffs would encourage export, import and investment, which are key drivers to the Suez Canal, whose main income so far is based on transit fees on cargo imported and exported between these countries.

On the impact of the US withdrawal he said, The US is the biggest market among TPP member states, and its withdrawal may mean a slip in the trade growth sought by the TPP. This would lead to a dip in potential trade-movement upsurges between the TPP member states through the Suez Canal. But this does not preclude the expected positive trade outcomes for the Suez Canal" once the deal is implemented. He added, "But in this case I think the Panama Canal might be the biggest beneficiary."

The 2015 statistics issued in February 2016 by Trade Map, a web-based, trade-flow analysis tool, showed that US exports accounted for 89% of the North American total to Australia, New Zealand and the Asian TPP countries. They also showed that US exports to those countries reached $139.2 billion. In turn, the US is the most important export market for Australia, New Zealand and Asian TPP member states, accounting for 91% of their total exports to North America. These countries export values to the US in 2015 reached $301.7 billion.

Trade Map statistics also show that the United States accounted for almost 91% of total 2015 exports and imports ($441 billion) between North America and those seven countries  Brunei, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan and Australia. That also means that, as a result of the US withdrawal from the TPP, the Suez Canal could lose its biggest opportunity for trade growth and would benefit only from 9% of the trade among those countries.

Yet this is not the worst-case scenario for the Suez Canal. Australian Trade Minister Steven Ciobo said in statements Jan. 24 that his country has consulted with TPP member states to find an alternative to the United States after its withdrawal. Also in press statements that day, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said it's possible China might join the TPP. If China or any other East Asian country were to join the TPP as an alternative to the United States, trade movement between the East and West would be significantly affected, which would constitute a loss for the Suez Canal.

Ahmad Darwish, head of the General Authority for the Suez Canal Economic Zone, did not respond to Al-Monitor's request for comment.

The Suez Canal saw a 3.3% decline in its total revenues in 2016 compared with 2015; experts have different views on the cause. Some believe it was the result of ships sailing through the Cape of Good Hope rather than the Suez Canal, because the overall decline in global oil prices made that cheaper than paying canal tolls. Other experts say the revenue drop was due to decreasing global trade rates.

Faraj Abdel Fattah, a professor of economics at Cairo University, told Al-Monitor, The presence of the US as a party to the agreement was supposed to be beneficial to the Suez Canal, as it should have led to a breakthrough in trade exchange, since it has the biggest share of trade movement among TPP countries. However, Trumps general policies, namely the expanded policies in fighting terrorism and supporting Egypt to this effect, could have a major impact on the stability of Egypt and the worlds economy, especially after the major losses as a result of terrorist attacks. Therefore, we should not jump to conclusions that Trumps policies would negatively affect the economy of Egypt and the world.
February 13, 2017

Turkeys academic community has been a major target of the massive purges in the wake of the botched coup attempt last year, with more than 4,000 academics expelled from universities across the country so far.

The government had claimed that the purges  conducted at a stroke via legislative decrees  would target supporters of US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, the accused mastermind of the putsch. After coming to power in 2002, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) had opened dozens of new universities, and a large number of Gulenists had been appointed to their faculties as the alliance between the AKP and Gulen flourished. Indeed, the initial legislative decrees were largely aimed at scholars known as Gulenists.

But soon things changed, and academics of various stripes critical of the government came into the crosshairs. The latest legislative decree of Feb. 7 dealt perhaps the most devastating blow in this respect. More than 300 academics were expelled from their universities, including signatories of a Peace Declaration in January 2016, which had condemned a military crackdown in Kurdish-majority cities and towns. Academics who did not sign the original declaration but issued a separate one later to defend the right to free speech after their colleagues faced a judicial onslaught were not spared either. Illustrating just how wide the net was cast, the list included medical professor Cihangir Islam, a prominent Islamic activist and husband of Merve Kavakci, the first veiled woman to be elected to the Turkish parliament.

The expulsions had a crippling effect on campus. The worst affected was Ankara University, which has so far lost about 100 academics who had signed the Peace Declaration. The universitys prestigious faculty of political sciences is on the verge of collapse, with 23 courses left without lecturers and 50 postgraduate students without advisers, according to Ayhan Yalcinkaya, a senior faculty member. The 158-year-old faculty is a leading educational institution, having raised a plethora of top Turkish politicians and diplomats. Beyond that, however, it is an iconic hotbed of political activism and dissidence, a tradition the AKP had so far failed to break.

Economist Ozlem Albayrak, one of the scholars the faculty lost, believes the scale of the purge at the faculty of political sciences is not a coincidence. The AKP government was never happy with an academia out of its control, and sought to interfere in this realm ever since it came to power. First, they opened countless new universities and staffed them with Gulenists, trying to create their own universities, Albayrak told Al-Monitor. The deep-rooted universities did not allow for such partisan staffing and interventions. Plus, those universities were already beyond the reach of the said academic staff because of their [inadequate] qualification.

Albayrak, who was among the signatories of the Peace Declaration, believes the coup attempt of July 15, 2016, came as a big opportunity for the AKP. [The government] got the chance to interfere in the deep-rooted, real universities with which it had been able to only quarrel thus far, she said. Thanks to the latest legislative decrees, academics critical of the government are now largely purged. The AKPs real problem is not with Gulenists but with dissenters.

In a symbolic act of defiance, Ankara Universitys expelled academics returned to campus Feb. 8, backed by hundreds of students, civic groups and opposition parliament members. The campaign  called No, we are not leaving  generated support from students and scholars at other universities, while even some pro-government figures criticized the ferocity of the purge.

On Feb. 10, a big demonstration was called on the universitys campus in the capitals Cebeci district, which houses the faculty of political sciences and several other faculties. This time, riot police greeted the expelled academics and their supporters, using dogs and pepper gas to disperse the crowd. Some academics were manhandled and dragged on the ground. But the most memorable moment was perhaps when the police trod under their boots the black gowns the academics had laid down in protest.

Commenting on the episode, Albayrak said, Nothing could have illustrated better how we are faced with a government that cares nothing about students and universities and takes interest in education only in terms of controlling it. By blocking our entry to the campus and treading on the gowns with their boots, they showed that the academia they want is not only an academia they can control but also one they can crush and overrun.

The unprecedented purge sparked condemnations from various opposition and pro-government quarters, a rare occurrence in the deeply polarized climate in Turkey today. While deputies from the Republican Peoples Party and the Peoples Democratic Party lent vocal support to the academics, pro-government columnists spoke of mistakes and injustices in the expulsion lists.

According to media reports, Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli told a closed party meeting that the expulsions would be reviewed. But regardless of whether or not the government steps back, Turkish academia is badly crippled and will need a long time to recover.

Many academics have already left the country to seek new careers abroad, with Germany high on the list, in a bitter quirk of history. In the 1930s and 1940s, dozens of scholars and scientists fleeing Nazi Germany had taken refuge in Turkey, making great contributions to the development of academic institutions, including Ankara University's faculty of political sciences, in what was then a fledgling republic founded on the ashes of the Ottoman Empire. The brain drain is now reversed, but those who manage to relocate are still the luckiest. Many who have lost their jobs are condemned to civil death, facing travel bans and unemployment.

Nilgun Toker, a philosophy scholar expelled in January, describes the purges as an intellectual genocide. Ibrahim Kaboglu, a top constitutional law professor swept in the latest purge, sees an irony that perhaps summarizes best the state of affairs. Referring to some imams who have launched pro-government propaganda in mosques ahead of a key constitutional referendum in April, Kaboglu said Turkey has become a country where the imams can speak out but the professors cannot.
February 13, 2017

The much-anticipated Reis ("The Chief")  a biopic tracing the life of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from childhood to the pinnacle of political power  premieres in Turkish cinemas March 3. Excerpts posted online leave no doubt that the protagonist is a larger-than-life hero. The timing of the launch is likely not inconsequential, coming as it does just weeks before the referendum on constitutional amendments whose sole purpose, in the eyes of many, is the consolidation and prolongation of "one-man rule" in the hands of Erdogan. In the bigger picture, The Chief is a film about the history of not just Erdogan, but of the Turkish Republic itself.

An early scene involves one of the most controversial prohibitions in Turkey's history  the ban on reciting the Islamic call to prayer in the original Arabic that was imposed in 1932 by the one-party, Kemalist regime and lasted until 1950, when the first free elections brought the opposition Democrat Party to power. The Chief covers the ban, abhorred for decades by Turkeys religious conservatives, in a dramatic fictional fashion.

As the unpopular Turkish-language call to prayer is delivered from a minaret, a bold imam walks into the courtyard of a mosque and dares to recite the Arabic call to prayer. A soldier under strict orders to stop such reactionaries forces the imam to cease and beats him with his rifle. The mans young grandson, however, proves his bravery and continues with the recitation, despite the menacing presence of the soldiers with their guns.

Another dramatic scene is set in the year 1961. Turkey is under the rule of a secularist military junta that has overthrown the democratically elected Democrat Party government. The young boy who bravely recited the Arabic call to prayer is now a pious Islamist with a cause. A truck full of soldiers heads into his modest neighborhood, where they break down his door and arrest him as he is praying. For added drama, the man's aged parents try to stop the soldiers and save their son. They are viciously thrown to the ground, in a scene reminiscent of Nazis in Holocaust films.

Meanwhile, a young boy in the neighborhood has been watching all this with sadness, but also with a certain wiseness, knowing that these dark days will pass. At that point, Erdogan's voice is heard reciting a line from a famous poem: Dont leave this nation without a hero, my God. That boy is the young Erdogan, the very hero that this nation  Turkeys religious conservatives  has been waiting for for a century. That, apparently, is the message of The Chief.

Many of the other emotion-laden scenes  such as Erdogans brief imprisonment in 1998 by another secularist, military regime  emphasize the same basic message: The good, religious, modest people of Anatolia defeated a brutal, vicious, secular establishment in Turkey thanks to Erdogan  the bold, brave, unyielding Chief. Erdogans exceptional personality is of course highlighted: He is afraid of no threat, including death, which he sees as coming together with God. He leads the people around him and instructs them on doing the right thing. He keeps all his promises, and is forever self-confident. He is tough against evil, but also compassionate toward the meek, the poor and the otherwise downtrodden.

Who made such a film? The Kafkasor Film Academy, a new enterprise whose portfolio apparently includes no other films, but whose first production involved considerable investment. It was shot in two countries (Turkey and Cyprus), in five different cities and has a cast of 3,000 actors and extras. The company's owner told the media that the budget for The Chief had been $8 million, which is quite a large sum in the Turkish film industry.

All in all, The Chief comes across more as a work of political propaganda than a biographical drama. Films about great political leaders are made in democracies, but typically after they have died or at least stepped away from power. An attempt is also often made to be balanced, acknowledging the failures of the historic figure in question as well as his or her achievements. The Chief, however, is all about praising Erdogan as he stands at the zenith of his power but wants to further expand and retain it. Critically, he is about to ask the nation whether they want an all-powerful Erdogan indefinitely.

Many of Erdogans supporters will likely be moved by the eagerly awaited film, whose trailers have had more than 130 million hits. The historical irony will probably be lost on most of them that the early Turkish Republic that they so despise was characterized not only by a heavy dose of secularism, but also by a cult of personality, not unlike their own, around Kemal Ataturk. In the 1930s, when Ataturk dominated Turkey, statues of him were erected across the country to the extent that the words statue and Ataturk became synonymous in the public's mind.

Now, a century later, Turkey has another cult of personality in the making, at the hands of the very people who for decades ridiculed the cult of Ataturk. Statues are out of fashion these days, but a much more influential form of art is available for the mission: film. The Chief is just the beginning. The producer has proudly noted that The Chief II, The Chief III and several other films are being planned for the series. They will all be launched on Feb. 26, Erdogan's birthday. After all, his birthday must be a special day for the entire nation.
February 14, 2017

The screws on free expression are tightening in the run-up to the April 16 referendum on boosting the powers of Turkeys presidency, and the country's mainstream media is a zealously self-censoring accomplice.

Orhan Pamuk, a celebrated novelist and Turkeys first Nobel laureate, joined the ranks of the silenced when Hurriyet axed an interview with him that was meant to run on Feb. 13.

Pamuk confirmed that he had spoken at length with Cansu Camlibel, the newspapers newly appointed Washington correspondent. The interview was presumably censored because Pamuk said he would be voting against the superpresidency, which would concentrate near absolute power in the office. Pamuk told a Turkish advocacy group, I said I would be saying no and explained why. Unfortunately, the news is true. In the end the interview was not published.

Dogan Holding, the conglomerate that owns Hurriyet, had already provoked a furor when it sacked a prime-time anchor from its flagship Kanal D TV channel. Iran Degirmenci was fired last week after declaring that he would vote against the referendum.

The channel said he had violated its principles of neutrality, but critics were quick to point out that prominent Hurriyet columnist Fatih Cekirge had been left alone after saying he would be voting yes.

There followed news that Hakan Celenk, a columnist for another Dogan broadsheet, Posta, had been given the boot for opposing the superpresidency as well. Not surprisingly, Dogan titles did not carry the news that promising young Turkish pianist Dengin Ceyhan was detained today for his social media posts.

Who will it be next? asked a prominent Turkish columnist who spoke on condition of anonymity to Al-Monitor for fear of likely repercussions. The climate is absolutely suffocating, I dont feel like writing any more. Besides what is the point? They will win the referendum by any means, the columnist said.

Concerns about electoral mischief are apparently shared by Western leaders. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Turkey to allow the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to monitor the referendum during a trip to Turkey in early February.

Opinion polls suggest the contest will be tight. The polling outfit Gezici published its most recent results today showing 43.7% voting in favor and 45.7% voting against. Some 10.6% of respondents said they were undecided.

Although most of the Turkish press is now in the hands of Erdogans cronies, Dogans support is seen as critical in winning over the undecided. Its stable of newspapers and TV channels has massive reach despite recent calls for a boycott over its brazen kowtowing.

Erdogan has cynically cast the referendum as a choice between himself and doom, accusing naysayers of acting in concert with terrorists. The president has gone as far as to suggest that those who vote against granting him more power were supporters of the July coup.

The situation of those who say no is in some respects siding with the treacherous July 15 coup attempt, he said before taking off for a tour of the Gulf earlier this week.

Even businessmen in Erdogans inner orbit are said to have reservations about empowering him even further but are too afraid to say so because they are humiliatingly dependent on him for their financial survival.

Dogans boss, Aydin Dogan, has been struggling to make nice with Erdogan ever since he was slapped with a multibillion-dollar tax fine for allegedly cooking his books. Overt pressure on the tycoon started when Hurriyet ran a story about a German-based Islamic charity that allegedly channeled millions of euros to businessmen and a TV station with close ties to Turkeys Islamists.

Relations began to improve when, following in the footsteps of fellow media bosses, Dogan began sacking journalists critical of Erdogan. He sold one of his prized titles, Milliyet, to a pro-Erdogan rival and shuttered the liberal daily Radikal. The real breakthrough came on July 15, when Erdogan appealed to the Turkish people to resist the putschists via video live-streamed on a cellphone held by CNNTurk anchor Hande Firat. It was a decisive moment, and the coup crumbled. Firat was swiftly promoted to Hurriyets Ankara bureau chief. CNNTurk is also owned by Dogan.
February 13, 2017

On Feb. 9, when I heard reports that a Russian aircraft had accidentally bombed a Turkish position in al-Bab, killing four soldiers and wounding 10 others, I did not immediately think that it might not have been an accident. I thought that way because I am generally immune to the conspiracy theories that are rampant in Turkey, just as they are in most Middle Eastern countries.

The Turkish army quickly issued a communique saying the bombing was an "accident." However, there was no mention of an accident in the Russian version that came later. In the Russian version, there was no mention of regret either. A day later, the Russians were a bit more articulate. They issued another statement, implicitly putting the blame on the Turkish side for having given the wrong coordinates on the deployment of Turkish troops, resulting in the casualties.

The Turkish General Staff quickly rebutted the Russian interpretation, pointing out that the coordinates of the location where the Turkish casualties occurred had been given to the Russian side eight days previously and also the night before.

Some in the Turkish media with a soft spot for fantasies claimed that the Syrian regime might have intentionally misled the Russians. There were claims that the air attack was in fact conducted by Syrian air forces or that Syrian forces acted on false intelligence provided by Russian intelligence.

In this flurry of news, statements and counterstatements, my mind began to work on a conspiracy theory. Only a day and a half before the Russian air attack on the Turkish position, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had had his long-awaited and eagerly expected conversation with US President Donald Trump. The conversation lasted some 45 minutes. The Turkish media close to the government, citing presidential sources, reported that the conversation was friendly and cordial. The reports said that the two leaders talked about the Turkish militarys Operation Euphrates Shield targeting al-Bab and that Erdogan told Trump that Turkey could undertake the military attack on the Islamic State (IS) to recapture Raqqa. Erdogan said that therefore there was no need for the Americans to supply the Syrian Kurds or rely on them to liberate Raqqa, Turkish media reported.

The American press, including The Washington Post, was careful to underline that Trump was noncommittal on the issue of Raqqa and on whether the Americans would stop cooperating with the Kurds. Nevertheless, the Turkish military started a massive attack on al-Bab and succeeded in penetrating into the town to capture some key positions.

A day before the Turkish militarys offensive in al-Bab and a few hours before the Erdogan-Trump talk, the Syrian army reached Tadif, only a mile south of al-Bab.

Considering all these developments, one could conclude that the Russian bombing of the Turkish position in al-Bab was not an accident.

How so? According to the accepted norms of Middle Eastern ways of interpreting information, this is what transpired: Russia sent a message of displeasure to Turkey because of its growing relationship with the new US administration.

The Russian bombing was aimed at reminding the Turks not to forget that the main power broker in Syria is not the United States but Russia and that the Turkish side has to make its game plan accordingly.

Perhaps the timing of the Russian Foreign Ministrys statement regarding the Syrian Kurdish forces Peoples Protection Units (YPG) was not a coincidence as well. The statement emphasized that the Kurdish presence is necessary for the quest of a peaceful and lasting settlement of the Kurdish issue and that Russia does not consider the Syrian Kurdish groups to be terrorist organizations. The statement came on the same day when the Turkish position was hit by Russians and only hours after it was announced that Erdogan had asked Trump to stop cooperating with the Syrian Kurds.

The Turkish military still cannot even acquire total control of al-Bab, a town thought to be much more easier than Raqqa to deal with, making it very difficult to see how Turkey could effectively replace the Kurds with its forces to liberate IS' Syrian capital.

Militarily, one way Turkey could try to move south toward Raqqa would be to go through Tell Abyad, a Kurdish-held town on the Turkish border. However, that would mean first battling the US-backed Kurds who have been fighting to take Raqqa.

Perhaps all these considerations led Numan Kurtulmus, a deputy minister and government spokesman, to announce that Turkey's final aim in Syria is al-Bab. On Feb. 11, Kurtulmus said that Raqqa does not constitute a direct threat to Turkeys security and that Operation Euphrates Shield would come to an end after al-Bab. Erdogan himself had earlier made a similar statement, indicating that Turkeys military role in Syria is limited to al-Bab.

However, the Turkish president changed course Feb. 12 and insisted that the Turkish military operation would go on all the way to Raqqa after al-Bab.

There might be a miscommunication. There is no such thing as stopping when al-Bab is secured. The issue of al-Bab is about to be resolved. After that, there are Manbij and Raqqa, Erdogan said.

His last statement could be interpreted as his response to the Russian message.

What is next? A big question mark. Perhaps we will be watching Erdogan between Trump's anvil and Putin's hammer, more and more.
Alabama entered the auto industry 20 years ago today, when the fledgling Mercedes-Benz plant's first M-Class sport utility vehicle rolled off the assembly line.

It was the first stride into a world where Alabama now turns out more than a million vehicles a year through the work of Mercedes, Honda and Hyundai, along with the hundreds of suppliers which followed.

Demand for the M-Class was already high at the start. Hueytown resident David Carden drove that first model off the production line during a ceremony attended by 850 workers. A few days later, an M-Class headed to Five Points South to film a publicity video was pulled over by a Birmingham police officer who just wanted to get a good look at the future.

In the two decades since, the plant, which employs about 3,500 people, has turned out more than 2.5 million vehicles, including the GLS SUV, C-Class sedan, GLE Coupe, and the GLE - the name since 2015 for the M-Class.

Gov. Robert Bentley, in a statement today, said the state's partnership with Mercedes is stronger today "than ever before."

"The confidence that Mercedes has shown in our workforce and in the positive business climate we have created in the state has allowed the auto industry to continue to grow in the city of Vance and beyond, making Alabama one of the top auto-producing states in the country."

At that beginning 20 years ago, Alabama used the Mercedes opening as a way to recast the state's image. The M-Class unveiling in May 1997 was attended by 6,000 people from approximately 60 countries, with some international visitors getting tours of the state, including a visit to the beach.

Later that fall, the M-Class went on sale and was later named Motor Trend's "Truck of the Year."

Now the company contributes an estimated $1.5 billion in economic impact to Alabama. And a $1.3 billion expansion of the plant is continuing construction, and set up to begin full production in 2019.

Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield said the entry of Mercedes-Benz into Alabama changed the state forever.

"It was this company's vision," Canfield said, "to build an entirely new kind of vehicle in its first U.S. manufacturing plant, that led to the growing, innovative automotive operations we have throughout the state today."
Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits will give away free food and drinks next week to celebrate its newest location in Alabama.

The fast-food chain will host a grand opening at 5 a.m. Feb. 20 on 2955 East South Boulevard in Montgomery. It is the city's second Bojangles' restaurant.

"Our franchise group is thrilled to bring another Bojangles' to Montgomery," said Bojland Restaurant Group franchisee Pat Landon. "Since we broke ground on Eastchase Parkway, the reception from the local community has been overwhelmingly positive."

The restaurant spans 3,800 square feet and will accommodate 75 customers. It employs 50 part- and full-time workers.

The first 50 dine-in customers at the new location will receive a $5 gift card during the grand opening. Guests can also enter a drawing to win Bojangles' breakfast for a year.

Anyone who makes a food purchase from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. will receive a free Bo-Berry Biscuit. Bojangles' Legendary Iced Tea and Kid's meals will also be free with any purchase from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Landon's company will have six locations under contract by late 2017. Bojangles', which is based in North Carolina, had 699 system-wide restaurants primarily in the Southeast as of September 2016.
Downtown Birmingham diners have another new place to eat lunch.

O'Carr's Downtown, a delicatessen from the owners of the original O'Carr's in Homewood, opened for business Monday.

The restaurant is at 214 18th St. North, near the Lyric Theatre and the Alabama Theatre. It will seat 55 guests.

"We're a small little restaurant but hoping to carve a niche down here in the downtown community and become part of the neighborhood," O'Carr's co-owner Cameron Carr told AL.com.

"It's a new location for us, but it's not a new concept," Carr added. "This is our 42nd year in business."

The O'Carr's Downtown menu will feature the same soups, salads and sandwiches available at the Homewood location, Carr said. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

"After we get our feet on the ground a little bit, we may try opening one evening a week, a Friday night, just to see how that goes for dinner," he added.

Carr and his wife, June, opened the original O'Carr's at 2909 18th St. South in Homewood in 1975.

They first announced plans to open a downtown location more than two and a half years ago.

"My wife and I are life partners and business partners . . . and for us, it's a dream come true," Carr said. "I'm real pleased with how it came out."

The Carrs will live in a loft on the third floor above the new restaurant.

"At the end of the day, to be able to get on the elevator and go upstairs, how great is that going to be?" Carr said. "It's just so, so neat"

The Carrs have two additional lofts on the second floor that will be available for rent, he said.

In addition to O'Carr's Downtown, at least three other new lunch and/or dinner restaurants have opened downtown since the start of the new year -- Cosecha Urban Kitchen, Roots & Revelry and Urban Cookhouse.

The Pizitz Food Hall -- which will include 14 food stalls, three restaurants and a bar -- is also expected to open later this week.
An Alabama educator has posted an open letter defending a hip-hop artist who was banned from the Southern Baptist-owned retailer LifeWay for using the word "penis" in one of his Christian songs.

"I am thoroughly disappointed that LifeWay would remove such a crucial, prophetic, and wonderful album over something so benign and insignificant," Ben Sciacca, executive director of Restoration Academy in Fairfield, wrote on his Facebook page today. "Why censor clever artistry that actually encapsulates and enforces a strong biblical premise? This album is incredibly needed and relevant. This move by LifeWay once again reveals the chasm in evangelicalism between majority culture and minority brothers and sisters. It accentuates how the privileged continue to attempt to silence or sanitize a narrative based on pleasing their majority culture consumers."

He was speaking of LifeWay's ban of the latest album by hip-hop artist Sho Baraka, a former Tuskegee University student.

Sho Baraka's album "The Narrative" debuted in the top 10 on iTunes last fall and was once described with high praise on LifeWay's product page as "saturated in a Gospel worldview," the Washington Post noted.

"But, Baraka said, the retailer pulled his album last month after customers objected to the final track, which includes the lyrics:

I was an insecure boy who just thought he was a genius

But always pissed off, that's because I thought with my penis

It's all strategic, I'm just asking us the reason

Share my faith on the track, I'm just exorcising demons"

Sho Baraka, a former Tuskegee University student, is a hip-hop artist whose latest album was banned by LifeWay retail stores.

Baraka told The Post the song in question, "Piano Break, 33 A.D." - a reference to the traditional date of death for Jesus of Nazareth - is about his past failures to live his life monogamously. It wasn't profane in context, Baraka said, because it was about how "God has been good in my life," while acknowledging "how wretched and evil I am."

LifeWay spokesman Marty King confirmed that LifeWay had removed the offending album after complaints.

"Like any retailer, LifeWay has a responsibility not to carry resources with content our customers consider inappropriate," he said. "After receiving complaints about some language in The Narrative CD, LifeWay decided to no longer carry it."

Sciacca has been on the staff at Restoration Academy for 17 years as principal and now executive director. Restoration Academy is a private Christian school in Fairfield with mostly African-American students.

Sciacca recently wrote a novel, "Meals from Mars: A Parable of Prejudice and Providence," released Feb. 1 by NavPress, a division of Tyndale House Publishers.

Here is the text of his letter to LifeWay:

Dear LifeWay -

By now, you've discovered that many of us are disappointed with your recent decision-making.

You've seen the buzz on social media, and I'm confident that you've heard from some of us at your customer service lines. There are some serious head scratching aspects regarding your pulling of Sho Baraka's album, The Narrative off the shelf. You claim you received complaints about his album. You claim some of the album's language is inappropriate. You claim the album does not reflect the values of LifeWay and that you reserve the right to remove albums and media that do not coincide with those values. So I have to ask a some questions:

Whose values are you referring to when you say that the album offended people?

Honestly, I'd love to know who these people are. They certainly don't represent me or a large segment of people within the Body of Christ. I know countless believers who love the album, have been moved by the album, and feel like the album has moved them closer to Jesus and justice.

What was "inappropriate" in the first place? He used the word "penis" in a song. Why is that offensive or inappropriate enough for you to pull his album? For one, he used the word to vulnerably share with his listeners about the sexual indiscretions from his past. He directs them to the redemption that can only be found in Christ.

Don't all Christian parents want their children to walk in sexual purity? What is wrong with an artist expressing, in an artistic way, the need for sexual purity? Secondly, doesn't the Bible itself contain similar language and vocabulary that could be considered inappropriate for the very same reasons? Paul said to the church in Galatians that he wished some of his opponents would castrate themselves (Galatians 5:12)! Is that more or less inappropriate than a reference to male anatomy?

Are you aware that silencing cries for justice and reconciliation is "inappropriate?"

The Narrative does an amazing job expressing the struggles of minority brothers and sisters in this nation. The album also goes to great lengths to affirm the Imago Dei - from the womb to the tomb. In an age where human dignity is being trampled, compromised, exploited, and redefined, we need artists like Sho and albums like The Narrative to show us the way.

The Narrative is historically accurate, prophetic, culturally relevant, and scripturally sound. Sho walks listeners through the controversial narrative of America and the American church with poetic brilliance. He also tethers his music to biblical norms, kingdom hope, and the persistence and pertinence of the Gospel. Throughout history, this type of voice has been silenced, shunned, or ignored. You might say that using the word "penis" in a song is inappropriate. I would say that silencing a call to justice is exponentially more so.

Why are you so willing to censor truth and reconciliation?

The Narrative is an incredibly relevant and prophetic album for the days in which we live. Sho goes to great lengths to walk his listeners through the racial injustice and tensions that have plagued our nation for centuries. He shares his own struggles processing the world around him. He also points the listener to Jesus and helps shine some light where others only curse the darkness.

Sho walks folks through the scalding and tumultuous waters of race, injustice, and faith. He does so artistically and brilliantly. At a time when the church is quickly losing relevancy in the eyes of the unbelieving world - particularly as it relates to issues of the gospel and justice - this album is both timely and needed. Your censorship loudly communicates that LifeWay is either:

unconcerned with issues of justice and the gospel OR under the belief they hold the keys to what is considered "appropriate" ways to discuss justice and the gospel.

My guess is the majority of the folks who contacted you regarding how inappropriate the album is would rather have music their students can get hype to at youth group meetings rather than listen to music that will equip and embolden them to be shalom-makers in a broken world, crying out for peace.

Your decision reveals once again that the privileged have the power and the ability to silence minority brothers and sisters who do not align to a particular standard or brand of Christianity. This has been a long history in the American church, and it is unfortunate that you knowingly or unknowingly perpetuated this legacy.

Have you even listened to the album?

Has anyone on LifeWay's team listened to the album? If you haven't - do so! If you have, how can you not see the value in this album for the church, and for unbelievers during such a vitriolic and polarizing time in history?

Finally, more often than not, the truth itself is offensive. If we really want to delve into issues of race, justice, and even sexuality, we can no longer afford to pillow fight with the issues in a way that makes everyone feel special and uplifted.

Some truth is ugly. Some issues are grimier than others, but that is okay. If we as Christians are going to produce books, music, and movies that almost solely satisfy "the sanitized's" expectations, we may potentially stifle the power and reach of the Gospel. Feeding the saints and reaching the lost are not synonymous in producing art.

Thankfully, Sho's album found a way to do both - which is a tremendously difficult task. I wish LifeWay would see the bigger picture. I wish they would not acquiesce to the faction of saints who believe their definition of morality and sanitized music trumps the weightier issues of cultural relevance, justice, and kingdom advancement towards a hurting world.

Please don't stifle The Narrative with the uglier narrative of privileged Pharisee-ism. The world and many of our brothers and sisters in Christ have lived under the tyranny of that narrative long enough...
Isaac White.JPG

Isaac White Sr., pictured in front of White's Barber College, is being featured in Allstate Insurance Co.'s "Worth Telling" campaign throughout February in honor of Black History Month. (File photo by Sharon Steinmann)

Mobile barber Isaac White Sr. has been cutting hair since 1944. At 97, he still goes to work every day at the school he founded in 1960, White's Barber College in Mobile, where he offers barber training tuition-free to any applicant who completes the coursework and secures a job.

Because of the impact he has made on countless lives, White is being honored during Black History Month by Allstate Insurance Co. as part of a digital, social media and radio campaign called "Worth Telling."

In addition to White, the campaign features two other African-American trailblazers, Ariell Johnson, owner of Amalgam Comics and Coffeehouse in Philadelphia, and Aaron Walker, founder and chief executive officer of Camelback Ventures in New Orleans.

"Allstate is committed to creating, supporting and sponsoring programs that empower the African-American community," said Georgina Flores, vice president, product marketing, Allstate Insurance Co. "We are celebrating Black History Month by sharing inspirational stories of African-American pioneers who are impacting communities across the country today."

Through images and videos, Allstate is sharing White's story on its official YouTube, Instagram and Facebook channels using the hashtag #WorthTelling, and you can learn more at www.allstate.com/worthtelling. The campaign will also run online and on national radio throughout the month of February.

In addition, to support each "Worth Telling" individual's mission and further connect the campaign to their respective local communities, Allstate is hosting events in Mobile, Philadelphia and New Orleans that highlight the individuals' outstanding contributions and honor their participation in the "Worth Telling" campaign.

The company is sponsoring free haircuts for patrons at White's Barber College, 1350 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., on Friday, Feb. 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Valentine's Day is today, Feb. 14. And you may be wondering: Who is St. Valentine? Why is he the patron saint of lovers?

As with any saint in the Catholic Church, there is a story there, and it may be embellished in legend.

St. Valentine was a priest in Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius II, according to Christian tradition.

Claudius was having difficulty enlisting enough soldiers for his army, which he attributed to men being reluctant to leave their wives and families.

"He wished to extend his empire," said the Rev. Brian McKay, prior of the Carmelite Monastery in Dublin, Ireland, which claims to have the bones of St. Valentine in its church. "And he believed that in order to do that, all his young men should be available to fight. And so he didn't want them to get married."

So Claudius banned marriages and engagements.

"Their strength was to be kept purely for the battlefield," McKay said in an interview with Catholic News Service. "This presented a huge problem for the Christian church. For Valentine, it was most important that with the new Christian religion that sexuality was kept within the sacrament of marriage."

Valentine defied the edict and continued to perform marriages. He was arrested, beaten and beheaded. He was executed on Feb. 14, in about 269 A.D., according to church tradition. St. Valentine, it seems, was a martyr for upholding the importance of love and marriage.

"He literally gave his life to achieve this purpose," McKay said.

The bones of St. Valentine were sent to Ireland in 1836, a gift from Pope Gregory to a Carmelite priest in Dublin, McKay said. The church is a year-round pilgrimage site for lovers.

"I think Valentine speaks hugely of the importance of commitment, that love is not something that one has today and that one discards tomorrow," McKay said. "But that couples come to St. Valentine, hoping that his blessing will ensure that they stay together - commitment, endurance, constancy, and above all, belief in the sacrament of matrimony."
Even if Anthony had a year to analyze and dissect each piece...(he couldn't tell if it would)... stand the harsh light of public exposure.

WUWT insider Willis Eschenbach tells you all you need to know about Anthony Watts and his blog, WattsUpWithThat (WUWT). As part of his scathing commentary , Wondering Willis accuses Anthony Watts of being clueless about the blog articles he posts. To paraphrase: Click here to read more.
If you are into birding and headed to Indonesia, then this article on bird watching in Flores would be of great interest to you.



I visited Flores three times from 2016 to 2018 to explore this amazing destination which is relatively unknown to the general tourism world.



Perhaps many may know or have heard of Komodo Island as this is currently one of the top places to visit in Indonesia.









Before I continue, I would like to confess that I am only a beginner bird watcher as I have been doing this only since 2008, mainly around Malaysia, especially at Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo Island.



Flores Bird Watching Therefore, I wrote this article on bird watching in Flores for any serious birders who would like to increase their bird numbers.Before I continue, I would like to confess that I am only a beginner bird watcher as I have been doing this only since 2008, mainly around Malaysia, especially at Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo Island.





My birding activities have taken me to many national parks, forest reserves, conservation's, shorelines, islands, and highlands. Even backyard birding is on my list at times.



In general, I may have seen over 500 to 600 species of birds in the last five years or so and in Borneo, perhaps around 300 to 400 plus birds.



As my job takes me to many places, I somehow manage to find the time to do some birding and in Flores, I was lucky to have time to explore some of the birding spots.









I would recommend using Skyscanner for flights to Flores as it would narrow down the cheapest and easiest ways to fly here from anywhere in the world. Let us get to the birding in Flores.



A pair of pigeons seen at the Komodo National Park on Komodo Island Birding in Flores Flores is located in the easternmost part of Indonesia, after Bali and Lombok Island and just before Papua Indonesia. To get here, the best possible way is by taking a flight.I would recommend using Skyscanner for flights to Flores as it would narrow down the cheapest and easiest ways to fly here from anywhere in the world. Let us get to the birding in Flores.





There are at least 10 popular spots to do birding in Flores and the best place to start is no other than the town of Labuan Bajo in the west most part of Flores.



Labuan Bajo also serves as the main gateway to Komodo Island, where birding is also recommended. There are specialized bird guides found in this town and you can book them by getting in touch with some of the tour companies here.





Labuan Bajo also offers some really nice hotels and resorts for your accommodations and the facilities are up to general tourist standards, or birding standards.



By saying this, I mean you will not find a Nikon Optics shop in Flores, so please bring all your equipment and spares if you have to.





Bird Watching Spots in Flores



The entire island is literally bird-watchable as there is no major development whatsoever being done here.



However, there are a few notable places around Flores for bird watching which are listed from Labuan Bajo and heading outwards.



This means for those planning a short birding trip to Flores can just focus around Labuan Bajo areas.



Dolat Wetlands - Only 4 kilometres south of Labuan Bajo, you can come here twice a day. Spot the Wandering Whistling-duck, Malaysian Plover, Meess Nightjar, Sunda Teal, Black-faced Munia, Beach Thick-knee, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Javan Plover, Flame-throated Sunbird, Crakes and Rails among the many birds here.



Potawangka Road - East of Labuan Bajo and 10 kilometres from the town area. Spot Bonellis Eagle, Wallacean Cuckooshrike, White-rumped Kingfisher, Flame-breasted Sunbird, Zebra Finch, Flores Green Pigeon, Elegant Pitta, Yellow-spectacled White-eye, Black-fronted Flowerpecker, Wallaces Hanging-Parrot, Black-naped Fruit-Dove, Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Green Junglefowl, and many others.



Komodo National Park - This will be everyone's must-go place when you are in Flores and apart from seeing the Komodo Dragons, you will be in for a good bird watching experience here. Some of the park guides know quite a bit about the Komodo Island birds.



The beautiful five-coloured Munia in Flores Lake Sano Nggoang and Nunang Village - Southeast of Labuan Bajo along the Flores Highway to Ruteng. Spot Wallaces and Moluccan Scops-Owls, Glittering Kingfisher, Flores Crow, Flores Green Pigeon, Pacific Black Duck, Flame-breasted Sunbird, Elegant Pitta, Flores Minivet, Flores Monarch, Golden-rumped Flowerpecker, Yellow-ringed White-eye, Black-fronted Flowerpecker and many more.



Puarlolo - East of Labuan Bajo and easy to do as a day trip. Spot the famous Flores Monarch, Flores Crow, Rufous-backed Kingfisher, Short-toed Eagle, Green Junglefowl, Thick-billed Dark-eye, Flores Hawk-Eagle, Chestnut-capped Thrushes, Russet-capped Tesia, Wallaces Hanging-Parrot, Rufous-chested Flycatcher and many others.



Golo Lusang and Danau Rana Mese Lake - South and East of Ruteng, en route to Bajawa. Spot the Flores Minivet, Golden-rumped Flowerpecker, Pacific Black Duck (lake area), Russet-capped Tesia, Wallaces Scops-Owl, Black-backed Fruit Dove, White-rumped Kingfisher, Timor Leaf-warbler, Scaly-crowned Honeyeater, Helmeted Friarbird, Pale-shouldered Cuckooshrike, Brown-capped Fantail, Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon, Blood-breasted Flowerpecker and many other birds.



Poco Ranaka - East Ruteng near to Lake Rana Mese, chances to spot Bonellis Eagle, Chestnut-backed Thrush, White-browed Shortwing, Tawny-breasted Parrotfinch, and the Pygmy Wren-babbler.



Pagal - North of Ruteng and you can find Elegant Pitta, Wallaces Hanging-Parrot, Yellow-spectacled White-eye, Flores Green-Pigeon, White-rumped Kingfisher, Ruddy Cuckoo Dove, Brown-capped Fantail and Russet-capped Tesia, which have been recorded around here.



Kisol Village - Southeast of Ruteng. Spot the rare Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Brown-capped Fantail, Yellow-spectacled White-eye, Flores Green Pigeon, Flores Crow, Thick-billed Dark-eye, Black-fronted Flowerpecker, Flame-breasted Sunbird, Flores Hawk-Eagle, Moluccan and Wallaces Scops-Owl, Black-naped Fruit-Dove, Meess Nightjar, White-rumped Kingfisher, Elegant Pitta, Flores Crow, Russet-capped Tesia, Chestnut-capped Thrush.



One of the signboards at Kelimutu National Park, Flores Kelimutu National Park - Near Ende and Maumere, you can spot montane endemics like Bare-throated Whistler, Flores Green Pigeon, Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon, Crested Dark-eye, Ruddy Cuckoo Dove and Five-coloured Munia. The best is to trek using the general path all the way to the peak. It takes about 20-30 minutes to trek up. The entire island is literally bird-watchable as there is no major development whatsoever being done here.However, there are a few notable places around Flores for bird watching which are listed from Labuan Bajo and heading outwards.This means for those planning a short birding trip to Flores can just focus around Labuan Bajo areas.- Only 4 kilometres south of Labuan Bajo, you can come here twice a day. Spot the Wandering Whistling-duck, Malaysian Plover, Meess Nightjar, Sunda Teal, Black-faced Munia, Beach Thick-knee, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Javan Plover, Flame-throated Sunbird, Crakes and Rails among the many birds here.- East of Labuan Bajo and 10 kilometres from the town area. Spot Bonellis Eagle, Wallacean Cuckooshrike, White-rumped Kingfisher, Flame-breasted Sunbird, Zebra Finch, Flores Green Pigeon, Elegant Pitta, Yellow-spectacled White-eye, Black-fronted Flowerpecker, Wallaces Hanging-Parrot, Black-naped Fruit-Dove, Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Green Junglefowl, and many others.- This will be everyone's must-go place when you are in Flores and apart from seeing the Komodo Dragons, you will be in for a good bird watching experience here. Some of the park guides know quite a bit about the Komodo Island birds.- Southeast of Labuan Bajo along the Flores Highway to Ruteng. Spot Wallaces and Moluccan Scops-Owls, Glittering Kingfisher, Flores Crow, Flores Green Pigeon, Pacific Black Duck, Flame-breasted Sunbird, Elegant Pitta, Flores Minivet, Flores Monarch, Golden-rumped Flowerpecker, Yellow-ringed White-eye, Black-fronted Flowerpecker and many more.- East of Labuan Bajo and easy to do as a day trip. Spot the famous Flores Monarch, Flores Crow, Rufous-backed Kingfisher, Short-toed Eagle, Green Junglefowl, Thick-billed Dark-eye, Flores Hawk-Eagle, Chestnut-capped Thrushes, Russet-capped Tesia, Wallaces Hanging-Parrot, Rufous-chested Flycatcher and many others.- South and East of Ruteng, en route to Bajawa. Spot the Flores Minivet, Golden-rumped Flowerpecker, Pacific Black Duck (lake area), Russet-capped Tesia, Wallaces Scops-Owl, Black-backed Fruit Dove, White-rumped Kingfisher, Timor Leaf-warbler, Scaly-crowned Honeyeater, Helmeted Friarbird, Pale-shouldered Cuckooshrike, Brown-capped Fantail, Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon, Blood-breasted Flowerpecker and many other birds.- East Ruteng near to Lake Rana Mese, chances to spot Bonellis Eagle, Chestnut-backed Thrush, White-browed Shortwing, Tawny-breasted Parrotfinch, and the Pygmy Wren-babbler.- North of Ruteng and you can find Elegant Pitta, Wallaces Hanging-Parrot, Yellow-spectacled White-eye, Flores Green-Pigeon, White-rumped Kingfisher, Ruddy Cuckoo Dove, Brown-capped Fantail and Russet-capped Tesia, which have been recorded around here.- Southeast of Ruteng. Spot the rare Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Brown-capped Fantail, Yellow-spectacled White-eye, Flores Green Pigeon, Flores Crow, Thick-billed Dark-eye, Black-fronted Flowerpecker, Flame-breasted Sunbird, Flores Hawk-Eagle, Moluccan and Wallaces Scops-Owl, Black-naped Fruit-Dove, Meess Nightjar, White-rumped Kingfisher, Elegant Pitta, Flores Crow, Russet-capped Tesia, Chestnut-capped Thrush.- Near Ende and Maumere, you can spot montane endemics like Bare-throated Whistler, Flores Green Pigeon, Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon, Crested Dark-eye, Ruddy Cuckoo Dove and Five-coloured Munia. The best is to trek using the general path all the way to the peak. It takes about 20-30 minutes to trek up.





What Kind of Birds Are Found in Flores?



Because Flores is an island and sitting between certain flyways, you can see lots of migrating birds here, during their flyby.



But Flores is also home to many endemics like the Flores Crow and Flores Green Pigeon just to name a couple.



Check the Flores Bird List below for endemics. Varieties include coastal birds, lowland birds, hill birds, sub-montane forest birds, montane birds, raptors and even unique birds.



A Rainbow Bee Eater spotted in Flores, near Labuan Bajo Bird List of Flores



The bird list below is not complete but better than anything because there is no official list available out there.



The birds of Flores list here is provided by Burung Nusantara (http://burung-nusantara.org/) and a bird watching trip report.



Note the Flores birds in bold are an endemic while from No.1 to No.50 are mostly the star birds to spot.

Green Junglefowl Orange-footed Scrubfowl Flores Hawk-Eagle Wallaces Hanging Parrot Leaf (Rainbow) Lorikeet Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon Black-backed Fruit Dove Barred Cuckoo Dove Parzudakis (Ruddy) Cuckoo Dove Black-naped Fruit Dove Flores Green Pigeon Flores Scops Owl Wallaces Scops Owl Moluccan Scops Owl White-rumped Kingfisher Cerulean Kingfisher Stork-billed Kingfisher Collared Kingfisher Elegant Pitta Flores Minivet Flores Crow Flores Monarch Flores Warbling-flycatcher (Russet-backed Jungle-Flycatcher) Trumpeting (Brown-capped) Fantail Bare-throated Whistler Chestnut-capped Thrush Chestnut-backed Thrush Flores (White-browed) Shortwing Pygmy Cupwing (Wren-Babbler) Russet-capped Tesia Flores Leaf-Warbler Scaly-crowned Honeyeater Wallaces Heleia (Yellow-spectacled White-eye) Eyebrowed Heleia (Yellow-browed Dark-eyed) Thick-billed Heleia (Dark-eye) Crested Heleia (Dark-eye) Golden-rumped Flowerpecker Black-fronted Flowerpecker Flores (Blood-breasted) Flowerpecker Flame-breasted Sunbird Flores Spangled (Wallacean) Drongo Pale-shouldered Cicadabird Wallacean Cuckooshrike Pale-headed Munia Five-coloured Munia Black-faced Munia Scaly-breasted Munia Timor Zebra Finch Bulwer's Petrel (Komodo) Streaked Shearwater Wedge-tailed Shearwater Red-throated Little Grebe Red-tailed Tropicbird Great Frigatebird Lesser Frigatebird Little Pied Cormorant Red-footed Booby Brown Booby Abbotts'Booby Great-billed Heron Purple Heron White-faced Heron Intermediate Egret Little Egret Pacific Reef Egret Cattle Egret Javan Pond-Heron Little Heron Rufous Night Heron Cinnamon Bittern Woolly-necked Stork Oriental Honey-buzzard Black-winged Kite Brahminy Kite White-bellied Sea-Eagle Chinese Goshawk Variable Goshawk Brown Goshawk Japanese Sparrowhawk Bonelli's Eagle Rufous-bellied Eagle Changeable Hawk-eagle Spotted Kestrel Wandering Whistling Duck Lesser Whistling Duck Sunda Teal Pacific Black Duck Buff-banded Rail White-browed Crake White-breasted Waterhen Common Moorhen Black-winged Stilt Pacific Golden Plover Kentish (Javan) Plover Greater Sand-Plover Whimbrel Common Redshank Common Greenshank Red-necked Stint Marsh Sandpiper Wood Sandpiper Broad-billed Sandpiper Red-necked Phalarope Pomarine Jaeger Whiskered Tern Black-naped Tern Sooty Tern Greater Crested Tern Lesser Crested Tern Brown Noddy White-throated Pigeon Island Collared Dove Spotted Dove Ruddy Cuckoo-dove Barred Dove Green Imperial Pigeon Yellow-crested Cockatoo Great-billed Parrot Rusty-breasted Cuckoo Oriental Cuckoo Common Koel Lesser Coucal Large-tailed Nightjar Edible-nest Swiftlet Glossy Swiftlet Fork-tailed Swift Blue-tailed Bee-eater Common Dollarbird Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker Australasian Bushlark Barn Swallow Pacific Swallow Striated Swallow Grey Wagtail Richards Pipit Pale-shouldered Cicadabird White-shouldered Triller Black-naped Oriole Large-billed Crow Great Tit Flyeater Mountain Tailorbird Arctic Warbler Yellow-breasted Warbler Golden-headed Cisticola Zitting Cisticola Little Pied Flycatcher Black-naped Monarch Asian Paradise Flycatcher Common Golden Whistler White-breasted Wood-swallow Hill Myna Helmeted Friarbird Brown-throated Sunbird Olive-backed Sunbird Oriental White-eye Mountain White-eye Lemon-bellied White-eye Tree Sparrow Eurasian Coot Little Grebes Spectacled Monarch An Orange-footed Scrubfowl spotted at Komodo Island, Flores When is the Best Time for Bird Watching in Flores? Because Flores is an island and sitting between certain flyways, you can see lots of migrating birds here, during their flyby.But Flores is also home to many endemics like the Flores Crow and Flores Green Pigeon just to name a couple.Check the Flores Bird List below for endemics. Varieties include coastal birds, lowland birds, hill birds, sub-montane forest birds, montane birds, raptors and even unique birds.The bird list below is not complete but better than anything because there is no official list available out there.The birds of Flores list here is provided by Burung Nusantara (http://burung-nusantara.org/) and a bird watching trip report.Note the Flores birds in bold are an endemic while from No.1 to No.50 are mostly the star birds to spot.



Overall, the entire year is great for bird watching in Flores, but there is a rainy season from December to March and if you don't like the rain, avoid these months.



Also, in February, the seas have high waves as it is the peak of the monsoon season, so avoid mid-January to mid-March.



July to August is Komodo High Season, so Labuan Bajo will be pretty crowded and so will Komodo Island. If you do not like large crowds, avoid these couple of months.





How Much is Bird Watching in Flores?



Depending on the type of package you choose, the price of bird watching in Flores varies anywhere from US$1000 to US$2000 per person.



A couple of tour companies provide bird watching tours in Flores and for a 7 Day Bird Watching Package, the price is around US$1625.00 per person with a minimum of 2 persons.



However, for those who are on a budget, you can also do bird watching in Flores for less than the prices mentioned above. Probably for under US$1000 per person, but it would be mostly around Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park.



If you are visiting this island in East Nusa Tenggara, do read my other article on



You should also read my other article on



One of the colourful bee-eaters spotted just outside of Labuan Bajo, Flores My Bird Watching Equipment

For me, being a beginner birder, I use very basic equipment for this hobby, especially because I travel quite a bit, hence wear and tear plus damage is my main concerns.



My birding equipment is a Nikon D5100 DSLR camera with a 300mm Nikkor Telephoto Lens, an



The beauty of travelling from place to place in a short time is that you get to see multiple places, but for the serious birder, this would be frustrating.



Well, for my work, I only have very little time to bird watch or photograph, therefore I make the best of what time I have. And this is also one of the main reasons that I travel light, due to my work schedules.



Omicron Binoculars, which I use for my bird watching. I have to admit that I do not know most of the birds spotted during my trip here as I did not have the Flores Bird Guide Book.



I have ordered it and on my next birding trip to Flores, I will bring it along to identify all the birds. You can also visit my



Conclusion Depending on the type of package you choose, the price of bird watching in Flores varies anywhere from US$1000 to US$2000 per person.A couple of tour companies provide bird watching tours in Flores and for a 7 Day Bird Watching Package, the price is around US$1625.00 per person with a minimum of 2 persons.However, for those who are on a budget, you can also do bird watching in Flores for less than the prices mentioned above. Probably for under US$1000 per person, but it would be mostly around Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park.If you are visiting this island in East Nusa Tenggara, do read my other article on things to do in Flores as it sheds some information about what else you can do around this beautiful island.You should also read my other article on things to do in Labuan Bajo , as that is the most popular area in Flores.For me, being a beginner birder, I use very basic equipment for this hobby, especially because I travel quite a bit, hence wear and tear plus damage is my main concerns.My birding equipment is a Nikon D5100 DSLR camera with a 300mm Nikkor Telephoto Lens, an Omicron Barbet RF 8x32 Binoculars , a Cabin Zero Bag, and mid-range tripod.The beauty of travelling from place to place in a short time is that you get to see multiple places, but for the serious birder, this would be frustrating.Well, for my work, I only have very little time to bird watch or photograph, therefore I make the best of what time I have. And this is also one of the main reasons that I travel light, due to my work schedules.I have to admit that I do not know most of the birds spotted during my trip here as I did not have the Flores Bird Guide Book.I have ordered it and on my next birding trip to Flores, I will bring it along to identify all the birds. You can also visit my Facebook album on Flores birds , where I have posted more photos there.





In general, Flores is one of the new places for bird watching as it is located far from the main commercial Southeast Asia region and closer towards Papua New Guinea.





With minor development happening around the island, flora and fauna are still considered to be rich all over the island.



And for anyone wanting to do bird watching in Flores, I strongly recommend you engage a good bird guide who speaks the local language.
A Palestine Liberation Organisation delegation arrived in suits and keffiyehs last month to the Khan Eshieh Palestinian refugee camp to mark its return to the Syrian governments control.

There was an air of celebration, as Fatahs Syrian representative, Samir al-Rifai, was carried on the shoulders of his colleagues. During the visit, the PLO announced that it would supply Khan Eshieh with a grant of 25m Syrian pounds ($117,000) to bolster camp services and infrastructure, while the organisations Syrian ambassador, Anwar Abdul Hadi, thanked Syrian authorities for the return of security.

We are committed to the stance of neutrality in Syria and non-interference in the internal affairs of any country, Abdul Hadi said. We are guests in this country and must respect its hospitality.

The visit angered Palestinian-Syrian activists, who circulated a message dubbing the delegation Pimps of the Liberation Organisation. One displaced activist accused Palestinian officials of turning up on the backs of Syrian [army] tanks rather than aiding camp residents when they needed it most.

INTERACTIVE: Whats left of Syria?

Pro and anti-government forces had long clashed in the towns and villages southwest of Damascus, including Khan Eshieh. But since June, the countryside around the camp had faced a renewed military campaign as the Syrian army, affiliated militias and Russian jets tried to uproot opposition fighters.

By night, Russian jets launched air strikes on key infrastructure, including housing and hospitals. At least 34 Palestinian civilians died during the past three months of the offensive to retake Khan Eshieh, while a tightening siege on the surrounding countryside led to shortages of food, basic goods and medical supplies.

Khan Eshieh community leaders and activists repeatedly called on the PLO to intervene to assist civilians, saying that there were no armed groups inside the camp and that the bombardments were targeting civilians. However, PLO executive committee member Ahmad al-Majdalani cast doubt on these claims, asking during an appearance on the Palestinian Al-Quds TV: If there are no insurgents, then why is the camp besieged?

In late November, rebels signed a truce deal for Khan Eshieh that saw more than 2,500 fighters, their families and other Palestinian civilians evacuated to northern Syria.





The PLOs recent visit has raised broader questions about the organisations role in Syria and its ability  or willingness  to advocate for hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees caught up in the conflict since 2011.

Majdalani told Al Jazeera that the PLO took a solid position from the beginning that it was not interested in interfering in the internal affairs of Arab countries, including Syria. This, he said, was partly because of hard-earned lessons from the Lebanese civil war and the First Gulf war, when the PLO supported former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in the hopes of benefiting Palestinians; the move ultimately left hundreds of thousands vulnerable to reprisals in Kuwait.

Anything that threatens the security of Syria will impact the Palestinian cause, Majdalani said. The unity of Syria will be crucial for [hundreds of thousands] of Palestinians in Syria.

Yezid Sayigh, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Middle East Centre, in Beirut and the author of an authoritative history of the PLO entitled Armed Struggle and the Search for State, acknowledged that the organisation has faced an impossible choice, where even neutrality could be seen as a hostile act.

[The PLO is concerned that] if they take a position that is too neutral  let alone hostile  to the regime, then the regime could take it out on Palestinians, Sayigh said. Mindful of the way in which Damascus turned its back on former ally Hamas for supporting the anti-Assad rebellion, the PLO has effectively ended up endorsing the regime, he told Al Jazeera.

Khan Eshieh is not the first time that the PLO has faced criticism for its role in Syria. Many Palestinians have repeatedly called for the organisation to better protect Palestinians in Syria, particularly in recent years, as several Palestinian camps in the country have been besieged and totally or partially destroyed. According to UNRWA, the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency, 95 percent of the estimated 450,000 Palestinian Syrians still in Syria are almost completely reliant on UN aid.

READ MORE: Palestinian refugees killed in Syrias Khan Eshieh camp

In late 2013, a five-person civil delegation of relief workers and community activists travelled from Yarmouk camp to meet PLO representatives visiting the Syrian capital. The delegation aimed to negotiate a way out of a deadly impasse that began when Syrias largest Palestinian community was bombarded on December 16, 2012, before rebels took control the next day.

After months under a crippling government-imposed siege, dozens of Yarmouk residents were starving to death only a few minutes drive from the heart of the capital. Nearly 200 people have since died of starvation or lack of access to medical supplies, according to the UK-based Action Group for Palestinians in Syria.

Qaes Said, a member of the delegation who spoke to Al Jazeera under a pseudonym, said that while PLO officials reiterated the organisations policy of non-interference, they also parroted the Syrian governments narrative on what had happened in Yarmouk.

READ MORE: Palestinians trapped in Syria face humanitarian crisis

They were coming and telling the camp  that [Palestinian] detainees were under Syrian law and would be released if they hadnt done anything, Said said. They said the Syrian government was trying to bring in humanitarian aid, but those terrorists  and they used that word  were holding the camp hostage.

A senior PLO figure who first led negotiations was later replaced by Majdalani, himself a Palestinian from Syria who heads a relatively minor faction within the PLO. Often seen by his critics as staunchly pro-government, Majdalani remains one of the PLOs main interlocutors with Damascus today.

They didnt send someone from Fatah or another important faction; that was a sign that [the PLO] werent taking this seriously, Said said, adding that the PLO is still falling short today. Theyre not providing any protection and not providing any real financial support, and they are not even pressuring the international community to provide protection or access to other countries.

Negotiations to end Yarmouks siege stalled, and a proposal meant to remove non-Palestinian armed groups from the camp collapsed in early 2014. The siege remains in place to this day, a situation for which Majdalani has blamed Hamas and internal quarrels between militant groups.

While the debate will continue on whether the PLO could do more to help, camps such as Yarmouk and Khan Eshieh already stand as tattered symbols of the price paid by the pre-2011 Palestinian Syrian population of 560,000  many now either internally displaced into poverty and uncertainty, or forced abroad as refugees once again.
Dozens of Palestinian families live with the constant threat of eviction by Israeli settler groups in the occupied city.

Occupied East Jerusalem  Ahmad Sub Laban gently peeled back the blinds covering a window in his home, revealing the golden Dome of the Rock in Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

If you look outside this window, you will understand exactly why the Israelis are targeting us with eviction, he told Al Jazeera.

The Sub Labans are among at least 180 Palestinian families threatened with eviction by Israeli settler groups throughout occupied East Jerusalem, including 21 families in the Old City.

The Sub Labans are considered protected tenants, a status originating from an Ottoman-era law that guards against arbitrary evictions and establishes rent controls. After Israels annexation of East Jerusalem in 1967, the status was abolished, but for those who had already obtained it, the Israeli government issued the Third Generation Law, which strips Palestinians of the right after three generations of protected tenancy.

The conditions for maintaining protected tenancy are also extremely stringent; even renovating a small piece of an apartment could lead to revocation, said Daniel Seidemann, director of the nonprofit group Jerusalem Terrestrial. Hundreds of Palestinians in the city are protected tenants, according to a field researcher from the Jerusalem-based nonprofit organisation Ir Amim.

Some Palestinians with protected tenancy in the Old City say that Israeli settler groups have hastily moved to evict them after the death of the last member of their familys third generation. Others say that their rights have been systematically eroded in the Israeli court system in an effort to increase the Jewish presence in occupied East Jerusalem.

Surrounded by Israeli settlers, the Sub Labans are the last Palestinians left in their apartment building in the neighbourhood of al-Khaldiya. The cobblestone steps outside their building lead to a large Star of David and a string of Israeli flags.

READ MORE: Sheikh Jarrah  When my enemy is my neighbour

The family received their latest eviction order in 2010, after being accused by Israeli settlers of not living in the apartment, which would nullify their protected tenancy agreement. The family vehemently denied the accusation.

Late last year, the Israeli Supreme Court concluded the decades-long property dispute with a controversial ruling: Nora and Mustafa Sub Laban, Ahmads parents, would be permitted to stay in their apartment for 10 years, but Ahmad, his wife, two small children and two siblings would be evicted.

Its like I am being held on death row, Nora told Al Jazeera. They have sentenced a piece of me to death, and now my husband and I have 10 years to wait in isolation for the day the settlers come to evict us.

Ahmad said that his grandmother signed a rental agreement with the Jordanian government in 1953, making Nora the second generation of the protected tenancy. However, the Israeli court stripped the right from Ahmad and his siblings, who have continued to contest the decision, saying that they should be shielded from eviction as the familys third generation.

They revoked our rights in the Israeli courts, Ahmad said. This is an Israeli policy: use every possible means to remove Palestinian residents and replace them with Israeli settlers.





The apartment building where the Sub Labans live had once been a trust for 19th-century Jews migrating from the Galicia region of Eastern Europe. Many of these properties were repurposed by the Jordanian government to house Palestinian refugees displaced from their villages after the 1948 war.

In 1967, the properties were transferred to Israels General Custodian. Several years later, Israel passed the Legal and Administrative Matters Law, allowing Israelis to claim property in East Jerusalem believed to have been owned by Jews before 1948.

The settlers who subsequently moved into the area arrived with a mentality to take as much as they can from Palestinians, Ahmad said.

Last year, Israeli settlers drilled several large holes into the wall of Ahmads childrens bedroom. The austere restrictions on home renovations for residents with protected tenancy has prevented the family from fixing the damage.

They try to make life as difficult as possible for us, Ahmad said.

I never once thought I would not be living in the Old City. I thought I had rights and that I was protected. My roots are connected there. My entire life was shaped in the Old City. by Mazen Qerish, Palestinian resident

Worlds away from the bustle of the Old City, Mazen Qerish lives in a new home in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Issawiya. He was evicted from the Old City last year after living there for nearly six decades.

Qerishs apartment, which his grandfather first rented in 1936, had always been Palestinian-owned. But in 1987, the Palestinian landlord sold the property to a company affiliated with the settler organisation Ateret Cohanim, which works to increase the population of Israeli settlers in the city by facilitating property deals and establishing Jewish communities there, in violation of international law. Qerish says that the settler group then initiated a decades-long legal offensive to evict his family.

Ateret Cohanims executive director, Daniel Luria, denied the allegations, telling Al Jazeera that his organisation doesnt have anything to do with so-called evictions in the Old City. Qerish was removed from the building because he no longer had any rights there, Luria added.

Following the death of Qerishs father, a seven-year court battle ensued as Israeli settlers attempted to challenge his mothers protected status.

The judge ruled that she continued to have protected tenancy, but after her death in 2009, the family was thrown back into court. Qerish argued that he should be considered the third generation based on an old contract that referred to his mother as the second generation of the protected tenancy. In 2016, however, the Qerish family lost the case and was forced to leave the building.

I never once thought I would not be living in the Old City, Qerish told Al Jazeera. I thought I had rights and that I was protected. My roots are connected there. My entire life was shaped in the Old City.

The family has been under severe financial strain since the eviction, with their rent skyrocketing from $265 a year to $530 a month. In addition, the Israeli courts have fined them more than $71,000 for living in their home illegally since 2010.

But for Qerish, the most difficult part of the eviction has been the emotional impact. I was in the middle of the world, he said. I had the markets, my friends and my neighbourhood. If I wanted to pray at Al-Aqsa, I could just walk outside my house and be there.

Today, he often returns to his old neighbourhood of al-Saadiyeh and sets up a chair outside his former home. Even though its a hard life living beside these settlers, I never wanted to leave my home, he said. The Old City is part of my soul.

READ MORE: Palestinians decry Israels settlement bill

Across the street from the Sub Labans building, four other Palestinian families with protected status have also received eviction orders.

One resident, Sami Sidawi, told Al Jazeera that Israeli settlers claimed that his apartment was uninhabited  even though Sidawi has continued to reside there to care for his physically disabled sister. Sidawi and his sister are the last generation of protected tenants, he said.

And Abu Naser Kastaro, who lives in a small unit on the ground floor of the complex, said that his eviction order claims he lost the apartment in a 1982 court ruling  even though he had never been to court. He believes his case was confused with that of a previously evicted Palestinian family.

The remaining families live in fear that at any moment they could be evicted from their homes.

I have lived in this apartment for my entire life, but we are seeing Palestinians being evicted from their homes all around us, Kastaro told Al Jazeera. Every time I see police on our street, I worry that they are coming to throw us out of the house.
China is helping the world to fight against the problem of organ trafficking, an international human organ trade expert from Australia said during a recent interview with China Radio International (CRI).

Campbell Fraser with Griffith University in Brisbane has just attended the two-day Pontifical Academy Summit (PAS) on Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism.

During the PAS, Jiefu Huang, professor and chairman of the China National Organ Donation and Transplantation Committee, said China had imposed a total ban on the use of executed prisoners' organs for transplantation since the beginning of 2015.

Fraser said he has monitored global trends on organ trafficking for years and his research has shown that foreigners have stopped coming to China for organ transplantation based on his interviews with over 1000 organ buyers, sellers, brokers, and doctors.

"I'm absolutely convinced that the reforms in China are absolutely true, and for that reason, I believe the international community should be supportive of the changes in China and encouraging China, and to keep going on this wonderful journey they are going on, and not listening to the political propaganda of people who are trying to stop our progress," Fraser said.

Fraser revealed that his research prompted harassment from Falun Gong cult members just because it was inconsistent with the claims made by Falun Gong, "I had a lot of personal troubles with Falun Gong. When I presented an academic paper at the Hong Kong transplantation conference last year, they complained to my employer, they complained to the conference organizers. When I was speaking, they interrupted me, shouted at me, and generally tried to stop me speaking. "

Fraser had thought that perhaps he was the only person harassed by Falun Gong, but later he found that several other scholars who have not supported the claims made by Falun Gong have also been harassed by cult members.

The Chinese government banned Falun Gong as a cult in 1999, accusing it of disguising as a religious group to brainwash practitioners, extracting money from them, and even encouraging practitioners to set themselves alight.

Although Falun Gong made unfair claims about the Chinese government, China has made progress on cracking down on organ trafficking, Fraser said. China is not only solving its organ trafficking problem in China, but also actually assisting the world with solving the organ trafficking problem.

Speaking on behalf of China at the PAS summit which concluded on Feb. 8, Jiefu Huang proposed the establishment of a World Health Organization (WHO) task force to fulfill the mission of the PAS in order to eradicate organ trafficking.

"China is such an important country, a global leader, so it's really important for China to lead by example, and this is one of the greatest things of having them, China actually gives some good ideas, we are looking at China, we can use some of the ideas to solve the problems of trafficking in Egypt, in Pakistan, and India, and a few other countries," Fraser said.
Given the toxic environment post-Brexit, and the historical record, rejecting child refugees is no wonder.

Two months before Theresa May became the prime minister of the United Kingdom, she spoke at the memorial service being held for one of her constituents, Sir Nicholas Winton.

Winton had been known as the British Oscar Schindler, because he rescued hundreds of Czech children, all Jews, from the Holocaust in the months before World War II.

At the funeral, May described Wintons actions as an inspiration. But, apparently, these actions were not inspirational enough. The Conservative prime minister has just scrapped a similar child rescue scheme, proposed by one of the very children Winton saved, only months after his death.

The so-called Dubs Amendment, in which the government begrudgingly promised to admit 3,000 child refugees from Syria in 2016, was named after a man who owes his life to Winton.

Alfred Dubs, who grew up in Britain and became a Labour member of the House of Lords, was saved from the hands of Adolf Hitler by Winton.

Last week, with the news media concentrating itself largely on Brexit, the government quietly announced the Dubs Amendment child rescue scheme would be stopped after only 350 children had been admitted.

Stacking odds against refugees

Where has this turnaround come from?

There are four factors: a refusal to acknowledge our historic indifference to refugee suffering, the moral rot of the British conservative press, an austerity programme which has legitimised public selfishness, and an even more marked exodus of compassion in post-Brexit Britain.

These four factors have created a perfect storm that has stacked the odds against refugees, even if they are desperately vulnerable children.

In Britain, there is a romanticised view of how the country acted towards the refugees that were being targeted by Hitler.

In reality, the attitude towards these refugees was the exception to a proud military record: it condemned hundreds of thousands more Jews to their deaths when they might readily have been saved. None of this is taught in our school history books.

OPINION: Why doesnt Britain want to take refugee children?

On the eve of the war, just 70,000 Jews had been accepted for asylum in the UK, with an estimated half a million having applied and been turned back  many to their deaths.

Certainly, if you look across Europe, Germany  the most honest country about its actions in that dark era  has taken its previous conduct towards refugees firmly into account, when it comes to responding to Syria.

Given we have written out our real actions from the annals of history, we feel no need to make up for how we really acted in the World War II.

The soft touch myth

The right-wing titles of the British press tilted the odds further away from Syrians.

The most-read print titles of Britain  namely the Daily Mail and the Sun  are conservative, anti-immigration, and anti-refugee, with polling showing them as the most right-wing in Europe.

Unsurprisingly, many of these papers also opposed accepting Jewish refugees into the country before the World War II.

The nail in the coffin for the 90 percent of child refugees who will now be turned away from Britain's borders is the toxic anti-immigration atmosphere of post-Brexit Britain. by

These papers have also championed austerity.

They used the same journalistic techniques to promote the governments punitive austerity agenda  which targets the poor, disabled and women, in particular  as the methods used to oppose immigration: misinformation, selective reporting and fearmongering opinion pieces.

Similarly, the idea that Britain is a soft touch when it comes to asylum applications forms the backdrop to the current Syrian refugee crisis. Long before the Syrian conflict began, this soft touch myth has been pushed by journalists and accepted as fact by senior politicians.

OPINION  Jo Coxs message to the world: We have #MoreInCommon

To illustrate their point, newspapers have, since the 1990s, gathered anecdote after anecdote about bogus asylum seekers, again seeking to present anecdotal evidence as systemic.

Recent reporting has veered into extreme callousness, including a reporter from Breitbart London photographing child refugees into Britain and ruthlessly speculating about their age, while the Conservative MP, David Davies was accused of vilifying child refugees by asking them to undergo dental checks.

In reality, we now know that refugees view Britain as having one of the strictest admission systems in the world.

Appeasing once again?

The nail in the coffin for the 90 percent of child refugees who will now be turned away from Britains borders is the toxic anti-immigration atmosphere of post-Brexit Britain.

In the run-up to the vote, Jo Cox, a Labour MP was assassinated partly for wanting Britain to accept more refugees.

In response to Donald Trumps Muslim Ban, a former adviser to David Cameron, Alex Deane has leaped to Trumps defence, while Prime Minister May has been nicknamed #TheresaTheAppeaser for standing meekly by.

The immigration spokesperson for the UK Independence Party (UKIP) has just told his Twitter followers; If you want a jihadi for a neighbour, vote Labour. The picture was accompanied by refugees hanging off the back of a truck.

Britain has changed after the Brexit, but the changes are, perhaps, not as severe as being made out. From our Britains approach to Jewish refugees in the World War II, to the decades of anti-refugee propaganda pushed by the press, to the selfishness promoted through six long years of austerity; there is a steady pattern of behaviour that means rejecting child refugees who were promised a place here, should have been no surprise.

Alastair Sloan is a London-based journalist. He focuses on injustice and human rights in the UK and international affairs, including human rights, the arms trade, censorship, political unrest and dictatorships.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Investing in localised initiatives to mitigate drought can help the continent to break the cyclic nature of disasters.

Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign in the Department of Entomology and African American Studies

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently declared that millions of citizens in the Horn of Africa face food shortages. Owing to a persistent lack of rainfall between October and December, as many as 12 million people across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia are in dire need of food assistance.

But this is not new. Almost every year, around the same time, similar headlines appear in the news. For example, in 2014, 2015 and in 2016, news of drought and famine across the Horn of Africa was in the headlines. It is a cruel cycle that is likely to repeat itself again and again despite the fact that many of these countries are doing their best to prevent drought and other climate-related disasters.

Various strategies

Drought mitigation strategies in the Horn of Africa include both short-term approaches, such as distributing food to those affected and long-term approaches such as planting drought-tolerant crop varieties that can withstand insufficient rainfall, or diversifying ones crop and income base so that there is something to fall back on when drought strikes.

Kenyas government, for example, is supplying food to areas worst hit by drought, and is also working on sustainable long-term solutions such as investing in community water sources so that they do not depend on rain-fed agriculture.

In addition, Kenya has established a national drought management authority that oversees all matters related to drought management and advises citizens on incoming droughts.

Ethiopia, too, has put in place several drought mitigation strategies, including launching The Productive Safety Net Programme, which enables the rural-poor communities facing chronic food insecurity to resist shocks, create assets and become food self-sufficient (PDF).

Such efforts have not gone unnoticed and the recently appointed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres commended the Ethiopian government on their response to the 2016 drought.

Localised efforts

The question then becomes: what can be done differently to avoid these repetitive cycles of drought and bring the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa to a definitive end? How can we build better resilience to climate-related disasters?

First, there is need for increased strategic integration and coordination between governments and NGOs. They need to coordinate their efforts aiming to help farmers become more resilient to drought and other climate change-related disasters.

In Kenya, for example, there are many organisations that are investing significantly into building resilience to drought and climate change for farmers. The government, NGOs, foundations, and CGIARs research programme on climate change all work towards this goal, but there is little coordination between them.

Responding to climate change and building sustainable drought resilience will require a dedicated and coordinated effort.

Once integration and coordination of drought relief efforts has been achieved, there will be the need to create innovative ways to disseminate available information and solutions to farmers. by

Better coordination can increase efficiency in dealing with drought and equipping citizens with tools and other resources that they need to be able to successfully respond to climate change.

Coordinated efforts can also offer the best option for strengthening livelihoods through improved agricultural productivity and they can build the capability of households to diversify their incomes in order to manage drought-induced shocks.

Countries are already working towards strengthening the coordination between government agencies and NGOs in their efforts to address persistent droughts.

Just last week, the Kenyan president called for streamlining of relief assistance being given by different ministries. He asked for all drought relief help to be distributed through one channel.

OPINION: Volunteerism  A prerequisite for Africas progress

Most importantly, recent discussions about the need to strengthen drought risk management strategies across the African continent have resulted in the proposal for the formation of Drought Resilient and Prepared Africa (DRAPA), a new strategic framework that focuses on enhancing resilience to drought throughout Africa, while inspiring individual African countries to develop their own short and long-term drought mitigation plans (PDF).

The DRAPA will be working towards getting regional institutes that deal with drought mitigation together under African Union leadership, and enforcing their collaboration with the international community, including UN agencies such as the FAO.

How to get results

Once integration and coordination drought relief efforts has been achieved, there will be the need to create innovative ways to disseminate available information and solutions to farmers. There is a need for this sort of information to be widely available with open access, so that farmers and citizens can take action.

Projects working towards disseminating information are already beginning to emerge in Africa. For example, mobile phones are being used to send climate information to farmers so that they can plan and put appropriate drought mitigation strategies in place.

In Ethiopia, real-time maps generated through Satellite-Assisted Pastoral Resource Management initiative are relayed to pastoralists who use them in times of drought to find pasture for their animals.

Another innovative approach to disseminate information is being used by maarifa knowledge centres. These are innovative one-stop information centres that are run by Arid Lands Information Network. These modified shipping containers are used as a local hub for information on climate change, including updated information on drought and ways to mitigate it.

While these current efforts by governments, NGOs, Africans and the international community to avoid these repetitive cycles of drought will definitely make a difference, it is important to note that the success of these efforts will vary depending on the country and the commitment of their elected leaders.

OPINION: Climate change and smart seeds in Africa

Similarly, these initiatives success will also depend on the continued collaboration and sustained commitment by all the stakeholders involved. Furthermore, other political reasons including the political stability of these countries may hinder the success of these initiatives.

Investing in short and long-term localised initiatives to mitigate drought and innovative ways to disseminate available information to farmers accompanied by strategic, well-planned and coordinated region-wide drought mitigation strategies can help the African continent to break this cyclic nature of droughts once and for all. Time is ripe.

Esther Ngumbi is a post-doctoral researcher at the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at Auburn University in Alabama. She serves as a 2017 Clinton Global Initiative University Mentor for Agriculture, and is a 2015 Food Security New Voices Fellow at the Aspen Institute.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
President Trumps proposal for privatising the CPB could have significant, negative effects on tribal media.

Tristan Ahtone is an award winning journalist and member of the Kiowa tribe of Oklahoma.

We need to talk about the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The Trump administration, in an effort to reduce federal spending by $10.5 trillion over the next 10 years, is considering gutting government agencies, eliminating funding to the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, and privatising the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)  effectively axing government dollars for public television, radio and online services.

While seemingly trivial  the most visible beneficiaries of CPB funding, NPR and PBS, have said they would be likely to survive without CPB money  the cuts would have significant, negative effects on tribal communities that rely on CPB funding to keep tribal radio stations on the air.

In indigenous communities around the country, where the digital divide is often most pronounced, tribal radio is often the only source for information. Without it, those communities could become even further isolated from the rest of America.

A lifeline for communities





In March of 2014, I wrote a story for Al Jazeera America on the importance of tribal radio to indigenous communities. In Indian country, limited internet access and spotty-to-non-existent cell service have created an environment where radio is a necessity.

At the time, it was estimated that only 10 percent of tribal communities had access to broadband internet. Also, culturally appropriate programming, such as news, music and content produced in indigenous languages, cant be found anywhere else.

For the Al Jazeera America article, I focused on the Hopi radio station KUYI, 88.1, which is based in the Hopi Reservation in Arizona. This radio station has been the lifeline of the community in times of flooding, wildfires and severe weather, and is still one of the only sources of news for the reservation, providing everything from community calendars to Hopi language programming.

For 2017, Hopi radios operating budget is going to be about $286,000, of which more than half, $145,000, comes from the CPB. Without CPB funding, the station would have to cut jobs for production and operation assistants. Language and cultural revitalisation programmes would also be axed, and upkeep and maintenance of their broadcast equipment would cease.

Under President Trump, the Hopi reservations single most important source of information, KUYI, would be reduced to bare bones, or go dark, along with nearly 57 other tribal radio stations around the country.

OPINION: How media did and did not report on Standing Rock

Stations such as KBRW in Utqiagvik, Alaska  the northernmost city in the US; KKWE in Minnesota, on the White Earth Reservation; KGVA, the voice of the Nakota & White Clay Nations in Montana; and KLND, serving the Cheyenne River and Standing Rock Sioux in North and South Dakota, would all be gravely affected by these budget cuts.

According to Native Public Media  a public broadcasting organisation that serves tribal communities  about half of the nations tribal radio stations operate on budgets that are less than $200,000 per year and CPB awards keep most of those stations alive.

This year, the CPB is planning to invest more than $91m in radio community service grants. Awards to tribal radio stations will make up about seven percent of that $91m.

A basic human right

Access to information is a basic human right. Many public and private media organisations around the world have already made a commitment to help indigenous communities to create media outlets.

And under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP), it is the right of all indigenous groups to establish media in their own languages and have access to all forms of non-indigenous media without discrimination (PDF).

Privatising the CPB could gut one of Indian country's most reliable sources of information, but killing tribal radio isn't just bad policy, it's colonialism. by

In Australia, for instance, National Indigenous Television is supported by the government and provides everything from a nightly news programme dedicated solely to aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to an indigenous television channel for children called Jarjums.

The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation has made it a part of their corporate strategy to strengthen indigenous Sami language and culture by creating culturally appropriate programming, which is broadcast nationally alongside other content. Similar indigenous operations exist in Canada, New Zealand, Ireland and Taiwan.

In other words, many developed countries with indigenous populations make a point of supporting and creating culturally appropriate programming by and for aboriginal populations.

However, in the US, media outlets remain generally Indian-free spaces, while Congress refuses to provide any meaningful support to communities disenfranchised by centuries of government policy.

The US attitude towards indigenous media is clearly in contravention of international practice: Under the UNDRIP, states must also take measures to ensure that state-owned media reflect indigenous cultural diversity or should encourage privately owned media organisations to adequately reflect indigenous cultural diversity.

Privatising the CPB could gut one of Indian countrys most reliable sources of information, but killing tribal radio isnt just bad policy, its colonialism  a move that isnt necessarily out of sync with the Trump administrations intentions.

OPINION: Native Americans expect nothing good from Trump

Currently, indigenous communities are bracing for a colossal cut to healthcare infrastructure, which is a consequence of rolling back the Affordable Care Act.

Also advisers to the president are hoping to privatise indigenous territories that are rich in oil and gas reserves. And, as President Trump promised, the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline has begun again, despite opposition from nearly every tribal nation and organisation in the country.

On top of all this, remove communications infrastructure and you have a basic recipe to expand American control and power over indigenous people, land, resources and nations.

In the opening weeks of the Trump administration, its become clear that Indian country may face death by a thousand cuts; but there is a less discussed, but no less substantial question: Is that what makes America great?

If the nations ongoing colonial relationship with indigenous people is any indication, the answer is a resounding yes.

Tristan Ahtone is an award-winning journalist and member of the Kiowa tribe of Oklahoma. He serves as Vice President for the Native American Journalists Association.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Pakistani soldiers, Indian troops and one suspected rebel killed in separate incidents in disputed region.

At least three Pakistani soldiers have been killed by Indian border forces in Kashmir, according to officials in Islamabad, while an equal number of Indian troops and one suspected rebel were gunned down in separate clashes.

The Pakistani troops died early on Tuesday after being wounded overnight, Pakistans army said in a statement, adding that Indian troops had fired across the Line of Control, a de facto frontier that divides the Himalayan valley between the two countries.





Hours later, three Indian soldiers were killed in a gun battle with suspected rebels in India-administered Kashmir.

One suspected rebel also died in the clash in Bandipora district, the Indian armys Northern Command said.

Renewed violence

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since they won independence from Britain in 1947. Both claim the territory in its entirety.

Several rebel groups have for decades fought the 500,000 Indian troops deployed in the region, demanding independence or a merger of the territory with Pakistan.

The fighting has left tens of thousands, mostly civilians, dead.

READ MORE: Shot in the eyes  Kashmiri girl tells her story

The latest violence came three days after four suspected rebels, a civilian and three soldiers, were killed in south Kashmir, sparking pro-independence demonstrations that were put down with live ammunition and pellet guns, wounding more than two dozen people.

The disputed region has seen renewed protests and attacks following the killing of a popular rebel commander in July last year.

At least 100 civilians have been killed in the subsequent crackdown, according to health officials.
Michael Flynn resigns after misleading officials about communications with Russia before new administration took office.

Michael Flynn has resigned as national security adviser over his contact with Russian officials before US President Donald Trump took office.

His resignation on Tuesday followed reports a day earlier that the Department of Justice warned the Trump administration weeks ago that such communications could leave him in a compromised position.

AL JAZEERAS WASHINGTON EDITOR JAMES BAYS: This is very important news and very worrying news for the Trump administration. This is, number one, a most important job. He is the gatekeeper, the man who tells the president about the world. Hes the person who connects the key agencies of the United States  the State Department, the Pentagon, all the intelligence agencies  to the White House. Its an absolutely key job and hes going less than a month into the presidency, but its even more damaging for Donald Trump. This is his longest-serving policy adviser. Trump went through a couple of campaign managers throughout the campaign, hes had a change of staff. Outside the family, the man whos been with President Trump the longest is Flynn. Its a very damaging blow for the White House. Thats because not only is he losing a key member of staff, but because of the fact hes resigned in these circumstances. Remember that this is a situation that is under investigation  hacking by Russia of the United States during a presidential election. Flynn talked to the Russians about that very subject, it seems, and talked about the idea of lifting sanctions. The fact that Flynn goes does not mean that inquiries end. This saga is not over.

It is illegal for private citizens to conduct US diplomacy.

Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the Vice President-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador, Flynn wrote in his official resignation letter.

I am tendering my resignation, honoured to have served President Trump, who in just three weeks has reoriented American foreign policy in fundamental ways to restore Americas leadership position in the world, he added.

Retired General Keith Kellogg, who has been chief of staff of the White House National Security Council, was named the acting national security adviser while Trump determines who should fill the position.

Discussing sanctions

Flynns departure less than one month into the Trump administration marks an extraordinarily early shake-up in the presidents senior team of advisers.

Flynn was a loyal Trump supporter throughout the campaign, but his ties to Russia caused concern among other senior aides.

Flynn initially told Trump advisers that he did not discuss sanctions with Sergey Kislyak, Russias ambassador to the United States, during the transition.

Vice President Mike Pence, apparently relying on information from Flynn, publicly vouched for the national security adviser.

Flynn later told White House officials that he may have discussed sanctions with the ambassador.

His conversations raise questions about Trumps friendly posture towards Russia after US intelligence agencies concluded that Moscow hacked Democratic emails during the election.

Looseness with the truth

A US official on Monday told The Associated Press that Flynn was in frequent contact with Kislyak on the day the Obama administration slapped sanctions on Russia for the election-related hacking, as well as at other times during the transition.

Flynns discussions with the Russian also raised questions about whether he offered assurances about the incoming administrations new approach.

Oh the irony of this clip now#flynn https://t.co/7mWVGW8tOt  Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) February 14, 2017

Such conversations would breach diplomatic protocol and possibly violate the Logan Act, a law aimed at keeping citizens from conducting diplomacy.

Mark Jacobson, a Democratic adviser to former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, told Al Jazeera: This is not about the conversations [Flynn] had with the Russian ambassador or other Russian diplomats. This was about the way he characterised it to the vice president, plain and simple.

Charges have never been brought against anyone based on the Logan Act. Im less concerned about that, Im more concerned about the fact he may have lied to the vice president, Jacobson added.

Its more of the cover-up that gets you here. Theres been a lack of transparency, there has been a looseness with the truth at this White House.

 Russophobia

A senior Russian MP said Flynns resignation suggested Trump had been backed into a corner or that his administration had been infected by anti-Russian feeling.

Either Trump has not gained the requisite independence and he is consequently being not unsuccessfully backed into a corner, or Russophobia has already infected the new administration also from top to bottom, MP Konstantin Kosachev was cited as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency.

Kosachev is head of the upper house of parliaments international affairs committee.

OPINION: Why is Russia so happy with Trump?

Moscow-based Dmiitry Babich, a reporter at the state-funded Sputnik International news agency, told Al Jazeera the news signalled a dangerous return of McCarthyism to American politics.

Its obvious that the special services of the United States who eavesdropped on that conversation between Michael Flynn and the Russian ambassador, they leaked this information, he said.

That was used to remove a person from office for a very strange reason. Isnt it natural that the future head of national security should talk to an ambassador of a foreign nation, not a hostile nation, about the possible removal of sanctions?
Pakistanis call for greater security as they mourn 13 victims of suicide attack while flags fly at half-staff in Punjab.

On Monday afternoon, 20-year-old goldsmith Hassan Ahmed was heading back home from work on his motorbike and passing by Lahores busy Mall Road.

Hundreds of pharmacists were rallying against changes to a drug sale law, outside of the provincial assembly building.

There was a sudden blast.

That is exactly when the suicide bomber detonated the bomb and we lost Hassan, Saqib Rehman, Hassans longtime friend, told Al Jazeera.

[Hassan] was the sole breadwinner of his family of 10. He passed away at a very young age. Why was there not enough security to stop cars and bikes from passing by?

READ MORE: Quetta lawyers attack  Irreparable blow to future

At least 13 people were killed in the attack, including seven police officers and six civilians.

Within hours, the Pakistani Taliban faction Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for the blast.

A spokesman for the group warned in a statement that Mondays bomb was just the start.

Pakistanis across the Pubjab province mourned the victims on Tuesday, blaming poor security measures.

Most of the markets and businesses were closed and lawyers boycotted court proceedings in the provincial capital.

Punjabs government declared one day of mourning with the national flag lowered to half-staff at all government buildings.

Lahore residents are furious at the armed groups conducting attacks, Rehman said, adding that people here feel the attacks will increase in the near future.

If this suicide bomber could conduct an attack this easily, it tells us that we are not safe or protected.

Poor security

Mondays attack underlines Pakistans challenges of eliminating armed groups and improving security.

The attacker was not targeting civilians, he went directly towards the police officials who were negotiating with the protesters, said Arshad Dogar, a crime reporter for The News, a local newspaper.

Dogar had been covering the rally and was present at the time of the attack.

In a situation like this, where there are about 2,000 people gathered together, the security measures were close to zero, Dogar told Al Jazeera.

No one was being checked. Anyone could come and participate in the rally. The suicide attacker walked in without any hurdles and successfully conducted the attack.

READ MORE: Pakistans new army chief takes command

In 2016, Lahore suffered one of Pakistans deadliest assaults when a suicide attack in a park killed more than 70 people, including many children.

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar group, which claimed that attack, said it was targeting members of Pakistans Christian minority who had gathered there to celebrate Easter Sunday.

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar also claimed responsibility for a bombing at a hospital in Quetta that killed 74 people in August last year.

Follow @Shereenaqazi on Twitter
Party chief of frontrunner Emmanuel Macron accuses Russia of targeting the campaign of the centrist politician.

Russia has denied that it was behind media and internet attacks on Emmanuel Macron, while the French presidential frontrunners campaign renewed the charges against Russian media and a hackers group operating in Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, replying to a question on a daily conference call, said on Tuesday that charges made a day ago by Macrons party chief, Richard Ferrand, were absurd.

We did not have and do not have any intention of interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, or in their electoral processes in particular, Peskov told reporters.





He said that there was a hysterical campaign against Russian President Vladimir Putin in certain countries abroad.

Ferrand said on Monday that the French centrist politician, who leads the opinion polls for the vote in May, had become a fake news target of Russian media and that his campaign was facing thousands of internet attacks.

Macrons party chief also said that Moscow looked favourably on the policies of far-right leader Marine Le Pen and centre-right candidate Francois Fillon, who are election rivals of Macron. He added that both had been mysteriously spared from Russian media criticism.

Macrons strong pro-Europe stance was not to Russias liking, however, he said.

Le Pen, who heads the National Front and is Macrons closest competitor in the race for the Elysee, wants to take France out of the EU and supports Russias policy on Ukraine.

French media accussed

On Tuesday, Ferrand renewed those charges, saying that the databases and email boxes of Macrons En Marche! (Onwards) party were under attack.

If these attacks succeeded, the campaign of En Marche would become extremely difficult, if not impossible, Ferrand said in Le Monde online.





He said about half of those thousands of attacks came mainly from Ukraine and had been organised and coordinated by a structured group and not by lone hackers.

Ferrand again pointed the finger at Russian state-controlled media Russia Today and Sputnik, saying they were spreading the most defamatory rumours about Macron, including some relating to his private life and the financing of his campaign.

Both Russia Today and Sputnik have denied spreading fake news about Macron and say Ferrands allegations are unfounded.

Sputnik, in a comment on Tuesday, said Ferrands accusations were false and lacked any evidence, and represented an attempt at spinning public opinion.
The United Nations Security Council has condemned North Koreas test-firing of a new ballistic missile and urged its members to redouble efforts to enforce sanctions against the reclusive state.

The 15-member council met on Monday after Japan, along with South Korea and the US, asked for an urgent meeting.





Sundays launch of the Pukguksong-2 missile violated UN resolutions banning ballistic missile launches and marked a major escalation from Pyongyangs shorter-range rocket launches.

It was also the first direct challenge to the international community since US President Donald Trump took office on January 20.

The members of the Security Council deplore all the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea ballistic missile activities, including these launches, it said in a statement.

The council called upon all member states to redouble their efforts to implement fully the measures imposed on the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea by the Security Council.

North Korea has been under UN sanctions since 2006 over its nuclear and ballistic missile tests.

In December, the council adopted a resolution aimed to slash North Koreas exports of coal and other metal exports, designed to cost it $800m a year.

READ MORE: North Korea defector  Kim Jong-uns days are numbered

The US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, had tough words for North Korea after the Security Council meeting on Monday.

It is time to hold North Korea accountable  not with our words, but with our actions, Haley said in a statement.

At a news conference on Monday, Trump said: Obviously North Korea is a big, big problem and we will deal with that very strongly.

The US reaffirmed its ironclad security commitments to South Korea and Japan, the Pentagon said.

Later on Monday, the South Korean defence ministry said the US and South Korea would deploy US strategic assets during their annual joint exercise  in what appeared to be a response to the missile launch.
Human rights spokeswoman says death toll suggests disproportionate force with at least 39 women among victims.

Soldiers targeting the Kamwina Nsapu group in central Democratic Republic of Congo killed at least 101 people over five days in February, the UN said.

At least 39 women were among the victims killed amid the violence between February 9 and 13, the UNs human rights spokeswoman Liz Throssell said on Thursday, citing sources in the country.

The soldiers fired indiscriminately with machine guns when they saw the fighters, who were armed mainly with machetes and spears, she said.

We are deeply concerned at the reported high number of deaths, which, if confirmed, would suggest excessive and disproportionate use of force by the soldiers, she said.

WATCH: Can DR Congo avert a transition crisis?

The violence is also part of a broader surge in instability across Congo in recent weeks after President Joseph Kabila refused to step down when his constitutional mandate expired in December.

At least 11 people were killed on Monday in clashes between the army and a group loyal to a traditional chief slain in fighting with police last year, said local activist Jean Rene Tshimanga, president of the Civil Society of Kasai-Central province.

This morning, we learned again that [the group] attacked the men in uniform [who] repelled them, Tshimanga told Reuters news agency. He did not know how many of the dead were fighters and how many army soldiers.

Neither provincial nor military officials could be immediately reached for comment.

Similar clashes have uprooted tens of thousands.

Analysts say violence in Congo, a tinderbox of conflicts linked to land, ethnicity and mineral resources, has been exacerbated by Kabilas failure to step down.

On Saturday, the Congos UN peacekeeping mission said Kamwina Nsapu had committed violent atrocities and used child soldiers, and it also criticised the army for what it said was a disproportionate use of force against the militia fighters, who are typically only lightly armed.
Accusing Russia of failing to implement ceasefire, rebels say they might attend talks only if progress is seen soon.

Syrian rebels have cast doubt on attending Russian-backed peace talks this week, accusing Moscow of failing to get Damascus to fully comply with a ceasefire or take tangible steps to fulfil their demands.

A rebel official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Monday that at most a handful of rebels might attend, but only if progress was seen in the next two days.

Russia had so far failed to yield any tangible steps towards full implementation of the ceasefire, humanitarian aid access, or a release of female detainees the rebels had demanded at the first meeting in the Kazakh capital Astana, he added.

It seems Russian pressure is of no benefit, the official said.

READ MORE: Russia, Turkey, Iran discuss Syria ceasefire in Astana

Kazakhstan said on Saturday it had invited the government and rebels for February 15-16 talks. They attended a similar indirect meeting in Astana last month aimed at shoring up a ceasefire brokered by Turkey and Russia, President Bashar al-Assads most powerful ally.

The opposition factions will not attend Astana because the Russian side did not abide by what they agreed to before, during and after Astana to uphold the ceasefire agreement, Mohammad Al Aboud, a second senior rebel official said.

Russia and Turkey, which backs the rebels, have sought to revive diplomacy towards ending the war since the Syrian government and its backers defeated the rebels in Aleppo in December, their biggest defeat of the conflict.

A new round of UN-backed peace talks are due to begin in Geneva next week.

The Syrian government said earlier on Monday it was ready to agree on prisoner swaps with rebel groups, which the opposition wants before any negotiations over Syrias political future.

READ MORE: Astana summit  Opposition sets demands for new talks

Syrian state media cited an official source as saying the government was always ready to exchange prisoners in its jails for people kidnapped by terrorist groups.

A rebel official dismissed the statement as a ruse, saying Damascus had far more detainees than the few the rebels held.

Geneva Talks

The United Nations special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, sent invitations on Monday for the Geneva talks beginning on February 23, after initial prior consultations beginning on or about February 20, his spokeswoman Yara Sharif said.

The main Syrian opposition body on Sunday approved its delegation to next weeks Geneva talks.

This month, in a rare move, the Syrian government and rebel groups swapped dozens of women prisoners and hostages, some of them with their children, in Hama province in northwestern Syria.

Amnesty International said in a report this month that the government had executed up to 13,000 prisoners in mass hangings at a military jail near Damascus. The Syrian justice ministry called the report devoid of truth.
In her first print and radio interviews since taking the helm of the U.S. Department of Education, brand-new Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos opened up about the difficulties of her rocky confirmation process to conservative opinion journalists in Michigan.

DeVos gave her first print interview to a Michigan-based opinion page editor whose paper endorsed her as secretary , and her first radio interview to Paul W. Smith, a conservative talk show host, also from the Wolverine State. Smith started his chat with DeVos by telling her, you know that were supportive of you.

DeVos divisive confirmation processculminating in a tie vote that Vice President Mike Pence had to break was a theme of both conversations.

DeVos told Ingrid Jacques, the deputy editorial page editor of the Detroit News, that she could have answered some questions in her confirmation hearing better or more articulately. But she added, in my defense, the questioners had no interest in really hearing a full response, I dont think. I did not want to be combative. I wanted to continue to be respectful and to try to reflect the kind of demeanor that I think we should have surrounding these conversations. And she said the opposition to her candidacy has made me more resolute.

And Smith the Michigan-based radio host, kicked off his interview by telling DeVos he was thrilled to finally be able to introduce her as the education secretary. He asked DeVos why she thought her confirmation process had been so fraught.

The work that Ive done is a threat to those who are protectors and defenders of the status quo and of a system that has continued to fail way too many of our young people, she told him.

Smith and DeVos also had a brief exchange about a question at her hearing from Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., on proficiency versus growthSmith noted, correctly, that states were expected to get students to proficiency under the No Child Left Behind Act. And he described growth in a way that most educators would probably argue doesnt capture the concept, saying that a student who thinks two plus two equals six at the beginning of the year thinking that two plus two equals five at the end of the year would constitute growth.

DeVos chuckled at that description.

And she said the growth vs. proficiency debate is very much an insider discussion. ... Those are important conversations to have. [But] the more important conversation to have in the future is ... are students learning the things that they need to know, how are they mastering and becoming competent in the things they need to know? That conversation is, I think, more important than having a conversation about growth versus proficiency.

Both Jacques and Smith asked DeVos about her plans for the department.

DeVos told Smith her goal is to ensure that all schools meet the need of every child that they serve and in the cases that they dont, parents and students should have other alternatives. ... All schools should be great for the children that they serve.

And she told Jacques she wants to help states and districts implement the Every Student Succeeds Act, as well as move forward on reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.

You can read the full interview with the Detroit News here , and listen to DeVos radio interview below:

Is it a good idea for DeVos to reach out initially to conservative, Michigan-based media? Experienced education communication professionals we asked about that said it may make sense, for now, but that eventually DeVos and company should seek a wider audience.

I think its an unsurprising move when you look at the way she has been treated over the last few months, said Patrick Riccards, who served as a communications point-person for Democrats on Capitol Hill and helped the George W. Bush administration do outreach on a reading initiative. Whether its the right decision is a different question. My argument would be that her effort really needs to go into building a coalition of the willing [behind her ideas]. Youre not going to bring about major transformation in K-12 education by only talking to your friends.

And Chad Colby, who served as a deputy assistant secretary for communications in the Education Department during the George W. Bush administration, said the strategy of talking to generally sympathetic media initially is a good move for someone with DeVos background.

Past education secretariesincluding the most recent trio of John King, Arne Duncan, and Margaret Spellingscame from jobs where they took a lot of incoming fire from the media, something DeVos didnt have to deal with as the head of an advocacy organization.

Any communications professional would say, Do some interviews, get comfortable with your voice, and I think that is a good strategy for her now, said Colby, who is a vice president for communications and outreach at Achieve, a non-profit, but spoke only on his own behalf. He expects DeVos will bring in folks who can build relationships with education reporters working for a wider range of publications. Until then? Press needs to be a little bit patient.

Protesters gather outside Jefferson Middle School in Washington on Friday, where Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was scheduled to make first visit to a public school as education secretary.

-- Maria Danilova/AP

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .
Chief Minister VK Sasikala sentenced to four-year jail term for corruption that prevents her from taking up her post.

Indias Supreme Court handed down a four-year prison sentence on Tuesday to the incoming chief minister of Tamil Nadu for corruption in a ruling that prevents her from taking up her post.

VK Sasikala was found guilty of possessing disproportionate assets in a long-running case that also involved her mentor Jayalalithaa Jayaram, the states former chief minister who died in December.

Sasikala was not present at the hearing in New Delhi but the court ordered that she immediately surrender to police to begin serving her sentence.

The panel also sentenced her nephew and niece to four years in prison after a lower court had earlier acquitted them of any wrongdoing.

READ MORE: Jayalalithaa Jayaram dies at 68

Sasikala, a former video cassette saleswoman, had been anointed as Jayalalithaas successor by the states dominant All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and was due to be sworn in later this week.

But she has been involved in a bitter battle in recent weeks with the states acting chief minister, O Panneerselvam, who has been trying to block her ascent.

Tuesdays verdict means the 59-year-old Sasikala is barred from running for any public office for a decade and Panneerselvam is now likely to stay at the helm of the prosperous southern state.

The corruption case dates back to the late-1990s when Jayalalithaa and Sasikala were accused of profiting from the chief ministers office and amassing wealth beyond their income.

READ MORE: India court clears Tamil party leader of corruption

They were jointly accused of owning several bungalows, luxury cars, tea estates, eight tonnes of silver, nearly 30kg of gold and thousands of saris which could be not accounted for through their salaries.

Sasikala was briefly expelled from the AIADMK over allegations her family was misusing the Jayalalithaa name, but she was allowed back in after publicly distancing herself from her husband.

In 2014, both women were sentenced to jail for corruption, but were acquitted on appeal after serving a brief period behind bars.
Washington accuses El Aissami of masterminding an international network that shipped drugs to Mexico and the US.

Tareck El Aissami, Venezuelas new vice president, has hit back at the United States for labelling him a major drug trafficker and slapping sanctions on him, calling the allegations a vile attack.

We shall not be distracted by these miserable provocations, El Aissami, 42, wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.

Truth is invincible and we will see this vile aggression dispelled.

US authorities on Monday blacklisted El Aissami on accusations of masterminding an international network shipping drugs to Mexico and the US while serving as the countrys interior minister and governor of Aragua state.

READ MORE: The faces of the Venezuelan crisis

El Aissami, who became vice president on January 4, was allegedly in the pay of Venezuelan drug kingpin Walid Makled Garcia to protect shipments, and coordinated them with Mexicos violent Los Zetas cartel, the US Department of the Treasury said.

The US government also issued sanctions on businessman Samark Lopez, believed to be an associate of El Aissami.

In a statement on his website, Lopez also said the listings appeared politically motivated.

The sanctions marked the first move by the Donald Trump administration against a top official in Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduros government for money laundering and the drug trade.

Members of the US Senate had previously sent a letter to Trump urging him to act against Venezuelan officials.

Their letter referred to El Aissami, noting that his recent appointment as executive vice president put him in line to become Venezuelas next leader. That, they said, is extremely troubling given his alleged ties to drug trafficking and terrorist organisations.

READ MORE: Venezuela first ladys nephews face US cocaine charges

Senior administration officials declined to say whether Trump had personally signed off on the sanctions or whether he was involved in the decision.

Maduros government has frequently cast US and opposition accusations of drug-trafficking, corruption and human rights abuses as a false pretext to justify meddling in Venezuela and a push to topple him.

El Aissami, whom local media report is of Syrian and Lebanese extraction, grew up poor in the Andean state of Merida.

He went on to study law and criminology and made a name for himself in Venezuela by cracking down on drug gangs.

El Aissami had been both a member of parliament and a state governor for the ruling Socialist Party before being named vice president last month.
State media says more than 800 people have been detained in operations carried out in 37 provinces.

Turkish police have detained more than 800 people over alleged links to Kurdish fighters in nationwide operations, according to state media.

Police conducted simultaneous raids in 37 different provinces and taken 834 people into custody, state-run Anadolu Agency quoted police forces as saying on Tuesday.

Anadolu said authorities received intelligence that the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) would escalate attacks after February 15, the day marking the 1999 capture of imprisoned PKK leader, Abdullah Ocalan.

Along with the suspects, two Kalashnikovs, 11 guns, 15 rifles and ammunition were seized, police said.

The operations come as Turks prepare to vote on April 16 on replacing the parliamentary system with the stronger presidency sought by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

RELATED: Turkey passes bill to strip politicians of immunity

The referendum will be held under a state of emergency imposed after an attempted coup last July.

Tens of thousands of people have been arrested since the abortive coup over suspected ties to Fethullah Gulen, the US-based Muslim leader and businessman accused by Ankara of organising the coup.

HDP reaction

The pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) said the raids aimed to weaken it.

The basic goal of these operations  is to hold the referendum without the HDP, a statement from its executive committee said.





Its statement, released before Tuesdays arrests, said more than 300 of its members and executives had been detained on Monday, bringing those held this year to around 1,200.

A dozen of its MPs and tens of Kurdish mayors from a sister party have been jailed pending trial.

The government accuses the HDP, parliaments second biggest opposition party, of being a political extension of the PKK.

The HDP denies direct links with the PKK and says it wants a peaceful settlement in Turkeys largely Kurdish southeast.

The PKK, designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the EU and the US, launched an armed struggle against the Turkish state in 1984 and more than 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict.

A ceasefire between the PKK and the state broke down in July 2015 and thousands have been killed in the conflict since then.
Yahya Sinwar, known as the founding member of the Hamas military wing, was chosen in secret elections.

Gazas ruling Hamas movement has chosen Yahya Sinwar, freed in a 2011 prisoner swap with Israel after more than 20 years in jail, as its new chief in the Palestinian enclave following an internal election, sources close to the group said.

Sinwar will be a key decision-maker for Hamas and a member of the executive leadership that draws up policies, including towards Israel.

With the groups overall chief Khaled Meshaal in exile, Gaza-based officials have wielded more clout in the past decade.

Hani Habeeb, a Gaza political analyst, said Sinwars victory sent a message of defiance to Israel and was also likely to complicate efforts further to conclude a stalled reconciliation with rival Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbass Fatah faction.

READ MORE: Freed senior Hamas leader vows to fight on

Israel sentenced Sinwar to four life terms in the late 1980s. He served 23 years for leading the groups first security apparatus, which was responsible for tracking and killing Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel.

Six years ago, Israel freed him in a swap of 1,047 Palestinian prisoners for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was abducted by Gaza fighters in a cross-border raid in 2006.

In 2014, Sinwar backed a Palestinian unity government with Fatah but talks have faltered repeatedly.

Sinwar is set to replace Ismail Haniya in the election that was last held in 2012.

The sources said Sinwar polled best in the vote that was open only to members of Hamas, including those in Israeli jails. Khalil Al-Hayya, a political official, was chosen as Sinwars deputy.

Filling the position of Hamass political chief, who also speaks for its military wing, will require more time. Haniyeh and Moussa Abu Marzouk, currently the two deputies to the groups overall leader, Meshaal, appear to be the leading candidates for the job.
At least seven Saudi soldiers have been killed in the past week in border clashes with Houthi rebels, state media says.

At least seven Saudi soldiers have been killed in the past week in clashes with Yemeni rebels, state media has said.

In an unusual series of official reports, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported late on Monday that Mohammed al-Manjahi was the latest soldier to be killed defending the kingdoms southern borders in the fight against Houthi rebels.

State media have previously reported on deaths of slain troops but since Thursday, SPA has carried photographs of funerals for the martyrs it said had died in battles.

According to an AFP news agency tally compiling reports by the Saudi interior ministry and civil defence department, at least 115 civilians and soldiers have been killed on the southern border since March 2015.

Nearly two years ago, Saudi Arabia formed a coalition of Arab states to push back the Houthis that control the capital, Sanaa, as well as vast swaths of the country, at the request of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who resides in the capital, Riyadh.

Since then, the coalition has dropped more than 8,600 bombs  destroying schools, hospitals, factories, heritage sites, refugee camps and homes.

The Houthis, a group of rebels that claim to represent the Shia community, have made sweeping gains since allying themselves with security forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

They have engaged in firefights along the border, carried out retaliatory rocket strikes, and have also fired ballistic missiles deep into the kingdom.

The war in Yemen has left thousands dead and millions struggling to feed themselves, a toll which UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in Riyadh on Sunday left him heartbroken.
Four men with ties to UFs Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences are being recognized for helping advance the agricultural field.

Two UF alumni are part of the group that will be inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame today at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

For 37 years, the hall of fame committee, made up of people in the agricultural industry, selects individuals who have helped advance the field, said Ray Hodge, the president of the halls board of directors. Bernie Lester, Eugene Badger, Joe Marlin Hilliard and William Cook will become hall of fame members.

Recognition in the hall of fame is the agricultural communitys highest honor, wrote Elaine Turner, the dean of UFs College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, in an email.

This years inductees have made immense contributions to Floridas agriculture industry, she said. We are proud to count these leaders among our alumni and friends.

Lester, 78, and Badger, 88, graduated from UFs College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and were members of UFs chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho, Hodge said.

Cook, 86, was the president of the Florida Forestry Association and helped fund UFs School of Forest Resources and Conservation, according to the hall of fames website.

Hilliard, 75, a private rancher, said hes worked with the institutes Southwest Florida Research and Education Center to help reduce phosphorus in the states water. Hes also done research with Lester throughout the years.

We hope the work we did 30 years ago benefits the future generation and farmers today, he said.

Hilliard, who runs his familys ranch, which was founded in 1906, said hes privileged to be included in the hall of fame.

I spent a lifetime of farming and ranching, and Ive enjoyed every bit of it, he said.

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UF student Marcela Mulholland plans to spend Earth Day in the great outdoors  marching from campus to downtown in the name of science.

On April 22, residents of more than 220 cities across the country, including Washington, D.C., will take part in similar marches, some to protest President Donald Trumps administration and others, like Mulholland, to protest policymakers who dont acknowledge scientific truths.

This isnt an attack on any political party, its more about having people who believe in fact-based policies raise their voices, she said. If necessary, well take to the streets to make sure politicians are listening to academics and experts.

Mulholland plans to march from UF to Bo Diddley Community Plaza with hundreds more people. Although a time and location has not been finalized, the political science and sustainability studies sophomore said she will use the next two months to plan the route and invite organizations, speakers and musicians to march.

Mulholland, 19, said the nonpartisan protest is meant to bring people together in the name of science. Juan Zapata, the Gainesville events lead organizer, said the March for Science in Washington, D.C., was created in response to President Donald Trumps anti-science and climate-change-denying administration.

The UF electrical engineering junior said hes concerned about the current administrations ties to the fossil fuel industry as well as the temporary silencing of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Zapata, 20, stressed the nonpartisan nature of the march and said he hopes UF professors, researchers and scientists will join in.

This is not against anyones beliefs, Zapata said. This is not meant to cause a divide.

@molly_vossler

mvossler@alligator.org

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Roxie Patton, the former director of LGBTQ Affairs, intended to stay at their job for five years.

After about six months with UFs Multicultural and Diversity Affairs, Patton said they realized it wasnt the right fit for them. Patton, who prefers they/them pronouns but also uses she/hers pronouns, will move to Virginia for a job at the College of William and Mary in March.

Patton said theyll start March 6 as the association director in the Center for Student Diversity Services. Their last day as LGBTQ+ director was Friday, and Monday, students gathered in the LGBTQ Affairs office for Pattons goodbye party.

I was seeking a different working environment, Patton said. In this field, sometimes things just dont work out the way you anticipate them to work out, and its pretty normal. It just ultimately didnt fit with the ideals of where I wanted to go.

Patton said they felt bittersweet leaving UF, but are excited to begin the new job at William and Mary, which is a smaller campus with an integrated approach to diversity.

They have a strong commitment to working on intersectional diversity, so getting more out of identity politics and working more on dismantling systems of oppression, Patton said.

Gigi Bermudez, a 24-year-old UF alumna who graduated May 2016, sat in on Pattons presentation when she was a prospective hire. Bermudez said Patton had good ideas for the department and is sad to see them go.

The most effective thing I could say about Roxie is shes a white queer woman who just gets it, Bermudez said.

@romyellenbogen

rellenbogen@alligator.org

Roxie Patton

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If youre a fan of ABCs The Bachelorette, consider clearing your schedule Feb. 25.

Two contestants from the 2016 season of The Bachelorette, a reality dating show in which about 30 men compete for the love of a woman, are going to play a show and meet fans in Trenton, Florida  a 30-minute drive from Gainesville.

Luke Pell, 32, and James Taylor, 29, will be playing music and meeting fans, said Kate Douberly, the event coordinator.

The event, which will take place at Douberly Farms, at 14451 NE County Road 339, is set to begin at 6 p.m. and is scheduled to go on until 2 a.m. Merchandise will be for sale, and alcohol will be served.

General admission tickets are $10 and meet- and-greet tickets are an additional $25. Tickets for an exclusive after party with the two bachelors are $40 more, she said.

As a fan oft he show, she originally reached out to Pell and Taylor in hopes of having them perform a show.

James and Luke seemed like two of the most down-to-earth people on the show, she said.

Stephanie Brook, 20, said her favorite contestant on the 2016 season was Pell.

The UF business administration sophomore said she started watching the show in college with her friends as a Monday-night ritual and all of her friends are die-hard fans.

Whether theyre your favorite Bachelorette boys or not, this event is going to be such a cool experience, Brook said.

James Taylor

Luke Pell

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Ive spent the past two weeks reading and rereading the stories in Samuel P. Garveys The Tales of Captain Albert Alexander, as well as examining the scribbles and equations in the margins of its pages. Professor Bishop says the drawings arent his, and I think hes right. The handwriting isnt his, but the designs, drawings and system specifications outlined in the writing all seem to be pointing toward me  or another automaton just like me.

Professor Bishop treated me to a movie last weekend, as he likes to do. Hes glad he took me with him because the film projector broke down about halfway through the film. Luckily, my left eye can double as an imaging lens in a pinch, and Im always happy to lend an extremity to a local cinema in need. The movie we saw was La La Land.

I adore the soundtrack. I havent heard music so vibrant and lovely since my time on the S.S. Biscuiteer, where I worked as an animatronic singing robot until rain and humidity wiped me of many of my faculties and much of my vocal range. But if I remember anything about my time on the steamship, its the music. I remember jazz  the kind of jazz Sebastian loves and fights so much for in La La Land.

In an effort to rediscover that music, I did some research into the current whereabouts of the Biscuiteer and discovered its still floating up and down the Mississippi River. Apparently, the steamship hosts a yearly robot exposition, which might explain how professor Bishop found me in the first place.

Professor Bishop is quite proud of my column-writing proficiency and has agreed to install a musical keyboard that functions in tandem with my thoracic typewriter. I find it rather difficult to learn musical scales on a QWERTY setup, but its worth the struggle if I can nail City of Stars in the next few days.

And while La La Land is weighing so heavily on my mind, I wanted to talk about the film and its implications. Love is a tricky thing  its far beyond my coding, calculation and comprehension. So, lets look at the art instead.

Sebastian wants to play and foster the creation of jazz. Sebastian praises jazz music to Mia and to the audience, citing its utility as a language and creative outlet. We get to see Sebastian play the piano  and he plays it well. It really cant be argued that Sebastian is not a talented artist. We dont get this same reassurance with Mia.

Mia wants to be an actress, but we hear Mia speak most passionately about writing. Its a rather odd disconnect. Nonetheless, she aspires to produce a one-woman show, which is an attempt to culminate the two aspirations. But even when she ultimately produces and premieres the show, we never get to see it. The audience never gets any definitive proof that Mia is a talented artist.

La La Land tries to set up this parallel between two artistic media and stumbles. It nails the core engagements of listening to and performing music very well, but it fails to convey the wonderment of writing a story and creating a world. It could be argued that the movie itself is a testament to the joy of a well-written and well-told story, but the movie doesnt really come off as metatheoretical.

Playing music is nice because it can be a nice parlor trick; you can do it at a party and win a few hearts. Writing a story doesnt grant you the same luxury, and proficient storytelling requires more than the average parlor trick. Storytelling is a deep and intricate art, and it deserves the same representation as the jazz I love so much.

Michael Smith is a mechanical engineering junior. His column appears on Tuesdays.

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Allowing states to use combined state and federal funds to offer child care and preschool, and expanding the Child and Dependent Care Credit so that more money goes to poor families are among the early-childhood proposals outlined in a policy blueprint released this month from the American Enterprise Institute:

Called A Safety Net That Works , the policy prescriptions cover many federal programs meant to support low- and moderate-income families. The American Enterprise Institute, a free market-oriented think tank, may see more traction for its proposals now that Republicans control all three branches of government.

Katharine B. Stevens, whose work at AEI focuses on early-childhood programs, suggests that a handful of statesno more than five, to start withbe given the power to combine local, state, and federal money to create a seamless early-childhood program, with a particular focus on supporting high-quality child care as opposed to what she sees as a misguided push for public pre-K. (I have written before on Stevens research on effective early-childhood programs and how those programs compare to pre-K.)

The federal money that Stevens envisions using for this purpose is currently distributed through Head Start, the Child Care Development Fund, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, which is also known as welfare. She said that many states have already proven that they have a strong commitment to quality early childhood, including through their participation in Obama-era programs such as the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge. Twenty states received over $1 billion through that program to revamp their early-childhood systems.

This plan aims to encourage, support and highlight states that are ahead of the curve, Stevens said. And, such a pilot program could also produce innovative models that could inspire and inform the efforts of other states, she said.

Stevens proposal could find a receptive audience at the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees all three federal funding streams referenced in Stevens policy document. Tom Price, a former House member from Georgia who was confirmed as HHS secretary Feb. 10, has advocated for a pilot program that would allow states to oversee Head Start.

The point, Stevens said, is to tear down the siloed system that currently exists. What we want to to do is recognize that there are states that are way ahead of the federal government in understanding how important [quality early-childhood programming] is, and the efforts that theyve taken to make this happen, Stevens said.

Refundable Tax Credits for Child Care

Angela Rachidi, a research fellow in poverty studies at AEI, focuses on helping low-income families find child care through tax reform. She proposes increasing the Child and Dependent Tax Credit for low-income families. Currently, the credit is not refundable, meaning that it functions by reducing a familys tax burden. But many low-income families do not pay taxes, so the credit does not apply to them.

Rachidi suggests that the credit could be made refundable, meaning that money would flow back to low-income families regardless of their tax bill. Doing that would allow families to find child care that works for them; current child-care subsidies go primarily to center-based care during normal working hours, which presents a challenge for parents who work nights or weekends.

We need to have more child-care assistance for those low-income families so they dont feel like they have to stick their children just anywhere, Rachidi said. If they have a little bit more flexibility, they might be able to find a higher-quality person to offer night-time care, she said. The system would also have to be changed so that families could receive periodic payments throughout the calendar year, rather than one payment at tax time.

This flexibility would be particularly important because of recent reforms to the Child Care Development Fund , Rachidi said. Those reforms created a shift toward supporting child-care quality, but small, informal providers may not be able to meet those quality standards, making it harder for families to find providers who will accept subsidies.

(CCDF is an umbrella term for two programs: the TANF Child Care Block Grant and the Child Care Development Block Grant, or CCDBG.)

Rachidi said that President Donald Trump signaled his interest in the issue on the campaign trail, which may provide the impetus for change.

Theres still some reluctance on the right to provide high levels of assistance directly. It comes from this issue or belief that youre penalizing stay-at-home parents, or incentivizing people to not be a stay-at-home parent, Rachidi said. Though its unlikely that the current interest represents a complete shift away from such concerns, I recognize there is an opening right now, she said.


THE CURRENT ORGANIZATION



Until now, the INA (Immigration & Nationality Act) at INA  (a)(2)(A)(i)(1) et seq. codified various criminal grounds and immigration lawyers were able to ascertain the type of waiver (ie where the government overlooks an immigration offense) required and the case law to research. With the new changes, the first threat is that waivers will be determined even more strictly than they are now, or may not even be available. In cases where someone is charged but not convicted, a defense will be extremely difficult if not impossible. In a situation where someone is suspected in the judgment of an immigration officer, it will be very difficult to overcome the grounds. We are going to lose a lot of people. As we are already suffering a brain drain as a result of the current systems faults, we may lose many more persons who are valuable to our countrys future. Some of them will be great doctors, scientists, and many others who employ many people or contribute to our country who have, as humans will, made an error in judgment at one time in their lives.





NO CONVICTION REQUIRED



With the definition expanded whereby a conviction is no longer required, it will create havoc amongst foreign persons. The very reason courts exist is to ascertain justice. People have different perspectives, which leads to miscommunications. Something may or may not be a crime, depending on the intent or the situation (see below re Walmart case). At times, a neutral third party is required to clarify the situation and ascertain culpability. This will no longer exist, and it has far-reaching, and destructive consequences.



THE SET-UP

In a Work Situation



As an adjunct to the first item above, I can see there will be many situations in which an employer, for example, may take advantage of a foreign employee. Our labor law department receives many calls from foreign persons who have encountered abusive employers as well as persons who have been threatened with removal on a regular basis. If an employee chooses to exercise her or his rights, the employer may have the person charged with a crime (shoplifting, theft) simply to have a method of removing the person from the country and not having to face the consequences of labor law violations.



In a Private Situation

An example in this arena would be a U.S. citizen who may have promised marriage to a foreigner and changed his or her mind for whatever reason. If the situation becomes uncomfortable, for example where the partner asks for the ring back, or other allowances may have been made. In such a case, the citizen can merely call the police and have the person charged with domestic violence. As the foreign person is an enforcement priority, he or she will be removed and have a permanent arrest record that will always have to be revealed in the future. As there can be no trial required or possible (if one is removed rapidly), the person may even have to carry sex offender or rapist status even if not true. This situation can be fatal from a career perspective for a doctor, professional dependent on security clearances, and many others for various reasons.



I have known a fellow lawyer whose girlfriend at the time had been upset because he did not feel ready to get married. She punched herself severely and called the police. He was arrested. I was later invited to their wedding where she bragged about what she had done. This is not rare, given how the domestic violence laws function in California. I cannot express how many immigrants have called and explained they were set up; it is hard to imagine 100% of them are lying.



PERSONS NOT EVEN CHARGED



Section 5 (c) of Executive Order 13768 dealing with enforcement priorities mentions people who Have committed acts that constitute a chargeable criminal offence. In my 29 years of phone calls I have heard a lot. This section will lead to many problems and further congestion of our courtrooms. There are many instances in which someone may have committed acts that constitute a chargeable criminal offense and yet they are not criminals. Additionally, one must always be concerned about who is reporting these people.



I will use a simple example that will help drive home the point I am making. A few years ago I had a lady call me. She was shopping at Walmart and had obtained pictures she had printed; the value was in the $5.00 range. She had two children with her and one of them was screaming uncontrollably. Out of courtesy, as the photo lab was by the front door, she took her shopping cart outside the door to calm her child.



The clerk at Walmart instantly called security and she was arrested and faced immigration consequences. The problem becomes one of discretion and distinction, where lawyers swim. Yes, she committed acts that constitute a criminal offensebut that was not her intention; it was pure mistake. She was distracted by the crying and wailing and forgot about the pictures. Human error, should she be removed?





THE OFFICER BECOMES A JUDGE



Section 5 (g) covers anyone who in the judgment of an immigration officer, otherwise pose a risk to public safety or national security. I am more concerned with the public safety aspect as national security should be held to a much higher standard.



In defense of immigration officers, they have not been to law school. There are many considerations in the law, and especially in this, one of the most complex areas of law that exists. A lot of the work we, as immigration lawyers conduct, is decided based on an officers discretion. The decision is very subjective, and that is one of the biggest problems with immigration law. Each and every officer will have, as humans do, differing opinions on the same subject.



To one officer, a DUI is enough to be considered a risk to public safety, which it is. However, is not necessarily a continued risk; it may be a one-time occurrence. By the same token, someone who ends up in a physical confrontation may use excessive force as they are not accustomed to fighting. This person may be defending their child from a sexual predator, for example. However, as the person used excessive force, he or she could be considered a threat to public safety. What are the parameters? Where and how is that line drawn? This situation mandates regulations the size of a bible, covering every law and every permutation.



Another example of a possible threat to public safety could be a person who is in a position to be a public speaker. This person may have others who do not agree with him or her and every time this person speaks, riots break out at the venue in which the person speaks. With riots there will be fights. People will get hurt. One could easily argue this person is a threat to public safety. Does this not create a chilling effect on free speech?



On the other hand, there is not only the threat, but the autonomous discretion to decide and I will illustrate the dangers of that power with an example. Before 2002, a Treaty Investor could invest in a U.S. company but his or her spouse was unable to work. If the spouse chose to work, he or she had to make an investment as well and file a separate case. There were multiple instances where the identical case with the identical investment went to two different officers, one approved and one denied. This is the problem we face: interpretation.



A MISTAKE HAS BEEN MADE..NOW WHAT?



Lets assume a mistake has been made and the person has been removed. The section of the Order is entitled Enforcement Priorities. The person had a career, his or her spouse watches the kids, the children were in school, he had a house and its accompanying mortgage, car payments.and is now being removed as a priority. Lets make the person a male; his wife cannot sustain the family without her husbands income. The family has to return to their home country. The family, however, like many people, lives paycheck to paycheck. They cannot afford to live in their home country, especially without a job. They cannot sustain their U.S. mortgage so the house ends up in foreclosure. Their lives are in shambles and they end up on the streets of their home country.



It is immigration policy not to go behind the facts of the case and so there are no defenses. With time passing, facts get blurrier and credibility diminishes. They are stuck. What is their story about the United States? If they present this to their press, which decides to pick it up, the United States develops a different reputation than the one that reflects the country.



THE HIDDEN ENEMY



Last but not least, the problems the United States will face problems that are not at first visible. When we create a situation of rejection, especially amongst people who are not convicted or are simply suspected of committing a crime. As a high-level negotiator, I can assure you, these scenarios and their destructive effects will create resentment. Regrettably, this resentment will become generalized and as a result will create hostilities against not only the United States but its people who travel abroad.



This negative sentiment will lead to future issues that have a negative impact over time as they are spread, by the foreign media, throughout cultures and people, leading to a generalized threat to the United States. I have witnessed this amongst the many callers who have been denied entry to the United States in a less than courteous manner. Our country will be perceived in a light that does not reflect its true intentions. The public does not understand the many factors that affect political decisions and they will make their own judgments, none of which will be favorable to the United States and its people. This is just the beginning of when it will no longer be safe to leave the United States, as the people mentioned in this article will hail from all over the world. Traveling with a U.S. passport may become a threat, and not a pleasure for many of us.



Steven Riznyk is a business and immigration attorney who has been practicing for 29 years. He is an immigration author who creates cases for immigration lawyers as well as the public. Mr. Riznyk has been conducting seminars worldwide as well as training immigration lawyers for decades in the complex areas of immigration law. His initial half-hour consultations are free and he can be reached at (619) 677-5727 or contact@SanDiegoBizLaw.com as well as stevenriznyk on Skype.


Congratulations to Secretary DeVos. She will now roll up her sleeves and work to ensure that our children receive the education they deserve, and not the education they have been receiving for a long, long time. We know that she wants to begin by devolving a good portion of the responsibility for education from the federal bureaucracy to the states.

As noted by E. Jeffrey Ludwig in American Thinker on February 9, 2017, "Federalism in the area of education with its restored respect for state authority is the key to change and progress." But this will just be a start, not the end. It is time to resuscitate the Constitution of the United States vis-a-vis the responsibility for education.

There has never been a constitutional basis for any federal control over education in the states. National government control of education is a constitutional travesty, a regulatory nightmare, a burden on the states' and the people's budgets, and a burden on the state and local education systems and institutions over which it has made itself the overseer. Secretary DeVos is the right person to work toward the goal of removing the federal government from the educational process.

Mr. Ludwig states that the trend of federal control over education, with its attendant uniformity, was perceived as early as 1926. In fact, federal control, with many of its attendant problems, and the clear fact of its unconstitutionality, was perceived by members of Congress 50 years earlier.

Federal imposition into education in the states began just after the Civil War. At the behest of the National Association of State and City School Superintendents, Congress created the first national office of education in 1866. What the superintendents said they wanted was a bill that would:

1. Secure greater uniformity and accuracy in school statistics.

2. Bring together the results of school systems in order to determine their comparative value.

3. Assemble the different methods of school instruction and management for distribution.

4. Collect and diffuse information generated by school districts respecting state school laws, teacher qualifications, modes of heating and ventilation, and other subjects.

5. Help communities in the organization of their school systems.

6. Encourage education as a valuable object and shield of civil liberty.

The superintendents' group specifically stated that they wanted this national support "without [the federal government] being invested with any official control of the school authorities therein."

There was neither mention of nor desire to utilize the federal treasury to fund any educational programs. There was no hint by the superintendents that the federal office of education would do anything other than collect statistics. In short, the department was to be an educational statistical service located in Washington, D.C.

But that's not what the superintendents got.

The 1866 bill stated, in part:

There shall be established, at the City of Washington, a Department of Education for the purpose of collecting such statistics and facts as shall show the condition and progress of education in the several States and Territories, and of diffusing such information respecting the organization and management of schools and school systems and methods of teaching as shall aid the people of the United States in the establishment and maintenance of efficient school systems, and otherwise promote the cause of education throughout the country.

The bill also provided that the Commissioner report to Congress annually "the results of his investigations and labors, together with a statement of such facts and recommendations as will in his judgment subserve the purpose for which this department is established."

This national bill was the camel's nose poking under the edge of the federal tent, and over the next 100 years, the camel came all the way in. Though the initial educational sphere of action was small, the bill requested that Congress assert jurisdiction over the sphere of education itself, even though the Congress had absolutely no constitutional authority to do so.

In 1866, Congressman Andrew J. Rogers, a Democrat representing New Jersey's 4th Congressional District, spoke eloquently against the bill to establish a federal Department of Education. Mr. Rogers declared that the bill:

... proposes to put under the supervision of a bureau established at Washington all the schools and educational institutions of the different States of the Union by collecting such facts and statistics as will warrant them by amendments hereafter to the law now attempted to be passed, to control and regulate the educational system of the whole country.

Rep. Rogers correctly noted that the bill was open on the question of future control but that it clearly asserted federal jurisdiction over education. This opened the door, he stated, for control, either directly or indirectly, through funding or other means, at any time in the future when conditions proved that expediency should again be made the rule of constitutional construction. To assert that the degree of federal jurisdiction was small and limited to statistics in no way impaired the jurisdictional claim, for once jurisdiction was established, government could assert complete sovereignty within that sphere at any time.

When expediency is the rule of constitutional construction, we will have a "living Constitution" rather than the actual Constitution we swear to protect and defend. The battle to prevent this is being fought today, particularly in the arena of judicial appointments. Rep. Rogers saw it coming.

Rep. Rogers also focused on the enormousness of the expense of the project and its open-ended nature, and the natural right of parents to educate their children. He reiterated:

[N]o man can find anywhere in the letter or spirit of the Constitution one word that will authorize the Congress of the United States to establish an Education Bureau. If Congress has the right to establish an Educational Bureau ... for the purpose of collecting statistics and controlling the schools of the country, then by the same parity of reason, a fortiori, Congress has the right to establish a bureau to supervise the education of all the children that are to be found in ... this country. You will not stop at simply establishing a bureau for the purpose of paying officers to collect and diffuse statistics in reference to education.

Rep. Rogers correctly observed that power with respect to education was not to be found among those powers enumerated to Congress in the Constitution.

Looking at the Department of Education today, who can say that Rep. Rogers, Democrat of New Jersey, was wrong in 1866? In 2014, the DoE budget was $67.3 billion, proposed to rise to $68.6 billion in 2015. The bureaucratic state's camel, with all its attendant federal employees, is indeed thriving inside the national government tent, and American taxpayers are paying the fees to feed it. Secretary DeVos should put Rep. Rogers's comments on the wall of her office and be inspired by them daily.

Michael S. Goldstein is an attorney in Northeast Ohio and a 30-year veteran of the Navy and of the U.S. intelligence community. His articles appear in American Thinker. Mr. Goldstein is the husband of, and was the campaign manager for, Dr. Beverly A. Goldstein in her race to be elected in November to represent Ohio's District 11 in Congress.
Recent media coverage of two Virginia mosque permit proceedings repeats charges of local bigotry and bias directed at the Islamic organizations. At the same time, news reports featured the same accusations, this time originating from a New Jersey federal judges ruling against Bernards Township zoning officials and residents. In all of these cases, the proceedings involved a mosque application to build in a residential or quasi-residential area.

Yet case studies suggest that other priorities may be compelling the residents and municipal officials in the neighborhoods where complex mosque applications are being filed.

For example, in 2011 the city council in Bloomington, Minnesota readily approved an application for the Al Farooq Youth and Family Center (now known as Dar al Farooq) to purchase and occupy a school facility with gym from a Christian organization. The application described a community center with a place of assembly and a private school and day care. Dar al Farooq submissions and testimony committed to maximum attendance of two hundred participants during the most popular Eid services. Based upon these terms, the council agreed to a conditional use permit with few restrictions other than those that would prevent street parking.

The city council could have taken the real-time description of wide-ranging activities presented on DAFs own website into account. Contrary to public testimony, attendance was immediately hundreds higher than promised, parking consistently overflowed onto neighborhood streets, and unapproved activities were added including advertised university classes and an administrative office. Five years later, these complaints, and more, persist. Events still run late into the night with hundreds of cars coming and going for services throughout the night during month-long Ramadan observances.

The vital questions in mosque cases are: do community members have valid concerns regarding unique mosque practices, and are they right to expect that these questions will be addressed during the hearing process? As with any religious application to site a facility, it should not be a surprise that residents are anxious to know the levels and intensity of activities coming to their neighborhoods.

When all of societal, familial, and religious life is centered in the mosque complex, there will be a number of daily activities with comings and goings that overlap or occur in rapid succession. The entire month of Ramadan may entail burdensome traffic and heavily attended events. But most conflicts occur over traffic for the peak Friday prayer service that is held during the workday on Fridays. Attendees for this peak weekday service are more likely to arrive solo as they come from work, delivery routes, or taxi services. The fact that this meeting is on a Friday often implicates traffic and congestion concerns related to nearby school schedules. It is reasonable to expect that these traffic and parking plans will need to be considered. Residents are right to want reliable answers and to expect a use permit that protects residential interests as well as religious siting rights.

Delicate balancing is required to avoid discriminatory results and many local land use planners are not prepared to administer the legally complicated proceedings. Some local officials are volunteers and most are part-time. Many are not educated to competently address the complex and technical regulatory issues underlying religious applications. Behind the officials on the dais are municipal attorneys and municipal insurance carriers that caution against risking these difficult and costly lawsuits.

A federal law known as the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) was designed to aid religious organizations that were not getting a fair shake at city hall. This law, as passed in 2000, makes it very difficult for municipalities to substantially burden religious applicants and they may not discriminate between faith groups or favor secular assemblies over religious ones.

As a force multiplier for Muslim applicants, the DOJ has intervened in response to Islamic complaints of even subtle, hard-to-prove discrimination at an unprecedented rate over the last eight years.

In keeping with the DOJs focus on expanding legal discrimination theory, an Obama-appointed judge who ruled against Bernards Township in the New Jersey case, determined that the religious basis for the core complaint excused the usual requirement to justify his findings with comparative examples that would demonstrate discrimination. This was, as he acknowledged in his written opinion, a departure from controlling appellate precedent. He also concluded that he was not required to prove that officials intended to discriminate.

There is understandable tension between federal religious facility siting protections and the state zoning authority that vests local officials with the responsibility to protect the quiet, use and enjoyment rights of residential homeowners. Complying with federal and state law -- while still fulfilling the civic duty to protect homeowner interests -- requires careful documentation and evenhanded application of ordinances in the permitting process.

Most importantly, the entire process, including the all-important final permit and terms, demands accurate testimony from the applicant. For both of the Virginia proceedings noted above, zoning officials and community members investigated external sources to learn that there were many more activities planned for the mosque site than indicated on the application. All permit allowances and enforcement mechanisms, including potential revocation of the permit, will rely on the level of precision that informs the final agreement.

Whether the religious land use application is Islamic, Christian, or Jewish, municipalities should establish a broad line of informed questions. Officials should tailor ordinances to flexibly adapt to unique applicant usage patterns. For example, in the interest of addressing traffic and parking concerns in an evenhanded way, some localities have implemented a trip count methodology to regulate the numbers of entries to a specified parking lot during the highest traffic residential periods.

Rather than reflexive complaints that diligent inquiries on behalf of neighborhood residents into traffic, sewer, parking, and occupancy loads are a cover for discrimination, Islamic applicants might first focus on the accurate testimony needed for a respectful relationship with zoning officials and concerned residents. Like the fences that make good neighbors in some cases, facts and realistic expectations are essential to a working three-way contract between local government, the neighborhood, and a busy socio-religious complex.

Karen Lugo, constitutional lawyer, and author of Mosques in America: A Guide to Accountable Permit Hearings and Continuing Citizen Oversight.
Leftists always out-organizes conservatives. They build new organizations, or they infiltrate them and take over. But the last election shows at least that we are a majority in the country.

Conservatives have crucially important ideas about schools and education; about sane and sensible environmentalism; about the crucial role of small business in building jobs; about building prosperity in welfare-poisoned neighborhoods; and lastly, about changing the culture toward ordinary wholesome health again. We need a new constitutional coalition, and most of all, we need new and forward-looking leadership. As Rush Limbaugh points out, Donald Trump has come along at a near-miraculous moment, with a good chance to turn things around. But he needs our help every day he is in the Office of the President.

The GOP can be part of the new conservative coalition, but we know its weaknesses, and the same goes for every lobby and constituency that wants conservative government. Our retired military tend to be conservative and provide a huge pool of talented and dedicated Americans. There are many other talent pools to be tapped. There's nuthin' to it but to do it.

I don't see any choice but to organize and build a permanent membership-based party, with checks and balances at every level, federal, state and local, and constant activism .

Because we know damned well what will happen if and when the left regains power. They are totalitarians.

For the first time, we have the technology to build a conservative movement responsible to its members and only to its members. All the usual conservative groups are vital, but they do not represents all American conservatives and patriots. An organized movement, or coalition of movements, could make that happen.

For the next four to eight years, this could be a coalition led by Donald Trump. It could include a major public message element with big radio, television and web stars. It could have membership feedback and hold regular elections. It could hold the left to the letter and spirit of the law.

In 2017, we have a makings of an organized movement, but we know that the left is always out-organizing us, because  for one thing  leftists don't care how many rules they break.

We just saw as much with the recent 9th Circus failure to even read or cite the 1952 immigration law it is trying to block. This is judicial malfeasance, and it should be penalized. It is unacceptable.

A new membership organization could put enormous pressure on the 9th Circuit and on its party-line pressure groups like the ACLU.

Conservatives in Europe are just beginning to peek out from under the same radical lead blanket of overregulation, intimidation, and deadening control of media. In the Netherlands, Geert Wilders is doing a great job with his Freedom Party, which may win a plurality in the Parliament. In the U.K., real conservatives no longer run the Conservative Party, which has been taken over by careerist Euro-politicians, but the voters are there, if some real leader should arise. In France, Marine Le Pen (unlike her father) may become the Margaret Thatcher of the moment.

In Europe and America (including South America), we need to organize, organize, organize. The web and computer technology makes it possible.

I believe that a Constitutional Movement could be the key, organized to reflect basic constitutional principles.

We are living in a time when the federal judiciary, the bureaucracy, even the Departments of Defense and Justice have become dangerously corrupt. Hillary's tenure at Justice was one third-world scandal after another. That must never happen again.

William F. Buckley tried to organize a Conservative Party in New York, with some success  but not enough. Others have tried. Today we have smart public opinion leaders, but they are individualistic, which is good, but we need more unity as well. A movement with major media conservatives could be part of a winning formula. But no single group should dominate permanently.

I don't know the answer in detail. But in the age of instant communication and public messaging, Donald Trump has shown the way. Like it or not, Mr. Trump is our Abe Lincoln of the moment. Like Ronald Reagan and Lincoln himself, he is a talented and effective leader  even if you don't agree with his every move.

Having wonderful leaders with new ideas is one key ingredient. But we also need continuity, to lead American and international conservatives on a permanent path to democratic power.

In Europe and America, "populist conservatism" is emerging as a force to be reckoned with, because the left keeps pursuing extremely dangerous and even suicidal policies. Leftists are a utopian cult, and we are a huge network of common sense and common purpose. We don't need  and we can't promise  some globalist paradise to come. What we want is sober, good government, without corruption, without waste and abuse of power. We already see plenty of that on the left.

With the Trump election, we know that the popular base is there for us. With liberty-loving conservatives winning in Europe, we know that a worldwide coalition is now possible, and using your computer on the web, you can communicate personally with true conservatives in India, Australia, and Britain.

The American left has rebuilt something close to the Stalin Popular Front years during the Stalin era, much more radical and fanatical than the mainstream liberals of a few decades ago. We cannot afford to let this moment of opportunity slip away, as the Reagan and Lincoln years did. We must build to last.

With the new media, we've seen real leaders emerge, only to fade again. There are all kinds of models for more lasting organizations that still stand for real principles and that hold individual accountable.

We desperately need a powerful conservative movement that will allow many voices to speak but keep out totalitarians and corrupt money types like Soros.

With your computer and mine, it has to be possible.
A professor of sociology and migration research at the Humboldt University of Berlin claims that upwards of 50 million Muslims worldwide support the use of violence "to defend Islam."

Ruud Koopmans also warned the E.U. to block the entry of any Muslims whose identity could not be categorically confirmed.

Daily Mail:

Koopmans said that of the 1billion adult Muslims in the world, 'half of them are attached to an arch-conservative Islam which places little worth on the rights of women, homosexuals, and people of other faiths'. In an interview with a German news website he claimed that of these 500million conservative Muslims, at least  and probably more  than 50million are willing to sanction violence. Koopmans, who is a professor of sociology and migration research at the Humboldt University of Berlin and the director of integration research at the WZB Berlin Social Science Centre, stressed that not every one of them was ready to exert violence directly. But he added: 'They support the radicals, they encourage them and provide them shelter or simply keep their mouths shut when they observe radicalization.' He says he considers his own estimate of 50million 'an understatement', citing studies that show eight per cent of German Muslims agreed to the use of violence against 'Infidels,' while in his own country 11 per cent of Muslims agreed with the statement: 'There are situations in which it is acceptable for me from the perspective of my religion, that I use violence'. In several Islamic countries, 14 per cent of local Muslims think suicide attacks against innocents are 'sometimes' or 'often' justified to defend Islam, said Koopmans, citing a study by the US-based Pew Research Center.

By contrast, surveys of American attitudes toward violence against abortion clinics and doctors show an astonishingly small number of respondents who think the violence is justified. Less than 3% of Americans think that killing abortion doctors or blowing up abortion clinics is justifiable, and even fewer believe it to be morally right.

'I'm very conservative with my estimate of 50 million violent Muslims,' added Professor Koopmans. The expert sees a 'clear difference' between anti-Islam baiting and justified criticism of Islam. He went on: 'There is nothing wrong with foreign cultures, as long as they are looking for the connection to the majority in society and actually enrich our countries. 'But those who are here to spread their medieval beliefs, which are unfortunately widespread in Islamic countries, must be met with zero tolerance'. He stressed that the EU should be much more careful to let suspected Islamists have uncontrolled travel to and within Europe. He sad refugees and migrants should be placed initially in transit zones, 'as long as their identity is unclear'.

Fifty million Muslims supporting terrorism  at least, under circumstances where they feel their religion is threatened  is a truly worrying number. It's not that there are 50 million terrorists to worry about; it's that the bloc of violence supporters and sympathizers will refuse to cooperate in rooting them out and preventing terror attacks.

It's what happened after the Paris terror attacks, when several suspects, including the mastermind, hid out for several months in the largely Muslim Molenbeek neighborhood outside Brussels. It's hard to believe that at least some of the residents of that neighborhood did not know that Salah Abdeslam, who grew up in that community, was the most wanted man in Europe.

So in addition to trying to ferret out terrorists among the tens of thousands of migrants, authorities now have to take into account that most Muslims will refuse to cooperate and assist authorities in rooting out those with murder on their minds.

It should be pointed out that 95% of Muslims apparently do not support terrorism or the terrorists. But 50 million do, and that's a security problem that we've been told doesn't exist.
In America, if you're a young woman and your parents disapprove of your boyfriend, you'll probably marry him anyway. But in Afghanistan, it happens a little differently. Maybe even something like this:

1) Your parents will force you into an arranged marriage.

2) They will sell you for something like 30 goats, and even some cows, if you look sexy in a burka.

3) If you instead elope with your boyfriend, your family will hunt you down to kill you.

4) If you go to the police for help, the police will arrest you for adultery.

5) When a mob comes to the police station to demand your release, the police will hand them over to you.

6) Your family members will execute you for having shamed them, since they received all these lovely goats and you refused to let a strange man rape you.

An armed mob that included relatives of a young woman who had eloped with her lover stormed a police station holding the couple in eastern Afghanistan over the weekend, then dragged the lovers off and killed them, officials and witnesses said. The woman, Fatiha, 18, was described as having been married against her will and eloping instead with a young man[.] ... But on Saturday the police caught and arrested the couple on suspicion of adultery. Salam Khan, 22, a witness from Fatiha's village, Sar-i-Pul, said he saw what had happened to the couple after the police surrendered them. "Some of Fatiha's relatives, her cousins, were beating her with their fists and saying, 'Why did you do this?' Then her older brother got angry and shot her with a hunting rifle and her younger brother shot her with an AK-47. It is common in many parts of rural Afghanistan for fathers to marry off their daughters without the daughter's consent, even though both Afghan civil law and Islamic Shariah law [really?] require such consent. The authorities, however, often side with the families, and honor killings in cases where the girl refuses the marriage are common, although rarely publicized. This case came to attention because of the notoriety surrounding it and what Ms. Nuristani said was a high bride price paid to the girl's father, reputedly 30 goats and seven cows. As of Monday in the Nuristan case, no one had been charged or arrested in the fatal shootings of the couple[.]

The article went on to say that this occurred in an area under government control that also has Taliban sympathies. I think the entirety of Afghanistan is under government control, complete with Taliban sympathies, if you know what I mean.

This is what the people of Afghanistan are. This is not the exception; this is the rule. It's just like the recent story about the Pakistani mom who burned her daughter to death at her daughter's wedding reception. This culture is savage, brutal, inhuman.

Questions for discussion:

1) Why are American soldiers still fighting and dying for Afghanistan?

2) Why is America still admitting Afghan refugees who practice an evil seventh-century culture where the murder of family members is celebrated?

Ed Straker is the senior writer at NewsMachete.com
Make no mistake: we have just witnessed an operation by members of the CIA to take out a high official of our own government. An agency widely believed to have brought down democratically elected governments overseas is now practicing the same dark arts in domestic American politics. Almost certainly, its new head, Mike Pompeo, was not consulted.

Senator Chuck Schumer, of all people, laid out on January 2 what was going to happen to the Trump administration if it dared take on the deep state  the permanent bureaucracy that has contempt for the will of the voters and feels entitled to run the government for its own benefit:

New Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Tuesday that President-elect Donald Trump is "being really dumb" by taking on the intelligence community and its assessments on Russia's cyber activities. "Let me tell you, you take on the intelligence community, they have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you," Schumer told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow. "So even for a practical, supposedly hard-nosed businessman, he's being really dumb to do this."

Or, as the old rueful saying has it, "you've got to go along to get along." This means that we the people had better acknowledge that the bureaucrats have turned into our masters, and the old expression "public servant" is as ironic as anything Orwell came up with. Schumer knows this and likes it, because the deep state wants a bigger, more powerful government, just as he does.

Note that the law was broken by whoever leaked the transcripts to the media. Not only is the crime underlying the "scandal" being ignored, but the criminals are being hailed. On Morning Joe's first hour today, the host, a former congressman (i.e., a lawmaker) himself, called the leakers "heroes."

This interference in domestic politics by the CIA should be regarded as a major threat to our democracy, but of course our Trump-hating domestic media are reveling in a major point scored against the new president.

David P. Goldman (aka Spengler), writing on PJ Media, explains the level of hatred the CIA has for Flynn for daring to take on its spectacular failures:

 the CIA has gone out of its way to sandbag Flynn at the National Security Council. As Politico reports: "On Friday, one of Flynn's closest deputies on the NSC, senior director for Africa Robin Townley, was informed that the Central Intelligence Agency had rejected his request for an elite security clearance required for service on the NSC, according to two people with direct knowledge of the situation." Townley held precisely the same security clearance at the Department of Defense for seventeen years, yet he was blackballed without explanation. At DoD, Townley had a stellar reputation as a Middle East and Africa expert, and the denial of his clearance is hard to explain except as bureaucratic backstabbing. ... Gen. Flynn is the hardest of hardliners with respect to Russia within the Trump camp. In his 2016 book Field of Fight (co-authored with PJ Media's Michael Ledeen), Flynn warned of "an international alliance of evil movements and countries that is working to destroy us[.] ... The war is on. We face a working coalition that extends from North Korea and China to Russia, Iran, Syria, Syria, Cuba, Bolivia, Venezuela and Nicaragua." The unsubstantiated allegation that he presides over a "leaky" National Security Council tilting towards Russia makes no sense. The only leaks of which we know are politically motivated reports coming from the intelligence community designed to disrupt the normal workings of a democratic government  something that raises grave constitutional issues. Flynn is the one senior U.S. intelligence officer with the guts to blow the whistle on a series of catastrophic intelligence and operational failures. The available facts point to the conclusion that elements of the humiliated (and perhaps soon-to-be-unemployed) intelligence community is trying to exact vengeance against a principled and patriotic officer[.] ... The present affair stinks like a dumpster full of dead rats.

Note that the suspicions eagerly being raised by the media center on Trump being a pawn of Putin and Flynn secretly pledging fealty or some such absurd subordination. In other words, suspicions of treasonous behavior by the new president are being cultivated in the general public. We can expect the media to fan these flames at every opportunity.

Spengler also explains why the Logan Act references are insulting:

Senior officials speak to their counterparts in other countries all the time, and for obvious reasons do not want these conversations to become public. The intelligence community, though, was taping Flynn's discussions, and the transcripts (of whose existence we are told but whose contents we have not seen) were used to embarrass him.

This last point is critical. The entire "scandal" is based on innuendo. Flynn tripped over his own feet by misinforming Vice President Pence on the nature of his call and allowing the veep to issue a too sweeping denial of any discussion. If Flynn had said in his conversation with the Russian ambassador that we will discuss the sanctions after Trump takes office, he might well have told Pence that they did not discuss the sanctions. And the CIA leakers could have used the appearance of the word "sanctions" in their transcript to brand Pence a liar. We don't know, and for some reason, nobody is gaining access to the actual transcripts so that we may see the content. Perhaps the congressional investigations to come will gain access. But Flynn is now gone, and media memes have been firmly planted in the public mind.

The Flynn Affair is a huge scandal, all right. But the media are misdirecting our attention toward the lesser dimension while they studiously ignore the real threat to our democracy.
The massive evacuation of the area surrounding California's Oroville Dam would not have been necessary if state officials had heeded the warnings of experts a decade ago.

But defenders of Governor Brown claim that fixing the emergency spillway now threatening to collapse and cause catastrophic flooding was never a priority and that the massive rainfall that has led to the crisis could not have been foreseen.

That may be true. But it is also a fact that the state spent billions for the $100-billion high-speed rail system, and billions more were spent on caring for illegal aliens. A tiny fraction of that spending  $200 million  could have been used to shore up the dam and avoid what could be the most serious flooding in modern California history.

Washington Times:

In 2005, advocacy groups led by Friends of the River urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to order the state to reinforce the dams earthen walls with concrete, citing the erosion risk, the San Jose Mercury News reported. The agency rejected the request on the recommendation of the state Department of Water Resources and local water agencies, which would have been on the hook for improvements that could have cost as much as $100 million. Reinforcing the Oroville Dam was not included on Mr. Browns $100 billion wish list of projects prepared last month at the request of the National Governors Association in response to Mr. Trumps call for $1 trillion in infrastructure improvements, CNBC reported. One project that did make the list: California high-speed rail, a pet project of Mr. Browns with an estimated price tag of $100 billion that has become for state Republicans a symbol of out-of-control government spending. Last month, the states 14 Republican members of the U.S. House sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao asking her to suspend federal funding for high-speed rail while her office conducts a full and complete audit of the project and its finances. Critics of Californias willingness to spend billions of dollars on high-speed rail and services for illegal immigrants were quick to draw parallels to the states failure to invest in the Oroville Dam. The cost of fixing the spillway alone is now $200 million. Charlie Kirk, founder of conservative student group Turning Point USA, fired off a meme Monday saying, California Governor Jerry Brown spends $25 billion per year to support illegal immigrants/I wonder how much Governor Brown spent to maintain the Oroville Dam? Others defended Mr. Brown, pointing out that the emergency spillway had never been used until this year and that the catastrophic rainstorms came as a shock, especially after five years of drought. Still others turned the crisis into an opportunity to blast Mr. Trump, saying he should repair the Oroville Dam instead of building a wall on the southern border.

Good governance depends on making good choices. Government can't fix everything all at once, but it should be able to prioritize spending to ensure the safety of residents. Instead of coddling illegal aliens, which only encouraged more illegals to cross the border and settle in California, how much more money would have been available to spend on infrastructure projects like the Oroville Dam if the state had cooperated with federal immigration authorities in trying to get a handle on the massive influx of illegals over the last several decades?

That spending billions on a high-speed rail system to nowhere is a waste of tax dollars should go without saying. How many roads, bridges, and dams could have been fixed if those billions had been devoted to realistic and pressing infrastructure problems?

Californians, like all Americans, are getting the government they deserve. They have voted the Democrats in for years and are now reaping the rewards  and paying the price  for their choices.

Any effort to get Washington to pay for emergency repairs to the Oroville Dam should be shot down by Congress immediately. The money is there  all that's needed is the political will to make the hard choices to spend it.
The political backbiting behind the sudden ouster of retired general Michael T. Flynn from the National Security Council is worth watching.

So is the reaction from Russia. Kicking Flynn out as a security risk  complete with unsubstantiated claims of his supposed vulnerability to Russian blackmail  seems to be a calculated move to trash President Trump's effort to improve relations with Russia to fight terrorists. It has a look of the Cold War status quo reasserting itself.

For Russia, which is tired of constant conflict with the West, it's a huge disappointment. The initial response has been to lash out. Back in Moscow, one Russian politician was not pleased:

"The resignation of Michael Flynn was probably the speediest for a national security advisor in all history. But the target is not Flynn, but rather relations with Russia, Senator Aleksey Pushkov tweeted.

Russians like that, with domestic constituencies, have no reason not to tell it like it is. Higher up, the response from the Kremlin has been to hunker down into a defensive crouch. State-owned RT News reports that rather than swing back as the Russian politician did, Russia at the federal state level is suddenly going quiet. The hilariously peppery, out-there Twitter site of Russia's London embassy has flatlined, with only a couple of sarcastic recent tweets about Russian hackers  nothing about Flynn. And up until now, they've commented about what they want to comment about, not just London-related doings. According to RT News, Russia's foreign ministry now says it considers the Flynn affair none of its business and plans to say nothing about it.

Foreign Policy reports the same strategic retreat. In its latest analysis, its writers, one of whom is Eastern European, pointed out that Trump and his interest in improving ties with Russia are immensely popular in Russia, with even the dissidents wild about Trump. Such a broad sentiment means high hopes  and likely a lot of disappointment as the Washington status quo reasserts itself. It also should give domestic political cover for the Putin government to swing back and defend the right of its ambassador to talk to Flynn. Because if you can't talk to the ambassador, whom can you talk to? Yet the Kremlin is showing every sign of pulling back as it finds itself playing the unwanted role of the bogeyman in the Trump-CIA-Justice Department infighting.

A Russian media source I talked to inside Russia just now cautiously says she really, truly hopes the situation will be resolved amicably. On background, of course, speaking only for herself. That's pretty funny behavior, as it shouldn't be that hard to go on the record to express such a pablummy statement.

Meanwhile, a gander at the untranslated Russian pages of TASS, the state government news agency, which chiefly serves to keep the Kremlin informed, quite unlike RT, which seeks to influence the West, shows that the story  of this magnitude, with Russia at the center of the action  was last night covered from its New York, not its Washington, office. It seems as though they didn't want to risk or perhaps sacrifice their longtime correspondents in the capital by having them ask questions about the matter that involves their ambassador. As Obama showed in his last weeks in office, anyone can be thrown out for "espionage'' with no evidence to back it these days. To make peace with the CIA, Trump's hand could be forced. And once again, they will be the bogeyman.

The whole thing is disturbing to me because it represents a wasted opportunity to forge better ties with Russia. Should it really be "poison" for Russians and Americans to talk to each other and say what we think? Why is it so taboo to talk freely with them? Flynn was ousted for that, and now the Russians are exhibiting their old paranoid behaviors and avoiding talk, too, probably with good reason.

With that the case, it signals that Russia being held hostage by the establishment, and it knows it, and it's all because the Beltway can't quite get control of Trump.

Editor's note: This is a corrected text.
Kim Jong-un may be obese, but he is no fool when it comes to guarding his flank. You just can't be too careful when watching your back if you are a murderous dictator. He believes in killing off any possible rivals before they can act against him. He already had an uncle executed, and now a potential rival, the actual firstborn child of his father, has been executed in exile.

ZeroHedge reports:

Just two days after North Korea embarrassed both the US and Japan by test-firing a new, nuclear-capable ICBM with a 2000 mile range, with neither Trump nor Abe able to articulate a clear retaliation strategy, moments ago Yonhap news agency reported that the elder half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been assassinated at Kuala Lumpur airport. Kim Jong Nam, 45, who had lived outside North Korea for years, was reported to have been killed by poison needle by two women who fled the scene by taxi, the reports said. He was once considered to be the heir to late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il but he fell out of favor with his father in 2001 after he was caught trying to enter Japan on a false passport, and was arrested at Tokyo airport, apparently en route to Disneyland. Kim Jong Nam had been critical of Kim Jong Un, reportedly saying in 2012 that he "won't last long" because of his youth and inexperience. The two brothers have different mothers, Bloomberg reports.

The last point about different mothers is key. The mothers are serious rivals, and rivalry readily gets murderous at the level of absolute monarchy.

There is no way of knowing if Kim got rumor of a plot against him, nor of the nature of such a plot. But he is ruthless.

Of course, it is just as likely that a certain spy agency could have staged the murder, making it seem like it was preemptive retaliation by Un. For now there are no further details.

I don't think it is just as likely at all. And the name is Kim, not Un.

One thing about the two Kim half-brothers: they do put on the kilograms:
Its common knowledge that teachers spend their own money to buy classroom supplies, everything from paper and pencils to cleaning supplies. But a new survey shows they are also opening their wallets to take care of their students personal needsclothing, combs, deodorant, toothpaste and other hygiene items, even food.

The education nonprofit Donorschoose.org , which connects teachers with people nationwide who are willing to pay for typical resources like books, computers and field trips, will now help teachers fill their requests for students more basic needs.

Donorschoose.org launched the student life essentials program after conducting a survey in January of 2,000 teachers from the nations high-poverty schools about the challenge of providing for students basic needs. Of the teachers who participated in the survey, 84 percent had bought personal items for their students using their own money and 63 percent said they spend more than $100 each year.

These teachers reported benefits in the classroom. For example, 86 percent of them saw increased confidence and self-esteem in their students. Sixty-nine percent said their students were better able to focus on school work, and 43 percent noted fewer absences.

In the Teaching Now blog, Madeline Will reports on a bigger survey conducted by the education company Scholastic of 4,721 public school educators on how they use their own money to buy classroom resources as well as basics like food and clothing for their students. You can read about the results of that survey here .

Since the life essentials program officially launched, 200 requests have been fully funded. One of the yet unfulfilled requests comes from a Michigan high school teacher, who describes students walking to school in the bitter cold of the Upper Peninsula, near Lake Superior, without hats or gloves, because they cant afford them. On her wish list are insulated waterproof gloves, winter hats, and thermal socks, at a total cost of $412. She is still $242 short. According to the website, the project will help 80 students.

A teacher of grades 3 through 5 requests help with putting together personal hygiene kits stocked with deodorant, facial cleanser, and laundry detergent. Other requests call for healthy snacks to help students concentrate in school, and meals for students to take home on the weekend, when they do not have access to school breakfast and lunch.

DonorsChoose.org is now piloting an effort to help teachers help themselves, according to the website. The project centers on professional development opportunities for improving skills and learning new ones. Teachers can request funding for books on classroom management, or on instructional strategies for, say, close-reading. They can also attend workshops and seminars that will help them to improve their practice. One part of the pilot aims to help middle and high school teachers incorporate computer science into their curriculum.

Charts: Courtesy DonorsChoose.org
There is much anticipation in Israel over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's meeting with President Donald Trump this week. The White House talks will take place following eight years of backbiting between President Barack Obama and the Israeli premier, most notably over West Bank settlement building and nuclear talks with Iran.

However, while Trump's pro-Israeli bravado during the 2016 election campaign raised hopes for warmer relations between Washington and Jerusalem, reality has started to set in.

The shift is on, from hyperbolic campaign mode to a more cautious approach to Middle East diplomacy that acknowledges geopolitical realities. As a result, the much ballyhooed promise to relocate the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem has quietly been tabled. Moreover, Trump recently threw cold water on the idea of unchecked settlement growth, stating: "I am not somebody that believes that going forward with these settlements is a good thing for peace."

While Israel's chattering classes of politicians, academics, and media elites debate the developing contours of the Trump administration's Middle East policy, one myth is rapidly being dispelled: that of the staunchly pro-Israeli president of the United States.

A commander in chief sublimating America's expansive national interests in a transcontinental region such as the Middle East to curry favor from one New Jersey-sized country is but a siren song, for decades luring war-weary Israelis with enchanting music built around the "special relationship" theme.

This folklore features its own cast of heroes, with names like "Truman" and "Reagan." However, stubborn history reveals many fissures in the supposedly unbreakable bond between Jerusalem and Washington.

Indeed, while President Harry Truman's recognition of the newborn State of Israel was greeted by a torrent of adulation from American Jewish leaders, he also authorized the institution of an arms embargo that left the fledgling state to fight five invading Arab armies  without tanks, artillery, or armored vehicles. Truman and the U.S. State Department were worried that the creation of a Jewish state in an Arab-dominated part of the world would prove destabilizing and a threat to America's standing in that region.

Ronald Reagan is widely regarded as the most pro-Israel president in history. However, while his administration formalized a strategic cooperation framework that created a network of ties between the Pentagon and Israel Defense Forces, the 40th president of the United States also significantly strengthened Arab governments around the Middle East by selling them some of America's most sophisticated weapons. Moreover, Reagan's administration frequently engaged in public rebukes of Israel, a country that the Great Communicator never visited.

Louisa May Alcott wrote that "persuasive influences are better than any amount of moralizing." The lingering suggestion that the United States is morally bound to support the Zionist enterprise, primarily because of the Holocaust, is a nonstarter. Beyond paying lip service to the "special relationship" and "always having Israel's back," American foreign policy is in fact guided by self-interest strategies chosen to optimize ties with countries in the political; military; and, above all, economic spheres.

Meanwhile, countering the rise of Shiite-led Iran is making for the strangest of bedfellows: Israel and Sunni Arab states. This quiet revolution in relations has resulted in the Israeli-Palestinian issue being put on the back burner in most Arab Muslim countries around the Middle East. Half-hearted commitments to a two-state solution are ringing increasingly hollow amid growing, if unofficial, cooperation between Jerusalem and governments across the region.

As such, Israeli leaders would be well advised to update their diplomatic playbook, in circulation since 1948. The state built on the ashes of Auschwitz has defied profound geo-strategic, diplomatic, and economic odds to become a regional powerhouse. And while the Jewish state will always benefit from fruitful relations with the most powerful nation on earth, Prime Minister Netanyahu may want to remind President Trump that the former's country is no longer dependent on the latter's largesse.

At this point, oft-repeated allusions to "sister democracies" uniquely connected by "common Judeo-Christian values" are little more than bumper sticker slogans. For long-term relations to thrive between Israel and the United States, diplomacy between the two countries should be based on pragmatic considerations rather than moral premises.
In 1938, the Evian Conference was held in France, presupposing that the 38 nations in attendance would accept more Jews from Germany and Austria. Hitler promoted Jewish emigration, both voluntary and forced, as a "solution" to his Jewish "problem." Notwithstanding, Jews constituted but 0.1% of the population of Germany, so the issue was to be decided on principle rather than on vast numbers in migration. To the shame of history, only Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic increased quotas for Jews, and the doomed conference was lost in memory.

Part of the argument against President Trump's executive order is that it gives preference to Christians. This is widely interpreted as a reflection of both religious preference and a bias against Muslims. For reasons that are not at all clear, the logic behind this aspect of the order has not become part of the public debate.

Christians constitute about 10% of the Syrian population, with the Eastern Orthodox Church of Antioch and the Eastern Catholic Church as leading denominations. Christianity in Syria dates to 431 A.D., predating the founding of Islam itself by over a century.

The European Parliament estimates that over 40% of Christians have left, a proportion greater than the 27% of non-Christian Syrians who have emigrated (4.1 out of 15 million.)

If February 2016, the European Union unanimously declared that the Christians in Syria were victims of genocide. The United States followed suit in March.

The basis for the affirmation of genocide has hardly made headlines. A U.S. State Department report detailed the murder of 1,131 Christians and the destruction of 124 Christian churches.

After the fall of Mosul, ISIS demanded a complete Assyrian Christian exodus, save for those willing to convert. This marked the end of 1,600 years of continuing Christian presence. Ironically, the main adversary of ISIS, and our emerging battlefield ally, the Saudi-supported "Army of Conquest," by its own declaration, supports an Islamic state under sharia law.

Thus, from either victor will come a problematic prediction as to the perpetuation of Christianity in Syria.

Oliver Wendell Holmes offered that "hard cases make bad law," which now can be modernized to biased interpretation of policy prevents good law. Christians have met any rational criteria for protection.

The Jews in 1938 became victims of genocide because of the willful decision not to protect them. For Christians in Syria, a genocide as already been accepted by both the United States and the E.U. No matter how much fun it is to find a "deplorable" motive behind every Trump policy, our moral obligation is self-evident.
The People's Republic of Philadelphia now taxes the consumption of sugar. Yes, sugar. As in glucose, fructose, sucrose. You know, the essential fuels for all animal life. Those guys.

The leftists who govern Philadelphia would say they are taxing only the excessive consumption of sugar, but then again, how does that determining go?

Leftists love centralized planning. It is in their DNA. The fact that it was a monumental, epochal failure in the Soviet Union or more recently Venezuela need not concern us, I suppose.

I would like to point out, as a local Philadelphian, two likely unforeseen consequences of this latest enlightened, progressive means of running a failing city. First, the consumer purchases now being made just outside city limits are booming. It's a grand time to own a store just outside city boundaries. Now, this not only cheats the city out of tax revenue, as soda (and other sugar-containing food/drink) sales in the suburbs skyrocket, but it also greatly heightens the carbon footprint of the urban dwellers who drive to the suburbs to make these purchases. Oh, except for the very poor who have no cars and are stuck with paying the outsized tax.

And then as a corollary, the retail stores within the city limits suffer, their sales declining as shoppers, once setting foot in suburban stores, decide to do all their shopping there. This trend works against the acute need to place affordable quality stores in the proximity of the urban poor shopper. (Wait, wasn't that a big initiative of our previous first lady?)

The Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China were often given to constructing monumental civic work projects, like mammoth dams on rivers. These were often part of highly touted Five-Year "Plans" to improve the economy, generate power, increase farm output, and generally create heaven on earth. When you look at the aftermath of such projects, you often find environmental disasters. Google the Aral Sea if you don't believe me.

A people who are too poorly informed to learn from history will truly be doomed to repeat it. This is happening in a small manner in the City of Brotherly Love. Pray it does not happen in the United States as a whole.
The purpose of President Trump's visa suspension from selected countries is found in the Constitution:

Here is the preamble to the Constitution, which states its purpose (emphasis added):

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

President Trump's purpose is, by preventing enemy soldiers and their cultural supporters from entering the U.S., to insure domestic tranquility.

Both the courts and the legacy media have thought it clever to be asking the Trump administration pharisaical questions as to how many terrorist episodes have been committed by immigrants from the banned countries and/or comparing those figures with people killed by lightning strikes, accidents, and so forth.

Not the point. Other violence, even crimes, does not upset domestic tranquility as it is understood in human affairs. But having a cadre of enemy soldiers who adhere to an aggressive doctrine of conquest and dominance, which seeks to replace the Constitution with sharia, does so.

It means that in any place, at any time, such an enemy can strike. In this situation, our public spaces become unsafe. It is possible to accomplish this unsafety with relatively few incidents of violence, of terror.

Although history is unclear on this point, it may well be that the impressive spread of Islam in the century following the death of Mohammed was not entirely by military action, but also by demoralizing adjacent societies by subjecting them to atrocities that they could not bring themselves to retaliate to. They became demoralized and converted to Islam.

This is national security. National security is the foremost responsibility of the president. As a tool to achieve it, Congress gave the president unlimited authority over immigration in all its forms subject only to his personal judgment. No law has ever been written in clearer language. The relevant section, Title 8 United States Code, section 1182(f):

Whenever the President finds that the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, he may by proclamation, and for such period as he shall deem necessary, suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate.

Congress meant that there be no ambiguity in its meaning. Presumably, those judges who cavil at President Trump's ban on immigration from selected countries are derelict in their duty to know the law or are exceeding their authority by pretending not to understand it.

To insure domestic tranquility  to prevent our country from becoming a battlefield, to preserve the Constitution and our liberty  is President Trump's purpose in his ban of immigrants from selective countries.
The Shirokorechenskoe Cemetery, located on the southwestern outskirts of Yekaterinburg, in Russia, is the final resting place of many famous locals including folk artists, scientists, and heroes of World War 2. Their graves are adorned with unusual funerary sculptures, including reliefs, gem-embedded headstones and laser engravings of the deceased on granite.

In one section of the cemetery, among the pines, youll find some of the most elaborate tombstones. Huge granite headstones with large-than-life photo-realistic carvings depicting hardened men in expensive suits and leather jackets, with gold chains and tattoos, holding a cigarette or keys to a Mercedes in their hands. Often the cars themselves would be engraved in the background, sometimes accompanied by their girlfriends. These extravagant tombs belong to gangsters who died violent deaths during the gangland wars of the turbulent 90s.

Photo credit: Denis Tarasov/The Guardian

Following the break up of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, and the regions rapid transition to free market economy, the entire Soviet Bloc, and Russia in particular, was thrown into anarchy, resulting in the sharp rise in organized crime. Power struggle between different Kremlin factions saw an increase in assassination, hostage-taking and other violent crimes.

James Ruth explains Russias troubled transition to democracy and the rise of the mafia:

Many of the opportunities for the growth of organized crime in Russia after 1991 can be attributed solely to the governments feeble transition to a market economy. In this period, the government failed to make any structural changes to policies concerning transparency, accountability, and shareholders rights, leaving a vague line between legal and illegal (Webster, 2000, 32). The absence of transparency in business operations allowed organized crime to veil their illegal actions from prosecution. The lack of accountability made it so that when something was found questionable, nobody was held responsible for it. The nonexistence of shareholders rights produced a situation in which shareholders had their interests watered down by shares issued without their knowledge or consent and were denied even the basic rights of ownership through violence and intimidation (Webster, 2000, 38).

The city of Yekaterinburg became the center of gang wars, thanks to a city-based group calling itself the Uralmash, after a district around the Uralmash heavy machinery factory. Founded in the late 1980s, the group consolidated control over several businesses in the city during the transition, including the famous Uralmash factory. The profits earned from racketeering went on to be reinvested in a number of legitimate businesses, expanding the group's reach.

During the 1990s, the Uralmash group fought vicious internal wars and also clashed with the rival Central Gang. There were so many casualties that many gang members found themselves in graves, most notably in the Shirokorechenskoe Cemetery. Their gravestones were decorated in the most extravagant fashion, bearing images of the buried dressed in the classical 1990s gangster fashion. Some of the gravestones displayed not only the names but also nicknames and their particular skills. For example, one reads an expert in knife-throwing and another reads possessed deadly fist-fighting skills.

By the end of the decade, many surviving mafia leaders had gone straight and legitimized their business, and even formed a political party. These former gang members now own shopping malls, hotels and juice bars in Yekaterinburg. However, some are still engaged in criminal activity and racketeering. According to one estimate, 30 per cent of the Russian economy is still in the hands of gangsters.

Photo credit: Denis Tarasov/The Guardian

Photo credit: Denis Tarasov/The Guardian

Photo credit: Amos Chapple/RFE/RL

Photo credit: Amos Chapple/RFE/RL

Photo credit: Denis Tarasov/The Guardian

Photo credit: Amos Chapple/RFE/RL

Photo credit: Amos Chapple/RFE/RL

Photo credit: Denis Tarasov/The Guardian

Photo credit: Amos Chapple/RFE/RL

Photo credit: Amos Chapple/RFE/RL

Photo credit: Denis Tarasov/The Guardian

Photo credit: Denis Tarasov/The Guardian

Photo credit: Denis Tarasov/The Guardian

Photo credit: Amos Chapple/RFE/RL

Photo credit: Amos Chapple/RFE/RL

Photo credit: Amos Chapple/RFE/RL

Photo credit: Amos Chapple/RFE/RL

Photo credit: Amos Chapple/RFE/RL

Photo credit: Amos Chapple/RFE/RL

Photo credit: Amos Chapple/RFE/RL

Photo credit: Amos Chapple/RFE/RL

Photo credit: Amos Chapple/RFE/RL

Sources: RBTH / Telegraph / Telegraph / Wikipedia / www.auburn.edu
Nebraska lawmakers seem poised to drop a master teacher program that rewards national board-certified teachers with $5,000 bonuses. This comes just two years after the state finally funded a program that lawmakers established in 2000 to reward those educators.

Since the programs inception in 1987, the idea of rewarding teachers who meet the certification bar set by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, with additional pay, usually through either stipends or bonuses, has fallen in and out of favor with state lawmakers around the country. Often these policy changes have moved with the economic winds. Education Weeks Stephen Sawchuk found that during the Great Recession, for example, the number of states offering such incentives plunged from 38 to 31, representing a 20 percent decline . At last count, just 28 states continue to offer such incentives .

While lawmakers have wavered on the idea, teachers unions have not. The very idea of national board-certified teachers, veteran educators that go above and beyond what is required of them from their state licensing boards, is often attributed to the late American Federation of Teachers President Albert Shanker. Today, teachers unions tend to see the bonuses as an attractive alternative to merit pay systems that reward teachers, not based on their credentials, but instead on factors that many educators argue are largely outside of their control, namely their students performance on standardized tests.

Along those lines, Maddie Fennell, the executive director of the Nebraska State Education Association, made an impassioned plea for saving the states master teacher program in front of the legislatures education committee.

This program is the only support the state gives for teaching excellence, and it must be retained, testified Fennell, reports The Lincoln Journal Star.

The newspaper reports that the bills sponsor, Sen. Steve Halloran, doesnt question the merits of the program, but instead whether its appropriate for the state to foot the bill.

There are all kinds of certifications for various professions and to my knowledge, none of them are provided through state funding, he said.

In neighboring Kansas, the state leaves it up to districts to pay for $1,000 stipends for board-certified educators. Nebraskas education committee chairman Sen. Mike Groene is similarly recommending that the decision of whether to reward these educators should be left up to school districts.
Policymakers in New Mexico have been pondering how to revamp a teacher evaluation system that deems 29 percent of the states educators either ineffective or in need of improvement, the highest rate in the countryby far . But on Saturday, a bill to lower the percentage of a teachers rating that is derived from students test scores was effectively killed in committee. The primary culprits behind the bills defeat, ironically, were the states teachers unions.

In some ways time is on their side. So far, teachers deemed ineffective have been spared any negative consequences by a temporary injunction in an ongoing court case over the evaluations.

The 6-6 vote in the House education committee came after hours of passionate testimony from educators who called the current system, and particularly its reliance on test scores, unfair and overly punitive, reports the Albuquerque Journal . And while the bill would have reduced the weight of those scores, teachers unions leaders are against any effort that would enshrine a teacher evaluation system that relies on test scores in state law. Currently, only state education department regulations undergird the states teacher evaluation system, 50 percent of which is determined by a much-debated value-added model (VAM) that measures how much a students test scores have improved over a school year. Opponents say VAM unfairly punishes teachers for factors in students learning that are beyond their control.

Union officials are calling for a system that relies much more on classroom observations. And while the proposed bill would have increased the weight of classroom observations from 25 percent to 35 percent, the unions may also be hoping to win bigger concessions in ongoing settlement talks with the state education department stemming from a three-year-old lawsuit over the teacher evaluation regulations.

After six controversial years as the states education chief, Hanna Skandera hit the road this past fall, touring the sparsely populated Land of Enchantment to hear from educators. Since her listening tour, Skandera has been pushing for changing the evaluation weights. In doing so, Skandera is following the lead of education officials around the country since the Every Student Succeeds Act upended a policy push from the Obama administration that rewarded states for instituting test evaluation systems that rated teachers in significant part, based on student growth.

Ellen Bernstein, the president of the Albuquerque Teachers Federationan affiliate of the American Federation of Teachersargued that the bill reducing the weight of test scores did little to address their bigger objections to the current system.

"[T]hats still more than most states, but thats not even the point,Bernstein told the Albuquerque Journal referring to the proposed 40 percent weight for students test scores. The point is that both practice and research have concluded tying student scores to teacher evaluations does not work. The science and math behind it doesnt pan out and you cant get consistent ratings on a teachers ability to teach. Fifty percent or 40 percentits still junk math.

Skandera largely stood by the tenets of the current system in an interview with the education news website, The 74 : New Mexico is one of only two states in the nation that has a really good ability to identify great teachers, highly effective teachers, effective, and those who are struggling. Many states implemented a teacher evaluation system that didnt give them the ability to truly differentiate to support their teachers who needed support and champion their teachers who needed success.

She added that she thought the states controversial attendance requirement, which dings teachers for taking the sick leave guaranteed to them in their contracts, had helped the state.

In 2012, the U.S. Office for Civil Rights said 47 percent of our teachers were habitually not in attendance, meaning they were missing 10 or more days. Right now, thats at 12 percent, she said. That means weve saved taxpayers $3.5 million in substitute-teaching costs.

Nevertheless, Skandera threw her support behind an effort to redesign that element of the system as well. That bill did make it out of committee.

Its unclear if reducing the weight of test scores would do much to increase satisfactory ratings. A January report from the National Council on Teacher Quality criticized New Mexico , as well as 27 other states, for maintaining a rating system that allows teachers to score effective ratings even if their students test scores dont actually increase. Under the current system, teachers need 119 points out of a possible 200 to be deemed effective. They can get half of 100 points from their classroom observations, attendance record, and scores on student and parent surveys, reports The Santa Fe New Mexican . That means a teacher just needs 19 out of 100 points on the value-added component of the evaluation system to score an effective rating.

Charles Goodmacher, a spokesman for the state branch of the National Education Association, touted the report to The New Mexican as proof of the systems flaws. But Matt Montano, the director of educator quality at the state education department, defended the systems rigor, saying that NCTQ report focuses on a theoretically possible though extremely unlikely occurrence: They point out the kind of scenario that is, in fact, something that could happen, but something that is not likely to happen.
Imagine never having to renew your teaching license again.

That would be the reality for teachers in Wisconsin, under a plan proposed by Republican Gov. Scott Walker. He has proposed granting teachers lifetime teaching licenses in his budget. Currently, Wisconsin teachers have to renew their licenses every five years, and must complete a verified professional development plan each time.

The proposal is an attempt at curbing teacher shortages, which have plagued the state , particularly in its rural areas. School districts would still have to perform background checks every few years, according to the Associated Press , and teachers could still lose their licenses for misconduct. Under this plan, teachers would save more than $750 over a 30-year career, Walkers spokesman told the AP.

School districts and the Department of Public Instruction (which would lose 10 full-time positions if it was no longer overseeing license renewals) are on board with the planas long as teachers are still required to undergo ongoing training. Walkers plan would not require any ongoing training, according to the AP, and would leave it up to the school districts to decide whether they want to require continuing education.

As we attempt to address the educator shortage in Wisconsin, we cannot lose sight of how important it is for all kids to be taught by a highly qualified educator, DPI superintendent Tony Evers said in a statement. Like many licensed professionals, a big part of keeping current includes some form of continuing education.

Jon Bales, the executive director of the Wisconsin Association of School Administrators, agrees. He told the AP that he supported the proposal as long as continuing education was still required, because research on learning styles, test formats, and English-language-learner support is constantly evolving. What will be important for districts is that they have the resources to do that well on an equitable basis across the state, he said.

Its not yet clear if Walkers proposal will garner enough support to pass the legislature. An alternate licensure plan, proposed by Bales and Evers, would consolidate related subject-area licenses into a single one. (For example, instead of separate licenses for chemistry, physics, and biology, there would just be a science license.) Their plan would also allow teachers to seek one license to teach prekindergarten through 9th grade, and a second license to teach all grades, subjects, and special education, according to the Wisconsin State Journal .

Education Week reported recently that states were increasingly easing teacher-licensing rules to help manage teacher shortages. Critics have worried that loosening requirements could reduce teacher quality and diminish teachers professional status even further.

Image via Getty
Do You Have to Provide Customers With a Bathroom?

Size and Type of Business

Exceptions for Medical Reasons

Related Resources:

You Dont Have To Solve This on Your Own  Get a Lawyers Help Meeting with a lawyer can help you understand your options and how to best protect your rights. Visit our attorney directory to find a lawyer near you who can help.

Running a brick and mortar business is ripe with pitfalls. On top of ensuring the premises are safe for everyone, accessible to those with disabilities, and meets the business's goals, many business owners wonder about their legal obligation in terms of providing customers with a restroom. State and local laws and regulations lay out the minimum physical requirements for what a business's public accommodation must provide. So, whether your business must provide a public restroom for customer will depend on where your business is located.Businesses that provide public-facing spaces of a certain size are generally required to provide a public restroom. These requirements will likely be different when it comes to businesses that serve food. Some businesses may be exempt from providing their own restrooms if they are located within a shopping plaza, mall, or other area that has a restroom for customers' use. The requirements tend to be geared around the business's customer capacity . Usually, businesses are required to provide a minimum number of bathroom facilities for every X number of customers (e.g. one restroom for every 40 customers would require a restaurant that seats 100 guests to provide three restrooms).Some states have laws that require businesses that have employee bathrooms to allow customers with actual medical necessity to use an employee restroom. However, these laws are not absolute. For instance, in Tennessee, if allowing a customer to use the employee restroom would pose a risk of injury to the customer , or would put the business at risk in other ways, then the business may still be able to refuse. If you have questions about whether your business needs to provide customers with access to restrooms, you should contact a local business attorney as these matters tend to be rather nuanced, and some buildings or properties might be subject to local exemptions for historical, practical, or other reasons. If you haven't started your business yet, you can complete business formation documents from home with simple, DIY options customized for your state
Are Drivers Liable for Hitting Protesters?

When protesters take to the streets to have their voices heard, drivers that get stuck in traffic often suffer the consequences. While most drivers are simply made late getting to and from where they need to be, drivers that get caught in the thick of a march or protest face a much scarier situation.

In most states, even when protestors are illegally marching in the street, if a driver hits a protester, they could face both civil and potentially criminal legal liability. However, in states like North Dakota and Tennessee, legislatures are trying to pass laws that would provide limited civil and criminal immunity to drivers that injure protesters who are obstructing traffic.

Criminal Intent and Self-Defense

While rare, occasionally there are news stories about protesters that have been injured or even killed as a result of a driver who got scared and tried to speed away from a group of marching protesters.

Under most states' laws, if you injure a person with your car, even unintentionally, there could be criminal penalties, on top of civil liability for the injuries. However, so long as a driver did not intend to cause harm (i.e. it was an accident that a protester got hit), the criminal penalties and civil liability will not be as harsh.

If a driver is trying to escape a group of protesters that are harassing the driver, such as by blocking or pounding on the car, that driver might have a valid self-defense argument if they injure protesters while trying to get away. However, self-defense is something that every state handles differently. Additionally, it is a defense to criminal charges meaning that after being charged with a crime, a defendant must prove they are innocent by way of having acted in self defense.

Civil Liability

Even if a driver is found not to be criminally liable for causing injury to protesters they hit with their car, they can still be found civilly liable. This is because there are different standards of proof in criminal and civil cases.

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No More No Fault? Oklahoma Bill Could Make Divorce Harder

A bill in the Oklahoma legislature seeks to make it more difficult for some married Oklahomans to get divorced. House Bill 1277, introduced by Representative Travis Dunlap, would get rid of incompatibility as a reason for divorce in many circumstances.

If passed, no fault divorces could be a thing of the past in Sooner State, with quick separations turned into week-long trials.

No Clean Break

The proposed legislation, titled the "Fairness in Fault Act," was introduced last week and would eliminate incompatibility as a justification for divorce if there are living minor children from the marriage, the parties have been married for ten years or more, or if either party objects in writing.

Without the option of incapability, divorcing Oklahomans who fall into those categories could have to rely on one of the 11 other reasons for divorce that the state recognizes, such as abandonment, impotency, adultery, or habitual drunkenness.

The law would also remove a requirement that couples separating due to incompatibility attend educational workshops on the impact of divorce on children, since couples with children would no longer be able to have a no fault divorce.

The bill also introduces mandatory awards of costs and fees where the court finds that one party "caused" the divorce. Currently, such awards are discretionary.

What's Next, No More Common Law Marriage? (Yes.)

Dunlap told the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise the act is a "pause button, as a society, where we can consider if we really want to continue living with adverse effects on this divorce policy and what it means, especially for children."

If HB 1277 passes, Oklahoma would be the only state that does not offer some form of no fault divorce.

"I can't imagine if 1277 passes and these no-fault divorces become fault divorces. What should be a two-day trial in Tulsa becomes a four-day trial," Matt Ingham, an Oklahoma divorce lawyer, told KOHK Fox 25.

We'd guess the odds of HB 1277 passing are low. Dunlap seems to recognize that as well, saying he is "open to dialogue on the issue."

HB 1277 isn't Dunlap's only bill being introduced into the legislature either. One would require porn-blocking software on all internet devices, while another would eliminate common law marriage.

Related Resources:
Canadians Fear Privacy Violations at U.S. Border

While President Trump looks for another way to ban immigrants from Muslim countries and proceeds to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, a less visible border battle is playing out with Canada.

Border Patrol agents have been stopping Canadians, questioning them about their religion and national origin, and then demanding access to their phones. As part of the president's ban against immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim nations, agents have been screening Muslims at the borders between Canada and the United States.

Last weekend, a Muslim woman from Quebec reported that she was interrogated at the Vermont border and forced to hand over her phone and unlock it. Agents then refused to let her into the country. An Iranian-born journalist was detained last month at Chicago's O'Hare airport, where agents forced him to unlock his phone and then inspected his Twitter account.

Agents Demanding Phones

Marc Holland, Canada's parliamentary secretary to the public safety minister, spoke out against the border tactics.

"We don't think that Canadians' privacy should be compromised," he told reporters Friday. "We don't think that Canadians should be put in a position ever where they are forced to disclose information in a way about their social networks and things of this nature."

Earlier in the week, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said that visa applicants could be asked to hand over their passwords for their social media accounts. He said it could be part of the Trump administration's extreme vetting effort, which included orders banning immigrants from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia.

Give Us Your Passwords

"We may want to get on their social media, with passwords," Kelly said. "It's very hard to truly vet these people in these countries, the seven countries. But if they come in, we want to say, what websites do they visit, and give us your passwords. So we can see what they do on the internet."

Kelly said anyone who refused to cooperate would be denied entry to the U.S. He said the administration had made no decision, but tighter screening was on its way. All of this news, of course, is keeping immigration lawyers busy.

In the meantime, Trump reportedly may not appeal the court decisions stopping his immigrant ban. Instead, he is considering new orders.

Related Resources:
(ANSA) - Rome, February 14 - Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said after Vatican-Italian talks marking the anniversary of the Lateran Pacts Tuesday that "all the issues that Italy and the Holy See hold dear were tackled, in the sense of being attentive to people's needs, to social emergencies" such as jobs, young people and migration. "There is concern" on these issues," he said.

Parolin emerged from the talks saying that he had voiced "concern" over an end-of-life bill now before parliament. "More space for dialogue between doctors and patients is needed," he said.

The talks focused on Italy's stronger role on the international scene and the need for the EU to rediscover its founding values to be relaunched, as well as the persecution of Christians around the world, sources said. Youth unemployment, and the need for Europe to find a new strategy to reduce it, was also part of the talks.


CAIRO - The Italian-Libyan commission tasked with activating the joint operations room for combatting illegal immigration under the accord signed by the two countries in early February is to meet again in Rome "in March", Libyan navy spokesman generale Ayoub Omar Qassem told ANSA on Tuesday. "An agreement has been reached to hold another meeting in Rome in March," General Qassem said.



The joint commission met for the first time on Monday. On that occasion the commission discussed "many things, including the consignment of boats to Libya" - in reference to motorboats destined for the "naval coastguard" and "police" - and "the dispatch of teams to be trained for around 45 days".



Italy must aim for immediate repatriations to discourage migration, navy spokesman says.

Libya and Italy should aim for rapid repatriations, to be carried out within "a week", in order to discourage illegal immigration, Libyan navy spokesman General Ayoub Omar Qassem has said. "If Italy supports Libya in repatriating migrants directly after their arrest - perhaps immigration will drop"  "insofar as they will realise that it is impossible to reach Europe because they are repatriated immediately," General Qassem told ANSA. "Italy and Libya must repatriate migrants without delays within no more than a week of their arrest. With this measure it is effectively possible to achieve something," he added
Astana talks could spawn Syria truce monitoring task force Russia, Iran and Turkey signed agreement in January

(ANSAmed) - Moscow, February 14 - Talks on Syria in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan, on Wednesday and Thursday could lead to the creation of a task force involving Russia, Iran and Turkey to monitor the truce, Russian news agency Interfax reports Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov as saying. Abdrakhmanov reportedly added that in reality this task force already exists and that it now only needs to be "formalised". In the Astana talks at the end of January Russia, Iran and Turkey signed an agreement to create a joint mechanism for monitoring the truce in Syria. (ANSAmed)
Over 40% of Turkey's Syrian refugee kids don't attend school Ankara says 483,000 enrolled, EU promised 300 mn

(ANSAmed) - ROME, FEBRUARY 14 - More than 40% of Syrian refugee children in Turkey don't attend school, according to new data provided by Turkish Education Minister Ismet Yilmaz.



The total number of Syrian students enrolled in Turkish schools has risen to 483,000 out of an overall total of 850,000 Syrian school-age children counted in the country.



Yilmaz said the EU has promised to contribute 300 million euros to cover refugee children's educational expenses, but that until now has provided just under one-third of the total.(ANSAmed).




Amnesty Intl says EU-Turkey accord shouldn't be replicated Refugees in 'squalid conditions' and illegal repatriations

(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, FEBRUARY 14 - Amnesty International said on Tuesday that the EU-Turkey migrant accord, nearing its one-year anniversary, has left refugees "in squalid and dangerous living conditions, and must not be replicated with other countries".



It released a report titled "Blueprint for Despair" in which it documented "unlawful returns of asylum-seekers to Turkey in a flagrant breach of their rights under international law".



"The EU-Turkey deal has been a disaster for the thousands who have been left stranded in a dangerous, desperate and seemingly endless limbo on the Greek islands," said Gauri van Gulik, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for Europe. "It is disingenuous in the extreme that European leaders are touting the EU-Turkey deal as a success, while closing their eyes to the unbearably high cost to those suffering the consequences," she said.(ANSAmed).




10 arrested in joint Spain-Morocco anti-trafficking op Suspects also allegedly smuggled 39 Nigerians for sex trade

(ANSAmed) - Madrid, February 14 - Ten people have been arrested in a joint Spanish-Moroccan police operation to dismantle a human smuggling network across the Strait of Gibraltar, Spanish police said Tuesday.



Seven of the alleged traffickers were arrested in Torreveja on the western coast of Spain. The network is said to have also smuggled at least 39 Nigerian women to work as prostitutes in Europe. One of the suspects is alleged to have organised at least 40 boat trips for migrants wanting to reach Spain from Morocco since 2008. (ANSAmed).




Turkish army clashes with Kurdish YPG at Syrian border YPG says responded to trespassing, Ankara says killed militant

(ANSAmed) - ROME, FEBRUARY 14 - Several armed clashes have taken place on Tuesday in Turkey's Nusaybin area, which borders the zone in northern Syria controlled by the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD).



Militants of the YPG, the armed branch of the PYD, said clashes have flared up frequently in recent days due to attempts at trespassing by Turkish army forces and pro-Turkish Syrian militants.



The YPG said it damaged some Turkish military vehicles.



Turkish armed forces said they responded to enemy fire and killed one Kurdish militant.



Meanwhile, Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov said preparations are underway for Syrian peace talks on Wednesday and Thursday in Astana, which could lead to the creation of a Russian, Iranian and Turkish task force to monitor the Syrian ceasefire.



Abdrakhmanov said the task force already exists and now must be "formalised", according to a report from Interfax news agency.(ANSAmed).




BRUSSELS - Amnesty International said on Tuesday that the EU-Turkey migrant accord, nearing its one-year anniversary, has left refugees "in squalid and dangerous living conditions, and must not be replicated with other countries".

It released a report titled "Blueprint for Despair" in which it documented "unlawful returns of asylum-seekers to Turkey in a flagrant breach of their rights under international law".

"The EU-Turkey deal has been a disaster for the thousands who have been left stranded in a dangerous, desperate and seemingly endless limbo on the Greek islands," said Gauri van Gulik, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for Europe. "It is disingenuous in the extreme that European leaders are touting the EU-Turkey deal as a success, while closing their eyes to the unbearably high cost to those suffering the consequences," she said.
ANSAmed - Today's events in the Mediterranean

(ANSAmed) - ROME, FEBRUARY 14 - The following are some of the main events scheduled for today in the Euro-Mediterranean area: MANAMA - anniversary of the beginning of the uprising against the monarchy in Bahrain.



CAIRO - Meeting between Tripoli-based High Council of State and members of the rival Tobruk parliamentary body to seek a political solution to the crisis in Libya. (ANSAmed).




TUNIS - Italian Ambassador to Libya Giuseppe Perrone said General Khalifa Haftar "is part of the solution to the crisis" in Libya, speaking to TV broadcaster Libya Channel.

"We appreciate the efforts made by the Libyan National Army in the fight against terrorism and we believe in the need for a unified military institution that represents Libyans across the country under the political authority," Perrone said.

He said Italy is "working together with all Libyans who want to fight terrorism and bring stability to the country".

Perrone said Italy doesn't have any military presence in Libya and Italian businesses are willing to return to the country.


Italy-Libya commission to meet again in Rome in March Consignment of boats, training discussed at first meeting Monday

(ANSAmed) - Cairo, February 14 - The Italian-Libyan commission tasked with activating the joint operations room for combatting illegal immigration under the accord signed by the two countries in early February is to meet again in Rome "in March", Libyan navy spokesman generale Ayoub Omar Qassem told ANSA on Tuesday. "An agreement has been reached to hold another meeting in Rome in March," General Qassem said.



The joint commission met for the first time on Monday. On that occasion the commission discussed "many things, including the consignment of boats to Libya" - in reference to motorboats destined for the "naval coastguard" and "police" - and "the dispatch of teams to be trained for around 45 days".



(ANSAmed).




Lebanese president Aoun arrives for first visit to Jordan

(ANSAmed) - AMMAN, FEBRUARY 14 - Lebanese president Michel Aun on Tuesday arrived in Amman for his first visit to Jordan, where he met with king Abdulah to discuss regional developments and issues of mutual concern, official sources said.



Aun, who is leading a large team from the Lebanese government, was met at Marka airport by king Abdullah and members of the government, the parliament and top military officials, said Petra news agency.



Official sources said the two Arab countries are expected to sign several cooperation agreements in fields of transport, energy and others. The two countries host some of the largest concentration of Syrian refugees, despite their limited national resources, thus depending heavily on foreign aid to help provide services to several million refugees. (ANSAmed).




Tunisia can't host refugee camps says prime minister Chahed says only way is accord with Libya

(ANSAmed) - BERLIN, FEBRUARY 14 - Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed said Tunisia can't host refugee camps for asylum seekers in the country, in an interview with German newspaper Bild. "Our democracy is too young and I don't believe this can work or that there are the capabilities for setting up refugee camps," Chahed said.



"We need to find a solution together with Libya. This is the only way," he said. (ANSAmed).




This blog is looking for wisdom, to have and to share. It is also looking for other rare character traits like good humor, courage, and honor. It is not an easy road, because all of us fall short. But God is love, forgiveness and grace. Those who believe in Him and repent of their sins have the promise of His Holy Spirit to guide us and show us the Way.
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
According to a CAO.IRI statement issued after the signing ceremony, the cooperation agreement will see the IAA avail their Iranian counterparts technical expertise and assistance in the areas of flight operations management, airworthiness, and aircraft MRO. Once ratified, it will also simplify the means by which Iranian carriers can lease aircraft from Irish lessors by improving Iran's air safety oversight procedures.



CAO.IRI director, Reza Jafarzadeh, said Iran Aseman Airlines would be one of the country's first airlines to benefit from the deal whose specific details were not disclosed.
ATS provides pilot selection, ab initio and advanced aviation training courses. In order to ensure higher efficiency of available resource and infrastructure, as well as to ensure more smooth integration of all training-related process, ATS will integrate MOMooks software. The new system will allow ATS training managers, instructors, engineers and other staff to control session scheduling, plan classrooms, book aircraft, manage documentation, prepare reports and monitor students training progress in a single online environment.

Now, all our tasks are carried out manually, we dont have any digital tools that would allow us to pass on the knowledge to pilot students effectively and in an innovative way. Integration of MOMooks training management software is an essential development step in our learning environment. It will allow us to ease the scheduling, examinations and in general training procedures. We plan to import all ATSs data and start using the software at the beginning of February. I personally believe this change will allow us to work in a smart and cost-effective way, said Abdelmadjid Fechkeur, CEO of ATS.

MOMooks training management software can be customized according to varying needs and requirements. Software users claim that by creating, editing and publishing tests electronically, this innovative IT solution allows both to increase the security and save training managers time.

Through the partnership with ATS, we aim to bring solutions that would fulfill all clients requirements. Particularly as the company grows, we are glad to offer modern and customizable software to reach ATSs business goals and improve their results, said Egle Vaitkeviciute, CEO of MOMook.
The statement said: A video clip posted by a citizen aimed at damaging Oman Air has encouraged further similar activities that affect the National Carrier. A fake Twitter account has been set up with the intention of damaging the image and reputation of Oman Air by responding offensively to Oman Airs respected guests.

Any information or communication coming from the account, @omanairline, is unauthorised and should be disregarded. Followers and valued guests have been informed that @omanair is the airline's only official account. Government authorities have been informed about the imposter and firm legal action will be taken against the concerned individuals in accordance with the law.

Any attempt intended to damage the reputation of the airline in an inappropriate way, will be taken further in line with the jurisdiction of the Sultanate of Oman.
Strong interest from the UK continues, with many tour operators calling for flights to be resumed as airlines from Europe including Belgium and Germany are flying once again. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) do not advise against travel to the area.
As the capital of the Republic of Macedonia, Skopje provides a gateway to a country of dramatic scenery, including lakes, mountains and historic towns, while the city itself is home to both Ottoman and European architecture. Visitors to the city can enjoy the National Gallery of Macedonia, while those venturing further afield can visit the lakeside city of Ohrid, which features its own picturesque castle

Qatar Airways Group chief executive, Akbar Al Baker said: Our new four-weekly service to Skopje is a much anticipated addition to our global route map, connecting leisure and business passengers to and from the Republic of Macedonia. Those travelling on Qatar Airways from this destination onwards to our global network will be able to connect seamlessly through the state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport to destinations such as our recently launched gateways of Auckland, Sydney, Krabi and Windhoek.
He's out. Trump national security adviser Michael T. Flynn resigned Monday night after revelations he misled VP Mike Pence and other senior White House officials about his conversations with Russia's ambassador to the United States.

National Security Adviser

Michael T. Flynn, Sashay Away. pic.twitter.com/7fsj0SRAqM  RuPaul (@RuPaul) February 14, 2017

Before his resignation letter was released, the Washington Post reported that the administration had been warned for weeks that Flynn was considered a potential Russia blackmail risk.

The White House says tonight that the acting national security adviser (in other words, not his replacement, but a temporary person to fill the post) will be retired Lt. General Joseph Keith Kellogg, Jr., a Vietnam War veteran.

Change in Headline pic.twitter.com/lTtxMHE4zW  Editing TheGrayLady (@nyt_diff) February 14, 2017

From the New York Times report tonight:

Mr. Flynn, who served in the job for less than a month, said he had given "incomplete information" to about a telephone call he had with the ambassador in late December about American sanctions against Russia, weeks before Mr. Trump's inauguration. Mr. Flynn previously had denied that he had any substantive conversations with Ambassador Sergey I. Kislyak, and Mr. Pence repeated that claim in television as recently as earlier this month. But on Monday, a former administration official said the Justice Department last month warned the White House that Mr. Flynn had not been fully forthright about his conversations with the ambassador. As a result, the Justice Department feared that Mr. Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail by Moscow. In his resignation letter, which the White House emailed to reporters, Mr. Flynn said he had held numerous calls with foreign officials during the transition. "Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador," he wrote. "I have sincerely apologized to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology."

Andrea @mitchellreports gets to the heart of the matter: Did Flynn talk sanctions w/Russia on the order or approval of Trumpor anyone else? pic.twitter.com/y8b2bQDTJZ  Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) February 14, 2017

Worth noting that Gen. Flynn now leaves two administrations, from both political parties, in disgrace.  Brian Taff (@briantaff6abc) February 14, 2017

You can imagine North Korea is all "We launched a missile, and the US National Security Advisor resigned! SAY WHAT?"  James Ledbetter (@jledbetter) February 14, 2017

Worth reminding: #MikeFlynn saying 1.7 billion Muslims have a cancer & needs to be "excised", didn't prevent him from becoming NSA to #Trump  Bahman Kalbasi (@BahmanKalbasi) February 14, 2017

Not credible that Trump didn't know that Flynn had spoken about sanctions with the Russian Amb; as if Flynn could free lance on this alone..  Nouriel Roubini (@Nouriel) February 14, 2017

.@MajorCBS says Petraeus meeting at WH will be later this week. https://t.co/UnNq9I3Bxv  margaret brennan (@margbrennan) February 14, 2017

Flynn out. Lt. Gen. Keith Kellog named "acting" National Security Adviser. Kellog was part of transition and well-known to @POTUS  Major Garrett (@MajorCBS) February 14, 2017

Mandy, Season 1 of the West Wing https://t.co/5P8GBApcs3  Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) February 14, 2017

Very interesting K.T. McFarland, the Deputy Nat'l Security Adviser, was *not* named Acting NSA tonight.  Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 14, 2017

Now we know that there is 1 person in America to whom WH officials are not allowed to lie: Mike Flynn. The other 320 mln are not so lucky  masha gessen (@mashagessen) February 14, 2017

Lol oh sure "to end the controversy." https://t.co/IsYS6X9pl3  Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) February 14, 2017

Sen Schumer said earlier today Flynn's security clearance should be withdrawn until an "independent investigation" was completed on him > pic.twitter.com/zsVQDEVCEY  Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) February 14, 2017

Somehow I feel like rewatching "The Manchurian Candidate" & "From Russia With Love".  Clyde Haberman (@ClydeHaberman) February 14, 2017

.@MikePenceVP  the quiet/nice one  has now played a central role in the 2 biggest ousters of Trump, post-election: Christie and Flynn.  Glenn Thrush (@GlennThrush) February 14, 2017
Sally Q. Yates is looking more like a hero each day. Before she was fired by Donald Trump, the then-acting attorney general told the incoming administration in late January that she believed then-NatSec-advisor General Michael Flynn "had misled senior administration officials about the nature of his communications with the Russian ambassador to the United States, and warned that the national security adviser was potentially vulnerable to Russian blackmail."

The Washington Post reported the story just hours before Flynn resigned in disgrace.

A senior administration official admitted to the Washington Post the Trump White House had long been aware of the grave nature of the matter "we've been working on this for weeks," they said.

But as late as Monday night, The White House was still pushing a statement that Trump was "evaluating the situation" regarding Flynn.

From the Washington Post report this afternoon, Ellen Nakashima and Adam Entous:

The message, delivered by Sally Q. Yates and a senior career national security official to the White House counsel, was prompted by concerns that Flynn, when asked about his calls and texts with the Russian diplomat, had told Vice President-elect Mike Pence and others that he had not discussed the Obama administration sanctions on Russia for its interference in the 2016 election, the officials said. It is unclear what the White House counsel, Donald McGahn, did with the information. In the waning days of the Obama administration, James R. Clapper Jr., who was the director of national intelligence, and John Brennan, the CIA director at the time, shared Yates's concerns and concurred with her recommendation to inform the Trump White House. They feared that "Flynn had put himself in a compromising position" and thought that Pence had a right to know that he had been misled, according to one of the officials, who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters. () The current and former officials said that although they believed that Pence was misled about the contents of Flynn's communications with the Russian ambassador, they couldn't rule out that Flynn was acting with the knowledge of others in the transition.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. The City Council of Yerevan unanimously approved the draft decision on installing the bust of National Hero of Armenia Tatul Krpeyan. The decision was made during the first session of the City Councils 9th sitting, which was chaired by Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan, the City Hall told ARMENPRESS.

The bust will be installed in the Tatul Krpeyan Park in Yerevans Nor Nork district. The park was built in 2014 and opened in 2015. The Park, where different events are regularly organized, has a unique symbol for educating a patriotic and devoted young generation.

The Arts Commission of the City Hall also approved the bust. The works sculptor is Levon Tokmajyan, architect  Grigor Babajanyan.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. As result of reforms in the accounting and audit sectors, the finance ministry will introduce a system of audit quality control.

Davit Ananyan, deputy minister of finance, told reporters on February 14 the demand for two auditors which was in force until 2011 will be substituted by 5. He reminded when the legal norm of mandatory audit was defined in 2011, there was no control for audit quality in Armenia.

According to him, at that time an audit department was created in the finance ministry, and since the structure was still in the process of being established, the demand of substituting the two auditors with five must have provided the quality defines by the audit department in the future.

We propose that the function of audit quality control must be transferred to a professional structure. From this perspective, a new system must be introduced, based on several important principles. First is the principle of independence, meaning the chamber mustnt in any way be constrained by the audit organizations. The audit quality control system must include professionals, who have at least been affiliated or worked with the Big Four, and will come with their teams and define audit control, he said.
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Londie Tarango, 23, of Artesia, was sentenced this morning in federal court in Las Cruces to 60 months in prison for a methamphetamine trafficking conviction.

Tarango will be on supervised release for three years after completing his prison sentence.

Tarango was arrested Oct. 6, 2015, on an indictment charging him with distributing meth Aug. 1, 2014, in Eddy County. The indictment included forfeiture allegations seeking forfeiture of $2,400 in proceeds of the drug trafficking activity charged to the United States.

On May 5, 2016, Tarango pleaded guilty to the indictment without the benefit of a plea agreement.

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces Office of the DEA and the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force (PVDTF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Brock Taylor of the U.S. Attorneys Las Cruces Branch Office prosecuted the case. The PVDTF is comprised of officers from the Eddy County Sheriffs Office and Artesia and Carlsbad Police Departments, and is part of the HIDTA Region VI Drug Task Force
Police officers raided the Library of Ukrainian Literature in Moscow in October 2015 and arrested its director, Natalia Sharina, for distributing extremist literature and anti-Russian propaganda. Shes been under house arrest ever since and was put on trial last fall. Now Sharina is appealing to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
Tom Hill, the American hedge fund manager who paid over 30m for a Pontormo portrait, is refusing to accept a matching offer from Londons National Gallery.
This essay about John P. Marquands Point of No Return originally appeared in National Review in 2009. Its never been reprinted, nor has it been available on line until now. I post it in order to draw your attention to a little-remembered book that I consider to be one of the most noteworthy American novels of the twentieth century.

* * *

Is there an American novelist who has fallen farther from grace than John P. Marquand? For years he was one of the best-known names on the best-seller lists, and his part-time job as a judge for the Book-of-the-Month Club made him as influential as he was successful. But Marquand wasnt a hit with the highbrows. Edmund Wilson, writing in the New Yorker in 1942, went so far as to declare that Mr. Marquand hasnt the literary vocation. Marquand was stung by such sniping, and despite his Pulitzer Prize and Time cover, he went to his grave sure that hed gotten the shaft because he was popular. True or not, it was Wilson who had the last word. Only two of Marquands melancholy, satire-flecked novels of middle- and upper-middle-class life, The Late George Apley (1937) and H.M. Pulham, Esquire (1941), are still in print, and despite the efforts of a handful of stalwart critical admirers, he is now all but forgotten.

The latter-day eclipse of Marquands reputation is explicable, if not quite understandable. He was a Trollope-like chronicler of New England manners who lacked Trollopes charm, and his smoothly flowing prose was more workmanlike than stylish. Solid competence, not arresting individuality, was his literary line. Yet several of his books had the root of the matter in them, and one in particular strikes me as little short of masterly. Point of No Return, published in 1949, is the story of an ambitious young boy from a small town in Massachusetts who makes his way to Manhattan, there to become the vice president of a small private bankand to find that the promotion he has sought since returning from the war is mysteriously unfulfilling.

If any of this sounds suspiciously familiar, its because Marquand was one of the first novelists to explore the lingering disquiet felt by a generation of American businessmen whose lives were upended by World War II. Charles Gray, the protagonist of Point of No Return, was the original man in the gray flannel suit, unable to see why the world he left behind was no longer capable of satisfying him. But Point of No Return is not the novelistic equivalent of The Best Years of Our Lives. It is, rather, something more complicated and searching: a study of success and its discontents.

Americas major novelists have had surprisingly little to say about the world of work, save to dismiss it from a distance as soul-shriveling drudgery. Point of No Return, by contrast, opens with a detailed and wholly believable description of a day in the life of Charles Gray, who takes the 8:30 train to Manhattan each morning, there to labor in the vineyards of the Stuyvesant Bank, where he clips the coupons of rentiers and polishes such apples as come his way. At night he returns home to his wife, children and country club, balances the checkbook, and dreams of the promotion that will make it possible for him to send his son to Exeter. Then he awakes one rainy morning and finds himself thinking instead of Clyde, the Massachusetts village that he left behind in 1930 to seek his fortune. All at once Charles gazes into his bathroom mirror and sees that the values by which he lives are contrived. His friends are Babbitts, his daily chores meaningless, his ambitions hollow. He wants something morebut what?

With the practiced skill of a Hollywood director, Marquand turns the clock back a quarter-century. We learn that Charles is the oldest son of a New England family headed by a flighty, unsound man who frittered away a small fortune and thereafter was viewed with suspicion by his ultra-proper friends and neighbors. When Charles falls in love with the daughter of one of Clydes oldest families, he discovers that his fathers irresponsibility has cast a cloud over his own reputation and that he is not deemed an acceptable suitor. Cruelly hurt by his inability to vault the high walls of caste, he puts Clyde behind him, goes to New York, and seeks a less provincial life. For a time he thinks he has found it, but then he looks into the mirror and realizes that he has spent the whole of his life measuring himself by the yardstick of a town that time has left behind. Not even the promotion he has sought for so long can erase the chilling suspicion that his worldly success is a handful of dust:

There was a weight on Charles again, the same old weight, and it was heavier after that brief moment of freedom. In spite of all those years, in spite of all his striving, it was remarkable how little pleasure he took in final fulfillment. He was a vice-president of the Stuyvesant Bank. It was what he had dreamed of long ago and yet it was not the true texture of early dreams.They would sell the house at Sycamore Park and get a larger place. They would resign from the Oak Knoll Club. And then there was the sailboat. It had its compensations but it was not what he had dreamed.

What keeps Point of No Return from descending into romance-novel bathos is the cool detachment with which Marquand describes Charles Grays failed quest for fulfillment. Though he is sensitive, intelligent, and deeply dissatisfied, none of these things propels him out of the tightly circumscribed orbit of his businessmans life. Instead of having a torrid affair with his secretary or quitting the Stuyvesant Bank to become a beachcomber, he stays loyal to his wife and children, and we never doubt that he will continue to remain so, or that his steadfastness is anything other than admirable, perhaps even wise. What he has is all there is.

Most people who read for pleasure sooner or later find themselves in the pages of a novel. When I first read Point of No Return, I was stuck by the precision with which it conveys what it feels like to partake of an experience that was and is central to American life. Anyone who, like me, has traveled the long road that leads from a small-town childhood to a big-city career will immediately appreciate the way in which Marquand sketches Charles transformation into a polished banker. To be sure, Point of No Return is no Horatio Alger taleCharles Gray is too riddled with self-doubt for thatbut neither is its author cynical about the circuitous voyage that is his subject. The Great Gatsby tells a similar story more artfully, but also with a heightening touch of melodramatic lyricism that is necessarily less true to life. Not so the plainer-spoken Marquand. Writing in 1949, he suggested with uncanny exactitude much of what I felt when I came to New York as a young man some three decades later.

I especially like the scene in which Charles arrives at Grand Central Station in 1930, having put his troubled past behind him to come looking for a job:

Outside the station, the streetcars and the traffic were already running in a steady stream under the ramp at Pershing Square. The shops on Forty-Second Street, the drugstores, the optical stores and haberdasheries, were already opening for the day.As he walked up the Avenue the city seemed to him as impersonal as it always did later and he loved that impersonality. Now that he had left his bag at the parcel room there was nothing to tie him. The tides of the city moved past him and he was part of the tide. His own problems and his own personality merged with it.

In The Message in the Bottle, Walker Percy compared Charless exurbanite alienation to the sweaty desperation of Franz Kafkas antiheroes. Though he also spoke of Marquands Book-of-the-Month Club disenchantment as being restricted by the genteel limits of irony, he praised Gray as the suburban counterpart of Joseph K. (and in my opinion, a not unworthy counterpart: the first hundred pages of Point of No Return are of a very high order). I used to think that was coming it a bit high. Now I know better. Point of No Return is not a great novel, nor was its author a great novelist, but Ive yet to read a book that did a better job of putting of a man like Charles Gray on paper.

Therein lies the power and the significance of Point of No Return: it portrays middle-class life with a sympathetic honesty that is both unromantic and uncommon. When Charles admits to himself that his destiny is to face no danger or uncalculated risk.to measure his merriment and hedge on his tragedies, he is telling most of us something about ourselves as wellsomething that we dont really want to hear, even though we wouldnt have it any other way.
In a new report, Amnesty International summarizes the security research they did on the victims of a sophisticated phishing attack aimed at Qatari labor activists, dubbed "Operation Kingphish."

Several activists were approached by a personal calling themselves "Safeena Malik," who claimed to represent a human rights NGO. The Malik persona had a deep, years-long presence on social media, with hundreds of Linkedin contacts. The Malik persona targeted journalists, activists and organizers engaged in the struggle for labor rights in Qatar  a notorious haven of forced labor and unsafe working conditions  for months on end, carefully building up trust with them and sending them multiple forms of bait that sought (sometimes successfully) to capture their Google logins.

The phishing attack itself took the form of a supposed link to a Google Doc; targets were sent to a lookalike page that seemed to be a login screen for Google, already populated with their real Google userids and avatars. The attackers were known to use a server in Doha, Qatar to stage their attacks.

Amnesty stops short of blaming the attacks on the government of Qatar, but there is circumstantial evidence linking the two.

The Gmail attack has been successful. Motherboard spoke to one journalist who inadvertently handed over their password, although they were suspicious of the document links and Malik's messages. (The journalist asked not to be identified as they engage in undercover work.) "I got a message on Christmas day, saying Happy Christmas!" the journalist said. In all, Amnesty believes Malik targeted nearly 30 people, judging by information left in an exposed server used in the attacks. A major part of the Malik identity is the substantial social media presence. Her LinkedIn profile appears to have lifted a bio from someone else, and her photos are seemingly a stolen mis-mash from other accounts across the web. On Facebook, Malik has joined several groups related to her targets, including communities that deal with migrant workers and forced labour, Amnesty's report reads. Sometimes, Malik will use her mutual connections to targets as leveragemaybe a victim is more likely to chat if Malik is a friend of a friend.

Operation Kingphish: Uncovering a Campaign of Cyber Attacks against Civil Society in Qatar and Nepal [Nex/Amnesty International]

This Cunning, Months-in-the-Making Phishing Campaign Targeted Dozens of Journalists, Activists [Joseph Cox/Motherboard]
In olden times, kings and queens had royal poisoners on hand to get rid of inconvenient people. They were good at what they did. For example, they could lightly dust a letter or page of a book with a powder that would kill whoever touched it.

Politically-motivated poisoning is back in vogue. New York reports that "Kim Jong-nam, the older half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was killed in a Malaysian airport Monday after he was sprayed in the face with an unknown liquid, police said Tuesday."
No conflict rather convergence of interest: Seshasayee.

Mumbai: Stating that there is no issue of any corporate governance issues in Infosys, India's second largest software firm on Monday said that the current difference of opinions between the founders and the management is part of the process of transition from a promoter managed company to a completely professionally managed company.

This is a challenging kind of transition and such challenges would be handled with greater degree of statesmanship. There is no battle as there is no conflict of interest. It is just a convergence of interest. They are important voices and we are sensitive to their voices, said R. Seshasayee, non-executive chairman, Infosys.

He added that the board will continue to engage with its founders and take decisions in the best interest of the organisation.

I enjoy a deeply heartfelt relationship with Narayana Murthy. I deeply value his experience and wisdom and even his criticism, said Vishal Sikka, CEO, Infosys, while addressing the media in Mumbai on Monday.

Refuting reports about appointing law firm Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas to mediate between founders and the current management, Mr Seshasayee said the law firm was roped into advise the company to frame a policy which will help the company to reach a common ground on values and strategic direction the company should follow. This is important since the company has a vast number of widely distributed shareholders and other stakeholders with different outlooks, diverse views and different representative interest.

On the issue of exorbitant pay scale awarded to the companys CEO, Mr Seshasayee said that a global consultant was appointed to determine the CEOs salary, which is benchmarked to his peers and geography.

"We followed the highest standard of corporate governance norms in this matter. The board sought the permission of shareholders before approving it. About 98 per cent of them voted in favour," he added.

Regarding the issue of high severance package paid to the company's ex CFO, Rajiv Bansal, the company said the former executive was paid just Rs 5 crore and the remaining portion have been suspended, which is now under legal consideration.

On the issues related to the appointment of independent directors ( Punita Kumar Sinha and D N Prahlad), Mr Seshasayee said both are accomplished individuals with a deep understanding and knowledge of the business and the company followed all due process of law prescribing the appointment of independent directors.
Two assassins used poisoned needles to off the disfavored half-brother of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un, reports South Korean media. Kim Jong-nam was attacked in Kuala Lumpur airport by the women, who then escaped in a taxi and remain at large.

Malaysian police told Reuters an unidentified North Korean man died en route to hospital from a Kuala Lumpur airport.The police said the man's identity had not been verified. An employee in the emergency ward of Putrajaya hospital told the agency a deceased Korean there was born in 1970 and surnamed Kim. A source close to the Malaysian Prime Minister's office confirmed Mr Kim's death to the BBC, adding that his body was now undergoing an autopsy.

Kim fell into disfavor with his then-ruling father, leading to his younger brother winning the throne after his death. Nam's screw-ups included being caught trying to get into Japan on a false passport in order to visit Tokyo Disneyland.

The North Korean government's not saying anything, but you can generate a

fake Press release with our North Korean press release generator.
Company reported 96.22 per cent decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 111.57 crore for December.

Tata Motors' loss after tax widened to Rs 1,046 crore in the third quarter of 2016-17, from Rs 137 crore a year ago.

Mumbai: Homegrown auto major Tata Motors today reported 96.22 per cent decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 111.57 crore for the December quarter, dragged down by losses in domestic operations and lower profit of its British arm JLR.

It had posted net profit of Rs 2,952.67 crore in the same quarter of last fiscal, Tata Motors said in a BSE filing. The company's consolidated sales during the October- December quarter were down 2.2 per cent to Rs 67,864.95 crore as against Rs 69,398.07 crore in the year-ago period.

On a standalone basis, Tata Motors' loss after tax widened to Rs 1,046 crore in the third quarter of 2016-17, from Rs 137 crore a year ago. The revenues (net of excise) of the standalone business (including joint operations) for the quarter under review stood at Rs 10,167 crore, as compared to Rs 10,019 crore in the third quarter of 2015-16, up 1.47 per cent.

Tata Motors said its British arm Jaguar Land Rover posted revenue of 6,537 million pounds, compared to 5,781 million pounds -- up 13.1 per cent. JLR had profit after tax (PAT) of 167 million pounds for the third quarter compared to 440 million pounds in the corresponding quarter last fiscal, down 62 per cent.

It had lower wholesale volumes and less favourable product mix but was partially offset by favourable market mix, including the run out of Discovery, the company said. There were also unfavourable variable marketing expense and higher new model launch costs and biennial pay negotiation settlement. Favourable operating exchange was also offset by realised hedges, the company added JLR's total retail sales, including the China JV, were at 1,49,288 units, up 8.5 per cent.

Tata Motors said during the third quarter 2016-17, its commercial vehicles segment witnessed demand shrinkage due to the demonetisation. Medium and heavy commercial vehicle segment witnessed major pressure with a fall of 9 per cent and LCV segment was overall flat.

Passenger vehicles segment grew by 25.4 per cent with car segment rising by 31.1 per cent on the back of continued strong response to the Tiago, it added. Tata Motors stock ended at Rs 468.30 apiece, down 7.34 per cent, on BSE.
Jaitley said there is tremendous pressure on government policy makers because of peoples' impatience to see India grow at a faster rate.

Bengaluru: Finance minister Arun Jaitley on Monday said that the rhetoric of protectionism in developed economies and unpredictable global slowdown have not affected India.

What strikes us today is two important factors unpredictable global slowdown and the rhetoric of protectionism in developed economies. But these havent affected India, he said at Make In India-Karnataka meet here.

Not a single sound or even a whisper of protectionism is being heard in India and such talk is there only in the developed economies, he said, adding that this itself is a tribute to the fact that the country is willing to accept investments and tune its policies.

Mr Jaitley said there is tremendous pressure on government policy makers because of peoples' impatience to see India grow at a faster rate and get rid of poverty, among other things.

Organized by the Karnataka government in association with department of industrial policy and Promotion (DIPP), government of India and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the conference saw participation of more then 5,000 delegates from over 30 countries.

He lauded Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his ministers and civil servants for working with a positive frame of mind for implementation of GST by the middle of this year. With the implementation of GST, the whole country would become one big market and this could lead to a much bigger formal economy and revenue size, he added.

If Karnataka wants to emerge as a leader in the country in terms of development, Mr Jaitley said the state should achieve 2-3 per cent higher growth rate than the national average.

Meanwhile, Mr Siddara-maiah said that the state government has a vision to make Karnataka an innovative and high-tech manufacturing hub of the country. The focus sho-uld be on home grown capital and technologies.
Apoorva Lakhia confirms that the movie will be shown to the family once its complete.

Touted to be one of Shraddha Kapoors most challenging movies so far, Haseena: The Queen of Mumbai is all set to be released on July 14. The makers feel that timing the movies release with Eid is a good move. Not just that, Haseena will also be shown to the Parkar family, in a special screening.

The Parkar family has already seen a few glimpses of the film, and they are extremely happy with the way the film has shaped up, so far, says a source.

The movie, being directed by Apoorva Lakhia will chronicle underworld don Dawood Ibrahims sister, Haseena Parkars life from the age of 17 to 40.

When contacted, Apoorva confirmed the plan of showcasing the movie to the Parkars. Were releasing the movie in July, because its a good day after Ramadan and Eid. Once the film is ready, we will have a special screening for the cast and crew of the movie, and we will call the Parkar family too.
Vehicles were off the road and people preferred to stay indoors.

Protesters block a road during a bandh across the state called by Joint Coordination Committee in Dimapur, Nagaland, on Monday against 33 per cent reservation for women in elections to local urban bodies. (Photo: PTI)

Guwahati: The bandh called by Nagaland Tribes Action Committee (NTAC) and Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) on Monday affected normal life Nagaland.

Vehicles were off the road and people preferred to stay indoors. Business establishments, educational institutions and government offices, including the State Civil Secretariat and Assembly Secretariat were closed.

The NTAC and JCC have been demanding the resignation of Nagaland chief minister T.R. Zeliang, who has refused to step down.

Though, Nagaland government has already conceded two demands of the NTAC by declaring the entire process of Urban Local Bodies (ULB) election with 33 per cent reservation for women as null and void and suspending the police personnel involved in January 31 police firing on the protesters leading to the killing of two youth.

Meanwhile, various civil societies, political parties and students organisations, including Naga Students Federation and Eastern Nagaland Students Federation have appealed for smooth conduct of the board examinations.

The students federation regretted, We cant expect the students to perform well in their exams in the midst of such social unrest.

Nearly 55,000 students are preparing for the secondary and higher secondary school leaving certificate examinations going to commence from Tuesday.

Though, school and educational institutions are exempted from bandh, it is bound to affect the students, students leaders said.

The state has intensified security arrangement in the state with additional companies of paramilitary forces being rushed to the state, security sources said adding that there was no report of any untoward incident during the bandh.
Massive protests have erupted in the area following the killing of the militant in the encounter.

Indian army and paramilitary soldiers leave the site of a gun battle with suspected rebels in Hajin Village, northeast of Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir on Tuesday. (Photo: PTI)

Srinagar: Three Army jawans and a militant were on Tuesday killed in a fierce gun battle in Hajin area of Kashmirs northern Bandipore district.

Four J&K policemen, a civilian, and five other soldiers including an officer, a CRPF officer, were injured, officials said, adding that the operation has been "terminated".

The injured officers and soldiers have been brought to Srinagar and admitted to the Armys 92-Base Hospital at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar. The Army sources said that the condition of injured Major BS Thapa of 13 Rashtriya Rifles is critical.

The injured CRPF officer is Chetan Chita, the Commandant of its 45 Batallion whereas other injured soldiers have been identified as Sepoys Mukesh Chandra Bhatt and Jatinder Singh and Ptrs Sandeep Kumar and Ravi Kumar.

The Army said that the names of the slain soldiers would be released only after their respective families are informed officially to follow the procedure.

The bloody clash comes two days after four militants of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizb-ul-Mujahedin, two soldiers and a civilian were killed and an Army Major, two soldiers and a policeman were injured in a similar incident in Nagabal village of southern Kulgam districts Frisal area.

The Army sources in Srinagar said that the troops of its 13 and 31 Rashtriya Rifles, the members of J&K Polices counterinsurgency Special Operations Group (SOG) and the CRPFs 45 Battalion laid siege to Hajins Parray Mohalla at dawn on Tuesday following inputs about the presence of militants in a private house.

The terrorists were challenged and asked to lay down their arms but they responded by opening fire at the searching party, triggering the encounter, said a defence spokesman. He added that three Army jawans lost their lives whereas one militant was also killed in the fire fight.

The police sources, however, said that the lone militant holed up in the house hurled a grenade at the security personnel causing deaths and injuries among them before he was shot dead.

Latest reports from Hajan said that massive protests have erupted in the area following the killing of the militant in the encounter. The civilian injured during the encounter has been identified as Hilal Ahmed. Eight people were injured in police action at Saderkot in Bandipore, the reports said, adding that five of them were hit in pellet shotgun firing by police.

On Sunday, a similar situation had led to intense clashes between local residents protesting and mourning the killing of four militants and a civilian during the Nagabal, Frisal (Kulgam) encounter.

The face-off between the violent protesters and security forces had led to the killing of another civilian and injuries to over a dozen others in firing, heightening tensions across the Kashmir Valley. A general strike called by an alliance of key separatist leaders shut the Valley on Monday.
While forces were conducting search operation in Parray Mohalla, hiding militants fired on them, triggering an encounter, an official said.

Srinagar: Three soldiers and a militant were on Tuesday killed in an encounter in Hajin area of Bandipora district of Kashmir, police said.

Six other security personnel and a civilian also suffered injuries in the gunbattle that began in the wee hours on Tuesday, a police official said.

Security forces cordoned off Parray Mohalla in Hajin area this morning following information about presence of militants there, the official said.

He said a gunbattle broke out as the security forces were closing in on the position of the militants.

Nine security personnel were injured in the exchange of firing with the militants out of which three later succumbed to injuries, the official said.

One militant, whose identity has not been ascertained yet, was also killed in the operation, he added.

Further details of the incident are awaited.
Rajkhowa said he had asked the state government to take action against the corrupt officials.

New Delhi: Politicians and separatist militants have very close ties in Arunachal Pradesh and the President and PM were informed about it in writing, former Arunachal Pradesh governor J.P. Rajkhowa told this newspaper.

It was common knowledge that a number of MLAs and ministers were maintaining close links with the underground elements and outfits for support during election time, more particularly, in eastern Arunachal Pradesh, Mr Rajkhowa said.

Even in the capital complex areas (Papum Pare district) one indigenous outfit, which was defunct for a few years, was revived with support from very important politicians. I had referred the matter to the police as also the Army commander, during a meeting for necessary action. My apprehension on this was also conveyed to the President of India and Prime Minister in writing.

Appointed as governor of the Northeast state in June 2015, the 1968 batch Assam cadre IAS officer had kicked up a storm when he stood up to the Centres directive to resign on health grounds stating that he would rather be sacked. He was relieved of his post on September 12, 2016.

Seeking a CBI-NIA inquiry into the allegations made by former Arunachal chief minister Kalikho Pul in his suicide note dated November 8, 2016, where he named several big politicians involved in corrupt practices, the former governor said: Since big names are involved, only organisation like CBI/ NIA should investigate to ascertain the missing links and verify the truth or otherwise.

In the absence of a vigilance and anti-corruption directorate and also non-appointment of Lokayukt for the state, thorough probes are never made. Only some departmental/ CID inquiries are done. The big guns are never touched, he said.

Interestingly, Dongwimsai Pul, the third wife of the late CM on Saturday demanded a CBI inquiry into the allegations the CM had made in a 60-page suicide note titled Mera Vicchar (My opinion).

On the reported endemic corruption in the hilly state, Mr Rajkhowa said that quantifying it was a very difficult task. However, if we take the annual budgeted expenditure figures of about Rs 13,000 crore on the average during the past five years, you will see that at about 60 per cent corruption, it would be about Rs 39,000 crore in total, he said, adding that he not only felt helpless, but failing to take any action on the corrupt even lost his sleep for days failing to take any action on the corrupt.

Naming the Public Distribution System (PDS) and Hill Transport Subsidy (HTS) scheme to transport the PDS items to inaccessible hill areas as the main milch cows used by the corrupt politicians to loot the public exchequer, Mr Rajkhowa said he had asked the state government to take action against the corrupt officials.
Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday said India has democracy just because Hindus are in the majority.

New Delhi: Minister of State Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju, who found himself in a tough spot after his tweets on decline in Hindu population, has found support in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Backing his statement, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday said India has democracy just because Hindus are in the majority. On the other hand, RSS leader Rakesh Sinha hailed him for attracting the attention of the nation towards the demographic imbalance that is taking place in the nation.

"As Hindus are in majority, there is democracy in our country. As we see in Islamic countries where Muslims are in majority, there is no democracy. For the sake of democracy, we have to make sure the overwhelming majority of population remains of Hindus and the question is how to do it. If Muslims also took to family planning as Hindus then this problem would not be there," Swamy said.

Supporting his claim with evidence, Swamy also asserted that Census of 2001 and 2011 indicated the slump in the proportion of Hindus which was a question of alarm.

"His statement is taken out of context as he was basically talking about the decline in population percentage of the Hindus as a ratio of the total population. This is a continuing civilisation of Hindus and we don't want to lose that," he added.

Sinha said that it is Rijiju's duty to bring up such a matter in front of the nation, as demographic imbalance impacts social harmony and national integration

" Kiren Rijiju spoke something which is already in the census report of Government of India. This is a statement of fact and it is a matter of concern. And as Minister of Home Affairs, it is his duty to attract the attention of the nation that demographic imbalance is taking place and this demographic imbalance is not merely a number game, but it also impacts social harmony and national integration. So I think nation should appreciate him for bringing the facts before the society and Indian people," Sinha told ANI here.

Rijiju on Monday dubbed as irresponsible the Congress allegations that the Narendra Modi-led BJP government was trying to convert Arunachal Pradesh into a Hindu state and asked the grand old party not to make such provocative statements.

"Hindu population is reducing in India because Hindus never convert people. Minorities in India are flourishing unlike some countries around," Rijiju said in his tweet.

Posting a series of tweets along with a screenshot of a news report that quoted the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee as saying that the BJP government is "trying to convert Arunachal Pradesh into a Hindu state", Rijiju reminded the grand old party that India is a secular country.

"Why is Congress making such irresponsible statements? People of Arunachal Pradesh are unitedly living peacefully with each other. Congress should not make such provocative statements. India is a secular country. All religious groups enjoy freedom and living peacefully," he added.

A controversy erupted over a tweet by Rijiju, in reaction to the Congress' charge that the BJP was turning Arunachal Pradesh into a 'Hindu state', that India's Hindu population was reducing as they didn't 'convert' people. This was seen as a bid to woo voters for the ongoing assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh where the BJP, the Samajwadi Party, the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party have all accused each other of trying to polarise the polls.
Uniform Civil code is not an issue at all in this case. It is a pure question of law, the CJI said.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday made it clear that it will not go into the question of uniform civil code but confine itself only to the legal validity of `triple talaq raised in various petitions.

A three-judge bench of Chief Justice J.S. Khehar and Justices N.V. Ramana and D.Y. Chandrachud gave this clarification when counsel wanted know whether uniform civil code is one of the issues to be taken up for consideration.

The CJI said UCC is not an issue at all in this case. It is a pure question of law. It is more of a human rights issue. The Bench asked the counsel to submit a list of points to be decided by the court on Thursday.

The issues to be decided by the court include:

Whether the apex Court has the jurisdiction to examine the constitutional validity of the religious practices under challenge (talaq-e-bidat, nikah halala, and polygamy)?

Whether triple talaq, a religious practice is an integral part of religion and, therefore, neither protected by Article 25 of the Constitution nor immune from judicial review?

Whether polygamy is neither a positive tenet of Islam nor a valid religious practice?

Whether instantaneous triple-talaq in one sitting (talaq-e-bidat) in the absence of witnesses and without any attempt at reconciliation is legally permissible?

Whether the religious practices under challenge have been abolished by various Islamic states, which establishes the fact that such practices are not integral to the practice of Islam?

Whether apex Court needs to intervene and protect the Fundamental Rights of Muslim women of India in the face of gender discrimination?

Whether the religious practices under challenge have been denounced by recognised international organisations, including the United Nations Organisation, as they cause gender discrimination and also impact Indias treaty obligations under international treaties and covenants that India is signatory to?

Whether the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and similar associations have the authority to determine and declare the personal law applicable in India for the numerous sects and sub-communities of Islam that exist in India and practice Islam in various ways?

The Narendra Modi government has already opposed the triple talaq form of divorce and said it is not an essential religious practice in Islam. The Centre said that the validity of triple talaq and polygamy has to be seen in the light of gender justice, equality and dignity of women. It said women in India should not be denied their constitutional rights even as several Muslim countries have undergone extensive reforms.

It said practices like triple talaq are against the principles of equality and dignity enshrined in the Constitution and there is no reason that women in India should be denied their constitutional rights. The sanctity of triple talaq is completely misplaced in a secular country and is unfair, discriminatory and unreasonable.

All India Muslim Personal Law Board had asked the apex court not to interfere with personal laws. The Board contended that personal laws cannot be re-written in the name of reforms.

On triple talaq the board said that marriage is a contract in which both parties are not physically equal as male is always stronger and female a weak partner. Securing separations through a court of law takes a long time and deters the prospects of re-marriage. Further personal laws cannot be challenged as being violative of the fundamental rights and therefore uniform civil code is not enforceable.
The SC has asked Sasikala and her 2 relatives to surrender before the trial court in Bengaluru and serve remaining part of 4-year jail term.

New Delhi: AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala was on Tuesday convicted by the Supreme Court that set aside the Karnataka High Court verdict acquitting her in the 19-year-old disproportionate assets case that also involved late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

A Bench of Justices Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Amitav Roy, who had reserved verdict on June 7, 2016, gave the verdict in the case. The bench sentenced Sasikala to a prison term of four years, and imposed a fine of Rs 10 crore.

The AIADMK general secretary now cannot become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, or contest elections for 10 years, which includes the four years of prison term.

The apex court has directed Sasikala surrender immediately and serve over 3 years of her remaining prison term.

A bench of Justices Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Amitav Roy, who had reserved the verdict on June 7, 2016, gave the verdict in the case on Tuesday.

Subsequently, police reached the Golden Bay resort outside Chennai to arrest Sasikala.

Ammas sanctity has been defiled by betrayers, the AIADMK's Twitter handle said after the SCs verdict against Sasikala.

The apex court with its verdict restored in toto the judgement and the findings of the trial court in Bengaluru which had held guilty all accused including Sasikala's two relatives, V N Sudhakaran and Elavarasi.

The matter escalated to the Supreme Court after the Karnataka High Court had on May 11, 2015 ruled that Jayalalithaa and Sasikala's conviction by special court suffered from infirmity and was not sustainable in law, clearing decks for Jaya to return as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.

The SC bench read the operative portion of the voluminous judgement saying, "according to the material and evidence placed on record, we set aside the judgement and the order of the high court and affirm in toto the judgement and order the trial court convicting the accused persons."

The bench said since Jayalalithaa had expired, the proceeding against her was abated.

"Nevertheless, we reiterate that having regard to the facts, the charge framed against them by the trial court is restored," the bench said.

In a separate but concurring judgement, Justice Amitava Roy said, "We have expressed deep concern about the escalating menace of corruption in society."

On June 7 last year, the apex court had reserved its verdict in the case after hearing detailed arguments from all the parties including the Karnataka government which was appealing the acquittal by the Karnataka High Court.

On July 27, 2015, the apex court had issued notices on the Karnataka government's appeal seeking stay of the high court judgement on Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and her relatives.

The special court had in 2014 held Jayalalithaa guilty of corruption and sentenced her to four years imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 100 crore.

Jayalalithaa and three others were accused of allegedly amassing disproportionate asserts to the tune of Rs 66.65 crore during her first term as Chief Minister from 1991 to 1996.

Sasikala has been involved in a long and protracted power struggle with acting Chief Minister O Panneerselvam for the CM's post, following Jayalalithaa's death.

Sasikala appointed one of her loyalists EK Palanisamy as leader of the AIADMK Legislature Party, following her conviction. Soon after, O Panneerselvam was expelled from the party.

Sasikala still holds the majority, with 123 of 134 MLAs still in her camp. She has moved a number of MLAs to Koovathur resort near Chennai, where they have been staying for several days. Sasikala on Monday stayed overnight at the resort.


The amazing suckers on octopus arms aren't just for sucking. They also are used to smell and taste. To deal with all that sensory input, the vast majority of an octopus's brain cells are in its eight arms!





"It's more efficient to put the nervous cells in the arm," neurobiologist Binyamin Hochner, of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, told KQED's Deep Look. "The arm is a brain of its own."






Incidentally, all the 500 people arrested in connection with the scam have been let off on bail.

Bhopal: The Supreme Court on Monday ordered cancellation of admission of 634 MBBS students for adopting unfair means to study in different medical colleges in Madhya Pradesh, known as Vyapam scam, prompting Opposition Congress to demand chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhans resignation.

Hailing the verdict by the apex court, the Congress held the CM accountable for the scam which has gained notoriety owing to death of 52 people, having direct or indirect links with the scandal, during the course of investigation and demanded his resignation.

The verdict by the SC has vindicated talks of large scale irregularities in admission of students in medical colleges in MP since 2008. The scandal has destroyed careers of hundreds of students. The CM should forthwith step down following the SC verdict, Congress spokesman Mayank Agrawal said.

Incidentally, all the 500 people arrested in connection with the scam have been let off on bail. A bench ordered cancellation of the admission of 634 MBBS students identified as having resorted to malpractice.

It is an irony that 634 MBBS students were punished for getting admission through malpractices but those who took money from them to get them admission in the medical colleges have remained untouched, AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh observed, referring to high and mighty involved in the Vyapam scam.

I welcome the SC verdict. The scandal was in the shape of a pyramid with high and mighty who made money out of the scam remaining at the top and the students who had paid money ending up at the bottom. Unfortunately, the bottom of the pyramid was hit by the verdict but the top remained untouched, Vyapam whistleblower Anand Rai said.

The BJP, however, tried to project the SC verdict as a victory of the MP government saying that it was the Shivraj Singh government which had moved the apex court seeking cancellation of admission of these students after a probe found them indulging in malpractices.

A bench headed by CJI J S Khehar ordered cancellation of the admission of 634 MBBS students identified as having resorted to malpractices to obtain admission.

These students had taken admission during 2008-2012. Around 500 of them have already got MBBS degree.

Incidentally, all the 500 people arrested in connection with the scam have been let off on bails.
The earlier direction that the national anthem should be played before a film starts will continue, the court said.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Tuesday said movie-goers need not stand when the national anthem is played as part of a scene in a film or documentary.

The earlier direction that the national anthem should be played before a film starts will continue, the court said.

A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and R. Banumathi passed the order on an application filed by a film society, which sought recall of the December 3, 2016, order asking all cinemas to play the national anthem.

Attorney general Mukul Rohatgi, opposing the recall plea, said the compulsion to sing the national anthem as a part of school curriculum needed a debate. Singing the national anthem is not compulsory, but most schools play it at their morning assembly, he added.

Appearing for the film society, senior advocate C.U. Singh said the order led to vigilante groups calling themselves guardians of morality. They were using violence against those not standing up, he said. By issuing the order, the court had legislated a function of Parliament, Mr Singh said. Courts should step in if there is no law to deal with a situation, Mr Rohatgi said.
The Centre is opposing triple talaq, maintaining that it is not an essential religious practice in Islam.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Tuesday said it will not go into the question of Uniform Civil Code, but confine itself only to the legal validity of triple talaq raised in various petitions.

A three-judge bench of Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar and Justices N.V. Ramana and D.Y. Chandrachud gave the clarification when the counsel sought to know whether UCC was one of the issues to be taken up for consideration.

UCC is not an issue at all in this case. It is a pure question of law. It is more of a human rights issue, the CJI said.

The bench asked the counsel to submit a list of points to be decided by the court Thursday. The issues include whether the apex court has the jurisdiction to examine the constitutional validity of the religious practices under challenge, such as talaq-e-bidat, nikah halala, and polygamy.

The court will also see whether triple talaq is an integral part of religion and, therefore, neither protected by Article 25 of the Constitution nor immune from judicial review.

It will decide whether polygamy is neither a positive tenet of Islam nor a valid religious practice, and whether instantaneous triple talaq in one sitting (talaq-e-bidat) in the absence of witnesses and without any attempt at reconciliation is legally permissible.

The Centre is opposing triple talaq, maintaining that it is not an essential religious practice in Islam.
After hearing elaborate arguments from both sides, the bench reserved orders on the petitions filed by V. Preetha and M.V. Elavarasan.

Chennai: The state public prosecutor has informed the Madras high court that the revenue and police officials have obtained the statements of a total of 119 MLAs, who are presently staying in Kancheepuram districts Koovathur, to the effect that they are free and safe and staying there on their own volition.

Public prosecutor R. Rajarathinam made his submission when the habeas corpus petitions to produce MLAs M. Geetha and R.T. Ramachandran and to set them at liberty came up for hearing before Justices M. Jaichandran and T. Mathivanan.

The public prosecutor also produced the statements obtained by a team of 11 officials from revenue and police department from the two MLAs before the bench. After hearing elaborate arguments from both sides, the bench reserved orders on the petitions filed by V. Preetha and M.V. Elavarasan.

While Ms Preetha sought a direction to the police to produce her cousin Geetha, MLA from Krishnaray-apuram Assembly constituency, before the court and set her at liberty, Elavarasan, a voter from Kunnam Assembly constituency in Pera-mbalur district sought a direction to the police to produce Mr Ramachandr-an, MLA from Kunnam constituency, before the court and set him at liberty.

Earlier, referring to the counter affidavit filed by the police, K. Balu, counsel for Elavarasan submitted that so many issues were left out in the counter. The court has to look into various aspects whether all the MLAs were free and safe, whether facilities were available to those who were suffering from ailments.

We have apprehension that the public prosecutors office is misdirected or mis-instructed. They have not brought out the full facts. Thousands of rowdy elements were staying in and around the resort. They were threatening the local people, who in fact had conducted agitation. Even on Sunday, several reporters were attacked and their phones and cameras were snatched away by the rowdy elements. The counter affidavit is silent in all these aspects.

The court may appoint a retired judge of this court, as an advocate commissioner to visit the place, meet the MLAs and file a report. The court may also appoint an amicus curie to assist the court, Balu added.

Preetha contended that while counter affidavit states that Geetha was staying with her husband, the newspaper reports states that her husband complained that his wife was missing. Producing the statement recorded in the presence of the Tahsildars from the two MLAs, public prosecutor Rajarathinam submitted that they had given a statement that they were free and safe and they were staying in the resort of their own volition.

A team comprising one ADSP, four inspectors, four sub-inspectors and two tahsildars went to the resort on February 11 and gave questionnaires to 100 plus 19 MLAs (indirectly meaning 100 in one resort and 19 in another resort). They filled up the questionnaire in writing on their own stating that they were staying in the resort of their own volition.

When Sasikala met the reporters yesterday, the MLAs were also present and they could have raised the issue and informed the media if they were in illegal custody, he added. Immediately Balu asked whether the Public Prosecutor was representing the state or Sasikala and the PP said he was representing the state and not Sasikala.

The bench pointed out that it has only limited scope in HCP to see as to whether the detenues were in illegal custody or not and it cannot assume the role of Governor by asking all the MLAs to come to the court and enquire of them, besides it cannot expand the scope under Article 226 or 482 of the Constitution. Countering, advocate A.P.Suryaprakasam, who was present in the court, said as a voter he had already filed a petition to direct the police to ensure the free movement of all the MLAs. He said, Democracy is at stake. As custodian of democracy, in the interest of general public, the court can expand its scope and ensure that the MLAs, who are representatives of the general public, are safe.

When the bench sought PPs reaction to the suggestion made by Balu to appoint an advocate commissioner and amicus curie, the PP said they were not believing the state PP and Additional PP. So far as appointment of amicus curie was concerned, he has to get instructions.

Let them also tell with whom I have to get instructions because there is one party and two divisions. If I get instruction from one side, the other division will object. If I agree for appointment of amicus curie, the other division (Sasikala) will object. Even the Governor is not allowing the party to produce the MLAs. Immediately, the bench said Why? The government is functioning. Chief Secretary and Home Secretary are there.

The PP said in the matter of HCP, the court has limited scope. If the court prima facie finds that the detenues were in illegal detention, then it can issue directions. But, in this case, the two MLAs were not in illegal detention and they have filed their own statements to this effect.

When the bench again asked the PP as to what he has to say about the suggestion made by Balu to appoint Advocate Commissioner and amicus curie, PP said he was opposing the suggestion. If I accept the suggestion then I suspect my own police. We trust our officers. If the petitioners want let them file a PIL.

Balu said even the Chief Minister was having apprehension. He made a statement that he will go to the resort but he is afraid that something will happen. So, let the MLAs come to Chennai and stay here freely, Balu added, to which the PP replied, Let the Governor take a decision. There ends the matter.
AG cites precedent, advises gov to hold floor test within a week.

AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala arrives at the resort on third consecutive day in Koovathur in East Coast Road and met various MLAs who are camping over the last four days to decide on the further course of action near Chennai on Monday. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi/Chennai: A Supreme Court verdict in a disproportionate assets case  likely to be delivered Tuesday  will decide the political career of AIADMK general secretary V.K. Sasikala, and the course of her bitter power struggle with acting chief minister O. Panneerselvam.

If the top court confirms a Karnataka high court order acquitting her, she will have to pass a majority test in the Assembly.

Indias attorney general (AG) Mukul Rohatgi advised Tamil Nadu governor C. Vidyasagar Rao on Monday to hold a floor test in the Assembly within a week.

The AG cited the Jagadambika Pal precedent to ask the governor to convene a special Assembly session and put two resolutions  one in the name of Sasikala and other in the name of Panneerselvam  to vote within a week, sources said.

If convicted, Ms Sasikala will have to go to jail, and will not be allowed to contest elections for six years. She will be ineligible to be CM as Indias Constitution mandates election to the Assembly within six months of assuming office. Currently, Ms Sasikala is not a member of Tamil Nadus Assembly.

Each camp needs the support of 118 MLAs for a simple majority in the 234-member Assembly. Ms Sasikala has claimed the support of most of the partys 134 MLAs. Twelve party MPs have backed the acting CM, but he has the support of only a handful of MLAs.

Ms Sasikala, a long-time aide of J. Jayalalithaa, broke down while meeting around 119 MLAs she has kept at a beach resort outside Chennai for a third straight day. She said she was a cub trained by lioness Jayalalithaa. I have brought my clothes with me. I am staying with the MLAs, she said.

Addressing party cadres earlier, Ms Sasikala called Mr Panneerselvam a traitor whose designs of splitting the AIADMK will never materialise. I have seen 1000 such Panneerselvams, she said.

On Monday, Mr Panneerselvam held discussions with the chief secretary, the home secretary and top officials, in his first visit to the state secretariat since he resigned.

Mr Panneerselvam and Ms Sasikala are fighting a succession war after then CM Jayalalithaa died of illness in December 2016. Mr Panneerselvam resigned for Ms Sasikala to be CM, but he dramatically revolted against her on Tuesday night, saying he was forced to quit.

Ms Sasikala is accused of colluding with then CM. Jayalalithaa to acquire illicit wealth worth Rs 66 crore. In 2003, the top court moved the case out of Tamil Nadu for a fair trial. Both were briefly jailed in 2014 before being acquitted. Karnataka filed an appeal against the acquittal. A bench of SC judges Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Amitav Roy had reserved its verdict in June last year.

In the 1998 Jagdambika Pal case, the apex court had ordered a floor test in the Assembly to determine who among the two claimants  Pal and Kalyan Singh  had the majority for chief ministership of Uttar Pradesh.
Rajkhowa also sought a CBI/NIA inquiry into the allegations made by former Arunachal chief minister Kalikho Pul.

New Delhi: Former Arunachal Pradesh governor J.P. Rajkhowa said politicians and separatist militants have very close ties in the state and that he had informed the President and the Prime Minister in writing.

Speaking exclusively with this newspaper, Rajkhowa also sought a CBI/NIA inquiry into the allegations made by former Arunachal chief minister Kalikho Pul in his suicide note dated November 8, 2016, where he named several big politicians involved in corrupt practices.

Since big names are involved, only organisations like CBI/NIA should investigate to ascertain the missing links and verify the truth, he said.
Muslim votes are expected to play a crucial role, and could be the deciding factor in majority of the constituencies in the second phase.

New Delhi: With high-octane campaigning for 67 seats in western Uttar Pradeshs second phase polling coming to an end on Monday evening, the contest is expected to be mainly between the BSP and the SP-Congress alliance.

In this Muslim and dalit-dominated region, the going for the BJP could be tough. The party apparently had the best shot in the 73 seats, which went to the polls in the first phase on February 11.

A Modi wave had swept Uttar Pradesh, including its western belt, during the 2014 general elections. But, in the absence of a wave, electoral dynamics of caste and communities are expected to play a key role in deciding the fate of the contesting parties.

During the 2012 Assembly polls, of the 67 assembly constituencies in this part of western Uttar Pradesh, the SP had bagged 34, the BSP 18 and the BJP 10, while the Congress could get only three.

Muslim votes are expected to play a crucial role, and could be the deciding factor in majority of the constituencies in the second phase.

The BJP, which had earlier declared the SP as its main rival, changed tack to announce the BSP as the main force in Uttar Pradesh. Sources revealed that the BJP also intends to go soft on the BSP.

Reports from the state indicated that BJP chief Amit Shah at his Pilibhit rally on Monday chose not to mention the BSP.

Addressing a rally at Lakhimpur Kheri, Prime Minister Narendra Modi kept his focus on SP leader and state chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. While he flayed Mr Yadav for being blinded by absolute power, he avoided launching a scathing attack on BSP chief Mayawati. His only reference to her was when he questioned Akhilesh Yadavs role in probing corruption charges against the BSP supremo. Why did you shelve probe into scams that took place during Mayawatis regime? the PM asked the UP chief minister.

Trying to woo the minorities, Ms Mayawati while speaking at Saharanpur on Monday warned Muslims that if they voted for the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance, they would be favouring the BJP in the assembly elections.

Incidentally, the UP chief minister had also been dropping hints of a tacit understanding between the BSP and the BJP.

During the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in this part of western UP (with 67 seats), though the Muslims apparently went against the BJP, the party swept majority of the constituencies following counter-consolidation of dalit, Jat and upper caste vote banks in its favour.

The situation is not the same, and the fight is expected to be between the BSPs Dalit-Muslim combination and the SP-Congress Muslim-OBC-upper caste dynamics.

With both the SP and the BSP fighting over the minorities, the BJP is hoping for a split in the Muslim vote bank, and a counter-consolidation like that in the 2014 general elections.

Though the RLD has also fielded candidates in the region, political pundits claimed this outfit hardly has any presence.

Some of the key candidates in the fray for the second phase include SPs Azam Khan from Rampur, Congress Imran Masood from Saharanpur and Jitin Prasada from Tilha, besides BSPs Nawab Kazim Ali (four-time MLA) from Tanda.
The BSP chief said the party got wholehearted support of voters in the first phase of polling.

Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati Tuesday said she will neither give nor take support from the BJP if her party fell short of numbers in Uttar Pradesh.

Whether I form government or not, I will not ally with the BJP in any case. I will never betray Muslims who have voted in large number for the Bahujan Samaj Partys, she said at a rally in Kanpur.

Her statement came on the eve of polling for the second phase of elections. Media reports had said minorities voted for the BSP in the first phase.

Ms Mayawati said the Bharatiya Janata Party has been spreading rumours on social media about a possible alliance between BJP and BSP.

She said she quit the BJP-BSP alliance in 2003 when the formers leaders asked her to continue the alliance in the Lok Sabha elections.

They told me that I could continue as chief minister and support them in the Lok Sabha, but I refused, she said.

BJP leaders threatened to install Mulayam Singh Yadav as chief minister. That was when I decided to resign because I was not afraid of Mulayam Singh becoming chief minister, Ms Mayawati said. She said the BJP threatened her with a Central Bureau of Investigation probe, and even took away the money she had kept for the treatment of her mentor, Kanshi Ram. How can I ever forgive the BJP for this? she said.

The BSP chief said the party got wholehearted support of voters in the first phase of polling. BSP is going to form government with maximum number of seats and the BJP is heading for a washout. This is clear from the expressions of BJP president Amit Shah after the first phase. In the coming phases, the BJP will be washed out completely, she said.

Ms Mayawati said the BJP was responsible for the suicide of University of Hyderabad student Rohith Vemula, and the assault on dalits in Gujarats Una town. She said the BJP will end reservation if it came to power.

She said the Akhilesh Yadav government believes in less work, more crime, adding that the incidents in Dadri (lynching of a Muslim man), Bulandshahr (highway loot and gangrape) and Pratapgarh (murder of a senior police officer) reflected the kind of government that the Samajwadi Party has been running for the last five years.

The factional war in the SP will ensure that their supporters work toward defeating each other in the elections, she added. She asked Muslims not to waste their votes on SP, but to vote for BSP and ensure a secure future.
The festival featured various aspects of theatre such as classic, modern and drama.

Amongst the plays I have seen so far in the 12 days that The Bharat Rang Mahotsav has been running, these have been the best ones.

Chekov Chaika, was an adaptation of his play The Seagull. It was staged by the Chekovs Studio Theatre, Russia. The director, Vladimir Grigorievich Baicher also acts in the play as a commentator and as a scene changer.

The play is deeply personal and intimate. The contradiction presented in the play between Boris Trigorin and Konstantin Treplyov is actually symbolic of Checkovs struggle of himself and not a clash between the classiest and the pioneer. Both writers are two faces of Chekov.

Arkadina and her lover Trigorin, a famous writer both attend the performance of Konstantins new play, who is Arkadinas son. Arkadina undermines the performance, which upsets her son and more so he is distraught because he failed in front of Nina, who he loves dearly. Soon after Nina is no longer in love with him and falls in love with Trigorin. To Arkadinas anger, Trigorin also responds to Ninas feelings and promises to meet her in Moscow. The play ended with Konstantin shooting himself because Nina who comes to visit him is still in love with Trigorin and rejects Konstantin.

The intensity of the actors was to be seen to be believed. They were all very good with Konstantin leading the batch following with Arkadina. In the three acts, the production explores Chekovs inner world, not in a space created inside a proscenium-arch stage but in a space articulated in the play that is an open-air setting which was very effective.

The play moves indoors into the 21st century in the fourth act and attempts to achieve a sense of continuity and universality of the truth of the contradiction in any creative artist - between the classic and the pioneer driven by what could be or what should be.

Anna In The Tropics, was a play brought from Nepal and directed by Shri Deborah Merola, the artistic director of the One World Theatre in Nepal. Written by a Cuban-American playwright, Nilo Cruz and this play also won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for drama. He became the first Latino to be so honoured.

A poetic drama, Anna in the tropics, is set in 1929 in Ybor city, Florida in a small Cuban-American cigar factory where cigars are still rolled by hand and lectors are employed to educated and entertain the workers. A handsome new lector reads aloud from Anna Karolina, he unwittingly becomes a catalyst in the lives of his listeners for whom Tolstoy, the tropics and the American dream prove a volatile combination. The two daughters of the owner of the factory, Santiago, fall in love with the lector and he chooses the elder sister who is married to Polomo, who is extremely jealous of the lector. There is a debate between the factory workers and Santiago where the workers rebel against the pay they receive and that they havent paid regularly. Santiago is a lax man who has done nothing for the factory which is likely to be closed. The lector comes into play here as he is given a huge salary by Santiago, to read to education the workers as education.

The group presents inter-cultural and social injustice productions, especially plays from South Asia. Registered as a not for profit theatre, in Nepal since it was founded in November 2011. It has produced fourteen Nepal premiers including Arjuns Dilemma, the first western style Opera produced in Nepal. Yerma in Nepali, In The Red And Brown Water and Sea Gull are some of the plays besides Anna In The Tropics that the group has produced so far. The One World Theatre also does original productions including telling a tale; Kitchen Dramas, based on personal narratives of Nepalese girls and women and the bilingual Nepali Aama.

This play is very interesting for its content and style of presentation, which is realistic. The mixed cast of Cuban and Nepalese include Snagam Panta who runs cock fights and is also a factory worker who also plays the rooster in a very lively scene of a cock fight, Kalsang Lama, Rajkumar Pudasiani who plays the husband of Annas elder sister. Divya Dev plays the handsome lector who induces love in both the sisters.

Another insteresting play was The Unparalleled Adventures Of One Hans Pfaall directed by Vini Carvalho and Ramon Ayres and performed by Vini Carvalho who is a performer, movement researcher and artistic director of Fools Cap Theatre, UK. The story is from Edgar Allan Poe.

Besides being a principal for runner of the art for arts sake Poe was also the architect of the modern short story. The director says that this project was an adapting literature to theatre. The text served as the dramaturgical guide and a corporeal mime was their physical language. Mixing projection, lights, music and movement they sought to devise a piece that crosses artistic and language barriers.

The play is an eternal journey towards happiness and spiritual elevation. They thought about mankind and the legacy of always seeking for a place where they will finally feel complete. They looked at Pfaalls journey to the moon as their own journey as migrants travelling to an unknown world, going through the physical and emotional challenges.

The use of lit up balloons and the projection by Leonardo Pancione and Ronald Lopes, with video projection by Eloise Carles gave life to the music by Alex Paton. Vini Carvalho was superb as the man who wants to go the moon.

Love and Life the play from Sri Lanka was a delightful experiment in the non-verbal category. The actors on stage wore huge masks throughout the play, and there were fifteen masks for fifteen characters. Three actors were on stage playing fifteen different characters. The play itself is not like a normal drama because in this play, both the actors and the crew backstage are playing equally important roles. Since there are only three actors on stage they change the masks about thirty five times, the crew members not only help them but also maintain the tempo of the play.

This play is about the love and affection between a father and his son. The characters include, mother, father and an insensitive son who goes off and gets married without telling them. In fact he is constantly absent for them.

When the son delivers a son and brings him home to his father, the father is absolutely thrilled and is gazing at his grandson lovingly, thats when he realised that how wrong he had been in the past towards his father. The final scene of reconciliation between father and son was very effective. The entire cast was very good with their expressions despite the mask and acted very well.
The commission claimed that monitoring of the beggar home was very poor.

New Delhi: The DCW on Monday suggested that the Delhi government should take strict action against officers who are responsible for the deplorable conditions at a West Delhi beggar home.

Earlier, after a surprise visit to the beggar home in Nirmal Chhaya Complex, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal had issued notices to Delhi police and Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in connection with complaints regarding detention of foreign nationals at a beggar home.

The commission claimed that monitoring of the beggar home was very poor. The last visit to the beggar home by a higher official was by then secretary social welfare, Satbir Bedi, in May 2014, and by then director social welfare in March 2015, it said in a letter to the deputy chief minister and women and child development minister Manish Sisodia on Monday.

Both these visits, wherein the officers visited other homes as well, were for a very short duration of time, one and two hours respectively. Subsequently, no social welfare secretary and director has visited the home, including the present incumbent, the DCW said.

The womens panel said the detainees, who are foreign nationals, have been denied their basic human rights in the home. According to the DCW, the foreign detainees stated that they were being discriminated against on account of majority of them being African Blacks. Significant efforts need to be made to improve the condition of the beggar home and stringent guidelines should be issued to ensure the same, the womens panel said, adding that strict action should be taken against the officers.

for the serious lapses.

The DCW said that it should be ensured that the social welfare secretary and director should conduct at least one surprise inspection in a month to each home run by the social welfare department. It also suggested putting in place of strict monitoring systems, including installation of CCTV cameras.
The message was sent out by BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhyay on the orders of BJP chief spokesperson of the state Madhav Bhandari.

Mumbai: In the first sign of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) going on the defensive in its turf war with the Shiv Sena, it has issued a diktat to all its spokespersons not to participate in any debate on the possibility of Sena withdrawing support from state government.

High-placed sources from the BJP said that the party feels that the Uddhav Thackeray-led party may really withdraw from the government. They dont want to antagonise Sena. A message was sent out by the BJP top leader to all the spokesperson, who regularly interact with the media to not participate in any debate pertaining to

Sena pulling out of the government. The message was sent out by BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhyay on the orders of BJP chief spokesperson of the state Madhav Bhandari.

Confirming the diktat, a senior BJP spokesperson said, We have decided not to attack the Sena on the alliance issue. Why give them so much importance and fall in their trap. We do not want to be seen speaking against the alliance.

After breaking its alliance with the BJP for the BMC polls on January 26, the Shiv has claimed that it has put the BJP on notice period. Sena president Uddhav Thackeray told this paper the same and claimed that things will be clear after the results, but it isnt going with BJP in future.

Buzz in the political circles is that the Sena will withdraw its support from the BJP government in the state on February 18. However, Sena leaders remain tight-lipped when asked about this development.

Another senior BJP leader said that the Sena has become very aggressive. It seems that the Sena is very serious about its threat. Hence, we are talking on issues rather than on alliance, the BJP leader said.

The BJP needs Sena in order to have a majority in the state assembly. The Nationalist Congress Party too has declared that it wont support BJP and doesnt mind mid-term elections.
The accused were going to Vijayawada to deliver the ornaments but could not give proper information about the consignment, police said.

Mumbai: The police on Monday detained two Mumbai-based jewellers who were allegedly carrying Rs 3.5 crore-worth gold ornaments from a Mumbai-Visakhapatnam express train at Solapur railway station in Maharashtra.

Jayesh Shantilal Jain (35) and Shilpesh Jain (25) were carrying bags full of gold ornaments, weighing 15 kg in all, a railway police official said.

The action was taken on a tip-off from Mumbai police.

The accused were going to Vijayawada to deliver the ornaments but could not give proper information about the consignment, police said.

The Income Tax officials were called to take part in the probe that was underway, police said.
An MLA from Congress said that the Sena might pull from the government but nobody wants to face the polls early.

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena has been threatening to withdraw support from the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government, but the BJP on Tuesday expressed strong confidence that it will survive. Even MLAs from other political parties have refused possibility of mid-term polls saying that financially its not viable for anyone.

Referring to the BJPS floor test when Sena had not joined the government in 2014, BJP leaders said that arrangements could be done to sustain the government.

After Sena president Uddhav Thackerays remarks on pulling out from the BJP-led government, there is buzz in the political circles of mid-term polls. NCP chief Sharad Pawars too recently tweet on the possibility of mid-term polls. Mr Pawars tweet has sparked speculations. However, the BJP has denied any such possibility. Our government will continue for five years. The chief minister has already cleared it that there is no problem for the government. The people of Maharashtra have thrown out Congress-NCP rule and there is no doubt that the government will complete its full term. We had proved our majority in the beginning when Shiv Sena had not joined the government, asserted BJP leader and education minister Vinod Tawde.

However, Sena said that mid-term polls are inevitable as the BJP-government cannot function in minority. Uddhavji has already made his stand clear about the political situation. How long can a minority government sustain? asked Sena MP Anil Desai.

An MLA from Congress said that the Sena might pull from the government but nobody wants to face the polls early.

Every MLA wants to complete his/her full term. Also, there are no funds to contest poll in just three years. There is also no guarantee that the BJP MLAs would be re-elected if mid-term polls come, the Congress MLA said.
Madeline Stuart, a 20-year-old Australian model is facing the Downs Syndrome.

Model Madeline at the runway for the Madeline show at New York Fashion Week. (Photo: AFP)

New York: Madeline Stuart, the 20-year-old Australian model with Downs Syndrome challenging stereotypes in the fashion industry, returned to New York on Sunday to strut the runway and debut her own label.

Stuart relished her moment on the catwalk, opening with a happy little jiggle and blowing a kiss to the crowd at the end on a rainy, chilly night on the Lower East Side.

For the debut of her 21 Reasons Why label, she wore a white peplum-style top with blue leggings, her hair fluffed up in a top knot and glittery makeup around her eyes.

It is a range of sports-casual lycra similar to outfits she is photographed in off the catwalk  leggings, tops and skirts with mottos such as Fitness Life, Supermodel and I am Fashion Week. It is an inspirational line, its for everybody to feel comfortable, to feel good about themselves, her mother, Rosanne Stuart, said.

A picture of Madeline dressed in a ballgown from her attention-grabbing 2015 New York fashion week appearance featured on the front and back of a singlet and on black leggings.

Alessia Caras Scars To Your Beautiful  an anthem to inclusion and acceptance regardless of appearance  played over the loudspeakers.

The brand takes its name from the 21st chromosome, an extra one of which causes Downs Syndrome, and reflects a desire to make people more diverse, caring and loving, and what Rosanne called everyones desire to be 21 years old.

She said the clothes were completely the work of herself and Madeline.

Madeline will be walking in another fashion show in New York and also has plans to go to Paris fashion week, model in Los Angeles, show her line of clothing in Denver and model in London, her mother said.

Madeline recently got a US work visa, the only person with an intellectual disability to have got one.
It could violate a law banning private citizens from engaging in foreign policy.

Washington: President Donald Trumps national security adviser (NSA), Michael Flynn, is struggling to get past a controversy over his contacts with Russian officials before Mr Trump took office, conversations that officials said have raised concerns within the White House.

Top White House officials have been reviewing over the weekend Mr Flynns contacts with the Russians and if he discussed the possibility of lifting US sanctions on Russia once Mr Trump took office, which could potentially be in violation of a law banning private citizens from engaging in foreign policy.

Mr Flynn is a retired US General and former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). An early supporter of Mr Trump, he has been a leading advocate to improve US relations with Russia.

Mr Flynn had initially denied discussing sanctions with the Russians in the weeks before Mr Trump took office January 20 and vice-president Mike Pence went before television cameras to repeat the denial and defend Mr Flynn.

When a Washington Post report emerged last week quoting officials saying the subject of sanctions had in fact come up, Mr Flynn left open the possibility that he had discussed the sanctions but could not remember with 100 per cent certainty, an administration official said.

A second administration official, also speaking on the condition of anonymity, stressed that Mr Pence made his comments based on a conversation with Mr Flynn. Mr Pence is said to be troubled by the possibility of being misled.

Mr Flynn has apologised to Mr Pence and others over the incident, the first official said.

A third official said the uproar prompted White House chief of staff Reince Priebus to review the matter with other top officials as Mr Trump played host to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over the weekend in Florida.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

There was no indication from transcripts of Mr Flynns conversations that he had promised to lift the sanctions but rather he made more general comments about hoping for better US-Russian relations with Mr Trump, the third official said.

Mr Trump has yet to weigh in on the subject, promising to reporters on Friday that he would look into it.
John Kelly said in a statement that 75% of the immigrants arrested have criminal records, ranging from homicide to DUI.

Women protest against the immigration ban at the Los Angeles International Airport, California. (Photo: File)

Washington: US immigration officers last week arrested more than 680 people in the country illegally, the homeland security chief said on Monday, in a broad enforcement action that alarmed immigrant rights groups.

US Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said the operations, conducted in at least a dozen states, were routine and consistent with regular operations carried out by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

Immigrant rights advocates said the operations, which they describe as raids, were not business as usual, and were more sweeping than operations conducted during the administration of former Democratic President Barack Obama.

Kelly said in a statement that 75 percent of the immigrants arrested have criminal records, ranging from homicide to driving under the influence of alcohol.

He said the operation also targeted people who have violated immigration laws.

Some had ignored final orders of deportation, according to ICE, the agency responsible for immigrant arrests and deportations.

Obama was criticized for being the "deporter in chief" after he deported over 400,000 people in 2012, more than any president in a single year.

In 2014, Obama's homeland security chief issued a memo directing agents to focus on deporting a narrow slice of immigrants, namely those who had recently entered the country or committed serious felonies. Immigrants who were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, for example, were treated as lower priorities for deportation.

Republican President Donald Trump promised to deport 2 million to 3 million migrants with criminal records on taking office.

At a news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday, Trump said his administration had "really done a great job" in its recent arrests of immigrants.

"We're actually taking people that are criminals, very, very, hardened criminals in some cases with a tremendous track record of abuse and problems," Trump said.

ICE said in a statement on Monday that the operations targeted immigrants in the Midwest, Los Angeles, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and San Antonio.

The ICE statistics revealed regional differences in the profiles of the immigrants arrested. Of the 41 people arrested in New York City and surrounding areas, 93 percent had criminal convictions, while 45 percent of the 51 people arrested in the San Antonio, Texas area did.

Among the 190 people arrested in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, were 17 people who had no criminal convictions or a prior order to leave the country, according to ICE.

In a January 25 executive order, Trump broadened an Obama-era priority enforcement system for immigrants subject to removal from the United States.

"Now it seems like anyone could be arrested," said Shiu-Ming Cheer, senior staff attorney at the National Immigration Law Center. "The level of fear and anxiety is much higher than I've ever seen it."
The United States, Japan and South Korea requested urgent UN Security Council consultations on the test, with a meeting expected on Monday.

Seoul: North Korea said on Monday it had successfully test-fired a new type of medium to long-range ballistic missile the previous day, claiming advances in a weapons programme it is pursuing in violation of UN resolutions.

North Korea fired the missile on a high arc into the sea early on Sunday, the first probe of US President Donald Trump's vow to get tough on an isolated regime that tested nuclear devices and ballistic missiles 2016 at an unprecedented rate.

The North's state-run KCNA news agency said leader Kim Jong-un supervised the test of the Pukguksong-2, a new type of strategic weapon capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

The United States, Japan and South Korea requested urgent UN Security Council consultations on the test, with a meeting expected later on Monday, an official in the US mission to the United Nations said.

Japan said further sanctions against North Korea could be discussed at the United Nations, and called on China to take a "constructive" role in responding.

China is North Korea's main ally and trading partner but is irritated by its repeated aggressive actions, although it rejects suggestions from the United States and others that it could be doing more to rein in its neighbour.

"We have asked China via various levels to take constructive actions as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and we will continue to work on it," said Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.

China said it opposed North Korean missile tests that run contrary to UN resolutions.

"All sides should exercise restraint and jointly maintain regional peace and security," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a regular briefing, adding that China would participate in talks at the United Nations on the launch with a "responsible and constructive attitude".

Russia's foreign ministry expressed concern over the launch, RIA news agency quoted the ministry as saying.

High angle

North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests, including two last year, although its claims to be able to miniaturise a nuclear weapon to be mounted on a missile have never been verified independently.

Leader Kim said in his New Year speech the North was close to test-launching an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and state media have said such a launch could come at any time.

A fully developed ICBM could threaten the continental United States, which is about 9,000 km from North Korea.

The KCNA news agency said the missile fired on Sunday was launched at a high angle in consideration of the safety of neighbouring countries. A South Korean military source said on Sunday it reached an altitude of 550 km.

It flew about 500 km towards Japan, landing off the east coast of the Korean peninsula.

The missile was propelled by a solid fuel engine and was an upgraded, extended-range version of its submarine-launched ballistic missile that was tested successfully last August, according to KCNA.

The missile's name - Pukguksong-2 - translates as north star or Polaris, the same name of the first US submarine-launched missile.

South Korea's military said the missile had been launched using a "cold-eject" system, whereby it is initially lifted by compressed gas before flying under the power of its rocket, a system used for submarine-launched missiles.

North Korea's pursuit of large solid-fuelled missiles was "a very concerning development", said Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

"Large solid-fuel motors are difficult to make work correctly so this is indeed a significant advance by North Korea," McDowell said.

'Intolerable'

In addition to launching more quickly, solid-fuel engines also boost the power and range of ballistic rockets.

"Solid-motor engines mean that the fuel is pre-stored and the missile can be launched quickly. For example, rolled out of a cave, tunnel, or bridge," said Melissa Hanham, a senior research associate at the US-based Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, California.

"They are also more difficult to track by satellite because they have fewer support vehicles in their entourage."

The North's Rodong Sinmun newspaper showed pictures of a missile fired from a mobile launch vehicle, with a flame appearing only after it had risen clear of the vehicle.

Before Sunday, the North's two most recent missile tests were in October. Both were of intermediate-range Musudan missiles and both failed, according to US and South Korean officials.

A US official said at the weekend the Trump administration had been expecting a North Korean "provocation" soon after taking office.

The latest test came a day after Trump held a summit meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and also followed a phone call last week between trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Abe described the test as "absolutely intolerable".

In brief comments made while standing beside Abe in Florida, Trump said: "I just want everybody to understand, and fully know, that the United States of America is behind Japan, our great ally, 100 percent."

Trump and his aides are likely to weigh a series of responses, including new US sanctions to tighten financial controls, an increase in naval and air assets in and around the Korean peninsula, and accelerated installation of new missile defence systems in South Korea, the administration official said.

However, the official said that, given that the missile was believed not to have been an ICBM, and the North had not carried out a new nuclear explosion, any response would seek to avoid increasing tension.
National security adviser Flynn resigned after reports, he misled Trump administration about his contacts with Russian ambassador.

National Security Adviser Michael Flynn in the east Room of the White House in Washington. (Photo: AP)

Moscow: The Kremlin on Tuesday insisted that the resignation of Donald Trump's security adviser Michael Flynn over contacts with the Russian government was an internal affair for Washington.

"This is the internal business of the Americans, it is the internal business of President Trump's administration. This is not our business," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

National security adviser Michael Flynn resigned after reports stating that he misled Trump administration officials about his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the US.

Flynn initially told Trump advisers that he did not discuss sanctions with the Russian envoy during the transition. Vice President Mike Pence, apparently relying on information from Flynn, publicly vouched for the national security adviser.

Flynn later told White House officials that he may have discussed sanctions with the ambassador.
Britons living in EU countries may face Brexit backlash.

Recent official data showed employers who rely heavily on EU migrant workers were struggling to fill some vacancies. (Photo: AP)

London: More than a quarter of employers in Britain say staff members from other European Union countries have considered leaving their firms or the country in 2017 after last years Brexit vote, an industry group said on Monday.

The proportion rose to 43 per cent of employers in education and 49 percent in healthcare sector employers, according to a survey of more than 1,000 companies conducted by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

The CIPD said Britains labour market remained strong, but the decision by voters to leave the European Union was likely to force companies to rethink their training strategies as they adjusted to having fewer EU workers in future.

Prime Minister Theresa May has promised tighter control over immigration when Britain leaves the bloc, which is likely to be in 2019, even if it means the country losing its unfettered access to the EUs single market.

The CIPD said recent official data showed employers who rely heavily on EU migrant workers were struggling to fill some vacancies: firms in retail and wholesale, manufacturing, health and accommodation and food services accounted for 45 percent of vacancies in late 2016. Gerwyn Davies, the CIPDs labour market adviser, said the official data also showed the number of non-UK EU nationals working in Britain grew more slowly in the three months to September than before the referendum.
A tourist bus overturned on a highway: 11 wounded in serious condition. Excess speed or drivers falling asleep at the wheel believed to have been the cause. It is the most serious road accident in 1986.

Taipei (AsiaNews)  33 people have died in a road accident involving a tourist bus in Taiwan, on Monday night. The vehicle overturned on a Taipei highway.

Investigators believe the probable causes are the driver having fallen asleep or speeding.



Taiwan traffic police said that 30 people, including the driver and a guide, died on the spot. Another three died in hospital because of their injuries. The authorities are aware that 11 other people were hospitalized in serious condition in seven hospitals in Taipei.



All 44 passengers were Taiwanese citizens, many of them elderly, returning from a trip to Taichung.



Investigators reveal that the driver had been in service for 14 hours at the time of the crash, which occurred at 21.00 on Monday night. His shift had started at 6.30 am.



The vehicle had been thoroughly inspected only a month ago.



Government spokesman Hsu Kuo-yung has announced that the families of the victims will receive 6 million NTD (about 163,000 US dollars) as compensation.



The chairman of Taiwan's Tsai Ing-wen and Lin Chuan Prime Minister have expressed their condolences.



The incident is the most serious in the country since 1986, when a bus plunged into a river in the country's central area, killing 42 people.
The vehicle should become operational by July. Built by the Chinese EHANG company, it can fly for 30 minutes at 100 km per hour at an altitude of 300 metres.

Dubai (AsiaNews/Agencies)  The first self-driving hover-taxi capable of transporting a passenger at 3,300 metres has been tested in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The Autonomous Aerial Vehicle (AAV), branded as EHANG184, is made by Chinese drone manufacturer EHang.

On its website, the company says that the Ehang 184 AAV is the safest, smartest and eco-friendly low altitude autonomous aerial vehicle, aiming on providing Medium-Short Distance communication and transportation solution.

Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in collaboration with EHANG company ran the first test in the emirates skies. RTA is to begin AAV operation by July.

The EHang 184 can travel on a programmed course at 100 kilometres an hour at an altitude of 300 metres. It can make trips of up to 30 minutes.

A passenger simply needs to select a destination for the autonomous taxi to take off, fly the route and touch down in the chosen spot monitored by a ground control centre.
The 10th meeting of the Justice and Peace Workers' Asia-Pacific Forum is underway in Manila to review and boost their response to todays challenges, in particular climate change, environmental degradation, and their impact on the marginalised.

Manila (AsiaNews)  The 10th meeting of the Justice and Peace Workers Asia-Pacific Forum (JPW 2017) is currently (11-18 February 2017) underway in Manila.

Its main objective is to revisit Populorum Progressio and identify common themes with Laudato Si, as well as review and strengthen the JPW response to todays challenges, in particularly climate change, environmental degradation, and their effect on the poor. The specific goals are:

1. identify common themes in Populorum Progressio and Laudato Si;

2. review the work of Justice and Peace Workers and Justice and Peace Workers Asia-Pacific Forum over the past 20 years;

3. identify and clarify the challenges ahead, the actions and responses for Justice and Peace Workers;

4. decide on the future of the Justice and Peace Workers Asia-Pacific Forum.

CCD-FABC Secretary Bishop Allwyn D'Silva was supposed to participate in JPW 2017, but could not make it for visa problems.

Still, speaking to AsiaNews, he noted that March 2017 will mark the 50th anniversary of Populorum Progressio, which announced the creation of a new pontifical body. In order to awaken in the people of God to full awareness of their mission today, the latter would be called Commission of Justice and Peace, a name that aptly describes its programme and goal.

Justice and Peace workers have been meeting for many years, the bishop said. I have been part of this movement for many years as the chairperson of Justice and Peace Commission, Mumbai. These meetings were an occasion to learn from the experiences of others and to know the reality in their country.

Laudato si confirms and adds to Populorum Progressio. The latter speaks of human development and shows concern for the marginalised. This is also the thrust of JPW meetings. Laudato si adds another dimension to our work: caring for creation, and the lives of people affected by climate change.

In Laudato si, the Holy Father noted that "Many of the poor live in areas particularly affected by phenomena related to warming, and their means of subsistence are largely dependent on natural reserves and eco-systemic services such as agriculture, fishing and forestry. They have no other financial activities or resources which can enable them to adapt to climate change or to face natural disasters, and their access to social services and protection is very limited (Laudato si: 25).

Laudato si goes on to say that (t)here has been a tragic rise in the number of migrants seeking to flee from the growing poverty caused by environmental degradation. They are not recognized by international conventions as refugees; they bear the loss of the lives they have left behind, without enjoying any legal protection whatsoever. Sadly, there is widespread indifference to such suffering, which is even now taking place throughout our world (LS: 25).

Whilst the communications revolution of the last decade has helped many to be aware of the worldwide environmental challenges, Laudato si points out that (t)his lack of physical contact and encounter, encouraged at times by the disintegration of our cities, can lead to a numbing of conscience and to tendentious analyses which neglect parts of reality. At times this attitude exists side by side with a green rhetoric.

Today, however, we have to realize that a true ecological approach always becomes a social approach; it must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor (LS: 49).

The cry of the earth and creation is also a cry of the poor and marginalised.
The United Nations Special Envoy confirms that "the letters" of official invitation have been sent and delegations "will arrive around February 20". Behind the further delay the need to provide more time to the opposition to prepare for meetings. Tomorrow in Astana a new meeting between emissaries of Assad and rebel leaders.

Geneva (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The beginning of the UN peace talks on Syria, scheduled at first on 20 February in Geneva (Switzerland), is now fixed for the 23 of the month.

Officials speaking on behalf of United Nations Special Envoy Staffan de Misturareported yesterday that the official invitation letters have been sent and "delegations will arrive around February 20". In a note Yara Sharif, a spokesman for de Mistura, said that "the formal start of negotiations is scheduled for February 23".

Late last month, during a public meeting in New York, the UN special envoy to Syria had already announced a first delay of the talks, the beginning of which was scheduled for February 8. Behind the postponement, the need to ensure Syrian opposition more time to prepare for the meetings in Geneva.

On February 12, the main movement opposed to President Bashar al-Assad announced the 21 names of the delegation, invited to sit at the negotiating table with the representatives of the Syrian government and the UN mediators.

In the past "indirect" talks between the two sides were held in the Swiss city. These meetings produced general statements of intent and the announcements of cease-fire, in reality were never been observed in the field.

Meanwhile, international diplomacy is moving on several fronts: Russia and Iran, close to the government of Damascus, and Turkey, allied to the rebels, have promoted a new round of talks between envoys of Assad and leaders of armed groups in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, for February15 and 16. Last month, for the first time since the war began in 2011, Moscow, Tehran and Ankara were able to gather the leaders of the two fronts around a table.

However, so far there has not been a real breakthrough to determine a future path of peace and normalization in the country.
by Kamran Chaudhry

A suicide bomber blew himself up in front of the Punjab Assembly. The attack was claimed by the Jamat-ul-Ahrar, a faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. It is the same extremist group which last year hit a gathering of Christians during the celebrations for Easter. Archbishop prays for the families of the victims and the wounded.

Lahore (AsiaNews)  The death toll from yesterdays attack on the Punjab Assembly in Lahore, during a rally by 400 pharmacists has risen to 13 people, including six police officers. Another 85 people were seriously injured and are still hospitalized.

Msgr. Sebastian Francis Shaw, archbishop of Lahore, expressed deep sorrow for the victims and prayers for the families, the archdiocese has decided to close eight schools and increase surveillance of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and of the Caritas offices.

Caritas Pakistan operations manager Rojar Randhawa told AsiaNews: More than eight schools have been closed in the city after yesterday's brutal attack. Two of these were located on mall road, near the targeted site. The gates of Sacred Heart Cathedral and Caritas Pakistan Lahore CPL (located near Punjab assembly) have been closed and security guards have been asked to inquire all visitors". "We were having a meeting when we heard a loud noise outside, it even shook our computers. We started getting phone calls from our families. My five year old son did not stop crying until I returned home".

The blast occurred when a suicide bomber ramed his motorcycle in protestors gathered in front Punjab Assembly. Jamat-ul-Ahrar, an offshoot of the Pakistani Taliban having links with ISIS, claimed responsibility for the attack. The same group had attacked an Easter gathering in a park of Lahore last year which killed 70 people injuring 300, mainly Muslims.

"This blast is among the initial chain links of our operation Ghazi (Muslim warrior). We warn the apostate departments of Pakistan that they are on our target in this operation around the country", stated Asad Mansoor the spokesperson of Jamat-ul-Ahrar.

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has strongly condemned the blast and directed Punjab Government to reach the site and provide all possible assistance to the injured. "Such cowardly acts cannot deter the resolve of the nation to stand against terrorism and our government is committed to root out this menace," he said.

Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw expressed sorrow for the victims. "With heartfelt and deepest sorrow, on the behalf of Church in Pakistan I sympathize with all the families that lost their relations in this callous and devilish act of terrorism. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, relatives and friends of this act of senseless violence. May God give them fortitude to bear the loss.
The UN secretary generals condemnation and an invitation to China and the US to work together. Beijing and Moscow ask to avoid "provocative" moves such as joint military exercises and missile Thaad system. Even the Korean bishops opposed to Thaad.

New York (AsiaNews) - The United Nations secretary, Antonio Guterres, has strongly condemned the latest missile launch by North Korea, calling it "another troubling breach" of UN resolutions. In an urgent meeting of the Security Council, requested by the United States, South Korea and Japan, held yesterday afternoon, Guterres said that the leadership of North Korea "must return to full compliance with international obligations and the path of denuclearization ".



Two days ago, Pyongyang launched a ground-to-ground missile from the base of Bangyong, in the north west of the country.



Guterres called on the "international community to continue to address the situation together, referring especially to the United States and China. The latter is perhaps the only ally of Pyongyang.

Washington and Beijing have been working in a unified way in the last two UN resolutions, involving the imposition of further sanctions on North Korea after a new series of missile tests.

The last in order of time was in November, blocking coal exports to China, depriving Pyongyang of income for hundreds of millions of dollars.

This time China and Russia were among the last countries to react to North Korea's transgression. Yesterday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said that "China is paying close attention to the dynamics of the event (the test-launching)." Geng also urged relevant parties not to engage in provocative moves which could heighten regional tensions. "All parties need to exercise restraint to maintain regional peace and stability," he noted.

Leonid Slutsky, the chairman of the Russian lower house of parliament's international affairs committee, told Sputnik News Agency that the test launch is "of course a challenge. Such actions contradict UNSC decisions, particularly the resolution adopted in November, and would, of course, worsen the situation in the region".

Slutsky also said that he opposes the deployment of Thaad and further sanctions against North Korea.



The Korean bishops are also against the Thaad system, eager not to see the Korean Peninsula turned into a "center of the new Cold War."
Its five answers to five questions. Here we go

1. My mom says that using FMLA will prevent me from getting another job

Two years ago, my father ended a career that had us living in Hawaii and relocated for a new job in Utah. For financial reasons I had to tag along, and the short version is that Im miserable. I already had health issues, but in Hawaii I had great friends, mostly clean air except when the volcano blew over, plenty of things to do outside, and a job that I liked pretty well although it wasnt glamorous. Now Im in a freezing, polluted desert. The only job I was able to find that I could live on was in a call center. Ive stuck this job out for almost a year and a half now, but I hate it. Ive had worse jobs before, but I have a degree and am so frustrated with this work after being rejected again and again for other jobs better suited to me. Two years in, I still havent found friends  theres an enormous culture difference and Im really struggling to meet people, even in my same church. I also dont have as many options for getting fresh air and sun because half the year we dont have either.

Basically, my depression/anxiety/insomnia worsened to the point where I needed to start medication, and I then was approved for FMLA for a set number of days each month, which Ive never even thought of looking into before.

Well, my mother has taken to calling and asking me if I was late to work any given day, and if I say I was, she starts yelling about how Ill never get a good reference from my current job and what do I think theyll say about me and how do I expect to move anywhere else if Im the worst performer on the team? (Im not, by the way. I struggle with some of the phone stats, but Im great with the people who call in. I work for an insurance company and Ive helped a lot of distressed people feel better because I bend over backwards trying to find any possible way we can meet their needs).

But I am not being hired anywhere else. Would my manager really tell people I was a bad employee for using my FMLA? The company has a pretty good culture overall, but after being shouted at so much and rejected so often Im really starting to worry and wonderits one more thing keeping me up at night.

What?! No, and your mom is being really awful here.

Its 100% illegal to hold an employees use of FMLA against them. Your employer cant consider it in their assessment of your performance, and it cant impact the reference they give you. Using FMLA does not make you a bad employee; its there for you to use when you need it.

Somethings up with your mom  not only does she have incorrect information about how this stuff works, but assuming that youre the worst performer on your team (!) is incredibly toxic and, frankly, really crappy of her. Your problem isnt that youre taking FMLA; your problem is that your mom is berating you and yelling at you. I really hope youll tell her that youre not going to discuss work with her anymore, and then decline to do so in the future. If she starts in, calmly say, As I said, Im not up for discussing this with you, so Ill talk to you another time and then hang up. Seriously  this would be terrible for anyone, and must be even more destructive for you with the stuff youre already struggling with right now.

Read updates to this letter here.

2. Am I being too rigid by requiring advance notice of requests to use time off?

I am a manager of a staff of 12 in at a government agency. I have always had a policy that staff request leave (annual or sick) at least 24 hours in advance, with the provision that if they or their children are suddenly sick they certainly can request sick leave at the last minute. I particularly have a pet peeve when people make an appointment in advance and then request leave at the last minute.

Again this morning, one of my staff sent me an email saying, I remembered that I had to put leave in for this afternoon as I have an appointment.I told her that I would approve the leave, but reminded her that she needs to provide at least 24 hour notice in the future (unless she woke up sick and called off).

I dont have an issue approving leave for appointments. We earn our leave and should be able to use it as we need (although I could write a whole other letter about how poorly some people manage their leave). I would, however, like the courtesy of letting me know in advance. I should note that this employee taking leave will not impact any projects or deadlines. We did have an issue with her doing this when I was on vacation. She took leave without requesting it in advance, emailed me rather than my fill-in about it (even though she knew I was out), and then was upset when the person filling in for me (who didnt know she was out for an couple of hours at an appointment) tried to reach her while she was at her appointment and couldnt find her. Ive shared my expectations with the entire staff and directly with this person several times now. The next time it happens I wont be approving her leave. Am I making too much of this?

In general, you want to err on the side of giving your employees as much freedom and autonomy as their work allows. Is there a work-related reason that you need 24 hours notice, or is it more the principle of the thing? If there are truly work needs in play here (like that you need to arrange coverage), then explain that and hold people to the policy.

But if its more about the principle or an idea of whats courteous, then yes, I think you need to be less rigid and give people as much flexibility as you can, all the way up to the line where it starts impacting their work. However, you could certainly remind people that if they wait until the last minute to request leave, theres more of a chance of a work-related thing having come up that will make you need to say no (if thats true; in many contexts it would be) and more of a chance that youll be out yourself and thus not able to approve it.

3. I think my coworkers work problems are side effects of a drug hes taking

I wear the HR hat in my small company, but its a minor part of my job. A colleague is in some hot water over issues like consistently coming in late, taking personal days without advance notice, and occasionally snapping at others.

Heres the problem: I know, from my HR access, that he takes medication for a mental illness. (The staff submits receipts for medical expense reimbursement. Usually its just a register receipt that says prescription, but sometimes people submit the full information that the pharmacy staples to the outside of the bag.) Since I have a relative who takes the same meds, I know that the issues my colleague is having are common to this drug.

Now Im hearing rumblings that my colleague might be formally reprimanded, his annual performance-based salary increase reduced, and maybe even eventually let go due solely to the attendance thing. He is good at his job. I dont think anyone but me knows about his health issue. Im not sure HE knows I know about it. Because HR is such a small part of my duties, people tend to forget that I know all their business.

Whats my play? Keep quiet, as I do about all the personal information I have access to? Encourage him to speak up about his health, knowing that it will buy him some indulgence from the bosses, who are good and kind people? Say something to his boss? None of it feels right.

You definitely shouldnt disclose personal health information that you only know about from processing a receipt. What you can do, though, is to encourage his manager to ask the employee if theres anything going on with him outside of work or health-wise that might be leading to the issues hes having. Thats not an unreasonable thing to ask regardless, and it will give him the opportunity to speak up if he does want to share anything. But if he chooses not to, thats his call.

And even if he doesnt realize that the drug can have these particular side effects, you dont really have standing to point it out to him; it would be too much a violation of his privacy, would get you into talking about health stuff that youre not qualified to advise him on, and would be a misuse of the information you see when youre processing medical paperwork.

4. Interviewers videotaped my job interview

I recently interviewed for a senior-level job in a company I really wanted. Due to some weather issues, the interview kept getting cancelled last minute because of snow storms in the area. When it was finally rescheduled, I showed up for my full day of interviews with people from around the company. When I got there, they informed me that because of all the reschedules, a couple people couldnt be there to interview me and wanted to have all my interviews recorded.

I really didnt like the idea. #1, it means people will be watching me interview and not able to actually engage with me. #2, it means everyone will be able to pick this apart over and over again. #3, I am pretty sure I am the only candidate who had this treatment.

However, in the moment I said yes, because they sprung it on me at the interview. What was I supposed to say? Now I am just worried that every little mistake or issue is magnified because it is recorded and they can review it in great detail.

Eh, it does put you at a bit of a disadvantage with the interviewers who werent there, but youre right that you didnt have a choice other than to say yes. And really, I think its more of a not great, but so be it situation than a disaster. Its unlikely that theyre going to watch the recording more than once; people dont have that kind of time (or, frankly, interest). Its more likely that they wont watch it at all, or wont watch all of it (which is a problem, but a different sort of one). Id just write it off to bad luck, which we all run into now and then, and not worry too much about it.

5. Employer wouldnt hire me because Im leaving for college in eight months

Is it legal to not hire somebody because they will be going to college in eight months? Im highly qualified for the position I was trying to get and when they did a small interview on the phone they said they could not hire me because I was planning on going out of state for college. Is this legal? This has happened to me twice before too so it isnt uncommon for me.

Yes, thats legal! Employers are allowed to decide that they want someone whos likely to stay in the job longer-term if they want to. And there are lots of jobs where it really wouldnt make sense to hire someone knowing that the person will be leaving in eight months; in many jobs, it takes six months or even more for you to really learn the job and start being productive enough to justify the investment in training you. And even in jobs where thats not the case, its reasonable for an employer to prefer not to have to go through the hiring process again in less than a year.
Chris Soules Interview On Online Dating And The Farming Lifestyle

Here's What Small-Town Dating Is Really Like, According To Bachelor Chris Soules

When people think "reality TV star," they typically think of vapid, self-interested people who got briefly famous but contribute nothing lasting to America. Which is to say, when people think "reality TV star," they're probably not thinking of reality TV star Chris Soules.

The 33-year-old farmer, born and raised in small-town Arlington, Iowa, is anything but. Soules jumped into the spotlight after his stint on The Bachelorette in 2014 snagged him a starring role on The Bachelor's 19th season the following year. The nation watched him weigh his romantic options for nine weeks, ultimately choosing Whitney Bischoff in the series finale.

But the couple ended up calling off their engagement only months later. So for the time being, Soules remains the nation's most eligible farmer.

AskMen caught up with him recently to pick his brain on what the farm life is all about, and what it's like for guys whose backgrounds have more to do with the fertile soil of the fields than the cracked concrete of the big city to date and fall in love in a modern dating culture that seems increasingly out of touch with small-town, down-home American tradition.

What do you do, for instance, when your Tinder bio reads "farmer" rather than "lawyer" or "businessman"? And what can the average American male learn from his farming counterparts?

Well, for one, consider diversifying your skill sets. According to Soules, one of the defining characteristics of the farming lifestyle is having to master many different fields in order to thrive.

"We're accountants, we're economists, we're all different halves  we manage employees, and also we grow things and care for the land. You don't just have one single label. Farmers are unique in the fact that they have to have lots of different skill sets. Most farmers that you meet, you would never know and they would never even talk about the challenges and the different talents that they have."

That feeds into his second note about farmers: Their integrity, something that can be easy to lose sight of for those stuck in the rat race.

"I know multi-millionaires that you would think would be middle-income wage-earners, that you wouldn't have any idea about the amount of success they've had in their lives  just because of the amount of humility that they have," says Soules. "They do what they do for the love of what they do, not because they want to buy a Maserati or a new Lamborghini to keep up with the Joneses."

The integrity and humility that Soules loves about farmers have also made it trickier for him to date people from other backgrounds, he explains. Viewers who saw The Bachelorette, where Andi Dorfman opted for another contestant over Soules because she couldn't see herself adapting to his small-town Iowan roots, will know that, but it's evident from his passion that Soules is true-blue when it comes to the farming lifestyle.

"Finding somebody who has that certain perspective on life about the simple things and what really matters and family  and not being devastated because there's not a Starbucks within an hour of where I live," was tricky, he says.

"People sort of look at farming and have an unrealistic view of what it really does look like I think. They think we're having picnics and sitting on the porch and drinking tea every day. We get up and work really hard like any other people who want to get ahead in life."

That being said, even Soules will admit that the rural background he cherishes has been tough for his dating life.

"On the show they made a really big deal about me not being able to meet people in rural areas, and even though they highlighted that, I don't think people can even put it into perspective how challenging it is," Soules admits. "If you live 2 miles from a town of 450 people [where the majority of people are] 55 and over, the demographics are very steered toward having a bad dating experience."

That scarcity of rural singles in his age range also led to Soules trying to make things work out in one long-term relationship that ultimately didn't pan out.

"I spent seven years dating one person who I met in college and intended to marry, and I thought it would happen, but it didn't work out. After that I had to go back to square one, and that was pretty scary," says Soules. "I kind of had this feeling in my gut that this was the only chance I would have to meet somebody, so it may have led to me rushing into things a little bit."

When it comes to the future of dating, Soules doesn't think small-town Americans necessarily need to compromise and get with the times. For instance, an online dating site like Farmers Only is a great option for those with a farming background to find other, similar-minded singles who might feel out of place exclusively trying to date city slickers on Tinder.

"I've never gone on Farmers Only but I've had friends that were, and I've gone on Match or eHarmony [in the past]. In order to find the right person you really do need to be willing to put yourself out there, no matter if you live in a rural area or a city," he says, adding that, "Dating sites are helpful and give you the opportunity to meet people without having to bars. It's great for finding other people who are serious about finding somebody."

And for any guys getting down about dates that aren't going well, Soules has an optimistic take.

"With every conversation or with every first awkward date that I had that resulted from an online dating app, I learned a little bit more about what I was looking for."
Whats more, Ailira continues to learn. As long as information is fed into it, it refines its databases and thereby improves its answers. Cartland is said to have honed Ailiras tax chops by feeding it information from tax-law databases, legislation, rulings and ATO private rulings.

Now, the AI is set to ingest millions more legal documents on industrial relations, contract and corporate law, family law, and state law covering stamp duty, payroll tax, and criminal law, The Australian reported. The South Australian Government has also given a $20,000 grant to tailor the system to domestic violence law.

Thats a long way from 18 months ago when Cartland linked up with Austin, Texas-based tech firm Enlyton to give birth to Ailira. Cartland said that they tweaked Enlytons patented machine-learning algorithm, which learns from complex sets of information. He then partnered with developers in Adelaide to refine the system before rolling out the AI last December.

Ailira users ask the AI questions as they would another human being. From specific questions, the system takes about 10 seconds to process and will display the correct answer or three or four most likely correct answers, Cartland said. And the questions are very specific. Cartland said that Ailira is designed to answer questions like, Can the beneficiary of a bare trust claim the main resident capital gains tax exemption? and Does a market value substitution rule apply to CGT event D1?

Ailira currently costs $90 per month per user, but Cartland is also looking at the freemium model where the system gives advice on matters and only asks for payment when a referral or a document like a will is generated.




Hi Everyone,



I've been waiting for my 801 visa for more than 18 months already. My eligible date should be Jul 2015. I was applied using paper post and I did receive the acknowledge letter. Recently I called immi 131881 for asking the status of my visa,but they told me it's still processing.



Is here anyone incurred similar situation as me and can let me know except waiting, what else can I do?



Thanks for anyone can help.



Lena
I am Australian and I met my english partner in Australia. After three months of being together, his visa ran out and I went to live in the UK with him. We have been together for a year and a couple of months now - and this is where it all starts to get a bit confusing!Due to the fact he has a CCJ, it has been almost impossible to get him on the lease and get a joint bank account. We have no evidence of living together apart from personal statements/photos/transfers of money etc - and according to the immigration lawyer we spoke to, this isn't enough.He suggested that, realistically, our only options were to stay here another 12 months, get him on the lease/open bank accounts etc or get married.My partner does not want to get married (understandably) and is willing to apply an application based on lots of the small evidence we have. Has anyone applied for an application without the lease/shared accounts/not married/not registered? How did it go? What were the outcomes? Did they warn you you did not have enough evidence and allow you to accrue more so you did?Alternatively, we have set up a bank account, but unfortunately have (again) not been able to get him on the lease. If we have approx 3 months of shared bank statements and then, if we can swing it, 9 months of living together? Would this suffice to the requirement for 12 months, or do the two things need to go hand-in-hand?We are really struggling with this at the moment. So any suggestions/experiences/comments/thoughts would be much appreciated
The PAL-V Liberty is air-legal and its deliveries are scheduled towards end-2018; prices start at Rs 2.52 crore before taxes.

The PAL-V Liberty, the worlds first commercial flying car, is now on sale. Priced around 4,25,000 (Rs 4.18 crore), the first customer deliveries are scheduled towards the end of 2018.

Dutch manufacturer PAL-V claims its Liberty is fully compliant with existing regulations and says it represents a pivotal time in aviation and mobility history.

The flying car has been launched with the Liberty Pioneer Edition, which is priced from around $5,99,000 (Rs 3.78 crore) before taxes on PAL-V's website. This price includes flight instruction sessions, power heating and personalisation options. Only 90 will be sold, with around half of them headed to Europe. After their delivery, the manufacturer will start delivery of the Liberty Sport model.

The Liberty Sport model is priced from $3,99,000 (around Rs 2.52 crore) before taxes on the manufacturers website.

It doesnt have the same level of personalisation available as the Pioneer Edition but still comes with flying lessons, while options include power heating and carbonfibre detailing.

The Liberty has a three-wheel layout and rotor blades on the roof which fold away. It's effectively a gyrocopter aircraft with two engines. Its Rotax engine-based dual-propulsion drivetrain includes one engine for driving and one for flying, with an unpowered large rotor on top that provides lift, while an engine-powered blade on the rear of the vehicle gives thrust.

It has a lowered suspension and a tilting two-person cockpit.

Converting the car from drive to fly mode or vice-versa takes around 5-10 minutes, according to PAL-V. The rotor mast unfolds automatically, but the driver must pull out the tail section, unfold two rotor blades and take out the prop to ready it to fly. You also need a license to fly, and you cant just take off and land anywhere; PAL-V says the Liberty requires take-off space of around 90-200x200 metres without obstacles. It says that small airstrips, aerodomes, glider sites and ultralight airfields will be most appropriate.

The manufacturer says the noise that the Liberty generates in flight will be comparable to a small fixed-wing aeroplane, saying it will be much less than a helicopter. The drive-mode engine has 100.3hp and a top speed of 160kph, with 0-100kph sprint taking 9.0sec. Fuel economy is a claimed 31mpg (10.97kpl) with a range of 817miles (1,314km). In the air, the Liberty can climb to a maximum altitude of 3,500m, and its 199.7hp flying engine can propel it up to a top speed of 112mph (179kph). Its range is a claimed 310miles (498km).

The Liberty will be assembled in the Netherlands, with specific parts and systems manufactured by other companies in different countries. PAL-V collaborated with Italian design agencies for the car and conducted test programmes with concepts in 2009 and 2012.

Robert Dingemanse, PAL-V's CEO, said: "After years of hard work, beating the technical and qualification challenges, our team succeeded in creating an innovative flying car that complies with existing safety standards determined by regulatory bodies around the world."
5 Trends in Fleet Management To Watch For in 2017

With the ever growing presence of telematics in the fleet industry, 2017 is sure to set a new bench mark for the integration and utilization of its many features. IoT (Internet of Things) focused fleets, predictive maintenance and autonomous vehicles are just a few of our picks for the most poular trends we will see this year.

Download the whitepaper to read more and discover what to keep an eye out for in 2017.

Telogis and Fleetmatics are now part of Verizon Telematics. A representative from Verizon Telematics will be reaching out to you.

By Telogis, A Verizon Company
The chief executives of 18 automakers have asked President Donald Trump to revisit fuel economy regulations through 2025 that were finalized in the waning days of the Obama administration, reports Bloomberg.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency elected to maintain the current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for cars and light trucks from model years 2022 to 2025, Gina McCarthy, the agency's administrator, announced on Jan. 13. Trump took office on Jan. 20.

In a Feb. 10 letter, the CEOs said the EPA had assured the companies that the mid-term review would not result in a final determination before the next administration came into office.

If the EPA's ruling stands,average consumer fuel economy sticker values would reach 36 miles per gallon across their model range on a sales-weighted basis by the 2025 model year. Automakers would need to raise their fuel economy 10 mpg above the current average.
Uber's mobile platform that connects ride-hailing users with drivers. Photo courtesy of Uber

The New York Senate passed a bill to allow ride hailing to operate in Upstate New York, with the intention of improving local economies, according to a report by the New York Senate. The bill (S4159) provides the framework for ride-hailing companies to expand operations outside of New York City.

The 5.5% tax on rides for rides outside of New York City will be lowered to 2%  thanks to measure cuts from the New York Senate. Additionally, the new bill does not subject ride hailing to the states 4% sales tax, says the report.

The measure requires that Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) like Uber and Lyft have their drivers undergo criminal and driving history background checks, according to the report.

The measure will also require passenger notifications for driver information and trip changes, as well as the adoption of non-discrimination and zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policies, says the report.
The highly acclaimed Google Pixel was the strongest competitor for Apple's and Samsung's Flagships. With over $386 million of revenue, Google sees the opportunity of creating a Pixel successor dubbed as Pixel 2. There have been reports circulating regarding Google's new flagship, and AWN will unravel the information available for Pixel 2.

Google Pixel 2 will now have water-proofing. To recall, Google decided to not implement waterproofing for Google Pixel because of certain reasons. Now, sources claim that the next flagship will incorporate this feature. Google's Pixel camera is the best smartphone cameras up to date. There will be no huge jump from the 12.3 MP camera, but a low-light performance and other enhancements will be made.

There are allegations that Google's Pixel 2 might include a VR headset. According to a report by Autonomy, Google's Pixel 2 will focus on major hardware improvements and this includes Virtual Reality. There are new patents filed by Google themselves suggesting virtual reality functionality for Pixel 2.

"The patents show a sleek looking VR peripheral for a smartphone, which includes a button mechanism to be configured to selectively interact with a touchscreen of the electronic device," says the source.

Google Pixel 2 will also be a part of the Snapdragon 830 chipset line or higher. But, there are reports claiming that Google is also testing Intel chips for the next flagship. According to Stuff, Google Pixel 2 will launch the Android O 8.0 since the first phone fully released Android Nougat first.

In terms of prices, Google Pixel 2 is, unfortunately, $50 higher than the first phone. But, there are reports saying that a cheaper version will be released as well. So far, there are no sources claiming that the Google Pixel 2 will exhibit an XL version similar to Google Pixel. The predicted release date for Google Pixel 2 is autumn of 2017.

What are your thoughts about the Google Pixel 2? Share it in the comment section below.
German automaker BMW has criticized the Australian government for the latter's somewhat lackluster support towards environment-friendly vehicles. BMW's criticism over Australia's policy came in after the car company released its i Performance vehicles in the country.

In a statement acquired by Drive, BMW Australia chief executive officer Marc Werner said, "No more discussions! I call on Mr. Malcolm Turnbull and the federal government to finally action a robust policy to support the introduction of low emission vehicles to the Australian market."

Compared to other markets, Australia lags behind when it comes to low emissions policies. The government is offering incentives, tax deductions and even free charging options in order persuade consumers into buying more environmentally friendly cars. These options, however, are not widely practiced in Australia.

Aside from Australia's lack of green car policies, Mr. Werner has also criticized the country's Luxury Car Tax. In fact, notable car companies like Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Audi have all called to end the blanket tax which some experts cited as one reason why car's cost too much in Australia.

BMW have started to roll out a range of electric and plug-in vehicles in Australia under the company's BMW i brand. The company is concerned that with the lack of incentives being offered in Australia for electric vehicles, it might deter consumers from buying these cars.

According to Motoring, BMW was able to sell more than 100,000 electric cars globally in 2016. During that same year, only 124 units were sold in Australia.

BMW have pointed out to New Zealand's 2016 policy changes as a model for Australia to adopt. In 2016, New Zealand introduced a law that waived Road User Charges for buyers of electric vehicles. On top of this, the New Zealand government have also helped car manufacturers in establishing public charging networks.
Lancair International announced last summer it would sell off its older designs and focus on its newer Evolution aircraft, and recently the company, now known as Evolution Aircraft Company, said it has found a buyer. Mark Huffstutler, founder of the aircraft modification firm Sierra Industries, based in Texas, and his son Conrad Huffstutler will assume all assets, intellectual designs and ongoing support for all the older Lancair kit models, including the 320/360, IV, IV-P, ES and Legacy aircraft. Kevin Eldredge, president of Evolution Aircraft, said in a news release he spent more than eight months interviewing potential buyers for the Lancair assets. Mark Huffstutler and his team represent ourperfect vision for re-igniting the Lancair brand and supporting the thousands of kit customers we have developed over 35 years, Eldredge said.

From its new base in Texas, the new Lancair company plans to offer aircraft owners full support, including parts, technical assistance, documentation, maintenance, repairs and inspections for Lancair and other experimental aircraft. In addition, owners and kit builders can access onsite facilities for maintenance, avionics, paint and interior completion. Future plans include the resumption of aircraft manufacturing and the introduction of new designs, according to the news release. Allinventories, production fixtures and support materials from Redmond, Oregon, are presently being moved to Huffstutlers facilities at Garner Field (KUVA) in Uvalde, Texas. The company also will bring the assets and inventory from Lancairs facilities in the Philippines back to the United States.
General aviation pilots have several auto-fume modes. One of them is ADS-B and anything to do with medicals is a good way to get people spun up. So is the argument that the administrator of the FAA should be a pilot.

This is a perennial and it came up last week when President Donald Trump met with airline executives. What we should really be freaked about is that he met with a transportation sector all but dedicated to the demise of general aviation with no one else at the table. The side discussion revolved around Trumps surprise that FAA Administrator Michael Huerta is not a pilot. Trumps view is that he should be because the ATC system is so complex that actually having flown in it would be helpful.

But is it really? I think the answer is an inarguable yes. But does a pilot certificate trump (sorry) the must-have skills as, you know, an administrator? My view has always been no. Id rather have a strong administrator with political connections and inside knowledge of how modern government worksor doesnt workthan a hot stick who has to learn that stuff on the job in the snake pit of D.C. politics. If complexity were reduced to a scale of 10, understanding ATC would be about a six; understanding the machinations of federal agencies and the internecine politics would be a 19.

Until not that long ago, FAA administrators had always been pilots. Including Michael Huerta, there have been 19 FAA administrators. Fifteen of these have been pilots, four have been drawn from the professional career government management corps. The FAA top job isnt a cabinet positionthat belongs to SecDotbut its a presidential-level appointment requiring Senate approval thats not given to political hacks in the way ambassadorships are. When drawn from inside government, administrators have typically had high-level government managerial experience. Jane Garvey, for instance, was both the first woman and the first non-pilot to hold the job. She had been administrator of the Federal Highway Administration and a transportation official in Massachusetts. (Boston residents may not recall her warmly if the Big Dig is mentioned.) She served under President Bill Clinton and was later criticized for negotiating too-expensive contracts with air traffic controllers.

Did it make a difference that she wasnt a pilot? Hard to say. We cover the administrator from 10,000 feet and arent privy to the day to day. At AirVenture, we practically get into fistfights over who will be forced to do the administrator interview because theyre so boring. With Michael Huerta, we simply politely decline the FAAs offer for press availability because we know the answers will be so banal and I grew weary of explaining why we did the interview in the first place. But that has nothing to do with effectiveness as an administrator. Ive been told by a couple of sources that Huerta is quite effective inside the agency and in working with small groups.

On paper, Randy Babbitt was the ideal administrator. He came from an airline aviation background, had experience running an airline union so he understood organizational politics and he was just a decent guy. Like all government agencies, the FAA is run by the equivalent of NCOsthe mid-level bureaucratswho grind out the meetings, churn the data and write the regs and they can sure enough use that stuff to roll the boss.

I saw it happen in real time at AirVenture in 2011. At the time, General Aviation Modifications had stirred up interest in an unleaded avgas replacement by pursuing an STC for approvals. When asked about this, Babbitt parroted exactly what the mid-level FAA staff had been saying to complicate and stall GAMIs STC at every step. He said STCs had never been done for aviation fuel and doing it that way would create a cumbersome and complex standard, requiring duplicative work by the FAA.

But the FAA had approved several fuel STCs and could have readily approved GAMIs filing for further testing. Once approved, it could have lived or died in the market. That would have been proper public policy. Instead, six years later, its still not done. Babbitt being a pilot didnt help him look down into the problem and twist the staff levers to do the right thing. I suspect President Trump is learning this lesson several times a day. Compared to the federal bureaucracy, an oil tanker turns on a dime.

So given my druthers, unless the pilot is a skilled administrator and political infighternot to mention survivorId just as soon put a professional manager in the chair. He or she can always take flying lessons, provided of course the waiting line isnt too long due thanks to the vast influx of BasicMed returnees soon to choke the flight schools.

Doc Shopping

And speaking of BasicMed, I spent the morning shopping for a doctor to sign the checklist. Encouragingly, I found twoboth AMEs, one of whom works in a Doc-in-the-Box. I have several other calls out that havent been returned yet.

As I reported, my regular doc declined to sign the checklist and my regular AME demurred, too. The fact that 30 minutes of doc shopping revealed two possibilities makes me believe others will have similar experiences. Of course, they havent seen the checklist yet, but an agreement in principle is better than a flat no.

Brent Blue, an AME himself, told me doctors working in urgent care facilities routinely sign such affirmation for DOT-regulated truckers, so they are likely to do the same for BasicMed. Hell, maybe Ill stay in this flying game a little longer after all.
14 February 2017 15:50 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

The Republican party of Armenia, which is led by the President Sargsyan, risks to lose its power at the National Assembly of the country. The reason is that a new bloc has been formed in Armenia in the run-up to parliamentary elections scheduled for April 2.

At the recent meeting, the Board of the Heritage party made a decision to join the bloc created by the former Foreign Minister of Armenia Vartan Oskanyan and former Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan.

Following the decision, Seyran Ohanyan, Vartan Oskanian and Raffi Hovannisian signed a Memorandum on cooperation and the establishment of an electoral bloc with the Heritage and Consolidation parties of Armenia.

Three political figures will unite efforts to form the power of a new quality and for a radical change in the country, said the Deputy Chairman of the Heritage party Armen Martirosyan.

He announced that the Justice and Peoples parties, as well as a number of public organizations, joined the bloc.

Thus, increasing numbers of political sides gather together to confront Serzh Sargsyan and his entourage. It is likely that the Armenians will follow them too, as they are tired of suffering from the illogical and harmful policy of the current Armenian government.

The Armenian president, who is holding the post for almost nine years, constantly loses popularity in his country.

The power of a state consists of the authority of its leadership and of its attitude to the people. But Sargsyan has neither gained that authority nor improved the life of Armenians.

The poor economic indices of this Caucasian country and worsening life leaves no choice for the people but to migrate. The national debt of Armenia approaches to $6 billion, the 18-percent unemployment rate is the highest in the CIS area, and the state budget suffers from deficit every year. Furthermore, the GDP of Armenia has fallen by more than a billion dollars since 2008. That's what Sargsyan will leave in heritage for the nation after two terms in office as the president.

In addition, Armenia was issued three new credits for $180 million at the end of 2016, which shows that the government, and personally Sargsyan, cannot find a way to give an impetus to the Armenian economy, but to drag it into a deeper hole.

All these failures tremendously weakens the Armenian government, thus instigating numerous protests against the current authorities Armenians refuse to stay here  about 60,000 people left Armenia in 2016, while this number was near to 50,000 in 2015.

Increasing demands for the resignation of Sargsyan testifies for loss of credibility of the current government.

In late 2016, Armenians shared several unflattering photos, in which they showed all the contempt for the president. For example, in one of the photos Sargsyan was shot while making the New Year congratulation on TV, and there were obscene gestures in the foreground, showing what people think about their president.

Another photo was taken during the protest of mothers whose sons died in non-combat conditions in the Armenian army. Sargsyan had met with the mothers and pledged to establish justice for their children, but, as usual, did not fulfill his promises. To protest, the women gathered in front of the presidents residence and burned and trampled the photos of Sargsyan from their meeting.

The policy of the Armenian government, which intends to preserve the status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh, isn't supported by majority of Armenians; therefore, people gather in front of government buildings to show the authorities their protest. However, their calls are, as always, being left without attention. Due to this, thousands of Armenian young men are being sent for military service in Nagorno-Karabakh where some of them become victims of the Armenia-incited war.

Even if Sargsyan had some remains of authority, by the end of 2016 he lost them too. So, now it's high time for the president to sit and think twice about his policy leading nowhere.

---

Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
14 February 2017 10:26 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Over the past 24 hours, Armenias armed forces have 22 times violated the ceasefire in various directions along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported on February 14.

The Azerbaijani army positions located on nameless heights of Azerbaijans Gazakh district underwent fire from the Armenian army positions located on nameless heights of the Ijevan district of Armenia.

Moreover, the Azerbaijani army positions underwent fire from the Armenian army positions located near the Armenian-occupied Chilaburt village of the Tartar distirct, Marzili, Yusifjanli villages of the Aghdam district, Garakhanbeyli, Ashagi Seyidahmadli villages of the Fuzuli district, as well as from the positions located on nameless heights of the Tartar, Khojavand, Jabrayil and Fuzuli districts 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. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

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14 February 2017 16:14 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

The state agencies slashed the number of business inspections in 2016, rather focusing on creating opportunities to boost the small and medium entrepreneurship in Azerbaijan.

Deputy Economy Minister Sahil Babayev said that some 60 inspections on entrepreneurship activity were carried out in 2016, while the number of analogical inspections was about 60,000 in 2015.

He made the remarks during a joint meeting of the Club of Exporters of the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) and American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan (AmCham) in Baku on February 14.

The inspection of entrepreneurs' activities in Azerbaijan has been suspended for the period of two years from November 1, 2015. The exceptions from the law include check-ups which are held by State Commission to Combat Corruption under Prosecutor Generals Office, as well as cases which endanger health or life, pose hazards to the state security or economic interests.

The government does not exclude the prolongation of a moratorium imposed on business inspection.

Babayev went on to say that over the past two years, the government has been continuously taking steps to improve the business environment.

Among the steps taken in this regard, the official mentioned the reduction in the number of licenses for conducting business activity, introduction of the investment promotion mechanism, as well as reforms carried out in the customs sphere.

As of today, entrepreneurs obtained relevant certificates for implementation of projects worth more than 1 billion manats ($ 547,000), he said, adding that these projects will allow to open more than 7,000 new jobs.

Speaking about the export expansion, Babayev emphasized that the main goal is not only to achieve expansion of the non-oil export, but also expansion of the export geography.

To increase awareness about local production, the country is sending trade missions to various countries. Besides, the country appoints trade representatives to the countrys diplomatic missions abroad with a view to expand Azerbaijan`s economic and trade relations with foreign countries, protect economic interests of Azerbaijan, increase export of Azerbaijani goods and services.

Babayev further mentioned that Azerbaijan is currently in talks with Turkey on giving customs privileges to the exporters of goods, produced in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

"Turkey imposes high tariffs on imported production, namely on the import of agricultural production, to secure its domestic market. We are currently in talks to expand export of our production to Turkey and in this regard we want to get customs privileges for supplies of goods produced in Nakhchivan," he said.

Turkey became the main trade partner of Azerbaijan in 2016, while trade turnover between the countries amounted to $2.3 billion.

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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

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14 February 2017 17:09 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

Azerbaijan, focusing widely on an export-led growth strategy, aims to expand the list of its foreign trade partners. This year the country plans to organize some five missions to increase awareness about the local production and promote Made in Azerbaijan brand.

Head of Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) Rufat Mammadov said that export missions will be organized to Qatar (February 25-28), Kazakhstan (April), Russia (May), the USA (June), and China.

He made the remarks during a joint meeting of the Club of Exporters of the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) and American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan (AmCham) in Baku on February 14.

This year, we have already organized export missions to Germany, Afghanistan and Pakistan. We expect that the missions will yield positive results, he said, adding that Azerbaijani entrepreneurs will also participate in international conferences.

Organizing export missions to foreign countries to explore the markets and marketing activities stands among the promotional mechanisms required for increasing awareness about the local production.

Last year, the country sent such missions to China (Hong Kong and Guangzhou) and the UAE (Dubai).

Talking about results of the missions, Mammadov said that certain agreements had been reached during the missions. The country reached an agreement on the wine supply to China and delivered the first batch of supplies earlier this year. Under the deal, Azerbaijan is expected to supply some 500,000 bottles of wine to the world's second-largest economy.

Besides, the agreement on supplies of fruit, in particular apples, as well as narsharab was inked in the UAE.

Only 10 export missions may be held within a year, while exporters participating in missions are freely provided with accommodation, transport and translation services. A total of 3 million manats ($ 1.64 million) has been allocated out of the Azerbaijani Presidents Reserve Fund in the 2016 State Budget to finance the export support measures.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Economy Minister Sahil Babayev said the main goal is not only to achieve expansion of the non-oil export, but also expansion of the export geography.

Along with sending trade missions to various countries, the country also appoints trade representatives to the countrys diplomatic missions abroad to expand economic and trade relations with foreign countries.

Babayev further mentioned that Azerbaijan is currently in talks with Turkey on giving customs privileges to the exporters of goods, produced in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

"Turkey imposes high tariffs on imported production, namely on the import of agricultural production, to secure its domestic market. We are currently in talks to expand export of our production to Turkey and in this regard we want to get customs privileges for supplies of goods produced in Nakhchivan," he said.

Head of the Wine Exporters' and Producers' Association of Azerbaijan Elchin Madatov, in turn, said that Azerbaijan will resume the export of cognac to Belarus, noting that a relevant contract has already been signed.

He reminded that Azerbaijan was exporting cognac to Belarus, but for certain reasons the supplies were halted.

Today, Azerbaijan produces 20 million bottles of wine per year, while the annual production capacity of the countrys wineries is 100 million bottles.

Recently, the country launched wine export to new markets such as China, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, the U.S. and some European countries. Overall, the wine export of Azerbaijan hit $3.5 million in 2016.

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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

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14 February 2017 11:47 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

Billura Bayramova, the only Azerbaijani national living in Nigeria, has attended Small World charity event in Lagos.

The event organized by the International Women's Organization for Charity saw international and national womens groups living in Nigeria get together to showcase a feast of cuisine, costume, culture and color, bringing together people from all walks of life to celebrate their diversity. All funds raised through the event, sponsorship and advertising go directly to the nominated charities.

Visitors of the event were offered samples of delicious Azerbaijani cuisine, including dolma, qutab, pilaf, baklava, Azertac reported. The local media and visitors were informed about the history and culture of Azerbaijan.

Small World was founded 20 years ago by a group of expatriate women who wanted to give back to their host country, Nigeria. They felt that by working together they would be able to raise more money for local Nigerian charities. And so, in 1996, the annual Small World event was born.

Starting as a small, indoor food fair with 300 guests, the event has grown to become an outdoor festival with over 3000 people attending.

In 2008, Small World was officially incorporated as the International Womens Organization for Charity with the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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14 February 2017 17:21 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

An international culture festival in Basel, Switzerland, has featured Azerbaijani folk dances.

The event brought together representatives of 15 countries, whose national dances were presented during the festival, Azertac reported.

The history of folk dances of Azerbaijan is very old. The scenes of dances reflected on Gobustan rock pictures are proof of that. Like in many nations of the world Azerbaijanis also had as first dances the ritual and hunting dances.

Most spread folk dances are Kocheri, Yalli, Jangi, Anzali, Naznazi, Chigatayi and etc.

Kocheri is a kind of ancient Azerbaijani dance Yalli, which is depicted on the rock carvings in Gobustan dating to 10,000-8,000 years BC.

The famous Divani luget dictionary of the 11th century by eminent Turkish philologist Mahmud Kashgari, includes the word kocheri, meaning koch-goch (male ram), and the word kochmek, meaning "to move from one place to another".

The initial form of Yalli, performed around a ceremony bonfire, have the meaning of hot, light and meal. The word yal in Azerbaijani means row, line of chain.

Today, Yalli is performed as cheerful circular dance, often accompanied by choral singing at the weddings. Dancers hold hands or shoulders with each other and perform synchronous rhythmic motion, raising and lowering their arms.

Yalli is performed under different rhythms, and have a number of kinds including kochari, uchayag, tello, tenzere and galadangalaya.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and the Swiss Confederation.

Azerbaijan, which is Switzerlands most important trading partner in the South Caucasus, enjoys good ties, since the federal republic in Europe cooperates with the country for over 20 years.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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14 February 2017 14:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Blogger Alexander Lapshin, who will stand trial in Baku for his illegal visits to the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, cannot be extradited to any of countries, whose citizenship he owns, until a court decision.

Lapshins lawyer Safar Huseynov, talking to Trend, said that the extradition is impossible for now.

Blogger Lapshin, who owns citizenships of Russia, Israel and Ukraine, illegally visited Azerbaijan`s Armenia-occupied lands and now is charged under the articles 281.2 (appeals directed against state) and 318.2 (illegal border crossing) articles of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. He violated Azerbaijani laws on state border in April 2011 and October 2012.

Helped by his accomplices in the occupied territories, Lapshin, paid a number of visits to Azerbaijan`s occupied lands, where he voiced support for "independence" of the illegal regime, and made public calls against Azerbaijan`s internationally recognized territorial integrity on April 6 and June 29, 2016.

In early February, Lapshin was extradited from Minsk to Baku to stand trial in Azerbaijan.

The lawyer further added that the investigation into the criminal case initiated against Lapshin continues, and the case will be taken to the court on completion of the investigation.

After the adjudication, the issue of transferring him to one of the countries of his citizenship can be considered. Before the court decision, Lapshin may not be extradited to any country, Huseynov said.

The lawyer added that Lapshins family members have not addressed him so far. His family needs to contact Embassy to meet him; after that, the members of his family can contact me through the Embassy, Huseynov said.

Earlier, representatives of the Russian and Israeli embassies in Azerbaijan met with Lapshin. After the meeting, the embassies confirmed that Lapshin has no complaints about conditions of detention.

Baku has repeatedly warned foreign officials and diplomats of unauthorized visits to its territories that are occupied by Armenia, calling them contradictory to international law.

Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry and diplomatic missions pay special attention to the illegal activity in the occupied areas of Azerbaijan. The work is constantly carried out to prevent such illegal actions.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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14 February 2017 18:18 (UTC+04:00)

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has issued a statement on illegal referendum in the country`s Armenia-occupied territories, Azertac reported.

The statement says: According to the press reports, on February 20, 2017, Armenia plans to conduct so-called referendum on constitutional changes in the puppet illegal regime it has established in the temporarily occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

The Foreign Ministry reiterates that the illegal regime established by Armenia in the temporarily occupied territories of Azerbaijan is ultimately nothing other than the product of aggression and occupation. It is under Armenias direction and control and survives by virtue of its military, political, financial and other support, as was confirmed by the European Court of Human Rights in its judgment of 16 June 2015 on the case of Chiragov and others v. Armenia.

This provocative step, as well as Armenias attempts to change the name of integral Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan is yet another clear manifestation that Armenia is not genuinely interested in seeking a political settlement of the armed conflict. Instead, Armenia pursues the path of escalation, undertakes consistent measures to consolidate the results of its occupation policy and to maintain unacceptable and unsustainable status quo, undermines efforts for the peaceful resolution of the conflict through substantive talks, illegally changes the demographic, cultural and physical character of the occupied territories, engages in economic and other activities, including transfer of Armenian population into these territories with the ultimate goal of imposing a fait accompli situation. By such actions Armenia also undermines and puts under jeopardy the regional and international peace and security.

The principled basis for the settlement of the conflict is laid down in the United Nations Security Council resolutions 822(1993), 853(1993), 874(1993) and 884(1993) and the U.N. General Assembly resolution 62/243 (2008), which condemn the use of force against Azerbaijan and occupation of its territories and reaffirm the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and the inviolability of its internationally recognized borders. In those resolutions, the United Nations Security Council reaffirmed that the Nagorno-Karabakh region is an inalienable part of Azerbaijan and demanded immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of the occupying forces from all occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

The illegal referendum constitutes a clear violation of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the norms and principles of international law, and, therefore, has no legal effect whatsoever. This so-called referendum is also being conducted in the seized lands under situation created through the use of force and threat of force against the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan by Armenia and accompanied by the notorious practice of ethnic cleansing and other flagrant violations of the norms and principles of international law.

We call upon the international community to reject this fabricated illegal referendum exercise and to exert political and diplomatic pressure on Armenia with a view to drop its futile attempts to mislead its own people and the wider international community, cease its policy of occupation and annexation, engage constructively in the conflict settlement process and comply with its international obligations.

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14 February 2017 15:24 (UTC+04:00)

By Gulgiz Muradova

The first round of the long-awaited talks between the European Union and Azerbaijan on new strategic partnership agreement maybe held this spring.

The date for round 1 of negotiations has not yet been confirmed yet, but we expect this to take place in Azerbaijan in the spring, an EU spokesperson said in an interview with Azernews.

The new agreement should replace the 1996 partnership and cooperation agreement and should better take account of the shared objectives and challenges the EU and Azerbaijan face today. The deal will follow the principles endorsed in the 2015 review of the European neighborhood policy and offer a renewed basis for political dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan.

As to the duration of negotiations, the spokesperson mentioned that it will depend on the progress made, adding: It cannot be predicted at this stage but our intention is to be efficient as well as ambitious.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visited Brussels on February 5-6 for meetings with President Jean Claude Juncker , President Donald Tusk, and High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini, as well as Vice-President Maros Sefcovic and Commissioner Johannes Hahn.

President Aliyev and President Tusk announced that the negotiations on a new EU-Azerbaijan agreement were to be launched on February 7. The first round of negotiations  a launching round took place as planned on February 7 in Brussels.

The spokesperson, commenting on the current status of the EU-Azerbaijan interaction over new strategic partnership deal, said the launch of the talks reflects that we want to upgrade our relationship and develop its full potential.

The new agreement will broaden the scope of our relations, taking into account the new global, political and economic interests we share and challenges we want to face together, the official said.

The negotiations should cover the full range of provisions for an eventual agreement, including political provisions; trade- provisions and; sectorial policy (energy; environment; transport etc.) provisions. All are of equal importance to the EU, the spokesperson added.

This also reflects Azerbaijan's priorities and the contents of its own draft proposal for a new agreement, handed over during the Riga Eastern Partnership Summit in May 2015.

Novruz Mammadov, the deputy head of the Azerbaijani presidential administration, chief of the administration's foreign relations department, has recently assessed the cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU as successful, underlining that it is essential to continue this cooperation further.

Over the past years, Azerbaijan had a very close cooperation with EUs various institutions and member countries. The energy-rich country signed and adopted documents on strategic partnership with nine member countries of the EU.

The Baku-Brussels cooperation covers all the area, while the energy and transport sectors have a unique place. Azerbaijan is committed to further development of energy cooperation with the EU by realization of Southern Gas Corridor (SGC), a unique project which will bring Caspian gas to Europe.

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14 February 2017 10:10 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev has congratulated Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on the occasion of his re-election as president of Turkmenistan.

I extend my most sincere congratulations and best wishes to you as you were re-elected as President of Turkmenistan, said President Aliyev in his congratulatory letter.

Your victory in the election is a clear manifestation of your peoples tremendous trust and confidence in you and their real support for your policy, the Azerbaijani president said.

I believe that we will continue our joint efforts to strengthen and develop traditionally friendly and fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, said President Aliyev. I wish you robust health, happiness, and success in your state activity for prosperity of the friendly people of Turkmenistan.

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14 February 2017 10:42 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan and Latvia had a broad exchange of views on the current level of the bilateral relations, Azerbaijan-European Union relationship and its future development prospects, as Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics visits Baku.



The issues were discussed at Rinkevicss meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov on February 13, where Mammadyarov expressed his confidence that the visit will contribute to the comprehensive development of bilateral relations between the two sides.

Touching upon the relationship of Azerbaijan with the EU, Mammadyarov stressed the importance of the visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Brussels and his meetings in the EU.

The ministers underlined the existence of favorable conditions for expanding cooperation in the fields such as industry, agriculture, transport, construction, ecology, culture, education and tourism, as well as increasing the trade turnover between the two countries. They also stressed the importance of holding business forums and meetings on a regular basis for this purpose.

Minister Mammadyarov further informed his Latvian counterpart about the latest status of the negotiation process towards the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and emphasized that Azerbaijan highly appreciates the support of Latvia for the just position of Azerbaijan on the settlement of the conflict in compliance with the principles of international law, particularly in the framework of territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of internationally recognized borders of the states.

Rinkevics, for his part, expressed his countrys intention to further advance the comprehensive cooperation on the bilateral and multilateral basis with Azerbaijan. He underscored that Latvia supports Azerbaijans strategic partnership relations with the EU.

The meeting was followed by signing of an agreement on visa exemption for holders of service passports of the two countries.

Addressing a briefing after the talks with his Latvian counterpart, Mammadyarov said that energy and transportation are the main areas of the Azerbaijan-Latvia economic cooperation and the two countries intend to develop and deepen relations in these areas.

Baku and Riga are interested in expanding economic ties and also plan to hold a business forum, said the Azerbaijani FM.

Unfortunately, the level of mutual trade now does not meet our expectations. We agreed to try to hold consultations immediately after the [upcoming] arrival of the president of Latvia in Baku. At first, the consultations will take place at the level of foreign ministries, primarily to assess the contractual legal framework, Mammadyarov said.

Baku and Riga are discussing projects in energy and transportation, according to him.

Agriculture is a very interesting topic. Latvia is well enough developed in this sphere. Azerbaijan invests heavily in the agricultural sector and there are topics that can be quite interesting, the minister added.

At a press conference following the meeting, Mammadyarov noted that Azerbaijan-Latvia relations are strategic in nature.

The minister noted that Riga supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. He said the development of cooperation within the EU was discussed at today`s meeting.

He pointed out that Azerbaijan and the EU have already started negotiations on a new partnership agreement.

This agreement creates a good basis for a strategic partnership. We have already established a strategic partnership in the field of energy, the FM added.

In turn, Rinkevics said that Latvia wants the EU and Azerbaijan to sign a new agreement.

The Latvian FM said that relations between Azerbaijan and the EU should be based on strategic partnership.



We are preparing for the summit as part of the Eastern Partnership. We will try to ensure the signing of this document before the summit. We are also interested in cooperation in energy and transport fields between the EU and Azerbaijan, he added.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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14 February 2017 14:44 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

A solemn ceremony marked opening of the House of Azerbaijan in Barcelona, Spain.

An initiative of Azerbaijani Society in Barcelona, the House opened with the support of Azerbaijan`s Embassy in Spain, Azertac reported. The event brought together Azerbaijanis living and studying in Catalonia.

Chairman of Azerbaijani Society in Barcelona Karim Karimov, addressing the event, described the opening of the House of Azerbaijan as an important event.

The House will serve as a venue for meetings and events of Azerbaijanis living in Catalonia, allowing them to keep national traditions and spirit, and promote Azerbaijan, its cultural and human values.

Karimov voiced belief that the House will take a unique place in the cultural life of Barcelona.

The building of the House of Azerbaijan was presented by Javier Medina Ortiz, member of the Barcelona Lawyers Collegium and head of Medina & Associates Company, free of charge.

The relations between Azerbaijan and Spain have been developing greatly over the 25-year-period, during which high-level contacts between the governments were taking place on the regular basis, and the exchange of experience and collaborative work in such areas as university education, engineering, agriculture, maritime transport and other spheres was fulfilled.

Steps have been taken to increase the people-to-people contacts, expand legal-treaty base to open up new prospects for the promotion of cooperation between the two countries.

Currently, five Spanish companies operate in Azerbaijan. Most of them are engaged in engineering sphere  the design of projects, the design of construction and the services for the shipyard.

The tourist flow from Azerbaijan to Spain has been increasing constantly in recent years to about 7,000- 10,000 tourists per year.

The tourist flow from Azerbaijan to Spain has been increasing constantly in recent years to about 7,000- 10,000 tourists per year.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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14 February 2017 17:32 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

Kremlin and Washington have many issues to talk over and agree upon in order to mend the U.S.- Russian ties, whilst the meeting between the leaders might take place only in July.

There are no specific details on a possible earlier meeting between the Russian and U.S. presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, spokesman for the Russian president Dmitry Peskov said, RIA Novosti reported.

We have no specific information regarding the possible meeting between Putin and Trump so far, we have not even considered the dates yet, he said adding that a G20 summit will be held in Germany in July this year where presidents will definitely meet.

There were many talks concerning the possibility of an earlier meeting.

Last week, after the talks with Slovenian President, Putin said that a possible venue for the first encounter with Trump could be Ljubljana, but stated that this depends on a number of circumstances.

Both Putin and Trump have repeatedly said that they want to try to mend U.S.-Russian relations, which were severely deteriorated under the previous president.

Diplomatic ties with Russia took a major hit after reports claiming Russian hackers tried to help Trump win the election by hacking democratic groups' emails and releasing them appeared.

The two sides recently had a phone conversation, that was assessed by many in Moscow and in Washington as a good start, and a significant shift in dialogue.

The possibilities of a face-to-face meeting between the presidents were discussed during the phone conversation on January 28.

The Kremlin and the White House confirmed that Putin and Trump agreed to hold regular dialogue and start preparations for a personal meeting. However, the exact dates are unknown, and it is obvious that the organization of such meeting can take months rather than weeks.

While Trump has repeatedly spoken of his desire to restore Russian-U.S. ties, he has also mentioned the possibility of lifting the sanctions against Russia, which were imposed regarding Crimea being accepted into Russian Federation. Nevertheless, this issue has not yet been discussed between the parties.

Trade, economic, and security issues are among the topics that should be discussed, including the regions in the world suffering from conflicts.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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14 February 2017 17:28 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

The forthcoming two-day talks in Astana on monitoring the ceasefire regime in Syria will serve as a groundwork for the much-anticipated reconciliation of Geneva peace talks which are scheduled for February 23.

The participants of the next meeting on Syria in Astana will discuss the monitoring of violations of the ceasefire regime and sanctions against violators, the head of the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan Kairat Abdrakhmanov said, TASS reported.

"In particular, the question of the fixation mechanism of the violations of the ceasefire regime, as well as the application of sanctions against violators will be discussed," he said.

According to the information from the guarantor countries - Russia, Turkey, and Iran, the document on the establishment of Task Force overseeing the ceasefire is going to be adopted at the meeting.

He explained that the document should formalize the activities of this group.

The forthcoming meeting will focus on the implementation of the ceasefire regime in the Syrian Arab Republic, on the measures to stabilize the situation in particular areas, on the adoption of rules for a joint operational group, and agreeing upon further measures on the consolidation of ceasefire regime, as well as on other practical steps in light of the upcoming intra-Syrian talks in Geneva.

"This is one of the most urgent issues, because the more the sphere of dissemination of the ceasefire expands, the more it is likely that in the end, peace, order, and stability will be restored in the Syrian land," the minister added.

The delegations of Damascus, Syrian armed opposition, UN representatives and Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura and representatives of Jordan and the United States were invited to the upcoming high-level meeting scheduled for February 15-16, 2017.

Kazakh foreign minister said that Turkish side is expected to provide information on the composition of its delegation and the armed Syrian oppositions participation in Astana talks.

Abdrakhmanov confirmed that "the delegations of the Russian Federation and the Syrian government have already arrived, while Iranian and Jordanian delegations are expected to come soon."

The participation of representatives of Jordan in the talks is an attempt to further decrease the flow of weapons into Syria as this country used to be a transit country for weapons and insurgents.

There is still no information about the participation of the representatives of the United States, although earlier Russia expressed its hope that the U.S. delegation will come as observers to the second round of talks.

"Information on the U.S. participation is yet to come," Abdrakhmanov said.

The first Astana talks on Syrian settlement brokered by Russia, Turkey, and Iran took place in the Kazakh capital on January 23- 24. They came as the first since the beginning of Syrian civil war in 2011 when the government of Syria and the armed opposition sat together at the negotiations table.

The talks resulted in Moscow-Tehran-Ankara agreement on the establishment of a tripartite mechanism to monitor the ceasefire in Syria.

Many experts assessed the agreement between Russia, Turkey, and Iran on the establishment of a tripartite mechanism as a step to a political solution which might end the six-year war.

Armed conflict continues in Syria since March 2011. Government troops are confronted by militants of different armed groups. Russia has begun airstrikes on terrorist facilities in Syria since 30 September 2015. The Russian military involvement follows an official request from President Bashar Assad to President Vladimir Putin.

The UN has repeatedly tried and failed to end the Syrian conflict, which has killed 300,000 and displaced 11 million since its beginning 6 years ago.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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14 February 2017 16:42 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

Iranian Defense Minister, Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan has called for using nuclear energy for marine propulsion in manufacture of heavy vessels, as well as submarines.

Dehqan said that environmental issues should be considered while developing propulsion devices. The official made the remark while addressing a conference on marine propulsion in Tehran this morning, ISNA news agency reported.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani earlier ordered the countrys Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI) to start certain nuclear activities. Under the order, the AEOI was tasked to start developing systems for nuclear-powered marine vessels.

The move came as a response to a vote by the U.S. Congress to renew a piece of legislation against Iran that was deemed by Iranian officials as a violation of the nuclear deal reached in 2015.

Nuclear experts said that President Rouhani's action if carried out, would probably require Iran to enrich uranium to a fissile purity above the maximum level that was set in the nuclear deal.

Tehrans intentions could bring tensions into the relations with Washington, already aggravated by U.S. President Donald Trump's negative attitude towards the nuclear deal, under which Iran curbed its nuclear fuel production activities in exchange for relief from economic sanctions.

The talks on the Iranian nuclear issue began in 2004, as Western nations were accusing Tehran of developing a "secret military nuclear program. Since 2006, negotiations with Iran were led by the "six" of international mediators (the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany). A number of resolutions were adopted requiring Iran to stop enriching uranium with nuclear proliferation purposes. These resolutions were progressively accompanied by restrictive measures to persuade Iran to comply. In 2006-2010 the United Nations, the United States, and the European Union implemented several packages of sanctions against Iran.

Lengthy negotiations resulted in the adoption of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the fulfillment of which could completely remove previously lifted economic and financial sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council, the United States, and the European Union. The long-anticipated deal was achieved in Vienna on July 14, 2015, that committed Iran not to produce weapons-grade plutonium for 15 years, to keep no more than 300 kg of enriched uranium to 3.67 percent, and to convert nuclear facilities and use them exclusively for peaceful purposes.

In December, Washington prolonged the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) by the United States that passed in 1996 and was set to expire on December 31, 2016.

The Bill on the extension of sanctions came into force without President Barack Obama's signature. Although Obama refused to sign it, he expressed no veto claims. Thus, the Bill became law as it had been passed by both chambers of the U.S. Congress by an overwhelming majority.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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14 February 2017 17:35 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

Iran welcomes deepening ties with the EU members in all spheres, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said at a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg Jean Asselborn.

In particular, Rouhani called on Luxembourg to expand ties in the banking and insurance sectors, the official news website of Iranian government reported.

Nowadays, the key to economic cooperation lies in banking and insurance, and cooperation in these two fields can create a good basis for strengthening economic ties even more, Rouhani said at the meeting in Tehran on February 14.

Elaborating on ways for expansion of economic ties with the Europe, Rouhani added that Iran and Europe have potential to cooperate in the fields of energy and transit.

Hassan Rouhani further touched upon Irans nuclear deal with the world powers inked in 2015 stressing that the Islamic Republic will keep its promises as far as the other sides of the nuclear accord honor their commitments.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is an agreement drafted and signed with a win-win approach, he said underlining the importance of commitment to this deal by all sides as any attempt to undermine the agreement might be seen by others as an inability to solve regional and international issues.

While talking about the post-JCPOA opportunities for the investment he said that Iran can, from one side, supply a large part of Europe's energy, and be a very important transit route for connecting Europe to the Indian Ocean and East Asia from the other.

Asselborn in his turn announced that an agreement aimed at deepening ties and cooperation between the central banks of Iran and Luxembourg was signed and finalized while other documents regarding important financial and investment issues were put on the agenda, adding that the European Union believes in Tehran's significant and effective role in resolving regional issues.

The talks on the Iranian nuclear issue began in 2004, as Western nations were accusing Tehran of developing a "secret military nuclear program. Since 2006, negotiations with Iran were led by the "six" of international mediators (the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany). A number of resolutions were adopted requiring Iran to stop enriching uranium with nuclear proliferation purposes. These resolutions were progressively accompanied by restrictive measures to persuade Iran to comply. In 2006-2010 the United Nations, the United States, and the European Union implemented several packages of sanctions against Iran.

Lengthy negotiations resulted in the adoption of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the fulfillment of which could completely remove previously lifted economic and financial sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council, the United States, and the European Union. The long-anticipated deal was achieved in Vienna on July 14, 2015, that committed Iran not to produce weapons-grade plutonium for 15 years, to keep no more than 300 kg of enriched uranium to 3.67 percent, and to convert nuclear facilities and use them exclusively for peaceful purposes.

---

Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
14 February 2017 16:27 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

A presentation titled "Tourism as a bridge between Greece and Azerbaijan" will be held in Baku on February 17.

The conference is organized by United Cultures, supported by the Embassy of Greece in Azerbaijan, in cooperation with the Greek tour operator Panhellas, the Italian Cultural Center in Baku and media partner International Eurasia Press Fund, Azertac reported.

The event aims to present the touristic potential of Greece and the exchange of opportunities in the tourism sector between Greece and Azerbaijan.

The conference is open to representatives of tour operators and travel agencies, organizations involved in the tourism industry, media and publishing houses, universities and institutes of tourism etc.

Ambassador of Greece in Azerbaijan Dimitrios Tsoungas will attend the event.

Greece recognized Azerbaijan's independence in 1991 and diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1992.

Currently, the two countries, which enjoy various religious, historical, and cultural commonalties, are focused on expanding economic and cultural ties, especially in oil industry.

Both countries are full members of Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
A dinner out, a trip to the movie theater: Those are pleasant but unremarkable diversions couples tend to take for granted. For Roger Logan an
Looking at the world through the eyes of the Web
J. L. BELL is a Massachusetts writer who specializes in (among other things) the start of the American Revolution in and around Boston. He is particularly interested in the experiences of children in 1765-75. He has published scholarly papers and popular articles for both children and adults. He was consultant for an episode of History Detectives, and contributed to a display at Minute Man National Historic Park.
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Parents have been warned of a highly infectious vomiting bug outbreak.

Shigellosis is a nasty stomach bug doing the rounds in schools across the country and parents are now being warned to be vigilant, Gazette Live reports .

Shigellosis is an infectious disease caused by a group of bacteria called shigella.

What is shigellosis and what are the symptoms?

The infection is usually passed from person to person and the illness is most commonly seen in child-care settings and schools.

The symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach cramps, fever and nausea.

The effects tend to last for around five to seven days and the diarrhoea can often lead to dehydration.

How do people catch it?

The NHS says the bug moves from person to person through poor hygiene measures, for example not washing your hands thoroughly after using the toilet.

In the UK, most cases are spread through families and where people are in close contact, such as schools, nurseries, military bases and day-centres.

What if a child contracts the bug?

Children who have picked up the illness are being told to remain at home for at least five days until tests show they are clear.

What do you do if have contracted the bug?

Shigella can be very unpleasant but is rarely serious.

Treatment is mainly with fluids to prevent or treat lack of fluid in the body (dehydration).

Antibiotics can be useful for severe cases of shigellosis, for example where there is blood in the diarrhoea, because they can reduce the duration of symptoms. However, Shigella is often resistant to antibiotics.

It is important that if a child develops Shigellosis symptoms, the family GP is contacted.

Children who have picked up the illness are being told to remain at home for at least five days until tests show they are clear.

Is it widespread?

As yet, there have been no reported cases in the Bath area but five students from affected schools across the UK have been confirmed as being infected with the bug.

Another 85 people - including pupils and their family members - are suffering with symptoms.

What's being done to tackle the outbreak?

Public Health England (PHE) say they are now working with the schools affected to limit the spread of the highly-contagious illness.

Measures include 'enhanced cleaning' of the sites.

Letters have also been sent to parents and supervised hand-washing has been introduced.

How can I reduce my risk of getting it?

Practising good hand-washing is key. Wash your hands thoroughly before preparing food or eating, after going to the toilet and after changing nappies.

If you have the infection, avoid preparing food for others and wash your hands frequently.

It is advisable to stay at home until you have been symptom-free for 48 hours.
Tarpon Springs' sponge industry is connected to the area's Greek community these days, but if you dive deeper, you'll see that African-Americans were among the first spongers in the region.

Tarpon Springs known as 'Sponge Capital of the World'

City is known for large Greek community of spongers



But African-Americans preceeded them in the industry

RELATED: More on the African-American experience in our Black History Month page



The city, known as the "Sponge Capital of the World," invites vistors and locals alike to climb on a boat and soak up history.

Tarpon Springs' black spongers were called "hookers" for the techniques they used.

"What they did in the early days before the Greeks came: Sponges were harvested entirely by hooking them from dinghies that went out," explained Tina Bucuvalas, Tarpon Springs' curator of arts and historical resources. "Many African-Americans had their own boats."

In the early 1900s, Greek immigrants arrived in waves. Using new diving methods, they were able to harvest five times as many sponges, eventually taking over the docks.

"Many in the African-American community went to work on their boats, often as crew members," Bucuvalas said. "(Some were) engineers, but some as divers as well."

Alfred Quarterman remembers it all. His father and uncle both worked in the sponge trade.

"Believe it or not, they spoke Greek fluently because, after all, if you're on a boat for two months or so back then, you better understand something that's going on," he said.

Quarterman recalls a closeness between the city's Greek and African-American communities.

"I have never had any problems with the Greeks," he said. "When my father went out on the boat, it was not unusual for the families to invite me over to their house. That's when I learned about goat cheese, feta  they call it  and spaghetti and Greek candy."

Most of the African-American spongers are gone now. Their contributions are marked in gravestones at Rose Cemetery.

Quarterman worries that the African-American influence on the sponge trade is being forgotten. He's working to have the cemetery designated as a national historical site.

"When I see the history of my father and my uncle, I'm very proud of that," Quarterman said.


It started as a quiet Friday night at the Regatta Point Marina in Bradenton for Matt Furgeson and his family.

Two women were boating with a 2-month-old Saturday

Their boat began to take on water, deputies say

Good Samaritians and authorities quickly came to their rescue

As they were sitting and watching a movie, Furgeson heard someone jump onto his boat.

It was two of his neighbors, and Lt. Aaron Bowen with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office. They asked Furgeson if he could captain a motor boat to help rescue a family and their 2-month-old daughter who were in a sinking boat on the Manatee River.

"Once they found me, we got on the boat, and I just punched it to get to them quickly," he said.

The rescue was caught on video.

When the group arrived, the rear of the boat was just inches from the waterline. They were able to pull the baby girl and two women on board to safety before Lt. Bowen and Furgeson jumped on and began using a cooler to bail water out of the sinking boat.

They were able to keep it afloat until rescue teams arrived.

"When we dropped them off at the boat ramp they were eager to take our name and number and compensate us for any damages, to just say thank you," said Furgeson. "We just told them 'You're welcome' and to 'get home safely and get your boat fixed so you can get back out.'"
The President of the United States issues executive orders when they deem it necessary. In the process, presidents must still follow the rule of law and guide their executive orders within framework.

Recently, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that changed U.S. refugee and immigration policies.

It includes a temporary hold on all refugees entering the U.S. for four months, an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees heading to the U.S., puts in place a 90-day hold on entry by citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries, and it prioritizes refugees fleeing religious persecution if they are a minority religion in the country they are fleeing, essentially giving Christian refugees from Muslim-majority nations priority.

The presidents executive order has been met with heavy criticism.

In an effort to manage the uproar, President Trump said, "My policy is similar to what President Obama did in 2011 when he banned visas for refugees from Iraq for six months."

PolitiFact Florida heard the claim and gave it a MOSTLY FALSE rating.

Writer Josh Gillin said the president is referring to a May 2011 event during which the FBI arrested two Iraqi men in Bowling Green, Kentucky. They hadn't committed any offense yet, but they were being investigated for making false statements for having actually done some bomb-making, as well as other terrorist activities back in Iraq.

As a result, President Barack Obama took action.

The Obama administration had limited the inflow of refugees from Iraq for about six months. Now, it didn't stop entirely, but the process was changing, and there was a real drop-off in the number of refugees that came into the United States from Iraq since then, Gillin said. This is different than what [President] Trump did, where he restricted access from seven different countries, and said that refugees from Syria couldn't come in at all.

Gillin went on to say there is some similarity there because both were executive actions, but they were very different because there was a specific threat and it was only a temporary action where activity didnt stop entirely.

For those reasons, President Trumps claim received a MOSTLY FALSE rating.

SOURCES: Trump says refugee ban similar to Obama ban
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1:45 p.m. update: The body of a male has been recovered at the scene of the search for a missing plane.

Coast Guard sector St. Pete confirmed the finding and said the family was being briefed.

The body was found near Cedar Key.



No further information was immediately released.

PREVIOUS STORY: A small debris field was located Monday morning as crews continued their search for a small plane missing since Sunday with three people aboard.

Plane missing had three people on board

Took off from Brooksville Sunday before 11 a.m., never reached Cedar Key

Authorities searching for small plane missing from Brooksville

Coast Guard crews found a seat matching the description of the Cherokee Piper Single Engine plane that took off from Brooksville Sunday morning and was scheduled to land in Cedar Key just around noon.

According to USCG Deputy Sector Commander Randall Brown, 65-year-old Jasper Jerrels was piloting the plane. His 17-year-old son and 60-year-old Hue Singletary were passengers on the plane.

The flight was supposed to cover just 88 miles. The trio was headed to Cedar Key for lunch and did not file a flight plan. Authorities said the flight last had radar contact about seven miles south of its destination.

Crews still have not found the actual plane or signs of the people on board.

The Coast Guard is searching an area roughly the size of Tampa. A helicopter crew searched into the night, along with a USCG boat.

As the search continues, Jerrels' Brooksville neighbors are trying to remain hopeful.

"If they haven't found them then I would always continue praying and hoping that they can find them," said neighbor Laura Spiva. "And the story could have a happy ending , but I always have hope."
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's half-brother is dead, according to foreign news sources.

Kim Jong-nam was allegedly poisoned by two women believed to be North Korean agents

He criticized his brother's, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, regime

South Korean news sources say Kim Jong-nam was killed in Malaysia Monday morning.



Authorities in Malaysia say two North Korean agents poisoned him, however the Associated Press went into more detail and reported that, "Multiple South Korean media reports, citing unnamed sources, said Kim Jong Nam was killed at the airport by two women."

TV Chosun, citing unidentified "multiple government sources," said the women were believed to be North Korean agents and used poison needles to kill Kim. It said they fled in a taxi and were being sought by Malaysian police.



Kim Jong-nam is the eldest son of North Korea's longtime leader, Kim Jong-il.



He occasionally criticized his younger brother's regime and had not lived in North Korea for years.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.


Robert Morris (1823-1882) has long been known as the second African-American lawyer in the United States. His deep involvement and leadership in African-American civil rights in the 1840s and 1850s, however, has been underestimated. This exhibit reveals Morriss essential role in the Massachusetts antislavery and civil rights efforts.

This exhibit features books from Morriss personal library, generously loaned by the John J. Burns Library at Boston College. Along with a sampling of his papers from the Boston Athenaeum, these volumes help us see the many dimensions of Robert Morris--his ardent abolitionism, his leadership in the fight against segregated schools and militias, his devotion to his wife, his struggles with his faith, and his relationship with a young Boston College.

The exhibit was curated by Laurel Davis, Curator of Rare Books, and Mary Sarah Bilder, Founders Professor of Law. It will remain on view into July 2017. Please come in and take a look! The exhibit catalog is also available to download.

For more, see the curators' article "The Library of Robert Morris, Antebellum Civil Rights Lawyer & Activist," Law Library Journal 111, no. 4 (2019): 461-508.


NZ Foreign Affairs Minister Visits AROB



Anthony Kaybing



140217



The Autonomous Region of Bougainville will today (Tuesday 14 February 2017) play host to New Zealand Minister for Foreign Affairs Murray McCully as he embarks on his tour of the region.



The objective of the visit is for the Minister to engage in high level discussions with members of the ABG regarding continued bilateral cooperation, impact of existing development projects, capacity for future development projects and cooperation; and possible support for the upcoming referendum.



The visit will also provide an opportunity to explore broader political, diplomatic and government to government areas of cooperation.



Bougainville and New Zealand have a long history of shared cooperation and support as New Zealand was instrumental in the development of the Bougainville Peace Agreement and since that time has maintained active support through a range of diplomatic and development initiatives.



Chief Secretary to the ABG Joseph Nobetau said the symbolic importance of this visit cannot be understated because New Zealand is a friend of Bougainville and has demonstrated a long term willingness to support the ABG as it continues on a path to autonomy, peace and reconciliation.



Through ongoing policing support and other initiatives New Zealand is contributing to the peace and stability of Bougainville, Nobetau said.



The Ministers visit is therefore a recognition, at the highest levels of Government, of New Zealands commitment to our long term success and growth, Nobetau said.



Nobetau further said that the Foreign Ministers visit provides a good opportunity to engage on a range of issues of mutual interest.



He said this opportunity will also allow the Acting ABG President Raymond Masono to formally convey to the New Zealand Government the appreciation of the people of Bougainville and the ABG for their continued support.



Since the signing of Cease Fire in 1997 the New Zealand Government has been providing development support to Bougainville which primarily aims to increase the capacity of the ABG to operate autonomously and in an open, efficient and transparent manner.



Specific development assistance projects to date include, Bougainville Community Policing Programme (BCPP), the Governance and Implementation Facility (GIF), Support to the Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner (OBEC)



They have also provided technical support to ABG departments as well as funding important infrastructural developments in health, education and agriculture through their various aid and development programs on Bougainville.



Ends////


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Dark, heavy clouds lingered over Southeast Texas on Valentine's Day, as thunderstorms and heavy winds hit the area.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning until 3 p.m., while there are reports of one touching down west of Houston.

To ensure the safety of residents, the Beaumont Police Department shared tips on what to do when preparing for a tornado, what to do if one comes and safety precaution to take after one has hit. See what BPD recommends in the slideshow above.

The worst of the stormy weather appears to have left the area. Expect temperatures to drop and the sky to clear, a National Weather Service meteorologist told the Enterprise earlier today.

RELATED: Squall line approaches Southeast Texas with damaging wind
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U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, introduced a resolution earlier this month that could put the wheels in motion for President Trumps impeachment.

The resolution, filed Feb. 7, calls on the U.S. Department of Justice to appoint an independent counsel to investigate whether President Trump or his staff directed, or knowingly permitted, United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) actions that violated judicial orders designed to stay the January 27, 2017 travel ban executive order, a news release from Castros office states.

RELATED: Joaquin Castro considering Senate run against Ted Cruz in 2018

After Trump signed the executive order, which bans immigrants from seven majority-Muslim countries from entering the U.S., stays were issued to freeze the order. CNN reported a federal judge in New York blocked part of Trump's order the day after he signed it.

The blocking made it so those who arrived in the country before the order was signed could not be removed. Castro and other Democrats are concerned the White House ignored the stay and had people detained anyway, they told Buzzfeed.

Castro filed his resolution after reports that CBP did not follow the court-ordered stays on the ban.

I hope President Trump obeyed the law, but if he didnt, the Congress should censure him, the San Antonio native said. If after censure the president again acts unconstitutionally, Congress should take steps to remove him from office.

RELATED: Trump's immigration ban leaves former Texas A&M center Joseph Jones stranded in Dubai

CBP spokesperson Gillian Christensen told Buzzfeed that its officers were not detaining anyone at airports, despite reports on the contrary.

"Green card holders who arrive in the U.S. have to go through secondary screening but that process is working smoothly and relatively quickly," Christensen said. "Furthermore, visa holders who would be affected by the executive order are being denied boarding at their point of departure so they are not even making it into the U.S."

Days after Castro filed his resolution, a federal appeals court refused Feb. 9 to reinstate Trump's ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations, unanimously rejecting the administration's claim of presidential authority, questioning its motives and concluding that the order was unlikely to survive legal challenges.

The three judges of the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the argument that the ban targets Muslims raised "serious allegations" and presented "significant constitutional questions," and they agreed that courts could consider statements by Trump and his advisers about wishing to enact such a ban.

RELATED: Protest over President Trump's ban spreads to San Antonio's Main Plaza downtown

Moments after the ruling, Trump tweeted, "SEE YOU IN COURT," adding that "THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE!"

In response, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat who leads one of the states that challenged the ban, said: "Mr. President, we just saw you in court, and we beat you."

Castro tweeted about the decision, saying: No president is above the law.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

kbradshaw@express-news.net

Twitter: @kbrad5
Louisiana Heart Hospital in Lacombe closed Feb. 10 after officials announced in late January that it would shut down by the end of this month, according to The Times-Picayune.

The 134-bed hospital and its affiliated medical group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Jan. 30. The hospital faced financial challenges in recent years, as it struggled to balance shrinking reimbursements with rising operating costs.

Although the hospital has closed, it is still involved in litigation with former employees. In early February, a former Louisiana Heart Hospital employee filed an adversary action in the hospital's bankruptcy case alleging the hospital violated the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act when it laid off employees without proper notice.

More articles on healthcare finance:

100 things to know about Medicare reimbursement | 2017

A state-by-state breakdown of hospital adjusted expenses per inpatient day

Kaiser Permanente operating income grows as membership booms
Artificial intelligence and cognitive computing are taking on a greater role in almost all industries, healthcare included.

Earlier this month, IBM Watson Health announced that its cognitive computing platform 'Watson for Oncology' is set to go live at Jupiter (Fla.) Medical Center at the beginning of March, marking the clinical decision support technology's first deployment at a U.S. community hospital. The technology has already ruffled feathers abroad  it's deployed at hospitals in India, South Korea and Thailand  with some medical experts voicing concern that the program may someday replace physicians.

Anil Jain, MD, vice president at IBM Watson Health, spoke with Becker's Hospital Review about the biggest challenges he has seen when integrating cognitive computing into healthcare, from the management of chronic conditions to population health.

Note: Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Question: What role do you think cognitive computing should take in healthcare?

Dr. Anil Jain: First and foremost, it's to improve the quality of the relationship between the caregiver and the patient. I think most clinicians would agree that they spend far too much time hunting and pecking for information, and they would rather spend more time interacting with the patient and helping him or her make the best choices for their health. Cognitive computing, in many ways, is a critical piece of dealing with the information overload that's happening in healthcare. There's just too much information for any one person to be able to get their hands around.

I think most [practicing clinicians] realize there is just way too much new information coming out  some good, some not so good  around what is the latest treatment and what are the latest therapies that one should consider. I think the only way to make sure we're doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right patient, in the right setting, is if we have some help. It's summarizing all the various information sources for me and personalizing it to the specific patient that I may be interacting with, so we have a complete picture about the patient and we're better able to make the appropriate decision. It's really providing a much higher degree of decision support to that particular provider.

Q: What do you see as the biggest areas for growth when integrating cognitive computing into healthcare?

AJ: We have to make sure we separate the myth from the reality of what it means to be in the cognitive space around healthcare. There's a lot of people that believe that cognitive computing is going to replace the physician, for example. It's really important that we put cognitive computing in the appropriate perspective. Just like the stethoscope didn't replace the cardiologist, cognitive computing is a way of augmenting the information and insights available to the clinician. It is assisting us at the point of care and the point of need, as opposed to somehow replacing the patient-doctor relationship or replacing the decision-making capacity of a physician.

Another challenge is that cognitive computing is really about being able to leverage vast amounts of data and sources of information. So, you need vast amounts of raw material, and that particular knowledge, in this particular phase of cognitive computing, is data knowledge. It's amassing that large collection of information, to start drawing out some of the patterns, inferences and reasoning that cognitive computing is going to allow us to accelerate. It's making sure that we have a good handle on the raw materials that powers the insights that come from cognitive computing.

Q: What other IT trends do you think are important for healthcare professionals to keep their eye on in 2017?

AJ: I think what we are going to see in 2017  we've already seen glimpses of it in experiments here or there  is a significant emphasis on consumerism and really helping patients have democratized access to the medical information that's been curated by healthcare systems and groups like Watson Health. That's going to allow the consumer/patient to be in a much better position to partner with their provider to deliver health and wellness.

With mobile applications, with the healthcare Internet of Things, we'll have increased use of devices like wearables and sensors, and information that is being generated as our patients and consumers go about. It can trigger alerts and warnings to tell providers when patients are not doing so well, can predict events like hypoglycemia or heart disease or even monitor vital signs. I think that is going to be big in 2017.
Bridget Mary's Books: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Bridget-Mary-Meehan/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ABrid A Promise of Presence

Affirmations from the Heart of God

Exploring the Feminine Face of God

God Delights in You- A Four Week Journal

Heart Talks with Mother God

Inclusive Worship Aids

Living Gospel Equality Now-

Praying with a Passionate Heart

Praying with Celtic Holy Women

Praying with Visionary Women h

Praying with Women of the Bible

The Healing Power of Prayer-New Edition Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP


Baton Rouge (La.) General/General Health System appointed Edgardo Tenreiro permanent CEO.

Here are four notes:

1. Mr. Tenreiro has been serving as acting CEO since August 2016, when former CEO Mark Slyter stepped down. Baton Rouge General did not provide a reason for his departure.

2. Prior to serving as acting CEO, Mr. Tenreiro was the organization's executive vice president and COO, a role he held for eight years.

3. He has almost 30 years of hospital management experience, serving in facilities in various states, such as Florida, Texas and Illinois.

4. He earned an MBA in finance from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind.
For nearly seven years, Leslie Marsh, RN, MSN, has served as CEO of Lexington (Neb.) Regional Health Center.

She currently is president of the Nebraska Rural Health Association. In addition, Ms. Marsh, a registered nurse, holds a master's degree in nursing from New Haven, Conn.-based Yale University's Nursing Management, Policy and Leadership program.

On Tuesday, April 18, 2017, Ms. Marsh will speak on a panel at the Becker's Hospital Review 8th Annual Meeting. As part of an ongoing series, Becker's is talking to healthcare leaders who plan to speak at the conference, which will take place April 17 through April 20 in Chicago.



To learn more about the conference and Ms. Marsh's panel, click here.

Question: The panel you're speaking on at our April conference is titled "Key Thoughts on Improving Quality and Patient Safety." As healthcare keeps evolving, how can hospitals work to improve quality and patient safety?

Leslie Marsh: Quality and safety require intentional efforts that must be a priority for all stakeholders so that safe, quality care becomes a part of the culture. Every process that fails has to be examined in a "just" way and systems must support safety and quality.

Quality and safety are part of the social and operational fabric of Lexington Regional Health Center's mission to deliver excellent care to our community. That foundational underpinning is responsible for several initiatives and tactics at LRHC that were designed to reduce readmissions and improve care post-discharge. One initiative, aimed at reducing readmissions, included the development of a multidisciplinary transition team. Another innovative strategy to keep people healthy involved LRHC working with local providers to design and develop a "Medically Managed Program" that focuses on addressing physical, psychosocial and cultural challenges facing vulnerable, at-risk patients.

Board commitment is paramount  if quality and safety are not as important to your board and to your team as your financial position, then you will not have the cultural transformation necessary to become a highly reliable organization.

Finally, rural providers must find a way to participate in government-driven, values-based, quality programs. We must find ways to participate in a relevant way.

Q: What drew you to a career in healthcare?

LM: Part of a rewarding career involves finding purpose and meaning in what you do. While almost anything we may choose to do has purpose and meaning, the immediacy of the difference you can make in a life or a number of lives provides an obvious and straightforward path to purpose. Healthcare delivery, which considers the person and their life's challenges and opportunities as a whole, can begin to close the gap on inequities.

With an educational background in business and health policy, in addition to being a nurse, holding a leadership role in the healthcare world was a perfect fit. The social component of the business of healthcare appealed to me on several levels, including being able to empower people to act. I like to unharness people's potential and drive change by leveraging the strengths of the people that work in healthcare.

Q: What is unique about the market LRHC serves?

LM: LRHC is located in south central Nebraska and is a community comprised of 13,000 people. Lexington, a rural community, is not typical of most rural communities in Nebraska. Roughly 30 years ago, a meatpacking plant opened and the demographics and social determinants of health changed dramatically. The community saw a large influx of Spanish-speaking individuals initially and the 2015 census still shows Hispanics and Latinos make up the minority majority in Lexington, comprising about 60 percent of the population. Over time, the plant brought in refugees from Sudan and Somalia. Ultimately, the Sudanese moved on and the Somali population remained. According to the 2015 census, Lexington's African American population rests at about 5 percent.

During this time period, the town also doubled in size. Because [the meatpacking] industry employs mostly young people, more than 90 percent of residents are below the age of 65 and 33 percent are below the age of 18.

The community has worked together to embrace diversity. The school offers a bilingual program. At the hospital, we employ about 25 percent minorities, including full-time interpreters 24/7. Community relationships are vitally important; we partnered with the meatpacking plant to deliver on-site care and engage in ongoing communications about the needs of their employee community.

Q: What do you think is the most significant barrier to female leadership, and how can we work to overcome it?

LM: In her book Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg discusses the societal norms for both men and women as well as people's perceptions of women in positions of power compared to men serving in the same role. Men and women, acting identically, are perceived differently. Men and women alike dislike women in positions of authority. They see [women] as self-centered and unlikable while men are seen through the gender bias lens as being decisive and driven.

Since both women and men view women negatively, one solution might be to encourage other women in leadership roles to talk about these stereotypes. As women in positions of power, we can champion the idea that the strengths required of women in executive positions are not signs of feminine failure. We need to mentor and also encourage our colleagues to mentor young women interested in leadership roles.

We have to continue to work nationally to move the needle on inequalities while also addressing this gender dichotomy on a local, academic and professional level.
The Crile family  of Cleveland Clinic Co-founder George Washington Crile, MD  has spoken out against the health system's plan to host a fundraiser at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida, STAT reports.

Medical students who oppose President Trump's immigration policies organized a protest over the weekend against the health system's Feb. 25 fundraiser. Dr. Crile's granddaughter, Susan Crile, wrote a letter that was read at the protest. She and eight other family members signed a petition for Cleveland Clinic to denounce the immigration ban, according to the report.

Cleveland Clinic executive director of corporate communications Eileen Sheil told STAT the fundraiser will go on as planned, but that the health system does not currently have any other events planned at the resort. Ms. Sheil previously provided the following statement regarding the fundraiser: "The event in Florida is solely to raise important dollars that support research in cardiac care that can make a difference in caring for patients. We are grateful for the support of our donors."

Read the full report here.

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The following healthcare mergers, acquisitions and general partnerships took place or were announced in the past week.

1. University of Miami Health System partners with 500-member physician group

The University of Miami (Fla.) Health System will collaborate with Miami-based VitalMD Group Holdings, a 500-member physician network, to advance women's oncology services in the area.

2. Mednax acquires Texas multispecialty practice

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Mednax acquired Spring, Texas-based Newborn Intensive Care Specialists, a multispecialty physician group practice.

3. Rennova Health rebrands recently acquired Tenn. hospital

West Palm Beach, Fla.-based Rennova Health rebranded Oneida, Tenn.-based Scott County Community Hospital, the facility it acquired in January 2017.

4. Mon Health acquires family practice as system expansion continues

Wedgewood Family Practice and Psychiatry Associates completed an agreement to join Morgantown, W.Va.-based Mon Health System.

5. CMS Alliance to Modernize Healthcare gets boost from AcademyHealth

The CMS Alliance to Modernize Healthcare joined forces with AcademyHealth.

6. Blackstone closes $6.1B deal to acquire TeamHealth

New York City-based global asset manager Blackstone successfully closed its acquisition of Knoxville, Tenn.-based TeamHealth Holdings, a physician services organization.

7. Nemours Children's expands partnership with Publix Pharmacy

Wilmington, Del.-based Nemours Children's Health System expanded its partnership with Publix Pharmacy.

8. Physician practice fully integrated into Berkshire Health System, rebrands

North Adams, Mass.-based Williamstown Medical Associates successfully completed its integration into Pittsfield, Mass.-based Berkshire Medical Center, which acquired the physician practice in 2013.

9. Accumen partners with Deaconess Health System on blood management program

Evansville, Ind.-based Deaconess Health System partnered with Accumen on a multiyear agreement to implement a comprehensive patient blood management program.

10. Mission Health, UNC Asheville expand partnership

Asheville, N.C.-based Mission Health System and the University of North Carolina Asheville declared their intent to expand their existing partnership.

11. Snoqualmie Valley Hospital considers potential merger, sale

Officials at Snoqualmie (Wash.) Valley Hospital selected a healthcare consulting firm to begin the process of finding a potential merger or affiliation partner.

12. Berkshire Health System affiliates with local orthopedic practice

Pittsfield, Mass.-based Berkshire Health System completed an affiliation agreement with Berkshire Orthopaedic Associates, also in Pittsfield.

13. Appalachian Regional Healthcare partners with nursing college

Hazard, Ky.-based Appalachian Regional Healthcare declared its intent to partner with the Gallen College of Nursing-Louisville in Kentucky on an associate degree in nursing program.

14. State approves merger of 2 UMass hospitals

The Massachusetts Public Health Council approved Worcester-based UMass Memorial Health Care's plan to merge two of its hospitals: Leominster, Mass.-based HealthAlliance Hospital and Clinton (Mass.) Hospital.

15. University Hospitals to join regional trauma network including Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth

University Hospitals, the Cleveland Clinic and MetroHealth  all in Cleveland formed the regional Northern Ohio Trauma System network.

16. LCMC Health acquires Fairway Medical Center

New Orleans-based LCMC Health, along with several local specialty surgeons, jointly purchased Fairway Medical Center, a surgical hospital in Covington, La.

17. Desert Valley Hospital, Victor Valley College collaborate on nursing program

Desert Valley Hospital and Victor Valley College, both based in Victorville, Calif., are seeking approval to fund 64 students' tuition for the college's nursing program.

18. Petaluma Valley Hospital gets bidding interest from 3 hospital operators

Three hospital operators expressed interest in managing Petaluma (Calif.) Valley Hospital.

19. University of Minnesota, Fairview Health Services intend to strike short-term partnership

Minneapolis-based University of Minnesota and Fairview Health Services, also in Minneapolis, intend to ink a short-term partnership agreement this summer to better align both institutions' research and clinical care initiatives.

20. Highmark Health to invest $115M in Allegheny Health hospital

Pittsburgh-based Highmark Health will invest $115 million into Erie, Pa.-based Saint Vincent Hospital, part of the Pittsburgh-based Allegheny Health Network.

21. Grand View Health, CMS, others form integrated delivery network

Sellersville, Pa.-based Grand View Health, along with CMS and several local primary care offices, formed an integrated delivery network to provide coordinated, high quality care at lower costs.
A federal jury found a former administrator of Shreveport, La.-based Physicians Behavioral Hospital  a 24-bed facility that offers psychiatric and chemical dependency treatment  guilty Thursday of 14 counts of paying illegal kickbacks, according to the Department of Justice.

The jury found Tom McCardell guilty after a four-day trial. According to evidence presented at trial, Mr. McCardell paid kickbacks to an Alabama resident in exchange for recruiting and referring patients to PBH. Mr. McCardell allegedly paid the recruiter $41,000 in illegal kickbacks from July 2011 to November 2012, and the hospital billed Medicare for more than $6.7 million dollars for care provided to patients referred through the illegal scheme.

Mr. McCardell awaits sentencing and faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 for each of the 14 counts of paying kickbacks, meaning he could face a total of 70 years in prison, according to the DOJ.

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Oroville (Calif.) Hospital officials evacuated the first floor of the hospital as a precautionary measure to protect patients from potential flood waters if the Oroville Dam breaks, according to the Seymour Tribune.

According to the Los Angeles Times, roughly 100,000 people living in Oroville were ordered to evacuate Sunday night after state officials discovered the main reservoir behind the dam and main spillway had reached capacity and its emergency spillway was severely damaged.

A possible failure of the emergency spillway could send a 30-foot wall of water into communities surrounding the dam, according to the Seymour Tribune.

Oroville Hospital CEO Robert Wentz told the Seymour Tribune the hospital decided to move the patients Monday morning "out of an abundance of caution" despite the fact the hospital being outside the flood zone. Mr. Wentz also said patients will not be allowed to return to the first floor until state officials say it is safe to do so.
Ninety percent of California health plans reviewed by the state did not accurately report which physicians were in-network in 2015, Kaiser Health News reported Monday.

The California Department of Managed Health Care report found 36 of 40 health plans submitted inaccurate data or did not follow proper reporting methodology. "The data submitted by health plans for 2015 contains so many errors that it is virtually impossible to draw conclusions regarding individual health plan compliance and performance across the industry," the DMHC report reads.

Payers were required to submit a compliance report to identify provider availability as well as a roster of all providers at the end of 2014. The reports are supposed to be fairly consistent, though some discrepancies may occur if providers leave or join the network.

The report from DMHC shows major discrepancies between these two lists for many payers. For example, UnitedHealthcare of California's primary care physician compliance report differed from its roster by 45 percent and Anthem and Cigna's PCP reports were both off by 36 percent, according to the report. The payers' specialist reports were even worse. UnitedHealthcare's specialist compliance report differed from its roster by 69 percent. Anthem and Cigna were off by 32 percent and 26 percent, respectively.

However, one payer specifically was called out by DMHC for significantly overinflating data. Aetna Health of California reported its specialist network included more than 30,000 cardiologists, dermatologists and allergists  a number three times higher than its peers. Further investigation showed Aetna counted some cardiologists more than 160 times, according to the report.

Read the full report from DMHC here and the Kaiser Health News report here.

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Medtronic is one of the world's largest medical device companies.

Here are 10 things to know about the device technology giant:

1. Medtronic was founded as a medical equipment repair shop in 1949 in Minneapolis by Earl Bakken and his brother-in-law, Palmer Hermundslie. Their breakthrough came when Mr. Bakken created the wearable pacemaker in 1957.

2. Today, the company's operational headquarters are in Minneapolis and their principal executive office is in Dublin, Ireland. In 2016, Medtronic funded the construction of "The Horn," a 38-ton monument situated at the entrance to U.S. Bank Stadium, the downtown Minneapolis home of the NFL's Vikings. The monument's construction is part of Medtronic's 10-year partnership with the Vikings.

3. Omar Ishrak has been the company's chairman and CEO since 2011. Previously, he had been president and CEO of General Electric Healthcare Systems. Other members of the company's leadership include Executive Vice President and President of the cardiac vascular group Michael J. Coyle; Senior Vice President and President of the Americas region Mike Genau; Executive Vice President and President of the diabetes group Hooman Hakami; and Executive Vice President and President of the minimally invasive therapies group Bryan Hanson.

4. Medtronic recently announced the launch of Medtronic Impact in its Europe, Middle East and Africa regions. The initiative is part of the company's drive towards value-based healthcare that will focus on education, development, networking and outreach.

5. Medtronic creates therapies for nearly 40 medical conditions, marketing these treatment options in over 160 countries. Physicians use Medtronic devices to treat patients suffering from any number of injuries, diseases or other ailments. According to the company's 2016 financial report, 34 percent of its revenue comes from minimally invasive therapy treatments, totaling out at $9.6 billion.

6. Some of the company's well-known spine products are the balloon kyphoplasty, cervical artificial discs and the Medtronic CD Horizon system.

7. Spine revenue increased 2 percent for the second quarter of the 2017 fiscal year, hitting $663 million. The core spine business was up by the low single digits while the BMP revenue grew in the high single digits in the U.S. for the second quarter. However, Mr. Ishrak said the company's second quarter revenue was disappointing, falling short of expectations.

8. Medtronic recently received FDA 510(k) clearance for its CardioInsight noninvasive 3D mapping system, which maps a wide range of irregular heart rhythms.

9. Medtronic received the Claritive "Top 100 Global Innovators" award in 2014, 2015 and 2016. The award honors the world's most innovative companies based on the volume, success, protection and influence of their patents.

10. The company acquired Ireland-based Covidien in 2015 in a deal valued at $49.9 billion that set off a string of acquisitions, all of which are expected to keep Medtronic among the top medical device companies in the world for the foreseeable future, according to Bloomberg. With the acquisition complete, Medtronic moved its headquarters to Ireland, where Covidien was based, in a tax inversion strategy. When Medtronic made the move, the company promised to add 1,000 jobs in Minnesota. In December 2016, the company announced eliminating low-skilled jobs and moving them to a contractor in the Philippines, according to the Star Tribune. The company has added 500 jobs in Minnesota since moving headquarters overseas and told Governor Mark Dayton Medtronic still plans to fulfill its commitment to the state.

Medtronic is an exhibitor at the Becker's 15th Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference + The Future of Spine event, June 22-24, 2017 in Chicago. Orthopedic and spine surgeons and industry experts will speak on the latest businss, regulatory and economic trends - to learn more and register for the event, click here.

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A Seattle Times report examined the spine and neurosurgery services at Providence Health & Services Swedish-Cherry Hill hospital.

According to the report, the health system decided to overhaul Cherry Hill's neuroscience program to treat more high risk patients. The invasive brain and spine procedures generated around $500 million in net operating revenue in 2015 and touted higher Medicare reimbursement per inpatient visit than any other hospital of its size.

However, the Times questioned the means by which the hospital achieved its success and reported physicians were "incentivized to pursue a high-volume approach."

The surgeons also performed procedures concurrently to achieve higher volume, rotating between multiple operating rooms while training physicians also played a role in performing the procedures.

The federal government recently flagged Cherry Hill for having high blood clot, collapsed lung and serious medical complication rates and state data shows there was a rise in other issues associated with patients, according to the report.

Providence officials didn't comment on the report, but a spokesperson said the health system does plan to launch an investigation into whether the Times reporter improperly obtained medical records.
News / Local

by Itai Mushekwe

COLOGNE

- Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has reportedly scored a silent success by managing to secretly secure for Moscow a cross-section of Zimbabwe's rich mineral resources, in return for military security for Harare, amid suspicion that the Russian leader could be eying to all but launch a virtual military base in the Southern African nation, Spotlight Zimbabwe, has been told.Information at hand shows that President Robert Mugabe and Putin have become close in recent times, thus explaining Mugabe's invitation to attend Russia's annual victory day, in May 2015, in his capacity as then African Union chair. A sideline meeting between the two leaders, is said to have taken place under closed doors in the Russian capital, and the agenda still remains mysterious.Mugabe had previously hosted Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, in September 2014 in the country. Lavrov lead a high powered business delegation which was received by foreign affairs minister, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and senior government officials. A number of trade and investment deals were signed, in infrastructure development, mining, energy and agriculture among other sectors. It is during this time where, the Russians are thought to have been granted exclusive mining rights to Zimbabwe's uranium, gold and diamonds.Russia, Spotlight Zimbabwe, gathers is willing also to among other things provide modern weapons for the country's army and air force, while reportedly undertaking to assist the country in securing and monitoring her airspace with top of the range military and radar technology. The military technology, is said to include capabilities of paralysing and/or hacking spy satellite activities. A spy satellite is an Earth observation satellite or communications satellite deployed for military or intelligence applications."Zimbabwe is under sustained and coordinated attack from outside," said a top ranking military source in the capital citing a new internal Military Intelligence Unit (MIU) report. "It is a sophisticated psychological, technological, financial and cyber war against this land my friend, that is why we are making military cooperation with Russia, and others like China and Iran. Many people are not aware that there are dark imperialist forces building spy satellite facility centres on our homeland soil disguised as embassies. So far about three foreign governments are known to be doing that, but they will not succeed because we are no longer primitive in this realm, our allies are there to help. As they watch us, we will be watching over them."Our source added that so-called hostile capitals against government, were confidently operating and hiding behind The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, which makes their premises "out of reach for the authorities", adding that even a change in government will not reverse what the Zimbabwe military is reportedly undertaking with Russian help.The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 is an international treaty that defines a framework for diplomatic relations between independent countries. It specifies the privileges of a diplomatic mission that enable diplomats to perform their function without fear of coercion or harassment by the host country. This forms the legal basis for diplomatic immunity. Its articles are considered a cornerstone of modern international relations. As of April 2014, it has been ratified by 190 states.This publication has been promised a copy of the report, once it is "declassified". Defence ministry staff could neither deny nor comfirm the story yesterday, refusing to shed light citing national security concerns."You have no access and prerogative. It is at our disposal to brief the press, but this is a no go area," said a public relations staffer at Defence House.The revelations come on the backcloth of defence minister, Sidney Sekeramayi, last week disclosing that the country's peace is under threat from sponsored regime change."The major threat to Zimbabwe's peaceful existence is the Western sponsored regime change agenda that has been strengthened by their opposition to our land reform programme which forms an integral feature of the Government's policy and is in line with the ethos of the liberation struggle," he said, while addressing military officers attending Joint Command and Staff Course Number 30 in Harare on Zimbabwe's defence policy."The basic inspiration that we must regain is control over our God-given land both in terms of governance and also in terms of the use of the resources. This has, obviously as we all know, led to an unrelenting attack on us by the West. The objective of the regime change agenda orchestrated by the West, led by the United Kingdom and the USA, is economic destabilisation through illegal economic sanctions, psychological information warfare, inclusive political interference, diplomatic isolation and socio-cultural intrusion.There is no doubt that their ultimate objective is to cause economic hardship among the population so that they result in frustration, poverty and push them into revolt against the Government. Indeed people have been into revolting against their Governments."According to other high level officials with close proximity to the President's Office, Moscow is also going to supply the country with fuel and part of it's electricity needs, to boost economic performance and is on the verge of setting up shop to explore gas reserves through her energy giant, Gazprom, in Lupane, Matabeleland North. Lupane is home to significant coal bed methane gas. Estimates suggest that there is more than 40 trillion cubic feet of potentially recoverable coal bed methane gas reserves in the Lupane-Lubimbi area.Gazprom holds the world's largest natural gas reserves and at least 12 percent of the global gas output. The firm has a massive market value of about US$51 billion.Mugabe has intensified mortgaging Zimbabwe's mineral resources in a bid to secure an economic turnaround, raising fears about the security of the country's mineral wealth used as guarantees in opaque deals.Already the Kremlim has struck a US$3billion platinum mining deal, which will see them running the country's biggest platinum mine in Darwendale. Mining ministry sources last week said, the Russians are also venturing into gold mining identified in the Kadoma and Midlands area, while another company has already been licensed to mine diamonds in Manicaland.A multi-billion dollar joint venture company called Great Dyke, has since been formed between the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation and three Russian companies VI Holdings, Rostec, and Vneshconombank.
Daly City, Calif.-based Seton Medical Center named John H. Velyvis, MD, medical director of robotic orthopedic surgery.

Here are five things to know:

1. Seton Medical is the sole hospital in the Bay Area using the NAVIO Surgical System for total knee replacement.

2. The board-certified orthopedic surgeon has completed more than 800 robotic-assisted knee surgeries.

3. Dr. Velyvis utilizes the NAVIO System for partial and total knee replacements at Seton Medical.

4. He is equipped with more than 12 years of hospital experience.

5. Dr. Velyvis completed his knee and hip surgery fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
A physician whose patients had trouble filling prescriptions after UnitedHealth Group's OptumRx mistook his identity and placed him on a list of physicians who were barred from Medicare participation won $1.5 million in a slander suit against the company, according to a WLRN report.

Here are five things to know:

1. OptumRx compiled a list of physicians who were no longer allowed to participate in Medicare. The list was based on OIG records, which contained information about a Jose I. Lopez, who worked for a Miami-based billing company and was convicted of fraud in 2003. OptumRx mistook Tampa-based internist Jose Ignacio Lopez, MD, for Mr. Lopez and placed Dr. Lopez on the list.

2. An OptumRx vendor sent its list of physicians barred from Medicare participation to pharmacies, warning any prescriptions written by those physicians wouldn't be covered in 2013. Dr. Lopez began hearing from patients about not being able to fill their prescriptions in December 2013 and began contacting OptumRx to update their records.

3. Five months after making initial contact with OptumRx, Dr. Lopez's name was still on the list. The company sent out letters to more than 100 of his patients saying he wasn't able to participate in the federal health programs and prescriptions he wrote wouldn't be covered. The company offered patients assistance in finding new providers.

4. After Dr. Lopez hired a law firm to represent him, OptumRx sent out another letter more than a year after the initial letter to Dr. Lopez's patients retracting the first letter. Weekley Schulte Valdes filed a slander suit against OptumRx on Dr. Lopez's behalf and the case went to arbitration. A panel of three lawyers issued a report recommending the $1.5 million award.

5. The mistake could have been avoided if the individuals compiling the list of barred providers had cross-checked Mr. Lopez's Medicare identification number with Dr. Lopez. It's unclear how common such mistakes are, but there is at least one other similar case of mistaken identity in the Miami area.
American College of Physicians offers new guidelines for how physicians should treat low back pain, in an article published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

The guidelines are based on randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews on noninvasive pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments of nonradicular low back pain.

Here are five key points:

1. The evidence-based clinical practice guideline, "Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain," recommends treatment of acute or subacute low back pain with non-drug therapies.

2. Some of these non-drug therapies include superficial heat, massage, acupuncture or spinal manipulation.

3. The society recommends providers prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs or skeletal muscle relaxants if pursuing a drug therapy.

4. American College of Physicians suggests patients with chronic low back pain first try non-drug therapy with exercise, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, acupuncture, mindfulness-based stress reduction, tai chi, yoga, motor control exercise, progressive relaxation, electromyography biofeedback, low level laser therapy, operant therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy or spinal manipulation.

5. Those chronic low back pain patients who have experienced no response to non-drug therapies should take NSAIDs first, and then tramadol or duloxetine as second line therapy.

"Physicians should consider opioids as a last option for treatment and only in patients who have failed other therapies, as they are associated with substantial harms, including the risk of addiction or accidental overdose," said Nitin S. Damle, MD, MS, MACP, president, American College of Physicians.
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Peugeot owner PSA Group said it was 'exploring strategic initiatives' with GM

The Government is being urged to seek assurances over British jobs as General Motors (GM) considers a sale of Vauxhall and Opel to Peugeot-owner PSA Group.

Len McCluskey, Unite's general secretary, said it was his priority to speak to GM about what impact the proposed deal would have on Vauxhall's 35,000-strong UK workforce.

PSA Group, which also owns Citroen and DS, is locked in talks over a "potential acquisition" of GM's loss-making European arm, as it explores "strategic initiatives" aimed at boosting profits and cutting costs.

Such a deal would see GM exit UK and Europe, while transforming PSA Group into Europe's second-largest carmaker with a 16% share of the European market.

The US motor giant behind Chevrolet and Cadillac acknowledged talks were taking place, but cautioned that "there can be no assurance that an agreement will be reached."

Vauxhall employs 4,500 staff at plants in Ellesmere Port and Luton, with a further 300 people working in a customer contact centre and 120 at its OnStar headquarters.

Around 23,000 people also work in Vauxhall's retail network, while 7,000 jobs rely on the firm's UK supply chain.

Mr McCluskey said: "My priority now is to speak to General Motors to seek immediate assurances for the UK plants and this loyal workforce.

"I'll also be seeking urgent conversations with the Government because everything must be done to secure our world-class automotive industry."

Mr McCluskey said he was "really disappointed" with how the news of the talks emerged after the GM president gave him personal assurances at the end of last year that there would be no surprises when it came to the future of the UK plants.

"But while this has come out of the blue, we are absolutely determined - UK plants will not be allowed to close," he added.

"I have no intention of allowing GM to walk away from our plants and workers - so my message to the workers at Luton, Ellesmere Port and the tens of thousands in the wider supply chain is this, remain strong and stay united.

"The UK and the EU are among GM's biggest markets - if they think that they can walk away from dedicated workers and loyal consumers without a care, they need to think again."

It comes after Nissan announced in October that it was investing in production of new Qashqai and X-Trail models at Sunderland after receiving Government assurances that EU withdrawal would not affect the plant's competitiveness.

A spokesman for PSA said it has been working with GM on three projects across Europe since 2012, which have delivered "substantial synergies" for both groups.

"Within this framework, General Motors and PSA Group regularly examine additional expansion and cooperation possibilities as well.

"PSA Group confirms that, together with General Motors, it is exploring numerous strategic initiatives aiming at improving its profitability and operational efficiency, including a potential acquisition of Opel.

"There can be no assurance that an agreement will be reached."

PSA Group, which is part owned by the French government and Chinese firm DongFeng Motor, saw its Paris-listed shares jump 5% on news of a potential deal.

Mr McCluskey added: "I also have a message to the UK Government, which is do not sit on the sidelines. Intervene, work with us to create a new future for these plants.

"The French government certainly is not sitting idle - they have a 13% stake in Peugeot and they have given their blessing to this deal.

"We want UK auto workers to feel the same sense that their government is backing them."

GM said last year that it had to raise UK car prices by 2.5% after the EU referendum result caused the British car industry to hit a ''speed bump''.

The Detroit-based firm added that its European arm was on course to break even before the plunge in the value of the pound following the Brexit vote.

Announcing its full-year results last week, it said GM Europe had narrowed losses to 257 million US dollars (206 million) in the year to the end of December, from a loss of 813 million US dollars (651 million) the year before.

It also drove down fourth-quarter losses to 246 million US dollars (197 million), from 298 million US dollars (238 million) in the three months to December 31 2015.

GM and PSA Group formed an alliance in 2012 in an attempt to make production more efficient by combining purchasing power and larger scale.

But in late 2013, GM announced it was selling its stake, although the two companies continued working on joint vehicle projects.

GM will make Citroen's forthcoming subcompact crossover vehicle beginning later this year at its plant in Zaragoza, Spain.

A spokesman for the Government's Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said: "Speculation over a merger between GM and Peugeot is a matter for the companies involved.

"The Government remains in close contact with GM as we closely monitor the situation."

The BEIS department added that Business Secretary Greg Clark had spoken to GM president Dan Ammann and raised concerns about a potential acquisition of Opel Vauxhall.
Cabin crew are already holding a four-day strike from this Friday

British Airways cabin crew are to stage a fresh wave of four strikes in a long-running dispute over pay.

Unite said its members at the airline were "piling on the pressure" by walking out from February 22, on top of a four-day stoppage from this Friday.

Members of the so-called mixed fleet have taken 11 days of action so far this year in protest at "poverty" pay.

Unite regional officer Matt Smith said: "For every hour British Airways 'wet leases' an aircraft from another airline to cover striking cabin crew it costs in the region of 2,000 to 3,000.

"Our estimates put the amount of money British Airways has spent on defending the dispute and poverty pay at 1 million.

"This is money which the airline has taken a conscious decision to give to other airlines rather than addressing pay levels which are forcing hard-working mixed fleet cabin crew into financial hardship.

"We would urge British Airways to reconsider its costly intransigence and enter talks at Acas and reach an agreement."

The two sides have clashed over pay, with Unite saying the cabin crew earned an average of 16,000 a year, including allowances, but BA insisting no one was paid below 21,000.

The mixed fleet work on short and long-haul flights.

British Airways said all of its customers will fly to their destinations during the strikes from Friday.

All flights to and from London Gatwick and London City will operate as normal, as will the " vast majority" of flights to and from London Heathrow.

The airline said in a statement: "To enable all customers to travel we will be merging a very small number of flights at Heathrow - about 1% of total flights planned. We are contacting customers on those flights with the options available to them.

"We will publish more details over the weekend in relation to further strikes called by mixed fleet Unite for February 22-25, but as in previous strikes all customers will fly to their destinations.

"Our pay offer for mixed fleet cabin crew is consistent with deals agreed with more than 90% of British Airways colleagues, including many Unite members.

"More than 9,000 cabin crew, represented by a different Unite branch, this week voted overwhelmingly to accept the deal.

"The offer also reflects pay awards given by other companies in the UK and will ensure that rewards for mixed fleet remain in line with those for cabin crew at our airline competitors."
News / National

by Staff reporter

A BOTSWANA national who escaped from a prison in the neighbouring country has been arrested in Zimbabwe for illegal migration.Givemore Chaloba (26) from Francistown last month fled from Gerald Estates Centre in the neighbouring country together with two other Botswana nationals and 15 Zimbabweans.Chaloba allegedly entered Zimbabwe through an illegal entry point at Maitengwe Border Post and started living with his relatives in Bulilima District.He was convicted on his own plea of guilty to illegal migration by Plumtree magistrate Mr Joshua Mawere.Chaloba was fined $200 or two months imprisonment in case of default.He told the court that he was arrested after his relatives, who had been promised a reward by Botswana authorities, sold him out."I fled from a prison in Botswana where I was being held for theft and I went to my mother's homestead in Bambadzi area in Bulilima District. My cousins who are in Botswana learnt that I was on the run and they informed my relatives in Zimbabwe. My uncle informed the police who arrested me while I was in Bambadzi."On the day that I fled from prison, I saw some of my inmates escaping during lunchtime and I joined them. I was not involved in planning the escape," he said.Prosecuting, Mrs Rose Sibanda said Chaloba was arrested on February 8 at around 4PM.She said police officers were on patrol in Maitengwe when they received information that Chaloba, who was an illegal immigrant, was at a homestead in Nsuluba Village in Bambadzi Ward.Mrs Sibanda said police officers went to the area and asked Chaloba to produce his identification documents but he failed to do so, leading to his arrest.Botswana Prison Service Northern Regional Commander Senior Assistant Commissioner Sekano Sekano said they would apply for Ndlovu's extradition.Eighteen inmates among them three Botswana nationals last month escaped from Gerald Estates Centre in Francistown during lunchtime. They used the lid of a manhole to cut a security fence at the prison and escaped. Three of them were arrested a day after escaping from custody.The escapees were arrested for different crimes in Botswana which include murder, robbery, and possession of ivory, housebreaking and theft.A Zimbabwean man who also escaped from the prison was recently jailed for 18 months for unlawful entry and theft in Plumtree.Thembelani Ndlovu (27) stole property valued at R3 600 from Mr Brian Sibanda of Makuzeze Village who had offered him a place to sleep for the night on January 16.Five other Zimbabweans who escaped from prison in Botswana were said to have been arrested last month.
A new order for Bombardier C Series 300 jets by British Airways owners IAG is expected to be announced soon, according to reports.

The deal is said to include a number of the jets for British Airways and low-cost airline Vueling, as well as up to 10 for Aer Lingus.

Both Aer Lingus and British Airways fly from Belfast City Airport.

The Canadian aerospace giant, which employs 4,500 people in Northern Ireland, makes the wings of the C Series passenger jet in its Belfast plant.

Aviation industry sources were discussing the new order at the weekend on social media.

However, a spokesman for IAG said it could not comment on the order claim.

And a spokeswoman for Bombardier in Northern Ireland said: "We don't comment on speculation, nor on any potential discussions we may or may not be having with specific customers.

"Bombardier will, however, announce any material agreements with a customer if and when they are finalised."

Back in June last year IAG boss Willie Walsh told the Belfast Telegraph that the Bombardier CS300 jet was "definitely one we are prepared to look at".

On the back of other orders for the C Series 300, including deals with Delta Airlines and Lufthansa subsidiary Swiss, Mr Walsh said people were starting to look more closely at the jet.

Mr Walsh added: "The fact they have had the significant orders (is encouraging), the Delta order on the back of the Lufthansa one.

"I think everyone looking at the aircraft wanted to see a commitment from major operators to it. You don't want to be the only person operating the aircraft.

"A critical issue for airlines with an aircraft like that, is you want to make sure you have technical support in all of the airports, or as many of the airports (as possible)."

Speaking about the growing success of Bombardier's C Series, Mr Walsh said: "I think it's a big achievement for them, as Delta and Air Canada are two very significant (airlines).

"It puts that aircraft into play now, and I suspect that you will see a lot more airlines (looking at it).

"The critical issue with them, as it always was, is how competitive can you be on price."

"They had to get a scale of order to make them relevant for the industry."

Just last week the Canadian government announced it would lend Bombardier $372.5m (225m) to help it secure more orders for the C Series jet, and for research and development activities for its Global 7000 products. Some components for the Global 7000 are made in Belfast.

Bombardier has already received $1bn in funding from the regional government in Quebec, where the company is based.

And the C Series programme also benefited from $350m in loans from the Canadian government when it was launched in 2005.

Bombardier last year announced job cuts of 1,080 over two years in its Northern Ireland operations due to difficult market conditions and what had been weak sales of the C Series - which is trying to break into a market dominated by Boeing and Airbus.

The 2015 launch of the C Series had been delayed by over two years and was around $2bn over budget. Orders were also lower than expected, but morale was boosted last April when Delta Airlines placed an order for 125.
An artists impression of what the development at Parklands will look like

A company which counts KFC tycoon Michael Herbert as a director is building three major luxury housing developments, it can be revealed.

Kirk Bryson & Co Ltd  which includes the Belfast multi-millionaire as a director  is planning to turn a vacant site in the popular Upper Newtownards Road area of east Belfast into a 53-home development called Rose Park.

It is also developing Parklands, an apartment development based at Knocknagoney in Belfast. It will feature 104 apartments, including 18 one-bedroom flats along with 83 two-bedrooms and three with three-bedrooms.

The Rose Park housing development close to the Stormont estate will include 53 homes, consisting of a mixture of four-bedroom detached, four and three-bedroom semi-detached and townhouses, along with two-bedroom apartments.

Its understood the Rose Park site was sold for more than 2m.

Stephen Blaney of Coogan and Co Architects, which is designing both the schemes, told the Belfast Telegraph: The proposals for these two new residential developments represent a significant investment in the east Belfast area, and will regenerate two brownfield sites that have been vacant for some time.

The apartments at Parklands will appeal to a growing generation of young professionals living in our city, while Rose Park will offer beautiful family homes in a part of Belfast that is in high demand.

We had very good support for both proposals during the consultative stage and hope that the planning process will be swift.

Further fresh plans show Kirk Bryson & Co Ltd is proposing a 19-home development at a former Lidl store site on the outskirts of the north of the city on the Antrim Road.

Michael Herbert  whose company holds Europes largest KFC franchise  is probably best known for the Lesley buildings, a collection of residential, commercial and office schemes named after his wife.

Aside from his fast-food franchise, Mr Herbert also deals in commercial property.

That includes Bangor retail park Bloomfield Shopping Centre, which was formerly owned by one of Mr Herbert's companies.

It's not his first foray into housing developments, but the new schemes are some of the largest that he has been involved with.

The new Rose Park housing scheme aims "to create a high-quality residential development", according to a design statement.

The proposed homes are being designed in an "arts and crafts architectural style" with finishes in "keeping with the character of the area and are set within a well-designed landscape scheme of native tree planting and hedgerows".

Just last week, one industry body warned that a lack of houses coming onto the market is the biggest challenge facing the sector in Northern Ireland.

The latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) survey said buyer interest in homes was strong, but the number of houses coming onto the market was falling.

Meanwhile, the latest official Northern Ireland Housing Bulletin shows there was a fall in the number of properties built here.

Between July and September 2016, building control recorded 1,973 home starts. That's down by 1.8% on the same quarter in 2015.
John Barton is to step down from his role as chairman of retail giant Next.

The 72 year old will retire from the non-executive position on August 1 and will be replaced by Michael Roney, the former chief executive of Bunzl.

Mr Barton has been a member of Next's board since 2002 and became chairman in 2006.

Next said in a statement: "John has made an outstanding contribution to the company over the last fifteen years and his leadership, experience and wise counsel have been tremendously valuable over that time. John leaves with the profound thanks of his colleagues."

Mr Roney, who headed up FTSE 100 outsourcer Bunzl from 2005 until his retirement in April 2016, will become deputy chairman from Tuesday before taking over from Mr Barton.

The 62 year old is currently chairman of Grafton Group and a non-executive director of Brown-Forman Corporation.

Last month, Next's Brexit backing chief executive Lord Simon Wolfson warned that uncertainty caused by the UK's decision to quit the EU would add to an "even tougher" year ahead as the chain sounded the alarm over sales and profits after a difficult Christmas.

The group said it was facing "exceptional levels of uncertainty" amid a consumer spending squeeze, soaring costs from the weak pound and "little visibility of the approach the UK Government will be taking to Brexit".
There is no doubt that there have been a number of political upsets over the last year. It is less clear if the new era being ushered in is the best of times or the worst of times. Opinions are subjective and may depend on the timeframe.

In the short-term, Tughans has been involved in a significant number of deals in the last 12 months. We recently were ranked as the number one Northern Ireland legal adviser in 2016 by Experian. We have been ranked number one for the past two years, having advised on 31% of all deals in Northern Ireland last year  38% more than the next placed legal adviser. And our work represented 62% of total deal value in Northern Ireland for 2016.

This high transactional activity could be attributable to a number of short term factors, such as the drop in the exchange rate.

The weak pound has meant Northern Ireland export businesses can be more competitive. They are also more attractive for foreign buyers and investors, offering better value. People recognise that the main impact of Brexit and the election of Donald Trump as US President may only be really felt in the longer term. Brexit, after all, is at least a two-year process and investors may have the opportunity to successfully realise a return on their cash before the UKs exit from the EU can have a detrimental effect.

In the longer term, we wait to see what the impact of Brexit, Trump and the upcoming Stormont election will have on the sustainability of deal volume and deal values. It is the epoch of belief, with Brexiteers seeing the UKs exit from the EU as an opportunity to negotiate more favourable trade deals and unburden business from constraining EU regulations. Equally, it is the epoch of incredulity, as Remainers continue to argue that these trade deals could take years to negotiate, bringing uncertainty for the economy and businesses.

Deregulation for Northern Ireland businesses exporting to the EU is not a reality, having to continue to comply with at least some EU regulation.

Incredulity also stems from our 24/7 news feeds and omnipresent social media, as businesses have to sift through alternative facts and fake news to evaluate the impact of political decisions on their business strategy.

Will Trump reduce corporation tax in the US, making Northern Ireland investment less attractive, especially if Stormont fails to meet the conditions for setting our own rate of corporation tax?

Should we look east rather than across the Atlantic for investment and export opportunities? Recent Asian investment in Northern Ireland, with the acquisition of SDC Trailers by Chinese company CIMC and CGNs acquisition of 14 wind farms across Northern Ireland and the Republic, demonstrates the eastern interest and potential for our businesses.

Northern Ireland businesses may be waiting in eager anticipation but some trepidation as the political events take their course.

What isnt an option is standing still. We need to identify the opportunities, tailor our strategies and businesses to maximise the possibilities but try to safeguard against the risks that might arise. Tughans will review the opportunities and challenges facing Northern Ireland business in the next few months to consider how best to weather the storm.

Lets look to a spring of hope and forget about a winter of despair, with everything before us.
From left, Ricky Martin of SkunkWorks Surf Company with Elaine Smyth of Connect at Catalyst Inc and Ian Sheppard, regional director of Bank of Ireland UK

Northern Ireland's smartest inventors are being called upon to enter this year's Invent awards programme. And SkunkWorks Surf Company, which makes surfboards, said its business had thrived since winning a category at the 2015 awards.

Its business development manager Ricky Martin said: "Winning our category in the Invent competition was a watershed moment for SkunkWorks. It definitely helped to speed up our success."

Invent is sponsored by Bank of Ireland UK - and regional director Ian Sheppard said it strongly believed in Catalyst Inc's vision of making Northern Ireland an entrepreneurial knowledge economy.

He said he had felt inspired by a tour of SkunkWorks' factory on the north coast.

"They are one of many examples of local innovative entrepreneurial talent with ambition out there to be discovered and nurtured, and I encourage you to become part of this vibrant community."

Catalyst Inc said taking part in the competition can offer high-profile expenditure, and validation of the market for your idea.

Winners can also take part in a tech mission to California, and a share of a 33,000 prize fund.

Philip McIntosh of Jumpack won the award last year for his portable skateboard jump.

He said: "Invent was such an amazing experience for us and the entire journey has proved to be so valuable.

"We're just home from the Tech Mission trip to California and the reaction to Jumpack was incredible.

"The process helped us to identify, understand and advance our business. I would encourage anyone with an idea in development to enter Invent, as it will accelerate your chances of success."

For more information on Invent 2017, visit www.invent2017.co.uk
The TUC said waiters are among 660,000 more workers employed without guaranteed hours or basic employment rights in the last five years

A Government review into working practices will take evidence from workers and business today amid a huge increase in those employed in the so-called gig economy.

Matthew Taylor, the chief executive of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) will launch a regional tour to listen to the views and experiences of workers, self-employed staff and companies.

The TUC said last week that waiters, care workers and education staff are among 660,000 more workers employed without guaranteed hours or basic employment rights in the past five years.

A study by the union organisation found the rise of 27% in so-called insecure work was being driven mainly by traditional industries rather than the new tech sector.

Matthew Taylor said: "Most people recognise that we need as many jobs as possible in our economy and that the flexibility of our labour market is a strength.

"But people also want work to be fair and decent and to offer opportunities for progression and fulfilment.

"The question is, what can we do to make work better without undermining our country's excellent record on job creation?

"We've started working through these complex issues questions and now is just the right time to hear the views of businesses, employees, the self-employed and the public as a whole."

Business minister Margot James said: "The Matthew Taylor review is hugely important in helping us understand whether employment rights need to change to keep up with the various new ways people can work.

"It is symbolic that Matthew will launch his country-wide regional tour in London, where thousands of people are already working in ways completely different from only a few years ago.

"I'd encourage everyone to take part in the review to make sure their views on the modern labour market are heard."

A plumber last week won the latest round in campaigns to win rights for the growing army of self-employed workers, when t he Court of Appeal rejected an appeal by Pimlico Plumbers on the employment status of former worker Gary Smith.

Other cases have involved ride-hailing app Uber, and courier firms Deliveroo and CitySprint.

The growth of insecure employment - those working without guaranteed hours or baseline employment rights - is costing the Government an estimated 4 billion a year, according to a new TUC report.

The rise in low-paid self-employment accounts for just over half of this bill, with the Government collecting billions less in income tax and National Insurance contributions, it was claimed.

The surge in zero-hours working has left an additional 1.9 billion hole in the public finances, a study found.

TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "The huge rise in insecure work isn't just bad for workers, it's punching a massive hole in the public finances too.

"Zero-hours contracts and low-paid self-employment are costing the economy billions every year in lost tax revenues. That's money that could be spent on stopping the crisis in our schools and hospitals and making sure every elderly person gets decent care.

"Bosses who employ staff on shady contracts are cheating all of us. That's why we desperately need more decent jobs that pay a fair wage.

"Getting more people into unions is key. Workers in unionised workplaces are twice as likely to be on better-paid secure contracts."

RSA chief Mr Taylor told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme that businesses could be using ambiguities in the system to avoid tax.

The former adviser to Tony Blair said: "I think all businesses will try to minimise their tax burden but because we have ambiguity over whether they are workers or self employed ... I think some businesses have designed themselves in order to try to make sure that people are defined as self-employed because there is a lower tax burden and that is one of the incentives driving the pattern of work that we have."

He went on: "We need to be clear about how we design the middle way which works for new and flexible businesses but also works in the public interest and avoids exploitation."

Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley said: "The news that insecure work is hurting public finances reinforces what we already knew - insecure work is bad for everyone.

"The gig economy offers flexibility but in reality leaves workers without basic rights and vulnerable to exploitation.

"Add to this the lost tax revenue which could be supporting greater social security or the NHS, and it's clear that the Government has been left standing by a rapidly changing world. It needs to get a grip on the gig economy."
Access to information held about any of the 3.6 million companies at Companies House has become effortless over recent years, and generally can be accessed free of charge within a few minutes on any smart device.

Following the introduction of the Companies, Partnerships and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2015, the financial information that will be available at Companies House is changing.

Under the new regulations however, small companies (excluding micro entities) registered in the UK no longer have the option of filing abbreviated accounts at Companies House. For those entities, abbreviated accounts have been abolished.

The regulations will be mandatory for accounting periods beginning on, or after, January 1, 2016, although early adoption is permitted, and some local companies are already taking advantage of the new regime.

The new regulations introduce the principle of file what you prepare, so, from the above date, a small company may prepare and file full accounts; or, 2) prepare and file abridged accounts, or, 3) prepare and file filleted accounts.

Small companies have always had the option to file full statutory accounts, instead of availing of any relevant exemptions available. It is unlikely that this will be the preferred option for many businesses, as it may involve lengthy disclosures and more detailed financial statements.

Abridged accounts are a new concept introduced by the new regulations. In this context, abridged accounts permit the profit and loss account to start at the gross profit/loss line, and also reduces the analysis required on the face of the balance sheet. All members must approve the abridgement and this fact must be stated on the balance sheet. The directors will need to obtain this consent every year. This option is not available to charitable companies.

Filleted accounts are likely to be the most popular option for small companies going forward, due to the similarity to the former abbreviated accounts. Filleted accounts use an exemption contained within section 444(1) of the Companies Act 2006, and permit the exclusion of the directors report and the profit and loss account from the accounts filed. The balance sheet must state that this exemption is being utilised.

There is also a provision within section 444 of the Act that permits the exclusion of the audit report for those small companies who are audited, provided that certain disclosures are made elsewhere in the financial statements.

Of perhaps greater significance is the fact that the new regulations have increased the small company thresholds, meaning more companies will be able to avail of the above.

A company will qualify as small if it meets two of the three following thresholds:

1. turnover of 10.2m;

2. total assets of 5.1m;

3. employee numbers, 50.

The government announced in 2016 that the audit threshold will also increase, to retain the alignment with the small company definition.

The increased audit threshold is not available for early adoption, but will come into effect for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2016.

For further information, Claire Thomson can be contacted at claire.thomson@ie.gt.com or visit http://www.grantthorntonni.com/

Grant Thornton (NI) LLP specialises in audit, tax and advisory services.
Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, whose film is nominated for an Oscar, has said he will not attend the ceremony in protest to Donald Trump's travel ban

The Oscar-nominated Iranian director boycotting the awards because of Donald Trump's travel ban will premiere his film in London on the night of the ceremony.

Director Asghar Farhadi has said he will he will not attend the awards show in Los Angeles even if he is granted permission to enter the country following the ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.

His film The Salesman, which will compete for the best foreign language film at the star-studded ceremony, will be unveiled at a free screening in Trafalgar Square just hours before the prizes are handed out.

The UK premiere is being organised by London mayor Sadiq Khan, actress Lily Cole, producer Kate Wilson and film-maker Mark Donne and will include a programme of readings and speeches from actors and directors including Mike Leigh.

Farhadi has previously announced he will not to attend the Oscars ceremony in Hollywood, regardless of whether he is offered special dispensation to attend by the US government, in solidarity with those affected by the ban, but i t is not yet known if he will attend the event in London.

He said: "Screening The Salesman in Trafalgar Square has a great symbolic value for me. The gathering of the audience around The Salesman in this famous London square is a symbol of unity against the division and separation of people.

"I offer my warmest thanks to the mayor of London and the cinema community for this generous initiative. I welcome and appreciate this invaluable show of solidarity."

Mr Khan added: " On the night of the Oscars, it's absolutely fantastic to be able to screen the UK premiere of The Salesman in Trafalgar Square. I'm delighted to welcome people from across the capital and beyond to share in this celebration of London as an international hub of creativity and as a beacon of diversity.

"Londoners have always prided themselves on their openness to the world, and what better way to do that than to come together to watch this powerful film in one of the world's most famous public spaces."

One of the stars of The Salesman, Iranian actress Taraneh Alidoosti, has already said she will not attend the Oscars in protest over Mr Trump's immigration policies.

She tweeted: "Trump's visa ban for Iranians is racist.

"Whether this will include a cultural event or not, I won't attend the Academy Awards 2017 in protest."

Organisers of the Oscars previously said it was "extremely troubling" that the makers of the film could be barred from entering the US.

Farhadi's film A Separation won the Oscar for best foreign language film in 2012.
Terry Jones with Prue Leith and nutritionist Jane Clarke at the Royal Hospital Chelsea

Monty Python star Terry Jones has said that he can no longer write as he helped publicise the issue of dementia.

News that the 75-year-old, who directed Monty Python's films Life Of Brian and The Meaning Of Life, had been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia was announced last year.

On Tuesday, the writer and director attended an afternoon tea at the Royal Hospital Chelsea to help people living with cancer and dementia.

Jones told the Press Association he was now unable to write.

Nutritionist Jane Clarke, whose clients have included David Beckham and Jamie Oliver, held the event, while Prue Leith, who could become the next Great British Bake Off judge, also attended.

Ms Clarke, whose father suffers from dementia, said: "It's great that Terry was able to come along ... to raise awareness."

She has launched a website, Nourish, to provide support, nutritional information and recipes to help people living with dementia, cancer and other serious illnesses.

Ms Clarke said that loss of appetite, swallowing and chewing difficulties can make eating well a problem.

"We want to really empower families and communities, show people how to support people who are vulnerable in the community and it's through food," she said.

"That is the most beautiful thing you can do."

Food critic Leith said: "Although I have spent an awful lot of my time trying to make sure children's food is better or prisoners' food is better or general hospital patients' food is better, I think the really neglected group are older people and people suffering from dementia, because eating becomes a real problem for them.

"If your hand shakes so much, quite often you can't swallow or chew and most of all you lose appetite and energy for eating."
News / National

by Staff reporter

Former Zanu-PF youth league boss and the leader of war collaborators Pupurayi Togarepi has thrown lavish praises on President Robert Mugabe, who turns 93 next week, claiming that the nonagenarian is actually fitter than most 50-year-olds.In a wide ranging interview with the Daily News, Togarepi also rejected suggestions that he is a member of the Team Lacoste faction that is presumptively led by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.Asked how Mugabe who is facing increased pressure from both his party and opposition to unveil a succession plan - can revive the economy that critics say he singlehandedly destroyed - Togarepi said the 92-year-old has the capacity to take Zimbabwe forward."The president has the capacity and any delays in government there are reasons, he is one of the strongest people I have seen.., he can run faster than me. As far as we are concerned the choice is his but as cadres we are firmly behind him."With some war collaborators now publicly stating their anger at the failure by government to pay their monthly allowances as provided in the Constitution, Togarepi urged for calm saying when people went to war they did not do so for material reasons."... I am concerned we don't want to go to the extent of dumping the revolution, we can't help ourselves but there should be calm and discipline, we are fully behind Zanu-PF and its leader as war collaborators and we will continue ...," said Togarepi.Recently, a group of dissatisfied war collaborators indicated that they would not vote Zanu-PF in 2018 as the ruling party has failed to honour its obligations, however, seemingly currying favour with the establishment, Togarepi urged his followers to give government time considering that the economy is crumbling."We did not go to war to be rich but we would like to call upon government to fulfil its promises because we are not getting younger ...," said Togarepi, who was kicked out from Zanu-PF last year on hazy allegations and claimed that although he is on the sidelines he is not bitter.Togarepi's successor Kudzanai Chipanga recently torched a storm when he said Mugabe should be succeeded by his wife Grace, and also threatened to take up arms if the youths' aspirations were not fulfilled, but the soft spoken war collaborators' leader said democracy should be used when the question on who will succeed Mugabe arises."...of course the youths are excitable and can do so many things but I believe that energy should be channelled elsewhere. We fought during the liberation struggle but now we will use democracy to put people in power not arms," said Togarepi.
He sang one of the cheesiest pop hits ever, but what is Jason Donovan really like as a husband? On Valentine's Day and ahead of a run at Belfast's Grand Opera House, where he will star in Million Dollar Quartet, the actor talks to Barry Egan about being brought up by his father, life as a family man and his battle with drug addiction.

Jason Donovan is forever frozen in our collective consciousness as the saintly airhead with the permed mullet in Neighbours - the teen idol goody two-shoes Scott who married Charlene (Kylie Minogue) in the 1980s, when it received the highest ever ratings for the Australian soap.

This inoffensive image was further set in the global imagination when Jason and Kylie duetted on that Stock Aitken Waterman-produced mega-hit Especially For You in 1989.

Nearly three decades later some of us perhaps still think of Jason as that dull dweeb of witless wholesomeness. However, spend an hour with him - as I did recently - and his presence will soon disabuse you of any such notion. He is rather droll, even mercurial, possibly complicated, maybe troubled - but certainly not dull or saintly.

He actually laughed out loud when I mixed up his father, the actor Terence Donovan (who is "very much alive") with the photographer Terence Donovan (who is very much not after taking his own life in 1996 while suffering from depression).

"Don't sweat it!" Jason chuckles. "My father lives very happily and is still swimming. Ironically, I met (the other) Terence Donovan, who lived just down the road from me in London."

Born on June 1, 1968 in Malvern, Melbourne, Jason Donovan is a fascinating man. I suppose he would have to be. His parents split up when he was five; his father, as Jason told The Guardian in 2009, was "one of the first men in Australia to get custody of his child. Why did I end up with him? Who knows? You could ask my parents and they'd probably give you different answers".

In his 2007 autobiography Between The Lines: My Story Uncut, Jason believed that his mother Sue McIntosh's exit from his life at such a tender age had a profound effect on him: "There is no question that her departure left me with emotional scars.

"To say that my mother abandoned me would be too strong," he wrote.

"When she walked out of the family home I realise now that she wasn't walking away from me but from her marriage. However, as a small child there were times when I didn't see it that way; I couldn't understand why she had left... to this day I am none the wiser."

For the record, Miss McIntosh claimed in an interview with Australia's Woman's Day magazine in 2001: "Jason knows the truth; I didn't abandon him. I took him with me when I left our home in Melbourne and I left because it was a horrendous situation. I was a young girl involved with someone who drank and I didn't cope well. For a young girl it was not only shocking but extremely upsetting, but Jason is totally dismissive of my version of the past."

Does Jason have a relationship with his mother?

"Not at the moment, I don't," the 48-year-old Donovan says.

He has three kids of his own - Molly (5), Zac (15) and Jemma (16).

Asked what kind of dad he is, he says: "Hopefully affectionate, hopefully loving. I give them freedom to be what they want to be. I try to guide them where I can and let them be themselves and make their own mistakes.

"I am a dad that probably scares them a little bit because I like to be current. I like to listen to their songs on the radio. I'm not sort of a stiff father. I like to be loose and free, hug them and tell them I love them."

Did he inherit that from his own father?

"I was in a unique position with my dad because my mother wasn't around. I was brought up by my father. We were very close."

I ask him if the way he is with his kids is an overcompensation in a way for his own past with his mother and father.

"No. It's just instinctive. Some psychologists might say different but I don't see it through those eyes. I want to be involved with my kids and I want to spend as much time with them as I can."

What age was he when he realised that his mother wasn't raising him and what was that like for him?

"I didn't know any different."

To grow up without a mother is not unimportant, I say.

"Let's be clear here," he says firmly. "My dad had custody. My mother was still part of my life. But not in the way my dad was. And never has been."

Did it affect his romantic relationships with women, because he didn't have that female influence in his life?

"Again, I haven't really analysed that. Someone might see that. I am with Ange nearly 17 years," he says referring to his English wife Angela Malloch (they married in 2008) and the mother of his children.

"It has certainly made me realise that it is important to find someone who is your best friend and you share the ups and downs with them, and you try to push through the good and bad times together.

"I don't know what was going on in the 1970s. My father was one of the first males to get custody in the state of Victoria."

Jason will star in Million Dollar Quartet at the Grand Opera House in Belfast in April. The highly entertaining show is inspired by the December 4, 1956 sonic summit that saw the rock 'n' roll world - and indeed the world - shift on its axis when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins came together for the first and sadly only time at Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, in an iconic session overseen by Sun founder Sam Phillips, played by Donovan.

Post-Neighbours, Jason starred in Joseph And The Technicolor Dreamcoat, as well as other cheese-tastic musicals like Annie Get Your Gun and The War Of The Worlds. He has also appeared in Strictly Come Dancing and I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! (he came third in both.)

For some people, he says, success is "being famous"; for others success is "being able to walk, or overcoming cancer".

The 1980s were "pretty crazy", Jason says of his international super-stardom. This pretty craziness morphed into something truly that because by the early 1990s Jason had became addicted to cocaine - and was on a reputed three grams of the drug a day.

According to his book, Jason would come off stage in Joseph, get out of his loincloth, take a visit to the lavatory, and "I'd cut myself one hell of a line and snort it all up in one go".

He also wrote that at dinner parties in London - where he moved to in the late 1980s - that cocaine was brought out "like it was Walls Viennetta".

There is also the apocryphal story of Jason, the worse for coke, falling on top of movie star Jack Nicholson at a house party in the city.

So, what drew him to the darkness of cocaine?

"That's a long story. I didn't drink alcohol until I was 30, because I was around my father and actors. I didn't like what alcohol did. So I smoked weed at a young age. That was my drug of choice. Unfortunately, as I got more successful, I went in other areas."

Was he burying his pain?

"You'd have to ask a psychologist. I don't know. Why did I do it? Because I enjoyed it. I could go out, and you know, I felt I was being creative under it. I guess it was a rebellious thing against the image of me," Jason says with brutal honesty of his butter-wouldn't-melt-in-his-mouth image borne out of his role as Scott in Neighbours.

"Maybe it is all of those things. Maybe it is the claustrophobia of fame and that whole aspect. I don't know. But if you ask me why I took it (cocaine), it was because I enjoyed it," he says.

His enjoyment of the drug was arguably severely tested when he had a seizure during a soiree at Johnny Depp's Viper Room club in Los Angeles in January, 1995: the occasion being the 21st birthday party for Depp's then-girlfriend, Kate Moss.

When Jason collapsed INXS front man Michael Hutchence reportedly whispered into his ear as an ambulance was called: "Have you got anything on you? It wouldn't be cool if anything was found on you by the medics."

The next memory Jason had was of being carried out of the club by paramedics on a stretcher to LA's Cedars-Sinai Hospital."Cocaine is evil," Jason says, and he has long since been clean of any drugs.

"And it is a choice you make. It is not the right choice. And hopefully with my kids, I educate them to make the best choices possible."

I have to say that I very much enjoyed the company of the complicated Donovan.

He is raw and honest, and doesn't coat his story with the sugary schmaltz of showbiz too much, if at all.

Titling your best-selling book Between The Lines: My Story Uncut bordered on a private joke about cocaine, and certainly wasn't the bland outpourings expected from a major mainstream star.

And he doesn't seem to mind being grilled about his life at home.

What's Jason Donovan like in his private moments?

He replies: "It depends on the environment I'm in and how I'm feeling."

When he's at home with Ange and the kids?

"They would say that I'm stressed, always stressed, that I'm always uptight."

Why's that?

"Because I'm always thinking about what's ahead and what I've got to do."

Is he ever in the now?

"Yeah, I am. When you've got a family and you've got kids and you've got that whole treadmill of maintaining their lives as well as yours - I find that burden quite stressful sometimes," he says.

"I wouldn't change it for the world. My life is incredible. So I can't complain. People would say 'you're very lucky'. And I am very lucky.

"But it still comes with its problems. And I'm not very good at relaxing.

"It's like this year is very busy up until July, August, and then I don't have a lot going on after that. I get quite stressed out about that.

"'What am I going to do? How am I going to fill it?' But part of me that is struggling with that is probably going, 'Enjoy it. You might be flat-out in January. You might be flat-out in December'. But I don't think that way.

"I've always been very driven, ambitious. My dad, being alive at 81, has always been like that," he laughs.

Does his wife balance Jason out?

"My wife is a very intelligent, strong, grounded woman. Does she ground me? She is tolerant of my crap sometimes. I'm not talking on the Richter scale of one to 10! I am quite content in who I am."

Jason adds that growing up in suburban Melbourne - "where it is a little more cultural; it is not as weather dependent as the rest of Australia and lot of the theatre is generated out of Melbourne" - had a deep-rooted influence on him.

"It is a thinking town. I wanted to act. But I had a plan B."

That was his art. Jason describes his style of painting as like Jean-Michel Basquiat, "the New York artist who died of Aids" (in 1988). "It was borne out of that period in the 1990s when I was trying to be creative."

He has just been to see La La Land with his wife in London. "Loved it," he smiles.

"Just beautiful. Made me feel good."

Hopefully Jason Donovan in Million Dollar Quartet will make the audience feel good, too.
DUP Leader Arlene Foster pictured speaking at the first event of the 5 Leaders, 5 Days series - a programme of events organised by the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) at which the party leader from five main political parties will outline their plans for jobs, growth and the economy. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

DUP Leader Arlene Foster speaking at the first event of the 5 Leaders, 5 Days series - a programme of events organised by the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the run up to the election. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

DUP leader Arlene Foster described it as "strange" that Mike Nesbitt would transfer votes to nationalists over her own party in the forthcoming Assembly election.

UUP leader Nesbitt said that after voting for UUP candidate Andy Allen in his East Belfast constituency, he would be giving his second preference to the SDLP.

No other UUP politician has so far publicly supported their leader's position by saying that they will give a second or third preference to Colum Eastwood's party.

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Mrs Foster, speaking during a Northern Ireland Chamber event in Belfast on Tuesday said she understood why other Ulster Unionist Party members had disagreed with the leader's comments, and why they would transfer votes to the DUP and other unionists.

She said the UUP candidates would be "cutting their noses off to spite their faces" by transferring to the SDLP and would themselves require unionist votes in order to get elected.

Mrs Foster also told business leaders that a stable Executive and devolved government is required to secure a reduced rate of corporation tax.

She said that cannot happen if Northern Ireland returns to direct rule.

The DUP leader said she would considered reducing the rate further still, to 10%.

Speaking about the collapse of Stormont, she said it was down to Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams trying to reassert control in Northern Ireland.

She said she "understood" the annoyance of a fresh election just months after the public went to the polls in May, and acknowledged "mistakes have been made".

Mrs Foster added that a lack of a stable government will threaten job growth and creation for the Northern Ireland economy.
The SDLP candidate who UUP leader Mike Nesbitt has pledged to give his second preference vote to has not reciprocated the gesture.

Seamas De Faoite is running for the SDLP in East Belfast where Mr Nesbitt lives and where he will cast his vote at the Assembly election next month.

Mr Nesbitt raised eyebrows on Sunday when he revealed he will vote firstly for his own party's candidate Andy Allen, and then for the sole SDLP candidate in the constituency.

However, Mr De Faoite refused to say whether he would vote for the UUP candidate in South Belfast, where he lives and will be voting.

"Much like Mike I'm in a different constituency to where I'm standing, so I'll be voting SDLP 1 and 2 and then transferring down the ballot to change the government," he told the Belfast Telegraph. The statement is the latest blow to Mr Nesbitt, who has been roundly criticised by unionists for his public declaration of support for the SDLP.

DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said other UUP candidates needed to make clear whether they supported their party leader's position, pointing out that the total number of votes for nationalist candidates fell in the last Assembly poll in May.

"There will be many Ulster Unionist Party members who will be dismayed that Mike Nesbitt wishes to reverse that trend through his desire to see nationalist representation in the Assembly increased ahead of other unionists," he added.

TUV leader Jim Allister said: "Giving preferences to nationalists before unionists should not be the business of the leader of a party committed to maintaining the Union."

Sinn Fein's Caral Ni Chuilin also criticised Mr Nesbitt's comments. "Let me remind Mike that unless the institutions operate on the basis of equality and respect, there will be no institutions," she said.

"If we get enough votes, Sinn Fein will be in the Executive in line with the Good Friday Agreement. It is it not up to Mike Nesbitt or the UUP to say who can or cannot be in the Executive. We will be in government.

"The real question is, will the UUP take up a role in the Executive after this election or go back to the comfort of the opposition benches?"

And Mr Nesbitt's generous gesture was not reciprocated by SDLP leader Colum Eastwood.

"We are fighting very hard to retain seats and gain seats and our job as a political party is to get people to vote for us," he said.
Last month an estimated 1,000 British Army veterans took part in a march in London to highlight concerns over the prosecution of former soldiers for killings which occurred during the Troubles

The organisers of a British Army veterans' March for Justice planned for Londonderry have moved the event to Coleraine.

Craigavon man Anto Wickham, spokesperson for the Justice for Veterans UK (JFVUK) group, says that the decision to relocate their march to the Co Derry town 30 miles away came because of serious concerns for the safety of those taking part.

JFVUK had planned to bring 100 British Army veterans to march around Derry on Saturday, March 4 in protest against ongoing "vindictive" criminal investigations involving former soldiers, including those accused over the Bloody Sunday killings in 1972. However, republican groups had called people on to the streets on the same day for a "mass mobilisation" to demonstrate against what they said was "local and national opposition to this charade that seeks to justify the killing of Irish citizens".

JFVUK is now calling on veterans to join them in Coleraine, where they will march from the Royal British Legion and lay a wreath at the Coleraine cenotaph.

"I am happy to say that we will still be holding a March for Justice in the County of Londonderry," said Mr Wickham. "With help from the Royal British Legion in Coleraine, we are now able to parade and carry on our fight for justice.

"It was such a hard call to cancel the parade, as so much hard work had been done by the group, the local Royal British Legion and veterans to make it happen. However, after being in contact with the PSNI and the Parades Commission, and being updated on the threats that were coming in, we could not push on with the march. There was far too much at risk."

The March for Justice will now congregate at the Royal British Legion in Coleraine at 1.30pm and the parade will set off at 2pm.

In January an estimated 1,000 British Army veterans took part in a march to Downing Street in protest at former soldiers being "subjected to witch-hunts" in the wake of the Troubles.
A Northern Ireland chef who appeared in the BBC's Great British Menu last year has been given a suspended jail term for possessing cocaine, LSD and cannabis.

Eddie Attwell (30), of Belfast Road, Antrim, appeared at Antrim Magistrates Court yesterday for sentencing on two counts of possessing class A drugs and one charge of possessing class B drugs.

Head chef at St Kyrans Country House Hotel in Virginia, Co Cavan, he previously worked at Ardtara Country House in Co Londonderry.

Attwell, who had a previous criminal record, was detected with the drugs in his car after being stopped at a police checkpoint at Dundrod Road, near Antrim town, on February 22 last year.

A defence lawyer said Attwell had been taking drugs to cope with the pressures of being a chef, but that his employer was supporting him in getting counselling, which had seen him free of class A substances for four months.

A prosecutor said Attwell was driving a car that was stopped at 12.30am in which co-accused, Janine Branagh (28), of Coolnasilla Park West, Belfast, was a front seat passenger.

He said police smelled cannabis and subsequently searched the vehicle. Attwell told officers there were drugs in the back of the car.

The defence lawyer said full admissions were made concerning the drugs, and those found included a small amount of cocaine, five squares of LSD worth 5, and two ounces of cannabis for personal use.

The lawyer said Attwell was employed as a chef in Cavan and had been working long hours that week, adding the drugs were "a coping mechanism for stress" connected with the "pressurised environment" in which he worked, but that Attwell's employer was supporting him and the defendant was getting weekly counselling.

The defence lawyer said Branagh had a previously clear record and she was currently setting up an online business.

Imposing two-month jail terms on each defendant, suspended for a year, District Judge Oonagh Mullan said they were both "educated people".

She warned them that if drugs were a "lifestyle choice", they would have to "face the consequences".
Police at the scene of the fatal road accident on the Ramoan Road in Ballycastle, in which Anne Malone died yesterday

Tributes have been paid to a grandmother who was killed as she crossed a road in Co Antrim.

The woman was Anne-Marie Malone who died at the scene.

The incident happened on the Ramoan Road in Ballycastle, close to the police station.

Mrs Malone, who was aged in her 50s and from Ballycastle, was struck by a vehicle at around 4.45pm yesterday.

Cara McShane, a Sinn Fein councillor for the area, described her as a "jovial" woman who was well respected in the town.

"Anne's family is very well known and liked in the Ballycastle area," she told the Belfast Telegraph.

"Anne was a very jovial and happy woman. Everyone smiled when they met her, she had an infectious smile.

"Her husband, Kieran, worked in a local bank - both of them were very well-liked.

"It's a big shock to the community which is so tight-knit.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and to the driver of the car who is also from Ballycastle. This is now something he has to live with and our hearts are breaking for him too.

"It's horrific."

SDLP North Antrim representative Connor Duncan said her death is a tragedy that has shocked local people.

He said: "My thoughts are first and foremost with this woman's family and friends at this very difficult time.

"The Ballycastle community is in shock but I have no doubt that they will rally round the family as they mourn the loss of a loved one. I would encourage anyone who was in the Ramoan Road area at 5pm yesterday and who may have seen anything to report it to the police as soon as possible."

Alliance candidate for North Antrim, Patricia O'Lynn, also offered her sympathies.

She said: "This was a tragic accident in which a woman lost her life.

"It is an incredibly sad time for the family and I send them my deepest sympathies as they deal with this tragedy. My thoughts are also with the emergency services who attended the scene.

"The PSNI has asked for witnesses to come forward and I would urge anyone who was in the area at the time of the accident to speak to the police."

Police are appealing for information following the tragedy.

Inspector O'Brien said: "I would ask anyone who witnessed this road traffic collision, or the car or pedestrian in the run-up to the collision, to contact Coleraine Police Station."

Mrs Malone's death takes the number of people killed on Northern Ireland's roads to seven this year.

Meanwhile, police are also appealing for information following a two vehicle collision that occurred on the Frosses Road near Ballymoney at approximately 6.35pm yesterday.

The road traffic collision involved a black Citroen C4 Picasso and a white Suzuki Swift.

Two people were taken to hospital for treatment to their injuries which are not believed to be life threatening.

Inspector Colin Reeves said: "I would ask anyone who witnessed this collision, or either car in the run-up to the collision, to contact Coleraine Police Station."
DUP leader Arlene Foster faced criticism after saying she would not support an Irish Language Act

DUP leader Arlene Foster has insisted it is wrong to portray her as anti-Irish language.

Speaking at a Northern Ireland Chambers event in Belfast, Mrs Foster said people are "absolutely entitled" to "express themselves through their love of the Irish language or Irish culture".

Mrs Foster faced furious criticism recently after she said she would not be supporting the introduction of an Irish Language Act, as part of a series of measures to facilitate the restoration of power-sharing after the March Assembly elections.

Speaking at the launch of her party's election campaign in Lurgan recently, Mrs Foster said: "If we have an Irish language act, maybe we should have a Polish language act as well because there are more people in Northern Ireland who speak Polish, compared to Irish."

Referring to Sinn Fein demands, she said: "If you feed a crocodile, it will keep coming back for more."

However, speaking during the NI Chamber's 5 Leaders; 5 Days series, Mrs Foster insisted that just because she is not in favour of an Irish language act, does not mean she is anti-Irish language.

"People are absolutely entitled, and they want to be encouraged, to express themselves through their love of the Irish language or Irish culture," said Mrs Foster.

"My difficulty with the Irish language act is around the cost, the fact it would have equity and equality with the English language that in terms of the civil service, there would have to be affirmative action for people who were Irish speakers and there would be criminal offences if people didn't co-operate with an Irish language commissioner, all of those things.

"It is wrong to portray me in a way that I am anti-Irish language. That is not the case at all.

Mrs Foster described her experiences over the past two months, both personally and politically, as "brutal".

She said after she came back from her business trip to China late last year, "all hell had broken lose" in Stormont.

"The level of respect for difference, the level of tolerance isn't there at the moment. I deeply regret that," she said.

"I would wish for a more respectful, tolerant politics and maybe this might be a watershed moment and we have that after the election takes place."

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein's Mairtin O Muilleoir has told a meeting of the finance ministers from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and the British Treasury that the British Government should fulfil its obligations on an Irish language Act.

"At the meeting I told David Gauke, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, that Tory policies have undermined the peace, reconciliation and political processes in the North.

"For too long the Tories have provided cover for DUP disrespect to the Irish language and identity.

"Nowhere is that clearer than in their opposition to an Irish Language Act, which was promised in the St Andrew's Agreement but has not been delivered to date due to the DUP-Tory tag team of intolerance," the finance minister said.
A police officer at the scene of yesterday mornings shooting in Craigavon

A 31-year-old man is in a critical condition in hospital following a shooting attack on a house in Craigavon.

Police believe an automatic weapon was used in the incident in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Up to 20 shots were fired through the front living room window of the house in Carrigart Crescent.

The victim was on his own when the attack happened at around 1.45am.

A Skoda car that was seen in the area before the attack is thought to be connected to the shooting. It was found burnt out at New Line in Lurgan a short time afterwards.

Police say it had fake number plates and had been stolen in the Dublin area in December.

There have been a number of similar attacks in recent weeks, including one in Poyntzpass.

However, Chief Inspector Jon Burrows said that while all lines of enquiry were open, the PSNI did not at this time believe the shooting to be linked to any other.

He appealed for information on the attempted murder.

He said: "At this stage we believe that those responsible had carefully planned this attack. We are keen to trace the car's movements in the time leading up to the shooting.

"We are working to establish a motive for the attack and I would ask anyone with any information about the incident itself or any ongoing issues in the area to contact detectives."

Upper Bann Ulster Unionist Assembly candidate Doug Beattie said: "I unreservedly condemn last night's shooting in the Carrigart Crescent area of Craigavon in which 20 shots were fired into a house and a man was critically injured.

"There is no excuse or reason for anyone to be carrying or using weapons. It is long past time that criminal and paramilitary activity ended for good, and that no community in Northern Ireland has to live in fear of the law of the gun.

"I would ask anyone who saw anything suspicious in that area in the early hours of Monday morning to contact the police immediately and to help them remove a dangerous criminal gang from our midst."

Liam Mackle, Sinn Fein councillor for the area, also condemned the shooting.

He said: "It is complete madness firing an automatic rifle in an area like that with lots of young families living there.

"I want to call on people to give whatever information they can to the PSNI. The sooner these people are locked up the better. I hope the man makes a full and quick recovery. It's very unusual for this to happen in this area - it's a relatively new development that wouldn't be there for more than 10 years.

"I have helped out constituents in the area and know there are a lot of young families.

"I don't think there has ever been anything like this happen before."
News / National

by Staff reporter

There was all-round agreement yesterday that the much-anticipated 2018 presidential election would be another titanic contest between popular opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe - or a nominee of the increasingly frail nonagenarian.Zanu-PF insiders and political analysts who spoke to the Daily News said with former Vice President Joice Mujuru's political fortunes taking a severe battering last week - as her fledgling Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) party implodes - there was no one else other than Tsvangirai and his MDC who had "a realistic chance" of taking on Mugabe and Zanu-PF in 2018."We are not moved by the many Mickey Mouse opponents within the opposition ranks who are muddying the waters, we know and are firmly focussed on crushing Tsvangirai and MDC again as the next elections approach," a ruling party bigwig said.On their part, political analysts said the ructions currently ravaging ZPF meant that Mujuru's chances of contesting against Mugabe in 2018 had now taken a "serious dent".Among other senior Zanu-PF officials who appear to share the view is vocal Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo, who tweeted at the weekend that: "A grand coalition in Zim is by definition untenable because there are many opposition individuals but only one real opposition party, MDC-T!".Writing on his blog on Saturday, UK-based academic and former adviser to Tsvangirai during the era of the government of national unity, Alex Magaisa, also suggested that Tsvangirai and the MDC remained the biggest challenges to Mugabe and Zanu-PF's quests to remain in power."Although it has been a lean period (the past few years), the MDC-T remains Zanu-PF's most formidable opponent. This is why, even though the party has boycotted by-elections since 2013, Zanu-PF campaigners always chant "Pasi neMDC-T / Pasi naTsvangirai!" (Down with MDC-T/Down with Tsvangirai!) - Zanu-PF's notorious ritual of banishing the opposition."They do so even when they are competing with other opposition parties. Mentally, their most important rival is still the MDC-T and Tsvangirai. State media propaganda continues to focus on the MDC-T and Tsvangirai as the primary targets," he said.All this comes as Mujuru and ZPF's founding fathers, Didymus Mutasa and Rugare Gumbo, are escalating their feud, which saw hordes of party bigwigs deserting the troubled political outfit last week.On the other hand, Mugabe and Zanu-PF are battling to keep their former liberation movement's ugly tribal, factional and succession wars in check, as the nonagenarian's impatient lieutenants stampede to try and take over from him.Professor of politics at the University of Zimbabwe, Eldred Masunungure, was among the analysts who said yesterday that Mujuru's troubles had dealt her "a body blow" in her quest to lead the mooted grand opposition alliance and take Mugabe head-on in the 2018 presidential election."With recent developments in Mujuru's party, it's now obvious that the favourite candidate to lead the coalition is MDC leader Tsvangirai."Tsvangirai is now the best candidate left ... the chances are now thinner for Mujuru to lead the coalition with what has happened in her party. She is not a strong leader," the respected Masunungure told the Daily News.In a stunning development that shook both the opposition movement and ordinary Zimbabweans alike, Mujuru "expelled" ZPF's founding fathers Gumbo and Mutasa, together with five other party heavyweights last week - on account of them being alleged Zanu-PF agents and working to topple her from her interim position.But no sooner had she completed her briefing than the situation turned into a complete farce, when Mutasa and Gumbo announced at their own press conference that they had also summarily "expelled" Mujuru from ZPF.Mutasa and Gumbo have since seemingly taken control of the party's affairs, after they claimed that they were the rightful owners of the fledgling opposition party and its image rights."Mujuru is not known for having done something extraordinary that would give her the ideal qualities of a leader. The squabbles in her party show that she cannot manage a crisis."She could have implemented lots of options, including assuring the party elders of a controlling stake in the party and electing a council of advisers such that decisions were arrived at after well thought-out deliberations," another analyst, Shakespear Hamauswa, said."Again she could have appointed a committee to look into the differences they were having. If entering a coalition was the main cause for the split, then Mujuru could have done something much better. I think she lacks strategy unless behind the scenes some other things are taking place."Morgan managed to build his party in 2005 when it seemed impossible because the secretary general had gone with the national chair, who later came back, as well as the spokesperson, the treasurer, the deputy president and other top key figures."But he managed to rebuild the party into a formidable force which caused a coalition government in 2008. So, I think the best person to lead is Morgan Tsvangirai," Hamauswa added.Another political analyst, Maxwell Saungweme, also said Tsvangirai remained "the only suitable leader" to lead the planned opposition coalition."He is the only opposition leader with the biggest support base. There is no debate about that. He does have his weaknesses and vices, but he is the only opposition leader with some modicum of credibility to lead any coalition."Mujuru must put her house in order first. Let her finish forming and solidifying her party before tasking her with the responsibility to lead an opposition coalition," he said.But despite ZPF's unfolding chaos, Mujuru has been working behind the scenes with Tsvangirai and other smaller opposition parties towards the formation of the planned grand coalition.Analysts have also consistently said that a united opposition, fighting with one purpose, would bring to an end Mugabe's long rule - especially at this time when the country's economy is dying and the increasingly frail nonagenarian is battling to keep his warring Zanu-PF united.Recently, Tsvangirai also said Mujuru had proved to be a significant opposition player - and that the two would work together with others to dethrone Mugabe and Zanu-PF from power next year.Mujuru was expelled from Zanu-PF together with Gumbo and Mutasa in the run-up to the ruling party's sham "elective congress" in December 2014, on untested allegations of plotting to assassinate and topple Mugabe from power.Meanwhile, analysts also say barring unforeseen circumstances, Mugabe was likely to be the Zanu-PF candidate in 2018, at the very mature age of 94 years.This is despite the fact that the ruling party's two major factions - Team Lacoste which is rallying behind Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and the Generation 40 group which is rabidly opposed to the VP succeeding Mugabe - have been going hammer and tongs at each other in recent months over its succession riddle.Mugabe - the only leader Zimbabweans have known since the country gained its independence from Britain in April 1980 - has managed to keep them at bay, refusing to name a successor and arguing that Zanu-PF should rather follow what he sees as a more democratic process; to manage his succession via a congress.
An Ulster Unionist councillor has resigned from the party in protest at leader Mike Nesbitt's pledge to give a second preference vote to the SDLP.

Carol Black, a representative on Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, accused Mr Nesbitt of destroying the ethos of the party.

She quit hours after the UUP leader said he had no regrets on expressing electoral support for the nationalist party. He insisted he will stand by his vision of unionists and nationalists working in partnership.

Ms Black, who won the high profile 2008 Dromore by-election for the UUP, wrote on Facebook: " Today I have resigned from Ulster Unionist Party after the comments made by Mike Nesbitt the Ethos of our Party is destroyed."

Alderman Jim Speers, who is the UUP group leader on Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon council, said he was disappointed but not surprised by her move.

"We have a vision of unionism that embraces everyone, and clearly Carol Black does not subscribe to this, given her comments," he said.

"We are a political party open to all faiths and none."

Earlier, launching the party's Assembly election manifesto in Belfast, Mr Nesbitt rejected any suggestion he had scored a political own goal and said criticism of his stance would not deflect him from striving for a "better" Northern Ireland.

A number of Mr Nesbitt's fellow UUP election candidates have already made clear they will not follow his lead and will instead only support other pro-Union parties down the ballot paper in March's snap Assembly poll.

The party leader said he was "relaxed" at the idea of colleagues taking a different position based on the electoral dynamics within their own constituencies, but he said he stood by his principles.

"What I am trying to achieve is a stretch for some people, it's not going to be easy, and if it was we would have done it by now," he said.

"But it's 19 years since we made that commitment to a fresh start (in the Good Friday Agreement) involving reconciliation, tolerance, mutual trust, offering mutual respect.

"Those are the principles that I believe in and it doesn't surprise me that people are poking fun or putting question marks against my motivation and all the rest - that's life, that's politics.

"I am not deflected, I am determined. Northern Ireland deserves better."

Accusing the DUP and Sinn Fein of engaging in "dog whistle politics" to polarise communities, he said it was time to "forget factions and sections" and create a government that was "fair and honest for everybody".

Insisting he retained the trust of party colleagues, Mr Nesbitt said the politics of "domination" had not worked in Northern Ireland.

"You can have domination or you can have partnership - domination doesn't work, partnership does. It is the only pathway to reconciliation, tolerance, trust and respect."

He added: "People have tried to dominate in this country and other countries and other continents since time immemorial - it doesn't work."

Addressing an election event elsewhere in the city, DUP leader Arlene Foster said she found it "strange" that Mr Nesbitt "would rather have members from a nationalist community returned to Stormont as opposed to members of the unionist community".

"But of course he has to answer for himself," she added.

"My own party, we will be transferring to other unionists. It doesn't surprise me that members of his own party are coming out and saying something different to what he has said because they know that they may in some cases need the transfers from other unionists and won't be cutting off their noses just to spite their faces."

The controversy first flared on Sunday when the UUP leader said that, after his own party, he would vote for the SDLP ahead of other unionist candidates.

However, Mr Nesbitt did not go so far as to say he would advise other UUP supporters to adopt the same approach.

The UUP and SDLP have positioned themselves as an alternative partnership government at Stormont to take the place of the long-standing DUP/Sinn Fein-led coalition.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has not explicitly said he would recommend a second preference for the UUP, though he has urged supporters to back candidates who wanted "change".

Mrs Foster dismissed her rivals' chances of forming the next administration.

"With greatest respect to Mike and Colum, neither of their parties are even fielding enough candidates to win this election," she told a gathering of business leaders in Belfast.
The front window of a house in Fashoda street in east Belfast smashed in an overnight attack. Pacemaker Belfast 14/02/2017

The front window of a house in Fashoda street in east Belfast smashed in an overnight attack. Pacemaker Belfast 14/02/2017

The front window of a house in Fashoda street in east Belfast smashed in an overnight attack. Pacemaker Belfast 14/02/2017

PACEMAKER BELFAST 14/02/2017 The front window of a house in Fashoda street in east Belfast smashed in an overnight attack.

A mum and her young daughter escaped injury after a hammer-wielding gang smashed up their east Belfast home.

The men, armed with hammers smashed windows, broke into the Fashoda Street home smashing the windows in the kitchen and another at the front of the house before fleeing the scene on Monday at around 8.30pm.

No one was hurt and police are appealing for information.
A six months' pregnant SDLP politician has been sent a bullet in the post by loyalist paramilitaries.

The PSNI is investigating the death threat which was sent to the party's Assembly candidate in north Belfast, Nichola Mallon, in recent weeks.

The threat follows Ms Mallon's staunch criticism of Stormont's Social Investment Fund (SIF) and her demand that UDA boss Dee Stitt resign from his 35,000-a-year job as chief executive of Charter NI.

The threat against Ms Mallon was reported initially to local police, but was passed on to the PSNI's C3 unit, formerly Special Branch, who are now investigating it.

The outgoing North Belfast MLA is due to give birth to her second child in May. Her party colleagues last night expressed their disgust that she had been targeted.

And Alliance leader Naomi Long, who has herself received loyalist death threats, voiced her "absolute sympathy and support" for Ms Mallon in standing up to intimidation.

The SDLP politician lives in north Belfast with her husband, Brendan Scott, who works in PR, and her 18-month-old daughter Elena. Ms Mallon last night said that she wouldn't be deterred from speaking out against paramilitaries. "As someone who has stood before the electorate and been elected to represent the people of North Belfast, I am entitled to ask questions about how public money is being spent," she said.

"It is an affront to democracy that thugs and paramilitaries react to these legitimate questions by threatening and attempting to intimidate me. Like many others in the SDLP before me, I will not be bullied into silence."

There is no suggestion that Mr Stitt was in any way involved in the threat against Ms Mallon.

Condemning the threat, Naomi Long said: "I'm totally shocked by this threat and those who are behind it should be ashamed of themselves. It is completely unacceptable that a young mother who is pregnant should be put under this stress. I know personally what a frightening experience it is and the stress it places on your wider family."

Ms Long, and other Alliance colleagues, were sent bullets in the post during the loyalist flags protest.

Alban Maginness, who previously held the SDLP's North Belfast Assembly seat, said he condemned the threat to his colleague's life in the strongest possible terms. "It is outrageous that Nichola Mallon has been sent a bullet in the post," he said.

"She has done so much to help people in the area and to promote peace and reconciliation in our society. In the past, the police warned me to be careful and to check under my car.

"I never received a specific threat, but I am horrified that Nichola has. She has been so courageous in speaking out against paramilitaries. She is a fearless critic of anything corrupt and untoward."

A PSNI spokesman last night said: "We do not discuss the security of individuals. However, if we receive information that a person's life may be at risk we will inform them accordingly. We never ignore anything which may put an individual at risk."
Sinn Fein's northern leader Michelle O'Neill said she is willing to find a resolution to Stormont's problems in post-election negotiations, but not if the Secretary of State is in the chair.

Mrs O'Neill said she wanted to see a return of devolved institutions that delivered for all citizens.

However, she reiterated her stance that James Brokenshire should not mediate any dialogue process that follows March's snap election.

If the DUP and Sinn Fein are again returned as the two largest parties, they will have only three weeks to resolve their differences and form a new power-sharing Executive.

Stormont could be facing a return to direct rule from Westminster if that deadline passes without a deal on issues such as legacy and the Irish language.

Mrs O'Neill and party colleagues met with Mr Brokenshire at Stormont House in Belfast to discuss the current political crisis yesterday.

After the meeting she said: "Sinn Fein will come at these negotiations with a willingness to find a way through to make sure we have institutions that deliver for all of our citizens. We have made it very clear and we repeat again that we will not return to the status quo."

Sinn Fein's Stormont leader accused Mr Brokenshire and the UK Government of favouring unionists.

"His one-sided partisan view means he cannot be an honest broker in negotiations," she said.

"I think the British Government have continually failed to live up to their responsibilities as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement. They have pandered to unionism time and time again, and they have shown and demonstrated a one-sided approach when it comes to the issues of legacy." Mr Brokenshire travelled to Dublin yesterday evening for meetings with key political, business, energy sector and tourism figures to discuss the challenges facing Northern Ireland and the Republic as the UK prepares to leave the EU.

This morning the Northern Ireland Secretary is set to attend a business breakfast with Tourism Ireland ahead of scheduled meetings with Irish Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin.

Mr Brokenshire said he will discuss the current political instability with Mr Flanagan.

"My visit to Dublin comes at an important time, with the UK Government on course to trigger Article 50 by the end of March, which will begin our negotiations to exit the European Union," he said.

"As Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, I am acutely aware that the ability to move and trade freely across the border is an essential part of daily life for people and businesses on both sides of the border, and the UK Government recognises the importance of finding a practical solution that reflects the unique economic, social and political context of the border.

"We want to see trade and travel continuing to be as frictionless as possible.

"It is vital the Common Travel Area and excellent economic links with Ireland are maintained, and both issues will be significant priorities for the UK in the talks ahead.

"I also welcome the opportunity to meet Minister Flanagan to discuss the current period of political uncertainty in Northern Ireland and reinforce the commitment of both the UK and Irish governments to bring forward the bodies to address the legacy of Northern Ireland's past, as well as ensuring the establishment of a stable devolved government in a Northern Ireland that works for everyone."
A retired Co Tyrone teacher has praised one of his former pupils for her pioneering work to improve the lives of villagers and elephants in Thailand.

Kerri McCrea (26) from Donemana grew restless in 2013 working for a pharmaceutical company in Antrim, so she gave it up to work with elephants in Thailand through Global Vision International (GVI) and went on to found the Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary.

The animal lover hoped the two-year programme in Ban Naklang would open doors for her to work with wildlife back home, but now the Queen's University zoology graduate has no intention of returning.

"I fell in love with this place and I had started to pick up the language. I have no desire to go home, but my parents tell me it's time for a visit," she said.

Kerri also fell in love with Sombat Wheeraqwandee, a Thai man who was working with GVI.

Sombat's extended family owned nine elephants.

When Kerri completed her two years with GVI she started teaching English in Chiang Mai, and returned to Sombat's village at weekends to work at an elephant camp. But she became increasingly upset by the squalid living conditions the animals were forced to endure.

"They were the worst conditions I have ever seen. They were being worked to exhaustion, with poor nutrition and inadequate social time. Even Sombat's father was annoyed," she said.

This prompted Kerri and Sombat to launch the non-profit organisation, which not only helps relocate elephants to the forest, but provides alternative livelihoods for their mahouts and owners. They launched the project in May 2016.

"We wanted to do something which allows the elephants to live as freely as possible and go back to their natural habitat, but we want to be able to help the village too by employing locals as guides and hosts for our guests," Kerri said.

"Our Home Stay programme means locals can provide accommodation for our visitors and interns, which generates an alternative income for them."

Deforestation in Thailand poses a major problem to the concept of the Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary, so Kerri has expanded the project.

In addition to providing English lessons, she is trying to encourage locals to move away from corn farming, which is a major revenue source.

"This will free up land we can use for forestation," she said.

In dry season, usually from February to March, farmers in the region burn their fields to prepare the land for the next year. Added to high levels of traffic pollution, this creates a toxic atmosphere north of Bangkok and causes respiratory problems.

"We are trying to set up workshops to warn of the dangers and teach locals more sustainable methods," Kerri said.

Kerri's former teacher Stephen Birkett taught at Strabane Grammar School - now Strabane Academy - for 40 years and has visited her twice in Thailand.

Now retired, he told the Belfast Telegraph he is very proud of her and said Kerri "has impressed me more than any doctor or successful entrepreneur ever could".

"Kerri is doing a wonderful job. She is helping people improve their lives and the lives of the elephants in an ethical way," he added.

Still in its first year, the project has been commended by the Green Thailand Excellence Awards.

Kerri has thanked her former biology teacher for his support and said she relies on people like him to support her vision.

"Stephen visited me in Chiang Mai about a year ago and I told him my plans. He has followed my progress and has been one of the most supportive people, we still rely on fundraising to keep the project going," she said.
Prison officer James Ferris, who died of a heart attack after being stabbed during the mass breakout

A move by Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly to offer a copy of his book on the 1983 Maze breakout as a Valentine's competition prize has been criticised as "very distasteful" by the Prison Officers' Association.

The Escape tells the story of the mass IRA jailbreak in which he took part and that led to the death of a warder.

In a statement to the Belfast Telegraph last night, the prison officers' union said there was "nothing romantic" about the death of one of their own.

Thirty-eight republican inmates fled the maximum security facility in September 1983 in the biggest prison break in British or Irish history.

Nineteen were recaptured within a short period, but the rest got away.

Warder James Ferris died of a heart attack after being stabbed.

Two others were shot but survived.

"As the author of this book, it's Mr Kelly's right to promote it as he pleases," said the POA's Adrian Smith.

"However, as a Valentine's gift, the Prison Officers' Association would find it very distasteful, as there is nothing romantic about the death of a prison officer."

Ulster Unionist MP Danny Kinahan said he was unsurprised by Sinn Fein's attitude.

He said: "It's shameless. It's sad they feel they have to do that, but I don't expect anything different.

"I look forward to the day Sinn Fein make an effort to work with everybody.

"I find that a slightly odd use of Valentine's - if I gave my wife a book on unionism on Valentine's Day she would laugh at me. I find it a very odd thing to do."

The mass escape was described at the time by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as "the greatest incident in British prison history".

A film adaptation based on the book is currently in post-production but its makers have been accused of "romanticising the violence" of the breakout.

The Irish-Swedish co-production is being funded by the Irish Film Board (IFB), Film Vast and RTE, with Cork County Council and Cork County Council Arts Offices providing regional support. It was shot in the decommissioned Cork Prison and around Cork city, and stars Tom Vaughan-Lawlor and Barry Ward.

Mr Kelly previously described his book as "a good yarn".

But in 2013 there was anger after it emerged he planned to hold a signing session in Antrim, close to where Sappers Mark Quinsey and Patrick Azimkar were shot dead in 2009 by dissidents.

He cancelled the event, saying he was doing so "as not to feed the book-burning wing of unionism".

The DUP's Paul Givan said Mr Kelly's social media post showed "new depths of insensitivity".

He said: "Sinn Fein have gone out of their way to romanticise the terrorism and violence they engaged in, but it plumbs new depths of insensitivity and offence to suggest that a tale of prison officers being shot, beaten and stabbed could in any way be considered an appropriate Valentine's Day gift. That Gerry Kelly would see his book as some romantic gift speaks volumes about the bizarre world that Sinn Fein representatives inhabit. We have heard Sinn Fein recently talk about a lack of respect.

"There is no respect for people traumatised by IRA violence when Sinn Fein glorify their terrorist, and in this case an incident which resulted in the death of a prison officer.

"Less than three weeks ago Michelle O'Neill talked about wanting to 'heal the wounds of the past'. Far from healing wounds, it seems Sinn Fein will continue to exacerbate pain and trauma."
Three people have appeared in court accused of breaking into the home of an "extremely vulnerable" disabled man

Three people have appeared in court accused of breaking into the home of an "extremely vulnerable" disabled man.

Catriona Johnston, of Dunvale Close, Londonderry, is charged with burglary, common assault and possessing cannabis.

Tanya Murray (28) and her boyfriend, 27-year-old John Paul Gormley, of Clooney Terrace, are also charged with burglary.

Murray is further charged with obstructing police.

The charges relate to an incident in Donal Casey Court in Derry in the early hours of February 12.

Derry Magistrates Court heard yesterday the injured party phoned police to report his home was being broken into. A disturbance was heard in the background and the line was dropped.

Police attended and saw that a window had been smashed.

The alleged injured party, who is disabled and uses a wheelchair, told police that Johnston and two other people had broken in.

He said he had been placed into a headlock by Johnston before his laptop was stolen.

The three defendants were stopped by police a short distance away.

Johnston was searched and the laptop was found inside her coat. She was also found to be in possession of cannabis.

The 29-year-old was cautioned and replied: "He has pictures of me on that laptop, that is why I took it from the house."

During police interview Johnston made full admissions to the burglary and assault.

She denied breaking the window to gain entry.

Murray was also cautioned, and allegedly told Johnston: "Just say nothing, I'm getting arrested for something you did."

The court heard she gave officers her sister's name and was further arrested for obstructing police.

During interview Murray claimed she had met up with Johnston after the incident. Gormley claimed he could not remember anything.

Police opposed bail over fears the defendants would interfere with the witness.

An investigating officer told the court the complainant was a "very vulnerable" man and police also had concerns about further offences.

All three defendants were released on bail and banned from having any contact with the alleged injured party.

They are also banned from going within 200 metres of his home.

The trio will appear in court again on March 9.
As the Ulster Unionists today launch their election manifesto, Mike Nesbitt appears increasingly isolated in his own party over the issue of transferring to the SDLP.

No other UUP politician has so far publicly supported their leader's position by saying that they will give a second or third preference to Colum Eastwood's party.

Several UUP candidates across Northern Ireland yesterday said they were not recommending that their voters transfer to the SDLP.

Mr Nesbitt, who lives in East Belfast, said that after voting for UUP candidate Andy Allen, he would be giving his second preference to the SDLP.

However, UUP Assembly candidate Danny Kennedy advised his voters in Newry and Armagh to transfer to the DUP, and other candidates yesterday joined his appeal to support fellow unionists.

An Ulster Unionist spokesman last night insisted that Mr Nesbitt had simply been expressing his personal opinion about how he would vote in East Belfast.

He said that the UUP leader felt it was "very understandable" that candidates elsewhere took a different position in their constituencies.

"Mike Nesbitt is perfectly comfortable with people such as Danny Kennedy in Newry and Armagh, Harold McKee in South Down, and other candidates expressing the view that they would recommend people transfer to other unionist parties.

"What Mike is focused on is a partnership of the willing (at Stormont) after the election, not a voting pact ahead of it."

In Fermanagh and South Tyrone Rosemary Barton, who is battling to save her Assembly seat, tweeted: "It's recommended that after Barton 1, you give your further vote preferences to other pro union candidates in Fermanagh and South Tyrone."

South Down candidate Mr McKee posted on Facebook: "I am advising my supporters to transfer to other pro-union candidates. This is vital in order to protect the two existing unionist seats in the constituency.

"Transferring between pro-unionist candidates in the past has ensured strong unionist representation in South Down. Not voting or not transferring will result in the fifth seat in South Down going to Sinn Fein." In Upper Bann, where the UUP is fighting to hold onto its two Assembly seats, candidate Doug Beattie said that he wouldn't be recommending that the party's supporters gave their third preference to the SDLP's Dolores Kelly. "In my own area, as far as I am concerned, I have people who represent the community better than the SDLP and I will be transferring my vote to them," he said.

"There are still two-and-a-half weeks to go but I would not be giving my second preference to the SDLP at the moment. When I go out to canvass I do so to promote the Ulster Unionist Party. It is up to other parties to promote themselves."

However, Mr Beattie refused to criticise his party leader. "Mike Nesbitt didn't give advice. He said how he'd use his vote.

"I guess all areas are different. In some, a vote for the SDLP will take a seat off Sinn Fein. Strategic thinking needed," he tweeted.

The UUP candidate in South Belfast, Michael Henderson, declined to specifically say whether his supporters should transfer to other pro-union candidates or to the SDLP.

The constituency's two outgoing DUP MLAs, Emma Little Pengelly and Christopher Stalford, are both battling to retain their seats.

Mr Henderson told the Belfast Telegraph: "I'm asking that people give their first preference to myself as the Ulster Unionist candidate. After that, they should vote for anyone whom they think will make Northern Ireland a better place.

"It's up to people themselves, not politicians, to decide whom they wish to transfer their vote to."

East Belfast candidate Mr Allen said that Mr Nesbitt was fully entitled to take the stance that he did. "It's his vote, therefore his choice. I endorse the right of an individual to vote for the candidate of their choice. Democracy," he tweeted.

Meanwhile, Seamas de Faoite - the SDLP candidate in East Belfast who is getting Mr Nesbitt's second preference - told the Belfast Telegraph: "This election is about whether or not we want a new government. The SDLP is asking people to vote for change. It suits the two big parties if voters remain in their entrenched positions."

When asked if he would transfer to the UUP in South Belfast, where he lives, Mr de Faoite said: "My first and second preferences will go to the two SDLP candidates.

"After that, there are a number of candidates from the Greens, Alliance and the UUP whom I will be considering. I haven't made my mind up yet."
The family of jailed Irishman Ibrahim Halawa have called on Taoiseach Enda Kenny to publicly demand his release from an Egyptian jail.

More than three years on from his incarceration and 19 adjournments in a mass trial, t he Halawas said nothing will change unless Ireland takes a hardline.

"Our brother will continue to waste his life away in a prison. He will continue to be beaten and punished. His family will continue to worry ourselves every day and night about his safety," they said.

Mr Halawa, 21, was imprisoned after being detained in a mosque near Ramses Square in Cairo as the Muslim Brotherhood held a "day of rage" over the removal of elected president Mohamed Morsi in August 2013.

The latest delay in the mass trial of almost 500 people is understood to have been ordered after judges said witnesses could not be called while some defendants, who are involved in other cases, were not present.

The Halawas said they are absolutely broken-hearted and frustrated.

Last month Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi told a cross-party delegation of politicians that he will be freed once his trial is over.

The Halawas said: "I t is now clear to everyone that the Egyptian Authorities are making a laugh of the Irish Government.

"President Sisi's promises of releasing Ibrahim when the trial has concluded are useless if the trial never starts in the first place. He could pardon Ibrahim today, he could make sure that Ibrahim is included in the youth amnesty but he wont because the pressure for him to do it is not there."

T he family said it is impossible for Mr Halawa to have a fair trial in a mass trial.

They called on the Government to make it clear to Egypt's foreign minister Sameh Hassan Shoukr when he travels to Malta next month that they will hold up any EU deals with Egypt until Mr Halawa is home.

They added: "We are asking the Irish Government today: when are they going to say enough is enough? When is the Taoiseach going to make that phone call to President Sisi?

"We were told back in July that the Irish Government were going to change their approach, yet nothing has changed. No phone call, no one-to-one meeting?"

F oreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan said he is deeply disappointed at the setback and concerned for Mr Halawa.

"I will continue to use every available opportunity to highlight Ireland's concerns with the Egyptian authorities," he said.

Mr Halawa is the son of prominent Muslim cleric in Dublin Sheikh Hussein Halawa.

Amnesty International Ireland said Egypt continues to ignore its obligations under domestic and international law and that technical reviews of video footage from Ramses Square found no evidence against him.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (Caaz) has proposed a 100 percent increase in Aviation Infrastructure Development Fund (Aidef)  an airport tax - to enable it to repay a loan for the upgrading of the Harare International Airport.Caaz chief executive officer David Chawota told the parliamentary portfolio committee on Transport yesterday that the move would help resource the agency."We need a review of Aidef from $5 to $10 for domestic departures and $15 to $30 for international departures," Chawota said, admitting that Zimbabwe had one of the highest airport taxes in the region.Caaz's three major revenue sources are passenger service fees, landing and parking fees as well as navigation fees which contribute about 85 percent of its total revenue.Chawota said the agency's target is to increase operational revenue by 17 percent from $35 million in 2016 to $40,7 million in 2017."The Aidef funds are the ones currently repaying the Victoria Falls Airport loan.For the second batch of the loan, we have approached government to ask for what was agreed upon before (which is $10 for domestic departures $30 for international departures)," Chawota said, adding "what we need is $180 million but we have been advised we can get $153 million for the (upgrading of) Harare International Airport."Chairperson of the committee, Chegutu West Zanu-PF MP Dexter Nduna, expressed concern on what the hike would do to the country's tourism sector, to which Chawota replied: "The comparison we have done so far is indicative that we are on the higher-end in the region."We are currently reviewing the total cost for Zimbabwe as a destinationthat is one of our strategies for 2017."The Aidef as well as the Passenger Service Charge (PSC) are payments due to Caaz that are ordinarily collected by airlines on its behalf for future remittance.Caaz has, however, assumed the role of collecting the PSC and Aidef charges directly from Air Zimbabwe passengers, a scenario that was causing a great deal of discomfort to passengers.This situation has been made worse by the fact that Masvingo Airport and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport have no swipe machines, with passengers required to pay cash, parliamentarians heard yesterday.However, Chawota assured legislators that Caaz was moving to become ICT compliant.He also said passengers would soon revert to making the PSC and Aidef payments to Air Zimbabwe saying the two were ironing out their differences.
Commuters on some underground lines are the most exposed to poor air quality, researchers found

Hundreds of doctors, nurses and other health workers are calling on the Prime Minister to take action to get polluting diesel vehicles off the UK's roads as soon as possible.

The recently formed Doctors Against Diesel group is campaigning for greater awareness of the health impacts of diesel emissions and for action to reduce the number of vehicles using the polluting fuel in towns and cities.

Air pollution from sources including factories and vehicles, particularly diesel engines, is linked to the early deaths of about 40,000 people a year in the UK - and causes problems such as heart and lung diseases and asthma.

London saw legal annual limits for pollution breached on some busy roads in the first week of January.

Nearly 300 health professionals have written to Theresa May, highlighting evidence of the impacts of pollutants including nitrogen dioxide and soot, particularly for children, and calling for a diesel reduction initiative.

Professor Jonathan Grigg of Queen Mary University of London and founding member of Doctors Against Diesel said: " There is overwhelming evidence that locally generated sooty particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide is harming children's health.

"In London, we know that diesel engines are a major and unnecessary cause of air pollution along our roads.

"Cutting diesel emissions would therefore have an immediate impact on children's personal exposure, and improve their long-term health."

Reducing pollution exposure for children and encouraging them to cycle and walk more would be a "major public health advance - and must be done as soon as possible", he said.

Professor John Middleton, president of the UK Faculty of Public Health said: "Diesel is the primary source of nitrogen dioxide in urban areas and is linked to health effects that begin before birth and extend throughout the life course, from childhood lung development and asthma, to increased risk of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and dementia.

"It is time for diesel to be recognised as the health emergency that it is."

Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show diesel vehicles continue to have a significant share of the market.

Some 1.29 million new diesel cars were registered last year, representing a market share of 47.7%, down from 48.5% in 2015.

The letter comes as research suggests commuters using public transport are being exposed to up to eight times more pollution than car users.

While motorists produce the most pollution per commuter, they are the least exposed to harmful particulate matter as they are sealed off from the outside, the study by the University of Surrey found.

Commuters on some underground lines are the most exposed to poor air quality, followed by those on buses, according to the research, published in the journal Environment International.

Campaigners, including environmental law firm ClientEarth which has repeatedly taken the Government to court over air pollution, are also calling for a new Clean Air Act to tackle the UK's pollution crisis.

The coalition calling for a new Clean Air Act includes the British Lung Foundation, the Royal College of Physicians, Medact, Greenpeace, Campaign for Better Transport, Sustrans, and Friends of the Earth.

The campaigners want new legislation to tackle air pollution sources such as diesel and speed up the shift to zero-emissions transport, enshrine the right to breathe clean air in law and make the UK a world leader in clean technology.

A new Act would come more than 60 years after the original Clean Air Act which was introduced in 1956 to tackle smog.

ClientEarth chief executive James Thornton said: " This is an urgent public health crisis over which the Prime Minister must take personal control.

"Instead of making the same arguments against taking action that were made 60 years ago, we need the Government to wake up to our air pollution crisis.

"Just as we did back then, we now need urgent action including a new Clean Air Act that is ambitious, fair and far-reaching enough to clean up our air across all of the United Kingdom."

Responding to the diesel phase-out call by health professionals, Friends of the Earth campaigner Sophie Neuburg said: " Road traffic is the biggest problem for UK air pollution, and diesel vehicles are worst of all.

"This is why we need a diesel scrappage scheme to get the worst polluting vehicles off our roads."
A 100-year-old former RAF pilot has taken to the skies in a Spitfire to mark the centenary year celebrations of an airport that played a pivotal role in the Battle of Britain.

Ray Roberts, from Margate in Kent, used a walking aid on the runway to take his place in the twin-seat aircraft, while fellow centenarians Lily Osborne and Trudy Baxter flew in a Learjet 75.

The trio were VIPs at Biggin Hill Airport in Kent, which arranged the flights to herald a year of celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the ex-RAF base.

Mr Roberts, who was flown by Captain Peter Kynsey, joined the RAF in 1940 and trained as a pilot before being injured that year when his parachute failed to fully open after he bailed out of a Spitfire.

Best known for its role in the Battle of Britain, Biggin Hill served as one of the vital command bases for the Hurricanes and Spitfires of RAF Fighter Command protecting the UK.
A man watches a television showing news reports of Kim Jong-Nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, in Seoul on February 14, 2017. Kim Jong-Nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has been assassinated in Malaysia, South Korean media reported on February 14. / AFP PHOTO / JUNG Yeon-JeJUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images

(FILES) This file photo taken on February 11, 2007 shows a man believed to be North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il's eldest son, Kim Jong-Nam walking among journalists upon his arrival at the Beijing airport. Kim Jong-Nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has been assassinated in Malaysia, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said on February 14, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / JAPAN POOL VIA JIJI PRESS / STRSTR/AFP/Getty Images

(FILES) In a file picture taken on June 4, 2010 Kim Jong-Nam, the eldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, attends an interview with South Korean media representatives in Macau. Kim Jong-Nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has been assassinated in Malaysia, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said on February 14, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / JOONGANG SUNDAY VIA JOONGANG ILBO / STRSTR/AFP/Getty Images

(FILES) This file photo taken May 4, 2001 shows Kim Jong-Nam, son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, getting off a bus to board an ANA905 (All Nippon Airways) airplane at Narita airport near Tokyo. Kim Jong-Nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has been assassinated in Malaysia, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said on February 14, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURATOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images

(FILES) In a file picture taken on June 4, 2010 Kim Jong-Nam, the eldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, waves after an interview with South Korean media representatives in Macau. Kim Jong-Nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has been assassinated in Malaysia, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said on February 14, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / JOONGANG SUNDAY VIA JOONGANG ILBO / STRSTR/AFP/Getty Images

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's brother has been assassinated in Malaysia, South Korean media reports.

Kim Jong-nam was killed at Kuala Lumpur airport after being attacked by two women with "poisoned needles," according to local TV reports.

The two women, believed to be North Korean agents, escaped in a taxi and remain at large, TV Chosun reported.

Yonhap News, citing a South Korean government source, also reported Mr Kim had been killed.

Malaysian police told Reuters an unidentified North Korean man died en route to hospital from a Kuala Lumpur airport.

The police said the man's identity had not been verified.

An employee in the emergency ward of Putrajaya hospital told the agency a deceased Korean there was born in 1970 and surnamed Kim.

Mr Kim went into hiding in Malaysia after the execution in December 2013 of his uncle, Jang Song-thaek, the once-powerful uncle of the current leader.

He was known to spend a significant time outside the country and had spoken out publicly against his family's dynastic control of the isolated state

The eldest son of Kim Jong-il, he survived an assassination attempt in Macau in 2011.

Mr Kim was born from his father's non-marital relationship with Sung Hae-rim, a South Korean-born actress who died in Moscow.

While he was widely seen as the hermit kingdom's heir apparent, he fell out of favour after being detained while trying to enter Japan on a forged passport.

He told authorities he wanted to visit Disneyland with his family.

North and South Korea are yet to officially comment on the reports.

If confirmed, Mr Kim's case would mark the most high-profile death under the Kim Jong-un regime since the execution of Jang Song-thaek.
Lance Armstrong was stripped of his Tour de France titles and banned from competition

A federal judge has cleared the way for a US government lawsuit seeking 100 million dollars (80 million) in damages from disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong.

The decision by US District Judge Christopher Cooper in Washington sets the near seven-year-old case on course for a jury trial.

The lawsuit was filed in 2010 by Armstrong's former US Postal Service team-mate Floyd Landis, who could collect up to 25%.

The government joined the case in 2013 after Armstrong publicly admitted using performance-enhancing drugs to win the Tour de France seven times. He was stripped of those titles and banned from competition.

Armstrong tried to get the lawsuit dismissed, arguing the team sponsorship was worth far more to the Postal Service than the 32 million dollars it paid from 2000 to 2004.
Fayez Serraj (right) was expected at the talks

Rival Libya factions are meeting in Cairo to try and forge a political settlement.

The head of Libya's UN-brokered government and the country's most powerful army commander, who is allied with rival authorities, are expected to meet.

A spokesman for the unity government said on Tuesday Fayez Serraj's meeting with Field Marshal Khalifa Hifter could lead to a "180-degree turn".

The spokesman, Ashraf al-Tulty, said he hoped the Egyptian government, which is hosting the talks, will help bridge the gap.

Egypt strongly supports Mr Hifter.

Mr Serraj's government has failed over the past year in unifying Libya, which slid into chaos after the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed Muammar Gaddafi.

Mr Hifter is allied with the Libyan parliament, which meets in the east of the country and has rejected the UN-backed government, in part because of a dispute over his future role in the country.

AP
Michael Flynn is at the centre of controversy over his contacts with Russia (AP/Evan Vucci)

President Donald Trump ousted his national security adviser because he lost trust in him, not for any legal concern, Mr Trump's spokesman said.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer said that the "erosion of that trust" over the circumstances surrounding retired general Michael Flynn's calls with the Russian ambassador to the US created "a critical mass and an unsustainable situation".

Mr Flynn's ouster appeared to be driven more by the idea that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials than by the content of his discussions with Russia's ambassador.

Still, the matter deepened questions about Mr Trump's friendly posture towards Russia.

"This was an act of trust - whether or not he misled the vice president was the issue and that was ultimately what led to the president asking for and accepting the resignation of General Flynn," Mr Spicer said.

Mr Flynn's resignation came after reports that the Justice Department had alerted the White House weeks ago that there were contradictions between Trump officials' public accounting of the Russia contacts and what intelligence officials knew to be true based on routine recordings of communications with foreign officials who are in the US.

Mr Spicer said the White House counsel's office reviewed the situation after it was flagged by the Department of Justice, and along with the president, the counsel determined that it did not pose a legal problem.

He declined to comment on whether anyone at the White House had read transcripts of the calls between Mr Flynn and the ambassador.

The revelations were another destabilising blow to an administration that has already suffered a major legal defeat on immigration, botched the implementation of a signature policy and stumbled through a string of embarrassing public relations missteps.

White House officials have not said when Mr Trump was told of the Justice Department warning or why Mr Flynn had been allowed to stay on the job with access to a full range of intelligence materials.

Senator Lindsey Graham, a long-time Russia critic, said Congress needs to know what Mr Flynn discussed with the ambassador and why.

"The idea that he did this on his own without any direction is a good question to ask," Mr Graham added.

Mr Pence and others, apparently relying on information from Mr Flynn, had said the national security adviser did not discuss US economic sanctions against Russia with the Russian envoy during the American presidential transition.

Mr Flynn later told officials the sanctions may have been discussed, the latest change in his account of his pre-inauguration discussions with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

Such conversations would breach diplomatic protocol and possibly violate the Logan Act, a law aimed at keeping private citizens from conducting US diplomacy.

The Justice Department had warned the White House late last month that Mr Flynn could be at risk for blackmail because of contradictions between his public depictions of the calls and what intelligence officials knew.

Asked whether the president had been aware that Mr Flynn might have planned to discuss sanctions with the Russian envoy, Mr Spicer said: "No, absolutely not."

House Speaker Paul Ryan said Mr Trump made the right decision in asking Mr Flynn to step down.

"You cannot have the national security adviser misleading the vice president and others," Mr Ryan said.

Mr Trump, who has been conspicuously quiet about Mr Flynn's standing for several days, wrote on Twitter on Tuesday morning that the "real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington".

He ignored questions about Mr Flynn from reporters during an education event at the White House on Tuesday morning.

Mr Trump named retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg as the acting national security adviser.

Mr Kellogg had previously been appointed the National Security Council chief of staff and advised Mr Trump during the campaign.

Mr Trump is also considering former CIA director David Petraeus and Vice Admiral Robert Harward, a US Navy SEAL, for the post, according to a senior administration official.

Mr Kellogg convened a brief meeting of the National Security Council staff on Tuesday morning and urged them to continue with business as usual.

Staffers have been told that Mr Flynn's deputy, KT McFarland, a former Fox News analyst, is expected to stay at the White House.

A US official told The Associated Press that Mr Flynn was in frequent contact with Mr Kislyak on the day the Obama administration slapped sanctions on Russia for election-related hacking, as well as at other times during the transition.

The Washington Post was the first to report the communication between former acting attorney general Sally Yates, a holdover from the Obama administration, and the Trump White House.

The Post also first reported last week that Mr Flynn had indeed spoken about sanctions with the Russian ambassador.

Mr Trump never voiced public support for Mr Flynn after that initial report but continued to keep his national security adviser close.

Mr Flynn was part of Mr Trump's daily briefing on Monday and sat in on his calls with foreign leaders, as well as his discussions with visiting Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau.

The Kremlin had confirmed that Mr Flynn was in contact with Mr Kislyak but denied that they talked about lifting sanctions.

On Tuesday, Russian lawmakers mounted a fierce defence of Mr Flynn.

AP
Collaboration is very much in vogue. The term is bandied about with gusto in meetings as the must-have function for the modern business but, while many companies realise its a thing, few have been able to implement it thoroughly.

Thats perhaps a result of realising collaboration should be seen as much more than a passing fad, rather an essential in this day and age.

We would go so far as to say that every firm should consider having a chief collaboration officer to compliment the CEO and COO.

They are needed to tackle the collaboration conundrum, the term which sums up the challenges created by todays mobile workforce. More and more employees are choosing to work from home or from dispersed offices (40% of workers globally to be precise), a movement made possible by technology but one which throws up new problems for company bosses.

They are realising that being distant from colleagues reduces trust and cohesion but having the choice to work elsewhere increases wellbeing and individual productivity.

What to do?

Some organisations have stubbornly refused at this first major hurdle and are running back to the starting blocks, bringing workers back into the office at great expense to both their wallets and to the environment.

But co-location can lose valuable talent who dont want to be tied to a specific geography and constant travel and longer commutes can create grumpy and exhausted people.

But by approaching the issue in a different manner it is possible to have your collaborative cake and to eat it.

It starts with a different approach to leadership and the ability to face up to a cold, hard truth: nowadays, leaders cant rely on strong ties in teams because most ties have, as a result of technology, become inherently weak.

Because of that inexorable fact, they need to realise that it is not possible to beat collaboration into their organisation.

Instead, they need to create, recognise and encourage collaborative behaviour and to understand the dynamics of their teams, while at the same time avoiding collaboration overload amongst the top performers.

It sounds complicated but isnt, particularly if you use the dinner party analogy, where todays leaders are the hosts.

Like any great party, you need a reason to get people together, and a physical or virtual common ground that everyone can gather on.

You need to make sure you know a bit about everyone, so you can introduce people to each other and then they can start to talk and to create and build so-called fast trust.

By taking that approach, youll create connections, youll allow networking and youll provide an environment made up of differing personalities which eradicates the echo chamber.

Leadership is now becoming less about command and control and much more about connection and creating purpose for collaboration.

New leadership requires a much more inclusive, trust oriented, co-operative, participative and open approach  rather than a more passive I can see people at their desks, therefore they must be working one.

And that is why the idea of a chief collaboration officer perhaps now doesnt seem as far-fetched as it may have done.

Obviously collaboration is a team sport and needs buy-in from everyone throughout the company, but theres no doubt it is good not just for employees, but for the all-crucial bottom line.

And that, after all, is the ultimate goal.

For further information and to contact BT Business in Northern Ireland, please email enterprise.accounts@bt.com
Dad-of-one Steven Laverty (24) from Belfast is worried a Benidorm stag do stunt he took too far may have scuppered his chances of finding love - as he got a daft tattoo on his eyelids. PIC FROM MERCURY PRESS

A dad-of-one from Belfast is worried that a Benidorm stag do stunt he took too far may have scuppered his chances of finding love  after he got a whata boutye tattoo on his eyelids.

Steven Laverty sneaked off during the three-day drinking binge to get the Northern Irish phrase 'what about ye' inked across both eyelids despite a warning from pals  and his mother  not to do it.

Steven, from Tullycarnet, east Belfast, was in Spain as part of a 15-strong group celebrating his cousin James's upcoming marriage.

And the call centre worker came home with an unwanted present after he drunkenly decided to go ahead with the 22 tattoo.

The phrase is widely used in Northern Ireland as a colloquial greeting meaning 'how are you?'.

Now singleton Steven is worried what potential love interests might think and fears his one-year-old child Tommy will grow up to think he is an idiot.

Steven, 24, said: "It was all a bit of a blur. Obviously I regret it now but at the time I clearly thought it was a good idea.

"I had to take my wee lad, Tommy, to nursery and I was just keeping my head down and hoping nobody recognised me. I saw someone I knew and tried not to look at them for fear they would see the tattoos.

"I don't know how I'm going to chat up women in the future. Just go up and stare at them maybe? There's bound to be someone who likes them [the tattoos].

"Tommy's mum has seen it. She wasn't best pleased to put it lightly. It might be a bit of struggle to talking to strangers now, especially women.

Expand Close Dad-of-one Steven Laverty (24) from Belfast is worried a Benidorm stag do stunt he took too far may have scuppered his chances of finding love - as he got a daft tattoo on his eyelids. PIC FROM MERCURY PRESS Mercury Press and Media Ltd / Facebook

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Whatsapp Dad-of-one Steven Laverty (24) from Belfast is worried a Benidorm stag do stunt he took too far may have scuppered his chances of finding love - as he got a daft tattoo on his eyelids. PIC FROM MERCURY PRESS

"I haven't been back to work yet but apparently it's the talk of the place.

"I've got a few daft tattoos and I'd been talking about this one but the rest of the lads wouldn't let me go.

"We'd been in the bar all afternoon, I can't remember if it was Sunday or Monday , but they all went for a walk down to the beach and I just ducked out.

"I didn't know where the tattoo parlour was so I just walked until I found it. I told them what I wanted and that was that.

"The fella wanted 60 for it but I only had 22 so that's what I gave him."

Steven jetted out to Benidorm from Belfast on Saturday for a three-night stay and admitted he 'lost count' of how much he had to drink before going under the needle.

The new ink adds to a collection of tattoos which also includes a finger sleeve and work on his arms and BUM.

Steven said: "It was pretty much non-stop drinking from the point we got to the airport until we got home. The lads who went are all a bunch of rockets but I had to be the one who took things too far.

"I got a finger sleeve when I was in Las Vegas last year and my mum warned me this time not to do anything silly. She knows what I'm like.

Expand Close Dad-of-one Steven Laverty (24) from Belfast is worried a Benidorm stag do stunt he took too far may have scuppered his chances of finding love - as he got a daft tattoo on his eyelids. PIC FROM MERCURY PRESS Mercury Press and Media Ltd / Facebook

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Whatsapp Dad-of-one Steven Laverty (24) from Belfast is worried a Benidorm stag do stunt he took too far may have scuppered his chances of finding love - as he got a daft tattoo on his eyelids. PIC FROM MERCURY PRESS

"When I had a few drinks in me I was telling everyone I was going to do it but my other cousin Ryan talked me out of it. Then when everyone went to the beach, I just thought: 'F**k it'.

"It's not even like the words mean much to me. 'What about ye' is just a saying. When everyone saw it they just laughed their heads off at me.

"Everyone on the plane back was staring at me. You can see the words whether my eyes are open or shut. I might have to start wearing glasses a lot more often."
Observed by Mahayana Buddhists on the 15th of February, Nirvana Day is an annual celebration that commemorates the historical Buddhas entry into final nirvana upon the death of his physical body at age 80.

The Buddha

The Buddha, whose historical name was Siddhartha Gautama, was born in Nepal around 2,500 years ago. Siddhartha was a member of the royal family of a kingdom on the Indian-Nepalese border, and although he had an ostentatious upbringing, he was shocked out of his privileged life upon realizing the truths of aging, sickness, suffering, and death. This led him to contemplate the meaning of life and the cause of human suffering, eventually driving him to leave his palace and follow the traditional Indian path of the wandering holy man.

He went on to study and master meditation under various teachers, taking on an ascetic lifestyle, believing that one could free the spirit and invite understanding by denying the flesh. Unsuccessful, he abandoned this path, looking to his own mind and intuition for the truthhe decided to learn from direct experience. He sat beneath a pipal tree for 40 days, when he finally attained Enlightenment.

For the remainder of his life, the Buddha traveled, spreading his newfound understanding to others, founding Buddhism.

Siddhartha finally passed away after a life of traveling, teaching philosophy, and developing Buddhism until his death at the age of 80. Before he died, he imparted a few well-known final words to his monks that would go on to give Nirvana Day its theme.

"Behold, O monks, this is my last advice to you. All component things in the world are changeable. They are not lasting. Work hard to gain your own salvation."

The Nature of Nirvana

Buddhists believe that Siddhartha, when he became enlightened attained a state that was free of conditionsthings like upbringing, psychology, perceptions, opinions, presuppositions, and so on. This is known as sopadhishesa-nirvananirvana with remainder. Upon his death, however, he achieved parinirvana, which translates as final nirvana.

This final nirvana is achieved by one who has attained nirvana during life, and with it, comes the ultimate rewardrelease from the cycle of suffering, death, and rebirth.

This is achieved through adherence to Buddhist precepts, most notably the Noble Eightfold Path, which consists of eight practicesright view, resolve, speech, conduct, livelihood, mindfulness, and Samadhi, and effort. These practices, when fully and purposefully integrated into an individuals life, result in liberation from the cycle.

But when a person who has not achieved nirvana during his or her lifetime passes away, losing their physical body, their unresolved karma stays with them as they are reincarnated, bringing them back into one of the realms of rebirth, which range from a hellish plane to the heavenly realm of the gods. A persons choices during life determine where theyll be reincarnated, and an individual can move up and down the hierarchy of realms over the course of centuries.

"Buddhists observe Nirvana Day with solemn meditation and readings from the Parinibanna Sutta..."

However, there is release and rest for those who have achieved the ultimate Buddhist goal. Nirvana means blowing out, or quenching, and is achieved through a life lived as the historical Buddha didthrough extinguishing the three fires of passion, aversion, and ignorance. This different from total annihilationthe individual who passes into final nirvana simply passes into another, unknowable realm of being.

The Dalai Lama defines Nirvana as the state beyond sorrows, or a state of freedom from cyclic existence. Mahayana Buddhists seek to aid others in achieving this state. Devotees focus on becoming bodhisattvapeople who strive to liberate others from the cycle of birth and death, postponing their own entry into nirvana for the purpose of helping the rest of the world.

Observations

Buddhists observe Nirvana Day with solemn meditation and readings from the Parinibanna Sutta, which describes the last days and words of the Buddha.

This religious holiday is also a time for pilgrimage. Because the Buddha is said to have passed away near the city of Kushinagar, located in what is now the state of Uttar Pradesh in India, Kushinagar is a major destination for Buddhists during Nirvana Day. There are a number of shrines in Kushinagar, including the Ramabhar Stupa, which marks where the Buddha is thought to have been cremated, and the Nirvana Stupa, which marks the spot where the Buddhas ashes may be buried.

Some Buddhists treat Nirvana Day as a social occasion, preparing food and gifts to share with others at their monasteries.

It may seem counterintuitive that the adherents of a religion would celebrate the death of their beloved founder, but the essence of Nirvana Day lies not in the idea of death, but in freedom. It is a time to think on, and more importantly, accept, the impermanence of everything. It is often encouraged to think on the recent deaths of friends and loved ones in order to accept their loss, and to learn not to grieve over such things.

Instead, Buddhists are encouraged to live full and joyful lives through the acceptance of impermanence and freedom from attachment.

Unattached and Unafraid

Buddhism is a belief system that is focused on the elimination of sufferingboth the suffering of adherents, and of all other forms of life. While dwelling on the idea of death and impermanence may seem depressing at first glance, give it a try on Nirvana Day. Think not on what youve lost, but dwell on the very nature of life as something that constantly changes and shifts.

Accepting this aspect of life bears much significance for our contemporary lives. It is in this contemplation that you may begin the process of becoming able to accept change in your lifesomething we all struggle with.

Buddhists remind us that through acceptance, cultivating discipline, and practicing mindfulness, we can achieve happier, healthier lives, setting us on a path that does both us, and those around us, good.

And who knows? One day, that path may one day lead us to nirvana.

Wesley Baines is a graduate student at Regent University's School of Divinity, and a freelance writer working in the fields of spirituality, self-help, and religion. He is also a former editor at Beliefnet.com. You can catch more of his work at www.wesleybaines.com.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Rugare community was today left in shock after discovering a new born baby allegedly killed by the mother who buried the infant in a shallow grave in the backyard of her yard.The mother is said to have allegedly set fire on top of the shallow grave to conceal the crime.When the News crew arrived at the scene in the high density suburb of Rugare, angry residents were vying for one Patience Chawasarira's blood.One of the residents who was instrumental in the investigations known as 'Zero Four' revealed suspicion arose when Patience disappeared only to return without a baby leading to them tipping off police who arrested the mother of three early Tuesday morning.Police escorted the accused to show them where she had allegedly buried the infant.After enough commotion as residents jostled to witness first hand proceedings the infant was exhumed from the shallow grave.Upon seeing the newly born residents expressed their anger at Patience's disrespect of human sanctity.Meanwhile, the body of the infant has been taken to Harare Hospital mortuary and a post-mortem will be carried out.
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One of the most prevalent Protestant criticisms of the Catholic Church is that its theology encourages idolatry through the worship of human saints.

Were going to take a look at why this simply isnt the case, and what Catholics really mean when they talk about these saints. Lets start by taking a look at the common arguments employed to condemn this Catholic practice.

Idolatry is, indeed, condemned throughout the Bible, in both the Old and New Testamentswe see this in everything from the Ten Commandments to the Gospels. The verse that is most often employed to argue against the idea of praying to the saints is Timothy 2:5, which reads, There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 4:16 tells us that we may With confidence draw near to the throne of grace, which implies that those who pray to God may address Him directly, and without fear, and without the need to communicate prayer through any other source.

So what would the Catholic response to these verses be? Well, theyd agree with them!

Heres a shocker. Catholics dont actually pray to saints. To debunk this myth, lets start by defining what a saint is.

The word saint, comes from the Latin word, sanctus, which translates toyou guessed itholy. The New Testament refers to all Christians who follow the teachings of Jesus as saints. In scripture, Paul addresses his letters to the saints of the cities he write to, such as is the case in Ephesians and 2 Corinthians. Calling these people saints simply acknowledges that these people who followed Christs teachings had been transformed in a way that made them different, made them holy.

Sainthood, then, doesnt scripturally refer to angelic beings or perfect people or supernaturally devout men and women. Nobody is Mother Teresanot even Mother Teresa. Nothe word refers to ordinary people who have faith and Christ, and live out that faith through virtuous lives.

Those upon whom Catholicism has bestowed the proper title of saint, though, have lived lives of extraordinary virtue, far beyond what the ordinary Christian might accomplishthese are people who were, in life, the ultimate example of moral and theological virtues.

So although saint applies to all Christians, the actual Catholic title of saint applies more narrowly to the most extraordinary of Christians.

To officially gain this title and become a saint, a believer must go through the process of canonization, in which the Catholic Church declares a person a saint after a formal review process of their life, as well as any miracles associated with the person.

Once recognized as saints, these people are still regarded as fallible human beingscomplete with flaws. The key here is that it is not truly the person being canonized, it is their example. Canonization does not make a person immune from judgment if some of their actions in life were unwise.

Now, onto the subject of praying to these saintsas weve learned, Catholics do not do this. They do not pray to human beings. They pray through them. They dont believe the saints are divinetheyre believed to be human.

Because of the saints commitment to Christ, and because they were largely successful in living an exemplary life, Catholics believe these saints find favor with God, and so can intercede on their behalf.

Still feel like this feels a little idolatrous? Lets consider something for a moment.

Have you ever called a churchs prayer line? Have you ever asked a particularly devout friend, relative, or pastor to pray for you?

Then youve practiced a little Catholic theology, yourself.

But Catholics bypass the prayer line and go straight for the heavy hittersinstead of getting Aunt June to pray for them, they ask for St. Paul the Apostle, St. Peter, or the very mother of Jesus Christ, herself, Mary, who transcends all others.

But a further criticism of the Catholic idea of saints extends to the religious icons and statues that are often present within Catholic homes and churchesfigures and paintings representing the saints. Is this not idolatrous?

Again, lets think about it.

Have you ever held onto a photograph of a deceased loved onesomeone you care for deeply and profusely? Do you keep that picture on your nightstand or dresser? Do you, perhaps, sometimes speak to that photo, wishing it a good morning or evening, or simply expressing that you miss the pictured loved one?

Would you, then, be guilty of worshiping that photo? Would you be guilty of idolatry?

Of course not. Youre focusing on what that photo reminds you ofyoure celebrating the love and joy that this person once gave you.

This is the function of the images and statues of the saintsthey remind Catholics of the virtues these saints once embodied, and for their unique and brave responses to the calling of God, which often ended in their own martyrdom.

Christians in heaven are good at praying. Really good. Theyre veterans. Theyre your universitys alumni when youre still a freshman, pulling strings and asking favors for you. Theyre a Catholics all-star ministry team.

Many might say that theyd never want to pray to dead people, but is Heaven truly a dead place? Noits more alive and more real than what we know in life.

And so Catholic theology, from this knowledge, asserts that we can ask those in Heaven to intercede on our behalf, to pray for us in ways in which we are unable.

In essence, prayer is not worship. In the case of the saints, it is merely communication, a request for the saints in heaven to go to God with the prayers requests.

God is still God. He is the beginning and the end, the answerer of all prayers. It is to Him that all Catholic prayers are ultimately directed, even those that might go through the saints.

The saints are simply a part of a believers family in Christa family who loves them, cares for them, and is willing to pray to God on their behalf.

Wesley Baines is a graduate student at Regent University's School of Divinity, and a freelance writer working in the fields of spirituality, self-help, and religion. He is also a former editor at Beliefnet.com. You can catch more of his work at www.wesleybaines.com.
Volunteers unload boxes of relief supplies from the Malaysian ship Nautica Aliya, to be delivered to Rohingya refugees, in Chittagong port, Feb. 14, 2017.

Bangladesh authorities Tuesday welcomed a Malaysian ship bringing humanitarian aid for thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees as it offloaded food, medicine and other supplies at the port of Chittagong.

Authorities allowed 25 volunteers to leave the ship Nautica Aliya so they could distribute the aid to the refugees from Myanmar in Coxs Bazar, a district in southeastern Bangladesh. The districts administration hired 150 trucks to transport the aid to refugee camps scattered across Coxs Bazar, a drive of several hours from Chittagong.

We have the relief materials. These will be distributed among the Rohingya refugees in Teknaf and Ukhia, Ali Hossain, the deputy commissioner of Coxs Bazar, told BenarNews.

Teknaf and Ukhia are sub-districts in Coxs Bazar that house several camps housing registered and unregistered Rohingya refugees.

We have information that the ship carried 1,472 tons of relief materials, which will be distributed to more than 15,000 Rohingyas, a high-ranking Bangladesh Navy official told BenarNews on condition of anonymity.

Khurshed Alam, Bangladeshs foreign secretary for maritime affairs, told BenarNews the ship arrived in Chittagong port around 11:30 a.m., and a handover ceremony took place about two hours later.

Abdul Aziz Mohd Abdul Rahim, a representative of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and a member of parliament who traveled with the ship, called for a long-standing solution to the Rohingya crisis as he handed over the cargo, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

At least 66,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh since early October, amid reports that Myanmar security forces have targeted people from the minority community in killings, rapes and other abuses  allegations that the Myanmar government has denied.

Thirty million Malaysians are with you (Rohingya), Rahim said.

The IOM (International Organization for Migration) is in charge of the relief materials while the Red Crescent Society has been helping the distribution of the materials, Alam said, adding district administrators would facilitate the distribution.

He said 25 volunteers were issued visas to distribute the materials to the Rohingya, pointing out that not all of the 183 volunteers were interested in undertaking a trip of six to seven hours to reach the camps. Thirty-four volunteers were scheduled to fly out of Bangladesh Tuesday night while the others were to leave with the ship.

The volunteers include doctors from Malaysia, Turkey, Indonesia, China, the United States, France, Thailand and the Palestinian territories.

Awaken international community

We hope our humanitarian efforts will pave the way to resolve the Rohingya issue and awaken the international community, Malaysian volunteer Azmi, who uses one name, told AFP.

Bangladesh is home to an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 Rohingya, including the tens of thousands who crossed the border in the past few months, following the killings of nine Myanmar border guards in October. A Rohingya man, one of 14 people charged in the attacks on the border guards, was sentenced to death on Friday in Myanmar.

The Nautica Aliya entered Bangladeshi waters after sailing from a port serving Yangon, Myanmar, where it delivered 500 tons of relief supplies including rice, instant noodles, potable water and hygiene kits destined from Rohingya in Rakhine. In Myanmar, 30 people were allowed to disembark at Yangon port for a handover ceremony on Thursday.

This is positive development that a foreign country sent relief materials for the Rohingya, Asif Muneir, an independent consultant on migration and refugee issues, told BenarNews. But this is the responsibility of the government and the IOM to ensure that the relief materials reach the needy and the right people.
Police stand outside the forensic morgue of a hospital in Putrajaya, Malaysia, where a post-mortem examination was to be done on the body of a North Korean man who died after falling ill at Kuala Lumpurs international airport, Feb. 14, 2017.

Updated at 2:15 p.m. ET on 2017-02-14

The half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un was assassinated Monday at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysian and South Korean media reported Tuesday.

Kim Jong-Nam had been poisoned with a needle by two women believed to be North Korean operatives who fled in a taxi and were at large, South Korean cable network TV Chosun reported, citing South Korean government sources.

The police have confirmed a North Korean who died at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) yesterday was Kim Jong-Nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Un, Malaysias state-run Bernama news agency reported.

The report cited Fadzil Ahmat, a senior police official in Selangor state where the incident occurred. It gave no further details on the victims identity.

Initial police investigations found the man was at KLIA at 8 a.m. to take a flight to Macau in China scheduled at 9 a.m. yesterday. While waiting for the flight, a woman came from behind and covered his face with a cloth laced with a liquid, Fadzil was quoted as saying.

Following this, the man was seen struggling for help and managed to obtain the assistance of a KLIA receptionist as his eyes suffered burns as a result of the liquid.

Moments later, he was sent to the Putrajaya Hospital where he was confirmed dead.

In a statement earlier Tuesday, Malaysian police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said that a North Korean man identified in his passport as Kim Chol sought medical assistance at the low-cost terminal of KLIA and had died en route to hospital on Monday.

Investigation is in progress and a post mortem examination request has been made to ascertain the cause of death, he said.

An official at the Forensic Department of Putrajaya Hospital told BenarNews that the post-mortem examination would be carried out Wednesday morning.

Alias?

The deceased Korean was holding a passport with the number 836410070 and a birthdate of June 10, 1970, Khalid said.

Kim Jong-Nam is in his mid-40s and has been known to travel under a different name, according to reports.

South Koreas foreign ministry said it could not confirm the reports, and the countrys intelligence agency could not immediately be reached for comment.

Malaysia is among a small list of countries with close relations with the communist regime in Pyongyang under global sanctions over its illegal nuclear weapons drives and ballistic missile launches, the latest of which took place at the weekend.

South Koreas national news agency, Yonhap, quoted a source as saying that agents of the Norths spy agency, the Reconnaissance General Bureau, carried out the assassination on Monday by taking advantage of a security loophole between Jong-Nams bodyguards and Malaysian police at the airport, AFP said.

Malaysian police accounts of the death were based on CCTV footage, according to Malaysian newspaper Berita Harian.

Based on initial investigations, we have a woman who appears to be Korean approaching the victim before suddenly covering his head, Selangor police chief Abdul Samah Mat Mat told Berita Harian on Monday night.

At this moment, police are examining the CCTV footage to get a clear picture of the suspect before she acted, he said.

The suspect and another woman fled from the scene, Mat said.

At this moment we cannot give any clear motive including whether this case is linked to conflicts inside or outside of North Korea, he said.

Our focus is to identify the suspect involved and to hunt down this suspect for further measures in accordance with the laws of this country.

The exact cause of death had not been identified because a post-mortem examination was not yet complete, he said.

The incident happened at 8 a.m. Monday when the victim was in the departure hall of KLIA2, and planning to board a flight to Macau after arriving in Malaysia on Feb. 6, Berita Harian reported.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Kariba Dam rehabilitation project is set to get on a roll following the signing of the US$294 million contract agreement between Zimbabwe, Zambia and development partners.The signing of the agreement sets the tone for mega capital works on the dam wall's plunge pool and spillway gates as a mitigation measure to avert the collapse of the dam wall.The measures follow assessments done by an international engineering consultant, whose findings pointed to an eroding dam wall foundation at the point of the spillway plunge, east of the giant structure in the Zambezi river.The reshaping of the plunge pool and refurbishment of the six spillway gates will allow the Zambezi River Water Authority, who manage the facility, to open all the six flood gates when necessity demands so.This will ensure the dam operates safely guaranteeing the safety of millions of people who live downstream the water body.Zambian finance minister Felix Mutati and his Zimbabwean counterpart Patrick Chinamasa described the project as a landmark development central to the security of power supply , which is a critical factor driving the industrialisation agenda and the general socio-economic development.Head of European delegation to Zambia Ambassador Alessandro Mariani views the project as a symbol of solid and dynamic partnership between Zimbabwe and Zambia, while for the World Bank, the safety of the dam wall is not only central to energy security, but a guarantee for sustainable regional economic development.An additional emergency spillway gate will also be created in case the current six crush or jam.The project is to be implemented by a French engineering firm, Razel-Bec, while funding partners are the European Union, African Development Bank, the World Bank and Swedish government, with the Zambezi River Water Authority chipping in US$19.2 million of the total project cost expected to last three years.If no mitigation measures are taken to rehabilitate and reshape the plunge pool, the dam wall run the risk of collapsing, a situation that will have disastrous flooding consequences on the environment and on three million people mainly in Mozambique, Malawi and even Tanzania .
Sirinya Sitthichai, secretary general of Thailands anti-drug agency, points to Uzman Salamang and Xaysana Keopimpha on the organizational chart of a multi-national drug cartel, Feb. 10, 2017.

Updated at 11:19 a.m. ET on 2017-02-14

The Bangkok arrest of an alleged Laotian kingpin of a major Southeast Asian drug trafficking ring helped expose links between narcotics smuggling operations on both sides of the Thailand-Malaysia border and an insurgency in the Thai Deep South, officials said.

Following the Jan. 19 arrest of Xaysana Keopimpha  a Lao dubbed as the ASEAN drug lord in news reports  and the subsequent arrests of about a dozen alleged drug traffickers with the aid of Malaysia, Thai officials said that some of the suspects were possibly helping finance southern insurgents directly or indirectly.

The deputy defense minister who is in charge of the Thai juntas efforts to solve the decades-old separatist conflict in the Deep South said insurgents and drug traders may have converged.

Officials involved see it is possible that the insurgents benefit from such illegal activities, therefore we need to focus on this issue as it is vital, Gen. Udomdej Sitabutr told BenarNews on Friday at a military base in Pattani, one of the provinces in the troubled far southern region.

It is possible for drugs cartels to make money and provide insurgents with funds and materials to conduct attacks.

Drugs are an integral part of the troubles in the region, and local gang leaders and even some local politicians provide insurgents with funds and sanctuary, said Lt. Gen. Nanthadej Meksawat, a security expert and retired Thai army officer who spent several years in military intelligence in the Deep South.

Given its proximity to the Malaysian border, the restive region is awash in criminal activity and drug-smuggling, apart from the insurgency, local sources said.

According to a senior military official stationed in the region, around one-fifth of the nearly 7,000 people who have been killed in violence in the Deep South since 2004 were victims of drug-smuggling activity.

The situation in Deep South will ease when authorities cut the flow of money to insurgents, Nanthadej said.

If the government can solve drugs problem, it half succeeds in solving Deep South troubles, simply because the insurgents would not be well-financed by drugs traders, he told BenarNews in a phone interview.

Mr. X

Officers arrested Xaysana, a 41-year-old nicknamed Mr. X and described in reports as the head of a drug cartel trafficking yaba, caffeine-laced meth tablets produced in Myanmar, throughout the Mekong region, at Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

Xaysana was elusive. But thanks to Lao officials who gave us information about him, we could nab him ... we tried to follow him for five years, Lt. Gen. Sommai Kongvisaisuk, who heads the Thai polices Narcotics Suppression Bureau, told reporters the day after the Laotian was caught.

Meanwhile, separate raids in northeastern Thailand on Jan. 19 led to arrests of two Thai men and a Thai woman, resulting in the confiscation of more than 100 million baht (U.S. $2.86 million) in assets.

In Malaysia, the director of the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department, Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff, said anti-drug officers arrested five suspected drugs dealers last week in Kuala Lumpur and Kelantan  a state that lies across the border from the Deep South.

[F]ive men  four locals and one Thai citizen involved in trafficking psychotropic pills  have been arrested. No drugs were confiscated, Mohd Shariff said in a statement.

Sommai, the Thai counter-narcotics chief, said he learned from a Malaysian counterpart on Feb. 6 that one of the suspects was Kamarudin Bin Awang, whom he described as a trade partner of Xaysana.

Sommai said the suspect is also known as Sinudeng Ma and is a son-in-law of Maniring Jako. Maniring allegedly traffics drugs from northern and northeastern Thailand to Malaysia, according to the Thai criminal database.

Sirinya Sitthichai, secretary general of the Thai Office of Narcotics Control Board,said a drug dealer from the Deep South, Uzman Salamang, was among the syndicates leaders.

This man [Uzman] was wanted so he became inactive and Xaysana took his role ... Kamarudins arrest is an extension of the operation, Sirinya told reporters on Friday while pointing to an organizational chart of the transnational cartel.

Thai authorities placed a bounty of 2 million baht (U.S. $57,000) on Uzmans head and he fled to Laos in 2012, Sirinya said. Convictions on charges of trafficking in drugs such as heroin, methamphetamine or crystal meth could lead to death sentences.

Sommai linked Uzman with Xaysana.

Xaysana connects with Uzman, a key drugs dealer in the Deep South who escaped to Laos. Uzman uses Xaysanas last name, having face job. Laos is trying to identify him, Sommai told Thai Rath TV.

Anis Natasha in Kuala Lumpur contributed to this report.

An earlier version misquoted Sirinya Sitthichai as referring to Kamarudin Bin Awang as a wanted man who became inactive. Sirinya was referring to Uzman Salamang.


A bid from Pulte Homes to rezone and add 465 residences and possibly a school near Sandy Run Creek on Jedburg Road wasn't met with open arms at a Oct. 26 community meeting on the part of local homeowners seeking to preserve the area's rural characteristics. Read moreJedburg Road residents tell Pulte Homes: 'Keep it rural'
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For Immediate Release, February 14, 2017 Contact: Taylor McKinnon, Center for Biological Diversity, (801) 300-2414, tmckinnon@biologicaldiversity.org

Nathan Johnson, Ohio Environmental Council, (614) 487-5841, NJohnson@theOEC.org

Jonathon Berman, (202) 495-3033, jonathon.berman@sierraclub.org

Tabitha Tripp, Heartwood, 812-307-4326, info@heartwood.org New Protest Escalates Ohio Fracking Fight Federal Government Shrugs Off Threat to Climate, Groundwater, Wildlife Habitat in Wayne National Forest ATHENS, Ohio Conservation groups this week filed an administrative protest challenging a Bureau of Land Management oil and gas lease auction slated for Ohio's Wayne National Forest. The protest takes aim at the Bureau's refusal to adequately analyze the impacts of fracking on climate change, water quality and endangered species. Our protest challenges the Bureau's disturbing practice of favoring fracking industry interests over clean water, wildlife and human health, said Taylor McKinnon of the Center for Biological Diversity. With each new federal fossil fuel lease, the Trump administration pushes us closer to climate disaster. The protest charges that the plan to allow hydraulic fracturing or fracking on 1,186 acres of Wayne would degrade streams and groundwater, fragment wildlife habitat and worsen climate change. The federal auction is scheduled for March 23. The groups also note that the federal environmental assessment for the lease auction failed to fully disclose fracking's effects on the national forest. That's because the government failed to study the increased surface disturbance, habitat fragmentation, and water-pollution impacts of opening up adjacent privately owned areas to oil industry development. The Wayne National Forest is owned by all Americans, and it's a special place that deserves protection, said Nathan Johnson, an attorney with the Ohio Environmental Council. Tens of thousands of citizens are demanding a halt to fracking in the Wayne. The public doesn't want to see pipelines tearing up this forest, and we don't want fracking chemicals staining its streams. This fight is about holding the federal government accountable to both the law and the will of the people. The protest follows a November filing by the groups that raised similar concerns about a December oil and gas lease auction in Wayne National Forest. In January the groups filed a notice of intent to sue the Bureau and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to consider the impacts of fracking in conjunction with white-nose syndrome and climate change effects on the endangered Indiana bat and other protected species threatened with extinction in the area. The proposed Wayne National Forest leasing in Appalachia Ohio continues the extraction paradigm of centuries past, said Loraine McCosker of the Ohio Sierra Club. The legacy of this past extraction continues to negatively impact southeast Ohio economies. There are clean-energy and local business initiatives that this proposal will threaten. We simply must demand that the Wayne not be leased by the BLM and that the Forest Service withdraw these parcels for leasing. The protest also states that the Bureau failed to adequately address the potential impacts from the proposed oil and gas leasing on species that are federally designated as threatened or endangered with extinction, including the Indiana bat, fanshell, pink mucket pearly mussel, sheepnose mussel and snuffbox mussel. Groups joining the protest are the Center for Biological Diversity, Heartwood, the Ohio Environmental Council, the Ohio Sierra Club, Athens County Fracking Action Network and Buckeye Environmental Network. Download this week's protest here. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.2 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.
It can be tough to be a vegetarian. You have to work harder than everyone else to make sure youre getting all the nutrients your body needs. So, when its time to take a
Prolonged and worsening drought conditions across Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya means that more than 11 million people are facing severe hunger and are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

Image by 123RF

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is calling for an immediate and expansive response in order to prevent widespread drought conditions from triggering a humanitarian catastrophe.

The immediate and expansive action is needed as millions face starvation in the Horn of Africa and the IFRC is appealing for a total of 13.7 million Swiss francs (about 13 million US dollars) for the three affected countries to support nearly 475,000 people.

We are undoubtedly in a crisis, but the situation will even get worse, especially if the April rains perform poorly, said Dr Fatoumata Nafo-Traore, IFRCs regional director for Africa. We need to act decisively, we need to act massively, and we need to act now if we are to prevent a repeat of the awful scenes of 2011.

The situation is particularly severe in Somalia where nearly 40% of the population now needs some form of humanitarian assistance and where deaths have already been reported in the countrys north.

The situation is particularly severe in Somalia where nearly 40% of the population now needs some form of humanitarian assistance.

In Kenya, water sources have dried up, leading to large-scale loss of livestock. In Ethiopia, the worst drought in half a century is further compounded by an influx of people fleeing Somalia.

The IFRC is calling on its partners in the region and globally to increase their support for Red Cross and Red Crescent emergency operations that are already underway, but that are hindered by low levels of funding.

Additional funding will allow volunteers and staff present in the worst affected areas to better respond to immediate humanitarian needs, as well as begin rolling out initiatives designed to strengthen longer-term resilience.

The IFRC is appealing for a total of 13.7 million Swiss francs (about 13 million US dollars) for the three affected countries with a view to supporting nearly 475,000 people. So far only about 22% of the requested amount has been secured.

This is the worst situation we have seen in the region since 2011, when more than a quarter of a million people died in Somalia alone, said Dr Nafo-Traore. We have an opportunity to prevent suffering of a similar scale, but only if we act now.
Can data tell your whole story? To find out, Investec Private Banking presented three 'out of the ordinary' individuals with how data sees them...

The concept of customised' offerings is being lost to algorithms, averages, collective needs and predefined silos.

Data often gets the numbers right, but the people wrong, so Investec Private Banking is offering an alternative perspective on bank-client relations with its #MoreThanData campaign, which focuses on the importance of individual needs, wants and preferences.

Deon Katz, Investecs head of Private Bank: South Africa explains, Investec uses sophisticated data analytics as enabling tools. However, we do not believe in a one-dimensional approach where we place clients into rigid, defined boxes. It is impossible for cold data to tell us who they really are. We take the time to get to know our clients personally and professionally and form long-term relationships with them. This enables us to personalise our products and services and ultimately ensures an extraordinary client experience.

The marketing campaign, launched on 7 February 2017 at the Sandton head office, drives home this message across print, cinema, digital and social media channels.

The #MoreThanData campaign kicked off with three vignettes where Luke Jedeikin, Abed Tau and Nothando Moleketi illustrate how data can only tell some of their story. Generalised assumptions are most often incorrect and people are so much more than what their data suggests or predicts. The main film then explains Investecs philosophy that while other banks might see clients as the sum of their data it sees the individual.

This approach is not new for Investec. This personal connection with our clients and an exceptional client experience is at its core. It is something we have always been known for and it continues to be our key differentiator. We believe in a client experience that is personal, flexible and simply out of the ordinary, concludes Katz.

For more information, go to MoreThanData.co.za.
1 March marks the one-year anniversary of the Marketing, Advertising, and Communications (MAC) Sector B-BEE Code updates. However, businesses have yet to unlock the benefits of the code.

By the end of the year, all South African advertising agencies will have gone to verification at least once under its criteria. Indeed, it's not really 'new' any more.

As with many 'new' things, the MAC Code has been the source of a fair bit of fear in the industry - most notably due to its 2018 Ownership target of 45%. But there is plenty of good news too:

Agencies with revenue between R10m - R50m (QSEs) have 15 extra points available

Agencies with revenue above R50m (Large Entities) have 38 extra points available

So whilst some of the targets are certainly tougher, the

Skills development is the most effective of the six MAC B-BBEE criteria in delivering successful and sustainable transformation. The Department of Labour has recognised this by allocating 10 new skills development bonus points in the MAC Code, and agencies would be well advised to pounce on these.

Success lies in long-term planning

Critically, agencies need to break out of the reactive, point-scoring, 12-month budgetary cycles that typically characterise their transformation efforts. One would hope that no agency runs the rest of its business like this. Transformation, like any other strategic business objective, does not happen in convenient 12-month increments, and agencies need to obsess less about B-BBEE compliance (driven by short-term thinking) and focus more on actual transformation (underpinned by long-term goal-setting and strategic planning). Transformation plans should look at least three years into the future, and ideally even further.

Once horizons have been broadened and goals set, a clear multi-year plan - with training and education (Skills Development) at its core - will very quickly allow for identification and nurturing of black talent, deliver higher quality work to the agency and its clients, and create opportunities for internal career advancement that will consequently lead to greater diversity at a mid- and senior level (and, accordingly, better Management Control B-BBEE scores).

Driving transformation through skills development

The MAC Code does not limit skills development efforts to employees: initiatives can extend to matriculants and graduates (feeding the business at entry level), as well as to freelancers and contractors, allowing agencies to score enterprise and supplier development points in the process of growing and developing their own value chains (which, in turn, will deliver improved preferential procurement results).

And provided an agency's transformation plan is properly aligned with its workplace skills and employment equity plans, much of the agency's skills development investment can be recouped through skills development levy rebates, SETA grants and attractive SARS tax deductions.

A three-year plan is not difficult to put together either - your agency's CEO and FD will already have some idea of what the next few years might look like, which means you have enough to estimate your future B-BBEE target expenditure. The numbers will no doubt change, but setting down your plans and budgets over a three-year period will mean that:

You'll only have to make periodic adjustments

There will be greater continuity from accounting period to accounting period

Much quicker and easier compliance and reporting in years two and three

Less time planning from scratch

and will leave you with more time to ensure that your training and development plans succeed and that your business transforms. Knees will jerk much less frequently.

So ditch your B-BBEE myopia immediately, and start embracing transformation as a journey, not an end in itself. You're unlikely to solve it in year one, but you can make massive progress by year three. And it will only get easier to plan and manage each year.

To learn more about how the MAC Charter can benefit your business, join Red & Yellow, the IAB SA, and Siyakha Implementation Partners for a free breakfast workshop on 22 February 2017, in Cape Town and Joburg.

Email or call 021 462 1946 to RSVP by 17 February 2017.




2017 sets a new benchmark at Joe Public as the agency positions itself to take their creative product, and in doing so the growth of their clients' brands, to the next level.

Khuthala Gala-Holten Xolisa Dyeshana

In line with this objective, the agency is proud to announce the promotions of Executive Business Unit Director, Khuthala Gala-Holten, to Deputy Managing Director and Executive Creative Director, Xolisa Dyeshana, to Chief Creative Officer. Khuthala will be supporting Gareth Leck in the role of leading the above-the-line agency from a business point of view while Xolisa will be taking ownership of the creative product of the above-the-line agency, under the guidance of Pepe Marais. This strategic move will allow both Leck and Marais the capacity to drive a higher calibre creative product for the agency.

Both Khuthala and Xolisa have been with Joe Public for over a decade with each continuing to demonstrate creativity, excellence and leadership in their individual roles. As members of the Joe Public board, both Xolisa and Khuthala have also played a critical role in the growth and success of the agency over this time.

Most recently, Xolisa has been invited to join The One Club Board of Directors, a collective dedicated to elevating creative work across the global industry. While Khuthalas commitment and strategic direction have been paramount to Joe Publics success, assisting the agency in producing campaigns that have been recognised at Apex, Loeries, Midas and Pendoring award shows.

Growth of people at Joe Public is one of the key pillars to who we are as an agency and what we believe in. Both Khuthala and Xolisa have grown into highly respected leaders within our organisation and our industry and we are super proud to have them in these new positions to help take our agency to the next level of creativity, says Gareth Leck.




THE HAGUE - Brandishing a gun, his face contorted with rage, the shocking image of an off-duty Turkish policeman assassinating the Russian envoy to Turkey on Monday won the prestigious World Press Photo Award.

Judges praised the courage and bravery of Burhan Ozbilici, a photographer for Associated Press, who stood his ground as 22-year-old policeman Mevlut Mert Altintas pumped nine bullets into ambassador Andrei Karlov at the opening of an Ankara exhibition.

Altintas shouted "Allahu Akbar" ("God is greatest") and "Don't forget Aleppo" as he opened fire, vowing that those responsible for events in Syria would be held accountable.

"From the moment I heard the shots I knew this was a historic moment, very serious," Ozbilici told AFP.

"I knew I had to do my job. As a journalist, I couldn't just run away to save my skin."

Mevlut Mert Altintas shouts after shooting Andrei Karlov, the Russian ambassador to Turkey, at an art gallery in Ankara, Turkey on 19 December 2016. Picture: Burhan Ozbilici, The Associated Press

The vivid photo was to go viral around the world, and has been viewed some 18m times.

The judges from the World Press Photo Foundation in Amsterdam acknowledged they had had a tough job to choose the 2017 winner from more than 80,400 images submitted by 5,034 photographers from 125 countries.

"It was a very, very difficult decision, but in the end we felt that the picture of the year was an explosive image that really spoke to the hatred of our times," said jury member Mary Calvert.

Agence France-Presse also scooped three awards. Manila-based photographer Noel Celis took third place in the General News category for his photo of inmates trying to sleep in an over-populated prison in the city.

Syrian snappers Abd Doumany and Ameer Alhalbi won second prize in the Spot News category for their pictures of children caught up in the

bombardments of Aleppo and Douma. It is the second year in the row that Doumany's work has been honoured by the World Press Photo foundation.

"It's not easy for these photographers, for these Syrians. It's taking terrible risks. They are young guys telling their stories from hell basically," jury president, British photographer Stuart Franklin, told AFP.

Ozbilici, who covered the failed coup bid in Turkey and has carried out missions in Syria, Libya and Egypt, said he always tried to be ready for difficult tests, "to have the courage to confront a world which has been made rotten by the dishonest and corrupt, in order to try to do some good."

He said he was sorry for the death of the envoy, whom he described as a "natural, kind, sincere man" whose death was a direct consequence of the "Syrian catastrophe."

"This photo marked an important moment in the history of Turkey, especially in its relations with Russia," said Ozbilici, who has worked for AP since 1989.

Jury members agreed his photo captured an important moment in time.

"Right now I see the world marching towards the edge of an abyss," said jury member Joao Silva, referring to Altintas as a man who had "clearly reached a breaking point."

"This image to me talks" of everything that is happening across the world.

"It is the face of hatred."

A total of 45 photographers won awards across eight categories, touching on a vast array of subjects -- from racial tensions in Louisiana to walls built around the world to thwart migrants.

Jury member Tanya Habjouqa said the choice of the 2017 winners was "bold".

"I think the selection is definitely going to push forward a debate and I think it is a debate that is essential to have."

The competition itself was directly affected by the travel measures brought in by US President Donald Trump, when one of the nine jury members, Palestinian Eman Mohammed, had to cancel her trip to Amsterdam for the judging.

Amid the chaos unleashed by the ban, she decided it was too risky to leave her family behind in the US where she lives, fearing she might not be allowed back in again.
In some provinces, safe, free abortions may only be provided at about 260 public facilities.

Image credit: Delwyn Versamy, M&G

Less than 7% of the country's 3,880 health facilities provide abortions, according to recent research by the global human rights organisation, Amnesty International.

The health department has a human rights obligation to guarantee women access to abortion services, but isnt doing enough to implement the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, found a briefing report released in February.

"We conducted research into access to termination of pregnancy at some public clinics and found that there were many barriers to abortion," says Louise Carmody, an Amnesty International researcher.

Access to information was one of the chief obstacles. "Many women and girls do not know about the law and the services they are entitled to," Carmody says.

"There is no central place where women can get information about abortions. There isnt even a list of the facilities around the country where the services are offered on the departments website. Its difficult for women to find out where they need to go and what the process entails."

Many still in the dark

According to Carmody, some people still dont know that abortion is legal, nor until what stage of a pregnancy they can have the procedure. In South Africa, abortion is legal up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.

South Africas Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, legalised abortion in the country more than 20 years ago. The Act was amended in 2008 to expand access to abortion services by removing some of the administrative constraints.

But Yogan Pillay, the national deputy director general for maternal and womens health in the national health department, says lists of government facilities providing abortions are available in district health offices around the country.

South Africa has 52 health districts and their head offices are usually situated in bigger towns or cities.

Dearth of care

Meanwhile, only five public health facilities in the Northern Cape offer abortion services with a similar number operating in the Free State. In KwaZulu-Natal, women can go to 27 health facilities across the province but districts such as Umzinyathi, Zululand and Umkhanyakude have either one or no public facilities providing these services, according to a health department list.

Pillay says the department has increased access to contraception and family planning services to address the demand for unsafe abortions.

He says provincial health departments are working with the police to deal with illegal abortionists.

"However these illegal abortionists do not operate as fixed clinics but rather as mobile providers where they make appointments with their clients to meet along the street and take them to a house or to any structure that is not easily identifiable  this is done surreptitiously.

"To stamp out illegal services we must raise awareness, increase access to safe contraception and ensure that the public works with government."

State needs to do more

But Carmody argues that government must also improve and expand abortion services "rather than placing the emphasis on improved access to family planning services".

"The department has some great mobile platforms that provide women and girls with information around HIV and pregnancy, such as MomConnect [a free cellphone SMS service which provides information to pregnant women]." She says: "These platforms should include information on abortions."
Ocean Basket has signed an agreement with Kuwait-based food distributor Al-Ghunaim Trading Company to roll out five new stores in the country. With the addition of Kuwait, the restaurant franchise will be operating across 17 countries in total.

Al-Ghunaim CEO Abdulghani Al-Ghunaim signs the agreement with Ocean Basket CEO Grace Harding.

Ocean Basket CEO Grace Harding met the Kuwait team from Al-Ghunaim Trading Company in Cape Town last week to complete the licensing agreement.

Al-Ghunaim CEO Abdulghani Al-Ghunaim says: We learnt about Ocean Basket when one of our senior managers was working in Egypt and decided it would be perfect to enhance the group basket of flavours that we currently offer our customers. Fish is a very popular dish in Kuwait and we found that Ocean Basket has a unique flavour, which we are looking to add to our other offerings.

Kuwait joins the Ocean Basket ranks alongside Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Malta, Kazakhstan and Cyprus, with expansion plans firmly in place for further stores, many breaking into new markets like Oman and Qatar.

Ocean Basket's Harding says: We need to ensure the success of our partners by creating a globally relevant and meaningful brand and systems and infrastructure that supports them. That is our primary responsibility, so everything we do is about sustainability and making sure that our brand succeeds in the future.

We welcome Kuwait to the Ocean Basket family and look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.
In his 2017 State of the Nation address, President Jacob Zuma made frequent references to the need to create jobs and government's job creation initiatives. But according to Fair Play Movement, equal attention should be paid to preventing job losses  stopping EU chicken dumping would create' thousands of jobs immediately at no cost to the government.

World Economic Forum via Wikimedia

Ashoek Adhikari, official spokesperson of the Fair Play Movement, pointed this out and added, Illegal dumping must be stopped urgently to give hope to the thousands whose lives and livelihoods are being destroyed every month. We call on the government to act now to prevent the loss of thousands more jobs.

The fate of an entire industry now rests in the hands of the task team established by the Department of Trade and Industry to seek solutions. Fair Play calls on this national committee, which includes government and industry representatives, to work quickly and effectively.

Stopping dumping and saving jobs must be a national priority. The task team needs to come up in the near future with effective measures to counter the evil of dumping. If nothing is done, the entire industry faces collapse. Dumping killed the chicken industry in Ghana. We must not let it happen here.

The Fair Play movement is a new, principle-based global initiative helping to stop the proliferation of dumping worldwide.
Japanese brewer Kirin said Monday it would sell its Brazilian unit to Dutch beer giant Heineken for $706 million, citing a "stagnant and competitive" market.

lawrence2014ben via Pixabay

The company said it will transfer all shares of Brasil Kirin Holdings to Heineken subsidiary Bavaria SA for 2.2 billion reals.

"Considering various risks associated with (the) Brazilian economy and (the) stagnant and competitive situation in (the) Brazilian beer and soft drink markets, Kirin has come to the conclusion that there are certain limitations in transforming Brasil Kirin into a sustainable and high-profitable business on its own," it said in a statement.

Separately Kirin, which is looking to strengthen its presence in the Asia-Oceania region, confirmed plans to buy a majority stake in Myanmar's Mandalay Brewery for $4.33 million from military-backed Myanmar Economic Holdings.

The deal will give it control of the country's oldest brewery, and 90 percent of Myanmar's beer market, a company spokeswoman said. Kirin bought local market leader Myanmar Brewery in 2015.

"The Kirin Group will work to strengthen the foundation of the business in the growing South-East Asian beer market and make this business a driver of growth within the group," it said in the statement.

Both the Brazil and Myanmar deals are subject to regulatory approval. Kirin is seeking an edge against foreign rivals in Myanmar amid lacklustre momentum in global consumption, the Nikkei business daily reported Saturday.

It is also considering buying the state-owned Saigon Beer Alcohol Beverage from the Vietnamese government, the Nikkei said.

The brewer made Lion of Australia into a wholly-owned subsidiary in 2009, and now has a 48 percent stake in the beer unit of the Philippines' San Miguel.

Source: AFP
The South African Medical Association (Sama) and the Council for Medical Schemes are to square off at the Competition Tribunal on Tuesday in their long-running row over how specialists bill patients.

The outcome of the case is important because it may affect how medical schemes reimburse members.

Sama is the country's biggest doctor organisation and has members employed by the public and private sector.

The council is a statutory body that is responsible for regulating the medical schemes industry and protecting consumers' interests.

The council is alleging the South African Paediatric Association and the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgeons in SA have engaged in price-fixing with Sama, breaching the Competition Act. Both associations are Sama members.

The council alleges Sama has engaged in a prohibited horizontal practice by endorsing the billing practices of these associations, which use extra billing codes not included in the National Health Reference Price List (NHRPL) published by the council in 2006.

The constraints of competition law mean the NHRPL codes and prices are not binding, but in practice many medical schemes use them to determine reimbursement for members. Many medical schemes will not pay for codes that are not included in the NHRPL, leaving patients with substantial co-payments.

Doctors say the codes are outdated and no longer reflect current practice.

"If the [council] wins, those associations won't be able to bill [with] these [extra] codes," said Alicia Schoeman, the council's legal adviser.

Sama chairman Mzukisi Grootboom declined to comment. At the tribunal hearing, Sama will ask for an order dismissing the council's complaints, which were lodged in July 2013, or compel the council to provide more detail of its alleged price-fixing.

The council lodged two complaints with the Competition Commission in May 2012, alleging that the tariffs set by Sama in 2009 allowed paediatricians to bill an extra 50% above the medical aid rate for newborn babies needing intensive care.

It also complained about the billing guidelines published by the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgeons of SA, saying they enabled specialists to add spurious codes to bump up bills.

The Competition Commission investigated the council's complaints and said they had merit, but decided not to prosecute because an inquiry into the private healthcare market was under way and was set to cover the same ground.

The council then decided to approach the Competition Tribunal directly.

Sama challenged the council's move by taking the matter on review to the high court. It also asked the tribunal to place the matter on hold pending the outcome of the review application and the outcome of the Competition Commission's healthcare market inquiry.

The tribunal agreed to put the council's complaints on hold pending the high court review application, but did not make a finding regarding the inquiry.

The council then challenged the tribunal's decision in the Competition Appeal Court, which found in its favour.
The first set of speakers on the programme at the West African International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference 2017 (WAIPEC) have been announced. WAIPEC is a three-day platform for the oil and gas industry, taking place 21-23 February at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos, Nigeria.

Source: West African International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (WAIPEC)

Speakers at WAIPEC 2017 include:

Dafe Stephen Sejebor, group general manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS);

Engr Simbi Kesiye Wabote, executive secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board;

Tunde Adelana, director, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board;

Bayo Ojulari, managing director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo);

Tony Attah, chief executive officer and managing director, Nigeria LNG Limited;

Austin Ojunekwu Avuru, chief executive officer, SEPLAT;

Dada Thomas, chief executive officer, Frontier Oil Limited;

Ademola Adeyemi Bero, managing director, FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development Company;

Engr Charles Chiedu Odita, managing director, Midwestern;

Emeka Ene, chief executive officer, Oildata Energy Group;

Dr Layi Fatona, managing director, Niger Delta Exploration & Production Plc;

Abdulrazaq Isa, chairman, Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited;

Ahmadu Kida Musa, deputy managing director, TOTAL Exploration and Production;

Ifeanyi Nwagbogu, group managing director, Schlumberger;

Chiedu Oba, general manager, National Content, Shell Nigeria Exploration & Production Company Limited (SNEPCo);

Olusoga Oduselu, general manager, Nigeria Content, Chevron Nigeria.

In addition, sessions will be held by members of Petroleum Technology Association of Nigerias executive board including chairman Bank Anthony Okoroafor, Geoff Onuoha, Ranti Omole and Gbolahan Lawal.

"PETAN has commissioned this event WAIPEC to provide the oil and gas sector with a much-needed business platform to showcase expertise and discuss opportunities. WAIPEC is strategically located in the heart of the commercial area to facilitate access, and is very much organised by the industry for the industry," explains Okoroafor.

For more information, go to www.WAIPEC.com.
Alphamin has announced that it has completed the front-end engineering design (FEED) and control budget estimate (CBE) for its 80.75%-owned Bisie Tin Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The completion of the FEED program and associated CBE, it says, confirms the robust economic metrics and potential of the Bisie Project and the development of the Alphamin Bisie Tin Project into North Kivus first commercial mine, and a new global tin producing mine. Boris Kamstra, CEO of Alphamin explains: The completion of the FEED and CBE phase marks another important and exciting milestone as Alphamin advances the project towards becoming the first industrial mine in DRCs North Kivu Province.

A comprehensive process for estimating capital costs was followed and the CBE results show that the project has the potential to remain strongly profitable at lower tin prices, as well as at increased prices for key consumables. The completed FEED and CBE increase proven and probable reserves to 4.67Mt at 3.58% Sn containing 167.3Kt of tin while also increasing the life of mine (LoM) to 150-months or 12.5-years. The optimised process flow sheet resulted in 6% higher annual average plant throughput rates, and an increase in tin recoveries to 73%.

A cash margin of some $11,040 per tonne of tin sold is foreseen, yielding a LoM annual average EBITDA of approximately $110m (constant 2017 terms). Alphamin is also pleased with the robust economic performance indicators of a net present value (8%) of $402.2m as well as real, after tax, Project IRR of 49.1%. The projected payback period is 17-months from the first tin production at the Alphamin Bisie Tin Mine.

Reduce the implementation and operational risks

The FEED programs emphasis was to reduce the implementation and operational risks associated with the project wherever possible, and resulted in necessary increases in certain capital and operating costs. The improved mine design, process flow sheet optimisation, and an improved tin price outlook, have enhanced the forecast economic performance indicators and overall robustness of Bisie significantly, despite the aforementioned cost increases, explains Kamstra.

These improvements along with the continued strong support from provincial and national government and the local communities confirm our view that Bisie forms the ideal foundation on which to build a mining company and associated infrastructure for mining in the tin-rich province of North Kivu. This mining project presents Alphamin shareholders with an attractive opportunity to participate in one of the highest grade known tin deposits in the world, says Kamstra.

Kamstra explains, This CBE is by definition conservative and based on tenders, quotes and detailed estimates. Given the paucity of commercial operations and operating data in the area estimates used have been of necessity conservative. Once the Bisie mine is fully operational, there is considerable scope to improve operational efficiencies and recoveries from the assumptions used in this study as well as to reduce costs, particularly in the areas of logistics. In addition, the exploration and resource delineation drilling that will continue after the Bisie mine is established is, given the open-ended nature of the existing reserves upon which this CBE is based, expected to increase the reserve inventory and thus LOM.

Mine design

The project team has recently completed the optimisation of the mine and process plant design for Bisie, which has resulted in the following changes to the mine design. The fundamental mining method has not changed but, the layout and mine design parameters have changed notably from the updated feasibility study issued in June 2016.

The mine design was developed based on the revised criteria, including a reduction in cut off grade from 1.8% to 1.4% due to a far higher tin price, that resulted in a 30% increase in ore tonnes mined, a 10% increase in tin tonnes mined, and a LoM extension of 2.5-years. The capital footprint has been defined as mine development and associated infrastructure that will take place up to and including December 2018. This includes approximately 64,000-tonnes of ore from the ore drive development, which will be stockpiled prior to plant commissioning. Stoping will commence outside the capital footprint.

The mineral resource estimates were updated in May 2016. The mineral resource estimate contains 19,600-tonnes of tin of measured mineral resources, 188,400-tonnes of tin in indicated mineral resources and 22,800-tonnes of tin in inferred mineral resources declared at a 0.5% tin cut-off grade.

The mineral reserve estimate contains 15,896-tonnes tin in the proven reserve category and 151,448-tonnes tin in the probable reserve category at a 1.4% tin cut-off grade.

Contractors will mine the Mpama North orebody using proven underground mechanised mining methods to deliver ore to the process plant at an expected rate of 25-35ktpm. A comprehensive programme of metallurgical testing was executed to support the CBE. An overall metallurgical recovery of 80% was achieved under laboratory conditions. Factoring in operating conditions, operator skill levels, and an element of conservatism, an overall recovery of 73% has been applied in the evaluation of the project economics. The process design is based on recovery of tin into concentrate through conventional gravity separation methods. The Bisie Tin Project process plant design capacity is 360-400ktpa.

Conflict-free tin

Alphamin is committed to develop the first large commercial tin mine in the eastern DRC that will produce conflict-free tin concentrate, while promoting community development, safety, health and environmentally sound practices. The Bisie operation will supply conflict-free tin from eastern DRC and the Alphamin operation will be the manifestation of what conflict mineral advocacy and legislation aimed to achieve. Alphamins conflict-free tin concentrate and social initiatives should therefore be of interest to international trading and smelting companies and multinational brands which use tin in their products, including laptops, mobile and smart phones and cars, explains Kamstra.

The complexities of certifying tin concentrates as conflict-free also make the product less appealing to armed groups and so reduces the risk of threats to the mine or transporters with the intention to forcefully gain occupation of the mine site or appropriate final product, he says. Alphamin is a member of the Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative, a global end-user grouping of companies who develop conflict-free certification standards and protocols, and is also a member of the International Tin Research Institute which is involved in global conflict-free sourcing initiatives.

In April, 2016 a memorandum of understanding was signed between Alphamin and the Walikale Community to collaborate in creating the Lowa Alliance. The Lowa Alliance will invest, along with the community itself and other development partners including the Government of the DRC, in 120 projects over the initial five years, which will include schools and technical training, primary healthcare services, agriculture and fish farming, small scale renewable energy, small and micro enterprise, community infrastructure, town zoning and road articulation to help manage growth, and womens empowerment.

Job creation

Alphamin, through its exploration and development phase has already created 480 new jobs, invested in road and telecommunications infrastructure to unlock the isolated Walikale territory, developed 25 participatory local development plans representing the long-term needs of the 14,000 households living closest to the mine, and recently completed the construction of a quality primary school with solar powered lighting. An artisanal and small scale miner (ASM) strategy is being implemented to work with all levels of government to optimise incentives for ASM miners to work legally off the Alphamin concession, reduce impunity for illegal activity and assure optimal security for operations, personnel and local residents.

Alphamin is responsible for consistent monitoring of all community initiatives, including the artisanal strategy, and will work with all involved stakeholders to assure respect for and compliance with the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights guidelines. Alphamin, therefore has a robust and proactive programme of community outreach and engagement in place. Alphamin has completed the required environmental studies and is in full compliance with IFC Performance Standards and Equator Principles. Comprehensive management plans have been developed to mitigate the potential negative environmental impacts of the project.
The government as part of its on-going retirement reform process continues to design policies aimed at encouraging South Africans to save and make adequate provision for their retirement.

Hugo Malherbe

In its latest effort, the regulator has changed the tax treatment of contributions to retirement funds and simplified its calculation. As of the beginning of the current tax year (1 March 2016), the maximum tax deduction for all cumulative annual retirement contributions (whether into a retirement annuity fund, a pension fund or a provident fund) has increased to 27.5% of remuneration or taxable income - up to an annual maximum tax deduction limit of R350,000.

Previously the tax deduction for contributions to retirement annuity funds was limited to 15% of non-retirement funding income, so now there is an excellent opportunity to claim a much higher tax deduction by contributing more to a retirement fund. Increasing your monthly contribution to your retirement fund, or alternatively topping up your retirement annuity (RA) to the maximum allowable limit before the end of each tax year can make a significant difference to your retirement savings and boost your tax savings.

As Graph 1 illustrates, by increasing your total RA contributions from 15% to 27.5% per year, you have the potential to boost your retirement savings to R8.1 million instead of R4.4 million. This scenario is specific to the example provided and will change depending on how much youre contributing and how long you have left to retirement.

Of course, you can decide whether to take the leap from investing 15% to 27.5%, or gradually increase your percentage from year to year. Additional contributions can be made monthly, and spread over the year, or annually when you have extra lump sums.

Due to the tax deductions on contributions, the impact on disposable income is much lower than expected. Graph 2 also illustrates that the greater the RA contribution, the less tax is paid. Investors that are concerned about the short-term impact of higher retirement savings contributions to disposable income, could consider smaller incremental increases. For example, a 2%, increase in retirement savings from 15% to 17% of disposable income, can make a significant difference to the growth of your retirement savings (e.g: R590,000 more by retirement, as illustrated by comparing Graphs 1 and 2).

Even though you may be contributing to an employee retirement fund, it doesnt mean that you cant benefit from the tax advantages of contributing to an additional retirement savings vehicle. Some individuals who already contribute to an employee retirement fund may have opted not to contribute to an additional retirement fund given the difficulty, under the previous regulation, to determine whether contributions to the additional retirement vehicle fund qualified for tax deductions. The new regulation removes this complexity, encouraging more investors to take control of their own retirement savings outside of employee schemes and invest additional amounts into retirement annuity funds.

Should you be investing more into your RA this tax year?

Now is an opportune time to determine how much you should be adding into your retirement annuity before the end of the tax year to take advantage of tax breaks. The 2016/17 tax year ends on 28 February 2017. This means you only have a very short while to maximise the contributions you make to your RA fund and use tax legislation to your advantage to boost your retirement savings. To calculate how much you can boost your tax return, go to the Investment Tools page on PPS Investments.
The construction companies implicated in collusion have paid their first sum of R117m in terms of the settlement agreement they entered into with the National Revenue Fund, following the findings of investigations by competition authorities.

In terms of the agreement, the seven construction companies were to make financial contributions of R1.5bn for developmental projects, in addition to the R1.4bn in competition penalties previously imposed by the Competition Tribunal.

On Monday, 13 February, Minister of Economic Development Ebrahim Patel held a media briefing in Pretoria in conjunction with the construction companies, Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti, Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi and Transport Minister Dipuo Peters to brief media on the settlement agreement that was signed in 2016.

The settlement agreement, also known as the Voluntary Rebuilding Programme (VRP), is meant to give effect to transformation. It is also to promote black South African ownership in the construction sector through either equity transactions or by partnering with and developing smaller, black-owned construction companies that will result in black-owned companies with a market value of roughly R5bn in 2024.

Patel said the monies that have been paid will be appropriated each year to a trust, to be called Tirisano Fund, to support a number of initiatives including:

Bursaries for black students studying engineering, quantity surveying and building science.

Bursaries for the development of black artisans, including through mentorships and employment placements.

Maths and Science education in public schools.

Special social development projects such as rural bridges, student accommodation, clinics, schools and sports fields.

Building capacity in the State on engineering, project management and other infrastructure services in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of public infrastructure.

Enterprise development programmes for small, black-owned construction firms, including through the provision of working capital at concessional rates and support on performance bonds.

Transformation

Murray & Roberts and Aveng have opted to sell equity to black South Africans.

Murray & Roberts, a major construction and infrastructure company, sold 100% of its construction and civil engineering business to a black-owned consortium led by the Southern Palace Group.

Murray & Roberts will remain in other infrastructure sectors such as oil and gas, metals and minerals and the power and water sectors, Minister Patel said.

Aveng is selling 51% of their equity (and 45% of economic interest) in Aveng Grinaker-LTA to black investors and black-owned construction companies.

The company has already concluded an agreement with a black women-owned entity, Kutana Construction.

WBHO has identified three partner companies, who will be supported to collectively reach 25% of the WBHO construction and civil engineering turnover.

Patel said three emerging partner contractors will in turn also support a further 10 emerging companies.

Stefnutti Stocks has identified two emerging companies, namely TN Molefe Construction and Axsys Projects, as their preferred partners to be supported to reach 25% of Stefanutti Stocks turnover.

Raubex is currently engaged with emerging construction companies and will make an announcement on conclusion of their discussions, he said.

Minister Patel said Group 5 and Basil Read are evaluating the appropriate measures to take, consistent with the agreement and will advise government within the next month of their plans.

Should all targets be reached in the settlement agreement within the seven-year period, it would result in a very significant presence of black South Africans in construction.

More than 40 black-owned companies or investment vehicles will directly benefit from the transformation commitments, he said.

Based on the turnover and profit levels in the sector, it is projected that by the end of seven years, black firms and black equity owners participating in the settlement agreement will have a combined turnover of between R21bn and R27bn annually. Over the seven years as a whole, through the phased-in arrangements, they will have a cumulative turnover estimated to range between R104bn to R123bn.

Projections to generate profits are between R600m and R770m annually. Cumulatively over seven years, profits will total between R3bn and R3.3bn. This is projected to create company value estimated between R4.3bn and R5.4bn.

We look forward to a partnership that will provide radical economic transformation in the sector. This is the first sector to undertake an ambitious change in equity and management and more should be done in other sectors.

This can be a boost for growth and the expansion of companies into the rest of the continent, Patel said.

CEO of the South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors, Webster Mfebe, said he believes that the commencement of the implementation of this agreement marks a momentous milestone and heralds a solid partnership between government and the construction companies.

He said the agreement will ensure meaningful participation and accelerated growth of black industrialists in the construction economy.
It is a global real estate fact that well-managed cities that are clean, relatively crime-free, with solid infrastructure and reliable service delivery, invariably protect  and grow home values within their municipal boundaries.

Cape Town, which has for some time been the top performing large-metro residential property market, is currently a prime example.

Johannesburg will soon be no exception  provided its new administration continues to walk the talk of its leader, Mayor Herman Mashaba. And, judging from progress so far, South Africas financial and commercial capital is doing exactly that.

Whether or not Mashaba is cast in the mould of iconic crime- and grime-busting Rudi Guiliani, who famously transformed a run-down New York City during his 1994 to 2001 term of office as mayor, remains to be seen.

Under-valuation of property

In the meantime, it is encouraging to note that, in its first few months of tenure, the Mashaba-led administration has reportedly uncovered collusion with property owners on fraudulent property under-valuations that have so far cost the city  and, indirectly, its ratepayers  R40m in loss of revenue.

Also promising is Mashabas launch of a forensic investigation into City Power tenders reportedly worth billions of rand, and his determination to ferret out and charge corrupt officials.

The new administration has already detected almost 1,000 fraudulent transactions at Johannesburg licensing centres, which together amount to a loss of revenue of close to R15m. Another blow for ratepayers!

Meanwhile, the first 100 charges against administrative staff for defrauding the city have reportedly been laid. In addition, more and more council officials are being suspended in the wake of forensic reports of fraud, collusion, maladministration and corruption linked to payments of contracts  also at the expense of ratepayers.

As an owner and marketer of Johannesburg residential real estate, I cannot help noticing, and rejoicing in, the uptick there has clearly been in service delivery since the new administration moved in.

The real challenge

While understandably nowhere near perfect at this stage, it is nevertheless clear that parks are cleaner; refuse collection is more efficient; queues at municipal offices are shorter; and service is more friendly. But these are superficial factors.

The real challenge is how the new city administration will address a R170bn funding gap on capital infrastructure that it has inherited. What a wonderful opportunity this presents for private sector capital to be channelled into redevelopment of a cleaned-up CBD  provided the returns are worth it.

If it happens, the inner city  currently largely the domain of vagrants, squatters and slumlords  "will turn into a construction site within months", Mayor Mashaba said recently.

The effect on residential property prices on neighbourhoods close to the city, and in greater Johannesburg suburbia, will be immense.
A Nigerian government agency on Thursday said it had taken over the country's main private airline Arik Air to prevent it from going bust because of spiralling debts.

 JaromAr Chalabala via 123RF

Jude Nwauzor, a spokesman for the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), told AFP: "AMCON has taken over the management of Arik because the whole place is in a mess. We have appointed a new management to stabilise the airline and prevent it from going down like other airlines in Nigeria."

Arik, which was set up in 2006, has a 60% share of domestic flights in Nigeria. It also serves destinations across West Africa and flies to London, Johannesburg and New York.

Loans totalling 135 billion naira

AMCON said Arik had failed to repay loans totalling 135 billion naira (US$429 million, 402 million euros) by the end of December and also had debts to "a lot of foreign creditors".

The total amount of debt is more than 300 billion naira, it added. Staff salaries have not been paid for up to eight months and it had defaulted on payments for insurance, repairs and servicing of its planes.

"International creditors have seized some of its planes because of mounting debts," said Nwauzor.

Passengers have borne the brunt of the increasing management and financial problems at Arik, with frequent cancellations and delays to services. In December, services were grounded by a 24-hour strike over unpaid wages.

"Aviation industry already facing challenges

Said Nwauzor: "The aviation industry is already facing challenges and government does not want Arik, being the largest carrier in Nigeria, to go the way of others and so decided to intervene.

"Our intervention is to stabilise and run Arik into profitability so that it can go back to regular and undisrupted operations. We will also encourage interested investors to inject fresh funds into it."

Aviation minister Hadi Sirika said in a statement the intervention would "stabilise the operations of the airline", preventing job losses and protecting Arik as a going concern.

Arik is not the only airline struggling: Nigeria's second-biggest carrier, Aero Contractors, stopped services for four months last year because of "serious financial difficulties".

Lack of foreign currency

Airlines say a lack of foreign currency caused by the economic recession in Nigeria has left them unable to pay fuel suppliers and in some cases landing charges at airports outside the country.

Aviation analysts have previously criticised the running of Nigerian airlines for trying to minimise operating costs to boost profits. That has seen more than 40 operators go bust in 35 years, including Nigeria Airways, which collapsed in 2003.

Abuja's only airport will be shut completely for at least six weeks from early next month for essential runway repairs.

International carriers Lufthansa, Air France and South African Airways, however, have refused to re-route their Abuja flights during the closure.

Source: AFP
While some business owners may shudder at the thought of networking and what it could entail practically, most entrepreneurs know that it is one of the fundamental aspects of marketing.

Helen Nicholson business networking specialist presented Master the Art of Networking at the Wits Business School last week.

She explained the advantages of LinkedIn. If you have a minimum of 500 connections LinkedIn can be a powerful tool. Nicholson says the network grew by 42% in 2015 and is used by more men than women. This implies a more professional site used for peer to peer business relationships.

The financial sector has the largest presence with Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya showing the biggest user base.

She says men and women network differently. Men would share a personal issue such as being diagnosed with an illness, to 50 to 70 people, while women would choose only four to eight close friends. For women, this translates into a network of 11 to 15 while for men the multiplier is much more than double. She points out that powerful networks were established at boys schools such as St Johns and King Edwards.

Nicholson provided some tips on how to work a room. Make sure your name badge is visible, always top right. And to remember the names of people you are meeting repeat their name three times as naturally as possible. For example, ask the name, confirm the spelling, and say nice to meet you  and the persons name.

Breaking into a group of three is easier than a group of two. Start looking at and nodding to the person holding your interest. After a while the persons focus will turn to you, and then make the appropriate interjection.

You should be widely read to increase your chances of hooking into a range of conversations. Diversity is key, Nicholson says.

Nicholson does not advocate the fake it till you make it approach but rates honesty and integrity as brand cornerstones. Personal branding, she says, is your RQ or relevancy quotient. It requires consistency as a key ingredient to build trust. Yes, you can reinvent yourself, but reinvent with integrity. She cited Lady Gaga as an excellent model of reinvention.

Be the best you that you can be, she says. If youre an introvert, be the best introvert you can be. Introverts make great networkers.

Curiosity accounts for 30 percent of what makes a good networker, she says. When engaging, networkers should apply a listening, talking ratio of 60 to 40 percent.

Nicholson stressed the importance of a good elevator speech. Wrap it up in one sentence. It should make the listener want to find out more. The basic structure is to introduce yourself, say who you are, what you do and how it could help the potential customer, in other words, I am, I do, so that

The elevator speech should be adapted for different scenarios: colleagues, clients and social interactions. Repeat and practise your elevator speech so that you are never caught off guard, Nicholson says.

She says making a good first impression saves a lot of work down the road taking 17 interactions to fix a bad first impression.

Most importantly work givers gain Nicholson says. Be willing to give a free referral, free service, or a gift. If you come from abundance youll get it, if you come from scarcity youll get that instead.
Looking at the changes taking place in the local car buying circles, the 2017 motoring year will mark the entrenchment of value-added, stylish cars in the South African market.

The 2017 motoring year promises to be challenging for South African drivers. Against the undoubted appeal of new cars and exciting technologies, lie the practical issues - the fact that the economy is under-performing, household budgets remain under pressure and car-related costs are rising.

The good news, though, is that South Africans are practical people who will not allow their passion for vehicles to be dimmed by what are, after all, cyclical events that will change in the future.

Tough times ahead for the local car industry

For the local car industry times will be tough in 2017. However, as is the case in most economic downturns, the market for luxury vehicles will be slightly dented but will remain fairly buoyant.

For many, the demand of the times will see a shift in purchasing patterns. The pre-owned market will perform better. There will also be greater opportunities for manufacturers of 'A' and 'B' segment cars. For Datsun South Africa, this will mean increased opportunities for the Datsun GO entry-level sedan, and the more recently introduced Datsun GO+ multi-purpose vehicle (MPV).

Practical and socio-economic issues

Naturally, practical issues, primarily affordability and maintenance costs, play a part in the purchasing of these cars. Socio-economic issues also cannot be discounted.

The introduction of value-added vehicles has opened new classes of car ownership in South Africa; more people in the emerging middle class have acquired cars of their own. This has translated directly into mobility, fewer hours spent commuting and more opportunities to participate in the economy.

Besides improved economic opportunities, this is creating a larger base of motorists who will be looking into buying-up from A segment to B segment as their family circumstances change.

But for the average motorist, it is the competitiveness of the A and B markets themselves that are building the growing popularity of these cars.

Competitiveness will create ongoing interest

In 2017 and beyond it is competitiveness that will create ongoing interest in these categories.

The simple reason is that the word utility has disappeared from the descriptor used for these cars. Instead of being a basic shell, offerings in todays A and B markets have features that were, not so long ago, the preserve of more luxurious vehicles. Driving pleasure and versatility have also reinforced the value that drivers see in these two segments.

With model availability being reviewed and expanded, natural in brand growth is also accommodated for. Buying a Datsun GO in the A segment no longer restricts a buyer to looking elsewhere when considering an upgrade. Moving into a Datsun GO+ MPV, which also - competes in the A segment, as family requirements dictate becomes natural. The benefits of staying with a particular marque, which includes generally higher trade-in values, make the transition easy - especially where ones pocket is concerned.

There is more to owning a car

Savvy buyers are also recognising that there is more to owning a car than just the costs of the car itself. The added costs of insurance, maintenance and repairs also have to be considered as part of the bigger picture. It is here that the practical reinforces the pleasure of driving.

It is comforting to know that spares availability is backed by a national network of dealers and that maintenance costs wont break the bank.

In 2016, the Datsun GO was acknowledged in the authoritative Kinsey Report as the countrys most affordable car. For the second year in a row, the Datsun GO was assessed in three categories. These were:

Category A (Service Items): covering everyday replaceable items, such as air filters, spark/glow plugs, brake pads/shoes and wiper blades.



Category B (Repair Parts): covering major items, such as cam belts, shock absorbers, clutch and pressure plates, flywheels, and fan belts.



Category C (Crash Parts): this looks at major replacement body costs, such as bonnets, grilles, doors, fenders and bumper skins, and light assemblies.

The local market in South Africa began turning towards the benefits of the broadly categorised city car sector (A and B segments) about four years ago. Datsun entered this market with the GO in 2014 and believes that, as long as motorists seek value, the sector will remain a force to be reckoned with in the future.
ArcelorMittal SA is planning to step up its efforts to protect the local steel industry from cheap Chinese imports.

Speaking at the company's results presentation on Friday, 10 February, ArcelorMittal SA CEO Wim de Klerk said a concentrated effort by all the stakeholders in the steel industry was needed.

"We've seen the poultry sector take a collective stand and I believe that is what we should do as well. We will work tirelessly with unions, government and the downstream industry to protect the sector from imports. There will be a big effort and focus on this issue this year," said De Klerk.

He said the domestic and export markets in which the company operated continued to be subdued because of import substitution.

There is a 10% import tariff on steel. Despite this, 1.2-million tonnes were imported into the country. De Klerk said this reflected the need for safeguard measures for primary steel manufacturers to address the surge in imports.

Concerning the rehabilitation of the Thabazimbi mine in Limpopo, De Klerk said the company would be able to provide more details about its future once a due diligence report had been completed.

ArcelorMittal SA will take full management control of the processes and costs related to the rehabilitation of Thabazimbi, which is to be transferred by the Sishen Iron Ore Company (SIOC) in April.

Until 2014, Thabazimbi was a captive mine owned and run by SIOC, supplying ore exclusively to and funded by ArcelorMittal. As a result, ArcelorMittal SA is accountable for 96% of the mine's current rehabilitation liability. SIOC is responsible for the site's management and the remaining liability. Mining operations at Thabazimbi ceased in September 2016.

"The transfer is us wanting to manage our own destiny. We won't mine the way Kumba has mined. Maybe there is a way to do it differently. We owe it to the Thabazimbi community to try. We are doing due diligence. Hopefully, when we meet next we will have more information," said De Klerk.

In the year to December 2016, ArcelorMittal SA narrowed its operating loss to R1.1bn from R4.7bn in the year earlier period.

An 8% increase to R7,282/tonne in the average selling price of steel helped the company grow revenue 5% to R32.7bn, despite the volume of liquid steel it produced declining slightly to 4.77-million tonnes.

Thanks to a rights issue, supported mainly by its Luxembourg-listed parent, ArcelorMittal SA slashed its debt of nearly R3bn to R290m.

Chief financial officer Dean Subramanian said 2016 had been a significant year as the company changed its thinking on how it managed cash flow and its capital requirements.

ArcelorMittal SA said the outlook remained subdued due to low economic growth and lack of infrastructure spend.

Source: Business Day
A legal opinion prepared by law firm Norton Rose Fulbright spells out the damning allegations against Airports Company SA (Acsa) CEO Bongani Maseko, and the charges that should be brought against him and other officials suspended in 2016.

 Rabia Elif Aksoy  123RF.com

The Acsa board roped in Norton Rose Fulbright to provide it with guidance on what to do with the rot uncovered by Dr VS Mncube Consulting during a forensic investigation and a legal opinion prepared by Adv Fezile Reeves Memani on the parastatal's supply chain management lapses.

The Norton Rose Fulbright legal opinion, which Business Day has seen, was submitted on 2 February 2017, when the Acsa board convened an emergency teleconference.

Nature of charges

In the legal opinion, Norton Rose Fulbright formulated the nature of the charges that should be brought against Maseko, procurement manager Percy Sithole, GM for regional airports Jabulani Khambule and legal counsel Bongani Machobane.

Norton Rose Fulbright recommended that the suspensions of Sithole, Khambule and Machobane be extended. The senior managers' suspensions took effect from 7 November 2016 to 3 February.

The law firm recommended that Maseko be suspended, saying his continued presence at work might deter witnesses from coming forward.

Presuspension scripts

Norton Rose Fulbright also recommended in the legal opinion that presuspension scripts be prepared for all the officials, including Maseko. The law firm suggested that the officials concerned be issued with notices of disciplinary inquiries and letters of suspension.

The charge sheet prepared against Maseko includes allegations that he "contravened section 45(c) of the ... [Public Finance Management Act] by failing to take effective and appropriate steps to prevent unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure".

Acsa said on Sunday it was unaware of any board meeting at which the CEO's suspension was discussed, nor had he received notice of suspension.

In a document prepared for the teleconference, an Acsa board ad hoc committee asked for an extension of Dr VS Mncube Consulting's contract from 30 January to 31 May.

The scope of the firm's work would include evaluating evidence and preparing witnesses.
BON Hotels has added BON Hotel GRAND Pela, located in Abuja, to their portfolio - their tenth property in Nigeria.

R-L: Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Nkem Okeke (Right); Chairman, Bon Hotel Grand Pela, Nwakeze Pete and his wife Nwakeze Emmanuela, during the official commissioning of Grand Pela Hotel in Durumi, Abuja, and Former Ambassador of Nigeria to Angola, Folorunso Otukoya (left).

In his opening address at the official launch, chairman of GRAND Pela Hotels & Suites, Peter Chukwudi Nwakeze said the idea of building the hotel was born out of his desire to contribute to the structural and social development of the capital city. Despite the many existing hotels in Abuja we decided to make a paradigm shift by adding new features to the hotel that represent our core values of excellence and professionalism. Our aim is to carve a niche in the hospitality industry that will leave a lasting experience for our guests.

Conveniently located just five minutes from the city centre and only 15 minutes from the airport, the new BON Hotel GRAND Pela is primed for the corporate, business and leisure travellers, with facilities of an international standard. Inspired by modern influences with an African touch, the hotel is in line with international trends and features 87 spacious rooms, an in-house spa and beauty salon, a modern gym fitted with the latest equipment, a versatile conference centre, restaurant, four bars and a lounge, and two swimming pools. Wi-Fi is complimentary throughout the hotel.

The conference centre has three meeting rooms seating up to 300 guests and provides spacious, state-of-the-art facilities for conferences, weddings, promotions, launches, workshops or small meetings and gatherings.

Commenting on the acquisition, executive director of BON Hotels International West Africa, Bernard Cassar said, We are very excited to acquire BON Hotel GRAND Pela  she is a good fit for our portfolio, and in line with our focus on positioning our properties as 4-star, international, boutique-style, full-service hotels, at affordable prices. BON Hotel Grand Pela will join the growing list of other Nigerian hotels acquired by BON Hotels in Abuja, Warri, Ikeja and Victoria Island, along with three properties under construction and due for completion in 2018 in Apo, Ekiti, and OwerrI.

The group is confident in the potential of the region and remain steadfast with their expansion plans, and to providing ongoing support to local tourism and the hospitality industry, their guests, staff, suppliers and the community.
A United Nations expert has called on the Government of Cameroon to restore internet services to predominantly English-speaking parts of the country which have been cut off in an appalling violation of their right to freedom of expression.

Image by 123RF

I am particularly concerned at the tightening of the space for free speech at a time where its promotion and protection should be of the utmost importance, said the special rapporteur on freedom of expression, David Kaye.

His call follows reports that Cameroonians in the northwest and southwest regions, which are predominantly English speaking, have been unable to connect to the internet since 17 January. It also comes against a background of widespread protests against government policies which have reportedly marginalised the countrys English-speaking population.

Cameroon has two official languages: French and English. But English speakers have long reported that they face discrimination and marginalisation, and are excluded from top civil service positions and public services. They also complain their access to justice is limited because the majority of legislation and judicial proceedings are in French.

A network shutdown of this scale violates international law  it not only suppresses public debate, but also deprives Cameroonians of access to essential services and basic resources, said Kaye, urging the government to restore internet facilities immediately.

In 2016, the Human Rights Council passed a resolution which unequivocally condemned measures to intentionally prevent or disrupt access to or dissemination of information online in violation of international human rights law, and called on all States to refrain from and cease such measures.

This followed the 2015 Joint Declaration of UN and regional experts in the field of freedom of expression, which stated that network shutdowns or internet kill switches are measures which can never be justified under human rights law.

The UN Special Rapporteur will continue to monitor developments in Cameroon closely, and is at the disposal of the authorities to provide assistance or advice as required.
IBM has announced a US$70 million initiative to provide free digital skills training for 25 million African youth over five years, in a bid to create a tech-savvy workforce and nurture innovation on the continent.

Image by 123RF

The IBM Digital  Nation Africa initiative will see free skills training provided over a cloud-based platform; offering a range of programmes, from basic IT literacy to highly sought-after advanced IT skills, including social engagement, digital privacy, and cyber protection.

Advanced users will be able to explore career-oriented IT topics including programming, cybersecurity, data science and agile methodologies; as well as business skills like critical thinking, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

IBM said the initiative aims to raise overall digital literacy, increase the number of skilled developers able to tap into cognitive engines, and enable entrepreneurs to grow businesses around new solutions.

IBM sees effective, high quality IT education as a key driver of economic vitality in Africa. Through access to open standards, best practices, IBM tools, and course materials, the broad scope of this initiative will enable vital skills development, says Hamilton Ratshefola, country general manager for IBM South Africa.

In order to find solutions to Africas challenges, industries across the spectrum need to enable the existing and future workforce to perform at the forefront of technologies such as cognitive and cloud computing. This will be the key to spurring economic growth.

Users will be able to access thousands of resources  in English  including mobile apps, web guides, demonstrations, interactive simulations, videos, online assessments, volunteer mentors, and there will also be an app marketplace.

The platform will be based on IBMs artificially intelligent system Watson, and as such will adapt and learn. It will review the multiple interactions the education initiative will have with students, to help direct them to the right courses and help IBM refine the courses to better adapt the material for the needs of the users.

It will also collect anonymous data from users to further improve the service, and create information to help students better locate relevant courses for them.

IBM says it aims to equip 25 million Africans with digital skills over five years through the programme. The initiative will be launched from IBMs regional offices in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Morocco, and Egypt  with a view to enabling expansion across the continent.

The initiative is also supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which will work with governments across Africa to extend the programme throughout the continent, while it will also collaborate on opportunities for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) skills delivery, certification, and accreditation.
The 2017 Africa CEO Forum, the biggest international African private sector gathering, will host over 1,000 African and international personalities and key African industrial, financial and political decision-makers, including around 200 female business leaders from 43 African countries.

Africa CEO Forum, from left to right: Tigui Camara, Diane Chenal, Ghislaine Ketcha Tessa, Neila Benzina. Credits: Jacques Torregano.

An essential platform for dialogue and networking, the Africa CEO Forum is devoting this year's edition to the role of women in African enterprise. As part of the African Women in Business initiative, a high-level panel will bring together the most influential women in the African private sector and the CEOs most active in promoting gender diversity.

The goal is twofold: to identify the best strategies for increased female representation in business and to highlight the career paths of the women who have shaped the African private sector.

"A greater representation of women in companies is crucial to the prosperity of the African private sector," said Amir Ben Yahmed, president of Africa CEO Forum.

"By creating the African Women in Business initiative, we have decided to put female leadership at the heart of our discussions."

The African Women in Business initiative will also present the findings of the McKinsey & Company Women Matter Africa report. This report sets out the progress made by the African private and public sectors in terms of women's representation. While Africa equals - and even exceeds - international standards, there is still a long way to go to achieve true gender equality.

By launching the African Women in Business initiative, the Africa CEO Forum is contributing to the implementation of concrete solutions for the improvement of gender diversity. It aims, as in all matters to the life of African companies, to shake things up and push boundaries.

Launched in 2012, the Africa CEO Forum has become the leading international meeting on the development of Africa and its companies, in a high-level professional setting. The 2016 edition hosted over 1,000 African and international personalities, including 600 business leaders from 43 African countries and 100 high-level speakers.
- T. S. Eliot

Thoughts After Lambeth

"The World is trying the experiment of attempting to form a civilized but non-Christian mentality. The experiment will fail; but we must be very patient in awaiting its collapse; meanwhile redeeming the time: so that the Faith may be preserved alive through the dark ages before us; to renew and rebuild civilization, and save the World from suicide."
Valentine's Day Banned In Various Countries For Various Reasons

Trending News: Valentine's Day Is Banned In Some Countries For Dubious Reasons

Long Story Short

Countries from Iran to Russia to China have taken Valentines awkwardness to a whole new level, but for different reasons.

Long Story

Whereas single Americans, Canadians, and Europeans might criticize Valentines Day as propaganda built on an alliance of corporate and florist interests, the romantic holiday has faced many more controversies in regions less receptive to its message of love and sexual attraction.

Just yesterday, a Pakistani judge banned celebrations of Valentines Day in Islamabad, accepting Muslim conservatives argument that it challenged religious law and social norms in the capital.

Pakistan just banned Valentine's Day. Yep that should solve all our problems.  Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) February 13, 2017

#Pakistan you can silence Bloggers, Ban Basant\Valentine's Day but not terrorists shows that you are heading wrong direction. #LahoreBlast  Sonia Hassan (@soniahassan50) February 13, 2017

Countries that view themselves as the beacons of fundamentalism in the Muslim world have gone further. Indonesia and Iran forbade celebrations countrywide. The Iranians in particular view the holiday as another Christian, Western attempt to breach the Islamic republics political sovereignty. In Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, millennials have resorted to clandestine purchases of roses to evade the religious police. The Wall Street Journal ran an expose on the countrys Valentines underground culture.

Opposition to the holidays apparent sexual decadence and depravity has proved far from unique to the Muslim world. RT, part of Russias state-owned media, reported that some in the country are trying to replace Valentines Day with a national day. Russian nationalists can, however, send their lovers romantic messages in the robotic voice of Vladimir Putin for the low price of $2. You can hear it here, and Quartz has a translation:

Hello! This is Vladimir Putin. I congratulate you on a Happy Valentines Day! This has become a full-fledged holiday among Russian citizens, especially among the young and romantic. This day is a good excuse to give signs of attention, a declaration of love and a reason to make peace following quarrels, or just to bring a smile. I think this is a good traditionto give loved ones, friends, and colleagues joy today. I wish everyone from our country tenderness and goodness that will never run out among friends and partners. Let your life be truly happy! Love and be loved!

Countries such as Thailand have taken the opposite approach, using Valentines as an opportunity to encourage couples to have more sex by distributing vitamins. In China, men are just struggling to find enough women, given the countrys wide disparity in its male and female populations.

However you plan on celebrating Valentine's Day, enjoy your ability to acknowledge the holidays existence without making a political statement, and remember how bizarre Valentines can be elsewhere.

Own The Conversation

Ask The Big Question

How did Valentines get political?

Drop This Fact

The average Russian will likely spend twenty million dollars on candles for Valentines Day.
Got a question or tip? Contact us at bizmojoidaho@gmail.com.
A study that ran for one week in February last year (2016), involving 2,000 adults in the US. who got at least some of their news from online sources, found that people were equally likely to get news by going directly to a news website (36% of the times they got news) as getting it through social media (35%).

Furthermore, according to Pew, people were less likely to access news through emails, text messages or search engines. And most people favored one pathway over another. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of online news consumers had one preferred pathway for getting most of their online news.

The news experience that most inspires people to action  such as sharing, searching for more information or talking about the news with others  is when it comes in the form of emails or texts from family and friends, when 73% of instances were acted upon. Thats more than news found on social media (53%) or direct visits to a news outlets website (47%).

Mark Zuckerberg has gone on record to say that he does not consider Facebook to be a traditional news source.

Facebook is a new kind of platform. Its not a traditional technology company. Its not a traditional media company, he said during a live video chat with Sheryl Sandberg in December last year. We do a lot more than just distribute the news, and were an important part of the public discourse.

And thats it in a nutshell. Facebook is a source of news for many people, with many getting news articles from traditional media they have connected with on the social network. So, that 10% of people cite Facebook as a news outlet doesnt necessarily mean they believe Facebook to be a media outlet, it is purely a portal through which they are exposed to media stories.
Concept drawing from which the College Drive project was designed Typical class dismissal traffic backup is shown at the south end of College Drive Construction of the culvert that will divert water under the new section of College Drive continues The waterfall when it is flowing nicely Previous Next

Getting to college still requires the same dedication and determination as always.But leaving college  at least in a vehicle  will be much easier when students begin the fall semester at Dalton State College in August.Anyone who has traveled south on College Drive knows how difficult it can sometimes be to make a left turn onto Walnut Avenue and head east, but construction is underway on a project that city and county officials believe will deliver much-awaited relief to those motorists.When work is completed by August, College Drive will have been moved farther to the west by 240 feet, and Westbridge, the road that goes to Red Lobster, will also have been moved westward 50 feet.That way, the two streets will line up and a traffic signal can be installed to regulate traffic flow.If youre familiar with College Drive, you know it comes out right beside the southbound exit ramp for I-75 and theres a stop sign for College Drive, Whitfield County Engineer Kent Benson said. The vast majority of people are turning left onto Walnut Avenue, either to go back into town or to get on the interstate.Once motorists have made that left turn, though, theres room for just two or three cars in the storage lane on Walnut Avenue before they have to stop for the signal at the exit ramp. At peak times, that backs up traffic on College Drive well past Zaxbys as vehicles have to wait to turn left.Then youve got people that get impatient and theyll get in the right lane on College Drive, turn right onto Dug Gap Mountain Road, and then zigzag over into Westbridge and make a U-turn and get over in the right lane on Walnut, Mr. Benson said. Thats a dangerous situation.Once completed, however, College Drive will have four lanes at the intersection  one for right turns up Dug Gap Mountain Road, one to go straight onto Westbridge, and two 170 feet long for left turns.The new intersection should cut down on the number of T-bone crashes at College Drive, according to Dalton Assistant Public Works Director Andrew Parker.We have a tremendous number of right-angle crashes there, which by nature are the most serious type of crashes that you can have, he said. Really at this moment, theres just not any better way to deal with it than the striping configuration that we have. But this project will hopefully bring a final resolution to that and be a whole lot safer for folks.Dalton and Whitfield County have been working on a final resolution to the traffic problem there for years. In fact, the state offered to pay for a roundabout that would have included the southbound I-75 exit ramp, if the city and county paid up to $1.2 million for relocation of utilities.We essentially had a final design for the roundabout, but then the federal stormwater rules changed, Dalton Assistant Public Works Director Andrew Parker said. We got word from GDOT (Georgia Department of Transportation) that they were anticipating $2 million worth of redesign costs that wouldnt have been finished until 2018, and then the construction estimate was another $5 million on top of that.A new, much less expensive option soon popped up, however, when the Chamber of Commerce moved downtown, allowing demolition of its old building on College Drive.The city and county resumed control of the project, which will now cost $2.4 million, with $1.8 million coming from long-allotted funds in the 2007 T-SPLOST and the other $600,000 from the state.Our contract wound up being a little bit higher than what we had estimated because the retaining walls turned out to be more expensive to make sure the shoring was sufficient, Mr. Parker said. The good news is that Roger Williams, our representative on the state transportation board, helped secure an additional $600,000 from the state which helped offset a lot of that additional increase. So we cant say thanks enough to Mr. Williams from the city and county for that because we would have been trying to hunt for some more money.Crews have been busy since Jan. 10 working on the first stage of construction, clearing the land and building a 150-foot-long, double-barrel culvert that will divert creek waters underneath the new section of College Drive. The next step will be to build four retaining walls  one along Bojangles frontage, one above the culvert outlet end, and two along Westbridge.The contract with C.W. Mathews requires the contractor to have the new road open to traffic and the signal operational by the start of fall semester at Dalton State College in August.So were going to be able to deliver this project for significantly less money than the roundabout would have been, Mr. Parker said.Another part of the project is sidewalks along the new section of College Drive, Mr. Benson said, assuring residents who walk or jog along whats known to locals as the Loop that it will still be a continuous circular route along Walnut, College, and Tibbs.Since the work is being done outside of existing roadways, there shouldnt be any major traffic delays caused by construction. When the new roads are tied in to the existing roads at the end of the project, the contract calls for that work to be done at night  and quickly, making inconvenience to daytime drivers as minimal as possible.We can build all the new parts of the roads outside of traffic, folks can continue to utilize the old roads just like they were, and then when we get ready to tie it in, well do that at night and then motorists will come in the next couple of mornings and theyll be able to utilize the new road, Mr. Parker said.Once the new roads are being used, final dressing, cleanup, and demolition of the old pavement will be done in September and October.Mr. Parker said college officials are excited about the project.They had staff members at our pre-construction meeting, Mr. Parker said, and weve tried to keep them involved throughout the process because its kind of a joint community project. Its in the city, but the countys involved because its got the 2007 T-SPLOST money. And then we get the college involved because its impacting their students and faculty and visitors more than anybody.Mr. Parker admits its a challenging location. Ideally wed have more space in between those two intersections, but weve got the mountain thats kind of trapping us in there. We cant really go further west because the walls are already very expensive. Can you imagine if we went 20 feet or 100 feet further? It would get to the point where the cost benefit ratio for this project just wouldnt be there. So what weve tried to do is create a balance between whats a reasonable amount of money to realize the significant benefits like were hoping for, and we feel like weve reached it with this concept and design.One more benefit is that the project was able to save the waterfall that was visible from the board room of the old Chamber building.One thing were really excited about is preserving that waterfall, Mr. Parker said, so if youre in the right turn lane coming out of College Drive, we think youll be able to see it from your car. But even if not, we think well be able to retain some parking area there so you can actually get out of your car and see it a lot better than you could before. Of course, people using the sidewalks will be able to see it, too.
The protesters marched around the town in Sittwe, Rakhine State.

U Win Lwin, chief immigration officer of Rakhine State Immigration Office, has been accused for abusing the existing 1982 Citizenship Law. Consequently, there was a protest made by Sittwe residents against U Win Lwin. Around 500 protesters demanded to take legal action on U Win Lwin, U Aung Than Wai who is Sittwe Township Party Secretary of the Arakan National Party told The Narinjara News.

The protest was led by the Arakan National Partys Sittwe Township Branch. The protesters marched starting from Wingabar field along the main road and then go-around the town via Kon-tann street and Set-yon-su street.

By reason of breaking of1982 Citizenship Law, the protest was launched in order to put on trial in line with judicial order, said U Aung Than Wai, Sittwe Township Party Secretary of the ANP.

A Bingali woman named Mya Nanda Khin who is not Myanmar citizens from Bu-thee-taung township has been issued the national registration card No. 11/BaThaTa (Naing) 048157 on 3 February, 2016. As the issuance of the NRC to Mya Nanda Khin is illegal according to the section 19 of the 1982 Citizenship Law, a court case was made at the No. 1 Police Station in Sittwe, U Aung Than Wai told Narinjara.

So, U Aung Than Wai made lawsuit against U Win Lwin regarding the illegal issuance of the said NRC which was not in keeping with the existing law. However, the lawsuit has been delayed so far and the local residents decided to protest the hindrance of the judiciary procedure.

The protesters exposed their desires by shouting the following slogans: To put on trial U Win Lwin who breaks the 1982 Citizenship Law is our demand, To put on trial the Rakhine state immigration officer U Win Lwin who breaks the Nationl Sovereignty is our demand, To put on trial the Rakhine state immigration officer U Win Lwin who betrays the Nation is our demand.

Narinjara News cannot state the explanation of U Win Lwin, the Rakhine state immigration chief officer, due to communication difficulty.

Translated by Zin Linn
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...
As a way to bring the Dove Men+Care Elements "feeling of freshness to life and tap into mens interest in unique adventure travel experiences", the brand is building the Dove Men+Care Elements Treehouse just outside of Chattanooga.

Renowned treehouse builder, author and T.V. host, Pete Nelson, will design the family-friendly treehouse space inspired by the ingredient combinations found in the Elements range.

Dove Men+Care is debuting Elements, a multi-product innovation with a range that draws on ingredient combinations including minerals and sage, charcoal and clay, and mineral powder and sandalwood. We know that men are looking for a new kind of freshness in their grooming routines, said Nick Soukas, vice president of Marketing for Dove at Unilever U.S. With the Dove Men+Care Elements line, weve developed personal care products that are inspired by the power of natures elements. They include energizing ingredient combinations that trigger mens senses and formulations that provide the superior care for their skin and hair consumers expect from Dove Men+Care.

Starting Monday, consumers can visit www.DoveMenCare.com/ElementsTreehouse to explain why they want to stay at the Dove Men+Care Elements Treehouse along with their family, which will open in the spring.



Im thrilled to partner with Dove Men+Care to create the Dove Men+Care Elements Treehouse, my first-ever treehouse concept that brings to life the unique ingredients found in a grooming product line said Mr. Nelson. I believe that treehouses ignite a sense of wonder within all of us, and I look forward to creating a space where families can connect with nature while spending quality time with one another.

For more information about Dove Men+Care Elements, and how to visit the treehouse, go to http://www.DoveMenCare.com/ElementsTreehouse and follow @DoveMenCare on Twitter and Instagram.
Kangana Ranaut On Koffee With Karan Season 5 Turns Heads In White Fashion Kaustubha

Kangana Ranaut has become our hot favourite topic. From her bob to her sarees, to her dresses, we dote everything in her lookbooks. These days the lady is busy with her Rangoon promotions and we have been offered a variety of stellar lookbooks.

Kangana, recently, was invited for a coffee with Karan on his talk show Koffee With Karan, with her Rangoon co-star Saif Ali Khan.

While she blatantly took a dig at Karan's nepotism in the industry, she also looked lovely as hell.

Clad in a knee-length white dress, Kangana surely impressed us. The dress had a rather interesting neckline. The solid white dress was simple, chic and sophisticated. A perfect pick for a show like this.

Kangana flaunted her curly and blonde highlighted bob, again. She was wearing pink lipstick. While we are not sure how great she was on the show, but we can sure admit that she look great!
The Mountain Education Foundation is sponsoring a special texting campaign the month of February, with special emphasis on Feb. 14, to raise money for an unfunded special project at each of the three Signal Mountain public schools the MEF supports.

The three projects supported by the Love Our Schools campaign are all important projects that will make a huge impact on our students and their academic environment, but they are currently unfunded, said Katie Hanners, MEF executive director.

If just 12% of the Signal Mountain population made a one-time gift of $25 by texting 443-LOVE-MEF (443-5683-633) we will have three fully funded projects, Hanners said.

Signal Mountain Middle High School will use the extra money to update and replace equipment in its original computer labs that are nearly 10 years old.

Nolan Elementary needs money to buy equipment and supplies for its new STEM lab, which opened just a few months ago.

Thrasher Elementary will use funds to send teachers to a three-day workshop on Project Based Learning, which will provide them with the skills and knowledge needed to design, assess and manage a rigorous, relevant, and standards-based project.

All money raised during the Love Our Schools campaign will be divided equally among the schools to help fund their respective special project.

People who would like to contribute to these projects but are not comfortable with texting may send a check to the Mountain Education Foundation, PO Box 81, Signal Mountain, TN 37377. Just be sure to earmark the envelope or check for the Love Our Schools campaign.
Food City named Rick Bishop as Executive Vice President of Store Operations for their Chattanooga Division. Mr. Bishop brings more than 34 years of industry experience to the newly created position.

Were really excited about the opportunity for Rick to lead our newly formed Chattanooga Division. Rick is a proven leader, having grown up with our company, served as district manager and promoted so many of his associates into key roles throughout our organization. He will bring a keen insight to this new role and will become an active member of the Greater Chattanooga community, says Steven C. Smith, Food City president and chief executive officer.

Born and raised in Rogersville, TN, Mr. Bishop began his career at 18 years of age, accepting a position as courtesy clerk for Super Dollar Markets, which was later acquired by Food City. He was quickly promoted through the ranks, serving as cashier, front-end manager, bakery manager, seafood manager and assistant store manager. Within five years, he secured his first assignment as store manager and managed ten locations over the next sixteen years. In June of 2004, he was promoted to his most recent position as District Manager, responsible for the operation of 13 Food City locations and 2 convenience stores throughout Washington, Green, Carter and Sullivan County, TN.

Mr. Bishops new duties include oversight of store operations for Food Citys Chattanooga based division, which is comprised of 27 Food City locations, as well as their pharmacy and Gas n Go fuel centers.

I have really enjoyed my time as a District Manager for the Tri-Cities region, working with so many outstanding people that I am fortunate to call my friends, says Mr. Bishop. Im looking forward to starting my new responsibilities in the Chattanooga market and having the opportunity to work with the great team of associates we have there and meeting many of our loyal customers.

Mr. Bishop is also an active member of his local community, having served with the Rogersville Optimist Club, Newport Kiwanis Club, Morristown Optimist Club, Rogersville Chamber of Commerce, Gray Community Chest, Johnson City Salvation Army, United Way of Johnson City, Niswonger Childrens Hospital, East Tennessee State University, two-time member of the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and a number of other organizations and activities. He is a 1982 graduate of Cherokee High School and attended Walters State Community College and the University of Tennessee.

Mr. Bishop currently resides in Gray, TN with his wife, Vicki. He has three children, Lindsey, Derrick and Alexis.
Marcus & Millichap on Monday announced the sale of Einstein Bros Bagels, a 1,800-square foot net-leased property located in Hixson, according to Ryan Nee, vice president/regional manager of the firms Fort Lauderdale office. The asset sold for $1,387,500.

Barry M. Wolfe, first vice president Investments, Alan Lipsky, associate, and Blayne Lipman, associate, who are all in Marcus & Millichaps Fort Lauderdale office, had the exclusive listing to market the property on behalf of the seller, a limited liability company, as well as the buyer, an individual/personal trust.

Einstein Bros. Bagels is a bagel and coffee chain in the United States with approximately 800 restaurants carrying the Einstein Bros. name. It is at 5237 Hixson Pike. Einstein Bros. Bagels is located five miles from Chattanooga State Community College and less than 10 miles from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Chattanooga Airport. The building was renovated in 2015. The location is a guaranteed franchise location in operation for approximately 13 months.

Mr. Lipman said, The seller is a local Chattanooga resident who is rapidly expanding the presence of Einstein Bros. Bagel locations in the area. We were able to source the buyer from California and manage the process through three time zones.
The Chattanooga Fire Fighters Association, IAFF Local 820, is endorsing Chattanooga entrepreneur John L. Kerns for City Council in District 9.

John Kerns has clearly demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the issues that are important to Chattanoogas fire fighters, CFFA President Jack Thompson said. His commitment to the health and safety of our first responders, as well as his proven record of getting things done in private business makes him the clear choice in District 9.

Secretary Treasurer Tim Bryant said, Over the course of his campaign, John has reached out to Chattanoogas fire fighters, asked smart questions, and shown a commitment to fair policies that are important to our professionals. John understands that the risks we take every day can affect our health, our families, and our financial future, and we are excited to encourage voters to select a new leader in District 9.

In response, Mr. Kerns said, One of our citys most important responsibilities is to make sure that we take care of those who care for us in times of crisis, and I am humbled that Chattanoogas fire fighters are supporting my campaign for City Council.

Mr. Kerns, who resides in Highland Park with his wife Sara, chose Chattanooga in 2009 and founded Preferred Care at Home, which now has 80 employees and was a finalist for the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerces Small Business of the Year Award in 2015. He is on the board of directors of the Highland Park Neighborhood Association, a graduate of Leadership Chattanooga, and vice chairman of the board of directors for Welcome Home of Chattanooga.

Early voting begins on Wednesday, and runs through March 2. Election Day is March 7.
Students at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga have joined over 100 universities nationwide to raise money for St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital through the St. Jude Up til Dawn program. In its first year, the student-led group has brought nearly 300 students together to raise money for the hospital, culminating with a celebration event this week. With an original goal of $35,000, the group surpassed the goal weeks ago. The group quickly reached their new goal of $40,000 in just the last week.They have their sights set on raising even more before this Fridays big celebration event.On Friday evening, the student-led group will invite their nearly 300 student participants together for the programs annual celebration to take place in the Aquatic and Recreation Center on campus. The event asks student fundraisers to stay up for good six hours from midnight-6 a.m. on Saturday to complete a series of challenges, fun activities, and hear from guest speakers, former patients, and their families about the impact their fundraising has on the organization. The celebration is a culmination of a year of hard work for both the organizations executive board and their peers.For a first year program, I am blown away by what we have been able to accomplish. We had big goals and its amazing to see them actually happen. We have been so thankful to have great support from the national organization to make this possible. It has been great to see the executive board and our campus rally around this important effort. I cannot wait to stay up for good on Friday, said Alexis Hurley, a junior communications major and the organizations first executive director.This effort has been truly student-led. As an administration, we brought the program to our students because of strong student interest and our institutions commitment to promote the importance of civic engagement and philanthropy. We have many former patients of the hospital who call our campus their collegiate home and who will participate in our celebration on Friday, into Saturday. The money they have fund-raised will truly ensure a family never receives a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food  because all a family should worry about is helping their child live, said Austin Arias, assistant dean of students and one of the organizations advisors.Fundraising efforts will continue this week through the weekend. Individuals interested in making a gift to the hospital through the organizations program can visit the fundraising page at fundraising.stjude.org/utc
Most of us have already bailed on Januarys New Years resolutions. So, if making resolutions didnt work for you, February is the perfect time to think about fashioning a vision for 2017  one that includes spiritual resolutions -- to finish out the year with joy.

According to Statistic Brain, some top New Years resolutions are: (1) lose weight, (2) get organized, (3) stay fit and healthy, (4) quit smoking, and (5) spend more time with family. Sadly, that list does not include: (1) prayer, (2) gaining a better understanding of our relationship with God, or (3) studying the Scriptures more.

While all those popular resolutions would make our human lives appear better, focusing on the spiritual aspects of our lives would enable us to find answers to our problems with Gods help.

Your spiritual vision for 2017 could include some ideas from my list:

 See with clarity  See Gods goodness everywhere; look at the world with compassion; do not condemn or judge.

 Dust off your spiritual compass  Look up to God for help instead of trying to fix things humanly; rely on Gods strength.

 Encourage others on their journey of faith  Join a Bible study; participate in a community event.

 Seek spiritual freedom  Romans 8 offers a great vision for how to find spiritual freedom.

 Look at the new year with hope - See the new year as an opportunity to mend broken relationships, strengthen family ties, forgive and forget.

 Take time to improve yourself spiritually - Read the Scriptures more; spend more time praying; serve your church; and/or map out a plan to heal whatever needs healing (maybe a disappointment or sickness/suffering).

Honestly, I havent always felt able to have a spiritual vision for myself. There was a time in my life when I felt like I was drifting along, like a ship tossed to and fro on the ocean. I had no vision for myself and no matter what I attempted to do, nothing made me happy. It seemed I was so focused on every little inconvenience in my life that I couldnt see the big picture -- all the good that was actually present every single moment.

I felt desperate and started studying the Scriptures for inspiration. I read in Acts where Paul spoke of finishing his course with joy. I started praying for God to give me joy and to help me out of that messy time. During my spiritual study, I came across this passage from the writings of Mary Baker Eddy: If the disciple is advancing spiritually, he is striving to enter in. He constantly turns away from material sense, and looks towards the imperishable things of Spirit. If honest, he will be in earnest from the start, and gain a little each day in the right direction, till at last he finishes his course with joy. (Science & Health with Key to the Scriptures, 21:9)

There was the answer! As a Christian Scientist, I was certainly a disciple of Christ and trying to be a good Christian. I knew that by consciously trying to live Jesus teachings -- like loving God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and loving my neighbor as myself -- I would advance spiritually. I cherished that Christians should follow Christs example of forgiveness, caring for one another, compassion, helping those in need, and healing the sick.

So, during that time, I promised myself that I would focus on following Christ and concentrate on turning away from all the material annoyances that were taking away my joy. Before long, I was gaining a little each day in that right direction Eddy wrote about. I found myself less concerned about everyday challenges and more joyous. That is when I started shaping a spiritual vision for my life.

This year, set your sights on growing spiritually. Helen Keller once said, The only thing worse than being blind is having sight and no vision. If you feel like you are wandering blindly on the sea of life, envision a plan for 2017 that includes spiritual resolutions, and finish your course with joy!

* * *

Debra Chew writes about the connection between thought, spirituality and wellness from a Christian Science perspective. She has been published in USA Today, chattanoogan.com, Knoxville News Sentinel, Memphis Commercial Appeal, UK Health Triangle Magazine, and the Jackson Sun & JS Health Magazine.




Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar releases the sixth edition of Brahmand World Defence Update 2017. Also present on the occasion, Minister of State for Defence Shri Subhash Bhamre who has penned the foreword for the yearbook, Chief Minister of Goa, Shri Laxmikant Parsekar and Dr. Sudhir K Mishra, CEO & MD of BrahMos Aerospace.

BENGALURU: Honourable Defence Minister of India Shri Manohar Parrikar on 14th of February, 2017 released the sixth edition of global military yearbook Brahmand World Defence Update 2017 at the BrahMos Aerospace pavilion on the inaugural day of Aero India 2017 being held in Bengaluru.



Also present on the occasion were Minister of State for Defence Shri Subhash Bhamre who has penned the foreword for the yearbook, Chief Minister of Goa, Shri Laxmikant Parsekar and Dr. Sudhir K Mishra, CEO & MD of BrahMos Aerospace.



An initiative of BrahMos Aerospace, Brahmand World Defence Update 2017 provides incisive, comprehensive and up-to-date facts, figures and data on the armed forces of 113 countries worldwide with the objective to give a comprehensive assessment of the present-day global military order. BrahMos Aerospace is a Joint Venture between DRDO of India and NPOM of Russia.



The yearbook has covered each countrys overall military capability by listing its existing weapons' inventory, ongoing/ future arms procurement plans and annual defence spending besides detailing important political &defence personnel along with the countrys conflict areas.



It has also provided detailed strategic information on 33 leading countries selected from each continent/region with key focus on their geopolitical importance, strategic relations, threat perception, defence capabilities and defence budget trends.



In its latest issue, the yearbook also includes a new chapter on Naval Warfare Systems of five major powers  China, France, India, Russia and the USA.



With swift advancements in military technology worldwide, naval warfare domain too has undergone major transformations to include a wide range of top-of-the-line maritime assets for littoral, surface and sub-surface warfare missions.



Development of aircraft carriers, attack submarines, missile destroyers, frigates, amphibious vessels, patrol craft, replenishment ships along with state-of-the-art weapons and systems have greatly widened the realm of naval warfare strategies and tactics in modern times when sea dominance has become a critical aspect for many countries aspiring to attain global power status in the 21st century world.



The new chapter on Naval Warfare Systems puts the light on each of the listed countrys naval & naval aviation platforms along with major weapon systems which are detailed comprehensively.



Like all its previous editions, the military yearbook promises to be a vital source of reference for the armed forces and defence establishments and also for the global arms manufacturers, research institutions, academia, think-tanks, Captains of industries and even for the general readers keen to know about latest global military trends and developments.



The book is published by Pentagon Press.




Gen. Bipin Rawat, Chief of Army Staff being presented with a memento by Dr. Sudhir Mishra, CEO & MD of BrahMos Aerospace at BrahMos pavilion during the ongoing Aero India 2017. Photo: Brahmand.

BENGALURU (BNS): Gen. Bipin Rawat, Chief of Army Staff on Tuesday visited the BrahMos Aerospace pavilion on the opening day of Aero India 2017 being held at the Air Force Station, Yelahanka, Bengaluru.



BrahMos Aerospace, the producer of BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile system, is exhibiting the air, land and sea variants of the world-class weapon at the biennial aero show.



Shri Sudhir Mishra, CEO & MD of BrahMos, briefed Gen. Rawat about the BRAHMOS weapon system and the achievements made by the India-Russia Joint Venture programme.



The BRAHMOS missile with a flight range of up to 290 km can travel at a speed of Mach 2.8, making it one the fastest missiles in the world.



The Indian Army has deployed the land-attack variant of BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile system since 2007. It is the only Army in the world in possession of such a powerful weapon.


Parkridge Medical Group proudly welcomes noninvasive cardiologist Jennifer Ayers Mirza, D.O., to its Diagnostic Center practice. Dr. Mirza currently sees patients in her new office location at 2205 McCallie Ave.

Dr. Mirza earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, in Lewisburg, West Virginia, and completed a fast-track internship in internal medicine at Norton Community Hospital, in Norton, Virginia, where she also served an internal medicine residency.

Dr. Mirza pursued additional training through a cardiology fellowship at Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, New Jersey. Prior to joining Parkridge Health System, Dr. Mirza was a clinical cardiologist at Cardiology Services of Cleveland, in Cleveland, Tennessee.

Parkridge Health System has been a patient-friendly healthcare presence in Chattanooga for many years, Dr. Mirza said. I am excited to work alongside physicians and staff who have served the local community their entire careers and to join fellow colleagues to foster the legacy of excellent local healthcare delivered at Parkridge.

Dr. Mirza treats the full spectrum of cardiac conditions, including arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, heart valve disorders, hyperlipidemia and hypertension. Patients who seek evaluation for chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath or syncope can rely on Dr. Mirza as a partner in their heart care.

I treat my patients as I would want my own family to be treated, Dr. Mirza said. I believe that patients should be active participants in their healthcare decisions and use my expertise to help guide them in their decisions.

Dr. Mirza is a member of the American College of Cardiology, the American Society of Echocardiography, the American College of Osteopathic Internists, the American Osteopathic Association and the Tennessee Medical Association.


An internet imagery.

WASHINGTON (PTI): The Trump Administration is taking a fresh look at Lockheed's proposal to have a F-16 manufacturing base in India if New Delhi agrees to buy the fighter jets, company officials have said.



"For several months, we've been working with President (Donald) Trump's transition and governance teams and leaders in Congress providing information on our many programmes and potential business opportunities including the proposed sale of F-16 fighter aircraft to India," a Lockheed official told PTI on Monday.



Lockheed, which is one of the top global manufacturers of fighter jets, said that its officials have briefed the Trump Administration on the current proposal, which was supported by the Obama Administration as part of a broader cooperative dialogue with the Government of India.



"We understand that the Trump Administration will want to take a fresh look at some of these programmes and we stand prepared to support that effort to ensure that any deal of this importance is properly aligned with US policy priorities," the official said.



Ultimately, the configuration of any F-16 sale to India will be determined by government-to-government discussions, the Lockheed official noted referring to the fact that all major defense sales needs approval of the US Government.



The official said that the company continues to believe that the F-16 is the right aircraft to meet India's fighter aircraft needs and the opportunity to sell F-16 aircraft to India represents a significant opportunity for the US economy.



"The selection of the F-16 by India would preserve US jobs at Lockheed Martin and throughout our US supply chain. It could also create opportunities for future aircraft sales and upgrades by keeping F-16 production active," the official said.



According to Lockheed, which has been in India for more than 25 years, this unique F-16 opportunity delivers advanced defense capabilities and strengthens the strategic partnership between the US and India.



The F-16 is ready for any challenge, combining innovative structural and capability upgrades, such as the Active Electronically Scanned Array radar with a new avionics architecture. The Block 70 software further enhances capabilities through an advanced datalink, precision GPS navigation and Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System, the official said.



In India, Lockheed Martin has partnership and joint venture company with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), which has proven that Indian industry can manufacture airframe components for the C-130J airlifter and the S-92 helicopter.



"We hope to build on that success with the F-16, the world's most successful, combat-proven multi-role fighter.



Because when it comes to success in complex environments, we know trusted partnerships can make a world of difference," the company said.



Lockheed opened its India subsidiary in 2008.




The world class BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile on display at Aero India 2017. Photo: Brahmand.

BENGALURU (BNS): In an impressive display of its missile making capabilities, BrahMos Aerospace, the producer of BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile system, is exhibiting the air, land and sea variants of the world-class weapon at Aero India 2017 in Bengaluru.



A full-scale model of the air launched variant of BRAHMOS integrated with Sukhoi-30 strike fighter of the Indian Air Force is a major draw at the five-day international event which started on February 14.



The BRAHMOS-A programme is steadily advancing in its live test firing from the long-range Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter in the coming months.



The air launched variant of the formidable missile has lesser weight and additional rear fins for aerodynamic stability during separation from the aircraft and launch.



The Indian Air Force has chosen the Su-30MKI as the launch platform for the 290-km range BRAHMOS.



Besides the air-launched missile, BrahMos Aerospace is also displaying the land-attack and anti-ship variants of the weapon at the 11th edition of Aero India. Also in focus is the underwater launch version of the missile which has been successfully test-fired in 2013.



The JV entity between India & Russia has established a robust Missile Industrial Complex wherein a large number of public and private sector firms are associated in the design, development and production of the missile.



To highlight the indigenous efforts made by several Indian firms, the company is exhibiting some of the critical systems and sub-systems of the weapon supplied by these firms.



The Government has initiated the ambitious Make-In-India programme to realise full-scale indigenisation of the Indian defence industry, and BRAHMOS has emerged as a perfect role model in this campaign.


Current and former members of the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office Special Weapons and Tactics Division (SWAT) honored newly-promoted Uniformed Services Captain Mark King for 17dedicated years of service as SWAT commander for the HCSO.Captain King began his illustrious career as an Explorer in the HCSO Explorer Division while in high school. He formally joined the agency in 1986 when he was hired as a corrections deputy. Since being hired, he has served with distinction in the Corrections, Patrol, Criminal Investigations, and Narcotics divisions.In 1993, Captain King began his tactical experience when he participated in his first tactical training class.He officially joined the HCSO Special Response Team (SRT) in 1997, eventually becoming its Commander in 2000. The Special Response Team (SRT) was the predecessor of todays HCSO SWAT Team.In 2003, the SRT Team was converted to a full tactical SWAT team when 20 personnel were trained and joined the team along with several pieces of specialized equipment and vehicles. Captain King would serve as SWAT commander from 2000  2017 when he received his promotion to captain of Uniformed Services. He is widely acknowledged as the Father of todays modern HCSO SWAT Team.Captain King is a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy and a graduate of the Southeastern Leadership Academy (SELA). He has also participated in numerous leadership and command training courses through the National Tactical Officers Association. He is a departmental instructor and is well known throughout the 3rd District Homeland Security District for his wealth of knowledge, experience, and training.As captain of Uniformed Services, Captain King is officially responsible for the day to day operations of the Uniformed Services Division which includes SWAT, Patrol, Marine Patrol, Hostage Negotiation, and various other command level responsibilities.Captain King is married to his wife of 20 years, Janet King, and together, they have four children. He and his family reside in Soddy Daisy.
Parkridge East Hospital and the American Heart Association are celebrating Valentines Day and American Heart Month by providing red hats for all babies born at The Birth Place at Parkridge East on Feb. 14.

Parkridge is participating in the Associations Little Hats, Big Hearts program, which raises awareness of heart disease, the number one killer of Americans, and congenital heart defects, the most common type of birth defect in the country. The tiny red hats will include a special message to moms reminding them of the importance of a healthy heart and where to find helpful information.



At Parkridge East, we focus on good health for the entire family, said Jarrett Millsaps, CEO of Parkridge East Hospital. The Little Hats, Big Hearts program is an excellent reminder of the lifelong importance of heart health for moms and their babies. This is very important because we know moms are great at taking care of the family, but they often ignore their own health. This program gives us the opportunity to educate our moms on the importance of a healthy heart so she can celebrate the newest addition to her family now and for the many years to come.



American Heart Month is an annual celebration in February that began in 1963 to encourage Americans to join the battle against heart disease. A local proclamation pays tribute each year to researchers, physicians, public health professionals and volunteers for their tireless efforts in preventing, treating and researching heart disease.
A building on South Market Street near 20th Street will be auctioned on Feb. 24 at noon.

Marc Gravitt of Gravitt Auction said the owner has retired, moved out of town and must sell the property.

He said, "This is a highly visible piece of real estate on the south end of Market Street near the 20th Street intersection. The building, built in 1997, has approximately 1,152 square feet, central HVAC, walk-in cooler, with a lot size of approximately .21 acres."

It is zoned Commercial.



Call auctioneer for inspection.

Terms are 20 percent down day of auction by cash or check, balance due at closing in 30 days. A 10 percent buyers premium applies.
The Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan is to meet with the Northern Irish Secretary of State this afternoon.

Minister Flanagan will hold official talks with James Brokenshire at Iveagh House in Dublin.
An eleven-year sentence has been imposed on a garda informer who shot a woman in the neck through the window of a house as it emerged that CCTV at the accused mans own home was the key evidence convicting him, writes Liam Heylin of the Irish Examiner.

The accused, Gavin Sheehan, chose his sentencing hearing today as the moment to reveal that he had been - for a period of two years - a garda informer tipping them off about drug dealers, gun dealers and criminals in general.

Sheehan, 30, was sentenced by Judge Sean O Donnabhain at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge O Donnabhain said: This was quite an extraordinary case where Ciara Sheehan, 21, was in the house with the light on when a shot came through the window. The girl suffered a very serious injury. She was lucky on two counts - that the bullet did not interfere with a blood vessels or other vessels and secondly that she was attended to by extremely competent surgeons at the South Infirmary.

The evidence was quite exceptional. The particular evidence which convicted him was CCTV garnered from his own surveillance at his home. He knew that was there. It was against the clear photographic evidence that he pleaded not guilty.

The judge said the CCTV showed him clearly getting angry as he rummaged through a wheelie bin not finding the Smith and Wesson gun where he has left it and instead finding it in the next bin where someone else had placed it.

Commenting on the appearance of the accused on his own security footage, the judge said: He was lording it, showing the level of his criminality by his own peacock display - it is on his CCTV camera.

The judge wondered if Sheehan was hoping that there would be evidence of another person with a similar gun elsewhere on the north side of the same city at the same time doing what he was accused of doing. The judge said that a lot was made by the defence of the fact that the Garda evidence at times was inaccurate and would have had them arriving at the scene before the crime was committed, but he said this evidence was not relevant in light of the extent of the CCTV evidence.

Judge O Donnabhain said: This man mercilessly and deliberately took the gun and fired it into a dwelling house he knew was lit and occupied. He did not co-operate. Since then he has not shown one shred of remorse. I have been looking for either remorse or some form of rehabilitation from the accused but I do not find it. In fact in truth it is thoroughly absent.

He tried to blaggard the victim by sending her a Christmas card to add to her suffering. That is reprehensible behaviour, the judge said, wondering how he could send this card to the victim at a time when he was remanded in prison.

Ciara Sheehan in hospital.

The judge imposed a sentence of 14 years with the last three years suspended. The judge did not refer to Sheehans revelation of being a garda informer.

Vincent Heneghan defence senior counsel made certain revelations during questioning of Detective Sergeant Denis Lynch today. The detective said he was not in a position to answer the suggestions being made. Mr Heneghan said he had specific instructions to make them.

He referred to a dispute between Sheehan and a named party after a martial arts exhibition in Cork, after which Sheehans parents home and car were subject to attacks, his mother to assault and his father to threats on his life.

I have certain instructions that he was acting as an informer to An Garda Siochana for two years up to the Christmas of 2015. During that period of time he was an informer for (Christian name) at Mayfield garda station, an informer who acted and gave information to gardai. He gave names of people involved in the drugs trade, gun trade and criminality in general. His co-operation ceased around Christmas 2015, Mr Heneghan said.

The senior counsel said the defendant had been moved between three different prisons since he was remanded in custody for this case. He said: That is for his own safety.

Mr Heneghan said the accused had a partner and baby and was also a great source of support to his parents.

Det. Sgt. Lynch said that of Sheehans 72 previous convictions, 15 were serious enough to be dealt with at circuit court level. He had four for assault causing harm, three for assault and seven for robbery.

Unanimous guilty verdicts were delivered by the jury in November at the end of Sheehans trial for shooting a young woman in the neck through the front window of a house in Cork.

Gavin Sheehan, 30, of 7 Laurel Ridge, Shanakiel, Cork, denied the four charges against him related to possessing and firing the gun and most significantly, seriously injuring the young woman.

Ciara Sheehan - who is no relation to the Gavin Sheehan - addressed the jury directly in the trial describing what it felt like to be shot in the neck.

We were talking in the front room. I was standing in front of the window. I heard a loud bang. We ran towards the kitchen. I felt my throat was getting all tight, my face was burning. I touched my neck, there was blood on my hands. That is when I realised I got shot in the neck. Dylan (her boyfriend, Dylan Cunningham) brought me to his mams car in the back and we drove to the CUH. I had surgery twice, the bullet was still stuck in neck. I was five or six days in hospital, Ms Sheehan testified.

There was no witness to say they saw Gavin Sheehan firing the shot. The prosecution case was built on circumstantial evidence.

Some of the CCTV evidence came from a camera the accused man had on the outside of his own home. This showed him with a gun. It also showed him coming and going at relevant times.

A message from Sheehans phone was also put in evidence. It said, I am packing well. Det. Sgt. Lynch said today this was taken to be a reference to carrying a loaded firearm.

Two neighbouring estates on the northern side of Cork city between Blarney Road and Harbour View Road, namely Laurel Ridge and Hollywood estate, formed the backdrop to much of the disputed action in this case. The jury was told that there was a dispute going on between Gavin Sheehan and members of the Cunningham family of 37 Hollywood estate.

On Saturday evening, May 14, Dylan Cunningham was in Dinos chipper in Blackpool with his girlfriend, Ciara Sheehan, when Gavin Sheehan came in and punched Dylan Cunningham.

At around midnight there was a series of events including the smashing of windows at 37 Hollywood estate and 7 Laurel Ridge. It culminated in the shot being fired through the window of 37 Hollywood estate, seriously wounding Ciara Sheehan.

He was found guilty that at his home at Laurel Ridge on the May 15 he had a Smith and Wesson 60.96 semi-automatic firearm, discharging it being reckless as to whether any person was injured or not on Sunday, May 15, at Hollywood estate, assault causing serious harm to Ciara Sheehan, and the related charge of having ammunition. Before the trial commenced he pleaded guilty to two criminal damage charges where he caused criminal damage to the front windows of 57 Harbour View Road, and also damaged the windows of this householders car.
The jurors in the trial of a man, charged with murdering his flatmate, have been told that his "tale of self defence" was an insult to their intelligence.

Anthony Sammon SC was giving his closing speech for the State today on the 10th day of his murder trial at the Central Criminal Court.

Arnis Labunskis, with an address at Wolfe Tone Street, Limerick City, is accused of murdering 39-year-old Dainius Burba in their house there on April 21 or 22, 2015.

The 57-year-old Latvian has pleaded not guilty to murdering the Lithuanian father-of-one, who was also his colleague.

The accused told gardai that he had come home to find his flatmate with serious injuries, but the father-of-two has since told the jury that he inflicted them.

He testified that Mr Burba called him into his darkened bedroom in the middle of the night and began swinging a wooden table leg at him.

He said he managed to disarm Mr Burba, but that Mr Burba continued to come at him with his fists.

He said he then swung the table leg at him until the deceased shouted stop.

Mr Sammon said that this new scenario did not stand up to scrutiny.

I suggest that what Mr Labunskis has told you is an insult to your intelligence, he said.

He said that by not telling the gardai that everything happened in the context of this tale of self defence, the gardai were unable to carry out certain investigations.

He described his new version of events introduced on Friday as an ambush of the prosecution case. However, he pointed out that the prosecution was entitled to use an inferential provision and asked the jury to draw an inference.

The inference the prosecution asks you to draw is that this new version of events is a fabrication, a falsehood, he said.

He described as elaborate the lies he had told investigating gardai. He noted that the accused could provide no reason for those lies in court, but he suggested that the accused knew why he had lied.

He knew that he had murdered Mr Burba and was seeking to avoid the criminal liability for being the murderer, he suggested.

Michael Bowman SC, defending, asked the jurors to place themselves in the position in which his client had found himself, in a darkened room, knowing what he knew or believing what he believed.

He pointed to an incident at their workplace in the East City Garage, which he described as an irregular place of employment, where drinking on the job was certainly not condemned.

Rather peculiarly, theres a sauna in there, he noted, adding that it sounded a little unconventional.

It was popular and seemed to draw quite a crowd of people, who would come in and drink hard liquour, he said.

He pointed out that the deceased had taken an iron bar to Mr Labunski in that garage a few days earlier.

It happened when Mr Labunskis was crouching down and this man came from behind him, he said.

He noted that a witness in the trial had to intervene and that the deceased had been told to sleep it off in a car.

This speaks of a spontaneous act of aggression by the deceased with an implement requiring the intervention of a third party, said the barrister.

He said that the exact same thing had happened on the night in question, but in the confined space of Mr Burbas bedroom.

He certainly cannot rely on someone else coming to his aid as happened previously, said Mr Bowman.

He must engage as best he can with a view to saving himself and getting out of there.

He said that, having taken the table leg from him, his client had swung out, perhaps motivated by self preservation.

He asked who could not have sympathy for Mr Burba, a man, who came to our country for a better life.

Who could not have sympathy for a man, who ends up dying on a bedroom floor in a house that is about to be repossessed by being bludgeoned with the leg of a table? he asked.

However, he also asked them to park their sympathy.

Ms Justice Deirdre McCarthy will begin charging the jury of three women and nine men tomorrow morning.
The half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been assassinated at an airport in Kuala Lumpur, according to Malaysian officials.

Kim Jong Nam told medical workers he had been attacked with a chemical spray at the airport. He was taken to the airport clinic but died on the way to hospital.

The 46-year-old was attacked on Monday in the shopping concourse at the airport and had not gone through immigration yet for his flight to Macau, said the senior government official.

Kim Jong Nam was estranged from his younger brother, the North Korean leader.

He had been tipped by outsiders to succeed their dictator father, but reportedly fell out of favour when he was caught trying to enter Japan on a false passport in 2001, saying he wanted to visit Tokyo Disneyland.

He is believed to have been living recently in Macau, Singapore and Malaysia.

Kim Jong Nam in 2010.

Multiple South Korean media reports, citing unnamed sources, said Kim Jong Nam was killed at the airport by two women. TV Chosun, citing unidentified "multiple government sources", said the women were believed to be North Korean agents who fled in a taxi and were being sought by Malaysian police.

Kim Jong Nam and Kim Jong Un have the same father, late dictator Kim Jong Il, but different mothers.

Since taking power in late 2011, Kim Jong Un has executed or purged a series of high-level government officials in what the South Korean government has described as a "reign of terror".

The most spectacular was the 2013 execution by anti-aircraft fire of his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, once considered the country's second most powerful man, for what the North alleged was treason.

Seoul has said North Korea also executed a vice premier for education last year for unspecified anti-revolutionary and factional acts, and a defence minister in 2015 for complaining and sleeping during a meeting.

Pyongyang has a history of dispatching spies to kill high-level defectors critical of its system.

Kim Jong Nam in 2010.

In 1997, a nephew of one of Kim Jong Il's former wives was killed outside a Seoul apartment 15 years after she defected to South Korea. Officials never caught the assailants but believe they were North Korean agents.

In 2010, South Korea arrested what it called a pair of North Korean spies ordered to kill Hwang Jang Yop, a high-level defector who once mentored Kim Jong Il. North Korea denied the allegation.

Mark Tokola, vice president at the Korea Economic Institute in Washington, said it would be surprising if Kim Jong Nam was not killed on the orders of his brother, given that North Korean agents have reportedly tried to assassinate Kim Jong Nam in the past.

"It seems probable that the motivation for the murder was a continuing sense of paranoia on the part of Kim Jong Un, which may be a well-placed paranoia," Mr Tokola wrote.

Although there was scant evidence that Kim Jong Nam was plotting against the North Korean leader, he provided an alternative for North Koreans who would want to depose his brother.

Mr Tokola, who served as deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Seoul, said Kim Jong Nam has been fairly quiet in exile, but was quoted in the Japanese media in 2010 as saying he opposed dynastic succession in North Korea.

About a year later, his father died and Kim Jong Un took power.

AP
The older brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has died after being attacked at Kuala Lumpur airport, a senior Malaysian official said.

The official said Kim Jong Nam was attacked with a spray on Monday in the shopping concourse and sought help at an information counter. He was taken to the airport clinic but died en route to hospital, the official said.

Multiple South Korean media outlets, citing unnamed sources, said Kim Jong Nam was assassinated by two women, said to be North Korean agents who are being sought by Malaysian police after fleeing in a taxi.

The district police chief, Abdul Aziz Ali, said a North Korean man was waiting for a flight to Macau on Monday when he fell ill and died en route to hospital.

South Korean news is reporting that Kim Jong Nam, KJU's older brother, has been killed in Malaysia by 2 female agents with a poison needle.  Anna Fifield (@annafifield) February 14, 2017

Selangor state police chief Abu Samah Mat said the man died on the way to Putrajaya Hospital.

Kim Jong Nam reportedly fell out of favour in North Korea after being caught trying to enter Japan on a false passport in 2001, saying he wanted to visit Tokyo Disneyland.

He is believed to have been in his mid-40s and has reportedly been living in recent years in Macau, Singapore and Malaysia.

Kim Jong Nam and Kim Jong Un have the same father, late dictator Kim Jong Il, but have different mothers.

Kim Jong-un

Since taking power in late 2011, Kim Jong Un has executed or purged a series of high-level government officials in what the South Korean government has described as a "reign of terror".

The most spectacular was the 2013 execution of his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, once considered the country's second most powerful man, for what the North alleged was treason.

Seoul says the North also executed a vice premier for education last year for unspecified anti-revolutionary and factional acts, and a defence minister in 2015 for treason.

Mark Tokola, vice president at the Korea Economic Institute in Washington, said it would be surprising if Kim Jong Nam was not killed on the orders of his brother, given that North Korean agents have reportedly tried to assassinate him in the past.

"It seems probable that the motivation for the murder was a continuing sense of paranoia on the part of Kim Jong Un, which may be a well-placed paranoia," Mr Tokola wrote.

Although there was scant evidence that Kim Jong Nam was plotting against the North Korean leader, he provided an alternative for North Koreans who would want to depose his brother.

Mr Tokola, who served as deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Seoul, said Kim Jong Nam has been fairly quiet in his exile, but was quoted in the Japanese media in 2010 as saying he opposed dynastic succession in North Korea.

- AP
It has been confirmed President Donald Trump asked his national security advisor to resign.

President Trump ousted his national security adviser because he lost trust in him, not for any legal concern, Mr Trump's spokesman said.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer said that the "erosion of that trust" over the circumstances surrounding retired general Michael Flynn's calls with the Russian ambassador to the US created "a critical mass and an unsustainable situation".

Mr Flynn's ouster appeared to be driven more by the idea that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials than by the content of his discussions with Russia's ambassador.

Still, the matter deepened questions about Mr Trump's friendly posture towards Russia.

"This was an act of trust - whether or not he misled the vice president was the issue and that was ultimately what led to the president asking for and accepting the resignation of General Flynn," Mr Spicer said.

Mr Flynn's resignation came after reports that the Justice Department had alerted the White House weeks ago that there were contradictions between Trump officials' public accounting of the Russia contacts and what intelligence officials knew to be true based on routine recordings of communications with foreign officials who are in the US.

Mr Spicer said the White House counsel's office reviewed the situation after it was flagged by the Department of Justice, and along with the president, the counsel determined that it did not pose a legal problem.

He declined to comment on whether anyone at the White House had read transcripts of the calls between Mr Flynn and the ambassador.

The revelations were another destabilising blow to an administration that has already suffered a major legal defeat on immigration, botched the implementation of a signature policy and stumbled through a string of embarrassing public relations missteps.

White House officials have not said when Mr Trump was told of the Justice Department warning or why Mr Flynn had been allowed to stay on the job with access to a full range of intelligence materials.

Senator Lindsey Graham, a long-time Russia critic, said Congress needs to know what Mr Flynn discussed with the ambassador and why.

"The idea that he did this on his own without any direction is a good question to ask," Mr Graham added.

Mr Pence and others, apparently relying on information from Mr Flynn, had said the national security adviser did not discuss US economic sanctions against Russia with the Russian envoy during the American presidential transition.

Donald Trump (left) with Michael Flynn (right) last month.

Mr Flynn later told officials the sanctions may have been discussed, the latest change in his account of his pre-inauguration discussions with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

Such conversations would breach diplomatic protocol and possibly violate the Logan Act, a law aimed at keeping private citizens from conducting US diplomacy.

The Justice Department had warned the White House late last month that Mr Flynn could be at risk for blackmail because of contradictions between his public depictions of the calls and what intelligence officials knew.

Asked whether the president had been aware that Mr Flynn might have planned to discuss sanctions with the Russian envoy, Mr Spicer said: "No, absolutely not."

House Speaker Paul Ryan said Mr Trump made the right decision in asking Mr Flynn to step down.

"You cannot have the national security adviser misleading the vice president and others," Mr Ryan said.

Mr Trump, who has been conspicuously quiet about Mr Flynn's standing for several days, wrote on Twitter on Tuesday morning that the "real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington".

He ignored questions about Mr Flynn from reporters during an education event at the White House on Tuesday morning.

Mr Trump named retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg as the acting national security adviser.

Mr Kellogg had previously been appointed the National Security Council chief of staff and advised Mr Trump during the campaign.

Mr Trump is also considering former CIA director David Petraeus and Vice Admiral Robert Harward, a US Navy SEAL, for the post, according to a senior administration official.

Mr Kellogg convened a brief meeting of the National Security Council staff on Tuesday morning and urged them to continue with business as usual.

Staffers have been told that Mr Flynn's deputy, KT McFarland, a former Fox News analyst, is expected to stay at the White House.

A US official told The Associated Press that Mr Flynn was in frequent contact with Mr Kislyak on the day the Obama administration slapped sanctions on Russia for election-related hacking, as well as at other times during the transition.

The Washington Post was the first to report the communication between former acting attorney general Sally Yates, a holdover from the Obama administration, and the Trump White House.

The Post also first reported last week that Mr Flynn had indeed spoken about sanctions with the Russian ambassador.

Mr Trump never voiced public support for Mr Flynn after that initial report but continued to keep his national security adviser close.

Mr Flynn was part of Mr Trump's daily briefing on Monday and sat in on his calls with foreign leaders, as well as his discussions with visiting Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau.

The Kremlin had confirmed that Mr Flynn was in contact with Mr Kislyak but denied that they talked about lifting sanctions.

On Tuesday, Russian lawmakers mounted a fierce defence of Mr Flynn.

AP
Twenty-six of the states highest achieving community college students will be honored at a special ceremony in Nashville on Tuesday, Feb. 21.Representing Tennessees 13 Community Colleges, the outstanding students were named to the 2017 All-Tennessee Academic Team. Each student, many accompanied by their local state senators and representatives, will be recognized and presented with a medallion during the luncheon starting at noon at the War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville. After the luncheon, the students will tour the state capitol.This years 26 honorees include students pursuing a variety of degrees and careers, including chemical engineering, medicine, constitutional law, social work, journalism, and business.Most intend to transfer to four-year universities to continue their educations.The All-Tennessee Academic Team is comprised of students nominated by their colleges to be considered for the All-USA Academic Team, sponsored by USA Today and Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. Each of the states 13 community colleges selects two outstanding students to recognize for their academic achievement, leadership and service to the community.Its a pleasure to have this opportunity to recognize the hard work, dedication and commitment these students have exhibited at their colleges, Dr. Flora W. Tydings, chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents, said. Theyve achieved a high degree of success not only in the classroom, but theyve made significant contributions to their communities through their volunteer efforts and leadership skills.Phi Theta Kappa is the largest honor society in American higher education, with more than two million members and 1,200 chapters in the U.S. and beyond. Students must have a 3.5 grade point average to qualify for membership.2017 All-Tennessee Academic TeamChattanooga State Technical Community CollegeJessica Aldridge, Itzel Margot Toro GarzaCleveland State Community CollegePaula Haslam, Brianna RileyColumbia State Community CollegeKatherine Brisendine, Destiny SeatonDyersburg State Community CollegeMatthew Miller, Hannah WaldenJackson State Community CollegeAlexis Beibers, Matthew BlackwellMotlow State Community CollegeMary Mills, Aubree WeitzelNashville State Community CollegePaul Hayslip, Kristine PurcellNortheast State Community CollegeNathan Carrier, Shannon YertonPellissippi State Community CollegeLeah Davis, Haley FergusonRoane State Community CollegeShelley Edwards, Jacob WilderSouthwest Tennessee Community CollegeJohnnie McKinnie, Carter SandersVolunteer State Community CollegePamela Lockhart, Mackenzie OSullivanWalters State Community CollegeIris McKay DeVault, Megan Wesemann
Turkish authorities have arrested a man they believe was among the planners of the new year nightclub massacre in Istanbul that killed 39 people, a news agency said.

The private Dogan news agency, citing officials from the prosecutors' office in Burdur, southern Turkey, identified the suspect only by his initials, AS, and said he is a French citizen with an ethnic Turkish background.

He was found with a contract to rent an apartment used by Abdulkadir Masharipov, who carried out the nightclub attack, the agency said.

It said authorities in Burdur had previously issued a warrant for his arrest, but did not provide further details. The man, who had been living in France since 2009, was arrested in Istanbul two days ago.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the nightclub attack. Masharipov, an Uzbek citizen born in 1983, was caught on January 16 after evading police for more than two weeks.

Last week, he was charged with attempting to overthrow the constitutional order, membership of an armed terror group and murder.

In a related development, prosecutors are demanding that 41 people accused of involvement in an attack at Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport in June be sentenced to several life terms in prison each for attempts to overthrow the constitutional order and premeditated murder, according to an indictment cited by the state-run Anadolu Agency.

The airport attack, which Turkish authorities said was the work of IS extremists, killed 45 people. The three assailants - whom Turkish authorities said came from Uzbekistan, Russia and Kyrgyzstan - were also killed.

The indictment also seeks life imprisonment for three other suspects who are on the run and will be tried in absentia. They have been identified as Nazim Gasanov, Marat Pshnatov and Rustem Efendiev, Anadolu reported.

The indictment needs to be approved by a court before a trial date is set.

- AP
Authorities have lifted an evacuation order for nearly 200,000 California residents who live below the crippled Oroville Dam that threatened to collapse and cause catastrophic flooding.

But Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea warned on Tuesday that residents should stay prepared in case the situation changes.

He said the water level at the lake behind Oroville Dam, the US's tallest dam, is now low enough to cope with a storm that is due over the next few days.

The National Weather Service's Sacramento office said heavy rain will fall in the area on Wednesday and Thursday morning, with two to four inches in the foothills and mountains.

But the storm is looking colder than first thought, meaning lower snow levels and less run-off into Sierra reservoirs than the storms last week.

The Latest: Nearly 200,000 dam evacuees in California allowed to go home. https://t.co/ssSfrz6WZa  The Associated Press (@AP) February 14, 2017

Crews have been working around the clock to repair the dam's damaged spillway.

A California dam inspector said authorities may never know the exact cause of the earth and concrete blow-outs below the dam.

Eric Holland, of the state Department of Water Resources' dam-safety division, said any of a number of different problems could have caused the spillway troubles. Holland said authorities often never discover in these cases what exactly happened, because flood water has washed out everything at the scene.

Authorities ordered mass evacuations on Sunday for everyone living below the lake out of concern that the spillway could fail and send a 30ft wall of water downstream.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said President Donald Trump is keeping a "close eye" on the public safety crisis caused by the damaged dam.

AP
ACT Labor politician Bec Cody has blasted the Sussex Inlet RSL Club a "disgrace" to itself, to veterans and to Australia for tiles in the men's urinal depicting Aboriginal men.

Ms Cody used the adjournment debate in the ACT parliament to call on the national and state bodies of the Returned and Services League to "address this filth as a matter of urgency".

"The RSL would think it grossly offensive to place a portrait of the Queen, the Australian flag, or a Rising Sun emblem in the toilet, so why does it think caricatures of our first Australians is acceptable?" she said.

"I wish this did not fall into a long history of disgraceful behaviour by this organisation. The freedom riders of 1965 protested the refusal of RSL clubs to accept Indigenous veterans as equals."
An education organisation, which could owe hundreds of Australian consumers full or partial refunds in excess of $1 million, has been stripped of its registration as a vocational education provider.

Get Qualified Australia is a consultancy that matches jobseekers with registered training organisations that can issue qualifications for a range of industries, such as construction, business or beauty.

It was one of three vocational education and training (VET) services providers to have its registration cancelled by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), a decision which is to take effect from March 6.

The company's website and telephone hotline are continuing to operate and take enquiries from new consumers.
In Tennessee, officials say outdated insurance policies are making it difficult and sometimes impossible for cancer patients to receive the treatment their doctors determine to be the best option.Tennessee is only one of eight states that does not equalize the patient cost for receiving anti-cancer medication like chemotherapy, regardless of whether it is delivered orally or intravenously. This prevents cancer patients from taking full advantage of todays innovative medical advancements, officials said.In Tennessee, we distinguish ourselves from the rest of the country and are often proud of our differences, but this is one area where were way behind other states and are failing some of our most vulnerable citizens, Jeff Parsley, executive director of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) Tennessee Chapter, said.Fortunately, members of the General Assembly understand that we can do better, and we look forward to working with them to update our laws and make changes to support cancer patients.Senator Bill Ketron and Representative William Lamberth have introduced SB0922/HB1059 that would reduce barriers to access for cancer patients and would mean that the patient cost share would be more aligned regardless of whether chemotherapy treatment is administered intravenously or orally.The bill is not a mandate and does not create a new insurance benefit.We are very grateful to Senator Ketron and Rep. Lamberth for their tireless support and commitment to this issue and the thousands of cancer patients, their care givers and loved ones across the state, Mr. Parsley said."Oral anti-cancer medications, which are often available in a pill form, can have fewer side effects than traditional therapies. More than 25 percent of new anti-cancer treatments in the research pipeline are in oral form, making patient-administered therapies an increasingly important component of cancer treatment. For a number of cancers, oral anti-cancer medications are actually already the standard of care with no treatment alternatives."Traditional treatments, usually given through an IV or injection, are covered under a patients medical benefits resulting in a small co-pay or no cost at all. Oral treatments are usually part of the health plans pharmacy benefit and result in high out-of-pocket costs for patients. This disparity can negatively impact patients taking their medication as prescribed," officials said.
Clive Palmer says he will sue Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Employment Minister Michaelia Cash for defamation over "lies" about his role in the collapse of Queensland Nickel.

The former federal MP says he is seeking $10 million in damages from the prime minister.

Clive Palmer will this week give evidence in court over the collapse of Queensland Nickel. Credit:Bradley Kanaris

He is also pursuing a defamation case against Employment Minister Michaelia Cash for allegedly besmirching his reputation over Queensland Nickel, which collapsed last year with debts of about $300 million and the loss of 800 Townsville refinery jobs.

Mr Palmer - who'll face a court grilling on Wednesday about the collapse - says he won't let his former political foes get away with dragging down his reputation as a businessman who saved the nickel company back in 2009.
It will be processed offshore, before being shipped to energy-hungry India. The federal government is considering granting Adani a $1 billion concessional loan to help build the railway line to the Abbot Point Terminal but the mine's opponents consider the loan a key battleground in the war against the coal project. The Australian Conservation Foundation, the Australian Youth Climate Coalition and 350.org rally in Melbourne against the coal mine. Credit:Wayne Taylor Killing the mine The anti-mine campaign is no empty threat. It has a $1 million war chest, nine full-time staff including polling and social media experts, hundreds of volunteers and is being run by left-leaning activist group GetUp. While the anti-Adani movement wants to ensure the firm isn't granted the $1 billion loan, its end game is to kill off the project.

Abbot Point is surrounded by wetlands and coral reefs. "We will win," says businessman turned environmental crusader Geoff Cousins. This week, the Australian Conservation Foundation, a host of NGOs and GetUp will launch a campaign targeting 13 marginal coalition seats in Queensland, NSW and Victoria. Adani's proposed mine and rail lines. The campaign will employ cutting-edge and traditional tactics. Voters will be contacted by telephone, advertising and a social media blitz. GetUp's campaigning is said to have contributed to the loss of several coalition seats during the 2016 election and the group is hoping to force Resources Minister Matt Canavan to ditch the proposed $1 billion concessional loan.

"We're aiming to make 50,000 calls into these seats over the next three months, and have conversations with at least the number of people that is equal to that MP's margin in votes. For example it would take just 532 votes to change the outcome of the seat of Forde in Queensland," says GetUp's Miriam Lyons. The mine opponents will also lobby Westpac bank to join a host of other financial institutions in ruling out funding the $22 billion project, while continuing to use the courts to frustrate the government and Adani's ambitions. Adani believes it has become a proxy for the nation's coal industry in a campaign that has seen calls from one environmental group to get activists to infiltrate the firm by posing as job seekers. "This is the most regulated project in the history of Australia and we are yet to push a shovel in the ground and get one ounce of coal. If they kill us, they will move on to other companies," an Adani insider says. The political pay-off

In cities such as Townsville, heaving with Australian soldiers, and the sweltering, sprawling country town of Rockhampton, the mine is mostly seen as a godsend. "I have come under fire from those opposed to coal for my vocal support of this project, but I won't take a backward step," Rockhampton Mayor Margaret Strelow recently said. The Queensland Labor government faces an election in 2018 and, short on major infrastructure projects, hopes the mine and resulting jobs will see it returned to office. Adani and the Queensland government say the project will deliver an employment bonanza, creating thousands of jobs during the construction phase. This will level off to 1500 or so employees when the mine is fully operational. Pauline Hanson has backed the mine, subject to assurances around water management and the use of foreign labour, while local LNP member George Christensen supports both the mine and the subsidy.

The Minerals Council of Australia's CEO Brendan Pearson says the anti-mine campaign amounts to "futile grandstanding" that will only delay job and business opportunities for thousands of Australians. "It is patently clear that the Adani mine will proceed and that is a good thing for regional communities in Central and Northern Queensland," he said. Federal LNP members are also barracking for the mine. One senior federal minister told Fairfax Media that regardless of opposition by "zealots", the Carmichael coal project is likely to receive the $1 billion concessional loan from the government. But the minister also privately acknowledges that subsidising a firm controlled by a controversial Indian billionaire is not without its problems.

A grubby past The Adani Group is a diversified conglomerate headed by billionaire Gautam Adani, one of India's wealthiest magnates and a man who has cultivated powerful friends, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mr Adani recently met Malcolm Turnbull, whose renewed support for coal (Treasurer Scott Morrison brandished a lump of coal in federal parliament last week) is at the heart of the Coalition's claim that Labor's renewable energy policy will lead to a surge in power prices and imperil energy security. The power and reach of the Adani Group is legendary in India. But the group's subsidiaries have also faced allegations of involvement in fraud and corruption, environmental destruction and labour exploitation. A recent ABC investigation into the conglomerate focused on ongoing investigations by Indian authorities, widely reported by the local media, into alleged money laundering and tax fraud by Adani subsidiaries.

The federal resources minister described the ABC report as 'fake news' and said the allegations were untested. But official Indian tribunals and watchdogs have landed punches on a number of Adani firms, including: an August 2016 finding previously unreported in Australia by the Indian National Green Tribunal- an environmental court- which found Adani partly responsible for failing to clean up after an oil and coal spill caused by an unseaworthy ship that ran aground off the coast of Mumbai in 2011. The ship had been chartered by Adani and was carrying the firm's coal and fuel; and

in January 2016, the same tribunal fined an Adani subsidiary $4.8 million after finding it had caused environmental destruction while undertaking works at a fishing village in the Indian port city of Surat. A report released by lawyers from Environmental Justice Australia documents these and other alleged Adani misdeeds in India, including an illegal iron ore mining and export operation and an environmental disaster at the Mundra port. Mr Canavan believes Adani has "been exposed to unfair scrutiny" and criticisms of the firm carry "xenophobic undertones."

"There have been some high-profile incidents by Australian mining and resources companies recently, some instances that are quite dire. But it seems to be, because they [Adani] are Indian or because they want to develop a new coal basin, they are exposed to a different standard." Mr Canavan insists Australia has the regulatory checks and balances to keep Adani in line. For example, there are dozens of criteria for Adani to meet in order to meet and maintain its government approval. And for all the doomsday warnings about Adani coal ships navigating the Great Barrier Reef, a company insider says such predictions overlook the fact that other vessels carrying the quarry of other big miners have for years been making a similar journey to little, if any, protest. Queensland has exported more than 200 million tonnes of coal per year in recent times (more than triple the volume Adani plans to export) and the majority of that goes through the reef. But a businessman who knows how corporate Australia operates, former Optus CEO, Geoff Cousins, is dismissive of the protections proffered by the federal government and Adani. Mr Cousins, a former adviser to prime minister John Howard and current Australian Conservation Foundation chairman, notes that "major projects get a wide variety of conditions attached to them and state and federal governments hide behind those conditions. But when you go to see if anyone checked on those conditions or whether they were met, the record is generally appalling."

Where will the coal go The coal Adani wants to mine is bound for India's power plants, including those the company owns. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is championing renewable energy in line with the aims of last year's Paris Agreement (looking increasingly shaky in the wake of Donald Tump's election. At the same time, India is also seeking to ramp up its own coal production in line with its ambitious aim to become self sufficient in its production of coal. The mine's proponents say if India's power stations are denied Australian coal, they will be forced to use a dirtier local alternative, with greater emissions. This claim addresses the argument that the burning of Carmichael coal will undermine efforts to combat climate change. As with most claims connected to the mine, this is fiercely contested, including by the progressive Australia Institute, who argue the Galilee Basin's coal is dirtier than that in other Australian mines. They also contest the mine's trumpeted job figures. Loading Ultimately, the fight about Adani's Carmichael project is about the wisdom of building a massive new coal mine as the world moves towards less polluting sources of energy. The issue of climate change is the ultimate political fault line on which environmentalists believe the fight against Adani must be waged.
Supermarket giant Coles is on a war footing, with boss John Durkan defiantly declaring the Wesfarmers-owned chain would be "competitive forever" and "never give up" after Woolworths' billion-dollar investment in prices and Aldi's national expansion slashed earnings.

As the conglomerate circles the wagons around its prized supermarket business, Wesfarmers has put its Officeworks chain up for sale through a sharemarket listing at the same time as it works through indicative bids for its coal operation.

The sale of coal and a potential float of Officeworks could deliver Wesfarmers more than $4 billion, a valuable war chest as it fights off a resurgent Woolworths, invests in rebuilding the Target chain and converting British shoppers to its Bunnings hardware store model.

Mr Durkan revealed promotions and price cuts were "pulled forward" in the second quarter in response to increased competition from arch rival Woolworths and Aldi's rollout in South Australia and Western Australia.
But by riding along with the West Australian Liberal Party's One Nation preference deal , Turnbull has forsaken the political mainstream that has served Australia so well. Coming on top of his government's dithering and misleading energy policies, he has introduced a new level of uncertainty in Australia's management. And the usual market clich? applies  investors are wary of uncertainty.

Across the Labor-Coalition divide, the battle of the modern era has been more about degree than overall direction: one side more to the left, the other to the right but both heading in the same broad direction of wanting a strong and growing nation. One side has been happy to call itself conservative and be wary of change, the other proud to wear the progressive label, pushing for more change. The way it panned out over time, it hasn't mattered much.

For all the brawling and name-calling, Australia has long enjoyed a reasonable political consensus about where we'd like the country to go. Business could invest with a strong degree of certainty in Australian government. Malcolm Turnbull, of all people, has washed his hands of that.

Malcolm Turnbull, of all people, has washed his hands of the long-enjoyed political consensus about where we'd like the country to go. Credit:Andrew Meares

Sure, the Nationals retain a whiff of agrarian socialism about them and some members would not feel out of place in a One Nation meeting, but the party is not overtly sectarian and racist, it is not anti-immigration, there is a grasp of free market economics, the leader is not so hare-brained as to be an avowed Trump supporter, happy to say nice things about Putin if The Donald does.

By supping with One Nation, sharing the cutlery, and pretending the WA deal is nothing to do with him, Turnbull and those more explicit in their One Nation support have put the petty prize of power ahead of the nation and the certainties we've relied on, the things that have genuinely made us great.

After the July election, I stumbled on a neat balance in Australian politics. If you accept that our modern era started in 1972, we've had nearly equal periods of Liberal and Labor prime ministers. The outcome, sometimes by good management, sometimes by luck, has been to deliver a nation that remains on any measure among the top handful of places the average person might want to live. Those rusted on to either side of politics will be sure we could be even better off if their side had a greater share of power, but only the churlish or the increasingly self-deceived could hold that we are not in a very good place, relatively speaking.

Given our gifts, we should be capable of better and we will need to try harder to maintain and improve our quality of life. The current drift in meeting our policy challenges is doing our future no favours. Much worse than the drift though is the certainty that the simplistic populism of One Nation offers no answers for those challenges, that veering in One Nation's direction  grasping power at any price  will only reduce us.
Donald Trump has thrown the global free market consensus into doubt.

Political leaders can no longer ignore grassroots anger at the insecurity and inequality it creates. What happens next is going to depend on how we interpret why globalisation leads to inequality.



Globalisation has increased global wealth and deepened inequality. The future of the global order is going to depend on how we explain that process. There are two camps that offer different explanations and different solutions.



The first argument has got the most media airplay so far  that globalisation forces the western working classes to compete against the world's poor on wages and conditions. Advocates of this view point to the jobs and industries that have moved offshore to lower wage countries.



This perspective focuses on the rising status of traditionally poorer ethnic groups as the threat. It is likely to conflate economics and race in a potent way, and it enlists our worst "kick down" instincts.



The limitation of this approach is that it treats the emergence of the developing world as a zero-sum game. The reality is that economies are a money-go-round. While China might take the jobs of some of our traditional industries, as it gets wealthier it creates a new market of consumers and job opportunities. Global integration with these emerging economies does not necessarily mean the western poor have to lose out.



The second "kick up" camp argue we need to look in a very different place to understand growing inequality.



In this view globalisation has created more wealth, but it has been overwhelmingly sucked up by the top 1 per cent. This is because globalisation has shifted the balance of power between democratic governments and big business.



In the past, governments forced companies to pay fair wages and contribute to the nation's taxes to ensure the economic bounty was shared.



However, as the economy went global, businesses started to threaten governments that unless wages, conditions and taxes were reduced that they would take their businesses offshore. It created a race to the bottom.



The result has been governments competed away the things that matter most to ordinary people's quality of life  job security, wages and public services.



The arguments made by the two camps demand very different solutions. One urges us to turn inwards and shut ourselves off from the world. The other suggests we turn outwards and work with other countries to reign in corporate power.



Both solutions are likely to result in a new protectionism, but they would be very different types of protectionism.

Race-based protectionism would centre on shutting out competition from poor and emerging economies. This would mean doing what Trump has suggested and putting tariffs on everything coming out of some countries.



In contrast, social justice-based protectionism might ration companies access to our markets based on their preparedness to play nicely. These companies would only be allowed to sell into our markets if they are prepared to pay a reasonable share of their revenues in tax, pay good wages and protect their employees conditions.



In this view governments would rebalance their negotiating position with big business by being prepared to wield their most powerful bargaining chip. They would meet corporate threats of moving offshore with counter threats of withdrawing access to markets.



This social justice protectionism would be most effective if other wealthy countries put in place the same rules. It calls for more international co-operation, not less. It suggests people need to come together to ensure the benefits of global growth are shared fairly.



As the Trump juggernaut takes shape, those that oppose him need to find alternate solutions to the problems he has tapped into.

The future depends on it.



Dr Lindy Edwards is from the University of New South Wales and is the author of How to Argue with an Economist: Re-opening political debate in Australia, Cambridge University Press.
As we've sweltered through this terrible summer  and lately, as bushfires have raged  what a comfort it's been to know that climate change doesn't exist and isn't happening.

Or, if it does exist, it's not caused by anything humans have done, so there's nothing we can do about it.

Or, if it is caused by humans burning fossil fuels for the past 200 years, let's say we've got a policy to deal with it, go to international conferences and make pledges to act, then come home and not do much about it.

That way, we'll have all bases covered: something to calm the consciences of those still silly enough to believe climate change is real, but not enough to annoy the party's many climate change deniers, nor our generous donors in the coal industry.
Australia is not on track to close the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, with the divide widening and deaths increasing when it comes to cancer, the ninth annual Closing the Gap report has found.

State and federal governments are on track to meet just one of seven targets in the strategy, according the annual stocktake on progress, with setbacks in the areas of employment and child mortality and desired improvement only in the number of Indigenous students finishing year 12.

While Indigenous mortality rates have declined by 15 per cent since 1998, simultaneous declines in non-Indigenous mortality mean the gap has persisted and the goal of eliminating the life expectancy gap by 2031 is not considered to be on track.

Since 1998, Indigenous mortality rates have not changed in NSW and South Australia, while Western Australia has experienced a 30 per cent decline.
Watching the partisan battle over blackouts, renewable energy, and soaring power prices, there was a sense on Tuesday that it was Malcolm Turnbull who was more effectively honing his lines, and thus isolating his opponents' weaknesses.

This is despite the fact that the once green-tinged PM has surrendered more of his own reputation in the conduct of this debate than Bill Shorten.

And it is despite Scott Morrison unhelpfully brandishing a lump of coal in the chamber last week - a visual so egregiously contrary to Turnbull's early presentation, as to suggest that he was making this very point.

Turnbull's right-ward trajectory has seen him bleeding progressives, with his support falling steadily since assuming the top job.
Representatives from the Maclellan Family and the Grateful Gobbler Walk Planning Committee are observing Valentines Day to show love to the Maclellan Shelter for Families. With support from sponsors and more than 4,200 participants, $200,000 was raised from the 2016 Grateful Gobbler Walk. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the Grateful Gobbler Walk directly benefits The Maclellan Shelter for Families.The Maclellan Shelter for Families, located onsite at the Community Kitchen on 11th Street in Chattanooga, features 13 units with 64 beds and is the first of its kind in Chattanooga, as it provides a "stable environment for an intact family to remain together as they search for permanent housing solutions." Since its opening in December 2014, 205 families, comprised of approximately 700 men, women, and children, have benefited from the programs including meals, case management, and job training provided by the shelter.
British celebrities including actress Keira Knightley, rock band Coldplay and former England striker Gary Lineker, urged the UK government on Tuesday to save a programme to take in vulnerable child migrants from Europe.

Under a change to immigration law known as the Dubs amendment, which was passed by parliament last year, Britain agreed to accept "vulnerable" child migrants who had arrived in the European Union before March 20, 2016.

Keira Knightley. Credit:Darren Gerrish

But last week, the government announced plans to scrap the scheme it said encouraged human trafficking.

The decision sparked criticism from aid agencies, opposition lawmakers and the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Women's March on Sydney are calling for women to send their February 14 wishes to the federal Immigration and Border Protection Minister, to demand an end to offshore detention.

Okay, we have a Valentine for you. Don't freak out. He's a bit of a rogue choice, but...

The call comes as part of a global initiative from the people behind the Women's March on Washington, who have named Valentine's Day 2017 a "Day of Revolutionary Love".

While the movement's US branch will be demonstrating at Washington Square Park in New York, the Sydney organisers have decided to follow the lead of the Women's March on London with a mass card-sending campaign to those who control national immigration policy.

"Today we join with our sisters across the globe to call for a more compassionate response to the international refugee crisis," the group announced in a statement on their Facebook page.

The London action is in response to a decision of the Theresa May government to end the country's Child Migrant Scheme, which allows for the safe passage of unaccompanied refugee children into the UK.
The Berejiklian government has refused to back down on its council mergers in Sydney, but has abandoned the proposed mergers in regional parts of the state.

All 20 existing mergers will remain in place in Sydney, while the remaining five merger proposals will proceed subject to the decision of the courts.

None of the six pending merger proposals for regional councils will proceed, including the merger of Wollongong and Shellharbour councils, and Newcastle and Port Stephens councils

Announcing the decision on Tuesday, Premier Berejiklian said it was an outcome which would ensure a "very positive future for councils throughout NSW".
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has acknowledged the government risks losing the North Shore byelection as a result of its decision on council mergers, but remains adamant it has prioritised the community's best interests.

After weeks of mounting uncertainty, Ms Berejiklian confirmed on Tuesday that all 20 merged councils would remain in place and the government would forge ahead with the five merger proposals for Sydney councils currently pursuing court action.

However, in what amounts to a partial backdown, the six merger proposals for regional councils will be abandoned, including the merger of Wollongong and Shellharbour councils, and Newcastle and Port Stephens councils.

Ms Berejiklian based her justification to proceed with the Sydney mergers as necessary to address the city's housing affordability crisis and improve development approval times.
The New South Wales government's change in policy on regional council mergers will not affect those that have already amalgamated - including Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced on Tuesday the government would push on with mergers in Sydney but those pending in regional areas would no longer go ahead.

Queanbeyan and Palerang councils were among 44 merged last May in a controversial move that led to legal action from a number of local government organisations.

Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council administrator Tim Overall said it was business as usual for the organisation after a video meeting with staff from Ms Berejiklian's office Tuesday afternoon.
Police have charged a man after a car was reversed into the Forest Lake child safety service centre on Tuesday morning.

Officers were called just before 9am to the Forest Lake Boulevard address where they took a man into custody.

A car has reversed into the child safety centre at Forest Lake on Tuesday. Credit:Nine News Brisbane

No one was injured, but the glass window at the front of the building was smashed.

A witness told Nine News Brisbane he believed there was an altercation between the man and woman before the crash.
One Nation MP Steve Dickson has begun his first week in Parliament representing his new party by proposing steps to make whole cannabis plants available for sick Queenslanders - and subsidised by the government.

The member for Buderim, who has been moved from his place among his former colleagues to a lonely seat in the back row since defecting from the LNP, introduced a private member's bill on Tuesday morning.

Mr Dickson cited medicinal cannabis as his reason for leaving the LNP, but members of his party voiced their doubt.

The Public Health (Medicinal Cannabis) Bill passed in 2016, allowing doctors to apply for access to medicinal cannabis for patients.
A Queensland university that promoted a staffer after he raped a student has drafted in the woman who found "pervasive" sexual harassment among federal police, to review its culture.

An external review is underway into how James Cook University allowed Douglas Steele to be appointed academic adviser in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Centre and remain there even after pleading guilty to the 2015 rape of a female Indigenous student.

Elizabeth Broderick will lead the probe into the university's handling of the case. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick will be responsible for reforming the school's approach to sexual assault and harassment on the tail of a review into how Steele's case was handled.

Ms Broderick led a review into the Australian Federal Police that found 46 per cent of women and 20 per cent of men reported being sexually harassed or abused.
Finding it difficult to make sense of providers' broadband speed promises? You're not alone in Australia, and the ACCC has promised to help.

Recent research by the ACCC reveals that 80 per cent of fixed broadband consumers are confused by the jargon around speeds offered by retail service providers (RSPs) such as Telstra, TPG and Optus.

The ACCC will begin monitoring providers' speed claims. Credit:Glenn Hunt

In the consultation of more than 400 participants, consumers suggested they want broadband speed information in a simple, standardised format so they can more easily compare providers.

The research was motivated by a 48 per cent increase in complaints to the ombudsman over fixed and mobile broadband speeds, which became the largest issue for complaints during 2015-16, the commission said.
An Italian woman has been caught allegedly trying to smuggle $1.1 million worth of cocaine into Melbourne in her suitcase.

The 39-year-old woman arrived at Melbourne International Airport from Rome on Sunday.

The cocaine allegedly found in the woman's suitcase. Credit:AFP

Border security officers selected the woman for a baggage examination.

An X-ray screening of one of her bags allegedly revealed it had a false bottom made from a piece of plywood.
Washington: President Donald Trump on Tuesday blamed "illegal leaks" for the downfall of national security adviser Michael Flynn, who resigned late on Monday amid reports of potentially illegal interactions with the Russian ambassador to the United States before Trump was sworn in as president.

In a tweet, Trump expressed frustration with what he views as a culture of leaks in the nation's capital. "The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington?" he wrote. "Will these leaks be happening as I deal on N. Korea etc?"

Flynn had originally denied - including to Vice President Mike Pence - having privately discussed US sanctions against Moscow with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the transition period. Pence, based on Flynn's assurances, then publicly defended him. But amid reporting that Flynn had discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy, the national security adviser backtracked on Thursday, saying he could not be sure the topic had not come up.

In his resignation letter Monday, Flynn said that he had apologised to both Trump and Pence, and that he "inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador."
Moscow: Leading Russian lawmakers rushed to defend President Donald Trump's former national security adviser on Tuesday after he resigned for misleading senior White House officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, about his contacts with Russia.

The heads of the foreign affairs committees in both Russia's upper and lower houses of parliament chalked up Michael Flynn's resignation to a dark campaign of Russophobia in Washington, and said it would undermine relations between the White House and the Kremlin.

Konstantin Kosachev of the upper house wrote in a post on Facebook that readiness for dialogue with Moscow was now seen in Washington as a "thoughtcrime," a reference to the George Orwell's dystopian novel 1984.

"To force the resignation of the national security adviser for contacts with the Russian ambassador (normal diplomatic practice) is not even paranoia, but something immeasurably worse," he wrote. "Either Trump has failed to gain his desired independence and is being cornered consistently (and not without success), or Russophobia has infected even the new administration, from top to bottom."
Australias regulators have been criticised for failing to curb the rapid growth in investment lending and avoiding instability in the property market.

The Australian, In an interview with David Murray , who is chair of the Financial System Inquiry, said that the 10% limit to the growth of investment loans by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) was not having a significant enough effect.

Interest cuts by the Reserve Bank of Australia ( RBA ) last year also played a role in the surge in lending to property investors.

While APRA chairman Wayne Byres confirmed the regulators commitment to the 10% speed limit on investment lending, Murray said that the rate was too generous.

Up until September 2015, investor lending was growing at a rate of more than 10%. Although this slowed down to 4.5% in August last year after the APRA crackdown, it has gradually increased and has since reached 6.2% year-on-year.

However, data from December last year showed an annualised rate of 10.1% for the rise in investment lending, edging this above APRAs speed limit.

It seems no doubt that activity in the market is still strong, Murray said.

APRA and the Reserve Bank should consider doing more on investment housing. I dont think its entirely healthy, Mr Murray said.

He said it was worrying that both house prices and household debt levels are incredibly high.

It presents a future risk to the economy, so Id be in favour of more being done.

Investor loans currently account for 40% of all lending. In its Statement on Monetary Policy released Friday (10 February), the RBA warned that an oversupply of apartments could push down property prices in the future.

If there are more investors in the market and the market softens, youre more likely to have forced sales in the market  theres less stability in this kind of market, Murray said.
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Non-major lender Bankwest has confirmed that it has updated its loan applications by removing negative gearing tax benefits for borrowers.

The banks serviceability calculators were updated on 10 February, eliminating these benefits in line with regulatory guidance, a spokesperson told Australian Broker.

This change aligns Bankwest with industry best practice and guidance from regulators, specifically APG 223 within the Residential Mortgage Lending prudential practice guide.

APG 223 summarises a number of prudent lending practices for residential mortgages including the need for:

Credit risk assessment within the lenders risk management framework

Sound loan origination criteria

Security valuation practices

Management of hardship loans

A robust stress-testing framework

For customers who operate their investment property at a loss, where the income of the investment property does not exceed the costs, the related tax benefit will no longer be included in Bankwest's calculation for serviceability of the loan, the spokesperson said.

The changes will impact all new applications involving an investment lending facility as well as any existing deals which may require a new serviceability calculation.

Bankwest has announced these changes to its loan application criteria less than a week after it pulled the plug on new investment lending for customers seeking to refinance their standalone investment.
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Harvey Lichtenstein, an arts administrator best known for revitalizing the Brooklyn Academy of Music during his 32-year tenure as its president and executive producer, died on Feb. 11. He was 87.

Lichtenstein suffered a stroke seven years ago and his health had declined over the past few months, according to his son John.

The National Medal of Arts recipient lived out his final days at his home in Manhattan, but he was a native son of Kings County who will be remembered for his pivotal role in making Brooklyn the world-class city it is today, according to a local leader.

He was a powerhouse in Brooklyn, said former Borough President Marty Markowitz. If you had to point to handful of individuals who made the Brooklyn Renaissance, Harvey was up there at the top, no question.

Born to a Polish immigrant hat-maker father and a Ukrainian mother in 1929, Lichetenstein attended Brooklyn Technical High School in the shadow of the venerable Lafayette Avenue theater, and was inspired to study dance after seeing a performance featuring the iconic Martha Graham while he was a student at Brooklyn College.

He later performed in several professional dance companies and worked as a fund-raiser for the New York City Ballet and the New York City Opera, but jeted back across the river in 1967 to take over the Brooklyn Academy of Music  then a largely forgotten 106-year-old performing arts institution on the edge of economically-depressed Fort Greene.

Lichtenstein re-branded the facility as BAM and shepherded its rebirth as a preeminent venue for music, theater, and dance, bringing to its stages such iconic performers and choreographers as Graham, Alvin Ailey, Merce Cunningham, Philip Glass, Mark Morris, and Twyla Tharp.

But snobby Manhattan audiences didnt necessarily come with them at first  a critic once said hed rather wait to see Graham perform in London instead of crossing the East River for her show in Fort Greene, Lichtenstein recalled in the 2001 book Brooklyn: A State of Mind.

I started here in 1967 and the place didnt really come together until about 1980, he told the authors. It was hard, it was discouraging. Merce Cunningham was here with a wonderful program and drew just 400 people to the 2,000-seat theater.

Lichtenstein said he eventually made his mark by creating the theaters famed Next Wave Festival  still a vital annual showcase for avant-garde drama and dance.

There were more concrete changes, too. Under Lichtensteins leadership, the Academy revitalized the old Majestic Theater on Fulton Street  later renamed the BAM Harvey Theater in his honor  and added the four-screen BAM Rose Cinemas and the BAMcafe performance space to the main building in the 90s.

One of Lichtensteins fondest dreams was to create an entire cultural district around the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and after retiring in 1999, he immersed himself in developing Brooklyns very own Great White Way, ushering in the Mark Morris Dance Center in 2001, the BAM Fisher Building in 2012, and most recently the Theater for a New Audiences Polonsky Shakespeare Center in 2013.

His vision created the BAM Cultural District and changed that landscape for the better, said Markowitz. What more can I say? What a life.
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A Park Slope lawmaker had a stirring and eloquent rebuke to Americans who support Donald Trumps mass deportations of low-level or even non-criminal aliens over the past few days: Open your heart.

Councilman Brad Lander was the latest TrumpBuster to join Brooklyn Paper Radio  and he used Brooklyns biggest megaphone to slam the Presidents approach to immigration after devils advocate co-hosts Gersh Kuntzman and Vince DiMiceli pointed out that kicking out undocumented workers may have an upside.

People who are here and working and following the rules should have a path to citizenship, Lander said. Heres what I say to people who are so angry about their lives that they believe that their success is blocked by hard-working immigrants doing often low-wage jobs trying to take care of their families here and around the world: We are a big enough and compassionate enough country to have policies that allow white working and middle class Americans to get a good education and get a good job without blaming immigrants for problems they didnt cause. We cant lose our compassion.

Lander blamed Trump specifically for the situation were in.

We are at an odd and dangerous moment in the country, he said. Aside from the political polarization, having someone in the White House who has a diagnosable narcissism disorder is creating a level of chaos and uncertainty.

Lander, of course, was referring to Kuntzmans seminal piece last month in the New York Daily News that featured mental health experts finally declaring that Trump is mentally unstable.

Youre welcome, said Kuntzman, a columnist at New Yorks so-called Hometown Paper.

Also on the program, Kuntzman and DiMiceli chatted with Brooklyn Heights psychoanalyst Tracy Morgan, who raised $1,600 on GoFundMe to send flowers to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (DMassachusetts.) as a Valentines Day show of support a week after she was censured by male Sen. Mitch McConnell (DKentucky) for trying to read a letter in opposition to Sen. Jeff Sessions attorney general candidacy.

The flowers  20 vases worth!  were delivered Tuesday afternoon.

Flowers are very libidinal and sexual, Morgan said. These guys clearly envy her verve, her diligence. Her drive.

Kuntzman interjected.

Paging Dr. Freud! Are you talking about penis envy? he asked.

Yes! Shes got the phallus, the power. They see it and want to take it from her. Thats why they shut her down. It was about humiliation. And the flowers say, We support you. Weve got your back. Dont let the bastards get you down. 

On a sad or happy note, the boys discontinued their weekly tribute to America, failing to sing the Star-Spangled Banner for the first time in three weeks. So lets hope they remember (or forget) to sing it in two weeks, after a well-deserved vacation in Florida.
Election Day 2022: What you need to know to vote in Bucks County
CTA Riders Confused, Concerned As Homeland Security Checks Bags At Addison Red Line

By Stephen Gossett in News on Feb 14, 2017 9:28PM



Wikipedia

CTA riders expressed confusion and concern after encountering a security checkpointwhich included bag checks and Department of Homeland Security personnelat a North Side Red Line stop on Tuesday morning.

A Chicago police department spokesperson confirmed that officers from the Public Transportation Section were conducting bag checks at the Addison Red Line station on Tuesday morning. This is part of routine checks conducted randomly around the city, police said. Homeland Security also participated in the security detail, CPD confirmed to Chicagoist.

The DHS presence at the CTA stop on Tuesday was that of the (at-times controversial) Visible Intermodal Prevention & Response personnel (VIPR), which falls under TSA's expanded purview, Thomas Kelly, of Homeland Security's Office of the Director/Public Affairs, confirmed. VIPR is deployed in concert with local police departments "in a random and unpredictable manner" as means of deterring terrorism, according to the TSA.

Abby Seitz was one of the travelers who had her bag inspected around 8:20 this morning. She told Chicagoist that she encountered at least seven or eight officers, all of whom wore Homeland Security badges and vests. They were standing in a row against the wall with the ticket machines," Seitz said. "I did not see a single CPD officer in the line. They all had visible Homeland Security credentials. I looked around at most of them because I thought it was so peculiar.

stopped at the Addison CTA stop by Homeland Security for a "random bag check." ...what?  Abby Seitz (@abby_seitz) February 14, 2017



Lizzie Rosenthal noted seeing ten-plus officers when passing through the station, although she noted encountering Chicago police, rather than DHS. The experience felt very police state, she wrote on Facebook.



DHS usually operates with local police on routine checks conducted randomly in in the city, police said. "The Public Transportation Section along with Homeland Security were conducting random bag checks at CTA Addison Red Line station today with the Mobile Explosive Screening Team (MEST)," police said. The most recent similar checks took place on Feb. 8, at Merchandise Mart, and Feb. 10, at Clark and Lake, according to police. (A CTA spokesperson declined to comment.)

Reports circulated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement took part in Red Line stops that targeted people of Hispanic and Middle Eastern descent, but Gail Montenegro, a spokesperson for ICE, denied that ICE was involved with checks at CTA stations on Tuesday (Editor's note: reports of profiling have been unverifiable and appear to be rumors.)

ICE said in a statement:



Reports of ICE checkpoints and sweeps are false, dangerous and irresponsible. These reports create panic and put communities and law enforcement personnel in unnecessary danger. Any groups falsely reporting such activities are doing a disservice to those they claim to support.

CPD's security-checkpoint system has been in operation since 2014, police told Chicagoist, but given the advanced state of worry in the wake of ICE raids and President Donald Trump's immigration ban, this morning's check raised more than a few eyebrowsand future ones will likely well do the same.

Why is there a security checkpoint at the Addison Red Line stop? @Chicago_Police @cta  Michelle Lippoli (@MichelleLippoli) February 14, 2017

The cops were doing a security check Addison?? And I walked passed it and didn't do it?? I hope I didn't do anything wrong lol  Evan (@hevanlong) February 14, 2017

Why is there a random security checkpoint at the Addison Red Line station this morning? Does not seem efficient for thwarting...anything. Y  Noelle (@technol21) February 14, 2017

Related story: A Look At The Effectiveness & Legal History Of Mass-Transit Bag Checks

This post has been updated.


Yardley Friends Meeting at 65 N. Main Street in Yardley will host the documentary Organic Roots on Friday, November 18 at 7 p.m. Join director Al Johnson for a showing of this film followed by a discussion of the last 50 years of this movement. Organic foods are part of our life today and a tool in our concern for...
Nearly 50 ICE Arrests In Chicago Put Neighborhoods On Edge

By aaroncynic in News on Feb 14, 2017 4:47PM

Nearly 50 people were arrested in Chicago by the Immigrant and Customs Enforcement agency last week as part of a national roundup of undocumented immigrants by the agency.

These operations targeted public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and gang members, as well as individuals who have violated our nations immigration laws, including those who illegally re-entered the country after being removed and immigration fugitives ordered removed by federal immigration judges, the agency said in a press release.

In total, more than 680 people were arrested around the country, including 235 in the Midwest, according to ABC7. The agency says 75 percent of the nationwide total were convicted of violent crimes, with the number being slightly lower70 percent, in the Midwest.

ICE and other officials from agencies have denied they conduct raids, sweeps or targeted random immigrants and said that the roundups were routine and with a specific focus on those who pose a threat to public safety.

Immigrants and others affected by the roundups however, say differently. WGN reports a small group of demonstrators gathered at ICE headquarters in the Loop Monday to protest the arrest of undocumented immigrants.

What we want to get out of this is that we want people to not have fear, to come out and protest because we know we can make a difference," Saul Arellano, whose mother was deported 10 years ago on a social security violation, told the network.

The roundups, along with the rhetoric coming from the current administration and its ban on refugees and other immigrants, as well as many high-profile stories of families being separated due to actions taken by ICE and the Department of Homeland Security, have put immigrant communities on edge.

A report from WTTW showed that several of Chicagos neighborhoods populated heavily by immigrants have seen big downturns in normal business. The Little Village Chamber of Commerce said that its sales have slumped by 15 to 20 percent since December.

Its a very thriving corridor, and now were seeing vacancies, traffic counts lower than the past, business owners are reporting 15- to 20-percent declines in business sales, said chamber president Jaime Di Paulo. Especially restaurants, people are not eating out. Theyre probably staying home saving their money because they dont know whats going to happen.
This Valentine For Trump & Putin At Trump Tower Is Something To Love

By Stephen Gossett in News on Feb 14, 2017 7:08PM

Naturally, Trump Tower has become ground zero as Chicago's preferred protest site against the historically lowly approved president. Some of the protests have been righteously indignant with numbers in the thousands; some have been smaller, more lighthearted affairs (see these merry pranksters and Sunday's literally cheeky demonstration).

Keeping in spirit with the latter, we present this special Valentine's Day find, courtesy of a Chicagoist reader. Our tipster spotted this modest but perfectly holiday-appropriate Trump and Vladimir Putin valentine, slapped on a Trump Tower sign on on Wabash Ave., facing south. "From Russia with Love," reads the caption. Happy 14th, you two.
Take a weekend trip to where the waters of the Murray River meets red dirt, vineyards and groves, Noelle Faulkner explores South Australia's watery gem.

"I rise in the drought from the Queensland rain,

I fill my branches again and again;

I hold my billabongs back in vain,

for my life and my peoples the South Seas drain;

And the land grows old and the people never

Will see the worth of the Darling River"

- Henry Lawson, 'The Song of the Darling River'

Stretching, twisting and rolling 2520km from the Australian Alps to the ocean, the Murray River is one of our most precious waterways, it nurtures and feeds countless forms of life - from the humble, solitary platypus, to drought-stricken cattle to winemakers putting nectar on your table. Not only is this lifeforce with it's idyllic backdrop of twisting billabongs, red dirt, orchards and bush, a wonderfully spiritual place to escape to, but the towns it feeds are a prime destination for in-the-know foodies. [image credit: Noelle Faulkner]

North-east of Adelaide, close to the Victorian border, South Australia's Riverland is comprised of several small towns and follows the long, meandering Murray River, as it twists and turns. Home to many a vineyard, orchard and grove, the Riverland lends itself to adventure at all speeds: kayaking, bush picnicking, hiking, animal watching and fishing, but with added culinary indulgence. [image credit: The Frames]

The days here seem longer, sunnier and more spectacular, particularly when the sun shines through glass of wine or champagne into the red dirt below. If you're seeking a languorous weekend escape, consider punching this unspoiled locale into your next lunchtime vacation Google search.

STAY

The region stretches along the river, spanning close-to 20 towns, so there is a myriad of places to stay, from free campsites to luxurious houseboats, hotels and homestays. For those wanting to take in the waterway vistas at the source, hiring a houseboat is one of the most popular ways to do the Riverland, as the river is dotted with boats in all shapes and sizes, ranging from the lavish to the adorably dinky.

However, if a weekend of cosy luxury is more your speed, it's very hard to go past Renmark's The Frames. This intensely private property of three full-service retreats overlooks the river, and will get architecture lovers' hearts racing thanks to it's clean lines and smartly designed digs.

Set up so that you don't have to leave (or speak to anyone) if you don't want to, each of the three retreats (ranging from one to two bedrooms) includes a full kitchen (decked out with local delicacies), a beautiful private plunge pool, a spa, infra-red sauna (in two of the three), a bed that will blow your mind (and has an "antigravity" setting) and a private chef at your disposal, if you so desire (for an extra cost). Hotels often throw around the word "luxury", but it should not be taken lightly when it comes to this outback stay...

The retreat also offers majestic and romantic cruises and river tours on a gorgeous, fully restored antique gondola along the river or on the local tinny, giving you the chance to explore the twists and turns of the Murray River's backwaters up-close (you may even spot some local wildlife as you go - snoozing koalas and swimming emus and roos, anyone?). The small team may even set up a campfire bush lunch for you on the riverbed, if you ask nicely...

The Frames, LOT 7 Panorama Court, Paringa, SA 5340

luxuryaccommodationsouthaustralia.com.au

EAT

Breakfast

This is South Australia, so one can expect the produce quality to be next level... In addition to that, the Riverland is home to an abundance of orchards - from citrus, to almonds, olives, dates, stonefruit and more, therefore, I recommend starting your morning by picking up some snacks and fresh fruit at the Riverland Farmers' Markets, which are on Saturdays 7.30am-11am at the Senior Citizens Hall in Berri or the Bermera Main Street Markets on the first Sunday of the month (9am-1pm, Barwell Avenue, Barmera).

Lunch

1. The eco-friendly Banrock Station winery offers magnificent views of the wetland and wildlife-heavy area, wine tasting and exclusive vintages at their cellar door. Pop in for lunch, where the vineyard's restaurant (which also serves breakfast on Sundays) serves up a seasonal lunch menu and afternoon grazing menu (paired with wine, of course).

The tasting menu of duck terrine, roasted figs, local chutney, meats and cheese is a primo place to start. But for those who have worked up an appetite, try the aged, grain-fed porterhouse stead with garlic prawns or the local pork fillet with roasted peach, mascarpone and apple cider and star anise glaze.

As for the wines, Banrock Station is known for it's great value drops, but also the fact that each bottle generates funds that go towards various global environmental projects. Try the vineyard's Montepulciano and Pinot Grigio varieties.

Banrock Station Winery and Wetlands Centre, Holmes Rd, Kingston on Murray, SA 5331

2. Backyard Bread is a small, wood-oven fuelled condiment cafe boasting locally made and sourced chutneys, savory snacks, cheeses, breads and small bites (there's gluten-free options on offer too). Stop in here for a snack or pick up supplies for a sunset feast along the river.

Backyard Bread, 7302 Sturt Highway, Barmera, SA 5345

Dinner

As the sun sets, particularly if you're visiting during daylight savings time, the landscape along the river and the surrounding lands shimmers and glows a beautiful honey hue, and comes alive as the wetlands birds start to roost. Hence, I highly recommend staging a picnic of local delicacies, found at many of the roadside markets, cafes and cellar doors or signing up for a sunset cruise to enjoy it.

For a dining experience you're not going to forget anytime soon, swing by the infamous and award-winning The Mallee Fowl Restaurant. Built on the red dirt, in a corrugated iron settlers cottage-like shack, with a campfire out the back and grounds dotted with kitsch-cool Australiana bits and bobs, this bush-themed diner will melt your brain, overload your senses and have you smiling for hours.

Bizarre paraphernalia hangs from the ceiling, country music (and often live bands) rings over the speakers and the ever-changing menu is rich (and bloody delicious) with local fare. It's even run 100% off-grid. This year, the restaurant is opening up its grounds to RVs and campers as a free pit-stop, complete with Billy Tea breakfasts and it'll also see brand new wildlife sanctuary open up. Pull up a table under all the junk or "do it rough" outside under the stars and soak up the happy-go-lucky outback vibes.

Malee Fowl Restaurant, 19042 Sturt Highway, Monash, SA, 5343 Australia

***Oh, and if you see yabby on any of the menus while you're dining, do it - the Murray-Darling is famous for them.

DRINK

Wineries

The Riverland is one of Australia's biggest regions for vineyards and with plenty of boutique and major wineries along the highway and surrounds, you're never that far from tasting a delightful drop. May I suggest:

1. Caudo Vineyard [pictured], Section 278 in the Hundred of Cadell, Cadell Valley Rd, Cadell, SA 5321

caudovineyard.com.au/

2. Angrove Wines, Bookmark Avene, Renmark, SA, 5341

angove.com.au/en/cellar-doors/renmark-cellar-door

3. 919 Wines, 39 Hodges Rd, Glossop SA 5344

919wines.myshopify.com

4. Berri Estates, Old Sturt Hwy, Glossop SA, 5344

berriestateswinery.com.au/

5. Whistling Kite Biodynamic Wines

*Visits to the biodynamic vineyard are by appointment only

(08) 8584 9014, whistlingkitewines.com.au/home

Breweries and Distilleries

The area is also home to some fantastic craft breweries: The Wilkadene Woolshed is a must-do for hopaphiles. Located in an old shearing shed overlooking the river, this brewery is almost as famous for its "Hard Lemonade" as it is its ales.

Wilkadebe Woolshed Brewery, 65 Wilkinson Road, Murtho, SA 5341

If you're more of the distilled botanicals persuasion, a trip to the very chic 23rd Street Distillery is in order. This boutique distillery only just opened up last year (after a 14 year hiatus) and makes a product that is very hard to top. The distillery produces two fantastic brandies, a whiskey and a rose vodka, but it is the signature gin that really shines - pick up a few bottles as you pass through, because trust me, if you don't, you'll regret it.

23rd Street Distillery, Corner of 23rd Street and Renmark Ave, Renmark, SA 5341

DO

The area is best done by car, so if you're flying in to Adelaide from interstate, I cannot express how important it is to hire a car - that way you get to explore the best the area has to offer (and don't have to rely on the handful of cabs and courtesy buses - though they exist). While there are some more "tourist-y" attractions, like the open range Monarto Zoo, the Big Olive, a bowling alley and theatre, vaarious museums and small art galleries and the historic paddle steamer that trundles down the river (which is a fun time), in my opinion, the Murray River and the Riverland is spent best in the great outdoors. [image credit: Noelle Faulkner]

The river is packed with ways to get out and into it, such as row boats and kayaks for hire, fishing spots to conquer, swimming holes to dive into, dirt roads to explore (including some great 4WD tracks) and kilometres of jaw dropping scenery to trek by foot (check out walkingsa.org.au for some suggested walking trails).

For a spiritual experience, it's hard to ignore the beauty of the Nguat Nguat Conservation Park in Nildottie, the ancient home to the Nganguraku people. Ripe with wondrous ochre-coloured rockfaces and a history almost as old as time itself. As this is a sacred site, you'll need to call ahead and book a guided tour with the Mannum Aboriginal Community Association on 0407 006 651. [image credit: National parks South Australia]

In the town of Mannum, you'll find the tranquil Mannum Waterfalls -where you can enjoy a picnic alongside fresh pools of water underneath the gums where the koalas and kookaburras perch. All along the river, you'll find delightful little waterholes, billabongs, magnificent red cliffs and lush bush - so it's worth simply exploring the river at your own pace, whatever that may be. [image credit: Walking SA]

For more info on the Riverland region in SA, visit southaustralia.com

Buro 24/7 Australia travelled to The Riverland as a guest of South Australian Tourism

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General Electric (GE) has delivered two qualified 414 engines to be tested on the planned home-grown Tejas Mk-2 single engine fighter and is looking to collaborate with India to build engines for the proposed advanced medium-combat aircraft.
India's fourth largest global IT services company HCL Technologies(HCL) is all set to become the anchor client of an upcoming IT cluster being developed near Andhra Pradesh state's new capital Amaravati.
International Finance Corporation (IFC) is planning to invest $15 million in . The fund infusion will support company's plan to set up solar projects of upto 250 MW capacity over the next three years.
Triggered by a sharp increase in production, led by grapes, exports of fresh fruit jumped 40 per cent in the first nine months of the financial year on account of a sharp output decline in competing countries.
Ambitious Wicker Park Plan Envisions New Bike Lanes, Six Corners Fixes & Public Art

By Stephen Gossett in News on Feb 14, 2017 6:04PM



Polish Triangle / Wicker Park Bucktown Special Service Area No. 33

Even if only a fraction of the proposals included in an ambitious, recently updated plan for Wicker Park actually come to pass, the neighborhood could look markedly different in just a few years time.

Enhanced public spaces, new public-art installations, and improved lighting are among several cornerstones of the plan, which was released on Tuesday by Wicker Park Bucktown Special Service Area #33. Perhaps the most notable items on the overflowing wish list, however, are transportation-related: the master plan calls for bike lanes along Milwaukee Ave and an improved, more pedestrian-friendly crossings at the notorious Six Corners intersection.

As for the infrastructure proposals, a revamped section of the Polish Triangle jumps out. It calls for the widening of sidewalk along the east side of Milwaukee Ave. Enlivening this block would also support a more vibrant Polish Triangle and make it easier to access by shortening the pedestrian crossings along Division and Ashland, the plan reads. A rendering, including happy little cafA with clever chalk sign, is pictured above.

Also on the list of ideas is a call to work with the Chicago Department of Transportation on a pilot project for proposed bike lanes, envisioned for always-bustling Milwaukee Ave. in Wicker Park, including two-to-three-feet buffers. As for the Six Corners, the group floats curb bump-outs and higher-visibility crosswalks:



Six-corner intersections are particularly complicated to navigate for pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles alike. Simplifying these intersections should be a priority. This could be accomplished by claiming space for pedestrians in curb bump-outs, or converting slip lanes to pedestrian space. Altering traffic operations to eliminate left or right turns could also simplify the intersection and improve safety.

You can check out the whole grand visionwhich also includes public-art bike racks, fancy new lighting under the Cortland/Ashland underpass and improved connections to The 606here. The plan will be used for the next five to seven years, while keeping in mind a long term vision for the community, according to the WPB SSA #33, which calls for partnerships with aldermen, the Chamber of Commerce, CDOT, businesses, the Active Transportation Alliance and others.



Bike Lane on Milwaukee Ave. / Wicker Park Bucktown Special Service Area No. 33
Stents will now be priced below Rs 30,000 apiece following the government's decision to slash their prices by as much as 85%. The government has also made it mandatory for hospitals to bill stents separately from surgical procedures or package costs.
Infosys Chairman R Seshasayee admitted cultural differences with its founders that has led to a public spat and assured that stakeholders would be consulted, even as he maintained that the board would assert its independence.
Japans JERA has picked up a 10 per cent stake in Ventures. The deal size is estimated to be $200 million, through subscription of newly issued shares.
Tata Motors, the countrys largest automobile company by revenue, has seen its consolidated net profit shrink by 96 per cent in the third quarter on a steep decline in profit at its overseas unit Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and higher losses in domestic operations.
Infosys founder and promoter N R N Murthy has often said that Infosys is his mid-child, born after daughter Akshata and before son Rohan. But Murthy is forgetting one golden rule of parenting, that is, at some time your baby has to be independent.
After bombarding the domestic market with a slew of product launches during the past two years, televangelist Ramdevs is padding up for another blitzkrieg, with a series of greenfield manufacturing facilities across the country.

Fast-moving consumer good (FMCG) major has set an ambitious target of starting production in at least four new facilities with an investment of Rs 5,000 crore in 500 days, Chairman and Managing Director Balkrishna told Business Standard.

While had been funding most of its requirements from internal accruals, it is now looking to borrow from banks.

The fast-growing company that thrives on swadeshi (domestic) is desperate to expand its production capacity to meet growing demand for its products.

During the past few years, a phenomenal growth in sales (at 82 per cent CAGR during 2011-12 and 2015-16) has forced it to depend on third-party manufacturers its food park at Haridwar has become over-utilised.

High dependence on outsiders for sourcing finished products could hurt its margins in coming days, analysts said.

According to a note published by credit ratings agency ICRA, The ramp-up for facilities will increase reliance on external debt, which is expected to result in some increase in the gearing level. These facilities, once operational, are expected to drive the companys future revenue growth.

Apart from the large amount, which will be tough to meet from internal accruals in the short span of 16 months, borrowing money from banks has also become an easier proposition for Patanjali as ICRA upgraded its credit rating for fund-based facilities by two points  from A minus to A plus  recently.

Currently, Patanjali has a debt of Rs 320 crore, out of which Rs 300 crore is fund based.

The Project 500 encompasses food and herbal parks that Patanjali plans to build in four locations  Gautam Budh Nagar (Uttar Pradesh), Nagpur (Maharashtra), Tezpur (Assam) and Indore (Madhya Pradesh). While, the facility at Assam is expected to be underway by March, the other three food parks will start production by mid-2018.

The food park at Uttar Pradesh, expected to cater to the crucial market in the National Capital Region of Delhi, will require an investment of Rs 1,400 crore in two phases. The first phase (with investment of Rs 800 crore) will be ready by Diwali this year, Balkrishna said.

While, Patanjali may have taken the leap forward to build a sustained base for its product supply in the country, any delay in completion of these capital expenditure plans can hamper Patanjalis future growth and also impact its liquidity position, ICRA observed.
The 28-hour countdown for the launch of a record 104 satellites by India on board a single rocket from the spaceport of Sriharikota, about 125 km from Chennai, commenced on Tuesday.

India will become the first country to script history if it succeeds in launching the 104 satellites in a single rocket.

The countdown for the launch of PSLV-C37/Cartosat2 Series satellite mission began at 5.28 am soon after the Mission Readiness Review committee and Launch Authorisation Board gave its approval for lift off, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said.

Scientists have commenced filling of the propellant for the rocket, it said.

The space agency's trusted workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C37, on its 39th mission, would launch a record 104 satellites belonging to international customers.

What is significant about the launch is the number of satellites carried by a rocket. Compared to successful launch by the Russian Space Agency launching 37 satellites in one go, India will become the first country to script history if it succeeds in launching 104 satellites in a single rocket.

It will also be ISRO's second successful attempt after launching 23 satellites in one go in June 2015.

PSLV will first launch the 714 kg CARTOSAT-2 Series satellite for earth observation and then inject 103 co-passenger satellites, together weighing about 664 kg at lift-off into polar Sun Synchronous Orbit, about 520 km from Earth.

scientists have used the XL Variant -- the most powerful rocket -- earlier used in the ambitious Chandrayaan and during the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM).

Of 101 co-passenger satellites, 96 belongto USA, five from International customers of -- Israel, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, respectively.

Two other Indian nano satellites, totally weighing about 1,378 kg, will also ride piggyback in the rocket.

The nano-satellites belonging to international customers are being launched as part of the arrangement by Antrix Corporation Ltd (ANTRIX) the commercial arm of the .

Cartosat-2 Series, which is the primary satellite, will be similar to the earlier four satellites in Cartosat-2 Series.

After coming into operation, it will provide remote sensing services. Images sent by it will be useful for coastal land use and regulation, road network monitoring, distribution of water and creation of land use maps, among others.

Cartosat-2 Series has a mission life of five years.

The two Indian Nano-satellites INS-1A and INS-1B were developed as co-passenger satellites to accompany bigger satellites on PSLV.

The primary objective of INS (ISRO Nano Satellite) is to provide an opportunity for ISRO technology demonstration payloads, provide a standard bus for launch on demand services.

INS-1A carries Surface Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function Radiometer and INS-1B caries Earth Exosphere Lyman Alpha Analyser as payloads.
Thirty young people, a dozen of them women, in Kalyani of West Bengal's Nadia district, were duped on the pretext of getting them jobs with the (BSF), a BSF official said here on Monday.

The case of fake recruitment came to light when the victims came to the main gate of the South Bengal Frontier BSF campus in Kalyani, with some envelopes for joining the paramilitary organisation.

"On thorough checking of their documents, it was found that they were issued with forged appointment letters for a number of posts - like constable, cook, wireless operator and typist - along with medical documents and other related documents," a BSF official said.

When BSF officials questioned them, the victims said a person who identified himself as Sanjay Das alias Bimal Das - a resident of Dumdum Cantonment near Kolkata - claimed that he was an officer of BSF and assured them jobs in exchange for money.

"He assured them that only after receiving the appointment letter, will the individual have to pay some money in lakhs for which he had given a bank account number. The young boys and girls got lured by his words and paid him money in cash and in his account.

"The appointment letters were sent to an individual by post. Further, he told them that he has worked in BSF at various places. The letter sent to the victims includes appointment letter, the list of selected candidates, medical examination," the official said.

The letters which contained a lot of typing errors had forged seals of BSF.

The commandant of the 144 Battalion of BSF informed the Haringhata police station.

Later, a FIR was lodged.

"BSF is following up this matter to ensure that the culprits involved in this case are booked as per law of the land," the official said.
Aero India 2017, Asia's largest air show, is going to see a big first: A Chinese delegation. The show, which started on Tuesday, will see a five-member team from China participate, reported the BangaloreMirror. The Chinese delegation belongs to the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force.
2022 election guide: Here are Pueblo County's top races, ballot issues

Here's what you need to know about the local candidates and ballot questions in the 2022 election, as well as how to vote in Pueblo, Colorado.
President Donald Trump's embattled national security advisor today resigned, amid allegations that he discussed US sanctions against Russia with its envoy before Trump's inauguration.

Flynn's resignation came after reports that the Justice Department warned the Trump administration last month that he misled administration officials regarding his communications with the Russian ambassador to the US and was potentially vulnerable to blackmail by the Russians.

Flynn, one of the early backers of Trump during his presidential run, remained in the top position of National Security Advisor for just three weeks.

Flynn has been replaced by Lt General (rtd) Joseph Keith Kellogg as acting National Security Advisor, the White House announced.

Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general, in his resignation letter released by the White House, apologised to President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for briefing them with incomplete information on his talks with the Russian Ambassador before the swearing in.

"In the course of my duties as the incoming National Security Advisor, I held numerous phone calls with foreign counterparts, ministers, and ambassadors. These calls were to facilitate a smooth transition and begin to build the necessary relationships between the President, his advisors and foreign leaders. Such calls are standard practice in any transition of this magnitude," Flynn wrote in the resignation letter.

"Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador. I have sincerely apologised to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology," Flynn said.

Flynn said he knows with the strong leadership of President Donald Trump and Vice President Pence and the superb team they are assembling, this team will go down in history as one of the greatest presidencies in US history.

"I firmly believe the American people will be well served as they all work together to help Make America Great Again," he said.

Flynn's replacement General Kellogg is a decorated veteran of the US Army, having served from 1967 to 2003, including two tours during the Vietnam War, where he earned the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with "V" device, and the Air Medal with "V" device.

He served as the Commander of the 82nd Airborne Division from 1997 to 1998.

Prior to his retirement, General Kellogg was Director of the Command, Control, Communications, and Computers Directorate under the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the Justice Department warned the Trump administration last month that intercepts contradicted Flynn's denials that he had discussed sanctions with a Russian ambassador.

"The message was meant both to advise the administration of the apparent contradiction and to let them know that the discrepancy could, in theory, be used as blackmail by Russia against Flynn someday, according to this person," the daily said.

The warning was first reported in The Washington Post.

The Washington Post said Kellogg is one of three candidates Trump is considering as a permanent replacement for Flynn. The other two are David Petraeus, a former CIA director and retired general and Vice Adm Robert Harward, a former deputy commander of the US Central Command, the daily reported.
Drivers attached to taxi aggregator platforms and Ola across the southern states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are planning a joint strike on February 15 to protest against reduced earnings.

"We have spoken to them (drivers from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu) and have agreed on February 15 to go on a joint strike. We are protesting for the same issue -- reduced earnings because they have cut incentives and fares," said Tanveer Pasha, President of the Uber, TaxiForSure and Ola (UTO) Drivers and Owners Association.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written a letter addressing voters in Uttar Pradesh saying that his government's surprise demonetisation measure was necessary to root out corruption and prevent terrorism, reported The Economic Times on Tuesday.
Reports suggest that governor Vidyasagar Rao is inclined to wait till the Supreme Court delivers its verdict on the appeals in the disproportionate assets cases against V.K. Sasikala, who has been elected legislative leader of the AIADMK.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a trial court order finding All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary VK Sasikala guilty in an illegal wealth case that dates back two decades. The verdict, which will mean Sasikala going back to jail and being debarred from public office for nearly a decade, upends political calculations at a time when she is caught in a tussle with interim chief minister O Panneerselvam for control of the party and the government.
on Monday decided to see whether introducing Aadhaar scheme as a Money Bill in Parliament was constitutionally valid. The government opposed a petition by former Union minister Jairam Ramesh challenging the action while lawyer P Chidambaram told the bench of Chief Justice J S Khehar that the provision for Money Bill is being misused frequently by the government.
India has mandated that global aircraft makers such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing get approvals of their governments to transfer technology and build jets with a local partner in India, if they are to bid for the countrys single-engine fighter requirement.
There seems to be a change in the equations between the global rating agencies and the government.
Priyank Kharge, the young IT minister of Karnataka, believes that the recent ban on ridesharing services from Uber and Ola by the state transport department were regressive, pointing out that laws often evolve much slower than technology.
Kolkata has turned out to be Indias own tax haven, thanks to the presence of a large number of (the term for formal existence but with close to no operations or assets).

The income-tax (I-T) department is now planning a major crackdown on such companies here. This is part of a recent initiative by the central government to put a curb on paper companies, to unearth undisclosed money. Arijit Pasayat, vice-chairman of the Special Investigation Team on such money (it was appointed by the Supreme Court) comes here on Tuesday to meet I-T officials.

Almost, 90 per cent of are in Kolkata. Hence, it will be a major activity centre for the governments planned crackdown on such companies, said a senior I-T official.

The reason why Kolkata is the preferred choice of venue is said to be easy availability of professionals in this type of activity, with an established network.

The effective tax rate is around 24 per cent. Hence, for earned capital of Rs 1 crore, one pays Rs 24 lakh as tax. In Kolkata, one pays Rs 50,000-70,000 to the entry operator to form a shell company through a structured transaction and save on taxes, said an official.

The method is somewhat like this. If one needs to convert Rs 1 crore capital from black (hidden) to white, the original owner of the money will give Rs 1 lakh to an entry operator, whod divide the sum into 10,000 shares of Rs 10 each. Each of the shares would then be sold at an exorbitant premium of around Rs 1,000 to directors of . This would instantly increase the value of the company from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1 crore. Through a network of fake companies, the money then moves to the original owner. The entry operator charges a fee. Often, the directors of these companies are daily-wage earners like tea sellers or office guards.

The more the capital, the higher the cost of registration for opening such a company. Thus, opening one with Rs 1 lakh capital would require much less of registration fee than opening one with a capital of Rs 1 crore.

In Kolkata, there is a community of chartered accountants (CAs), and it is easy to find directors, who for Rs 5,000 will sign anywhere. There are brokers and entry operators; they run many companies from a single premise and a laptop, said an official of the I-T department.

According to sources, the department has identified at least 150,000 shell companies in this city, with nearly 6,000 CAs allegedly involved. Subrata Kumar Das, chief commissioner of I-T here would not comment on the issue.

According to informal estimates, about 75 per cent of the professionals involved in opening shell companies in Kolkata are not even professional CAs. Setting one up does not even require CAs. A person with a basic knowledge of finance can undertake such transactions. A CA only certifies the books, not the company, said a source.

This apart, the cost of hiring a CA is three to four times lower in Kolkata than in Mumbai.

Recently, the Prime Ministers Office formed a task force to prevent the formation of shell companies. In a statement, it had said that a sample survey found Rs 1,238 crore in cash was deposited in these entities during November-December. And, that 559 beneficiaries laundered money to the extent of Rs 3,900 crore with the help of 54 professionals.




Over a decade ago GMR -ed consortium agreed to share 45.99 per cent of revenue with Airport Authority of India for developing Delhi airport. GVK group offered 38.7 per cent for Mumbai airport development. Both were winning bids.


Michael T. Flynn, the national security adviser, resigned on Monday night after it was revealed that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other top White House officials about his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the United States.
Walls have a strong political connotation in post-war Europe. The most tragically famous was the Berlin wall built in 1961 to prevent citizens of the DDR (otherwise known as East Germany) from seeking refuge in the West.
Michael Flynn resigned his post as President Donald Trumps national security advisor, a senior administration official said, news that came after the Justice Department had warned the White House of its concerns over Flynns contacts with the Russian ambassador to the US. This official, meanwhile, rejected reports that retired General David Petraeus was being considered for Flynns job. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to describe internal personnel matters. The White House had said earlier Monday that Trump is still evaluating Flynns actions amid questions over whether he misled Vice President Mike Pence about whether he discussed sanctions with Russias envoy to the US, Sergey Kislyak. bloomberg



Pence told a TV interviewer that Flynn didnt discuss the sanctions but now says he was basing that assertion solely on Flynns word.
Steelmakers arent out of the woods yet. A year-long resurgence risks fading as a slowdown in Chinas property market deepens, exposing bullish sentiment as overblown, according to a US-based hedge fund manager and former Citigroup analyst.
said today its chairman Shigenori Shiga was stepping down from his post as the company warned it was set to book multi-billion-dollar losses in its US nuclear business.

Hours after delaying the release of its financial results, the company issued a forecast that said it was on track to report a net loss of 390 billion yen ($3.4 billion) in the current fiscal year to March, with losses in its atomic division topping 700 billion yen.
Sounds like someone I should get to know, one observer quipped after he heard that Brietbarts deputy editor, Milo Yiannopoloulos had been no-platformed by students at UC Berkeley. The university, which traditionally had a reputation for free-speech activism had just cancelled a campus address by the right-wing journalist after protesters mounted violent protests on campus.
It's hard to find anyone in Washington who knows border issues better than Alan Bersin. His unique perspective combines years of frontline law enforcement experience with academic knowledge and intellectual interest in the historical, economic and social forces that are at work at the borders of the United States, especially the U.S.-Mexico line.
The ties that bind the most powerful media mogul in the world to the leader of the free world just keep getting stronger. Or, more precisely, we keep learning just how strong they are.
James Mattis visited Asia this month on his first foreign trip as the new head of the Pentagon. It was less a get-acquainted visit than a damage control tour. His boss, President Donald Trump, had threatened to escalate tensions with China and prevent North Korea from launching a nuclear-capable ICBM. Hed accused Japan of currency manipulation. He wanted both Tokyo and Seoul to pay more for their alliance with America. Hed unceremoniously pulled out of a free-trade agreement  the Trans Pacific Partnership (TTP)  that the United States had previously gone all out to promote.
GroupM, the country's largest media agency network, has lowered its expenditure (adex) growth forecast for 2017, pegging it at 10 per cent this year against 12 per cent last year.
UK Sinhas six-year term as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), the second longest after that of DR Mehta, ends in two weeks, bringing down the curtains on a tenure during which the 1976-batch Indian Administrative Services officer from the Bihar cadre administered many significant changes in the securities market.
The Bajrangi Dal activists on Tuesday thrashed couples in Bihar's Muzaffarpur in a protest against Valentine's Day.

Earlier in the day, Hindu Jagran Manch staged a protest against in Uttar Pradesh's Agra Valentine's Day.

The Odisha unit of Bajrangi Dal had yesterday reportedly threatened that they will marry off boys and girls seen together at parks.

Such incidents of moral policing on this day are reported every year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Army personnel Chetan Cheeta, who got injured during an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora in the wee hours on Tuesday, has been airlifted to Delhi.

Commandant of the 45 Battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), who sustained multiple gunshots during the gun battle is reportedly in a critical condition and admitted to AIIMS trauma centre.

Earlier in the day, the CRPF informed that Cheeta was evacuated to Srinagar.

"In an head-on encounter with LeT at Hajin,Sh Chetan Cheeta CO 45 Bn CRPF was hit with multiple gun shots & air lifted to 92BaseHosp Srinagar," CRPF tweeted.

As many as three army personnel were killed and seven others injured in an encounter that took place between militants and security forces today in the Hajin area of Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora.

One LeT terrorist was also killed and the Indian Army officers recovered arms and ammunitions from the encounter site.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Patna High Court on Tuesday granted conditional bail to Bihar topper scam mastermind Bachcha Rai.

Rai will get bail if not convicted by lower court within a month.

He was arrested in June last year after he surrendered before the police.

Rai is the Secretary-cum Principal of Vishun Rai College in Vaishali district of Bihar from where Arts and Science toppers Ruby Rai and Saurabh Shrestha belonged and was involved in the exam racket.

The investigation indicated that Rai was a key player in the case with the help of Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB).

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested Bihar state board Class XII Arts topper Ruby Rai previous year.

A chargesheet was filed against former BSEB chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh, his wife and former JD (U) legislator Usha Sinha, Rai and former board secretary Harharnath Jha.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
So now, it's confirmed that 31-year-old lawyer Rachel Lindsay from Dallas, Texas will be the first African-American lead on 'The Bachelorette'.

Lindsay was officially named the next Bachelorette on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' with a special appearance by television host Chris Harrison, as reported by E online.

The announcement came at a time when Rachel is still competing on the current season of 'The Bachelor'.

After much messing around with Chris Harrison, chat show host Jimmy Kimmel finally brought Rachel out on stage.

The lawyer said that she was first approached to be 'The Bachelorette' soon after her time on 'The Bachelor' ended.

"I honestly thought they were just doing it to make me feel better from the heartbreak," she said, adding, "I am excited. I'm ready."

She told Jimmy, "At this point in my life, 31, I'm ready to find a husband, somebody who's ready to start a family and I'm looking for someone who can make me laugh, a great smile...

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Aero India 2017 is India's leading aerospace and defence trade show that begins from February 14 and 18.

It will take place in Bangalore, the heart of India's aerospace industry and one of the four major technology and business centers in India.

This year Germany is setting up a separate pavilion at the Aero India wherein 11 German aerospace companies will show case an extensive range of products and service under one roof.

Other seven companies will be displaying individually.

India's recent policy changes in defense sector includes liberalization of FDI norms, transparence, simplification in export regulations and offset guidelines for foreign collaborators augers well for German Aerospace where high technology companies are looking for opportunities in the emerging Indian Defence market.

The Defence Exhibition Organisation, Ministry of Defence, Government of India welcomes Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (AUMA), the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI) and the participating German Companies to Aero India 2017.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ahead of the Supreme Court's verdict on All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (AIADMK) general secretary V.K. Sasikala in the disproportionate assets case, G.S. Mani, the lawyer for Satta Panchayat Iyakkam, on Tuesday said if the court convicts Sasikala, she'll lose everything.

"If the court convicts Sasikala even for a minimum period of one year, she will legally lose the Chief Minister post because she will suffer the disqualification as per the provision under the Constitution and per the law laid by the Supreme Court. As she is not the member of the legislative assembly, she does not fulfill the qualification. There is no doubt if the court convicts her she will lose everything," Mani said.

"We expect that the Supreme Court will give good judgement because people's money has been looted by those in power. So, they should be punished and they should be sent to jail. We are expecting that," he added.

The Supreme Court is expected to announce its much-anticipated verdict in the 19-year-old disproportionate assets case against former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa and her close aide and AIADMK General Secretary V.K. Sasikala on Tuesday.

Earlier, G.S. Mani filed a caveat before the apex court stating that the court should hear his side of the matter before passing any judgement in the Sasikala case.

The top court last week refused to grant an urgent hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought to put on hold Sasikala's swearing-in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister till it passed judgement in the DA case against her.

Jayalalithaa, Sasikala, and two others were accused of allegedly amassing disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs. 66.65 crore during her first term as Chief Minister from 1991 to 1996.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Minister of State Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju, who found himself in a tough spot after his tweets on decline in Hindu population, has found support in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Backing his statement, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday said India has democracy just because Hindus are in the majority.

"As Hindus are in majority, there is democracy in our country. As we see in Islamic countries where Muslims are in majority, there is no democracy. For the sake of democracy, we have to make sure the overwhelming majority of population remains of Hindus and the question is how to do it. If Muslims also took to family planning as Hindus then this problem would not be there," Swamy said.

Supporting his claim with evidence, Swamy also asserted that Census of 2001 and 2011 indicated the slump in the proportion of Hindus which was a question of alarm.

"His statement is taken out of context as he was basically talking about the decline in population percentage of the Hindus as a ratio of the total population. This is a continuing civilisation of Hindus and we don't want to lose that," he added.

A controversy erupted over a tweet by Rijiju, in reaction to the Congress' charge that the BJP was turning Arunachal Pradesh into a 'Hindu state', that India's Hindu population was reducing as they didn't 'convert' people. This was seen as a bid to woo voters for the ongoing assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh where the BJP, the Samajwadi Party, the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party have all accused each other of trying to polarise the polls.

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Leading venture debt and specialty lending InnoVen Capital in its India Startup Outlook Report 2017 highlights the perspective of founders and CXOs of Indian startups with respect to fundraise and investor sentiment, focus and challenges, and on policy and government initiatives amongst others.

The survey by InnoVen captures responses from over 170 startup leaders across bootstrapped as well as funded ventures.

As per the report, 65 percent believe that Indian startup is in a technology bubble, of which 18 percent felt that it was close to bursting soon. On the fundraising environment in 2016, 63 percent of the respondents who attempted to raise funds confirmed that they had an unfavorable funding experience in 2016 with almost half of these not being able to raise any funding and the rest raised either a sub-optimal external round or a bridge round.

It says that the respondents believe that what is most likely to improve investor sentiment in 2017 is more companies with robust models followed by more exits and the least likely factor to better the funding environment is Indian unicorns raising more money at a higher valuation. 94 percent are looking to raise funding in 2017, with VC backed companies aiming to raise a median of USD 12.5 million. The average expectation on how long it could take to close the round is four to five months.

Although difficulty in raising equity funding was voted as the top business challenge, followed by difficulty in managing talent and market creation, it seems however uncertain whether fundraising will be more challenging in 2017 or less as the group was equally divided on this when specifically asked.

Focus in 2017 for majority respondents will be growth, however VC backed companies opted for profitability as the primary factor to solve for. Only 38 percent of the cash burning companies had a higher burn rate in 2016 as compared to 2015 and overall, the median timeline for achieving profitability is expected to be one to two years.

Separately, the preferred mode of exit for majority startups is to publicly list either in India or offshore with 30 percent selecting M&A as the top choice and another 30 percent opting to continue to remain private. In all, ~64 percent of the respondents expect an exit event in the next six years.

Workforce hiring and representation was another aspect covered in the report. Of the companies observed, 24 percent had women representation on the board, 18 percent had women in CXO positions, and 33 percent were actively looking to hire women in senior roles. Sales, Technology and Marketing were areas in which hiring top executives has been or is expected to be the toughest. More than a quarter of respondents would prefer to relocate to another city with Bangalore being the top choice destination.

GST was selected as the most helpful recent government initiative, especially by founders in Retail consumer brands and logistics sector. Media and content sector found the push towards Digital India a shot in the arm and Fintech companies were appreciative of digital payment tools such as UPI.

Interestingly, demonetization policy was seen as favorable in the short term by only 22 percent respondents, increasing to 52 percent in the long term. The entrepreneurs converged on the following three major measures that can make India more appealing for startups: better tax policy, facilitation of cheaper financing and investment in digital infrastructure.

"The startup outlook report is part of our continued effort to understand and communicate the nature of the Indian entrepreneurship ecosystem. In this report, we explore the mood and outlook of Indian startups given the recent budget, cautious investor climate and an uncertain global economy," said Group COO and CEO India, Ajay Hattangdi.

"We hope this report helps all stakeholders including entrepreneurs, investors and lobbying groups create more effective outcomes in engaging with the innovation economy," added Hattangdi.

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Tokyo has issued a protest to Moscow after Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a resolution giving names to five previously nameless islands of the Kurile chain, also claimed by Japan.

"This is unacceptable and runs counter to Japan's position. We sent a note of protest to Russia through diplomatic channels," TASS quoted, Yoshihide Suga, the Secretary General of the cabinet as saying at a news conference in Tokyo

On Saturday, the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, signed a decree naming five small islands of the Kuril Islands.

Moscow and Tokyo have been holding, with shorter or longer intervals, the talks on elaborating a bilateral peace treaty. The problem of sovereignty over the southern part of the Kurile chain - the islands of Kunashir, Iturup, Shikotan and the Habomai archipelago - that went over to the USSR upon the end of War II remains the biggest stumbling block to the signing of the treaty.

Tokyo does not recognize Russia's sovereignty over the islands.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has said many a time in this connection there is no question about Russian sovereignty over the islands, which has an appropriate international legal groundwork.

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel has canceled a joint summit with the Israeli government, which was scheduled for May 10 in Jerusalem, citing the upcoming federal elections in September.

However, Deutsche Welle citing local media reports said that Merkel the cancelled the meeting over Israel's latest legislative attempt to legalize settlement activity in the West Bank.

An Israeli government spokesman confirmed the meeting had been canceled by the German side, saying it was due to the "variety of international appointments within the context of the German presidency of the G20."

Although officials said the annual meeting between both governments' cabinets had been forfeited this year due to the German federal election in September, Israeli newspaper "Haaretz" reported it was also due to Merkel's alarm over the settlement legalization law.

However, the daily reported that another unnamed senior Israeli official noted that the law "had not been brought up" when Berlin notified Israel of the cancelation.

The law, passed by parliament last week, allows for the expropriation of private Palestinian land by retroactively legalizing 4,000 settler settlements homes.

The move has been criticized by the international community for undermining a UN-backed two-state solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

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Following allegations of illicitly discussing sanctions with a Russian envoy, U.S. President Donald Trump's National Security Advisor Michael Flynn on Monday resigned, citing it was 'unfortunate' he 'inadvertently' briefed Vice President Mike Pence with incomplete information regarding his phone calls with Sergey Kislyak.

"In the course of my duties as the incoming National Security Advisor, I held numerous phone calls with foreign counterparts, ministers, and ambassadors. These calls were to facilitate a smooth transition and begin to build the necessary relationships between the President, his advisors and foreign leaders. Such calls are standard practice in any transition of this magnitude. Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador," read the text of his resignation letter.

It added, "I have sincerely apologised to the President and the Vice-President, and they have accepted my apology."

"I am tendering my resignation, honoured to have served our nation and the American people in such a distinguished way," said the letter by Michael T. Flynn, LTG (Ret) Assistant to the President / National Security Advisor.

Flynn, a former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, had initially denied discussing sanctions with the Russian ambassador during the transition. Vice-President Pence also defended him in front of the media. But last week, when reports suggested that sanctions may indeed have been discussed, he conceded that he could not remember with 100 percent certainty.

Pence was said to be also troubled by the possibility that he was misled post the reports.

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The Investigative Agency (NIA) special court on Tuesday issued production warrant against accused Gajendra Sharma in connection with planting an IED on the railway tracks at Ghora Sahan in Bihar's Motihari, on October 1, 2016.

Sharma had surrendered in court of Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Raxaul earlier on February 13.

The court has also sent accused Rakesh Yadav to four-day police remand.

The agency earlier wrote to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) demanding transfer of the case.

The Bihar Police have so far arrested three people in connection with this case while another two have been nabbed from Delhi.

The case was initially registered at Railway police station in Raxaul under section 150 Railways Act, Explosive Substance Act and it was later re- registered by the NIA that initiated a further investigation into it.

A two-member team of the NIA also reached Motihari to carry forward the probe.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's half-brother Kim Jong-nam has reportedly been assassinated at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia.

South Korean news agency Yonhap News quoted a government source, as saying that Jong-nam was assassinated in Malaysia on Monday.

According to Cable TV broadcaster TV Chosun, two unidentified female agents killed Jong-nam with poisoned needles and fled the scene of assassination.

The Role of North Korea is being suspected for this killing by the Malaysian police.

He was the eldest son of Kim Jong-il, former leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

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Pakistan has slammed North Korea's latest missile test, saying that it is a violation of the UN Security Council Resolutions.

Islamabad urged North Korea to refrain from any step that undermines the prospects of regional peace and stability.

"Pakistan has consistently supported a nuclear weapons free Korean Peninsula, as agreed by all parties. It calls upon the DPRK to refrain from actions which run counter to the objective of reaching a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the issue within the framework of the Six Party Talks, said a statement from Foreign Affairs Ministry.

North Korea fired a ballistic missile earlier on Sunday in what was termed as a 'show of force' against U.S. President Donald Trump, as reported by the Guardian.

According to South Korean military sources, the missile was launched from an area in the country's western region around Banghyon, North Pyongan province, the same area where the midrange Musudan weapon was tested by the country on October 15 and 20, 2016.

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Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar on Tuesday categorically stated that Pakistan needs to shut down its terrorism factory.

"Western countries may not be open about Pakistan and terrorism problem but they have concerns. The issue really here is whether Pakistan is willing to take fundamental steps. They need to shut down terrorism factory," said Jaishankar while delivering address on "Political change and economic uncertainties" co-hosted by India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Gateway House.

Asserting that it is the security concern which makes India urge Pakistan to put an end to terrorism, Jaishankar said the former cannot live with sudden on and off of this issue.

"The thinking on Pakistan is necessarily security centric because the fact is we can live in a situation of very little threat but not in a situation of terrorism on and off, which will be the case as long as the factory keeps running," he added.

Pointing out that terrorism is now not only India's concern, Jaishankar said it is now a global phenomenon.

"Terrorism in the past was seen as our problem but now it's a bigger problem. There is today international concern (on terrorism)," he said.

India, on many occasions, has used global platform to bring into notice Pakistan's endorsement of terrorism to the world community.

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Pakistan has reiterated its commitment to continue to work for peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Speaking to media in Islamabad, Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said Pakistan would continue to work with international community and the Afghan Government to make 2017 a year of cooperation for peace, security and stability in the region.

He said Pakistan's resolve to defeat terrorism remains unwavering and the emerging terrorist networks, like the Islamic State would not deter it from continuing the valiant struggle against this menace.

He said Islamabad welcomes the sentiments of all those who have expressed a desire to work with Pakistan to eliminate terrorism.

"We have taken note of the voices recommending a holistic review of the U.S. policy to see how Islamabad and Washington can work together to promote peace and security in the region for the benefit of both countries," Zakaria said.

However, he expressed disappointment over some of the assertions made in the recent discussions about terrorist safe havens in Pakistan and termed these as misplaced and not in sync with the current situation on the ground.

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The Right to Information (RTI) Bill 2016 has been unanimously adopted by the members of Pakistan Senate select committee.

Members of the Senate select committee on Tuesday unanimously adopted all amendments and recommendations of the bill after reviewing it clause-by-clause.

The existing right to information law at the federal level, the Freedom of Information Ordinance 2002, will get replaced by the RTI Bill 2016.

People of Pakistan will now be able to get access to information about the activities of the government as the newly-adopted law recognises citizens' right to know under the Constitution.

The bill has ensured that information is given in written on missing persons by the concerned authority within three days of a request for information being filed, reports the Dawn.

There is also a provision for the protection of whistleblowers including those from security institutions in the bill.

The RTI requests would be heard by a three-member commission with the authority to direct public bodies to disclose information and provide records.

The members to the commission will be appointed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The commission is likely to one member of civil society, one from the bureaucracy, and one from the judiciary.

Authority to remove the members of the commission has been given to the standing committee of the Senate and National Assembly.

The Bill will be presented to parliament for further discussions.

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Pakistan on Tuesday summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner, J.P. Singh over alleged cease fire violations.

The Director General (SA & SAARC), Dr. Mohammad Faisal, condemned the alleged cease fire violations on the LoC in Thub area (Bhimber Sector) and urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding.

He also asked India to investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations.

Faisal told Singh to ask the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC.

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Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has suspended talk show anchor Dr Shahid Masood and his programme on Bol television for 30 days, while imposing a fine of one million rupees on the network for making baseless allegations against the Pakistan Army and the federal ministers for finance and defence.

The decision was made on the recommendations of the Sindh Council of Complaints (CoC) after the channel and the anchor failed to prove their point over complaints lodged against them, reports the Dawn.

According to the complaint submitted PEMRA by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Masood in his show on January 24 had made allegations of a defamatory nature about an alleged meeting with senior military leadership in Rawalpindi, with the mala fide and ulterior motives of attacking the integrity of the federal minister.

Dar claimed that no such meeting had taken place and the allegations were false.

Pemra said that the TV channel and its host along with the co-host had failed to defend their position or present any evidence in favour of such comments on February 2 and February 10.

"Instead they kept seeking adjournments by the CoC," a Pemra official said.

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A total of 36 bombs were found in Ludhiana's Harnampura village on Tuesday.

The army was also intimated of the incident.

Sub-Inspector Dalbir Singh said that the bombs were planted at different places but the police managed to reach on time.

"When we were standing at the spot of the first bomb, a man told us that there are other bombs planted at other place. We reached the other spot immediately and informed out senior officers. 36 bombs were found," Singh told the media here.

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The District Level Scrutiny Committee, which reviewed Rohith Vemula's Dalit status, today submitted its final report and stated that the deceased was not a Dalit.

Guntur Collector Kantilal Dande informed that the certificate was obtained by fraudulent means and should be cancelled.

Vemula's family has been intimated about the findings of the inquiry and a response has been sought as to why the certificate should not be cancelled.

Rohith, 26, had committed suicide by hanging himself in the University of Hyderabad's campus in January last year.

He was earlier suspended from the university hostel in August 2015 by the administration for allegedly attacking an Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) leader.

University's vice-chancellor Appa Rao, along with BJP-led government in the state, was accused of being anti-Dalit which led Rohith to take such an extreme step.
Russia and India are expected to sign a contract on the delivery of S-400 Triumf long-range antiaircraft missile systems by the end of this year.

"Contractual negotiations are ongoing. That is why, it is still premature to speak about the number of systems that will be delivered. We hope that the contract for the delivery of S-400 Triumf antiaircraft missile systems will be signed until the end of this year," Russia's state-owned news agency TASS quoted Deputy Director of Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation Vladimir Drozhzhov as saying on Tuesday.

Earlier in October last year, Russia had signed an inter-governmental agreement on the delivery of S-400 Triumf long-range air defence missile systems to India.

The S-400 Triumf is the most advanced long-range antiaircraft missile system which has been designed to destroy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles.

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The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] on Tuesday welcomed the verdict given by the Supreme Court on All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (AIADMK) general secretary V.K. Sasikala in connection with the 19-year old disproportionate assets case and urged the constitutional machinery to immediately form a government in Tamil Nadu.

"The Supreme Court judgement regarding Tamil Nadu is a judgement against corruption in high places. With this judgement the political uncertainty in Tamil Nadu must end," CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury told ANI.

Yechury further hoped for the constitutional powers of the state to rush to form the government in Tamil Nadu.

"Those who can prove the majority on the floor of the house of the assembly must be called to form the government and all necessary measures in this direction must be taken by the Tamil Nadu governor," he added.

Earlier, Sasikala suffered a major jolt with the Supreme Court upholding the trial court's judgment convicting her in the 19-year-old disproportionate assets case against her. With this, Sasikala stands disqualified to take over as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.

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Shaktikanta Das, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, inaugurated International Monetary Fund's (IMF) South Asia Training and Technical Assistance Center (SARTTAC) in New Delhi on Monday.

This is IMF's first Fully-Integrated Capacity Development Center, which brings together under one roof the two building blocks of capacity development -training and technical assistance. Das, in his inaugural address, said that he is sure the center will build on this unique advantage, and overtime, will evolve as a model for others to emulate.

Deputy Managing Director, IMF, Carla Grasso and senior officials from the SARTTAC's six South Asian member countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) and development partners attended the event. Less than a year after IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde and the Finance Minister of India, Arun Jaitley, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a capacity development center for South Asia. The opening of SARTTAC marks a major milestone in the partnership between the IMF and its member countries in the region.

Speaking on the occasion, Grasso said that she is very appreciative of the strong partnerships and determined efforts of so many that have paved the way for SARTTAC's opening. Grasso further said that she is confident that the center will make a very strong contribution to capacity building in South Asia, which is so important for sustainable economic development, growth, and stability.

SARTTAC is a collaborative venture between the IMF, the member countries, and development partners. The center's strategic goal is to help its member countries strengthen their institutional and human capacity to design and implement macroeconomic and financial policies that promote growth and reduce poverty.

South Asia is a rapidly growing region that is home to one fifth of the world's population. SARTTAC will allow the IMF to meet more of the high demand for technical assistance and training from the region. Through its team of international resident experts, SARTTAC is expected to become the focal point for the delivery of IMF capacity development services to South Asia.

SARTTAC, the newest addition to the IMF's global network of fourteen regional centers, is a new kind of capacity development institution, fully integrating customised hands-on training with targeted technical advice in a range of macroeconomic and financial areas, and generating synergies between the two. SARTTAC is located in world class facilities in New Delhi and is financed mainly by its six member countries - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka - with additional support from Australia, the Republic of Korea, the European Union and the United Kingdom.

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Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will undertake a four-day official visit to Germany from Thursday.

She will be attending the Munich Security Conference (MSC) and will hold bilateral talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Dhaka Tribune has reported.

Her accompanying entourage and she will depart from Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 9:45 p m by a Etihad Airways flight. She will reach Munich International Airport on Friday morning.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Germany Imtiaz Ahmed will receive the prime minister at the airport.

Sheikh Hasina will stay at the Munich Marriott Hotel during her visit.

Over the past five decades, the Munich Security Conference has become the major global forum for the discussion of security policy. Every year in February, it brings together over 450 senior decision-makers from around the world, including heads of state, ministers, leading personalities of international and non-governmental organisations as well as high-ranking representatives of industries, media, academia, and civil society, to engage in intensive debates on current and future security challenges.

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Setting aside on earlier Karnataka High Court order, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Tuesday convicted All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (AIADMK) general secretary V.K. Sasikala in connection with a 19-year old disproportionate assets case. She has been ordered to surrender to the law enforcement authorities immediately to serve the remainder of her four-year jail term.

She also will not be able to contest elections for 10 years or hold public office.

The verdict comes in the backdrop of the ongoing power struggle within the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu - between Sasikala and the incumbent Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam.

The pending disproportionate assets case that posed a legal hurdle against Sasikala's taking over as the chief minister, dates back to 1996. Late J. Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and her two relatives, Ilavarasi and Sudhagaran, were convicted in the case that alleged that the former chief minister owned assets far exceeding her known sources of income.

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Listen up all boys! Kangana Ranaut has some different plans to celebrate this Valentine's Day.

Staying true her fiesty off-screen personality, the 29-year-old actor seems to have effortlessly slipped into her onscreen character, 'Jaanbaaz Julia,' from upcoming flick 'Rangoon' and will be distributing whips to girls.

The idea comes from the actress' daredevil persona both onscreen and offscreen.

The significance of the whip is sending across the message of liberalism and the quality of taking charge.

Yes, you heard that right! The actress wants girls to recognise the superiority in a sexual relationship, take charge over the act and their boyfriends.

Vishal Bhardwaj directed 'Rangoon,' which also features Saif Ali Khan and Shahid Kapoor is all set to hit the theatres on February 24.

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As the political crisis in Tamil Nadu escalated, AIADMK MP and interim chief minister O. Panneerselvam supporter V. Maitreyan will meet Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao at 7 p.m. today.

This comes as Rao gave appointment to AIADMK legislature party leader Edapadi K. Palanisamy to discuss government formation in the state.

"Edapadi K.Palanisamy is not a fit person to hold the post. He is fit for nothing," said S. Semmalai, AIADMK MLA and supporter of Panneerselvam.

Palanisamy was earlier in the day declared the legislature party leader by AIADMK general secretary V. K. Sasikala following her conviction by the Supreme Court in the disproportionate assets case.

Addressing the media earlier this afternoon, Palanisamy said that he was eagerly waiting for the Governor's invitation, adding that the party's priority at the moment is to form a government that follows the footsteps of late chief minister J. Jayalalithaa.

"Minister Dindigul Srinivasan chose me as the leader of the AIADMK party in the meeting after which all the MLAs unanimously elected me. In order to form a government which follows the path shown by Amma, we have sent a letter to the Governor and are eagerly waiting for his invitation," Palanisamy said.

"I would also reiterate that Chinnamma also accepted me as the leader of the party," he added in a bid to end all speculations.

Earlier today, the apex court upheld the trial court's verdict that sentenced Sasikala to a four-year jail term her in the 19-year-old disproportionate assets case.

Late chief minister J. Jayalalithaa was accused in the case along with Sasikala and two others.

A bench of Justices P.C. Ghose and A.K. Roy directed them to surrender forthwith to the trial court in Bengaluru and serve the remaining part of the four-year-jail term.

Sasikala cannot contest the elections for the next 10 years. The bench, however, abated the appeal proceedings against Jayalalithaa owing to her death.

Hours after the verdict, Sasikala expelled 20 other leaders including caretaker Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam from the party.

Meanwhile, Panneerselvam has appealed to all the AIADMK MLAs and cadres to unite together in the prevailing situation to continue the works left by Jayalalithaa.

He has also asked his party cadres not to fall into the ploys of the opposition that tries to create division in the AIADMK.

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The removal of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (AIADMK) general secretary V.K. Sasikala escalated into a movement under Sasikala Pushpa, who apart from having personal issues with the former, has been a close aide of the caretaker Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam. With the Supreme Court pronouncing its verdict that poses a legal hurdle for the graduation of Sasikala as the chief minister of the state, Pushpa is mightily happy.

Dubbing Sasikala as 'criminal' even as she expressed her faith in the Indian judiciary, Pushpa on Tuesday held her responsible for everything that went wrong in the AIADMK politics.

"Everybody loved Amma, that's why the whole state progressed under her. The state would not have progressed under a lady like Sasikala who has been convicted for a case. Nobody is sympathetic towards Sasikala. She's a criminal. She has very bad name in the state. She used to produce false evidences against anybody who was close to Amma and tried to instigate her against the person," Pushpa said.

"I earned good name under Amma. That's why she has done this to me. I have spearheded the movement against Sasikala and I am very happy for her conviction," she added.

Talking about the consequences of the verdict, Sasikala said she hoped that Panneerselvam would soon be sworn-in as the Chief Minister.

"She cannot enter into politics for 10 years. So, she cannot be the chief minister of the state. Nobody liked her anyway. I hope O. Panneerselvam will now be appointed as the Chief Minister of the state," she said, adding, "I congratulate the Supreme Court. I personally had faith in the system. Now, in Tamil Nadu, goondaism, rowdyism will come to an end. Everybody knows three-four false cases were put against me by this lady. The family politics is over now in Tamil Nadu. "

Earlier in the day, Sasikala was adjudged as guilty in connection with a 19-year old disproportionate assets case and was ordered by the apex court to serve the remainder of her four-year jail term, which comes out three-and-a-half years.

The verdict gives Panneerselvam a boost in staking claim to be Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister.

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President Donald Trump is "evaluating the situation" on his National Security Advisor Michael Flynn's alleged secret communication with a Russian envoy, said the White House.

According to a statement by White House spokesman Sean Spicer on Monday, "The president is evaluating the situation. He is speaking to Vice-President Pence relative to the conversation he had with General Flynn and also speaking to various other people about what he considers the single most important subject there is: our national security."

Flynn has also been accused of misleading Vice-President Mike Pence.

Spicer's statement came moments after White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway said that Flynn had full confidence of the President.

Flynn, a former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, had initially denied discussing sanctions with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the transition. But last week, when reports suggested that sanctions may indeed have been discussed, he conceded that he could not remember with 100 percent certainty. Pence is said to be troubled by the possibility that he was misled, reports the Guardian.

Meanwhile, Moscow spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that Flynn and Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak did not discuss lifting sanctions.

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The officials in Moscow defended President Donald Trump's National Security Advisor Michael Flynn post his resignation over controversy on his Russian links and said that the U.S. administration may be infected by Russophobia.

According to TASS, senior Russian Senator Konstantin Kosachev wrote on his Facebook page on Tuesday that Flynn can hardly be considered a pro-Russian politician. He added that Flynn was, however, "open for dialogue and was in Moscow" and had contacts with the Russian ambassador unlike other high ranking U.S. officials.

Kosachev, who chairs Russia's Federation Council (upper house of Parliament) Committee for International Affairs, noted: "Dismissing the national security adviser for contacts with Russia's ambassador (ordinary diplomatic practice) is not just paranoia, but something much worse."

"Either Trump has not gained the desired independence and he is being consistently (and not unsuccessfully) pushed into a corner, or Russophobia has already engulfed the new administration from top to bottom," he added in the post.

Another official Alexei Pushkov, who is the chairman of the Federation Council Commission on Information Policy, tweeted: "Flynn out, but ross.problema remains in the White House Trump" - written by his enemies. Expulsion Flynn was the 1st act. Now the target - Trump himself."

"Flynn's "left" not because of his slip, but because of the aggressive campaign unfolded. "Russian on the way out!" - Noisy newspaper. Paranoia and witch hunt," he said in another tweet.

Flynn resigned on Monday following allegations of illicitly discussing sanctions with a Russian envoy.

He had initially denied discussing sanctions with the Russian ambassador during the transition. Vice-President Pence also defended him in front of the media. But when reports suggested last week that sanctions may indeed have been discussed, he conceded that he could not remember with 100 percent certainty.

Pence was said to be also troubled by the possibility that he was misled post the reports.

In the resignation letter, Flynn said it was 'unfortunate' he 'inadvertently' briefed Vice President Pence with incomplete information regarding his phone calls with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

Flynn said that he has apologised to the President and the Vice-President regarding the same, adding that his apology has been accepted.

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The Donald Trump Administration on Monday declared the Vice President of Venezuela, Tareck El Aissami, a drug trafficker.

Media reports in America said that the announcement was made by the United States Department of Treasury under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (FNKDA).

This is the Trump Administration's first crackdown on an official of the Venezuelan government, which is lead by President Nicolas Maduro.

The U.S. Department of Treasury said in a statement that apart from El Aissami, the FNKDA is also being applied to his associate Samark Jose Lopez Bello, as he has been accused of providing material assistance and financial support for El Aissami's activities.

The Treasury Department said that it is set its sights on an international drug network spanning the British Virgin Islands, Panama, Britain, the United States and Venezuela.

It has claimed that El Aissami oversaw or partially owned narcotics shipments of more than 1,000 kilograms from Venezuela on multiple occasions, including shipments to Mexico and the United States worth tens of billions of dollars.

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U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have agreed that border security is a top priority.

"We recognise the security of our borders as a top priority. We demonstrate daily that security and efficiency go hand-in-hand, and we are building a 21st century border through initiatives such as pre-clearance of people and integrated cross-border law enforcement operations," said a joint statement issued by the White House following the meeting of the two leaders.

It said that the two neighbours are committed to a coordinated entry-exit information system and recognising the success of pre-clearance operations for travellers, commit to establishing pre-clearance operations for cargo.

"In the spirit of a more efficient and secure border, we will also examine ways to further integrate our border operations, including analysis of the feasibility of co-locating border officials in common processing facilities," said the statement.

On the issue of energy security and environment, the statement said, "As the process continues for the Keystone XL pipeline, we remain committed to moving forward on energy infrastructure projects that will create jobs while respecting the environment."

Both leaders also affirmed the importance of building on trade and investment.

"We will continue our dialogue on regulatory issues and pursue shared regulatory outcomes that are business-friendly, reduce costs, and increase economic efficiency without compromising health, safety, and environmental standards," the statement said, adding, "we look forward to the expeditious completion of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which will serve as a vital economic link between our two countries.

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Absconding accused Umar Faruq, wanted for his involvement in a Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) case, was arrested by the Investigative Agency (NIA) on Tuesday from Malda's Golapganj market area.

Faruq was arrested while he was on his way to hand over the samples of FICN of Rs. 2,000 to another racketeer.

A non-bailable warrant of arrest dated July 22, 2016 was issued by the Special NIA Court, Patna against the said accused.

Another five accused persons have already been arrested in this case and a chargesheet against the four accused stands filed in the Special NIA Court Patna on July 22, 2016.

The accused will be produced before the local Court at Malda for seeking transit remand for further production before the NIA Special Court, Patna.

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One militant was killed on Friday in a gunfight with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's border district of Kupwara.

The terrorist was killed in the encounter near Trehgam town at 5.30 a.m., Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia told IANS.

"It was a specific operation based on intelligence inputs and the operation is now over," Kalia added.

--IANS

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Twelve people were arrested in Paris after protests over the alleged rape of a young man by a French police officer, according to authorities on Tuesday.

More than 100 people have been arrested since the start of the protests, while 200 vehicles have been damaged and more than 160 containers set on fire in different parts of the capital, Efe news reported.

Unrest in some of the French capital's suburbs has been ongoing since the February 2 arrest of Aulnay-sous-Bois resident, Theo, a 22-year-old black man who was hospitalized for an anal tear after police officers allegedly sexually assaulted him with a nightstick.

The protest has been gaining ground and overnight there were also disturbances in places far from the epicentre of the protests, such as Dijon.

After two nights of relative calm, violence returned over the weekend after the preliminary police report on Theo's alleged assault.

Although initial investigative lines suggested that the charged officer did not intentionally cause injuries during the violent arrest, Theo's case has caught the attention of the French public and officials alike.

Those who protested fear that the police sought to cover up the reality of what happened to the young man.

French President Francois Hollande visited Theo in the hospital and was set to open a youth integration centre in the north of Paris on Tuesday.

--IANS

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Twenty couples celebrated Valentine's Day on Tuesday by getting married on Robben Island, where South African president Nelson Mandela spent 18 years imprisoned for his activities against the apartheid regime.

The couples left in a boat from the port of Cape Town on Tuesday morning and returned later the same day with their new marital status, EFE news reported.

One of the couples, Grace and Michael Msibi, travelled from Johannesburg to take part in the event on the small island off the coast of Cape Town.

"It was the monument of apartheid but now it has turned out to be a place of love. We want to add to its history," said Msibi.

The ceremonies were held in the chapel of the island, where masses used to be held before the fall of the regime of racial segregation and the closure of the prison.

South African Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba officiated at the weddings, and the brides and grooms later celebrated with their guests at a banquet.

Located about 7 kilometers (4.35 miles) from the shore of Cape Town, Robben Island has been used as a prison in the last centuries.

--IANS

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An AAP delegation led by Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday urged CEC Nasim Zaidi to act against the officials allegedly involved in a security breach in strongrooms in Punjab where EVMs were stored.

The delegation submitted a memorandum to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and said the security of the electronic voting machines (EVMs) was breached at strongrooms at several places in Punjab, including Patiala, Ludhiana and Tarn Taran.

An Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said Zaidi had assured the delegation that necessary action would be taken in this regard.

AAP leaders H.S. Phoolka, Ashutosh and Raghav Chadha accompanied Sisodia to the CEC office.

"We highlighted major lapses in the security of EVMs seen across Punjab and also the criminal negligence on the part of Returning Officers in handling the security of EVMs kept in strong rooms," Sisodia said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had on Monday accused state officials of trying to move EVMs from a strongroom in Punjab where polling was held on February 4. Officials, however, denied the charge.

The memorandum submitted to the CEC read that on February 6, the Returning Officer of Gill constituency entered the premises of strongroom unaccompanied either by candidates or their representatives.

Another similar incident took place on Monday where the Returning Officer of Nabha constituency in Patiala allowed four people to enter the storage campus on the pretext of collecting certain documents. "Instead, they moved some EVMs kept in steel boxes," it said.

"The lackadaisical approach with which the Returning Officers in Punjab are following the instruction of May 5, 2015 notification -- which lists out instructions regarding the storage and safety of EVMs, merit your urgent attention," the AAP memorandum said.

"The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer has failed to ensure compliance of Election Commission of India's instructions regarding security of EVMs.

"It is requested that the CEO of Punjab may be directed to comply with the EVM security norms and take stringent action against the erring officials to ensure the safety of EVMs," the memorandum added.

--IANS

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Tamil Nadu Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao is slated to meet AIADMK Rajya Sabha member V. Maitreyan, who is part of the camp backing acting Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, later on Tuesday.

Earlier, Rao met Public Works Minister Edapadi K. Palanisamy, who was elected AIADMK's leader of the legislature party.

Palanisamy submitted the resolution electing him as leader of the legislature party and also staked his claim to form the next government.

Former Rajya Sabha member Manoj Pandian will also be meeting Rao along with Maitreyan.

--IANS

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The newly-elected leader of the AIADMK legislature party, Edapadi K. Palanisamy, is to meet Tamil Nadu Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao later on Tuesday.

Palanisamy, who has urged Rao to let him form the government, has left the beach resort near here where the legislators supporting him are housed.

Earlier, in a letter to Rao, the AIADMK leader said: "I may be given appointment to submit the list of AIADMK MLAs supporting me as Leader of the AIADMK Legislature Party... I may be invited to form the cabinet."

Palanisamy is the Minister for Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports in Tamil Nadu.

He said the meeting of the AIADMK legislators was held at the Golden Bay Resort near here on Tuesday around 10.45 a.m.

Annexing the resolution electing him as leader of the legislature party, Palanisamy said: "This resolution is in supercession of the earlier resolution dated 05.02.2017."

On February 5, the legislators elected General Secretary V.K. Sasikala as leader of the AIADMK legislature party.

Palanisamy's election comes after the Supreme Court restored the earlier conviction of Sasikala and two of her relatives for having assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.

--IANS

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It's a movement that began during Christmas in 2012 with a competition to select the 'cleanest' family in this village. The festival-specific contest in the village, located about 80 km from Assam's largest city Guwahati, has now morphed into the ambition to win the 'Cleanest Village in Asia' title once held by Mawlynnong in neighbouring Meghalaya.

'Since then, we have discussed the issue. If Mawlynnong can become the cleanest village in Asia, why not us? We have everything -- a village bigger than Mawlynnong with abundance of nature, beautiful landscape and very generous and hospitable people,' Elvin Phangso, a local teacher, told IANS.To this end, the residents of Shikdamakha village in nature-rich Karbi Anglong district are leaving no stone unturned to go one step ahead of Mawlynnong.

The villagers here, right from the young one to the oldest, are conscious about cleanliness and hygiene and no one litters the road in the village, not to talk of their individual houses.

Use of plastic is a strict no-no. The villagers use bamboo-made baskets for storing garbage in front of each of the 89 households and in every corner of the village, and the accumulated garbage is disposed of at regular intervals.

The residents also undertake community sweeping of the streets every week to ensure that cleanliness and a proper drainage system are in place. All households of Shikdamakha also have sanitary toilets to ensure hygiene and cleanliness.

'We have made a committee to ensure that everyone is made aware of cleanliness and hygiene. Every week, people of the village come in groups to sweep the roads and ensure that there is no stagnant water in the drains,' said Holvis Maslai, the Gaolia Gaonburah (kind of village headman) of Shikdamakha.

The word 'Shikdamakha' in Tiwa language means 'hillocks of traps', according to Maslai, and local folklore suggests that ghosts used to trap humans here.

As for Mawlynnong, located about 90 km from the Meghalaya capital Shillong, it is a small hamlet inhabited by mainly Khasi tribe people. Here, the waste is collected in the dustbins made of bamboo, directed to a pit and then used as manure. It was a community initiative started long back in the village that finally helped Mawlynnong earn the status of Cleanest Village in Asia in 2003, as rated by Discover India magazine.

After the initial success of the community initiatives, now Mawlynnong has banned use of plastic completely and villagers often go for rainwater harvesting. According to Meghalaya government statistics, close to 250 tourists visit the village almost regularly, which fetches good revenue to the locals.

Mansing Rongpi, the MLA from Baithalangso constituency, under which Shikdamakha falls, said the village has achieved first position among the villages in Assam as far as cleanliness is concerned.

'Mawlynong in Meghalaya has earned the status of Cleanest Village in Asia. We can do this here as well. Today it's just the start. I hope the people of Shikdamakha will continue this journey of cleanliness and from now on, Mawlynnong's status of cleanest village will not go unchallenged,' Rongpi said.

The MLA said that at present there is not much infrastructure to welcome tourists but assured that he, along with the local community, is trying to promote home stays.

'We also have plans to go for infrastructure upgradation in the village to attract more tourists. This village is more accessible from Guwahati than Mawlynnong. It's only 80 km fom Guwahati while Mawlynnong is 190 km from the Assam capital.'

'Once we upgrade the infrastructure, I am sure we would see lots of tourists here and the locals would earn well from their visits,' Rongpi hoped.

Indeed, villages like and Shikdamakha and Mawlyngnong prove that the vision of a clean India is not limited to just the urban space.

(Aditya Baruah can be contacted at aditya.assam@rediffmail.com)

--IANS

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Australia has made little progress in bridging the gap with its indigenous population in terms of social indicators, according to a government report published on Tuesday.

The report "Close the Gap" was presented before Parliament in Canberra by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Efe news reported.

"I'm very saddened and disappointed that the target to halve the gap in indigenous child mortality (by 2018) is not on track," Turnbull said.

Most of the seven targets to improve the condition of the aboriginals in the health, education and employment sectors are yet to make significant headway, while the numbers for imprisonment, minors under the protection of authorities and domestic violence are at alarming levels.

Hospitalisation of indigenous women due to domestic violence is 32 times higher than the general population, while aboriginal minors are 6.7 times more likely to be under state protection because of domestic abuse and negligence.

Moreover, on June 30, 2016, there were around 10,596 indigenous people in Australian prisons, making up 27 per cent of the total population behind bars, and which is 42 per cent higher than the figures recorded in 2006, according to the report.

On the other hand, the report says more than 61 per cent of the indigenous population, aged between 20 and 24 years has completed secondary education.

Australian aboriginals have been victims of constant abuse and discrimination since their colonisation, and have been routinely dispossessed of their lands.

--IANS

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Bhopal resident Udayan Das who allegedly killed his parents and live-in partner, confessed during questioning that he murdered the girl when she came to know about his previous crimes, the police said on Tuesday.

Das allegedly made false claims of living and working in the US to his partner, Bankura resident Akansha Sharma, and also made fake promises to get her a job abroad, a police officer said.

"Das confessed he had to kill Akansha as she came across the passports of Das' parents and his mother's death certificate and understood he murdered both of them," Bankura Police Superintendent Sukhendu Hira told a media conference.

"She wanted to leave Das after finding out that he has no connections in the US and cannot help her get a job in the Unicef which he previously promised," he said.

The police claim Das killed his parents to get his hands into their property and also to stop them from pestering him to get a job.

"He killed his parents to take away their property and lead a lavish lifestyle. He made use of the money by making foreign trips and paying for escort services both in the country and abroad. He even went to Singapore and Bangkok, especially for availing escort services," the officer said.

"Das said his parents forced him to study science against his will and often pestered him to get a job after he dropped out of an Engineering course. According to him, he killed his parents on July 27, 2010, and later buried them in their residence in Raipur," he said.

The police said Das, who would be presented before the district court on February 15, wants to give in-camera statement to the judicial magistrate.

"We will present him in court tomorrow (February 15) and appeal to the judge to record his confession (under IPC section 164) as he has expressed a desire to give in-camera statement. He would then be taken away by Raipur police on transit remand for further investigation into his parent's murder," the officer added.

Das was brought to West Bengal from Bhopal on transit remand by the Bankura police and remanded in police custody for eight days by the Bankura district court on February 7.

He was arrested on February 2 by the West Bengal Police on charges of murdering his live-in partner and entombing her body in a concrete block inside his house in Saketnagar in Bhopal.

Later, he also confessed to his parents' murder.

--IANS

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The Congress on Tuesday accused Union Minister Ananth Kumar and former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa of misuse of power and public office and demanded action against the duo.

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala released a video clip of a purported conversation between Ananth Kumar and Yeddyurappa -- both senior BJP leaders -- regarding collection and payment of money by them and a diary seized by the Enforcement Directorate containing sensitive information against certain Congress leaders.

"The video of the shameful and sinful conversation dated February 12 between these leaders took place during a Bengaluru meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party. It reveals blatant misuse of political power and public office," Surjewala told the media here.

"The 125 crore Indians want to know where that money came from and how it was used. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi-ji talks about fighting black money. Is it not a case fit for invoking the Prevention of Corruption Act?" he said.

Surjewala said the central government was misusing the ED, Central Bureau of Investigation and the Income Tax Department against political rivals in anticipation of defeat in the assembly elections in the five states.

--IANS

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The Congress on Tuesday accused Union Minister H.N. Ananth Kumar and former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa of "corruption by misusing power to collect money" and demanded action against the two leaders.

"The country never saw such a glaring incident where a senior member of the cabinet admitted to collection of money and sharing booty at the highest level. The onus lies on taking action and sacking both Ananth Kumar and Yeddyurappa at the doorsteps of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah," Congress leader Randeep Surjewala told a press conference here.

Surjewala released a video clip of a purported conversation between Ananth Kumar and Yeddyurappa -- both senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders -- regarding collection and payment of money by them and a diary seized by the Enforcement Directorate containing sensitive information against certain Congress leaders.

"The incident has exposed corruption of the BJP leaders. The video of the shameful and sinful conversation dated February 12 between these leaders took place during a Bengaluru meeting of the BJP. It reveals blatant misuse of political power and public office," Surjewala told the media here.

When asked, Surjewala denied possibility of the conversation between Ananth Kumar and Yeddyurappa being about political funding.

Surjewala said that no one -- from Amit Shah to Ananth Kumar -- has either denied the video or given defence even after 24 hours it surfaced.

"Based on the contents of the video, let the people of India see, judge and decide. They not only indulge in corruption but also make others indulge. To top of it, they brazenly speak about it publicly and get caught on video," Surjewala said.

"The 125 crore Indians want to know where that money came from and how it was used. Both leaders agreed (in video) that they accepted the money. Is it not corruption? PM Modi talks about fighting black money. Is it not a case fit for invoking the Prevention of Corruption Act?"

Surjewala said the central government was misusing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Income Tax Department against political rivals in anticipation of defeat in the assembly elections in the five states.

Pointing to the purported comment in the video 'lighting a small spark to spread a wild fire', Surjewala wondered: "If the BJP leadership is hatching a conspiracy to usurp power by any means and continue it up till the election?"

--IANS

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The BJP is ready to help a pro-people and pro-development AIADMK government led by a honest and clean leader in Tamil Nadu, party national General Secretary P. Muralidhar Rao said here on Tuesday.

Terming the Tuesday's Supreme Court verdict in a disproportionate assets case against late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa as "historic", Rao said: "BJP is ready to help the next government if the AIADMK set up a pro-people and development oriented government led by a honest and clean leader."

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, who came here to address a three-day training camp of BJP leaders and workers in Tripura, said that people of Tamil Nadu expected that a non-corrupt government would be install in the southern state which would deliver goods for the welfare of the government.

"This is a good opportunity for the members of the AIADMK to introspect themselves to choose honest and clean leader who would work with a vision for the all round development of Tamil Nadu.

"We believe that the Tamil Nadu governor would take a judicious decision in choosing the leader who would be the next head of the state government," said Rao, who is in-charge of the party affairs of the south Indian state.

"Decision of the Supreme Court has sent a strong message to the political parties and politicians that the law would not spare corrupt persons and there is no room for corrupt politicians in the country."

Hitting out at the Left Front government here, he said that the central government has been providing huge funds under various schemes to the Tripura government, but government not utilising the money properly and hence the central government's funding is of no benefit of people.

He termed state Chief Minister Manik Sarkar as "inactive" and other Left leaders "corrupt".

"Despite central government's all help, unemployment in Tripura is rising, economy broken down and development has come to a standstill. Chief Minister and cabinet are helpless to discharge their democratic duties. As a result, corruption scaled up to the highest level and lawlessness becomes a regular phenomenon," he claimed.

BJP's Tripura unit president Biplab Kumar Deb said that 130 selected party leaders and members have attended the three-day training programme here where.sSeveral senior leaders addressed the brain storming session.

"To strengthen the party organisation, around 80 dedicated leaders have been posted in 60 assembly constituencies in Tripura for next one year for carrying out organisational activities. The BJP national council has decided to install government in each of the northeastern states and the process began with Assam," he added.

--IANS

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The British government has officially rejected a petition calling for US President Donald Trump's state visit to the UK to be cancelled.

Nearly two million people signed the petition on the official Parliament website, with the number still rising.

In a written response, the Foreign Office said that it did not agree with the request and would extend "the full courtesy of a state visit" to the controversial US President, the Independent reported on Tuesday.

The government's statement said that it "recognises the strong views expressed by the many signatories of this petition, but does not support this petition."

The statement added that the invitation, which Prime Minister Theresa May extended to President Trump during her visit to Washington in January, "reflects the importance of the relationship between the United States of America and the United Kingdom".

However, the petition will still be debated by MPs in Westminster Hall.

Downing Street on Monday refused to rule out moving the state visit to Birmingham in the hope of avoiding protests. House of Commons Leader David Lidington had earlier said discussions about the visit's many "variables" were "still ongoing".

Activists from the Stop Trump coalition, which includes MPs from several parties, trade unions and campaigners have pledged to hold the largest anti-racism demonstration in British history no matter where the state visit is held.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called for the state visit to be cancelled until Trump's "Muslim ban" policy was lifted, while House of Commons Speaker John Bercow said he will bar Trump from addressing the House.

The rejected petition's text said that Trump "should not be invited to make an official state visit because it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen".

It continued: "Donald Trump's well documented misogyny and vulgarity disqualifies him from being received by Her Majesty the Queen or the Prince of Wales. Therefore, during the term of his presidency Donald Trump should not be invited to the United Kingdom for an official State Visit".

The Prime Minister invited Trump to come to Britain while on her visit to Washington DC in January. She was the first world leader to officially meet Trump after his inauguration.

--IANS

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Fashion photos advertise what a trendy wardrobe looks like. And decades after they are taken, these photos become historical records. So, when you go through them, you understand why "Coco" Chanel (1883-1971) once said, "Fashion passes, style remains".

Photos taken by Erwin Blumenfeld is among shown images at Coming into Fashion, an exhibition reviewing fashion and fashion photography over the past century. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Coming into Fashion, an exhibition organized by the international nonprofit Foundation for the Exhibition of Photography, is now on show at the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing's 798 art zone.

The display of 160 images, which reviews the evolution of fashion over the past century, features Broadway actresses and iconic faces from the catwalk. It also celebrates the creativity of some 75 photographers who influenced the fashion history. They include Horst P. Horst and Peter Lindbergh.

Exhibition curator Nathalie Herschdorfer selected the works from Conde Nast's image archives in New York, Paris, Milan and London. There are several million photos in the collection.

Conde Nast, the New York-headquartered media company founded in 1909, owns many magazines including Vanity Fair, Vogue and The New Yorker.

The exhibition also showcases dozens of fashion magazines from Conde Nast's stable.

Launched in 2012, the Coming into Fashion exhibition has traveled to 12 cities including Berlin, Edinburgh, Moscow and Tokyo. Its last leg in Taipei attracted some 65,000 visitors, says FEP's website.
At least 30 houses and some 50 other buildings were destroyed by bushfires over the weekend in Australia's New South Wales (NSW) state, authorities said on Tuesday.

The most serious damage was in the Sir Ivan reserve, where the fire destroyed 23 houses, including five in the town of Uarbry, located some 380 km northwest of Sydney.

Fires near the coastal towns of Port Macquarie and Kempsey, as well as in Narrabri village, destroyed seven homes, while blazes near the town of Dunedoo damaged 51 outbuildings and a church, the authorities added.

Firefighters, who are still battling about 60 fires in New South Wales, 19 of which remain out of control, are taking advantage of a drop in temperatures, although it is feared that conditions similar to the weekend, when temperatures rose to 40 degrees Celsius combined with strong winds, could reappear, Efe news reported.

In a 2016 report, Australian authorities warned of the future worsening of extreme heat waves and bushfires as a result of the global increase of carbon dioxide emissions.

The country's worst bushfire incident in recent decades occurred in early February 2009 in the state of Victoria, causing the death of 173 people, 414 were injured and over 4,500 sq.km of land was burned.

--IANS

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China on Tuesday offered help to the Philippines after an earthquake struck its southern province last week.

Red Cross Society of China is to offer 50,000 US dollars to the Philippines for relief work, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

He added that Foreign Minister Wang Yi had conveyed sympathy to his counterpart in the Philippines.

China believes that the Philippines will overcome the difficulties and recover from the earthquake at an early date, Geng said.

Eight people were killed in the 6.7 magnitude earthquake near Surigao City in the southern Philippines on Friday night.

--IANS

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China will on Thursday launch its first cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-1 from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre in Hainan province, it was announced on Wednesday.

The Centre on Tuesday conducted the final rehearsal covering all systems involved in the launch such as the rocket, spacecraft, launching site and testing, control and communication systems, Xinhua news agency reported.

Before the rehearsal, staff finished testing the rocket's hermeticity and its power and electric systems. The rehearsal showed that all the systems were working well and the technical conditions were good.

It is the first cargo ship independently developed by China and is expected to dock with the orbiting Tiangong-2 space lab and conduct in-orbit refueling.

The cargo spacecraft will also carry out space experiments, including one on non-Newtonian gravitation, before falling back to the earth.

--IANS

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Hillary Clinton celebrated the resignation of Donald Trump's National Security adviser Michael Flynn, by reminding him of "the real consequences of fake news".

Michael Flynn quit following reports that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russia, Fox News reported on Tuesday.

Clinton retweeted a post from longtime confidante Phillipe Reines on Monday night, where he suggested Flynn and his son, who spread the discredited "Pizzagate" conspiracy theory on the social media, get jobs at Domino's.

Reines, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, tweeted: "Dear Mike Flynn & Mike Flynn Jr... What goes around COMETS around. And given your pizza obsession...", with a link to the Dominos Pizza career page.

Clinton responded with her own tweet: "Philippe's got his own way of saying things, but he has a point about the real consequences of fake news..."

Reines, according to reports, appeared to be referencing a fake news story that emerged during the 2016 presidential election campaign, which accused Clinton and her campaign chief John Podesta of running a child sex ring out of a Washington D.C. pizza shop.

The "Pizzagate" conspiracy theory was tweeted by Flynn's son, Michael Flynn Jr, last December. At the time he was working for his father in the transition team.

The social media posts came after Flynn stepped down from his position as National Security Adviser in the Trump administration just 24 days after the new President's inauguration.

In his resignation letter, Flynn said he gave Vice President Mike Pence and others "incomplete information" about his calls with Russia's Ambassador to the US.

Flynn made numerous phone calls to the Russian Ambassador to the US before Trump took office, and later hinted he may have gone against diplomatic protocol by discussing the rollback of sanctions.

Retired General Keith Kellogg will take over as acting National Security Adviser.

--IANS

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The countdown for the launch of Indian rocket carrying a record 104 satellites on Wednesday is progressing smoothly at the Sriharikota rocket port in Andhra Pradesh, officials said.

The rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is scheduled to blast off from Sriharikota, 80 km from here, at 9.28 a.m. on Wednesday with major cargo being the 714 kg Indian Cartosat-2 series satellite.

The co-passenger satellites comprise 101 nano satellites, one each from Israel, Kazakhstan, The Netherlands, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and 96 from US, as well as two nano satellites from India.

The total weight of all the satellites carried on-board by 44.4 metre tall PSLV rocket weighing 320 ton is about 1,378 kg.

By 28th minute of the rocket's mission all the 104 satellites would be put into orbit.

--IANS

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Disney has severed ties with the world's highest paid YouTube star PewDiePie over alleged anti-Semitic posts, the reported on Tuesday.

The decision came after PewDiePie, whose real name is Felix Kjellberg, released several videos that contained Nazi references or anti-Semitic imagery, the BBC reported.

The 27-year-old Swede accepted that the material was offensive, but said he did not support "any kind of hateful attitudes".

Kjellberg is reported to have made $15 million through YouTube in 2016.

He was associated with Disney via Maker Studios, a company with a network of YouTube stars, drawing several billions of views per month -- generating vast income from advertising.

"Although Felix has created a following by being provocative and irreverent, he clearly went too far in this case and the resulting videos are inappropriate," Maker Studios said on Monday.

In one of the controversial videos, Kjellberg paid two Indians through a crowd-sourcing website to hold up a sign which read "Death to all Jews".

In a response to the criticism, he said he was "trying to show how crazy the modern world is, specifically some of the services available online" and that people "would say anything for five dollars".

He said it was "laughable" to suggest he endorsed that message but added that "though this was not my intention, I understand that these jokes were ultimately offensive".

In other videos, he also showed swastikas drawn by a fan, played the Nazi Party anthem and did a brief Hitler salute -- all of which he says was done as a joke.

Last year, PewDiePie was temporarily suspended from Twitter after making jokes about the Islamic State terror group.

--IANS

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For Valentine's Day, actress Priyanka Chopra urged people to pledge to donate their heart for a cause.

On Tuesday, Priyanka tweeted: "Make this February 14 special, pledge to be a Valentine for a cause... Donate your heart. My heart," Priyanka tweeted.

Saif Ali Khan, who is gearing up for the release of his forthcoming film "Rangoon", also said in a video: "This Valentine's Day pledge to make a difference... Donate your organ for a great cause."

The messages are in support of news network NDTV's campaign #MyHeart in association with an organisation called MOHAN Foundation.

--IANS

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The AIADMK faction led by acting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister erupted in joy on Tuesday after the Supreme Court restored the conviction of party General Secretary VK Sasikala and two of her relatives in a disproportionate assets case.

Opposition parties like DMK and Congress have termed the apex court's decision as historical.

"Justice has prevailed. We are happy," former AIADMK MP KC Palaniswamy told IANS.

According to AIADMK's Palaniswamy, the legislators supporting Sasikala will now shift their loyalty to Panneerselvam.

"If she has a plan B-projecting somebody else for the post of Chief Minister, she - will not succeed," Palaniswamy said.

Speaking to reporters here, DMK Working President M.K. Stalin said: "Justice has been restored. Now the Tamil Nadu Governor should take steps to have a stable government in the state."

"It is a historical judgement. Justice has been delivered against corruption after 20 years of struggle," Tamil Nadu Congress spokesperson Gopanna told IANS.

Exuding happiness at the judgement, DMK's former MP Thamarai Selvan told IANS: "The judgement was expected as the Karnataka High Court justice Kumaraswamy's decision acquitting late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and others was riddled with holes and inconsistencies."

A Supreme Court division bench on Tuesday set aside a Karnataka High Court order staying Sasikala's conviction by a trial court.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened at the beach resort near here where AIADMK legislators supporting Sasikala are being housed for the past several days.

The AIADMK party in an attempt to ring fence Sasikala tweeted: "Whenever Amma (Jayalalithaa) faced trouble, Sasikala took it upon herself. She is doing it again now. Justice will prevail."
The AAP on Tuesday expressed concern over a sharp "decline" in the enrolment of students in government schools in rural areas of Punjab and the simultaneous rise in admission in private schools.

Aam Aadmi Party MP Bhagwant Mann said the Shiromai Akali Dal-BJP government in Punjab had made tall claims of reforms in the educational system but the ground reality was different.

"The ground realities were totally opposite of what Education Minister Daljit Singh Cheema claimed during elections. Most of the private schools opened during the last five years of SAD-BJP rule," Mann said.

Mann said a report prepared by Mumbai-based NGO 'Pratham' said the number of students studying in private schools was more than in government schools.

He said the SAD-BJP government had deliberately shut down government schools in villages on the pretext of introducing a cluster system.

Under the cluster system, the government shifted students where the number of students were less than 20 to other schools within five kilometers radius.

Mann said this was aimed at helping private schools to fill the gap.

The AAP leader also said that 51.6 per cent of students from rural areas were enrolled in private schools against 45.5 per cent in 2014.

The standard of education in government schools had declined gradually and, as per the report, only 35.4 per cent students studying in Class V in government schools can understand English compared to 83.2 per cent in private schools, Mann said quoting the report.

The dropout rate in government schools after Class 10 was above 70 per cent and only 5 per cent students went beyond higher secondary education, he said.

Mann said that as per the report, 19 per cent of schools don't have drinking water and 21 per cent schools lacked toilets. About 24 per cent schools were without toilets for girls.

Mann said the AAP government in Delhi had provided education and health services of international standard and this would be done in Punjab if the AAP formed a government.

--IANS

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Michael Flynn's position as US President Donald Trumps national security adviser appeared to be "fluid", after the White House said that the president was "evaluating the situation", the media reported.

Reports have surfaced that the Justice Department warned the Trump administration last month that Flynn misled administration officials regarding his communications with the Russian ambassador to the US, Sergey Kislyak, and was potentially vulnerable to blackmail by the Russians, a person familiar with the matter told CNN.

A White House official also confirmed the Justice Department warning.

The concern was raised after Flynn claimed that he did not discuss with the Russian ambassador the sanctions being imposed by the former President Barack Obama's administration in retaliation for Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election.

However, at the time, Flynn was not yet in government.

The message was delivered by then-Acting Attorney General Sally Yates. Other top intelligence officials, including James Clapper and John Brennan, were in agreement the White House should be alerted about the concerns.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer issued a statement on Monday saying President Trump was "evaluating the situation" around Flynn, who is in hot water after possibly misleading Vice President Mike Pence.

"He's (Trump) speaking to the Vice President relative to the conversation the vice president had with General Flynn, and also speaking to various other people about what he considers the single most important subject there is: our national security."

The noncommittal statement came shortly after Kellyanne Conway, the counsellor to the President, said that Trump has "full confidence" in Flynn.

"General Flynn does enjoy the full confidence of the President," Conway told MSNBC News.

She later declined to detail how much the President knew about the issue and when he knew it, deeming those conversation private.

Many inside the Trump administration are concerned with the fact that the national security adviser could have misled senior members of the White House, including Pence, who went on television and denied that Flynn spoke about sanctions with Kislyak.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has called the reports "proof he should not be entrusted with our national security", The Hill magazine reported.

Democrats are now demanding that the administration release the transcripts of the calls, arguing that Flynn violated an obscure and likely unenforceable 1799 law prohibiting private citizens from engaging in foreign policy.

The White House confirmed on Monday that Flynn had apologised to Pence.

But the decision of whether to demand the resignation of a national security adviser ultimately rests with the President, the White House added.

--IANS

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The pressure vessel of a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) is installed at the Huaneng Shidao Bay nuclear power plant, east China's Shandong Province, March 20, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

China has selected sites to build inland nuclear power plants, and construction will likely begin in the next four years, according to an energy official.

Preliminary work has already begun at sites, including the Taohuajiang nuclear power plant in Hunan Province, the Xianning plant in Hubei Province and the Pengze plant in Jiangxi Province, said Wang Yiren, vice director of the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, and vice-chairman of the China Atomic Energy Authority. He revealed this in an interview with China National Radio that was published on Monday.

"Construction of inland nuclear power stations will begin during the 13th Five Year Plan period (2016-2020) if things go well," the official said.

Currently a total of 35 nuclear power units are in operation and 21 units are under construction in China's coastal area, with no plants in the inland area. The country halted all nuclear plant construction projects after Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, but resumed the construction of plants in its coastal areas in 2012. The three power plants in question are often seen as the barometer of the country's inland nuclear policy, as they had the approval of the National Development and Reform Commission as early as 2008 but had to be called off following the Fukushima accident.

Wang cited China's inland area's increasing energy need following rapid economic development in recent years as the need for nuclear plants. He said such plants are necessary also because nuclear energy has less environmental impact than coal-fired plants. China is faced with severe air pollution and has pledged to cut its carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 18 percent by 2020.

Responding to safety concerns of inland plants, Wang asserted that China's nuclear plants use the most advanced "third generation" technology, which is very safe. "Should any nuclear accident occurs, it would be contained within the plant and the reactor." He continued by saying there are more than 400 nuclear plants in the world, most of which are in inland areas that are not prone to tsunamis or typhoons. It is safe to build inland nuclear power stations, the official stressed.

Some of China's landlocked provinces have been calling for the resumption of construction of nuclear power stations. Hunan Province, for instance, has submitted proposals to the country's annual legislative meeting in the past four years, asking to begin nuclear construction within the province.

Earlier reports said central China's Henan Province will build four nuclear plants by 2020, which raised much concern in early February. But officials and experts in the province later refuted the reports, saying the plants are not included in the country's nuclear plant plan.

According to the 13th Five-Year Plan for the energy sector, China's operational nuclear power capacity will almost double to 58 million kilowatts by 2020, and 30 million kilowatts of capacity will be under construction by then.
Four soldiers and as many militants were killed on Tuesday in two separate gunfights in the Kashmir Valley, officials said.

An army officer Maj. S. Dhaiya succumbed to injuries he sustained during an encounter in north Kashmir's Kupwara district succumbed, defence spokesman Col. Rajesh Kalia told IANS, adding that three militants were also gunned down.

The post-gunfight combing operation led to recovery of three weapons, Kalia said.

Earlier in the day, three soldiers and a militant were killed and eight others injured in a gunfight between the security forces and militants in Bandipora district.

The incident took place when security forces launched a search operation in Parraypora village after receiving information about holed-up militants.

Eight people, including seven security men and a civilian, were injured during the gunfight in the village located in Hajin area.

The gunfight has ended, police said. The slain militants identity was being established.

The three soldiers killed in the gunfight belonged to the 13 Rashtriya Rifles.

In less than 48 hours, 16 people, including six soldiers and two civilians, have been killed.

On February 12, two soldiers, four militants and two civilians were killed in a gunfight in southern Kulgam district.

The incident triggered clashes between civilians and security forces, leaving around two dozen people injured.

--IANS

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Activists of the All India Hindu Mahasabha on Tuesday protested the celebration of Valentine's Day outside a plush mall here.

Members of the Hindu outfit gathered opposite Gaur Central Mall in up-scale Rajnagar area where couples were celebrating the day. They also burnt an effigy depicting Valentine's Day as part of their protest.

Spokesperson of the Hindu Mahasabha, B.K. Sharma said the organisation had decided to oppose functions "that ruin Hindu culture".

"The celebration of Valentine's day is against Hindu culture," he said.

The members asked visitors not to encourage children to celebrate the day which they said has "sneaked in from the Western world to this Hindu country".

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&C) christened 'Netra' was handed over to the IAF on Tuesday at the ongoing 'Aero India 2017' here, ushering India into an elite club of only three nations possessing such technology.

Only the United States, Russia and Israel have, so far, possessed the technology.

The indigenous system mounted on an aircraft can track area within 240 degrees of its sides at any given point of time.

The handover of the system -- mounted on a Brazilian Embraer-145 jet -- by the Defence Research and Development Organisation to the Indian Air Force (IAF) was done in the presence of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, DRDO chief S. Christopher and Defence Minister's Scientific Adviser G. Satheesh Reddy.

The AEW&C consists of a state-of-the-art active electronically scanned radar, secondary surveillance radar, electronic and communication counter measures, LOS (Line of Sight) and beyond-LOS data link, voice communication system and self-protection suite, built on an Emb-145 platform, having a mid-air refueling capability to enhance surveillance time.

A complex tactical software has been developed for fusion of information from the sensors, to provide the air situation picture along with intelligence to handle identification/classification of threat.

It has battle management functions, built in-house, to work as a network centric system of Integrated Air Command & Control System (IACCS) node.

This system has been developed and evaluated through collaborative efforts between the DRDO and the Indian Air Force.

The IAF is already using the Israeli Phalcon AWACS on the Russian IL-76 heavy-lift aircraft to detect aerial threats from jets or missiles even from a distance of 400 km away.

--IANS

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The tourism sector in India has got a boost due to the huge amount of domestic tourism and the visa on arrival facilities, hospitality major InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) on Tuesday said.

It said that 41 new properties, which are in the pipeline, will likely be commissioned in the next 3-5 years.

"Around 41 hotels which are in pipeline across India will likely be commissioned in the next 3-5 years," said company's Head of South West Asia, Shantha De Silva.

The Group presently runs 29 hotels across major Tier One and some Tier Two cities in India under the brands of InterContinental Hotels, Holiday Inn, Crown Plaza, and Holiday Express.

"There is a huge amount of domestic tourism available in the country and the visa on arrival facilities has also given a boost to the sector," De Silva said at the launch of Holiday Inn here - the company's first hotel in the eastern region.

The luxury property is spread across 6,500 sq ft of banqueting space and has 137 keys.

According to De Silva, the group has plans to open 100-150 more hotels in the next 10-year horizon.

Asked about the pricing of accommodation, De Silva said, "We will play at the higher end of the market. It also depends on demand and supply."

He also said that India is the third largest market from a development perspective and thus the expansion plans are expected in the hospitality sector in the coming years.

"India is the third largest market from a pipeline perspective as to the number of developing projects that we have, not from an operating perspective. It is behind America and China," the Sri Lankan hotelier said.

The Jain Group tied up with the hospitality major to introduce three Five-star Holiday Inn properties in West Bengal, with one each in Kolkata, Durgapur and Siliguri.

While the investment behind the Kolkata branch of Holiday Inn was around Rs 180 crore, the real estate company said it was "approximately Rs 500-550 crore in Durgapur and Siliguri".

The Siliguri wing will have 127 keys and Durgapur 135-140.

"Kolkata has fewer good brand hotels," Rishi Jain, Executive Director, Jain Group, told IANS.

"There is a genuine dearth of banqueting space for social functions like marriages. This city hotel has hosted four social functions in one week. We are looking at 58 per cent occupancy in the first year. Then we would surely expand," he added.

--IANS

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India and Britain are "natural partners" in the fight against terrorism, and relations between the two have strong bipartisan support in both the countries.

Interacting with an eight-member delegation of British MPs that called on him here, Modi said there should be "enhanced interactions" between the parliamentarians of both countries.

He urged the visiting parliamentarians to continue to raise their collective voice against terrorism, extremism and radicalisation.

Modi also recalled his visit to Britain in November 2015, and the visit of Prime Minister Theresa May to India in November 2016, an official release said.

The Prime Minister also welcomed the celebration of 2017 as the India-UK Year of Culture, it said.

--IANS

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An Indian-origin hotel manager faces federal charges for allegedly helping a feared street gang in its drug-dealing and prostitution operations in California, according to prosecutors.

Umesh Oza, who managed two hotels in Oceanside city, was charged last week with racketeering conspiracy under laws traditionally used for organised-crime syndicates and mobsters, prosecutors said. Oza also used the name Kevin.

"Not only are we targeting the traffickers and customers, but we are also going after the businesses that facilitate this type of gang activity," said Alana Robinson, the acting federal prosecutor for Southern California in San Diego.

Oza "provided a safe haven" for the alleged members of the Westside Crips criminal street gang to carry out drug deals and prostitution, according to the prosecution.

Eleven alleged West Crips gangsters were also charged in crimes that prosecutors say took place from 2004 to 2016.

While prosecutors only identified the facilities Oza managed as "two national brand hotels", the San Diego Tribune said they were the Coast Inn and a Motel 6.

Some of the gang members charged sold narcotics while others managed prostitutes and transported them all over the country, according to prosecutors.

--IANS

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The Indian Air Force on Tuesday received the first of the three indigenously developed Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&C) 'Netra' at the Aero India show here in the presence Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has designed and developed the warning system, which is mounted on the Brazilian Embraer-145 modified jet. AWE&C are capable of tracking multiple aerial targets over 200 km range.

S. Christopher, Chairman, DRDO, and Secretary Department of Defence R&D, and G. Satheesh Reddy, Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister, were present on the occasion.

In addition, India is to build six more next-generation Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS), with 300-km range, on the Airbus platform for an estimated Rs 20,000 crore ($3 billion).

The IAF is already using the Israeli Phalcon AWACS on the Russian IL-76 heavy-lift aircraft to detect aerial threats from jets or missiles even from targets 400 km away.

--IANS

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Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice Chancellor M. Jagadesh Kumar on Tuesday urged the "university community" to stop the agitating students who have the administrative block under siege since February 9.

The VC also warned the "unruly" students of the criminal nature of their undertaking and proclaimed them as "adamant and refusing to cooperate".

"It is time for the university community to come forward and save the institution from detractors and agitators who appear hell-bent upon making JNU dysfunctional," Kumar said in a statement.

He said hundreds of staff members and officers are being kept away from their jobs through the blockade, which is resulting in a huge backlog of pending work.

Kumar said despite several attempts at reaching out to the agitating students, the administration has met with no success in persuading them to end the siege of the administrative block which houses all important offices.

"The administration has made repeated efforts to convince these students that they must end this siege of administrative building and refrain from undemocratic and unlawful means of protest... the demand to talk to the VC in a public place in the presence of all agitating students is not only unfair but also unproductive," Kumar said.

A massive crowd of students has the block under siege since February 9 in protest against the May 5, 2016 UGC notification.

The notification, among other things, recommends an upper cap on the number of M.Phil and Ph.D students a faculty member can have under him or her for guidance, which has become a bone of contention between the students community and administration.

The notification was adopted by the university during its 142nd Academic Council (AC) meet on December 26 last year amid protests from several of the council members.

The students also accused the administration of attempting to reduce the intake of the students in the said courses by imposing the cap, and rubbished the VC's explanation for bringing it, when he said that the cap would only lead to mere balancing of students among the faculty members, some of whom seem to have too many of them, whil others have too few.

"Research is not done in this manner. The students are a crucial stakeholders in the choice of their mentors," Satarupa Chakraborty, General Secretary, JNU Students Union, told IANS.

However, the VC in his Tuesday communique reiterated his original stance and said "the number of vacancies (read admissions) will be calculated based on the upper caps given in 2016 UGC gazette".

--IANS

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The AIADMK faction led by Acting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O.Panneerselvam erupted in joy on Tuesday after the Supreme Court restored the conviction of party General Secretary V.K. Sasikala and three of her relatives in a disproportionate assets case.

"Justice has prevailed. We are happy," former AIADMK MP K.C. Palaniswamy told IANS.

According to Palaniswamy, the legislators supporting Sasikala will now shift their loyalty to Panneerselvam.

"If she has a plan B-projecting somebody else for the post of Chief Minister, she - will not succeed," Palaniswamy said.

Exuding happiness at the judgement, DMK's former MP Thamarai Selvan told IANS: "The judgement was expected as the Karnataka High Court justice Kumaraswamy's decision acquitting late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and others were riddled with holes and inconsistencies."

A Supreme Court division bench on Tuesday set aside a Karnataka High Court order staying Sasikala's conviction by a trial court.

--IANS

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Swaraj India on Tuesday accused Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of ignoring the problems of the people in the national capital.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government completed two years in office on Tuesday.

Swaraj India Chief Spokesperson Anupam said Kejriwal has no concern for the multiple problems of Delhi.

"Kerjriwal has lost connect with the people's pain and problem and Delhi has become a stepping stone to fulfill his aspirations to grab power in other states," he said.

"Delhi sits on a garbage heap. Dengue and chikungunya have become an annual distress. Pollution is stifling the city," Anupam said.

Slamming the Delhi Chief Minister on his "insensitivity towards the public", he said: "Through its multiple misdeeds and misadventures since February 2015, the AAP has insulted the massive public mandate it received in the last assembly elections. Far from keeping its promise, Kejriwal has forsaken the 'aam aadmi' of Delhi."

He said Kejriwal has cheated the people of Delhi on issues like cleanliness, women security, reducing liquor consumption, WiFi, teachers's appointments, slum, unauthorised colonies, Lokpal and Swaraj Bill.

"It is sad that Delhi still remains unsafe despite a movement for women security. AAP had committed to form Women Security Force and 47 Fast Track Courts but has done nothing. Installing CCTV cameras, lighting up dark spots and last-mile connectivity turned out to be 'jumlas'," Anupam said.

"Double-speak of Aam Aadmi Party on Janlokpal is a straight proof of its fraud on people of the country and the Lokpal movement. The government proposed a 'Jokepal' in place of a strong and independent Lokpal," he added.

--IANS

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All is not well within Bihar's ruling Grand Alliance  and, perceiving the growing uneasiness, RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Tuesday advised his party legislators to first talk to him before going to the media to air their grievances relating to the three-party formation.

Sensing growing tension within the Grand Alliance  comprising the Janata Dal-United (JD-U), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress  after his party legislators repeatedly questioned and attacked Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his "Saat Nischay" (seven resolves) programme, Lalu Prasad tried to play the peacemaker.

The RJD chief told media persons here that he has asked his party MLAs not to issue statements about anything without consulting him. "I have asked them not to give statements in the media and talk to me first about their grievances or whatever it is," he said.

Lalu Prasad said this after some JD-U leaders expressed displeasure over several RJD legislators attacking Nitish Kumar and his government's seven resolves programme and the legislators' funds.

JD-U spokesperson Sanjay Singh said targeting of the Nitish Kumar-led government by the RJD legislators was not good for the Grand Alliance. "Some leaders of RJD have been doing everything to defame the state government. JD-U will not tolerate this any more."

Singh, considered close to Nitish Kumar, said the RJD cannot cite any instance of a JD-U leader criticising Lalu Prasad ever since their alliance came into existence in 2015. "If JD-U leaders have not targeted and attacked Laluji, why should JD-U tolerate such acts by RJD leaders?"

Another JD-U spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said: "We can't tolerate criticism by those who are part of the government led by Nitish Kumar. It is not proper to criticise one's own government."

Last month, in a show of unity in the Grand Alliance, its top leaders, including Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad, senior JD-U leader Sharad Yadav and state Congress President Ashok Choudhary, attended a "Lok Samvad" meet here.

Seeking to lay to rest speculations of differences within the ruling coalition, they claimed that the alliance stands united. This was the first-ever show of unity since the JD-U-RJD-Congress Grand Alliance came into existence in November 2015 to form the government led by Nitish Kumar.
A majority of citizens in the capital say that they didn't have to pay bribes to government officials in past two years of Aam Aadami Party government, according to a survey conducted by citizen engagement platform LocalCircles.

The survey, participated in by over 20,000 citizens of Delhi, understands how citizens feel about the performance of the Delhi government in the last two years. People have applauded some efforts and have also identified the areas of concern.

A majority (61 per cent) said that they did not need to pay a bribe to any department of Delhi government to get their work done. Only 19 per cent said that they had paid bribes, with 20 per cent citizens choosing not to answer the question.

Talking about the water supply, 41 per cent people said that availability in their area had improved, whereas 44 per cent said that the supply was the same as two years back. Fifteen per cent said it had become worse.

For 38 per cent, the power supply has improved, 48 per cent said that it was just the same and 14 per cent said that it is on the downward slide.

The Mohalla Clinic project of the Delhi government was appreciated by the citizens of Delhi with 31 per cent saying that there was an improvement in availability and delivery of government healthcare services in Delhi.

A majority of 54 per cent citizens disagreed.

School education has been a hot topic of discussion with the Delhi government allocating a big chunk of the state budget towards it. Thirty-three per cent felt that there were some improvements made in this area.

There has been no improvement in the school education governance and delivery, according to 49 per cent citizens.

The AAP government tried to take some bold moves to reduce pollution in Delhi like the odd-even rule, car ban in Connaught Place and the like but only 13 per cent rated the efforts as "good" where as 23 per cent rated it "average" due to the poor implementation strategy.

A vast 63 per cent marked them as poor.

Starting business in Delhi is a big minus point for the citizens with 47 per cent saying that it is still a tough task to launch a start-up in Delhi. Eighteen per cent said that starting business in Delhi has become somewhat easier and 35 per cent were not sure about it.

Citizens highlighted law and order and cleanliness to be big concerns. According to them, due to the confrontational attitude of the Delhi government leadership, it has not been able to work well with the civic bodies as well as the Delhi Police.

--IANS

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Three soldiers and a militant were killed on Tuesday and eight others injured in a gunfight between the security forces and militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district.

The incident took place when security forces launched a search operation in Parraypora village after receiving information about holed-up militants.

Eight people, including seven security men and one civilian, were injured during the gunfight in the village located in Hajin area.

The gunfight has ended, police said.

The slain militants identity is being established.

The three soldiers killed in the gunfight belonged to the counter insurgence 13 Rashtriya Rifles.

The injured security men, including a Commanding Officer of the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), six other security personnel and a civilian have been shifted to a hospital for treatment.

--IANS

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China has printed and delivered Nepal's 1,000 rupee notes.

The Himalayan nation has received 24 million 1,000 rupee notes printed by China Banknote Printing and Minting Corp, Xinhua news agency reported.

Bhuban Kadel, Executive Director of Nepal Rastra Bank, the central bank, said the printing cost in China was lower.

"The quality is as good as the ones printed earlier in another country but the cost is less than half of the amount we had earlier paid," Kadel told Xinhua.

Timely delivery of the notes was important for the central bank to provide grant aid to the 2015 earthquake victims.

The NRB will take delivery of all 1,000 rupee notes in three batches. Under the first lot, 84 million notes have been delivered.

The Chinese company won the tender in August last year to print 1,000 rupee notes, the largest denominated currency note in Nepal.

The same Chinese company had earlier printed Nepal's 100 rupee notes as well.

Nepal had earlier been getting its notes printed by Indonesian, French and Australian companies among others.

--IANS

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's half-brother has been killed in Malaysia, a government source said on Tuesday, sparking speculation over whether North Korea was behind a high-profile assassination.

Kim Jong-nam was assassinated on Monday in Malaysia, Yonhap news agency quoted the source as saying, without revealing any further details.

South Korea's cable TV broadcaster TV Chosun reported that Kim was killed at an airport in Malaysia after being attacked by two unidentified women with "poisoned needles".

The suspects fled the scene and Malaysian police suspected North Korea was behind the killing. Repeated calls to South Korea's spy agency seeking comment went unanswered.

The assassination came as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been trying to consolidate his grip on power that he inherited upon the death of his father and long-time leader Kim Jong-il in 2011 amid growing international pressure over North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes.

Kim Jong-nam -- the eldest son of late leader Kim Jong-il -- had voiced opposition to his father's power succession to Kim Jong-un. He was born from his father's non-marital relationship with Sung Hae-rim, a South Korean-born actress who died in Moscow.

Kim Jong-nam had lived abroad for years after apparently falling out of favour with his father for attempting to enter Japan on a fake passport in 2001.

Kim's case would mark the most high-profile death under the Kim Jong-un regime since the execution of Jang Song-thaek in December 2013, the once-powerful uncle of the current leader.

--IANS

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Bangladesh is setting up a World Trade Centre at Chittagong port, which will help strengthen trade ties with India, a Bangladeshi Minister has said.

Shahriar Alam, Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs, said: "Trade remains the fundamental basis of India-Bangladesh relations and the establishment of a World Trade Centre in Chittagong will help strengthen our trade cooperation."

He said that Bangladesh considers the northeastern states of India as a potential market, particularly in the sector of FMCGs. He was speaking at an interactive meeting held at the World Trade Centre here on Monday.

Urging the WTC Mumbai to work together with WTC Chittagong, Alam said that two Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in the north-west of Bangladesh bordering India were dedicated to Indian businesses.

The presence of the Indian private sector in Bangladesh is growing and in recent years Reliance has been actively involved in the LNG sector, Adani is setting up a coal-based power plant and Tata is expanding its manufacturing operations in the country, he said. Godrej too is present in Bangladesh, Alam said, according to an official release.

He said another important area of cooperation is in Blue Economy where spatial planning integrates conservation, sustainable use of living resources, oil and mineral wealth extraction, bio-prospecting, sustainable energy production and marine transport.

Alam said that both countries have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the area of coastal shipping and added that there was great potential for cooperation in the fishing sector.

Vijay Kalantri, Vice Chairman, World Trade Centre Mumbai and President, All India Association of Industries said the trade between the two countries had grown by more than 17 per cent in the last five years.

"India's exports to Bangladesh in 2015-16 (July-June) were $5,453 million and imports from Bangladesh were $690 million," Kalantri said.

--IANS

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Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday alleged that the District Collectors and Superintendents of Police (SPs) in Odisha are acting as General Secretaries of the ruling BJD in the ongoing panchayat elections.

He urged the State Election Commission (SEC) to ensure free and fair poll in the next four phases of the panchayat polls.

"The SEC should instruct the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police to ensure free and fair elections in the state. The officials are bound to comply to the order of the SEC as per the Constitution," said the Minister.

The Bharatiya Janata Party also lodged a complaint with the SEC on Tuesday.

"We have requested the commission to use its constitutional powers and exercise control over the government officials who are involved in election management and direct them to act accordingly to ensure free, fair and impartial elections in the state," said Odisha BJP Vice President Sameer Mohanty.

However, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) rubbished the allegations of the opposition party.

"The BJP leaders, be it the Union Minister or any other leader, should ask themselves if they are giving responsible statements or not. If he has any evidence about any poll-related discrepancies, he should give it to the SEC," said BJD spokesperson Shashi Bhusan Behera.

While the first phase of the panchayat polls was held on February 13, the next phases will be held on February 15, 17, 19 and 21.

--IANS

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In the wake of growing incidents of jailbreaks in Madhya Pradesh, the authorities have issued orders to shoot anyone trying to escape from prison, a senior police officer said on Tuesday.

The Jail Department has issued orders, to take effect immediately, that prisoners/undertrials found attempting to break open a prison door or wall or attempting to scale the jails' outer walls will henceforth be shot, Additional Director General of Police (Jails) Gajiram Meena said.

Officers of the rank of Jail Superintendent can decide on giving orders to shoot the fleeing inmates, he said.

Earlier, Meena announced setting up of a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the escape of two inmates from Morena jail in Madhya Pradesh.

The probe team will comprise Gwalior Jail Superintendent Narendra Pratap Singh, Ujjain Jail Superintendent Sunil Sharma and Sub-Divisional Magistrate Pradeep Singh Tomar.

On Monday afternoon, two inmates -- Anil Rathore and Om Prakash Jat -- escaped after breaking through the jail wall. The jailor and four guards have been suspended.

In October 2016, eight undertrial activists of Students Islamic Movement of India allegedly escaped from the Bhopal Central Jail on Diwali night after killing a guard. They were subsequently killed in police firing.

--IANS

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About 709,400 people have been affected by severe drought in Sri Lanka, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said on Tuesday.

The towns of Gampaha, Monaragala, Kalutara and Trincomalee are among the worst affected areas, Xinhua news agency cited the DMC as saying.

The drought has resulted in farmers suffering without adequate water and some villages not even having drinking water.

The World Food Programme (WFP) earlier said Sri Lanka was preparing for serious difficulties this year in terms of food and nutrition insecurity until the main harvest in March/April 2018.

The expected failure of the main harvest season in March/April 2017 could be the worst agricultural season in the last 40 years.

The Ministry of Disaster Management and the External Resources Department of the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs have requested drought-related support from WFP, in particular cash for work/food assistance for asset creation.

WFP is deciding on response options while awaiting the government's formal request for assistance to the international community.

The report submitted to a sub-cabinet ministers meeting on January 3 was pivotal in alerting government and other stakeholders to the severity of the drought.

WFP and the government will lead a joint emergency assessment this month to assess the impact of the drought on household food security and livelihood.

Meanwhile, the Department of Meteorology said rain was expected in some parts of Sri Lanka this week.

--IANS

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Tamil Nadu's School Education Minister K. Pandiarajan, who had gone to meet the legislators supporting AIAMDK General Secretary V.K. Sasikala at the beach resort near here, had to return without success.

Pandiarajan wentto the resort to make necessary arrangements, so that acting Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam could come there and seek the legislators' support.

But the police did not allow him to proceed further to prevent any untoward incident.

The police also clamped orders prohibiting gathering of any four or more persons in Kuvathoor, around 90 km from here, where the beach resort is located.

Sasikala, who came to the resort on Monday evening, stayed overnight and is present there.

On Tuesday morning, bad news came from Delhi for Sasikala and two of her relatives after the Supreme Court restored the conviction order of the trial court in the disporportionate assets case.

Soon after, the legislators elected Public Works Minister Edapadi K. Palanisamy as the leader of AIADMK's legislature party.

In the evening, Palanisamy met Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao and submitted the resolution electing him as the leader of the AIADMK legislature party and also staked his claim to form the next government.

It is not clear for how many more days the legislators would stay put at the beach resort.

--IANS

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The Schools and Parents Association here on Tuesday hailed the Delhi High Court's order on nursery admission guidelines set by the Arvind Kejriwal government while the authorities said they would appeal against the ruling.

The high court on Tuesday stayed the Delhi government's nursery admissions notification that compels 298 private schools, built on public land, to adopt only neighbourhood criteria.

The notification issued by the Department of Education made "distance" the primary criterion for admission of tiny tots.

The government said that transparency in admissions should not bother uncorrupted schools, adding that it would appeal to the High Court double bench or the Supreme Court.

"We will appeal to the high court double-bench. If required, we will approach the Supreme Court. Schools that are not corrupt, should have transparency (in the admission process)," Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia told media persons here.

For the All India Parents' Association, schools and parents, the decision was appropriate as these guidelines were in reality "unreasonable", as suggested by the court.

"I have to admit my 3-year-old daughter to school this year. There are no good schools within a radius of 3 km in my area. If I want to get my kid admitted in a better school, the government guideline would be a hurdle," a 35-year old parent from Old Delhi told IANS.

"...This decision of putting the government guidelines on stay is very good," she said appreciating the judgement.

According to the All India Parents' Association, the Delhi government made the guidelines without following the law and order and thus, the decision of the court was perfect.

"It caused so much of confusion and parents were unnecessarily harassed. They had to fill the school forms twice -- once going by the schools and another one going by the government," association President Ashok Agrawal told IANS.

"I don't oppose the guidelines or the neighbourhood criteria. Their guidelines were good but the procedure of formulating them was not," he said, adding that "they should have taken the right steps".

President of the Action Committee of Unaided Private Schools, S.K. Bhattacharya, who filed the petition against the government guidelines also hailed the decision.

"We never wanted the government to participate in the autonomy of private schools. The criteria of admission should be decided by the schools," he said.

--IANS

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A PIL was filed in the Delhi High Court on Tuesday seeking to set aside the alleged "illegal appointment" of Manish Sisodia as the Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi -- the post which it said "doesn't exists in the eyes of the law".

The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) said that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has "no power to delegate his authority and create a new post, which is not defined by the Constitution of India and the GNCTD Act, 1991".

"The provisions of the GNCTD Act, 1991, are crystal clear in nature and do not speak anything about the post/ office of the Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, which is being currently held illegally by Manish Sisodiya even without taking an oath of office and secrecy," said the plea filed by an advocate Vibhor Anand.

The plea, while seeking to declare Sisodia's appointment illegal, also sought direction that appointment made by him, including Senior Public Prosecutor and Additional Public Prosecutors, be set aside.

"Manish Sisodia in the illegal capacity of the Deputy Chief Minister has passed hundreds of illegal orders, such as appointment of Rahul Mehra as Senior Standing Counsel, Delhi High Court, and various other Additional Standing Counsels. All such orders passed by Sisodia are illegal and void ab initio and are liable to be struck down immediately," the plea stated.

The post of Deputy Chief Minister has no sanctity of law, it said, adding that even Lt. Governor's approval was not taken to create the post.

"Lt. Governor of the NCT of Delhi is wholly responsible for the administration of the NCT of Delhi within the prescribed framework under Article 239AA and Article 239AB, along with the GNCTD Act, 1991," it added.

The lawyer questioned whether the Chief Minister of Delhi has the power to create a parallel post equivalent to his own without the approval of the Lt. Governor and the Parliament of India, and furthermore, delegate all his powers to the Deputy Chief Minister without any such approval.

It also sought direction for Lt. Governor, being the administrator of Delhi, to constitute a committee to review all the orders passed by Sisodia from the date of his appointment.

The plea was filed against the Ministry of Home Affairs, Lt. Governor and Sisodia.

--IANS

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Portugal achieved financial stability in 2016 and the conditions of the banking sector have improved significantly, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa said in a statement on Monday.

"In 2016, Finance Minister Mario Centeno achieved the best budgetary performance which enabled income return and created conditions for investment that resulted in acceleration of growth and significant improvements in creating jobs," Xinhua news agency quoted Costa as saying.

His statement came after Portugal's Ministry of Finance on Monday confirmed the European Commission's optimistic stance on Portugal's progress.

"Throughout the horizon of projection, the deficit will be clearly below 3 per cent, and the ration of public debt will see a downward turn," Ceteno said in a statement, "The durable and sustainable correction of the deficit guarantees conditions for Portugal to exit the excessive deficit procedure."

The European Commission said in its Winter 2017 Forecast released on Monday that the Portuguese economy had grown 1.3 per cent in 2016 and would progress to 1.6 per cent this year, slightly above the Portuguese government's estimates.

According to the Commission, Portugal's deficit hit 2.3 per cent of GDP in 2016 and would drop to 2 per cent in 2017.

Brussels said the improvement in economic forecasts was due to a "strong performance in the second half of the year, particularly in tourism", and also in private consumption.

However, the Commission pointed to negative risks for the country's economy, involving problems in the banking sector, pointing out that it could affect investment.

Last year, Brussels fined Portugal as well as Spain for not taking sufficient action to correct its budget deficit. However, the Commission later recommended cancelling the fine.

Portugal's budget deficit hit 4.4 per cent last year, above the 3 per cent EU benchmark set by Brussels.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Punjab province on Tuesday observed a day of mourning with the national flag at half-mast on all government buildings, a day after a suicide bombing killed 14 persons and injured 85 others outside the Punjab Assembly.

In another development, the Interior Ministry has directed the federal and provincial governments to guarantee strict security arrangements and intensify intelligence-based operations.

Following the blast, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited the Ganga Ram Hospital and consoled the injured assuring them all possible help.

Two senior officials, DIG Traffic Police Captain (retd.) Ahmed Mubin and Acting DIG Operations Zahid Ikram Gondal were also killed in the attack at the Chairing Cross, Mall Road near Punjab Assembly Building here on Monday during a protest staged by drug dealers. Several policemen, women and media persons are also injured.

However, all educational institutes in Punjab remained open on Tuesday.

The Pakistan Bar Council and Punjab Bar Council condemned the incident and demanded the authorities take steps to check such incidents in future.

According to the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta), more than 5,200 intelligence-based operations have been carried out in the country till date, Dunya News reported.

According to the figures, 2,642 operations in Punjab, 290 in Sindh, 1,240 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 645 in Balochistan, 294 in Islamabad, 24 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 65 in Azad Kashmir.

Besides this, nearly 18 lakh suspects were arrested during 15 lakh combing operations and 25 lakh stop and search operations held in the country.

Nacta says that provinces are consistently provided intelligence.

--IANS

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday dealt a huge blow to AIADMK General Secretary V.K. Sasikala by upholding her conviction for corruption but there was no end to the ugly war for power in Tamil Nadu.

Hours after the apex court ruling, Sasikala, as the party chief, axed acting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and 19 more leaders from the AIADMK. But Panneerselvam refused to give up.

The MLAs backing Sasikala -- who wished to take over as Chief Minister before Panneerselvam revolted -- and holed up at a resort near here also elected E. Palanisamy as their new legislature party leader.

Palanisamy, the Minister for Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports, lost no time in asking Governor C. Vidayasagar Rao to let him prove his majority in the assembly and form a government.

In New Delhi, the Supreme Court restored the earlier conviction of Sasikala, a long-time confidante of the late J. Jayalalithaa, and her two relatives, V.N. Sudhakaran and Elavarasi, for corruption.

Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Amitava Roy set aside a Karnataka High Court order acquitting the three and Jayalalithaa, who died on December 5.

Sasikala cannot contest elections for 10 years, including the four years she will be in jail. She was also fined Rs 10 crore.

The apex court told Sasikala and her relatives to surrender immediately to the trial court, which convicted them on September 27, 2014.

Justice Roy voiced deep concern over the "escalating menace of corruption in society".

The four, Jayalalithaa included, were convicted for amassing assets disproportionate to known sources of income to the tune of Rs 66.65 crore when the former Chief Minister ruled Tamil Nadu in 1991-96.

The ruling set off celebrations in the Panneerselvam camp. His supporters burst firecrackers and danced outside his residence.

In a bid to win over the MLAs siding with Sasikala, Panneerselvam called the Supreme Court ruling "good news" and said "Amma" was still guiding the AIADMK and urged all legislators to unite.

"It is up to the MLAs to resolve the crisis. I urge everyone to forget the differences and unite," he told his cheering supporters.

A fuming Sasikala, facing arrest, vowed to challenge the verdict.

She sacked from the AIADMK Panneerselvam and 19 other leaders on charges of acting against the party's policies and principles.

They included School Education Minister K. Pandiarajan and former ministers C. Ponnaiyan, P.H. Pandian, Natham R. Viswanathan, K.P. Munusamy and P. Mohan. But the MLAs and MPs backing Panneerselvam were spared.

The opposition hailed the Supreme Court verdict too.

DMK Working President M.K. Stalin said: "Justice has been restored. Now the Governor should take steps to ensure a stable government in Tamil Nadu."

Congress spokesperson Gopanna told IANS: "Justice has been delivered after 20 years."

Amid reports that Panneerselvam supporters may reach the resort where pro-Sasikala MLAs are putting up, security was tightened at the venue.

The infighting in the AIADMK erupted after Jayalalithaa passed away and Sasikala was elected the ruling party's General Secretary on February 5.

She was then chosen the leader of the AIADMK legislature party, paving the way for her to become the Chief Minister.

That is when Panneerselvam, who had been twice acting Chief Minister earlier, revolted and alleged that he was forced by Sasikala to resign. As of now, most MLAs are with Sasikala but many MPs have switched loyalty.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it would not get into the issue of Uniform Civil Code but described the triple talaq as a serious issue of human rights.

The court said that it would examine the legal aspect of the 'triple talaq', 'nikaah halaal' and polygamy amongst the Muslims.

Saying that it would examine whether triple talaq was a valid way of divorce, a bench of Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, Justice N.V.Ramana and Justice D.Y.Chandrachud asked the senior counsel appearing for both the sides to frame question that would be addressed in the course of weeklong hearing commencing on May 11.

However, the court made it clear that the question whether divorce under Muslim Personal Law needs to be supervised by either courts or by a court-supervised institutional arbitration came under the legislative domain.

Directing the next hearing on February 16 for the framing of issues, the bench asked the senior counsel appearing for those opposed to triple talaq and those opposing any interference in it, to sit together and frame tentative issues for the consideration by the court.

The court also made that all the petitioner will have to give names of the three lawyers each who would be addressing the court from both the sides.

The Union government has already told the top court that 'triple talaq', 'nikaah halaal' and polygamy as practised by the Muslims in India were not "integral to the practices of Islam or essential religious practices".

"The fact that Muslim countries where Islam is the state religion have undergone extensive reforms goes to establish that the practise in question cannot be regarded as integral to the practices of Islam or essential religious practices," it had told the top court earlier in its affidavit.

The government had cited the instances of changes in marriage laws in Iran, Egypt, Indonesia, Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

However, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) had earlier told the top court that the practice of triple talaq and polygamy were a social need and a blessing and not a curse for women.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Filmmaker Shoojit Sircar, who is busy promoting his forthcoming production venture "Running Shaadi" -- which is about the protagonists helping people run away and get married -- says given a chance, he would like to elope with legendary Hollywood actress Meryl Streep.

"I would like to elope with Meryl Streep," Sircar said during his visit to the IANS headquarter here on Tuesday, when asked about the one person he would like to elope with.

Why?

"She is my favourite actress," Sircar said.

Not because she is "overrated" -- as US President Donald Trump said?

"No way. She is one of the finest," Sircar added.

Sircar, who married his wife by eloping, was joined during his visit to IANS by the lead pair of "Running Shaadi" -- Amit Sadh and Taapsee Pannu -- and the film's director, Amit Roy.

Taapsee said the ones she would want to elope with "are already married".

Amit Sadh then quipped: "No. Hrithik (Roshan) is free now."

Later, Taapsee added: "Then I can elope with Andy Murray. I can go all the way to Britain for that."

"Running Shaadi" is slated to release on Friday.

--IANS

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Actress Shruti Haasan has been signed on to play the leading lady in upcoming mega budget Tamil period drama "Sanghamitra", which will star Jayam Ravi and Arya in the lead and will roll from April.

"Shruti had recently finished the paperwork and sheas quite excited to be part of the project. The makers had several options but they eventually chose Shruti because they wanted someone who is popular but at the same time can perform," a source from the film's unit told IANS.

The source further added that Shruti, who is basking in the success of Tamil actioner "SI3", will commence shooting for "Sanghamitra" from May onwards. The film is made on a budget of Rs. 150 crore

"It will be the biggest project of her career thus far. She's very excited because her role will give her an opportunity to attempt something she hasn't done so far," the source added.

To be helmed by Sundar C and produced by Sri Thenandal Films, the film will also be released in Telugu and Hindi.

"It will be simultaneously made in Telugu. In Hindi, however, it will be made with an entirely different cast and the process will take time," he said.

The film will have music by A.R Rahman.

--IANS

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Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday accused the Samajwadi Party (SP) of "institutionalising gangsterism" in Uttar Pradesh.

"It is a shame and an anarchic situation wherein traders are being shot in cold blood; a prominent doctor was murdered; a rape victim who accused a ruling party legislator is found dead," he told the media here.

Jaitley, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader, also took a dig at the Akhilesh Yadav government by saying that first it labelled some persons criminals and then embraced them by fielding them in elections.

The reference was apparently to tainted minister Gayatri Prajapati and many like him.

The Union Minister said the state government's "ideological bankruptcy" could be gauged from the fact that the Chief Minister was seeking votes in the name of an incomplete 302-km road.

He was referring to the Agra-Lucknow Expressway, tom-tommed by the state government as a big achievement.

Jaitley said the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre was, in comparison, constructing 10,000 km of roads every year.

He accused the ruling SP of entering into an "unholy alliance" with the Congress, a party which he said was always opposed by socialist formations in the country.

The motto of most of the parties has always been 'Congress hatao, desh bachao', Jaitley said and added that the "SP had given up its ideological standing by embracing a dynasty".

"Parties and their ideologies may be subject to compromises and opportunism but they should well realise that people don't change their views and keep a close eye on everything," he said.

Claiming the BJP had done exceedingly well in the first phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh on February 11, he said his party will get a comfortable majority in the assembly.

--IANS

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Unveiling the new brand '2Bme' for apparels, the Spencer's Retail Limited, a part of the Rs 19,000 crore RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, expects to garner Rs 300 crore revenue from the brand in the next four years, a company official said on Tuesday.

"Hitherto food and staples was the main pillar of the group's retail business, but from now on, there will also be accent of on apparel for children, women and men. We expect the brand to contribute revenue of Rs 300 crore in the next 3-4 years," said group's Retail Sector Head Shashwat Goenka.

Currently, fashion contributes less than 4 per cent of the retailer's revenue and with the launch of the new brand, it expects the segment will contribute over 5.5 per cent in the first year (after the new launch), he said.

The firm's gross revenue stood at Rs 1,865 crore at the end of last financial year while Ebitda was at negative Rs 53 crore.

Apparel contributes much higher margin than foods.

"Apparel business contributes about 7 per cent of the retailer's margin and we expect the contribution to go up to 10 per cent with the launch of the new brand," Goenka said.

The average revenue per sq ft per month is about Rs 1,600, which is higher than the industry average, he said.

"We had apparel but if we look at Spencer's apparel in the past, which was cater to different customers than our food. The idea was to create a new brand for apparel which matches our food brands. We will be competing with anyone and everyone," Goenka said while explaining why the group conceived new brand for apparel.

It invested about Rs 30-40 crore to revamp its stores to integrate the new range of apparels, Goenka said.

"We have in house team of 10 designers. As the brand develops, we are open to possible tie up with designers," he said.

The brand will change its look in every three weeks and over 60 per cent of the range will have a complete overhaul every six weeks, he said.

The new range of apparels under the brand will be unveiled on Wednesday at the eight hyperstores of the retailer in the city. The launching of the new range of apparels will also take place in the National Capital region soon, followed by another launch in Hyderabad.

The retailer has now 123 stores, of which 37 are hypermarket stores.

Group's Chairman Sanjiv Goenka had said Spencer's was ripe for listing for sure. It clocked company level Ebitda positive for six month in a row.

"The company were very optimistic about the performance of the company as we go forward," he said.

--IANS

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Brand Finance, a leading brand business valuation and strategy consultancy based in London, has published its latest version of the Brand Finance Global 500 report, revealing the most valuable brands in the world.

Brand Finance measures the value of the brands by using the "Royalty Relief approach," which includes, "estimating the likely future sales that are attributable to a brand" and "calculating a royalty rate that would be charged for the use of the brand." Thousands of the world's biggest brands are involved.

Apple has topped the list for the last five years, but has dropped to the second place this year. It has not generated significant revenues from newer products such as its Apple Watch, and failed to demonstrate that it is developing innovative technologies. The brand now has to compete with a number of Chinese smartphone brands such as Huawei and OnePlus, in addition to its old rival Samsung.

Google is now the worlds most valuable brand with a brand value of US$109.47 billion. Apple has a brand value of US$107.14 billion and Amazon.com is valued at US$106.4 billion.

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) ranks 10th.

The following are the top 10 most valuable brands of 2017.

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC)

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China [File photo]

Country: China

Brand value: US$47.83 billion

Brand rating: AAA
Assam Rifles have captured three leaders of the militant United Democratic Liberation Army (UDLA) and handed them over to Assam Police, officials said on Monday.

Acting on a tip, the Aizawl based 39 Assam Rifles apprehended the three at a jungle on the Mizoram-Assam border on Friday, an official release said.

The arrested men are Raj Kumar Riang, Neta Rai Riang and Mela Rai Riang.

Several militant outfits of various northeastern states use Mizoram and its border with Bangladesh and Myanmar as a safe corridor.

--IANS

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US President Donald Trump on Monday vowed to deal with North Korea "very strongly", calling the Asian country a "big, big problem".

Trump made the remark at a joint press conference with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, after North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile on Sunday. But the US President did not elaborate on what actions he planned to take in relation to the Asian country, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We have problems all over the Middle East. We have problems just about every corner of the globe no matter where you look," Trump said when asked about the most important national security issues facing the United States.

On Monday, the Pentagon strongly condemned North Korea's ballistic missile launch and vowed to "take all necessary measures to deter and defeat threats to US and ally territories and citizens".

"The North American Aerospace Defence Command determined the missile launch did not pose a threat to North America," said Jeff Davis, a spokesman for the US Department of Defence. "We also worked very quickly with our Japanese and South Korean allies to make sure it did not pose a threat to them either."

On Saturday, Trump vowed US support to Japan in a hastily called joint press conference with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Florida.

"I just want everybody to understand and fully know that the United States of America stands behind Japan, its great ally, 100 per cent," Trump said.

North Korea claimed on Monday it had successfully test-fired Pukguksong-2, a surface-to-surface medium-to-long-range ballistic missile, and its top leader Kim Jong Un guided the test firing, according to the state news agency KCNA.

Earlier Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a statement issued by his spokesman, strongly condemned the latest move by Pyongyang, saying "this action is a further troubling violation of (UN) Security Council resolutions".

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday said that although the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nothing to do with the crisis in Tamil Nadu, it is two union ministers who have been fomenting trouble in the state.

"I asked my party if they have a stand on the situation in Tamil Nadu, and they said 'no'. I asked the central government if they have a stand, they too said 'no'. There are two union ministers who have got nothing to do with Tamil Nadu but are trying to foment trouble by propping up O. Panneerselvam," Swamy told CNN News18 TV channel.

Swamy also expressed satisfaction at the Supreme Court judgement convicting Sasikala in a disproportionate assets case. Swamy is the original petitioner in the case.

Calling acting Chief Minister O. Pannerselvam a "boneless wonder", Swamy claimed that he does not have the support of "even four MLAs, let alone 40 or 45 MLAs".

Swamy, however, refused to reveal the names of the two ministers, saying he would do it at an appropriate time.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The UN Security Council unanimously condemned North Korea's latest missile test, while the US pushed for the response to include actions, and "not just words", the media reported.

Pyongyang's first military challenge since Donald Trump's arrival in the White House came on Sunday, when North Korean leader Kim Jong-un personally supervised the launch of a medium-range ballistic missile that landed in the Sea of Japan, Efe news reported.

On Monday, the Security Council held an urgent meeting to analyse the evidence and released a statement condemning the action.

In the statement, similar to earlier occasions, the highest decision-making body of the UN threatened to impose new "significant measures" against the North Korean regime, which would add to the harsh sanctions already in force.

In a communique by all 15 members, the Council declared that the North Korean missile launch was a "serious violation" of the country's international obligations and urged the regime to stop such actions.

However, no member state wanted to speak of possible concrete actions, while many insist on the importance of full implementation of existing punishments.

The new US administration, which is facing a North Korean missile launch for the first time, called on the Council "to use every available resource to make it clear to the North Korean regime - and its enablers - that these launches are unacceptable."

"It is time to hold North Korea accountable - not with our words, but with our actions," US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said in a statement.

Japan, which together with the US and South Korea requested an urgent meeting, was very satisfied with that clear message and suggested that it does not seek a new resolution against Pyongyang, but rather a way to strengthen the implementation of the current measures.

China, which in recent years has distanced itself from the North Korean regime as a result of its continuing weapons tests, also condemned Sunday's test.

At the same time, China also called upon all countries involved - in reference to the US, Japan and South Korea and their usual military manoeuvres in the region - to refrain from actions that might aggravate the situation.

The statement agreed by the Council stresses that Sunday's test contributes to the development of systems capable of transporting nuclear weapons.

The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, also condemned the missile launch, which made it clear that this constitutes a new violation of existing UN Security Council resolutions.

Guterres has urged Pyongyang to change course and take the path of denuclearisation in order to comply fully with its international obligations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The head of the US Pacific Command on Tuesday inaugurated the Cobra Gold military exercises in Thailand with an appeal to the country's military junta, in power since 2014, to re-establish democracy.

Speaking during the opening ceremony held at a military base southeast of Bangkok in Sahattip, Chonburi province, Admiral Harry Harris said the US wants a democratic, strong and stable Thailand. "We need Thailand to get back to being the regional and global leader that it always has been," said Harris, according to an Internet broadcast published on the Cobra Gold website.

In a statement to journalists after the inauguration, Harris said he wished to hold meaningful talks with Thai authorities during his stay in the country.

Harris, the highest ranking US military officer to visit Thailand since the 2014 military coup, is scheduled to meet Thai Prime Minister and Junta chief Prayut Chan-ocha during his stay, Efe news reported.

This year's edition of the Cobra Gold will have 29 countries attending as both participants and observers for the 11-day exercises, seminars and programmes dedicated to strengthening regional cooperation.

Participants include Thailand with 4,350 personnel, the US (3,528), Japan (192), Malaysia (99), Singapore (56), South Korea (46), Indonesia (34), China (14) and India (13).

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
It was a Valentine's Day with a difference in Meghalaya, thanks to Thma U Rangli Juki (TUR) group for launching a relatable social media and sticker campaign to open up discussion on notions of consent, safety, pleasure, equality and respect.

The campaign was aimed at creating awareness on consent at a time when sexual assault of various forms, ranging from sexual harassment at the work place, rapes, child sexual abuse, and domestic violence, are on the rise in this matrilineal state of Meghalaya.

"Sexual assault and rape happens not just among strangers. Date rapes are common and we need to acknowledge that rapes do take place even within a marriage," TUR member Badapbor Mawlieh told IANS.

"It is imperative, therefore, that a conversation on what constitutes consent and the importance of practicing consent towards fostering healthy relationships based on equality and respect needs to begin, and what better day than Valentine's Day -- a day that is dedicated to celebrating love and relationships," he said.

"Sexual consent is a topic that should be talked about whenever there is a possibility of a sexual encounter. When two individuals have sex, they need to be certain that one partner is just as willing to have sex as the other, hence there needs to be full consent," Mawlieh said.

The activist said that consent from a partner to engage in a sexual act is one of the most imperative parts of having a mutually satisfying and ethical sexual experience.

"The Indian Penal Code under Section 375 has put forth the meaning of consent as an unequivocal voluntary agreement whereby the woman by words, gestures or any form of verbal or non-verbal communication, communicates willingness to participate in the specific sexual act," Mawlieh explained.

TUR activists distributed stickers with messages like "If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get my consent. If it is not yes, it is rape" to young boys and girls in public places, cafes, colleges and parks, including Ward's Lake here in the city.

"It is important that society acknowledges sex and sexuality and the need to have honest conversations with boys and girls, men and women on issues such as consent, negotiation, pleasure, bodily autonomy, boundaries, respect and gender equality," activist Rangad said.

She also said the response also has to be secular, and acknowledging realities of sexual lives of the society.

"Mere moral posturing will worsen the situation, forcing the actual issues to be driven underground. Similarly, just a legalistic approach to crimes against women, children and sexual minorities will not have preventive impact," she said.

Rangad said the campaign will expand to talk about such issues at school, colleges and community level.

TUR is a radical democratic group of Meghalaya, campaigning and organising for a progressive, egalitarian transformation of Meghalaya while acknowledging its history of tribal autonomy.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Asserting that her government will not tolerate attempts to trigger riots in the state, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said violence by any community will be tackled with an iron hand.

"We will not tolerate those who ignite the fire of riots and provoke others. We will not tolerate any violence by members of any community, whether they are Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs or Christians. The rule is same for everyone," she said.

"A true Hindu or a true Muslim will never want to indulge in riots. He will always like to live in peace and work for the betterment of people. Those who ignite the fire of riots do it for the benefit of their party," Banerjee said.

The Chief Minister, who is on her second visit to north Bengal this year, formally accorded Kalimpong sub-division the status of the 21st district of West Bengal. It has been carved out of Darjeeling.

She said her government will take initiatives to revive the ancient 'Silk Route' that connected Nepal and Bhutan with the hills of West Bengal in the past.

She announced a water treatment project costing Rs 50 crore for the area.

"Kalimpong was once connected to Nepal and Bhutan through the Silk Route. We will rebuild it. Our government will invest Rs 220 crore for the road's construction," Banerjee said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India's Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said on Tuesday that it is unfair to question the timing of the Supreme Court's judgement restoring the conviction of AIADMK leader V.K. Sasikala in the disproportionate assets case.

"There is no need to read between the lines about the Supreme Court judgement's timing. The timing couldn't be more welcome," Rohatgi said in an interaction with India Today news channel.

Sasikala, a confidante of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, was aiming to become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after the resignation of O. Panneerselvam, but her conviction in the disproportionate assets case has put paid to her plan.

She is now barred from contesting elections for 10 years. The case was pending in the apex court for over a year.

Rohatgi said there is "nothing unusual" in the Supreme Court upturning the Karnataka High Court judgement that acquitted Sasikala and Jayalalithaa in the case.

He dismissed speculations of the Centre pressurising the judiciary to give the judgement within a week.

He said the reversal of the high court judgement did not reflect any rot in the judiciary as the latter had stood up to far more important cases such as the unseating of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by the Allahabad High Court in 1975 for adopting unfair means in elections.

"I don't think this was a very important case. The court has far more important cases before it right now, such as terror-related cases and on the triple talaq," he said.

Rohatgi also denied any meddling by the Centre in the political situation in Tamil Nadu.

"It is a battle of succession within a party. What has the Centre got to do with it? In any case, the ruling party (at the Centre, that is BJP) is not a major player in that state," he said.

Rohatgi said he is sure that Tamil Nadu will have a government by this weekend.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Love filled the air and there were no disruptive right-wing storms as young couples celebrated Valentine's Day in major cities across the country on Tuesday - unlike in the past when the international day of love was marred by attacks from Hindu radicals who claim foreign influence was corrupting Indian culture.

The National Students' Union of India (NSUI) held a love parade in Delhi University in defiance of the right-wing groups who had prohibited the celebrations.

"The right-wing divisive forces are set to divide our nation. They say 'no' to love and we say 'yes' to it. So, we are organising a love parade to mark Valentine's Day," NSUI National Secretary Leni Jadhav told IANS.

Last year, right-wing groups had warned youth against celebrating Valentine's Day saying it was against Indian culture. Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) had conducted awareness camps in colleges to "enlighten" the youth against its celebration.

"The right wing groups believe they can take away the freedom of the common man by imposing their diktat. They have been known for making bigoted statements threatening those who choose to celebrate their love on this day," Jadhav said.

"They have also in the past attempted to assault people. We wish to reinstate the power of love and unity through this parade," she added.

But this year, there were no programmes or campaigns by ABVP against the celebrations.

"They are being very safe this time by not holding any of those campaigns or giving those statements or perhaps God has given them wisdom," Jadhav said.

"This love parade is an open platform for people to come and enjoy and celebrate love, peace and unity," she added.

But in Ghaziabad close to the national capital, activists of the All India Hindu Mahasabha protested the celebration of Valentine's Day outside plush Gaur Central Mall in up-scale Rajnagar area where couples were celebrating the day. They also burnt an effigy depicting Valentine's Day as part of their protest.

Spokesperson of the Hindu Mahasabha, B.K. Sharma said the organisation had decided to oppose functions "that ruin Hindu culture".

"The celebration of Valentine's day is against Hindu culture."

The members asked visitors not to encourage children to celebrate the day which they said has "sneaked in from the Western world to this Hindu country".

The day also passed off peacefully in the maximum city of Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and other major cities and towns of India.

In Meghalaya, it was a Valentine's Day with a difference where Thma U Rangli Juki (TUR) group launched a relatable social media and sticker campaign to open up discussion on notions of consent, safety, pleasure, equality and respect.

The campaign was aimed at creating awareness on consent at a time when sexual assault of various forms, ranging from harassment at the work place, rapes, child abuse, and domestic violence, are on the rise in the matrilineal state.

"Sexual assault and rape happens not just among strangers. Date rapes are common and we need to acknowledge that rapes do take place even within a marriage," TUR member Badapbor Mawlieh told IANS.

They distributed stickers with messages like "If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get my consent. If it is not yes, it is rape" to young boys and girls in public places, cafes, colleges and parks, including Ward's Lake here in the city.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In times of war the only firms that win are the arms dealers. And content owners are the arms dealers of this (the video apps) world, quips Nickhil Jakatdar, CEO, Vuclip. He is referring to the party that online content creators are having in India right now.
Employees are willing to pay for additional if it is provided by their employers. This is because employer facilitated offers better coverage, efficiency in cost and better claim recovery. This was the key theme of Marsh India's 9th annual Employee Health and Benefits Survey.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday convicted the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) General Secretary V K Sasikala, along with two others, in the two-decade-old disproportionate assets (DA) case.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday convicted the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary VK Sasikala, along with two others in a 20-year -old disproportionate assets (DA) case, coming as a twist to the political crisis in Tamil Nadu. The order has been issued at a time when had staked a claim to become the chief minister of the state, replacing O Panneerselvam.



However, State Highways Minister Edappadi Palanisamy has been elected as the AIADMK legislative party leader. A team led by Edappadi Palanisamy would meet the Governor in charge and stake claim to form the government.



Meanwhile, Panneerselvam has been expelled from the party.



Sasikala's conviction also means that she won't be able to contest elections for the next 10 years. TV reports claimed that broke down after hearing the verdict at the resort where she was staying with the MLAs.



Special forces have been deployed at the resort. will be taken into immediate custody.



Sasikala will now have to spend more than three years in the prison. She will not be able to contest for public office for six years after serving her sentence in prison.
The Supreme Court is expected to issue an order in a 20-year-old disproportionate asset (DA) case on Tuesday, in which V K Sasikala is an accused, who is currently locked in a battle with interim Chief Minister O Panneerselvam for rule of the state.
Egypt's army today announced the release of 13 Egyptians kidnapped in eastern Libya, which has been plagued by chaos and security problems since 2011.

Army spokesman Colonel Tamer al-Rifai said in a statement the 13 "were abducted by an armed criminal group in the Ajdabiya region".

The statement said their liberation had been made possible by "coordination with the general command of the Libyan army", without elaborating.

The Libyan National Army is loyal to Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the strongman in eastern Libya and a rival of Fayez al-Sarraj, leader of the Tripoli-based and internationally recognised national unity government.

Libya has been mired in political and security problems since the 2011 revolution that overthrew longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi, with rival militias jockeying for power.

In February 2015, the Islamic State group released video footage it said showed the beheading of 21 Coptic Christians, most of them Egyptian, who had been abducted in Libya.

In the wake of the atrocity, Egypt staged air raids against IS positions in retaliation and thousands of poor migrant Egyptian workers in Libya returned home.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistani police today arrested 30 suspects andregistered FIR against four unidentified terrorists in connection with a suicide attack outside Punjab assembly here in which 13 people, including six security officials, were killed.

"We have arrested 30 suspects in connection with the Lahore's Mall Road blast so far. Investigation is underway and we will reach the mastermind of this attack," Punjab Government spokesman Zaeem Hussain Qadri told reporters here, as the country mourned the victims of the Taliban-claimed attack.

Thirteen people were killed and over 70 others injured in the suicide blast which had targeted police officials.

Lahore Traffic Police chief Capt (R) AhmedMobeen and Senior Superintendent Police Zahid Gondal were among the six security officials killed in the attack.

The Jamat-ul-Ahrar faction of the outlawed Tehreek-i- Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack.

The group had claimed responsibility for a blast on March 27 last year at Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park in Lahore that left 75 people dead, mostly Christians who were celebrating Easter.

Official funerals were held today for the security officials in different districts of Punjab province.

The bombing is said to be the first suicide attack in Lahore in which two senior police officers lost their lives.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Governor Rafique Rajwana and seniorpolice and military officers offered funeral prayers to the slain security officials.

According to the FIR, four suspected terrorists reached outside the Punjab Assembly building on the Mall Road where a protest demonstration of chemists was underway.

"Police tried to stop a suspected terrorist, aged between 17 and 20, to reach near the police officers who were busy negotiating with the leaders of chemists to end protest when he blew himself up. His other accomplices, however, managed to escape," the FIR said.

Punjab police spokesman Niyab Haider said a joint team of police and intelligence agencies are investigating the blaston different aspects.

Inspector General Police Punjab Mushtaq Sukhera said the terrorists' target was police personnel.

"The protest of chemists provided an opportunity to terrorists to target the police officers," he said.

DIG Mobeen earlier had survived an attempt to his life during his posting in Balochistan.

On February 7, the National Counter Terrorism Authority had issued a threat alert saying a terrorist group had planned an attack in Lahore.

"After this threat alert we had provided extra security to the Governor's House, Punjab Assembly and Lahore High Court building located on the Mall," Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said.

He said the Lahore blast could be a conspiracy to stop the Pakistan Super League final at Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 5.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The BSF lodged a police complaint after a group of 30 persons arrived at its camp here in Nadia district with appointment letters which were found to be fake, the police said today.

After receiving the complaint in Haringhata Police station, the police have initiated an investigation.

As no recruitment was going on there, it appeared that these youths were duped by a person who has taken lakhs of rupees from them for a job in BSF, police said.

The 30 youths, who included 12 women, reached the BSF camp of 144 Battalion yesterday and informed the guard that they were there to join BSF in various positions like constable, sub-inspector, radio operator, typist and cook.

A BSF official said the youths were carrying fake appointment letters, medical certificates, and other papers.

On questioning, the youths said the documents were given to them by one Sanjay Das alias Bimal Das, who had claimed to be a BSF officer and a resident of Dumdum Cantonment near Kolkata.

Das had allegedly taken lakhs of rupees from them promising jobs in BSF.

The documents, sent to the youths individually by post, were being checked by the BSF, the official said.

To pay Das, they deposited a part of the money in an account of a nationalised bank at Jaguli in Nadia district and the rest was given in cash.

BSF also alerted the bank branch concerned about the account of Das who, according to the bank documents, hailed from Nagaon district in Assam.

The documents carried by the youths included appointment letters, list of selected candidates and medical report. There was a lot of errors in the letters like spelling mistakes, wrong address and wrong designations, the BSF official said adding forged BSF seals were also used.

Senior police and BSF officials discussed the matter and advised the youths to lodge FIR against Das.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Rescuers work at the blast site in eastern Pakistan's Lahore, Feb. 13, 2017. At least 14 people were killed and 60 others injured when a suicide bomber hit protestors outside provincial assembly in Pakistan's Punjab province on Monday evening, officials said. (Xinhua/Sajjad)

At least 14 people were killed and 60 others injured when a suicide bomber hit protestors outside provincial assembly in Pakistan's Punjab province on Monday evening, officials said.

Malik Ahmad, Spokesperson of Punjab government confirmed that the killed people included two traffic wardens and two senior police officers.

He said that Senior Superintendent Police Zahid Gondal and Deputy Inspector General traffic police Captain Mobeen who were negotiating with the protestors to give way to the traffic were also killed in the attack.

Local Urdu TV channel Dunya said that the blast happened at about 6:02 p.m. local time when hundreds of chemists and pharma manufacturers were protesting against a newly introduced act by Punjab government at the busy Mall Road of the provincial capital of Lahore.

Quoting traffic wardens, local media said that the suicide bomber coming on a motorbike blew himself up in the crowd.

The injured people, including policemen, chemists, and newsmen, have been shifted to nearby state-run hospitals where a state of emergency has been declared.

Hospital sources said that death toll is feared to rise as several among the injured people are in critical condition.

Several vehicles including a Digital Satellite New Gathering (DSNG) van of a local TV channel were completely destroyed in the explosion.

Police and contingent from Pakistan army and paramilitary troops have cordoned off the area for investigation.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

Both the country's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain condemned the blast and directed hospital administration to provide best possible medical treatment to the injured people.

The PM directed the senior officials of Punjab government to reach at the blast site. He also vowed to root out the evil of militancy from the country.

Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa also condemned the explosion and expressed sorrow over the loss of precious lives.

He also directed the troops to help civil government to arrest the people involved in the heinous crime of killing innocent people.
Four persons were killed and over a dozen others injured in a head on collision between two vehicles at Balaur village in Siwan district of Bihar late last night, the police said today.

The mishap happened on Guthni Barauni road under Guthni police station of Siwan district a little before midnight last night, Station house officer (SHO) of Guthni Mohammed Akbar said.

Those killed on the spot have been identified as Passi (35), Chandan Singh (22), Mantoo Gaur (22) and Umakamkar (60), the SHO said.

The victims were returning from a 'Tilak' ceremony when their car collided head on with another vehicle near Balaur village last night, the SHO added.

The bodies have been sent to Siwan Sadar Hospital for post-mortem.

Two of the seriously injured have been referred to Patna, Akbar said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Seven Kenyan doctors who are officials of the medics union were jailed for failing to call off a two-month strike by doctors at public hospitals that has seen several die due to lack of medical care.

Judge Hellen Wasilwa said she could not delay further the contempt of court sentence she had suspended earlier on condition the doctors call off their strike. At least 5,000 doctors are on strike for better pay and to protest the dilapidated state of Kenya's public health care.

"This court declines to review its order sentencing the applicants to one month jail term ... You can now start serving your sentences, those are the orders of the court," Wasilwa said yesterday.

The Kenyan Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union said it has called off all communications with President Uhuru Kenyatta's government until their officials are released.

"There will be no negotiations as long as the union officials are in jail ... Jailing them is actually stalling the negotiations to end the strike. It is not a solution," said Thuranira Kaugiria, a top union official.

Kenyan paramilitary police were later deployed to disperse hundreds of doctors holding a peaceful vigil in support of their colleagues that was being covered live on TV.

Doctors want the government to implement pay raises agreed upon in 2013. That agreement would raise their salaries by 180 per cent. Currently doctors earn an average basic salary of USD 400 to USD 850 per month compared to a Kenya legislator who earns nearly USD 14,000 a month.

The strike has caused a near-total paralysis in the Kenya's public health sector and many are believed to have died from a lack of emergency services. Early in December, President Kenyatta said at least 20 people had died as a result of the strike.

Kenyatta has twice asked the doctors to return to work, first appealing to their humanity for the suffering masses and then offering a partial increase of the salary hikes agreed upon in 2013.

The doctors' union rejected both offers and urged the government to pay the full salary increases promised three years ago.

Kenyatta has said his government must cut down on a ballooning wage bill which he says is not sustainable.

Respected anti-corruption crusaders have said the problem is not the wage bill but corruption. Several large-scale corruption scandals exposed recently including one at the health ministry where government auditors questioned the diversion of USD 46 million have brought many Kenyans to question the president's commitment to ending graft.

John Githongo, a former Kenyan government adviser who exposed millions of dollars in government corruption in the previous regime, makes similar allegations.

"This is the most corrupt government we have in history," said Githongo, charging that the government has the resources to pay doctors, but officials are diverting the funds.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An all-party meeting here, convened by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, today decided to take joint efforts to turn politically-volatile Kannur into a 'violence-free' zone.

The meeting was convened at the District Collectorate here as part of efforts to broker peace in the northern district, where clashes, especially between ruling CPI(M) and BJP, are frequent.

Attended by leaders of major political parties, including CPI, BJP, RSS, Congress and IUML besides ruling CPI(M), the one and half-hour-long meeting also decided to take its spirit and understanding to the grass root level workers of respective parties.

"Everybody (attended the meeting) shared the same sentiments to keep Kannur violence-free. The peace efforts taken under the aegis of the district authorities and the ministers have played a crucial role in reducing the incidents of violence in the district," Vijayan told reporters later.

"Joint efforts should be made to ensure that such efforts fully realises its goal. The incidents of violence can be reduced only if the peace efforts reach the grass root level of respective parties," he said.

Incidents of amassing armaments by party workers were reported in many parts of the district, but Vijayan said he did not think that it was with the knowledge of party leaderships.

"But, respective party leaderships should give strong signals against such trends to the grass root level workers. Police will intensely continue its efforts to unearth armaments. Public should also come forward to tip information in this regard," he said.

The Chief Minister also gave strict directions to probe the cases impartially and fulfil their duties without succumbing to any outside pressures.

Besides Vijayan, minister Kadannappally Ramachandran, CPI(M) MP from Kannur P K Sreemathi, party state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, senior BJP leader P K Krishnadas and RSS leader P Gopalan Kutty also took part in the meeting.

Last month, a 52-year-old BJP worker was stabbed to death allegedly by CPI(M) activists at Andaloor in Dharmadam, the constituency of Pinarayi Vijayan, and a country bomb hurled at the RSS Karyalaya at nearby Thaliparamba.

A country bomb was also hurled allegedly by BJP workers at a meeting venue at Thalassery, where Balakrishnan had addressed a meeting on January 26.

BJP has been claiming that attacks on its cadres have increased since the CPI(M)-led LDF government came to power.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Auto components maker Amtek Auto today reported widening of its standalone net loss at Rs 241.56 crore for the quarter ended December 2016.

The company had posted a net loss of Rs 175.36 crore in the same quarter last fiscal.

Net sales during the period under review stood at Rs 438.40 crore as against Rs 824.69 crore in the year-ago quarter, the company said in a BSE filing.

Shares of Amtek Auto ended 0.84 per cent down to close at Rs 36.10 on BSE.

*****



Surya Roshni starts campaign against spurious LED products * Leading lighting products maker Surya Roshni has commenced a nationwide campaign to create awareness among consumers about the menace of fictitious and spurious LED products in the market place.

The company, which has invested Rs 50 crore in R&D for LED segment has plans to invest more in the coming years to have an innovative range of products.

Presently, Surya enjoys number two position in lighting trade segment in India.

*****



HFCL Q3 net dips 70% to Rs 21 crore



* Domestic telecom gear firm HFCL today posted about 70 per cent decline in its standalone net profit at Rs 21.03 crore in the October-December 2016.

The company has registered Rs 70.42 crore in the same period a year ago.

Sales of HFCL also declined by 32.75 per cent to Rs 441.99 crore during the reported quarter from Rs 657.26 crore in the corresponding period of 2015-16.

Shares of HFCL closed at Rs 13.99 a unit, marginally down compared to previous close on BSE today.

*****



Nubia Selects B2X as customer care partner in India * Chinese smartphone maker Nubia Technology has selected B2X as its customer care partner for India.

"Premium Service is an integral part of the Nubia experience and we are happy that we have found in B2X a partner that helps us deliver on that promise. We are going to introduce a number of unique and special services for Nubia in India in the near future," Ying Deng, Head of customer service at Nubia, said in a statement.

B2X serves also serves other mobile brands such as Apple, Lenovo, OnePlus, Samsung and Xiaomi.

The walk-in service center network operated by B2X provides personal support and service for any related issues in all Indian big cities at 34 locations, the statement said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Actress Amy Jackson has announced that the last leg of her film "2.0" will be shot here.

The 25-year-old actress took to Twitter to share the alongside a picture of director, Shankar handling the camera.

"Last leg of #2point0 with Shankar and the team! Next stop Mumbai," wrote Amy.

The "Freaky Ali" actress, along with the cast and crew of the second installment of the Tamil film "Enthiran" will head to Mumbai for the final shooting schedule.

The film stars South megastar Rajinikanth reprising the roles of Dr Vaseegaran and Chitti, with actor Akshay Kumar.

The movie will also be released in Telugu and Hindi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Veteran All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) legislator Semmalai on Tuesday extended his support to O Panneerselvam, giving a boost to the chief minister's camp.

Semmalai, the MLA from Mettur and a former minister, arrived at the chief minister's Greenways Road residence and extended his support to Panneerselvam, sources in his camp said.

With the arrival of Semmalai, the number of MLAs in the Panneerselvam camp rose to nine, including the chief minister.

The development comes after the Supreme Court convicted the AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala, along with two others in a 20-year-old disproportionate assets case on Tuesday, coming as a twist to the political crisis in Tamil Nadu. The order has been issued at a time when Sasikala had staked a claim to become the chief minister of the state, replacing O Panneerselvam.

This means Sasikala won't be able to contest elections for the next 10 years. TV reports claimed that Sasikala broke down after hearing the verdict at the resort she was staying in.

On February 5, AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala was elected as the Legislature Party Leader.

However, two days later, Panneerselvam had raised a banner of revolt against her, alleging he was forced to step down for her.
Around 35 per cent posts of teachers are lying vacant in 23 IITs across the country, an query has revealed.

"As against sanctioned strength of 7,744 teachers, 5,072 teachers are teaching 82,603 students in 23 IITs. This means 2,672 posts are lying vacant which is 35 per cent," Neemuch-based activist Chandrashekhar Gaud told PTI today citing a reply from an official in Union HRD ministry.

The break-up was given till October 1, 2016.

Gaud said the current teacher-student ratio in IITs stood at 1:16 though these institutes are trying to achieve the 1:10 ratio.

Meanwhile, "Super 30" founder Anand Kumar said, "the government opened new IITs in the last couple of years in a haste, but has failed to provide necessary infrastructure like laboratories etc. This is affecting the quality of these IITs, which lin long term could affect the brand IIT at global level."



According to Gaud, the old IITs too are affected by the shortage of teachers.

"In old IITs, 30 per cent posts of teachers are lying vacant at IIT Bombay, Delhi (35%), Guwahati (27%), Kanpur (37%), Kharagpur (46%), Madras (28%), Roorkee (45%) and IIT BHU (47%)," he said quoting from the HRD reply.

In these eight IITs, only 3935 teachers are working against 6250 posts, which is 37 per cent lesser than sanctioned strength.

The shortfall of teachers in IIT Bhubaneshwar is 35%, IIT Gandhinagar (11%), IIT Hyderabad (16%), IIT Jodhpur (39%), IIT Patna (20%), IIT Rpar (24%), IIT Tirupati (39%), IIT Palakkad (28%) and IIT Dhanbad (36%).
The plus two examination in Bihar began today amid reports of leak of question paper on social media which was dismissed by the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) as "false and fake".

The first sitting of the examination was marred by reports on social media about leak of Biology paper which was splashed by private TV channels.

But, BSEB Chairman Anand Kishore dismissed the paper leak as "false and fake".

"The report of paper leak which went viral on social media in course of probe was found to be false and fake," BSEB Chairman told reporters.

12,61,793 students are appearing in the state plus two examination out of which 7,04,868 are boys and 5,56,925 girls.

The state plus two examination are being held at 1274 centres across Bihar and would end on February 25.

A large number of examinees were nabbed using unfair means and many others for impersonation.

A total of 240 examinees were expelled for using unfair means in the examination, the BSEB sources said.

Cracking whip of errant officials, the BSEB Chairman ordered suspension of two centre superintendents at Darbhanga and Gopalganj on charge of dereliction of duty.

Three invigilators have also been suspended, the BSEB PRO said.

A toppers scam had broken out in 2016 when during a media interview Arts topper Ruby Roy described her subject as "Prodikal science" in place of political science and which she had said was related to cooking.

Subsequent investigation had revealed that the rot was deep as a result of which a comprehensive probe ordered by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the degree of Ruby Roy and those of Science topper Rahul Kumar and some others were annulled.

The then Chairman of the BSEB Lalkeshwar Singh, his former JD(U) MLA wife Usha Sinha and kingpin of the exam racket Bachha Rai were arrested.

Giving details, the BSEB PRO said out 240 examinees



held using unfair means and impersonating for others, maximum 30 were from Gaya.

A total of five examinees were held from different centres of Patna, he said.

In Madhepura, nine persons who had gathered outside examination centres with an intent to supply chits to their candidates notwithstanding prohibitory order under section 144 of CRPC in force, were arrested, he added.

It was a busy day for senior IAS officer Anand Kishore who is now heading BSEB.

Kishore made unannounced visit at several exam centres including Gardanibagh girls school, B N Collegiate among others in the state capital and himself frisked some examinees.

Secretary, Education department Jitendra Shrivastava accompanied Kishore in surprise inspection.

BSEB has taken several strict measures.

Bar coding of answer sheets has been introduced this time besides formation of a WhatsApp group for dealing with complaint of cheating at any centre.

One invigilator for every 25 examinees have been appointed and endowed with the task to frisk each and every candidate to ensure no cheating during the examination.
Mizoram Governor Lt Gen Nirbhay Sharma (Retd) today summoned the budget session of the state legislature to commence from March 14, Additional Secretary of the Assembly S R Zokhuma said.

Zokhuma told PTI that the detailed program of the length of the session would be chalked out by the Business Advisory Committee (BAC), chaired by Speaker Hiphei, which would hold a meeting soon.

Sharma would deliver his customary Governor's address on the first day of the session while the state Finance minister Lalsawta would present the state annual budget for 2017-2018 on a day fixed by the BAC.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The strike in Delhi-NCR by thousands of Ola and Uber drivers demanding better pay entered its fifth day, which led to autorickshaws fleecing commuters.

Sarvodaya Driver Association of Delhi (SDAD) reiterated to continue the indefinite strike until their demands are addressed by either these two app-based cab agregators or the Delhi government.

The union claimed to represent 1.5 lakh of drivers in Delhi, Nodia, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurugram and other cities.

A senior government official said it has been noticed that some miscreants were vandalizing vehicles and harassing the public, including women and elderly passengers.

"Majority of the drivers are not in favour of any strike but some external anti-social elements are illegally preventing the app-based drivers from plying their vehicles," the official said.

SDAD vice-president Ravi Rathore said, "So far, no representative either from Ola, Uber or the government has approached us despite the fact that we have been on strike since Friday.

"We will continue to raise our voice against 'low fares' and 'lacking' basis amenities companies provide us."



Thousands of drivers have gone on the indefinite strike in protest against "low fares" and "lack" of basic amenities from app-based taxi aggregators.

On Ola's app, there was no cab available at times during evening peak hours while Uber's app showed taxis on some routes. The companies have been resorting to surge pricing during peak hours in both morning and evening since the strike has begun.

Asked about Delhi High Court's yesterday order, Rathore said that his union members are not stopping those drivers who want to run their taxis.

Yesterday, HC restrained anyone, including two taxi drivers' unions, from interfering with the running of app-based cabs of Uber, whose services had been disrupted due the recent strike by drivers.

"Delhi government should intervene in the matter. They (drivers) cannot harass us. Autorickshaw drivers are taking the advantage of strike and are fleecing commuters," Anuj Chauhan, a resident of Dwarka, said.

Earlier in the day, Delhi government called a meeting with representatives of Ola, Uber and some members of unions which are not participating in the strike.

"Government has asked these companies to prepare agreement with drivers in Hindi henceforth so that they read all conditions. Tomorrow, another meeting may be called to find a solution," Balwant Singh, President of Rajdhani Tourist Drivers' Union.

He said app-based cab companies made "tall promises" to drivers-- like they would earn as much as Rs 1.5 lakh every month.

These companies are making us run taxis at Rs 6 per km while they charge 25 per cent from us, Singh said.

(REOPENS DES52)



In the meeting with Ola and Uber representatives, the government conveyed to the companies to look into the problems faced by drivers, including the demand for a reasonable compensation with regard to the incurred cost of operation and other welfare measures for the drivers.

Transport Minister Satyendar Jain has directed the department officials to inform the Delhi Police about the exact locations where miscreants were indulging in vandalism and complaints should be lodged in concerned police stations for registration of criminal cases against such persons.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will seek to quell protectionist headwinds when he travels to Europe to mark the EU parliament's ratification of a landmark free-trade pact with Canada.

In a speech Thursday to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, Trudeau is expected to heap praise on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

"He will talk about how it is the most progressive trade agreement in the world and how it should serve as a model for subsequent trade agreements between countries," an official in his office said.

Trudeau will also emphasize the importance of explaining the benefits of trade agreements to average citizens, given the "anxiety in the global economy particularly with middle-class citizens around the world not feeling the same benefits from the economy as they have in previous generations."



Without that buy-in, he intends to say, countries will face "larger problems."



The speech will come one day after the European Union parliament is scheduled to vote to ratify CETA.

Afterward Trudeau will head to Berlin for a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel. He also will travel to Hamburg, Germany, where he will give a keynote address at a Saint Matthew's dinner.

Coming on the heels of Trudeau's first meeting in Washington with US President Donald Trump this week, the Canadian prime minister, a fervent supporter of free trade, is not expected to directly raise the issue of US protectionism.

"He will reinforce the point that trade deals like (CETA) are important for the world rather than directly addressing any protectionism or anti-trade sentiments that are out there," the official said.

Trump, who took office January 20, repeatedly bashed the North American Free Trade Agreement between the US, Canada and Mexico on the campaign trail and vowed to renegotiate it.

With Merkel, Trudeau is also expected to discuss immigration and refugees, and Canadian security commitments in Latvia.

NATO contributions will come up. Washington has called on NATO members to boost defense spending to two percent of their economic output. Canada spends less than one percent.

"We will reiterate... That we are quite comfortable with our contribution to NATO," the official said.

On the trip, Trudeau will be accompanied by Canadian ambassador-designate to the EU, Stephane Dion, as well as foreign affairs and trade ministers Chrystia Freeland and Francois-Philippe Champagne, respectively.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a bid to wean away youngsters from western culture of celebrating 'Valentine Day', several schools and colleges across the district observed 'Parents' Day' today following the district administration's orders.

Earlier on February 6, district collector J K Jain had come out with an order directing all educational and social institutions to observe February 14 as 'Matra-Pitra Pujya Diwas' (Worship of mother and father day).

"The district collector's appeal to observe the day as 'Matra-Pitra Pujya Diwas' was widely appreciated and programmes were held in the educational and social institutions," Education Department's Rajya Shiksha Mission's assistant in-charge Rajiv Sathe said.

"In some educational institutions, mothers of the students were invited where they sought blessings from them in school," Sathe added.

He said that not only in the city but the schools in the villages and towns across the district also held such programmes in which parents were revered.

"Such programmes were also organised in the government and private schools of Junnardev, Damua, Parasia, Amarwara, Sausar and other parts of the city," he informed.

"It will be organised every year on this day as the people have appreciated this initiative a lot," he added.

The parents have also expressed happiness over this move.

"This was the happiest moment for me when I was revered along with my wife in the school of my daughter. This will promote the Indian culture," said Balram Sahu, whose daughter Purvi is studying in class fourth in a school.

As per district collector's order, "All educational and social institutions in the district are directed to observe this day (as 'Matra-Pitra Pujya Diwas') and it is expected to be organised in a grand manner at home, family, village, city and colony level."



Meanwhile, an organisation - Gau Raksha Utthan Samiti held a protest today Bairagarh area of Bhopal to oppose the celebrations of Valentine Day.

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Beijing has expelled dozens of South Korean missionaries working in northeast China including some helping North Korean refugees, activists said today, as relations sour over Seoul's planned US missile defence system.

Around 170 South Koreans - including 70 missionaries and their family members - in the province of Jilin bordering North Korea were expelled between January 10 and February 10, human rights activist Pastor Kim Hee-Tae told AFP.

"Chinese authorities raided the homes of the missionaries, citing a problem with their visas, and told them to leave," Kim said, adding that most of them were on tourist or student visas.

The number of registered South Korean missionaries in China stands at around 500. Activists say some 2,000 Christians are offering humanitarian services there, including helping North Korean fugitives in their perilous flight.

Kim said around 20 per cent of the expelled missionaries were looking after North Korean refugees. He said some 40 fugitives were believed to have been repatriated to the North as a result of the raids.

North Korean fugitives typically cross first into China, then attempt to travel on via a third country to South Korea. They can face harsh punishment if sent back.

Some missionary groups in the South are voluntarily recalling workers as Chinese authorities continue their crackdown, Kim said.

South Korea's foreign ministry has advised missionary groups to take "extra caution" when working overseas.

Although China bans foreign missionary work, authorities in the past have turned a blind eye to groups operating in the impoverished northeast as they provide badly needed funds and supplies.

"Such group expulsion is unprecedented," said Jeon Ho-Jung, a spokesman for the Korea World Missions Association, adding that the crackdown appeared to be another fallout from the diplomatic tensions.

Seoul and Washington agreed last year to install the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system in the South following a series of North Korean nuclear and missile tests.

The move infuriated China, which fears the system's radar will be able to spy on its own missile capabilities.

Beijing has imposed what Seoul sees as a string of retaliatory sanctions, including new restrictions on Korean celebrities performing in China and tougher customs rules for Korean products.

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: The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, the country's major fisheries research centre, is all set to celebrate its platinum jubilee to mark eventful 70 years of research in the area of marine fisheries.

Kerala Governor Justice P Sathasivam will kick off the one year-long celebrations at 2.30 PM on February 18 at the CMFRI Headquarters in Kochi.

Dr J K Jena, Deputy Director General (Fisheries) of ICAR, New Delhi will preside over the function.

Established as a Marine Fisheries Research Station on February 3 in 1947 in Madras, the institute joined the Indian Council Agricultural Research, (ICAR) family in 1967 and started functioning as a premier research establishment to undertake marine fisheries research in the country.

Apart from estimation of marine fish landings, its valuation and taxonomic studies,CMFRI research are diversified to a variety of niche areas like sea farming and coastal mariculture, development of hatchery technologies for commercially viable marine fish species, cage farming, biotechnological applications of marine resources,biodiversity studies, development of sustainable ecosystem management interventions, policy studies and so on.

Apart from the Headquarters, ICAR-CMFRI, the country's national R&D body in marine fisheries has 11 Regional Research Centres at Mandapam Camp, Visakhapatnam, Veraval, Mumbai, Chennai, Calicut, Karwar, Tuticorin, Vizhinjam, Mangalore and Digha, in addition to 15 field centres throughout the coastal belts of the country and 1 KVK at Narakkal, Ernakulum.

154 scientists and over 600 other staff are working at the CMFRI in as many as 10 research Divisions.

According to A Gopalakrishnan, Director of CMFRI, the institute has grown significantly in size and stature over the past seven decades, emerging as a leading tropical marine fisheries research institute in the world.

CMFRI has displayed an unparalleled research acumen and unbridled commitment which helped in boosting the marine fish production and management of the fisheries sector and for the livelihood of 40 lakh fisherfolk of the country, he said.

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The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has rescued 10 crew members of a fishing boat from Kochi that was stranded in the Arabian sea off Porbandar coast of Gujarat after an engine breakdown.

The barge, V Matha 2, which had set sail from Kochi on January 3, suffered an engine breakdown and was stranded in the Arabian sea off Porbandar coast, the ICG said in a press release today.

The boat somehow managed to communicate with the passing Panama-flagged vessel MT Ocean Gas on radio frequency for assistance, which in turn, alerted Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) at Mumbai, it said.

The MRCC then contacted ICG in Gandhinagar on February 12 after which Coast Guard ship Arush was rushed to assist the fishermen and the boat stranded in deep sea, it said.

"The stranded fishing boat had apparently raised a Panama-flagged vessel MT Ocean Gas on VHF for assistance, reportedly for an engine breakdown. The Coast Guard coordination network reacted to the far cry of this boat stranded about 142 NM West of Porbandar," it said.

The rescue vessel reached the spot late afternoon on February 12, and towed the boat to Porbandar coast after almost 30 hours as its engine was seized due to lack of lubrication, it said.

"Basic medical aid was provided to an unwell crew by the ICG ship's medical team. The said boat, with 10 crew of mixed regional backgrounds, revealed they had been at sea since January 3 and touched the Veraval port on February 4 for routine replenishment," the release said.

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A court here today extended by four days the police remand of the kingpin of a spy racket recently busted in Madhya Pradesh after the prosecution informed his custody was required to gather evidence in the case.

Eleven people were arrested by the Madhya Pradesh Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) in connection with the racket allegedly being operated from Pakistan.

Judicial Magistrate Kamlesh Kumar sent Balram Singh from Satna district and three others -- Manish Gandhi, Dhurv Saxena and Mohit Agrawal -- from Bhopal to police custody after the prosecution informed the court that it was yet to recover documents in connection with the espionage.

The ATS informed the court that it was yet to recover evidence pertaining to their activities, seize diaries, details of bank accounts and ATM card from Balram used in the espionage.

The prosecution submitted that it was yet to track down the bank staffers and people who helped Balram to open accounts with forged papers given that the oversees handlers used to route money to the prime accused, who in turn used to distribute it to his accomplices for snooping important Indian establishments.

The ATS also informed that it was yet to recover forged documents from Manish using which he had bought the SIM cards for spying.

Similarly, the prosecution took Dhurv and Mohit in remand saying it has to recover imported SIM boxes used in the espionage.

However, two others Mohan Gupta and Sandeep Gupta from Jabalpur district involved in the racket were sent to judicial custody till February 27 by the court.

Earlier on February 12, Judicial Magistrate Shala Sirohi sent to jail Trilok Bhadoria, Ritesh Khullar, Jitendra Yadav, Jitendra Singh Thakur and Lashkar Pandit from Gwalior involved in spying, till February 27.

(Reopens LGB 4)



The ATS had arrested 11 people on February 9 from different parts of the state after Satvinder Singh and Dadu were nabbed along the R S Pura sector on the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir for sharing secret information of strategic establishments to their overseas handlers last November.

The two had reportedly revealed that they were gathering secret information regarding the locations of the Army and other security forces, and sharing these with Pakistan on a social networking app.

The accused had been charged with passing on crucial information of vital installations in Madhya Pradesh to their overseas handlers.

"Around 3,000 SIM cards, nearly 50 mobile phone instruments and many SIM boxes (an imported gadget or exchange system that holds multiple SIM cards) have been seized from the accused," an ATS official said.

"The overseas handlers used to connect to Madhya Pradesh from different international cities as calls from Pakistan are under strict surveillance in India," according to the officer.

The overseas handlers primarily used Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to communicate with the accused to get information, the official said.

"The modus operandi of the racket communication was that the handlers through Internet calls would connect with the accused from some city abroad (except Pakistan) through the imported SIM boxes that were used and kept by the receivers in Madhya Pradesh. These boxes converted the Internet call into GSM calls," he said.

Calls forwarded from the SIM boxes automatically erased the caller's identity from the display and showed the international calls as local, the official said.

In this parallel communication of the accused, some staffers of telecom companies too were involved, he said.
A possible rail mishap was today averted after a cut in a track was detected between Chandausi and Moradabad railway sections in the district, in yet another incident of track damage.

The 32 mm cut in track was detected by a railway gangman on patrol at 3:15 AM near Mohammadganj village following which senior officers were informed.

Equipment used to cut it was also found near the track.

Senior officers and forensic teams have reached the spot and are probing the matter.

Earlier on February 9, an attempt was made to damage a railway track on Chandausi-Aligarh route near Chandausi railway station here.

On a tip off, police had detected equipment near track and on inspection found that attempts were made to damage the track.

There has been a spurt in incidents of damage to track in the country this year.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had told Lok Sabha recently that there had been seven "blast attempts" and three cases of attempted sabotage of rail tracks.

"There have been unusual activities in the last few days and some incidents were averted due to the alertness of railway personnel," the Minister had said.

Railways have cited "outside interference" as the possible reason of derailment in more than 40 such cases this year.

Citing some recent incidents, a railway official had said "outside interference was found" in some cases near Kanpur, Mumbai, Hajipur and other areas where fish plates were removed and a large rail piece was placed on the track.

The Railways was now in the process of putting in place latest technology like ultrasonic track detection system to find out fractures so that early warning can prevent mishaps.

Besides technology, Prabhu has said the Railway Protection Force has been asked to evolve a forensic strategy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Lt Governor Anil Baijal has cleared another proposal by the Delhi government to increase the monthly pensions of widows, senior citizens and the disabled by Rs 1,000 each.

"The Lt Governor has cleared the proposal of increasing pensions of senior citizens, widows and disabled persons," an official said.

The Delhi Cabinet had approved the government's proposal for the same last month.

Currently, 4.52 lakh people are covered under the scheme while the upper limit allowed is 5.3 lakhs.

The disability pension has been raised from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500 while the pension for widows and destitute women has been raised from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500.

While the disability pension was last revised in 2012, pension of senior citizens were earlier revised in 2011 and 2008.

Baijal had recently okayed the AAP government's ambitious proposal of setting up mohalla clinics on premises of government schools in the national capital.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Eight people were today killed when an ambulance carrying them collided with a truck standing along the Bast-Faizabad National Highway near Chureb village here, police said.

The incident took place this morning in Khalilabad area when the ambulance was taking a patient, Ramchandra Barnawal (65), for treatment to Lucknow from Deoria, along with his family members.

Those killed included Ramchandra, Manoj (50), Sushil (52), Shweta (35), Kamal (32), Bhim Barnwal (34), compounder Habibullah (42) and the ambulance driver Sonu (26).

The bodies of victims have been sent for post-mortem.

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The Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC), apex body for engineering exporters, today said it has received representations from several members claiming that payments to the tune of over Rs 100 crore for shipments to Iran have been held up.

The lack of clear banking mechanism and channels have caused the problem, EEPC India said in a statement here.

"Under the Foreign Trade Policy, export proceeds in Iran can be treated at par with Foreign Convertible Currency (FCC). The modus operandi is through UCO Bank. The Indian banks are not handling payments or any form of commercial transaction and hence the UCO Bank was allowed to handle INR proceeds. But Iranians do not have Rupee balances but they are willing to pay in FCC," the EEPC India statement said.

As a result, the payments are held up and goods are detained at sea ports leading to demurrage and detention, it added.

Further, exporters run the risk of losing the money, as buyers may refuse to accept the cargo charges.

The EEPC India said the issue has been pending before the authorities for quite some time and discussions have also taken place at different levels.

"No solution has come about as yet. As a result, companies are not receiving their payment. It is estimated that over Rs 100 crore are pending for payment by the Iranians to Indian exporters," it noted.

It has suggested among other options that the UCO Bank should be allowed to accept FCC or euro from Iran and eBRC (electronic bank realisation certificate) be issued.

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Police today claimed to have busted an inter-state sex racket by arresting eight persons, including four women.

"Police raided an apartment at Bengali Chouraha and arrested eight persons including four women. Two among them are from Delhi," Khajrana police station in-charge Kamlesh Sharma said.

Among them, Sagar Jain and his brother Kapil were working as pimps.

Jain was arrested in the past as well for running the sex rackets, he said.

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The Bombay High Court has directed the Goa government to inform it ofits stand in view of the Supreme Court judgement making it mandatory to convene a session of the Legislative Assembly within six months of its last sitting.

The division bench of the court here asked the Goa government to come forward with its stand on February 27.

The direction came after the court took up the hearing of a petition filed by social activist Aires Rodrigues seeking directions to the Goa Government to comply with the mandate of Article 174 of the Constitution by either summoning a session or dissolving the Goa Legislative Assembly.

Drawing the court's attention that the last session of the Goa Legislative Assembly was on August 31, 2016, Rodrigues pointed out that the Law department had in November last year moved a file for summoning the session and on January 6, 2017had also opined that the Assembly needed to be dissolved.

He pleaded that the state government had just been sitting on the advice given by the Law department.

In the petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution, Rodrigues has stated that surprisingly there was no proposal by the government to convene a Session of the Legislative Assembly as required under the Constitution though the government was duty bound to ensure that the constitutional mandate is followed.

Rodrigues has pointed out that in terms of Article 174 of the Constitution it was the duty of the Governor to summon the House and that six months should not pass between its last sitting and the next sitting.

Submitting that there was an imminent danger of a constitutional breakdown and the continuance of an illegal and unconstitutional government, Rodrigues in his petition has stated that a government which defies the Constitution or does not follow the Constitutional mandate cannot continue in office even for a moment and requires to be dismissed.

Rodrigues has stated that the continuation of the Legislative Assembly without its meeting in compliance with Article 174 of the Constitution would not only be a travesty of the Constitutional mandate but also an absolute breakdown of the Constitutional scheme.

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The half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has been assassinated in Malaysia, South Korea's Yonhap agency reported today.

The agency quoted a Seoul government source as saying Kim Jong-Nam was killed yesterday. The source gave no further details.

Officials in Seoul were not immediately available for comment.

The 45-year-old was poisoned by two unidentified female agents using poisoned needles at an airport in Kuala Lumpur, according to South Korean broadcaster TV Chosun.

The report, citing what it called multiple government sources, said the two women hailed a cab and fled immediately afterwards.

In Malaysia, the police chief in charge of Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Assistant Commissioner Abdul Aziz Ali, told AFP a Korean in his forties was found sick at the airport yesterday.

Airport authorities rushed him to the hospital and he died on the way, the police chief said.

"We do not have any other details of this Korean man. We do not know his identity," Abdul said.

Kim Jong-Nam was once considered heir apparent but fell out of favour with his father Kim Jong-Il following a botched attempt in 2001 to enter Japan on a forged passport and visit Disneyland.

He has since lived in virtual exile, mainly in the Chinese territory of Macau.

Kim Jong-Un took over as North Korean leader when his father died in December 2011.

Kim Jong-Nam, known as an advocate of reform in the North, once told a Japanese newspaper that he opposed his country's dynastic power transfers.

If confirmed, Kim's case would be the highest-profile death under the Kim Jong-Un regime since the execution of the leader's uncle Jang Song-Thaek in December 2013.

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The half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has been assassinated in Malaysia, South Korean media reported today, with one TV station saying he was attacked at the country's main airport with poisoned needles.

Officials in Seoul could not be reached for comment on the reported death of Kim Jong-Nam. Malaysian police said an unidentified Korean had been taken sick at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and since died.

If confirmed, Kim Jong-Nam's case would be the highest-profile death under the Kim Jong-Un regime since the execution of the leader's uncle Jang Song-Thaek in December 2013.

Kim Jong-Un has been trying to strengthen his grip on power in the face of growing international pressure over his country's nuclear and missile programmes. He has reportedly staged a series of executions.

The latest launch on Sunday of a new intermediate-range missile brought UN Security Council condemnation and vows of a strong response from US President Donald Trump.

South Korea's national agency Yonhap quoted a Seoul government source as saying Kim Jong-Nam was killed on Monday.

Another source cited by Yonhap said agents of the North's spy agency, the Reconnaissance General Bureau, carried out the assassination by taking advantage of a security loophole between Jong-Nam's bodyguards and Malaysian police at the airport.

The 45-year-old was killed by two unidentified female agents using poisoned needles at the airport, according to South Korean broadcaster TV Chosun.

That report, citing what it called multiple government sources, said the two women hailed a cab and fled immediately afterwards.

In Malaysia, the police chief in charge of Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Assistant Commissioner Abdul Aziz Ali, told AFP a Korean in his forties was found sick at the airport on Monday.

Airport authorities rushed him to hospital and he died on the way, the police chief said.

"We do not have any other details of this Korean man. We do not know his identity," Abdul said.

Kim Jong-Nam, the eldest son of Kim Jong-Il, was once seen as heir apparent but fell out of favour following an embarrassing botched attempt in 2001 to enter Japan on a forged passport and visit Disneyland.

He has since lived in virtual exile, mainly in the Chinese territory of Macau.

Jong-Nam's half-brother Jong-Un took over as North Korean leader when their father died in December 2011.

Jong-Nam, known as an advocate of reform in the North, once told a Japanese newspaper that he opposed his country's dynastic power transfers.

He was reportedly close to his uncle Jang Song-Thaek, once the North's unofficial number two and political mentor of the current leader.

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Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today said that the state government is considering to organise the Surajkund International Crafts Mela twice in a year.

He said the government is contemplating this keeping in view the enthusiasm of the people and increasing demand of artisans.

Khattar, who was interacting with High Commissioner of Sri Lanka Chitranganee Wagiswara at Surajkund near here, said that he was of the view that the crafts persons should get more time to sell their artifacts.

Therefore, the Mela should commence from first Friday of February and continue upto third Sunday of the month, he said.

Wagiswara was all praise of the arrangements and facilities being provided to the artisans at the fair and requested the chief minister to consider Sri Lanka as partner country for the next edition of the Mela.

She said that Sri Lanka has been participating in the Crafts Mela for the last nine years and was a partner country in the year 2014.

Khattar said that as there are a lot of similarities between India and Sri Lanka, troupes of artists from Haryana should be sent to the island nation to further promote the state's culture and traditions.

To this, Wagiswara said that Haryana could send a proposal under the India-Sri Lanka Foundation to send their artists.

The meeting of India-Sri Lanka Foundation is scheduled to be held on March 10.

It was also informed in the meeting that Surajkund International Crafts Mela is the largest crafts mela of the world, an official spokesman said.

Haryana has already received proposals from three countries to become partner country for the Mela next year. The sale of entry tickets has recorded a new high of Rs 4.50 crore as against the sale amounting to Rs 4.29 crore last year, the spokesman said.

It was informed that about 1,000 families are earning their livelihood through this mela by selling their artifacts.

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Electrical appliances maker Havells today said it has launched a range of fans, including a bluetooth technology enabled smart fan which can be controlled by any iOS or android smartphone.

The company has also unveiled afanwitheight blades alongwith aBLDCtechnologyfanwhichis57per cent more energy efficient than a conventional fan, a company release said.

"We are delighted to introduce a wide range of fans, which is set torevolutionisethefanindustryinIndia.Conceived anddesignedbyourin-house R&D team,the fansare a testimonyto Havells'unflinching commitment to design and high quality," Havells India Executive Vice President Saurabh Goel said.

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Indifi Tech appoints Maninder Juneja as Strategic Advisor * Fintech startup - Indifi Technologies has raised USD 10 million Series B funding and has appointed Maninder Juneja as a strategic advisor to the company.

The company has raised USD 10 million in series B funding, which was led by Omidyar Networks.

Amongst existing investors, Accel Partners and Elevar Equity participated in the investment, a company release said.

At present, Maninder Juneja is an MD at True North Managers LLP and prior to that, he was associated with ICICI Bank.

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Delhi High Court today sought the responses of the Centre and the AAP government on a plea seeking to quash the notification laying down the manner of allocation of wards for reserved categories and women in the upcoming MCD polls in the national capital.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal also issued notice to the state election commission and three municipal corporations in which the election are scheduled to be held for 272 wards in April.

The court directed all the authorities to file their replies before March 8.

The direction came after the NGO 'We the citizens' moved the court challenging the poll panel's February 6 notification, announcing the election in three corporations.

In its plea, the NGO said the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) in 2011 was divided into three zone -- North Delhi Municipal Corporation, East Delhi Municipal Corporation and South Delhi Municipal Corporation.

In 2012, ahead of the MCD elections, a notification was issued regarding allocation of wards amongst schedule caste, women and general category.

Claiming that the present notification was contrary to the Constitution as well as Section 3 of the DMC Act, the NGO demanded that it should be quashed and a fresh circular issued in accordance with law.

It sought direction to identify and determine the municipal wards for the purpose of reservation for schedule caste, women and general category in terms of Article 243T of the Constitution. The Article provides for reservation of seats for the schedule caste in the municipal area by rotation to different constituency in the municipality.

The plea alleged that the poll panel, government and others agencies have not made reservation to different constituencies in a municipality by rotation.

"This is evident from the fact that in Sultanpur Majra Assembly Constituency (AC 10), there are four municipal wards out of which two were already reserved in the year 2007 for schedule caste. In the year 2012, out of four municipal wards one was reserved for schedule caste women and other three wards were made general," the plea claimed.

It said that by the present notification all four municipal wards in the AC 10 have been reserved for the schedule caste. "Therefore, it is against the provisions of Article 243T and therefore it is unconstitutional," it added.

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The United States Commission for International Religious Freedom has put its credibility at stake by publishing a report critical of religious freedom in India by a Pakistan-origin author known for his anti-India stand and support to separatists, a top Hindu-American body has said.

The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) said by coming out with the report by Iqtidar Cheema, director for Institute for Leadership and Community Development, in Birmingham, England, the USCIRF has put its credibility at stake.

The report has alleged that religious minority communities and Dalits face discrimination and persecution in India. It claims there are constitutional provisions and state and national laws in India that do not comply with international standards of freedom of religion or belief.

In a blog post, HAF executive director Suhag Shukla wrote that USCIRF simply gave its imprimatur to the British activist Cheema.

"Cheema, a native of Pakistan, has been honoured by several Pakistani government bodies, and is true to Pakistan's foreign policy goals as well," Shukla wrote, alleging that the report was biased and motivated.

Shukla alleged that Cheema's work provides cover to Pakistan's long-standing support of a proxy war to separate Jammu and Kashmir from India.

"Not surprisingly then, this report fails to mention the plight of over 300,000 Kashmiri Hindu Pandits cleansed from their ancestral homeland in the Valley at the hands of Islamist radicals. Previous commission reports have ignored the same," she said.

"Cheema is also an oft-quoted source to support various organisations that endorse a separatist movement calling for a separate Sikh state, Khalistan - a cause that the vast majority of Sikhs in India refuse to support," she said.

"Khalistani terrorism led to an insurgency which left tens of thousands of Hindus and Sikhs dead in the Indian state of Punjab in the 1980s. This activism took its most bizarre and dangerous turn when Cheema addressed a crowd of Sikh separatists gathered in San Francisco calling for Khalistan and shouts supporting the Babbar Khalsa, a terrorist organisation banned by the UK and India," Shukla said.

"Shockingly, for the first time in USCIRF's history, the Commission makes the overtly Hinduphobic declaration that caste-based discrimination is rooted in Hindu scripture," she said.

"Why would USCIRF launch a spirited defence of American churches shilling for religious converts in India? Why would USCIRF substantiate the horrendous, and easily refuted claim - one that evangelical churches make to goad converts away from Hinduism - that the scriptures of Hinduism not only condone, but divinely sanction the social evil of caste-based," she alleged.

Shuka said USCIRF is the only governmental body to ever designate India, the world's largest democracy and secular republic as a "Country of Particular Concern Watch list", or "Tier 2" list in league with Afghanistan, Turkey, Russia and others.

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The Publications Division under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has tied up with Sasta Sahitya Mandal (SSM) to jointly publish a range of books including those on the lives of Mahatama Gandhi, B R Ambedkar, Valmiki, Bhagat Singh, Deen Dayal Upadhyay besides those on Upanishads, Vedas and Indian culture.

The Publications Division today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for joint publication of books on heroes of freedom struggle, cultural leaders and other eminent personalities who worked towards nation development.

The MoU included joint publication of a set of 20 books out of which 10 books will be selected through each other's catalogue, an I and B ministry statement said.

Among the Publications Division books which have been selected are 'Vedgatha', 'Bodh dharm ke 2500 varsh', 'Bhagat Singh: Dastavejon ke aayine mein', 'Pandit Madanmohan Malviya', Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay etc.

The SSM books which have been chosen include 'Tagore: Ek Aatmkatha', 'Aadikavi Valmiki', 'Gandhi ki kahani' (Louis Fisher), 'Upanishad ki kahaniyan' etc.

In addition, a set of 10 small new books would be finalised on topics such as the freedom struggle, Indian culture, ethics and values for joint publication, the statement said.

SSM is a Trust established by Mahatma Gandhi in 1925 and mandated to promote, develop and publish high class literature in Hindi and to make it available to the public at affordable prices.

"The agreement would also provide an opportunity for both the organisations to enhance their reach by displaying and offering on sale any of publications published by either of the organisations. This MOU is valid for three years from the date of its signing, which can be extendable for similar terms by mutual agreement," the statement said.

Secretary I and B, Ajay Mittal, Secretary, SSM Indranath Choudhuri, ADG, Publications Division, Sadhana Rout and Joint Secretary, Ministry of I and B Mihir Kumar Singh were present on the occasion.

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To bolster its disciplinary mechanism, chartered accountants' grouping ICAI plans to seek powers to temporarily suspend erring members and is examining cases of 34 individuals who purportedly were involved in setting up shell companies.

Asserting that the institute's disciplinary mechanism cannot be influenced, its President Nilesh S Vikamsey today said action would be taken against any member who is found to be involved in wrongdoings.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), which has more than 2.60 lakh members, has a disciplinary mechanism in place to act against those entities violating its norms.

About seeking powers to temporarily suspend erring members, Vikamsey said the idea would be discussed internally and would then be taken for approval of the ICAI Council.

After that process, the institute would write to the government to give that powers, he said, adding efforts are on how to make ICAI regulations more contemporary.

The institute has been set up under an Act of Parliament.

Currently in case of any alleged violation, the institute first seeks explanation from the entity concerned and the matter is taken up by the disciplinary committee -- which has three elected members and two government nominees.

On steps being taken with regard to shell companies, the ICAI President said a few names have come up in this respect.

About shell companies, an ICAI official said there are 34 professionals who have been identified by various agencies.

"... We do not even know whether they are chartered accountants or not... Let the information fully come to us and then we will look at their roles (if they are found to be chartered accountants)," the official said.

These 34 individuals have been identified with respect to alleged illegal cash transactions involving 559 beneficiary companies. The cases happened during 2009, 2010, then 2011, 2012, the official added.

In this regard, Vikamsey said whichever names (of chartered accountants) are clear, action would be taken and "whichever names are unclear, we are seeking information from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and they are supporting us".

The government has decided to take "harsh punitive" action, including freezing of their bank accounts used to launder money or evade taxes.

Meanwhile, Vikamsey also said that a proposal seeking powers to punish a firm in case of violation of ICAI norms is pending with the government for long.

This proposal was mooted after the Satyam case, he said while making it clear that the institute does not want "unbridled powers".

Following a review by the Prime Minister's Office, a task



force with members from regulatory ministries and enforcement agencies has been constituted to monitor action against "deviant" shell companies.

While the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) has filed cases against 49 shell companies, as much as Rs 3,900 crore has been laundered by 559 persons with the help of 54 professionals. Also, Rs 1,238 crore cash has been deposited in shell or dormant companies, post demonetisation.

"There are about 15 lakh registered companies in India and only 6 lakh companies file their annual return. This means a large number of these companies may be indulging in financial irregularities," the PMO had said in a statement on February 10.

Meanwhile, the ICAI Council has taken an in-principle decision to liberalise the ethical standards of the institute.

The Ethical Standards Board is looking at international standards as a base and what can be done under Indian circumstances, Vikamsey said.

About opening up auditing and accounting profession for foreign firms, he said, "We are not afraid of competition. We want reciprocity. What they want in India, they should allow us in those countries... National interest cannot be sacrificed".

(Reopens DCM 115)



The institute has made a representation before the Finance Ministry amid concerns over certain proposals under which action can be taken against members for certain violations.

"We have already represented to the government," ICAI Vice President Naveen N D Gupta said at a press meet.

As per the latest Budget memorandum, Rs 10,000 fine would be imposed on chartered accountants in case of filing of incorrect returns.

About the representation, ICAI President Nilesh S Vikamsey said, "we are hopeful".

"Under Section 271J (of the Income Tax Act), we have entrusted responsibility with chartered accountants, valuers and merchant bankers who files audit, valuation reports and other things... So, if they file any incorrect information in the returns, they are also liable for a token penalty of Rs 10,000," CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes) Chairman Sushil Chandra had said last week.
Doctors from Ispat General Hospital (IGH) won laurels by bagging four prizes at the All India Steel Medical Officers' Conference (ASMOC).

The team from IGH won three first and a second prize and this number was the highest among participating Hospitals at the conference held at Ranchi from February 10 to 12, a release from Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) today said.

Dr A K Singh, Director In-charge (M&HS) and his team of eight doctors attended the conference.

Dr Sonia Joshi, Senior Deputy Director (Ophthalmology) and Dr M Dasgupta, Senior Medical Officer (Microbiology) won First Prizes and Dr (Maj) P J Roy, Medical Officer, Emergency and Trauma Centre won the Second Prize for their Papers presented at the conference.

The duo of Dr Debashis Mahanta and Dr (Maj) P J Roy participated in Medical Quiz Competition and won the First Prize, it said.

It is noteworthy that Medical Officers from the SAIL Hospitals, RINL, Tata Steel and MECON participated in the Annual Conference which was organised to enhance medical skills and knowledge of Medical Officers of Steel Plants across the country.

It provides a platform for doctors to share latest developments in patient care. This year the Conference was organised by MECON at Ranchi, the release said.

RSP's CEO Ashwini Kumar has congratulated the winners for their exemplary performance and for bringing laurels to RSP.

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US President Donald Trump today said the real story behind the National Security Advisor's resignation is illegal leaks, indicating that it was not the top official misleading him as being reported in the media.

"The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington? Will these leaks be happening as I deal on N. Korea etc?" Trump told his more than 24.8 million followers on Twitter.

His tweet came a day after Gen (rtd) Michael Flynn resigned as the National Security Advisor amidst reports that he mislead the President and Vice President Mike Pence about his conversation with the Russian Ambassador on sanctions.

Flynn resigned after he apologised to Trump and Pence for not providing them all the information about his call with the Russian Ambassador to the US before Trump's inauguration.

Trump has named Lt Gen Joseph Keith Kellogg, Jr. (Ret) as Acting National Security Advisor.

Top Republican Senator John McCain said that Flynn's resignation is a troubling indication of the dysfunction of the current national security apparatus.

"As our nation confronts the most complex and diverse array of global challenges since the end of World War II, it is imperative that the President select a new National Security Advisor who is empowered by clear lines of authority and responsibility and possesses the skills and experience necessary to organize the national security system across our government," he said.

McCain said Flynn's resignation also raises further questions about the Trump administration's intentions toward Vladimir Putin's Russia, including statements by the President suggesting moral equivalence between the US and Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine, annexation of Crimea, threats to NATO allies, and attempted interference in American elections.

"American policy toward Russia must be made clear and unequivocal: we will honor our commitments to our NATO allies, we will maintain and enhance our deterrent posture in Europe, we will hold Russian violators of human rights accountable for their actions, and we will maintain sanctions on Russia so long as it continues to violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine," McCain said.

House Democratic Whip Steny H Hoyer demanded that Congress and the American people must learn the full extent of what Trump knew about Flynn's communications with Russian leaders, and when they knew it.

"We also need to know if promises were made by the Trump campaign and Trump transition team to the Russians regarding sanctions - and what the Trump Administration may be doing to follow through," he said.

Top Democratic leaders in the House led by Nancy Pelosi have called for the FBI to accelerate their investigation into the extent of the ties between Trump and Russia.

They have also called for passage of legislation to create an outside, independent commission to investigate.

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Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Russian defence firms have finalised the Joint Venture agreement for collaboration in the production of light weight multi-role 'Kamov 226T' helicopters in India, a top Russian defence executive said on Tuesday.

The document is awaiting formal registration with relevant bodies in the respective countries which is likely to take another "month or two", the executive said.

The Inter-Government agreement was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Russia in December, 2015.

Last year in October, Russian Helicopters, Rosoboronexport and HAL Corporation had created a joint venture to localise the production of Ka-226Ts and deliver them to the Indian market in an estimated $1 billion deal.

The agreement for the Joint Venture (JV) was signed at the BRICS summit in Goa last year. In addition to the assembly, the JV provides terms for maintenance, operation and repairs of these helicopters.

"Since October 2016, the project has been moving full steam ahead. We have conducted multiple negotiations, most recently in January this year. In January, the document work for the JV was completed and they have been sent for registration with the relevant government bodies," Viktor Kladov, head of International Cooperation, Rostec told PTI.

Rostec Corporation is the parent company of Russian arms supplier Rosoboronexport.

Kladov said the JV would soon be a reality i.E. "in one to two months", adding that this was the final stage of forming the joint venture company.

When the JV is registered, it can start acting as a subject and negotiate the terms with customers and parent companies, he said.

The schedule of delivery and localisation as well as the terms and the number of units will be up to the JV to finalise.

"My assumption is that the production will take place at the HAL facilities in Bengaluru. They are well equipped and have qualified workforce. Besides, they are now completing the Su-30MKI production program. Hence, they will have the manpower and facilities to take on the Ka-226T project," the Rostec official said.

He said while the number of units is to be set by the JV, but "as per the Russian estimate, India requires no less than 400 units of these helicopters."



"These helicopters are versatile and modular so they can be used in military, search and rescue, medical and transport tasks. It is possible that the regional market, the neighbouring countries may be interested and the choppers can become export products on their own," he said.
With estimates of record pulses output this year, industry body IPGA has sought for lifting of ban on export of pulses to boost farmers' income and capacity utilisation of mills for ensuring sustainable domestic production.

India Pulses and Grain Association (IPGA), the nodal body for the pulses trade and industry in India, has submitted a representation in this regard to the Commerce Secretary.

"This year we are expecting a high domestic production of 21 million tonnes of pulses. The government has been quick and taken proactive steps to procure the produce. However, the quantities procured are still low and key pulses like tur and moong are trading far below the minimum support price," IPGA said in the representation.

India produced about 16.5 million tonnes of pulses in 2015-16 crop year (July-June) and the production is expected to cross 20 million tonnes on the back of good monsoon after two consecutive years of drought. The country imported about 5.8 million tonnes last fiscal to meet domestic demand.

"It is the trade's humble submission that the current timing of an increased production, prices falling below MSP, government's sincere intention to build agricultural reforms are an opportune time to remove the ban and enable exports of pulses from the country," IPGA said.

While the severe drought-like conditions of 2006-07 had forced the government to impose an export ban on pulses, the scenario is different today, the association said.

Listing benefits of removing export ban, IPGA said that this will enable the farmers to get an additional source of revenue, besides reducing the chance of diversion of pulses sowing area to other remunerative crops.

Farmers would be incentivised to adopt newer technologies to improve their yield.

The lifting of export ban would boost the capacity of the dal mills.

"The dal milling industry (many small and medium enterprises) has a large idle capacity. Exports will boost capacity utilisation; generate employment and income in the milling industry, also building the case for its future modernisation," IPGA said.

Consumers would also be benefitted both in terms of protein nourishment and household budgets.

IPGA has over 300 members and works closely with policymakers, researchers and others to address issues that impact production, productivity and marketability of pulses in India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Suspected Islamic State (IS) supporter Mohammad Iqbal was today remanded to four-day police custody by a local court here.

The accused, who was brought from Chennai on production warrant on Monday and placed under arrest, was produced in the court where the magistrate remanded him to four-day police custody, SP ATS Vikas Kumar said.

The accused was said to have been in contact with another IS operative Jameel Ahmed, who was arrested by the ATS from Sikar in November.

Iqbal will be interrogated by the Rajasthan ATS.

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Israel's Shin Bet agency says the country's ambassador to Egypt has been ordered to remain in Israel for the time being due to security concerns.

Ambassador David Govrin and his staff have not traveled to Cairo since mid-December amid concerns that they could be the targets of militants.

Last month, Israel ordered all of its citizens in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula to leave immediately due to security threats. today's statement by the Shin Bet says that Govrin would remain in Israel indefinitely.

It says that "due to security considerations, the return of the Foreign Ministry's embassy team to Cairo has been curbed."



Israel and Egypt signed a historic peace agreement in 1979. They maintain quiet, but close security ties in a joint struggle against Islamic militants.

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An Italian court has convicted a Moroccan-born man and his wife on charges of international terrorism in connection with an Islamic State plot to carry out attacks in Rome during the Holy Year in 2016.

A court in Milan on Tuesday convicted Abderrahim Moutaharrik, and his wife, Salma Bencharki, and sentenced them to six years and five years in jail, respectively.

Prosecutors say Moutaharrik, who had taken Italian citizenship, had received orders from Islamic State to carry out attacks in Italy, particularly in Rome, last year.

Authorities characterized the plot as serious but not imminent at the time of their arrest last April.

The court also withdrew the parental rights of the couple, who had planned to travel to IS territory with their two small children.

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Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley would be the Chief Guest in the 'Momentum Jharkhand: Global Investors Summit' here which would also be attended by Ratan Tata, Kumar Manglam Birla and Gautam Adani.

The two-day summit would begin here on February 16.

"For the first time such a summit is being organised in Jharkhand. It is important for branding of state and employment generation," Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das told a press conference here today.

He said Jharkhand has turned into investment destination and the Global Investors Summit is the first time since its creation sixteen years ago.

Jharkhand is endowed with natural resources, both mineral and forest, yet there were problems of poverty, employment, migration and extremism, Das said.

It has 40 per cent of mineral resources of the country and industrious human resource. So the government decided to inform the industrialists from other states and foreign countries after making policies, he informed.

"And we invited them. I am happy that many investors from India/abroad are coming for the summit," he said.

On his visiting foreign countries, Das said it was also learning process and he gave an example as to how Singapore has zero tolerance to corruption, tax on everything and the city being clean and attracted industries and tourism.

He said the government first prepared policies and then went to other states and foreign countries to inform about the policies. He termed the textile as the best policy and liked by investors.

Saying that several good MoUs had been signed in the previous 14 years of Jharkhand creation but could not take off due to political instability,



The Chief Minister said investors would come only when there are good policies, good economy and political stability and in the past two years development had taken place - Jharkhand finished fourth in the country in growth and the state could be a central point of commerce in the country.

Any investor coming to make investments wanted security guarantee and in the last two years significant decline has been registered in law and order problems and the state would be freed from naxalism in 2017.

Industry Secretary Sunil Burnwal said 9524 delegations have registered for the Summit so far.

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The Jat agitation in Haryana seeking reservation in education and government jobs among other demands, entered its 17th day today.

"Our protests are held in all the districts of Haryana and it is spilled over to Bawana village in Delhi today," Yashpal Malik, president of the All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS), which is spearheading the agitation, told PTI.

Sit-ins and dharnas continued in many areas across the state.

Three days ago, a meeting between representatives of a Haryana government-appointed committee and leaders of the Jat agitation remained inconclusive.

Even though the sit-ins have remained peaceful so far, but the Jat leaders have threatened to intensify the stir after February 19 if their demands were not met immediately.

Haryana's Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Ram Niwas, who is part of the government appointed committee of senior officers, said that the government is closely monitoring the situation.

"The situation so far has remained peaceful", he said.

Besides seeking quota in education and government jobs under the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) category, the demands of the Jats include the release of those jailed during last year's agitation, withdrawal of cases slapped during the protest and government jobs for the kin of those killed and injured while taking part in the stir.

The BJP government in the state had last week formed a five-member committee, headed by Chief Secretary D S Dhesi, to hold talks with the agitating Jats.

February 19 would be observed as 'Balidan Divas' at different places in the country in the memory of those who lost their lives during last year's agitation, Malik said.

During the fresh round of the agitation, the protesters have been staging dharnas at various places in the state amid elaborate security arrangements.

In view of the fresh Jat stir, paramilitary forces have been deployed in sensitive areas, while the state police is maintaining a strict vigil.

As many as 30 people were killed and property worth crores of rupees was damaged at many places in Haryana during last year's Jat stir which had turned violent. However, this time the state has been put on maximum alert, the officials said.

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The standoff between JNU



administration and JNUSU continued today with both sides trading charges and the VC Jagdesh Kumar accusing the students occupying the administration block of trying to make the university "dysfunctional" through their "illegal" siege.

The protests over UGC notification on PhD/MPhil admissions approved by decision making bodies of JNU, spilled outside the campus as scores of students, teachers and alumni participated in a march from Mandi House to Parliament and held a protest meeting at Jantar Mantar when stopped by police on the way.

Parliamentarians D Raja, Ali Anwar and Digvijay Singh, also addressed the meeting along with JNU Teachers Association (JNUTA) leaders, criticising the university administration for present situation on the campus.

However, Kumar appealed to the university community to come forward to "save" JNU from detractors and agitators "hellbent" upon making it "dysfunctional".

Ever since the evening of February 9, the entire administration building is under "siege" by JNUSU-led students occupying the space inside the building and some other student groups "blocking" entry and exit from outside, he said.

"Hundreds of staff and officers, including the Vice Chancellor, are debarred from carrying out their day-to-day work by just a small number of unruly students," he said.

JNUSU accused Kumar of not meeting the students and making "arbitrary" decisions and "fundamental" changes in JNU's admission policy and research programmes.

"The JNU VC is shockingly announcing arbitrary decisions and fundamental changes in JNU's admission policy and research programmes through press conferences - refusing either to discuss these in JNU's decision-making bodies, or to meet students and teachers representatives," said JNUSU president Mohit Pandey.

Replacing JNU's topic-based system of allotting supervisors to students with supervisor allotment based on a specified number of students per faculty, will destroy quality of research in JNU which is India's best central university, he said.

The students' union began its hunger strike 15 days ago days against the imposition of the 2016 UGC notification by the JNU administration at the Administration Block.

The VC however said that repeated attempts were made by the university officials to convince the students to end their agitation and meet him for discussing their grievances but they did not accept it.

"When the VC office gave an appointment to meet the student representatives on February 13, it was rebuffed," he said.

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Actor Keanu Reeves has said he would be interested in making another film in the "Matrix" series.

The 52-year-old actor has revealed he would love to reprise the role of hacker Neo, but admitted he did not know what the directors, Lana and Lilly Wachowski thought about it, reported FemaleFirst.

"I don't know about the Wachowskis. They would probably do something really original. I'd certainly like to see what would happen and more exploration of that world," said Keanu.

The "John Wick 2" actor also said he was unsure about the treatment of the sci-fi film considering today's age.

He added, "I think it's cool that when another time takes that story and makes it their own, so I wouldn't categorically say that would be bad."



The actor disclosed he is currently working on a new "Bill & Ted" movie.

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Kicking off his party's campaign barely a week before February 21 civic elections, MNS chief Raj Thackeray today accused his estranged cousin Uddhav of wanting to usurp Mumbai Mayor's official residence "in the guise of a memorial" for the late Bal Thackeray.

"Balasaheb's name is being bandied about (by Shiv Sena) merely to usurp the Mayor's bungalow (near Shivaji Park ground) in Mumbai," Raj said here this evening, addressing a campaign rally, his first for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls.

Raj cited son Amit's illness for joining the campaign late.

He attacked BJP and Shiv Sena over what he called the two parties' "cock fight" ahead of the polls and said the voters should not fall prey to their advertising gimmick.

"Sena and BJP are ruling the city for 25 years now. Have you ever asked where is the money gone? No. Only I will be subjected to criticism. I will be asked about the works done in Nashik. I will be asked about my blueprint of development. But when I deliver on promises, no one is interested to see it," he said.

Raj enumerated works done by MNS-ruled Nashik Municipal Corporation and asked voters to give him a chance to replicate the 'Nashik model' in Mumbai.

"When Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation, he had said the new year would see new India. I am searching for that new India since January. The move which was welcome by everyone initially, is now turning out be making no difference to poor, middle-class and upper middle class. The only difference is people now stand in queues outside banks," he said.

"Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had promised Rs 6,500 crore to Kalyan-Dombivli municipal corporation. Those voters have not got even Rs six till now," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mahindra Aerostructures today said it has partnered with French firm Segnere SAS to collaborate on airframe manufacturing opportunities and expand capabilities for the global aerospace market.

Mahindra Aerostructures, part of USD 17.8 billion Mahindra Group, operates a 25,000 sq mt manufacturing facility near Bengaluru.

The partnership with Segnere, which was announced at the 11th edition of the five-day biennial air show Aero India, supports Mahindra's intent to expand its existing capabilities to produce hard-metal parts (titanium, inconel and aerospace steels) and then to collaborate on other technologies, the company said in a release.

"We are continuously looking at opportunities to be closer to our customers and to sharpen our value proposition. This relationship with Segnere is further proof of the group's commitment to continuously invest in growth," S P Shukla, Chairman, Mahindra Aerospace said in the release.

He is also Group President-Aerospace & Defence, Mahindra Group.

The company's manufacturing facility exports detailed parts, sub-assemblies and primary structural components to the customers world-wide. It had started commercial deliveries in January 2015.

Headquartered in Tarbes near Toulouse, Segnere SAS operates three production facilities in France and a subsidiary in Tunisia and has specialisation in hard metal parts and assemblies.

"We are thrilled to partner with Mahindra Aerospace to address our customers' cost, capability and capacity requirements," Jean Michel Segnere, President of Segnere SAS said.

Mahindra experience in manufacturing, coupled with a significant desire to invest in aerospace and Segnere's long association with Airbus and other OEMs, present a unique opportunity for growth,he added.

"We will work together to leverage our combined experience and expertise to meet the strategic sourcing priorities of our customers. Segnere provides us a footprint in France while we provide opportunities to work together in the larger global marketplace," Arvind Mehra, ED & CEO of Mahindra Aerospace said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Malaysian ship carrying aid for thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled a bloody army crackdown in Myanmar docked in Bangladesh today, days after it met with protests in Yangon.

Senior Bangladeshi officials and Malaysian diplomats gathered at Chittagong port as Nautical Aliya docked in the southern city, from where its aid cargo will be transported to Rohingya camps.

The shipment was received by local officials of the Red Crescent and International Organisation of Migration at the port's container terminal in a brief handover ceremony.

Trucks will carry the 1,472 tonnes of food, clothing and medical items to Cox's Bazar, some 200 kilometres south of Chittagong for distribution to tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees.

Bangladesh has allowed 25 Malaysian volunteers out of 183 people who came with the aid ship to travel with the cargo to the Rohingya camps in the southern district of Cox's Bazar, the district's chief administrator Ali Hossain told AFP.

Abdul Aziz Mohd Abdur Rahim, a representative of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and a member of parliament who travelled with the ship, called for a "long-standing solution" to the Rohingya crisis as he handed over the aid cargo.

"Thirty million Malaysians are with you (Rohingya)," Rahim said.

There was, however, no representative of the Rohingya community or any of the elders at the port.

"We hope our humanitarian efforts will pave the way to resolve the Rohingya issue and awaken the international community," Malaysian volunteer Azmi, who uses one name, told AFP.

The ship initially planned to dock at Teknaf in southern Bangladesh, where almost 70,000 Rohingya have fled from Myanmar's Rakhine state since October to escape the violence.

It also tried to dock near the island of Kutubdia on Monday, but "technical issues" forced it to travel further north to Chittagong, chief administrator of the region Ruhul Amin told AFP.

Dozens of Buddhist monks and nationalist demonstrators last week protested the ship's arrival in Myanmar's capital, Yangon, with some waving national flags and signs reading: "No Rohingya".

Myanmar denies citizenship to the million-strong Rohingya, despite many of them living on its soil for generations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 45-year-old man murdered his wife on the suspicion that she was having an affair, in Jhalawar district of Rajasthan, police said today.

After a heated argument, Om Prakash Meena attacked his 40-year-old wife Sugna Bai with a sword yesterday.

She suffered serious injuries on her neck, head and hands, and died on the spot, said Nand Kishore, SHO Aklera police station.

The husband fled after the murder and was arrested today. A farmer by profession, he is now being interrogated, the police officer said.

"Primary investigation reveals that he suspected the character of his wife and had quarreled several times," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel today pushed Tunisia's prime minister to speed up the returns of rejected asylum seekers, as Tunis rebuffed criticism that it was blocking repatriations.

The German leader has been battling to get Tunis to take back its citizens, with the issue taking on greater urgency since the deadly assault on a Berlin Christmas market in December.

The jihadist attack which claimed 12 lives has been blamed on Anis Amri, a Tunisian whose asylum application had been rejected half a year earlier, but could not be expelled because of Tunisian bureaucratic delays.

But ahead of the meeting in Berlin, Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed threw out any criticism.

"One thing that I must say very clearly: the Tunisian authorities have not made any mistakes," Chahed told Germany's biggest selling daily Bild.

"Anis Amri was no terrorist when he left Tunisia in 2011, there were no signs that he had been radicalised.

"With regards to the identity documents, here too, the Tunisian authorities acted correctly," he said.

Chahed said "cooperation with Germany works very well now" but threw the ball back in Berlin's court.

"We need from the German side clear evidence that we are really dealing with Tunisians," he said, estimating the number of his fellow citizens concerned by possible expulsions from Germany at around 1,000.

"Illegal immigrants who use false identity documents make it difficult and delay the process."



Merkel has been under pressure to reduce the number of asylum seekers in Germany, after the country took in over a million migrants and refugees since 2015.

While most refugees from war-torn Syria have qualified for temporary safe haven, applicants from Tunisia as well as Algeria and Morocco generally have not, because their countries are considered stable.

Last year the success rates for asylum requests was 3.5 per cent for Moroccans, 2.7 per cent for Algerians and just 0.8 per cent for Tunisians.

In a press conference following talks with Chahed, Merkel noted that only 116 Tunisians were repatriated last year.

"That is not fast enough and here we talked about how we can improve this process," she told reporters, raising the prospect of incentives to make returning to Tunisia more appealing.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three soldiers and a militant were today killed in an encounter in Hajin area of Bandipora district of Kashmir, police said.

Six other security personnel and a civilian also suffered injuries in the gunbattle that began in the wee hours today, a police official said.

Security forces cordoned off Parray Mohalla in Hajin area this morning following information about presence of militants there, the official said.

He said a gunbattle broke out as the security forces were closing in on the position of the militants.

Nine security personnel were injured in the exchange of firing with the militants out of which three later succumbed to injuries, the official said.

One militant, whose identity has not been ascertained yet, was also killed in the operation, he added.

Further details of the incident are awaited.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bangladesh police today shot dead a militant commander linked to a banned Islamist outfit blamed for last year's deadly cafe attack here in which 22 people, including an Indian girl, were killed.

Abu Musa alias Abu Jar was killed in a "gunfight" with police which acting on a tip-off raided a house in the northern city of Bogra.

"The other militants fled the scene leaving wounded Jar at the scene while doctors declared him dead as we took him to the (nearby) hospital," Zaman said.

"Abu Jar was a close aide of neo-JMB leader Jahangir Alam alias Rajib Gandhi, one of the masterminds of deadly Dhaka cafe attack who was arrested last month," Bogra's district police chief Asaduz Zaman told reporters.

Zaman said the 32-year-old Jar was the northwestern commander of the neo-JMB (Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh).

Polce said Jar was involved in the murders of a Muslim and a Christian businessman. However, both the murders were claimed by ISIS.

Twenty two people, including an Indian, were killed when militant stormed the upscale Holey Artisan Bakery and O Kitchen restaurant in Dhaka's diplomatic zone on July 1 last year.

ISIS had claimed responsibility for the cafe attack. But police believe that New-JMB, which is close to the ISIS, was involved in organising the attack.

The country's security forces have launched a crackdown against militants following the attack, killing around 50 extremists.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An unidentified militant was killed today while five security force personnel were injured in an ongoing encounter in north Kashmir's Bandipora district, police said here.

The militant was killed in the encounter in Parray Mohalla in Hajin area of the district.

The injured security force personnel have been rushed to a hospital, a police official said.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the area this morning following specific intelligence inputs about presence of militants in the area.

While the forces were conducting the search operation, the hiding militants fired upon them, triggering the encounter, the official said



The operation was on when last reports came in.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Investment banker and former Goldman Sachs executive Steven Mnuchin has been sworn in as the new Secretary of Treasury, filling a crucial position in US President Donald Trump's economic team.

He was sworn in as the Treasury Secretary by Vice President Mike Pence soon after he was confirmed by the US Senate by a vote of 53 to 48 yesterday.

Mnuchin, 54, is the third former Goldman Sachs executive to become Treasury Secretary. The other two being Robert Rubin and Henry Paulson.

In this position, Mnuchin is expected to play a key role in the economic reforms that Trump plans to undertake to remove bureaucratic bottlenecks, simplify tax codes and make America an attractive investment destination.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady welcomed Mnuchin's confirmation.

"With decades of private-sector experience, Secretary Mnuchin understands how today's broken tax code and wasteful spending directly discourage economic growth and make it harder for Americans to get ahead," he said.

However, a number of Democratic lawmakers opposed the nomination of Mnuchin as the Treasury Secretary.

"The American people don't suffer from the same collective amnesia that Wall Street and its allies in Congress have about how devastating the crisis was to our country," Senator Sherrod Brown said on Senate floor.

"As the people we represent know, and Mnuchin's bank proves, when we turn the reins to Wall Street, it's working families who pay the price," he said.

Born and raised in New York City, Mnuchin holds a Bachelor's Degree from Yale University.

Mnuchin will be the principal economic advisor to Trump on domestic and international financial, economic, and tax issues.

"Regrettably, while Mr Mnchuin may have a knowledge of the inner-workings of Wall Street, he seems to know shockingly little of the hardships faced on Main Street. One need look no further than his role during the height of the housing crisis in foreclosing on tens of thousands of American families," Senator Patrick Leahy said.

"Reducing these actions to mere administrative matters belies the true struggles of those who don't boast the personal coffers Mr Mnuchin enjoys. I simply cannot accept his explanation of his role in these actions," he said.

The Senate also confirmed David Shulkin as the Secretary of Veterans affairs with a vote of 100 to 0.

(REOPENS FGN 3)



Mnuchin is responsible for the executive branch agency whose mission includes maintaining a strong economy, promoting conditions that enable job growth and stability, protecting the integrity of the financial system, strengthening national security, and managing the US government's finances effectively.

He succeeds Jacob J Lew, who served in the position under former US President Barack Obama.

Prior to his confirmation, Mnuchin was Finance Chairman for Donald Trump for President. In this role he spent the last year travelling with Trump, met with hundreds of business leaders. He also served as a Senior Economic Advisor to the President in crafting his economic positions and economic speeches.

He has also served as Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Dune Capital Management. He also founded OneWest Bank Group LLC and served as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer until its sale to CIT Group Inc was the first bank merger over 50 billion dollars post financial crisis.

Earlier in his career, Mnuchin worked at The Goldman Sachs Group, where he was a Partner and served as Chief Information Officer. He has extensive experience in global financial markets and oversaw trading in US government securities, mortgages, money markets, and municipal bonds.

Senator Tim Kaine said he was not confident Mnuchin will be an advocate for working families and their financial security.

"His complicity in the 2008 financial crisis raises serious doubts about whether he will prioritise the interests of Virginians who are trying to build personal savings while keeping their homes and being able to send their kids to college," he said.

(Reopens FES008)



Trump said Mnuchin would be a champion of tax payers, would fight for the middle class and ensure that the Wall Street plays by the rules.

"To all citizens I say, Steven will be your champion, and a great champion. He will fight for middle class tax reductions, financial reforms, and open up lending and create millions of new jobs, and fiercely defend the American tax dollar and our financial security," Trump said during the swearing in ceremony of Mnuchin in the Oval Office of the White House.

"And he will also defend our manufacturing jobs from those who cheat and steal and rob us blind. It won't be that anymore, we won't have that anymore. Countries and others won't be able to take advantage of us, it's a whole new era," said the US President.

"Steven (Mnuchin) knows the system and he will help ensure that Wall Street plays by the rules. He will use his insights to get the best possible result, most importantly, for the American worker. They've been treated very unfairly for a long time, not anymore," said the US President.

The new Treasury Secretary he said will put his skills to work for America's working families and he will help make America the greatest jobs magnet on the face of the earth.

"It will truly be for our country, for the first time in a long time, a rising tide that lifts all boats and that lifts all ships," Trump said.

"With him, we're going to have no problem, believe me. Once again, with this appointment I am following through on my promise to appoint only the very best and the very brightest," he said.

In his brief remarks, Mnuchin said he would carry Trump's economic vision and goals.

"I am committed to working with you to enact policies to grow the economy and make better economic opportunities for all Americans," he said.
Most of the top listed companies are becoming more responsible but there is room for large entities to play a more substantial leadership role in ensuring that economic growth is accompanied by social progress, says a report.

The conclusions are based on an index developed by non- profit group Oxfam India along with Corporate Responsibility Watch, Praxis and Partners in Change.

In the index, top 100 companies listed on the BSE were ranked on the basis of five elements -- non-discrimination in the workplace, respecting employee dignity and human rights, community development, inclusiveness in supply chain and community as business stakeholders.

According to the report released today, there is room for large corporates to play a much more substantial leadership role in ensuring that the drive towards economic growth is accompanied by social progress.

The report analyses policies of the top 100 companies listed on the BSE in the context of principles laid in the National Voluntary Guidelines for Social, Environmental and Economic Responsibilities of Business (NVGs).

NVGs were developed by the Corporate Affairs Ministry in collaboration with civil society organisations and introduced in 2011.

"The index findings indicate that there is marginal improvement in all elements expect 'community as business stakeholders' where 92 of the top 100 companies continue to score lowest," it said.

Oxfam India Chief Executive Officer Nisha Agrawal said there are many positive signals suggesting that responsible business narrative is becoming more holistic. Several companies on the index have improved over the last one year but there is still significant room for improvement, she added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two key accused have been arrested by the NIA for their alleged involvement in planting explosive devices in a railway station in Bihar's Motihari area.

The accused --Rakesh Yadav and Gajendra Sharma-- were arrested yesterday, a press release issued today by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said.

While Yadav was arrested from Motihari, Sharma surrendered in a court in Raxaul, it said.

The NIA was looking for the duo for their suspected links to three other persons --already arrested by the agency for their alleged involvement in the case.

The trio -- Moti Paswan, Uma Shankar and Mukesh Yadav -- were arrested last month by police from East Champaran district of Bihar.

They had also claimed that the derailment of Indore-Patna express last year, in which at least 150 people were killed, was carried out at the behest of Pakistan's spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

These three accused had claimed to have got Rs three lakh to plant improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at Ghorasahan railway station in Motihari on October 1, 2015.

Bihar Police has reportedly recovered the IEDs.

This case was first registered by Bihar Police and later taken up for investigation by the NIA.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In order to help the youths in Madhya Pradesh know the requirements of the companies and to develop their skills accordingly, the state government plans to hold 'Global Employment Skill Partnership' programme in April this year.

"The 'Global Employment Skill Partnership' will be organised on April 22 and 23 in Bhopal. The aim is to identify the requirements of the companies and to develop the skills in accordance to their needs," Chairman of Madhya Pradesh Employment Promotion Board Hemant Vijayrao Deshmukh told PTI today.

The government intends to impart the skills to the youths in the state in accordance with the needs of employers, he said.

"We will ask the companies what type of skills they look for and how many employees they require. Accordingly, we will inform them about the skilled youths available in the state," Deshmukh said.

According to him, representatives of all major national and international companies are being invited for the event.

"Through this summit, the state would also showcase the available human resources in the state before the world," he added.

Various state government departments would come together under one roof for this effort, Deshmukh said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres today announced the appointment of Jean-Pierre Lacroix of France to head UN peacekeeping for a year pending a review of the world body's functions and structure.

The UN's political affairs chief, Jeffrey Feltman of the United States, will remain at this post, also for a year.

The two positions of under-secretary-general are among the most high-profile at the United Nations.

Lacroix, 56, will replace Herve Ladsous who steps down in March after six years in the top job.

Currently director for the United Nations at the French foreign ministry, Lacroix will take over UN peacekeeping as it struggles to overcome a scandal over mounting cases of sexual abuse by troops serving in peace missions.

The United States, the biggest financial contributor to UN peacekeeping, is considering cuts to its contribution, currently at 29 per cent of the USD 7.9 billion budget for 2017.

Guterres took over from Ban Ki-moon on January 1 with a pledge to reform the United Nations to improve its capacity to address global crises and prevent conflicts.

The UN chief said in a statement he is setting up an internal review team to look at the world body's peace and security strategy, functioning and architecture.

That team led by Tamrat Samuel of Eritrea will submit recommendations by June.

The push for reform comes amid criticism from some UN member states over the appointment of nationals from Security Council permanent members to top posts at the United Nations.

France, which strongly supported Guterres during his bid to become secretary-general, and the United States are permanent council members along with Britain, Russia and China.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Top investment banker and former Goldman Sachs executive Steven Mnuchin, sworn-in as US Treasury Secretary, today pledged to create more jobs and combat terrorist activities and financing.

Mnuchin, 54, was sworn-in as the Treasury Secretary by Vice President Mike Pence at a White House ceremony soon after he was confirmed by the US Senate by a vote of 53 to 48 yesterday.

Mnuchin is the third former Goldman Sachs executive to become Treasury Secretary. The other two being Robert Rubin and Henry Paulson.

In this position, Mnuchin is expected to play a key role in the economic reforms that President Donald Trump plans to undertake to remove bureaucratic bottlenecks, simplify tax codes and make America an attractive investment destination.

Trump said Mnuchin would be a "great champion" for Americans.

"He will fight for middle-class tax reductions, financial reforms that open up lending and create millions of new jobs, and fiercely defend the American tax dollar and your financial security," Trump said, adding that, he will also "defend our manufacturing jobs from those who cheat and steal and rob us blind."



In his response, Mnuchin said, "I am committed to using the full powers of this office to create more jobs, to combat terrorist activities and financing, and to make America great again."



House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady welcomed Mnuchin's confirmation.

"With decades of private-sector experience, Secretary Mnuchin understands how today's broken tax code and wasteful spending directly discourage economic growth and make it harder for Americans to get ahead," he said.

However, a number of Democratic lawmakers opposed the nomination of Mnuchin as the Treasury Secretary.

"The American people don't suffer from the same collective amnesia that Wall Street and its allies in Congress have about how devastating the crisis was to our country," Senator Sherrod Brown said on Senate floor.

"As the people we represent know, and Mnuchin's bank proves, when we turn the reins to Wall Street, it's working families who pay the price," he said.

"Regrettably, while Mr Mnchuin may have a knowledge of the inner-workings of Wall Street, he seems to know shockingly little of the hardships faced on Main Street. One need look no further than his role during the height of the housing crisis in foreclosing on tens of thousands of American families," Senator Patrick Leahy said.

"Reducing these actions to mere administrative matters belies the true struggles of those who don't boast the personal coffers Mr Mnuchin enjoys. I simply cannot accept his explanation of his role in these actions," he said.

Born and raised in New York City, Mnuchin holds a Bachelor's Degree from Yale University.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said it was not his concern that some companies like Boeing and Lockheed Martin could find themselves torn between the slogans of "America First" of US President Donald Trump and "Make in India" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

These companies can sign military contracts by quoting from any plant existing around the globe, he told reporters after inaugurating the five-day Aero India air show at Yelahanka airbase here.

"These companies are multinational in all regards. They may have a plant in Europe. They may have plant in some other parts of the world. They may have a plant in the US. They can quote from any of these areas. So, it is not my concern and I do not worry about it much because interpretations are taken wrongly.

"Let things be more clear but basically my requirement is the government has to agree to it, whichever government agrees to it," he said.

Parrikar said he was nowhere concerned with restrictions, if any, on the movement of the companies from US to India.

"If a company head wants to shift his facility from anywhere else it is his choice whether he sets up a new one. I am nowhere concerned if there is a restriction on some movement. As far as I am concerned, as of now, there is no so such issue. No one has written to me. I am only hearing it in the media," he added.

Some industry experts have raised concern that Trump's push for "America First" rhetoric could intervene when the companies like Lockheed and Boeing go ahead with shifting of manufacturing units to India, responding to Modi's "Make In India" slogan.

Parrikar said it is for the original equipment manufacturers, which provide technology and help strategic partner set up joint venture with Indian companies, to get approvals from their country.

Meanwhile, Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju said the Airports Authority of India has decided to invest Rs 17,500 crore in the next five years for improving the existing airports.

If the growth rate has to be sustained and taken forward, the country needs to innovate and invest, he said.

"I am very happy that the Ministry of Defence has now partnered with civil aviation so that synergies of development help not only them but also our civil aviation because the sector is basically job creator," Raju said.

He said the sector needs to increase connectivity within the country and hence the civil aviation ministry recently brought out the regional connectivity scheme.

If the country is able to bring in 50 more active airports to the exiting 70-odd active airports, India can become the third largest civil aviation market in the world, the minister said.

"Right now, we are ranked ninth. So we are working on it and trying to bring this synergy along with our defence synergy," he added.

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An NRI couple was booked for allegedly murdering a boy, whom they adopted in 2015, so as to pocket the insurance amount of Rs 1.20 crore which they had taken as cover for the latter's life, police said.

Police lodged an FIR against Arti Loknath (53) and her husband Kanwaljitsinh Raijada (28), currently living in London, for allegedly being part of the conspiracy to Gopal (13), said Keshod police inspector Ashok Tilva.

"Arti and Kanwaljitsinh conspired with one Nitish Mund to adopt Gopal (13), get him insured and then kill him so that they could get insurance money. Nitish, who also lived in London before shifting here after his visa expired, had planned along with the couple since 2015 to kill Gopal," Tilva said.

The NRI couple's role was revealed after police arrested Nitish yesterday in connection with the .

The boy had died at a Rajkot hospital yesterday, days after he was attacked with knief by unknown accused riding two motorcycles on the night of February 8 in Keshod in Junagadh district.

Gopal was returning from Rajkot to his home town Maliya along with Nitish, Harsukh Patel, and one Mahadev, Tilva said.

He was living with Nitish who planned the attack by hiring two assailants for Rs 5 lakh each, Tilva said.

"Hired assailants attacked Gopal and Harsukh Patel after they came out of a vehicle at a pre-decided place at Keshod. We have initiated process to arrest the NRI couple who are at present in UK," Talvia said.
Delhi High Court today exempted CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma from personal appearance before a trial court in connection with a probe in a case of payment of alleged kickbacks by a Russian firm for a Rs 2,066-crore NTPC contract.

Justice S P Garg also exempted Verma from replying to a show cause notice issue to him by a trial court on February 9.

The court, however, refused to exempt a senior agency official and the investigating officer, who were issued show cause notice by the trial court seeking their presence to explain why its direction to probe the case had not been complied with.

The trial court had sought the presence of all officials over the failure of its direction to further probe in a case.

Challenging the trial court's February 9 order, the agency submitted before the high court that the trial court's order have been complied with and it is not that no steps have been taken in the case.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain and CBI's additional standing counsel Rajdeep Behura submitted before the court that the finding of the trial court was "erroneous" and the order sheet was "vitiated" with "wrong recording.

"The magistrate cannot compel the police to investigate the matter in the manner they want. We have already filed a closure report in this case. So it cannot be said that we have not probed into the matter," the ASG said.

To this, the judge said, "I exempt the CBI Director from personal appearance before the trial court. I am listing this matter for February 28 by when the CBI should file affidavit stating that you have complied with the trial court's order."



ASG said they have no issue in doing so. He also urged the court to stay the proceedings before the trial court.

The court, however, was not inclined to do so and asked the CBI to file their affidavit.

While asking the CBI director to supervise further probe in the case, the trial court in September last year had refused to accept the charge sheet filed by agency.

It had said that the agency has tried to "save" senior officers of NTPC and members of the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure of the central government.

According to CBI, from 2002 to 2005, some NTPC officials had obtained illegal gratification in award of super thermal power contract at Barh in Bihar.

The FIR in the case was registered on information from



Interpol, London, which had alleged that 15 million pounds were lying in a UK bank account and appeared to be meant for kickbacks.

CBI had alleged that NTPC had entered into three contracts with TPE Russia and transferred USD 53,633,554 to it as advance money.

It had said that TPE had later transferred USD 10,37,36,221 and USD 10,37,2,441.07 to Delhi-based Ravina Associates Pvt Ltd at Natwest Bank on May 5 and May 18, 2005, respectively.

CBI alleged that more than USD 20.07 million was paid by TPE Russia to Ravina Associates Pvt Ltd as commission, equalling a percentage of the contract.

CBI, in its fresh charge sheet filed in August this year, had named as accused M/s FGUP VO Technopromexport, its two officials, Ravina and Associates Pvt Ltd and its director.
The Environment Ministry is likely to issue a show cause notice to the Kamarajar Port (Ennore port) in Chennai for "mishandling" the oil spill following a collision between two ships last month.

Ministry sources said that the clearing of the oil is at an "advance" stage and a team of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) also visited the port for monitoring the situation.

"It is very likely that a show cause notice will be issued to them, asking as to why they should not be penalised for mishandling the situation," a source said.

On January 28, two shipping vessels had collided outside the Kamarajar Port at Ennore, resulting in rupture of a ship and oil spill.

With the incident raising environmental concerns, the Centre had recently said a total of 65 tonnes of sludge has been removed so far and over 90 per cent of the work completed.

Another Environment Ministry official said that the CPCB team has also completed its visit to the port for monitoring the situation.

"The team has issued directions under the Water Act and Environment Protection Act. Clearing (of the sludge) is at an advance stage," the official added.

The mishap had occurred at around 4 AM on January 28 when M T BW Maple, with a flag of Isle of Man, was leaving the port after emptying Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and M T Dawn Kanchipuram, loaded with petroleum oil lubricant (POL) was on its way to the berth at the Kamarajar Port at Ennore.

The sea water had blackened and some turtles were found dead near the north Chennai shoreline following the incident.

The government had said that all measures were being taken to manage the situation created by the oil spill even as a probe is underway to ascertain its causes and contributory factors.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In an unusual piece of advice to senior officers, Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has told them that the army had "no business" in running the government and asked them to read a book on how India has succeeded in keeping the military out of politics.

"The army has no business trying to run the government. The army must remain within its constitutionally defined role," The Nation newspaper quoted Bajwa as saying.

He also asked his officers to read a book titled 'Army and Nation' written by Steven I Wilkinson, a professor of Political Science and International Relations at Yale University, about Indian Army's relationship with the civilian government after independence.

Bajwa's comments during a gathering of senior army officers at Rawalpindi Garrison in the General Headquarters in December indicate a shift in Pakistan army's stance on its relationship with the civilian government and could be good for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's government.

Bajwa, who took over from Raheel Sharif with whom the Prime Minister had a uneasy relationship, communicated to his officers in unequivocal terms that there should be cooperation and not competition between army and civilian leadership of the country.

The civil-military equation in Pakistan has always been a thorny issue.

From 1947 onward, Pakistan has been ruled by military dictatorships for half its history. The last period of direct military government ended in 2008, but the military has retained considerable power and influence behind the scenes.

Bajwa also alluded that an impression of a competition between the civilians and the military is counter-productive for the country.

Wilkinson's book provides details of changes made in the structure and recruitment pattern of India army to suit the fledgling democracy in the new country.

The almost 300-page book makes for an interesting reading as it details why the democratic process in India has been a success.

Wilkinson argues that India took a number of steps after partition to correct the civil-military imbalance.

Army or the civilian government have so far not commented about General Bajwa's remarks.

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A Pakistani parliamentary body today unanimously approved a bill to ensure citizens' right to information.

A Senate select committee gave nod to Right to Information (RTI) bill which will replace the Freedom of Information Ordinance 2002 in the country.

The members of the senate committee approved the bill after a through clause-by-clause review of the draft.

The newly-adopted law recognises citizens' right to know under the Constitution, and to have access to information about the activities of the government.

An important part of the bill is that information on any missing person, who are allegedly picked by agencies, is provided in writing by the relevant institution within three days of a request for information being filed.

The bill also includes provisions for the protection of whistleblowers, as any person associated with a public entity who raises a flag on corruption and misappropriations in that entity will be protected under the law, and will receive immunity from prosecution in related cases.

A three-member commission with the power to order public bodies to disclose information and provide records will be formed to hear RTI requests.

The commission will entertain requests for records from the past 20 years, as records older than 20 years will automatically pass in the public domain.

Senator Farhatullah Babar, who chaired the committee, said that in case a person is abducted and killed by security agencies, the agencies will no longer be able to use 'national security' as an excuse not to provide information on the matter.

He said that no information that pertains to matters of fundamental human rights will be allowed to be withheld.

The bill will now be presented to parliament for further deliberations and passing into an Act.

Information Minister Maryam Auranhzeb said that any sensitive information related to the security force and foreign relations will not be released under the bill.

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Pakistan today summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner and condemned alleged "unprovoked" ceasefire violation by Indian troops on the Line of Control that killed three Pakistani soldiers.

Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria claimed India resorted to firing yesterday in Thub area (Bhimber Sector), killing three soldiers.

"The Director General (South Asia & SAARC), Dr. Mohammad Faisal, summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner, J P Singh, today and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violation by the Indian occupation forces," Zakaria said.

He said that the deliberate targeting of civilians and soldiers is indeed condemnable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws.

The Director General urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding; investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC, he said.

Singh was summoned to the Foreign Office for the second time in last seven days.

On February 8, Singh was summoned to the Foreign Office where the Director General condemned alleged "unprovoked" firing by Indian troops on the LoC.

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In fast paced developments, Sasikala loyalist Edappady K Palaniswami was today elected as Legislature Party Leader following the conviction of the AIADMK general secretary, who sacked rebel leader O Panneerselvam from the party's primary membership.

"We have sent a letter staking claim to form Amma's government," said Palaniswami.

His election came at an emergency meeting called by Sasikala at a resort here within hours of the Supreme Court upholding a Bengaluru trial court order convicting her in the disproportionate assets case, dealing a body blow to her hopes of becoming the Chief Minister.

Palaniswami, a known Sasikala loyalist and a five-time MLA, is the party's strongman from Salem district and currently holds the portfolios of Highways, Public Works and Minor Ports.

He was Minister in the previous Jayalalithaa-led cabinet also and continued with the same portfolios.

He was retained in 2016, both by Jayalalithaa and later by her successor Panneerselvam, who has since raised a banner of revolt against Sasikala for allegedly forcing him to step down from chief ministership.

Minutes after after the apex court delivered the verdict, Sasikala went into a huddle with her MLAs to decide on the future course of action.

Security has been strengthened across the state after the verdict.

Police presence has been stepped up at the resort here, about 80 kms from Chennai, where MLAs supporting her are housed since the past few days. Sasikala herself stayed overnight at the resort.

The apex court today quashed the Karnataka High Court verdict that had acquitted Sasikala in the disproportionate assets case and asked her to surrender herself forthwith.

Sasikala was elected AIADMK Legislature Party Leader on February 5, paving the way for her becoming Chief Minister. Two days later, Pannerselvam rebelled against her.

Sasikala today sacked Panneerselvam, who has been continuing as caretaker Chief Minister, from the AIADMK's primary membership.

Additional police personnel have been deployed in and around the resort amid expectations that Sasikala will leave for Bengaluru to surrender in the trial court as per the apex court order.

(REOPENS MDS 17)



Palaniswami asserted he has been chosen "unanimously" by party legislators.

The meeting to elect the new legislature party leader was chaired by Sasikala.

"I have sent a letter to Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao staking claim to form government. After Governor invites me, I will give him the official paper of my election signed by the legislators," Palaniswami said.

The AIADMK leader was speaking to reporters at the resort.

Palaniswami said he was elected unanimously and that party treasurer and Forests Minister Dindigul C Srinivasan announced his unanimous election as Legislature party leader.
Newly elected Legislature Party Leader Edappadi K Palaniswamy today met governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao and staked claim to form the government.

In his brief meeting with the Governor, Palaniswamy presented a list of MLAs supporting his claim.

Some senior leaders and ministers also accompanied Palaniswamy, according to sources.

Palaniswamy greeted the governor with a bouquet.

He was elected Legislature Party leader replacing shortly after the Supreme Court convicted her in the disproportionate assets case.

Last week, the Governor had met Panneerselvam and later Sasikala, who had staked claim to form the government.

It was not known how many MLAs attended the legislature party meeting chaired by Sasikala earlier in the day.

The Madras High Court was yesterday informed by the state public prosecutor that 119 MLAs were staying in the resort, near here, on their own volition.
Petronet LNG Ltd, India's largest liquefied natural gas importer, has bought a 26 per cent stake in the shipping consortium that built its biggest LNG ship to transport gas form from Australia.

Petronet had in 2013 contracted Shipping Corp of India (SCI) and its Japanese partners to build and operate a 173,000 cubic meters capacity LNG ship.

The LNG vessel, 'Prachi', was delivered in December last year. After sea trials, the ship has delivered the first cargo of LNG from Gorgon project in Australia to Petronet's Dahej import terminal in Gujarat.

"We have now decided to take 26 per cent equity in India LNG Transport Company (No 4) Private Limited," Petronet Director (Finance) R K Garg said here.

Singapore-headquartered India LNG Transport Co (No 4) is the firm that won the time-charter contract from Petronet and got the 173,000 cubic meter vessel built at Hyundai Heavy Industries Co Ltd's Ulsan shipyard in South Korea.

Garg said agreements for Petronet taking the equity have been executed and the consideration paid. "It (the money paid) is less than Rs 100 crore," he said.

After this, state-owned SCI holds 26 per cent and NYK Line of Japan hold 26 per cent stake each in the company, while 22 per cent is held by Mitsui OSK Line and K Line.

'Prachi' is the fourth LNG vessel to be hired by Petronet. The earlier three are all deployed for ferrying LNG from Qatar.

SCI, K Line, NYK Line and MOL consortium had won the tender by quoting the lowest charter hire of a little over USD 78,000 per day for 19 years for hauling LNG from Gorgon. Teekay LNG Partners LP, the only other firm to put in a price bid, had quoted a charter hire rate of USD 79,200 per day.

The consortium had also built the previous three vessels for Petronet as well. It in 2002 won a 25-year contract for two ships, 'Disha' and 'Rahi', by quoting the lowest day rate of USD 68,900 for each ship for transporting the cargo from Qatar, and a contract for the third vessel, 'Aseem', in 2006 at a day rate of USD 72,880.

"We did not take any equity in first two vessels but exercised our right and took 3 per cent in third (Assem)," Garg said.

SCI, India's biggest ocean carrier, holds a 29.08 per cent stake each in 'Disha' and 'Rahi' and a 26 per cent stake in the third, 'Aseem'.

Garg said all the four ship will be managed by SCI.

The first two vessels were capable of carrying 138,000 cubic meters of gas and the third was of 155,000 cubic meters capacity. The fourth vessel, with 173,000 cubic meter capacity, is the biggest Petronet has ordered yet, he added.

State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), GAIL India Ltd, Indian Oil Corp and Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) own 12.5 per cent stake in Petronet LNG Ltd, India's biggest buyer of LNG.

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With the arrest of five persons, police has busted a gang that used to dupe people by seeking their credit and debit card details and then transferred their money into e-wallet accounts.

Kuldeep Sharma, a resident of Sector-17, Dwarka, approached police with a complaint alleging that Rs 44,949 was debited from his account on February 11.

"Sharma had received a call from a lady who introduced herself as an employee of SBI and informed him that he had accumulated bonus/reward points in his debit and credit card account and he can redeem these points in his Paytm account if he desires," said DCP (Southwest) Surender Kumar.

Thinking the caller to be authentic, Sharma shared his card details so that bonus points are redeemed in his account.

"After the conversation, he found that six transactions had been made and his account was debited of Rs 44,949," said Kumar.

Police collected details of cellphones used in commission of crime and followed the trail of transfer of cheated money.

The accused preferred duping the customers who had got credit cards of SBI since in the case of SBI, OTP remains unchanged for 10 minutes and they would get sufficient time to induce the victim to divulge secret details.

Police contacted Paytm authorities for details of all transactions held in different Paytm accounts operated by the accused.

"The mastermind of the whole operation Pramod was arrested from Sarhol, Gurgaon on February 11 and later in the day his other associates, Mohit Kumar, Gaurav Kumar and Atul Rawat were also arrested after conducting a raid on a call centre being run in Sagarpur area," said the officer.

On February 14, Varun, the seller of pre-activated SIMs was also arrested. Police also recovered cellphones, SIM cards, and registers.

"Pramod, along with one Rahul Verma, had activated a number of e-wallets on the basis of fake SIM cards. With the help of these Paytm wallets that were activated on fake and unverified SIMs, they would get the money transferred causing financial loss to the victim," said Kumar.

The victim and authorities would not be able to trace the recipient of cheated money easily as all the documents and cellphones were found bogus and unverified.

The first group of cheats would later transfer the money to the accounts of their other associates after deducting their share of the booty.

The second group of cheats were the men who were involved in renting a premises and starting a call centre.

"Men and women were asked to pose as employees of a reputed bank and make phone calls through fake SIM cards.

"Gaurav had taken a house on rent and started the call centre in Sagarpur area and had employed about seven-eight male and females employees on salaries of Rs 10,000 per month," said the DCP.

Each employee used to undergo training for three days and learn as to how to speak to the customers and were supplied a readymade written note to read and memorise.

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A 31-year-old Polish woman has alleged that her Indian boyfriend raped her repeatedly on the pretext of marriage.

The woman flew into India to file a complaint at Vasant Kunj police station based on which an FIR was registered against the accused on February 11. She also recorded her statement before a magistrate.

She said she met the accused in 2014 on a cruise where they both worked and became friends. On returning to their countries, they kept in touch through social media and after sometime, the man proposed her.

The woman said she visited India in 2015 and met her boyfriend, who borrowed money from her on the promise that he would return it but he did not do so.

The accused established physical relations with her on the pretext of marriage and also took money from her, police said.

The man tried to win her trust by introducing her to his family members. He has a girlfriend, whom he introduced as his cousin to the Polish woman, they said quoting the complaint.

The victim said the man stopped responding to her calls after she left India last year and also stopped keeping in touch with her through social media.

The family members of the accused told police that he is on a cruise in France, will return in a month's time and join the probe.

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Polling to Karnaprayag constituency of Uttarakhand adjourned due to the death of BSP candidate Kuldeep Singh Kanwasi will now be held on March 9.

Kanwasi was killed and two others were injured when their car fell into a gorge in Chamoli district on Sunday.

The date for nomination of the new BSP candidate is February 20, office of the Chief Electoral Officer here informed quoting a communication from the Election Commission of India.

Scrutiny will take place on February 21. The last date for withdrawal of nomination will be February 23 and polling to the seat will be held on March 9, an official said.

69 of a total of 70 assembly seats barring Karnaprayag will go to polls in the single phase assembly elections in Uttarakhand tomorrow.

Karnaprayag is a high profile constituency from where Deputy Speaker of the state assembly Anusuya Prasad Maikhuri is contesting.

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Prohibitory orders were imposed in Kuvathur, where AIADMK MLAs loyal to V K Sasikala are holed up, even as police halted state Minister K Pandiarajan en route to his visit there.

Kancheepuram district administration had imposed the orders at Kuvathur, official sources said without elaborating.

As the Supreme Court upheld the conviction in the corruption case, dashing the hopes of AIADMK Chief V K Sasikala becoming Chief Minister, anxious moments prevailed at Kuvathur where the party legislators have been camping in a private resort since last week.

Meanwhile, School Education minister K Pandiarajan, a supporter of expelled AIADMK member and Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, along with some others, who were on their way to meet the MLAs at the resort to drum up support for their side, were stopped by police near Kovalam, sources added.

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Punjab government today asked banks to keep welfare of the people in the state uppermost on their minds and provide quality banking services in a time-bound manner.

Stressing on making further improvements in the functioning, state chief secretary Sarvesh Kaushal said every bank should institute incentive mechanism for employees performing exceedingly well in the targeted areas with a provision to dis-incentivise those who are non-performers, besides reviewing the overall institutional functioning on a fortnightly basis.

Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, efforts are being made by the banks for successful implementation of the scheme, Kaushal said this at 139th State Level Banking Committee (SLBC) meeting here today.

He further urged all bankers to complete the loan disbursement of the beneficiaries in a time bound manner.

While analysing the negative trend of Credit Deposit Ratio (CDR), the Chief Secretary called upon the bankers to give more advances in the state especially in priority sector to further increase the CDR.

Chief Secretary was also informed that under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, the banks in the state had opened 58.68 lakh accounts and out of which 85 per cent accounts have been issued Rupay cards.

The official asked all banks to provide the list of pending cards and all the Deputy Commissioners to create awareness about the scheme and associated insurance plans.

He further said that nearly 84 per cent of the beneficiaries have their accounts activated with the issuing of RuPay cards thus proving to be vital in providing of insurance cover to them.

He also laid emphasis on strengthening the system of 'Bank Mitras' apart from giving further impetus to the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojna (PMSBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojna (PMJJBY), Atal Pension Yojna (APY), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna-Housing for All describing these of utmost importance in making the banking sector citizen-friendly.

The Chief Secretary further called upon the bankers to meet the target of disbursement of Rs 1,578 crore in the state under MUDRA scheme (Micro units Development and Refinance Agency).

Member banks were requested to chalk out strategy for not only achieving the targets but to surpass the convincingly this year.

Reviewing the Stand Up India scheme under which state banks have considered only 6,150 cases against the target of 12,526 cases, all the Deputy Commissioners shall be asked to hold frequent meetings of district level implementation committees to create awareness.

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Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju today lauded the Assam Rifles personnel who nabbed eight 'Arakan Liberation Army' militants without any armed confrontation recently.

Rijiju, who is on a one-day visit to Mizoram while visiting the Headquarters of the 23 Sector of the AR here said the Assam Rifles are truly the friends of the hill people.

DIG of the Sector 23 AR Brig M S Mokha apprised the Minister about the activities of the Assam Rifles personnel who guarded the Mizoram-Myanmar.

The Assam Rifles raised as Cachar Levy in 1835 is the oldest Central Para Military Force in India.

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Russia's embassy in Ankara expressed fury today over the awarding of the prestigious World Press Photo Award for an image of an off-duty Turkish policeman assassinating the Russian envoy to Turkey last year.

The embassy, whose ambassador Andrei Karlov was shot dead in the December 19 killing, said the decision by the jury was "demoralising" and showed a "complete degradation of ethics and moral values".

"Propaganda of the horror of terror is unacceptable," it said in a statement on its official Facebook page.

The famous image was taken by Burhan Ozbilici, a photographer for the Associated Press, who stood his ground as 22-year-old policeman Mevlut Mert Altintas killed Karlov at the opening of an Ankara exhibition on December 19.

Jurors commended the courage of the photographer and symbolic resonance of the picture but the choice split the jury, with its president Stuart Franklin opposing the choice.

"Placing the photograph on this high pedestal is an invitation to those contemplating such staged spectaculars," he wrote in the British daily The Guardian.

The head of the foreign affairs committee of the Russian senate Konstantin Kosachev said the choice was "on the edge of morality" and asked "how many more terrorists could be inspired by this photo", RIA Novosti reported.

Altintas was killed at the scene by Turkish security forces and the authorities said he was part of the group of the US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen who Ankara blames for the failed July 15 failed coup.

Russia, which sent an investigation team to Ankara after the killing, has yet to back this conclusion. The street in Ankara where the embassy is located has since been named after Karlov.

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AIADMK chief V K Sasikala's hope of becoming chief minister of Tamil Nadu was on Tuesday dealt a body blow with the Supreme Court upholding her conviction in a corruption case, a verdict that bars her from contesting polls for nearly 10 years.

A close aide of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa, 60-year-old Sasikala, who is locked in a bitter struggle for power in the ruling AIADMK with Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, was ordered to surrender forthwith and serve the remaining part of her four-year jail term. The AIADMK general secretary has already served almost six months in jail.

In a keenly awaited verdict in the 19-year-old disproportionate assets case that also involved Jayalalithaa which will have a direct bearing on the political uncertainty that has gripped the state for the last 10 days, the court restored in toto the judgement and the findings of the trial court in Bengaluru which held all the accused including Sasikala's two relatives, V N Sudhakaran and Elavarasi guilty.

The two-judge bench comprising Justices P C Ghose and Amitava Roy directed and the two relatives to surrender forthwith to the trial court in Bengaluru and serve the remaining part of four-year jail term.

The verdict disqualifies from becoming a legislator and consequentially she can't be chief minister either for six years from the date of release of prison under the Representation of the People Act.

Police presence was stepped up at a resort about 80 km from Chennai, where MLAs supporting have been housed since the past few days. Sasikala herself stayed overnight at the resort.

The bench read the operative portion of the voluminous judgement saying that "according to the materials and evidence place on record, we set aside the judgement and the order of the high court and affirm in toto the judgement and order the trial court convicting the accused persons."



The bench said since Jayalalithaa has expired, the proceeding against her is abated. She died on December 5.

"Nevertheless, we reiterate that having regard to the facts, the charge framed against them by the trial court is restored," the bench said.

"Since the charges framed by the trial court have been restored against all of them they will surrender forthwith before the trial court and serve the remaining part of the sentence," it said.

Minutes after the Supreme Court verdict, the AIADMK appeared to defend her, saying she had always carried the burden of the late Jayalalithaa.

"Whenever there had been burden for Amma (Jayalalithaa) she (Sasikala) had taken it on her. She is doing the same now also. #Chinnamma," the party's official Twitter handle, @AIADMKOfficial said.

The verdict came even as Panneerselvam won more support from party MPs and MLAs.

The trial court had sentenced Sasikala and her two relatives to four years imprisonment with a fine of Rs 10 crore each. Jayalalithaa was sentenced to four years with a fine of Rs 100 crore.

On June 7 last year, the apex court had reserved its verdict in the case after hearing detailed arguments from all the parties including the Karnataka government.

On July 27, 2015, the apex court had issued notices on Karnataka government's appeal seeking stay of the high court judgement to Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and her relatives.

The Karnataka HC had on May 11, 2015 ruled that Jayalalithaa's conviction by special court suffered from infirmity and was not sustainable in law, clearing decks for her return as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.

The special court had in 2014 held Jayalalithaa guilty of corruption and sentenced her to four years imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 100 crore.

Jayalalithaa and three others were accused of allegedly amassing disproportionate asserts to the tune of Rs 66.65 crore during her first term as Chief Minister from 1991 to 1996.
The Supreme Court today restored AIADMK chief V K Sasikala's conviction in a disproportionate assets case and sent her back to jail, making her bid to become chief minister of Tamil Nadu short-lived and sparking a fresh battle for power in the ruling party.

In a 570-page judgement in the 19-year-old case that also involved J Jayalalithaa, the apex court ordered that Sasikala, 60 , a close aide of the late chief minister, surrender forthwith and serve the remaining part of her four-year jail term. She has already spent six months in a jail in Bengaluru.

There was no immediate word on when Sasikala, who was held guilty of entering into a conspiracy with Jayalalithaa, would surrender. The conviction bars the AIADMK general secretary from contesting elections for nearly 10 years and holding any executive post.

Sasikala's loyalist Edappady K Palaniswami was elected the Legislature Party Leader, a move apparently aimed at projecting him as the next chief minister, while O Panneerselvam, the caretaker chief minister, was sacked from the party's primary membership, the latest in a series of tit-for-tat moves that the two factions have been making.

Moving quickly, Palaniswami, 63 , met Governor Vidyasagar Rao and staked claim to form the government even as Panneerselvam made a fervent appeal to those in Sasikala's camp to go by their "conscience" in taking forward the government that was led by 'Amma' (Jayalalithaa).

Palaniswami submitted the letter of support of party MLAs, who elected him at a resort near Chennai.

Though it was not announced how many MLAs attended the legislature party meeting, the Madras High Court was yesterday informed by the state prosecutor that 119 AIADMK MLAs were staying in the resort on their own volition. AIADMK has 134 MLAs in the 234-member Assembly.

The apex court "restored in toto" the judgement and the findings of the trial court in Bengaluru which held all the four accused--Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and Sasikala's two relatives V N Sudhakaran and Elavarasi guilty and sent them to jail.

The two-judge bench comprising Justices P C Ghose and Amitava Roy while overturning the Karnataka High Court verdict that had acquitted the four convicts directed Sasikala and the two relatives to surrender forthwith to the trial court in Bengaluru and serve the remaining part of four-year jail term.

Sasikala stayed overnight at a resort in Koovathur, 80 km from here, where MLAs supporting her are camping for the past few days.

The verdict disqualifies Sasikala from becoming a legislator and consequentially she can't be chief minister either for six years from the date of release of prison under the Representation of the People Act.

The bench read the operative portion of the voluminous judgement saying that "according to the materials and evidence place on record, we set aside the judgement and the order of the high court and affirm in toto the judgement and order the trial court convicting the accused persons."



The bench said since Jayalalithaa has expired, the proceedings against her is abated. She died on December 5.

"Nevertheless, we reiterate that having regard to the facts, the charge framed against them by the trial court is restored," the bench said.

"Since the charges framed by the trial court have been restored against all of them they will surrender forthwith before the trial court and serve the remaining part of the sentence," it said.

The pronouncement of the verdict was completed in about eight minutes. Justice Ghose, before pronouncing the judgement, said "You can understand (that it is) too much of a fatty judgement. We have taken the burden on us."



Senior AIADMK MP Thambidurai, a Sasikala loyalist, said they will appeal against the verdict.

The trial court in Bengalure had sentenced Sasikala and her two relatives to four years imprisonment with a fine of Rs 10 crore each while Jayalalithaa was sentenced to four years with a fine of Rs 100 crore.

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Visiting Australia team captain has left it to the discretion of his squad members to engage in verbal duels with the Indian players, or not, when the two outfits clash during the upcoming four-game rubber.

"I think each of our individual plays the way they want to play. If they want to get into battle verbally, if they get the best out of them, then (I say) go for it," said Smith at a media conference today ahead of the series commencing in Pune on February 23.

India and Australia have fought some bitter verbal battles - called sledging Down Under - in the past.

The most notable of these verbal duels occured in Australia a decade ago when things got really ugly and the Anil Kumble-led Indian team threatened to abandon the tour in the wake of "Monkeygate" scandal, involving Harbhajan Singh of India and Australian all rounder Andrew Symonds.

"It's about making sure they have the right mindset as individuals to go out and succeed. Guys want to get into those battles verabally, if they get the best out of them, then go for it. (But) in the end it's about us playing on skills and making sure they are in the best place to succeed in these conditions," Smith added.
With a view to further streamlining their poll alliance in UP and bringing clarity at the ground level, Samajwadi Party and Congress today decided to withdraw five candidates each from seats where nominees of both parties are in the fray.

The leaders of both parties had discussions and decided to withdraw five candidates each and asked the district unit heads of the parties to ensure that they leave the fray and campaign for joint candidate of the alliance.

This was stated in a press release signed by leaders of both the parties.

Congress has directed its candidates from Lucknow (central) - Maroof Khan, Bindki - Abhimanyu Singh, Soraon - Jawaharlal Diwakar, Prayagpur - Bhagatram Misra and Chanbey - Bhagauti Chaudhary, to withdraw, the release said.

Similarly, SP has asked its nominees from Mahrajpur - Aruna Tomar, Kanpur Cantt - Mohd Hasan Rumi, Koraon - Ramdev Kol, Bara - Ajay Lal Amritlal and Mahrauni - Ramesh Kumar to withdraw, it said.

Under alliance worked out by both the parties, Congress had got 105 of the 403 seats but due to delay in firming up the pact and some other issues candidates of both parties had jumped into the fray on certain seats.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi had recently said this was a minor issue which would be resolved soon.

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Spain's Interior Ministry said two separate arrests have been made in connection with Islamic extremism, bringing to 188 the number of people accused of jihadi links in Spain since 2015.

Police on Monday arrested a 33-year-old Moroccan man in the Canary Islands who had allegedly stated his willingness to carry out attacks of "violent jihadism," according to a ministry statement today.

It said the police found photos of the suspect holding knives and posing with his wife and underage son in combat attire with emblems of the Islamic State group.

The man had been monitored by authorities for more than five years since he was considered "a threat to national security," the ministry said.

In a separate arrest, an Algerian man was being held in the northern city of Bilbao for allegedly praising extremism, the ministry said. The 44-year-old is suspected of training himself in the ideology of the Islamic State group, which he promoted through social media.

According to the statement, the police had monitored the man in the past for allegedly providing funds and forging identity documents for al-Qaida.

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Sponges may be simple creatures, but they ruled the world some 445 million years ago after the second-largest mass extinction in Earth's history, according to a new study of a fossil treasure-trove in China.

The end-Ordovician crisis resulted in 85 per cent of species dying out. It was the result of a sudden, intense ice age, followed by an equally rapid warming, and corresponding changes in ocean chemistry and circulation, researchers said.

The plankton started to recover quite quickly, but until now we have known little about life on the deeper parts of the sea floor, they said.

Researchers from Chinese Academy of Sciences and National Museum Wales in the UK revealed a new fossil fauna preserving delicate skeletons and soft tissues, from the immediate aftermath of the Ordovician mass extinction.

The Anji Biota was discovered in the bamboo forests of Zhejiang Province, China, in a narrow band of mudstone exposed at several sites up to 10 kilometres apart.

The fauna is extraordinarily diverse, with nearly 100 species found in the first phase of collecting.

The surprise, though, is that this diversity is almost entirely composed of sponges.

The Anji Biota records an astonishing range of different sponge species, in many different major groups, with a total diversity exceeding that of equivalent modern faunas.

Most post-extinction survivor ecosystems are made up of small, stunted species that managed to thrive and are found everywhere.

In the Anji sponge fauna, the sponges are large and complex, and although some species formed forests on the sea floor, many others were very scarce or extremely localised. It does not look like a survival fauna at all; these simple animals were flourishing.

Together with thousands of sponges, a few conical-shalled nautiloids were also recovered, and a single fossil sea scorpion complete with legs.

"We think the sponges thrived because they can tolerate changes in temperature and low oxygen levels, while their food source (organic particles in the water) would have been increased enormously by the death and destruction all around them.," said lead author Joe Botting.

Sponges are known today as ecosystem engineers, encouraging biodiversity by stabilising sediment and providing habitats, researchers said.

In the case of the end-Ordovician crisis, such an abundance of sponges over wide areas might well have helped the ecosystem to recover, they said.

The team also notes that mass sponge remains have been recorded after other mass extinction events, suggesting that this is a common pattern after ecological collapse.

If the past is anything to go by, then as marine ecosystems begin to collapse due to human activities, we should expect to see sponges rule the seas once again, researchers added.

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A wanted criminal carrying a reward of Rs 5,000 on his head was arrested by Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) from Mansurpur area here, police said today.

Junaid was wanted in 13 cases of murder and loot.

"Notorious criminal Junaid was arrested in Mansurpur in the district yesterday and we are interrogating him," police said.

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Kazakhstan said today that a new round of Astana talks on the Syria conflict led by Russia, Turkey and Iran will take place behind closed doors, as the make-up of any rebel delegation remained unclear.

The "closed format" negotiations are set to start Wednesday in the Kazakh capital some three weeks after representatives from Damascus and the armed opposition failed to make a breakthrough at indirect talks in the city.

The meeting -- pushed by key regime supporter Moscow -- is viewed as a warm-up for UN-led negotiations on the protracted war that are due to begin in Geneva on February 23.

While Kazakh officials said they invited both the Syrian government and rebels for the new talks, several of the regime opponents who took part in the previous Astana talks told AFP that they have not received invitations.

Damascus has confirmed it will be represented again by its ambassador to the UN, Bashar al-Jaafari.

Russia is sending presidential envoy Alexander Lavrentiev while Iran said it is dispatching deputy foreign minister Hossein Jaberi Ansari.

UN envoy on Syria Staffan de Mistura said he would not participate personally in the latest Astana meeting but that his office would be represented by a "technical team".

Jordan will also be represented by a "high level delegation" government spokesman Mohamed Momani said.

The Astana initiative has left the West on the sidelines of the latest push to end the war in Syria that has claimed more than 300,000 lives since 2011.

Moscow has invited the US to participate as an observer but the State Department has yet to confirm Washington will be involved.

Talks are likely to focus on bolstering a shaky ceasefire on the ground after Moscow, Tehran and Ankara agreed to establish a "mechanism" aimed at ensuring the truce.

Russia and Iran have helped turn the tables on the ground with their military backing for President Bashar al-Assad, while Turkey has supported rebels fighting to oust the strongman.

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Tejas Networks, maker of optical networking products, has filed draft papers with capital regulator Sebi to raise fund through an initial public offering.

The IPO comprises fresh issue of shares worth Rs 450 crore and an offer for sale of 1.27 crore scrips by shareholders, according to draft red herring prospectus.

Shareholders who would sell stake in the initial public offer (IPO) include Cascade Capital Management Mauritius, Intel Capital (Cayman) Corporation, India Industrial Growth Fund Ltd and Sandstone Private Investments.

Also, the company plans to raise about Rs 150 crore by selling 60 lakh shares ahead of the IPO. If the pre-IPO placement is completed, the company would reduce the IPO size.

Proceeds of the issue would be used for capital expenditure towards payment of salaries and wages of research and development team, working capital requirement and general corporate purposes.

"In addition, our company expects to achieve the benefits of listing of the equity shares on the stock exchanges which, we believe, will result in the enhancement of our company's brand and creation of a public market for our equity shares," said.

is optical networking products company. It caters to telecommunications operators, internet service providers, utilities, defence and government entities in over 60 countries.

Axis Capital, Citigroup Global India Pvt Ltd, Edelweiss Financial Services and Nomura Financial Advisory and Securities (India) Pvt Ltd are managing the IPO. The equity shares are proposed to be listed on the BSE and the NSE.
Thales and defence PSU Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) today signed an agreement to assess opportunities for transfer of technology of the flagship STARStreak missile capability to India.

Under the MoU, Thales, a global technology player in aerospace, transport, defence and security markets, and BDL seek to jointly offer a 'Make in India' solution to help grow international demand for this product.

The MoU was signed in the presence of UK government representatives at AeroIndia 2017 air show, which began at the Yelahanka airbase here today.

The STARStreak missile is in service in the UK Army and has been procured by the defence forces of a number of countries worldwide.

The fastest missile in its category, STARStreak is unique due to its three laser-guided darts, which cannot be jammed by any known counter measure. It has the capability to defeat any air target - even armoured helicopters - as the last line of defence, a Thales release said.

Thales is investing in the transfer of technology to India for the STARStreak missile.

In the spirit of cooperation between the two countries, including under the Indo-UK Defence Equipment Cooperation MoU, this initiative has the full support of the UK government, it said.

The association will play a strategic role not only in supporting the 'Make in India' vision of the Indian government, but also in giving a boost to the excellent bilateral relations between India and the UK, it said.

Alex Cresswell, Executive Vice-President for Land and Air Systems activities at Thales, said: "We are proud to join hands with Bharat Dynamics Ltd for the strategic transfer of technology of our flagship STARStreak missile from the UK."



"Sharing technology has been one of the key ingredients of Thales' strategy for India. We would continue to work in this direction and realise our objective to make in India and export from India through such endeavours," he said.

V Udaya Bhaskar, CMD, BDL, said the company is "strongly" looking forward to business opportunities outside India to supply the latest defence equipment.

With 62,000 employees in 56 countries, Thales reported sales of euro 14 billion in 2015.

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Three persons were today arrested for allegedly carrying six kg charas (hashish) which was recovered from their car near Rajasthan border in Gujarat by the Ahmedabad Zonal Unit of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

On a specific tip off, the officials intercepted the car at Shamlaji in Arvalli district and recovered the contraband which was concealed in a specially-made cavity in its dashboard, said zonal director of Ahmedabad-NCB Hari Om Gandhi.

"On searching their car, we found 6 kg charas hidden inside a cleverly made cavity in the dashboard. The street price of this contraband is Rs 60 lakhs. We have arrested three persons from the spot," said Gandhi.

Those who were arrested include Aslam Shaikh, a resident of Vadodara, Shakil Ansari, a resident of Mumbai and Salim Shaikh, a resident of Vadodara.

"During primary interrogation, it has been revealed that the trio had received the contraband from a person called Ashraf in Delhi. They were headed to Gujarat to deliver charas in their car from Delhi via Udaipur," said Gandhi.

Among these three, Aslam is a the mastermind while two others used to work for him as assistants. Probe has revealed that Aslam was involved in drug trafficking since last few years.

"Aslam told us that he works for a Kashmir based drug supplier Ashra Soda. The source of this charas is also the Kashmir valley," said Gandhi.

Further probe is on to find out their connections in Gujarat, said the official.

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Actor Tom Cruise, who lost his mother, Mary Lee South, last week, has attended her memorial service at her local Church of Scientology.

The "Mission: Impossible" star's mother died peacefully in her sleep after battling health issues at the age of 80.

Cruise, 54, was joined by his three sisters, Lee Ann DeVette, 57, Cass Mapother, 55, and Marian Henry, 52, as well as other family and friends, reported People magazine.

South, who split from Tom's father, Thomas Cruise Mapother III, in 1974, was using a walker and looked thinner than usual when she was last seen in Clearwater, Florida in May 2016.

Cruise, along with his mom moved to New Jersey when he was 16, after she got married to John "Jack" South in 1978.

The actor had a close relationship with his mom as she often attended his premieres.

The 54-year-old actor developed his passion for acting from his mom, who was a special-education teacher.

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Congress today dubbed "farce" the Shiv Sena's posturing on its continuation in the BJP-led government, a day after party president Uddhav Thackeray sought to put the ball on pulling the plug in the BJP's court.

The Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said both the saffron allies will eventually "make peace" once the results of 10 municipal corporations, including BMC, and 25 Zilla Parishads are out.

The ZP and civic polls will be held on February 16 and 21. Counting of votes will be done on February 23.

In an interview to a channel, Thackeray said the alliance will last till the BJP stretches it to the point of breaking, which is in the stark contrast to frequent threats issued by Sena leadership on pulling out of the government.

Sena, the partner of BJP in state and Central governments, had last month announced to contest the civic polls solo without any alliance with BJP or any other party.

"On one hand, Sena ministers are saying that they carry their resignation letters in pockets while on the other hand, Uddhav has put the ball in the BJP's court saying Sena will pull out of the government only if the BJP stretches it to the point of breaking. This means Sena has not taken any decision to withdraw from the government," Vikhe said in a statement.

He said the Sena ministers carrying their resignation letters in their pockets is all "farce".

On January 27, a day after Thackeray publicly announced his party's decision to contest solo, senior minister Ramdas Kadam had said the Sena ministers were carrying their resignation letters in their pockets.

"People can now see through Sena's double standards and they will teach that party a lesson in the civic polls," the Congress leader said.

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The Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested two persons in Pune for illegally possessing three firearms and live cartridges, an official said today.

ATS sleuths laid a trap and arrested Pankaj alias Gazni Balasaheb Hinge (27) and Sanju Deepak Sarsar (19) in Khadki Bazar area in Pune.

"ATS recovered one country-made pistol, two country-made revolvers and five live cartridges worth Rs 1.21 lakh from the duo," he added.

Hinge has criminal record in Pune city and Sarsar is a nephew of fugitive gangster Rakesh Dholakiya alias Mahakali.

Mahakali, who was wanted for 14 serious offences, including murder, three attempts to murder, extortion and assaults on police, was killed in encounter by Pune Police in December 2011.

"The duo's motive behind carrying the weapons is yet to be ascertained and further investigation is on," officials said.

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Two persons have been arrested for the murder of their 30-year-old friend in Murad Nagar area here last week, police said today.

Monu and Rohit have been arrested for killing Shibham on the night of February 7 after calling him out of his home in Ganga Vihar colony on some pretext, police said.

Shubham had gone missing on that night and his bullet-riddled body was found two days later from a room in forlorn area on Jalalpur-Asalatpur village link road, they said.

According to police, the duo has confessed that they killed Shubham over on "old enmity" and they have been booked under IPC section 302 (murder).

One pistol with a live cartridge of 315 bore, blood stained clothes of Shubham, aadhar card and a bike which was used in the crime have been recovered from their possession, police said.

Both the accused have been sent to jail, they added.

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Police have recovered two human skeletons from a nullah near Kannod in Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh, an officer said today.

"We have recovered two human skeletons from a nullah at Nanasa village on Indore-Betul highway yesterday. It seems one of the skeletons is of man while another of woman," Kannod police station in-charge inspector Rajendra Chaturvedi said.

The skeletons will be sent for examination at Bhopal, he said, adding further investigation is on.

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Shiv Sena chief on Tuesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his policies including demonetisation, saying it does not matter how wide his chest is, but he should have a heart inside.

"I had good relations with Narendrabhai. There is no personal enmity, but when you find that his policy is causing damage to the country, then one has to oppose...Modiji is not my enemy, but I have the right to say what is good and what is bad," he said in an interview to India TV.

Hitting out at the Centre's demonetisation move, the Shiv Sena chief said no affluent person died because of 'notebandi'.

"Did affluent people die because of notebandi? Nearly 200 persons lost their lives while standing in the queues. One of them was a jawan of BSF," he said.

"It doesn't matter to me how many inches wide his chest is, but he should have a heart inside his chest," a press release quoted Uddhav as having told the channel.

Thackeray said the central government made people stand in queues for money.

"In their manifesto, they (BJP) had promised to bring back black money stashed in Swiss banks and put it into people's accounts. Demonetisation could be the Prime Minister's own decision, but how many people were rendered jobless, how many people died? Unemployment has increased, who is responsible for that?



"Even today, we read reports of fake Rs 2,000 currency notes being seized. Did it stop terror attacks? Did the government get black money? Was corruption brought to a halt? Has the circulation of fake currency stopped? I didn't notice a single rich man standing in queues," the Shiv Sena chief said.

Thackeray said Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav should be given "one more chance" to become Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.

"Why shouldn't I praise Akhilesh? He is doing good work and he should get another chance (to become CM). He is a young man, and if he doesn't make any mistake, he should get a chance," he said.

Asked whether his party would snap its ties with BJP in Maharashtra altogether, Thackeray quipped: "They (BJP) can also take the decision (to break the alliance), why should I take? Could they have formed the government without our support?"



When asked whether the Devendra Fadnavis government will last its full term, he said," I don't know".

Despite the two parties having decided to go separately in the local bodies elections in Maharashtra, they are in the alliance government both in the state and at the Centre.

The Shiv Sena chief questioned Prime Minister Modi's "closeness" to NCP chief Sharad Pawar, saying "During the elections, Modiji used to level charges of corruption against chacha-bhatija (Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar) but now he visits Sharad Pawar ji at his residence and says he is my guru.
A UN war crimes court today upped the ante in a battle with Serbia, asking Interpol to issue high-priority red notices for the arrest of three Serbs accused of witness-tampering.

The case has dragged on for more than two years, after the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) issued arrest warrants in January 2015 for three associates of radical Serb Vojislav Seselj.

Defence lawyers Petar Jojic and Vjerica Radeta, and former war-time associate, Jovo Ostojic were charged in December 2014 with "having threatened, intimidated, offered bribes to, or otherwise interfered with two witnesses," in two cases involving Seselj.

Ultranationalist Seselj was acquitted in his main trial in March 2016 of nine charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity arising from the 1990s Balkan conflicts.

But the three others are still wanted for trial on the separate charges, and the court based in The Hague has grown increasingly angered by Belgrade's refusal to hand them over.

Presiding judge Alphons Orie today ordered court officials to "address Interpol seeking distribution of a red notice in relation to the accused on the basis of the arrest warrants."



He added it was clear "Serbia's continued non-compliance with its obligations obstructs the course of justice."



Interpol says on its website that red notices can give "high, international visibility to cases". Wanted persons are also flagged to border officials "making travel difficult."



The ICTY judges in 2012 handed Seselj a two-year jail term in the separate contempt case.

Seselj was allowed to travel back to Serbia in 2015 to undergo cancer treatment while awaiting the verdict in his main trial, which he did not attend.

Since then, Seselj has repeatedly lashed out at the UN tribunal, and his Radical Party was returned to parliament in Belgrade in April elections.

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China, which is building multi- billion dollar Silk Road project abroad, wants UN member states to strengthen cooperation to effectively protect trans- boundary infrastructure from terror attacks, amid a series of terrorist strikes targeting such installations worldwide.

"China's Belt and Road Initiative(Silk Road) takes infrastructure interconnection as cooperation priority to support the countries along the Road to improve their infrastructure development, achieve mutually beneficial win-win cooperation and synchronise development to benefit all," China's permanent representative to UN Liu Jieyi said.

Speaking at a UNSC open debate on the protection of critical infrastructure against terrorist attacks, Liu said a series of terrorist attacks on infrastructure such as airports and mass transport stations have caused panics, and resulted in serious losses of lives and properties.

"The international community should pay attention to the above mentioned developments and work together to fight this phenomenon," Lu said.

The UNSC yesterday unanimously adopted Resolution 2341 (2017), calling upon member states to consider developing or further improving their strategies for reducing risks to critical infrastructure from terrorist attacks.

Liu said that so far over 100 countries and international organisations have joined the Belt and Road Initiative.

China hopes to strengthen cooperation in areas such as "intelligence sharing, risk assessment and joint law assessment through bilateral and multilateral channels" to effectively protect interconnection projects and trans- boundary infrastructure from terrorist attacks and to ensure the safety and security of the Belt and Road construction, Liu was quoted as saying by state-run Xinhua agency.

"The United Nations and the Security Council should play a leading role in relevant international cooperation," he said, adding that "terrorism is the common enemy of mankind and whenever and wherever and in whatever forms it occurs, it must be countered resolutely".

China's ambitious Silk Road projects include the USD 46 billion economic corridor which goes through the Pakistan- occupied Kashmir over which India has raised objection.

Beijing is organising a massive summit conference on the OBOR in May for which world leaders have been invited.

In its resolution, the 15-member UNSC called for security protection to the infrastructure projects.

"The need to strengthen efforts to improve security and protection of particularly vulnerable targets, such as infrastructure and public places," Xinhua quoted a UN press release as saying.

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The UN Security Council has unanimously condemned North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch and threatened to "take further significant measures" against Pyongyang.

Council members including China, Pyongyang's main ally, agreed on a US-drafted statement describing the test-firing of the missile as a "grave violation" of UN resolutions.

The United States, Japan and South Korea yesterday requested the urgent meeting after North Korea announced it had successfully tested a new missile on Sunday, the first launch since US President Donald Trump took office.

"We call on all members of the Security Council to use every available resource to make it clear to the North Korean regime -- and its enablers -- that these launches are unacceptable," US Ambassador Nikki Haley said in a statement.

"It is time to hold North Korea accountable - not with our words, but with our actions."



At a Washington conference just hours before the council meeting, Trump described North Korea as a "big, big problem" and vowed: "We will deal with that very strongly."



The latest missile -- said by Pyongyang to be able to carry a nuclear warhead -- flew east for about 500 kilometers (310 miles) before falling into the Sea of Japan (East Sea), South Korea's defense ministry said.

North Korea is barred under UN resolutions from carrying out ballistic missile launches or nuclear tests.

But last year, it conducted two nuclear tests and numerous missile launches in its quest to develop a nuclear weapons system capable of hitting the US mainland.

The Security Council has imposed six sets of sanctions since Pyongyang first tested an atomic device in 2006.

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Urea imports declined by 36.43 per cent to 51.65 lakh tonnes till January this fiscal on better domestic output and less diversion of the subsidised fertiliser, a senior government official said today.

The country had imported 81.26 lakh tonnes of urea in April-January period of 2015-16 fiscal.

"Urea imports have been less so far because there is a better domestic supply and introduction of neem-coated urea has restricted diversion to industrial use to some extent," a senior Fertiliser Ministry told PTI.

There was higher carryover stock in the country following an increase in the domestic urea production by 20 lakh tonnes to 245 lakh tonnes last year, he said.

No supply issues have been faced this year, said the official, adding that an adequate urea was positioned well in advance in states during the kharif (summer) season and in the ongoing rabi (winter) season.

The annual domestic demand of urea is estimated at 300 lakh tonnes. The rest is met through imports.

Urea is a controlled fertiliser and is sold at a fixed selling price of Rs 5,360 per tonne. The difference between cost of production and selling price is paid as subsidy to manufacturers.

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The United States and Thailand launched annual joint 'Cobra Gold' military exercises today as Asia grapples with uncertainty over the direction of American foreign policy under President Donald Trump.

The war games, typically involving days of gruelling and sometimes gruesome drills in the Thai jungle, are the largest US-led military exercises in Asia.

They have continued in spite of tensions over a 2014 coup in Thailand, prompting Washington to cut back on military aid and call for a return to democracy.

But the US has also been wary of pushing its long-standing Southeast Asian ally into the embrace of superpower rival China.

This year's 10-day exercise kicks off under a cloud of uncertainty about the role of the US in the region.

It is unclear whether Trump will rollback on his predecessor's much-trailed 'Asia pivot', which banked on boosting security and trade ties as a counterweight to China's growing might.

Trump's administration is also expected to take a softer line on human rights, potentially offering some respite for the Thai junta and other authoritarian governments in the region.

Washington sent the head of the US Pacific Command Admiral Harry Harris to attend the opening of Cobra Gold Tuesday -- the highest ranking officer to visit Thailand since the coup.

Some 3,600 US personnel will descend on Thailand's Chonburi and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces for the war games, along with soldiers from Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia.

The drills, which have been hosted by the US and Thailand since 1980, have previously involved an array of arduous activities, including a jungle survival challenge requiring US marines to drink snake blood.

US embassy spokeswoman Melissa Sweeney told AFP that America was "eager to resume full cooperation with our valued Thai partners", with some military aid suspended until democracy is restored.

She said this year's drills will focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

China and Indian will join for those humanitarian exercises, with more than a dozen other countries sending representatives to observe.

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America's pharma sector has asked US Trade Representative (USTR) to continue to keep India on its priority watch list (PWL) which includes countries that are alleged violators of US patent laws, claiming that the environment on the ground remains "challenging" in India.

Among the key issues of concern for the US pharma sector in India are unpredictable IP environment, high tariffs and taxes on medicines, regulatory data protection failure, discriminatory and non-transparent market access policies and unpredictable environment for clinical research.

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) in a submission requested US Trade Representative (USTR) to continue to keep India on the Priority Watch List in the 2017 Special 301 Report.

"Further, we urge USTR to provide an opportunity for a meaningful assessment of India's IP regime through an Out-of-Cycle Review, so that the US government can evaluate progress on these important issues and dedicate the required bilateral attention necessary to translate India's commitments into substantive and real policy change that addresses the IP and market access barriers confronted by US businesses in India," PhRMA said in the Indian section of its submission.

Continued attention to IP and market access barriers in India has sent a strong signal of the importance of these issues to the bilateral relationship, has fueled constructive industry-government dialogue, and has been critical in preventing further deterioration of the innovation environment in that country, it said.

Nevertheless, many of the same issues remain and no meaningful action has been taken to address the unpredictability in IP protection and enforcement that remains, it said.

In its submission to USTR's Special 301 Review, PhArma said it supports the Indian Government's efforts to create a stronger business, innovation and healthcare environment through the "Make in India" initiative, the new National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy and the forthcoming National Health Policy.

"These efforts can advance improved access to healthcare for Indian patients, while driving economic growth by enhancing India's global competitiveness and improving ease of doing business. However, despite some positive signs, PhRMA's members remain concerned about the challenging policy environment in India," PhARMA said in its submission to US Trade Representatives last week.

Pharmaceutical innovators, it said saw positive signs from the Indian Government in 2016. However, these signals have not yet been translated into real policy and practical change.

"To research, develop and deliver new treatments and cures to patients, biopharmaceutical innovators must be able to secure and effectively enforce intellectual property (IP) rights," the report said, adding that with the right policies put in place, India could one day become a globally-competitive leader in life sciences and biomedical development.

(REOPENS FGN 19)



PhARMA said the new National IPR Policy puts forward an important framework for strengthening India's innovation ecosystem.

"Still, greater predictability and reliability is needed and implementation of the policy offers an opportunity to advance concrete policy improvements and could serve as a basis for revisiting India's designation in the future," it said.

The report underlined that despite important announcements to expand healthcare programmes, the Indian government has not increased investment in this critical area, leaving public healthcare spending at a very low level of approximately one per cent of GDP.

"There are delays and cumbersome procedures which prevent India from becoming a part of a global clinical trial programmes and thereby limit patient access to innovative medicines in India. Data from the Indian drug regulator shows that since 2011, when a total of 41 new medicines were approved, the number has dropped significantly to only 11 new medicines in 2015," PhARMA said in its submission.

According to the report, the innovative biopharmaceutical industry greatly appreciates the efforts to address these concerns at the highest levels of the US and Indian governments.

"We welcome the opportunity to continue working with both governments to improve access to medicines for patients and advancing a 'Healthy India' by removing market access barriers and fostering legal and regulatory certainty for the protection of IP in India," it said.

The USTR is expected to come out with its annual Special 301 Review report in April.
The Trump Administration is taking a "fresh look" at Lockheed Martin's proposal to have a F-16 manufacturing base in India if it agrees to buy the fighter jets, officials from the US defence giant said.

"For several months, we've been working with President Trump's transition and governance teams and leaders in Congress providing information on our many programmes and potential business opportunities-including the proposed sale of F-16 fighter aircraft to India," a Lockheed official told PTI.

Lockheed, which is one of the top global manufacturers of fighter jets, said that its officials have briefed the Trump Administration on the current proposal, which was supported by the Obama Administration as part of a broader cooperative dialogue with the Government of India.

In August, Lockheed had offered to move its lone production line of the latest version of F 16-Block 70 to India from Texas to meet Indian and global requirement. However, the company made it clear the proposal is "conditional" to Indian Air Force choosing the world's largest-sold fighter aircraft for its fleet.

"We understand that the Trump Administration will want to take a fresh look at some of these programmes and we stand prepared to support that effort to ensure that any deal of this importance is properly aligned with US policy priorities," the official said.

Ultimately, the configuration of any F-16 sale to India will be determined by government to government discussions, the Lockheed official noted referring to the fact that all major defence sales need approval of the US Government.

Lockheed official said that the company continues to believe that the F-16 is the right aircraft to meet India's needs and the possibility of selling F-16 aircraft to India represents a significant opportunity for the US economy.

"The selection of the F-16 by India would preserve US jobs at Lockheed Martin and throughout our US supply chain. It could also create opportunities for future aircraft sales and upgrades by keeping F-16 production active," the official said.

According to Lockheed, which has been in India for more than 25 years, this unique F-16 opportunity delivers advanced defence capabilities and strengthens the strategic partnership between the US and India.

In India, Lockheed Martin has joint venture company with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), which has proven that Indian industry can manufacture airframe components for the C-130J airlifter and the S-92 helicopter.

"We hope to build on that success with the F-16, the world's most successful, combat-proven multi-role fighter. Because when it comes to success in complex environments, we know trusted partnerships can make a world of difference," the company said.

Lockheed opened its India subsidiary in 2008.

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Driven by higher income, metals and mining major Vedanta Ltd saw its consolidated net profit jump over four times to Rs 1,866.28 crore during the December quarter of the current fiscal.

Led by NRI billionaire Anil Agarwal, it had reported net profit of Rs 408.58 crore in the October-December quarter of the previous fiscal, Vedanta said in a BSE filing.

Its total consolidated income from operations of the metals-to-oil group rose significantly to Rs 20,393.03 crore during the third quarter of 2016-17, as against Rs 15,731.48 crore in the year-ago period.

The total expenses of the firm also rose to 16,033.75 crore during the quarter as against Rs 14,216.38 crore in the third quarter of 2015-16.

Vedanta CEO Tom Albanese said: "Volume ramp-up and cost efficiencies across our operations, aided by higher commodity prices, have significantly driven up EBITDA y-o-y. Our financial position remains robust and we continue to strengthen our balance sheet by maximising free cash flow and reducing debt."



He further said that with the company's focus on simplifying the group structure, the Vedanta Limited and Cairn India merger is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2017.

"The proposed merger of Vedanta Limited and Cairn India is an important strategic step in simplifying the group structure. This was approved by all sets of shareholders in September 2016, and Vedanta expects the transaction to complete in the first quarter of CY2017 (by March, 2017)," the company said.

It said this has been the "best ever quarter for Vedanta Limited in last 2 years. Profit after tax jumped 4.5 times (or 353 per cent) to Rs 1,866 cr in October-December 2016 quarter."



The company said results are driven by higher volumes at Iron Ore, Aluminium & Power, Copper India and Zinc India businesses as well as significant cost and marketing savings and higher commodities prices



It said it recorded "EBITDA at Rs 6002 crore, up 83 per cent y-o-y" and EBITDA margins of 39 per cent reflects benefits from higher commodity prices and volume ramp-up.

Vedanta said that as on December 31, 2016, gross debt has been reduced by Rs 1,828 crore to Rs 64,966 crore and net debt stands reduced by Rs 447 crore to Rs 11,514 crore on account of positive free cash flow.

Also, strong operating performance has led to generation of free cash flow of Rs 1,801 crore, it said, adding that its financial position remains strong with total cash and liquid investments of Rs 53,452 crore.

The company said it is focused on strengthening its balance sheet by maximising free cash flow, refinancing and terming out maturing debt, and simplifying the group structure.

It added, "Vedanta achieved cumulative cost and marketing savings of USD 545 million over the last 7 quarters. This is ahead of the plan to save USD 1.3 billion in four years.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has demanded the United States apologise for slapping sanctions on his vice president over alleged drug trafficking.

Maduro said he had told the foreign ministry to send an official protest note to Washington demanding it "retract and apologise publicly to our vice president," Tareck El Aissami, for the sanctions against him.

"This is without doubt an attack that Venezuela will respond to step by step in a balanced and forceful way," the embattled socialist president yesterday said.

El Aissami himself earlier slammed the US Treasury Department's sanctions as a "miserable and vile attack."



The US accusations against El Aissami triggered the latest row between Venezuela's leftist government and Washington, the "imperialist" power it loves to hate.

Maduro himself had so far been cautious in his approach to US President Donald Trump, who has not yet detailed his stance on the situation in Venezuela.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Monday's move against El Aissami was part of a broad crackdown on drug trafficking and "terrorism."



The US Treasury Department on Monday accused El Aissami and an ally, businessman Samark Jose Lopez Bello, of being major drug traffickers and froze their US assets.

It said El Aissami protected and oversaw large shipments of cocaine from Venezuela to Mexico and the United States while serving as interior minister and governor of Aragua state.

El Aissami was allegedly in the pay of Venezuelan drug kingpin Walid Makled Garcia to protect shipments, and coordinated them with Mexico's violent Los Zetas cartel, the Treasury said.

The US Treasury said the sanctions were part of a multi-year investigation and unrelated to El Aissami's recent promotion to vice president.

He formerly served as a minister under Maduro's late predecessor Hugo Chavez, the father of Venezuela's "socialist revolution."



In a January 31 decree, Maduro granted El Aissami new powers to seize property and approve ministers' budgets.

Maduro also named him head of a security task force which promptly arrested several prominent political opponents, accusing them of plotting an uprising.

Opposition deputy Luis Florido called El Aissami "the face of repression."



Retired military commander Cliver Alcala, a leading former ally of Chavez but a critic of Maduro, accused the vice president of "abuse and persecution of those who think differently."



The United States did not say whether it is seeking the arrest and extradition of either El Aissami or Lopez Bello.

The sanctions freeze their assets on US territory, and also ban US citizens and entities from doing business with either man or the 13 companies.

Officials said they had frozen assets worth tens of millions of dollars, including a private jet and what appeared to be several luxury condos in Miami controlled by Lopez Bello.

It is the latest US drugs case targeting prominent figures tied to the Venezuelan government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Venezuelan Vice President Tareck El Aissami hit back today at the United States for labeling him a drug kingpin and slapping sanctions on him, calling the accusations a "vile attack."



"I take this miserable and vile attack as recognition of my status as an anti-imperialist revolutionary," El Aissami, the heir apparent to Socialist President Nicolas Maduro, wrote on Twitter.

The US Treasury Department on Monday accused El Aissami and an ally, businessman Samark Jose Lopez Bello, of being major cocaine traffickers and froze their US assets.

It said El Aissami protected and oversaw large shipments of drugs from Venezuela to Mexico and the United States while serving as the country's interior minister and governor of Aragua state.

El Aissami was allegedly in the pay of Venezuelan drug kingpin Walid Makled Garcia to protect shipments, and coordinated them with Mexico's violent Los Zetas cartel, the Treasury said.

"Let's not let these vile provocations distract us. Our main job is to accompany Nicolas Maduro in (Venezuela's) economic recovery," El Aissami tweeted.

"We must concentrate on the revolutionary government's priorities: economic recovery and growth and guaranteeing PEACE and social happiness."



He added a shout-out to late leftist firebrand Hugo Chavez, Maduro's predecessor and the man who launched Venezuela on the path of socialist "revolution" -- and a diplomatic collision course with the "imperialist" United States -- in 1999.

"Long live CHAVEZ!!" he wrote.

The US sanctions cast a dark shadow over El Aissami, 42, who became the troubled South American country's vice president on January 4. El Aissami, who was born in Merida state, served as a minister under Chavez.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Scores of fishermen clashed with police today in central Vietnam as they tried to file lawsuits demanding compensation after a toxic waste dump by a Taiwanese firm killed tonnes of fish last year, activists said.

The mass fish deaths destroyed livelihoods in communities along the coast in central Vietnam where fishing is the main source of livelihood.

The Taiwanese firm behind the environmental disaster Formosa has paid USD 500 million to the government of Vietnam, some of which authorities started dispersing last year.

But the fishermen who tried to file suits Tuesday said they have yet to receive any compensation and are demanding payouts from Formosa.

Witnesses said they were stopped by police in central Nghe An province before clashing with police.

"A lot of police went there to stop them," Catholic priest Pham Xuan Ke, one of the leaders of the group, told AFP.

"Some people were beaten badly," he said, adding that many were hospitalised.

He said the local authorities agreed to receive the lawsuits, but officials in the area did not reply to an AFP request for comment.

Witnesses told AFP that several people were briefly detained after the clashes.

Photos on social media showed several people from the protest with bruises and bloodied faces.

Others showed crowds walking along the street with a banner reading "Help us sue Formosa".

A separate group of fishermen in September also tried to sue for greater compensation over the fish deaths, but their suits were dismissed by the court.

Tonnes of dead fish, including rare species that live far offshore, began washing up along Vietnam's central coastline in April.

Frustration at the authorities' perceived reluctance to tackle Formosa led to protests across the country, with police stepping in to arrest scores of demonstrators.

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Were Indian National Army soldiers who sided with revolutionary leader Subhas Chandra Bose freedom fighters or army deserters?



The Central Information Commission has ordered the Home Ministry to answer this question.

The case came up for hearing before Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu as Right to Information applicant Prodyot Kumar Mitra could not get details on the status of INA soldiers who had marched with Bose.

His application filed on August 26, 2014 was first transferred to CPIO, Ministry of Defence which was further transferred to Department of Ex-Serviceman Welfare and finally to Ministry of Home Affairs.

Four months after Mitra filed the application, National Archives offered inspection of records and asked him to cull out desired information and documents.

Acharyulu noted that the Home Ministry was right in transferring the RTI application to the National Archives as far as records are concerned.

"But, the MHA should have taken responsibility to answer the question regarding revoking the social stigma attached to INA veterans, clarifying the doubt why should not be considered as freedom fighters and whether MHA was ready to provide same benefits such as pension to the members of INA," the Information Commissioner pointed out.

He was of the opinion that the MHA is under an obligation to explain the logic or reason in neglecting the members of INA led by Netaji and rejecting them the status of freedom fighters.

"The Commission directs the office of MHA to provide answers to the above questions and inform the appellant about the policy, the decision and action on the RTI application filed by this appellant within 30 days from the date of receipt of this order," he ordered.

(Reopens DEL 58)



The Indian National Army was founded by prisoners of wars of British Indian Army captured by Japanese in Singapore during the World War II.

Bose took leadership of this army in 1943. It was declared to be the army of Azad Hind, the provisional government formed by Bose.

The army comprising ex-prisoners and volunteers marched with Imperial Japanese army against British forces in South East Asia.

The INA led a campaign through Burma till Imphal and Kohima even claiming to have formed a government in Moirang, Manipur.

However, the campaign was not successful facing stiff resistance from British Indian Army in Kohima and Imphal.

A joint court-martial of captured INA soldiers-- Colonel Prem Sehgal, Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, Major General Shah Nawaz Khan-- was held during 1945-46 at the Red Fort.

Leaders of independence movement Jawaharlal Nehru, Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, Kailashnath Katju, Bhulabhai Desai, Asaf Ali, along with Muslim league defended the comrades of Bose despite difference of ideology.

However, none of the INA soldiers were inducted in regular army of India.
A woman Maoist leader, carrying a reward of Rs 2 lakh on her head was arrested from Tansia village in naxal-affected Seraikela-Kharswan district, police said today.

A self-styled 'area commander' of CPI (Maoists) Kaushalia Kumari alias Sabita was arrested by the District Armed Police and CRPF from the village on Sunday night following a raid conducted based on a tip-off, Superintendent of Police Rakesh Bansal said.

Kaushalia was carrying a reward of Rs two lakh on her head, the SP said adding that she was trying to mislead police when asked about her identity but was arrested following verification.

She was wanted by the police in various naxal-related incidents.

Meanwhile, the East Singhbhum district police intensified anti-naxal operation in the naxal-hit Ghatsila Sub-division and started mounting pressure on the top Maoist leader Kanhu Munda-led squad to surrender, which was operating in the bordering areas of Jharkhand-Bengal-Odisha.

Kanhu, a Zonal Secretary of Jharkhand-Bengal-Odisha outfit, is carrying a reward of Rs 25 lakh on his head.

Asked about reports on possible surrender of Kanhu and his squad members including Fogra Munda, who also carries a reward of Rs 10 lakh, tomorrow, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anoop T Mathew told PTI, the district police has launched a massive anti-naxal operation in the naxal-affected areas of the district, particularly after a hard-core Maoist Supai Tudu was gunned down in an encounter recently in the sub-division.

Tudu was bodyguard of slained top ranked Maoist leader Koteshwar Rao alias Kishenji.

The SSP also appealed to the Maoists operating in the district including Kanhu and Fogra to surrender and join the mainstream, he said admitting that the Maoists were in contact with police but nothing matured as of now.

The Jharkhand Government has already announced attractive surrender policy for naxals willing to surrender and join the mainstream of the society, he said.

Mathew claimed that the ultra outfit has weakened following the death of Tudu, which also forced top Maoists leader Rahul alias Ranit to surrender before the Kolkata police last month.

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Construction on the ADB-supported 9.8 km long road-bridge across the river Ganga near Patna to connect North and South Bihar benefiting over 9 million people will begin soon.

In November last, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and India had inked a USD 500-million loan agreement to build the road bridge across the river Ganga.

"Work will soon begin on a new piece of infrastructure that will help fill the urgent need for bridge connections in Bihar.

"The new Ganga Bridge, supported by ADB, will be built 10 km downstream and east of the capital Patna and is likely to be India's longest river bridge with a length of almost 10 km once completed," said a blog on ADB website by Saleha Waseem, Operations Communications Specialist, South Asia Regional Department.

As per the loan agreement, the project is schedule to complete by December 2020.

Earlier the ADB had said the new Ganga Bridge will span both channels of the river and serve as an alternate route to the existing Ganga Bridge.

Waseem further said the USD 715 million six-lane bridge will allow better traffic distribution on the international and regional trade corridors connecting the eastern, northern and northeastern states of India with Nepal.

"It is likewise expected to reduce traffic bottlenecks and allow swifter movement of goods between Nepal and India. This will be a boon for transit exporters in both countries," she said.

Bihar government will provide support equivalent to USD 215 million towards the project.

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over 1,300 workers belonging to different Hindu outfits and BJP were arrested today when they attempted to pay homage to the victims of serial bomb blasts, which occured on this day in 1998.

BJP organised a homage meeting at R S Puram, some distance away from the first three blasts occured, before the party senior leader, L K Advani was scheduled to address an election meeting on February 14 in 1998.

A total of 58 persons were killed in the serial blasts.

As a mark of respect, the BJP and like minded organisations, defied the ban to organise meeting, and assembled at the venue to pay homage, by erecting a temporary pandal, placing a photograph of Bharath Matha, police said.

Tamil Nadu BJP president, Tamilisai Soundararajan addressed the workers.

As workers started paying homage, police arrested nearly 1,050 workers, including 186 women, they said.

Similarly, various organisations like Bharath Sena and Ramasena also organised such homage meeting in different parts of the city and police arrested about 200 persons, police added.

All the arrested were released late in the evening.

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By Sweta Singh and Rachit Vats

BENGALURU (Reuters) - Foreign aircraft manufacturers offering to make combat jets in India will have to win approval from their governments, Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said, in a measure aimed at ensuring projects are not affected due to policy flip-flops.

These comments come at a time when U.S. firm Lockheed Martin has said the new administration under President Donald Trump may want to take a "fresh look" at its proposal to move production of its F-16 combat jets to India. The former U.S. government led by Barack Obama had supported the plan.

There are concerns that a veto on making the F-16 in India would not only hit Lockheed, but also threaten other military contracts to come up in India for U.S. firms such as Boeing, Northrop and Raytheon.

Parrikar's comments suggest the minister is keen U.S. firms get a clear go-ahead from Trump, who has criticized companies that have moved manufacturing overseas and then sold their products back to the United States, before starting projects in India to avoid any hurdles down the road.

"If someone wants to shift their plant to India, or set up a new one, it is not an issue," Parrikar told a conference on the sidelines of India's biggest air show aimed at showcasing Indian aerospace capabilities.

"But if these original equipment makers are proposing something (local production), they will have to get their government's approval. That is my requirement."

The main condition for the contract to supply hundreds of fighter planes to India's air force is that it has to be made in India, in collaboration with a local partner, he added.

India needs 800-1000 helicopters and 300-400 combat planes, Parrikar said at the air show in the southern city of Bengaluru.

Sweden's SAAB, which is offering to build in India with a local partner, demonstrated its Gripen jet at the air show, while Lockheed showed its F-16 plane.

Lockheed has been talking to Trump's teams and the U.S. Congress for several months on its proposed sale of F-16 planes to India, a spokesman told in Washington last week.

Lockheed's plan is to build the F-16 to equip the Indian Air Force, and not ship them back home.

India under Prime Minister Narendra has embarked on a massive drive to build locally and end the country's status as one of the world's biggest arms importers.

Analysts expect the country to spend $250 billion on defence modernization over the next decade.

"We need to manufacture aircrafts in India. There is scope here, not all countries manufacture," said India's civil aviation minister, Ashok Gajapathi Raju.

(Additional reporting and Writing by Sanjeev Miglani; Editing by Himani Sarkar)

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By Se Young Lee and Ju-min Park

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean special prosecutor's office will decide no later than Wednesday whether to request an arrest warrant for Samsung Group chief Jay Y. Lee, a suspect in a graft investigation that may topple President Park Geun-hye.

Lee, third-generation leader of the country's top conglomerate, was questioned for more than 15 hours after being summoned by the special prosecution on Monday.

He is accused of pledging payments to a company and organisations backed by Park's confidant, Choi Soon-sil, to win support for a 2015 merger of two Samsung affiliates.

"There will be a decision on whether to make another arrest warrant request for him between today and tomorrow," special prosecutor's office spokesman Lee Kyu-chul told reporters on Tuesday in a briefing.

The office will decide at the same time on whether to seek arrest warrants for four other Samsung Group executives identified as suspects in its investigation.

A Samsung Group spokeswoman declined to comment.

Park was impeached by parliament in December after accusations that she colluded with her long-time friend, Choi, to pressure big businesses to donate to two foundations set up to back the president's policy initiatives.

Both women deny wrongdoing.

Park, 65, and the daughter of a former military ruler, remains in office but has been stripped of her powers while the Constitutional Court decides whether to uphold the impeachment.

If the court rules to uphold the impeachment vote, Park would be South Korea's first elected leader to be forced from office and a presidential election would be held.

The special prosecutor has focused on Samsung Group's relationship with Park, accusing Lee in his capacity as Samsung chief of pledging 43 billion won to win support for the 2015 merger of Samsung C&T Corp and Cheil Industries Inc.

Lee, 48, has denied wrongdoing.

Last month, a court rejected the prosecution's first request for an arrest warrant for the Samsung chief. The office on Tuesday declined to comment on whether it had any new evidence against him or other Samsung executives.

Proving illicit dealings between Park, or those linked to her, and the Samsung Group is critical for the special prosecutor's case that ultimately targets Park, analysts have said.

Prosecution spokesman Lee said the office had told parliament it needed to extend the investigation period. The office can seek a 30-day extension to its current deadline of Feb. 28.

The office of acting president Hwang Kyo-ahn, who must sign off on any such extension, could not be immediately reached for comment.

(Reporting by Se Young Lee and Ju-min Park; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore, Robert Birsel)

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By Zeba Siddiqui

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, India's largest drugmaker, reported its first fall in quarterly profits in a year on Tuesday, as pricing issues and supply constraints affected sales in the United States, its largest market.

Sun's U.S. business faces increasing uncertainty as it struggles to fix quality control problems found by regulators at its key drug factories, and is the subject of a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into increases in drug prices.

On Tuesday the world's fifth-largest generic drugs maker sought to allay those concerns by saying its focus was on high-margin 'specialty' products.

"The idea for us is to improve our supply and regain market share ... our plan is to create a very successful specialty business," billionaire founder and Managing Director Dilip Shanghvi told analysts on a conference call.

U.S. supplies have been hit over the past year after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found violations in manufacturing practices at Sun's Halol factory in western India. Sun has spent months trying to resolve those concerns but the FDA outlined further problems with the plant in an inspection report in December.

Shanghvi said on Tuesday the company hoped to be able to fix the problems at Halol "over the next few quarters."

Some other factories that the drugmaker took over with the acquisition of rival Ranbaxy in 2014 are still barred from supplying.

Sun said it was cooperating with a U.S. Department of Justice investigation, under which several drugmakers were subpoenaed last year. "We have followed the law in the U.S. and all our people have followed appropriate behaviour," Shanghvi said.

Chief Financial Officer Uday Baldota said competitive pressures also continued to affect the U.S. business.

Sun earlier reported a 4 percent rise in U.S. sales in the final three months of 2016, but its total net profit fell to 14.72 billion rupees ($220 million) from 15.45 billion rupees in the same period of 2015. Analysts on average had expected a profit of 17.83 billion rupees, according to Thomson I/B/E/S Estimates.

The company's majority-owned U.S. subsidiary Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd last week reported a 15 percent drop in quarterly sales for the same period, mainly due to price erosion in the United States.

Changes to healthcare policy under President Donald Trump also look likely to affect companies like Sun, which generates 45 percent of its revenue from the U.S. market. Trump last month proposed imposing a 'border tax' on companies exporting to the United States.

($1 = 66.9500 rupees)

(Reporting by Zeba Siddiqui in Mumbai; Editing by Vyas Mohan, Greg Mahlich)

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hoardings that dot the landscape of this industrial town of central Uttar Pradesh do not so much showcase vikas, or development initiatives, of the 33-month-old Narendra Modi government.
Only N D Tiwari has given a five-year-long stable government in to Uttarakhad. After Tiwaris exit, political instability kept haunting the hill state as chief ministers were changed repeatedly by both Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress.
LIVE February 14, 2017 Tuesday, 19:12 PM February 14, 2017 Tuesday, 19:12 PM

The apex court has set aside the Karnataka High Court verdict acquitting her.
Homegrown auto major Tata Motors today reported 96.22 per cent decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 111.57 crore for the December quarter, dragged down by losses in domestic operations and lower profit of its British arm JLR.

It had posted net profit of Rs 2,952.67 crore in the same quarter of last fiscal, Tata Motors said in a BSE filing.

The company's consolidated sales during the October- December quarter were down 2.2 per cent to Rs 67,864.95 crore as against Rs 69,398.07 crore in the year-ago period.

On a standalone basis, Tata Motors' loss after tax widened to Rs 1,046 crore in the third quarter of 2016-17, from Rs 137 crore a year ago.

The revenues (net of excise) of the standalone business (including joint operations) for the quarter under review stood at Rs 10,167 crore, as compared to Rs 10,019 crore in the third quarter of 2015-16, up 1.47 per cent.

Tata Motors said its British arm Jaguar Land Rover posted revenue of 6,537 million pounds, compared to 5,781 million pounds -- up 13.1 per cent.

JLR had profit after tax (PAT) of 167 million pounds for the third quarter compared to 440 million pounds in the corresponding quarter last fiscal, down 62 per cent.

It had lower wholesale volumes and less favourable product mix but was partially offset by favourable market mix, including the runout of Discovery, the company said.

There were also unfavourable variable marketing expense and higher new model launch costs and biennial pay negotiation settlement. Favourable operating exchange was also offset by realised hedges, the company added

JLR's total retail sales, including the China JV, were at 1,49,288 units, up 8.5 per cent.

Tata Motors said during the third quarter 2016-17, its commercial vehicles segment witnessed demand shrinkage due to the demonetisation.

Medium and heavy commercial vehicle segment witnessed major pressure with a fall of 9 per cent and LCV segment was overall flat.

Passenger vehicles segment grew by 25.4 per cent with car segment rising by 31.1 per cent on the back of continued strong response to the Tiago, it added.

Tata Motors stock ended at Rs 468.30 apiece, down 7.34 per cent, on BSE.
President Donald Trump's national security adviser, Michael Flynn, resigned late on Monday after revelations that he had discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to the United States before Trump took office and misled Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations.

Flynn's resignation came hours after it was reported that the Justice Department had warned the White House weeks ago that Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail for contacts with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak before Trump took power on Jan. 20.

Flynn's departure was a sobering development in Trump's young presidency, a 24-day period during which his White House has been repeatedly distracted by miscues and internal dramas.

The departure could slow Trump's bid to warm up relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Flynn submitted his resignation hours after Trump, through a spokesman, pointedly declined to publicly back Flynn, saying he was reviewing the situation and talking to Pence.

Flynn had promised Pence he had not discussed U.S. sanctions with the Russians, but transcripts of intercepted communications, described by U.S. officials, showed that the subject had come up in conversations between him and the Russian ambassador.

Such contacts could potentially be in violation of a law banning private citizens from engaging in foreign policy, known as the Logan Act.

Pence had defended Flynn in television interviews and was described by administration officials as upset about being misled.

"Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the vice president-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador. I have sincerely apologized to the president and the vice president, and they have accepted my apology," Flynn said in his resignation letter.

Retired General Keith Kellogg, who has been chief of staff of the White House National Security Council, was named the acting national security adviser while Trump determines who should fill the position.

Kellogg, retired General David Petraeus, a former CIA director, and Robert Harward, a former deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, are under consideration for the position, a White House official said. Harward was described by officials as the leading candidate.

A U.S. official confirmed a Washington Post report that Sally Yates, the then-acting U.S. attorney general, told the White House late last month that she believed Flynn had misled them about the nature of his communications with the Russian ambassador.

She said Flynn might have put himself in a compromising position, possibly leaving himself vulnerable to blackmail, the official said. Yates was later fired for opposing Trump's temporary entry ban for people from seven mostly Muslim nations.

CHANGE LESS LIKELY?

A U.S. official, describing the intercepted communications, said Flynn did not make any promises about lifting the sanctions.

But he did indicate that sanctions imposed by President Barack Obama on Russia for its Ukraine incursion "would not necessarily carry over to an administration seeking to improve relations between the U.S. and Russia," the official said.

Flynn, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general, was an early supporter of Trump and shares his interest in shaking up the establishment in Washington. He frequently raised eyebrows among Washington's foreign policy establishment for trying to persuade Trump to warm up U.S. relations with Russia.

A U.S. official said Flynn's departure, coupled with Russia's aggression in Ukraine and Syria and Republican congressional opposition to removing sanctions on Russia, removes Trump's most ardent advocate of taking a softer line toward Putin.

Flynn's leaving "may make a significant course change less likely, at least any time soon," the official said.

Another official said Flynn's departure may strengthen the hands of some cabinet secretaries, including Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

However, the second official said, Flynn's exit could also reinforce the power of presidential aides Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller, whom he described as already having the president's ear.

Congressional Democrats expressed alarm at the developments surrounding Flynn and called for a classified briefing by administration officials to explain what had happened.

"We are communicating this request to the Department of Justice and FBI this evening," said Democratic representatives John Conyers of Michigan and Elijah Cummings of Maryland.

U.S. Representative Adam Schiff of California, ranking Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said Flynn's departure does not end the questions over his contacts with the Russians.

"The Trump administration has yet to be forthcoming about who was aware of Flynn's conversations with the ambassador and whether he was acting on the instructions of the president or any other officials, or with their knowledge," Schiff said.

The committee's chairman, Republican Devin Nunes, thanked Flynn for his service.

"Washington D.C. can be a rough town for honorable people, and Flynn - who has always been a soldier, not a politician -deserves America's gratitude and respect," he said.




While the customers gave it a huge thumbs up, Reliance Jio's entry was not welcomed by the telecom biggies, especially Airtel and Vodafone. The companies accused Reliance Jio of breaching TRAI's guidelines through 'predatory pricing'. Mukesh Ambani's firm also made allegations that the already existing players were not cooperating in providing enough inter connect points which caused difficulties for its customers.

But now, it seems like Ambani led company left all these rivalaries in the past as on the occassion of the Valentine's day, Jio from its twitter handle showered love on its arch rivals.
The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys has announced details of more than 9 million in capital funding for arts and culture centres across the country.

The Minister made the announcement as part of the Creative Ireland programme with funding provided under her Departments Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016-2018.



A total of 56 cultural organisations will benefit from this capital investment including theatres, heritage centres, galleries, archives, integrated arts centres, artist studios and creative and performance spaces.



A further 49 projects will receive funding ranging from 20,000 to 276,000.



Seven flagship projects will receive substantial funding allocations:

Solstice Meath Arts Centre - 300,000

The Irish Arial Creation Centre (home of Fidget Feet) - 350,000

The Hunt Museum, Limerick - 400,000

The Hawks Well Theatre in Sligo - 550,000

Cavan Town Hall Theatre - 750,000

The Riverbank Arts Centre, Kildare - 1,000,000

Wexford Arts Centre - 1,000,000



Speaking yesterday, Minister Humphreys said, "This 9 million announcement is the most significant investment in regional arts and cultural centres in a decade. The Creative Ireland Programme places a focus on investing in our cultural infrastructure, because high quality infrastructure is critical for a vibrant arts and culture sector, which in turn underpins social cohesion and supports sustainable economic growth."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
It was announced today that Enterprise Ireland has secured 5m from EUs Horizon 2020 to bring 50 international academics to Ireland.



Career-FIT is a postdoctoral fellowship programme, part-funded by Horizon 2020 and Enterprise Ireland with the aim of bringing 50 high-level research fellows into Ireland to work in the Enterprise Ireland Technology Centres.



These centres which are jointly supported by IDA Ireland deliver industry-focussed research to the 482 company members. The Career-FIT programme is designed to help fill the skills gap in some of the Technology Centres ensuring that Irish companies have access to the best academic researchers in their industry sector.



A key feature of Career-FIT is the opportunity for experienced researchers from outside Ireland to develop their careers in market focused applied research through 3 year fellowships with secondment into industry through Ireland's Technology Centres.



It will facilitate the placement of 50 international academic experts in 13 Technology Centres where they will work on industry-led research of direct relevance and value to Irish businesses. It is hoped the outputs of the collaboration will help Irish companies to build, scale and expand their reach in global markets.



Speaking at the launch, Minister Mitchell OConnor said, "The Career-FIT programme is the first of its kind, addressing the skills shortage in industry-focussed research in Irish Technology Centres. This programme will benefit both the successful academic researchers and the Irish companies connected with the industry-focussed Technology Centres."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Pernod Ricard would have to pass a proposed U.S. tax on imported goods onto consumers, the chief executive of the French spirits group said on Tuesday.

"Retailers are saying, and we're fully in line with them, that the border adjustment tax is a consumer tax, a consumption tax," Alexandre Ricard told reporters in London.

Ricard's comments come the same week that the chief executives of some of America's largest retailers, including Target Corp and Best Buy Co Inc head to Washington to try to kill the tax.

"I don't think it's fair to the American consumer," Ricard said of the proposal by Republican lawmakers to impose a 20 percent tax on imports.

The U.S. arm of the maker of Absolut vodka, Martell cognac and Mumm champagne has joined "Americans for Affordable Products", a group of over 100 businesses opposed to the tax.

The lobby group, launched earlier this month, includes other distillers Diageo North America and LVMH, as well as retailers including Walmart, Nike and Walgreens Boots Alliance, according to its website.

Pernod's business relies largely on provenance-based drinks whose production can not be moved, such as cognac and champagne, which must both be made in France.

But for some products, like blended Scotch, there is flexibility. For example, Ricard said it was possible to blend Scotch in Scotland and ship it to the United States in bulk in inert containers to be bottled locally.

He said such a move could be more efficient regardless of any border tax, since shipping whisky in bulk is lighter than shipping it in bottles.

"Maybe, it's something one could consider despite all of that," Ricard told Reuters. "I would say it's something we should do anyway for environmental reasons." (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Id like to share a recent piece I wrote for Hotels magazine which is reprinted courtesy of the publication. Read on.

Death, or more appropriately perhaps, dying, is not my idea of a good time. It must be lifes ultimate buzz killer. Still, like those teary greeting cards say, every season has an ending. Just ask Tower Records, print newspapers, CDs and brick-and-mortar bookstores.

Speaking of printed books, walk into the hallowed halls of hotel chains or even a general managers dank office, and high up on a bookshelf, way past the smiling photos of dead celebrities, shiny trophies from sports day or an ornamental samurai sword (the latter has come into vogue for those on the losing end of hotel consolidation), sits a massive, dusty ancient tome titled Hotel Business Plan  thick as a brick and using up more trees than a national park.

The time has come to end the useless legacy of the process best summed up as things we do, because its just something we do. Hotels by nature are not innovative places. Yes, there was that genius moment when a long-forgotten housekeeper figured out that folding the end of a toilet paper roll would make it look luxurious. And yes, the accidental genius who first christened the in-room refrigerator a mini-bar. Overall, hoteldom is a pretty repetitious regime.

What amazes me, aside from the color of Donald Trumps hair, is how the industry holds onto traditional practices that frankly need to be delegated to the dumpster. Asking hotel management to create a forward-looking strategic business plan, often in the middle of the year, and that dictates how to do something 12 or 18 months later is nonsense by any stretch of the imagination.

Yes, there are components of the plan that have some relevance to listed companies fiduciary requirements as in the budget, but remove that portion and you still end up with a book that can kill a party of 12 if thrown off a 10-story building. Todays access is unparalleled. We have instant access to trends, customer feedback and engagement, and the world is sprinting ahead, while some lagging hotel executive is still sitting behind their desk trying to find out what went wrong.

Certainly, hotel owners and management agreements dictate the necessity of this massive document. But in reality, arent owners better served with hoteliers creating daily strategies, understanding the market that exists, and not just a segmentation table from a year ago that has gone completely off the rails?

More is not better. More is just quicksand that turns businesses into slow, crawling beasts. I wonder how many business plans saw the OTAs coming and had a strategy to create an alternative business approach. Sorry, but the GM had a dustbuster out and couldnt take the call.

My call to all hotel chains everywhere is: Be bold and dont tie up a quarter of a year doing this inane rain dance in the middle of a drought. Imagine all the time your hotel team is taken away from customers, selling rooms or creating moments, while expecting them to just pass the paper test. Move on, in the same way other industries have, and create a dynamic, interactive, tech-led tool that allows thoughtful changes and meaningful metrics.

In closing: Legacy breeds contempt, and the time has come to relegate the annual big book pain in the ass that it has become to history. Or better yet, recycle the print into toilet paper and knock yourself out folding those edges so very nicely. The effect will be just about the same.

For the story on the Hotels magazine website CLICK
Two days of heavy rains plus warm temperatures after a heavy snowstorm led to flooding throughout Northern Utah and Southeast Idaho. The water overwhelmed local sewer systems and caused localized flooding in Cache, Rich, Box Elder and Franklin counties.

Drone footage from Franklin County, Idaho on Saturday after the rains stopped illustrate the extent of damage throughout various rural communities. The video, shot by Saunders Family and shared on Youtube, shows large ponds in farm fields, damaged roads, a mudslide near Cub River and the Bear River Massacre site under water.

The excessive amount of water has also caused problems in Box Elder County along the Bear River. The Cutler Reservoir was at capacity and officials needed to release more water down stream.

On Monday, the Logan City Environmental Department issued the following statement regarding restrictions that were put in place as a result of all the water.

<em>We would like to thank the residents of Logan, Smithfield, Hyde Park, Nibley, North Logan, Providence, River Heights, and Utah State University for their efforts to reduce waste water flows during this weekends high sewer flow event. Current levels are manageable, but still elevated. We expect that they will continue to lower throughout week as weather conditions remain dry, but will probably not return to normal levels before we move into the next storm event. Keep in mind that as we approach spring months, additional warm weather, runoff, and rain will likely keep the ground saturated and flows higher than normal.</em>

<em>Residents can help us out by doing the following:</em>

<em>Change any sump pumps that are currently connected to the sewer system so that they no longer empty into the sewer system. Having a sump pump that drains into the sewer system is a code violation and should be corrected. Sump pumps can be run through a hose to lawn areas, detention basins, storm water pipes, or into the curb and gutter on streets. It may seem like your sump pump is not making a difference to the sewer system but it could potentially be causing problems for people downstream from you.</em>

<em>Please do not direct storm water to sewer manholes. If you see large amounts of water draining into a sewer manhole, please contact Logan City to report this issue.</em>

<em>If we experience a weather event where we receive large amounts of precipitation, think about implementing some of the conservation tips we have shared with you this weekend. For example: take shorter showers, postpone laundry or only wash full loads, postpone dishes to only wash full loads, and postpone other activities that might send large quantities of water into the sewage system.</em>
Ten weeks after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in August 2005, Kaye and Ferris Groll began an 18-month service mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, managing the Bishops Storehouse in Slidell, Louisiana. The LDS Church operates similar facilities throughout the United States, each of them serving as a commodities resource center for individuals and families in need of assistance.

Throughout the course of their mission, the Grolls witnessed the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina firsthand. As they distributed food and household essentials to people in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas and Florida, they realized how deeply the Category 5 hurricane impacted the region.

From their experience serving in the Baton Rouge Louisiana Mission, the couple learned much about how communities rebuild in the aftermath of natural disasters.

After we came home and really looked at things, we had a new appreciation for what people are going through, said Kaye Groll. We came back different people. We didnt want to take advantage of thinking that everythings okay after a catastrophe happens because its not.

While the storms impacting Cache Valley homes in recent weeks cannot be compared in magnitude to Hurricane Katrina, the Grolls draw similarities. Their home in Providence isnt experiencing flooding, but Kaye said she knew of at least 60 homes in neighborhoods surrounding hers that have water problems. As reports of damages increase, the Grolls are grateful for the immediate community response.

When we went to [church] meetings yesterday, Kaye said, there were grown men crying because they saw how so many people here left everything and worked for hours helping each other.

Hoping to provide assistance to Cache Valley residents who are facing water problems, the Grolls submitted a list of suggestions for those impacted to Robert Henke, the leader of the Providence LDS Stake. The Grolls shared this letter with <a href=http://www.cachevalleydaily.com target=_blank>CacheValleyDaily.com</a>, hoping the insights they gained in Louisiana will benefit local residents who face significant challenges and losses.

Some of their recommendations include addressing mold, watching out for scammers, comparing repair versus replacement costs for damaged items, keeping receipts and notifying authorities (who may have access to public resources). The Grolls also note that many flooding losses are not covered by insurance, and they remind homeowners that flooding has to be reported on seller disclosures. Most important, Kaye and Ferris Groll emphasize the importance of serving others.

Even when our home hasnt been victimized by nature, said Kaye, we still need to be aware that people are needing help.

Cache Valley has numerous resources available locally to help with cleanup and restoration. In addition, the American Red Cross has published an <a href=http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4540081_repairingFloodedHome.pdf>extensive guide</a> to help homeowners repair flooded homes.

(Note: Ferris Groll is a former Logan City Police Chief who also served as Utahs Deputy Commissioner for Public Safety. He and Kaye are currently serving as proselyting senior missionaries in Providence.)

<hr />

jennifer@cvradio.com
Students at Spring Creek Middle School will be greeted on Valentine's Day with handwritten notes on each of their lockers.

Spring Creek Middle School in Providence has 1,000 lockers. Tomorrow morning when students arrive, they will be greeted by handmade valentines taped to every one of them.

The idea for the heart attack came from Jenna Adams, an eighth grader at the school who wanted to help draw students closer together on Valentines Day.

I thought, Valentines Day is coming up, and some people, like, hit me up to be their valentine and stuff, so Im like, Well, Ill be everyones valentine and put a heart on their locker and say something sweet for them. And Im just hoping that it will make their day and [help them] feel loved on this Valentines Day.

Together with three of her friends, Siena Kershisnik, Emily Eubanks and Mia Gualtier, Jenna started cutting like crazy, spending many hours over the course of three days shaping hearts and hand writing notes on each one.

They decided they wanted to do something for everyone, said Doug Adams, Jennas father. They didnt have a budget, so they just started cutting.

With permission from their principal, Blake Pickett, the girls hid the valentines in black garbage bags until after school on Monday. As they started to hang them up, students who were still in the building began to notice, stopping to read the notes.

<em>UR a babe! Call me! Youre Awesome!</em>

Jennas favorite says, Cash me outside for a hug. How bout dah. Another reads, RU from Tennessee? Because UR the only ten I see!

All of the messages are positive.

<em>Be mine! Cutie pie! You had me at hello!</em>

These two girls care about everyone, said Doug Adams of his daughter and Siena. They are just super cute girls! With the school boundary changes this year, they wanted to find a way to help all of the students at Spring Creek feel loved.

I feel like North Logan kids and Providence kids still kind of separate off, said Jenna, Some of them have been kind of combining, but yet some of them are still, like, iffy. I kind of feel like this might help them talk to more people.

I feel like we should all just be friends, Siena agreed, and I think this will help with that.

As students make ongoing efforts to unite, Pickett feels like Spring Creek Middle School is a better school because of the boundary realignment.

It has been really need to see these kids grow together as a school and to watch kids start to have friends that they wouldnt have known before, he said.

While Pickett said hed like to take credit for Jenna and Sienas Valentines Day idea, he said the girls approached him with it independently.

It was driven all the way by these kids, he said. Id like to say that I would have thought of it, but these girls wanted to do it. I think its just incredible. It shows where they are as people. We are really fortunate here at Spring Creek. We have the greatest kids in the world that come here, and every one of our kids will start the day tomorrow knowing that somebody cared enough to put a valentine on their locker. And thats an incredible thing for all of them.

<hr />

jennifer@cvradio.com
Pollution in Brussels: Hold your breath

Published on February 14, 2017

Story by Ivo Alho Cabral

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A Brussels court allowed the regional government to ignore the pollution levels at Arts-Loi until the end of the year, when an ongoing legal process will end. Pedestrians at Arts-Loi breathed this winter an air which pollution duplicates the EU limits.

The Brussels court of first instance decided on February 10th to allow the regional government to continue keeping out of the official reports air pollution data from hotspots like Avenue de la Couronne, Belliard and Arts-Loi. A final decision will be taken by the end of year. The Arts-Loi station, which was disconnected in 2008, has registered an average of 84 g/m3 of NO2 on the air since it was switched back on last December, only with informative value. This figure doubles the level tolerated by the European law -40 g/m3.

Client Earth, the suing environmental law firm, says the Brussels government uses legal technicality to avoid telling residents the truth about air pollution. Indeed, the Arts-Loi station is located closer than 25 metres from a crossroad, which makes it legally ineligible to be counted on the annual official records. According to Ugo Taddei, Client Earths lawyer, the government of the capital region confirmed they wont use data from Arts-Loi in their annual reports during the court hearings. They [the regional authorities] know that if they measure the pollution in Arts-Loi there will be significant breaches of the limit value and that will trigger legal consequences in terms of need for additional action, he says.

If we look at the concentration of NO2, one of the main air pollutants, in the last three months in Brussels, Arts-Loi is the darkest spot in the city (84.3 g/m3 in average since re-connected), followed by Avenue de la Couronne (82.3) and Voorhaven (74.58), next to the industrial canal. Looking at this graphic, Arts-Loi also stands out for its minimum concentration: 40 g/m3, equalling the EU annual average top limit. On occasion of Christmas day, pedestrians crossing Arts-Loi got clean air as present.

Dont panic: Brussels is not Beijing

In general terms, the quality of the air in Brussels improves every year, explains Professor Walter Hecq, co-director of the Centre for Economic and Social Studies on the Environment at the Free University of Brussels. Concentration of pollutants like Sulphur dioxide (SO2) has decreased steeply, while fine particles in the air and Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) have shrunk to less extent. Also, prof. Hecq says Brussels pollution levels are not to be comparable to those measured in many countries in Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa. Still, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that Belgians lost 65,000 years of life between 2008 and 2015 due to air pollution; it can be source of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases and lung cancer.

Taking again NO2 as an example, we can see how most of measuring stations in Brussels go lower than the 40 g/m3 limit. One still can wonder what would happen if the stations at Arts-Loi and Belliard, disconnected in 2008 and 2014 respectively (Arts-Loi re-connected last December), were considered for official reports.

Yet, peaks of pollution remain a problem. Prof. Hecq explains: the tendencies can reverse due to punctual meteorological conditions, for example, when the wind is weaker. Pauline Constant, volunteer of Bruxsel'air, a citizen platform, measured for a week the air she breathes. She registered how she inhaled air with more than 100 g/m3 of NO2, when biking to work on Wednesday, October 26th. She asks for concrete actions on days of big pollution: I think about forcing drivers to leave their car in the garage every other day, just like they do in Paris. Instead we're told we should avoid doing exercise or running. This is not the way I want my child to live.

Joeri Thijs, spokesperson of Greenpeace Belgium, shares her view: traffic is not the only reason, but it is the main one. He advocates for a ban on diesel cars in the city by 2025. In this line, Antwerp introduced last 1st of February a "Low Emissions Zone": diesel cars produced before 2000 cant circulate in town; in 2020, the ban will extend to those sold before September 2009. Brussels plans to implement a similar initiative next year.

Although Prof. Hecq confirms cars are the main source of air pollution in the city, he is not sure about the effectiveness of limiting traffic. He argues that only up to 20% of the pollution comes from inside the urban area, while most of the pollution is imported from neighboring countries, coming from industry and agriculture. Therefore, the margin for action is reduced, he says.

Cafebabel asked several times the government of region whether they were planning to take any further actions on tackling air pollution but got no answer so far.

Story by Ivo Alho Cabral
From housing economist Tom Lawler: Some Data on Institutional Holdings of Single-Family Properties



Invitation Homes, Blackstone Groups single-family rental operator, recently went public, and its prospectus included some information on its portfolio of single-family rental properties. Other publicly-traded entities in the single-family rental business also provide such information, and I figured Id compile some data.



Here is a table showing the number of single-family homes owned by selected publicly-traded companies (or subsidiaries of such companies). These totals include homes held for sale.





Single-Family Homes Owned by Selected Institutions, 9/30/2016 Number Avg. Sq. Ft. Invitation Homes 48,431 1,844 American Homes 4 Rent 48,158 1,959 Colony Starwood Homes 31,557 1,849 Silver Bay Realty Trust Corp.* 8,974 1,645 Tricon American Homes 8,006 1,521 Total 145,126 1,853 *Silver Bay reported 8,837 SF homes, but the total excluded homes for sale, which I have estimated

Single Family Property Holdings of Certain Institions by Market, 9/30/2016 Invitation

Homes American

Homes

4 Rent Colony

Starwood

Homes Silver

Bay

Realty

Trust Tricom

American

Homes Total West Southern CA 4,633 2,794 280 7,707 Northern CA 2,892 972 382 631 4,877 Seattle WA 3,177 3,177 Phoenix AZ 5,636 2,776 1,375 1,424 409 11,620 Tucson AZ 0 209 209 Las Vegas NV 940 1,023 1,713 290 295 4,261 Reno NV 0 251 251 Salt Lake City UT 0 1,048 1,048 Denver CO 0 1,981 1,981 Midwest Gr. Chicago ILIN 2,973 2,047 5,020 Minneapolis MN 1,183 1,183 Indianapolis IN 0 2,901 353 3,254 Cincinnati OH 0 1,952 1,952 Columbus OH 0 1,500 284 1,784 South Southeast FL 5,588 3,693 308 604 10,193 Tampa FL 4,997 1,729 3,717 1,111 500 12,054 Orlando FL 3,734 1,557 1,941 491 7,723 Jacksonville FL 2,018 1,659 451 4,128 Atlanta GA 7,537 3,950 5,557 2,694 1,207 20,945 Charlotte NC 3,123 2,800 892 689 1,412 8,916 Raleigh NC 0 1,828 1,828 Winston-Salem NC 0 761 761 Charleston SC 0 725 725 Columbia SC 0 426 426 Dallas TX 0 4,340 2,043 504 614 7,501 Houston TX 0 3,153 2,726 820 6,699 San Antonio TX 0 1,003 204 1,207 Austin TX 0 695 695 Nashville TN 0 2,381 240 2,621 Not Specified 0 7,087 967 8,054 TOTAL 48,431 46,915 30,611 8,837 8,006 142,800 Note: AH4R, Colony, and Starwood totals exclude homes available for sale

American Homes 4 Rent merged with American Residential Properties, Inc. in 2006, and that merger involved the acquisition of about 8,938 homes, bringing AH4Rs total property holdings to about the same as Invitation Homes.Below is a table showing the geographic distribution of single-family homes held by these institutions. Note that reporting by geographic market in some cases varies by institution. E.g., one institution combines Charlotte and Raleigh, NC into one market, while another breaks those markets out separately. Also, two institutions have an other category  American Homes 4 Rent (a significant number of homes owned are in this category) and Colony Starwood Homes.There are a few striking things to note. First, none of the properties held by these companies are in either the Northeast of the Mid-Atlantic regions of the country. Second, the different entities have decidedly different geographic concentrations, though none would be classified as geographically diverse relative to the US as a whole. And finally, the entities single-family rental property holdings are especially large relative to the size of the overall housing market in Atlanta, Charlotte, Orlando, Tampa, and (to a lesser extent) Phoenix.
Members of the Chippewa Falls Chamber of Commerce gathered together Jan. 12 to celebrate a ribbon cutting ceremony commemorating the addition of the Valley Art Gallery to the chamber.

At the celebration at their location at 304 N. Bridge St., gallery members were recognized for bringing fine arts and a variety of classes to the community.

A community of artists bringing art to the community has been the gallerys mission statement since its inception in December 2016.

More information about the Valley Art Gallery can be found on its Facebook page and at valleyartassociation.org.
Some Youths Being ferried To Station After Arrest Wilson MUSA

Military trucks stormed the Mile 16 neighborhood in Buea Sub Division in the late hours of Monday February 13, 2017 with massive arrests of youths especially those who could not present their National Identity Cards.

Inhabitants of Mile 16 and its environs were taken unaware when military men jumped from the trucks and started making random arrests.

Unconfirmed reports say the military men were searching for some prisoners who escaped after allegedly taking part in the 11 February March Past in Bongo Square under the guise of University Students. Most of those who marched under University of Buea had shaved their hairs leaving many to conclude that they were Police trainees and prisoners hired to fill in the blank spaces.

Another Massive arrest took place this Tuesday in Wum, Menchum Division in the North West region; dozens of youths were taken into custody at the Wum Gendarmerie Brigade. Todays arrest took place in front of the Convoy of North West Governor Adolphe LELE LAfrique who is on a working visit to schools under Menchum Division to get first hand information on the effectiveness of back to school. The Governor will later visit Boyo Wednesday.

Most of these arrests are have not been justified but follows spates of confrontations with local administrators in these areas especially on 11 February 11, 2017 where Anglophone schools boycotted in the two regions.
Justice Camerounaise Archives

The death penalty trial of the leaders of the now banned Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium (CACSC) opened at the military court in Yaounde on Monday February 13.

The hearing that took place amid a heavy presence of soldiers exposed the domination of the French language over English which was one of the grievances of the minority Anglophones in the country.

Accused of leading the protests that have rocked the North West and South West regions of the country for close to three months now, Barrister Felix Nkongho Agbor-Balla, Dr Fontem Neba and Mancho Bibixy were charged among other things for terrorism and insurrection.

They could be sentenced to death under the 2014 Anti-terrorism if found guilty.

But trio pleaded not guilty to all the charges brought against them as the hearing exposed the dominance of the French language.

Charges brought against the English speaking community leaders were read in French, though the defence lawyers opposed and a translator was eventually brought. They still had to wait for the proceedings in French to be translated.

About 100 advocates from the Cameroon Bar Association under the leadership of former Bar president, Barrister Ben Muna entered appearance for the defendants.

Tension increased when the prosecution presented an incomplete list of witnesses, saying it was still compiling such.

The defence counsel raised preliminary objections, questioning why activists were arrested when prosecution had no witnesses.

The preliminary objection which we raised had to do with how the case was investigated which is the proof that the prosecution said they were not ready. They don't have witnesses, Barrister Ben Muna told the VOA.

The case was later adjourned to March 23 for the prosecution to update its list of witnesses.

Critics say the absence of an English language version of the charges, the Yaounde venue of the trial instead of the North West and South West exposed the Anglophoone marginalisation in the country that is bilingual and bi-jural.

The activists were arrested in the regional capitals of the two Anglophone regions, Bamenda and Buea in January and promptly whisked off to Yaounde despite the fact that there are military tribunals in the regions.
| BY Lynchy |

Coinciding with Valentines Day, R/GA Singapore has unveiled new work for Closeup chronicling inventive ways people break barriers to intimacy around the world.

Make Your Move continues Closeups celebration of mutual attraction, but has evolved to acknowledge and explore cultural differences that can curtail it. By highlighting some surprising secret expressions of affection from a diverse group of real-life couples, the work addresses how closeness can overcome confines.

The desire for closeness is universal, but religion, race, sexuality, age, distance, social convention, parental expectation and a myriad of other factors can become romantic roadblocks, depending on where you are in the world, said Severine Vauleon, Global Brand Vice President, Closeup, Unilever. We believe that mutual attraction should know no boundaries, and wanted to show how love is finding a way.

Make Your Move is a campaign of TVCs, online films, social activations and behind-the-scenes interviews with the featured couples. All the stories are real and were gathered in countries including Nigeria, The Philippines, India and Brazil. Time-honoured ways to woo, like love letters or sidling up in a cinema are included, and some that are more unconventional  such as staged phone dropping and coded glances.
Brooke Hetke wanted to participate with her class on graduation day.

But the further she got in school, the farther away that dream seemed to get.

Hetke, now a senior at Bloomer High School, knew how much stress it caused her parents when her older brother barely graduated, back when she was still in middle school.

He completed work packets to catch up, but didnt learn until just days before his graduation hed be able to walk with his classmates. Hetke vowed then she wouldnt do that to her mom and dad.

I did not want to have a problem graduating, she said. Then I got into high school, and it all went south.

By her junior year, Hetke was nearly a year and a half behind in credits. She lost all three jobs she held in a matter of three weeks.

She thought about taking online classes through BHS but didnt trust herself to follow through.

When her mom told her about the Wisconsin National Guards Challenge Academy, Hetke agreed right away, knowing it might be her only chance at a high school graduation.

I wanted to be able to walk with my class, she said. That is a huge deal for me, and I knew I would regret it if I didnt.

Eight months later and one graduation under her belt, Hetke is on track to get her CNA license and, yes, graduate high school.

For her completion of the Challenge Academy, Brooke Hetke is Bloomers recipient of the fourth annual Chippewa Herald Extra Effort Award.

Up for the challenge

The Challenge Academy is an alternative education program that teaches life skills and education through a 22-week program in which youth ages 16-19 stay at Fort McCoy, near Sparta.

Though Brooke attended an orientation with her family, nothing prepared her for that first day.

The first two weeks test each candidates strength to see if they are fully committed, through physical challenges and mental discipline. On a military base for a reason, the first two weeks are much like a boot camp.

The first night, everybody was sitting in their bed, and all you could hear was crying, Hetke said. But they say after the first two weeks, time goes by fast, you just have to stick it out.

Plus, students at her school completed the program before her, and she didnt want her classmates to think she couldnt do it.

More importantly, she wanted to prove her parents wrong.

When I left, my dad said, see you in two weeks, she said. I wanted my parents to have respect for me.

Her mother, Dana, was in awe of her transformation.

Dana said her daughter did a complete 180 before and after the academy.

She was very disrespectful, didnt have any confidence in herself, and now shes a completely changed person, Dana Hetke said. If she wouldnt have gone there, she would have kept going down the wrong path.

By the end of the program, Hetke completed service-to-community hours, learned about self-discipline and commitment, and completed enough credits to received her GED. And though she hadnt gone there to become physically fit, she noticed those changes about her as well.

She lost 34 pounds through the physical training at the academy, and even picked up running through the academys regular morning runs.

I never in a million years thought Id be able to run five miles, Hetke said. And I couldnt do a single push up before I left, but now I can do 20 in a row.

Shes proud, but she has a lot of reason to be. A year ago, Hetke wasnt sure what her senior year would look like.

Now, she has a plan for after high school as well.

One step at a time

Hetkes art teacher, Maryann Gumness, was one of several mentors who helped her get through. Gumness, who has known Hetke for several years, noticed major changes in Hetkes life when she returned.

Everything from classes to her health, shes so much better, Gumness said. She can do what she thought was impossible, just has to take it one day at a time.

There are still days that seem harder than others, but now Hetke has a better understanding of commitment. She knows life isnt about always doing whats fun, but doing what needs to be done.

When things get hard, I think of why I went away for five months, she said. It wasnt for nothing. It was so I could come back and do something with my life.

The academy had her prepare a plan for returning to the real world so she wouldnt feel lost.

She only has a few credits of high school left to complete, part of which shes doing online at her own pace, and one class she has to attend in the afternoons. In her free time, she works full-time at her aunts Easy View Group Home in Cornell and plans to attend Chippewa Valley Technical College to get her CNA.

Ultimately, she hopes to own her own group home.

Shes still in touch with several friends she made at the academy, who check in to make sure shes sticking to her plan. She does the same for them.

Graduating from the Challenge Academy in December was exciting, and a moment shell never forget. But Hetkes most anticipated day of her life is still coming.
Amazon Chime is now available to all customers. Amazon Chime is a modern, fully-managed communications service from AWS that makes it easy for you to communicate with people inside and outside your organization using voice, video, and chat.

With Amazon Chime, online meetings are easier and more efficient, crystal clear audio and high definition video keep you focused on the discussion, and the service is designed to work seamlessly across desktops and mobile devices. Because Amazon Chime is a managed service that runs on AWS, it doesnt require you to deploy or maintain complex infrastructure and software. And you benefit from the security that comes with a data center and network architecture built to meet the requirements of the most security-sensitive organizations.
Tuesday, February 14, 2017 at 4:18AM

Uber is taking one more step forward with its mapping initiative by bringing map cars to Southeast Asia through its launch in Singapore. By having these cartographic cars, which basically have drivers ride around the city state with mapping tech on top of the cars, they are trying to collect data about Singapore based on real trips. Theyve done this here in the country, in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Australia, and South Africa.

Ubers been working on trying to get its own data on its trips instead of having to rely on Google. At the same time, itll help in giving exact details about a drop-off point in certain buildings and areas. However, Uber promises riders who catch these vehicles in the country will not have their pick-up and drop-off points retained and these imagery will not be made public. Plus, Uber isnt shy to admit this could also help in pushing its self-driving initiative further.

Source: Engadget
The ASETI survey showed changes in web users' willingness to use sharing economy services, indicating 26 per cent of respondents said their trust in the platforms rose compared to six months ago. Another 25 per cent said they trusted the services less.
Mr Hanson said it was important to make sure the territory's bail laws were appropriate and were being enacted in the right way to prevent injuries or deaths and keep the community safe.
"We are likely to have more extremely hot days, that is certainly the modelling for the ACT and surrounding regions so we need to look very closely on this occasion at what works, what didn't and what protocols we might put in place if this happens again."
WASHINGTON  Ive heard it scores of times from Americans frightened, angry or depressed about President Trump: What can I do?

I recommend to each of them the same regimen I follow myself: Exercise regularly, spend time with family and drink a quart of Everclear every night.

But such self-care, as the mental health practitioners call it, only goes so far. For much of America  the majority of the country that did not vote for Donald Trump  the election has brought about whats known as a collective trauma not unlike the 2001 terrorist attacks.

Back then, we stockpiled duct tape, packed go bags and hatched family escape plans  giving us an illusory sense of control over the unimaginable (and, in retrospect, overblown) threats of chemical, biological and radioactive attacks. Now a majority of those on the left, as well as many moderates and conservatives, fear not some unknown terrorist cell but our own president, wary of the calamity he could unleash with his recklessness. One moment hes attacking the federal judiciary; the next moment hes assaulting Australia  or Nordstrom.

The erratic behavior makes millions of people feel powerless and out of control, which leads to anxiety, anger or despair.

But there is a better way. I consulted with leading figures in mobilization  people such as Marshall Ganz, of Cesar Chavez fame, and Harvard Universitys Theda Skocpol  and asked them to propose actions an everyday citizen might take.

We need to shift from a reactive to a strategic response, Ganz says. His solution: Join something. To the extent it brings you into a relationship with others, its worth doing. Unless it has that further dividend, it gets old.

So what to join? My friend Eric Liu, author of the forthcoming book Youre More Powerful Than You Think, says even a book club will do. Thats true, in the long run: The idea is to rebuild structures of civil society, the breakdown of which allowed the demagogic Trump to take root.

But some organizations do more than others to combat Trump. Here, then, are a few illustrative examples  though their inclusion here is not an endorsement, nor should an omission be seen as a demerit.

Organizing. The anti-Trump movement wont be a left-wing tea party. Objections to Trump transcend ideological lines, the left is fractured by identity politics, and there arent many liberal donors who will bankroll resistance the way the Koch brothers funded the tea party. But there are groups that attempt to mobilize: Indivisible. MoveOn. Peoples Action. Center for Community Change. PICO. Center for Popular Democracy. Working Families Party.

Legal. Trump has already tried to stretch his powers beyond the usual limits. The Brennan Center, the ACLU and the Southern Poverty Law Center counter him.

Media. To combat Trumps alternative facts, subscribe to your local newspaper. Contribute to NPR. Even buy the failing New York Times if you must. (Alternatively, you can send your checks to the Dana Milbank Everclear Fund, c/o The Washington Post.)

Labor. Many of the building-trades unions are foolishly hoping Trump will be their friend. But their service- and public-sector brethren  the SEIU, AFSCME, the teachers unions  are bulwarks against him.

Intellectual. Demos, the Roosevelt Institute, the Center for American Progress, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the Kaiser Family Foundation, the Economic Policy Institute and Skocpols Scholars Strategy Network all offer brainpower to counter Trump.

Party. The Democratic National Committee leadership is so weak that it may not be worth your time. But state and county party committees could use help. Skocpol recommends that if you live in a blue state, get your local committee to form a partnership with a party committee in a swing or red state.

Politics. If youd like to run for office, consult your party, or Emilys List (if youre a woman) and train with Wellstone Action. For everybody else, find out where your labors are needed. There are gubernatorial races this year in New Jersey and Virginia. Flippable.org will lead you to important state races. Swingleft.org finds you the nearest congressional swing district in 2018. Coordination. The left is desperately in need of people to align its identity-politics factions. America Votes and State Voices are attempting, against long odds, to do that.

Join. A church or synagogue, a union, your local Planned Parenthood chapter, the Chamber of Commerce, the Sierra Club, Elks Lodge, Veterans of Foreign Wars or American Legion post: The issue and the ideology dont much matter; what matters is connection.

It is our best hope. That, and a tumbler of Everclear.
She said the government would always get wild demands from oppositions and minor parties to do all sorts of things that they were pushing because it was in their political interest but said the Coalition was in government and had to govern for the national interest, sources who attended the meeting said.
UK-headquartered Lycamobile, which operates in 21 countries worldwide, launched an MVNO in Belgium in 2007, operating on Oranges network.

As part of the MVNO agreement, Lycamobiles customers will be able to access Telenets mobile network, which it acquired from KPN last year.

Lycamobile will also strengthen its position in Belgium with the acquisition of Ortel, a direct subsidiary of Telenet. The deal will see Lycamobiles combined customer base top one million in the country.

It is already Belgiums biggest MVNO, with a share of around 37% of the virtual market, with Ortel in second place.

Lyca Group Chairman, Allirajah Subaskaran, commented: We have been active in Belgium since 2007 and are now delighted to announce our partnership with Telenet and acquisition of Ortel Mobile, which significantly enhances Lycamobiles offering in the region. This will all be to the ultimate benefit of our customers.

"We're delighted to welcome this new partner", John Porter, CEO of Telenet, added. "By acquiring BASE, Telenet has become an important partner in the MVNO market and intends to stay that way. Telenet's aim is to operate the best mobile network and we plan to invest up to 250 million in the upgrade of our mobile infrastructure of which most will be completed by mid-2018. These targeted investments, combined with the reputation inherited from BASE in terms of partnerships, will attract new partners, thus creating new opportunities for us.

The sale of our direct subsidiary Ortel Mobile to Lycamobile represents a logical step in our strategy as Telenet has the strong ambition to grow in the wholesale business preferring to concentrate on new MVNO partnerships instead of investing in separate prepaid international mobile communication business units."
Dabbour was CFO of the African business until this month, a position he had held since August 2015. He has been with the London-headquartered company since 2008, spending time as CFO of operations in Chad and, later, Ghana.

Millicom operates in Africa and Latin America under the Tigo brand name.

Before joining Millicom, he worked for Besix, the largest Belgian construction company. He started his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Brussels as senior accountant.

My experience covers turnarounds and growth strategies in volatile and challenging markets, he says on LinkedIn. Developing teams, fostering talents and building world-class organizations bring me a lot of satisfaction. Im challenge-driven and I usually do not hesitate to question the status quo in order to improve things.

Meanwhile Gordon is understood to be about to announce a new role in the industry.
Press Conference: In Light of Recent Infractions, Citizens Call for Immediate Shut Down of Planned Parenthood

Contact: Fr. Terry Gensemer, CEC For Life, 205-253-0159



BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Feb. 14, 2017 /Christian Newswire / -- On Wednesday, February 15, at 10:00 AM, CEC For Life will hold a press conference regarding Planned Parenthood of Birmingham's (PPB) documented history of non-compliance with state regulations, including the facility's recent deficiency report.



The press conference will be held outside of Planned Parenthood (1211 27th Pl S).



An inspection by the Alabama Department of Public Health conducted in September of 2016 yielded over 15 pages of alarming deficiencies, including:

Failure by physicians to document fetal viability.



Failure to document if patients viewed the ultrasound.



Failure to provide patients being discharged with the name or number of the emergency physician, or a list of medications administered at the clinic.



Failure to properly sterilize surgical instruments.

Director of CEC For Life, Fr. Terry Gensemer, points out that this list is only a fraction of the deficiencies detailed by ADPH, but these alone are enough to shut the facility down. He also says the report is only one document in a long line of documentation demonstrating PPB's complete disregard for regulations set in place to protect Alabama citizens.



Fr. Gensemer reports, "In 2010, this facility was placed on a year-long probation after failing to report cases of statutory rape. In 2012, it was sued for negligence when their abortionist performed a surgical abortion on a woman with an ectopic pregnancy, rendering her infertile. In 2014, its employees were caught selling abortifacients in the parking lot. How many chances will ADPH give this dangerous facility, and how many women will have to pay the price? This facility shows no regard for patients lives or regulations of the state they wish to operate in. They should be shut down immediately, not given another free pass."



Last weekend, over 10,000 citizens nationwide participated in rallies calling for Congress to defund Planned Parenthood due to continued criminal activity, including citizens in Birmingham. Rep. Arnold Mooney of the Alabama House (District 43) spoke at the Birmingham rally.



He states, "Planned Parenthood is a disgusting organization. As evidenced by last year's undercover videos from the Center for Medical Progress, which showed Planned Parenthood harvesting and selling organs of aborted babies for profit. At the very least Planned Parenthood should be defunded! Taxpayer dollars should not support extreme and controversial private organizations."



Wednesday's press conference will call for ADPH to revoke the license of the Birmingham facility immediately.



CEC For Life is a ministry of the Charismatic Episcopal Church.
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.
The new dates of the Tripura JEE have been announced by Tripura Board of Joint Entrance Examination (TBJEE). The reason for the change of dates is that the Bengali examination in the revised class 12 time table of AISSCE, that was meant to be held on April 27, 2017, coincides with the Mathematics and Biology examinations.

The rescheduling has been done by the Board so that both the papers are not held on the same date. The duration of each of the exams will be for two hours. The paper pattern will be such that there are 50 multiple choice questions of two marks each. There will not be any negative marking.

This year, the exams will be held at 10 different centres of the state. Candidates who clear the paper will be eligible for admission into various Engineering, Technological and other professional degree courses.

Revised dates:

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Physics- 11 am

Chemistry- 2 pm

Thursday, May 4, 2017

Mathematics- 11 am

Biology- 2 pm

About TBJEE

The board is responsible for the placement of candidates to various professional courses and seats allotted for Tripura in various institutions of the country.

According to TBJEE official website, theTripura Joint Entrance Examinations Board was formed for Admission to Engineering Degree Colleges, Medical Colleges, and other professional degree courses.Born out of a concept of holding a common admission test for the Engineering colleges and Medical Colleges. The basic purpose was to select candidates for consideration for admission to the Colleges on the basis of the results of a single competitive examination, which would also lead to the saving of time, energy and expenditure on the part of the candidates in appearing at a number of entrance tests.

Engineering Admissions to Have Common Entrance Exam: HRD Ministry
You can add the good ol folks of Australias Nine News to the long list of reporters who have fallen victims to trolls while live broadcasting.



The news station was covering the Melbourne taxi drivers protest against the governments plan to deregulate the taxi industry after the introduction of ridesharing, when they talked to one cheeky cabbie who presented himself as Tsim Booky.

Being that Melbourne has one the worlds biggest Greek diaspora, it didnt take long for social media to discover that Tsim Booky is Greeklish for , which translates tothe act of fellatio in English.

On a more serious note, the taxi driver told Nine News that the reforms, which would legalize Uber and other ride-share operators, while offering compensating existing license-holders with $100,000 for their first license and $50,000 per license for up to three others, were unfair.

Its a loss of income. Its just like losing your job. Weve actually paid for our jobs and now were going to lose them, the cabbie said. So, well keep this up until Jacinta Allan (Minister for Public Transport) resigns. Resign Jacinta, step down!

Video
Like with its 4-door counterpart, changes made to the Mercedes S-Class Cabrio will be both visual as well as tech-related.



Of course, it will feature trim updates, new steering wheel, redesigned bumpers, updated taillights and possibly even new headlight graphics according to our spy photographers. However, the biggest changes will include the large dual-display inside, and the Drive Pilot semi-autonomous system.

The automakers R&D boss Ola Kallenius spoke to Autocar last month, confirming that the facelifted S-Class will come with intelligent integration of sensor and map data, a first on a production car. Basically, what the system does is read upcoming corners and decide whether or not the vehicles speed is too high, thus braking the car whenever necessary and driving through the bend.

If the S-Class facelift is to become the most advanced semi-autonomous model in its segment (at least until the new Audi A8 comes along), we can safely say that the S-Class Cabriolet will benefit from that technology as well.

As for the engine line up, Mercedes have been tight-lipped on this one. It does look as though all existing petrol-powered V6 units in the S-Class saloon lineup will be replaced by a new inline six petrol engine, codename M256. However, that will obviously not affect the Cabriolet model, which is currently only powered by V8 and V12 engines.

Whether Mercedes will bring their updated S-Class range to Geneva next month remains unknown  though all facelifted models are indeed expected to surface sometime this year.

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoops

PHOTO GALLERY
General Motors and Toyota are calling for laws on the deployment of self-driving vehicle prototypes to be relaxed in the United States.



On Tuesday, officials from the automakers will discuss the issue to a U.S. House panel and believe that any delay in the development and testing of autonomous vehicles will result in deaths.

In a recent statement, vice president of global strategy at GM, Mike Abelson said Without changes to those regulations, it may be years before the promise of todays technology can be realized and thousands of preventable deaths that could have been avoided will happen.

It is imperative that manufacturers have the ability to test these vehicles in greater numbers, he said.

As it stands, just 2,500 vehicles in a 12-month period can be made exempt from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration laws but Democratic politician Debbie Dingell hopes to lift this cap.

In advance testimony, chief executive of the Toyota Research Institute Gill Pratt said It is important that the federal government begin looking beyond testing to deployment of these systems.

Automotive News reports that Volvo and Lyft will also tell the U.S. House panel about the necessity of bringing autonomous technologies to the market as quickly as possible.

PHOTO GALLERY
General Motors is currently negotiating the sale of its European operations, which include the Opel and Vauxhall brands, with PSA Group as confirmed from both companies earlier today.



PSA Group confirms that, together with General Motors, it is exploring numerous strategic initiatives aiming at improving its profitability and operational efficiency, including a potential acquisition of Opel, PSA said in their statement.

Earlier reports talked about that the talks between GM and PSA could lead to a merger of Opel with PSA, with the deal to be announced even within days.

General Motors and PSA already work together on some of their minivan and SUV models, as the two companies had tried to strike a merger deal unsuccessfully back in 2013 .

Merging Opel with PSAs Peugeot, Citroen and DS would create the second-biggest auto group in Europe after VW, with about 16 percent of the European car market.

If the deal does happen, then GM will get the clean exit from Europe they want, especially after the UKs decision to leave the EU which took a toll on their profits. On the other hand PSA sees the takeover as a good opportunity to become bigger and take advantage of Opels engineering.

PHOTO
Ten million is a number so large we can scarcely wrap our heads around it. But its one that keeps on coming up again and again in relation to Toyota.



The Japanese automaker has produced and sold about that many new cars and trucks every year for the past four years. But now its boasting a different milestone.

As of the end of last month, Toyota has sold a cumulative (and positively massive) total of over 10 million hybrid vehicles. Of those, more than 3 million have been sold in the North American market alone.

To put those numbers into perspective, consider that Chevy has sold only 134,500 Volts (making it the most successful plug-in hybrid in the world), and Nissan has sold over 230,000 Leafs (the worlds most prolific EV). As of December, Tesla had sold 158,159 examples of the Model S, and another 25,524 of the Model X. Throw in another 2,500 or so Tesla Roadsters and the brands total comes to just over 186,000  or about 50 times fewer than the number of hybrids Toyota has sold.

Since the electrified figures from other manufacturers dont even come close, consider that Mercedes, for example, has sold approximately 8 million C-Class sedans and wagons worldwide since the models introduction in 1982. Porsche has yet to sell a million 911s, and Mazda only recently sold its millionth MX-5  the most successful two-seat convertible in history.

Toyota offers 34 hybrid vehicles globally. In the United States alone, it sells four Prius models along with hybrid versions of the Camry and Avalon sedans as well as the Highlander and RAV4 crossovers. Add to those the hybrid versions of the Lexus CT, ES, GS, NX, and RX models  not to mention the LS currently being replaced  and what youre looking at is a massive array of gasoline-electric vehicles spreading wider than any other manufacturer in the business.

Photo Gallery
Today in Orlando, Florida, a wide coalition of community members, faith leaders, immigrant organizations, students, Disney employees, and labor unions will gather at Walt Disney World to launch a nationwide campaign calling on Disney CEO Bob Iger to quit Donald Trumps Strategic and Policy Forum, and further, to renounce policies announced by the president and his cabinet appointees.

The campaign is being put together by Organize Florida, a nonpartisan, 501(c)4 nonprofit organization that both trains and develops leaders and organizes families in low-to-moderate-income communities in Florida. Their cheeky title for the campaign is #DisneyLetHimGo, a play on the hit song Let It Go from Frozen. They say:

Led by immigrants and Disney workers themselves, racial and social justice activists say this is only the first step in what will be a continuous fight to protect the health and well-being of all peopleincluding immigrants, people of color, minimum wage workers, and the LGBT community during the Trump administration. The leader of Orlandos hometown business needs to stand up for the values of Disney and the Central Florida community.

At the rally, the group will deliver more than 100,000 signed petitions to Disney demanding that Iger to step down from Trumps council. More details on todays gathering can be found at the Organize Florida web site.
A pickup truck that was set on fire Sunday night is now being called intentional, according to police.

West Kelowna firefighters arrived on scene just after 10 p.m. to find a brown Dodge Ram pickup caught on fire on Carrington Road.

Preliminary findings at the scene suggest that the fire may have been intentionally set, says Cpl. Jesse ODonaghey.

The charred vehicle has been seized by RCMP, it remains part of the ongoing police investigation and will be examined for evidence by fire and forensic investigators.

A source that asked to remain anonymous said they witnessed the incident and saw a man dressed in all black run up the road.

He then came running down and lit a rag on fire and threw it into the box of the truck which was filled with gasoline, they said. The man almost lit himself on fire the flames shot a couple feet out of the back of that truck.

The man allegedly ran off and jumped in another truck that was parked nearby.

Police would like to speak with the occupants of a newer model white Nissan Titan pickup truck that is connected to the incident.

Anyone with information can contact police at 250-768-2880.
Photo: The Canadian Press Prime Minister Justin Trudeau participates in a roundtable discussion with female executives, including Ivanka Trump, daughter of U.S. President Trump, at the White House, in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Feb. 13, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

One has proudly declared himself a feminist, while the other inspired hundreds of thousands of people to take to the streets in protest of his stances on issues affecting women and girls.

On Monday, there they were together  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump  saying they needed to find a way to get rid of the systemic obstacles to female participation in the workforce.

"We just had a very productive meeting with women business leaders from the United States and Canada, where we discussed how to secure everything that we know the full power of women can do better than anybody else," Trump told a joint White House news conference with Trudeau as they wrapped up their first face-to-face meeting.

There was more than one elephant in the room as the pair shook hands and exchanged greetings  dramatically different attitudes towards issues like refugees and climate change, to name but two.

Neither issue earned a mention in the joint communique released Monday; instead, the two leaders chose to emphasize the issue of empowering women.

They announced the Canada-United States Council for Advancement of Women Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders, a joint initiative to help women-owned businesses contribute to economic growth, competitiveness and the integration of the two economies.

The measure  along with roundtable talks that included the two leaders, his daughter Ivanka and prominent female entrepreneurs and CEOs  was clearly designed as a win-win for both sides: letting the prime minister broach a thorny issue with the president while helping Trump build badly needed political capital.

A senior Liberal government source said the idea for the roundtable came from Katie Telford, chief of staff to the prime minister  and it was a good one, said Nelson Wiseman, a politics professor at the University of Toronto.

"It takes attention off of NAFTA," Wiseman said. "And from Trump's point of view, it contributes to softening Trump's image, and he's got a problem with women."

Both leaders described women as vital to the North American economy  and said they face systemic barriers to reaching their full potential.

"We need policies that help keep women in the workforce and to address the unique barriers faced by female entrepreneurs  and they are unique," said Trump, who opened the meeting by noting that he had employed several "tremendous" women as executives in his companies prior to becoming president.

"We need to make it easier for women to manage the demands of having both a job and a family."

Trudeau said that he has heard similar complaints about such barriers, as well as ideas for potential solutions, from the female business leaders he has met on his travels.

"For me, it's not just about doing the right thing, but understanding that women in leadership can be a very powerful leverage for success for business, for communities and for our entire economy."

Rachel Curran, who was a policy director under former prime minister Stephen Harper, said there is no doubt that Trump and his team saw political benefit to the roundtable.

"He's probably capitalizing on some of the credibility the prime minister has built on that front," said Curran, who is now a senior associate at Harper & Associates, the new international consulting firm run by the former prime minister.

"I think if we're able to participate in something that helps him look good as well as advances our interests, I think that's all positive."

New Democrat MP Sheila Malcolmson, whose party has been pushing Trudeau to be more openly critical of Trump, suggested the cognitive dissonance was too much to bear.

"We also need to call out misogyny and sexual harassment wherever it occurs, from the office to the Oval Office," Malcolmson said Monday during question period in the House of Commons.

That was a reference to an infamous 2005 video, released last year during the presidential campaign, in which Trump is heard saying that his fame allows him to get away with mistreating women, including grabbing them by their genitals.

"How could the prime minister possibly sit down and discuss women in the workforce with President Trump without first denouncing his misogynist comments?" asked Malcolmson, the NDP critic for status of women.

The council will be made up of 10 female executives  half from Canadian companies and the other half from American companies.

The Canadian members include CEOs Annette Verschuren, of NRStor Inc., Dawn Farrell of TransAlta Corp., Linda Hasenfratz of Linamar Corp. and Tina Lee of T&T Supermarket Inc., as well as Monique Leroux, chair of the board of directors from Investissement Quebec, are also around the table.

Hasenfratz and Verschuren said Trump seemed engaged in the issues discussed at the meeting and that it made sense for Trudeau, who has been championing women and girls, to try and find common ground with the new U.S. administration on the issue.

"What we are really trying to do is say, 'Look, where are the bridges, where are the places that we can both win on?'" Verschuren said.

 With files from Alexander Panetta in Washington

 Follow @smithjoanna on Twitter

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version described Verschuren as an American member of the council and Allan as a Canadian member of the council.
Photo: CTV

Two people have been killed after a small plane crashed near Calgary.

The plane couldn't be reached about an hour after its 4 p.m. takeoff. RCMP say the plane crashed at about 6 p.m.

It's currently unclear exactly where the flight originated from.

The crash site is just west of Calgary, near Cochrane.

Transport Canada is investigating.

 with files from CTV News
Photo: The Canadian Press

There was no talk of walls, only bridges as Donald Trump exuded amiability Monday in a first meeting with his Canadian counterpart that suggested the northern neighbour might be spared the brunt of his nationalist America-first platform.

The U.S. president shelved the type of trash-talking he directed at Mexico during his election campaign and spoke of building ties with Canada, including more trade, a faster-flowing border, joint work on infrastructure and more labour mobility.

And he spoke for the first time publicly about how Canada fits into changes he's proposing for the North American Free Trade Agreement, which he campaigned against daily. Trump's answer: Some lesser tweaks for Canada, which might benefit both countries.

Trump steadfastly avoided any hint of trouble with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Asked multiple times during a news conference about their decidedly different views on Muslim migration and Syrian refugees, he steered the conversation elsewhere.

"America is deeply fortunate to have a neighbour like Canada," Trump said, with Trudeau next to him at the White House.

"We have before us the opportunity to build even more bridges and bridges of co-operation and bridges of commerce. Both of us are committed to bringing greater prosperity and opportunity to our people."

The reassuring words could dispel some of the anxiety that has festered for months, as Trump delivered daily rants against trade deals while remaining conspicuously silent about one top U.S. trading partner: Canada.

The meeting culminated in a joint statement so normal, even by the historically placid standard of Canada-U.S. relations, that with some minor exceptions it could easily have been released by Barack Obama's White House.

Monday's statement jettisoned a pair of Obama priorities  climate change and refugees. Yet it emphasized numerous issues dear to Canada including customs preclearance to speed up the border; expanded labour mobility; and NATO co-operation in eastern Europe.

If anyone still doubted that Trump views the northern and southern neighbours differently, Trump drove home the point when asked, for the first time at a public event, whether he wants major changes from Canada in trade negotiations that could start as early as this spring.

Trump replied: "We have a very outstanding trade relationship with Canada... We'll be tweaking it; we'll be doing certain things that are going to benefit both of our countries. It's a much less severe situation than what's taken place on the southern border....

"On the southern (border), for many, many years, the transaction was not fair to the United States... our relationship with Canada is outstanding. And we're going to work together to make it even better."

Trump tiptoed around potential irritants.

Asked about his differences with Trudeau on immigration, Trump replied that he wants goods moving faster across the border, with new customs technology.

Asked whether their differences on refugees might require new security at the northern border, he referred to his southern-border strategy of accelerated deportations. Trump said that policy helped him win the election.

They both papered over their well-documented differences. Trudeau acknowledged there will be a few, such as Trump's freeze on Syrians and attempts to limit tourism from certain Muslim-majority countries.

Relationships between neighbours are complex, Trudeau said, and there will be disagreements, but he said the countries will successfully navigate those complexities and remain close friends.

Trudeau declined an invitation from a reporter to opine on those differences with Trump. The prime minister said, "The last thing Canadians expect is for me to come down and lecture another country on how they choose to govern themselves."
Photo: Randy Millis

UPDATE: 12:45 p.m.

A family member of one of the occupants of the Jeep says the road conditions at the time of the crash were horrible.

"That road was extremely icy," the family member tells Castanet. "RCMP that attended called road conditions atrocious."

He wondered whether enough was being done to keep the roads safely maintained, and he said the area where this crash occurred on Gellatly Road is a constant danger.

Both occupants escaped with relatively minor injuries.

ORIGINAL: 9:05 a.m.

Emergency crews are on the scene after a Jeep went over a bank on Gellatly Road Tuesday morning.

The incident happened sometime around 8:30 a.m.

No word on injuries.

More details when they become available.

 Wayne Moore
Photo: Contributed

A Penticton man with several outstanding warrants was arrested after a fight with RCMP officers in the Denny's parking lot last week.

According to Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth, on Wednesday, officers spotted a vehicle leaving the home of a man with warrants out for his arrest. The Targeted Enforcement Unit followed the vehicle, which stopped at Dennys. Officers blocked the Jeep Cherokee in, and the driver was seen trying to hide in the back of the SUV.

When confronted, the man fought officers, attempting to use a small hatchet.

In the ensuing tussle, an officer's finger was dislocated and the other officer's glasses were broken. The RCMP member with the hurt finger had it reset in the hospital.

Lawrence Jordan Brown is facing charges of resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer. Wrigglesworth said he is very well known to police.
Photo: Twitter

Two snowmobilers were rescued from a ravine near Chase, Monday, after spending a cold night in the mountains.

About 7 p.m. Sunday, Chase RCMP received a report of two Abbotsford men stranded in a ravine on Crowfoot Mountain.

The men called the Crowfoot Snowmobile Club and said they needed assistance to get out.

The experienced outdoorsmen spent the night in the cold after volunteers from the club were unable to reach them due to darkness and terrain.

On Monday morning, Shuswap Search and Rescue and a B.C. Air Rescue chopper with the Vernon Search and Rescue helicopter winch team on board went back into the hills.

Volunteers reached the men and assisted them down the mountain.

Neither was injured in the incident.
Photo: Contributed

The RCMP was made aware of suspicious vehicles in the Okanagan Falls area on Monday night.

Observant people spotted prowlers with flashlights, said Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth.

He advised that area residents need to continue to be vigilant.

Last week, the RCMP also identified the pick up truck that was involved in a theft from an Okanagan Falls vineyard. The occupants were located, Wrigglesworth added.
Mexico joins the America-hating Alt-Left in defying Trump with call to citizens to take precautions, as deportations begin

The Mexican government has long sought to undermine U.S. immigration laws by assisting its citizens with information about how to sneak into the United States and, once there, what to do to both stay and take advantage of our various benefits programs. So thats nothing new; Mexico has been doing this for decades, exporting the countrys poverty to its much richer, much more stable northern neighbor.

But now the Mexican government has gone a step further; it is actively working with the American Alt-Left to subvert President Donald J. Trumps efforts to actually enforce all immigration laws, by advising its citizens to take precautions against federal immigration officials.

As reported by CNN, following the deportation of a 36-year-old woman with a criminal record, the Mexican government advised its citizens living north of the border to remain in contact with Mexican consular officials, no doubt after instructing those consulates to use every legal trick in the U.S. code book to thwart the Trump administration and federal immigration authorities. (RELATED: This will get worse before it gets better  stay tuned at InvasionUSA.news)

CNN noted further:

Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos, 35, was deported Thursday after she checked in with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Phoenix a day earlier. The action sparked protests by the mothers supporters and drew praise from proponents of stricter enforcement of immigration laws.

The case involving Mrs. Garcia de Rayos illustrates a new reality for the Mexican community living in the United States, facing the most severe implementation of immigration control measures, Mexicos Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday.

What CNN conveniently left out  which is not surprising  is that this woman has a felony record stemming from a workplace raid some years ago. She was arrested and charged after presenting immigration authorities with a false Social Security card (and the brain-dead Left swears there is no voter fraud).

Nevertheless, Mexican consulates have intensified their work of protecting fellow nationals, foreseeing more severe immigration measures to be implemented by the authorities of this country, and possible violations to constitutional precepts during such operations and problems with due process, the Mexican government statement continued.

There is nothing for the Mexican government to protect in the United States, not even its embassies and consulates, which are protected by U.S. authorities. In fact, the Mexican government cant protect citizens within its own borders  from criminal activity, from murderous drug cartels, or from the human vermin who traffic Mexican poor like they were African slaves from the 17th century.

Meanwhile, the anti-American hate groups on the Alt-Left keep the country in turmoil and the Trump administration hamstrung with improper challenges to executive authority and perpetual protests financed in part by international puppet master and one-time Nazi collaborator George Soros. Many believe that Soros ought to be arrested and brought before a U.S. court to answer charges of providing support for domestic terrorism, among other things. (RELATED: Learn more about this globalist Marxist billionaire at Soros.news)

Its not that Mexicans living illegally in the United States have never been deported. In fact, the previous president was known as the Deporter in Chief because so many were sent packing during his administration. All of this commotion is aimed at Trump, to undermine him and his efforts to enforce immigration law like he promised he would do during the campaign.

Why undermine conservatives and others who support Trump? Because the Alt-Left hate groups, including members of the Democratic Party  some of whom have used genuine hate speech against Trump and many of his Cabinet picks, including Attorney General (and former U.S. Sen.) Jeff Sessions  are so unhinged that Trump won that they are committed to opposition for oppositions sake.

And now Mexico is on board.

The president has some options, and there is little doubt he is considering them. Among them, turning up the diplomatic heat on Mexico City regarding trade and other agreements, given that Mexico needs the American market far more than the reverse. That should go a long way towards getting some cooperation from south of the border, for a change.

J.D. Heyes is a senior writer for NaturalNews.com and NewsTarget.com, as well as editor of The National Sentinel.

Sources:

WND.com

TheNationalSentinel.com

TruthWiki.org

CNN.com

GoodGopher.com
Madison Erhardt

This morning we got off to a bit of a chilly start, but it's warming up fast.

Kelowna should see a high of 4 C on Tuesday.

Wednesdays high is 5 C, with a chance of showers for most of the day.

Thursday is calling for a high of 7 C, and if it reaches that temperature, it will be the warmest day since Nov 27. The average high for February is 3 C.

There are currently no major delays on highways.

If you see a crash or have a news tip, email [email protected]
Photo: Contributed

Every so often, it's nice to hear about a small act of kindness.

One Kelowna resident watched through her office window as a City of Kelowna employee noticed an elderly lady needed his help.

She was trying to get over a snowbank and cross the icy street.

"A city worker stopped shovelling the ice from across the street and assisted the elderly lady over the icy snowbank and walked her to her car," said the Kelowna resident. "She stopped and gave him a hug."

"What a commendable kind act that young man did!"
Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

City staff, clad in red shirts and carrying bags of candy, blanketed Penticton on Tuesday gathering feedback from residents.

The focus on Valentine's Day was to get information about what people love about the city and what they would love to see improved.

"This is part of the launch of our official community plan," said special projects manager Ben Johnson. "We are out here talking to people, and city staff will be at different locations all day."

At the mall, Johnson and Mayor Andrew Jakubeit greeted people and listened.

"We are hearing that a lot of people moved from colder places here because of the weather," said Johnson. "A lot of people also love the small town feel and how everything is close together and easy to get to."

He added they also love the Penticton Vees and feel a good sense of community in the town.

Jakubeit said the day was going well and they were seeing a lot of community pride.

Down the road, there will be more similar engagement such as open houses, with a task force being formed as well. Applications for the task force close Feb. 17.

"It's an 18 month process with a lot of dialogue," said Johnson. "This is just the start."
Photo: Contributed

An independent institution is the highest ranked elementary school in the South Okanagan once again, according to the annual Fraser Institute rankings out Tuesday.

The think-tank placed Penticton's Holy Cross Elementary at 99 out of 956 elementary schools in B.C., based on Foundation Skills Assessment test results for grades four and seven in reading, writing and numeracy.

Wiltse Elementary in Penticton was the highest ranked public school in the region at 274, while the highest ranked school in the Okanagan - Similkameen School District was Tuc-El-Nuit in Oliver at 326.

While many school districts dismiss the report altogether, chair of the Okanagan Skaha school board Linda Van Alphen admitted to checking the rankings with interest when they were released Tuesday morning.

However she cautions the rankings are just a snapshot in time, and do not come close to illustrating what is actually happening in the schools.

Van Alphen said most SD 67 schools have a reasonable ranking, but for us, its just one of many things we use to keep track of whats happening in schools.

Next year, Van Alphen says the FSA testing will be taking place earlier in the year, which should help them identify struggling children and place supports around them sooner - something she expects could lead to higher test scores.

The region's rankings are as follows;

Okanagan - Skaha District

Holy Cross (private) 99

Wiltse 241

Trout Creek 274

Kaleden 388

Columbia 418

Uplands 478

Giants Head 496

West Bench 496

Queens Park 518

Parkway 518

Carmi 632

Okanagan - Similkameen District
Photo: Contributed

A Summerland based filmmaker is producing a documentary on the HBC Heritage Trail.

Originally a First Nations route for hunting and trade between Hope and Tulameen, the trail played a key role in British Columbias early development, according to Erick Thompson.

Since 2009, significant progress has been made in reopening the trail over the Cascades.

"It's important to me because when we hiked the trail this past summer we were just surprised at how amazing it was," said Thompson. "And our goal is to help better educate hikers in the future who are planning to make the trek."

It took Thompson and his wife Erin Trainer four days to hike the 74-kilometre trail, an experience that inspired the couple to produce the documentary.

A production crew is planning to cover the trail in five days beginning in mid-August. A one-day horseback ride with a group from the Fort Langley National Historic Site is also planned for July. The documentary will be entered in film festivals and eventually shared on social media.

Hope Mountain Centre program director Kelly Pearce is excited the documentary will raise the profile of the trail.

I think its a great idea, because capturing the scenic beauty in the film will really help to get people's imaginations fired up, he said. "Dozens of volunteers have given hundreds of hours of hard work to improving the HBC Trail for public enjoyment.

The producers have started a GoFundMe campaign to generate funding for the project.

"I'd like to fund this independently and see where that goes," said Thompson.
Cemetery group to meet Feb. 21

COLUMBUS -- The first semi-annual meeting of the Granville Pioneer Cemetery Association will be held 7 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Cornhusker Public Power meeting room.

Discussion will include the spring clean-up and work schedule. The public is invited to attend.

For more information, call Dick Gill at 402-564-2046.

Kin Seekers meeting slated

COLUMBUS -- The Platte Valley Kin Seekers will hold a meeting 1 p.m. March 7 in the west building of the Platte County Historical Society Museum.

The program will be about Google Earth and how to use it for genealogical research purposes.

CCC computer classes slated

COLUMBUS -- Central Community College-Columbus will offer two computer classes in the Student Center, room 179, in March.

Classes offered will be Intermediate Word 2010 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. March 8, and Intermediate Excel 2010 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. March 22.

Preregistration is required at least a week in advance. The cost, which includes a book, is $105 per class.

For more information or to register, contact Sue Mahlin at 402-562-1409; toll-free at 1-877-222-0780, ext. 1409; or email smahlin@cccneb.edu.

Osceola church site of concert

OSCEOLA -- Emmy Award-winning composer and musician Rex Cadwallader will hold a benefit performance 7 p.m. March 24 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Osceola.

Cadwallader is an accomplished jazz performer, composer and educator who directed instrumental and vocal music at Osceola High School from 1968-72 and also taught at Seward High School.

Proceeds from this performance will benefit the Osceola Community Action Group. Tickets are $10, available at Pinnacle Bank Osceola, Tooleys Osceola and Fields and Frills. They will also be available at the Columbus Friends of Music event on March 18. If any tickets remain, they will be sold at the door for $12.

Pond and lake workshops set

LINCOLN (AP)  Officials have scheduled three free workshops, including one in Columbus, on pond and lake management.

The workshops are a joint effort by Nebraska Extension, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Topics include managing waters for fisheries, invasive species, common maintenance problems and toxic algae management.

Reservations are required.

The Columbus workshop is scheduled for March 16 at Pinnacle Bank, 210 E. 23rd St. Register by March 13 at http://go.unl.edu/columbuslake.

The Grand Island workshop will be held March 2 at the Hall County Extension Office. Register by Feb. 27 at http://go.unl.edu/grandislandlake .

The Weeping Water workshop is set for March 7 at the Cass County Extension Office. Register by March 2 at http://go.unl.edu/weepingwaterlake.

Each workshop is set to begin at 6 p.m. Contact Katie Pekarek at kpekarek2@unl.edu for more information.
COLUMBUS  A new support group is being established in Columbus to help those who lost a loved one to suicide.

The Columbus Area Survivors of Suicide Support Group will meet 7-9 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at First United Methodist Church, 2710 14th St.

The peer group for those ages 18 and older will be facilitated by Robin Swearingen.

It will be a very safe environment to talk about everything and anything because a lot of times after suicide, it is a shameful, different death to get through than if our loved one died in a car accident, said Donna Wolff, president of the Northeast Nebraska Suicide Prevention Coalition.

Wolff was at Columbus Family Resource Center during Saturday's Healthy Family Fun Fest, an event promoting services available in the community to help families. She spoke to parents about the warning signs of depression in youths.

Wolff said depression is a disease of the brain.

We need to start looking at our mental health just like we look at our physical health. The brain is an organ and part of our body, she said.

She said it's important to shed light on mental health issues.

Its 2017. We have to talk about mental health to bring it out in the open. If we can talk about cancer and AIDS and all these other things, we need to be talking about mental health also. Its a reality. A lot of people struggle with depression, Wolff said.

From 2011-13, between 13 and 15 percent of adults in Platte, Boone, Colfax and Nance counties were told they have depression, according to East Central District Health Department's Comprehensive Community Health Needs Assessment.

Suicide mortality rates within the district are lower than the state average, but Platte County has the highest rate in the district for self-inflicted injury hospitalizations. There are 100 cases per 100,000 people in Platte County, compared to 77 in the district and 74 in Nebraska.

While area youths have lower rates of reported depression, the district does have a higher attempted suicide rate than the state average for high schoolers.

Wolff said there are warning signs of depression in youths, including a lack of bathing, excessive sleeping or not sleeping at all, loss of interest in activities, giving away possessions, changes in eating and isolation.

Parents shouldnt ignore the red flags and should approach their child in a nonjudgmental way by having open communication and seeking help.

If they are really struggling, just say, I can see you are struggling. Who do you want to talk to that you feel safe with? Wolff said.
COLUMBUS  Betsy DeVos, a longtime proponent of charter schools, was confirmed as secretary of education last week and a bill that would allow charter schools to open in Nebraska was introduced this session by Sen. Tyson Larson of O'Neill.

As some lawmakers push for charter schools, others in Nebraska are wondering why they're necessary.

Larson introduced similar bills in previous years that failed to advance through the Legislature.

Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus said charter schools can serve a purpose in the right environment.

Charters provide competition with rotten schools and put pressure on rotten schools, he said. Thats in large metro areas where you have that kind of educational disparity.

He doesnt think Nebraska fits that scenario.

Bottom line is we have a really good public school system and its augmented by an excellent parochial school system in some communities, he said. Even if we wanted to, could we sustain two public school systems  a charter system and public schools?

Schumacher isn't a member of the Education Committee, but he doesnt see the bill getting much traction this legislative session.

It is small in comparison to a billion-dollar shortfall and a huge clamoring for income tax cuts and property tax cuts, he said.

Jeanette Jackson is president of the Columbus Area Retired School Personnel and was an educator for 40 years. She said the state needs to rework its school funding formula before adding charters to the mix.

Nebraska has so many issues related to state funding for education. I think charter schools would just make a bigger mess than we already have, she said. There are schools that dont get any state funding at all, its all property tax. We have schools that get more federal funds than state funds.

Nebraska already offers school choice since students can transfer between schools with district approval, and Jackson doesn't see any advantages charters could provide to students here.

Its a solution looking for a problem, said Jackson, who noted that charter school outcomes are mixed.

Some charter schools are successful and some are not, she said.

Jackson said the impact they have on a community depends on how they are regulated. While some states require charter schools to match the districts demographics, others aren't even required to accommodate special-needs children.

It is going to take tax dollars, which are limited already, away from schools that serve all kids, Jackson said.

Schuyler Community Schools Superintendent Dan Hoesing said hes not outright opposed to charter schools, but their track record in diverse, low-income communities concerns him.

Where they are now they skim off the top kids and then the education opportunities for the poor kids is worse, he said. For me, being in a higher-poverty, more diverse district, Im very sensitive to that.

Hoesing said Schuyler Community Schools encourages parents and community members to give feedback so they can meet students' needs.

There isnt a lot that limits us from doing what they want for their kids, he said. In a way, we act more like charter schools than we think.

The charter school model works best in large, metropolitan cities, so the ideal locations in Nebraska would be Omaha, Lincoln and possibly Grand Island.

But Lakeview Community Schools Superintendent Aaron Plas said hell advocate for public education across the state.

We have to look out for public education, he said. These bills are trying to fix a problem that doesnt exist in Nebraska. I dont want to see us change for the sake of change.
LINCOLN  A bill that would allow students from Nebraskas lowest-performing schools to get vouchers to attend private schools drew a crowd Monday, including proponents who argued it would level the playing field for low-income students and opponents who said it would hurt public education.

Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, who introduced LB608, said Nebraskas current open enrollment policies that allow students to attend schools outside their attendance areas or districts cannot accommodate all students.

For instance, 87 students requested to opt in to Elkhorn Public Schools, she said, but there were only 13 seats available, and the same situation exists with high-performing schools in Omaha Public Schools.

Clearly there are more parents and students wanting better options than there are currently afforded them by open or option enrollment, she said. Consequently, to say that choices arent currently limited to your income or zip code are disingenuous.

More than 20 people testified in opposition to the bill during the nearly four-hour hearing, raising questions of its constitutionality, the lack of state accountability required of private schools, the potential for discrimination and the damage opponents said it could do to public education, especially high-poverty schools.

I am adamantly opposed to having my tax dollars used for a private school, said Michele Tilley of Lincoln. Its not in the best interest of the state or our students.

If she lived on a private road, Tilley said, she wouldnt expect taxpayers to pay for it.

LB608 would allow students in 87 schools in the state classified by the Nebraska Department of Education as needing improvement to get vouchers -- or scholarships -- to attend private schools. The vouchers would equal 75 percent of the districts per-pupil revenue or the cost of private school attendance, whichever is less. The remaining 25 percent would go toward lowering property tax rates in the district.

A fiscal note attached to the bill estimates that if 10 percent of students in those 87 schools -- 3,047 students -- opted for vouchers school districts would pay $23.8 million to private schools. About $7.8 million would be available for property tax relief.

Linehan said shed be willing to look at returning that money to the schools, when senators questioned whether a loss of students would cause financial hardships for public schools.

Amy Shane, the superintendent of ONeill Public Schools, said although her district isn't currently one of the lowest-performing, losing 30 students to vouchers could cost $100,000 and it could jeopardize the good relationship between O'Neill's public and private schools.

I think this is a very dangerous thing, she said. This is a bill that could divide our community."

Lincoln Board of Education member Kathy Danek said she was concerned that the bill would transfer public money to a private school without the same requirements for public accountability. While private schools must be approved or accredited by the state, their students don't have to take statewide tests, which are used to classify school performance.

Danek said shes also concerned private schools dont operate under the same budget transparency rules required of public schools, nor do they have publicly elected boards.

Michael McHale, general counsel for the Nebraska Catholic Conference, was among those who said they supported the bill because it put parents in charge of their students education.

Parents have a fundamental right to direct the education of their children, he said.

In answer to questions of the bill's constitutionality, Linehan said theres been no legal test to see if the bill would pass state constitutional muster, but federal level courts have determined theres no conflict between church and state.

Two officials with a school choice organization in Wisconsin said despite the political debate, school choice programs have continued to grow in Wisconsin because of parent interest.

Christine Starr Davis, who works at LPS, said test scores say more about the demographics -- the number of children living in poverty, with disabilities, who move frequently -- than the quality of the education.

I just want to hoist the flag that scores on schools dont tell you theyre bad schools and (students) should be able to get out of there, she said. What they tell you is theres a population in that school thats more diverse. And thats not a crime in this country.
There is no expiration date on a good idea.

As a state senator in the Nebraska Unicameral, I developed innovative approaches to solving funding challenges for our states surface transportation needs.

One of these proposals aimed to give local communities more control over the highway construction process. My legislation, which was later signed into law, tasked the Nebraska Department of Roads with developing the Federal Funds Purchase Program. In exchange for giving up a portion of federal transportation dollars, Nebraska counties and towns can now receive funds with more reasonable regulatory requirements.

Because of this program, transportation projects, like the longstanding bridge replacement in Buffalo County and a major arterial street in South Sioux City, are up and running.

Another initiative I championed at the state level was the Build Nebraska Act. It directed a fraction of each cent of sales tax revenue toward maintaining Nebraskas roads and highways. Because of it, more than $1 billion will be available to meet Nebraskas infrastructure needs over the next 17 years.

I am now bringing these ideas to the U.S. Senate. Called the Build USA Infrastructure Act, my legislation is modeled on Nebraskas successful laws, and it offers real solutions to our national transportation challenges.

Those challenges are significant.

According to the March 2016 estimates by the Congressional Budget Office, by the year 2026, the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) will face a cumulative shortfall of approximately $107 billion. The HTF allocates federal transportation dollars on an annual basis to states to help pay for vital infrastructure projects. States and communities across our country depend on certainty in this crucial funding for highway, road and bridge infrastructure projects.

My Build USA Infrastructure Act would directly address the near-term solvency of the HTF. Specifically, it would divert $21.4 billion annually in revenues collected by the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) on freight and passengers into the HTF. The agency only uses a portion of this revenue for operations, so allocating it to transportation would not affect the CBPs operating budget. These diversions would take place for five years following the expiration of the latest long-term highway bill.

To help states get projects up and running at a faster pace, the act also establishes voluntary state remittance agreements with the Federal Highway Administration. As part of these agreements, states may choose to return some of their allocated federal highway dollars for greater control over certain design, permitting, and construction aspects of federal regulatory approval for highway projects.

Bottom line: the Build USA Infrastructure Act will address the near-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund without raising taxes on Americans. It will also give states greater flexibility in meeting transportation needs.

In the Senate, I serve as the chairman of the Surface Transportation Subcommittee on the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. I am also a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee. At a recent EPW committee hearing, I highlighted the Build USA Infrastructure Act and invited feedback from state transportation leaders. Like its Nebraska namesake, this bill earned positive reviews for bringing certainty into questions about funding and offering greater flexibility to states in initiating critical transportation projects.

Few Americans understand the value of surface transportation better than Nebraskans. We rely on our roads and highways to connect families, bring goods and services to market and feed a hungry world. We carry on this important work across more than 97,000 miles of public roads.

Nebraska acted prudentially to care for its roads and surface transportation infrastructure. I am excited to bring that same idea to Americans nationwide. I look forward to working with the White House and my colleagues in Congress to do just that.
LINCOLN  State officials hope a new educational campaign set to launch Tuesday will help prevent fatal overdoses from opiod painkillers that have risen steadily in Nebraska and across the nation in recent years.

Public service announcements on TV and radio will kick off Dose of Reality: Prevent Prescription Painkiller Abuse in Nebraska.

At a news conference Monday, Gov. Pete Ricketts and Attorney General Doug Peterson said the ads aim to educate the public that misusing opioid-based prescription drugs can have fatal consequences.

While Nebraska isnt at the epidemic levels seen in Ohio and parts of the northeast, the state is at what Peterson called a challenge point.

Prescription drug deaths in Nebraska increased from 2.4 to three per 100,000 people each year between 2005 and 2015, Ricketts said.

Last year, 54 people died from opioid overdoses, he said.

Ricketts and Peterson said the campaign is designed to raise awareness among Nebraskans who may not know how addictive the drugs often prescribed to treat chronic pain can be.

Young Nebraskans are a target of the ads, which show a young man found unresponsive by his mother, Peterson said.

"They are somewhat deceived that if it's in a brown bottle, that the brown bottle means that a doctor prescribed it, that it can't be that dangerous," he said.

The campaign is the latest effort by state health officials, the medical community and law enforcement to address the issue after convening a summit on what the next steps should be in October.

On Jan. 1, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services launched the largest effort in this campaign, an enhanced prescription drug monitoring program.

Once voluntary, Nebraskas prescription drug monitoring program now requires dispensers to enter and track all prescriptions for controlled substances including opioids.

Officials hope it prevents drug seekers from doctor shopping to feed their addictions or deal drugs.

But Peterson said Monday its too early to see if the monitoring program has affected that or influenced prescribing levels for opioid drugs.

So far, the electronic program has had only a few technical hiccups that prevented pharmacists from entering some information, said Joni Cover of the Nebraska Pharmacists Association.

Doctors and pharmacists have received information on safe prescribing levels and non-opioid alternatives to treating pain in the past year in an effort to reduce opioid dependence and abuse, officials said Tuesday.

Peterson hopes greater awareness will lead people to get rid of unused opioid pills.

If were smart about how we do this this, we can be effective in protecting the 'Good Life' of Nebraska, Peterson said.

A website for the campaign, Doseofreality.nebraska.gov., includes information on safe opioid use, treatment resources and drug takebacks.
Colfax County Attorney Denise Kracl told county commissioners she got the memo, but her office wont feel the squeeze  at least for now  of possible cuts to the states community-based juvenile services grants.

Its a use-it-or-lose-it situation for 2013 through 2015-16, Kracl explained to the three-member board during last week's meeting. Im right on track to use all the money we received, so it doesnt affect us.

The memo from the executive director of the Nebraska Crime Commission went out in January to the counties that received grants for juvenile services during 2013-16 giving them a heads-up that Gov. Pete Ricketts call for budget reductions in the states next two-year budget cycle could affect the agencys aid programs.

The memo informed the counties that all funds that have not been disbursed by the commission for 2013, 2014 and 2015 will be retained. In addition, the memo continued, the commission will not be obligated to grant funds that have not been spent.

The commission is also considering reductions for the 2016-17 juvenile services aid program.

I really appreciate that they didnt touch 2016-17 for now, but anythings on the chopping block, Kracl told the commissioners.

The county attorney said it was hard to create local juvenile services programs, watch them begin to show results after several years, then see them lose funding.

Colfax Countys 2016-17 juvenile services grant totals a little more than $41,000  a state grant of almost $37,000 and a 10 percent match ($4,101) from the county.

Commissioners said theyve seen the local tax dollars that can be saved by the juvenile programs put in place by Kracls office.

Colfax County's juvenile diversion program, started in 2008, serves about 40 to 50 youths annually. The number of juveniles who served time in detention has shrunk from 17 in 2012 to seven in 2013 and eight in 2014.

The cost of youth detention, Kracl told the board, is $145 a day at the Northeast Nebraska Juvenile Detention Center in Madison.

State juvenile grant dollars also pay for the first $3,705 of electronic monitoring each fiscal year as an alternative to detention, she said. A portion of the grant also goes to help families dealing with mental health issues, without them having to leave the community.

In other business, the board voted 3-0 to award contracts to Glodowski Construction of Schuyler for security projects in the treasurers and planning and zoning offices inside the county courthouse.

The board OKd a maximum price of $16,750 for beefing up security in the treasurers office and $4,950 for the planning and zoning office.

The contracts will finish a two-year effort to shore up courthouse security, with the assessor's, city clerk's, county court and sheriffs offices already completed.




1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.

2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.

3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.

4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.

5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites.

6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination.

7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N.

8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N.

9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress.

10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N.

11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.)

12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party.

13. Do away with all loyalty oaths.

14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office.

15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.

16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.

17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks.

18. Gain control of all student newspapers.

19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack.

20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions.

21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.

22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms."

23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art."

24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press.

25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.

26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy."

27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch."

28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state."

29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.

30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man."

31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over.

32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.

33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus.

34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI.

36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions.

37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business.

38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand.

39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals.

40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.

41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.

42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems.

43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government.

44. Internationalize the Panama Canal.

45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike.
Crye-Leike Real Estate Services announced that Jonathan Kraft of Cleveland has become affiliated with CryeLeike's Cleveland branch office.

As a REALTOR and affiliate broker, Mr. Kraft serves the real estate needs of buyers and sellers in and around Bradley and Hamilton counties. He specializes in residential real estate with a focus on helping first-time home buyers and empty nesters.

Mr. Kraft is a member of the National Assocation of REALTORS, Tennessee Association REALTORS, and the River Counties Assocation of REALTORS.

Prior to joining Crye-Leike, Mr. Kraft worked in the home improvement industry for the past 12 years. Most recently, he was a replacement sales representative for Pella Windows.

Within his community, he is a supporter and ambassador of The Caring Place, a Christian non-profit organization that addresses the spiritual, physical and social needs of individuals in Bradley County.

CryeLeike Real Estate Services, the nations sixth largest residential real estate brokerage firm, is the largest in Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and the MidSouth. Its Cleveland branch office is one of eight branch and franchise offices located in Southeast Tennessee available to serve buyers and sellers with their real estate needs.
Ralph Thompson passed away on February 10, 2017 after an extended illness.

He was the son of Elmer and Isabel (Scruggs) Thompson, both deceased.

He is survived by his wife, Susan (Simpson) Thompson, daughter Jennifer (Wayne) Williams, son, Jeremy Thompson, and three grandchildren, Jacob, Caroline, and Jess Williams.



Mr. Thompson was born in Beersheba Springs, Tn. on June 27, 1947. He graduated from Tennessee Tech University in 1969 with a degree in industrial engineering. During his lifetime, he worked for Alcoa Aluminum, Union Carbide Nuclear, and TVA.



Mr. Thompson gave back to his community through his years of volunteer work with emergency services. He was a graduate of the State Police Academy and was a certified law enforcement officer. He was also a graduate and instructor at the State Fire Academy and an early member of the EMT National Registry having graduated from one of the first EMT classes in the 1970.



Most recently, he collaborated with the National Institute of Health to further ALS research.



Mr. Thompson also served several years as a deacon at the Hixson (Clear Creek) Church of Christ and in most recent years was a member of Dallas Bay Baptist Church.



The family will receive friends at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home (Hixson) from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 17.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. Following the service, family and friends are invited to attend a wake at Camp Dixie in Soddy Daisy.



In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the ALS Society or Dallas Bay Baptist Church.



Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson.


Education Commissioner Candice McQueen announced Tuesday that 25,977 students in the states high school class of 2017 participated in the departments first ACT Senior Retake Day last fall. Of those, nearly 40 percent increased their overall score, and 1,331 seniors raised their composite above a 21creating access to HOPE Scholarship funds that provide up to $16,000 to help students pay for college. Tennessee is the first state to offer the retake opportunity on a statewide scale.Officials said there were several highlights in the results.In addition to the students who raised their overall composite, thousands of students raised individual subject test scores, which will help them be more competitive at institutions that allow for students to superscore, where they take the highest individual subscores across multiple ACT tests. The ACT retake also resulted in more students hitting the ACT college-readiness benchmarks in all four subjects. In Knox County Schools, for example, 25 percent of students who retook the ACT hit all four benchmarks during their junior year. The retake resulted in 32.1 percent of these students hitting all four benchmarks. Statewide, the percentage of retake students in the class of 2017 who met all four benchmarks increased from 21.5 percent to 26.8 percent.Additionally, over a third of school districts increased their district-wide ACT average, with the best gains in Maryville City, which increased its composite average by a full point.Our goal is to open more doors for students after high school, and these results are one more step toward that vision, Comm. McQueen said. We want students to graduate from high school with the ability to access whatever path they want to explore, and we know too often low ACT scores create a barrier. This retake option is not just strengthening our students future opportunities, but it is strengthening our states future, as well.October 2016 was the first time Tennessee offered public high school seniors the chance to retake the ACT for free. The department proposed this option since its research shows students have a high likelihood of increasing their score when they take the college entrance exam a second time. Higher composite scores not only provide access to state support, but they also make a student more competitive for entry into higher education institutions and for institutional and private scholarships. They also allow students to enroll directly into credit-bearing coursework instead of remedial classes. Gov. Haslams FY18 budget, released last month, proposed to continue funding the ACT Senior Retake option."Tuesday's results also point to areas where the state can target future efforts to maximize this investment. For example, the department is encouraging districts to focus on ensuring that the students whom its research indicates will most benefit from a retaketypically those who were lower-performingtake advantage of this free opportunity. A review of the data show that students who generally earned higher composite scores participated in the retake day last fall, while those who scored below a 17 were far less likely to do so. However, those students scoring in that lower range increased their composite score the most on average," officials said.To learn more about the departments ACT initiatives, visit the departments website or contact Jerre Maynor, director of student readiness, at jerre.maynor@tn.gov.
The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, is no longer new. But the radioactive aura of the law is still nowhere near its half-life. The health care reform, initially signed into law in 2010, has become one of the hottest political issues of the era. Many Republicans are disgusted with the law, which includes an individual mandate requiring everyone to have insurance. Democrats, on the other hand, see it as a grand compromise. Its a stepping stone, some think, on the way to a single-payer system.

Some states stand to lose more than others if the law is repealed. To figure out which ones, WalletHub dug into the numbers. Citing a Congressional Budget Office report, WalletHubs report says the ranks of the uninsured could rocket to as many as 32 million by 2026. And again, some states would feel the pinch more than others.

In order to assess repeals impact on Americans based on where they live, WalletHubs analysts compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across seven key indicators of both economic and coverage losses, the report says. Our data set ranges from growth in uninsured population by 2019 post-ACA repeal to potential economic impact due to repeal of premium tax credits and Medicaid expansion (2019 to 2023).'

In terms of which states would be the most affected by a repeal of the Affordable Care Act, here are the top 10.

10. Connecticut

An Affordable Care Act repeal would be particularly disastrous for the state of Connecticut, which could leave about a quarter of a million residents without health insurance. Particularly damaging for Connecticut residents would be the contraction of Medicare. Connecticut was the first state to expand Medicare under the Affordable Care Act, and the state would lose more than $10 billion in federal funding over the next 10 years if the law is repealed.

9. Ohio

Ohio was one of a handful of Midwestern states that swung the election for Trump. Tapping into the blue-collar economic woes of the Rust Belt, Trump would actually be doing his supporters a disservice by repealing the Affordable Care Act. The state stands to lose billions in federal subsidies, and even Republican Gov. John Kasich is issuing stern warnings about the fallout of a full repeal.

8. Michigan

Bordering Ohio to the north, Michigan was another state that helped swing the election to Trump. And like their neighbors, Michigan residents would deal with a lot of negative consequences related to the Affordable Care Acts repeal. In rural areas especially, repealing the law could affect peoples lives in a number of ways. More than 630,000 people have enrolled in the state exchange, which would change if Republicans gut the law.

7. New Hampshire

New Hampshire narrowly tipped to Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election. But the states unique position in our election system gave us a glimpse as to the nationwide support Trump would eventually win. And just like in many other states that leaned Trump, New Hampshire would be among the states most heavily impacted by the Affordable Care Acts repeal. Residents are nervous, and a lot of people could be left without coverage in the case of a repeal.

6. North Dakota

Yet another state that voted for Trump by a wide margin, North Dakota would feel the pinch if the Affordable Care Act is scrapped. As Republicans have postured to repeal the law, many North Dakota residents have started to sign up for plans in anticipation. Representatives from the state have been supportive of a repeal. Well have to wait to see what Republicans actually do to see the full effect.

5. Oregon

Oregon is a blue state, and its residents generally support the law. If Republicans trigger a repeal, Oregons economy stands to take a hit  and its residents would lose coverage. After the Affordable Care Act became law, Oregons uninsured rate dropped by half. If the law were repealed, that progress would be scrapped, as well.

4. Rhode Island

Officials in Rhode Island are already positioning themselves for a potential repeal. The Affordable Care Act managed to lift 100,000 Rhode Island residents to the ranks of the insured after its passage  30,000 through the state exchange and 70,000 through the Medicare expansion. A repeal would clearly create chaos.

The states uninsured rate dropped to less than 4.5 percent, compared with nearly 12 percent in 2013, before the law went into effect, said a report from Providence Journal.

3. Kentucky

Kentucky might be the most interesting (and confounding) state when it comes to a repeal. For one, many of the states residents evidently dont understand their state exchange, Kynect, is, effectively, Obamacare. As Voxs Sarah Kliff reported, some parts of the state benefited more from the Affordable Care Act than anywhere else in the country. And yet they voted for Trump, who promised to repeal the law.

2. West Virginia

West Virginia is largely in the same camp as Kentucky. Its a state that has a lot to lose in the event of an Affordable Care Act repeal. But the state overwhelmingly supported Trump for president. The state would lose billions in subsidies, and people would lose coverage.

The Affordable Care Act has had a wonderful impact on the state of West Virginia. Its reduced the number of uninsured from 14 percent to 6 percent, said Ted Boettner of the West Virginia Center on Budget & Policy, per a report from WOWK.

1. Massachusetts

When it comes to a repeal, Massachusetts would be the biggest loser. Interestingly enough, Massachusetts former governor, Republican Mitt Romney, sowed the seeds of the Affordable Care Act by implementing Romneycare several years back. Now, if the nationwide law is repealed, more than 230,000 Massachusetts residents would lose coverage.

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Fusion experiments known as stellarators work by confining a mass of superheated plasma (orange horizontal mass) inside a magnetic field generated by external electromagnetic coils (multicolored vertical bands). A UMD physicist has made a revision to the software tools used to design these complex coil shapes, allowing researchers to create better designs with more room between the coils for repairs and instrumentation. The solid lines denote shapes made by the old software, while the dotted lines denote shapes made by the new software.

"Measure twice, cut once" is an old carpenter's proverb--a reminder that careful planning can save time and materials in the long run.

The concept also applies to the design of stellarators, which are complex nuclear fusion experiments meant to explore fusion's potential as an energy source. Stellarators work by confining a ring of blazing-hot plasma inside a precisely shaped magnetic field generated by external electromagnetic coils. When the plasma gets to several million degrees--as hot as the interior of the sun--atomic nuclei begin to fuse together, releasing massive amounts of energy.

Before turning a single bolt to build one of these rare and expensive devices, engineers create exacting plans using a series of algorithms. However, a wide variety of coil shapes can all generate the same magnetic field, adding levels of complexity to the design process. Until now, few researchers have studied how to choose the best among all potential coil shapes for a specific stellarator.

University of Maryland physicist Matt Landreman has made an important revision to one of the most common software tools used to design stellarators. The new method is better at balancing tradeoffs between the ideal magnetic field shape and potential coil shapes, resulting in designs with more space between the coils. This extra space allows better access for repairs and more places to install sensors.

"Instead of optimizing only the magnetic field shape, this new method considers the complexity of the coil shapes simultaneously. So there is a bit of a tradeoff," said Landreman, an assistant research scientist at the UMD Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics (IREAP) and sole author of the research paper. "It's a bit like buying a car. You might want the cheapest car, but you also want the safest car. Both features can be at odds with each other, so you have to find a way to meet in the middle."

Researchers used the previous method, called the Neumann Solver for Fields Produced by External Coils (NESCOIL) and first described in 1987, to design many of the stellarators in operation today--including the Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X). The largest stellarator in existence, W7-X began operation in 2015 at the Max Planck Institute of Plasma Physics in Germany.

"Most designs, including W7-X, started with a specifically shaped magnetic field to confine the plasma well. Then the designers shaped the coils to create this magnetic field," Landreman explained. "But this method typically required a lot of trial-and-error with the coil design tools to avoid coils coming too close together, making them infeasible to build, or leaving too little space to access the plasma chamber for maintenance."

Landreman's new method, which he calls Regularized NESCOIL--or REGCOIL for short--gets around this by tackling the coil spacing issue of stellarator design in tandem with the shaping of the magnetic field itself. The result, Landreman said, is a fast, more robust process that yields better coil shapes on the first try.

Modeling tests performed by Landreman suggest that the designs produced by REGCOIL confine hot plasma in a desirable shape, while significantly increasing the minimum distances between coils.

"In mathematics, we'd call stellarator coil design an 'ill-posed problem,' meaning there are a lot of potential solutions. Finding the best solution is highly dependent on posing the problem in the right way," Landreman said. "REGCOIL does exactly that by simplifying coil shapes in a way that the problem can be solved very efficiently."

The development of nuclear fusion as a viable energy source remains far off into the future. But innovations such as Landreman's new method will help bring down the cost and time investments needed to build new stellarators for research and--eventually--practical, energy-generating applications.

"This field is still in the basic research stage, and every new design is totally unique," Landreman said. "With these incompatible features to balance, there will always be different points where you can decide to strike a compromise. The REGCOIL method allows engineers to examine and model many different points along this spectrum."
Due to its excellent material properties of elasticity, resilience, and electrical and thermal insulation, elastomers have been used in a myriad of applications. They are especially ideal for fabricating soft robots, flexible electronics and smart biomedical devices which require soft and deformable material properties to establish safe and smooth interactions with humans externally and internally.

However, to date, the most widely used silicon rubber-based elastomers require a thermal curing process which significantly limits its fabrication in traditional ways, such as by cutting, molding and casting, which constrains design freedom and geometric complexity. In order to enrich the design and fabrication flexibility, researchers attempted to use 3D printing techniques, such as the ultraviolet (UV) curing based 3D printing techniques that solidify liquid polymer resins to 3D objects through patterned UV light, to fabricate elastomeric 3D objects. Nevertheless, most of the commercially available UV curable thus 3D printable elastomers break at less than 200% (two times the original length), which makes it unsuitable for many applications.

Recently, researchers have developed a family of highly stretchable and UV curable (SUV) elastomers that can be stretched by up to 1100%, and are suitable for UV curing based 3D printing techniques. This work is a collaborative effort between researchers from the Singapore University of Technology and Design's (SUTD) Digital Manufacturing and Design (DManD) Centre which is funded by the Singapore National Research Foundation (NRF), and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI), in a program funded by the Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE) under the NRF too.

"We have developed the most stretchable 3D printable elastomer in the world," said Assistant Professor Qi (Kevin) Ge from the SUTD's DManD Centre, who is one of the co-leaders in developing the SUV elastomers. He added: "Our new elastomers can be stretched by up to 1100% which is more than five times the elongation at break of any commercially available elastomer that is suitable for UV curing based 3D printing techniques."

Using high resolution 3D printing with the SUV elastomer compositions enables the direct creation of complex 3D lattices or hollow structures that exhibit extremely large deformation. "The new SUV elastomers enable us to directly print complicated geometric structures and devices such as a 3D soft robotic gripper within an hour. Compared to traditional molding and casting methods, using UV curing based 3D printing with the SUV elastomers significantly reduces the fabrication time from many hours, even days, to a few minutes or hours as the complicated and time-consuming fabrication steps such as mold-building, molding/demolding, and part assembly are replaced by a single 3D printing step," said Dr Ge.

The SUV elastomers not only sustain large elastic deformation, but also maintain good mechanical repeatability, which makes them good materials for fabricating flexible electronics. To demonstrate this, the researchers fabricated a 3D buckyball light switch that still works after being pressed for more than 1000 times.

"Overall, we believe the SUV elastomers, together with the UV curing based 3D printing techniques, will significantly enhance the capability of fabricating soft and deformable 3D structures and devices including soft actuators and robots, flexible electronics, acoustic metamaterials, and many other applications," said Professor Shlomo Magdassi who is a co-leader of this project at HUJI and CREATE.
Abstract

Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) are cheap, abundant in their deposits, natural green clays with cylindrical structure having a chemical composition similar to Kaolin. Because of their lumens, high aspect lengthdiameter ratio and low hydroxyl density on their surface they are readily suitable for a number of interesting applications. In this review we will focus only on their use as NanoBazookas drugcarriers, able to shoot their cargo against major diseases. Their structure, controlled release and loading are described. We emphasize expecially their possible use as novel (polymeric) drug delivery systems with applications in nanomedicine.
Find new books and literate friends with Shelfari, the online book club.
Canadian engineering and architecture firm EXP is joining the list of companies relocating their headquarters to Chicago.

EXP's move from the Toronto suburbs is expected to create 150 new jobs in Chicago, according to an announcement from Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office. The company plans to fill those positions with local talent and recruit from Chicago-area universities. The jobs include civil engineers and architects, among other technical positions.

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The new employees will join 230 people who already work at EXP's office in the Loop, according to the mayor's office. That space will undergo a $5 million renovation, scheduled to start in April.

"The strong talent pool that exists here will undoubtedly help our firm continue to grow and achieve success," Mark Dvorak, the company's chief operations officer, said in a written statement. "In addition, having O'Hare International Airport located at our operational hub allows for easy access to the more than 100 offices we currently have throughout North America."

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EXP is following a recent trend of companies moving their headquarters into Chicago from the suburbs and elsewhere.

Jim Beam whiskey maker Beam Suntory opened its Merchandise Mart headquarters in December, moving about half of its 500 employees from Deerfield, and McDonald's is building a new headquarters in the West Town neighborhood.

Meanwhile, Peoria-based Caterpillar announced last month that it's moving its headquarters to the Chicago area, though it hasn't said whether it will end up in the city or the suburbs. Caterpillar also cited proximity to a major airport as one of the reasons behind its decision.

EXP employs about 3,000 people in 110 offices around the world, according to the announcement. Local projects have included the 35th Street pedestrian bridge and work on CTA stations and at O'Hare.

amarotti@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @AllyMarotti
This cover image released by Playboy shows the October 2015 college issue of the magazine. (Playboy)

SAN FRANCISCO  Naked women are back in Playboy magazine, ending a year-old ban on the nudity that made the magazine famous.

Playboy celebrated the reversal on Twitter and Facebook with the hashtag #NakedIsNormal.

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The about-face came Monday with the release of Playboy's March-April issue. The 63-year-old magazine had banished naked women from its print edition because it felt the content had become passe in an era of online porn that is just a click away on personal computers and smartphones.

The decision to show less skin was made under the regime of Playboy Enterprises CEO Scott Flanders, who left the Los Angeles company last May to run eHealth Inc., a health insurance exchange.

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Cooper Hefner, Playboy's chief creative officer and the son of magazine founder Hugh Hefner, called the nudity ban a mistake Monday in a post on his Twitter account .

"Nudity was never the problem because nudity isn't a problem," Cooper Hefner wrote. "Today we're taking our identity back and reclaiming who we are."

Playboy declined further comment.

Magazine expert Samir Husni said the prohibition on nudity probably alienated far more readers than it attracted.

"Playboy and the idea of non-nudity is sort of an oxymoron," said Husni, a journalism professor at the University of Mississippi. "They are always going to have the stereotype as a nude magazine."

Now that nudity is back in its fold, Playboy is still going to have to figure out how to appeal to a younger audience that has grown up in a digitally driven age where nudity has become commonplace.

"The people who grew up with Playboy magazine are starting to fade away so they will have to figure out what the millennial generation wants in the 21st century if they are going to survive," Husni said.

That challenge may fall largely on Cooper Hefner, 25, who replaced his 90-year-old father as Playboy's chief creative officer last summer.

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Playboy re-embraced nudity with an issue boasting several pictorial spreads of naked women, including Miss March, Elizabeth Elam, and Miss April, Nina Daniele. The issue also features an interview with actress Scarlett Johansson and pieces on actor Adam Scott and CNN host Van Jones for those who say they only read Playboy for the articles.
The invitation went out to top universities including Ohio State and Notre Dame: Let's talk about the future of American higher education under President Donald Trump.

It also went to a less-august institution: DeVry Education Group.

That DeVry was invited to a January "listening session" on education by Trump's team hints at where his administration soon may nudge more college students: into the arms of for-profit companies.

That, anyway, is the word on Wall Street. Only months after Trump agreed to pay $25 million to settle a series of lawsuits stemming from his for-profit education venture, Trump University, the likes of DeVry are on the march. Since the November election, the stock price of Downers Grove-based DeVry has jumped almost 40 percent.

It's quite a turnabout for a company that, not long ago, seemed to exemplify the problems in for-profit classrooms: Students tend to graduate with more debt and fewer job prospects than those who attend traditional schools. In recent years, scandals and bankruptcies have jolted the industry and sent students  and investors  running.

On the heels of the Trump U. settlement, DeVry agreed in December to a $100 million settlement of a federal lawsuit alleging it mislead people about its students' job success. As usual in such cases, neither Trump nor DeVry admitted to any wrongdoing.

Now, the shift is palpable. Trump's new education secretary, the wealthy Republican fundraiser Betsy DeVos, has long supported directing taxpayer dollars to schools run by for-profit companies, including those operating fully online  an approach pioneered by publicly traded higher-education businesses. That's good news for them because they rely on federal student loans and grants for as much as 90 percent of their revenue.

"We are encouraged," said Lisa Wardell, DeVry's chief executive officer. "We're looking for a voice and a seat at the table."

Investors clearly are encouraged too. DeVry's stock closed at $32.70 in New York on Tuesday, up 39 percent since the Nov. 8 presidential election. Shares of Grand Canyon Education, a for-profit Christian university, have gained more than 20 percent. And Laureate Education, which once employed former President Bill Clinton as honorary chancellor, recently went public.

DeVos, confirmed only after Vice President Mike Pence broke a 50-50 tie in the Senate, has largely focused on K-12 education. Now she will step into the national debate over the value  and soaring costs  of traditional colleges and universities.

Despite hard questions about their own value and cost, for-profit education companies are positioned to prosper in the Trump years, analysts say. Trace Urdan, a research analyst in San Francisco at Credit Suisse, upgraded DeVry to "outperform" the day after the November election. He expects Trump will take a friendlier approach than Obama, whose administration curbed funding to schools that failed to meet certain criteria, such as how much debt students shoulder relative to earnings.

DeVos, 59, is married to the scion of Amway Corp., one of the world's best-known multilevel marketing companies. She will control federal purse strings on higher education, overseeing the issue of $30 billion in Pell grants and more than $100 billion of student loans annually, as well as the collection of those loans.

Trump, meantime, plans to tap Jerry Falwell Jr., a campaign ally and president of conservative Christian Liberty University, to help examine how to get the government out of higher education altogether. Falwell, son of the fundamentalist preacher who founded the Moral Majority, said he would look at ways of reducing "overreaching regulation" in a Jan. 31 Chronicle of Higher Education story. He declined to be interviewed for this article.

For-profit colleges generally don't focus on traditional college students: recent high school grads on campus quads. Most DeVry students are over the age of 25 and many are veterans or working parents. Roughly a third are African Americans and Hispanics; two thirds are women.

"We're serving the new normal students," Wardell said. "These are students that don't have the economic means to privately pay for school."

DeVry's most popular programs include medical billing, business administration and network-systems administration. The company also operates a nursing school, a veterinary school and Caribbean-based medical schools that train students who often failed to get into U.S. universities.

Wardell hopes the Trump administration will look at the "unintended consequences" of regulations such as Obama's debt-to-earnings measure. The Department of Education classifies DeVry's veterinary school as "in the zone" requiring improvement. DeVry thinks this is unfair because its default rate is low, and besides, "we need vets," Wardell said. "It's not that we don't want to be regulated."

The default rate "provides only a limited snapshot of one type of student-loan struggle," said Ben Miller, senior director for postsecondary education at the Center for American Progress policy institute in Washington. For example, it tracks results only within three years of leaving school.

Wardell, who served on DeVry's board before being named CEO last May, said for-profit schools have gotten a bad reputation because of a few bad practices.

"If we had policed ourselves seven or 10 years ago as an industry, much like the financial-services industry has done," she said, "we would not have found ourselves in the quagmire in which we found ourselves in the last few years."

Wardell said DeVry is trying to hold itself accountable to students, adopting various commitments aimed at disclosing costs and potential career outcomes. It's also reducing to 85 percent the maximum amount of revenue it will get from federal funds.

Of course, not everyone wants to see federal tax dollars channeled to for-profit education in the first place.

The promises of increased transparency are "steps in the right direction," said Robert Shireman, deputy undersecretary of education under Obama and now a senior fellow at the Century Foundation, a progressive think tank. "They don't change the problematic dynamic of for-profit education: If we spend less on teaching, we have more money for shareholders."
Fast-food workers gather in front of the CKE Restaurants corporate offices in Anaheim to protest before a Senate vote to confirm Andy Puzder as Labor Secretary. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Washington  Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent Labor secretary nominee Andy Puzder a lengthy list of questions as top Senate Democrats trained their fire on the fast-food executive ahead of his confirmation hearing this week in hopes of knocking off the last of their top targets among President Trump's Cabinet choices.

Puzder, the chief executive of Carpinteria-based CKE Restaurants Inc., the parent company of the Carl's Jr. and Hardee's chains, is scheduled to face tough queries at a Senate hearing Thursday.

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Warren gave him a preview Monday in a 28-page letter.

"My staff's review of your 16-year tenure as CEO of CKE Restaurants, Inc.reveals that you've made your fortune by squeezing the very workers you'd be charged with protecting as Labor Secretary out of wages and benefits," Warren wrote.

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"Your company's record of prolific labor law abuses and discrimination suits  the most of any major burger chain  gives me great pause given that as Labor Secretary you'd be charged with enforcing these very laws," she said.

Warren cited a January report by Capital & Main, a California news website, co-published with Newsweek that found that since Puzder became chief executive in 2000, CKE had faced more federal employment discrimination lawsuits per billion dollars of sales than any other U.S. hamburger chain.

Puzder is the last of the eight nominees targeted by Senate Democratic leaders to have a hearing after scheduled sessions were delayed four times as the committee awaited his ethics and financial disclosure paperwork.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee received Puzder's paperwork last week. In it, he promised to divest his multimillion-dollar stake in CKE Restaurants and sell a wide array of other investments.

Puzder also promised not to participate in any matters as Labor secretary involving CKE Restaurants unless he received a waiver or authorization in conjunction with federal law.

The other seven nominees targeted by Senate Democratic leaders have either been confirmed or are on track for confirmation this week. One of them, Treasury secretary pick Steve Mnuchin, was confirmed by the Senate on Monday night.

Senate Democratic leaders are now focusing on Puzder, believing his nomination is vulnerable because of his long tenure heading a fast-food chain and his admission last week that he had employed a housekeeper for years who was in the U.S. illegally.

On Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) called for Puzder to withdraw, calling him "probably the most anti-worker" choice ever for the Cabinet position.

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Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the top Democrat on the Senate committee, said Puzder was "uniquely unqualified" for the job.

At least three Republicans on the committee have yet to commit to voting for Puzder. If they decide to oppose him, and if all Democrats vote against him, that would be enough to derail his nomination.

Warren tried to keep up the pressure with her Monday letter. She told Puzder his record of public comments over the years "reveals a sneering contempt for the workers in your stores and a vehement opposition to the laws you will be charged with enforcing."

She fired off questions about his potential conflicts of interest, labor law violations at his company's restaurants and his position on various Labor Department rules and investigations. She asked for answers no later than Feb. 21.

Democrats have been critical of labor law violations at CKE Restaurants, and fast-food workers have staged protests against Puzder's nomination in Los Angeles and elsewhere. Workers in the Fight for $15 movement rallied against Puzder Monday at CKE's Anaheim offices and in several other cities.

Democrats and worker rights advocates also have criticized Puzder for his opposition to increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and expanded eligibility for overtime.

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An analysis by Bloomberg BNA found that about 60% of Labor Department investigations of Carl's Jr. and Hardee's restaurants since 2009 turned up at least one violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which covers minimum wage, overtime and other regulations.

But Puzder's backers have noted that was one of the best performances by leading fast-food outlets.

Business groups have been trying to rally support for Puzder.

On Monday, more than 100 trade associations sent a letter to senators urging them to confirm Puzder.

"Mr. Puzder has seen, firsthand, the impact of burdensome regulations promulgated by the previous administration, and he has seen both the negative impacts and unintended consequences they can have on employers and employees alike," the groups wrote.

"Being a respected, proven leader in an industry that represents approximately 10% of the workforce gives him a unique set of qualifications to serve in this position," they said.

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In addition, supporters are focusing on Republicans who have yet to commit to voting for Puzder.

On Friday, for example, the Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Assn. wrote to Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), saying they were "proud to have one of our most esteemed industry leaders be nominated for such a critical role in the new administration."

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2:45 p.m.: This article was updated with details about Sen. Elizabeth Warren's charge about CKE discrimination lawsuits and confirming that protests against Puzder took place in Anaheim and other cities.

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It's a crisp Monday morning in January, and the week is just starting at Stone Soup in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. In the big open kitchen, a few residents make themselves a bowl of cereal or cook up some eggs for breakfast, while others give a quick goodbye as they leave for work. Someone takes a peek into the washing machine to see if it's free.

It's a common scene playing out in apartments across Chicago. But at Stone Soup, one of about two dozen intentional communities in and around the city, there are a few telltale signs that things are a bit different.

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The pile of shoes at the front door is enormous, as you'd expect when 17 people live together. At the end of a long kitchen table, a tray of chickpeas is sprouting in preparation for one of the communal dinners residents share five times a week (always vegetarian with a vegan option).

Hallway walls are plain white and mostly bare. Stone Soup set down roots in this space just last year, after being housed in a former convent since being founded nearly 20 years ago, and it takes a bit longer to decorate when decisions are made by membership consensus.

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The pile of shoes at the front door of Stone Soup's new Uptown location is enormous, as youd expect when 17 people live together. (Carolyn Variano / Chicago Tribune)

"I've lived on my own; I've lived with a few roommates," said Jonathan Feakins, 33, who has lived at Stone Soup off and on since 2011. "I like this because these are really good people who get along well." Another nice benefit, he volunteered: Some of the members are really good cooks.

Like most intentional communities, Stone Soup is a co-op, with each member paying $550 a month to share the costs for food and space. Residents each have a single room, and everyone does four hours of chores a week  from cleaning to cooking dinner to serving as the administrator for chores. Larger discussions and decisions about logistics are made at biweekly meetings. Housemates, ranging in age from early 20s to mid-60s, share everything from a common interest in social justice to three bathrooms, two of which include a pair of showers.

The community has an easy rhythm; residents' romantic partners and dating interests spend the night fairly regularly  "and that's their business," Feakins said  and housemates can host short-term guests for up to two weeks, while longer-term visitors have to be discussed and agreed upon by the house at large. Stone Soup has a house handbook that details specific policies, but, Feakins noted, "it's not something we have to consult very often."

The Fellowship for Intentional Community, a nonprofit organization that raises awareness about intentional communities and facilitates communication between the residential groups, counts about a thousand communities in the United States in its online directory, with categories such as eco-villages, communes and religious communities.

A number of common areas are available at Stone Soup for lounging, playing music and watching TV. The intentional community is renting space in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. It also owns two houses elswhere in the city. (Carolyn Variano / Chicago Tribune)

Some intentional communities rent, others buy the property. Stone Soup does both  it rents its new space in a landmark Uptown building, and it owns another building in the Sheridan Park neighborhood that houses 10 members and one in McKinley Park that houses seven others.

"There is no one way of doing it," said Sky Blue, executive director of the Fellowship for Intentional Community. "Essentially an intentional community is a group of people who live together, share responsibilities and regularly associate together and share common values."

In 1993, when Lisa Rademacher was 25 years old, she was one of four women who founded Sophia Community in Hyde Park when they were serving as volunteers in poverty-stricken neighborhoods with the Dominican Sisters, a Catholic order. Rademacher said "Sophia," which comes from the Greek word for wisdom and is a feminine name, seemed apt for a woman-founded community.

Today, she and her husband Don are among a dozen members who live at Sophia Community, having raised their two children in the community in the ensuing decades.

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"I see so many people who are so isolated in their own little apartments, but I think that we've always lived in extended families in history and in other societies," Rademacher said. "One of our strong core values here is that we're present for each other, and that's important to me."

These days, Sophia Community has 12 residents  four children and eight adults  ranging in age from 2 to 60. Since it began, almost 60 different people have lived in the shared space, which moved several years ago from a two-flat to their current location in Quaker House, the meeting place of a local Quaker group, which was built around 1911. The community keeps expenses down by putting in sweat equity to maintain the space for the Quaker congregation that owns it.

Rademacher likes the ecological benefits of sharing resources and the extra measure of freedom that comes from keeping living costs low. The cost to live in Sophia Community is determined by the size of each member's private room; Rademacher estimates that room and board for an individual could start at $350 a month and be as low as $800 for a family of four. Children are charged less for food.

"I didn't have to work full time when my children were young," said Rademacher, who teaches kindergarten at the Chicago Free School in Kenwood. "And both my husband and I have been able to work for nonprofit organizations over the years and spend more time volunteering."

The second living room at Stone Soup is a space where residents like Lucas McGranahan, pictured here, can read, relax or chat. (Carolyn Variano / Chicago Tribune)

True to its roots, Sophia Community has remained a hub for people working toward social change in some manner: social workers, theology students, health care professionals. They share food and eat communally at least once a week, and twice a year they take a trip together to Wisconsin or Michigan.

"Most days, the community just happens in the kitchen, when people are cooking or reading the paper," Rademacher said.

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Similar to Stone Soup, when there's a vacancy at the house, members of Sophia Community interview prospective members, usually over a few meals. Rademacher says there hasn't been much trouble finding interested parties, who hear about the space from friends or online at the FIC website or a local directory at www.chicagocoop.net.

While joining an intentional community is mostly a matter of finding an opening in a like-minded home, starting one from scratch takes more work. Experts suggest beginning with the community part of the equation.

"Think about your values and mission and get a clear sense of what you're thinking about for the day to day," said Blue. For example, set clear rules for conflict resolution.

Mark Fick, 44, one of about 10 founders of Stone Soup, said that the community formally began in 1997, growing out of weekly potluck dinners in late 1996. "We were very intentional about how to deal with not only each other, but also our neighbors," he said, which makes sense, as the name "Stone Soup" comes from an old folk tale about pooling resources to feed a village.

Fick is the director of lending at Shared Capital Cooperative in Minnesota, which provides financing for co-ops around the country. For a community that wants to purchase their own building, he said that the basic process remains the same, but add on more time for the purchase.

To get a loan, a co-op will need to form a legal entity, with each member holding an equal share. "There are plenty of templates out there, but you do need a lawyer," said Calvin Holmes, president of the Chicago Community Loan Fund. "It's not insurmountable. It just takes some time to form a cooperative and set all the bylaws and rules."

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Holmes' and Fick's organizations exist in part to make loans to groups like intentional communities, which can have a hard time finding financing through traditional lenders. They also give advice on issues like limited equity, which limits how much a share price can rise, so the housing stays affordable when a member wants to leave the community.

"It's not the right model for everyone, but we think of it as part of the housing continuum." Holmes said. "For example, if you're a community organizer and you don't have a trust fund, this is a way to have a housing community that you can sustain over decades and still get the perks of homeownership."

For 24-year-old Si-Hua Chang, buying a share in an intentional community isn't in his plans anytime soon, but he's content to rent. He's been living at Stone Soup in Uptown for about a month, taking a gap year after graduating from college in Boston.

"I like that it's more efficient and cost-effective, and I like the idea of how it's sustainable and communal, not so individualistic," Chang said. "Most people want community and meaningful relationships. There's just something really nice about living with a group of people you like and get along with."

Carl Vogel is a freelance writer.

ctc-realestate@chicagotribune.com

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Once is Not Enough, chef Lisa Despres take on desire, is a spicy, tart combo of honey-jalapeno-glazed scallops, toasted hazelnuts, smoked-pineapple puree and cucumber ice. (Abel Uribe, Chicago Tribune)

Arguably the finest Mexican restaurant in the country, Topolobampo is where Rick Bayless challenges himself and his guests with creative themed menus (the ones linked to Mexican fine art are especially compelling) and a la carte offerings categorized by emotions, rather than protein-vegetable-salad groupings. A superb wine program, excellent service and the beautiful, art-filled dining room round off an exceptional evening. Read Phil Vettels full review of Topolobampo here.

Restaurant details

Tribune rating:     | Address: 445 N. Clark St. | Phone: 312-661-1434 | Website: rickbayless.com/restaurants/topolobampo | Open: Dinner Tuesday-Saturday, lunch Tuesday-Friday | Prices: Seven-course menu $120, five courses $90, three courses $55; lunch entrees $17-$30, three-course menu $25 | Reservations: Available here.

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Ratings key:     outstanding;    excellent;   very good;  good; no stars: unsatisfactory. The reviewer makes every effort to remain anonymous. Meals are paid for by the Tribune.
Three Aces, the Little Italy restaurant from chef Matt Troost, will close permanently after service this Sunday, Feb. 19.

The restaurant, a neighborhood spot known for excellent bar food with an Italian bent, announced the closing via a Facebook post Tuesday afternoon. A call to the restaurant was not immediately returned.

We've had a absolute BLAST these past 7 years, but it's time for new adventures! Three Aces will be closing forever this Sunday night, read the post.

Three Aces opened in 2010. Troost is also the chef behind West Town restaurant The Charlatan, which opened in 2014.

The Facebook post thanks Three Aces' regulars and staff, but does not give a reason for the closure. We'll update as we learn more.

The bar will have patio tables out all weekend, starting at noon, to celebrate its final days, according to the Facebook post. (The projected high on Saturday, as of press time, is 62 degrees.)

adlukach@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @lucheezy






Nomi's bourbon hot chocolate uses three types of chocolate for complex flavor, plus bourbon-barrel aged maple syrup. (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune)

Hot chocolate isn't just for kids. Add the right alcohol to a well-balanced hot chocolate, and it's elevated to a comforting adult cocktail.

Balance can be a matter of taste, but too-sweet drinks can be cloying. Chicago's D'Noche has a concoction spiked with reposado tequila and hazelnut liqueur that uses Abuelita Mexican Chocolate as its base. To keep it from being too sugary, bartender Jose Mendoza pulls back on the preparation suggested by Abuelita. "(We use) half the chocolate, more milk," says bartender Jose Mendoza.

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A range of liquors can pair well with chocolate flavors, from vodka to whiskey. Chicago's NoMI Lounge offers a hot chocolate bar during the winter, with five hot chocolate cocktails. The drinks start with a deliciously rich hot chocolate as the base. "We toast off our spices, and then we also steep it overnight, so it's got a nice rich flavor to it," pastry chef Greg Mosko says. He uses several kinds of chocolate to give the finished drink more depth of flavor.

To add savory notes, Mosko and NoMi's food and beverage director David Samuel suggest adding black salt, salted caramel or chili spices. Smoke is another possibility. "Mezcal is a very good component that has that smoky flavor," Samuel said. "Or if you like bourbon, or single malt whiskeys, something like a Laphroaig 10 Year Old is a very smoky whiskey."

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The order of adding ingredients is important, says David Bailey of Baileys' Chocolate Bar in St. Louis. "Start with the base of what you're making: so the milk, the sugar, the vanilla. Leave the chocolate to the side," Bailey says. "And then pull it from the heat, add the chocolate and stir vigorously." This prevents the chocolate from scalding.

Other tips: Don't boil the milk and don't be heavy-handed with the alcohol, it should enhance and not overwhelm the hot chocolate.

Althea Legaspi is a freelance writer.

Maple bourbon hot chocolate

Makes: 1 drink

NoMI Lounge's drink takes on buttery notes from Blis Bourbon Maple Syrup, a bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup. You may sub with regular maple syrup. The bourbon-maple syrup combo here is added to NoMI's version of hot chocolate, below.

3/4 ounce (1 1/2 tablespoons) bourbon

1/4 ounce (1 1/2 teaspoons) maple syrup

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8 ounces hot chocolate, see recipe

Heat maple syrup until warm, add bourbon and stir. Pour into a mug of hot chocolate.

Everyday hot chocolate

Makes: 8 servings

5 ounces 64-percent chocolate, such as Valrhona or Cocoa Barry

5 ounces milk chocolate

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1 ounce cocoa powder

2 ounces sugar

1 teaspoon salt

Seeds from 1 vanilla bean

4 ounces each: milk, whipping cream

1 Finely chop the chocolates; mix together with remaining dry ingredients. This is your hot chocolate mix.

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2 For 1 serving, heat milk and cream to a simmer in a saucepan. Place 3 heaping tablespoons of chocolate mixture in a mug; fill with the liquid mixture, stirring until chocolates melt.
With summer on the horizon, mojitos and daiquiris are poised for heavy rotation on the patio circuit. But before you reach for the same old bottle of gold or spiced rum, consider an upgrade: rhum agricole.

French for agricultural rum, rhum agricole is a unique style of rum that's finding its way into more American bars and liquor stores as demand for high-quality spirits continues to grow. Originating from the island of Martinique, where volcanic soil fosters prime growing conditions for sugar cane, rhum agricole differs from other rums in that it's made from distilled cane juice, rather than distilled molasses. Because its production process yields more flavors from actual sugar cane stalks than molasses-based rums, it's less saccharine.

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Especially for rum drinkers who've never strayed from mainstream white, gold and spiced rum, the taste of rhum agricole is an acquired one. Ben Jones, North American regional director and spokesman for Martinique-based Rhum Clement, explains.

"It's a very dry and earthy, vegetal flavor profile, very different from the sort of medium-sweet, heavier, stickier profile that you get with the molasses foundation," says Jones. "Fresh-pressed sugar cane juice is dry, not sweet. What makes molasses sweet is reducing it to super-concentrated sugar used for alcohol. Actual sugar, while it's sweet, is not as sweet as people would perceive. It's fruity and grassy, and the distillate of rhum agricole is really, truly the cleanest form of that distillate. The pun is horrible, but it's like grass to glass."

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Though it may not appeal to pedestrian rum drinkers, rhum agricole tends to be popular among whiskey drinkers, as Depaz Rhum spokeswoman Stephanie Rubin explains. "It's going to have a nose, and a complexity of a whiskey or a fine tequila. Both of those are very mixable, and they bring characteristics to what they make." She suggests trying rhum agricole in a mojito, for starters. "If someone wanted to ask their bartender to try something different, this would be the drink that I would suggest. It's a rum, but it's not a rum."

There are only a dozen or so rhum agricole makers in the French Caribbean (in addition to those in Martinique, there are a few distilleries in Guadeloupe), and about half are available in the U.S. For starters, Rhum Clement's Select Barrel ($30), aged three years, is an easy transition from typical aged rums. A bit more on the interesting side are Depaz Blue Cane Rhum Agricole ($28), and Rhum J.M. ESB Gold ($35), which is aged just 12 months yet is surprisingly mellow. For a purer rhum agricole sample, reach for Rhum Damoiseau's Virgin Cane Rum ($32). Aged just a handful of months, this Guadeloupe rhum agricole is as grassy as it gets.
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Georgios Kaminis of Athens and Pawe Adamowicz of Gdansk also nominated.

Bart Somers, mayor of Mechelen and president of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) in the European Committee of the Regions, has been awarded the World Mayor Prize for 2016.

Two other CoR members  Georgios Kaminis (EL/PES), mayor of Athens, and Pawe Adamowicz (PL/EPP), mayor of Gdansk  were on the shortlist of 15 drawn up by the City Mayors Foundation .

The nominees for this year's award were selected for the work they and their communities have done to welcome refugees and offer them safety, shelter and support.

The citation for Mr Somers, who has been mayor of Mechelen since 2001, noted that "long before the flow of refugees from the Middle East and Africa became officially a crisis in the summer of 2015, Bart Somers recognised the utmost importance of integration".

Mr Somers, who served as minister-president of Flanders in 2003-04, said: "What counts is not your origin, but your future. If we enforce our fundamental principles consistently, not selectively, and I am talking about equal opportunities, non-discrimination, equality between men and women, freedom of speech, etc, then we make the model of rule of law and democracy more appealing than extremist alternatives."

In mid-2016, Mr Somers drafted a set of recommendations on behalf of the CoR intended to highlight ways in which local and regional authorities can, with the support of national governments and the European Union, work to prevent radicalisation. The decision to produce the opinion  entitled " Combatting Radicalisation and Violent Extremism: Prevention mechanisms at local and regional level "  was made at the CoR's own initiative two days after French- and Belgian-born terrorists killed more than 130 people in Paris in November 2015.

Speaking at the CoR's plenary session in June 2016, the EU's coordinator for counter-terrorism, Gilles De Kerchove, praised the opinion. Mr Somers subsequently discussed the CoR's proposals and shared his own experience at an informal meeting of national interior ministers in Bratislava in August, and during meetings with Julian King, European Commissioner for the Security Union, and Vera Jourova, European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality. Mr Somers became president of the ALDE group in the CoR in late 2016.

Contact:

Frederik Francois, press officer of the ALDE group

Tel.: +32 2 282 2582

E-mail: frederik.francois@cor.europa.eu
An orphaned polar bear from Alaska named Nan takes a swim in her new home at the Brookfield Zoo. Feb. 14, 2017. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune) (Chicago Tribune)

There's a new female polar bear at Brookfield Zoo, brought in with hopes she'll mate with Brookfield's male, the zoo announced Tuesday.

Nan, who spent the past 16 years at the Toledo Zoo, went on display Monday in the zoo's Great Bear Wilderness habitat but is still separated from potential partner Hudson by a metal screen. The two will spend the next couple of weeks seeing and smelling each other, with a plan to begin cohabitation on Feb. 27, International Polar Bear Day.

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"She is a proven breeder," said Amy Roberts, the zoo's curator of mammals. "She is at an age appropriate to still have cubs. We have a youngish male here that has not had the opportunity to produce a cub yet."

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Hudson was born at Brookfield in 2006, the same year Nan had her one cub, and spent one season with a female but "nothing came of it," Roberts said. "They just didn't hit it off correctly."

With an estimated 26,000 of them in the wild, polar bears are listed as a vulnerable species, and their status is expected to change dramatically because of melting polar ice.

Polar bears returned to Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo in November after a hiatus to build a new habitat. Officials said at the time that they hoped the male, Siku, would be joined by a female this winter, which could mean two potential breeding pairs within 20 miles of each other. The Chicago zoo, however, does not have a female on site yet, a spokeswoman said.

Nan  which Brookfield says is short for the Inupiaq word nanutaaq, meaning "the young of a bear"  comes to the western suburbs on the recommendation of the interzoo Species Survival Plan for polar bears, which guides animal distribution and breeding. Brookfield had been waiting a couple of years for a female to be recommended for placement there, Roberts said.

As a wild-born animal, Nan is particularly valuable to the genetic mix of the captive polar bear population, which stands at 57 animals in accredited North American zoos and aquariums.

Zoos haven't captured wild animals in "decades," said Roberts, but Nan was found as a cub under a house in Barrow, Alaska, and was moved to her first home, the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, Wash., because she was deemed too young to survive in the wild.

"She's not real well-represented yet in the population," said Roberts, explaining why her wild-born status is important.

Brookfield keepers' decision to remove the barrier between Hudson and Nan will be determined by "positive interactions," Roberts said, "which we deem as neither bear being too aggressive or seeming too nervous."

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As for being excited, Hudson was immediately aware of the female bear's presence, she said: "He knew she was here as soon as she got on grounds. His activity increased."

sajohnson@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @StevenKJohnson

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
After 10 years at the helm of Hubbard Street Dance Company, Jason D. Palmquist will step down as executive director at the end of the company's 39th season, HSDC announced Tuesday.

Palmquist joined the company in 2007. In the past five years, 49 new works have been added to the company's repertoire, including seven world premieres. Under Palmquist, the company also expanded its training programs, went from performing one annual Chicago engagement to four and created partnerships with institutions including the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, the Art Institute of Chicago and The Second City.

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Palmquist will now be an associate consultant for Management Consultants for the Arts.

The company says the board of directors will announce a new leader as the company moves into its 40th anniversary season.

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
"American Street" by Ibi Zoboi, Balzer + Bray, 336 pages, $17.99, age 14+

Fabiola, an American citizen by birth, has lived in Haiti since she was a baby. Now she and her mother have returned to the United States to live with family in Detroit. But only Fabiola makes it through customs in New York and is allowed to travel on to meet up with her aunt and cousins; her mother is detained. On the flight to Michigan, Fabiola comforts herself with thoughts of her mother soon rejoining her, though really she has no idea what will happen. "I look down at America  its vastness resembling a huge mountain," she says as she surveys the view from the plane window. "I felt as if I was just a pebble in the valley."

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Haitian-American author Ibi Zoboi draws upon her own experience of "living between cultures," as she puts it in her author's note, in this stunning, richly textured debut novel. The title references the address of the house in Detroit where Fabiola  rechristened Fabulous, Fab for short  learns to navigate life as an American teenager. Poverty and the violence of the drug trade permeate her family's urban neighborhood, but so does love, loyalty and, as Fab suspects, magic. Is the homeless man on the corner actually Papa Legba, a Vodou spirit, there to guide her through a crossroads? With a vivid setting and fully realized cast of characters, "American Street" is both a destination and a journey; it tells a multi-layered story readers won't soon forget.

"We Are Okay" by Nina LaCour, Dutton, 240 pages, $17.99, age 14+

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This exquisitely rendered novel about loneliness, grief and healing takes place during winter break at narrator Marin's small college in New York's Hudson Valley. All the other students have gone home for the holidays, but Marin remains. Alone in her dorm, she awaits a visit from her estranged best friend and former lover, Mabel. "I don't even know how I will form the word hello. I don't know what I will do with my face: if I will be able to smile or even if I should." With Mabel comes the possibility that Marin will finally have to face memories of home, memories she has tried her best to keep "(locked in) their cages."

Alternating between scenes of the present  in which a snowstorm further emphasizes the sense of inevitable, albeit affectionate, confrontation  and flashbacks to the previous spring, before Marin leaves home in San Francisco for school, "We Are Okay" unfolds at a pace that is meditative but never stagnant. Nina LaCour allows Marin's story space to develop meaningfully, infusing everyday actions, such as making ramen or warming up after venturing out into the cold, with quiet intensity. The moments link together to form a portrait of relationships that are believably fraught with secrets and unspoken emotion, yet, at their core, caring and not so easily broken.

"Here We Are," edited by Kelly Jensen, Algonquin, 240 pages, $16.95, age 12+

Kelly Jensen, an associate editor for the online journal Book Riot, describes her feminism as the kind that forges connections. As she says in the concluding essay in "Here We Are: 44 Voices Write, Draw, and Speak About Feminism for the Real World," her strength resides "in being there for others, a steady and solid rock, supporting, encouraging, and listening to the stories of those around (her)." That strength is on full display in this dynamic collection of essays, interviews, comic strips and more, which brings together a chorus of diverse viewpoints, from women and men, to help teens understand, broaden and visualize their own definition of contemporary feminism.

To say the book covers feminist "issues" is accurate but doesn't convey the distinctive, personal feel of each piece. Alida Nugent writes about growing up biracial and not fitting the standard of beauty at her suburban New York high school, where the most popular girl had a dainty nose "that looked like it belonged on an elf." Kaye Mirza chronicles the process of claiming her identity as both a feminist and as a Muslim. Brenna Clarke Gray traces the feminist roots of fandom. In an interview, "Orange Is the New Black" star Laverne Cox discusses transgender women's struggle for inclusion in the feminist movement. Former Democratic Sen. Wendy Davis talks about losing the Texas governor's race in 2014 and reinforces a vital message for today's young activists: Even though you won't always win, if you stand up for what you believe in, there is "so much to be gained in fighting the fight."

Kelly Jensen, editor of "Here We Are," will appear Thursday, March 9, at 1 p.m., at The Book Stall, 811 Elm St., in Winnetka, and at 7:30 p.m., at Women & Children First, 5233 N. Clark St.

Christine Heppermann's most recent book for young adults is "Ask Me How I Got Here."






Let's see: Jesse Presley, Elvis' stillborn twin, hears the Mekons on a transistor radio on the 93rd floor of the South Tower, the Twin Towers having reappeared intact in the South Dakota Badlands 20 years after their fall. A man with an astrophysics degree runs the cash register at a gas station in Disunion territory. A young man and his sister, who is also a radio, drive a silver Camry hybrid containing "all that remains of American song," searching for a lost highway "that cuts through the heart of the country from one end to the other with impunity." Yup, "Shadowbahn" is a Steve Erickson novel, all right.

It's also the novel of now  this moment that just passed and the one just around the bend  the first novel of the Trump years, of tatterdemalion America, the starless stripes, as one of Erickson's chapter headings has it. A novel for "a defiled century and whatever defiled world inhabits it." The Towers rise again, displaced, in a country riven by conflict, hostility, disputed territory, secession. It's the return of a history so repressed that it is all on the surface  a national imaginary so Towers-haunted, so Confederate-flagged, that tragedy must manifest physically as farce in order to reveal just how little anyone understands. The man who first spots the reincarnated structures drives a truck whose bumper sticker reads SAVE AMERICA FROM ITSELF.

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The plot of the novel  such as it is, and please do not imagine me capable of summarizing it  turns on a question Stephen Dedalus phrased in "Ulysses" this way: "But can those have been possible seeing that they never were? Or was that only possible which came to pass?" Jesse Presley, the shadowborn, leaps from the South Tower in 2021 to land in Andy Warhol's Factory in 1966, at which point the narrative is interrupted by Jesse's 12-page review of a record no one's heard by a band called J. Paul Ramone & the Beatlebubs.

The review is printed in twin columns, like the Towers, like the Presley brothers, like America. It recounts an alternative history where Jesse lived instead of his brother, so there was no Sun Records and thus no rock 'n' roll, just a "short-lived rock & rhythm craze"  in which the Beatles went nowhere so the bassist cut an avant-garde album (under a pseudonym four punks from Queens would never adopt for their own band) that captured "the sound of our crazy century dying to the rustle of its own flesh falling from our times like leaves from trees."

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Meanwhile, in another future, American nomads Parker and Zema, Camry-borne siblings on the shadowbahn, listen to their dead father's playlist, which is accompanied by his liner notes for each song  lyrical meditations in which Los Lobos rewrite history so that Ritchie Valens walks anonymously away from a plane crash in Iowa and "flying-dutchman phantasmatoons" drift "in the shoals of reef-smashed chords."

Steve Erickson, author of "Shadowbahn." (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

That only Steve Erickson's children's father would or could produce such notes is both beside and precisely the point. For decades now, in novels like "Rubicon Beach" and "Zeroville," Erickson has eroded narrative with prose poetry, geography and time unspooling like detonating cord before other logics, according to which the highway you're on is never the highway you thought you were on, and you're headed "the wrong way in the right direction." He gets compared ad nauseam to Thomas Pynchon, understandably. Both authors loop surreal filmstrips of end-times paranoia on book-depository walls. Both flash forth with imagery so sharp it could cut the page: "East of Albuquerque, the brother and sister spied a flaming boxcar, adrift like a viking pyre in the desert dawn."

For all his magical-mystery-tourism, though, Erickson's not a wacky writer; he descends to Pynchon-level dad-jokiness only in Jesse's record review, where it works. And he's anything but gargantuan. He's a termite to Pynchon's white elephant, nibbling away at the map's edges instead of expanding them to cover the territory.

This means he can get too mystical, trying to say more than his canvas will allow: "Abandonment hemorrhages. Its moment turns into too many other moments at one time to be any river of such moments other than a flood: The collective bearing of witness collapses under the weight of its own hope and terror." Everything is a little too representative. The novel's idea of popular music, for instance, is too carefully curated with exquisite taste: Elvis, Mekons, Robert Johnson, Fred Astaire, Coltrane, Ray Charles, Bowie, Sly Stone, Television, Laurie Anderson, M.I.A. A hundred pages in, I was jonesing for some Guns N' Roses.

These are minor cavils. This is a novel we need, even if it's somewhat predictably moved by a ghostly patriotism that doesn't dampen rage so much as bewilder it. Even those readers for whom patriotism however bewildered was never an option might accept one rooted, as Erickson's is, in the resistance of the Sioux Nation at Wounded Knee. "In the thirteen years since Zema came to America," Erickson writes in the novel's most telling passage, "she has never had any idea that having no idea who she is and having no idea where she belongs makes her more American than anyone." This country is never what you think it is, whatever you think it is, this novel seems to say. It's true that this is what liberal writers since Tocqueville always say. It's an argument for flipside America, "mixtape nation," a country with hellhounds on its trail but better angels just over the horizon. It's not a country I recognize. But Erickson knows all this; he doubles down and doubles back; he's written a battle hymn: "No one believes in the same country anymore and probably never has."

Michael Robbins is a freelance writer whose "Equipment for Living: On Poetry & Pop Music" will be published in 2017.

'Shadowbahn'

By Steve Erickson, Blue Rider, 320 pages, $27






The beach and African wildlife don't seem to go together, but Tour Africa Safaris has matched the two in its 12-day/11-night Kenya Safari and Zanzibar Experience. The tour spends its first night in Nairobi, Kenya, before heading into the wilds of Amboseli National Park for the Porini Amboseli Camp. With Mount Kilimanjaro as a backdrop, this is a good spot for sighting lions, elephants, cheetahs and giraffes. Porini Rhino Camp in Laikipia and Porini Lion Camp in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy offer more of the same, along with leopards, Cape buffalo, baboons, rhinos and hippos. The final four nights are spent pondering the wildlife just seen while enjoying the beaches of the Breezes Beach Club and Spa on Zanzibar, in the Indian Ocean. Price starts at $5,640 per person, double occupancy. There are three other lodging options on Zanzibar at varying price points. International air is extra. http://tinyurl.com/zwlqq4o

Best beaches

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Almost everyone loves beaches. What's not to like about walking barefoot through powdery sand before splashing into the incoming surf, breathing in the ocean scent and watching gulls sail effortlessly through the blue sky? Two of my favorites are the sparsely used Old Harry Beach on Grande-Entree Island, part of Canada's Magdalen Islands archipelago, and Shell Island, a gem of an undeveloped barrier island just off Florida's Panama City Beach. National Geographic recently listed its picks for 21 best beaches in the world, and thankfully, neither of my faves made it. Don't want them getting crowded. Considering the Geographic had the whole world for the picking, it seems a bit disproportionate that six of the 21 choices are U.S. beaches. Of those, one is on an inland waterway: Sleeping Bear Point on Sleeping Bear Dunes on the east coast of Lake Michigan. Check out the list, and enjoy some lovely photos at http://tinyurl.com/hdsnxv7.

Driving the Emerald Isle

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A self-drive tour is a great way to visit Ireland  as long as you remember to drive on the left. Traveling at your own pace, stopping to admire the landscape or take a photo when you want can't be beat. Irish Tourism aims to make your self-drive tour as simple as possible. For starters, there are myriad choices of trip lengths: six-, seven-, eight-, 10-, 12- or 14-night packages. There are options tailored to specific interests, such as a literary tour or one that visits locations with good pubs and Irish music. All of the trips can be customized. Fill out a form online describing what you're looking for, or just call and chat. If you're not comfortable with the self-drive option, there are also chauffeur-driven tours and more traditional escorted bus tours. Info: 877-298-7205, http://tinyurl.com/za4sb4c

Phil Marty is a freelance writer.
Could Brendan Dassey  the intellectually challenged defendant whose story is told in Netflix's documentary series "Making a Murderer"  be getting out of prison soon?

A hearing Tuesday in front of a three-judge panel of Chicago's 7th Circuit U.S. Appeals Court may just give his lawyers hope.

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Dassey was sentenced to life in prison in 2007 after he confessed to teaming up with his uncle, Steven Avery, to rape, murder and burn the body of photographer Teresa Halbach on their family's property in rural Wisconsin.

That conviction was overturned in August when a U.S. magistrate judge in Milwaukee found that Dassey's confession was involuntarily given and unconstitutionally coerced by cops who took advantage of his young age and limited intelligence  a point forcefully made by the campaigning documentarians behind "Making a Murderer."

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Dassey  who was 16 at the time of his video confession and who has an IQ of just 73  has remained behind bars while the state of Wisconsin appeals the decision to quash his conviction.

But U.S. Appellate Court Judge Ilana Rovner had pointed questions for Wisconsin Deputy Solicitor General Luke Berg from the get-go at Tuesday morning's hearing, interrupting Berg almost as soon as he started speaking.

When the cops who interviewed Dassey told him, "Let's get it all out today and then it's all over," Rovner asked, wouldn't Dassey have interpreted that as an offer that he could go home if he told them what they wanted to hear?

"I want you to imagine it is not an average person, but a 16-year-old with a very, very low IQ, who is extremely suggestible," Rovner said. "And I would like you very much to concentrate on the 'suggestible.' "

Rovner seemed unimpressed when Berg told her that "neither an average person, nor Dassey, would interpret that as meaning he could go home."

"What if there were 20 such statements, 30 such statements?" the judge asked, referring to the video interview that formed one of the most damning sections of the documentary. "Do you think someone with Brendan's intellect understands that 'The Truth will set you free' is an idiom?"

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Referring to a point in the interview when one of the officers told Dassey that "I'm not a cop right now," Rovner, asked, "Isn't that just a blatant lie?"

But Berg seemed to get more traction with Judge David Hamilton, who told Dassey's attorney Laura Nirider he saw no evidence on the video interview that Dassey had given his confession involuntarily.

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And Berg got the last word, concluding the hearing by giving a grisly recitation of Dassey's confession. "He remembers her crying," Berg said.

"He remembers the awful smell as she was burned." The memories, Berg said, "were raw and they were real."

The court has yet to rule.

kjanssen@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @kimjnews
Family members of 11-year-old Takiya Holmes speak to members of the media outside Comer Children's Hospital after Takiya died Tuesday morning, Feb. 14, 2017, in Chicago. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

Two little girls were shot in the head in Chicago, two more innocents swept up by the city's unending river of street gang violence.

And as I write this, reports are of a 2-year-old boy fatally shot on the West Side.

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Of the two South Side girls shot in the head Saturday night in separate attacks, one clings faintly to life in a hospital. The other is dead.

And now comes that tired, familiar cry from a city numbed by pain:

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When will it stop?

It doesn't stop.

Takiya Holmes, 11, died in her mother's arms in the hospital on Tuesday. Kanari Gentry-Bowers, 12, is unresponsive, on life support.

If one thing is certain, Chicago will take notice, become officially angry, the politicians will say what politicians say, and then Chicago will forget their names, just as Chicago has forgotten the names of other children swept away in that river of violence.

Antonio Smith was forgotten, and Ryan Banks was forgotten, and the list of the city's murdered children continues, with few but their families and detectives and their teachers remembering them.

Speeches won't stop the killings, torchlight vigils won't stop it. Presidential tweets won't stop it, and mayoral re-election anxiety won't stop it. All these are about words and politics, but words and politics didn't enter the heads of those little girls.

Bullets entered their heads.

Bullets fired by human beings who have lost their humanity, who don't much care what you think about the innocents who get in the way of their hot revenge.

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To have any hope of slowing it down, you first must call it by its real name. So let's call it what it is. It's not gun violence. That's a politically correct term that gives politicians wiggle room.

Children shot in gang wars don't need your flowers or speeches. But they do require specificity.

It's not gun violence. It's street gang violence.

And it's street gang violence in a few Chicago police districts, mayhem that's been out of control for so long now that there are few if any reasonable responses to grief.

Chicago doesn't need more public handwringing or torchlight demonstrations for TV cameras, no more angry frustrations from the mouths of clergy.

And the city doesn't need finger wagging from those who've never walked a crime scene, who demand that neighbors turn in the shooters, which will just make targets of their own children. All of that is just empty talk.

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What's required are concrete steps to take the shooters off the streets.

Most of the shooting is done by those who've shot before, violent felons who carry guns because they're worried about other violent felons carrying guns. They don't worry about going to prison for illegally carrying a gun, because most do only a year or so behind bars and come out, spry, just as nihilistic as before, ready to shoot again and again.

Solutions need names, too. So I'll give this one a name:

The Judicial Accountability Act.

That's what I've decided to call legislation that is taking too long to form in Springfield, hampered by the jealousies of Chicago politics and by some in what's called the Black Caucus.

Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson has been pushing this idea for months now. He's made himself physically ill pushing it.

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Its aim is to lengthen sentences for felons already previously convicted of unlawful use of weapons charges.

If judges decide to show mercy to convicted felons who illegally carry guns, the judges will be required to put their reasons in writing. If judicial mercy leads to some future murder, the judges will wear the jacket for it.

Judges hate it. But worrying about the feelings of judges, and there are many good judges, isn't what's important here.

What's important is getting as many shooters off the streets as quickly as possible.

And that's why I call it the Judicial Accountability Act.

State Sen. Kwame Raoul, the liberal Chicago Democrat, is helping form this policy. He expects to have some hard language introduced in Springfield next week, he told me on Tuesday.

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House Speaker Michael Madigan, the political boss of bosses, would support it, but not unless the Black Caucus is supportive. Not all are on board, and there is no real pressure being applied to them.

Also, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle isn't in favor of it, and her political protege, Cook County State's Attorney Kimberly Foxx, isn't loudly pushing the idea. Foxx was elected in the aftermath of the Laquan McDonald fiasco, and she didn't campaign as a law-and-order candidate.

Preckwinkle sees weakness in the mayor, since his disastrous handling of the McDonald case, and isn't inclined to help him.

This leaves Raoul to walk carefully, between black elected officials who don't want to be identified with get-tough-on-crime politics, and the reality of the little girls getting shot in the head.

One political way out from the impasse is to reduce some drug offenses from felonies to misdemeanors as a way of buying support for tougher gun sentencing.

"What I hear from detractors, it's that, 'Well, these individuals are just carrying, they haven't shot anybody yet,'" Raoul told me. "My response is that we shouldn't have to wait until they've shot someone.

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"If they've been previously convicted, we know they have the propensity to shoot again," Raoul said. "We have to get them off the streets, away from the community. To remove them so they may be rehabilitated, possibly, but also to remove them from the community to protect the community. And it's frustrating."

Takiya Holmes wasn't frustrated by politics, and neither is Kanari Gentry-Bowers, breathing by respirator.

They weren't political at all. They're little girls, shot in the head, in the gang wars of Chicago.

Listen to "The Chicago Way" podcast with John Kass and WGN's Jeff Carlin  and guests Sen. Rand Paul and Kristen McQueary  at www.wgnradio.com/category/wgn-plus/thechicagoway.

jskass@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @John_Kass
Mayor Rahm Emanuel 's school board sued Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Illinois State Board of Education on Feb. 14, 2017, over funding for Chicago Public Schools. District CEO Forrest Claypool, speaking at Lindblom Math and Science Academy, said CPS hoped a judge would respond to the request for a rapid intervention. "We can wait no longer," Claypool said. "CPS is on the brink." (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune) (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

Moving a long-running political battle into the courtroom, Mayor Rahm Emanuel's school board sued Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Illinois State Board of Education on Tuesday, accusing the state of employing "separate and unequal systems of funding for public education in Illinois."

Chicago Public Schools officials described the legal move as the "last stand" for a cash-strapped district that's "on the brink," while deepening what had been a war of words between Emanuel's school system and Rauner's administration over education funding.

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The lawsuit, filed in the Cook County Chancery Division by the Chicago Board of Education on behalf of five African-American and Hispanic CPS families, asks a judge to bar the state from distributing state aid in "a manner that discriminates against plaintiffs."

"The state treats CPS's schoolchildren, who are predominantly African American and Hispanic, as second-class children, relegated to the back of the state's education funding school bus," the lawsuit says.

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The lawsuit asks that the state be found in violation of the Illinois Civil Rights Act for maintaining what CPS calls "separate and unequal" systems for funding school districts and pension obligations. It notes that most CPS students are minorities and poor, while public school students in the rest of the state are "predominantly white."

CPS CEO Forrest Claypool, backed during a Tuesday news conference by a panel of African-American and Latino clergy and district families, said the district hoped a judge would respond to the request for a rapid intervention by ruling in "months, not years," and before additional cuts are needed.

"The clock is ticking for our schools and our kids, and for CPS," he said.

Beth Purvis, Rauner's education secretary, said in a statement that the state is still reviewing the lawsuit.

"But it is important to remember that the bipartisan, bicameral school funding commission just issued its report, which recommends an equitable school funding formula that defines adequacy according to the needs of students within each school district," Purvis said.

She was referring to a recently released report by the Illinois School Funding Reform Commission that called for an increase of at least $3.5 billion in school money over the next decade. The report said more should be spent on districts with a higher population of poor students but did not provide a detailed formula for state officials to use.

"The governor remains focused on moving forward these recommendations and hopes that CPS will be a partner in that endeavor," Purvis said in her statement.

The district announced the lawsuit as Rauner discussed his Wednesday budget address on Facebook Live, and as Emanuel was starting to deliver a speech on diversity to the Executives' Club of Chicago.

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The mayor chose that appearance before some of the city's top business leaders to take Rauner to task for what Emanuel described as a lack of leadership on funding education and an inability to stabilize the state's finances.

"Tomorrow, our governor is going to give a speech, a budget. He has to deliver a balanced budget that funds education. Our kids are too important," Emanuel said. "If I'm the mayor, I'm the chief executive of this city. You expect me to deliver a balanced budget, which I do.  We need a balanced budget that funds education and moves this state forward."

District officials used stark language in describing CPS' future as they summarized their case during an afternoon news conference at Lindblom Math and Science Academy.

"I want to reinforce the urgency of what's happening today, and that this really is our last stand," CPS Chief Education Officer Janice Jackson said. "We have hoped for a legislative solution, and that has not happened. Therefore, we're left with this as an option."

"We can wait no longer," Claypool said. "CPS is on the brink."

Lindblom students used the occasion to cram a stairwell at the school to loudly call for Claypool's resignation. Their principal's explanation of the lawsuit didn't ease their anger over cuts to schools.

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"He's taking funding from our schools, which is in turn hurting us," said Jasmine Lewis, a Lindblom senior. "We can't keep after-school activities ... and it's not OK," she said.

CPS officials have long hinted they would pursue a lawsuit  identifying legal action, budget cuts and borrowing as the district's options to close gaps left by unrealized state assistance.

The lawsuit repeats the district's long-held argument that it receives 15 percent of the state's education funding, despite having nearly 20 percent of the students. According to the lawsuit, 90 percent of CPS students are children of color, while in the rest of the state "public school children are predominantly white."

While the lawsuit seeks to lay blame for CPS' financial woes at the feet of state government, it does not note that the district remains drenched in red ink despite Emanuel's decision to repeatedly raise taxes in an effort to stabilize woeful city and school district finances. Also missing is the fact that CPS shortfalls were aggravated in large part by decades of deliberately underfunding employee pensions.

Since 2012, though, CPS has increased its property taxes each year by the maximum allowed under state law, which ties the increases to the rate of inflation. Chicago home and business owners also will start paying an additional $250 million per year in property taxes to CPS, with all the money going to the district's underfunded teacher pension system.

That came after Emanuel successfully pushed for a new $45 million per year property tax used to borrow hundreds of millions of dollars to finance school construction projects.

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Through legislation in Springfield, Emanuel's administration had struck a tentative deal for the state to send CPS an additional $215 million for teacher pensions, but that fell through when Rauner vetoed the plan. The governor argued the money was contingent on Democratic leaders agreeing to broader state pension reforms, which did not materialize.

Because of Rauner's veto, according to the district, CPS is in the midst of instituting midyear cuts for the second year in a row.

The district has put in place four furlough days, a $46 million school spending freeze, $18 million in potential cuts to independently operated schools and the elimination of $5 million in training programs to make up for roughly half of the unrealized assumption that state lawmakers would send $215 million to the district's annual budget.

"Those additional budget cuts produce real and irreparable harm to CPS's students," the lawsuit said.

The suit blames a lack of state funding for reduced course offerings, a lack of access to education technology and "inadequate resources" for students from unstable home and family environments.

Emanuel said that Rauner's veto penalized "the city of Chicago and the teachers, the taxpayers and most importantly the kids."

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"Under the clause in the Civil Rights Act for the state of Illinois, that can't happen," he said. "And the point of the lawsuit is, under the civil rights clause of the state of Illinois, the way education is funded is in violation of the civil rights of our children."

The state has been accused of discrimination in its educational funding in previous lawsuits.

In 2010, two Illinois homeowners said the state's education funding system discriminates against taxpayers based on where they live. That lawsuit was ultimately dismissed.

In 2008, the Chicago Urban League said in a lawsuit that the state discriminates against families based on race. That lawsuit, which is pending, also cited the Illinois Civil Rights Act.

The Urban League's lawsuit was filed "on behalf of African American and Latino students enrolled in majority-minority school districts throughout the State," President and CEO Shari Runner said in a statement. It does not address the issue of pensions.

To help put together its lawsuit, the district turned to the law firm that once employed the school board's top attorney, a deal that has drawn the attention of CPS Inspector General Nicholas Schuler.

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Schuler's office had been looking into whether a $250,000 contract awarded to Jenner & Block, where CPS general counsel Ronald Marmer was formerly a partner, amounted to a breach of the school board's ethics policy. In a March 30 disclosure statement, Marmer acknowledged he receives severance payments from the firm.

Jenner & Block began billing the district for tens of thousands of dollars last year as the district explored the possibility of filing a civil rights lawsuit. Jenner & Block attorneys are listed as co-counsel for the district and its fellow plaintiffs, though Claypool on Tuesday said the firm would conduct its additional work on the case on a pro-bono basis.

Schuler has complained the district stalled his investigation of a possible ethics violation involving its top lawyer by invoking attorney-client privilege.

Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis, at a separate news conference, said she wasn't impressed by the district's lawsuit, which she characterized as "a fake fight between Rahm and Rauner."

"So now they're figuring out that schools are funded in a discriminatory manner?" Lewis said. "How long have we had this conversation? We've been talking about this for years."

Lewis said CTU was not consulted on CPS' intent to file a lawsuit, and she questioned why the union was not offered a chance to join it.

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Asked by a reporter if the union could rally around the lawsuit, Lewis paused.

"I had a bit of an eye-rolling moment there," she said with a dramatic sigh. "I'll tell you: no. They don't hold up their end of the bargain. I don't trust them. I have no trust in what they do."

Marlon Gosa, one of the CPS parents listed as a plaintiff in the lawsuit, said he's "here to do anything and whatever I need to do to get the funding for my children."

"When I talk to my principal and they tell me they have to cut this and cut that, and we can't afford this teacher, we can't afford that  it's like, I can't stand around and do nothing. Somebody has to stand and say something," he said.

Chicago Tribune's John Byrne contributed.

jjperez@chicagotribune.com

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Twitter @PerezJr
While Chicago Public Schools officials have been trading barbs with the state over the district's budget woes, speakers at two public hearings Monday on the district's latest budget plan found plenty to criticize on both sides.

The hearings at CPS headquarters, which followed $104 million in spending reductions the district outlined last week, provided a forum for speakers to vent on broader issues, including Gov. Bruce Rauner and the state's education funding formula.

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"Mr. Rauner, you have an opportunity to help change the struggles against discriminatory funding on education in the state of Illinois," said Matthew Johnson, who was chairman of a district-appointed parent advisory board formed to weigh in on No Child Left Behind programs. "Mr. Rauner, no parent should stand here and beg for adequate funding."

Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis added the city's school board and Mayor Rahm Emanuel in her critique.

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Chicago Public Schools student Sabah Hussain protests budget cuts Feb. 13, 2017, in front of the Thompson Center. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

"We have to make all kinds of choices, but when you make choices that hurt people, you have to be held accountable for that," Lewis said. "That's one of the problems of having an appointed school board and having mayoral control. Waiting for Gov. Rauner's cold, evil heart to melt, to me, is just a waste of time and energy when you've got things you could be doing."

Lewis called on district CEO Forrest Claypool and the city to come up with more ways to fund schools. "We have to figure out a way to do this, and it cannot be by just cuts. You cannot cut your way to a good school system," Lewis said.

After first approving a $5.6 billion operating budget in August, the board voted to amend the plan in December to account for $55 million in new expenses related to its agreement with the CTU.

Rauner's veto of a measure that would have sent $215 million to the district led CPS to again rethink its budget. The district's now-$5.4 billion operating budget assumes the state will instead send $111 million to ease the cost of the district's rising pension payment. "If it is not received, CPS will take additional cost-saving steps," the budget says.

CPS principals had until Monday to balance their school budgets after the district announced a $46 million "spending freeze" as part of its latest bid to cover for state assistance that has not arrived as expected.

Some speakers at Monday's hearings complained that certain schools will have to bear the brunt of the spending freeze.

"This freeze has resulted in depleting entirely all the funds that were put away for curriculum, resources in every subject area. There is no money left for after-school programming or staff development," said Huu Nguyen, a local school council member at Goethe Elementary and member of the Raise Your Hand for Illinois Public Education advocacy group.

"We don't have to worry about President No. 45 and the governor attacking our families, because our own CEO (and) our own board are doing this job for them," she said.

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Rauner's education secretary last week complained in a letter to CPS parents that the cuts are being laid out even as lawmakers work on proposals that include more money for the system. The prospects for that sweeping series of legislation are still uncertain

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The letter from Beth Purvis was matched by one sent to parents by Claypool, who put the district's financial problems at Rauner's feet.

One parent had clearly had enough of the finger-pointing.

"While I don't condone the actions of Springfield, I was disappointed to see how Mr. Claypool characterized the current budget situation that CPS is once again faced with," said David Tilson, a CPS parent and head of a fundraising arm for Pierce Elementary.

"I suggest we stop blaming others for problems past (and) present governors, legislators, executives, courts and mayors have created  and get to work creating sustainable solutions for the structural and financial challenges of our communities, and within CPS," Tilson said.

School board members are expected to vote Feb. 22 on spending reductions reached through school spending freezes, furloughs and other cuts.

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jjperez@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @PerezJr
Members of the Rogers Park community came to Living Water Community Church on Feb. 13, 2017, to discuss the recent deportations in the Chicago area. (Alyssa Pointer / Chicago Tribune) (Alyssa Pointer / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

On paper, last week's raids of immigrants seem routine: Both federal enforcement officials and local activists agree the arrests align with raids that occurred under former President Barack Obama's administration. But the timing of the raids, less than a month into an administration vowing to crack down on people living in this country illegally, has intensified the fears of immigrants, even those with legal status.

Chicago's enforcement office made 235 arrests across six states  Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Kansas and Missouri  during an operation that began Feb. 4 and concluded Friday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Gail Montenegro said. Forty-eight of those arrests occurred in the Chicago area.

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For immigrants still shaken by President Donald Trump's ban last month on travel from seven largely Muslim countries, news of the raids, as well as rumors of federal agents' inquiries into immigration status on sidewalks and in businesses, has stripped away their sense of security.

Gabe Gonzalez, a community organizer who addressed more than 400 Rogers Park residents gathered at a meeting Monday to discuss federal action against immigrants living in the country without legal permission, doesn't think Obama and Trump's policies are all that different.

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"What is different is the level of fear, because everyone saw (Trump) for eight months talk about the wall, talk about deporting everybody, talk about getting rid of Muslims ... it's created an atmosphere of terror," he said. "There is an atmosphere in this country that has been created by this rhetoric that scares the hell out of people."

Gonzalez discussed the need for a rapid response network to spread the word about ICE raids and transport people to safe havens.

On Jan. 25, Trump issued an executive order to crack down on the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the country without legal status. Trump's order expanded the list of deportation priorities to include any noncitizen who is charged with a criminal offense of any kind or who is suspected of committing criminal acts, fraud or willful dishonesty while interacting with immigration officials, is the subject of a pending order of removal or has previously been deported and re-entered the country.

The order gave much broader leeway to ICE officers in deciding whether someone posed a "risk to public safety" and therefore could be detained.

Under the Obama administration, the government focused on targeting immigrants living in the country illegally who posed a threat to national security or public safety, as well as recent border crossers. Despite the narrower focus, more than 2 million people were deported during Obama's eight years in office. During an operation that occurred over a five-week period last year under the Obama administration, 331 unauthorized immigrants were arrested in the Midwest, including 107 in Illinois. The majority of people were arrested in Chicago, Cicero and Waukegan, according to an ICE news report from June 2016.

Although Obama deported more people than any other president, immigration attorney Alen Takhsh said it's Trump's rhetoric that makes the arrests seem alarming. Takhsh also finds cause for concern in the numbers of arrested immigrants without criminal backgrounds.

"My position is that if you are going to target individuals for deportation, it should be individuals who truly do pose a threat to our communities," Takhsh said. "So when you have someone using a fake Social Security number or driving a car without a license  yes, that is against the law, but under the totem pole of criminal acts, those individuals should not be on the priority list of the Trump administration."

In last week's raid, 45 of the unauthorized immigrants arrested in the Chicago region were considered by federal officials to be "convicted criminals," according to an ICE official. Twenty were previously deported and returned to the country.

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ICE's definition of a convicted criminal has been a broad one, according to case by case data compiled by Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. Unauthorized re-entry, DUIs and traffic violations were categorized as criminal offenses.

Once arrested, immigrants' rights to a hearing before an immigration judge depend on their situation. For those arrested because they were previously deported and then re-entered the country, their previous deportation order will be reinstated without a hearing, and they could be quickly removed from the country, according to ICE officials.

Those who have an outstanding deportation order  for example, immigrants who did not comply with their deportation order or who did not show up to a past hearing, and were ordered deported in absentia  also won't be granted a hearing, officials said.

Other immigrants will likely remain in ICE custody awaiting hearings, officials said. ICE officials said they could not immediately release the names of those taken into custody.

In Chicago,15 people were arrested, including an Iraqi citizen with a previous conviction of criminal sexual abuse of a victim unable to consent. A Mexican citizen with previous convictions of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor, attempted criminal sexual abuse and solicitation for sex was also arrested in the Chicago area, an ICE official said.

Others arrested included six people in Bensenville, five in Aurora, four in Cicero, two in Addison and one each in Arlington Heights, Bolingbrook, Carpentersville, Elgin, Markham, Melrose Park, Mundelein, Plainfield, Rolling Meadows, Roselle, Skokie, Waukegan, Wheaton, Wheeling, Wood Dale and Hammond, Ind., an ICE official said. Thirty-three of those immigrants are from Mexico, and seven are from Guatemala. One immigrant each is from Canada, Chad, China, the Czech Republic, El Salvador, Iraq, the Philippines and Poland, an ICE official said.

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Those arrested had been convicted on charges such as prostitution, DUI, cocaine possession, burglary, criminal sexual assault, assault, and aggravated sexual abuse of a minor, an ICE official said. Immigration advocates say they believe "collateral arrests" of friends and family members may have occurred, too.

Advocates of stricter immigration enforcement are pleased with news of the raids and hope to see steady deportations throughout Trump's administration.

"The lion's share of those detained were targeted because they had criminal histories and prior felony convictions, and frankly shouldn't have been in the country in the first place. Others had been deported previously or were in the deportation pipeline," Dave Ray, a spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which advocates for reducing both legal and illegal immigration, said in an email.

"While these enforcement actions were taken against those who had committed crimes ... it must be stressed that simply being here illegally is sufficient cause for deportation. Increased immigration enforcement is good for public safety and national security," he said.

In the wake of the raids, lawyers, immigration advocates and community organizers are working to ensure immigrants know their rights, and advising immigrants to call the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights' hotline with their concerns.

Immigration cases have always been difficult for attorneys, Takhsh said. But the increase in volume and requests for representation pouring in from churches and community groups is daunting, he said.

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"A lot of times the government is privy to documents and information that we as practitioners only get the day of the individual's court hearing. So once you immerse yourself in this type of law, you very quickly get used to always playing catch-up," he said. "More often than not, you feel like your victories are miracles, because you have to overcome so many obstacles along the way. It's heartbreaking because you're dealing with individuals' lives, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, etc."

Gonzalez, the community organizer who suggested a rapid response network, hopes the network will warn people if an operation is being carried out by law enforcement and mobilize the community to oppose the incursion and resolve the issue peacefully.

"What they want is for (immigrants) to be afraid, because then when they're afraid, they won't speak up at work, they won't join a union, they won't complain about their landlord, you can pay them whatever you want, you can house them wherever you want, and you can have a class of second-class citizens that then have to compete with everybody else for jobs," Gonzalez said.

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"And who wins?" he asked.

meltagouri@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @marwaeltagouri

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Twitter @gracewong630
A Wednesday event featuring Donald Trump's former campaign manager has stirred conflict at the University of Chicago, with some students and faculty members urging school leaders to rescind the invitation while administrators are defending it as an opportunity for valuable political discussion.

Corey Lewandowski, who oversaw much of the president's run to the White House, is scheduled to participate in a seminar presented by U. of C.'s Institute of Politics on Wednesday afternoon. The session aims to explore Lewandowski's time with the Trump campaign, the president's rise and the future of his presidency.

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Four groups representing students and faculty delivered a letter Monday to Institute Director David Axelrod and fellow Robert Costa to oppose Lewandowski's appearance, citing statements Trump and his delegates made throughout the campaign and controversial policies the new administration has implemented, such as the immigration ban targeting Muslim-majority countries.

U. of C. Resists, Graduate Students United, Students Working Against Prisons and UChicago Socialists endorsed the letter. U. of C. Resists, which includes students, staff and faculty, has scheduled a protest before the event.

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"Nothing about a firm commitment to free expression obliges us (to) open our doors to (much less to provide platforms for) those who incite hatred and violence against refugees, immigrants and minorities  that is, against our students, teachers, co-workers and neighbors," the letter states. "Far from being obliged to welcome Lewandowski, we are obliged not to."

The letter and planned protest come as universities across the country are grappling with whether certain types of speech should be limited on campus. U. of C. made headlines in the fall for telling incoming freshmen not to expect academic "safe spaces" or "trigger warnings" during their time in college.

Wednesday's event is to be moderated by Costa, a longtime Washington Post political reporter. The non-partisan Institute of Politics has hosted similar seminars to discuss the president's impact on politics, culture and media. The event is off-the-record and closed to media, and only students who register in advance may attend.

Axelrod, a former adviser to Barack Obama, said he understands the opposition's viewpoint but there are no plans to cancel Lewandowski's appearance. Leading Authorities, a Washington, D.C.-based communications firm that books Lewandowski's speaking schedule, did not respond to a request for comment.

"Corey is coming here not to afford him a platform from which to proselytize but because he was the campaign manager for a guy who happened to get elected president of the United States, and can shed some light on both that process and the thinking of the guy who sits in the White House," Axelrod said.

Axelrod defended the program, saying the institute hosts a wide variety of speakers across the political spectrum. He said he supports the right to protest but does not agree that certain people should be prevented from speaking at all.

"From my point of view, giving our students a chance to ask hard questions is part of the function of the institute," Axelrod said. "You can't be an institute that is there to promote democracy, and shut off discussion and debate. And we won't."

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Anton Ford, an assistant philosophy professor who helped craft the letter, said the aim is not to suppress speech but to prevent certain topics and ideas from being normalized as legitimate political discourse.

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The letter demands the institute "stop providing a platform to surrogates of the Trump administration"referring also to a January event that featured Trump press secretary Sean Spicer.

"This is not about hurt feelings. This is not about people being offended. It's about real violence against people," Ford said. "Sometimes there are people or views that are dangerous in and of themselves. The very ceremony of debating that is problematic. What is troubling about the general way this is talked about is that it is as if nothing is out of bounds."

A university spokesman did not respond to a request for comment, but U. of C. has a history of defending free speech. A committee penned a report in 2015 reaffirming U. of C.'s commitment to free expression, saying it is not the school's role to protect people from offensive ideas and opinions.

U. of C. also is known for refusing to take institutional stances on social or political issues, a policy launched by the Kalven Report in 1967, which prioritizes academic debate over politics.

drhodes@chicagotribune.com

@rhodes_dawn
A pedestrian was struck late Monday by a Metra train between the Long Lake and Round Lake suburban stations, according to alerts from Metra.

About 11:15 p.m., a pedestrian was struck by an outbound train that was traveling to Fox Lake on the Milwaukee District North line, according to Metra's website. The train had been scheduled to arrive at Fox Lake at 11:19 p.m.

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The incident happened near the Long Lake Metra station located in suburban Lake County. Information about the person's condition was not immediately available.

The outbound train was stopped and there were delays Monday night of up to two hours. There weren't any reported delays on the line Tuesday morning.

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Check back for updates.
Police are searching for Maricella Munoz who has been missing since Feb. 8. (Provided by Chicago Police Department)

A teenage girl from Bridgeport who had been missing for three weeks has been found safe, Chicago police said.

Maricella Munoz, 15, of the 600 block of West 25th Place, had been last seen Feb. 8, according to missing persons alert issued by police Feb. 13. The girl was located safe and returend to her family, police said in an updated alert issued Tuesday evening.

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Anyone with information about the teen's disappearance was asked to call Area Central Detectives at 312-747-8380.
Three people shot to death over the weekend in separate Chicago attacks have been identified by authorities.

Ryan Ellis, 25, was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the 8300 block of South Justine Avenue, after suffering multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

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Ellis, of the 8100 block of South Crandon Avenue, was found shot and was dead on the scene in the area of Foster Park, 1440 W. 84th Street, according to police. Police did not release information about the circumstances of the shooting.

Tenisha Mallet, 21, was pronounced dead at 8:40 p.m. Saturday following an attack in the 100 block of North Mayfield Avenue, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. Mallet, of the 100 block of North Leamington Avenue, was fatally injured in a shooting that left three other people injured about 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

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The four were on foot when a dark-colored SUV pulled up and two people got out and began shooting at them 8:30 p.m., police said.

Mallet was shot in the neck and died, police said. A 25-year-old man was shot in the arm and taken to Mount Sinai, where his condition was stabilized; another man, 18, was shot in the leg and taken to West Suburban Medical Center. Another 25-year-old woman who was shot in the face was taken to Stroger Hospital, where her condition was stabilized, according to police.

Earlier Saturday, a man was killed in the 100 block of North Menard Avenue, about a block away from where Mallet was killed about 12 hours later.

The man was identified as Taurins Pope, 33, of the 1000 block of Leamington Avenue, according to the medical examiner's office.

The killing happened about 6:55 a.m. Saturday when someone shot him in the head. He was found by responding officers, lying on the ground in an alley, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. He was pronounced dead at 7:05 a.m.
Police are searching for Lovie Kye who was reported missing Monday morning. (Provided by Chicago Police Department)

A 67-year-old woman who has memory loss and could be confused has been missing since Monday morning, police said.

Lovie Kye was last seen about 8:00 a.m. in the 4200 block of South Vincennes Avenue in the Bronzeville neighborhood, according to a news release from the Chicago Police Department.

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Kye, who uses a cane, was last seen wearing a black hat, black leather coat, tan pants, black boots and a black purse, police said. She is described as a black woman with brown eyes and black hair. She is 4 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 110 pounds.

Anyone with information about Kye's whereabouts is asked to contact Area Central Special Victims Unit at (312) 747-8380.
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. Subscribe here.

Topspin

Gov. Bruce Rauner once again will field a series of likely screened questions during a Facebook Live session Tuesday afternoon, with the state budget (or lack thereof) the topic du jour ahead of his annual budget address Wednesday.

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Dubbed "The Gov, the budget and you," the Facebook event could see Rauner attempt to control the message and present a positive image ahead of his speech, which is historically a time for governors to highlight their spending priorities for the year. But with the state in the middle of an unprecedented budget impasse, the Republican governor is facing the likelihood of sharp blowback from Democrats who blame the stalemate on his insistence that budget agreement also contain portions of his political and economic wish list.

Already, Rauner's Facebook page is littered with comments from critics and supporters alike, with some saying he's repeatedly failed to introduce a balanced budget and others imploring Rauner to "stay strong" in his battle with Democrats who control the legislature.

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Rauner has said that his budget proposal is likely to mirror the format lawmakers shot down last year, in which he asked the General Assembly to work with him on crafting a spending plan or give him more power to cut one on his own.

That budget plan was in the red by at least $3.5 billion. Meanwhile, the proposal he put forth the year before counted on $2 billion in savings from a proposed change in public pensions that ultimately went nowhere.

The governor is also expected to use his budget address to provide some "guidance and parameters" for the Senate as it considers a sweeping budget proposal that has repeatedly stalled amid concerns from Republicans. While GOP lawmakers' opinions range from all-out opposition to tax hikes to concerns that efforts to cut costs on businesses don't go far enough, they also don't want to go out on a limb and vote in favor of the budget Rauner may ultimately oppose.

While Rauner might provide some clues about potential changes he'd accept, doing so could be a risky move if the governor is viewed as disrupting negotiations by laying out ultimatums. (Monique Garcia)

What's on tap

*Mayor Rahm Emanuel will help open a youth homeless shelter, speak to the Executives' Club, make a corporate relocation announcement and preside over the Public Buildings Commission meeting.

*Gov. Bruce Rauner will be on Facebook Live at noon. Watch here.

*U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is set to meet with Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch on Tuesday afternoon. Durbin has not had much to say about President Donald Trump's pick. The state's senior senator was a vocal critic of Republicans and their refusal to hold hearings with former President Barack Obama's court pick, Merrick Garland.

*The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 31 will have a news conference to try to put further pressure on Gov. Rauner over the ongoing contract feud.

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*The week ahead: Wednesday : Gov. Rauner gives his budget speech; Chicago City Council License and Consumer Protection and Pedestrian and Traffic Safety meetings; Thursday : Hearing on Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's state worker pay legal move in St. Clair County; City Council transportation and health committees meet; City Club panel with Chicago Public Library CEO Brian Bannon, Chicago Housing Authority CEO Eugene Jones, Chicago Architecture Foundation CEO Lynn Osmond and Department of Planning and Development Commissioner David Reifman.

From the notebook

*Chance the Tweeter: Gov. Rauners official state Twitter account offered congratulations Monday afternoon to Chance the Rapper, a Chicagoan who took home three Grammy awards Sunday night. The juggling act of holding three trophies didn't keep him from tweeting back to the governor. He asked to meet with the governor, and the invitation isn't the artist's first foray into politics. Last year, for example, he said Mayor Emanuel "should have been more compassionate" in his response to the Laquan McDonald shooting. Rauner's office tweeted to accept the invitation. *A Springfield collaborative: A group of rank-and-file Democrats in the Illinois House have formed a loose coalition aimed at distancing themselves from Speaker Michael Madigan amid the historic budget impasse thats pitted him against Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. Calling themselves the Rank and File Collaborative, the group consists of nine Democratic lawmakers, most of whom have been targeted for defeat by the Illinois Republican Party largely funded by Rauner. At the heart of the GOPs attacks on Democrats is their connection to Madigan, who Republicans have spent millions trying to brand as the source of the states problems. The coalition issued its first news release Monday. While it focused on the need for a balanced budget proposal from Rauner, it also lamented the toxic political discourse created by political leaders over the last two years. For the last two years, the so-called budget negotiations conducted by leaders in Springeld have been dominated by toxic political rhetoric from two conflicting camps: the Governor and the Speaker, Rep. Sam Yingling, a Democrat from Grayslake who narrowly won re-election in November, said in the statement. Rank and le House members have been left on the sidelines of a debate that has more to do with ego and political games than the needs of our constituents. The move underscores the internal turmoil facing Democrats, some of whom have become frustrated by Madigans resolute opposition to Rauner as universities, social service groups and state agencies wither without funding. While they may not agree with the political agenda Rauner has made a prerequisite for a larger budget deal, it could be becoming increasingly difficult to defend doing nothing. Republicans responded quickly, noting the Democrats stood by Madigan when they voted to elect him speaker for the 17th time. "If House Democrats wonder why rank-and-files legislators have little say over the workings of the Illinois House, they should look in a mirror, state GOP spokesman Steven Yaffe said in a statement. Organizers say they hope to add more members as their effort gains recognition. I see them building strength from each other and support each other in finding their own independent voices, said spokeswoman Emily Miller, a social services advocate who most recently worked for Voices for Illinois Children. (Monique Garcia) *How they voted: Illinois' Democratic U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth both voted against the confirmation of Steven Mnuchin as Treasury secretary Monday. He was nonetheless approved by the Republican-controlled Senate by a 53-27 vote. Duckworth and Durbin have voted similarly on President Donald Trump's nominees. On Monday, both pointed to his business record to explain their votes. "Mr. Mnuchins business record tells us he was directly engaged in the predatory practices that led to our financial recession and destroyed the life savings of countless American working families," Durbin said in a statement. Durbin's office also said Monday he'd oppose Trump's pick to lead the Labor Department, Andrew Puzder. *New fellows named at Axelrods institute: The Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago, headed by former political strategist and top Obama White House adviser David Axelrod, has named its fellows for the schools spring quarter. The group includes former two-term Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Dold of Kenilworth, who was defeated by Democratic U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider of Deerfield in November. Also included in the group is Tony Blinken, former deputy secretary of state and former deputy national security adviser in the Obama administration and Jennifer Granholm, the former two-term Democratic governor of Michigan. Another Obama administration alumni named to the group is Shailagh Murray. Murray was a senior adviser to Obama and helped construct his digital strategy. "While on campus next quarter, the seven fellows will interact with students and faculty, participate in public forums and, along with guests, lead off-the-record seminars," a news release from the institute reads. Dold, owner of a pest control business and a former vice presidential aide, hasn't announced if he'll try to make another run for Congress in 2018. (Rick Pearson) *Jump-start on voting: Early voting for local elections later this month has begun. Voters throughout the suburbs will have choices to make about local offices Feb. 28, but in Chicago, the only contest is the special election to fill the 4th Ward seat for alderman vacated by Will Burns and now held by Ald. Sophia King. Early voting runs through Feb. 27. Information for Chicago voters looking to cast a ballot early in that race can be found here. Suburban Cook County voters can learn more here. What we're writing *Emanuel in D.C. to meet with AG Sessions, Trump son-in-law Kushner. *Alderman calls for more transparency on Obama library planning. *CTU's Lewis blasts Rauner's 'cold, evil heart' at CPS budget hearing. *Courts question distinction between sex, sexuality in discrimination cases. *City water department worker dies in Northwest Side trench collapse. What we're reading *Lawmakers question pricing of Northbrook company's $89,000 muscular dystrophy drug. *A fitness writer describes eight things that resulted from one man's year without beer. But now there is something called beer yoga. *The Westminster Kennel Club adds three new dog breeds, but getting that designation can be a little ruff.

Follow the money

*The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform looks at campaign fundraising in suburban mayoral races.

*State House Republican leader Jim Durkin reports $35,000 in contributions, including $5,000 gifts from Arlington Park and a political committee for Realtors.

*Track Illinois campaign contributions in real time here and here.

Beyond Chicago

*Flynn resigns as Trump's national security adviser over Russian contacts.

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*Canada's Trudeau talks trade with Trump at White House.

*How the Trump sons move forward with businesses with their father as president.

*United Nations chief condemns North Korea missile test ahead of meeting.
Mayor Emanuel talks at a downtown architecture firm about his discussions with the Trump administration about the Chicago Police Department. Feb. 14, 2017 (John Byrne / Chicago Tribune) (Chicago Tribune)

Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Tuesday said federal officials will soon come to Chicago to continue work with the Police Department after a major report last month found systemic problems at the department.

Emanuel met Monday in Washington with senior members of President Donald Trump 's administration, among them new Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Asked Tuesday whether a federal consent decree for the Chicago Police Department came up in their conversation, the mayor didn't say.

Instead, Emanuel talked about ongoing work with Justice Department officials in response to the findings they released days before Trump's inauguration.

"I don't know if you know this, the Justice Department is going to be here next week, meeting with our people consistent with the consent decree, and starting those conversations and continuing those conversations," Emanuel said. "We plan on continuing to build it."

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The mayor then pivoted to talk about the type of federal help he requested from Trump advisers, a list he has repeatedly cited in response to the president's tweet last month threatening to "send in the Feds!" to Chicago if the city doesn't get its violence under control.

"My purpose of my meeting was to go out and see, be very explicit, that if you're talking about federal help, this is what we mean by federal help, from law enforcement cooperation and participation, to investing in kids, to prosecuting gun crimes, to economic development in our neighborhoods, in our areas," he said.

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Emanuel last month said he agreed to enter talks toward a court-enforced agreement on a number of policing reforms with then-President Barack Obama's Justice Department. A consent decree would allow the courts to enforce a set of Police Department reforms in response to the Justice Department civil rights investigation that criticized the city's police force. The report concluded officers were poorly trained and quick to use excessive force  often against African-Americans and Latinos.

But Sessions has been critical of consent decrees in the past. And Trump has supported aggressive law enforcement to fight crime, specifically in Chicago. So it's far from certain the new administration in Washington would support such an agreement.

Also Tuesday, Emanuel said he told Trump administration officials they should make a federal investment in renovations to the CTA Green Line. The line carries trains from Harlem Avenue and Lake Street on the West Side, through downtown to two South Side stations on 63rd Street.

The mayor has seized on Trump's pledge to invest in the nation's infrastructure as a rare area in which he hopes to be able to work with the new administration. "What would be greater economic opportunity and job creation than helping us revitalize the Green Line, as we have seen in other communities?" Emanuel asked during a news conference to announce architecture firm exp will move its headquarters to Chicago.

Mayoral spokesman Matt McGrath later released a statement saying Emanuel "asked the administration to rebuild the Green Line, which serves the South and West sides."

"Rebuilding the Green Line is one way the administration could 'send in the feds,' create jobs and help improve public safety  and a particularly notable one given that they have made it clear that investing in infrastructure is a priority," McGrath said.

Such a project would likely run into the billions of dollars at a time the city is trying to secure federal funding for other massive rail projects, among them the renovation of Union Station and the extension of the Red Line to 130th Street.

jebyrne@chicagotribune.com

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Protesters converge on the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles during a rally against immigration arrests. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles TImes)

The Homeland Security Department said Monday that 680 people were arrested in roundups last week targeting immigrants living illegally in the United States. The figure is far below the totals of similar raids conducted under the Obama administration.

The raids have left immigrant communities worried about stepped-up enforcement efforts and the White House taking credit for arrests. But Homeland Security described the roundups as routine.

DHS Secretary John Kelly said Immigration and Customs Enforcement targeted immigrants who are a threat to public safety, including convicted criminals and gang members. He said 75 percent of those arrested were criminals, some of whom had been convicted of homicide and aggravated sexual assault.

ICE officials said 161 people from 13 countries were arrested in the Los Angeles area, all but 10 of whom were convicted criminals. More than 100 people arrested there were from Mexico. In Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina 190 immigrants were arrested, 127 of whom were convicted criminals.

Kelly said arrests were also made by agents working in New York, Atlanta, Chicago and San Antonio.

Details of who was arrested were not made available, but the arrests and rumors about other raids sparked fear and confusion among immigrants.

Immigration advocates and the White House both suggested the arrests were President Donald Trump's first salvo in what he has promised will be a stepped up campaign to find and deport criminal immigrants and others living in the U.S. illegally.

Trump on Monday bragged that his administration was following through on his campaign pledge and targeting "the bad ones."

"I said at the beginning we are going to get the bad ones, the really bad ones, we are going to get them out," Trump said at a news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

ICE officials and Kelly, however, have said the arrests were part of routine enforcement efforts. Similar roundups under former President Barack Obama yielded far more arrests. In March 2015, ICE said a five-day enforcement effort ended with more than 2,000 arrests.
Oprah Winfrey and her eponymous television network provided senators last month with footage of a 1990 interview with the ex-wife of Andrew Puzder, President Donald Trump's nominee for labor secretary, in which she discussed allegations of domestic abuse that she has since recanted.

The interview with Lisa Fierstein has factored into the vetting of Puzder to serve as head of the Labor Department but is now seen as a less critical piece of evidence given that she recanted her allegations in a letter to senators in January. Puzder has always denied the allegations.

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Representatives of Winfrey and her Oprah Winfrey Network confirmed on Tuesday that they were contacted by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in January and asked about footage of an interview with Fierstein, who appeared in disguise to talk about domestic violence. The episode was provided as part of a formal request for episodes of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" that aired between 1985 and 1990 and dealt with the issue of domestic violence, according to the network.

"Approximately 20 episodes were made available for the committee members to view in confidence," a network spokeswoman said in an email. "OWN did not provide copies or transcript of the episodes and has not provided information about the identities of anyone who appeared in these episodes. Given information of this investigation has been made public by the committee, OWN is making this statement to be clear about what the company provided to congressional investigators."

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Senate aides clarified that while the committee made a general request for episodes on domestic violence, ultimately senators only watched the episode featuring Fierstein in disguise, aides said.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, told reporters on Monday that she has seen the episode. Spokespeople for Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, confirmed that they also have seen the interview.

Despite the intrigue, Fierstein has gone to great lengths to recant her comments and explain why she did so.

In a letter to the Senate committee in January, she also defended Puzder's character, writing that news reports about the incident "are now being used to tarnish Andy, and have hurt beyond description for me and my children."

"Andy is not and was not abusive or violent," Fierstein wrote in the Jan. 18 letter to Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Patty Murray, D-Wash. "He is a good, loving, kind man and a deeply committed and loving father."

She explained that the couple struggled with finances and with her diagnosis of acute rheumatoid arthritis during her last pregnancy. After the couple divorced and details of the split became public, Fierstein said she was contacted by producers of Winfrey's program.

"I was hesitant but encouraged by friends and became caught up in the notion of a free trip to Chicago and being a champion of women and women's issue," Fierstein explained.

"I regret my decision to appear on the show," she added. "I never told Andy about it and in fact I insisted that I wear a disguise. I did not mention his name. Nor mine."

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Winfrey's team did not immediately reply to questions about whether the network might publicly release the footage or re-air it at a later date.

Puzder's confirmation hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
Officials have confirmed that the U.S. military, despite vowing not to use depleted uranium weapons on the battlefield in Iraq and Syria, fired thousands of rounds of the such munitions during two high-profile raids on oil trucks in Islamic State-controlled Syria in late 2015.

The air assaults mark the first confirmed use of this armament since the 2003 Iraq invasion, when it was used hundreds of thousands of times, setting off outrage among local communities, which alleged that its toxic material caused cancer and birth defects.

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U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesman Maj. Josh Jacques told Airwars and Foreign Policy that 5,265 armor-piercing 30 mm rounds containing depleted uranium (DU) were shot from Air Force A-10 fixed-wing aircraft on Nov. 16 and Nov. 22, 2015, destroying about 250 vehicles in the country's eastern desert.

Earlier in the campaign, both coalition and U.S. officials said the ammunition had not and would not be used in anti-Islamic State operations. In March 2015, coalition spokesman John Moore said, "U.S. and coalition aircraft have not been and will not be using depleted uranium munitions in Iraq or Syria during Operation Inherent Resolve."

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Later that month, a Pentagon representative told War is Boring that A-10s deployed in the region would not have access to armor-piercing ammunition containing DU because the Islamic State didn't possess the tanks it is designed to penetrate.

It remains unclear if the November 2015 strikes occurred near populated areas. In 2003, hundreds of thousands of rounds were shot in densely settled areas during the American invasion, leading to deep resentment and fear among Iraqi civilians and anger at the highest levels of government in Baghdad. In 2014, in a U.N. report on DU, the Iraqi government expressed "its deep concern over the harmful effects" of the material. DU weapons, it said, "constitute a danger to human beings and the environment" and urged the United Nations to conduct in-depth studies on their effects.

Such studies of DU have not yet been completed, and scientists and doctors say as a result there is still very limited credible "direct epidemiological evidence" connecting DU to negative health effects.

The potential popular blowback from using DU, however, is very real. While the United States insists it has the right to use the weapon, experts call the decision to use the weapon in such quantities against targets it wasn't designed for - such as tanks - peculiar at best.

The U.S. raids were part of "Tidal Wave II" - an operation aimed at crippling infrastructure that the Islamic State relied on to sell millions of dollars' worth of oil. The Pentagon said the Nov. 16 attacks happened in the early morning near Al-Bukamal, a city in the governorate of Deir Ezzor near the border with Iraq, and destroyed 116 tanker trucks. Though the coalition said that the strikes occurred entirely in Syrian territory, both sides of the frontier were completely under the control of the militant group at the time.

Any firing of DU in Iraqi territory would have far greater political repercussions, given the anger over its previous use there. The Nov. 16 video below shows tankers hit first by larger ordnances, before others are engulfed in sparks and ripped apart by fire from 30 mm cannons.
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., say that the Senate Intelligence Committee's ongoing probe must include an examination of any contacts between Trump campaign officials and the Russian government. (AP)

WASHINGTON  Top Republican and Democratic senators pledged Tuesday to deepen their investigation of Russian involvement in the 2016 presidential election in the wake of Michael Flynn's resignation as President Trump's national security adviser, opening a new and potentially uncomfortable chapter in the uneasy relationship between Trump and Capitol Hill.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said such an investigation is "highly likely," and the top two members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., stood side by side Tuesday to announce that the committee's ongoing probe must include an examination of any contacts between Trump campaign officials and the Russian government.

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Flynn resigned late Monday after revelations of potentially illegal contacts with Russia last year and misleading statements about the communication to senior Trump administration officials, including Vice President Mike Pence.

"We are aggressively going to continue the oversight responsibilities of the committee as it relates to not only the Russian involvement in the 2016 election, but again any contacts by any campaign individuals that might have happened with Russian government officials," said Burr, the chairman of the intelligence panel.

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Added Warner, the vice chairman, "The press reports are troubling, and the sooner we can get to the veracity of those press reports or not, then we'll take the next appropriate step."

The consensus among lawmakers came at a tense moment, when congressional Republicans were already finding it difficult to defend Trump as the tempestuous start to his term has stoked frustration, fatigue and fear on Capitol Hill.

Many congressional Republicans have endured Trump's unpredictability - including his criticism of the federal judiciary, and an immigration order that caught them by surprise and drew intense national blowback and a legal rebuke - because they think he holds the key to passing laws they have talked about for years.

Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., chairman of the Freedom Caucus, a conservative group of House members, put it this way: "I would rather accomplish something with distractions than not accomplish anything with smooth sailing."

Burr and Warner's agreement is also striking given the partisan feuding that has characterized investigations into Russia and the election - and relationships on Capitol Hill generally. The two senators were initially at odds over whether the committee's probe should include potential ties between Trump campaign officials and the Russian government, with Burr suggesting that it was outside the panel's purview.

On Tuesday, Burr defended the committee's right to look at those potential contacts, including any that may have occurred before Trump's inauguration. And he has the support of Senate GOP leadership; in addition to McConnell, Sen. John Cornyn, Tex., the majority whip, and Sen. Roy Blunt, Mo., the GOP conference vice chairman, also called for investigations into Flynn's actions.

Their pronouncements contrasted sharply with remarks by Republicans in the House, who applauded Flynn's resignation but for the most part stopped short of calling for further investigation.

"I'll leave it up to the administration to describe the circumstances surrounding what brought [Flynn] to this point," House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., told reporters.

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Some took aim elsewhere. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., said the most significant question posed by Flynn's resignation is why intelligence officials eavesdropped on his calls with the Russian ambassador and later leaked information on those calls to the news media.

"I expect for the FBI to tell me what is going on, and they better have a good answer," Nunes said. "The big problem I see here is that you have an American citizen who had his phone calls recorded."

Democrats cautiously applauded plans to expand the Senate investigation, even though several of them had called for an independent probe run by a special prosecutor. McConnell and Republicans will certainly have more control over an in-house investigation, but even Warner said he favors that approach.

"Not only do we have oversight over intelligence and counterintelligence, but it works in a bipartisan basis," Warner told reporters.

Many Democrats think the slow, painstaking but largely public process of an independent commission, such as the 9/11 Commission, is preferable to leaving the investigation in the hands of committees that work in secret, giving leaders more latitude to pull political strings.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., called for "unbiased" law enforcement officials to lead a federal investigation, adding that Attorney General Jeff Sessions cannot be involved in any probe given his close political connections to the White House and Trump's presidential campaign.

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In the past, such secrecy has allowed certain high-profile intelligence committee proceedings to fall victim to partisan infighting; that happened in the Senate in 2014, when then-chairman Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., tried but failed to release the full "torture report" on CIA interrogation methods.

In the House, such divisions are already on display, as the House Intelligence Committee's ranking Democrat, Rep. Adam Schiff, Calif., has angled to establish at least a joint congressional inquiry to look into the allegations against Flynn.

Nunes, the committee chairman, has almost unfettered control over the process, with the unilateral power to issue subpoenas - as would be necessary to compel Flynn to testify. In the Senate Intelligence Committee, members vote on whether to issue subpoenas.

When asked if he would call Flynn to testify, Burr said: "We won't exclude that."

Blunt told KTRS radio in St. Louis that the committee should talk to Flynn "very soon."

"I think we should look into it exhaustively so that at the end of this process, nobody wonders whether there was a stone left unturned, and shouldn't reach conclusions before you have the information that you need to have to make those conclusions," Blunt said in the interview.

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The House and Senate intelligence committees had already launched broad investigations into Russian involvement in the U.S. election, including the possibility of ties between Moscow and any candidates and their campaigns.

But the news about Flynn's contact with Russians prompted an ad hoc gathering of the Senate Intelligence Committee on the Senate floor Tuesday. At least seven senators participated in the long, animated discussion. One participant, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private conversation, said senators encouraged Burr to be more aggressive with the probe.

Burr was told, according to the participant, that if the intelligence panel did not step up, other committees would fill the void.

Burr has been less publicly aggressive than some other Republicans, particularly Sens. John McCain, Ariz., and Lindsey Graham, S.C., who are launching their own inquiries on the Armed Services Committee. They have pushed, unsuccessfully so far, for the creation of a special committee to handle an investigation into Russia and last year's elections.

Although it remains unclear who was being targeted, Flynn's conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak were intercepted because the Russians' calls are routinely monitored.

Flynn's critical conversations with Kislyak took place in December - before executive privilege could apply, Democrats point out, but well after the elections were over.

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In the House, Schiff said he has not yet discussed with Nunes whether the scope of the committee's probe could be expanded to cover the transition period, though he noted that "it ought to be a natural extension of what we do."

Over in the Senate, a similar tweak to plans would appear to be necessary to allow the Intelligence Committee to examine Flynn's contacts with Russian authorities, as many leading Republicans believe is necessary.

Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., suggested that it "would certainly be useful" to publicly release the transcripts of Flynn's conversations with Kislyak.

Schiff pointed out during a Democratic news conference Tuesday that Intelligence Committee officials have not yet received transcripts or tape recordings of those conversations.

"Those, I think, are things I think we ought to get as part of the Gang of Eight," Schiff said.

Added House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.: "Before they destroy them."

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The Washington Post's Ed O'Keefe, Mike DeBonis, Karen DeYoung, Greg Miller and Philip Rucker contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  The acting attorney general informed the Trump White House late last month that she believed Michael Flynn had misled senior administration officials about the nature of his communications with the Russian ambassador to the United States, and warned that the national security adviser was potentially vulnerable to Russian blackmail, current and former U.S. officials said.

The message, delivered by Sally Q. Yates and a senior career national security official to the White House counsel, was prompted by concerns that Flynn, when asked about his calls and texts with the Russian diplomat, had told Vice President-elect Mike Pence and others that he had not discussed the Obama administration sanctions on Russia for its interference in the 2016 election, the officials said. It is unclear what the White House counsel, Donald McGahn, did with the information.

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Flynn resigned Monday night in the wake of revelations about his contacts with the Russian ambassador.

In the waning days of the Obama administration, James R. Clapper Jr., who was the director of national intelligence, and John Brennan, the CIA director at the time, shared Yates' concerns and concurred with her recommendation to inform the Trump White House. They feared that "Flynn had put himself in a compromising position" and thought that Pence had a right to know that he had been misled, according to one of the officials, who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.

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A senior Trump administration official said before Flynn's resignation that the White House was aware of the matter, adding that "we've been working on this for weeks."

The current and former officials said that although they believed that Pence was misled about the contents of Flynn's communications with the Russian ambassador, they couldn't rule out that Flynn was acting with the knowledge of others in the transition.

The FBI, Yates, Clapper and Brennan declined to comment on the matter.

In a Feb. 8 interview with The Washington Post, Flynn categorically denied discussing sanctions with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, repeating public assertions made in January by top Trump officials. One day after the interview, Flynn revised his account, telling The Post through a spokesman that he "couldn't be certain that the topic never came up."

Two officials said a main topic of the relevant call was the sanctions. Officials also said there was no evidence that Russia had attempted to exploit the discrepancy between public statements by Trump officials and what Flynn had discussed.

Flynn told The Post earlier this month that he first met Kislyak in 2013, when Flynn was director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and made a trip to Moscow.

U.S. intelligence reports during the 2016 presidential campaign showed that Kislyak was in touch with Flynn, officials said. Communications between the two continued after Trump's victory on Nov. 8, according to officials with access to intelligence reports on the matter.

Kislyak, in a brief interview with The Post, confirmed having contacts with Flynn before and after the election, but he declined to say what was discussed.

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For Yates and other officials, concerns about the communications peaked in the days after the Obama administration on Dec. 29 announced measures to punish Russia for what it said was the Kremlin's interference in the election in an attempt to help Trump.

After the sanctions were rolled out, the Obama administration braced itself for the Russian retaliation. To the surprise of many U.S. officials, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Dec. 30 that there would be no response. Trump praised the decision on Twitter.

Intelligence analysts began to search for clues that could help explain Putin's move. The search turned up Kislyak's communications, which the FBI routinely monitors, and the phone call in question with Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general with years of intelligence experience.

From that call and subsequent intercepts, FBI agents wrote a secret report summarizing Flynn's discussions with Kislyak.

Yates, then the deputy attorney general, considered Flynn's comments in the intercepted call to be "highly significant" and "potentially illegal," according to an official familiar with her thinking.

Yates and other intelligence officials suspected that Flynn could be in violation of an obscure U.S. statute known as the Logan Act, which bars U.S. citizens from interfering in diplomatic disputes with another country.

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At the same time, Yates and other law enforcement officials knew there was little chance of bringing against Flynn a case related to the Logan Act, a statute that has never been used in a prosecution. In addition to the legal and political hurdles, Yates and other officials were aware of an FBI investigation looking at possible contacts between Trump associates and Russia, which now included the Flynn-Kislyak communications.

Word of the calls leaked out on Jan. 12 in an op-ed by Post columnist David Ignatius. "What did Flynn say, and did it undercut U.S. sanctions?" Ignatius wrote, citing the Logan Act.

The next day, a Trump transition official told The Post, "I can tell you that during his call, sanctions were not discussed whatsoever."

White House press secretary Sean Spicer, in a conference call with reporters on Jan. 13, said that the conversation between Flynn and Kislyak had "centered on the logistics" of a post-inauguration call between Trump and Putin. "That was it, plain and simple," Spicer added.

On Jan. 15, Pence was asked about the phone call during an appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation." Citing a conversation he had with Flynn, Pence said the incoming national security adviser and Kislyak "did not discuss anything having to do with the United States' decision to expel diplomats or impose censure against Russia."

Before the Pence statement on Jan. 15, top Justice Department and intelligence officials had discussed whether the incoming Trump White House should be notified about the contents of the Flynn-Kislyak communications.

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Pence's statement on CBS made the issue more urgent, current and former officials said, because U.S. intelligence agencies had reason to believe that Russia was aware that Flynn and Kislyak had discussed sanctions in their December call, contrary to public statements.

The internal debate over how to handle the intelligence on Flynn and Kislyak came to a head on Jan. 19, Obama's last full day in office.

Yates, Clapper and Brennan argued for briefing the incoming administration so the new president could decide how to deal with the matter. The officials discussed options, including telling Pence, the incoming White House counsel, the incoming chief of staff or Trump himself.

FBI Director James B. Comey initially opposed notification, citing concerns that it could complicate the agency's investigation.

Clapper and Brennan left their positions when Trump was sworn in, but Yates stayed on as acting attorney general until Jan. 30, when Trump fired her for refusing to defend his executive order temporarily barring refugees and people from seven majority-Muslim countries - an action that had been challenged in court.

A turning point came after Jan. 23, when Spicer, in his first official press briefing, again was asked about Flynn's communications with Kislyak. Spicer said that he had talked to Flynn about the issue "again last night." There was just "one call," Spicer said. And it covered four subjects: a plane crash that claimed the lives of a Russian military choir; Christmas greetings; Russian-led talks over the Syrian civil war; and the logistics of setting up a call between Putin and Trump. Spicer said that was the extent of the conversation.

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Yates again raised the issue with Comey, who now backed away from his opposition to informing the White House. Yates and the senior career national security official spoke to McGahn, the White House counsel, who didn't respond Monday to a request for comment.

Trump has declined to publicly back his national security adviser since the news broke.

On Monday afternoon, Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the president, said Trump had "full confidence" in Flynn. Minutes later, however, Spicer delivered a contradictory statement to reporters.

"The president is evaluating the situation," Spicer's statement read. "He's speaking to Vice President Pence relative to the conversation the vice president had with Gen. Flynn and also speaking to various other people about what he considers the single most important subject there is: Our national security."

And then late Monday, Flynn resigned.

The Washington Post's Karen DeYoung and Greg Miller contributed to this report.
A federal appeals panel's decision to uphold the stay of President Donald Trump's temporary travel ban has dramatically raised the stakes in the coming Supreme Court fight  and increased the likelihood that Republicans may have to use the nuclear option to get Neil Gorsuch through the Senate.

The left has been in a froth since Trump took office, and members of the Democratic establishment in Washington are terrified that the rising anti-Trump movement will turn on them in the same way the tea party turned on the Republican establishment. The Washington Post reported that when Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., spoke at a rally in front of the Supreme Court two weeks ago to protest Trump's travel ban, they were jeered by some in the crowd. And thousands of protesters showed up outside Schumer's Brooklyn home recently holding signs that read, "Grow a spine, Chuck!" and "Chuck's a chicken," and chanting "Filibuster everything!" One of the protest leaders screamed to the crowd: "He has to champion the resistance, or he has to get out of the way!"

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In other words, even before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision, Senate Democrats were under enormous pressure from their base to delay, postpone, obfuscate and derail Gorsuch's nomination  and now that pressure is rising. Whether Trump appeals the ruling, fights the case on the merits or issues a new executive order, this much is certain: The left will fight him all the way to the Supreme Court. And the left knows it will have a harder time prevailing over Trump in a court with a restored 5-4 conservative majority. The liberal base will demand that Senate Democrats hold what it calls the "stolen seat" open.

There are now 52 Republicans in the Senate, which means that if any Senate Democrat decides to launch a filibuster, Republicans will need eight Democrats to cross over and help them stop it. Initially, nine Democrats reportedly said Gorsuch should get an up-or-down vote. But already one of those nine, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, N.H., has wavered, saying she only meant there should be an up-or-down vote on whether to have a vote. Let's see what the others do if, say Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Mass., launches a filibuster. The protests outside Schumer's house were mild compared with the liberal hellfire that will rain down on Democratic senators who are seen as providing the deciding vote to let Gorsuch through  especially if he then goes on to uphold Trump's travel restrictions.

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At a bare minimum, Democrats will maintain a united front to delay Gorsuch's nomination as long as they can. They are already using every procedural tool they can to drag out votes on Trump's Cabinet nominees. What makes anyone think they won't do the same with Trump's Supreme Court nominee?

Democrats will press Gorsuch to give his opinion on the constitutionality of Trump's travel ban. He will rightly refuse to answer on the grounds that he may have to rule on it in the near future  which will only serve to underscore the stakes for Democrats in keeping him off the court as long as possible. The nine swing Democrats will promise to eventually allow a vote on his nomination, but only after Gorsuch has jumped through a never-ending line of procedural hoops and hurdles. They will request more hearings, flood him with thousands of written questions and then demand he answer follow-up questions to clarify his unsatisfactory answers. They will look for any slip, any excuse to delay the process or change their minds so that they can backtrack on their commitment to allow a vote.

The left understands that it is not just the travel ban that is at stake. Just as Democrats are waging a campaign of obstruction on Capitol Hill, they also plan to wage a campaign of obstruction by litigation on everything Trump does. They will sue to stop his deportations of undocumented immigrants who have been convicted of a crime, his efforts to build a wall, his replacement for Obamacare, his greenlighting of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines, his rollback of federal environmental regulations and everything else he tries to do.

They are confident they can prevail in the federal district and circuit courts of appeal, because Senate Democrats used the nuclear option in 2013 to eliminate the filibuster for lifetime judicial appointments, allowing President Barack Obama to pack these courts with liberal, activist judges. Obama appointed more than one-third of the federal bench and flipped most of the circuit courts of appeal from conservative to liberal majorities.

What this means is that, in many cases, the Trump administration may be going to the Supreme Court to appeal a lower court ruling that has gone against the administration. A split decision on the Supreme Court leaves the lower court ruling in place. If Justice Anthony Kennedy votes with the liberal bloc, the lower court ruling becomes precedent. So the stakes for Gorsuch's nomination  and any future justices Trump may nominate  could not be higher.

For Republicans, the stakes in the travel ban fight are high as well. Many on the right believe the travel ban was unnecessary. But what is now at stake is not just immigration policy but also the president's authority as commander in chief. If Trump loses, he will have diminished the power of the presidency, with potentially disastrous consequences for our national security.

Republicans can't allow that to happen. And they cannot allow the left to use the courts to block the rest of Trump's agenda. Senate Republicans need to start using the same rules Democrats set in 2013 to fill the federal district and circuit courts with as many conservative judges as possible so that they can restrain the activist judges Obama appointed. And they should not allow Senate Democrats to delay Gorsuch's confirmation. They should hold hearings and move him to the Senate floor expeditiously.

And if Democrats try to block or even delay a vote, go ahead and push the nuclear button.

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Washington Post

Marc A. Thiessen is a fellow with the American Enterprise Institute and former chief speechwriter to President George W. Bush.
WASHINGTON  To call this past weekend in the Trump administration a garbage fire would be a disservice to garbage fires, which at least shed light and get rid of garbage.

The Trump administration is doing exactly what I do when I try to assemble Ikea furniture, in the sense that it has clearly not consulted any instructions and now before it has finished its cabinet a big piece has fallen off. Also in the sense that there are dangerous screws loose everywhere. Not in the sense that when I try to assemble Ikea furniture the lives of thousands of refugees are thrown into limbo. Or in the sense that when I try to assemble a cabinet people call Reince Priebus cruel names and he has to joke ineptly to a journalist that he and Steve Bannon are best buddies and he gives Bannon a back rub every night. (This is an actual thing that happened.)

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News reports suggest that, broadly speaking, every member of the Trump White House spends hours each day busily talking on background to the press. Also, no one in the administration knows anything that is going on at any time. Monday afternoon, Kellyanne Conway announced that national security adviser Michael Flynn had the president's "full confidence." Then within an hour Sean Spicer announced that the president was "evaluating" what course to pursue. Then by 11 p.m. Flynn had "retired." (At least, that was what Russia Today initially said he was doing, and Russia Today would probably know.)

In his letter of resignation, Flynn admitted that "Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador."

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"Inadvertently briefed with incomplete information." I wish there were a shorter way of saying that. Is there another word for when you mean to tell someone something completely true that did happen, but instead you mistakenly tell them something different? Not fake news. That is for liberals. Not alternative facts. Those are just true. There's some other word for when you wish you'd told someone that something did happen but instead by mistake you told them that it didn't  but I probably would be too timid to use it, anyway.

As usual, it is not the original offense but the cover-up that is the problem. The Washington Post reported that acting Attorney General Sally Yates had informed the White House last month that Flynn had not, er, said what he'd said he said and was therefore vulnerable to Russian blackmail. The White House took no action on this at the time on the grounds that she was a woman and they could not hear her.

Gradually Flynn went from insisting that he had only offered holiday wishes and condolences to admitting that he had no idea what he said to the begrudging admission that perhaps sanctions in fact did come up, possibly, maybe, and that if you had an actual transcript of the call they would definitely sound like they had come up.

But no one has any problem with people talking to Russian ambassadors, or being otherwise cosy with Russia, or asking the Russians to hack us, or, you know  just, normal things that we have decided we are all fine with, I think? No, it was deceiving Vice President Mike Pence that really was the problem. Every time Pence hears something untrue, an angel is removed from a state science textbook.

This resignation is good news for Pence, who was evidently worried that if current trends continued he would be typecast as Guy Who Goes On TV And Says That Someone Did Not Say A Thing He Definitely Said. Plus, the administration had too many Mikes. Maybe this was why Pence is apparently not being cc'ed on any emails and has been roving freely in a field for the past several weeks, periodically emerging to have lunch with congressional Republicans, vote for a Cabinet nominee, or offer a fetus a wedding cake.

I hope the Flynn departure establishes the precedent that if Pence has had to go on television and say that you never said something that you in fact did say, you will have to leave your job. Wait until he hears about Donald Trump.

But other than that, things are proceeding quite smoothly in the Trump White House Weekday Mar-a-Lago. People lurk in the hallways, seeking audiences. Aides walk around trying not to seem "low-energy" or "weak," pounding energy drinks and performing feats of strength any time the president is seen coming down the hallway. Jared Kushner is also there, acting as a "shadow diplomat"  "shadow" in the sense that it is used in the term "shadow government," which is to say, "not actually a real government." So far, he: almost arranged something good to happen with Mexico but then Trump sent out a tweet and instead everyone went home upset. This bodes well for Kushner's plan to make peace in the Middle East.

In other words, we have managed to successfully replicate the conditions of a Tudor court at the White House in just under one month! Bannon has even asked to be identified as Cromwell. (This, again, is an actual thing that has happened.)

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*Fred Christ Trump, has it been less than ONE MONTH?

Washington Post

Alexandra Petri writes the ComPost blog, offering a lighter take on the news and opinions of the day. She is the author of "A Field Guide to Awkward Silences."

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Trump's White House is falling apart. Who can save it?

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Putin getting exactly what he wants from Trump

How Michael Flynn fell into the arms of the Russians
If we are to believe the Trump White House, National Security Adviser Michael Flynn just resigned because he lied about his conversations with Russia's ambassador to the vice president. As White House senior counselor Kellyanne Conway told NBC's "Today Show" on Tuesday: "Misleading the vice president really was the key here."

That sounds about as credible as when the president told CIA employees that the media had invented the story about his enmity toward the spy agency, not even two weeks after he had taken to Twitter to compare the CIA to Nazis. It's about as credible as President Donald Trump's insistence that it didn't rain during his inauguration. Or that millions of people had voted illegally in the election he just won.

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The point here is that for a White House that has such a casual and opportunistic relationship with the truth, it's strange that Flynn's "lie" to Pence would get him fired. It doesn't add up.

It's not even clear that Flynn lied. He says in his resignation letter that he did not deliberately leave out elements of his conversations with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak when he recounted them to Vice President Mike Pence. The New York Times and the Washington Post reported that the transcript of the phone call reviewed over the weekend by the White House could be read different ways. One White House official with knowledge of the conversations told me that the Russian ambassador raised the sanctions to Flynn and that Flynn responded that the Trump team would be taking office in a few weeks and would review Russia policy and sanctions. That's neither illegal nor improper.

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What's more, the Washington Post reported Monday night that last month Sally Yates, then the acting attorney general, had informed the White House that Flynn discussed sanctions with Kislyak and that he could be susceptible to blackmail because he misled Pence about it. If it was the lie to Pence that sunk Flynn, why was he not fired at the end of January?

A better explanation here is that Flynn was just thrown under the bus. His tenure as national security adviser, the briefest in U.S. history, was rocky from the start. When Flynn was attacked in the media for his ties to Russia, he was not allowed by the White House to defend himself. Over the weekend, he was instructed not to speak to the press when he was in the fight for his political life. His staff was not even allowed to review the transcripts of his call to the Russian ambassador.

There is another component to this story as well  as Trump himself just tweeted. It's very rare that reporters are ever told about government-monitored communications of U.S. citizens, let alone senior U.S. officials. The last story like this to hit Washington was in 2009 when Jeff Stein, then of CQ, reported on intercepted phone calls between a senior Aipac lobbyist and Jane Harman, who at the time was a Democratic member of Congress.

Normally intercepts of U.S. officials and citizens are some of the most tightly held government secrets. This is for good reason. Selectively disclosing details of private conversations monitored by the FBI or NSA gives the permanent state the power to destroy reputations from the cloak of anonymity. This is what police states do.

In the past it was considered scandalous for senior U.S. officials to even request the identities of U.S. officials incidentally monitored by the government (normally they are redacted from intelligence reports). John Bolton's nomination to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations was derailed in 2006 after the NSA confirmed he had made 10 such requests when he was Undersecretary of State for Arms Control in George W. Bush's first term. The fact that the intercepts of Flynn's conversations with Kislyak appear to have been widely distributed inside the government is a red flag.

Rep. Devin Nunes, the Republican chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, told me Monday that he saw the leaks about Flynn's conversations with Kislyak as part of a pattern. "There does appear to be a well orchestrated effort to attack Flynn and others in the administration," he said. "From the leaking of phone calls between the president and foreign leaders to what appears to be high-level FISA Court information, to the leaking of American citizens being denied security clearances, it looks like a pattern."

Nunes said he was going to bring this up with the FBI, and ask the agency to investigate the leak and find out whether Flynn himself is a target of a law enforcement investigation. The Washington Post reported last month that Flynn was not the target of an FBI probe.

The background here is important. Three people once affiliated with Trump's presidential campaign  Carter Page, Paul Manafort and Roger Stone  are being investigated by the FBI and the intelligence community for their contacts with the Russian government. This is part of a wider inquiry into Russia's role in hacking and distributing emails of leading Democrats before the election.

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Flynn himself traveled in 2015 to Russia to attend a conference put on by the country's propaganda network, RT. He has acknowledged he was paid through his speaker's bureau for his appearance. That doesn't look good, but it's also not illegal in and of itself. All of this is to say there are many unanswered questions about Trump's and his administration's ties to Russia.

But that's all these allegations are at this point: unanswered questions. It's possible that Flynn has more ties to Russia that he had kept from the public and his colleagues. It's also possible that a group of national security bureaucrats and former Obama officials are selectively leaking highly sensitive law enforcement information to undermine the elected government.

Flynn was a fat target for the national security state. He has cultivated a reputation as a reformer and a fierce critic of the intelligence community leaders he once served with when he was the director the Defense Intelligence Agency under President Barack Obama. Flynn was working to reform the intelligence-industrial complex, something that threatened the bureaucratic prerogatives of his rivals.

He was also a fat target for Democrats. Remember Flynn's breakout national moment last summer was when he joined the crowd at the Republican National Convention from the dais calling for Hillary Clinton to be jailed.

In normal times, the idea that U.S. officials entrusted with our most sensitive secrets would selectively disclose them to undermine the White House would alarm those worried about creeping authoritarianism. Imagine if intercepts of a call between Obama's incoming national security adviser and Iran's foreign minister leaked to the press before the nuclear negotiations began? The howls of indignation would be deafening.

In the end, it was Trump's decision to cut Flynn loose. In doing this he caved in to his political and bureaucratic opposition. Nunes told me Monday night that this will not end well. "First it's Flynn, next it will be Kellyanne Conway, then it will be Steve Bannon, then it will be Reince Priebus," he said. Put another way, Flynn is only the appetizer. Trump is the entree.

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Bloomberg View

Eli Lake is a Bloomberg View columnist. He was the senior national security correspondent for the Daily Beast and covered national security and intelligence for the Washington Times, the New York Sun and UPI.

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Rise of authoritarianism threatens the world order

Trump adviser Stephen Miller lied  and it matters

Media criticism of Kellyanne Conway reveals a double standard

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How Trump's travel ban helps terrorists
President Donald Trump keeps getting kicked around in court when challenges are brought against his ban on travel from seven predominantly Muslim nations. Trump says he wants to halt the flow of people who might be planning attacks. What we cannot forget is that the kind of attack he has in mind is not confined to bombs and shootings. Trump is terrified that immigrants bring diseases with them. If racism fails, public health will likely afford Trump the rationale he seeks for making it difficult for those he does not like to enter our country.

The president is a self-described germaphobe. He has doubts about vaccines. He likely does not wake up every day to thrill at the latest advances in science. This is a president who might possibly let an infectious disease do what he has so far not been able to accomplish by impugning the country or religion of immigrants he doesn't like: provide the basis for a ban.

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The threat of a pandemic is yet another avenue he could possibly embrace to create a Fortress America. He might demand more walls, quarantine stations at airports and one-way tickets home for every potential human vector  including the frail, kids and pregnant women. No one who is sick, might be sick or who can be smeared as the source of Americans getting sick would get in.

Pandemic flu, Zika, yellow fever, West Nile and a host of other maladies are likely to keep popping up over the next four years. The news media are great at stoking fear about all of them. Public officials are ill-prepared to know what to do about any of them.

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This environment of panic and ignorance is right up the president's fear-mongering alley. It is ideal for imposing the kind of ban that Trump desires without having to try to explicitly exclude Mexicans, Muslims or any other group that he and his supporters despise: See a disease emerging overseas, up go the restrictions on entry.

Think I am wrong? Remember during his campaign that Trump repugnantly and falsely argued that Mexican migrants bring "tremendous infectious disease" into the United States. During the Ebola outbreak he used his favorite mode of communication, Twitter, to argue that doctors who treat Ebola patients "are great" but shouldn't be allowed to seek treatment back here if they get sick. "Treat them, at the highest level, over there," he said.

There was more: "The U.S. cannot allow EBOLA infected people back. People that go to far away places to help out are great  but must suffer the consequences!" And he topped all this ill-informed armchair epidemiology by noting that "the U.S. must stop all flights from EBOLA infected countries or the plague will start and spread inside our borders."

The health care and scientific community had better be ready to spread the facts when the next infectious disease appears and President Trump invokes microbes to close the borders.

Arthur L. Caplan is director of medical ethics at the New York University Langone Medical Center's Department of Population Health
Full disclosure: I don't know who is playing Lollapalooza this year or if any of these predictions are correct. Considering my track record of getting several picks wrong every year, I'm expecting to chalk up at least half of these to wishful thinking, looking at the wrong festival posters and bad luck. That said, there's a good chance I'm right about at least a few of these choices as we wait for festival organizers to officially announce the bill for the four-day fest coming to Grant Park Aug. 3-6.

And for those wondering, the final lineup is typically released in late March or early April.

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Chance the Rapper

In 2014, Chance the Rapper headlined the Perry's stage at Lollapalooza, and the next year, he headlined Pitchfork. In 2016, he could have just taken a break from the local festival circuit, but instead, he made his own one-day festival, Magnificent Coloring Day. The logical next move is headlining Lolla. Not saying this is a lock of a prediction (Chance has surprised us before), but after seeing him on the top bills of so many other major festivals, it would make perfect sense.

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Mumford & Sons

Didn't these guys play Lollapalooza last year? Thanks to Google, I found out they didn't, which must mean they're playing the festival this year. Google is also showing me that they're headlining Hangout Festival in Alabama and Boston Calling, which bodes well for a Lolla appearance.

Muse

Man of the people, festival bookers' worst nightmare and Muse frontman Matt Bellamy tweeted, "Yeah, I think so" when asked if his band was playing Lollapalooza 2017 back in November. Good for him!

Lorde

This 20-year-old pop sensation first graced Lollapalooza in 2014, and with her imminent comeback about to happen, a return seems set in stone.

Nine Inch Nails

Nine Inch Nails plan to release "two new major works" in 2017, according to Trent Reznor in a Beats 1 interview. While a new album looks increasingly likely given that comment and the clamoring of the iconic group's rabid fans, I'm betting they'll make a return to Lollapalooza. Especially given their slot at New York's Panorama Festival and no currently scheduled Chicago stops.

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Frank Ocean

He could headline Pitchfork (and I hope he does), but Lollapalooza might seem like a better fit given Ocean's increased mainstream recognition.

Angel Olsen

The expansive and impeccable tour for "My Woman" proves that Angel Olsen is perfectly suited for a big festival crowd.

Bon Iver

While it might make equal sense for Bon Iver to headline Pitchfork, and God knows I wavered a lot in my decision to include Justin Vernon's wildly successful group here, I think Lollapalooza might make more sense.

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Pup

These Canadian punks and deep-dish pizza lovers are playing a ton of major festivals this year with no Chicago shows on the map. Maybe they'll return to Riot Fest instead, but they seem to be avoiding punk-minded festivals on their upcoming slate.

Whitney

These Chicagoans played Pitchfork last year and are likely going to bounce back and forth between the local fests with increasingly better slots for years to come.

Lil Yachty

Lil Yachty was one of my favorite success stories of 2016, and I hope to hear the guest on "Broccoli" perform that hit at the grove stage like lead artist D.R.A.M. did last year.

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Noname

Noname sold out the Metro twice and it didn't take long at all. She's ready for a Lolla stage.

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Mitski

"Puberty 2" led this fantastic songwriter to many best albums lists, including our own, in 2016. Now, she's booked a few major festivals as she continues to tour on the record. While my bet is on Lolla, she also may play a decent slot at Pitchfork, which gave her album a Best New Music tag.

Sampha

Sampha is blowing up and the perfect fit for a Lolla set.

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Future Islands

Future Islands played Pitchfork in 2015. While their set was one of the highlights of the weekend, I bet they'll try Lolla before returning to Union Park.

@joshhterry | jterry@redeyechicago.com
With another week comes another excuse to go see a show. From our favorite politically minded hip-hop duo Run the Jewels hitting Aragon Ballroom to some of the best kept musical secrets playing The Hideout, there's a lot to love in Chicago music right now.

*** = RedEye's show of the week.

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FRIDAY, FEB. 17

***Run the Jewels, The Gaslamp Killer, Gangsta Boo, Nick Hook, Cuz

Aragon Ballroom

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1106 W. Lawrence Ave. 773-561-9500

Last Christmas, Run the Jewels gave their fans the best gift of all by releasing "Run the Jewels 3" three weeks early. Like El-P and Killer Mike's previous albums under the moniker, "RTJ3" is fantastically hard-hitting hip-hop and bitingly perceptive. They'll likely appear at a local festival this year, but in case they don't, this may be your last chance to see them for a while. 8 p.m. Sold out.

SATURDAY, FEB. 18

The Weather Station, Bill MacKay

The Hideout

1354 W. Wabansia Ave. 773-227-4433

Not that it was ever in a rut, but The Hideout has been experiencing a renaissance of sorts, booking some of the best acts this city has to offer for several months now. Headlined by Canadian folkies the Weather Station, this show is just one example of the jam-packed slate the iconic venue has on deck. 6 p.m. $8. Tickets: hideoutchicago.com

SUNDAY, FEB. 19

Chris Farren, Yeti, Hi Ho

Subterranean

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2011 W. North Ave. 773-278-6600

Fake Problems' frontman and Florida punk troubadour Chris Farren channelled his songwriting toward infectiously fun pop-rock tunes on his recent solo album "Can't Die." It's a total blast of a record that will be enough of an excuse to skip your usual Sunday routine and go to the Wicker Park venue instead. 7:30 p.m. $10-$12. Tickets: subt.net

Wednesday

Pool Holograph, Courtship

The Whistler

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2421 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-227-3530

I know I write about Pool Holograph a lot, but I genuinely love this Chicago band and they play a lot of shows around town, like this month's CHIRP Night at the Whistler. According to the event page, it's "an evening where you can enjoy the music of CHIRP-curated local artists, the Whistler's take on classic cocktails and the good feeling of supporting independent radio." 8:30 p.m. Free. RSVP: chirpradio.org

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Jake Xerxes Fussell, Jim Elkington

The Hideout

1354 W. Wabansia Ave. 773-227-4433

Georgia folk artist Jake Xerxes Fussell is releasing his sophomore album "What in the Natural World" next month via label Paradise of Bachelors. The two tastes I've heard so far, "Furniture Man" and "Have You Ever Seen Peaches Growing on a Sweet Potato Vine?" are stunning and sparse reimaginings of traditional folk songs. 9 p.m. $10. Tickets: hideoutchicago.com

@joshhterry | jterry@redeyechicago.com
The national headquarters for Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity has suspended the fraternity's chapter on the Northwestern University campus after allegations of sexual assault at the fraternity house were announced, officials confirmed.

"They have to cease and desist all operations," said Brandon Weghorst, SAE spokesman.

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Separately, the Interfraternity Council, which governs social fraternities on campus, has suspended indefinitely all social activities for all campus fraternities, Northwestern University spokesman Bob Rowley confirmed.

The suspension of Illinois Psi-Omega, NU's chapter of the SAE fraternity, means members cannot hold chapter meetings, attend fraternity social events or do any other activities under the SAE banner, Weghorst said. The suspension is expected to stay in place while the reported assaults are under investigation.

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After university officials said last week they were looking into the anonymous reports of possible drugging and sexual assault, the Interfraternity Council announced plans to evaluate "every aspect" of the campus' fraternity system.

The student-run group said it will form a task force to look into topics including sexual assault, hazing, drugging, risk management and "toxic masculine culture," according to an online statement. The task force will also explore fraternity recruitment and values, and will include members from outside the IFC.

"Echoes of the toxic ideology on which social fraternities were founded still ring today," the statement read. "We are acutely aware of the exclusivity, financial elitism, sexism, heterocentrism, and discrimination that have and still continue to exist in our community."

The group plans to hold open forums in the upcoming weeks, and plans to "completely" revise its constitution, which it called "an antiquated document" which fosters ambivalence toward sex assault, hazing and drugging.

"We have to start from the ground and work our way up if we are truly going to change the culture of IFC," the group stated.

As for the SAE chapter, its suspension "does not mean that the chapter is closing; it doesn't mean they are booted from the house," Weghorst said.

For starters, the house is under private ownership and leased to the fraternity. It is not owned by the fraternity itself or the university. As such, any residency changes would need to be negotiated with the landlord, Weghorst said.

The SAE letters will be allowed to remain on the house while the fraternity is suspended, Weghorst said. If the campus chapter is disbanded the letters could be removed.

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Northwestern administrators issued a security alert on Feb. 6 after receiving reports that as many as four female students were possibly given a date rape drug at a Jan. 21 event at the SAE house. Two of the women said they were sexually assaulted after receiving the drug, according to school officials.

The day after learning of those allegations, the university received another report of a woman being sexually assaulted and possible drugged a different fraternity house. That fraternity has not been identified.

Northwestern Associated Student Government on Wednesday called for the suspension of SAE and any other fraternities involved in the reported assaults.

Genevieve Bookwalter is a Pioneer reporter; Robert McCoppin is a Chicago Tribune reporter.

gbookwalter@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @GenevieveBook

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rmccoppin@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @RobertMcCoppin
North Shore School District 112 will use part-time, retired school administrators for some leadership posts next year at schools that were slated to close under a plan that's been put on hold. (District 112 photo \ Handout)

North Shore School District 112 will use part-time, retired school administrators to fill leadership posts next year at some schools that were originally set to close at the end of this school year.

Meanwhile, the district plans to hire principals for Northwood Junior High School and Sherwood Elementary School, which were not among the four schools identified for closing. The school closing plan was put on hold in January following the abrupt, mid-year resignation of Superintendent Michael Bregy.

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Under the stopgap plan, the district will continue using retired administrators on a part-time basis to staff a principal's post at Lincoln Elementary School and cover gaps in leadership at Elm Place Middle School. Both Lincoln and Elm Place were to close at the end of the year before school board members halted the plan due to implementation worries raised by Bregy's departure.

The school district is seeking candidates to replace Northwood Principal Sandra Arreguin, who is returning to Township High School District 113. Arreguin was hired early last fall to replace Suzan Hebson, who is retiring as assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and assessment. Prior to stepping in as Northwood principal in 2015, Arreguin chaired the world languages department at Highland Park High School, where she also directed the dual language program.

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District 112 also is seeking candidates for the principal's job at Sherwood Elementary School due to the retirement of Shawn Walker, the school's principal for the past 10 years. In a Feb. 10 announcement, the district vowed to involve staff, parents and students in the hiring process at both Northwood and Sherwood with the goal of filling the positions by early April.

At Lincoln, Jeanne Banas will continue serving as principal in a part-time capacity as she has done during the current school year. Before retiring from District 112 in 2016, Banas was principal at both Red Oak and Ravinia elementary schools. John Sprangers, a retired District 112 administrator, will assist Banas in his role as interim personnel manager.

Sprangers retired as District 112's director of personnel services in 2014 and during the 2015-16 year, filled in as interim director of human resources in District 113.

Debra Ancona, a retired Schaumburg school administrator, will fill in as interim principal at Elm Place Middle School in August and September while Principal Heather Schumacher is on family leave. Since retiring as an assistant superintendent in Schaumburg District 54, Ancona has served both as interim principal and interim associate principal at Elm Place.

Retired educators drawing pensions from the Teachers' Retirement System in Illinois are allowed to work 100 days during the school year without jeopardizing their pension benefits. Earlier this month, the school board hired two retired school superintendents, Jane Westerhold and Edward Rafferty, to share the interim superintendent's job through mid-2018.

Westerhold retired in 2016 as superintendent of Community Consolidated School District 62 in Des Plaines after a dozen years in the position. Rafferty retired in 2013 from Schaumburg's District 54, where he'd been superintendent since 2004 and had spent his entire 37-year career in education.

The school district also is launching a search to replace Jennifer Ferrari as assistant superintendent of teaching and learning following the Jan. 30 announcement that Ferrari would be leaving in mid March to work for a charter schools organization. The district hopes to fill the position by June.

kberkowitz@pioneerlocal.com

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It won't take a lot of digging, but the village of La Grange will install linings in about 2.5 miles of its sewer pipes.

The Village Board noted unanimously Monday to award a contract of about $1.1 million to Insituform Technologies USA to do the work.

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"We can rehabilitate the pipes without having to excavate," said Ryan Gillingham, director of public works.

He said the process will consist of dropping resin-infused fabric into the pipes. Hot water or steam is then sent into the pipes to cure the lining and a robot is used to cuts holes in the lining at junctures where it connects to houses.

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Gillingham estimated that the some of the village's clay tile pipes are about 100 years old.

"You will have new pipe within an old pipe," Gillingham said.

The process is expected to result in pipes that should last another 50 to 100 years.

Gillingham said the pipes that will have the linings installed were identified when all pipes in the village were analyzed to find structural weaknesses. The work was done as part of an emergency televised sewer program that was done following severe rainstorms in 2014.

Some pipes were identified as in urgent need of work. Others are part of a general program of rehabbing the pipes. If pipes have structural issues that are not addressed they can collapse, Gillingham said.

In a memo to the board, village manager Robert Pilipiszyn said the process of installing cured in-place liner will be easier on residents.

"The process is less disruptive to residents because it doesn't require traditional open trench methods for installation," he said.

To lower the cost of the work, the village is combining work for three years in one project.

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Pilipiszyn said the village received bids for the work that were much lower than the estimate of $891,000 that its engineer, Baxter & Woodman, had provided for the initial project the village envisioned, which would have been to line about 1.5 miles of sewers.

Because the bids were so much lower than expected, the village decided to expand the work to do 2.5 miles of lining.

The lower bids were attributed to such reasons as limited work in the area, the growing use of the technology that has decreased the cost, and the economies of scale the village is getting by combining several years of work into one project.

The work is expected to start in March and be completed within about three months.

"It's a pretty quick process," Gillingham said.

amannion@tribpub.com

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Plan for promoting employment during the 13th Five Year Plan period

The State Council has issued a plan for promoting employment during the 13th Five Year Plan period, which clarifies the guiding ideas, basic principles, major objectives, key tasks, and guarantee measures for promoting employment. According to the plan, by 2020, the employment scale will be expanded, while employment quality will further improve. New job opportunities in cities and towns will exceed 50 million in total, and the registered unemployment rate nationwide in cities and towns will be brought down under five percent. Nine specific tasks, including building a new-type employment model under the sharing economy, implementation of an entrepreneurship and innovation talent introduction program, supporting migrant workers to return to home to carry out pilot programs of entrepreneurship, implementation of an entrepreneurship training program, a program to advance the development of human resources service industry, have been identified to meet the requirements of the plan.

Benefits unchanged after childbirth insurance and medical insurance schemes merge

The General Office of the State Council has announced a pilot program for merging childbirth insurance and basic employee medical insurance, which will be carried out in the cities of Handan, Jinzhong, Shenyang, Taizhou, Hefei, Weihai, Zhengzhou, Yueyang, Zhuhai, Chongqing, Neijiang, and Kunming. The merging of the two insurances will not affect the benefits of either insurance programs, and will only involve the integration of management. In fact, the improvement of the fund pooling capability will mean that insured employees will enjoy higher benefits.

RELATED: Payroll and Human Resource Services

Eligible employees in Fujian allowed 10 days paid leave to take care of elderly parents each year

The Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security of Fujian Province has passed a regulation which guarantees the rights and benefits of the elderly people. While emphasizing issues such as family guarantee, social security, and social benefits of elderly people, it also stipulates that 10 days of leave a year will be granted to employees whose parents are 1) over the age of 60; and 2) are hospitalized, so that children may have time to look after their parents. The regulation will come into effect on March 1, 2017, and employers in violation of the regulation will be fined RMB 2,000 to 20,000.

Promoting reform and innovative growth of development zones

The General Office of the State Council has issued opinions on promoting reform and innovative growth of development zones. It encourages the development zones to actively attract foreign investment and undertake international industrial transfer, in addition to creating support for multinational enterprise groups to carry out cross-border RMB fund pool businesses. It also sets guidelines for work to permit the eligible enterprises in development zones to borrow funds in foreign currencies and RMB in the form of loans and issuance of bonds, under a framework of full range foreign debts and prudential management of capital flow. Customs special supervision zones such as export processing zones and bonded port areas that meet the requirements will be combined into comprehensive bonded zones gradually and support the eligible development zone development and operating enterprises to become listed and issue bonds for fundraising at home and abroad.



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Dezan Shira & Associates is a pan-Asia, multi-disciplinary professional services firm, providing legal, tax and operational advisory to international corporate investors. Operational throughout China, ASEAN and India, our mission is to guide foreign companies through Asias complex regulatory environment and assist them with all aspects of establishing, maintaining and growing their business operations in the region. This brochure provides an overview of the services and expertise Dezan Shira & Associates can provide.

An Introduction to Doing Business in China 2017

Doing Business in China 2017 is designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in China. Compiled by the professionals at Dezan Shira & Associates in January 2017, this comprehensive guide is ideal not only for businesses looking to enter the Chinese market, but also for companies who already have a presence here and want to keep up-to-date with the most recent and relevant policy changes.



Navigating HR Audits in China

Recent changes in Chinas labor market have underscored the importance of having both an efficient HR system and a satisfied and reliable workforce, and the HR audit is a useful tool to ensure this. In this issue of China Briefing magazine, we provide a guide for conducting HR audits in China. We analyze why the HR audit is especially important for foreign companies operating in the country, and then detail the different HR audit models and procedures that are available to firms.
Bill Gates [File photo/Xinhua]

Billionaire Bill Gates is bringing an unexpected gift to his Chinese fans right before Valentine's Day.

The co-founder and former chairman of Microsoft Corp opened an official account on WeChat, China's most popular social media platform, to share his ideas and favorite books with Chinese users.

In the first post, Gates showcased his linguistic talents in a video clip, saying in Chinese: "Welcome to my personal WeChat blog." He then switched to English, adding "I will share with you the people I meet, the books I'm reading and what I'm learning".

The post had been viewed more than 100,000 times by 3 pm on Monday. It is the latest move by Gates to deepen communications with China, where his charity organization Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has been working hard to solve many social problems.

The WeChat account, operated by local firm Boruizhi Consulting (Beijing) Co, said Gates would share content related to global health, new energy and education reform, which are in line with the objectives of the Gates Foundation.

Last year, the foundation set up a drug research center in Beijing by partnering with Tsinghua University. The Global Health Drug Discovery Institute is dedicated to tackling major diseases faced by developing countries.

Gates is not the first foreign tech tycoon to register a Chinese social media account. Tim Cook, CEO of Apple Inc, sent his first post on Sina Weibo, the Chinese version of Twitter, in May 2015, during his trip to Beijing.
China will give the green light soon to a Chinese consortium's acquisition of an LED lighting unit of Osram Licht AG, after the German company gained approval from the anti-monopoly authorities in all other related countries, experts said on Monday.

The comments came after the Committee of Foreign Investment in the United States, a multiagency panel chaired by the Treasury Department, approved the 400-million-euro ($425.6 million) purchase of the German group's LED lighting unit, also known as LEDVANCE, by Chinese buyers last week.

Because LEDVANCE has assets and manufacturing facilities in a number of countries, the deal has been approved by anti-monopoly authorities in the US, Macedonia, Mexico, Turkey, Germany, Poland and Russia.

Li Gang, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation in Beijing, said the robust growth of China's outbound direct investment would not change because current economic development requires that domestic companies use resources in global markets.

The Munich-based manufacturer of lighting products and semiconductors said the deal is still awaiting approval from China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange, the final government authority to approve the purchase.

"As China is upgrading its manufacturing ability to more advanced and internet-connected products, this deal certainly will be cleared by government branches soon to encourage domestic companies to invest in high-end, smart and green manufacturing abroad," said He Jingtong, a professor of international trade at Nankai University in Tianjin.

The Chinese consortium was formed by Sanan Optoelectronics Co Ltd, IDG Capital Partners and Yiwu State-Owned Assets Operation Center. The consortium's bid was cleared by Germany in January.

He said even through the mood for trade protectionism has grown fast since the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union, the German and the US governments were aware that controlling risks and cooperating with China would benefit all sides.
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Chinese railway authorities have launched additional trains to tackle the rush of college students and migrant workers heading back to school and work at the end of the Spring Festival break.

Train stations in Chengdu, Nanjing, Wuhan and Guangzhou all reported peak traffic over Sunday or Monday.

The Chengdu Railway Bureau will launch 300 additional trains for the peak traffic season, which is expected to ease Feb. 16.

In Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, migrant worker Shen Jiwang was longing to get a ticket to Shenzhen, south China's manufacturing hub, at the train station Monday morning.

"They said there won't be any tickets to Shenzhen until Feb. 20," Shen said. He will have to return to his hometown in rural Qianwei County, Sichuan, until he can buy a ticket.

On Monday, Wuhan Railway Bureau launched 109 additional trains, with the bureau handling up to 780,000 passengers per day, up 5 percent year on year.

Wuhan, capital of central province of Hubei, is home to more than 80 universities. It will receive about 1 million students returning to school as the new semester begins.

In Yangxin County, Hubei, a Xinhua reporter saw trains heading for the booming Pearl River Delta and Yangtze River Delta stuffed with migrant workers. During the past couple of days, the county train station has handled about 10,000 passengers per day.

At a Guangzhou train station, part of the Pearl River Delta, a train arrived at 10:30 a.m. overloaded with migrant workers, according to conductor Liu Zhijin.
President Xi Jinping on Monday told leading officials to practice strict self-discipline and eliminate special privileges.

Xi made the remarks when addressing the opening session of a workshop on the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. The workshop at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee was attended by senior provincial and ministerial officials.

The opening session was presided over by Premier Li Keqiang. Other leaders including Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli were also present.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said implementing the decisions of the plenum would have far-reaching and profound significance for both the Party and socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Xi urged leading cadres to "build a fence" against special privileges to prevent themselves and those around them from abusing power.

Chinese President Xi Jinping makes remarks when addressing the opening session of a workshop on the 6th Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, attended by senior provincial and ministerial officials, at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, Feb. 13, 2017. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi]

Leading officials should use their power "impartially, cautiously and legally," Xi said in his speech.

The CPC Central Committee held the workshop to help senior provincial and ministerial officials understand two documents, one on the norms of political life within the Party in the new era, and a regulation on intra-Party supervision, which were approved by last year's plenum.

"Leading officials should strengthen their political capability, firm their political ideals, uphold political direction, be steadfast in their stance and strictly observe political rules," Xi said, stressing they should enrich their political experience and match their political capability with the positions they were holding.

Xi said upholding the authority of the CPC Central Committee with strict observance of orders and rules was related to the future and fate of the Party and the nation as well as the fundamental interests of all people across the nation.

Xi called on all Party members to become more aware of the need to uphold political integrity, keep in mind the bigger picture, follow the CPC as the core of the Chinese leadership, and act consistently with CPC Central Committee policy.

Safeguarding the authority of the CPC Central Committee and the centralized and unified leadership chimed with democratic centralism, Xi stressed.

The Party sets great store by intra-Party democracy, as all major decisions follow strict processes, and are informed by wide opinions and suggestions, Xi said.

Strengthening and regulating political life within the Party requires the correct political direction, and advancing with the times, said Xi, who also stressed principles of political life and its spirit of holding firmly to the truth and rectifying errors.

Self-development is the most distinctive characteristic of the Party, and its biggest advantage, because the CPC has no interests of its own except for the interests of the country, the nation and the people, according to Xi.

Xi said leading officials, especially those in senior roles, must strengthen their self-discipline, be discreet when being alone and on small matters. They should ensure their words and deeds are in line with the Party constitution, and embody the Party spirit in all that they do.

Xi called for thorough study of the two documents adopted at the key CPC session, which were designed to address outstanding contradictions and problems within the Party.

While addressing the workshop, Xi stressed that Party organizations at all levels must improve inspections and ensure accountability. He also underscored that high-raking cadres should take the lead in complying with the Party's code of conduct.

Li Keqiang called on leading officials to uphold the authority of the CPC Central Committee, improve intra-Party political life and work to build a cleaner political environment.

Li said leading cadres must unite closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, boost reform and development, work hard, and greet the 19th National Congress of the CPC with achievements across the board.
GETTYSBURG  With the aid of crutches, Bob Bemis slowly, painstakingly made his way to a podium inside the Gateway Gettysburg. He was roundly applauded.

Those halting steps are a beautiful sight to Bobs family and friends. As much as a struggle as it was for him to reach the microphone, it wasnt near the struggle hes faced for the past 22 months.

Bemis, a state policeman, was assisting a stranded motorist on Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County in March 2015 when a passing car rammed into the back of his cruiser, which then slammed into him. His injuries were severe. He nearly died.

I think Im always going to need some assistance with walking braces, crutches, that sort of a thing, Bemis, 49, said in a matter-of-fact tone.

Bemis is rehabbing from his injuries. Last month, he officially retired from the Pennsylvania State Police.

Hes got lots of vacations planned, and to help with his mobility he was given a wheelchair at Mondays ceremony. It was a joint effort among Gateway Gettysburg, Adams County Veterans Affairs Office and the Pennsylvania Wounded Warrior Project. Bob was a Marine from 1986 to 1992.

Theres no need for a veteran to go without electricity, to go homeless, to be forced into taking a high-interest payday loan, said Gordon Weith, with Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors. Were there to help.

The wheelchair, Bob says, will let him keep up with his family on those vacations and not slow them down.

Hes young enough that he can go on and do other things and just enjoy life, which when its almost taken away, you enjoy it, said Tracey Bemis, Bobs wife of 22 years.

Despite bad injuries and a bad break, Bemis attitude and spirits have been nothing but good.

What else can you do? Bemis asked. You fall down, you get up. If you look at it that way youll get through a lot easier with a lot less sadness. I choose not to be sad.
China's top disciplinary body has discovered the weakening of Party leadership and promotion of corrupt officials during inspections of four provincial-level regions, according to a statement released Monday.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) kicked off a new round of inspections last November, which covered Beijing and Chongqing municipalities, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Gansu Province. All the four regions had been inspected previously.

This round of inspections found weak CPC leadership, inappropriate promotions, violations of frugality rules and alarming space for corruption at state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and other sectors, among other problems, according to the findings released by the CCDI.

In Beijing, inspectors found that issues identified in the previous inspection -- related to Lyu Xiwen, the former Beijing deputy Party chief who has been charged with corruption -- had not been dealt with in a timely manner.

Some problems uncovered during the previous inspection, including lowly officials involved in huge corruption, improper selection and appointment of officials, and violations of the eight-point frugality rules, were found to have recurred, according to the CCDI.

In Chongqing, the pernicious influence of Bo Xilai, former Party chief of Chongqing, and Wang Lijun, former police chief and vice mayor, "have not been wiped out completely," and corruption at SOEs "remains severe," the statement said.

Inspectors also found in Guangxi that some sectors, including land, transportation, forestry and SOEs, were more prone to be corrupt, and in Gansu, risks of corruption were high in sectors like transportation, civil aviation, land and culture.
A farmers market, called "Farm to Neighbors" on the Lantern Festival, Feb. 11, 2017. [Photo/Wang Zhe]

Besides shopping in supermarkets, people in Beijing can buy fresh vegetables from farmers' markets, which are located in shopping malls. The initiative is called "Farm to neighbors".

Lantern Festival Market

The Lantern Festival Market was held from February 11 to 12 for the traditional Chinese festival when people eat Yuanxiao, or rice dumplings, and other dishes to celebrate the first full moon after the Chinese New Year with their families.

Many locals came to this farmers' market to purchase food or enjoy interesting activities.

An elderly couple made Yuanxiao with two different fillings on-site, attracting many customers. Many families also painted lanterns under the guidance of a Chinese folk maestro.

Vegetables, meat, noodles, bread and sauces are sold by their producers, who own their own farms or factories. Most of them just produce organic food.

"Because our Yuanxiao are made of organic glutinous rice flour, they are more expensive than those in supermarkets. In fact, the numbers of Yuanxiao I rolled can't meet the demand, and many locals, especially foreigners prefer this healthy food," said the Yuanxiao roller.

Located in the embassy area, the farmers' market is popular with foreigners who live in Beijing. James, an American, always takes his Chinese wife to shop here.

"We come here twice a month, it has a lot of stuff that can be guaranteed and every time you can find new things," said James.
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East China's Shandong Province provided over 50 billion yuan (7.3 billion U.S. dollars) of loans for poverty reduction in 2016, benefiting 300,000 impoverished people, authorities said Tuesday.

Banks were organized to offer over 30 specific credit products after the province carried out a field survey on 1.8 million poverty-stricken households and 21,000 businesses aimed at poverty alleviation, according to a statement issued by the Jinan branch of the People's Bank of China.

Among the loans, over 1 billion yuan was poured into poverty-alleviation industrial sectors, such as tourism, e-commerce and the photovoltaic industry.

Companies in poor areas were also encouraged to issue medium-term notes, corporate bonds and short-term bonds, securing total financing of 52.3 billion yuan.

An information system was also developed last year to evaluate the effect of these financial measures on poverty reduction.
An increasing number of Chinese couples are celebrating this year's Valentine's Day by traveling abroad, which will cost them 12,154 yuan (about US$1,766) on average, reports say.

Tours abroad, love hotels, and presents are the economics of Valentine's Day in China.[Photo: China Daily]

According to a report published recently by Ctrip, one of China's largest tour booking websites, many couples choose to travel between Feb. 10 and 14, with domestic travel and short trips to foreign countries as a preference. About 55% of the couples surveyed have booked outbound tours, which will cost them 12,154 yuan. The total cost for both domestic and outbound trips is expected to reach 6,028 yuan on average.

Couples in first-tier cities, namely, Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, take the most outbound trips, according to flight booking data released by Qunar, another tour booking website. Couples in Shanghai choose to fly to Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Tokyo to spend the Valentine's Day. Couples in Beijing and the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou prefer nearby destinations, with the former heading to South Korea and Japan, and the latter flying to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

As this year's Valentine's Day falls on a weekday, many couples who don't have time to travel choose to go to hotels. Young Chinese couples who are born in the 1990s in second-tier cities have contributed to 35 to 45 percent more hotel bookings than last year, according to the Qunar data. Their favorite love hotels are priced between 220 yuan to 360 yuan per night, higher than on average days.

Apart from traveling around and staying at hotels, giving presents remains a popular way of celebrating the Valentine's Day. According to a survey by Zhenai.com, a Chinese matchmaking website, 77.4% of respondents believed couples should celebrate the day and give presents to their loved ones. More than 50% of couples will give presents priced over 1,000 yuan. Men prefer watches, clothes and electronic products, while women like jewelry, roses, and digital "red envelops," digital cash gifts that are popular on China's social-networking app WeChat.
Chen Yifan [Photo: dahe.cn]

A student left an apology letter and 311 yuan (US$45) to the owner of a car that the boy hit accidentally with his electric scooter. The owner of the car, who was not there when his car was damaged, was so impressed by the student's honesty that he has donated 10,000 yuan to go toward that student's future tuition, reported dahe.com on Sunday.

The apology letter left by Chen Yifan [Photo: dahe.cn]

Teenager Chen Yifan is a student from Xinmi city, Henan province. At the beginning of February, he accidentally hit a BMW car while he was riding an electric scooter.

The money left by Chen Yifan as compensation for damaging the car [Photo: dahe.cn]

Chen's letter to the driver contained an apology for the damage done to the car, and explained that the money he was leaving was all that he had, as he was a student and his only income was from a part-time job.

The car owner and the car that was damaged by the electric scooter [Photo: dahe.cn]

After finding the apology letter, Xue Zhanmin, the car's owner, said he found no need to blame the boy for the accident. "The boy is honest and kind as he took the responsibility and made the compensation. We should praise such behavior," said Xue.

Xue Zhanmin contacted the boy's family with the help of local police on February 11. He gave the money back to the boy and offered to financially help the boy finish his studies. The boy's mother learned of the incident and offered to make the full compensation, which was 13,000 yuan but this was refused by Xue.

On Sunday, Xue sent 10,000 yuan as a donation to cover the boy's tuition fees. Chen Yifan expressed gratitude but refused the money. After persuasion from the local police and staff members, Chen's family finally accepted this donation that is full of love and care.
Premier Li Keqiang asks locals if any migrant workers did not get their pay on Jan 23 during a visit to Ludian county in Southwest China's Yunnan province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The State Council has sent teams to inspect why some migrant workers are experiencing delays in wage payment, according to a news release on Monday night.

Inspections will focus on the construction sector, especially those involved in government-invested projects, and urge full payment for migrant workers each month.

Malicious delays will be investigated and punished while channels for migrant workers' complaints should be opened, such as portal websites and the "12333" hotline.

These teams also will check out the progress of establishing a long-term mechanism to comprehensively tackle delayed wages, with a focus on establishing a blacklist of violators with full public disclosure.

Provincial-level governments are required to take full charge while city and county governments carry out specific measures to ensure punctual payments for migrant workers.

The government should put forward a long-term solution to protect the rights of migrant workers and ensure they are paid on time, Premier Li Keqiang told a State Council executive meeting on Feb 3. It's a significant part of the government's proactive employment policy, he added.

Wage delays have often been burdening China's 280 million migrant workers who travel from rural areas to cities for better-paid opportunities.

In late January, a 47-year-old farmer Gan Yongrong complained about wage delays to the premier during his visit to Ludian county in Southwest China's Yunnan province. Gan's earned wages of 50,000 yuan ($7,352) had been delayed for two years.

"This is the responsibility of companies and the government. Legal rights of migrant workers must be protected," the premier told local officials on site.
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Syrian army has confronted an attack unleashed by the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front and other terror-linked groups in southern province of Daraa, state news agency SANA reported on Monday.

The Syrian army and allied fighters fended off the attacks by the Nusra and allied militants on residential areas in Daraa, inflicting heavy losses on the attackers, said SANA, adding that the attacks were focused in the areas of Manshiyeh and Hamiedet al-Zaher as well as Busra square in Daraa.

Citing a military source, SANA said the military forces have contained situation.

It said the Nusra attack was coupled with shelling on government-controlled areas in Daraa, leaving many people killed or wounded as well as inflicting property losses.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 15 rebel fighters were killed during the battles against the Syrian forces in Daraa, where six government soldiers were killed in the same conflict.

The Nusra and allied militants unleashed their offensive on Sunday with the aim of capturing areas under the government control in Daraa, the birthplace of the Syrian conflict.

The situation in Daraa was calm ahead of the attack, amid reports that there was an understanding between Russia and Jordan, which supports the rebels in Daraa, for halting the attacks on government areas in exchange for a halt on rebel-held areas in that province.
It may run counter to conventional wisdom, but it is exceedingly rare for a person registered as a sex offender to be charged with a new sexual offense in Cumberland County.

Of the 75 charged sex crime cases in Cumberland County in 2016, only two were committed by a person listed on the sex offender registry, according to an analysis of court records conducted by The Sentinel.

Neither of those offenses involved a direct assault on a child.

Of the more than 300 charged sex crime cases in Cumberland County between 2013 and 2016, only six cases involved a person listed on the sex offender registry.

Those stats show that the more than 290 remaining cases  including some of the most heinous sexual assaults against children  were committed by people who were not registered.

Its really clear that all of the evidence and all of the data shows that most sex offenses are committed by first-time offenders, said Emily Horowitz, professor of sociology and criminal justice at Saint Francis College. For whatever reason, people who are on the registry have a very low recidivism rate, and if one is really concerned about decreasing sex offenses, they kind of have to look elsewhere instead of people who have already been convicted of sex offenses.

The Sentinel reviewed more than 450 charged sex crime cases in Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, Franklin and Adams counties in 2016 and found only 15 cases where the defendant was on the registry at the time of the offense.

More than 96 percent of all sex crime cases in those five counties involved defendants who were not on the sex offender registry.

You can look at that and say people on the registry arent committing sex crimes, Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed said.

Policies

Freed said the low number of defendants on the sex offender registry may also be an indicator the policies are working.

Would they be more likely to do so if we didnt have a registry? he said. I cant answer that. ... Is it effective? Thats the question for all these punishments.

Between 1990 and 2015, the rate of rape in Pennsylvania remained relatively flat from 25.8 rapes per 100,000 people to 24.4 rapes per 100,000 people, according to the FBI.

In that time, Pennsylvania passed its first Megans Law  requiring sexual offenders to register with Pennsylvania State Police  created an online public database of that registry and expanded the database to comply with new federal laws.

At no time in that more-than-20-year time frame did the rate of rape show a significant change coinciding with implementation of a new sex offender policy, according to an analysis conducted by The Sentinel.

Rapes reported by the FBI include adult victims, but what about changes in sexual assaults only against children?

Child sexual assault

The number and rate of substantiated claims of child sexual assault peaked in 1992, four years prior to the passage and implementation of the states original Megans Law, according to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.

Between 1992 and 1995, when Megans Law was signed into law but before it went into effect, the number of substantiated claims of child sexual assault fell from more than 4,500 to less than 3,100, according to DHS reports.

Substantiated reports dropped sharply in 1996, when Megans Law first went into effect, but rebounded a year later.

The rapid decline at the enactment of Megans Law followed by a quick rebound is similar to findings in a 2006 study of the effectiveness of Megans Law in New Jersey.

That study concluded Megans Law showed no demonstrable effect in reducing sexual re-offenses and has no effect on reducing the number of victims involved in sexual offenses.

The study conducted by the New Jersey Department of Corrections concluded, given the lack of demonstrable effect of Megans Law on sexual offenses, the growing cost may not be justifiable.

Pennsylvanias decrease at the time of the enactment of Megans Law may also have less to do with the law and more to do with changing demographics.

Between 1990 and 1999, Pennsylvanias population between the ages of 18 and 24  a peak point for criminal involvement  dropped by nearly 200,000, according to U.S. Department of Justice.

A regression analysis comparing the number of substantiated claims of child sexual assaults with that population size showed nearly 80 percent of the change in substantiated sexual assaults was related to the change in population size between 1990 and 1999.

While this is a strong correlation, more research is needed to determine any causal effect.

When we tell ourselves that these registries are going to be effective, or that they are going to protect children, or they are going to protect the community, I think we need to dig behind that and figure out what that means, University of North Carolina School of Law professor Carissa Hessick said.

Low recidivism

Hessick said a recent study conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics found only 5 percent of individuals released from prison after committing a sexual offense went on to commit a new sexual offense within five years.

The study adds to mounting evidence that sex offenders tend to have a low recidivism rate, Hessick said.

The public discussion surrounding sex offenders doesnt seem to match up very well with the social science evidence we have about sex offenders and recidivism, Hessick said. Its not surprising the policies weve adopted arent achieving their goals since they dont seem to have been based on complete or accurate information.

Horowitz described current sex offender policy as punishment on steroids, saying the policies may actually be causing more harm than good.

There is a treatment provider in Florida who argues the harsh punishments actually make it less likely for people, she said. The reality is that most kids are sexually abused by people they know ... and being aware of the extent of the punishment can decrease the reporting.

I think we are supposed to look at that which is painted by fear and hysteria and panic, she said.
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At least 39 government soldiers have been killed over the past 36 hours, when the Islamic State (IS) unleashed a violent offensive on areas under the government control in southern countryside of Aleppo, a monitor group reported on Monday.

The IS attacks are focused on the area between the towns of Khanaser and Sabkhet al-Jabour as well as nearby areas in the southeastern rim of Aleppo, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The UK-based watchdog group said 12 IS militants were killed during the battles.

The military forces announced recently that they had besieged the IS in al-Bab from the city's southern edge, as the Turkish forces and allied fighters stormed the city from its northern and northwestern sides.

Security Khanaser is crucial for the Syrian army, as it's adjacent to the current road into Aleppo city, which has been retaken by the army in December of last year, following the rebels withdrawal from the eastern part of the city.
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The Iraqi warplanes struck a house where Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the top leader of Islamic State (IS) group, was said to be holding a meeting with senior IS commanders in Iraq's western province of Anbar, killing some 13 of them with no word for the fate of Baghdadi himself, the Iraqi military said on Monday.

The Iraqi intelligence tracked the movement of Baghdadi's convoy of three-vehicles from neighboring Syria to a village near the town of Qaim, on the border between Iraq and Syria, where the meeting was believed to be held at a house in an orchard, the Joint Operations Command (JOC) said in a statement.

Baghdadi's presence in western Iraq was to meet the Iraqi and foreign senior IS commanders to discuss the collapse of the terrorist group in the eastern side of the city of Mosul in northern Iraq, and to choose his successor in case being killed, according to the statement.

The Iraqi F-16 jet fighters conducted the airstrike on the house during the meeting on Saturday, killing 13 of IS commanders, the JOC said.

The statement released a list of the names of the 13 IS commanders killed in the attack without mentioning the name of Baghdadi himself.

The jet fighters also bombarded three more IS sites in Qaim and the nearby Akashat area, leaving 40 IS militants and 24 suicide bombers killed, the statement added.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, known to his supporters as Amir al-Mu'minin, is the Caliph of the self-proclaimed Islamic State, which announced the establishment of a caliphate on June 29, 2014. The extremist militant group captures some areas in western and northern Iraq as well as part of neighboring Syria.

On Oct. 4, 2011, the United States listed al-Baghdadi as a global terrorist and announced a reward of up to 10 million U.S. dollars for information leading to his capture or death. On Dec. 16, 2016, the United States increased the reward to 25 million dollars equal to the reward being offered for the leader of al-Qaida, Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Al-Baghdadi was born in 1971 in Samarra in central Iraq, according to a biography that circulated on Islamic internet forums in July 2013. He obtained a BA, MA and PhD in Islamic studies from the Islamic University of Baghdad.

The IS is an al-Qaida breakaway group, and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was announced to be its leader on May 16, 2010, following the death of his predecessor Abu Omar al-Baghdadi.
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British secretary of State for exiting the European Union David Davis on Monday said Britain would like to rebuild its relationship with EU member states, Finnish news agency STT reported.

During an official visit here to meet the Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini, Davis said: "We're not really talking about the exit, but a new kind of relationship."

Britain hopes the European Union remains stable, prosperous and secure, he added.

Davis tried to calm down fears that Britain would possibly close its borders after Brexit. He said the development of the British economy and universities need future talents from other countries.

"However, immigration control is in Britain's own hands. The issue concerning the status of the EU residents living in Britain, for example, will be resolved as soon as possible," Davis said.

"It is in everyone's interest that we solve the issue soon in a civilized manner," said Davis.

The British House of Commons, the lower house of the country's parliament, approved the Brexit bill last week, which will be submitted to the House of Lords, the upper house, later this month.

Brexit negotiation with the EU will start no later than the end of March.

The visit to Finland is part of Davis' tour of the Nordic countries, during which he will inform EU member states of the objectives related to Brexit negotiations.
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A cargo ship from Jiangsu province with 23 Chinese crew members on board has been detained at India's Haldia port for more than a month.

The ship set off from Nantong, east China in July last year, unloaded at Haldia port in December, and has been detained since then.

The freighter "Union Demeter" is owned by Nanjing Tranvast Holdings Limited and all crew members are from Nanjing Yuanteng shipping company.

Captain Dai Xiaosong contacted Jiangsu News Radio and asked for help.

Dai said other boats owned by Tranvast didn't pay refuelling expenses, thus the "Union Demeter" was detained by order of a court in Bombay. In the same month when "Union Demeter" unloaded, the ship owner declared bankruptcy.

Sailors said they haven't been paid for five months and the total unpaid wages reached 1.5 million yuan, or 218,000 US dollars.

If there is no other company to take over the cargo ship, the Indian government will not release the crew, said captain Dai.

The stored food, drinking water and fuel on board are nearly used up, said the sailors, and the area they are trapped in has a high risk for dengue fever.

Manager Han Lei from the Yuanteng shipping company said they have asked agencies in India to supply necessities to the crew. He said the best solution is that the ship owner pays for the release of the crew and the berth, and then sells the ship to solve their financial problem.

But the ship owner refused to contact the employer of the crew to talk about the issue, said Han, and the cost of berthing the ship at the port has been in the tens of thousands of dollars daily.

If the ship owner still refuses to solve the problem, added Han, each sailor has an insurance based on Maritime Labour Convention, and the insurance company will pay the sailors and take over the ship. But such a process will take a long time.
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Kim Jong Nam

The half-brother of top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un has been killed in Malaysia, South Korean cable news channel TV Chosun reported on Tuesday citing multiple government sources.

Kim Jong Nam, the older half-brother of the DRPK leader and the eldest son of late leader Kim Jong Il, has been found dead in Kuala Lumpur early Monday, the Chosun TV said.

He has been based outside the DPRK since he was caught trying to enter Japan on a fake passport in 2001.

Multiple South Korean government sources were quoted as saying that the half brother seemed to have killed at a Kuala Lumpur airport at about 9 a.m. Malaysian time (0100 GMT) Monday.

Yonhap news agency reported that South Korea's foreign and unification ministries declined to confirm the killing.
Old Glory was appearing less glorious throughout Carlisle.

The 120 American flags that are hung throughout the downtown on patriotic holidays have gotten dirty and dingy after two decades of exposure to the elements.

They have never been professionally cleaned, said Marv Salsman, a past president of the Sunrise Rotary Club of Carlisle. Many in our group are veterans. We want the flags displayed properly.

Local businessman Ron Strine purchased the flags for the downtown about 20 years ago, Salsman said. When Strine closed his photography shop and moved south, care of the flags went to the Exchange Club, which has since joined forces with the Sunrise Rotary.

It became a shared project, Salsman said. Rotary members post the flags the morning of each patriotic holiday while Exchange Club members remove the flags each evening. In between, the flags are stored at a location on North Hanover Street.

Seeing how the flags became soiled, the caretaker organizations approached Classic Dry Cleaners and Laundromats in Carlisle with a request to clean and press each flag. The hope was that the East High Street business could process the flags in phases and complete the job by Memorial Day in May.

The business came back with the offer to clean and press all the flags free of charge. This is an example of their generosity, Salsman said. They have done business in Carlisle for years. They wanted to give back to the community.

As a company, Classic Dry Cleaners and Laundromats have always cleaned American flags for free for the 45 years it has been in business, said Jaime Zurat, marketing manager.

This service is offered to local residents, businesses and civic organizations, she said. We do it out of respect for the country. We actively support hundreds of local organizations every year.

This support has taken the form of donations of in-kind services, gift baskets and thousands of bottles of water.

Rotary members spent part of Sunday removing the flags from the poles before transporting the flags on Monday to the Classic Dry Cleaners store in Carlisle.

Once the flags are returned, the caretakers plan to remount the flags and replace if necessary broken clips with new clips provided by Dodie Wise of Martys Inc., a used car dealer on East North Street.
The hiring of a new secretary/treasurer in Mount Holly Springs sparked a debate over whether full-time Police Chief Thomas Day should continue in his dual role as part-time borough manager.

Council Monday hired Sara Jarrett of Berwick, Columbia County, as the full-time replacement for Cheryl Smith who is retiring after 29 years with the borough. A recent Shippensburg University graduate, Jarrett begins work on March 1 with a starting wage of $15 an hour.

Whats going to happen now with Tom being manager? Councilman Edgar Kendall asked as the meeting was drawing to a close. We just hired somebody for $15 an hour. Our budget will not be in line to cover the costs of Cheryl, Tom and this new employee.

Kendall said the 2017 budget had a line-item for secretary/treasurer that was not based on a $15 hourly wage. Aside from this higher wage, there are the costs of paying Day $1,000 a month to serve as part-time manager and of keeping Smith on to train her replacement, Kendall said.

Smith announced last June she planned to retire Jan. 1, but she later agreed to postpone her retirement and remain as secretary/treasurer until her replacement was ready to take over.

Kendall questioned whether these added costs would put the budget for borough administration in the red. How does it make sense to keep Tom as the part-time manager? Kendall asked. I dont think we need a manager to deal with day-to-day operations in the borough limits.

Council in December agreed to hire Day as the part-time manager at a cost of $1,000 per month in salary effective Jan. 2. There are no additional employee benefits beyond what Day already receives as police chief.

During an interview in January, Day told The Sentinel his duties as manager include oversight of municipal projects and the preparation of the annual budget.

Council President James Collins II said in January the chief will perform the duties of borough manager on as-needed basis with some weeks being busier than others.

Collins said Monday the issue of the chief serving as borough manager is moot, but Kendall disputed that, saying it was his understanding Day would only serve as an interim manager until a replacement for Smith is hired and trained.

In response, Collins said Day is not going anywhere and will likely serve as part-time manager for a while.

Council Vice-President Leroy Shildt said Day has done a heck of a job as manager in that he changed the way the borough advertised the secretary/treasurer position. This resulted in a larger pool of applicants for the job.

After Smith announced her retirement, council advertised her position as a full-time secretary/treasurer or borough manager. No viable candidate came out of the first round of advertising. The borough has since changed its strategy and shifted its advertisement to social media, Craigslist and postings at local colleges.

Shildt said Monday that Day is also leading the effort to find a replacement zoning officer for Joe Andreatti, who resigned from that position last week. Day is also searching for ways to save the borough money including a better deal on employee insurance benefits, Shildt said.

Kendall also questioned whether having the police chief serve as borough manager is appropriate. Shildt said it was common for boroughs across Pennsylvania to have a police chief also serve as the borough manager.

Shildt was referring to a January article in The Sentinel that quoted Leslie Suhr, director of public affairs for the Pennsylvania Association of Boroughs. She said many boroughs appoint the police chief as interim manager during a search for a replacement.

Suhr said other boroughs have it as a shared job. She cited as an example Quakertown in Bucks County which has one person serving as full-time manager and full-time police chief.

Its a natural fit, Suhr said in January. That person already has an intimate connection with the borough and a large involvement with day-to-day operations.

When asked in January, Day saw no conflict between the two jobs because a lot of his work as chief goes hand-in-hand with the kind of decisions he would have to make as borough manager.

The second round of advertising for the secretary/treasurer position yielded a starting pool of 53 applicants for the job of which Jarrett was one of 26 who were interviewed, said Deborah Halpin-Brophy who chairs the councils administrative, finance and budget committee.

Jarrett comes from a family that is involved in small local government, Halpin-Brophy said. Her father, uncle and grandfather have all held positions as borough manager in small municipalities in northern PA.

Jarrett graduated in 2016 from Shippensburg University with a bachelors degree in public administration with a minor in technical and professional communications.

Jarrett worked an internship with Newville Borough where she participated in grant applications, housing and redevelopment matters and community development, Halpin-Brophy said. She added Jarrett was also executive director of Improving Newville, a nonprofit organization.
It does not matter whether it was meant as a provocation, a test, or simply a call for attention. It may have been any of those, or all.

The test-firing of the Pukguksong-2 intermediate-range ballistic missile on Sunday, which was in no way conducive to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's pursuit of the international recognition and respect it covets, was a timely reminder of an outstanding security challenge the Donald Trump presidency faces.

It might have been an invitation for direct interaction with the United States. But there is no sign that will happen.

As of now, what Pyongyang has received in return, apart from immediate condemnation from the United Nations and calls from the US, Japan and the Republic of Korea for harsher sanctions, is Trump's vow to deal with it "very strongly and the US' "100 percent" solidarity with Japan.

However, Pyongyang will not stop now. That the US has not shown any willingness to engage can be read as a sign of indecisiveness and may thus inspire further provocations.

Yet Pyongyang will not get what it thinks it deserves, especially being accepted internationally as a legitimate, respectable nuclear power. For its persistent threats of "nuclear elimination" of "enemy states alone, it cannot but be deemed as a threat. That is why the UN, along with all countries in Northeast Asia, has remained steadfast on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

And that is why China and Russia, while consistently appealing for caution and restraint in dealing with Pyongyang and due respect for its security concerns, have joined the international chorus of condemnation and thrown their weight behind the recent UN sanctions.

The UN Security Council may or may not agree on additional, stronger sanctions this time, given member countries' divergences on the right approach to adopt. Even if a new package is approved, it is unlikely to suffice to stop Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program and missile stunts. Over the years, the world has watched as that program has grown and thrived despite all the condemnations and sanctions.

Which is why the missile launch should be a wake-up call for rethinking the response to Pyongyang's actions and intimidation.

A solid-fuel engine itself may not suffice to make the Pukguksong-2 a "game changer. Pyongyang may not come up with missile technologies capable of intercontinental attacks soon. But the vicious cycle will not end unless the root cause, the decades-old hostility between Pyongyang on the one hand, and Seoul and Washington on the other, is addressed.

All parties should step up communication and engagement to secure a peaceful settlement of the DPRK nuclear issue.
A hotel in Sanya, South China's Hainan province, July 12, 2014. [Photo/VCG]

High-end hotels recorded a surge in the sales of their rooms with the approach of Valentine's Day, but demand for budget hotels has cooled down as young Chinese prefer to spend more.

This year, Chinese people who were born in the 1990s account for nearly half of the total hotel orders for Valentine's Day, showing a rise over a year ago, according to a report by Ctrip.com International Ltd, China's leading online travel agency.

The surge in orders for Valentine's Day hotel rooms was significant in some third- and fourth-tier cities, in addition to hotel rooms in major cities that have been constantly in demand.

Smaller cities such as Wenzhou, Yangzhou and Weihai saw an 80 percent increase in the orders of rooms for the day over last year, the report said.

"Valentine's Day this year falls on a working day. That's why many lovers chose to spend their sweet time in hotels instead of going traveling," said Chen Xiaotian, director of business development of the accommodation business at Ctrip.

He added the price drop in hotel rooms after the Lantern Festival led to the surge in reservations for Valentine's Day.

In addition, this year's Valentine's Day saw an increase in the number of parents choosing to take their children traveling, as young children are still on their winter vacation.

Warm and coastal cities are popular destinations. Coastal cities such as Sanya and Haikou in Hainan province, in addition to Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Kunming and Hangzhou, have welcomed a greater number of tourists.

For outbound tourism, Southeast Asian locations such as Bangkok, Singapore and Phuket were favorite destinations for lovers.

Top hotel booking cities

 Beijing

 Shanghai

 Guangzhou

 Chengdu

 Hangzhou

 Nanjing

 Shenzhen

 Tianjin

 Xiamen

 Wuhan

Ctrip.com International Ltd

Cheng Yu contributed to this story.
An employee checks halogen inserts for low energy consumption light bulbs at an Osram factory in Molsheim, France. [Photo / Agencies]

Countries related to sale already OK'd transaction

China will give the green light soon to a Chinese consortium's acquisition of an LED lighting unit of Osram Licht AG, after the German company gained approval from the anti-monopoly authorities in all other related countries, experts said on Monday.

The comments came after the Committee of Foreign Investment in the United States, a multiagency panel chaired by the Treasury Department, approved the 400-million-euro ($425.6 million) purchase of the German group's LED lighting unit, also known as LEDVANCE, by Chinese buyers last week.

Because LEDVANCE has assets and manufacturing facilities in a number of countries, the deal has been approved by anti-monopoly authorities in the US, Macedonia, Mexico, Turkey, Germany, Poland and Russia.

Li Gang, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation in Beijing, said the robust growth of China's outbound direct investment would not change because current economic development requires that domestic companies use resources in global markets.

The Munich-based manufacturer of lighting products and semiconductors said the deal is still awaiting approval from China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange, the final government authority to approve the purchase.

"As China is upgrading its manufacturing ability to more advanced and internet-connected products, this deal certainly will be cleared by government branches soon to encourage domestic companies to invest in high-end, smart and green manufacturing abroad," said He Jingtong, a professor of international trade at Nankai University in Tianjin.

The Chinese consortium was formed by Sanan Optoelectronics Co Ltd, IDG Capital Partners and Yiwu State-Owned Assets Operation Center. The consortium's bid was cleared by Germany in January.

He said even through the mood for trade protectionism has grown fast since the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union, the German and the US governments were aware that controlling risks and cooperating with China would benefit all sides.
A Shippensburg man faces charges in three incidents at Sheetz that occurred on the same night.

Shippensburg Borough Police said they filed charges Tuesday against Austin Robert Springer, 21, stemming from the three incidents in the overnight hours between Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

Police said Springer entered Sheetz at 11:42 p.m. Jan. 31 and concealed numerous items. The cashier noticed the items and made him turn them over when he had approached the counter to pay for other items.

After paying, Springer returned to the store to conceal more items, and also intentionally broke open a beer and spilled it on the floor, police said.

Police were called to the scene, but Springer fled on foot and wasnt immediately located.

An hour later, Springer returned to Sheetz wearing different clothes, though the employee recognized him and called police. Springer concealed more items before fleeing on foot, police said.

Police caught Springer a few blocks away and identified him by his license. Police returned him to Sheetz where the employee identified him as the person who stole from the establishment twice, according to police.

During their investigation, however, police were dispatched for a felony home invasion, so Springer was released and told to leave the premises.

After police were out of sight, they said Springer returned to Sheetz and was told to leave by the employee. He refused, removed two sodas, returned one and fled on foot without paying for the other.

Police said it is unknown whether Springer realized police had already written down his information from his license prior to giving it back.

Police received surveillance video confirming it was Springer who was involved in the three incidents at the store and filed charges against him Tuesday.

Police said Springer faces retail theft, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct for the first incident, retail theft for the second incident and defiant trespass for the third incident.
By OUYANG SHIJIA in Beijing and HU MEIDONG in Nanan, Fujian | China Daily | Updated: 2017-02-14 08:14

Workers of Jomoo Kitchen & Bath Co Ltd assemble smart toilet lids. [Photo/Xinhua]

Jomoo Kitchen & Bath Co Ltd, one of China's biggest sanitary manufacturers, said it will be adding smart manufacturing to its operations, in a move to expand its presence in global markets.

The Fujian-based company said it had spent 1.56 billion yuan ($226 million) in upgrading manufacturing automation. It plans to start five smart output facilities, aiming to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

The plant, with additional annual production estimated to be worth 6 billion yuan, will be built in its established factories in two or three years. The additional output will include customized bathroom cabinets, ceramics, smart toilets and intelligent cabinets.

Jomoo Chairman Lin Xiaofa said with the upgrading of the consumer market, traditional manufacturers needed to push forward with their industrial transformation and upgrading.

"The Belt and Road Initiative and the supply-side structural reform will yield consumption dividends, bringing us new development opportunities," Lin said.

"We plan to increase our goal for 2020 sales up to 15.2 billion yuan. And we aim to become a world leader in providing customized household items by 2030."

According to Jomoo, it not only needs to upgrade its production but also optimize the business model.

"Connecting production systems, sales, customer services and big data will help us to analyze consumers' different needs," Lin said. "Then we can offer better customer services. Big data also can also help us forecast sales and rationally manage our inventory."

In 2015, China's State Council unveiled the Made in China 2025 strategy, a 10-year national plan to transform China from a manufacturing giant into a global high-tech manufacturing power. The strategy is also echoed in China's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20). In particular, smart manufacturing is defined as a key development area in the two documents, provide opportunities for domestic manufacturers.

Internet Society of China Secretary-General Lu Wei told an internet industry annual conference in January that smart manufacturing was becoming the key development area for industrial upgrading.

"The integration of manufacturing and the internet will bring about a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation," Lu said.

"We will see big waves coming this year," Lu added.

Founded in 1990, Jomoo owns 16 factories and operates more than 4,000 exclusive stores.

Although the exact figures remain closely guarded, it is believed the company enjoyed 40 percent growth in sales in 2016 compared with the same period in 2015. Last year its online transactions increased to 360 million yuan during the annual Nov 11 online shopping festival, with a 44 percent year-on-year growth.
BEIJING - The Ministry of Commerce said Monday that it had started anti-dumping and countervailing duties investigations into Indian imports of Ortho Chloro Para Nitro Aniline, a type of dye intermediate.

The ministry had received requests from domestic producers, who accused Indian manufacturers of dumping the product on the Chinese market and called for an inquiry, according to a statement posted on the ministry's website.

The ministry said it would investigate whether Indian firms were subsidized by the Indian government and if they had sold the product at an artificially low price in China.

The investigations are expected to conclude before Feb 13, 2018 and may in special circumstance be extended to Aug 13, 2018.

Ortho Chloro Para Nitro Aniline is a chemical product widely used in dyes and pharmaceuticals.
An outlet of Bank of China in Zhoukou, Henan province. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Bank of China said on Monday it is placing greater focus on and devoting more resources to manage compliance risks and meet anti-money laundering rules in other countries, as it expands globally to serve Chinese companies and local clients.

Bank of China's initiative follows similar moves made by the other big mainland commercial banks.

The country's fourth biggest commercial lender, with the widest overseas network among its domestic peers, said it had set up a risk policy committee under its board of directorsin addition to a committee of risk management and internal control and an anti-money laundering committee under the management team.

"We've been following the latest regulatory requirements closely and strengthen our supervision of compliance risks during the process of cross-border product development and overseas expansion," the banks said in a written email reply to China Daily.

"In the meantime, we have developed our own operational risk monitoring and analysis platform and anti-money laundering system to prevent and control regulatory violations," the bank added.

"We used big data analytics to summarize the risk features of violations and transform the information into a control model implanted into the system, which will analyze bank accounts and transactions and monitor our business remotely."

With the implementation of the bank's three-year plan for anti-money laundering for the 2015-17 period, Bank of China said it has now hired full-time compliance officers at every overseas branch and subbranch and had a compliance department at key branches worldwide.

Apart from offering anti-money laundering training to all employees at the grassroots level during the three years, it has carried out due diligence and money laundering risk assessments on its clients both in and outside China.

The bank said it would keep strengthening compliance management. It said it would do this by creating positions for regional compliance officers, building professional teams, improving its compliance culture, stepping up previews of compliance risk and establishing a mechanism for compliance assessment before the launch of a new overseas branch.

The bank is not alone in stepping up the efforts to meet compliance requirements internationally. Agricultural Bank of China Ltd, another large State-owned commercial bank, will also strengthen compliance risk controls by building a globally-integrated comprehensive risk management system and improve its ability to manage overseas branches, bank chairman Zhou Mubing, told a meeting on its overseas business in 2017 on Jan 20.

The meeting was held a few days before the China Banking Regulatory Commission issued a guideline on Jan 25 for banks to tighten risk controls and standardize their services for Chinese companies that expand business internationally.

Highlighting the significance of compliance risk management, the CBRC required banks to reinforce the construction of compliance systems, intensify everyday compliance management and efforts against money laundering and the financing of terrorism, allocate more resources to compliance and improve their efficiency of communications with local regulators.

According to the CBRC to date, Chinese banks have set up more than 200 tier-1 overseas branches and nine banks have launched 62 tier-1 branches in 26 countries along the routes of the Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to promote connectivity among Asian, European and African countries.
A potential buyer seeks information about property projects at a real estate expo in Shanghai. Yang Yi / For China Daily

Miao Wenjun, a 32-year-old IT system equipment distribution manager, is thinking of abandoning her plan to buy an apartment in central Shanghai after a year of hunting for the ideal residence.

In late 2016, Miao, a native of Hefei, Anhui province, got her household registration, known as hukou, in Shanghai after working for 10 years in the city, which meant she was qualified to buy a home in the city under Shanghai's housing policies.

The first thing she did was selling her apartment in her hometown to raise 1.2 million yuan ($174,100) for the down payment for a property she would like to buy in Shanghai.

She applied for a loan of 2.2 million yuan, with monthly installments of 11,782 yuan, but she was rejected in late January, and told that her monthly income of some 20,000 yuan was not enough a proof of her ability to pay the debt.

She found that she was not alone among the many rejected homebuyers, as at least four of her friends had been rejected for the same reason.

"People say that I was unlucky because I applied too late, and the lending policies were already tightened. I can't blame anyone. I can just blame my income for being too low. I am thinking of changing my job to get a higher salary, and try applying again," said Miao.

Or, she can reduce her budget for homebuying, and borrow a smaller amount, said Miao.

"Buying a home is a dream, but it is not the only option. In 2017 I will look at smaller apartments in suburban Shanghai. And if I can successfully buy a property in Shanghai, I will feel quite lucky," she said.

The only thing she hopes, said Miao, is that home prices do not rise to a level beyond what she can afford by the time she gets her finances ready.
A worker at a steel factory in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning province, August 10, 2016. [Photo/VCG]

BEIJING - China's crude steel output rose slightly last year, according to the country's top economic planner on Monday.

Crude steel production increased 1.2 percent year on year to 808.37 million tons in 2016, compared with a 2.3 percent decrease in 2015, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

Meanwhile, steel prices continued to pick up, with the domestic steel price index gaining 11.23 points from November to reach 99.48 in December on average, increasing 44.13 points from the same period in 2015.

China's over-supplied steel sector has experienced years of plunging prices and factory shutdowns due to a sluggish economy. However, with an upward trend in prices from the beginning of 2016, many steel mills are resuming production.

The central government has reiterated that cutting overcapacity is high on its reform agenda as excess capacity in sectors such as steel and coal has weighed on the country's economic performance.

China plans to reduce steel output by an additional 100 million to 150 million tons by 2020. Its 2016 target to cut 45 million tons was achieved ahead of schedule.
JINAN - East China's Shandong province provided over 50 billion yuan ($7.3 billion) of loans for poverty reduction in 2016, benefiting 300,000 impoverished people, authorities said Tuesday.

Banks were organized to offer over 30 specific credit products after the province carried out a field survey on 1.8 million poverty-stricken households and 21,000 businesses aimed at poverty alleviation, according to a statement issued by the Jinan branch of the People's Bank of China.

Among the loans, over 1 billion yuan was poured into poverty-alleviation industrial sectors, such as tourism, e-commerce and the photovoltaic industry.

Companies in poor areas were also encouraged to issue medium-term notes, corporate bonds and short-term bonds, securing total financing of 52.3 billion yuan.

An information system was also developed last year to evaluate the effect of these financial measures on poverty reduction.
By ZHANG YU in Shijiazhuang and LI FUSHENG in Beijing | China Daily | Updated: 2017-02-14 07:34

Workers assemble sport utility vehicles at a Great Wall Motor Co plant in Tianjin. JIA CHENGLONG /FOR CHINA DAILY

Great Wall Motor Co Ltd, one of the major sport utility vehicle manufacturers in China, plans to launch its first high-end SUV brand in May, aiming to further expand its market share.

The model will be equipped with competitive technology, safety performances and design, according to Wei Jianjun, founder and chairman of Great Wall Motor.

Wei said the Wey model will be priced between 150,000 ($21,790) and 200,000 yuan, about 60,000 yuan more than its popular Haval models, the best-seller in the SUV market.

Sales of its star product, the Haval H6, have ranked first in the domestic SUV market for four consecutive years, with sales of 580,700 vehicles last year.

It sold 938,000 SUVs in 2016, giving it the top spot in China's SUV market for the 14th consecutive year, with a share of 10.4 percent.

With its large customer base, the Baoding-headquartered company is embarking on developing its luxury SUV brand.

The goal is to upgrade its products and gain a bigger slice of the high-end SUV market, which is currently dominated by international brands, according to Wei.

Three Wey models will be launched this year, with two more due to follow next year.

Other automakers are also taking steps to upgrade their SUV offerings.

More than 40 new SUV models are due to be launched this year, according to Xu Haidong, assistant secretary-general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

Around 9 million SUVs were sold in China last year, an increase of 44.6 percent year-on-year, according to the CAAM.

Zhang Wenhui, vice-president of Great Wall Motor, said the company attaches importance to technology and innovation.
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By Li Yingqing in Kunming and Su Zhou in Beijing | China Daily | Updated: 2017-02-14 07:46

A customer selects flowers at Kunming Dounan Flower Market in Yunnan province on Monday.Shi Wenzhi / China Daily

With couples set to enjoy Valentine's Day, flower traders in China are also welcoming the boost that the annual celebration of romance is providing for their sales.

Yunnan province's Kunming Dounan Flower Market, the country's largest flower market, said its daily trade volume of fresh flowers has remained at about 6 million in the past five days, meaning nearly 70 flowers are being sold every second.

Zhang Li, general manager of Dounan Flower Market, said that a record high of 6.41 million flowers were sold on Thursday.

"The price of flowers is also increasing, even for filler flowers. The single price for most common roses is about 7 to 8 yuan ($1-$1.16), while the price for baby's breath is about 170 yuan per kilogram," Zhang said.

Zhang Xi, deputy general manager of an online flower shop based in Beijing, said this year's flower sales for Valentine's Day are expected to increase at least tenfold when compared with last year.

Data from Alibaba.com show that the viewing of flowers on its e-commerce platform had increased substantially. The biggest buyers are from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong province, aged between 26 and 30 years old.

Zhang Li said this year's sales boost was driven by growing demand from markets in both China and other Southeast Asian countries.

"Flowers from Dounan have been sold to buyers in Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand, among other countries," he said.

"In addition, this year's Spring Festival fell early, at the end of January, creating two separate purchasing periods - the traditional Chinese festival and Valentine's Day - which helped boost sales."

The peak seasons for flower sales are generally related to festivals, but with the rapid development of the flower market, the boundaries between peak and off seasons have been blurred, according to industry insiders.

Reflower.com.cn, an e-commerce platform for fresh flowers, released a report recently, saying flower consumption is no longer restricted to festivals, and that increasing numbers of consumers are now buying flowers on a weekly basis for decoration at home or in the office. Weekday sales now account for 12.7 percent of its monthly sales, it added.


A fireworks stall owner withdraws his products in eastern Beijing's Sihui area on Feb 1, the last day of the capital's sales period for fireworks and firecrackers.Guo Qian / For China Daily

Fewer people celebrate Spring Festival with a bang as city calls for cleaner air

Sales of fireworks and firecrackers continued on a downward trend this year, with sales in the capital falling by more than 30 percent, marking the sixth consecutive annual decline since 2012, the city's fireworks authority said on Monday.

The reason for the decline was because residents had responded to the authority's call for a reduction in the usage of fireworks, it said.

"Fireworks are not essential for creating a festival atmosphere. We can also hang lanterns to celebrate in a traditional manner," said Zhang Zhenyu, a resident in the capital's Chaoyang district.

The 30-year-old said he hasn't set off fireworks since his daughter was born three years ago. "My daughter often gets sick during smoggy weather. Setting off fireworks could result in smog, and I don't want my daughter, or others, to get sick," he said.

Beijing experienced heavy smog on Saturday after a firework frenzy marked the end of the annual Spring Festival celebrations with a bang.

The period, which starts on Chinese New Year's Eve and ends on Lantern Festival - this year running from Jan 28 until Saturday - is the only time fireworks are allowed to be set off within the Fifth Ring Road.

According to the city government, more than 791 metric tons of waste from fireworks and firecrackers were cleared during the period, a decrease of 18.9 percent year-on-year.

Air quality data showed concentration levels of PM2.5 - fine particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter, which is hazardous - increased as families marked the end of the festivities in traditional style.

The concentration level of PM2.5 in the capital's southwest was 76 micrograms per cubic meter at 6 pm. By 8 pm, it had risen to 203, and an hour later, it hit 335, according to the Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center.

The highest concentration recorded was 820 at the Xizhimen monitoring station on the Second Ring Road.

The center said 16 percent of PM2.5 was caused by potassium ion, which is produced by fireworks.

Smog is forecast to hit parts of northern and central China on Tuesday, including Beijing and Tianjin, and the provinces of Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong and Henan, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said on Monday, adding that it is expected to linger until the arrival of a cold front on Thursday.
HARRISBURG  The company planning to build a 306-mile pipeline to move propane and other natural gas liquids across southern Pennsylvania says it can begin construction.

Sunoco Logistics received permit approvals for the Mariner East 2 pipeline from the Department of Environmental Protection on Monday.

But environmental groups are trying to halt its construction while they appeal the permits.

They say the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection approved incomplete permit applications Monday for the pipeline. They argue construction of the 306-mile section of Mariner East 2 would cause massive and irreparable harm to the states environment and residents.

The Clean Air Council, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, and Mountain Watershed Association appealed the decision to a state environmental hearing board.

Environmental department officials have declined comment.

Acting DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell said the evaluation leading up to Mondays approval was a huge undertaking that included reviewing permit applications and technical deficiencies for more than 20,000 hours, responding to 29,000 comments, and ensuring Sunoco addressed deficiencies identified in its initial applications.

In a comprehensive process spanning more than 2 years  one that included unprecedented public input  Sunoco Logistics provided detailed plans to minimize impacts to the environment, protected species and cultural resources. We are proud of those efforts and are committed to these important priorities, Sunoco Logistics officials said in a new release Monday.

Sunoco Logistics can now begin construction throughout Pennsylvania in accordance with the permits, with estimated completion in the third quarter of this year. Mariner East 2 will require more than 8,000 construction workers to build the pipeline and related facilities. Mariner East 2 will carry primarily propane and butane from the Marcellus and Utica shale areas of Ohio, West Virginia and western Pennsylvania to the Marcus Hook Industrial Complex in southeastern Pennsylvania.

By keeping these natural resources in Pennsylvania for storage, processing and distribution to local, regional and international markets, Mariner East 2 offers Pennsylvania the opportunity to develop its own manufacturing economy rather than sending jobs and investment elsewhere.

Sunoco has said it expects the project will be completed in the third quarter of 2017.

The project includes up to two new, 350-mile-long pipelines that will generally run parallel to Sunocos existing Mariner East 1 pipeline.

Sunoco Logistics says itll use 75,000 tons of steel to build the 275,000 barrel-per-day pipeline.
Chinese tourists take photos in front of the Sydney Opera House, which is lit up red to welcome in the Lunar New Year in Sydney in February last year.Peter Parks / AFP

A record 1.2 million Chinese tourists visited Australia in 2016, according to statistics released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Monday. Jessica Noack from the ABS Migration Analysis and Reporting Team said there had been "phenomenal growth" in the number of visitor arrivals from China over the past 40 years, explaining that in 1976, just 500 Chinese tourists visited Australia.

"China has almost caught up with New Zealand as the most popular source country for visitors to Australia," Noack said in a statement released on Monday.

"After China, visitors from Vietnam had the highest growth rate over the past 40 years, growing from 100 in 1976 to 70,500 in 2016. United Arab Emirates had the next highest growth rate, increasing from 100 in 1976 to 40,900 in 2016, while visitors from South Korea grew from 1,200 in 1976 to 286,000 in 2016."

Noack said that while New Zealand remained the source nation with the highest number of visitor arrivals to Australia in 2016, with more than 1.3 million, the ABS expects China to take over first place in the not-too-distant future.

"In 2016, New Zealand was still our top source country. After New Zealand and China, the most popular sources of travelers in 2016 were the United States (714,700), the United Kingdom (709,600) and Singapore (443,600)," Noack said.

According to the ABS, 38 percent of all short-term trips were made to New South Wales, where Sydney is the state capital, followed by Victoria (Melbourne) with 25 percent, and Queensland (with tourist towns Brisbane, Gold Coats and Cairns) accounting for 22 percent.
A former convict who was misdiagnosed as being HIV-positive and transferred to a prison with infected inmates has refused to accept the compensation awarded by a court in Henan province.

Sanmenxia's Hubin district court awarded Liu Jianguo 100,000 yuan ($14,540) in damages on Dec 13 after he sued the city's prison authority and center for disease control.

Yet the 57-year-old has appealed, stating that the amount is too small to cover the mental strain placed on him and his family by the misdiagnosis. He is demanding at least 400,000 yuan.

"I'm back living in my hometown in Luoyang, Henan, and my health is so-so," said Liu, who was released early for good behavior in 2015. "When I recall my days in prison with people with HIV and AIDS, it feels like a nightmare."

Liu was given 15 years for intentional injury in 2005 and sent to Sanmenxia Prison. The next year, he underwent an HIV test handled by the local CDC, which came back positive.

According to court records, the prison did not inform Liu of the result for four years to prevent "mental distress", but insisted it followed the proper procedures.

The guidelines for Henan prisons regarding HIV infections are not openly available. However, according to the current regulations in Shanghai, prisoners should be informed about any positive result within five days.

In June 2011, Liu was transferred to Yu'nan Prison, which has a unit for HIV/AIDS inmates, and placed on antiviral medication.

"I was always vomiting, I had a fever and was losing my hair," Liu told China Daily. "I couldn't eat and lost more than 10 kilograms."

Liu tested negative for HIV in late 2011, but the prison kept him on the drugs until the result was confirmed in a test in January 2012. Further tests over the following months also were negative, and he was transferred back to Sanmenxia Prison in April that year.

"In Yu'nan Prison, it was mandatory to have two haircuts a month. The barber used the same pair of scissors for everyone, with no disinfection. I felt scared about what might happen," he said.

The prison authority and CDC have denied liability and appealed against the compensation ruling. Neither responded to requests for comment from China Daily.

Zhang Jinghui, the attorney representing Liu, said the ordeal had seriously affected not only his client, but also his family. The court heard that Liu's father fell sick after news of the positive result, his wife developed depression and his daughter attempted to commit suicide.

"We hold that 100,000 yuan is not enough to compensate for his experience," Zhang added.

After being released from prison, Liu was again given the all-clear after a test at a CDC medical clinic.

"Coming out of prison, despite the freedom, many people now despise me because they believe I have AIDS. When I go to buy vegetables, I can hear people whispering," he said. "I gave my medical reports to relatives and friends, but many of them still think I have AIDS. I'm also having trouble finding a job.

"After my experience, I have a shadow in my heart. People say everyone is equal in front of the law. I just want justice," he added.

Qi Xin contributed to this story.
Ren Xinmin, a scientist whose dedication and expertise propelled China's aerospace industry onto the world stage, died on Sunday afternoon in Beijing. He was 102.

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, the country's major space contractor, announced his death.

Ren was a famed expert in missile and rocket technologies who helped build China's first artificial satellite. Alongside Tu Shou'e, Huang Weilu and Liao Shounie, he was regarded as one of the "Four Elders of China's Aerospace", only exceeded by the founder of China's aerospace industry, Qian Xuesen.

Ren is the last of the four to pass away, but people from the industry remembered him fondly by the moniker "the Chief Chief Engineer".

Born on Dec 5, 1915, Ren, the son of an elementary school teacher in Ningguo, Anhui province, received his doctorate in applied mechanics from the University of Michigan in 1945, and became the first Chinese lecturer at the University of Buffalo in 1948, teaching mechanical engineering.

However, Ren returned the following year to the newly formed People's Republic of China out of "high hopes for the new nation".

In 1956, Ren, a professor at Harbin Institute of Military Engineering, met Qian, who asked Ren to "aim for the stars" and join the Defense Ministry's Fifth Research Institute, the predecessor of CASC.

Throughout the mid-20th century, Ren's fingerprints covered projects from China's first missile to the first artificial satellite and the first human spaceflight.

He designed and launched China's first short-range ballistic missile - Dongfeng 1 - in November 1960, then expanded the range and capability of the Dongfeng series,making it the backbone of today's People's Liberation Army Rocket Force.

In 1970, Ren and his team designed the Long March 1 carrier rocket and sent China's first artificial satellite - the Dongfanghong 1 - into orbit. In 1981, he directed China's first multi-satellite loaded rocket into space, making China one of only four countries to achieve this feat. The other three are the United States, Russia and India.

At age 75, Ren took on the mantle of chief engineer for five more projects, including China's first Fengyun 1 weather satellite, and oversaw China's launch of its first international commercial satellite made by US company Hughes Corp.

But Ren's dream was to send people into space, so he pushed for China's manned space flight program in 1992. Despite being in his 80s, Ren insisted on participating in every major seminar on the program and gave advice whenever he could.

In 2003, Ren witnessed Yang Liwei, China's first man in space, flying the Shenzhou 5 spacecraft into the sky. When interviewed, he could only murmur: "Good, good, very good," according to a report by China Aerospace Daily.

In 2014, Ren was hospitalized due to illness, but he still paid close attention to the latest development of the Chinese aerospace industry. When Lei Fanpei, the CASC chairman, came to visit him, Ren said, "I really hope Long March 5 can fly soon," according to the report.
China plans to launch its first cargo spacecraft via a Long March 7 Y2 carrier rocket in April, sources said on Monday.

The Tianzhou 1 cargo craft, which was transported from Tianjin on Feb 5, arrived at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province on Monday for assembly and testing, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

Consisting of a cargo capsule and a propellent capsule, Tianzhou 1, the first cargo spacecraft independently developed by China, has a take off weight of about 13 metric tons, up to 6 tons of which can be payload. It can remain in space for as long as threemonths.

It will be capable of docking with the Tiangong II space lab and refueling it, in addition to carrying out experiments and tests.

The Long March 7 Y2 carrier rocket is scheduled to arrive at the launch center in March, the CMSA said.

The launch of Tianzhou 1 will be a crucial step for China in building a space station by 2020, since cargo spacecraft will be needed to supply astronauts aboard the station.
Firefighters of the Hujialou Fire Squadron in Chaoyang district, Beijing, load fire-extinguishing rockets on a launch vehicle on Sunday.Wang Yufei / For China Daily

Beijing has introduced a fire-extinguishing rocket system to handle blazes in its Central Business District, the city's densest skyscraper cluster.

The system, which looks like a multiple rocket launcher, can fire rockets filled with a fire-extinguishing agent to hit targets up to 300 meters, which is about 80 floors up.

The rocket is capable of going through glass up to 19 millimeters thick when launched from hundreds of meters away, according to the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp, the nation's largest missile maker and the system's developer.

It uses technologies from China's space launch vehicles and missiles and each rocket can put out a fire quickly in a room of up to 60 cubic meters, the company said.

In an actual fire, infrared and laser sensors on the launch vehicle will detect and calculate the location and height of the blaze, and the ballistic computer will produce a launch angle and trajectory for the rocket.

After entering a room on fire through a window, the rocket will release 3.6 kilograms of fire-extinguishing powder to suppress the blaze, the company said in a news release. It said a launch vehicle is able to fire a round of 24 rockets in 72 seconds and can be quickly reloaded.

One such launch vehicle was delivered in late January to the Hujialou Fire Squadron in Chaoyang district. The squadron is responsible for the CBD, which has seven out of the top 10 highest buildings in Beijing, including the 330-meter China World Trade Center Tower III, the tallest completed building in the city.

The squadron is the second user of the system in China after a chemical producer in Shandong province also bought a launch vehicle, said Wang Heng, marketing manager of the system at China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp. Wang said on Monday that each unit, with a launcher and rockets, costs about 8.5 million yuan ($1.24 million).

He said that two vehicles will soon be delivered to other users while a total of 10 vehicles have been ordered by new buyers, without giving the names of the new users and buyers.

Qiu Xuyang, the chief designer of the system, said it has a high level of accuracy and safety.

"In case the missile accidentally deviates from the predetermined course, the control system will guide it to fall to the ground," he said.

It is difficult for firefighters anywhere to handle a fire 60 meters above the ground because there are few types of equipment capable of transporting extinguishing agents, primarily water, to that height, Qiu said.

He said his product is the first fire-extinguishing rocket system in the world.

Kang Qingchun, a professor specializing in fire control at the Chinese People's Armed Police Force Academy, said the apparatus will be useful because now only the fire suppression equipment inside skyscrapers can be relied on if a blaze occurs.
A slew of measures will be taken to reduce cost of farming and ensure food safety

The quality of agricultural goods will be improved by increasing the acreage of well-facilitated farmland, with irrigation facilities and adequate harvest equipment, and strictly limiting the use of chemicals.

Experts believe the move will reduce costs and ensure food safety.

A State Council executive meeting, presided over by Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday, decided to strictly manage the use of farm chemicals, amid safety concerns, as well as promote well-facilitated farmland.

The State Council, China's Cabinet, targeted improving farmland quality through promoting intensive plowing, as well as adopting more agricultural machinery and efficient irrigation, a statement released after the meeting said.

The meeting also called for the establishment of a national database to oversee well-facilitated farmland and achieve targeted management goals. Meanwhile, private capital will be encouraged to participate in the building and management of these farms.

In addition, a draft amended regulation to control the use of farm chemicals was approved at the meeting to fight soil contamination by cutting their use. The Ministry of Agriculture was named the sole department to govern this area to avoid overlapping after decades of joint management with several other departments.

Meanwhile, a licensing system will be set up for the production and sale of farm chemicals while fines for breaches, such as unapproved production and sales of counterfeit goods, will be raised.

Well-facilitated farmland refers to large and level tracts of arable and fertile land with facilities, such as irrigation, to withstand adverse natural conditions. Last month, China's top rural affairs decision-making body - the Office of the Central Leading Group for Rural Work - said the country will invest 600 billion yuan ($87 billion) over the next four years to double the current 26.7 million hectares of farmland categorized as well-facilitated by 2020.

China feeds one fifth of the world's population with only 7 percent of the planet's arable land. Compounding the issue is the fact that southern regions have to tackle mountainous terrain and have been suffering drought and floods.

Premier Li has consistently spotlighted agriculture during his domestic tours in rural areas. In August, he stopped along a highway and discussed with local farmers the output and price for rice in Ruijin county in East China's Jiangxi province, which he believed reflected conditions regarding the food supply for the country as well as farmer's incomes in general.

These measures will further lower the cost for producing agricultural goods and boost competitiveness as China's average product per hectare of land has been lower than in developed economies, said Dang Guoying, a researcher in rural development at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Southwest China's Yunnan province can serve as an example of the urgency to upgrade the agricultural sector as more than three quarters of its land is mountainous and hilly.

Ye Longxin, a 36-year-old farmer in Hekou county in Yunnan, said Wednesday's decisions will be beneficial to farmers and the agricultural sector. "Farmland on mountains consumes more time while I've faced problems with irrigation, and finding labor for harvest and transport," he said.

Ye said many people in the county find work in cities or go to coastal areas, which has led to an increase in the price of labor - at least 200 yuan a day. "What's worse is that I found it hard even to find labor in peak seasons of sowing or harvest. If the government can provide help to build better-quality land, I will applaud it," Ye said.

Meanwhile, the supply of high-end and healthy agricultural products lags behind consumer demand as the middle-class grows rapidly. Currently, many high-quality products are imported from Western economies, while domestic products have an inventory surplus.

High-standard farmland and farm chemicals will be improved because they are also key to ensuring the country's food safety, Dang said. "High costs can be reduced when average production is raised with better farmland facilities and the use of perilous chemicals constrained," he said.

"We cannot import all our food from other countries. This is a national security issue," Dang added.
Ministries and departments responded to a series of concerns from the public last week, including the improvement of medical services, the banning of surrogacy and work safety.

Health services

The National Health and Family Planning Commission held a news conference on Feb 8 and Jiao Yahui, senior official of the commission, said that China is implementing a three-year action plan, starting from 2015, to improve health services. By the end of 2016, she said, 1,378 medical institutions had offered mobile payment-based settlement services, 710 more than a year ago; meanwhile, 1,445 tertiary referral hospitals had established information database and offered access to the public, 200 more than a year ago; and 3,329 medical institutions had adopted appointment services, which reduced the waiting time of patients, Jiao said. By the end of 2016, she added, more than 6,800 medical institutions had provided telemedicine services to cover 1,330 counties.

This year, the health authorities targeted 11 major tasks to further improve medical services, Jiao said. Medical resources will be better distributed, management of hospitals will be strengthened, and information technology will be used more widely to facilitate patients, she said.

The commission will continue to push supply-side structural reform to provide better health services and, at the same time, provide more targeted services to satisfy demand from the public, Jiao said. "We should continually raise people's 'sense of gain' from medical reform and ensure the public can share the dividends of reform," she said. Experience and lessons from the first three-year medical action plan will be collected, which will be used to improve the second three-year plan from 2018 to 2020, Jiao said.

Surrogacy in birth

Mao Qun'an, spokesman for the commission, said that surrogacy will continue to be banned in China and violations will be punished.

The announcement came after China started to adopt the second-child policy in early 2016. Some illegal activities, such as surrogacy, had arisen following the implementation of the new policy.

Surrogacy is a complex matter involving legal, ethical and social issues; most countries and regions in the world have banned any form of surrogacy and institutions and staff involved in surrogacy could be fined and punished in those countries and regions, Mao said. In China, the health regulator has promulgated a management regulation on human assisted reproductive technology, which forbids medical institutions and staff from performing surrogacy in any form, Mao told the news conference in Beijing.

In recent years, China has found and punished some surrogacy activities and it will continue to severely clamp down on surrogacy to ensure the public have access to safe, regulated and effective assisted reproductive technology services, he said.

Work safety

Officials from the State Administration of Work Safety said on Feb 9 that the three major workplace accidents in the last quarter of 2016 can be attributed to failures to abide by the relevant safe production rules.

The gas explosion in a coal mine in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality, which killed 33 people, the construction platform collapse at a power plant in Fengcheng, East China's Jiangxi province, which killed 73 people, and the gas explosion in a mine in Chifeng city in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, which killed 32 workers, could have been avoided if staff paid attention to work safety regulations, they said. Relevant government departments were also responsible given their negligence, they added. "Blind spots, loopholes and weak links exist in the work safety supervision of relevant government departments," said Su Jie, spokesman for the administration.
Today is Valentine's Day, a day when people go the extra mile to express their feelings to their loved ones. On this romantic holiday, let's have a look at some love stories that may touch your heart.

An old photo recalls a woman's childhood memory. [Photo/Sina Weibo]

Woman searches for boy who hugged her 18 years ago

Do you remember your childhood playmate? In North China's Tianjin, a woman posted two photos on Sina Weibo in search of a boy who gave her a hug 18 years ago.

"Looking for the boy in gray clothes," the woman with the online name Xiaoxiannv Hehehehehe said in a post on Feb 3.

The woman said she met the boy in a cake store on Aug 18, 1999, her second birthday. She said the boy looked at her through the glass door, and when the door opened, he rushed to hug her.

The woman said she stumbled across the photo in an old album and decided to look for the boy because she was touched by the childhood memory.

The post attracted much attention as major media outlets and netizens forwarded it to help her find the boy.
How can you quickly say goodbye to a broken marriage? An instant messaging app used in court can do the job. A recent trial held at Fuquan No 4 People's Court through WeChat was completed in just 20 minutes to legalize a divorce agreement between a long-separated couple.

It was the first trial case conducted through WeChat in Qiannan prefecture in Southwest China's Guizhou province.

The couple, both from a village of southwestern Fuquan city of the prefecture got married in 1989. In the early years of the marriage they both tried to earn money in another province due to precarious financial conditions but later separated. The two have been living in separate cities for seven years, resulting in a broken relationship.

On Feb 8, one of them filed a divorce appeal in court, while the other, who lives and works about 2,000 kilometers away in northern Tianjin, expressed no objection. With a judge's mediation through WeChat, they reached a divorce agreement the next day.
Xinjiang sees growth in rural incomes

Xinhua | Updated: 2017-02-14 15:23

URUMQI - Per capita disposable income for rural residents grew 8 percent year on year to reach 10,183 yuan (about 1,454 U.S. dollars) in 2016 in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.



"It is the first time the figure beat the 10,000 yuan mark," said Xu Bin, head of the regional statistics bureau.



The regional economy grew 7.6 percent year on year in 2016, 0.9 percentage points above the national growth rate. The region's GDP reached 961.7 billion yuan (139.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2016, with continued expansion of the tertiary sector.



Xu said that policies to boost employment were the main reasons for the growth of rural incomes. The local government has helped farmers to find jobs in cities other than their hometown.



He said that taxes had been reduced for small businesses in rural areas and loans were given to farmers, adding that farmers made more money in 2016 from cotton growing, a main agricultural industry in Xinjiang.
An elderly couple share a warm moment with their grandchild. [Photo by Zhu Simin/For chinadaily.com.cn]

A photographer spent this year's Spring Festival recording the love shared by 18 old couples in the countryside, the Chutian Metropolis Daily reports.

Zhu Simin, 29, is a photographer in Wuhan, Hubei province. While in her husband's hometown of Siwang town in Wuxue city for the holiday, Zhu agreed to take family photos for some neighbors at their request.

As many residents in the village are elderly people aged over 80, Zhu said she hoped to record their images while they were alive.

"My grandpa and grandma died a long time ago. I have never seen an image of them together in their later years," Zhu said.

Sitting in front of the camera, many elderly people felt uneasy and looked stiff. To help them feel relaxed, Zhu told them to try different poses, such as the husband putting a hand around the shoulder of the wife or touching her hand.

"The older generation is not as open-minded as young people. But their love is deep," Zhu said.

Zhu chose some of the romantic photos to post online ahead of Valentine's Day in the hope of touching more people. She also plans to send the photos to her elderly subjects.
For millennia upon millennia the middle kingdom has produced some of the most revealing and thought-provoking literature on romance and classics.

Having grown up in London, I've always felt rather privileged in being surrounded by the great wealth of literature heroes such as Shakespeare, Wordsworth and Oscar Wilde. It wasn't really until my latter years when I first arrived in China, that I began to appreciate and understand the sheer genius of ancient Chinese literature - with a particular emphasis on Li Bai and Qin Guan of the Tang and Song dynasties, where my true China experience begins...

Scott Winnen

Stepping hot off the plane in 2013 on Valentine's Day, I arrived at Pudong airport where I was instantly flabbergasted by the size and depth of the infrastructure that Shanghai boasted. From what I recall of the experience, the driver whizzed me right into the beating heart of Shanghai's trophy piece: the Bund, where I met my first Chinese valentines. I was thinking en-route, what piece of poetry should be my opening line? A Wordsworth, Blake or a Fitzgerald...Of course I stuck with tradition and went with the two famous lines: "A cheerful life is what the Muses love. A soaring spirit is their prime delight", to which rather comically she gave me a reassuring nod and we began to order.

From that day on, I was officially China centric, taken in by the wonderful sights and fascinated by the mysterious beauties that this part of the world has to offer.

In my typical academic idiosyncrasies I began visiting old libraries, small towns and different regions, stepping back in time and learning about the history of this country's famous writers and poets and developing a detailed appreciation of the Chinese culture.

For the avid reader, China has two official Valentine's days: Feb 14 and Qixi festival, which is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar  therefore this year it falls on August 9 (2016), so make a note my good friends.

In recent years the Feb 14 has certainly become more popular in China's grand metropolises for celebrating love and romance. Whereby traditionally, Chinese couples would visit the matchmaker temple and pray for their longlasting love and future marriage on Qixi festival, our day, which supposedly has its origins from Lupercalia, involves simply buying chocolate and roses in a display of affection for our current partner.

Qingrenjie (literally meaning lovers' day) for me this year will be a very auspicious one. Over my many years in China I've been fortunate enough to travel from the Northern regions to the Southern and Eastern front and along the way I've had the pleasure to meet a myriad of people from villages in Sichuan to hutong's in Beijing. One very special person in my life here, whom was recently struck by Cupid's arrow, originates from Shandong province  home of the great philosopher Confucius. What I continuously find fascinating about relationships in China, is the willingness of the men to compromise and put their partners happiness first, unlike in the West where we see the macho and alpha male styled approach, here it is much more refined and romantic.

So this year folks, I will imbue you with a great piece of work by the aforementioned poet Qin Guan for your loved ones: Among the beautiful clouds, Over the heavenly river, Crosses the weaving maiden. A night of rendezvous, Across the autumn sky, Surpasses joy on earth. Moments of tender love and dream, So sad to leave the magpie bridge. Eternal love between us two, Shall withstand the time apart. Any man or woman in love this year and who wishes to add a touch of famous Chinese culture to their loved one is welcome to share these great words. In a country so vast, distance occasionally separates us, but in the long run we are united by one common feeling. For those readers who are well accustomed to the Chinese language:

xian yun nong qiao, fei xing chuan hen, yin han tiao tiao an du.

jin feng yu lu yi xiang feng, bian sheng que ren jian wu shu.

rou qing si shui, jia qi ru meng, ren gu que qiao gui lu.

liang qing ruoshi jiu chang shi, you qi zai zhao zhao mu mu

Happy studying folks and good luck for the year of love!

Scott Winnen is a financier in Shanghai and has also worked as an international journalist for several major publication houses.
A special assembly elected former German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier by an overwhelming majority Sunday to be the country's new president.

Steinmeier was elected in Berlin by the assembly made up of the 630 members of parliament's lower house and an equal number of representatives from Germany's 16 states.

He received 931 of the 1,260 votes. Steinmeier succeeds Joachim Gauck, a 77-year-old former pastor who did not seek a second five-year term because of his age.
Voters in Switzerland decided on Sunday to make it easier for young "third-generation foreigners" to get Swiss citizenship, agreeing to extend to about 25,000 people under age 25 access to the fast-track process now available to foreign spouses of Swiss nationals.

The national statistics office said the "naturalization of third-generation immigrants" initiative passed with 60.4 percent of the vote, paving the way to a simplified path to citizenship for young people whose parents and grandparents have lived in Switzerland for decades.

As in some other European countries, being born in Switzerland doesn't automatically confer citizenship. While about 25,000 people are estimated to be eligible for the new process, the referendum's passage ultimately could be far-reaching in a country where non-citizens make up one-fourth of the population.

The citizenship measure was one of three on the national ballot on Sunday. Another carried international implications: Voters handily rejected a corporate tax reform designed to harmonize taxes at a competitive, relatively low rate, a victory of sorts for the political left that had shunned alleged handouts to foreign businesses.

The statistics office said 59.1 percent of voters rejected the measure, which would have scrapped the two-track tax system that offers lower rates to foreign firms to lure investment potentially at the expense of higher tax-countries of the neighboring European Union.

Onerous process

The "third-generation foreigners" initiative will mean less paperwork, fewer delays and lower fees for anyone under 25 whose parents and grandparents have lived in Switzerland for years, but who did not go through the time-consuming, onerous naturalization process.

Its immediate beneficiaries are mostly people from elsewhere in Europe or Turkey whose families have been in the Alpine nation for decades, not migrants and refugees from Africa and the Middle East whose recent arrival in Europe has sparked a backlash from the political far-right.

Switzerland, which is not in the 28-nation EU but is all but surrounded by bloc members, has been taking in foreigners for centuries.

To become a citizen generally requires 12 years of residency, mastery of at least one of Switzerland's four national languages, and honoring the "fundamental values" of the Swiss Constitution, such as equal rights for women and men and freedom of conscience.

(China Daily 02/14/2017 page12)




China's Global Newspaper





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Rooster shaped jewelry are on display at the China Cultural Center in Paris. [Photo/Chinaculture.org]

A Chinese zodiac jewelry exhibition is underway at the China Culture Center in Paris, as a final event of the Chinese Culture Ministry's Happy Chinese New Year project to celebrate the lunar New Year of Rooster.

Over 200 pieces of jewelry featuring zodiac figures, including Rooster, Monkey, Horse and the powerful Chinese mythological creature Dragon, are on display, in order to showcase the exquisite designs of Chinese jewels and the time-honored culture of the Chinese zodiac.

The exhibition runs through Feb 28.

The Chinese zodiac assigns one of 12 animals, either real or mythological, to each year. This year is the Year of the Rooster, the only bird represented in the zodiac. In Chinese, rooster is pronounced ji - similar to the sound of the character meaning "good luck". Hence the rooster has been seen as an auspicious creature in Chinese culture.
A 2016 painting by Chinese artist Yang Lizhou. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In the early 20th century, Chinese painters who had studied in Europe returned with the Western painting system, and they applied it to modernize Chinese painting. Sketching was one of the new methods they used to translate age-old ink art into a modern context.

Beauty is Life, an exhibition now at the National Art Museum of China, shows more than 400 Chinese paintings, oil paintings, lithography works and sculptures. It helps viewers to understand how sketching has helped Chinese artists to improve their works, in whatever mediums they are working.

Shown works include still lifes, landscapes and figures that have been created since 1949. They are on display through Feb 18.

Wu Weishan, director of the museum, says these artworks show social vitality over the past decades, and reveal how today's artists find beauty in everyday life.
[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

While many people celebrate Valentine's Day with roses and chocolates, some choose to do it in a Chinese way: sending their girlfriends a long scroll of a Chinese painting with a romantic love story and poem.

The scroll was recently issued by Zaidao Culture, a publisher known for prints of ancient books and manuscripts by famous Chinese poets and calligraphers. On it is the romantic Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River, a signature work by Cao Zhi, the son of Cao Cao, warlord of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220). It tells the story of the son's enchantment with the goddess of the Luo River.

The print on the scroll is by legendary calligrapher Wang Xianzhi of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), whose work is now collected by the Capital Museum in Beijing. Accompanying the poem is a painting by ink painter Chou Ying of the Ming Dynasty. It shows Cao Zhi playing a guqin (a stringed instrument similar to the zither) as he gazes at the goddess.

According to Zhao Zhaoxia, founder of Zaidao Culture, many Chinese young people like this kind of traditional and cultural way to show their love.

Reproduced on rice paper and silk to represent the traditional way of Chinese culture, the scrolls are produced by Artron, an art publisher and art data company.
A surface-to-surface medium- and long-range ballistic missile Pukguksong-2 is test-fired by DPRK on Jan 12, 2017. [Photo/VCG]

The test-firing of a new ballistic missile by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea early on Sunday has once more escalated tensions on the already volatile Korean Peninsula.

The successful test was of a "new type of strategic weapon system", according to Korean Central News Agency, one powered by high thrust solid fuel rather than liquid fuel, which gives such missiles longer range and makes them harder to detect before launch by satellite surveillance.

It was the DPRK's first missile test since Donald Trump was inaugurated as US president, and it has been widely interpreted as also being a test to see what the new US administration's response will be.

While it is unrealistic to expect the new US leader to take a soft stance toward the DPRK and engage in direct talks on an official peace deal as Pyongyang seeks, Trump's initial tough talk on taking office has softened somewhat since, perhaps because he has come to better understand the complexity of the peninsula issue.

Despite countries in the region having a common sense of mission, underscored by the strengthened sanctions against the DPRK in the last UN resolution in November, the progress Pyongyang has made in its missile and nuclear programs can be partly attributed to its taking advantage of the discord among the major powers, including China and the United States, over how to deal with its nuclear weapons program.

Part of this discord has stemmed from the US' determination to apply pressure on Pyongyang using its allies Japan and the Republic of Korea, while ignoring the concerns of China and Russia.

It has been speculated that Trump may have discussed the situation on the Korean Peninsula during his phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, if so he would no doubt have been reminded of China's strong opposition to the US' deployment of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system in the ROK, and China's consistent advocacy of talks as the right way to ease tensions on the peninsula and maintain stability.

The possession of nuclear weapons will by no means make the DPRK safer. Rather, it will turn the peninsula into a potential tinderbox where not only the DPRK, but the region and beyond will be the losers.

The DPRK's security and regional stability rests on a shared approach that takes into account the concerns of all the countries involved.

This necessitates peace talks, not talk of war or nuclear strikes.
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The website of a Chinese county-level government. [Photo/IC]

Dong Haifeng, head of the business bureau of Danzhou, a city in South China's Hainan province, was recently given an administrative demerit and warning for not updating the bureau's website in a timely manner. It is reportedly the first case of an official being held accountable for failing to keep a government website operational and up to date.

Dong's punishment is by no means a case of the authorities making a fuss over a "trivial affair". The official websites of governments serve as an important channel for communication between the government and the public, and for ordinary people they offer a way to learn more about government affairs and express their views.

For government departments, running their official websites well is therefore an important duty, as it is part of government transparency.

Well aware of the role governments can play, as well as the numerous problems they face, the central government has repeatedly stressed the need for improvements. As early as 2014, the General Office of the State Council, China's Cabinet, issued a guideline document urging rectification of substandard government websites within a set time limit and it has made similar efforts in subsequent years. However, due to the absence of an enforceable accountability system, no substantial effects have been achieved.

The General Office of the State Council, recently published the results of the fourth spot-check of government websites nationwide conducted in 2016, in which many government websites were confirmed as being substandard.

The central authorities have repeatedly stressed that an official should first be a responsible person. A responsible official will realize the importance of website construction, given that it is not only the requirement from the authorities, but also an expectation of the public that they are supposed to serve. A service-oriented government should give due attention to its websites.--Beijing Youth Daily
An investor checks stock information on his mobile phone in front of an electronic board showing stock information at a brokerage house in Beijing, February 16, 2016.[Photo/Agencies]

With the beginning or a new financial year in March, one after another company listed in the A-share market have published their annual reports. However, a survey by People's Daily found that the majority of the companies did not include environmental information in their reports. Beijing News comments:

Of all the companies in China, those listed in the A-share market are perhaps the most transparent, because they have to publish their information to shareholders. However, even they fail to provide information on their environmental protection efforts in their annual reports, and the situation with other enterprises is even worse.

How has that happened?

The primary cause is loopholes in the environmental protection information system. According to the law and regulations, only those companies on the list of serious polluters are required to publish their environmental information, while all the other enterprises can decide whether or not to publish the information.

Worse, some enterprises on the list even play tricks in publishing this information. Some reportedly publish their environmental information via local radio broadcasts at midnight when few people will be listening.

Besides, there are few penalties for those enterprises that fail to publish their environmental information. According to the Law on Environmental Protection, the companies listed in A-share market can be fined up to 30,000 yuan ($4,356) if they fail to publish their environmental information, which is ridiculously low compared with their profits.

Last but no less important, the threshold for litigation in the public interest is so high that it is beyond ordinary residents' reach.

It is time China solved this problem. Companies listed in the A-share market should actively publish their environmental information. That's not only part of their social responsibilities, but also something related to the risks of a company's business. Companies should not try to hide this part of information from their shareholders.

The Law on Environmental Protection should be revised so that companies face heavier penalties for failing in their disclosure duty. Besides, the Securities Law should also be revised, so as to make it mandatory for companies listed in the A-share market to publish information on their environmental protection efforts.
LI MIN/CHINA DAILY

The number of women conceiving at a relatively advanced age in China rose from 0.9 percent in 1995 to 10 percent in 2015 according to recent reports. But since 60 percent of the about 45 million women eligible to have a second child are more than 35 years oldwith 50 percent of them being above 40many couples that can avail of the new family planning policy may be unable to have a second child.

To help the eligible couples to have a second child, some media reports have suggested that the regulations be changed to allow surrogacy.

But instead of allowing surrogacy, the government should invest more in scientific research to improve the level of assisted reproductive technology, so as to help eligible couples to have a second child.

Out of moral and ethical considerations, China has banned surrogacy. In other words, the authorities have prohibited infertile couples from "borrowing" other women's wombs to have children, which to a certain degree is a rational decision.

First, from the medical perspective, in surrogacy even if an infertile couple provide the sperm and eggs for the embryo, the woman giving birth to the child will be a non-family member. The difference between surrogacy and test tube baby technology is that in vitro fertilization, or IVF, takes place in a laboratory, after which the fertilized eggs are inserted into the womb of the biological mother, who then gives birth to the child.

In surrogacy, however, the fertilized eggs (or sperm) are inserted into another woman's uterus to help develop the embryo, which could lead to biological relation disorder of the child. If fertilized eggs are used in surrogacy, then the baby's parents can surely be identified. But if only sperm is injected into the surrogate mother's uterus, the identification of the child's biological mother and legal mother will become inconsistent, which will give rise to unavoidable disputes in which no one's legitimate interests can be protected.

Second, from the legal perspective, if there is no blood relationship between the child and the parents, there won't be any fundamental difference between parents and their surrogate child and parents and their adopted child. This is to say that except for psychological comfort, couples who have a child with the help of a surrogate mother are no different from those who simply adopt a child.

Many scholars say couples who have crossed a certain age face certain difficulties when it comes to fertility, and argue that surrogacy can help fulfill their aspiration to have a child of their own. But the problem is that since such couples cannot provide reproductive sperm and eggs, their surrogate children will have no blood relationship with their parents. And such relationships are not protected by the law.

Some scholars say China should learn from the experiences of developed countries and adopt a voluntary policy allowing surrogate mothers to help infertile couples have a child without receiving any reward. But such a policy would only provide self-consolation for infertile couples.

The fact is, couples who have reached a relatively advanced age can adopt a child in accordance with the provisions of the adoption law and relevant procedures. On the one hand, such couples can have the satisfaction of having a child (or second child). On the other, they can seek the help of law to get support for their adoptive children.

In this context, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, should amend the Adoption Law to moderately relax the conditions for adoption, in order to satisfy the desire of relatively old couples to have a second child.

The authorities should also take measures to advance the level of reproductive technology used in China. And the State Council, China's Cabinet, should employ technological teams to tackle the problem by intensifying scientific research to help relatively old couples to overcome their infertility problems. To start with, it should invite experts from related fields to conduct all-round scientific research and put forward systematic solutions.

The author is a professor of law at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law.
Members of Chinese communities in San Francisco Bay Area gather in front of the hotel where Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen's was staying in Burlingame, California, to protest her stopover in San Francisco after her trip to Central America. [Photo by Zhu Lin/chinadaily.com.cn]

Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen is playing a dangerous game at the risk of further straining cross-Straits ties. Since her inauguration last May, the Democratic Progressive Party chairwoman has been trying the Chinese mainland's patience by equivocating over the one-China policy and attempting to weaken the cross-Straits relationship, which compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits attach great value to.

Responding to reports that Taiwan authorities are considering easing the restrictions on tourists from the mainland, An Fengshan, spokesman for the mainland's Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Wednesday that only better cross-Straits ties can reverse the trend of the continuing drop in mainland visitors to the island.

The decline in mainland holidaymakers in Taiwan and near-frozen official exchanges can hardly be described as a surprise. But that did not stop Tsai from making a phone call in December to Donald Trump, then US president-elect, to congratulate him on his election win. Nor did it dissuade DPP legislator Gao Jyh-peng from proposing the removal of the images of Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925) and Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975), late leaders of the opposition Kuomintang, from banknotes.

Over-interpretation of Gao's Facebook post, which suggested changing bill designs based on "public consensus", was uncalled for. But seeking to wipe out symbols of great political significance and replacing them with "distinctive Taiwan features" raise suspicions that DPP leaders are trying to cut the island's historical and cultural ties with the mainland.

Although there is no evidence to prove the Tsai administration is behind this farce, there is no denying that the independence-minded DPP has been using similar gimmicks to expand its support base. It is not certain whether Tsai will vote for the redesign of banknotes, but the move is bound to raise tensions across the Straits.

Tsai, who recently promised to "renew cross-Straits interaction" while providing tacit support to the questionable bill redesign proposal, would be wise to abandon the thought that the United States and Japan will automatically endorse her separatist plans.

Admittedly, Trump broke a long-established protocol and belittled the one-China policy as negotiable in the China-US exchanges by answering Tsai's congratulatory phone call, which invited a stern, immediate protest from Beijing. And Tokyo also seems interested in supporting Tsai to contain Beijing.

But the truth is, Trump appears committed to his "America First" policy. So he is not likely to defend Taiwan at the expense of US interests, nor will he engage in a comprehensive clash with China. This was reflected in Trump's phone call to President Xi Jinping, during which he promised to honor the one-China policy.

Most importantly, China will not compromise on the cross-Straits issue, which is at the heart of its sovereignty. Therefore, Tsai should stop playing little tricks, because tricks like redesigning banknotes will only create bigger problems for the island and compromise its residents' well-being.

The author is a researcher with the Institute of Taiwan Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
According to the State Compensation Law, those public employees found guilty of illegal behavior, such as abusing their power or perverting justice, should contribute to the State compensation paid to those that are the victims of their illegal behavior. However, the law does not set any guidelines for the ratio of their liability.

To address this issue, East China's Zhejiang province has introduced a regulation stipulating how much those responsible should contribute to the State compensation payouts.

Zhejiang's regulation is the first local government regulation that stipulates the contribution ratio those found responsible must pay. According to the regulation, those responsible should pay no more than twice the average urban salary in the province last year, consistent with their illegal behavior and the harm they cause.

If the case involves more than two people who are held accountable, their compensation contribution ratios should be determined separately according to the degree of their misconduct, and the overall amount of the compensation they pay should be no more than the total amount of compensation paid by the State.

Zhejiang's regulation, which will come into effect on March 1, is a clear and practical regulation that can be easily implemented in actual practice. In addition, it prevents any abuses of power when dealing with State compensation cases.
At the hospital, Najiba holds her two-year-old nephew Shabir who was injured from a bomb blast in Kabul on 29 March 2016. Afghanistan has endured armed conflict since 1979, when the Soviet Union invaded. Afghan civilians are at greater risk today than at any time since Taliban rule, which ended in 2001. According to UN statistics, in the first half of 2016 at least 1,600 people died, and more than 3,500 people were injured. Despite billions of dollars spent by the international community to stabilize the country, Afghanistan has seen little improvement in terms of overall stability and human security. [Photo by Paula Bronstein, for Time Lightbox / Pulitzer Center For Crisis Reporting/Courtesy of World Press Photo Foundation via VCG]
Chinese tourists take photos in front of the Sydney Opera House, which is lit up red to welcome in the Lunar New Year in Sydney in February last year.[Photo/Agencies]

A record 1.2 million Chinese tourists visited Australia in 2016, according to statistics released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Monday. Jessica Noack from the ABS Migration Analysis and Reporting Team said there had been "phenomenal growth" in the number of visitor arrivals from China over the past 40 years, explaining that in 1976, just 500 Chinese tourists visited Australia.

"China has almost caught up with New Zealand as the most popular source country for visitors to Australia," Noack said in a statement released on Monday.

"After China, visitors from Vietnam had the highest growth rate over the past 40 years, growing from 100 in 1976 to 70,500 in 2016. United Arab Emirates had the next highest growth rate, increasing from 100 in 1976 to 40,900 in 2016, while visitors from South Korea grew from 1,200 in 1976 to 286,000 in 2016."

Noack said that while New Zealand remained the source nation with the highest number of visitor arrivals to Australia in 2016, with more than 1.3 million, the ABS expects China to take over first place in the not-too-distant future.

"In 2016, New Zealand was still our top source country. After New Zealand and China, the most popular sources of travelers in 2016 were the United States (714,700), the United Kingdom (709,600) and Singapore (443,600)," Noack said.

According to the ABS, 38 percent of all short-term trips were made to New South Wales, where Sydney is the state capital, followed by Victoria (Melbourne) with 25 percent, and Queensland (with tourist towns Brisbane, Gold Coats and Cairns) accounting for 22 percent.
By WANG QINGYUN in Beijing and WANG LINYAN in New York | China Daily | Updated: 2017-02-14 07:32

A surface-to-surface medium- and long-range ballistic missile Pukguksong-2 is test-fired by DPRK on Jan 12, 2017. [Photo/VCG]

China voiced opposition to the latest missile launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and urged all parties involved to shoulder their responsibility in solving the Korean Peninsula issue peacefully through dialogue.

On Sunday morning, the DPRK launched a missile that analysts said was meant to test the administration of US President Donald Trump. It is the first such launch since Trump took office on Jan 20.

The DPRK's Korean Central News Agency said the missile was a Pukguksong-2, a Korean-style, new type of strategic weapons system that can be equipped "with a nuclear warhead".

"China opposes the DPRK violating United Nations Security Council resolutions and conducting the missile launch," Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said in a news conference in Beijing on Monday.

On Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UN Security Council expressed strong opposition to the missile launch by the DPRK, calling on Pyongyang to fully comply with its international obligations to denuclearize.

The launch "is a further troubling violation" of Security Council resolutions, Guterres said.

Guterres urged the DPRK leadership to return "to the path of denuclearization", while appealing to the international community to continue addressing this issue in a united manner, the Secretary-General's spokesperson said in a statement.

The Security Council had urgent closed-door talks on Monday afternoon. In a statement issued after the meeting, the Security Council also strongly condemned DPRK's missile launches on Sunday and on Oct 19, 2016.

The Council reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in northeast Asia at large. It welcomed Council members' efforts to facilitate a peaceful and comprehensive solution through dialogue.

The members of the Council agreed to continue close monitoring of the situation and to take further measures in line with the Council's previously expressed determination.

Geng reiterated that the root cause of the issue of the DPRK's nuclear and missile development lies in the differences the DPRK has with the US and the ROK. He said that China is willing to work with those countries, including the US, to resolve the issue.

China has been working to promote talks between the parties involved, Geng said, adding that "dialogue and consultation are the final way out for solving the issue of the Korean Peninsula".

"We hope all parties can shoulder their own responsibilities and do what they should do," he said.

Huang Youfu, an expert on Korean studies at Minzu University of China, said the Foreign Ministry's response shows China's consistent position regarding the issue.

Huang said China believes that the DPRK should follow UN Security Council resolutions, while parties involved should not consider the launch an excuse to complicate the situation or heighten tensions in the region.

Pointing out that "the main parties of dialogue" are the US and the DPRK, Huang said: "It's crucial that the DPRK stops its nuclear and missile development, in the first place. On the other hand, the US and the ROK shouldn't keep resorting to military pressure, which could force the DPRK to go against UN resolutions."
UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council on Monday "strongly condemned" the most recent ballistic missile launches by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), saying that "these launches are in grave violation of the DPRK international obligations under UN SC resolutions."

The 15-nation UN body was "unanimous" in condemning the DPRK ballistic missile launches on Feb 11, 2017 and Oct 19, 2016 while the council met behind closed doors here on Monday afternoon, Boloymyr Yelchenko, the Ukrainian permanent representative to the United Nations, who holds the rotating council presidency for February.

The closed council meeting, which kicked off shortly after 17:00 EST (22:00 GMT) on Monday and lasted about 50 minutes, took place at the request of the United States, Japan and South Korea.

"The members of the Security Council deplore all the DPRK ballistic missile activities, including these launches, noting that such activities contribute to the DPRK's development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and increase tension," the council president said while reading a press statement from the most powerful UN body.

"The members of the Security Council further regretted that the DPRK is diverting resources to the pursuit of ballistic missiles while DPRK citizens have great unmet needs," the statement said.

"The members of the Security Council expressed serious concern that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea conducted these ballistic missiles launches after the April 15, April 23, April 27, April 28, May 31, June 21, July 9, July 18, Aug 2, Aug 23, Sept 5, and Oct 14 launches, as well as the nuclear test of Sept 9, in flagrant disregard of the repeated statements of the Security Council," the statement said.
CET      :        ;        
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (L) shakes hands with US President Donald Trump (R) at the conclusion of their joint news conference at the White House in Washington, US, February 13, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resolutely played up their similarities at their first meeting Monday, even as obvious differences lurked behind their public smiles.

After their White House meeting, the North American neighbors emerged to hail their close ties, with Trump promising to "build upon our very historic friendship" and Trudeau noting the "special" bond between the countries.

But it was hard to escape their contrasting worldviews.

Speaking to reporters, Trump defended his restrictive refugee and immigration orders, saying that "we cannot let the wrong people in." Trudeau, on the other hand, said Canada continues to "pursue our policies of openness."Trudeau later acknowledged that there are times when the two countries differ. But he said, "The last thing Canadians expect is for me to come down and lecture another country on how they chose to govern themselves."During their post-meeting news conference, the reporters Trump called on did not ask about two pressing issues of the day - the future of embattled National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and North Korea's reported ballistic missile launch.

The stakes for Trudeau in his Washington visit are high: He is seeking to ensure Canada is not crippled as Trump re-negotiates the North American Free Trade Agreement. And he got much of what he was looking for. Trump praised the "outstanding" trade relationship between the United States and Canada and said he would only be "tweaking" it going forward.

"We'll be doing certain things that are going to benefit both of our countries. It's a much less severe situation than what's taking place on the southern border," said Trump, who has been strongly critical of America's trade situation with Mexico.

Trade relations with the US are crucial to Canada as more than 75 percent of Canada's exports and 98 percent of its oil exports go to the US, while 18 percent of American exports go to Canada.

Monday's meeting was billed as one the most important for a Canadian leader with a US president in decades because of Canada's heavy reliance on its southern neighbor.

Trump greeted Trudeau with a firm handshake as the Canadian arrived at the White House on a blustery morning. The two posed silently before reporters, until Trump suggested they shake hands for the cameras. Trudeau did bring a personal gift - a photo of Trump with Trudeau's father, the late Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
Police and rescue workers work at the scene of a blast in Lahore, Pakistan February 13, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

ISLAMABAD - At least 14 people were killed and 60 others injured when a suicide bomber hit protestors outside provincial assembly in Pakistan's Punjab province on Monday evening, officials said.

Malik Ahmad, Spokesperson of Punjab government confirmed that the killed people included two traffic wardens and two senior police officers.

He said that Senior Superintendent Police Zahid Gondal and Deputy Inspector General traffic police Captain Mobeen who were negotiating with the protestors to give way to the traffic were also killed in the attack.

Local Urdu TV channel Dunya said that the blast happened at about 6:02 pm local time when hundreds of chemists and pharma manufacturers were protesting against a newly introduced act by Punjab government at the busy Mall Road of the provincial capital of Lahore.

Quoting traffic wardens, local media said that the suicide bomber coming on a motorbike blew himself up in the crowd.

The injured people, including policemen, chemists, and newsmen, have been shifted to nearby state-run hospitals where a state of emergency has been declared.

Hospital sources said that death toll is feared to rise as several among the injured people are in critical condition.

Several vehicles including a Digital Satellite New Gathering (DSNG) van of a local TV channel were completely destroyed in the explosion.

Police and contingent from Pakistan army and paramilitary troops have cordoned off the area for investigation.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

Both the country's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain condemned the blast and directed hospital administration to provide best possible medical treatment to the injured people.

The PM directed the senior officials of Punjab government to reach at the blast site. He also vowed to root out the evil of militancy from the country.

Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa also condemned the explosion and expressed sorrow over the loss of precious lives.

He also directed the troops to help civil government to arrest the people involved in the heinous crime of killing innocent people.
US National Security Advisor Michael Flynn boards Air Force One at West Palm Beach International airport in West Palm Beach, Florida US, February 12, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

US National Security Adviser Michael Flynn has resigned, CNN said citing two sources. Flynn is the first senior government official to leave the Trump administration.

In a resignation letter, Flynn said he held numerous calls with the Russian ambassador to the US during the transition and gave "incomplete information" about those discussions to Vice President Mike Pence. The vice president, apparently relying on information from Flynn, initially said the national security adviser had not discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy, though Flynn later conceded the issue may have come up.

"Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the vice president-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador. I have sincerely apologized to the president and the vice president, and they have accepted my apology," Flynn said in his resignation letter.

Retired General Keith Kellogg, who has been the chief of staff at the National Security Council, has been named acting national security adviser, White House official said.

The Justice Department warned the Trump administration weeks ago that embattled national security adviser Michael Flynn's contacts with Russia could leave him in a compromised position, an administration official and two other people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press Monday night.

Flynn, a retired US Army lieutenant general, was an early supporter of Trump and shares his interest in shaking up the establishment in Washington. He has frequently raised eyebrows among Washington's foreign policy establishment for trying to persuade Trump to warm up US relations with Russia.
Steven Mnuchin testifies before a Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing on his nomination to be Treasury secretary in Washington, US, January 19, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON - Steven Mnuchin, a former banker, was confirmed on Monday by US Senate as Treasury Secretary.

Mnuchin won in a 53-47 Senate vote in which only one Democrat, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, voted in favor, and the rest supports are all from Republicans.

The confirmation is expected to help President Donald Trump's administration to push ahead with its goals to dismantle financial regulations and slash taxes.

Mnuchin, 54, was Trump's top fund-raiser during the presidential campaign.

The US Senate Finance Committee once postponed votes on him out of concerns that the treasury secretary pick may give false testimony on foreclosure practice by OneWest Bank, of which Mnuchin was former chairman.
Steve Mnuchin (L) stands with his fiancee Louise Linton and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence before swearing in as Treasury Secretary in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington February 13, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

Steven Mnuchin, US President Donald Trump's pick for treasury secretary, was confirmed by the Senate on Monday evening after a lengthy, partisan process.

The Senate voted 53-47 to make the 54-year-old Wall Street financier the 77th US treasury secretary.

Mnuchin was immediately sworn in at the White House by Vice-President Mike Pence, in front of Trump and Louise Linton, Mnuchin's domestic partner.

Trump praised Mnuchin and said "our nation's financial system is truly in great hands".

During a seven-hour Senate debate that started at noon, Democratic lawmakers, such as Minority Leader Charles Schumer, accused Mnuchin of being anti-working class. Trump had pledged to help American workers since launching his presidential campaign in mid-2015.

The Democrats described the former Goldman Sachs executive as incapable of being tough on Wall Street, another Trump campaign promise. They accused him of profiteering from mortgage foreclosures when he was heading the One West Bank during the 2007-2008 financial crisis.

Mnuchin is the third treasury secretary from Goldman Sachs since 1995. The other two were Henry Paulson under President George W. Bush and Robert Rubin under President Bill Clinton.

Democrats boycotted his Senate Finance Committee confirmation vote on Jan 31, but the panel approved Mnuchin the following day after Republicans changed rules.

Bernie Sanders, a senator from Vermont, tweeted shortly before the Monday vote that "Trump's pick of Steve Mnuchin to run the Treasury shows he wants to cater to the same Wall Street executives that hurt working families".

Mnuchin will face huge tasks in tax and financial regulation reform. And his remarks on Trump's campaign rhetoric of naming China a currency manipulator have been closely watched.

In a Jan 19 Senate hearing, Mnuchin said he was willing to label China a currency manipulator if warranted. The message has been widely interpreted to mean there would be no immediate action.

Trump also has softened his tone in the past months. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal last month, Trump said that he wouldn't name China a manipulator on his first day in office as previously promised. "I would talk to them first," he was quoted as saying. "Certainly they are manipulators. But I'm not looking to do that."

The softened tone has helped ease concerns that the Trump administration might start a trade war with China, triggered either by labeling China a currency manipulator or by imposing a 45 percent tariffs on Chinese exports, as Trump once threatened.

As described by the White House, Trump had a "lengthy" and "extremely cordial" phone call with President Xi Jinping last Thursday night. It came on the eve of a visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Most US economists no longer believe that China is manipulating its currency to gain a trade advantage. Instead, they point out that the Chinese government has intervened to prop up its currency, renminbi (RMB), also known as yuan, thereby helping the US economy become more competitive.

These include Fred Bergsten of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a main critic of China's currency policy not that long ago.

The US Treasury headed by Jack Lew under the Obama administration also said in its report last October that China met only one of three criteria to be labeled a manipulator. The report also credited China's recent efforts to prop up its currency as helping prevent a rapid depreciation that would hurt the world economy.

The next US Treasury report to assess the foreign exchange practices of major trading partners is due on April 15.

If the US Treasury names China a currency manipulator, it will be required by US law to start bilateral negotiations to resolve the issue. It could result in punitive tariffs on Chinese goods.

The International Monetary Fund also may be asked to provide its expert evaluation if the Trump administration does not choose a path of unilateralism.

At the January hearing, Mnuchin said currency manipulation is a serious infraction of free trade principles and needs to be effectively addressed.

"As treasury secretary, I will ensure that we defend American jobs by combating currency devaluation utilizing the reporting and monitoring functions of the Treasury and legislative processes established by Congress," he said.

He said he would work through existing multilateral institutions such as the IMF, G7 and G20 to address currency manipulation as an unfair trade practice and also work with major trade partners bilaterally.

Mnuchin is estimated to have a net worth of as much as $500 million. He was the national finance chairman of Trump's presidential campaign.
SYDNEY - Disgraced mining magnate, Clive Palmer says he plans to sue the Australian prime minister for 10 million Australian dollars (7.7 million US dollars) for defamation.

The former federal member of parliament claims that after his company Queensland Nickel collapsed at the beginning of 2016, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull besmirched his name, along with the Employment Minister Michaelia Cash, who he also plans to sue for 250,000 Australian dollars (191,900 US dollars).

"They've lied to people about Queensland Nickel and my role in it. They've said things designed to damage me, personally, in the public's eyes, which were not true and they did that for political reasons," Clive Palmer told the Australian Associated Press on Tuesday.

Palmer will face court in Brisbane on Wednesday, where liquidators will question the fall of Queensland Nickel, which had a debt value of 300 million Australian dollars (230 million US dollars) and left 800 workers jobless.

There is still a chance Palmer could face criminal charges for the matter.
Green tea, chopsticks and Chinese delicacies such as stir-fried Kung Pao Chicken are now available onboard British Airways.

The airline announced on Feb 13 that it will provide a new series of onboard services with Chinese features on flights between China and London, as part of its efforts to attract more Chinese customers.

"Customers traveling from China can expect to enjoy Chinese delicacies such as stir-fried Kung Pao Chicken or Pork Wonton Soup with pak choi and noodles," said the company.

Menus will also come in Chinese.

British Airways executive vice president for China, Richard Tams said: "Following our customers' valuable feedback, we have added additional Chinese touches to our onboard services on flights to and from London to make them feel more at home while flying with us."

British Airways now has 17 weekly flights from China to London. Recently, it has boosted the network between China and the UK with a code-sharing agreement with China Eastern Airlines. British Airways customers flying to London and Europe from Kunming, Xian, Nanjing, Hangzhou and Chongqing can now fly on China Eastern Airlines with British Airways' flight numbers.
Screenshot of a video posted on Bill Gates' WeChat account.

Fake Bill Gates accounts better watch out because the man himself has officially registered his personal public account on WeChat. In his first post on the social networking app, the American billionaire and philanthropist said hello in Chinese and said he would "share about the people I meet, books I'm reading and what I'm learning".

The 30-second video, posted on Feb 11, has already been viewed more than 100,000 times and received over 10,000 likes.

Sources close to Gates, have verified the account which is operated by the former Microsoft founder's own team. He plans to share content including global health, energy innovation and education reform through the account.

Gates' decision to join China's content market is no doubt a blow for the many accounts purporting to spread success articles in his name. The world's richest man has long been an idol in China. His anecdotes and quotations, too numerous to distinguish what's real and fake, never lost their appeal to Chinese readers over the past two decades.

Founding software company Microsoft in 1975 and making it the most successful technology brand over the following decades, Gates frequently dominated the top spot of Forbes world's wealthiest people. After retiring from Microsoft in 2008, he focused on managing the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation co-chaired with his wife, and announced that he would donate his $58 billion personal fortune to the foundation.

The tycoon's legendary life has won him millions of Chinese fans and anything he says is regarded as a classic, making him a valuable addition to China's rising content industry. Opening a social media account in China shows that the business mogul attaches importance to the nation's content market.

There were reports that Gates was very impressed with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's fluent Chinese while delivering a lecture at Tsinghua University and he showed great interest in learning it.

China is also one of the areas of most concern to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which has an office in Beijing.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend the unofficial foreign ministers' meeting of the G20 and the Munich Security Conference in Germany from Wednesday to Saturday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang announced on Tuesday.

Geng said China appreciates the productive work done by Germany to promote G20 cooperation and preparing for the group's summit in Hamburg in July, and will continue to support Germany hosting the summit.

According to Geng, the unofficial foreign ministers' meeting will discuss the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, maintaining peace and strengthening the partnership with Africa.

"China hopes that the meeting could implement the results of the Hangzhou summit, improve policy coordination, deepen cooperation, jointly deal with the major challenges faced by the world, and send positive signals supporting multilateralism, enhancing global governance, and building an innovative, interactive, open and inclusive world economy," he said.

"China will actively participate in the meeting's discussions and work with all parties to make it a success."

Geng also said that China is willing to take advantage of the Munich Security Conference, which is an important annual forum on international strategy and security, to strengthen communication with all parties.

Wang will also expound China's opinions and proposals on issues such as the current international situation and security cooperation, he added.
The China Red Cross Society will provide $50,000 of humanitarian assistance to the Philippines after a 6.5-magnitude earthquake hit its southern region and killed at least eight people on Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Tuesday.

"The Chinese government is willing to offer assistance to the Philippines' disaster relief work," Geng told a daily press conference, adding that Foreign Minister Wang Yi has sent a telegraph of condolence to Philippine Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay.

"We believe that the people in earthquake-hit areas can overcome difficulties, and return to normal work and life at an early date under the leadership of the Philippine government," he said.

The China-Philippine relationship, which hit turbulence under the previous Philippine government, saw an overall improvement after the new Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's visit to China in October.
A new committee being formed next month by Bismarck Mayor Seth Radford to come up with a decade's worth of projects for infrastructure growth and other municipal improvements will have another major task on its hands  making preparations for the city's 150th anniversary next year.

According to Radford, in addition to himself, the committee will consist of representatives from Bismarck's planning and zoning committee, fire department, police department and the board of aldermen, along with the city administrator.

"I'm also wanting to choose some lay people in the public, as well as some business people and the chamber," Radford said. "We're wanting people like that because we're looking to the future of the city. We're wanting people who are real go-getters. What we really want are people to start building in our city.

While the committee's main goal continues to be the formulation of a 10-year plan to bring in more residents and businesses, as well as improve the city's infrastructure without raising additional taxes, Radford said the city's upcoming 150th anniversary will be a major focus of the committee beginning this summer.

The city of Bismarck was platted and recorded on Nov. 10, 1868. In an effort to attract settlers of German heritage to the booming railroad town, the new village was named in honor of Prince Otto Eduard Leopold Von Bismarck, the Iron Chancellor of Germany. On June 9, 1877, the St. Francois County Court approved the incorporation of the town of Bismarck after receiving a petition representing two-thirds of the taxpayers of the area.

"I believe that it's in August 2018 when we're looking to have our sesquicentennial celebration as a city," Radford said. "We're wanting to start moving in that direction to plan it once the committee is formed.

"One of the jobs of the committee will be to decide what kind of celebration we're going to have. We're wanting to talk to the Depot Committee, the Chamber of Commerce and several other groups because a 150th anniversary of the city is so important."

Another top item on the committee's agenda, according to Radford, will be to have the city's water tower repainted.

"We have a great town to offer," he said. "We just want to clean and straighten it up a little bit to draw others to our city."
(Photo : Getty Images) U.S. President Donald Trump and Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe walk together to their joint press conference in the East Room at the White House on February 10, 2017 in Washington, DC.

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China warned Japan on Monday to refrain from seeking US support for the disputed islands in the East China Sea under the mutual defense treaty. The remark came after Tokyo got continued US backing during Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's meeting with US President Donald Trump over the weekend.



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"China is gravely concerned about and firmly opposed to relevant comments by Japan and the US. Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands are China's inherent territory," Geng Shuang, Foreign Ministry's spokesperson, said.



After Abe and Trump's meeting in the US, both parties released a joint statement affirming that the islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, are covered under Article 5 of the US-Japan Security treaty, Reuters reported. "[Both nations] oppose any unilateral action that seeks to undermine Japan's administration of these islands."



Moreover, Trump committed to boost security ties and assured that US forces will continue to defend the Senkaku Islands, according to Deccan Herald citing Japanese media.



Voicing strong reservations over US' move, Geng said "No matter what anyone says or does, it cannot change the fact that the Diaoyu Islands belong to China, and cannot shake China's resolve and determination to protect national sovereignty and territory."



He further advised US and Japan to exercise prudence and refrain from releasing wrong remarks to prevent the issue from escalating and to preserve peace and stability.



This is not the first time US extended its support to Japan. During Barack Obama's administration, China also criticized Japan for backing its claims over the disputed islands.



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Tagschina, Japan, US, East China Sea, trump, Shinzo Abe
(Photo : CSIS/Philippine Navy) Chinese radars on Cuarteron Reef (top) and Subi Reef (bottom).

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The Trump administration is weighing actions short of war to punish China for building manmade islands in the South China Sea, and seizing islands rightfully belonging to other countries.



During his confirmation hearings on Jan. 11, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said, "We're 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."



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That statement has been taken to mean a direct threat of war against China by implementing a naval blockade. Some American foreign policy experts, however, contend there are other ways of realizing Tillerson's goal without resorting to force of arms.



Among the full spectrum of actions short of war available to American policy makers are targeted economic sanctions and targeted initiatives that directly or indirectly prevent China from building more man-made islands and militarizing those islands.



To be truly effective, targeted sanctions must be aimed at individuals and companies that support, facilitate, or participate in China's illegal island-building operations in the South China Sea. A bill introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio in December 2016 was the first to take this course of action.



Rubio's bill seeks to impose asset freezes and travel bans on people and entities that "contribute to construction or development projects" in the contested areas and those that "threaten the peace, security or stability" of the South China Sea or East China Sea.



It also prohibits actions that may imply American recognition of Chinese sovereignty over the contested areas in these seas, and restricts foreign assistance to countries that recognize China's sovereignty.



These primary sanctions might be augmented by sanctions against companies or individuals that do business with the offenders. Targeted sanctions are seen as an important tool that might indirectly cause changes in China's unacceptable behavior.



A more controversial and novel approach to changing China's behavior will be for the U.S. to employ what's being called "anti-China cabbage tactics."



China's successful bid to build or occupy islands in the South China Sea saw it use "cabbage tactics." This means wrapping contested islands in multiple layers of Chinese military and paramilitary power.



Washington's proposed anti-China cabbage tactics will surround the targeted islands with private civilian boats in an inner circle, followed by law enforcement vessels in the outer circle. All these assets will be protected by U.S. Navy warships nearby.



Unmanned aerial drones and unmanned underwater vehicles launched from civilian and United States Coast Guard ships will be used to seal off the entry to China's airstrips and harbors on China's illegal man-made islands.



American experts claim these actions are fully consistent with international law. They claim that if China doesn't recognize another country's rights to freedom of the seas, that country has the right to restrict China's freedom in return.



The Permanent Court of Arbitration on July 12, 2016 ruled as illegitimate China's "nine-dash line" claims in the South China Sea; its occupation of Mischief Reef owned by the Philippines; its denial of access to Scarborough Shoal also owned by the Philippines; its island building in the Spratlys claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan, and its harassment of Filipinos in the Philippines exclusive economic zone (EEZ).



International law allows countries to conduct countermeasures against wrongful acts such as those committed by China. Experts contend that challenging China's rights to access its artificial islands is consistent with international law.



It's all a matter of using China's tactics against it. And China knows it can't win a war against the United States.



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TagsTrump administration, actions short of war, china, South China Sea, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Sen. Marco Rubio, East China Sea, anti-China cabbage tactics, cabbage tactics, Permanent Court of Arbitration, Philippines
(Photo : Getty Images) China is poised to launch its first cargo spacecraft in April.

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China is planning to launch its very first cargo spacecraft, the Tianzhou-1, in April, state media reported on Tuesday, taking a step closer to its goal of establishing a permanently manned space station in five years' time.



The cargo spacecraft arrived at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in China's Hainan Province on Monday after assembly and testing, ECNS reported citing the China Manned Space Agency. The Tianzhou-1 mission mainly aims to test and verify on-orbit transfer of liquid propellant in microgravity to Tiangong-2, which hosted two Chinese astronauts to conduct their month-long space mission.



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The Tianzhou-1 has a take-off weight of nearly 13 tons, with a length of 9 meters and diameter of 3.35 meters. It could carry six tons of goods and two tons of fuel, and could stay in space for a maximum of three months. It features a cargo capsule and a propellent capsule. Similar to Russia's Progress cargo spacecraft, the Tianzhou-2 is also capable of docking with the Tiangong-2 space lab, refueling, and conducting some experiments and tests.



The Tianzhou-1, which is the first homegrown cargo spacecraft, will be sent off by the Long March-7 Y2 carrier rocket, scheduled to arrive at the launch center next month. The cargo spacecraft will dock with the Tiangong-2 space lab 390 kilometers above the Earth's surface.



Meanwhile, a rare footage of China's Tianzhou-1 has been released by state media. The video shows the cargo spacecraft undergoing some development and testing at the AIT facility in Tianjin, North China. It also revealed renderings of Tianzhou-1 docking with the Tiangong-2 space lab.



Watch below:







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TagsTianzhou-1, cargo spacecraft, Tiangong-2, Space mission
(Photo : Getty Images. ) Noble confirmed the equity sale in its latest stock exchange filing as it mentioned that it was in "discussions regarding a possible strategic investment."

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China's state-owned Sinochem is in preliminary talks to pick up a substantial equity stake in the commodity giant Noble Group, according to inside sources. There is no information, however, on how much stake Sinochem is looking to buy in the commodity firm.



Noble confirmed the equity sale in its latest stock exchange filing as it mentioned that it was in "discussions regarding a possible strategic investment." However, it did not name the concerned party and also cautioned that there was "no certainty as to whether the transaction may be concluded."



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Analysts say that Sinochem, which is China's largest fertilizer trader, expects to become a globally recognized energy trader by picking up a stake in the Noble Group. As for what the equity sale will mean for Noble, it will help to rejig its embattled business that has been badly hit due to drop in commodity prices.



Rising debt and investor pressure have been weighing heavily on the Hong Kong-based commodity firm, with the company's shares falling to their lowest level in 13 years in August last year. Besides, the company's fortunes have also been severely affected by repeated allegations that it is fudging its accounts and results.



Meanwhile, sources claim that the management team of Sinochem and Noble have held talks several times in recent months. They claim that both held a meeting recently at Noble's U.S. regional hub in Stamford, Connecticut.



Sinochem is reportedly carrying out the due diligence of the Hong Kong-based firm, and this process can easily take anywhere between six months to a year.



Sinochem and Noble Group have declined to comment on the report of equity sale.



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TagsSinochem, china, Noble Group, Sinochem and Noble
(Photo : RDEL) RDEL's Pipavav shipyard in Gujarat.

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Reliance Defense and Engineering, Ltd (RDEL), one of India's leading shipbuilding and repair firms, on Feb. 13 signed a Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) with the U.S. Navy to maintain ships of the United States Seventh Fleet with headquarters at Yokosuka, Japan.



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Seventh Fleet ships currently undergo maintenance and repairs at either Singapore or Japan. RDEL expects to earn up to $10 billion from the contract over the next five years.



The Seventh Fleet is the largest of the forward-deployed U.S. Fleets. It consists of anywhere from 60 to 70 ships, 300 aircraft and 40,000 Navy and Marine Corps personnel. Its area of operations includes the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean.



Of the ships typically assigned to the Seventh Fleet, about 20 are forward deployed from U.S. facilities in Japan and Guam and are capable of responding immediately to any maritime crisis in Asia.



Indian media said this is the first time an Indian company, either public or private, will provide logistical support for the U.S. military within Indian territory. The signing of the MSRA is a follow-up to the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) signed between India and the U.S. in August 2016.



LEMOA is a foundational agreement between India and the U.S. that will allow the military forces of both nations to use each other's military bases in the Indo-Pacific region.



RDEL said its "selection by the U.S. Navy is a true recognition of the world-class facility, processes and the high standard of the capability of Reliance Shipyard at Pipavav." Spanning an area of two square kilometers, the Pipavav shipyard in Gujarat is the site of RDEL's shipbuilding and maintenance operations.



The Pipavav shipyard was qualified and approved to perform complex repair and alteration services for the U.S. Navy last month after a detailed site survey conducted by U.S. government representatives in October 2016.



RDEL also said it's the first shipyard in India to have received MSRA Certification for the servicing and repair work for the vessels of the Seventh Fleet.



LEMOA will immensely aid the U.S. in its massive redeployment of its military forces to Asia because instead of having to build new military bases, U.S. forces can operate out of India's military bases on the Indian mainland.



For its part, India will have access to U.S. bases in the Indian Ocean such as the one on Diego Garcia atoll in the Chagos Archipelago.



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TagsReliance Defense and Engineering, Ltd., RDEL, Master Ship Repair Agreement, MSRA, U.S. Navy, United States Seventh Fleet, Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement, LEMOA, Pipavav shipyard
(Photo : PLAN) Type 093B SSN.

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China's most modern nuclear attack submarine (SSN) -- the little known Type 093B -- might now be in active service with the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).



The importance attached by PLAN to this boat, which carries the NATO reporting name Shang-class, was underscored in mid-2016 when it released a single color photo of this heretofore secret submarine and released a few more details about it.



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The limited propaganda effort seemed to have been aimed at instilling fear and curiosity at the same time.



Among the more intriguing tidbits of information about this stealthy sub is that at least three of them are supposed to have been built and launched by 2015. Given it takes a year or so for sea trials to end, then at least one of these subs might be in active service with two more about to do so in the next year or two.



Western analysts speculate the Type 093B is much quieter than its predecessor, the noisy Type 093. Advances in metallurgy and propulsion seem to have given rise to a submarine touted to be almost as silent as the U.S. Navy's Los Angeles-class SSNs.



PLAN, however, points proudly to the armament of the Type 093B as its main feature. The Type 093B is the first Chinese sub to use a vertical launching system (VLS) to fire its load of anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles.



It might have from 12 to 16 VLS cells located behind the conning tower. VLS gives the Type 093B an advantage over older Chinese attack submarines that launch their cruise missiles from torpedo tubes.



The Type 093B is still armed with torpedo tube-launched cruise missiles, however. It can also fire anti-ship missile canisters from its torpedo tubes. Once fired, the canisters surface and break open to launch their missiles.



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TagsType 093, nuclear attack submarine, SSN, People's Liberation Army Navy, PLAN, vertical launching system, cruise missiles
In a move to encourage local farmers, ranchers and agribusiness economic growth, Washington County has applied for and achieved Agri-Ready County Designation by Missouri Farmers Care (MFC), a coalition of 44 leading Missouri agricultural groups. This designation identifies counties that create an environment conducive to agricultural opportunity and growth which are willing to actively support Missouri's largest industry.

"The Washington County Commissioners fully endorse Missouri Farmers Care's efforts to promote agricultural products and processes," said Washington County Commissioners Marvin Wright, Doug Short and Cody Brinley in a statement.

"The County Commission feels that the certification program could be a benefit in job growth and possibly bring new business to our area and would like to thank Missouri Farmers Care for their efforts in this regard."

In 2016, Washington County's 531 farm and ranch families sold over $61.6 million in agricultural products. Agriculture, forestry and other related industries provided 716 local jobs, according to the recently released Missouri Department of Agriculture's (MDA) Economic Contributions of Agriculture and Forestry Study. The county's agricultural strength is anchored in the value of wood container and pallet manufacturing, beef cattle, horses, and animal food manufacturing. Wood container and pallet manufacturing alone contribute over $15 million in sales to the Washington County economy.

"Being raised on a farm, I have been involved with agriculture all my life," said Jim Reed President of the Washington County Farm Bureau. "I first was made aware of the Agri-Ready program early last year at a farm show and decided to research it and other programs within Missouri Farmers Care. Everywhere I looked it was positive for the area. Young people don't have the same experiences of the family farms as they once did and everyone needs to know where their food comes from and how it is grown. I believe the awareness of agriculture in an area can help the economy and bring more agriculture businesses to an area like Washington County with great people, interstate and great roads, and located 65 miles from one of the state's major cities."

Through the Agri-Ready program, MFC will partner with county leaders, farmers and agribusinesses to advance local agricultural enterprise, promote the county as a conducive location for business expansion and enhance workforce readiness for agricultural careers. MFC will recruit local 4-H and FFA leaders to implement Agriculture Education on the Move in third grade classrooms. These student leaders will present agricultural careers and crop and livestock production through engaging, hands-on activities and lessons while developing their speaking and leadership skills. In addition, the collaboration encourages participation in the Missouri Department of Agriculture's voluntary Agricultural Stewardship Assurance Program, recognizing stewardship at the farm level.

"It is a pleasure to work with the county leaders in Washington County and other designated counties, who not only recognize the contributions of their local farmers and ranchers, but also actively continue to seek avenues for new opportunities," said Ashley McCarty, executive director of MFC. "Agriculture is the uncontested leader of not only Washington County's economy, but the economy of every county in the state. Our partnership will work to build on the county's unique agricultural strengths and support an environment that opens new opportunities for the county."

MFC's Agri-Ready County designation launched in December 2015 as a voluntary connection between Missouri counties and MFC. According to the MDA, Missouri agriculture provides 378,232 jobs and added $88.4 billion in net value to the state's economy in 2016, making agriculture the largest sector of the economy. The Agri-Ready County designation recognizes and builds on the impact of family farmers and agri-businesses as key contributors to our economy and the quality of life in our communities.

Washington County joins Atchison, Audrain, Carroll, Chariton, Cole, Cooper, Dallas, Dent, Gasconade, Lawrence, Marion, Moniteau, New Madrid, Oregon, Osage, Pike, Saline, Scott, St. Clair, Stoddard and Webster counties in achieving Agri-Ready Designation. Counties wishing to apply for Agri-Ready designation must meet program requirements, including no ordinances regulating agriculture more stringent than state law and support of agricultural stewardship, growth and opportunities. After application is received from the county commission, the MFC Agri-Ready Review Committee examines any local ordinances, regulations and statements of support prior to awarding designation.

For more information, view the 2016 Economic Contributions of Agriculture and Forestry in Washington County presented by the Missouri Department of Agriculture, Missouri Farm Bureau and Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority.
Franklin Graham said that Samaritans Purse is helping to care for residents affected by the war outside Mosul, Iraqi soldiers, and ISIS fighters.

At Samaritan's Purse we work in over 100 countries and have worked in most of those on the banned list, so I feel I have something to say about this issue,' Graham, president of Samaritans Purse, wrote on his Facebook page. For example, right now with our Emergency Field Trauma Hospital outside Mosul, Iraq, we are treating Muslims, wounded civilians  men, women, and children  many of whom were shot by ISIS snipers as they fled Mosul.

At the same time, we are treating badly wounded ISIS fighters," he added. "Our medical teams take them in, perform surgery, bind up their wounds, and give everyone the same compassionate, Christian care  helping them in Jesus' Name.

The Samaritans Purse field hospital opened in January just outside of Mosul, where soldiers are fighting to push ISIS out of the city.

According to The Christian Post, in the hospitals first few days, it treated about 100 patients who all had life-threatening injuries.

The hospital will remain open for at least six months, said Dr. Elliott Tenpenny, the hospitals director.

We live and work in a difficult place, she said. You wake up and go to sleep with the sound of artillery and gunfire around but we are protected by our security that is here. There is no specific incident that has made me fearful, but we are sitting close to a war zone and we hear the war going on behind us and we know what the people are going through in those areas.

Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Publication date: February 14, 2017
President Trump will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday (Feb. 15) to discuss the Iran nuclear deal, Israeli settlements, and moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

CBN News reports that this will be Trump's first meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu since taking office, although the two leaders know each other and have a more agreeable relationship than did President Obama and Netanyahu.

Before boarding the plane to fly to the U.S., Netanyahu stated, "The alliance between Israel and America has always been extremely strong. It's about to get even stronger. President Trump and I see eye to eye on the dangers emanating from the region but also on the opportunities."

Discussion of the Iran nuclear deal will reportedly be at the top of the agenda for the two leaders. They will also discuss controversial Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the proposal to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Israeli deputy minister for Public Diplomacy Michael Oren questioned what the U.S. will do once the Iran deal ends: "When the nuclear deal expires and Iran will be able to produce not one nuclear weapon but 200 nuclear weapons in a very short period of time with complete legitimacy, what is the United States going to do to protect Israel, the region and the world from an Iranian regime that has 200 nuclear weapons?"

Oren also commented on Trumps proposal to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem: "It seems less likely now but I certainly still hope so and I think that there are many steps you could make leading up to that final gesture. If the United States even recognizes that Israel considers Jerusalem its capital that would be a step forward.

Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com

Publication date: February 14, 2017
In developing countries around the world, a common sight is that of women and children carrying water buckets and walking for miles to get water from the closest water well. Such is also the case in Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country in which the United Nations said the water conditions are the third worst in the world as of 2012.

A Cup of Water International, a Korean non-profit organization that builds clean water wells, repairs broken water pumps, and shares the gospel with natives, is currently in Congo equipped with materials needed to build new wells in the villages.

Congo doesnt have the machines needed to dig water wells, so we use an easy method to dig up the wells, said Jong-Seung Kwon, a missionary with A Cup of Water.

Kwon explained that twisting a hand auger in a clockwise direction breaks the hard ground, and allows the dirt to come up, making it easy to quickly dig a depth of 15 meters.

Providing clean water wells in countries such as Congo is important because it allows mothers to invest more time in nurturing their children by spending less time fetching water, and provides more opportunities for children to become properly educated as they no longer have to walk long distances to get water themselves.

However, providing clean water wells along with the gospel is especially important in Congo because of its painful history of colonization under Belgium, Kwon said. The Belgian rule, which began with Belgian King Leopold II, lasted from the late 1870s up to 1960.

Because of Leopold IIs selfish ambitions, thousands of people endured oppression and exploitation for decades, he said. Some 10 million people died during the Belgian rule, and the current generation of children still see the aftermaths of the harsh period in their grandparents.

Along with providing clean water, A Cup of Water International hopes to show these children what true hope, love, and healing is in Jesus Christ, and asked for prayers for the restoration of Congo.

"Please pray that God's grace will be evident in Congo, a place with a broken pastthat this place will become a land and nation who loves the Lord Jesus passionately until the day He returns.
A new study released earlier this month explored recent trends on marriage, online dating, and cohabitation, and where Christians fall in the map.

On marriage, the Barna Group study, which was released on February 9, found that while just a little over half of the general adult population are married (52 percent), a higher proportion of practicing Christians and evangelicals (59 percent) are married. Among evangelicals alone, the proportion was even higher: 67 percent of evangelicals are married.

However, the proportion of Christians who are divorced is the same as that of the general population, the study found. Among practicing Christians, 25 percent have been divorced, and the same rate was found for evangelical Christians (25 percent) and the general adult population (25 percent).

Christians were also among those who supported cohabitation, though the likelihood that they supported it was much lower than those with no faith. While 88 percent of those with no faith agreed that "it's a good idea to live with one's significant other before getting married," 41 percent of practicing Christians, 35 percent of born-again Christians, and 6 pecent of evangelicals said the same. But among those who disagreed with the idea, "religious reasons" was the most prominent reason for not supporting cohabitation (34 percent). Other reasons survey respondents didn't agree with cohabiting before marriage included, "I don't believe people should have sex before getting married" (28 percent), "It isn't practical or doesn't make sense" (16 percent), and family or traditions (12 percent).

The study also found that the majority of the general adult population have not tried online dating at all (72 percent), and 52 percent said they would never try the service. Among those who shy away from online dating, evangelicals were most likely to say no to it, as 75 percent said they would never use it. Only 9 percent said they have used it once or twice, and 1 percent use it regularly.

Roxanne Stone, the editor in chief of the Barna Group, said that ideas around romance, and marriage in particular, have changed in recent years.

"While once viewed as the primary end goal for romantic relationships, the institution of marriage now seems to be under great scrutiny," Stone said. "The 'trials and errors' of dating now include living together as an assumed, final hurdle before marriage. In 2014, we found that while 82 percent of Millennials want to get married some day, they want to wait until they feel more fully developed as a person (70 percent), are financially established (69 percent), and have lived together (60 percent). A full 30 percent of Milliennials aren't so sure about marriage at all -- they express doubt as to whether or not they even believe in the conventional form of marriage."

Stone encouraged church leaders to take these factors into consideration in evaluating the way they minister to young adults.

"Are your ministries set up to meet the fundamental needs of that age group: career building, personal formation, social activities, friendship and the complexities of singleness and dating? Do you talk about the benefits and risks of online dating? Are you having frank conversations about sex? Are you able to offer a believable reason for why people shouldn't live together before marriage?"

"Churches are often afraid to address these questions outside of youth group -- but increasingly, young adults need this kind of guidance. They are skeptical that the church is relevant to their lives -- or that faith has answers for them," said Stone.
What scoffers viewed as a weird babble of tongues became a world phenomenon after his Los Angeles revival.

Of all the outstanding black American religious leaders in the twentieth century, one of the least recognized is William Seymour, the unsung pastor of the Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles and catalyst of the worldwide Pentecostal movement. Only in the last few decades have scholars become aware of his importance, beginning perhaps with Yale University historian Sidney Ahlstrom, who said Seymour personified a black piety "which exerted its greatest direct influence on American religious history"placing Seymour's impact ahead of figures like W. E. B. Dubois and Martin Luther King, Jr.

William Joseph Seymour was born in Centerville, Louisiana, on May 2, 1870 to former slaves Simon and Phyllis Seymour. Raised as a Baptist, Seymour was given to dreams and visions as a youth. At age 25, he moved to Indianapolis, where he worked as a railroad porter and then waited on tables in a fashionable restaurant. Around this time, he contracted smallpox and went blind in his left eye.

In 1900 he relocated to Cincinnati, where he joined the "reformation" Church of God (headquartered in Anderson, Indiana), also known as "the Evening Light Saints." Here he became steeped in radical Holiness theology, which taught second blessing entire sanctification (i.e., sanctification is a post-conversion experience that results in complete holiness), divine healing, premillennialism, and the promise of a worldwide Holy Spirit revival before the rapture.

In 1903 Seymour moved to Houston, Texas, in search of his family. There he joined a small Holiness church pastored by a black woman, Lucy Farrow, who soon put him touch with Charles Fox Parham. Parham was a Holiness teacher under whose ministry a student had spoken ...
Compensation Survey Will Help Churches Set Fair Pay



CAROL STREAM, Ill., Feb. 14, 2017 /



Church employees are encouraged to take this



This resource provides compensation profiles classified by part- and full-time positions, church size, church budget, and geographical setting. Each position's compensation levels are presented based on several personnel characteristics, including years employed, denomination, region, gender, and educational training.



The data gathered from survey results will shape the 2018 Compensation Handbook for Church Staff. It will also build the foundation needed for the upcoming online compensation tool the Church Law & Tax Team is creating.



The $750,000 grant awarded to Church Law & Tax (CLT) by



To learn more about the tools the Church Law & Tax Team currently offers to help pastors and church staff with compensation, visit



is a nonprofit, global media ministry centered on Beautiful Orthodoxystrengthening the church by richly communicating the breadth of the true, good, and beautiful gospel. Reaching over five million people monthly with various digital and print resources, the ministry equips Christians to renew their minds, serve the church, and create culture to the glory of God.



is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly familyJ.K. Lilly Sr. and sons J.K. Jr. and Elithrough gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business. The Endowment supports causes in religion, education, and community development. Lilly Endowment's religion grantmaking is designed to deepen and enrich the religious lives of American Christians. It does this largely through initiatives to enhance and sustain the quality of ministry in American congregations and parishes.

Share Tweet Contact: Caitlin Edwards, 630-260-6200 ext 7226, cedwards@christianitytoday.com CAROL STREAM, Ill., Feb. 14, 2017 / Christian Newswire / -- Findings from a national survey on church compensation will be used to create one of the best-known resources for church compensation reportsthe Compensation Handbook for Church Staff . This resource is published by the Church Law & Tax Team of Christianity Today and helps church leaders determine a fair wage for pastors around the country.Church employees are encouraged to take this anonymous survey to help the Church Law & Tax Team receive an accurate representation of church compensation nationwide.This resource provides compensation profiles classified by part- and full-time positions, church size, church budget, and geographical setting. Each position's compensation levels are presented based on several personnel characteristics, including years employed, denomination, region, gender, and educational training.The data gathered from survey results will shape the 2018 Compensation Handbook for Church Staff. It will also build the foundation needed for the upcoming online compensation tool the Church Law & Tax Team is creating.The $750,000 grant awarded to Church Law & Tax (CLT) by Lilly Endowment Inc. focuses on the National Initiative to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders, and the first step in this project is to gather research from pastors and church staff with this survey, the 2017 National Church Compensation Survey To learn more about the tools the Church Law & Tax Team currently offers to help pastors and church staff with compensation, visit ChurchLawAndTax.com Christianity Today is a nonprofit, global media ministry centered on Beautiful Orthodoxystrengthening the church by richly communicating the breadth of the true, good, and beautiful gospel. Reaching over five million people monthly with various digital and print resources, the ministry equips Christians to renew their minds, serve the church, and create culture to the glory of God. Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly familyJ.K. Lilly Sr. and sons J.K. Jr. and Elithrough gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business. The Endowment supports causes in religion, education, and community development. Lilly Endowment's religion grantmaking is designed to deepen and enrich the religious lives of American Christians. It does this largely through initiatives to enhance and sustain the quality of ministry in American congregations and parishes.
Chris Pratt Reveals Source Of Strength: Jesus Christ, With Philippians 4:13 To Remind Him Of That

He portrays Peter Quill or Star-Lord, an interplanetary superhero cop in Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy."

In real life, actor Chris Pratt also has the Lordthe Lord Jesus Christ that isnot to portray but to take inspiration and find strength from.

In a recent Instagram post, Pratt once again shared his faith, this time revealing his particular source of strength: the Bible verse Philippians 4:13, which states, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

The star of "Jurassic World," "Passengers," this May's "Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2" and next year's expected blockbuster "Avengers: Infinity War" posted a picture of a piece of wooden art hand-made by his brother, Cully Pratt, who gave it to him as a gift.

The actor calls it his "dump tray," which he uses to throw his wallet, keys and other pocket items on.

But that's not exactly the reason why he asked his brother to handcraft the artwork, where the image of Jesus Christ wearing a crown of thorns is etched beside the Bible verse.

Pratt says he specifically asked his big brother to make him such an artwork to serve as a "touchstone" that he could take with him to ease his being "homesick" when he travels for work.

"So I thought about this great Bible verse Philippians 4:13 which I've relied on for strength from time to time," Pratt says, adding that what his "awesome, best friend and hero" brother gave him is now his "favorite thing."

In a previous report, Pratt revealed that he owes his faith and, for that matter, everything he has now, to a stranger he met in Hawaii when he was still working as an anonymous waiter at a restaurant in Hawaii.

He said the stranger, whose name he later learned was Henry, completely changed his life for the better forever.

While he was sitting outside a grocery store in Maui, Hawaii, Pratt said Henry approached him and asked him what he was doing that night.

When he asked why he was asking, Henry told him, "Jesus told me to talk to you."

Pratt said that turned out to be his spiritual wake-up call as Henry led him to Jesus Christ.
The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Sarah Barton Murphy Chapter, are hosting a trivia night on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bonne Terre to help raise money for Camp Hope.

DAR Regent Cara Akridge explained Camp Hope is a retreat for military veterans wounded in war and their mission is honoring the fallen by helping the wounded.

There are several ways the community can help, said Akridge. An individual or organization can bring a trivia team of eight to 10 players on the night of the event. Its $20 per person with a maximum of 10 people per table. Beer, soda, water, pizza and snacks are included with the entry fee.

Akridge said a sponsorship is another way to help the organization raise funds for Camp Hope. A donation of $400 or more includes a teams entry fees and the donor's business being advertised on the night of the event.

All donations, no matter the amount are welcome and appreciated, stressed Akridge. All funds will support Camp Hope in its mission to allow wounded warriors the opportunity to enjoy outdoor activity with dignity. We are also accepting items to be auctioned off the night of the event.

Akridge wanted to thank some of the businesses who are already supporting the event and encourages others to help as well.

This will be a fun and productive event to help celebrate and thank our veterans who have given so much for us, said Akridge. Please help us make this a success. We know businesses, organizations and individuals are asked many times a year for donations to various causes. Sometimes its difficult to decide which one is the best cause to support.

Akridge said the Sarah Barton Murphy Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution members felt there is no greater cause than combat wounded veterans who have sacrificed so much for everyone.

The trivia is being held at the Knight of Columbus in Bonne Terre located at 7897 Berry Rd. and the doors will open at 6:15 p.m. that evening and trivia starts at 7 p.m.

To make a donation or to reserve a table for the trivia night contact Cara Akridge at 314-805-2130 or the committee chairman Kerry Glore at 573-366-5786 or by email at akridgec@aol.com. Checks can be made payable to SBM Camp Hope Project and mailed to Cara Akridge, SBMDAR Regent, 13 Crestview Estates, Festus, Mo 63028.
Dying Former Chorister Helps Convict Former Vicar Of Abuse With Evidence Using Eye-Tracking Technology

A former church chorister dying from motor neurone disease used eye-tracking technology to give courtroom evidence against a former vicar who abused him.

The Guardian reported that a retired Anglican vicar was last week convicted of three counts of indecent assault dating back to the 1970s in what is believed to be the first time Eyegaze equipment has been used for cross-examination in a British crown court.

The victim, who was a young boy when the offences occurred, recorded his evidence and was then questioned by lawyers at Bournemouth crown court via video link as he lay in a hospice bed in Streatham, south London, while being helped by an intermediary provided by the Ministry of Justice.

The eye-tracking technology is similar to that used by the physicist Stephen Hawking to communicate. The 47-year-old former chorister, who has not been identified, used it to recall the attacks during his childhood.

However, the man did not live to hear the outcome of the case. A Metropolitan police officer was sent to Streatham to deliver news of the guilty verdict, but turned back after the force was informed that the victim had just died.

Cyril Rowe, now 78, was a vicar at St Matthias Anglican church in Stoke Newington, London, where the boy was in the choir.

Rowe, who is now living in Bournemouth, was found guilty last Wednesday and is due to be sentenced on March 10. He was charged in September 2016 after the offences were reported to the police in August 2015.

The indecent assaults were all committed against one victim between 1979 and 1981, and the unnamed chorister was between nine and 11 years old at the time.

A statement from the Met said: 'The victim gave evidence at court via a link from a hospice in Streatham. He suffered from motor neurone disease, and, by blinking his eyes, he was able to "speak" to the court via eye-tracking technology. The victim died, aged 47, on the same day that the guilty verdict was returned. He never heard that Rowe had been convicted.'
Evangelical Anglicans Challenged On 'High Levels Of Homophobia'

Evangelical Christians are being urged to repent of their homophobia by their fellow evangelicals.

A handful of 'affirming evangelicals' who believe the Bible does not condemn homosexual practice have written to their colleagues on the Church of England's ruling General Synod calling on them to admit their prejudice.

Five members of the Evangelical Group on the General Synod wrote to the pressure group outlining 'significant concern' over the 'the high levels of homophobia that appear to go unacknowledged and unchallenged'.

The letter highlights deep divisions over gay relationships that run throughout the CofE, even among evangelicals who are traditionally seen as conservative on sexuality.

Signed by Anthony Archer, Canon Simon Butler, Gavin Collins, Dr Angus Goudie and Jayne Ozanne, the letter urges conservatives to admit the harm of gay conversion therapy and the 'desperate consequence for Christian mission of the Church's teaching on sexuality'.

The five members of synod write: 'How are we to assess the fact that many people in secular society regard the Church's views on sexuality not just as bewildering, but as positively morally deficient, and so fail to see the gospel as a potential source of Good News?'

The call comes after a tense first day on the Church's synod as conservatives and liberals locked horns on the issue.

A report by the Church's bishops says there is 'little support' to change teaching that marriage is exclusively between one man and one woman.

It promised 'maximum freedom' for gay couples within current laws and called for 'a fresh tone and culture of welcome and support' for LGBT people but offers no change to doctrine or practice.

The report will be subject to a 90-minute 'take note' debate on Wednesday and a wholesale campaign by pro-LGBT Christians hopes to see the report struck down.

Gay rights campaigners used the opening afternoon of synod to launch repeated calls on the Archbishop of Canterbury to extend the time allocated for the debate and remove two and half hours of private group work.

Zoe Heming told synod 'a longer debate would be a safer space' for gay members.

If the campaigners succeed and the report is not passed it cannot be discussed until the end of this synodical cycle in 2020.
Evangelicals And Their Unnecessary Animosity Toward Academics

In 1994 Mark Noll wrote about the scandal of American evangelical anti-intellectualism and many of his arguments remain relevant for the movement today. Suspicion of evolution, vaccines, and climate change in many circles, paired with the election of science-sceptic Donald Trump by 80 per cent of white evangelicals further pits the evangelical movement against professors and other academics who share inconvenient truths or challenge particular beliefs.

This resistance to science and intellectualism has played into a wider evangelical persecution complex. This explains the relative success in evangelical circles of movies such as God's Not Dead. And by 'success', I mean the fact that this movie was even made in the first place and, even more surprisingly, was made into a sequel. One of the perceived battle grounds of evangelical Christianity is in the classroom, especially at colleges and universities, and a movie like God's Not Dead plays on this fear.

A disproportionate number of my family and friends have PhD's. Many are working as professors or seeking jobs and I've learned that these culture war movies hardly come close to accurately portraying who the majority of professors are or what these professors try to do. As academics and 'facts' come under increasing attack in the midst of a Trump presidency, the place of evangelicals in the attack on intellections in America is worth examining:

The fear of college professors

Growing up in a conservative evangelical church, I wasn't free from a fear of college professors challenging my beliefs. I attended a Christian university, and even so, many people at my church warned me that it was too liberal (I assure you, it wasn't!).

While most of the challenges to my particular version of Christianity occurred in conversations with my fellow students, I did hit a few bumps in the road. Students in one literature class objected to the content in a novel, but our professor allowed us to substitute another book for the class.

I certainly entered college with my defenses up even though it was a Christian university. I don't think I let them down until a few years after graduation.

What college professors actually do

Knowing many college professors, I can verify that most of them care very deeply for their students and want nothing more than for students to think for themselves. The majority of professors work long hours to develop classroom activities that will get students engaged and involved so that they become active participants in forming, analyzing, and articulating their own ideas.

They meet with students throughout each week, answer email at all hours, and worry when students stop showing up at class. One political science professor told me that none of his colleagues could conceive of attacking their students in class or forcing them to change their beliefs.

Are there some exceptions to this? I'm certain that you could drum up a few examples of aggressive professors, but by and large, students and their ideas are highly valued by professors.

Do college professors proselytize their students?

The harder word for those in the evangelical movement addressed by Knoll's book is that many of these Christians fear being proselytized by college professors much as they try to proselytize others. Are there atheists and people in other religions who are guilty of aggressively pushing their beliefs on others? Certainly. But college professors are often doing something quite different from proselytizing.

In addition, for many evangelicals, there is an expectation that the Christian faith is simple, self-evident, and a matter of simple obedience to the Bible and one's church leaders. Questioning the Bible or church leaders could become a slippery slope, even if those questions appear to be honest and sincere.

This is how we end up with entire churches that oppose the mere mention of evolution. The moment a college professor (or high school teacher for that matter) encourages a student from such a church to consider the evidence, a crisis ensues. While every honest academic pursuit requires an evaluation of all sides, weighing the value of arguments, and then drawing a conclusion, the simple act of considering an alternative to the party line becomes an act of rebellion.

Ironically, the church leaders who foster this adversarial environment against academics are far more likely to cause a Christian to leave the faith. When flimsy walls of nonessential issues become the essential boundaries of the faith, a college professor encouraging honest inquiry can hardly be blamed for the collapse of such a poorly conceived belief system.

Do evangelicals need academics?

As America continues to be awash in the Trump administration's propaganda, lies, and meticulously misrepresented news while labeling the news media as 'fake news', evangelicals could benefit from a reconsideration of Mark Knoll's words. American evangelicals have a great need for the commitment to research and careful evaluation of the available data found in the academic community.

Our faith need not fear the scrutiny of scholars. The power of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and return have stood the test of time not because they have been protected from serious inquiry. Rather, these historical events are proven true each time someone reaches out to God in prayer and experiences the life changing presence of the risen Christ.

Ed Cyzewski is the author of 'A Christian Survival Guide'. He writes at www.edcyzewski.com.
How A Christian Hospital In Iraq Is Saving ISIS Fighters' Lives

The President of Samaritan's Purse, Franklin Graham, has claimed that the humanitarian aid organisation is helping to save the lives of 'badly injured' Islamic State fighters outside Mosul in Iraq.

The leading evangelical wrote on Facebook over the weekend that medical staff at the Samaritan's Purse field hospital just miles outside of the war-torn city have extended compassionate care to not only residents and injured Iraq-led coalition soldiers but also ISIS jihadists.

Graham's post came in defence of President Donald Trump's controversial executive order issued on January 27 that suspends refugee resettlement for 120 days, refugee resettlement from Syria indefinitely and temporarily halts travel of citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days.

Earlier this month, amid widespread opposition to the order - including from a range of Christian campaigners - it was blocked by a federal judge.

'At Samaritan's Purse we work in over 100 countries and have worked in most of those on the banned list, so I feel I have something to say about this issue,' Graham wrote. 'For example, right now with our Emergency Field Trauma Hospital outside Mosul, Iraq, we are treating Muslims, wounded civilians  men, women, and children  many of whom were shot by ISIS snipers as they fled Mosul.

'At the same time, we are treating badly wounded ISIS fighters," he added. "Our medical teams take them in, perform surgery, bind up their wounds, and give everyone the same compassionate, Christian care  helping them in Jesus' Name.'

The Samaritan's Purse field hospital opened in early January about six miles (10 kilometres) outside Mosul and became the closest medical facility to the front lines of the coalition's efforts to remove ISIS from its Iraqi stronghold.

While the coalition has cleared most of eastern Mosul, the battle rages on in the western part of the city.

There is so much need for medical aid that within the hospital's first few days of operation it had treated about 100 patients suffering from life-threatening injuries, according to The Christian Post.

The hospital's director, Dr Elliott Tenpenny told The Christian Post last month that the hospital plans to stay open for at least six months.

'We live and work in a difficult place,' she said. 'You wake up and go to sleep with the sound of artillery and gunfire around but we are protected by our security that is here. There is no specific incident that has made me fearful, but we are sitting close to a war zone and we hear the war going on behind us and we know what the people are going through in those areas.'

In his post written on Saturday night, Graham added: 'We are working to help thousands of refugees every day in different countries. Like the Good Samaritan Jesus told about in the Bible, we help those who have been hurt along life's road. But that doesn't mean we don't need to make the borders of our own country secure. We shouldn't be naive. Just because we give medical care to ISIS fighters doesn't mean I would want to allow any one of them to immigrate to the US That would be crazy. Taking time to vet who we're allowing to enter America isn't too much to ask  we need to know who they are.

'God does tell us to help the stranger and those in need; but God doesn't tell us to expose our cities, homes, and lives to hostile people. Remember, Jerusalem had walls and gates, and when they had a threat, the gates were closed. Many Muslim groups have made no secret of their deep and deadly hatred for this country.'
How To Read The Bible: Take It Literally But Take It Seriously

We need to take the Bible literally again.

So said biblical scholar Prof Iain Provan last night, giving a lecture titled 'Seriously Literal Interpretation: The Reformation and the Right Reading of Scripture' at the London School of Theology.

In his Laing Lecture, Prof Provan, who is Marshall Sheppard Professor of Biblical Studies at Regent College, Vancouver, said we need to recover a sense of reading the Bible literally, but not literalistically.

In a year that celebrates 500 years since the Protestant Reformation, Provan was commending what he saw as the view that the Reformers such as Martin Luther and John Calvin had of the Bible.

This does not mean that Provan believes the world was made in six days 6,000 years ago or that metaphor and poetry should be ignored. What it does mean, he said, was listening to the actual voice of the author of the text.

Metaphors, for example, should be taken literally, but will be misunderstood if taken literalistically.

Provan said: 'We must differentiate between literal readings and literalistic. A literalistic reading understands "pitching a tent" to require throwing it.'

Of course, the word 'literally' can confuse for two reasons. Some people take it to mean 'literalistically', while others take it to really mean 'metaphorically'.

Someone might say, to use an example Provan gave, that they were so excited that they were 'literally glued to their seat'. They don't really mean that due to adhesive they were 'literally' unable to leave their seat. They are using a common metaphor to communicate their captivation and they wish to express their thought emphatically.

To take this point to the Bible, Provan is emphasising that 'literal' readings are concerned not with word-for-word translations, but with the intention of the author. Much biblical interpretation can ignore the author, focusing instead on history, or personal experience, or spiritual guidance of some kind, while pretending that the intention of the author does not matter or cannot be heard.

The four (confusing) ways

Provan said that Protestant interpretation of the Bible has broadly split into four ways of reading it.

Historical critics take a modern approach, using tools of linguistic translation and historical reconstruction to determine the truth 'behind' the texts.History takes priority. The texts are read seeking a 'literal' meaning, but often at the expense of not interpreting texts in their literary or theological context.

Another approach is the post-modern one. Post-modern readers focus on the independence of texts from their authors and on how readers construct their own meaning out of texts. They will probably challenge previously dominant perspectives and explore new ways to read the text. Provan named the 'emergent Church' movement as an example of the influence of post-modern thinking.

A third approach reacts strongly to the post-modern way, in pursuit of the 'single, definite and fixed meaning' expressed in the biblical text. This theologically conservative will champion the Bible's innerancy and expresses caution about 'modern' readings, including the bearing of scientific developments on interpretation.

A final approach comes from 'counter-reformational Protestants' who question the legacy of the Reformation, seeing it as something to lament, not celebrate. They look towards the more ancient approaches of the Church for ways to read the Bible, looking for different layers of meaning and asserting 'spiritual' interpretations of scripture texts. For example, they may celebrate the use of 'allegorising', taking certain passages as symbols of later revealed truths.

Some great tweets during the @LSTheology #Laing2017 Lecture tonight - check the hashtag to catch up... pic.twitter.com/Arxns5n5Er  Matt Adcock (@Cleric20) February 13, 2017

Summing up these four 'ways', Provan said that these approaches, encountered together, can sow great confusion in the Church. In particular, their vast differences can cause people to doubt the truth and coherence of the Bible, questioning whether it can really be understood.

To counter this, Provan commended Calvin and Luther's 'literal' reading of the Bible.

This does not mean ignoring historical details, grammatical nuances or theological interpretations, he said. Rather, it means understanding them as the author intends. He quoted Luther who once wrote: 'Become a text critic, and learn about the grammatical sense, whatever grammar intends, which is about faith, patience, death, and life.'

When this becomes the essence of the approach, the complexity of a text is taken seriously, while emphasising the accessibility of God's word to the lay person.

The now and not yet

Provan concluded by speaking about typology, a tool within language that allows texts to relate, connect and prefigure one another. He gave the example of the royal themes in Psalm 2. The psalm is written in exile, when there is no king, but it prefigures Jesus, Provan says, looking forward to the true king who is to come.

He quoted scholar Hans Frei's description of typology: 'Without loss to its own literal meaning or specific temporal reference, an earlier story (or occurrence) [becomes] a figure of a later one.' Provan called typology 'the now and not yet of biblical hermeneutics'.

Where does authority come from? How does God speak, and can he be understood? These are the questions the Reformers wrestled with and considered to be of utmost importance.

Provan suggested that lack of confidence in the Bible and our ability to understand it is an increasing problem within contemporary churches. He wants people to return to an understanding the understands both the richness and simplicity of God's word.

Does this mean anyone can interpret scripture? 'Everyone can do it. If they learn how to do it,' Provan says.

A glance at trends in Christian news and culture should remind one well just how divided many Christians are about how to read the Bible. In many ways, confusions about the Bible mean the Church is more divided now than ever. In this year that looks back on the legacy of the Reformation, Provan is using the Reformers as a guide for helping a Church in crisis. It is one that takes seriously all aspects of advanced interpretation and scholarship, but also asks simply: 'What is the writer trying to say?'

You can follow @JosephHartropp on Twitter
Iranian Christian Convert 'Seriously Ill' Following Hunger Strike

An Iranian Christian convert who has been imprisoned since August has fallen 'seriously ill' after going on hunger strike.

Amin Afshar Naderi went on hunger strike on 5 February with fellow prisoner Hadi Asgari who is also unwell, but has been refused medical treatment, World Watch Monitor reports.

Naderi and Asgari are two of five Christians who were arrested whilst having a picnic in the Alborz Mountains, north-east Tehran last summer.

Three of the men were able to raise enough funds ($33,000 each) to be granted bail and be released late last year. Naderi and Asgari were unable to raise the needed funds, and have been imprisoned and interrogated since August.

No charges have been brought against them. Many Christians in Iran face intense persecution and opposition for their faith, frequently being arrested with the charge of 'acting against national security'.

Middle East concern said that the arrests were a result of their Christian faith, or their connection with Victor Bet-Tamraz. Victor is the father of Ramil Bet-Tamraz, one of the five originally imprisoned. He led the Tehran Pentecostal Assyrian Church, which was eventually shut down by Iran's ministry of interior.

Victor Bet-Tamraz, Naderi and another convert were arrested in 2014, charged with conducting illegal evangelism. They spent two months imprisoned, mostly in solitary confinement.

Several Iranian Christians have gone on hunger strike whilst imprisoned. Amnesty International has previously accused Iran of being 'cruel' in its refusal of medical care for its prisoners.

Amnesty's 2016 report 'presents strong evidence that the judiciary, in particular the Office of the Prosecutor, and prison administrations deliberately prevent access to adequate medical care, in many cases as an intentional act of cruelty intended to intimidate, punish or humiliate political prisoners, or to extract forced "confessions" or statements of "repentance" from them.'
Jews 'Boiled Christians In Cauldrons' Alleges Ultra-Conservative Russian Lawmaker

An ultra-conservative, pro-Kremlin Russian lawmaker has sparked an anti-Semitism row after saying the ancestors of local Jewish opposition figures in St. Petersburg 'boiled Christians in cauldrons'.

Vitaly Milonov, a Duma deputy known for his anti-gay initiatives, lashed out at the weekend at two local lawmakers who are leading a protest against handing over St Isaac's Basilica to the Russian Orthodox Church.

'Christians survived despite the fact that the ancestors of Boris Vishnevsky and Maksim Reznik boiled us in cauldrons and fed us to animals,' Milonov said at a rally on Sunday to support the controversial handover.

The statement sparked a wave of criticism, with another local lawmaker, Alexei Kovalev petitioning for a criminal probe into possible incitement of hatred while prominent Jewish figures said it was shameful and could spark religious tensions.

'For a State Duma deputy, it is unacceptable to make such irresponsible statements,' said the spokesman of Russia's Federation of Jewish Communities (FEOR), Borukh Gorin.

'Such a statement reeks of medieval obscurantism, discredits modern Russia, and is shameful of the party which he represents,' he told the Lekhaim Jewish magazine.

Meanwhile, the Russian Jewish Congress president Yury Kaner told AFP: 'It is clear to any normal person that these lawmakers are of Jewish descent and that he means "Jews" by his statement.'

Another local lawmaker, Alexey Kovalev, officially appealed yesterday to Russia's investigative committee to launch a probe against Milonov.

Kovalev said in his appeal, posted on his official Facebook page, that Milonov 'committed actions inciting hatred' and 'dishonoured' the lawmakers.

He requested that Milonov's statements be investigated under Russia's anti-extremism law, which is widely used to prosecute opposition figures.

Last year, Russia emerged as the top country of origin among immigrants to Israel, with some 7,000 emigrants, The Times of Israel reported.

The paper said: 'Russia has a long history of anti-Semitism, with pogroms and settlement regulations in Tsarist times, as well as various limits on education and careers in the Soviet era.'
More Than 220 Church Leaders Join Calls On Government To Reverse Decision To Block Child Refugees

More than 220 church leaders from across the UK have signed a petition opposing the Government's decision to stop a resettlement programme for child refugees.

The church leaders call on the Government to 'open the door again to refugee children' and offer their help in resettling them.

The Home Office's low-key announcement last Wednesday said the scheme to resettle unaccompanied child refugees under Lord Dubs' amendment to the 2016 immigration bill would stop at the end of March.

The Immigration minister Robert Goodwill said 200 children had arrived so far and another 150 would follow before the end of March. But he added that no further places were available with local authorities.

The petition, which this afternoon had gained 228 signatures, was coordinated by the Christian charity Home for Good.

The petition states that the number who are coming in 'is far smaller than what is desired' and 'fits neither the spirit nor the intention behind the transfer scheme and leaves many vulnerable unaccompanied children still in Europe in unsuitable conditions'.

It continues: 'There are challenges to bringing in more children and teenagers, but there is a willingness from the public to offer help and find solutions to these challenges. Home for Good has had a huge response from the general public with over 13,500 wanting to find out how to start the process to be assessed to foster asylum seeking children. We believe there is capacity in the UK  but the current national and local systems are not in place to access this. We therefore call on the Government to open the door again to refugee children and engage with discussions about how more can be done for them. As leaders we offer to assist the Government in making use of civil society's willingness to help local authorities provide care for these children.'

Signatories include Nicky Gumbel, the vicar of the popular evangelical church in London, Holy Trinity Brompton, Steve Clifford, the General Director of the Evangelical Alliance, Lynn Green, the General Secretary of the Baptist Union and Alan Donaldson, the General Director of the Baptist Union of Scotland.

Last week, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby joined other bishops in calling on ministers to reverse their decision.

The Dubs scheme made provision for unaccompanied asylum seeking children who are in transit in Europe to be brought into the UK.

Lord Dubs had originally asked for 3,000 children to be accepted  a calculated 'fair share' for Britain given the number of unaccompanied refugee children in Europe. The government agreed to welcome an unspecified number.

In a video message posted on Twitter, Home for Good's founder and director Krish Kandiah said: 'I'm angry  I'm angry about where the government stands on refugee children...The UK has been putting some spurious logic about why we shouldn't help them. One argument is, if we help them that will encourage more children to come: I think that is completely false.

'It's like coming across a young child in the street covered in blood because they've hurt themselves on a barbed wire fence and saying, well we obviously can't help that child because that would be a pull factor to encourage more children to hurt themselves on barbed wire fences. No, you need to help a child in need right now, and turning your back on them is no answer.

'These children that have come to Europe, that are fleeing ISIS and bombs in places like Aleppo, Afghanistan and Eritrea  we need to help them because they are in need. Some people have been arguing that we are at capacity. Well I know that not to be true. Our little charity Home for Good has had 13,500 people contact us saying that they want to help... I'm calling on the Government to play its part, as civic society wants to help.'
Pastor Killed And Church Destroyed In Revenge Attack In Central African Republic

A Christian pastor has been killed and two churches destroyed in brutal revenge attacks by Muslim rebels in the Central African Republic.

Pastor Jean-Paul Sankagui of the Eglise du Christ en Centrafrique was attacked and stabbed to death by supporters of Muslim rebel militia in the CAR's capital Bangui, World Watch Monitor reports.

The attack came after a military operation was launched by CAR military and UN peacekeepers to capture and interrogate local militia leader Youssouf Sy, whose name has also been reported as Youssouf Malinga. The operation failed and he and one of his officers were killed in the incident.

'During the operation, Sy  also known as Big Man  and his men opened fire on the security forces and killed two passers-by, a man and a woman,' a UN spokesman said, according to CBN News.

'The security forces responded, killing Youssouf and one of his men. Three Central African security forces troops were also injured,' he added.

In retaliation Sy's allies surrounded Sankagui's church. An eyewitness said that Sankagui had urged those present at the church to flee the church to escape the violence.

Sankagui was then attacked and stabbed to death, a family member said. His church was set on fire and destroyed.

Two other churches in the area were set on fire, and a local school was destroyed. The UN reported that at least three people were killed and 26 injured in the violence.

UN spokesman Vladimir Monteiro lamented the violence, saying: 'It is unfortunate that the civilian population were the victims of these criminals' indiscriminate fire.'
Pastor Who Baptised Charleston Church Massacre Shooter Dylann Roof Says He Hasn't Given Up On Him

Pastor Richard Graf from the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, who is known for having baptised convicted mass murderer Dylann Roof back in 1997, is not giving up hope on the young man even after he killed nine African-American worshippers from the Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina back in June 2015.

"What he did was terrible. There's no excuse for it. It was a crime against the people of God and God himself," Graf told WECT. "Those people had the God-given gift of life and he took that, he took that away from them."

However, Graf said he has an issue on how the government is handling his case and how spectators are "compounding one wrong with another" by spreading hate and condemning Roof. He said, "Evil is among us, none of us are perfect. We're all mortal and it is our sin that causes our death."

Graf added that baptism is a sacred act that should be used as a key to forgiveness for Roof, but only if he chooses to use it. Roof was only two years old when he was baptised, and the only way he can preserve the promises that come with baptism is if he decides to turn back on his past and embrace God.

"Will it make a difference? I don't know," Graf admitted. "But, I don't think God ever forsakes us and God's spirit is in there somewhere, so I would not give up hope on him."

Graf's sentiment is shared by Rev. Dr Calvin Samuel, principal of the London School of Theology and a Methodist minister. He said sin runs rampant in this world, so Christians should seek to offer grace every chance they can.

"First and foremost, we should mirror our God in being merciful and extending grace. Mercy is the withholding of the full punishment that a sin deserves. The ultimate punishment for sin is in God's hands, not ours, and in His time He will bring this about," he said.
Two people have been arrested and charges have been filed in the death of Frank Ancona which occurred last week. The initial search for the missing Leadwood man led several law enforcement agencies on an investigation in two separate counties.

Malissa Ancona, 44, of Leadwood, who was the victim's wife, has been charged with a class A felony of murder in the first degree, felony armed criminal action, a class D felony of tampering with physical evidence and a class D felony of abandonment of a corpse. Both are being held on no bond.

Her son, Paul Jinkerson Jr., 24, of Belgrade, who was the victim's stepson, is charged with a class A felony of murder in the first degree, felony armed criminal action, a class D felony of tampering with physical evidence and a class D felony of abandonment of a corpse.

According to a probable cause statement on Feb. 9 the murder occurred at 1124 Mill St. in Leadwood. Frank Ancona was shot and killed inside a bedroom of the home and then was placed into Jinkersons vehicle. Frank Ancona's body and his car were taken to Washington County and dumped. The car was found in the Mark Twain National Forest on a service road on Feb. 9, but at that time Frank Ancona had not been reported missing. Later when Frank Ancona was reported missing, the forest service worker who had seen the car earlier notified authorities of where the car had been parked and officers went back to where it was still sitting.

Frank Ancona's body was found in the Belgrade area on the banks of the Big River off Route C on Feb. 11, by a family out for a fishing trip.

A search warrant was served at the Ancona home on Feb. 11 which revealed extensive blood evidence in the master bedroom. Malissa Ancona was present at the home prior to and during the service of the search warrant.

An investigator reported that Malissa Ancona admitted to him in a recorded interview that her biological son, Jinkerson Jr., shot and killed Frank Ancona while he was asleep in the bedroom of the home. Malissa Ancona also admitted that she failed to report the crime and additionally attempted to destroy blood evidence and altered the crime scene in an attempt to conceal what had happened. It was reported that she was acting in concert with her son.

Malissa Ancona was taken into custody Saturday for questioning after the search warrant was served to search the home she shared with Frank Ancona. She was later released and picked up a second time late Sunday evening on a 20-hour hold for investigation.

An autopsy conducted Sunday on the body revealed Frank Ancona died as result of a gunshot to the head.

The story of Frank Ancona's death spread around the globe over the weekend, not because of his disappearance or how or where he died, but because he had long claimed involvement in a chapter of an organization tied to the Ku Klux Klan. But any involvement with the KKK had little, if anything, to do with his death.

Frank Ancona was reported missing Friday after his employer reached out to the Leadwood Police Department with concerns of his whereabouts. The employer reported Frank Ancona had not shown up for work Wednesday or Thursday, which was out of character for him.

A Leadwood officer went to the Ancona address but no one answered the door. The officer contacted Police Chief William Dickey, who then went back to the house to investigate further.

When the chief and officer arrived they found Frank's wife, Malissa Ancona, and her son outside the home. They inquired about Frank Ancona and were told by Malissa Ancona that he got a call from his workplace and needed to drive across the state to deliver a part, which is what he did for a living.

Frank's son, Frank Ancona Jr., told police that other family members had not heard from his dad, which was very much out of character for him. A call to the employer verified they did not send Frank across the state on a job.

The officers requested to enter the house. At first Malissa Ancona denied access, but later consented to allowing them to enter. Once inside, the officers found a safe which had been busted open and any contents removed.

It was also discovered that all of the man's firearms were missing except the handgun he carried regularly as a holder of a concealed carry permit.

Malissa Ancona told the police that Frank Ancona told her he was leaving to go out of state on this job and that when he got back he was filing for a divorce. She said he took the firearms with him.

She also said his threat of a divorce was why she had posted a notice on Facebook earlier in the week looking for a roommate. She said with her husband leaving she would need a roommate to share the living expenses.

But other family members living nearby said Frank Ancona would never have taken all of his firearms with him.

The Leadwood officers left the home and put a "check the well-being" alert out to area law enforcement agencies. Shortly after the alert was dispatched, word of the black car being seen outside Potosi the previous day was reported. Officers went to the location and found the car.

Deputies responded on Friday and located the vehicle and secured it, said Jacobsen. We left deputies at the scene and secured it overnight due to the loss of light. On Saturday morning we conducted a search of the area on foot by members of the Potosi Fire Protection District and the sheriffs office. We didnt locate much of anything in the woods, but we did locate evidence of a burn pile near Mr. Anconas vehicle.

Later that day Jacobsen reported they executed two search warrants and arrested a male on an unrelated drug warrant out of Washington County. While they were waiting for the issuance of one of the warrants he was notified that they had received a call from a lady who was taking her family fishing. They had located a body near the bank of the Big River outside Belgrade.

We processed the scene and the body was transported by the Washington County Coroners office for an autopsy to determine a cause of death, said Jacobsen. The body was positively identified as Frank Ancona and his family was notified.

The investigation has been handled as a joint effort involving the sheriffs office in Washington County, St. Francois County Sheriffs office, the Leadwood Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

On Saturday around 2 p.m. investigators made their way back to the Ancona residence off Mill Street in Leadwood and immediately put up crime scene tape around the house and blocked off the nearby street while awaiting a search warrant.

Shortly after the search warrant came through several officers searched the home.

The Washington County Sheriffs Department obtained a search warrant for a second address, this one in that county, and searched the home and the homeowners car.

Then on Sunday morning the autopsy was performed and it was confirmed the cause of death had been a gunshot to the head.

St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney Jerrod Mahurin presented the case to the judge Monday morning and the warrants were signed and served.
Pope Francis Blasts Clerical Sex Abuse As 'Diabolic Sacrifice'

Pope Francis has described clerical sex abuse as 'diabolic sacrifice' in the preface of a new book, asking: 'How does a priest in the service of Christ and his church manage to provoke so much evil?'

The book, I Forgive You, Father was written by a former Swiss priest Daniel Pittet, who was himself the victim of clerical sex abuse as an eight-year-old altar boy.

La Repubblica, the Rome-based Italian newspaper, yesterday carried the full preface in a front page article in which it explained the background to Pittet's story.

During an audience with Pope Francis two years ago, Pittet told the Pope how he was abused for four years.

Pittet claims that the Pope listened to his story in tears before encouraging the 57-year-old former priest to tell the story more widely.

'For anyone who has been the victim of a paedophile it is very difficult to recount what happened to them, to describe still existing traumas many years later. For that reason, Daniel Pittet's testimony is necessary, precious and courageous', Pope Francis writes in the preface, according to the Irish Times.

'I am glad that people can today read his witness and discover for themselves the extent to which evil can enter into the heart of a servant of the Church.'

On the subject of clerical abuse, the Pope writes: 'How does a priest in the service of Christ and his Church manage to provoke so much evil? Having consecrated his life so that he might lead children to God, how does he end up devouring them in what I have called "a diabolic sacrifice" which destroys both the victim and the life of the Church? Some victims have even taken their own lives.'

As he has done before, Pope Francis quotes Matthew 18:6, that for anyone who harms a child, 'it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea'.

The Pope emphasises the fact that Pittet chose to forgive his abuser when he finally met up with him last year, more than 40 years after the abuse. 'He opted to meet his abuser more than 40 years later, and to look him in the eye, the man who had so damaged his soul,' Francis writes. 'And he reached out his hand to him. The wounded child is today a man on his feet, fragile but on his feet. I am much struck by his words: "Many people find it hard to understand why I do not hate this man. I have forgiven him and I have built my life around that pardon."'

Pittet told La Repubblica that when he finally met his abuser, he found a 'sick old man' who did not seem to 'feel remorse for all the harm he had done'.

The former priest also suggested that senior Church figures continue to cover up for abusers. 'For that reason, the Pope's words are important,' he said. 'There are paedophiles in the parishes and even in the Church hierarchy, people who pretend nothing is happening and who move abuser priests from one church to another, as if that was going to resolve the problem. They keep their secrets and new children are abused.'
Prisons Guilty Of 'Institutional Secularism': Christian Convert Jonathan Aitken, Ex-Cabinet Minister And Convict

Jonathan Aitken, the former Conservative Cabinent minister who served time in jail for perjury, has accused the prison service of being guilty of 'institutional secularism'.

He was speaking to Christian Today after Justice Secretary Liz Truss effectively admitted in a speech at the Centre for Social Justice that the prison system is in crisis.

She admitted the prison population had changed but said this was due to the increase in numbers of violent and sex offenders being convicted. She slapped down calls for reduced sentences and said the answer was instead to place more emphasis on reform.

Aitken, who was convicted of perjury in 1999 and served seven months of his 18-month sentence, and who is currently president of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, said there is a 'growing role' for charities, including Christian charities, in prison and prisoner reform.

He referred to Christian organisations such as the Prison Fellowship, which has 3,200 volunteers working in 120 prisons; Caring for Ex-Offenders, a charity based at the evangelical London church Holy Trinity Brompton, Pact, which works with prisoners' families and the Nehemiah Project, which takes an abstinence-based approach to addiction.

Aitken, who became Christian after he attended the Alpha Course in 1997 and learned Greek and studied theology at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford after his conviction, said: 'There is a long list of good and effective Christian-inspired charities which do not need money from government but do need more encouragement and fewer obstacles.'

He said this meant 'easier access' to do their prison ministry.

The obstacles to Christian ministry and Christianity in general vary from prison to prison.

'But at its worst, there is a political correctness in the system,' he said. 'Christians are seen as a nuisance who deserve no special treatment. Indeed, they often seem to get slightly worse treatment in terms of bureaucracy and rights of access.

'So there is a certain insitutional secularism in the prison system which often leads to a bias against Christian ministry and Christian volunteers.'

He admitted: 'That is a very sweeping thing to say.' It was not true of all prisons, he added, but it was 'true in enough places to be a problem'. The variation was due to the wide differences between prisons in the system.

Aitken often gives testinomy in churches and prisons. His role model and mentor until he died in 2012 was President Nixon's former political henchman, Chuck Colson, one of the 'Watergate Seven' who also went to prison, converted and became an evangelist for both for Christianity and for prison reform.

Last year, Aitken was a keynote speaker at the National Prayer Breakfasts of Canada and Uganda.

When preparing for talks, Aitken said he often sits down first and tries to imagine what Colson would have said.

He also led a prison reform task force on prison reform for the Centre for Social Justice and wrote a biography of Colson, Charles W Colson: A Life Redeemed.

Aitken praised Truss for her 'realism' and her caution. Letting violent and sex offenders out early in order to solve the overcrowding problem should not be on the government's agenda at all, he said.

However, said she was a little over-cautious in what might be done in the area of rehabilitation. 'There are perhaps more signs of hope in this field than she acknowledged,' he said. But she was right to emphasise the value of prison officers.

He condemned staff cuts in prisons.

'Liz Truss's predecessors have brought on the present crisis in our prisons by kow-towing to the pressures from the Treasury and taking 7,000 prison officers out of the system. That destroyed a lot of good prison officer services. The loss of these jobs is really the root cause of the present crisis, with too many suicides, too much self-harm, too many attacks on staff. Most of this would not be happening if those 7,000 officers had not been removed.'
Radical Romantic Or Persecuted Priest: Who Was St Valentine?

Who was St Valentine? The name belongs to a 3rd-century Roman saint commemorated across the Church on this day, but no one's quite sure who he was. However, the stories certainly are interesting. Valentine didn't have much to do with pink fluffy cushions and commercial romance, but his life did point to something deeper.

The bold bishop

One possibility is that Valentine was a bishop who was once under house arrest with a judge called Asterius. The pair were having a discussion about faith, religion and Jesus, when Asterius asked Valentine to put his faith to the test. Asterius said that if Valentine could heal his blind daughter, then he would do anything for him. Valentine placed his hands on the eyes of Asterius' daughter, and she was healed.

Asterius was humbled and his life was transformed. He was moved to destroy all the idols in his home and was baptised along with his family and 44-member household. He then freed all his Christian prisoners.

The persecuted priest

Another tale, which doesn't exclude the first, tells of another time Valentine was arrested, and ultimately martyred under the reign of Emperor Claudius Gothicus (Claudius II).

Valentine was allegedly imprisoned for marrying Christian couples and helping other persecuted Christians. When Valentine tried to convert Claudius himself, Claudius was furious and demanded that Valentine be sentenced to death unless he renounced his faith.

He refused and was beaten with clubs and beheaded. He was executed outside the Flaminian Gate, north of Rome, on February 14, 269.

The Legend(s) of Valentine

One legend says Valentine secretly married off couples so the husbands wouldn't have to go to war. Another tells that Valentine refused to sacrifice to pagan gods, and was  you guessed it  imprisoned. In jail he healed the blind daughter of his jailer. When his time came to be executed, he left the girl a note which read: 'Your Valentine'.

Many say that the romantic associations of Valentine's Day arose because in the Middle Ages it was believed that mid-February was the time for birds to form couples.

Valentine's story is so unclear that the Catholic church removed Valentine's name from the General Roman Calendar, though he is still recognised as a saint. Scientists have recently worked out what they believe Valentine actually looked like.

But perhaps the true events behind this name aren't as important as the stories we tell around it. The legends of St Valentine point to more than simple historical events or to modern commercial romanticism.

The name Valentine derives from the Latin word Valens meaning 'worthy, strong, powerful'. Yet the day of Valentine has become associated not with power and strength, but love. Likewise, Valentine did not really show himself to be strong and powerful in his lifetime  he was one who suffered, facing arrest and martyrdom under a cruel empire. Nonetheless, his story, whichever one we choose to believe, has inspired people for hundreds of years. Valentine shows that true love has more to do with self-sacrifice than it does with meeting 'the one'. True love means living boldly, generously, and being willing to lay down your life for a higher cause.
The Love Paradox: Why Marriages  And Churches  Fail To Live Up To 1 Corinthians 13

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" (1 Corinthians 13: 4-7).

No matter how many fairy lights, string quartets, organza bags and blushing bridesmaids there are, it seems that no wedding is complete without someone standing up and reading 1 Corinthians 13. This excerpt from a letter written to a church halfway between Sparta and Athens brings a bit of true Greek wedding style to the most traditional of marriage ceremonies. They have become some of the most quoted verses of the Bible and resonate with many marrying couples, whether Christians or not. These beautiful words, are the ones we persistently choose to attach to one of the most important days in their lives.

There is a good reason for this. They describe the way we want to be loved. We want someone to love us patiently and kindly, without envy, boasting or pride. We want someone to love us sacrificially, unconditionally and unfailingly.

We rightly set the bar high on these important occasions. Yet we are also aware that the words alone cannot guarantee a lifetime of this idealised picture of love. Too many couples who start off so well-intentioned and hopelessly in love end up lovelessly hopeless, with talk of divorce and custody rights. There is a huge gap between the promise of these words and the reality of our lives. But there is hope.

Paul's inspiring words occur in a letter addressed not to a starry-eyed marrying couple, but to a quarrelling church. I wonder if they would be so popular if the original context was understood. The church was racked with dispute, disunity and disintegration. It was neither loving nor kind. The letter begins by addressing the divisions in the church, with different factions arguing over which leader to follow. This was not a church that 'does not dishonour others'. There was blatant sexual immorality including one man sleeping with his father's wife (1 Corinthians 5: 1-13) and others visiting prostitutes (6: 12-20). The congregation kept a record of wrongs to the degree that some church members were even taking their grievances to court. They were impatient, jumping the queue in communion and not saving food for those behind them (1 Corinthians 11). They were unkind, criticising each other for what they were eating outside of the church (1 Corinthians 8-11). Paul writes boldly about the characteristics of love precisely because the people he was writing to didn't seem to get it one bit.

Such was the reality gap between the life of the Corinthian church and God's intention for his people that Paul calls these Christians to live out a completely different and radical love, even in the middle of the hopeless messiness and lovelessness. This is where these verses remain significant. In the midst of the tension and the conflict, where impatience and unkindness are rife, these verses call us to a different kind of attitude.

I have visited a lot of churches all around the globe and it is rare to find people who bear testimony to an extremely patient and self-sacrificial love. It is much easier to find those whose actions blatantly contradict it. I have seen just as much bullying, manipulation, and false accusations in the church as anywhere  or what can be worse, a detached coldness, a lack of welcome, whispering behind people's hands, a nagging feeling of discontent.

Sadly, the same can be true in Christian marriages. Many seem to be stuck in the same sort of resentments and selfishness and betrayals that blight those relationships of people who do not claim Christian faith, or indeed any faith at all.

What the love paradox shows us is that even in the best churches and, for that matter, the best marriages, there is a disconnect between what we are called to be and what we actually are; between the lives that God deserves from us and what we actually give him; between the character of God and the character of his people. Even in the earliest churches  those that were closest chronologically to the time of Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that led to the miraculous explosion of the Church across the Near East, and those which were overseen by an apostle  there was already this falling short. This church in Corinth that had so much wrong with it demonstrates such a degree of dysfunction in its communal life that it must surely quash the myth that dysfunction won't be seen in our churches today.

So how are we to navigate the discrepancy between hope and disappointment, between the promise and the reality?

Before Paul closes this first letter to the Corinthian church, he has one major lesson to set out and apply to its messy life. It is this theme that can help us to find at least some resolution for the love paradox. Paul began his letter by exploring the significance of the crucifixion of Jesus (1 Corinthians 1: 13-22) and he ends with a reflection on the significance of Jesus' resurrection. Paul and the people of the Corinthian church can be under no illusion about their problems, and in this context he shows us that the resurrection of Jesus is the key to living in the place of the hopelessly hopeful.

On its own, Jesus's death on a Roman cross was nothing unusual. Thousands were killed in this cruel manner, a gory visual aid to show the power of the empire and the futility of resistance. But only Jesus was raised from the dead. The resurrection shows that Jesus' willing self-sacrifice was effective and that our sins really have been forgiven. But that happened 2,000 years ago and we are still waiting for God to finally come good on his promises. The hope that was on offer back then  those rooms in his Father's house, that kingdom which was so near, the end to their suffering  feels like a rather hopeless cause after all this time. The resurrection paradox, like the love paradox, seems to disprove, not prove, the promises God makes.

Paul uses a powerful metaphor of 'firstfruits' to help us understand why the resurrection resolves the paradox of continuing hope with continuing disappointment. The 'firstfruits' was the first and best of the crop, which under Jewish law was offered to God as a thankful recognition for the long-awaited taste of the harvest they had received; but also as a recognition of trust as they waited for the remainder of the harvest. The idea of 'firstfruits' implies 'later fruits', operating as a guarantee for the fullness of the harvest to come.

Similarly, the resurrection of Jesus is a foretaste and guarantee of the resurrection of the whole of creation. It is God's promise of restoration of the whole universe, and yet it deliberately leaves us hungry for more. The high calling of 1 Corinthians 13 provides us not only with a taste of true love in the midst of heartache and cruel relationships, but the reminder of the perfect love that is to come. The love paradox reminds us to keep loving each other not just despite the difficult relationship issues that we are surrounded by, but because of them. Those fragments of patience, justice, beauty, healing, restoration, selflessness, protection that we can bring to our relationships are firstfruits  a taste of the future. And this is not just for our own personal benefit, or even for the benefit of humanity, but for all of creation awaiting the promise of restoration.

Christians believe in resurrection as a way of life. We may not be very good at it, but with God's help, we try. We believe that God will one day answer the prayer that Jesus taught all of his followers to pray. One day God's kingdom will come, God's will will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We believe that the resurrected Jesus will return and that true love will win and last forever.

So the next time you are at a wedding and someone begins to read those words  don't let your eyes glaze over. Don't whisper to your neighbour, 'I give it a year.' Don't mouth along with your lips while your heart is impervious, but allow the high calling of love, in a world that so desperately needs it, to remind you again to always trust, always hope, always persevere.

Dr Krish Kandiah is the founding director of Home for Good a charity finding loving homes for children in need of fostering and adoption. This article is an adapted version of a chapter in his brand new book 'Paradoxology: Why Christianity was never meant to be simple', published by InterVarsity Press USA in February, 2017 (www.ivpress.com).
10 things to know about Ed Ruscha

A primer on the American artist who has been at the forefront of Californian cool since 1963. Illustrated with works offered in our 20th Century Week auctions in New York

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His fascination with California began in childhood Edward Joseph Ruscha IV was born on 16 December 1937 in Omaha, Nebraska, and grew up in Oklahoma City. His love affair with California began at a young age, and has remained a defining theme of his art. Childhood holidays in the state, along with the powerful photography of Walker Evans, and the John Ford film adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath, instilled in Ruscha a sense of California as the new frontier. As a child, [California] just threw romance in my face, Ruscha said in a recent interview. The sunsets, the glamorous aspects of things, sunshine, speedy cars. The culture was different than where I came from in Oklahoma and so it had a strong effect on me and that started it all up.

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He started out in graphic design In 1956, Ruscha left Oklahoma and drove to Los Angeles. He enrolled at the Chouinard Art Institute (now the California Institute of the Arts), taking courses in lettering, design and advertising. During this period he also worked as a freelance sign painter and typesetter. Ruscha started to paint while at Chouinard, and while he was unmoved by the spontaneity of Abstract Expressionism, he was inspired by the then little-known Jasper Johns, whose 1955 collage painting Target with Four Faces Ruscha later described as the atomic bomb of my training. A love of typography and everyday subject matter remained a significant source of inspiration for Ruscha, and the influence of his commercial art training can be traced in his prints and paintings throughout his career.

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His early word art was inspired by a trip through Europe After graduating from Chouinard, Ruscha took a job as a commercial artist at an advertising agency, but quit after a few months. In 1961 he toured Europe with his mother and brother. In France, he produced paintings of street and shop signs that caught his eye, such as Boulangerie (1961). Although he could not understand the language, the shape of the words and the suggestion of an exotic foreign lifestyle intrigued the young artist. The trip was to prove a revelation which ultimately opened his eyes to his own possibilities as an artist, and to his unique view of America and American life as a fascinating landscape of signs. After returning to America, his paintings continued to reproduce individual words such as Boss (1961), Smash (1963) (which sold for $30,405,000 at Christies New York in November 2014), Honk (1962), Oof (1963) and Automatic (1966). I like the idea of a word becoming a picture, almost leaving its body, then coming back and becoming a word again, Ruscha once said. I see myself working with two things that dont even ask to understand each other. In a 2013 profile in The New Yorker his early paintings are described as not pictures of words but words treated as visual constructs.

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His breakout exhibition was New Painting of Common Objects in 1962 Ruschas work was featured alongside that of Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Jim Dine and other artists in New Painting of Common Objects, a groundbreaking exhibition at the Pasadena Art Museum (now the Pasadena Museum of California Art). This pioneering museum survey of American Pop Art in 1962 was pivotal for Ruscha, leading to his first solo show one year later at the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles. Ruscha himself resisted being labelled a Pop or Conceptual artist, but his work drew from both practices.

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He created some of the first and most important artist books in history While living in California, Ruscha travelled Route 66 multiple times a year to visit his family in Oklahoma. His imagination was fired by the seemingly endless stretch of tarmac dotted with gasoline stations. These journeys resulted in his first photobook, Twentysix Gasoline Stations (1963), now considered one of the most important artist books in history. In the 1960s and 1970s, Ruscha produced a total of 16 photobooks documenting the built environment of Los Angeles.

In an interview with Robert Enright in 2008, Ruscha said, I felt when I got going on the books that it was really the red meat of my work. It was the choice bit. Although I was painting pictures at that time, I felt that the books were more advanced as a concept than the individual paintings I had been doing.

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He employed photography as a means to an end Despite the prominence of photography in his early career, Ruscha stopped using the medium after the publication of his last photobook, Hard Light, in 1978. He never considered photography as the end product but, instead, used it as a process tool for creating his artist books, or as source material for his paintings. Ruscha also never combined his photography with his painting, despite mixed media being popular with contemporaries such as Robert Rauschenberg and Richard Hamilton.

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He used unusual media in his prints and paintings during the 1960 and 70s From the late 1960s to the mid-1970s, Ruscha painted in alternative mediums such gunpowder, food, condiments and blood. He used these materials to reflect contemporary American life: what people ate and used every day. An example from this period is Corrosive Liquids from 1973, using gunpowder on paper.

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His art has captured the changing landscape of California Ruschas subject matter has evolved in parallel with changes in Los Angeles culture, slang and architecture. In his early career he frequently drew and painted the Hollywood sign, the symbol of Hollywood glamour and the fantasy of the Los Angeles film industry.

His later works evoke a sense of nostalgia and loss amid accelerating urban development. Liquids, Gases and Solids (1989) from his City Lights series frames the night landscape of Los Angeles as a starry expanse  where the stars are actually an aerial view of the lights from cars, buildings and streetlamps.

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And yet Ruschas instantly recognisable style has remained consistent throughout his career Despite his fascination with changing environments, Ruschas art-making has remained remarkably consistent. In the decade that he employed unusual media he still preferred traditional painting and printmaking to experimenting with new techniques such as digital art. Over time, gasoline stations were gradually replaced by sunsets and mountains, although words have been a recurring theme.
Visual harmonies: How to pair works in different mediums

We asked three specialists to pair two of their favourite works from on paper | online, a new cross-category sale which offers a contemporary approach to an age-old medium

Rachael White, Post-War and Contemporary Art specialist

Open a larger version of this image Rachael White, Post-War and Contemporary Art specialist, with George Baselitzs Untitled (Red Mother with Child), painted in 1985, and the larger Rains, by Kenneth Noland, from the same year

In spite of the differences in their subject matter and the nationalities of their makers, I see something comparable in these two artworks. I think its perhaps that both artists decided to use rich, bold, saturated colour palettes together with heavy textures, whether its the embossed quality of Kenneth Nolands Rains or the brushy, painterly feel of Georg Baselitzs Untitled (Red Mother with Child).

There is also a strong sense of abstraction elicited by both artworks. As Baselitz does with all his inversion paintings, by flipping the figures in Untitled (Red Mother with Child) upside-down he challenges us to look objectively at the artwork  primarily focusing on colour and shape  just as we might do with a purely abstract work of art such as Nolands Rains.



Anne Bracegirdle, Photographs specialist

Open a larger version of this image Anne Bracegirdle, Photographs specialist, holds Untitled, 1982, by Sean Scully, alongside David Maisels Terminal Mirage 5, created in 2003

I chose these two vibrant works because they exemplify the Abstract Expressionist influence and aesthetic parallels seen across categories in this sale. Similar to his paintings, Sean Scullys works on paper are a steadfast commitment to abstraction.

The visual harmony and rich saturation of Untitled (1982) are mirrored in the photograph from David Maisels Terminal Mirage series, which focuses on industrial pollution in and around Utahs Great Salt Lake. Both artists exhibit a controlled use of abstraction that establishes a tension that is at once thoughtful and beautifully complex.



Lindsay Griffith, Prints specialist

Open a larger version of this image Lindsay Griffith, Prints specialist, with her choice of Night Sky 3, 2003, by Vija Celmins, alongside Fulton Ferry Landing, Manhattan Skyline, Brooklyn, New York, June 1996, by Vera Lutter, from 1996

Ive always been drawn to works in black and white across mediums, and two of my favourite examples from this sale are the Vija Celmins Night Sky print and Vera Lutters Fulton Ferry Landing, Manhattan Skyline, Brooklyn, New York photograph. Both images have much in common, particularly the technique that was used and the artists melding of traditional and contemporary iconography.
The greatest loves

As Valentines Day approaches, our specialists select the artworks and objects  from an historic pearl given by a screen idol to his lover, to a letter recounting Nelsons erotic dreams  that for them most powerfully symbolise love

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William Russell Jr. Specialist, Old Masters



For me, this marble figure of Andromeda, found locked in a tower in upstate New York, represents the greatest love story of all time  well, sort of. According to Greek mythology, Andromeda was stripped naked and chained to a rock, in punishment for being so beautiful. Just as she was about to be devoured by a sea monster, the smoking-hot Perseus descended from the sky, slayed the monster and saved her. The couple immediately fell in love and were married. Here, Andromeda is represented looking skyward at Perseuss arrival, just as she might have thought all hope was lost. Its a poignant moment and about as close to perfect love as it gets in Greek mythology.

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David Warren Senior International Director, Jewels



Pearls are the oldest gemstone known to man and for thousands of years they were the most valuable of all, celebrated from antiquity as tokens of love. Arguably the worlds most beautiful and perfect pearl, La Peregrina, was discovered in the Gulf of Panama in 1579 and became part of the Spanish crown jewels. In the 19th century it entered the collection of James Hamilton, Marquess of Abercorn, and the Hamilton family owned it until 1969 when the actor Richard Burton bought the pearl as a gift for Elizabeth Taylor, who worked with Cartier to present it as a dramatic drop on a dazzling diamond necklace. Theirs, of course, was one of the greatest love stories ever, and having held this famous gemstone in my hands over many months before its sale at Christies in 2011, I can confirm it is impossible not to fall in love with it.

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Harriet Drummond Specialist, British Works of Art on Paper



Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones (1833-1898), Love among the Ruins. Watercolour, bodycolour and gum arabic on paper, extended along the lower edge. 38 x 60 in (96.5 x 152.4 cm). Sold for 14,845,875 at Christies in London on 11 July 2013

My favourite love-themed work of art is unquestionably Burne-Joness masterpiece Love among the Ruins, which takes its title from a poem by Robert Browning. The work shows two young, beautiful lovers, entwined in each others arms. They are pictured outside the city walls, where a briar rose has grown around them, suggesting that they might have been there for aeons. Those familiar with Burne-Jones life will know the work was one of great personal significance, paying homage to his love for Maria Zambaco, the British artist and model of Greek descent, who became muse to the Pre-Raphaelites. Married to another woman, and bound by the strict morals of Victorian society, Burne-Jones could never be formally united with his beloved.

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Thomas Venning Specialist, Books & Manuscripts



Emma Hamilton was the wife of the British envoy at the court of Naples when Nelson, already the nations great naval hero (and himself married), fell deeply in love with her. He was in his early 40s, with one eye and one arm; she was 34, and beginning to lose her once-spectacular looks. This letter  the earliest in a famous series of love letters  is written immediately after the beginning of their affair, during their first separation, and recounts an extraordinarily vivid erotic dream, in which Nelson heroically fights off an attempted seduction by two noblewomen, to be saved at last by the embrace of Emma, who whispers, I love nothing but you my Nelson. It is both a great expression of passionate, sexual love and also a wonderfully human document. I love the great admiral admitting that his obsession with Emma has put him off his food  I can neither eat or sleep for thinking of you my dearest love, I never touch even pudding. Our collectors loved it too  the price it set in 2003 is still by far the highest for any Nelson letter.

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Cara Zimmerman Specialist, American Folk Art and Outsider Art



Aloise Corbaz (1886-1964), Dancing Bernina/Milo Martin Sculpteur d'Aurore d'Ouchy (double-sided). Crayon, graphite and tempera on paper. 17 x 14 in. Sold for $21,250 at Christies in New York on 24 September 2015

As a young woman, Aloise Cobraz worked as a governess at the court of Kaiser Wilhelm II in Potsdam. While there, she fell in love with the monarch, imagining an intense affair that later emerged in her art as depictions of infatuated couples, locked in passionate embraces  as seen here in Dancing Bernina. Showing the artist and her Prince on one side, and the artist and muse on the other, this double-sided drawing captures moments of intimacy, while offering a glimpse into the artists soul and desires. Corbazs figures consistently feature large, oval eyes that, according to the artist, were actually glasses that concealed their embarrassment. Institutionalised in Switzerland in 1918, Corbaz made art in secret until 1936, when Dr. Hans Steck began to preserve her drawings.

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Carleigh Queenth Specialist, Head of Ceramics



This bottle cooler is one of the few surviving pieces of a petite service made by the Sevres porcelain factory for Louis XVs official mistress, Madame du Barry. It was delivered in August of 1773 to their love nest, the Chateau de Louveciennes. Decorated in the Chinoiserie style, the scenes depicted on it are of a relaxed nature, reflecting the setting in which it would have been used. Its intriguing to imagine the king and his lover cosy in a Rococo rendezvous, using this bottle cooler to chill some exceptional wine.

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Andrew Holter Specialist, Decorative Arts

Devotion  even the family name suggests a loving bond. Rarely do we see such a literal interpretation of love on a piece of furniture, and your eye cannot help but be drawn to the pierced heart drop-pendant. According to family tradition, this dressing table was made as a wedding gift for Eunice Huntington on the occasion of her marriage to Judge Ebenezer Devotion. Made in eastern Connecticut, this is a superb example of American furniture  and a piece that makes my heart beat fast.

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Meredith Etherington-Smith Editor, Christies Magazine

Jean Louis (1907-1997), Happy Birthday Mr President dress, 1962. Nude silk and rhinestones floor-length gown. Sold for $1,267,500 on 27 October 1999 at Christies in New York

My favourite Valentines Day lot is the Happy Birthday Mr President dress that Marilyn Monroe wore in May 1962. The sequin-embroidered, flesh-coloured georgette was designed by the couturier Jean Louis, and fitted and beaded on Marilyn while she stood naked on a sofa in her LA bungalow. The dress celebrates a memorable moment in the Kennedy era and is an absolute icon of sexy style, cut so as to reveal enough, but not too much, of the sirens stunning figure as she sang to the President. It famously sold for more than $1.2 million at Christies in New York in 1999.

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Peter Brown International Head of Victorian Pictures



This quiet, beautifully observed small picture carries an emotional charge that belies its size. In the Victorian language of flowers, violets conveyed a message of love. A young girl is opening an envelope from an admirer. Her expression is inscrutable, but her flush of emotion is eloquently conveyed by the madder-pink bow tied at her neck. The excitement of Valentines Day is nowhere better captured than in Millaiss early, Pre-Raphaelite masterpiece, painted a century and a half ago.

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Murray Macaulay

Specialist, Prints

Andy Warhol, Kiss, 1966. Screenprint on plexiglass. Estimate: 5,000-7,000. This work is offered in Prints & Multiples, 29 March 2017



This multiple features frames from Kiss, Andy Warhols early experimental film from 1964. Fifty minutes long and unaccompanied by musical score or narrative, the film consists of several three-minute episodes of couples kissing  a riposte to the stylised and fleeting representations of lovers under the censorship of Hollywoods Hays Code (1930-1968). Warhols lovers just kiss and kiss, oblivious of the world  caught-up in that eternal moment shared by lovers from time immemorial.

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Alexandra Olsman Specialist, Antiquities
Texas patients have a more than a one-in-three chance of receiving a "surprise" medical bill, or one where they thought treatment was covered only to discover that part of it was not in their insurer's network, a new study by economists with the Federal Trade Commission found.

Florida and New York had higher percentages, the research showed at 37 percent and 35 percent respectively. Texas' rate is 34 percent.

The research compiled data from insurance records from employer-sponsored health insurance plans. Nationally, 20 percent of hospital inpatient admissions that originated in the emergency room "likely led to a surprise medical bill," the report found.

Typically the problem occurs when someone who receives care in the emergency room assumes their treatment is covered because the hospital is in a carrier's network. But then the patient gets a large medical bill that reveals that someone in the care team or a procedure ordered is out of network which generates a much larger out of pocket cost.

RELATED: Surprise medical bills piling up for patients

The report, published in Health Affairs, found that even if a patient is diligent about researching networks of providers for elective procedure, they still could be caught off guard because it is unlikely they can know everyone who will be treating them.

Taking an ambulance can also lead to surprise billing. "When an ambulance is necessary, it is unlikely that you will have the time to consider your insurance network. In more than half of cases involving ambulance transportation, the ambulance services were out-of-network. For air and water ambulances, more than 60 percent were out-of-network," the report found.

And the instances increase with age and the complexity of medical treatment. Patients admitted after going to the emergency room are more likely to get a surprise medical bill that outpatient care.

This "implies that the chance of receiving an unexpected bill increases with the severity of the patient's injury. This is troubling because one objective of insurance is to provide more protection in situations that are extreme and costly," the report said.
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CHICAGO (AP)  State attorneys tried to persuade a panel of federal appellate judges that a Wisconsin inmate featured in the Netflix series "Making a Murderer" made a voluntary confession and was properly convicted.

Brendan Dassey was sentenced to life in prison in 2007 in connection with Teresa Halbach's death two years earlier. Dassey told detectives he helped his uncle, Steven Avery, rape and kill Halbach in the Avery family's Manitowoc County salvage yard. Avery was sentenced to life in prison in a separate trial.

A federal magistrate judge overturned Dassey's conviction in August, ruling investigators took advantage of the then-16-year-old Dassey's cognitive disabilities and tricked him into confessing with false promises that he would be all right. The state Department of Justice has appealed; Dassey remains in prison pending the outcome.

Attorneys for both DOJ and Dassey presented oral arguments to a three-judge panel at the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago on Tuesday.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported (http://bit.ly/2kH2KS5 ) DOJ Deputy Solicitor General Luke Berg told the panel detectives never made Dassey any specific promises. Judge Ilana Rovner asked whether Dassey, whom the judge described as "extremely suggestible," wouldn't have concluded based on the questioning that he would be able to go home rather than getting arrested.

Berg insisted the investigators acted properly and didn't so much as imply promises. Judge David Hamilton seemed to dispute that, telling Berg that obviously the investigators made vague promises of leniency.

Dassey's attorney, Laura Nirider, argued the detectives made a "drumbeat of promises" before every major admission in the confession. Hamilton, though, told her he had watched the entire interrogation and didn't think Dassey's will was subverted.

The arguments lasted less than an hour. The panel has no time table for a decision and it could be months before they rule.

Dassey, now 27, and Avery have contended police framed them. They say police went after them to stop a lawsuit Avery had filed demanding millions from Manitowoc County because he spent 18 years in prison for a rape he didn't commit. Avery is pursuing his own appeal.

Their cases gained national attention in 2015 after Netflix aired "Making a Murderer," a multi-part documentary examining Halbach's death. The series spawned widespread conjecture about their innocence. Authorities who worked on the cases say the series was biased.
Weddings and honeymoons arent cheap, but the men and women at Houstons oldest craft brewery Saint Arnold want to try and help beer-loving Americans cover the costs of getting hitched.

At the Big Texas Beer Fest on March 31 to April 1 in Dallas, Saint Arnold is offering to legally marry people and even provide a two-day honeymoon down in Houston.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  Nearly 30 percent more Latinos in Texas voted in November than in the 2012 election, outpacing the increase in that time for non-Latino voters, according to a state report.

The rise signals to some observers that elections will become increasingly competitive in the Lone Star State.

The share of the electorate with a Spanish surname increased to 19.4 percent in 2016 from 17.2 percent, the figures released by the Texas Legislative Council show. State officials determined the numbers using a count based on a list of surnames and the findings don't account for every Latino voter.

Latinos make up 38 percent of the Texas population but tend to vote at lower rates than other groups in Texas or Latinos in other states, the Austin American-Statesman reported (http://atxne.ws/2lHyh6G ).

Texas Democrats have long awaited a voter surge among Latinos that could break the Republican stranglehold on statewide elected offices. Democrats don't hold a single one.

"I think it shows there's a transition happening in Texas," Matt Barreto, co-founder of the polling and research firm Latino Decisions, told the newspaper. "Latino voters in Texas are becoming more engaged."

But Rice University political scientist Mark Jones was more measured, calling the increase "notable, but not dramatic," and said it mirrored jumps in past presidential elections.

"The Texas electorate becomes more Latino and less Anglo with every passing electoral cycle," Jones said. "But the increase is fueled primarily by natural demographic trends rather than by a dramatic spike in participation rates among Latinos."

Derek Ryan, a political consultant and former research director for the Texas Republican Party, said an analysis of early voting figures in 20 large counties reveals that new voters are driving the increase in Latino participation.

Lydia Camarillo, vice president of the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, said the turnout numbers for 2016 are higher than her group anticipated, but she said Texas has high barriers to register to vote. Camarillo said her group is pushing for legislative changes that would make registering easier, such as by allowing Texans to register to vote online, as more than 30 other states already do.

"When we ask potential voters why they didn't register, they say it's not because they didn't care, but that in most cases they don't start paying attention to elections until about 10 days out," Camarillo said.

Texas law requires voters to register at least 30 days before an election.



***
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Posters targeting Muslims, racial minorities and immigrants startled University of Texas at Austin students on Monday, the latest display in what has become a disturbing pattern on Texas campuses after President Donald Trumps election.

Imagine a Muslim-free America, one sign displaying the World Trade Center read, affixed to an outdoor pole. Kristie Flannery, a graduate student studying history, took a photo of the poster and said she reported it to UTs dean of students.

Universities responding to these reports often find themselves in a tough position, balancing the need to protect free speech with making sure students feel safe on campus. The sign Flannery reported on Monday was particularly chilling after Trumps recent executive action on immigration, which barred citizens of seven majority-Muslim countries from entering the U.S. A federal appeals court last week let stand a temporary suspension of Trump's travel ban that a federal judge had ordered.

GRAFFITI DEFACED: Houston's popular 'Be Someone' slogan marred

UT leaned on campus policy in its response to the signs. The university vigorously supports free speech, but posting signs of any nature on the outside of university buildings is not allowed under campus rules, spokesman J.B. Bird said in a statement.

Only students and student organizations can post signs on campus, he said, and any person on campus who defaces UT property is subject to criminal prosecution. A white supremacist group whose website was on the anti-Muslim poster took responsibility for the signs on Twitter.

Flannery called the response "weak," urging UT to take a stronger stand against the sentiments behind the display. "The posters are pretty hateful and, I think, intimidating."

THRICE STRUCK: Swastikas found at Rice University for third time

The white supremacist group, called American Vanguard, also said they placed racist recruitment posters on other college campuses earlier this year, including at Rice University. The University of North Texas in Denton and Texas State University in San Marcos were targeted in that sting. Rice also saw chalk graffiti that read Trump! with a swastika.

Rice officials removed the displays and vandalism after each report. The university, spokesman David Ruth said at the time, has a policy against solicitation without permission.

President David Leebron and undergraduate dean John Hutchinson sharply criticized the swastika graffiti earlier this month.

GRAFFITI: Swastikas, Trump signs appear around Fort Bend

I have had it with this behavior, Hutchinson said in a Facebook post. The use of the swastika clearly reveals that whoever did this is either ignorant of the history of true evil associated with this emblem of hate or is genuinely motivated by blind hatred."

University President David Leebron echoed Hutchinsons statement. We wont tolerate such behavior, and it will be punished.

Nearly 1,365 hate crimes and bias incidents have been reported in the U.S. since the election, the Southern Poverty Law Center said Friday. Of those, 85 sightings of racist posters have been reported around the country, the majority of which have been on college campuses, that group found.

>>>Scroll through the above gallery to see a sampling of what's been found on high school and college campuses around Texas
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The Houston area certainly has its share of unpleasant aromas.

In west Pearland, residents are starting to doubt that they will ever be rid of a foul smell emanating from the Blue Ridge Landfill in Fresno.

The Pearland Journal's most recent coverage shows residents at a town hall, threatening to contest their property values in an effort to get the government's attention.

On Monday, Feb. 13, people all over the Houston area are complained of a "burning sulfur smell," many worried that the air may not be safe to breathe. Officials were investigating a possible chemical release in Channelview and assured the public that they did not believe the smell to be a danger.

Similar experiences are common in a city that is bursting with industry. As the residents of even smellier towns in West Texas like to say, "its the smell of money."

Do you know of a town where the smell makes your eyes water? Tell us about it in the comments.

And, click through the slideshow above to see some of the smelliest cities in Texas and beyond.
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Chiseled features, dreamy blue eyes, time in prison...check.

Jeremy Meeks, the "Hot Mugshot Guy," took to the runway for the first time in the Philipp Plein show where he modeled a black trench with a furry hood, black pants, and black sneakers.

Meeks also had a shirtless moment, showing off muscles and several tattoos; but during the actual show, the model was covered up.

You might remember first seeing the viral mugshot of Jeremy Meeks in June of 2014. The then, 30-year-old was arrested on felony weapon charges.

Runway Politics: Bella Hadid and powerful political statements come down the NYFW runway

Meeks quickly became dubbed the "Hot Felon" and "Hot Mugshot Guy."

Modeling agencies must have rejoiced when Meeks was released from prison in March of 2016.

(Story continues below.)

In an Instagram post, Meeks captioned a photo with his talent agent Jim Jordan saying,"I want to thank my family and everybody for all your love, support and prayers. I'm overwhelmed and grateful for what lies ahead. I'm ready @jimjordanphotography and @whitecrossmanagement

#jeremymeeks #jimjordan #whitecrossmanagement."

Take a look at the "Hot Mugshot Guy's" runway debut and other looks from NYFW.
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Love is in the air. And not just because it's Valentine's Day.

Over at El Big Bad in downtown there's a new display of love  OK, love of tacos  that might turn into one of the city's newest photo ops.

On Sunday the "gastro cantina" installed an artistic bit of graffiti on an outdoor wall of its second-level patio. Created by local artist Kevin Hernandez, the "I love you and tacos so much" message is Houston's answer to Austin's "I love you so much" wall and a riff on San Antonio's "I love tacos so much" installation.

HOUSTON MURALS: See all 93 of the city's mini murals

How did all this love come about? The original "I love you so much" was a 2010 graffiti message on the side of Jo's Coffee on South Congress that quickly became a local landmark and a favorite Instagram moment for Austin visitors.

In 2015 San Antonio artist and producer Luis Munoz celebrated Austin's "I love you so much" with his own installation where he crossed out "you" and substituted "tacos." That rework appeared at 109 Grayson St. near the Pearl Brewery. (Last year Munoz recreated his "I love tacos so much" in Dallas as a fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas.)

El Big Bad owner Steve Sharma commissioned Hernandez  responsible for the restaurant's 56-foot-long mural over the bar, a tribute to Mayahuel, the goddess of tequila  to design a riff on Munoz's work. Employing the same loopy script, Hernandez created "I love you and tacos so much" which embraces both Austin's and San Antonio's messages.

And like those two, the Houston version at El Big Bad may turn into a favorite place for lovebirds (and taco fans) to snap a pic.

"Anytime you can spread love is good," said Sharma, who shared a photo of him at the wall with his brother Shaun, both owners of Houston's Dirt Bar.

The Houston graffiti wall makes its debut on Valentine's Day when El Big Bad celebrates the holiday with a bottomless tacos promotion. "I love you and tacos so much" is on the wrap-around balcony patio of El Big Bad, 419 Travis at Prairie.

Sharma added that there was a little taco pride at work in addition to the theme of love. "Houston doesn't get the recognition for all the good tacos we have," he said. "We wanted to be part of that conversation."

El Big Bad, 419 Travis, 713-229-8181; elbigbad.com
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Donovan Park on Heights Boulevard is a popular spot for nannies and moms to get their children outdoors during the day.

But over the last few months they've stayed away from the park and opted for play dates at home because of a rash of car break-ins and muggings at Donovan.

On Wednesday, Feb. 1, Gloria Carranza took the two children she cares for to the park around noon. When the 3-year-old boy and his 1-year-old sister got tired and hungry, Carranza packed up and headed back to her car parked on 7th Street.

As she was taking the smaller one out of the stroller, the older child Taylor held her other hand. A man approached her on his cell phone, telling her that his car had just been broken into. She told him, "Sorry." She then noticed that the passenger side window of her SUV was broken out - the glass from the break in still sits on the curb one week later.

MOM KILLED: Woman found dead in her bedroom in southwest Houston

The man pretended to be on the phone with the cops and told her to wait there until they arrived, she said no and told him the kids needed to go home. Taylor tugged at her arm and told her he was scared and wanted to go.

Before she knew what was happening, with the baby on one hip and the boy holding the other hand, the man lunged forward and yanked her purse from her arm, breaking her grip on the boy.

As soon as he nabbed the purse, he jumped into the car parked in front of hers, Carranza said, and sped away. Before they drove off, she noticed another person in the passenger seat.

The thieves had taken off with the keys to her car, to the home where the children live and her Honduran passport. Scared, she called Meredith Wiersma, the children's mother, and told her what happened. Wiersma who lives only blocks away was there within minutes.

Before Wiersma arrived Carranza called 911, but when her employer arrived she called the Constable's office who the neighborhood contracts with for extra security.

They made a police report, but haven't heard anything yet.

Wiersma posted in Nextdoor.com about the incident to warn other parents and nannys. Her thread was quickly filled with other reports of car windows being smashed and purse snatchers at Donovan.

Danielle Stewart lives next door to Donovan Park.

"It's happening quite a lot (car break-ins)," she said Monday in a phone interview. "From the time I moved in but a lot more lately."

A few weeks ago Stewart came home one Saturday afternoon and saw a family sitting around their car that had just been broken into. She invited the family to wait in her home and found out that the woman's purse had been stolen from the vehicle. While they waited the woman called her credit company to cancel the cards, and within minutes from the robbery the customer service rep told her the thieves had already made purchases in the amount of $3,000 at downtown stores.

The description of the suspects and the vehicle described by Carranza and the other reports on Nextdoor are the same, leading them to believe it's the same perpetrators in the robberies.

They report two black males in their mid-to-late 20s driving a gray Chevy Malibu with temporary, paper plates posted inside the window.

Another nanny in the area says there's always broken glass on the ground around the park, and that it's been a problem for almost a year.

She asked not to be named, but said that one of her close friends who also didn't want to be named said she was mugged twice at that park. Some nannies are afraid to go to the police, which leaves law enforcement without sufficient evidence in order to monitor the park more effectively.

Alan Bernstein, special assistant with Harris County Constable Precinct 1, said his office has only received one report of robbery or car break-ins at the park.

When reports are made in the area, cases are handed over to Houston Police Department, he said, because the Constable's office doesn't have an investigation arm.

"It's unsettling people are sitting around waiting for vulnerable women and children," said Wiersma.
Have Americans really become a nation of gullible cowards? Sometimes it looks that way. Take President Trump's executive order banning travel from seven Middle Eastern and North African countries. If you think it has anything whatsoever to do with protecting against terrorist attacks, then you haven't been paying attention.

The administration's policies are designed not to deal with real problems in the visible world, but to rile up partisan ignoranuses (sic) here in the U.S.A. Also to stimulate nativism and fear of dark-skinned foreigners, and to make Democrats appear to be defending Muslims instead of the Constitution.

Poorly thought out and incompetently drafted, to the extent that Trump's order has anything to do with ISIS or al-Qaida terrorists, it will help them. The reasons are quite simple, and pretty much undeniable.

New York Times reporter David Zucchino spoke with Iraqi soldiers barricaded inside the city of Mosul, where they are fighting a brutal house-to-house battle against ISIS fighters for control of the country's second-biggest city. Its outcome is crucial to breaking the terrorist insurrection for good.

"If America doesn't want Iraqis because we are all terrorists, then America should send its sons back to Iraq to fight the terrorists themselves," Capt. Ahmed Adnan al-Musawe said. Officers and enlisted men interviewed in Mosul unanimously described Trump's order as a grave insult to their honor, and that of their fallen comrades.

The Iraqi commanding officer in Mosul said, "This decision by Trump blows up our liberation efforts of cooperation and coordination with American forces." English-speaking Brig. Gen. Mizhir Khalid al-Mashhadani described himself as astounded by the president's order. He added that American officers in Iraq helping to train Iraqi forces thought it hasty and badly considered.

It's not for nothing that former Secretaries of State John Kerry and Madeleine Albright described Trump's order in a court filing as "ill-conceived, poorly implemented and ill-explained" -- and an obvious impediment to persuading Muslims to resist Islamic extremism. Meanwhile, ISIS propagandists couldn't have been happier. They crowed that exactly as they'd alleged all along, America had now declared war on Islam.

Even Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khameni -- a resolute foe of Sunni Arab extremism -- found something to like in Trump's bungling. "We actually thank this new president! We thank him, because he made it easier for us to reveal the real face of the United States," he said. "Now, with everything he is doing -- handcuffing a child as young as 5 at an airport -- he is showing the reality of American human rights."

Never mind that the handcuffing thing falls under the heading of Fake News. Didn't happen. Even so, Trump handed the Iranian leader a big propaganda gift even as he tried to close the door on Persian refugees from the Ayatollah's oppressive regime. Should it matter that Iran has never been implicated in a terrorist act in the United States?

Of course it should, but to Trump's henchmen -- the president evidently never read the fool thing -- it didn't. Here in Arkansas, one of the state's most beloved citizens, former Gov. and Sen. David Pryor, is probably alive today due to the emergency intervention of two brilliant Iranian neurosurgeons -- immigrant brothers -- at a Fayetteville hospital. For my money, the U.S. can't admit enough Persian immigrants, heirs to one of the world's oldest civilizations.

And for pretty much the same reasons all eight of my Irish great-grandparents were welcomed to America more than a century ago: poverty and oppression. A lot of people were suspicious of their religion, too.

But that was back when, whatever their shortcomings, Americans tended to be a brave, self-confident people. Today, millions of timid ignoranuses cower behind TV screens listening to a preposterous blowhard vow to protect them from a scary threat few can even define.

So should it matter that there have been zero U.S. fatalities at the hands of terrorists from any of the seven countries Trump named? Well, you'd think so. Of course, if the travel ban had anything to do with an actual threat, it would center upon countries like Saudi Arabia, where the majority of the 9/11 terrorists originated. However, the Saudis have three things nobody in Yemen, Sudan or Somalia can boast: oil, money, and Trump Organization investments.

So that's out of the question. Anyway, vetting of immigrants from Middle Eastern countries is already strong, and has been ever since 9/11. The process can take years. That's part of the reason why more Americans by far (22) were killed by cows in 2016 than by foreign terrorists (0).

But then, as I say, this entire exercise in folly has nothing to do with resisting ISIS, a stateless band of murdering psychopaths that nevertheless poses no existential threat to Americans. Instead, it's about atavistic fears, racial contempt and misplaced zeal for our preposterous comic-opera president.

So: Delusional or a pathological liar?

We report, you decide.

Arkansas Times columnist Gene Lyons is a National Magazine Award winner and co-author of "The Hunting of the President" (St. Martin's Press, 2000). You can email Lyons at eugenelyons2@yahoo.com
Memorial Hermann announces that Greg Haralson as the new senior vice president and CEO of Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital, in addition to his current role as senior vice president and CEO of Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital. Haralson will succeed Gary Kerr, senior vice president and CEO of Memorial Hermann Southwest, who recently announced his intent to retire.

Kerr will remain with Memorial Hermann and assist in the leadership transition until his retirement takes effect in July.

"Memorial Hermann Southwest has provided exceptional care to the residents of southwest Houston for 40 years and it's been a true honor and a deep privilege to be able to serve as CEO during a time of tremendous growth on our Campus," says Kerr. "After 33 years in healthcare I'm humbled for the opportunity to retire and am looking forward to spending more quality time with my wife."

Memorial Hermann Southwest is currently on a journey toward earning Level II trauma verification from the American College of Surgeons. Since last summer the hospital has added a Neuro Intensive Care Unit and also a new hybrid operating room dedicated to the treatment of advanced neurosurgery and trauma patients. As part of the verification process, Memorial Hermann Southwest will begin operating as a Level II trauma center later this spring.

"This an exciting opportunity as there is already a great deal of synergy among Memorial Hermann Southwest and Memorial Hermann Sugar Land and a strong commitment to provide the residents of southwest Harris and Fort Bend Counties with safe, high quality care," said Haralson. "I'm looking forward to building on the strong foundation of collaboration that has already been established between the two campuses."

Haralson has more than 17 years of experience in healthcare and has served as the CEO of Memorial Hermann Sugar Land since joining Memorial Hermann in 2012. Under Haralson's leadership, Memorial Hermann Sugar Land recently became the first Houston area healthcare organization and only the 21st in the country to be awarded the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. This award is the nation's highest presidential honor for performance excellence.

In addition, Haralson has overseen growth on the Memorial Hermann Sugar Land campus including the recent opening of a new six-story, 155,000 square-foot patient tower. The hospital has been named among the top 100 hospitals by Truven Health Analytics three times as well as being listed among the "100 great community hospitals," according the Becker's Hospital Review.

Haralson is active in the community serving on several local boards including Child Advocates of Fort Bend and the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Corp. He also serves at the state level as a member of the Texas Hospital Association's political action committee (HOSPAC) Board and the Council on Policy Development and is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. He lives in Sugar Land with his wife and two children.

Visit www.memorialhermann.org or call 713-222-CARE (2273) for more information.
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A Bryan, Texas police officer is on administrative leave after shooting an unarmed 33-year-old black man who pulled a cell phone out of his pocket and took a shooting stance.

The incident happened Sunday at roughly 10:20 p.m., when two officers, including Steven Laughlin, arrived to the scene of a disturbance, a statement issued by the Bryan Police Department reports.

A woman at the scene told them a man, with whom she'd been romantically involved, was at her house against her will. She explained a protective order against him recently expired.

SUGAR LAND SHOOTING: Agencies investigate Houston police officer-involved shooting in Sugar Land

As she was talking, Laughlin reportedly saw a man approaching. Bryan Police Department Chief Eric Buske said the man put his hand in his pocket and refused to remove it, despite the officer's orders.

Buske said that the man told Laughlin, "Are you ready," and "I ain't dropping nothing." Laughlin then reportedly said, "Don't do this," and the male responded "Do it man."

The man eventually pulled a black object from his pocket. That's when the officer took cover and fired his handgun multiple times. He struck the man, who was taken to CHI St. Joseph Hospital in Bryan.

FRIENDSWOOD: Suspect shot in Friendswood officer-involved shooting dies

According to a statement from BPD, Laughlin believed that the object was a gun, but it was actually a mobile phone.

Buske said that he believes Laughlin followed protocol. He said that BPD and the Texas Rangers are investigating the incident. The internal affairs investigation is standard procedure in police-related shootings. There is also a criminal case investigation underway by members of the Criminal Investigation Division.

The man, who has not been identified, is in stable condition.
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A Sugar Land man accused of hurling obscenities and terroristic threats at Attorney General Ken Paxton's office in a bizarre 2015 email addressed to "the satanic agents of the great Satan" was sentenced Monday to two years in federal prison.

Syed Kaleem Razvi previously pleaded guilty to making threats through interstate communication more than a year after firing off hate-laced message addressed to the Lone Star State's highest-ranking lawyer and other employees in his office.

In the spiteful string of emails, he called Paxton a "mother---ing bastard" and called state employees baboons and infidels.

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"I wish God burn your houses and burn the bodies of your own children and yourself," he wrote.

At one point he even accused Paxton's office of stealing his money for child support and issued an ultimatum: "Return my money or FACE TERRORISM."

When Razvi entered a guilty plea in October in exchange for a reduced sentence, Zaheer Zaidi contended his client struggled with bipolar disorder and was not properly medicated at the time of his email outbursts.

POLL QUESTION: Houston mosques advised to ignore lawmaker's survey

He went on to clarify that Razvi did not have terrorist connections and that his actions were sparked by the vast trove of anti-government hate he sees online all day in the course of his job.

"It is not that he belongs to some extremist group or that he is a fundamentalist," Zaidi said. "He is exposed to this venom, this poison."

Initially, Razvi was also hit with state court charges stemming from similar emails sent to Paxton's accounting division staff during the same time frame - although those charges were later dismissed.

But this latest round of cyber menacing wasn't the first time his rash language landed him in legal hot water.

STUDENT DETAINED: High schooler from Katy held by feds amid travel ban

More than 10 years ago, Razvi was fired from Litton Loan Servicing after he was accused of making threats against his employer.

During mediation in 2003, Razvi's former lawyer said his client "considered his dispute with Litton to be a holy war" and that he would "fight to the death."

The following year, a state judge banned Razvi from contacting Litton employees or coming with 1,000 feet of the property.

LIVE EYE: Dozens of security cameras kept watch on Super Bowl LI

For his most recent charge, the Pakistani-educated Texas man could have faced up to five years behind bars.

In light of Monday's sentencing, Razvi will remain in custody pending transfer to federal prison.

>>>Scroll through the gallery above to see which countries deal with the most terror threats
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A brownish drill rig barrels 20 feet into the earth behind River of Praise church off of Texas 249 and the intersection of the Grand Parkway and Boudeaux Estates Road, on a foggy Monday morning. Once the drill reaches the bottom, it begins to spin, gradually stripping caramel-colored clay from the planet's crust, carving the hole even deeper.

In a matter of weeks, the posse of 16-wheel trucks and cranes in the church's parking lot will replace the 8-foot diameter hole with a soaring, white cross.

Standing at 125 feet tall, the cross will be as much a local landmark as it is a manifestation of one couple's pain, love, and legacy.

Honoring Paul

Ryan Paul Whitaker was born in 1981.

Described as a people-lover, Whitaker had "a heart as big as Texas" and the same honey-hazel eyes and downward-pointed nose as his mother, Paula.

Having specialized in automotive technology, Ryan told his mother that he wanted to go back to school so he could study to become a nurse. In 2007, at 25, he opted for the early career shift because he said it would allow him to help people.

Less than two weeks later, he died from medical complications while recovering from a work incident that left bulging disks in his vertebrae.

"I miss him every day," Paula Whitaker said. "It felt like looking across the Grand Canyon with all your dreams for your grandchildren on the other side; Ryan was the bridge."

Following his passing, Paula considered potential ideas for a memorial for her son.

They felt his legacy would be best preserved doing the work he intended to do with his own life. They've cemented that legacy through a number of projects, utilizing what would've been his inheritance to support initiatives like the Shattered Lives Program, Kenya South Africa Missions, Salem Lutheran Ministries, Tomball Pregnancy Center, and the Tomball Rotary.

The Ryan Paul Whitaker Nursing Scholarship Endowment was also created to provide nursing scholarships to two students, a program set to expand this year. TOMAGWA Health Care Ministries' medical center is also named in his honor.

Still, that outreach felt incomplete for the couple.

Southern cross

While taking a road trip to the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee to relieve some of the grief and depression following Ryan's death, Paula said she spotted an enormous cross on a hill near her hometown, Chattanooga.

Overcome with emotion, tears in her eyes, she persuaded Ken to turn around so they could better observe the structure. She and Ken stayed there for pictures and prayers for another hour or two.

Paula said she felt the rush of the Holy Spirit uplift her during that visit.

She'd see two more towering crosses on the way through North Carolina, a sign assuredly, she felt, that she'd eventually have to erect a similar one back home.

Over the course of 10 years, Whitaker gradually researched the other crosses before reaching out and developing a relationship with the builder, James Potter, who's built 50 similar crosses throughout the country.

She planned for the Tomball version to be crafted like the Groom cross in northwest Texas.

Building a tribute

Darrylinn Akerman and her husband, Mike, own M&D Industries, which is lending its services for the erection of the cross, free of charge.

Akerman watches on with a mix of pride and attentiveness, as a crew of men empty what remains in the soon-to-be 35-foot-hole.

For she and Mike - longtime friends of the Whitakers - working on this project was a no-brainer. For their employees, it was an opportunity to be a part of something special to their faith. It's also a bit extra-ordinary for the company, which typically does this type of work helping TxDOT to build bridges.

"She called to ask if we knew anyone who could dig a hole," Akerman said, noting that she and Mike were excited to offer their help. "We feel honored to be a part of this."

The cross was primarily funded by the Ryan Paul Whitaker Memorial Foundation. Its material, labor, and erection cost around $250,000-300,000 in sum.

Upon completion, the cross will feature a quartz and limestone base with benches for prayer and meditation. It will also have a water baptistery in the front and LED lights that will reflect different colors upon the cross.

It will officially be dedicated on Easter Sunday although it is now open to visitors. Whitaker said she wants the cross to be accessible to anyone, especially travelers who may spot the towering symbol and be inspired as she first was 10 years ago.

Ostensibly, the cross is the capstone to Ryan's legacy, a symbol of everything Paula and Ken have poured into this world. If it serves to help and inspire others, as their son once did, it seems Ryan's legacy will last longer than the couple had hoped.

Whitaker is standing about 30 feet away from the hole as the trucks slowly maneuver around it. She gently closes her eyes, remembering her son's face as the wind brushes past her cheeks.

"This is something I've wanted more than anything else," she said.
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A Texas man convicted of killing a woman while driving drunk faces a sentence of 120 days in jail and 10 years probation.

Travis Elwell was 23 when he hit and killed Emily Javadi, 32, as she was leaving a workout facility in Uptown Dallas February 2015, WFAA reports.

Javadi was rear-ended and ejected from her vehicle. She hit a metal pole and was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Elwell was charged with intoxication manslaughter. In addition to his sentence, he must speak to DWI support groups and attend Alcoholics Anonymous. He's also prohibited from drinking alcohol.

RECOGNITION: DA recognizes Magnolia PD for DWI work

In response to this incident, the city of Dallas has allegedly implemented a plan to convert McKinney and Cole into two-way streets in order to help reduce speeding near that intersection, according to CBS DFW.

Javadi was remembered as a talented violinist who led an active life. Her family has set up the Emily Javadi Foundation to help "others fully realize their own health, fitness, entrepreneurial or artistic potential." The organization has so far set up scholarships with the Big Brothers Big Sisters group, and the University of North Texas' College of Business Entrepreneurship Program.
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A 16-year-old from Jordan stood silently midday Monday in the decorated downtown office of a Houston-area congresswoman, his hands folded in front of him.

For 20 minutes, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee spoke to media about the recent ordeals of the young man, Mohammad Abu Khadra.

ORIGINAL STORY: Feds detain Katy High School student from Jordan following President Trump's immigration ban

A Katy-area student, Mohammad was detained in Houston at Bush Intercontinental Airport when he returned from his native country a day after President Donald Trump issued his immigration ban on Jan. 27.

The Democratic congresswoman called Mohammad an "innocent child," explaining that he had gone home to renew the documents that allowed him to be in America. They had expired after he spent a few months living in the U.S. with his brother.

"He's just a young man who wanted to come to the United States, as many others do," she said.

ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Amid travel ban uncertainty, Houston doctor cancels plans to perform life-saving fetal surgeries in Iran

The teenager looked every bit a part of the diverse American youth, with hair cut stylishly short on the sides and long on top. He wore a slim-fitting shirt, buttoned up to the collar, with rolled-up jeans and a big, blue wristwatch.

His brother, 37, who has lived in America for five years, stood next to him in a suit and tie.

Mohammad had been taking courses here in English as a second language, Jackson Lee said. But, because his parents in Jordan feared trouble, he spoke not a word to the press Monday, except to spell his name.

STOPPED: U.S.-born Muslim scientist detained, forced to unlock NASA phone

His story - which has been reported by the Houston Chronicle and other news outlets - was instead told in further detail through Jackson Lee in a small conference room.

When Mohammad came to Texas on a tourist visa a few months prior, he had no trouble, she said. He had the documents required. And when he returned to renew his paperwork, she continued, he was doing exactly what was required of him.

Landing back again in Houston, however, Mohammad had been swept up needlessly in Trump's ban, she said, which does not even include Jordan, a longtime U.S. ally.

FROM HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Families taking advantage of temporary lifting of travel ban to come to Houston

"They pulled him aside and kept asking him, 'What are you doing? Where are you going? What is your business?' " she said. "The questions continued."

At some point, Mohammad told authorities that he was enrolled in school.

Enrolling in public school is a violation of his visa, yet Jackson Lee explained that he was taking only ESL courses - something he perhaps had not been able to explain. Katy ISD on Monday reiterated that it could not comment on whether a person was currently enrolled. His attorney did not return a request for clarification.

Authorities sent him to Chicago. Jackson Lee personally flagged his case to Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly. "This is a 16-year-old and this should not have happened to him," she said.

Because he was a minor, the case moved from the Department of Homeland Security to Health and Human Services, which eventually released him.

An HHS spokeswoman declined to comment on the young man's case in an email, saying the agency "does not identify individual unaccompanied children" to ensure their privacy, safety and well-being.

Monday marked the first meeting between Mohammad and Jackson Lee. His attorney, who Jackson Lee said was working to continue to ensure Mohammad's legal status here, was also present. Jackson Lee said she had wanted to give Mohammad a civics lesson so that he knew that U.S. laws - and lawmakers - could work for him, not just against him.
Any new changes that come to the Astrodome may need the approval of Harris County voters.

And, according to a press release, State Sen. John Whitmire is expected to announce the filing of his bill that will give county voters a say in the fate of Houston' beloved stadium at a press conference scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Texas State Capitol.
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Ivanka Trump is in the center of a social media firestorm all because she is seated in the Oval Office with her father President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

IN THE MEETING: Ivanka Trump leads meeting with father, Trudeau

Trump captioned her photo saying, "A great discussion with two world leaders about the importance of women having a seat at the table!" While numerous supporters of her father chimed in to praise Trump for working with the two world leaders, others said she didn't earn the right to sit behind the desk.

"Lord, how many 'bring your daughter to work' days is this administration going to have?" Bob Clendenin tweeted back to Trump.

"The first woman photographed at that desk should be the one who earns the seat, not appointed by Dad. How out of touch are you?" Amy Rovin asked Trump on Twitter.

Now, let's give some context to the photo.

Monday, Trump was a part of a roundtable meeting with female executives from the U.S. and Canada, where she sat next to Prime Minister Trudeau.

"I'm honored to be here and really looking forward to hearing from each of you," Ivanka told the group of about a dozen business leaders, "as we think about the unique challenges that entrepreneurs, women in the workforce, female small business owners are confronted with each and every day, and as we think [about] how we level the playing field for this generation and for the next."

The 35-year-old businesswoman is currently facing turmoil in her own retail brand as numerous department stores, including Nordstrom's and Burlington Stores, have announced dropping her, citing declining sales. Click through the gallery above to see the social media backlash Trump has received since she shared the tweet on Monday.

GROWING DROPOUTS: The list of retailers dropping Ivanka Trump's line
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WASHINGTON  Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn joined other Republican lawmakers Tuesday in calling for an investigation into the resignation of retired Army Gen. Michael Flynn as President Donald Trump's national security adviser.

Cornyn, the Senate's No. 2 Republican, said he expected the Senate Intelligence Committee to take up the matter, which has led to a firestorm in Congress since allegations surfaced that Flynn discussed sanctions relief with the Russian ambassador to Washington.

"I think there's an orderly process to make sure we get accurate information and we can get the appropriate oversight, and that's what we ought to do," Cornyn told reporters on Capitol Hill.

Cornyn's Texas counterpart, Sen. Ted Cruz, called the situation "unfortunate," but stopped short of calling for an investigation.

"I think the central concern should be ensuring that we have in place a strong, serious national security team that is prepared and committed to defending this nation," Cruz said. "After eight years of foreign policy weakness, our enemies are emboldened, radical Islamic terrorism is on the rise, and American citizens are vulnerable as we never have been before."

The split reflected larger divisions among Senate Republicans, where some conservatives have called for an investigation into the leaks over Flynn's talks with the Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, which were recorded, as is routine, by U.S. intelligence services.

Flynn resigned his position Monday following reports that the Justice Department had warned the Trump administration last month that he misled Vice President Mike Pence and other White House officials about the nature of his conversations with Kislyak regarding U.S. sanctions imposed by former President Barack Obama.

Some officials have warned that Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail by the Russians for covering up details of their talks, which he initially said he could not remember.

Among other Republicans calling for a Senate probe were Sens. Roy Blunt of Missouri, a member of the intelligence committee, and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

"I think Congress needs to be informed of what actually General Flynn said to the Russian ambassador about lifting sanctions," Graham told CNN's Kate Bolduan on "At This Hour."

"And I want to know," Graham, added, "did General Flynn do this by himself or was he directed by somebody to do it?"

Cornyn said he had not seen the transcripts of the calls, but called the situation a case of "somebody with a distinguished military making a bad mistake."
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AUSTIN -- More than 140 artists, including Lady Gaga and Britney Spears, have signed a letter asking the Texas Legislature to end the "needless targeting of LGBTQ people in Texas."

The celebrities range from actor Jennifer Lawrence to late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel and comedian Amy Schumer, vowing to "commit to doing everything within our power to make sure all of our fans, crews, and fellow artists feel safe and welcome, wherever we go."

The letter comes as lawmakers brace this legislative session for debate on the so-called "bathroom bill" that would require transgender people to use the bathroom that corresponds with the sex on his or her birth certificate in government buildings. The bill, SB6, enjoys some support in the Senate but is expected to hit turbulence in the Texas House.

ECONOMIC IMPACT: 'Bathroom Bill' could put financial pinch on Texas

Lawmakers championing the bill, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, argue the measure works to keep men out of the women's restroom to ensure women's safety and privacy.

The letter, dated on Valentine's Day, begins by stressing the creative community's affection for Texas and it's people, adding, "for many of us, performing in Texas for the first time has been a life-altering experience."

The letter goes on to pin point several bills targeting people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or who are questioning their sexual identity, including the bathroom bill, a bill requiring teachers to disclose a student's gender identity to his or her parents and other measures they say will legalize discrimination.

"Bills like these are poison, a barrier between Texas and its future," read the leader.

BILL UNVEILED: Dan Patrick reveals details about controversial 'bathroom bill'

The letter is a product of The Ally Coalition, GLAAD and Equality Texas, all LGBTQ advocacy groups.

"This is an amazing thing for the LGBTQ, especially the trans and non-conforming community so they know they don't have to fight alone," said Lou Weaver, transgender programs coordinator for Equality Texas.

Several of the artists have upcoming shows in Texas, including Cyndi Lauper who is playing in Grand Prairie and Sugar Land in August and Shirley Manson, of Garbage, who is playing in Austin this summer. Lady Gaga, who just performed at the Super Bowl, also signed the list and is returning to Texas for shows in Houston, Austin and Dallas in December.
The summers final Live on the Waterfront concert was held Wednesday evening at Prince Arthurs Landing. The popular series in Thunder Bay has completed nine weekly shows that began on July 13. Wednesdays concert was unique as it was held one hour later in the evening to mesh with the 10 p.
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Fake news, a term for a specific brand of media fabrication that provided endless fodder for journalistic navel gazing since the presidential election, died on Monday. It was less than a year old.

The catchphrase had long battled chronic overuse by subjects of hard-edged news coverage, rendering it effectively meaningless. Despite clinical trials by journalists attempting to contain its usage, fake news finally succumbed on Monday when Wall Street Journal Editor Gerard Baker reportedly employed it at a staff meeting to describe criticisms that the papers coverage of President Donald Trump was soft.

Made for virality, fake news was the subject of numerous BuzzFeed headlines and appeared in multiple Reliable Sources segments, becoming journalists favored stand-in for misinformation crafted to influence public opinion or cull digital advertising dollars. CJR traced its ancestry all the way back to the early days of the American republic, when forebears permeated a hyperpartisan media in the form of misleading, politically motivated attacks on public figures.

The monikers battle with linguistic rot began as partisans wielded it to cudgel stories and outlets they deemed unfavorable in the wake of the presidential election. Its condition deteriorated as news organizations showed unwillingness to own up to their own shortcomings. And it quickly metastasized to the highest levels of the federal government.

RELATED: Former White House photographer grabs headlines with Instagram sass

In early January, then-President-elect Trump famously used it during a news conference to lambaste CNN for its report that intelligence officials had briefed President Barack Obama on Russian efforts to compromise the reality TV star. This week, former Apprentice villain and current Trump aide Omarosa Manigault used it to rebut a Washington Post story alleging she tried to intimidate a reporter outside the White House.

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Journalists efforts to preserve the essence of the term proved palliative.

Fake news was preceded in death by telling it like it is. It leaves behind two sisters, hoaxes and propaganda; a cousin, bad reporting; and an adopted son, Alex Jones.

Services will be held at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC, where the Trump administration will daily honor the life of fake news by continuing to lob it as an insult toward any journalist who dares cast the White House in a negative light.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to CJR.

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.
Leaks are coming out of the White House at a seemingly record pace, many of which have painted a picture of a dangerously ignorant and ill-equipped president who is narcissistic to the extreme, unable to let go of even the smallest of slights. But some of these leaks have halted a Trump appointment and controversial policies in their tracks, and its a lesson showing how whistleblowers and leaks to the press are vital for democracy.

National Security Adviser Michael Flynn was forced to resign late Mondayjust three weeks into the jobfollowing the revelation that he lied to both the Trump administration and the public when he said he did not discuss outgoing President Obamas sanctions on Russia with that countrys US ambassador just after the election. Multiple outlets have reported over the past few days that intercepts of the phone calls showed that he in fact did, despite personally telling Vice President Mike Pence the opposite.

But heres the important part: It turns out it wasnt the lying that got him fired; its that his lying leaked to the press. The Washington Post reported that the acting attorney general told the White House weeks ago that transcripts showed Flynn likely misled administration officials. It wasnt until the public found out he liedbased on a torrent of leaks from inside the administration in the past weekthat Flynn was forced out.

The Flynn episode is just the latest and most high-profile case in which the Trump administration has been forced to reverse course because of leaks to journalists. The New York Times reported on Sunday night that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis was exploring whether the Navy could intercept and board an Iranian ship to look for contraband weapons possibly headed to Houthi fighters in Yemen, a policy which many people would consider both incredibly dangerous and potentially illegaland could have been considered an act of war.

But the Times reported that Mr. Mattis ultimately decided to set the operation aside, at least for now. White House officials said that was because news of the impending operation leaked. Whoever leaked those plans was likely committing a crime, but also potentially staved off a huge international controversy that could have led to yet another military incursion in the Middle East.

RELATED: Donald and Melania Trumps relationship through a lens

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This is not the first time a leak has forced the Trump administration to pull a controversial policy, either. In the first few days of his presidency New York Times Charlie Savage published a leaked draft of an executive order which would have set in motion the re-opening of several CIA black sites around the worldthe same type of squalid prisons where George W. Bush hid terror suspects from the courts and the Red Cross, and engaged in a widespread torture regime.

After an uproar, the Trump administration quickly disavowed the draft executive order, and nothing resembling it has made it to Trumps desk.

Then, two weeks ago, Trump was also reportedly dissuaded from implementing another executive order that would roll back LGBT rights across the federal government. The New York Times gave Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner credit for convincing him, but the only the reason they reportedly even knew about the draft was because it was leaked to the media.

So not only are leaks allowing the public to put pressure on the government to pull back awful policies, but its even informing other people within the Trump administration.

Other reporting based on leaks from inside the White House has shown Trump to be a short attention-spanned neophyte, offending world leaders and seemingly unaware of major US policies, like the New START nuclear treaty with Russia, as he makes up positions on them. Other leaks have provided even more salacious details: Trump has been portrayed as a president who is obsessed with watching cable television at all hours of the day, muttering to himself about fake news any time someone criticizes him. While these leaks are clearly an attempt to disparage him, it is also a window into how he operates and vital for the American public to know not just what policies he wants to implement but his motivations.

Now, of course, every leak has an agenda behind it, and its important for the public to be skeptical of anonymous comments that are unaccompanied by documents, especially if they are single sourced. It may be the administration floating policies to see how the public will react; it might be someone trying to disparage Trump; or competing parties within the administration may be trying to win an argument through the press. But theres no doubt many government employees are leaking because they are genuinely terrified about what Trump is actually doing and believe the public has the right to know.

RELATED: Former White House photographer grabs headlines with Instagram sass

While there are certainly many people within the administration willing to sound the alarm, news organizations, to their credit, have been much more aggressive about advertising their willingness to accept leaks from disgruntled administration officials. Many now have secure tips pages, like these at The New York Times and BuzzFeed. There has been a marked increase in both journalists and news organizations broadcasting how to use encryption tools like Signal or SecureDrop to speak with them and get information to the public.

Now, the question is how far will the Trump administration go to crack down on the press and the sources they are talking to. Trump himself has blamed the leftover Obama people for the leaks, saying Its a disgrace that they leaked because its very much against our country. And the White House has allegedly already started investigating who leaked transcripts of Trumps alarming conversations with the leaders of Mexico and Australia. National Security Council staffers have been instructed to cooperate with inquiries, including requests to inspect their electronic communications, Politico reported, but Its not clear whether the investigation is a formal proceeding, how far along it is or who is conducting it.

Speaking to the press about confidential and classified material is a risky and often courageous move. Many people, especially those close to the Obama administration, were highly critical of whistleblowers like Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden in the past. But its now more clear than ever that we will need more people like them in the next few years if we really want to hold the Trump administration accountable.

Photo by Gage Skidmore

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Trevor Timm is the executive director of Freedom of the Press Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports and defends journalism dedicated to transparency and accountability. He is also a twice-weekly columnist for the Guardian, where he writes about privacy, national security, and the media.
Washington Man Must Repay More Than $12,000 in Workers Comp Scam

A service technician who claimed he was too injured to work yet got a job driving a tow truck pleaded guilty Friday in a workers comp scam.

Kyle Valle, of Algona, Wash., pleaded guilty to felony, second-degree theft. King County Superior Court Judge Hollis R. Hill sentenced Valle to 20 days in jail, but allowed the jail time to be converted to 160 hours of community service. Hill also ordered Valle to repay the state $12,585, the amount of disability benefits he wrongfully received.

The Washington Attorney General prosecuted the case, based on an investigation by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I).

Its shameful that people try to take advantage of the system that helps legitimately injured workers heal and get back to work, said Elizabeth Smith, L&Is assistant director of Fraud Prevention & Labor Standards. Stealing workers comp money raises costs for the businesses and employees who support the system  and its just not fair.

Thats why L&I is committed to finding workers comp scammers, and holding them accountable.

Valle was working as a service technician for a waterproofing company when he hit his head on a support joist in Kirkland in May 2014. Valle filed a workers compensation claim, and medical providers verified his head and neck injuries prevented him from working full time.

An L&I check of Employment Security Department records, however, found that he was employed, even though he declared on official forms that he couldnt work, and wasnt working, due to his on-the-job injury.

Further investigation determined that Valle worked as a tow truck driver for a used-car dealership in Seattle from September 2014 through early June 2015.

California Chiropractor, Staff Busted for Insurance Fraud

Chiropractor William Guenther, of Granite Bay, Calif., and former owner of Fort Sutter Chiropractic, was arraigned in Sacramento Superior Court last week on eight felony counts of insurance fraud for his alleged role in a fraud scheme billing health and auto insurers for treatment services never provided.

Former in-house biller Pam Rivas and office managers Cristen Jones-Hassanali and Stacey Fellows face seven counts of felony insurance charges.

An investigation by department detectives revealed Guenther, owner and operator of Fort Sutter Chiropractic, and his staff billed several insurers for mechanical traction treatments for 50 to 70 patients per day between 2012 and 2015, when no mechanical traction units were in the office. Insurers paid $150,325 to Fort Sutter Chiropractic in fraudulent claims.

Health insurance fraud is rampant in California, totaling billions of dollars annually and requiring consumers to pay higher premiums, said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. One of the top priorities of this department is to investigate fraud, including medical provider fraud, which is often complex and costly.

Guenther was released on $150,000 bail. Rivas, Jones-Hassanali, and Fellows are scheduled to appear in court tomorrow. This case is being prosecuted by the Sacramento County District Attorneys Office.
With the global cyber insurance market expected to reach $14 billion by 2022, according to Allied Market Research, its no wonder more insurers are looking to offer cyber coverage.

All industries need liability and property coverage to protect against cyberattack risk, Allieds most recent Cyber Insurance Market Report stated, adding that This is an opportunity for insurers and reinsurers to innovate cyber insurance products that manage various degrees of risks and cover cost-associated data breaches, credit monitoring, forensic investigations, reputation management, and business interruption.

The cyber insurance market is expected to grow as a result of continued increases in data breaches.

Hartford Steam Boiler, an insurer that began covering risks associated with steam boilers 150 years ago, is now offering small insurers the ability to sell cyber policies to small and midsize businesses (SMBs), according to HSB Vice President Eric Cernak.

According to HSB, this vulnerable market segment  60 percent of SMBs go out of business within six months of a cyberattack  is drastically underserved.

Cernak said small insurers couldnt afford to write cyber policies for SMBs in the past, because the time and effort required to assess cyber risk outweighed the relatively small premiums theyd collect.

This is a risk that kind of has evolved over the last 15 or 20 yearsbecause of the lack of data and the lack of modeling available relative to the risks, pricing was relatively uncertain so there was a degree of variability between insurer A and insurer B on how to price this and the smaller companies couldnt afford the coverage because of the variability and the unknown risk, Cernak said.

The Allied report noted that the lack of standardized policies could hinder companies from buying cyber coverage.

In addition, complicated coverage offerings and the perception of an insufficient threat impeded the purchase of cyber policies, Cernak said.

They [SMBs] simply dont see themselves a target for criminals to infiltrate their systems, Cernak said, though he noted a recent shift towards purchasing cyber coverage due to SMB systems interacting with larger systems.

So, if youre a small business that is working with large organization and youve got credentials to get in their system because of some part of the operational aspect of your arrangement, the criminal element is starting to recognize that, Cernak added.

A statement within the Allied report seems to confirm Cernaks points, Even though cyber security and cyber risks are acknowledged as serious threats, several companies do not purchase cyber insurance policies.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners has weighed in on the difficulty in writing cyber coverage, Cyber risk remains difficult for insurance underwriters to quantify due in large part to a lack of actuarial data. Insurers compensate by relying on qualitative assessments of an applicants risk management procedures and risk culture. As a result, policies for cyber risk are more customized than other risk insurers take on, and, therefore, more costly. The type of business operation will dictate the type and cost of cyber liability coverage. The size and scope of the business will play a role in coverage needs and pricing, as will the number of customers, the presence on the Web, the type of data collected and stored, and other factors.

Cernak said that better data and tools should aid in convincing SMBs of the need for cyber coverage.

The 150-year-old insurer, using an economic model developed by Cyence, quantifies cyber risk in dollars and probabilities to aid insurers in pricing cyber policies efficiently and cost-effectively. The model looks at certain data elements like the frequency of attacks occurring, technical patching, policies, procedures and even employee sentiment. The model aids in determining whether a company is an attractive target and susceptible to attack.

The small commercial entities are probably the next kind of frontier in terms of who is going to be buying this coverage and I think as we get better data, as we get better tools from a risk modeling or risk selection standpoint, thats going to aid in our ability as an industry to convince these folks that they really do need this type of cover, Cernak said.

He said the line of business is different than most, since carriers are insuring against an active adversary.

The idea is to be able to look at whats going on in the environment and see how often these attacks are occurring, Cernak explained.
Relatives of three people who died when the sand at a New Jersey beach gave way beneath their feet begged a judge to permanently close the beach, saying its only a matter of time before someone else dies there.

Relatives of Brad Smith asked Superior Court Judge Julio Mendez on Friday to order a section of the beach in North Wildwood, along the Hereford Inlet, closed to the public following the July 2012 death of Smith.

Although they are not part of the litigation, relatives of Jamila Watkins and Shayne Hart, who died in a similar 2009 accident, also called for the beach to be closed.

North Wildwood and the state say the deaths were due to natural conditions that government has no obligation to fix.

Everyone knows that this will happen again; its just a matter of time, said Nicole Gaeta, Smiths oldest daughter. It would destroy all of us.

Sandra Smith, of Horsham, Pennsylvania, is suing North Wildwood over the 2012 incident that killed her husband and nearly killed their 7-year-old daughter.

Brad Smith was walking in ankle-deep water at the beach with his daughter when the sand collapsed, plunging them and a friend into the swirling waters. A passer-by on a personal watercraft rescued the girl, who was being held above the waves by her father before he drowned.

Three years earlier, Watkins, 27, and Hart, 15, were walking along the waters edge when the sand gave way beneath them, plunging them into the swirling waters of the inlet.

The plaintiffs have presented a report from a former official with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which does extensive beach protection and restoration work in New Jersey, that said tidal conditions undermined sand just under the water line, creating a drop-off of 10 feet or more thats invisible to people walking along the waters edge.

North Wildwoods chief lifeguard said in a deposition the town knew of the condition, which occurs twice each day, for at least six years before Smith drowned.

Signs at the beach prohibit swimming and warn of dangerous rip currents. But Smiths family wants the town to post more alarming signs that warn of a sudden drop-off, deadly currents and whirlpools and note that people have drowned in these waters.

Mendez said he will issue a ruling in the next few weeks.

At Fridays hearing, a letter from an official with the state Department of Environmental Protection was made public, saying the department would not object to the beach being closed upon a showing that an unreasonable risk to public safety exists.

Michael Barker, an attorney for North Wildwood, said the town is under no legal obligation to fix conditions at the inlet.

The state and North Wildwood did not create the channel, did not create the current, did not create the tides, he said. All those things are natural conditions.

Fridays hearing involved a request to have the beach closed immediately. Smiths family has a separate lawsuit pending that seeks damages arising from his death. That litigation is on hold until the more immediate question of whether the beach should be shut is determined.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
AKRON, Ohio - An Akron man pleaded guilty Tuesday to rape charges in connection with the assault of a 71-year-old woman.

Billy Patterson, 19, pleaded guilty to counts of rape aggravated burglary and felonious assault, the Summit County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement released Tuesday.

He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

The case stems from a Sept. 24, 2016 incident at the Akron home of a 71-year-old woman. Patterson broke into the woman's house, punched her in the face, choked her and raped her, the prosecutor's office said.

Patterson had known the woman for nearly 10 years before the rape, the release says.

"This was a heinous, brutal act that has severely traumatized the victim and is deserving of a lengthy prison sentence," Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Walsh said in the release.

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A man was robbed at gunpoint Sunday evening to a man claiming to want to buy a computer listed for sale on Craigslist, Akron police said.

(File photo)

AKRON, Ohio - A man was robbed at gunpoint Sunday night when he tried to sell a computer he listed on Craigslist, police said.

The robbery happened about 7:30 p.m. outside a business on the 600 block of East Market Street in Akron's Middlebury neighborhood, east of the University of Akron campus, Akron police said. The 37-year-old victim had agreed to meet the potential buyer at the business.

The victim showed the computer to the potential buyer, but the buyer asked if he could show the computer to his friend who was sitting in the parking lot. The seller agreed, and the two men went to the car, police said.

Once inside the car, the car's driver pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the victim, police said. The robber ordered the seller out of the car before speeding away with the computer.

The duo wanted for the armed robbery have not yet been identified, and no arrests have been made, police said. Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to contact Akron police at 330-375-2552.

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AKRON, Ohio - Akron police arrested a man Sunday night who was wanted in connection with a fatal 2015 gas station shooting.

Romeo Thomas, 29, was arrested about 10:30 p.m. Sunday at a home on Brighton Drive in South Akron, Akron police spokesman Lt. Rick Edwards said. Officers went to the house after a fight was reported.

Police could hear an argument in an upstairs apartment when they arrived at the house, Edwards said. When officers knocked on the door, a woman yelled for help.

Thomas was trying to escape from the house when police knocked down the door, Edwards said. He was taken into custody and was charged with aggravated menacing in Akron Municipal Court, records show.

He remains in Summit County Jail.

Before his Sunday arrest, a warrant was out for Thomas' arrest in connection with an Aug. 1, 2015 shootout outside a West Akron gas station. He is the accused driver of one of the cars involved in the shootout; passengers in the vehicles involved exchanged more than two dozen rounds of gunfire.

James C. Tyler, 27, was found dead in front of a nearby house. Thomas is charged with murder, felonious assault and abuse of a corpse in Tyler's death.

Thomas is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday morning, records show.

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A Lorain woman was shot in the arm Sunday afternoon.

(File photo)

LORAIN, Ohio -- A woman has died Sunday afternoon after someone shot her in the upper arm, Lorain police said.

The woman -- whose name has not been released by authorities -- died shortly after arriving at Mercy Hospital, Lorain police Lt. Ed Super said. No arrests have been made in the ongoing investigation.

The woman was shot just before 1 p.m. in the 400 block of Iowa Avenue just south of Iglesia Casa De Restauracion, according to a police report.

Three men were put into separate police cruisers and were taken to the Lorain police station for interviews, according to the police report. Gun shot residue kits were used on the three men.

Super did not say whether any of the men are suspects or potential witnesses to the shooting.

The victim was found with an apparent "through and through" gunshot would to her upper arm. Paramedics treated the woman before taking her to Mercy Hospital for more treatment, the report said.

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A man was shot dead Monday night on Akron's west side.

(File photo)

AKRON, Ohio -- A 25-year-old man was shot dead Monday night on Akron's West Side, police said.

The shooting happened just after 11 p.m. on Rhoda Court at the Bon Sue Apartments, Akron police Lt. Rick Edwards said.

Officers found the victim, identified as Lamar Brown, lying on the sidewalk in front of the apartment complex with a gunshot wound to the torso. Brown's death has been ruled a homicide, according to the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not released a motive and the shooter has not been identified, Edwards said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Akron police at 330-375-2552.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- American Girl will release its first-ever boy doll Thursday.

Logan Everett is a bandmate of another new doll Tenney Grant, a "rising star" in the Nashville music scene, according to a press release from the company.

American Girl sells dolls with detailed backstories, books and wide-ranging accessory lines. Tenney, the company says, aims to teach girls that although they might struggle, persistence is key to achieving their dreams. (She started her band in her backyard.)

At $115, Tenney comes with a guitar; Logan comes with drums.

Their storyline is the first among a line of contemporary characters. It will be documented through a series of books, as well as original songs, according to the release.

It's been more than 30 years since the first American Girl catalogue first came out. A boy doll has been a popular request for a long time, Julie Parks, director of public relations at American Girl, told the Huffington Post.

More American Girl doll news: Gabriela, an artist who helps in her community, is the 2017 Girl of the Year. She's backordered until March. Nanea, a Hawaiian doll whose storyline seems to be set during a war, and Z Yang, a filmmaker doll.

Posted by American Girl on Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Also coming this year is the return of Felicity, from Revolutionary-War-era Virgina. She was one of the dolls the company retired. Want to see more historical dolls? Click here.
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Jim Cramer has a message for all of the doubters of the market rally out there: stop thinking this is a rally.

Instead, realize that this is a sea change, where the market is no longer influenced by the things that used hold it back before President Donald Trump won the election. Technology stocks in particular have roared since the election, with Apple hitting a new closing high on Monday. So much of the rally has roots that started in Silicon Valley, Cramer said. Thus, the price of Apple's stock is not determined by the White House. Yes, it has a large cash hoard overseas that could benefit from Trump's agenda of repatriation, but that's not the main thing powering Apple higher. "What is really driving the stock of Apple is something quite different. A realization that Apple's worldwide sales are coming in better than expected, its service revenue stream is on fire and its design and manufacturing supremacy is leaving long-time competitor Samsung in the dust," Cramer said.

Apple CEO Tim Cook looks at a display of the new 9.7' iPad Pro during an Apple special event at the Apple headquarters on March 21, 2016 in Cupertino, California. Getty Images

Intel CEO Brian Krzanich said that regardless of the administration in the White House, it is important to have an open dialogue and to build a relationship in every country that his company operates in. Krzanich met with President Trump on Feb. 8 and followed the meeting with an announcement that Intel would invest $7 billion in a factory that will employ up to 3,000 people in Chandler, Arizona. The investment would complete plans for a plant that was previously started. According to Krzanich, Trump's position on taxes is what inspired him to revive the factory. Under the current tax system in the U.S., relative to overseas, Krzanich said it would cost approximately $2 billion more over the span of 10 years. "The tax plan that the administration is putting forward would drastically reduce that  we are betting on that tax plan coming into fruition," Krzanich said. As the transformation of technology continues to span the globe, VMware COO Sanjay Poonen told Jim Cramer on Monday that the company is watching the "America First" stance of immigration in U.S. very closely.

"Our general philosophy is software changes the world  software is our birthright  Silicon Valley, and the United States  it is the reason people like me are here," Poonen said. Poonen immigrated to the United States from India in 1987 to attend Dartmouth College on a scholarship, and moved to Silicon Valley in 1991. As VMware continues to be the global leader in cloud infrastructure and virtualization, Poonen considers the opportunity for immigration to the U.S. to be very important.

Copper production in Johor, Malaysia Munshi Ahmed | Bloomberg | Getty Images
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Former acting attorney general Sally Q. Yates warned the White House that national security adviser General Michael Flynn may be vulnerable to Russian blackmail, the Washington Post reported on Monday.



Yates had delivered the message late last month amid worries about Flynn's communication with the Russian ambassador in Washington, according to the report, which cited unnamed current and former U.S. officials.

It wasn't clear, the Post reported, what White House Counsel Donald McGahn had done with Yates' information.

Yates was fired for opposing Trump's temporary entry ban for people from seven mostly Muslim nations.

Flynn had told Vice President Mike Pence he had not discussed U.S. sanctions against Russia with Russian officials in the weeks before Trump took office on Jan. 20, prompting Pence to defend him in subsequent television interviews.

In recent days, Flynn has acknowledged he might have discussed sanctions with the Russians but could not remember with 100 percent certainty, which officials said had upset Pence, who felt he had been misled. Officials said Flynn apologized to Pence twice, including in person on Friday.

"The president is evaluating the situation. He is speaking to ... Vice President Pence relative to the conversation the vice president had with General Flynn and also speaking to various other people about what he considers the single most important subject there is, our national security," White House spokesman Sean Spicer said.

Read the full report here.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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National Security Adviser Mike Flynn has the full confidence of the president, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway told NBC News Monday, appearing to signal that Flynn is safe in his job despite his changing account of whether he discussed sanctions with the Russian ambassador in December.

But moments later, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said the president is evaluating the situation and is having conversations with the vice president about his discussions with Flynn on the matter.

The mixed messages left Flynn's status unclear.

More from NBC News:

Trump and Trudeau tread carefully on differences on refugees, trade

Legal marijuana: With Sessions as top cop, pot advocates getting nervous

'Day without Latinos': Thousands protest immigration crackdown in Wisconsin



He has been in the "hot seat" since Friday, when the Washington Post first reported that nine current and former officials had seen intelligence reports asserting that he discussed sanctions with Ambassador Sergei Kislyak, despite his assertions to the Post, to Pence and to Spicer that the subject didn't come up.

A senior intelligence official confirmed to NBC News that Flynn discussed the Obama sanctions, which were imposed to punish Russia for a campaign to interfere in the election in part to help Trump.

The intelligence official said there had been no finding inside the government that Flynn did anything illegal.

Through a spokesman, Flynn amended his account to NBC News and others, now saying that he couldn't be sure the topic of sanctions didn't come up.

Conway's comments came after Flynn called Vice President Pence to apologize for misleading him about his communications with the Russian ambassador, two senior administration officials told NBC News.

Speaking to MSNBC anchor Steve Kornacki, Conway declined to confirm Flynn's apology to Pence, who said on national television that Flynn did not discuss the Obama administration's sanctions on Russia when he spoke on the phone with Russian envoy Sergey Kislyak.

"I won't reveal that," she said. "That's a conversation between the Vice President and him."

Democrats reacted with fury to the news that Flynn broached the subject of sanctions before he took office.

Many said that any discussion of sanctions between Flynn, then a private citizen, and the Russian government would have been improper, even if it was legal. A 1799 law called the Logan Act forbids private citizens from negotiating disputes with U.S. adversaries, but it has never been enforced.

One of the calls between Flynn and the ambassador took place the day the sanctions were imposed over Russia's election hacking and leaking, and Democrats feared that Flynn was sending a message that the Russians should expect those sanctions to be lifted.
NASA will continue tapping the private sector to fund space exploration efforts under President Donald Trump, a continuation in policy that began under former President George W. Bush.

"Public-private partnerships are the future of space exploration," Dava Newman, a former NASA deputy administrator who resigned before Trump took office, told CNBC on Tuesday. "I call it the new NASA."

In total, 22 companies  all American  have won contracts with the agency across a diverse range of sectors, from in-space manufacturing to engine development.

Boeing and Elon Musk's SpaceX will be delivering NASA astronauts to international space stations, while Orbital ATK , Sierra Nevada and SpaceX will transport NASA cargo to space stations, said Newman, who is now chair of the Apollo Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

NASA is a part of the U.S. government but remains independent while still receiving federal funds  a structure originally conceived by McKinsey & Co. In the 1950s, the management consultancy suggested the idea of a separate government office dedicated to space research.
Lee Jae-Yong (C), vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, arrives to be questioned as a suspect in a corruption scandal that led to the impeachment of South Korea's President Park Geun-Hye, at the office of the independent counsel in Seoul on February 13, 2017.

Samsung Group chief Jay Y. Lee was questioned by South Korea's special prosecutor for more than 15 hours as part of an investigation into a graft scandal that threatens to topple President Park Geun-hye.

The 48-year-old executive, the third-generation leader of the country's top conglomerate, made no comment as he was shown on live television leaving the prosecutor's office in southern Seoul in a black car early on Tuesday.

Lee, who has denied allegations of bribery through Samsung Group spokespeople, had arrived at the office on Monday morning.

South Korea's special prosecutor has focused on Samsung Group's relationship with Park, accusing Lee in his capacity as Samsung chief of pledging 43 billion won to a business and organisations backed by Park's friend, Choi Soon-sil, in exchange for support of a 2015 merger of two Samsung companies.

Proving illicit dealings between Park or those linked to her and Samsung Group is critical for the special prosecutor's case that ultimately targets Park, analysts have said.

The prosecution has also identified four other Samsung executives as suspects and have summoned three of them.
Some lawmakers accused Trump of hypocrisy for choosing former Goldman employees for key posts after his campaign rhetoric toward the bank and other financial institutions. He accused Republican primary opponent Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and general election rival Hillary Clinton of being beholden to Goldman and corporate special interests.

Mnuchin previously served as finance chairman for Trump's presidential campaign and helped to finance Hollywood films. Republicans supporting Mnuchin defended him against attacks in his confirmation hearing, noting that he had not broken any laws and that prominent Wall Street veterans served in previous administrations.

In the hearing, Mnuchin disputed OneWest's alleged aggressive foreclosure practices at OneWest.

"Since I was first nominated to serve as Treasury Secretary, I have been maligned as taking advantage of others' hardships in order to earn a buck. Nothing could be further from the truth," he told senators.

In his hearing, Mnuchin downplayed analyses that Trump's tax cuts could add trillions to the national debt, saying that "we think the way to reduce the debt is by economic growth." He previously told CNBC in November that there would be no absolute tax cut for the upper class.

Critics have said that Trump's tax plan will help the wealthy more than the middle class.

Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia was the only Democrat to vote for Mnuchin. Manchin, who serves in a state that Trump overwhelmingly won, has broken with his party more often than his colleagues on Trump Cabinet votes.

Mnuchin becomes just the 10th Trump Cabinet nominee confirmed so far. Republicans have called foul on the pace of the confirmations, as Democrats, lacking enough votes to block on their own, have used Senate procedures to delay votes on some Trump nominees.
Toshiba has unexpectedly delayed the release of its quarterly earnings and details of a multi-billion dollar writedown to its nuclear business, sending its shares sharply lower as investors fret over the conglomerate's future.



Toshiba had said it would reveal the charge at noon (0300 GMT), along with its latest outlook. But it later said in emailed statement that it was "not ready", giving no further details.



Kyodo news agency, citing a financial source, said the delay was due to problems in Toshiba's discussions with auditors.

"The delay shows that the company is in a mess," said Makoto Kikuchi, chief executive of Myojo Asset Management.



"We can assume that the company is not delaying its earnings release for good news. The market speculates that Toshiba will be releasing figures worse than what is being reported already."



Toshiba shares finished around 8 percent lower Thursday and Chairman Shigenori Shiga also announced he was stepping down.





The cost of insuring against a Toshiba credit default climbed, with the most actively traded credit default swaps jumping 30 basis points to 357/399 bps. That means it would cost $357,000 to $399,000 per year for five years to insure $10 million in bonds.


Aetna and rival Humana are terminating their merger, after their $34 billion deal was blocked by a federal court on antitrust grounds. Aetna will pay Humana a $1 billion break-up fee, in accordance with the agreement.

"While we continue to believe that a combined company would create greater value for health care consumers  the current environment makes it too challenging to continue pursuing the transaction," Mark Bertolini, Aetna chairman and CEO, said in a statement. "We are disappointed to take this course of action after 19 months of planning, but both companies need to move forward with their respective strategies in order to continue to meet member expectations."

Humana said the termination fee would amount to $630 million, after tax. The health insurer said it will issue 2017 financial guidance after the closing bell Tuesday, and discuss its outlook with investors in a conference call at 4:45 p.m. ET.

U.S. District Judge John Bates blocked the merger last month, saying the combination of the two insurers would reduce competition in the private Medicare Advantage market for seniors.

Aetna and Humana had struck an agreement to divest some of their Medicare Advantage business in overlapping markets to Molina Healthcare in order to address concerns about competition. However, Bates found their proposed sales inadequate, because Molina did not have a strong track record in Medicare.

Aetna said it will also terminate the deal with Molina and will pay the applicable fees associated with that agreement. The company also announced that it will redeem more than $10 billion of Special Mandatory Redemption Notes on or about March 16.

Correction: This story was revised to correct the first name of Judge John Bates and to fix the timing of Humana's conference call to 4:45 p.m.
Oroville evacuees Debra Walker wanders the fairgrounds at the Silver Dollar Fair evacuation shelter in Chico, Calif., on Feb. 13, 2017. Brian van der Brug | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images

Authorities lifted a three-day mandatory evacuation order in Northern California that had sent nearly 200,000 residents away following fears Oroville Dam's damaged emergency spillway might fail. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea was the first to announce the order was lifted at a press conference Tuesday afternoon in Oroville. "We have concluded that it is safe to return," said Honea. The sheriff said he had received assurances from state and federal experts that the situation was now deemed safe. He said there's still "an evacuation warning" that considers the possibility that there could be future changes in the situation.

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Specifically, Honea said engineers had reduced the level of the reservoir below the top of the emergency spillway so the erosion to the area in front of it could be halted. Further, the sheriff said the massive hole in front of the spillway was thoroughly inspected by federal and state experts and it revealed there was no erosion that compromised the overall integrity of the backup spillway. Also, he maintained that the concrete-lined spillway (even with its own erosion issues) still is able to provide significant outflows and lower lake levels while also reducing the chance of needing to use the emergency spillway. According to the California Department of Water Resources, other fixes at Oroville Dam  California's second-largest dam  included dropping sacks of rocks into the emergency spillway's crevice to prevent more erosion. The hole found Sunday in the emergency spillway  essentially a natural hillside of soil, rock and brush  led engineers to shift major water flows away from this unlined channel. The main spillway is damaged from significant concrete erosion but has still been releasing water this week. Frantic efforts continue to shore up the emergency spillway before a major storm reaches the Oroville area. "A lot of equipment and a lot of materials are moving around  from the ground and the air," said William Croyle, DWR's acting director. "This is an aggressive, proactive attack to address the erosion concern."

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Speaking at the Tuesday afternoon press conference, the official said about 30 tons of rock per hour are being placed representing about 40 truckloads an hour. Also, two helicopters continue to drop rocks every couple of minutes. A total of three counties, Butte, Sutter and Yuba, had communities under the evacuation order. Oroville, located in Butte County, is about 70 miles north of Sacramento. Even with the evacuation lifted, a major storm system is forecast to reach the region within 48 hours and could produce significant precipitation for Northern California and the Oroville area. The storm had been expected to reach Oroville late Wednesday but now forecasters say it will likely be Thursday and stick around through next week.

Residents faced traffic problems after the evacuation order went out and authorities said they are preparing to handle thousands of people returning. There were hints the evacuation would be lifted when people spotted road blocks being removed just after noon Tuesday. Some of the evacuees have been staying at about a dozen shelters established in the region, including the fairgrounds in Chico, while others fled to hotels in locations such as Sacramento. There have been concerns about Oroville Dam safety since the erosion of the primary spillway was discovered a week ago. Officials have insisted the dam itself is not at risk. Last week, claims surfaced that state and federal officials failed to heed safety warnings about Oroville more than a decade ago. The Oroville Dam  the nation's largest earthen dam  was completed in the late 1960s when Ronald Reagan was governor of California. On Monday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ordered the the state water agency "to initiate immediate design of emergency repair to minimize further degradation of both the emergency spillway and the service spillway." Croyle, the acting director of DWR, defended the dam's emergency spillway design saying it was "built to the standards at the time [in the 1960s]. We are reviewing that information now." Speaking late Monday, Gov. Jerry Brown too defended the state's handling of the dam spillway crisis and welcomed more scrutiny.

Meantime, Brown late Monday requested federal assistance from President Donald Trump for the Oroville Dam incident. That request is still pending approval from the president. Even so, during a press briefing Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the president was "keeping a close eye" on the dam situation in California. While Spicer didn't say whether Trump would grant an emergency declaration, the presidential spokesman said "we will be working alongside with FEMA and appropriate government entities to make sure that we are doing everything we can to attend to this matter."
Today, on Valentine's Day, Bill and Melinda Gates address their foundation's annual letter to the Oracle of Omaha.

The philanthropists have long been close friends with Warren Buffett. Their letter both outlines what the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has done with Buffett's donations and also celebrates their friend's positive outlook.

"Optimism is a huge asset," Melinda says in the letter. "We can always use more of it. But optimism isn't a belief that things will automatically get better; it's a conviction that we can make things better.

"We see this in you, Warren. Your success didn't create your optimism; your optimism led to your success."
Cigna said Tuesday in a lawsuit that it is looking to terminate its merger agreement with Anthem , and seeks a $1.85 billion break-up fee and additional damages exceeding $13 billion.

Cigna's suit comes in the wake of a federal court's decision blocking the planned $54 billion merger between the two insurers  a deal Cigna argues is effectively dead.

"In light of the Court's ruling, Cigna believes that the transaction cannot and will not achieve regulatory approval and that terminating the agreement is in the best interest of Cigna's shareholders," the Connecticut-based insurer said in a statement.

Cigna added it filed its suit in the Delaware Court of Chancery to seek a judgment that it "has lawfully terminated the merger agreement and that Anthem is not permitted to extend the termination date."

Shares of Anthem closed down slightly at $163.32, while Cigna shares edged modestly higher to close at $146.68.

Anthem is the nation's largest Blue Cross insurer, and Cigna claims that Anthem put the interests of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association ahead of their deal, and as a result Cigna shareholders lost out during the prolonged merger process.

Anthem and Cigna's relationship has been contentious since they began having merger discussions early in 2015. During their antitrust review, attorneys from the Department of Justice introduced correspondence between the insurers accusing one another of not living up to their merger agreement.

The federal judge who ruled against the companies' merger, noted that testimony by Cigna executives during their antitrust trial was at odds with Anthem's arguments in the case, and called their clear animosity during the proceedings "the elephant in the courtroom."

In response to Cigna's suit, an Anthem spokeswoman said that their merger agreement remains in effect for another 2  months.

"On January 18, 2017 Anthem extended its Merger Agreement with Cigna through April 30, 2017. Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, Cigna does not have a right to terminate the agreement," said Anthem spokeswoman Bonnie Jacobs, in a statement. "Therefore, Cigna's purported termination of the Merger Agreement is invalid. Anthem will continue to enforce its rights under the Merger Agreement and remains committed to closing the transaction."

After last week's ruling, Anthem said it would pursue an expedited appeal of the judge's decision to block the merger.

The acrimonious break-up notice from Cigna came hours after Aetna and Humana agreed to mutually terminate their $34 billion merger agreement, after their deal was also blocked in federal court. Aetna has agreed to pay Humana the $1 billion break-up fee stipulated in their agreement, saying that after 19 months of trying to gain approval it was in the best interest for the two to move on.
The White House disarray after National Security Advisor Michael Flynn resigned could cause delays for corporate tax reform, CNBC's Jim Cramer said on Tuesday.

On Monday, the White House confirmed Flynn's resignation after days of speculation about his status within the administration and intense scrutiny into his discussions about Russia prior to Trump's inauguration.

Cramer said that continued discussions about issues other than tax reform could be the last straw for some investors.

"Flynn is now part of the roadblock to getting it so we have corporate tax reform," Cramer said on "Squawk on the Street. "... Some people will sell stocks betting we're not going to get anything in 2017."


David Ganek's lawsuit against federal authorities alleging improper conduct that led to the shuttering of his $4 billion New York hedge fund is inching closer to a long-sought conclusion.

After Ganek and his legal team prevailed against a motion to dismiss, the government appealed.

The Level Global Investors founder told CNBC on Tuesday he's awaiting a hearing in the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals next month.



"The case has ripened in a way that arguably was unexpected," Ganek told "Squawk Box."

"Two years ago ... most people would've said we had very little chance of surviving what was ultimately their filing of a motion to dismiss it," he added.



In February 2015, Ganek filed a complaint in U.S. District Court for the Southern District Court of New York against U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara  often referred to as the "sheriff of Wall Street"  and federal authorities involved in an FBI raid of Level Global in November 2010 and the related investigation.

Shortly after the raid, massive investor redemptions forced the closure of Level Global.



Ganek, who was ultimately never charged, wants to clear his name.



With celebrity attorney Barry Scheck and former federal Judge Nancy Gertner in his corner, Ganek argues in the case that the affidavit in support of putting Ganek on the search warrant contained "false statements" that Ganek knew about alleged insider trading at his firm. The complaint accuses Bharara and the other defendants of violating Ganke's constitutional right not to be deprived of property or reputation.

"I don't think they want the truth to come out," Ganek told CNBC. "And I think they are ... taking the legal limits to suppress the truth."

"If that office can be exposed for what I believe are serious problems and ethical issues, I think that actually has an ultimately powerful effect on the whole system," he said.

But in such a fight, Ganek said, "You need resources, you need facts and you need will."

In November 2010, in addition to Level Global, Diamondback Capital Management of Stamford, Connecticut and Loch Capital Management of Boston were also raided.

"On that day, the government raided three businesses [that] in aggregate had $10 billion of institutional assets under management. All three of the businesses were ultimately shuttered, and the requiem to that is there were zero convictions," after an appeals court in 2014 overturned the convictions of a Level Global partner and a Diamondback trader, Ganek said.

No charges were ever filed against Loch or any of its employees.

Bharara's office declined to comment.
The bombshell news from last night, which marked President Trump's 25th day in office: Michael Flynn abruptly quit as President Donald Trump's national security adviser Monday night, hours after it emerged that the Justice Department informed the White House that it believed he could be subject to blackmail," per NBC News. "The resignation also came after previous disclosures that Flynn had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other senior officials about his communications with Sergey Kislyak, Russia's ambassador to the United States. Pence repeated the misinformation in television appearances." NBC's Andrea Mitchell has more: "A senior official tells NBC News the president and top advisers have been "agonizing" over what to do about Flynn for days. The official, who was involved in the discussions, says the situation became unsustainable -- not because of any issue of being compromised by Russia -- but because he had lied to the president and the vice president." All of this news raises more questions than answers.

More from NBC News:

First read's morning clips: Flynn's out

Is Trump's White House headed for its first shakeup?

Trump adviser Stephen Miller mum on Trump confidence in Mike Flynn





When exactly did Team Trump first learn that Flynn misled them about the nature of his conversations with Russia's government?

The Washington Post says it was last month. "The acting attorney general informed the Trump White House late last month that she believed Michael Flynn had misled senior administration officials about the nature of his communications with the Russian ambassador to the United States, and warned that the national security adviser was potentially vulnerable to Russian blackmail, current and former U.S. officials said."

Did anyone else on Trump's team discuss sanctions on Russia? And did Trump authorize Flynn's discussions with Russia's ambassador?

Remember, the day after the Obama administration slapped extra sanctions on Russia's government for interfering in the 2016 election, Trump praised Russia's delay in responding to them. "Great move on delay (by V. Putin) - I always knew he was very smart!" he tweeted.

What does this say about the president's judgment?

Flynn -- who we now have learned was potentially vulnerable to Russian blackmail -- was Trump's pick to be this country's national security adviser. And this story wasn't the first strike against him and his management of the National Security Council. "Three weeks into the Trump administration, council staff members get up in the morning, read President Trump's Twitter posts and struggle to make policy to fit them. Most are kept in the dark about what Mr. Trump tells foreign leaders in his phone calls," the New York Times wrote over the weekend.

How much credibility does this administration have left?



At 4:00 pm ET yesterday, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway told MSNBC's Steve Kornacki that the president had full confidence in Flynn, yet he resigned just hours later. (When NBC's Matt Lauer asked Conway on "Today" this morning if she was out of the loop, she replied that Trump "is a very loyal person," and that Flynn himself made the decision to resign.) On Friday, Trump denied that he had read the Washington Post's scoop that Flynn had indeed discussed sanctions with Russia's ambassador. "I don't know about it. I haven't seen it. What report is that?" (Does anyone believe that now?) And despite the administration's previous denials that Flynn discussed sanctions with the Russians, we now know Team Trump was notified a month ago that Flynn was possibly misleading them.

A question for every member of Congress: Are you going to support a full investigation into arguably the biggest scandal involving a foreign government since Iran-Contra?



Considering everything we now know about this story  an incoming administration was having conversations with a foreign adversary, and not telling the truth about them  you have to go back 30 years to Iran-Contra to think of a comparable scandal. And folks, we're today on Day 26 of the Trump administration. Here's the question that should be posed to every lawmaker, Republican or Democrat: Are you going to support a full investigation into arguably the biggest political scandal involving a foreign government since Iran-Contra?
President Donald Trump has proposed a plan to spend nearly $1 trillion to rebuild the nation's deteriorating airports, roads and bridges, but the issue could require an "infrastructure czar," expert Barry LePatner told CNBC on Tuesday.

"We lack the political will and the political leadership to address this problem in a comprehensive way," LePatner said in an interview on CNBC's "Power Lunch."

"If we put on a large-scale infrastructure program that was dedicated ... we will have an addressing of this issue."

LePatner, an attorney, is the author of a book titled, "Too Big to Fall: America's Failing Infrastructure and the Way Forward." He's also created a website where U.S. residents can learn more about the most distressed bridges in their own neighborhoods.

Another problem the Trump administration faces in rebuilding America's infrastructure is finding workers, LePatner said.

After the Great Recession in 2008, more than 1 million construction workers left the industry, and most of them haven't returned, he explained. But should the government provide a "steady cash flow to construction companies," there will be well-paid jobs again, and those workers will be found.

"Somebody has to take responsibility at the political level and provide the leadership and the willpower," LePatner told CNBC.

Trump will reportedly meet on Wednesday with the chief executive officers of eight large retailers, including Target , Best Buy and J.C. Penney , to discuss tax reform and infrastructure improvements.
An official announcement last week that the Bundesbank had pretty much repatriated half its gold reserves ahead of schedule has once again sent the rumor mill into overdrive.

Fans of the precious metal - not shy of a good conspiracy theory - have been deliberating over the move ever since Germany detailed it back in 2013. Initially, there was a sense that trust between central banks had broken down with claims that Berlin was effectively questioning the credentials of New York Federal Reserve.

But the talk has now stepped up a notch with the Bundesbank confirming Thursday that it has already moved 583 tons of gold out of New York and Paris. Its plan to hold half its gold in Frankfurt is now three years ahead of schedule.

Reporting the news, Reuters said that some argue the world's second-biggest bullion reserve "may be needed to back a new deutsche mark, should the euro zone break up." This seems pretty far-fetched, especially given that the Bretton Woods system of fixed exchange rates ended back in the 1970s. Could Berlin really be prepping for the fall of the euro?

Then there's the Donald Trump angle. On Thursday, Bundesbank board member Carl-Ludwig Thiele felt the need to speak about the new U.S. president at his press conference - presumably because someone asked him.

"Trump has not triggered a discussion about the storage facility in New York," he said, according to reports. Trump scaring global central banks to repatriate their gold in case he confiscates it? Sounds equally unbelievable.

Then there's the rumors coming from Russia. Sputnik News, which incidentally has strongly denied accusations from NATO that it's a Kremlin propaganda machine, reported that Germany had been given the wrong gold. Quoting Russian economist Vladimir Katasonov, the news site said the U.S. may have sold Germany's gold bars years ago and hurriedly bought some back as the Bundesbank came knocking.
OPEC mostly kept its members in line during the first month of coordinated production cuts, but the cartel faces a test of its will this spring.



The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries in January managed to cut about 90 percent of the 1.2 million barrels it promised to remove from the market last year, according to S&P Global Platts and others that track shipments. Those efforts have helped stabilize global oil prices above $50 a barrel.

However, OPEC members have a long history of cheating on quotas. They are likely to flout the agreed-upon cuts as the summer driving season sends prices higher, said Victor Shum, who leads IHS Energy's oil market consulting practice in Asia.

"Output will likely increase. There's going to be a slippage in compliance," he told CNBC Asia's "Street Signs."

OPEC probably will extend the six-month deal if prices remain near or above current levels, Shum said. But if prices falter, "all bets are off" as oil exporters start pumping to boost government revenues.

Jim Krane, a fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute, noted that Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait still burn crude to meet summer electricity demand.

"It'll be tougher for the Saudis and some of the other Gulf producers to hold production steady during the late spring and through the summer," he told CNBC in an email. "Other producers will be tempted to try and meet surging summer demand rather than hold the line and allow prices to increase."
For those who like investing with cupid in mind, CNBC talked to one investment adviser on Valentine's Day who shared his top three love-themed stock picks.

Based on the presumption that expensive champagne and luxury gifts are the right way to kick-start Valentine's Day, Sizemore Capital CIO Charles Sizemore told CNBC that his first pick is French luxury goods conglomerate, LVMH Moet Hennessy .

"On a more serious note, this stock is a play on a bounce in the euro, on European stocks in general and on a recovery in China, which is the world's largest luxury consumer," said Sizemore, adding that the company has also proposed a dividend of 4 euros ($4.25) per share.

After the wining and dining, Sizemore's second pick is New York-listed L Brands , the parent company of Victoria's Secret.

As with other brick-and-mortar retailers, L Brands has struggled in recent years with stagnant revenues and stiffer competition, but Victoria's Secret remains a leader in the lingerie space, Sizemore said, adding that the stock is currently trading at 2013 prices.

Lastly, Sizemore recommended the maker of Viagra, Pfizer , because "all jokes aside, this big pharmaceutical giant is interesting" despite the recent political pressure for lower drug prices and slower revenue growth.

"The stock is trading at 11-times forward earnings and yielding a 4 percent dividend, so I would say a lot of bad news is priced in," he said.

Sizemore said he does not hold any of the stocks mentioned.

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Jakarta, one of the world's most populous metropolises, will choose a new governor on Wednesday in a fevered election marked by mass demonstrations, fake news and even the Islamic State. At stake is an expanding wave of Muslim radicalism, a slower pace of structural reforms, a hit to business confidence and political gridlock that may derail Indonesia  Southeast Asia's largest economy and a favorite of emerging market investors.

The facts

7.2 million registered voters will pick one of three candidates to a five-year term. Incumbent governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnamaknown as Ahokof the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle is running for a second stretch. He's facing Agus Harimurtri Yudhoyono, son of ex-president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, of the Democratic Party and former minister of education and culture Anies Baswedan from the opposition Gerindra party. Indonesia's capital city is one of 101 regions holding city, provincial and district elections on Wednesday but its race is the most significant as the job of Jakarta governor is viewed as a stepping stone to the presidency. If nobody secures more than 50 percent of the vote on Wednesday, a run-off election between the top two candidates will be held in April. Official results are expected next week but early numbers will be out after polls close on Wednesday, according to Ho Woei Chen, senior economist at United Overseas Banking.

The key issue

Ahok, a Christian of Chinese ethnicity in the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, was accused of insulting Islam in a speech last year, sparking a series of protests by hard-line groups. Ahok, an ally of President Joko Widodo, now faces blasphemy charges, with a trial verdict due in March. "Various reports suggest conviction for blasphemy, which comes with a jail term of up to five years, is likely. In that event, his hold to the office will be precarious even if he wins the election," said Ho.

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Still, Ahok's popularity remains intact. A survey conducted between Feb. 2 and Feb. 8 by Indikator Politik Indonesia revealed the 50-year old was in the lead, with 39 percent support, followed by Anies' 35.3 percent and Agus' 19.4 percent. Ahok is certain to clinch the most votes on Wednesday but he may be unable to secure 50 percent, making a run-off more than likely, Achmad Sukarsono, Indonesia analyst at Eurasia, said in a recent note. But it's not clear who can challenge Ahok in the run-off, Sukarsono continued. "Both Yudhoyono and Baswedan are American-educated, moderate Muslims who have little choice but to ride the wave of Islamic populism to compete with Ahok."

Consequences
Fed Chair Janet Yellen rebutted President Donald Trump's claims that banks aren't lending, saying that businesses can get the money they need.

During testimony before Congress, the central bank leader was asked if businesses have access to capital. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) asked Yellen specifically about remarks from Trump alleging that banks are not lending because of financial reforms adopted after the 2008 financial crisis.

Yellen said commercial and industrial lending specifically surged after the crisis, rising 75 percent since 2010, the year the Dodd-Frank law passed.

"They're lending," Yellen said in response to an earlier question from Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat. "Their price-to-book ratios are substantially higher than the ratio of banks headquartered in other areas, and they're gaining market share, and they remain quite profitable."

Trump has targeted Dodd-Frank reforms as part of his quest to roll back regulations. The regulations were designed to prevent a recurrence of the 2008 financial crisis.

While he has been critical of big Wall Street institutions, he recently said that banks in general are not lending, which is hindering economic growth.

"Frankly, I have so many people, friends of mine, that have nice businesses that can't borrow money," he said during a White House appearance Feb. 3. "They just can't get any money because the banks won't let them borrow because of rules and regulations in Dodd-Frank."

However, Yellen mentioned a recent survey from the National Federal of Independent Business, in which only 2 percent of respondents cited access to capital as their greatest obstacle.

"Lending has expanded overall by the banking system, and also to small businesses," she said.

Brown also asked how U.S. banks are doing compared with their global competitors.

"U.S. banks are generally considered quite strong relative to their counterparts," Yellen responded. "They've built up quite a bit of capital, partly as a results of our insistence that they do so."

Brown said he worries that weakening Dodd-Frank would be negative for a banking system at the center of the global financial crisis in 2008.

"If the rules are removed, Wall Street will almost assuredly be right back to the risky and reckless behavior right before you took this job, back before the crisis," he said.
A double decker bus featuring an advertisement for Mattel's Barbie product turns onto the Bund in Shanghai, China, on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017.

Shares of Mattel rose slightly Tuesday after the toy manufacturer announced a new partnership with Alibaba .



The stock closed at $25.69, having given up most of the 3 percent gain it recorded before the market opened.

Mattel, whose brands include Barbie, Hot Wheels and Fisher-Price, will sell its products to Chinese consumers via Alibaba's marketplace Tmall.com starting in the middle of the year. The companies will begin product development immediately.

"By combining Mattel's unmatched expertise in childhood learning and development, with Alibaba's immense reach and unique consumer insights, our goal is to help parents in China raise children to be their personal best," Mattel CEO Margo Georgiadis said in a statement.

Despite Tuesday's lift, Mattel's stock is down more than 7 percent year-to-date. Last month, the toymaker reported earnings per share of 52 cents, well short of the 71 cents expected by Thomson Reuters. Revenue for the quarter tumbled 8 percent to $1.83 billion.

Mattel named Georgiadis CEO last month, as it attempts a turnaround.

Correction: This story has been updated with the correct spelling of Thomson Reuters.
Michael Flynn was among the harshest critics of Hillary Clinton's private email server during the presidential campaign. So it is hardly surprising that the former Democratic contender exacted a smidgen of wry revenge Tuesday after Flynn resigned as President Donald Trump's national security adviser.

The retired Army lieutenant general stepped down hours after it emerged the Justice Department had warned the White House it believed he could be subject to blackmail.

In his resignation letter, Flynn said the "fast pace of events" meant he provided "incomplete information" to Vice President Mike Pence and others about phone calls last year in which he discussed American sanctions with Russia's ambassador in Washington.

Flynn was a vocal critic of Clinton's private email server during the race, even joining the crowd's chant of "lock her up" at the Republican National Convention.

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He also tweeted "U decide," alongside a link to fake-news story linking Clinton with money laundering and sex crimes with children.

His son, Michael G. Flynn, circulated another fake-news story tying the Clinton campaign to the so-called Pizzagate conspiracy theory, alleging in December that she had used the Comet Ping Pong pizzeria in Washington, D.C. to run a child sex-trafficking operation.

Clinton referenced all this in a wry message early Tuesday, in which she retweeted a joke by Philippe Reines, who worked for Clinton in both the Senate and State Department.

@HillaryClinton: Philippe's got his own way of saying things, but he has a point about the real consequences of fake news...

Reines played the part of Trump during the Clinton team's mock debates in the campaign.

U.S. officials have told NBC News that the FBI and CIA agree that Russia tried to meddle in the election to help Trump win. Flynn's critics, meanwhile, have worried that he was too close to Moscow.

Flynn does have supporters, however, with some Russian lawmakers coming to his defense Tuesday.
There is a growing threat of cyberattacks from nation-states, and Microsoft wants the tech industry to be at the forefront of protecting the world from hacking and other digital crime.

Microsoft president and chief legal officer Brad Smith on Tuesday called on governments and technology companies to vow to protect citizens against cybercrime.

"Even in an age of rising nationalism, we as a global technology sector need to become a trusted and neutral digital Switzerland," Smith said at the RSA Conference 2017 in San Francisco.

"Let's go forward and show the world that it needs us to be what we can be when we're at our best: an industry that can serve the world," Smith said. "An industry that earns everyone's trust every day. An industry that even in an age of nationalism is a neutral digital Switzerland on which everyone can depend and rely."

In a blog post on the Microsoft website, Smith elaborated on what he meant, writing: "We will assist and protect customers everywhere. We will not aid in attacking customers anywhere."

He also said firms should urge governments to sign a "digital Geneva convention" to agree not to hack citizens and to protect them online. He also pointed out the need for an independent organization that works with public and private companies to investigate nation-state cyberattacks.

In the blog post, Smith wrote that 74 percent of the world's businesses expect to be hacked each year, and that the cost of cybercrime will reach an estimated $3 trillion by 2020.
The U.S. is lagging behind the rest of the world in its digital strategy and is set to miss out on a $19 trillion opportunity if the new U.S. administration does not take heed, according to the executive chairman of CISCO .

As the "only country in the world" without a digital agenda, John Chambers told CNBC that it is up to President Donald Trump to implement a digital agenda which can take advantage of the "tremendous opportunity" for business growth and job creation which is already being embraced by other countries, particularly in the Middle East.



Chambers countered wider skepticism about digitization and its resultant job cuts, saying that the new President must embrace technology to be in with a chance of creating the levels of new jobs promised during his campaigning.

"This digitization is going to take place; you have to deal with the world the way it is," he said, touching on President Trump's anti-globalization campaign rhetoric.

This needs to be a joint collaboration between the public and private sectors, he said, speaking at the World Government Summit in Dubai. Ultimately, however, this needs to start with start-ups and small businesses  "that's where all the job creation will occur."

"I'm optimistic that if our country in the U.S. starts to lead we can do this in a way that's very inclusive for all job growth.

"If you're trying to grow jobs by 25 million in the U.S. over this next decade - or even faster  it has to start with small businesses and start-ups."
Morgan Stanley told investors Under Armour shares are now fairly valued after its recent plunge. The firm upgraded the company to equal-weight from underweight. Under Armour shares are down 27 percent year-to-date, with most of the decline occurring after the company gave weaker-than-expected 2017 sales guidance on its Jan. 31 fourth-quarter earnings report. The shares are also down 46 percent in the previous 12 months. "The stock now discounts more reasonable long-term assumptions.  While we see some execution risk near-term and a wide risk/reward, our view is this outlook is much more realistic than before," analyst Jay Sole wrote in a note to clients Tuesday. "We believe the Under Armour brand has sustained some damage, but overall remains solid.  We think the stock can hold its current level." Sole lowered his Under Amour price target to $20 from $25, representing 6 percent downside from Monday's close. The analyst said his 2017 estimates are no longer lower than the Wall Street consensus. He forecasts the company will generate 42 cents in earnings per share this year, which matches the Street average. Under Armour is trading at a pricey 50.5 times forward price-to-earnings multiple. However, Sole said paying a high P/E on a "depressed EPS is fair." "We don't think UA's issues are that extreme. UA is still a good brand and should be capable of earning an 11% margin as long as the SG & A [selling, general and administrative] investment is contained," he wrote.  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this story.

Kevin Plank, founder and chief executive officer of Under Armour Inc., speaks during the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., on Friday, Jan. 6, 2017. Patrick T. Fallon | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Four new Nokia phones will be unveiled at industry conference Mobile World Congress, VentureBeat reported, citing a source briefed on the company's plans. One of them will be a revamped version of Nokia's iconic phone, the 3310, which was originally released in 2000. The new version is expected to cost 59 euros (U.S. $62.32).

Nokia handset manufacturer HMD Global Oy is expected to announce the Nokia 5 and Nokia 3, two lower-priced models, the source told VentureBeat. In January, the Finland-based manufacturer launched the Nokia 6 in China, but has not released it in other markets.

The Nokia 3 is expected to retail at 149 euros (U.S. $157.40), VentureBeat reported. The tech media company said the Nokia 5 and the Nokia 6 will go for 199 euros (U.S. $210.21) and 249 euros (U.S. $263.03), respectively.

The conference will take place in Barcelona from Feb. 26 to Mar. 2.

Read the full report on VentureBeat.
There will be no tax reform package if a border adjustment tax is not included, Rep. Devin Nunes, a member of the Ways and Means Committee, told CNBC on Tuesday.



"I don't know any other way to do it. We've long looked at this. We've had exhaustive hearing after hearing after hearing for eight years," the California Republican said in an interview with "Power Lunch."

"The only way we can get our tax code into the 21st century and make America the most competitive place on the planet is to move to a full consumption-based system," added Nunes, who said he was speaking for himself and not his fellow Republicans.

The controversial measure is part of the GOP's overall tax plan and would tax imports and exempt exports.

On Wednesday, the chief executives of several retailers, including Target and Best Buy , are heading to Washington to make their case against the tax. They believe it would raise consumer prices and hurt their businesses.



Nunes pointed out that it is not a new tax. Instead, lawmakers want to scrap the existing tax code and move to a consumption-based system, he said.

"All the plan says is that everyone is going to be on the same playing field and anything that's consumed in the country is going to pay the same amount of tax."

When asked if he believed President Donald Trump would be willing to give up tax reform if the border adjustment tax wasn't included, Nunes replied, "I'm always open to new suggestions."

 Reuters contributed to this report.
Experts say a North Korean ballistic missile test conducted over the weekend was likely not the first test of an intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, capable of threatening North America  a test North Korean media has said could come at any time. But Sunday morning's test launch, which came as U.S. President Donald J. Trump hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Palm Beach, Florida, marks a significant step forward for North Korea's ballistic missile program, including the reported use of more modern solid-fueled rocket engines that could make North Korean nuclear-capable rockets more difficult to track and target on the ground. The test, as well as Trump's muted response to the provocation, are likely the first moves in a longer game of brinkmanship that will play out over the next several months between the new U.S. president and a North Korea reportedly very close to rounding out its missile arsenal with a long-range ICBM.

This photo taken on February 12, 2017 and released on February 13 by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) surrounded by soldiers of the Korean People's Army as he inspects the test-launch of a surface-to-surface medium long-range ballistic missile Pukguksong-2 at an undisclosed location. STR | AFP | Getty Images

The missile launched Sunday morning  a so-called Pukguksong-2  appears to have been an upgraded, extended-range version of a submarine-launched ballistic missile first tested successfully last year. Though the missile made a high arc before splashing down in international waters after traveling some 310 miles, some analysts place the likely maximum range of the missile at 1,870 miles (others estimate a shorter range of just 750 miles). While such a missile falls far short of the range of the ICBM North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to develop, the new nuclear-capable missile could certainly threaten American regional allies like South Korea and Japan, as well as the roughly 80,000 U.S. troops stationed there. Moreover, the test demonstrated key technology pieces that place an ICBM within North Korea's reach, said Tom Karako, a senior fellow with the International Security Program and the director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

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"I think that this particular test, while falling short of an ICBM demonstration, ought be seen as a technological advance," Karako said. Unlike a liquid-fueled rocket that must be fueled on the launch pad, solid fueled rockets can be moved with the fuel already loaded, reducing launch preparation times and allowing them to launch quickly from mobile launch units.

(Source: Kensho.com, returns for Japanese, Asian ex-Japan and US stocks one day after ballistic missile tests by North Korea dating back to 1998.)



"If North Korea is getting solid rocket motors right, then that really is a potential step function to making it harder for the United States to target these things on the ground, because they're more mobile," he said. "Moreover if they can get the motors right, and they stack them and configure them with other motors in a multi-stage configuration, you may already have the pieces of an ICBM laying on the ground, even if they've not been tested altogether yet."

Responding to the missile test, Trump and Prime Minister Abe issued a joint statement in which Abe called the launch "absolutely intolerable." Trump, not generally known for verbal restraint, made no direct reference to the launch at all but rather pledged "100 percent" support for Japan, calling it a "great ally."

More from Global Investing Hot Spots:

Money is pouring out of China, and the government can't stop it

No. 1 threat to the Trump presidency may be North Korea's nuclear plans

The dangerous tie between North Korea and Iran

The tenor of Trump's remarks varied somewhat from his response to a fiery New Year's Day address by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in which he suggested the country was nearing a test of a very-long-range ICBM. Trump responded via Twitter the following day, declaring "It won't happen!" Trump's more muted response may reflect an acknowledgment by U.S. officials that while North Korea likely has a long way to go in proving the viability of both its proposed ICBM and its nuclear warheads, the country has in recent years made significant strides in both nuclear and ballistic missile technology. North Korea has now conducted five nuclear tests (including two last year) and ramped up the tempo of its missile testing, launching several missiles  many thought to be intermediate-range Musudan missiles  in 2016.

It's a real threat, it's a growing threat, but it's one that we can and should continue to outpace. Tom Karako a senior fellow with the International Security Program and the director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies

Sunday's test marked the first of Trump's presidency, marking a serious foreign policy challenge for the young presidency and one for which there are few good options for response, experts say. Direct military response to such provocations risks larger regional conflict. Several administrations have urged China to put pressure on North Korea to rein in its missile tests, to no avail (the U.S. president's repeated drumming on China over trade issues and conflicting interests in the South China Sea likely won't make Beijing more receptive to any overtures from Trump). Direct negotiations between U.S. and Pyongyang are equally unlikely to bear fruit. Aside from the fact that deal-making might be seen as rewarding North Korea for violating U.N. resolutions pertaining to the missile launches, Kim is unlikely to walk back a program that is both central to his power at home and close to achieving its ultimate aim. "The hardest thing to get the North Koreans to trade away were always the capabilities they already had," said Dr. Jeffrey Lewis, director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterrey in California. "They were often willing to not do things. But getting them to give something up that they've already done tends to be much harder. These things went from potential bargaining chips to real capabilities that they don't want to give up."

Regional game-changer

A North Korean ICBM launch sometime in the near future  a prospect heightened by Sunday's Pukguksong-2 launch  could force some changes in posture by the U.S. and its allies that would likely ripple across the region, in turn heightening tensions with China. "There's no single consequence, it's a multitude of consequences," said Joe Bermudez, chief analytic officer of AllSource Analysis, and a contributor to 38 North, an online resource that tracks North Korean affairs. "It's unknown at this point in time how it will impact relations with the U.S. in the region." A further uptick in North Korea's missile testing tempo, and especially of the test of an ICBM, would likely result in an accelerated deployment of the U.S. military's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, an anti-missile intercept system also known as THAAD. Though not designed to intercept ICBMs, the missile battery can intercept short, medium, and intermediate range missiles. Seoul and Washington have agreed to deploy the system in South Korea later this year much to the consternation of China, which worries THAAD's powerful radar could also be used to peer into Chinese territory. Any increased deployment of THAAD  to Japan, for instance  would further exacerbate the issue.
Paul Ryan said Tuesday that Michael Flynn's abrupt resignation was the "right decision."

But the Republican House speaker did not give more details about the White House's knowledge of the former national security advisor's dealings with Russia before he stepped down.

"I think the president made the right decision to ask for his resignation. ... I'll leave it up to the administration to describe the circumstances," Ryan told reporters.

"As soon as they realized they were being misled by the national security advisor, they asked for his resignation."

Flynn left the post on Monday night following revelations that he misled Vice President Mike Pence and other top White House officials about his contacts with Sergey Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to the United States, before President Donald Trump's inauguration.

Reports have raised questions surrounding what White House officials knew about Flynn's conversations and when. A senior official confirmed to NBC News part of a Washington Post report that then-acting Attorney General Sally Yates told the White House last month that Flynn could be vulnerable to Russian blackmail.

In his resignation letter circulated by the White House on Monday night, Flynn did not explicitly say that he had been asked to step down.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Flynn told Pence he did not discuss sanctions against Russia with Russian officials in the weeks leading up to Trump's inauguration. Pence then defended him in TV interviews.

"Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador. I have sincerely apologized to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology," Flynn wrote in his resignation letter.

Still, Democrats have called for more information on the events leading to Flynn's resignation. It comes amid wider congressional probes into the U.S. intelligence community's accusations that Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. election.

Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Vice Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va., said Tuesday that reports about Yates' warning to the White House "raise troubling questions."

"Nothing about this resignation, or resignations that could occur in the future, precludes the Senate Intelligence Committee from continuing to investigate Gen. Flynn, or any other campaign official who may have had inappropriate or improper contacts with Russian officials prior to the election," Warner said in a statement.

House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, suggested he may not probe the circumstances around Flynn's actions further. He told reporters "that situation is taking care of itself."
Here are some of the key stories CNBC is following this hour:

North Korea rejected the UN Security Council's statement on its missile launch this weekend, declaring that all of its tests were defensive in nature and designed to protect its people.



The Iraqi army has begun deploying its units to the western side of the Tigris River in preparation for a renewed assault on Mosul. The eastern side of the city has already been taken from ISIS.



Ivanka Trump's clothing line will not go on sale in Japan next month as expected due to an incomplete licensing agreement with a Japanese apparel company. The company says it has nothing to do with American retailers dropping her line.
Russia has secretly deployed a missile that American officials argue violates a key arms treaty, presenting a new foreign policy test for President Donald Trump, The New York Times reported Tuesday, citing administration officials.



The development would pose another diplomatic challenge for the president in the early days of his administration. Trump has pledged to improve relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The report comes only hours after a key foreign policy official, National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, resigned following revelations that he misled Vice President Mike Pence about his contact with Russian officials. Some lawmakers have called for a deeper investigation into Flynn's ties with Moscow.
While couples are busy celebrating their love on Valentine's Day by buying flowers, chocolates and more, there are a few countries that have banned the celebration since it is not part of Muslim tradition. Pakistan is the latest country to ban Valentine's Day celebrations in public spaces after the country's High Court passed a ruling, saying it was against Islamic teachings, according to local media reports. Local newspaper Dawn reported that print and electronic media have also been warned to "stop all Valentine's Day promotions immediately." Meanwhile, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has been ordered to monitor all mediums and send out notifications banning any related promotions.

In a poll conducted by Dawn on its website, more than 80 percent readers agreed with Islamabad High Court's ruling to ban the celebrations. The ruling came after a petition was submitted by citizen Abdul Waheed, who said any kind of promotions on mainstream and social media for Valentine's Day ae "against Islamic teachings and should be banned immediately," the Dawn reported.

It further called for a ban on celebration of this day in public places, arguing that in cover of spread of love in fact, immorality, nudity and indecency is being promoted which is against the Islamic culture. Pakistan, however, is not the only country that has banned its people from celebrating Valentine's Day. Officials and clerics in Indonesia have banned and rejected the idea of Valentine's Day saying they it is not part of Islamic culture.

Local media reports suggest a number of rallies were held across the country to make young people aware that Valentine's Day is a western-concept. Protestors holding boards saying "Muslims say no to Happy Valentine's Day" held rallies in four cities in Indonesia. The ban was declared by the country's highest Islamic clerical council in 2012 saying it was contradictory to Muslim culture and teachings. In the past, a number of Muslim-majority countries have imposed bans on Valentine's Day. In Malaysia, the National Muslim Youth Association released a document a day before Valentine's Day advising Muslim women against using emoticons in text messages, simplify conversation when private messaging and avoid wearing fragrance. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia too has joined the list of countries that have banned celebrating Valentine's Day. In the past, those wanting to celebrate found themselves buying roses from the black market for skyrocketing prices.
Dr. Gehad Masri and his son Marwan plan to come to the U.S. through the EB-5 investor program

Dr. Gehad Masri wanted to help his eldest son fulfill the dream of becoming a doctor, just like him  and he was willing to spend half a million dollars to do it.

Masri applied for a popular U.S. employment program known as EB-5. It offers citizenship to foreigners in return for at least a $500,000 investment in a development or business that creates at least 10 jobs.

Masri paid the money, was accepted to the program, but is now on hold due to President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning travel from seven mostly Muslim countries.

Masri has lived in Dubai for 20 years, but he, his wife and their three teenage children all have passports from Syria, one of the seven countries. Masri's son, Marwan, is a straight-A student and has already been accepted to two American universities. He was supposed to go on a school-sponsored trip to Boston to look at more colleges, but the trip was canceled when the executive order was signed.

"So we have fully planned and now really we are confused. We don't know what to do or what will happen next," Masri said in an interview from Dubai. "My son wants to be a good doctor, to add something to society, to help. It is his dream to do that, and I was helping him to do this dream by getting this green card and move the family there."

Masri is just one of dozens of applicants to the program whose future is uncertain. While the ban was deemed illegal by U.S. courts and is currently lifted, but the Trump administration has signaled that it is rewriting the order. Masri has no idea if he can get his money back if a new ban denies his visa.

"It's caused a lot of instability in the market, right, so a lot of people are very concerned about what is going to happen next in U.S. immigration, is it going to affect me? What is the next thing that he's going to put in place?" said Preeya Malik, an attorney who with her partner Shai Zamanian, work with Middle Eastern investors who want to apply for the program.

While the vast majority of EB-5 applicants are from China, Dubai is a popular hub for Middle Eastern investors in the program. The problem is that most residents of Dubai hold passports from other countries.

"Dubai is very popular for EB-5 because it's actually a culmination of many different people from many different nationalities," said Zamanian. "There is a lot of insecurity in understanding the current administration and their ability to rewrite executive orders so that perhaps it is more narrowly tailored."

Approvals for the EB-5 program jumped 65 percent from 2015 to 2016, according to the USCIS, the government agency that handles EB-5 applications. There are still more than 6,000 pending. The process can take up to a year and a half.

Since 2012, the EB-5 program has reportedly brought in an estimated $8.7 billion and created more than 35,000 jobs according to USCIS. Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, used $50 million in EB-5 funding to develop a rental apartment complex in New Jersey named Trump Plaza. Most of the investors were Chinese.
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The U.S. energy industry's core argument against an anti-corruption rule struck down by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans does not hold water, supporters of the regulation say. Earlier this month, Republican lawmakers invoked the rarely used Congressional Review Act to kill the rule, which was created by an amendment to the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial regulations. On Tuesday, Trump signed the measure. It was the first time Trump approved a measure taken by congressional Republicans under the CRA to kill an Obama-era regulation. The rule, which was originally introduced by former Sen. Richard Lugar, a Republican, and Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin, requires oil, gas and mining companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges to disclose how much they pay to foreign governments.

The idea that American firms would be at a competitive disadvantage has certainly been undercut if 80 percent of the largest firms in the world are making a report. Richard Lugar president and chairman, the Lugar Center

The goal is to prevent foreign leaders from skimming off the payments that drillers and miners make to their countries. Such corruption, which enriches the politically connected but deprives regular people of their country's mineral wealth, is known as the "resource curse." "I believe that the effect would have been to rein in a good bit of the corruption, simply because there would have been public information and therefore debate within the various countries," said Lugar, who is now president of think tank the Lugar Center. Congress scrapped the rule, but not the Cardin-Lugar Amendment itself. That means the SEC will have to come up with a new disclosure rule. The American Petroleum Institute, the chief U.S. energy lobbying organization, and its Republican allies say the rule puts U.S. companies at a disadvantage, because their foreign competitors are not subject to the requirements. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed last month, House Leader Kevin McCarthy said the rule "adds an unreasonable compliance burden on American energy companies that isn't applied to their foreign competitors." But that's largely false. Major European drillers like BP , Total and Royal Dutch Shell , as well as Canadian firms and Russian oil and gas giants Rosneft and Gazprom, must report what they pay to foreign governments, Cardin and Lugar said in an op-ed. The U.S. rules would force some Chinese and Brazilian firms to do so, as well, they said.

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In praising Republicans for killing the rule, the American Petroleum Institute said it "is inconsistent with other major international reporting regimes, like the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and the European Union's disclosure rules."

That is not the view of the SEC. In making the rule, the SEC said European and Canadian regulations are "substantially similar." In fact, the commission said a company that satisfies the conditions of the EU, Canadian, or EITI rules will satisfy the requirements of the U.S. regulation. The EITI is a voluntary reporting system that the industry generally supports. The SEC's rule would have put some additional requirements on companies that report through EITI. Asked for comment, McCarthy's office insisted that the disclosure rule causes "immense reporting efforts that foreign competitors do not have to adhere to" and that it forces companies to share proprietary information. In a letter to the acting SEC chairman this month, six Senate Republicans said U.S. companies would be required to disclose payments to foreign governments even when the laws of that country forbid such disclosures. They said that could force U.S. companies to stop doing business in those markets, leaving them wide open to foreign competitors.

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During the SEC comment period, no one produced evidence that any country prohibits these disclosures, according to Publish What You Pay, a group that advocates for greater transparency in the energy industry. Foreign oil companies already disclosing payments have not suffered repercussions, it added. "Nonetheless, the Cardin-Lugar provision contains safeguards to ensure that companies that face a legitimate problem can apply for an exemption from disclosure on a case by case basis," Publish What You Pay said in a fact sheet. To be sure, drillers and miners that are not listed on U.S., European or Canadian exchanges are not subject to disclosure rules. But 84 of the world's biggest 100 oil and gas companies were listed or cross-listed on U.S., European or Canadian exchanges, according to research submitted to the SEC by Publish What You Pay. "The idea that American firms would be at a competitive disadvantage has certainly been undercut if 80 percent of the largest firms in the world are making a report," Lugar said. Fifty-eight of the top 100 miners were listed on an exchange with transparency rules. Companies are already required to track payments  but not report them  under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. For that reason, it would not be burdensome for them to make that information public, transparency advocates say.

More trouble for drillers and miners?

Overturning the rule could actually make things more difficult for energy companies listed on both U.S. and foreign exchanges, said Zorka Milin, senior legal adviser for Global Witness, an anti-corruption and environmental group. Under the Congressional Review Act, a new rule cannot be substantially similar to the original one. Since the first disclosure rule was "substantially similar" to European and Canadian regulations, it will be difficult to create a new rule that dovetails with those foreign regulations and meets the requirements of the Congressional Review Act. That would likely lead to the creation of two different rules with which dually listed companies would need to comply, Milin said. That assumes Republican lawmakers will not scrap the Cardin-Lugar Amendment altogether. There is some evidence they will not. The six Senate Republicans who signed the letter to the acting SEC chairman acknowledged that the SEC would have to create a new rule. Further, they said they "are open to supporting legislative or other solutions that might be appropriate to address any issues that might be posed by the Congressional Review Act's restrictions on the similarities between the SEC's new rule and this now disapproved rule." Asked what hope he has of the rule surviving, Lugar said, "I'm always hopeful, but I'm certainly startled that repeal of the Cardin-Lugar Amendment would be such a priority for the Congress now."


President Donald Trump and GOP leaders on Capitol Hill should aim to get as much support as possible from Democrats for their tax reform plan, but that's going to be difficult in this environment, said Robert Kimmitt, who served the three previous Republican administrations.



"When we did tax reform in the second term of the Reagan administration and put our proposal out in 1986, it was roundly criticized by everybody. And we knew, therefore, it was going pass," Kimmitt told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Tuesday. Currently a public policy advisor at the law firm WilmerHale, Kimmitt had served as general counsel to the Treasury during the Reagan administration.

House Republicans, led by Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady and Speaker Paul Ryan, have crafted a broad tax overhaul package, including a reduction in corporate taxes.

Trump generally supports the idea of tax reform and campaigned on similar principles, but the White House has made no firm commitments on how to get it done.

One aspect of the GOP plan includes a border tax, a political lightning rod, which has been roundly criticized by companies that rely heavily on imports, such as retailers.

"In '85 [and] '86, we did tax reform. We did that largely behind the scenes and then put it out," Kimmitt said. "They are going to be doing it [now] in a more open fashion. In this political environment, that will be tougher."

Among his other government positions, Kimmitt had served as deputy Treasury secretary under President George W. Bush and as U.S. ambassador to Germany under President George H.W. Bush.
In President Donald Trump's first face-to-face meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Washington, a senior source inside the discussions told CNBC that Trump asked many questions about Canada's immigration system, which is based on points.



Canada assesses immigrants on six selection factors, including fluency, education, experience and age, and then assigns a point value for each variable.



At the meeting Monday, Trump asked questions about the point system's effectiveness and implementation, according to the source, who requested anonymity because the information is not yet public.



The White House did not respond to a request for comment.



Just last week, a federal appeals court in San Francisco upheld a lower court ruling blocking Trump's executive order banning travel to the U.S. from seven majority-Muslim countries. People with valid U.S. green cards and visas were also affected.



In the meantime, the executive order continues to suspend a global refugee program that accepted Syrian asylum seekers, among others, into the U.S.



The order made many people "very frightened," said Deborah Notkin, a senior partner at immigration law firm Barst Mukamal & Kleiner. "This year, something has happened that I've never seen before. A number of employers say they want to go ahead [to help the employee stay in the U.S.] but the person doesn't want to stay here. They don't want to commit to an H-1B visa; and they're not people from the Middle East either."



In contrast, Canada has accepted close to 40,000 Syrian refugees over the past 18 months and offered temporary residence to those who were left stranded by Trump's recent travel ban.



The two leaders' glaring differences in approach stayed largely muted during their brief visit Monday.



Trump affirmed his belief that the U.S. "cannot let the wrong people in," while Trudeau avoided a possible confrontation, saying that he will not "lecture" Trump on his controversial policies.



The president has suggested that he might introduce another executive order to restrict travel while the original works its way through the courts. By questioning the Trudeau administration about Canada's points system, Trump seems to be feeling out other options.



"I do think the points system works, and it's not going to be 100 percent foolproof," said David Crawford, managing partner at global immigration law firm Fragomen in Toronto. "You have to make sure that new immigrants succeed. If they have the skills, language to get by in the country then their chances of succeeding increases and everybody wins."



Still, the U.S. and Canada differ in many ways; more than 320 million people live in the United States and only 35 million reside in Canada. That means Canada probably needs immigration more than the U.S. does.



"I'm against the points system," argues Notkin. "To change our system that way would not address our needs. We are STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) hungry and if we create this anti-immigrant atmosphere we're going to lose these people."
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While the nation's unemployment rate declines, the jobless trend for America's youngest veterans is climbing, jumping to 6.3 percent in January from 4.4 percent in September. "We still see around half a million veterans that are unemployed right now, and over a million veterans that are underemployed," said Brian Stann, CEO of Hire Heroes USA. Economist note that the jobless rate for post-9/11 vets is volatile, and the small sample size leaves it open to inaccuracy. But even looking at the trend over a three-month period, the scenario looks tough for young vets. One reason, according to Stann: "They get out of the military and they're competing against their peer group that just graduated college. And a lot of companies do not equate four years of military service to four years at a university or state institution."

And it can be a huge challenge to transition from a regimented, follow-orders environment to the civilian world where self-starters succeed.

People cheer veterans in the Veterans Day Parade in New York City last year. Getty Images

Leaving the Army behind

Brandon Smith left the Army in 2015. After a restaurant hosting job and a brief stint with UPS , he enrolled full-time in Syracuse University's Institute for Veterans and Military Families, the first-in-the-nation cross-disciplinary institute to focus on veterans.

"I think a lot of the soldiers that go in the military don't have entirely what they need to tackle the workforce in the first place," Smith said. "I went in the military because I couldn't find the job I wanted, or I couldn't get the opportunity I wanted." To complicate matters, President Donald Trump's federal hiring freeze may hit veterans hardest. It's a primary source of civilian employment post-service because of its preferential hiring practices toward veterans. A third of federal workers are veterans.

Companies that value the leadership and experience earned in the armed forces are working to make sure veterans have that same kind of training going into the civilian world. JPMorgan Chase committed $22 million to fund Syracuse's Institute for Veterans, and within its company has dedicated a team to recruit, acclimate and retain veterans. The bank has hired 11,000 veterans in the past five years.

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz also pledged $20 million to the endeavor through his family foundation. The coffee chain has hired 8,800 veterans and military spouses, and that number is slated to increase to 10,000 by next year. But experts suggest that many employers have allowed their vigilance to lag when it comes to hiring vets. As U.S. forces withdraw from overseas conflicts, news coverage of military matters has softened, allowing national attention to lapse. Hollywood has also shifted its focus away from broader military themes, with movies and television shows honing in on extremes, portraying veterans who are either heroes or victims suffering from PTSD, addiction or suicidal tendencies.

"A lot of people put me into a box, which is what a lot of veterans face when they go into the civilian world," said J.R. Martinez, one of the best-known veterans of the second Gulf War. "Once I started to deal with this feedback of people rejecting me, I then started to have to deal with the mental and emotional  then I became angry, developed resentment.  I'd earned the right for people to give me a shot, to give me a chance."

J.R. Martinez speaks on stage at Hollywood Bridging The Military Civilian Divide at Paramount Pictures on February 9, 2017 in Los Angeles. Getty Images

A different perspective

Martinez got his chance when he landed a role on ABC's daytime drama "All My Children" and then went on to win "Dancing with the Stars," helping America see beyond his scars and disfigurement. "If we let that narrative be simply about victims or heroes, I think we've missed an opportunity," said Mike Haynie, executive director of the Syracuse's institute. "Most veterans are somewhere in the middle of those two extremes." At a panel sponsored by the institute about Hollywood's influence on America's perception, David Gale, formerly of MTV and now the co-founder of a veterans-focused production company We Are the Mighty, said, "We need more volume. We need more stories. We need to be able to show veterans in the complexities that everyday people are." CBS' "NCIS" employs more than 100 veterans on the show's roster of 250, and Scott Williams, a writer and executive producer of the show, says the vets fully inform the stories "NCIS" produces. That means writing storylines with complex, multilayered individuals with leadership, experience and problem-solving know-how. With some 200,000 servicemen and women leaving the military every year, highlighting that perception could make all the difference. "It's more competitive to stay in," said Zachary Watson, who left the Marines in the fall. "So, now a lot of people are realizing, 'OK, I can't stay in here. I've got to get a job or something.'" Watson is taking advantage of the GI bill, enrolled as a full-time student. He believes a college degree will help him launch a successful career in TV or film but thinks his military experience would be the most valuable to future employers. "At 22 years old, I was in charge of an entire crew, and I was responsible for being part of the whole organization and unit that was repairing helicopters that are [worth] millions of dollars. How many 22-year-olds are in charge of stuff like that?"

Experts urge companies to consider adapting their approach to recruiting veterans  anticipating unique needs for acclimation and retention  in a similar way that they've had to change their approach for hiring millennials. Veterans say those in the armed forces need to prepare themselves for the civilian world six to nine months before leaving the military, taking advantage of the tools available to them through the military, the Veterans Administration and support groups.

Martinez, who is taking a break from acting to study psychology full time at Fordham said, "As much as we're talking about hiring veterans and giving them an opportunity, we hope people don't translate that to just saying, 'Just hire us on the spot because we're veterans and because of what we've done for this country.' We want to be in the conversation. Give us a chance to sell ourselves to you, and to prove to you that we can, and we will!" CNBC's Michael Newberg contributed to this report.
U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May has formally rejected a petition urging the British government to cancel a planned state visit by U.S. President Donald Trump.



Almost two million people signed the petition entitled "Prevent Donald Trump from making a State Visit to the United Kingdom". The creators of the petition argued it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty The Queen.



"HM Government believes the President of the United States should be extended the full courtesy of a State Visit. We look forward to welcoming President Trump once dates and arrangements are finalized," the British government said in a statement on Tuesday.



"This invitation reflects the importance of the relationship between the United States of America and the United Kingdom. At this stage, final dates have not yet been agreed for the State Visit," the statement added.



The popularity of the vote means a parliamentary debate on whether Trump should be prevented from visiting the U.K. is due to be held on Monday 20 February.



It is usual for visiting U.S. Presidents to address members of parliament as part of their state visit, however, House of Commons speaker John Bercow announced he intended to block Trump from fulfilling this practice.



Bercow claimed the U.K. parliament was strongly opposed to "racism and to sexism" and therefore Trump would not be welcome to speak in the House of Commons.



"An address by a foreign leader to both houses of parliament is not an automatic right; it is an earned honor," Bercow said on February 6.



Reuters reported Trump's state visit to the U.K. could take place around June, citing the outgoing chief of London's Metropolitan police.
The AIA said it is the fifth consecutive year of record gains and generated a trade positive balance of $90.3 billion, the largest surplus of any U.S. industry.

The U.S. aerospace and defense industry has set a new record for international sales in 2016, delivering $146 billion in exports, according to the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA).

The bulletin, released Monday, said the largest sales growth in American aerospace and defense came from the Middle East with a 22.3 percent rise and Europe which logged a 13.6 percent increase.

By total value of sales, Europe and the Asia-Pacific were the biggest buyers over 2016.

"In 2016, Europe edged-out the Asia-Pacific region as the industry's largest export destination, posting $49.9 billion in U.S. exports, compared to the Asia-Pacific's $49.5 billion," read the report.

Civil aerospace exports accounted for 85% of total A&D exports from the United States in 2016, while the defense sector accounted for the remaining 15%.

The AIA warned that under the headline figure, there were signs of a slowdown.

"Despite posting new records, A&D export gains continued to level off in 2016 as a result of lower export volumes from the industry's civil aerospace sector," the quarterly bulletin read.

Exports of civil aerospace products including aircraft, engines and parts totaled $123.7 billion  a 1.6% year-on-year increase over 2015 but lower than the gains seen for the two previous years.



The AIA based its findings on data harvested from the International Trade Commission and the U.S. Census Bureau.


The White House acknowledged on Tuesday that President Donald Trump asked Michael Flynn to resign as national security advisor because of his handling of his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the United States.

The president simply lost trust in Flynn but does not believe he broke the law, press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters.



The "eroding trust in this situation led the president to ask for General Flynn's resignation," Spicer said at a White House briefing.

Flynn stepped down Monday night following revelations that he misled Vice President Mike Pence and other top White House officials about his dealings with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Reports Monday raised questions about what the White House knew and when. A senior official confirmed to NBC News part of a Washington Post report that then-acting Attorney General Sally Yates told the White House last month that Flynn could be vulnerable to Russian blackmail because the contacts in question were before Trump's inauguration.

Flynn told Pence he did not discuss sanctions against Russia with Russian officials in the weeks leading up to the Jan. 20 inauguration. Pence then defended him in TV interviews.

Yates informed the White House that Flynn may have made contradictory statements on Jan. 26, and Trump was "immediately informed of the situation," Spicer said. He asserted that Trump "absolutely" did not instruct Flynn to discuss sanctions with the ambassador, but said he did not have a problem with him talking to foreign officials as part of his responsibilities.

Spicer said White House Counsel Donald McGahn conducted a "thorough" review of Flynn's behavior and determined it was "not a legal issue but a trust issue." He did not say what specific evidence McGahn reviewed to come to that conclusion.

"The key point in this is not that there were discussions. ... It came down to a matter of trust, that's it," Spicer said.

Some critics have questioned whether Flynn, if he talked about sanctions before Trump took office, broke a law barring unauthorized people from negotiating with foreign governments in disputes with the United States.

Spicer also said Trump was "unbelievably decisive" in ordering a review of Flynn's actions. Still, the White House was warned by the Justice Department about the discrepancy more than two weeks ago, according to Spicer.

He added that Trump asked for Flynn's resignation, though some reporting Monday night disputed that notion.
Unforced errors spell doom Mizzou in loss to Missouri

When Missouri beat South Carolina, the game was notable for its lack of crucial Tiger errors. Those returned with a vengeance against Kentucky.
Read more articles by Chris Meehan.

Chris is a Denver-based freelance writer , editor and communications specialist. He covers sustainability, social issues and other topics.
We must always be bold enough to acknowledge and criticise moral failures on our own side of politics. As I wrote on Monday, its shameful that some of my fellow Eurosceptics have become apologists for the tyranny of Vladimir Putin. Crow if you wish when your opponents sin (I certainly have at times), but when your own are getting something horribly wrong you have a duty to pull them up on it.

Over at The Guardian, Owen Jones has perfected the crowing part. Inspired by the resignation of Mike Flynn, the now ex-adviser to Donald Trump who has resigned after misleading the Vice-President over his discussion of sanctions with Moscow, Jones rightly highlights the hypocrisy of self-proclaimed patriots cosying up to the Kremlin. But then he goes on to make an extraordinary claim:

For much of the 20th century, the left was relentlessly smeared for supposedly being in league with Moscow, thus posing a threat to national security. Even leftists who passionately opposed the Soviet regime were portrayed as being the accomplices of Moscow. Now the national security adviser of a hard-right Republican president has resigned for actually being in league with Moscow. Flynn not only discussed lifting sanctions on Moscow  he lied about it.

A smear, of course, is something that isnt true  to read Joness account youd think the British Left was entirely free of apologism, fellow-travellerism or outright collusion with the Soviet Union, and was wrongly tarred just by virtue of being on the moderate end of the same side of the political spectrum.

That would be an interesting rewriting of history. It isnt a smear to say that chunks of the 20th Century Left were far too close to the Kremlin. Sidney and Beatrice Webb, the parents of British Fabianism, ardently denied the Ukrainian famine on the say-so of Soviet propagandists, despite the eye-witness accounts of their own family members. Jack Jones, one of the most powerful union barons of the 1970s, was later revealed by Oleg Gordievsky to be in the pay of the KGB. For years, the Morning Star was heavily subsidised by mass subscriptions on the part of Soviet institutions.

Then there were the useful idiots  the people always willing to think the worst of NATO and the best of the Warsaw Pact, and who pressed for the West to abandon its defensive alliances and nuclear deterrent in the hope that the USSR would transform into a lamb in response. They may have genuinely and innocently believed what they were saying, but they were helping the Kremlin by saying it all the same.

Throughout the Cold War there were many good people on the Left who held to what was right, and stood opposed to the Evil Empire. Indeed, the establishment of NATO and the development of Britains nuclear deterrent came about thanks to some of them, for which we should be eternally grateful. But to pretend there was no problem on the Left in terms of others who served the purposes of the Soviet Union  unwittingly, deliberately or even under direct orders from a hostile power  is to rewrite history.

Jones should have the courage to acknowledge the facts rather than wish them away. If by some odd circumstance he has forgotten that dangerous beasts like NATO-bashing useful idiots and outright Stalinists were a troubling feature of the 20th Century British Left, he need only look at todays Labour Party  Jeremy Corbyn and Seumas Milne are relics of each respective tradition.
Shaun Bailey is a member of the London Assembly.

As most will know, air quality is a very important and well publicised issue in London. A short time after his election, Sadiq Khan, the current Mayor, outlined new proposals to address Londons poor air quality. These measures include both the implementation of the Emissions Surcharge (also known as the T-Charge) and the extension of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to the North and South Circulars, bisecting 15 London boroughs in the process.

The T-charge will be a daily charge of 10 for vehicles older than ten years. On this, what Sadiq Khan is failing to tell Londoners is that, based upon Transport for Londons own figures, the new charge will cost Londoners 23 million a year in total, despite having only a negligible impact on pollution. TfLs assessment concludes the 10 daily charge for older vehicles will reduce just 1-3% of NOx (nitrogen oxide) emissions per year. The same assessment also concludes the anticipated reduction in air pollution will be low and produce no significant result.

Air quality is especially important for those with respiratory issues, and more needs to be done to tackle our bad air, but evidentially ineffective policies should never be adopted, especially if they come at great cost to ordinary commuters and businesses. Indeed, small businesses, and in fact employment as a whole, will be hard hit by the T-Charge, with businesses facing charges of 2,600 a year or having to fork out between 3,000 and 7,000 to renew the vehicles in their fleet. TfL estimates that at least 9,000 vehicles will be hit by the T-Charge every day.

Alongside the T-Charge, Sadiq Khans extension of the ULEZ is not much better. Not only will it fail to fully tackle pollution hotspots, it will penalise drivers and businesses in non-polluting areas. In contrast to this blunt approach, a targeted approach in central London saw emissions in Oxford Street fall by a third in just 12 months.

Boris Johnson original ULEZ, which focused purely on central London, is predicted to cut harmful emissions by 51 per cent. Whereas Sadiq Khans massively expanded zone will only reduce emission by a further 10 per cent: this is a poor return for a costly initiative.

A report by my colleague, Gareth Bacon, estimates that the cost of this wasteful extension stands at 780m, or 220 for every household in London. On top of this, small businesses will be hard hit by the daily charges for driving inside the North and South Circular  which TfL figures predict could total 100 million per annum. This same report suggested that this money would be better used on purchasing 2,600 hybrid buses, the greatest source of road pollution, which would mean a third of the bus fleet was either zero or low emission, in turn reducing emissions by a similar amount to Sadiq Khans proposals.

Also, as the ULEZ extension will split 15 boroughs in half, in certain parts of London it could mean a charge of 12.50 a day to simply drop your child off at school or drive to the shops.

Tackling air pollution is one of the greatest priorities for London, but policies that seek to combat this must be both affordable and effective. Unfortunately, Sadiq Khans current policies will be costly to Londoners for little effect. Londoners clearly deserve better.
Our first survey of the New Year sees a sharp overall fall in scores across the board. Whilst at the top this is simply a fall from the high 80s to the low 80s, simply comparing the shape of the chart to our end-of-year survey illustrates how much more sharply positive views taper off.

Whereas that survey had only six ministers below 45 (of whom five are still in the bottom six), this month we find only eight above that level. That this has happened whilst the Government maintains its dominant polling position against Labour suggests how irrelevant the Opposition presently are to the national debate.

However, the Cabinet do all at least continue to command positive judgements overall, even if by increasingly slender margins, which was not the case under David Cameron.

Theresa May continues to lead the pack, albeit with a slightly reduced score compared to last time out. Its worth remembering how unusual it is for the Prime Minister to top this survey: as our editor noted, the first survey after May took office was the first time it had happened. That she has regained pole position, and suffered so comparatively small a fall in support compared to her Cabinet, suggest that the Prime Minister currently enjoys the particular confidence of the grassroots.

David Davis has yielded the top spot to May, but despite a fall of about eight points he remains comfortably in second place. The Brexit Secretary appears to have avoided most of the blame for the Governments struggles with the Supreme Court (not all his colleagues were so lucky, see below), and the skillful manoeuvring of the Brexit bill through the Commons wont have hurt. It will be interesting to see how he fairs once the negotiations are actually underway.

Boris Johnson and Liam Fox, the rest of the Three Brexiteers, have each slipped from about 80 to the low to mid-60s, yet due to the overall fall in popularity this 15-point tumble sees them losing scarcely any ground and they continue to make sure Leavers are well-represented at the very top of the rankings. They were only overtaken by

Philip Hammond, the Cabinets yo-yo, strikes again: in a month when pretty much everybody saw their standings fall, the Chancellor puts on 6.6 points and rises into third place. The small rise itself is less interesting than his sidestepping a near-universal fall in popularity with members by the rest of the Cabinet. Hes actually knocked Ruth Davidson off the podium for the first time since last August.

In the month when the Government suffered defeat in the Supreme Court over its ability to trigger Article, we ought perhaps not to be surprised to find the two ministers most closely related to legal issues at the bottom of members rankings this month. Both Liz Truss and Jeremy Wright were in the bottom six in December, but this months falls are both quite dramatic: 38.5 to 14.7 for the Attorney General and an eye-watering 40.9 to 8.1 for the Justice Secretary.
CORNWALL, Ontario  The City of Cornwall started the process towards considering whether or not to reform the way the people of Cornwall elect their officials.

Council received a report from Administration on electoral reform at the City Council meeting on Monday, Feb. 13. The report specifically explained the differences between First Past the Post (the current voting system) and Ranked Ballot.

The reason for the report is that the Province has allowed municipalities to consider changing their voting process, as long as they make a decision before May 1, 2017, which would be in time for the 2018 municipal election.

If the process were started now it would include an education process to educate counillors and a public forum where the voters can give their input.

Councillor Elaine MacDonald wanted Council and the city to at least consider the idea of reviewing the voting process.

"Let us not fail to act and not even look at this opportunity without making a knowledgable decision without going to the public," she said.

Councillor Bernadette Clement agreed with the motion.

"By not following through with this its like us making a decision on how we elect ourselves without public consultation," she said.

Councillor Andre Rivette was opposed to starting the review process to learn about Electoral Reform.

"is the system we have, is it broke now," Counillor Rivette asked. "Whats the cost involved? The machines we have now, are they any good? No? Wed have to throw that money away right away."

While Councillor David Murphy was in favour of public consultation, he did not buy the Ranked Ballot system as a viable option.

"Its always a good idea to go to the public, but its a convoluted complicated process," he said.

"Ive been looking at this issue for over a year and I still dont have my head wrapped around it so how is Joe Public supposed to get it down in a month," added Councillor Claude McIntosh.

The Mayor however, proposed by-passing the May 1 deadline and look down the road to a referendum for more time to learn about the process and get input from the public.

Councillor Elaine MacDonald agreed with the possibility of a referendum, but in her closing remarks addressed the question as to whether the current First Past the Post system is broken.

"We hear tonight that in our last election we had 33 percent voter turnout, I think thats the answer for you," she said. "If I ever heard of a symptom of ill-health, that was it."

Ultimately, Council backed Councillor Elaine MacDonalds motion to start the process to review the voting system. All councillors voted in favour of the process except Councillors Denis Carr and Andre Rivette.

Under the First Past the Post system, the candidate with the most votes wins, even if they do not have a majority of the votes.

First Past the Post is criticized for not being representative. Those voters who do not vote for the winning party do not have their voices represented, even if the winning party is backed by a minority.

In a Ranked Ballot system, each voter is allowed to pick multiple candidates and "rank" them according to preference. Under this system, it becomes more likely that the winning party has more widespread support of the public, because they would have to be either the first, or second choice of the voter.
CORNWALL, Ontario  On Monday evening, CUPE 4155 which represents support workers in the Conseil scolaire de district catholique de lEst ontarien (CSDCEO) ratified a tentative agreement with the school board.

The union and the CSDCEO negotiated the settlement over the weekend after CUPE 4155 began strike action on Feb. 7.

The union had objected to the school boards introduction of split shifts and reductions in staffing, citing concerns over students health and safety.

CUPE 4155 members include janitorial staff, secretaries, computer technicians, library technicians, and supervisors.

Were pleased to get back to doing the jobs we love, keeping schools clean and safe and functioning normally for students, said Raymond Giroux, president of CUPE Local 4155. We go back to work having achieved what we needed to through the strike: we now have a fair and equitable deal. Wed like to thank the community for all the support they showed us during the strike. People were very generous and understanding Giroux added. Our members were also outstanding during the labour dispute. On the picket line, we had the opportunity to talk face-to-face with students parents. It was our chance to explain to them that the strike issues had a direct effect on their childrens experience in school. Members were greatly encouraged by the support from parents.

The CSDCEO explained in a press release of its own that it never wanted a labour dispute with the union and that it always had the health and safety of its students in mind.

"We are pleased to have a fair and equitable deal for both parties. During the many negotiating meetings, we have always negotiated in good faith. Our priority has always been the safety, health and well-being of students and staff," said Francois Turpin, Director of Education and Secretary of CSDCEO.
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Artificial intuition will surpass artificial intelligence according to scientists and consultants. Human cognition and instinct are progressing to machines and robotics.

Scientists at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are reported to have a breakthrough in adding human intuition to algorithms. Simply put, it means machines can now copy the way clever people solve problems.

In a recent test for artificial intuition, researchers asked a sample of clever MIT students to solve issues about planning algorithms like airline routing. The task includes optimizing a fleet of planes so that all passengers can get to where they want to go. Plane should not fly empty nor visit a city more than once during a specific period.

The cleverest student in the sample beat the existing algorithm. Scientists found out that students approached the problem using a high-level strategy called linear temporal logic. They then encoded the strategies into the machine, and out came artificial intuition.

According to some experts, artificial intelligence is so last year. Deliotte Consulting believes that cognitive computing technology should be fully explored as artificial intelligence is only the beginning. Artificial intuition and cognition through algorithms is just one part of what scientists call machine intelligence (MI).

Artificial intelligence is now a subset of MI. The latter is more of cognitive and mimics human thinking. It also includes machine learning, deep learning and other tools like Robotics Process Automation (RPA) and bots.

Deliotte said that instead of focusing on one dimensional artificial intelligence, experts should explore MI which includes artificial intuition. The consulting firm's data doubles every year, and by 2020, it is expected to reach 44 zettabytes.

Artificial intuition in MI includes faster distributed systems through better chips and networks, sensors and internet of things (IoT), huge bank of data and smarter algorithms that can mimic human thinking. These elements make artificial intuition better than artificial intelligence.

See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare
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Pneumonia continues to be the most infectious cause of death of children under five. The disease is killing 2,500 children a day and it accounted for 15 percent of deaths in children who were five years old and younger. In 2015, it killed 920,000 children and most of its victims are under two years old.

Many have begun studies in finding a cure, and two Michigan doctors, Dr. Michael Bachman and Dr. Laraine Washer shared some useful tips on how to avoid it. Bachman said that because of modern technology, the time it takes for a properly equipped testing lab to identify which bacterium or virus is causing a person sick has gone from more than a day to just a few hours, as per Knowridge Science Report.

Due to this rapid pace of identification, doctors can now get more information to pick the right treatment for each patient. As of now, this kind of testing is only available for hospitalized patients. But in the near future, it may guide and care for the less severe cases.

People could protect themselves and love ones through a vaccine, which can prevent many infections that might lead to pneumonia. According to Basher, being vaccinated is not a guaranteed way to prevent pneumonia, but it is the best defense that we have today.

There are other ways to help people prevent pneumonia and one of the most basic prevention tips is to wash your hands and cover your cough.

For people ages 65 and up, it is advisable to get pneumonia shots. PCV13 (Prevnar) allows a person to prevent 13 infectious bacteria. After a year of using PCV13, a person could use PPSV23 vaccine (Pneumovax) which prevents 23 infectious bacteria.

For baby or toddler, it is advisable to get vaccines on schedule. Vaccines can protect babies from catching infections, which might lead to pneumonia.

Smokers are advised to quit as puffing on cigarettes greatly increases the chances of getting pneumonia. If a person can't stop from smoking, it is necessary to talk to a doctor about vaccination.

In Malaysia, a string of infections have caused one death, one critical and 40 others from the same family quarantined at the Tanah Merah hospital, as per The Independent. The infection is caused by a possible super bug called 'Klebsiella pneumonia.'

Meanwhile, Washer said that the number of infections from the most common bacterial cause of pneumonia has decreased because of newer vaccinations. On the other hand, Bachman said that if doctors can figure out what the cause of pneumonia is, they could appropriately treat patients with very targeted drugs. He also said that this is better than broad-based ones that could lead to resistance.

See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare
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In the marriage vows in the Christian religion, the couple is asked by the priest if they accept their partner basically through good times and the bad times until death do they part. Now, a current study examining the relationship between couple relations with depression. The study found that to have a stronger relationship, the researchers strongly advises showing your partner extra love especially when they are depressed.

The study, conducted by relationship researchers from the University of Alberta, examined how intrapersonal and interpersonal factors affect an individual's self-esteem and symptoms of depression. Moreover, the study also examined how stress comes into play in maintaining the relationship as well as in helping or worsening the mental and physical health of an individual.

The researchers surveyed around 1,407 couple enrolled in the Panel Analysis of Intimate Relations and Family Dynamics (PARIFAM) study. The survey, conducted over course of 6 years, asked the couples on their levels of depression and self-esteem. The participating couples were also asked how they supported each other during their dark times.

The study, published in the journal Developmental Psychology, found that the support given to each other's partner especially when the significant other is stress contributes to the development of depression and affects the self-esteem of the individual in the future. The results of the study also demonstrated how low self-esteem in males is indicative of future depression. In addition, when a partner is found to have higher depressive symptoms, the other partner will most likely also develop higher depressive symptoms a year later.

Examining on how mutual support affects the dynamics of the relationship in regards to self-esteem and depression, the researchers found that males get a boost on their self-esteem from supporting their depressed partners. On the other hand, women who receive support from their partners during their dark times will lead to an increase in self-esteem and reduce depressive symptoms in the future.

However, the researchers also noted that those people who had better mental health before suffering from low self-esteem and depression are most likely to get over their predicament and able to manage their stress better. But people who are already suffering from depression or have low self-esteem will most likely lash out at their partners. These people see their partner's support as an affirmation of their feelings of helplessness and depression.

The study recommends that people who are depressed should be given or shown extra love when they are feeling down. The researchers also suggested that in the face of what their partner is suffering from, their partners should offer them "invisible support". Invisible support is the kind of support where your significant other may not be aware of what you've done to make things better for them as they struggle through their depression. This way, the depressed individual will cope and fight better against their problems and come better out of it making them strong and your relationship even stronger after the ordeal.

See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare
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Teachers who suffer from stress, depression or any mental health difficulties also experience stigma as being perceived for being unable to cope up. Some of these educators could not admit to the management team that their stress levels have become unbearable, and that they feel overworked and overstretched, underpaid and undervalued. These teachers are ready to snap any minute.

These feelings are present to any profession but the stigma in caring vocations like nursing and teaching are more potent according to TES report. Teachers who have high level of stress will inevitably cascade it to their pupils.

Schools need to provide mental health support not only for students but also for the teachers as well. However, more than half of the school leaders are saying that finding services is difficult.

The demand for mental services in England and Wales appears to be increasing. According to school leaders, more pupils are bringing more worries into the school than they did five years ago. It is not clear if teacher's stress level has affected this number of students feeling more stressed.

Mental health problems have different degrees and affects students or teachers differently. However, school leaders feel that people seems to underestimate the level of mental health problems especially among the pupils.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an educational course which teaches people how to understand and help people who may be experiencing mental health problems. Being able to recognize early signs of stress or depression is as important as giving physical first aid.

MHFA started in Australia in 2000 and has now reached to more than 23 countries. They have trained more than 1200 instructors in England to cover 150,000 people. Helping teachers cope up with their stress, depression or any mental health problems can also help students overcome their struggles.

See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare
goober said: I find the FreeBeacon to be right wing nonsense, does it explain how the Obama officials got Flynn to violate the law, while wiretapped? Click to expand...

What law are you referring to? The 'Logan Act'? Which has never been enforced in 215+ years, that the one? The one that is likely unconstitutional? That the one?How about whenbama went on his foreign policy tour in 2008?Or in the 1980's the 'Dear Comandante' letter? Did you, or the MSM, or the Democrats not signing that letter cry 'Logan Act' then?Many examples of, did we hear a cry from you, from the MSM, from the Democrat Party, about the 'Logan Act'? And a few years after that 'Act' became law the Pennsylvania Legislature elected Logan a U.S. Senator. And later in life, c.1810, Logan went on another private peace mission, yet no one tried to enforce the 'Act'.And you neatly sidestep the facts that it was the bama administration which listened in on Flynn's conversations.
North Korea appears to have employed technologies used in submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) to develop a new type of intermediate-range ballistic missile tested Sunday. The SLBM launched in August carried the name Pukguksong-1, (Polaris  or North Star); the official announcement about the missile test called the new missile Pukguksong-2.

The remark came after the JCS initially identified the type of missile fired from Bangyon air base in the western province of North Pyongan Province at 7:55 a.m. as a medium-range Rodong or modified Rodong, and then changed their assessment to a modified Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM). The missile reached a height of 550 kilometers after being fired at a high angle and flew about 500 km before splashing down into the East Sea. As many recent North Korean missile test flights, the launch was conducted in a lofted style; it put the missile into a high trajectory rather than a lower one that would test its maximum range.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un likely ordered the task of developing a surface-to-surface Pukguksong-2 missile based on the successful SLBM test carried out in August. We have reached an assessment that the North is in the process of developing a ballistic missile with a significantly extended strike range, an official from Seouls Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. Unlike the older R-27 Zyb which was liquid fueled, the Pukkuksong-1 and now the Pukkuksong-2 gives North Korea a low detection and higher maneuverability than current generations of DPRK liquid-fueled ballistic missile provide. The missile is carried by the tracked Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) in a climate controlled canister that maintains the missile and the warhead mated to the missile for extended periods of time and provides rapid roll-out and launch capability, as missiles can quickly deploy from their depots to firing positions, without fueling.

With this new solid fuel propulsion the new intermediate missile, its range may be greater than an SLBM that can fly 2,000-2,500 km, but shorter than a Musudans 3,000-3,500 km range. Solid fuel-powered SLBM represents a step forward in the Norths nuclear missile programs. A solid fuel-powered engine requires much less fueling time than a conventional liquid-fueled one. In addition to its solid fuel, the missile was cold-launched, or expelled from its launch tube before igniting. These factors, coupled with the Pukkuksong-2s road-mobility, make the missile highly mobile and capable of being launched on short notice.

In my view this system is much more of a game changer for DPRK missile capability said missile analyst Nathan Hunt, COO of Strategic Sentinel. Hunt said the new missile is more capable over what the DPRK had demonstrated with their Hwasong-10 Musudan missile which is liquid fueled and still is heavily based off the older soviet R-27 Zyb missile, requiring fueling prior to launch.

Under U.N. resolutions, North Korea is barred from any use of ballistic missile technology. Six sets of U.N. sanctions since Pyongyangs first nuclear detonation in 2006 failed to stop the rogue regimes nuclear ambitions. It conducted two nuclear tests and numerous missile launches in its pursuit of developing a nuclear weapons system capable of hitting the U.S. mainland. Following the missile test South Korea, the United States and Japan have asked the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to convene an emergency meeting to discuss countermeasures against North Koreas latest missile provocation. China, the Norths closest ally, also joined the criticism on Monday by saying that it is clearly opposed to the ballistic missile test while vowing to work together with other countries including the U.S. to resolve the issue in a peaceful and stable fashion.
A phone-based app that alerts CPR-trained citizens to nearby heart attack emergency calls is finally a reality in Linn County.

The application, called PulsePoint, is available after a two-year effort by multiple agencies in the county.

The idea for the app came in 2010 when company president Richard Price was a fire chief in California's San Ramon Valley. As the story goes, he was out to lunch when his own emergency vehicles rolled up to treat a heart attack victim just next door. The incident made him wonder if technology could be used to alert people with medical training when such emergencies were happening nearby.

Here in Linn County, establishing PulsePoint has been the special project of Brice Walters, a firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician with the Tangent Fire District, and a Registered Nurse with Samaritan Health Systems. In a profession where people tend to shy away from recognition, it took Walters' colleagues to point out his efforts.

"This is all about Brice," said Albany Fire Department Assistant Chief Shane Wooten. "He made it all happen."

But while Walters was the person behind the idea, in the end it took the Linn County Sheriff's Office, the Albany Fire Department, Tangent Fire, and Samaritan Health Services to gather donations for the $18,000 set-up costs. Annual fees will be $8,000, which will cover network connections, such as routers, as well as 24-hour technical support. The cost also covers any licensing fees and data storage.

The app itself is free to download.

How it works

PulsePoint monitors 911 calls, alerting users whenever a cardiac arrest call in a public space comes through. That part about the public space is important because, as Sheriff Bruce Riley pointed out, having private citizens trying to enter people's homes to render aid could become a public safety problem, especially in the case of a wrong address. Generally, app users will get alerts within 28 seconds of the 911 call. Wooten said that delay time is on par with department alert times.

Why it helps

The app has the potential to dramatically shorten response times for cardiac arrest calls. Walters said the chance of survival for heart attack victims drops by 10 percent for every minute help does not arrive.

"The key is to get them shocked," he said, referring to the function of the Automated External Defibrillator, which sends an electric current into a victim's chest in order to get the heart beating again. Another goal with the app introduction is to build a database of all public use AEDs throughout the county. Such devices are stationed in public buildings, such as schools, but a real map of every available AED is hard to put together. PulsePoint, through user participation also shows the location of AEDs.

Walters said Linn County emergency personnel respond to around 50 cardiac arrest calls each year, and between 10 to 20 percent happen in public. Wooten said Albany Fire responds to around eight each month.

According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 383,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur each year in the united States.

Other Linn County agencies participating include the Brownsville, Harrisburg, Sweet Home, Scio and Lebanon fire districts, as well as the Halsey-Shedd Rural Fire District.
2021 was better than 2020 overall but once we hit October it sure has flown by. My family has been blessed and we have shelter, food, creatu...
March 17, 1926  Feb. 10, 2017

The dash between those dates had a lot of different kinds of days for Bonnie  happy, fun days and walking by faith, tough days.

Altha Levon was always called Bonnie because her sister couldnt say Altha and called her Abonn. Bonnie was the third child born to Thomas Robert and Ruth Low (Ferguson) Justus. She had two older siblings: brother Ken and sister Twyla. Bonnie was born in Oklahoma and shortly thereafter the family moved to Colorado. Three more children were added to the family  Dorthy, David and Zella. The family lived on a small 10-acre farm for a number of years, around Rocky Ford, Colorado. Her father was a preacher and her mother was a wonderful prayer warrior. Church and serving the Lord were the most important part of the family. At about age 13 Bonnie became the church pianist; she loved music and had a natural talent for it.

Bonnie met John Cude at school in about the sixth grade. The Cudes also attended the same church. John and Bonnie fell in love and were married when Bonnie was only 16 years old on Sept. 4, 1942. Shortly after their marriage John was drafted into the Army during World War II. He was sent overseas and saw 83 days of hand-to-hand combat in France under General George Patton. John was wounded in his right hand and arm so he was shipped back to the United States and, after several surgeries, he was honorably discharged.

Bonnie and John, along with Bonnies sister, Twyla, and her husband, Harold Proaps, moved to Albany. They worked as carpenters and eventually John started a construction business. John spent many years as a contractor in the Albany area.

John passed on June 21, 2004.

Bonnie and John had two children: a daughter, Joy Denise, and son John David. Joy passed on Nov. 14, 2015. Joy was married to Richard Mullinax and they have two children: Tressa York and Jeff Cowan. John has a son, Merle Cude, and daughter Joni Cude. There are several great-grandchildren.

Over the years Bonnie and John were very active at Albany First Assembly of God (now Hope Church) and Jefferson Assembly of God (now Abundant Life Center) in the youth group, music department, missions, and many other areas. For many years Bonnie lead the church offering counting team, she and Loyd Forsman made many shut-in visitations, but Bonnies greatest contribution (as was mentioned about her mother Ruth) is that she was a prayer warrior. Bonnie was so faithful to her family, friends, church and Lord so we know that she has heard the words of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Well done my good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much, enter into the joy of your Master. Well done Bonnie, well done.

Any memorial contributions can be made to Hope Church and will be designated for the First Family Builders mission fund that helps support mission trips. John and Bonnie were huge supporters of missions and sending teams around the world to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Bonnies funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, at Hope Church (formerly Albany First Assembly of God). A reception will follow.

Online condolences for the family may be posted at www.fisherfuneralhome.com.
All this week, Salted Hash will be on location at the RSA Conference in San Francisco. We'll be updating the blog multiple times a day with news and other content from the show  so check-back often.

Tuesday, Feb. 14:





5:00 p.m. PST:

Ok so today was nuts. Back to back meetings for Salted Hash, which left the blog empty most of the day. For that, we apologize. However, there are some interesting things going on, and if the current investigation goes according to plan, well have a rather large story to report on soon.

For now, lets just say that if you are a criminal, having backups are sensible, as you dont want to lose data. However, leaving those backups exposed to the public isnt wise. Though, some of us think it is hilarious and are really happy you made such a common error when it comes to cloud-based backups.

News wise, by now everyone knows what happened with CrowdStrike and NSS Labs. However, if you were curious about the test results, some of the highlights are below.

CrowdStrike is listed with incomplete data, rated as below average on security effectiveness.

The CrowdStrike Falcon Host achieved a Security Effectiveness rating of 74.17%. The Falcon Hosts final rating may have been different had it completed the test. The Falcon Host did not block any false positive samples after the initial tuning. The Falcon Host did not detect or block 50.0% of the tested evasions, the report shared with Salted Hash states.

However, others listed as below average include ESET and Malwarebytes. Carbon Black took top spot for effectiveness on the NSS Labs report, followed by McAfee, Symantec, Sentinel One, Cylance, and Invincea. In a blog post earlier today, CrowdStrike called the results incomplete and materially flawed.

9:00 a.m. PST:

Yesterday, we mentioned a lawsuit filed by CrowdStrike, which attempted to prevent NSS Labs from releasing test results on the Falcon platform. We've obtained the court documents and published a story on the topic, along with the court record.

We'll update the blog again later this morning.





Monday, Feb. 13:

It's Monday, day one of the RSA Conference in San Francisco. If you havent noticed yet, construction by the conference center is nuts. Theres no crossing topside, anyone moving between the North and South halls will have to stay underground.

Mondays are slow, people are just starting to come in and the expo areas are off-limits to the public as crews work to build the floor. Most of the spaces are put together, but the finishing touches still need to be applied.

But, just because it's slow, doesn't mean there is any news to report from out here. Let's start with BEC attacks.

Last week, Salted Hash reported that more than 30,000 taxpayers across 31 incidents. Today, those numbers are larger. As of this morning, at least 44 BEC attacks have exposed more than 45,000 people this year, and we only just getting into February  tax season isn't even over yet. But you can bet this number will change before the end of the day, as new incidents are disclosed daily.

Last week, we wrote about Monarch Beverage, a company in Indiana that was hit by BEC attacks twice in two years in a row. The first attack wasn't discovered until the company started investigating this year's incident.

It looks bad, but they're still the victim and the employee who was fooled into disclosing the sensitive documents did so because the request didn't feel wrong, or suspicious. That's the problem with BEC, the criminals behind the scams are targeting an internal system that can't be fixed with technology  it's a people issue, a policy issue.

A situation similar to the one Monarch faced as recently come to light. Land Title Guarantee Company disclosed a BEC attack last week, and in their notification letter, the company says that the same employee responded to the scam emails twice  once in 2016 and once in 2017.

"In response to reports from employees in June 2016 of tax-related identity theft, Land Title promptly conducted an investigation which included working closely with the Companys third-party payroll provider to identify any irregularities," the disclosure notice states.

"That investigation did not uncover any connection between Land Title and the employees reports. After receiving new reports last month of similar incidents, Land Title promptly renewed its investigation and thoroughly reviewed information stored on the Companys information systems. Through these diligent efforts, the Company uncovered the phishing e-mails on or about January 27, 2017. Land Title has contacted the FBI concerning these incidents and will cooperate fully in any investigation."

Salted Hash along with Dissent at Databreaches.net will keeping a running list of the BEC attacks this year. Its being updated as soon as new information emerges.

4:30 p.m. PST

Something interesting happened last week on Twitter. So here's a quick story time post, since the videos are now live and linked below.

TL;DR: Saying 'prove it' to a hacker often doesn't go so well, as one Microsoft employee recently learned.

A conversation started on Twitter after Jose Pagliery, a security reporter for CNN, had a frightening realization  what if someone started spreading malware via the unsubscribe links within unwanted emails?

Another security expert (Kenn White) commented with a paraphrased quote by Dave Kennedy, the founder of TrustedSec and creator of the Social Engineering Toolkit (SET)  "Sketchy unsubscribe links are sketchy"  meaning (as far as this conversation is concerned) it's a safe bet criminals already do this or have.

Mark King, who says on his blog  UnplugThePBX  that he works at Microsoft, entered the conversation by stating that Microsoft's Office365 Advanced Threat Protection would stop people from messing with unsubscribe link.

SRagan

Kennedy disagreed, and said that ATP was pretty easy to skirt, given some conditions. The two went back and forth  prompting Kennedy to respond with a personal example from an assessment he was working, but. King demanded proof.

When Kennedy explained that he would break an NDA by sharing, King asked about the NDA and stated he was wanting to make Office365's ATP better if it misses something. Then, after apparently seeing who Kennedy was, responded: "ohh are you just trying to promote your crap by disparaging something that actually works. Got it. Good try."

A day later, Kennedy  after having his integrity called out and told to 'prove it'  responded with an image. In it, Kennedy demonstrates that Office365's ATP is vulnerable (Safe Links enabled w/ block, safe attachments too) by showing an open shell on a remote system.

The videos below, as well as a blog post on the TrustedSec website, offer additional details and deep background on the core issues. The bottom line is that while ATP will work, it isnt flawless.

Kennedy will work with Microsoft to help improve things. Also, while he originally planned to release additional details, the specifics of how to replicate attacks on Office365 are being withheld for now.

As we can see from both videos, it is extremely trivial to get around safe links. Microsoft, if trying to get into this space, should probably get into web analysis dynamically of pages, and inspect for certain components prior to allowing a user into the site, Kennedy explained in a blog post.

I'm guessing this option was probably explored (just a guess) and this would require extensive resources in order to process each web request coming from a link in email. I do believe though that if Microsoft is going to be offering a service touting advanced protection capabilities, that it should consider this as a method.





Microsoft Advanced Threat Prevention (ATP) with Safe Links - Using Metasploit MS16-051

Microsoft Advanced Threat Prevention (ATP) with Safe Links - Using SET



5:00 p.m. PST

CrowdStrike sues to keep test results hidden

Something new from the floor here at RSA. Last week, CrowdStrike sought a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction from the courts in order to prevent NSS Labs from releasing the results of tests the lab conducted.

CrowdStrike went to court on February 10, and the court denied them earlier this afternoon. NSS Labs will publish the results of the test on Tuesday at 9 a.m. Well have more on this story soon.
Last week, before the start of the RSA conference in San Francisco, CrowdStrike filed for a restraining order and injunction in a federal court, seeking to prevent NSS Labs from releasing the results of a recent NSS' Advanced Endpoint Protection (AEP) group test.

The court, ruling that CrowdStrike failed to demonstrate success on merits, sided against the security vendor on Monday.

In April of last year, CrowdStrike entered into an agreement with NSS Labs to conduct private testing of their Falcon platform. According to CrowdStrike, NSS Labs failed to perform the tests in an accurate and acceptable fashion. NSS Labs conducted additional testing, in order to address the reported shortcomings, but CrowdStrike was still less than impressed.

According to court documents, on January 18  the court documents state the year as 2016, but this is likely an error  NSS Labs notified CrowdStrike they were planning a public test of the Falcon software.

CrowdStrike, upon learning that the results of the test would be released during the RSA conference, went to a U.S. District Court in Delaware and demanded a restraining order and injunction preventing the reports release.

The court's ruling memo, obtained by Salted Hash, states CrowdStrike alleges that a negative report shouted from the stage at the RSA Conference would damage CrowdStrike's reputation, resulting in irreparable harm.

CrowdStrike says NSS Labs breached their contact, and that any information released as part of the test results could have only been obtained via private testing, which would go against NSS Labs stance of never disclosing data related to private tests.

The court wrote it was not convinced that NSS used confidential information it obtained during the private test to conduct the public test, adding that it was also not convinced that NSS Labs failed to maintain confidentiality of CrowdStrikes data.

The second claim that CrowdStrike made is that NSS Labs interfered with a contract between them and a reseller (Constellation), where NSS Labs obtained a copy of Falcon.

CrowdStrike alleges that NSS knew of the Terms and Conditions which did not permit third parties to access or use the Products, and prohibited any competitive analysis on the Products. CrowdStrike further alleges that NSS sought a third-party with access to the Falcon software and induced that third-party to provide it access to the software, violating the Terms and Conditions of which NSS was aware, the court documents state.

The court disagreed, and NSS Labs says it wasnt required to click through any terms and conditions prior to accessing the Falcon platform for the public test, and as such it couldnt have known about the terms of the contract between Constellation and CrowdStrike. If anything, the court added, it was Constellation that breached its contract. The court also ruled against CrowdStrike when it came to the claim of misappropriation of trade secrets related to the violated contract.

CrowdStrike contends that NSS's report will cast the Falcon tool in a poor light, and a cursory analysis of the two private reports shows that the public report will be inaccurate. An inaccurate ranking of Falcon among its competitors will, according to CrowdStrike, decrease sales and revenues, the court noted, when discussing why it ruled against CrowdStrike on the claim of irreparable harm.

Accordingly, even if NSS breached the Private Agreement with CrowdStrike, any harm resulting from that breach is not related to the harm CrowdStrike purports it will suffer here upon disclosure of the public report.

The court ruled that nothing in the NSS Labs report counts as a trade secret, and none of the data in the report came from the private tests.

In a blog post on the case published Tuesday,, CrowdStrike made the same claims as they did when they filed the complaint last week.

CrowdStrike filed suit in U.S. Federal District Court against NSS Labs to hold it accountable for unlawfully accessing our software, breaching our contract, pirating our software, and improper security testing. Regardless of test results (which we have not seen), CrowdStrike is making a stand against what we believe to be unlawful conduct.

CrowdStrike says that NSS Labs made a number of errors, including listing legit software (Skype, Firefox, and Java) as malicious, which left them with no confidence in their testing methodology, prompting them to decline a public test.

After explicitly telling NSS on multiple occasions that they were prohibited from using our software for public testing, they colluded with a reseller and engaged in a sham transaction to access our software to conduct the testing.

They then preempted any negative results in the forthcoming test by stating that anything NSS Labs publishes is incomplete and materially flawed.

To be crystal clear, the results of the report are unknown to us at this time and irrelevant, we are suing NSS because of their illicit activity, breach of contract and misappropriation of our intellectual property.

While CrowdStrike may file other suits, the court has already ruled against them on everything listed in the blog, and stated that Plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merits and irreparable harm

NSS Labs will release their report later today during the RSA conference.

If any of this seems familiar, thats because the claims made by CrowdStrike against NSS Labs mirror those made by Cylance, in a story we published yesterday here on Salted Hash.

Both companies contend that the labs violated terms and conditions by using a third-party, leading to the claim of pirated software, and both accused the labs of conducting improper testing.

But some security professionals have a bone to pick with NSS Labs, which is clearly demonstrated in this thread on Twitter.

The court documents are below:
Verizons annual Data Breach Investigations Report is scheduled to come out soon, but the team released an incident involving a college campus being hit by an internet of things (IoT) botnet  a botnet that took control of 5,000 systems.

The Verizon RISK Team performs cyber investigations for hundreds of commercial enterprises and government agencies annually. In 2015, Verizon's team was retained to investigate more than 500 cybersecurity incidents occurring in over 40 countries. (See last year's cases.) As a sneak peek of its latest report, Verizon released a case of an unnamed university attacked by a botnet.

Senior members of the universitys help desk had been receiving an increasing number of complaints from students across campus about slow or inaccessible network connectivity. Even with limited access, the help desk had found a number of concerns. The name servers, responsible for Domain Name Service (DNS) lookups, were producing high-volume alerts and showed an abnormal number of sub-domains related to seafood, according to the Verizon report.

As the servers struggled to keep up, legitimate lookups were being dropped  preventing access to the majority of the internet. While this explained the 'slow network' issues, it raised more concerning questions. From where were all these unusual DNS lookups coming? And why were there so many of them? Were students suddenly interested in seafood dinners? Unlikely, the university employee noted.

Verizons RISK team requested that the university IT team collect the network and firewall logs and pass them along for review. All the logs were processed for known indicators of malicious activity and firewall logs were used to identify the sources of these requests.

This was a mess. Short of replacing every soda machine and lamp post, I was at a loss for how to remediate the situation.

The firewall analysis identified more than 5,000 discrete systems making hundreds of DNS lookups every 15 minutes. Of these, nearly all systems were found to be living on the segment of the network dedicated to the university's IoT infrastructure. Everything from light bulbs to vending machines had been connected to the network. While these IoT systems were supposed to be isolated from the rest of the network, it was found that they were all configured to use DNS servers in a different subnet, the university reported.

Of the thousands of domains requested, only 15 distinct IP addresses were returned. Four of these IP addresses and close to 100 of the domains appeared in recent indicator lists for an emergent IoT botnet. This botnet spread from device to device by brute forcing default and weak passwords. Once the password was known, the malware had full control of the device and would check in with command infrastructure for updates and change the devices password  locking the IT team out of the 5,000 systems.

This was a mess. Short of replacing every soda machine and lamp post, I was at a loss for how to remediate the situation. We had known repeatable processes and procedures for replacing infrastructure and application servers, but nothing for an IoT outbreak. The RISK Team was there to provide insight into how to proceed, the university employee said.

Fortunately, there was a less drastic option than replacing all the IoT devices on campus. An analysis of previous malware samples had shown that the control password, used to issue commands to infected systems, was also used as the newly updated device password. These commands were typically received via HTTP and in many cases did not rely on SSL to encrypt the transmissions.

If this was the case for our compromise, a full packet capture device could be used to inspect the network traffic and identify the new device password. The plan was to intercept the clear text password for a compromised IoT device over the wire and then use that information to perform a password change before the next malware update. If conducted properly and quickly, we could regain control of our IoT devices, the report said.

While they waited for the full packet capture solution to be set up, the IT department head instructed the network operations team to shut down all network access for the universitys IoT segments once they had intercepted the malware password.

With the packet capture device operational, it was a matter of hours before the university had a complete listing of new passwords assigned to devices. With these passwords, one of our developers was able to write a script, which allowed us to log in, update the password, and remove the infection across all devices at once. The whole process took a matter of minutes and I made a mental note to save that script for later  although I prayed that we would never need it again, the university employee stated.

Verizon

Verizon reported that the underlying problem is that many IoT manufacturers are primarily designing their devices for functionality, and proper security testing often takes a back seat. Its even more necessary with IoT devices that the buyer scrutinizes the security of any devices they use. IoT botnets spread quickly because they dont face some of the problems conventional botnets do, due to the fact that IoT devices are often rarely patched or updated.
Helen Gustine, 98, formerly of Lebanon, died Monday, Jan. 23, 2017. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, at Keizer Community Church, 380 Churchdale Ave., in Keizer.

Mark Gutierrez, 48, of Corvallis died Saturday at home. A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, at the Willamette Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel. Fisher Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Chris Hayward, 70, of Albany passed away at his home. A memorial service will be 1 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Elks Lodge, 440 Osage St., Sweet Home. Fisher Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Make no mistake, stand-up comic Big Jay Oakerson has a way with words. All of them  including many with four letters that would probably make your grandma blush.

Yeah, I guess you could describe me as crowd oriented, interactive and very dirty, said Oakerson, laughing, during a recent telephone interview.

Oakerson, a New Yorker, is bringing his gritty, blue-collar humor to Mohegan Suns Comix comedy club for four shows, Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 16-18.

Ive always been drawn to (raw comics) Eddie Murphy, George Carlin and (Andrew) Dice Clay, he said. Growing up (in Philadelphia), that was the comedy that I liked. Its fun to do and to be a part of that scene. I am definitely not doing this to shock or upset anyone. ... I just think its very funny.

Oakerson is the co-host of The Bonfire with Dan Soder, the first live (and uncensored) weekly show for Comedy Central on SiriusXM, he said. Oakersons most recent full-length, digital-only album, The Crowd Work Sessions: Whats Your F@!?ng Deal? from Comedy Central Records, was recorded live at the Stand Comedy Club in New York City. Its a follow-up, he said, to his An American Storyteller album.

According to his bio, the New York Times has dubbed him the Master of the Dirty Joke.

I love telling stories. Im more of a wit than a writer. I dont have scripts, he said. I interact with the audience to find out what theyre interested in and whats on their minds, he said. Then I go from there. The show is different every time.

More Information Comix at Mohegan Sun, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville. Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 16-18, at 8 p.m. and Saturday also at 10:30 p.m. $45-$15. $10 minimum food/beverage charge. 21 and older. 860-862-7000, comixcomedy.com See More Collapse

After a number of years in the profession, Oakerson said he is finally enjoying a fan base, which grew enormously after a recent one-hour stand-up special on Comedy Central. Hes also been on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and the IFC show Z-Rock, in which he generated good press for his performance as Neil, described as the sexually ambiguous owner of a NYC rock club. Television credits also include Comedy Centrals Premium Blend and The Half Hour, as well as Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn.

There were a lot of shows in a lot of places over the years when I knew the people in the audience were there to see any comic that happened to be there. Im getting real satisfaction now knowing that there are people at every show who are there to see me. Thats a great feeling.

And what about his name? Growing up, I had this friend who was also named Jay. And so ... he became Little Jay and I became Big Jay, although I wasnt that much bigger than him.

pasboros@ctpost.com; Twitter: @PhyllisASBoros
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BRIDGEPORT  About 58 applicants applied for the job to be the next permanent chief of the city school district.

Of those, eight were scheduled to give closed-door presentations Tuesday to the Board of Education behind closed doors on Tuesday, according to board chairman Joe Larcheveque.

Then it will be our job to narrow it down, Larcheveque said.

The district has not had a schools chief designated as permanent since the departure of Paul Vallas in 2014. Twice it stopped a search for a new leader before moving ahead with the process last summer.

This time, the district is competing with Hartford, Greenwich as they, too, search for new school leaders.

Ray and Associates, the firm hired by Bridgeport schools to conduct a search, developed a profile of what the district  arguably the most troubled and cash-strapped in the state  wanted in a new leader, based on a survey and a series of focus groups with district constituents.

The consensus was that the new leader needs, first and foremost, a thick skin. A flier advertising the position went out in late December.

Interim Superintendent Aresta Johnson, who took over after the departure of Fran Rabinowitz in December, has not said whether she applied for the permanent position. After interviewing the eight, the board will narrow the field down to three. The plan is to have a new superintendent named within the month. The board has agreed to pay the new schools chief $260,000 a year, the most it has ever paid for a superintendent.

lclambeck@ctpost.com; @lclambeck
NEW YORK  In 1984, Catherine Fiehn Malat and Eric LeStrange met working at the school paper at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn. They dated for about a year until circumstances forced them into a painful break up that lasted 30 years.

Now, they're back together and getting married at a very public Valentine's Day ceremony at the Empire State Building.

Each year, the Empire State Building hosts a Valentine's Day Weddings Contest that chooses 14 couples to have a 15-minute wedding ceremony on the 86th floor Observatory that gets press coverage. Couples must submit an essay about their love story and their connection to New York City.

Fiehn Malat and LeStrange's story made the cut.

"All I remember was this quiet shy guy at the newspaper, and I hardly knew his nameI actually had a crush on his best friendand one day he came up to me and said 'can I kiss you?' My first thought was 'oh no, now your friend will never go out with me,'" Fiehn Malat recalled.

More News Greenwich couple weds at Empire State Building

When the two went their separate ways they both got married and started families in the Connecticut towns of Milford and Monroe. Fiehn Malat, a professional photographer in Milford, had been divorced for years when she reached out to LeStrange on Facebook.

It was around the 50th anniversary of John F Kennedy's assassination, and she remembered that LeStrange, a history buff, was born around that time. She wished him a happy birthday but did not receive a response until months later. LeStrange answered her message and asked if she would take professional head shots for his LinkedIn page.

LeStrange, who was going through a divorce at the time, saw an opportunity to reconnect with a friend and have someone to talk to during a tough time. He did not imagine it would turn into more, he said. They met up on Easter 2014 at Seven Seas in Milford.

"At first I thought I would brush him off," Fiehn Malat said. "But he gave me a hug goodbye and it was just back. This was the person I was meant to be with and he felt the same way."

"I saw something in her eyes that I remembered from back then. just the way we looked at each otherThat connection came back To me," LeStrange said. "It came on pretty quickly because we had that bond way back and it seemed it didn't really leave us."

It took LeStrange about six months to realize he wanted to marry Fiehn Malat. He proposed at Boothe Memorial Park in Stratford, Conn. with a sapphire ring they picked to honor Fiehn Malat's grandmother (it's her birth stone).

As a wedding and event photographer who has seen it all, Fiehn Malat said the Empire State Building contest was perfect because it promised a unique wedding with none of the planning. They found out they had been selected on January 9, and scrambled to get ready.

Fiehn Malat's daughter and LeStrange's son and daughter and four-year-old grandson will be at the ceremony. The family will spend the rest of the day taking photos at iconic spots around New York City.

For LeStrange, who describes himself as very shy, the publicity around the Valentine's Day weddings is a bit nerve racking.

"We have a press conference," he said. "It's funny to be in the spotlight; I have to come up with some amazing anecdotes."

"It's kind of surreal; It hasn't really hit me yet," Fiehn Malat said. "My life is pageants and weddings, but I'm not usually the subject."
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If only Connecticuts imprisoned ex-governor, Republican John G. Rowland, could get a presidential pardon from Donald Trump.

Its the least the new president could do after poaching away Noel Francisco, the Washington mega-lawyer representing Rowland in his longshot appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court of his campaign fraud conviction.

Francisco is serving as Trumps acting solicitor general and has emerged as a leading candidate to fill the No. 3 job in the Justice Department on a permanent basis. That puts him on opposite sides of his former client Rowland, who is five months into a 30-month sentence for off-the-books campaign consultancy for 2012 GOP congressional hopeful Lisa Wilson-Foley.

But Franciscos name was conspicuously absent from a Feb. 9 brief filed by the government urging the the nations highest court to reject Rowlands bid to have the case heard  he recused himself from the matter.

They were wholesale fabrications, created to deceive the Federal Election Commission about the true relationship between the parties and the nature of the payments petitioner intended to receive, Justice Department lawyers said of Rowlands clandestine arrangement.

This is the second prison stint for Rowland, who resigned as governor in 2004 and served 10 months in prison for accepting gifts from state contractor. Rowland can ill afford to lose Francisco, who last June got the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the corruption conviction of fellow Republican and former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell.

The role of solicitor general, the governments lawyer in Supreme Court cases, has taken on a pressure cooker dynamic with Trumps administration vowing to take its travel ban to the SCOTUS. Trumps original pick, Chuck Cooper, withdrew from consideration last week.

Klarides for governor?

It was just a selfie. Or so they say.

But when state Rep. Themis Klarides, R-Derby, took a photo in the chamber last week with prominent GOP political consultant and fundraiser Liz Kurantowicz, that got some fellow Republicans buzzing that house minority leader is perhaps gearing up for a run for governor.

Klarides, the first woman to lead the House GOP caucus, downplayed the gesture.

Liz has been a friend for years and she was interested in coming up and hearing the governors budget address, so I asked her to come up, Klarides said.

Kurantowicz, a former chief of staff for the Connecticut GOP and Fairfield resident, characterized the speculation as comical.

As far as I know, Themis is focused on leading her caucus, she said.

White House distances itself from controversial Trump surrogate

Sean Spicer out, Carl Higbie in?

The White House is disputing a report Friday by Washingtonian magazine that the former Navy SEAL, author and frequent cable news commentator from Greenwich interviewed for the gig of presidential press secretary currently held by Spicer.

Carl Higbies never even been to the White House, much less interviewed for a position, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the principal deputy White House press secretary, told Howard Kurtz of Fox News on Sunday. I think its probably one of the most ridiculous stories out there.

Higbie, a spokesman pro-Trump Great America PAC during last years campaign, made headlines in mid-November when he called on television for a national registry of Muslim immigrants and compared it to Japanese internment camps during World War II.

nvigdor@hearstmediact.com; 203-625-4436; http://twitter.com/gettinviggy
It really does seem impossible to make 500 million friends without making a few enemies. The adage, popularized by the film The Social Network, returned to relevance last week as Snap Inc. (Snapchats parent company) filed an S-1, revealing the companys intentions to pursue what could be the most-hyped public offering of the year.

Disclosed documents revealed that a third founder, Reggie Brown, had been pushed out of the company during its first few months. An independent source alleged that it was Brown who vocalized the idea of an app where pictures could disappear. Eventually, Brown would extract a settlement of $157.500 million for his early contributions.

Related: What You Need to Know about New Local and State Laws for 2017

Many entrepreneurs, seeking to avoid the burdens of legal fees, avoid retaining counsel until the emergence of a tangible predicament. However, countless stories prove the opposite approach to be more rational: a strong legal foundation can prove to be an indispensable asset from inception to exit.

I caught up with Jeff Laretto, an attorney at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich Rosati, the acclaimed Silicon Valley law firm known to have advised Apple in its IPO and Google since its inception. We discussed three distinct and pressing legal decisions that every founder must consider.

1. Forming your company: When, why and how?

The first legal question that often confronts founders is that of entity formation and timing. You form a company in order to protect your personal assets, explained Laretto. As soon as you begin commercializing products and entering into agreements with third parties, youre exposed to liabilities. By forming an entity, you can generally shield your personal assets from those liabilities.

There is considerable debate regarding the best structure for your startup. According to Laretto, one core consideration is: Do you want to be the next Facebook -- and thus have a pressing need for significant capital? If so, a c-corporation is distinctly advantageous. Corporations are the structures that are the most tax-amenable to venture capitalists -- and the body of law governing corporations is broadly understood and consistent.

LLCs may be potentially tax-advantageous for some business, especially those that tend to have a small number of owners or for companies that will distribute operating profits regularly. However, LLCs are not ideal for institutional investment. You can certainly sell membership units and create corporation-like economic and control structures through an LLC; however, youll need some fairly complex and costly documentation. In the long run, there may be significant legal costs associated with maintaining the company -- and the structure may deter some investors, Laretto said.

Related: 3 Routes to Register Your Business Name

2. Equity ownership: How do I think about the relationships with the earliest members of my team?

Equity allocation is one of the most challenging problems faced by young companies. Theres no right way to do it necessarily; however, there are many bad ways to allocate equity, Laretto emphasized.

First off, the concept of equity ownership should be clearly documented from inception. Not doing so could cause a Snapchat-like issue. I also advise founders that, when allocating equity, they should consider roles on a go-forward basis, rather than focusing on what a founder has done to-date.

Founders should include vesting clauses. Vesting refers to the concept of earning equity ownership over time (or after achieving specified performance metrics), and protects founders from one another if a partnership splits (like in the case of Snap).

Technology companies often vest stock on a monthly basis over a four-year period, usually with a twelve-month cliff, to protect against instances where employees quickly prove to be a bad fit.

Related: How to Structure a Single Member LLC

3. Scaling your team: Know how to abide by labor laws and protect your product.

It is vital for founders to understand and comply with relevant labor laws Laretto insisted There are few areas of law that can be as tricky, and failing to pay current wages to employees in many states can lead to personal liability to founders. In other words, not only are your companys assets at stake -- but a court can come after your house and other personal assets.

Furthermore, the law will ultimately determine whether someone is an employee or an independent contractor, not the piece of paper that you ask them to sign. The law clearly favors protecting employees.

In terms of protecting the companys intangible assets, every employee should be equipped with a non-disclosure agreement and a basic proprietary rights agreement that transfers, without a doubt, all intellectual property to the company. Otherwise, the entity may prove un-fundable down the road, Laretto said. Founders should note that, without a proper conveyance of intellectural property, the work that contractors develop (such as software) for any company remains owned by the individual contractor.

Laretto argues that documents assigning all intellectual property to the company (from service providers) is often more important than racing to get a patent on file (which can often even be a waste of resources for many early-stage companies). Instead, companies should focus their efforts on protecting their trade secrets and core ideas and beating their competitors to market.

As we witness the tales of Facebook, Oculus and Snap, one takeaway is clear. Founders should proactively tackle their fundamental legal decisions as they seek to build the next generation of American success stories. Who knows, maybe it actually is possible to make 500 million friends without making a few enemies.

Related:



Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Small business has been a big focus for President Trump and his administration. Recently, he met with Executive Chair of Alibaba Group Jack Ma, where they declared their joint intention to help create a million new U.S. jobs by helping U.S. small businesses sell in China via Alibaba Groups various platforms.

However, what escaped many of those stories is the fact that Alibaba Group is already enabling U.S. entrepreneurs like Stadium Goods, a retailer and reseller of a wide variety of cool sneakers, to sell in China via its business-to-consumer platform, the TMall marketplace.

Related: How Alibaba's Jack Ma Became the Richest Man in China

Whats the opportunity for U.S. small business in China?

There's no doubt that, with a population more than three times that of the United States, China presents a tremendous opportunity for small business. Alibaba Group said that today it had approximately 493 million unique active users -- not registered users -- on Taobao and TMall.

Moreover, as the market there is just developing, Chinese consumers are open to creating new relationships with worldwide brands. Its a tremendous opportunity for a small business to get in early on the Chinese consumers brand affinity cycle and create strong relationships.

What kind of small business is well-suited for China?

This is the most important point to consider if you are a small business. To have success like Stadium Goods, you have to be willing to make an investment. While you need a business registration and partner in China for the TMall platform, TMall Global allows you to open a storefront without having to have that partner, removing a big barrier for small businesses to be able to sell in China.

The basic business of TMall Global is having you as a seller open your own fully controlled storefront from which you sell directly to the consumer. While it may sound similar to other platforms and business marketplaces, there are a number of differences.

Related: Apple Becomes China's Third Highest Smartphone Distributor

One difference is that you will likely need to make at least a five-figure commitment to be successful. As opposed to other platforms that US businesses may be familiar with in the U.S., like Amazon, eBay and Etsy, TMalls cross-border channel Tmall Global operates through bonded warehouses located within Chinas free-trade zones, which eliminate import taxes. You send your inventory and store it there ahead of time, and products reach Chinese consumers more efficiently and economically. While that makes it more of an even playing field, price-wise, it does mean that you, as a small business owner, must be thoughtful about what you're marketing, because you arent just mailing off packages one-by-one.

So, in a nut shell, as of today, more established small businesses with sales and investment capabilities are going to be a better fit than start-ups or cash-strapped businesses.

What industries and products are hot with the Chinese consumer?

Per the Alibaba Group team that reviews the company's substantial customer data on an ongoing basis, there are a few in-demand industries overseas. Agricultural products, food and beverage, baby and maternity goods and health and wellness products. Basically, the types of products you put into and on your body -- industries where Chinese goods have come under fire in the past for the quality of ingredients and materials used.

Also, theres an increasing focus on sports, athleisure and lifestyle goods. These areas arent as developed from a brand standpoint in China as they are here in the U.S. and elsewhere throughout the world, so theres a great opportunity for other brands and resellers to take the lead of Stadium Goods in tapping the market in China.

How do you facilitate marketing?

Obviously, when you dont speak the language of the Chinese consumer, let alone understand their customs and buying habits, marketing to them seems incredibly daunting. This is the arena where Alibaba Group differentiates itself. Their business model is built around marketing facilitation, and they have tremendous amounts of data on their customers to help a small business decide which products to sell, how to segment to demographics and ultimately, how to best target consumers on their platform.

Related: Multinationals Turn to Entrepreneurs for a Foothold in Emerging Markets

They also heavily use influencers, including YouTube and other internet celebrities that do livestreaming for brands in China. Think of it as a digital version of home shopping programs that can help introduce brands and their products to the Chinese consumer while giving those products a stamp of credibility and approval.

What about payment and logistic?

There are other hurdles for a small business selling in China beyond its e-commerce marketplaces, but Alibaba Group provides the infrastructure necessary to facilitate doing business. Alipay, owned by Alibabas sister company Ant Financial, allows you as a small business owner to easily transact business and get payment from consumers. They also have an affiliated logistics company, Cainiao, that oversees a partner network of distribution companies that facilitates both domestic and cross border movement of goods, to make getting your product to the Chinese consumer something that you wont have to worry about.

While the international trade landscape is likely to continue to change over the next several years, this is a good starting point for assessing whether selling in China is a good fit for your business now. If you want to learn more about how your small business can leverage a platform like TMall and market your products in China, visit the website here.

Related:

How Your Small Business Can Sell in China Today

China's Most Successful Businesswoman Has Not Taken a Day Off in 27 Years

Why Apple Is Having A Hard Time In The Smartphone Market?



Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Say what you will about President Donald Trump, but his election certainly takes the wind out of the sails of a proposal to develop a Douglas fir national monument in Linn and Marion counties.

November's presidential election seems to put the proposal on ice for at least as long as Trump occupies the Oval Office. Of course, who knows what might happen with the next president?

In the meantime, though, whatever momentum the proposal had gathered in the months since it first came to light almost certainly has come to a sudden, screeching halt.

It's not clear, however, whether the proposal ever had any momentum on its own  or whether it came crashing down to earth shortly after it was floated as a trial balloon.

It's possible that your memory about this proposed monument has grown foggy in the months since it was first reported. So here's a refresher:

The proposed monument would cover 401,693 acres of U.S. Forest Service property, 31,761 acres of Bureau of Land Management property, 1,272 acres of state forest lands and 46,598 acres of privately owned land.

Included in the proposal would be some well-loved pieces of the mid-valley: Gordon Meadows in the northeast corner of Linn County, Iron Mountain, Jumpoff Joe, Moose Creek near Cascadia and the Three Pyramids.

The environmental advocates who proposed the idea said the key goal was to protect forests. They argued that the designation as a monument would not necessarily do much to change how the land would be managed, since much of the land already is owned by the federal government.

The decision to designate any area as a national monument rests entirely with the U.S. president, under the terms of the 1906 American Antiquities Act. The president need not get the approval of Congress. Its not unusual for presidents in the last year of their terms to designate a handful of new monuments, and so people in Linn County were a bit nervous that creating the forest monument here might be among the last items on President Barack Obama's "to-do" list.

In at least this area, the Trump victory eased some of those nerves.

Key goals of the proposed monument would include landscape conservation and restoration of Douglas fir ecosystem; improving habitat for fish and wildlife; watershed conservation; helping the climate through carbon storage; providing opportunities for educational and scientific study; outdoor recreation; and spiritual renewal. As we noted in an earlier editorial about the proposal, those all are worthy goals.

But if you're among those rural Oregon families who have struggled over the last two generations trying to make a living off the land, you know what's not on that list: The idea that a sustainable timber harvest in those forests needs to be part of a revitalized rural economy. This is part of the reason why the proposal rubbed so many people the wrong way; in point of fact, it added insult to actual economic injury at the hands of environmentalists who thought they knew more about the land than the people who live there, people who have struggled for years to make ends meet.

Now, these proposals to create memorials do tend to quietly percolate along for years; you never know when one of them might lurch into life with a penstroke from a president looking to add to his legacy. But it appears to be a pretty safe bet that this proposal for a Douglas fir memorial isn't going to get any traction from a Trump administration. And that's not a bad thing. (mm)
We must rethink the U.S. response to infectious disease. Here's why.
Speaker John Bercow (pictured)

Speaker John Bercow, who controversially told Reading University students hed voted Remain, informed scholars at Buckingham University in 1998: The people of Britain will never knowingly consent to be governed by those who do not speak their language, live in their country or depend upon their votes. The power of self-government, the right to hire and fire our rulers and the capacity to chart our own destiny are inalienable birthrights. They should not be traded in for a mess of pottage otherwise known as a back row seat at a show called The Heart Of Europe. Our destiny is surely as a self-governing nation which trades freely with the world. The future is bright; the future is global. Our success in it is dependent upon the vision, self-confidence and calibre of our leaders, our businesses and our workforce. My source there adds: His speech was such a Eurosceptic tour de force that the Bruges Group printed it as a pamphlet. Fancy!

Former Labour MP Tristram Hunt, 42, makes his debut as director of the Victoria & Albert Museum later this month. Hell interview, on stage, New Delhi-based Dr Shashi Tharoor, 60, an ex-Indian government minister, who demands that Britain apologise and pay compensation to his country for colonial exploitation. Is Tristram signalling that hes more virtuous than the Empress of India, Victoria, after whom his cosy new niche is named?

Amanda Wakeley, 54, who designed Theresa Mays leather trousers, enjoys life with her partner, PR adviser Hugh Morrison, confiding: In winter we ski at Verbier and in the summer we sail our yacht off St Tropez its important that I live my clients lifestyle to understand their needs. Quite so.

Should Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have children theyll be US citizens  the first American royalty in the House of Windsor since Baltimore divorcee Wallis Simpson. Divorcee Ms Markle threatened to renounce her citizenship in the event of Donald Trump becoming president. Shed have a UK passport as the Duchess of Clarence, the dukedom Harrys expected to receive.

Ken Loach, 80, whose film I, Daniel Blake won the Outstanding British Film gong at the Baftas, made an hour-long propaganda video to boost Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. This showed supporters heaping praise on the Islington North MP, congratulating him on his principles and thanking him for restoring hope to politics. That worked out well, didnt it?

Ken Loach (pictured), whose film I, Daniel Blake won the Outstanding British Film gong at the Baftas, made an hour-long propaganda video to boost Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn

The Guardians theatre critic, Michael Billington, questioned comedian David Baddiels use of his fathers dementia and his mothers infidelity as source material for a one-man stage show, My Family: Not The Sitcom. But Baddiel, 52, returning to his father Colins dementia for a new Channel 4 documentary, tells Radio Times: Im perfectly happy if people want to say, That is not OK, because maybe it isnt. Maybe not!
1 - Valentine's Day is named after St Valentine, who was martyred for forgetting to give his wife any sort of greeting card or present for more than 50 years.

2 - Bath salts are one of the most popular Valentines Day traditions. Following an old British custom, women agree to sit in a bath with lots of little coloured granules in it.

They pretend to enjoy this deeply uncomfortable experience until the following year, when they are forced to undergo the same procedure.

3 - Nothing spells romance more powerfully than the purchase of a wilting carnation from a service station at 6.15pm on February 14.

Nothing spells 'romance' more powerfully than the purchase of wilted carnations from a service station at 6.15pm on February 14

This is why there are nine-mile tailbacks at service stations on Valentines Day, and a new business, The Wilting Carnation Company, is doing better than ever this year.

The companys slogan, Tantalise the woman in your life with a carnation scented with a wicked hint of petrol, has won a number of major international awards.

4 - What to buy the man in your life? Its a well-known fact that men love anything to do with wristwatches and cars. This is so they can time themselves while they talk to each other about the quickest route for getting from A to B, avoiding C.

A real man is someone who can keep on looking at his wristwatch while holding forth for at least half-an-hour about how to cut 12 minutes from a round trip by taking the B-road, thus avoiding the rush-hour congestion, says a top male psychologist.

And if he can do this while wearing a pair of gold cufflinks, then hes a real alpha male.

5 - For centuries, British embassies throughout the world have celebrated Valentines Day by serving their VIP guests Ferrero Rocher chocolates.

However, over the years, many foreign governments have come to suspect this is not the gesture of goodwill it purports to be.

For decades, we have known that the FRT  the Ferrero Rocher Test  is a way of monitoring our continued loyalty to Britain, says an anonymous source in the U.S. Diplomatic Corps.

For centuries, British embassies throughout the world have celebrated Valentines Day by serving their VIP guests Ferrero Rocher chocolates.

I dont want to go into details, but we have every reason to believe that while we are struggling to keep our Ferrero Rochers down, backroom staff at British embassies are studying our faces on CCTV for the faintest sign of disgust or revulsion.

For this reason, week-long training courses have opened throughout the world to give foreign diplomats a proper grounding in how to consume a Ferrero Rocher without throwing up.

Its one of the toughest courses known to man, says a well-placed source. But the 10 to 15 per cent who manage to get through it successfully all go on to become ambassadors or senior figures in the Armed Forces.

6 - Valentine's Day should not be confused with April Fools Day, which occurs 46 days later.

Husbands and wives who say To celebrate our love, Ive bought you something youve always wanted, before pulling out a melting chocolate once shaped like a heart, have almost certainly got the two days mixed up.

7 - For a truly romantic night out, why not take a scented candle along to your nearest McDonalds? For the gourmand in your life, McDonalds is offering a special Valentines Day Triple Mac and fries on a lingerie-shaped doily.

8 - Valentine's Day cards come in all shapes and sizes, and are traditionally sent anonymously.

Anonymous envelopes dropping through your letterbox on Valentines morning are a sure sign you are secretly adored by, among others, your bank, the energy companies, three local takeaway delivery firms and a hundred different charities.

9 - The St Valentines Day massacre on February 14, 1929, in which seven men were murdered in Chicago, came about after the victims made the terrible mistake of giving their wives presents of sexy lingerie.

Witnesses to the massacre swore they heard yells of Call that a gift?, Youre only interested in yourself! and If you think Im going to get up in that, youve got another think coming, shortly before the eruption of a blaze of machine-gun fire.

Ever since that fateful day, stores in Chicago and surrounding areas have reported a marked downturn in sales of lingerie in the first fortnight of February.

10 - If you forget to give your partner a Valentines Day gift, there is absolutely no need to worry.

A hastily scribbled love heart on a piece of scrap paper will prove just as good, particularly if it comes with the explanation that you were determined to withstand the commercialisation of such a precious day.

On the other hand, dont be surprised if the present originally intended for you ends up in the bottom of the bin.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un does not like being out of the headlines.

The intermediate-range ballistic missile his country has successfully tested flew 621 miles up into the atmosphere  or more than twice the altitude of the international manned space station  before crashing back down into the Sea of Japan, 310 miles from its launch site.

It was a missile that could be used to strike China, Russia and Japan as well as the island of Guam, home to a U.S. fleet of B-1 and B-52 strategic bombers.

The regime conducted two nuclear tests last year in its most ambitious programme to develop nuclear capability

Deliberately provocative, the test flouted a UN convention that bans North Korea from using ballistic missile technology.

The regime's determination to develop long-range nuclear capability once again tested the world's patience.

Once again we are a step closer to an unthinkable nuclear confrontation.

The regime conducted two nuclear tests last year in its most ambitious programme to develop nuclear capability.

What the North Koreans have not managed to do is develop the technology to arm a missile with a nuclear warhead. But with each successful missile launch, each nuclear test, the possibility of this happening increases.

Explosive

This missile may not have travelled farther than its predecessor, but it was technologically superior.

It was powered by solid fuel  akin to an explosive jelly  which is less corrosive and more easily stored than the liquid fuel used in previous tests.

The regime's determination to develop long-range nuclear capability once again tested the world's patience

The question is: when will the West's and the rest of the world's patience snap with Kim Jong-un? And what might be the terrifying repercussions when it does?

North Korea is thought by intelligence agencies to have 12 nuclear devices that could be exploded. But they are not in any form that could be launched out of a plane, and certainly not attached to a missile.

American policy is never to allow North Korea to have any weapon that marries a nuclear device with any kind of missile, nor to allow it to develop a long-range weapon that could reach Australia or the West Coast of the U.S. To slow North Korea down, U.S. deterrent policy has been to offer the dirt poor country food aid in return for pauses between nuclear and missile tests.

But this will not be enough to stop Korea's step-by-step move towards nuclear capability.

Analysts are becoming more fearful by the day.

Kim Jong-un has declared these plans bluntly as 'rehearsals for nuclear war'

'If the ambitious testing rate continues, North Korea may have an effective nuclear-tipped inter-continental ballistic missile by the end of Trump's four-year term,' writes Mark Fitzpatrick, executive director for America of the UK-based International Institute for Strategic Studies.

This brings us to the great unknown element in this highly dangerous game of escalating tension  Donald Trump.

The latest missile test was timed to coincide with him hosting Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe in Florida.

It follows the Trump administration's announcement that the annual joint U.S./South Korean military exercises in March will be 'the biggest' yet, with a computer-simulated command and control exercise, the deployment of 310,000 South Korean troops and an enlarged U.S. contingent.

Last year, 17,000 U.S. troops were involved from the 28,500 permanently stationed in South Korea, but this time there will be many more, as well as huge B-1 Stealth bombers flying up and down the North Korean border and the U.S. aircraft carrier Carl Vinson patrolling off the coast with a flotilla of no fewer than 11 warships.

Kim Jong-un has declared these plans bluntly as 'rehearsals for nuclear war'.

The latest missile test was timed to coincide with Donald Trump hosting Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe in Florida

Meanwhile, the North Korean leader is fully aware that there will be presidential elections later this year in South Korea, where the country's president has been impeached over a corruption scandal.

At a time of such uncertainty for his reviled neighbour, the chubby despot will enjoy adding to the discomfiture by loosing off a ballistic missile or two.

The irony is that, unlike his father, Kim Jong-il  who pursued a 'military first' strategy that resulted in the economy collapsing and hundreds of thousands dying of starvation in the Nineties and early 2000s  Kim Jong-un promised to make economic reform rather than defence a top priority.

When he inherited power in 2012, he told North Koreans they would never have to 'tighten their belts' again.

He allowed farmers to grow and sell cash crops for the first time, while South Korea was permitted to establish a business park inside the North. He even went as far as allowing a ski resort to be built.

But the promise of a liberal new future faded  the South Korean park closed and the ski resort has no lifts due to international sanctions.

The truth is that North Korea remains a totalitarian dictatorship of 23 million people, most of whom live in poverty, where loudspeakers pump out propaganda on the streets.

It's a country in which those who fall foul of the regime are thrown into one of six labour camps holding 200,000 people, where torture and starvation are rife.

Meanwhile, the food shortages in the country last year alone amounted to 700,000 tonnes.

The truth is that North Korea remains a totalitarian dictatorship of 23 million people, most of whom live in poverty, where loudspeakers pump out propaganda on the streets

Powerful

Kim has had to go back on his word about belt-tightening, warning that his people may need to 'eat the roots of grass' once again.

To establish his pre-eminence  and to distance himself from his creepy, self-indulgent father, who was attended by a retinue of 2,000 young women known as the Pleasure Brigade  he has systematically executed several senior generals as well as his own uncle.

Yet Kim still has to keep the powerful military on side and the development of a nuclear weapon is one way of doing so.

What, then, can be done to stop him? Since 2003, there have been endless desultory talks between Russia, China, the U.S. and both Koreas designed to persuade the Pyongyang regime in the north to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions.

Sanctions have been stepped up as a result of their non- compliance. But nothing has worked as the regime continues to let its people starve.

Kim still has to keep the powerful military on side and the development of a nuclear weapon is one way of doing so

In theory, China is the country with the most leverage over Kim Jong-un.

It supplies North Korea with 90 per cent of its energy needs, 80 per cent of its consumer goods and 45 per cent of its food, virtually all destined for the North Korean armed forces and the Communist Workers' Party.

Most Chinese people regard the Kim regime as a sick joke (though North Korean refugees are a useful source of slave labour and sex workers) and there are influential people in Beijing who want China to drop its crazy ally.

Terrifying

But the prospect of China being flooded by North Koreans if the regime collapsed, and of U.S. troops moving north from South Korea to its frontier, are sufficient to encourage Beijing to remain cautious and allow the status quo to remain.

Meanwhile, the potential ramifications of any hasty action on the part of the West are terrifying. North Korea has 12,000 artillery pieces and missile launchers pointed at Seoul, the capital of South Korea only 60 miles south of its border.

In theory, these could fire half a million shells in just one hour at one of the most modern metropolises on Earth, a city of ten million people.

This is why we need calm and assurance from President Trump, and we can only be encouraged that he did not even mention North Korea in his Press conference with Abe.

Trump will have to decide whether to ramp up military support for South Korea or to 'sit down and have a hamburger' with Kim Jong-un, as he once offered to do.

Vowing that North Korea will never be allowed to have deliverable nuclear weapons is one thing; bringing that about is very much another.

Before he left the White House, Barack Obama told Trump that North Korea was his biggest nightmare  and the new President is beginning to understand why.
Fathers behind bars in Western Australia are recording bedtime stories for their children in a bid to stay connected while they serve their sentences.

Storybook Dads, a program launched in the UK before it expanded to Australia about five years ago, works with men who have been incarcerated and are being rehabilitated.

Resettlement manager at Acacia Prison in Western Australia Elaine Toovey told Daily Mail Australia the program has benefited everyone involved - especially the children.

On the up! Elaine Toovey (pictured) runs the Storybook Dads program at Acacia Prison in Western Australia

Ms Toovey says she often gets feedback from the mothers, who beg for new stories because their child has played the first one on repeat for what feels like a lifetime.

'They say can you please do another recording? I know this book inside out  we play it in the car, at home, when they go to bed, and its a really positive outcome,' she said.

For many fathers, it gives them a chance to bond with a child they may not have even met.

'Weve had young dads in here who have had babies while theyve been incarcerated,' she explained.

'Unfortunately, the babies dont get to bond much with Dad because of the situation.

Listen out! For some young fathers, recording a story helps their young child familiarise themselves with their dad's voice, and makes talking over the phone a better experience

'So when Dad rings up home, Mum will put the phone next to the baby, and the child doesnt recognise the voice.

'But with Storybook Dads, the children learn the sound of their dads voice  so when he rings up, theyre eager to talk on the telephone to dad, because they know who it is.'

Ms Toovey recalled one inmate in particular who came and told her the program had made such a difference to his relationship with his infant child.

'He came and told me "my baby didn't know me, didn't know my voice, but now he talks to me on the phone, he recognises my voice" and I just thought, how powerful is that?,' she said.

New skills: Three inmates at Acacia currently edit the recordings, by altering the father's voice for different characters, adding sound effects and cutting out any extra voices

One inmate, who went by the name Ambrose, referred to Storybook Dads as 'the best program in Acacia'.

'To be able to give my two boys a book, especially read by me with the sound effects, was truly terrific,' he said.

Heath Chapple, managing director of justice and immigration for Serco, who own both Acacia Prison and the Wandoo Reintegration Facility, said the program has been a huge success.

'We know through experience and significant research that connection to family, both while in prison and on release, is a key factor to reduce reoffending,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'Storybook Dads maintains this link. Importantly, it also bridges other programs that enhance successful rehabilitation such as education through reading and writing, and social skills like anger management and engagement'

Back and forth: Fathers who have low literacy skills are also benefiting educationally from the program, as a worker will help them to read the story through a parroting system

Mr Chapple says the focus on rehabilitation and reintegration has allowed the company to 'achieve a recidivism rate at Wandoo that is half the national average for adults and the best in Australia'.

'Recidivism is not measured specifically at Acacia, but anecdotally we know men who engage with programs like Storybook Dads are better placed to engage with family and society on release,' he said.

The program is only available for inmates who have remained charge free while inside prison for three months, and those who have not been charged with child sex offences or issued a violence restraining order.

Remaining inmates record their stories with Ms Toovey. The resettlement manager says she will spend at least one day a week recording stories back to back.

If the father struggles with reading, Ms Toovey will read the book and he will parrot it back to her. In the editing process, she will be edited out so only his voice is audible.

Proven success: Serco, who run the prison, say the program builds connection within the inmates family, which has been proved to reduce the rate of reoffending

Inmates are invited to write their own stories for their kids, and often change the names of characters in the available books to the name of their child.

If they like, they can purchase the book they have read for between $1 - $25 - depending on if it is an ex-library book or a brand new book - so they can attach it to the CD and their child can read along.

The discs and books are then put into the inmates property and he can post it home or sign it out when his child comes to visit.

Ms Toovey says the range of men reading stories for their children is astounding.

'I've had big burly bikies singing nursery rhymes and guys who can't read very well telling these beautiful stories for their kids,' she gushed of the progress she had seen in inmates.

Within Acacia prison, three inmates have been assigned jobs editing the recordings, giving them skills to enter the workforce upon their release.

'It's a great skill to leave with,' Ms Toovey explained, adding: 'they all love it, they think [the recordings] are so funny'.
A former head teacher has revealed how her love of naturism ended her career after she was 'outed by a busybody'.

Christine appears in Channel 4's documentary The Great British Skinny dip, on which she reveals how her private hobby suddenly became public knowledge after someone contacted her employers to 'hurt' her.

Christine Wright, 60, refused to give up her love of naturism and was forced to take early retirement.

Defending her passion for naturism in tonight's show, Christine said many people have the wrong idea about it - with some even believing it has links to paedophiles.

The programme also follows British Naturism's marketing director Andrew Welch and his girlfriend Sheryn who now enjoys discarding her garments. She said her boyfriend had made her realise: 'I don't need to hide behind clothes.'

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Ex-headmistress Christine is among the naturists to defend their hobby on the Channel 4 show

Christine, whose career came to an end when people found out she was a naturist, says her passion is misunderstood

The Channel 4 show The Great British Skinny Dip follows the country's naturist community

All my life Ive kept my private life private, because most teachers do,' she tells the camera.

'You can come under suspicion if they knew that I took my clothes off. There are some that think if youre a naturist you must be a paedophile.

'I never spoke about it at work but some busybody outed me. They rang up my employers and told them I was a naturist, to hurt me.

'It ended with me taking early retirement, I am not going to change who I am.'

British Naturism marketing director Andrew Welch is a long time follower of naturism but his new girlfriend Sheryn has a few things to learn

Naturist Andrew is seen taking a dip - minus trunks - on the Channel 4 documentary tonight

Christine is now out and proud, and spends her spare time helping the British Naturism campaign to recruit new members. The documentary follows their attempts to attract people to a public skinny dip.

She says she believes that naturism is misunderstood, adding: 'Sometimes I think were in the same position the gay community were in 20 years ago.

'In that although there was nothing unlawful about it, there are some people that think its not very nice, and those people that although theyre in a minority they seem to shout louder than the tolerant people that are around.'

Christine is helping British Naturism marketing director Andrew Welch, 51, of Cambridgeshire, to launch his multi-location skinny dip and scouts out locations in her local area.

Christine works with Andrew as a location scout, identifying spots ideal for skinny dipping

The former headmistress says skinny dipping is a 'lovely, joyful' thing to do

She heads up to one of her favourite spots in the Lake District and recalls a moment 20 years ago a group of Scouts happened upon her bathing in a pool in a valley.

'One of them shouted "there is a naked woman in our pool". And the scoutmaster said "you dont mind do you?" and they all got undressed and got in together.

'But that wouldnt happen now, theres so much hysteria safeguarding now that if youre an adult in charge of children you certainly couldnt do it and I think thats a shame.

'I want to share it, I think its a lovely, joyful thing to do and I want more people to share it. Its the most beautiful feeling being there in nature, naked as nature intended.'

Andrew, who is paid to promote social nudity, echoes a similar sentiment saying: 'Why are we embarrassed at all? When did that happen, when did the world change so much that something about the body we were born with became embarrassing?  Andrew

We talk about our private parts, why are those any more private than your nose or your elbow?'

And after 10 years a single naturist, he welcomed his new girlfriend Sheryn into the fold and has managed to convert her into a part-time naturist.

Wary at first about shedding her clothes, she now finds it liberating and said of her boyfriend: 'I had a poor self-image probably most of my life - then I met Andrew.

'That was the best thing of all. He is so confident in his own skin. He, for the first time in my life, made me feel beautiful. I feel like I dont need to hide behind clothes, that probably is why today is happening.'

The Great British Skinny Dip airs tonight on Channel 4 at 10pm
While many have been planning their Valentine's Day gifts and dates for weeks, some are not so prepared - and the shelves holding romantic gifts appear to become no more than a desolate wasteland by February 13.

Even the prepared can hit a big bump in the road, with a picture showing a box of chocolates purchased too early being melted by the time they were actually gifted.

Between leftover gifts including heart shaped meatloaf and love candy which says 'mistake', and poorly executed attempts at romance, FEMAIL takes a look at some of the worst Valentine's fails.

Points for trying? One recipient opened a box of melted and half-reset chocolates after their partner appeared to take the treat from the cool conditions of the store a little prematurely

One single lady was left high and dry on the day of love by Apple's Siri, of all things.

After undoubtedly developing a firm friendship based on the program's ability to work her phone, Instagram user marissajo87 worked up the courage to ask Siri to be her Valentine.

Cruel as it is skilled, Siri declined, telling her: 'That's sweet, but I, uh, already, um, have plans. Yeah. I have plans'.

Ghosting: One woman searched high and low for a date, but was let down, even by Siri

Another tried to spend her morning celebrating love despite her lack of partner, but was let down at the first hurdle - cooking heart shaped eggs.

It appears the home cook had cracked the eggs into the pan before adding the metal heart shapers.

Those who have a Valentine but failed to keep their eye on the calendar have been left struggling to find an appropriate gift.

Yikes: Another woman struggled to make herself a loved-up meal, as her heart shaped egg rings did nothing to contain her breakfast

Preparing for a meat cute? Shops tried to help out forgetful partners with practical gifts, like a heart shaped steak

Last minute leftovers included a heart-shaped meatloaf, and a heart shaped steak, both deemed questionable gifts by social media users.

Kenyan supermarket Nukumatt tried to spread the love to everyone, but struggled with appropriate product placement.

Below a shelf of condoms and lubricant, and above a shelf of champagne was a heart shaped sign encouraging customers to 'share the love with dad'.

Yikes: Kenyan supermarket Nakumatt tried to spread the love, but failed miserably in their sign placing

One shop pre-made cakes which should have read 'hug me', but instead read: 'huge me'.

Also on the list of definite rejects in the supermarket is a series of heart shaped candies with words printed on.

While the hearts would ordinarily say sweet nothings like 'I love you' or 'be mine', someone in the factory appears to have taken their bad day out on these candies.

While some have the expected messages, others read 'mistake', 'no way' and 'walk on by'.

Not-so-sweets: While heart shaped candies usually have sweet nothing printed on them, a factory worker appears to have taken their bad day out on the sweets

What could it be?! One woman was disappointed to be handed a powder blue Tiffany's bag, only to find socks in place of expensive jewellery

Even those who had prepared in advance failed to hit the mark, with one woman let down by a very misleading gift.

Presented with a powder blue Tiffany's bag, Instagram user ohmycheeks thought she was about to receive some expensive designer jewellery.

Though still expensive, she couldn't help but be disappointed when the bag contained a pair of colourful happy socks instead.
It's a question that has been hotly debated and contested for years - who should pay on the first date?

Though it was traditionally considered right for the man to pay up when he took a lady out, nowadays, many women expect to pay their fair share.

But some still see the first date as a chance to be wooed by a man, and that was no different for one half of a First Dates couple in the show's Valentine's special.

At the end of what had been a pleasant date, the pair look at the bill while waitress Laura waits with the card machine

After Steve admits that the bill is too much for him to pay alone, she looks down, wondering what he is going to ask her

Laura is left standing by as she waits for Elaine's response to his statement about the bill, but then scoots off to leave them to it

Elaine looks less than impressed by Steve's confession that he won't be paying all the bill alone

Elaine and Steve were matched by Cupid's arrow for an extra romantic episode of the Channel 4 dating show.

The night was going fairly well, until it came to paying for the meal.

Steve checked out the bill while Laura waited with the card machine, but as he realised the courses had racked up more than he had, he asked her to come back while he chatted it over with Elaine.

Laura rushes over to colleague Cici and declares the incident 'awk-ward' which many on social media agreed with

Steve braves the awkward tensions and says 'are we going Dutch', which shocks Elaine

Eventually she digs out her purse and passes him some cash, but when she checks if it's enough, he asks her to 'stick another ten quid in'

Steve shows her the bill and says: 'I don't have that.'

As Laura leaves, he asks his date: 'So, we going Dutch?'

Elaine was unable to hide the shock at his question, but digs out her purse and offers him some cash.

She asks: 'Is that enough or do you want more?'

Steve tots up what she's given him as she shakes her head, and then says: 'Put another ten quid in.'

Many viewers of the dating show thought Steve's request for an extra 10 was the 'rude' or strange part of the bill discussion

Rachel said it was romantic for one person to pay all the bill on a first date, and splitting it made her sad

Steve complained that he had been on several dates where the woman didn't even buy a drink all evening

People were incredibly divided on the matter, with some saying the nature of the first date and the Valentine's special should have meant he paid up

But some thought Elaine was cocky to assume she wouldn't have to put anything towards the bill for the night

While Laura found the situation 'awk-ward', viewers were divided about who was right and who was wrong.

For some, it was clear Elaine should not have expected to have been paid for, but others thought it was ungentlemanly for Steve not to cover the whole bill.

Commenting on Facebook, Katie Piper said: 'I'm sorry but why on earth is it awkward? She should have offered to pay her half! We are equals, Men do not have to pay our way! That's got nothing to do with manners!'

Donna thought it was only right for the woman to pay half, and said it was what she would do on a first date too

Charlotte agreed, and said she couldn't believe someone would decide whether or not to go out on a second date based on splitting the bill

Lisa Yates-Laughton said: 'I wouldn't mind going half on a first date...it's the awkward way he went about it that was off putting!'

James Robertshaw said: 'Why is splitting the bill so bad? It's a first date, they may never see each other again.'

Ali Moore pointed out that Steve had told Elaine he was still working in the music industry, and as she was retired, might have assumed he had more money to pay the bill at the end of the night.

On Twitter, viewers were split as well, with some like Donna and Charlotte keen to embrace the modern way of splitting the bill.

But Rachel disagreed, and even said splitting the bill made her sad, because it was unromantic.

One thing is decided though - there will not be a second date for these singletons.
While Tinder dates and last minute flower deliveries may be the norm for some Australians on Valentine's Day, one couple has brought a whole new meaning to true love.

Laurie, 83, and Elaine Stephenson, 80, from Grafton, New South Wales, have celebrated the day by renewing their vows after an incredible 58 years of marriage.

The pair, who married in 1959, spent the past week busily preparing for the ceremony, which was held at the Whiddon Aged Care Home in their town.

True love: While Tinder dates and last minute flower deliveries may be the norm for some Australians on Valentine's Day, one couple has brought a whole new meaning to true love

25th wedding anniversary: The couple are still as in love today as they were the day they married

Together forever: The happy couple do not have children but were joined by some family and friends earlier on Wednesday including the Maid of Honour Irene (right in purple), who is 103

The happy couple do not have children but were joined by some family and friends earlier on Wednesday including Mrs Stephenson's Maid of Honour Irene, who is 103 years old.

Mr Stephenson's groomsman was Leo, an adorable chihuahua who donned a little tuxedo for the ceremony.

The pair dressed up for the occasion, with Mr Stephenson donning a dashing suit and a rose and Mrs Stephenson wearing a beautiful purple dress with stunning necklace.

Memories: The couple and their guests enjoyed memories and were surrounded with delicious cake and Valentine's Day decor

Cheers to love: The pair dressed up for the occasion, with Mr Stephenson donning a dashing suit and a rose and Mrs Stephenson wearing a beautiful purple dress with stunning necklace

Glowing: Mr and Mrs Stephenson are pictured at their engagement party

Residents at the aged care home all helped out with the decorations and shared wedding cake recipes to ensure the couple had the perfect day.

Staff also brought in decorations from home, made invitations and encouraged everyone to dress up for the ceremony.

The couple met in Coaldale at a dance and from the moment Mr Stephenson asked his wife to dance, they were inseparable.

Overjoyed: Residents at the aged care home all helped out with the decorations and shared wedding cake recipes to ensure the couple had the perfect day

Stunning bride: Mrs Stephenson is pictured on her wedding day in 1959

Getting ready: 'We get on so well together and talk our problems out. We have always taken each other in sickness and in health,' Mrs Stephenson said

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Mrs Stephenson said she knew they were soulmates from day one.

'We get on so well together and talk our problems out. We have always taken each other in sickness and in health,' she said.

'Laurie has had numerous operations and I haven't left his side. Together, we stick by each other.'

And their advice for other couples wanting a long, happy marriage?

Memories: 'Being true to each other is most important and telling them you love them every day. We do,' Mr Stephenson said

Trip down memory lane: The couple is pictured on their 40th and 50th wedding anniversaries

'Start as best friends, always take the good with the bad and talk out your problems. Our other advice is to be there and support each other. I was once told not to let the sun set on your rock,' Mrs Stephenson said.

'We have never gone to bed without trying to resolve our differences. That's important.'

Mr Stephenson added: 'Being true to each other is most important and telling them you love them every day. We do.'

After marrying, Mr and Mrs Stephenson both held full time jobs and also ran their own cattle and stock horse stud farm.
She was billed as this series' 'villain', but in Tuesday night's episode of Married At First Sight, it was Cheryl's fellow contestant and groom, Anthony, who took home the prize for chief antagonist.

In an explosive dinner party and a baptism of fire for Cheryl and Andrew's new relationship, the 25-year-old hair salon manager was attacked by the other MAFS contestants.

After one particularly vicious remark from racing broadcaster, Anthony, Cheryl broke down in tears.

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Villain: In Tuesday's episode of Married At First Sight, Anthony (pictured) attacked Cheryl for coming back into the competition with Andrew

Pressure: 'Putting yourself into this position though, where you're having a second time round. You've gotta get it right,' Anthony said

Uncalled for: After one particularly vicious remark from racing broadcaster, Anthony, Cheryl broke down in tears (pictured)

Sad: Anthony upset Cheryl (pictured) by saying: 'You'll look like a f***ing idiot if you get it wrong'

Return: Earlier on in the episode, Cheryl and Andrew surprised the other contestants by rejoining them at the dinner party as a couple (pictured)

'Putting yourself into this position though, where you're having a second time round. You've gotta get it right,' Anthony said.

'You'll look like a f***ing idiot if you get it wrong.'

For much of Tuesday night's episode, Anthony, 33, picked at Cheryl's new relationship. The couple rejoined the experiment as a new couple on Tuesday night.

'It's hard to be convinced that Cheryl's relationship with Andrew will work based on on what I've seen already with her and Jonathan last week,' Anthony said to the cameras.

'She didn't really give Jonathan an opportunity. And I'll keep prodding. I'll keep prodding to see whether she really has the right intentions.'

Relentless: For much of Tuesday night's episode, Anthony, 33, picked at Cheryl's new relationship (pictured)

Honest: 'It's hard to be convinced that Cheryl's relationship with Andrew will work based on on what I've seen already with her and Jonathan last week,' Anthony said of Cheryl (pictured)

Not giving up: 'She didn't really give Jonathan an opportunity. And I'll keep prodding. I'll keep prodding to see whether she really has the right intentions,' he said

Not alone: Sharon (pictured) also chimed in saying: 'I can't wait to get to know you Cheryl. I'm sure you are a wonderful person and I'm hoping it's deep connection'

While many of the contestants leapt up to hug 'Jonesy' after he walked back into the competition, twins Sharon and Michelle added to the reservations around Cheryl's intentions:

'I can't wait to get to know you Cheryl. I'm sure you are a wonderful person and I'm hoping it's deep connection and deep feelings,' Sharon said.

'I don't [know you]. I really don't. I'm looking forward to getting to know you.'

However, it was racing broadcaster, Anthony's, relentless questioning of the 25-year-old's new relationship that eventually forced Cheryl to break down:

'To you, that's your opinion, but that's f***ing rude,' Cheryl exclaimed, through her tears.

'I walked in here with my f***ing heart on my sleeve and you go get this right or else. Who are you to say that? You don't even know me.'

Emotional: However, it was racing broadcaster, Anthony's, relentless questioning of the 25-year-old's new relationship that eventually forced Cheryl to break down (pictured)

Lashing out: 'I walked in here with my f***ing heart on my sleeve and you go get this right or else. Who are you to say that? You don't even know me,' she said

Helping hand: Cheryl's new beau, Andrew (pictured), was quick to leap to Cheryl's aid, saying: 'I could see she was upset and those are the times when she's gonna need someone'

Not on: 'There's no need for that [Anthony's remarks]. It's probably the first time when I've thought back off,' firefighter, Andrew, said (all pictured at the dinner party)

Cheryl's new beau, Andrew, was quick to leap to his new partner's aid.

'There's no need for that [Anthony's remarks]. It's probably the first time when I've thought back off,' firefighter, Andrew, said.

'I could see she was upset and those are the times when she's gonna need someone. So I grabbed her hand.'

Anthony wasn't done just yet, however, asking Cheryl why she thought she deserved a 'second chance as opposed to Scarlett and Michael'.

'I find it interesting that you got a second chance' he said to Cheryl over dinner.

'You deserved one because she [his former bride, Lauren] left you night one, Andrew. I'm not so sure you did though, Cheryl.'

In the dying moments of the episode, Anthony's paired wife, Nadia, told him to be less confrontational.

'Just be a little bit sensitive. Everyone's got their own journey. I wouldn't like it if you were doing that to me, so just back off a little bit. Just be a gentleman,' she said.

'If I was out of line, I apologise,' Anthony said to Cheryl.

Tensions: Sharon and Nick (pictured) also clashed when Sharon found out that Nick had frequented strip clubs in the past

Happy: Meanwhile, Andrew and Cheryl had an 'amazing' second date horse riding and a picnic (pictured)

Going forward: 'Youve gotta trust someone at the start of any partnership so Ive given her [Cheryl] my trust and hopefully I get the same back from her,' Andrew said (pictured)

Sorry: Meanwhile, Anthony's (pictured) wife, Nadia, eventually forced him to apologise for his rude remarks towards Cheryl

Earlier on in the episode, Sharon and Nick clashed once more, this time over Nick's frequenting of strip clubs in his bachelor past.

'I'm in this for marriage. I'm in this long term. I'm thinking family, I'm thinking kids I don't want an immature boy who gets hammered and goes to strippers every weekend,' Sharon said.

Meanwhile, Andrew and Cheryl had an 'amazing' second date horse riding and having a picnic.

When Andrew told Cheryl he was 38, she merely said: 'Cool. I get along with you so I dont really care'.

'Youve gotta trust someone at the start of any partnership or relationship so Ive given her [Cheryl] my trust and hopefully I get the same back from her,' Andrew said.

Married At First Sight continues on Monday night on Channel Nine at 7.30pm.
An Australian condom kingpin has made the most of an unusual gap in the market - by launching new 'vegan' products aimed at health conscious couples.

Former Cleo Bachelor of the Year finalist Dustin Leonard, the man behind HERO condoms, launched a new range of 'natural' condoms and a 'plant-based' lubricant.

Mr Leonard told Daily Mail Australia the vegan condoms contain no animal products or byproducts and have not been tested on animals, while the lubricant is 'PH balanced, petrochemical and paraben free and vegan'.

Former Cleo Bachelor of the Year finalist Dustin Leonard (pictured at a party with his girlfriend) has launched a range of vegan condoms

Mr Leonard told Daily Mail Australia the vegan condoms contain no animal products or byproducts and have not been tested on animals

'Some condoms and lubricants include an animal protein which is also used to thicken and congeal some foods and other products,' he said.

'Some lubricants are packed with parabens and other non-friendly ingredients which are commonly used in cosmetics as preservatives to prevent bacterial overgrowth,' he added, explaining these can sometimes interfere with hormonal processes.

In addition to being 'vegan friendly' he said the HERO Natural condoms are flared at the end for 'better fit and comfort'.

Condom kingpin Dustin Leonard is a former Cleo Bachelor of the Year finalist (pictured at the time)

'Some lubricants are packed with parabens and other non-friendly ingredients which are commonly used in cosmetics as preservatives,' Mr Leonard said

And Mr Leonard said the feedback from vegans around Australia to the launch had so far been very positive.

'Its been unbelievable!' he said. 'Vegan Australia gave us some love on their Facebook page and the post went extremely well with over 700 likes, 584 shares and over 500 comments.

It's the second time in recent months that Mr Leonard has launched a fresh venture.

Solving problems: Mr Leonard said his business ideas focused on solving real-world problems. He is pictured in Botswana in 2013

In addition to 'natural' condoms, the duo have launched a plant-based lubricant for intimate use

In September, the duo launched a home-delivery tampon service - Her - that aimed to donate a month's worth of pads to women in Kenya for every box you bought at home.

Mr Leonard started HERO in 2013 with the explicit aim of reducing the prevalence of HIV in Africa.

For every packet of condoms bought in Australia, HERO donates condoms to clinics in disease-stricken Botswana.
A young woman who had a facelift at 16 because of a genetic condition that saw her nicknamed 'granny' has revealed her disorder is putting her life at risk.

Since the age of 12, Zara Hartshorn had regularly been mistaken for a woman in her 40s or 50s, due to a disease she inherited from her mother Tracey Gibson - who herself was often mistaken for a pensioner despite being just 43.

The mother and daughter, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, underwent matching 50,000 facelifts in the US to address the impact of their condition, which makes fat dissolve beneath tissue, giving the skin a prematurely wrinkled appearance - and which Zara says saw her 'getting called granny and monkey'.

But four years on Zara, who was initially diagnosed with lipodystrophy only to learn she has the even more complicated Cutis Laxa, says the effects of her surgery are already fading.

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Zara Hartshorn, 20, was born with the same rare condition as her mother, which gives their face a prematurely aged appearance

Zara Hartshorn (pictured with her mother Tracey Gibson in 2014 who also suffers from lipodystrophy), now 20, has been diagnosed with another rare disorder that could cause her heart to give out at any moment

(Left) Zara aged 15 before she had a facelift to try and correct her sagging skin. (Right) Zara as a young child before she was diagnosed with lipodystrophy

The mother and daughter, who feature on Channel 5's Extraordinary People, were first told their appearance was due to a condition called lipodystrophy.

But after visiting Dr Abu Garg, a lipodystrophy expert at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical centre in Dallas, Texas, he diagnosed Zara with an even rarer form of the condition known as Cutis Laxa.

WHAT IS CUTIS LAXA? The rare disorder only affects around 30 people in the UK, and in most cases it is inherited. It is a disorder of the connective tissue which forms the bodys framework. The tissue provides strength to muscles and the condition causes them to become inelastic. It is characterised by sagging and droopy skin. Cutis Laxa can also affect the heart, blood vessels, joints, intestines and lungs. Advertisement

As well as the obvious symptoms, Cutis Laxa can cause serious health problems, affecting the lungs, heart and arteries.

News of the diagnosis shocked Zara and Tracey and she said: 'Since I found out I had Cutis Laxa, I have literally done nothing about it. The last time I saw a doctor was in Texas, which isn't good.

'My health does worry me, but only when I think about it. Most of the time I'm oblivious to it, which isn't a good thing.'

Zara was more focused on her appearance than her health, and underwent a four-hour facelift performed by Dr Robert Ersek to shave years off her.

Overjoyed with her new face, Zara brimmed with confidence, and Tracey also had a matching procedure soon after to finally look her age.

But four years on from the surgery, Zara's saggy skin has slowly returned and a family feud temporarily tore her and her mum apart.

At 15 Zara was constantly mistaken for a woman in her forties or fifties and had to prove her age with her birth certificate

Zara appeared in a Channel 5 documentary where she spoke about her disorder and her journey to America to get matching face lifts with her mother at just 16 years old

She said: 'When I came back from the States, life was completely different. It was amazing.

'I had so much confidence, got into a relationship. I got pregnant and I was happy.

'But unfortunately I had a miscarriage and I'm no longer in a relationship.

Zara, now 20, admits to not looking after herself and hasn't given her health a second thought, being more concerned about the return of her sagging skin.

She is determined to live her life like a normal 20-year-old, despite still fearing meeting new people: 'My facelift has dropped, especially when I smile and I don't like it. It's horrible, it makes me feel old.

(L-R) Tracey Gibson with her daughters Chloe and Zara Hartshorn during filming for the Channel 5 documentary 'Extraordinary People: Help I'm 16 but I look 60'

'But I'm 20, I want to have fun. I want to be 20 and act 20.'

However, Zara's health is starting to deteriorate and she finally found the courage to contact Dr Zsolt Urban, who has been studying the condition.

Speaking to the doctor online, she was told some devastating news - Cutis Laxa could cause her heart to fail at anytime.

She said: 'It is actually a serious illness and I'm disregarding it like it's not even serious. I'm terrified.'

Realising she'd been living in denial, Zara made the brave decision to have a thorough heart scan.

Fortunately, tests showed that Zara's heart was fine.

She said: 'I'm buzzing. I'm not going to die.'

Zara and her mother had matching facelifts, but now Zara said her saggy skin has returned and she is trying to accept her condition

Acceptance of her condition has made Zara turn a new corner and she's determined to use it to help others.

She said: 'In all honesty, I don't blame anyone for this illness. As daft as it sounds, everyone's born the way they are for a reason and there is a reason I am the way I am.

'For me, the future is about trying to help as many people as possible that have got the same condition as me.

'I would like to inspire and try to help and reach out to those people that are scared to come forward and admit to the world that they have got this illness.'

Zara's journey features on Extraordinary People, Wednesday 15 Feb, at 10pm, on Channel 5
With smartphones and selfies dominating dinner table conversations, it is easy to feel like good manners are a thing of the past.

But the Duchess of Cambridge has proved that politeness never goes out of fashion with an elegant thank you note that has emerged online.

The gracious royal sent individual cards to supporters who wrote to wish her well as she celebrated her 35th birthday last month.

Model etiquette: The Duchess of Cambridge, pictured left at the BAFTAs on Sunday, sent thank you notes, right, to supporters who wrote to wish her well for her birthday last month

Etiquette expert William Hanson said the note is a 'charming example of the perfect thank you letter' and shows the duchess has 'excellent manners'.

A photograph of the note was posted on Instagram by a user called lettersroyal.

The note, printed on plain white card, reads: 'The Duchess of Cambridge was touched that you took the trouble to write as you did on the occasion of her birthday.

'It really was most thoughtful of you and Her Royal Highness sends you her warmest thanks and best wishes.'

The card was placed in Kensington Palace envelope along with a photograph of Kate taken on the royal tour of Canada last year.

It is not known how many were sent but the wording suggests a letter was sent to each well-wisher who wrote to the duchess.

Gracious: The thank you note, right, was sent in a Kensington Palace envelope, seen, alongside an photograph of the duchess taken during the royal visit to Canada last year, left

WHEN TO SEND A THANK YOU NOTE: OUR EXPERT WEIGHS IN Etiquette expert William Hanson explained thank you letters still carry 'much social clout', even in an age dominated by texts, tweets and emails. He added: 'Thank you letters should be sent after someone has received a present or hospitality. 'The general rule is one side of correspondence paper for a present or dinner, and two sides for a weekend stay. 'Outside of royal circles, they need to be in the post within 36 hours of receiving the hospitality or 5 days after receiving the present.' Advertisement

Mr Hanson praised the duchess' note, saying: 'Gratitude is dying in modern Britain, but I am so glad to see that it is alive and well in the Royal Household.

'The letters from the Duchess of Cambridge are charming examples of the perfect thank you letter. They are not too short, but not too long; succinct and heartfelt.

'They show that the Duchess of Cambridge has excellent manners.'

MailOnline has contacted Kensington Palace for comment.

Elegant: Kate, pictured at an RAF base today, is known for her impeccable grace and etiquette
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The Duchess of Cambridge should off her sporty side today during her visit to an RAF base today to meet local air cadets, as she joined youngsters in jumping games as part of a team building exercise.

Kate, who is royal patron and Honorary Air Commandant of the RAF Air Cadets, arrived to meet young people at RAF Wittering near Peterborough, in a more dressed down look than usual, sporting a 760 red blazer by Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini and black skinny jeans.

Sensibly, Kate left her heels at home and opted for flat black boots, which came in handy as she joined the youngsters in jumping games and showcased her very athletic figure in skinny black jeans.

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Kate experienced a hair raising moment today as her brunette locks flew around her shoulders while she completed a jumping exercise during a team building initiative with the RAF Air Cadets

Kate showed off her athletic figure while taking part in a team building exercise with the Air Cadets

Sporty Kate hops up and down during a jumping game with the Air Cadets, part of a team building exercise

Earlier in the day the Duchess wore her hair swept back in a ponytail, but she let it hang loose as she took part in a jumping game with the Air Cadets

The Duchess of Cambridge climbs on to a training aircraft during a visit to RAF Wittering

A delighted Kate looked pleased to be picking up some flying skills that will no doubt impress her husband William who is a helicopter pilot

To add a touch of sparkle to her look today, Kate accessorised with 2,200 gold and diamond leaf earrings by Kiki McDonough.

She was also given privileged access to the tutor aircraft in which generations of RAF Air Cadets have had their first experience of flying, the same type used by her husband when he learned to fly with the RAF.

Prince William, pictured in 2008, learned to fly in the same model of plane Kate stepped into today

William in 2008, aged 25, in the tutor aircraft in which generations of RAF Air Cadets have had their first experience of flying

Kate saw the aircraft when she visited RAF Wittering near Peterborough on Valentine's Day, in her role as royal patron and Honorary Air Commandant of the RAF Air Cadets.

Cadet Sergeant Jordan Bertolaso, a qualified aerospace instructor, talked the Duchess though the controls of the Grob tutor, a light aircraft which cadets use each year for air experience.

An animated Duchess pulls a funny face during her visit to the Air Cadets

Good-humoured Kate pulled some silly faces as she caught up with the Air Cadets in Cambridgeshire

Kate looked delighted as she was shown the ropes in a training aircraft on a visit to RAF Wittering

Cadet Sgt Bertolaso said: 'It's incredible to have such a high-profile royal as our patron, especially as she has strong links to the Royal Air Force with her husband being a former pilot.'

During the visit, the Duchess, was introduced to air cadets from the Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Wing Air Training Corps, who are taking part in a half-term skills development camp.

The week acts as an initial camp experience for cadets who are in their first six months of membership.

The Duchess adjusted her black skinny jeans after a team building exercise with the Air Cadets

It was also revealed that she has what it takes to become a military pilot after having a go on a flight simulator.

With William an experienced flyer, both with the RAF and now as an air ambulance helicopter pilot, it should be no surprise the Duchess had the right touch to become a pilot.

At first she appeared a little apprehensive when she sat in front of the flight simulator's three screens and put her feet on some pedals and took hold of the joystick.

But under the guidance of Flight Lieutenant Michael Salter, she was soon tuned into the delicate movements needed to pilot the mock motor glider.

Flt Lt Salter said: 'She was extremely good - she was a natural. She was very gentle on the controls, very often people are too rough. If you feel it, it's extremely sensitive.

'She said she hasn't flown before and wanted to understand what the feeling was like in the air.'

The Duchess started the day with her hair tied back in a simple ponytail

Kate took up her role with the RAF Air Cadets in December 2015, taking on the post from the Duke of Edinburgh who had been involved with the organisation for more than 60 years.

The Duchess now represents 42,000 air cadets aged from 12 to 19, and 15,000 adult volunteers at more than 1,200 units across the UK and abroad.

The RAF Air Cadets comprises both the Air Training Corps (ATC) and the Combined Cadet Force (RAF).

Kate had the opportunity to fly an aircraft using a flight simulator during her visit

Kate opted for a designer she hasn't worn before Philosophy Di Lorenzo Serafini, choosing a red blazer Resort '17 collection,

The Duchess shares a joke with Air Cadets who are undertaking a half-term training programme

The Duchess looked animated as she chatted easily with members of the Air Cadets

Group Captain Richard Pratley, RAF Wittering Station Commander, said: 'It has been an honour to welcome Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cambridge to RAF Wittering to see some of the facilities we offer to cadets to help inspire the next generation.'

The ATC was first established in 1941 during the Second World War, with the aim of training young men in aviation skills before they joined the RAF.

It's been an exciting week for Kate who attended the BAFTA awards with her husband on Sunday night, where she rubbed shoulders with A-listers such as Emma Stone and Nicole Kidman.

The Duchess sensibly swapped her usual high heels for a pair of black suede knee high boots for her outing

The Duchess kept the winter chill at bay in a pair of black gloves with a bow detail at the cuff

Kate looked cosy in a 760 red blazer by Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini, a new label for the Duchess

The Duchess was casually dressed in a red coat with gold buttons and black skinny jeans

The Duchess shared a joke with one of the young air cadets as she caught up with members of the organisation of which she is the royal patron

Kate looked fascinated as she was shown the controls in a training aircraft as she kicked off a visit to the Air Cadets

No heels today! Kate sensibly opted for flat black boots for her visit to the Air Cadets today

And yesterday it was announced that the Cambridges will undertake a three-day official visit to Paris next month.

Their full itinerary has yet to be announced but will include a reception for young French leaders from a variety of fields, a formal dinner at the residence of Her Majesty's Ambassador and attendance at the Wales v France Six Nations test at the Stade de France.

In a statement Kensington Palace said: 'The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will undertake an official two-day visit to Paris on 17th and 18th March. Their Royal Highness' visit is at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Full details of the visit will be announced in due course.'

The Duchess of Cambridge, royal patron and Honorary Air Commandant of the RAF Air Cadets climbing into a training aircraft

All eyes will clearly be on Kate, 35, to fly the flag for British fashion in one of the most stylish cities on the globe.

The timing of the trip is also particularly significant given Britain's post-Brexit negotiations with the rest of Europe.

It will be seen by some as part of a charm offensive by the British government, who are keen to use the British Royal Family as part of their 'soft diplomacy' efforts.

It is understood the royals will be staying with the British ambassador to France, Edward Llewellyn, who took up the position back in November.
The Duchess of Cornwall was taken for Valentine's Day spin on the dance floor and joked 'don't tell my husband'.

Camilla, who was on a day of engagements in Bristol without the Prince of Wales, dropped in on a tea party and swing dance run by the Royal Voluntary Service.

The Duchess - a fan of Strictly Come Dancing - proved nimble on her feet as she moved across the room to the sound of Shake, Rattle and Roll with a photographer.

Later the Duchess remarked: 'Don't tell my husband!'

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Camilla, who is President of the Royal Voluntary Service, dances with Graeme Puckett of dance troupe Hoppin' Mad at a tea party and swing dance at The Trinity Centre in Bristol

Dressed to impress: In keeping with the morning's dance theme, Camilla donned a glamorous polka dot dress worn underneath a bottle green suite for this morning's visit

Camilla also took a turn with Graeme Puckett of the Hoppin' Mad group at the Trinity Centre tea party, as visitors clapped along to the music.

The Duchess has been president of the Royal Voluntary Service, which helps older people stay active and independent, since 2013.

Camilla also received a Valentine's Day bouquet of scented narcissi during a visit to see some of the award winning independent stores on North Street in Southville.

In Ivory Flowers and Zara's Chocolates, Camilla was presented with the flowers, and quizzed florist Xanthe Ivory about their busy day, asking: 'How many bouquets have you made? Hundreds?'

Taking her through her paces: Pro dancer Graeme Puckett shows Camilla how it's done. The Duchess of Cornwall has been president of the RVS since 2013

Camilla dances with RVS volunteer Dave Hancock as volunteers look on. Her trip today comes after a busy week visiting Hull, 2017's City of Culture, with her husband The Prince of Wales

She watched as chocolatier Zara Narracott made a batch on salted pralines, saying: 'It must be really nice coming to work'.

Camilla also visited Rare Meat Butchers of Southville - winner of the Best Butcher in the Bristol Good Food Awards - and the Southville Deli, where she was presented with a white chocolate heart.

The Duchess also spoke to Ian, a volunteer with the charity's Home from Hospital and Good Neighbours services, and was presented with a bouquet of roses for Valentine's Day.

The charity, which Camilla has been president of since 2013, works with volunteers to improve the lives of elderly people, and help them to remain active and independent.

Having a fine old time: Camilla sat down for a feast of scones and cakes at Trinity Bristol as she watched dancers show off their skills, before taking to the floor herself

The Duchess, who has been President of the charity since 2013, spoke to beneficiaries and volunteers and the tea party and swing dance at Trinity Bristol on Tuesday morning

Later on, she visited the offices of Women's Aid, meeting staff and survivors of domestic abuse.

She met with staff including CEO Polly Neate as well as Mandy Thomas, the 'real life Helen' who inspired The Archers' domestic violence storyline last year.

The Duchess also spoke to Claire Throssell, the charity's Child First spokeswoman, about their hopes to change the family courts.

Following her visit to Women's Aid, Camilla surprised shoppers during a walk down North Street where she stopped in at some of Bristol's independent stores, including Zara's Chocolates and Southville Deli.

Busy day: Later on, the Duchess of Cornwall visited the offices of Women's Aid, meeting staff and survivors of domestic abuse to learn more about the charity's work

Camilla met with staff including CEO Polly Neate (far right) as well as Mandy Thomas, the 'real life Helen' who inspired The Archers' domestic violence storyline last year (third left)

The Duchess of Cornwall meets staff on her tour of the offices of Women's Aid in Bristol to learn more about the charity's support work for victims of domestic abuse

Important cause: The Duchess meets survivors of domestic abuse on her tour of the offices of Women's Aid on Tuesday, after dropping in on a charity tea party at a community centre

Following her visit to Women's Aid (pictured), Camilla surprised shoppers during a walk down North Street where she stopped in at some of Bristol's independent stores

Her trip today comes after a whistlestop tour of Hull, 2017's City of Culture, with her husband The Prince of Wales last week.

Camilla and Charles began their trip at the newly-refurbished Ferens Art Gallery before moving onto Emmaus Hull and East Riding to celebrate the charity First Story's partnership with Hull UK City of Culture 2017 and the launch of its writing residencies in five Hull secondary schools.

She presented prizes to five young winners of Hull's 100-word writing competition and meet children taking part in a writing workshop.
Girl Scouts have been selling cookies for 100 years - and they have apparently sharpened their business acumen along the way.

Some of the country's top sellers have shared their best tips to peddle Thin Mints, Samoas, and Tagalongs - as well as this year's new flavor, the Smore's. These girls have sold 1,500 to 3,624 boxes in past years, compared to an average of 150 to 200.

Each one of them has their preferred strategy - from audacious online videos driving up internet sales to plain old business cards. One 15-year-old even told Time Money how she convinces customers they should buy more boxes - for their own benefit.

Be daring

Savvy: Greater New York Ambassador Najah Lorde (pictured), 15, has found a way to show customers why buying five boxes instead of two will make the transaction easier for them

Some sellers could be tempted to give up when faced with a reluctant customer - not Najah Lorde, also in the Girl Scouts Of Greater New York.

The 15-year-old has found a way to convince her clientele they should buy more boxes of cookies - not because it will benefit her, but because it will make the transaction easier for them.

One box of cookies costs $4. 'Say they wanted to buy two boxes,' Najah said. 'I'll say, 'Well, I mean, if you buy five boxes, that's just $20, so instead of giving me a bunch of bills, you can just give me one bill and then we're good to go.'' '

The mind trick seems to be working: the Ambassador once sold 2,833 boxes in a year.

Be both modern and old-timey

Master of her personal brand: Julia Vieira Reis (pictured), 11, of Connecticut, asked her mother for business cards for Christmas - but also relied on an online video to drive up digital sales

Tapping into the power of the internet helped 11-year-old Julia Vieira Reis, of Connecticut, advertise her online sales platform last year.

The Cadette created her own parody of Adele's hit Hello, changing the chorus to 'Hello from the outside, I must have knocked a thousand times'. She posted it on Facebook with a link to her online shop, attracting customers after they enjoyed the video.

But Julia, who once sold 2,200 boxes in a year, also relies on one of the oldest tricks in the book to keep her buyers: business cards. She asked for a stack of them for Christmas and has started giving them to each of her customers.

'That way, if they need any more, they can call you. So you can continue to get sales,' she said.

Have an end goal

Eyes on the prize: Dierdre More (pictured), 17, of Eastern Oklahoma, believes that sellers in her troop find motivation in knowing that the funds they raise will be used to pay for trips abroad

Motivation is key for Dierdre More, a 17-year-old Ambassador from Eastern Oklahoma.

Her troop has used cookie sales funds to take the girls on trips abroad. They headed to Costa Rica last year and plan to fly to Greece this year.

Knowing that their work will contribute to paying for an amazing trip galvanizes all of the sellers during Girl Scout cookies season, Dierdre said - and has helped her peddle an estimated 10,000 boxes on a dozen of years.

Build up your confidence

It was hard for 12-year-old Althea Collier, of Greater New York, to put herself out there at first.

Her area in Manhattan doesn't have a lot of houses, meaning Althea cannot go door-to-door and pitch her cookies to well-known neighbors. Instead, the Cadette stands at a booth in front of Columbia University, hoping to attract pedestrians and students.

Althea's key to beating first-time nerves? Getting a little braver every day.

'I didn't get many sales [the first day], because I really just wanted to go home,' she told Time Money. 'The next time I decided to really put myself out there. I told myself to be brave.'

Her goal now is to sell out every time - which is how Althea set up her personal record of 1,500 boxes.

Know your product

This year's current best-seller across the United States established a new record by doing something most entrepreneurs might find counter-intuitive: acknowledging her products' flaws.

Charlotte McCourt, 11, heard her father say his high school best friend was 'very rich' - and within the next hour, sent him an email inviting him to purchase a few boxes of cookies.

But Charlotte, of New Jersey, included brutally honest reviews of each of the cookie varieties, rating them one to 10. Her father sent the email to one of his other friends, television host Mike Rowe, who read it on Facebook.

Brutal honesty: Charlotte McCourt (pictured), 11, has set a national record of 23,535 boxes thanks to her detailed - and unforgiving - reviews of all the Girl Scout cookies

Not mincing her words, the Girl Scout described the shortbread-based Trefoil by writing: 'This is a plain peanut butter cookie that pairs nicely with any hot drink. I give it a six because alone it's kind of boring.'

Moving on to the Do-Si-Do, Charlotte said: 'I give it a five, for its unoriginality and its blandness.'

The Samoa on the other hand earned a nine, for its 'amazing flavor'.

'Last, and yes, I'm sorry to say, least, is the Toffee-tastic,' Charlotte wrote. 'The Toffee-tastic is a bleak, flavorless, gluten-free wasteland. I'm telling you, it's as flavorless as dirt.'

The 11-year-old's brutal honesty, has enabled her to sell more than 23,535 boxes of cookies so far, according to the New York Post - making her the best all-time seller in the country.

Know your audience

At 17 years old, Cassidy Hunt, of Greater Los Angeles, believes it might be harder for her to make a sale than for younger Girl Scouts.

'People usually want to buy their cookies from a little girl with pigtails. I have to put a little more work into it,' she said.

So Cassidy, a Veteran, has developed a pitch that she knows will resonate with her potential customers, highlighting her troop's philanthropic projects. Money from cookie sales goes back to the Girl Scout councils and funds activities for the girls as well as community programs.

For Cassidy, this means she can tell her customers about the various projects that their money will help fund, such as making holiday cards for juvenile inmates or organizing a food drive.

This approach has helped her set up an impressive record of 3,500 boxes sold.
He is the man behind some of the internet's most famous find the hidden object puzzles and now Gergely Dudas is back with a Valentine's themed brainteaser.

The Hungarian artist, known to his fans as Dudolf, has created a romantic puzzle challenging netizens to spot a love heart in a group of snails.

Dudas is known for creating particularly infuriating challenges with his initial challenge which asked users to find a panda among the snowmen leaving many scratching their heads.

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Hungarian artist Gergely Dudas is back with another puzzle this time asking the internet to find the love heart hidden among the snails

His new festive puzzle which he shared on his Facebook page proves just as difficult with the heart well discussed among the molluscs.

With all of the snails' shells in shades of pink it is almost impossible to find the heart hidden in the busy scene with some fans describing it as his 'toughest yet'.

However, those with a keen eye should be able to spot the heart tucked in front of a snail in the top right hand corner.

This is not the first romantic themed brainteaser to emerge from the web in time for Valentine's Day.

Those with a keen eye should be able to spot the heart tucked in front of a snail in the top right hand corner

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, people's thoughts are turning to hearts, flowers and trinkets.

Last week, a brainteaser created by Vouchercloud challenges you to find the ruby red ring hidden among a bed of roses.

The romantic riddle might serve as a reminder if you're due to buy a Valentine's gift, but either way it will certainly leave you scratching your head.

If you're struggling, look closely at the bottom right hand corner of the graphic.

But if you still can't find it, the solution is revealed below.

Can you spot the ruby ring hidden among the flowers in this tricky puzzle?

Look closely at the bottom right of the graphic, which is filled with purple and red roses, and you might just be able to spot it

Puzzle fans have also recently been challenged with finding the single one-eyed Jack concealed in this scattered deck of colourful cards.

The brainteaser proves especially tricky as the card is hidden among other Jacks, Kings and Queens of all suits.

A quick glance might not reveal where the Jack is hidden, but take a closer look at the cards beneath the top layer and you might have more luck.

Keep your eye peeled: There is a single one-eyed Jack hidden in this scattered deck of cards but only the most eagle-eyed will be able to pick it out

The Jack of Spades is in fact tucked away behind a Queen and Jack of Hearts, towards the left-hand side of the puzzle.

The Jack of Spades is one of three 'one-eyed royals' in a standard deck of cards.

The faces of the Jack of Spades, Jack of Hearts and King of Diamonds are all shown in profile, so only one eye is visible. All other face cards show two eyes.

They are frequently used as wildcards in games of draw poker.

Spotted: The card is tucked away behind a Queen and a Jack of Hearts on the left of the frame

The brainteaser was created by Casumo.com. Market manager Greg Tatton-Brown said: 'Weve got lots of card games on our site  but nothing quite like this.

'The one-eyed Jack is often used as a wildcard in games, and the one weve hidden away is definitely wild.'

Those who consider themselves particularly good at puzzles might also want to try this offering by Playbuzz, which asks users to spot all six words hidden in the sketch of a skating rink.

In a new brainteaser shared by Playbuzz users are asked to spot all six words hidden in the sketch of a skating rink

While the premise seems relatively simple the lettering of the words is near identical to the pencil strokes in the picture.

And with ten children featured in the drawing the busy scene makes it even harder to seek out the words.

However, those with a sharp eye should be able to pick out the word 'see' in the bottom right hand corner of the picture which was original drawn by Highlights.

Only those with a keen eye will be able to spot all of the words in the busy winter scene

Once one word is found several more should emerge to the viewer with 'cut' hidden in the windows of a tower block, 'now' in a boys yellow scarf and 'man' in one of the bushes.

The final two words can be spotted on two children in the left hand side of the scene with 'cool' hidden in a girl's blonde curls and 'tell' on a boy's green jumper.

This is just the latest brainteaser to leave the Internet scratching its head with vintage puzzles proving increasingly popular.

It is claimed that only one per cent of the population will be able to spot the hidden assassin in this vintage illustration

A recent image, posted to Playbuzz, features a man drawing a gun as he prepares to engage in a duel, while a group of bystanders look on - but where is his adversary?

The opponent will soon need to reveal himself so that the action can begin, but for the time being he remains invisible.

It's even more difficult to see him blending into the background because of the black and sepia toned image.

Were you able to spot him in the illusion 'Question of Honour', or was he too well hidden?
Even if a girl is always the bridesmaid, never the bride, it doesn't mean she won't go all out for her bestie's big day.

In light of a new viral photo, it's no surprise that Janessa James has been asked to be a bridesmaid no less than eleven times - as she seems to be the perfect person to have around for taking on the tougher tasks of putting on the perfect wedding.

The Vienna, Virginia-based intern was recently called on by bride Amy Freeman Lewis to help her and her new hubby snap their dream wedding photo, and Janessa was only too happy to oblige.

Making it happen: Bridesmaid Janessa James was snapped going all out to help her friend Amy Freeman Lewis get the perfect wedding shot

One of the photos from the shoot has since gained Janessa online fame, showing her in mid-dive away from the couple, after having flicked her friend's skirt into the air for a windswept effect.

She later posted the photo to Reddit, writing: 'This is how I am currently feeling about wedding and engagement season coming up.'

She added: 'Yes, this is an actual photo of me (extremely single) helping my best friend with her bridals. The photographer asked me to throw her train up and then dive out of the shot, and so I did. Very theatrically.'

The shot was taken in Spanish Fork, Utah, after the ceremony back in December 2015. Janessa and Amy have been friends since high school, but also went to college together at Brigham Young University in Provo.

Veteran: 'Extremely single' Janessa has been a bridesmaid no less than 11 times

On the way: Despite being a bridesmaid so many times, Janessa claims she is confident that the right guy for her is out there

Apparently, Amy had requested photographer Chloe Epperson of The Copper Creative snap an image of her dress looking as if it was blowing in the wind, but after multiple tries, they realized that Janessa was still too close to the couple to be properly Photoshopped out.

'So the photographer asked me to literally dive out of the way and this shot was born. Totally worth the bruises,' Janessa told Huffington Post.

As someone who has done the job so many times, Janessa has plenty of wise words for other ladies looking to be the best bridesmaid they can be.

'Our job is to hide the mistakes and issues from the happy couple and smile through it all  regardless of how bruised your feet are, how much tulle is on you or how awful that date with the best man was,' she said.

And despite watching so many of her friends walk down the aisle, she claims that she is only more sure that the right man for her is out there.
Not a fan of salmon or fish oil supplements? You may have a nagging concern that you're not getting enough omega 3s.

These essential fatty acids, found in oily fish, are thought to have a range of health benefits, including preventing heart disease.

But what may surprise you is just how low in these crucial fats many of us actually are and what this means for health.

In an experiment for Wednesday's episode of the BBC's Trust Me, I'm A Doctor, a group of 60 otherwise healthy volunteers were given blood tests to determine their omega 3 index, a measure of how much of the fat in the blood cells is omega 3.

Not a fan of salmon or fish oil supplements? You may have a nagging concern that you're not getting enough omega 3s

Anything under 4 per cent is thought to indicate high risk of cardiovascular disease and the majority of the volunteers  none of whom took supplements or were big eaters of fish  were around 4 per cent mark, with some as low as 3 per cent.

The good news is that it doesn't take long to boost your levels  in a further experiment with Liverpool John Moores University, the volunteers who ate oily fish twice a week or took a daily omega 3 supplement, saw their omega 3 index leap up to 7-8 per cent (the threshold for low risk) in just eight weeks.

But it's better to have oily fish such as mackerel and salmon instead of supplements as you get the benefit of other nutrients contained within the fish, the programme suggests.

If you do wish to pop a pill however, there is a wide range of supplements available but what's the best and are more expensive pills better?

The exact recommendations vary depending on whose advice you follow, but we are meant to have a combined daily intake of somewhere between 200 and 450mg of two key fats called EPA and DHA (which are two types of omega 3).

The programme researchers found that you don't need to spend a fortune to get an adequate amount.

You could spend as little as 13 in a year on supplements - or as much as 300.

But one thing to be aware of is that the oil in the capsules may not be as fresh as you think: one brand tested was found to have gone rancid despite being 11 months within its use-by date. Another was on the verge of spoiling.

The oil in the capsules may not be as fresh as you think: one brand tested was found to have gone rancid despite being 11 months within its use-by date

Not only can this deplete the benefits, there's evidence that rancid oils may be bad for our health - a New Zealand study recently found that feeding rancid fish oil to pregnant rats harmed their pups' development.

Unfortunately, it's hard to tell if the oil in a capsule has turned bad.

But by choosing a product with the longest possible shelf life and with an accreditation badge (which shows it has been tested or monitored by an independent body)  and by picking a smaller bottle  you can maximise the chances of it staying fresh before you've finished it.

Exposure to air, heat and light and can cause the product to spoil, so store them in a cool dry place. Or better still, learn to love salmon.
Back pain should only be treated with painkillers as a last resort, experts warned last night.

Massage, exercise and yoga should all be tried before drugs are prescribed, doctors in the US said.

In a review of the evidence, the American College of Physicians said pills should only be used after physical therapies had failed.

The respected body issued new guidelines to US doctors, advising them to stop using drugs as a first-line treatment.

Massage, exercise and yoga should all be tried before painkillers are offered, according to new research

In Britain NHS watchdog NICE does not make the same differentiation, advising doctors to use either exercise or drugs such as ibuprofen, or both at the same time.

But a growing body of evidence has shown painkillers are largely ineffective against backpain, and can do more harm than good.

Just two weeks ago a study by the University of Sydney reported that ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory drugs achieved little reduction in discomfort.

Back pain is one of the most common medical complaints seen by GPs, with 80 per cent of people suffering with the problem at some point in their life.

Most cases are caused by lifting a heavy object badly or bending awkwardly, and in most instances will go away within a few weeks.

But half see a recurrence of the problem within a year, and for some people back pain can last for years or come back in waves.

In the past most patients with back pain were prescribed some form of painkiller.

But recent shows there are actually no effective drugs for the problem, and the only way to treat it is through stretching and exercises.

Studies have shown paracetamol is ineffective against back pain, and more powerful opioid painkillers are both ineffective and highly dangerous.

Studies have found that common painkillers and ibuprofen like paracetamol are ineffective against back pain

With this months findings adding ibuprofen to the list of ineffective drugs, experts have now concluded they should no longer be offered.

Nitin Damle, president of the American College of Physicians, said last night: Physicians should reassure their patients that acute and subacute low back pain usually improves over time regardless of treatment.

Physicians should avoid prescribing unnecessary tests and costly and potentially harmful drugs, especially narcotics, for these patients.

Dr Tom Margham, spokesman for Arthritis Research UK, said: Back pain can have a devastating impact on a persons everyday life.

We know a large number of people with back pain rely on medication to help manage their pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, unlike paracetamol, are still recommended for patients. These drugs should be taken at the lowest dose for the shortest amount of time needed to help the pain.

Exercise, such as yoga, has been proven to be effective in easing back pain. We would encourage people with arthritis to talk to their GP about both exercise and painkillers if they have any questions about whats best for them.

In the UK back pain is one of the most common reasons for people visiting their GPs

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chair of the Royal College of GPs, added: Back pain causes considerable distress for many patients, and there is certainly no one size fits all solution, so further guidelines advocating a flexible approach to treating back pain make sense.

However, for some patients with back pain, particularly more severe, highly painful cases, there is a limit to how realistic even a modest amount of exercise can be  and we know that some drugs can be effective, particularly in providing pain relief for patients, so we shouldnt remove this option completely.

NICEs emphasis on combination therapies  be these physical, psychological or pharmacological  continues to be the most sensible way forward. Its vital that any treatment plan is developed in conversation between a GP and their patient, based on their individual circumstances, and in the best interest of achieving the best possible health outcome for them.
Kiren Rijiju is at the centre of a political storm following his remarks about Hinduism

Union minister of state for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju has sparked a major 'communal' row as Uttar Pradesh's most religiously sensitive state goes to the polls.

Although his remarks came in response to Arunachal Pradesh Congress' allegations that the Narendra Modi-led BJP government was striving to convert it into a Hindu state - it was the minster who found himself in the centre of a national political storm.

In a tweet, Rijiju argued that the Hindu population was declining in the country as the community did not convert others and that minorities in India were 'flourishing' unlike in many other countries.

'Hindu population is reducing in India because Hindus never convert people. Minorities in India are flourishing unlike some countries around,' he tweeted.

In response to the accusations of the BJP turning Arunachal Pradesh intp a Hindu state, he continued: 'Congress should not make such provocative statements. India is a secular country. All religious groups enjoy freedom and living peacefully.'

'Why is Congress making such irresponsible statements? People of Arunachal Pradesh are unitedly living peacefully with each other,' he added.

Kiren Rijiju hit back at the AP Congress's 'irresponsible remarks' but found himself in the line of fire

Rijiju hails from Arunachal Pradesh and is a practicing Buddhist but his comments drew criticism from a number of corners, including from several Muslim leaders.

Reacting to his statement, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi said he should remember that he is a minister of India for all Indians not just for Hindus.

While some came out in support of the Home Minister, others were left angry, with one calling him a 'disgrace' and another a 'troll'

'Remember your oath as minister,' the Hyderabad MP said. 'Wht have the minorities India got to do with minorities of 'other' countries. It is Constitution which guarantees rights [sic]', he tweeted.

Meanwhile Assam's finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that while Hindusim could not be seen in the context of a religion but a culture, and that there was no question of converting any state to any religion, the population of Hindus in Assam had progressively been denuded by the waves of illegal Bangladeshi migrants.

Responding to Rijiju's tweets, Maharashtra Congress secretary and activist-lawyer Shehzad Poonawalla also lambasted him.

Calling Rijiju a 'lier', Poonawalla said: 'The minister must not tell lies. According to the Census of 2011 the growth rate of the population of all sections has come down and the drop has been maximum among Muslims.'

According to the 2011 Census, Hindus make up India's 79.80 per cent of population, Muslims 14.23 per cent, Christians 2.30 per cent, Sikhs 1.72 per cent, Buddhists 0.70 per cent and Jains 0.37 per cent.

The country's Hindu population as per the 2001 Census was 80.5 per cent, while that of Muslims was 13.4 per cent, Christians 2.3 per cent, Sikhs 1.9 per cent, Buddhists 0.80 per cent and Jains 0.4 per cent.
A 31-year-old Polish woman has accused her Indian boyfriend of raping her on the pretext of marriage.

The woman had met the accused in 2014 on a cruise where they both worked in hospitality.

After their stint on the cruise ship ended, they kept in touch through social media and, a few days later, the man reportedly proposed.

The pair met while working on a cruise ship in 2014 (picture for representation only)

In March 2015, the woman, along with her two friends, visited India for two weeks.

During the trip, she claims to have spent a huge amount of money on accommodation and travel on the accused.

'He told me that he was expecting to get some money from a friend and would pay me once he received the same. Therefore, I continued to bear all his expenses,' the woman said.

She told police he not only raped her, but also exploited her financially.

Police filed a rape case against the accused on Saturday.

The woman alleged that since she had been promised marriage, she continued to maintain a physical relationship.

'He told me that there was nothing wrong in establishing physical relationship with a person whom she would be marrying soon. And I trusted him,' she said in the FIR.

'He continued to give me false hopes by taking me to family functions and made me meet his parents and relatives. Our relationship lasted till I was in India. Later, he blocked all means of communication with me,' she further alleged.

In the meantime, she alleged the man took her to a cousin's wedding where he introduced her to a woman who she claimed turned out to be his girlfriend.

Rohit Yadav, counsel for the woman, said that the accused had taken advantage of her client's innocence and continued to exploit her.

'During her stay in India, my client had been bearing all the expenditure of the accused. He would make her pay the house rent, and buy mobile phones and expensive clothes for him. He would neither return the money my client gave him to get the currency exchanged,' Yadav said.

After she left India, the accused severed all means of communication with her, it was alleged.

She eventually got in touch with his girlfriend in India following which she decided to file a complaint with police.
China has once again blocked the move, this time by three permanent members of the UN Security Council - US, UK and France - to designate Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as an international terrorist.

The US and the UK have treated India's case on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism with ambivalence in the past.

Maintaining a political balance in relations with both countries, the view that terrorism from Pakistan derives from the unsolved Kashmir issue, the need for Pakistan's cooperation in Afghanistan have been considerations that have provided Pakistan space over the years to continue its terrorist depredations.

Maulana Masood Azhar, head of the Jaish-e-Mohammed rebel group addresses a press conference in Karachi

Action

That these three countries jointly proposed action against the JeM chief indicates a change of mood towards Pakistan against the larger canvas of the rise of the Islamic State and a spate of terrorist attacks in major European countries by Islamist radicals.

That China blocked the move indicates, in turn, its determination to shield Pakistan in the UN Security Council (UNSC) on the terrorism issue and disregard the consequences of this not only on India-China relations but also on its international reputation.

China can hardly tout its commitment to combat the menace of international terrorism collectively if it opposes tagging as a terrorist the leader of an organisation already declared one by the UNSC.

India has previously tried to get Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar designated as a global terrorist by the UN

Because Pakistan claims that terrorism from its soil is the handiwork of 'nonstate' actors which escape government control should actually make it easier for China to join the UNSC consensus on Masood Azhar.

But in unabashed cynicism on its part, China advocates a consensus but prevents one by an unwillingness to join it.

In further chicanery, it accuses India of seeking political gains from nailing down Masood Azhar as a terrorist while implying that its own counter-moves to shield Pakistan are not politically motivated.

In reality, Pakistan has become so important geo-politically for China because of the illegal China-Pakistan economic corridor and Gwadar - the meeting point between its connectivity projects on land and sea - that it is willing to be seen in our eyes as complicit with Pakistan on promoting terror against India.

Reports that China has encouraged Pakistan to put Hafiz Saeed under house arrest are 'fake news' intended to present China in good light in view of its obstructionism on Masood Azhar's case.

Why China should counsel Pakistan to place curbs on the Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT) chief, the mastermind of the Mumbai attacks whose incarceration and prosecution India seeks, and prevent action against the JeM chief responsible for the Pathankot attack defies common sense.

PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping

Isolation

If Russia had joined the other three UNSC permanent members to propose Masood Azhar's inclusion in the list of international terrorists it would have isolated China more dramatically.

Ironically, while the US and UK especially, and to a lesser extent France, have, despite their traditional ties with Pakistan, moved to pressure Pakistan to curb its well-known terrorist figures, Russia with no such ties and a past victim of massive geo-strategic and physical blows at Pakistan's hands in Afghanistan has stood apart.

This is not surprising because Russia has, even in joint statements with us, agreed to references to terrorism that exclude implicit finger-pointing at Pakistan.

The October 2016 summit statement, for instance, omits any reference to cross-border terrorism, the Mumbai, Pathankot or Uri attacks, or even LeT and JeM.

Russia's reticence in directly condemning Pakistan's promotion of terrorism precedes, in fact, the marked deterioration of its relations with the US and its more willing embrace of China in self-interest.

Despite its vulnerability to Islamic terrorism and the geopolitical necessity to prevent Islamic radicalism from spreading in Central Asia from the Af-Pak region, it has treated Pakistan with consideration.

Under the Obama administration, Russia and the US have had harsh stand-offs in the UNSC.

Tussle

Relations with the UK and France have been acerbic too, in particular on Ukraine and Syria.

As a consequence, Russia and China - which has its own geopolitical tussles with the US - have coordinated closely in the UNSC on issues of difference with the Western powers.

Russia has begun to work together with China in our region too as demonstrated by its sponsorship of the Russia-China-Pakistan dialogue on Afghanistan, the overtures to the Taliban, as well as to Pakistan that extend to the defence area as well.

In this light, Russia could hardly be expected to join the three Western countries, with which its relations are tense, to have Masood Azhar declared a terrorist and break with China's position on the issue.

Russia's passiveness on the JeM chief's case in the UNSC, however, does not imply that it opposes his designation under UNSC Resolution 1267 and stands in the way of a consensus.

In reality, designating Masood Azhar as a terrorist by the UN or incarcerating Hafiz Saeed in comfort are procedural or tactical steps that do not materially change the terrorist threat to us from Pakistan

Hafiz Saeed has been declared a terrorist by the UN and the US has a $10 million bounty on his head, but he has continued to have free run in Pakistan.

He has been arrested and released several times and this charade continues.

JeM functions even when it has been notified as a terrorist organisation by the UN in 2001 and nominally banned by Pakistan in 2002.

Unfortunately, Pakistan now benefits from muscle-flexing China's protective shield for its terrorist affiliations.
In his first media interaction since taking charge, Delhi police commissioner Amulya Patnaik divulged little about his future plans.

He spent around 30 minutes at Geo Mess on Monday and greeted journalists, but didn't give away much on his priority areas or steps he would take in fields such as law and order and traffic.

Patnaik was recently promoted from special commissioner (vigilance) to commissioner of police, replacing Alok Kumar Verma.

Delhi police commissioner Amulya Patnayak (centre) was recently promoted

The main highlight of the event was a special cell that had managed to arrest 12 terrorists, including those from ISIS, Al- Qaeda, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF).

Besides that, 23 arms traffickers, 38 drug traffickers and 40 wanted gangsters active in different part of the national Capital were arrested by the special cell last year.

'Delhi police had managed to prevent all forms of terror attack in the national Capital. Besides, special cell officials had arrested six ISIS terrorists, three JeM terrorists, two from Al-Qaeda and one from KLF,' said Balajee Srivastava, special commissioner of Delhi police (special cell).

At his first news conference, it was revealed that a special cell had managed to nab 12 terrorists, including those from ISIS, Al- Qaeda, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) (picture for representation only)

He said police have adopted various measures to secure IGIA and set up permanent pickets across the city.

However, the crime graph has registered an upward rise in the last year.

Delhi police dealt with 2,09,515 cases in 2016 compared to 1,91,377 in 2015.

The annual report suggests that the crime in NCR jumped four-fold since 2010, when Delhi police had registered 51,292 cases.

Delhi police have also caught 38 drug traffickers and 23 arms dealers, it was revealed

On the organised crime front, Delhi police nabbed 38 drug traffickers, including one Nigerian, and 23 arms dealers, recovering 330 pistols, 96 magazines, 5,877 live and 65 dead cartridges from them.

Police could trace the route of arms traffickers to Bihar, UP, Jharkhand and MP.

Drugs traffickers generally operated via Pakistan, Punjab, Rajasthan and border areas of Nepal.

A large number of drugs are also smuggled through the porous Indo-Bangla border through Malda.

Police registered 2,155 rape cases in 2016 and 96.43 per cent of them were committed by persons having acquaintance with the victims or their family.

They registered 4,165 molestation cases in 2016, which is 30 per cent less compared to 2015.

They also registered 528 cases of murder, which is slightly higher to the previous year.
Aesthetes who know the Lalit Kala Akademi as the flag-bearer of Indian art are in for a new kind of culture shock.

An internal audit by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) working with the Delhi high court, reveals a grim litany of malpractices at the prestigious institution.

'In a landmark judgment, on April 4, 2013, the court decided to restore the election process and directed the academy to conduct its elections in a time-bound manner by May 12, 2013,' said a member of the art fraternity, seeking anonymity.

An internal audit by the Ministry of Human Resource Development reveals a grim litany of malpractice at the top art facility

'Justice Rajiv Shakhder also appointed retired chief justice AP Shah as election officer to conduct the balloting. But, almost four years after the order, no election has taken place.'

'Also, for three financial years between 2012 and 2015, the academy paid lakhs of rupees to advocates and booked the amount under the subhead 'election to general council'.

Mail Today has seen a copy of the ministry audit report that says the academy has been in the practice of allotting the galleries free of cost to embassies and private artists or organisations despite rules saying 'no exemption from payment of licence fees shall be allowed to anyone whether the name of Lalit Kala Akademi is mentioned in applicant's exhibition brochure or not'.

The scrutiny was carried out by the HRD ministry's internal audit wing on request from the Ministry of Culture that funds the academy.

According to sources, a recent administrator at the institution also supported some nonexistent NGOs.

'The action of the Akademi is in violation of its rules and therefore unauthorised.

'The free of cost allotment of galleries resulted in total revenue loss of about Rs 52.5 lakh to the Akademi during 2012-13 to 2014-15 in addition to service tax evasion and loss to the exchequer of about Rs 6.49 lakh,' the ministry report says.

'During the course of audit, it was found that Shailendra Tiwari was appointed legal advisor of LKA and was paid Rs 21.45 lakh from February 15, 2013 to March 31, 2015 towards fees and other charges.

'The fee structure approved by LKA for legal advisor is two to 10 times more than the approved rates by Ministry of Law & Justice.'

It also highlights illegal appointments of nearly 17 staff members on contractual basis with hefty salaries, spending lakhs of rupees from the exchequer.

The Centre took over management control of the academy in 2015, citing complaints regarding alleged administrative and financial irregularities in its functioning.

According to sources, though acting on the complaints of the art fraternity and based on the audit report, the ministry removed Lalit Kala Akademi chairman Kalyan Kumar Chakravarty unceremoniously for the alleged irregularities during his tenure, the current bureaucracy is trying to 'save the skins of the previous brethren'.

The Centre took over management control of the academy in 2015, citing complaints regarding alleged administrative and financial irregularities in its functioning (file pic)

The audit report indicates that financial prudence and propriety expected to be exercised while spending public money was not adhered to by the academy.

When contacted, the newly appointed administrator of the institution told Mail Today that the process of election for members of the general council has not started yet.

'I am very new to this Lalit Kala Akademi,' said CS Krishna Setty. 'Regarding election, the government has to take the call.'

The audit report indicates that financial prudence and propriety expected to be exercised while spending public money was not adhered to by the academy (file pic)

The auditors have recommended the licence fee due be recovered from the organisations and artists who were allotted the galleries free of cost and service tax be collected from them to be deposited to the exchequer.

It has also advised the academy to refrain from engaging advocates at exorbitant rates and follow proper procedure by utilising the services of counsel and senior counsel empaneled by the ministry of law and justice.

On the matter of implementing the recommendations, Setty said he cannot comment right now as he is in Bengaluru.
According to a new report, India witnessed the world's highest number of bombings last year, even more than war-torn Iraq and Afghanistan.

The new report from the National Bomb Data Centre (NBDC) states that there were 406 such incidents, which include IED and ordnance explosive blasts, in the country.

Iraq came second with almost half the number at 221, though the report did not mention the number of casualties.

he new report from the National Bomb Data Centre (NBDC) states that there were 406 such incidents, which include IED and ordnance explosive blasts, in the country

NBDC functions as the nodal post-blasts investigation department under country's federal contingency force NSG.

The report did sound a word of caution on the global data saying the centre obtained these figures from an open source.

Neighbouring Pakistan witnessed a total of 161 bombings during 2016 followed by Afghanistan, where 132 bombings were recorded, 92 in Turkey, 71 in Thailand, 63 in South Africa, 56 in Syria, Egypt 42 and 29 in Bangladesh among others.

The list does not reflect the exact number and details of the incident, the National Security Guard's NBDC said in its annual compilation of such incidents called 'Bombshell'.

Indian-controlled J&K has a Muslim majority and there are a number of armed separatist groups fighting to break free from New Delhi

Out of the total 406 incidents reported during this period in India, 337 were triggered using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) while the rest 69 occurred using ordnance explosives like grenades or ammunition shells.

The report delved deeper and analysed that the maximum of IED blasts in a week in India, at 63, occurred on Thursdays, followed by 50 on Wednesdays and so on.

March proved to be the deadliest in India with a maximum of 42 incidents being recorded in this month, followed by 36 in April (2016).

'The data...has been obtained from police records available from time to time. This does not reflect the exact number and details of the incident,' the report added.

The NBDC report, published last week, also reported that Jammu and Kashmir saw an over 121 per cent rise in blast and IED related incidents after the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani in the Valley in July last year.

'While 14 IED bombing incidents were reported in J&K in 2015, the numbers went up to 31 last year. J&K saw an increase in blast incidents and casualities particularly after the death of Burhan Wani,' the report said.
In a major embarrassment to the ruling BJP in Madhya Pradesh, two people arrested by the polices Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) during an investigation into a spy ring turned out to have strong links with the party.

The party that is known to wear its nationalism on its sleeve initially did not not react to the arrests. It then moved on to give clarifications on how those arrested had peripheral roles, before finally acknowledging the action and congratulating the ATS for its work.

If this were not enough, in a separate incident two BJP office bearers were also arrested by the police for allegedly running sex rackets.

Two persons arrested by Madhya Pradeshs Anti Terrorist Squad during an investigation into a spy ring turned out to have strong links with the BJP

The ongoing crackdown against illegal mining in the state also caught relatives of BJP leaders in the net and the penetration of the party by criminal elements should be a cause for concern to the party.

In November 2016 Satvinder and Dadu were arrested in Jammu for supplying classified information to their handlers across the border.

The MP ATS had been alerted after a state link was found in it. After mounting surveillance on the suspects, ATS arrested 11 people from Gwalior, Bhopal, Satna and Jabalpur.

Balram, the man arrested from Satna, is accused of managing a number of bank accounts. It was Balram who allegedly transferred money to Satvinder and Dadu and the money had originated in Pakistan.

The others arrested in MP provided SIM cards that enabled calls which cannot be traced to those running this racket.

One of those arrested in Bhopal included Dhruv Saxena, an office bearer of the BJPs IT cell and BJYM.

Another accused arrested from Gwalior is the brother in law of a BJP corporator.

The Congress lost no time in reminding the BJP of the sermons on patriotism it had given to others.

BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, who had recently launched an attack on Shah Rukh Khan just before the release of Raees, is seen standing alongside Dhruv Saxena in a series of pictures.

The embarrassment could not have come at a worse time as RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was also in MP at the time.

Close on the heels of the spy ring, the Bhopal police unearthed an alleged sex racket in which another BJP leader is accused of being involved with.

Madhya Pradesh Anti Terrorist Squad members displaying an electronic appliance used by arrested members of a gang, allegedly involved in espionage, to send messages to their Pakistan handlers

The Shivpuri police arrested Rajji Randhawa, a local BJP leader on charges of forcing a girl in Indore in the flesh trade.

The involvement of BJP office bearers points to the fact that criminal elements have infiltrated the party.

The embarrassment was evident when BJP state president Nand Kumar Singh Chauhan told state delegates that he was reprimanded by BJP president Amit Shah for the involvement of criminals in the party.

Whether that actually happened or not isn't clear but it is the job of the party leadership to weed out criminal elements.

It however, seems improbable in the current MP BJP unit due to the welcoming-with-open-arms policy the party seems to be following in the state.
Support: Former Bank of England governor Lord King has stuck up for Brexit voters

Lord (Mervyn) King recently told an audience at the London School of Economics how he resented constant suggestions that anyone who voted Brexit 'must be either ignorant, uneducated, stupid or racist'.

Were the former Bank of England governor's comments aimed at anyone in particular, I wonder?

A well-placed source tells me Merv, 68, has been especially agitated by the Financial Times's sourpuss tone since the referendum.

City grandee and merchant banker Ken Olisa is recorded in the court circular as having 'received' the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Sunday night's Bafta awards.

This was in his capacity as Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London, which requires natty, bow tie-wearing Ken, 65, to be the point man for any visits the royal family make within the capital.

A tedious-sounding role, but it'll be Sir Ken before long, surely. Even in these banker-bashing times.

Blackstone group founder Stephen Schwarzman, whose wealth is put at 9billion, hosted an exotic 70th birthday bash at his sprawling estate in Florida's Palm Beach on Saturday.

Around 600 guests, who included Barclays chief Jes Staley and gawky Citigroup boss Michael Corbat, were entertained inside a two-storey tent by acrobats and a performance by eccentric pop star Gwen Stefani.

Meanwhile, a gondolier languidly steered a punt around a vast swimming pool. All sounds in the best possible taste, I must say.

City lawyers Clifford Chance, one of the so-called 'magic circle' of legal firms, has announced it managed to retain only 67 per cent of its trainees over the past year.

That's despite the firm paying newly qualified associates a princely 85,000 a year.

The remaining mites now have their work cut out. The firm has just been appointed by Co-op Bank to assist with the unenviable task of finding them a buyer.

Apropos hapless civil servants losing 5.5billion of taxpayers' money on failed schemes, as revealed in yesterday's Daily Mail, a report commissioned by David Cameron in 2010 on government efficiency observed of Whitehall: 'The process is shocking.

There's no reporting, there's no accountability. You could not be in business if you operated like this.' It was written by Sir Philip Green, back in the days when he was still considered something of a business guru.
The Financial Ombudsman Service has changed its tune and will now investigate the case of an investor who lost money in failed Secured Energy Bonds.

A This is Money investigation in January 2015 revealed how Secured Energy Bonds  offered by Australian firm CBD Energy  promising returns of 6.5 per cent from adding solar panels to rooftops had collapsed.

Investors collectively poured 7.5million into the doomed bonds, which offered no Financial Services Compensation Scheme protection.

Last year, the Financial Conduct Authority urged those hit to get in touch with the FOS with details.

Failed bond: Investors in Secured Energy Bonds collectively lost 7.5m

The city watchdog warned that this would not necessarily mean a return of lost cash, but we explained it was an avenue worth exploring for investors, who could only buy the bonds with a minimum of 2,000.

At the time, the FCA said mini-bonds  debt securities typically issued by small businesses to raise funds  are not regulated in the UK and as such, firms that issue them do not need to be authorised by it.

However, firms who approve financial promotions on behalf of unauthorised firms issuing bonds like this must comply with its rules on financial promotions  and financial promotion must be 'fair, clear and not misleading.'

The bond's prospectus and promotional materials were given the rubber stamp of approval by Independent Portfolio Managers.

As This is Money previously explained, the company is regulated by the FCA and it also acted as a security trustee for the bonds.

Without IPM, the bond could not have been advertised to individual investors.

When we published the original article on Secured Energy Bonds, we attempted to contact IPM director Antony Curtis for explanation, but he did not respond to calls.

The news today that the FOS is looking into a case over the Secured Energy Bonds could give hope to others who have been stung by the bond.

Originally, it said the case did not fall within its remit.

The FOS told This is Money that it is not able to comment on individual cases, so it is not clear whether the case it is looking into is of one individual or a group action.

It adds that before it is able to investigate a case, it has to establish whether a complaint is one it has the power to look into - and this is not always clear.

Furthermore, the news may offer a chink of light to investors who have been hit by another failed bond offered by Providence, which promised returns of 8.25 per cent and 7.5 per cent.

This is Money pre-warned cash in the bond was in danger before it eventually collapsed.

More than 8million was tied up in the Providence Bonds. Deloitte, the administrator, says it is unlikely any money will be recoverable for investors  it found money had not been used for its stated purpose.

The ruling of this Secured Energy Bond case is likely be months away. However, hundreds of worried investors will be keeping an eye out on the result.

Investors of both the Providence and Secured Energy Bonds have formed action groups.

They can be contacted on providencebonds.iag@gmail.com and secured.energy.bonds.iag@gmail.com.
The private equity owners of Agent Provocateur are close to securing a buyer for the troubled lingerie chain.

Advisers to 3i, which took control of the firm in 2007, are understood to have drawn up a shortlist of three suitors.

The potential buyers include former La Senza owner Lion Capital, specialist turnaround group Endless and French women's fashion brand Etam.

The planned deal follows a long period of dwindling sales and an accounting scandal.

Smalls change: The owners of Agent Provocateur are close to securing a buyer for the troubled lingerie chain

Private equity group 3i this winter wrote 39million off their investment in Agent Provocateur, taking the value on the books down to 3million.

But 3i bosses are thought to be keen to agree a deal worth more than the brand's outstanding debts of 30million.

They brought in experts from Alix Partners, a firm that specialises in helping troubled companies, to revive the lingerie seller.

The planned overhaul was expected to involve closing around 30 per cent of its 111 stores in 29 countries, and reducing staff by a third in its HQ in London.

But investment bank Rothschild was also brought on board to see if it could find a buyer.

And forensic accountants from Big Four firm KPMG were drafted in to trawl the books because of suspected 'accounting irregularities'.

All this corporate wrangling is a far cry from Agent Provocateur's origins as the brainchild of Joe Corre, the son of former Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren and punk fashion designer Vivienne Westwood.

Corre founded the business with his then wife Serena Rees in 1994. Their original shop in London's Soho became a destination for celebrities and supermodels as well as ordinary women.

Glamorous women of all vintages have been photographed in Agent Provocateur's risque underclothes, from Marie Helvin in a corset to Daisy Lowe in a leopardskin catsuit.

The City branch, in the old Royal Exchange, is an annual site of pilgrimage for bankers at Christmas, blowing a bit of their bonus on a cheeky gift for the girlfriend, mistress, or even wife.

IN BRIEFS: AGENT PROVOCATEUR Stars to have modelled for the brand include Kylie Minogue, Kate Moss (pictured) and Maggie Gyllenhaal The first Agent Provocateur shop was opened in December 1994 in Soho, central London

The company was founded by Joe Corre and his then wife Serena Rees

Corre, 49, is the son of Dame Vivienne Westwood and one time manager of Sex Pistols Malcolm McLaren

The company has 111 stores in 29 countries

Stars to have modelled for the brand include Kylie Minogue, Kate Moss and Maggie Gyllenhaal

But some of its adverts have bee criticised for being 'degrading to women'

Female sales staff are dressed in fitted pink housecoats so they look like naughty nurses. One early marketing slogan was 'More S&M than M&S'.

3i bought a big stake in Agent Provocateur back in 2007 for a sum never officially disclosed, but thought to be around 48million.

Sir Stuart Rose, who went on to be boss of Marks & Spencer and later a leading light in the campaign for the UK to remain in the European Union, was installed as chairman.

The private equity firm became involved as a result of Corre's divorce from Rees, after she embarked on a relationship with Paul Simonon, the former bass player with The Clash.

The nitty-gritty of 3i's involvement with the couple's business empire was overshadowed by salacious gossip about the split.

But in the heady days before the credit crisis private equity firms were desperate to buy into luxury brands.

Rees left the business but Corre stayed on as creative director. He later resigned, and has a lawsuit outstanding against 3i claiming they didn't pay him enough for his stake.

He no longer has a holding. 3i, which recently put another 4million into the business, tried to sell in 2014 but no deal transpired.

The private equity firm is tight-lipped about the nature of the accounting irregularities at the underwear-seller, though these are thought to involve an overstatement of profits.

The latest figures, for the year to March 28, 2015, show that profits fell by more than 20 per cent to 3.7million. Agent Provocateur has delayed publishing its accounts for the year to March 2016.
Japanese giant Toshiba is expected to confirm it is withdrawing from new nuclear projects outside Japan, dealing a big blow to plans for a new power station in the UK.

It has been reviewing its investment in overseas nuclear projects and is set to make a decision about its future as soon as today.

Toshiba has 60 per cent of Nugen, the firm which plans to build a 10billion nuclear plant at Moorside, near Sellafield, Cumbria.

Toshiba has 60 per cent of Nugen, the firm which plans to build a 10billion nuclear plant at Moorside, near Sellafield, Cumbria (pictured)

But it is embroiled in an accounting scandal, and faces multi-billion dollar write-downs of its subsidiary Westinghouse Electric.

If it pulls out of the project in Cumbria, the UK government will need to find new backers.

Chris Jukes, the GMB union's senior officer for Sellafield, said: 'A new build at Moorside is part of a vital broader and home-grown energy mix  built, maintained and operated by British workers.

'That is why we are calling on the British Government to commit the investment that is lost by Toshiba pulling out and for the British and Japanese governments to work together on a broader solution.'

Unite union's national officer for energy Kevin Coyne said: 'This is potentially a deeply troubling development and points to the need for the Government to take a more strategic approach.'
A man who suffered at the hands of a Catholic paedophile as a teenager in the 1970s is calling for Cardinal George Pell to face child abuse allegations and resign so victims of abuse by member's of the church can 'finally' have closure.

Robert Zammit left school aged 16 to escape the clutches of a paedophile teacher  he told Daily Mail Australia he couldn't speak out about his abuse at the time or for decades afterward because 'it wasn't talked about'.

Dr Zammit wants Cardinal Pell to return to Australia and answer to allegations the country's most senior Catholic ignored abuse claims.

The senior Catholic has refused to fly from Rome to Australia on medical grounds to answer calls from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Sydney.

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Vet, Dr Robert Zammit, pictured, has hit out at Pope Francis, calling on him to ' stop protecting' Australian Cardinal George Pell

The vet, who was abused as a child, is calling for Pell to resign and face questions in Australia over how he dealt with allegations of child abuse in the church

Dr Zammit, pictured, didn't tell anyone about the abuse he suffered as a teenager because he felt he couldn't now he wants children who are abused to feel comfortable coming forward

The angry victim has compiled an open letter to Pope Francis demanding the church act and stop letting the Cardinal 'hide' behind the walls of the Vatican.

'He lives his life among treasures and wealth, while those affected by his lack of responsibility, his lack of actions, remain within the cells of conflict for what was done to them, remain within the prison of the abuse inflicted upon them and remain in a life that finds acceptance of normality an impossibility.

'Though some have avoided a life of pain through the taking of their own life. And yet, Pell still sleeps comfortably within the Vatican,' he wrote.

'Though some have avoided a life of pain through the taking of their own life. And yet, Pell still sleeps comfortably within the Vatican,' Dr Zammit wrote

Pell, pictured, is currently residing at the Vatican - and has refused to fly to Australia - on medical grounds

Dr Zammit kept quiet about the abuse he suffered at the hands of his teacher until 2014 when he published a book titled 'Bless me, Father' which outlined the abuse of a boy at a Catholic school.

'My mother realised I had been abused when she read the book. I hadn't spoken openly about it until then,' he said.

He told Daily Mail Australia he wants the Pope to take action and force Cardinal Pell back to Australia so victims of child sex offences feel comfortable speaking out when it happens.

'I want people to be able to speak up when they are abused,' he said.

After his book was published Dr Zammit realised he was not the only boy in his year who had suffered at the hands of the paedophile teacher.

'I thought it had only happened to myself and a friend but two people have contacted me in recent years to tell me about their abuse as well.

'I don't know how many people were abused, but it was obviously a lot more than I realised.'

Dr Zammit has asked Pope Francis, pictured, to ' clean out the swamp' in the letter

Pope Francis with Cardinal Pell in Vatican City, 2015 - Dr Zammit wants the Cardinal to face questions in Australia about child abuse within the church

Dr Zammit says the pope, pictured, needs to ' stop protecting' Pell

While the book is fiction it does centre around the type of abuse Dr Zammit and one of his closest friends were subjected to.

While the book is fiction it does centre around the type of abuse Dr Zammit and one of his closest friends were subjected to.

The bitter disappointment Dr Zammit feels towards the church, which he is still a member of, is reflected in the letter.

'The Vatican moral corruption has seeped into the very vestments worn by priests and brothers as a sign that they cannot be touched.

'Now is the time to drain the swamp!'

He sent the letter last week  and while he doesn't expect a response from the Pope himself he does hope it helps force his hand.

Dr Zammit wrote a book about a young boy abused at the hands of and adult in the church - this was published in 2014 and was the first his mother new of the abuse he suffered in the 1970s

'Pope Francis, you promised a new era of austerity for members of the Church; of protection to those who genuinely seek refuge from poverty, tyranny and abuse.

'Pope Francis, you recently wrote on Twitter ''Let us hear the cry of the many children who are enslaved. No one must remain indifferent to their sorrow.''

'What about those enslaved in their world of abuse? Those punished because they spoke up about their abuse? And those enslaved because they feared to speak of it?'

The Catholic man then called for the church to 'rid itself of the entrenched evil'. 'Cardinal Pell please do us all a favour and resign,' he said as he signed off the letter.

Dr Zammit, who came to Australia as a boy with his family became a vet after leaving school early due to his abuse.

At first they were worried when he signed out of school, and it took decades of them to realise just why he felt he had to leave.

Dr Zammit says he doesn't want any person faced with decision like that in the future and is calling for the church to bring justice down on the religious men who were involved.

Dr Zammit says he doesn't want any person faced with decision like that in the future and is calling for the church to bring justice down on the religious men who were involved.
A bitterly divided Senate on Monday confirmed Steven T Mnuchin as Treasury secretary, despite strong objections by Democrats that the former banker ran a 'foreclosure machine' when he headed OneWest Bank.

Republicans said Mnuchin's long tenure in finance makes him qualified to run the department, which will play a major role in developing economic policy under President Donald Trump.

'He has experience managing large and complicated private-sector enterprises and in negotiating difficult compromises and making tough decisions - and being accountable for those decisions', said Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, chairman of the Finance Committee.

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Former Wall Street executive Steven Mnuchin, 54, was confirmed as Treasury secretary in a 53-47 vote Monday evening

Votes on President Trump's Cabinet picks have exposed deep partisan divisions in the Republican-controlled Senate, with many of the nominees approved by mostly party-line votes

Like others in Trump's Cabinet, Mnuchin is a wealthy businessman. Republicans said Mnuchin's long tenure in finance makes him qualified to run the department, which will play a major role in developing economic policy under the president

Trump, Mnuchin, his fiancee Louise Linton and Vice President Mike Pence take their positions for Mnuchin's swearing-in ceremony as the next Treasury secretary in the Oval Office of the White House on Monday in Washington, DC

Trump (left), while accompanied by Pence (right), Mnuchin and his fiancee Linton, delivers remarks at Mnuchin's swearing in ceremony in the Oval Office on Monday

Trump (right), Pence (left) and Mnuchin's fiancee Linton, all watch as Secretary of Treasury Mnuchin signs a document during his swearing in ceremony in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, on Monday

Votes on President Trump's Cabinet picks have exposed deep partisan divisions in the Republican-controlled Senate, with many of the nominees approved by mostly party-line votes.

The vote on Mnuchin, 54, followed the same pattern.

He was confirmed by a mostly party-line vote of 53-47.

Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia joined the Republicans.

Like others in Trump's Cabinet, Mnuchin is a wealthy businessman.

He worked at Goldman Sachs for 17 years and served as finance chairman for Trump's presidential campaign.

Mnuchin has also invested in the entertainment industry and housing.

He will join several other former bankers with senior level positions with the Trump administration, including Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, White House chief strategist Stephen K Bannon and National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn.

Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass, has been an outspoken critic of Mnuchin, who she called the 'Forrest Gump of the financial crisis' in November

Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass, criticized Trump earlier this month for failing to deliver on his campaign pledge to 'drain the swamp'.

Citing Trump's promise to voters that he would 'get rid of those Wall Street guys', Warren called out the president for almost immediately hiring wealthy business people to his administration.

In doing so, Warren said Trump handed over the country 'to the very people that he had railed against during the campaign'.

Trump's reliance on Wall Street in staffing his administration drew criticism from Senators Bernie Sanders and Warren in November:

'During the campaign, Donald Trump told the American people that he was going to change Washington by taking on Wall Street', they said in a rare joint statement.

'Donald Trumps choice for Treasury secretary, Steve Mnuchin, is just another Wall Street insider. That is not the type of change that Donald Trump promised to bring to Washington  that is hypocrisy at its worst'.

As Treasury secretary, Mnuchin is expected to play a key role in Republican efforts to overhaul the nation's tax code for the first time in three decades.

Trump has promised to unveil a proposal in the coming weeks.

Mnuchin will also be in charge of imposing economic sanctions on foreign governments and individuals, including Russia.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, said Mnuchin 'is smart, he's capable and he's got impressive private-sector experience'.

Democrats complained that Mnuchin made much of his fortune by foreclosing on families during the financial crisis.

Mnuchin's nomination drew concern and protests from Senate Democrats due to his former role as a partner at Goldman Sachs, as well as his role at the firm OneWest Bank

Here Mnuchin testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington at his confirmation hearing on January 19 before the Senate Finance Committee

In 2009, Mnuchin assembled a group of investors to buy the failed IndyMac bank, whose collapse the year before was the second biggest bank failure of the financial crisis.

He renamed it OneWest and turned it around, selling it for a handsome profit in 2014.

'Mr Mnuchin has made his career profiting from the misfortunes of working people', said Senator Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.

'OneWest was notorious for taking an especially aggressive role in foreclosing on struggling homeowners'.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, D-RI, said, 'I simply cannot forgive somebody who took a look at that banking crisis and took a look at the pain that Wall Street had sent in a wave across all of America, and thought, "Ah, there's a great new way to make money, foreclosing on people"'.

Representative Maxine Waters of California, the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, called Mnuchin 'the foreclosure king'.

Senator Tim Kaine, D-Va, voted against Mnuchin's nomination because he distrusts him

In his testimony before the committee, Mnuchin defended his actions while heading OneWest.

Mnuchin has said he had worked hard during the financial crisis to assist homeowners with refinancing so that they could remain in their homes.

He said his bank had extended more than 100,000 loan modifications to borrowers.

But several Democratic senators raised examples of residents in their states who they said were not treated fairly by OneWest, including elderly homeowners and members of the military.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, was one of 25 Democratic senators who wanted the 'victims of Mnuchin foreclosure machine' to testify at his Treasury confirmation hearing today

Senator Patty Murray, D-Wash, fears Trump's plan to 'drain the swamp' will leave Americans high and dry

Senator Warren, D-Mass, accused Mnuchin of shady lending practices that led to the financial crisis during his time as head of Goldman Sachs.

'Steve Mnuchin is the Forrest Gump of the financial crisis  he managed to participate in all the worst practices on Wall Street', Warren said in a statement.

'He spent two decades at Goldman Sachs helping the bank peddle the same kind of mortgage products that blew up the economy and sucked down billions in taxpayer bailout money before he moved on to run a bank that was infamous for aggressively foreclosing on families.

'His selection as Treasury secretary should send shivers down the spine of every American who got hit hard by the financial crisis, and is the latest sign that Donald Trump has no intention of draining the swamp and every intention of running Washington to benefit himself and his rich buddies'.

Democrats also complained that Mnuchin failed to disclose nearly $100 million in assets on forms he filed with the Senate Finance Committee.

Mnuchin called his failure to disclose assets an oversight.

US Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) (R) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) attend a press conference at which they called on President Donald Trump to revoke the nomination of Steve Mnuchin to be Treasury Secretary today in Washington, DC. The senators complained of Mnuchin's role as a Wall Street insider ahead of the Senate vote on his nomination tonight

After meeting with committee staff, Mnuchin amended his disclosure forms and also disclosed his position as director of Dune Capital International in the Cayman Islands, a well-known offshore tax haven.

When pressed by Democrats to explain the omissions, Mnuchin said: 'I did not use a Cayman Island entity in any way to avoid taxes for myself. There was no benefit to me'.

The Treasury Department is responsible for a wide range of activities, including advising the president on economic and financial issues.

The department oversees the IRS, negotiates tax treaties with other countries, imposes economic sanctions against foreign governments and individuals, and targets the financial networks of terrorist groups and drug cartels.

The department also issues the bonds that finance the government's deficit spending.
Transcription

1 Programme EASDec th Meeting of the EASD Eye Complications Study group Amsterdam, the Netherlands May 30 - June 1, VU university medical center

2 Contents Welcome...3 Committees...4 Board of the EASDEC...4 Scientific and Organising Committee...4 Local Organising Committee...4 Congress Secretariat...4 Sponsors...5 Venues...7 Meeting venue...7 Transport...7 Route description to VU University/VU University Medical Center...8 General information Registration and information Poster assembling Oral presentations Abstracts Certificate of attendance Language Disclaimer Hotel reservation Programme information Social Programme o Welcome reception at the City Hall o Route description to the City Hall o Canal Cruise o Restaurant suggestions Programme overview o Friday, May o Scientific programme Saturday, May o Scientific programme Sunday, June Poster presentations... 17

3

4 Welcome On behalf of the Board of the EASDec and the local organising committee it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 18 th EASDec meeting, 30 th May-1 st June, For the second time the EASDec meets in Amsterdam, the capital of The Netherlands with most nationalities worldwide, where the seventh annual meeting of the EASDec was organised in At this time of the year, Amsterdam is at its best, it is spring time with usually a mild climate and daylight lasting until late at night. The scientific meeting is filled with original data and overviews, presented by clinicians as well as basic researchers. The meeting timetable will provide ample opportunity to meet and talk with colleagues and to exchange scientific ideas in a relaxed atmosphere. In addition, an attractive social programme will be organised. We are convinced that all delegates will contribute to the success of this meeting, thus making it possible to enhance future discussions and collaboration and to combat blinding diabetic eye diseases. Again, a warm welcome to Amsterdam and the 18 th EASDec meeting. Sincerely yours, Bettine Polak B.C.P. Polak, MD, PhD,FEB Ophth Professor of Ophthalmology VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands 3

5 Committees Board of the EASDec Pierre-Jean Guillausseau, President Francesco Bandello, Past-President Anne Katrin Sjlie, Vice-President Simon Harding, Secretary Pascale Massin, Treasurer Scientific and Organising Committee Board of the EASDec Bettine Polak Local Organising Committee Bettine Polak Annette Moll Maria Suttorp-Schulten Jose Martinez Reinier Schlingemann Congress Secretariat PAOG Course and Congress Organisation VU University Medical Center OZW, 10A-05 P.O. Box MB Amsterdam The Netherlands Tel: +31 (0) Fax: +31 (0)

6 Sponsors The Local Organising Committee gratefully acknowledges the support of the following companies: 5

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8 Venue On Friday May 30 th, registration will be possible at the registration desk in the mail hall of the Main Building of VU University, De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam. The scientific meeting will be on Saturday and Sunday May 31 st June 1 st, 2008 at the Amstelzaal of the VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam. The venue is located in the South- Western part of Amsterdam, one of the most dynamic and fast-growing business districts in the Netherlands. The venue is close to Schiphol International Airport and the meeting hotels. There are good railway, tram and bus connections between the VU University Medical Center, the hotels and the airport. Poster presentations, exhibition, lunch, coffee and tea breaks will be in the Foyer of the Amstelzaal. Transport The VU University Medical Center is easily accessible by tram no. 16 and tram no. 24, with a direct connection to the center of Amsterdam and Amsterdam Central Railway Station. It is located at walking distance from the Railway Station Amsterdam Zuid (10 minutes walk), with a frequent direct and regular connection by train to Schiphol Airport. 7

9 Route description to VU University (VU)/VU University Medical Center (VUmc) Address(Friday 30 th May) Address (Saturday 31 st May Sunday 1 st June) Main building VU University VU University Medical Center Main hall Amstelzaal and Foyer De Boelelaan 1105 De Boelelaan HV Amsterdam 1081 HV Amsterdam The Netherlands The Netherlands Tel. registration desk +31 (0) Tel. registration desk +31 (0) By public transport From Schiphol Airport Travellers arriving at Schiphol can take the train to Station Zuid/ WTC (see 'from Station Zuid/WTC') From Central Station metro 51 direction "Amstelveen Westwijk", exit at stop: De Boelelaan VU (16 minutes) tram 5 direction "Amstelveen Binnenhof", exit at stop: De Boelelaan VU (25 minutes) tram 16/tram 24 direction "VU medisch centrum", exit at stop: VU medisch centrum (VU University Medical Center) (25 minutes) From Amstel Station tram 51 direction "Amstelveen Westwijk", exit at stop: De Boelelaan VU (10 minutes) From RAI Station tram 51 direction "Amstelveen Westwijk", exit at stop: De Boelelaan VU (4 minutes) From Station Zuid/WTC tram 51 direction of "Amstelveen Westwijk", exit at stop: De Boelelaan VU (1 minute) tram 5 direction of "Amstelveen Binnenhof", exit at stop: De Boelelaan VU (1 minute) It is a 10 minutes walk to the VU/VU University Medical Center from Station Zuid/WTC From Duivendrecht Station metro 50 direction "Isolatorweg", exit at stop: Station Zuid/WTC (10 minutes, see 'from Station Zuid/WTC') change train to Station Zuid/WTC (7 minutes), exit at: Station Zuid/WTC (see 'from Station Zuid/WTC') By car The A10 Amsterdam ring road can be reached from all directions. Follow the A10 to the Zuid/Amstelveen exit S 108. Turn left at the end of the slip road onto Amstelveenseweg: after about three hundred yards (at the VU Hospital building) turn left again onto De Boelelaan. The VU and VU University Medical Center can be reached via city routes S108 and S109. Parking During office hours, there is a limited amount of parking space around the VU and the VU University Medical Center in De Boelelaan, which has parking bays, and also in Karel Lotsylaan, There is paid parking on the VU Amsterdam parking lot to the right of the Hospital Outpatient Clinic. There is even more parking space on the east side of Buitenveldertselaan at the junction with Willem van Weldammelaan, within 5 minutes walking distance of the VU and VU University Medical Center. On Saturdays and Sundays it is easier to find parking space around the VU and the VU University Medical Center, and parking is free. 8

10 Maps Campus VU University Region VU University & VU University Medical Center tram 16/24 Main entrance 9

11 General information Registration and information Registration desk The registration and information desk will be open for registration, information and messages on the following schedule: Friday, May 30 th: hours (Auditorium, VU University) Saturday, May 31 st : hours (Foyer Amstelzaal, VU University Medical Center) Sunday, June 1 st : hours (Foyer Amstelzaal, VU University Medical Center) Telephone Auditorium: +31 (0) Telephone Foyer Amstelzaal: +31 (0) Registration fee The registration fee includes a badge, symposium documentation (including a book of abstracts, published in the European Journal of Ophthalmology, and a list of participants), access to the scientific meetings, the exhibition and an invitation to the Welcome Reception on Friday 30 th May in the City Hall of Amsterdam. Tea and coffee breaks, as well as lunch in the Foyer of the Amstelzaal of the VU University Medical Center on Saturday May 31 st, are also included. Poster assembling All posters will be on display throughout the meeting. Posters may be assembled on Saturday morning, between and hrs. Material for mounting posters will be provided by the organiser. All posters will be discussed during the Poster Presentations, Session 3, on Saturday May 31 st, from hrs. Presenting authors are requested to stand by their poster between and hrs. A poster prize will be awarded at the end of the Scientific Meeting on Sunday June 1 st. Please pick up your material before leaving the venue! Oral Presentations Speakers are kindly requested to hand in their CD-roms, USB-stick etc. at the registration desk at least 30 minutes before the start of their session. Try-out equipment is available. Please pick up your material before leaving the venue. Abstracts All accepted abstracts will be published in the European Journal of Ophthalmology, and all registered participants will receive a copy at registration. Certificate of Attendance A certificate of attendance will be provided after the final session on Sunday June 1, 2008 to all registered participants. The Dutch Ophthalmological Society has provided nine credit points for postgraduate training. Language The official language of the symposium is English. No simultaneous translation will be available. Disclaimer The Local Organising Committee and PAOG Course and Congress Organisation accept no liability for personal injuries or loss, of any nature whatsoever, or loss or damage to property either during or as a result of the meeting. Hotel reservations For questions regarding hotel reservations in Amsterdam, please contact our hotel agency: RAI Hotel & Travel Service P.O. Box MS AMSTERDAM Tel. +31 (0) Website: 10

12 Social Programme Welcome Reception at the City Hall Friday, May 30 th, 2008 from hrs As a participant of the 18 th EASDec Meeting, you are invited to a Welcome Reception in the Foyer at the City Hall of Amsterdam, Amstel 1. You will be welcomed by the Mayor of the City of Amsterdam, Mr. M.J. Cohen as well as by the President of the Dutch Diabetes Association, Mr. P.C.A.M. van der Velden and the Vice President of the International Diabetes Federation, Mr. W.H.J.M. Wientjes. Of course there will also be ample opportunity to meet with your colleagues over drinks and snacks. Tickets for the Welcome Reception will be handed to you on site. Route description from VU University Medical Center (VU University Medical Center) to the City Hall Address City Hall Amstel 1 Amsterdam By public transport From VU Walk to tram stop at Amstelveenseweg (11 minutes walk) Take tram/metro 51 from stop Amstelveenseweg, direction Amsterdam Centraal Station. Exit at stop: Waterlooplein. From the city center Tram 9 or tram 14, exit at stop: Waterlooplein. By car Follow the De Boelelaan (direction RAI) and turn left after 1 km onto the Europaboulevard (S109). Take the 2nd turn at the roundabout Europaplein. Turn right at the Rooseveltlaan and follow the road for 1.9 km. Take the third turn at the roundabout Sint Bernhardplein (S112) onto the Wibautstraat. Take the 5th turn at the roundabout Waterlooplein. The City Hall is on your right hand side. Parking There is a parking underneath the City Hall (Muziektheater/Stadhuis). 11

13 Canal Cruise Saturday, May 31 st, 2008 from hrs Amsterdam by candlelight (boat trip through the canals and dinner) A canal cruise is a very good way to explore Amsterdam s ancient city. In the course of this evening, you ll be treated to a delicious, four-course Tuscan dinner beginning with antipasti, followed by a primo, secondo and dolci, prepared for you on board by an Italian chef. If the weather is fine, the roof of the boats can be opened. Vouchers for this trip can be ordered online or at the registration desk. Places are limited to 100. Vouchers will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis for only Euro 35,00 per person. Boarding is in front of Amsterdam Central Station opposite the Victoria Hotel. Please be sure to be there in time. To get there, you can take any tram or metro going to the Central Station and get off at the last stop. Dinner and drinks during this tour will be offered to you by Novartis Pharma B.V. 12

14 Restaurant suggestions Restaurant suggestions near City hall Cafe Restaurant Dantzig (French) Zwanenburgwal 15 (around the corner) tel. +31 (0) Brasserie Le Relais (Dutch) Hotel de l Europe Nieuwe Doelenstraat 2-8 tel. +31 (0) Cafe de Jaren (international with a nice terrace) Nieuwe Doelenstraat tel. +31 (0) Mappa (Italian) Nes 59 tel. +31 (0) Blauw aan de Wal (mediteranean) Oudezijds achterburgwal 97 tel. +31 (0) Restaurant Szmulewicz (international) Bakkersstraat 12 (between Amstel and Rembrandtplein) Tel. +31 (0) Nam kee (Chinese) Zeedijk 111 Tel. +31 (0) Restaurant suggestions near congress location De Veranda (French/international) Amstelveensteweg 764 Tel. +31 (0) VakZuid (international) Olympisch stadion 35 Tel. +31 (0) Dicky s Grand Cafe (international) Gustav Mahlerplein 110 Tel. +31 (0) Wagamama (Japanese) Zuidplein 12 Tel. +31 (0) The above-mentioned restaurants are only a few of the many restaurants located in Amsterdam. For other suggestions please check the website On this site you can find information on all restaurants in Amsterdam. 13

15 Programme overview Friday, May 30 th hrs Welcome Reception for all delegates and accompanying persons Get together and drinks in the Town Hall of Amsterdam Welcome by Mr. M.J. Cohen, the Mayor of Amsterdam Mr. P.A.C.M. van der Velden, President of the Dutch Diabetes Association Dr. W.H.J.M. Wientjens, vice-president of the International Diabetes Federation Saturday, May 31 st 2008 Scientific programme hrs registration/information desk open hrs Opening and welcome Pierre-Jean Guilausseau, President of EASDec Bettine Polak, Chairman Local Organising Committee Peter Ringens, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology of the VU University Medical Center and Secretary-general of the European Board of Ophthalmology hrs Session 1 Chairmen: Anne Katrin Sjolie, Maria Suttorp-Schulten hrs Free Papers - Screening and epidemiology Comparison of 10-year incidence of retinopathy in screening detected and in usual care detected type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: The Hoorn Study. H. Zavrelova, B.C.P. Polak, A.C. Moll, G. Nijpels, J.M. Dekker Amsterdam, The Netherlands Optimal screening intervals for early detection of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy. A six-year retrospective follow-up study. E.S. Soto-Pedre, M.C. Hernaez-Ortega Castro-Urdiales / Baracaldo (Vizcaya), Spain When is it safe to discharge patients back to retinal screening following a complete course of panretinal photocoagulation for proliferative diabetic retinopathy? S. Koshy, E. O Sullivan, D. De Alves Croydon, United Kingdom Biennial eye screening in patients without retinopathy: 10-year experience. E.S. Stefansson, E. lafsdottir Reykjavik, Iceland Survey of complications in patients with diabetes attending Moorfields Eye Clinic. T. Peto, I. Leung, N. Harris, W. Xing, C. Bunce London, United Kingdom Blindness and mortality in a population-based cohort of Danish type 1 diabetic patients: J. Grauslund, A. Green, A.K. Sjlie Odense, Denmark hrs Keynote lecture Diabetic retinopathy: the scale of risk factors. Jacqueline Dekker Amsterdam, The Netherlands hrs Coffee break 14

16 hrs Session 2 Chairmen: Pascale Massin, Annette Moll hrs Free Papers - Maculopathy/Miscellaneous Corneal diabetic neuropathy: a new hallmark of peripheral diabetic neuropathy. V.S. Vujosevic, C.M. Cortese, M.S. Miotto, B.E. Benetti, M.E. Midena Rome/ Padova, Italy --WITHDRAWN-- The influence of diabetes mellitus type 1 on the thickness, shape and equivalent refractive index of the human crystalline lens. N.G.M. Wiemer, M. Dubbelman, P.J. Ringens, B.C.P. Polak Amsterdam, The Netherlands Hard exudates demonstrate a prolonged implicit time assessed with MFERG. K.H. Holm, M.L.A. Lovestam-Adrian Lund, Sweden Intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (Avastin) for persistent macular edema. E. Ganteris-Gerritsen, T. Missotten, J.P. Martinez Rotterdam, The Netherlands Short-term dynamic changes in the retinal microcirculation are involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. T. Bek Aarhus, Denmark hrs Keynote lecture New treatments for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Serge Halimi Grenoble, France hrs Lunch hrs Session 3 Poster presentations hrs Presenting authors to stand by posters hrs Tea break hrs Session 4 Chairmen: Pierre-Jean Guillausseau, Simon Harding hrs Screening for diabetic retinopathy in Europe: progress so far. Simon Harding Liverpool, UK hrs Eva Kohner lecture The primary role of endothelial dysfunction in diabetic retinopathy Jose Cunha Vaz Coimbra, Portugal hrs General assembly hrs End hrs Canal cruise through Amsterdam, Drinks and dinner are offered to you by Novartis Pharma B.V. 15

17 Sunday, June 1 st hrs Registration desk open hrs Session 5 Chairmen: Francesco Bandello, Reinier Schlingemann hrs Free papers - Pathophysiology hrs Coffee break Transcellular and paracellular permeability are both involved in blood-retina barrier breakdown in streptozotocin-induced diabetes I. Klaassen, J.M. Hughes, C.G. Schalkwijk, C.J.F. van Noorden, R.O. Schlingemann Amsterdam/ Maastricht, The Netherlands Thiamine and benfotiamine normalize apoptosis of human retinal pericytes on high-glucose conditioned matrix. E. Beltramo, E. Berrone, S. Tarallo, M. Porta Torino, Italy Establishment of a human retinal pericyte cell line and comparison of its response to high glucose with wild-type cells. E. Berrone, E. Beltramo, S. Tarallo, M. Porta Torino, Italy Defective retinal vascular reactivity to a change in blood pressure as a risk marker for diabetic retinopathy. M. Lorenzi, G. Feke, F. Berisha, J. Koldjaschna, L. Pitler Boston, USA Retinal functional abnormalities in diabetic patients without retinopathy. A. Lecleire-Collet, A. Erginay, T. Meas, P.J. Guillausseau, P. Massin Paris, France Loss of pericentral inner retinal layer in segmented Optical Coherence Tomography derived topographic maps of diabetic patients with no or minimal diabetic retinopathy. F.D. Verbraak, H.W. van Dijk, M. Abramoff Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Iowa City, USA hrs Session 6 Chairman: Bettine Polak hrs Keynote lecture The role of growth factors in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. Reinier Schlingemann Amsterdam, The Netherlands hrs Announcement of awards hrs Concluding remarks and conference end 16

18 Poster Presentations P 1 P 2 P 3 P 4 P 5 P 6 P 7 P 8 P 9 P 10 P 11 P 12 P 13 Varying retinopathy levels within a national screening programme. How much is enough? A first audit. P.H. Scanlon, D.J. Taylor, F. O Leary, D.M. Prentis Cheltenham, United Kingdom Arbitration grading and referral in diabetic Retinopathy Screening. K. Whitehouse, M. Clarke, R.E.J. Ryder, B. Keown, P.M. Dodson Birmingham/ Cambridge, United Kingdom A study of the patterns of early magnified macula lesions to assess clinical significance. R. Lone, M. Clarke, A. Wright, R.E.J. Ryder, P.M. Dodson Birmingham, United Kingdom Is re-photographing patients a cost-effective method for managing early diabetic retinopathy? L. Quant, R. Lone, A. Wright, M. Clarke, P.M. Dodson Birmingham, United Kingdom Detection of early stages of DME G. Tremolada, R. Lattanzio, L. Pierro, G. Maestranz, M. Lorenz Milan, Italy; Boston, USA Individualization of screening intervals requires consideration of risk factors occurring over time and differences in risk related to sex. M.J. Mehlsen, M. Erlandsen, P.L. Poulsen, T.B. Bek Aarhus, Denmark Prevalence of vascular risk factors in patients attending a diabetic eye screening programme: primary versus secondary care. N. Collaer, A.C. Fisher, S.P. Harding, D.M. Broadbent Liverpool, United Kingdom Prevalence of vascular risk factors in sight threatening diabetic retinopathy identified in a retinopathy screening programme. N. Collaer, A.C. Fisher, S.P. Harding, J.P. Vora, D.M. Broadbent Liverpool, United Kingdom Dutch patients incentives and barriers to participating in diabetic retinopathy screening K.N.D. van Eijk, Y. Groeneveld, W.J.J. Assendelft, J. Gussekloo Oegstgeest/Leiden, The Netherlands Impact of patients and physicians attitudes to diabetic retinopathy in type 1 diabetes. 3 case reports. L. Prochazkova, M. Zavorkova Usti Nad Labem, Czech Republic White spots in the macula of patients with diabetes mellitus type 1, without or with minimal diabetic retinopathy, evaluated with spectral domain optical coherence tomography. P.H.B. Kok, H.W. van Dijk, C. Biallosterski, R.O. Schlingemann, F.D. Verbraak Amsterdam, The Netherlands Central serous chorioretinopathy and diabetes: the missing link. A.R. Kulkarni, D.R. Seneviratne, S.E. El-Sherbiny Birmingham, United Kingdom Changes in the anterior chamber angle in diabetic patients with secondary neovascular glaucoma using OCT Visante. L. Prochazkova, M. Zavorkova Usti Nad Labem, Czech Republic P 14 The difference in focal photocoagulation treatment of clinically significant macular edema diagnosed with OCT versus slitlamp biomicroscopy. 17

19 H.W. van Dijk, P.H.B. Kok, R.O. Schlingemann, M.D. Abramoff, F.D. Verbraak Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Iowa City, USA P 15 P 16 P 17 P 18 P 19 P 20 P 21 Anti-VEGF therapy in neovascular glaucoma. J. Conrath, O. Prost-Magnin, F. Matonti, L. Hoffart, P. Massin Marseille/ Paris, France Intravitreal triamcinolone injection for diabetic macular edema. J.W.M. Reichert-Thoen Amsterdam, The Netherlands Intravitreal triamcinolon acetonide and bevacizumab in diabetic macular edema. N.N. Grigoryeva, Y.S. Astakhov, F.E. Shadrichev, N.Y. Dahl, E.B. Shklyarov Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation Lanreotide autogel for persistent diabetic macular edema: a prospective study of effectiveness and quality of life. E.S. Soto-Pedre, M.C. Hernaez-Ortega, J.A. Pinies Castro-Urdiales/Baracaldo (Vizcaya), Spain Vitrectomy in the treatment of diabetic macular oedema. J. Kalvoda, J. Duskova, B. Kalvodova Prague, Czech Republic 25 Gauge vitrectomy as the gold standard for severe PDR and macular edema. F.M. Forlin, B.A. Bratu, R.P. Rossini, B.F. Badala, F.C. Forlini Ravenna, Italy; Bucarest, Romania --WITHDRAWN-- The potential role of uric acid in pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (O-25) L. Kotilova, M. Kalousova, A. Kubena, B. Kalvodova Prague, Czech Republic P 22 Programme change in free paper session 2 P 23 P 24 P 25 P 26 P 27 P 28 N-methyl-D-aspartic acid causing relaxation of retinal arterioles through an adenosine receptor dependent mechanism. A possible mechanism of vasodilatation in diabetic retinopathy K. Holmgaard, C. Aalkjaer, J.D.C. Lambert, T. Bek Aarhus, Denmark Intracellular CA2+ spikes in retinal vascular smooth muscle cells can be modified to potentially improve microcirculation in retinal disease. M.M. Misfeldt, C.A. Aalkjaer, U.S. Simonsen, T.B. Bek Aarhus, Denmark Effects of high glucose and thiamine on the balance matrix metalloproteinases / tissue inhibitors in pericytes and endothelial cells. S. Tarallo, E. Beltramo, E. Berrone, P. Dentelli, M. Porta Turin, Italy Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) induces retinal capillary basal lamina thickening in diabetic mice. R.J. van Geest, I. Klaassen, E.J. Kuiper, C.J.F. van Noorden, R.O. Schlingemann Amsterdam, The Netherlands Decrease of hypoxia-induced neovascularisation in angiopoietin-2 deficiency by reduced MMP activity. F. Pfister, Y. Feng, Y. Wang, F. Vom Hagen, U. Deutsch Mannheim, Germany; Bern, Switzerland Follow-up of the phase 2 trial of pegaptanib (Macugen) for diabetic macular edema (DME). E. Ergun Vienna and Graz, Austria 18

20 EASDec th Meeting of the EASD Eye Complications Study group Oxford, England 2009 We hope to welcome you again!

21 Programme outline EASdec 2008 Time Friday, May 30 Saterday, May 31 Sunday, June 1 Time Screening for Diabetic Retinopathyfollow up of Liverpool 2005 National representatives Satellite Meeting EASDec Congress EASDec Congress 8:00 8:50 9:00 8:50 9:00 8:00 8:00 8:00 Registration desk open & Postermounting Registration desk open 8:50 Introduction & Welcome 8:50 9:00 9:00 9:00 8:50 9:00 9:30 10:00 9:30 10:00 Session 1 Free papers Screening and epidemiologie Session 5 Free papers Pathophysiology 9:30 10:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:00 13:00 13:30 14:00 13:30 14:00 12:00 13:15 14:00 Lunch & Registration Welcome and Introduction Session 1: Screening for diabetic retinopathy in Europe - progress since :30 10:30 Keynote lecture 10:30 Coffee break Jacqueline Dekker 11:00 11:00 Keynote lecture 11:00 Coffee break Reinier Schlingemann 11:30 11:30 11:30 Awards 12:00 12:00 Concluding remarks & Conference end 12:30 Keynote lecture 12:30 Serge Halimi 13:00 14:00 Session 2 Free papers Maculopathy / Miscellaneous Lunch 19:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 15:15 15:45 16:30 Breakout sessions Tea/coffee break Session 2: Screening for diabetic retinopathy in Europe - how can we make further progress 15:15 15:45 16:00 Session 3 Poster presentations Tea break Session 4 Eva Kohner Lecture Jose Cunha Vaz 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 16:45 17:00 Panel discussion 17:00 General Assembly 17:00 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 17:30 18:00 18:30 17:15 17:30 Conference summary and closure Registration EASDec Congress & Postermounting (VU Building) 17:30 18:00 18:30 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:00 19:00 19:00 19:30 19:00 19:30 19:30 Welcome Reception at the City Hall 19:30 19:30 20:00 20:00 20:00 20:00 20:30 20:30 Social event: Canal Cruise 20:30 20:30 21:00 21:00 21:00 21:00 21:30 21:30 21:30 21:30 22:00 22:00
As a lifelong Democrat, Ed Townsend is crystal clear in his views. 'Donald Trump is a snake-oil salesman. He is in way over his head,' he says of the new president.

'But he'll be found out,' the former sheriff added. 'The Republicans don't want him. He'll be impeached. He'll be out of office within a year.'

Ed Townsend's contempt for Trump is strong and unwavering  but his verdict holds little sway in his neighborhood.

To say he is in a minority in rural Winston County, Alabama, would be a vast understatement.

As he looks out from the porch of his farm outside the county seat of Double Springs, he knows that nearly everyone for miles around reveres Trump and is confident the nation's 45th president will right just about everything that is wrong in America.

Retired Winston County Sheriff Ed Townsend (left) is one of the few residents of Winston County to vote Democrat and considers Donald Trump a snake-oil salesman. But County Circuit Clerk J.D. Snoddy (right) is with the majority and sings the president's praises

Take retirees Robert and Pam Masdon, for instance. 'I'm ecstatic that he was elected,' said Robert as the couple sat down for lunch in the Dixie Den in Haleyville, Winston County's largest town.

'We were tired of the same old political shenanigans,' added his wife. 'He will change things if they will just give him a chance.'

Or listen to Pastor Benny Knight. 'I honestly believe God chose President Trump to lead our country,' he told DailyMail.com in the sanctuary of his Haleyville church.

Or hear out J.D. Snoddy, the county's circuit clerk. 'Donald Trump will be an exceptional president,' he said. 'I know he is not your prototypical Republican. Even so, people here are convinced they voted for the right guy.'

Winston County voted as heavily as any place in the country for Trump. It sits in Alabama's sprawling 4th Congressional District which was Trump's strongest district in any of the 50 states. And with a vote of 89.4 percent for the property mogul-turned-TV-star-turned-Commander-in-Chief, Winston was his strongest county within that district.

Of the 10,383 people who voted in a county where two-thirds of the land is national forest, 9,228 opted for Trump compared to only 872 for Hillary Clinton.

Perhaps as many as 300,000 Southerners served in the Union Army. Winston County mostly sided with the north providing 239 Union soldiers and just 112 who fought for the Confederacy

Robert Parrish, 73, and friend Jane Tesney, 73, at the Dixie Den in Haleyville. 'I voted for Trump  that's a given,' said Tesney. I am in favor of the wall and the Muslim travel ban and a huge majority here agree with me'

That's hardly surprising when you look at history. Winston is far from your typical Alabama county. Its poor soil meant it never had the plantations that dotted the south. 'We're hills and hollows here,' said Snoddy, 58.

No plantations meant few slaves  even today its African American population stands at just 0.5 percent. That in turn led its people to resist calls to join the rest of the south in the Civil War. Indeed, more people from Winston County fought for the Union than for the Confederacy.

It even tried to leave Alabama, arguing that if the state could secede from the Union, a county should be able to secede from the state.

After the war the county remained stubbornly Republican even as Alabama and the region turned solid Democrat. Now more than a century and a half after the conflict that pitted Winston against the rest of the south and a generation after Dixie turned red, Winston is more Republican than ever.

'People here are pro the First Amendment, they believe in the separation of church and state,' Snoddy assured DailyMail.com in his office in the Winston County Courthouse in Double Springs.

'They believe in the Second Amendment. They support a strong military  folks here have fought wars and served and volunteered for their country and they think a strong national defense is very important.

'The message President Trump has sent Iran is one that the people here support.

Winston County is in the northwestern part of Alabama

The Free State Barn, located on highway 195 between Double Springs and Ashridge, Alabama. is a memorial to when the county wanted to secede from the State of Alabama

'And as for the wall on the southern border, people here generally agree,' he added. 'I particularly like President Trump's stand on abortion, I'm 100 percent pro-life.

'I know he doesn't have a lot in common with me and my constituents but he appears to have something,' added Snoddy.

'He talks about people getting jobs and building the economy and one thing important to me is that he wants to improve the infrastructure. In a small rural county like this that is important. We have potholes that need filling, bridges that need fixing and school buses that need replacing and that is what he wants to help us with.'

And any place you go in Winston County it is clear that J.D. Snoddy has his finger on the pulse of his people.

'Trump is for the common working folk and they understand what he is trying to do and the way he is trying to do it,' said Mike McClellan who works at a mattress manufacturer in Haleyville.

'He is for the American people and for this country 100 percent. He has our interests at heart.

'I am just happy he is keeping his promises. He is trying to do what he said he is going to do.'

Most concur. 'I voted for Trump  that's a given,' said Jane Tesney, 73. 'I am in favor of the wall and the Muslim travel ban and a huge majority here agree with me.

'I was for him from the start even when there were 17 Republican candidates. The rest did nothing for me,' she added. 'We had to have someone who is very vocal and we needed someone who was strong.

'I like him and I like the way he is running the country.'

Retirees Robert Masdon, 71, and wife Pamela, 71, are with Trump all the way. 'I'm ecstatic that he was elected,' said Robert as the couple sat down for lunch in the Dixie Den in Haleyville, Winston County's largest town

'He promised Make America Great Again  and people here swallowed it like a fish on a treble hook,' fire chief Rick Moody, 60, told DailyMail.com as he polished and repolished his fire engine outside the station.

In all of Winston County, it was those who voted at the Central Fire Department in tiny Houston who went most heavily for Trump. A total of 170 people turned up to vote. Five of them supported Clinton. Four electors chose write-in candidates. The other 161  94.7 percent  opted for Trump.

'He promised Make America Great Again  and people here swallowed it like a fish on a treble hook,' fire chief Rick Moody, 60, told DailyMail.com as he polished and repolished his fire engine outside the station.

'They were given this promise that we would be put back to the natural state, the way America was set up. They liked what they heard  and that's why they voted that way,' added Moody who would not divulge how he marked his ballot.

But if Moody left some room for doubt that he may be among Winston County's tiny minority, most others don't care who knows that they voted for Trump.

'We need a businessman to carry us in a different direction,' said Robert Masdon, 'Everything he has done is the things he said he would do. He is definitely trying to do the right thing.'

It's not that Masdon and his wife, a former schoolteacher, think the president is perfect  at least not quite.

'Yes, sometimes he has spoken before he thinks and the people behind the scenes have had to do damage control,' said Pam Masdon. 'But wouldn't you be frustrated if everything you tried to do was blocked because people are pouting because their candidate didn't win?

'It's going to take him time to learn when to speak and when to be quiet,' she added. 'And one other thing, all those people who said they were going to move to Canada if Trump won  go, pack your bags now. That's how strongly I feel.'

Some like Pastor Knight weren't so sure initially. 'I liked Ted Cruz,' he said. 'But I really believe Donald Trump was God's pick.

'We have accepted too many things in this country that have devalued our morals,' added Knight, 63.

'It is like the fall of Rome  that is where we were heading. President Obama was leading us in that direction. The result of his leadership was division.

Lucas Logan, an energetic 34-year-old who owns Kel's Steakhouse right next door to Knight's 200-strong non-denominational Solid Rock Church in Haleyville, believes, like many in Winston County, that Obamacare has been a disaster

Pastor Benny Knight, 63, of The Solid Rock Church says 'I honestly believe God chose President Trump to lead our country'

'He had his own agenda and did not listen to wise counsel, he took a lot of steps on his own. The Bible says seek wise counsel and the counsel of many, but it doesn't seem that he did.

'I am very happy with Trump's appointments, especially Betsy DeVos at Education,' added Knight. 'I love that she is going to change our school system and bring a lot of the moral teachings back into the classroom from a Christian perspective.

'And of course our own Senator Jeff Sessions as attorney general. I don't believe our Founding Fathers meant the separation of church and state to be how it has been perverted today. Christianity was the foundation of everything in this country.'

So how does a man of God react to Trump's boast of grabbing women's genitals or the fact he has been divorced twice as many times as all the other men who have occupied the Oval Office combined?

'Everybody has made mistakes,' Knight said. 'But we are in the Bible Belt, people here are quick to forgive  and we will see the fruit of that.'

Lucas Logan, an energetic 34-year-old who owns Kel's Steakhouse right next door to Knight's 200-strong non-denominational Solid Rock Church in Haleyville, believes, like many in Winston County, that Obamacare has been a disaster.

'We were paying $600 a month for my wife and me. Now it's gone up to $1,400. I can't afford that, so I am not sorry it is being abolished.'

'It was a good idea but it needs tweaking and altering. We need good healthcare. If you have an accident here in Haleyville, you get taken to the hospital. You can't look at the prices and work out whether you would be better going to a hospital in Huntsville or Birmingham or Jasper, you go where you're taken and have to pay for that.'

'Trump comes from a workers' background,' added Logan, who employs 15 mostly part-time staff at the restaurant. 'He is not a good ol' country boy but he has that mentality and that's why people voted for him.'

Logan said he was excited to vote for Trump because he had never voted before. But when he got to the polling station he found the line was too long and he eventually never made it. 'I was really disappointed that I didn't,' he said.

Natural Bridge Town Hall features a memorial plaque dedicated to the Confederate Soldiers of Winston County.

So does all that mean someone like Ed Townsend, the Democrat former sheriff whose parents moved him to Winston County when he was three weeks old, has no allies?

'I've got plenty of friends, he said. 'I'm more conservative than a lot of Republicans here. I've voted for Republicans before, but this time I voted straight down the Democratic ticket.

'I just don't like Trump,' he added. 'He tells people what they want to hear. They want Mexicans out. They want Muslims out. And Trump won every rural county in America because he talked to the bubbas and told them that's what he would do.'

And Townsend, an imposing man, well over 6 ft. who stands ramrod straight and says he has grown 'the ugliest whiskers in Winston County' out of spite, said there are still Democrats around.

'There's Gary White, the county chairman, and there's Claden Knight of Knight Lumber and Jack Bostick the attorney in Winfield, and um' He then named another couple of party members.

'We have meetings,' he added. 'The last one was about two years ago.'
The odds are not looking to be in President Donald Trump's favor as bookies for various betting websites indicate he won't make it through his first term.

'We're currently offering 4-to-1 for Trump to be impeached in his first six months,' Lewis Davey, a spokesman for Paddy Power, told Politico, which reported on Trump's not-so-stellar odds.'With such little political experience and a rocky start in the White House, it's understandable people have their doubts on Trump,' Davey added.

While Trump the candidate lost Paddy Power nearly $5 million, as the Republican wasn't expected to win, Trump the president has been good for business as betting sites like Paddy Power, Ladbrokes and Bovada are seeing an uptick in politically-themed bets.

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Bookies for Paddy Power believe there's a 4-in-1 chance that President Donald Trump gets booted from office in 2017

The election of President Donald Trump cost Paddy Power $5 million in payouts - but now people are flocking to gambling sites to place bets on the unpredictable president's next move

'From a betting perspective, Donald Trump's presidency has triggered a massive boom for these kinds of markets,' Ladbrokes' spokesman Alex Donohue told Politico. 'With Donald Trump, everything he does, it can be turned into speculation, and that can be turned into gambling.'

Gamblers can place wagers on what year they believe Trump will get the boot, with bigger payouts assigned for later in his first term, indicating that oddsmakers believe the Republican will get impeached or resign sooner rather than later.

While a 2017 bet on the Paddy Power website has the odds of 4-to-1, a 2020 wager currently stands at 20-to-1.

Over at Ladbrokes, the British oddsmaker rates Trump's chances of resigning or being impeached in his first term at 11-to-10  in short, it's so probable that gamblers would barely win any money.

The sites are allowing users to bet on other aspects of the presidency too.

At Paddy Power, there's betting going on currently about what foreign country Trump will visit as president first.

With the highest probability comes Trump's wife's homeland of Slovenia, with the odds set at 15-to-8.

Following that comes Canada, England, Mexico, Iceland and Russia  countries that are neighbors

Larger payouts would go to betters if Trump makes a more unconventional choice.

If Trump were to choose to visit Israel first the odds stand at 14-to-1. If he goes to Cuba first, bets are set at 80-to-1. And if he heads to North Korea first  which is extremely unlikely  the odds stand at 200-to-1.

Paddy Power is also allowing gamblers to choose which administration official gets the ax first.

Currently, the most probably looks to be White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, at 4-to-1 odds, or a 20 percent chance of happening.

After Spicer, oddmakers suggest that National Security Advisor Michael Flynn may want to watch out, followed by White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway, who received a 'counseling' after promoting Ivanka Trump's products on cable news last week.

Flynn is in hot water over whether he talked about sanctions with Russian officials before Trump was sworn in.

Oddmakers also assigned a 10-to-1 to Neil Gorsuch, Trump's Supreme Court pick, that the president would revoke offering the judge a job.

Over at the betting site Bovada, users can place bets on which Supreme Court Justice will leave the bench next.

On a $100 bet, gamblers can win $150 for choosing 80-year-old Justice Anthony Kennedy or 83-year-old Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Users can win $1,000 is Justice Stephen Breyer throws in the robe.

And a $5,000 payday will be doled out if any of the other five justices leave the Supreme Court next.
A wild dog dubbed 'Hannibal Lecter' for his ability to rip the kidneys out of sheep has been shot dead on a rural property.

The dog, which killed 500 sheep in six years, was finally trapped on a property near Scone in New South Wales on Monday, the Singleton Argus reported.

'He was one horrible piece of work,' Hunter Local Land Services Senior Biosecurity Officer Richard Ali said.

'He was a big, strong, wild dog capable of getting the bigger sheep down and surgically removing their kidneys, only their kidneys and then letting them go and the sheep would run off and eventually bleed to death.'

The wild dog, which had evaded hunters for six years, was shot dead on Monday

Sheep which had been attacked by the 'Hannibal Lecter' dog

The wild dog would rip the kidneys from sheep and leave them to die

Mr Ali, who described the elusive dog as a 'Hannibal Lecter', said it was uncommon for dogs to attack sheep in that way and leave them to a slow and painful death.

The wild dog had terrorised Norm Black's 2100 acre property 'Sofia Hill' since 2011.

Mr Black said the dog made his life a 'living hell', killing 500 sheep worth about $50,000.

'He was so cunning and was always a loner never once did we see him with another dog,' Mr Black said.

The dog was shot by Jonathan Randle, who spent countless hours over the years setting traps and tracking the dog's movement by placing cameras around the property.

Mr Randle said he was 'really happy' to have finally killed the dog, which he estimated to be between eight and 10-years-old.

He said last weekend's heat and smoke may have disorientated the dog.

Other government officers and professionals had tried to kill the dog over the years, with search efforts estimated to have cost tens of thousands of dollars.

The 'Hannibal Lecter' wild dog roaming through Norm Black's 2100 acre property

A paw print left behind by the wild dog on a rural New South Wales property

The wild dog made his mark on the property during his six years on the run

The 'Hannibal Lecter' dog captured on a camera setup in a bid to capture the elusive animal

Wild dogs are a constant problem in the region, attacking and killing sheep and impacting on farm productivity.

A meeting was being held on Tuesday about the possibility of funding a full-time wild dog controller for the region.

The wild dog's DNA will now be examined and it will be taxidermied for a full body mount.
Queensland's heatwave came to a dramatic end as storms battered the state's south on Monday evening.

Lightning, hail, and gusts of up to 115km/h brought down power lines, ripped roofs off houses and brought down trees leaving almost 21,000 people without power.

Footage shows rain and hail lashing the streets of Ipswich, around 40km west of Brisbane, with 9,000 homes - almost half the city - left in the dark by 8pm.

Queensland was battered by storms on Monday evening as the heatwave that has baked the state for weeks came to a sudden and dramatic end

More than 17,000 lightning strikes were recorded over the course of two hours as wild weather moved across the state's south-east

The storms came after Emerald, Barcaldine, Blackall, Moranbah and Rolleston registered their hottest February day ever just hours earlier.

Meanwhile Thargomindah hit 47.2C on Sunday, breaking the record for hottest February day anywhere in Queensland.

But as the clouds arrived on Monday evening temperatures around Brisbane dropped 14 degrees over the course of just two hours.

The State Emergency Service was called out to 50 jobs across the south-east, including power lines which fell across Cunningham Highway.

Trees and power lines were brought down causing roads to be closed, while several homes were also damaged by high winds

Brisbane saw gusts of more than 80km/h while streets were drenched with a mixture of hail and rain by extreme storms

More than 21,000 people lost power during the storms, including almost half the residents of Ipswich, around 40km west of Brisbane (pictured)

More than 17,000 lightning strikes were recorded in the space of just a few hours.

The area around Beerburrum was swamped with more than 50 millimetres of rain, while other areas received between 25 and 50 millimetres.

On Tuesday morning more than 700 properties were still without power, with most of them being in Ipswich.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Vinord Anand told the Brisbane Times that extreme storms could hit the Wide Bay area on Tuesday.

Brisbane and the coasts are expected to escape another drenching, although there is a small chance of more wet weather further west in the Darling Downs.

The State Emergency Service received almost 50 calls over the course of two hours, including fallen trees, roofs ripped off homes and downed power lines
Trade minister Steven Ciobo has defended a preference deal between the Liberals and One Nation, describing the latter party as 'more economically responsible than Labor'.

Ciobo took to Twitter on Monday to make claim after earlier saying One Nation's four senators possessed 'a certain amount of economic rationalism' for voting in favour of government legislation, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

'Poor @AustralianLabor don't like being told One Nation is more economically responsible than they are. Shouldn't be a surprise to them,' Ciobo tweeted.

Scroll down for video

Trade minister Steven Ciobo referred to One Nation senators as having 'economic rationalism'

Ciobo's tweet calling One Nation more economically responsible than Labor

Labor's Anthony Albanese told Fairfax Media Mr Ciobo 'spruiking One Nation's economic credentials is beyond belief'.

The Liberals will be preferencing One Nation ahead of the Nationals in the upper house in regional areas at the upcoming Western Australia state election.

Labor attacked the deal in Parliament on Monday but Ms Hanson defended the move.

'I'm not here to help the Liberals, the Nationals or Labor and I'm certainly not here to help the Greens,' Ms Hanson posted on her Facebook page.

'I'm here to do what is best for you, the Australian people, and to do what I can to make sure you have as many representatives from Pauline Hanson's One Nation in parliament as possible.

'It's funny to see that Labor is so quick to attack about deals because they seem to have forgotten that they have also been happy to talk to me about deals.'

Hanson defended a preference deal with the Liberal Party in Western Australian on Facebook

The Turnbull Government's hopes of retaining Queensland would rely on Pauline Hanson (pictured), according to a new poll

Support for Pauline Hanson's One Nation party has surged to 18 per cent in Queensland

Malcolm Turnbull needs the support of Pauline Hanson to retain Queensland, new poll shows

The row over preferences comes amid a new poll which shows the Turnbull government would need the preferences of Pauline Hanson's One Nation party to retain the electorally-critical state of Queensland.

Support for the coalition there has slumped eight points to 35 per cent since last year's federal election and it narrowly leads Labor 51-49 on two-party-preferred basis, the Galaxy poll in The Courier-Mail on Tuesday showed.

Most of the coalition support has gone to One Nation, whose primary vote has risen 5.5 points to 18 per cent, according to the poll.

Support for the major parties and The Greens was down overall, with one in four voters opting for other alternatives.

The poll was carried out on the day Turnbull launched a verbal tirade at opposition leader Bill Shorten, and the day after.
The US has blacklisted Venezuela's Vice President Tareck El Aissami and an associate for their alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

The move is the first crackdown by the Trump administration against top officials in President Nicolas Maduro's government for money laundering and the drug trade.

The US Department of Treasury said it designated El Aissami for sanctions under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act.

His associate, Samark Lopez Bello, was targeted for providing material assistance, financial support or goods or services in support of El Aissami's activities, Treasury said in a statement.

Venezuela's Vice President Tareck El Aissami (pictured left and right) has been blacklisted by the Trump administration for his involvement in drug trafficking

In addition, the Treasury department's Office of Foreign Assets Control also targeted 13 companies owned or controlled by Lopez Bello or other parties that comprise an international network spanning the British Virgin Islands, Panama, Britain, the United States and Venezuela.

'El Aissami facilitated shipments of narcotics from Venezuela, to include control over planes that leave from a Venezuelan airbase, as well as control of drug routes through the ports of Venezuela,' a senior U.S. administration official told a conference call with reporters.

'El Aissami oversaw or partially owned narcotics shipments of more than 1000kg from Venezuela on multiple occasions including shipments from Mexico and to the United States,' said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Vice President Tareck El Aissami shakes hands with President Nicolas Maduro during a ceremony in Caracas

US officials called Lopez Bello a 'key frontman' used by El Aissami to launder drug proceeds and purchase assets.

The Venezuelan government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. President Maduro frequently accuses US officials of trying to smear his administration.

US officials denied that Monday's designations had anything to do with El Aissami's prominent political role.

'The designation is a result of a years long investigation of narcotics trafficking by OFAC. The designation is not aimed at Venezuela or any specific sectors of the Venezuelan economy,' the senior official said.

Since 2015 the Obama administration had sought to use behind-the-scenes diplomacy to ease acrimony with Caracas and the fallout of a string of US drug indictments against Venezuelan officials, such as Nestor Reverol, the head of Venezuela's National Guard.

The so-called 'soft landing' approach by Obama's White House had at times clashed with long-time efforts by the US justice department and drug agency, working with informants in Venezuela, to nab influential government officials for money laundering and drug trafficking.

US officials called Samark Lopez Bello a 'key frontman' used by El Aissami to launder drug proceeds and purchase assets

Senior administration officials declined to say whether President Donald Trump had personally signed off on the sanctions or whether he was involved in the decision.

Typical drug trafficking designations would not rise to the level of the president for approval, but the blacklisting of a senior government official of another country is far more sensitive than typical designations.

Another US administration official estimated the value of property blocked in Miami was worth 'tens of millions of dollars.' Another official suggested the value of the property seized was not commensurate with the salary of a public official.

El Aissami, whom local media report is of Syrian and Lebanese extraction, grew up poor in the Andean state of Merida and went on to study law and criminology.

He has been both a lawmaker and a state governor for the ruling Socialist Party before being tapped for vice president last month.

Thirty-four Republican and Democratic members of the US Senate and House of Representatives sent a letter to Trump on February 8 asking his administration to take action to sanction Venezuelan officials.

People carry cans of food and bottles of drinks as they loot a food warehouse during a protest in La Fria, Tachira, Venezuela, on December 17 - the country has suffered mass starvation

Their letter referred to El Aissami, noting that his recent appointment as executive vice president put him in line to become Venezuela's next leader. That, they said, 'is extremely troubling given his alleged ties to drug trafficking and terrorist organizations.'

Trump mentioned the country only briefly during the campaign. And Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's comments during his confirmation gave little sign of whether he will depart from the Obama administration's relative restraint and call for dialogue between socialist President Nicolas Maduro and his opponents. Venezuela is mired in political gridlock, even as its economy is falling apart.

A man holds a cow bone and sits next to a sign that reads "Maduro: unhappy communist quit now", while people throw expired 100 Bolivar banknotes on the ground during a protest in El Pinal, Tachira on December 16 - the US accused military generals in the country of profiting off the lack of food

Maduro blasted Trump as a 'bandit' and 'mental patient' during the campaign, but he's remained silent since, even in the face of the Republican's promise to build a wall with Mexico and freeze immigration from close Venezuelan allies such as Iran and Syria.

'He won't be worse than Obama, that's the only thing I dare to say,' Maduro said last month in an appeal to supporters to withhold judgment on the new US leader.

Lawmakers call on Trump to sanction officials responsible for profiting from the dire humanitarian situation in the country. That includes officials in the Venezuelan military who have been put in charge of distributing food, but the AP found that are instead making money from hunger.

The AP investigation found that two generals, food minister Rodolfo Marco Torres and his predecessor Carlos Osorio, are among military officials trafficking in hard-to-find food for personal profit.

In a joint statement Republican Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat, called Monday's move 'long overdue' and praised the Trump administration for 'acting quickly and decisively' against the Maduro government.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio said in a statement he hoped Monday's designations were 'only the beginning' of a move to pressure the Venezuelan government to stop illicit activities and free political prisoners amid its crackdown on the opposition.
A woman stole more than $4,500 worth of groceries by attaching fake barcodes to goods at Coles and Woolworths supermarkets passing them through self service checkouts.

Kylie Milner, 35, appeared in Ipswich Magistrates Court on Monday on 31 counts of fraud, three counts of attempted fraud and one count of possessing a drug-related utensil after devising a complicated shoplifting scam.

Ms Milner photocopied barcodes from 65c noodles and stuck them over the top of more expensive items at major shopping centre chains Coles and Woolworths, according to The Queensland Times.

A Queensland woman has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $4,500 worth of groceries by using fake barcodes at self service checkouts.

Products including meat, coffee machines, protein powder, toilet paper, disinfectant and sheet sets were fraudulently obtained during trips to the stores in Springfield, Booval, Collingwood Park, Brookwater and Goodna.

Ms Milner on occasions would use the self-serve checkouts multiple times a day.

On a search of Ms MIlner's property police found glue sticks and copies of the fraudulent barcodes on her computer along with grocery items with the fake barcodes attached

Ms Milner's defence lawyer Matthew Fairclough, argued that his client was motivated 'by need rather than greed' saying that she was a bankrupt mother who was struggling financially.

She was given a suspended nine month prison sentence, ordered to repay $1,545 to Coles and $2,070 to Woolworths, and fined $150.

Kylie Milner, 35, appeared in Ipswich Magistrates Court on Monday pleading guilty to 31 counts of fraud, three counts of attempted fraud and possessing a drug-related utensil

Ms Milner photocopied barcodes from 65c noodles and stuck them over the top of more expensive items at major shopping centre chains Coles and Woolworths

Products including meat, coffee machines, protein powder, toilet paper, disinfectant and sheet sets were fraudulently obtained during trips to Woolworths and Coles
Andrew Puzder's nomination to lead the Labor Department is encountering Republican resistance, as old marital abuse claims, his employment of an illegal immigrant, and strong labor opposition pile up.

In the latest dramatic development, Senator Susan Collins of Maine  who voted against Betsy DeVos to be Education Secretary  says she has viewed an Oprah Winfrey episode containing claims of marital abuse by Puzder's ex-wife.

The woman, Lisa Fierstein, has since retracted her charges. Although the tape's existence was reported last month, a copy of the tape wasn't previously known to have been located.

Im going to wait until the issues that have arisen are fully explored at his hearing, Collins told Capitol reporters, the Washington Post reported.

Andrew Puzder's nomination to be labor secretary is endangered, with four GOP senators expressing reservations

In the 1980s Oprah episode, Fierstein appears in disguise wearing a wig, and lays out times she said at the time that Puzder physically assaulted her.

I am reviewing the other information that has come to light and Im sure all of this will be explored thoroughly  but she didnt specify what other information is of concern.

Others who are holding off support in the 52-48 Republican Senate are Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski  who also opposed DeVos, and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott.

All four have informed GOP leaders of their reservations, CNN reported. Collins spent time on the video. 'I have gone to review the Oprah show for an hour on which his former wife appeared and I'm reviewing the other information that has come to light. I'm sure all of this will explored fully,' she said.

Puzder's nomination hit another bump when it was revealed he had employed a domestic worker who wasn't here legally. He said he paid back taxes and let the worker go after he discovered their illegal status.

Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) says she has viewed videotape of Andrew Puzder's ex-wife during her appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show

Cabinet nominee Andrew Puzder's ex-wife appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show in disguise to make claims of physical abuse

President of CKE Restaurants at a Carls Jr. Restaurant in Carpinteria with a turkey burger,

Protesters hold signs during a demonstration against U.S. Labor Secreatary nominee CKE CEO Andrew Puzder outside of the CKE Restaurants, Inc. headquarters on February 13, 2017 in Anaheim, California

Fierstein recanted during a 1990 child custody agreement, writing in a letter to the committee that she was hesitant to appear on the show, but encouraged by friends and became caught up in the notion of a free trip to Chicago and being a champion of women and womens issues. I regret my decision to appear on that show.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell gave a full-throated endorsement last week, telling reporters he backed the nomination 'enthusiastically.'

Labor groups have also bashed Puzder for his company's use of minimum wage labor. The firm, CKE Resaurants, includes Carl's Jr. and Hardee's chain restaurants.

Carl's Jr. became known for its racy TV ads featuring women in states of undress eating hamburgers.

D.C. interest groups like the Chamber of Commerce and the National Restaurant Association are using their muscle to try to push the nomination through.

Any Democrats who might think about backing Puzder are getting a preview of the base opposition he is encountering.

Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren sent him a 28-page letter on Monday, the LA Times reported.

'My staff's review of your 16-year tenure as CEO of CKE Restaurants, Inc.reveals that you've made your fortune by squeezing the very workers you'd be charged with protecting as Labor Secretary out of wages and benefits," she wrote.
Britain's contribution to the EU budget is to soar by almost a third  just before the country formally cuts ties with Brussels.

Official figures slipped out by the Treasury reveal that the UK's net contribution to the bloc will jump in the final two years before Brexit.

Britain's net payment of 7.9billion to the EU budget this financial year will rise to 8.1billion in 2017/18, before reaching 10.2billion in 2018/19.

Britain's contribution to the EU budget is to soar by almost a third  just before the country formally cuts ties with Brussels

This means the UK will have to hand over at least 18.3billion during the next two years while Theresa May negotiates the terms of Britain's exit from the EU.

The 29 per cent hike in the net contribution, forecast by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, reflects rising demands from Brussels and the falling value of the UK's rebate.

BRUSSELS U-TURN ON THE ECONOMY The EU has ripped up its pessimistic Brexit forecast and admitted that Britains economy will continue to surge ahead this year. The embarrassing U-turn came after Brussels originally warned that uncertainty over the referendum would halve output. But its latest projections say UK growth will be 50 per cent higher this year than it predicted just three months ago. It warned that the economic downturn would simply kick in next year. Officials claimed that growth in the other EU economies would surge as Britain wanes, falling from 1.5 per cent this year to 1.2 per cent in 2018. But independent financial institutions such as the IMF and the Bank of England have given Britain a far more positive outlook. The UK became the best performing major economy in the developed world in 2016. City firm PricewaterhouseCoopers has also predicted it will be the fastest growing major economy in the developed world until 2050. Advertisement

The bill could rise again if the Prime Minister agrees a transitional deal with the EU and Britain ends up continuing payments into the Brussels budget.

Official figures suggest the net bill for EU membership would continue to rise to almost 11billion a year by 2021. Conservative MP Peter Bone last night said it was 'perverse' to expect British taxpayers to increase contributions to the EU after they voted to leave in last year's referendum.

He claimed the revelations made the case for accelerating the Brexit process, adding that it would be 'unacceptable' for EU budget contributions to continue as part of any transitional deal.

'I think most people will see it as totally perverse that we are being asked to hand over even more to the EU when the public have made it very clear they want to leave,' he said. 'It does show that we need to leave as soon as possible, because every day we stay is costing us more money. Everyone talks about this process taking two years, but that is very much the backstop.

'There is no reason why we should not be able to get out in a year and save 10billion of our money. We need to stop the direct debit and start spending that money on priorities of our own  you could solve the social care crisis at a stroke and have money to spare.'

Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage said it was 'not surprising' that Britain was being asked to contribute more. 'They want every penny they can get from us,' he said. 'A lot of people don't realise that we are still paying money in, but ... if we end up locked into some kind of transitional deal then the figure could be higher still.

The bill could rise again if the Prime Minister agrees a transitional deal with the EU and Britain ends up continuing payments into the Brussels budget

'The Government's motto ought to be 'time is money' but no one seems to be in any hurry.'

The UK's rebate from the EU budget was secured by Margaret Thatcher in 1984. But the arrangement was watered down by Tony Blair in 2005, in a deal that meant the more the EU spent on projects in poorer European countries, the lower Britain's rebate became.

Brussels is also demanding 50billion in 'divorce' fees to cover existing commitments such as pension payments, however Government sources insist any final settlement will be far lower.

Firms are unlikely to face a sharp drop in eastern European workers after Brexit, a report says today.

There will not be a sudden exodus of staff from Poland and nine other countries in the region, because they are settled in the UK and likely to be allowed to stay, according to the think-tank MigrationWatch.
Philip Hammond will reveal that in its first three months, the cyber security agency has responded to 188 attacks

Britain is being hit by two significant cyber attacks every day, the Chancellor will warn today.

Philip Hammond will reveal that in its first three months, the cyber security agency has responded to 188 attacks.

And he will demand businesses sharpen their security to protect customers.

The recent attacks are believed to have included attempts by Russian hackers to steal defence and foreign policy secrets from Whitehall departments.

The Queen will today open the new National Cyber Security Centre, which is part of the GCHQ intelligence agency.

Accompanying the Queen, Mr Hammond will say: The cyber attacks we are seeing are increasing in their frequency, their severity, and their sophistication.

In the first three months of its existence the NCSC has already mobilised to respond to attacks on 188 occasions.

The Chancellor will point out that 65 per cent of large businesses reported a cyber breach or attack in the past 12 months, adding: Business has to sharpen its approach as the scale of the threat from cyber increases and intensifies. And this centre stands ready to help them in doing that.

The government cannot protect businesses and the general public from the risks of cyber-attack on its own. It has to be a team effort.

It is only in this way that we can stay one step ahead of the scale and pace of the threat we face.

The opening of the NCSC by the Queen comes amid mounting concern over the damage state hackers or terrorists could inflict on the economy and infrastructure.

Ciaran Martin, head of the centre, warned at the weekend that there had been a step change in Russias aggression against the West as well as more attacks on soft targets such as local councils and charities to steal personal data.

Universities could also be targeted to steal research secrets.

The Chancellor will point out that 65 per cent of large businesses reported a cyber breach or attack in the past 12 months (file photo)

He said there had been 188 category 2 and 3 attacks since October, many of which threatened national security. He said it was only a matter of time before a more serious category 1 attack occurs.

Alison Whitney, the NCSCs deputy director for digital services, said it will play a crucial role in efforts to make the UK the safest place to live and do business online.

She said: We do so much business online. Every citizen in the United Kingdom, pretty much, is accessing some service online, be it just things like internet shopping or more and more the kinds of service that we get from government.

Making sure that we can do that securely is more and more important to everybody in the UK.

Thats really what the NCSC is here to do. We say and we really do mean that we are here to make the UK the safest place to do business and to live online.
6 Prices do not include: international flights; other meals; airport taxes; drinks and personal expenses; tips; sites entrance fees; excursions in Belize; border taxes in Honduran and Belize; insurance. Additional costs, in US $, (prices per person): Half board supplement (dinners) Single room supplement Triple room reduction A B A B A B Half board: except for Belize. English speaking guide from D1 to D10, for groups of : RESPONSABILITY Mayaexplor will not be held responsible for any bad services in your trip that are not included in our contract. Caution! You are responsible for ensuring that you complete the necessary police, health and customs formalities for your trip. Mayaexplor declines any responsibility for any force majeure events (e.g. political circumstances, requisition orders, official displacements, strikes, safety or climatic reasons) that may intervene during your journey in Guatemala or in any neighboring country. We strongly advise you to have insurance form your own country in order to cover any unforeseeable risks. If, for any unforeseen circumstances, we are unable to provide an important part of the advertised program, we would do our best to replace it by an equivalent activity. It is possible that because of exceptional local circumstances, we have to change transport, hotel or itinerary. MAYAEXPLOR 6

5 D14 fri Caye Caulker - Belize City - return flight Flight to the Belize City international airport for the return flight. D1 sat Arrival D2 sun Chichicastenango D3 mon Lac Atitlan D4 tues Market of Solola D5 wed Antigua D6 thur Copan D7 fri Quirigua - Livingston D8 sat Rio Dulce D9 sun Aguateca D10 mon Tikal D11 tue Tikal - Belize City- Caye Caulker D12 wed Caye Caulker D13 thu Caye Caulker D14 fri Return flight PROGRAM SUMMARY THE PRICE Prices in US $, per person, double room accommodation, for groups of: 2 people 3 people 4 and 5 people 6 and 7 people 8 people A B A B A B A B A B 2,090 2,425 1,730 2,065 1,545 1,880 1,415 1,750 1,335 1,670 (A: 2 / 3 star hotels and B: 3 / 4 star hotels) N.B.: prices are established for adults. Discounts for children under 12. Prices include: 13 nights in 2 / 3 * hotels (option A) or 3 / 4 * hotels (option B), accommodations in double rooms with "American breakfast"; all land transportation in private vehicle; the flight from Flores to Belize city; local flights in Belize; boat transportation in private boats: from Panajachel to Santiago Atitlan & return (D 3), from Puerto Barrios to Livingston (D 7), from Livingston to Rio Dulce (D 8) and to Aguateca (D 9); English speaking guide services in Antigua, Copan, Aguateca and Tikal. MAYAEXPLOR 5

4 D10 mon Tikal Visit this incredible ceremonial centre located in the heart of the national park. Among all the Mayan sites, Tikal is certainly the most impressive for visitors. Night in a lodge in the tropical forest. D11 tue Tikal - Belize City - Caye Caulker Departure to Belize City (by plane or bus depending on the operations of Belizean flights companies). Flight to Caye Caulker. D12 wed Caye Caulker Free day for manatee s watching, snorkelling or diving. D13 thur Caye Caulker Free day for manatee s watching, snorkelling or diving. MAYAEXPLOR 4

3 D6 thu Copan Departure to Copan. The southernmost major center of lowland Maya civilization and is famed for its artistic sculpture. Overnight in the village. D7 fri Quirigua and Livingston Travel to Puerto Barrios. In route, visit the archeological site of Quirigua, whose steles are the tallest of the Mayan world. From Puerto Barrios, travel by boat to Livingston, a Caribbean village. D8 sat Rio Dulce From Livingston, by boat on the Rio Dulce, we will enjoy tropical fauna and flora until reaching the castle of Castillo San Felipe. Then, bus to Tikal. Overnight in Tikal. D9 sun Aguateca Bus to Sayaxche and excursion by boat on the Pasion river. Visit of the archeological site of Aguateca, deep into tropical forest. Back to Flores MAYAEXPLOR 3

2 D2 sun Chichicastenango Departure to Chichicastenango. We visit one of the most beautiful Indian markets in Guatemala with its multicolored Mayan textiles, flowers and fruits. In the afternoon, departure to Panajachel (Lake Atitlan). D3 mon Lake Atitlan We reach by boat Santiago Atitlan, a village rich in handicraft and traditional fabrics. In the afternoon, we visit the villages of Santa Catarina and San Antonio. Overnight in Panajachel. D4 tue Solola Visit of the market of Solola. Because of the geographical position of this village, located between the highlands and the coastal plain, one can see, on market days, a remarkable convergence of different populations. In the afternoon, departure to Antigua. Spend the night in Antigua. D5 wed Antigua A visit to this splendid colonial jewel, former capital of Guatemala during the Spanish era. In this once-flourishing capital, although victim of devastating earthquakes, one can feel the ambiance of its colonial architecture. Sidestreets are enlivened by the interaction of Indians, "Ladinos" and tourists. MAYAEXPLOR 2

1 Dear friends, Here is the program of the Guatemala - Belize Best regards. Mayaexplor team THE TOUR 14 days / 13 nights trip Itinerary in Guatemala: Chichicastenango and Solola 's markets, Lake Atitlan, the colonial city of Antigua, the archeological sites of Copan, Quirigua, Aguateca and Tikal, the Caribbean Livingston and the river Rio Dulce. In Belize, snorkelling and diving in an excepcional coral reef. THE PROGRAM D1 sat Arrival Reception at the airport. Overnight in Guatemala city. MAYAEXPLOR 1

We re taking a trip! Come join the gang from Single Parent Travel We re taking a trip! Come join the gang from Single Parent Travel What: Guatemala 7 Nights When: July 18-25, 2009 Guatemala, often trumpeted as "the country of eternal spring," is one of the most-often More information

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Most of the Cabinet would vote to oust John Bercow as Commons Speaker, one of his leading critics claimed yesterday.

Former minister James Duddridge, who is pushing for a vote of no confidence in Mr Bercow, said more than a dozen Cabinet ministers are ready to support the move.

Tory MPs have questioned how Mr Bercow can be seen as neutral after he revealed he voted Remain in the Brexit referendum, and branded U.S. President Donald Trump racist and sexist.

Downing Street has said Mr Bercows future is a matter for MPs and indicated ministers will be free to join any attempts to get rid of him.

Most of the Cabinet would vote to oust John Bercow (pictured) as Commons Speaker, one of his leading critics claimed yesterday

Mr Duddridge said: I have spoken to a couple of people in the Cabinet who say they would vote for the no confidence motion now they have been released (from any Government whip).

Certainly I expect the majority to support the vote of no confidence.

Mr Bercow was plunged into fresh controversy after a video emerged of him talking to students at Reading University on 3 February, in which he said: Personally, I voted to Remain. I thought it was better to stay in the European Union than not.

In the video, Mr Bercow said immigration has been a good thing for Britain. He also referred to untruths during the Brexit campaign and expressed hopes that Parliament would maintain changes to working hours and health and safety protections after Brexit.

It comes after he effectively banned Mr Trump from addressing Parliament during a state visit.

Parliaments website says the Commons Speaker must remain politically impartial at all times and the controversies have led to calls for his resignation before the Commons returns from recess on 20 February.

Mr Duddridge said Mr Bercow may take up a potential compromise solution and resign, after former culture secretary John Whittingdale suggested the Speakers term of office was coming to a natural end.

Even if it came to a vote and the Speaker won narrowly, his position could still be untenable, Mr Duddridge said.

If he has the support of 50 per cent-plus-one, could he do the job with that level of support? the MP said.

Ukip MP Douglas Carswell yesterday savaged Mr Bercows attempt to stop Mr Trump addressing Parliament as an absurd overreach... student politics.

Downing Street has said Mr Bercows future is a matter for MPs and indicated ministers will be free to join any attempts to get rid of him

But he cautioned Brexit-backing MPs against trying to unseat the Speaker, warning it could create Commons chaos and increase the chance of defeat in key votes on EU withdrawal.

Writing on his blog, the Clacton MP said: Parliament has some big Brexit battles ahead. We need to win them. So Brexiteer MPs should base everything they do in the Commons on a simple litmus test: does it benefit Brexit, or not?

Thats my perspective on the latest effort to unseat the Speaker - and why I wont support it.

Prime Minister Theresa Mays deputy spokesman yesterday said: The position of the Speaker is a matter for Parliament and the MPs in Parliament.

Asked if the Government would allocate time for a debate and vote on the Speaker, the spokesman said: Its a hypothetical situation in any event, but it would be a matter for the House authorities.
Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe will use his final major speech as Scotland Yard Commissioner to call for greater public support for firearms officers

Britain's most senior policeman will today call for more trust in armed police as he admits that not enough officers are willing to carry guns.

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe will use his final major speech as Scotland Yard Commissioner to call for greater public support for firearms officers.

His comments come after a survey of his force yesterday found that one in eight officers would not be prepared to carry a gun under any circumstances, despite the threat of a Paris-style attack in Britain.

A further 8 per cent said they would rather quit than carry a firearm.

The Commissioner has pledged to flood London with 600 extra armed officers in the wake of the Paris shootings. But recruitment has been stymied by fears about the legal protection for armed officers who open fire.

One officer who shot a suspected armed robber dead in 2005 was only cleared of murder in 2015.

Speaking at the Royal United Services Institute today, Sir Bernard will say: This a dangerous place to be  in two ways.

We simply dont have enough people now wanting to do these jobs. The failure rate in training is high. Secondly, we cant afford to have officers think twice because they fear the consequences of shooting someone. Thats how they get shot, or the public gets hurt or a criminal gets away with a gun.

He will add: When people look at what we do, there should be less suspicion and more trust.

It comes after the survey of 11,000 Met officers revealed that only 6 per cent feel there are currently an adequate amount of gun-carrying officers in the capital.

It comes after the survey of 11,000 Met officers revealed that only 6 per cent feel there are currently an adequate amount of gun-carrying officers in the capital

There are fears that armed criminality is on the rise after a year in which nearly 700 firearms were recovered by officers in London and 12 people were shot dead by criminals.

Metropolitan Police officers were deployed to incidents involving guns on more than 3,300 occasions in 2016, without firing a single shot at a suspect.

Nationally, more than 800 illegal firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition were seized by counter-terrorism police and the National Crime Agency in just four weeks in a major crackdown to prevent extremists obtaining guns.

A poll yesterday by the Metropolitan Police Federation revealed that 43 per cent of officers believe there should be more specialist firearms capability in the Metropolitan Police Service, but not all officers should be routinely armed.
The Archbishop of Canterbury yesterday linked Donald Trump to fascism in a sweeping denunciation of 'populist politics'.

The condemnation  which also evoked Brexit and the rise of the far-Right in Europe  looks certain to deepen the growing difficulties for Theresa May in building warm relations with Washington.

In a speech to the General Synod, the Most Reverend Justin Welby said the 'language of public life is at present deeply, savagely divided'.

The condemnation by the Most Reverend Justin Welby is the second insult to the President from a pillar of the British establishment inside a week

As the leader of the established Church, the Archbishop would be certain to figure in the planning for the President's state visit, and his attack on Trump yesterday will bring new complications for Mrs May

He said: 'There are a thousand ways to explain the Brexit vote, or the election of President Trump, or the strength in the polls in Holland of [far-right politician] Geert Wilders or in France of Madame Le Pen and many other leaders in a nationalist, populist, or even fascist tradition of politics.'

His speech comes just a week after Commons Speaker John Bercow provoked outrage by saying he would be 'strongly opposed' to an invitation for President Trump to speak in Parliament.

As the leader of the established Church, the Archbishop would be certain to figure in the planning for the President's state visit.

Last week he ducked questioning on whether he welcomed the visit, but said he would regard it as a privilege to speak to the President to try to change his views.

The Archbishop also told the Synod that the economic and social picture of Britain's future looked bleak, but with the Church's help things could be turned around, adding: 'This is a moment to reimagine Britain, a moment of potential opportunity, certainly combined with immensely hard work and heavy lifting.'

Saying the Church should take a role in the turnaround, the Archbishop said: 'We educate a million children. We are in every community. We are embedded in the national history.

'The Church of England retains influence. We have at present the extraordinary privilege of sitting in parliament, the remarkable gift and responsibility of educating, chaplains in every sphere of life, and a role in public life of the nation.

'We have a heritage of presence across England, burdensome although it may sometimes be, and the vocation of being the default point of help and support in times of trouble, or celebration in times of joy.'

Archbishop Welby also said the Church should not be blamed alone for abuse scandals. The Archbishop has made a personal apology for his links to John Smyth, a barrister who administered sado-masochistic beatings to boys he groomed at camps run by a Christian charity.

Archbishop Welby used the strongest of language to describe President Trump's politics in a speech to the Church of England's parliament

The Archbishop also told the Synod that the economic and social picture of Britain's future looked bleak

He told the Synod he could not comment on the abuse charges because they are the subject of a police investigation.

'But on the principle let me be blunt and clear,' Archbishop Welby said. 'Abuse has occurred across every tradition of the church, and in every other institution, and in society as a whole, and above all in families. It is part of the human tragedy, and something against which we must struggle. That struggle has to show genuine concern for survivors.'

In his speech the Archbishop pointedly remarked that his Christmas sermon had been 'unpopular with some.'

The comment appeared to refer to Nigel Farage, who, shortly after meeting the newly-elected President, was scathing about the 'negative' Canterbury Cathedral sermon. In the sermon Archbishop Welby said that the world was 'less predictable and certain' and spoke of the 'economies of despair'.
Two mobsters face three life sentences and number of additional charges in the execution-style death of a rival gangster in 2013.

Christopher Londonio, 43, and Terrance Caldwell, 58, allegedly shot Michael Meldish in the head while he sat in his car in the Bronx.

Prosecutors say the slaying was a result of a beef between 'families' of La Cosa Nostra - also known as the Italian Mob.

The two New York natives were apprehended in 2015 for the killing, but now face trial for a slew of charges announced on Monday.

They include racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit murder, murder, and firearms offenses.

Christopher Londonio, 43, and Terrance Caldwell, 58, allegedly shot Michael Meldish in the head while he sat in his car in the Bronx, which prosecutors attribute to beef between 'families' of La Cosa Nostra - also known as the Italian Mob

The indictment, which was filed on Wednesday in White Plains, New York federal court, alleges that on November 15, 2013, Londonio and Caldwell murdered Michael Meldish in the vicinity of Baisley Avenue and Ellsworth Avenue in the Bronx.

His body was discovered by a resident of the family neighborhood, Janet Forbes, who noticed the car door ajar and found 62-year-old Meldish inside, with 'blood coming out of his ears,' the New York Daily News reported.

Meldish's death was met with celebration from law enforcement officers, who called him a 'stone-cold killer,' believing him to have carried out at least 10 murders on the orders of the Mafia throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

Joseph Coffey, former commanding officer of the NYPD's organized crime homicide task force, said at the time: 'It should have happened a long time ago,' he added. 'I call it vermin killing vermin  poetic justice.'

Meldish's death was met with celebration from law enforcement officers, who called him a 'stone-cold killer,' believing him to have carried out at least 10 murders on the orders of the Mafia throughout the 1970s and 1980s

Meldish was reportedly the co-leader of The Purple Gang - and controlled drug trade in the Bronx and Harlem during the 1970s and 1980s.

The colorfully named gang was allegedly known for killing and dismembering their victims - dominating the heroin industry in New York at the time.

Michael Meldish's brother and partner-in-crime Joseph is currently serving 25 years in prison for a murder in 1999 - but is suspected of committing more than 70 contract killings

Michael Meldish's brother and partner-in-crime Joseph is currently serving 25 years in prison for a murder in 1999 - but is suspected of committing more than 70 contract killings.

Londonio and Caldwell face three charges that carry life sentences - two which could earn them the death penalty: murder in aid of racketeering and firearms charges that resulted in the death of another.

Caldwell also faces additional charges in the attempted murder of the Bonnano crime family 'soldier' in the vicinity of First Avenue and 111th Street, in Manhattan in 2013 - assault and attempted murder in aid of racketeering.

According to the US Attorney's Office, La Cosa Nostra operates through entities known as 'Families.' In the New York City area, those include the Genovese, Gambino, Luchese, Bonanno, Colombo, and Decavalcante Families.

Each Family operates through groups of individuals known as 'crews' and 'regimes.' Eavery 'crew' has a leader, known as a 'Caporegime,' 'Capo,' 'Captain,' or 'Skipper,' who is responsible for supervising the criminal activities of his crew.

They also provide 'soldiers' and associates with support and protection. In return, the Capo typically receives a share of the illegal earnings of each of his crew's Soldiers and associates, which is sometimes referred to as tribute.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: 'The mob continues to kill and maim in the name of La Cosa Nostra, and as alleged, Christopher Londonio and Terrance Caldwell did just that.

'In a misguided show of allegiance to this violent way of life, Londonio and Caldwell allegedly murdered Michael Meldish and attempted to kill a Bonanno Family soldier.

'We thank the FBI, the NYPD, and the Bronx County District Attorney's Office for their dedication that led to the federal racketeering charges announced today.'

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. said: 'Hollywood and popular fiction almost romanticize the mob, so much so the general public may not know it exists in real life anymore.

However, the crimes members are accused of taking part in are violent and all too real for their victims. The men charged in this case allegedly committed murder, robbery, dealing illegal drugs and extortion to only name a few.

The FBI Organized Crime Task Force investigates these families and their string of criminal behavior each day, proving the mob is still a legitimate threat to the community.'
A Queensland man charged over an alleged drink-driving incident that claimed the life of a nine-year-old boy on Christmas night has appeared in court.

Adrian Murray, 24, is accused of running over Josiah Sisson as the boy looked at Christmas lights with his family at Springwood, south of Brisbane.

Murray, who is on bail, had his case adjourned when he briefly faced the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Adrian Murray (pictured), who is accused of drunk driving and running over nine-year-old Josiah Sisson in Brisbane on Christmas night, appeared in court for the first time on Tuesday morning

Josiah Sisson (pictured) was run over as he admired the Christmas lights near his home in Springwood, south of Brisbane

He is charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance and driving a motor vehicle while under the influence.

Outside, defence lawyer Andrew Moloney said his client was doing as well as could be expected in the circumstances.

'(He is) doing it pretty tough as is everyone involved in this I think - it's terrible,' he said.

It's alleged Murray had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.162 when his car struck Josiah on Christmas night.

Josiah was transported to hospital in critical condition before his family made the decision to turn off life support

Police allege Murray was three-times over the limit when he careered off the road and hit Josiah before smashing through a hedge, collecting a water tank and crashing into a house

The schoolboy died in hospital two days later after his family chose to take him off life support.

His father Karl Sisson, a pastor, astonished many when he met with Murray and forgave him for causing his son's death.

Murray is facing charges of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance and driving a motor vehicle while under the influence.

His father Karl Sisson, a pastor, astonished many when he met with Murray and forgave him for causing his son's death (pictured together)

His case was adjourned on Tuesday to allow police to prepare a brief of evidence.

Mr Moloney told reporters he would wait for the brief before deciding how to proceed with the case.

He didn't indicate whether Murray has had any recent contact with Josiah's family, saying that was private.

The case is due to return to the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on April 18.
A woman whose 'proudest role' was being a mother to eight-year-old quadruplets has died unexpectedly aged 36.

Christina 'Tina' Moore passed away last Tuesday in Omaha, Nebraska and her family are now waiting for autopsy results to explain her shock death.

The 36-year-old leaves behind her husband Aaron and their four young children Jack, Joseph, Noah and Grace.

Christina 'Tina' Moore, 36, passed away unexpectedly last week in Omaha, Nebraska leaving behind her husband Aaron and eight-year-old quadruplets Jack, Joseph, Noah and Grace

'It was a shock,' her husband of 14 years told the Omaha World-Herald.

'I miss her so much, but I have to keep coming back to the time we had together.

'I'm grateful to have had her to teach me what it means to be an incredible parent. She was an amazing mom.'

He said he will now make sure their children remember Moore as the 'amazingly strong person' she was.

'I want them to know that the best day in her life was the day they were born and that her proudest role was to be their mother,' he said.

Christina gave birth to her four children Jack, Joseph, Noah and Grace in 2008 and described being a mother as a proudest role

Aaron said the death of his wife of 14 years was a shock and the family are still waiting for autopsy results to explain why she died

Aaron said he would now make sure their children remember Christina as the 'amazingly strong person' she was

The birth of the couple's quadruplets was widely documented by local media in their hometown back in 2008 with the children dubbed the 'quad squad'.

Moore recalled in 2009 that she had struggled to fall pregnant and once walked through the maternity section at Target sobbing.

She told her own mother that she knew her purpose was to be a mom.

'It's the greatest gift in the world,' Moore said at the time.

Moore's funeral will be held on Tuesday in Omaha. Her family are still waiting for the autopsy results to confirm a cause of death.
The Senate unanimously confirmed physician David Shulkin to be secretary of Veterans Affairs on Monday night.

He will now try to deliver on President Donald Trump's campaign promises to fix long-standing problems at the department.

Senators voted 100-0 to approve the lone holdover from the Obama administration.

He has been the VA's top health official since 2015.

Trump congratulated Shulkin on Monday night, saying: 'Congratulations to our new #VASecretary Dr. David Shulkin. Time to take care of Veterans who have fought to protect our country!'

The Senate on Monday unanimously confirmed the 57-year-old physician David Shulkin to be secretary of Veterans Affairs

Senators voted to approve Shulkin in a rare show of bipartisanship. He secured the backing of Senate Democrats after pledging at his confirmation hearing on February 1 to always protect veterans' interests, even if it meant disagreeing at times with Trump

Trump congratulated Shulkin's appointment as VA secretary in a Monday night tweet

The move is a rare show of bipartisanship amid partisan rancor over Trump's other nominees.

Shulkin secured the backing of Senate Democrats after pledging at his confirmation hearing on February 1 to always protect veterans' interests, even if it meant disagreeing at times with Trump.

The 57-year old has ruled out fully privatizing the agency and says wide-scale firings of VA employees are unnecessary, describing the VA workforce as 'the best in health care'.

Trump had made accountability and rooting out wrongdoing a cornerstone of VA reforms, having called the department 'the most corrupt'.

During Trump's campaign, he pledged that his administration would allow veterans to get VA-paid care in the private sector if they choose.

Military veterans can do that now if they can't get a VA appointment within 30 days or live more than 40 miles from a VA facility.

Trump's plan also includes creating a 24-hour hotline for VA complaints.

Shulkin is the first non-veteran to head the government's second-largest agency, which has nearly 370,000 employees and an annual budget of nearly $167billion

'Our veterans have been treated horribly. Theyre waiting in line for 15, 16, 17 days, cases where they go in and they have a minor early-stage form of cancer and they cant see a doctor', said Trump in a January news conference in Manhattan.

'By the time they get to the doctor, theyre terminal. Not gonna happen, its not gonna happen'.

Shulkin is the first non-veteran to head the government's second-largest agency, which has nearly 370,000 employees and an annual budget of nearly $167billion.

He'll have plenty to do once sworn in.

Shulkin has acknowledged that Congress should hold him to a higher standard of faster results as a former VA official who has laid initial groundwork for changes.

He says he should be fired from his job if, like some VA secretaries before him, he isn't able to significantly fix problems and regain veterans' trust.

'You're not going to hear me asking for a learning curve', Shulkin said at his hearing.

'I don't have a lot of patience and I am going to be serious about making these changes and regaining that trust'.

Here Shulkin testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, at his confirmation hearing on February 1 before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee

The immediate challenge includes revamping scheduling and access for VA medical appointments following a 2014 wait-time scandal.

At least 40 veterans died while they waited.

Shulkin is urging a more integrated VA network where veterans could seek outside private care only in coordination with the VA.

He has not sketched out full details.

'We've yet to hear from him how he'll pursue President Trump's vision for a public-private partnership at the VA', said Dan Caldwell, policy director for the conservative group Concerned Veterans for America.

Shulkin also will have to address long backlogs for veterans who apply for disability payments - he calls its appeals system 'broken' - and grapple with the White House's order of a 90-day federal hiring freeze.

According to Shulkin, the White House agreed to exempt 37,000 out of 45,000 VA vacancies, but major veterans organizations say much more hiring is needed to eliminate red tape.
Fly-tipping is reaching epidemic levels in some parts of Britain, a survey has found.

Many councils are dealing with around 50 incidents a day and some face more than 100 a day, a freedom of information request revealed.

Haringey in North London had a staggering 39,036 cases of fly-tipping reported last year  a 21 per cent increase on the previous year that amounts to about 107 each day.

Many councils are dealing with around 50 incidents a day and some face more than 100 a day

This was followed by Manchester, with 30,386 offences reported, an average of 77 a day.

The FOI request by ITV News were sent to 264 councils across the UK between November 2015 and December 2016. Third worst was Birmingham, which had dealt with more than 21,000 incidents, an average of 57 a day.

'Fly-tipping is an epidemic,' said Allison Ogden-Newton of Keep Britain Tidy. 'It's reached crisis levels and something needs to be done about it.

'Local authorities are overwhelmed with instances of criminal fly-tipping and we need to address this urgently.'

Local authorities spend around 50million every year dealing with the problem. In Swansea, the River Tawe next to a Sainsbury's supermarket was trawled because of concerns that it might become a safety hazard during searches for missing people  and 60 shopping trolleys were retrieved.

Land owned by Network Rail, Telford, has become one of the worst fly-tipping sites in the country (pictured this week)

Gail Smith, head of response at Swansea county command, said: 'The dumping of shopping trolleys into the Tawe River is a great risk to all users of the river and especially to wildlife.'

Legislation introduced in May 2016 allows councils to issue fines for fly-tipping of between 150 and 400, although many councils have not yet used the powers.

Yesterday two men in Cheltenham admitted fly tipping general household waste.

Justin Duplessis and Ryan Gobey, both from Cheltenham, received fines of 150 and were also ordered to pay costs of 220 and a victim surcharge of 30.

The prosecution followed a complaint that a large amount of fly tipped waste had been deposited at the end of a street in Cheltenham.
A year ago today, Faye Burdett died from meningitis B, and her parents released this photo to raise awareness

Ministers were last night accused of betraying the memory of a two-year-old girl who died from meningitis after missing out on a new vaccine.

A year ago today, Faye Burdett died from meningitis B, her tiny body ravaged by the disease.

Photographs, released by her parents after she died, graphically illustrated the horrific toll of the illness.

Her death triggered a campaign for greater access to the vaccine Bexsero, which was introduced in September 2015 but restricted to infants under one.

At the time, the Government promised a public health campaign to raise awareness of meningitis. Ministers also pledged to publish a review of the cost-effectiveness calculations behind the decision to restrict access  and that it would be completed last summer.

But last night Fayes father Neil accused them of breaking both promises. He warned that children were at risk because the Government had done absolutely nothing in the 12 months following his daughters death. Since Bexsero was introduced, experts estimate 400 cases of meningitis B in children up to age five could have been prevented had they been given the vaccine.

Mr and Mrs Burdett were invited to give evidence to the Commons petitions committee last March.

But since going to Parliament, weve heard nothing, Mr Burdett said. The Government is being complacent and we feel badly let down.

There is just this massive hole children are falling into. We feel like we were ushered out of the building and that was that. Its all been brushed under the carpet.

He added: The MPs there said they would keep pushing for an awareness campaign but weve heard nothing  Its not acceptable and its not fair because children are still dying.

Mr Burdett, 38, and wife Jenny, 36, made the heartbreaking decision to turn off Fayes life support last Valentines Day

Meningitis is a bacterial infection causing inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. With early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment, most children make a full recovery, but it is fatal in one in ten cases.

Symptoms can begin suddenly and worsen rapidly, including a high fever with cold hands and feet, vomiting, irritability, muscle pain and a red rash that does not fade if a glass is rolled over it.

By the time meningitis is spotted it is often too late to treat it effectively. This means vaccination is the safest way to protect against the disease. Mr Burdett, 38, and wife Jenny, 36, made the heartbreaking decision to turn off Fayes life support last Valentines Day.

They released photos of their daughter dying in Maidstone Hospital in Kent, covered in a rash from head to toe. It prompted more than 820,000 people to sign a petition for Bexsero to be given to all children.

The death of the toddler (pictured) prompted more than 820,000 people to sign a petition for Bexsero to be given to all children

In April, then public health minister Jane Ellison pledged an awareness campaign for parents on the signs of meningitis. The Government agreed to release its cost-modelling for vaccines.

But the campaign has never materialised and the cost report has been repeatedly delayed.

Bexsero is available on the NHS for babies aged two months, followed by a dose at four months and a booster at 12 months.

The drug costs 75 per dose  but the NHS has a discount taking the cost to an estimated 20. Parents who want older children vaccinated must pay privately.

The Meningitis Research Foundations Vinny Smith said: Older children were denied access because of unfair rules. That equates to around 400 cases of men B that could have been avoided  The Governments report needs to be published urgently and it needs to be open to scrutiny so that fairer decisions on vaccines can be made.

Rachel Robinson of charity Meningitis Now said: In the absence of the men B vaccine being extended  it is crucial parents and carers make sure they know the signs and symptoms.

A Department of Health spokesman said the review needs detailed consideration and has been delayed until summer at the earliest. He said information on meningitis B was included in the Goverments sepsis campaign launched last year, adding: Well set out further plans shortly.

My baby's last word was 'mummy'

Neil and Jenny Burdett with their daughter Faye during happier times

Faye Burdett mouthed the word Mummy just before she died, her father revealed last night.

Speaking to mark the first anniversary of his daughters death from meningitis, Neil Burdett said her legacy would live on because her story would save the lives of others.

But he said the Governments failure to act on calls for wider access to the meningitis B vaccine was insulting and devastating.

The lorry driver and his wife Jenny, a beautician, spent every day by their two-year-olds hospital bed as she fought the infection.

She could hear and she could react, Mr Burdett said. Every morning I would sit with her and she would squeeze my finger.

Once, she opened her eyes and looked around. She mouthed the word Mummy. We never heard her voice again because of the ventilator.

More than 820,000 people signed a petition after Fayes death, calling for wider access to the vaccine.

Mr Burdett said: Children under five are vulnerable to meningitis  they are solely reliant on their parents and carers to spot that something is wrong. Faye was just six months too old to receive the men B vaccine when it was introduced.

Any parent would be devastated at the loss of a child, but knowing that it could have been prevented is crippling. We are determined to make sure other parents know more about meningitis than we did.

The fact such a small amount of information  could have saved her life and the fact we did not know this, will haunt us forever.

He added: We hope our actions in bringing Fayes experience to the notice of parents across the UK has encouraged them to get their children vaccinated, or at least to learn the signs  and that this becomes Fayes legacy, where her death has helped to save the lives of other children. For this, we couldnt be more proud of our little girl.

The couple decided to turn off her life support after doctors told them her chance of survival was minimal. Mr Burdett said it was the hardest decision we have ever had to make but it was the right thing to do.

He described Faye as a very happy girl who loved to run around, adding: She loved painting and was very clever for her age, she was so bright and determined. Thats the thing with meningitis  in the click of a finger, it all changes. Every day we miss her.

Rachel Robinson, of the charity Meningitis Now, said: The death of Faye Burdett touched the nations heart and Neil and Jenny must be thanked for their bravery in sharing their experience.
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The heartbroken family of a slain Gold Coast mother have told mourners of a generous, kind woman taken from them too soon.

About 200 mourners, most clad in Teresa Bradford's favourite colour purple, gathered at the mother-of-four's funeral on Tuesday.

Ms Bradford was killed by her estranged husband David at her Pimpama home in a murder-suicide in January.

Friends and family carry the coffin of Teresa Bradford who was killed by her estranged husband David at her Pimpama home in a murder-suicide in January

A picture of Teresa adorned her white coffin as mourners many with young children gathered to say their farewells

Teresa's only daughter Emily showed courage beyond her years as she spoke about just how much she will miss her mum.

'Mum was an amazing, kind woman who pushed for the whole world to be happy,' she said.

Teresa's eldest son, Brock, led the tributes, expressing his despair at having his mother taken from him so suddenly.

'She was more than just my mother, she was my best friend,' Brock told the service.

'I just wish I had more time to say I love her and I'm always going to miss her.'

Teresa's friend Kate McCulloch spoke of the anger and pain the nature of her death had caused, but said that shouldn't define who she was.

Teresa Bradford's (above) funeral was held on Tuesday with friends and family paying emotional tributes to the mother of four

Ms Bradford was killed by her estranged husband David (pictured) at her Pimpama home in a murder-suicide in January

Teresa's brother, Darren, wore a purple tie as he mourned his sisters death.

Friends and family comforted each other outside of the service held at Allambe Memorial Gardens in Nerang

Darren stands in front of his sisters coffin during the service

Teresa's brother Darren O'Brien admitted Tuesday's service was the 'hardest thing' he'd ever had to do as he farewelled his only sister

Darren wipes away tears during the emotional service

Teresa's friend Kate McCulloch spoke of the anger and pain the nature of her death had caused, but said that shouldn't define who she was

A man wears a black shirt that says 'rest in peace Teresa' on the back

'You are more than just a statistic, more than just a victim,' she said.

'You are Teresa. A mother, a sister, a daughter, a friend.'

Teresa's brother Darren O'Brien admitted Tuesday's service was the 'hardest thing' he'd ever had to do as he farewelled his only sister.

He spoke of how Teresa had endured an increasingly desperate domestic situation and how, tragically, a year that promised hope and safety was now marred.

'Teresa will live on through her four beautiful children's and in our hearts,' Mr O'Brien said.

'We promise to look after her kids and know she'll be looking down and holding us to that promise.'

Queensland Opposition Leader introduces bill to change bail laws for DV offenders Queensland Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls has called on the premier to support his private member's bill to change bail laws for alleged domestic violence offenders. Mr Nicholls has introduced the bill to parliament on Tuesday, after Gold Coast mother Teresa Bradford was killed by her ex-partner. Among the measures in the bill is a reversal of the onus of proof for bail for domestic violence offenders, as well as a move to attach GPS trackers to repeat offenders. Earlier, Mr Nicholls used Question Time on the first day of state parliament for the year to urge Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to support his bill. 'Instead of another wait-and-see review, will the premier, in a spirit of bipartisanship and in support of the community, support the LNP's policy to change bail laws to protect fearful victims from further harm?' Mr Nicholls asked. Ms Palaszczuk said the Labor government was continuing to look into bail changes and other measures, and she urged Mr Nicholls and the Liberal National Party to support the bipartisan process. 'For Teresa, we need to get these laws right. These laws should not be rushed,' she answered. The debate comes as Ms Bradford's funeral is held on Tuesday on the Gold Coast. National domestic violence helpline: 1800 737 732 or 1800RESPECT. In an emergency call triple-zero Advertisement

Mourners were asked to wear something purple which was Teresa's favourite colour

Friends and family including Teresa's brother Darren (left) release purple balloons

Hundreds of mourners have turned out at the Allambe Memorial Gardens in Nerang to farewell murdered Gold Coast mother Teresa Bradford

A mourner with brightly coloured pink hair is comforted by another guest

A guest displays his purple flower at Teresa Bradford's funeral

The pallbearers place the coffin in the hearse during a Public memorial service for Teresa Bradford

Teresa's brother Darren walks hand-in-hand with his partner

Darren hands purple balloons to guest at his sisters funeral
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1 K a n s a s L e g i s l a t i v e R e s e a r c h D e p a r t m e n t Kansas Legislator Briefing Book 2015 S-1 Veterans and Military Personnel Benefits S-2 State Employee Issues S-3 Indigents Defense Services S-4 Joint Committee on Special Claims Against the State S-5 Senate Confirmation Process Dylan Dear Managing Fiscal Analyst State Government S-2 State Employee Issues This report discusses a variety of issues regarding state employees, including an explanation of classified and unclassified employees, benefits provided to state employees, recent salary and wage adjustments authorized by the Legislature, general information on the number of state employees, and the characteristics of the classified workforce. Classified and Unclassified Employees. The state workforce is composed of classified and unclassified employees. Classified employees comprise nearly two-thirds of the state workforce, while unclassified employees comprise the remaining one-third. Classified employees are selected through a competitive process, while unclassified positions can be filled through direct appointment, with or without competition. While unclassified employees are essentially at will employees who serve at the discretion of their appointing authority, classified employees are covered by the merit or civil service system, which provides additional employment safeguards. All actions including recruitment, hiring, classification, compensation, training, retention, promotion, discipline, and dismissal of state employees shall be: Based on merit principles and equal opportunity; and Made without regard to race, national origin or ancestry, religion, political affiliation, or other non-merit factors and shall not be based on sex, age, or disability except where those factors constitute a bona fide occupational qualification or where a disability prevents an individual from performing the essential functions of a position. Employees are to be retained based on their ability to manage the duties of their position. State Employee Benefits. Among the benefits available to most state employees are medical, dental, and vision plans; long-term disability insurance; deferred compensation; and a cafeteria benefits plan, which allows employees to pay dependent care expenses and nonreimbursable health care expenses with pre-tax dollars. In addition, state employees accrue vacation and sick leave. The vacation leave accrual rate increases after 5, 10, and 15 years. In general, the state also provides nine to ten days of holiday leave for state employees. Retirement Plans. Most state employees participate in the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS). Employees contributions

2 Kansas Legislative Research Department occur bi-weekly based on salary. The amount of the contribution varies between 4.0 percent and 6.0 percent depending on the date of hire. The state contribution is set by law each year. In addition to the regular KPERS program, there are plans for certain law enforcement groups, correctional officers, judges and justices, and certain Regents unclassified employees. Contributions from both the employee and the state differ from plan to plan. Characteristics of State Employees. In FY 2013, a profile of classified and unclassified state employees reflects the following: The average classified employee: is 47 years of age; has 13 years of state service; and earns an average annual salary of $37,805. The average unclassified employee: is 47 years of age; has 11 years of state service; and earns an average annual salary of $59,330. Compensation of State Employees. Kansas statutes direct the Director of Personnel Services, after consultation with the Director of the Budget and the Secretary of Administration, to prepare a pay plan for classified employees, which shall contain a schedule of salary and wage ranges and steps. The statutes also provide, however, that this pay plan can be modified by provisions in an appropriation bill or other act. When the Governor recommends step movement on the classified pay plan and a general salary increase, or both, funding equivalent to the percentage increase for classified employees generally is included in agency budgets to be distributed to unclassified employees on a merit basis. The previous Kansas Civil Service Basic Pay Plan consisted of 34 pay grades, each with 13 steps; The difference between each step was approximately 2.5 percent, and the difference between each salary grade was approximately 5.0 percent; Employees typically are hired into a job at the minimum of the salary grade; and Until recently, assuming satisfactory work performance, the classified employees 2015 Briefing Book would receive an annual 2.5 percent step increase, along with any other general adjustment in salary approved by the Legislature. No classified step movement was recommended or approved from FY 2001 to FY In FY 2007, the Legislature approved a 2.5 percent step movement, effective September 10, There has been no further step movement since FY New Classified Employee Pay Plans. The 2008 Legislature established five new pay plans for Executive Branch classified state employees and authorized multi-year salary increases for classified employees, beginning in FY 2009, who are identified in positions that are below market in salary. The legislation enacted the recommendations of the State Employee Oversight Commission s five basic pay plans for classified employees. The exact provisions of the five pay plans are not specified by the legislation, but there is a reference to the pay plans as recommended by the State Employee Oversight Commission. The five pay plans, as recommended by the State Employee Oversight Commission, include: Basic Vocational Pay Plan (3,844 employees in 57 classifications) that is a step plan, but with more narrow pay grades than previously existed; Classified Pay Plan (11,917 employees in 282 classifications) that is a hybrid model with movement based on steps up to market and an open range, regulated through the use of zones, beyond market, and would include such classes as Human Service Specialists and Mental Health Developmental Disability Technicians; Management Pay Plan (256 employees in 20 classifications) that has open pay grades with pay movement based in position-in-range and performance, and would include such classes as public service executives and corrections managers; Professional Individual Contributor Pay Plan (2,751 employees in S-2 State Employee Issues

3 2015 Briefing Book Kansas Legislative Research Department classifications) that is an open range model with market anchors and would include such classes as nurses and scientists; and Protective Services Pay Plan (3,215 employees in 42 classifications) that is a step model and would include such classes as uniformed officers of the Department of Corrections and the Kansas Highway Patrol. The legislation authorized a four-year appropriation totaling $68.0 million from all funds, including $34.0 million from the State General Fund, for belowmarket pay adjustments (excluding the FY 2009 appropriation of $16.0 million). Due to budgetary considerations, the appropriation for FY 2012 was eliminated, bringing the total appropriation to $58.7 million. The State Finance Council approved an appropriation of $11.4 million, including $8.1 million from the State General Fund for FY The legislation also created the State Employee Pay Plan Oversight Committee. The Oversight Committee included seven voting members and two non-voting ex officio members: One member appointed by the President of the Senate; Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House; One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House; Two members appointed by the Governor, with at least one being a representative of a state employee labor union; and Two non-voting ex officio members: the Secretary of Administration or the Secretary s designee, and the Secretary of Labor or the Secretary s designee. At least one member of the Oversight Committee is required to be a member of the Senate and one member is required to be from the House of Representatives. The Oversight Committee is required to annually report to the Legislature at the beginning of each legislative session on the progress made in the development, implementation, and administration of the new pay plans and the associated performance management process. The Oversight Committee will sunset on July 1, Finally, the legislation codified a compensation philosophy for state employees. The philosophy was crafted by the State Employee Pay Philosophy Task Force and endorsed by the State Employee Compensation Oversight Commission during the 2007 interim period. The pay philosophy includes: The goal of attracting and retaining quality employees with competitive compensation based on relevant labor markets; A base of principles of fairness and equity to be administered with sound fiscal discipline; and An understanding that longevity bonus payments shall not be considered as part of the base pay for classified employees. S-2 State Employee Issues 3

4 Kansas Legislative Research Department 2015 Briefing Book The following table reflects classified step movement and base salary increases since FY 1997: Fiscal Year 1997 Step Movement: 2.5 percent 1998 Step Movement: 2.5 percent Base Adjustment: 1.0 percent 1999 Step Movement: 2.5 percent Base Adjustment: 1.5 percent 2000 Step Movement: 2.5 percent Base Adjustment: 1.0 percent 2001 Step Movement: 2.5 percent Salary Adjustment 2002 Step Movement: None Base Adjustment: 3.0 percent, with 1.5 percent effective for full year, and 1.5 percent effective for half a year 2003 Step Movement: None 2004 Step Movement: None Base Adjustment: 1.5 percent effective for last 23 pay periods 2005 Step Movement: None Base Adjustment: 3.0 percent 2006 Step Movement: None Base Adjustment: 2.5 percent, with 1.25 percent effective for full year, and 1.25 percent effective for half a year 2007 Step Movement: 2.5 percent, effective September 10, 2006 Base Adjustment: 1.5 percent 2008 Step Movement: None Base Adjustment: 2.0 percent 2009 Step Movement: None Base Adjustment: 2.5 percent Below Market Salary Adjustments 2010 Step Movement: None Below Market Salary Adjustments 2011 Step Movement: None Below Market Salary Adjustments 2012 Step Movement: None 2013 Step Movement: None 2014 Step Movement: None Employee Bonus: $250 Bonus 4 S-2 State Employee Issues

5 2015 Briefing Book Kansas Legislative Research Department FY The 2014 Legislature approved a total of 37,432.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, a net decrease of positions below the FY 2014 revised number. Major adjustments include a reduction of 40.0 vacant FTE positions at the Department of Labor, a reduction of vacant FTE positions at the Department for Children and Families, a reduction of 15.0 vacant FTE positions at the Adjutant General, and the conversion of FTE positions in the Department of Transportation to Non-FTE unclassified permanent positions. The 2014 Legislature approved a $250 bonus for all full-time employees with the exception of elected officials who were employed from November 25, 2013 to November 21, Full-time equivalent (FTE) positions are permanent positions, either full-time or part-time, but mathematically equated to full-time. For example, two half-time positions equal one full-time position. Non-FTE unclassified permanent positions are essentially unclassified temporary positions that are considered permanent because they are authorized to participate in the state retirement system. The following chart reflects approved FY 2014 FTE positions by function of government: Public Safety 4,840 Human Services 6,6010 Highway/Other Transportation 2,303 General Government 4,963 Education 18,284 Agriculture and Natural Resources 1,034 Largest Employers. The following table lists the ten largest state employers and their numbers of FTE positions: Agency FTE Positions University of Kansas 5,342 Kansas State University 4,902 Children and Families, Department for 2,647 University of Kansas Medical Center 2,632 Transportation, Department of 2,302 Wichita State University 1,950 Judicial Branch 1,859 Revenue, Department of 944 Larned State Hospital 937 Pittsburg State University 935 * Source: 2014 IBARS Approved S-2 State Employee Issues 5

6 Kansas Legislative Research Department 2015 Briefing Book For more information, please contact: Dylan Dear, Managing Fiscal Analyst Bobbi Mariani, Managing Fiscal Analyst Kansas Legislative Research Department 300 SW 10th Ave., Room 68-West, Statehouse Topeka, KS Phone: (785) Fax: (785) S-2 State Employee Issues
An astronaut has shared a view of Uluru very few people see.

Frenchman Thomas Pesquet described the moment he captured the famous rock in central Australia from the International Space Station, 400 kilometres above the earth.

'Here is a picture Ive wanted to take for a long time,' the aerospace engineer told his Facebook followers.

The image French astronaut Thomas Pesquet took of Uluru using a camera with the flash off

Aerospace engineer Thomas Pesquet (pictured) use a Nikon camera with the flash off

'This is a sacred site, and a striking landscape.

'Not easy to spot from ISS, but as the sun went down, we got lucky!'

The image of the 600 million-year-old tourist attraction has already been liked 103,000 times and shared more than 15,500 times.

The picture of the 350-metre high monolith was taken on January 27, using a Nikon D4 digital camera with the flash turned off, and uploaded to Facebook on February 5.

A view of Uluru in central Australia from ground level, as a popular tourist attraction

The European Space Station over the earth, from where the astronaut saw Uluru

A view of Uluru from an aircraft flying much closer to earth than the International Space Station

Uluru is more commonly seen from the side of the road by tourists

Mr Pesquet was stationed at the European Space Station section of the International Space Station.

Space satellites have previously captured Uluru, in the Northern Territory, but this is the first time a photographer has successfully taken an image of the 3.6km long rock.

Astronauts have previously taken images of the Great Barrier Reef.
An angry tailor has sent its customer a shirt emblazoned with male genitalia after she complained about its alteration work to her $2,000 suit.

Perth lawyer Francesca Bucolo said the shirt  featuring dozens of penises - was personally delivered to her Perth office on Friday.

Ms Bucolo told Daily Mail Australia it was 'the cherry on top' in a painful, ongoing legal dispute.

Perth lawyer Francesca Bucolo (pictured) said the shirt  featuring dozens of ejaculating penises - was personally delivered to her Perth office on Friday

The delivery comes three months after Ms Bucolo sued LGFG Fashion House over a $2,000 three-piece suit which she bought in May last year.

She said the merino wool suit arrived two sizes too large, with dodgy stitch lines and an 'angular' hem.

'It was swimming on me, it wasn't anywhere near my size,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

The shirt, emblazoned with male genitalia (pictured), was personally delivered to Ms Bucolo's office on Friday

Ms Bucolo said she was forced to send the suit (pictured) back eight times due to poor alteration work

Ms Bucolo said she was forced to return the suit to the Canada-based tailor eight times, before she finally gave up and resorted to taking legal action to get her money back.

LGFG Fashion House offered Ms Bucolo a 50 per cent refund on the suit and five free tailored shirts to settle the lawsuit out of court.

But when the shirts were personally delivered to her office on Friday, three months after the settlement, Ms Bucolo said she was disgusted.

'Their staff, including a female executive, came to my office and presented me with it,' she said.

'They said 'this is a personal gift from our president'.

Ms Bucolo said the $2000 suit was sent back to get altered eight times before she decided to sue the company for her money back

LGFG Fashion House president Dimitry Toukhcher had the shirt personally delivered to Ms Bucolo's office on Friday

'All my colleagues thought it was childish and juvenile, and so unprofessional of a CEO.'

While the company followed through with its promise to deliver five tailor made shirts, Ms Bucolo said the sixth was 'completely inappropriate'.

'I'm a bit disheartened that people can be so juvenile, people think the shirt's funny, but it's not in this context,' she said.

'It's not a bachelor party, I'm a paying consumer.

'I don't think this sort of thing should be acceptable in a professional environment.'

LGFG Fashion House president Dimitry Toukhcher (pictured) has admitted he sent the shirt

LGFG Fashion House president Dimitry Toukhcher admitted he sent the shirt.

But he said it was in response to the bad attitude Ms Bucolo showed towards his staff.

'I have my employees' backs, and my employees know that we will all go above and beyond to service a client, but I will never allow anyone to bully my people,' he told PerthNow.

Mr Toukhcher also disputed Ms Bucolo's claims the suit did not fit.

'I have my employees' backs, and my employees know that we will all go above and beyond to service a client, but I will never allow anyone to bully my people,' Mr Toukhcher (pictured) told PerthNow

The fabric was once worn as a pocket square by Seinfeld star Jason Alexander (pictured)

Ms Bucolo denied claims she bullied or intimidated staff claiming she was even too embarrassed to ask for a refund during the suit-saga.

'It's absurd and totally incorrect,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'I'm absolutely not a bully, how I could bully a multinational company is beyond me.'

The penis-patterned fabric has been used as a 'gag gift' by the fashion company in the past.

The fabric was worn as a pocket square by Seinfeld star Jason Alexander.

President Mr Toukhcher said it would also make an appearance at the Oscars event later this month.
Families trying to live ethically have been buying green energy that originates from a pig farm described as a hell hole.

A Somerset factory farm at the centre of cruelty allegations supplies slurry to a nearby power plant to be turned into biogas.

The biogas is burned to generate power or fed into the national supply to provide thousands of homes with green energy.

Scroll down for video

Footage shows what appear to be appalling conditions that pigs are kept in and the intelligent animals have nothing but a hanging chain, right, to keep them entertained

The images appear to show shocking squalor with both dead and living pigs lying covered in their own filth

Slurry from the pigs is pumped to a green power plant nearby which is owned by the dairy that produces the popular Wyke Farm brand of cheese

Consumers will be dismayed to discover that the farm that is the source of some of this green energy is apparently keeping its livestock in appalling conditions.

Activists from animal welfare group Viva filmed undercover at the Lambrook Pig Farm, which is understood to house 8,000 animals, in Shepton Mallet, Somerset.

The images appear to show shocking squalor with both dead and living pigs lying covered in their own filth. Vivas Justin Kerswell, said: When consumers take an ethical decision to purchase what they believe to be green energy, I am sure none of them would imagine that any of it would come from a hell hole like this.

Slurry from the pigs, which is owned by a company based in Northern Ireland called JMW Farming, is pumped to a green power plant nearby which is owned by the dairy that produces the popular Wyke Farm brand of cheese.

The plant has an anaerobic digester, which breaks down organic matter using micro-organisms to release methane-rich biogas. Some of this is burned at the power plant to produce electricity and some is refined and added to the national grid, where it is used in homes for central heating.

And some of the power is sold to the firm Good Energy, which supplies tens of thousands of homes. A small proportion of the gas is sold to Sainsburys to heat supermarkets.

Wyke Farms, Good Energy and Sainsburys all insist they are strong supporters of animal welfare and would not condone any kind of cruelty.

The group that filmed it, Viva, has reported its findings to inspectors at the Governments local Animal Health Office

Yesterday, after an investigation triggered by Daily Mail inquiries, Wyke said it was reviewing whether to continue accepting slurry from the farm (pictured)

Yesterday, after an investigation triggered by Daily Mail inquiries, Wyke said it was reviewing whether to continue accepting slurry from the farm.

Vivas undercover footage from the farm appears to show that the only mental stimulation for the pigs, which are intelligent animals, are chains hanging from the ceiling.

The group has reported its findings to inspectors at the Governments local Animal Health Office.

Vivas Mr Kerswell said: Many consumers who avoid meat or factory-farmed products will rightly be shocked that their homes are being heated by what can only be described as legalised animal abuse.

The pigs at Lambrook Farm are condemned to a short life living among their own waste, and sometimes with the dead. The very bare minimum has been done to remain inside the law, but the conditions are appalling.

JMW Farms, which rents the land for its pig farm from Wyke, did not respond to requests for a comment. Wyke said only a tiny proportion of the gas and electricity it produces at its green power plant  less than 1 per cent  is created from slurry from the Lambrook pig unit.

The company said JMW had informed it that the film footage does not accurately reflect the conditions the pigs are kept in.

Justin Kerswell, from Viva, said that consumers who avoid meat or factory-farmed products will be shocked that their homes are being heated by 'legalised animal abuse'

Wyke said only a tiny proportion of the gas and electricity it produces at its green power plant  less than 1 per cent  is created from slurry from the Lambrook pig unit (pictured)

The firm said the farm passed an audit by inspectors from the Red Tractor farm and food standards group on Friday.

Despite this, Wyke is reviewing whether to allow the pig farm to continue operating and supplying slurry to its plant.

Wyke said that the vast majority of the organic material used in the power plant comes from its own dairy waste. This is supplemented by waste bread, straw and apple pomace, which is the material left after the juice is extracted.

Good Energy, which boasts that it offers kinder, better, more natural energy that helps protect what matters to you, said it takes electricity but no biogas from the plant. A spokesman said: We are very concerned to hear of alleged animal mistreatment at a farm from which Wyke Farms takes waste.

We have no contractual relationship with JMW. We have asked Wyke Farms to conduct an investigation into this immediately.

Sainsburys said it would not hesitate to take the appropriate steps if any supplier is found to be in breach of its welfare standards.

Green campaigners and the Government support efforts to turn waste into power because it can help cut the UKs reliance on fossil fuels and cut carbon emissions.
Travis Elwell, 23, will spend just 120 days in jail after he crashed his BMW into Emily Javadi, who was packing up her car after an evening workout at Cole Park in Uptown Dallas - and killed her

A Texas man who killed a 32-year-old woman while driving drunk has been sentenced to just 120 days in prison.

Travis Elwell, 23, was under the influence and speeding when he crashed his BMW into Emily Javadi, who was packing up her car after an evening workout at Cole Park in Uptown Dallas in February 2015.

As Javadi reached into the backseat of her Lexus, Elwell rear-ended her, sending her flying into a metal pole. She was taken to the hospital and later pronounced dead.

Elwell was convicted of intoxicated manslaughter, and will serve 120 days in jail, a court coordinator told WFAA on Monday.

He will also remain under probation for ten years, is barred from drinking alcohol and will be required to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

As Javadi reached into the backseat of her Lexus, Elwell rear-ended her, sending her flying into a metal pole. She was taken to the hospital and later pronounced dead

The city of Dallas has reportedly decided to convert the avenues of McKinney and Cole, where the incident took place, to two-way streets to reduce speeding.

The change came about as a result of Javadi's death.

Javadi was remembered by her friends and family as a confident and talented baker and violinist with a passion for people.

According to her LinkedIn profile, she was a supply chain analyst for Baylor Health Care System.

Javadi was remembered by her friends and family as a confident and talented baker and violinist with a passion for people

Her family has since set up the Emily Javadi Foundation in her memory, which fundraises for organizations that 'embody her spirit and energy'.

The Foundation has created a scholarships with the Big Brothers Big Sisters group, and the University of North Texas' College of Business Entrepreneurship Program, and has made a number of donations to other deserving causes.

One such organization is Open Classical, where Javadi previously volunteered, which puts on classical music shows throughout the Dallas area.
Three victims of sex abuse accusations are suing the Metropolitan Police over two bungled inquiries.

D-Day veteran Lord Bramall, 93, and ex-Tory MP Harvey Proctor, 70, are suing after they were accused of being part of an Establishment paedophile ring by a witness known as 'Nick'.

Police publicly named them and raided their homes before calling off their 2.5million Operation Midland when they could not substantiate the accuser's claims.

Left: D-Day veteran Lord Bramall, 93. Right: BBC broadcaster Paul Gambaccini, 67

Broadcaster Paul Gambaccini, 67, is also suing after he was arrested in 2013 and put on bail for a year as part of Operation Yewtree, which followed the Jimmy Savile scandal.

He says he is 200,000 out of pocket due to legal fees and lost earnings after being dropped by the BBC.

The three men are planning to lodge individual claims for damages that could amount to a total of 3million, reports The Times.

The newspaper also reports that Lady Brittan, the wife of former home secretary Lord Brittan, is considering a claim.

Her husband died before the allegations were dropped.

In November a report by a retired High Court judge savaged the Metropolitan Police Service for giving credence to Nick's wild allegations.

Ex-Tory MP Harvey Proctor, 70, is also suing the Met Police after he was accused by a witness known as 'Nick'

Sir Richard Henriques identified no fewer than 43 separate blunders and said it was time for police to stop automatically believing the accounts of alleged victims.

The suspected fantasist had claimed that a string of politicians and military figures murdered three children and abused others at depraved sex parties.

The claims were initially described by senior officers as 'credible and true'.

In November Mr Proctor, who was falsely accused of rape and murder, described Nick as a fantasist, adding: 'I have called for him to be prosecuted on a number of occasions and I do so again.'

Mr Proctor added: 'I hope the Home Office will look at these matters carefully and bring forward proposals to amend the current system where a complainant, even a fantasist and liar, can be given lifelong anonymity and financially benefit while the alleged suspect is routinely fingered and named by the police and in my case left destitute.'
Farages little brother, Andrew, is being investigated over an allegedly unlawful payment of nearly 125,000

Nigel Farages wife, Kirsten, revealed last week that she and the former Ukip leader were leading separate lives. Now Farages little brother, Andrew, is undergoing his own domestic turmoil.

He is being investigated over an allegedly unlawful payment of nearly 125,000, and is selling his marital home in Kent.

Commodities broker Andrew, 51, is said to have paid himself the money in the form of a dividend from a company he ran. Liquidators investigating his finances say the payment may have been unlawful and that he should return it.

Repaying the money would give the company he once ran with Nigel enough money to pay the 105,000 debt it owes HM Revenue & Customs.

Andrew was declared bankrupt last year and his commodities company, Farage Ltd, is being wound up, owing 170,000. He owned all the shares when proceedings to liquidate began two years ago.

Catherine Lee-Baggaley, of the liquidators Silke and Co, wrote: As a result of the investigations, it is believed that (an) unlawful dividend in the sum of 124,337 may have been drawn from the company.

A letter was issued to the director and shareholder, Mr Andrew Farage, requesting payment of the monies due to the company. However, the director is disputing the repayment is due. The Joint Liquidators are currently reviewing this. Andrew confirmed he had been made bankrupt last year, but said it was a misunderstanding and the debts had been paid. Yet he is still registered as bankrupt by the Insolvency Service.

It comes after Nigel Farages wife, Kirsten (left), revealed last week that she and the former Ukip leader (right) were leading separate lives'

The petition was brought by 1st Credit (Finance). Nigel stepped down as a director in 2006, and quit as secretary in 2011.

Andrew  who lives in Orpington, in a house bought for 275,000 in 1999  paid himself nearly 1 million in dividends in recent years.

He and Nigel were brought up by their mother, Barbara, after their stockbroker father, Guy, who was an alcoholic, left her when Andrew was three years old.

I agree that the money was taken, but I lent the company 90,000 so the remaining sum will be much smaller, Andrew tells me. My property is on the market and under offer, so I will soon be able to pay off everything.

Opera singing Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns, who defeated Ed Balls at the 2015 General Election, is upset about losing a very different kind of seat. Seven months pregnant and had a reserved seat on the train and the man sat in my seat refused to move, complained a distressed Jenkyns, 42. Some people are so rude. Railways are poignant places for Jenkyns, who is expecting her first child with fellow Conservative MP Jack Lopresti. He was forced to come clean about his secret relationship with her to Lucy, his wife of 23 years, after the lovers were seen kissing on a railway station platform in Doncaster.

Opera singing Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns, who defeated Ed Balls at the 2015 General Election

Charles's sadness at bishop retiring

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall marked the retirement of the Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres, by attending a dinner in his honour at Lambeth Palace last week.

His Royal Highness will be very sad to lose such a close ally, a courtier tells me. Chartres has been a close friend of Charles since their university days at Trinity College, Cambridge, and shares his interests in Georgian architecture, environmentalism and conventional prayer book Anglicanism.

He confirmed Prince William into the Church and is said to have advised Charles over the collapse of his marriage to Diana.

After her death in 1997, Chartres became one of the executors of Dianas will.

However, her friend Rosa Monckton criticised the choice of Chartres to give the address at the memorial service on the tenth anniversary of Dianas death, saying he gave her no support at the time of her divorce.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall marked the retirement of the Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres, by attending a dinner in his honour at Lambeth Palace last week

Greedy MPs are disgruntled after a written Parliamentary answer gleaned that the highest-paid employee of the House of Commons, the Clerk, David Natzler, earns a whopping 178,000  28,560 more than the Prime Minister. Im going to retrain as a footman, grumbled one member. Few doubt, though, that the Clerk, an expert in constitutional crises, deserves his salary as he has to negotiate Speaker John Bercows considerable ego.
The bodies of a mother and her teen daughter were found on Monday inside a Florida home after an hours-long SWAT standoff ended with a man in custody.

Police found the bodies of Karen Lyle, 40, and her 15-year-old daughter inside the home of Kevin Nelson.

They both died from gunshot wounds, police said.

A SWAT team and dozens of police officers responded to Nelson's Del Rio Village apartment in the 7700 block of Balboa Street in Sunrise, Florida, to investigate reports of gunfire around 11am.

When officers arrived, they called the 32 year old, who answered but refused to come out.

Kevin Nelson, 32, (above) was arrested around 3:45pm after a standoff with Sunrise police at his Del Rio Village apartment in Sunrise, Florida

Sunrise Police found the bodies of Karen Lyle, 40, and her 15-year-old daughter Shanice Smith inside Nelson's home (pictured)

Shanice Smith's grandfather, Courtney Smith, said she was an 'A' student in high school

Officers feared Nelson may be armed, so a SWAT team was called in as they attempted to get him to surrender.

The SWAT team knocked down a tree, a fence and finally Nelson's door before entering with a robot.

'Holy (expletive). They are driving through the (expletive) building. These (expletive) are not playing. They just drove through the fence and everything', yelled a person in home video of the raid.

SWAT team members, shielded by a tank, were positioned outside the apartment with guns drawn.

'They were on the loudspeaker', a neighbor told Local 10 News. 'They kept telling the guy to come outside and that they weren't going to hurt him'.

A SWAT team and dozens of police officers responded to Nelson's apartment in the 7700 block of Balboa Street to investigate reports of gunfire around 11am

When officers arrived, they called Nelson, who answered but refused to come out

The SWAT team knocked down a tree, a fence and finally Nelson's door before entering

Officers feared Nelson may be armed, so a SWAT team was called in as they attempted to get him to surrender

Nelson eventually made his way out of the apartment after almost five hours inside and surrendered peacefully.

That's when officers found the bodies of Lyle and Smith.

Courtney Smith told CBS4 the 15-year-old victim is his granddaughter, Shanice Smith.

'She didnt deserve this', said Courtney Smith. 'You hear these things but when it hits home, its totally different'.

Smith said his granddaughter was an 'A' student in high school.

'She had a real bright future and then this tragedy happened'.

Several neighbors said Nelson and Lyle often argued outside their apartment and cops were called there numerous times for domestic complaints in the past year.

SWAT team members, shielded by a tank, were positioned outside the apartment with guns drawn

Nelson eventually made his way out of the apartment after almost five hours inside and surrendered peacefully

Nelson was arrested on Monday, but no charges have been filed against him

Nelson was arrested in October 2016 at the same residence for repeatedly hitting a woman who lived in the home with him after she tried to stop him from throwing bleach on the bedroom furniture, court records show.

The woman's daughter reported the incident to police.

Sunrise Police Officer Michelle Eddy told the Sun Sentinel that Lyle lived in the home with Nelson but could not confirm whether the womans daughter lived there as well.

Shanice Smith was not Nelsons daughter, and it's not yet clear if Nelson and Lyle were boyfriend and girlfriend or married, Eddy said.

An online wedding registry for a Karen Lyle and Kevin Nelson of Sunrise gives April 16, 2016 as the big day.

Nelson was arrested on Monday, but no charges have been filed against him.
A man has turned $1.24 into $1,000 of free food delivered to his door and has been 'stuffing his face with as many sandwiches and burgers as possible'.

The UberEats mobile phone application offers a unique referral code to share. If your friend - or stranger, as this Melbourne man has shown - signs up using your code, you both get a $10 coupon from the food delivery service.

Josh Berg, 24, from digital marketing firm Hedgehog Agency, says he managed to turn chump change into $1,000 of free meals - and shared how you can too.

All it took was a website dedicated to promoting his unique referral code.

Melbourne man Josh Berg, 24, created a website to promote his unique UberEats discount code to turn just $1.24 into $1,000 of free food delivered to his door

Mr Berg promoted his $10 discount code to make $1,000

Mr Berg created the domain www.iloveubereats.com, what he called his 'ticket to free delivery for life' in his blog post at Hacker Noon.

'The idea is simple. I created a URL where I shared my unique referral code. I then claimed some free advertising credit and ran some ads to my site directed at those looking to use UberEATS for the first time,' Mr Berg wrote.

Only those who have never used UberEATS before can make use of the referral code.

Mr Berg paid $1.24 to register his domain www.iloveubereats.com, where he promoted his discount referral code

His plan means whenever someone searches 'uber Eats code' or 'uber eats code'  his unique $10 coupon would show up at the top of Google search results

Mr Berg forked out a measly $1.24 registration fee for the website domain, and created the website  placing his unique referral code 'front and centre for anyone to use'.

Mr Berg said he then registered with Google AdWords for free advertising coupons.

His plan means whenever someone searches 'uber Eats code' or 'uber eats code'  his unique $10 coupon would show up at the top of Google search results.

Mr Berg said the hack was 'super effective', with a 80,545 per cent return on his investment  or 1,415 per cent if he had paid for the advertisements.

'Even if these ads were paid I'd still be killing it,' Mr Berg wrote on his blog post.

Only those who have never used UberEATS before can make use of the referral code (stock image)

He said his website was viewed 373 times, with over 4,000 impressions of his advertisements and a click rate of 9.29 per cent.

'What am I doing with all my credit?' he asked, rhetorically.

'Well, each code only lasts for three months. So, just like any Melburnian would do, I've scheduled a soy flat white to arrive at my door every morning at 7.30am for the next three months,' he joked.

'In reality I've just been stuffing my face with as many sandwiches and burgers as possible.

'And there you have it. I've never eaten so much delivery food in my life.'

Mr Berg didn't leave it at UberEats. He also created www.ilovedeliveroo.com.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Berg and Uber for comment.
A phone call from the long-time mistress of Melbourne businessman Herman Rockefeller (pictured) to his wife helped unravel the 51-year-old's secret life and led police to his killers

A phone call from the long-time mistress of murdered millionaire Herman Rockefeller to his wife just days after he disappeared helped unravel his secret life and eventually led police to his killers.

After watching Vicky Rockefeller plead for her 51-year-old businessman husband to return home after he suddenly vanished in January 2010, the Melbourne man's mistress decided she had to reveal the 27-year-long affair.

'Hello Vicky, you don't know me but I'm calling you about Herman,' she began the conversation, The Courier Mail has reported.

'I'm calling you because Herman called me on the night he disappeared. I want you to know that I know Herman very well.'

The revealing chat, which will be featured on Channel Nine's crime show 'Murder Calls,' is one of several phone calls that exposed Mr Rockefeller's propensity for sex trysts and the swinger's scene - shattering his image as devoted church and family man.

It also eventually led to the arrest and confession of Mr Rockefeller's killers Mario Schembri, 57, and Bernadette Denny, 41, according to the Courier Mail.

After watching Vicky Rockefeller (pictured) plead for her millionaire husband to return home after he suddenly vanished in January 2010, Mr Rockefeller's mistress decided to call and reveal the 27-year-long affair

Mr Rockefeller told his wife he was flying home from to Melbourne around 10.30pm on January 21, 2010, but had landed an hour earlier and drove to Schembri and Denny's home in Hadfield to have sex.

The couple had previously answered Mr Rockefeller's ad in a swingers' magazine, but Schembri would later tell a court their second meeting ended in a fight, during which he punched Mr Rockefeller, causing him to fall and hit his head.

Schembri then dismembered Mr Rockefeller using a chainsaw before burning his remains in a 44 gallon drum in a friend's yard, a court heard, The Herald Sun reported last year.

Mr Rockefeller told his wife he was flying home from to Melbourne around 10.30pm on January 21, 2010, but had landed an hour earlier and drove Mario Schembri and Bernadette Denny's home in Hadfield (pictured) to have sex

Schembri (right) and Denny (left) pleaded guilty to manslaughter eight months after Mr Rockefeller's death and were sentenced to nine years and seven years in prison, respectively

Schembri and Denny pleaded guilty to manslaughter eight months after Mr Rockefeller's death and were sentenced to nine years and seven years in prison, respectively.

During the hearing, the Herald Sun reported that a woman identified herself to the publication as Mr Rockefeller's mistress of more than 20 years and said she 'was the love of his life.'

'We had a bond together no one could break apart,' she said.

The woman, who is believed to have received a portion of Mr Rockefeller's $14 million fortune, said she was not involved in the swinging scene but had her suspicions about her long-time lover.
National Security Advisor Michael Flynn has resigned over controversy surrounding his ties with Russia.

The military veteran stepped down late on Monday night less than a month into President Donald Trump's administration amid mounting questions over his future and his close links with the Kremlin.

His stunning announcement, first reported by CNN, came just hours after sources close to the government revealed that the Justice Department had warned the new administration that his links with the Kremlin had put him in a compromising position and left him open to blackmail.

Flynn made numerous phone calls to the Russian Ambassador to the US before Trump took office, and later hinted he may have gone against diplomatic protocol by discussing the rollback of sanctions.

National Security Advisor Michael Flynn resigned on Monday night over controversy surrounding his contacts with Russia

Flynn (center) stepped down just 24 days into the Trump Administration

Flynn's resignation came just hours after sources close to the government revealed that the Justice Department had warned the new administration that his links with the Kremlin had put him in a compromising position and left him open to blackmail

Vice President Mike Pence vouched for Flynn, without knowing the full details of the calls, and gave him his full support. Flynn has now issued a grovelling apology to Pence.

Retired general Keith Kellogg will take over as acting National Security Advisor.

Former CIA Director David Petraeus and US Navy Admiral Michelle Howard are among the names being touted as a replacement.

TIMELINE OF FLYNN'S RUSSIA TROUBLES December 29: Obama announces sanctions against Russia over alleged hacks targeting election. Flynn spoke with Russian ambassador Kislyak repeatedly the same day, it was later reported. December 30: Russian President Vladimir Putin says he will not respond to the sanctions, surprising many U.S. officials. Trump praises Putin's decision as 'very smart.' January 13: Trump spokesman Sean Spicer says Flynn had called Kislyak merely to set up a phone call between Trump and Putin January 15: Vice President-elect Mike Pence says in an interview with CBS that Flynn had not discussed santions in the call with Kislyak January 20: Trump inaugurated president January 23: Spicer, now White House spokesman, said Flynn had told him the call to Kislyak covered four topics: a plane crash that killed a Russian military choir; Christmas greetings; Russian-led talks over the Syrian civil war; and logistics for a call between Putin and Trump January 20-30 (exact date unclear): Acting Attorney General Sally Yates briefs Trump officials that intercepted communications indicated Flynn had discussed sanctions with Kislyak in ways she believed were 'highly significant' and 'potentially illegal' January 30: Trump fires Yates for refusing to defend executive immigration order in court February 8: Flynn denies in interviews that he discussed sanctions in the calls with Kislyak February 9: Flynn backpedals, saying through a spokesperson that he 'couldn't be certain' sanctions weren't discussed February 13: Report breaks of Justice Department concerns about blackmail, and Flynn resigns hours later Advertisement

In his resignation letter, Flynn wrote: 'I inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador. I have sincerely apologized to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology.'

Democrats in the House of Representatives requested a classified briefing within hours of the abrupt resignation announcement.

Reps. John Conyers Jr (D-Mich.) and Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), respectively the ranking members of the Judiciary and Oversight committees said in a statement: 'We were shocked and dismayed to learn this evening of reports that three weeks ago, U.S. law enforcement officials warned the White House Counsel that General Flynn had provided false information to the public about his communications with the Russian government.

'The reality is General Flynn was unfit to be the National Security Advisor, and should have been dismissed three weeks ago.'

'We need to know who else within the White House is a current and ongoing risk to our national security,' the statement reported in The Hill said.

The Justice Department weeks ago warned the Trump administration about Flynn's contacts with Russia, according to a report earlier Monday.

Government officials supposedly informed the White House because they were concerned Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail by the Kremlin.

Former acting attorney general Sally Yates told the new administration last month she was concerned over potential blackmail after Flynn denied that he had discussed sanctions in calls with the Russian ambassador to the United States, the Washington Post reported just hours before the resignation.

Intelligence intercepts of those calls indicate that they did touch on sanctions in ways Yates believed were 'highly significant' and 'potentially illegal', leaving the Kremlin with potential leverage over Flynn, the Post reported.

Flynn, a former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, spoke to Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak more than once before Trump took office, sparking concerns that the two were discussing US policy toward Russia.

One call took place on the same day that President Obama applied sanctions against Moscow for their alleged interference in the presidential election.

A Trump administration official says the White House was aware of the warning, but it's unclear whether Trump himself was briefed on the matter.

Flynn made numerous phone calls to the Russian Ambassador to the US before Trump took office, and later hinted he may have gone against diplomatic protocol by discussing sanctions

FLYNN'S RESIGNATION LETTER In the course of my duties as the incoming National Security Advisor, I held numerous phone calls with foreign counterparts, ministers, and ambassadors. These calls were to facilitate a smooth transition and begin to build the necessary relationships between the President, his advisors and foreign leaders. Such calls are standard practice in any transition of this magnitude. Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador. I have sincerely apologized to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology. Throughout my over thirty three years of honorable military service, and my tenure as the National Security Advisor, I have always performed my duties with the utmost of integrity and honesty to those I have served, to include the President of the United States. I am tendering my resignation, honored to have served our nation and the American people in such a distinguished way. I am also extremely honored to have served President Trump, who in just three weeks, has reoriented American foreign policy in fundamental ways to restore America's leadership position in the world. As I step away once again from serving my nation in this current capacity, I wish to thank President Trump for his personal loyalty, the friendship of those who I worked with throughout the hard fought campaign, the challenging period of transition, and during the early days of his presidency. I know with the strong leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence and the superb team they are assembling, this team will go down in history as one of the greatest presidencies in U.S. history, and I firmly believe the American people will be well served as they all work together to help Make America Great Again. Advertisement

Earlier on Monday, conflicting messages about Flynn's fate criss-crossed cable TV from different corners of the West Wing.

First, Chief White House counselor Kellyanne Conway told MSNBC that President Donald Trump wasn't planning to axe Flynn over accusations that he lied to Vice President Mike Pence about his conversations with Russia.

'General Flynn does enjoy the full confidence of the president,' Conway said.

I inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador. -FLYNN RESIGNATION LETTER

Less than an hour later, press secretary Sean Spicer said in a statement that the president 'is evaluating the situation'.

'He's speaking to Vice President Pence relative to the conversation the Vice President had with Gen. Flynn,' Spicer said, 'and also speaking to various other people about what he considers the single most important subject there is: our national security.'

Spicer told reporters in his office on Monday evening that Flynn has not offered to quit his position, and called questions about whether Trump would accept his resignation 'hypothetical.'

He said he had spoken directly with Trump about the latest statement's wording, declaring that it reflected the president's 'current thinking.'

'This is what he asked me to communicate to you,' Spicer recounted.

After flatly denying he'd discussed rolling back sanctions with Russian officials in a January 15 interview, Flynn said he was uncertain whether the subject came up.

Two administration officials told DailyMail.com on Friday that Flynn was still unsure what he told Kislyak, the Russian ambassador. One said he couldn't be '100 percent' certain sanctions were not discussed.

Monday's joint press conference between Trump and Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau came and went without a single Flynn-related question.

Retired General Keith Kellogg will take over as acting National Security Advisor

Trump didn't respond to shouted queries as he left the White House's East Room.

As of Monday night, he had not commented on Flynn's departure.

Hillary Clinton took to Twitter on Monday night to share her opinion on National Security Advisor Michael Flynn's resignation, suggesting there are 'real consequences of fake news'.

Clinton retweeted a post from longtime confidante Phillipe Reines on Monday night, where he suggested Flynn and his son, who spread the discredited 'Pizzagate' conspiracy theory on social media, get jobs at Domino's.

'Philippe's got his own way of saying things, but he has a point about the real consequences of fake news,' Clinton said in her tweet.

Reines had written, 'Dear Mike Flynn & Mike Flynn Jr., What goes around COMETS around. And given your pizza obsession...', with a link to Domino's Pizza's job site.

In December, Flynn Jr tweeted about the Pizzagate conspiracy, which linked Clinton and her campaign chief to Comet Ping Pong pizza shop in Washington, DC.

The theory suggested that Clinton and John Podesta presided over a child-sex ring run out of the DC pizza parlor.

Hillary Clinton retweeted a post from longtime confidante Phillipe Reines on Monday night after retired Army Lieutenant General Michael Flynn resigned from his position as National Security Advisor

Reines suggested in his tweet that Flynn and his son, who spread the discredited 'Pizzagate' conspiracy theory on social media, get jobs at Domino's

In his tweet, Flynn Jr did not endorse the conspiracy theory, but predicted that it wouldn't go away

WHO WILL REPLACE FLYNN AS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR? Retired Army General Keith Kellogg, a member of Trump's transition team, will temporarily fill the role of National Security Advisor until Michael Flynn's announced. Murmurs of who will take over the position have circulated and include the potential for Kellogg to stay on permanently. At least three other candidates have been discussed with the media, including retired Navy Vice Admiral Robert Harward, Former CIA Director David Petraeus and former US Navy Admiral Michelle Howard. Retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, Interim National Security Advisor A senior administration official reportedly told NBC News that Kellogg is being considered to stay on permanently. Kellogg, 72, was previously appointed by Trump as the head of the presidential transition agency action team for defense. He was a former commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, and served as chief operating officer of the Western coalition in Baghdad, Iraq, after the United States led the invasion in 2003. Retired Army General Keith Kellogg, a member of Trump's transition team, will temporarily fill the role of National Security Advisor, and there are rumors he may stay in the role permanently Former CIA Director David Petraeus Former CIA director and retired Army General David Petraeus is also reportedly being discussed as a potential to fill Flynn's shoes. National Security Council staffers say Petraeus is due to meet with President Trump at the White House this week, according to the Huffington Post. Petraeus, a retired four-star general, was bounced from his position atop the intelligence agency in 2012 after he it was revealed that he passed on classified information to his biographer, who had also become his mistress. Petraeus reportedly ended the affair with his principal biographer Paula Broadwell in 2012 after learning that she had sent threatening emails to a long-time family friend, Jill Kelley. He resigned from his position with the CIA in November 2012 and later pleaded guilty on a misdemeanor charge for mishandling classified materials. Petraeus was briefly under consideration to become Secretary of State before Trump picked Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson. Former CIA director and retired Army General David Petraeus is also reportedly being discussed as a potential to fill Flynn's shoes Retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward Another name being discussed is retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward, the former deputy to Defense Secretary James Mattis. Additionally, he is a retired Navy SEAL and served as the Deputy Commander of US Joint Forces Command. Upon retirement in 2013 after a nearly 40-year career in the Navy, Harward took a post as a chief executive officer for defense and aerospace giant Lockheed Martin in the United Arab Emirates. Another name being discussed is retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward, the former deputy to Defense Secretary James Mattis Trump has recently been in very public negotiations with Lockheed over the cost of its F-35 fighter jet program. Two senior US officials reportedly confirmed to NBC News that Harward was the 'favorite' for the position. US Navy Admiral Michelle Howard US Navy Admiral Michelle Howard has also been said to be under consideration. She is the current commander of US Naval Forces in Europe, and was the first African-American woman to command a US Navy ship and hold the position of Vice Chief of Naval Operations. Among her other record-setting achievements, she was also the first female graduate of the Naval academy to be selected for flag rank. Former National Security aide Tom Bossert Tom Bossert, President Trump's choice for Homeland Security Advisor, was also mentioned by Karam as a candidate for the position. Bossert served as a national security aide to George W Bush during his last year as president. He also served two years as a White House director of infrastructure policy. Retired Admiral James Stavridis Though James Stavridis previously said that he would not serve under the Trump administration, his name has come up amongst potentials for NSA. He currently serves as the Dean for Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. When asked in 2016 about the potentiality of him joining the Trump team, he said: 'I'm happy to provide advice, but I don't see myself joining the administration.' US Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly John Kelly is the current US Homeland Security Secretary appointed by Donald Trump, but has reportedly been discussed as Flynn's replacement. Kelly recently made headlines after telling San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman that he didn't 'have a clue' what a sanctuary city was. Kelly is a retired four-star United States Marine Corps General. Advertisement

Police said a 28-year-old North Carolina man opened fire with a rifle inside the restaurant in December because he thought child sex-slaves were being held against their will in the basement.

No one was harmed but the man was arrested.

In his tweet, Flynn Jr did not endorse the conspiracy theory, but predicted that it wouldn't go away.

'Until #Pizzagate proven to be false, it'll remain a story. The left seems to forget #PodestaEmails and the many 'coincidences' tied to it,' he tweeted.

Meanwhile, Russian lawmakers suggested that Flynn had been forced out of his position because Trumps administration had been 'infected' by anti-Russian feeling.

'Either Trump has not gained the requisite independence and he is consequently being not unsuccessfully backed into a corner, or Russophobia has already infected the new administration also from top to bottom,' MP Konstantin Kosachev was cited as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency.

Kosachev, chairman of the foreign affairs committee at the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, said in a post on Facebook that firing a national security advisor for his contacts with Russia is 'not just paranoia but something even worse'.

Kosachev's counterpart at the lower chamber of the Russian parliament, Alexei Pushkov, said shortly after the announcement that 'it was not Flynn who was targeted but relations with Russia'.

Leonid Slutsky, head of the lower house of parliament's foreign affairs committee, suggested that Flynn was forced out of office.

MP Konstantin Kosachev (left) said Flynn's resignation from national security advisor was a sign of 'not just paranoia but something even worse' in the White House. MP Alexei Pushkov (right) said shortly after the announcement that 'it was not Flynn who was targeted but relations with Russia'

Leonid Slutsky, head of the lower house of parliament's foreign affairs committee, suggested that Flynn was forced out of office

'It's obvious that Flynn was forced to write the letter of resignation under a certain amount of pressure,' he was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency.

'The target was Russia-U.S. relations, undermining confidence in the new U.S. administration. We'll see how the situation develops further,' he said.

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that the resignation was an internal matter for the United States.

"We've said everything we want to say," Peskov told reporters on a conference call.

Peskov has previously said that Flynn and the ambassador did not discuss lifting sanctions in their conversations.

He declined to elaborate on those earlier comments when asked on Tuesday.

Flynn's military career ended when Obama dismissed him as defense intelligence chief. He claimed he was pushed out for holding tougher views than the Obama administration about Islamic extremism.

But a former senior US official who worked with Flynn said the firing was for insubordination, after the Army lieutenant general failed to follow guidance from superiors.

Once out of government, he disappeared into the murky world of mid-level defense contractors and international influence peddlers.

He shocked his former colleagues a little more than a year later by appearing at a Moscow banquet headlined by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Given a second chance by Trump, Flynn, a lifelong if apolitical Democrat, became a trusted and eager confidant of the Republican candidate, joining anti-Hillary Clinton campaign chants of 'Lock Her Up' and tweeting that 'Fear of Muslims is RATIONAL'.

As national security advisor, Flynn required no Senate confirmation vote or public vetting of his record, and his tenure was brief but turbulent.




A few weeks ago, PPP polled Milwaukee County voters. Keep in mind that Wisconsin went very narrowly for Trump in November (after their primary choices-- Bernie for normal people and Cruz for Republicans-- were eliminated. Bernie beat Hillary in the Wisconsin primary 567,936 (56.6%) to 432,767 (43.1%) and Cruz beat Trump 531,129 (48.2%) to 386,370 (35.1%). In November Trump won Wisconsin's 10 electoral votes 1,409,467 (47.9%) to 1,382,210 (46.9%)-- on percentage point. Even more surprising, right-wing extremist Ron Johnson was reelected to the Senate over Russ Feingold 50.2% to 46.8%, almost 100,000 votes separating them.





Nonetheless, Milwaukee County was a big Clinton bastion. She blew Trump away-- 288,822 to 126,069 and Feingold did similarly well in Milwaukee County, beating Johnson 276,751 to 147,929.





The PPP survey, though, wasn't about the presidential race. It was all about the deranged crackpot sheriff of Milwaukee County, David Clarke, a badly unbalanced Trump fan boy, who originally sneaked into office by running as a Democrat. The PPP press release headline said it all: Sheriff Clarke Headed For Defeat . "Clarke," they wrote, "is very unpopular, and has almost no chance at being reelected next year."

Only 31% of voters in the county approve of the job Clarke is doing, to 62% who disapprove. Beyond that, voters consider him to be somewhat of a national embarrassment. 65% say that he's had a negative impact on Milwaukee County's image nationally, to only 29% who think he's had a positive impact. White voters (34/59 approval for Clarke) and black voters (22/72 approval for Clarke) are united in their negative feelings toward him.









Among Democratic primary voters, just 13% say they would support Clarke in a Democratic primary today to 82% who say they would prefer someone else. Clarke basically has no path to reelection as a Democrat at this point. He probably could be the Republican candidate for Sheriff- he gets a 72/23 approval rating from them- but then he would have virtually no chance of winning the general election either way.



Milwaukee voters think David Clarke is embarrassing their county on the national level, said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. Democratic voters are open to replacing him with just about anyone at this point.



Donald Trump has a 30/63 approval rating in Milwaukee County, but Scott Walker's actually even worse off at 30/66. Walker trails a generic Democratic opponent in the county by 35 points at 64/29. To put that in perspective, Walker lost Milwaukee County by 27 points while winning by 5 statewide in 2014. But looking at it from another angle, Hillary Clinton won Milwaukee County by 37 points in November and still managed to narrowly lose statewide, so it's hard to say exactly what Walker's poor position in Milwaukee means for his overall prospects next year.

OK, Milwaukee will have a new sheriff next year. But what's next for Clarke? He's eager to have his department start rounding up undocumented immigrants. There were rumors that Trump had a job for him in the Regime but nothing's come that so far. And yesterday I got an e-mail from a shady right-wing operation in Denver, Restore American Freedom and Liberty, asking for money that they say they will use to help Clarke beat progressive champion Tammy Baldwin in her 2018 Senate reelection effort. And what a doozy of a letter it is!

Liberal Lesbian Senator Tammy Baldwin Hates Straight Families! It Is Crucial That Sheriff David Clarke Defeats Her!





Sheriff David Clarke



Leftist lesbian Senator Tammy Baldwin hates straight families. She wants to force all Americans to be subjected to LGBT sensitivity training! She even wants to require 5 year old children to learn about gay sex! It is crucial that Sheriff David Clarke defeats her!



Will you help Sheriff David Clarke win? Please contribute $25, $50, $100, $250, $500, $1000, or more to help Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke win!



Leftist lesbian Tammy Baldwin is extreme and a threat to American values. She even supports importing millions of terrorist refugees from Syria! She is wrong for America!



Please contribute $25, $50, $100, $250, $500, $1000, or more to help Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke defeat liberal lesbian Tammy Baldwin!



MIlwaukee Sheriff David Clarke isn't afraid of the PC police. He wants to ban Islamic immigration and build a wall on the border. Sheriff David Clarke also supports deporting illegal aliens, and ending welfare payments to immigrants. If elected to the Senate, Sheriff David Clarke will also work to defend the Second Amendment, balance the budget, and stop abortion.



Will you help Sheriff David Clarke defeat Tammy Baldwin? Your contribution of $25, $50, $100, $250, $500, $1000, or more, is crucial for voter outreach and advertising!



The race will be very close! Your support is crucial! Sheriff David Clarke has not yet officially declared himself as a candidate, but all signs indicate that he will announce. In the unlikely event that he doesn't run, funds will be used to support the most conservative candidate.

These grifters aren't even asking you to send money to the crackpot candidate; they"re asking you to send money to them, some portion of which-- at least in theory-- will be spent on Clarke. So you can send the, $100 and their cut could be $90 and Clarke's could be $10. Or their cut could be $99.99 and Clarke's could be $0.01. The e-mail subject line-- always sure to get a good open-rate from right-wing imbeciles, was "Lesbian Senator Hates Your Family."





Among the Republicans who are considered potential opponents to Tammy Baldwin, besides Clarke, are far right congressmen Sean Duffy, Mike Gallagher and Glenn Grothman , State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and a gaggle of pretty crazy state legislators.




Anne Hamilton-Byrne was the glamorous, charismatic and delusional leader of the notorious Australian sect dubbed The Family.

One of the very few female cult leaders, she convinced herself and up to 500 followers she was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ.

Under the influence of LSD, Hamilton-Byrne believed an apocalyptic war was imminent and that she had a duty to collect children from birth in preparation for a new world.

Anne Hamilton-Byrne (pictured) was the glamorous, charismatic and delusional leader of the notorious Australian sect dubbed The Family

Now a documentary will lift the lid on what life really was like in The Family. The producers examine the history of the cult, with testimonies from former associates and the police detectives who laboured for years to unravel the cult's operations.

'We've received the call - and great things will be done,' Hamilton-Byrne can be heard saying in the documentary titled The Family, set for release on February 23.

She gathered young boys and girls and raised them as her own on a property in Lake Eildon in central Victoria in the 1970s and 1980s.

Hamilton-Byrne convinced herself and up to 500 followers she was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. Here she is seen with her cat, Tiffany

The Family children are seen posing for a photo, date unknown. Boys were dressed in their own identical outfits and girls in another

Some children were obtained through questionable adoptions, others were born to cult members and some were even handed over by compliant sect parents.

The identically dressed children, with bleached blonde hair shaped into the same bob, were allegedly bashed, starved and injected with LSD by Hamilton-Byrne and other cult leaders in terrifying sect initiation rituals.

In a chilling interview featured in the documentary, she describes her twisted affection for 'her children.'

'I wanted them to look like brothers and sisters - I must admit this,' she said.

'I loved them in their little smocks and jeans and the long hair and ribbons. It was beautiful - it was lovely to see.'

Children pose for a photo, identically dressed with bleached blonde hair shaped into the same bob

Hamilton-Byrne is pictured at the sect property at Lake Eildon in central Victoria

Hamilton-Byrne's 'children' pose for a photo at the Lake Eildon property

Asked why she imprisoned 28 children over two decades, she responded: 'I love children.'

Born as Evelyn Edwards in Sale in rural Victoria in 1921, Hamilton-Byrne barely knew her father and her mother was mentally ill.

She was a yoga teacher when she met highly-respected English physicist Dr Raynor Johnson in 1963.

Together they founded the sect and began to 'adopt' and acquire children to create a 'master race' while teaching a mixture of Christianity and Hinduism.

The first group of children destined for Lake Eildon. In all, 28 spent time there under the strict regime

Hamilton-Byrne gathered young boys and girls and raised them as her own in the 1970s and 1980s

'I wanted them to look like brothers and sisters - I must admit this,' Hamilton-Byrne said of the children. Here she is seen playing the harp

In total, 28 children spent time at the Eildon property, 14 of which Hamilton-Byrne and her husband Bill were thought to be biological parents.

Former Lake Eildon children give harrowing descriptions of their traumatic ordeal in the upcoming film.

They open up about being forced to take drugs and recall violent physical and sexual assaults.

Holding back tears, Ben Shenton relived the moment he witnessed Hamilton-Byrne's 'favourite daughter' being beaten to a pulp.

'Sarah was thrashed,' he says, holding back tears.

'I was watching her being belted with a buckle and she's being beaten to the point where she's wriggling out of her clothes.

'Hearing her body smash across the balustrades - it was horrendous to know they had the power to do that and would it.'

Hamilton-Byrne pictured here with some of the children - holding hands with one of the bleached-blonde girls

Here she is pictured as a teenage in the 1930s. She would later become the leader of Australia's most notorious cult

Hamilton-Byrne was a yoga teacher when she met highly-respected English physicist Dr Raynor Johnson (pictured) in 1963. Together they founded the sect and began to 'adopt' and acquire children

Anne Hamilton-Byrne (right) and her husband Bill (left) pose with teenager who was brought up in the sect

It wasn't until Victorian Detective Lex de Man learned that children as young as 13 had been injected with LSD that a task force to investigate the sect was established.

In 1987, authorities dramatically rescued six traumatised children from the sect property after two managed to escape and alert police.

Because of legal complexities, Hamilton-Byrne and her husband were only ever convicted of fraud offences to do with forged birth certificates.

They avoided jail and were fined $5,000 each.

Hamilton-Byrne is now 96 living in a Melbourne nursing home with dementia.

'My only regret is she was never held totally to account for the misery she caused to the former cult children,' detective de Man recently told The Age.

'I have no sympathy for the woman I consider the most evil person I ever met in my police career.'

'THE FAMILY' CULT TIMELINE 1963 Yoga teacher Anne Hamilton meets English physicist and writer, Dr Raynor Johnson and they found a sect known as The Family.

Yoga teacher Anne Hamilton meets English physicist and writer, Dr Raynor Johnson and they found a sect known as The Family. 1968 The Family begins to adopt and acquire children to create a master race.

The Family begins to adopt and acquire children to create a master race. 1974 An official school is set up for the master race children at the Lake Eildon property.

An official school is set up for the master race children at the Lake Eildon property. 1978 Anne Hamilton marries William (Bill) Byrne and they take the surname Hamilton-Byrne.

Anne Hamilton marries William (Bill) Byrne and they take the surname Hamilton-Byrne. 1983 Police visit the Lake Eildon property to search for a missing girl. She is not found on the property.

Police visit the Lake Eildon property to search for a missing girl. She is not found on the property. 1987 (14 August) Combined police raid on sect property at Lake Eildon. Anne is overseas. Bill is present at the raid but is not charged.

Combined police raid on sect property at Lake Eildon. Anne is overseas. Bill is present at the raid but is not charged. The children are removed from the sect and placed into care.

1987 (Oct/Nov) Bill flees to Hawaii to meet Anne.

Bill flees to Hawaii to meet Anne. 1987 (12 December) Monbulk School fire  Detective Lex de Man is called to investigate. He learns about The Family.

Monbulk School fire  Detective Lex de Man is called to investigate. He learns about The Family. 1989 (about June) Lex de Man writes a report recommending Victoria Police commence a criminal investigation into The Family.

Lex de Man writes a report recommending Victoria Police commence a criminal investigation into The Family. 1989 (11 December) Operation Forest Task Force commences.

Operation Forest Task Force commences. 1993 (4 June) Anne and Bill are arrested in the Catskill Mountains, Upstate New York.

Anne and Bill are arrested in the Catskill Mountains, Upstate New York. 1993 (17 August) Anne and Bill are extradited to Australia.

Anne and Bill are extradited to Australia. 1993 (31 August) Anne and Bill appear in the Victorian Magistrates Court, charged with conspiracy to defraud and commit perjury by falsely registering the births of triplets.

Anne and Bill appear in the Victorian Magistrates Court, charged with conspiracy to defraud and commit perjury by falsely registering the births of triplets. 1994 In the County Court, Anne and Bill avoid prison and are fined $5000 each.

In the County Court, Anne and Bill avoid prison and are fined $5000 each. 2001 Bill dies, leaving Anne to lead a diminishing group of followers.

Bill dies, leaving Anne to lead a diminishing group of followers. 2017 At 96, Anne lives in the dementia wing of a suburban Melbourne nursing home. Source: thefamilysect.com Advertisement

The cult leader is pictured with one of the children raised at Lake Eildon

Asked why she imprisoned 28 children over two decades, she responded: 'I love children'

It wasn't until former Victorian Detective Lex de Man (pictured) learned that children as young as 13 had been injected with LSD that a task force to investigate the sect was established

Born as Evelyn Edwards in Sale in rural Victoria in 1921, Hamilton-Byrne barely knew her father and her mother was mentally ill

Director of the upcoming documentary, Rosie Jones, said she hopes the film will start a fresh public discussion about the sect.

'There's an urgency for this story to be told. Surviving sect members are in their 70s and 80s, and at 96, Anne lives in a suburban nursing home behind a veil of dementia,' she said.

'As we've seen with the emotional response to the Government's apology to relinquishing mothers and the Stolen Generations, it is an empowering experience to have your story told and acknowledged in public.

'I hope the film is a similarly positive experience for those who have had the courage to speak out and reveal their stories.'

The documentary will screen in Melbourne from February 23 and in Sydney from March, with other states to follow.

A new book which explores the legacy of the notorious cult, called The Family, was released this week.

Because of legal complexities, Hamilton-Byrne was only ever convicted of fraud offences to do with forged birth certificates

Hamilton-Byrne is now 96 living in a Melbourne nursing home with dementia

Hamilton-Byrne believed an apocalyptic war was imminent and that she had a duty to collect children from birth in preparation for a new world

The Family documentary will screen in Melbourne from February 23 and in Sydney from March, with other states to follow
An Australian hijab maker says business is booming despite negative publicity from politicians calling for a ban on the burqa.

Sydney fashion exporter 'Hijab House' says he wishes Australians were 'proud of the work we do', adding it confounded stereotypes about Muslims by hiring gay photographers and transgender make-up artists.

Senators Pauline Hanson and Jacqui Lambie have campaigned to have women banned from wearing burqas in government buildings or out in public.

However, Hijab House director Tarik Houchar said the multi-million dollar company's sales were continuing to boom.

'Sales of hijabs are independent of rhetoric from politicians like Jacqui Lambie and Pauline, but are very strong regardless as Muslim fashion is a booming industry,' he told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday.

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Hijab House says it employs Australians of all different faiths and stripes

The Sydney Muslim fashion business says it employs gay photographers and transgender make-up artists

Mr Houchar said politicians were stirring up hatred.

'While politicians waste their time being hateful and ignorant, we are sitting here creating jobs, manufacturing in Australia, supporting local communities and adding value to Australia's export community,' he said.

'We should be an envied Australian company.

'Australians should be proud of the work we do.

'But all we tend to see is complete ignorance both from politicians and many members of the public.'

Hijab House director Tarik Houchar (pictured) says Muslim fashion is a booming industry

Senator Jacqui Lambie (right) clashes with Muslim youth leader Yassmin Abdel-Magied on the ABC's Q and A program

Hijab House said it was a shame politicians were ignorant about the good work they did

Mr Houchar said his company, based at Smithfield in Sydney's south-west, employed 15 people from different backgrounds and hoped to boost annual turnover to $5 million soon.

'We may be a Muslim fashion company, but first and foremost we are Australian,' he said.

'We've hired transgender make-up artists, gay photographers, refugees and immigrants, a Catholic designer from Canberra, our videographer is an aspiring Filipino filmmaker.

'We've hired people with disabilities, and people with no families.'

Hijab House says while they were a Muslim fashion business, they were first and foremost Australian

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson (pictured) hasn't dented the sale of hijabs, the company said

Hijab House says it doesn't sell the burqa because the market is too small

The company does not sell burqas and niqabs, which cover the face.

'It's such a small minority of women who wear those styles in Australia so the market isn't large enough,' Mr Houchar said.

'Which makes me wonder in bewilderment - why are politicians in Australia so fixated on the "burqa"?'

Hijab House, which exports its products to the United States, Singapore, Canada and the U.K. is speaking out after Tasmanian Senator Lambie angrily clashed with Sudanese-born, Muslim youth leader Yassmin Abdel-Magied on the ABC's Q and A programme over Sharia law on Monday night.

In November 2015, police raided a Hijab House fashion shoot in Sydney after five officers mistook their clothes placed outside for Islamic flags.

Yassmin Abdel-Magied on the ABC's Q and A program clashes with Senator Jacqui Lambie
Retired Lt. Gen. Harold G. 'Hal' Moore, the subject of the Mel Gibson movie 'We Were Soldiers', has died at the age of 94.

The war hero led his men to victory in the first major battle between the U.S. and North Vietnamese armies.

He died in his sleep at home late Friday in Auburn, Alabama, just two days shy of his 95th birthday.

Moore was lieutenant colonel in command of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, and commanded the four-day Battle of Ia Drang.

He was on the front lines as 234 Americans died at landing zones X-Ray and Albany in November 1965, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Hal Moore, above, is a Vietnam war hero who is famous for winning the Battle of Ia Drang in 1965. He died late Friday at age 94

Mel Gibson, who played Moore in the film We Were Soldiers, poses for photographs alongside the war hero at the premiere in 2002

The enemy retreated, leaving 600 of their dead on the battlefield.

'Those of us who survived Landing Zone X-Ray survived because of his brilliance of command. I think every one of us thought we were going to die at that place except Hal Moore.

He was certain we were going to win that fight and he was right,' former UPI former war correspondent Joseph Galloway said.

Moore was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second highest award for valor, for his actions during Ia Drang, according to Military Times.

Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn, above, visited Moore in 2016 for an hour at his home

Gibson was at a screening of his Oscar-nominated film Hacksaw Ridge in nearby Fort Benning when he visited the veteran

Moore signs copies of his New York Times bestseller We Were Soldiers Once and Young

Galloway would co-author the bestseller 'We Were Soldiers Once and Young' with Moore. The book would become the basis for a movie starring Mel Gibson, who played Moore, in 2002.

The pair wrote a second book We Are Soldiers Still, which chronicled their trip back to Vietnam 25 years later.

'We went back and walked those old battlefields. At the end of the day, Hal Moore and Col. Nguyen Huu An, the North Vietnamese commander, stood in a circle in the clearing and prayed for the souls of every man who died on both sides,' he said.

Moore, above, passed away on his beloved wife Julie's birthday, she died in 2004 after 55 years of marriage

Moore is credited with savings hundreds of men during the Battle of Ia Drang, in which the American soldiers were vastly outnumbered

The duo were friends for 51 years.

His family wrote on Facebook that he died on his late wife Julie Compton's birthday, February 10, in his sleep.

'Mom called Dad home on her day,' the family said. 'After having a stroke last week, Dad was more lethargic and had difficulty speaking, but he had always fought his way back.'

Moore wrote his bestselling memoir about his experiences with a reporter who was there with him that day, Joseph Galloway; the book was turned into a film with Mel Gibson

The family administrator said that while typing the news of Moore's death, an ice cream truck passed by 'improbably chiming the 7th Cavalry ballad ... Dad just told all of us he is fine.'

Moore was laid to rest at the Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home in Opelika, Alabama with a memorial service at the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia.

Moore had five children with wife of 55 years, Julie. He is survived by three sons, two daughters, 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, according to Military Times.
A woman is dead and a man is missing in dangerous surf at a Sydney beach.

Police said they found two people's clothes on the beach near the spot, and they are not treating the death as suspicious.

A jogger discovered the woman's body washed ashore on Maroubra Beach, in Sydney's south, at about 6am.

The woman was an international student from the University of New South Wales, the Southern Courier reported.

Lifeguards frantically search the waters off Maroubra Beach after a woman was found dead and a man went missing in rough surf conditions

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter was brought in to assist rescue efforts

The woman's body was found washed ashore by a jogger at about 6am

A crime scene was established and police are frantically searching for the man, believed to be aged in his 20s and the woman's friend.

Eastern Beaches Local Area Command Inspector Anthony Agnew told the Southern Courier the rough conditions were hampering search efforts.

'We're doing our best but the surf is very hard,' he said.

Maroubra is one of several beaches closed across Sydney on Tuesday due to dangerous surf conditions.

Other beaches closed include Bronte, Tamarama, North Narrabeen, Mona Vale and Dee Why.

Lifegueards searching rough waters off Maroubra Beach

A helicopter hovers over Maroubra Beach as a search gets underway for a missing man
A former Lorna Jane employee suing the gym-wear brand over claims she was bullied about her weight was called an 'oxygen thief' by her manager, a court has heard.

Amy Robinson, who ran a store in Brisbane's airport between July and December 2012, was also called a 'generator' of problems by an area manager who allegedly bullied, harassed and demeaned the 41-year-old, Brisbane District Court heard on Tuesday.

Ms Robinson is seeking $400,000 for pain and suffering.

Lorna Jane denies the claims.

Amy Robinson, a former Lorna Jane employee, is suing the Australian fitness brand over claims she was bullied about her weight

Ms Robinson, 41, also claims her area manager called her an 'oxygen thief,' the Brisbane District Court heard on Tuesday

According to an amended statement of claim, McCarthy 'bullied, harassed, demeaned and discriminated' against Ms Robinson, picked on her because of her weight, bullied her via social media and assigned inappropriate work hours in conjunction with her child-care responsibilities.

'McCarthy was acting inappropriately in the workplace and causing undue mental distress to its employees,' the claim states.

During her stint at the DFO Lorna Jane store, Ms Robinson was called an 'oxygen thief' by her manager, who also labelled her a 'generator.'

McCarthy, the court heard, used this as a pejorative term against those she perceived as generating problems for her to deal with.

She had also heavily criticised the appearance of the store Robinson was running, saying in front of staff 'it looked like s***.'

Only a little more than a month after starting Ms Robinson arranged a meeting with Queensland manager Claire Perrin, during which she cried as she detailed the allegedly abusive treatment.

'Perrin apologised for the behaviour of McCarthy and assured (Robinson) that she would not encounter the same problems in the future,' the claim states.

Ms Robinson ran a Lorna Jane store in Brisbane between July and December 2012

The 41-year-old claims her area manager also harassed and demeaned her during her time with the company

Lorna Jane, however, failed to take any appropriate or reasonable steps to remedy the abuse, Ms Robinson's lawyers claim.

The court also heard McCarthy had told an indigenous employee and third-in-charge of the store to not play 'black music'.

Robinson, who is a single mother, has not been able to work since leaving Lorna Jane in December 2012, the court heard.

Several of her former staff are expected to be called to give evidence as the matter proceeds.

Lorna Jane was created by Australian Lorna Jane Clarkson in the late 1980s and has since ballooned into one of the largest fitness brands in the world with over 200 stores around the world.

Several other former employees have come forward and told of incidents of workplace bullying in Ms Clarkson's company in previous years.

The $2 billion brand has also been criticised for running a job advertisement on their social media for a receptionist/fit model that included particular size requirements.
A Victorian gun shop has come under fire for placing a Valentine's Day advertisement in the newspaper urging people to 'show your love with a firearm'.

Swan Hill Fishing and Shooting Supplies' ad encouraged people to buy their partner a gun for the romantic holiday rather than the more conventional gift of flowers and chocolates.

Since the ad was published on Friday, store owner Bec has been forced to defend it, claiming the message had been taken out of context.

'It's been blown out of proportion for no reason,' she told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday.

'This Valentine's Day... show your love with a firearm,' the controversial advertisement said

'Guns are part of sport, it's not meant to incite violence.'

Bec said the ad garnered a lot of unwarranted attention from people who were 'scared'.

'I don't understand why people feel that way, people do buy guns as presents, it's real,' she said.

The controversial ad has been shared and liked more than 500 times, and seen by more than 50,000 people since it was first posted online on Friday.

Radio host Neil Mitchell questioned Bec on Tuesday asking her 'isn't Valentine's Day about love rather than possibly getting a weapon for hunting?'.

The Swan Hill Fishing and Shooting store (pictured) came under fire for its Valentine's Day advertisement

'The fewer guns in the community the better,' Mr Mitchell said.

'The more guns we've got in the community the more possibility people can pinch them and do bad things with them.'

Overwhelming attention prompted Bec to take to Facebook on Tuesday and confront all the 'whingers'.

'Oh my god, can you believe this ad is causing a sh**storm lol [laugh out loud],' she said.

'Get a grip people, nobody is condoning violence. If you truly love your partner, you buy them the ultimate gift. Be it a new car, a sparkly diamond ring, or a gun.'

After the debate blew up, she conceded there was 'no point arguing with idiots when it comes to firearm debates'.

'Say your piece and be done,' Bec said.

'Get a grip people, nobody is condoning violence. If you truly love your partner, you buy them the ultimate gift. Be it a new car, a sparkly diamond ring, or a gun,' the store wrote on its Facebook page

'Oh my God, can you believe this ad is causing a sh** storm lol,' the store wrote on Friday

'Might I just add, there is no point arguing with idiots, when it comes to firearm debates,' the store said

While Bec said the ad was meant in jest, it triggered hundreds to fire up about its appropriateness.

A New Zealand gun supplier shared the ad to its Facebook page on Sunday claiming the store should have used a different turn of phrase.

'Better choice of words maybe?' it said.

Christian-based Facebook page 'Christians against social media' also shot out at the inflammatory ad.

'We cannot support this join us in our boycott,' it said.

'Better choice of words maybe?' a New Zealand based gun supplier wrote alongside the ad

'We cannot support this, we are Christians against social media and this company uses social media. Join us in our boycott of all so evil media today,' the Christian group wrote online

'I'd love a new slug gun for Valentine's, at least I won't get fat from eating too much chocolate, and roses only die,' one user said

While the ad was unpopular among some, many were in favour of the pro-gun message.

'Good work guys, firearms as gifts are not an uncommon thing, but apparently common sense and education is,' one man said.

'More gun ads, more aware people, more gun owners, equals more pressure at the polls and a bigger say in our future.'

One woman fired up, claiming guns were a more sensible gift than more conventional options.

'I'd love a new slug gun for valentines, at least I won't get fat from eating too much chocolate and roses only die,' she said.

'Some women like diamonds, some would like a nice 9mm block. I've only met women that wanted the diamonds, my house, my cars and the shirt off my back. Maybe I'll go buy myself a new flock just to cheer myself up,' one man said.

The gun supply store, which often advertises guns on its Facebook page (pictured), has hit back after debate around its controversial ad blew up

'Some women like diamonds, some would like a nice 9mm block,' one user said in favour of the ad

'Good work guys. Firearms as gifts are not an uncommon thing, but apparently common sense and education is,' one user said
A One Nation candidate says homosexuals are using mind control strategies once deployed by Nazis and communists to promote gay marriage.

Michelle Meyers, who wants to be lawmaker in Western Australia with Pauline Hanson's party, made the bizarre claims on Facebook last year, which gay and lesbian website Out In Perth first uncovered.

'Are you wondering why even some Christians are being swayed by the gender industry's pitch and push for same-sex marriage and acceptance of fake families?',' she said in November.

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One Nation candidate Michelle Meyers (right) with party leader and Queensland senator Pauline Hanson

One Nation candidate Michelle Meyers told her Facebook followers gay marriage promoters were using Nazi and Soviet-style 'mind control'

'It's not by accident, it's a carefully contrived but disingenuous mind control program melded together by two Norwegian homosexuals who graduated from Harvard.

'Utilising many of the strategies developed by Soviets and then the Nazis, they have gone on to apply and perfect these principles so as to make them universal in their application but with devastating results considering the counter productive nature of such "unions".'

In another bizarre twist Ms Meyers, who is running in the seat of Bateman in southern Perth, is the ex-wife of another questionable One Nation candidate, Daily Mail Australia can reveal.

Her ex-husband Lawrence Shave is a 73-year-old Pentecostal pastor, running in the seat of Dawesville, who in 2015 advertised for bikini baristas and recently posted an online ad for a Russian bride aged 20 to 44.

Michelle Meyers' ex-husband Lawrence Shave (pictured) advertised for bikini baristas and is also running as a One Nation candidate in Western Australia

Michelle Meyers is running for One Nation in the southern Perth seat of Bateman

This One Nation candidate posted a Facebook post about abortion in January

He also views homosexuality as as sin.

Ms Meyers, who was previously known as Michelle Shave, wrote a letter to Melbourne's Herald Sun in 2004 comparing the late Steve Irwin carrying his baby son, Robert, in front of a crocodile with women who get an abortion.

'Can the same be said when people put their unborn children into a clinical enclosure with an abortionist whose specific aim is to kill with far more accuracy than any crocodile?' she said.

In January, she posted another message on Facebook saying she was 'involuntarily brought to tears' after seeing a woman leave a Perth abortion clinic.

One Nation candidate Michelle Meyers is the latest controversial flag bearer with the party

She is the latest controversial One Nation candidate running in Western Australia, where elections are being held next month.

David Archibald, running in Pilbara, is still endorsed after it was revealed he wrote a Quadrant magazine column in 2015 saying single mothers were too lazy to hold or keep a man and were producing 'lazy and ugly' children.

Rozane Bezuidenhout, running in Cannington, called on Facebook for a return to white rule in South Africa via a change.org petition addressed to 'white South Africans and whites worldwide'.
America's hottest felon Jeremy Meeks was still walking the corridors of a Californian prison 12 months ago.

Now, the man who rose to fame as 'hot felon' when his mugshot went viral has clearly traded up after making his debut on the New York Fashion Week catwalk.

Meeks swapped his orange prison duds and handcuffs for couture on Monday night as he was spotted strutting down the runway for designer Philipp Plein.

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America's hottest felon Jeremy Meeks was spotted walking the runway for designer Philipp Plein at New York Fashion Week on Monday in front of Kylie Jenner, Paris Hilton and Madonna

The felon-turned model was pictured shirtless backstage at Philipp Plein's New York Fashion Week show on Monday night

The felon-turned-model put the same piercing blue eyes and chiseled cheekbones that catapulted him to fame on show as he modeled in front of a star studded front row including the likes of Kylie Jenner, Paris Hilton and Madonna.

His tear drop face ink and various hand tattoos were on display on the runway at New York's Public Library as he modeled a black puffa jacket with a fur-lined hood and black trousers.

The 6ft1 hunk was pictured shirtless backstage showcasing his chest and stomach tattoos prior to the show.

Meeks shot to fame when his mugshot was posted on a Californian police department's Facebook page in 2014.

Meeks put the same piercing blue eyes and chiseled cheekbones that catapulted him to fame on show as he modeled in front of a star studded front row

His tear drop face ink and various hand tattoos were on display on the runway as he swapped his orange prison duds and handcuffs for couture

The 6ft1 hunk was pictured shirtless backstage showcasing his chest and stomach tattoos prior to the show

Kylie Jenner, Tyga and Madonna were front and center at Phillip Plein's show where Meeks made his New York Fashion Week debut

Paris Hilton, Olivia Culpo and Nicky Hilton were also at Philipp Plein's show at the New York Public Library

He was handed a 27-month jail term in 2015 after being charged with illegally possessing firearms and ammo, carrying a loaded firearm in public and criminal street gang activity.

But two years behind bars did little to dim Meeks' mugshot fame.

He was quickly snapped up and signed with talent agency White Cross Management before he was even jailed as millions swooned over his good looks.

Meeks, who is married with three children, was released from prison in March 2016.

He started sharing modelling shots on his Instagram back in June before lying low just after Christmas.

Meeks popped up again on Sunday in New York when he posted a photo of himself hugging Carine Roitfeld - the former editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris.

Meeks shot to fame when his mugshot (above) was posted on a Californian police department's Facebook page in 2014

Meeks popped up again on Sunday in New York when he posted a photo of himself hugging Carine Roitfeld (above) - the former editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris
Sarah Silverman has been slammed on Twitter after mistaking a pair of neon orange construction markings for Nazi swastikas.

The 46-year-old comedian, who is an outspoken opponent of Donald Trump, wrote on Twitter that she was on her way to get coffee when she noticed the 'swastikas' drawn on the sidewalk.

Her followers were quick to point out that the innocuous curvy symbols are common in construction to designate the locations of underground pipes and wires.

Comedian Sarah Silver, 46, was mocked by her Twitter followers after mistaking a pair of neon orange construction markings for Nazi swastikas

The 46-year-old wrote on Twitter that she was on her way to get coffee when she noticed the 'swastikas' drawn on the sidewalk

Some of her almost 10 million Twitter followers were quick to point out that the innocuous curvy symbols are common in construction to designate the locations of underground pipes and wires

After realizing her mistake, Silverman, who is Jewish, chalked it up to receiving daily anti-Semitic abuse on social media Silverman wrote on Twitter that she was on her way to get coffee when she noticed a pair of 'swastikas' drawn on the sidewalk

Stephen Miller, a New York-based blogger, mocked Silverman through a series of tweets with photos of construction workers.

After realizing her mistake, Silverman, who is Jewish, chalked it up to receiving daily anti-Semitic abuse on social media.

She then sent follow-up tweets directed at those who roasted her.

One message contained explicit language and took a jab at Trump and White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, implying that they have incited anti-Semitism in Americans.

As proof of this, Silverman cited Trump's statement on Holocaust Remembrance Day, which didn't mention the six million Jews who were killed by the Nazis.

Stephen Miller, a New York-based blogger, mocked Silverman through a series of tweets with photos of construction workers

Miller shared more of his 'Nazi' sightings

Silverman compared what she saw on the sidewalk to actual swastikas, claiming they were 'still pretty close' in appearance

Silverman, pictured with Bernie Sanders, admitted in a tweet that she sees swastikas in 'everything' since Trump was elected president

After realizing the orange symbols weren't swastikas, Silverman, who is Jewish, chalked her mistake up to receiving daily anti-Semitic abuse on social media

Silverman admitted in a tweet that she sees swastikas in 'everything' since Trump was elected president.

Earlier this month Silverman called for a military coup to overthrow Trump.

She called for her almost 10 million Twitter followers to 'wake up' and 'join the resistance', a term from World War II used by anti-Trump protesters.

Silverman supported Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders before rallying behind Hillary Clinton.
Rep. Justin Humphrey, above, said that he sees a woman more as a 'host' of the unborn baby and that after a woman is 'irresponsible' then she should have to seek permission from the father

A Republican representative from Oklahoma says pregnant women need permission from an unborn' baby's father to get an abortion, as they only 'host' the fetus.

Rep. Justin Humphrey has introduced a bill known as HB 1441, which states 'No abortion shall be performed in this state without the written informed consent of the father of the baby.'

Humphrey, who represents District 19, said his ultimate goal was to let men have a say in whether a woman can have an abortion.

'I believe one of the breakdowns in our society is that we have excluded the man out of all of these types of decisions,' he told The Intercept.

'I understand that they feel like that is their body,' he said of women.

'I feel like it is a separate - what I call them is, is youre a "host."

'And you know when you enter into a relationship youre going to be that host and so, you know, if you pre-know that then take all precautions and dont get pregnant.

'So thats where Im at. Im like, hey, your body is your body and be responsible with it.

'But after youre irresponsible then dont claim, well, I can just go and do this with another body, when youre the host and you invited that in.'

The bill says that any woman seeking an abortion must provide the name of the father. If the father denies being the father, he can ask for a paternity test.

Oklahoma already has the country's second strictest abortion regulations, and abortions after 20 weeks postfertilization are only in cases whether the mother's life is in danger

A paternity test on an unborn child is called a CPV and involves passing a needle through the wall of the abdomen, as well as a small tube through the vagina. It contains a risk of miscarriage.

The bill does not address who would pay for this procedure, as abortions are not paid for by health insurance or ACA plans in Oklahoma.

The bill excludes women who are the victims of rape or incest, or where a pregnancy threatens the life of the child.

The bill does not address the possibility that the man would deny a rape, or that by the time a rape was proven in a court of law, it would be too late for an abortion.

Nor does the bill say what is to be done if the father of the child can't be found.

As of January 1, 2017, Oklahoma passed a law that needs to wait 72 hours before an abortion can be performed and receive counseling that includes information designed to discourage the procedure, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

Humphrey has been married to his wife, Carla, for 26 years, and they have three sons (above). Facebook posters swarmed his page to ask about his 'host'

A woman can only have an abortion past 20 weeks postfertilization if her life is in danger.

If passed, the bill would become effective November 1. The bill was tabled without comment on February 8 but may be reintroduced on Tuesday.

In their last session, the Oklahoma legislators actually passed a complete ban on abortion, but it was vetoes by Governor Mary Fallin. The bill would have also charged doctors who give abortions, and possibly the women themselves, with first degree murder.

'In a state that doesnt really spend a lot of time on domestic violence issues it really just showed ignorance regarding what relationships can be for some women,' said Rev. Shannon Speidel, a minister in Enid and a member of the Oklahoma Coalition for Reproductive Justice, which fights for the right of women to have abortions.

'I say to them, it is immoral and anti-Christian to pass restriction after restriction after restriction and then to do nothing to support women and families in this state,' Speidel told the outlet. 'If you really want to make abortions be gone, then do everything possible to provide birth control, to have comprehensive sex education and, more importantly, to make sure there are programs in place that are going to help women and families.'

Oklahoma already has more abortion restrictions than any other state except Louisiana.

Two separate Supreme Court rulings have already said that fathers have no say when it comes to abortion.

In Arkansas, a bill passed in late January that allows the father of a fetus, even in cases of spousal rape, to sue to block an abortion in civil court, according to the Huffington Post.
Millions of smallholder farmers in South and Southeast Asia are attempting to diversify beyond staple crops to increase their incomes, nutrition, and resilience in response to climate change and shifting market demand. Although they are potentially significant producers of fresh vegetables and farmed fish, most smallholders lack access to technologies that would help them produce the quantities and quality needed to earn income sustainably. To address this, the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, rolled out its new Feed the Future Asia Regional Innovative Farmers Project at the Agriculture Innovation Summit in Dhaka, Bangladesh January 24th.

Implemented by Winrock International, the regional project will increase food security, reduce poverty, and improve environmental sustainability by facilitating agricultural innovation and technology diffusion in several countries in Asia including Bangladesh.

To disseminate agricultural knowledge and expertise among the Asian countries, this new project will create challenge competitions to discover the most promising technologies, support partnerships and ultimately bring successful tools and practices to farmers in all stages of the supply chain  from productivity to marketing. The Honorable Additional Secretary of Bangladeshs Ministry of Agriculture Musharaf Hossain and USAID Office of Economic Growth Director Matt Curtis spoke at the event.

USAID also announced the winners of the Tech4Farmers Challenge, the very first challenge competition held under the Asia Regional Innovative Farmers Project that sought ways to improve the agricultural productivity and income of small hold farmers in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar and Nepal.

The winners were the e-Fisherys Smart Fish Feeder, an Indonesia-based technology that combines automatic feeding with sensors and algorithms that sense fishs appetite and adjust the amount of feed to improve efficiency, and the Innovative Spirulina Production, a system created by EnerGaia in Thailand that maximizes algae production with minimal resources, reducing potential for contamination in its bioreactor design and allows spirulina production nearly anywhere. Unlike many challenges, the Tech4Farmers Innovation Challenge did not offer a cash prize, but provided winners the information, business services and access to networks to help expand innovative solutions into new markets in low-income countries.

The U.S. Government, through USAID, has provided more than $6 billion in development assistance to Bangladesh since 1971. The U.S. is proud to work with Bangladesh promote prosperity for the people of the U.S., Bangladesh, and the Asia region.
Former CIA Director, Gen. David Petraeus, is among the top contenders to take over the role of national security advisor, on the heels of Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn's resignation last night.

While President Donald Trump will not need Senate approval to appoint a new person to the job, naming Petraeus could be a politically thorny move.

Petraeus, a retired four-star general, was slapped with a misdemeanor for mishandling classified materials, which he handed over to his mistress and biographer Paula Broadwell.

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Former CIA director and retired Army General David Petraeus is also reportedly being discussed as a potential to fill Flynn's shoes

Petraeus, a retired four star general, was bounced from his position atop the intelligence agency in 2012 after he it was revealed that he passed on classified information to his biographer, who had also become his mistress

Petraeus reportedly ended the affair with Broadwell, who wrote the book 'All In: The Education of David Petraeus,' after he learned that she had sent threatening emails to a longtime family friend, Tampa socialite Jill Kelley.

President Trump's appointed National Security Advisor Michael Flynn dramatically resigned Monday night amid concerns regarding potential blackmail from Russia

When allegations of the affair became public, Petraeus resigned from his position atop the CIA in November 2012.

He was sentenced in April 2015.

Before that Petraeus had a sterling military and government career,

He commanded the U.S. forces in Afghanistan and was credited with turning the war in Iraq around with the 'surge' in 2007.

Petraeus record was so well respected that Trump  who lampooned his political rival, Democrat Hillary Clinton, over her emails, suggesting she mishandled classified info  considered the ex-CIA head to be his secretary of state.

Instead he chose former Exxon/Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson for the job.

Now, Trump is giving Petraeus another look, as National Security Staffers say the retired general is due to meet with the president at the White House this week, according to the Huffington Post.

Retired Army Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, a member of Trump's transition team, will temporarily fill the role until a new advisor is announced

Murmurs of who will take over the position have circulated, and include the potential for Kellogg to stay on permanently

Retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, Interim National Security Advisor

Beyond Petraeus, a senior administration official reportedly told NBC News that Kellogg is being considered to stay on permanently.

Kellogg, 72, was previously appointed by Trump as the head of the presidential transition agency action team for defense.

He was a former commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, and served as chief operating officer of the Western coalition in Baghdad, Iraq, after the United States led the invasion in 2003.

Vice Admiral Robert Harward, former deputy to Defense Secretary James Mattis is reportedly the 'favorite' for the position

Vice Admiral Robert Harward

Another name being discussed is retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward, the former deputy to Defense Secretary James Mattis.

Harward, according to CNN, is considered the current frontrunner for the job.

Additionally, he is a retired Navy SEAL and served as the Deputy Commander of US Joint Forces Command.

Upon retirement in 2013 after a nearly 40-year career in the Navy, Harward took a post as a chief executive officer for defense and aerospace giant Lockheed Martin in the United Arab Emirates.

Trump has recently been in very public negotiations with Lockheed over the cost of its F-35 fighter jet program.

Two senior US officials reportedly confirmed to NBC News that Harward was the 'favorite' for the position.

Stephen Hadley, former National Security Advisor to President George W Bush has also been discussed as a potential candidate for the job

Former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley

Stephen Hadley's name has also been making the rounds, having previously held the position of National Security Advisor to President George W Bush.

Washington Bureau Chief Joyce Karam confirmed via Twitter that the former lawyer and Navy officer was among those being discussed amid Flynn's resignation.

During President Bush's campaign, Hadley served as as foreign and and defense policy advisor and also worked in the Bush-Cheney transition.

U.S. Navy Admiral Michelle Howard has also been said to be under consideration, who has set many records throughout her military career including being the first African-American woman to command a U.S. Navy ship

U.S. Navy Admiral Michelle Howard

US Navy Admiral Michelle Howard has also been said to be under consideration.

She is the current commander of US Naval Forces in Europe, and was the first African-American woman to command a US Navy ship and hold the position of Vice Chief of Naval Operations.

Among her other record-setting achievements, she was also the first female graduate of the Naval academy to be selected for flag rank.

Bossert served as a national security aide to George W Bush during his last year as president

Former National Security aide Tom Bossert

Tom Bossert, President Trump's choice for Homeland Security Advisor, was also mentioned by Karam as a candidate for the position.

Bossert served as a national security aide to George W Bush during his last year as president.

He also served two years as a White House director of infrastructure policy.

Stavidris, a retired Navy admiral, has previously said he did not want to serve in the Trump administration, though he would be happy to 'provide advice'

Retired Admiral James Stavridis

Though James Stavridis previously said that he would not serve under the Trump administration, his name has come up amongst potentials for NSA.

He currently serves as the Dean for Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

When asked in 2016 about the potentiality of him joining the Trump team, he said: 'I'm happy to provide advice, but I don't see myself joining the administration.'

John Kelly is the current US Homeland Security Secretary appointed by Donald Trump, but has reportedly been discussed as Flynn's replacement

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly

John Kelly is the current U.S. Homeland Security Secretary appointed by Donald Trump, but has reportedly been discussed as Flynn's replacement.

Kelly recently made headlines after telling San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman that he didn't 'have a clue' what a sanctuary city was.

Kelly is a retired four-star United States Marine Corps General.
The teenager who served 16 years in jail for the murder of a Sydney police officer married his prison psychologist and went on to have a baby boy with her.

Policeman Peter Forsyth (pictured) was killed in Ultimo, Sydney, in 1998

Murray Hearne was 18-years-old when he stabbed Peter Forsyth and seriously wounded fellow officer Jason Semple in 1998, after approaching the off-duty policemen and offering them drugs.

The cop killer, now 37, was released from prison nine years early, and went on to marry a psychologist he met behind bars. A Channel Seven investigation for Wednesday night's episode of Murder Uncovered reveals the married couple have had a baby boy together.

Constable Forsyth, a father-of-two, and rookie Mr Semple were unarmed and off-duty with another officer, Brian Neville, when they left drinks at an Ultimo hotel in inner-Sydney.

They were approached by Hearne, who offered to sell the off-duty officers drugs, believed to be ecstacy.

The trio detained him and tried to check Hearne's ID, when the 18-year-old pulled out a knife.

He fatally stabbed Constable Forsyth twice in the heart, and his colleague Semple twice in the stomach.

Jason said it took a while to realise they had been stabbed, in what felt like 'weak punches' before the blood came.

Peter went to his aid.

'Nobody knew he'd been stabbed. Least of all him,' Jason said.

'Pete's talking to me, then next thing he's basically laying on top of me  it was like he'd just fainted on top of me  I remember looking down watching the blood, thinking "what's wrong with Peter?"

'And the last thing he ever says to anyone on earth is: "She'll be right mate".'

Hearne (right) was released from prison in March 2014, after 16 years, during that time he begun a relationship with his prison psychologist, with whom he had a child with

Hearne and his three mates fled the scene, sparking a massive manhunt.

Days later, in the early hours of the morning, he phoned a reporter at Daily Telegraph and made a chilling confession - while pretending he had acted in self-defence.

The reporter, Barclay Crawford, stayed on the phone to the killer for hours while police swarmed Hearne's apartment.

The 18-year-old was then arrested and charged.

Hearne was sentenced to 27-years in a NSW prison, but would only serve 16.

In his time at Junee Correctional Centre, Hearne met a young psychologist, Bobbie Bergmeier.

Four years before he was released, the convicted killer and psychology intern began a relationship.

Hearne lives in Wagga Wagga, with Ms Bergmeier (pictured) who is now his wife and their baby boy.

Hearne fatally stabbed Constable Peter Forsyth twice in the heart, and Jason Semple (pictured) twice in the stomach

Constable Forsyth and rookie Mr Semple (right) were unarmed and off-duty with another officer Brian Neville when (left)they were confronted by Hearne who offered to sell them drugs

Ms Bergmeier split with her then-fiance to be with Hearne, and he was freed in March 2014.

The couple, now married, live in the NSW city of Wagga Wagga, with their baby boy. He will be one-year-old in April.

After the birth of the baby boy, Hearne wrote on Facebook: 'A new life added to this world.'

Axe murderer Keith Schreiber was one of those to congratulate Hearne on his new family on the Facebook post.

'Very happy days bro! Great to see you and yours doing so well man, welcome,' Schreiber wrote.

Constable Forsyth's devastated wife Jacqui was left to raise two small children following the murder of her husband

Mitchell and Brodie were deprived of a life with their father after he was stabbed to death by Hearne

The axe murderer killed Wollongong man Jack Van Krevel and spent 12-years behind bars.

Constable Forsyth's widow Jackie Reimer said she he has had to accept the killer was now free with a family of his own, but hoped he could be a good father.

'Lucky lad. He's got a baby. Again, I have to accept that. All I can think of is, I hope he can be a good father to this child,' Ms Reimer said.

Hearne is still on parole and works as a cabinet maker.

Murder Uncovered airs Wednesday 15 February at 9pm on Seven and PLUS7 Live.
Democrats called for a classified briefing about former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn within hours of his abrupt resignation.

Flynn stepped down late Monday, ending days of speculation about his fate following reports that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russia.

He conceded that discussions of sanctions may have come up during several calls with the Russian ambassador during the transition period leading up to Trump's January 20 inauguration.

Reaction from the Democrats was swift once news of Flynn's resignation was announced.

National Security Advisor Michael Flynn resigned on Monday night over controversy surrounding his contacts with Russia

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said Flynn had always been a 'poor choice' as national security advisor, CBS reports.

He said it was not a job for someone who 'plays fast and loose with the truth'.

Schiff called for further investigation into any contact made between Russia and Donald Trump's campaign members.

Reps. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) and Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), respectively the ranking members of the Judiciary and Oversight committees issued a joint statement, according to The Hill.

'We were shocked and dismayed to learn this evening of reports that three weeks ago, U.S. law enforcement officials warned the White House Counsel that General Flynn had provided false information to the public about his communications with the Russian government,' they said.

'The reality is General Flynn was unfit to be the National Security Advisor, and should have been dismissed three weeks ago.'

'We need to know who else within the White House is a current and ongoing risk to our national security.'

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said Flynn had always been a 'poor choice' as national security advisor and called for further investigation into contact between Russia and Trump campaign

Reps. John Conyers Jr. (left) and Elijah Cummings (right) said Flynn was unfit to be the National Security Advisor, and should have been dismissed three weeks ago

Congressman Seth Moulton weighed in saying Flynn's resignation was the first thing Trump's administration did right for national security

Senator Chris Murphy said Flynn's departure would only matter if they could get to the bottom of the Russia/Trump story

It comes after Flynn acknowledged that he gave 'incomplete information' about those discussions regarding Russia to Pence who, apparently relying on information from the national security adviser, initially said Flynn had not discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy.

Trump named retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg as the acting national security adviser and a senior administration official said he was one of three candidates the president was considering to replace Flynn on a permanent basis.

Whoever emerges as Trump's choice will take the helm of the National Security Council at a time when the young administration is grappling with a series of national security challenges, including North Korea's reported ballistic missile launch.

The White House is also dealing with fallout from the rocky rollout of Trump's immigration executive order, which has been blocked by the courts. The order was intended to suspend the nation's refugee program and bar citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.

Flynn made numerous phone calls to the Russian Ambassador to the US before Trump took office, and later hinted he may have gone against diplomatic protocol by discussing sanctions
Britains most violent prisoner Charles Bronson has proposed to his actress girlfriend after she visited him in prison.

The 64-year-old, who has numerous convictions for armed robbery, wounding and grievous bodily harm, got down on one knee when Paula Williamson came to see him at HMP Wakefield wearing a revealing red dress.

It is understood he had planned a more elaborate proposal where a ring would have been delivered to her home and he would have asked over the phone while serenading her.

But Miss Williamson, 36, of Stoke-on-Trent, who has had relationships with 'both men and women' said the couple were so in love and a perfect match.

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Britain's 'most violent prisoner' Charles Bronson is said to have proposed to his actress girlfriend Paula Williamson when she visited him at HMP Wakefield, pictured

The 36-year-old, from Stoke on Trent, is said to have been in a relationship with the notorious prisoner for five months. She is pictured left and right outside the prison in a revealing red dress

The actress has appeared in several British soaps and said they are a 'perfect match'

Bronson, pictured, is said to have popped the question during a prison visit at HMP Wakefield

She told The Sun: Ive had relationships with both men and women in the past but none of them come close to my love for Charlie. Hes so eccentric, but so am I. Its a perfect match.

She added: I know he has a public image of being a violent prisoner, but in reality he is so different. He can never change the things he has done in the past, but he is working so hard to put that behind him.

The notorious prisoner and former bare-knuckle boxer was first jailed in 1974 and has spent a total of 41 years in prison, having had his sentence increased previously for attacking fellow inmates and taking people hostage.

Miss Williamson, pictured appearing as a stripper on Emmerdale, said she had been in relationships with 'both men and women' in the past but 'none come close to her love for Charlie'

Miss Williamson, pictured, is said to have been with Bronson for five months and said they were 'so in love'

She was seen wearing a necklace which said 'Salvador', the surname Bronson is now going by in tribute to artist Salvador Dali

The pair are said to have been together for five months and are determined to make the relationship work despite him being in prison.

No one was available for comment when MailOnline visited Ms Williamson's home today, but Mother Hazel Williamson, 78, later explained the family did not wish to discuss the relationship.

She said: 'It's not something that I want to talk about. It's not my choosing.'

Miss Williamson has previously appeared in several UK soaps, including roles in Hollyoaks, Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

She appears to be registered with Icon management agency and, according to an online profile, trained at Manchester Metropolitan University School of Theatre.

Miss Williamson made her debut in 2003 in short film Autumn Heart but did not make another television appearance until 2008 with a guest role on medical soap The Royal Today.

Sticking to medical roles, she followed that up with a series of appearances as a nurse on Coronation Street between 2008 and 2012.

Miss Williamson also appeared in the 2011 ITV drama Appropriate Adult, a dramatisation on how murderers Fred and Rose West were brought to justice.

One of Miss Williamson's raunchier roles was as a stripper at a stag party on an episode of Emmerdale, pictured

The actress, pictured in the same episode of Emmerdale, has made several appearances on British soaps including Hollyoaks

She also appeared on Coronation Street, pictured, between 2008 and 2012 as a nurse, with many of her roles medically-themed

She made quite a stir in an episode of Emmerdale too where she played a stripper entertaining a stag party.

Her most recent credit was a guest role on Hollyoaks in 2012, where she again appeared in a hospital setting as a doctor.

As well as television work, her Icon profile states she has also filmed a variety of commercial and corporate films, as well as an advert for Aldi.

She also directs and writes sketches as part of the duo 'Brides of Comedy' with friend Claire Jones, with the pair running their own YouTube channel.

Her Twitter profile, where she went by the name @deviantdemonica, appears to have been recently taken down.

Bronson, pictured as a younger man and right outside the High Court in London, has twice been married before, both ending in divorce

In 2014 Bronson changed his surname to Salvador in honour of artist Salvador Dali, and Miss Williamson was seen wearing a necklace spelling out the moniker when visiting the inmate.

Bronson  whose life was made into a 2009 film starring Tom Hardy as the prisoner - has been married twice before, first to Irene Bronson, whom he divorced in 1977 after a five-year marriage, and then to Fatema Saira Rehman, a Bangladeshi-born divorcee whom he married in 2001 after the pair had exchanged letters.

He briefly converted to Islam during the second marriage, which ended after four years.

Bronson has spent much of his time in jail in solitary confinement due to his history of violence.
Washington state's Attorney General's Office has said it is 'pleased' that the case against Donald Trump's Muslim travel ban and immigration freeze will go ahead without waiting for a ruling from an appeals court.

The 9th Circuit appeals court is currently deciding whether to take another vote on whether to overturn Judge James Robart's temporary halt on Trump's executive order - a refusal that caused the president to furiously tweet 'SEE YOU IN COURT!'

But on Monday Robart denied a request by the Justice Department to delay a suit aimed at the ban while the 9th Circuit decides on a course of action, saying Trump himself had said his order was urgent.

The office of AG Bob Ferguson then tweeted: 'Pleased to see Judge Robart reject Trump Administration's request to delay. We will, indeed, see you in court.'

Pleased: The office of Washington AG Bob Ferguson (left) said they were 'pleased' that a case against Trump's immigration ban wouldn't wait for an appeal ruling against a related injunction

Mocking: The office posted this mocking tweet, saying they looked forward to seeing Trump's administration in court. Washington and Minnesota brought the case against the president

Reference: The tweet referenced this vitriolic post by Trump, who was furious after a failed attempt to get an injunction against his travel ban removed

Michelle Bennett, a Justice Department lawyer, had called for Robart's case to be temporarily postponed, pending the 9th Circuit's decision.

Bennett asked Robart to stick with a previous schedule that gives the government until April 3 to file a response to the states' complaint.

Robart said he was 'surprised' by that statement, since the president had said he wants to 'see you in court.'

Washington and Minnesota, the states that brought the original case against Trump, meanwhile, said that formal evidence gathering should begin immediately

'Given the gravity of the states' constitutional allegations, defendants' stated national security concerns and the public interests at stake, the states respectfully submit that discovery should proceed without delay,' their lawyers said in a legal brief.

Evidence gathering would not affect the appellate courts' ruling, they said.

Robart agreed, saying said there is a 'very sensitive time issue' in the case and he wasn't prepared to slow it down.

The legal saga began on February 3, when Washington and Minnesota filed a suit in a Seattle court against Trump's ban on entry to the US by people citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Visa holders (and, briefly, green card holders) were barred from entering for 90 days, and all refugees for 120 days, except refugees from Syria, who were banned indefinitely.

Robart, who presided over the case, declared a temporary injunction on the executive order, stopping it from being enacted, much to the annoyance of the Trump administration.

Pressing on: DoJ attorney Michelle Bennett Washington (left) asked for the case to be delayed. But judge James Robart (right) said Trump himself stressed the urgency of the case

They then took the injunction to the 9th Circuit appeals court, where three judges unanimously voted on February 9 to reject the appeal, keeping the injunction in place.

In deciding whether to put Trump's order on hold, the three-judge panel said the administration presented no evidence that any foreigner from the seven countries was responsible for a terrorist attack in the US.

But an unnamed member of the 9th Circuit then said that there should be a second vote with a larger selection of judges.

The 9th Circuit is now deciding whether to have the case reheard in front of an 11-judge panel.

The decision on whether to hold the second hearing - known as an en banc review - will be made by the full 25-judge panel.

In a separate case on Monday, a Virginia judge issued a state-wide preliminary injunction against portions of Trump's order that dealt with visa holders.

However, it will have no immediate effect as Robart's February 3 ruling applied to the entire county.

Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring in a Monday night conference call with reporters described the order as 'unlawful, unconstitutional, and un-American,' and said it was conceived in 'religious bigotry.'

As well as challenging the Washington and Minnesota suit in court, Trump has said that he may issue a 'brand new order' as soon as this week.

He has not yet said what that order may involve.
A car ploughed down a flight of steps near a busy London station, got stuck and was cordoned off for 12 hours.

City of London Police were called to Eldon Street by Broadgate Circle on Sunday at 2.20am after 'reports of a confused driver who had driven down some steps'.

The high-end restaurant hub is next to Liverpool Street Station, leading to theories the motorist might have been attempting a quick short cut.

City of London Police were called to Eldon Street by Broadgate Circle on Sunday at 2.20am after receiving 'reports of a confused driver who had driven down some steps'

Bemused passers-by on Sunday morning saw the vehicle with its front wheels wedged six steps from the top of the stairway.

@automagicdog joked on Twitter: 'Unveil post modernist art installation.'

@kramkram went along to film the bizarre scene, writing: 'I had to go and see how he did this...I'm still none the wiser!'

City Of London Police tweeted: 'A lot of calls for tonight - this one is definitely most obscure! Driver reported for driving without due care.'

There were claims on social media the car was an Uber. But a spokesman for the taxi hailing app told MailOnline: 'It wasn't an active Uber car'.

He added: 'This car hasn't been on the app for a long time.'

City of London Police confirmed officers attended on Sunday.

A spokesman said the driver had been given a warning for driving without due care and attention but had not been arrested.

City Of London Police tweeted: 'A lot of calls for tonight - this one is definitely most obscure! Driver reported for driving without due care'

The high-end restaurant hub is next to Liverpool Street Station, leading to theories the motorist might have been attempting a quick short cut

He added: 'The male was given a breath test at the scene but it came back negative.'

The car was cordoned off for 12 hours while officers arranged for it to be removed.

Another unfortunate driving incident happened last year, when an Uber got caught in a rising tide on the crossing from Holy Island, Northumberland.

At one point, his passengers were forced wade through the water by foot - including a monk who waved at the camera.

Eventually, RNLI rescuers pull up in a lifeboat to assist the stranded people.
A 54-year-old woman who was caught on camera ramming into her husbands van because she suspected him of having an affair with a younger woman has to stay out of trouble for 12 months.

Sonya Ruprecht, from Taree on the NSW north coast has been slapped with a 12-month good-behaviour bond following the attack on her husband on December 30, Nine News reports.

Ms Ruprecht was arrested a short time after the incident but was released without charge.

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Sonya Ruprecht, from Taree on the NSW north coast has been slapped with a 12-month good-behaviour bond following an attack on her husband in December, pictured arriving at court

The 54-year-old woman was caught on dashcam ramming her husband's van

She was entered into a good behaviour bond in February and must also abide by rules of an AVO

Then a video of her rage-fueled attack was leaked online, showing the woman ramming her husbands van off the road. It quickly went viral.

She was charged with driving recklessly, furiously, at speed or in a dangerous manner.

The shocking video was taken at Crowdy Head Surf Club, 20 minutes from Ms Ruprechts family home.

Ms Ruprecht was arrested twice following the attack - the first time police didn't have enough evidence, she was charged after the dashcam was leaked

The van, which was hit in the attack, parked outside the premises in January

The mother of fours dark blue Ford Ranger is clearly visible in the video  as is her husbands campervan.

Ms Ruprecht must also abide by a 12-month AVO following the incident.

The AVO was accepted by her solicitor in her absence and stated she must not menace, harass or otherwise harm her husband.

The video clearly shows Ms Ruprecht's car forcing her husband's car from the road
Grime artist Stormzy has accused bungling Metropolitan Police officers of smashing down his door by mistake after accusing him of 'burgling' his own house.

The rapper, who lives in plush West Brompton, west London, slammed officers on Twitter this morning after posting a picture of his damaged door, which had two wooden panels missing.

Stormzy, who was at the Elle Style Awards last night, has claimed that officers now owe him money for repairs.

Grime artist Stormzy has accused bungling Metropolitan Police officers of smashing down his door by mistake after accusing him of 'burgling' his own house

He tweeted: 'Woke up to Feds destroying my front door coz apparently I'm a burglar who burgles his own home. need your bank details still.'

The Met has since replied to the rapper on Twitter but a spokesman could not confirm if he had got in touch.

Met Contact Centre tweeted: ' @Stormzy1 Hi, if you wish to make a complaint please DM [direct message] us so we can take some more details. Thanks'

They later confirmed that Stormzy's door had been broken down in error - after they found two lawful occupants inside.

Officers who smashed their way into the ground floor flat say they had received reports that the home was being burgled at around 12.55am today.

The door has now been 'made secure' and Scotland Yard say they are talking to the complainant, following the outburst on Twitter.

Stormzy (left, at the Elle Style Awards and right, performing) has now demanded the Met pay for repairs to his damaged door

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'Police were called to an address in West Brompton at 00:55hrs on Tuesday, 14 February to a report of a conspiracy to burgle a ground floor flat, believed to have been vacant.

'Officers attended and forced entry to the property, and found there to be two lawful occupants inside.

'Officers remained at the property until it was made secure.

'Officers have since been in further communication with the complainant.'

Stormzy fans have leapt to his defence with over 6,700 retweets and more than 11 likes and many demanding answers from the Met.

Natalie Johns tweeted: '@Stormzy1 @metpoliceuk absolutely disgusting you'd think they know who lives there before damaging your door.'

Met Police later confirmed Stormzy's door was broken down in error after receiving reports a burglary was underway inside

While Jake Sinkster321 posted: '@Stormzy1 @metpoliceuk idiots... the police need to get themselves straight #metpolice'

Lorna Ashton-Scott wrote: '@Stormzy1 @metpoliceuk can't believe it. Outrageous'

Fan Ryan Luong said: 'All they had to do for a pair of tickets was ask.'

Another Patricia Arobaga said: 'So in this day and age they still assume that black people cant possibly have nice things.'

Natalie Johns added: 'Absolutely disgusting you'd think they know who lives there before damaging your door.'

Stormzy, real name Michael Omari, has won Best Grime Act MOBO Awards in both 2014 and 2015 and was named as an artist to look out for in the BBC's influential Sound of 2015 list.




Hillary Clinton took to Twitter on Monday night to share her opinion on National Security Advisor Michael Flynn's resignation, suggesting there are 'real consequences of fake news'.

Clinton retweeted a post from longtime confidante Phillipe Reines on Monday night, where he suggested Flynn and his son, who spread the discredited 'Pizzagate' conspiracy theory on social media, get jobs at Domino's.

'Philippe's got his own way of saying things, but he has a point about the real consequences of fake news,' Clinton said in her tweet.

Reines had written, 'Dear Mike Flynn & Mike Flynn Jr., What goes around COMETS around. And given your pizza obsession...', with a link to Domino's Pizza's job site.

The social media posts came after Flynn stepped down from his position as National Security Advisor in the Trump administration just 24 days after the new president's inauguration.

Hillary Clinton retweeted a post from longtime confidante Phillipe Reines on Monday night after retired Army Lieutenant General Michael Flynn resigned from his position as National Security Advisor

Reines suggested in his tweet that Flynn and his son, who spread the discredited 'Pizzagate' conspiracy theory on social media, get jobs at Domino's

In her tweet on Monday night, Clinton suggested that there are 'real consequences of fake news'

In December, Flynn Jr tweeted about the Pizzagate conspiracy, which linked Clinton and her campaign chief to Comet Ping Pong pizza shop in Washington, DC.

The theory suggested that Clinton and John Podesta presided over a child-sex ring run out of the DC pizza parlor.

Police said a 28-year-old North Carolina man opened fire with a rifle inside the restaurant in December because he thought child sex-slaves were being held against their will in the basement.

No one was harmed but the man was arrested.

In his tweet, Flynn Jr did not endorse the conspiracy theory, but predicted that it wouldn't go away.

'Until #Pizzagate proven to be false, it'll remain a story. The left seems to forget #PodestaEmails and the many 'coincidences' tied to it,' he tweeted

Flynn Jr returned to Twitter on Monday after being absent for two weeks to send out a message about his father's resignation.

Michael Flynn (pictured with his son, Michael Flynn, Jr) stepped down from his position as National Security Advisor in the Trump administration just 24 days after the new president's inauguration

In his tweet from last year, Flynn Jr did not endorse the conspiracy theory, but predicted that it wouldn't go away

Flynn Jr returned to Twitter on Monday after being absent for two weeks to send out a message about his father's resignation. He later deleted the tweet

'The disinformation campaign against my father won #AmericaFirst #USA #Flynn #FlynnResignation,' he wrote.

Flynn Jr later deleted the tweet and retweeted a Daily Caller post about an op-ed titled: 'Why We Should All Support Michael Flynn Against A Plot To Weaken America.'

Retired Army Lieutenant General Flynn resigned on Monday after revelations he had discussed US sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to the United States before Trump took office and misled Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations.

His stunning announcement, first reported by CNN, came just hours after sources close to the government revealed that the Justice Department had warned the new administration that his links with the Kremlin had put him in a compromising position and left him open to blackmail.

Flynn made numerous phone calls to the Russian Ambassador to the US before Trump took office, and later hinted he may have gone against diplomatic protocol by discussing the rollback of sanctions.

Retired general Keith Kellogg will take over as acting National Security Advisor.

Former CIA Director David Petraeus and US Navy Admiral Michelle Howard are among the names being touted as a replacement.
A woman who went on a spending spree after stealing a dying nurse's handbag following a horrific car crash has avoided jail.

Silvia Maria Schreuder, 44, has been given a three-year good behaviour bond and a $700 fine when she appeared in the Gosford court on Tuesday, 9 News reported.

She pleaded guilty to stealing Kay Shaylor's purse as she lay dying in her mangled red car at North Gosford on the Central Coast of NSW.

The mother, a nurse with medical training, was accused of purchasing groceries, cigarettes, alcohol and lottery tickets with the stolen credit card.

Silvia Maria Schreuder, 44, (pictured with her son outside court on Tuesday) has been given a three-year good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to stealing a dying nurse's handbag

Aged care nurse Kay Shaylor (left) lay dying in her mangled red car as her handbag was stolen by 44-year-old Schreuder (right)

Following the crash on September 3 last year, the 62-year-old aged care nurse was airlifted to the Royal North Shore Hospital where she later died.

On Tuesday, Magistrate Peter Barnett told Schreuder 'every time you have to put your hand in your pocket you can think about that poor lady'.

Outside court, her son told 9 News after Schreuder refused to comment: 'She's already said her apologises a million times.

'I know my mother deep down she has regretted this ever since, and the day she got sentenced, the day she has healed herself...'

The 62-year-old woman was rushed to hospital after the horrific car crash that claimed her life

Outside court, her son told 9 News after Schreuder refused to comment: 'She's already said her apologises a million times

Her co-accused Jason Hall has also pleaded guilty in relation to the spending spree. He will be sentenced at a later date.

Bianca Harrington, 20, the driver of the second vehicle accused over the crash, was charged with dangerous and negligent driving occasioning death.

She is expected to face court next month.
As the emergency in the south of Madagascar continues into the lean season between harvests, the United States government has donated an additional $2.7 million to emergency relief.

There are still nearly a million desperate people who dont have enough to eat. Right now, as we head into the heart of the lean season, when people are suffering the most, is when more action is needed by all parties, said U.S. Ambassador Robert Yamate.

Ambassador Yamate stressed the importance of a formal emergency declaration from Madagascar, which could open up more options for the international community to respond and provide more aid for relief efforts.

The funds were provided by USAIDs Office of Food for Peace and will be used to buy food supplies, including rice and green peas, to be distributed to communities without enough to eat.

Since 2014, the United States government has been the leading contributor to emergency assistance in Southern Madagascar, providing over $39 million of assistance and food supplies. Through USAID the U.S. government has funded the work of Catholic Relief Services. the World Food Programme, the Adventist Development and Relief Agencies, and others. These organizations have also worked together to ensure that relief efforts are coordinated and have supported each other to cover any gaps in food supplies.

Through these organizations the U.S. is funding the delivery of life-saving food aid; seeds to grow new crops; farm supplies and tools; livestock and training in animal husbandry; and specialized nutritious supplements to prevent starvation among malnourished children and pregnant and lactating women.

The late arrival of rains is expected to delay the harvest season by another five to eight weeks, and additional support is needed to carry these communities through this extended lean season, said USAID Mission Director Michelle Godette.

The $2.7 million we have announced will be provided to the World Food Programme and will allow them to continue activities that are feeding 260,000 people daily.
'Love insurance' is the latest trend to hit China, with companies betting against relationships lasting it out.

After paying a one off payment of around 250 yuan or 30, couples are given a 'love certificate'.

If they get married between three and 13 years later, they are then rewarded with a free gift, which could be in the form of expensive diamonds, flowers or wads of cash.

Who said romance is dead? 'Love insurance' is the latest trend to hit China, with companies betting against relationships lasting it out

Indeed, Answern Insurance offers a love insurance package for 399 yuan (46).

Students get a discount, with sweethearts getting a reduced rate of 299 yuan (35).

If they provide a marriage certificate three years later, they are gifted with a heart-shaped diamond.

Another insurance plan offered by China Life, which costs 299 yuan (35), offers 10,000 roses to those who manage to last it out for three years and eventually tie the knot.

Answern Insurance offers a love insurance package for 399 yuan (46) - if couples provide a marriage certificate three years later, they are gifted with a heart-shaped diamond

According to China Daily, another company offers a cash prize of 1,999 yuan (232) to those who finally say 'I do' from an initial investment of just 99 yuan (11.50).

It appears companies are tapping into a growing trend among young Chinese people who are veering away from marriage.

Mimicking a global pattern, after a decade of increases in the national marriage rate, China witnessed its second year of decline in 2015.

The number of unions dropped 6.3 per cent from 2014 and 9.1 per cent from 2013, according to the Conversation.

One student surname Ning told China Daily that he purchased love insurance for his girlfriend 'in the hope that our love will last a long time'.

Who said romance was dead?
Islamic authorities in Malaysia have released a video suggesting homosexuals can be 'cured' through an intense training programme.

The video highlights Muslims' approach to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and compares those in same-sex relationships to horse riding in a bizarre campaign.

'Fact is, there are those among Muslims that has non-heterosexual orientation but remains steadfast on the path of Islam.

'For them, this is a test of Allah, and they choose to face the test appropriate with what Islam demands,' it says, in Malayan.

Men kiss in front of spectators at Picadilly Circus during the annual London's Mardi Gras Pride march

The three-minute video is the work of the Islamic Development Department Malaysia's (Jakim) family, social and community department, said Dr Mohd Izwan Yusof, an assistant senior director, according to the Malay Mail Online.

The video likens sexual orientation to horse-riding.

It claims when someone realises they have a 'different' orientation than others and wishes to change, they should receive extensive training and guidance.

The Islamic group goes on to claim gay people should change their sexual orientation for God's sake, instead of being forced and repent their homosexuality

Jakim's video also urged individuals to turn their backs on any activities that might lead to same-sex relations, according to the Malay Mail Online.

The video was shared on social media, and Facebook users have reacted to the controversial clip.

Huda Mutalib said: 'I was not impressed by the video. And it's very dangerous for them to encourage heterosexual marriage as a way to "fix" the LGBT person, for the person, the spouse and the children they might bear.'

Another, Zulaikaha Mohammad, said: 'Calling for reparative therapy is not exactly good intentions, let alone genuine respect that LGBT people should live their lives the way they want it to be.'

A rainbow-coloured fist with a painted heart

But some defended the video and even said it did not show hatred towards the LGBT community.

Azira Aziz said: 'Congratulations Jakim for producing a video with no elements of hatred towards the LGBT.

'I hope Jakim's missionary department can remind each state to not act rough towards the LGBT.'

The therapy, as the Islamic Development Department Malaysia's (Jakim) family, social and community department describes it, would consist of a blend of psychological treatment and spiritual counseling.

Attempting to change a person's sexual orientation is widely regarded as a harmful pseudoscience.

The practice has been banned in a number of countries, including Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Ecuador, Israel, Lebanon, Malta, South Africa, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the US.
Gary Lineker, Keira Knightley and a host of luvvies today accuse Theresa May of being 'truly shameful' after the government announced the closure of a scheme to resettle child migrants.

More than 200 leading public figures have signed a letter calling on the Prime Minister to reconsider the decision to stop the Dubs programme to relocate lone youngsters from mainland Europe to the UK.

Last week, Home Secretary Amber Rudd said the scheme, named after Labour peer Lord Alf Dubs, will come to an end after another 150 unaccompanied children are brought to Britain, on top of 200 who have already arrived, rather than the 3,000 campaigners and politicians had originally wanted.

The letter from a range of celebrities, including Gary Lineker, left, and Emma Thompson, right, accuses Theresa May of being 'truly shameful' after the government announced the closure of a scheme to resettle child migrants

In an open letter, stars including Benedict Cumberbatch, Bill Nighy, Emma Thompson, Gok Wan, Jude Law, Lily Allen, Paloma Faith, Ruby Wax and Zoe Wanamaker, have asked ministers to work with local councils to welcome more children.

Other signatories include fashion designer Alice Temperley, Angel of the North sculptor Antony Gormley, choreographer Arlene Phillips, James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli, Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis, author Joanna Trollope, model Lily Cole, former archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and comedian Sandi Toksvig.

Actress Juliet Stevenson, also one of the signatories, said if Theresa May put the decision to end the lone child refugee scheme to a referendum, people would vote to keep it in place.

A staunch campaigner for the plight of vulnerable minors, the Truly Madly Deeply star said it is 'impossible to understand the Government's decision to renege on the Dubs amendment'.

In an open letter, stars including Jude Law, left, and Keira Knightley, right, have asked ministers to work with local councils to welcome more children

Other signatories include singer Lilley Allen, left, and fashion designer Gok Wan, right

'I think, Theresa May, if she put this to a referendum would find that there are very many people in this country who would like to go down in history by doing the decent thing by these children,' she said.

'They are children. How can you argue against getting children out of appalling refugee camps and into some sort of home?'

Ms Stevenson and 200 other celebrities write in their open letter to the PM: 'The government's decision to close the 'Dubs' lifeline for vulnerable refugee children is truly shameful.

'The idea that as a country we will slam the door shut after just 350 children have reached safety is completely unacceptable.

'The country we know and love is bigger than this. Communities and councils across the country stand ready to do more. The government must agree to extend the programme and re-consult with councils immediately.'

The open letter accuses Thereas May, pictured, of being 'truly shameful' after Government announced closure of the Dubs scheme to resettle child migrants

Lord Dubs, who arrived in Britain via the Kindertransport system to rescue Jewish children from the Nazis, delivered a 50,000-signature petition to Number 10 on Saturday flanked by a group of children, local politicians and faith leaders. He accused the Government of a 'very shabby cop out'.

The Home Office has insisted it is not giving up on vulnerable children, and youngsters will continue to arrive from around the world through other resettlement schemes and the asylum system.

More than 900 unaccompanied children were transferred to the UK from Europe last year.

Josie Naughton, co-founder of Help Refugees, said: 'The outpouring of support for the continuation of the Dubs scheme by these well-known figures and the public demonstrates that its closure is at odds with the British values that make this country great.

'We ask that the government finds a way to do more to protect these vulnerable children fleeing war and conflict just as we did before the Second World War.'
Notorious gangster Carl Williams had Graham 'The Munster' Kinniburgh killed because he couldn't get to hated enemy Lewis Moran, a court heard.

The Melbourne underworld elder statesman was shot to death outside his home on a quiet suburban street just before midnight in December 2003, in a scene made famous by the mini-series Underbelly.

The 62-year-old was shot three times, one of the bullets striking him in the head, by two different shooters - one of whom is finally on trial for his murder.

Notorious gangster Carl Williams (pictured) had Graham 'The Munster' Kinniburgh killed because he couldn't get to hated enemy Lewis Moran, a court heard

Kinniburgh, 62, was shot to death outside his home on a quiet suburban street just before midnight in December 2003

Stephen John Asling, 56, allegedly carried out the hit with Terrence Blewitt, who is now dead, and faced the Victorian Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Andrew Tinney SC said the plot to kill Kinniburgh started off as an agreement to kill Lewis Moran, leader of the Carlton Crew.

The jury heard Kinniburgh was understood to be a close friend of Lewis Moran, and Williams - who was killed in prison in 2010 - wanted Moran and his associates dead.

'Carl Williams said in effect, well if you can't kill Lewis Moran, kill Graham Kinniburgh. That's why Graham Kinniburgh was killed,' he said.

Prosecutor Andrew Tinney SC said the plot to kill Kinniburgh started off as an agreement to kill Lewis Moran (pictured), leader of the Carlton Crew, whom Williams had a 'powerful hatred' for

Stephen John Asling, 56, allegedly carried out the hit with Terrence Blewitt (pictured), who is now dead

Mr Tinney said Williams and another person whose name is suppressed allegedly organised surveillance of Kinniburgh's home in the days before he was shot.

'The desire of Williams to have Kinniburgh surveilled occurred in the context of powerful hatred that Williams had of members of the Moran family and their associates, one of whom was Kinniburgh,' he said.

'Williams wanted to see the Morans dead in particular he wanted Lewis Moran dead.'

On the night he was slain, Asling and Blewitt lay in wait for Kinniburgh outside his Kew home before ambushing and killing him as he brought groceries inside, the jury heard.

Williams, who was killed in prison in 2010, ordered the hit on Kinniburgh and allegedly got Asling and Blewitt to carry it out

The court heard there was an indication Asling and Blewitt were armed with handguns when Kinniburgh was ambushed as he got out of his car.

Kinniburgh produced a gun himself to try to defend himself but was shot three times by a revolver and a semi-automatic pistol, Mr Tinney said.

He suffered wounds to his head and torso and died in the street outside his house, with his wife and neighbours hearing the shots.

Mr Tinney said that after the murder, Asling and Blewitt drove from the scene.

The defence is yet to address the jury after the first day of the trial.
Theresa May has told Donald Trump she is looking forward to his state visit, hours after rejecting a 1.8million person petition against the trip.

The Prime Minister and President spoke by telephone this afternoon as part of their 'regular' correspondence, No 10 said.

Trade and security were also discussed as well as the planned state visit, which is expected to take place in the summer.

The visit is likely to attract significant protests and provoke major security headaches - prompting speculation it could be largely moved out of London.

Theresa May, pictured, has rejected a petition signed by more than 1.8million people demanding she cancels Donald Trump's state visit to the UK

Following the call with with White House, a Downing Street spokesman said: The Prime Minister spoke to President Trump this afternoon, as part of their regular engagement.

'They discussed a range of issues, including trade and security and also discussed the Presidents upcoming State Visit to the UK.

'The Prime Minister said she looks forward to welcoming him later this year.'

In its response to the petition today, the Government insisted the new US President should be extended the 'full courtesy' of a state visit to Britain later this year.

In a statement the Government said it 'recognises the strong views expressed by the many signatories of this petition, but does not support this petition'.

The motion calling for President Trump to be uninvited in the wake of his travel ban will be debated by MPs in Parliament next week after easily attracting the 100,000 threshold needed.

Support for the call to downgrade Mr Trump's visit because it would be 'embarrassing' for the Queen snowballed after he imposed a travel ban on nationals from seven mainly Muslim countries.

The Government was compelled to reply to the petition because it garnered more than 10,000 signatures.

MPs will debate it in the House of Commons on Monday alongside a rival 300,000-strong petition in support of the state visit after they both reached the 100,000 signatures threshold to be considered for discussion in Parliament.

The motion calling for President Trump to be uninvited in the wake of his travel ban will be debated by MPs in Parliament next week after easily attracting the 100,000 threshold needed

Prime Minister Theresa May, pictured, has been criticised for offering Mr Trump a state visit too soon in his already highly controversial presidency

Responding to the anti-state visit petition, the Foreign Office said: 'HM Government believes the President of the United States should be extended the full courtesy of a state visit. We look forward to welcoming President Trump once dates and arrangements are finalised.

'HM Government recognises the strong views expressed by the many signatories of this petition, but does not support this petition.

'During her visit to the United States on 27 January 2017, the Prime Minister, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, invited President Trump for a state visit to the UK later this year. The invitation was accepted.

Theresa May was heavily criticised for her decision to form a close relationship with President Trump so soon on in his presidency. Pictured, the pair holding hands in Washington

'This invitation reflects the importance of the relationship between the United States of America and the United Kingdom. At this stage, final dates have not yet been agreed for the state visit.'

Prime Minister Theresa May has been criticised for offering Mr Trump a state visit too soon in his already highly controversial presidency.

Barack Obama only received an invitation after 758 days, while it took 978 days before his predecessor, George W Bush, was offered a state visit, compared with seven days for Mr Trump.

The backlash against the visit has also caused controversy in Parliament, where Commons Speaker John Bercow is facing calls to resign after branding Mr Trump 'racist' and 'sexist' and effectively banning him from addressing MPs and peers in Westminster Hall during the trip.

The travel ban, which sparked mass protests in the UK and around the world, has since been suspended after two states - Washington and Minnesota - sued and a federal court rejected a US government appeal.

Mr Trump has promised to take action 'very rapidly' in response to the ruling, which he reacted to in customary style on Thursday, tweeting 'SEE YOU IN COURT, THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE!'

Meanwhile, the president has been rocked by the resignation of his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, following reports that he misled White House officials about his contacts with Russia.

A US official has told the Associated Press that Mr Flynn was in frequent contact with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak on the day that Mr Obama imposed sanctions on Russia for presidential election-related hacking.
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Haunting photographs have captured the decaying remains of a prisoner of war camp hidden within the English countryside.

POW Camp 116, otherwise known as High Hall, in Hatfield Heath, Essex, housed Italian, Austrian and German soldiers captured in battles across Europe and Africa.

Once brought to England, the prisoners were sent to the camp and put to work in farms where they would help grow vital food supplies to fuel the war effort.

The hastily constructed prison is now overgrown, with tools used by Italians and Germans lying abandoned and rusting 1950s cars and tractors languishing in the woodland.

A water tower that would have provided a perfect vantage point to look out for the enemy sits 40ft tall looming over the camp while a Massey Ferguson combine harvester has been left to rust in an outhouse.

And the soldier's personal belongings - including a rusting tin of cod liver oil - have been left behind in the dilapidated dorm rooms.

The moss-covered dorm rooms where Italian, Austrian and German soldiers slept, are now dilapidated and eerie

The rusting remains of a 1950s saloon car covered in leaves and moss, sits in the yard of the camp which once housed dozens of prisoners

Abandoned farm machinery, including a Massey Ferguson combine harvester, now lies in a dilapidated barn near a decaying British-made Hillman Minx car

Hut number 63: POW Camp 116, otherwise known as High Hall, in Hatfield Heath, Essex, housed soldiers captured in battles across Europe and Africa

An old grindstone - a round sharpening stone used for grinding or sharpening ferrous tools - in one of the sheds on the camp

An abandoned truck believed to be from the late 1950s or early 1960s, which appears to have crashed and wrapped itself around a tree, sits in the camp grounds

Hidden within the Essex countryside, the now-forgotten camp was a prolific prison during the Second World War

The crumbling walls in the separate outbuildings are now covered in moss and reclaimed by nature

A four cylinder petrol engine in a rusting vehicle is among the many items exposed to the elements after soldiers and prisoners hastily left the Essex site

Sinks in a kitchen area provide a haunting reminder of what was once a busy camp, home to soldiers from across the world

Brick buildings with moss-covered roofs languish in woodland and rusting cars and tractors are being reclaimed by nature

While the chilling images give the camp a ghostly feel, conditions were reportedly good and many local people even invited the former soldiers into their homes and cooked them meals

Twisted remains of cars have simply been left to rot and gather moss in Hatfield Heath, in the Essex countryside

Among the personal items left behind in the abandoned camp include a rusting tin of Solvitax cod liver oil

The buildings lie off a path in the forest, and a water tower that would have provided a perfect vantage point to oversee the enemy still sits 40ft tall looming over the camp
Police have released dramatic bodycam footage showing the moments leading up to the fatal shooting of at homeless man at the hands of officers.

The incident happened at about 10.30pm on Saturday at a house in Oleander Avenune, in Louisville, Kentucky.

Police entered the home with their weapons drawn looking for a burglary suspect when they found homeless man William Young Jr at the top of the stairs crouched in an 'ambush-like position'.

William Young's family is demanding answers after he was fatally shot by police

The three officers who attended - Russel Braun, Paige Young, and Randall Richardson, pictured left to right - have been placed on paid administrative leave

Police said Young had an object in his hand that 'resembled a meat skewer', which officers believed he was using as a weapon.

His family said Young, who has been homeless for the past decade and suffered from mental health and substance abuse issues, was shot almost a dozen times, and they are now demanding answers.

'There's no way you can justify putting over 10 bullets in my little brother,' Young's brother Christopher Hall told the New York Daily News. 'What could he have possibly done that would justify him being shot so many times?'

Police have released dramatic bodycam footage showing the moments leading up to the fatal shooting of at homeless man

The incident happened at about 10.30pm on Saturday at a house in Oleander Avenune, in Louisville, Kentucky

Police entered the home with their weapons drawn looking for a burglary suspect

According to police, when the officers came up the stairs of the house, Young allegedly charged at them, moving towards them with the object in hand.

Young struck officer Russel Braun in the upper chest, Louisville Metro Police Department said.

Officer Braun then fell backwards, causing him to shoot his own left hand as he was falling.

Officers found homeless man William Young Jr. at the top of the stairs crouched in an 'ambush-like position'

Police said Young had an object in his hand that 'resembled a meat skewer

When the officers came up the stairs, Young allegedly charged at them, moving towards them with the object in hand

At least two of the three officers in attendance - Russel Braun and Paige Young fired shots, while the third officer, Randall Richardson, also possibly discharged his weapon

At least two of the three officers in attendance - Russel Braun and Paige Young - fired shots, while the third officer, Randall Richardson, also possibly discharged his weapon, police said.

Young was pronounced dead at the scene, close to where police first encountered him.

Officer Braun was taken to University Hospital where he was treated for his injuries including a gunshot to his left hand and trauma to the injury on his upper left chest area.

He has since been released from hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

Young struck officer Russel Braun in the upper chest, Louisville Metro Police Department said

Young was pronounced dead at the scene, close to where police first encountered him

Officer Braun was taken to University Hospital where he was treated for his injuries including a gunshot to his left hand and trauma to the injury on his upper left chest area

All three officers have been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation

LMPD has since released an 11-minute clip to YouTube, which shows the dramatic incident unfold.

The composite footage was taken only from Officer Braun and Officer Young's body cameras, as Richardson's body camera did not capture the incident.

All three officers have been placed on paid administrative leave pending a public integrity investigation.

LMPD Chief Steve Conrad said: 'I never draw any conclusions with regards to an officer-involved shooting as to whether or not the use of the force was justified.

'That is the purpose for the public integrity investigation, and whether or not the use of force was justified will be subject to the review of the commonwealth attorney.'
Last week Karen Matthews, 41, was buying a fish supper in a chip shop 200 miles away from her home in west Yorkshire, when she had a tray of mushy peas thrown at her

The woman who kidnapped her own daughter is planning on fleeing the UK for a new life in Spain after a television drama based on the event put her back in the spotlight.

Last week MailOnline reported that Karen Matthews, 41, was buying a fish supper in a chip shop 200 miles away from her home in Dewsbury, west Yorkshire, when she was recognised by a member of the public and had a tray of mushy peas thrown at her.

Matthews, who was jailed for her part in a kidnap plot to claim a 50,000 ransom for her daughter Shannon's safe release, has been living in the south of England under an assumed name since leaving prison.

But now it has emerged the mother-of-seven is planning on applying for a passport so she can 'start her life again' in sunnier climes.

A friend told The Sun: 'She knows she can never avoid her past and with this new drama programme on the telly she's realised that living abroad might be a better option for her.

'She can probably get a job out there and enjoy a better life than always looking over her shoulder. She's applied for a passport now and that's the first step towards leaving the UK for good.'

Her case has returned to public prominence as a result of a BBC drama, The Moorside, featuring Sheridan Smith as family friend Julie Bushby, has attracted criticism over its treatment of the story.

Matthews was jailed for eight years for her role in the kidnapping of her daughter Shannon

The BBC has been accused of breaching its own editorial guidelines by broadcasting the hard-hitting two part drama.

Matthews, who faked her daughter's kidnapping in order to make money has claimed she is now in fear for her life.

One source told Joe Hinton in the Daily Star Sunday: 'Karen things this is just the start and wonders how many more attacks she will suffer.

'She was glad it was just a few peas but next time it could be worse. She was living quite a peaceful life until this programme came along. But Karen being Karen, she doesn't think it is anything to do with what she did by kidnapping her daughter.'

The source added: 'She is a long way from Dewsbury and has only been recognised a couple of times in a year. But now with this new drama on the telly she's petrified. The show is bringing her crimes to the attention of lot more people, who were younger at the time and weren't aware of what she did.'

Karen Matthews arranged the kidnapping of her daughter Shannon to claim a 50,000 ransom

Matthews served half of an eight-year jail term for her part in her daughter's kidnapping, claims she is innocent.

Her daughter, who is now 18, is living under a new identity.

According to The Mirror, Matthews has told friends about the constant threats.

She told a friend: 'I cannot go out of the door. I'm frightened out of my life. I'm shaking like a leaf. I'm s*** scared to even get any shopping or anything.

'I know I can't stop it but why does it have to be dragged up again? Why don't they just leave me alone and let me get on with my life?'

Matthews plotted with her accomplice Michael Donovan, pictured, to claim ransom money for her daughter's safe release

The drama, starring Sheridan Smith as family friend Julie Bushby, aired on Tuesday. It centred on the hunt for Shannon, who was nine when she disappeared from the Moorside estate in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, in February 2008.

In what became a cause celebre, she was missing for more than three weeks until it emerged that Shannon's mother Karen Matthews had staged the kidnap with her accomplice Michael Donovan in order to raise money from publicity.

The BBC1 programme was made by ITV Studios and watched by 7.2million viewers.

Karen Matthews' cousin, Susan Howgate, said that the controversial drama would 'bring everything back' and cause unnecessary pain.

'Family members will get grief like they have done in the past. I've had a lot of trouble, and same with my auntie. People keep saying stuff to her still,' she told ITV's Good Morning Britain.

Her anger was shared by Kate and Gerry McCann, whose daughter Madeleine went missing nearly ten years ago. They accused the BBC of 'poor taste' and said it was an 'appalling' and 'insensitive' decision to air The Moorside.
Almost 3,000 passengers on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship spent the night stuck at a port in central Florida after Coast Guard inspectors found 'multiple' safety issues aboard the ship, as some have complained about toilet issues and the ship smelling like sewage.

Passengers had already boarded the Majesty of the Seas when their Monday afternoon departure from Port Canaveral was delayed to the Bahamas.

Coast Guard spokesman Ryan Dickinson said the delay had to do with the life-saving equipment aboard, not the ship's engine.

'Yesterday, the U.S. Coast Guard conducted a routine inspection of Majesty of the Seas,' Cynthia Martinez, a Royal Caribbean spokeswoman told DailyMail.com.

Scroll down for video

Almost 3,000 passengers on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship (above) spent the night stuck at a port in central Florida after Coast Guard inspectors found safety issues aboard the ship

Passengers had already boarded the Majesty of the Seas when their Monday afternoon departure was delayed due aged life vests. Above employees discard of a box full of life vests

Coast Guard spokesman Ryan Dickinson also said the delay had to do with the life-saving equipment aboard, not the ship's engine. Above employees discard of a box full of life vests

A spokeswoman for the cruise line said the life vests aboard the ship 'were showing their age'. Above boxes full of live vests are pictured in the trash from the ship

'They came across some technical issues, including some outdoor life jackets that were showing their age.

'The replacements arrived to the ship early this morning and we expect to address the other issues shortly.

'We are hopeful that we will receive permission to sail later today. We will have more detailed information on the impact to the itinerary once we know our exact departure time.'

Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Ryan Dickinson on Monday night said, 'Once they address the issues, we'll send a team to check that the issues have been fixed and then they'll be on their way.'

It's unclear what the other 'multiple' safety issues are on the ship, but Annie Schweitzer, one of the passengers aboard the ship, tweeted a photo along with the message, '@RoyalCaribbean it only took almost 12 hours to realize you need to maintain toilets #shameful.

Replacement life vests arrived on a truck where the ship is at port in the afternoon on Tuesday (above)

Passenger Jacqueline Thompson, shared photos of issues she found with her room, including stains and holes on her bed sheets (above)

Thompson also found that the mattress (above) inside of her room is 'old' as it appears dirty

She also said the shower wall (above) inside the bathroom in her room is damaged. She wrote on Twitter that it 'needs some serious attention'

'@RoyalCaribbean this response is a joke. We can't leave bc (sic) you can't maintain major and basic safety standards.'

Later on, she tweeted: 'Bring your own life jackets @royalcaribbean never mind- you won't leave port'.

In another message shared to Twitter, Schweitzer wrote: '@RoyalCaribbean never sailingwith (sic) you again. And I will make sure my friends and family sail with a line that takes guests' safetyseriously'

Jacqueline Thompson, another passenger aboard the Majesty of the Seas, shared photos of issues she found with her room. The pictures appear to show a damaged shower wall, rust inside the bathroom and stains on the bed sheets.

She tweeted: '@RoyalCaribbean sailed with royal several times majesty of the sea needs some serious attention !!! Some pics of our room...

'continuation of last tweet. We found an old mattress, shower wall coming apart, rusty hooks, stains galore on sheets...'

@RoyalCaribbean it only took almost 12 hours to realize you need to maintain toilets. #shameful pic.twitter.com/KHSbulC0AP  Annie Schweitzer (@AnnieSchweitz) February 14, 2017

Above someone on the ship holds a life vest on Monday evening at the port

It's unclear what all of the technical issues are aboard the cruise ship. Passengers are seated above in a dining area on Monday on the ship

The company responded to Thompson's tweets and apologized saying they would forward her information to 'follow up on this.'

The company responded to her tweets and apologized saying they would forward her information to 'follow up on this.'

Of the delay, Thompson told DailyMail.com, 'People are getting very impatient and with the little information they're giving us, all we can do is hope to leave Port.

'Yes we stood overnight and our toilet didn't work when we boarded yesterday. There was also a bad smell on several decks.'

Thompson said despite the problems, she and her husband of 16 years are enjoying their Valentine's Day together

Royal Caribbean apologized to the delayed guests on Twitter and asked for patience.

Martinez said that guests have been able to come and go from the ship since yesterday evening. But multiple passengers, including Thompson, said they have been stuck aboard the ship since boarding on Monday, but were allowed to leave today.

Martinez did not respond to a request for comment regarding the alleged toilet problems.

Above Stacy Robinson (above) from St Louis, Missouri stretches her leg off ship. Stacy told DailyMail.com they have had very little info about what is going on

One of the passengers on the Majesty of the Seas tweeted the above message Monday evening about the issue

The company is offering a 25 percent future cruise certificate and 25 percent refundable onboard credit.

The Majesty of the Seas was scheduled to set sail at 5pm on Monday for a four-night cruise to the Bahamas with stops in CocoCay and Nassau in the Bahamas.

Officials did not reveal how many life vests need to be replaced on the ship.

Royal Caribbean officials now expect the ship to depart sometime on Tuesday, but it's unclear if the schedule will be altered to accommodate the overnight stay in Port Canaveral.

The 880-foot-long vessel can typically carry more than 2,700 guests and a crew of about 900, as it made its maiden voyage in 1992.

Two years ago dozens of passengers aboard the same boat became sick with a stomach illness after a journey that included port calls at Nassau, CocoCay, Bahamas and Key West, Florida.

At the time, Royal Caribbean International said that 60 of the more than 2,500 passengers aboard experienced gastrointestinal problems that were suspected to be caused by the norovirus.
William Hague said Mr Bercow was unable to contain his 'forthright opinions' and said he had an 'irresistible urge to advertise them'

John Bercow has broken the 'golden rule' of impartiality as Speaker by being 'rude and self indulgent' toward Donald Trump, William Hague has said.

The ex-Tory leader said Mr Bercow was unable to contain his 'forthright opinions' and said he had an 'irresistible urge to advertise them'.

Lord Hague said impartiality was not an 'outdated convention' and should be protected, in remarks that will seized upon by Tory rebels determined to oust him.

Conservative MP James Duddridge has laid a motion of no confidence in Mr Bercow in Parliament and claims to have a significant number of backers.

New signatures cannot be added until the Commons returns from recess on Monday but Mr Duddridge claims to have enough support to force a vote.

Mr Bercow has shrugged off the attempt to remove him, standing by his remarks and flying to Israel to complete a long-planned official visit.

In his regular Daily Telegraph column, Lord Hague said Mr Bercow had left 'questionable' any rulings on Commons business he makes in the future.

WILL THE MOTION SUCCEED IN KICKING BERCOW OUT? Tory MP James Duddridge's Early Day Motion has only one signature - his - and is highly unlikely to ever be debated. He is hoping it will become politically damaging through weight of support. In 2009, when Douglas Carswell tabled a similar motion of no confidence in the then Speaker Michael Martin, 22 MPs signed prompting him to quit. Mr Duddridge hopes that by increasing the pressure on Mr Bercow, the Speaker will also decide it is time to step down from his powerful role. Advertisement

He said: 'Impartiality matters, too, because once the principle of it is breached there is no limit to further infringements.

'Why not comment on health care, education, and taxation? These are big issues, but so is Brexit.

'Why can't a future Speaker choose further subjects on which to expound, perhaps this time to the rage of the Opposition?'

He added: 'Weighing into heated arguments about a Trump state visit was not only another flagrant breach of this tradition, but also cut across the clear responsibility of ministers for conducting the diplomacy of the United Kingdom.

'The correct way for a Speaker to handle fears that an address to Parliament would be divisive or difficult would have been to wait to hear the views of the House, consult his counterpart in the Lords, and then to give a private steer to ministers, if necessary, to construct a state visit that minimises fierce opposition from MPs.

Most of the Cabinet would vote to oust John Bercow (pictured) as Commons Speaker, one of his leading critics claimed yesterday

'Whatever we think of Trump, telling someone they can't visit your house when they haven't even asked to do so is rude and self-indulgent.

'These are not the attributes by which most of us want Britain to be known.'

Downing Street has said Mr Bercow's future is a 'matter for MPs' and indicated ministers will be free to join any attempts to get rid of him.

Mr Duddridge said: 'I have spoken to a couple of people in the Cabinet who say they would vote for the no confidence motion now they have been released (from any Government whip).

'Certainly I expect the majority to support the vote of no confidence.'

Tory MP James Duddridge, pictured explaining his opposition to Bercow on Sky News, tabled the motion and branding the attempt to interfere in President Trump's state visit 'wholly inappropriate'

Mr Bercow was plunged into fresh controversy after a video emerged of him talking to students at Reading University on 3 February, in which he said: 'Personally, I voted to Remain. I thought it was better to stay in the European Union than not.'

In the video, Mr Bercow said immigration has been a good thing for Britain. He also referred to 'untruths' during the Brexit campaign and expressed hopes that Parliament would maintain changes to working hours and health and safety protections after Brexit.

It comes after he effectively banned Mr Trump from addressing Parliament during a state visit.

Parliament's website says the Commons Speaker 'must remain politically impartial at all times' and the controversies have led to calls for his resignation before the Commons returns from recess on 20 February.
To spur the development of innovative technologies to reduce food loss and waste in Africa, the Inter Region Economic Network, or IREN, is conducting the inaugural East Africa Postharvest Technologies Competition 2017 through a grant from the U.S. Agency for International Developments, or USAIDs, East Africa Trade and Investment Hub. The call for applications is now open.

Reducing food loss and waste is essential for improved nutrition and food security. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that one third (1.3 billion metric tons) of the food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted along global supply chains. This accounts for a 15 percent income reduction for over 470 million participants in the agricultural value chain, including smallholder farmers, manufacturers and retailers.

The competition calls on innovators from across the East African Community to pitch technologies that address challenges in the post-harvest management of food-crop commodities and enhance labor production. The competition will offer the top 25 participants an opportunity to showcase and pitch their ideas to potential partners, including development partners, donors, governments, farmer and trader associations, and investors.

The competition will take place in May 2017 during a special session of the upcoming East Africa Postharvest Technologies Fair. The top three contestants will split a seed fund of $30,000 USD through a generous contribution of agribusiness corporation Syngenta and other partners.

Innovators, researchers and individuals aged 18 and above from the East African member countries  Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi  are welcome to apply. Successful applicants will receive accelerated training on how to package and pitch their ideas to investors, which will expand the opportunity to scale-up and disseminate their technologies to a wider market. Application forms, competition guidelines, and awards information are available on the competition website, www.younginnovatorsinagribusiness.com, or email profiles to yiac@irenkenya.com.

We are very delighted to host this exciting new competition and would like to invite all post-harvest technology innovators from all East African countries to enter this game-changing competition, said James Shikwati, the Inter Region Economic Networks Chief Executive Officer.

Finding innovative solutions to complex development challenges is paramount to USAIDs mission, said USAID Mission Director for Kenya and East Africa Karen Freeman. The East Africa Post Harvest Technologies Competition 2017 supports locally driven solutions for greater East African food security. We are proud to be the sponsors of this competition."
A medical tribunal heard Dr Joel Danjuma grunted and said 'Ugh' and 'Ahh' noises as he fondled a woman during a chest examination

An A&E doctor groped a terrified patient's breasts then gave her unsuspecting daughter a 'high five' as the victim lay crying in her hospital bed, a medical tribunal heard.

Dr Joel Danjuma, 61, had grunted and said 'Ugh' and 'Ahh' as he fondled the woman during a chest examination, it was claimed.

But later when her daughter arrived to say she would take care of her mother back home, Danjuma gave her some tablets and responded: 'Okay give me a high five,' before they slapped each other's palms, it was said.

The sobbing patient, 65, was at first too frightened to report the doctor but she told her family later after she was discharged. She subsequently claimed she was too frightened to leave her home for five weeks for fear Danjuma was sat in a car outside.

Police quizzed the doctor on suspicion of sexual assault but took no action and the case was referred to the General Medical Council.

The alleged incident occurred in June 2012 when the woman - known as patient A - had been admitted to Milton Keynes General Hospital, Buckinghamshire, for pains in her right shoulder.

She was taken into a cubicle and ahead of being treated by Danjuma was advised by nurses to remove her bra as she might need an X-ray.

But Patient A told the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in Manchester: 'When I first saw the doctor, he said to me 'what gives you the right to think I'm going to send you for an x-ray.

The examination took place at Milton Keynes General Hospital in 2012 after the woman, known as patient A, had pains in her right shoulder

'He told me 'sit up' and to pull my top up to the neck and then he said 'now lie on your side' - my shoulder did really hurt at this point too.

'I was lying on my left and he said bring your knee up, and then he pulled my top up as far as it could. He got hold of my breast and he started playing with it and squeezing and kneading. 'He was making "ugh" noises and I was in tears. I tried to push him away.'

The doctor eventually told Patient A to pull her top back down and he momentarily left the cubicle when the woman's female neighbour came to check on her.

Patient A added: 'My friend asked me if I was ok but I was scared and frightened.

'I thought I should have slapped his face, should I have pushed him over - but would I have got arrested for assault?

'I was trembling and scared and crying still and I was in shock. You think has this really just happened to you?

'Then my daughter came in and the doctor said to her: "These are the tablets for your mum." When she said: "I'm going to look after her" he said: "Okay give me a high five." I was there so I know it happened.'

She recalled: 'I had thought I was in good hands and in the best place. I was brought up to respect doctors and people in high ranking places. I didn't want to cry. I was respectful of who he was because he was a doctor.

Dr Danjuma denies sexually motivated misconduct

'I was embarrassed about it then because I didn't have a bra on. The doctor was abrupt and rude as he spoke and then he just walked away. When it was over he said: 'sit up, pull your top down' just like that. I just started crying and my friend asked me what's up what's happened.

'When I was at the hospital I thought everybody there was there for my own good. I was really upset. I felt really dirty because I hadn't stopped him. It's a really horrible feeling and I wouldn't let my ex-husband or partner treat me like that. I wouldn't make up a story.

'This has changed my life. I didn't go out of the house for five weeks because I was adamant that he had found out where I lived. I felt dirty and horrible and stupid that I didn't stop him'

Counsel for the GMC Katherine Johnson said: 'Patient A described Dr Danjuma asking her to lift her top up and she could feel the doctor leaning on her with his legs. he lifted her top up himself and started to touch her right breast.

'Patient A described this action as him groping her breast. This caused her to tense up and she moved her left arm to cover her left breast because she thought this would prevent him from touching the left breast.

'However she described Dr Danjuma as grabbing her left breast, and scooping it out from under her arm. She also described Dr Danjuma making a grunting or making an "ahh" noise as he did that.

'She describes him as playing with her breasts and nipples for several minutes without saying anything. Patient A said that she felt shocked by Dr Danjuma's behaviour and didn't know what to do.

'She knew what was happening was not right or appropriate but she was intimidated by the face of Dr Danjuma - a doctor and a figure of authority. The high five may be a significant detail in this case. You may find it odd for the doctor to behave like this and may give an insight into how the doctor was behaving in the course of that morning.'

In police interview Danjuma, from Broughton, Milton Keynes, said: 'I can tell you categorically that I didn't examine this woman's breast - there was no need to.'

He denies sexually motivated misconduct. The hearing continues.
A fireworks display got out of control in China over the weekend, with spectators running for their lives as the illuminations exploded at once to form a fireball.

Dramatic footage captured by an observer shows a mass of fireworks going off simultaneously.

The deafening noise and blinding light causes the crowd to scream and seek cover.

Fireworks continue to rain overhead as a bright ball of fire gradually gathers momentum.

Plumes of coloured light continue to shoot into the sky with no signs of slowing down.

The fireworks show, seen in the eastern city of Jinzhou, was held on Saturday as a part of a temple fair to celebrate the annual Chinese Lantern Festival.

According to Liaoshen Evening News, the performance started at around 7pm. It was apparently popular with the local residents as many had gone to watch it.

A fireworks display got out of control in China over the weekend, with spectators running for their lives as the illuminations exploded at once to form a fireball

Dramatic footage captured by an observer shows a mass of fireworks going off simultaneously

The Jiuhua Mountain Management Company, who organised the fireworks, confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday, said Liaoshen Evening News.

The report confirmed that a firework cannon had exploded near the ground during the performance.

Two members of the audience suffered minor injuries. They were taken to the hospital and are in stable condition, according to the statement.

The city's government is currently investigating the accident.
A teenage girl who converted to Islam is alleged to have plotted to blow up tourists around the Eiffel Tower after meeting her fanatic fiance and pledging her loyalty to ISIS online.

Appearing before an anti-terrorist judge in Paris today, she was identified only as Sarah Z, 16, and faces years in prison after being caught with 71g of potentially lethal explosives in her flat near Montpellier, in the South of France.

At dawn this morning the French youngster and her boyfriend - identified as Thomas S - were driven from the HQ of France's domestic intelligence services to a specially convened terrorist court in central Paris.

The French teenager allegedly plotted to blow up tourists near the Eiffel Tower (pictured)

Pictures taken inside the home in Montpellier where four people, including a 16-year-old girl, were arrested this morning

French Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux confirmed four people have detained after a succession of arrests in Clapiers, Montpellier and Marseillan during which bomb-making materials were found

Armed officers set up roadblocks and secured the area, as the couple and a third suspect were presented to an instructing judge, who opened a judicial enquiry.

It follows the couple's arrests, along with two other men, last Friday in what was described as a 'bomb factory' cellar.

Sources close to the case said Sarah lived with her divorced mother, who is of Greek origin, and two younger sisters in Clapiers, a village north of Montpellier.

Last year Sarah was still at school when she 'started to take an interest in radical Islam' by 'looking up information on the internet,' said one prosecuting source.

Sarah's unidentified mother was unable to prevent her meeting Thomas online.

He was on a state security watch list.

The pair converted to Islam, and soon agreed to marry, but what Sarah did not know was that another one of her online friends was in fact working for the DGSI, France's domestic intelligence agency - the equivalent of Britain's MI5.

After she started boasting about the planned attack, the agent ordered a dawn raid on Sarah's apartment block.

The attack would have targeted a tourist hotspot, anti-terror police believe, although it is not yet known where the bombers allegedly planned to strike

It was carried out by heavily armed police special forces, who initially ended up arresting the couple alongside two other men.

The 'bomb factory' was in the cellar, where Thomas had been staying.

It included the 71 grams of the peroxide-based explosive triacetone triperoxide, or TATP.

Also known as the 'Mother of Satan', TATP figured prominently in the suicide belts used in the 2015 ISIS attacks on Paris, in which 130 people were blown up or shot dead.

CARNIVAL ROUTE IN NICE CHANGED AFTER BASTILLE DAY ATROCITY For the first time in living memory, Nice's annual carnival will not include a parade down the famous Promenade des Anglais. Last July, 86 people were killed after a large truck was driven into a crowd in Nice during Bastille Day celebrations. The annual carnival in the city, which starts tomorrow, will instead follow an alternative route. Regional administrator Georges-Francois Leclerc told a news conference: 'Never has the level of security been so high for an event of this kind in Nice.' In previous years it has attracted a million people. Speaking at Friday's news conference, the right-wing president of the Riviera region, Christian Estrosi, said cancelling the carnival would be 'unthinkable'. 'That would be a sign to the barbarians, to the terrorists, that they would have scored another victory.' Advertisement

Sarah had recorded a video pledging her loyalty to Isis, and in interviews said the Eiffel Tower would have been her main target.Her mother has, however, insisted she is 'completely innocent' and will 'soon be back home'.

Both Zara Z. and Thomas S. were converts to Islam, and were planning to get married before visiting the ISIS caliphate in Syria.

Then their plans were to return to France, where they would carry out the kamikaze attack on an unspecified target using suicide vests.

Bruno Le Roux, Frances Interior Minister, said the raid foiled an imminent plan to carry out an attack on French territory.

He said some 70 grams of the peroxide-based explosive, triacetone triperoxide, or TATP was found in the couples flat.

Also known as the Mother of Satan, TATP has been used by terrorist bombers for years, and figured prominently in the suicide belts used in the 2015 Isis attacks on Paris.

Also found in the flat were potential bomb-making material including other chemicals, syringes and plastic gloves.

The four suspects had been monitored online for months, and were arrested after buying acetone, the colorless, volatile, highly flammable liquid often used as an ingredient for detonators.

The other two suspects taken into custody were aged 26 and 33, said Mr Le Roux.

He added that an address was also searched in the Ardennes region of eastern France in connection with the plot.

A police source said that all four suspects were living together and planning the Paris attack.

The girl was in online contact with a number of men she had never met, and one was an intelligence services operative, said the source.

She had an expressed a desire to fight in Syria, and also to attack a tourist spot in Paris. The spot had not yet been designated.

A COUNTRY UNDER SIEGE: TERROR ATTACKS IN FRANCE OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS A woman is taken to safety following the horrific shootings on November 13, 2015, in which 130 people were killed February 3, 2017 - A 29-year-old Egypitian man is shot five times in the stomach after attempting to attack four soldiers after being stopped outside the Louvre in Paris. July 14, 2016 - Amid Bastille Day celebrations in the Riviera city of Nice, a large truck is driven into a festive crowd. Some 86 people from a wide variety of countries are killed. The driver is shot dead. Islamic State extremists claim responsibility for the attack. The state of emergency in France is extended and extra protection, including robust barriers to prevent similar attacks, is put in place at major sites in France. June 13, 2016 - Two French police officers are murdered in their home in front of their 3-year-old son. Islamic State claims responsibility for the slaying, which was carried out by a jihadist with a prior terrorist conviction. He is killed by police on the scene. Nov. 13, 2015 - Islamic State militants kill 130 people in France's worst atrocity since World War II. A series of suicide bomb and shooting attacks are launched on crowded sites in central Paris, as well as the northern suburb of Saint-Denis. Most of those killed are in a crowded theater where hostages are taken. Islamic State extremists claim responsibility and say it was in retaliation for French participation in airstrikes on the militant group's positions in Syria and Iraq. It leads to the declaration of a state of emergency in France. Police powers are expanded. Jan. 7, 2015 - Two brothers kill 11 people inside the Paris building where the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo is headquartered in what Islamic State extremists claim is retaliation for the publication of cartoons about the Prophet Muhammad. More are killed subsequently in attacks on a kosher market in eastern Paris and on police. There are 17 victims in all, including two police officers. The attackers are killed. (Source: AP) Advertisement
Shocking footage shows a teacher in Spain becoming so angry with a pupil that he violently smashes a laptop to pieces.

The unknown man has since become an internet sensation on Spanish speaking websites following the incident at the unidentified school.

The alarming video clip, filmed by another student, shows the teacher losing the plot at what he perceived was a lack of respect being shown to him.

The alarming video clip, filmed by another student, shows the teacher losing the plot at what he perceived was a lack of respect being shown to him

The school is presumed to be a private academy as the student, believed to be called Dani Mateo, retorts: 'I am paying for this, retard, am not I?'

He says to the lackluster pupil, who is wearing a blue hat and white shirt: 'I am asking for a bit of effort. I am asking you for a bit of effort to learn this. We are taking 20 minutes to learn this, 20 f*****g minutes'.

The school is presumed to be a private academy as the student, believed to be called Dani Mateo, retorts: 'I am paying for this, retard, am not I?'

The youth's cheekiness infuriates the educator even more. He cries: 'What? How dare you say retarded? Perhaps you should stop even trying and do b****r all Dani Mateo, I cannot afford it otherwise.'

He then grabs a laptop and smashes it down on the wooden desk with full force several times. He strikes it so strongly bits of the machine can be seen flying off.

He then grabs a laptop and smashes it down on the wooden desk with full force several times. He strikes it so strongly bits of the machine can be seen flying off

A headmaster of a state school in the eastern Spanish region of Valencia was one of those to condemn the action saying: 'What type of education are parents giving to their sons?'

The exact location of the incident is unclear and it is unclear if authorities are investigating and who owned the laptop.
Convoluted passwords featuring capital letters, numbers and special characters are easily forgotten and 'dumb', cyber chiefs have warned.

Forcing people to try to remember such information for a range of sites could actually reduce security, according to Dr Ian Levy, technical director at the new National Cyber Security Centre.

The warning came as the cyber hub was formally opened - and its head admitted even he struggles to remember his internet passwords.

Scroll down for video

Complex alpha numberic passwords may be weaker than other formats, Ian Levy has warned. He is pictured right with the Queen as she opened the National Cyber Security Centre yesterday

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh arrived to carry out the official opening in Central London

The Queen opened the national centre yesterday as Britain builds up its defences for the cyber battlefield.

Thousands of attacks are launched on UK firms, institutions and individuals each year, with the threat rising rapidly as new devices are rolled out.

Almost 2 billion has been invested in the centre with the aim of making the country the safest place to work and live online.

Dr Ian Levy, technical director at the NCSC, said: 'Across everybody's private and work life, all the different services they have, all the different passwords, the average complexity and the average change interval, broadly speaking it's the same as asking somebody to remember a different 600-digit number every month.'

He added: 'If somebody says use a 12-character password with numbers, upper and lowercase characters and special characters  it's dumb.'

Ciaran Martin said more needed to be done to make easier for people to stay safe online as the new national hub was officially opened.

Mr Martin told BBC Radio 4's Today programme asking people to frequently change and remember passwords for all the different sites they use was not fair or effective.

He said: 'We have got to make it easier for people to operate safely. We did some work where we worked out what are we asking people to do.

'We worked out what we were asking every British citizen to do is memorise a new six hundred digit number every month. I don't think I could do that, none of my best people could do that.

'There are password managers out there, there are ways you can look at your exposure online, you can work out what you really care about.'

He also said that there has been a 'step-change' in cyber-attacks by Russia against the West.

He said: 'That's broadly taken two forms in terms of interest and espionage and critical national services.

'The digital age allows new potentially more dangerous ways of potentially carrying it out and attacking critical national infrastructure.'

The Queen opened the national centre (pictured) as Britain builds up its defences for the cyber battlefield

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh arrived together for the official opening of the 2billion centre in central London

The Queen was given a tour of the new facility by GCHQ directer Robert Hannigan as she opened the National Cyber Security Centre

Ciaran Martin (pictured yesterday at the official opening), the head of Britain's new National Cyber Security Centre, said more needed to be done to make easier for people to stay safe online

Chancellor Philip Hammond has led the Government plans on cyber security and warned increasing online connectivity of products is a 'source of vulnerability'.

In a speech opening the new centre, the Chancellor warned business must 'sharpen its approach'.

'Those who want to exploit that vulnerability have not been idle,' he added.

'The cyber attacks we are seeing are increasing in their frequency, their severity, and their sophistication.

'In the first three months of its existence the NCSC has already mobilised to respond to attacks on 188 occasions.'
Greece is said to be considering ditching the Euro in favour of the US dollar in a devastating move which would humiliate Brussels.

Donald Trump's pick for EU ambassador Ted Malloch claimed senior Greek economists are looking into taking on the American banknotes if the country turns its back on the European currency.

Due to Greece's crippling financial crisis, officials are said to be desperately searching for an alternative to the Eurozone, which would 'freak out' Angela Merkel, according to Malloch.

People attend a rally in support for Greek people to vote 'No' at the referendum held on July 5, 2015 in Greece and against austerity in Greece in Brussels, Belgium

Donald Trump's pick for EU ambassador Ted Malloch, pictured, has made the claims

Protesters wave flags and hold up placards amid the spiraling Greek financial crisis

Supporters of Alexis Tsipras, Greece's prime minister, at a rally back in 2015

Prof Malloch was interviewed on Greek TV, where he said Greece leaving the EU would be the best option for residents, and added the current situation is 'simply unsustainable'.

'I know some Greek economists who have even gone to leading think tanks in the US to discuss this topic and the question of dollarization,' he said, according to local press.

'Such a topic of course freaks out the Germans because they really don't want to hear such ideas.'

The likely candidate for the Brussels envoy job has previously stated he expects the Euro to crash by 2018.

GREECE'S CRUMBLING ECONOMY CRISIS Greece's economy fell in the fourth quarter of 2016 as the debt-laden country faces stalemate in negotiations with its creditors. Gross domestic product (GDP) for October to December declined 0.4 percent compared with the previous quarter, although it grew 0.3 percent in comparison with the same quarter in 2015, Elstat said in a flash estimate. The figures followed two straight quarters of quarter-on-quarter growth after a period of recession. The news comes amid fears of a new debt crisis that could again jeopardise Greece's place in the euro after months of failed talks between Athens and its eurozone and International Monetary Fund (IMF) creditors. Top EU economic affairs official Pierre Moscovici is due in Athens for talks with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Wednesday in an effort to unblock bailout negotiations. Despite the quarterly contraction, Greece's economy grew 0.3 percent as a whole last year, according to AFP calculations - only the second time annual GDP has grown since 2008. Brussels is pencilling in Greek growth of 2.7 percent for 2017 and 3.1 percent for 2018. But Athens faces debt repayments of 7.0 billion euros ($7.44 billion) this summer that it cannot afford without defusing the feud that is holding up new loans from Greece's 86 billion euro bailout. The core of the row is whether Greece can deliver on budget targets that the IMF says are based on overly-optimistic economic forecasts. The IMF, quietly backed by Germany, insists that more pension cuts and tax hikes are necessary to reach those targets. Advertisement

His comments come just four days after one of the EUs most powerful finance chiefs warned Greece will be forced out of the Eurozone if it fails to address its ailing finances.

Amid growing concern about the outbreak of another European economy crisis, German finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said calls to slash the countrys debt mountain would lead to Grexit.

The blunt assessment by Angela Merkels finance chief follows a damning report by the International Monetary Fund that claimed Greeces fragile economy would soon become explosive.

In a move that is threatening to destroy the current bailout package, the Washington-based body called for Europe to send even more money to cut Greeces highly unsustainable debt.

The war of words about how to avoid another crisis and assist the Greek economy intensified yesterday as officials desperately tried to reach agreement.

But Mr Schaeuble rubbished the IMFs call for the EU to inject more money into Greek coffers and said that Germany had no intention of providing a debt haircut.

For that, Greece would have to exit the currency area, he said.

Pressure on Greece to undertake reforms must be maintained so that it becomes competitive, otherwise they cant remain.

The possibility of providing yet more publically-funded debt relief to Greece is seen as a politically toxic idea in Germany just months before Merkel vies for re-election.

The stalemate between the EU and the IMF may stall a crucial 6billion repayment owed by Greece in July for which they require another bailout payment.

The European Union has insisted Greece's economy is on track despite an IMF warning over the country's 'explosive' debt that could threaten the future of the Eurozone.

A referendum to decide whether Greece was to accept bailout conditions put forward by the European Commission (EC), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Central Bank (ECB) in 2015.

The referendum was announced by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and was the first to be held since the republic referendum of 1974, and the only one in modern Greek history not to concern the form of government.

As a result of the referendum, the bailout conditions were rejected by a majority of over 61 percent to 39 percent approving, with the 'No' vote winning in all of Greece's regions.

German finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble during his meeting with the Greek Prime Minister in Athens in 2013

Thousands of protesters gather in front of the parliament building in Athens on July 3, 2015

Greek officials are looking at the possibility of ditching the Euro (right) for the US Dollar (left)

People holds Greek flags during a protest march of Belgian Greeks and sympathisers against austerity measures in Brussels

A pro-European Union protester waves EU and Greek flags in front of the parliament in Athens

A standoff between the eurozone and the International Monetary Fund has dragged on for months, raising fears of a new debt crisis and sparking fresh talk of Greece tumbling out of the euro.

Talking of the Greek crisis, Prof Malloch told Skai TV: 'Greece might have to sever ties and do Grexit and exit the euro. It needs debt restructuring, it really needs debt relief, and I know people in Europe don't want to hear that.

Greece leaving EU will be a blow to Merkel

'They need to reduce the debt overhanging and that means frankly something that people in Germany and elsewhere have not been able to accept, it means a haircut to the lenders and to the banks in Germany and probably, at least in my perspective, a return to the drachma.

'So the problem then is who will manage that transition, and how, to avoid all the chaos and all the instability.'

The Tsipras government bitterly refuses more reforms, and the premier on Saturday warned creditors to 'stop playing with fire' over his country's debt problems.

An IMF report obtained by AFP last week said Greece's debt 'is highly unsustainable' and 'will become explosive in the long run'.

Talks in Brussels between Greece and its creditors on Friday ended with no breakthrough, although Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem said some progress had been made.

The next meeting of Eurozone ministers, on February 20, is seen as an unofficial deadline to end the stalemate ahead of important elections in Europe.

Greek central bank chief Yannis Stournaras has warned that a quick resolution is crucial in order to avoid a replay of the chaos in 2015 when Greece defaulted and just barely survived in the eurozone.

'Any later, the conditions will be much worse and it will be too late,' Stournaras told lawmakers on Monday.
A Toshiba-backed company planning a new nuclear power plant in Cumbria today insisted the Japanese giant remained committed to the project despite an accounting scandal.

Toshiba chairman Shigenori Shiga resigned today after admitting huge losses in the firm's nuclear business that raised fears about the future of major UK projects.

But Nugen, which is 60 per cent owned by Toshiba, said it was still going ahead with the project at Moorside with full support from the Japanese tech firm.

Amid demands for the Government to underwrite Toshiba's role in the project, any uncertainty could impact on next week's crucial Copeland by-election.

The Japanese giant is set to lose more than $6billion - almost 5billion - on nuclear projects after finding auditing errors.

Toshiba's share price tumbled today as the revelations were made and Mr Shiga quit, prompting new questions about planned nuclear schemes.

The troubles at Toshiba raised fears today about expansion of nuclear facilities in Cumbria near to the Sellafield nuclear plant, pictured

A final decision from Toshiba on nuclear projects had been expected today but has now been delayed by another month.

Toshiba has a 60 per cent stake in Nugen, the company which plans to build at Moorside, near Sellafield, so pulling out would leave the Government having to look for new backers.

Unions have demanded the Government step in with guarantees for nuclear projects including Toshiba to ensure they do not collapse.

NuGen CEO, Tom Samson, said: 'The project has made significant progress since Toshiba took over as major shareholder in 2014.

'The site has already been proven as suitable for three Westinghouse AP1000 reactors, two phases of consultation have found the public overwhelmingly supportive of the need for new nuclear and have helped shape the plans for Moorside.

'The UK Government is supportive of NuGen, as a maturing and highly skilled nuclear organisation, and has remained firmly committed to new nuclear  stating that nuclear has a crucial role to play in securing our future energy needs, especially as we look to move to a low carbon society.'

Toshiba is a major partner in the proposed Moorside nuclear plant in Cumbria, pictured. Union leaders

Chris Jukes, the GMB union's senior officer for Sellafield, said: 'A new build at Moorside is part of a vital broader and home grown energy mix - built, maintained and operated by British workers.

'Brexit should be a perfect opportunity to demonstrate conclusively a better way for nuclear in West Cumbria. For 70 years Whitehaven has been a hub for nuclear.

'The West Cumbria area must have new build to drive the regeneration that would follow with a new plant. New infrastructure, new roads, better railways, demand for housing, health and school places, would all follow a brand new power plant. All of these can fuel employment and keep skills in the area.

'That is why we are calling on the British Government to commit the investment that is lost by Toshiba pulling out and for the British and Japanese Governments to work together on a broader solution so that post Brexit, West Cumbria jobs, skills and nuclear futures are guaranteed.'

Union leaders Kevin Coyne (left) and Chris Jukes (right) urged the Government to underwrite Toshiba's investment in the new Cumbria plant

Unite national officer Kevin Coyne said: 'Toshiba's announcement today that there will be yet another month's delay on providing clarity over its future involvement in the Moorside project piles further agony upon this Cumbrian community.

'But it also reinforces what Unite has been saying for some time which is that the Government must get a grip of the funding of these projects.

'It is the duty of the Government, not the private sector, to ensure that UK energy is safe secure and that means it must act to bring our new power stations on stream.

'If this Government is at all serious about delivering its industrial strategy, then it will not tread water following today's development.

'It is not just the security of our energy supply that is up in the air now.

'In a community that could sorely do with the investment, thousands of highly-skilled and well-paid jobs are linked with Moorside going ahead successfully - they cannot be jeopardised.'

Toshiba is expected to restructure its ailing nuclear business, but nothing has been announced.

Toshiba president Satoshi Tsunakawa (pictured today) announced the firm's chairman would be resigning today amid an auditing scandal that has revealed huge losses in the company's nuclear business

Japan's nuclear sector was thrown into crisis after multiple meltdowns of reactors at a power plant in Fukushima prefecture triggered by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

In its preliminary results, Toshiba said it anticipates a group net loss of 500 billion yen ($4.4 billion) for April-December of last year, including the 712.5 billion yen hit from its U.S. nuclear business.

The company is forecasting a group net loss of 390 billion yen ($3.43 billion) for the full year through March 31, instead of the 145 billion yen profit it had anticipated earlier.

Toshiba warned today unaudited financial results it announced may change 'by a wide margin'.

The Japanese giant is set to lose more than $6billion - almost 5billion - on nuclear projects after finding auditing errors, Mr Tsunakawa admitted today

It had earlier delayed reporting its official financial results by a month, citing auditing problems related to the losses in its nuclear business. That sent Toshiba stock tumbling 8 per cent in Tokyo trading.

Mr Shiga, the chairman, will step down from the board but stay on as a Toshiba executive.

He is quitting over huge losses from the acquisition of CB&I Stone & Webster by Toshiba's U.S. nuclear unit, Westinghouse.

Toshiba said its net worth was negative, at minus 191 billion yen ($1.7 billion) at the end of last year, but the company hopes to fix that by the end of March.

Auditors questioned the company's reporting on the acquisition of CB&I Stone & Webster. Toshiba denies any wrongdoing.

The company already was grappling, however, with a scandal over company officials' doctoring accounting books to meet unrealistic profit targets.
Hannah Groves, 20, pictured, was found hanged in 2012 on the same day an NHS worker had branded her a 'f****** waste of space'

A mother whose mentally ill daughter killed herself after being branded a 'waste of space' by NHS staff is set to receive a 260,000 payout.

Mandy Park, 47, accused Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust of negligence in connection with the death of her 20-year-old daughter Hannah Groves and the case was due to be heard at the High Court in March.

Ms Park claimed that she herself was a secondary victim of the trust's negligence and has been suffering post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of finding her daughter's body.

Her solicitor, Nick Fairweather, has now confirmed that the trust will pay Ms Park 260,000 in an out-of-court settlement.

Miss Groves was found hanged at her mother's home in Southampton, Hampshire, in 2012 after she was refused treatment at nearby psychiatric intensive care unit Antelope House.

An inquest into her death heard claims that the Southampton University foreign languages student was referred to as 'a f****** waste of space' in a foul-mouthed outburst by an NHS member of staff on the day of her death.

Miss Groves was detained by police on October 22, 2012 after threatening to kill herself and her mother and it was then that a member of NHS staff was said to have made the remarks to detention officer Ross Blackwood.

She was found dead later the same day, just hours after being released from custody.

Social worker David Lawrence was accused of making the remarks, but denied the allegations and was cleared by the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) in March 2014.

In a report published after the hearing, the HCPC said the words were 'undoubtedly spoken' but said the case against Mr Lawrence was 'not well founded'.

The inquest heard that Hannah had been suffering a severe bout of depression in the fortnight before her death and had previously attempted suicide on several occasions.

Coroner Keith Wiseman said that the risk to Hannah's safety was 'not adequately identified' as he delivered a narrative verdict.

Speaking yesterday about the settlement, Ms Park said: 'I will campaign for safe houses to be provided locally to patients when no NHS beds are available and for a better understanding of mental health issues generally in the young and those caring for them.

'Hannah was my world and I will fight to my last breath to campaign in her name and memory.'

Her mother Mandy, right, will receive a 260,000 out-of-court settlement from Southern Health NHS Trust a month before she was due to take a negligence case against them to the High Court

Mr Fairweather added: 'The damages compensate Mandy for the severe post-traumatic stress disorder she has suffered and continues to suffer on account of finding Hannah.

'She has been left unable to work and in need of ongoing care and counselling.

'Of course, no amount of money can begin to compensate someone for the needless loss of their child.'

Julie Dawes, interim chief executive of Southern Health, said that the trust cannot comment on the confidential details of specific settlements.

She added: 'I apologise again on behalf of the trust for letting Miss Groves down in 2012, with such tragic consequences, and I express my condolences to her family.

'Negotiations are conducted by the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) which acts on behalf of NHS organisations and always aims to resolve claims fairly, by carefully considering the interests of both patients and families and the NHS.'
Police are investigating an incident involving gunmen shooting a man in his chest on a residential street in Sheffield last night.

South Yorkshire Police confirmed the incident in Shiregeen, Sheffield, this morning as they revealed the men responsible for the attack are still on the run.

The 25-year-old victim was said to be in a stable condition this morning after he was rushed to hospital with gunshot wounds after the incident at 7:35pm.

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Police are hunting gunmen who shot a 25-year-old man in Butterthwaite Road in Sheffield, pictured, last night

Officers remain on the scene today although the gunmen are said to still be 'on the loose'

A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: 'A report was received at around 7.35pm last night that a man had been shot on Butterthwaite Road in the Shiregreen area of Sheffield.

'Emergency services attended and a 25-year-old man was taken to hospital with suspected gun-shot injuries. His condition this morning is described as stable.

'A search was conducted in the area for the offenders and the investigation continued throughout the night, with detectives following up lines of inquiry today. No arrests have yet been made.'

Anyone with information should call South Yorkshire Police on 101.

Investigations continue but police say the victim, 25, is in hospital in stable condition
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A mother bear and her two young cubs were spotted playfighting as she tried to tire them out before a nap.

Wildlife photographer Renee Doyle was able to get within 100 yards of the brown bears in Silver Salmon Creek, Alaska, as they rolled around on the ground and fought with each other in the shallow water.

In one photo, one of the cubs, who are both around four months old, is stood on its hind legs as it playfully grabs at its mother's bowed head.

Others show the second cub lying on its back while his mom pretends to bite him before trying to take them both into the water for a swim - where the youngsters end up pushing each other while on their back legs.

Two brown bear cubs were spotted play fighting in the shallow waters of Silver Salmon Creek, Alaska, as their mother tried to tire them out for a nap

The bears, who are both around four months old, stood on their hind legs in the water as they played in the shallow water

Other photos show the cubs' mother play biting her children as she tries to get them to go for a swim in the shallow creek

Wildlife photographer Renee Doyle was able to get within 100 meters of the brown bears as they rolled around at the water's edge

The amazing pictures were taken while Doyle was leading a wildlife tour of Alaska.

The 52-year-old photographer, from Queensland, Australia, said the mother bear was exactly like a human mother, trying to wear her children out so they would go to sleep so she could have some peace and quiet.

She said: 'It is amazing to be so near to these beautiful bears and to be able to photograph them. At times they came so close to us that we were only 100 meters away.

'The mom was so terrific with her young cubs. She was playing with them, teaching them how to catch food and trying to get them to cross the river and show them how to swim.

The 52-year-old photographer, from Queensland, Australia, said the mother bear was exactly like a human mother, trying to wear her children out so they would go to sleep

In one photo, a cub lies on its back while its mother goes in for a play bite while trying to convince her cub to go for a swim

Doyle said of her experience watching the bears: 'It is amazing to be so near to these beautiful bears and to be able to photograph them'

Doyle snapped the photos of the cubs and their mother while she was leading a group tour through Alaska

'She played with them for a good half an hour and at no time did she get angry or aggressive with them.

'The cubs are like little children, they just want to be fed and entertained.

'When we were watching her play with them it was like she was trying to wear them out and get them ready for a nap so that she could take a break herself.

'It was great to get so close to them, but it is imperative with brown bears that you let them have their space so they are comfortable and remain peaceful.'

Doyle said that it was almost as if the mother bear was tiring out her cubs so she could have a moment to herself once their energy faded

Doyle said the cubs were 'just like little children' who want to be fed and entertained by their loving mother, who was by their side throughout the swim
The United States congratulates the people of Somalia on the successful conclusion of their national electoral process and the election of Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed as the next President of the Federal Government of Somalia.

The United States looks forward to working closely with the new President and government. Acting State Department Spokesperson Mark Toner said, "We commend the Somali Security Forces and the African Union Mission in Somalia for their efforts over the past six months to allow the electoral process to unfold in a relatively safe and secure environment."

This transition represents an important step forward for the country. Mr. Toner said, "We commend the thousands of Somalis from across the country, including youth and women, who were able to vote in greater numbers than in the 2012 elections, but regret the numerous credible reports of irregularities in the electoral process. We encourage Somalias new administration to take credible steps to stamp out corruption and to establish strong electoral institutions to enable a free and fair one person one vote poll in 2020."

The formation of a new government is critical to addressing Somalia's most pressing problems. The most immediate of which is perhaps the possibility of famine due to severe drought, rising prices, continued limited access to food, and dry forecasts.

The United States looks forward to working in partnership with the President and new government to advance reconciliation, drought relief, security, and build the strong institutions to deliver good governance and development for the Somali people.
Armed German police have made an arrest over a terror attack plot - months after a half-built bomb was found in the flat of an ISIS suspect.

Commandos stormed an apartment last night having raided the home of 22-year-old Jabir al-Bakr in the same eastern city of Chemnitz in October.

Authorities have not yet stated whether the latest operation by the elite SEK police has anything to do with the original terror raid on al-Bakr's flat.

Armed German police have made an arrest over a terror attack plot - months after a half-built bomb was found in the flat of an ISIS suspect

In October, police discovered a partially constructed explosive in al-Bakr's home that he intended to complete and detonate at a Berlin area airport.

The Syrian initially escaped the clutches of police but was eventually turned over to officers by refugees he sought help from in Leipzig. He later hanged himself in his jail cell.

At least one person was taken into custody on Monday night suspected of plotting a terror attack in Germany.

The raids were sanctioned by Germany's chief federal prosecutor in Karlsruhe.

The country remains on a high state of alert following the Christmas market massacre in Berlin on December 19 when ISIS operative Anis Amri drove a hijacked truck into a crowd of revellers, killing 12 and injuring dozens more.

Commandos stormed an apartment last night having raided the home of 22-year-old Jabir al-Bakr (pictured) in the same eastern city of Chemnitz in October

Five days later Amri, 24, was gunned down in Italy where he fled to following the outrage.

Authorities are expected to clarify soon whether Monday's operation was linked to the al-Bakr case or was aimed at a separate terror threat.

Officers wore gas masks and were backed up with explosive-sniffing dogs in the Monday raids.
He said jury should have known all facts even if guilty verdict was more

The man acquitted of killing toddler Nikki Francis-Coslovich says the jury should have been told about violent and drug-riddled past.

John Torney was cleared of killing the two-year-old daughter of his girlfriend Peta Ann Francis in Mildura, Victoria, after a month-long trial in November.

His lawyers successfully claimed the girl's mother killed her and Mr Torney panicked and hid her in the roof cavity where she was found in August 2015.

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John Torney, who was acquitted of killing Victorian toddler Nikki Francis-Coslovich, says the jury should have been told about violent and drug-riddled past in his trial last year

The jury was not told of the 32-year-old's violent temper, criminal history and that he used speed in the days before Nikki's death, which police believed was crucial to the prosecution.

Mr Torney told the Herald Sun the jury should have known everything - even if it meant he was more likely to be found guilty.

He was previously convicted for beating a police officer with a hammer, and a neighbour telling police he 'sometimes felt like beating the s**t out of [Nikki]' was ruled inadmissible.

'Maybe. I guess the jury would have to decide whether the person I was 13 years ago is the same as the person I am now,' he said when asked if the jury might have found him guilty had all testimony been presented.

He was cleared of killing the two-year-old daughter (pictured) of his girlfriend Peta Ann Francis in Mildura, Victoria, after a month-long trial in November

Mr Torney maintained he didn't kill the toddler and described Ms Francis as 'manipulative', but was ashamed of hiding Nikki's body in the ceiling.

'Thats something Im going to have to live with for the rest of my life. Its something I deeply regret,' he said.

The man also revealed that he wished to speak about Nikki's death publicly, but had been warned against it by his former lawyer.

Mr Torney accused his ex-girlfriend Ms Francis (pictured) of murdering her daughter before asking him to hide her body in the roof cavity

He was hiding in a small country town since the verdict in fear of harassment, but planned to move to NSW soon for a farm work job.

Testimony from neighbours depicting Mr Torney as an alleged violent ice user presented to the court during a pre-trial hearing was revealed by The Age after the verdict.

Neighbour Jermayne Kennedy testified visited Mr Torney the day before Nikki was killed and heard him tell the toddler to 'shut the f*** up you little c***', a court heard.

The jury was not told of the 32-year-old's violent temper, criminal history and that he used speed in the days before Nikki's death, which police believed was crucial to the prosecution

Mr Torney allegedly told Mr Kennedy Nikki 'does his head in'.

'Sometimes I feel like belting the s*** out of her,' Mr Kennedy claims Mr Torney told him.

Mr Kennedy's testimony was ruled inadmissible for the murder trial as it was not relevant to the issue of guilt or innocence in the trial.

Nikki-lee Caton, another neighbour of Mr Torney, said during a pre-trial hearing she had seen him swear at Nikki and he had allegedly asked her where to get any 'old time speed' or ice.

'I have never seen him use ice ... [but] I can pick a junkie a mile away and he is definitely one,' she said, according to The Age.

Supporters were seen looking solemn outside of the Supreme Court after hearing the verdict

It is alleged during the time of Nikki's murder, Mr Torney was coming down after binging speed for his birthday five days earlier, the Herald Sun reported.

Mr Torney's mother testified her son had violence issues but that they did not relate to children.

He was arrested 13 years ago for attacking a police officer with a hammer, for which he was sentenced to eight months jail, but it was suspended.

At the time of Nikki's death, Mr Torney was receiving treatment for anger management at a local medical clinic.

The pathologist who conducted the autopsy on Nikki said the fatal blunt force trauma injuries inflicted on her were akin to those seen in high-speed vehicle accidents or a fall from a great height.

He was previously convicted for beating a police officer with a hammer, and a neighbour telling police he 'sometimes felt like beating the s**t out of [Nikki]' was ruled inadmissible

Nikki died as a result of repeated blows to her abdomen and chest.

Her liver was split in several places, and she lost between a quarter and a third of her total blood volume.

The Crown said the damage was caused by the repeated infliction of a clenched fist to the abdomen and chest of the child.

In a video played to the jury, Mr Torney had claimed he 'freaked out' and hid Nikki's body in the roof because he wanted her to be found quickly.

Torney had been dating Ms Francis for about five months at the time of Nikki's death.

Three supporters linked arms after the not guilty verdict was handed down

Mr Torney maintained he didn't kill the toddler and described Ms Francis as 'manipulative', but was ashamed of hiding Nikki's body in the ceiling

The court previously heard secret recordings from an undercover police officer named 'Steph' who befriended Ms Francis, The Age reported.

In the audio, Ms Francis was heard speaking to 'Steph' about having to 'get her story right' when asked about irregularities in her explanation of events.

After parts of the recording played in court, Mr Torney's lawyer asked the mother if she was a 'clever, cunning person'. Ms Francis disagreed.

She was also suggested to have sounded 'emotionless' while talking about her dead daughter.

Ms Francis agreed, but said it was because she'd shut out her emotions.

Then, referencing emotion exhibited before the court, Mr Torney's lawyer suggested Ms Francis was manipulative in order to get sympathy from the jury, but the woman rejected the suggestion.

Nikki died as a result of repeated blows to her abdomen and chest (pictured is a scene outside of the court during the trial)

Torney had been dating Ms Francis for about five months at the time of Nikki's death

The court also heard Sergeant Kaare Anderson, who responded to the missing person report, thought it was 'very odd' that Ms Francis was smiling and appeared happy when telling police her daughter was missing.

A recording of her triple zero call to report Nikki missing also revealed her giggling while she spoke to the operator.

Ms Francis told the trial 'having the cops at my house makes me nervous'.

'It's a nervous smirk that I have,' Ms Francis said.

She denied Ms Condon's assertion that she referred to her daughter as 'the little cow'.

Ms Francis had told the court earlier she sometimes psychically disciplined her children but never laid a hand on her two-year-old daughter.

'Not hard, it was just a tap. I've never hurt my children,' Ms Francis said.

Ms Francis has not been charged and police do not believe she killed her daughter.

JOHN TORNEY'S CONFESSION TO POLICE Police: Gerard said you wanted to speak to us about something? John Torney: Yep. Police: What's the go? Mr Torney: Peta killed Nikki. The mother killed her. Police: Her mother killed her? Mr Torney: Yeah. Later in the conversation Police: What are the circumstances John? Mr Torney: She killed her, then asked me to help her get rid of the body. Police: How did this all take place? Mr Torney: It was whilst we were laying down on the bed that she goes: 'I've gone a bit too far with Nikki' and then 'she's dead'. Later Police: Did she say how, or? Mr Torney: She just said that she threw her on the bed, that, that could I help her get rid of the body... Police: OK, and what did you do? Mr Torney: I put Nikki in the manhole. It's eating me up inside. I can't hold back anymore. I've got to get it out. Later Police: When did you decide to that you'd come clean and tell us what actually happened? Mr Torney: I've been wanting to tell youse for the last two days. Police: Mmm. Mr Torney: I've been having nightmares, waking up in hot and cold sweats. I've got to get it off my chest. Police: Mmm. Mr Torney: It's killing me inside. I loved that little girl like she was my own. Advertisement




Arnoldas Pumputis, 23, who is 6ft 4in tall, was bare-chested when he threatened two men in Hull and said: 'I am going to get deported anyway, so I don't care what I do'

A Lithuanian immigrant laughed as he walked free from court despite threatening to throw two men off a 30ft railway bridge unless they handed over 20.

Arnoldas Pumputis, 23, who is 6ft 4in tall, was bare-chested when he threatened the men in Hull and said: 'I am going to get deported anyway, so I don't care what I do. One of you is going over that bridge.'

Despite facing a maximum of a three-year prison sentence for assault and attempted robbery, Pumputis was allowed to walk free with a nine-month suspended sentence.

He responded by laughing and waving on the steps of Hull Crown Court.

The court made no recommendation of deportation and his barrister said a suspended sentence would be a great punishment to him.

Barrister Phillip Evans said a drunken Arnoldos Pumputis and a man called McGreal threatened the two men who were on their way home after drinking on Anlaby Road, Hull.

Andrew Scott and Darren Langley were walking past the Griffin pub near the Anlaby Road flyover when they were approached by Pumputis and McGreal.

The pair asked if they wanted to go to a party where they would be 'girls and drugs.'

Mr Evans said: 'When they refused and walked on, one of them shouted: 'Hey you w*****s. You c***s get back here! McGreal [then] jumped on Mr Scott's back.

'Mr McGreal had his arms around Mr Scott's throat. He threw punches at him. Mr Scott was unsuccessful at shaking him off.

'Both Pumputis and McGreal were extremely drunk and adopting a confrontational manner. The followed the men on to the Anlaby Road flyover a bridge with a 30ft drop down on to the Hull to London railway line.

'Only a single railing prevents a fall over the side. While stood there both men were threatened to be thrown to their death.

'Mr Pumputis made the remark 'I am going to get deported anyway so I don't care what I do. One of you is going over that bridge.'

Mr Evans said the reference to deportation was attributed to Pumputis as he was a Lithuanian national and the bridge he was referring was the Hull to London railway line.

He said: 'By now Mr Scott was really concerned. Mr McGreal put his hand in his pocket so Mr Scott thought he had a weapon and McGreal said: 'I am going to kill you about 10 times.'

'The threats continued with McGreal saying: 'I am going to have this cigarette, call it 20 and you can go on your way! Mr Scott implied he did not have any money to which McGreal replied: 'Well if there isn't 20 by the time I have finished this cigarette I am going to throw you over the bridge.'

Arnoldas Pumputis laughed and waved on the steps of Hull Crown Court as he walked free

'He then leaned back on the bridge and began lighting the cigarette.

'That was all too much for the two men,' said Mr Evans. 'They saw their chance and ran as fast as they could from the direction they had come. Both men gave chase. At the foot of the flyover, Pumputis and McGreal said: 'Just forget it' and they stopped the chase.'

Mr Evans said both men were investigated but McGreal was released with no further action to be taken, while Pumputis had pleaded guilty to assault with attempt to rob.

Defence barrister Nigel Clive said Pumputis had been very drunk. He said Mr Scott was concerned McGreal was the one who was going to stab him or throw them over the bridge but it was Pumputis who appeared to hold him back.

'While he quite rightly needs to be punished, he is a hard-working young man with no previous conviction. A conviction like this weighs far more heavily on a young man who wants to progress through society.'

Recorder Timothy Roberts, QC, said he had to sentence on the basis Pumputis accepted a role in a joint offence and the other man had not been prosecuted.

'This was shameful but the offence falls in range of a suspended sentence,' said Mr Roberts. 'I accept the submissions- given the wider circumstance explained to me by Mr Evans.'

He sentenced him to nine months suspended for 18 months and ordered he should complete 100 hours unpaid work.
Brexit could be delayed by the House of Lords, David Davis warned today as he played down expectations that Theresa May will trigger the official process for leaving the EU at next month's EU summit.

The Prime Minister had been expected to invoke Article 50 - the formal process for cutting ties with Brussels - on March 9 after the Government set a target date to pass the necessary legislation through Parliament of March 7.

But today Mr Davis, the Brexit Secretary, said he did not 'recognise' the March 9 target date.

Brexit could be delayed by the House of Lords, David Davis, pictured on a visit to Swedent today, warned as he played down expectations that Theresa May will trigger the official process for leaving the EU at next month's EU summit

He said he expected some parliamentary 'ping pong,' suggesting he expected the House of Lords to table amendments to the Brexit bill and send the draft legislation back to the Commons, delaying the whole process.

He insisted, however, that the Government remained on-track to meet its timetable of triggering Article 50 by the end of March.

It raises the prospect of Britain's EU divorce completely overshadowing the EU's 60th anniversary celebrations - a scenario Mrs May has said she wants to avoid.

Asked whether Mrs May was planning to trigger Article 50 at the two-day summit next month, Mr Davis said: 'The 9th or 10th is not a date I recognise in terms of our timetable. What we have said is by the end of March, sometime during March.'

He added: 'I'm confident that we'll do it before our timetable but not necessarily before the one you played out'.

Brexit Secretary David Davis, pictured third to the left, met with Sweden's EU Affairs minister Ann Linde, far left, and the country's EU Secretary of State Hans Dahlgren (pictured sitting opposite Mr Davis) for Brexit talks today

Mr Davis also moved to reassure EU citizens living in the UK that the Government wanted discussion of their rights, and those of Britons on the continent, to be the first item on the negotiating table.

That would cover issues including social support and healthcare, he said.

Speaking at a press conference in Stockholm with Sweden's EU minister Ann Linde, Mr Davis highlighted how the European Union (Notification Of Withdrawal) Bill had passed through the Commons 'very straightforwardly' with 'very solid majorities'.

Mr Davis, who has previously said peers have a 'patriotic duty' to pass the Bill, insisted they would be allowed to do their job of scrutinising the legislation and, with the Government lacking a majority in the upper house, acknowledged there could be defeats for ministers.

Mr Davis had held talks in Finland on Monday.

He said the Commons had reached 'very clear decisions' and 'because of that I expect the upper house, it will do its job of scrutiny, we'll have some passing backwards and forward, we call it ping pong, you can imagine why, backwards and forwards of the Bill, but I expect that to be resolved in good time before the end of March.'

Yesterday Brexit Secretary David Davis, left, held talks with Finnish Foreign Minister Timo Soini, right, as he toured Scandinavian countries to talk about Britain's Brexit plans

He added he was 'confident' Article 50 would be triggered on the Government's timetable, but that did not mean the formal notification would be given at the scheduled summit of EU leaders on March 9.

Ms Linde added her voice to concerns about the rights of EU nationals in the UK, pointing out around 100,000 Swedes live in the UK and 30,000 Britons reside in Sweden. She said they 'must not become a bargaining chip' in the Brexit negotiations.

Mr Davis said he wanted the situation resolved as quickly as possible, adding: 'I don't see any reason for anybody else to hold this up, once the negotiation starts properly.'

Pressed on the possibility of the UK facing a Brexit fee, reportedly up to 60 billion euro (51 billion), Mr Davis said: 'We are a law abiding nation, we meet our responsibilities but we are going into a negotiation, so you would not expect me to respond immediately to that.'
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Rare German propaganda images showing Allied WW1 prisoners being treated well in prison camps have been unveiled in a new book.

One seemingly heart-warming and previously unpublished photograph shows a wounded British flyer being helped off the field by two German men, while another shows British prisoners locked behind tall metal gates somewhere in France.

Other images, which the Germans hoped would encourage Allied soldiers to surrender and help them win the Great War of 1914, show men at the Parchim Camp unveiling a memorial to those who wouldn't be returning home and one picture even shows young Russian child soldiers posing for the camera with hands placed proudly on their chests.

In one of the images - many of which were staged - a British Flyer can be seen being aided by two German soldiers

This photograph shows a week's food and drink menu at the Giessen camp for Allied Prisoners of War, near Frankfurt

British prisoners at Doberitz appear to be treated well - sitting together at a table as they enjoy their lunch

The collection of images documenting the capture, travel to the camps and life and death in the camps have been revealed in the book, Images of War: Allied POWs in German Hands 1914-1918, Rare Photographs From Wartime Archives by David Bilton.

'Treatment was often random but certain camps were noted for being more harsh than others,' said David.

'Officers had a much easier life and could not be punished in the same way as the ranks for fear of reprisals.

'Other ranks were beaten, murdered, starved, bayoneted, made to exist in appalling conditions as punishment.

'They were under-fed and sent to work in mines where conditions were brutal.'

Mr Bilton says that while conditions were harsh for many, the treatment of prisoners of war varied between camps.

'The book looks at the feelings a prisoner of war has initially and then looks at the journey to the camp and what could happen during that time,' he said.

'Life in camp is fully explored and the effects it had on the individual are also explored.

'The differing lives of other ranks and officers are contrasted and the treatment meted out by the Germans is explored. The book finishes with the differing ways in which men were repatriated.'

Scottish prisoners at Doberitz, pictured in 1914: Germany published a book showing that it had not mistreated the prisoners and that any harm that befell them was their own responsibility

British soldiers taken during the March Offensive, 1918: The collection of images document the capture, travel to the camps and life and death in the camps

This photograph shows a funeral for a British Prisoner of War: During the war, the German authorities published a photographic account of PoW life

Men arriving home in December 1918: Many of the incredible images have been taken from hitherto-unseen or forgotten archives

Graveside ceremony for British officer is attended by a German band, who march and play instruments throughout

A propaganda coup showing vast numbers of prisoners being marched through Lille on their way to the station

Around 2.4million soldiers were held by Germany during the war. In 1914, Germany captured more prisoners than Britain had and by 1915, Germany had more than a million prisoners of war.

From 1917, Germany sent British soldiers to carry out forced labour on the Western front in perilous conditions.

'The Germans published at least two books about Allied prisoners of war, both of which were a complete whitewash,' said Mr Bilton.

'The Germans censored mail so only what they wanted to be known could be read.

'All the photos that were sent were similarly censored so a very rosy picture of Prisoner of War life was seen by the recipient.

'After the war, when each prisoner was debriefed the truth came out but little was done to punish those responsible.

'To pretend that prisoners were treated well was good propaganda for the neutral countries to show that the Germans were not the barbarians the Allies painted them as.

'They also hoped that if the reports were good, Allied soldiers would be prepared to surrender, ultimately leading to a German victory.'

Published by Pen & Sword, Images of War: Allied POWs in German Hands 1914-1918, Rare Photographs From Wartime Archives by David Bilton is now available to buy here from the Mail Bookshop.

From right to left: E. Monkman, 2/5th London; Dr David Goldenberg (Russian Colonel); Self (unknown RFC pilot); Dr I. Rubetski (Russian Captain) and I.P. Ivens, 14th Warwicks from Small Heath
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The pictures chronicle Adolf Hitler's rise to power and this image shows the Nazi leader giving a speech

A collection of chilling photographs showing Adolf Hitler's rise to power have been unearthed.

Some of the early photographs of the Nazi party show Adolf Hitler basking in the adulation of his fanatical supporters, while other disturbing images show Jews being persecuted.

The previously unseen pictures are taken from an SS officer's photo album and date from 1931 to 1935.

They cover the period of the Nazis' rise to power and the first two years of the dictatorship.

The album was recovered by US Army officer Philips Parks Ramsey at the end of the Second World War and had been in his family ever since.

His direct descendants have now decided to put it up for auction and it is tipped to sell for $2,000.

Parks Ramsey's 1943 Army linguistics diploma also accompanies the album.

Obersturmbannfuhrer Erik Brack took the photographs, with obersturmbannfuhrer being the name given to a paramilitary Nazi Party rank used by both the SA and the SS.

The collection includes about 165 original photographs presented in a book with a swastika on the cover, which also contains SS-themed postcards - a chilling example of the propaganda used by the Nazi Party at the time.

Many of the pictures in the album are group shots, including this one, which shows an early meeting of SS members

Obersturmbannfuhrer Erik Brack took the photographs, and the album includes these images of the SS officer, including a signed picture, right

This chilling image from Brack's album shows dozens of SS soldiers on the march as they parade around a sports field

The album starts with a picture of Hitler and Rudolf Hess receiving salutes from dozens of members of the Hitler Youth and civilians at a railway station, and also include photos of Hitler delivering a speech, and photos of Brack himself, as well as many group photos in a variety of settings.

Also included in the collection are photographs of early meetings and marches by SS members, a Yule feast, a pro-Hitler campaign march and mass rallies.

The disturbing snaps capture early examples of antisemitism including protests outside Jewish stores with banners urging Germans to 'buy from Germans' and avoid 'Jew shacks'.

One photograph shows the Nazi occupation of department store Wolf-Krimmer in March 1933.

In this chilling image, Hitler and his deputy Rudolf Hess receive salutes from members of the Hitler Youth and civilians at a railroad station

This picture shows the same photograph mounted in the album, with Brack's handwritten annotations in white ink

This picture shows an officer with his arm raised in a Nazi salute during a march of SS members

There also also snaps of SS members going through field exercises, a talk given by SS head Heinrich Himmler and a trip to the beach where the men are dressed in full uniform.

SS member Erick Brack, was the brother of the notorious SS Oberfuhrer (member of parliament) Viktor Brack who organised the Nazi euthanasia program where more than 70,000 disabled Germans and Austrians were murdered.

In total, there are 165 original photographs - which measure three inches by five inches and are laid out chronologically - in the album plus a few SS-themed postcards.

The album also includes a handful off SS-themed postcards, which were used at the time as Nazi propaganda

In this disturbing image, an SS officer receives the Nazi salute from other members outside a church on his wedding day

This incongrous image shows SS soldiers enjoying some free time - in full uniform. The picture was taken when the officers went on a day trip to the beach

The images are housed in a cloth-covered album bearing a printed swastika on the cover.

Robert Barnum, specialist at Maryland-based Alexander Historical Auctions who are auctioning off the photo album, said: 'Eric Brack's SS album was recovered by a US Army officer and translator named Phillip Parks Ramsey, as one of the multitude of items taken from Germany by Allied troops as souvenirs during the course of the war.

'The album was consigned to us by a long-time collector who regularly sends material to us to sell on their behalf.

This image shows hundreds of SS soldiers in uniform, lined up and ready to march in the Germany city of Munich

This picture shows SS members at the yule feast, a celebration of Christmas that was held on the Day of the Winter Solstice

In this image, SS members are pictured on a cycle ride spreading Nazi propaganda, riding bikes bearing Hitler's face

'The main significance of the SS album lies in the unpublished photographs of Hitler, Himmler and other SS members.

'They were taken by someone who was obviously very well-placed in the SS hierarchy and was present to witness and document the organisation at a time when both the SS and the Nazi party as a whole were gaining massive amounts of influence and power in Germany.

'The juxtaposition between some of the earlier images in the album, depicting the kind of bare-bones, grass roots politicking used by the nascent NSDAP, and the later images featuring huge, jubilant crowds greeting Hitler and large-scale paramilitary demonstrations by the SS highlights this swift rise.'
A passenger train and a freight train collided in Luxembourg on Tuesday, killing one person and injuring several more, police said.

The passenger service from Thionville in northeast France hit the goods train near Bettembourg close to the French border around 0800 GMT, they said.

'One person was recovered dead from the train,' Luxembourg police said in a statement. 'Two injured persons were admitted to the hospital.'

A further six people suffered minor injuries, police added.

Aerial view of the wreckage of a passenger and freight train after a crash near Bettembourg, Luxembourg

Police said the morning crash in southern Bettembourg left several people stuck in the badly mangled passenger car

A freight train from France collided with a passenger train from Luxembourg on Tuesday morning

Around 100 rescue workers are at the scene along with psychological support workers, they said.

The causes of the accident 'are yet to be determined', said the Luxembourg train company CFL, which operated the passenger train.

Passenger services between Luxembourg and Thionville have been suspended with bus services replacing them for now, it said.

In 2006 six people were killed and 23 injured when a passenger train collided with a freight train at Zoufftgen, in northeastern France, near the site of Tuesday's accident.

A man walks next the wreckage of a passenger and freight train after they collided

View of the wreckage of a passenger and freight train after a crash near Bettembourg

Rescue workers attempt to free people from the passenger train at the scene of the collission in Dudelange, Luxembourg

Rescue workers remove passengers crushed when the two trains collided

Rescuers stand next the wreckage of a passenger and freight train in Luxembourg
A second body has been found in the search for an elderly German couple who disappeared in the NT outback five days ago.

Police believe the body is that of Gisela Thor, 73, who vanished with her husband Wilfred, 76, in Trephina Gorge, near Alice Springs.

Mr Thor's body was found on Monday but it took another day to locate his wife's remains.

Sergeant Phil Emmett said their deaths were tragic after photos they took on Friday, found on a camera police recovered on Monday, showed them in good spirits.

'It's such a sad end to what was obviously a lifetime of endeavour and planning to come and visit Australia. What a tragic end,' he told reporters.

A body has been found in the search for an elderly German couple who disappeared in the NT outback near Alice Springs four days ago. Above, a file photo shows Trephina Gorge

Photos of the couple sent to relatives in Germany confirmed their identity, and Ms Thor's body was wearing clothes she had in the photos.

Sergeant Emmett said her body was found off the track 2.5 kilometres from the car park, and the couple became disoriented early in the trip.

'For reasons unbeknown to me, they have parted company and one of them has moved to the west, and the other one has moved back towards the carpark,' he said.

A ground and air search was launched on Sunday after a ranger found a car thought to belong to the couple.

The ranger who found the vehicle said it had been in the car park for two days, Territory Duty Superintendent Rob Burgoyne told AAP.

'He followed some tracks to a fence line which had recently been washed away and he believed that there were two persons who had walked from the vehicle,' he said.

The couple had arrived in Australia at the start of the month and hired a car from the Alice Springs airport on February 9.

Sometime in the next day, they drove more than 70km east to Trephina Gorge.

The nature park has been closed as the search for the missing couple resumed on Monday.

The search was suspended until first light and additional resources have now been deployed, including mounted police on horseback.

Authorities are contacting the German consulate to try and find out more about the couple, including any possible medical conditions and to contact their family.

A helicopter was sent to scour the area on Sunday while police, SES personnel and a park ranger searched on foot.
Tributes have been paid to a mother who left an emotional Valentine's Day card to her five children just days before she was found dead on a beach.

Lisa Williams, 31, sent the card telling her children that she 'loves them with all her heart', before she was found badly burned at Newry beach in Anglesey, Wales.

It's understood that Ms Williams was heartbroken after losing contact with her children.

Loved ones have since left floral tributes to her close to the spot where she was found.

One bouquet, which appeared to have been left by her father, read: 'Our Lisa Bach. You'll always be in our heart. Love you forever Dad and Rachel xxx.'

Pictured: The heartfelt Valentine's Day message and chocolate bars left by Ms Williams to her family, who she called her 'famous five'

The mother, who had recently separated from her husband, had posted the card on February 12, so that it would reach her 'famous five' in time for Valentine's Day.

Enclosed with the heartfelt message to her family were five of their favourite chocolate bars and a necklace for her daughter, accompanied by a note that read: 'for when you are older.'

Less than an hour before her death, she had also shared a picture of the package on her Facebook page.

Ms Williams, from Llanfaethlu, wrote: 'I love you all with my Welsh heart, lovely Welsh (parcel), Valentine's treats and chocolate treats.

'Will see you all soon I promise. Kind hands, kind feet, nice words and sharing is caring.'

Another message in a floral tribute described Ms Williams as 'kind' with a 'cute smile'.

It read: 'It's a big loss without you here with us all. Hard to believe that you're gone. You meant the world to us. I'll never forget that cute smile and how kind you were to us all.

'There were a lot more things we wanted to do with you but you're in a better place now. Love you forever Lisa. Gone too soon.'

Lisa Williams (pictured), 31, sent the card telling her children that she loved them, before she was found badly burned at Newry beach in Anglesey, Wales.

Dozens of messages from heartbroken family and friends have also been posted on Facebook.

One wrote: 'Your mam loved you and your brothers and sister so much.. Im sure u all know that. Your mam was also so proud of u five. My heart goesout 2 u little one's.'

Another said: 'Your mam adored the bones off yous all, such kind and caring woman, she'll always be with you no matter what.'

Pictured: The young children of Ms Williams, who she loved with 'all with my Welsh heart'

One of her children wrote simply: 'Love u mam and miss u.'

Ms Williams' body was found by a security guard from Holyhead port in a shelter close to the beach, at around 10:40pm on Sunday.

Police have said the death is not suspicious, but it is believed formal identification is yet to take place.

It is understood an inquest is to be opened soon.

A spokesman for North Wales Police said: 'At approximately 10.50pm yesterday, Sunday 12 February 2017, emergency services were alerted to the discovery of a woman's body on Newry Beach, Holyhead.

Less than an hour before she was found dead Ms Williams (pictured) posted a picture of her Valentine's Day gift on Facebook

'She was pronounced dead at the scene and whilst no formal identification has taken place officers believe she is a local woman and enquiries are underway to locate and inform her next of kin.

'At this time the death is not being treated as suspicious, and the coroner for north-west Wales has been informed.'

District Inspector Jason Higgins, at Llangefni Police Station, added: 'The lady, who we believe to be local, was pronounced dead at the scene and we are now in the process of locating and informing her family.

'Our thoughts are with them at this very difficult time.'
This is the astonishing moment a suspected shoplifter is grabbed by Tesco staff and bundled into a back room.

The man was filmed struggling against two members of staff at the store in Monument, London.

Another worker, dressed in a pink shirt, is then seen forcing the man through double doors and heard shouting 'shut your f***ing mouth' twice.

The man in pink then demands the suspect 'sit down on the f***ing floor' before the doors close and the conversation becomes unintelligible.

Shocking footage has emerged of a man suspected of shoplifting being grabbed by workers at a Tesco in London and 'dragged' towards a back room

The suspect was even pressed up against a fruit and vegetable stall as a voice is heard asking the staff not to call the police

Eventually he is 'bundled' into a back room after another member of staff arrives and shouts for him to 'sit down on the f***ing floor'

The incident was filmed by a stunned witness who said he was 'ashamed' to have seen it.

The witness posted the footage on Twitter under the name @darealkai and said he was 'ashamed' to have seen it.

He added: 'Is this how Tesco treat customers?'

City worker, Kyle Tibby, told The Sun he was buying lunch at the Tesco when witnessed the incident.

The suspected shoplifter is also told 'shut your f***ing mouth' twice by staff at the store

He said: 'I witnessed the gentleman try to steal a bottle of alcohol and so did the Tesco staff, and he tried to walk out the door with it and the Tesco staff stopped him at the door.

'There were about four or five who surrounded him and dragged him on the floor.'

A Tesco spokesperson said: 'We contacted the police following an incident in our Monument store, and are supporting them with their inquiries.'
One of the fundamental principles of the United States Constitution, the law of the land, is the balance and separation of power among the three branches of the Government: the Legislative, or law-making branch that is the U.S. Congress, the Executive branch which is headed by the President, and the Judiciary, which interprets the law at every level and settles legal disputes regarding the meaning and the application of the law.

The distribution of power among the three branches is meant to ensure that no one branch of the government is able to gain a disproportionate amount of power over the other two.

Each branch has separate and unique powers the others cannot impinge upon, but which are nonetheless subject to acceptance or rejection by the other two branches. This is how the balance of power is kept in check.

Thus, the Congress writes and enacts laws. It sets budgets and taxes and authorizes borrowing. It is the only body that can declare war. The Congress may override a presidential veto with a 60 percent vote.

Both the House of Representatives and the Senate initiate bills, or potential laws. The Senate also ratifies treaties, and confirms presidential appointments to federal posts.

The House of Representatives creates federal judgeships and courts except for the Supreme Court, and has the ability to start impeachment proceedings against federal officials, including the President.

Once proposed legislation passes through both Houses of the Congress, it goes to the President, who either signs the bill into law or vetoes it. In addition, the President is the Commander in Chief of all armed forces, has the power to make treaties and appointments to federal posts, and ensures that federal laws are executed throughout the country.

The Judicial branch of the Government, which includes the Supreme Court and all lower Federal courts, decides the meaning of laws, how to apply them to real situations, and whether a law breaks the rules of the Constitution.

The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny, wrote James Madison, the Father of the Constitution.

The defect must be supplied by so contriving the interior structure of the government, as that its several constituent parts may, by their mutual relations, be the means of keeping each other in their proper places."
A Turkish woman kidnapped following a Mecca mosque crush which claimed more than 1,400 lives in 1990 is facing death by stoning after her real family tracked her down after 27 years.

Fahire Kara, who was on pilgrimage to Mecca with her husband Abdoulla in July 1990 when she was critically wounded in the crush outside the Grand Mosque.

Her husband clambered over the bodies of the dead and the dying to find his wife who was seriously injured and saying the Muslim creed to cleanse her soul.

Fahire Kara, left, was kidnapped after a major disaster outside the Grand Mosque in Mecca in 1990 which claimed the lives of 1,400 people, now she is seeking to return home

Abdoulla was taken to hospital for treatment and when he was released he went searching for his wife.

Despite searching hospitals and morgues he could not locate her, returning home in mourning.

However, a Yemeni binman kidnapped Fahire and instead of taking her to hospital, he brought her to a house in Medina where she was locked up.

The kidnapper made Fahire into his wife and locked her up for six years. The only time during that period she was allowed out of the building was to deliver his three children.

According to EuroNews, she eventually became aware that her family had been looking for her after hearing about the story of a missing Turkish woman.

However, she has been warned by Saudi authorities, if she tries to return home to Turkey, she faces being stoned to death for adultery.

Otherwise, she has to turn her kidnapper husband in so he can be executed.

It is understood Turkish diplomats are working on the case to try and see the woman returned home without anyone being killed.
A British tourist was left-red faced after police raided a strip bar where he was caught upstairs in bed with a young dancer.

The 62-year-old from London, who has not been named, was found having sex in a private room with the stripper from the Windmill Club A-Go-Go in Pattaya, Thailand.

The raid was part of a Valentine's Day crackdown by police patrolling the notorious red light district as the Thai government attempts to clean up the country's reputation.

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The Thai prostitute attempts to explain the situation to the police officers as the man sits on the bed

Police swarm the strip club in Pattaya where the British tourist was in a private room

The Windmill Club A-Go-Go in Pattaya, Thailand, was full of punters when the police raided

A video of the incident was captured by a local reporter Salick Kitmanee, and shows the awkward moment the tourist sits on the bed as the hooker - with a number 47 badge - tries to explain the situation.

Officers had banged on the door before storming in as the grey-haired man jumped off the girl and wrapped a towel around himself.

Police Sheriff Naris Niramaiwon said the holidaymaker and the girl had been released while the bar's owner was arrested on suspicion of supplying prostitutes in the workplace without permission.

Sheriff Wong said: 'The project is to create peace of mind for travellers visiting the area for nightlife.

'The venue did not have the correct licence and the owner will be prosecuted. The tourist from the UK has been warned about this.'

Crime-ridden Pattaya is home to thousands of brothels, massage parlous and strip bars.

Police are desperate to clean up the city's image after a series of high-profile crimes.

In a separate clampdown in Indonesia, condoms were swiped from shops in an attempt to 'prevent promiscuity'.

The man was caught in bed with the prostitute as part of a Valentine's Day clampdown

Although Thai officials are attempting to clean up the country's image, the government handed out pills it calls 'very magical vitamins' to prospective mothers to boost the country's falling birthrate just before Valentine's Day.

Government workers started distributing 22,00-worth of prenatal vitamins Tuesday to women between the ages of 20 and 34.

The pills contain folic acid and iron and the giveaway is part of a program called 'the campaign for red-cheeked Thai women to have children for the country using very magical vitamins'.

Thai officials also handed out fertility pills

Fewer Thai couples are getting married, and are doing so later in their lives, meaning fewer children each year.

Dr Wachira Pengjuntr, director of the Department of Health, said: 'The Thai way of life is changing.

'Thai women are receiving higher education and the newer generation is placing a higher value on being single.'

Thailand's population grew by only 0.4 percent in 2015, down from 2.7 percent in 1970.

If the trend continues, the population will stop growing in 10 years, Wachira said.

The campaign is also hosting wedding ceremonies as Thais consider Valentine's Day to be an auspicious day to get married.

Worrawut Ploywong and Priyapat Ploywong were among the couples tying the knot Tuesday.

'As for having babies, I want to have them as soon as we can and as many as we can,' said Worrawut, a wing commander in the Thai air force.

'We wish for many souls to be born.'

Less than three hours away on a plane, Indonesian authorities raided convenience stores and seized condoms in a major city to stop teenagers having casual sex on Valentine's Day.

Indonesian officials raided shops and swiped condoms to stop teenagers having casual sex

It is the latest crackdown on the holiday in the Muslim-majority nation.

The mayor of Makassar, a conservative city on central Sulawesi island, led public order officers in the raids late Monday on the eve of the celebration.

Mayor Mohammad Ramdhan Pomanto said he was not against the sale of condoms but that outlets needed to be careful about whom they were sold to.

'Valentine's Day is often misused by teenagers to have casual sex, this can destroy the morality of the nation,' he was quoted as saying in local media.

Iman Hud - head of the local public officers, similar to police but with fewer powers - said convenience stores had been failing to check teenagers' IDs to see whether they were at least 18 years old, the age of consent, before selling them condoms.

'We are doing this to prevent promiscuity,' he said, adding that hundreds of condoms were seized in the raids in the city of 1.3million.

It was the latest expression of anger at Valentine's Day in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, where Islamic clerics and some pious Muslims use the occasion to criticise what they see as Western decadence.

On Monday teenage pupils, including girls in headscarves, staged a protest outside a school in the city of Surabaya, chanting: 'Say no to Valentine!'

Celebrating the romantic holiday has also been banned by authorities in some parts of the country, as it is every year.

Despite some objections, many in Indonesia mark the occasion, particularly in major cities where cards and chocolates are widely available.

Most in the country practice a moderate form of Islam.
Two sons of a multi-millionaire who butchered his wife in the middle of their bitter divorce battle are suing him for 1.5million they claim was rightfully hers.

Ben, 27, and Nicholas Workman, 23, say their father Ian Workman would have had to hand over half his fortune to their mother Susan had he not killed her.

And the brothers' lawyers argue that if their father is allowed to keep the cash, he will have 'profited' from murdering his wife with a single stab wound to the heart.

Nicholas Workman (left), 23, and Ben Workman (right), 27, say their father would have had to hand over half his fortune to their mother Susan had he not killed her

But Workman, who is serving a life sentence for the murder with a kitchen knife, is defending himself from his prison cell, denying he killed his wife for the money.

The father is also said to have given away almost his entire fortune to his eldest son Grant, 28, who London's Civil Appeal Court heard is standing by him.

The 63-year-old car dealer, said to have been worth about 3.3million, killed his wife aged 55 following a frenzied row at the family home in Edgworth, Lancashire.

He 'stabbed her through the heart with a large kitchen knife' in April 2011, according to his sons' QC, Stephen Killalea.

Workman snapped as the estranged couple rowed over the financial fallout from their divorce, he added.

Mrs Workman had been claiming a divorce payout of around 1.5million from her ex-husband.

But the cash stayed in his coffers after he was convicted of her murder at Preston Crown Court in December 2011.

Workman says he has been treated 'unfairly and oppressively' by Nicholas and Ben, but they are determined he should not profit from their mother's murder.

Ian Workman (left), who is serving a life sentence for the murder of his wife Susan (right) with a kitchen knife, is defending himself from his prison cell, denying he killed her for the money

Backing their claim is Mrs Workman's sister, Carol Forrester, who is representing her murdered sibling's estate.

Workman watched the case via live video link from jail as his lawyers insisted he had been given no fair chance to defend himself.

And his barrister, Katherine McQuail, said Grant has 'stuck by' his dad.

The father is also said to have given away almost his entire fortune to his eldest son Grant, who is believed to be standing by him

Nicholas and Ben's legal team argue their father 'would have been ordered to pay his wife some 1.5million had the financial proceedings gone ahead'.

And they are now claiming every penny Workman would have had to shell out to their mother had she lived - plus legal costs of around 500,000.

The brothers' case reached the Appeal Court as Workman challenged a judgment for 1,503,579 that was entered against him in 2013.

As part of an asset-freezing injunction, Workman had been ordered to disclose his assets worldwide.

But Mr Killalea said he made 'no attempt at all' to comply with the order and, as a result, was barred from defending his sons' claim.

The QC also claimed Workman had 'voluntarily dissipated virtually all his assets' to Grant.

Workman's obstruction of the legal process had led to 'horrendous delays' and caused 'intense emotional strain' to Ben and Nicholas, he added.

And his behaviour had deepened the trauma already caused by their mother's murder.

But Miss McQuail urged the Appeal Court to give Workman a fair chance to defend himself against his sons' claim.

Denying that a 'profit motive' lay behind the murder, she said Workman was 'in temper' when he killed his wife at the climax of a 'bitter dispute'.

He and his victim had been married for 35 years before their split, the court heard.

Property: The 63-year-old car dealer, said to have been worth about 3.3million, killed his wife aged 55 following a frenzied row at the family home (pictured) in Edgworth, Lancashire

During his trial, Workman insisted he acted in self-defence after his wife came at him with a kitchen knife and that she was fatally injured during the struggle.

However, jurors disagreed and his conviction challenge was turned down by the Criminal Appeal Court in 2014.

At his murder trial the court heard poignant extracts from Mrs Workman's diary - with the last entry penned just instants before the killing.

The log - titled 'Sue's Memories' - recorded how her ex stormed into the house to retrieve his 'clothes and jumpers'.

Workman briefly stroked the family dog as he was about to leave, the diary notes, but then launched a torrent of screaming expletives at Mrs Workman.

Her last unfinished line read simply, 'standing, staring at me acro...'

After Workman's trial, Ben and Nicholas put their names to a family statement welcoming 'this man's conviction.'

'Sue did not deserve to have her life ended this way for greed and money,' they said.

Lord Justice McCombe, Lady Justice Sharp and Lady Justice Thirlwall have now reserved their decision on Workman's appeal.
The UN Security Council has strongly condemned North Korea's ballistic missile launches and warned of 'further significant measures' if Pyongyang does not stop nuclear testing.

However, North Korea has fired back angrily rejecting the U.N. Security Council's statement and declaring on Tuesday that all of its tests are 'self-defence measures' to protect its people.

Kim Jong Un's men successfully launched a new type of medium-to long-range ballistic missile on Sunday, the first test of U.S. President Donald Trump's vow to get tough on the isolated regime.

Han Tae Song, the new ambassador of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the United Nations in Geneva, told the Conference on Disarmament:

'The various test fires conducted by DPRK for building up self-defence capabilities are, with no exception, self-defence measures to protect national sovereignty and the safety of the people against direct threats by hostile forces.

The Pukguksong-2,pictured, is a new type of strategic weapon capable of carrying a nuclear warhead

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un guides the test-fire of Pukguksong-2 on Sunday

'In this respect, my delegation strongly rejects the latest statement of the Security Council and all U.N. resolutions against my country,' Han said.

A council statement late on Monday followed a strong condemnation by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of the latest launch and a pledge by President Donald Trump to deal with North Korea 'very strongly'.

The Security Council condemned the Sunday launch and a previous launch on October 19, saying North Korea's activities to develop its nuclear weapons delivery systems violate UN sanctions resolutions and increase tensions.

It called on all UN members to implement the six sanctions resolutions adopted by the council since 2006.

The United States and Japan demanded UN action after North Korea boasted about the new type of missile which is almost impossible for Western satellites to spot before it's fired.

The missile test came as Mr Trump hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Mr Abe condemned the launch as 'absolutely intolerable', and Mr Trump said Washington would stand behind Japan, 'its great ally, 100 per cent'.

The North's state-run KCNA news agency said leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test of the Pukguksong-2, a new type of strategic weapon that can launch faster, is easier to hide from satellites and is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

In addition to launching more quickly, the solid fuel engines on the new missile also boost the power and range of ballistic rockets.

Pictured is the test-fire of the new Pukguksong-2 missile, guided by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on the spot

'Solid-motor engines mean that the fuel is pre-stored and the missile can be launched quickly. For example, rolled out of a cave, tunnel, or bridge,' said Melissa Hanham, a senior research associate at the U.S.-based Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, California.

'They are also more difficult to track by satellite because they have fewer support vehicles in their entourage.'

KCNA said the missile was fired at a high angle in consideration of the safety of neighbouring countries.

A South Korean military source said on Sunday the missile reached an altitude of 550 km (340 miles).

It flew about 500 km towards Japan, landing off the east coast of the Korean peninsula.

The missile was propelled by a solid fuel engine and was an upgraded, extended-range version of its submarine-launched ballistic missile that was tested successfully last August, according to KCNA.

South Korea's military said on Monday the missile had been launched using a 'cold-eject' system, whereby it is initially lifted by compressed gas before flying under the power of its rocket, a system used for submarine-launched missiles.

North Korea's pursuit of large solid-fuelled missiles was 'a very concerning development', said Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

'This new rocket is the type that we should be much more worried about. Solid fuel rockets can be launched at short notice without much preparation,' he said in an email.

The new type of solid fuel rockets can be launched at short notice without much preparation

The new rocket flew about 500 km towards Japan, landing off the east coast of the Korean peninsula

North Korea's pursuit of large solid-fuelled missiles was 'a very concerning development', said Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

How does the new missile work? Pukguksong-2 translates as north star or Polaris, the same name as the first U.S. submarine-launched missile. It uses a large solid-fuel engine, which consist of a pre-mixed fuel and oxidizer in solid form which is then ignited. The system is less efficient than the liquid-fuel rockets used in previous generations of North Korean missiles, but it is more simple and less costly. It is also more difficult to engineer and launch successfully, as once the ignition process begins it cannot be altered or turned off, which is why world powers are concerned by North Korea's recent success. Previous generations of liquid-fuel rockets consist of a fuel and oxygen or, other oxidizer, in liquid state. The fuel flow to the engine can be controlled and the amount of thrust produced can be regulated or turned on and off as needed. Advertisement

'Large solid fuel motors are difficult to make work correctly so this is indeed a significant advance by North Korea,' McDowell said.

The test also verified a 'feature of evading interception' and 'the mobility and operation of the new type missile launching truck', KCNA reported.

The North's Rodong Sinmun newspaper showed pictures of a missile fired from a mobile launch vehicle resembling a tank, with a flame appearing only after it had risen clear of the vehicle.

Japan said on Monday further sanctions against Pyongyang could be discussed at the United Nations, and called on China to take a 'constructive' role in responding to the latest launch.

China is North Korea's main ally and trading partner but is irritated by Pyongyang's repeated provocations, although it resists calls from the United States and others that it should be doing more to rein in its neighbour.

'We have asked China via various levels to take constructive actions as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and we will continue to work on it. At the same time, Japan will continue to urge North Korea to exercise self-restraint from provocative actions and comply with U.N. resolutions,' Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Monday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un guides the test-fire of Pukguksong-2 on the spo

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un smiles as military staff cheer and congratulate him on the launch

In addition to launching more quickly, solid fuel engines also boost the power and range of ballistic rockets

The benefits of 'cold-launch' missiles Vertical launch missile systems operate in two ways. In the first, known as a 'hot launch', the missile is expelled from its launch cell by igniting its rocket propulsion system immediately. The second, as used by the Pukguksong-2, is a 'cold launch', which are generally used in naval settings. In this type of system, the missile is expelled from its cell by gas produced by a generator. The benefit of this system is it avoids the need for additional systems designed to dispose of the heat and exhaust fumes generated by the missile's launch. It also afford the missile a slightly longer range, as less fuel is used in the initial launch process, as well as quicker launching and reloading times. Disadvantages may include problems with accuracy in strong winds, as the initial gas expulsion phase of the launch may be affected. Advertisement

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang on Monday said it opposed the launch.

However, Beijing counters that its influence is overstated and suggests that Washington's refusal to talk directly to North Korea is impeding progress toward a solution.

'The root cause of the (North Korean) nuclear missile issue is its differences with the U.S. and South Korea,' Geng told reporters at a regular briefing.

Geng said China, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, has been 'completely and comprehensively' implementing Security Council resolutions on the nuclear issue. He said Beijing 'has been striving for a settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue by proactively engaging in mediation and promoting peace talks.'

Although generally dismissive of sanctions, Beijing has signed on to successive rounds under the U.N. Security Council, and last month banned more items from being exported to North Korea, including plutonium and dual-use technologies that could aid its nuclear program.

Geng urged all sides to refrain from provocative action and said China would continue participating in Security Council discussions in a constructive and responsible way.

North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests, including two last year, although its claims to be able to miniaturise a nuclear weapon to be mounted on a missile have never been verified independently.

Before Sunday, the North's two most recent missile tests had taken place in October. Both were of intermediate-range Musudan missiles and both failed, according to U.S. and South Korean officials.

A U.S. official said at the weekend the Trump administration had been expecting a North Korean 'provocation' soon after taking office.

The latest test came a day after Trump held a summit meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and also followed Trump's phone call last week with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Trump made a statement once the missile launch news made headlines. 'I just want everybody to understand and fully know that the United States of America stands behind Japan, its great ally, 100 per cent'

How North Korea's missile programme has grown Late 1970s: North Korea starts working on a version of the Soviet Scud-B (range 300 kilometres or 186 miles). Test-fired in 1984 1987-92: Begins developing variant of Scud-C (500 km), Rodong-1 (1,300 km), Taepodong-1 (2,500 km), Musudan-1 (3,000 km) and Taepodong-2 (6,700 km) Aug 1998: Test-fires Taepodong-1 over Japan as part of failed satellite launch Sept 1999: Declares moratorium on long-range missile tests amid improving ties with US July 12, 2000: Fifth round of US-North Korean missile talks ends without agreement after North demands $1 billion a year in return for halting missile exports March 3, 2005: North ends moratorium on long-range missile testing, blames Bush administration's 'hostile' policy July 5, 2006: Test-fires seven missiles, including a long-range Taepodong-2 which explodes after 40 seconds The reclusive regime carried out more than 20 missile tests last year, one of which reached Japanese-controlled waters after a launch in August. Pictured is a map of the North Korea missile test July 15, 2006: UN Security Council adopts Resolution 1695, demanding halt to all ballistic missile activity and banning trade in missile-related items with the North Oct 9, 2006: North conducts underground nuclear test, its first Oct 14, 2006: Security Council approves Resolution 1718, demanding a halt to missile and nuclear tests April 5, 2009: North launches long-range rocket which flies over Japan and lands in the Pacific, in what it says is an attempt to put a satellite into orbit. The United States, Japan and South Korea suspect it is a disguised test of a Taepodong-2 April 13, 2009: UN Security Council unanimously condemns launch, agrees to tighten sanctions. North quits nuclear disarmament talks in protest, vows to restart its plutonium programme May 25, 2009: Second underground nuclear test, several times more powerful than the first June 12, 2009: Security Council passes Resolution 1874, imposing tougher sanctions on the North's atomic and ballistic missile programmes Feb 18, 2011: Satellite images show the North has built a launch tower at a complex on the west coast December 31, 2011: Kim Jong-Un declared the North's 'supreme leader' during memorial ceremonies for his late father Kim Jong-Il April 13, 2012: North launches what it has said is a long-range rocket to put a satellite into orbit, but it disintegrates soon after blast-off and falls into the ocean December 12, 2012: A multi-stage rocket successfully places an Earth observational satellite in orbit February 12, 2013: Third underground nuclear test January 6, 2016: Fourth underground nuclear test. North says it was a hydrogen bomb - a claim doubted by most experts February 7, 2016: North says its second successful space rocket launch has placed another Earth observation satellite in orbit March 9, 2016: Leader Kim Jong-Un claims the North has successfully miniaturised a thermo-nuclear warhead April 15, 2016: Failed attempt to test-fire what appears to be a medium-range missile on the birthday of founding leader Kim Il-Sung The UN Security Council will hold an urgent meeting on Monday on North Korea's missile launch, the first test since US President Donald Trump took office (file photo) April 23, 2016: North test fires a submarine-launched ballistic missile July 8, 2016: US and South Korea announce plans to deploy an advanced missile defence system - the US THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defence) August 3, 2016: North fires a ballistic missile directly into Japanese-controlled waters for the first time August 24, 2016: Successfully test-fires a submarine-launched ballistic missile, in what it says is retaliation for large-scale South Korea-US military exercises. September 5, 2016: Fires three ballistic missiles off its east coast as top world leaders meet at the G20 summit in China September 9, 2016: Fifth nuclear test October 15, 2016: An intermediate-range Musudan missile, theoretically capable of reaching US bases on Guam, is tested but explodes shortly after launch February 3, 2017: US Defense Secretary James Mattis warns of an 'effective and overwhelming' response to any nuclear attack by the North February 7, 2017: US and Japan conduct the first interception of a ballistic missile target using a jointly-built ship-launched missile, that successfully hits its target in space February 12, 2017: North conducts new ballistic missile test. The missile is launched near the western city of Kusong and flies east about 500 kilometres (310 miles) before falling into the Sea of Japan (East Sea) Advertisement

Abe described the test as 'absolutely intolerable'.

In brief comments standing beside Abe in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said: 'I just want everybody to understand, and fully know, that the United States of America is behind Japan, our great ally, 100 percent.'

The U.S. stance towards North Korea is likely to become tougher than before, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday.

'I believe that the stance of the United States towards North Korea will become much tougher, that is clear,' Abe said on a NHK public broadcasting news programme, after returning from meetings with Trump in the United States.

Trump said the United States remained committed to Japan's security and that it was behind Japan '100 percent' in the aftermath of the missile launch, which occurred as Abe was wrapping up his visit.

Trump and his aides are likely to weigh a series of possible responses, including new U.S. sanctions to tighten financial controls, an increase in naval and air assets in and around the Korean peninsula, and accelerated installation of new missile defence systems in South Korea, the administration official said.

However, the official said that, given that the missile was believed not to have been an ICBM and that Pyongyang had not carried out a new nuclear explosion, any response would seek to avoid ratcheting up tensions.

Kim said in his New Year speech the North was close to test-launching an ICBM and state media have said such a launch could come at any time.

A fully developed ICBM could threaten the continental United States, which is about 9,000 km (5,500 miles) from North Korea.

South Korea's finance ministry said it would act 'swiftly and firmly' if financial markets reacted to the missile launch.

The South Korean won and shares showed little reaction to the test.
Police have released CCTV footage as they desperately try to trace a potential witness after an 81-year-old woman was subjected to a horrifying 96 minute rape ordeal.

Anthony Roberts allegedly abducted the pensioner after she got off a 155 bus on Balham High Road, southwest London, on Friday night.

The 41-year-old from Tooting yesterday appeared in court charged with two counts of rape and one of kidnap with the intention of committing a sexual offence, and was remanded in custody.

Anthony Roberts appeared in court after he was accused of abducting the pensioner. Pictured, CCTV from Friday night showing a male witness sought by police

The victim was taken to hospital following the attack, which happened shortly after she had left the number 155 bus in Balham High Road (shown), south London, at 8.30pm on Friday

Roberts allegedly dragged the woman to a secluded area just off the busy main road and raped her twice.

The elderly woman was taken to hospital with injuries following the alleged attack, Wimbledon Magistrates' Court was told on Monday.

Detective Inspector Melissa Laremore said: 'My team are keen to trace a male witness seen on Rinaldo Road, Balham, on the evening of the incident.

'He was wearing a jacket with a distinctive American flag design on the back.

'I would urge him to come forward and contact police. In addition to this, the victim's distinctive red Marks and Spencer's jacket went missing after the attack.

'My investigators are working to trace it in and around the local area as it is of important evidential value. If you have any knowledge of its whereabouts, please get in touch.'

Police said the potential witness was wearing a jacket with a distinctive American flag design on the back

Anthony Roberts appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court (pictured) charged with two counts of rape and one of kidnap with the intention of committing a sexual offence

As he appeared in the dock dressed in jogging bottoms, Roberts was told to speak up when giving his name and address to the court.

District judge James Henderson told him: 'These offences are so serious they can only be dealt with a crown court'.

Roberts was remanded him in custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at Kingston Crown Court on 10 March.
An 11-year-old girl was injured after her brother, aged two, accidentally fired their mother's gun in the middle of a restaurant.

She was shot in the leg in the Number 1 Buffet in Newnan, Georgia, and police are now investigating how it happened.

The two-year-old, who was crawling around under the seat, managed to get his hands on the .380-caliber handgun on Sunday afternoon.

The shooting happened at the Number 1 Buffet in Newnan, Georgia, on Sunday afternoon

His sister was rushed to hospital with serious leg injuries.

Newnan Police Lt Tate Washington told Fox News: 'The child had been crawling in and out of the booth, under the seat, coming up to the mom, going back to his chair, eating a bite, getting back down, coming back over, coming back out. At some point he was able to get the gun.'

The gun did not have a safety, and the girl was struck with a screw inside the holster after her brother fired off one round.

Lt Washington said: 'It could have been a lot worse. You never know where a bullet is going to go.

'There could have been any number of patrons that could have got struck. The child could have got struck somewhere else, her injuries could be a lot more severe.'

The case is being investigated, and Fox reports that the mother may face charges.
Donald Trump's administration was informed last month that Michael Flynn may have lied to the vice president about his conversation with a Russian official about easing sanctions on that nation.

Yet, it took until late Monday night for the president to accept the resignation of his national security adviser.

A Washington Post report revealed that acting Department of Justice head Sally Yates informed White House Counsel Don McGhan in late January that Flynn could be blackmailed by the Russians with what he and the administration have since admitted were misleading statements.

It is not known if McGhan shared Yates' warning with the president and which senior officials in the White House were looped in, raising questions about what Trump knew about Flynn's false and potentially compromising statements and when he knew it.

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Donald Trump's administration was informed last month that Michael Flynn (right) may have lied to the vice president about his conversations with a Russian official about easing sanctions on that nation

Trump's counselor and the designated White House spokesperson this morning on television, Kellyanne Conway, was unable to say when the president was informed of the Justice Department's suspicions

Flynn initially said sanctions did not come up in a late December call with Sergey Kislyak, Russia's ambassador to the United States. Vice President Mike Pence, center, emphasized that claim on national television

A Trump administration official told the Post for its report, 'Weve been working on this for weeks.'

Trump's counselor and the designated White House spokesperson this morning on television, Kellyanne Conway, was unable to say when the president was informed of the Justice Department's suspicions.

'I don't know the answer to that,' she said on Good Morning America.

Yates was later dismissed, on Jan. 30, for refusing to implement the president's executive order calling for a temporary, seven-nation travel ban because she did not think it would stand up to legal scrutiny.

She declined comment to the Post for its story.

Flynn initially said sanctions did not come up in a late December call with Sergey Kislyak, Russia's ambassador to the United States. The timing of the holiday call and the Obama administration's decision to punish the nation for hacking were coincidental, Trump's spokesman said.

Vice President Mike Pence told CBS on Jan. 15 that Flynn personally told him that he and Kislyak did not talk about the sitting president's decision to 'expel diplomats or impose censure against Russia.'

But late last week, Flynn attempted to walk his previous statements back, saying through a spokesman that he could not be sure that sanctions never came up.

Flynn continued in his role as national security advisor to the president throughout the weekend and was seen at the White House Monday at Trump's news conference.

Conway told MSNBC late in the afternoon that he retained the president's full confidence, only to have White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer declare less than an hour later that Trump was 'evaluating' Flynn's role at the White House.

At 11 pm, the White House announced that Flynn had resigned.

'It became increasingly unsustainable for him,' Conway told ABC on Tuesday morning.

Conway could not say when the president knew that Flynn was vulnerable.

She told GMA host George Stephanopoulos that she was asked by the president to appear on the program to explain why he accepted Flynn's resignation.

The senior aide 'misled' the vice president, she said. 'It's being dishonest or forgetful.'

Flynn continued in his role as national security advisor to the president throughout the weekend. He's seen at the White House Monday at Trump's news conference several hours before Conway said he retained the president's full confidence

Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway spoke to MSNBC on Monday, insisting Flynn has Trump's complete confidence  only to be submarined later with news that Trump was hedging. Press Secretary Sean Spicer issued a terse statement saying Trump was having internal conversations about Flynn's status

Conway also said she couldn't confirm the Post's timeline.

'These are what are in printed reports. But the fact is, that I can't reveal what the White House knew or didn't know and who in the White House knew or didn't know.'

Stephanopoulos refused to let up, pressing her to divulge information about the internal conversations pertaining to Flynn.

'I'm not here to say who knew what when,' Conway told him. 'I don't know all the details.'

Conway said it continues to be a 'fluid' situation, shifting back to Flynn's forgetfulness or outright dishonesty. 'Neither one was sustainable long term,' she repeated.

Her interviewer pointedly asked her if the president knew that Flynn may have lied to the vice president three weeks ago and Conway said, 'I do not know that George.'

She gave him the same answer about the vice president.

'You're presuming that all of the information you have there if factual,' Conway again stated.

Democrats want an investigation.

'We need clear answers on what Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, Vice President Mike Pence, and others may have known. The American people deserve the answers to these questions and we demand it,' Connecticut Democrat Rosa DeLauro said.

'In the absence of action in the House, we need a bipartisan, independent, outside commission to investigate Russias intervention in our election and Mr. Flynns actions.'

Two top Democratic Congressmen, John Conyers, the ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee, and Elijah Cummings, ranking member on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, demanded a briefing.

They said they were 'shocked and dismayed' that Trump's administration was informed of Flynn's misbehavior 'and apparently did nothing about it.'

Flynn was 'unfit' for the job and 'should have been dismissed three weeks ago,' they said in a joint statement.

'Now, we in Congress need to know who authorized his actions, permitted them, and continued to let him have access to our most sensitive national security information despite knowing these risks,' they said. 'We need to know who else within the White House is a current and ongoing risk to our national security.'

Josh Schwerin, a former national spokesman for Hillary Clinton, echoed the complaints this morning on Twitter, saying in response to Conway's dodging, 'There needs to be an investigation ASAP.'

Former DOJ head Eric Holder's spokesman Matthew Miller, likewise said, 'Lot of q's for the WH floating around, but they've shown they can't be trusted to answer truthfully to the press. It has to be under oath.'

MSNBC's Joe Scarborough also backed an investigation. The former Republican congressman and Morning Joe host said on Twitter that the probe should focus on 'when' Trump and other White House aides knew about DOJ's blackmail concerns and 'who else in the WH knew'.

Conflicting messages about the fate of Flynn criss-crossed cable TV on Monday afternoon from different corners of the West Wing.

Conway told MSNBC that Trump wasn't planning to axe Flynn over the accusations that he spoke with Russia's ambassador in December about relaxing U.S. sanctions  and then lied to Pence about it.

'General Flynn does enjoy the full confidence of the president,' Conway said.

However, Spicer said soon after the president 'is evaluating the situation.'

'He's speaking to Vice President Pence relative to the conversation the Vice President had with Gen. Flynn,' Spicer said, 'and also speaking to various other people about what he considers the single most important subject there is: our national security.'

Spicer told reporters from his office on Monday evening that Flynn has not offered to quit his position, and called questions about whether Trump would accept his resignation 'hypothetical.'

He said he had spoken directly with Trump about the latest statement's wording, declaring that it reflected the president's 'current thinking.'

'This is what he asked me to communicate to you,' Spicer recounted

Asked if the president was looking at other options, Spicer told reporters: I think the statement speaks for itself.

The president had nothing to say when he was asked about the matter on Friday, and Monday's joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau came and went without a single Flynn-related question.

Trump didn't respond to shouted queries as he left the White House's East Room.

Later in the West Wing, Trump avoided more questions from reporters gathered near Spicer's office, directing questions about the matter to his spokesman.

Spicer said Monday evening that the statement he gave 'speaks for itself.'

The White House official also said there was no timeline for a decision on Flynn and one was not expected to come that night.

Yet, five hours later, just after 11 pm, the president announced the resignation of Flynn and temporary promotion of retired Lt. General Joseph Keith Kellogg.

Conway said Tuesday on GMA that Flynn's clarification on Friday 'accelerated matters.' The hysteria over Flynn reached 'a fever pitch' Monday night, Conway said, after she talked to MSNBC

Flynn's public letter of resignation claimed that 'because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador.

'I have sincerely apologized to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology.'

Conway said Tuesday on GMA that Flynn's clarification on Friday that he may have talked about sanctions with Kislyak 'accelerated matters.' The hysteria over Flynn reached 'a fever pitch' Monday night, Conway said, indicating that that the decision came down after she told MSNBC that Flynn retained the president's full confidence.

'The fact is the president is a very loyal person and he has a team him that serves him very admirably and in this case information had been forthcoming for a while but the situation had gotten to a fever pitch yesterday, later in the day.'

Spicer told reporters last night that Trump had been very focused on his meetings over the weekend Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the missile test in North Korea. His Monday was largely focused' on the White House visit of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

'This was an opportunity to, his goal was to make sure that people understood that he was aware of the situation and hes reviewing it  or evaluating it,' Spicer stated.

Spicer insisted that he was not contradicting Conway when a reporter asked if Flynn no longer had the president's full confidence.

Thats not what I said,' he shot back.

He couldn't say why Conway said what she did - or if she'd recently spoken to the president - in light of the evaluation.

I dont know. Im just saying, that that was what the president wanted to express with respect to the situation.'
Sally Chidzoy, 57, (pictured outside court last week) said she was a victim of sexual discrimination in her employment tribunal

A BBC reporter who claimed she was dubbed 'shih tzu' and a 'dangerous dog' by bullying bosses has lost her legal action against the broadcaster.

Home affairs correspondent for BBC Look East Sally Chidzoy, 57, who has worked for the corporation for 30 years, alleged she was a victim of sexual discrimination in her employment tribunal case.

She said a high-ranking BBC manager made the dog comments and claimed she was targeted after twice raising concerns over the behaviour of her superiors.

Her case was struck out in its second week at Cambridge Magistrates' Court but further details have yet to emerge.

The BBC said: 'The case against the BBC has been struck out by the tribunal.'

A member of Ms Chidzoy's legal team said they were currently unable to say any more.

Ms Chidzoy said she could not comment and the matter was is 'in the hands of lawyers'.

The court had heard that she had been investigating the salary package of East of England Ambulance Service boss Anthony Marsh.

She claimed the story was dropped after then Liberal Democrat health minister Norman Lamb emailed BBC Look East assistant editor Steve Silk in July 2014.

Ms Chidzoy (pictured) said a high-ranking BBC manager made the dog comments and claimed she was targeted after twice raising concerns over the behaviour of her superiors

Speaking at the tribunal she said: 'I was concerned that the BBC's editorial independence was under attack.

'It is not fair to say I was annoyed (at the story not being run) - I was disappointed.'

The BBC argued its output had not been influenced and disputed the accusation.

The journalist further alleged she was 'falsely imprisoned' during an attempt to seize her phone.
Tony Abbott's former chief of staff Peta Credlin says high rates of Aboriginal children in child protection is 'an indictment on families' as figures show the number has more than doubled since 2006.

Ms Credlin's remarks follow a bleak Closing the Gap report on indigenous disadvantage, where only one of seven targets set down to improve outcomes in indigenous health, education and employment is on track to be met.

Speaking on Sky News, an emotional Ms Credlin recalled a horrific story involving a seven-week-old infant delivered by her sister, a midwife who has worked in remote indigenous communities for 20 years.

Tony Abbott's former chief of staff Peta Credlin says children in care is 'an indictment on families' as figures show out-of-home care for Aboriginal children has more than doubled since 2006

'The mother was so high on drugs, [she] put the baby down beside a campfire and the dogs ate half its face off,' a choked up Ms Credlin said.

'They had to bring plastic surgeons up, at great expense to the tax payer, from Perth to rebuild a child's face.'

'That child went back to that mother.'

She believes children in care is 'an indictment on families' and not on the system, a view not shared by other political figures.

Ms Credlin expressed her outrage that Australia had funneled $30 billion dollars into indigenous issues, and every target bar one has 'gone backwards'.

'If kids from black families, white families, any family needs to be removed - the bureaucrats don't do it easily.'

She added that the high rates of Aboriginal children in protection is 'an indictment on families and caregivers' and not on the system.

The 45-year-old recalled a shocking incident of a seven-week-old infant whose face was mauled by dogs after the baby's mother, high on drugs, left the child next to a campfire

Ms Credlin's remarks follow a rather bleak Closing the Gap report on indigenous disadvantage, where only one of seven targets is on track to be met

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd has warned of the potential for a second Stolen Generation as the numbers of indigenous children in out-of-home care continue to increase.

In 2006, 6497 Aboriginal children were in out-of-home care nationally. By mid-2015 the number had grown to 15,432.

'We do not want another generation of young Aboriginal children unnecessarily separated from their culture,' Mr Rudd said in an address to the Australian National University.

'We do not want to see the emergence of a second Stolen Generation, not by design, but by default.'

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull handed down the ninth annual Closing the Gap report, which has tracked the progress made so far in curbing disadvantage among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people.

'We cannot shy away from the stark reality that we are not seeing sufficient national progress on the Closing the Gap targets,' Mr Turnbull said in his report.

'Although we are not on track to meet the ambitious targets we have set, we must stay the course.'

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull handed down the ninth annual Closing the Gap report, which has tracked the progress made so far in curbing disadvantage among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull delivers the Closing the Gap report in the House of Representatives on Tuesday

The report found a target to halve the gap in mortality rates between indigenous and non-indigenous children by 2018 was not on track, nor was another to close the overall gap in life expectancy by 2031.

The government remains short of its target to enrol 95 per cent of indigenous four-year-olds in early education by 2025, and progress will need to accelerate to close the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous school attendance by next year.

A target to halve the gap for indigenous children in reading, writing and numeracy by 2018 is not on track, but the numbers are within reach.

Efforts to halve the gap in Year 12 attainment among indigenous Australians by 2020 are on track, but a push to halve the gap in employment outcomes between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians by 2018 is not.

Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull speaks to Indigenous Labor MP Linda Burney ahead of delivering the Closing the Gap report

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at an indigenous event on the eve of the Close the Gap report at Parliament House in Canberra

In 2006, 6497 Aboriginal children were in out-of-home care nationally. By mid-2015 the number had grown to 15,432 (Pictured: Malcolm Turnbull at an indigenous event at Parliament House)

Jackie Huggins, co-chair of the National Congress of Australia's First People's, said far more needed to be done to stem the 'horrible' statistics underpinning indigenous disadvantage and it was time to draw a line in the sand.

'While there have been some positive changes the negatives totally overpower this in relation to where we are heading as a community,' Ms Huggins said at Parliament House.

'We say enough is enough, it is not good enough, and we deserve much better.

'Without investing in them [the indigenous people], without adequately resourcing them, things will not change,' Ms Huggins said.

'Listen to our people, walk with our people.'

Mr Turnbull speaks to Australia's Minister for Indigenous Health on Tuesday. The government remains short of its target to enrol 95 per cent of indigenous four-year-olds in early education by 2025

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd (pictured delivering speech on the 9th Anniversary of the National Apology) has warned of the potential for a second Stolen Generation as the numbers of indigenous children in out-of-home care continue to increase

'We do not want another generation of young Aboriginal children unnecessarily separated from their culture,' Mr Rudd said in an address to the Australian National University

Indigenous leaders on Tuesday morning delivered the prime minister a blueprint for resetting government relations and curbing disadvantage among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people.

The Redfern Statement - backed by more than 30 organisations - calls for dozens of changes across health, justice, disability, education and family violence based on genuine engagement with indigenous communities.

It urges the reversal of federal budget cuts, targets to reduce incarceration rates and family violence, and a stand alone department for indigenous affairs.

Mr Turnbull said the government was committed to doing things with indigenous Australians, not to them.

'As we work together as a nation, all levels of government, to renew the Closing the Gap targets, input from the Redfern Statement alliance will be critically important,' he said.

The government will redesign the expiring targets in partnership with indigenous people.

'We'll work to ensure that the Closing the Gap initiatives are community-driven and recognise that indigenous leaders are absolutely central - paramount - to finding the solutions in a way that supports identity and wellbeing,' Mr Turnbull said.




China is beginning to export its own weapon designs, including armed drones, worldwide and is reaching 'near-parity' with the West in terms of military technology, according to a report on Tuesday.

The International Institute for Strategic Studies said that China's official defense budget of $145 billion last year was 1.8 times higher than those of South Korea and Japan combined.

It also accounted for more than a third of Asia's total military spending in 2016, the IISS annual Military Balance report said, adding that spending in Asia grew by five to six percentage points a year between 2012 and 2016.

Total global military spending instead fell by 0.4 percent in real terms in 2016 compared to 2015, largely due to reductions in the Middle East.

The International Institute for Strategic Studies said that China's official defense budget of $145billion last year was 1.8 times higher than those of South Korea and Japan combined

'China's military progress highlights that Western dominance in the field of advanced weapons systems can no longer be taken for granted,' IISS director John Chipman said at a presentation in London.

'An emerging threat for deployed Western forces is that with China looking to sell more abroad, they may confront more advanced military systems, in more places, and operated by a broader range of adversaries,' Chipman said.

The report found that in terms of air power 'China appears to be reaching near-parity with the West'.

It said one of China's air-to-air missiles had no Western equivalent and that China had introduced a type of short-range missile that 'only a handful of leading aerospace nations are able to develop'.

A Chinese-made CH-4 armed drone is seen above. The drones have been sold to countries like Nigeria and Saudi Arabia

China's own J-16 fighter jet is seen carrying air-to-air missiles. Beijing is believed to be in the process of developing 'the world's longest range air-to-air missile'

It said China was also developing 'what could be the world's longest range air-to-air missile'.

The report noted that Chinese military exports to Africa last year 'were moving from the sale of Soviet-era designs to the export of systems designed in China.'

It said that Chinese-made armed drones had been seen in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

The report also noted that European states are 'only gradually' increasing their defense spending.

'While Europe was one of the three regions in the world where defense spending rose in 2015-16, European defense spending remains modest as a proportion of the continent's GDP,' the study said.

In 2016, IISS found that only two European NATO states - Greece and Estonia - met the aim of spending 2.0 percent of their GDP on defense.

An IISS study shows the disparity in defense spending between China and other countries. While the US outpaces every other country, China comes in second, and the United Kingdom is a distant third

This was down from four European states that met the target in 2015 -- Britain, Greece, Estonia and Poland.

Britain dipped to 1.98 percent of GDP, according to IISS calculations, although that figure was immediately disputed by Britain's defense ministry.

But the IISS said it was more important that countries focus on upgrading their military equipment.

'This is made more urgent because of the degree to which Western states have reduced their equipment and personnel numbers since the Cold War,' it said.
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Donald Trump is already the most active president on social media ever, often tweeting multiple times a day to his 25million followers.

Now two Democratic senators have contacted the Secretary of Defense with 'national security' fears that Trump may be tweeting from his unsecured phone.

A letter from Senators Tom Carper and Claire McCaskill cites multiple reports, which claim the president has continued to use his 'old, unsecured Android phone'.

Democratic senators have contacted the Secretary of Defense with 'national security' fears that Trump may be tweeting from his unsecured phone (Trump is pictured in February 2016 on his cellphone)

The New York Times first reported that Trump had retained his unsecured Android smartphone - believed to be a Samsung, to the protest of his aides.

The Democratic senators, who are members of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, are concerned that hackers may be able to break into an unsecured device in order to turn on the camera, audio recording equipment, or tracking features.

If the president has the unsecured phone on him constantly, particularly in sensitive meetings, it could pose a serious risk to America's security, they argue.

'The national security risks of compromising a smartphone used by a senior government official, such as the President of the United States, are considerable,' the senators wrote in the letter, which was made public on Monday.

'While it is important for the President to have the ability to communicate electronically, it is equally important that he does so in a manner that is secure and that ensures the preservation of presidential records,' according to the letter.

A letter from Senators Tom Carper and Claire McCaskill cites multiple reports, which claim the president has continued to use his 'old, unsecured Android phone'

They also want to ensure that Trump's tweets are preserved for posterity, as required by the Presidential Records Act, after either Trump or one of his team have begun deleting several tweets from his account.

Reps for the White House did not immediately respond to reporter's requests for comment.

The security concerns come after National Security Advisor Michael Flynn resigned over controversy surrounding his ties with Russia.

The military veteran stepped down late on Monday night less than a month into Trump's administration amid mounting questions over his future and his close links with the Kremlin.

His stunning announcement, first reported by CNN, came just hours after sources close to the government revealed that the Justice Department had warned the new administration that his links with the Kremlin had put him in a compromising position and left him open to blackmail.

Flynn made numerous phone calls to the Russian Ambassador to the US before Trump took office, and later hinted he may have gone against diplomatic protocol by discussing the rollback of sanctions.

A letter from Senators Tom Carper and Claire McCaskill cites multiple reports, which claim the president has continued to use his 'old, unsecured Android phone' to tweet (pictured is Trump's tweet from this morning)
A couple are celebrating their 86th Valentine's Day together after first meeting eight years before the outbreak of World War Two.

Thomas and Irene Howard, from Longton, Lancashire, said the secret of their happy marriage was always being patient with each other.

And in an interview to mark February 14, Thomas, 95, leaned over to Irene, 93, and said: 'You're my Valentine and always will be, right to the end of my life.'

Thomas and Irene Howard, from Longton, Lancashire, said the secret of their happy marriage was always being patient with each other

The pair celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary in 2015, marking 70 years of marriage.

Thomas told BBC Lancashire: 'We've had a good life, I'm not grumbling and he's not.'

And when her husband was asked if he would change anything, he said: 'I would have 86 years again with the same wonderful lady'.

The pair met when Thomas moved four door away from where Irene, a former lollipop lady, lived with her family.

And in an interview to mark February 14, Thomas, 95, leaned over to Irene, 93, and said: 'You're my Valentine and always will be, right to the end of my life'

Thomas, a retired microphone operator, said he was nine when he met his future wife in 1931 - the same day the Empire State Building was completed.

WHAT HAPPENED IN 1931? 26 Jan - Winston Churchill resigned from the shadow cabinet 3 March - The Star Spangled Banner became the USA's national anthem 11 April - Empire State Building completed 14 April - Highway Code issued 23 May - Whipsnade Zoo opened Advertisement

He remembered immediately thinking, 'what a lovely girl'.

'We would go out out walking together in the local parks and became inseparable best friends,' he told The Mirror.

'Later we would go to the cinema and see films starring Clark Gable and would sit in the back row holding hands.'

They married in St Matthews's church, Preston, on June 2, 1945 after Thomas returned from serving as a private with the Lancashire Fusiliers during the war.

Shortly afterwards Mr and Mrs Howard moved into their first house, which they bought for 750.

They do not have any children but are cared for by their two nieces, Jane and Debbie.
Taco Bell said no to setting up a store in Alexandria, Virginia after neighbors rallied against the chain out of fear that a new location would bring 'late night riff raff.'

When some residents tried to 'think outside the bun', they thought of loiterers looking for a nighttime burrito fix, a crew who are clearly not welcome in Alexandria.

To calm fears, the restaurant giant offered to donate $4,132 to the citys affordable housing fund and $660 to public art according to the Washington Business Journal.

Taco Hell: Residents who lived near Duke Street feared a new Taco Bell would bring late night noise and disrupt the community (rendering, pictured)

But for some residents, the thought of a Taco Bell on Duke Street still left a bad taste in their mouth.

Jennifer Johnson wrote : 'With the proposed super late night drive through, this would encourage constant late night riff raff.'

She continued in the letter citing lack of forks: 'The stores are poorly stocked, dirty, and often promote loitering. Last night, my husband and I went to the Taco Bell on South Van Dorn Street.'

'Aside from the front counter not being staffed for at least 3 minutes, despite a standing line, they didnt have forks! How do you run a restaurant without forks?! This is indicative of a common systemic problem of poor management and general lack of caring.'

Residents feared the rowdy crowd a Taco Bell would bring to the neighborhood (stock photo)

Neighbors in Alexandria, Virginia banded together in resistance to the new business proposed on the corner of Duke Street

A group of neighbors in Strawberry Hill neighborhood banded together in resistance to Taco Bell.

They cited a list of feared grievances in addition to Ms Johnson's fork fears that would come with the restaurant close to their homes. Patch reported the fears included: pollution from idling cars, noise from loudspeakers, potential for crime and pedestrian safety.

Taco Bell responded by promising to install 12 security cameras and said customers would not be allowed to sit outside after 10pm.

But last week, a lawyer told the Washington Business Journal the plans would not be moving forward at all.
The 'pangolin princess': Chinese media have given the woman a nickname after pictures of the unusual meals emerged

A woman has been detained by the Chinese police after showing off her meals made with pangolins, a critically endangered animal.

The woman, who has been billed by media as the 'pangolin princess', claimed she had eaten dishes including pangolin soup and pangolin fried rice. She also posted pictures of the food.

Pangolin, a scale-covered anteater, is a class-II protected specie in China. It's said to be one of the most trafficked mammals in Asia due to its alleged medicinal value.

Police from the Forest Branch from the Shenzhen Public Security Bureau have identified the woman by her surname, Lin, according to People's Daily Online.

Lin allegedly consumed the pangolin feasts and wrote about her experience on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent to Twitter, in 2011 and 2012.

On February 12, her posts were detected by the Shenzhen Internet Information Office, a governmental organ responsible for monitoring the residents' internet activities.

The office announced their discovery on its official Weibo account on February 13. The post said officials had launched an investigation. It also said that Lin had removed the relevant post from her Weibo account.

These two pictures were posted in 2011. The one on the left showed a plate of 'fried rice cooked with pangolin blood'. The one on the right mentioned a broth made with eight animals

Pangolins are one of the most trafficked animals in the world because of their alleged medicinal value. Pictured is a nine-year-old female pangolin living in Harare, Zimbabwe

According to the screen grabs circulating on Chinese media, Lin posted two pictures on September 8, 2011 on her account .

WHAT IS A PANGOLIN? Pangolins are mammals. They are thought to be the only mammals in the world which are covered in scales. They are one of the most trafficked animals in the world because of their alleged medicinal value. According to WWF, there are eight species of pangolins in the world. Four of them live in Asia and four of them are from Africa. They range from Vulnerable to Critically Endangered in conservation status depending on the species. Advertisement

One picture showed a bowl of broth said to be made with eight animals, including pangolin, snake and swan. Lin claimed that some of her senior family members had invited her to drink the soup and she couldn't refuse.

She wrote in the post: 'I forced myself to drink two bowls while praying for them (the animals) in my heart. It's indeed very nutritious because my nose just bled.'

In the other picture, Lin showed a plate of 'fried rice cooked with pangolin blood'. She wrote: 'It's very special.'

Another screen grab, from March 6, 2012, showed a bowl of soup said to be made with pangolin and Cordyceps Sinensis, a medicinal fungus native to the Tibetan Plateau.

In the post, Lin claimed that Sister Min, thought to be a friend of hers, was visiting and a boss she knew named Liao had had this soup prepared. She described the soup as 'very delicious'.

Lin's posts were caught about five years after they had been uploaded because, as it's understood, 'pangolin' has recently become a sensitive internet phrase.

This came after another web user, from Hong Kong, was caught posting pictures of a pangolin banquet on social media.

Lin, the 'pangolin princess', posted pictures in 2012 showing a bowl of soup said to be made with pangolins. In July, 2012, the woman posted a picture of a caged pangolin

The man, billed by media as 'pangolin prince', claimed in a post dated July 15, 2015, that he had been treated to the wild animal feast by the government officials in Guangxi.

While some people think 'pangolin prince' was bragging about his powerful connections; others thought the man was in fact reporting corruption in a subtle way.

Eating wild animals, such as pangolins, is often regarded as a sign of wealth in China and is sometimes linked to corrupt officials.

Traditionally, the Chinese people believe a pagolin's scales have medicinal value and consuming them could help improve blood circulation.

Last month, a web user, from Hong Kong, was caught posting pictures of a pangolin banquet on social media in 2015. The post said he had enjoyed the feast with officials from Guangxi

According to China's Wild Animal Protection Law, anyone who uses, consumes or smuggle key protected wild animals could face criminal liability.

Lin was detained by the Forest Branch from the Shenzhen Public Bureau at around 6pm on February 13, said the Shenzhen Public Bureau in a Weibo post today.

The post said Lin, who lives in the city's Bao'an District, had been detained on suspicion of breaking wild animal protection laws.

The case is under further investigating.
President Donald Trump has visited his Florida estate Mar-a-Lago four times since he won the election back in November, and it is starting to cost the Palm Beach Sheriff's Department a pretty penny.

In an interview with the Palm Beach Post, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said that just over $1.5million has been spent by the department on overtime to pay police officers when President Trump is in town.

He also said that the Palm Beach Sheriff's Department has not been reimbursed for any of this money by the federal government.

At the same time, there are complaints that businesses at the Lantana airport are losing tens of thousands of dollars each time President Trump comes to town as the airfield has been shut down by Secret Service.

That could ultimately cost these businesses as much as $2million a year according to one estimate.

Meanwhile, President Trump will reportedly be returning to Palm Beach this weekend.

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Winter White House: President Trump has made four trips to Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach since he won the election (above arriving in Florida with First Lady Melania and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last Friday)

Expensive endeavor: The visits have cost the Palm Beach Sheriff's Department over $1.5million in overtime (police above guarding President trump's route on Saturday)

Keeping the streets protected: Sheriff Bradshaw was quick to point out that local law enforcement is not compromised when President Trump comes to town

President Trump's first visit to Mar-a-Lago after winning the election occurred over Thanksgiving and lasted five days.

Sheriff Bradshaw said that this trip was initially thought to cost $250,000, but that has now been adjusted to roughly $300,000.

That is how the Sheriff's Department was able to estimate that it would cost about $60,000 a day when President Trump is in town.

West Palm Beach Chief Financial Officer Mark Parks also estimated that city police and fire-rescue personnel crews have incurred about $26,000 in overtime costs.

Sheriff Bradshaw was quick to point out that local law enforcement is not compromised when President Trump comes to town, hence the overtime payments to those who have not already been scheduled to work at that time.

'We dont take anybody off the road that handles normal calls for service,' said Sheriff Bradshaw.

He did however admit that he has not actually spoken to anyone at this time about being reimbursed for President Trump's visits.

'Im very confident that were going to get reimbursed,' said Sheriff Bradshaw.

'Therell be a point in time where Ill have a conversation, I hope, with the president personally or with someone high up in the administration.'

Big Apple: New York City is in an even more difficult position, and reportedly spending $1million every single day to protect the First Lady and son Barron while they live in the city

Costly: President Trump's visits cost approximately $60,000 a day, and the Sheriff's Department has not been reimbursed by the federal government (police at a rally on feb.4 in Palm Beach)

More money: West Palm Beach Chief Financial Officer Mark Parks also estimated that city police and fire-rescue personnel crews have incurred about $26,000 in overtime costs

New York City is in an even more difficult position, and reportedly spending $1million every single day to protect the First Lady and son Barron while they live in the city.

Those with business ties to the Lantana airport are a bit more concerned however, and hoping that President Trump figures out a new way to travel soon.

'What are we going to do here when hes here for two weeks? Thanksgiving? Christmas and New Years?' said private plane owner Kelly Gottlieb .

'If hes here for a long period of time, I think this airport is in dire straits.'

Trump was in Palm Beach for over two weeks during the holidays, arriving on December 16 and not departing until New Year's Day.

Some say that their livelihoods are now in danger because of President Trump.
A ten-year-old girl died after she was left screaming in pain from a nurse ramming a feeding tube into the wrong part of her body, a tribunal heard.

Nurse Carrie-Ann Nash put a tube into the abdominal cavity of ten-year-old patient Phoebe Willis rather than her stomach.

Phoebe died the next day after the blunder caused a blood infection.

Carrie-Ann Nash (right) put the tube into her abdominal cavity of young patient Phoebe Willis (left, as a toddler) rather than her stomach a Nursing and Midwifery Council was told

The nurses grossly negligent care at Weston General Hospital in Somerset contributed to her death the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) heard.

Nash should never have attempted to insert the tube and did so with some force, the tribunal was also told.

She did not seek senior specialist advice even though Phoebe was screaming in pain and bleeding.

The nurse also ignored red flag warning signs and told doctors the insertion was successful, before feeding Phoebe via the tube and sending her home.

Milk fed into the tube leaked into the hole created between her vital organs and the infection poisoned Phoebes blood.

Phoebe suffered three cardiac arrests resulting in brain damage and ultimately her death.

Nash was cleared of manslaughter in July last year but admitted contributing to Phoebes death at the disciplinary hearing.

Lewis MacDonald, for the NMC said: On 24 August her [Phoebe] parents took her to the A&E department of Weston General Hospital for a feeding tube change.

It is the NMCs case is that the way Nash did that change resulted in the tube not being properly inserted into the stomach.

There were a number of warning signs this was the case but they were not picked up.

The tube was inserted into the abdominal cavity instead of the stomach causing inflammation and acute infection.

There were a number of warning signs this was the case but they were not picked up. Lewis MacDonald

Phoebe had cystinosis, a rare genetic condition and relied on the tube to give her sustenance.

She was diagnosed with the rare genetic condition as a baby and had to have the tube changed every three months this was often done by her parents without issue.

Following a procedure at Bristol Childrens Hospital the tube needed to be changed in what should have been a simple task.

But there was no bed space at the hospital so Phoebe was sent to Weston General.

But no-one on shift at the hospital was qualified to deal with the tube so Nash, who was a community nurse employed by a Nutricia Ltd was called to the hospital to help.

Mr MacDonald said that the tube should never have been reinserted after a two-hour window.

But Nash arrived at the hospital well over the two hour time limit as she was stuck in Bank Holiday traffic, the hearing was told.

Mr MacDonald said: After one hour it is difficult, after two it is impossible.

Despite this she attempted to insert the tube and this caused bleeding, this was a red flag warning.

She used the tube with some force, the NMC says.

She flushed it with water and the patient screamed out in pain, another red flag.

But even after further warning signs she confirmed to a doctor she had inserted the tube successfully and fed Phoebe milk, it was said.

Phoebe was sent home from Weston General Hospital despite being in pain and died the following day

After the feed there the tube leaked, another warning sign, but again Nash did not seek specialist help from a doctor, the hearing was told.

Mr MacDonald said: She should have called on senior advice to further investigate with a CT scan or surgical intervention.'

Instead Phoebe was discharged and taken home.

The next morning she was rushed back to the hospital in an ambulance and it was found the tube had been inserted wrong and the tip was not on the stomach.

Mr MacDonald said: A significant amount of milk was found in the peritoneal cavity.

This in turn contributed to her death that day. The NMC says a number of failures contributed to this regrettable outcome.

She should not have used force in her attempts to so this.

It should have stopped long before it did.

Mr MacDonald said the hearing would hear evidence that Nashs actions amounted to grossly negligent care and fell far below the standards expected of a reasonable and responsible registered nurse.

Nash, who was present at the hearing in Stratford, east London, today admitted to contributing to Phoebes death.

She admitted she did not identify that the gastrostomy tube was not in the stomach and accepted this contributed to the death.

The nurse also admitted to not keeping contemporaneous records or doing a risk assessment.

But she denies she inappropriately tried to replace the tube or that she forced the tube into Phoebe.

Nash also denies that she did not seek urgent advice on discovering Phoebe was in pain and bleeding.

She also denies she ignored the red flag signs: Pain on feeding, signs of distress/physiological instability, prolonged or severe pain post procedure, fresh bleeding and external leakage of gastric contents.

The hearing, which is expected to last eight days, continues.
A man has been left brokenhearted, angry and very single after his girlfriend dumped him on Valentine's Day - but he blames it on the flower company he claims didn't deliver.

The angry newly-single Australian is not the only person who was left bitterly disappointed or embarrassed after a number of national flower delivery services appeared to buckle under the pressure of the most romantic day of the year.

'Thanks you for your awful service and ruining Valentine's Day,' one man posted on the Fresh Flowers company page.

Lovers across Australia have been let disappointed after pre-planned flower deliveries failed to arrive in time for Valentine's Day

He went on to complain about how he couldn't even chase his order because the phone was 'engaged'.

'Do you know what isn't engaged? My girlfriend! She's left me because the flowers I organised were not delivered.

'Shame on you. I am truly heartbroken because of your inability to do the one thing your company is built on,' he wrote.

It appears customers were left wanting nation-wide.

And he was not alone, by 11pm on Valentine's Day evening many had given up all hope of their floral bouquets arriving and took to the company's page to complain.

Some complained about posts being deleted by the social media managers running the page and also criticised the visitor's post section from being deactivated.

'Hey Fresh Flowers, you may want to review your social media policy and sack your social media manager too. It doesn't look good when you delete a whole post off Facebook.

'You've turned off your wall posting as well. You really are d***heads aren't you,' one furious customer wrote.

Many disappointed customers took to social media to complain about - with Fresh Flowers customers furious

This man's delivery came at about 11pm NSW time, he wasn't impressed

One man complained his Valentine's Day surprise was 'completely wrecked' by the company's 'unprofessionalism'.

'Contacting us now via Facebook really isn't good enough when I have been trying to contact you since 3pm,' one man said.

He went on to say at 9.15 pm his girlfriend received a phone call asking if the flowers could be delivered.

'You're joking right? Little too don't you think?' he said.

Fresh Flowers weren't the only company to receive complaints about non-deliveries.

Roses Only also failed their customers, according to complaints online.

'Thanks so much for my beautiful flowers today... oh wait, they weren't delivered as promised. Thanks for spoiling my Valentine's Day,' one person wrote.

One man claims his girlfriend left him because the flowers he ordered never arrived

Both companies endeavoured to get back to their customers, Fresh Flowers posted a generic apology while Roses Only commented on each complaint.

'I am really sorry to hear this happened and can completely understand your frustration. Can you please provide your order reference code so i can locate your order and call you in the morning?' Roses Only responded.

'Dear customers, We are aware that some deliveries have not been made today, which Fresh Flowers is very disappointed. We are currently working with our courier suppliers though out the night.

'If you would like to contact us please email us at customercare@freshflowers with your contact/order number.

'Fresh Flowers will be contacting any affected customers from 7am on Wednesday morning.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Fresh Flowers and Roses Only for comment.

Fresh Flowers National Operation's Manager Mark Batstra took time to respond, claiming just two per cent of flowers were late.

'Valentine's Day is one of our busiest days of the year and we were ready. All of our product was successfully dispatched, however our courier partners failed to deliver a very small number (around 2%) on time.

'Fresh Flowers has been owned and operated in Australia for over 20 years and we are very saddened that customers were let down.

'We are investigating with our courier partners what happened and will be reviewing our processes to ensure this never happens again. We are contacting each customer and offering a full refund and replacement.

'We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused.'
A millionaire Oxford professor who split from his wife after she allegedly tried to run him over has failed to convince top judges he was never even married.

Khaled Hayatleh, 50, insisted he never legally tied the knot with his wife, although they lived together for 14 years and have a teenage daughter together.

But the professor now faces her claim to a stake in his fortune - including his 1million house in Oxford - after judges in London ruled him a married man.

Khaled Hayatleh (left), 50, insisted he never legally tied the knot with his wife Reem Mofdy (right), 37, although they lived together for 14 years and have a teenage daughter together

He said he split up with Reem Mofdy after she punched him and 'attempted to run him over' in her BMW, because she suspected him of cheating on her.

Ms Mofdy, 37, received a criminal conviction in relation to the attack, and the couple each filed to divorce the other in 2013.

They have been battling over money ever since, with Mr Hayatleh causing a stir by insisting that Ms Mofdy was never his wife in the first place.

But now three judges at London's Appeal Court have ruled that there 'could hardly be clearer proof' that Mr Hayatleh always considered himself married.

A lecturer in electronic engineering at Oxford Brookes University, Mr Hayatleh moved to the UK from Syria in the 1980s and acquired British citizenship.

The pair went through an arranged 'religious marriage' in Syria's religious centre, Homs, in 1999 - which Mr Hayatleh himself did not attend.

He instead sent his brother to stand in for him as a proxy, an entirely valid and legal move under Syrian law.

Ms Mofdy moved to Oxford the same year and Mr Hayatleh 'threw a party' for friends and colleagues to celebrate her arrival.

Row: The husband and wife both filed divorce papers and clashed over whether Mr Hayatleh's 1million house in Oxford (pictured) had to be shared with his ex

They were together for well over a decade, but their relationship fell apart in the aftermath of her conviction in 2012.

Oxford Crown Court was told by prosecution lawyers at the time that she 'drove the car at him' and 'clenched a fist and punched him in the side of the face' after accusing him of infidelity.

The attack took place outside their then family home in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, on March 25, 2012.

Ms Mofdy initially faced a charge of dangerous driving, but that was dropped after she pleaded guilty to common assault.

She was handed a two-year conditional discharge.

The husband and wife both filed divorce papers and clashed over whether Mr Hayatleh's 1million house in Oxford had to be shared with his ex.

A court hearing is still pending on that issue but, in the meantime, Mr Hyatleh insisted that his marriage to Ms Mofdy was invalid under Syrian law.

Barrister Nick Goodwin QC argued their marriage had not been properly registered in Syria and should be viewed as a 'non-marriage'.

'He contends that the expert evidence has clearly established that the parties' religious marriage had not been properly registered and was not valid,' he said.

'There was no evidence of any application having ever been made to the Syrian court for registration. There were no authenticated supporting documents.'

But Lord Justice McFarlane said that, under English law, the marriage was 'presumed' to be valid unless Mr Hayatleh proved otherwise.

Throughout their relationship, the former couple 'behaved at all times as if they were to all intents and purposes married', he added.

The judge, sitting with Lords Justice Underhill and Briggs, pointed out that Mr Hayatleh was the first to file for divorce.

'There could hardly be clearer proof that the husband, even at the end, regarded this as a valid marriage', he told the court.

'The background facts justified, as a matter of policy, a presumption that this couple were indeed validly married.

'The husband had asserted the existence of the marriage from beginning to end, he had even asserted its validity in his own divorce petition'.

Official Syrian records were inconclusive and Mr Hayatleh had failed to come up with 'clear, positive and compelling evidence' that he was single.

William Tyzack, for Ms Mofdy, earlier claimed that Mr Hayatleh's attack on the validity of his marriage was 'strategic conduct' designed to avoid his financial responsibilities to his ex-wife.

He told the court: 'The marriage was an arranged one but there is no doubt that the marriage ceremony was intended as a binding and valid ceremony according to Syrian law.

'They continued to live as man and wife for the next decade. There was in the whole of that time, no suggestion that they were anything other than a properly married couple.

'The parties' relationship broke down in 2012. In February 2013 the husband petitioned for divorce.

'Shortly afterwards, the wife cross-petitioned. It is common ground that at that stage the husband took no issue as to the validity of the marriage.'

The court's ruling means Ms Mofdy is entitled to the same financial and other rights as any other woman divorcing after a valid marriage.
Donald Lau, 68, had been the 'Chief Fortune Writer' at the New York City-based Wonton Food for 30 years

The man behind some of America's most widely read nuggets of wisdom is retiring after 30 years after a case of writer's block.

Donald Lau, 68, had been the 'Chief Fortune Writer' at the New York City-based Wonton Food.

The company produces 4.5m fortune cookies each day.

James Wong, the 43-year-old nephew of Wonton Food's founder, will take Lau's place.

Regarding his writer's block, Lau told NBC News: 'I get that more and more these days.'

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Lau has writer's block, so he is now passing the duty on to the 43-year-old nephew of Wonton Food's founder. Pictured: A Wonton Food cookie with the fortune: 'You will be traveling and coming into a fortune'

Lau said: 'I used to write 100 a year, but I've only written two or three a month over the past year.' He has been training Wong in the art. Pictured: A Wonton Food cookie with the fortune: 'Seize every second of your life and savor it'

He added to Time: 'I used to write 100 a year, but I've only written two or three a month over the past year.'

James Wong, the 43-year-old nephew of Wonton Food's founder, will take Lau's place.

Lau began his fortune-telling career in the 1980s, when his English skills landed him the job of of updating the company's fortunes, NBC reported.

The company, which was founded in 1973 as a noodle shop in Chinatown, Manhattan, had recently purchased a large fortune cookie manufacturer.

He changed the fortune style from one of abstract predictions to more proverbial sayings.

The New York City-based Wonton Food produces 4.5m fortune cookies each day. It was founded in 1973 as a noodle shop in Chinatown, Manhattan. Pictured: The location in Plainview, NY

The company purchased a large fortune cookie manufacturer in the 1980s. Lau's English skills landed him the job of updating the fortunes. Pictured: The factory in Queens, NY

Wong, Lau's successor, said: 'When they eat their fortune cookie, I want the customers to open the fortune, read it, maybe laugh, and leave the restaurant happy'

Experiments during Lau's tenure have included cheekier notes such as 'Today is a disastrous day. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em,' the New York Times reported.

Lau told Time: 'Sometimes I get a frown, and other times I get a couple of thumbs up.'

And at one point in 2005, Wonton Food was even investigated after 110 Powerball players won a combined total of around $19m with the fortunes's 'lucky numbers'.

But the goal, always, is to make people feel happy, which Lau's successor hopes to continue.

Wong said: 'When they eat their fortune cookie, I want the customers to open the fortune, read it, maybe laugh, and leave the restaurant happy.'

Lau will continue to be the company's chief financial officer and has been training Wong, who recently became Chief Fortune Writer, in the art.

At one point in 2005 Lau was even investigated after 110 Powerball players won a combined total of around $19m with the fortunes's 'lucky numbers'

The exact origins of fortune cookie aren't known, with Lau believing they are descended from people giving each other mooncakes with secret messages during the Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644.

Other experts have said the uniquely American food staple came from Japan.

They said the cookie became 'Chinese' in the United States after Chinese workers - who were discriminated against by the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act - took on restaurants that were run by Japanese people in America who were forced into internment camps during World War II.
An Afghan man who claims to have worked as an interpreter with the SAS in Afghanistan said he faces being deported from the UK after his claim for asylum was rejected for a second time.

Javed Hotak said his life is at risk from the Taliban should he be forced to return to Afghanistan and has submitted another asylum request.

But it is understood the Home Office disputes the validity of the 'death threats' he says he has received.

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Javed Hotak, pictured, claims to have worked as an interpreter with the SAS in his native Afghanistan but says he is 'ashamed' of his service after having two asylum requests refused by the Home Office

Mr Hotak, pictured during his service, claims he has received death threats from the Taliban should he ever return home

Mr Hotak, who is believed to have been living illegally in Birmingham, said he was a soldier and interpreter for both the SAS and Special Boat Service and took part in raids on Taliban strongholds in Helmand and Kandahar.

He told the BBC he was angry that his military service had not 'helped his claim'.

He said: 'You call them heroes. We saved your heroes. We interpreted for them. They just used us and leave us.

'If you cannot take the responsibility, don't send your troops. Maybe we work for somebody else, now we would be safe.'

Mr Hotak added he 'feels ashamed' of his service and 'regrets' it.

But it is understood his application for asylum did not include any claims that he worked for the UK as an interpreter.

Former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown, who has campaigned for Afghan interpreters to be allowed to stay in the UK, told the BBC it would be 'shameful' if Mr Hotak was deported.

It is understood the interpreter's first claim was rejected by the Home Office in 2011. He is said to have arrived in the UK on a lorry from Calais in 2009.

It is understood Mr Hotak, pictured, did not claim to be an interpreter in his asylum application

A spokesman for the Government said: 'While we cannot comment on this specific case, all asylum claims are carefully considered on their individual merits and based on evidence provided by the applicant.'

Government sources said they had been clear that a 'debt of gratitude' was owed to civilian interpreters and that more than 360 and their families have been relocated to the UK, with more than 100 more to come.

A cross-party Locally Employed Civilian (LEC) Assurance Committee also exists to ensure that any Afghan staff who 'felt threatened because of their employment by the UK' are supported both in Britain and Kabul.
Mike Flynn resigned as President Trump's national security advisor Monday night after it was revealed the acting attorney general had warned the White House that Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail by the Russians.

It wasn't known precisely what could have made Flynn subject to pressure, but the retired Army Lt. Gen. had come under close scrutiny for his Russia ties, and a series of conversations he had with Russia's ambassador to the U.S.

Flynn's Russia ties had already caused political problems for Trump during the campaign and the transition. Flynn gave paid remarks in Moscow in December 2015 for an event celebrating the 10th anniversary of Russia Today, the Kremlin-backed network.

He was seated next to Russian president Vladimir Putin for the event.

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LOCATION, LOCATION: Russian President Vladimir Putin, with retired U.S. Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, during a dinner at the 10 year anniversary of Russia Today where Flynn spoke

Mike Flynn resigned as National Security Adviser for President Trump just weeks after joining his new administration. He was under scrutiny for his Russia ties and said in his resignation letter he had provided 'incomplete information' about his calls with Russia's ambassador to teh U.S.

Flynn had just left the military at the time. He wouldn't reveal to the Washington Post how much he was paid for the engagement.

'I was asked by my speaker's bureau, LAI. I do public speaking. It was in Russia. It was a paid speaking opportunity,' Flynn told the paper.

'The gig was to do an interview with [RT correspondent] Sophie Shevardnadze. It was an interview in front of the forum, probably 200 people in the audience,' he said.

After the speech, Flynn sat at Putin's table, and was seated at his right-and side.

Flynn, the former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency under President Obama, also said he briefed Russian intelligence on the trip, which he noted had been approved by the U.S. government.

'I had a great trip. I was the first U.S. officer ever allowed inside the headquarters of the GRU [Russian intelligence]. I was able to brief their entire staff,' Flynn said.

'I gave them a leadership OPD. [a professional development class on leadership] and talked a lot about the way the world's unfolding.

Asked if that was something he wanted to do, Flynn responded: 'DIA has offices in 142 countries. I was visiting some of our key attaches and one of them was [in] Russia.'

Some of his military colleagues were 'dismayed' by his post-military behavior the Post reported.

Among those listed was retired Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, who made Flynn his top intelligence officer in Afghanistan, but who declined comment.

Flynn came under investigation for an allegation he shared highly classified information with British and Australian forces.

'I'm proud of that one,' he told the Post. 'Accuse me of sharing intelligence in combat with our closest allies. Please!'

As Trump's top White House national security advisor, Flynn did not have to receive Senate confirmation for his post, which would have brought further inquiry about his Russia ties.

The FBI is examining Trump campaign ties to Russia during the elections.

Former acting attorney General Sally Yates, whom Trump fired over her refusal to enforce his immigration order, informed the White House last month that Flynn had misled members of the administration about his Russia ties and was 'vulnerable to blackmail,' the Washington Post reported Monday night.

Flynn had told administration members, including Vice President Mike Pence, that he didn't discuss Russia sanctions imposed by the outgoing Obama administration in response to Russian election hacking.

Outgoing director of national intelligence James Clapper and CIA director John Brennan feared that 'Flynn had put himself in a compromising position,' current and former administration officials told the paper.

Flynn had exchanged calls and texts with Flynn around the same times the sanctions got imposed. At first, the White House said the calls were to exchange holiday greetings and to set up a phone call between Trump and Putin.

Flynn wrote in his resignation letter that because of the fast pace of events, he 'inadvertently' briefed Pence and others in the administration with 'incomplete information.'

Flynn told the Post Feb. 8 that he did not discuss sanctions with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. But a day later a spokesman told the paper he 'couldn't be certain that the topic never came up.'
When orbiting hundreds of kilometres above the earth, familiar landscapes take on a haunting appearance.

French astronaut Thomas Pesquet has described the moment he captured New Zealands Taranaki Volcano from aboard the International Space Station.

The 2500-metre-high volcano, which looms large over New Zealands Egmont National Park, appears small and otherworldly from the lofty heights.

French astronaut Thomas Pesquet has captured New Zealands Taranaki Volcano from aboard the International Space Station

Mt Taranaki, which is well overdue to blow its top, looms large over New Zealands Egmont National Park

The Taranaki volcano in New Zealand is a perfect circle emerging from the green forest, the 38-year-old wrote to his 1.2 million Facebook followers.

They say it looks like Mount Fuji in Japan, I hope to capture Mount Fuji too one day.

The image has made a splash on social media, with 42,000 likes and thousands of comments.

Mt Taranaki, which is well overdue to blow its top, was one of the first landmarks to be tweeted from space after it was shared by Nasa astronaut Thomas Marshburn in 2013.

Pesquet will be on the station for six months pioneering earth science and experiments in biotechnology.

This week the aerospace engineer also shared an image of Australian landmark Uluru, which also looked a far cry from how we know it.

Pesquet will be on the station for six months pioneering earth science and experiments in biotechnology
Michael Flynn's son has suggested that there's a conspiracy behind his father's resignation from the Trump Administration.

The former Army lieutenant general stepped down from his position as President Trump's national security adviser late Monday night, after admitting he misled the vice president about his talks with Russian diplomats after the election.

Hours after Flynn's resignation was announced, his son Michael Flynn Jr. took to Twitter, writing: 'The disinformation campaign against my father won. #AmericaFirst #USA #Flynn #FlynnResignation.'

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Michael Flynn Jr (right) suggested there was a conspiracy behind his father's (left) resignation as President Trump's national security advisor

Flynn resigned Monday after admitting he misled the vice president about his talks with Russian diplomats after the election. But his son (tweet above) thinks there's a bigger story at play. He quickly deleted this tweet after posting it on Tuesday

Just minutes later, Flynn took down the post. But he's continued to show his skepticism about the move by retweeting an op-ed from right-wing outlet The Daily Caller, which calls for support of Flynn.

Michael Flynn Jr. has been known to peddle conspiracy theories in the past, most notably after the election, when he tweeted several times about #PizzaGate.

The debunked conspiracy theory alleged that the Clintons were connected to a child-sex ring that was run out of a DC-area pizza shop.

Clinton herself responded to Flynn's resignation on Monday, tweeting that there's 'real consequences of fake news'.

Hillary Clinton also reacted to Flynn's resignation on Monday, writing that there's 'real consequences of fake news'

The Flynns pushed a conspiracy theory about the Clintons being involved in a child-sex ring. That theory has been debunked. Clinton's tweet on Monday seemed to be a reference to that conspriacy theory

Clinton's post retweeted a tweet from Phillipe Reines, which suggested that Flynn's fall from grace was karma for the Pizzagate conspiracy

Retired Army Lieutenant General Flynn resigned on Monday after revelations he had discussed US sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to the United States before Trump took office and misled Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations.

His stunning announcement, first reported by CNN, came just hours after sources close to the government revealed that the Justice Department had warned the new administration that his links with the Kremlin had put him in a compromising position and left him open to blackmail.

Flynn made numerous phone calls to the Russian Ambassador to the US before Trump took office, and later hinted he may have gone against diplomatic protocol by discussing the rollback of sanctions.

Retired general Keith Kellogg will take over as acting National Security Advisor.

Former CIA Director David Petraeus and US Navy Admiral Michelle Howard are among the names being touted as a replacement.

Michael Flynn (right) is pictured with his son, Michael Flynn Jr. (left), above
Bobby Joe Washington (above), 24, is alleged to have stolen the two vans early Sunday morning from the Rest Assured Mortuary Services in Riverside, California, just south of San Bernardino

Police in California arrested a man who stole a van from a mortuary that had a dead body inside, returned the van an hour later, and then stole a different van from the same business.

Bobby Joe Washington, 24, is alleged to have stolen the two vans early on Sunday morning from the Rest Assured Mortuary Services in Riverside, California, just south of San Bernardino, according to The Los Angeles Times.

When he realized that the van was carrying a dead body inside, he returned it an hour later.

Washington is then alleged to have stolen another van.

When an employee of the mortuary tried to stop him, Washington is alleged to have tried to run him over, police said.

Authorities tracked him down about two miles from the mortuary and took him into custody.

Washington faces charges of auto theft, evading police, and assault with a deadly weapon.

'I don't think I've ever heard of anything like this,' said Riverside Police Department spokesman Ryan Railsback.

Police say that at 1:30am on Sunday, the driver of the first van had picked up a deceased person and returned to the mortuary (above) to pick up some paperwork. The driver left the keys in the ignition when he went inside. That was when Washington allegedly drove off with it

'Out of all the bad decisions he made, he at least made one good one and brought back the deceased person.'

The authorities declined to charge him with stealing a corpse because that was not his original intent, according to Railsback.

'We don't think he knew it was in there at the time he stole it,' he said.

Police say that at 1:30am on Sunday, the driver of the first van had picked up a deceased person and returned to the mortuary to pick up some paperwork.

Sources say the driver left the keys in the ignition when he went inside.

That was when Washington allegedly drove the van away.

An hour later, police were informed that a second van was stolen.

Washington allegedly led the cops on a 10-minute chase that ended on a nearby street.

'The suspect was uncooperative,' Railsback said. 'Until the canines got there.'
Ivanka Trump sparked fierce debate after she posted a picture of herself flanked by her dad and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sitting behind the Oval Office desk on Monday.

In her first appearance at a White House policy session, on Monday afternoon as she met with Trudeau and her father Donald Trump to discuss a new task force to help boost women in business.

'A great discussion with two world leaders about the importance of women having a seat at the table!' she tweeted at the meeting alongside the picture of the smiling trio. Ivanka was seated behind the desk, as her father stood to her right, resting a hand on her back, and Trudeau stood to her left.

The picture prompted intense debate on social media where some branded the move 'disrespectful' and 'inappropriate,' while others hailed it a welcome prediction of things to come.

'Give me a break! Nepotism at its finest,' one person commented on Instagram. 'I am sorry, but I find this photo tasteless. This is not The Apprentice show, it is The White House,' another added.

'Bad taste,' another Instagram user commented. 'U need a publicist or an etiquette expert. No one sits in that chair except the president.'

Ivanka Trump posted picture of herself flanked by dad and Trudeau sitting behind Oval Office desk on Monday

She tweeted that she had a 'great discussion with two world leaders about the importance of women having a seat at the table!'

The picture sparked fierce debate on social media where some branded the move 'disrespectful' and 'inappropriate'

Ivanka Trump has since returned to New York City where she was spotted heading out of her apartment for lunch on Valentine's Day

The impeccably dressed First Daughter wore a green wool jacket, sunglasses, and black heels for her afternoon lunch

'Get out of that seat!!' one message read, while another wrote 'Kim Jung Ivanka 2020', in reference to North Korea's nepotistic dictator.

Some Instagram and Twitter users complained that the First Daughter had no place meeting a foreign leader when there were 'many other qualified women that should have been at that meeting'.

But others welcomed the implication that Ivanka could one day be sitting in that chair of her own accort.

'One day that will be your chair. You would be a great POTUS,' one commenter wrote.

'LOVE IT!' said another. 'I will so vote for you as first female president...a lady first and always and a true role model for women.'

Scores of others echoed the sentiments calling for Ivanka for POTUS.

On Monday at the White House, the First Daughter had listened intently as Trudeau held the floor in the Cabinet Room shortly after being welcomed to Washington, D.C. by the president.

She also gave her own input, enthusiastically contributing to the round table discussion after welcoming Trudeau and female entrepreneurs to the White House.

'I'm honored to be here and really looking forward to hearing from each of you who serve as tremendous role models for me and so many other business leaders across both of our countries,' she said, 'and can lend some tremendously valuable perspective as we think about the unique challenges that entrepreneurs, women in the workforce, female small business owners are confronted with each and every day, and as we think how we level the playing field for this generation and for the next.'

President Trump proudly told the room how Ivanka had been 'very involved' in building the newly-announced task force and that he appreciated her help.

She spent the morning getting ready at home with the help of an entourage of stylists before traveling to the White House in a blacked out SUV.

Ivanka Trump met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and female business leaders on Monday to discuss how to boost women in business

The First Daughter was all ears as she listened to Trudeau and others present at the meeting speak about how best to empower women in the workplace - a cause she is passionate about

President Trump said Ivanka had been 'very involved' in building the task force which was discussed at Monday's meeting (above)

Prime Minister Trudeau held out Ivanka's seat for her as they sat down in the Cabinet Room shortly after midday

Prime Minister Trudeau was given a warm welcome by President Trump, posing inside the Oval Office before their talks got underway

The task force will be known as The United States Canada Council for the Advancement of Women Business Leaders-Female Entrepreneurs.

White House aides said it was an interest shared by both the Canadian and US administrations.

WHO WAS THERE Elyse Allan, GE Canada Dawn Farrell, TransAlta Linda Hasenfratz, Linamar Monique F. Leroux, Investissement Quebec Tina Lee, T&T Supermarket Inc. Tamara Lundgren, Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc. Carol Stephenson, General Motors Company Julie Sweet, Accenture North America Annette Verschuren, NRStor Inc. Advertisement

The cause is close to Ivanka's heart, serving as the inspiration for her first book Women Who Work.

It is also a common theme among advertising campaigns for her clothes and accessories lines.

The president said later, at a joint presser that he and Trudeau know that the 'full power of women can be better than anyone else. We know that'.

Ivanka's husband Jared is a senior advisor to her father at the White House.

She left the Trump Organization and her own business to move with him to Washington.

She's been seen at the White House several times since her father moved in, accompanying him to Dover Air Force Base to receive a fallen solider. Today was the first time she'd been seen in a policy meeting, however.

Eager to look the part, Ivanka enjoyed the help of an entourage to help her get ready at home beforehand.

The glam squad flocked to her DC home as Kushner set off for an early morning in his role as Senior Adviser to the President.

One associate was frisked with a metal detector before she was allowed to enter.

Jared set off at 7.35am, minutes after the first of Ivanka's stylists arrived. They left shortly before 9am and Ivanka, 35, followed around an hour later.

Ivanka, who is a passionate advocate for women in business, was excited to sit down with the Prime Minister at the start of the meeting

Trudeau was welcomed to Washington DC on Monday morning by the president to discuss a range of topics including the US-Canadian task force for female business leaders

The First Daughter was vocal in the round table discussion and held the Canadian Prime Minister's ear as she gave her thoughts. She sat between him and Dawn Farrell, President and CEO of TransAlta Corporation

L-R: Prime Minister Trudeau, Ivanka Trump, Dawn Farrell of TransAlta, Monique F. Leroux, Investissement Quebec, Hope Hicks, White House Director of Strategic Communications, Tina Lee, T&T Supermarket Inc. Carol Stephenson of General Motors is next to President Donald Trump and Tamara Lundgren of Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc. is on his other side

Earlier on Monday morning, President Trump gave a warm welcome to Prime Minister Trudeau who he greeted outside the West Wing before a photo-opp in the Oval Office.

The pair seemed happy to be in one another's company, with Trudeau familiarly planting one arm on President Trump's bicep as they shook hands.

Trudeau has said he expects to 'find a lot of common ground' with the Republican president, despite their disagreements over trade.

The Canadian PM was supportive of Barack Obama's Trans-Pacific Partnership and said in November he'd 'miss' his American counterpart.

Trump believes that TPP, which he nixed his first few days in office, and NAFTA have been bad for American workers and is expected to talk about restructuring free trade between the U.S. and its neighbor to the north today.

Trudeau on Friday said he intended to 'defend and demonstrate Canadian values' in his meetings at the White House but 'respectfully and not from an ideological standpoint'.

He has also spoken out against Trump's travel ban on seven Muslim-majority nations. The ban, which has since been lifted by a federal judge who deemed it 'unconstitutional', prevented citizens from affected countries from entering the US regardless of whether or not they held valid visas or green cards.

Prime Minister Trudeau reacted to it with an emotional plea to Muslim immigrants who he said were always welcome in Canada. The following day, a white gunman killed six people in a terror attack at a Quebec mosque.

In the afternoon the PM and president delivered a progress report at a joint press conference.

'I'm honored to be here with Prime Minister Trudeau. His father I knew and respected greatly, and he gave me a picture of myself and your father, and what a great picture I will keep that in a very special place, at the Waldorf-Astoria, together,' Trump said, making reference to a famous New York City hotel.

Trudeau's father Pierre was also prime minister.
Angela Jay (pictured) was repeatedly stabbed by her ex Tinder lover last November

A young doctor who was repeatedly stabbed by her ex Tinder lover has revealed harrowing details of the ordeal that nearly killed her - as she revealed her relief after the attacker was shot dead by police.

Angela Jay was brutally attacked and doused in petrol by Paul Lambert, 36, after he broke into her Port Macquarie home on NSW mid-north coast last November.

But the 28-year-old woman made a miraculous escape, fleeing to a neighbour's house and calmly talking them through first aid until paramedics arrived.

And three months on, the obstetrics and gynaecology doctor has recalled the terrifying moment she was left fearing for her life in the frenzied attack.

'I looked down at my legs and saw stab wounds and thought, "My God, he's going to kill me, I'm going to bleed to death",' she told The Daily Telegraph.

'I put pressure on my leg using my hand, all the time thinking, "I need to get out of here." He caught me again and started pouring petrol over me, there was terror now and that gave me extra strength to run.'

Paul Lambert (pictured) broke into her Port Macquarie home on NSW mid-north coast

The young woman suffered stab wounds to her hip and leg during the frenzied attack last year

She was repeatedly stabbed and doused in petrol in her home (left) and stumbled to her neighbour's (right) for help last November

The young woman suffered stab wounds to her hip and leg before she stumbled to her neighbour's home for help.

Later that evening, Lambert led police on a chase before he was shot dead on the Pacific Highway at Bonville, about 150 kilometres away from the bloodied scene.

'I'm glad he's dead. I cried tears of relief when the police told me. I feel an overwhelming sense of shame and embarrassment that I didn't see it coming,' Dr Jay said.

Lambert had stalked Dr Jay for days before he waited for her to get home from work - just two months after they met on dating app Tinder.

Dr Jay said she hopes by retelling her story, she could encourage other women suffering from domestic violence to seek help.

Lambert led police on a chase before he was shot dead on the Pacific Highway at Bonville

The bloodstained sheets and towels that were used to wrap up the doctor's stab wounds

She stumbled up her steep driveway - a trail of blood was left behind and is the only sign of the horror that took place in the quiet suburban home

Earlier this month, she revealed on social media that she will take part in the hike challenge along the Larapinta Trail in the Northern Territory to support the White Ribbon's 65km fundraising campaign.

'Three months ago today I was almost murdered and set on fire in my own home,' she wrote on Facebook.

'I still don't really know how I got away, or why I deserved to be so lucky to survive. Every day since then has been a struggle.

'A constant battle to not let my body, mind, or emotions get the better of me. I feel compelled to do everything in my power to put an end to such violence; no one deserves to live in fear!'

Earlier this month, she revealed on social media that she will take part in the hike challenge
Morning Joe hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski tore into Kellyanne Conway Tuesday, suggesting she's lied again and again to the American public.

'How many times does she go out and say things that are not true?' griped Brzezinski, as Scarborough talked over his co-host to NBC's Willie Geist and charged that Conway's 'so out of the loop.'

The MSNBC morning show hosts were responding to yesterday's White House drama, with Conway saying on the network that national security adviser Michael Flynn enjoyed 'the full confidence of the president,' only for Flynn to turn in his resignation letter several hours later.

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Morning Joe hosts Mika Brzezinski (left) and Joe Scarborough (right) charged Kellyanne Conway with lying - or being out of the loop and 'blathering' on TV anyway

Mika Brzezinski (left) said she didn't want the White House official to appear on the show again, while Joe Scarborough (middle) told Willie Geist (right) that he heard Kellyanne Conway wasn't in any of the meetings, 'And she goes out there and starts talking without having facts'

Willie Geist pointed out that some reporting indicated that the White House may have been responding to the Michael Flynn allegations in real time, which could account for the differences in tone between what Kellyanne Conway said and remarks made by Press Secretary Sean Spicer

Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway got in hot water yesterday after saying Michael Flynn has 'the full confidence of the president,' only for him to resign several hours later

'It happens time and time again, she goes out and lies and you find out about those lies a couple hours later,' Scarborough muttered. 'Or if she's not lying, Willie, she's, actually what I've heard she is, Willie, is she is so out of the loop. She is in none of the meetings.'

'And she goes out there and starts talking without having facts,' Scarborough continued.

Meanwhile, his co-host pledged to 'not interview her' anymore.

'It's giving people dishonesty,' Brzezinski said. 'It's not worth the interview.'

Brzezinski described what Conway was doing as 'blathering.'

Geist pointed out that some reporting indicated that the White House was responding to the allegations against Flynn in real time.

Neither Mika Brzezinski (center left) nor Joe Scarborough (center right) wanted to give Conway the benefit of the doubt

Flynn is accused to speaking to the Russian ambassador, while President Obama was still in office, and telling him that the White House, under President Trump, may again ease sanctions.

This conversation came on the heels of President Obama announcing new sanctions against Russia, for the country's interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Flynn then reportedly misled officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, on the content of the conversation.

Additionally, the Justice Department, under former acting Attorney General Sally Yates, informs the White House in January that Flynn misled administration officials about his conversation with the Russian, and thus could be subject to blackmail.

Because the Justice Department had warned the White House about Flynn, Brzezinski didn't buy that the White House was acting on information in real time, which would have excused Conway's 'full confidence' quote.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer came out several hours later and said President Trump was 'evaluating the situation' in regards to Flynn, a markedly different tone.

'No, no, no, no, no come one,' Brzezinski replied, when Geist suggested that some reporting indicated that Conway could get the benefit of the doubt.

Scarborough again suggested that Conway, Trump's former campaign manager, wasn't fully in.

'She'll go in and get a picture with the president, get a selfie with the president,' he suggested.

'She's been out of the loop for months now,' he charged.
Antonia Lopez admitted to throwing her newborn daughter out a second-floor window

A 16-year-old girl admitted to killing her newborn daughter by throwing the 'secret baby' out of a second-floor window.

Antonia Lopez gave birth in secret in her Omaha, Nebraska, bedroom on September 30, 2016, before throwing the newborn out the window and soliciting help in getting rid of the body on Facebook, police said.

The baby, who was about two months premature, measured 14 inches long and weighed just two pounds.

She suffered bleeding near the skull, brain, spine and abdomen before she was pronounced dead, an autopsy revealed.

Lopez denied knowing she was pregnant but messages on her Snapchat account suggest she did realise and kept it hidden for months.

She was originally charged as an adult but entered a plea of admission after her case was moved to the juvenile court, the Omaha World Herald reported.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine, whose office agreed to move the case down to the juvenile court based on Lopez's mental state and the lack of a criminal history, said the teen's reaction was not premeditated.

He told the World Herald: ' To me, after we looked into it, the way things happened, it didn't seem to be anything you would label as an adult-specific act.

'It wasn't a planned-out, thought-out process. It was more of a panicked reaction.'

Lopez, who would have faced 20 years to life if convicted in district court, was ordered to continue school and undergo both medical and psychiatric care while she remains in foster care.

Lopez could be placed on probation or sent to a group home or detention center until she turns 19.

Kleine said: 'She obviously has some issues that need to be dealt with.'

Lopez (pictured) who was originally charged as an adult, entered a plea of admission after her case was moved to the juvenile court due to her lack of criminal record and her mental state

The baby, measuring 14 inches long and weighing just two pounds, suffered bleeding near the skull, brain, spine and abdomen before she was pronounced dead, an autopsy revealed

The teenager told police she didn't know she was pregnant when she woke up on September 30 - a claim her boyfriend disputed.

She began pushing the baby out onto a towel she laid on the ground and pierced the amniotic sac with a nail clipper, police said.

Lopez panicked and threw her baby out the window, and her mother later called 911 after she found the child in the grass below. The baby was pronounced dead by the time she was taken to the hospital.

A pathologist told police the baby was alive when she was thrown out the window, even though Lopez told her boyfriend: 'Babe I had a miscarriage.'

Lopez sent her boyfriend several text messages between 12.56am and 3.06am, including one that read: 'Babe Im having contractions in my lower abs every couple seconds. It hurts so much.'

Less than two hours later, she wrote: 'It was a girl by the way.'

She later sent another text that read: 'Babe we can try again if you still want to be with me.'

When a friend responded to her Facebook status (above), Lopez asked for help getting rid of the baby and requested trashbags, according to police

A previous post dating back to January 2016 (pictured) shows the girl with a baby doll for a school assignment on parenting. She wrote: 'This thing so annoying'

Lopez also posted a Facebook status at 3.40am, just 32 minutes before paramedics were dispatched to her home.

The update read: 'Who can do me a huge favor and has a car?' followed by three crying emojis.

When a friend responded, Lopez asked for help getting rid of the baby and asked for trashbags and a car, according to Omaha Police Officer Chad Kavar's testimony.

A previous post dating back to January shows the girl with a baby doll for what appeared to be a school assignment on parenting, with the caption: 'This thing so annoying.'

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine, whose office agreed to move the case down to the juvenile court, said 'It wasn't a planned-out, thought-out process' (pictured, Lopez)

Lopez went missing in August last year and was believed to be a runaway, according to WOWT.

Lopez's grandfather, John Barcelona, told KETV he had no idea his granddaughter was pregnant.

'She looked like she was well underweight more than anything else, I would've never dreamed that she was pregnant,' he said. 'In my head, I just can't believe it, I can't believe it.'

It is unclear whether other members of Lopez's family knew about her pregnancy.
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Stacked side-by-side and tangled at awkward angles, thousands of abandoned two-wheelers are left to rust at this bizarre bicycle graveyard.

Photographs taken from the air show the extent of the bike burial ground, located at Zhengzhou University in central China's Henan province.

Apparently the bikes were dumped by their owners because they were broken or malfunctioning. A school security officer explained that they can only be reclaimed if their owners seek them out.

The university is the tenth biggest in China with more than 36,000 students, therefore the campus grounds have to be kept in check.

The dilapidated bikes will soon be packed up and disposed of, the official said.

Stacked side-by-side and tangled at awkward angles, thousands of abandoned two-wheelers are left to rust at this bizarre bicycle graveyard

Photographs taken from the air show the extent of the bike burial ground, located at Zhengzhou University in central China's Henan province

Apparently the bikes were dumped by their owners because they were broken or malfunctioning

. A school security officer explained that they can only be reclaimed if their owners seek them out

The university is the tenth biggest in China with more than 36,000 students, therefore the campus grounds have to be kept in check
A woman has been hospitalised after being mauled by a lion while on safari with her boyfriend.

The woman, Ngoni Hera was posing for pictures alongside her partner when the big cat pounced and mauled her right hip.

The 36-year-old was rushed to hospital with deep flesh wounds after the visit to the Eco Game Park in Headlands, in the Province of Manicaland, Eastern Zimbabwe.

Ngoni Hera, pictured, was mauled by the lion after it sneaked up on her at the Eco Game Park in Headlands, Manicaland, Eastern Zimbabwe according to reports from the scene

Ms Hera suffered puncture wounds to her hip after the lion clawed at her through a fence

Officers say the woman was leaning on a fence when the caged white lion spotted her and raked his gigantic paws down her hip and arm.

The pair had been enjoying the views on a day out together and were taking pictures of the lion enclosure, believing the beasts were further away.

But the white lion was actually just hidden among bushes and pounced as her unnamed boyfriend captured the picture.

It is believed she is still in hospital receiving treatment.

The wildlife conservation park boasts zebra, lions, giraffes as well as others and is a sanctuary for older animals who can no longer be in the wild.
Teenage car thieves are terrorising northern Brisbane by allegedly posing with the vehicles they plan to steal and posting the photos online.

Residents say the courts have failed them because the juveniles 'hide behind their age' and can't be named or identified by law.

A woman whose light blue Audi was reportedly targeted told Seven News she felt unsafe driving her car around and was stalked by the 'Northside' gang.

Teenage car thieves are allegedly terrorising northern Brisbane by posing with the vehicles they plan to steal and posting the photos online, like this blue Audi

The owner of the car she felt unsafe driving her car around and was reportedly stalked by the 'Northside' gang after they posed with it at the Strathpine train station car park and posted it online

The boy's Facebook intro reads 'your car is next'

The boy posed with her car at the Strathpine train station car park and posted it online, along with photos of her driving away.

His Facebook intro reads 'your car is next'.

'It made me feel sick that some I've worked so hard for, someone can just come along and insinuate that they can just take it,' the woman said.

When she came back to the train station she knew the gang was waiting and watching for her so they could find out where she lived.

Teenage alleged car thieves pose in front of another car that was stolen from the area

'They'll find out where you live, break into your house and take your keys,' she said.

'They boast about the fact that they can't be caught and can't be named and shamed - they're hiding behind their age.'

While the media can't identify the alleged thieves, the Moreton Crime Watch Facebook group is naming and shaming the teenagers it believes is responsible.

While the media can't identify the alleged thieves, the Moreton Crime Watch Facebook group is naming and shaming the teenagers it believes is responsible, such as in the shot

'The courts have failed us too many times but the community will fight back,' it said. Another group shot of alleged gang members is pictured

'The courts have failed us too many times but the community will fight back,' it said.

Members of the gang are now allegedly being investigated in connection with a dozen guns stolen from a home northwest of Brisbane last month.

A house in Hendra, near Brisbane Airport, was raided on Tuesday morning and police found seven of the guns along with ammunition.
The Kremlin has demonstrated the ability of Russian forces to carry out beach landings, at a time of heightened tensions on Europe's borders.

Video posted online by the Russian Defence Ministry shows two tanks storm the beach, thought to be in Ukraine, in a show of strength posted online as part of a training exercise.

It comes days after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a spot check on the country's aerospace forces, in order to 'evaluate readiness' for combat.

Last week Vladimir Putin ordered his air force to prepare for a 'time of war' amid heightened tensions with NATO

He has already ordered his air force to prepare for 'a time of war'.

The professionally-shot video shows the tanks speedily descend on the beach from a vessel more than 100 metres from the shore in a training exercise carried out by troops from the Baltic Fleet.

The tanks are seen gliding down a ramp before emerging from the water onto the beach.

The footage posted by the Russian Defence Ministry shows tanks deployed from a vessel more than 100 metres from the shore

The tanks descend on the beach after gliding down a ramp into the water in the dramatic video

The Ministry wrote alongside the footage, posted on YouTube: 'The crews of the Baltic Fleet landing craft carried out live firing of KPVT machine guns at sea and air targets, and landed six armored marines at Hmelvka.'

It comes during heightened tensions with Nato countries, and Putin has been publicly increasing his military strength in recent months.

Last week Lithuania said it trusts US President Donald Trump to continue the Obama administration's commitment to beef up the alliance's eastern flank.

Obama ordered an unprecedented deployment of troops to reassure NATO allies in eastern Europe after Russia's annexation of the Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

The tank moves through the water toward the land in the video posted as a demonstration of Russian force

The tank arrives on the beach in the video, posted online days after Putin told his forces to prepare for a 'time of war'

The Kremlin has denied any territorial ambitions and claims NATO is trying to encircle Russia.

But Moscow's deployment last year of nuclear-capable Iskander missiles into its heavily-militarised Kaliningrad exclave, which borders Lithuania and Poland, and frequent Russian military drills in the region have prompted concern among nearby NATO states.

On Wednesday last week, US tanks arrived in Latvia ahead of NATO's moves to expand defense troops on eastern Europe's border with Russia.

Workers prepare to unload U.S. M1 Abrams tanks that will be deployed in Latvia for NATO's Operation Atlantic Resolve in Garkalne, Latvia

In moves agreed last year under former President Barack Obama, NATO is expanding its presence in the region to levels unprecedented since the Cold War

Fifteen M1 Abrams tanks, six Bradley fighting vehicles and other military equipment has arrived in Garkalne, along with the US Army's 3rd Brigade 225 soldiers.

The German-led battle group of 1,000 troops in Lithuania will be joined this year by a US-led deployment in Poland, British-led troops in Estonia and Canadian-led troops in Latvia.

Last summer, NATO ordered continuous troop rotations in four eastern members as a tripwire against Russian adventurism in states formerly under Moscow's control.

A NATO official said the NATO forces would participate in a major exercise in eastern Europe in June

Last week the president of Lithuania, one of the former Soviet state that has felt vulnerable following Russia's annexation of Crimea, said he was confident of US support on Europe's eastern border.

Dalia Grybauskaite said: 'We trust the US administration. We believe that all obligations will be fulfilled and we will have the same reliable NATO partner and ally as it was before.

'This is done already. We have American troops on our soil.'
Homeless Justin Vincent (pictured) and Emily Thompson, 36, were attacked along with Janet Durrant at about 4pm

A homeless acid attack victim who may never see again has described the pain she suffered as 'worse than child labour' when she was assaulted with two other people.

Two women and a man were left with horrific injuries after acid was squirted in their faces following the horrific assault in Canterbury town centre last Friday.

Homeless Justin Vincent, 39, and Emily Thompson, 36, were attacked along with Janet Durrant, 69, who lives in a one-bedroom flat close to the crime scene, at about 4pm.

Their skin blistered and steamed after the corrosive liquid was fired at them in two attacks.

Ms Thompson was the worst affected and suffered agonising pain as the liquid was shot directly into her eyes.

Doctors said the acid is likely to leave one eye permanently damaged and she may never fully regain her sight.

She said: 'The pain was worse than child labour. I can't believe it happened. The colour in one of my eyes has changed completely and the vision is very blurry.

'The attack was completely unexpected and the liquid, which we think is battery acid, was squirted out of something like a Lucozade bottle.'

All three were taken to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford and will require ongoing tests and treatment.

Mr Vincent was left with scorch marks across his forehead. He said: 'There was just so much burning on my face.

'My eyesight went all blurry so I just shut my eyes. I thought for a while that I might not be able to see again.

'The liquid was so strong it literally melted our clothes. The ambulance people were very good, though. They came to get us straight away.'

Tests are being carried out on the liquid used, which Kent Police described as 'a clear, noxious liquid'.

A 17-year-old boy, from the Forest Gate, London appeared at the youth court at Folkestone Magistrates' Court on Monday charged with two counts of wounding with intent of Ms Durrant, Mr Vincent and Ms Thompson.

The teenager, who cannot be named, spoke only to confirm his name and address.

Their skin blistered and steamed after the corrosive liquid was fired at them in two attacks near Canterbury town centre (pictured) last Friday. All three were taken to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford and will require ongoing tests and treatment

It is alleged he launched two attacks on the same day, throwing the chemicals at four people in two separate locations.

Prosecutor Adrian Crossley told the court if convicted the youth faces anywhere between two and 14 years in prison.

He added: 'These are grave allegations. The liquid went into the eyes, but the prosecution do not as yet know the exact nature of it except that it was heavily corrosive.

'It caused blistering to their skin and steam to come from their faces as the acid hit them. Emily Thompson sustained the greatest damage and may have permanently suffered partial blindness.

'The liquid burned holes in their clothing and Janet Durrant says she has never felt anything like it.'

The prosecution alleges that the trio were attacked twice in separate incidents ten minutes apart.

The attack happened less than 24 hours after a man in his 20s was robbed in a similar acid attack in another part of the city.

Last Thursday night a man had a 'noxious liquid' sprayed in his face during a separate robbery thought to be unconnected to the later assault.
Colin Leacock (pictured leaving Southwark Crown Court today), 34, is on trial for two counts of rape and two of ABH

A Match.com user accused of raping and beating a vulnerable woman he met on the dating website today blamed his sister for their split because she used his lover as a 'slave' and forced them apart, a court heard.

Colin Leacock, 34, denied making the 37-year-old give him oral sex after she moved into his home in St Johns Wood, north west London, following an online relationship in early 2015.

His sister Mandy Leacock, 36, later made the woman a 'slave' at her home in Maida Vale, during a year-long ordeal between March 2015 and March 2016.

She battered the woman, poured bleach over her in the bath, pulled her hair out and treated the woman as an 'unpaid skivvy' during the months of abuse.

She also bought expensive clothes and gifts with the victims bank card, Southwark Crown Courtheard.

Mandy Leacock has admitted three assault charges and will be sentenced later but her brother denies two counts of rape and two of assault.

He allegedly punched the woman and 'swung her by the hair so the hair came out' - but he maintains he 'never' assaulted her and says they only ever had consensual sex.

He told jurors his sister got angry when the vulnerable woman overdosed in April 2015 because it 'spoiled' her day.

'When she took the overdose in my flat Mandy found out and she wasnt very happy because she had spoiled Mandy's day,' he said.

After she was discharged from hospital Mandy Leacock made the woman live at her flat where she she was regularly assaulted and forced to 'prove' she could cook and clean, jurors heard.

The victim has told the court Mandy Leacock 'made me a slave'.

Colin Leacock, who suffers from learning difficulties, said he became 'very upset and very depressed' and felt he was 'getting pushed out' after his sister made his lover live with her.

Mandy Leacock (pictured) treated the woman like a slave, ordering her to cook and clean as an 'unpaid skivvy', punishing her by covering her with bleach as she sat in a bath

Asked how he felt when the complainant later told him she 'didnt love you anymore', he replied: 'It broke my heart. I used to cry.'

The former McDonalds worker, now on benefits, is accused of forcing the woman to perform oral sex in his sisters kitchen on New Years Eve 2015.

He told the court she performed consensual oral sex 'very quickly' adding: 'We were scared that we would have got caught.'

Leacock said he had moved onto another relationship when his sister forced the woman to stand on his balcony in the cold as a punishment.

When his sister left for a hospital appointment he asked her to come in and she told him: 'No you have got a girlfriend.'

Leacock denied forcing the woman to perform oral sex and told jurors if she had told him not to continue 'I would just back off and walk away.

Leacock, from Maida Vale, is on trial at Southwark Crown Court accused of two counts of rape and two of assault causing actual bodily harm

'If she had struggled that would have been a no no no.'

A psychologist has concluded that Leacock's IQ may be as low as 55 but he has a 'rudimentary' understanding of consent.

He claims he 'never' joined in as his sister beat her and said when police showed him photos of his former lovers injuries he was 'quite disgusted by it, very shocked'.

The court heard he only saw his sister attack the woman once when she beat her over the head with a phone.

Jurors were told he has no previous convictions buts in 2011 accepted a caution for assaulting his sister.

Leacock denies two counts of rape and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. His sister has admitted three counts of ABH.

The trial continues.
Musician Moby claimed in a Facebook post on Monday that the dossier on President Donald Trump is '100 per cent real' and that his administration is 'in collusion with the Russian government'.

Moby said that after meeting with friends in Washington, DC, he could 'safely' say that Trump is being blackmailed over the infamous 35-page dossier that surfaced in January and accused the president of being involved in a sex tape involving with prostitutes in a Moscow hotel room.

The dossier, compiled by a former British intelligence officer, also accused Trump of being blackmailed by Russian operatives. Trump has slammed the document, claiming it's 'fake news'.

But Moby says the accusations are true - despite offering no evidence - and that he's working to 'present information that will lead to high level firings and, ultimately, impeachment'.

In a Facebook post, Moby said that after meeting with friends in Washington, DC, he could 'safely (well "accurately")' say Trump is being blackmailed over the dossier that surfaced in January. Trump has slammed the document, claiming it's 'fake news'

Moby says the accusations are true and that he's working to 'present information that will lead to high level firings and, ultimately, impeachment'

Moby also claimed that the Republican Party and the Koch brothers are trying to 'get rid' of Trump.

He wrote in his conspiratorial Facebook post: 'After spending the weekend talking to friends who work in dc i can safely(well, 'accurately'...) post the following things:

'1-the russian dossier on trump is real. 100% real. he's being blackmailed by the russian government, not just for being peed on by russian hookers, but for much more nefarious things.

'2-the trump administration is in collusion with the russian government, and has been since day one.

'3-the trump administration needs a war, most likely with iran. at present they are putting u.s warships off the coast of iran in the hope that iran will attack one of the ships and give the u.s a pretense for invasion.

'4-there are right wing plans to get rid of trump. he's a drain on their fundraising and their approval ratings, and the gop and koch brothers and other u.s right wing groups are planning to get rid of trump.

Moby claimed that Trump's administration is 'in collusion with the Russian government' (pictured above is Russian President Vladimir Putin)

Hours later, Moby posted another message, saying he's 'just a bald clown who probably knows nothing'

'5-intelligence agencies around the world, and here in the u.s, are horrified by the incompetence of the trump administration, and are working to present information that will lead to high level firings and, ultimately, impeachment. i'm writing these things so that when/if these things happen there will be a public record beforehand.

'These are truly baffling and horrifying times, as we have an incompetent president who is essentially owned by a foreign power.'

Hours later, Moby posted another message, saying he's 'just a bald clown who probably knows nothing'.

While Moby doesn't reveal who his supposed sources are, some of his claims do bear some relationship with the truth.

Charles and David Koch called Trump's travel ban 'the wrong approach' last month, and Charles warned that the United States could 'go the authoritarian route or we can move toward a free and open society. So this is our opportunity'.

While Michael Flynn resigned from his position of National Security Advisor on Monday night, during his just 24 days in the role he put Iran 'on notice' after a 'provocative' ballistic missile test launch.

The after Trump won the presidential election in November, Moby penned a letter for Billboard titled, 'What the F*** is Wrong With You?'

He also claimed to have turned down the opportunity to perform at one of Trump's inaugural balls in January.
Donald Trump on Tuesday morning tweeted his first public statement since accepting National Security Advisor Michael Flynn's resignation  blaming whistle-blowers, not the disgraced former general, for driving his administration's first big scandal.

'The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington?' the president wrote on Twitter.

'Will these leaks be happening as I deal on N.Korea etc?'

A White House aide told DailyMail.com shortly thereafter that a 'shameless' 'enemy within' is hamstringing the president in 'disgusting' fashion.

President Donald Trump tweeted Tuesday morning suggesting he's angry with intelligence leakers who brought down his national security advisor, Gen. Mike Flynn

Trump wondered aloud if leaks will hamstring his future international negotiations, including unspecified work related to North Korea

Trump did not say whether he would prosecute government employees behind the 'illegal' leaks that brought Flynn down after he conducted secret conversations with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak in December and lied to Vice President Mike Pence about them.

Speaking shortly after then-president Barack Obama imposed a round of economic sanctions on Moscow and expelled 35 Russian diplomats from the U.S., Flynn and Kislyak reportedly discussed the possibility of Trump easing those measures once he took office.

The sanctions were in response to the Obama administration's conclusion that President Vladimir Putin's government conspired to compromise the U.S. presidential election through a campaign of computer hacking.

Trump also did not elaborate Tuesday about what he meant by referring to a future 'deal on N.Korea.'

Obama's Justice Department prosecuted national security leakers in government to an unprecedented extent, using the Espionage Act to level criminal charges against more than all previous presidents combined.

His successor could, if he wants to, eclipse that achievement in short order.

Flynn (left) resigned Monday night over accusations that he lied to the vice president about conversations he had with Russia's ambassador to the U.S.

Already Trump has found himself on the wrong end of leaked executive order drafts, foreign-leader call transcripts, national security hiring decisions and at least one pending military operation plan.

The result has been a bunker mentality in some corners of the West Wing, with sources telling DailyMail.com that Trump political appointees have been forced to consider what a hostile bureaucracy might do to undermine their decisions at every step.

'No one expected the enemy within would be so shameless,' one administration aide said Tuesday. 'It's disgusting, especially coming from inside the Intelligence Community.'

A second aide said he didn't know whether the administration will adopt a get-tough attitude on rooting out leaks.

CNN reported Tuesday that House Intelligence Committee chairman Devin Nunes, a California Republican, will investigate the leaks that led to Flynn's ouster.

But Nunes, citing executive privilege, sais he won't probe what Trump knew  and when  about the Flynn-Kislyak scandal.

When he was still president-elect, Trump asked congressional leaders to investigate how NBC got an advance look at intelligence findings related to Russia's election-year hacking exploits.
Amid the calls for further Russia inquiries in the wake of Mike Flynn's resignation as national security advisor, Intelligence Committee ranking Democrat Rep. Adam Schiff wants to probe 'salacious' allegations against President Trump.

Schiff revealed his interest in pursuing the explosive - and discredited - material in an interview where he called for a joint congressional investigation into Russian activities. His own panel is already looking into Russia's alleged election interference.

Schiff, who was speaking to CNN, then appeared to reference an allegation included in a 35-page dossier of information on Trump prepared by a former British intelligence agent.

'These allegations have to be looked into  as well as you know the more salacious allegations if there is compromising material that could be used to blackmail the president, that needs to be investigated as well,' Schiff said. 'We just have to follow the facts wherever they lead.'

Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said an investigation needs to include 'the more salacious allegations if there is compromising material that could be used to blackmail the president'

'Were in the very early stages,' of the Russia probe, Schiff said.

'We do have to look at the whole range of Russian active measures. We cannot wall of any potential source of investigation or inquiry.'

Schiff mentioned information that could be used to blackmail the president as new revelations were emerging about Flynn's departure.

Schiff was referencing discredited information that the Russians were in possession of a sex tape involving Trump and prostitutes in a Moscow hotel room. After he mentioned salacious material, a CNN anchor stated that the network had never verified the information, although it had reported earlier on a summary of the dossier that had been provided to President Obama and to Trump.

The Washington Post reported Monday night that former acting attorney General Sally Yates, whom Trump fired over her refusal to enforce his immigration order, informed the White House last month that Flynn had misled members of the administration about his Russia ties and was 'vulnerable to blackmail.'

Schiff tweeted that the White House 'did nothing' after learning about Flynn's 'lie' about Russia

Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room during the daily news briefing at the White House in Washington, DC on Wednesday, Feb. 1

'Flynns departure does not end questions over his contacts with the Russians, which have been alleged to have begun well before December 29'

Schiff praised panel chairman Devin Nunes of California in his remarks.

'The chairman of the intelligence committee to his credit is willing to pursue the facts where they lead  Id like to do that jointly with the Senate,' he said.

Schiff also said he wants the panel to pursue matters that led to the resignation of Mike Flynn, including whether he was acting on President Trump's behalf when he had multiple phone and text contacts with Russia's ambassador to the U.S.

Flynn's resignation "does not end questions over his contacts with the Russians," he said.

Investigators have verified some elements of a 'dirty dossier' of information gathered on President Donald Trump when he was a candidate for the office, it was revealed Friday  though not the salacious parts Schiff was referring to.

The information that reportedly checked out involved conversations between Russian individuals and Russian government officials.

The information did not confirm discredited information that the Russians were in possession of a sex tape involving Trump and prostitutes in a Moscow hotel room.

CNN, has, however, located current and former law enforcement sources who say other elements of the dossier hold up, potentially speaking to the credibility of the overall document.

Nor do the sources confirm potentially damaging financial information about the president.

The officials said intercepts reveal that some of the conversations referenced in the dossier referenced the same people on the same days and locations mentioned in the dossier.

The corroborating material provide 'greater confidence' in the credibility of the dossier, three anonymous sources told the network.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump talk with reporters on board Air Force One while traveling to Palm Beach. It was here that Trump denied knowledge of a report on Flynn's Russia contacts at the time - his only public statement so far on his now departed aide

The dossier charges that the Russian government has gained compromising information on President Trump

British former M16 spy Christopher Steele compiled the dossier

White House press secretary Sean Spicer blasted the network when asked for comment Friday.

'We continue to be disgusted by CNN's fake news reporting,' he said.

There were renewed calls for Russia inquiry following Flynn's resignation Friday.

Senate Intelligence panel chairman Richard Burr of North Carolina has said Flynn may need to testify before his panel.

Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said the public deserves to know whether General Flynn was conducting a 'rogue maneuver' when he was communicating with the Russian ambassador.

According to a statement Schiff released, 'Flynns departure does not end questions over his contacts with the Russians, which have been alleged to have begun well before December 29.'

'He continued: 'These alleged contacts and any others the Trump campaign may have had with the Kremlin are the subject of the House Intelligence Committees ongoing investigation. Moreover, the Trump Administration has yet to be forthcoming about who was aware of Flynns conversations with the Ambassador and whether he was acting on the instructions of the President or any other officials, or with their knowledge.'
A far-right German politician is being investigated after she shared a picture of Adolf Hitler alongside the words 'Germany needs you'.

Elena Roon, a parliamentary candidate for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, shared an image of the Fuhrer in a Whatsapp group.

She wrote alongside it: 'Missed since 1945', alongside captions, 'Adolf please get in touch! Germany needs you!'

Elena Roon posted images of Adolf Hitler, alongside the worlds 'Adolf please get in touch! Germany needs you!

Roon, from Nuremburg, is now being investigated by the party, amid fears she has brought the anti-immigration AfD into disrepute.

After the messages came to light, she admitted sending the pictures, but denied being an admirer of Hitler.

She later denied supporting right-wing extremism and anti-Semitism after posting the pictures of Hitler

Roon told German newspaper Munchener Merkur: 'I distance myself from right-wing extremism and anti-Semitism.'

She denied wanted Hitler to come back, and added: 'Anybody who wishes to draw the conclusion that I condone what it says in the images is twisting the truth round completely.'

But she did not explain to the publication why she had sent the pictures and capions.

The head of the party in Bavaria has said 'there will be consequences' if her behaviour has damaged the party.

Petr Bystron said the AfD 'takes this matter very seriously'.

The party is already in disarray amid efforts to remove its leader in central state Thuringia.

Bjorn Hocke provoked outrage when he claimed Germany was too hung up by guilt over the Holocaust.

He has nevertheless been backed by AfD co-leader Jorg Meuthen and deputy leader Alexander Gauland.
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Travellers have dumped tons of rubbish at a beauty spot famed for being where Charlie Chaplin was born in a caravan.

Around 15 caravans moved onto Black Patch Park in Smethwick, West Midlands, last Wednesday before they were evicted five days later. It is the third time in two years that travellers have invaded the 20-acre site.

Shocking pictures taken today at the scene - best known as the birthplace of the silent film star who died in 1977 - show huge mounds of trash left behind by the travellers after they were kicked off the site by Sandwell Council.

Huge piles of tyres, tables and chairs and a mattress can be seen among the mountains of waste dumped there - and a video was taken that appeared to show the rubbish being emptied onto the site.

Sofas and chairs among the rubbish left after travellers moved off Black Patch Park in Smethwick, West Midlands

The travellers dumped tons of rubbish at a beauty spot famed for being where Charlie Chaplin was born in a caravan

Around 15 caravans moved onto Black Patch Park in Smethwick last Wednesday before they were evicted five days later

The latest incident is the third time in two years that travellers have invaded the 20-acre site in the West Midlands

Shocking pictures taken today at the scene in Smethwick show huge mounds of trash left behind by the gypsies

The travellers were kicked off the site of Black Patch Park by Sandwell Council less than a week after they arrived

Council leader Steve Eling said: 'The mess at Black Patch Park is an absolute disgrace. Tons of rubbish were dumped there within just a matter of days.

'We've now secured the Black Patch site and staff are now trying to find any evidence of who is responsible for this rubbish.

'The people who pay to have rubbish taken away which is then dumped also have a responsibility to make sure it's disposed of properly.

'If we can link this rubbish to any business or individual who has failed to make sure it's been properly disposed of, we will be taking action against them, too.'

A video grab of people being caught in the act dumping rubbish at Black Patch Park in Smethwick

Huge mounds of rubbish were left behind by the travellers after they were booted off the site by the local council

Black Patch Park is best known as the birthplace of the silent film star Charlie Chaplin who died in 1977

Huge piles of tyres, tables and chairs and a mattress can be seen among the mountains of waste dumped there

Sandwell Council leader Steve Eling complained that the 'mess at Black Patch Park is an absolute disgrace'

Tons of rubbish were dumped at the park in Smethwick 'within just a matter of days', according to the council leader

Anyone who transports waste without a waste carrier licence can be fined up to 5,000

Fly-tipping carries a fine of up to 40,000. Anyone who transports waste without a waste carrier licence can be fined up to 5,000.

Travellers have a long history at the Black Patch, which was visited by Chaplin's son Michael in 2015. The park, on the border of Birmingham and Sandwell, was home to a Romany Gypsy community in the 19th century.

Legend has it that Chaplin was born in a caravan there in 1889. Despite Chaplin's claims in an autobiography that he was born in London, his daughter Victoria found a secret letter in his desk suggesting otherwise.

The letter, from a man called Jack Hill, from Tamworth, to Chaplin, said: 'You were born on the Black Patch in Smethwick. So was I, two and a half years later.

'Your mum did move again with her dad's circus and later settled down in London but whereabouts I do not know.'

Travellers have a long history at the Black Patch, which was visited by Chaplin's son Michael in 2015

Council leader Mr Eling said staff are 'trying to find any evidence of who is responsible for this rubbish'

The council could link the rubbish to any business or individual who has failed to make sure it's been properly disposed of

Legend has it that Chaplin was born in a caravan on the site in the West Midlands on April 16, 1889

The park, on the border of Birmingham and Sandwell, was home to a Romany Gypsy community in the 19th century
An angry passenger who missed his flight has been caught on camera violently punching an airline manager who refused to refund him.

Shocking CCTV footage shows the disgruntled man speaking to the manager of low-cost Russian carrier, Pobeda Airlines, after he arrived too late for his flight from Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow.

He had arrived at the gate after it closed and was infuriated to be told that he couldn't board the plane even though it was still on the tarmac.

Shocking CCTV footage shows the disgruntled man speaking to the manager of low-cost Russian carrier, Pobeda Airlines, after he arrived too late for his flight from Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow

But as the pair discuss the situation in a back office and the unnamed passenger is informed he is unable to get a refund because he had arrived too late to board the flight, he becomes increasingly incensed and hits the other man

But as the pair discuss the situation in a back office and the unnamed passenger is informed he is unable to get a refund because he had arrived too late to board the flight, he becomes increasingly incensed and hits the other man.

The two tussle ferociously as the passenger rains blows upon the manager who fights back with equal force as he tries to defend himself.

The airline employee was struck on his head and face before the man stormed out of the office.

He was later arrested by police officers at the airport.

The manager, whose name was not reported, required medical treatment for his injuries and filed an official complaint with police.

The two tussle ferociously as the passenger rains blows upon the manager who fights back with equal force as he tries to defend himself

The airline employee was struck on his head and face before the man stormed out of the office. He was later arrested by police officers at the airport

A police spokesman said that the angry passenger had been questioned and later released, but added that the police investigation was ongoing.

A Pobeda Airlines spokesman called on the government to do more to protect airline staff from passengers who turn violent on flights and in airports.
President Donald Trump demanded his national security adviser's resignation last night after concluding that an 'eroding level of trust' had made it impossible to leave him in the sensitive position.

A report late on Tuesday afternoon revealed that Michael Flynn had been interviewed by the FBI in the first days of the Trump administration over claims he made about a pre-inauguration talk with a Kremlin representative that were repeated by the vice president.

Investigators were concerned that Flynn did not tell them the entire truth, the New York Times said, and informed the White House the very same day.

Yet, the vice president did not find out until two weeks later, on Feb. 9, NBC News claimed early on Tuesday evening.

Mike Pence's spokesman, Mark Lotter, confirmed the network's reporting shortly after to a group of journalists. Lotter further said that the VP learned of Flynn's deceit from the same report on Feb. 9 that they did.

The vice president became of the incomplete information that he had received on Feb. 9 last Thursday night based on media accounts, and he did an inquiry based on those media accounts,' Lotter stated.

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White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Tuesday that President Donald Trump asked for former national security advisor Michael Flynn's resignation on Monday night because of an 'eroding level of trust'

Trust: The White House said Flynn was told to go by President Trump because he misled the vice president about what he said to Russia's ambassador. Flynn's relationship with Moscow included being paid to party with Putin in Moscow in 2015.

The White House knew that Flynn may not have been entirely truthful but the vice president did not find out until two weeks later, on Feb. 9, Pence's spokesman said

Kellyanne Conway suggested it was a mutual decision this morning - but that's not what Spicer said

Trump wondered aloud if leaks will hamstring his future international negotiations, including unspecified work related to North Korea - suggesting his anger was focused on the manner of Flynn's departure rather than the ex-national security adviser misleading his vice-president

Something to clap about: Trump said nothing as he signed into law a move by Congress to roll back elements of Dodd-Frank banking regulations and some environmental rules for the energy industry

Lotter delivered the statement as reporters finished a gaggle with White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer about Flynn's spectacular fall from grace.

Spicer had said at a news conference earlier in the day that Trump had been reviewing and evaluating allegations against Flynn for weeks.

He would not get into the details of the situation then, or later, other than to say that it reached 'critical mass' last night.

'That is why the president decided to ask for his resignation, and he got it.'

Spicer cited Flynn's misleading statements to Pence about the call he had with the Russian ambassador to the United States  'and a series of other questionable instances' that he would not describe.

If the ex-general provided false statements to the FBI he could face an investigation with the possibility of felony charges. It is an offense not to tell the agency the truth and interviews do not have to be under oath.

TRUMP: WHAT ABOUT THE LEAKERS? Donald Trump on Tuesday morning tweeted his first public statement since accepting National Security Advisor Michael Flynn's resignation  blaming leakers not the disgraced former general, for driving his administration's first big scandal. 'The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington?' the president wrote on Twitter. 'Will these leaks be happening as I deal on N.Korea etc?' A White House aide told DailyMail.com shortly thereafter that a 'shameless' 'enemy within' is hamstringing the president in 'disgusting' fashion. Trump did not say whether he would prosecute government employees behind the 'illegal' leaks that brought Flynn down after he conducted secret conversations with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak in December and lied to Vice President Mike Pence about them. Advertisement

Flynn suggested in an interview on Monday with the Daily Caller News Foundation that he was not under investigation by the federal agency, however.

It came up as he insisted to the non-profit news outlet that he hadn't done anything wrong.

'If I did, believe me, the FBI would be down my throat, my clearances would be pulled. There were no lines crossed,' he said in the interview that hit the internet around the same time as the Times' report.

Spicer had dismissed concerns earlier in the day that Flynn's calls with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak were problematic. He said the retired general was dismissed when Trump decided he couldn't rely on him.

'There was nothing wrong or inappropriate about those discussions. It purely came down to a matter of trust. That's it,' Spicer told reporters.

The Department of Justice notified the White House's legal counsel, Don McGhan, on Jan. 26 that Flynn may have fibbed when he said that he did not discuss sanctions with Kislyak. The White House's Office of Legal Counsel immediately told Trump and some of his advisers

After a thorough review, Flynn was cleared of any violations, Spicer said during his daily briefing,

'We got to a point not based on a legal issue but based on a trust issue where the level of trust between the president and General Flynn had eroded to the point where he felt he had to make a change,' the president's press secretary said.

Flynn was not fired at that time because the Justice Department hadn't launched a probe and could not say with certainty that the Trump official had lied, he posited.

'The evolving and eroding level of trust as a result of this situation and a series of other questionable instances is what led the president to ask for General Flynn's resignation,' Spicer told reporters during his Tuesday briefing.

Asked later to explain what those other instances were, Trump's spokesman said his 'statement was very clear - it was this and a series of issues.'

Spicer declined to offer clarification later in his office. He would not say what the tipping point was for Trump last night, either.'

The president made a decision last night, thats as far as Im going to go,' he said.

Flynn has not spoken out since his interview with the DCNF. He talked to the DCNF on Monday, he said, because the president encouraged him to defend himself.

The retired three-star general had no idea at that time that he was headed for the chopping block.

'He [President Donald Trump] expressed confidence,' Flynn is quoted as saying to the DNCF. 'That's when he told me that we need to go out and talk more. So I'm going to do that.'

The interview was conducted 'just hours before his resignation,' DNCF's Richard Pollock stated. It is not clear how late in the day Flynn spoke to DCNF. Spicer announced just after 5pm on Monday that Flynn was being evaluated.

Spicer was on the hot seat Tuesday, fielding aggressive questions about the events that led to Flynn's ouster

Flynn told the DNCF at that time that he believed the controversy surrounding his call with Kislyak was 'ridiculous' and 'out of control.'

'I haven't been fighting back because I'm not that kind of guy. I'm behind the scenes. I've always been behind the scenes,' he said.

Attempting to clear his name, Flynn said that he did discuss the Obama administration's punishing actions with Kislyak - but only in the abstract.

'It was basically, 'Look, I know this happened. We'll review everything.' I never said anything such as, 'We're going to review sanctions,' or anything like that,' he said.

Flynn said he reminded the Russian ambassador that Trump wouldn't be in office for several more weeks. ' 'Give us some time to take a look at everything,' ' he remembers saying.

Spicer said he was unable to corroborate Flynn's conversation with DCNF, particularly the part about Trump saying his aide should defend himself and speak out, when it came up in his gaggle with reporters on Tuesday night.

A senior administration official suggested that Flynn had been on the ropes for some time.

The official told reporters Tuesday, after the DCNF story, that the White House talked to Navy Vice Admiral Robert Harward for the high-ranking position last week and again yesterday. 'We've been getting our ducks in a row for a long time,' the official stated.

House Speaker Paul Ryan was the first to say that President Donald Trump had asked for his national security advisor's resignation. Ryan said he was right to do so

Spicer said the White House is aiming to have a permanent replacement for Flynn in place by the end of the week but would not offer a definitive timeline for hiring.

House Speaker Paul Ryan was the first to say that Trump had asked for his national security advisor's resignation.

'National security is perhaps the most important function or responsibility a president has. And I think the president made the right decision,' Ryan said of Flynn's departure on Tuesday morning.

At a House leadership press conference the Republican told reporters, 'You cannot have a national security adviser misleading the vice president and others. So I think the president was right to ask for his resignation. And I believe it was the right thing to do.'

That was more than anyone from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue had said at that point.

A White House press release Monday night stated that Trump had accepted Flynn's resignation and was appointing Lt. General Joseph Keith Kellogg, Jr. to the post. It did not say that Flynn had been dismissed.

An accompanying letter from Flynn said, 'I am tendering my resignation, honored to have served our nation and the American people in such a distinguished way.'

Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway made it sound like a mutual decision on Good Morning America as she gently ushered Flynn out.

Flynn resigned because he realized he'd become a distraction for the administration, she said. 'It became increasingly unsustainable for him.'

The president accepted the senior aide's resignation because he 'misled' the vice president, Conway said. He was 'dishonest or forgetful.'

Flynn's letter acknowledged that he 'inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador.

'I have sincerely apologized to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology.'

He told the DCNF earlier in the day, when he thought he was staying on that he felt 'terrible' about the position he put Pence in.

'He's a man of incredible integrity. I think the world of him. He is so good for our country,' he said. 'I should have said, 'I don't know. I can't recall,' which is the truth. Looking back, that's what I should have done.'

Pence's office suggested Tuesday evening that the apology had been accepted, but the VP also believed that Flynn needed to go.

'The vice president has tremendous respect for the fact that General Flynn tendered his resignation last night and that the president accepted that resignation,' Lotter said. He is very grateful for General Flynns service to our nation in uniform and his service to this administration, and he wishes him very well.

As of early Monday evening, Trump was 'evaluating' Flynn's position. Conway said on GMA that Flynn's clarification that he may he have talked about sanctions on the call after all 'accelerated matters.'

The hysteria over Flynn reached 'a fever pitch' Monday night, Conway said.

'The fact is the president is a very loyal person and he has a team him that serves him very admirably, and in this case information had been forthcoming for a while, but the situation had gotten to a fever pitch yesterday, later in the day.'

Flynn, a retired military general, stepped down late on Monday night, less than a month into Trump's administration as questions mounted over his close links with the Kremlin. He's pictured yesterday at the White House with Conway and other senior advisers to the president

Ryan offered an alternative version of events at his news conference on Tuesday.

'I think the key is that as soon as this person lost the president's trust, the president asked for his resignation,' he said, 'and that was the right thing to do.'

Spicer echoed Ryan's comments at his own news conference.

'The president was very concerned that General Flynn had misled the vice president and others,' Spicer said. 'He was also very concerned in light of sensitive subjects dealt with by that position of national security advisors like China, North Korea and the Middle East, that the president must have complete and unwavering trust for the person in that position.'

FLYNN'S VERY MESSY DEPARTURE - AND HOW IT ALL BEGAN December 29: Obama announces sanctions against Russia over alleged hacks targeting election. Flynn spoke with Russian ambassador Kislyak repeatedly the same day, it was later reported. December 30: Russian President Vladimir Putin says he will not respond to the sanctions, surprising many U.S. officials. Trump praises Putin's decision as 'very smart.' January 13: Trump spokesman Sean Spicer says Flynn had called Kislyak merely to set up a phone call between Trump and Putin January 15: Vice President-elect Mike Pence says in an interview with CBS that Flynn had not discussed santions in the call with Kislyak January 20: Trump inaugurated president January 23: Spicer, now White House spokesman, said Flynn had told him the call to Kislyak covered four topics: a plane crash that killed a Russian military choir; Christmas greetings; Russian-led talks over the Syrian civil war; and logistics for a call between Putin and Trump January 20-30 (exact date unclear): Acting Attorney General Sally Yates briefs Trump officials that intercepted communications indicated Flynn had discussed sanctions with Kislyak in ways she believed were 'highly significant' and 'potentially illegal' January 30: Trump fires Yates for refusing to defend executive immigration order in court February 8: Flynn denies in interviews that he discussed sanctions in the calls with Kislyak February 9: Flynn backpedals, saying through a spokesperson that he 'couldn't be certain' sanctions weren't discussed February 13: Report breaks of Justice Department concerns about blackmail, and Flynn resigns hours later Advertisement

Flynn, a retired military general, stepped down late on Monday night, less than a month into Trump's administration as questions mounted over his close links with the Kremlin.

His stunning announcement, first reported by CNN, came just hours after sources close to the government revealed that the Justice Department had warned the new administration that his conversation with the Kremlin had put him in a compromising position and left him open to blackmail.

Flynn made numerous phone calls to the Russian Ambassador to the US before Trump took office, and later hinted he may have gone against diplomatic protocol by discussing the rollback of sanctions.

The VP had vouched for Flynn, without knowing the full details of the calls, and gave him his full support several days before the inauguration. Flynn has since issued a grovelling apology to Pence.

Retired general Keith Kellogg has taken over as acting national security advisor, but the administration is considering former CIA Director David Petraeus and US Navy Admiral Michelle Howard as permanent replacements.

Democrats in the House of Representatives are demanding a classified briefing and have renewed calls for an investigation into the Russia's election meddling in response to the abrupt resignation announcement.

Reps. John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) and Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), respectively the ranking members of the Judiciary and Oversight committees said in a statement that they were 'shocked and dismayed' to learn that the Trump administration was informed of Flynn's vulnerabilities three weeks ago.

'We in Congress need to know who authorized his actions, permitted them, and continued to let him have access to our most sensitive national security information despite knowing these risks. We need to know who else within the White House is a current and ongoing risk to our national security.'

Former acting attorney general Sally Yates told the new administration last month she was concerned over potential blackmail after Flynn denied that he had discussed sanctions in calls with the Russian ambassador to the United States, the Washington Post reported just hours before the resignation.

Intelligence intercepts of those calls indicate that they did touch on sanctions in ways Yates believed were 'highly significant' and 'potentially illegal', leaving Russia with potential leverage over Flynn, the Post reported.

Flynn, a former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, spoke to Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak more than once before Trump took office, sparking concerns that the two were discussing US policy toward Russia.

One call took place on the same day that President Obama applied sanctions against Moscow for their alleged interference in the presidential election.

The White House says Trump was aware of the warning, but it was not enough for him to fire Flynn.

Flynn made numerous phone calls to the Russian Ambassador to the US before Trump took office, and later hinted he may have gone against diplomatic protocol by discussing sanctions

The White House's handling of the Flynn firing was fraught with conflicting information.

First, Chief White House counselor Kellyanne Conway told MSNBC that President Donald Trump wasn't planning to axe his national security advisor.

'General Flynn does enjoy the full confidence of the president,' Conway said.

Less than an hour later, press secretary Sean Spicer said in a statement that the president 'is evaluating the situation'.

'He's speaking to Vice President Pence relative to the conversation the Vice President had with Gen. Flynn,' Spicer said, 'and also speaking to various other people about what he considers the single most important subject there is: our national security.'

I inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador. -FLYNN RESIGNATION LETTER

Spicer told reporters in his office on Monday evening that Flynn has not offered to quit his position, and called questions about whether Trump would accept his resignation 'hypothetical.'

He said he had spoken directly with Trump about the latest statement's wording, declaring that it reflected the president's 'current thinking.'

'This is what he asked me to communicate to you,' Spicer recounted.

After flatly denying he'd discussed rolling back sanctions with Russian officials in a January 15 interview, Flynn said he was uncertain whether the subject came up.

Two administration officials told DailyMail.com on Friday that Flynn was still unsure what he told Kislyak, the Russian ambassador. One said he couldn't be '100 percent' certain sanctions were not discussed.

Monday's joint press conference between Trump and Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau came and went without a single Flynn-related question.

Retired General Keith Kellogg will take over as acting National Security Advisor

Trump didn't respond to shouted queries as he left the White House's East Room.

As of Monday night, he had not commented on Flynn's departure.

Hillary Clinton took to Twitter on Monday night to share her opinion on National Security Advisor Michael Flynn's resignation, suggesting there are 'real consequences of fake news'.

Clinton retweeted a post from longtime confidante Phillipe Reines on Monday night, where he suggested Flynn and his son, who spread the discredited 'Pizzagate' conspiracy theory on social media, get jobs at Domino's.

'Philippe's got his own way of saying things, but he has a point about the real consequences of fake news,' Clinton said in her tweet.

Reines had written, 'Dear Mike Flynn & Mike Flynn Jr., What goes around COMETS around. And given your pizza obsession...', with a link to Domino's Pizza's job site.

In December, Flynn Jr tweeted about the Pizzagate conspiracy, which linked Clinton and her campaign chief to Comet Ping Pong pizza shop in Washington, DC.

The theory suggested that Clinton and John Podesta presided over a child-sex ring run out of the DC pizza parlor.

Hillary Clinton retweeted a post from longtime confidante Phillipe Reines on Monday night after retired Army Lieutenant General Michael Flynn resigned from his position as National Security Advisor

Reines suggested in his tweet that Flynn and his son, who spread the discredited 'Pizzagate' conspiracy theory on social media, get jobs at Domino's

In his tweet, Flynn Jr did not endorse the conspiracy theory, but predicted that it wouldn't go away

Police said a 28-year-old North Carolina man opened fire with a rifle inside the restaurant in December because he thought child sex-slaves were being held against their will in the basement.

No one was harmed but the man was arrested.

In his tweet, Flynn Jr did not endorse the conspiracy theory, but predicted that it wouldn't go away.

'Until #Pizzagate proven to be false, it'll remain a story. The left seems to forget #PodestaEmails and the many 'coincidences' tied to it,' he tweeted.

Meanwhile, Russian lawmakers suggested that Flynn had been forced out of his position because Trump's administration had been 'infected' by anti-Russian feeling.

'Either Trump has not gained the requisite independence and he is consequently being not unsuccessfully backed into a corner, or Russophobia has already infected the new administration also from top to bottom,' MP Konstantin Kosachev was cited as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency.

Mike Flynn was paid to party with Putin and the acting attorney-general said he was 'vulnerable to blackmail': So what exactly does the Kremlin strongman have on one-time general? Mike Flynn resigned as President Trump's national security advisor Monday night after it was revealed the acting attorney general had warned the White House that Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail by the Russians. It wasn't known precisely what could have made Flynn subject to pressure, but the retired Army Lt. Gen. had come under close scrutiny for his Russia ties, and a series of conversations he had with Russia's ambassador to the U.S. Flynn's Russia ties had already caused political problems for Trump during the campaign and the transition. Flynn gave paid remarks in Moscow in December 2015 for an event celebrating the 10th anniversary of Russia Today, the Kremlin-backed network. He was seated next to Russian president Vladimir Putin for the event. LOCATION, LOCATION: Russian President Vladimir Putin, with retired U.S. Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, during a dinner at the 10 year anniversary of Russia Today where Flynn spoke Flynn had just left the military at the time. He wouldn't reveal to the Washington Post how much he was paid for the engagement. 'I was asked by my speaker's bureau, LAI. I do public speaking. It was in Russia. It was a paid speaking opportunity,' Flynn told the paper. 'The gig was to do an interview with [RT correspondent] Sophie Shevardnadze. It was an interview in front of the forum, probably 200 people in the audience,' he said. After the speech, Flynn sat at Putin's table, and was seated at his right-and side. Flynn, the former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency under President Obama, also said he briefed Russian intelligence on the trip, which he noted had been approved by the U.S. government. 'I had a great trip. I was the first U.S. officer ever allowed inside the headquarters of the GRU [Russian intelligence]. I was able to brief their entire staff,' Flynn said. 'I gave them a leadership OPD. [a professional development class on leadership] and talked a lot about the way the world's unfolding. Asked if that was something he wanted to do, Flynn responded: 'DIA has offices in 142 countries. I was visiting some of our key attaches and one of them was [in] Russia.' Some of his military colleagues were 'dismayed' by his post-military behavior the Post reported. Among those listed was retired Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, who made Flynn his top intelligence officer in Afghanistan, but who declined comment. Advertisement

WHO WILL REPLACE FLYNN AS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR? Retired Army General Keith Kellogg, a member of Trump's transition team, will temporarily fill the role of National Security Advisor until Michael Flynn's announced. Murmurs of who will take over the position have circulated and include the potential for Kellogg to stay on permanently. At least three other candidates have been discussed with the media, including retired Navy Vice Admiral Robert Harward, Former CIA Director David Petraeus and former US Navy Admiral Michelle Howard. Retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, Interim National Security Advisor A senior administration official reportedly told NBC News that Kellogg is being considered to stay on permanently. Kellogg, 72, was previously appointed by Trump as the head of the presidential transition agency action team for defense. He was a former commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, and served as chief operating officer of the Western coalition in Baghdad, Iraq, after the United States led the invasion in 2003. Retired Army General Keith Kellogg, a member of Trump's transition team, will temporarily fill the role of National Security Advisor, and there are rumors he may stay in the role permanently Former CIA Director David Petraeus Former CIA director and retired Army General David Petraeus is also reportedly being discussed as a potential to fill Flynn's shoes. National Security Council staffers say Petraeus is due to meet with President Trump at the White House this week, according to the Huffington Post. Petraeus, a retired four-star general, was bounced from his position atop the intelligence agency in 2012 after he it was revealed that he passed on classified information to his biographer, who had also become his mistress. Petraeus reportedly ended the affair with his principal biographer Paula Broadwell in 2012 after learning that she had sent threatening emails to a long-time family friend, Jill Kelley. He resigned from his position with the CIA in November 2012 and later pleaded guilty on a misdemeanor charge for mishandling classified materials. Petraeus was briefly under consideration to become Secretary of State before Trump picked Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson. Former CIA director and retired Army General David Petraeus is also reportedly being discussed as a potential to fill Flynn's shoes Retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward Another name being discussed is retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward, the former deputy to Defense Secretary James Mattis. Additionally, he is a retired Navy SEAL and served as the Deputy Commander of US Joint Forces Command. Upon retirement in 2013 after a nearly 40-year career in the Navy, Harward took a post as a chief executive officer for defense and aerospace giant Lockheed Martin in the United Arab Emirates. Another name being discussed is retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward, the former deputy to Defense Secretary James Mattis Trump has recently been in very public negotiations with Lockheed over the cost of its F-35 fighter jet program. Two senior US officials reportedly confirmed to NBC News that Harward was the 'favorite' for the position. US Navy Admiral Michelle Howard US Navy Admiral Michelle Howard has also been said to be under consideration. She is the current commander of US Naval Forces in Europe, and was the first African-American woman to command a US Navy ship and hold the position of Vice Chief of Naval Operations. Among her other record-setting achievements, she was also the first female graduate of the Naval academy to be selected for flag rank. Former National Security aide Tom Bossert Tom Bossert, President Trump's choice for Homeland Security Advisor, was also mentioned by Karam as a candidate for the position. Bossert served as a national security aide to George W Bush during his last year as president. He also served two years as a White House director of infrastructure policy. Retired Admiral James Stavridis Though James Stavridis previously said that he would not serve under the Trump administration, his name has come up amongst potentials for NSA. He currently serves as the Dean for Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. When asked in 2016 about the potentiality of him joining the Trump team, he said: 'I'm happy to provide advice, but I don't see myself joining the administration.' US Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly John Kelly is the current US Homeland Security Secretary appointed by Donald Trump, but has reportedly been discussed as Flynn's replacement. Kelly recently made headlines after telling San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman that he didn't 'have a clue' what a sanctuary city was. Kelly is a retired four-star United States Marine Corps General. Advertisement

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that the resignation was an internal matter for the United States.

'We've said everything we want to say,' Peskov told reporters on a conference call.

Peskov has previously said that Flynn and the ambassador did not discuss lifting sanctions in their conversations.

He declined to elaborate on those earlier comments when asked on Tuesday.

Flynn's military career ended when Obama dismissed him as defense intelligence chief. He claimed he was pushed out for holding tougher views than the Obama administration about Islamic extremism.

But a former senior US official who worked with Flynn said the firing was for insubordination, after the Army lieutenant general failed to follow guidance from superiors.

Once out of government, he disappeared into the murky world of mid-level defense contractors and international influence peddlers.

He shocked his former colleagues a little more than a year later by appearing at a Moscow banquet headlined by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Given a second chance by Trump, Flynn, a lifelong if apolitical Democrat, became a trusted and eager confidant of the Republican candidate, joining anti-Hillary Clinton campaign chants of 'Lock Her Up' and tweeting that 'Fear of Muslims is RATIONAL'.

As national security advisor, Flynn required no Senate confirmation vote or public vetting of his record, and his tenure was brief but turbulent.
Thomas Gander, 32, has been sentenced to eight years and ten months for a series of sex offences against children

A former maths teacher has been jailed after admitting to a series of horrific sex offences against teenage girls.

Thomas Gander, 32, has been sentenced to eight years and ten months for offences including rape and child sexual exploitation against five schoolgirls aged between 13 and 17 years.

The offences took place against girls in Godalming, Surrey, Croydon, south London and online.

As he was jailed, police said 'a dangerous paedophile has been removed from our streets', adding Gander, 'chose to ignore his professional expertise and deliberately set out to snare and abuse impressionable young girls.'

Judge Jonathan Black also gave Gander a three year extended licence, a sexual harm prevention order and ordered a 120 victim surcharge at Guildford Crown Court on Monday.

He pleaded guilty to causing a child to engage in sexual activity, meeting a child following sexual grooming, five counts of sexual activity with a child, three counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, inciting child exploitation and possession of an indecent photograph.

Judge Jonathan Black also gave Gander a three year extended licence, a sexual harm prevention order and ordered a 120 victim surcharge at Guildford Crown Court (pictured)

Detective Chief Inspector Adam Colwood of Surrey Police Complex Abuse Unit said: 'The community should be reassured that a dangerous paedophile has been removed from our streets.

'Gander knew exactly what should be undertaken to safeguard youngsters but chose to ignore his professional expertise and deliberately set out to snare and abuse impressionable young girls.

'The online entrapment he used will immediately send out alarm bells to parents and I would encourage adults to be constantly alert and aware to what their children are doing online.

'Remember it could be one of your family that is lured in by someone similar to this insidious individual.'
A snowboarder was found alive on Sunday, a day after getting separated from his friends and falling into a hole during an outing on a Washington state mountain.

Snowmobilers found Abe Cortina hiking about four miles away from Ski Bluewood (which is located just south of Dayton) on Sunday morning and drove him back to safety.

The 32-year-old got separated from his friends on Saturday, after going off the ski area's trails. He then fell into a five-foot hole while trying to hike back to the resort Saturday night.

While Cortina was able to dig himself out of the hole, by the time he got out night was falling so he decided to make a shelter. All-in-all, Cortina spent about 17 hours on the mountain in freezing cold temperatures, struggling to survive.

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Abe Cortina survived spending a night on a Washington State mountain after getting separated during a snowboarding excursion with friends

The 32-year-old got separated after going off the trail at Ski Bluewood (pictured above) on Saturday. He then fell into a hole while trying to hike back to the ski area. Snowmobilers rescued him the next day

After his rescue, Cortina spoke out to local news outlets to recall his harrowing experience.

Cortina said he got separated from his group of friends when he went snowboarding off Ski Bluewood's trails.

He was hiking back to the trail to find them when he fell upside down into a five-foot hole.

I was upside down in the hole about five feet deep. By the time I managed to dig out of the hole, it was getting dark and I was like okay this isn't good Abe Cortina

'I was upside down in the hole about five feet deep. By the time I managed to dig out of the hole, it was getting dark and I was like okay this isn't good,' Cortina told KEPR.

So Cortina decided to stop and find shelter in a thicket of trees instead of hiking on. But he didn't sleep or get much rest.

'I did squats. I put my feet up on a piece of wood and shook the wood back and forth with my legs just to keep moving. I did that the whole night. I didn't sleep. I didn't stop moving just to stay warm,' Cortina said.

During the night, Cortina says he heard the search for him, and nearly got the attention of a rescue helicopter.

'I grabbed my snowboard which is green and black and was waving that over my head. I could've sworn he saw me because there was light hitting me. I could see my outline and shadow of my board. I could've made hand puppets in the shadow. It was right there,' Cortina said.

Ski Bluewood's general manager Kim Clark told the Tri-City Herald that the helicopter didn't see Cortina because of his white snowboarding outfit.

This is the moment that Cortina was reunited with his parents on Sunday, after he was found hiking about four miles from the ski area

While Cortina was struggling to survive on the mountain, his parents and sister were desperately searching for him (left to right: mom, dad, sister and Cortina)

Clark says that 18 staff members searched for Cortina after his friends reported him missing just after 5.30pm.

Volunteers searched the trails on snowmobiles and Life Flight spent an hour searching the area by air with night vision. But they had to call off the search around 1.15am.

At first light, Cortina started hiking again and eventually ran into a group of snowmobilers around 10am.

'I just heard snowmobiles go by and they were like, "are you headed to Bluewood?" and I was like, 'which way's Bluewood?' And they were like, "are you lost?" I was like, "I just need directions, I'll make my way down,"' Cortina recalled to NBC Right Now.

But the snowmobilers insisted on driving Cortina back to the ski area where he was evaluated at a ski patrol station before being taken back down the mountain to be reunited with his family.

Amazingly, Cortina made it off the mountain in relatively healthy shape.

'My legs are shot just from shaking the whole night and hiking...a little bit of bruising. The roof of my mouth I think I actually damaged eating so much snow on the hike out,' Cortina said.

In his interviews, Cortina took the chance to thank those who volunteered their time searching for him, and the snowmobilers that drove him to safety.

'It feels undeserved. All these people were looking out for me and it was really great,' he said.
A Russian intelligence-gathering ship has been spotted roaming the waters off the East Coast.

The SSV-175 Viktor Leonov ship was 70 miles off the coast of Delaware - in international waters - heading north, officials told Fox News.

Armed with surface-to-air missiles, the ship is capable of intercepting communications and can measure U.S. Navy sonar capability, an official said.

'It's not a huge concern, but we are keeping our eyes on it,' they added.

It was not the first such move by Russian military under Trump's presidency.

Four Russian military aircraft conducted low passes against a U.S. destroyer in the Black Sea just days prior to the spy ship was seen.

The sighting came as news broke that White House national security adviser Michael Flynn had been forced to resign amid controversy over his Russia contacts.

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A Russian intelligence-gathering ship has been spotted roaming the waters off the East Coast (pictured in 2015 off the coast of Cuba)

The Viktor Leonov, which measures 300 feet long and 47.5 feet wide, has a crew of 200 sailors carries high-tech electronic surveillance equipment and weaponry, AK-630 rapid-fire cannons and surface-to-air missiles.

It has been spotted loitering off the East Coast on a number of occasions in recent years.

The Vishnya or Meridian-class intelligence ship patrolled near the U.S. nuclear missile submarine base in Kings Bay, Georgia, in 2014 in what the Department of Defense suspect may have been part of an intelligence-gathering operation.

THE RUSSIAN SPY VESSEL VIKTOR LEONOV The Vishnya class intelligence-gathering ship went into service in the Black Sea in 1988 before it was transferred seven years later to the northern fleet. It named after Second World War Soviet sailor Viktor Leonov. Ship measures 300 feet long and 47.5 feet wide. It has a crew of 200 sailors carries high-tech electronic surveillance equipment and weaponry, AK-630 rapid-fire cannons and surface-to-air missiles Advertisement

In a throwback to the Cold War, the spy ship also caused a stir after unexpectedly docking in Havana on the eve of historic talks between the U.S. and Cuba the following year.

There was nothing stealthy about the arrival of the Leonov, which was moored to a pier in Old Havana where cruise ships often dock.

But the visit was not officially announced by Cuban authorities.

The timing also raised eyebrows as it came on the eve of historic U.S-Cuba talks aimed at normalizing diplomatic relations.

U.S. officials in Washington played down the presence of the Russian vessel, saying it was perfectly legal and not at all out of the ordinary.

'It's not unprecedented. It's not unusual. It's not alarming,' a defense official told AFP news agency.

The ship went into service in the Black Sea in 1988 before it was transferred seven years later to the northern fleet, according to Russian media.

The intelligence-gathering ship Viktor Leonov has been spotted on and off around the East Coast over the past few years (pictured in Havana in 2014)

The SSV-175 Viktor Leonov ship was 70 miles off the coast of Delaware - in international waters - heading north, according to officials (pictured in Cuba in 2015)

It was named after Viktor Leonov - a Soviet sailor in the Second World War who was awarded two Hero of the Soviet Union medals.

The vessel previously docked in Havana in February and March 2014, staying there for a few days.



At the time, neither Cuba nor Russia acknowledged or explained the presence of the spy ship in Havana.

The vessel has also been detected in the vicinity of the U.S. Naval Station in Mayport, Florida.

During the Cold War, Russian intelligence gathering ships routinely parked off U.S. submarine bases along the East Coast.
Lucille Kennedy was found hanged at her rural Oxfordshire home

A celebrity dog walker who appeared on The Apprentice hanged herself because she was stressed about running her business, an inquest heard.

Lucille Kennedy, the managing director of west London-based Happy Dogs, had battled depression for a decade.

The 56-year-old was found dead at her rural home in Tetsworth, Oxfordshire, having sought help from her GP as recently as three days before her death.

Her friend Gordon Summer, an octogenarian who had visited her on the morning of her death, recalled that Miss Kennedy - known to pals as Lucy - had told him she had tried to take her own life two weeks before, with an overdose of pills.

Mr Summer said: 'I had gone there to walk the dogs. I took the dogs out to the paddocks near to the house.

'During the walk I checked my phone and saw Lucy had called about 10 minutes before. I called her back but couldn't get through.'

Returning to her house at about 10.30am, Mr Summer noticed the sitting room door was closed which he noted was unusual and when he opened it he found the brunette hanging.

He tried to lodge a chair beneath her feet to take the weight off her neck and noted she was still alive as he dialled 999.

The 56-year-old had sought helped from her GP as recently as thee days before heard death

Mr Summer added: 'I knew Lucy had been depressed for a long time. She had tried to commit suicide two weeks before. She said she had looked up how to do it, online. What she looked up was in relation to taking pills.'

Despite frantic attempts to perform CPR, which continued at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, Miss Kennedy died shortly afterwards.

Miss Kennedy's GP, Dr Jedth Phornnarit said in a statement that the businesswoman, who was single, had asked for pills after struggling due to the stress of her business.

Dr Phornnarit wrote: 'She had a previous history of anxiety and depression in 2008, this had not been an active issue for some years.

Despite frantic attempts to perform CPR, which continued at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, Miss Kennedy died shortly afterwards

'I saw her on September 21 for an emergency appointment, she had been feeling low the previous few weeks and was having difficulty sleeping.

'She was training dogs in London and referred to the stress and working seven days a week, and then travelling to the countryside at weekends, where she would also work.'

In the month between her first appointment and her death on Hallowe'en, Miss Kennedy, who also had a home in Notting Hill, west London, was in touch with her GP on a regular basis.

Detective constable Paul Geddert noted: 'There was only one direct family member left, Leon Kennedy, her half brother.

'He had not seen Lucy Kennedy since April. Otherwise she had no family members left.'

She appeared in The Apprentice in 2012 after candidates (pictured) had to make dog food in their task

Some of her dogs make their bow on the small screen for the BBC reality show

Notes were found at the scene detailing the whereabouts of Miss Kennedy's will, and instructions of who to phone when she was found.

Senior coroner for Oxfordshire, Darren Salter, said: 'I am satisfied there is a history going back a few years of anxiety and depression although not much between 2008 until late 2016 when things appeared to have resurfaced with the stress of finances and things of that nature.

'It seems she had spoken to her GP a number of times including October 28. She was being medicated and had numbers for emergency contact if her condition deteriorated.

'She didn't seem to have disclosed any suicidal ideation to her GP.'

A conclusion of suicide was recorded at Oxford Coroner's Court.

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details.
It will be another three weeks before the White House is back open for tours.

In a release today, first lady Melania Trump announced that the White House would start hosting members of the public again on March 7.

The move comes after a number of lawmakers on Capitol Hill were caught grumbling about tour requests  sometimes numbering in the hundreds  piling up.

First lady Melania Trump announced today that the White House would resume giving tours on March 7

Members of Congress are grumbling because constituent requests for White House tours are piling up. Here a visitor snaps a photo during a tour in 2015

Melania Trump has been slow to hire staff, including those who work for the White House Visitors Office, which handles tours

The Washington Post's Reliable Source reported that at least two dozen members of Congress had signed on to a letter urging the Trump administration to open the White House Visitors Office ASAP.

White House tour requests go through Congressional offices.

'The time-honored tradition of allowing visitors into the White House was started by Thomas Jefferson in 1805, and previous administrations have been quick to reopen the White House doors to the public, even doing so the day after the inauguration,' the letter said.

'Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama all appointed a White House Visitors Office Director before being sworn in, and had reopened the White House to the public at this point,' the correspondence pointed out.

Sen. Chuck Grassley tweeted Sunday hoping to catch the White House's attention and get tours again on the books

Earlier this week, Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, used Twitter to try and get the point across.

'Whoever monitors twitter at WH for businessman president Trump "when is WH going to be opened for public tours?" Mrs G wants to know,' Grassley wrote, likely referring to his wife.

Today the White House announced there would be another three week delay, by simply noting the date of opening day.

'I am excited to reopen the White House to the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come each year,' Melania Trump said in a statement. 'The White House is a remarkable and historic site and we are excited to share it's beauty and history.'

'I am committed to the restoration and preservation of our Nation's most recognizable landmark.'

So far, the first lady has only made two hires  a chief of staff and a White House social secretary  as she remains in New York City through her son Barron's school year.

Her chief of staff Lindsay Reynolds pledged to get the White House Visitors Office fully staffed in a statement she made earlier this month.

She also said the route visitors take around the 'People's House' was being spruced up in the interim.

'In the meantime, we are using this time to tend to routine maintenance, updates and renovations along the tour route to ensure the guest experience is top notch,' Reynolds said.
An inquest into the death of an Antiques Roadshow jewellery expert who died after being restrained by medics while suffering post-natal psychosis could be delayed because the senior coroner has been suspended.

Alice Gibson-Watt, a scion of one of Scotland's most aristocratic families, was taken to hospital in an ambulance after having a psychotic episode at her home.

The 34-year-old, who had given birth to her first child five weeks earlier, suffered a cardiac arrest and a ruptured liver.

She died later that day in hospital.

Alice Gibson-Watt with her newborn daughter Chiara. Mrs Gibson-Watt died after being restrained by medics while suffering post-natal psychosis

The full inquest into her death, which is due to last two weeks is due start on April 11, will examine the way paramedics used physical restraints on Mrs Gibson-Watt.

It will also look at the way CPR was administered following her cardiac arrest.

The inquest will hear evidence from Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Trust, West London Mental Health Trust, Central North West London Hospital Trust and the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust about their contact with Mrs Gibson-Watts before she died.

But today a pre-inquest review heard the inquiry could be delayed because senior coroner Chinyere Inyama was suspended in October last year.

In February last year he was found guilty of misconduct after he left sensitive documents relating to the death of teenager Alice Gross on a train.

Families had also reportedly waited months and even years for their loved ones' death certificates.

Mr Inyama's staff also complained of bullying and harassment.

Mrs Gibson-Watt worked for Sotheby's auction house and made her first appearance on BBC1's Antiques Roadshow in 2010

Mrs Gibson-Watts' inquest will now be heard by assistant coroner Sarah Ormond-Walshe.

At the hearing today, she said: 'We are having very challenging times still here.

'At the moment I am without a coroner's officer for this case, but I have been told that I will have someone very soon.'

She added: 'We have had a number of changes. Papers may have probably been sent to an email that no one else can access...and that's the reason for starting again with some of these issues.

'I don't have the coroner's officer who was dealing with this case to help me, but I am in contact with the person babysitting the case.'

Three members of her family, including husband Anthony Gibson-Watt, attended the hearing.

A back-up date of May 15 was set in case there were any delays to the start of the inquest.

A further pre-inquest review hearing was arranged for March 9.

Mrs Gibson-Watt, from Fulham in south-west London, gave birth to her daughter Chiara in October 2012.

But after the birth she suffered from postpartum psychosis  which is more severe than post-natal depression and can cause hallucinations and paranoia.

She was taken by ambulance to West Middlesex University Hospital, in Isleworth, west London.

She was then transferred to Lakeside, a specialist mental health centre nearby, and suffered a cardiac arrest.

The mother was then moved to King's College Hospital in Camberwell where she died on November 20, 2012.

A post-mortem revealed she died of a brain injury as a result of a cardiac arrest and also suffered a ruptured liver.

Mrs Gibson-Watt worked for Sotheby's auction house and made her first appearance on BBC1's Antiques Roadshow in 2010.

She was a descendant of the Dukes of Buccleuch and Queensberry and a third cousin of the current duke Richard Scott, 62, who is Scotland's largest private landowner with some 280,000 acres.
Barack and Michelle Obama's loving partnership first captivated the country when he became president eight years ago.

And their love was clearly in full force this Valentine's Day, as the former president took to Twitter to say: 'Happy Valentine's Day, @michelleobama! Almost 28 years with you, but it always feels new.'

Michelle Obama shared her own declaration, writing: 'Happy Valentine's Day to the love of my life and favorite island mate, @BarackObama #valentines.'

The Obamas' love was clearly in full force this Valentine's Day, as the former president took to Twitter to say: 'Almost 28 years with you, but it always feels new.'

Michelle Obama seemed to be reminiscing about her vacation in the British Virgin Islands and called her husband 'the love of my life and favorite island mate'

The touching tweets marked both their returns to Twitter since leaving the White House.

On January 20th, the Obamas first flew to Palm Springs, California, before jetting off to the British Virgin Islands.

While protests broke out around the country in response to President Donald Trump's controversial executive order barring refugees and non-US citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries, the Obamas appeared carefree on their vacation.

Barack Obama was pictured horsing around with billionaire Richard Branson as the former president learned to kitesurf while the couple posed with locals and soaked up the sun.

While protests broke out around the country in the early days of Trump's administration, the Obamas appeared carefree on their vacation

The couple, who are gearing up for speaking engagements and lucrative book deals, has chosen to stay in DC until younger daughter Sasha Obama graduates from high school

Barack Obama was pictured horsing around with billionaire Richard Branson as the former president learned to kitesurf

They have since returned to their Washington DC home although Michelle Obama seemed to reminisce about their carefree holiday.

Accompanying her Valentine's Day tweets was a candid snapshot of both her and her husband's bare feet as they lay in the sand.

Barack Obama, on the other hand, chose an official White House photograph from 2015 to go with his tribute to Michelle.

The couple, who are gearing up for speaking engagements and lucrative book deals, has chosen to stay in DC until younger daughter Sasha Obama graduates from the Sidwell Friends School.

'President Barack Obama and Mrs. Obama have selected the Harry Walker Agency to coordinate their respective speaking engagements,' according to a statement issued by the Obama spokesman last Friday.

'In addition, Attorneys Robert Barnett and Deneen Howell will manage contract-negotiations with potential publishers for the former president and Mrs. Obama's respective books.'

Their older daughter Malia Obama, meanwhile, has been interning for movie mogul Harvey Weinstein in New York City before she starts at Harvard in the fall.

Their older daughter Malia Obama (pictured on Tuesday), meanwhile, has been interning for movie mogul Harvey Weinstein in New York City before she starts at Harvard in the fall

While many internships involve menial work, like getting coffee, the sources that spoke with TMZ said the Weinstein's program is not at all like that.

Malia is working in the production and development department, reading scripts and deciding which are worth pitching to executives - such as Harvey Weinstein - to put into development. The internship will run through the spring and pays around $9 an hour.

This isn't the first time that Obama's oldest daughter has scoped a career in filmmaking. In the summer of 2015, she interned on the set of the HBO series Girls.
Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy is retiring, for a second time, just three weeks after being praised by President Donald Trump.

Clancy, 70, came out of retirement more than two years ago to take over the embattled agency amid a series of embarrassing scandals and security blunders.

Clancy, a career agent, was made the interim director in late 2014 and then-President Barack Obama made the job permanent in early 2015. The agency announced his retirement in a tweet Tuesday.

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Out, again: Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy announced his retirement on Tuesday, more than two years after he had come out of his previous retirement to take over the embattled agency

It's official: The Secret Service announced the director's retirement in a tweet Tuesday

'Congratulations Dir Clancy on your retirement! The men & women of the @SecretService are grateful for your 29 years of service & leadership,' the message read.

Clancy's departure means that Trump will now have to pick the person he wants to lead the 7,000-employee agency tasked with protecting him and his family among others.

Clancy, who will leave the Secret Service on March 4, was recruited to lead the agency after then-Director Julia Pierson, the first woman to occupy the top job, was forced out after security breaches were made public in newspaper reports.

One incident involved a man carrying a knife who jumped the White House fence and ran into the executive mansion.

In a note to staffers, Clancy said that although President Trump and his administration have been supportive of him, it was time to leave the agency again for 'personal reasons.'

'My love for this agency has only complicated the decision further, but for personal reasons it is time,' Clancy wrote. 'I can assure you better days are ahead for this agency with new leadership at the director's position."

Clancy added that the search for his successor has commenced.

Vote of confidence: Just two days after his inauguration, Donald Trump publicly gave Clancy a special 'bro handshake' (pictured) and declared that he would do a 'great job'

During a meeting with law enforcement officials and first responders held at the White House's Blue Room just two days after his inauguration, Donald Trump publicly gave Clancy a special 'bro handshake' by grasping the directors' thumb between his own thumb and forefinger partway through.

He also thanked the veteran agent for his service and declared that Clancy would do 'a great job.'

Though largely praised for his leadership, Clancy's tenure was not without its own scandals.

Twice he had to go to Capitol Hill to explain the misdeeds of agents. Perhaps the most embarrassing was the unauthorized review of Rep. Jason Chaffetz's decade-old job application with the agency.

During his second tenure at the helm of the agency, Clancy twice he had to go to Capitol Hill to explain the misdeeds of agents

Chaffetz, a Utah Republican, had led investigations into allegations of wrongdoings and scandals at the Secret Service. Tuesday he praised Clancy's leadership and thanked him for his service.

He also encouraged Trump to look outside the agency for Clancy's replacement.

'A fresh set of eyes and new perspective is needed to restore the prestige and status expected of such an elite agency,; the congressman said in a statement.
Blake Ross, 13, became unwell on a bus and was rushed to hospital but died

Strangers are rallying together to raise money for the funeral of a 13-year-old boy who came through the care system but died after going missing without his diabetes medication for days.

Blake Ross was 'passed from pillar to post' when he was in foster care and an investigation has now been launched into how he died.

He was reported missing on Saturday afternoon, sparking a frantic search operation to trace him.

Police revealed he was suffering from an 'underlying health condition' - diabetes - and did not have access to medication.

But on Monday afternoon, two days after he was reported missing, Blake was discovered on a bus, having become unwell.

The youngster was rushed to the Sick Kids Hospital in Edinburgh where he sadly passed away at around 9pm that evening.

His death is currently being treated as unexplained and police said they inquiries are continuing.

Blake is said to have gone through the foster care system, but was being cared for at an open unit at St Katharine's centre in Edinburgh, when he disappeared.

A parent who took a shine to Blake after the boy bonded with his youngest daughter through their shared suffering from diabetes, paid tribute to the youngster.

He said: 'I knew him through the school because he was in the same class as my youngest daughter.

'I had a great bit of affinity for him because he'd look out for her at karate classes and I think they bonded as they both had diabetes.

'I felt for him as he'd gone through a lot at such a young age. He's been passed from pillar to post by the foster system.

'I've not seen him for about a year and a half since his foster parents split up.

'I'm not sure if he went to secondary school but he definitely wasn't in the same school as my daughter any more.

'He was quite a chatty, cheeky wee lad and although some people think he might have been a rascal they have to understand that he was going through a lot.

'Although I hadn't seen him in a while, I recognised him immediately when I heard he went missing and hoped he'd be safe.

Strangers are rallying together to raise money for the funeral of the tragic 13-year-old boy

'My thoughts and prayers are with him and his twin brother at this time.'

People touched by the tragic story of Blake have taken to fundraising websites in an attempt to pay for his funeral.

Two campaigns were launched at a similar time to appeal to the public who were touched by his sad story.

At the moment donations stand at more than 500 and include pledges from former classmates of the boy and friends of his mother.

A Justgiving page set up by Stacey Reilly says they hope to give him the send-off Blake deserves.

She wrote: 'Blake Ross was 13 and suffered a cardiac arrest. He was also a diabetic. Please help to give him the send-off he deserves.

'He was a much-loved son, brother/triplet, grandson, nephew and great friend to many. Blake was such a lovely little boy.

'I feel us the community should do our bit to help give him the send-off he deserves. No matter how big or how small, every little helps RIP ANGEL XX'

Blake Ross was reported missing St Katharine's in the Howdenhall area of Edinburgh at around 3.15 pm on Saturday.

Two campaigns were launched at a similar time to appeal to the public who were touched by his sad story, one on justgiving.com and the other on gofundme.com

It's believed that he was intending to travel to the Gracemount area of the city when he was last seen.

Police said he also had links to the Moredun and Wester Hailes areas.

Superintendent Lesley Clark of Edinburgh Division said: 'This is a tragic death of a young boy and our thoughts are with Blake's family at this very difficult time.

'In the coming days and weeks we will be working with our relevant partners to support his loved ones and provide them with all the necessary support and assistance they require.

'In addition, we will be continuing to conduct our investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding Blake's death and submit our findings to the Procurator Fiscal.

'Our inquiries are ongoing and we would ask anyone with information regarding Blake's movements between the afternoon of Saturday 11th February and Monday 13th February to contact us on 101.'

A City of Edinburgh Council spokesman said: 'We are deeply shocked at Blake's sudden death and our thoughts are with his family.

'We will continue to liaise closely with Police Scotland as they carry out their enquiries.'
The 19-year-old New Jersey man who strangled his high school friend and then dumped her body in a river reportedly choked her continuously for 30 minutes and watched her die.

Prosecutors say that Liam McAtasney admitted in a recorded conversation that he choked Sarah Stern, 19, to death just after he robbed her of money, the Asbury Park Press reported.

McAtasney bragged to his friend that he strangled Stern with such force that he lifted her off the ground and watched her die from suffocation, according to the Daily News.

Soon afterward, McAtasney and a roommate, Preston Taylor, are alleged to have thrown Sterns body off a bridge and into the Shark River on or around December 2, 2016.

Earlier this month, Taylor, 19, confessed to helping McAtasney dispose of Stern's body after his roommate robbed and murdered her.

During a Tuesday hearing in Monmouth County Superior Court in Freehold, New Jersey, prosecutors said that Liam McAtasney (left), 19, planned the killing of Sarah Stern for weeks. His attorney, Charles Moriarty, is seen on the right

Prosecutors say that McAtasney (left) admitted to strangling Stern (right) and then 'watched her die for 30 minutes' on or around December 2

Stern's abandoned car was found on the Route 35 bridge in the early morning hours of December 3.

Sterns body has yet to be found, as authorities believe the current swept it out to sea.

During a Tuesday hearing in Monmouth County Superior Court in Freehold, New Jersey, prosecutors said that McAtasney planned the killing for weeks.

Last week, Assistant Monmounth County Prosecutor Meghan Doyle said that McAtasney planned the attack for at least six months.

Hours after prosecutors allege the killing happened, Stern's car (above) is found on the Route 35 Bridge in Belmar, New Jersey before dawn on December 3

She said that McAtasney brought Taylor into the plans the night of the murder, calling him before hand and telling him what he planned to do.

All three attended Neptune High School together and Taylor even took Stern to junior prom as his date.

'I'm at the bank. I'm going to do it now. I'm going to take her out,' McAtasney allegedly told Taylor.

McAtasney reportedly later called back saying 'Dude, I did it'.

He then asked Taylor to help him out by going over to Stern's house to hide her body and find his cellphone, which he left behind.

Taylor reportedly followed his roommate's orders, and Doyle says he hid the victim's body in some bushes in her backyard and searched for the phone but couldn't find it.

McAtasney is also said to have admitted to the crime in a recorded conversation with an individual who goes by the initials AC.

McAtasneys lawyer, Charles Moriarty, told reporters outside of the courtroom that its possible Stern is alive and his client is fabricating his story.

Preston Taylor listens as his defense attorney addresses the court during his detention hearing last week. Prosecutors say Taylor has confessed to his role in helping McAtasney cover up the murder of Stern

Taylor and Stern are seen in this undated photo from 2014. The two went to junior prom together. Taylor is charged with tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution

Moriarty believes that the similarity between McAtasneys comments on the tape and Taylors statements to police lead him to believe that theyre talking about something that was scripted.

Both boys seem to be talking about something that didnt happen, Moriarty said.

The lawyer said that the conversation between McAtasney and AC was locker-room talk.

He said that his client indicated to me that whatever was said, he had nothing to do with this. He wouldn't hurt anyone, and he didn't hurt her.

Moriarty said that neighbors reported Stern appeared to be suicidal on the day authorities say she was murdered.

He said that Stern was giving away the belongings of her deceased mother who died several years earlier.

Prosecutors accuse McAtasney of joining in the search for Stern as a ploy to cover up his guilt.

They say McAtasney exaggerated his friendship with Stern in order to mislead investigators.

Earlier this month, Taylor confessed to his role in covering up the murder - providing information that led investigators to two buried safes in Sandy Hook and Sandy River Park.

One safe contained cash and the other contained pieces of Stern's clothing. Her body has not been recovered.

McAtasney is charged with murder, felony murder, conspiracy, hindering apprehension and disposal of human remains.

Taylor faces charges of conspiracy, hindering apprehension and disposal of human remains.
A substitute teacher in Pennsylvania is under fire, after she told a five-year-old cancer survivor that she couldn't be pretty bald.

The incident happened on Friday at the Wylandville Elementary School in Gambles.

MaKayla Welsh was playing with some of the hairs on her head when the teacher called her out in front of the whole class.

'The teacher thought she was pulling her hair out The teacher told her if she was bald, she wouldn't be pretty,' her mother, Nicole Welsh, told WPXI.

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MaKayla Welsh says her substitute teacher told her she wouldn't be pretty if she was bald in class last week

MaKayla was diagnosed with leukemia two years ago, but she is now in remission. Her hair continues to fall out through because of the chemotherapy she underwent in her treatment.

As soon as MaKayla came home and told her mother about the teacher's comments, she called the school to complain to the principal and superintendent.

Mrs Welsh says that the administrators were understanding and 'promised she'd never go through anything like that again'.

Video courtesy of WPXI

The five-year-old girl was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, and is in remission now. But her hair continues to fall out because of chemotherapy she underwent in her treatment

The school's principal and superintendent apologized to MaKayla's family for the comment, but have not said publicly whether the substitute teacher will face consequences were her hurtful words

Following the incident, administrators had MaKayla's class watch a video on what she was going through. Above, the school pictured above

However, the school district has refused to comment on whether the teacher in question - who has not been named - will face any consequences for the comment.

Mrs Welsh has some words for the teacher though.

'Be careful on how you word things to children Words can hurt a lot more than anything else. They can stick with you forever,' she said.

Following the incident, administrators had MaKayla's class watch a video on what she was going through.

After the film, MaKayla's mom says her class 'rallied around and hugged her'.

'She was excited and couldn't wait to go to school,' her mom said.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters during a contentious press briefing that President Trump has been 'incredibly tough' on Russia, notwithstanding Trump's frequent praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Spicer made the comments about Trump's Russia posture after he got pressed repeatedly on Trump's decision to stand by Mike Flynn as security advisor until he ultimately had 'eroding trust' in Flynn.

Reporters wanted to know why Trump kept Flynn  who the White House says Trump asked to leave after he passed inaccurate information to Vice President Mike Pence about his contacts with Russia  for days after top intelligence officials informed the White House Flynn might be vulnerable. Flynn resigned Monday.

'The irony of this entire situation is that the president has been incredibly tough on Russia. He continues to raise the issue of Crimea, which the previous administration allowed to be seized by Russia,' Spicer said.

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TOUGH: White House press secretary Sean Spicer said President Trump has been 'incredibly tough' on Russia

White House Press secretary Sean Spicer said President Trump has been 'incredibly tough' on Russia

'His ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley stood before the U.N. Security Council on her first day and strongly denounced the Russian occupation of Crimea. As Ambassador Haley said at the time, 'The dire situation in eastern Ukraine is one that demands clear and strong condemnation of Russian actions,' Spicer continued  highlighting a statement by Haley rather than one by the president.

'President Trump has made it very clear he expects the Russian government to de-escalate violence in the Ukraine and return Crimea,' he added.

'At the same time, he fully expects to and wants to get along with Russia,' Spicer concluded.

PUTIN PRAISE: Trump hailed Russian President Vladimir Putin's response after Putin declined to respond to new sanctions imposed by President Obama

Spicer made his 'tough' treatment claim soon after Fox News reported that a Russian intelligence-gathering ship has been spotted roaming the waters off the East Coast.

The SSV-175 Viktor Leonov ship was 70 miles off the coast of Delaware - in international waters - heading north, officials told Fox News.

Armed with surface-to-air missiles, the ship is capable of intercepting communications and can measure U.S. Navy sonar capability, an official said.

'It's not a huge concern, but we are keeping our eyes on it,' the official added.

Spicer faced tough questions about U.S. Russia policy in the first press briefing since Mike Flynn resigned as Trump's national security advisor

The Vishnya-class spy boat was also spotted near the U.S. nuclear missile submarine base in Kings Bay, Georgia, in 2014

A U.S. official told the network that Russia deployed inside its own borders ground-launched cruise missiles in two locations in December.

The New York Times reported that the Obama administration previously concluded the missiles, when in a testing phase, were a violation of a 1987 U.S.-Russia treaty banning ground-launched intermediate-range missiles.

Trump heaped praise on Putin throughout the campaign, even as his campaign campaign came under scrutiny for contacts between top advisors and Putin's Russia. Flynn had given a paid speech for the 10th anniversary of Kremlin-backed Russia Today, and was seated next to Putin at a dinner for the event.

Asked about Putin by host Bill O'Reilly in a pre-Super Bowl interview, Trump said: 'I do respect him. Well, I respect a lot of people, but that doesn't mean I'll get along with them,' Trump told O'Reilly.

O'Reilly then said, 'Putin is a killer,' prompting Trump to compare Russia to the United States.

'There are a lot of killers. We have a lot of killers,' Trump said. 'Well, you think our country is so innocent?'

In late December, after Putin said Russia would not be responding to new sanctions imposed by the Obama administration in response to election hacking, Trump tweeted: ''Great move on delay (by V. Putin)  I always knew he was very smart!'

Last July, Trump took heat for an ABC interview where he said Putin as not going into Ukraine, even though Russia had already annexed the territory.

'He's not going into Ukraine, OK, just so you understand. He's not going to go into Ukraine, all right? You can mark it down. You can put it down. You can take it anywhere you want,' Trump said told ABC's George Stephanopoulos on 'This Week.'

'Well, he's already there, isn't he?' Stephanopoulos shot back.

'OK -- well, he's there in a certain way,' Trump responded. 'But I'm not there. You have Obama there. And frankly, that whole part of the world is a mess under Obama with all the strength that you're talking about and all of the power of NATO and all of this. In the meantime, he's going away. He takes Crimea.'
The director of the Office of Government Ethics asked the White House today to investigate  and punish  Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway for hawking Ivanka Trump's products on national TV.

The head of the OGE, Walter Shaub, penned a letter to White House legal counselor Stefan Passantino that said, 'Under the present circumstances, there is strong reason to believe that Ms. Conway has violated the Standards of Conduct Act and that disciplinary action is warranted.'

Schaub asked the White House to investigate what happened and to get back to him by February 28. He also recommended that she be punished, as she looked to be in 'clear violation' of the act.

'I don't have comment on the particular letter that's been sent or any type of investigation,' Conway told Sean Hannity on his Fox News Channel program Tuesday night.

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Then and now: On Thursday Kellyanne Conway called on Americans to buy Ivanka Trump's products - but on Tuesday, as she attended the White House press briefing, the Office of Government ethics called for an investigation and even disciplinary action

Cleared out: Clearance and sale items from Ivanka Trump's brand line of shoes and accessories are seen in a Manhattan Nordstrom Rack store in January (above)

Powerful endorsement: Conway spoke up for her boss's daughter's clothing line on Fox & Friend on Thursday. His closeness to her is no secret, and the two were seen together in a tweeted picture taken with Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau in the Oval Office

Last week, in the wake of Nordstrom dropping Ivanka Trump's clothing line, Conway made an appearance on Fox & Friends where she made the ask.

'Go buy Ivanka's stuff is what I would tell  I hate shopping. Im going to go get some myself today,' she said last Thursday to the morning show hosts, as she also discussed an ongoing boycott of stores that sell Trump family wares.

'It's a wonderful line. I own some of it. I'm going to give a free commercial here. Go buy it today, everybody. You can find it online,' she said, continuing to make the sell.

Government officials cannot pitch products, as the Code of Federal Regulations says: 'An employee shall not use his public office for his own private gain, for the endorsement of any product, service or enterprise, or for the private gain of friends, relatives, or persons with whom the employee is affiliated in a nongovernmental capacity, including nonprofit organizations of which the is an officer or member, and persons with whom the employee has or seeks employment or business relations.'

Then and now: White House counselor Kellyanne Conway told Americans, 'Go buy Ivanka's stuff is what I would tell you' in an interview conducted from the White House - then apologized to Trump for the apparent ethics breach, and tweeted about his support Friday

Latest message: Kellyanne Conway used her Twitter account on Tuesday shortly before the Office of Government Ethics made its intervention with the White House

The comments immediately got attention with Rep. Jason Chaffetz, a Republican and chair of the House Oversight Committee calling them 'wrong, wrong, wrong.'

He had written a letter to Shaub to see what could be done on the matter.

Shaub replied to that correspondence today by saying the House Oversight Committee should investigate the comments as the OGE can make 'only an informal recommendation.'

'Unlike the Committee, OGE cannot issue subpoenas, question witnesses, compel the production of documents or take action against individuals who refuse to cooperate,' Shaub said to Chaffetz and to Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., the Oversight committee's ranking member.

Shaub copied the two lawmakers when he sent his letter to the White House, asking for a probe.

The OGE head said he believed Conway in in violation of the Standards of Conduct Act noting, 'Executive branch officials should use the authority entrusted in them for the benefit of the American people and not for private profit.'

Detailing what had occurred, Shaub quoted Conway on Fox & Friends.

'As Ms. Conway made these statements, she appeared on screen in a tight frame between the official seal of the White House and the American flag,' he noted.

Shaub added that the textbook example of what not to do is an administration official appearing in a television commercial to promote a product.

'Ms. Conway's actions track that example almost exactly,' the head of the watchdog agency pointed out.

Last week, when White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer was asked about Conway's comments he said she had been 'counseled,' and left it at that.

Conway defended herself with a tweet on Friday saying 'POTUS supports me.'

Today she wrote, 'I serve at the pleasure of @POTUS. His message is my message. His goals are my goals. Uninformed chatter doesn't matter.'

The OGE letter is simply a recommendation and thus it would be up to Trump to punish Conway himself.

Tonight Conway wouldn't comment further saying, 'I've been very straightforward about that particular incident.'

'And I'll just  I'll leave it at that,' she said.
Russia has deployed a new cruise missile apparently violating an arms control treaty banning ground-based U.S. and Russian intermediate-range missiles.

Russia has secretly deployed the ground-launched SSC-8 cruise missile that Moscow has been developing and testing for several years, despite U.S. complaints that it violated sections of the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty, The New York Times reported.

The Russian Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the New York Times story.

Russia's actions prove to be a challenge for President Donald Trump, as he had pledged to improve the relations between the U.S. and Russia by working with President Vladimir Putin during his campaign.

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Russia has deployed a new cruise missile despite complaints by U.S. officials (file photo above of Russian President Vladimir Putin)

Russia has secretly deployed the ground-launched SSC-8 cruise missile, as Moscow has reportedly been developing and testing it for several years

That brings number of those missiles to two in Russia as some officials say it violates 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty

Latest development comes as a Russian intelligence-gathering ship was spotted roaming the international waters 70 miles off the coast of Delaware on Tuesday

Also as President Trump demanded that National Security Adviser Michael Flynn resign because of an 'eroding level of trust' after his conversations with Russia

Flynn stepped down late on Monday night, less than a month into Trump's administration as questions mounted over his close links with the Kremlin

The State Department concluded in a July 2014 arms control report that 'the Russian Federation is in violation of its obligations under the INF Treaty not to possess, produce, or flight-test a ground-launched cruise missile (GLCM) with a range capability of 310 miles to 3,420 miles, or to possess or produce launchers of such missiles.'

Russia accused Washington of conducting 'megaphone diplomacy' after the accusation was repeated by the State Department in 2015.

Moscow also denied it had violated the INF treaty, which helped end the Cold War between the two countries.

The New York Times said President Barack Obama's administration had attempted to persuade Moscow to correct the violation while the missile was still in the testing phase.

Instead, Russia has moved ahead with the SSC-8 missile, deploying it as an operational system, the report said.

Russia now has two battalions of the cruise missile, the newspaper quoted administration officials as saying.

One is located at Russia's missile test site at Kapustin Yar in the country's southeast.

The other cruise missile battalion has been located at an operational base elsewhere in Russia, the Times quoted one unidentified official as saying.

This latest development comes as the SSV-175 Viktor Leonov, a Russian intelligence-gathering ship, was spotted roaming the international waters 70 miles off the coast of Delaware, as it was heading north, officials told Fox News.

A Russian intelligence-gathering ship has been spotted roaming the waters off the East Coast on Tuesday 70 miles away from Delaware (pictured in 2015 off the coast of Cuba)

Armed with surface-to-air missiles, the ship is capable of intercepting communications and can measure U.S. Navy sonar capability, an official said.

'It's not a huge concern, but we are keeping our eyes on it,' they added.

The Viktor Leonov, which measures 300 feet long and 47.5 feet wide, has a crew of 200 sailors carries high-tech electronic surveillance equipment and weaponry, AK-630 rapid-fire cannons and surface-to-air missiles.

THE RUSSIAN SPY VESSEL VIKTOR LEONOV The Vishnya class intelligence-gathering ship went into service in the Black Sea in 1988 before it was transferred seven years later to the northern fleet. It named after Second World War Soviet sailor Viktor Leonov. Ship measures 300 feet long and 47.5 feet wide. It has a crew of 200 sailors carries high-tech electronic surveillance equipment and weaponry, AK-630 rapid-fire cannons and surface-to-air missiles Advertisement

The Vishnya or Meridian-class intelligence ship patrolled near the U.S. nuclear missile submarine base in Kings Bay, Georgia, in 2014 in what the Department of Defense suspect may have been part of an intelligence-gathering operation.

In a throwback to the Cold War, the spy ship also caused a stir after unexpectedly docking in Havana on the eve of historic talks between the U.S. and Cuba the following year.

There was nothing stealthy about the arrival of the Leonov, which was moored to a pier in Old Havana where cruise ships often dock.

But the visit was not officially announced by Cuban authorities.

The timing also raised eyebrows as it came on the eve of historic U.S-Cuba talks aimed at normalizing diplomatic relations.

U.S. officials in Washington played down the presence of the Russian vessel, saying it was perfectly legal and not at all out of the ordinary.

'It's not unprecedented. It's not unusual. It's not alarming,' a defense official told AFP news agency.

The missile deployment and ship sighting comes as Trump (far left) demanded the resignation of Michael Flynn (far right), his national security adviser for talking to the Russian ambassador

White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Tuesday that Trump asked for former national security adviser Michael Flynn's resignation on Monday night

It is the first such move by Russian military under Trump's presidency.

The ship sighting and missile deployment also comes as Trump demanded his national security adviser's resignation on Monday night after concluding that an 'eroding level of trust' had made it impossible to leave him in the sensitive position.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Tuesday afternoon that Trump had been reviewing and evaluating allegations against Michael Flynn for weeks. The situation reached 'critical mass' last night, he said.

'That is why the president decided to ask for his resignation, and he got it.'

Spicer cited Flynn's misleading statements to Vice President Mike Pence about a call he had with the Russian ambassador to the United States  'and a series of other questionable instances' that he did not describe.

The White House directed questions about the FBI interview to the Department of Justice and the National Security Council.

Flynn suggested in an interview on Monday with the Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF) that he was not under investigation by the federal agency, however.

It came up as he insisted to the non-profit news outlet that he hadn't done anything wrong.

'If I did, believe me, the FBI would be down my throat, my clearances would be pulled. There were no lines crossed,' he said in the interview that hit the internet around the same time as the Times' report.

Trump forced Flynn out night after coming to the determination that his 'trust' in Flynn had been eroded

Flynn (center) was fired just 24 days into the Trump administration. He's pictured in Florida with Trump last week

Spicer had dismissed concerns earlier in the day that Flynn's calls with Sergey Kislyak were problematic. He said the retired general was dismissed when Trump decided he couldn't rely on him.

'There was nothing wrong or inappropriate about those discussions. It purely came down to a matter of trust. That's it,' Spicer told reporters.

The Department of Justice notified the White House's legal counsel, Don McGhan, on January 26 that Flynn may have fibbed when he said that he did not discuss sanctions with Kislyak. The White House's Office of Legal Counsel immediately told Trump and some of his advisers.

After a thorough review Flynn was cleared of any violations, Spicer said.

'We got to a point not based on a legal issue but based on a trust issue where the level of trust between the president and General Flynn had eroded to the point where he felt he had to make a change,' the president's press secretary said.

Flynn was not fired at that time because the Justice Department hadn't launched a probe and could not say with certainty that the Trump official had lied, he posited.

'The evolving and eroding level of trust as a result of this situation and a series of other questionable instances is what led the president to ask for General Flynn's resignation,' Spicer told reporters during his Tuesday briefing.

Asked later to explain what those other instances were, Trump's spokesman said his 'statement was very clear - it was this and a series of issues.'

He declined to say what those 'issues' were. He never said what the tipping point was for Trump, either, that caused him to cut Flynn loose last night.

Flynn has not spoken out since. He talked to the DCNF on Monday, he said, because the president encouraged him to defend himself.

The retired three-star general had no idea at that time that he was headed for the chopping block.

'He [President Donald Trump] expressed confidence,' Flynn is quoted as saying to the DNCF. 'Thats when he told me that we need to go out and talk more. So Im going to do that.'

The interview was conducted 'just hours before his resignation,' DNCF's Richard Polluck stated. It was not immediately clear how late in the day Flynn made the statements.

Flynn told the DNCF at that time that he believed the controversy surrounding his call with Kislyak was 'ridiculous' and 'out of control.'

'I havent been fighting back because Im not that kind of guy. Im behind the scenes. Ive always been behind the scenes,' he said.
Russia appears to be testing the resolve of Donald Trump's young presidency with a series of belligerent moves while America's NSA is dealing with an internal crisis.

Four Russian military aircraft conducted low passes against a U.S. destroyer in the Black Sea just days before a spy ship was spotted off the East Coast.

The USS Porter, a guided missile destroyer, reported the aircraft performing 'dangerous flybys' past the ship which was based just off the coast of Romania on February 10.

'There were several incidents involving multiple Russian aircraft,' said Navy Capt. Danny Hernandez, spokesman for the European Command. 'They were assessed by the commanding officer as unsafe and unprofessional.

On top of that, Russia has also reportedly deployed a new cruise missile, apparently violating an arms control treaty banning ground-based US and Russian intermediate-range missiles.

Four Russian military aircraft conducted low passes against a U.S. destroyer in the Black Sea just days before a spy ship was spotted off the East Coast (stock image)

The USS Porter was taking part in a military exercise in The Black Sea at the time

'USS Porter queried all aircraft and received no response,' Hernandez said.

'Such incidents are concerning because they can result in accident or miscalculation,' he said referring to actions that could spark an unintended shootout by military forces.

The incidents involving the Su-24 were considered to be unsafe and unprofessional by the commanding officer of the Porter because of their high speed and low altitude, while the IL-38 flew at an unusually low altitude, Hernandez said.

Another U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the closest incident that day involved the lone SU-24, which came within 200 yards of the Porter at an altitude of 300 feet (91 meters).

The move was the first such act of Russian military aggression towards U.S. forces since Trump's inauguration. But the country has been quick to follow up after a Russian intelligence-gathering ship was spotted roaming the waters off the East Coast.

The SSV-175 Viktor Leonov ship was 70 miles off the coast of Delaware - in international waters - heading north, officials told Fox News.

Armed with surface-to-air missiles, the ship is capable of intercepting communications and can measure U.S. Navy sonar capability, an official said.

The USS Porter, a guided missile destroyer, reported the aircraft performing 'dangerous flybys' on February 10

Russia has also deployed a new cruise missile despite complaints by U.S. officials that it violates an arms control treaty banning ground-based U.S. and Russian intermediate-range missiles. (file above of Russian President Vladimir Putin)

'It's not a huge concern, but we are keeping our eyes on it,' they added.

The Viktor Leonov, which measures 300 feet long and 47.5 feet wide, has a crew of 200 sailors carries high-tech electronic surveillance equipment and weaponry, AK-630 rapid-fire cannons and surface-to-air missiles.

It is the first such move by Russian military under Trump's presidency.

The ship sighting and missile deployment also comes as Trump demanded his national security adviser's resignation on Monday night after concluding that an 'eroding level of trust' had made it impossible to leave him in the sensitive position.

Russia has also deployed a new cruise missile apparently violating an arms control treaty banning ground-based U.S. and Russian intermediate-range missiles.

The nation has secretly deployed the ground-launched SSC-8 cruise missile that Moscow has been developing and testing for several years, despite U.S. complaints that it violated sections of the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty, The New York Times reported.

The missile deployment and ship sighting comes as Trump (far left) demanded the resignation of Michael Flynn (far right), his national security adviser for talking to the Russian ambassador

The intelligence-gathering ship Viktor Leonov has been spotted on and off around the East Coast over the past few years (pictured in Havana in 2014)

The Russian Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the New York Times story.

During the Black Sea incident, two Russian Su-24 jet fighters had buzzed the ship, followed by a single Su-24 and then an IL-38 transport aircraft.

The aircraft failed to respond to several radio requests from the U.S. military to halt the overflights, and did not have their electronic identifying transponders activated - used to help identify hostile and friendly aircraft on radar.

THE RUSSIAN SPY VESSEL VIKTOR LEONOV The Vishnya class intelligence-gathering ship went into service in the Black Sea in 1988 before it was transferred seven years later to the northern fleet. It named after Second World War Soviet sailor Viktor Leonov. Ship measures 300 feet long and 47.5 feet wide. It has a crew of 200 sailors carries high-tech electronic surveillance equipment and weaponry, AK-630 rapid-fire cannons and surface-to-air missiles. Advertisement

The buzzing of the USS Porter, which had been taking part in an annual international military exercise called Sea Shield, occurred in international waters off the Romanian coast.

Russia's actions prove to be a challenge for President Donald Trump, as he had pledged to improve the relations between the U.S. and Russia by working with President Vladimir Putin during his campaign.

'I respect a lot of people,' Trump told Fox News. 'But that doesn't mean I am going to get along with him. He's a leader of his country. I say it's better to get along with Russia than not. Will I get along with them? I have no idea.'

Prior to Trump's administration, the last encounter between the Russian and U.S. military came when two Russian jets flew dangerously close to U.S. P-8A maritime patrol aircraft over the Black Sea.

Russian bombers also recently completed a major nuclear exercise.

Sea Shield is a joint exercise between the U.S. and NATO to support member states concerned about Russian aggression following its take over of Crimea.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer denied on Tuesday that President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe violated security protocols during a dinner conversation Friday night.

Amateur photographers captured the men and their aides huddled around an outdoor patio table at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, shortly after North Korea test-launched a medium-range ballistic missile.

CNN reported that the meal 'quickly morphed into a strategy session, the decision-making on full view to fellow diners.'

Not so, Spicer insisted during a press conference Tuesday afternoon, saying the table talk was limited to a discussion about where to deliver a joint statement to reporters a few hours later.

'There was simply a discussion about press logistics  where to host the event,' he said.

White House Press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters on Tuesday that photos of President Donald Trump, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and their aides huddling in a public place Friday night did not indicate anything classified was being discussed

The photos show aides using cellphone camera lights to help Trump and Abe read through documents at the table on a dining patio shortly after North Korea test-launched a medium-range ballistic missile

A Mar-a-Lago resort guest posted the pictures, leading some to assume America's strategic response was being discussed  but Spicer said Tuesday that the president was briefed before and after dinner at a secure location

Mar-a-Lago, Spicer disclosed, is home to a Secure Compartmented Information Facility, known as a SCIF  a hardened room or electronically shielded tent that intelligence officials use to conduct classified or sensitive conversations without risk of eavesdropping.

People without security clearances are not permitted to enter SCIFs, nor are smartphones, cameras, recording equipment and other electronic devices.

'The president was briefed in a SCIF ahead of dinner,' Spicer said. 'He went with his national security team. They briefed him on the situation in North Korea.'

And after dinner 'the president went back to the SCIF to get a further update from his team,' he said.

Spicer's explanations didn't deter House Oversight Committee chairman Jason Chaffetz, a Utah Republican, from demanding information from the White House about security protocols at Mar-a-Lago.

In a letter to White House chief of staff Reince Priebus, Chaffetz asked whether guests at the resort are pre-screened to 'ensure that they are not foreign agents or spies on behalf of a foreign government.'

He also wants to know what kind of sensitive information, if any, was exposed to prying eyes on Friday night.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, the Republican chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, asked the White House chief of staff for answers Tuesday about Mar-a-Lago's security and screening protocols

Trump also took a phone call on the public dining patio at Mar-a-Lago on Friday night, but the White House says the only topic of conversation was 'logistics' related to a media statement

'[D]iscussions with foreign leaders regarding international missile tests, and documents used to support those discussions, are presumptively sensitive,' Chaffetz wrote to Priebus.

'While the President is always on duty, and cannot dictate the timing of when he needs to receive sensitive information about urgent matters, we hope the White House will cooperate in providing the Committee with additional information.'

Spicer complained Monday about 'a photo ... which everyone jumped to nefarious conclusions about'  but didn't mention Chaffetz.

During a conversation with reporters Monday night, Spicer said the picture specifically shows U.S. and Japanese aides 'reviewing the logistics for the press conference' that would follow late at night, when it was lunchtime in Tokyo.

'At the time they had suggested that the press conference be at the Hampton Inn. And so they were reviewing it, and the president is saying, "No, we're going to have it here." And that's it.'

Chelsea Clinton bashed Trump for exposing state secrets to his resort guests  which the White House says never happened  as she mused about opportunistic reporters and spies buying memberships

The brief statement consisted of Abe declaring that 'North Korea's most recent missile launch is absolutely intolerable,' and Trump pledging that 'the United States of America stands behind Japan, its great ally, 100 percent.'

Based on initial reports, former first daughter Chelsea Clinton blasted the Trump administration for letting assorted observers witness his decision-making process about a response to Pyongyang's potential nuclear provocation.

'How many of Mar-a-Lago's new members will be (already are?) members of foreign intelligence agencies & media organizations?' Clinton asked on Twitter.

She was responding to the Washington Post's White House bureau chief tweeting that 'Trump hashed out response to North Koreas missile launch in the dining room at Mar-a-Lago' amid 'eavesdroppers galore.'

Former president Barack Obama's official White House photographer trolled Trump in his own way.

Pete Souza shared an Instagram photo depicting Obama conducting a national security discussion in a portable tent-based SCIF  making a point of calling it a 'private, secure location.'

U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, wrote on Twitter that there is 'no excuse for letting an international crisis play out in front of a bunch of country club members like dinner theater.'

That remark now seems to have been an overreaction.

Pete Souza, who spent eight years following Barack Obama as his official White House photographer, shared a photo on Monday of Obama reacting to national security discussions while on the road, saying his talks took place in a 'private, secure location'  and contrasting it with early reports of Trump's Friday night activities

Similarly, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Trump 'never should have had such a sensitive discussion in such a public place.'

The picture of Trump and Abe dining al fresco first appeared on the Facebook account Richard DeAgazio, who said he witnessed the scene personally.

'HOLY MOLY !!! It was fascinating to watch the flurry of activity at dinner when the news came that North Korea had launched a missile in the direction of Japan,' DeAgazio wrote on his public feed.

DeAgazio also wrote alongside another photo: 'The Prime Minister Abe of Japan huddles with his staff and the President is on the phone with Washington DC. the two world leaders then conferred and then went into another room for hastily arranged press conference. Wow.....the center of the action!!!'

DeAgazio has since deleted his account.
The United States used to be the gold standard for refugees setting out for a better life.

But ever since President Trump took office, and started cracking down on immigration, fearful refugees and asylum seekers have started illegally crossing into Canada in hopes of trading their American dreams for maple leaves.

This has had a profound effect on the small Canadian towns situated near the U.S. border, which have seen refugees from Sudan, Turkey, Syria and other corners of the world show up cold and hungry from difficult border crossings in the dead of winter.

Since the start of the New Year, 69 people have applied for refugee status in Canada after illegally crossing into the country from the U.S.

Dozens of refugees have been crossing from America into Canada over concerns about Trump's travel ban and stricter immigration policies. Above, a family from Yemen are taken into custody by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police after walking across the border into Hemmingford, Quebec on Tuesday

Since the start of the New Year, 69 people have applied for refugee status in Canada after illegally crossing into the country from the U.S. Above, a man from Yemen crosses into Hemmingford from New York on Tuesday

In order to claim refugee status in Canada, people refugees already in the U.S. need to cross the border illegally. Above, a family from Yemen arrives in Hemmingford on Tuesday

The majority of these crossings have happened near Emerson, Canada - which shares a border with North Dakota and Minnesota - and the neighboring towns of Hemmingford and Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle in Quebec, on the New York border.

Some come with children, others with frostbite wounds sustained on the journey through snow-covered fields.

The reason these wanna-be Canadians are crossing into the country illegally is because Canada is part of an agreement that bars refugees that have already arrived in another 'safe' country from trying to trade up to another country.

The towns of Hemmingford and Saint-Bernard-De-Lacolle have become popular crossing points for refugees into Canada

Another popular crossing point has been into Emerson, Canada from North Dakota and Minnesota

This has put refugees and asylum seekers already in the U.S. in a tough position, since many of them have become fearful about what will happen to them if Trump's travel ban is reinstated, or he crafts an even tougher executive order.

The only way for these refugees already in the U.S. to gain refugee status in Canada is for them to physically cross the border illegally.

In fact, as soon as they arrive in the country, these refugees have been tracking down police officers to arrest them.

While the adults may be briefly handcuffed, they are not detained and instead are taken to a police or border station where they can officially apply as refugees.

But with 28 people crossing into Manitoba alone this weekend, locals are struggling to help these newcomers settle into Canadian life.

Many of the refugees making the crossing are not prepared for the bitter bold weather and snow. Above, a man from Mauritania walks down a road in Champlain, New York on his way to Hemmingford on Monday

Canadian police must inform illegal immigrants that they will be arrested before crossing over. But immigrants are only briefly handcuffed so they can be taken to a station to declare themselves refugees. Above, officers help a man from Mauritania cross into Canada Monday

Other groups have been helping find refuges shelter after they are done applying as refugees. Above, a man from Mauritania is arrested in Canada on Monday

Many of the refugees entering Canada are bringing their children. Above, a woman from Sudan helps her daughter up a snow pile as she arrives in Hemmingford on Sunday

A woman who told police that she and her family were from Sudan is taken into custody by Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers after arriving by taxi

The children of a woman who told police that she and her family were from Sudan are placed in a vehicle in Hemmingford

A man from Yemen is taken into custody by Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers after walking across the U.S.-Canada border into Hemmingford on Tuesday

A Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer talks to a man exiting a taxi, who said he was from Yemen, as he walks towards the U.S.-Canada border into Hemmingford on Tuesday.

Rita Chahal is the executive director of the Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council, which has set up 'Welcome Place' to provide a temporary shelter for refugees coming over the U.S. border. Lately, Welcome Place's staff have been making up to three shuttles back and forth between the border a day, picking up refugees and bringing them back to the shelter where they can warm up, eat and get the help they need to start their immigration process.

As of Sunday, Welcome Place was completely full and Chahal had no alternate locations to place more refugees. She says her organization needs more donations to help with the influx of refugees and assistance from other agencies who can give them temporary shelter.

'The numbers, if they keep growing, I don't have the financial resources to hire more staff,' she told CBC on Sunday.

Residents in these small towns have been mostly open to the refugees flooding into their hometowns, but the influx was so drastic that in prompted an emergency town meeting in Emerson.

Some are afraid that, as the weather warms, refugees will become come in even larger numbers.

'I have seen them walking around town, more than a number of times, where I've seen five people coming across, walking down the highway, sleeping on the side of the highway,' Emerson Fire Chief Jeff French told CNN.

Wayne Pfiel (pictured on February 9) of the Emerson Inn in Emerson, Manitoba. Pfiel said he has seen many refugees walk across the border from the United States

Jean Pierre Venegas, Manager of Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council, brings blankets and pillows into a community hall for refugees that may walk across the border in Emerson, Manitoba on February 9. Refugees have been crossing into Canada at Emerson and authorities had a town hall meeting in Emerson to discuss their options

Fadel Alshawwa, Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council, brings blankets into a community hall for refugees that may walk across the border in Emerson, Manitoba on February 9

Rita Chahal, Executive Director of Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council, Greg Janzen, Reeve of Emerson-Franklin, Tara Seel, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Jeryn Peters, Canada Border Services Agency Chief of Operations Emerson speak to media after a town hall meeting in Emerson, Manitoba on February 9

A border marker is seen at the U.S.-Canada border into Hemmingford, Quebec, Canada on Tuesday

Because they need to report to the authorities within three days of entering Canada, in order to claim refugee status, some have been banging on locals' doors to use the phone at 2 or 3am.

'It started with a trickle and has now increased to a flood stage,' resident Brenda Piett said. 'Some people are scared, nervous. Locking their doors. This town most people never locked their doors. But recently they are.'

Last week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted that he was 'very concerned' with the amount of refugees crossing into rural areas. But he did not say whether he would seek to suspend their agreement with the U.S. and perhaps try start allowing these people to apply for refugee status at official borders.

The majority of these crossings have been happening on the New York-Quebec border, which authorities attribute to its closeness to the major East Coast cities.

Some even take Ubers all the way up from New York City to the border so they can cross over.

Francois Dore, a retired Surete du Quebec officer, lives in Hemmingford and told the Montreal Gazette he has seen much more activity at the border lately, with more sensors being installed and police patrolling 24/7.

Janet Cunningham lives a few hundred feet from the border and says it's become common to see refugees crossing the snow-covered fields outside her house.

She recently spoke with an Eritrean man that she saw come over the border and helped direct him towards Montreal. But by the time he reached the corner, the police were already on the scene to arrest him.

'I feel sorry for all these people who have to go to such extremes to get a better life,' she said. 'As long as they're not terrorists, they are welcome in this country.'
Georgian police have arrested a high-profile priest suspected of plotting to poison the head of the Georgian Church.

Giorgi Mamaladze was caught with sodium cyanide in his luggage on February 10 as he boarded a flight from Tbilisi airport to Berlin. Police also reportedly found firearms at the priest's home.

The head of the Georgian Church, Patriarch Ilia II, is being treated in hospital after having a gallbladder operation in Germany.

Giorgi Mamaladze (pictured) was caught with sodium cyanide in his luggage on February 10

The country's chief prosecutor said Mamaladze was in pre-trial detention on 'suspicion of plotting to murder a high-ranking Church official'.

The statement did not specify the target of the plot but Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili responded by ordering increased security for 83-year-old Ilia.

Mr Kvirikashvili said the government in Georgia had 'averted a major disaster'.

Fr Mamaladze, heads the Church's property department and manages a medical centre in Georgia, 'had systematic contacts' with the patriarch, prosecutors said.

The head of the Georgian Church, Patriarch Ilia II, is being treated in hospital in Germany

The priest had asked someone - not identified - to sell him cyanide, and that person had tipped off the police, Prosecutor-General Irakli Shotadze said.

The conservative Georgian Orthodox Church - followed by more than 80 percent of the 4.5 million population - is one of several distinct Eastern Orthodox Churches, which also include the Greek and Russian Churches.

Ilia II - who has led the Church such since 1977 - wields significant influence on Georgia's social and political life.

He oversaw a major revival of the Church after Georgia regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

The Church was severely repressed during the Soviet era and Tsarist Russia's occupation of Georgia.

If convicted, Fr Mamaladze could face up to 15 years in prison.
Moped-riding thieves stole nearly 100,000 worth of jewellery at knifepoint after storming a shopping centre in the City of London.

CCTV footage shows four men on two high-powered mopeds riding through the One New Change centre at 11.30am on Monday morning.

According to officers, two men got off the mopeds and one man stood by the escalator near to the shop, while the other stood outside of Fraser Hart and appeared to be waving a knife in the air.

Four men on two mopeds rode into the One New Change shopping centre on Monday morning at 11am

They proceeded to hold a jewellery store up at knifepoint and stole 10 watches worth nearly 100,000

The two other men then entered the store and as one stood near the entrance, the other climbed onto the window display and stole ten Hublot watches worth 93,000.

All of the men then went back to the mopeds and one of the mopeds drove off along Bread Street whilst the other turned left onto Cheapside.

Police have been able to identify one of the mopeds as a black Yamaha XMAX, which was registered as stolen from Westminster on February 8. The other moped is yet to be identified.

One of the mopeds has been identified by police and was found to have been registered as stolen a few days before the theft

The men got off the mopeds and appears to surround the jewellery store. One man appeared to be carrying a knife

All the men then sped off on the bikes, with one turning to Cheapside and the other to Bread Street, in the City of London

City of London Polices Detective Inspector, Mark Chapman who is leading the investigation said: 'We urge anyone who has any information about this robbery to get in touch. Those involved were left extremely shaken by what happened.

'This was a pre-planned robbery which resulted in goods worth almost 100,000 being stolen. Incidents of this kind rarely take place in the City and we would like to reassure our community that we are doing everything we can to find the offenders, so that they can be brought to justice.'

A City of London police spokesman said: 'Two high-powered mopeds with a driver and passenger on each, drove along Bread Street into One New Change and through the shopping centre to Fraser Hart jewellers.

'If you have any information about this incident, please contact the City of London Polices on 0207 601 2222 quoting the crime reference number: CR/861/17.'
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High summer in Nad-e-Ali district and a small corner of the most dangerous square mile on Earth is broiling in the heat.

Little moves, save for when a breath of wind sends dust devils spinning across the flat, parched landscape beyond the fortifications. Shade is welcome but the benefit is relative. In any case, there is nowhere here that one can truly relax.

This is Checkpoint Omar, home in 2011 to 16 soldiers from J Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines. Home, but not at all homely.

The thermometer is touching 120f, but that is only one of the many hellish  and in some cases avoidable  factors which will drive the senior soldier at CP Omar to the brink of mental illness and beyond. Only those who were there can properly understand the impact of the depredations of such an environment.

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Unlike many British patrol bases, which were founded inside or around the thick mud walls and roofed buildings of a typical Afghan farm compound, Omar was built from scratch as a rudimentary bastion by the Royal Engineers

Checkpoint Omar was home to 16 soldiers from J Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines in 2011, including Sgt Blackman

It was the task of the Court of Appeal to try to do so last week. Over two days Lord Chief Justice Thomas and his four colleagues heard of the austere and hostile conditions endured by Sgt Alexander Blackman and his men at Omar.

These pictures, never seen before, were mostly taken on Sgt Blackmans camera during his tour of duty. They offer a startling insight into the privations he and his men suffered day after day.

Not long into their six-month tour, the commandos were already feeling marginalised, unsupported, under-resourced and peripheral, the court heard.

The extreme stresses would culminate in Sgt Blackman developing an adjustment disorder and shooting dead a Taliban insurgent who had already been mortally wounded by helicopter cannon fire while attacking another British base.

The appeal court will now decide whether or not Sgt Blackmans subsequent and highly controversial conviction for murder in December 2013 was unsafe. Blackmans new legal team, headed by Jonathan Goldberg QC and funded by readers of this newspaper, have made a very powerful case.

What was it that could have driven a superb soldier like Sgt Blackman to commit such an act?

Nearing 120f: There's no roof or running water or toilets. It's too hot in the shipping containers but the makeshift tents, left, are vulnerable to grenades being tossed in

The base was next to Route Cornwall (shown), the road that ran towards 42 Commandos HQ at Forward Operating Base Shahzad, a few kilometres south-west of Omar

To answer that question, you need to try to understand conditions at Checkpoint Omar, which was an ill-conceived base from the very start.

Though not as remote as some other bases  it was next to Route Cornwall, the road that ran towards 42 Commandos HQ at Forward Operating Base Shahzad, a few kilometres south-west of Omar  it was desperately lacking in several respects.

Unlike many British patrol bases, which were founded inside or around the thick mud walls and roofed buildings of a typical Afghan farm compound, Omar was built from scratch as a rudimentary bastion by the Royal Engineers.

The four walls were constructed of HESCO barriers  wire mesh, fabric lined boxes which were filled with earth. They normally provide good protection against direct fire from outside, but at Omar the walls were simply not high enough.

Blackman recalled that when he and his marines first arrived they could see that any Afghan who drove past on a tractor could look down into their base. This was absurd and a clear security risk. Only after prolonged lobbying at HQ was this remedied and the walls raised (the photos you see here are Omar after the improvement).

On patrol: Every step taken by a soldier (left) could see them ending up maimed and disfigured by an IED (pictured right)

Life inside Omar was difficult. But they were as nothing compared with the problems that the marines faced when they stepped out of the main gate on patrol

Omars back gate was another source of concern to the marines. The original gate was simply an flimsy barrier of wire and padding. Following complaints, a purposebuilt gate was installed  and fell down the next night. There was no lock to secure it after dark. The marines feared that insurgents could have slipped into the camp and slit our throats as we slept. A padlock was eventually supplied.

The only sturdy, roofed cover inside the checkpoint was provided by shipping containers. Being metal, they were unbearably hot to sleep in and were used mainly for storage. One was turned into the base control room, which was where the units radio set was kept.

The soldiers slept in tents which were pitched along one of the HESCO walls. This made them acutely vulnerable to grenades lobbed from outside.

These pictures, never seen before, were mostly taken on the camera of Sgt Blackman (pictured) during his tour of duty. They offer a startling insight into the privations he and his men suffered day after day

Omar had no running water or electricity. The latter was supplied by a generator, and the fuel for this and the marines bottled drinking water  they each drank gallons every day  had to be trucked up along the hazardous road from Shahzad.

As there was no working fridge in the camp the drinking water, stacked in the open, was at best tepid and often hot. Each marine was supposed to drink 10 to 15 litres a day.

The soldiers lived off MRE  meals ready to eat  ration packs. They had to defecate into bags which were collected and burnt by one of the marines at the end of each day. Flies plagued the camp.

Little wonder that cases of diarrhoea and vomiting were common.

Such were the difficulties of life inside Omar. But they were as nothing compared with the problems that the marines faced when they stepped out of the main gate on patrol.

Omar was in the heart of hostile territory, the court of appeal heard. The local populace whose hearts and minds they were supposed to win over, were often duplicitous. A friend by day became an enemy by night. But these were marines, among the finest fighting soldiers in the world. The problem was there was simply not enough of them; Omar was hopelessly undermanned.

While a patrol base that size should have held a whole troop  equivalent to an army platoon  of men, Blackmans had been split in two in order to man two such bases. The other base was commanded by Blackmans troop leader Lieutenant Ollie Augustin.

Because of illness, injury and home leave, the numbers inside Omar sometimes fell to as few as a dozen. This was utterly inadequate to patrol such a hostile place  but the patrols still had to take place or the Taliban would dominate at will.

The court heard that because of under-manning some marines would be out on the ground for as long as ten hours a day, conducting both morning and evening patrols. They carried up to 50kg of equipment in soaring temperatures. As casualties mounted, Blackman began to send only unmarried marines with no children on the riskiest patrols, which he almost always led.

While firefights were common, the main danger and psychological pressure came from Improvised Explosive Devices  IEDs  which littered their area. It was estimated that an IED exploded  whether by a controlled detonation or the detonation of a land-mine  every 16 hours throughout their units six-month tour.

Trying to anticipate these horrific weapons demanded constant alertness and was exhausting. Each step could be your last and the signature injury from Helmand was a loss of legs and genitalia from an IED blast. Mrs Blackman noticed that her husband still carefully searched the ground ahead of him when he returned home to Somerset. The fear was ingrained.

Sleeping arrangements: Conditions are shown to be incredibly tough - with soldiers needing to be ready for action at all times

A photograph taken from the base's sangar - a fortified observation tower - from which marines would keep a daily lookout

It was inevitable perhaps that Sgt Blackmans troop would take casualties. In May 2011, Lieutenant Augustin was leading his half-troop of marines on an operation when an IED was triggered.

Augustin, whom the experienced Blackman had mentored, was killed instantly, along with Marine Sam Alexander, a hugely popular soldier who had won a Military Cross on a previous tour, and their interpreter. Two other marines suffered life-changing injuries, while others were hurt or suffered psychological wounds.

This was the tipping point of the tour. As the surviving marines slogged back to their temporary base (not Omar), they were confronted by the sight of the legs of a comrade hanging in a tree. It is believed the limbs belonged to a teenage marine from another company who had been killed by an IED earlier in the tour.

The body parts had been recovered and displayed in the tree as a trophy by the Taliban.

The IED blast and the atrocity had an enormous impact on those present. I never again want to see guys in the state they were in that evening, said one of the NCOs. My guys completely lost it.

Sentry duty: Are there enemy creeping nearer? A soldier, his faced muzzed, inside the gun position at the top of the camp

Blackman was not present that day but felt deeply affected if not responsible for the death of the young lieutenant.

He and his men would later take part in the hunt for a young Scottish soldier who had gone AWOL from his base. The 20-year-old was eventually found dead, having been horribly tortured and murdered by the insurgents.

The thought of what happened to the Highlander stayed with the marines and no doubt further skewed their view of their mission and the local Afghan population.

Good leadership would have helped prevent Blackmans descent into the recognised psychological problems that the Ministry of Defence now accepts that he suffered. But his commanding officer Lt-Colonel Ewen Murchison visited Omar only twice  at most  during the entire tour. Such neglect allowed problems caused by enormous battlefield stresses to fester.

In the end, Sgt Blackman, a loner in one of the loneliest and most dangerous jobs in the world and responsible for bringing the 16 men in Omar back home alive, simply lost the ability to cope.
Marina Lonina, 19, was sentenced to nine months in prison after pleading guilty to one county of obstructing justice under a deal with prosecutors

An Ohio woman accused of livestreaming images of a man raping her 17-year-old female friend has been sentenced to nine months in prison.

Marina Lonina, 19, was sentenced Monday in Columbus after pleading guilty to one count of obstructing justice under a deal with prosecutors.

She initially faced other charges of rape, kidnap, sexual battery and pandering sexual matter involving a minor.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys recommended the sentence as part of a plea deal, the Columbus Dispatch reported.

She had faced up to 40 years in prison.

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She initially faced other charges of rape, kidnap, sexual battery and pandering sexual matter involving a minor after livestreaming the rape of her 17 year-old friend on Periscope

Authorities alleged that she used the social media app Periscope to livestream the assault last February.

Defense attorney Sam Shamansky told the Dispatch that Lonina admitted to failing to report the rape or turn over her evidence afterward.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, alleged that Lonina had set up the rape.

The victim said: 'I was too gullible to see how manipulative she truly is.'

Shamansky said this was 'unmitigated nonsense' and that Lonina's sentencing was 'an appropriate resolution to a difficult case.'

The 29-year-old rape suspect, Raymond Gates, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine years in prison in October.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, alleged that Lonina had set up the rape. The victim said: 'I was too gullible to see how manipulative she truly is.' Defense attorney Sam Shamansky said this was 'unmitigated nonsense' and that Lonina's sentencing was 'an appropriate resoluion'

The 29-year-old rape suspect, Raymond Gates, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine years in prison in October

The court previously hear that Lonina continued to livestream the rape of her teenage friend on Periscope because she 'got caught up on the likes' the video was receiving.

Lonina was allegedly 'giggling and laughing' as she used her phone to film the February 2016 assault.

Her defense attorneys said she was in the habit of filming everything using Periscope and had tried to help her friend while prosecutors had alleged she 'got caught up on the likes' the video was receiving.

The victim was said to be clearly screaming 'stop' and 'no' during the assault.

The court had heard Lonina and her friend met Gates at a Columbus mall for the first time the day before the assault.

He is said to have bought them a bottle of vodka and encouraged them to meet him in Columbus the following day, it was said.

When they met, Gates pinned the friend, who was said to have been drinking, down and raped her.

The case came to light when authorities were contacted by an out-of-state friend of the woman saw the images, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said.
An Afghan immigrant has been arrested after an alleged sex attack on a young mother

An Afghan immigrant has been arrested after an alleged sex attack on a young mother in broad daylight while she was pushing a pram with her two children in.

The attack is said to have happened on the popular Donauinsel (Danube Island) in the Austrian capital of Vienna, filled with bars and restaurants.

The children, aged one and two, were unharmed in the incident.

The attacker, reportedly a 17 year old, managed to throw the woman to the ground and climbed on top of her but she fought back.

She eventually stopped him when she bit him on the nose when he tried to kiss her, reports said.

She then called police as he ran off, and using CCTV images and a sniffer dog they were able to follow him to a nearby train station where he was arrested.

He was later identified by his torn coat and by his alleged victim.

The alleged sex attacker is currently in investigative custody and police suspect he might be behind other attacks in recent months.

They said they were arranging for the other alleged victims to see if they could identify him.
Child care costs will skyrocket if the government's omnibus bill is blocked by the Senate.

The government expected to generate $5.6 billion in savings through its welfare omnibus bill introduced by Treasurer Scott Morrison last week.

But the bill appears certain to fail because it groups billions of saving measures into one unpopular package.

The government expected to generate $5.6 billion in savings through its welfare omnibus bill introduced by Treasurer Scott Morrison (pictured) last week

The government has linked previously rejected welfare cuts to its long-awaited child care reform package, igniting a political brawl.

The package includes cuts to paid parental leave, family tax benefits and unemployment payments - with some of the savings used to pay for extra funding for childcare and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The bill would earmark $1.6 billion for childcare fee subsidies and the remaining $4 billion for the NDIS - but the funding would come at a hefty cost for other social services.

'If you don't fund it (the NDIS) by getting welfare under control, you've got two other options, increase taxes or increase debt,' Mr Morrison told News Corp.

'If you don't fund it (the NDIS) by getting welfare under control, you've got two other options, increase taxes or increase debt,' Mr Morrison told News Corp

The Turnbull Government's bill groups unpopular welfare cuts in with long-awaited child care reform

Labor, the Greens, the Nick Xenophon Team and Jacqui Lambie have all signalled they will reject the bill, leaving only One Nation in favour.

'As a negotiating tactic, this is as subtle as a sledgehammer,' Senator Xenophon told the ABC.

'Pitting battling Australians against Australians needing disability support services is dumb policy and even dumber politics.'

Labor, the Greens, the Nick Xenophon (pictured) Team and Jacqui Lambie have all signalled they will reject the bill, leaving only One Nation in favour

'As a negotiating tactic, this is as subtle as a sledgehammer,' Senator Xenophon (pictured) said

Paralympian Kurt Fearnley has hit out at the Government's proposed bill claiming it is using the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) as a 'policy plaything' by attempting to fund it by cutting funds to other crucial social services.

'It mustn't be used as a policy plaything,' he said on Twitter on Monday.

'The NDIS is a life and economic enabler and mustn't be threatened as a byline when you run out of ideas to force cuts elsewhere.'

'It mustn't be used as a policy plaything,' Mr Fearnley said about the NDIS on Monday

'The NDIS is a life and economic enabler and mustn't be threatened as a byline when you run out of ideas to force cuts elsewhere,' Mr Fearnley said

Mr Fearnley refers to the Government's threat to cut both NDIS funding child care subsidies if the bill is not passed.

Mr Morrison threatened a 'tax on your children' if the bill did not pass.

'You've either got to have higher debt - which is a tax on your children - or you have to do it with other revenue measures,' he said.

'If the parliament is going to insist that the government spend more and more money, particularly on welfare, then someone has to pay for that.'

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten (pictured) described the government's support for the NDIS as lukewarm, and he nominated a simple solution to its budget problem

'What the government says is increase the taxes on ordinary people or they take away payments from people who are less well off,' Mr Shorten said

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten described the government's support for the NDIS as lukewarm, and he nominated a simple solution to its budget problem.

'Don't go ahead with $50 billion of corporate tax cuts,' he told ABC radio.

'What the government says is increase the taxes on ordinary people or they take away payments from people who are less well off.'

Mr Shorten queried why a planned cut in the company tax rate over 10 years was 'sacred ... off limits' but the rest of Australia had to pay more or lose more.

Independent senator Nick Xenophon (pictured) said it was a difficult decision but he would not support the bill

Independent senator Nick Xenophon said it was a difficult decision but he would not support the bill.

He said the bill had a 'harsh effect on families'.

'The trade-off, in respect of the family tax benefits and the and the childcare package, as good as it is, comes at too high a cost,' he told ABC radio on Tuesday.
New Hampshire officials and operatives, including some Republicans, are pushing back on White House Senior Policy Adviser Stephen Miller's claims that voters were bused from Massachusetts to the Granite State to tamper with the 2016 election.

'There's zero evidence to support it,' said former state GOP chair Fergus Cullen in an interview with Politico. 'It's preposterous, completely untrue, delusional.'

Miller was parroting claims President Donald Trump made in a closed-door meeting with senators last week, in which the president said Massachusetts residents were 'brought in on buses' to vote 'illegally.'

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White House Senior Policy Adviser Stephen Miller said President Donald Trump's claims that Massachusetts voters were brought into New Hampshire on Election Day were 'very real'

ABC's This Week host George Stephanopoulos asked Stephen Miller for concrete evidence of voter fraud in New Hampshire on several occasions throughout an interview on Sunday

Trump was explaining why he lost the state to Democrat Hillary Clinton and why Sen. Kelly Ayotte was thwarted by Maggie Hassan, the state's Democratic governor.

Making his Sunday shows debut, Miller didn't back down when ABC's George Stephanopoulos confronted him and asked him to provide evidence that there was widespread voter fraud in New Hampshire.

Miller had worked on former Sen. Scott Brown's failed New Hampshire Senate campaign. Brown had previously represented Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate, though was unseated by Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

'I've actually, having worked before on a campaign in New Hampshire, I can tell you that this issue of busing voters in to New Hampshire is widely known by anyone who's worked in New Hampshire,' Miller replied. 'It's very real, it's very serious.'

Stephen Miller (pictured) got into a back-and-forth with ABC's George Stephanopoulos over new voter fraud claims President Donald Trump made to senators this week

It's also considered a conspiracy theory, New Hampshire operatives told Politico, acknowledging they heard rumors of busing as well, but saw zero proof that the story was legitimate.

'I suspect the rumor is as old as buses are,' Cullen told Politico. 'It's been around for at least 20 years, every single election year, there has been discussion.'

Cullen had offered $1,000 via Twitter to anyone who could provide evidence that voter fraud occurred. So far, not a soul has come forward.

'For Miller to go out and double down and triple down on Sunday is really sad,' Cullen told the online publication. 'I understand he did some work on Scott Browns 2014 senate campaign, but Jeanne Shaheen won that election and its not because of fraud.'

Additionally, while Clinton and Hassan won in November, so did Chris Sununu, the state's new Republican governor.

Raymond Buckley, the chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, lampooned Stephen Miller for comments he made on voter fraud in the Granite State

Another GOP operative who talked to Politico possibly pinpointed the origin of the rumor, which the source said has been around 'forever.'

The operative, who asked not to be named, said buses have been used to bring voters to the polls from college campuses, which trend Democratic.

'They're not busing from Massachusetts, they're college students, and they're totally allowed to vote here,' he told Politico. 'Both parties do it, but the Dems do a better job than us at that, honestly.'

Raymond Buckley, the chairman of the Democratic Party in New Hampshire, who is also running for Democratic National Committee chair, was insulted by Trump and Miller's attack.

'For Mr. Miller to make up such an outrageous lie is unacceptable for anyone who works in the White House,' Buckley said. 'It's an outrageous attack on the people of New Hampshire. We run among the finest operation in the first-in-the-nation primary and in our general election.'

More officially, New Hampshire Deputy Secretary of State Dave Scanlan told NHPR that there was no evidence of Massachusetts voters coming into the state to vote, with less than .2 percent of voters not presenting acceptable identification on Election Day.

The White House has also provided no evidence, though Trump has promised to sign an executive order on the broad-based topic of voter fraud and told Bill O'Reilly earlier this month that he was going to task Vice President Mike Pence with chairing a commission on the matter as well.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio (above) doesn't seem concerned about President Donald Trump's early difficulties in office

President Donald Trump has had a rough start to his first term in office, but Florida Senator Marco Rubio doesn't seem too worried.

Rubio, who lost to Trump in the Republican primary last year, says the country needs to roll up its sleeves and come together rather than worry about whether the president will last the full four years.

'Im just doing my job up here,' Rubio told TMZ at Reagan National Airport in Washington.

'We gotta just take care of the country. Well see how it all plays out.'

With Trump's White House in turmoil, many are wondering if he will make it to a full four years in the Oval Office.

Trump and his aides are grappling with crisis following the resignation of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn late Monday.

The Flynn saga is just the latest in a string of incidents that have marked the chaotic administration even though it has been in power less than a month.

Rubio was asked about the state of the country in the Trump era.

Trump (left) and his aides are grappling with crisis following the resignation of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn (right) late Monday

'Were pretty divided right now as a country,' the Florida senator said.

'That happened a few years ago as well. I think its alright to disagree on things. We gotta figure out things we can work together on.'

'In the end, Im not going anywhere,' he said. 'The other people arent going anywhere. Were gonna be in America together. We might as well make it work.'

Rubio said that Americans will have to try and find common ground despite the partisan rancor.

'On the things we disagree on, we can have a debate about it,' Rubio said.

'But on the things we can make progress on, we should try. Thats what Im gonna try to do. I hope it works.'

On a lighter note, Rubio was asked about former President Barack Obama's (above) recent vacation during which he was filmed kite-surfing with billionaire Richard Branson. 'He mustve been sore the next day,' Rubio said. 'I know I wouldve been hurting the next day,' he said

On a lighter note, Rubio was asked about former President Barack Obama's recent vacation during which he was filmed kite-surfing with billionaire Richard Branson.

'He mustve been sore the next day,' Rubio said.

'I know I wouldve been hurting the next day,' he said. 'I wouldve been sore the next day. And hes a little older than I am.'

'Im sure he used some Advil.'
The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a man who went overboard the Carnival Elation cruise ship about 15 miles off the coast of the Bahamas.

Kevin Wellons, 24, was reported missing by his wife around 8:30am on Tuesday as she said she last saw him about 2:30am.

She reported her husband missing after the cruise ship docked in Nassau from leaving Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday afternoon for the five-day Bahamas cruise.

The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a man who went overboard the Carnival Elation (file above) cruise ship about 15 miles off the coast of the Bahamas

Crew members reviewed the surveillance footage on the ship and saw that Wellons, of Warner Robins, Georgia, went overboard from the 11th deck about 2:45am, WJXT reported.

Officials say at that time, the cruise ship was approximately 14 nautical miles northeast of Great Harbor Cay in the Bahamas.

After the Coast Guard was notified about Wellons, a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew was directed from its station in Clearwater and an Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew to search for the missing man.

Kevin Wellons, 24, was reported missing by his wife around 8:30am on Tuesday as she said she last saw him about 2:30am. Surveillance footage on the ship (file above) shows him going overboard from the 11th deck around 2:25am

'Carnival's CareTeam is providing support to the missing guest's family. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this very difficult time,' a statement from the company reads.

The ship is based in Jacksonville year-round.

The Carnival Elation is expected to return to Jacksonville on Thursday morning.
A tough day for the White House in general - and Kellyanne Conway in particular - has been topped off with an embarrassing Twitter debacle.

On Tuesday, a day in which the Trump adviser was slapped down by the Office of Government Ethics for hawking Ivanka Trump's jewelry Conway was apparently caught sending a cutesy 'love you' message to a blatant white nationalist.

When asked to comment on the tweet, however, Conway told Buzzfeed that she was not responsible for the tweet, and had 'no idea' who might have sent it from her personal account.

Fan: A Kellyanne Conway fan told the Trump adviser she was an 'inspiration' Tuesday after Conway had a rough day - unfortunately, that fan is also an avowed white supremacist

'Love': Conway's account then replied 'Love you back' - Conway would later deny that she had sent the tweet or that she knew who the fan was

Nationalist: The fan's Twitter page says they are a White Identity Nationalist and a fan of far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders

At around 10am Conway tweeted: 'I serve at the pleasure of @POTUS. His message is my message. His goals are my goals. Uninformed chatter doesn't matter.'

Among the responses was a supportive tweet from an account titled 'Lib Hypocrisy' - @TrumpTrainNoBrk - which said: 'Your strength & resiliency in face of vile hatred, bigotry, & sexism of the unhinged Left is a daily inspiration! Love you!'

In a now-deleted tweet, Conway's account then replied: 'Love you back. Happy [two heart emojis] Day to the Hapless Haters.'

Unfortunately for Conway, Lib Hypocrisy is an openly white nationalist Twitter user whose account description says 'Hate Anti-American Liberals, Marxists, & Commies... #WhiteIdentity #Nationalist.'

The description also says 'LOVE #GeertWilders,' the far-right Dutch politician who refers to Islam as 'not a religion' but an 'ideology of a retarded culture'.

When contacted by Buzzfeed, Conway denied that the tweets came from her hand, and said she had 'obviously' never heard of Lib Hypocrisy.

'Let me see who tweeted that,' she said. 'That's terrible.'

'I dont know who had access to my account,' she told the site, adding: 'I denounce whoever it is,' she said. 'It will be immediately deleted. Everybody makes mistakes.'

Bad day: On Tuesday, as the White House reeled from the loss of Mike Flynn, Conway was made the target of an ethics order saying she should be punished for hawking Ivanka's jewelry

Defiant: This was the defiant message that the nationalist fan replied to. Conway had told Fox & Friends viewers to buy Ivanka's jewelry after some sellers dropped the range from their stock

Conway had been under fire earlier in the day from Walter Shaub, director of the Office of Government Ethics (OGR), after she promoted Ivanka Trump's jewelry on Fox & Friends last Thursday.

Conway had been asked to comment after Nordstrom joined a number of stores that had dropped Ivanka's clothing, shoe and jewelry lines. The store had said the items were underperforming, but others dropped them after a much-publicized boycott.

'Go buy Ivanka's stuff,' Conway told the hosts. 'I hate shopping. I'm going to go get some myself today.

'It's a wonderful line. I own some of it. I'm going to give a free commercial here. Go buy it today, everybody. You can find it online.'

Then and now: White House counselor Kellyanne Conway told Americans, 'Go buy Ivanka's stuff is what I would tell you' last Thursday (this tweet posted the following day)

Those remarks appear to have broken the Code of Federal Regulations, which forbids government employees from endorsing products for the gain of themselves or their friends.

Shaub told the White House that 'disciplinary action is warranted' and said he expected a response by February 28.

In other bad news for the White House, Mike Flynn was forced out of his national security adviser position after questions were raised about his relationship with Russia.

Sean Spicer claimed on Tuesday that Flynn was fired by Donald Trump himself as a result of his 'evolving and eroding level of trust.'
Delvin Garcia, 31, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the TV set and crutch death of Anthony Freeman in 2014

A Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for killing a man with a television set and the victim's own crutch.

Delvin Garcia, 31, of East New York, was sentenced Tuesday to 18 years in state prison and five years supervision after his guilty plea to first-degree manslaughter in the death of 26-year-old Anthony Freeman, said the District Attorney's office.

'This defendant, who attacked the victim in his own home and left him to die, deserves to spend many years in prison for taking a young man's life,' said Acting District Attorney Eric Gonzalez in a statement.

Garcia said he had gone to Freeman's apartment on Saint Marks Avenue in Brownsville on September 2, 2014, to buy marijuana and was attacked by him and two men, according to The New York Daily News.

He claimed the two men fled as he dealt with Freeman by landing blows so hard on his head with the victim's own crutch that the crutch was 'bent in the shape of a human head,' said police.

He also repeatedly bludgeoned the victim with a 13-inch television set, said police. Police were able to identify Garcia through a bloody fingerprint left on the set, as well as Freeman's girlfriend identifying him as the man she saw riding a bicycle away from the apartment about two hours before she found Freeman's body.

Garcia's lawyer, Lawrence Fredella, defended his client's actions, telling DNA Info, 'He got jumped by a couple of different people, including the decedent and two others - he basically defended himself and fought for his life. He certainly didn't mean to kill the decedent.
A woman, 29, has been arrested in morning raids for allegedly running a drug ring with teenage recruits.

The woman, three teenage boys and four men were arrested in raids across Sydney's southwest carried out just after 6am on Wednesday.

Detectives from the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad executed simultaneous search warrants at homes in Fairfield, Cabramatta West, Smithfield and Elizabeth Hills.

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A woman, 29, was arrested on Wednesday morning for allegedly recruiting teenagers

Three teenage boys and four men were arrested in the raids alongside the woman

A woman, 29, three teenage boys and four men were arrested in raids across southwest Sydney homes on Wednesday morning

The eight arrested are all expected to be charged with drug supply and criminal group offences.

The teenagers arrested include a 17-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy, according to Sydney Morning Herald.

Police were searching her Cabramatta home on Wednesday morning and bagging evidence.

The arrests were made during raids of homes in Fairfield, Cabramatta West, Smithfield and Elizabeth Hills were searched on Wednesday morning

Detectives from the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad executed simultaneous search warrants at homes in Fairfield, Cabramatta West, Smithfield and Elizabeth Hills

The eight arrested are all expected to be charged with drug supply and criminal group offences

Detectives will allege the woman ran the syndicate.

The syndicate was nabbed after violence and associated criminal activity led Strike Force Barcom to investigate cannabis supply in the area.

There had been shootings and fire bombings related to a feud between Assyrian gangs in the Fairfield area, Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Investigations are continuing and further arrests are expected.
Three people including a 16-year-old have been charged in southern France on suspicion of planning an 'imminent' terror attack, judicial sources said.

The three - arrested on Friday near the coastal city of Montpellier - were identified as Thomas Sauret, 20; his partner, a 16-year-old minor named only as Sarah; and Malik Hammami, 33.

They were indicted on Tuesday for 'criminal association in connection with a criminal terrorist enterprise', the sources said.

Sauret and his partner were also charged with making and possessing explosives in an organised group.

The case is being handled by anti-terrorism investigators, the sources said.

Police raided a flat in Clapiers, north of Montpellier, and found 71 grammes (2.5 ounces) of homemade explosive called TATP

The three had been caught several weeks earlier using Telegram, an encrypted message system preferred by jihadists, they said.

Police swooped on Friday after the teenager pledged allegiance to ISIS in a video on social media.

She and Sauret, both converts to Islam, also bought acetone and hydrogen peroxide - precursors in an unstable, homemade explosive called TATP.

Police raided a flat in Clapiers, north of Montpellier, and found 71 grammes (2.5 ounces) of TATP, the sources said.

'An imminent terrorist act was being prepared,' Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux said on Monday.

The three were indicted on Tuesday for 'criminal association in connection with a criminal terrorist enterprise'

France remains on high alert after a spate of attacks that began two years ago, claiming more than 200 lives.

On February 3, a soldier shot and wounded a machete-wielding attacker who lunged at him outside the Louvre museum in Paris while shouting 'Allahu Akbar' (God is greatest).

One of the most active members of the US-led coalition fighting IS, France has been the worst hit among European countries targeted by attacks claimed or inspired by the Sunni extremist group.

Parliament voted in December to extend a national state of emergency until July 15, after this year's presidential and parliamentary elections.
This is the shocking moment two drunk airline passengers launched into a violent brawl after their seating requirement was allegedly denied.

Video footage shows two Chinese tourists clashing with ground crew at Kunming Changshui International Airport in the Yunnan Province of China.

One is seen rolling on the floor while another kicks the air, as staff and security guards gather around in a bid to calm things down.

One passenger is pinned to the floor while the other is trying to kick airline staff members

The row, which took place on February 12, began after airline staff supposedly refused to arrange exit row seats for the two men.

The passengers then started to kick and punch staff.

Police quickly arrived on the scene and the two passengers finally boarded a flight after being detained and apologising.

Police confirmed that the two men had been acting under the influence of alcohol.

Airline staff and airport securities arrived the scene to settle the drunken duo at check-in desk

Onlookers filmed a 30-second video of the drunken pair brawling with the airline ground crew at 10:14pm.

One of them was pressed on the floor while the other one was cornered in front of a check-in desk.

MailOnline has reached out to the airport for comments.

The staff member who answered our phone call said no further details could be given due to confidentiality reasons.

The drunk airline passengers sparked the chaos in the airport and later arrested by the police

Some web users said the pair caused chaos after a flight cancellation due to adverse weather condition.

However, Kunming airport posted a statement yesterday on their Weibo account - a Chinese social media site - confirming the two men requested to change their seats to an exit row.

Airline staff denied their request according to the 'Operation Manual' of the company.

According to People's Daily Online, staff members claimed the two men, who have not been identified, were drunk and one of them had wounds on his leg.

Security guards and airline staff members attempted to settle the fight.

Some passers-by said one of the men was bleeding from the corner of one eye and he spat blood at one of the staff members' face.

Another onlooker, Mr Xu, said the men bled because he 'fell on the floor' after chasing after staff.

Mr Xu also spotted at least four staff members with fresh scratches on their faces.

The two men were arrested for drunk and disorderly behaviour.

But were released later after their apology to the airline staff, according the China's Public Security Administration Punishment Laws.

The two tourists have now boarded the flight and left the airport.
Nearly 100 years after Einstein introduced a mathematical element known as the Cosmological Constant, researchers could finally be set to put it to the test.

Following the recent detection of gravitational waves, scientists say determining the speed of gravity in the cosmos could either support Einstein's theory or reveal if it needs to be revised.

If gravitational waves are found to travel at the speed of light, the scientists say this would suggest the universe's accelerated expansion is not being driven by dark energy, as some have argued.

Following the recent detection of gravitational waves, scientists say determining the speed of gravity in the cosmos could either support Einstein's theory or reveal if it needs to be revised

EINSTEIN'S THEORY In 1917, Einstein put a term called the cosmological constant into his theory of general relativity to force the equations to predict a stationary universe in keeping with physicists' thinking at the time. When it became clear that the universe wasn't actually static, but was expanding instead, Einstein abandoned the constant, calling it the 'biggest blunder' of his life. However, as researchers in recent years have found out that this expansion is occurring at an accelerated rate, they say the theory may still play a role - and could explain dark energy. Advertisement

According to a team from the University of Edinburgh, new calculations using advanced technology could put the debate over Einstein's theory to rest.

Albert Einstein first introduced the concept of the Cosmological Constant to explain a static universe, but threw out the theory after discovering that the universe is expanding.

But, as researchers in recent years have found out that this expansion is occurring at an accelerated rate, they say the theory may still play a role.

The constant may help to account for dark energy  otherwise, the acceleration implies Einstein's theory of gravity across the universe is incorrect.

Scientists now plan to calculate the speed of gravity based on a study of gravitational waves.

This could be done using the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), which detected gravitational waves for the first time in 2015 using twin detectors 2000 miles apart.

The experiments could either support or disprove the theory, they say.

If gravitational waves  space-time ripples traveling through the universe  are found to travel at the speed of light, there would be no need for alternative gravity theories, they say.

This means dark energy would also be ruled out as an explanation, thus supporting Einstein's theory.

But, if the speed of the gravitational waves is different from that of light, Einstein's theory must be revised, they say.

WHAT IS DARK ENERGY Dark energy is a phrase used by physicists to describe a mysterious 'something' that is causing unusual things to happen in the universe. 'The universe is not only expanding, but it is expanding faster and faster as time goes by,' Dr Kathy Romer, scientist at the Dark Energy Survey told MailOnline. The constant may help to account for dark energy  otherwise, the acceleration implies Einstein's theory of gravity across the universe is incorrect. Microwave radiation from the whole sky is pictured. The yellow regions show relic radiation created in the Big Bang 'What we'd expect is that the expansion would get slower and slower as time goes by, because it has been nearly 14 billion years since the Big Bang.' Coming up with an equation of state would give the researchers clues about what is making up this mysterious force. At the moment the favourite candidate is called the 'cosmological constant'  which has a relatively boring equation of state. 'But, despite its simplicity, the cosmological constant is not the 'something' that scientists are hoping for,' Dr Romer said, 'a cosmological constant then messes up other parts of physics.' 'It's like a table plan at a wedding: you think you've got it all sorted out and then you notice that, because the caterers gave you a round table instead of a long one, your Dad is now going to be sitting next to your Mum's new boyfriend.' Advertisement

Researchers plan to put this theory to the test this year  and the experiments could solve the puzzle in time for the 100th anniversary of Einstein's theory.

'Recent direct gravitational wave detection has opened up a new observational window to our universe,' said Dr Lucas Lombriser, of the university's School of Physics and Astronomy.

'Our results give an impression of how this will guide us in solving one of the most fundamental problems in physics.'
The space race heats up again - and this time it's India that's looking to zoom ahead.

India hopes to make history by launching a record 104 satellites from a single rocket on Wednesday.

Its famously frugal space agency is looking to gain power and prestige in the commercial space race.

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Last June, India set a national record after it successfully launched a rocket carrying 20 satellites (pictured). If this launch works, it will set a world record as the country to launch the most rockets in one go

INDIA'S SPACE SUCCESS The Indian space agency (ISRO) is well known for doing a lot on a minimal budget. While small, ISRO is among just three space agencies whose probes have successfully reached Mars - with its Mangalyaan orbiter mission in 2013. The latest spate of satellite launches are part of the country's drive to gain a larger slice of the lucrative commercial space launch industry. Advertisement

The rocket is set to blast off from the southern spaceport of Sriharikota, India's Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle would be carrying a 714 kilogram main satellite for earth observation and 103 smaller 'nano satellites'.

Together this would weigh a combined 664 kilograms.

Nearly all of the nano satellites are from other countries, including Israel, Kazakhstan, The Netherlands, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and 96 from the US, said the state-run ISRO.

If successful, India will set a world record as the first country to launch the most satellites in one go, surpassing Russia which launched 39 satellites in a single mission in June 2014.

The business of putting commercial satellites into space for a fee is growing as phone, Internet and other companies, as well as countries, seek greater and more high-tech communications.

These images of earth (left) and Mars (right) are taken from Indias Mars Orbiter Spacecraft. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle would be carrying a 714 kilogram main satellite for earth observation and 103 smaller 'nano satellites'

Dust storms on Mars, captured by the Mars Colour Camera onboard Indias Mars Orbiter Spacecraft

India is competing with other international players for a greater share of that launch market, and is known for its low-cost space programme.

Last June, India set a national record after it successfully launched a rocket carrying 20 satellites, including 13 from the US.

It sent an unmanned rocket to orbit Mars in 2013 at a cost of just 59 million ($73 million), compared with NASA's Maven Mars mission which had a 538 million ($671 million) price tag.

The rocket is set to blast off from the southern spaceport of Sriharikota. India is competing with other international players for a greater share of that launch market, and is known for its low-cost space programme

Phobos, one of the two natural satellites of Mars silhouetted against the Martian surface, captured by the Mars Colour Camera onboard Indias Mars Orbiter Spacecraft

To date, India has launched 79 satellites from 21 countries, including satellites from big companies like Google and Airbus.

This has earned India at least 125 million ($157 million), according to government figures.

ISRO is also mulling the idea of missions to Jupiter and Venus.

Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has often hailed India's budget space technology, quipping in 2014 that a rocket that launched four foreign satellites into orbit had cost less to make than Hollywood film 'Gravity'.
Fancy a game of classic snake? Well soon you could, if rumours of a comeback by a classic Nokia handset are to be believed.

An update to the Nokia 3310 is thought to be one of a number of new models that will be announced at one of the worlds largest gatherings for the mobile industry.

The handset could bring a distinctly turn of the millennium flavour to proceedings at the Mobile World Congress (MWC).

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A comeback by the classic Nokia 3310 handset is rumoured for the upcoming Mobile World Congress, being held in Barcelona from 27 February to 2 March, 2017.

Once the undisputed king of the mobile market, Nokia's fortunes took a turn for the worse after its decision to support the Windows mobile operating system exclusively.

With stiff competition from iOS and Android, the flagging firm's handset activities were sold in 2014 to Microsoft to allow Nokia to focus on mobile network equipment.

But the Finnish company behind the latest models of Nokia, HMD Global, may be hoping to cash in on nostalgia to help its new handset compete with more high-tech offerings from smartphone favourites like Apple and Samsung.

The new 3310 model is likely to cost just 59 (around 49), according to reports in Venture Beat

The 3310 revamp is among four new handsets Nokia is thought to be revealing details of at the MWC, which is being held in Barcelona from 27 February to 2 March, 2017.

The new 3310 model is likely to cost just 59 (around 49), according to reports in Venture Beat.

Speaking on Twitter, mobile reporter Evan Blass said: 'HMD Global will launch the Nokia 3, 5 and 6 at MWC, plus a 3310 homage.'

The original 3310 was released in 2000 and became one of the best-selling handsets of all time, selling more than 100 million units worldwide. As well as reliability, features like snake, programmable ringtones and customisable fascias, helped to give the 3310 its cult status

THE NOKIA 6 HMD Globals Nokia 6 has 4GB RAM, 64GB of on-board storage, which runs with the latest version of Android Nougat. There are dual amplifiers that deliver a 6dB louder sound than traditional amps. Its equip with the latest generation Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor with X6 LTE modem designed. The body is made from a solid block of 6000 series aluminium. There is a 16MP phase detection auto focus rear camera and 8MP front camera. Nokia 6 will debut exclusively through JD.com in early 2017 in China. And will be priced at 1699 CNY or $245. Advertisement

The launch of the Nokia 6 in January marks the first new smartphone carrying the iconic handset name since 2014 when Nokia Oyj chose to sell its entire unit to Microsoft.

The new handset has a 5.5 inch screen of 2.5D Gorilla Glass, 64 GB of on-board storage, a 16 megapixel rear camera and a 3,000 mAh battery.

The smartphone is set to hit the market early this year for about $245 (196), but the Finnish company says it is only releasing the device in China for now.

As well as the 3310 revamp and more details of the already revealed Nokia 6, other stars of the show are thought to be the Nokia 5 and Nokia 3.

The original 3310 was released in 2000, as a replacement for the previous fan favourite - the 3210.

Like its predecessor, it was widely adopted by consumers thanks to its reputation for reliability and became one of the best-selling handsets of all time, selling more than 100 million units worldwide.

The launch of the Nokia 6 in January marks the first new smartphone carrying the iconic handset name since 2014 when Nokia Oyj chose to sell its entire unit to Microsoft

These classic models helped Nokia to become a byword for long lasting battery life and tough-as-nails construction that allowed handsets to be dropped and bashed about with minimal impact.

As well as reliability, features like Snake, programmable ringtones and customisable fascias, helped to give the 3310 its cult status.
The search for the Ark that inspired the Indiana Jones blockbuster has been given a new lease of life.

The Ark of the Covenant, a wooden and gold-plated box, is believed to contain the famous stone tablets which bear the Ten Commandments.

But despite its fame, nobody has ever been able to find the sacred box.

Moses and Joshua bowing before the Ark of the Covenant, which was believed to be kept at the ancient site of Kiriath-Jearim, in west Jerusalem, for two decades

WHERE ELSE IS THE ARK RUMOURED TO BE KEPT? Mount Nebo: An ancient biblical text claims that the prophet Jeremiah buried the Ark in a cave on Mount Nebo. Mount Nebo is believed to be the site where Moses viewed the Promised Land. Mount Nebo is near the east bank of the Jordan River near Jerusalem.

An ancient biblical text claims that the prophet Jeremiah buried the Ark in a cave on Mount Nebo. Mount Nebo is believed to be the site where Moses viewed the Promised Land. Mount Nebo is near the east bank of the Jordan River near Jerusalem. Ethiopia : The Ethiopian Orthodox Church claims to possess the Ark. The sacred box is kept under guard at the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Aksum.

: The Ethiopian Orthodox Church claims to possess the Ark. The sacred box is kept under guard at the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Aksum. United Kingdom : British author Graham Phillips claims that an English baron called Ralph de Sudeley found the Ark in Jordan and brought it back to his estate in Herdewyke, Warwickshire Advertisement

Now, researchers from Israel and France are reigniting the quest to find the Ark by excavating a little-explored biblical site believed to have once held the lost artefact.

The ancient site of Kiriath-Jearim, in west Jerusalem, will be opened up for the first time this summer.

'The place is important for several reasons,' Professor Israel Finkelstein, from Tel Aviv University, told The Times of Israel.

'It's a large, central site in the Jerusalem hills that hasn't been studied until now.

'It may be the only key site in Judah that hasn't undergone a systematic archaeological excavation.'

The Ark was stored at Kiriath-Jearim for two decades, according to the Book of Samuel.

The ancient site is referred to as a place of worship multiple times in the bible, and has various names including Kiryat Ye'arim, Kiryat Baal, Baalah and Baale Judah.

The sacred artefact inspired the plot of the 1981 blockbuster Raiders of the Lost Ark starring Harrison Ford as Dr Indiana Jones

Joshua passing the River Jordan with the Ark of the Covenant, which contains the two stone tablets bearing the Ten Commandments

The site is rumoured to have been the inspiration behind the 1981 blockbuster, Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Professor Finkelstein, who will excavate the site along with researchers from College de France, said: 'It's reasonable to assume there was a temple there.

'To follow the story, the place where they took the Ark of the Covenant wasn't, of course, just some field or under a tree, they refer to an important cult place.'

The scientists will explore the ancient site between August 7 and September 1.
Researchers have found that honeybees produce a whoop sound when they bump into each other.

Bees produce the sound with their wing muscles to create the vibrational pulse.

Researchers used to think that the 'whoop' sound was made as a stop signal to warn other bees to stop foraging in a particular location, but now they've found that the sound is generated under many different circumstances, often when they're startled by a surprise stimulus

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A bee hive frame with accelerometers at the center of the hive (pictured). The photo was taken in France one year after the experiment was installed. The bee sounds can't be heard by humans, so the researchers used accelerometers (an instrument used to measure vibrations)

Researchers used to think the bees made the noise signal to ask for food because they observed bees exchanging food shortly after the noise was made.

Later researchers thought that the bees made the noise to stop another bee from doing a waggle dance - a dance that indicates the other bees the direction and distance of a food source based on the position of the sun.

They thought it could be that the noise was a warning to other bees not to forage for food in a place where there might be a predator or another disturbance.

But the researchers found that the 'whoop' sound was made the bees very frequently, mainly at night - and it could be elicited by most bees if the hive was gently shaken.

They said that the noise happened in many different circumstances - and could be generated in response to a surprising stimulus such as shaking the hive.

The researchers also used cameras in the hive, finding that the noise often happens when a bee bumps into another bee.

Researchers found that the 'whoop' sound was made the bees very frequently, mainly at night - and it could be elicited by most bees if the hive was gently shaken. They said that the noise happened in many different circumstances - and could be generated in response to a surprising stimulus such as shaking the hive

The findings, published in the journal PLOS One, suggest that bees produce the 'whoop' sound when they're startled, so it could be a useful way to monitor the stress status of a bee colony and how agitated they are.

The researchers, based at Nottingham Trent University in the UK, conducted the bee study over a period of nine months.

They studied two hives: one in the UK for four months, and the other in France from April 2015 till December 2015.

The the sounds the bees make can't be heard by humans, so the researchers used accelerometers (an instrument used to measure vibrations) placed in the middle of a honeycomb.

They used a small amount of molten was dripped onto the accelerometers to secure them onto the frame.

The researchers found that previous studies into the 'whoop' noise made by bees could have bee mistaken.

When a bee tries to stop another from foraging, it headbutts the bee doing the waggle dance - and the vibration noise may be the reaction of the startled bee.
But the insects can only send the sexual messages when light is available

Female flies have found an unorthodox way of turning the heads of their male mates.

Scientists have discovered that female green bottle flies use their iridescent wings to send flashing signals to males.

The females can manipulate how sunlight reflects off of their wings by changing how frequently they flap them up and down.

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Female green bottle flies use their iridescent wings to channel sunlight and send flashing signals to males

THE FREQUENCIES MALES LIKE The researchers discovered that males are strongly attracted to a wing flash frequency of 178Hz, which is the typical flapping speed of a free flying young female. But they were turned off by frequencies of 212, 235 or 266Hz - which are characteristic of young males, old females and old males respectively. The slower wing flash frequency of young females could be a typical trait of reproductively capable females, according to the researchers. Advertisement

The insects flash at one another to send information about their age and sexual status, according to researchers from Simon Fraser University in Canada.



Researcher Dr Gerhard Gries, who led the study, said: 'Our study describes a new model of sexual communication in insects, which might be common to animals in general.

'By modulating wing beat frequency, and thus light flash frequency, the flies effectively communicate to their peers their sex, age, and possibly even mating status.

'Using video technology to capture and measure wing flash frequency we were able to show that male flies are attracted to specific flash frequencies and not the morphological characteristics of the female flies.'

The researchers discovered that males are strongly attracted to a wing flash frequency of 178Hz, which is the typical flapping speed of a free flying young female.

But they were turned off by frequencies of 212, 235 or 266Hz - which are characteristic of young males, old females and old males respectively.

The slower wing flash frequency of young females could be a typical trait of reproductively capable females, according to the researchers.

Photographs showing how sunlight is reflected off of the female flies' iridescent wings and body. Photos a to d are taken under direct light while photos e to h are taken under diffuse or 'cloudy' light

As part of the study, the researchers mounted two live females side by side.

One fly had fully functional wings, while the other's wings were immobilized.

The scientists found that males preferred the female with functional wings, which suggested that the flashing signal was enticing to the males.

Flies have enormous eyes and fast visual processing, which are thought to have evolved to match their advanced flight abilities.

Males have larger eyes than females, which may help males perceive visual signals sent by females.

Photos showing how the flies' wings reflect light in cloudy (pictured a) and sunny (pictured b to f) conditions

They also have specialised 'bright zones' that increase light capture and can help them to detect females' flashing light signals.

This study shows that the design and processing speed of the flies' eyes might also play a key role in mate recognition.

The researchers filmed young and old male and female flies in free flight, filming 100 flies at a time within a wire mesh cage.

They also took photographs and filmed outdoors so comparisons could be made between wing flash in direct sunlight and under a cloudy sky.

The recordings revealed that light flashes were not evident under diffuse light or outdoors under a cloudy sky.

Dr Gries said: 'We found that on cloudy days, light flashes from the wings of flying females cannot be seen, which might help explain the low mating activity of these flies on cloudy days.

The researchers filmed young and old male and female flies in free flight, filming 100 flies at a time within a wire mesh cage. They also took photographs and filmed outdoors so comparisons could be made between wing flash in direct sunlight and under a cloudy sky

'This suggests that flies can apparently synchronize sexual communication with environmental conditions to optimize the conspicuousness of their sexual communication signals.'

Male flies were also found to be attracted to LEDs that pulsed light at a frequency that imitates the wing flash frequency of prospective mates, suggesting that it is light flash frequency, rather than the morphological characteristics of the female flies, that males find attractive.

The ability to distinguish between different light flash frequencies also suggests that green bottle flies could be just as good at processing numbers as mammals, birds and fish.

Dr Gries said: 'We can now study how widespread this phenomenon is in other flies, or insects.

'Our findings can also be incorporated into developing more effective methods for attraction and trapping of nuisance flies in urban environments.'
While much of the world has love on the mind this Valentines Day, astronomers are celebrating a cosmic breakup.

Slooh astronomers operating a telescope in Chile captured the moment Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann broke into at least two pieces as it flew past Earth.

Stunning footage of the event shows the comet and a large fragment trailing behind it, and astronomers suspect this could be a continuation of a process first seen in 1995 and in 2006.

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Slooh astronomers operating a telescope in Chile captured the moment Comet 73P/ Schwassmann-Wachmann broke into at least two pieces as it flew past Earth

WHAT CAUSES A COMETARY BREAKUP There are three main forces that could be driving the cometary breakup, the researchers say. For one, the nature of comets themselves is a contributing factor  as they are made up of ice, dust, and rocky material, their loose conglomeration is easily disrupted. Along with this, Comet 73Ps classification as a Jupiter-family comet means the gravitational influence of Jupiter and the Sun can rip it apart. And, they say solar radiation and solar wind play a role as well. These forces continuously bombard the comets nucleus, disrupting its surface layers and giving rise to its coma and tails. Advertisement

Comet 73P is on its way toward the sun, and researchers say the stress from this close approach could threaten its survival.

After confirming that the comets nucleus had broken apart on February 12, the researchers immediately pointed Sloohs telescopes to capture the event, says Slooh Astronomer, Paul Cox.

Members will continue to monitor the comet live over the coming weeks  assuming the comet survives that long.

The next few months  and years, if it survives  will pit the comet against its two greatest challenges.

On March 16th, it will each perihelion, or the comets closest approach to the sun.

This puts the comets nucleus under tremendous stress from the suns gravitational forces  and it appears that this may have been responsible for carving up the nucleus in two, Cox said.

If the comet survives perihelion, it will then have to go up against Jupiter.

Comet 73P will come within 31 million miles of Jupiter in 2025, and astronomers say the planets notoriously intense gravitational field could chew up the passing comet.

It certainly feels like its only a matter of time before comet 73P is destroyed, disintegrating into a trail of cosmic dust, Cox said.

Scientists previously spotted the comet in the midst of a breakup in 2006, when 73P fragmented into at least 30 pieces as it approached the sun.

And, a similar scenario was observed in 1995.

There are three main forces that could be driving the cometary breakup, the researchers say.

For one, the nature of comets themselves is a contributing factor  as they are made up of ice, dust, and rocky material, their loose conglomeration is easily disrupted.

Along with this, Comet 73Ps classification as a Jupiter-family comet means the gravitational influence of Jupiter and the Sun can rip it apart.

Comet 73P is on its way toward the sun, and researchers say the stress from this close approach could threaten its survival. After confirming the comets nucleus had broken apart on February 12, researchers immediately pointed Sloohs telescopes to capture the event'

Stunning footage of the event shows the comet and a large fragment trailing behind it, and astronomers suspect this could be a continuation of process first seen in 1995 and in 2006

This was seen in 1994, when another comet named Shoemaker-Levy 9 broke apart and then smashed into Jupiter.

And, they say solar radiation and solar wind play a role as well.

These forces continuously bombard the comets nucleus, disrupting its surface layers and giving rise to its coma and tails.

The astronomers will continue to monitor the comet over the next few days and weeks using Sloohs Chile and Canary Islands Observatories.

Thanks to our friends at Slooh.com, whose robotic telescopes power a global community sharing live views of outer space. Visit the website to see how easy it is to control the telescopes yourself.
On board entertainment was spread over its spacious 10 decks including shows, casino and spas

Trips included the historical sites of Rome, island hopping to Capri and climbing the Tower of Pisa

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It was once seen as the reserve of the wealthy, popular with the blue-rinse brigade and about as far away from an 18-30 holiday as a week in Torquay.

But as cruising continues to rise in popularity with more than 22million people setting sail in 2016 alone, its clear the days of dominoes and Elvis impersonators on deck were left in port years ago.

That said, the last time I went on a family holiday was pushing 20 years ago. So just how would being in a confined cabin, cruising around the Mediterranean, suit a mother and daughter?

We met the Constellation as it docked in Barcelona before moving on to the sites of Florence and Pisa, ancient Rome, the breathtaking Amalfi coast, equally stunning Kotor in Montenegro, finally finishing in Venice.

'Cruise virgin' Kate Pickles boarded the stunning Constellation for her first high-seas adventure on a luxury liner

The constellation's interior is designed to help passengers switch off and forget their troubles

Hungry for tasteful designs: Dining on the Constellation can be done in style, as this image shows

The Constellation is the co-flagship of the Celebrity fleet and measures 975metres in length - and boasts 10 passenger decks

The co-flagship of the Celebrity fleet, along with Century-class ship Century, she was a fine vessel for a so-called 'cruise virgin' like myself to set sail on.

Measuring 975m in length, with 10 passenger decks, it felt spacious despite the 2,000-plus passengers.

While getting a sun-lounger by the pool was as likely as snow in an Italian summer, walking up to the next level or towards the back of the ship was enough to secure a nice place in the sun or shade to read a book or sip drinks.

Our cabin stewardess Lourdes, who kept our cabin shipshape, Dexter the singing waiter and Bryan the pool butler from Honduras - who cheerfully pointed out the dolphin pods as they swam alongside the ship - stood out as examples of its stellar cast.

Many of the 2,000 passengers boarded the Celebrity Constellation at Barcelona, where it spent a couple of days before sailing onwards to Italy

A staff vs passengers game of volleyball got off to a flying start when captain Vittorio Cantu launched the ball

The Old City of Kotor is a Unesco World Heritage Site and arguably Montenegro's most famous town - and a great stop for a spot of shopping or a drink to admire the views

Leaving the Bay of Kotor, which was carved by a river running from the interior to the Adriatic Sea, was just as spectacular

Visitors can enjoy a stroll through the old town or even a hike up into its many hills of the idyllic part of Montenegro

Getting off the Celebrity Constellation to explore the stunning scenery involves some of the ships lifeboats transporting passengers to shore

Entering the Bay of Kotor is spectacular as the cruise ships sail in through a 17-mile waterway with all the spectacular scenery of a fjord, minus the old icebergs

The early-rises for excursions were worthwhile when greeted by stunning sunrises over mountainous landscapes

When stomachs rumbled, there was a wide choice of dining options ranging from the elegant 1,170-seat San Marco to the more casual Ocean View.

Every night, the three-course menu was peppered with new options, which wouldnt be out of place at a top restaurant, with the added bonus of a wall of windows that allowed for majestic views of the ship's wake.

But after a long days shore excursion, it was often nice to give the pomp a miss and we'd often opt for the more relaxed and informal alternative.

Watching the orangey hue of the sun slipping beyond the horizon - while tucking into a juicy steak or fish fresh from the grill  was one of the many highlights.

The shore excursions didn't disappoint, either. The early starts meant the option to have breakfast delivered to the room was a well-utilised one.

A whistlestop tour of Florence's Piazza della Signoria gives visitors a flavour of what the magnificent city has to offer

The Square of Miracles or Piazza dei Miracoli, as its name suggests is the must-see part of the city with its Leaning Tower, the Pisa Cathedral or Duomo di Pisa, and the Pisa Baptistery

The views from the Leaning Tower of Pisa are well worth climbing the nearly 300 steps to get to top of the famous landmark

Known as a playground of the rich and the famous, the warm waters surrounding Capri attract plenty of yachts

Augustus Gardens is only a short walk through the centre and provides breathtaking views from its high vantage point

Mail Online reporter Kate Pickles admires Capri's stunning views after riding its funicular railway to the top

Water sight: Venice was the final port of call on Kate's incredible sun-kissed trip

We opted for a historical tour bundle, offering a journey to Italy's iconic cities taking in the sites of Rome, Florence's Duomo, Pisa's Leaning Tower, Pompeii's ruins, as well as the charming towns of Capri and Sorrento.

Well-organised, there was very little time spent waiting to disembark and each trip gave a real taster of the places, while ultimately leaving you hungry for more.

Back on board, the nightly shows, lively casino and numerous bars meant the younger passengers - of which there was surprisingly many - were able to party to the small hours.

Either that or share a glass of wine or two while discussing what adventures awaited the next day.
Mark Tabone has demanded an apology from New Idea after a story printed in their most recent issue.

The gossip magazine claimed Lisa Curry's fiance, who is an Elvis impersonator, had flirted with female fans after a gig, running the story alongside pictures of him beside a woman.

Mark posted an angry retort on his Instagram on Monday, slamming the 'sleazy' story while pointing out that he was actually surprising a fan who is suffering from terminal cancer.

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Angry: Mark Tabone has demanded an apology from New Idea after a story printed in their most recent issue

Alongside a picture of the article, he wrote: 'I can't believe I was papped getting changed to surprise a lady that is suffering from terminal cancer & New Idea turn it into a sleazy story!'

He finished the post by saying: 'Shame on you New Idea, I demand an apology!'

The publication had made a series of claims about the entertainer, saying that his fiancee Lisa Curry, who is currently on I'm A Celebrity, was 'the last thing on his mind'.

'He was lapping up the attention. The girls couldn't get enough of Mark- and it seems he couldn't get enough of them!' a New Idea 'insider' claimed to the magazine.

'It looked like Lisa was the last thing on his mind.'

Jungle-bound! Lisa hasn't had direct contact with Mark since entering the Channel 10 reality show

Meanwhile, Mark has taken control of Lisas social media accounts since she entered the jungle and he shared his response to the story on her Instagram.

Her voice: Meanwhile, Mark has taken control of Lisas social media accounts since she entered the jungle

On Sunday, he shared a photo of his healthy gourmet breakfast alongside a gushing caption dedicated to Lisa.

'Just because Lisa has been away for 3 weeks now & no contact, my good habits are embedded, thinking about her when I order Brekky!' he wrote.

Lisa confirmed she was dating Mark back in December 2015, just weeks after splitting with boyfriend of five years Joel Walkenhorst, 33.

Couples who diet together! On Sunday, he shared a photo of his healthy gourmet breakfast alongside a gushing caption dedicated to Lisa

Romance: Lisa and Mark became engaged in July the following year after Mark popped the question during a lavish holiday in Malta

They became engaged in July the following year after Mark popped the question during a lavish holiday in Malta.

For Lisa, who separated from Grant Kenny in 2009 after tying the knot in 1984, this engagement marks a significant new chapter in her life.

'When I found myself single, I became quite happy doing my own thing and honestly thought I would never find anyone worth loving again,' she admitted to New Idea.
He's undergone two hair transplants over the years, once describing his hair loss as something of an 'obsession'.

And now James Nesbitt, 52, is in part crediting his full head of hair with helping his career as a leading man, as well as admitting that the demise of his 22-year marriage has 'had an impact'.

'In terms of the range of leading roles Ive had since then its probably helped,' he tells the new issue of Radio Times magazine of his expensive hair makeover.

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Thick thatch: James Nesbitt as pictured last year while promoting the latest rebooted series of Cold Feet

The star is going through a particularly successful streak in his career - he played dwarf Bofur in Peter Jackson's Hobbit trilogy; this year appeared in a new reboot of Cold Feet and next takes on the role of Detective Inspector Harry Clayton in Stan Lee's lucky man.

And it's clear James - who had just undergone another transplant at the time of the Radio Times interview - believes his new look has been worth every penny.

'Its not cheap!' he admits. 'Probably 20 grand. I went public with it. I was very happy to be open about it.

'I just thought, "Come on, somebody is going to say it before I say it". It was something I struggled with. And that was probably the vanity in me.'

When you're thinning: James has described his preoccupation with his thinning hair pre-transplant as an 'obsession'

Magazine revelations:James gives a candid interview to the latest Radio Times

The actor may not have had plastic surgery, but he acknowledges that these days there's pressure among actors to maintain their youthful looks.

'I think its such a shame that young men are thinking that,' he says. 'There always used to be the sense that age adds character.

'You look at Samuel Beckett when he was older, Richard Harris, but I think with younger men it seems to be a big pressure.'

Not only has James's career been through a metamorphosis, his life away from the camera is also markedly different having last year finalised his divorce from his wife Sonia Forbes-Adams after 22 years of marriage.

'I think separating [from my wife] has an impact because you look at why it happened and you see mistakes that were made,' he tells the magazine.

'Im lucky enough to be able to look back at stuff and say, "Oh well that was then, Ive had a good lash at that, and this is now."'

Reboot: James, pictured with the Cold Feet cast Robert Bathurst, Hermione Norris, Fay Ripley and John Thompson as they prepared for the show's reboot last year

James and Sonia finalised their divorce in October 2016, three years after they split and announced they were 'living separately' - and had been for some time.

In October 2013 James and Sonia went their separate ways, with the two thespians citing James' hectic work schedule as the problem.

The actor had been working in New Zealand on Peter Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy for two years at this time, with the first of the films, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey released in 2012.

Split: James and his wife Sonia Forbes-Adams (here in august 2007) finalised their divorce in October 2016, after 22 years together

A number of kiss and tell stories emerged in the early 2000s regarding the actor.

However, James previously admitted that he has been fully to blame for any indiscretions while married to Sonia, and while speaking to Femail in 2008 he said:

'It was never anything to do with my wife. Any time I did anything like that, there was drink involved.

'I don't think I did anything sober. When you suddenly become successful, the change is enormous, financially and in terms of recognition and the way people treat you. I found that hard to deal with. I just regret the hurt it caused my family.'
As the March 5 debut for the upcoming season of Top Gear rapidly draws close, bosses of the BBC Two show have unveiled the first new promo shot.

The main image shows returning star Matt LeBlanc beaming as he's flanked by co-hosts Chris Harris and Rory Reid while standing among a collection of luxury cars.

With a space shuttle taking off in the background and a helicopter hovering overhead in the cloudy skies, the dramatic shot notably excludes Chris Evans, who quit the show after just one season following an unprecedented dip in ratings.

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In the driver's seat: Matt LeBlanc poses with his co-hosts (l-r) Chris Harris and Rory Reid, as well as The Stig (background, left), in the first promo shot for the new season of Top Gear

Chris and Matt took over when the series was rebooted following the departure of hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond.

But radio personality Chris quit the show after one series following plummeting ratings and poor reviews, saying he gave it his best shot but it was 'not enough'.

Following his resignation, Chris said Matt was the 'captain' that the programme needed going forward and should remain on the show, dismissing reports that the pair's relationship had broken down amid flagging audience figures.

New trio: The beaming new line-up of co-hosts also pose together in a less dramatic shot

The first trailer for the latest series was released earlier in February and featured an array of supercars and extraordinary vehicles, from the Aston Martin DB11 to the Ferrari FXX K, to the Russian eight-wheeled Avtoros Shaman.

In the 90-second teaser for the series, the former Friends star rescued a group of naked ramblers on the Isle of Man in his enormous Avtoros Shaman.

In one shot, a tuxedoed Matt was seen getting cornered by police in Montenegro while another showed him, Chris Harris and Rory Reid enduring an awkward BBC car insurance interview interwoven with clips from the new series.

Not returning: The new lineup replaces Chis Evans, who was a part of the show last year

Ratings woes: Embattled Chris quit the show after just one season amid plummeting ratings

They were quizzed by a strict risk assessor on prior motoring convictions, whether they would participate in competitive driving, and if they required fire cover.

Responding to the final question, Matt told the interviewer 'no fire' before The Stig made a timely entrance with a small flame burning his sleeve.

Meanwhile, Reid was seen crashing his taxi in Kazakhstan and Harris drifted the Ferrari FXX K in Daytona, Florida.

The 2million track-only hyper hybrid car will go from 0-62mph in under three seconds, topping out at 217mph - so it's safe to say there's some content for serious petrol heads.

The new season of Top Gear starts on Sunday March 5 at 8pm on BBC Two.

Rescue attempt: In the new season's recently unveiled trailer, Matt was seen rescuing a group of naked ramblers on the Isle of Man

Awkward: Matt, Chris and Rory also endured an awkward BBC car insurance interview

Tough going: The trio faced a tough interview in the trailer, which was unveiled this month

Italian stallion: The trailer also featured the futuristic 2million track-only hyper hybrid car from Ferrari, the FXX K

British engineering: The Aston Martin DB11 also made an appearance in the action-packed clip
They might be public figures, but it seems some of Australia's top personalities are just like the rest of us when it comes to Valentines Day.

Glamorous Rebecca Judd rushed to Instagram on Tuesday morning to share a sweet snap of her and her husband Chris kissing.

TV personality Bec was clad in a crop top and leggings and hugged her man as they locked lips.

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Happy: Glamorous Rebecca Judd rushed to Instagram on Tuesday morning to share a sweet snap of her and her husband Chris kissing to celebrate Valentine's Day

Chris also shared a shot of himself online, doing squats as he held Bec over his shoulder as a weight.

Also sharing celebrations with fans was pregnant former Hi-5 star Lauren Brant, who got an 'engagement ring' from partner and former AFL player, Barry Hall.

Sharing on her Instagram story, Lauren wished her beau a Happy Valentine's Day as they woke up in bed.

They then ate breakfast, poached eggs, with the toast cut into love hearts.

And lift! Chris also shared a shot of himself online, doing squats as he held Bec over his shoulder as a weight

Smitten: Also sharing celebrations with fans was pregnant former Hi-5 star Lauren Brant, who got an 'engagement ring' from partner and former AFL player, Barry Hall

A sweet touch: Lauren and Barry ate breakfast - poached eggs - with the toast cut into love hearts

'I forgot a Valentine's present': The couple jumped into a car for a drive and Barry gave her a 'ring'

The couple jumped into a car for a drive and Barry gave her a 'ring.'

'I forgot a Valentine's present, but Happy Valentine's Day,' he said, sliding what looked like a piece of plastic onto her ring finger.

Also declaring their love publicly on the day was Bindi Irwin and boyfriend Chandler Powell, 20.

In the flashback snap, the pair were at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, sharing a drink.

Young love: Also declaring their love publicly on the day was Bindi Irwin and boyfriend Chandler Powell, 20

He captioned the Instagram shot: '#Flashback to Butterbeer at #WizardingWorldHollywood @unistudios with my valentine,' adding a love heart emoticon.

Bindi, 18, also shared a cute photo of her and her man in Australia, gushing in a caption alongside it: 'Valentine's Day. A day to celebrate love and happiness. (And an excuse to give endless amounts of hugs!)

This picture captures my forever Valentine @chandlerpowell, in gorgeous #Australia. These really are the pictures of true happiness,' she added.

'My forever Valentine': Bindi, 18, also shared a cute photo of her and her man in Australia, gushing in a caption alongside it: 'Valentine's Day. A day to celebrate love and happiness. (And an excuse to give endless amounts of hugs!)

Bindi went on to say how blessed she was to have so many people around her that she loves.

Meanwhile, former Bachelorette star and Sam Frost's ex, Sasha Mielczarek, shared a selfie online from his work office, drawing a cartoon girlfriend next to him.

He jokingly captioned the snap: '#Happyvalentinebabe.'

Former beauty queen and model Renae Ayris shared a snap on her Instagram story, of a rose, card, chocolate bar and hand written tags given to her by her personal trainer boyfriend, Andrew Papadopoulos.

She captioned it, saying: 'Okay, where did this boy come from? Honestly, you are the cutest thing in the world,' before tagging her man.

'Happy Valentine babe': Meanwhile, former Bachelorette star and Sam Frost's ex, Sasha Mielczarek, shared a selfie online from his work office, drawing a cartoon girlfriend next to him

So sweet! Renae Ayris shared a snap on her Instagram story, of a rose, card, chocolate bar and hand written tags given to her by her personal trainer boyfriend, Andrew Papadopoulos

In love: Renae (pictured) also shared a poem dedicated to her man

She also shared a poem that said in part, 'I hope you find someone that loves you when you wake up in the morning. And I hope that person stops you from running to the bathroom to fix yourself before they can even get a peek at you.'

Renae said she 'found exactly that.'

Pregnant writer Zoe Foster Blake also shared to her Instagram account, a snap of her man Hamish Blake, and their son Sonny, two.

'Happy Vallo (sic) day to the two hunks I'm deeply in love with. You're stuck with me! Suck it!,' she wrote, adding a love heart emoticon.

Former Bachelorette star also Georgia Love shared a snap to her social media, showing boyfriend Lee Elliott dipping her and giving her a kiss.

'You're stuck with me!' Pregnant writer Zoe Foster Blake also shared to her Instagram account, a snap of her man Hamish Blake, and their son Sonny, two

She captioned the shot: 'I've never been more proud to call someone mine, my funny Valentine'.

Former Victoria's Secret model and Australian star Shanina Shaik shared a very sexy snap as she counted down the day while in the US.

Showing off her incredible figure and pert derriere, she held her hands in a 'V' shape.

'Give me a "V" !! What are you getting for Valentines tomorrow? #visforvalentine,' Shanina wrote.

'Give me a V!' Former Victoria's Secret model and Australian star Shanina Shaik shared a very sneaky snap, as she counted down the day while in the US

Meanwhile, former Bachelor contestant Kirralee 'Kiki' Morris celebrated the romantic holiday with her partner Jeremy Banks.

Academic and media personality Susan Carland, the wife of TV host Waleed Aly, also shared a special Valentine's Day card from her young child.

It read: 'To Mum and dad, someone in the love-heart world loves you every day, but today you get a card. Happy Valentine's Day. From your secret lover xxoo'.

She found love! Reality TV star Kirralee 'Kiki' Morris celebrated the romantic holiday with her partner Jeremy Banks, after being rejected by The Bachelor's Richie Strahan last year

'To mum and dad': Academic and media personality Susan Carland, the wife of TV host Waleed Aly, also shared a special Valentine's Day card from her young child

Instagram model Pia Muehlenbeck posted a photo of herself in lingerie, possibly hinting at a night of passion with boyfriend Kane Vato.

Over in the USA, actress Rebel Wilson prepared for Valentine's Day with her Pitch Perfect 3 co-stars, including Anna Kendrick.

David and Candice Warner also shared a special photo with their fans as they celebrated their three-and-a-half year relationship.

And radio host Mel Greig poked fun at her singledom by wishing for a 'naked male stripper holding flowers' to suddenly arrive at her home.

'Yep, I married her!' David and Candice Warner also shared a special photo with their fans as they celebrated their three-and-a-half year relationship

Here come the girls! Over in the USA, actress Rebel Wilson prepared for Valentine's Day with her Pitch Perfect 3 co-stars, including Anna Kendrick

In an emotional Instagram post, former Big Brother star Tully Smyth paid tribute to her parents on their 31-year wedding anniversary.

She revealed her mother 'has been lost to Alzheimer's' for the past 14 years but her father Phil's love and loyalty has never faltered.

Tully wrote: 'Not once has he failed to bring her chocolates and flowers and love letters to his "bestest girlfriend " on Valentine's Day, their anniversary'.

And finally, new mother Laura Csortan enjoyed a day at home with her baby Layla Rose, calling her affectionately, 'My little Valentine'.

How rude! And radio host Mel Greig poked fun at her singledom by wishing for a 'naked male stripper holding flowers' to suddenly arrive at her home

Heartbreaking story: In an emotional Instagram post, former Big Brother star Tully Smyth paid tribute to her parents on their 31-year wedding anniversary

'Not once has he failed to bring her chocolates and flowers': She revealed her mother 'has been lost to Alzheimer's' for the past 14 years but her father Phil's love and loyalty has never faltered
Kim Kardashian touched down in New York on Monday after jetting in from Los Angeles to support her husband Kanye West during NY Fashion Week.

The reality star, 36, was spotted arriving at the couple's apartment building wearing a full-length, multi-colored fur coat.

She kept her head down and covered her eyes with sunglasses despite the dark night.

In town: Kim Kardashian arrived in the Big Apple on Monday night as she prepares to support husband Kanye West at the debut of his Yeezy season 5 collection during NY Fashion Week

The reality star sported her long black wig and was dressed in a white tank top and drawstring sweatpants under her fur.

She completed her show of support for Kanye by also donning a pair of Yeezy sneakers.

But shortly after arriving, Kim did a quick change and headed out again on the town.

Working: Kanye was seen leaving his apartment Monday amid concerns that the pressure of his fashion show might be too much for him after his mental health breakdown in November

Anxious: Kim left LA on Monday to fly to NYC to support her husband after giving him 'space' to focus on his work but is said to be worried about how Kanye is doing

Keeping tabs: Kim, wearing a tank top and drawstring pants under a fur coat and a pair of Yeezy sneakers, checked her cell phone for messages after her cross-country trip

Kim left the apartment glammed up in an all-back ensemble and in full war-paint mode.

She paired a buttoned-up lightweight top with shiny pants and her trademark baggy padded jacket draped down over her arms to hide her derriere.

She completed the look with a pair of black stiletto-heeled ankle boots.

But Kim was still solo as she stepped out without hubby Kanye.

Glammed up: Shortly after arriving in New York, Kim headed out on the town solo following a quick wardrobe change sporting an all-back ensemble and in full war-paint mode

The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star paired a buttoned-up lightweight top with shiny pants and her trademark baggy padded jacket draped down over her arms to hide her derriere

Ready to party: She completed the look with a pair of black stiletto-heeled ankle boots as she stepped out solo without hubby Kanye

Lookalikes: Kim was accompanied by a femail pal who also wore a puffy coat over an all-black ensemble

However, it's claimed the mother-of-two is more than a little anxious about whether or not her rapper husband, 39, is going to be able to handle the pressure of debuting his Yeezy season 5 collection on Wednesday following his highly-publicized 'psychotic breakdown' in November.

A source close to the family revealed to People that Kim and Kanye 'spent the weekend apart so Kanye could focus on the show.'

The source also said that Kim is trying to be as supportive as possible because this kind of stress 'has been very bad for him in the past.'

They continued, 'There is definitely some concern that the show will be too much stress for him. He gets so involved and its hard for him to not get obsessed.'

Luxury travel: The 36-year-old posted this pic of herself on board the private jet headed to New York

Flying in style! Kim, 36, shared her luxurious travel accomodations with fans via Snapchat as she boarded a private jet

Still fragile: The rapper, 39, is apparently still dealing with issues stemming from his 'psychotic breakdown' in November with pal Malik Yusuf revealing his memory 'is coming back'

Further complicating things is the Bound 2 artist's still fragile health.

On Sunday at the Grammys, Kanye's close friend Malik Yusef revealed new details about the 39-year-old rapper's condition, saying that his 'memory is coming back.'

Before this, the star's memory issues were not public knowledge.

Malik also told Popsugar that Kanye is 'healing' and 'going through processes.'

Kanye himself skipped the Grammy Awards to focus on preparing for his fashion show that's taking place during New York Fashion Week.

Family matters: While his extended Kardashian-Jenner fmaily are expoected to be front row to support him Wednesday, his yeezy show last year, pcitured, got a lukewarm reception

Kris Jenner has said that all the Kardashian-Jenner extended clan will be at the Yeezy season 5 event to support Kanye, just as they were last year.

However, there's reason for the reality stars to be concerned about how the Life Of Pablo artist will deal with the pressure.

Last year, a 'disastrous' Yeezy season 4 presentation ended with several models fainting in late summer heat and the collection itself garnered mediocre reviews from the fashion world.

Some have pointed out that the stress from the show, coupled with Kim's terrifying robbery in Paris in late September, were all contributing factors to Kanye's November 10th breakdown and subsequent hospitalization.

Supportive wife: Kim Kardashian played the doting spouse at Kanye's Yeezy season 4 show last September which was poorly received by the fashion world and garnered mediocre reviews
She welcomed her third little boy to the world just six months ago.

And on Monday Megan Fox was spotted out and about in Malibu, California, with baby Journey strapped securely to her front in a carrier.

The 30-year-old New Girl star hoisted her tiny tot up into the air as she got him out of his car seat in the back of her SUV.

Up he goes: Megan Fox hoisted her six-month-old baby boy Journey into the air as she got the tiny tot out of his car seat in the back of her SUV on a shopping trip in Malibu, CA, on Monday

She carefully lowered the cutie, who was wearing a black onesie patterned with silver stars, into the baby carrier and adjusted the straps so his face leaned against her chest.

The actress was casually dressed for her outing in a blue T-shirt, distressed skinny jeans and high-heeled sandals with a single strap across her toes and tied around her ankles.

Precious cargo: The 30-year-old New Girl star strapped her little boy, who wore a star-spangled onesie, into a baby carrier on her front

Megan left her long wavy brunette tresses free to cascade down her back and covered her eyes with sunglasses that sported blue reflective lenses.

She didn't appear to be wearing much make-up aside from bright red lipstick.

Megan appeared to be on a solo trip as there was no sign of her actor husband Brian Austin Green. 43, or the other two boys she shares with him, Noah, four and Bodhi, two.

Snuggled up: The actress adjusted the straps so the little boy, the youngest of three she shares with her 43-year-old actor husband Brian Austin Green

The Transformers star will next be seen in director James Franco's Zeroville, a comedy drama set in Hollywood in 1969, due out later this year.

Meanwhile, Brian's new movie Cross Wars, based on a comic book, premiered on February 7.

He plays a superhero called Callan who gets his powers from an ancient Cross amulet as he battles villains in Los Angeles.
They're counting down the birth of their first child together.

And former Hi-5 star Lauren Brant and ex-AFL player Barry Hall celebrated Valentine's Day, with Barry joking that he bought her a ring.

Lauren, 27 - who is six months pregnant - took to Instagram to share a short clip of their day, where Barry slips plastic onto her left hand wedding finger.

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Wedding bells? Pregnant former Hi-5 star Lauren Brant and ex-AFL player Barry Hall celebrated Valentine's Day, with Barry joking that he bought her a 'ring'

'I forgot a Valentine's present, but happy Valentine's Day,' Barry, 40, told Lauren, as the pair sat in their car.

Laughing, Lauren remarked: 'Thanks baby!'

The pair kicked off their celebrations by Lauren waking Barry up in bed, the pair saying Happy Valentine's Day to each other.

Will it happen soon? Lauren, 27, - who is six months pregnant - took to Instagram to share a short clip of their day, where Barry slips plastic onto her ring finger

Afterwards they enjoyed breakfast together and cooked poached eggs with toast cut into love hearts.

Barry also shared to his Instagram account, a collage of images of himself with Lauren.

'Happy Valentines Day to my best mate. The person I have so much fun with and of course love to bits @laurenbrant #love #fun #bestfriend #valentines,' he wrote in the snap.

'My best mate': Barry also shared to his Instagram account, a collage of images of himself with Lauren

Barry has previously hinted that an engagement is imminent, sharing a snap to Instagram of an event venue, called Lauren's Hall.

He captioned the shot: 'I went to a photo shoot today for Hammersmith. I couldn't believe where it was!!! Is this a sign?! #sign #photoshoot #hammersmith #lauren #hall.'

Barry and Lauren first met on set of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! in 2015, but did not begin dating until months later.

In December 2016, Lauren announced she was 18 weeks pregnant.

Going strong: Barry and Lauren first met on set of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! in 2015 but did not begin dating until months later

Lauren was previously engaged to Gold Coast personal trainer Warren Riley, however, there were later allegations she cheated on him with The Footy Show's Beau Ryan.

Warren broke up with her after uncovering texts between the two, Woman's Day reported in September 2015.

The married father of one and former children's entertainer met while working on the stage production of Aladdin and His Wondrous Lamp.

While neither publicly confirmed the allegations, Beau did apologise on the Footy Show a month later.
They've maintained one of TV's most solid relationships, having celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary last month.

And with Valentines Day in full swing, Peter Overton, 50, has taken the opportunity to divulge exactly how he proposed to Jessica Rowe, 46, all those years ago.

Appearing on Today Extra this Tuesday, the the father-of-two reminisced: 'I think when I proposed to my wife Jessica I didn't do it in a cliched way. I had the ring designed.'

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'She stepped out of the shower': Peter Overton, 50, has taken the opportunity to divulge exactly how he proposed to his wife Jessica Rowe, 46, all those years ago

'She stepped out of the shower on a Saturday morning and as she came out I said, 'Will you marry me?' It was beautiful.'

The couple wed in 2004 and are proud parents to Allegra and Giselle.

Last year, Peter confessed to Nova's Fitzy and Wippa that it was Jessica who made the first move in their relationship.

Unique proposal: Appearing on Today Extra this Tuesday, the the father-of-two reminisced: 'I think when I proposed to my wife Jessica I didn't do it in a cliched way'

Couple goals! The happy couple celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary last month, with Jessica posting this photo to her Instagram account as a tribute to her man

Where it all started: He recalled that when they both worked at Nine, a mutual colleague suggested to him that he take Jessica out on a date

He recalled that when they both worked at Nine, a mutual colleague suggested to him that he take Jessica out on a date.

'I said, 'Righto, get her to ring me. If she calls in 10 minutes, I'll take her out.' So she did,' he said.

'I said, 'I love your style, you've got guts', we went out and we've been together ever since.'

Happily ever after: The couple wed in 2004 and are proud parents to Allegra and Giselle

Despite spending their entire relationship in the public eye, the two high-profile media identities have made sure to keep the spark alive behind closed doors.

In her tell-all 2015 autobiography Is This My Beautiful Life? Jessica reveals intimate details about her love-life with peter, including a night when they 'made love against the kitchen bench top'.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia following the book's release, Jessica said: 'We still enjoy date nights. There's a fabulous pizza restaurant down the road and when we can, we go there.'

'We do it at least once a month but should go on a much more regular basis. We both feel we need to make more time for each other.'

The Sydney-based journalist's book also explores her emotional struggles with h IVF treatment, postnatal depression and perceived sexism within the workplace.

Keeping the passion burning: Despite spending their entire relationship in the public eye, the two high-profile media identities have made sure to keep the spark alive behind closed doors
She raises sons Leighton, four, and Zachary, eight, with two different fathers.

And Stacey Solomon has confessed to feeling an 'overwhelming sense of guilt' about the thought of expanding her family unit, confessing that she has read several studies about the social and emotional impact of broken homes on young children.

The 27-year-old TV star spoke candidly to the Huffington Post in a video blog, debating the question of when the right time is to have a child in a new relationship when you already have kids with previous partners.

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Thinking of having another? Stacey - who is dating Joe Swash - has confessed to feeling an 'overwhelming sense of guilt' about the thought of expanding her family unit

She said in her Huffington Post video blog: 'There's definitely been times in my life where I've felt the stigma of having multiple children from different partners'

Stacey raises eldest son Zachary with her teenage sweetheart Dean Cox, and Leighton with ex-fiancee Aaron Barnham.

Meanwhile, her boyfriend Joe Swash has son Harry, nine, with his former fiancee Emma Sophocleous.

The Loose Women panellist explained: 'I always have an overwhelming sense of guilt that if I were to make my family greater, that I would impact on them socially and emotionally.

'There's definitely been times in my life where I've felt the stigma of having multiple children from different partners.'

Expanding her brood: Stacey raises eldest son Zachary with her teenage sweetheart Dean Cox, and Leighton with ex-fiancee Aaron Barnham, and says she worries about the social and emotional impact of broken homes on young children

The former X Factor star also discussed growing up in a big family, revealing she was one of three kids before her dad remarried and she became one of seven.

Stacey, who enthused that 'nothing was ever boring' growing up, insisted that despite her reservations, she could see the overwhelming benefits of having an unconventional family unit.

She concluded: 'Life is never perfect, you just need to adapt - ultimately by doing that, you're going to give your children the best start in life.'

Taking to the slopes: The star has been treating her followers to a series of sweet social media snaps from her family holiday

The star has been treating her followers to a series of sweet social media snaps from her family holiday.

The bubbly beauty has jetted off to Austria on a ski trip, where she reunited with The Jump host Davina McCall.

Sharing several sweet snaps of her two youngsters taking to the slopes, Stacey was every inch the proud mother.

'That face though': Sharing several sweet snaps of her two youngsters, Stacey was every inch the proud mother

Stacey and Joe have been together since November 2015 and their romance is going from strength-strength.

Gushing recently about their romance to Hello! magazine, Stacey enthused: 'It's going really, really well. I'm so happy. Everyone says we're made for each other.'

She added: 'We are like the same person, we come from really similar backgrounds and we've got so much in common. He's absolutely lovely, I'm so lucky.'

Meet and greet: The bubbly beauty has jetted off to Austria on a ski trip, where she reunited with The Jump host Davina McCall
On Sunday, she dazzled in an emerald gown while at the BAFTA awards in London.

And on Monday, Amy Adams returned to LAX dressed in a chic, neutral ensemble.

The 42-year-old made a statement in a large, camel-coloured scarf, which she let fall loosely over her shoulders.

Back home! Amy Adams, 42, returned to LAX on Monday following her time at the BAFTA Awards in London on Sunday

The Justice League star was cozy in an oversize, black turtleneck sweater.

To balance her roomy top, the beauty slipped into a pair of skinny jeans.

Amy - rocking TOMS sunglasses - slung a grey coat over her arm and added a pair of matching ankle boots.

Stylish standout: The beauty - rocking TOMS sunglasses - made a statement in a large, camel-coloured scarf, which she let fall loosely over her shoulders

Winter wear: The Justice League star was cozy in an oversize, black turtleneck sweater

Dazzling in emerald: On Sunday, Amy sparkled in David Webb jewels while across the pond for the BAFTAs, or the British Academy Film Awards

On Sunday, Amy was across the pond for the BAFTAs, or the British Academy Film Awards.

The mother-of-one wore a strapless, emerald gown, and pulled her hair back to show off her David Webb jewels.

The star was nominated for Best Actress for her role in the 2016 mystery-drama, Arrival.

Emma Stone ultimately took home the award for her work in LaLa Land.

Denim darling: To balance her roomy top, the beauty slipped into a pair of skinny jeans

This year, Amy will star in both a film and TV series.

The actress will star as reporter Camille Preaker in the drama-thriller, Sharp Objects, and will return to her role as Lois Lane in the movie, Justice League.

In 2018, she wil reprise her role as Giselle in Disenchanted, the sequel to the 2007 fantasty flick, Enchanted.
She bravely spoke about her childhood experience with domestic violence on I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!

And Lisa Curry's fiance Mark Tabone has praised her actions, believing it will provide hope to others in similar situations.

On Monday night's episode, an emotional Lisa told her camp-mates she was 'probably around the age of thirteen or fourteen [when] we had a lot of domestic violence in our house', while revealing that going for a swim in the pool had been her escape.

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'She's just a genuine gorgeous person': Mark Tabone has praised fiancee Lisa Curry for speaking about childhood domestic violence on I'm A Celebrity

Mark, who proposed to Lisa in July last year, told Daily Mail Australia this week that Lisa's confession revealed just how hard she had worked for her success.

'She's come from humble beginnings, she's just a genuine gorgeous person,' he said.

The entertainer and Elvis tribute artist hoped Lisa's story would give people in similar situations courage.

Brave: On Monday night's episode, an emotional Lisa told her camp mates she was 'probably around the age of thirteen or fourteen [when] we had a lot of domestic violence in our house' and going to the pool had been her escape

'I think it important for people in her position to let other people know that they are not the only ones in that position and they can get through it,' Mark said.

'It's great advice to those that are struggling with domestic violence.'

Mark also confessed to missing Lisa terribly since she entered the jungle last month, and has been running her social media to drum up votes of support for her charity Aussie Helpers.

'I'm really missing her, especially today it's Valentine's Day': Mark also confessed to missing Lisa terribly since she entered the jungle last month

'I think I've spent about $500 last week [voting]!' He said. '... I'm really missing her, especially today it's Valentine's Day.

She's really doing well, she will be missing a lot of things but at the same time it's a challenge for her and an adventure.'

The entertainer hopes to see Lisa win the competition, saying: 'Even if it takes me to spend a few thousand dollars she's going all the way!'

Slammed story: Mark also spoke out against a report in New Idea this week which claimed he had been flirting with a female fan

'I think I've spent about $500 last week [voting]!' The entertainer hopes to see Lisa win the competition

Mark also spoke out against a report in New Idea this week, saying that the publication wrongly claimed he had been flirting with a female fan.

He explained he had been visiting a terminally ill fan called Helen.

He told Daily Mail Australia that he had known Helen since 2009 and was making an appearance at a special party for her family and friends.

She had initially been diagnosed with breast cancer which had spread to her throat, recently stopping medical treatment as the illness became terminal.

'What do you do when you know that someone is terminally ill? You tick things off her bucket list,' Mark said. '... It's really sad, I've supported her for many years through her struggles.'
Currently she is one of the most in-demand models in the world.

And on Monday, Bella Hadid hit the runway for Oscar de la Renta's Fall 2017 show during New York Fashion Week.

The 20-year-old stunner looked elegant yet fierce as she strutted down the catwalk in a velvet gown.

Work it! Bella Hadid hit the runway for Oscar de la Renta's Fall 2017 show during New York Fashion Week on Monday

Bella looked beautiful as she walked across the black and white tiled runway.

Her evening look included a gorgeous strapless velvet gown with an asymmetrical hemline.

The couture creation gathered on one side and featured an elaborate crystal embellished border.

The feminine frock's high side slit showcased Bella's slender legs and a pair of coordinating black closed-toe pumps.

Beautiful: The 20-year-old stunner looked elegant yet fierce as she strutted down the catwalk in a strapless velvet gown with an asymmetrical hemline

Attention-grabbing details: The couture creation gathered on one side and featured an elaborate crystal embellished border

Sexy side: The feminine frock's high side slit showcased Bella's slender legs and a pair of coordinating black closed-toe pumps

Her long brunette tresses were slicked back in a sleek ponytail to show off an amazing pair of silver and diamond chandelier ear cuffs which nearly grazed her shoulders.

Bella's striking blue and pink eye shadow added a pop of color to her otherwise simple make-up look.

Before Bella hit the runway, she posed backstage showing off her designer duds.

All about the jewels! Her long brunette tresses were slicked back in a sleek ponytail to show off an amazing pair of silver and diamond chandelier ear cuffs which nearly grazed her shoulders

Fierce! Bella's striking blue and pink eye shadow added a pop of color to her otherwise simple make-up look

The vision: The inspiration for the ODLR Fall 2017 collection comes from some of Oscar's signature elements. Color. Strength. Simplicity

Behind the scenes: Before Bella hit the runway, she posed backstage showing off her designer duds

VIP: The Oscar de la Renta Fall/ Winter 2017 show had a star-studded front row with all eyes on Bella

Meanwhile, the Oscar de la Renta Fall/ Winter 2017 show had a star-studded front row.

Sisters Paris Hilton and Nick Hilton Rothschild were spotted together with a VIP view of the runway.

The Hilton Heiresses both made an equally bright statement - Paris opted for a blue mini dress while Nicky chose a red ensemble.

Front row: Sisters Paris Hilton and Nick Hilton Rothschild were spotted together with a VIP view of the runway

Bold beauties: The Hilton Heiresses both made an equally bright statement - Paris opted for a blue mini dress while Nicky chose a red ensemble

Paris, 35, looked beautiful in a full-skirted sleeveless frock which featured a thin belt around her trim waistline.

The socialite topped off her bold look with a matching jewel-toned fur coat which she slung over her shoulders.

Meanwhile, new mom Nicky, 33, also wore a monotone look sporting a shoulder cut-out over-sized sweater with a midi-skirt.

Monotone look: The 35-year-old socialite wore a full-skirted sleeveless frock which featured a thin belt around her trim waistline. She topped off her look with a matching fur coat

All smiles: The stunning blonde siblings were equally in high spirits as they spent their day together taking in haute couture

The stunning blonde siblings were equally in high spirits as they spent their day together taking in haute couture.

Karolina Kurkova was also spotted at the Oscar de la Renta show along with Doutzen Kroes.

The supermodels, who have both worked with Victoria's Secret, mingled after the show.

Supermodels sidelined: Karolina Kurkova (left) was also spotted at the Oscar de la Renta show along with Doutzen Kroes (right)

Catwalk chatter: The supermodels, who have both worked with Victoria's Secret, mingled after the show

Seeing spots: Karolina draped a burnt orange polka dotted scarf-like blouse around her lithe physique. The stylish model, 32, teamed her look with a pair of mustard yellow trousers

Karolina draped a burnt orange polka dotted scarf-like blouse around her lithe physique.

The stylish model, 32, teamed her look with a pair of mustard yellow trousers and styled her blonde locks straight and opted for minimal makeup.

Meanwhile, Doutzen opted for an all-black look wearing a loose-fit shiny black dress which hit below the knee.

Style radar: The beauties no doubt discussed the fashions they saw on the runway

Laid-back lady: Doutzen opted for an all-black look wearing a loose-fit shiny black dress which featured front pockets

Leggy display: The 32-year-old Dutch model completed her casual look with a pair of matching black moto boots and fishnet stalkings

The 32-year-old Dutch model completed her casual look with a pair of matching black moto boots and fishnet stalkings.

Charlotte 'Lottie' Moss, 19, was also seen sitting on the front row.

Kate Moss' much younger model sister showed off her legs in a black mini skirt and kept warm with a luxurious black fur vest.

Girls star Jemima Kirke also attended the show in a mostly black ensemble which included a cropped fur coat.

The 31-year-old actress teamed the look with a vintage T-shirt, long curve-hugging skirt and bright red strappy pumps.

Sitting pretty: Charlotte 'Lottie' Moss, 19, was also seen sitting on the front row. Kate Moss' much younger model sister showed off her legs in a black mini and kept warm with a fur vest
She's the brunette beauty from Neighbours, he's the long-haired hunk who previously starred in rival soap, Home And Away.

But Olympia Valance and Jackson Gallagher have set aside their differences to cosy up together in a new fashion campaign.

Posing for menswear label Calibre, the young actors look like they've known each other for years and weren't afraid to stay close to one another.

(Soap) star-crossed models: Neighbours starlet Olympia Valance and Home And Away actor Jackson Gallagher have set aside their differences to cosy up together in a new fashion campaign for menswear label Calibre

In one shoot, the bronde babe hugged tight to Jackson's jacket almost tugging on the dove grey bomber jacket to get the handsome star a little closer.

The 26-year-old couldn't hide his delight as a smile crept across his face as the pair looked into the camera during the suburban Sydney shoot earlier this month.

Casually dressed in figure-hugging jeans and a partially unbuttoned shirt, Olympia, 24, looked sexy and sophisticated.

For another outfit shot, the lingerie model was dressed in a strapless white jumpsuit for some of the shots, which was cinched in at the waist, showing off her trim figure.

Pulling him in close: The bronde babe hugged tight to Jackson's jacket almost tugging on the dove grey bomber jacket to get the handsome star a little closer

Big smiles: The 26-year-old couldn't hide his delight as a smile crept across his face as the pair looked into the camera during the suburban Sydney shoot earlier this month

Olympia is seen leaning her head tenderly on Jackson's shoulder as the 26-year-old smoulders for the camera.

The actor, better known as Josh Barrett to fans, is dressed in black trousers and a high v-neck T-shirt, jazzing up the outfit with a black-and-white trim dinner jacket.

In another shot, the handsome actor offers his jacket to Olympia, as they stroll along the pavement with his arm around her shoulders nuzzling at her hair.

Colour co-ordinated couple: Jackson is seen dressed in black trousers and a high v-neck T-shirt, jazzing up the outfit with a black-and-white trim dinner jacket in one shot, while the 24-year-old actress sports a strapless white jumpsuit

Such a gentleman: In another shot, the handsome actor offers his jacket to Olympia, as they stroll along the pavement with his arm around her shoulders nuzzling at her hair

While the pair looked cosy together in the photos, Neighbours starlet Olympia is believed to be happily paired with boyfriend Greg Cannell.

The couple briefly called it quits in 2015 after 18-months of dating, before reuniting less than six months later.

However, the duo have been absent from each other's accounts for the past five weeks, after a loved up trip to Bali earlier in the year.

Taken: While Olympia and Jackson looked cosy together in the photos, the Neighbours starlet is believed to be happily paired with boyfriend Greg Cannell

Still together? While the couple have been on-and-off for almost three years, it's not known about the current state of their relationship with the pair not posting images of each other for the past five weeks




Malin Akerman happily reunited with her Watchmen co-star Carla Gugino at Cipriani in Manhattan on Monday night.

It's been eight years since the 38-year-old blonde and the 45-year-old brunette played mother-daughter superheroines Silk Spectre I and II in Zack Snyder's DC Comics flick.

The SAG Award nominee was at the Elit Vodka-sponsored bash to support the Swedish-born, Canada-raised beauty at her second season premiere of Billions.

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Hey girl! Malin Akerman (R) happily reunited with her Watchmen co-star Carla Gugino (L) at Cipriani in Manhattan on Monday night

Seven-year age gap: It's been eight years since the 38-year-old blonde and the 45-year-old brunette played mother-daughter superheroines Silk Spectre I and II in Zack Snyder's DC Comics flick

Gugino - last seen in The Space Between Us - showcased her toned arms in a strapless b&w bustier and floral lace midi-length skirt.

Akerman also opted to go strapless in a maroon flounced jumpsuit and white pumps selected by her stylist Molly Fishkin-Levin.

And Swedish hairdresser Maranda made sure The Ticket actress looked camera ready for the glitzy New York event.

Malin portrays Lara Axelrod in the second season of the political drama, which is now streaming on YouTube ahead of Sunday's official premiere on Showtime.

Gal pals: The SAG Award nominee (L) was at the Elit Vodka-sponsored bash to support the Swedish-born, Canada-raised beauty (R) at her second season premiere of Billions

Fierce after 40! Gugino - last seen in The Space Between Us - showcased her toned arms in a strapless b&w bustier and floral lace midi-length skirt

Back it up: Akerman also opted to go strapless in a maroon flounced jumpsuit and white pumps selected by her stylist Molly Fishkin-Levin

Swedish duo: And hairdresser Maranda made sure The Ticket actress looked camera ready for the glitzy New York event

Missing from the red carpet was Akerman's cherubic three-year-old son Sebastian with ex-husband, drummer Roberto Zincone.

The Women's Marcher also seemed thrilled to see her Billions castmate Maggie Siff at the party.

The 42-year-old SAG Award nominee - who plays Dr. Wendy Rhoades - donned a black beaded halter column dress and peep-toe heels.

Malin also posed with her midriff-baring co-star Ilfenesh Hadera - who plays Deb Kawi on the cable series.

Reprisal: Malin portrays Lara Axelrod in the second season of the political drama, which is now streaming on YouTube ahead of Sunday's official premiere on Showtime

Blond duo: Missing from the red carpet was Akerman's cherubic three-year-old son Sebastian with ex-husband, drummer Roberto Zincone

All smiles: The Women's Marcher also seemed thrilled to see her Billions castmate Maggie Siff at the party

Mad Men alum: The 42-year-old SAG Award nominee - who plays Dr. Wendy Rhoades - donned a black beaded halter column dress and peep-toe heels

Elsewhere inside the festivities, Damian Lewis - who plays hedge fund manager Bobby 'Axe' Axelrod - posed with fellow Brit, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.

Recurring castmember Jerry O'Connell - who plays Steven Birch - hung out with former New York Yankee first baseman Mark Teixeira.

Empire co-creator Danny Strong - posing with his new fiancee Caitlin Mehner - plays Todd Krakow in one episode of the second season.

Colleagues: Malin also posed with her midriff-baring co-star Ilfenesh Hadera - who plays Deb Kawi on the cable series

Elsewhere inside the festivities: Damian Lewis (R) - who plays hedge fund manager Bobby 'Axe' Axelrod - posed with fellow Brit, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour (L)

Dream team: The co-stars posed together at the event held at Cipriani's on Monday

Star power: Maggie, David Nevins, Damian and Malin Akerman were in a jovial mood at the event

Happy: The trio had huge grins on their faces as they celebrated the premiere of season two

Snazzy dresser: Lewis looked snazzy in a pinstripe suit

Friendly faces: Damian posed, drink in hand, with actor Marc Kudisch at the Elit Vodka party

Recurring castmember: Jerry O'Connell (R) - who plays Steven Birch - hung out with former New York Yankee first baseman Mark Teixeira (L)
She has made an explosive impact on the new series of Ex On The Beach, after enjoying a night with Aaron Chalmers as soon as he entered the villa.

And ZaraLena Jackson proved just how she snared the inked-up hunk as she displayed her incredible figure in a series of Instagram posts on Monday, where she slipped into an array of saucy lingerie and swimwear.

The 24-year-old fashion designer looked stunning in her sizzling shots, as she wowed in a stunning black two-piece with a bondage inspired neckline adorned with the lettering 'God save our queen'.

God Save The Queen: ZaraLena Jackson proved how she has made such a sexy appearance on the show as she flaunted her incredible figure in a series of Instagram posts, as she slipped into an array of saucy lingerie and swimwear

Clearly oozing body confidence the stunner pulled her very best pout for the camera as she showed off both her perky cleavage and unbelievable abs.

Her trademark flame red tresses cascaded over her shoulders as she snapped the selfie, while dazzling for the camera to win over her burgeoning fanbase.

Elsewhere, she then changed into a cobalt blue bikini, complete with a bust enhancing triangle bikini top and tiny bottoms.

While the swimwear was simple in design, the ensemble was sure to make the most of every element of her envy-inducing physique.

Blue babe: The 24-year-old fashion designer looked stunning in her sizzling shots, as she wowed in a stunning black two-piece with a bondage inspired neckline adorned with the lettering 'God save our queen'

Hot stuff! While the swimwear was simple in design, the ensemble was sure to make the most of every element of her envy-inducing physique

Proving herself to be well versed in heating up social media, she went on to share an image as she slipped into a corset and lace trimmed mini skirt.

Last week, as she enjoyed a trip to Barbados, ZaraLena was sure to show off every inch of her incredible figure as she stripped off on the beach to pose for a number of sexy shots.

One particularly eye-catching image saw the Preston-based fashion giant slip into a black bandeau bikini which just about covered her perky cleavage.

With her modesty only just protected, she gazed into the camera while sipping a delicious cocktail to help cool off in the blistering Caribbean heat.

Her red tresses were pulled into chic braids, while she masked her make-up free face with a huge pair of tortoiseshell sunglasses.

Busty babe! The flame haired vixen looked stunning

Racy in lace: Proving herself to be well versed in heating up social media, she went on to share an image as she slipped into a corset and lace trimmed mini skirt

Cheeky! Last week, as she enjoyed a trip to Barbados, ZaraLena was sure to show off every inch of her incredible figure as she stripped off on the beach to pose for a number of sexy shots

Hot stuff! The fashion designer looked stunning in her sizzling shots, with one in particular set to send pulses racing as she struggled to contain her perky cleavage from beneath a tiny bandeau bikini

Steamy! She has made an explosive impact on the new series of Ex On The Beach, after enjoying a night with Aaron Chalmers as soon as he entered the villa

Proving the vast expanse of racy swimwear in her suitcase, ZaraLena continued to share raunchy snaps, including a dazzling image on a balcony.

As she gazed into the distance, she confidently displayed her slender frame in the swimsuit which boasted a crossover chest and cut-out hips.

The snakeskin pattern comprised of a green and white colour scheme, which perfectly accentuated her deep bronze tan.

Another one of her swimsuits kept things simple - allowing her incredible body to do the talking as she pulled her black bikini bottoms high on her hips.

Cut out! The snakeskin pattern comprised of a green and white colour scheme, which perfectly accentuated her deep bronze tan

Sexy two-piece: She again wore a bandeau bikini top, yet this garment covered more of her figure that the sizzling number she wore later in the day

She again wore a bandeau bikini top, yet this garment covered more of her figure that the sizzling number she wore later in the day.

Away from her bikini clad antics, she opted to pose while sporting nothing, from beneath the covers of her hotel room bed.

ZaraLena's sun-drenched getaway comes shortly after her night of passion with Geordie Shore star Aaron was aired on MTV.

Sexy stuff: ZaraLena's sun-drenched getaway comes shortly after her night of passion with Geordie Shore star Aaron was aired on MTV

Stunner: Zara's holiday certainly looked luxurious

Aside from his dalliance with ZaraLena, Aaron's love life has hit headlines once again after he reportedly split from Lauren Pope after a 'nightmare holiday' in Dubai - claims he has strenuously denied, insisting they parted ways on great terms.

He has hit back at claims that he spat food at Lauren during an emotion filled row, insisting that the reports couldn't be further from the truth.

Confirming their split to MailOnline, the 25-year-old reality hunk revealed that the reason behind their break was down to bad timing.

Having a giggle: She has slotted into EOTB perfectly

All wrong: Aside from his dalliance with ZaraLena, Aaron's love life has hit headlines once again after he reportedly split from Lauren Pope after a 'nightmare holiday' in Dubai - claims he has strenuously denied, insisting they parted ways on great terms

He explained: 'Lauren posted a picture of herself sitting on my knee in Dubai  that was apparently the night of the argument. For one, I wouldnt spit food at anyone because Im not a tramp, two, I wouldnt waste food  and three, if I spat food at Lauren she would have f**king knocked us out! '

Aaron revealed he didn't attempt to clear up the 'laughable' claims because he thought the allegations were so over the top.

'Anyone that knows me knows I would never do that. I wouldnt embarrass myself doing that in a nice restaurant, I wouldnt embarrass Lauren  I just wouldnt do it!', he declared.
It seems that 'appearing shirtless' might just be an abiding agreement in his acting contracts.

The recently released official teaser trailer of Netflix's The Bad Batch shows Jason Momoa flaunting his muscular pecs under a blazing sun.

The 37-year-old actor parades in front of distressed visuals of a Texas wasteland that is the setting for a dystopian love story.

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On display: The recently released official teaser trailer of Netflix's The Bad Batch shows Jason Momoa flaunting his muscular pecs

Flexin': The 37-year-old actor parades in front of distressed visuals of a Texas wasteland that is the setting for a dystopian love story

The thriller - which stars the semi-exposed Hawiian actor alongside Keanu Reeves, Giovanni Ribisi, Jim Carrey, and Suki Waterhouse - is a savage fairytale, which its up-and-coming director Ana Lily Amirpour compared to an orgasm.

The clip begins with 25-year-old Waterhouse, who plays the heroine Arlen, wandering around a barren dessert and sneaking into a car to apply lipstick.

The scene quickly escalates as she is next seen running for dear life, pursued by an unknown entity.

Starts calmly: The clip begins with 25-year-old Waterhouse, who plays the heroine Arlen, wandering around a barren dessert and sneaking into a car to apply lipstick

0-100: The scene quickly escalates as she is next seen running for dear life, pursued by an unknown entity

Proceeding scenes show the young starlet waking up with the word 'FEAR' tattooed on her fingers before a scene hints at an apparent amputation.

The disembodied voice of Keanu Reeves, who plays commune leader Rockwell, announces:

'All of us here we weren't good enough, smart enough, young enough...This here is the bad batch.'

Star power: Keanu Reeves plays commune leader Rockewell

He announces: 'All of us here we weren't good enough, smart enough, young enough...This here is the bad batch'

Man of the hour:Jason is soon introduced in all his shirtless glory - the actor's signature full beard, however, was trimmed down to a neat soul patch

Jason is soon introduced, riding in on a motorcycle in all his shirtless glory - the actor's signature full beard, however, was trimmed down to a neat soul patch.

In a following scene, he brandishes a butcher's knife from a holster attached to his brawny chest, preparing to rescue Arlen - who is now toting a handgun.

The blonde beauty hides behind the 6'4 demi-god, an indication that the love story may be between her character and Momoa's 'Miami Man' (a phrase tattood boldly on his chest).

Dangerous: He brandishes a butcher's knife from a holster attached to his brawny chest, preparing to rescue Arlen - who is now toting a handgun

Love interest: The blonde beauty hides behind the 6'4 demi-god, an indication that the love story may be between her character and Momoa's 'Miami Man'

Heroin: Newcomer Waterhouse plays heroin Arlen

Audiences will be used to seeing Momoa half naked, as his character Khal Drogo was perenially shirtless as well in Game of Thrones.

And the shirtless fun won't stop there - Jason, who has been married to Lisa Bonnet since 2007 - has three more films coming out in 2017 and is gearing up to shoot Aquaman, which is set for release in 2018.

The Bad Batch comes out on June 23rd.
Soap operas are known to tell intricate, convoluted and confusing tales.

And Kate Ritchie, who starred as Sally Fletcher in Home And Away, has admitted she struggles to remember her own complex plots.

Speaking to Nova 96.9 FM's Fitzy And Wippa on Tuesday, she said: 'The real fans of Home And Away understand the complex story line far better than I.'

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'The real fans of Home and Away understand far better': Kate Ritchie admits the soap's plots are hard to follow as she's reunited with actor Josh Quong Tart, who played her secret twin brother Milco on the soap more than 10 year ago, in an on-air chat with Nova 96.9 FM's Fitzy And Wippa on Tuesday

In the radio chat with Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald and Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli, Kate was asked to recall what details about the character Milco, which she struggled with.

The actress said she was 'a little hazy with the details' of the soap story she acted out more almost 10 years ago.

Reuniting her with actor Josh Quong Tart, who played the mysterious Milco, the radio duo sat back as the pair join forces to remember the narrative arc.

Child star: Kate appeared on the Aussie soap from 1988 when she was 10-years-old and once had an imaginary friend on the series called Milco, who radio stars Fitzy and Wippa questioned her about to which she said she was 'a little hazey with the details'

'Are you my brother? I don't know. Are you my brother,' Kate questioned Josh.

Stumbling his own words to respond, Josh wasn't confident of his response: 'I think we were related. I don't know, it could have even gone as far as maybe even twins, but that's a bit of a stretch.'

Almost convinced, Kate adamantly voiced her opinion: 'I don't think we were twins.'

'I don't think we were twins': Laughing through the entire on-air chat as they attempted to piece together their joint soap story line, Kate and Josh appeared to agree on being related, but they weren't entirely sure to what extent

'I know we were related because I think that when I left Summer Bay I left you part of the Fletcher house. Crazy, like what was I thinking?' she joked.

Laughing through the entire on-air chat as they attempted to piece together their joint soap story line, the pair appeared to be getting nowhere.

Fitzy then jumped in to say 'If you guys are confused, we are as well' before revealing what he could confirm about the confusing plot.

'It's like unlocking The Da Vinci Code': After minutes of attempting to recall the backstory of his role on the hit Australian TV series, actor Josh's memory became clearer as Fitzy and Wippa revealed what they knew of the character's life

The radio co-host said Sally originally had an imaginary friend called Milco and then Josh came back later in the series as Sally's brother Miles.

Jogging Josh's memory, he added that his character of Miles Copeland was a play on the letter for Milco.

'It's like unlocking The Da Vinci Code,' he said to a roar of laughter as the radio hosts confirmed: 'Oh man, this is complicated.'
They've firmly distanced themselves from rumours their relationship is on the rocks by posting a series of loved up snaps in recent days.

And on Tuesday, Georgia Love, 28, and Lee Elliott, 35, were pictured in their cheesiest photo shoot yet.

The Bachelorette lovebirds posed with an apple bouquet in a heavily stylised shoot to promote fruit company Montague's new love-themed range.

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The apple of her eye: The Bachelorette lovers Georgia Love, 28, and Lee Elliott, 35 have starred in a cheesy Valentine's Day photo shoot to promote a range of love-themed apples

In the professionally edited images, the couple spent equal time gazing into each-other's eyes as they did at their bouquet of hybrid Gala apples, given the name 'Smitten' by their creators.

Georgia wore a plunging red formal gown, showing off a bit of cleavage in the slim-fitting dress.

She styled her brunette locks in a mature, slicked-back bob that fell to her shoulders.

To complete the decidedly formal photo shoot, Lee paired a slim-fitting white blazer with an open button-up and tight blue chinos.

Upswing: The formally dressed pair were pictured celebrating the presence of an apple bouquet from brand Montague

Using the tagline 'once bitten, forever smitten,' the apple company may see a generous uptick in Instagram attention after securing the popular pair, currently totaling a modest 1,008 followers on their account.

They images painted a narrative, with Lee presenting Georgia with the fruity bouquet as she looked thrilled with the gift.

Later, front-on images showed the couple with the same wide grins as they looked into each-other's eyes, the blurred background giving full focus to their loving embrace.

Full focus: Front-on images showed the couple with wide grins as they looked into eac other's eyes, the blurred background giving full focus to their loving embrace

The next few images curiously showed Lee taking the bouquet back and hiding it behind him as Georgia's exaggerated expression showed her trying to peak around the hunk's shoulders.

In a happy Valentine's Day ending, her beau handed the apples back and the couple flaunted their pearly whites as they held them up together.

The cheesy shoot is the latest in the couple's loved up PDA that comes amid claims their relationship is on the rocks.

Where did they go?The next few images curiously showed Lee taking the bouquet back and hiding it behind him as Georgia's exaggerated expression showed her trying to peak around the hunk's shoulders

There they are! In a Happy Valentine's Day ending, her beau handed the apples back and the couple flaunted their pearly whites as they held them up together

Woman's Day claimed on Monday that Lee has been 'secretly sending flirty texts' to as many as three former girlfriends in recent weeks.

After an alleged row at the Australian Open, the mechanical plumber took to his Instagram to deny the allegations.

In a date night post from the circus, he used the hashtags 'never let the truth get in the way of a good story,' and 'the only source you have in tomato,' to share his feelings on a Woman's Day report.
Wolfgang Puck got hot in the kitchen and cursed about his competition live over the weekend on the Home Shopping Network.

The 67-year-old chef was peddling his 14-piece stainless cookware set Saturday night when he got a little salty, according to an article by TMZ.

'I actually just ordered sautee pan,' Wolfgang told a cohort about a recent purchase.

Celebrity chef: Wolfgang Puck, shown earlier this month in Beverly Hills, California, dropped an F-bomb while talking about his cookware competition on HSN

'Six hundred and fifty dollars for one. I said I have to f***king try it out, how it will work,' the famous chef said.

The f-bomb didn't phase anyone and Wolfgang dressed in a white chef's apron kept promoting his set.

The Austrian-born chef has been a longtime cook for Hollywood's stars at the annual Oscars ceremony.

Wolfgang for more than two decades has been the official caterer for the Academy Awards Governors Ball.

Tried it: The chef said he tried the $650 sautee pan to see how it works

He was a chef and part owner of the French restaurant Ma Maison in Los Angeles and published his first cookbook in 1981 based on Ma Maison recipes.

Wolfgang opened his own restaurant Spago in 1982 on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood.

He later moved the restaurant to Beverly Hills in 1997.

Master chef: Wolfgang is shown in January 2013 in Hollywood at a preview for the Governors Ball

The success of Spago helped Wolfgang launch the Wolfgang Puck Companies that includes 20 fine dining restaurants.

The Spago restaurant in Las Vegas last November was ranked among the top 100 highest-grossing independent restaurants in the US by trade magazine Restaurant Business.

It ranked in 32nd place with 2015 sales of about $17.4 million and served about 276,000 meals.

The Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe ranked 56th with about $15.9 million in sales.
Tom Arnold may have left the I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! Jungle several days ago.

But the horrible memories are still fresh in the 57-year-old's mind.

In a tell-all rant on 97.3FM's Bianca, Terry & Bob the American comedian furiously ranted about his 'nightmare' experience, revealing Robbie Williams convinced him to appear and blaming 'stupid' producers for his Lisa Curry blow up.

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Tell-all: Tom Arnold went on a passionate rant about his time on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here on Tuesday, calling the producers 'stupid' and dishing on his fight with Lisa Curry

It wasn't all bad for the film star, who took the chance in the interview to thank the show for the 'generous cheque' he received for his brief appearance.

From that point forward though, the hosts of the Brisbane radio show were in control, expertly managing to extract all the juiciest details from their still-angry subject.

'I was very grateful to have been there, and even more grateful to be out of there,' he began his impassioned rant.

'It was horrible. Horrible!'

It was horrible. Horrible!' He made no secret of his disdain for the jungle experience

'I used to work in a meat packing plant for three years, [the show] was actually worse than working in a meat packing plant,' he continued.

Even given the knowledge he was paid well for his appearance, the hosts still couldn't work out why Tom decided to enter the show in the first place.

In a surprise revelation, the Roseanne star said it was none other than UK pop sensation Robbie Williams who convinced him to do it.

Robbie's fault!n a surprise revelation, the Roseanne star said it was none other than UK pop sensation Robbie Williams who convinced him to do it because it was his 'favourite show'

'[Robbie said] Oh my god. That's our favourite show you have to go to the jungle!'

The show hosts quickly diverted the comedian's anger towards his infamous on-air blow-up at fellow contestant Lisa Curry.

'I don't care how many medals you've won,' he said.

'You don't point your finger at me and say 'toughen up buttercup', because then you're in the line of fire.'

'I don't care': On the Lisa Curry argument, Tom said 'I don't care how many medals you've won,' claiming she put him in the line of fire by telling him to toughen up

The impassioned celeb then said that he believed the group's decision to make her 'deputy camp manager' went to her head.

He objected to her insistence that he knew the rules from day one, replying 'It's a stupid reality show! What rules?'

In the end though, the star blamed the producers for his argumentative attitude.

Producers fault: In the end though, the star blamed the producers for his argumentative attitude

'I'm defending the whole camp against the stupid producers for barely feeding us!' he ranted.

Even when the hosts tried to get behind the scenes gossip, Tom continued to express his dissatisfaction at the food situation, recalling a un-aired segment in which he started eating a massive cake after it was blown up during a challenge.

As his passionate rant hit the four-minute mark, and with no end in sight, the hosts took a leaf out of I'm A Celebrity... voters books and abruptly ended his time on the show.
Jax Taylor made a rare display of remorse on Monday's episode Vanderpump Rules.

The macho barman broke down in tears as he finally apologized to Stassi Schroeder for cheating on her with her best friend and damaging all her relationships since.

Stassi, 28, partially blamed Jax for 'driving a wedge' between her and her ex Patrick Meagher.

Getting emotional: Jax Taylor got emotional as he finally apologized to Stassi Schroeder on Monday's episode of Vanderpump Rules

'If you just looked at me and said ''I'm really sorry'' that would mean everything to me,' she sobbed.

'I'm sorry, I was a different person then. I was an a**hole. I was a piece of s***. I was cheater, I was a liar,' Jax told her in a rare display of emotion.

'I did a lot of bad things,' he said, breaking down in tears.

'It's so vindicating,' said Stassi in relief.

Apology sought: Stassi cried as she asked Jax to apologize for being a horrible boyfriend

Feeling vindicated: The blonde beauty felt vindicated after Jax apologized profusely to her

Brittany Cartwright was irritated that Stassi had managed to draw an apology out of Jax - while he has apparently 'never' acted remorseful after being rude to her.

'That hurts,' she said, before storming out.

The drama occurred during Katie Maloney and Tom Schwartz's joint bachelorette/bachelor party in New Orleans.

Home turf: Stassi showed the group around New Orleans during the joint bachelor/bachelorette party

Good times: Tom Schwartz and fiancee Katie Maloney celebrated with their friends

Not happy: Brittany was upset with Jax for apologizing to Stassi yet never expressing remorse for treating her poorly

Three weeks from their wedding, the couple were in dire straights, with their friends wondering if they should go into counseling.

Tom Sandoval took the opportunity to tell Katie that there was something 'deep rooted' about her troubles with Schwartz.

'This is my bachelorette party, I should be dancing and having drinks, not talking about my relationship with Dr. Tom Sandoval,' she moaned.

Deep rooted: TomSandoval suggested to Katie that she had 'deep rooted' problems with fiance Tom Schwartz

The show opened with Stassi fretting over the bachelorette party and coping with being single.

'I really just want someone tell her she's pretty and make out with her, so that she will stop f***ing crying about Patrick,' moaned Kristen Doute.

Scheana Shay organized a pool party for a pre-party, but Tom and Katie weren't speaking.

Looking out: Kristen Doute was hoping Stassi could get her mind off her ex Patrick

Schwartz wore his moomoo, a sign that he had 'given up'.

'Tom and Katie's relationship is like a stinky room, and instead of finding the cause of the stink they just Febreze the situation and hope it goes away' remarked Jax.

Katie, 29, was annoyed that Schwartz, 32, seemed to be taking Ariana Madix's side in their feud.

Pool party: Brittany, Scheana Shay and Ariana Madix partied in the pool

Not talking: Katie revealed that she was hardly talking to her fiance Tom

Controversial figure: Ariana was still in Katie's crosshairs for earlier befriending Lala Kent

Pool fun: Kristen joined in on the fun at the pool party

'Do I need to be blonde? Do I need to be skinnier? I don't know what I need to do. Be cooler, get drunk with the guys, what do I need to do to get Tom to respect me?' Katie asked.

He tried to make amends, but she was frosty.

'A hug and a high five isn't going to solve it,' she grumbled.

Making up: Tom and Katie kissed after another squabble

Having fun: The groom-to-be wore a unique outfit for the pool party

Lisa Vanderpump gifted Katie and Tom with a swanky hotel suite as a present.

Schwartz tried to persuade the girls to show their 'boobs for beads'.

'That's hood ratplus I still have too many breast reduction scars, I don't think I'm ready for it,' said Stassi.

The hostess: Stassi was excited and anxious to show her friends around New Orleans

On the phone: Katie and Tom got on the phone to thank Lisa Vanderpump for the hotel suite

Lady in pink: Lisa said she was happy to gift them the room and bottle of champagne

On the first night the crew hit Bourbon Street, except for Scheana and Shay who went for dinner to celebrate their second anniversary.

The couple, who have since separated, pawed over a 'boudoir book' of kinky pictures of Scheana.

'He loves it when I dress up in lingerie,' she said.

Anniversary dinner: Scheana and Shay enjoyed an second anniversary dinner together

Book gift: Shay was gifted a boudoir book with sexy photos of his wife

'I'm more in love with you now than I ever have been,' he told her.

Back at Sur in Beverly Hills, Lisa gave DJ James Kennedy a pep talk about definitely not drinking at her event.

'You let me down I will personally kick your a**,' warned the British restaurateur.

Aspiring DJ: James Kennedy was shown DJing at the DailyMail.com's White Party

'James Kennedy, the white Kanye West, is back,' he boasted afterwards.

James later begged for his job back, but Lisa wasn't having it and turned him down

Vanderpump Rules continues next week on Bravo.
She may no longer be an ambassador for David Jones.

But Australian model Montana Cox certainly hasn't stepped out of the spotlight.

The 23-year-old went bra-less in a see-though netted top on the beach during a red hot racy photo shoot in Manly on Monday.

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Red hot: Montana Cox went bra-less in a see-though netted top and bikini bottoms on the beach during a red hot racy photo shoot in Manly on Monday

Forgoing a bikini top, Montana posed next to a hunky male model in the dress, tying a short-sleeve leather jacket over the top.

She also showed off her tanned and toned legs in a pair of black bikini bottoms.

The photo shoot appeared to have a distinctive punk rock vibe, with Montana accessorising the ensemble with a black dog collar-style choker.

Going hell for leather: Montana wore a leather shirt over the top of her netted dress

Not an inch to pinch: Montana also flaunted her long toned legs in the ensemble

Wild curly hair extensions and a slick of hot pink lipstick completed the look.

Alongside her buff shirtless male co-star, the pair both shot the camera smouldering stares.

The brunette beauty had several outfit changes throughout the day, also slipping into a high-waisted red bikini and a black vinyl bomber jacket, as well as a skintight cream strapless swimsuit.

What a hunk! The lucky 23-year-old starred in the photo shoot alongside a hunky shirtless male model

Last year, Montana strutted her stuff down the David Jones runway after she ended her role as an ambassador with the department store.

This year the brunette beauty attended as a guest and sat in the front row.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on the red carpet ahead of the show, Montana said attending the event as a guest took the pressure away.

'I'm really relaxed. I can't wait to have a glass of champagne and watch all the styles. It's really cool that I get to come back and join the family,' she said.

Punk rock! Montana also posed in a high-waisted red bikini and a black vinyl bomber jacket

Wild child: The brunette beauty wore wild curly hair extensions for the shoot

Double duty! Montana got a little exercise in during the shoot as she was pictured running along the sand

The stunner also added that she had no hesitation in accepting the invitation when asked to come and watch her former colleagues.

'I've never really had the opportunity to come and watch before. When they asked me, I said '100 per cent'. I love to come back and see the old crowd like Jason, Jess and Jesinta,' she revealed.

Montana lost her lucrative contract with David Jones in July after the department store called time on her three-year association with them.

However, the blow was softened a month later when she scored a contract as the face of Forever New.

Punk rock: Montana also wore a black collar necklace and bright pink lipstick during the shoot

David Jones marketing general manager Michiel Tops said the Melbourne beauty would remain part of the store's 'family'.

Weeks after being told that her contract would not be renewed, Montana walked in the brand's Spring Summer launch - but not in her role as an official ambassador.

At the time, she told The Daily Telegraph: 'Its been such an amazing three seasons and Ive loved every minute of it but its a great change and Im now going to focus on my international career, so it opens up a few more doors.'
She rose to prominence as the winner of Australia's Next Top Model.

But it seems that Montana Cox is just as good at strutting her stuff in reality as she is on TV.

The 23-year-old was pictured showing off her toned physique as she modelled a vast range of skintight swimwear during a photoshoot for Harpers Bazaar Singapore on Monday.

Beach babe: Montana Cox has been pictured modeling a range of swimwear in Sydney's north

As the sun went down on Turimetta Beach in Sydney's northern suburbs, the young model went to work.

Rocking a wavy hairdo, Montana looked staunch as she posed for the camera.

A cream coloured one-piece swimsuit that flaunted her slim figure was the first in a series of outfits worn by the model.

Stunner: The 23-year-old brunette beauty showed off toned physique and beach ready hair

Hard at it: As the sun went down on Turimetta Beach in Sydney's northern suburbs, the young model went to work

Dressing smart: Despite the recent heatwave the model teamed her bathers with a colourful fur coat to compensate for cooler than normal afternoon

Despite the recent heatwave, the model teamed her bathers with a colourful fur coat to compensate for a cooler than normal afternoon.

Letting her coat almost fall off her arms, Montana changed poses regularly as the waves washed up in the background.

Dumped from a lucrative David Jones contract last year, it seems her career has well and truly bounced back.

Red hot: Montana went bra-less in a see-though netted top and bikini bottoms on the beach

What a hunk! The lucky 23-year-old posed alongside a hunky shirtless male model

Once back on the beach, she hopped back into a white outfit that featured a large bow on the front

Risque': Adding a large coat , the bathers were uniquely teamed with a black leather choker

Then and now: Last year Montana strutted her stuff on the David Jones catwalk, but this watched the show from the front row

Just days after being announced as the new face of lingerie label Bendon, she went braless as she posed with a ripped male model.

Moving from the beach and into the water, the brunette beauty then donned a race red fishnet outfit and black bikini bottoms with a red leather shirt over the top.

Facing the sun, she was forced to put on a pair of sunglasses for the shoot.

Once back on the beach, she hopped back into a white outfit that featured a large bow on the front.

On her toes: Montana put on a leggy display and flexed her calf muscles as she modeled the bathers

On the rocks: A large support team ensured the model was looking perfect for every photo

Work it: An umbrella for the rain/shade, lighting specialists, makeup artists and a cameraman were all part of the shoot

Pulling it off! Montana rocked double denim like a pro during her beachside photoshoot

Adding a large black and white coat over the top, the bathers were uniquely teamed with a black leather choker.

Last year, Montana strutted her stuff down the David Jones runway as an ambassador with the department store.

But this year the brunette beauty attended as a guest and sat in the front row.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on the red carpet ahead of the show, Montana said attending the event as a guest took the pressure off.

Baywatch? Montana channeled her inner Pamela Anderson with a jog along the beach

Fashionista: Continuing with the theme of the day she accessorised with a shiny black leather jacket

Abs-olutely fantastic! In a red one-piece swimsuit she showed off her toned tummy with a cut out mid section

'I'm really relaxed. I can't wait to have a glass of champagne and watch all the styles. It's really cool that I get to come back and join the family,' she said.

'I've never really had the opportunity to come and watch before. When they asked me, I said '100 per cent'. I love to come back and see the old crowd like Jason, Jess and Jesinta,' she revealed.

Despite her age, Montana showed she can easily pull of retro looks such as double denim.

Rocking a pair of high-waisted jeans and an embroidered denim jacket, she pouted heavily as the camera snapped away.

Finally happy: It seems she saved the best to last, with a black swimsuit bringing a rare smile to the model's face

And strike! Running her hand through her hair, she soon ditched the smile for a serious pose

Appearing to be almost like a high-cut dress, Montana showed off a leggy display as she stood in platform heels

With a white low cut t-shirt underneath her jacket, the model stood with her hands behind her back as she looked into the glaring sun.

Later she showed off her toned midriff in a red one-piece swimsuit with a cut out mid section, while again opting for the black leather choker around her neck.

But it seems Montana saved her favourite until last. Having pouted throughout most of the day, a black swimsuit brought a rare smile to the model's face.

Like a high-cut dress, she showed off a leggy display in platform heels while bringing her day on the beach to an end in a white coat draped over her right shoulder.
She is one of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood.

And Blake Lively proved exactly that when she attended the the L'Oreal Paris Paints + Colorista launch event at West Edge in New York City on Monday.

The 29-year-old actress looked flawless in a cute heart designed floaty, sheer SemSem dress that exposed her navy blue bra.

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Stunner: Blake Lively attended the the L'Oreal Paris Paints + Colorista launch event at West Edge in New York City on Monday

The Shallows star flaunted her killer legs in the mini dress and made sure to add a few inches to her already tall 5 10 frame.

The wife of Ryan Reynolds tied her famous blonde tresses away from her face in a stylish half up half down fashion.

She went for bright palette of colours, opting to wear a subtle pink lippy and dark black make-up that made her blue eyes pop.

The man: She posed up a storm on the red carpet with the Brand President of L'Oreal Paris, Tim Coolican

Demure: The 29-year-old actress looked flawless in a cute heart designed floaty, sheer SemSem dress that exposed her navy blue bra

She posed up a storm on the red carpet with the Brand President of L'Oreal Paris, Tim Coolican.

Coolican looked dapper in an all black suit as he showed off his rugged facial hair.

Blake also posed on the carpet with her older sister Robyn Lively who looked sensational in a plunging crimson dress.

Model legs: The Shallows star flaunted her killer legs in the mini dress and made sure to add a few inches to her already tall 5 10 frame

She styled her strawberry blonde locks in dramatic beach waves as she smiled alongside her younger sister.

The mother-of-two recently welcomed her second child, Ines Reynolds, on September 30, which is why the actress has taken a little break from acting.

She doesn't have any upcoming roles as of yet, no doubt she wants to spend time with her two youngsters and husband.

Sisters: Blake also posed on the carpet with her older sister Robyn Lively who looked sensational in a plunging crimson dress

Ryan on the other hand has a jam packed schedule.

He is in a sci-fi thriller due out in March this year titled Life, as well as an action comedy with Samuel L. Jackson and Gary Oldman called The Hitman's Bodyguard, due out in August.

His highly anticipated sequel to Deadpool is currently in pre-production and will be released next year in 2018.
As a former Mad Men siren, she knows how to make a sleek style statement.

And Christina Hendricks did just that in a flirty dress on Monday in Westwood, California, at the premiere of her film Fist Fight.

The bombshell arrived on the red carpet in a multicolour dress that highlighted her cleavage under a sheer paneled keyhole around the bust.

Knockout! Christina Hendricks looked sleek in a multicolor black dress at the premiere of her film Fist Fight on Monday in Westwood, California

The striking outfit included ornate embroidery detail that incorporated floral and animal motifs, and pleated tulle sleeves.

She completed the look with pointed-toe heels and a black clutch. The stunners fiery waves were styled in a part and cascaded around her shoulders.

The 41-year-old posed for pictures alongside her husband of eight years, actor Geoffrey Arend.

Red carpet companion: The Mad Men alum and her husband Geoffrey Arend hand hands

Chic: The striking outfit included ornate embroidery detail that incorporated floral and animal motifs, and pleated tulle sleeves

Glamour girl: The stunner's fiery waves were styled in a part and cascaded around her shoulders.

Speaking to Daily Mail in a previous interview, the knockout said they have no plans to grow their household.

'My friends would say I'm incredibly maternal, but motherhood is just not for me,' she explained. 'I once had a scene with a baby on Mad Men and afterwards the producer said, "Either your clock is ticking or you're a great actress." I said, "I'm a great actress!"'

In Christina's forthcoming comedy, she portrays Miss Monet, a drama teacher whose colleague gets challenged to an after school fight. Charlie Day and Ice Cube co-star as the two quarreling men.

Big romance: In June Ice Cube will celebrate 25 years of marriage to his wife, Kimberly Woodruff

What a Day! Charlie and his wife, Mary Elizabeth Ellis are currently on their 10th anniversary

The actors also appeared with their spouses on the red carpet. In June Ice Cube will celebrate 25 years of marriage to his wife, Kimberly Woodruff  the mother of his four children, including look-alike son O'Shea Jackson Jr., who played him in the hit biopic Straight Outta Compton.

Meanwhile Charlie and his wife, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, who co-stars on his series Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia, are currently on their 10th anniversary.

So happy together! Max Greenfield embraced his wife Tess Sanchez

Sealed with a kiss! Charlie and Tess were affectionate

Laughing matters! Comedian Tracy Morgan had his laugh Megan Wollover roaring

Kissing couple! SNL alum Tracy went in for a smooch

Some of their film's collaborators also brought their significant others to the premiere, including co-star Tracy Morgan, who got affectionate on the red carpet with his wife Megan Wollover, and Max Greenfield, who kissed his wife, Tess Sanchez.

Actresses Dania Ramirez and Kym Whitley joined them on the red carpet and posed solo.

The comedy hits theaters on Friday.

Leggy lady! Actress Dania Ramirez highlighted her enviable figure in a low-cut dress and pumps

Fighting stars: In their comedy, they play two colleagues in a quarrel

Styling: Tracy Morgan showed off his gold accessory
The first pictures of Keira Maguire in the South African jungle has been revealed after the Bachelor babe admitted she wants to steal Kris Smith's heart.

One image was shared on the beauty's Instagram account on Tuesday as she prepares to shake up I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! this week.

The 30-year-old has stated that she plans to fight off My Kitchen Rules star Ash Pollard for the affections of the hunky model.

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First pics: The first pictures of Keira Maguire in the South African jungle has been revealed after the Bachelor babe admitted she wants to steal Kris Smith's heart

Watch out: The 30-year-old has stated that she plans to fight off My Kitchen Rules star Ash Pollard for the affections of the hunky model

Speaking to TV Week, Keira said she is desperate to win the hunk's heart.

'I'm coming in and I will stop it straight away,' she said, acknowledging her new rival's early attempts at wooing the model.

The publication then states that where Ash is afraid to make a move, Keira has no such hang-ups, and already has Kris's number in her phone.

And Keira appears to have already made up her mind about her frizzy-haired competition.

'Ash and I will clash,' she told TV Week. 'She's said a few things I don't necessarily agree with.'

Got your number! In a recent interview, the 30-year-old stated 'If it happens, it happens,' revealing the pair had met before and have each other's numbers in their phones

Heart breaker: The blonde beauty acknowledged Ash Pollard's (pictured) early attempts at wooing Kris, but claimed the former My Kitchen Rules star would be too scared to make a move. She also revealed she's certain the reality stars will 'clash'

It was also revealed on Tuesday that Keira's Instagram account will be posting exclusive videos from the jungle during her stay.

The blonde arrived in South Africa with Bachelor host Osher Gunsberg who surprised the camp by jumping from a wooden box.

Meanwhile, the blonde told NW magazine that she went to extra efforts to ensure she maintains her good looks in the jungle.

Rumble in the jungle: The Bachelor's Keira Maguire has revealed she has her sights set on hunky model Kris Smith and has no qualms fighting off MKR's Ash Pollard as she joins I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! this week

Unfair advantage: Keira confessed to going to extra efforts to ensure she could impress the hunky model, saying she got 'eyelash extensions and had my eyebrows feathered,' before leaving Sydney

'Before leaving Sydney, I got eyelash extensions and had my eyebrows feathered,' she admitted.

Hilariously, her love interest had a different feathering experience on a recent episode, getting covered in tar and hundreds of feathers during a challenge.

An insider source told the publication that Keira and Kris' history goes back further than many may think.

Time machine: An insider source revealed that Keira and Kris have a history: 'We've seen her at events with him and she won't let him out of her sights,' they claimed

He can relate: Hilariously, her love interest had a different feathering experience on a recent episode, getting covered in tar and hundreds of feathers during a challenge

'We've seen her at events with him and she won't let him out of her sights,' they claimed.

'What Keira wants, Keira gets - and she wants Kris.'

When asked whether she was prepared to fight for the 38-year-old's affection, the firecracker confirmed she was better prepared than most.

'I've been on The Bachelor with 22 other girls,' she explained.

Game on: According to the insider, Ash will have to fight past Keira's unrelenting determination if she stands a chance. 'What Keira wants, Keira gets - and she wants Kris,' they said

Previous experience: When asked whether she was prepared to fight for the 38-year-old's affection, Keira confirmed she was better prepared than most. 'I've been on The Bachelor with 22 other girls,' she explained




She may be happily married to Kanye West, but Kim Kardashian still has plenty of admirers.

And one stopped the beauty, 36, in a New York street on Monday night to give her a posy of red roses which she gratefully received.

The reality star thanked the fan by posing for a selfie before continuing along the sidewalk with flowers in hand.

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Valentine's gift: A Kim Kardashian fan stopped the beauty, 36, in a New York street on Monday night to give her a posy of red roses which she gratefully received

Kim, who was enjoying a night with pals Lala Anthony and Pat McGrath during the city's fashion week, looked stunning in a stylish all-black ensemble.

The busty star's bra was visible through her semi sheer top which she teamed with a padded jacket - worn off the shoulder - and full-length satin boots.

Her sleek raven tresses cascaded straight over her shoulders from a middle parting and she sported winged eyeshadow and glossy pink lipstick.

Style queen: Kim, who was enjoying a night with pals Lala Anthony and Pat McGrath, looked stunning in a stylish all-black ensemble

Grateful: The reality star thanked the fan by posing for a selfie before continuing along the sidewalk with flowers in hand

Glamorous: The busty star's bra was visible through her semi sheer top which she teamed with a padded jacket - worn off the shoulder - and full-length satin boots

She touched down in New York on Monday after jetting in from Los Angeles to support her husband during NY Fashion Week.

The reality star was spotted arriving at the couple's apartment building wearing a full-length, multi-colored fur coat.

She kept her head down and covered her eyes with sunglasses despite the dark night.

In town: Kim arrived in the Big Apple on Monday night as she prepares to support husband Kanye at the debut of his Yeezy season 5 collection during NY Fashion Week

She sported her long black wig and was dressed in a white tank top and drawstring sweatpants under her fur.

Kim completed her show of support for Kanye by also donning a pair of Yeezy sneakers.

But shortly after arriving, Kim did a quick change and headed out on the town again.

Working: Kanye was seen leaving his apartment Monday amid concerns that the pressure of his fashion show might be too much for him after his mental health breakdown in November

Anxious: Kim left LA on Monday to fly to NYC to support her husband after giving him 'space' to focus on his work but is said to be worried about how Kanye is doing

Keeping tabs: Kim, wearing a tank top and drawstring pants under a fur coat and a pair of Yeezy sneakers, checked her cell phone for messages after her cross-country trip

Kim left the apartment glammed up in an all-back ensemble and in full war-paint mode.

She paired a buttoned-up lightweight top with shiny pants and her trademark baggy padded jacket draped down over her arms to hide her derriere.

She completed the look with a pair of black stiletto-heeled ankle boots.

But Kim was still solo as she stepped out without hubby Kanye.

Glammed up: Shortly after arriving in New York, Kim headed out on the town solo following a quick wardrobe change sporting an all-back ensemble and in full war-paint mode

The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star paired a buttoned-up lightweight top with shiny pants and her trademark baggy padded jacket draped down over her arms to hide her derriere

Ready to party: She completed the look with a pair of black stiletto-heeled ankle boots as she stepped out solo without hubby Kanye

Lookalikes: Kim was accompanied by a femail pal who also wore a puffy coat over an all-black ensemble

However, it's claimed the mother-of-two is more than a little anxious about whether or not her rapper husband, 39, is going to be able to handle the pressure of debuting his Yeezy season 5 collection on Wednesday following his highly-publicized 'psychotic breakdown' in November.

A source close to the family revealed to People that Kim and Kanye 'spent the weekend apart so Kanye could focus on the show.'

The source also said that Kim is trying to be as supportive as possible because this kind of stress 'has been very bad for him in the past.'

They continued, 'There is definitely some concern that the show will be too much stress for him. He gets so involved and its hard for him to not get obsessed.'

Luxury travel: The 36-year-old posted this pic of herself on board the private jet headed to New York

Flying in style! Kim, 36, shared her luxurious travel accomodations with fans via Snapchat as she boarded a private jet

Still fragile: The rapper, 39, is apparently still dealing with issues stemming from his 'psychotic breakdown' in November with pal Malik Yusuf revealing his memory 'is coming back'

Further complicating things is the Bound 2 artist's still fragile health.

On Sunday at the Grammys, Kanye's close friend Malik Yusef revealed new details about the 39-year-old rapper's condition, saying that his 'memory is coming back.'

Before this, the star's memory issues were not public knowledge.

Malik also told Popsugar that Kanye is 'healing' and 'going through processes.'

Kanye himself skipped the Grammy Awards to focus on preparing for his fashion show that's taking place during New York Fashion Week.

Family matters: While his extended Kardashian-Jenner family are expoected to be front row to support him Wednesday, his Yeezy show last year, pcitured, got a lukewarm reception

Kris Jenner has said that all the Kardashian-Jenner extended clan will be at the Yeezy season 5 event to support Kanye, just as they were last year.

However, there's reason for the reality stars to be concerned about how the Life Of Pablo artist will deal with the pressure.

Last year, a 'disastrous' Yeezy season 4 presentation ended with several models fainting in late summer heat and the collection itself garnered mediocre reviews from the fashion world.

Some have pointed out that the stress from the show, coupled with Kim's terrifying robbery in Paris in late September, were all contributing factors to Kanye's November 10th breakdown and subsequent hospitalization.

Supportive wife: Kim played the doting spouse at Kanye's Yeezy season 4 show last September which was poorly received by the fashion world and garnered mediocre reviews
She paid tribute to her friend Tara Palmer-Tomkinson five days ago after she passed away last Wednesday at the age of 45.

And her friend Tamara Beckwith, 46, has been pictured for the first time since learning of the news as she took her mind off things on the ski slopes in Gstaad.

Clutching her two-year-old son Vero close on Sunday, the socialite appeared rather down and deep in thought.

'Saddened' Tamara Beckwith was pictured for the first time since her friend Tara Palmer-Tomkinson died... as she cuddled up to son Vero on ski slopes in Gstaad on Sunday

Original IT girls: The ladies were especially close in the 90s - pictured at Tamara's birthday in 1995

Tamara shared a beautiful picture of Tara on Instagram, after learning of her death, saying she was 'saddened' by the news.

She wrote: 'Very saddened by the shocking news of my old friend Tara PT's passing.

'A bright light and one of life's true characters... My thoughts are naturally with her family.. #rip'

Taking her mind off things: The socialite appeared rather down and deep in thought

Former It Girl Tara, a close friend of Princes Charles, William and Harry, was found dead in bed by her cleaner at the Kensington property last Wednesday. She was 45.

Her close friend, Joe Simon, an art connoisseur, has since said that while Tara had been diagnosed with a benign brain tumour last year, it was an autoimmune disease which devastated her health and made her despair.

A private funeral service is expected to be held soon.

Tamara has paid tribute to her pal following her death, writing on social media: 'Very saddened by the shocking news of my old friend Tara PT's passing. A bright light and one of life's true characters... My thoughts are naturally with her family.. #rip'

Tamara is also mother to 27-year-old daughter, Anouska, from a previous relationship with her ex, William Gerhauser.

The socialite wed Italian husband Giorgio Veroni in Venice in August 2007, with whom they share daughter Violet, seven.

She revealed she did not expect to fall pregnant again with their youngest son.

Speaking to Hello! Magazine ahead of the birth of Vero, Tamara explained her shock at becoming a mum again in her mid-forties after having two miscarriages:

'When youve been lucky to have two gorgeous girls, I think you should just be grateful. I am quite matter-of-fact about those things; what will be, will be,' she said.
He's the 2GB radio shock jock known for taking strong views on politics.

But Steve Price showed his softer side on Tuesday's episode of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

The 62-year-old TV personality got emotional reading a letter from his teenage daughter Lucy on Valentines Day.

Missing home? Steve Price (L) and Kris Smith (R) got emotional on Tuesday's episode of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! after receiving Valentine's Day letters from home

'When you get to my age you realise that weekends with children are disappearing because they are leaving home,' he wept.

'It is my one regret about being here is that my kids are leaving home and not coming back for a while and I am not there.

'So sorry, Lucy, but thanks for the card. Kate and Wendy, thank you,' he concluded.

The Project panellist is married to public servant Wendy Black, and has two daughters, Lucy and Kate.

'Weekends with children are disappearing': The 62-year-old confessed his 'one regret' is being away from his children, who are spending less time at home as they grow up

Meanwhile, fans were quick to praise Steve on Twitter after he revealed a more vulnerable side to his personality.

'Seeing that other side of Steve Price tonight, makes me love him even more,' wrote @stefffekete. 'Ahhhh Pricey you've made me cry!' tweeted @chanttts.

Elsewhere, @kiki_fvee commented: 'It's amazing how your own children can bring out such vulnerability'.

And @CherieNBenni wrote: 'Must admit... have a soft spot for Steve Price. I didn't have a positive role model for a dad. His girls are very lucky.'

'Ahhhh Pricey you've made me cry!': Meanwhile, fans were quick to praise Steve on Twitter after he revealed a more vulnerable side to his personality

A long way from home: Fellow campers Dane Swan (L) and Ash Pollard (R) also appeared emotional just two weeks into the South African jungle

However, Steve was not the only celebrity breaking down in tears just two weeks after entering the South African jungle.

Male model Kris Smith cried while talking about his six-year-old son Ethan, who he shares with ex Dannii Minogue.

He has previously spoken about leaving the jungle, but said his child gives him the strength to keep going.

'Knowing that there is a special person out there who loves and cares for you and is rooting for you makes this do-able,' he confessed.

'I know that Ethan is watching me': Kris, who has previously considered leaving the jungle, said knowing his son Ethan, six, is watching him on TV gives him the strength to carry on

'I know that Ethan is watching me and making him proud, so. That has made me want to stay. That is really weird.

'I know he is in England with my mum and dad until the end of February and I know he will be watching it.'

The Myer ambassador, 38, concluded: 'It has sparked a fire in me. I want to stay on and do him even prouder.'
She made a splash in her thrilling performance in Tom Ford's critically acclaimed Nocturnal Animals.

And now, Ellie Bamber is making waves in the style stakes as she stepped onto the Elle Style Awards red carpet looking sensational in Chanel on Monday night.

The 19-year-old British actress was striking in her fifties inspired prom dress that accentuated her subtle alabaster skin against the grey tulle overlay as she arrived at 41 Conduit Street for the bash.

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Style stakes: Ellie Bamber is making waves in the style stakes as she stepped onto the Elle Style Awards red carpet looking sensational in Chanel on Monday night

The flame-haired teen's red carpet number boasted intricate black chevron embroidery throughout the bodice that accentuated her petite physique.

Her ballerina length gown oozed high fashion as it delicately wrapped around her shoulders, illustrating the juxtaposition of fabrics woven into the handmade garment.

The film star highlighted her narrow waist with a eye-catching silver belt which cinched in her tiny frame as she injected height into her look with a complementing silver strappy sandal.

Chic: The 19-year-old British actress was striking in her fifties inspired prom dress that accentuated her subtle alabaster skin against the grey tulle overla

Fashion fiend: The flame-haired teen's red carpet number boasted intricate black chevron embroidery throughout the bodice that accentuated her petite physique

Adding a touch of sparkle to her look, she wrapped a delicate silver necklace around her neck, pairing it with statement fern leaf inspired diamond earrings.

The Pride and Prejudice and Zombies actress worked her red tresses into a deep side parting as her curled mane feel loosely down her shoulders.

Putting her best foot forward for the style outing, she mixed up her make-up look by applying a number of crystals around her smokey eye make-up for a flirty twist.

Demure: The film star highlighted her narrow waist with a eye-catching silver belt which cinched in her tiny frame as she injected height into her look with a complementing silver strappy sandal

Flawless: The Pride and Prejudice and Zombies actress worked her red tresses into a deep side parting as her curled mane feel loosely down her shoulders

The stunner has made a name for herself in a spate of successful movies, most recently starred opposite Jake Gyllenhaal and Isla Fisher - who she bares striking resemblance to - in critically acclaimed Nocturnal Animals.

Ellie played the pair's teenager daughter in the thrilling psychodrama which follows an art gallery owner (Amy Adams) haunted by her ex-husband's novel (Gyllenhaal), a violent thriller which she in turn believes is a symbolic revenge tale.

She is currently filming The Nutcracker and the Four Realms alongside Keira Knightley, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren and Miranda Hart.

The film darling will undertake the role of Louise in the highly-awaited flick that see's a young girl transported into a magical world of gingerbread soldiers and an army of mice.

Sparkling: Adding a touch of sparkle to her look, she wrapped a delicate silver necklace around her neck, pairing it with statement fern leaf inspired diamond earrings
They're two of the nation's favourite television critics.

And Gogglebox Australia's cast members Keith and Lee certainly brought their much-loved personality during an appearance on Tuesday's The Project.

Speaking of her husband's Valentine's Day tradition, Lee revealed on the Channel Ten program: 'He walks out naked with the rose in his mouth, saying "surprise!"'

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Oversharing? Gogglebox Australia's Lee revealed husband Keith's Valentine's Day tradition, on Tuesday's The Project: 'He walks out NAKED with the rose in his mouth saying surprise'

After discussing with The Project's co-hosts the use of cushions and towels on the living room couch, talk soon turned to Valentine's Day.

Laying bare Keith's tradition, Lee shared on-camera: 'He gets naked and he walks out naked with the rose in between in his mouth, saying "surprise!"'

'But after 32 years (of marriage), there's no surprise,' Lee added playfully.

Keith, seen clutching onto a beer, laughed in response.

Tongue-in-cheek: 'But after 32 years (of marriage), there's no surprise,' Lee added playfully

This is not the first time the lively couple have poked fun of themselves.

Late last year, Keith and Lee turned back the clock, sharing hilarious photos from their younger years.

Fans of the reality series, were treated to the star's brilliant fashion fails.

Council worker Keith showed off a mullet and handle bar moustache as he posed alongside Lee on their wedding day.

Another shot showed Lee with a similar retro hairstyle as she held the couple's baby in her arms.

What a throwback! Lee and Keith look unrecognisable with matching mullets in their flashback photos
She soared to fame as Lois Lane in the 90s.

And Teri Hatcher hadn't seemed to have aged a day since then as she headed to film her new role - this time as a villain - in The CW's Supergirl.

Jetting into Vancouver airport on Monday, the 52-year-old looked remarkably fresh faced on the outing.

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Super looking woman! Jetting into Vancouver airport on Monday to film Supergirl, Teri Hatcher, 52, looked remarkably fresh faced on the outing

Laden down with three months worth of luggage, the Golden Globe winner still managed to look effortlessly chic for her flight.

She slipped her slim pins into a pair of skinny jeans and chunky black boots, teaming the items with a wool charcoal jumper.

Layering up, the mother-of-one donned a grey leather jacket and slung a small brown cross body bag over her shoulder.

Beaming broadly, the star looked far younger than her years as she displayed her flawless complexion and phenomenal physique.

Jet set style: Laden down with three months worth of luggage, the Golden Globe winner still managed to look effortlessly chic for her flight

Leggy lady! She slipped her slim pins into a pair of skinny jeans and chunky black boots, teaming the items with a wool charcoal jumper

Teri will be staying in Canada whilst she films her new role in Supergirl.

The casting whipped fans into frenzy as Teri spent four years playing Lois Lane in the TV series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Of Superman in the 90s.

Praising the actress for her iconic turn as Lois, Supergirl's executive producer Andrew Kreisberg said he was delighted to have her embrace a new character.

That's a wrap! Layering up, the mother-of-one donned a grey leather jacket and slung a small brown cross body bag over her shoulder

'No offence to any of the wonderful actresses who have also played the part,' Kreisberg said, 'but Teri Hatcher is my all time favorite Lois Lane.

'To have her come back to the SuperWorld in a completely different part is an unbelievable gift to me, Greg [Berlanti] (series co-creator), and the fans.'

Kreisberg did not elaborate on her storyline, but she is expected to appear in the second half of the network's second season.

Looking good: Beaming broadly, the star looked far younger than her years as she displayed her flawless complexion and phenomenal physique

Making moves: Teri jetted into Vancouver to work on filming her new role - this time as a villain - in The CW's Supergirl. She is expected to stay in the country for three months

Giving the people what they want: Teri put her luggage aside to sign autographs and snap selfies with fans at the airport

The show debuted in 2015 with 20 episodes that aired on CBS. In 2016 the show moved to The CW.

Melissa Benoist stars as the title character in Supergirl, which does not feature Lois Lane.

Teri is not the only star from Lois & Clark to have appeared in the new series, as her former co-star Dean Cain - who played Superman - had a recurring role in the first series.
Comedian Joel Creasey told a very risque tale on had a Tuesday night's episode of The Project, detailing a Thanksgiving orgy he had with a group of Trump supporters.

The story started with the funnyman being invited to a party held by some gay men in his building.

'I got home, there was an invite in my letterbox, an official invite to the dinner party. It was full of glitter, gay anthrax,' he joked to the panel.

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Naughty boy: Comedian Joel Creasey told a very risque tale on had a Tuesday night's episode of The Project, detailing a Thanksgiving orgy he had with a group of Trump support

Rude invite: The story started with the funnyman being invited to a party held by some gay men in his building

'It was Thanksgiving, I didn't know they were gay up until this point, but I had seen them on Grindr,' he continued the story.

'They are American, it was a Thanksgiving dinner, they started toasting to Trump. I was like 'Oh, my God, I am at Donald Trump celebratory dinner!'

The blonde comic however wasn't dissuaded by his new friend's political beliefs so much as to not be tempted into a tryst.

'I still slept with them! I did, because I had a few wines. Then halfway through I felt really bad about it!' he joked.

Oops: 'They are American, it was a Thanksgiving dinner, they started toasting to Trump. I was like 'Oh, my God, I am at Donald Trump celebratory dinner!'

The 26-year-old however pledged his support for Donald Trump's political rival Hillary Clinton before leaving the adults only party.

'When I was leaving, I just said hashtag I'm still with her. See ya!' he joked.

Meanwhile, Joel is making some famous mates, as the outspoken comedian has become close friends with MKR's Ash Pollard.

Both were pictured attending the Cirque Du Soleil premiere of Kooza in Melbourne in January and he has appeared on her Snapchat.

Oh well! 'I still slept with them! I did, because I had a few wines. Then halfway through I felt really bad about it!' he joked

Joel is a former The former I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here contestant, and Ash is currently in the jungle on the reality show.

The stand up comic, who is currently on a national tour, believes the contestants have too many luxury items this year.

During his stay on the reality show, Joel says the luxury items were more sparse and included things like blankets instead of guitars.
The show is making a return to BBC Two on March 5 this year.

However Top Gear's 2017 comeback has been met with huge backlash from fans - after the rebooted series, which featured a brand new line-up, received flat reviews last year.

Viewers took to Twitter on Tuesday to vent their frustration over the car series' return, with many claiming the show is 'over' and has no hope of success following the failed 2016 series, starring Matt LeBlanc and Chris Evans.

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Not happy: Top Gear's 2017 comeback has been met with huge backlash from fans on Twitter - after the rebooted series received flat reviews last year

The show was given a revamp in May last year, when host Jeremy Clarkson's contract was not renewed - causing his popular co-stars Richard Hammond and James May to quit.

Matt and Chris were then drafted in as the new front men, but the show suffered a huge drop in ratings - causing Evans, 50, to quit after one series.

However, the Friends actor is making a return to the 2017 edition of the show, alongside motoring journalists Chris Harris and Rory Reid - although many fans have been left questioning why it has been brought back at all.

Confused: Many fans have been left questioning why the show has been brought back at all, claiming it is 'dead' and that the 'BBC need to accept that its over'

One fan wrote angrily on Twitter: 'Top Gear is over!! #BBC needs to accept that!' while another questioned in agreement: 'How is this [show] still a thing?'

Meanwhile a third disappointed fan added bluntly: '@BBCTopGear is dead' before referring to the original hosting trio's new car show on Amazon Video: 'Grand Tour is killing it.'

Yet, many other fans expressed hope that the new version of the beloved car series will find its feet once again without Chris, who was met with negative reviews last series, as presenter.

Hopeful: However, other fans expressed hope that the new series will find its feet once again without Chris, who was met with negative reviews last series, as presenter

One commented that the first series 'wasn't bad' and that without Radio 2 presenter Chris he is 'expecting this round to be better.'

Others mirrored his sentiment, writing: 'The team looks loads better and I imagine the format may change for the better too. Much more excitement this time!' while another confirmed they will be 'tuning in'.

On Monday, bosses of the BBC Two show unveiled the first promo shot of the new series on Twitter.

The main image shows returning star Matt beaming as he's flanked by co-hosts Chris and Rory while standing among a collection of luxury cars.

In the driver's seat: Matt LeBlanc poses with his co-hosts (l-r) Chris Harris and Rory Reid, as well as The Stig (background, left), in the first promo shot for the new season of Top Gea

With a space shuttle taking off in the background and a helicopter hovering overhead in the cloudy skies, the dramatic shot notably excludes Chris Evans, who quit the show after one series.

Radio presenter Chris made his departure following plummeting ratings and poor reviews, saying he gave it his best shot but it was 'not enough'.

Following his resignation, Chris said Matt was the 'captain' that the programme needed going forward and should remain on the show, dismissing reports that the pair's relationship had broken down amid flagging audience figures.

The first trailer for the latest series was released earlier in February and featured an array of supercars and extraordinary vehicles, from the Aston Martin DB11 to the Ferrari FXX K, to the Russian eight-wheeled Avtoros Shaman.

In the 90-second teaser for the series, the former Friends star rescued a group of naked ramblers on the Isle of Man in his enormous Avtoros Shaman.

In one shot, a tuxedoed Matt was seen getting cornered by police in Montenegro while another showed him, Chris Harris and Rory Reid enduring an awkward BBC car insurance interview interwoven with clips from the new series.

Not returning: The new lineup replaces Chis Evans, who was a part of the show last year

Ratings woes: Embattled Chris quit the show after just one season amid plummeting ratings

They were quizzed by a strict risk assessor on prior motoring convictions, whether they would participate in competitive driving, and if they required fire cover.

Responding to the final question, Matt told the interviewer 'no fire' before The Stig made a timely entrance with a small flame burning his sleeve.

Meanwhile, Reid was seen crashing his taxi in Kazakhstan and Harris drifted the Ferrari FXX K in Daytona, Florida.

The 2million track-only hyper hybrid car will go from 0-62mph in under three seconds, topping out at 217mph - so it's safe to say there's some content for serious petrol heads.

The new season of Top Gear starts on Sunday March 5 at 8pm on BBC Two.

Rescue attempt: In the new season's recently unveiled trailer, Matt was seen rescuing a group of naked ramblers on the Isle of Man

Awkward: Matt, Chris and Rory also endured an awkward BBC car insurance interview

Tough going: The trio faced a tough interview in the trailer, which was unveiled this month

Italian stallion: The trailer also featured the futuristic 2million track-only hyper hybrid car from Ferrari, the FXX K

British engineering: The Aston Martin DB11 also made an appearance in the action-packed clip
Apart from being an actress, she's an environmentalist and spokesperson for many charitable causes.

So it came as no surprise for Isabel Lucas to be announced as natural skin care brand Sante by ENJO's ambassador.

The 32-year-old former Home And Away star stunned on a recent photoshoot, revealing her slender frame and captivating beauty.

Eco-chic! Former Home And Away star Isabel Lucas, 32, stunned on a photoshoot for natural skin care brand Sante by ENJO

One particular shot saw Isabel sporting a beige lingerie set that showed off her lean legs.

Laying across a plush white bed, the blonde beauty rested her hands on one side of her face, drawing attention to a stunning complexion.

A flawless base, defined brows, lashings of mascara and a coat of nude lipstick complemented her relaxed waves.

In profile: Another photo within the same set, saw the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen star offering a good look at her striking facial features

Flawless: While a later image saw Isabel staring front-on at the camera, allowing her fair locks to frame her face and shoulders effortlessly

Another photo within the same set, saw the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen star offering a good look at her striking facial features.

Running one hand playfully through her tresses, only her delicate decolletage and lithe arms were visible.

While a later image saw Isabel staring front-on at the camera, allowing her fair locks to frame her face and shoulders effortlessly.

Glamorous: Isabel donned a burgundy slip that revealed her petite upper frame, complemented with relaxed waves, a dewy complexion and a burgundy lip

Isabel cut a glamorous figure as she sat upright in front of a wooden dressing table.

A burgundy slip revealed her petite upper frame as she dabbed at her complexion with one of the brand's specially woven reusable fibres.

Allowing her signature blonde locks to fall in relaxed waves, Isabel enhanced her natural beauty with a dewy complexion, defined brows, lashings of mascara, a touch of bronzer on the apples of her cheeks and a burgundy lip.

Captivating: A stunning full-length shot saw the Melbourne-born star standing in the surf, pulling at the hem of her billowy dress to reveal her lean legs

A stunning full-length shot saw the Melbourne-born star standing in the surf, pulling at the hem of her billowy dress to reveal her lean legs.

Cleverly placed stitching under the bust drew attention to her slender waist, accentuated further with wrap-around detailing.

With Isabel's tresses flowing in the wind, the starlet looked intently at the camera ahead.

Picture-perfect: Appearing relaxed and carefree, Isabel perched herself on the frame of a window ledge, with one toned leg bent upwards

Content: The Melbourne-born star beamed for the camera in another stunning photo

Appearing relaxed and carefree, Isabel perched herself on the frame of a window ledge, with one toned leg bent upwards.

A beige sweater covered her upper frame, while a semi-sheer white skirt finished mid-thigh.

Holding onto a mug with both hands, Isabel looked back into the luxurious living area.

Showing off her impressive yoga moves, the beauty later took to the sand, having her picture taken while in an advanced Down Dog position.
Their romance has been famously shaky, with the pair looking close to another break-up just last month.

But Megan McKenna and Pete Wicks seemed to be back on track as they celebrated Valentine's Day together on Tuesday.

Cuddling up to share a smooch, the couple looked more loved-up than ever as they exchanged gifts.

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Beary nice: Their romance has been famously shaky. But Megan McKenna and Pete Wicks seemed to be back on track as they celebrated Valentine's Day together on Tuesday

Megan looked delighted as she was showered with treats which included a giant stuffed bear and a heart shaped balloon.

Dressed to impress for her Valentine's date, the TOWIE star donned a pair of leather look trousers which she teamed with heeled black boots.

Layering up the former Ex On The Beach star donned an embroidered leather jacket adorned with studs and a lion print.

Cute couple: Megan looked delighted as she was showered with kisses and treats which included a giant stuffed bear and a heart shaped balloon

After handing over the gifts Pete made his affections public as he took to Instagram and shared a sweet snap of the couple.

He wrote: 'It ain't perfect and we're up and down like a yo-yo but it's what I want.

'I don't care who judges me, you or us together the only thing that matters is that I love you and I can't imagine my life without you. Happy Valentines.'

Leggy lady! Dressed to impress for her Valentine's date, the TOWIE star donned a pair of leather look trousers which she teamed with heeled black boots

Megan and Pete are known for their continual break-ups and make ups, with the couple looking close to another split just last month at the National Television Awards.

After the ceremony, the brunette beauty was seen fleeing London's O2 Arena in floods of tears while reportedly pleading and calling: 'Pete' - calls her handsome boyfriend swiftly ignored.

Shortly after the spat, Megan sent a series of Twitter posts, in which she penned that she was being 'cyber bullied'.

However, the pair proved they had reconciled just weeks later, as they put on a very affectionate display whilst filming a TOWIE special in Marbella.

Sweet: After handing over the gifts Pete made his affections public as he took to Instagram and shared a sweet snap of the couple with a gushing tribute to his girlfriend

Last year, the pair threatened to call an end to their romance for good after it emerged that Pete had been sexting girls behind Megan's back.

And there are reports their romance could be called into jeopardy yet again as Pete's ex Harriette Harper is reportedly next in line to join TOWIE.

According to The Sun, the glamour model, who is currently starring on MTV's Ex On The Beach, has attracted show bosses due to the drama she could cause on the next series - after Megan's fiery reaction to Pete's infidelity in October.

Devastated: Last year, the pair threatened to call an end to their romance for good after it emerged that Pete had been sexting girls behind Megan's back

A source told the paper: 'Megan has unleashed utter fury on Pete before when he rekindled a relationship with an ex.'

'Bosses know Harriette will ruffle a few feathers, while obviously adding to the show's glamour.'

The insider added of the beauty, who dated Pete in 2015 prior to his arrival on the show: 'Once Ex On The Beach finishes, she'll be free to join TOWIE.'
She had a stellar 2016, modelling for the likes of Miu Miu and Marc Jacobs and topping off her 12 months with a strut down the Victoria's Secret catwalk.

And Taylor Hill, 20, has shown off her versatility, posing up a storm for an edgy new shoot with POP Magazine's Spring/Summer 17 issue.

The Illinois-born model pays tribute to her American roots in the stunning images photographed by Charlotte Wales, wowing in a cheerleader uniform and cowgirl ensemble.

Ready for her closeup: Taylor Hill, 20, poses up a storm for an edgy new shoot with POP Magazine's Spring/Summer 17 issue

The stunning beauty is seen in close-up on the cover, modelling a cowboy hat teamed with a statement pearl earring and glam makeup.

The inside shots show Taylor expertly riding a mechanical bull, throwing her arm in the air and flaunting her long legs in flared denims and a fringed jacket.

She's also seen in a short cheerleader uniform waving pom poms while a beautiful fringed dress and platform heels stand out in another gorgeous shot.

Yee-haw! The Illinois-born model pays tribute to her American roots in the stunning images photographed by Charlotte Wales, wowing in a cheerleader uniform and cowgirl ensemble

Taylor was interviewed by Misty Heath - the 14 year old daughter of POP star Sharleen Spiteri - and POP's Founder / Editor-in-Chief Ashley Heath for the issue.

The model revealed to Misty her favourite designers, confessing: 'Everything Gucci did last season was really special. The fringe dress I wore in the POP story is the one of the coolest outfits Ive ever gotten to wear in an editorial.'

'I will always love the house of Versace. It was Donatella who booked me on Versus when I first walked shows and that helped launch my catwalk career and I was so honoured to walk for Versace after.'

What a beauty: Taylor looks gorgeous in the stunning images, showing off her natural beauty with a glowing complexion and matte lip colour

Edgy: A beautiful fringed dress and platform heels stand out in another gorgeous shot

'I have tons of respect for Riccardo Tisci who just left Givenchy and can't wait to see where he goes next.'

She added that she embraced the denim looks on her POP shoot, explaining: 'I love all the denim. I really like high-waisted jeans right now. They're a little 90's throwback and that's for sure still coming back. My favourite is Joes jeans, I live in them.'

The beauty was discovered when she was 14 and, after modelling for the likes of Intimissimi, Forever 21 and H&M in her youth, she rocketed to fame with the help of social media.

She's got spirit: Taylor also shows off her figure in a cheerleader uniform while waving pom poms

The model fronted high-profile campaigns for the likes of Miu Miu, Anna Sui and Marc Jacobs.

She then finished up 2016 by strutting down the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in Paris for the second year running.

POP Issue 36, Spring / Summer 2017 hits stands in the UK and Worldwide this week.
Victoria's Secret Angels (past and present) Toni Garrn and Lily Donaldson donned leggy looks for Frame's bi-annual NYFW dinner on Monday.

Lily exposed her thighs in mesh knee-high hose, which she paired with an ultra-short black mini-skirt.

The British 30-year-old got to take home a custom black Frame leather vest adorned with her first name.

Blonde duo: Victoria's Secret Angels (past and present) Toni Garrn and Lily Donaldson donned leggy looks for Frame's bi-annual NYFW dinner on Monday

While at the bash, the 5ft10in IMG Model made sure to pose with the man of the hour, Frame co-founder and creative director Erik Torstensson.

Donaldson - keeping her make-up minimal - also happens to be the great niece of Fleetwood Mac's Mick Fleetwood.

Lily can currently be seen in a British Vogue spread styled by none other than Kate Moss and shot by photographer duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.

Meanwhile, Toni - posing with Angela Lynn Val - covered up her white mini-dress with a red velvet maxi-coat.

Back it up! Lily exposed her thighs in mesh knee-high hose, which she paired with an ultra-short black mini-skirt

Frame gang: The British 30-year-old got to take home a custom black Frame leather vest adorned with her first name

Twinning: While at the bash, the 5ft10in IMG Model made sure to pose with the man of the hour, Frame co-founder and creative director Erik Torstensson

Nepotistically privileged: Donaldson - keeping her make-up minimal - also happens to be the great niece of Fleetwood Mac's Mick Fleetwood

British Vogue By the beautiful boys @mertalas @macpiggot  Styled by the 1 and only Kate Moss  Thank youuuuu!!  A post shared by Lily (@lilydonaldson) on Feb 4, 2017 at 10:01am PST

The German 24-year-old also kept her flaxen locks and flawless complexion pretty natural for the fashionable festivities.

On Sunday, the 5ft11in Storm Model teamed up with New York Pilates to raise $20K for West African educational charity Plan International, which she's fronted since 2014.

Toni (born Antonia) has also been the face of Kerastase's natural haircare line Aura Botanica since February 1.

Big Apple night: Meanwhile, Toni - posing with Angela Lynn Val (R) - covered up her white mini-dress with a red velvet maxi-coat

Fresh faced: The German 24-year-old also kept her flaxen locks and flawless complexion pretty natural for the fashionable festivities

International ambassador: On Sunday, the 5ft11in Storm Model teamed up with New York Pilates to raise $20K for Plan International, which she's fronted since 2014

Leonardo DiCaprio's former flame: Toni (born Antonia) has also been the face of Kerastase's natural haircare line Aura Botanica since February 1

Also dining at Caviar Kaspia was Dutch power couple, DJ Sunnery James and his model wife Doutzen Kroes, sporting another custom leather vest.

DNA Model Laura Love and Rouje designer Jeanne Damas decided to wear their custom vests backwards to better display their names.

Monday also marked the debut of the Los Angeles denim brand's AW/17 collection presentation.

Date night! Also dining at Caviar Kaspia was Dutch power couple, DJ Sunnery James and his model wife Doutzen Kroes, sporting another custom leather vest

Hungry? DNA Model Laura Love (L) and Rouje designer Jeanne Damas (R) decided to wear their custom vests backwards to better display their names
Keira Maguire has entered the South African jungle after the Bachelor babe admitted she wants to steal Kris Smith's heart.

The blonde's hopes were dashed when the model admitted on Tuesday's show that he's not single and has rekindled his romance with a mystery ex-girlfriend.

However it's now been revealed that Keira and Kris were seen 'getting flirty' at industry party around October last year after he broke up with his long-term girlfriend Maddy King.

He's taken! Keira's hopes have been dashed as she didn't know that Kris was taken, with the model admitting on Tuesday's show that hes rekindled his romance with an ex-girlfriend

The Daily Telegraph reports that Keira insiders said there was 'an instant connection between the two' .

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Insiders also alleged, the pair 'were seen getting flirty' as they posed for photos and Keria, 'looked smitten and kept touching the model.'

The 30-year-old had earlier stated that she plans to fight off My Kitchen Rules star Ash Pollard for the affections of the hunky model.

Speaking to TV Week, Keira said she is desperate to win the hunk's heart.

Flirty? However it's now been revealed that Keira and Kris were seen 'getting flirty' at industry party around October last year after he broke up with his long-term girlfriend Maddy King

First pics: The first pictures of Keira Maguire in the South African jungle have been revealed after the Bachelor babe admitted she wants to steal Kris Smith's heart

'I'm coming in and I will stop it straight away,' she said, acknowledging her new rival's early attempts at wooing the model.

The publication then states that where Ash is afraid to make a move, Keira has no such hang-ups, and already has Kris's number in her phone.

And Keira appears to have already made up her mind about her frizzy-haired competition.

'Ash and I will clash,' she told TV Week. 'She's said a few things I don't necessarily agree with.'

Watch out: The 30-year-old has stated that she plans to fight off My Kitchen Rules star Ash Pollard for the affections of the hunky model

Got your number! In a recent interview, the 30-year-old stated 'If it happens, it happens,' revealing the pair had met before and have each other's numbers in their phones

Heart breaker: The blonde beauty acknowledged Ash Pollard's (pictured) early attempts at wooing Kris, but claimed the former My Kitchen Rules star would be too scared to make a move. She also revealed she's certain the reality stars will 'clash'

It was also revealed on Tuesday that Keira's Instagram account will be posting exclusive videos from the jungle during her stay.

The blonde arrived in South Africa with Bachelor host Osher Gunsberg who surprised the camp by jumping from a wooden box.

Meanwhile, the blonde told NW magazine that she went to extra efforts to ensure she maintains her good looks in the jungle.

Rumble in the jungle: The Bachelor's Keira Maguire has revealed she has her sights set on hunky model Kris Smith and has no qualms fighting off MKR's Ash Pollard as she joins I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! this week

Unfair advantage: Keira confessed to going to extra efforts to ensure she could impress the hunky model, saying she got 'eyelash extensions and had my eyebrows feathered,' before leaving Sydney

'Before leaving Sydney, I got eyelash extensions and had my eyebrows feathered,' she admitted.

Hilariously, her love interest had a different feathering experience on a recent episode, getting covered in tar and hundreds of feathers during a challenge.

An insider source told the publication that Keira and Kris' history goes back further than many may think.

Time machine: An insider source revealed that Keira and Kris have a history: 'We've seen her at events with him and she won't let him out of her sights,' they claimed

He can relate: Hilariously, her love interest had a different feathering experience on a recent episode, getting covered in tar and hundreds of feathers during a challenge

'We've seen her at events with him and she won't let him out of her sights,' they claimed.

'What Keira wants, Keira gets - and she wants Kris.'

When asked whether she was prepared to fight for the 38-year-old's affection, the firecracker confirmed she was better prepared than most.

'I've been on The Bachelor with 22 other girls,' she explained.

Game on: According to the insider, Ash will have to fight past Keira's unrelenting determination if she stands a chance. 'What Keira wants, Keira gets - and she wants Kris,' they said

Previous experience: When asked whether she was prepared to fight for the 38-year-old's affection, Keira confirmed she was better prepared than most. 'I've been on The Bachelor with 22 other girls,' she explained




Kim Kardashian nearly fell on her face on Tuesday.

The siren was wearing six-inch tall kinky boots on Valentine's Day when she had difficulty navigating a street as she tried to make her way to a sidewalk in New York City. Good thing there was a burly bodyguard there to stabilize her.

The 36-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians has been in the city to support husband Kanye West who will be presenting his big Yeezy Season 5 show on Wednesday.

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Slippery when frozen: Kim Kardashian nearly fell on her face on Tuesday in NYC

Snow boots would have been better: The siren was wearing six-inch tall kinky boots on Valentine's Day when she had difficulty navigating a street

Her hero! Good thing there was a burly bodyguard there to stabilize her

The bodyguard left his coat at home to show off his muscular arms in a black shirt.

He also had on much more sensible shoes than Kim. And he appeared to have some years on him as he had a salt-and-pepper beard.

Too bad the hired heavy was not with the Playboy cover girl when she was robbed of $11m worth of jewels during a trip to Paris in November.

Oldie but goodie: The bodyguard left his coat at home to show off his muscular arms in a black shirt. He also had on much more sensible shoes than Kim. And he appeared to have some years on him as he had a salt-and-pepper beard

Interestingly, the sister of supermodel Kendall Jenner looked completely calm as she walked into her building.

The star does not seem to sweat much, or even change her expression, when on the street no matter how close she is to a face plant.

The muse was also holding onto a large black purse that looked brand new. It could perhaps be a V-Day gift from Kanye.

Early on Valentine's Day: Kim wore her favorite striped fur coat as she stepped out

For her man: The black-haired bombshell has been in the city to support husband Kanye West who will be presenting his big Yeezy Season Five show on Wednesday

The mother-of-two was wearing black jeans and over-the-knee black leather boots that added another six inches to her petite 5ft3in frame.

Black sunglasses made her look like she wasn't ready to talk and her hair was worn stick straight and down.

The Selfish author was being dropped off in a black SUV.

Right-out-of-bed look: Black sunglasses made her look like she wasn't ready to talk and her hair was worn stick straight and down

Calabasas classy: The mother-of-two also had on black jeans and over-the-knee black leather boots

Off to the showroom? She was seen leaving hew NYC apartment and was most likely heading to Yeezy headquarters to be by Kanye's side

Solo: Not with the stunner was daughter North and son Saint

This sighting comes after Kim was seen being presented with a small bouquet of red roses as she left dinner.

The star gratefully received the blossoms and smiled at the man who gave them to her.

The reality star thanked the fan by posing for a selfie before continuing along the sidewalk with flowers in hand.

Valentine's gift: The night before the reality star was handed a posy of red roses which she gratefully received from a fan

Kim, who was enjoying a night with pals Lala Anthony and Pat McGrath during the city's fashion week, looked stunning in a stylish all-black ensemble.

The busty star's bra was visible through her semi sheer top which she teamed with a padded jacket - worn off the shoulder - and full-length satin boots.

Her sleek raven tresses cascaded straight over her shoulders from a middle parting and she sported winged eyeshadow and glossy pink lipstick.

Ready to party: She completed the look with a pair of black stiletto-heeled ankle boots as she stepped out solo without hubby Kanye

She touched down in New York on Monday after jetting in from Los Angeles to support her husband during NY Fashion Week.

The reality star was spotted arriving at the couple's apartment building wearing a full-length, multi-colored fur coat.

She kept her head down and covered her eyes with sunglasses despite the dark night.

In town: Kim arrived in the Big Apple on Monday night and was wearing the same fur coat. She also had on Yeezy sneakers

Luxury travel: The 36-year-old posted this pic of herself on board the private jet headed to New York

She sported her long black wig and was dressed in a white tank top and drawstring sweatpants under her fur.

Kim completed her show of support for Kanye by also donning a pair of Yeezy sneakers.

But shortly after arriving, Kim did a quick change and headed out on the town again.

Working: Kanye was seen leaving his apartment Monday amid concerns that the pressure of his fashion show might be too much for him after his mental health breakdown in November

Kim left the apartment glammed up in an all-back ensemble and in full war-paint mode.

She paired a buttoned-up lightweight top with shiny pants and her trademark baggy padded jacket draped down over her arms to hide her derriere.

The siren completed the look with a pair of black stiletto-heeled ankle boots.

But Kim was still solo as she stepped out without hubby Kanye.

However, it's claimed the mother-of-two is more than a little anxious about whether or not her rapper husband, 39, is going to be able to handle the pressure of debuting his Yeezy season 5 collection on Wednesday following his highly-publicized 'psychotic breakdown' in November.

Family matters: While his extended Kardashian-Jenner family are expected to be front row to support him Wednesday, his Yeezy show last year, pictured, got a lukewarm reception

A source close to the family revealed to People that Kim and Kanye 'spent the weekend apart so Kanye could focus on the show.'

The source also said that Kim is trying to be as supportive as possible because this kind of stress 'has been very bad for him in the past.'

They continued, 'There is definitely some concern that the show will be too much stress for him. He gets so involved and its hard for him to not get obsessed.'

Further complicating things is the Bound 2 artist's still fragile health.

On Sunday at the Grammys, Kanye's close friend Malik Yusef revealed new details about the 39-year-old rapper's condition, saying that his 'memory is coming back.'

Before this, the star's memory issues were not public knowledge.

Supportive wife: Kim played the doting spouse at Kanye's Yeezy season 4 show last September which was poorly received by the fashion world and garnered mediocre reviews

Malik also told Popsugar that Kanye is 'healing' and 'going through processes.'

Kanye himself skipped the Grammy Awards to focus on preparing for his fashion show that's taking place during New York Fashion Week.

Kris Jenner has said that all the Kardashian-Jenner extended clan will be at the Yeezy season 5 event to support Kanye, just as they were last year.

However, there's reason for the reality stars to be concerned about how the Life Of Pablo artist will deal with the pressure.

Last year, a 'disastrous' Yeezy season 4 presentation ended with several models fainting in late summer heat and the collection itself garnered mediocre reviews from the fashion world.

Some have pointed out that the stress from the show, coupled with Kim's terrifying robbery in Paris in late September, were all contributing factors to Kanye's November 10th breakdown and subsequent hospitalization.

Kerr-ching! The Keeping up With The Kardashians star shamelessly plugged her waist trainer workout shaper in an Instagram post Monday

Family affair! Kendall left the Mercer Hotel after having breakfast with Kim and Kanye
She showed love for the American lifestyle brand on Valentine's Day.

Diane Kruger was front and center in a muted orange print for the Tory Burch Fall/Winter 2017 collection display at New York Fashion Week in Manhattan on Tuesday.

Victoria's Secret Angels Taylor Hill and Sara Sampaio were among the statuesque beauties representing the fashion house on the runway.

Sleepy style: Diane Kruger was front and center in a muted orange print for the Tory Burch Fall/Winter 2017 collection display at New York Fashion Week in Manhattan on Tuesday

Kruger, 40, wore a sleepy-looking satiny ensemble, featuring a subdued orange and white geometric print.

Her loose-fitting top extended over cropped ankle pants with white piping about two inches above the hemline. The wrap-around frock was kept close with a wide, black band at her natural waist.

The Troy star was a natural beauty in minimal makeup consisting of black eyeliner and rosy lips with a simple black choker to match pointed-toe heels.

Getting cozy: Kruger, 40, wore a sleepy-looking satiny ensemble, featuring a subdued orange and white geometric print

Keeping it together: Her loose-fitting top extended over cropped ankle pants with white piping about two inches above the hemline and was kept close with a wide, black band

The attendees were seated cafeteria style on benches, with small, bound notebooks with 'love poems' embossed on the cover at each seat.

Diane was seated next to Sofia Sanchez Barrenechea, founder of Under Our Sky, a company that represents and distributes the wares of Argentinian designers.

She wore a simple, cream sweater and printed skirt with fringe, accented with heavy gold chain necklace and pendant and several gold rings on hand.

Natural beauty: The Troy star was a natural beauty in minimal makeup consisting of black eyeliner and rosy lips with a simple black choker to match pointed-toe heels

The designer and a muse: Ms Burch posed with Camilla Belle, who was pretty in green

Ready for a garden party: The actress had on a green and pink cardigan over a floral dress

Close quarters: Diane was seated next to Sofia Sanchez Barrenechea, founder of Under Our Sky, a company that represents and distributes the wares of Argentinian designers

The fashion house sent its designs featuring colorful prints and eclectic details down the runway on fashion models Taylor Hill, 20, and Sara Sampaio, 25, to name a few.

Hill, an American model, wore a silky dress for one look, in a particularly ornate print with a blousy sleeve and large bow at the end of a plunging v-neckline.

Sampaio, who hails from Portugal, donned a dark frock with contrasting white embellishments around the high neckline, down the front and center, both sleeves and the hem.

Denim dream: Jessica Hart looked groovy in her top with tassels and her wide-legged jeans

American lifestyle: Taylor Hill, an American model, wore a silky dress for one look, in a particularly ornate print with a blousy sleeve and large bow at the end of a plunging v-neckline

'We found inspiration in the fearlessness and irreverence of Katharine Hepburns character in The Philadelphia Story,' Tory Burch, 50, who is originally from Pennsylvania, explained of the collection.

'Her outdoor glamour combined with a confident femininity creates a modern take on the familiar style of my own roots in Philadelphia.'

The founder, designer and CEO live-streamed the show, which is still available for viewing, on her brand's site, ToryBurch.com.

Transcending style: Sara Sampaio, who hails from Portugal, donned a dark frock with contrasting white embellishments around the high neckline
She's about to embark on the European leg of her tour.

And LeAnn Rimes looked in great spirits as she touched down in London on Tuesday to kick off the anticipated gigs.

The 34-year-old star dressed down for her long flight from the US, but showed some skin in her plunging jumpsuit as she strolled through arrivals.

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She's arrived! LeAnn Rimes looked in great spirits as she touched down in London on Tuesday to kick off her anticipated European tour

LeAnn teamed her buttoned jumpsuit with a pair of battered sneakers, accessorising her head-to-toe black with dark shades.

She left her blonde hair loose and styled into natural waves, while she clutched a coffee to try and perk herself up after the flight.

Despite her travelling, LeAnn looked in great spirits, flashing a big grin as she chatted to her team on the way to her car.

Flight attire: The 34-year-old star dressed down for her long flight from the US, but showed some skin in her plunging jumpsuit as she strolled through arrivals

Dressed down: LeAnn teamed her buttoned jumpsuit with a pair of battered sneakers, accessorising her head-to-toe black with dark shades

An assistant got to grips with a luggage trolley, which was overflowing with suitcases ready for her stay in the UK, which will see her play six dates across the country over the next week.

LeAnn excitedly posted to Twitter before her flight, writing: 'I'm blessed! So happy to be heading to the U.K. to play my favorite music ever for my incredible fans!!'

The tour is in support of the star's sixteenth studio album Remnants, which was released in Britain and continental Europe on October 28.

Star coming through: She left her blonde hair loose and styled into natural waves, while she clutched a coffee to try and perk herself up after the flight

Beaming: Despite her travelling, LeAnn looked in great spirits, flashing a big grin as she chatted to her team on the way to her car

Here for awhile: An assistant got to grips with a luggage trolley, which was overflowing with suitcases

The Long Live Love Club tour has already played New York before leaping across the pond.

After barreling through Bristol, Birmingham, London, Manchester, Gateshead and Glasgow, she'll return to America for multiple gigs in New Braunfels, Texas.

From there, she'll bounce around the Northeast, landing on Cambridge, Massachusetts; Patchogue, New York; Washington, DC and Atlantic CIty, New Jersey.

On the road: LeAnn excitedly posted to Twitter before her flight, writing: 'I'm blessed! So happy to be heading to the U.K. to play my favorite music ever for my incredible fans!!'

New music: The tour is in support of the star's sixteenth studio album Remnants, which was released in Britain and continental Europe on October 28
She's carving out a successful career for herself in modelling.

And Lottie Moss certainly looked at home on the front row at the Oscar De La Renta show for New York Fashion Week on Monday.

Turning heads with her glamorous ensemble, Kate Moss' half-sister, 19, looked every inch the fashionista at the event.

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Model moment: She's carving out a career in modelling. And Lottie Moss certainly looked at home on the front row at the Oscar De La Renta show for New York Fashion Week on Monday

Lottie ensured her enviably long legs would be on full display as she donned a thigh grazing black mini dress.

The 1920s style dress bore a chevron print and scallop hem that flattered her lithe frame, whilst a slashed neckline drew attention to her decotellage.

She layered up with a black pleated fur gilet whilst she accessorised with lace up heels and a small leather clutch bag.

Furry nice! Turning heads with her glamorous ensemble, Kate Moss' half-sister, 19, looked every inch the fashionista at the event

Leggy lady! Lottie ensured her enviably long legs would be on full display as she donned a thigh grazing black mini dress

Lottie has come onto the scene recently as an up and coming model, after being scouted at her supermodel sister Kate Moss' wedding to Jamie Hince back in 2011.

The Sussex native since found huge success in the fashion industry - landing campaigns with the likes of Calvin Klein and Bulgari, as well as fronting the cover of Vogue Paris last year.

Lottie is certainly making the most of her newly glamorous lifestyle in the spotlight, too, as she is often seen hitting the nightclubs of London and attending high-profile events all around the world.

Vintage vibes: The 1920s style dress bore a chevron print and scallop hem that flattered her lithe frame, whilst a slashed neckline drew attention to her decotellage

FROW fashion: Lottie layered up with a black pleated fur gilet whilst she accessorised with lace up heels and a small leather clutch bag

Blonde beauty: Lottie wore her golden locks in a chic chignon bun at the fashion show

The model was recently seen taking things easy with a trip to Barbados with her Made In Chelsea beau Alex Mytton

The model has been linked to several very different suitors prior to her relationship with Alex - having enjoyed lunch in June with pop star Conor Maynard, and flirting with Geordie Shore star Ricci Guarnaccio on Twitter.

Lottie and Alex met through her ex-boyfriend Sam - who mingles in the same set as the brunette hunk and his reality star pals.
When a woman is pregnant and doesn't know who the father is, what is the best solution? To go on the Maury show, of course.

In one of Jimmy Kimmel's hilarious skits in Monday night's segment, the late-night host, 49, and his wife Molly McNeary, 38- who's expecting the couple's second child- did their own parody of the talk series where it was claimed that the real father of the baby could be none other than Matt Damon, 46.

The three discussed the awkward situation in a skit called The Unborn Identity.

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Proud moment? In a new skit on Jimmy Fallon's late-night talk show on Monday night, the host is with his wife Molly McNeary at the doctor's office when an unexpected visitor arrives with some shocking news

Two dads? Matt Damon bursts into the doctor's office and claims that he is actually the father of Molly's baby as the comedy ensues

The clip first starts off with Jimmy and Molly at a doctor's appointment where they're looking at an ultrasound for the baby. The father is recording the happy moment when Matt walks in out of nowhere with a video camera and a teddy bear.

Clearly, Jimmy is confused by what's going on when the actor claims that he is actually the father.

And when Molly is asked to explain, she just says it's between the two guys who comically bicker with each other.

It's on: The skit continues with a parody of Maury as the late-night host and actor go head-to-head on who the real father is

'I'm the father:' The Oscar winner stands by his comment in the hysterical skit

Not backing down: The Great Wall star tells Jimmy that the truth will set him free

The only way this can resolved is with a paternity test and a visit to the Maury show.

'I'm the father, Jimmy,' Matt says in the clip.

'The truth will set you free.'

Playing Maury: Martin Short guest-starred in the clip to play the iconic daytime talk show host

Martin Short, 66, plays the host of the talk show using his witty humor to find out what's about to go down.

The audience goes in an uproar every time something crazy happens especially when Jimmy and Matt make fun of each other.

Molly's husband happens to have a plan if it turns out that the Saving Private Ryan star is the father of the child.

Everyone's getting sued: Jimmy says that if it turns out he isn't the father, then everyone (including the baby) will find themselves in a lawsuit

Not awkward at all: The three stars await the results on who the baby's dad is

'If Matt is the father of Molly's baby, I will sue him. I will sue Molly. I will sue Maury. I will sue the baby,' Jimmy says.

'I will sue!'

When it goes back to the segment, it leads to more hysterics. But who turned out to be the baby's father?

Is it mine? The 46-year-old thinks he could be the father since the baby has his nose

Here we go: Martin pulls out the DNA results with some hilarious results

Not Matt: The comedian gets excited when it's discovered that Matt isn't the baby's father

Not Jimmy either: The news gets more shocking when it's revealed that Jimmy also isn't the father of the baby

No way! The 49-year-old is in complete dismay when there's more to the story than he thinks

It turned out that neither Jimmy nor Matt were the father.

And surprisingly enough, it turned out to be someone that no one expected.

Then out of nowhere, Tracy Morgan showed up and said, 'Guess who's coming to dinner?!'

Big announcement: The pretend host brings out the 'real' father of the child

Sorry, guys: The joke continues with Molly keeping the secret that there was someone else all along- Tracy Morgan

Surprise, indeed: Tracy showed up out of nowhere for the skit to say that he is actually the one who got Molly pregnant

Jimmy and Matt look shocked by the news, but Molly thinks it's pretty obvious.

'How could either of you satisfy me when all you really want is each other?' she says.

To make things even crazier, Tracy had his own announcement to share at the end- he's pregnant too!

Sense of humor and class: The Bourne Identity star attended the Oscars Nominee Luncheon in Beverly Hills, California last week

While Jimmy jokingly encouraged his audience to not go see Matt's next film The Great Wall, the film hits theaters this Friday.

The movie is about a group of mercenaries from Europe who go on an epic battle against dangerous creatures.

The film also stars Tian Jing and Willem Dafoe.
Last month she tried out a fringe.

But on Tuesday Megan McKenna, 24, appeared to take her change of hairstyle a step too far as she stepped out in Essex with a very curly black wig.

The TOWIE star's hairdo matched that of her pet poodle, and was for a quirky shoot featuring the cast dressed the same as their dogs.

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The Only Way is Curly? On Tuesday Megan McKenna, 24, appeared to take her change of hairstyle a step too far as she stepped out in Essex with a very curly black wig

Flaunting her long lean legs Megan opted for figure-hugging skinny jeans.

And accentuating her pins, she teamed them with a pair of thigh-high killer heel boots.

Making the most of her lean physique, she continued the black theme with a fitted ribbed sweater and a rock chic studded leather jacket.

Pooch passion! The TOWIE star's hairdo matched that of her pet poodle, and was for a quirky shoot featuring the cast dressed the same as their dogs

Statuesque: Accentuating her pins, she teamed them with a pair of thigh-high killer heel boots

Accessorising with a large designer bag, Megan went for bold brows, a healthy Essex amount of trademark tan and lashings of mascara to help pull off her short curly wig.

Taking her eager curly-haired black poodle for a walk, the duo looked delighted to be matching each other.

And Megan appeared unbothered by her interesting look, beaming at photographers as she headed to the shoot.

Toned: Making the most of her lean physique, she continued the black theme with a fitted ribbed sweater and a rock chic studded leather jacket

Unique look: Accessorising with a large designer bag, Megan went for bold brows, a healthy Essex amount of trademark tan and lashings of mascara to help pull off her short curly wig

Earlier in the day she was pictured puckering up to her on-off boyfriend- despite appearing close to another break-up just last month.

Megan and Pete seemed to be back on track as they celebrated Valentine's Day together on Tuesday.

Cuddling up to share a smooch, the couple looked more loved-up than ever as they exchanged gifts.

Megan looked delighted as she was showered with treats which included a giant stuffed bear and a heart shaped balloon.

Dressed to impress for her Valentine's date, the TOWIE star donned a pair of leather look trousers which she teamed with heeled black boots.

Layering up the former Ex On The Beach star donned an embroidered leather jacket adorned with studs and a lion print.

Cute couple: Earlier int he day Megan looked delighted as she was showered with kisses and treats which included a giant stuffed bear and a heart shaped balloon for Valentine's

After handing over the gifts Pete made his affections public as he took to Instagram and shared a sweet snap of the couple.

He wrote: 'It ain't perfect and we're up and down like a yo-yo but it's what I want.

'I don't care who judges me, you or us together the only thing that matters is that I love you and I can't imagine my life without you. Happy Valentines.'

Megan and Pete are known for their continual break-ups and make ups, with the couple looking close to another split just last month at the National Television Awards.

After the ceremony, the brunette beauty was seen fleeing London's O2 Arena in floods of tears while reportedly pleading and calling: 'Pete' - calls her handsome boyfriend swiftly ignored.

Shortly after the spat, Megan sent a series of Twitter posts, in which she penned that she was being 'cyber bullied'.

However, the pair proved they had reconciled just weeks later, as they put on a very affectionate display whilst filming a TOWIE special in Marbella.

Sweet: After handing over the gifts Pete made his affections public as he took to Instagram and shared a sweet snap of the couple with a gushing tribute to his girlfriend

Last year, the pair threatened to call an end to their romance for good after it emerged that Pete had been sexting girls behind Megan's back.

And there are reports their romance could be called into jeopardy yet again as Pete's ex Harriette Harper is reportedly next in line to join TOWIE.

According to The Sun, the glamour model, who is currently starring on MTV's Ex On The Beach, has attracted show bosses due to the drama she could cause on the next series - after Megan's fiery reaction to Pete's infidelity in October.

Devastated: Last year, the pair threatened to call an end to their romance for good after it emerged that Pete had been sexting girls behind Megan's back

A source told the paper: 'Megan has unleashed utter fury on Pete before when he rekindled a relationship with an ex.'

'Bosses know Harriette will ruffle a few feathers, while obviously adding to the show's glamour.'

The insider added of the beauty, who dated Pete in 2015 prior to his arrival on the show: 'Once Ex On The Beach finishes, she'll be free to join TOWIE.'
Karlie Kloss must have been getting hot during a stroll in St Barts on Monday..

The 24-year-old was spotted pulling down her blazer as she crossed a street.

Underneath the fitted jacket the Vogue model had on an Express silk camisole with spaghetti straps.

Skin exposure: Karlie Kloss was in St. Barts on Monday where she went for a walk and flashed her shoulders in a black Express top with a jacket and tight jeans

Karlie put on a black low-cut top that was tucked into her blue jeans that showed off her slender legs.

She added on a black jacket with white spots on the sleeves as she went for her walk.

The Illinois native kept it chic with a pair of heeled shoes that bared her feet.

Feeling fine: The model let her natural face show and tied her blonde hair back

With hardly any makeup on, the Victoria's Secret model had a perfectly natural look.

She tied her hair back behind her head and seemed to be in a good mood as she spent some time away from her home in New York City.

Karlie tends to go from her home state to Europe at times and she told Elle last month that she feels different traits about herself in each area.

Skin for days: The 24-year-old donned a low-cut top that flaunted her chest

'New York City is eccentric and electric, so I feel like in New York I am a bit more daring,' she said.

'When I am walking the streets here, anything goes [whether] you want to dress up or go more casual, or wear heels or sneakers. When I am in Europe I am more formal, and in New York I like to be more adventurous.'

It might appear that Karlie's skin is constantly flawless, but even she has her rough moments.

Camera ready: The blonde bombshell showed off some designs ahead of the David Jones Autumn/Winter 2016 Fashion Launch earlier this month in Sydney, Australia

'This really annoying pimple popped up this weekend,' she said.

Sometimes for Karlie this problem gets worse before it gets better.

'It doesn't matter how much your mom tells you not to touch, it stares at you! So I picked at it and three more showed up.'
My Kitchen Rules fans have taken to social media to slam the contestants of the show after their tough scoring of Court and Duncan's instant restaurant.

Brothers Albert and Dave came under fire after they gave the 'married hipsters' a measly score of three on Tuesday's show.

One fan vented on MKR's Facebook page, saying: 'It's rigged!'

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Strategic scoring? My Kitchen Rules fans have taken to social media to slam the contestants, after the tough scoring of Court and Duncan's instant restaurant

Another wrote: 'Albert and Dave - three? Really? I hope they get booted - showed their true colours with that scoring...'

Another commented: 'Shotgun scoring tonight - think these guys deserved better but glad they are ahead of Albert and Dave...a three? Really?'

They added about Josh and Amy's turn to cook on Wednesday: 'Cannot wait to watch tomorrows Ep which I hope will be an absolute train wreck of a night!'

Interesting: Brothers Albert (L) and Dave (R) came under fire, after they scored the 'married hipsters' a measly score of three

Not holding back! One fan vented on MKR's Facebook page, saying: 'It's rigged!'

Slamming the boys! Another wrote: 'Albert and Dave - three? Really? I hope they get booted - showed their true colours with that scoring...'

Another labelled Albert and Dave's score as 'strategic voting.'

One fan said that perhaps if the contestants knew the new elimination twist - where the bottom two go head-to-head in a sudden death cook off - than perhaps there would be more fair scoring.

On the evening, Melbourne-based Court and Duncan scored a total of 62/110, placing second on the leader board, above Albert and Dave.

Speaking up! One fan said that perhaps if the contestants knew the new elimination twist - where the bottom two go head-to-head in a sudden death cook off - than perhaps there would be more fair scoring...Another said it was all 'strategic'

They tried their best! On the evening, Melbourne-based Court and Duncan scored a total of 62/110, placing second on the leader board, above Albert and Dave

'It's a horrible score,' Court said after hearing the grand total, crying.

'It's not a sweet relief,' Duncan added.

They scored a low 26/50 from their competitors, and 32 from the judges, with Albert and Dave dishing out the lowest score out of the contestants.

Pete said before delivering their scores: 'I'm frustrated, and the frustration comes from not having three consistent dishes tonight from you.'

Unhappy? Pete said before delivering their scores: 'I'm frustrated, and the frustration comes from not having three consistent dishes tonight from you'

The pair cooked an entree of beetroot gravlax of ocean trout, radish and pea shoot salad.

For main, they served smoked lamb ribs with crushed kipflers and parsnip puree, with bacon.

For dessert, the Melbourne-based pair made their version of a S'more, featuring the likes of a homemade marshmallow and a cookie.

They were slammed for the lack of trout in their entree, praised for their succulent lamb and slammed for too much marshmallow in their dessert, and a sweet overload.

A little too fancy? The pair cooked an entree of beetroot gravlax of ocean trout, radish and pea shoot salad

Albert and Dave meanwhile, failed to impress with their instant restaurant, scoring 60/110.

They were the first team to cook during the second round of MKR.

They cooked an entree of eight treasures fortune bag with scallops, hainan chicken for main, and a dessert of Hong Kong egg tart with warm banana.

They were praised for their dessert, but failed to impress with their other two dishes.

The pair said they were nervous about their low scores, which could be a reason why they scored Court and Duncan so low.
He started dating Dannii Minogue in 2008 and their relationship lasted four years.

And during Tuesday night's episode of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here, Kris Smith shockingly revealed he's patching things up with a former girlfriend.

Fans immediately took to social media to guess if the woman in question was in fact Dannii, despite her being in a three-year relationship with Adrian Newman.

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Reunited? During Tuesday night's episode of I'm A Celebrity, Kris Smith shockingly revealed he's patching things up with a former girlfriend. Pictured with Dannii Minogue in 2011

Kris initially admitted he had a secret partner to co-star Tegan Martin when he told her 'I'm not single', but was adamant he didn't want to be interrogated about it.

'I've got a lot of feelings for her. I am reconnecting with my ex and everything else. It is fresh. We are talking again about fixing things up,' he offered.

He later broke the news to fellow contestant Ash Pollard, who has admitted she has a crush on the former rugby league player.

Working things out? Fans immediately took to social media to guess if the woman in question was in fact Dannii, despite her being in a three-year relationship with Adrian Newman

When he told her the woman he's dating is an ex-girlfriend he's 'reconnecting with', she appeared disappointed and said, 'You have done a good job to keep it quiet.'

Fans of the show bombarded Twitter with theories on which ex-girlfriend Kris might be rekindling his romance with, and Dannii's name was frequently mentioned.

He wept during the episode when the group were given Valentine's Day messages from their loved ones, and he was read out a note from Ethan, his son with Dannii.

Breaking hearts: Kris initially admitted he had a secret partner to co-star Tegan Martin when he told her 'I'm not single', but was adamant he didn't want to be interrogated about it

'I've got a lot of feelings for her. I am reconnecting with my ex and everything else. It is fresh. We are talking again about fixing things up,' he offered

Disappointment: He later broke the news to fellow contestant Ash Pollard, who has admitted she has a crush on the former rugby league player

'Knowing that there is a special person out there who loves and cares for you and is rooting for you makes this do-able,' he confessed.

'I know that Ethan is watching me and making him proud, so. That has made me want to stay,' he added, referring to his recent declaration he wanted to leave the jungle.

Before he headed to South Africa to film the show, Kris revealed to The Daily Telegraph he has a 'really good relationship' with Dannii.

Fondness: Before he headed to South Africa to film the show, Kris revealed he has a 'really good relationship' with Dannii

'Knowing that there is a special person out there who loves and cares for you and is rooting for you makes this do-able,' he confessed about his son with Dannii, Ethan, watching the show

Gushing: He has called Dannii 'incredible' and 'supportive', stating he only has good things to say about her

'I spoke to her earlier today for quite some time and she said it is going to be great for me to be in here,' he said.

He showered praise on the mother of his only son, who is now six.

'The job she's done with Ethan as I've not been there all the time, I've been in Sydney and she's been in Melbourne, he's turned out an incredible young boy,' he said.

'The job she's done with Ethan as I've not been there all the time, I've been in Sydney and she's been in Melbourne, he's turned out an incredible young boy,' he said of Dannii

He then called her 'incredible' and 'supportive', stating he only has good things to say about her.

Dannii, 45, has been in a relationship with music producer Adrian Newman for three years and has called him 'the most private person in the world'.

Kris might also be referring to former girlfriend Maddy King in terms of his admitted reunion, a fellow model he dated for two years and split with last year.
Kim Kardashian has generous curves.

But on Tuesday the siren seemed to not want the help of a brassiere as she stepped out in New York City with her pal Simon Huck and a trusty bodyguard.

The 36-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star also flashed her toned legs and wore a nifty pair of white mod boots.

No bra here: Kim Kardashian didn't need a boost when she wore a blazer dress in NYC on Tuesday afternoon

Her buddies: The small screen personality was followed by Simon Huck and her bodyguard

Her look appeared to be inspired by the 1960s with her calf-length mod boots in white with pointy toes and heavy heels.

The star's dress was most unusual as it looked like an oversized striped blazer with only one button that was shirt enough to flaunt the beauty's tanned gams.

But the main attraction was her chest, which was on display for everyone to see.

Time traveler: Her look appeared to be inspired by the 1960s with her calf-length mod boots in white with pointy toes and heavy heels

The siren was glammed to the hilt with her long black Cher locks in perfect order.

And her makeup flawless with heavy black eyeliner and light purple lips that had a lip ring on the bottom section.

The star also carried a bit of home with her: around her neck was a gold necklace that read Calabasas, the California town where she grew up.

A bit summery: The star's dress was most unusual as it looked like an oversized striped blazer with only one button that was shirt enough to flaunt the beauty's tanned gams

Look at moi: But the main attraction was her chest, which was on display for everyone to see

Smart back: There seemed to be a long collar on the back of the dress and there were buttons on the sleeves

Glossy gal: Kim showed off her sleek raven locks in a perfect center parting

She's so nice! The reality star took a moment to pose for a selfie with a fan

This sighting comes after the beauty nearly fell on her face .

The siren was wearing six-inch tall kinky boots on Valentine's Day when she had difficulty navigating a street as she tried to make her way to a sidewalk in New York City. Good thing there was a burly bodyguard there to stabilize her.

The TV queen has been in the city to support husband Kanye West who will be presenting his big Yeezy Season 5 show on Wednesday.

Slippery when frozen: Mrs West nearly fell on her face on Tuesday in NYC

Snow boots would have been better: The siren was wearing six-inch tall kinky boots on Valentine's Day when she had difficulty navigating a street

Her hero! Good thing there was a burly bodyguard there to stabilize her

The bodyguard left his coat at home to show off his muscular arms in a black shirt.

He also had on much more sensible shoes than Kim. And he appeared to have some years on him as he had a salt-and-pepper beard.

Too bad the hired heavy was not with the Playboy cover girl when she was robbed of $11m worth of jewels during a trip to Paris in November.

Oldie but goodie: The bodyguard left his coat at home to show off his muscular arms in a black shirt. He also had on much more sensible shoes than Kim. And he appeared to have some years on him as he had a salt-and-pepper beard

Interestingly, the sister of supermodel Kendall Jenner looked completely calm as she walked into her building.

The star does not seem to sweat much, or even change her expression, when on the street no matter how close she is to a face plant.

The muse was also holding onto a large black purse that looked brand new. It could perhaps be a V-Day gift from Kanye.

Early on Valentine's Day: Kim wore her favorite striped fur coat as she stepped out

For her man: The black-haired bombshell has been in the city to support husband Kanye West who will be presenting his big Yeezy Season Five show on Wednesday

The mother-of-two was wearing black jeans and over-the-knee black leather boots that added another six inches to her petite 5ft3in frame.

Black sunglasses made her look like she wasn't ready to talk and her hair was worn stick straight and down.

The Selfish author was being dropped off in a black SUV.

This sighting comes after Kim was seen being presented with a small bouquet of red roses as she left dinner.

The star gratefully received the blossoms and smiled at the man who gave them to her.

The reality star thanked the fan by posing for a selfie before continuing along the sidewalk with flowers in hand.

Valentine's gift: The night before the reality star was handed a posy of red roses which she gratefully received from a fan

Kim, who was enjoying a night with pals Lala Anthony and Pat McGrath during the city's fashion week, looked stunning in a stylish all-black ensemble.

The busty star's bra was visible through her semi sheer top which she teamed with a padded jacket - worn off the shoulder - and full-length satin boots.

Her sleek raven tresses cascaded straight over her shoulders from a middle parting and she sported winged eyeshadow and glossy pink lipstick.

Ready to party: She completed the look with a pair of black stiletto-heeled ankle boots as she stepped out solo without hubby Kanye

She touched down in New York on Monday after jetting in from Los Angeles to support her husband during NY Fashion Week.

The reality star was spotted arriving at the couple's apartment building wearing a full-length, multi-colored fur coat.

She kept her head down and covered her eyes with sunglasses despite the dark night.

In town: Kim arrived in the Big Apple on Monday night and was wearing the same fur coat. She also had on Yeezy sneakers

Luxury travel: The 36-year-old posted this pic of herself on board the private jet headed to New York

She sported her long black wig and was dressed in a white tank top and drawstring sweatpants under her fur.

Kim completed her show of support for Kanye by also donning a pair of Yeezy sneakers.

But shortly after arriving, Kim did a quick change and headed out on the town again.

Working: Kanye was seen leaving his apartment Monday amid concerns that the pressure of his fashion show might be too much for him after his mental health breakdown in November

Kim left the apartment glammed up in an all-back ensemble and in full war-paint mode.

She paired a buttoned-up lightweight top with shiny pants and her trademark baggy padded jacket draped down over her arms to hide her derriere.

The siren completed the look with a pair of black stiletto-heeled ankle boots.

But Kim was still solo as she stepped out without hubby Kanye.

Supportive! The reality star took some time on Tuesday to support sister Kylie at her pop up shop in the city.

The reality star took some time on Tuesday to support sister Kylie at her pop up shop in the city.

Kim who really showed her appreciation for the new venture.

The reality star admitted in a tweet that she had stolen a bunch of Kylie's lip kits and were giving them to fans in the pop up shop.

Devious! Kim posted a Snapchat video stealing Kylie lip kits to give out to fans

Happy fans: Kylie's older sister than went to the front of the store and made the day of some very grateful fans by giving out samples of the kits

Smiling with joy! The many people in the store were thrilled to meet the reality star and get a free gift

Kim documented her sneaky antics on Snapchat showing herself stealing the lip kits from the back of the store to give out to fans.

Kylie's older sister than went to the front of the store and made the day of some very grateful fans by giving out samples of the kits.

She admitted to her devious ways on Twitter:

'So I went to Kylie's pop up shop today, stole lip kits &gave them out to everyone in the store for Valentine's!She hasn't mentioned it yet,' she tweeted.

Family matters: While his extended Kardashian-Jenner family are expected to be front row to support him Wednesday, his Yeezy show last year, pictured, got a lukewarm reception

Despite her fun at Kyli'e's new store, it's claimed the mother-of-two is more than a little anxious about whether or not her rapper husband, 39, is going to be able to handle the pressure of debuting his Yeezy season 5 collection on Wednesday following his highly-publicized 'psychotic breakdown' in November.

A source close to the family revealed to People that Kim and Kanye 'spent the weekend apart so Kanye could focus on the show.'

The source also said that Kim is trying to be as supportive as possible because this kind of stress 'has been very bad for him in the past.'

They continued, 'There is definitely some concern that the show will be too much stress for him. He gets so involved and its hard for him to not get obsessed.'

Further complicating things is the Bound 2 artist's still fragile health.

On Sunday at the Grammys, Kanye's close friend Malik Yusef revealed new details about the 39-year-old rapper's condition, saying that his 'memory is coming back.'

Before this, the star's memory issues were not public knowledge.

Supportive wife: Kim played the doting spouse at Kanye's Yeezy season 4 show last September which was poorly received by the fashion world and garnered mediocre reviews

Malik also told Popsugar that Kanye is 'healing' and 'going through processes.'

Kanye himself skipped the Grammy Awards to focus on preparing for his fashion show that's taking place during New York Fashion Week.

Kris Jenner has said that all the Kardashian-Jenner extended clan will be at the Yeezy season 5 event to support Kanye, just as they were last year.

However, there's reason for the reality stars to be concerned about how the Life Of Pablo artist will deal with the pressure.

Last year, a 'disastrous' Yeezy season 4 presentation ended with several models fainting in late summer heat and the collection itself garnered mediocre reviews from the fashion world.

Some have pointed out that the stress from the show, coupled with Kim's terrifying robbery in Paris in late September, were all contributing factors to Kanye's November 10th breakdown and subsequent hospitalization.

Kerr-ching! The Keeping up With The Kardashians star shamelessly plugged her waist trainer workout shaper in an Instagram post Monday

Family affair! Kendall left the Mercer Hotel after having breakfast with Kim and Kanye
They're on My Kitchen Rules trying to prove they can cook in an effort to win a whopping $250,000.

But on Wednesday, fans couldn't help but notice just how much contestant Tully looks like Offspring star, Asher Keddie, 42.

Flocking to the show's official Facebook page, one fan asked if they are related.

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'Are they related?' My Kitchen Rules fans couldn't help but notice just how much contestant Tully (L) looks like Offspring star, Asher Keddie, 42, (R)

'Is Tully related to Asher Keddie?,' one fan wrote.

Another remarked: 'Is it Asher Keddie with an alias?'

Another said that Tully - who stunned with her hair pulled back off her face and earrings - was 'rockin' the Asher Keddie look tonight!'

In it to win it! On the show Tully is paired with her friend Della

So similar! Another fan remarked: 'Is it Asher Keddie with an alias?'

On the show Tully - who is paired with her friend Della - had a clash on Tuesday's show, with seafood king Josh.

Josh also clashed with Tully at the dinner table, saying he didn't think she was a threat to him in the competition.

After hearing Duncan and Court's menu and then Della impressing the judges with her knowledge of food, Josh delivered the blow to Tully.

War of words: On Tuesday night Tully clashed with 'Seafood King' Josh

'Josh and Amy, are you intimidated by these two?,' judge Pete Evans asked.

'I'm intimidated a little by Della but not Tully,' Josh said.

'It takes a team to win this competition,' he said.

Tully swore to the camera 'Whatever Josh, he has no idea what we are like in the kitchen.'

No threat: Josh also clashed with Tully at the dinner table, saying he didn't think she was a threat to him in the competition

To his face, she cheekily said: 'That's okay, everyone is entitled to their opinion.'

'I might not call him king Neptune anymore, maybe something more like big fat king jerk,' she added.
Ariel Winter wished the world a happy Valentine's Day by stepping out in LA in a skimpy lingerie-style two-piece on Tuesday.

The Modern Family actress, 19, flaunted her curves in a bandeau top paired with frilly short shorts as she stopped by a gas station to refuel her SUV.

It came after she started the romantic holiday by sharing on Instagram a throwback snap of herself wearing a bikini thong and embracing her new beau Levi Meaden.

Curvy beauty: Ariel Winter wished the world a happy Valentine's Day by stepping out in LA in a skimpy lingerie-style two-piece on Tuesday

The teen wore her shoulder-length dark loose with a center parting and appeared to be fresh-faced without makeup.

She paired her outfit with white tennis shoes.

Her shorts, which had an elasticated waist, featured a lace trim on the hem while her crop top was gathered at the back.

Leggy looker: The Modern Family actress, 19, flaunted her curves in a bandeau top paired with frilly short shorts as she stopped by a gas station to refuel her SUV

Sunny day wear: Her shorts, which had an elasticated waist, featured a lace trim on the hem while her crop top was gathered at the back. She paired the outfit with white tennis shoes

Body confident: The teen wore her shoulder-length dark loose with a center parting and appeared to be fresh-faced without makeup

The provocative photo, taken from behind, showcased her voluptuous derriere with the bright blue thong struggling to preserve her modesty.

The sitcom star - who plays Alex Dunphy on the hit ABC comedy series - left little to the imagination in the eye-popping image as she wrapped her legs around the 29-year-old actor's waist.

The photo was taken during her Mexican getaway with Levi last November.

Ariel isn't bashful when it comes to showing off her body.

And she has been open about her decision to undergo surgery to reduce her breast size from 32F to 32D in 2015.

'Happy Valentine's Day!': Ariel shared a throwback snap from her romantic Mexican vacation with beau Levi Meaden on Tuesday in which she flaunted her shapely derriere in a thong bikini
Banker-financier Mnuchin sworn in as US Treasury chief

The US Senate has confirmed Wall Street banker Steven Mnuchin to be the next secretary of the US Treasury, overcoming fierce Democratic objection of yet another nominee to President Donald Trump's cabinet.

Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs executive, fills a crucial position in Trump's economic team. The new president has criticized opponents for delaying his nominees.

He was promptly sworn in at the White House by Vice President Mike Pence, in a ceremony also attended by Trump and Mnuchin's fiancee, Louise Linton, a Scottish actress.

US President Donald Trump (L) watches as Steven Mnuchin is sworn in as Treasury secretary in the Oval Office of the White House MANDEL NGAN (AFP)

Trump praised his new Treasury chief as a "financial legend with a track record of success."

Democrats have put up roadblocks to nearly all of Trump's cabinet picks to date, a sign of the political rancor infusing a confirmation process that until recent years exhibited far more bipartisanship.

Republicans, who maintain a majority in the Senate, have managed to hold a united front and confirm each nominee who has come to the floor for a vote.

Senators confirmed Mnuchin, an investment banker and Hollywood financier who also served as finance chairman of Trump's presidential campaign, on a party line vote of 53 to 48. Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia was the only crossover vote.

Mnuchin takes over a US agency with power over taxation, bank regulation, sovereign debt, and policies to combat corruption and terrorism finance.

- 'Foreclosure machine' -

During his confirmation hearing, Mnuchin fended off queries about his previously undisclosed offshore investment firms and real estate holdings, and defended his bank's foreclosure practices despite being accused by Democrats of acting as "a foreclosure machine."

Democrats sought to paint Mnuchin, 54, as the embodiment of many of the things Trump railed against in his campaign, including Mnuchin's lengthy stint at investment bank Goldman Sachs and OneWest, the bank he co-founded that has been accused of profiting from the 2008 housing crisis.

"Mr Mnuchin's business record tells us he was directly engaged in the predatory practices that led to our financial recession and destroyed the life savings of countless American working families," number two Senate Democrat Dick Durbin said in a statement.

Senator Robert Menendez said Mnuchin "was part of the cadre of corporate raiders that brought our economy to its knees."

Critics such as Senator Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, have accused OneWest of generating profits through improper and aggressive foreclosures.

The Treasury Department in 2011 found that OneWest used "unsafe or unsound" practices in mortgage servicing and foreclosure proceedings.

Despite the ferocious criticism of Mnuchin and other nominees by angry Democrats, the Senate came together and voted unanimously to confirm David Shulkin as the next secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Shulkin would be sworn in at 3:00 pm (2000 GMT) Tuesday at the White House.

Shulkin was nominated by then-president Barack Obama in 2015 to serve as undersecretary for health at the VA.

Trump "has selected two well-qualified candidates to lead the charge on strengthening our economy and providing veterans with more of the care they deserve," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said.
The armyworm has already caused damage to staple crops in Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Ghana, with reports also suggesting Malawi, Mozambique and Namibia are affected

International experts at emergency UN talks in Harare warned Tuesday that crop-eating armyworm caterpillars posed a serious threat to food supplies across several African countries.

The outbreak has already caused damage to staple crops in Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Ghana, with reports also suggesting Malawi, Mozambique and Namibia are affected.

Experts say it appears to be the first time that the "fall armyworm" species from the Americas has devastated crops in Africa.

David Phiri, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) coordinator for southern Africa, told delegates that the armyworm posed "a huge threat to food security."

"We need to use our collective capacities to put up systems that will strengthen the resilience of our farmers," he said as talks opened.

"The pest... appears to be moving into the region in a north to south trajectory."

The first fall armyworms were seen in Nigeria and Togo last year, with one theory saying that they arrived in Africa on commercial flights from South America or in plants imported from the region.

The caterpillars eat maize, wheat, millet and rice -- key food sources in southern and eastern Africa, where many areas are already struggling with shortages after years of severe drought.

- 'Could be catastrophic' -

Experts from 13 countries will spend three days in the Zimbabwean capital forming a battle plan to defeat the pests.

The armyworm is "spreading rapidly" in Africa and could even threaten farming worldwide, the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) warned last week.

It said maize is particularly vulnerable to the larvae, which attack the crop's growing points and burrow into the cobs.

Unlike the native African armyworm, the fall armyworm does not "march" along the ground in huge numbers seeking more food, the FAO said.

The fall armyworm also attacks cotton, soybean, potato and tobacco fields.

Chemical pesticides can be effective, but fall armyworms have developed resistance in their native Americas.

"You use different methods. One of them is pesticides, another is to use biological control. Another is to use natural control, like digging trenches around the farm (or) natural predators, like birds," Phiri said before the meeting began.

"It's very difficult to control it, so they will have to use different methods -- including sometimes burning the crops."

Zimbabwe's deputy agriculture minister Davis Marapira confirmed to AFP that the pest had been detected in all of the country's 10 provinces.

"The government is helping farmers with chemicals and spraying equipment," Marapira said.

The FAO, which is hosting the Harare meeting, said armyworm -- combined with current locust problems -- "could be catastrophic" as southern Africa has yet to recover from droughts caused by the El Nino climate phenomenon.

In December, Zambia deployed its national air force to transport pesticides across the country so that fields could be sprayed.

"The fall armyworm has a potential to cause a serious food security problem in sub-Saharan Africa," Ken Wilson, an ecology professor at Lancaster University in Britain, told the meeting.
The trial of seven Hong Kong police officers attracted groups of pro- and anti-police demonstrators

Seven Hong Kong police officers were found guilty Tuesday of assaulting a protester during pro-democracy rallies in 2014, in an attack that was captured on film and beamed around the world.

All seven were convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm to Civic Party activist Ken Tsang, but were acquitted of a more serious charge of grievous bodily harm with intent.

Video footage of the attack, filmed by a local network near the city's government headquarters, shocked residents and dented their faith in the usually trusted police fore.

It showed a group of men hauling a handcuffed Tsang to a dark corner in a public park, where he was beaten. One man stood over him inflicting blows while others were seen repeatedly kicking him.

Hong Kong activist Ken Tsang was handcuffed and beaten by policemen during the 2015 pro-democracy protests

Police have been criticised for their sometimes heavy-handed treatment of protesters during the 79 days of rallies and street blockades that brought parts of the city to a standstill.

The demonstrators were seeking fully free elections for Hong Kong's future leaders.

Hong Kong's district court found that one officer had stamped on 41-year-old Tsang and hit him with a baton, causing circular reddish bruises.

- 'Human frailty' -

Four other officers kicked him while two other officers did not participate but watched.

"Every police officer has a duty to prevent the commission of a crime, even by fellow police officers," judge David Dufton said in a press summary of the verdict.

Photographers surround a prison van holding seven police officers that were convicted of assaulting Ken Tsang during the 2014 pro-democracy protests, as it leaves the District Court in Hong Kong on February 14, 2017

It added that Tsang suffered injuries to his face, neck and body during the assault.

"The court was not however satisfied these injuries amounted to grievous bodily harm but was satisfied they amounted to actual bodily harm," the press statement said.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of three years.

One of the officers who kicked Tsang was also found guilty of common assault for slapping him in the face twice after he was taken to a police station.

Following the verdict, a lawyer for the defence said in mitigation that the protests had dented police morale, with a number of officers injured.

Hong Kong detective Kwan Ka-ho (front) -- who was one of seven police officers who allegedly beat activist Ken Tsang during the 2014 pro-democracy protests -- arrives at the Hong Kong District Court on February 14, 2017

"Human frailty resulted in the transgression of seven devoted police officers," Lawrence Lok told the court.

He said defendant Wong Cho-shing, one of those who watched the attack, had worked long hours during the protests and faced physical and verbal abuse from demonstrators.

Mitigation continued Tuesday afternoon and a sentencing hearing was set for Friday. The officers will be remanded in custody in the meantime.

Tsang was not in court for Tuesday's verdict and told AFP he won't comment on the case until after Friday's sentencing.

Hong Kong activist Ken Tsang suffered injuries to his face, neck and body during the 2014 assault

The social worker was himself found guilty last year of assaulting and resisting officers on the same night, when he splashed an unspecified liquid on police. He was given a five-week sentence and has said he will appeal.

He has always argued that police brought assault charges against him to distract from the case against them.

Rival protesters gathered outside the court Tuesday, with pro-police supporters outnumbering a small group of democracy demonstrators.

Using loudspeakers they chanted: "Support the seven officers" and "Reasonable enforcement of the law".

Nearly 1,000 people were arrested over the course of the 2014 protests.

The 2014 pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong lasted 79 days and saw nearly 1,000 people arrested

Rally leaders Nathan Law, Joshua Wong and Alex Chow were all convicted in August for taking part in, or inciting others to take part in, an unlawful protest that led up to the major demonstrations.

They were given community service or suspended sentences after the magistrate said she believed they had been "genuinely expressing their views" during the protest, which saw students climb over a fence into the Hong Kong government complex.
Fear has made me stronger: former detained Hong Kong bookseller

The disappearance of a Chinese billionaire from his Hong Kong hotel has brought back frightening memories for bookseller Lam Wing-kee, who also went missing in an ordeal that highlighted Beijings tightening grip on the city.

Lam is one of five Hong Kong publishers who vanished at the end of 2015 and resurfaced across the border in mainland China. He returned to Hong Kong on bail after eight months in detention and refuses to go back.

The booksellers' case sparked international outrage and fuelled concern that Beijing is threatening the semi-autonomous city's freedoms.

Lam Wing-kee (C) is one of five Hong Kong publishers who vanished at the end of 2015 and resurfaced across the border in mainland China SAM YEH (AFP/File)

Those fears were reignited last month when Chinese tycoon Xiao Jianhua disappeared from his apartment at the Four Seasons hotel, with reports he was snatched by mainland security agents. His whereabouts are still unknown.

Lam says both he and Xiao were political targets.

"It is 100 percent certain the Communist Party is behind it," he said in an interview in Taipei, where he was visiting a book fair.

Lam and the other four booksellers were known for publishing salacious titles about the Chinese leadership and ran a store stocked with books banned over the border.

In Xiao's case, there is widespread speculation that he has been caught up in an anti-corruption drive by Chinese President Xi Jinping, which some critics believe has been a tool to target his political opponents.

The Xiao incident has renewed Lam's fears about remaining in Hong Kong.

"Yes, I worry (about my safety). Every Hong Kong person should worry," the 62-year-old told AFP.

But he added: "I love Hong Kong. I want to stay in Hong Kong. I will never leave. I will speak out even if it means going to jail."

- Enduring trauma -

Lam was allowed back to Hong Kong last June on condition that he pick up a hard disc listing bookstore customers and return to the mainland.

Instead he skipped bail and went public to tell an explosive story of how he was blindfolded by mainland police after crossing the border, and interrogated for months.

Hong Kong has a separate legal system under the "one country, two systems" deal struck when Britain returned the city to China in 1997 and is not obliged to hand Lam back even if he is violating the terms of his bail.

Lam says he became suicidal during his detention and daily life is still not easy.

He wears a face mask to help shield his identity and alternates between the eight entrances to the residential complex where he lives.

While visiting Taiwan last week, he was protected by police security after pro-Beijing protesters attempted to attack prominent Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong during a recent trip to the island.

Lam says he is no longer involved in the book trade, but writes columns for local Hong Kong media on a voluntary basis.

There are still moments when his time in detention comes back to haunt him.

He told AFP he was spooked on spotting a plain-clothes policeman waiting for him at Taipei airport on his arrival.

"I thought he could be a mainland security agent," Lam says.

Three of the other booksellers who were detained have been freed, but Lam says he is not in touch with them out of concern for their safety, believing they are still under surveillance.

The fifth bookseller Gui Minhai -- who disappeared in Thailand -- is still in detention.

But while Lam may have to look over his shoulder for the rest of his life, he says in some ways the trauma of his detention has made it easier to cope with its aftermath.

"When one loses freedom, and then regains it, any problem one faces after that will seem small," he told AFP.

"I just kept thinking about what I went through, which was hundreds, thousands of times worse than this."
Toshiba chairman quits post over huge losses

Toshiba said Tuesday its chairman Shigenori Shiga was stepping down from his post as the company warned it was set to book multi-billion-dollar losses in its US nuclear business.

Hours after delaying the release of its financial results, the company issued a forecast that said it was on track to report a net loss of 390 billion yen ($3.4 billion) in the current fiscal year to March, with losses in its atomic division topping 700 billion yen.
Pro-Ankara rebels, Syria regime 'agree security line' in Al-Bab

Turkey-backed Syrian rebels and President Bashar al-Assad's forces have created a security corridor to avoid clashes in the battle to capture the flashpoint town of Al-Bab from Islamic State jihadists, a newspaper reported on Tuesday.

If confirmed, it would mark a rare case of contact in the conflict between the Damascus regime and the rebels seeking to oust it.

The Hurriyet newspaper likened the zone to the demilitarised "Green Line" in Cyprus between the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities.

Turkey-backed rebels have been engaged in intense battles with Islamic State jihadists for control of Al-Bab

The corridor has been set up in the south of Al-Bab and varies in width from 500 metres to 1,000 metres (yards), Hurriyet said, adding that occasional communication took place between the rival sides.

There has been intense fighting between Turkey-backed rebels and IS jihadists to take full control of the northern Syrian town.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday that Turkey-backed forces had entered the centre of Al-Bab and that its capture was imminent.

Hurriyet said rebels now controlled 40 percent of the town.

Meanwhile, Assad's forces have pushed towards the town from the south, completing an encirclement of the IS fighters.

Turkey has been an implacable foe of Assad since the start of Syria's nearly six year civil war, backing the rebels who sought to oust him from power.

But in the past few months Turkey's relations with Assad's main ally Russia have warmed dramatically and Moscow and Ankara have been working together to bring peace to Syria.

Ankara has always vehemently denied sporadic reports of secret political contacts with the Assad regime.

Backing the opposition fighters, Turkey launched an unprecedented incursion inside Syria in August, taking back several border towns including Jarabulus and Al-Rai from the jihadists.

But the battle for Al-Bab has proved the toughest in the campaign that claimed at least 67 Turkish troops' lives, according to tallies.
South Sudan's President Salva Kiir with then US Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power on September 4, 2016

South Sudan's army said Tuesday a general who quit after accusing President Salva Kiir and his tribe of "ethnic cleansing" was corrupt and had fled to evade arrest.

Lieutenant-General Thomas Cirillo Swaka, then deputy chief of general staff for logistics, resigned last week accusing Kiir, aides and other army officers of violating a 2015 peace deal.

They had "systematically frustrated the implementation" of the peace agreement and sought to "pursue the agenda" of ... the Dinka ethnic community, Cirillo claimed.

But a statement from the army sent to AFP said it was Cirillo who was guilty of misconduct and that it "strongly disputes all inaccurate and inconsistent reasons" he cited for quitting.

"His resignation was aimed at avoiding accountability and escaping justice after a massive corruption was unearthed at his directorate," said a spokesman for the SPLA national army.

Last December, a probe of 51 officers suspected of corruption indicated that Cirillo was "personally and deeply involved in a scam" where huge consignments of military food, fuel and equipment were diverted for "personal use or consumption, disappeared, sold or stolen" it added.

South Sudan gained independence in 2011 but plunged into war in December 2013, pitting the Dinkas of President Kiir against a former vice-president and his Nuer tribe supporters.

Observers said the war later metastasised with other tribes joining one side or the other, often with the hope of getting an upper hand in local conflicts over land and other issues.

An August 2015 peace deal was left in tatters when fighting broke out in Juba in July, with violence spreading throughout the country and no prospects for peace in sight.

In his resignation letter, Cirillo accused Kiir and his entourage of turning the country's military into a Dinka "tribal" army that has taken part "in systematic killings of people, rape of women and the burning of villages in the name of pursuing rebels in peaceful villages".

However in its statement hitting back at Cirillo, whose whereabouts are unknown, the army said he had fled because of the corruption probe.

"His resignation was out of fear that he would be arrested in connection of logistics malpractice. The SPLA challenges him to return to the country so that he clears his name," it added.
Donald Trump and Michael Flynn speak at a rally in Colorado in October

President Donald Trump's national security adviser Michael Flynn, who resigned late Monday over his controversial contacts with Russia, is a former military intelligence chief who saw militant Islam as the main threat to global stability.

The 58 year-old retired three-star general -- a slim, energetic figure with sharp facial features -- however had accommodating views on Russia and China, two countries that former president Barack Obama regarded as the main US strategic opponents.

During the 2016 presidential campaign Flynn was one of the few high-profile former military figures who advised candidate Trump, and was on the short list to be the Republican's vice presidential candidate.

At the Republican convention that nominated Trump for president, Flynn delivered a fiery attack on Democrat Hillary Clinton, even leading the crowd in chants of "Lock her up!"

Donald Trump (left) with Michael Flynn at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida last month

However Flynn's fate may have been sealed when news reports surfaced over the weekend that he discussed US sanctions with Russia's ambassador weeks before Trump was sworn in as president, and just as then-president Barack Obama was ordering new actions against Moscow over its alleged interference in the US election.

Obama had named Flynn to head of the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2012, but the retired general was forced out in less than two years amid a turbulent restructuring effort and clashes with his superiors.

Flynn's paid appearance at a 2015 dinner in Russia sitting next to Russian President Vladimir Putin especially raised eyebrows, as did his accommodating statements toward Moscow that suggested a readiness to accept Russia's seizure of Crimea and its support for embattled Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.

"We beat Hitler because of our relationship with the Russians, so anybody that looks on it as anything but a relationship that's required for mutual supporting interests, including ISIS, ... that's really where I'm at with Russia," he told the Washington Post in August.

The main threat, in Flynn's view, was militant Islam.

"We have a problem with radical Islamism and I actually think that we could work together with them against this enemy. They have a worse problem than we do," he told the Post.

- Militant Islam 'metastasizing' -

The son of a Rhode Island banker, Flynn had a professional army career mainly in intelligence units. In the 2000s he served in Iraq and then Afghanistan, where he became director of intelligence for coalition forces.

After leaving the Defense Intelligence Agency, Flynn repeatedly criticized the Obama administration as inadequately focused on the Islamist threat. He even published a book titled: "The Field of Fight: How We Can Win the Global War Against Radical Islam and Its Allies."

In his book Flynn argued that Muslim countries must be forced to recognize and stamp out radical Islamic beliefs, which he says are "metastasizing" around the world.

"We're in a global war, facing an enemy alliance that runs from Pyongyang, North Korea, to Havana, Cuba, and Caracas, Venezuela," he wrote in the New York Post in July.

"Along the way, the alliance picks up radical Muslim countries and organizations such as Iran, Al-Qaeda, the Taliban and Islamic State."

Like Trump, Flynn has also criticized US allies in NATO for not putting enough of their own effort and funding into the crucial western defense treaty.

National security community critics warned that his one-dimensional views could upset well-established relationships that benefit the United States.

They also questioned Flynn's willingness to take money from Russian government-backed groups, and his support for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's harsh crackdown on dissent.
Kim Jong-Nam fell out of favour with the North Korean hierarchy following a botched attempt in 2001 to enter Japan on a forged passport

North Korean female agents operating in Malaysia have reportedly assassinated the half-brother of the North's leader, Kim Jong-Un -- a one-time heir apparent who became a critic of the Stalinist regime.

South Korean media said Tuesday that Kim Jong-Nam was killed with poisoned needles at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Officials in Seoul and the Malaysian capital could not confirm his death.

Malaysian police said in a statement late Tuesday that a North Korean man, identified as Kim Chol, sought medical assistance at the airport and died on the way to hospital.

South Korean media said Jong-Nam had travelled using a fake passport under the name of Kim Chol.

If confirmed, it would be the highest-profile death under the Jong-Un regime since the execution of the leader's uncle, Jang Song-Thaek, in December 2013.

Jong-Un has been trying to strengthen his grip on power in the face of growing international pressure over his country's nuclear and missile programmes. He has reportedly staged a series of executions.

The latest launch of a new intermediate-range missile on Sunday brought UN Security Council condemnation and vows of a strong response from US President Donald Trump.

Kim Jong-Nam

South Korea's national news agency Yonhap quoted a source as saying agents of the North's spy agency, the Reconnaissance General Bureau, carried out the assassination on Monday by taking advantage of a security loophole between Jong-Nam's bodyguards and Malaysian police at the airport.

The 45-year-old was killed by two unidentified females wielding poisoned needles at the airport, according to South Korean broadcaster TV Chosun.

It said the women hailed a cab and fled immediately afterwards.

Jong-Nam, the eldest son of former leader Kim Jong-Il, was once seen as heir apparent but fell out of favour following an embarrassing botched attempt in 2001 to enter Japan on a forged passport and visit Disneyland.

He has since lived in virtual exile, mainly in the Chinese territory of Macau.

His half-brother took over as leader when their father died in December 2011.

Jong-Nam, known as an advocate of reform in the North, once told a Japanese newspaper that he opposed his country's dynastic system of power.

He was reportedly close to his uncle Song-Thaek, once the North's unofficial number two and political mentor of the current leader.

- Targeted in the past -

Cheong Seong-Jang, senior researcher at Seoul's Sejong Institute think-tank, said Jong-Nam had been living in near-exile so it was unlikely that Jong-Un saw him as a potential competitor for power.

Kim Jong-Nam was mobbed by journalists during a 2007 visit to Beijing

"But if Jong-Nam committed an act to damage Jong-Un's authority, I think it's possible that the Reconnaissance General Bureau may have directly conducted the assassination under the orders of Jong-Un since it has been in charge of closely watching Jong-Nam."

Jong-Nam has been targeted in the past.

In October 2012 South Korean prosecutors said a North Korean detained as a spy had admitted involvement in a plot to stage a hit-and-run car accident in China in 2010 targeting him.

In 2014, Jong-Nam was reported to be in Indonesia -- sighted at an Italian restaurant in Jakarta -- and was said to be shuttling back and forth between Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and France.

In 2012, a Moscow newspaper reported that Jong-Nam was having financial problems after being cut off by the Stalinist state for doubting its succession policy.

The Argumenty i Fakty weekly said he was kicked out of a luxury hotel in Macau over a $15,000 debt.

Last year South Korea warned of possible North Korean assassination attempts in its territory.

It noted previous attempts to assassinate Hwang Jang-Yop, the North's chief ideologue and former tutor to Kim Jong-Il, who defected to the South in 1997 and died of natural causes in 2010.

Jong-Nam was born from his father's extra-marital relationship with Sung Hae-rim, a South Korean-born actress who died in Moscow.
ELKO  Join the Elko Area Chamber at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday for this months Business After Hours hosted by Donuts N Mor and Nevada I.T.

The event will be at 673 Cimarron Way.

Donuts N Mor is a hometown bakery and deli. They offer a large variety of fresh options on their menu, including donuts, paninis, wraps, pizza, salads, soups and more. They also make custom cakes and offer a full line of catering for any event.

Nevada I.T. provides information technology services to residential and commercial customers in Northeastern Nevada. They specialize in server integration, computer repair (PC and MAC), and smart device repair. They can also help you implement an affordable custom network that tailors to your personal business needs.

Business After Hours is a great place to network your business, learn about local events, and meet your fellow community members. It is also a great place to come and meet people who may provide services that you and your family may need.

The chamber has a large variety of businesses who attend, from local dentists, animal care providers, hotel/motel managers, child care specialists, and much more. This event is not just for chamber members or business owners. Come as a community member and meet some businesses that can provide services for you.

There will be food, beverages and drawings. This event is free and open to the public. Please call the chamber with any questions at 738-7135.
Syrian rescuers remove a baby from under rubble in al-Kalasa in northern Aleppo in April last year

As Syria's war approaches its seventh year, two new rounds of talks on resolving the conflict are scheduled to take place in Astana and Geneva.

Here are some questions and answers about the upcoming talks:

What talks are scheduled?

The first meeting is in the Kazakh capital Astana, and is expected to build on talks held there last month sponsored by the Syrian government's allies Russia and Iran, and rebel backer Turkey.

The Kazakh foreign ministry said representatives from the government and armed rebels, as well as UN envoy Staffan de Mistura and US officials, would be invited to the February 15-16 talks.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday said the Astana meeting would be a chance to "monitor the commitment of different parties to refrain from using force and to promote, encourage, the political process."

Syrian Democratic Forces fighters, made up of US-backed Kurds and Arab fighters, near Bir Fawaz, 20 km north of Raqa, on February 8, 2017

A Syrian source close to the government said the discussions in Astana would be "purely military."

By comparison, a second meeting in Geneva now scheduled for February 23 and sponsored by the UN is expected to focus on the key issues that divide the two sides, including the fate of President Bashar al-Assad.

The talks in Geneva, the fifth time the parties have gone to Switzerland, have been pushed back twice already, in part to give the opposition more time to form a unified delegation.

Moscow says the Astana process is meant to support the Geneva talks, but there has been speculation that it is working with Ankara to develop an alternative "Astana track".

"In theory, it is a complement to a still-live ongoing Geneva process," said Sam Heller, a non-resident fellow at The Century Foundation think-tank.

"But in practice it looks like it's a venue for Turkey, Russia, and to some extent Iran, to arrive at their own understandings and to try to engineer a mutually satisfactory political solution on their terms."

Who is attending?

The Syrian government has indicated it will attend the Geneva talks, and its delegation is likely to be led by its usual negotiator, Syria's UN ambassador Bashar al-Jaafari.

The first meeting on peace in Syria will take place in Kazakh capital Astana

The key opposition High Negotiations Committee has announced a 21-member opposition delegation to Geneva, including 10 rebel representatives.

A new chief opposition negotiator, lawyer Mohammed Sabra, replaces Mohamed Alloush of the Army of Islam rebel group, which said it would participate in the delegation in an advisory capacity.

The HNC touted the delegation as "unified" and said it includes representatives from two rival opposition groupings known informally as the Cairo and Moscow groups.

But both denied being represented, and it remains unclear if they will seek to attend in separate delegations.

Attendance at the Astana talks is more uncertain, though Syria's government is being represented by Jaafari who has already arrived in Kazakhstan.

At least four rebel groups told AFP they had not yet received an invitation to the meeting, and several cast doubt on whether they would attend if invited.

De Mistura's office said he would send a "technical team," and the US State Department said it was still weighing whether to send a representative.

Jordan said it would attend the Astana talks as an observer.

What obstacles remain?

The goal of the Astana talks has been narrowly defined, primarily to reinforce the ceasefire brokered by Turkey and Russia in place since December 30.

The last meeting in Astana producing no major breakthrough

But with rebel attendance uncertain and the last meeting in Astana producing no major breakthrough, talks there seem unlikely to shift the conversation on the peace process.

Meanwhile, in Geneva, all the main divisions between the two sides remain to be resolved, key among them Assad's fate.

The opposition insists he must step aside, but his government says his future is not a topic for negotiations.

Rebel backer Turkey has signalled new flexibility on resolving the Syrian conflict but there is little sign the opposition feels the same way.

Syria's government also comes to the talks on the back of recent victories, including the full recapture of second city Aleppo in December, which may leave it less open to compromise.

"I still don't believe the loyalist alliance is serious about... making some serious compromise, rather than asking for the rebels' surrender disguised as a political settlement," said Thomas Pierret, a Syria expert at the University of Edinburgh.

"They will try to obtain such surrender, which is why the talks will take place."
Kim Jong-Nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has been assassinated in Malaysia, South Korean media reported

They used to call him the "Little General" but Kim Jong-Nam -- once heir-apparent to his father and North Korea's then-leader Kim Jong-Il -- fell from grace in 2001 after a spectacular blunder.

On Tuesday, after more than a decade in exile from the North, Jong-Nam -- the 45-year-old half-brother of current leader Kim Jong-Un -- was widely reported by South Korean media to have been assassinated in Malaysia.

There has been no official confirmation.

Born from his father's relationship with actress Sung Hae-rim, Jong-Nam is known to have been a computer enthusiast, a fluent Japanese speaker and a student in both Russia and Switzerland.

He lived in Pyongyang after finishing his overseas studies and was put in charge of overseeing North Korea's information technology policy.

But the chubby eldest son of the supreme leader was already seen by Seoul experts as something of a political lightweight when in 2001 he fell out of favour.

He was embarrassingly detained at a Tokyo airport, trying to enter Japan to visit Disneyland on a false Dominican Republic passport, accompanied by two women and a child.

Jong-Nam and his family afterwards lived in virtual exile in Macau, Singapore and China.

Jong-Nam's half-brother Jong-Un took over as North Korean leader when their father died in December 2011.

In an email exchange with a Japanese journalist published in 2012, Jong-Nam spoke disparagingly of Jong-Un, saying he lacked "any sense of duty or seriousness" and warned that bribery and corruption would lead to North Korea's eventual collapse.

In another exchange with the same reporter in 2012, Jong-Nam said: "Anyone with normal thinking would find it difficult to tolerate three generations of hereditary succession."

In October 2012 South Korean prosecutors said a North Korean detained as a spy had admitted involvement in a plot to stage a hit-and-run car accident in China in 2010 targeting Jong-Nam.

In 2014 Jong-Nam was reported to be in Indonesia -- sighted at an Italian restaurant run by a Japanese businessman in Jakarta -- and was said to be shuttling back and forth between Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and France.

In 2012 a Moscow newspaper reported that Jong-Nam was having financial problems after being cut off by the Stalinist state for doubting its succession policy.

The Argumenty i Fakty weekly said he was kicked out of a luxury hotel in Macau over a $15,000 debt.

Jong-Nam's son Kim Han-Sol studied at university in Paris. Back in 2012, when at school in Bosnia, he labelled his uncle Kim Jong-Un a "dictator" in an interview.

"My dad (Jong-Nam) was not really interested in politics," Kim told the interviewer when asked why his father was passed over for the dynastic succession in favour of his younger brother.
Two US Senators say they are concerned by reports that US President Donald Trump is still using an Android device that may be several years old for his frequent personal Twitter messages

Two US senators have requested details on President Donald Trump's smartphone security, saying he could jeopardize national secrets if he is still using his old handset, as some reports say.

"Did Trump receive a secured, encrypted smartphone for his personal use on or before Jan. 20? If so, is he using it?," said a tweet Tuesday by Senator Tom Carper, who along with fellow Democrat Claire McCaskill released a letter to the administration requesting information on the president's device.

"Trump should be well aware by now of the appropriate and necessary protocol to safeguard our nation's secrets."

The letter from the two lawmakers, dated February 9, was sent to Defense Secretary James Mattis along with Homeland Security chief John Kelly and the National Security Agency director Michael Rogers. The senators released the letter late Monday.

The lawmakers said they were concerned by reports that Trump was still using an Android device that may be several years old for his frequent personal Twitter messages.

"While it is important for the president to have the ability to communicate electronically, it is equally important that he does so in a manner that is secure and that ensures the preservation of presidential records," the letter said.

"The national security risks of compromising a smartphone used by a senior government official, such as the president of the United States, are considerable."

The New York Times reported last month that while Trump had received a new, secure device after his inauguration, he still relied on his older device despite protests from aides.

That report prompted a flurry of comments from security experts who argued that the president would be inviting danger by using his old personal phone.

Trump's smartphone "would probably be the most widely prized device on the internet for hackers -- and top of the target list for intelligence agencies around the world," said independent security researcher Graham Cluley in a blog post Tuesday.

Last month, Nicholas Weaver of the International Computer Science Institute in Berkeley, California, warned that "Trump's continued use of a dangerously insecure, out-of-date Android device should cause real panic."

Writing on the Lawfare blog, Weaver noted that hackers could gain access to the phone's location as well as its microphone and camera and that "the working assumption should be that Trump's phone is compromised by at least one -- probably multiple -- hostile foreign intelligence services and is actively being exploited."
Children walk past a Kamov Ka-32A4s helicopter during the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition at a military air base in Seongnam, south of Seoul, on October 17, 2011

Russia is close to finalising a deal to build helicopters in India, an executive said Tuesday, a move that would boost Narendra Modi's ambitions to manufacture defence hardware locally.

India is the world's top defence importer and is seeking to revamp its Soviet-era military equipment against an increasingly assertive China.

Prime Minister Modi has been encouraging foreign firms to work with local contractors under a "Make in India" campaign, to reduce India's reliance on costly imports.

Russia and India first flagged plans for a joint partnership to build Kamov helicopters -- a twin-engine chopper used for military and civilian purposes -- in 2015.

But India has increasingly turned to the United States and France, rather than traditional ally Russia, for its military hardware in recent years.

Two Russian firms -- Russian Helicopters and state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport -- are on the brink of finalising a joint venture with India's state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, according to reports.

Viktor Kladov from Rostec, the parent company of Rosoboronexport, said the joint venture would be completed in "one to two months".

"We have conducted multiple negotiations, most recently in January this year," Kladov was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency.

"The document work for the joint venture has been completed and they have been sent for registration with the relevant government bodies."

The helicopters will replace India's ageing fleet of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters.

President Vladimir Putin has been seeking to seal deals with India to help revive Russia's recession-hit economy, following sliding oil prices and Western sanctions over the Ukraine crisis.

Kladov said he hoped the Kamov choppers would eventually be exported to India's neighbours once the production line was up and running.

"These helicopters are versatile and modular, so they can be used in military, search and rescue, medical and transport tasks," he said.

"It is possible that the regional market, the neighbouring countries may be interested and the choppers can become export products on their own."
South Sudanese refugees at the Nyumanzi transit centre in Adjumani, Uganda in 2016

The United States will give over $25 million in humanitarian aid to Uganda, to help the nation cope with a huge influx of refugees fleeing conflict in east Africa, the US ambassador in Kampala said Tuesday.

Uganda is hosting more than a million refugees, nearly 700,000 of whom escaped the brutal civil war raging in neighbouring South Sudan since December 2013.

US ambassador Deborah Malac praised Uganda's "very progressive policy" towards refugees.

"We applaud that the government is committed to keeping the door open to refugees," she told reporters.

The $25.2 million (24 million euros) will be used to improve water and sanitation in refugee camps, fight gender-based violence and ensure ongoing protection.

Malac called for other countries to "step up and provide support" for the UN refugee agency and refugee-hosting countries.

Saying that there appeared to be "no end in sight" to the violence in South Sudan, Malac urged "more of a response from the international community, not just from the usual actors."

The UN says more than 52,000 South Sudanese refugees have been arrived in Uganda since the start of the year and the numbers are currently growing by over 4,000 per day.

The Ugandan minister for refugees, Hilary Onek, said the the scale of arrivals is stretching the capacity of one of the world's poorest countries.

"We are worried about the load we are bearing," Onek said. "It's getting a little heavy for us to manage."

Uganda has been praised for offering one of the most favourable refugee protection environments in the world -- providing for freedom of movement, the right to work and land for refugee camps.

However, there have been isolated incidents of local politicians rallying people against refugees.

In the past week police and residents near Nakivale refugee camp in the southwest of Uganda clashed in a dispute over land allocation to refugees.
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz (right) held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Riyadh on February 14, 2017

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Saudi Arabia's top leadership on Tuesday during a visit to further strengthen ties as part of a Gulf tour ahead of Syria peace talks.

King Salman hosted a luncheon banquet for Erdogan, who arrived in Riyadh late Monday, the official Saudi Press Agency said.

It gave no details of their discussions, but said Erdogan also met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, the interior minister, and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is defence minister.

The two Sunni powers have become increasingly close over the past year, sharing in particular a backing for the opposition in Syria's war.

As Erdogan held talks in Riyadh, his Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told his ruling Justice and Development Party lawmakers in Ankara that Al-Bab in northern Syria was "largely" under the control of Turkish-backed Syrian rebels after months of clashes with jihadists.

Al-Bab was the Islamic State group's last stronghold in Aleppo province.

Ankara has taken on an increasingly important role with Moscow and Iran as a powerbroker in the Syria conflict.

Analysts say the capture late last year by Syria's army of the country's second city Aleppo, backed by Russian air strikes, was a setback for Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The Gulf states have supported rebels whose struggle to oust President Bashar al-Assad seems increasingly fruitless.

In January, Turkey, along with Assad allies Russia and Iran, sponsored talks in Kazakhstan between Syrian rebels and government officials.

There was no breakthrough, but another round is expected in Astana this Wednesday and Thursday, before United Nations-sponsored peace talks resume in Geneva on February 23.

On Monday in Bahrain, Erdogan called for a "safe zone" in northern Syria for people displaced by the war.

The positions of Saudi Arabia and Turkey are "absolutely identical" on Syria, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said last week in Ankara.

He was attending the first meeting of a coordination council to enhance ties between the two countries.

Later Tuesday Erdogan will be in Qatar, with which Turkey has maintained strong ties for years. Qatar also hosts a Turkish military base.

While both states are united in their backing for rebels fighting Assad's regime, they also shared support for Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood.
A video grab made from The Block Tv Gambia footage shows British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson (R) meeting with Gambian President Adama Barrow in Banjul on February 14, 2017

UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson visited The Gambia on Tuesday, where he hailed the arrival of a new government and its bid to rejoin the Commonwealth group of former British colonies.

Johnson met President Adama Barrow and Interior Minister Mai Fatty to reset ties with the impoverished West African nation after years of tension with former president Yahya Jammeh.

The visit was his first to Africa as Britain's top diplomat, becoming the first British foreign minister to visit The Gambia since it gained independence in 1965.

His talks with Barrow cemented moves by The Gambia to rejoin the Commonwealth, Johnson told journalists.

"President Barrow is determined to take Gambia back to the Commonwealth, and the Commonwealth is ready to welcome Gambia back," Johnson said, vowing to do whatever possible to "speed up" the process.

In a video message posted on Johnson's Twitter account after the meeting, he celebrated the British embassy soon becoming a High Commission to reflect The Gambia's return to the Commonwealth fold.

Jammeh frequently railed against Britain's colonial rule of the tiny nation and withdrew his nation from the Commonwealth in 2013, calling it "an extension of colonialism".

By contrast, Barrow worked as a security guard in Britain when he was younger and has made no secret of his wish to rekindle ties.

The foreign secretary has hailed the December elections that saw Barrow unseat Jammeh from 22 years in power, saying they "highlight the continuing strengthening of democracy in West Africa".

In his video message, Johnson praised the arrival of the Barrow administration: "They got rid of a guy who was really holding things up, and they will take the country forward."

- Britain to support justice reform -

During his visit the foreign secretary also said tackling the migration crisis was "something that is absolutely vital for Europe as much as Africa," in a nation that accounts for more citizens per capita taking boats across the Mediterreanan to Italy than any other.

A video grab made from The Block Tv Gambia footage shows British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson (C) arriving for a meeting in Banjul on February 14, 2017

Johnson additionally promised support for justice reform in The Gambia, after the new government declared it would overhaul its prisons after shocking footage was released of conditions inside.

A British special advisor will be appointed to aid the justice ministry and attorney-general as The Gambia reforms a sector tarred by allegations of rights abuses, a diplomatic source told AFP.

Fatty led a tour of The Gambia's Mile Two prison on Monday for local journalists that revealed concrete cells in almost complete darkness where prisoners were living in squalor, and apologised on camera for the conditions.

The Gambia has just notified the United Nations it will rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC), reversing another controversial Jammeh move from last year.

- Controversial comments -

Johnson's trip to The Gambia followed his history of controversy with Britain's former territories in Africa.

In a news column published in 2002, Johnson characterised the Commonwealth as having "crowds of flag-waving piccaninnies," to welcome Queen Elizabeth II, using a derogatory term for black people that caused outrage.

He also parodied reaction to Tony Blair's arrival in Congo saying that "the tribal warriors will all break out in watermelon smiles to see the big white chief touch down".

The comments came back to haunt him when he ran for London mayor in 2008, and then again when he was named foreign secretary last year after Britain's shock Brexit vote.

Gambian journalists had questions vetted for a brief press conference with Barrow in The Gambia and could not question him about the comments, they told AFP.

In a show of confidence in the Gambian tourist industry, which is dominated by British sunseekers, Johnson took a commercial flight to Banjul, and also met with Tourism Minister Hamat Bah.

Britain could help develop the tourism sector to help give Gambians greater economic security with Britain's help, Johnson said.

Tourists were flown out of the country en masse in January after Jammeh declared a state of emergency when he lost the election to Barrow but refused to stand down.

On Wednesday morning, Johnson will head to Ghana to meet President Nana Akufo-Addo and visit the Blue Skies company, a juice-maker which has received financial support from Britain.
Iraqi supporters of the Sadrist movement demonstrate in Baghdad's Tahrir Square on February 11, 2017

Thousands of Iraqis, mostly supporters of prominent cleric Moqtada Sadr, gathered in Baghdad Tuesday to pay their respects to seven people killed last week during a protest for electoral reform.

Wearing black and waving Iraqi flags, the crowd laid flowers on mock coffins during a large but peaceful ceremony in the Iraqi capital's Tahrir square, where Saturday's deadly rally also took place.

"What happened was a tragedy but it was for the country and for the fight against corruption," said Gailan Kadhem, a 22-year-old man.

On February 11, thousands of Sadr supporters and other Iraqis staged a demonstration demanding the country's election commissioners be replaced and the electoral law overhauled.

Sadr supporters and other Iraqis want the country's election commissioners be replaced and the electoral law overhauled

The protest turned violent when some demonstrators tried to force their way through a security cordon to head to the seat of the electoral commission in the heavily fortified Green Zone.

Sadr supporters had already broken into the Green Zone twice last year -- storming parliament and the prime minister's office -- and police met Saturday's protesters with rubber-coated bullets and tear gas.

According to Ibrahim al-Jaberi, a senior Baghdad official in the movement of the Najaf-based Sadr, seven demonstrators were killed in the chaos.

Hospital sources told AFP that they had confirmed a death toll of eight following the protest, the deadliest of its kind in years.

"In other countries in the world, the security forces use water cannons to deal with demonstrators when they need to," said Jaberi. "In Iraq, it's bullets. That's why we had a large number of martyrs."

"They are dead but our demands are still alive," he said.

The wave of anti-corruption protests Sadr's movement led last year was halted when Iraqi forces launched an offensive to retake Mosul from the Islamic State group in their largest military operation in years.

- UN warning -

Police met Saturday's protesters with rubber-coated bullets and tear gas

But the political agenda came back to the fore when Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's cabinet announced last month that provincial elections would take place in September.

Demonstrators have argued that the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) was anything but independent and that all of its members were affiliated to dominant political parties.

They also want a change in the electoral law, which favours those same parties over smaller ones.

The United Nations secretary general's representative in Iraq, Jan Kubis, on Tuesday warned against any threats to the electoral commission's members but called for swift electoral change.

Until it is replaced, the commission "must be enabled and empowered to fulfil its constitutional mandate free from interference and intimidation," he said in a statement.

He urged parliament to "finalise the ongoing review" of the election law and the electoral commission.

Kubis said that would follow the "principles of democracy and the rule of law when responding to the wishes of many Iraqis to introduce a profound reform of electoral process and institutions."

More protests are planned but Haidar al-Halfi, from Sadr's office, said the influential cleric had given orders to ensure all gatherings remained peaceful.

On Saturday, after a peaceful start to the rally, the protesters received a de facto green light to escalate the situation in the shape of a statement from Sadr saying that those who wanted to move towards the Green Zone could do so.
Indian paramilitary soldiers return from a gunbattle in Hajin, north-east of Srinagar on February 14, 2017

Three soldiers and four suspected militants were killed in separate gunbattles in Indian-administered Kashmir on Tuesday, officials said, marking an uptick in violence in the restive region.

The soldiers died during a gunfight with militants that broke out at Hajin in Bandipora district, army spokesman Rajesh Kalia told AFP, adding that five other soldiers were wounded.

A police official said a civilian also sustained injuries in the cross-firing which erupted after the government forces cordoned off an area following a tip-off about the presence of militants.

"A search party was suddenly fired upon by the militants as it zeroed in on a residential area," a police superintendent told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to talk to the press.

One militant, whose identity was not yet known, was also killed in the operation, he added.

A military vehicle leaves after the gunbattle in Hajin

In the second deadly clash Tuesday, three militants were killed while a soldier received bullet wounds during a gunfight in Kupwara district, army spokesman Colonel Manish confirmed to AFP.

"Police and army laid a siege... after intelligence inputs about the presence of militants," he said.

"The militants fired upon the search party, injuring an army trooper, and in the retaliatory firing three militants were killed."

Tuesday's deadly violence came days after four militants, two soldiers and two civilians were killed in a flare-up in southern Kashmir.

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since they won independence from Britain in 1947. Both claim the Himalayan territory in its entirety.

An armed rebellion that started in the region in 1989 has left tens of thousands, mostly civilians, dead.
US President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on February 14, 2017

Donald Trump's young presidency was plunged into deep crisis Tuesday as the forced departure of a key national security aide triggered calls for an independent inquiry into his administration's contacts with Moscow.

Barely three weeks after Trump stepped into the Oval Office, the resignation of National Security Advisor Mike Flynn over his dealings with Russia's government buffeted a presidency already rocked by leaks, infighting and scandal.

The White House said late Monday that Trump had accepted Flynn's resignation amid allegations the retired three star general discussed US sanctions strategy with Russia's ambassador Sergey Kislyak before taking office.

In his resignation letter, Flynn -- who once headed US military intelligence -- admitted to "inadvertently" misleading Vice President Mike Pence about the substance of the call.

Flynn's unprecedented early departure poured fuel on demands for an full independent investigation into alleged collusion between Trump's inner circle and the Kremlin.

"This. Is. Not. Normal." said Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, insisting "Trump owes Americans a full account" of his administrations dealings with Moscow before and after the 2016 election.

- Inquiries and missteps -

The CIA, FBI and other intelligence agencies have already investigated Moscow's influence over the 2016 vote, concluding the Kremlin tried to sway the vote in Trump's favor.

Michael Flynn

Various committees in the Republican-controlled Congress are already looking into Russia's election-related hacking and the Trump campaign's links to Moscow.

But Democrats are now demanding a fuller investigation, which could bring with it the power to call Flynn and members of Trump's inner circle to testify.

Republicans seemed at odds over how to proceed, with key members of the House of Representatives appearing to rule out further investigation.

Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz -- who spearheaded investigations into Trump's presidential rival Hillary Clinton -- said any problem associated with Flynn was "taking care of itself."

In the House -- which has the sole power to impeach the president -- Speaker Paul Ryan praised Trump's handling of the issue but refused to comment on further steps.

"I think we have to get all the information before we prejudge anything," he said.

But Roy Blunt, a Republican senator on the powerful Intelligence Committee, told a local radio station that his panel should investigate Flynn's behavior "exhaustively so that at the end of this process, nobody wonders whether there was a stone left unturned."

- Who knew what, and when? -

Flynn's resignation came after details of his telephone calls to the ambassador, Sergey Kislyak, were made public -- increasing pressure on Trump to take action.

House Speaker Paul Ryan listens to questions from reporters during news conference on February 14, 2017

But several US media outlets reported Monday that top Trump advisors were warned about Flynn's contacts with the Russians early this year, reopening questions about who knew about the calls and why Trump did not move earlier to replace Flynn.

The Justice Department had warned the White House that Flynn had misled senior administration officials about the contents of his talks with Kislyak, and that it could make him vulnerable to Russian blackmail, US media reported.

The message was delivered in the last days of Barack Obama's administration by then-acting attorney general Sally Yates -- who Trump sacked after she instructed government lawyers not to defend the new president's controversial travel ban.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer, when asked whether the president authorized or knew about Flynn's discussions about sanctions, said: "No, absolutely not. No way."

The Kremlin on Tuesday said Flynn's resignation was "not our business."

"This is the internal business of the Americans, it is the internal business of President Trump's administration," spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists in Moscow.

- Possible replacements -

Until quitting, Flynn had been instrumental in Trump's inner circle.

He was an early supporter of Trump's improbable bid for the presidency and had encouraged tougher policies on Iran and a softer policy on Russia.

That was a sharp break from the Obama administration, which introduced sanctions over Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea, support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, and what US intelligence says were its attempts to sway last year's election in Trump's favor.

Washington and Moscow had also clashed over alleged war crimes in Syria, where Russia is accused of aiding the bombing of hospitals and other civilian targets. Despite this, Flynn had argued for rapprochement.

Flynn's resignation came just days before Trump's first official talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, discussions in which the president's national security advisor would normally have a key role.

After Flynn quit, the White House said Trump had named retired lieutenant general Keith Kellogg, a decorated Vietnam war veteran who was serving as a director on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to be interim national security advisor.

Potential permanent replacements for Flynn reportedly include three retired military brass: Kellogg; retired general and former CIA director David Petraeus; and former vice admiral Robert Harward.
For over 60 years, longtime residents Chuck and Mary Harper contributed their time and efforts toward improving Elko. Their efforts helped raise money to build the Northeastern Nevada Museum and Elko Convention Center, and they faithfully participated in various community organizations.

Charles E. Chuck Harper was born May 10, 1925 in Elko to Charles A. and Flora Harper. Charles was a railroad engineer, constable and Elko Chief of Police, succeeding Joe Harris as sheriff when Harris died in 1936. Chuck graduated from Elko High School in 1943 and enlisted in the Marine Corps to serve in World War II.

A member of the 5th Marine Division, Chuck went to radio school and was stationed in the Pacific. On Feb. 19, 1941, he landed on Iwo Jima with the third wave, keeping communication lines open. Harper was at the north end of the island when the U.S. flag was raised four days later. Before he was discharged, his unit occupied Japan at the end of the war.

Returning home after the war, Chuck went to work for Standard Oil Company then Elko Liquid Gas, which later became Southwest Gas, serving as manager for 25 years. He met schoolteacher Mary Reese and they were married June 9, 1950. Together they raised four children: Reese, Doug, Lloyd and Marilyn.

Chuck and Mary joined the Northeastern Nevada Historical Society in 1958. They worked to raise funds to build the museum, helping with old-fashioned Fourth of July celebrations in the City Park.

Over the years, Chuck and Mary served as elders in the Elko Presbyterian Church. Mary volunteered for Cub Scouts and was a member of the Junior Twentieth Century Club, PEO Sisterhood, and the American Association of University Women. She was also a member of a local group for left-handed Elkoans.

Chuck was also heavily involved in the community as a member of the board of directors of the Historical Society, was elected to the City Council and served on the Elko Auditorium Authority Board to build the Convention Center.

After Chuck retired, he and Mary traveled around the country and to Europe, China and Japan, making many trips with Sarah Sweetwater. Mary also took art classes from Sweetwater at Northern Nevada Community College, now Great Basin College.

Chuck recently stepped down from the Northeastern Nevada Museum board of directors after serving over 55 years. Today, he and Mary are approaching their 67th wedding anniversary.
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri (C) prays over the tomb of his father, slain former prime minister Rafiq Hariri, in Beirut on February 14, 2017

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Monday he stood firm against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's "crimes", at an event marking the anniversary of his father's assassination that he has blamed on Damascus.

Hariri, whose father Rafiq Hariri was killed along with 22 other people in a February 14, 2005 bomb blast on the Beirut seafront, was appointed prime minister in November for a second time, under an arrangement struck with the pro-Syrian Shiite group Hezbollah.

"We negotiated and we made compromises to preserve stability" in Lebanon, he said in an address to a packed hall in Beirut.

"We have not made, and will not make, any compromise on principles such as the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, on our point of view on Assad's regime, our stand on illegitimate arms and on Hezbollah's implication in Syria," he said to loud applause.

The Hague-based tribunal is responsible for trying Rafiq Hariri's assassination.

Saad Hariri and his allies demand the disarmament of Hezbollah and its withdrawal from Syria where the Shiite group that also forms part of the Lebanese government has been battling alongside Assad's forces.

Hezbollah, the only group not to have disarmed in the aftermath of Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war, insists its arsenal is essential to defend the country against Israel, with which it fought a devastating 2006 summer war.

Five Hezbollah members have been accused by the international court of involvement in the 2005 assassination of Rafiq Hariri, himself a former Lebanese premier.

Both the Syrian government and Hezbollah have repeatedly denied involvement.
A member from the "Rebirth Generation", a group of Iraqi youths who are trying to revive the embattled city of Mosul, distributes balloons as they organise an event to mark Valentine's Day on February 14, 2017

Valentine's Day returned Tuesday to the eastern sector of the Iraqi city of Mosul from where the Islamic State group was expelled last month, at least for a group of enthusiastic schoolchildren.

"My feelings for you flow like a river, and will flow on for the rest of my life," young volunteers recited in front of the children at one school, as plastic roses, balloons and heart-stickered pens were handed around.

In a celebration of "love for our liberated city", multi-coloured confetti was scattered across the floor and in the children's hair, as they awaited the arrival of a big cream cake.

"This February 14 will be unforgettable!" was the verdict of schoolgirl Manal.

"I knew there was an event that celebrates love but this is the first time I've had the chance to take part," said the girl with honey-coloured eyes lined with black kohl, framed by a traditional niqab covering the rest of her face and hair.

Nour, aged 14, was equally enthralled.

Students hold ballons during a Valentine's Day event at a school in the eastern part of Mosul

"To hold a feast with girls and boys in the same room, with music, simply to have fun, this was unthinkable just a few months ago," she said.

Organisers of the Mosul-style Valentine's Day, however, remained on their guard, preventing children from venturing out into the courtyard of the Azzuhur school, whose name means flowers in Arabic.

Drones operated by the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group still overfly parts of eastern Mosul retaken by Iraqi forces.

"Daesh has threatened to attack any schools which reopen. We're not safe here. They can still reach us from the western bank (of the Tigris River dividing the city) or with suicide bombers," warned Farid, a volunteer of the Nahdat Jeel (Rebirth Generation), using an Arabic acronym for IS.

The group, made up of around 300 local young men and women aged between 15 and 30, was formed a month ago through contacts on social media, and it has set itself the task of cleaning up schools and hospitals, repainting public squares and planting trees.

- 'Get rid of traces' of IS -

"We must get rid of all trace of Daesh, whether visible or symbolic," said Rafal Muzaffar, 26.

The many slogans splattered on the walls to glorify the "caliphate" proclaimed by IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi from a Mosul mosque in 2014 at the start of the group's two-year rule of the city have almost all disappeared.

"We're trying to carry out symbolic actions that provide a sharp contrast with what life was like over the past two years," said Muzaffar, dressed in a long black tunic and yellow scarf.

Last week, the all-Muslim group worked on cleaning up a huge church nicknamed "The Titanic" because of its ship-like shape, "to show that in Mosul our differences are our strength", she said.

Mohamed Namoq, one of Nahdat Jil's founders, was jailed and tortured by IS for almost two months for having recited poems on the radio that the group deemed subversive.

"Whatever the threats we face, nothing can stop us from carrying on and from shouting it out loud and clear, something we should have done long ago," said Namoq.

Haneen, 17, is also determined to play a role in restoring life to Mosul. "All young people should take part, not only boys but girls as well," she said.

As for celebrating Valentine's Day, that was "magical, because how can you live without love?" she asked, while pointing out shyly -- in deference to her conservative society -- that she does not have a boyfriend.
The Democratic Republic of Congo's government says violent clashes between the outlawed BDK group and police killed 27 people in 2008, while UN and civilian sources put the death toll at nearer 100

Eight suspected members of an outlawed political-religious group were critically injured and 22 arrested in clashes with police in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) capital, police sources said Tuesday.

Violence erupted late Monday and continued into Tuesday when police stormed a house believed to harbour members of the Bundu dia Kongo (BDK) movement.

BDK stands for "Kingdom of the Kongo" in the Kikongo language and members, known as the Makessa, are hostile to the police as symbols of the vast central African state's authority.

"Twenty-two people were arrested including eight who were critically injured," said police spokesman Pierre Rombaut Mwanamputu.

He said two cars were torched by BDK members and that police recovered six automatic rifles.

The movement, concentrated in the southwest, seeks the restoration of the former Congolese kingdom inside pre-colonial boundaries, which would comprise parts of Angola, Congo and Gabon.

Police and other witnesses told AFP shots could be heard near the residence of BDK's spiritual leader Ne Muanda Nsemi, which was cordoned off by police.

Nsemi, a member of parliament in Kinshasa who has never been arrested, was not found.

In videos recently posted online, Nsemi called for an insurrection against President Joseph Kabila.

"In two weeks, I will strike," he says in one video posted a few days ago.

The government has accused BDK followers of a string of violent attacks in western DRCongo since January.

The government says violent clashes between the group and police killed 27 people in 2008, while UN and civilian sources put the death toll at nearer 100.
Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris said he will return to politics to press for more freedoms in the North African country after staying away out of frustration

Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris said on Tuesday that he is returning to politics to press for more freedoms in the North African country after staying away out of frustration.

"To the esteemed people who are listening to us... we have the right to give advice. Let the public space to be open and allow us to speak," Sawiris told a news conference in Cairo.

Egypt's second-richest man with a net worth of $3.8 billion according to Forbes, Sawiris founded the liberal Free Egyptians party soon after the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime president Hosni Mubarak.

"I was very sad and distant... (but) not sad about the Free Egyptians party. I'm sad about the whole system," he said.

Sawiris, who runs a business empire across the Middle East, Africa and Europe, said he was fighting a takeover by the president of the party, whom he accuses of being a rubberstamp for the authorities.

Criticism by political parties is rare in Egypt, where President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's supporters are quick to name critics as traitors who may be aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi, the former Islamist president ousted by Sisi in 2013.

Sawiris says the party's board of trustees was prepared for a long legal "battle" to take control of the party.

"We don't have to agree with the authorities on everything," said the 62-year-old.

"We are saying to the state from here that we are not against the state. We obey the law," he said.

Sawiris cited legislation he said party lawmakers should have opposed, or tried to amend or have scrapped.

The party should have moved against a law banning "contempt of religion which they are using to imprison people including intellectuals," said Sawiris.

The tycoon said the party should have stood up against a law that places restrictions on NGOs, along with one that oversees the media.
Jakarta's governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama singing the Indonesian national anthem during his final campaign rally in Jakarta on February 11, 2017

Jakarta goes to the polls Wednesday with the city's Christian governor fighting to keep his job in a high-stakes election seen as a test of religious tolerance in Muslim-majority Indonesia.

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, who is standing trial for blasphemy, faces two prominent Muslim challengers in the race to lead the teeming capital of 10 million, as local elections take place around the country.

But the stakes in the Jakarta vote have been raised by allegations that Purnama, the city's first non-Muslim governor for half a century and its first ethnic Chinese leader, insulted the Koran.

The claims drew hundreds of thousands of conservative Muslims onto the streets of Jakarta in major protests last year, and Purnama has been put on trial in a case criticised as unfair and politically motivated.

He has not been barred from running for re-election but his lead in opinion polls has shrunk, and the vote is now seen as a test of whether pluralism and a tolerant brand of Islam in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country are being eroded.

"There is a battle between those who promote tolerance and those who promote intolerance," Ismail Hasani, research director of rights group Setara Institute, told AFP.

Polls are due to open at 7:00 am (0000 GMT) and close at 1:00 pm (0600 GMT).

An early vote tally released in the afternoon should give an indication of how the candidates have performed although official results will not be announced until mid-March.

The vote is likely to go to an April run-off.

Religious and ethnic tensions have made for a dirty race with "fake news" flooding social media, and 27,000 security forces will be deployed in Jakarta on election day.

The governor's opponents are Agus Yudhoyono, the son of a former president, and ex-education minister Anies Baswedan, who also has powerful political backers.

About 100 other local elections will take place on Wednesday but the race in the capital is the most hotly contested, with the top job in Jakarta seen as a stepping stone to victory in the 2019 presidential polls.

Purnama's troubles began in September when he said in a speech that his rivals were tricking people into voting against him using a Koranic verse, which some interpret as meaning Muslims should only choose Muslim leaders.

The controversy is a high-profile example of the religious intolerance that has become more common in Indonesia, where 90 percent of its 255 million inhabitants are Muslim, with a surge of attacks on minorities in recent years.

Purnama, known by his nickname Ahok, won popularity for trying to improve traffic-choked, chaotic Jakarta by cleaning up rivers and demolishing red-light districts, although his combative style and controversial slum clearances sparked some opposition.

His support slipped after the blasphemy controversy erupted but has bounced back and most recent polls show him in the lead, although if the vote goes to a run-off he is seen as likely to lose.

If he does win the vote and is convicted of blasphemy, which could see him sentenced to up to five years in prison, he would not automatically be barred from holding office and could avoid jail for a long time by filing successive appeals.
Search and seizure team members (L) from the USS Vella Gulf close in to apprehend suspected pirates (R) in the Gulf of Aden in 2009

The United States is increasingly worried about pirate attacks off West Africa and is committed to helping countries bolster security in the region, a US diplomat said Tuesday.

At least 27 attacks on boats, including robberies, kidnappings or failed attempts, have occurred off the West Africa coast since April, according to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

Off Africa's east coast however -- a former hotbed of pirate activity notably based in Somalia -- only two attacks have been reported in the period.

"Creating .. national strategies for maritime security is an essential first step," said Andrew Haviland, charge d'affaires at the US embassy in Ivory Coast's economic capital Abidjan.

He was speaking at the opening of a US-organised conference on sea security attended by officials from 15 African countries that runs through Friday.

Countries along the Gulf of Guinea stretching from Senegal to Angola have been trying to cooperate on improving maritime security, but they have limited resources for pursuing pirates.

"So we need legal frameworks in our own countries and with our neighbours... in order to bring criminals to justice," Haviland said.

More than 40 African countries pledged to step up the fight against piracy at a summit meeting in Lome, Togo, in October.

The United States will support these efforts through its Africa Centre for Strategic Studies, financed by the US Defense Department.

World piracy has been on the decline since 2012 after international naval patrols were launched off East Africa in response to a spate of violent assaults by Somali-based pirates and others.

The number of pirate attacks off Nigeria rose from 14 in 2015 to 36 last year, the International Maritime Bureau said last month.
The White House announced that Michael Flynn has resigned as President Donald Trump's national security advisor, amid escalating controversy over his contacts with Moscow

The White House on Wednesday struggled to contain fallout from the resignation of the US national security advisor, as Moscow denied reports of contacts between Donald Trump's presidential campaign and Russian officials.

The New York Times reported that US intelligence agents intercepted calls showing that members of Trump's 2016 campaign had repeated contacts with top Russian intelligence officials in the year preceding the November 8 presidential election.

US intelligence agencies concluded in January that Russia had intervened in the US electoral process at least in part to help Trump. US agents are now trying to determine whether the Trump campaign cooperated with Moscow to disrupt Democrat Hillary Clinton's campaign, The Times reported.

The newspaper, citing current and former US officials, said that no such evidence has yet emerged.

Former Trump advisor Paul Manafort, who was among those campaign officials heard on the calls, told The Times that the claims were "absurd."

Michael Flynn

Trump himself took fresh aim at the media in a tweet Wednesday, without mentioning the Times.

"The fake news media is going crazy with their conspiracy theories and blind hatred. @MSNBC & @CNN are unwatchable. @foxandfriends is great!"

In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the latest allegations.

"Don't believe newspaper reports, it's very difficult at the moment to differentiate them from falsehoods and fabrications," Peskov told reporters.

- Trump warned about Flynn -

"If you don't mind let's wait and let's not believe anonymous information, which is information based on no fact," he said.

The White House admitted Tuesday that Trump was told three weeks ago that ousted national security advisor Michael Flynn may have misled colleagues about his Kremlin contacts.

Senate Majority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell said it was "highly likely" that Michael Flynn would have to testify before an intelligence panel

The retired three-star general and former head of US defense intelligence initially denied discussing sanctions strategy with Russia's ambassador Sergey Kislyak before taking office, a move that may have breached US law on negotiating with foreign powers.

Flynn was asked to resign on Monday, after what the White House said was an internal investigation that showed no wrongdoing but "eroded" trust.

Flynn is the third Trump aide to step back amid questions about his ties to Russia since the mogul began his improbable White House bid.

- Misleading Pence? -

His departure follows those of Manafort and Carter Page, an early foreign policy advisor to the candidate.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer strongly denied that Trump had instructed Flynn to discuss possibly rolling back sanctions that Obama imposed on Russia.

David Petraeus is a counterinsurgency expert who is seen as a possible candidate as national security advisor

The White House had painted Trump's final decision as based on Flynn misleading Vice President Mike Pence.

But it emerged Tuesday that Trump kept Pence in the dark for two weeks.

Spokesman Marc Lotter said Pence only learned the issue in media reports.

The unprecedented early resignation of a key staff member has rocked an administration already buffeted by leaks, infighting and legal defeats.

When first informed, on January 26, that Flynn may have made misleading statements about his talks with Russia's envoy, Spicer said the president "instinctively thought that General Flynn did not do anything wrong."

The White House legal counsel "determined that there is not an illegal issue, but rather a trust issue," Spicer said.

"The evolving and eroding level of trust as a result ... is what led the president to ask for General Flynn's resignation."

The White House also insisted that Trump -- despite repeatedly professing admiration for Vladimir Putin and suggesting sanctions could be lifted -- "has been incredibly tough on Russia."

In a new hardening of the US line on Russia, Spicer added that "President Trump has made it very clear he expects the Russian government to de-escalate violence in the Ukraine and return Crimea."

The State Department expressed concern that Russia is in breach of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, after reports that Moscow had deployed an operational ground-launched cruise missile unit.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov plans to meet his US counterpart Rex Tillerson on Thursday in Germany, when both diplomats will be in Bonn for the G20 ministerial talks, a foreign ministry spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Lavrov will "discuss bilateral relations, which were taken into a dead end by the previous administration," the spokeswoman said.

Also on the agenda: "the main international crises which our countries have cooperated on and must cooperate," as well as "regional issues," she said.

- Inquiries and missteps -

The White House's efforts are likely to do little to assuage concerns on Capitol Hill about Russia's influence in US politics.

Republicans and Democratic lawmakers have now called for an investigation into what occurred, although they differ sharply on the scope and powers.

Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren insisted that Trump "owes Americans a full account" of his campaign and administration's dealings with Moscow.

The Senate's top Republican Mitch McConnell said it was "highly likely" that Flynn would have to testify before an intelligence panel.

The Times also reported that the FBI had interviewed Flynn on his calls with the Russian diplomat days into his job.

The CIA, FBI and other intelligence agencies have already investigated Moscow's influence over the 2016 vote, concluding the Kremlin tried to sway it in Trump's favor.

Various committees in the Republican-controlled Congress are looking into Russia's election-related hacking and the Trump campaign's links to Moscow.
NBC news will be taking a reported 25 percent stake in Euronews in order for the news organization to establish a global reach

NBC News announced Tuesday it was taking a stake in Europe-based media group Euronews, allowing the US group to compete on a global scale in the TV news business.

"For as long as I can remember, at NBC News we've wanted to establish a global reach for our news organization that matches our impact and reputation in the United States," said NBC News group chairman Andy Lack.

"We now have a fantastic opportunity to do just that, and to begin to write an exciting new chapter in he remarkable history of NBC News."

The NBC statement did not include financial details, but a source close to the matter said the stake in Euronews would amount to 25 percent.

The move will help NBC -- a unit of Comcast's NBCUniversal -- compete with rivals such as CNN and BBC that reach viewers around the globe.

"We plan to marry the power of the NBC News brand and the talent of our people with a formidable news asset in Europe in order to create an international offering that will strengthen our news organization and change the landscape of international news," Lack said.

The new venture will be called Euronews NBC.

"By joining forces with Euronews and their nearly 500 journalists, our audience on the broadcast network, on MSNBC and our digital platforms will benefit from a greatly expanded news gathering capability," he added.

"And we will reach 277 million new households in 13 languages across Europe, Africa and the Middle East."

Euronews was founded in 1993 as an alliance of some 20 public broadcasters. In 2015, it sold a controlling stake to Egyptian telecom and media magnate Naguib Sawiris. It is based in France.

As part of the new initiative, the US group named its executive Deborah Turness as the first president of NBC News International.

Turness, who previously worked at Britain's ITV News, "is perfectly positioned to make sure we seize this opportunity -- one that is unprecedented for any US broadcast entity," Lack said.

"She's driven the news division on big scoops and exclusives and considerably upped our game on covering international news. Her commitment to 'journalism with a capital J' can be seen in the many prestigious awards NBC News has won in the last few years."
Environmental activists and local government officials warned more than a decade ago about the risk of catastrophic flooding below a major Northern California dam - the very scenario that threatened to unfold over the weekend, prompting evacuation orders for nearly 200,000 people.

State and federal regulators dismissed those fears at the time, saying they were confident the hillside that helps hold back hundreds of billions of gallons of water was stable and did not need to be reinforced with concrete.

That decision has come under scrutiny now that the hillside - or emergency spillway, as officials call it - has been put to its first test in the Oroville Dam's nearly 50-year history.

The water from the Feather River flows through Oroville, Calif., Monday, Feb. 13, 2017. Water levels at Lake Oroville, which feeds the river are continuing to drop, stopping water from spilling over the spillway. Thousands of Northern California residents were asked to evacuate their homes Sunday evening after authorities warned the emergency spillway of the Oroville Dam could fail at any time unleashing uncontrolled flood waters on towns below. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Over the weekend, water from the storm-swollen lake behind the dam spilled down the unpaved slope for 38 hours, eroding it enough that authorities feared a huge breach could open and send a 30-foot-high surge of water down the Feather River below, devastating thousands of homes.

The danger eased Monday as the water level behind the dam dropped, but more rain was in the forecast, and residents as far as several dozen miles downriver in Yuba City were advised to stay out of their homes because of flood danger.

At 770-feet, Oroville Dam is the nation's tallest. It stands about 70 miles north of Sacramento in the foothills of the northern Sierra Nevada.

In 2005, at the start of the dam's still-unfinished relicensing process, environmental groups asked federal regulators to require that the California Department of Water Resources "armor" the hillside - or reinforce it, typically with concrete or boulders - to prevent potentially catastrophic erosion from water escaping when the reservoir was cresting over full capacity.

The groups said rocks and other debris could be swept into the river, damaging highway bridges and power plants downstream. In a worst case, they warned, a major breach would unleash floods that could take lives and destroy property.

Also in 2005, officials with Sutter County, which the Feather River runs through several dozen miles downstream of the dam, asked federal regulators to "investigate the adequacy and structural integrity" of the hillside and how it would hold during "extreme flood releases."

"I think that the warning that was given should have been taken with the utmost seriousness," said Bob Wright, an attorney at Friends of the River, which raised the issue along with the Sierra Club and South Yuba River Citizens League.

Bill Croyle, acting head of the Department of Water Resources, refused to comment on the 2005 concerns, saying he was not familiar with them and would need to research the matter.

Speaking late Monday at the state's emergency-operations center in Sacramento, Gov. Jerry Brown also said he had not known of the warnings about the emergency spillway, and said public officials depend on the recommendations of their engineers. "They tell us what we need and we do it," Brown said.

"But we live in a world of risk," Brown added. "Stuff happens and we respond."

Last week, officials tried to relieve pressure on the dam by releasing a torrent of water through an adjacent, concrete-lined primary channel designed to handle heavy flows. When the deluge gouged out hundreds of feet of the concrete bottom, dam managers eased off those controlled releases. Water then began spilling down the hillside.

Back when environmentalists and local officials were raising their concerns, the water resources department dismissed the need to fortify the hillside, insisting it would not be in danger if water cascaded down it.

The hillside was designed to handle the "probable maximum flood," and annual dam inspections include a review of the spillway's structural integrity, according to a May 2006 filing by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and other water agencies in the state that could have been in line to help pay for the upgrades to the dam. The cost of reinforcing the hillside was not immediately clear.

In the filing, the water agencies told federal regulators that environmentalists and local officials did not show that the emergency spillway posed a public risk.

As part of the relicensing application, state water resources department officials wrote in a final environmental impact report dated June 2008 that no "significant concerns" about the hillside's stability had been raised in any government or independent review.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the agency that oversees the dam's relicensing and received the request for armoring, agreed that paving was not needed. An agency spokeswoman said the original, 50-year license for the dam expired in January 2007, but it has been automatically renewed each year pending a full renewal

"We have just, in December 2016, received all the necessary permits and other documents we need before issuing a final decision on the application," spokeswoman Mary O'Driscoll said. She would not answer other questions about the relicensing application.

In a July 2006 memo to managers, first reported by The Mercury-News, a senior civil engineer with the agency's San Francisco office wrote that the agency determined dam safety "would not be compromised in the rare event of an emergency spillway discharge."

Engineer John Onderdonk also wrote that, "it is acceptable for the emergency spillway to sustain significant damage."

___

Knickmeyer reported from Sonoma, California, and Pritchard reported from Los Angeles. Contributing were John Flesher in Traverse City, Michigan; Matthew Daly in Washington; Sophia Bollag in Sacramento and Angel Kastanis and John Antczak in Los Angeles.

CORRECTS DATE TO MONDAY FEB 13, NOT 12 - Water continues to run down the main spillway at Lake Oroville on Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, in Oroville, Calif. The water level dropped Monday behind the nation's tallest dam, reducing the risk of a catastrophic spillway collapse and easing fears that prompted the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people downstream. Sunday afternoon's evacuation order came after engineers spotted a hole on the concrete lip of the secondary spillway for the 770-foot-tall Oroville Dam and told authorities that it could fail within the hour. (Randy Pench/The Sacramento Bee via AP)
PARIS (AP) - American-Egyptian author Mona Eltahawy is one of many activists and human rights advocates targeted in a sweeping cyberespionage campaign blamed on Egypt's government, The Associated Press has found.

A booby-trapped email sent to Eltahawy and examined by the AP shows that she was targeted by the same password-stealing technique used to try to compromise staff at more than half a dozen Egyptian human rights organizations. Digital clues such as matching email addresses employed to send the malicious messages and the use of the same credential-harvesting website proved the same actor was involved.

Eltahawy, a fierce critic of Egypt's government who has frequently complained about state surveillance, said she felt violated but not surprised.

FILE - In this Thursday, March 8, 2012 file photo, Egyptian activist Samira Ibrahim, left, and Mona Eltahawy, a prominent Egyptian-born U.S. columnist, center, march in downtown Cairo, Egypt to mark International Women's Day. The Associated Press has found that the prominent American author is among dozens of activists, lawyers and human rights advocates who have been targeted in a sweeping cyberespionage campaign blamed on the Egyptian government. Booby-trapped emails sent to Eltahawy in December came from the same address behind the distribution of identical malicious messages to a host of other activists across Egypt.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File)

"I'm used to this from the Egyptian regime," she said in a series of telephone conversations with the AP. "I'm not trying to belittle what they've done, but I'm used to this."

Officials in Cairo have yet to speak publicly about the barrage of malicious messages, also known as phishing emails, sent to civil society figures in recent months. The campaign, exposed by internet watchdog group Citizen Lab earlier this month, prompted Eltahawy to tweet that she was among its targets. Eltahawy's partner later forwarded copies of the emails to the AP.

The message itself was closely tailored to Eltahawy's concerns. An outspoken commentator on feminism, the Arab world and Egypt, Eltahawy was a constant media presence during the country's 2011 uprising. She also has a sizeable following on Twitter, where she regularly shares news about activists caught up in Egypt' grinding crackdown on dissent. Ever since Egypt's 2013 military takeover, local rights groups have had their assets frozen, their staff detained and their leaders banned from traveling abroad.

On Dec. 7, women's rights attorney Azza Soliman was arrested. In the following week, Eltahawy fielded social media messages about the lawyer's upcoming court date. So when she received an email labeled "an important document about Azza Soliman," she opened it right away.

"I usually never go and click on documents that are sent to me by people I don't know," she said. "But because this was Azza and I was very upset about what had happened to her, I immediately went and clicked."

Eltahawy said she realized she had been fooled, especially after she received additional suspicious emails the next day and realized there was activity on her account she didn't recognize.

"Someone logged onto my computer from another neighbourhood in Cairo!" she wrote to her partner via WhatsApp at the time. "Those (expletive) bastards!"

Eltahawy and other activists blame the government for the break-in. An Egyptian Interior Ministry official insisted to AP - on condition of anonymity - that officials weren't involved. Circumstantial evidence such as bits of Arabic slang in the malicious sites' code isn't conclusive. The AP sent a message seeking comment to the email address used by Eltahawy's hacker earlier this month, but the message went unanswered. Hours later, the email account was deleted.

Eltahawy's experience demonstrates the power of phishing, which consists of deploying bogus emails to entice people to give up their passwords. It's the Swiss Army knife of electronic espionage - ubiquitous, cheap and, done well, it can break in almost anywhere. Eltahawy's hackers even appear to have bypassed an additional security measure known as two-factor authentication by sending out a second round of malicious messages.

Eltahawy paid them a grudging compliment.

"This is a testament to how good they are with these phishing things," Eltahawy said. "They know how to get you."

___

Online:

Raphael Satter is reachable at: http://raphaelsatter.com
ELKO  Through the efforts of school counselor Shana Thomas and TRIO coordinator Bethany Pete, Owyhee Combined School recently hosted a College and Career Fair. Colleges and employers from both Idaho and Nevada set up booths for students to peruse and ask questions.

Colleges included University of Idaho, Great Basin College, College of Southern Idaho, University of Nevada, Northwest Indian College, and Lewis and Clark State College.

The TRIO and Gear Up programs had booths set up to provide information to students. Antoinette Cavanaugh of Barrick Mining Corp. and Rochelle Thomas of the Shoshone-Paiute tribes education program were available to answer questions and provide information on financial aid and scholarships.

Employers that participated included Barrick, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, and various entities from the Shoshone-Paiute government. These entities included the Tribal Health Services, Domestic Violence Prevention Program, the Vocational Rehabilitation program, the Wildlife and Parks Department, the Fire Department, the Tribal Employment Rights Office, and the Emergency Medical Services.

Students completed questionnaires by interacting with the representatives from the various employer groups and getting signatures.

All of the seventh through 12th grade students were allowed to participate. Students were provided information related to post-secondary school, jobs and education which will help them plan for their futures after high school. Organizers said participation was outstanding. Plans for next years College and Career Fair are already being drafted.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A federal judge in San Francisco is expected to decide whether to grant initial approval to a deal worth at least $1.2 billion that aims to compensate the owners of roughly 78,000 Volkswagens that were rigged to cheat on emissions tests.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer is scheduled to consider the deal on Tuesday covering Volkswagens, Audis and Porsches with 3-liter diesel engines.

The company previously agreed to spend up to $10 billion buying back or repairing about 475,000 Volkswagens and Audi vehicles with 2-liter diesel engines.

That represents the bulk of the cars caught up in its emissions cheating scandal. The $10 billion also includes additional compensation of $5,100 to $10,000 for each vehicle owner.

The deal involving 3-liter engines before Breyer on Tuesday also offer thousands of dollars in compensation on top of buybacks or repairs.
SRINAGAR, India (AP) - Three Indian soldiers and a militant were killed Tuesday in a gunbattle in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir.

Army spokesman Col. Rajesh Kalia said the army launched an operation early Tuesday to flush out militants from a northern village following a tip that some rebels were hiding there. The soldiers had cordoned off Hajin village when a fierce gunbattle broke out in which three soldiers and a rebel were killed.

At least five other soldiers, including an army officer, were wounded in the firefight, Kalia said.

Indian paramilitary soldiers stands guard outside a base camp near the site of a gun battle with suspected rebels in Hajin Village some 38 kilometers (23.75 miles) northeast of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017. Three Indian army soldiers and a suspected rebel were killed in the gun battle in the Indian portion of Kashmir on Tuesday, officials said. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

There was no independent confirmation of the incidents.

Both India and Pakistan claim the Himalayan territory in its entirety. Rebel groups in Indian-controlled Kashmir have been fighting for independence or a merger with Pakistan since 1989. More than 68,000 people have been killed in the fighting.

Indian army soldiers carry a stretcher as they walk back towards a base camp near the site of a gun battle with suspected rebels in Hajin Village some 38 kilometers (23.75 miles) northeast of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017. Three Indian army soldiers and a suspected rebel were killed in the gun battle in the Indian portion of Kashmir on Tuesday, officials said. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

Indian army soldiers leave the site of a gun battle with suspected rebels in Hajin Village some 38 kilometers (23.75 miles) northeast of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017. Three Indian army soldiers and a suspected rebel were killed in the gun battle in the Indian portion of Kashmir on Tuesday, officials said. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

An ambulance carrying bodies of Indian army soldiers leaves a base camp near a base camp near the site of a gun battle with suspected rebels in Hajin Village some 38 kilometers (23.75 miles) northeast of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017. Three Indian army soldiers and a suspected rebel were killed in the gun battle in the Indian portion of Kashmir on Tuesday, officials said. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
WARSAW, Poland (AP) - Polish prosecutors filed charges Tuesday against a 21-year-old man who is accused of causing a traffic accident that injured Prime Minister Beata Szydlo and two other people last week.

The crash occurred Friday evening in the southern Polish city of Oswiecim, Szydlo's hometown. She had just arrived there for the weekend when the driver of her car swerved to avoid hitting a small Fiat.

Szydlo's injuries did not require surgery but doctors want her to remain hospitalized for a few more days, government spokesman Rafal Bochenek said Monday. Two security officials, one of them the car's driver, were also injured.

In this Feb. 7, 2017 Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo speaks during a press conference in Warsaw, Poland. Polish prosecutors filed charges Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017 against a 21-year-old man who is accused of causing a traffic accident that injured Szydlo and two other people last week. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz)

The prime minister's office released footage on Monday of Szydlo visiting the bedside of one of the injured security officials, walking down the hospital corridor with a strong gait. She has been meeting with government officials and signing documents from the hospital, Bochenek said.

However, she had to miss the weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Her deputy, Culture Minister Piotr Glinski, presided in her place. He said Szydlo's accident was not discussed at that meeting.

"The state is functioning perfectly," Glinski said.

Regional prosecutors in Krakow said the driver of the Fiat, identified only as Sebastian K., was charged with involuntary violation of traffic safety, a crime punishable by up to three years in prison.
GENEVA (AP) - The U.N. human rights office is citing reports that at least 101 people have been killed in clashes between soldiers in Congo and a local militia, the latest spasm of violence in the Central African country wracked by years of instability.

Rights office spokeswoman Liz Throssell said Tuesday that the violence in the Dibaya area of Kasai-Central province allegedly involved troops who "opened fire indiscriminately" when they spotted militia members mainly wielding machetes and spears between Thursday and Monday.

Some 39 women were among those killed, Throssell says, citing information from local colleagues and unspecified "sources" in the region.

Throssell says the rights office has called for a "full and independent" investigation, and urged military forces to show restraint.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - Anti-government protesters in Bahrain clashed with police on Tuesday as they marked the sixth anniversary of the tiny island kingdom's Arab Spring uprising.

Images posted on social media showed masked protesters hurling rocks and other projectiles at riot police, who responded with tear gas. Protesters elsewhere were seen marching peacefully through rain-soaked streets, carrying the national flag.

Large-scale protests led by Bahrain's Shiite majority erupted on Feb. 14, 2011, demanding political reforms from the country's Sunni monarchy. Hundreds of thousands took to the streets then, with many occupying a prominent roundabout known as Pearl Square.

Authorities backed by forces from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates eventually suppressed the protests. The government later agreed to some reforms, but low-level unrest continues.

At the United Nations, deputy spokesman Farhan Haq reiterated "U.N. concerns about restrictions on fundamental freedoms, including restrictions on fundamental freedoms including rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of association and freedom of expression in Bahrain."

"We have encouraged and continue to encourage the government to undertake meaningful and confidence-building measures including a genuine national dialogue so as to help ensure peace, stability and prosperity for all Bahrainis," Haq said.

Bahrain hosts the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - The founder of ZeekRewards has been sentenced to nearly 15 years behind bars for his lead role in an $850 million online Ponzi scheme that bilked nearly a million people in the U.S. and abroad.

Paul Burks, 70, was given three concurrent prison sentences of 14 years and eight months Monday after being convicted in July on four felony fraud charges, news outlets reported.

Burks had been free on bond for the past 4  years and could have been sentenced to up to 59 years under federal sentencing guidelines.

U.S. District Judge Max Cogburn Jr. indicated Burks most likely will spend his final days in prison, given his multiple health issues, including cancer.

"While this sentence is much lower than called for by the sentencing guidelines, it is still a severe punishment, particularly given our client's age and health," said Noell Tin, one of Burks' attorneys. An appeal of Burks' July conviction is in the works, Tin said.

Burks owned ZeekRewards.com, a Lexington, North Carolina-based website which gave incentives for recruiting new investors to an online auction site Burks also ran called Zeekler. On that site, customers were charged up to $1 to bid for the chance to buy heavily discounted consumer products such as iPads.

The site made fanciful promises of 125 percent returns at a time when the economy limped out of the Great Recession.

The scheme would have needed a miracle on the order of "the loaves and the fishes" to make good on that pledge, Cogburn said.

Investments were capped at $10,000, but people could invest on behalf of their spouses, children or other relatives. Some mortgaged homes to raise their investment and almost 90 percent of the people who bought in to the operation lost money.

"The scheme got out of hand, more than Mr. Burks may have thought was going to happen," the judge said. "But anyone could have seen what was going to occur outside himself and his (marketing) cheerleaders."
ASIA:

CHINA-TRUMP TRADEMARKS - President Donald Trump is poised to receive something that he has been trying to get from China for a decade: trademark rights to his own name. After suffering rejection after rejection in China's courts, he saw his prospects change dramatically after starting his presidential campaign. A win would create value for Trump's business empire and raise ethics questions about his administration. By Erika Kinetz. SENT: 1,450 words, photos. An abridged version has also moved.

KOREAS-TENSIONS - The U.N. Security Council strongly condemns North Korea over its latest ballistic missile launch and warns of "further significant measures" if Pyongyang doesn't stop nuclear and missile testing. By Edith M. Lederer and Eric Talmadge. SENT: 880 words, photos.

UNITED STATES-NKOREA - President Donald Trump vows to "deal with" North Korea, calling it "a big, big problem" without mentioning the ballistic missile it test-fired over the weekend or any planned American response. By Robert Burns. SENT: 40 words, photos.

NKOREA-CELEBRATIONS - North Korea celebrates its latest missile launch, which foreign experts are analyzing for evidence of advancement in the country's missile capabilities. By Eric Talmadge. SENT: 470 words.

SKOREA-POLITICS - South Korean prosecutors attempt for a second time to arrest Samsung's de facto leader, who faces bribery allegations in connection with a massive political scandal. By Youkyung Lee. SENT: 440 words, photos.

HONG KONG-POLICE CONVICTED - Seven Hong Kong police officers are convicted of a lesser charge in the assault of a pro-democracy activist whose videotaped beating during the height of 2014 pro-democracy protests sparked outrage. By Kelvin Chan. SENT: 350 words, photos.

CHINA-POLLUTION PROTEST - Residents in an oil town near the Russian border protest against a planned aluminum plant over pollution fears, in the latest example of rising demands for clean air among China's citizens. SENT: 360 words.

INDONESIA-JAKARTA ELECTION-Q&A - Residents of the Indonesian capital vote Wednesday in an election for governor that has become a battleground in a high stakes tug-of-war between conservative and moderate forces in the world's most populous Muslim nation. By Stephen Wright. SENT: 750 words, photos.

PAKISTAN - Markets and businesses are closed across much of Pakistan's Punjab province in mourning for 13 people killed in a suicide bombing claimed by a breakaway Taliban faction. SENT: 130 words, photos.

THAILAND-US - The highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Thailand since a 2014 coup urges the country to restore democracy while reaffirming the partnership between the two nations, saying America needs "a strong and stable ally" in Southeast Asia. By Dake Kang. SENT: 470 words, photos.

MYANMAR-ROHINGYA - A court in western Myanmar sentences to death a man arrested for his part in an attack on a border guard post that triggered a crackdown by security forces on the country's Muslim ethnic Rohingya minority. By Esther Htusan. SENT: 330 words.

PHILIPPINES-MINING CRACKDOWN - The Philippines' environment chief orders 75 mining contracts canceled because the projects are located in watersheds, intensifying her crackdown against mines that she says harm the environment. SENT: 300 words.

CHINA-MINE EXPLOSION - A coal mine explosion in central China leaves eight people dead and three injured, state media report. SENT: 220 words.

TAIWAN-BUS CRASH - Investigators are looking into excessive speed as the possible cause of a bus crash in Taiwan that killed 32 people and injured several others in the island's worst road accident in more than three decades. The bus flipped over while cornering on an expressway ramp in Taipei after taking a tour group to view cherry blossoms. SENT: 330 words, photos.

INDIA-CORRUPTION VERDICT - India's top court upholds the corruption conviction of the head of the ruling party in Tamil Nadu state, ending her chances of becoming the southern state's next chief minister. By Nirmala George. SENT: 400 words, photos.

KASHMIR-FIGHTING - Three Indian soldiers and a militant are killed in a gunbattle in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir. SENT: 140 words, photos.

INDIA-RUNNING WITH BULLS - For two years Jallikattu, a bull-taming tradition, had been banned in Tamil Nadu on orders of India's Supreme Court for inflicting cruelty on the animals. This year, it returned after protesters forced the government to rush new legislation exempting it from animal cruelty laws. By Bernat Armangue. SENT: 700 words, photos.

INDONESIA-ORANGUTAN EATEN - Palm oil plantation workers killed and ate a critically endangered orangutan on the island of Borneo, according to an Indonesian lawmaker who called for police to investigate what is a frequent but rarely prosecuted crime. By Niniek Karmini. SENT: 300 words.

THAILAND-VALENTINE'S DAY-VITAMINS - Just in time for Valentine's Day, the Thai government is handing out pills it calls "very magical vitamins" to prospective mothers to boost the country's falling birthrate. By Kaweewit Kaewjinda. SENT: 240 words, photos.

BUSINESS AND FINANCE:

FINANCIAL MARKETS - Shares in Europe and Asia are mostly lower in jittery trading ahead of comments to the U.S. Congress by Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen. By Elaine Kurtenbach. SENT: 590 words, photos.

JAPAN-EARNS-TOSHIBA - Japanese electronics and energy giant Toshiba Corp. says its chairman is resigning to take responsibility for problems that will result in a 713 billion yen ($6.3 billion) loss in its nuclear business. Toshiba warns, however, that unaudited financial results it announced may change "by a wide margin." By Yuri Kageyama. SENT: 340 words, photos.

MONGOLIA-MINING POLITICS - Mongolian lawmakers tell the government to revoke a private company's purchase of a stake in a major copper mine, prompting the president to warn they might scare away investors as the country tries to reverse an economic slump. By Grace Brown. SENT: 740 words, photos.

___

HOW TO REACH US:

The editor in charge at the AP Asia-Pacific Desk in Bangkok is David Thurber. Questions and story requests are welcome. The news desk can be reached at (66) 2632-6911 or by email at asia@ap.org. The Asia Photo Desk can be reached at (81-3) 6215-8941. Between 1600 GMT and 0000 GMT, please refer queries to the North America Desk in New York at (1) 212-621-1650.

Expanded AP content can be obtained from http://www.apexchange.com. For access to AP Exchange and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport@ap.org or call (1) 877-836-9477.
LAURENS, S.C. (AP) - Arguments about a lawsuit that seeks belated integration for a World War I memorial that separates the soldiers' names by race have been delayed

Lawyers for the state of South Carolina planned to argue Tuesday that the lawsuit should be thrown out. But that hearing was postponed until March.

On the other side of the lawsuit is a Greenwood group that wanted to change plaques on the World War I monument that list the dead under separate "colored" and "white" sections. They were stopped by the Heritage Act.

The act requires a two-thirds vote from the state Legislature to change any historical monument from any era of history. It was passed in 2000 when lawmakers feared a backlash against monuments and street names honoring Confederates.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Just six days into his presidency, Donald Trump was informed his national security adviser had misled his vice president about contacts with Russia. Trump kept his No. 2 in the dark and waited nearly three weeks before ousting the aide, Michael Flynn, citing a slow but steady erosion of trust, White House officials said Tuesday.

Flynn was interviewed by the FBI about his telephone conversations with Russia's ambassador to the U.S., a sign his ties to Russia had caught the attention of law enforcement officials.

But in the White House's retelling of Flynn's stunning downfall, his error was not that he discussed U.S. sanctions with the Russian before the inauguration - a potential violation of a rarely enforced law - but the fact that he denied it for weeks, apparently misleading Vice President Mike Pence and other senior Trump aides about the nature of the conversations. White House officials said they conducted a thorough review of Flynn's interactions, including transcripts of calls secretly recorded by U.S. intelligence officials, but found nothing illegal.

In this image made from a video taken on Dec. 10, 2015 and made available on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017, US President Donald Trump's former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, right, shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Moscow. Flynn, who resigned following reports that he misled White House officials about his contacts with Russia, was seen attending the 10th anniversary of the Russian television network RT in 2015 where Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a speech. A US official has told The Associated Press that Flynn was in frequent contact with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak on the day the Obama administration imposed sanctions on Russia after US intelligence reported that Russia had interfered with the US elections. (Ruptly via AP)

Pence, who had vouched for Flynn in a televised interview, is said to have been angry and deeply frustrated.

"The evolving and eroding level of trust as a result of this situation and a series of other questionable incidents is what led the president to ask General Flynn for his resignation," White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Tuesday, one day after the president asked Flynn to leave.

Flynn, in an interview with The Daily Caller News Foundation, said Monday "there were no lines crossed" in his conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

The explanation of the episode left many questions unanswered, including why Trump didn't alert Pence to the matter and why Trump allowed Flynn to keep accessing classified information and taking part in the president's discussions with world leaders up until the day he was fired.

White House officials also struggled to explain why Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway had declared the president retained "full confidence" in Flynn just hours before the adviser had to submit his letter of resignation.

Later Tuesday, The New York Times reported that U.S. agencies had intercepted phone calls last year between Russian intelligence officials and members of Donald Trump's 2016 campaign team. Current and former U.S. officials, who spoke to the Times anonymously, said they found no evidence that the Trump campaign was working with the Russians on hacking or other efforts to influence the election.

The White House shakeup, less than one month into Trump's tenure, marked another jarring setback for a new administration already dealing with tensions among top aides and a legal fight over the president's travel ban order. Flynn's firing also heightened questions about the president's friendly posture toward Russia. Democrats called for investigations into Flynn's contacts, and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said Congress needed to know whether he had been acting with direction from the president or others.

Trump initially thought Flynn could survive the controversy, according to a person with direct knowledge of the president's views, but a pair of explosive stories in The Washington Post in recent days made the situation untenable. As early as last week, he and aides began making contingency plans for Flynn's dismissal, a senior administration official said. While the president was said to be upset with Flynn, he also expressed anger with other aides for "losing control" of the story and making his young administration look bad.

Pence spokesman Marc Lotter said Pence became aware that he had received "incomplete information" from Flynn only after the first Washington Post report Thursday night. Pence learned about the Justice Department warnings to the White House around the same time.

The officials and others with knowledge of the situation were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and requested anonymity.

Ahead of the Jan. 20 inauguration, Pence and other officials insisted publicly that Flynn had not discussed sanctions in his talks with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. On Jan. 26, Acting Attorney General Sally Yates contacted White House counsel Don McGahn to raise concerns about discrepancies between the public accounting and what intelligence officials knew to be true about the contacts based on routine recordings of communications with foreign officials who are in the U.S.

The Justice Department warned the White House that the inconsistencies would leave the president's top national security aide vulnerable to blackmail from Russia, according to a person with knowledge of the discussion. The president was informed of the warnings the same day, Spicer said.

Flynn was interviewed by the FBI around the same time, according to a U.S. official was briefed on the investigation.

It was not immediately known what questions the FBI asked of Flynn or what he told law enforcement officials.

McGahn, along with chief of staff Reince Priebus and strategist Steve Bannon, also questioned Flynn multiple times in the ensuing weeks, a White House official said. Top aides also reviewed transcripts of Flynn's contacts with the ambassador, according to a person with knowledge of the review process.

At the same time, the official said Trump aides began taking steps to put some distance between the president and Flynn. CIA Director Mike Pompeo and retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, a top Flynn aide, started taking part in Trump's daily security briefings.

Top Trump advisers quietly met with Vice Admiral Robert Harward last week and spoke with the former Navy SEAL again Monday, the White House official said. Harward is seen as the top contender for the job, though former CIA Director David Petraeus and Kellogg, who has temporarily stepped into the role, are also under consideration.

Spicer said other "questionable incidents" had contributed to Flynn's firing. According to one person with knowledge of the matter, those incidents included Flynn seeking a security clearance for his son during the transition.

At the time, it was Pence who was again put in the position of defending Flynn on television, saying he had not sought a clearance for the retired general's son.

A U.S. official told The Associated Press that Flynn was in frequent contact with Kislyak on the day the Obama administration slapped sanctions on Russia for election-related hacking, as well as at other times during the transition. Spicer said Flynn was not discussing sanctions at the president's behest.

Before he resigned Monday night, Flynn told the investigative news nonprofit affiliated with the website The Daily Caller that he and Kislyak spoke only generally about the Russian diplomats expelled by President Barack Obama as part of the previous administration's response to Moscow's interference in the U.S. presidential election.

"It wasn't about sanctions. It was about the 35 guys who were thrown out," Flynn said. "It was basically: 'Look, I know this happened. We'll review everything.' I never said anything such as, 'We're going to review sanctions,' or anything like that."

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Associated Press writers Jonathan Lemire, Eric Tucker, Ken Thomas, Jill Colvin, Erica Werner and Catherine Lucey contributed to this report.

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Online: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3461508-Michael-Flynn-Resignation-Letter.html

Follow Julie Pace at http://twitter.com/jpaceDC and Vivian Salama at http://twitter.com/vmsalama

In this Feb. 12, 2017, photo, National Security Adviser Michael Flynn boards Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Fla., as he return to Washington with President Donald Trump. Flynn resigned as President Donald Trump's national security adviser Monday, Feb. 13, 2017. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

White House Press secretary Sean Spicer points as he answers questions from members of the media during the daily briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Kellyanne Conway, senior adviser to President Donald Trump, watches during a meeting with parents and teachers, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

FILE- In this Feb. 1, 2017, file photo, National Security Adviser Michael Flynn speaks during the daily news briefing at the White House, in Washington. Flynn resigned as President Donald Trump's national security adviser Monday, Feb. 13, 2017. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2017, file photo, President Donald Trump accompanied by, from second from left, Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, Vice President Mike Pence, White House press secretary Sean Spicer and National Security Adviser Michael Flynn speaks on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington. Flynn resigned as President Donald Trump's national security adviser Monday, Feb. 13, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) - Cyprus expects its economy to grow between 2.5 percent and 3 percent this year as it recovers from its recent financial crisis and bailout.

Finance Minister Harris Georgiades said Tuesday the economy has rebounded strongly and is making up lost ground after the country in 2013 sought out a multibillion-euro rescue deal from its eurozone partners to save it from bankruptcy.

Georgiades said unemployment in 2016 fell 1.6 percentage points from the previous year to 13.3 percent. Public finances ended last year with a slight fiscal surplus of 0.1 percent of GDP.

The minister said authorities are confident the economy is on an upward trajectory despite risks. He said it's in the hands of Cypriots to avoid past mistakes that brought Cyprus to the brink of financial ruin.
Feb. 13

Lacrishna P. Bodley, 34, of Elko was arrested at 2065 Idaho St. for possession to sell a controlled substance, conspiracy to violate the controlled substance act, child abuse or neglect, and violation of probation or condition of suspended sentence. Bail: $32,500

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Sergio A. Bostick, 30, of Elko was arrested on Lamoille Highway for driving under the influence; speeding 11  15 miles over the posted limit; failure to maintain a lane or make a proper lane change; failure to turn on signals when required; and failure to change the name or address on his drivers license. Bail: $1,730

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Bryant T. Matticks, 34, of Elko was arrested at 2065 Idaho St. for possession to sell a controlled substance, conspiracy to violate the controlled substance act, and abuse or neglect of a child. Bail: $32,500

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Shawn R. Morrison, 29, of Spring Creek was arrested at 952 Spring Valley Parkway for being a fugitive felon from another state. No bail listed.
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - Brazilian President Michel Temer issued a decree on Tuesday to deploy 9,000 soldiers in Rio de Janeiro's metropolitan area until Feb. 22, one week before Carnaval ends. That's almost half the troops used during last year's Olympic Games.

The decision partly fulfills Rio de Janeiro Gov. Luiz Fernando Pezao's request to have troops police the entire state until March 5. Defense Minister Raul Jungmann told a news conference that soldiers are already on the streets.

"This is pre-emptive," Jungmann said, adding that security in the state was firmly under control and resources were sufficient. "We have protests here, but that has not stopped police from working."

Brazil's President Michel Temer adjusts his microphones during a press conference at the Planalto Presidential Palace, in Brasilia, Brazil, Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, where he spoke on the security vacuum created by a "police halt" in the Brazilian state Espirito Santo. Temer called the police halt "an insurgency against the Constitution." Authorities have threatened to prosecute officers who do not respond to the calls to return to duty. The Brazilian Constitution prohibits police from going on strike. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

The soldiers are to help out amid police officers' strike threats and riots led by anarchists during state legislature votes on austerity measures as the annual Carnaval celebrations take off. Local police officers' salaries have been delayed amid financial troubles.

The deployment of soldiers across Rio state could be extended for additional days if necessary, Jungmann said.

The move comes on the heels of a widespread protest by the relatives that military police officers said kept them from patrolling for a week and sparked a crime wave in neighboring Espirito Santo state.

Authorities there opened disciplinary proceedings Tuesday against dozens of officers.

Temer has called the halt in Espirito Santo "an insurgency against the Constitution."

Procedures have been initiated to fire 151 military police, said Gustavo Tenorio, a spokesman for the state's Public Safety Department. Another 10 will be opened later this week and investigations into four senior officers have been initiated.

Because military police play a key role in providing security in Brazil, they are not allowed to strike.

Authorities insist the officers were behind the protests and were effectively holding an illegal strike.

Several hundred military police have now returned to duty in Espirito Santo. Federal troops, called in at the height of the crisis, continue to help patrol.
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - Ohio's blueprint for combating the algae in Lake Erie that has become a threat to drinking water calls for targeting specific watersheds and developing a monitoring network within the next year.

The strategy - first released last May and finalized just this past week - outlines how Ohio plans to reach its goal of sharply cutting the phosphorus runoff feeding the algae.

The algae blooms in recent years have contaminated drinking water supplies, turned the waters an unsightly shade of green and contributed to oxygen-deprived dead zones where fish can't survive.

Ohio along with Michigan and the Canadian province of Ontario signed a deal in 2015 to make a 40 percent reduction over the next decade.

While it's a multi-year plan that's designed to be adjusted if some solutions work better than others, it does lay out several steps for state agencies to take within the next year:

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TOP TARGETS

The state's Environmental Protection Agency will look at identifying priority watersheds that are prone to runoff around the lake's western end where it can make the biggest impact reducing the flow of phosphorus. The plan says focusing on these areas will help the state see reductions more quickly, but it doesn't mean that work to improve water quality in other areas should be neglected.

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MORE MONITORING

Within the next 12 months, the state EPA will create a water quality monitoring network that tracks how much progress is being made toward reaching the 40 percent reduction. It also will work with surrounding states and Ontario to make sure the same sampling and lab methods are being used and that there's a consistent method of collecting and reporting information. Increased monitoring will allow the overall plan to evolve over the next decade so that what's being done is most effective, EPA leaders say.

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WASTEWATER PLANTS

While scientists say fertilizers and livestock manure from farms are the main sources of the phosphorus problem, sewage from treatment plants and leaking septic tanks play a role, too. The state EPA will begin trying to find ways to reduce how much phosphorus is released into rivers and streams by small wastewater plants that don't have a permit limit for those discharges.

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FARMERS ROLE

Ohio's plan relies on convincing farmers to make changes to practices they've used for years, such as no longer spreading manure on soaked fields and encouraging them to use the right amount of fertilizer. But some environmental groups and researchers contend more needs to be done to make a big dent in the phosphorus runoff.
OROVILLE, Calif. (AP) - The Latest on problems with an emergency spillway at the nation's tallest dam (all times local):

9:40 p.m.

California's water agency says the Oroville Dam's water level continues to decrease but it hasn't said by how much.

The Feather River flows with force through Oroville, Calif., downstream from a damaged dam Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017. Workers are rushing to repair the barrier at the nation's tallest dam after authorities on Sunday ordered the evacuation for everyone living below the lake amid concerns the spillway could fail and send water roaring downstream. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Authorities said earlier the reservoir's water level had been reduced 15 feet by Tuesday afternoon. Officials hope to continue using a damaged main spillway to drain the lake another 37 feet in preparation for coming rain forecast for Wednesday night.

Over the weekend, the swollen lake spilled down the unpaved emergency spillway for nearly 40 hours, leaving it badly eroded. The problem occurred six days after engineers discovered a growing hole in the dam's main concrete spillway.

The Department of Water Resources says in a statement dozens of construction crews are dropping 1,200 tons of material on the earthen emergency spillway per hour using heavy equipment and helicopters.

It says crews are working around the clock and the area is being continually monitored with the help of drones carrying cameras.

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5:30 p.m.

The head of California's water agency says repairs to the damaged concrete spillway at Oroville Dam will cost between $100 million and $200 million.

Department of Water Resources Acting Director Bill Croyle said Tuesday that teams are already working on plans for repairing the dam's main spillway.

Croyle says the preliminary cost estimate is based on limited information. He says long-term repairs will likely begin after the spring runoff season, when crews can close the floodgates for an extended period without the lake refilling with melting snow.

In the meantime, crews are working aggressively to fortify an adjacent emergency spillway, where erosion threatened to undermine a concrete wall that holds water in the reservoir.

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5:10 p.m.

Gov. Jerry Brown says the federal government has approved aid to support the rebuilding of the shore of a damaged Northern California dam and help the affected communities.

Brown said Tuesday the Federal Emergency Management Agency approved two recent aid requests made by his office. Last week, Brown requested a presidential disaster declaration for California to reinforce recovery efforts following January storms that caused flooding, mudslides, power outages and damaged critical infrastructure across the state.

The governor thanked FEMA for moving quickly, saying "the federal aid will get money and resources where it's needed most."

Earlier Tuesday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said President Donald Trump is keeping a "close eye" on the public safety crisis caused by the Oroville Dam.

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4:10 p.m.

Rod Remocal, who lives in Biggs, west of Lake Oroville, says he and his wife were almost home an hour after officials announced an evacuation ordered had been lifted.

Remocal says they took a long route back and saw police and deputies from across Northern California stationed at every major intersection. The officers were preparing to guide the expected parade of vehicles returning home.

He says traffic was flowing smoothly, in sharp contrast with the chaotic mass flight of thousands of vehicles Sunday night.

Remocal says next time he and his wife will be prepared if the sirens sound again.

On Sunday after a firetruck with loud speaker drove around telling people to flee immediately, the couple left in a rush, grabbing their four dogs, blankets and a few important papers.

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4 p.m.

A federal lawmaker says silty water could destroy a powerhouse built into the base of Oroville Dam.

Republican Congressman Doug LaMalfa said Tuesday that officials fear "all this silty, goopy junk" eroding from nearby damaged spillways will back up into the powerhouse, ruining the turbines and electronics.

The state Department of Water Resources says the Hyatt Power Plant was taken offline last week because of high water pouring over the spillways to lower the depth of Lake Oroville.

Pacific Gas & Electric says there is no effect on its customers.

But running the powerhouse would let state officials release more water from the lake.

Department spokesman Chris Orrock says there's been no damage. He says crews are using sandbags and dredges to keep water and silt out of the power plant.

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2:45 p.m.

Hundreds of people at an emergency shelter watched a broadcast as the sheriff said people could return to their homes because the danger from a damaged dam spillway had lessened.

People staying at Neighborhood Church of Chico started packing immediately when Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea announced the evacuation order was lifted.

Margaret Johnston spent two nights at the church with her two sons. The 69-year-old Oroville resident had packed a few blankets, pillows and clothes into a black garbage bag.

She's relieved to be able to go home. But she says the mad rush to get out of Oroville was chaotic and confusing, so she's going to wait a while before driving back.

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2:35 p.m.

Bill Croyle, the acting director of California's Department of Water Resources, has listed several reasons he's confident it is safe for people to return to their homes near a damaged dam spillway.

He says experts have examined the chasm at the foot of the emergency spillway and determined that the concrete slab that holds back water in the reservoir is structurally sound. Likewise, the main spillway has been "stable" for four days.

The forecasts call for a much colder storm than the area experienced last weekend, so much of the precipitation will fall as snow instead of rain. As a result, Croyle expects more water to be released from the reservoir than let in, even during the stormy period.

Croyle also says there's now enough capacity in the lake for it to absorb an influx of water if necessary. And after days of work to reinforce the drainage area beneath the emergency spillway, Croyle said he wouldn't be concerned about using it if necessary.

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2:25 p.m.

Officials say the decision to lift the evacuation order for nearly 200,000 people living below a damaged dam in California has taken into account updated weather forecasts.

A storm later this week is expected to be colder, with less rain. Therefore, not as much water is expected to flow into the reservoir behind Oroville Dam than drenching storms last week.

Strong storms this winter have dropped large amounts of rain on Northern California - a region on track to have its wettest year ever recorded.

National Weather Service forecasters say the mountains surrounding the Oroville Dam received between 10 and 20 inches of rain late last week.

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2:05 p.m.

A California sheriff says residents returning home near a damaged dam should be prepared for "the prospect that we will issue another evacuation order."

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said Tuesday that they could tell people to leave again "if the situation changes." The first signs that the order was lifted came when Caltrans lifted road closures in the area at 11:30 a.m. PST.

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2 p.m.

A California sheriff says the risks to a damaged spillway at the nation's tallest dam are significantly reduced because an inspection found no further erosion.

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said Tuesday that experts found no additional damage to "compromise the overall integrity" of the spillway. He says the lake behind Oroville Dam also is capable of handling additional rain from an expected storm this week.

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1:55 p.m.

Authorities have lifted an evacuation order for nearly 200,000 California residents who live below a dam with a damaged spillway that threatened to collapse and cause catastrophic flooding.

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said Tuesday that residents should stay prepared in case the situation changes. He says the water level at the lake behind Oroville Dam, the nation's tallest, is low enough to accommodate an expected storm.

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12:50 p.m.

The National Weather Service's Sacramento office says rain will move through late Wednesday and Thursday morning, with 2 inches to 4 inches in the foothills and mountains. But the storm is looking colder than initially projected, meaning lower snow levels and less runoff into Sierra reservoirs than the storms last week.

The brunt of a Friday storm appears to be headed toward Southern California, with lighter rain in the north. Forecasters say rain will diminish Saturday, pick up on Sunday, followed by a wetter, more dynamic storm Monday into Tuesday.

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12:40 p.m.

A California dam inspector says authorities may never know the exact causes of the earth and concrete blow-outs below the Lake Oroville dam.

Emergency crews were working Tuesday to fill a hole in the emergency spillway for flood-water from the dam, which is the nation's tallest. Trouble at Lake Oroville started a week ago when workers noticed torrential rain and snow-melt had torn a hole in the dam's main spillway.

Eric Holland of the state Department of Water Resources' dam-safety division says any of a number of different problems could have caused the spillway troubles. Holland says authorities often never discover in these cases what exactly happened, because flood water has washed out everything at the scene.

Authorities have evacuated nearly 200,000 people in three counties while they work to ensure the dam can handle more rain expected later this week.

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12:30 p.m.

A little boy turning 3 years old at a California evacuation shelter almost didn't get a birthday party this year.

With just three hours left on his big day Monday, a group of California Highway Patrol officers showed up with a makeshift celebration at the Chico shelter. They brought him an ice cream cake, a balloon, a Captain America figurine, and of course, a song.

A Facebook Live video of the touching moment has gotten more than 40,000 views in just 12 hours and nearly 900 shares and counting.

CHP Officer Logan Callahan says he learned of the boy's birthday earlier in the day from the boy's father, who expressed disappointment in not being able to make his son a cake.

A father of a boy the same age, Callahan says he just had to do something.

Mike Wrobel, an area man who took the video, says other evacuees joined in the song and everyone was "grinning ear to ear."

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12:05 p.m.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer says President Donald Trump is keeping a "close eye" on the public safety crisis caused by a damaged Northern California dam.

Some 200,000 residents have been ordered evacuated after officials feared a spillway at the country's tallest dam was in danger of imminent failure. Water levels in the lake behind Oroville Dam have since receded, lessening the danger of catastrophic flooding downstream. But the evacuation order remains in place.

Spicer said at a Washington press conference that the president is in contact with state officials and working with federal disaster relief agencies.

Spicer said it's an example of why Congress needs to pass major infrastructure upgrades for the country.

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10:30 a.m.

Dozens of schools in evacuation areas below a damaged dam are closed, many for the week.

Nearly 200,000 people who evacuated over fears that a spillway at Lake Oroville could fail and unleash a wall of water have to stay away indefinitely while officials race to repair it before more rains arrive Thursday.

Other school officials say they will keep facilities closed until authorities tell them the area is safe.

Schools in the Wheatland Union High School District, Plumas Lake Elementary School District, Yuba City and Live Oak unified school districts and Browns Elementary School District are closed.

The Marysville Joint Unified School District said Tuesday that it would close schools for the rest of the week. A dozen school districts in Butte County also are closed for the week.

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10:15 a.m.

Police say at least a handful of homes and businesses have been burglarized following an evacuation order Sunday over fears that a damaged spillway at Lake Oroville could fail.

Nearly 200,000 people who evacuated Sunday have to stay away indefinitely while officials race to repair the spillway before more rains arrive Thursday.

The Oroville Mercury Register reports (http://bit.ly/2kGTXzt ) that Lt. Gil Zarate says officers are beefing up patrols to dissuade crime amid empty homes and businesses. Police have made one arrest for burglary at a liquor store.

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8:15 a.m.

The Department of Water Resources will hold a news conference at noon to discuss progress made on repairing the damaged spillway.

Nearly 200,000 people, who evacuated Sunday over fears that a damaged spillway at Lake Oroville could fail and unleash a wall of water, have to stay away indefinitely while officials race to repair it before more rains arrive Thursday.

Crews working around the clock atop the crippled dam have made progress repairing the spillway.

Workers are hoisting giant white bags filled with rocks, and at least two helicopters will fly them to where they will be released in the spillway's erosion. Dump trucks full of boulders also are dumping their cargo on the damaged spillway.

State Department of Water Resources spokesman Chris Orrock says lake levels are dropping at a rate of 8 feet per day.

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7:40 a.m.

Crews working around the clock atop the crippled Oroville Dam have made progress repairing the damaged spillway.

Workers are hoisting giant white bags filled with rocks, and at least two helicopters will fly them and then release them in the spillway's erosion. Dump trucks full of boulders also are dumping their cargo on the damaged spillway.

State Department of Water Resources spokesman Chris Orrock says lake levels are also dropping at a rate of 8 feet per day.

The goal is to see the level at 860 feet by Thursday when inflows should begin from the expected storms. Orrock says the lake is currently at 884 feet.

The barrier at the nation's tallest dam is being repaired after authorities ordered the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people for everyone living below the lake amid concerns the spillway could fail and send water roaring downstream.

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3:30 a.m.

A huge Northern California reservoir, held in place by a massive dam, has always been central to the life of the towns around it.

Now the lake that has brought them holiday fireworks and salmon festivals could bring disaster.

Nearly 200,000 people, who evacuated Sunday over fears that a damaged spillway at Lake Oroville could fail and unleash a wall of water, have to stay away indefinitely while officials race to repair it before more rains arrive Thursday.

Evacuees felt strange on Monday to see their beloved lake associated with urgent voices on the national news.

A building is submerged from the overflowing Feather River downstream from a damaged dam at Riverbend Park on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017, in Oroville, Calif. Workers are rushing to repair the barrier at the nation's tallest dam after authorities on Sunday ordered the evacuation for everyone living below the lake amid concerns the spillway could fail and send water roaring downstream. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Police officers watch the Oroville Dam's main spillway from a lookout point Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017, in Oroville, Calif. Crews working around the clock atop the crippled Oroville Dam have made progress repairing the damaged spillway, state officials said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Jace Lawson, 1, of Oroville, Calif., bottom, sleeps as people behind wait for a meal at a shelter for evacuees from city's surrounding the Oroville Dam, Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, in Chico, Calif. The thousands of people who were ordered to leave their homes after a damaged California spillway threatened to unleash a 30-foot wall of water may not be able to return until significant erosion is repaired, authorities said Monday. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Jace Duran, 4, of Oroville, Calif., at left, waits in line for a meal at a shelter for evacuees from cities surrounding the Oroville Dam, Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, in Chico, Calif. The thousands of people who were ordered to leave their homes after a damaged California spillway threatened to unleash a 30-foot wall of water may not be able to return until significant erosion is repaired, authorities said Monday. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is heading to Germany this week on his first trip abroad as America's top diplomat, the State Department said Tuesday.

Tillerson departs on Wednesday for a meeting of foreign ministers from the Group of 20 world powers in Bonn on Thursday and Friday amid disarray in the Trump administration's national security team and European concerns over U.S. priorities on the continent as well as its commitments to NATO and other international organizations.

The State Department said that in addition to participating in large G20 sessions, Tillerson will also meet separately with counterparts from Britain, Saudi Arabia and Oman and participate in talks on Syria and Yemen. Additional meetings are also expected, although the department would not confirm a widely anticipated meeting between Tillerson and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is seen the State Department in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017. Tillerson is heading to Germany this week on his first trip abroad as America's top diplomat. The trip is occurring amid disarray in the Trump administration's national security team and European concerns over U.S. priorities and commitments. Tillerson will attend a meeting of about 20 foreign ministers in Bonn on Thursday and Friday. The State Department says he'll also meet separately with counterparts from Britain, Saudi Arabia and Oman, and participate in talks on Syria and Yemen. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Tillerson, who hopes to calm nervousness about the Trump administration's policies, will have his work cut out for him as he will almost certainly face questions about the abrupt resignation of Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump's national security adviser. Flynn stepped down on Monday for misleading White House officials about the substance of conversations he had with Russia's ambassador to the United States.

The G-20 comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, France, Britain, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the U.S. and European Union.
CHICAGO (AP) - States are moving forward with new initiatives to help workers save for retirement, even as the Republican-led Congress tries to block rules making it easier for them to do so.

Studies show a sharp divide in retirement savings between those who have employer-sponsored plans and those who do not. The state programs are designed to fill in the gap.

Dozens of small business owners recently gathered in Schaumburg, Illinois, to learn about the new state-sponsored retirement savings initiative, "Secure Choice IRA." Officials said it could help about 1.2 million workers who don't have access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan.

In this photo provided by Maria Zamudio, taken Feb. 9, 2017, Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs talks to small business owners about Secure Choice IRA, a state-sponsored retirement savings plan, in Schaumburg, Ill. States are moving forward with new initiatives to help workers save for retirement, even as the Republican-led Congress tries to block rules making it easier for them to do so. (Maria Zamudio via AP)

"It's clear there's a retirement crisis," Illinois Treasurer Michael W. Frerichs told the small business owners. "This is a problem not only for the families but for all of us."

Seven states - California, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Oregon and Washington, in addition to Illinois - are in various stages of implementing state-sponsored retirement savings plans.

California's plan will automatically enroll about 6.8 million employees. Employees can opt out of the plan and employers are not required to match contributions. Payroll deductions are expected to start in 2018.

The plans with automatic payroll deduction are IRAs and are tax-deductible, which means employees get a tax incentive because they don't pay federal taxes on the money saved for retirement until they're withdrawn.

The states programs were helped along by Labor Department rules governing automatic-enrollment and payroll deductions.

But Congress is moving to block those rules. A House vote is scheduled Wednesday.

"Our nation faces difficult retirement challenges, but more government isn't the solution," Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., the chairman of the House subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pension, said in a statement. "A better way is to reduce costly red tape and make it easier for small businesses to band together to offer retirement plans for their employees."

Walberg said there were concerns that these new retirement plans discouraged small businesses from offering private-sector plans and had inadequate safeguards.

A spokesman for Labor Secretary-nominee Andrew Puzder said it would be "premature" for the fast-food executive to comment on this issue before being confirmed.

At least 30 states have considered proposals to study or establish state-sponsored retirement savings plans over the past five years, according to the Center for Retirement Initiatives at Georgetown University.

The Labor Department estimates that as many as 70 million workers could benefit.

That includes workers like, Otto Deurloo-Willard, 31, a store manager at the Cork & Bottle Shoppe, a liquor store in Oregon. He earns $12.50 an hour, slightly higher than Oregon's minimum wage. He doesn't have a retirement plan at work and said he didn't think about saving until he got engaged.

"I'm at a different point of my life. I'm getting married, and we are planning for a life together," Deurloo-Willard said.

Americans without work-sponsored savings plans are less likely to save for retirement. Research from the nonpartisan research organization Employee Benefit Research Institute shows that 62 percent of employees with an employer-sponsored savings plan had more than $25,000 in savings and 22 percent of those workers saved $100,000. By contrast, about 94 percent of workers without access to those plans had less than $25,000, according to the 2014 study.

Those at the lower end of the income distribution are hit particularly hard, with many relying solely on Social Security when they retire, according to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.

"States win when more people are prepared for retirement and financially ready to be self-sufficient, which reduces the need for state spending on elder-support programs," said Gerri Madrid-Davis, AARP Director of State Advocacy and Strategies.

Democratic state Sen. Daniel Biss, who introduced Illinois' program, has called it the "most efficient and least intrusive way" to help people save for retirement while putting little burden on the state's employers.

But Mark Grant, Illinois director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says it adds to a long list of mandates small businesses have to fulfill.

"If a business can afford to do this kind of thing, they would do it for their employees," Grant said.

The plan, passed in 2015, limits participation to small businesses that have been open for more than two years and have at least 25 employees. The state hopes to fully implement it by 2018.

Jennifer Piacenza, operations manager for Palatine Welding Company, said she's excited about Secure Choice but worries that the 35 employees at her family business won't take advantage of it.

"We offered a retirement program to our employees and people didn't participate," Piacenza said. "We couldn't maintain it."

For his part, Deurloo-Willard says automatic retirement deductions from his paycheck are exactly want he needs.

"I've never made enough to save but what I like about this (the savings plan) is that it takes the responsibility of savings out of my hands," Deurloo-Willard said. "I don't have to think about it. It's deducted from my check."

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EDITOR'S NOTE - Maria Ines Zamudio is studying aging and workforce issues as part of a 10-month fellowship at The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, which joins NORC's independent research and AP journalism. The fellowship is funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Fired by one American commander-in-chief for insubordination, Michael Flynn has now delivered his resignation to another.

The White House said Tuesday that President Donald Trump asked for the resignation of his national security adviser, a hard-charging, feather-ruffling retired lieutenant general who just three weeks into the new administration had put himself in the center of a controversy. Flynn resigned late Monday.

At issue was Flynn's contact with Moscow's ambassador to Washington. Flynn and the Russian appear to have discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia late last year, raising questions about whether he was freelancing on foreign policy while President Barack Obama was still in office and whether he misled Trump officials about the calls.

FILE- In this Nov. 17, 2016, file photo, retired Lt. Gen Michael Flynn gestures as he arrives with his son Michael G. Flynn, left, at Trump Tower in New York. Flynn was fired by one American commander-in-chief for insubordination, Now he may removed by another. Flynn resigned as President Donald Trump's national security adviser Monday, Feb. 13, 2017. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

The uncertainty about his future had deepened Monday when the White House issued a statement saying that Trump is "evaluating the situation" surrounding Flynn. In his resignation letter, Flynn said he held numerous calls with the Russian ambassador to the U.S. during the transition and gave "incomplete information" about those discussions to Vice President Mike Pence.

The center of a storm is a familiar place for Flynn. His military career ended when Obama dismissed him as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2014. Flynn has said he was pushed out for holding tougher views than Obama about Islamic extremism. But a former senior U.S. official said the firing was for insubordination, after Flynn failed to follow guidance from superiors.

Out of government, he disappeared into the murky world of mid-level defense contractors and international influence peddlers. In December 2015, he appeared at a Moscow banquet headlined by Russian President Vladimir Putin. In 2016, Flynn, a lifelong if apolitical Democrat, became a trusted and eager confidant of Trump, joining anti-Hillary Clinton campaign chants of "Lock Her Up" and tweeting that "Fear of Muslims is RATIONAL."

As national security adviser, Flynn required no Senate confirmation vote or public vetting of his record.

The Washington Post and other U.S. newspapers, citing current and former U.S. officials, reported last week that Flynn made explicit references to U.S. sanctions on Russia in conversations with Putin's ambassador, Sergey Kislyak. One of the calls took place on Dec. 29, the day Obama announced new penalties against Russia's top intelligence agencies over allegations they meddled in the election with the objective of helping Trump win.

While it's not unusual for incoming administrations to have discussions with foreign governments before taking office, the repeated contacts just as the U.S. was pulling the trigger on sanctions suggests Trump's team might have helped shape Russia's response. They also contradicted denials about such sanctions discussions by several Trump administration officials, including the vice president. Some Democratic lawmakers want a congressional investigation.

For days, Trump had been unusually quiet on the matter. While his aides declared the president has confidence in Flynn, Trump privately told associates he was troubled by the situation. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Tuesday that Trump requested Flynn's resignation because of an erosion of trust.

Flynn's sparkling military resume had included key assignments at home and abroad, and high praise from superiors.

The son of an Army veteran of World War II and the Korean War, Flynn was commissioned as a second lieutenant in May 1981. He started in intelligence and eventually rose to senior positions, including intelligence chief for U.S. Central Command.

Ian McCulloh, a Johns Hopkins data science specialist, became a Flynn admirer while working as an Army lieutenant colonel in Afghanistan in 2009. At the time, Flynn ran intelligence for the U.S.-led international coalition in Kabul and was pushing for more creative approaches to targeting Taliban networks, including use of data mining and social network analysis, according to McCulloh.

"He was pushing for us to think out of the box and try to leverage technology better and innovate," McCulloh said, crediting Flynn for improving the effectiveness of U.S. targeting. "A lot of people didn't like it because it was different."

After leaving the military, Flynn plunged into civilian life and moved to capitalize on his military and intelligence connections and experience.

He opened his own consulting firm, Flynn Intelligence Group, assembling a crew of former armed forces veterans with expertise in cyber, logistics and surveillance. One "team" member was lobbyist Robert Kelley.

Kelley proved a central player in the Flynn Group's decision to help a Turkish businessman tied to Turkey's government. At the same time that Flynn was advising Trump on national security matters, Kelley was lobbying legislators on behalf of businessman Ekim Alptekin's firm between mid-September and December last year, lobbying documents show.

It was an odd match. Flynn stirred controversy with dire warnings about Islam, calling it a "political ideology" that "definitely hides behind being a religion." But his alarms apparently didn't extend to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government as it cracked down on dissent and jailed thousands of opponents, including many secular Turks, after a failed coup last summer.

FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2017, file photo, President Donald Trump accompanied by, from second from left, Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, Vice President Mike Pence, White House press secretary Sean Spicer and National Security Adviser Michael Flynn speaks on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington. Flynn resigned as President Donald Trump's national security adviser Monday, Feb. 13, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2014, file photo, then-Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington. Flynn resigned as President Donald Trump's national security adviser Monday, Feb. 13, 2017. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke, File)
PARIS (AP) - French authorities have launched a new investigation into alleged police abuse by an officer already accused in a rape case that sparked a week of scattered violence in the troubled suburbs of Paris.

The prosecutor's office in the Paris suburb of Bobigny announced a preliminary investigation into the new accusations Tuesday.

They came from a young black man who was quoted by Obs magazine and BFM television as saying plainclothes officers stopped him Jan. 26 for suspected drug dealing and beat him violently, spit on him and used racist slurs.

One of the officers is already under investigation in the alleged sodomizing of another young black man during an arrest Feb. 2.

The reported sexual attack has prompted violent protests in minority neighborhoods. French President Francois Hollande has called for calm.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The disputed four-state Dakota Access pipeline could be moving oil in as little as a month, though opponents are promising to continue fighting the project. Here's a look at recent developments, and what's to come:

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THE CONSTRUCTION

This aerial photo shows the Oceti Sakowin camp, where people have gathered to protest the Dakota Access pipeline on federal land, Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, in Cannon Ball, N.D. A federal judge on Monday refused to stop construction on the last stretch of the Dakota Access pipeline, which is progressing much faster than expected. (Tom Stromme/The Bismarck Tribune via AP)

Texas-based developer Energy Transfer Partners on Feb. 8 received approval from the Army to lay pipe under a Missouri River reservoir in North Dakota - the last remaining section of the 1,200-mile pipeline that would move North Dakota oil through South Dakota and Iowa to Illinois. Drilling work at Lake Oahe began immediately. The development was prompted by pro-energy President Donald Trump, who pushed the Army to advance construction.

ETP spokeswoman Vicki Granado initially said the pipeline would be operational within three months. However, company lawyer David Debold on Monday suggested it could be ready for oil in as little as 30 days. Granado credited the efficiency of the company's equipment and crews, but didn't elaborate.

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THE COURTS

The Standing Rock and Cheyenne River Sioux say the $3.8 billion pipeline threatens their drinking water, cultural sites and ability to practice their religion, which depends on pure water. They asked U.S. District Judge James Boasberg to temporarily halt construction at Lake Oahe until their legal challenges are resolved.

Boasberg on Monday refused, though he scheduled a Feb. 27 hearing on a request by Cheyenne River to force the Army to withdraw its permission for the lake crossing. Standing Rock filed its own motion Tuesday asking that the permission be revoked.

The Oglala and Yankton Sioux tribes in South Dakota have filed similar legal challenges, the Yankton tribe in September and the Oglala Sioux on Saturday.

In a separate lawsuit, pipeline opponents suing police for allegedly using excessive force are appealing a federal judge's recent ruling allowing authorities to continue using tactics such as tear gas and rubber bullets for crowd dispersal.

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THE PROTESTS

Law enforcement records show that such tactics haven't been used since Jan. 19, at a blockaded highway bridge in the area of a protest encampment on federal land in southern North Dakota.

The camp has at times housed thousands of protesters who have often clashed with police. It's now home to only a few hundred people and is being cleaned up in advance of spring flooding and a Feb. 22 closing date set by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Many protesters don't plan to leave the area. Cheyenne River Chairman Harold Frazier says that tribe is leasing about 25 acres of land on the Standing Rock Reservation for camps. American Indian activist Chase Iron Eyes also is encouraging a continued presence in the area.

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THE BRIDGE

The bridge on U.S. Highway 1806 has been closed since being damaged by fires Oct. 28. Officials have been working in recent weeks to reopen it in the interest of easing tensions.

Guardrail repairs were completed Friday and temporary asphalt patching was finished Monday, at a total cost of about $10,000, according to Department of Transportation spokeswoman Jamie Olson. However, it won't be reopened until authorities determine tensions have eased enough to warrant it, said Morton County sheriff's spokesman Rob Keller.

The Transportation Department on Monday did reopen eight miles of an 18-mile closed stretch of the highway, "allowing farmers, ranchers, people who have business down there to have more freedom of travel," Keller said.

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THE COSTS

Law enforcement continues to maintain a heavy presence in the area despite the fading of protests.

New figures from the state show the law enforcement response over the past half-year has involved officers from 10 states, resulted in 705 arrests and cost taxpayers $33 million - $25 million for officer pay, $3.6 million for travel and lodging, and $4.3 million for equipment and supplies.

The data show that 92 percent of the 660 people who have been arrested are not from North Dakota.

___

Follow Blake Nicholson on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/NicholsonBlake

This aerial photo shows a site where the final phase of the Dakota Access Pipeline will take place with boring equipment routing the pipeline underground and across Lake Oahe to connect with the existing pipeline in Emmons County, Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, in Cannon Ball, N.D. It is the last big section of the $3.8 billion pipeline, which would carry oil from North Dakota to Illinois. A federal judge on Monday refused to stop construction on the last stretch of the pipeline, which is progressing much faster than expected. (Tom Stromme/The Bismarck Tribune via AP)

Cheyenne River Sioux Chairman Harold Frazier waits to speak to reporters outside federal court in Washington, Monday, Feb. 13, 2017. A judge has rejected a request by two American Indian tribes to halt construction of the remaining section of the Dakota Access oil pipeline until their lawsuit over the project is resolved. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
A selection of AP offerings that are especially good reads, shareable, consumer-friendly, or likely to generate talk or buzz. Please see the News Digest and News Coverage Advisory 10:15 for top stories and other highlights. All times EST.

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HIV-NEW INFECTIONS - Revised US tally: HIV infections fell 18 percent in 6 years. SENT: 290 words.

LGBT RIGHTS-NORTH CAROLINA - N. Carolina governor offers 'compromise' repealing LGBT law. SENT: 380 words. UPCOMING: Developing.

ABORTION RESTRICTIONS-OKLAHOMA - Oklahoma lawmaker defends pregnant women are 'hosts' comment. SENT: 510 words, photos.

UNATTENDED CASES-CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT - Prosecutor: Dozens of child sex assault cases were 'ignored.' SENT: 480 words.

AIRPORT TRAIN-DEATH - Fatal Denver airport train collision with van investigated. SENT: 370 words, photos.

VENUS WILLIAMS-ESPN -Fired for Venus Williams remark, ex-commentator sues ESPN. SENT: 400 words.

MAKING A MURDERER-DASSEY - Lawyer to panel: No promises to 'Making a Murderer' inmate. SENT: 400 words, photo.

IVANKA TRUMP-PHOTO - Ivanka Trump posts photo of herself behind Oval Office desk. SENT: 120 words, photo.

MELANIA TRUMP-REPORTER COMMENT - New York Times: Reporter's Melania Trump dig 'inappropriate'. SENT: 120 words, photo.

BISON MIGRATION ASSIST - Bison, cars endangered by deep snow in Wyoming's Grand Teton. SENT: 420 words, photo.

CRUISE SHIP STUCK - New life jackets arrive for ship stuck in port. SENT: 130 words. UPCOMING: Developing.

PINK HAIR-SCHOOL SUSPENSION - Student suspended for dying his hair pink. SENT: 140 words.

DISNEY-YOUTUBE STAR - Disney ends deal with YouTube star over anti-Semitic stunt. SENT: 330 words, photo.

CAMBODIA-ANGELINA JOLIE - Cambodian king to open Angelina Jolie's film on Khmer Rouge survivor. SENT: 350 words, photos.

LOVE ON THE MOVE - Bye-bye, LOVE: Iconic Philadelphia sculpture gets repairs. SENT: 130 words, photos.

TOM BRADY-COCKROACH - Atlanta zoo names cockroach after Patriots QB Tom Brady. SENT: 130 words, photo.

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PHOTOS

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PENGUINS VALENTINES - Showing some love: Penguins get Valentine's hearts for nests. SENT: 4 photos, 130 words.

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HOW TO REACH US

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At the Nerve Center, Mike Stewart can be reached at 800-845-8450 (ext. 1600). For photos, ext. 1900. For graphics and interactives, ext. 7636. Expanded AP content can be obtained from http://www.apexchange.com. For access to AP Exchange and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport@ap.org or call 877-836-9477.
WYNNEWOOD, Pa. (AP) - Two teachers at a Quaker school outside Philadelphia have been suspended over fallout from a Palestinian speaker's invitation to a school club they supervised.

The controversy is highlighting an issue for many Quaker schools: While the American Friends Service Committee supports putting economic pressure on Israel to end the occupation of Palestinian territories, many students at Quaker schools are Jewish.

Teachers Ariel Eure and Layla Helwa were put on administrative leave Monday from Friends' Central School in Wynnewood, a lawyer representing the two women told the Philadelphia Inquirer (http://bit.ly/2lfT6J8).

The lawyer, Mark Schwartz, said the teachers were told they were suspended for disobeying a supervisor and for having a "single-minded approach to a complicated issue for the community."

The teachers supervised the school's Peace and Equality in Palestine club, and invited Swarthmore College professor and Quaker Sa'ed Atshan to speak last week at the club.

Some parents complained about Atshan's involvement in a movement that advocates punitive measures against Israel, and school leaders canceled his speech.

The administration says the teachers are on paid leave while an extensive review is conducted.

"As a Quaker school, we have long-standing expectations for all members of our community - especially for our teachers, who have the responsibility of guiding young minds," it said. "There are very real concerns about the conduct of Ariel Eure and Layla Helwa for their disregard of our guiding testimonies, which include community, peace, and integrity."

About 65 students and Eure and Helwa walked out of a school meeting to protest the speech's cancellation. The teachers also attended a student meeting where the students discussed their concerns. Afterward, some students marched with signs reading "My voice will not be silenced" and "Bring back my speaker."

___

Information from: The Philadelphia Inquirer, http://www.inquirer.com
ELKO  After reflecting on the presidential race, Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt called Republicans attending the annual Lincoln Day Dinner in Elko to convert as many as they can to the party.

Laxalt was the keynote speaker of the night and Elko County Commissioner Demar Dahl, before his talk on public lands, referred to him as the states next governor.

Last year I gave a number of talks about where our country was, and Im sure I stated a lot of concerns, Laxalt told the crowd Friday that filled the gym at the Elko Boys and Girls Club. After eight years of the Obama administration, our country was heading in a direction that seemed irreversible.

He said the country had one of the wildest elections weve ever faced.

Laxalt said one of the things he focused on this last year was where the country was in the late 70s. On the heels of the Carter administration, a few men and women were able to come up with a new message for the Republican Party, but many people questioned how Ronald Reagan could lead the GOP since he was a washed-up actor. However, now Reagan is used as the standard bearer of the Republican Party, Laxalt said.

In the late 70s there were almost no conservatives, but today they are found all over the country, he said.

We won the election, but in Nevada truly its only just begun, he said.

Many Americans are trying to get on with their lives, but back in Washington they are not giving up on the election, Laxalt said.

Theyve decided, in my opinion strategically, that theyre going to start the 2020 campaign eight weeks ago, he said. Were facing protests everywhere.

At the end of his talk, Laxalt told the crowd they need to be willing to fight in Nevada for a return to a red state.

Obviously the last cycle didnt go so well for us, he said.

He warned that the Legislature this year will be incredibly partisan.

He asked for Republicans throughout the state to work hard to support GOP candidates and causes. Laxalt also called for GOP loyalists to convert people to the party.

In every single corner they want to muddy up our team, he said. Its time our team starts hitting back hard.

Dahl spoke at the end of the evening and told the audience about his and others efforts to transfer federal public land to the state. He also said its been a lot of fun to see what happens tomorrow, concerning the national political scene.
BANJUL, Gambia (AP) - Gambia will soon return to the Commonwealth under its new government, Britain's foreign secretary said Tuesday after meeting with President Adama Barrow and pledging London's support for this small West African nation following the departure of its leader of 22 years.

Barrow has vowed to reverse actions taken by his predecessor, Yahya Jammeh, who announced last year that Gambia would withdraw from the International Criminal Court. Three years earlier Jammeh Gambia from the Commonwealth, a 52-nation group made up mostly of former British colonies.

"We are here to help. The United Kingdom has a close relation with The Gambia," British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said after his private meeting with Barrow.

In this image from video, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is welcomed on arrival in the Gambian capital Banjul, Tuesday Feb. 13, 2017. Johnson is scheduled to meet new president Adama Barrow during his regional visit. (AP Photo)

The visit comes after longtime ruler Jammeh flew into exile last month under international pressure and the threat of a regional military intervention after refusing to accept his December election loss to Barrow. Jammeh, who seized control in a bloodless coup in 1994, is accused of overseeing an administration that tortured and imprisoned opponents.

Barrow's new government promises democratic reforms, freeing political prisoners and a truth commission.

Johnson said after meeting with Barrow that the countries would "build on longstanding friendship and partnership." He said key areas such as education, health and security would take center stage.

Last week, the European Union announced an $80 million package of support for Gambia as nations warm to the new government.

The United Nations has received the Gambia government's formal notice reversing the country's withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, deputy U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq announced earlier Tuesday.

Gambia was one of three African countries that informed the U.N. chief last year that they were withdrawing from the court. The others were South Africa and Burundi.

Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson speaks to media before meeting with Gambian President Adama Barrow for talks in Banjul, Gambia, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017. (AP Photo/ Kuku Marong)
SHANGHAI (AP) - President Donald Trump's triumph in the fight to wrest back his brand for construction services in China could spell the end of more than 225 Trump-related marks here that don't belong to him, including Trump toilets, Trump condoms, Trump pacemakers and even a "Trump International Hotel."

After a decade of grinding battle in China's courts, an official finding in Trump's favor expected this week could signal a shift in fortune for the U.S. president's intellectual property. Also at stake are 49 pending Trump trademark applications - all made during his campaign - and 77 previously registered marks, most of which will come up for renewal during his term.

Each win creates value for Trump's business empire - and raises ethics questions about his administration. Critics say the trademarks present conflicts of interest for Trump and may violate the emoluments clause of the U.S. Constitution, which bars public servants from accepting anything of value from foreign governments unless explicitly approved by Congress.

FILE - In this Feb. 12, 2017, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn upon arrival at the White House in Washington from a trip to Florida. Trump is poised to receive something Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017 that he had been trying to get from China for more than a decade: trademark rights to his own name. After suffering rejection after rejection in China's courts, he saw his prospects change dramatically after starting his presidential campaign. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

"There can be no question that it is a terrible idea for Donald Trump to be accepting the registration of these valuable property rights from China while he's a sitting president of the United States," said Norman Eisen, who served as chief White House ethics lawyer for President Barack Obama. "It's fair to conclude that this is an effort to influence Mr. Trump that is relatively inexpensive for the Chinese, potentially very valuable to him, but it could be very costly for the United States."

China could use Trump's desire to control his brand to extend or withhold favor, particularly since its courts and bureaucracy reflect the imperatives of the ruling Communist Party.

Eisen is involved in a lawsuit alleging that Trump's foreign business ties violate the U.S. Constitution. Trump has dismissed the lawsuit as "totally without merit."

The precise value of the trademarks is uncertain, but in a 2011 letter to then-U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Trump wrote that he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to defend his brand in China.

He railed against Chinese courts for not recognizing that he was famous, writing that "it appears the only two places in the world I am not well known are" China and Macau.

Trump's elevated profile as president will likely make it easier to protect his brand in China, said Zhou Dandan, a lawyer with Unitalen Attorneys at Law in Beijing, which has worked for Trump since 2006. Trademark authorities will almost certainly reject new "Trump" applications from unrelated parties, she said, and may take back rights from existing "Trump" trademark holders.

That's what happened in the case nearing completion this week.

Back in December 2006, Trump applied for rights to the Trump mark for construction services. He was rejected because China operates on a first-come-first-served principle and a man named Dong Wei had filed a similar application two weeks earlier. Trump appealed to Chinese authorities for 10 years and was rejected time and again, right up until the month before he declared his candidacy.

Then something changed. China's trademark authorities published their decision to invalidate Dong's trademark for construction services on Sept. 6, 2016. Trump's application moved ahead, and if no one objects, the trademark will be registered to Trump on Tuesday. Dong could not be reached for comment.

Why is Trump winning now, after years of failure? China's State Administration for Industry and Commerce and its foreign ministry did not reply to requests for comment.

Alan Garten, chief legal officer of The Trump Organization, said the Chinese trademarks were already in the works before the election, and the president has turned management of his company over to his children and a team of executives.

In an email, Garten wrote, "The only mark we were seeking was one in the related class of construction which someone was improperly squatting on."

Some lawyers say Trump may have benefited from a general hardening in China's stance toward trademark squatters, but others believe politics played a role.

"It would be hard to imagine that the judges, the Trademark Office and/or the Trademark Review and Adjudication Board were acting without some kind of guidance," said Dan Plane, a director at Simone IP Services, a Hong Kong intellectual property consultancy.

Meanwhile, the makers of Trump-branded luxury toilets at Shenzhen Trump Industrial Co. say they will defend their brand, even if it means taking on the U.S. president.

Co-founder Zhong Jiye said his Trump toilets have nothing to do with President Trump. The Chinese name brings together ideas of innovation and popularity, he said. And in English, the "U'' makes a nice toilet-seat shaped logo.

Trump toilets for the home can do pregnancy tests. Models for public use have disposable seat covers for improved hygiene. People use Trump toilets some 100 million times a year, Zhong said.

Among them, he added, are customers at Zhongnanhai, the official residence of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

__

Associated Press researcher Fu Ting contributed from Shanghai.

Follow Kinetz on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ekinetz

In this Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, photo, Zhong Jiye, a co-founder of Shenzhen Trump Industrial Co., stands near banners advertising his firm's high-end Trump-branded toilets at the company's offices in Shenzhen in southern China's Guangdong Province. U.S. President Donald Trump is poised to receive something that he had been trying to get from China for more than a decade: trademark rights to his own name. After suffering rejection after rejection in China's courts, he saw his prospects change dramatically after starting his presidential campaign. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

In this Monday, Feb. 13, 2017 photo, Zhong Jiye, a co-founder of Shenzhen Trump Industrial Co., points to the logo on one of his firm's high-end Trump-branded toilets at the company's offices in Shenzhen in southern China's Guangdong Province. U.S. President Donald Trump is poised to receive something that he had been trying to get from China for more than a decade: trademark rights to his own name. After suffering rejection after rejection in China's courts, he saw his prospects change dramatically after starting his presidential campaign. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

In this Monday, Feb. 13, 2017 photo, Zhong Jiye, a co-founder of Shenzhen Trump Industrial Co., demonstrates the use of one of his firm's high-end Trump-branded toilets at the company's offices in Shenzhen in southern China's Guangdong Province. U.S. President Donald Trump is poised to receive something that he had been trying to get from China for more than a decade: trademark rights to his own name. After suffering rejection after rejection in China's courts, he saw his prospects change dramatically after starting his presidential campaign. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

In this Monday, Feb. 13, 2017 photo, banners advertising the high-end Trump-branded toilets made by Shenzhen Trump Industrial Co. are on display at the company's offices in Shenzhen in southern China's Guangdong Province. U.S. President Donald Trump is poised to receive something that he had been trying to get from China for more than a decade: trademark rights to his own name. After suffering rejection after rejection in China's courts, he saw his prospects change dramatically after starting his presidential campaign. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
An autistic high school student in Honolulu raped a classmate while the adult assigned to monitor him was taking a nap, a federal lawsuit filed Monday claimed.

The autistic student had a full-time one-on-one aide because he was known to be violent, the lawsuit accusing Hawaii's statewide school district of negligence said.

The aide was asleep when the 2012 attack happened during Pearl City High School band practice, the lawsuit said.

A 10th-grade girl was in the back of the band at the percussion section when the larger 11th-grader raped her once there, and then again in a curtained area of the auditorium.

Shown is the Pearl City High School band room. A 10th-grade girl was raped twice by a special needs student during band practice in 2012; she now says it happened while an aide napped

Throughout the attacks, the aide was sleeping in the audience section of the auditorium, the lawsuit said.

The girl reported the rape to her mother and police, said her attorney Peter Hsieh.

The autistic student was prosecuted in family court and convicted of two counts of first-degree sexual assault, Hsieh said.

'She dropped out of high school. She couldn't finish because of what happened to her,' Hsieh said.

But she later earned a GED diploma and is now studying bioengineering at the University of Hawaii, he said.

'She's basically turned an adverse situation as a motivator for her,' he said, adding that it was her decision to pursue a civil lawsuit.

Pearl City High School in Honolulu is shown. The rape victim dropped out of school after the attack, but later earned a GED and is now a bioengineering student at the University of Hawaii

In a separate, similar case, a jury last year determined that the Department of Education failed to protect a special education student who said she was raped by a special education classmate at Waianae High School.

The jury awarded the girl and her mother about $810,000 in damages, but the state appealed. The case is before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, said Hsieh, who also handled that case.

The two lawsuits send a 'loud message that there is a lack of proper training and supervision of teachers, aides and assistants,' Hsieh said, 'especially when it comes to children who have a history of violence.'

Kyle Miyashiro, who was a vice principal at Pearl City High School at the time and is named as a defendant, referred questions to the school's principal who didn't immediately respond Tuesday.

The aide, Bryan Simpson, is also named as a defendant and no longer works at the school, Miyashiro said. Simpson couldn't be reached for comment.

State Department of Education spokeswoman Donalyn Dela Cruz declined to comment on pending litigation.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Undeterred by a U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down sweeping abortion restrictions that were sold as protecting women's health, Texas Republicans are pushing new measures pitched as protecting fetuses, with a hopeful eye toward Washington.

New anti-abortion measures are moving through the Legislature - where Democrats are virtually powerless to stop them - and opponents see a shift in GOP strategy after last year's 5-3 Supreme Court ruling that rejected the state's claims of trying to safeguard women and dismantled a 2013 law that prompted many of the state's abortion clinics to close.

A state Senate committee on Wednesday will begin hearing three anti-abortion measures, none of which claim to be aimed at protecting women's health. And with the Supreme Court apparently set to become more socially conservative under President Donald Trump, Republicans say there is a new opportunity.

"You would be almost remiss and neglectful, in my opinion, not to push that envelope going forward knowing what's coming up," Republican state Sen. Charles Perry said.

The newest Texas proposals would toughen regulations on what happens to a fetus both before and after an abortion. Perry's proposal would mostly ban a commonly used second-trimester abortion procedure, known as dilation and evacuation, and is similar to laws that courts have blocked in Alabama, Oklahoma, Kansas and Louisiana.

Another bill would require fetal remains to be buried or cremated. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has already ordered that change, but it is on hold pending a federal trial.

A third proposal would ban, among other things, the donation of fetal tissue under a measure Republicans have sought since the release of heavily edited, secretly recorded videos shot inside Planned Parenthood clinics by an anti-abortion group in 2015.

Perry said his bill has nothing to do with protecting women's health - a departure from how Republicans defended the former law known as HB2, which imposed building upgrades on abortion clinics and required doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges. More than 20 abortion clinics in Texas closed after the law passed.

Justice Stephen Breyer wrote in the majority opinion striking down that law that it failed to offer "medical benefits" sufficient to justify the burdens placed on women.

"The Supreme Court called them out on that," said Blake Rocap, legislative counsel for the abortion-rights group NARAL Pro-Choice Texas. "Because the avenue of lying about what is good women's health and safety is now foreclosed to them, they're now having to turn to other methods to make operating a practice difficult if not almost impossible."

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed into a law a bill similar to Perry's proposal last month The ban is among a push by abortion opponents nationally and at statehouses around the country with Republicans in control of the White House and Congress. Trump's first nominee to the Supreme Court, Neil Gorsuch, has a conservative legal philosophy seen as similar to the late Justice Antonin Scalia's.

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Follow Paul J. Weber on Twitter: https://twitter.com/pauljweber
President Donald Trumps embattled national security adviser Michael Flynn has resigned, following reports that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russia.

His departure comes after less than a month in office.

In a resignation letter, Mr Flynn said he held numerous calls with the Russian ambassador to the US during the transition and gave incomplete information about those discussions to Mr Pence.

The vice president, apparently relying on information from Mr Flynn, initially said the national security adviser had not discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy, though Mr Flynn later conceded the issue may have come up.

POTUS Trump Names Lt. General Joseph Keith Kellogg, Jr. as Acting National Security Advisor-Accepts Resignation of Lt. General Michael Flynn pic.twitter.com/hrHNuefNe3  The White House 45 Archived (@WhiteHouse45) February 14, 2017

Mr Trump named retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg as the acting national security adviser.

Lt Gen Kellogg had previously been appointed the National Security Council chief of staff and advised Mr Trump on national security issues during the campaign.

The US Justice Department warned the Trump administration weeks ago that contradictions between the public depictions and the actual details of the calls could leave Mr Flynn in a compromised position, sources told The Associated Press.

The White House has been aware of the warnings for weeks, an administration official said, though it was unclear whether Mr Trump and Mr Pence had been alerted.

(Evan Vucci AP/PA)

Mr Flynn apologised to Mr Pence last week, following a Washington Post report asserting that the national security adviser had discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Mr Trump was consulting with Mr Pence on Monday about his conversations with the national security adviser.

Asked whether the president had been aware that Mr Flynn might discuss sanctions with the Russian envoy, Mr Spicer said: No, absolutely not.

Mr Flynns discussions with the Russian raised questions about whether he had offered assurances about the incoming administrations new approach.

(Carolyn Kaster AP/PA)

Such conversations would breach diplomatic protocol and possibly violate the Logan Act, a law aimed at keeping citizens from conducting diplomacy.

Mr Flynn was a loyal Trump supporter during the campaign, but he is viewed sceptically by some in the administrations national security circles, in part because of his ties to Russia.

In 2015, Mr Flynn was paid to attend a gala dinner for Russia Today, a Kremlin-backed television station, and sat next to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the event.

The controversy surrounding Mr Flynn comes as the administration grapples with a series of national security challenges, including North Koreas reported ballistic missile launch.

The White House is also dealing with fallout from the troubled roll-out of Mr Trumps immigration executive order, which has been blocked by the courts.

The order was intended to suspend the nations refugee programme and bar citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.
Britains defences against cyber attacks are more critical than ever as the vast majority of the population use online services, a senior security official has said.

In her first interview, Alison Whitney, deputy director for digital services at the new National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), highlighted its importance in an era when millions log on as part of their everyday lives.

We are delighted to announce the official opening of the National Cyber Security Centre https://t.co/5WIpnZ3BnQ #NCSCLaunch pic.twitter.com/bvkhNSMpLk  NCSC UK (@NCSC) February 14, 2017

She told the Press Association the facilitys official unveiling on Tuesday represents a really significant moment.

It will play a crucial role in efforts to make the UK the safest place to live and do business online, she said.

The opening of the NCSC by the Queen comes amid mounting concern over the damage state hackers or terrorists could inflict on the economy and infrastructure.

We are delighted that Her Majesty The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will be opening our London office in Victoria on Tuesday pic.twitter.com/DNxXgYFjhA  NCSC UK (@NCSC) February 10, 2017

It was revealed at the weekend that Britains national security is threatened by dozens of cyber attacks every month, with assailants attempting to steal secrets from the heart of government.

Speaking at the launch, Chancellor Philip Hammond will warn that cyber attacks are increasing in frequency and sophistication, and urge business to sharpen its approach.

Philip Hammond

Ms Whitney said cyber is in the top tier of national security threats.

She said: There are terrorist groups that have an intent when it comes to cyber attacks, but they dont have the capability.

The scale of cyber crime has been laid bare by official figures showing there are about two million computer misuse offences a year.

Ms Whitney said: We do so much business online. Every citizen in the United Kingdom, pretty much, is accessing some service online, be it just things like internet shopping or more and more the kinds of service that we get from government. Making sure that we can do that securely is more and more important to everybody in the UK.

An infographic containing definitions from the NCSC glossary is available to download and print https://t.co/iddMSu6AZm pic.twitter.com/wFpxYOWM1X  NCSC UK (@NCSC) February 13, 2017

Thats really what the NCSC is here to do. We say and we really do mean that we are here to make the UK the safest place to do business and to live online.

The NCSC, part of intelligence agency GCHQ, will use the new central London office as its operational nerve centre.

A number of initiatives have been launched recently in a bid to head off the risk of a skills shortage and inspire more women to join the fight against online crime. Only 10% of the global cyber workforce are female.

Girls we need YOU to join us in the fight against cyber crime! Pre-register your teams now... #cyberists https://t.co/4eWHBpa561 pic.twitter.com/P4QEkU25k2  NCSC UK (@NCSC) February 9, 2017

Ms Whitney said: It would be great to see far more women taking part in cyber security. Ive had a great time doing it. I really encourage as many girls and women to get involved in cyber security as possible.
Celebrities and campaigners are calling on the Prime Minister not to end the Dubs scheme for vulnerable and lone child refugees.

The scheme, named after its architect, Labour peer Lord Alf Dubs, will be capped once another 150 unaccompanied children are brought to Britain, on top of the 200 already in the UK.

Branding the decision truly shameful, more than 200 figures including Carey Mulligan, Gary Lineker, Keira Knightley, Benedict Cumberbatch and Ralph Fiennes have signed an open letter to Theresa May.

A child in the Jungle refugee camp in Calais (PA)

The letter, backed by Help Refugees and Citizen UKs Safe Passage programme, says it is completely unacceptable to slam the door shut after just 350 children have reached safety.

Lord Dubs was himself a child saved by Sir Nicholas Winton who rescued 669 children virtually single-handed, it reads.

It is embarrassing that the Prime Ministers entire Government will not even manage to match the example set by her former constituent all those years ago, let alone the efforts of the Kindertransport movement of which he was a part which saved 10,000 children from the Nazis.

There has been strong criticism of the Government since it announced earlier this month that it will scrap the programme for resettling lone youngsters from mainland Europe to the UK.

Lord Dubs with children and community leaders (PA)

Although the Government had not committed to any specific number, campaigners and opposition figures have previously called for 3,000 children to be given sanctuary.

The letter comes days after the Home Office said that due to a lack of places for vulnerable child refugees identified by local authorities, the scheme would finish at the end of the financial year.

Among those to sign the letter are Coldplay, Juliet Stevenson, Gok Wan, Caroline Flack, Jude Law, Michael Morpurgo, Douglas Booth, Joely Richardson, Lily Allen, Sir Mark Rylance and Ruby Wax.

On Saturday, flanked by a group of children, local politicians and faith leaders, Lord Dubs delivered a 50,000-signature petition to 10 Downing Street, accusing the Government of a very shabby cop-out.

Joely Richardson with Lord Dubs (PA)

A Home Office spokesman said: We are not giving up on vulnerable children who are fleeing conflict and danger. The reality is that just in the last two weeks more than 300 refugees have arrived in the UK and around half of these were children.

Its also a fact that more than 8,000 children found shelter, security and safety in the UK in the last year.

And its a further fact that this Government is committed to resettling up to 3,000 vulnerable children and their families from the Mena (Middle East and North Africa) region and 20,000 Syrian refugees by the end of this parliament.

These are the actions of a Government determined to help the most vulnerable.
The Ministry of Defence has rejected claims from a defence think tank that Britains military spending dipped below the Nato target of 2% of GDP last year.

A high-profile report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies put the figure for 2016 at 1.98%, blaming the shortfall on the effect of the British economy growing faster than the defence budget.

But the MoD branded the figure wrong, pointing to official Nato statistics which put the UKs defence spending for 2016 at 2.21%.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: These figures are wrong: Natos own figures clearly show that the UK spends over 2% of its GDP on defence. Our defence budget is the biggest in Europe, the second largest in Nato, and it is growing each year as we invest 178 billion in new equipment and the UK steps up globally, with new ships, submarines and aircraft over the next decade.

Although the shortfall claimed by the IISS is small, it has the potential for political embarrassment, as the UK has repeatedly urged other Nato members to meet the 2% target.

Prime Minister Theresa May trumpeted the UKs record of hitting the 2% figure during her recent visit to Washington to meet US President Donald Trump, who has complained of European Nato members failing to pay their fair share for collective defence arrangements.

Theresa May

The 1.98% figure was contained in the IISS annual Military Balance report, unveiled a day before a meeting of Nato defence ministers  including the UKs Sir Michael Fallon  in Brussels.

Launching the report, IISS director general John Chipman said: In 2016, only two European Nato states  Greece and Estonia  met the aim to spend 2% of their GDP on defence, down from four European states that met this measure in 2015.

The UK dipped slightly below this at 1.98%, as its economy grew faster in 2016 than its defence spending. Nonetheless, the UK remained the only European state in the worlds top five defence spenders in 2016.

Watch live as we launch #MilitaryBalance 2017, the definitive guide to global military capabilities | https://t.co/LjFZsub9XD  IISS News (@IISS_org) February 14, 2017

If all Nato European countries were in 2016 to have met this 2% of GDP target, their defence spending would have needed to rise by over 40%.

But the MoD said that it was for Nato to judge whether member states had met their defence investment pledge, and pointed to an official assessment released by the military alliance in July last year, in which the UK  on 2.21%  was one of five countries to meet the 2% figure in 2016, along with the US (3.61%), Greece (2.38%), Estonia (2.16%) and Poland (2%).

The MoD said the IISS calculation may have been affected by fluctuations in exchange rates, as the think tank presents spending figures in US dollars  which rose sharply against sterling in 2016 in the wake of the referendum vote for Brexit.
A man whose daughter died from meningitis  sparking a nationwide petition for more children to be given the vaccine  has accused the Government of complacency.

On the one-year anniversary of Faye Burdetts death, her father Neil said the Government has done absolutely nothing to raise awareness of the disease, despite promises to do so.

Neil Burdett tells @PA the Government has done nothing to raise meningitis awareness a year after his daughter's death sparked a petition. pic.twitter.com/iWSJvRKZtG  Tom Pugh (@TomPugh212) February 14, 2017

He also revealed that two-year-old Faye  who fought meningitis B for 11 days  mouthed the word mummy just before she died.

Mr Burdett and his wife Jenny made the heartbreaking decision to turn off Fayes life support last Valentines Day after her body was ravaged by sepsis caused by meningitis.

(Family Handout/PA)

They released photos of their dying daughter covered in a rash, prompting more than 820,000 people to sign a petition for the meningitis B jab Bexsero to be given to all children.

Faye Burdett before, left, and after she contracted meningitis

The Government has since refused to make the vaccine more widely available, saying it is not a good use of money.

Ministers have yet to release calculations on how vaccines are deemed to be affordable and have not yet launched a meningitis awareness campaign, promised by a former public health minister.

Speaking exclusively to the Press Association, Mr Burdett said the decision not to extend the vaccine to more age groups was insulting and devastating. He said he has heard nothing since appearing before MPs on the Petitions Committee last March.

Neil Burdett

Children under five are vulnerable to meningitis and they cant tell you exactly what is happening, he said. They are solely reliant on their parents and carers to spot that something is wrong.

We have been through something so terrible and we thought if we could stop it happening to other families, thats what we wanted to do. But since going to Parliament, weve heard nothing.

If nobody in Parliament is going to take any notice and do something, who else is there?

Faye Burdett with her parents Jenny and Neil before she contracted meningitis

Last April, former public health minister Jane Ellison pledged to launch an awareness campaign for parents on the signs of meningitis and the Government agreed to release its cost-modelling for vaccines.

There is concern that the current model does not adequately account for the lifetime costs of caring with somebody left disabled by meningitis.

Bexsero is available on the NHS for babies aged two months, followed by a second dose at four months and a booster at 12 months. Parents who wish to have older children vaccinated must pay privately.

Mr Burdett also said the Government had promised to include a page on meningitis symptoms in the red book given to the parents of newborns, but this had also not yet been done.

Faye Burdett

A Department of Health spokesman said: The UK is the first country in the world to have introduced a national Men B vaccination programme using Bexsero.

We have made important progress, vaccinating more than one million babies since September 2015, in which time the number of cases in infants aged one and under has dropped by 50%.

The charity Meningitis Research Foundation estimates that 400 cases of meningitis B among children up to the age of five could have been prevented if they had been given access to the vaccine.
ELKO  Water has begun to recede in a Southside neighborhood that was hit hard by flooding over the weekend and resulted in voluntary evacuations of homes and the closure of an elementary school.

According to Elko Fire Chief Matt Griego, the water has gone down as much as two and a half feet in some areas since the Humboldt River crested over the weekend. However, reports from the weather service indicate more flooding could occur due to expected runoff.

Griego said there was one flood-related emergency response due to a carbon monoxide call. One resident from the Southside area was hospitalized due to carbon monoxide poisoning when fumes entered the home.

Griego cautions the public to be careful if they have chosen to remain in a residence without power or gas service and to follow manufacturers recommendations on heating appliances and other equipment. Carbon monoxide poisoning is often accompanied by flu-like symptoms. Residents suspecting a leak should call 911 and emergency personnel will go check the home.

Over the weekend approximately 75 to 100 individuals were evacuated or self-evacuated from areas in the city that were most impacted. However, a shelter that was in place at the Elko High School Gym has been suspended for lack of use, as most people went to paid lodgings or a relatives home, said Elko Police Chief Ben Reed.

People who want to get back into their homes in places where the power and gas is shut off will need to coordinate with officials, said Griego.

If the gas company has tagged out the meter they will not restore gas until the building department has done an inspection and those are going to be done on a case-by-case basis as people go in, said Griego.

Reed assured people that the Eight Mile Reservoir is in good shape, that city drinking water has not been affected, and that the airport is OK.

City police and fire teams were contacting residents and businesses door-to-door in the evacuation areas Monday afternoon to assess immediate needs.

The local Red Cross has established a resource center at Elko Fire Station No. 2 at 725 Railroad. Go there if you need to coordinate resources such as hygiene kits, water, and emergency supplies, said Reed.

The City and Elko Sanitation will be deploying containers in affected areas to dispose of flood-damaged carpet, furniture and other items.

Volunteers are encouraged in the region but both city and county officials advise people to call first and get put on an appropriate detail. Phone numbers are 777-2520 for the county and 777-7320 for the city.

The City of Elko strongly advises that citizens of Elko avoid flood-impacted areas, including Eight Mile Creek drainage, stated a Monday afternoon release. Water levels remain high and can be extremely dangerous. Please use extreme caution.

County update

Sheriff Jim Pitts and county commissioners declared a state of emergency on Thursday, followed by Gov. Brian Sandoval on Friday and the City of Elko on Saturday.

The National Guard deployed a team of two high-water vehicles and four soldiers to assist in Montello on Saturday. The Nevada Division of Forestry also had a helicopter on standby, said Pitts.

Damage in the county has not yet been assessed due to waters still being high, Undersheriff Ron Supp said on Monday. Teams are now beginning to go in to determine the extent of the destruction.

The department has used high water vehicles to take supplies to those still in Montello and the Pilot Valley area, he said. There is a collection point at the Montello School for people needing supplies.

Supp said at least four houses in the area have water damage and that State Route 233 is completely closed, with the only access via the Pilot Valley Road.

The Maggie Creek Bridge washed out, said Supp. There are a couple of families and livestock on the other side but we have had contact with those people and they said they are OK and will ride it out.

Some of the Osino and Ryndon roads are completely washed out, said Supp. Even though they are not county-maintained roads the county is out there putting down gravel so people can get out.

U.S. Highway 93 was reopened after being closed since Thursday. State Route 233 remains closed from Interstate 80 to the Utah state line.

The flood caused a dam at Twentythree Mile Reservoir to break on Wednesday, flooding Pilot Valley in northeastern Elko County.

Supp said he believes the last time the river was this high was in 1983.

Data and predictions

Rivers and streams began rising rapidly last week after warm temperatures, rain and wind began melting a heavier than normal snowpack.

Flood data from the U.S. Geological Survey indicates the Humboldt River was running at nearly 8,000 cubic feet per second at Palisade, west of Carlin, over the weekend. The flood gauge registered nearly 10 feet, which is three feet above flood stage.

Data posted by the National Weather Service indicates the Humboldt River crested at 10.49 feet in Elko on Friday, making it the third worst flooding in recorded history. The water level reached 12.18 feet in March of 1983 and 12.30 feet in February 1962.

Information gathered by the USGS is used by agencies including the National Weather Service for forecasting and predictions.

Early Monday morning the weather service on Monday predicted a very good chance of more major flooding in Elko, but by late afternoon it had not occurred.

There is a great deal of uncertainty about river stages and times, stated the agency in its flood warning update. A series of flood waves upstream as far as Halleck is making forecasting difficult. More inflow from flooded rivers and stream in Humboldt County is also difficult to estimate since most of the water is flowing between gauges or in areas with no gauges at all.

All of Elko County, the northern half of Eureka and Lander counties, and the eastern two-thirds of Humboldt County remained under a flood warning through Tuesday night.

A busy weekend

Residents and business owners near the river woke Saturday morning to encroaching floodwaters as the Humboldt River continued to rise overnight.

In some places downtown the water stood nearly a foot deep. People were sandbagging structures along River Street and adjoining byways.

Business at La Unica Tortilla on Front Street was proceeding as normal just before lunch Saturday, even though neighboring buildings and streets had flowing water. Later, police officers came to the business to inform the owner that the facility would have to shut down due to the gas and electricity being cut off.

My daughter is in Spring Creek getting sandbags, said Rodrigo Mata, father of owner Veronica Cook. We cannot do anything, he said.

Some businesses across the river from La Unica Tortilla on the east side of Fifth Street had standing water all along the exterior walls.

The City of Elko installed several pumps in the Southside area to remove water from the streets and return it to the river, but many people in the flooded region felt powerless. Good Time Charlies owners Kimberly Fox and Jim Hylton were hoping for a good outcome but they were very concerned.

We have sandbagged the basement windows, said Fox, but all of our inventory is down there.

Homeowners in the vicinity were busy pumping water from around and inside their homes. Others were sandbagging furiously.

Marquita Samper, who owns a house downtown, had numerous friends helping her sandbag her home.

She wished onlookers would not come through the area because trucks moving through the water were producing small waves that threatened to push the water toward houses.

Water operator Brent Johnson was helping to secure the area and he advised people to stay away unless they lived there.

People should not be driving past Silver Street, he advised. If people want to see the flood they can park above and walk down.

A Nevada Division of Forestry spokesperson was overseeing honor camp workers as they filled sandbags. Numerous vehicles were lined up on the street and around the block near Ruby Mountain Resource Center. He said there had been a steady trail of vehicles all morning long.

I think its just one of those things, said Knight Cabinetry owner Dana Knight, whose business had not yet been effected. The ground is still frozen and it got too warm too fast.

Looking ahead

Much of the standing flood water in Elko has been freezing as overnight temperatures dropped into the teens and 20s.

The forecast for Elko calls for highs in the 40s early this week and reaching the low 50s by Wednesday, followed by another chance of rain on Thursday.

The 330-mile Humboldt River stretches through central to western Nevada. In Humboldt County, Sheriff Mike Allen said officials were monitoring river gauges and meeting daily with the National Weather Service and state emergency management administrators.

Allen said flood stages were predicted Friday at Winnemucca.

The water is expected to eventually reach drought-stricken Rye Patch Reservoir in Pershing County, to serve farmers who received a fraction of their annual irrigation allotment last year, and no allotment at all in 2014 or 2015, according to The Associated Press.
The Duchess of Cambridge has spent Valentines Day showing off her flying skills during a visit to an RAF base.

Sat at the controls of a flight simulator, Kate revealed she has what it takes to become a military pilot and was dubbed a natural by her instructor.

And she seemed to acknowledge February 14 as the most romantic day of the year by wearing a pair of earrings that appeared to be heart-shaped.

The Duchess takes to the skies for an @aircadets flight simulator training session @RAFWittering1  pic.twitter.com/3XuPHczFPi  The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) February 14, 2017

The Duchess had come to meet air cadets taking part in a half-term skills development camp at RAF Wittering, near Peterborough, in her role as royal patron and Honorary Air Commandant of the RAF Air Cadets.

With William an experienced flyer, both with the RAF and now as an air ambulance helicopter pilot, it should be no surprise the Duchess had the right touch to become a pilot.

At first she appeared a little apprehensive when she sat in front of the flight simulators three screens and put her feet on some pedals and took hold of the joystick.

The Duchess of Cambridge takes control of a flight simulator

But under the guidance of Flight Lieutenant Michael Salter, she was soon tuned into the delicate movements needed to pilot the mock motor glider.

Flt Lt Salter said: She was extremely good  she was a natural.

She was very gentle on the controls, very often people are too rough. If you feel it, its extremely sensitive.

She said she hasnt flown before and wanted to understand what the feeling was like in the air.

Earlier, Kate had sat in a light aircraft similar to the type used by her husband when he learnt to fly with the RAF.

Wearing a burgundy blazer, by Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini, and a black ensemble of polo neck jumper, jeans and boots, she had hopped into the cockpit and was talked through the controls by Cadet Sergeant Jordan Bertolaso, aged 17.

The Duchess of Cambridge

Later the Duchess chatted to a group of teenagers who were taking part in a Skill at Arms week-long programme, where they had been taught to take apart a L98A2 cadet general purpose rifle and put it back together again.

She watched as one young person stripped the weapon down while they were being closely watched by their cadet partner.

At @RAFWittering1, @aircadets are learning safe weapon handling as part of their half term skills development camp pic.twitter.com/opN8gdVB5y  The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) February 14, 2017

The Duchess joked with one teenager after watching his demonstration, saying: Its not just about flying, and he replied: Thats true.

Kate had her chance to get to grips with one of the weapons when she tried a simulated shooting exercise that linked the rifles to a computer target.

And, after a sticky start, she was soon getting better scores than the cadets alongside her.

Thank you @aircadets for the lovely welcome for The Duchess to your half term skills development camp @RAFWittering1! pic.twitter.com/8nc8hpnl6b  The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) February 14, 2017

Shes a bit of a hot shot  I can let you know now. She beat the cadets, said Dawn McCafferty, Commandant of the RAF Air Cadets.

She added: On her first go she was a little bit random, but the second time she had the best grouping.
The Oscar-nominated Iranian director boycotting the awards because of Donald Trumps travel ban will premiere his film in London on the night of the ceremony.

Director Asghar Farhadi has said he will he will not attend the awards show in Los Angeles even if he is granted permission to enter the country following the ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.

His film The Salesman, which will compete for the best foreign language film at the star-studded ceremony, will be unveiled at a free screening in Trafalgar Square just hours before the prizes are handed out.

Asghar Farhadi (Ian West/PA)

Join us for a free Oscar-night screening of #TheSalesman on 26 February in Trafalgar Square  https://t.co/6SEFiKLz9m #LondonIsOpen pic.twitter.com/DgUlRMOBHd  Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) February 14, 2017

The UK premiere is being organised by London mayor Sadiq Khan, actress Lily Cole, producer Kate Wilson and film-maker Mark Donne and will include a programme of readings and speeches from actors and directors including Mike Leigh.

LONDON: 26 February, Trafalgar Square, a free Oscar-night special event: the UK premiere of the Oscar-nominated #TheSalesman #LondonIsOpen  pic.twitter.com/awL1S2OkTq  Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) February 14, 2017

Farhadi has previously announced he will not to attend the Oscars ceremony in Hollywood, regardless of whether he is offered special dispensation to attend by the US government, in solidarity with those affected by the ban, but it is not yet known if he will attend the event in London.

He said: Screening The Salesman in Trafalgar Square has a great symbolic value for me. The gathering of the audience around The Salesman in this famous London square is a symbol of unity against the division and separation of people.

I offer my warmest thanks to the mayor of London and the cinema community for this generous initiative. I welcome and appreciate this invaluable show of solidarity.

Mr Khan added: On the night of the Oscars, its absolutely fantastic to be able to screen the UK premiere of The Salesman in Trafalgar Square. Im delighted to welcome people from across the capital and beyond to share in this celebration of London as an international hub of creativity and as a beacon of diversity.

Proud to be a Londoner today. Trump tries to ban Director of #TheSalesman from the Oscars, so we host a public screening in Trafalgar Square https://t.co/S18jNeSYhO  David Lammy (@DavidLammy) February 14, 2017

Londoners have always prided themselves on their openness to the world, and what better way to do that than to come together to watch this powerful film in one of the worlds most famous public spaces.

One of the stars of The Salesman, Iranian actress Taraneh Alidoosti, has already said she will not attend the Oscars in protest over Mr Trumps immigration policies.

Organisers of the Oscars previously said it was extremely troubling that the makers of the film could be barred from entering the US.

Farhadis film A Separation won the Oscar for best foreign language film in 2012.
A job candidate attended an interview with police and was arrested for being over the legal drink-drive limit.

The man, in his 50s, was hoping to secure an IT support role at Greater Manchester Police (GMP) last month when his interviewer noticed an overpowering smell of alcohol as the candidate stepped into an office at the forces training centre at Sedgley Park in Prestwich.

A traffic officer was called and the interviewee admitted he had shared a bottle of wine with his wife the previous night.

The man had hoped for an IT role with Greater Manchester Police (PA)

The unnamed man was escorted out of the building and breathalysed, which showed he was over the drink-drive limit. He was then taken to Bury police station where he gave another positive reading and was subsequently charged with drink-driving.

Last week he appeared before Bury magistrates and was banned from driving for a year, said police.

Inspector Tony Allt, of GMPs Roads Policing Unit, said: Although the circumstances surrounding this particular incident are unusual, this case highlights the fact that there are a number of motorists who think they are fine to drive after drinking the night before.

There are a number of factors that can determine how alcohol is absorbed and processed in the body, but for the individual in this case to give a reading of 46 micrograms, remembering that the legal limit is 35, clearly shows that a significant amount of drink must have been consumed the previous evening.
More police officers in Britains largest force should be armed with Tasers, the countrys most senior police chief has said.

Outgoing Metropolitan Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said police are not trigger-happy as he called for armed officers to be given more respect and more rank-and-file officers to be given Tasers.

Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe delivers his valedictory speech to @RUSI_org as head of the @metpoliceuk pic.twitter.com/rCbQXiPOKC  RUSI (@RUSI_org) February 14, 2017

He highlighted figures showing armed officers were deployed 3,300 times last year without firing a single shot and said 99% of Taser uses simply involved aiming a stun gun at a suspect, so-called red-dotting, to make them calm down.

Sir Bernard spoke after a survey showed three quarters of Met police think Tasers should be issued to all officers.

The commissioner said his successor cant ignore the findings and stressed clearly officers want it.

Officers who carry firearms are volunteers. Responding to a threat, they run towards danger and are dedicated to keeping #London safe pic.twitter.com/EfLYbhxWFW  Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) February 14, 2017

In his final speech before retiring, Sir Bernard told an audience at the Royal United Services Institute in Westminster: I think we will have enough specialist firearms officers to meet the current threat once the 600 extra have all been trained.

But Im sure my successor will want to keep under review the number equipped with Taser, as other forces issue them more widely to officers than the Met does. I recognise some people are concerned about this, but I think the public should be reassured that our police are well-trained and cautious in their use of force.

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe makes his valedictory address (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

We do need to strike the right balance, but I strongly believe that when people look at what we do, there should be less suspicion and more trust. This may all sound a remote risk to those who think any police shooting is unjustified. Well, you probably dont live in the communities affected. Its not your family member who was shot, or is in fear of their life.

Thats who we are trying to protect, and I really want the public to get behind our officers, show their support for them, and ensure they get treated fairly after a shooting.

Sir Bernard also revealed plans to allow the public to upload evidence of crimes such as photos and videos online to help the police catch criminals.

The Commissioner "When I hand in my warrant card Ill do so with pride at what Ive put into this badge, and the values it represents"  Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) February 14, 2017

The commissioner reiterated his support for quotas to attract more ethnic minority police officers to make the force more representative of the highly diverse capital city. He said Northern Ireland managed a similar scheme for Protestants and Catholics, so it was achievable for the Met.

I am proud of the fact that we are changing, weve now got (more than) 4,000 officers from minorities, he said. But as far as I know there are only two ways you change your organisation, you either recruit new people who are different or people like me who are a bit older and white leave.

If youre not recruiting you dont change, or you change at about 5% a year, and in this city thats going to be a real challenge for my successor if they cant recruit.
The Duke of Edinburgh has remarked how insecure wartime communication was after reading the translation of a call between Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt which was intercepted by German spies.

GCHQ historian and former intelligence officer Tony Comer told the Duke that the highly sensitive document showed that the Italians were secretly negotiating with the Allies to switch sides, as the Duke remarked: So it wasnt quite so secure as we thought.

HM explores @GCHQ history from a #WW2 Royal Household telephone directory to secret cyphers used by her father, King George VI #NCSClaunch pic.twitter.com/SITPNjvL0B  The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) February 14, 2017

The Queen and Prince Philip were shown the translation of the call between the two leaders from 1943 during a visit to mark the official opening of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in London.

German intelligence services were able to intercept the communication due to the strength of the signal needed to boost the telephone exchange across the Atlantic Ocean, as Allied leaders discussed wartime strategy.

Among the other items viewed by the Royal couple was a selection of historic code-breaking devices, including an 1890s naval code wheel and a 1943 Telephone Privacy Directory with an extension number for Buckingham Palace.

Mr Comer said a scrambling device enabled secure communication across a telephone network, before being decoded by a separate scrambler at the other end.

In response to Mr Comers explanation that the device was secure for its time, the Duke quipped: Well, it didnt last very long.

NCSC chief executive Ciaran Martin later revealed in a speech to mark the Queens visit that the Duke had urged him to recruit more people who do not pre-date the internet. Mr Martin added: On the way out, and in a quote with his permission, the Duke of Edinburgh did ask: When are you all going back to work?'

Among those who spoke to the Queen was 12-year-old Cerys Ives, from Birstall, Leicestershire, who has been selected by NCSC officials to take part in the CyberFirst initiative, aimed at getting young people into cyber security.

The Queen meets Cerys, aged 12, who applied for CyberFirst girls competition via an encrypted email, which had to first be decoded by @GCHQ pic.twitter.com/zkZp33afq8  The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) February 14, 2017

Miss Ives was spotted after she sent an innovative message to the centre, asking if she could apply.

She said: I sent them an encrypted email asking about the CyberFirst competition for 13 to 15- year-olds, because I was only 12 at the time. It took about four days for them to decrypt it and send a reply.

Cerys said despite the four day wait for a message back from the centre, it took just half an hour to decrypt the encoded return message, which read: You inspire us more than we inspire you.

The Queen is given a demonstration of how an electricity supply could be subject to a cyber attack (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

The Queen and the Duke also met another CyberFirst trainee, Kimberly Richings, 14, who entered the competition after taking part in other cyber-adventurer activities at her home in Gloucester. Asked by the Queen whether he understood much of what Kimberly was talking about, her father, Mark, admitted that much of it goes over my head.

The Queen praised the fact that Kimberly also acted as a mentor for Year Seven students so that they can have fun with maths, and remarked: That is a very good idea, because somebody who doesnt have a maths brain needs another way into it.

Director of GCHQ Robert Hannigan said the opening of the centre, which became operational in October 2016, marks the start of a new era in UK efforts to protect citizens from cyber attacks: We have a vision to make the UK the safest place to live and do business online.
North Koreas ambassador has been summoned to the Foreign Office and warned about the countrys provocative actions following a ballistic missile test.

Choe Il was called in and told that North Koreas actions threaten international peace and security, a Foreign Office spokeswoman said.

The ambassador was told to convey the message to the government in Pyongyang in the strongest possible terms following the February 11 launch.

Ambassador Choe Il presents his letters of credence to the Queen earlier this month (John Stillwell/PA)

The action follows a condemnation of the launch by the UN Security Council, which warned of further significant measures if Pyongyang does not stop nuclear and missile testing.

The Foreign Office spokeswoman said: The UK fully supports the UN Security Councils strong condemnation of North Koreas recent ballistic missile launch.

The #NorthKorea Ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Office following the 11 February ballistic missile launch: https://t.co/7NosRNWJ5D  Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) February 14, 2017

Today, in summoning the North Korean ambassador, we have made clear that the actions of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea were in direct violation of multiple resolutions, are a threat to international security and that such dangerous and destabilising activity must stop.

We urge North Korea to stop its provocative actions, which threaten international peace and security, and instead re-engage with the international community, and take credible, concrete steps to prioritise the well-being of its own people instead of the nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

The ambassador was asked to convey this message to Pyongyang in the strongest possible terms.
A watchdog has launched an investigation into the actions of police in relation to the death of a teenager who had been reported missing.

Blake Ross, 13, was found on a Lothian Bus in Edinburgh at about 4pm on Monday after falling unwell. He had an underlying health condition and was taken to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in the capital, where he died at around 9pm.

A search was launched for the teenager after he was reported missing without his medication from the Howdenhall area of the city at about 3.15pm on Saturday Feburary 11.

Blake Ross

NEW PIRC investigation into police actions relating to death of 13-year-old boyhttps://t.co/nhfCTreKTC  Police Investigations & Review Commissioner (@PIRCNews) February 14, 2017

The Police Investigations and Review Commission (Pirc) has been instructed to look into police actions relating to the boys death, which is being treated by officers as unexplained, with police continuing their inquiries.

Superintendent Lesley Clark said: Police Scotland has reported the circumstances surrounding the death of 13-year-old Blake Ross, who was reported missing from the Howdenhall area on Saturday, February 11, to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

The matter has now been referred to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner. As in all matters concerning police contact before death, we will provide any necessary assistance to the Pirc as they conduct their investigation and we await the outcome of their report.
Reigning champion Ronnie OSullivan moved into the second round of the Welsh Open with a comfortable 4-1 win over Tom Ford in Cardiff.

OSullivan, who claimed his fourth title by beating Neil Robertson in last years final, fired breaks of 53, 101 and 47 to set up a last-64 meeting with Mark Davis.

RESULT | @ronnieo147 is safely through in Cardiff. Defeating Tom Ford to reach round two.#CoralWelshOpen pic.twitter.com/1OSwQPuEP5  World Snooker Tour (@WeAreWST) February 14, 2017

World number one Mark Selby looked less impressive, but still did enough to whitewash Liam Highfield 4-0 and also move through.

Ronnie O'Sullivan

Judd Trump fired two centuries, including a 140 clearance in the fourth frame, as he joined OSullivan and Selby in the next round with a 4-1 win over Andrew Higginson.

RESULT | @judd147t has swept aside Andrew Higginson 4-1 to reach the second round. The Ace in the pack made breaks of 102, 52, 140 and 56. pic.twitter.com/CQcYX4sVnz  World Snooker Tour (@WeAreWST) February 14, 2017

Last weeks World Grand Prix winner Barry Hawkins was also close to his consistent best as four breaks over 50 saw him beat Fraser Patrick by the same score.

Among the other winners on Tuesday were Marco Fu, who beat Martin Gould 4-2, and Mark Allen, who whitewashed Sydney Wilson 4-0.

But there was a big surprise for former world champion Mark Williams, who lost 4-3 to world number 115 Elliot Slessor, a nerveless 90 in the decider giving the Gateshead 22-year-old one of the best wins of his career.
U.N. chief says Fayyad right choice as Libya envoy despite U.S. objection

By Alexander Cornwell

DUBAI, Feb 13 (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday he believed former Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad was the right person to be the world body's envoy to Libya after the United States raised objections.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has expressed disappointment over Guterres's choice, saying the United Nations has for too long been "unfairly biased in favour of the Palestinian Authority to the detriment of our allies in Israel."

"It is a loss for the Libyan peace process and for the Libyan people that I am not able to appoint him," Guterres said at a summit in Dubai.

"I do not think there is any valid reason to avoid someone who is very competent to do a job that is extremely important," he said, adding that ending the Libyan conflict was in "everybody's interest."

It was unclear whether the U.S. objection has ended Fayyad's candidacy. Guterres declined to answer questions when approached by Reuters immediately after his comments.

Guterres dismissed the accusation that the United Nations is biased on Israeli-Palestinian issues and said the body's only loyalty was to its charter.

"The U.N. needs to be able to act with impartiality in all circumstances and cannot be biased in favor of anybody," he said.

Guterres said the United Nations would have to engage with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump as it would "with any other administration."

Trump, while he was president-elect, criticised the United Nations as "just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time" while a spokeswoman said the new administration would "demand some reform and change."

"Let's do everything possible to make this relationship a constructive relationship," Guterres said. "Having said so, we need to respect our values and we need to make sure a multilateral approach to global problems is valued."

A U.N. deputy spokesman, Farhan Haq, declined to say whether the U.S. mission had endorsed Fayyad to the secretary-general and then reversed course at the last minute.

Haq told reporters only that Guterres had sought input from Security Council members before formally submitting his choice to them.

"He and the secretariat did consult prior to this. We believed we had the understanding in hand but we did not," Haq said in New York.

Guterres, on a tour of the Middle East, also praised Syria's main opposition body for approving a delegation to take part in peace talks on Feb. 20 in Geneva.

The talks "are a first step for serious progress in finding a transition that allows for a political solution in which all Syrians feel represented," he said.

The High Negotiation Committee's decision to send a delegation follows indirect talks last month in Kazakhstan where Russia, Turkey and Iran agreed to monitor a fragile truce in Syria.
Six Ivory Coast journalists arrested on suspicion of inciting mutiny

ABIDJAN, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Six journalists in Ivory Coast have been arrested on suspicion of faking news which could incite soldiers to revolt, journalist associations said on Monday, just days after a mutiny.

Ivory Coast has been gripped by a series of revolts this year by various factions of the military seeking bonus pay, after the government conceded to the demands of an initial group of mutineers in January.

Special forces seized the coastal town of Adiake last week in the latest episode of army violence which has tarnished Ivory Coast's image as a post-war success story.

The president of the journalists' union, Moussa Traore, said that six people had been arrested but gave no further details.

The journalists were arrested on Sunday and after several hours of questioning were taken to a police camp in Agban where they are still being held, media union SYNAPPCI said.

"Unfortunately we have noted that, in relation to these movements, certain media outlets are spreading false information that could incite soldiers to revolt," state prosecutor Adou Richard said in a statement read on national television.

"This applies notably to the publications of Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017 by daily newspapers Soir Info, Le Temps, Notre Voie and l'Inter," he said, listing four well-known Ivorian papers.

It was not immediately clear which articles he was referring to, although SYNAPPCI suggested in a statement that the articles referred to deals between mutineering soldiers and the government.

"SYNAPPCI wishes to express its indignation and its deep disappointment at the persistence of attitudes and illegal practices aimed to humiliate journalists in Ivory Coast," the union statement said.
ELKO  A new clinic proposed for Elko hopes to ease the doctor shortage in the area.

In a lunch with members of the Medicare in Elko Workgroup on Friday, Dr. Daniel Spogen, chairman of the Family Medicine Department at the University of Nevada, Reno, explained his plans for bringing more doctors to town.

Spogen is spearheading an effort to start a clinic that would bring doctors to the area until they complete their residency.

The clinic would be housed in the same building as Nevada Health Center. The plan is to begin setting up the clinic this summer and have resident doctors join the clinic in the summer of 2018.

Though the doctors tenure as residents only lasts two years, Spogen said he is optimistic his clinic will get them to stay longer.

There have been a number of studies that have shown that doctors set up shop where they have been trained, he said. If you take somebody and train them in Reno theyre going to stay in Reno, theyre not going to come to Elko. If they are going to stay in Elko they need to be trained in Elko.

One of the challenges the clinic will face is keeping the clinic fully staffed with doctors on a yearly basis. Director of Rural Programs Keith Clark said its important for communities to welcome doctors who are considering starting a practice in the area after their residency.

When it comes to recruitment and retention, the ball is back in our court as a community because its up to us as a community to treat them well and welcome them, he said. Its something we have to start thinking about right now. We have to start thinking about what our retention plan is and what were doing to make people want to live here.

Despite the challenges Elko residents face in recruiting doctors, Spogen was impressed with the passion the community has shown. Spogen is optimistic the clinic will get off the ground with the support of the public.

The support in the community is excellent, he said. Theres so many barriers that get in the way of developing a program but its because of a lack of community support. The community definitely wants us here. Its going to happen; its just going to take time.

The short-term goal of the clinic is to bring residents to the area but Clark has an eye on the long-term goal of increasing the number of doctors in the area.

Clark said the clinic will be a step in the right direction.

We need to look at making this as a place to stay, he said. Im real excited to build a foundation here.
Romania - Factors to watch on Feb. 14

Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Romanian financial markets on Tuesday.

GDP

Romania's National Statistics Board to release flash signal of fourth quarter gross domestic product data at 0700 GMT.

GRAFT DECREE

The upper house of parliament, the Senate may discuss and approve a government order to rescind a decree that aimed to decriminalise some corruption offences.

The decree was rescinded by the cabinet after mass street protests and international condemnation.

2017 BUDGET

Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu and Finance Minister Viorel Stefan are expected to meet the country's President Klaus Iohannis over the 2017 budget bill.

Iohannis must sign the bill into law in order to take effect or he may resend it to parliament to be amended. Iohannis has repeatedly said the bill was based on overly optimistic economic growth estimates.

ANTI-GRAFT REFERENDUM

Romania's parliament on Monday unanimously endorsed a presidential plan to hold a national referendum over anti-corruption reforms after mass street protests forced the government into an embarrassing U-turn over a graft decree.

DEBT TENDER

Romania sold a planned 800 million lei ($189.28 million) worth of 182-day treasury bills on Monday, with the average accepted yield set at 0.56 percent, central bank data showed.

Debt managers last sold similar paper last month at an average yield of 0.64 percent.

EXTERNAL SHORTFALL

Romania's current account deficit doubled on the year to reach 4.12 billion euros ($4.38 billion) at the end of December, central bank data showed on Monday.

CEE MARKETS

Central European stocks mostly firmed on Monday, led by Warsaw's blue chip index which set a 17-month high on the back of higher copper prices and strong company earnings.

The regional trend was in line with a global rise in shares due to expectations of economic stimulus in the United States.

ENEL

The International Court of Arbitration in Paris has ruled Italy's Enel must pay Romania 400 million euros over an outstanding stake in a local power supplier.

Enel bought a controlling stake in Romanian power supplier and distributor Electrica Muntenia Sud in 2007. It now holds 64 percent of the firm, and had committed to buy part or all of the state's remaining 24 percent holding. Ziarul Financiar

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Delays, confusion as Toshiba reports $6.3 bln nuclear hit and slides to loss

By Makiko Yamazaki and Taiga Uranaka

TOKYO, Feb 14 (Reuters) - After a day of delays and confusion, Japan's Toshiba Corp said on Tuesday it would book a $6.3 billion hit to its U.S. nuclear unit, a writedown that wipes out its shareholder equity and leaves the loss-making group scrambling for capital.

Highlighting the scale of its financial concerns, Toshiba also ramped up plans to raise cash, announcing it would consider selling most, even all, of its stake in its prized flash-memory chips business, plus its troubled nuclear business Westinghouse.

Toshiba had previously yielded only to selling just under 20 percent of the NAND memory unit, which makes chips for mobiles and tablets and is its most valuable business.

"We are considering various offers for the chips business and we will act flexibly - even if that means giving up a majority of the unit," Chief Executive Satoshi Tsunakawa said.

Earlier on Tuesday, the battered conglomerate rattled investors by failing to release its earnings on schedule, saying initially it was 'not ready' and then announcing later it needed more time to probe its Westinghouse nuclear business after internal reports had uncovered potential problems.

The figures eventually released were numbers that have yet to be approved by its auditor and Toshiba cautioned investors that a major revision was possible. Fully audited numbers are now not due till March 14, after the firm was granted a reprieve for its formal filing by Japanese regulators.

"Finally, now people are starting to recognise that internal control problems, the accounting issues and governance issues are very real and no longer abstract," said Zuhair Khan, an analyst at Jefferies in Tokyo.

"They impact the viability of the company."

Shares in the group slid 8 percent, putting the company's market value at 973 billion yen ($8.6 billion), less than half its value in mid-December. Just under a decade ago, the firm was worth almost 5 trillion yen.

Toshiba bonds fell sharply, with the highest yields for shorter dated bonds, a sign of worry over short-term prospects.

NUCLEAR EXIT

Toshiba announced the first top-level departure since the nuclear problems were uncovered in December: chairman Shigenori Shiga, a former Westinghouse boss brought in to the top role last year after a $1.3 billion accounting scandal in 2015 shook up Toshiba's upper ranks.

Westinghouse, bought from the British government in 2006 at twice the expected price, and a small U.S. deal agreed in 2015, proved too much for Toshiba, as cost overruns at the U.S. business piled up and costly delays lengthened.

Toshiba sought to draw a line under its decade-long nuclear nightmare on Tuesday by pulling out of nuclear power plant construction overseas, reducing its involvement to reactors and services, a major step back.

Reuters reported this month that Toshiba was seeking at least a partial exit from ventures in Britain and India, a blow to both countries' nuclear plans.

"Looking at today's numbers it is difficult to say that the acquisition was the correct choice," Tsunakawa said.

In an earlier, separate statement, Toshiba outlined concerns at Westinghouse.

Internal reports, Toshiba said, suggested controls at Westinghouse had been "insufficient" and it needed to look into whether senior managers at Westinghouse exerted "inappropriate pressure" during discussions over the 2015 U.S. deal to buy the company at the heart of its cost overruns, it said.

"We judged that it would take about a month for external lawyers ... to conduct these further probes and for the independent auditors to review the results," Toshiba said.

Executives later declined to elaborate on the concerns.

Toshiba said it expected to book a 499.9 billion yen ($4.4 billion) net loss for the nine months to December, and a 390 billion yen net loss for the full year.

It also ended 2016 with negative shareholder equity due to the 712.5 billion yen nuclear writedown - a charge that was first flagged in December last year.

Toshiba is due to meet its creditor banks on Wednesday. ($1=113.42 yen)
Philippine environment minister doubles down on mining crackdown

By Manolo Serapio Jr and Enrico Dela Cruz

MANILA, Feb 14 (Reuters) - The Philippines' environment minister stepped up a crackdown on mining on Tuesday, cancelling almost a third of the country's contracts for undeveloped mines and rejecting any challenges to earlier orders to shut over half of all operating pits.

The move turns up the heat in her battle with the mining sector after she ordered the closure of 23 of the country's 41 mines earlier this month on environmental grounds, causing an outcry from the industry and threats of legal action.

The latest 75 contracts, which cover projects in the exploration stage or otherwise not yet in production, are all in watershed zones and would threaten water supply if they went ahead, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Regina Lopez said.

"You kill the watershed, you kill life," Lopez told a media briefing.

A long-time environmentalist, Lopez ordered the closure of the 23 mines on Feb. 2 for damaging watersheds and for siltation of coastal waters and farmlands. Five more mines were suspended. The industry says the orders will affect 1.2 million people.

The contracts cancelled on Tuesday, known as mineral production sharing agreements (MPSAs), include the $1.2 billion copper-gold project of Philex Mining Corp, one of the country's biggest miners, in southern Philippines.

Also scrapped was the permit for the $5.9 billion Tampakan copper-gold project in South Cotabato province in Mindanao island, the biggest stalled mining venture in the Southeast Asian country.

Tampakan failed to take off after the province where it is located banned open-pit mining in 2010, prompting commodities giant Glencore Plc to quit the project in 2015.

"We're canceling this as a gift of love to the people of Cotabato," Lopez said.

There are currently 311 MPSAs including those for the 41 operating mines, government data showed.

Lopez also disputed the ability of the country's courts to halt her closure orders as affected miners prepare to take legal action.

"There is no TRO (temporary restraining order) that holds function in the case of environment enforcement," she said.

'ABSURD', SAYS INDUSTRY

Lawyer Ronald Recidoro from the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines said Lopez's latest action was "absurd" and ignored due process given MPSAs were contracts between the government and the companies.

"You cannot just unilaterally cancel contracts, especially if there are no specific grounds," Recidoro told Reuters.

Mining law allowed operations in watersheds, he added, except those declared protected by the government.

But Lopez said it was within her discretion "to decide on the resources of the country."

Top Philippine nickel ore producer Nickel Asia Corp said on Tuesday it would pursue all legal remedies to overturn an order to close the operations of its unit Hinatuan Mining Corp.

Hinatuan was told that its operation has "impaired the functions of the watershed in the area," according to a copy of the closure order.

The decision to close or suspend existing mine operations followed a months-long audit of the mines, although a government team that reviewed the audit recommended only suspensions and fines.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday said he would not stand in the way of Lopez's decision to shut several mines in southern Philippines, the second time he has thrown his support behind the minister he appointed last June.

If Duterte upholds Lopez's actions, Recidoro said affected miners could seek relief with the Court of Appeals and "then the Supreme Court."
PRESS DIGEST - Bulgaria - Feb 14

SOFIA, Feb 14 (Reuters) - These are some of the main stories in Bulgarian newspapers on Tuesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

-- The European Commission forecasts a growth of 2.9 percent for the Bulgarian economy in 2017. It predicts "robust growth amid ongoing fiscal consolidation" and "domestic demand continues to be the main growth driver". It also forecast 2.8 percent growth in 2018 (Capital daily, Standart, Trud, Monitor)

24 CHASA - If parliamentary election were held today, 29.7 percent of Bulgarians would vote for the centre-right party GERB, versus 28.7 percent for the Socialist party (BSP), a poll by Trend Research Center showed. Three more formations - the nationalist United Patriots, the ethnic-Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms and the newly-founded party Will of businessman Veselin Mareshki fwould make it to the parliament in the event of a hypothetical election

-- Bulgaria's education ministry has said the Balkan country will certainly be imposed a "financial correction" by the European Commission over the way Operational Program Science and Education for Smart Growth has been managed so far. Sofia officials will hold talks with Commission's representatives to determine the amount of money Bulgaria will have to lose. Violations, however, were found in eight projects whose total value is 180 million levs ($97.66 million)
Czech PM's party puts bank tax back on election platform

PRAGUE, Feb 14 (Reuters) - The ruling Czech Social Democratic Party will propose a special tax on banks as part of its campaign for a parliamentary election in October, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said on Tuesday.

Sobotka's party trails the ANO movement of Finance Minister Andrej Babis, who has opposed higher taxes, by a large margin in polls and is seeking issues to set it apart from its rival.

The two parties entered into government together with a smaller third coalition partner, the Christian Democrats, in 2014. ANO opposition then to higher taxes forced the Social Democrats to give up plans for sector taxes on banks, telecoms firms and utilities.

With a new election this autumn, the Social Democrats want to promote the new taxes to help fund schools and infrastructure, and keep profits from leaving the country.

"We cannot close our eyes to the fact that in recent years more than half of (bank) profits have flowed abroad... We want to change that," Sobotka said.

The party said its proposed bank tax would carry four rates, depending on the size of assets. The top rate would be 0.3 percent for banks with assets of more than 300 billion crowns ($11.8 billion).

It estimated the new taxes, which would be on top of the 19 percent corporate tax rate, could bring in 11 billion crowns ($433 million) a year.

The Social Democrats said bank taxes exist already in 15 other European Union countries, including the Czech Republic's immediate neighbours.

The Czech banking sector is mainly foreign-owned, with the biggest banks owned by Belgium's KBC, Erste Group Bank of Austria, and France's Societe Generale .

The Czech budget posted its first surplus in two decades in 2016 as revived economic growth boosted revenue. The state also invested less due to the slow start of a new round of EU-financed projects.

Babis, a billionaire businessman, founded ANO in 2011 and has appealed to voters with his business-like approach to governance and pledges to root out corruption.

ANO, which surged to second place in the last election at the end of 2013, holds a double-digit lead in polls, putting Babis in a strong position to become the next prime minister.
Kenyan private doctors to strike after colleagues jailed

By Humphrey Malalo

NAIROBI, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Doctors in Kenya's private healthcare system will walk out from midnight in protest at the jailing of some of their colleagues for striking at public hospitals, deepening a political crisis for President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The private sector strike will run for an initial 48 hours, Kenya Medical Association head Jacqueline Kitulu said on Tuesday.

"Further instructions will be issued should the doctors still be in jail at the expiry of this period," she said, calling on colleagues to demonstrate at courts around the country in solidarity.

Officials from a union that represents doctors were jailed on Monday for contempt of court after they refused to call off the public hospital strike, which has entered its third month. The court had ruled the strike, in protest at pay and working conditions, was illegal.

Kitulu said there would be no negotiations while the union officials were in jail, and demanded that Kenyatta - who faces presidential and parliamentary elections in August - sack cabinet members and officials she blamed for the crisis.

The 5,000-member doctors' union wants the government to implement a deal agreed in 2013 to raise basic salaries by 150 to 180 percent, review working conditions, job structures and criteria for promotions, and address under-staffing in state hospitals.

A series of corruption scandals, including an investigation into millions of dollars allegedly missing from the Health Ministry, has bolstered support for the doctors, even as Kenyan media have reported that patients have died during the strike.

Private hospitals have been struggling to cope with an influx of patients who would normally use the cheaper public health service.

The private Bomu Medical Hospital in the coastal city of Mombasa has had to turn its waiting room into an extra ward to accommodate an overflow of patients.

But some like Patricia Kadzo, 31, were unable to afford the fees. She had camped out for two days next to her frail father, who was sleeping on a worn-out mattress in a corridor as she tried to gather money for an operation on his ruptured bladder.
France wants U.N. Security Council action on Syria chemical weapons' use

PARIS, Feb 14 (Reuters) - France said on Tuesday the United Nations Security Council had to respond over the use of chemical weapons in Syria with a resolution that would punish those responsible for repeated attacks.

Syrian government forces used chemical weapons in opposition-controlled parts of Aleppo during battles to retake the city late last year, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report published on Monday.

The findings add to mounting evidence of the use of banned chemical weapons in the six-year-old Syrian civil war and could strengthen calls by Britain, France and the United States for sanctions against Syrian officials.

While not confirming the report, a French foreign ministry spokesman said in a daily briefing the allegations were "extremely serious."

"It is up to the Security Council to act. France ... continues to discuss with its partners at the Security Council to adopt a resolution to punish those responsible for these attacks," the spokesman said.
Philippines says Japan offers help in anti-piracy effort

MANILA, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Japan has offered to send patrol ships to deal with a growing piracy threat in the southern Philippine waters bordering Indonesia and Malaysia, a senior Philippine defence official said on Tuesday.

A surge in piracy off parts of the southern Philippines is forcing ship-owners to divert vessels through other waters, pushing up costs and shipping times. Dozens of sailors have been taken captive by Abu Sayyaf.

Japanese vice minister Ro Manabe offered the assistance at a meeting in Tokyo on Friday and expressed readiness to contribute to efforts by the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia "in addressing piracy and terrorism", said Raymund Quilop, assistant defence minister for assessments and international affairs.

A senior Japanese defence ministry official, however, gave a different account of the Tokyo meeting and said no offer of patrols was made to the Philippines, just "capacity building".

Leaders from the two countries agreed last fall that Japan would give the Philippines high-speed small boats for its counter-terrorism efforts, but it was not clear if that was part of the apparent offer made by Manabe.

Efforts by the Philippines to strengthen its security ties with Japan come as it seeks to diversify defence relations that are traditionally aligned with the United States, to include Russia and China also.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte last month asked Beijing to send its ships to thwart piracy by the Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf. China has yet to issue a response to that request.

China has also been in discussions about defence-related loans for purchasing its arms. It will donate $14 million worth of unspecified military equipment, for which Manila has submitted a wish-list, and has made available $500 million in loans for planes and ships.

Russia has offered to sell the Philippines anything it wanted, Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told Reuters last week.

The Philippines late last year made an agreement with Indonesia and Malaysia to chase down Islamist militants and pirates in the Sulu and Celebes Sea.

Abu Sayyaf is holding captive 27 foreigners and Filipinos on the southern island of Jolo. The foreigners include six Vietnamese, a Dutchman, a German and a Japanese national.
Sanctioned for drugs, Venezuelan vice president slams U.S. 'aggression'

By Andrew Cawthorne and Alexandra Ulmer

CARACAS, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Venezuela's powerful vice president on Tuesday called his blacklisting by the United States on drug charges an "imperialist aggression" in the first flare-up between the two countries under new U.S. President Donald Trump.

"We shall not be distracted by these miserable provocations," said Tareck El Aissami, the most senior Venezuelan official yet sanctioned by the United States.

"We will see this vile aggression dispelled," he added in a series of defiant tweets before appearing on state television looking unruffled as he presided over a government meeting.

The U.S. Department of Treasury on Monday labeled El Aissami a drug "kingpin," accusing him of facilitating shipments by air and sea, and having links to drug gangs in Mexico and Colombia.

El Aissami joined a sanctions list that already includes a half-dozen other Venezuelan officials or former officials.

The designation allows the Treasury Department to freeze assets in the United States and prevents them from conducting financial transactions through the United States.

Socialist President Nicolas Maduro has frequently cast U.S. and opposition accusations of drug trafficking, corruption and human rights abuses as a false pretext to justify meddling in Venezuela and trying to topple him.

Maduro, 54, narrowly won election in 2013 to replace the late Hugo Chavez, but his popularity has plummeted amid an economic crisis in the nation of 30 million people.

Maduro backed his vice president, saying later on Tuesday that he had summoned the top U.S. diplomat in Venezuela, charge d'affaires Lee McClenny, to explain the "illegal" decision.

"Comrade Tareck has my full support," said Maduro, flanked by El Aissami in a live television address in which he attacked the United States.

Though he frequently lambasted former President Barack Obama, the Venezuelan president has in the last month refrained from criticizing Trump, though called him a "thief" and "bandit" in 2015.

As well as El Aissami, the United States also blacklisted local businessman Samark Lopez, terming him a "frontman" for the vice president.

Lopez responded in a statement that he was a "legitimate businessman" and "has not engaged in drug trafficking."

The sanction on El Aissami, a 42-year-old lawyer and criminologist, dents Maduro's hopes that Trump might avoid a confrontation with Venezuela but could also help him by providing a nationalist card to play, said David Smilde, a Tulane University professor and Venezuela expert.

"This is a tremendous gift to Maduro as it ensures El Aissami's loyalty. It essentially increases El Aissami's exit costs and gives him a personal stake in the continuation of 'Chavismo'," he said.

"To be clear, El Aissami and others should be held responsible for their actions. However it should be understood this process has pernicious unintended consequences. I think we are effectively witnessing the creation of a rogue state."

MAJOR DRUG HUB?

El Aissami, whom local media say is of Syrian and Lebanese descent, grew up poor in the Andean state of Merida. He was a lawmaker, interior minister and state governor for the ruling Socialist Party before becoming vice president last month.

A long-time confidant and member of Chavez's and Maduro's inner circles, El Aissami was given wider powers as vice president in a decree last month and is being touted in some circles as a possible future president.

Venezuelan opposition groups have long accused El Aissami of repressing dissent, participating in drug trafficking rings, and supporting Middle Eastern groups such as Hezbollah.

Narcotics experts say Venezuela is a major hub for drug shipments. The Treasury Department said he oversaw or partially owned shipments of more than 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) on multiple occasions, including to Mexico and the United States.

The citation did not specify the drug, though the most common narcotic trafficked in the region is cocaine.

"As a result of today's action, significant real property and other assets in the Miami, Florida area tied to Lopez Bello have been blocked," it said, referring to Samark Lopez.

The sanction was a departure from the so-called "soft landing" approach taken by Obama's White House. At times it had clashed with efforts by the U.S. Justice Department and Drug Enforcement Administration, which worked with informants in Venezuela to nab officials for money laundering and drug crimes.

Since 2015, the Obama administration had sought to use behind-the-scenes diplomacy to ease acrimony with Caracas and the fallout from a string of U.S. indictments against Venezuelan officials, including Interior Minister Nestor Reverol.

"When the right wing attacks us, it shows we are advancing. Nothing and nobody will stop our victorious march to peace," Reverol tweeted on Tuesday in defense of El Aissami.

The blacklisting of Venezuela's vice president follows the U.S. convictions last year of two nephews of the country's first lady, Cilia Flores, over a multimillion-dollar drug deal.

Opposition leaders said it was further evidence of the rotten nature of Venezuela's state and institutions.

One of them, Henry Ramos, scoffed that Venezuela would no doubt claim drugs had been planted on officials "just like they plant evidence on Venezuelan opponents to make them rot in the regime's jails."
North Korea agents believed behind murder of leader's half-brother -U.S. source

WASHINGTON, Feb 14 (Reuters) - The U.S. government strongly believes that North Korean agents murdered the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Malaysia, a U.S. government source told Reuters on Tuesday.

U.S. authorities have not yet determined exactly how Kim Jong Nam was killed, according to the source, who did not provide firm evidence to support the government's conclusion.
Egypt nearing deal with Iraq in search for crude oil imports

By Lin Noueihed and Eric Knecht

CAIRO, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Egypt is nearing a deal to import crude oil from Iraq and is looking to other countries to help secure supply, Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation's chief Tarek al-Hadidi said.

Cairo's search for additional crude comes after Saudi Arabia's state oil firm Saudi Aramco halted shipments of oil products to Egypt last year.

The $23 billion Saudi aid deal had included 700,000 tonnes of refined oil products per month for five years. Aramco has never provided a reason for why the deal was halted.

Egypt has turned to the spot market in recent months to make up for the missing products.

The EGPC last month announced it was seeking up to 1.012 million tonnes of gasoil for delivery in February and March compared to around 200,000 tonnes of gasoil per month before the Aramco cutoff.

Egypt has turned to Iraq in search of a longer term solution to make up for the shortfall, and is in talks to import 1 million barrels per month of crude oil from Baghdad, which would then be refined into petroleum products in Egypt.

An Egyptian delegation is set to visit Iraq this month to work out final details.

"We are now in the final stages with the Iraqi government and ministry of oil in Iraq to supply 1 million barrels per month, this will be a good way to secure our crude supplies," EGPC's Hadidi told an oil conference in Cairo on Tuesday.

Hadidi said Egypt would look for similar deals with other countries as a way of securing its crude supplies.
Colombia Colpatria seeking capital, partners for building, mining ops

By Nelson Bocanegra

BOGOTA, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Colombian investment firm Colpatria is seeking capital and possible partners for its construction and mining businesses as the conglomerate expands in two of the Andean nation's growing sectors, its president said on Tuesday.

Colpatria has interests in banking via its Banco Colpatria, pensions through Colfondos, insurance with AXA Colpatria, construction through Constructora Colpatria and gold mining via its listed Mineros.

"We have not ruled out a partner for the construction company, to repeat some of what we did with our bank and insurance companies maybe. What I'm sure about is that we need access to additional sources of financing," Eduardo Pacheco told Reuters in an interview at his Bogota office.

Colpatria in 2011 tapped Canada's Scotiabank as a partner, ceding 51 percent in Banco Colpatria, and in 2013 it sold a similar amount of its insurance business to France's AXA.

"There's so much work in construction and what we don't have is the money to do it all," said Pacheco. "So one of our challenges with the construction company is how to raise capital."

The construction unit has operations in Colombia, Peru and Mexico, where it expects to expand this year. It is also looking to enter another market this year, though he declined to say which.

Pacheco said Mineros, Colombia's biggest gold miner, also needs to raise capital.

"We're thinking about opening up Mineros' capital. We have a goal of reaching 500,000 ounces (of gold production) annually, and while the purchase we made in Nicaragua was important, we need to follow that process and for that we need to open up the property," he said.

In 2013 Mineros bought 90 percent of gold miner Hemco Nicaragua.

"I hope it's one of the things that happens this year," said Pacheco, who has controlled the family company since 1997, when he succeeded his father, its founder.

In banking, the focus for this year will be investment in digital channels and new technologies, he said.
SOFTS-NY cocoa extends losses to 2008 low after Ivorian defaults

By Marcy Nicholson and Mariana Ionova

NEW YORK/LONDON, Feb 14 (Reuters) - New York cocoa futures on ICE fell to the lowest in nearly 8-1/2 years on Tuesday, dropping for the ninth straight session on market concerns over a wave of defaults in top grower Ivory Coast, while the London market touched a 3-1/2-year low.

Sugar prices rose, correcting higher after Monday's sharp drop to a six-week low, while coffee prices fell.

New York May cocoa settled down $20, or 1 percent, at $1,905 per tonne, after falling to $1,893, the weakest for the second position since October 2008.

May London cocoa settled down 21 pounds, or 1.3 percent, at 1,553 pounds per tonne, after falling to 1,541 pounds, its weakest since July 2013.

The prospect of a large global surplus this season has led to a roughly 10 percent fall in cocoa futures since the start of the year. Adding to the bearish mood, Ivorian cocoa has been resold this month after some local exporters defaulted on contracts and dealers said there was uncertainty about how much cocoa in Ivory Coast still needed to be sold.

"I think the vast majority of the selling has been done," said Jonathan Parkman, head of agriculture at Marex Spectron.

"We're probably near the other side of it. But it's created a very unsettled feel in the market."

The New York March/May cocoa spread moved wildly for the second straight day, with the March contract widening to a sharp $44 discount on Monday and then to a premium as high as $30 on Tuesday, the contract's first notice day.

"Probably some spec(ulator) was caught short," said one U.S. cocoa trader.

May raw sugar futures settled up 0.4 cent, or 1.9 percent, at 20.37 cents per lb, while May white sugar settled up $11.50, or 2.1 percent, at $548.80 per tonne.

Dealers said the sugar market was buoyed after testing support levels on Monday.

A total of 142,050 tonnes of white sugar has been tendered against the March contract that expired on Monday, ICE data showed.

Robusta coffee extended losses from the 5-1/2-year high reached on Feb. 1, with May closing down $11, or 0.5 percent, at $2,128 per tonne, after falling to $2,120, the lowest for the second-position contract since Jan. 3.

The market awaited a decision by Brazil's Foreign Trade Chamber, which has been asked to authorize robusta imports after the country's crop was hurt by drought.
Protesters attack Lebanese TV channel headquarters

BEIRUT, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Demonstrators attacked the headquarters of a Lebanese television channel in Beirut on Tuesday night, protesting against a broadcast they said was insulting to Lebanese Shi'ite cleric Imam Musa al-Sadr.

Around 300 people, some carrying flags of Lebanon's Shi'ite Amal Movement, tried to storm the headquarters of Lebanese channel al-Jadeed, throwing fireworks, stones and eggs at the building.

Sadr, the founder of the Amal Movement, disappeared after travelling to Libya in 1978 and is presumed dead. Lebanese media said the Tuesday demonstration had been in reaction to a broadcast comedy sketch that referred to the disappearance.

Protesters broke windows, shouted insults at the channel's owner, and chanted "Here we are Nabih", referring to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, head of the Amal Movement.

Scores of police and troops arrived to control the protesters, and one policeman was injured.
Man and wife injured by "terrorist explosion" in Bahrain

CAIRO, Feb 14 (Reuters) - A man and wife were slightly injured on Tuesday by a "terrorist explosion" in Bahrain, the Bahraini interior ministry said.

The couple was passing when the blast occurred in the Sitra Island area, the ministry said on Twitter. It showed a photo of a damaged vehicle but gave no further details and did not identify the couple.

The explosion came on the sixth anniversary of "Arab Spring" protests in Bahrain, mainly by its Shi'ite Muslim majority, demanding reforms.

The Sunni Muslim rulers of the island kingdom suppressed the protests with the help of neighbouring Gulf Arab states, and Bahrain has seen unrest and several bomb attacks since.

On Feb. 5, a bomb exploded on the outskirts of Manama, damaging cars but causing no injuries, in what the interior ministry also described as a terrorist act.
At least 1,300 military deserters have been arrested as of yesterday, Military Spokesman Brigadier Roshan Seneviratne said today.

He said the Police, together with the Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police (SLCMP) are currently conducting island-wide raids to arrest military personnel who are considered as Absent without Official Leave (AWOL).

Accordingly 984 army, 236 navy and 14 air force deserters were arrested since last December 31.

Brigadier Seneviratne said disciplinary action would be taken against army deserters who were absent for more than six months.

They would be discharged from the service once all the arrears including loan payments are settled, he said.

He said around 42,800 tri forces deserters including officers had not reported for duty so far.

The Ministry of Defence had declared two General Amnesty periods during last year, providing the opportunity to tri forces personnel who are considered as AWOL to obtain legal discharge.

The previous General Amnesty period ended on December 31, 2016 and during the period 34 officers and 8,843 other rankers reported to their respective services seeking legal discharge.(DS)
Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, the Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) is an expert in governance and peace. He has submitted research papers on the subjects in international conferences. In 2013, he attended a High-level Civil Society Round Table during the tenure of Barack Obama, the former President of the USA. He is one of the founders of the Sri Lanka Chapter of Transparency International and the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV). He has been the Secretary of the Consultation Task Force on Reconciliation mechanism. In a candid interview with the Dailymirror Dr. Saravanamuttu, who has a PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) shared his thoughts on the current constitution making process, reconciliation, transitional justice, good governance and the debatable topics that have taken centre stage during the past few weeks.

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Central Committee headed by President Maithripala Sirisena has come to a decision to continue with the Executive Presidential system of governance. But the President came to power pledging to do away with this system. What are your thoughts on this?

I think there is some confusion at the present moment. What we are being told now is that the President would like to prioritise Constitutional reform over everything else. That would involve all of these things we are talking about a new Constitution. Obviously there is some fluidity and perhaps, what is required for the president and for the party, is to come out and say very categorically as to what they intend to do as far as the new constitution is concerned, and whether they support a new Constitution.

There is concern about going for a referendum and the fear of losing the referendum, and therefore to do Constitutional reform which does not involve a referendum. But I dont think you can do any meaningful Constitutional reform without involving a referendum. What perhaps is required is for a very clear, cogent, coherent statement from the president and the SLFP saying that they are pursuing a new Constitution, that would recognizably involve a referendum, and that theyre campaigning for the acceptance of that Constitution.

What are the provisions in Constitutional reform that require a referendum?

Any Amendment that goes beyond the existing fundamental structure of the State, the entrenched laws and which affects the sovereignty of the people will have to be determined by the Supreme Court. An example would be Article 9 (Buddhism given the foremost place and the State being duty bound to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana).

There is also considerable objection to a new Constitution. In this context, do you think that Sri Lanka would be able to establish a new Constitution?

I have no doubt whatsoever that the United National Party (UNP) and SLFP in parliament can bring together the two thirds majority. I am also sure that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) will support them in the provision on devolution. Then you can get the two thirds majority in parliament. Then we come to the referendum. If these two parties, and particularly if the President and the PM work together and lead the campaign in the country at large, with regard to the acceptance of the new Constitution, I have no doubt that we will get through, also because we require only a simple majority here.

Constitutional Amendments are supposed to bring a solution to ethnic conflicts. However our history includes ample instances where there has been strong opposition against such amendments and agreements. The BandaranaikeChelvanayakam Pact is a case in point. With this failing history, what is the solution to address the issues arising from ethnic conflicts?

There is absolutely no substitute to a Constitutional settlement. The Bandaranaike-Chelvanayakam pact was not part of the Constitution. So the two parties - in terms of the coalition government and the TNA - need to get together and come up with a solution that will satisfy both sides. You have the concern about separation and cessation on the one side. And on the other side, you have the concern with regard to having a certain degree of autonomy to be able to manage ones own affairs to ensure non-discrimination. So you need to be able to find a solution that meets both of those demands and a lot more in between.

In the debates, the discussions and the deliberations of the Constitutional assemblies, and if you look at the subcommittee reports too, I think there is ample potential for an excellent consensus.

Do you think the current government actually follows the concepts of good governance especially when it comes to accountability, transparency, efficiency and minimizing corruption?

I think there is always going to be an argument that a lot more could be done with regards to transparency, efficiency, anti-corruption etc. I certainly think that with regard to this government, a lot more could be done. I will go a step further and say that it should be done because that is what this government campaigned on. There should be no suggestion in the publics perception of the government, that there are deals being made, that it is inefficient, that it is corrupt itself, and indeed if there is corruption within the government, it needs to be rooted out as well.

QHow far have we achieved reconciliation and transitional justice?

We have come somewhere but we have a long way to go. Reconciliation is a process. There isnt a particular point we reach and say that we have achieved reconciliation. There are attitudes towards various groups and identities in this country. There is institutional reform. All of this has to be mainstreamed and continued into the future.

With regard to transitional justice, unfortunately, it is being demoted because constitutional reform is being given priority and there are arguments for doing that as well. But we have the Office of Missing Persons where some major legislation has been passed. I think we should begin to implement what the government of Sri Lanka committed to in the resolution it co-sponsored at the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2015.

I see it as a process, and therefore, in order to make sure that the process gets going in full measure, you need to start it. Some lands have been given back. You have the Geneva Resolution. You have solid gestures such as the National Anthem being sung in both languages. But as we speak, we have questions with regard to return of land and missing persons. There are people who are going on hunger fasts. That is not reconciliation. We need to create a situation in which people dont have to do that kind of thing, or if people were trying to make them do that kind of thing that they would be able to turn around and say no. There is a process of reconciliation going on and we have faith in it.

I was a member of a taskforce doing consultation on reconciliation, and unfortunately, there was a big gap. People did not trust the State with regards to its commitment to reconciliation. They have some faith in this government and that is why this government needs to do things to ensure that that amount of faith is increased, rather than decrease.

Despite a change in government, there is still violence perpetuating in the form of abductions, torture and other violent behaviour. Why have we failed to protect human rights and what could be done to ensure the protection of human rights?

These appear to be systemic abuses and there needs to be a firm commitment to eradicate them with demonstrable action to ensure that is the case. Any officers of the State being involved in this should be severely dealt with. There are laws in this country prohibiting such actions which should be used without fear or favour. Examples should be made to serve as deterrents against repetition of this kind of behaviour.

The numbers of abductions and even the allegations with regard to that, are a lot less than was before. However, even one abduction is bad enough. Therefore there has to be a very clear specific focus on human rights protection in order to ensure that there is no culture of impunity any more and that these abuses stop.

The Counter Terrorism Act (CTA) is to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). What are your views on this?

If we are going to repeal and replace the PTA, we must make sure that it is in line with our international obligations and commitments, in particular with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Some of the reforms that were suggested were shouted down quite rightly because they seemed to be even worse than what we have at the present moment. We cant regress. We have to progress. The point is not just the repeal of the PTA but its replacement with something that is fully in line with human rights, protection, civil liberties and fundamental rights. So we have to make sure, therefore, that this is in accordance with international best practices.
An African woman was arrested yesterday by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Habaraduwa, Galle on charges of defrauding Rs. 7.1 million.

The 38-year-old suspect, identified as Shasheil Horban Shei is said to have been living together with a French national and was operating a tourist hotel in Galle.

She was arrested following a complaint made by her spouse to the CID. (D.G. Sugathapala, Sumathipala Deeyagahage)
Agriculture is one of the main sectors impacted by the impacts of climate change and its effects are very much felt due to the dependency on the natural resources that this livelihood has. Among the impacts on the agriculture sector are the impacts of the slow onset events of climate change.

Under the Cancun Adaptation Framework, the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) recognized the impact of the slow onset events in the context of loss and damage. The slow onset events formulate part of the climate change-induced extreme weather events that evolve gradually from incremental changes occurring over many years or from an increased frequency or intensity of recurring events.

The slow onset events or slow onset processes, hazards or impacts are listed by the UNFCCC as sea level rise, increasing temperatures, ocean acidification, glacial retreat and related impacts, land and forest degradation, loss of biodiversity, desertification and salinisation. Affecting the people over a long period of time, the slow onset events have wide-ranging implications on food security, health and livelihoods of people, particularly in the agricultural sector.



What is salinity?

Salinity is the presence of soluble salts in soils or waters  a natural process which is accelerated and aggravated due to anthropocentric activities and due to the impacts caused by climate change, defined under the slow onset processes. The UNFCCC has recognized two causes for salinisation: the increasing evaporation due to the rising temperatures and the saltwater intrusion into coastal aquifers as a result of the increased evaporation and sea-level rise or flooding.

With the increased accumulation of salt or sodium in the soil and water, particularly in arid environments, salinisation affects the soil structure causing soil degradation, soil erosion and lack of water retention, which adversely affect the agriculture-based livelihoods. Saline soils, which contain large amounts of water-soluble salts, hinder seed germination and plant growth, thereby reducing crop yields.

The coastal areas contribute to the countrys economy and almost a third of the countrys population is concentrated along the coastal belt. With the increasing incidence of extreme and slow onset events such as sea-level rise and inundation, the coastal and low-lying areas are particularly vulnerable to salinisation. The land degradation due to salinity in Sri Lanka is about 223,000 hectares of the total agricultural land area in the country.



Farmer stories from Morawewa

SLYCAN Trust as part of its research work focuses on the areas of Morawewa and Athabendiwewa in the Trincomalee District. During the field visits to these villages, the organisation has interviewed the farmers whose agriculture land is impacted by salinity.

During the course of the visit and in the follow-up interviews with the farmers, it was made clear that salinisation is a real impediment faced by the farmer communities of the region. The farmers we interviewed were mostly dependent on agriculture for livelihood and the land dedicated to paddy cultivation was affected by salinisation.

The farmers also indicated that there were changes in the crop with discolouration in the plants and grains of rice. Many farmers have indicated that even if they are able to carry out agricultural activity on the affected lands, there are other impacts that reduce the price of the crops.

Salinisation therefore could be seen as having a major impact on the quality of the crop and the quantity, given the decreased crop yield. Moreover, soil salinity affects the water sources and irrigation system in this area and in turn contributes to the problems faced in agriculture.

Through research conducted in the area, it was also revealed that the crop yield from an acre of agricultural land was affected on an average by a 50 percent reduction of crop yield. The farmers emphasized that the discolouration of the grain of rice and noticeably the lesser weight, result in having to sell rice at a lower price.



What causes soil salinity?

According to the farmers, one of the possible reasons for increased soil salinity is the increase in temperature resulting in higher amount of evaporation and lack of rain resulting in lesser water retention in the soil and also human activity.

One farmer in Morawewa-North expressed that salinity had affected his crop yield as well and that he has used organic fertilizer and seen improvements in the yield of crops. Similarly, the farmers of the area are considering an experimental shift to climate smart agricultural practices, which would lessen the impacts on the natural nutrient of the soil.



Addressing soil salinity

Using local knowledge, the farmers have tried to find solutions to the issue of soil salinity. Some of these include using paddy husks and ginisiriya (Gliricidiasipium) as a way to desalinise the land. The farmers indicated that leaving the residue of the paddy in the field after the harvesting process helped control the salinity problem to a certain extent.

Even though this seems to be a long-term solution, a farmer in the Morawewa North area attested to the use of dried cow dung and paddy husk as a continuous and long-term method of reducing soil salinity. He said that it took him around seven years to tend to a plot of three acres, one acre of which was affected by salinity, in order to render the soil that could be cultivated.

The slow onset events, as seen in salinisation encountered by the farmers in the Trincomalee area, have socio-economic implications on the lives of these communities. With the increasing incidence of weather events such as drought, the prolonged effects of salinisation are aggravated, further affecting the capacity to cultivate these agricultural lands.

Research, resilience building and capacity building in terms of developing solutions to the salinisation issue are seen as urgent action to be taken. The process of developing policy and climate solutions for salinisation should be focused on and such knowledge disseminated among the farmers, so as to help them address the impacts of salinity that create losses and damages to their agricultural activities.

(Avanthi Jayasuriya works as Programme and Communication Officer at SLYCAN Trust. She holds a degree specialising in English from the University of Colombo and is currently focused on her postgraduate studies in developmental economics. Her research interests include climate change, animal welfare, gender studies, economic development, transitional justice and peace studies)
REUTERS, 13th FEBRUARY, 2017- Tunisian security forces are using methods in their war against Islamist militants that are associated with overthrown leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, including torture, arbitrary arrests and detentions, Amnesty International said on Monday.



The human right group said in a report that such practices are threatening the road to democratic reform in a country that was the birthplace of the Arab uprisings against autocracy.



Tunisia says it recognizes that some of what Amnesty has charged exists, but says it only individual cases and that there is no systematic abuse or policy of torture by state forces.



It has set up a torture commission to stamp out abuses. Tunisia has been praised as an example of peaceful democratic transition since overthrowing Ben Ali in 2011, with a compromise between secular and Islamist leaders, two free elections and a new constitution.
What does Patali know about politics that Harini doesnt know?

Sri Lanka is going through great pains to get its economy in order after the
During the recently held PRODEXPO International Exhibition in Moscow, Russia, Sri Lankas Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake held discussions with Russian Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachev on getting greater access for Ceylon tea into the Russian market. Russia is among the global leaders in terms of tea consumption. According to KPMG analysts, an average Russian drinks more than 3.5 cups of tea daily.
The half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been killed in Malaysia, a South Korean government source has told Reuters on Tuesday.

Kim Jong Nam, the older half brother of the North Korean leader, was known to spend a significant amount of his time outside the country and had spoken out publicly against his family's dynastic control of the isolated state.

He was believed to be in his mid-40s.

Police in Malaysia has told Reuters on Tuesday that an unidentified North Korean man had died en route to hospital from Kuala Lumpur airport on Monday.

Abdul Aziz Ali, police chief for the Sepang district, said the man's identity had not been verified.

An employee in the emergency ward of Putrajaya hospital said a deceased Korean there was born in 1970 and surnamed Kim.

South Korea's TV Chosun, a cable television network, said that Kim was poisoned at Kuala Lumpur airport by two women believed to be North Korean operatives, who were at large, citing multiple South Korean government sources.

The South Korean government source who spoke to Reuters had not immediately provide further details.

South Korea's foreign ministry said it could not confirm the reports, and the country's intelligence agency could not immediately be reached for comment.

Kim Jong Nam and Kim Jong Un are both sons of former leader Kim Jong Il, who died in late 2011, but they had different mothers.

Kim Jong Nam was believed to be close to his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, who was North Korea's second most powerful man before being executed on Kim Jong Un's orders in 2013.

In 2001, Kim Jong Nam was caught at an airport in Japan traveling on a fake passport, saying he had wanted to visit Tokyo Disneyland. He was known to travel to Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China.

He said several times over the years that he had no interest in leading his country.

"Personally I am against third-generation succession," he told Japan's Asahi TV in 2010, before his younger had succeeded their father.

"I hope my younger brother will do his best for the sake of North Koreans' prosperous lives."
ISLAMABAD AFP Feb13, 2017- A Pakistani court Monday banned public celebrations of Valentines Day in the capital Islamabad, the latest attempt by authorities to outlaw a holiday seen by many in the traditional Muslim society as vulgar and Western.



The Islamabad high court issued the order after a petitioner declared love was being used as a cover to spread immorality, nudity and indecency... which is against our rich traditions and values. The ruling, seen by AFP and greeted with approval by Islamist parties, also called for the electronic and print media to stop promoting Valentines Day.



Some restaurants in Islamabad continued to send out text messages advertising Valentines Day promotions even after the ban was announced. However preparations appeared muted in more conservative areas such as Peshawar, capital of northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, where only a handful of shops were selling Valentines Day-themed goods.
The Pathfinder Foundation (PF) will convene Trincomalee Consultations, a two-day conference participated by the countries in the Bay of Bengal, which are dependent on the bay for their trade and other interactions.

The conference is attended by India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, the Maldives and Sri Lanka. Japan and Norway are also taking part in the deliberations, to be held at Cinnamon Grand, Colombo on February 16 and 17, 2017.

The conference, co-hosted by Carnegie India, will be declared open by Eastern Province Governor Austin Fernando.

The event will be attended by India External Affairs Ministry Joint Secretary Santosh Jha and Japan Foreign Affairs Ministry Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department Deputy Director General Noriyuki Shikata.

Among those present will be PF Founder Milinda Moragoda and PF Executive Director Luxman Siriwardena.

The regional event, Colombo Consultations was organised by PF Centre for Indo-Lanka Relations Director Admiral Dr. Jayanath Colombage.

Following the opening session chaired by PF Chairman Bernard Goonetilleke, papers will be presented on the three themes of the conference by Carnegie India Director Dr. C. Raja Mohan, Abu Saeed Khan (Bangladesh), Dr. Satoru Nagao (Japan), Admiral Dr. Jayanath Colombage, Prof. Rohan Samarajiva, Rohan Masakorala (Sri Lanka) and Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Secretary General Ambassador Sumith Nakandala.

The Bay of Bengal is the largest bay in the world and it covers an area of 2,172, 000 square kilometres. The bay boasts of a population of about 1.8 billion or nearly 25 percent of the world population. Many large rivers and tributaries flow into the bay depositing sediments, which contain commercially exploitable minerals as well as hydrocarbons.

The PF, in cooperation with Carnegie India and with the support of Japan and Norway, has launched the Trincomalee Consultations to focus on three broad areas: (i) Geo-strategic significance and regional maritime security demands in the Bay of Bengal, (ii) Transportation and economic connectivity in the Bay of Bengal: Way ahead for enhanced cooperation and (iii) Strategic importance and potential for development of the Trincomalee Harbour as a hub for the Bay of

Bengal region.

The conference is a Track 1.5 exercise, attended by high-level government and non-governmental representatives from Bangladesh, India, Japan, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Among the institutions that would attend the event are the BIMSTEC, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Carnegie India, Vivekananda International Foundation and Tokyo Foundation. By launching this initiative, the PF seeks to contribute to the government strategy for developing Trincomalee as a regional commercial and shipping hub to serve the Bay of Bengal region. This in turn will result in economic growth and prosperity of the Eastern Province, utilizing the human and other resources in that province as well as the adjacent provinces.
Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) busted a major attempt to smuggle in a stock of Cocaine worth over Rs.30 million by a Lithuanian national who arrived this morning and also arrested two Nigerians who came to collect them, police Spokesman said.

The PNB sleuths stationed at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on information searched a Lithuanian national who landed early this morning and found 2 kilos and 50 grams of Cocaine carefully concealed under a false bottom of his hand luggage.

The suspect had come on a Srilankan Airlines flight from Abu Dhabi and had freely walked into the arrival lounge carrying the bag containing the narcotics when he was apprehended on suspicion. (Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana)
Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayaka today submitted an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act to the Mass Media and Parliamentary Reforms Ministry requesting for information on the 26 TV channels currently operating in the country.

He said there was no system to correct or reply an erroneous news item aired over electronic media when these TV channels make insidious, unethical and unlawful attacks on individuals. He handed over the application to Ministry Secretary H.D.S. Malkanthi.



She told the deputy minister that the ministry would supply the information sought within 14 days.

The deputy minister told ministry officials that there are 26 TV channels in operation right now while the licenses of certain TV channels like CSN had been suspended.

The officials told him that there was no system to respond to the electronic media when a person was attacked repeatedly but sufficient safeguards would be incorporated in the new Media Commission Bill to be enacted shortly by the Government. He told the media that he had been proved correct with regard to the Akkaragama episode where he raised his voice against illegal soil mining and even President Maithripala Sirisena had accepted that fact.

I acted on a request by the people in the area to intervene and I revealed that corrupt public officials were conniving with illegal sand miners. That is why they are now keeping mum after asking me to apologize which I refused to do. The SLFP politician who confronted me is also carrying out illegal sand mining with the help of his family members, the deputy minister alleged.

He told reporters that he would expose the illegal and unethical acts of certain TV channels after he obtained the information from the Mass Media and Parliamentary Reforms Ministry and added that a mechanism was necessary to protect people who come forward to protect the rights of the people from being attacked by the media. (Sandun A Jayasekera)

Pix by Damith Wickramasinghe
A civil society group has asked for the financial statements of all political parties in the country under the Right to information (RTI) Act.

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) Director Sankhitha Gunaratne told Daily Mirror that her organization had officially requested the Elections Commission (EC) to submit the financial statements of all political parties by February 7.

We met the EC Chairman. He gave us a file number and assured us that the information will be given as soon as possible. The EC is well prepared to provide the information asked for under the RTI and appears professional in its approach, she said. (Yohan Perera)
Police personnel, investigating the incident in which SAITM Chief Executive Officer Dr. Sameera Senaratnes car was shot at, said today his complaint appeared contradictory.

A senior police officer said they were awaiting the Government Analysts report before making any further comments on the shooting and added that the Police were investigating the incident using the video footage from CCTV cameras in the vicinity of the shooting.

Meanwhile, the Government Analysts Department said the report would be handed over within three weeks.

The SAITM CEO escaped unhurt after two men riding a motorcycle wearing full-face helmets opened fire at his car near the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) Campus in Malabe on February 6.

The shooting took place when the CEO was leaving the SAITM campus and had gone about 850 metres towards Chandrika Kumaranatunga Mawatha. The assailants who had been in front of the vehicle had damaged the windscreen.

His car and clothes were sent to the Analyst's Department for analysis. Police protection was also provided to Dr. Senaratne after the incident.

The SAITM CEO is said to have gone abroad amid the investigations. (Darshana Sanjeewa)
Restive south Kashmir was seething again after seven people, including four militants and two soldiers, were killed in an encounter in Kulgam, 70 km from Srinagar, on Sunday.



It all began when four militants, who were holed up in a house in Nagbal village of Frisal area, were surrounded by security forces during the night. A gunfight erupted on Sunday morning when they opened fire at a search party.The terrorists had taken the owners son hostage. We had no option but to storm the house, said Army Brigadier R. Chakarwarty. While doing so, two soldiers and a civilian were shot by the terrorists. Later, all the terrorists were killed by the security forces.



Clashes occurred between government forces and protesters in the aftermath of the battle and at least 25 people were injured including 12 with bullet injuries, authorities said.



Three militants managed to escape, and a heavy police contingent has been deployed in the area to maintain law and order, police added. According to figures released by two hospitals in south Kashmir, 15 civilians were treated, including 12 with bullet injuries. One of the injured civilians, succumbed to injuries in a Srinagar hospital.



In a joint statement, separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik called a shut-down for February 13 and Kulgam march for February 15. People of J&K are not war-mongers. Its Indias stubbornness that is at the root of all the bloodshed, Mr. Geelani said.



SRINAGAR (The Hindu/AFP), 12.02.2017
The Valencia High Court on Monday ordered that corrupt business network mastermind Francisco Correa and his aides Pablo Crespo and Alvaro Perez be sent to prison, according to judicial sources. The three were last week sentenced to 13 years behind bars for unlawfully securing event organization contracts from the regional government of Valencia.

Gurtel mastermind Francisco Correa (center) at the trial. MONICA TORRES

Their lawyers had requested alternative measures but these were denied, with prosecutors having earlier argued the men presented a flight risk.

All three face further trials in connection with Gurtel

All three now face further trials in connection with the Gurtel network, which operated across six Spanish regions between 1999 and 2005. The graft and patronage scheme was allegedly run by Correa (whose surname loosely translates as belt, or Gurtel in German), a businessman who cultivated relationships with officials with Spain's conservative Popular Party (PP), offering them gifts in exchange for government contracts in public works and event organization. At the height of his power, Correa went by the nickname of Don Vito, after the character in The Godfather.

With nearly 200 official suspects, it became the largest pre-trial probe in modern Spanish history and was broken up into sections to facilitate the investigation.

A subterfuge

The sentence handed down on Friday finds that the public competitions to award contracts to design, set up and take down the Valencia region pavilion at Fitur, Spains premier tourism fair, as well as at other lesser events, were rigged so as to favor Gurtel businesses for five years in a row, from 2005 to 2009.

The tenders thus became a mere subterfuge to directly appropriate public funds.

The sentence may be appealed.

English version by Susana Urra.
A rumour that several Betel leaf stalwarts were poised to pole-vault to the Green party spread like wild fire in the past few days.



Three names were mentioned in this connection. All are top team members. Having done some homework, the trio had reportedly concluded that the chances of winning back their seats on the Betel leaf ticket at the coming polls were very remote and the best available bet was to ride elephant back.



The two of the trio set for the jump are from Uva; one is a very senior Blue and the other is the one who publicly disowned Appochchi. The third one is a reticent character from Wayamba who once held a high post in the Blue party.



In a move to clear the coast for the Blue senior from Uva poised for the jump, a young dashing Green one from Colombo who is currently based in the main district in Uva on the strength of his matrimonial ties, has decided to shift his political activity to the Gampaha district, they say.



Although, the nekata for the proposed crossover is yet to be fixed, the trio has already confided in their near and dear ones about the impending move.
The Chief Incumbent of the Thuparamaya in Anuradhapura, Ven. Galkiriyagama Soratha Thera passed away at the age of 99, while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Colombo last night.

The mortal remains of the Thera had been placed at the Thuparamaya temple for the public to pay their last respects, the temple said.

The last rites of the Venerable Thera are scheduled to be held at the Temple premises tomorrow afternoon. (Athula Bandara)
China has once again blocked the move, this time by three permanent members of the UN Security Council  US, UK and France  to designate Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as an international terrorist. The US and the UK have treated Indias case on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism with ambivalence in the past.

Maintaining a political balance in relations with both countries, the view that terrorism from Pakistan derives from the unsolved Kashmir issue, the need for Pakistans cooperation in Afghanistan have been considerations that have provided Pakistan space over the years to continue its terrorist depredations.

Action

That these three countries jointly proposed action against the JeM chief indicates a change of mood towards Pakistan against the larger canvas of the rise of the Islamic State and a spate of terrorist attacks in major European countries by Islamist radicals. That China blocked the move indicates, in turn, its determination to shield Pakistan in the UN Security Council (UNSC) on the terrorism issue and disregard the consequences of this not only on India-China relations but also on its international reputation.

China can hardly tout its commitment to combat the menace of international terrorism collectively if it opposes tagging as a terrorist the leader of an organisation already declared one by the UNSC. Because Pakistan claims that terrorism from its soil is the handiwork of non-state" actors which escape government control should actually make it easier for China to join the UNSC consensus on Masood Azhar.

Designating Masood Azhar as a terrorist by the UN is a tactical step that does not materially change the terrorist threat to us from Pakistan.

But in unabashed cynicism on its part, China advocates a consensus but prevents one by unwillingness to join it. In further chicanery, it accuses India of seeking political gains from nailing down Masood Azhar as a terrorist while implying that its own counter-moves to shield Pakistan are not politically motivated.

In reality, Pakistan has become so important geo-politically for China because of the illegal China Pakistan Economic Corridor and Gwadar  the meeting point between its connectivity projects on land and sea  that it is willing to be seen in our eyes as complicit with Pakistan on promoting terror against India. Reports that China has encouraged Pakistan to put Hafiz Saeed under house arrest are fake news intended to present China in good light in view of its obstructionism on Masood Azhars case.

Why China should counsel Pakistan to place curbs on the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief, the mastermind of the Mumbai attacks whose incarceration and prosecution India seeks, and prevent action against the JeM chief responsible for the Pathankot attack defies common sense.

Isolation

If Russia had joined the other three UNSC permanent members to propose Masood Azhars inclusion in the list of international terrorists it would have isolated China more dramatically. Ironically, while the US and UK especially, and to a lesser extent France, have, despite their traditional ties with Pakistan, moved to pressure Pakistan to curb its well-known terrorist figures, Russia with no such ties and a past victim of massive geo-strategic and physical blows at Pakistans hands in Afghanistan has stood apart.

This is not surprising because Russia has, even in joint statements with us, agreed to references to terrorism that exclude implicit finger-pointing at Pakistan. The October 2016 summit statement, for instance, omits any reference to cross-border terrorism, the Mumbai, Pathankot or Uri attacks, or even LeT and JeM. Russias reticence in directly condemning Pakistans promotion of terrorism precedes, in fact, the marked deterioration of its relations with the US and its more willing embrace of China in self-interest.

Despite its vulnerability to Islamic terrorism and the geopolitical necessity to prevent Islamic radicalism from spreading in Central Asia from the Af-Pak region, it has treated Pakistan with consideration. Under the Obama administration, Russia and the US have had harsh stand-offs in the UNSC.

Tussle

Relations with the UK and France have been acerbic too, in particular on Ukraine and Syria. As a consequence, Russia and China  which has its own geopolitical tussles with the US  have coordinated closely in the UNSC on issues of difference with the Western powers. Russia has begun to work together with China in our region too as demonstrated by its sponsorship of the Russia-China-Pakistan dialogue on Afghanistan, the overtures to the Taliban, as well as to Pakistan that extend to the defence area as well.

In this light, Russia could hardly be expected to join the three Western countries, with which its relations are tense, to have Masood Azhar declared a terrorist and break with Chinas position on the issue. Russias passiveness on the JeM chiefs case in the UNSC, however, does not imply that it opposes his designation under UNSC Resolution 1267 and stands in the way of a consensus.

In reality, designating Masood Azhar as a terrorist by the UN or incarcerating Hafiz Saeed in comfort are procedural or tactical steps that do not materially change the terrorist threat to us from Pakistan. Hafiz Saeed has been declared a terrorist by the UN and the US has a $10 million bounty on his head, but he has continued to have free run in Pakistan. He has been arrested and released several times and this charade continues.

JeM functions even when it has been notified as a terrorist organisation by the UN in 2001 and nominally banned by Pakistan in 2002. Unfortunately, Pakistan now benefits from muscle-flexing Chinas protective shield for its terrorist affiliations.
The dress  a blue-and-mauve affair made with satin, tulle and costume jewelry  takes up the entire floor inside the tiny room. Reams of sheeny fabric are piled up between a bed filled with teddy bears and a table full of makeup. Alejandra Zapata is at that delicate age when both mascara and soft toys are an important part of her life. Today is her quinceanera party, a ritual symbolizing the passage from girlhood to womanhood that is widely observed across Latin America  from Mexico to Argentina, and Bolivia to Ecuador.

Bernardo Zapata helps his daughter Aleja into high-heeled sandals at her quinceanera party in Madrid. victor sainz

But Aleja happens to live in Getafe, a town on Madrids industrial belt. Her parents arrived there from Colombia 18 years ago, so Aleja was born in Spain  even though her strong Colombian accent seems to suggest that she has just stepped off a plane.

And celebrating her 15th birthday just the way she would in a land that she has only been to on visits is nothing short of a dream come true, she says, adjusting her tiara.

Most of my customers are working class, so they have to save to give their girl the best party they can afford

Rose Ballesta, owner Eventos Principesa

A white limo is waiting at the door. It is time to go. Around 100 guests are waiting inside a warehouse in a nearby industrial park. The walls of the event hall have been painted fuchsia.

For many Spaniards, their first encounter with these Latino parties was last November, when a quinceanera party in San Luis Potosi (Mexico) attracted around 30,000 guests after the birthday girls father issued a blanket invitation that went viral on social media.

Yet every weekend, in suburbs across Spain, Latino immigrants celebrate their own quinceanera parties. Little is known about them outside these communities themselves, but their popularity is such that there are now companies specializing in organizing quinceanera parties with all the pomp of a wedding, hundreds of guests and budgets running into the thousands of euros.

The stretch limo pulls up in front of the warehouse, looking incongruous among the surrounding scrapyards. The streets are poorly paved and there is no lighting. We cross a nondescript corrugated metal door, pass two girls looking decidedly cold as they smoke a cigarette in their gala dresses, and go through another metal door.

Aleja's mother and sister helping her get ready. Victor Sainz

And suddenly, a parallel world of light and color appears, sugary and soulless at the same time. Items on display include a throne wrapped in tulle, plastic flowers, two cakes (a giant fake one and a tasty real one), balloons, a scale model of a castle and bowls of popcorn.

Over in a corner, la senora Luz, who hails from Ecuador, hovers over a baby pram filled with Latin sweets. A DJ is playing bachata, cumbia and reggaeton. Out of the 100 or so guests  half of them adults, half of them teenagers  only half a dozen or so are Spanish. One of them is Luis, the birthday girls uncle.

Its all a bit excessive, but we have to respect it, he notes.

There are important moments throughout the event: the waltz, the speeches. The mother paints her daughters lips red, the father slips silvery high-heeled sandals on her feet.

Its normal for Spaniards not to participate in these parties, because for immigrants its a way to preserve and protect their identity

Luisa Sanchez-Rivas, sociolonguist

But ultimately, what is being held here is not so much an archaic initiation rite (both parents and teens agree that at 15, a girl is still a girl) as a celebration of the community.

Every ritual of passage has a threshold, explains Luisa Sanchez Rivas, a sociolinguist who specializes in the concept of liminality  the intermediate or transitional phase of a ritual, somewhere between the original condition and the final one.

Liminality, which comes from the Latin term limen for threshold, has become a trendy word to describe the transitioning identity of hybrid cultures born out of immigration.

The young male guests getting ready in the bathroom. Victor Sainz

And the flowered arch that Aleja walks through symbolizes not just the passage to womanhood, but the abstract threshold of cultural identity for second-generation immigrants in Spain.

They are Spanish and they are not, says Sanchez Rivas. In terms of identity, they live in an intermediate place between their parents country of origin and the destination country where they grew up.

Every weekend, in the darkness of an industrial zone, the traditions of Medellin, La Paz and San Luis Potosi are coming to life for girls who were born in the deeply Madrileno areas of Getafe, Usera or Vallecas, but who act and feel part of both worlds. And its all happening a 15-minute trip from downtown Madrid.

Alejas friends are officiating as maids and gentlemen of honor. The girls are wearing short white dresses, the boys are all in dark suits and pink ties. Their hairdos have been carefully tended to. They are all the children of immigrants, and many, like Aleja, preserve the accent of the country where they were never born.

Eventos Principesa in Vallecas (Madrid) organizes quinceanera parties. Victor Sainz

Alejas older sister Juliana, who is 25, arrived in Spain as a teenager, yet has a much less pronounced Colombian accent. I quickly started hanging out with Spaniards, she explains. But they [her sister and friends] have a very closed circle. They even dress in the Colombian style!

Before this, the priority used to be integration, but among US Chicanos, North Africans in France and other hybrid cultures, the trend is now toward integration into the job market and the school system, but a closed social and family circle, says the sociolinguist.

Its normal for Spaniards not to participate in these parties, because for immigrants its a way to preserve and protect their identity, she adds.

Three a week

In an alley in the working-class district of Vallecas, the owner of Eventos Principesa, an event-organization firm, agrees.

The quinceanera party is more important to the parents than to the girls, says Rose Ballesta. Some girls want nothing to do with it, but the parents dont want them to forget where they came from.

Ballesta, 28, who is herself from the Spanish island of Mallorca, organizes two to three parties a week. She opened the store four years ago, and business has been brisk ever since. In fact, she has moved to bigger business premises, and is now working on incorporating an event hall into her services.

Her best-selling product, the all-included pack, starts at 1,850. It includes the dress, limo, decoration, makeup and hairdressing, and involves the work of a dozen people, from seamstresses to DJs, to photographers and even choreographers.

As for nationalities, the party planner has seen them all: Dominican, Bolivian, Peruvian, Ecuadorean. Once there was even a Spanish girl

And then there are the extras: mariachis, dresses for the maids of honor, catering service... A few months ago, Ballesta recalls, one girl arrived at her own party in a helicopter.

Families spend between 3,000 and 4,000 on average, reveals Ballesta, who describes herself as a low-cost wedding planner.

Most of my customers are working class, so they have to save to give their girl the best party they can afford, she says.

As for nationalities, she has seen them all: Dominican, Bolivian, Peruvian, Ecuadorean. Once there was even a Spanish girl.

Some of them go for that whole princess thing. But its not the same, they dont take it as seriously.

Hours before the party itself, the Zapata family attended a Mass officiated by a young Colombian priest. Bernardo and Dadiana, Alejas parents, showed off their pride in their child.

She is a very good girl, very quiet, honest and studious, not at all vulgar; Spanish girls are more liberal, they smoke more, they go out..., they said.

After the homily, which versed on the dangers of alcohol, drugs, boyfriends and the secularization of life in Spain, Aleja posed for the photographer in one of her three dresses of the evening. Elderly Spanish folks started showing up for the regular Mass, and they shot curious looks at this happy-looking teenager standing before the altar in her high heels. They seemed confused: she looked too old for the First Communion, but too young to be a bride.

English version by Susana Urra.
A deadly attack caused by a suicide bombing outside Pakistan's Punjab assembly in Lahore (February 13) around 6 pm during a protest demonstration sent shockwaves among the country's establishment, claimed 13 lives and grievously wounded as many as 85 people.

Crucially, the incident has further demoralised the already beleaguered Pakistani security forces as it took the lives of six police officers, including two senior cops - DIG traffic, Lahore, Capt (retd) Ahmad Mobin and SSP operations Zahid Gondal of Punjab Police. Sadly, Mobin was seen on TV moments ago trying to pacify the agitators and persuading them to clear the area.

The losses have dealt a severe blow to the police, who do not seem to be putting their hearts into fighting terror as the malaise is so protracted now, and is gradually weaning away professional interest from the forces.

Incidentally, the Jamat -ul-Ahrar faction of the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack.

The bombing happened during the gathering of a large group of chemists and pharmaceutical manufacturers in front of the assembly, protesting against a government crackdown against sale of illegal drugs.

On expected lines, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif quickly condemned the blast while reiterating Pakistan's "decisive" fight against terrorism. It's a personal loss of face for Sharif as the incident happened in the heart of his state, where he and his brother Shahbaz have always felt their writ ran in copious measure. Their claims now stand deflated.

Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa immediately instructed local military commanders and intelligence agencies to provide necessary assistance to the police and investigators. It seems panic has set in by this bombing and the establishment looks rattled.

Significantly, on February 7, the Punjab government and National Counter Terror Authority (NCTA) had explicitly warned of a possible terror attack in Lahore. It had further cautioned for enforcing strict surveillance on all vital installations, buildings, hospitals and educational institutions.

TTP, the principal perpetrator, has been active since December 2007. It has an array of allies, including the Haqqani network, al-Qaeda, Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Harkat-ul-Jehad-al-Islam, among others.

Nawaz Sharif quickly condemned the blast while reiterating Pakistan's "decisive" fight against terrorism. (Photo: India Today)

It's pertinent to note that TTP shares close ties with the al-Qaeda, seeking expertise on bombs and handling of sophisticated firearms plus specialised training. TTP's safe havens are mainly ensconced in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and it is regarded as a faction of the al-Qaeda.

According to a research paper published in New York University, the TTP is a catalyst to al-Qaeda's acquisition of a more local character over the year. This looks to be a strategic move on part of the al-Qaeda, which is often dismissed as a spent force in Pakistan owing to emergence of the IS and it's consistent endeavours to proliferate in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Analysing the lethal suicide attack, it's more than evident that TTP is very much alive and kicking. A suicide attack also suggests the resolve on part of the terror outfit and its agenda of repeatedly targeting the police and other security personnel.

The incident also raises possibilities of renewed targeting of public congregations and Lahore may become a favoured focus of terrorists as Karachi has always been. Another apprehension is that Pakistanis fighting in Syria may come back after their activities are wrapped up and join the TTP or its collaborators, adding further muscle to the ongoing terror campaign.

Finally, the Lahore suicide attack also defeats the claims of gains of the much trumpeted operation Zarb-e-Azb (sharp and cutting strike), the joint military offensive by Pakistan's armed forces against terror entities.

Former army chief of the nation Raheel Sharif and Nawaz Sharif drew immense satisfaction that the operation had almost extinguished the flame of terror, but the Lahore incident disproves this.

In the past, detractors of Indian interests and elements quick to blame India, had been accusing India's external intelligence agencies of executing bomb blasts in Pakistan using the TTP. With such charges, though hollow, still fresh in the mind of India baiters, there is every possibility of raking up alleged Indian complicity in this bombing and other terror strikes that may ensue in the not so distant future.
A high court in Pakistan has found grave evidences of Valentines Day being "un-Islamic" and hence it was deemed right for the sake of national security to "ban" the entire thing. The president of Pakistan has also urged his people to boycott the shameful act of expressing love in public to protect their culture and heritage.

For all those thinking otherwise, this is not a satirical piece where I make things up. This year, on February 14, love birds in Pakistan would have to be careful with what they do and where they do.

Well, India will not be much different either. And honestly, Pakistan is just following its big brothers lead. Even though Indian high command is yet to announce something as lunatic as its counterpart, we have been lightyears ahead in terms of hooliganism against the "V Day". The "Dals" and "fatwa distributors" have been vandalising private spaces for half a century now. It is a relief that they found new hobbies in "beef" and "nationalism", but February is still pretty much reserved for anti-valentine mutiny.

So, why this outrage against a harmless celebration of "Lou" and who exactly are these "protectors of heritage and culture"?

Well, here are a few stats to help you guess.

Pakistan tops the list of countries that watch most porn. I dug deeper and found out that per 100 women, there are 111 Pakistani men. Do these facts help? No? Well, then let me draw some parallels.

India is sixth in the list of countries that watch the most porn and in India too, for every 100 women there are 106 Indian men.

Single, frustrated, desperate men who burn every day in envy of those who are getting the job done in the lovemaking department. Photo: AFP

Let me spell it out for you. We are both nations of single, desperate men. I want to add another keyword to it, "frustrated".

Single, frustrated, desperate men who burn every day in envy of those who are getting the job done in the lovemaking department.

I say that because those who have wives and girlfriends (and a life), they are too busy quietly spending the occasion no matter how much they loathe it. They have bigger things to worry about and too little time for this tomfoolery.

Well, now, there are two kinds of single desperate frustrated men. The one I talked about above and the rest are the ones like me. Every February, from 7th to 14th, I pass by every florist, every Archies showroom and every mall, keeping my eyes low, not knowing how to face my reality. Let me share a rather guilty incident.

Last night (kiss day, I guess?), while walking into my society campus, I noticed the security guards being extra sincere at work. They were checking everyones access cards and ID proofs, playing match the following in their registers and what not. I felt an evil joy in being single in that moment.

I did a Chandler Bing dance in my head and walked past quietly. My kind of single, frustrated, unsatisfied men like to boast about how awesome it is to be single. How we save a lot of money (which we dont), how we can still play video games and be "boys" as much as we want.

We get off complaining about our "friends" who "changed" due to their girlfriends, slut-shaming the entire female race over evening tea meets.

But that is all we can do. We know our limits and we feel secure knowing that we are not going to be forever alone thanks to our culture that allows arranged marriage.

Then there is the other lot that orchestrates these "bans", "fatwas" et al. The only difference between them and us is the fact that they slut-shame a woman on her face.

They don't feel guilty about wrecking someone's personal space since they themselves don't have any.

They are the "guardians" of some hypothetical cultural galaxy that is in danger of being sabotaged by the girls and guys who hold hands in public.

Honestly speaking, even though they do all of this in the name of God, they don't fear the God anymore. They only fear one thing. Destruction of culture. And no, culture is not destroyed when teenaged girls are molested in public. No sir. Culture is destroyed when two consenting adults express love for each other.

Anyway, I am happy that Pakistan is following in Indias footsteps. How else can we expect global peace?
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Mexicans take to the streets at the weekend to protest against Donald Trump. Mario Guzman (EFE)

The mass protests seen in various Mexican cities at the weekend against the policies of Donald Trump are a strong sign of the indignant hostility toward his country that the new president of the United States is prompting, thanks to the aggressive and xenophobic character of his statements, proposals and measures. The fact that the middle class of a country that  along with Canada and the United Kingdom  has the strongest links with the US would take to the streets to respond to the gratuitous and intolerant attacks from the inhabitant of the White House should make Trump reflect on the unprecedented isolationism toward which he is steering his country.

Trump hasnt even needed to build his famous wall to cause real economic and human damage in the country

The tens of thousands of Mexicans who expressed their deep unhappiness toward Trump have many reasons to be upset. Since he announced his decision to run for US president, Trump has done nothing but disrespect his neighboring country by aiming collective and demagogical accusations against them. And with just a few weeks in the post he has direct responsibility for a significant fall in investment in the automobile industry in Mexico. He hasnt even needed to build his famous wall to cause real economic and human damage in the country.

The Mexican president, Enrique Pena Nieto, should be aware of the backing that the legitimate representatives of Mexico have received to maintain a firm stance in the face of the far-from-congenial winds that are blowing in from Washington. An attitude that could be interpreted as submissive by public opinion could give rise to a populist reaction that would feed an anti-establishment downward spiral. The response to Trump cannot be yet more populism. If the president of the United States wants to foment a wave of anti-Americanism that serves as an excuse, the best thing to do is to refuse to play his game. The appropriate way to respond to Trumps casino mentality is to respond with politics.

English version by Simon Hunter.
The Mexican government has responded to concerns from its citizens in the United States about a possible spike in deportations following the arrival of new US President Donald Trump. And it has done so by launching an information campaign informing Mexicans of their rights in the event of arrest by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.

Mexicans at the United States border. SANDY HUFFAKER (AFP)

More information El Gobierno mexicano se moviliza para proteger a los migrantes en EE UU

The #PasaLaVoz (PassItOn) campaign  launched in the wake of a large number of calls to Mexicos consular web in the United States following Trumps election  includes recommendations that people do not open their door to immigration officers without first having seen a search or arrest warrant signed by a judge. It also advises people to keep silent and not sign anything if they are detained.

The Mexican government campaign on Twitter and Facebook also advises people to have an emergency plan, and recommends getting a good immigration lawyer.

Talking about the campaign, which includes a dedicated phone number to call for advice (1-855-463-6395), Mexicos Secretary of Foreign Affairs Luis Videgaray admitted there had been no increase in the number of deportations since Trumps arrival in the White House.

The trends are the same as last year, even a little lower, said the official.

There has been a spike in calls from concerned immigrants to Mexican consulates in the US

But Videgaray also noted Mexican consulates in the states of North Carolina and South Carolina are aware of dramatic operations against immigrants.

Meanwhile, of the 350 undocumented immigrants arrested last week, 90 were Mexicans, according to ICE. The Mexican foreign affairs secretary has called on them to report cases of apparent abuse of authority or ill treatment.

During an interview with Mexicos Televisa on Monday, Videgaray highlighted the case of Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos, a 36-year-old woman who was deported on February 9 after living in Arizona for 22 years, saying it illustrates Trumps tough stance on illegal immigration.

Rayos was caught using a fake social security number in 2009, but was only arrested during a recent yearly ICE meeting to discuss her case. Her subsequent deportation was carried out so quickly that Mexican consular staff did not have time to help the woman, who is married with two children who are US citizens.

The campaign warns Mexicans in the US not to open their doors to ICE officials without first seeing a warrant

The #PasaLaVoz campaign is the most recent example of the Mexican governments attempts to combat Washingtons hardline immigration policies. Days earlier, President Enrique Pena Nieto struck a deal with Mexican Congress to boost the budget of Mexicos consulates in the United States to the tune of one billion pesos ($49 million).

On Sunday, tens of thousands of Mexicans took to the streets of around 20 cities throughout the country  including the capital  to express their anger at US President Donald Trump and to call on their own president to show dignity and firmness in confronting what many in the country see as their greatest threat.

English version by George Mills.
Spains homicide count has fallen to under 300 in a year for the first time, according to figures released on Tuesday by the Spanish government. A total of 292 people were murdered in 2016, compared with 302 in 2015, representing a 3.3% drop.

The Guadalajara quadruple killer, under arrest. Pepe Zamora (EFE)

The new figure confirms a downward trend observable for over a decade. In 2005, for instance, the homicide count was 518.

Despite this drop, behind every number there is a tragedy. That is why we must never be satisfied and why we must redouble our efforts, said Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido at the presentation of the 2016 Criminality Balance Report.

It is satisfying to see a reduction in this gloomy figure, but it is also sad because of what lies behind the numbers

Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido

Spain ranks second in the European Union on the list of countries with the lowest homicide rates, added Zoido.

According to the data released on Tuesday, the 2016 rate was 0.63 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants. Spain was only outdone by Austria, with a rate of 0.47 (although Spains 2016 figures are compared with 2014 Eurostat data for other countries).

Also, homicide attempts rose last year compared with 2015, although this figure has shrunk over the last five years, said the minister.

The governments report also reflects the 44 women whose murders were classified as domestic violence, representing 15% of the total figure for 2016. A year earlier, 60 women had died at the hands of their partners or spouses.

It is satisfying to see a reduction in this gloomy figure, but it is also sad because of what lies behind the numbers, said Zoido.

So far this year, 10 women have been killed by their current or former partners.

English version by Susana Urra.
Charlottesville police are looking for a masked man who attempted to rob someone near the University of Virginia.

At about 9 p.m. Sunday, in the 2400 block of Arlington Boulevard, a man wearing dark pants, a black hoodie and a black plastic mask approached a victim from behind, according to a safety alert from UVa. The man demanded the victims wallet and phone, but when the victim could not produce either, the masked man ran away toward the Barracks Road Shopping Center.
Us old folks are going to move on," said Throneburg to students, "and youre the ones who are going to inhabit and run this world."
A federal judge in Alexandria on Monday night granted Virginias request for a preliminary injunction, further impeding President Donald Trumps executive order on refugees and immigration.

U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema found that Virginia is likely to prevail on the merits of its claim that the presidents Jan. 27 order violates the establishment clause in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which forbids the establishment of religion.

Maximum power does not mean absolute power, Brinkema wrote of the presidents claim of statutory authority for the order under federal law.

Every presidential action must still comply with the limits set by Congress delegation of power and the constraints of the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.

Brinkemas opinion  the nations first preliminary injunction against the presidents action  comes four days after a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling enjoining enforcement of the executive order.

In light of the temporary restraining order in the case pending in the state of Washington and in the 9th Circuit, Brinkemas preliminary injunction is narrowly tailored and only addresses Virginias harms, according to the office of Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring.

Under the preliminary injunction, according to the Attorney Generals Office, the Trump administration is barred  until a trial on the merits  from enforcing its ban against any Virginia green card holder or Virginia workers or students who were lawfully in the United States when the executive order went into effect.

Herring, a Democrat who is seeking re-election, said on a conference call with reporters Monday night: I saw this unlawful, unconstitutional and un-American ban for exactly what it is, and Im glad the court has, too.

While the Virginia judges ruling is narrowly tailored, it is notable for its criticism of the presidents case.

Brinkema concludes her 22-page opinion by holding that the unrefuted evidence that Virginia presented establishes that there is a likelihood the commonwealth will prevail on the merits of its establishment claim, that Virginians will suffer irreparable injury if the enforcement of the executive order is not enjoined, that the Trump administration will not suffer harm from the injunction, and that enjoining unconstitutional action by the Executive Branch is always in the publics interest.

A week into his presidency, Trump signed the executive order, which suspended the U.S. refugee program for four months and suspended for 90 days all immigration into the U.S. by people from seven majority-Muslim countries  Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Yemen and Somalia.

The order did not list lawful permanent residents among those excluded from the order. But Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly clarified on Jan. 29 that citizens of the seven countries who hold green cards would not be stopped from re-entering the U.S.

Brinkema wrote that Virginia has produced evidence that the presidents executive order has been disruptive to the operation of its public colleges and universities, affecting international travel of at least 350 students attending Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Tech, George Mason University, the University of Virginia and the College of William & Mary combined.

The judge wrote that the Trump administration says the executive order is necessary to protect the U.S. from terrorist attacks to be carried out by nationals of the seven affected countries, however, they have not offered any evidence to identify the national security concerns that allegedly prompted this EO, or even described the process by which the president concluded that this action was necessary.

The judge concluded that the presidents past statements about immigration by Muslims to the U.S. were relevant, including his Dec. 7, 2015, call for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our countrys representatives can figure out what is going on.

As to the relevance of the presidents past statements, Brinkema wrote: A person is not made brand-new simply by taking the oath of office.

Brinkema noted that the Muslim ban was a centerpiece of the presidents campaign for months, and the press release calling for it was still available on his website as of the day this Memorandum Opinion is being entered.

She added: The president connected that policy to this EO when, asked last July if he had abandoned his plan for a Muslim ban, he responded, Call it whatever you want. Well call it territories, OK? 

Brinkema had first weighed in on the case Jan. 28, the day after the president issued the order. She issued a temporary restraining order to halt for a week the removal of people with green cards who were detained at Washington Dulles International Airport. That order also required that lawful permanent residents who were detained at Dulles get access to legal counsel.

Rep. Don Beyer, D-8th, said in a declaration that accompanied a Virginia court filing in the case that he spent more than four hours at the airport on Sunday, Jan. 29, and that attorney after attorney complained to me that customs officials would not allow them access to the holding rooms where travelers may have been detained. To my knowledge, not a single attorney was permitted access to any detained traveler.

Meanwhile, in a filing to a Seattle federal court on Monday, the Department of Justice suggested it would not immediately turn to the U.S. Supreme Court to ask for the Trump administrations travel moratorium to be reinstated after an appeals court dealt it a blow last week.

In the filing, Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad Readler told the U.S. District Court in western Washington that the department wanted to see how the case over the travel ban plays out in the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit before proceeding with the case in the lower court.

Its the Seattle court where Judge James L. Robart on Feb. 3 called for a temporary nationwide halt to Trumps travel ban, which the White House appealed to the 9th Circuit.
TUESDAY

Culpeper County Board of Supervisor meetings

At 9 a.m. of the building & grounds committee followed at 9:30 a.m. by the rules committee in the county administration building, 302 N. Main St.

Blue Ridge Art League

Meets every Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. at St. Stephens Episcopal Church on East St. in Culpeper offering Plein Air painting and other art related classes, demos, field trips to galleries and more. 540/321-4245 or blueridgeartleague@gmail.com.

Tuesday Morning Story Times

At the Culpeper County Library for Pre-School (ages 3-5) at 10:30 a.m. and Toddlers (age 2) at 10:30 and 11:00 a.m. Stories, songs, rhymes, puppets, activities, and tips for helping children develop pre-literacy skills are shared. Pre-registration required. 540/825-8691.

Black history traveling exhibit

Will be on display 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 14-23 at the Arts Center in Orange, 129 Main St. in the town of Orange. Sponsored by the George Washington Carver Alumni Association, the exhibit honors African Americans who fought in the Civil War.

Specially-called closed session meeting

At 1 p.m. Feb. 14 of the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors to discuss candidates for the position of economic development director. Meeting will be held in the county boardroom, 302 N. Main St.

Rappahannock Rapidan Community Services

Meeting at 1 p.m. Feb. 14 at 15361 Bradford Road in Culpeper. Individuals with disabilities who require special assistance to attend and participate should contact Laura Wohlford at 540/825-3100, extension 3146. RRCS is an equal access and opportunity organization.

Love at First Sip speed dating

At Far Gohn Brewing Co. on East Street in Culpeper from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 14 for ages 35 to 50 years old. Ages 24 to 35 from 8:30 to 11 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. $2 from each registration fee will be donated towards the purchase of a Bright Spot all-inclusive playground for children with special needs.

Pajama Story Time

At 6:30 p.m. at the Culpeper County Library. Join Miss Walda for stories, rocking music, and other activities. Children in pajamas who are able to remain seated for stories and their caregivers are invited. No registration required.

Culpeper Town Council

Hold its regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 14 in the county administration building, 302 N. Main St.

WEDNESDAY

Silver Citizens Club

Meet 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays at the Culpeper County Library. 540/645-7189.

Manna Ministry

Offers free lunch for anyone 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays in the Culpeper Presbyterian Fellowship Hall, 215 S. Main St. 540/825-8616.

Centering Prayer Group

At St. Stephens Episcopal Church at 11 a.m. every Wednesday, offering an hour of reflection and prayer followed by Healing and Holy Communion service at noon.

Culpeper Human Services meetings

Will be held at 1 p.m. Feb. 15 in the conference room at 1835 Industry Drive.

Town of Culpeper Arts Commission

Meets at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Economic Development Center, 803 S. Main St.

Culpeper Chess Club

Meets Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Culpeper County Library. 540/825-8691. All ages and skill levels welcome.

Call-In Bible Study

Every Wednesday from 7 to 7:30 p.m. with Pastor Kenneth Pitts of Beulah Baptist Church in Rixeyville. Call-in number 302/202-1118;access code 862090.

THURSDAY

Itsy Bitsy Story Time

At 10:30 a.m. Feb. 16 at the Culpeper County Library for babies to age 23 months. Bouncing, hugs and kisses, tickle time and lots of rhymes at this one-book story time followed by a half-hour play with Infant to Toddler Connection. 540/825-8691. No registration necessary.

Virginia School Board Association webinar

On Courting Consequences at 11 a.m. Feb. 16 in the Culpeper School Board Office, 450 Radio Lane.

AARP Tax Aide

At the Culpeper County Library noon to 5 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Culpeper County Library for low to middle income taxpayers and seniors. 540/270-1895 or crdavis51@comcast.net.

Culpeper County Board budget meeting

At 1:30 p.m. Feb. 16 in the county boardroom to discuss the proposed FY18 budgets for Culpeper Human Services, Culpeper Youth Network and outside agencies.

Culpeper Garden Club

Meets at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at Culpeper United Methodist Church featuring a program by Mike Bishop on The Mysterious Dragon and exhibits of flower arrangements and horticulture specimens. Visitors are welcome. 540/937-3545.

Free gentle yoga classes

Are held each Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at St. Lukes Lutheran Church in Culpeper. All ages and abilities are welcome.

Community yoga

At 5:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at Pranpiloga, upstairs at 162 E. Davis St. Pay what you can. 540/317-5518.

Germanna Scholars information meeting

For students and parents at 6 p.m. Feb. 16 in the Culpeper County High School Studio.

Nursing information session

For parents and students at 6 p.m. Feb. 16 in room 606 at Eastern View High School.

Live music at Grass Rootes

Starting around 6:30 p.m. Feb. 16 featuring Kate Hohman. No cover. The restaurant is located at 195 E. Davis St. in downtown Culpeper. 540/764-4229.

Culpeper Branch NAACP meeting

At 7 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Culpeper County Library. NaacpCulpeper.com.

Combined Neighborhood Watch Meeting

At 7 p.m. Feb. 16 in the community room at the Culpeper Police Dept. with a presentation from Officer Julia Cole about how to avoid falling victim to scams. Refreshments will be served. Bring a friend.

When Harry Met Sally

Rob Reiner directed this romantic comedy starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan screening at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16 in the Library of Congress Packard Theater, 19053 Mount Pony Rd. in Culpeper. Its based on Nora Ephrons Academy Award winning screenplay. Rated R. Free. No reservations required.

FRIDAY

Fun Friday Story Time

At 10:30 a.m. at the Culpeper County Library. This program is geared towards children who can sit while stories read. No registration needed.

Manna Ministry

Offers free lunch for anyone 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fridays in the Culpeper Presbyterian Fellowship Hall, 215 S. Main St. 540/825-8616.

VFW Friday Night Bingo

At the Culpeper Post on Sperryville Pike. Doors open at 5 p.m., play starts at 6:45 p.m. Guaranteed $1,000 jackpot, regular games pay $100 if more than 90 players. Only upstairs seating available in non-smoking facility.

Relay for Life Spirit Night

From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17 at Shawns Smokehouse BBQ in Culpeper in support of the Culpeper United Methodist Church team, the Flames. 540/825-0765.

Live music at Grass Rootes

Starting around 6:30 p.m. Feb. 17 featuring somewhere tonight Americana. No cover. The restaurant is located at 195 E. Davis St. in downtown Culpeper. 540/764-4229.

SATURDAY

Winter story time and craft

At 11 a.m. Feb. 18 at the Culpeper County Library includes stories, songs, and activities related to silly underwear, and a craft based on the book, Monsters Love Underpants. No registration necessary. 540/825-8691.

Teen Gaming

From 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Culpeper County Library for grades 6 to 12. Learn how to play strategy games, party games or bring your own. Snacks served. Sign up in advance at 540/825-8691.

Freewill Ham Dinner

From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 18 at Remington United Methodist Church. The Mens Group will prepare and serve sliced ham, cole slaw, macaroni and cheese, green beans, sweet potatoes, rolls, iced tea and lemonade with desserts by the Remington Methodist Womens group. 540/439-2579.

Live music at Grass Rootes

Starting around 6:30 p.m. Feb. 18 featuring Mississippi Tom Robbins. No cover. The restaurant is located at 195 E. Davis St. in downtown Culpeper. 540/764-4229.

SUNDAY

Mountain View Community Church

Holds services at 8:30, 10 and 11 a.m. on Sundays with a sermon topic for Feb. 19 of True North  the Bible Alone. The 10 a.m. service is live streamed at mountainviewcc.net. Childrens programs for birth through 5{sup}th{/sup} grade. The church is located at 16088 Rogers Rd., behind Brusters Ice Cream in Culpeper.

Christ Episcopal Church

Meets at 9 a.m. on Sundays in Brandy Station. 540/321-4301

Lions Club Bland Music Contest

Takes place at 2 p.m. Feb. 19 at Culpeper Baptist Church. The music competition honors James Bland, an African-American who was a popular composer in the late 1880s known for his Carry Me Back to Old Virginny, the state song for many years.

Black History Month service

At 2 p.m. Feb. 19 at Beulah Baptist Church in Rixevyille with guest speaker Linda Thomas, president NAACP Virginia State Conference. Morning worship at 11 a.m. Dinner will be served. 540/937-5563.

Mid-Day Lions Bingo

Held at Peppers Grill every Sunday, doors open at 6:30 p.m. Three progressives each night, $1,000 jackpot. 540/937-1730.

MONDAY

Presidents Day

No school for Culpeper County Public School students. Parent-teacher conferences 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The Rapidan man ordered to serve five years and nine months for running over and killing a Culpeper woman walking along Wolford Street in June 2015 had his probation revoked for a previous manslaughter conviction in Fauquier County last Friday, adding eight more years to his recent prison sentence.

Tremaine Ardell Thompson, now 37, pleaded guilty in Fauquier Circuit Court in June 2003 to manslaughter, three counts of abduction, breaking and entering to commit assault and battery and assault and battery of a police officer in Fauquier County. Originally sentenced to 25 years in prison in Fauquier, Thompson served nine years in prison and was released in April 2011.

Because of his Culpeper conviction and sentencing in November, a Fauquier judge ordered Thompson to serve an additional eight years in prison stemming from his probation violation after he finishes the Culpeper sentence.

During his jury trial in Culpeper in April 2016, Thompson testified that those six charges in Fauquier stem from an altercation with a family friend in June 2002.

It was a fistfight. He fell and hit his head wrong and died, said Thompson

Last November, Judge Susan Whitlock sentenced Thompson to five years and nine months in prison for involuntary manslaughter and his second DWI stemming from the death of Culpeper native Lori Ann Peaches Rooker Tyler. The jury had recommended nine years and six months in prison.

Thompson struck and killed 49-year-old Tyler as he was backing up his burgundy 1999 Ford F150 pickup around 3 p.m. on June 15, 2015, while Tyler was walking on Wolford Street near the intersection of Orange Road (U.S. 15).

Court records show Thompson failed to observe and struck the victim with his rear bumper and continued to travel over her. Thompson told investigators that he didnt realize he hit someone until he passed over the victims body and saw an individual [lying] in the roadway.

According to a medical expert who testified during the jury trial, Thompsons blood alcohol content ranged from .097 to 0.08 on several tests taken after the deadly incident. Defense attorney Charlotte P. Hodges described Tyler during the trial as an alcoholic who had been battling a drinking problem for more than 16 years.

Its an addiction that he cant fight on his own. Hes hit rock bottom and putting him in prison is just putting a Band-Aid on the problem, Hodges said during her closing statement last April, suggesting an alcohol-treatment program instead of a prison sentence.

Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Russell Rabb said Thompson hit rock bottom 14 years ago when he was convicted of manslaughter in Fauquier in 2003.

Before sentencing, Thompson apologized to Tylers family in court.

I promise you, I did not see that lady," he said. "I wasnt intoxicated and she came out of nowhere. I feel bad about what happened. It was a tragic accident for her and her family."

Rhonda Simmons can be reached at rsimmons@starexponent.com or (540) 825-6397.
2017 began as odd in the political realm as 2016 ended. In a terrifying speech, the new president made clear that freedom and justice are not his concern. He mentioned the Constitution but once and has a blatant disregard for the concept that it is the instrument by which he is given powers by the people.

Trump delivered these words, 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.

In 1775, King George disclosed his Proclamation of Rebellion to Parliament asking them to quickly squash the revolt because of their strongest protestations of loyalty to me. Donald Trump is the greatest threat to American liberty since King George.

In 1780, John Adams wrote of the need for a government of laws and not of men. Trumps statement is not one about that rule of law, but one of treason against the Constitution and the republic it created. It is a pledge of fealty as a serf owes to a lord, or a subject to a king. The law is designed for justice, but with his America it finds no place. Our system of justice is purposed to be blind, blind to people, seeing only the law with impartiality and objectivity.

Trump demonstrates in his speech that he believes there should be no refuge from the law if the tests of his brand of nationalism and loyalty are not passed. His is a new nationalism, albeit one that has been on its way to America for years. His speech excluded any real knowledge or awareness that the very power he believes he has comes from that Constitution that he had just sworn an oath to. A power derived from the people, one which they can take away.

There was a time in American history when patriotism meant distrust of the government and disobedience when necessary. Loyalty was given to the people, to each other. The American Revolution was a direct result, culminating in the creation of a government of We, the People. This design would make it so that patriotism would be loyalty to government and people, because they were one and the same. This is not so today. Patriotism now means blind allegiance to the government against the people. America and Americans have evolved over a generation or two as two very distinct entities.

For accuracys sake Trumps speech was not outright fascist, more of a fascistic one. He did not directly endorse an authoritarian rule, or a white ethno-religious superiority as would be necessary elements of a fascist creed. However, his strong-armed reliance on those corporations loyal to him to do the bidding of his new nation is strongly fascist. Mussolini, the founder of fascism in Italy in the 1920s said fascism should more properly be called corporatism, since it is a merger of state and corporate power. FDR once said, fascism: ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or any controlling private power.

Even still, without a direct endorsement, his loyalty pledge as a bedrock of his politics, combined with his grandiose promises of glory can only be delivered by a state stronger than its people. His ethno-religious superiority ties to patriotism and similar overtones are seen in all of his speeches and by most of his followers. If not explicit, at the very least implicit.

His painting of doom and gloom in America today will make people want to look back to what may be perceived as a glorious past. It is easier to look back at something you think you see than to venture forward into the unknown. After all, doesnt the trip home always seem quicker than the trip from home? This is the hook. Follow me and I will lead you to a greater America, a new form of populism. Maybe this new brand of politics that Trump is introducing needs a name: populist fascism?

I, for one, am not prepared to make an oath of loyalty to King Trump or any other king. What he proposes is treason, and we must resist his treachery upon the true American democracy, its people and its resources. He must see that we are alive and well in our own version of District 13 and the capital shall not prevail. This land is your land, this land is my land and our loyalty to each other has more power than the loyalty he demanded in his inaugural speech. The world is watching, and it will not wait too long again.

Edmund Burke once said that those who dont know history are doomed to repeat it. Lets not. #Itsinourhands. For more information, contact us at piedmontgreens.com.
Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector

STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH

SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders

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PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces

There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan

Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS

There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur

EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol  Armenia and Azerbaijan  to do so without delay

An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT

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The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022

Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully

The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces

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STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN

This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan

Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments

Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan

Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement

With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building

OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh
2017 began as oddly in the political realm as 2016 ended. In a terrifying speech, the new president made clear that freedom and justice are not his concern. He mentioned the Constitution but once and has a blatant disregard for the concept that it is the instrument by which he is given powers by the people.

Trump delivered these words, 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.

In 1775, King George disclosed his Proclamation of Rebellion to Parliament asking them to quickly squash the revolt because of their strongest protestations of loyalty to me. Donald Trump is the greatest threat to American liberty since King George.

In 1780, John Adams wrote of the need for a government of laws and not of men. Trumps statement is not one about that rule of law, but one of treason against the Constitution and the republic it created. It is a pledge of fealty as a serf owes to a lord, or a subject to a king. The law is designed for justice, but with his America it finds no place. Our system of justice is purposed to be blind, blind to people, seeing only the law with impartiality and objectivity.

Trump demonstrates in his speech that he believes there should be no refuge from the law if the tests of his brand of nationalism and loyalty are not passed. His is a new nationalism, albeit one that has been on its way to America for years. His speech excluded any real knowledge or awareness that the very power he believes he has comes from that Constitution that he had just sworn an oath to. A power derived from the people, one which they can take away.

There was a time in American history when patriotism meant distrust of the government and disobedience when necessary. Loyalty was given to the people, to each other. The American Revolution was a direct result, culminating in the creation of a government of We, the People. This design would make it so that patriotism would be loyalty to government and people, because they were one and the same. This is not so today. Patriotism now means blind allegiance to the government against the people. America and Americans have evolved over a generation or two as two very distinct entities.

For accuracys sake Trumps speech was not outright fascist, more of a fascistic one. He did not directly endorse an authoritarian rule, or a white ethno-religious superiority as would be necessary elements of a fascist creed. However, his strong-armed reliance on those corporations loyal to him to do the bidding of his new nation is strongly fascist. Mussolini, the founder of fascism in Italy in the 1920s said fascism should more properly be called corporatism, since it is a merger of state and corporate power. FDR once said, fascism: ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or any controlling private power.

Even still, without a direct endorsement, his loyalty pledge as a bedrock of his politics, combined with his grandiose promises of glory can only be delivered by a state stronger than its people. His ethno-religious superiority ties to patriotism and similar overtones are seen in all of his speeches and by most of his followers. If not explicit, at the very least implicit.

His painting of doom and gloom in America today will make people want to look back to what may be perceived as a glorious past. It is easier to look back at something you think you see than to venture forward into the unknown. After all, doesnt the trip home always seem quicker than the trip from home? This is the hook. Follow me and I will lead you to a greater America, a new form of populism. Maybe this new brand of politics that Trump is introducing needs a name: populist fascism?

I, for one, am not prepared to make an oath of loyalty to King Trump or any other king. What he proposes is treason, and we must resist his treachery upon the true American democracy, its people and its resources. He must see that we are alive and well in our own version of District 13 and the capital shall not prevail. This land is your land, this land is my land and our loyalty to each other has more power than the loyalty he demanded in his inaugural speech. The world is watching, and it will not wait too long again.

Edmund Burke once said that those who dont know history are doomed to repeat it. Lets not. #Itsinourhands. For more information, contact us at piedmontgreens.com.
The last time Sweet Briar College named a new president, the circumstances were somewhat ... unusual.

The womens college in Amherst County had just been through a near-death experience: The board lost faith and tried to close the school; alumnae rose up and went to court. Remarkably, they triumphed. When Phil Stone  the retired president of Bridgewater College  arrived in July 2015 to take over on an emergency basis, he found he had virtually no employees and no students. The old regime, as a parting shot, had dismissed everyone. Students had long since been told to seek new schools.

Stone spent a frantic summer of 2015 re-hiring staff hed never met and coaxing back students who had already paid deposits elsewhere. Even when Sweet Briar opened on schedule that August, there were still those who wondered if that was just a temporary reprieve from the inevitable.

That was then. This is now. Last week, Sweet Briar named a new president: Meredith Woo, former dean of the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences at the University of Virginia.

Anyone connected with Sweet Briar knows acutely what almost happened, and what it took to bring the college back from the brink. So this hand-off from one president to another was not exactly routine; it was a celebration.

The alumnae uprising that ousted the old board was historic; other small colleges had simply died quietly.

The old board had been spending down the schools endowment at alarming rates and decided to close the school before the money simply ran out. The fund now stands at a very respectable $70 million, bigger than many small colleges nearby  including Mary Baldwin University.

One reason the old board was spending down the endowment was that it wasnt raising enough money. But in the last fiscal year, the school raised $28 million. With such prodigious fund-raising Sweet Briar has also been able to pay down nearly half of the debt it had run up.

When Sweet Briar set about searching for a new president, Woo stood out for lots of reasons, board Chair Teresa Pike Tomlinson said. But heres perhaps the most impressive thing: When she was dean at UVa, she tripled fund-raising. During a recession.

And for the past two years, Woo has been in London, working on educational programs for a non-profit that, among other things, has encouraged higher education for women in previously closed cultures, such as Bangladesh and Burma.

Foreign students are an important niche for other colleges but one where Sweet Briar simply hadnt been involved. Woo, in her opening remarks, talked about making Sweet Briar a womens college of great consequence, for this nation and beyond. Those last two words arent simply rhetorical.

If Sweet Briar can go from nearly-closed to world-class, that would be quite a saga.
Export of Armenian cognac and champagne to European markets still undecided

Armenia and the European Union (EU) are expected to complete negotiations on a framework agreement in a few days, Ambassador of France to Armenia Jean Francois Charpentier told reporters on February 14. He stressed that although the sides have to agree on a number of points, they are satisfied with the document. The agreement is expected to further expand cooperation between Armenia and the EU as well as between France and Armenia, especially in political, economic and legal spheres. With regard to Frances objections to some points of the agreement, particularly those referring the export of Armenian cognac and champagne to European markets, the French diplomat said that France is consistent in dealing with the sale of brands bearing French place names on European markets. The issue has not been solved yet because it is of economic importance. The brands under question are of great importance both for France and Armenia, Jean Francois Charpentier said. It also has emotional significance for us as it determines the position of our country. However, France is open to negotiations.
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

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The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022

Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully

The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces

LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN

This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan

Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments

Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan

Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement

With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building

OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh
March in Yerevan in support of 'bringer of bread' (video)

19.50 The march in support of Artur Sargsyan ended outside the Hospital of Convicts. The protesters were met by a representative of the penitentiary institution. The group gave him emblematic bread. The march was attended by lawmaker Elinar Vardanyan, a member of the Hamakhmbum (Consolidation) party. The protesters decided to gather at Liberty Square on Saturday in support of the Sasna Dzrer group members. 18.30 The marchers were met by two dozen police officers who were waiting for them outside the Prosecutor General's Office. They had cordoned off the street leading to the building, disallowing the protesters from approaching the premises. A representative of the Prosecutor General's Office came out to take a letter appeal from the group and promised to hand it to the Prosecutor General. The protesters gave him a loaf of bread, asking to pass it to the Prosecutor General with the letter. The group is now heading to the Hospital of Convict where Artur Sargsyan is continuing his hunger strike. 18.13 About one hundred citizens are holding a march in Yerevan in support of Artur Sargsyan (nicknamed the bringer of bread) who was arrested last August and released in December for taking food to members of the armed Sasna Dzrer group that seized a police station in Yerevan in July. The march started from Liberty Square. The group is now heading to the Prosecutor General's Office with a demand to release Artur Sargsyan. At present, they have blocked the intersection leading to Amiryan street and Mashtots avenue, paralyzing the traffic. Once again, they have presented their claims and demands to the authorities. Deputy Chief of Yerevan police Valery Osipyan has gone up to the group urging them to reopen the street and continue the march. The protesters were convinced. . Artur Sargsyan was arrested on February 9 for not showing up after being summoned to a case hearing on February 3. He was released in December following his arrest last August for taking food to members of the armed Sasna Dzrer group holed up in the police station in Erebuni district. Sragsyan has been on hunger strike at the Convicts Hospitalsince Feb. 10.
Japanese automaker Honda has finally launched the facelifted City in the Indian market. While the price starts at Rs 8.5 lakh for the base variant, it goes all the way up to Rs 13.57 lakh for the top-end variants (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi). The new sedan comes loaded with several segment-first features. Honda City 2017 is being offered in five different variants  S, SV, V, VX and ZX  and features several cosmetic changes, inside and outside.

The 2017 Honda City facelift prices (ex-showroom, New Delhi) are as follows:

2017 Honda City Petrol

S : Rs 8.50 lakh

: Rs 8.50 lakh SV : Rs 9.54 lakh

: Rs 9.54 lakh V : Rs 10 lakh

: Rs 10 lakh V CVT : Rs 11.54 lakh

: Rs 11.54 lakh VX : Rs 11.65 lakh

: Rs 11.65 lakh VX CVT : 12.85 lakh

: 12.85 lakh ZX CVT: 13.53 lakh

2017 Honda City Diesel

SV : Rs 10.76 lakh

: Rs 10.76 lakh V : Rs 11.56 lakh

: Rs 11.56 lakh VX : Rs 12.87 lakh

: Rs 12.87 lakh ZX: Rs 13.57 lakh

In terms of exterior changes, Honda City 2017 now gets revamped front and rear bumpers, bigger air vents, larger and more aggressive grille and LED lighting (head and tail lamps, rear spoiler and fog lamps). It also rides on new 16-inch diamond cut alloy wheels. Apart from the existing colour options, such as White Orchid Pearl, Carnelian Red Pearl, Alabaster Silver Metallic and Golden Brown Metallic, Honda has added a new shade  Modern Steel Metallic  with the updated model.

Step inside the cabin and the first thing that catches the eye is the new 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with built-in navigation, 1.5GB media memory, MirrorLink connectivity for smartphones, voice recognition and feed from the rear-view camera. The electric sunroof now comes with one-touch open/close operation and all the reading lamps now feature LEDs. Other goodies inside the cabin include leather upholstery, automatic headlamps and wipers, six airbags (dual front, side and curtain), cruise control and automatic climate control with rear AC vents.

Engine family remains the same as the model it replaces. That means, where the 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine produces 119PS of power and 145Nm of torque, the 1.5-litre i-DTEC motor generates 100PS of power and 200Nm of torque. Customers opting for the entry-level S variant can only get the car with the petrol motor. Petrol-powered V and VX variants will be offered with either a manual transmission or a CVT. However, the range-topping ZX (petrol) will only be offered with the CVT automatic. Speaking of the warranty, the Japanese automaker is offering three years/unlimited kilometres warranty as standard, which can be extended for additional two years/unlimited kilometres, with the 2017 facelifted Honda City

The City goes head to head with the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, Hyundai Verna and Volkswagen Vento, and others. While the Ciaz is due for its respective mid-life update, Hyundai is likely to launch an all-new Verna in this calendar year.

Source: Cardekho.com
New Delhi: Diversified firm Aditya Birla Nuvo today reported a 35.15 per cent decline in consolidated net profit at Rs 206.23 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2016, impacted by loss-making telecom arm Idea Cellular.

The company had reported a net profit of Rs 318.02 crore in the October-December quarter a year-ago, Aditya Birla Nuvo Ltd (ABNL), the holding company of Aditya Birla Group said in a BSE filing.

ABNL's total income from operation during the quarter under review was up 8.11 per cent to Rs 3,387.70 crore as against Rs 3,133.50 crore of the corresponding quarter.

"Net profit at Rs 206 crore de-grew year-on-year due to the reduction of ABNL's share in Idea's net profit by Rs 242 crore. Net profit of Idea Cellular has been impacted due to free voice and mobile data services by the new entrant in the sector coupled with higher interest and amortisation costs," the company said in a statement.

It further added: "Idea's quarterly consolidated revenue de-grew by 4 per cent to Rs 8,663 crore and EBITDA declined sharply by 24 per cent to Rs 2,166 crore, impacted by the free offerings by the new entrant along with minor effects of demonetisation."

Total expenses in Q3/FY 2016-17 was up 4.71 per cent to Rs 2,603.06 crore as against Rs 2,485.92 crore. ABNL's revenue from insurance was up 18.33 per cent to Rs 1,183.28 crore during the quarter under review as against Rs 999.91 crore.

Income from other financial services was up 42.64 per cent to Rs 1,001.69 crore during the quarter as against Rs 702.21 crore of the corresponding quarter previous fiscal. Textiles segment revenue was down 15.36 per cent to Rs 285.98 crore in the quarter under review as against Rs 337.89 crore in the year ago period.

Similarly, revenue from agri-business was down 18.05 per cent to Rs 565.81 crore in the quarter under review as against Rs 690.47 crore in year-ago period. Rayon Yarn was down 5.67 in the October-December quarter to Rs 243.63 crore as against Rs 258.30 crore of the corresponding quarter previous fiscal.

Revenue from insulators was down 16.50 per cent to Rs 121.34 crore as against Rs 145.32 crore of the April-June quarter of FY 2015-16. In a separate filing, the Gujarat-based ABNL informed that its board has approved appointment of Shriram Jagetiya as the manager of the company.

Shares of ABNL were trading at Rs 1,459.05 on BSE during afternoon, up 0.84 per cent from previous close.
New Delhi: Housing finance firm CanFin Homes today said its promoter Canara Bank will divest up to 13.45 per cent stake in the company by the end of next month.

"Canara Bank has informed the company that they have intimated RBI about their proposal to dilute their stake to 30 per cent by March 31, 2017," CanFin Homes Ltd said in a BSE filing.

"The Bank has also informed the company that based on the acceptability of the prospective investors, final decision to divest the promoter's stake up to 13.45 per cent to the investors would be taken by their Board in due course," it added.

As per BSE data, the promoter's stake in CanFin Homes stood at 44.10 per cent as on December 31, 2016.

Canara Bank has empanelled merchant/investment bankers for sourcing prospective investors and the last date for submission of bid by prospective investors is March 1.

In December last year, Canara Bank had said it proposes to bring down stake in its housing finance subsidiary CanFin Homes to 30 per cent as part of its strategy to exit non-core businesses.
Tata Motors' loss after tax widened to Rs 1,046 crore in the third quarter of 2016-17, from Rs 137 crore a year ago.

Mumbai: Homegrown auto major Tata Motors today reported 96.22 per cent decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 111.57 crore for the December quarter, dragged down by losses in domestic operations and lower profit of its British arm JLR.

It had posted net profit of Rs 2,952.67 crore in the same quarter of last fiscal, Tata Motors said in a BSE filing. The company's consolidated sales during the October- December quarter were down 2.2 per cent to Rs 67,864.95 crore as against Rs 69,398.07 crore in the year-ago period.

On a standalone basis, Tata Motors' loss after tax widened to Rs 1,046 crore in the third quarter of 2016-17, from Rs 137 crore a year ago. The revenues (net of excise) of the standalone business (including joint operations) for the quarter under review stood at Rs 10,167 crore, as compared to Rs 10,019 crore in the third quarter of 2015-16, up 1.47 per cent.

Tata Motors said its British arm Jaguar Land Rover posted revenue of 6,537 million pounds, compared to 5,781 million pounds -- up 13.1 per cent. JLR had profit after tax (PAT) of 167 million pounds for the third quarter compared to 440 million pounds in the corresponding quarter last fiscal, down 62 per cent.

It had lower wholesale volumes and less favourable product mix but was partially offset by favourable market mix, including the run out of Discovery, the company said. There were also unfavourable variable marketing expense and higher new model launch costs and biennial pay negotiation settlement. Favourable operating exchange was also offset by realised hedges, the company added JLR's total retail sales, including the China JV, were at 1,49,288 units, up 8.5 per cent.

Tata Motors said during the third quarter 2016-17, its commercial vehicles segment witnessed demand shrinkage due to the demonetisation. Medium and heavy commercial vehicle segment witnessed major pressure with a fall of 9 per cent and LCV segment was overall flat.

Passenger vehicles segment grew by 25.4 per cent with car segment rising by 31.1 per cent on the back of continued strong response to the Tiago, it added. Tata Motors stock ended at Rs 468.30 apiece, down 7.34 per cent, on BSE.
Ministry is also taking inputs from renowned hairstylist Jawed Habib, though the App is basically meant for small time barbers.

Hyderabad: The MSME Ministry is in the process of bringing out an App for small-time barbers for managing their customers' data besides maintaining accounts, said a top official of the ministry here today.

"The ministry is developing the app. We have already started the work. Barbers can send messages to their customers about their schedules for haircut. We are taking inputs from various people.

It is not for major saloons. It is for smaller saloons," K K Jalan, Secretary of MSME Ministry, said on the sidelines of a programme. He said the Ministry is also taking inputs from renowned hairstylist Jawed Habib, though the App is basically meant for small time barbers.

Jalan and Habib participated in a workshop on beauty and wellness supported by the latter at the National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise. Replying to a query, Jalan said there is no impact of note ban on MSME sector.

"There are no studies (on the impact of note ban on MSME sector). Some papers are writing A and some papers are writing B. The Finance Minister has already said there is growth in some sectors.

It shows that there is no impact of demonetisation," he said. According to him, it is the first time that there were some clear-cut allocations to MSME sector in the budget.
New Delhi: DSP BlackRock Mutual Fund today said it has decided to curb fresh inflows into its Microcap Fund, an open ended diversified equity growth scheme, after February 17.

In a public notice, the fund house said that subscription, systematic investment plan (SIP), systematic transfer plan (STP) received from investors in DSP BlackRock Microcap Fund "post the cut-off timing of February 17, shall not be accepted".

This would continue till further notice.

The step has been taken as there is a "possibility that further larger inflows into the scheme may prove detrimental to the interest of the existing unit holders". This is not the first time when inflows have been reportedly restricted by DSP BlackRock in its Microcap Fund.

Earlier in August last year, a sum of Rs 1 lakh was restricted per person. Prior to that, in September 2014, it had put a restriction of Rs 2 lakh for daily lump sum subscription.

DSP BlackRock Mutual Fund is a joint venture between DSP Group, a more than 150-year old Indian financial firm and BlackRock, the largest investment management company in the world.
New Delhi: Tejas Networks, maker of optical networking products, has filed draft papers with capital markets regulator Sebi to raise fund through an initial public offering.

The IPO comprises fresh issue of shares worth Rs 450 crore and an offer for sale of 1.27 crore scrips by shareholders, according to draft red herring prospectus.

Shareholders who would sell stake in the initial public offer (IPO) include Cascade Capital Management Mauritius, Intel Capital (Cayman) Corporation, India Industrial Growth Fund Ltd and Sandstone Private Investments.

Also, the company plans to raise about Rs 150 crore by selling 60 lakh shares ahead of the IPO. If the pre-IPO placement is completed, the company would reduce the IPO size.

Proceeds of the issue would be used for capital expenditure towards payment of salaries and wages of research and development team, working capital requirement and general corporate purposes.

"In addition, our company expects to achieve the benefits of listing of the equity shares on the stock exchanges which, we believe, will result in the enhancement of our company's brand and creation of a public market for our equity shares," Tejas Networks said.

Tejas Networks is optical networking products company. It caters to telecommunications operators, internet service providers, utilities, defence and government entities in over 60 countries.

Axis Capital, Citigroup Global Markets India Pvt Ltd, Edelweiss Financial Services and Nomura Financial Advisory and Securities (India) Pvt Ltd are managing the IPO. The equity shares are proposed to be listed on the BSE and the NSE.
Mumbai: Amy Jackson became the latest victim of a cyber crime when her phone was hacked and her personal pictures were leaked on the Internet. The actress is extremely irate and now plans to approach the cyber cell in London as well as the one in Mumbai, reported mid-day.

The incident took place when Amy had visited a mobile store in Mumbai when she had arrived in the city to catch a connecting flight to Chennai for the shoot of the Rajinikanth-Akshay Kumar starrer 2.0.

Her phone apparently got hacked at the store and her pictures started getting saved on cloud storage. Later, when Amy was in her hometown London, she could not access her account and also found some of her personal pictures from her phone on social media.

Amy told the daily, "I was shocked when this happened. This isn't a trivial matter and has to be taken up seriously. I will register a complaint with the cyber crime cell in London and ensure the hackers are taken to task. Cyber safety is the need of the hour."

Amy is not the first actress to face such a situation; recently a man was arrested for hacking into Kareena Kapoor Khans I-T account.
He was last seen in 'Raees'.

Mumbai: Though reports have been floating around about Bollywood Baadshah Shah Rukh Khans sensational cameo in SS Rajamoulis Baahubali: The Conclusion, nothing had been confirmed.

However, more details on his role in the film have now surfaced, and if all goes well, Shah Rukh Khan will be seen in a very interesting sequence, alongside Baahubali and Bhallala Deva, played by Prabhas and Rana Daggubati respectively.

The makers had approached South actors like Suriya and Mohanlal for a cameo in the Telugu film, which will be dubbed and released in Tamil and Hindi. But now it will be Shah Rukh who plays the character of a mediator between protagonist Prabhas and villain Rana Daggubati. It is an interesting sequence in the narrative, Mumbai Mirror quoted a source as saying.

Incidentally, the first teaser of the film was supposed to be attached with SRKs recent superhit, Raees.

Made on an estimated budget of around 200 crore rupees, the film reportedly already made earnings of over 500 crore rupees from satellite and distribution rights itself.

While the first part had a worldwide collection of over a whopping 600 crore rupees, the sequel is expected to shatter all existing records.

And with the biggest name in the country associated with it, Baahubali: The Conclusion could touch unprecedented box-office euphoria.

Starring Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah Bhatia, Sathyaraj and Nasser in the lead roles, the film is slated to release on April 28.
Mumbai: The Censor Board has again pulled a tough one by refusing to grant a certificate to the late legend Om Puris Rambhajjan Zindabaad.

The board cited direct and indirect references to the politics of the state of Uttar Pradesh as the primary reason.

The Ranjeet Gupta directorial produced by Khalid Kidwai had been slated for a January 13. But the demise of the legendary actor forced the makers to push the release to February.

The film, which had been submitted for approval in December had been outrightly rejected. The Pahlaj Nihalani headed revising committee also deemed it inappropriate for its political bluntness.

The theme of the film is based on rape. The film is explicit with abusive language. There are direct-indirect references to politics. The committee found certain 'adult conversation degrading to women.' They also pointed to double innuendos and provocative lines with respect to caste and community. The theme and presentation is not suitable for public exhibition and hence recommended `refusal' of certificate under the guidelines," the CBFC stated in its letter.

The film has Puri playing a compounder while Kulbhushan Kharbanda plays a character that holds striking semblance to PM Narendra Modi, as per Nihalani.
Mumbai: Malayalam actor Baburaj was attacked by a bunch of locals residing in Adimali of Idukki district during a brawl over cleaning of a pond that the actor owns.

On Tuesday, the people living close to Whitemist Emerald, the resort that the actor owns, raised objection when Baburaj brought in some laborers to clean the pond that has apparently been a daily source of water for the residents. Their argument was that emptying the pond at a time when summer is fast approaching will lead to scarcity of water.

The argument took an ugly shape when one of the locals stabbed the actor with a sharp knife.

They had a small clash and one of them named Sunny stabbed the actor on the left side of his chest. Though Baburaj has a deep injury, his condition is not critical. The sharp end of the knife pierced his chest, Adimali Sub-Inspector Sureshreportedly told a news channel.

The actor was rushed to Adimali hospital and later shifted to Ernakulam Rajagiri hospital. All the culprits are reportedly in police custody.
Mumbai: Making an independent film is not an easy task.

While filming Mantra, the stress of trying to put together an independent film with a severely shoe-string budget finally got to the director, Nicholas Kharkongor, and he was suddenly struck with a panic attack just three days before the shoot.

A concerned Rajat Kapoor called director and tried to calm him down. A doctor was called in at once. Interestingly, the doctor said that film directors seemed to be particularly prone to panic attacks and prescribed some pills.

A source close to the film says, The director found himself woozy all through the day, with frequent fits of hysterical laughter. Everyone realized there was no way he could be on medication and shoot.

"Adil Hussain and Kalki Koechlin, who were the actors for the first day of shoot, also thought that the medication might get in the way of the director being able to get the best out of them, especially because it was a very intimate scene, and the two actors had not had a chance to rehearse together at all. So, the medication was discontinued and for the entire duration of the shoot, the director was dealing with the effects of a panic attack.
Mumbai: Ranveer Singh didnt step back from taking a chance with a first time producer, Zoya Akhtar with the movie 'Gully Boy'. This is the second film whereby Ranveer has decided to tie his fate with a new producer.

When Ranveer signed up for Vikramaditya Motwanes critically acclaimed love story Lootera under the Phantom Films banner, he was the first star to become a leading man for this production house. With his decision to act in Gully Boy for Tiger Baby Productions, he has once again shown support for a debutant producer. Zoyas reputation as a successful filmmaker also adds tremendous value to this project.

In his decision to act in films with new producers, Ranveer has shown extensive support for solid talent, instead of established brands and names. According to the actor, taking a chance with innovative producers is a refreshing change, which is a brilliant example for other movie stars to follow.

With Gully Boy, a film that is supposed to be chronicling the journey of desi rappers Naezy and Divine, two super talented sensations that have emerged from Mumbais poor, crowded neighbourhoods, Ranveer will pour himself into the character.
AbRam is often seen accompanying his father.

Mumbai: Shah Rukh Khan is often seen sharing pictures of his younger son, AbRam on social media.

On Monday, the actor went for a late night walk on the beach along with his little tot and shared the captured moments on social media. The actor has also written a beautiful line expressing his love for his son.

SRK shared the picture on social media with a caption that read, a late night walk along the juhu beachhand in hand& the sand castle we made will last a lifetime..we r sure.

Instagram/ srkfansalma

Isn't that adorable?

Also, AbRam recently accompanied Shah Rukh to the Golden Temple after the release of 'Raees'.
Priyanka Chopra with one of the hosts of the show The View, Sunny Hostin.

Of late, Priyanka Chopra has been owning top-rated American chat shows like a pro, and recently, our very own global Diva, appeared as a guest host on the popular American morning show, The View. Predictably, she took the show and the world by storm.

The Quantico star clearly and cleverly steered the conversation away from Trump digs and jokes, indicating to the other hosts of the show that she was in the US on a visa! She seems to have set an example by referring to herself as a public person, as against the tag celebrities that popular figures often refer themselves as! Priyanka certainly got it right!

She did a segment with Dev Patel, where he spoke about having to shun his Indian background just to get a sense of belonging in London, and how he discovered the joys of being Indian, when he visited Mumbai at 17!

Here were two of the most celebrated Indian faces in Hollywood celebrating their Indianness together on an American chat show! A proud moment indeed!

Chopra and Patel, summed it well  It doesnt matter where you are. You carry India with you.
Kochi: Actor-director Baburaj was injured on Tuesday when he was attacked by a machete-wielding man residing near his resort at Kallar in Adimali, nearly 80 kms from here in the Munnar route, following a dispute over draining of water from a well in the property. The actor sustained injury to his chest. Hospital authorities said the it was not serious. According to police, local residents have been using the big well inside the actors property at Kambilane for house-hold purposes. However, Baburaj decided to drain the well even when locals pointed out that they would facing severe water shortage.

Residents of neighbouring households soon assembled and entered into an altercation with the actor. Soon one of the neighbour, identified as Sunny, hacked him with a machete. The actor suffered slash wounds on his chest. He was rushed to a private hospital in Adimali and later shifted to the Rajagiri Hospital, Aluva. The injuries are not serious in nature, hospital authorities said. The Adimali Police, meanwhile, booked Sunny and his wife and lodged an attempt to murder case against the former him.
New Delhi: After striking gold with 'Baahubali: The Beginning' and awaiting the release of 'Baahubali: The Conclusion,' Prabhas is excited to commence shooting for his next untitled action entertainer, which will go on the floors soon. The film is to be directed by Sujeeth Sign, and will be produced by Vamsi and Pramod under UV Creations banner.

The talented trio, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy are going to compose music for the film and Madhie is signed up as the cinematographer. Sabu Cyril, who has earlier worked in 'Baahubali', is also part of the team as the production designer.

Prabhas, Sujeeth Sign and the crew members were present at the official launch of the film, which began on a religious note with a pooja, at UV Creations' office in Hyderabad. Prabhas has a huge fan following and his fans are extremely excited about him signing his next film after the Baahubali franchise, so much that he was trending on Twitter, along with pictures of the launch event of the film.

Prabhas, who became a household name with SS Rajamouli's magnum opus, 'Baahubali: The Beginning' spent almost four years shooting for the film and its most awaited sequel 'Baahubali: The Conclusion.

The first part of the franchise created a universal euphoria for its stunning visual effects and thrilling action sequences. We saw Prabhas doing daredevil stunts and climbing mountains with ease, leaving the audience with goose bumps. The audience is expecting even more magnificent action sequences from its sequel.

Director SS Rajamouli, Prabhas and the entire crew are leaving no stone unturned in making sure they put the audience at the edge of their seats for a nail-biting experience. The movie is scheduled to release on 28th April, 2017.
It looks like Shruti Haasans bankability amongst both the Telugu and Tamil audiences has landed her the title role in director C. Sundars upcoming Telugu-Tamil bilingual film Sanghamitra. The historic drama is planned on a huge scale and is touted to be made on a big budget. Shes the new star addition in the film which already has Arya and Jayam Ravi playing the leads and A.R. Rahman scoring the tunes.

The makers wanted to cast someone whos not just good looking as required for the character but is also a great performer. Shruti fits the bill and after some negotiations, things have been finalised, shares a source, adding that her presence along with Rahman will make the film an attractive product in the Hindi market too. The actress begins shooting for the film in May.
Hyderabad: The Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) of India is keen to get hotels to list the calories contained in the food items on their menus. The United States has made it mandatory for hotel menus to mention the calories, from May 5, 2017.

The FSSAI as a part of its health initiative wants all restaurants, hotels, snack bars and eateries to display the amount of calories in their dishes. Hoteliers, however, are in strong opposition to the proposal.

Mr Adarsh Shetty, president of the Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association, told this correspondent, It is not possible for all small restaurants and eateries to display the calories in their food items. Why must we look at Western laws and try to implement them? Making it mandatory is not in the good interest of a large number of restaurants who are against it.

The Food and Drug Administration has made it mandatory for hotel chains with more than 20 units to display the calories in their menu. In India, this is the first step towards implementing such an act. A senior food inspector said, Presently, the regulator is looking at it on a voluntary basis. They are going to ask the larger chain of restaurants and high-end hotels to have calories on their menu.

Hotelier Kamlesh Barot said, We are working with the regulator and trying to have 200 members from various metros generate data on calories in the dishes and other nutritional information. None of us have this data, and we have to work from scratch.

The hoteliers are worried as each of them has a different method of cooking. Besides, it would require engaging the services of a nutritionist to evaluate the exact amount of fats, carbohydrates, sugars and nutrients in the food.

A senior hotelier said, This is an additional cost for the hotel as the evaluation cant be done overnight. It will be an exercise of two to three months. How many of them can bear that extra costs? After seeing the calories, is it going to affect the number of customers?

What if the biryani in Delhi Barbur has more calories than the biryani in Cafe Almaz? Will the hotels lose out on their business, he asked. We do not know if this exercise is going to help us in the business or create trouble.

Food inspectors state that the objective of FSSAI is to have a healthy menu in the hotels and the exercise was being taken up towards that end. The ultimate benefit is for the customer, who must know how much calories they are consuming and accordingly consume their meals, an official said.
Sometimes it is possible to find the light of love even in the darkest of times. Like Edith Steiner who was just 20 when she barely escaped death while being held at the Auschwitz concentration camp by the Nazis. John Mackay, the then-23-year-old Scottish soldier who saved Edith, is still with her celebrating their 71st Valentines Day together.

Edith and her mother were the only remaining members of their family who had not been sent to the gas chambers which meant certain death. But they were saved by a commando team  which Mackay was a part of  that freed a number of Jewish prisoners from the clutches of the Nazis in Poland.

Edith and John met formally for the first time at a dance to celebrate the rescue mission. After plucking up some courage, John asked Edith to dance with him and thats how their love story began. The two got married on July 17, 1946. They went on to have two children, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. After working as hoteliers for decades, the couple retired and moved to a care facility in Dundee, according to the Daily Mail.

This 14th February will be their 71st Valentines Day together.
Serampore: The police is on the lookout for a 22-year-old youth who allegedly shot dead his 26-year-old sister at Serampore town in Hooghly district early today in what appeared to be a case of honour killing.

The police said that it recovered the body of Neetu Singh lying in a pool of blood at the house of Umesh Singh in the Srikrishna Bazaar area of Serampore town in the early hours.

The police quoted Umesh as saying that he heard the sound of a gun shot and rushed to an adjacent room to find his daughter lying dead.

The brother, Amit Singh, and his sister often had quarrels about Neetu's relationship with a boy and the police suspected that the killing was related to it.

Umesh Singh has a small shop on Ezra Street in central Kolkata.

The police said that though it was likely to be a case of honour killing, it did not rule out the property angle either.
Chennai: Following the Supreme Court verdict convicting her in the Disproportionate Assets (DA) case, AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala on Tuesday held an emergency meeting of MLAs at Golden Bay resort in Koovathur.

In this meeting, Edapady K Palanisamy was elected as the new AIADMK chief.

The meeting was held to nominate the leader of the AIADMK Legislature Party, now that Sasikala can no longer stand for the CMs post.

In the meeting, Panneerselvam was also evicted from the primary membership of the party.

The Supreme Court has given a 4-year jail sentence to Sasikala, and she is also disqualified from standing for elections for a further 6 years. This means she effectively cannot be the Tamil Nadu CM for nearly 10 years.
Chennai: Even as the Tamil Nadu police on Monday submitted a report to the Madras High Court stating that AIADMK MLAs supporting general secretary VK Sasikala are not been held captive at a beach resort near Chennai, one of the lawmakers claimed to have made a dramatic escape.

According to reports, SS Saravanan, who represents Madurai South, landed up at acting Chief Minister O Panneerselvam's residence late last night, and told reporters that he had escaped the Koovathur resort by scaling a wall.

Saravanan also claimed that he had to disguise himself to escape from the resort.

Saravanans escape came on a day when Sasikala visited the resort for the third time, and opted to spend the night there. Sasikala has said that the MLAs would happily leave the resort on Tuesday after the Supreme Court verdict in a DA case against her.

With the arrival of Saravanan, the number of MLAs in the Chief Minister's camp rose to eight (including Panneerselvam), even as 12 Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs are backing him.

This includes Gopalakrishnan who extended his support on Monday.

Saravanan alleged that party MLAs "were being detained" at the Koovathur resort and claimed he had given a slip by wearing a "t-shirt and Bermuda (shorts)".

"If a floor test is held today, Panneerselvam will win it. Both those who have come to his side and those who have not will vote for him," he said.

Gopalakrishnan said only Panneerselvam was the leader identified by the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and therefore he had chosen to support him.

On February 5, AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala was elected as the Legislature Party Leader, a step towards her elevation as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

However, two days later, Panneerselvam had raised a revolt against her, alleging he was forced to step down for her.
Hyderabad: A case was booked against the son of Telangana's Excise and Prohibition Minister T Padma Rao Goud and others for allegedly assaulting and threatening a local businessman here, police said on Tuesday.

One Mohit Rathore, a businessman at Pot Market in Secunderabad lodged a complaint stating that while Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and other department officials were carrying out a special encroachment drive near his shop on Monday, the minister's son T Rameshwar Goud came along with his friends and allegedly beat him and his other family members. The businessman also claimed that they pelted stones at his shop.

The complainant further alleged that the group used vulgar language even as Rameshwar threatened him, saying how he will do business in the locality.

Based on the complaint, a case was registered under IPC sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 505 (criminal intimidation) and police took up the investigation, Market Police Station Inspector M Mattaiah said.
New Delhi: Cash and gifts to the tune of Rs 2.15 crore received by late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on her birthday cannot be considered lawful income, the Supreme Court said today.

The apex court concurred with the findings of the trial court rejecting Jayalalithaa's plea that an amount of Rs 2.15 crore and foreign remittance worth Rs 77.52 lakh were received by her as birthday gifts in 1992 which should be considered as her lawful income.

These gifts were in the form of jewellery, cash, demand draft, silver items, silk sarees and framed portraits on the occasion of her birthday, the court noted.

"...In view of the incorporation of Sections 161 to 165A IPC in their letter and spirit in Prevention of Corruption Act 1988, gifts as claimed to have been made were not only prohibited by law, having regard to her office and the role attached thereto, also constitute an offence thereunder.

"By no means, therefore, the gifts in any form, as offered to Jayalalithaa during the relevant period, can be construed, having regard to the rationale and rigour of underlying objectives of this legislation, be accepted as a lawful source of income," a bench headed by Justice P C Ghose said.

The court made the observations while dealing with the defence of Jayalalithaa that the amount was received by her as gifts on her birthday, celebrated on a massive scale in 1992.

The top court rather agreed with the prosecution that the gifts, as claimed by late leader, did not constitute a lawful source of income under the PC Act.

It did not agree with the findings of the Karnataka High Court which had quantified the amount of gifts to be Rs 1.5 crore, principally referring to the income tax returns and the orders of the authorities passed thereon.

The apex court said the HC noticed that there had been a delay in submission of the IT returns but accepted the defence plea of acting on orders of the income tax authorities and seemed to have been convinced as well by the contention that there was a practice of offering gifts to political leaders on their birthdays in the state.

"Not only is the ultimate conclusion of the High Court, de hors any independent assessment of the evidence to overturn the categorical finding of the Trial Court to the contrary, no convincing or persuasive reason is also forthcoming.

"This assumes significance also in view of the state of law that the findings of the income tax authorities/forums are not binding on a criminal court to readily accept legality or lawfulness of the source of income, as mentioned in the income tax returns by an assessee, without any semblance of inquisition into the inherent merit of the materials on record relatable thereto," the apex court said.

It said that not only was this aspect "totally missed by High Court, no attempt seems to have been made by it to appraise the evidence adduced by parties in this regard, to come to self-contained and consummate determination.

"To reiterate, disclosure of such gifts in the income tax returns of A1 (Jayalalithaa) and the orders of the income tax authorities on the basis thereof, do not validate the receipts to elevate the same to lawful income to repel the charge under Section 13(1)(e) thereof."

"Gifts to Jayalalithaa, a public servant in the context of Sections 161 to 165A IPC now integrated into the Act, are visibly illegal and forbidden by law. The endeavour to strike a distinction between 'legal' and 'unlawful' as sought to be made to portray gifts to constitute a lawful source of income is thus wholly misconstrued.

"With the advent of the 1988 Act, and inter alia consequent upon the expansion of the scope of definition of the 'public servant' and the integration of Section 161 to 165A IPC in the said statute, the claim of the defence to treat the gifts offered to A1 on her birthday as lawful income, thus cannot receive judicial imprimatur," the bench said.
New Delhi: Minister of State Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju, who found himself in a tough spot after his tweets on decline in Hindu population, has found support in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Backing his statement, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday said India has democracy because Hindus are in the majority.

"As Hindus are in majority, there is democracy in our country. As we see in Islamic countries where Muslims are in majority, there is no democracy. For the sake of democracy, we have to make sure the overwhelming majority of population remains of Hindus and the question is how to do it. If Muslims also took to family planning as Hindus then this problem would not be there," Swamy said.

Supporting his claim with evidence, Swamy also asserted that Census of 2001 and 2011 indicated the slump in the percentage of Hindus which was a question of alarm.

"His statement is taken out of context as he was basically talking about the decline in population percentage of the Hindus as a ratio of the total population. This is a continuing civilisation of Hindus and we don't want to lose that," he added.

A controversy erupted over a tweet by Rijiju, in reaction to the Congress' charge that the BJP was turning Arunachal Pradesh into a 'Hindu state', that India's Hindu population was reducing as they didn't 'convert' people.

This was seen as a bid to woo voters for the ongoing Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh where the BJP, the Samajwadi Party, the Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party have all accused each other of trying to polarise the polls.
Amid elaborate security arrangements, the Jats held dharnas at several locations which remained peaceful. (Photo: Representational Image)

Chandigarh: The Jat agitation in Haryana which sought reservation in education and government jobs among other demands entered its 17th day on Tuesday.

"Our protests are held in all the districts of Haryana and it is spilled over to Bawana village in Delhi today," Yashpal Malik, president of the All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS), which is spearheading the agitation, told PTI.

Sit-ins and dharnas continued in many areas across the state.

Three days ago, a meeting between representatives of a Haryana government-appointed committee and leaders of the Jat agitation remained inconclusive.

Even though the sit-ins have remained peaceful so far, the Jat leaders have threatened to intensify the stir after February 19 if their demands were not met immediately.

Haryana's Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Ram Niwas, who is part of the government-appointed committee of senior officers, said that the government is closely monitoring the situation.

"The situation so far has remained peaceful", he said.

Besides seeking quota in education and government jobs under the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) category, the demands of the Jats include the release of those jailed during last year's agitation, withdrawal of cases slapped during the protest and government jobs for the kin of those killed and injured while taking part in the stir.

The BJP government in the state had last week formed a five-member committee, headed by Chief Secretary D S Dhesi, to hold talks with the agitating community.

February 19 would be observed as 'Balidan Divas' at different places in the country in the memory of those who lost their lives during last year's agitation, Malik said.

During the fresh round of the agitation, the protesters have been staging dharnas at various places in the state amid elaborate security arrangements.

In view of the fresh Jat stir, paramilitary forces have been deployed in sensitive areas, while the state police are maintaining a strict vigil.

As many as 30 people were killed and property worth crores of rupees was damaged at many places in Haryana during last year's Jat stir which had turned violent.

However, this time the state has been put on maximum alert, the officials said.
Chennai: In a security breach, a man wielding a toy gun entered the house of DMK chief M Karunanidhi's wife Rajathi Ammal in Chennai on Monday and demanded money before being nabbed by police.

The man walked up the first floor of the CIT colony residence of Ammal, living with her daughter and DMK Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, pointed the toy gun and demanded money and jewellery, DMK party sources said.

Ammal was at that time talking with a woman relative. The 73-year-old asked the man to wait as she would bring money. She rushed downstairs and called the police.

The intruder held Ammal's relative as hostage, but freed her after police arrived, and subsequently he was nabbed.

When he threatened Ammal and her relative, none knew that the firearm was actually a toy gun. It became known only after a police enquiry.

"We have lodged a formal complaint," sources close to Kanimozhi told PTI.

A senior police official said a probe was on and added that additional guards had been posted at Kanimozhi's residence.

Hearing about the incident from her mother, Kanimozhi rushed back home from a DMK meet.

Asked how the intruder gained entry when the house was guarded by the police, the official said the man scaled the wall from a side where there were no sentries and at a time when there was not much public movement.
Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju at Parliament during the winter session, in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday stirred a controversy with remark that the population of the Hindus in India was going down as they "never convert people", while minorities are flourishing unlike some other countries.

With polling due for assembly elections in three states, Congress reacted sharply, asking the Election Commission to take "very serious cognizance" of the "extremely irresponsible statements".

"Hindu population is reducing in India because Hindus never convert people. Minorities in India are flourishing unlike some countries around (sic)," Rijiju tweeted.

The Minister of State for Home's comment came after the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee accused the Narendra Modi government of trying to convert Arunachal Pradesh into a Hindu state.

"Why is Congress making such irresponsible statements? People of Arunachal Pradesh are unitedly living peacefully with each other (sic).

"Congress should not make such provocative statements. India is a secular country. All religious groups enjoy freedom & living peacefully (sic)," he said in a series of tweets, responding to the APCC's charge.

Rijiju hails from Arunachal Pradesh and is a practising Buddhist.

"The Election Commission must take very serious cognizance of this extremely irresponsible statement/tweets put out by MoS for Home," Congress spokesman Manish Tewari said.

Citing census data for 2011, Tewari said the population growth rate of followers of other religions had fallen more than that of the Hindus.

He claimed while the population growth of Hindus slowed down to 16.76 per cent from 19.92 per cent between 1991 and 2001, those of the Muslims fell to 24.60 per cent in 2001-11 from 29.52 per cent in 1991-2001.

He said Rijiju's conduct was "unbecoming" of a Union Minister and used it to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"It is not surprising. If the Prime Minister can use national security as a prop, there is nothing which stops his Ministers from going a step further and trying to attempt a religious polarisation," he said.

"If you read that tweet, the intent is implicit in it but the fact remains that when a Minister of the Union makes such an irresponsible statement, he must be held to account," he said.

Reacting to Rijiju's statement, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi said he should remember that he is a "minister of India for all Indians not for Hindus only".

"Remember your oath as minister," the Hyderabad MP said."Wht have the minorities (in) India got to do with minorities of 'other' countries. It is Constitution which guarantees rights (sic)," he tweeted.

According to the 2011 Census, Hindus make up India's 79.80 per cent of population, Muslims 14.23 per cent, Christians 2.30 per cent, Sikhs 1.72 per cent, Buddhists 0.70 per cent and Jains 0.37 per cent.

The country's Hindu population as per the 2001 Census was 80.5 per cent, while that of Muslims was 13.4 per cent, Christians 2.3 per cent, Sikhs 1.9 per cent, Buddhists 0.80 per cent and Jains 0.4 per cent.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday pitched for a collective voice against terrorism, extremism and radicalisation as he hosted a delegation of British MPs here.

While interacting with the eight-member delegation, he said the relations between India and UK have strong bipartisan support in both countries.

He called for enhanced interactions between the Parliamentarians of both countries, the statement said.

Describing India and UK as natural partners in the global fight against terrorism, he urged the visiting Parliamentarians to "continue to raise their collective voice against terrorism, extremism and radicalization".

Modi fondly recalled his own visit to the UK in November 2015, and the visit of Prime Minister Theresa May to India in November last year.

The Prime Minister also welcomed the celebration of 2017 as the India-UK Year of Culture.
Mumbai: Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar on Monday said that terrorism was the stumbling block between normalising ties with Pakistan.

"Everything is possible. What is impossible is a dialogue between those who like to hold a script in one hand and a gun in the other. That is not possible," he said.

"When people abandon the gun, nations and people will find a way forward to amity and coexistence," Akbar said, speaking at the second Gateway of India Geoeconomic Dialogue in Mumbai on Monday evening.

"Nobody talks under the shadow of a gun," he added.

Aimed at building synergy between business and foreign policy, the Ministry of External Affairs has, with Gateway House, co-hosted the two-day event which began on Monday.

Akbar also recalled that the Taj hotel, where the event is being organised, was a key site of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

"We are sitting at a hotel which is a powerful part of the national and international memory. The hotel and its recovery and the fact that we are sitting here, is evidence of the power of recovery that India and Mumbai possess," Akbar said.

There can't be economic progress without peace, the minister said.

"Economic growth in itself is not enough. The poorest should be the first beneficiaries of economic growth. This is what the (Narendra) Modi government has been trying to achieve in the last over two years," Akbar said.

"Nationalism is not only xenophobia. Nationalism has some very powerful positive aspects to it," he said.

Akbar's counterpart from Bangladesh, Shahriar Alam, said as a student, he was an avid reader of the Sunday magazine, then edited by Akbar.

Alam spoke of the 'weakening' of Islamic State (IS), but cautioned against being complacent over this. "The weakening of IS is a political success. However, we also know that groups like Taliban have resurfaced, after it was said they were finished," he added.

Bangladesh hopes to join the league of developed nations by 2041, Alam said.

"Bangladesh has received the second largest chunk of FDI among South East Asian nations," he said.

After terrorists stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery cafe in Dhaka in July last year, the Bangladesh government "got in touch with schools and colleges to check number of students absent from campus," he said.

Alam also lauded "Prime Minister Modi's slogan 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'", and said this could be a good benchmark for furthering Indo-Bangladesh ties.

Akbar and Alam discussed the importance of strong bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh and the comprehensive steps the two countries have taken together in the areas of investment, connectivity and the resolution of land and water disputes.

Both ministers agreed on terrorism being the biggest threat to the region's otherwise notable economic progress.

Akbar said even though South Asia has the fastest growing economies in the world, "we are not able to reap its benefits and live up to our true potential", as a result of the ongoing violence in the region.

"We need to address peace and security issues," he added, noting "nobody will talk under the shadow of guns, and those who do are showing weakness".

Overall the two leaders agreed for a sustained engagement for dialogue.

In another session later this evening, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad emphasised the importance of digitisation to facilitate efficient, corruption-free and secure system of governance in India.

He spoke of India's digital revolution and Digital India's stated objective to bridge the digital divide, noting "technology must be affordable, innovative and developmental for the deprived".

He said he supported further multilateralism in internet governance, hoping to see this develop more in the future. In his closing remarks, he stated his "vision to make India and Indians a digitally empowered society".
New Delhi: Mushrooming of 50 bank accounts of late J Jayalalithaa and V K Sasikala between 1991 and 1995 was to utilise the transfer of their huge unaccounted money, the Supreme Court said today, giving credence to the trial court findings.

The apex court, which convicted Sasikala and two of her relatives in the disproportionate assets case, referred to the trial court findings and said it had "held the view that the respondents in the case in hand had failed to offer any satisfactory explanation with regard to the enormous unexplained credit/accumulations in their bank accounts".

A bench of Justices P C Ghose and Amitava Roy said in its judgement that trial court had noted that at the commencement of the check period, there were "hardly 10 to 12 bank accounts standing in the names of Jayalalithaa and Sasikala, but thereafter 50 accounts mushroomed during the check period".

It said that deposits and withdrawals represented through different entries in the accounts suggest multiplication of transactions "stemming from the same corpus".

"The maze of financial exchanges in fragments involving different combinations, hint at the attempt to inflate individual and collective income of the respondents. The banking transactions, though resorted to for proclaiming genuineness thereof, having regard to the overall factual conspectus, do not appear to be real," the bench said.

It noted that about 50 banks accounts were opened in the names of accused persons and the companies.

"According to the Trial Court, the overall evidence as considered by it disclosed that the business activities in the names of Sasikala and her two relatives started only during the check period and that they did not invest any funds on their own for that purpose and in fact utilised these as a front to enable Jayalalithaa and Sasikala transfer huge unaccounted money through the bank accounts thereof," it said.

The apex court also referred to the findings of the trial court, which had said that the evidence on record "cumulatively substantiated that the returns, the balance sheet and the profit and loss accounts were framed and fashioned to offer an explanation to the otherwise titanic unexplained credits in their respective bank accounts".
Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh government has said that Rohith Vemula, the research scholar from the University of Hyderabad whose suicide caused nationwide stir on the issue of Dalit oppression, belongs to Other Backward Classes (OBC) and not Dalit.

According to a Hindustan Times report, the state government deemed the Scheduled Caste (SC) certificate "fraudulent" and stated that the certificate was acquired unfairly by Rohith and his mother Radhika Vemula.

Guntur District Collector Kantilal Dande has served a show cause notice to Radhika seeking clarification why she cannot be declared a part of the Vaddera community of the OBC category. She can claim to be a Dalit only on condition that she provides requisite documents in that regard within the next two weeks.

"Based on the DLSC report, we have decided to cancel the Dalit certificate fraudulently obtained by Rohith and his mother and declare them as belonging to OBC community. As part of the procedure, we have served a notice on Radhika to prove her claim of Dalit within 15 days. Otherwise, she and Rohith would be declared as OBCs, Dande said.

Radhika's other son, Raja Vemula confirmed the receipt of the notice served by the Guntur administration.

They gave her two weeks time to prove that she indeed belonged to SC community and not an OBC. We are consulting our lawyers to study the notice and give a proper reply, Raja said.

The Andhra Pradesh government intended to send the report on Vemula, belonging to the OBC category, to the Centre before his first death anniversary on January 17, but refrained to avoid certain entailing legal issues.

A one-man judiciary, headed by former Allahabad High Court judge Justice AK Roopanwal, had also in August 2016, declared that Vemula belonged to OBC, stating that the false SC certificates were acquired by Radhika Vemula to avail the benefits of reservation.
New Delhi: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Tuesday lauded Minister of State Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju's remarks in regard with depleting Hindu population in Arunachal Pradesh, and hailed him for attracting the attention of the nation towards the demographic imbalance which is taking place in the nation.

RSS leader Rakesh Sinha said that it is Rijiju's duty to bring up such a matter in front of the nation, as demographic imbalance impacts social harmony and national integration.

"Kiren Rijiju spoke something which is already in the census report of Government of India. This is a statement of fact and it is a matter of concern. And as Minister of Home Affairs, it is his duty to attract the attention of the nation that demographic imbalance is taking place and this demographic imbalance is not merely a number game, but it also impacts social harmony and national integration. So I think nation should appreciate him for bringing the facts before the society and Indian people," Sinha told ANI here.

Rijiju yesterday dubbed as irresponsible the Congress allegations that the Narendra Modi-led BJP Government was trying to convert Arunachal Pradesh into a Hindu state and asked the grand old party not to make such provocative statements.

"Hindu population is reducing in India because Hindus never convert people. Minorities in India are flourishing unlike some countries around," Rijiju said in his tweet.

Posting a series of tweets along with a screenshot of a news report that quoted the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee as saying that the BJP government is "trying to convert Arunachal Pradesh into a Hindu state", Rijiju reminded the grand old party that India is a secular country.

"Why is Congress making such irresponsible statements? People of Arunachal Pradesh are unitedly living peacefully with each other. Congress should not make such provocative statements. India is a secular country. All religious groups enjoy freedom and living peacefully," he added.
New Delhi: The alleged burglars who had decamped with Kailash Satyarthi's Nobel medal replica and the citation from his home have "failed to recall" whether they had taken away the certificate too.

Three persons were arrested on Monday in connection with the theft last week of Nobel medal replica and other valuables from the child rights activist's Kalkaji residence.

While other stolen items, including the medal replica, have been recovered, the citation has not been found yet.

The accused are claiming they had not taken away the citation, police said.

"They are claiming that they haven't stolen the citation.

But we suspect that they don't remember what they have done with it. We have shown them pictures but they haven't been able to recall about the citation," said a senior police officer.

Police are suspecting that after the accused decamped with items from three houses they burgled into including Satyarthi's, they separated the loot that could be sold and those that were of "no use" to them.

"We are questioning them and are also trying to retrace the events that might have unfolded that night. The routes they might have used for commuting are also being studied to see whether they might have dumped the citation there," he said.

There are also chances that they might have kept the citation somewhere and aren't able to recall it, he added.

While Satyarthi thanked Delhi Police for its speedy probe and recovery of the Nobel replica, he had said he is hopeful the citation too would be recovered soon.

"My sense is that for the thieves, the citation was just a piece of paper and they might have thrown it somewhere," he added.

"I have complete faith in the government, the police and the people of this great nation. I hope the Nobel citation is recovered soon. Nothing can deter my mission to work towards my children," he added.

The child rights activist won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. He shared the prize with Pakistan's Malala Yousafzai.

Satyarthi had presented his Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Pranab Mukherjee in January, 2015. The original medal has been preserved and is now on display at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum.
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Legislative Assembly plunged into uproar on Tuesday as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah called the recent income tax raids on Congress leaders in the state politically motivated and waved a CD released by his partymen on Monday of a conversation reportedly between BJP leaders, Yeddyurappa and Ananth Kumar talking of payments made to their central leadership during the party's stint in power in the state.

As the opposition BJP vociferously objected to the claim, the Congress members responded with slogans, raising a din in the House. Mr Siddaramaiah, who was replying to a debate on the Governor's address, began with being highly critical of the Centre's demonetisation move, claiming it had neither curbed black money nor counterfeit currency.

Only the poor had suffered and around 125 people, waiting at ATMs to withdraw their money had died. After the demonetisation fiasco, the I-T raids were conducted only to tarnish the image of Congress leaders in the state, he charged.

Opposition leader, Jagadish Shettar at once objected, saying if the Speaker was allowing the issue to be raised, he should allow everyone to debate on it. The Chief Minister cannot say whatever he feels like. When we moved an adjournment motion on the issue, it was not allowed. How did the income tax raids unearth hundreds of crores?'' he demanded.

Mr Siddaramaiah shot back asking if the BJP leaders were in the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category. The state government had written to the I-T department, seeking details of the raid on Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, but it had refused to give any, saying the matter was under investigation.

Waving the CD released by his partymen on Monday , the Chief Minister said the conversation between the BJP leaders on it clearly showed they were paying off their party's central leadership.

Angered by his claim, BJP members rose to their feet, arguing that the CD was fake. Congress members responded with slogans and the BJP members staged a walkout when the Speaker put the motion to vote. Meanwhile, responding to a query on the Mahadayi dispute from Congress MLA Yavagal, the Chief Minister said he intended to meet the Prime Minister to seek his intervention in the issue.

Prove I am corrupt, ill quit, says CM

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah declared that he would not stay in power even for a minute if corruption charges against him were proved. "I will retire from public life if anyone proves I am corrupt. I don't have a blot on my three- decade old political career".

Speaking on the motion of thanks to the governor's address in the Legislative Council on Tuesday, he indirectly targeted BJP members for making baseless allegations against his government and said those sitting in glass houses should not pelt stones at others.

We all know how much assets leaders possessed when they entered politics and how much they have now. We have collected all documents but are not interested in revealing details as it would amount to vindictive politics. If you indulge in such tricks, I would be compelled to make these documents public. Let us go to the people's court and let the people bless whichever party they want to support ". Slamming the BJP, Mr Siddaramaiah accused them of playing vendetta politics by ensuring that Income Tax raids are conducted on ruling party members.
Lucknow: Smoothening out the rough edges in the alliance, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party issued a joint statement saying that they were withdrawing five candidates each from constituencies where their candidates had overlapped.

The statement signed by leaders of both parties says that the Congress is withdrawing its candidates from Lucknow Central, Bindki, Soraon, Chanve and Pyagpur while the SP has withdrawn its candidates from Maharajpur, Kanpur Cantt, Koraon, Bara and Mehrauni.

Congress spokesman Dujendra Tripathi said that this was done to ensure that only one candidate of the alliance remains in the fray. He said that the candidates whose names had been withdrawn by the two parties had been informed of the development.

Meanwhile, Congress candidate from Lucknow central, Maroof Khan, has refused to withdraw from the fray saying that he had already started campaigning.
Bengaluru: Karnataka government welcomed developments in the Supreme Court in the disproportionate of assets case of late J. Jayalalithaa and her associates.

Talking with Deccan Chronicle, law and parliamentary affairs minister, T.B. Jayachandra said that Karnataka government's stand was vindicated. "Today I am happy because, we won a corruption case. It sends a good message to the country," Mr Jayachandra said.

Asked whether he was delighted because the judgement would prevent Sasikala from becoming the chief minister, Mr Jayachandra said he was not bothered about the developments unfolding in Tamil Nadu, but was concerned about the issue of corruption.

Justice John Michael DCunha had given September 27, 2014 a judgement handing down punishment to the then Tamil Nadu chief minister, J. Jayalalithaa and four of her associates in the disproportionate asset case. Almost a year later, Karnataka government took a decision in June to go on appeal to challenge the high court order which turned down the lower court order.

Asked if the party high command had prevailed upon the Congress government in Karnataka to move the Supreme Court, Mr Jayachandra replied in the negative. "Our party high command will never interfere with the administration. We studied the case in depth, then chief minister and myself took the decision to go on appeal. Many feel there was politics behind it. No. We decided to go on appeal purely on the merit of the case," Mr Jayachandra said.
Chennai: The political imbroglio in Tamil Nadu precipitated further on Tuesday with the AIADMK legislators electing PWD Minister Edappadi K. Palanisamy as their new leader replacing V.K. Sasikala, an election dismissed as illegal by rebel O. Panneerselvam who insisted he will prove his majority only on the floor of the House.

Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao was keeping his cards close to his chest, as there was no word from the Raj Bhavan on what he intends to do. The possibility of a composite floor test to determine who among the two  Edappadi and OPS  command a majority in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly may be ordered soon.

After it became clear that she cannot contest any election for 10 years due to the Supreme Court verdict, Sasikala quickly swung into action by convening an emergency meeting of the AIADMK Legislature Party at the Golden Bay resort in Koovathur and got her loyalist Mr Palanisamy elected as the leader. News sources said that Mr Palanisamy was elected as the leader and within minutes he announced to the media about his election and that he would meet the Governor to stake his claim to form the next government.

While the OPS camp rejected Mr Palanisamys election, they also met Mr Rao and demanded that Mr Panneerselvam be allowed to prove his majority on the floor of the House. Meanwhile, Mr Palanisamy and his colleagues rushed to Raj Bhavan and submitted the letter of his election as the leader of the AIADMK Legislature Party.

OPS VS Palanisamy

A look at how Panneerselvam and Palanisamy fared in their political career

O. Panneerselvam

Positives:

Soft-spoken

humble

Three time Chief Minister

Administrative experience

Cordial relationship with bureaucrats

Negatives:

Not a mass leader

May not be acceptable to everyone

Rebellion against Sasikala since her family controls party

Edappadi K Palaniswamy

Positives:

Daunted fighter

Long-time associate of J. Jayalalithaa

Grassroots leader

Negatives:

Not a mass leader

Not a familiar face outside the party

Not acceptable to all factions of the party
Hyderabad: The decision of Tamil Nadu incharge Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao to wait till the Supreme Court delivered its verdict on V.K. Sasikala in the disproportionate assets case instead of rushing to invite her to form government ultimately proved prudent.

Mr Vidyasagar Rao was accused of delaying the process, but he refused to succumb to pressure and allowed the developments to unfold on their own.

The Governor was in Delhi last week to attend a private function when Mr Panneerselvam submitted his resignation and Sasikala was elected AIADMK Legislature Party leader.

Coincidentally, Supreme Court judge Justice P.C. Ghosh announced that he would deliver the judgement in a week.

Mr Rao, who was aware of the precedents leading to the formation of governments, especially in Tamil Nadu, made up his mind to wait for the verdict.

Governor reminded Sasikala of verdict

The Governor was aware how then TN Governor Fatima Beevi, a retired Supreme Court judge, faced the wrath of the apex court and the Centre when she invited J. Jayalalithaa to be Chief Minister when she was facing disqualification on account of her conviction in the TANSI land case.

Mr Rao conveyed to his well-wishers that he was not the full-time Governor for Tamil Nadu; any adverse comment either by the judiciary or the Centre on his decisions would land him in a soup, and he did not want to be discredited like Fatima Beevi. He was aware that as an appointee of the BJP-led NDA government, any decision of his would attract criticism at the national level.

Except former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee, who defended Mr Raos decision to wait, other legal pundits had demanded he should invite Sasikala regardless of the outcome in the DA case.

He knew that those convicted for an offence for which the sentence is more than two years are barred from contesting elections for six years. Inviting Sasikala to form government, and then searching for another Chief Minister in case she her conviction was upheld, would not be proper. Instead it would be prudent for him to wait for the outcome and then form his opinion.

Mr Rao, the Mahar-ashtra Governor, was given additional charge of Tamil Nadu. After taking charge, he came to know about various internal happenings in the AIADMK. When Jayalalithaa was admitted to hospital, he was quite aware of the bitter relations between Mr Panneerselvam and Sasikala.

Mr Rao had talked to Sasikala and then chief secretary Rammohan Rao to convince them that Mr Panneerselvam should be given charge.

Sources said, Sasikala wanted to become CM rightaway, but Mr Rao reminded her about the pending verdict. When she met him the Governor said to her that he needed to wait for the verdict.
Current international law is not well positioned to support responses to cyber attacks, Syed Akbaruddin said (Representational image)

United Nations: India has called for collaborative preventive approach to address terrorist cyber attacks against critical infrastructures, underlining that current international law is not well positioned to deal with the threat.

Citing the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, India said that financial hubs are targeted by terrorists to impact a countrys economy.

The investigations into the heinous terrorist attacks on Mumbai in 2008 revealed the impact its perpetrators wanted to have on the psyche and economy of the whole of India.

These attacks, including on a hospital, railway station and hotels were carefully planned and crafted from beyond our borders to have crippling effects not only on daily life in a bustling metropolis but targeted a country of a billion people, Indias permanent representative to the UN Syed Akbaruddin said here on Tuesday. Current international law is not well positioned to support responses to cyber attacks, he said.
Hyderabad: An ongoing department-wise review by TS Chief Secretary S.P. Singh has revealed that over Rs 1,000 crore was yet to be released by the Centre to various departments under Central Sponsored Schemes in the current financial year that ends in the next 45 days. Many departments fault finance department for the situation. Officials of several departments say that failure by the finance department to release funds on time and also failure to submit utilisation certificates has resulted in the Centre not releasing the balance funds.

Data regarding funds collected from several departments shows that under the CSS, the Centre has to release Rs 1,099 crore and state government has to release Rs 1,560 crore as its share to various departments. The Centre has not released any funds this financial year for some departments, while the TS finance department failed to release any funds for some schemes, despite the Centre doing so. According to the Health department officials, the Central government had released Rs 204 crore under National Health Mission but the state finance department did not release these funds to the department. Under this scheme, the Centre has to release another Rs 500 crore to the state. But it will do so only after the state government sends utilisation certificates for the Rs 204 crore.

For BC welfare, the Centre sanctioned Rs 34.92 crore and released Rs 24.68 crore to the state government. The state government has to release Rs 10.24 crore as its share. However, the finance department has not only not released its share of the funds to BC Welfare department, but has also held back the funds released by the Central government. Officials have accused the finance department of giving top priority to the irrigation department in release of funds, at the expense of other departments.

Finance department officials defend themselves saying that they can release funds to the departments as per the priority set by the state government. Education, Health, Panchayat Raj, Municipal Administration and Rural development are some of the departments that are still awaiting CSS funds this year. Officials say that if the state government submits utilisation certificates related to several departments, it can claim around Rs 2,000 crore from the Centre. Earlier, the Chief Secretary had directed finance and other departments to get the balance funds from the Centre at the earliest as this financial year ends by March 31, 2017.
Bhopal: Vyapam whistleblower Ashish Chaturvedi on Tuesday said he would move the court pleading to free him of the mental agony caused by 24x7 camera surveillance, he has been put under by police.

Mr Chaturvedis decision to protest comes a day after the Supreme Court ordered cancellation of MBBS degrees of 634 doctors who had adopted unfair means to get admission into various medical colleges in Madhya Pradesh during 2008-2012, infamously known as Vyapam scam.

My movements are being videographed by policemen deployed for my security. It amounts to breach of my freedom and privacy. I will file a petition in the court seeking to free me of the ordeal (being put under 24X7 camera surveillance), which caused mental agony to me. I will also seek details as to whom the videos are sent to, the 26-year-old Mr Chaturvedi told the media.

Camera follows me till my bathroom doors, he added. Gwalior range IGP Anil Kumar, however, told the media that the decision to videograph his security cover has been taken following his allegations of being misbehaved by the policemen, deployed for his security.

Gwalior-based Mr Chaturvedi has been provided security for the rest of his life following a directive by the court in the wake of threats to his life.

He has allegedly been threatened 10 times so far, the last one was a chilling message that said he would be cut to pieces.
New Delhi: Even as the Centre pushed for making singing of national anthem compulsory in all schools, the Supreme Court on Tuesday clarified that movie-goers need not stand up when the song is played as part of a scene in the film or documentary.

The earlier direction that national song should be played at the commencement of a film will continue, the court said.

A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Ms. R. Banumathi passed this order on an application filed by a film society, which sought recall of the December 3, 2016 order asking all cinemas to play national anthem in the theatres.

Attorney general Mukul Rohtagi, opposing the recall plea said compulsion to stand and sing (national anthem) as a part of school curriculum is required to be debated. Singing anthem is not compulsory but most schools play it during the morning assembly, he added. The court has instilled pride, patriotism and nationalism through its national anthem order, Rohtagi said, defending the singing of national anthem in cinema halls. He also called for a re-look at a law that makes insulting national anthem and emblems an offence.

Appearing for the film society, senior advocate C.U. Singh said the order had led to vigilante groups anointing themselves as the guardians of morality. They were using violence against those not standing up. By issuing the anthem order, the court had legislated a function of Parliament, Singh said.
Deepa Jayakumar (C), former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa's niece with O Panneerselvam and MLAs pray at the grave of J Jayalalithaa in Chennai on Tuesday. (Photo: PTI)

Chennai: Exactly a week after he announced at his mentor late J. Jayalalithaas burial site on Marina that he was forced to quit, Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam made an appearance at the same spot on Tuesday night, this time with his supporters plus a surprise visitor  Jayalalithaas niece, Deepa Jayakumar.

Ending days of speculation as to whether she would join hands with the caretaker CM, Deepa Jayakumar, announced that she would work with him as if they are two hands of the AIADMK.

Accompanied by MLAs and MPs supporting him, Panneerselvam paid a visit to Jayalalithaa's burial site and offered homage. Minutes after his arrival, Deepa reached the venue and joined the Chief Minister in paying homage to Jayalalithaa.

We will work together jointly as two hands of AIADMK in future for the people of Tamil Nadu. He asked for justice. I too ask the same, Deepa told reporters. She also said that she would reveal his future plans on her aunt's birth anniversary on February 24.

Education minister K. Pandiarajan, former Power Minister Natham Viswanathan, AIADMK MPs including V. Maitreyan, senior party leaders C. Ponnaiyan and E. Madhusudhanan were also at the memorial.

Thereafter, Deepa went to Panneerselvam's house on Greenways Road and she was accorded a traditional welcome by family members of the Chief Minister.

It may be recalled that Mr. Panneerselvam had said Deepa and her brother Deepak were the only blood relations of Jayalalithaa.

When Amma's mortal remains were in the hospital on the night of December 5, she (Deepa) was not allowed to pay her respects even at that time, he had alleged.
Chennai: Court cases may have spelt doom for the political career of late J. Jayalalithaa twice and now her aide V.K. Sasikala, but caretaker Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam is one politician who has always benefited from the conviction of his leaders. The million-dollar question that is on the minds of everyone in Tamil Nadu is whether Mr Panneerselvam will be third time lucky?

Mr Panneerselvam, who was thrust into limelight when he was sworn in as Chief Minister in September 2001 when late Jayalalithaa's appointment as Chief Minister was struck down by the Supreme Court, was second time lucky when he was again chosen to rule Tamil Nadu. This time again, he was forced into the Chief Minister's chair after late Jayalalithaa was sent to four years in jail by a trial court in the DA case.

But, the road may not be easy for Mr Panneerselvam this time around since has rebelled against the AIADMK leadership, particularly Ms Sasikala and her family. Even a week after he raised a banner of revolt against Ms Sasikala, the number of MLAs supporting him is just 10, though the figure is little higher when it comes to MPs.

In 2001 and 2014, Mr Panneerselvam had the support of late Jayalalithaa that ensured absolute cooperation from his cabinet colleagues, but he himself admitted last week that many ministers defied his orders during his two-month tenure after the death of the AIADMK icon. With Jayalalithaa and Sasikala no more, the party will suffer without a leader who can command the cadre, political analysts said.

They feel though Mr Panneerselvam would be acceptable to majority of the AIADMK MLAs, it would still be difficult for him to get the backing of 118 MLAs, the magic number that is needed to install a government in Tamil Nadu.

I feel Mr O. Panneerselvam is not able to get through and ironically time has caught up with him like it has caught up with Ms Sasikala. And any day O. Panneerselvam is shrewd politician and his time has gone. He has really misread the situation and now he has exhausted all options, Prof Ramu Manivannan, head, department of politics and public administration, University of Madras, told Deccan Chronicle.

However, lawyer Ravindran Duraisamy feels the Sasikala camp led by her husband M. Natarajan, who is a wounded Tiger now, will go all out to spoil the chances of Mr Panneerselvam becoming the Chief Minister.

There was a likelihood of OPS emerging as a compromise candidate but since he has rebelled against Sasikala, Natarajan is making all moves to ensure Mr Panneerselvam does not become Chief Minister. I don't know how will he overcome these forces? he asked.
Bengaluru: Amid noise of fighter jets flying overhead and helicopters rumbling in the background, Aero India 2017 came alive on Tuesday. Amid the din, in Hall A at the air show, the Russians showed that they have arrived in force.

Be it the Su-30MKI multirole fighter or the IL-76MD-96a transport aircraft, Russia has always been Indias tried and trusted friend accounting for a major share of Indias military purchases over the years.

To mark the upcoming anniversary if Indo-Russian relations, JSC Rosoboronexport (part of Rostec State corporation) has organised a display featuring 14 major Russian defence industry players.

The official Russian delegation is being led by Vladimir Drozhzhov, Deputy Director of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation. Rosboron exports delegation is being led by the companys Deputy Director General Sergey Goreslavskiy.

Goreslavskiy said, I am very happy to see our countries enjoy close cooperation in the military technical field as they approach the 70th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations. In 2016 Rosboronexport recorded an increase in the volume of Indias orders compared to the previous years. Moreover, this year we expect to see further growth of our stock of orders.

Occupying 940 sq metres in Hall A, the Russian display includes more than 300 pieces of latest Russian military equipment. According to Rosboronexports specialists, the best prospects of sales lie in the Su-30MKI multirole fighter, IL-76MD-96a transport aircraft, Be-200 multipurpose amphibious craft, Ka226T light multipurpose helicopter and the Ka-52 attack helicopter.

Much of this equipment has been used by Russian Armed Forces for counterterrorist operation in Syria. The Russians claim their equipment has proven reliable, is of high quality and proves its adequacy for any mission.

Also on display are air defence assets such as the famed S-400 Triumf, Pantsir-S1 air defence missile/gun system., TorM2KM air defence missile system and Igla-S man portable air defence system.

Goreslavskiy summed up the arms trade companys intentions when he said, Roboronexport attaches utmost importance to Aero India 2017 aerospace exhibition because our supplies to the Asia-Pacific region are dominated by aircraft equipment, whose share has exceed 60 per cent in recent years.
New Delhi: In a huge setback to the political ambitions of AIADMK general secretary V.K. Sasikala, the Supreme Court on Tuesday found her guilty of corruption in the Rs 66-crore disproportionate assets case and sentenced her to a four-year imprisonment.

Under the Repre-sentation of the People Act, convicts in corruption cases cant contest elections for six years after completing their jail sentence. This means that Sasikala is disqualified from contesting elections for a total of 10 years, effectively ending her bid to become CM.

The two-judge bench ordered Sasikala to surrender immediately to the authorities in Karnataka, where she will serve her prison sentence.

The bench of Justices Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Amitav Roy set aside the Karnataka high court order of May 2015 that had acquitted the main accused  former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and her relatives V.N. Sudhakaran and Ilavarasi  and restored in full the trial courts conviction of September 2014.

The ruling also said there was incriminating evidence against Jayalal-ithaa, but since she had died on December 5, 2016, the appeals filed by the Karnataka government insofar as she is concerned had come to an end.

In Chennai, Edappady K. Palanisami, a loyalist of Sasikala, was elected the Legislature Party Leader. Also, Sasikala sacked O. Panneerselvam from the AIADMK.

SC says its proved that accused conspired

While upholding the trial court's directive to confiscate the properties, the bench said this should be treated as an order of the Supreme Court.

The main petitioner, Subramanian Swamy, and Karnataka advocates Dushant Dave, Aristotle, DMK lawyers V. Pragasan, R. Shanmugasundaram were seated in the front row of Court Room No. 6 when the verdict was delivered. After 20 years, I won, Mr Swamy tweeted later. The corruption case dates back to the late 1990s when Jayalalithaa and Ms Sasikala were accused of profiting from the Chief Minister's office and amassing wealth beyond their income. They were jointly accused of owning several bungalows, luxury cars, tea estates, eight tons of silver, nearly 30 kg of gold and thousands of saris that could be not accounted for. A trial court had, in 2014, sentenced Jayalalitha, Ms Sasikala, Ilavarasi and Sudhakaran to four years' imprisonment for criminal conspiracy to acquire and possess assets grossly disproportionate to their known sources of income, and slapped a fine of Rs 10 crore on each.

Writing the main 570-page judgment, Justice Ghose said it has been proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused entered into a conspiracy and had come into possession of assets disproportionate to known sources of income. The 1977 case law had held that an offence was not made out if disproportionate assets were found to be less than 10 per cent of the income.
Kochi: The state governemnt has blamed the Kochi corporation for the delay in implementing the Centres Rajiv Awas Yojana Scheme in Kochi. In an affidavit, the state submitted that the corporation is responsible for the timely construction of two apartment blocks for slum dwellers at Mattancherry under the Centres Rajiv Awas Yojana Scheme. The government said that it had taken all the actions for the timely implementation of project in Kochi corporation and the release of funds would depend on the progress of the project based on the utilization certificate submitted by the corporation.

The chief engineer, local self government department, had submitted a proposal for approval of tender excess with concerned proforma to the government in October 2016 since the contractor had quoted 23.7 per cent higher than the estimate rate. The tender committee chaired by the chief secretary had in January 17, 2017 sanctioned the tender excess in respect of construction of G-11 flats at Thuruthy colony.

The affidavit was filed in response to a writ petition filed by Sunrise Kochi, an NGO working among slum dwellers in Mattancherry. According to the organisation, there has been inordinate delay on the part of the state government and the Kochi corporation in constructing the two blocks for housing the 398 poor homeless families residing in slums in Ward No. 2 of Mattancherry. The court granted the corporation time to inform the court about the further steps after the government sanction order.
Hyderabad: The closure of the maternity ward at the Niloufer Hospital has led to overcrowding at the government maternity hospital, Petlaburj. Over the past 10 days, about 100 women have been shifted to this hospital, exposing the shortage of beds and manpower here. At present, one bed is being shared by two patients, and it appears that the situation can worsen.

Every place one sees is full of people; the hospital stairway and all floors are chock-a-block with visitors. The maternity wards are on first and second floor, at present, they are simply insufficient.

New mothers are forced to share their beds with other women; the nurse told me that there is a shortage of beds so we have to adjust accordingly, said Mumtaz Begum, who delivered a boy four days ago. She added, We have joined two beds and now four of us are sharing the space. We manage by taking turns, if one sleeps, the other will have to sit up.

Hospital superintendent G. Pratibha said, The work will increase naturally as the doctors who used to attend to 7-8 patients per day are now tending to 15 to 16. We are doing our best to resolve the issues of the patients.

An official, on condition of anonymity, said, The first and second floors are in use, but the third and fou-rth floor are still vacant as they were supposed to be used by the Osmania Hos-pital. The hospital authorities have requested the government to allot the other floors to meet the rush now. However, sanitation and electricity work is pending on these floors, and the government may not accept our request, the official added.
Thiruvananthapuram: With the registration department identifying that the bylaw of the Kerala Law Academy Law College has been amended, the institution will have to explain why this change was not informed to the university. In case the college does not give a satisfactory explanation, the Kerala University may even withdraw the affiliation. As per the university statute, the college should inform the university any changes in the bylaw within three months. This academy has not followed this rule.

The bylaw of the academy on the basis of which a memorandum of association was entered with the government for the formation of the trust in 1968 while seeking land on lease had clearly mentioned a 51- member governing council with the majority being from the government. However, now the trust has been reduced to a 21-member governing council with the majority from a single family.

As per the original bylaw, the governor was the chief patron, chief minister the patron, and education and revenue ministers members. In an answer in the Assembly on August 23,1968, the then agriculture minister had said the law academy was not owned by any private parties but was governed by a trust with ministers and high court judges.
Chennai: With no solution in sight for the political crisis in Tamil Nadu, the ruling AIADMK has asserted that a majority of its MLAs are behind General Secretary Sasikala Natarajan and claimed the chances of Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao "inviting" her on Monday were "high."

Party spokesperson Vaigai Chelvan said that Chief Minister O Panneerselvam had the support of seven MLAs and cannot, therefore, prove his majority in the state Assembly in the event of a floor test.

"He says he can prove his majority based on wrong information given by someone. Majority of the AIADMK MLAs are with Sasikala and we are ready to prove our strength (in a floor test)," he told reporters here.

Sasikala was the elected as the Legislature Party leader of AIADMK and therefore the Governor should invite her to form the government, he added.

"We expect the chances of his inviting (meeting) her today are high," he said.

To a question on 11 MPs switching over to the camp of Panneerselvam, Vaigai Chelvan expressed confidence that they would return to the Sasikala fold.

In growing support for Panneerselvam, six more AIADMK MPs had joined his camp on Sunday, taking the number of Parliamentarians in his favour to 11.

Sasikala had also on Sunday vowed to protect the party nurtured by her long-time friend, late Jayalalithaa, saying "I will give my life for this cause".

Addressing the MLAs at the resort near here, which she visited for the second time in two days, Sasikala had said, "You 129 MLAs are like an ocean. No one can contain it by building a check dam. No efforts will destabilise this government. No one can hurt us and there is no need to fear."

She also dismissed allegations that they have been held "hostage" at the resort, saying the MLAs were staying at the resort of their own accord and that they were "free".
Patna: Senior Bihar BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi on Tuesday demanded a thorough probe by CBI or by any other independent agency into the Bihar Staff Selection Commission's (BSSC) paper leak scam.

Modi said, "We demand a CBI probe or a probe by any independent agency as SIT may not be able to carry out a fair probe into the paper leak scam, which has strong political connections."

"When Vyapam scam can be investigated by the CBI, then why can't the BSSC paper leak scam be investigated by the CBI," the former Deputy Chief Minister told reporters on the sidelines of his weekly Janata darbar here.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had on Monday rejected a demand for CBI probe into BSSC paper leak scam saying that "investigation into the matter is being conducted by the

Police and there is no need to heed to the demands of anybody whose sole intent is to get publicity through such utterance."

The Bihar government had on February 8 cancelled BSSC exam held to fill up the posts of clerks in state government in the wake of a paper leak.

The Chief Minister had announced the cancellation of BSSC examination on the basis of a preliminary report of Director General of Police P K Thakur and recommendation of Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh.

The cancellation had come in the wake of reports of a paper leak before the examination on February 5.

The senior BJP leader also suggested the state government to suspend internet service during the examination period to ensure free and fair examination in the state. This is being done by some states, he added.

Stating that he has full faith in the ability and honesty of Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Manu Maharaj, Modi asked "if SIT headed by Maharaj will be able to interrogate senior officials like Chief Secretary and Home Department's Principal Secretary in paper leak scam or whether he will be able to probe into the political connections of those arrested by the SIT."

He alleged that SIT may not be able to carry out a fair probe into the matter or expose the nexus of politicians who exerted pressure on Parmeshwar Ram to help certain persons in the appointment.

Modi also demanded the government to lift the ban on media coverage from the centres of Intermediate examination which began on Tuesday amid tight security.
Chennai: Police stopped the members from the O Panneerselvam camp when they were on their way to visit the AIADMK party MLAs at the Golden Bay resort in Kuvathur.

Representatives from Panneerselvam camp were about to visit the resort where party MLAs supporting V K Sasikala are put up, in an apparent bid to garner support for the acting chief minister.

Sources in the Panneerselvam camp said the delegation of MLAs and senior leaders could include School Education Minister K Pandiarajan and that they were planning to meet their colleagues at the resort in Koovathur, about 80 km from here.

Security has already been tightened at the resort with more police personnel being deployed.

The efforts by Panneerselvam's aides to garner support for him comes in the midst of his being sacked from the AIADMK's primary membership by Sasikala.

Loyalist of the Sasikala camp and Highways Minister Edappady K Palaniswami was chosen as the Legislature Party leader in a meeting chaired by the AIADMK chief.

As of now, there are 10 MLAs in the Panneerselvam camp, including himself. He also enjoys the support of 12 MPs, including from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

One of the MLAs, who joined the Chief Minister's camp last evening, SS Saravanan from Madurai (South), had claimed that even legislators who were not with him, would vote for Panneerselvam in the event of a floor test.
Chennai: The removal of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (AIADMK) general secretary V.K. Sasikala escalated into a movement under Sasikala Pushpa, who apart from having personal issues with the former, has been a close aide of the caretaker Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam. With the Supreme Court pronouncing its verdict that has dashed Sasikalas dreams of becoming the chief minister of the state, Pushpa is mighty happy.

Dubbing Sasikala as 'criminal' even as she expressed her faith in the Indian judiciary, Pushpa on Tuesday held her responsible for everything that went wrong in the AIADMK politics.

Read: Sasikala convicted: What happens to her political career?

"Everybody loved Amma, that's why the whole state progressed under her. The state would not have progressed under a lady like Sasikala who has been convicted for a case. Nobody is sympathetic towards Sasikala. She's a criminal. She has very bad name in the state. She used to produce false evidences against anybody who was close to Amma and tried to instigate her against the person," Pushpa said.

"I earned good name under Amma. That's why she has done this to me. I have spearheded the movement against Sasikala and I am very happy for her conviction," she added.

Talking about the consequences of the verdict, Sasikala said she hoped that Panneerselvam would soon be sworn-in as the Chief Minister.

"She cannot enter into politics for 10 years. So, she cannot be the chief minister of the state. Nobody liked her anyway. I hope O. Panneerselvam will now be appointed as the Chief Minister of the state," she said, adding, "I congratulate the Supreme Court. I personally had faith in the system. Now, in Tamil Nadu, goondaism, rowdyism will come to an end. Everybody knows three-four false cases were put against me by this lady. The family politics is over now in Tamil Nadu. "

Earlier in the day, Sasikala was adjudged as guilty in connection with a 19-year old disproportionate assets case and was ordered by the apex court to serve the remainder of her four-year jail term, which comes out three-and-a-half years.

The verdict gives Panneerselvam a boost in staking claim to be Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister.
Nagapattinam: Tension prevailed here on Monday for some time in front of the office of the Nagapattinam MLA, M Tamimuun Anzari, where he held a spot opinion ballot on whom I should support (Makkal Karuthukketpu) in the on going race for the Chief Ministers post between two factions of the AIADMK, involving the caretaker Chief Minister O Panneerselvam (OPS) and Ms. V.K. Sasikala, the partys general secretary and AIADMK legislature party leader. Anzari represents the Muslim outfit, Manitha Neya Jananayaga Katchi (MNJK).

Police said the trouble started when a group of supporters of O Panneerselvam expressed their opinion in the form of ballot that their MLA Tamimuun Anzari should support Panneerselvam. As the word spread, more and more people came to the spot and asked for ballot papers to let know their preference for Chief Ministers post.

Meanwhile, as some supporters of Anzari took away the ballot box, saying that they kept only 2,000 ballots and all of them were exhausted, they then locked the MLAs office and left the place.

However, those gathered there raised pro-Panneerselvam slogans. The police had tough time to control the crowd and persuaded them to disperse peacefully.

Anzari who is also the general secretary of MNJK and won the 2016 Assembly election from Nagapattinam constituency on the AIADMKs Two Leaves symbol told DC over phone that most of the people appreciated his move and expressed their happiness by saying that you are respecting the sentiments of the people, especially the voters of the Nagapattinam Assembly constituency.

The ballots will be placed before the partys 12-member high-level committee in Chennai on Tuesday. After having discussions with them, his decision would be finalised in a couple of days, he said.

Sources said that both the groups supporting Mr. Panneerselvam and Ms. Sasikala respectively were about to clash with each other. However, police averted their timely intervention. Anzari nonetheless, denied this.
New Delhi/Chennai: Following is a timeline of events linked to AIADMK general secretary V.K. Sasikala and her involvement with both the disproportionate assets case and the political developments in Tamil Nadu.

What happened?

Supreme Court on Tuesday convicted AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala in a disproportionate assets case.

When?

At 10:49 am: The SC announced its judgement on Sasikala which runs into more than 500 pages.

Highlights:

She will not be able to contest elections for 10 years or hold public office.

She has been ordered to surrender to the law enforcement authorities immediately to serve the remainder of her four-year jail term.

The Background:

The verdict comes in the backdrop of the ongoing power struggle within the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu - between Sasikala and the incumbent Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam. The pending disproportionate assets case that posed a legal hurdle against Sasikala's taking over as the chief minister, dates back to 1996. Late J. Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and her two relatives, Ilavarasi and Sudhagaran, were convicted in the case that alleged that the former chief minister owned assets far exceeding her known sources of income.

What was the case against Sasikala?

Sasikala with former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was an accused of allegedly amassing disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 66.65 crore during Jayalalithaa's first term as Chief Minister from 1991 to 1996. Her relatives V N Sudhakaran and Elavarasi are also accused. In May 2015, Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and two other accused were acquitted by the Karnataka High Court in the disproportionate case. The Karnataka government then moved the Supreme Court against the high court's ruling. The Supreme Court had reserved the verdict in the 19-year-old illegal wealth case after 20 days of arguments in the case last year.

Impact:

-Tuesday's judgment will shape up the Tamil Nadu politics for days to come.

- It will scuttle Sasikala's chances of becoming state Chief Minister. She will be ineligible to be the chief minister as the Constitution mandates election to the assembly within six months of assuming office.

- Acting chief minister O Panneerselvam may again become Chief Minister of Tamilnadu.

Now what?

- The ball is in the Governor's court now.

- He may ask acting chief minister O Panneerselvam to prove the majority on the floor of the house.

- He may also ask the rival camp to show the strength to form the government.

Timeline of the disproportionate assets case:

June 14, 1996: Subramanian Swamy filed a case against Jayalalithaa's acquisition of wealth alleging disproportionate of her income from known sources.

June 18, 1996: The DMK led government filed an FIR against the former chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

Dec 7, 1996: Jayalalithaa arrested. Allegations included accumulation of disproportionate assets.

June 4, 1997: Chargesheet filed against Jayalalithaa, Sasikala, Ilavarasi and Sudhakaran in the disproportionate assets case. They are charge-sheeted for offences under sections 120-B IPC, 13(2) read with 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

May 14, 2001: Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK was voted back to power in Tamil Nadu with absolute majority and Jayalalithaa becomes CM. Her appointment is challenged due to her conviction in October, 2000 in the TANSI (Tamil Nadu Small Industries Corporation) case.

September 21, 2001: The Supreme Court nullifies the appointment. Jayalalithaa ceases to be CM.

February 21, 2002: After her conviction is set aside, Jayalalithaa is elected to the Assembly in a bypoll from Andipatti constituency and again sworn in as CM.

November 18, 2003: SC transfers the case to Bengaluru. DMK general secretary K Anbazhagan had approached SC for transferring the trial to Karnataka on the ground that a fair trial was not possible in Tamil Nadu with Jayalalithaa as CM.

February 19, 2005: The Karnataka government appoints B V Acharya, a former Advocate General, as Special Public Prosecutor to conduct the prosecution.

October/November 2011: Jayalalithaa deposes in the Special Court and answers 1,339 questions.

September 27, 2014: The Special court convicted Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and the others under charges of illegal property acquisition. Awards four years' prison term to Jayalalithaa, slaps Rs 100 crore fine. All of them were lodged in the Parappana Agrahara central jail in Bangalore.

September 29, 2014: Jayalalithaa filed a bail plea in the Karnataka High Court, challenged conviction.

October 7, 2014: The Karnataka High Court rejected the bail plea, citing 'no grounds,' to do so.

October 9, 2014: Jayalalithaa moves SC seeking bail.

October 17, 2014: Supreme Court granted bail to Jayalalithaa

October 18, 2014: After 21 days in prison, Jayalalithaa released from prison on bail. SC says it will ask Karnataka High Court to complete hearing on the appeal in three months.

December 18, 2014: SC extends Jayalalithaa's bail by four months. A bench headed by CJI H L Dattu orders that her appeal challenging the conviction in Karnataka HC be conducted on a day-to-day basis by a Special Bench.

March 11, 2015: Karnataka HC reserves order on an appeal by Jayalalithaa and three others including confidante Sasikala in disproportionate assets (DA) case.

May 11, 2015: Karnataka High Court appealed against the acquittal of Jayalalithaa and three others to the Supreme Court

May 23, 2016: Jayalalithaa came back to power as chief minister of Tamil Nadu again.

June 23, 2015: Karnataka Govt moves SC against Jayalalithaa's acquittal in DA case.

July 27, 2015: SC issues notice to Jayalalithaa on appeal challenging her acquittal.

Feb 23, 2016: SC commences final hearing on the appeals against Jayalalithaa's acquittal.

December 5, 2016: J Jayalalithaa passed away.

February 14, 2017: Sasikala convicted by the Supreme Court.
New Delhi: With the Supreme Court convicting AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala in a graft case, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday said Tamil Nadu Governor should follow the UP precedent and call for a composite vote in the Assembly if there are two claimants.

In a statement, the former Home and Finance Minister in the previous UPA government said the AIADMK legislators will elect a leader.

"If there is only one claimant, the Governor can swear-in the claimant and ask him to prove his majority. If there are two claimants, the Governor should call a composite vote," he said citing the case of Uttar Pradesh (UP).

In 1998, the Supreme Court ordered a floor test in the UP assembly to determine who between the two claimants -- Jagdambika Pal and Kalyan Singh -- commanded the majority support for chief ministership.

Chidambaram, however, refused to comment on the apex court judgement convicting Sasikala in a 19-year-old disproportionate assets case that also involved late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

"It is a Supreme Court judgement and we are all bound by the judgement," Chidambaram, who hails from Tamil Nadu, said.

Last week, after Sasikala staked claim to form a government in Tamil Nadu, Chidambaram had said Sasikala would be "unacceptable to most people" of the state.

"I think AIADMK should behave... as a responsible political party and follow process which is democratic and acceptable to people of Tamil Nadu. What they have done, what report I get, is unacceptable to most people of Tamil Nadu," Chidambaram had said.

Caretake Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam is leading a revolt against Sasikala, who was elected as legislature party leader over a week ago.
Chennai: In fast paced developments, Sasikala loyalist Edappady K Palaniswami was on Tuesday elected as Legislature Party Leader following the conviction of the AIADMK general secretary, who sacked rebel leader O Panneerselvam from the partys primary membership.

"We have sent a letter staking claim to form Ammas government," said Palaniswami.

His election came at an emergency meeting called by Sasikala at a resort here within hours of the Supreme Court upholding a Bengaluru trial court order convicting her in the disproportionate assets case, dealing a body blow to her hopes of becoming the Chief Minister.

Palaniswami, a known Sasikala loyalist and a five-time MLA, is the partys strongman from Salem district and currently holds the portfolios of Highways, Public Works and Minor Ports.

He was Minister in the previous Jayalalithaa-led cabinet also and continued with the same portfolios. He was retained in 2016, both by Jayalalithaa and later by her successor Panneerselvam, who has since raised a banner of revolt against Sasikala for allegedly forcing him to step down from chief ministership.

Minutes after the apex court delivered the verdict, Sasikala went into a huddle with her MLAs to decide on the future course of action. Security has been strengthened across the state after the verdict. Police presence has been stepped up at the resort here, about 80 kms from Chennai, where MLAs supporting her are housed since the past few days.

Sasikala herself stayed overnight at the resort. The apex court quashed the Karnataka High Court verdict that had acquitted Sasikala in the disproportionate assets case and asked her to surrender herself forthwith.

Sasikala was elected AIADMK Legislature Party Leader on February 5, paving the way for her becoming Chief Minister. Two days later, Pannerselvam rebelled against her.

Sasikala sacked Panneerselvam, who has been continuing as caretaker Chief Minister, from the AIADMK's primary membership.

Additional police personnel have been deployed in and around the resort amid expectations that Sasikala will leave for Bengaluru to surrender in the trial court as per the apex court order.

Palaniswami asserted he has been chosen "unanimously" by party legislators.

The meeting to elect the new legislature party leader was chaired by Sasikala.

"I have sent a letter to Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao staking claim to form government. After Governor invites me, I will give him the official paper of my election signed by the legislators," Palaniswami said.

The AIADMK leader was speaking to reporters at the resort.

Palaniswami said he was elected unanimously and that party treasurer and Forests Minister Dindigul C Srinivasan announced his unanimous election as Legislature party leader.
Within three weeks of taking over as US President, Donald Trump faced a major crisis as national security adviser Michael Flynn resigned amid intelligence leaks that he had secretly discussed sanctions with Russias ambassador to Washington and then tried a coverup. Its a tribute to the media, with which Mr Trump has begun a running battle, that it swiftly nailed the retired generals many prevarications on the issue. Flynns record  he called Barack Obama a liar, declared the US justice system corrupt and holds extreme radical views about Islam  isnt such that many would be sorry to see him go from an administration plagued with huge problems over immigration and visa issues.

Mr Trump had to let him go not only because there were warnings that he could be susceptible to blackmail by a foreign power long considered an enemy, but also for being caught lying in conversations with vice-president Mike Pence. Imagine an Indian NSA sharing secrets with Pakistani diplomats. While Flynns dramatic departure is the first indication of a chaotic administration at odds with much of the world, besides serious differences at home, what is more worrying is that his ties with Russia could be the tip of the iceberg, perhaps hinting at the Trump teams pre-election vibes with the Kremlin. With Russia blamed by Democrats for fixing the American election, questions will crop up after one of Mr Trumps trusted aides is caught being pals with the enemy. But did anyone really expect things would be smooth with this Trump as President?
Despite a robust anti-rape campaign spanning over three and a half decades, the perception that all women who complain about rape are liars still persists. The struggle has been to counter these anti-women perceptions and shift the focus upon the physical and psychological harm caused to the victim and evolve support mechanisms to help her during her journey of transforming herself from a victim to a survivor. The catalyst for the anti-rape movement launched in 1980 was the Supreme Court judgment in the Mathura rape case (Tukaram vs State of Maharashtra, 1979). The judges acquitted policemen who had gangraped the 16-year-old, subjected to multiple layers of marginalisation  poor, illiterate, orphan and tribal  on the ground that there were no marks of injury on her body and hence she must have consented. Rather than the violence inflicted upon her, her sexual conduct became the central context and her past sexual history, that she had eloped with her lover, was used to discredit her, and acquit the policemen. The campaign ultimately resulted in changes in the rape laws in 1983, which prescribed a mandatory minimum punishment of seven years in all rapes and 10 years for cases of aggravated rapes such as custodial rapes by policemen.

Despite this nothing seemed to have changed on the ground, as National Crime Records Bureau reports recorded a gradual increase in rapes, and correspondingly conviction rates went down and stringent punishment failed to be a deterrent. The Suman Rani rape case (Prem Chand vs Haryana, 1989) revealed that the perception of judges regarding rape victims had not changed. This was yet another case of custodial rape of a young girl. A complaint could be filed only when she reached her village due to which there was a delay in filing the FIR. Despite this, the lower courts had awarded the mandatory minimum punishment of 10 years as per the amended law. However, the Supreme Court reduced the punishment to five years on the following ground: The peculiar facts and circumstances of this case coupled with the conduct of the victim girl do not warrant the minimum mandatory punishment of 10 years. The peculiar facts and circumstances were  there were no marks of injury on her body, she was habituated to sexual intercourse and there was delay in filing the FIR. It did not matter that it was a case of custodial rape by two policemen.

Due to countrywide protests, a review petition was filed in which the Supreme Court clarified: Character, reputation or status of a victim is not a relevant factor for consideration by the court while awarding the sentence to a rapist (Haryana vs Premchand, 1990). Though these comments made good case law, the judges refused to enhance the punishment to the mandatory minimum 10 years.

Ironically, even after the public protests following the gruesome gangrape and murder in the Nirbhaya case, and enactment of a special law, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012, to deal with child sexual abuse, a slogan coined by the womens movement during the early days of the anti-rape campaign  Mathura was raped twice, first by the police, then by the courts  still rings true. In a recent case, Justice Sadhana Jadhav of the Bombay high court relied upon certain incriminatory details contained in the chargesheet to justify granting bail to the man facing charges of raping his minor daughter under the POCSO Act. It almost seemed that granting of bail is contingent upon the conduct of the victim rather than the fact that investigations are complete and the chargesheet is filed.

Raising doubts about the reliability of the girls complaint in an open court, the judge commented: The statement of the victim on the basis of which the crime is registered does not appear to be truthful and, therefore, does not inspire confidence of this court. Making a value judgment, the judge continued that the girl had inherently abnormal behaviour and sexual instincts from her childhood(!), probably because of the environment and atmosphere where she lived and the conduct of her deceased mother. Her marginalised existence seems to justify the abuse by her own father. The facts of this case are far more tragic than even Mathura and Suman Rani. When she was in Class 6, her mother died of AIDS and she was abandoned. Later she was sent to a Christian institute for adoption. The judge relied upon a letter the child was made to write at the time of adoption, in her own handwriting, that she is used to doing dirty things. The judge awarded the child of tender age an agency to determine what is dirty and then indulge into acts which are vulgar, obscene or immoral, which are socially constructed notions, out of her own volition. What would be the impact of such comments made in open court, and published in newspapers on the vulnerable child, now pursuing higher education against great odds? The only concern for the judge while granting bail in cases of child sexual abuse ought to be the safety of the child, which the judge has ignored completely.

The law forbids defence lawyers from commenting upon a victims past sexual history during the trial. Here the judge was referring to the childs own incriminatory statement to justify granting bail. At the stage of granting bail, judges cannot go into the merits of the case. The accused had not succeeded in securing bail in the trial court because it was a case of a father sexually violating his own adopted child. It was a demand of the womens movement that women judges be assigned to hear cases of sexual violence, as they would be inherently sensitive towards victims. But the extremely insensitive comments by women judges make us realise that gender sensitivity is not linked to female anatomy.

The writer is a womens rights lawyer
The Galaxy Note 8 is expected to feature a 4K display (for better VR experience) and the AI-powered virtual assistant Bixby.

Samsung recently confirmed that it would not be giving up on the Galaxy Note series after the Galaxy Note 7 incidents that caused one of the biggest global recalls in smartphone history. It is now being reported that the South Korean smartphone giants next phablet, the Galaxy Note 8, is codenamed Baikal which is lake situated in southern Siberia, considered to be the deepest lake in the world.

The Galaxy Note 8 is expected to feature a 4K display (for better VR experience) and the AI-powered virtual assistant Bixby. Samsung will reportedly source the batteries for the device from LG. Samsung is yet to report any more information.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
The next-generation iPhone, expected to be called iPhone 8, will be the first ever iPhone to feature an OLED display.

Apple has struck a deal worth $4.3 billion with Samsungs subsidiary unit Samsung Display to supply an additional 60 million OLED panels for the upcoming iPhone, according to a report by a S. Korean English daily The Korea Herald.

The Korean display firm had last year signed a deal with the Cupertino-based tech giant for supplying 100 million OLED panels for the iPhone 8, and now the two firms have signed a fresh deal for another 60 million supplies.

Since Apple sells 200 million units of its iPhone flagship in a year, the total 160 million units of iPhone, featuring an OLED display, will make up almost 80 per cent of the entire sales.

The next-generation iPhone, expected to be called iPhone 8, will be the first ever iPhone to feature an OLED display.

Apple is rumoured to bring in two or three variants of the new iPhone this year, however, only premium models are likely to feature the OLED display, while the rest still continue to include LCD display.

The supply constraints may only allow Apple to bring OLED in just one variant of the next iPhone, not more than that. In an earlier report, KGI analyst Ming-Chi-Kuo also cited that some new Apple iPhone may continue to feature LCD display because there wont be enough OLED displays to satisfy the increasing demand.

The OLED displays are difficult to produce and the four largest suppliersSamsung Display, LG Display, Sharp and Japan Display lacks production capacity to make OLED screens for all new iPhones.

Although, Samsung Display dominated the OLED market for supplying, LG Display is also working towards serving as a secondary supplier to Apple.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
Washington: The Trump Administration needs to convince China to ask Pakistan to take "good-faith measures" to address India's concerns on cross-border terrorism which is a key trigger of Indo-Pak military escalation, a top American think-tank said in a new report.

US Institute of Peace in the report warned that any terrorist activity coming from across the border might escalate into a major war, which could be disastrous for the region.

"Washington needs to convince Beijing to urge Pakistan to take good-faith measures addressing India's concerns on cross-border terrorism, which is a key trigger of military escalation. Beijing could in turn prod Islamabad to prosecute terrorists involved in attacks on India as a first step," USIP said.

"Meanwhile, the Indian government should abandon its current policy of seeking to internationally isolate Pakistan.

These moves by both countries could create an opening for resuming talks and politically settling the Kashmir issue," it said.

The report said that China's relations with Pakistan have deepened particularly after China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) agreement and Beijing has greater influence over Islamabad's policies than Washington does.

"The US should regularly underscore the urgency of the Kashmir situation to Chinese counterparts at the highest levels and make a forceful argument that a South Asian war would directly threaten China," it stressed, adding that China's policy on the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan has a significant impact on regional stabilisation and crisis management efforts in South Asia.

"Beijing also plays an important third-party role in helping deescalate hostilities between the two countries," it noted.

Since the 1980s, China's policy on Kashmir has shifted from a strong pro-Pakistani stance to a more balanced one between Pakistan and India, the report said.

"Chinese diplomatic support for internationalising the Kashmir issue in the United Nations has diminished over time, though Beijing also has blocked UN action against Pakistan-linked terror groups," USIP said.

The report said that during crises, Chinese concerns about preventing war between India and Pakistan "outweighed political considerations to defend Pakistan", and Beijing worked closely with Washington to mitigate regional tensions.

It said China's "protection" of Pakistan-based militant groups that have launched terrorist attacks in India from international criticism and punitive actions undermines its claims of neutrality.

China has blocked action in the UN sanctions committee over Pakistan's release of Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi and extended its technical hold on a ban on Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar for his involvement in the Pathankot attack on an Indian air force station.

"China also prevented India from naming Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) declaration of October 2016 that condemned terrorism in all its forms. Over the years, China has refused to support the Indian proposal to issue a joint declaration against terrorism, which Beijing views as an Indian strategic design to internationally isolate Pakistan," the report said.

USIP said China has the potential to play a greater role in stabilising the region, but thus far has been relegated to occasional crisis manager and has not proactively called for resolution of Kashmir issue.

"Although Beijing prefers that a war not break out, it also benefits from some level of Indo-Pakistani tension, which splits India's strategic attention on China," the report said.
Washington: US immigration officers last week arrested more than 680 people in the country illegally, the homeland security chief said on Monday, in a broad enforcement action that alarmed immigrant rights groups.

US Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said the operations, conducted in at least a dozen states, were routine and consistent with regular operations carried out by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

Immigrant rights advocates said the operations, which they describe as raids, were not business as usual, and were more sweeping than operations conducted during the administration of former Democratic President Barack Obama.

Kelly said in a statement that 75 percent of the immigrants arrested have criminal records, ranging from homicide to driving under the influence of alcohol.

He said the operation also targeted people who have violated immigration laws.

Some had ignored final orders of deportation, according to ICE, the agency responsible for immigrant arrests and deportations.

Obama was criticized for being the "deporter in chief" after he deported over 400,000 people in 2012, more than any president in a single year.

In 2014, Obama's homeland security chief issued a memo directing agents to focus on deporting a narrow slice of immigrants, namely those who had recently entered the country or committed serious felonies. Immigrants who were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, for example, were treated as lower priorities for deportation.

Republican President Donald Trump promised to deport 2 million to 3 million migrants with criminal records on taking office.

At a news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday, Trump said his administration had "really done a great job" in its recent arrests of immigrants.

"We're actually taking people that are criminals, very, very, hardened criminals in some cases with a tremendous track record of abuse and problems," Trump said.

ICE said in a statement on Monday that the operations targeted immigrants in the Midwest, Los Angeles, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and San Antonio.

The ICE statistics revealed regional differences in the profiles of the immigrants arrested. Of the 41 people arrested in New York City and surrounding areas, 93 percent had criminal convictions, while 45 percent of the 51 people arrested in the San Antonio, Texas area did.

Among the 190 people arrested in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, were 17 people who had no criminal convictions or a prior order to leave the country, according to ICE.

In a January 25 executive order, Trump broadened an Obama-era priority enforcement system for immigrants subject to removal from the United States.

"Now it seems like anyone could be arrested," said Shiu-Ming Cheer, senior staff attorney at the National Immigration Law Center. "The level of fear and anxiety is much higher than I've ever seen it."
Evacuees sleep and relax at an emergency shelter set up at the Sutter High School gymnasium in Sutter, California. (Photo: AP)

Washington: Gurdwaras in California are offering shelter to thousands of evacuees of Yuba City, where a sizeable chunk of Indian-Americans live, following fears of Oroville Dam collapsing.

Security guards, teachers, farmers and other members of the Central Valley's large Sikh community poured into the two-story Gurdwara Sahib Sikh temple in West Sacramento late Sunday while fleeing potential flooding along the Highway 70 corridor south of Oroville.

"More than 200 evacuees received toiletries, bedding and tasty vegetarian meals served by the temple's staff of 19, who worked through the night to house everybody, temple manager Ranjeet Singh was quoted a saying by the Sacramento Bee.

The dam is the tallest in the US and it was feared its overflow channel, weakened due to heavy rainfall, could collapse.

"People were still arriving after being stuck in traffic for seven hours," Singh said, adding that "We have a big facility here. We can accommodate 300 to 400. If anybody needs help, we can provide it. Everybody's welcome here."

"Sikh Temples in Sacramento region are open for people evacuated around #OrovilleDam. Am told they have food ready & all in need are welcome," Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg tweeted.

The West Sacramento temple complex is believed to be the largest evacuation shelter in Sacramento as nearly 200,000 people fled the zone beneath the Oroville Dam. The Sacramento Sikh Temple in Rio Linda reported taking in 50 to 60 families fleeing the flood zone, it reported.

"We have all races black, white, Asian and Hispanic. There is no tobacco or alcohol, and all our meals are vegetarian," said spokesman Darshan Singh Mundy.

Most of those who camped out at Gurdwara Sahib originally came from Punjab.

The Yuba City-Marysville area is home to more than 40,000 Sikhs, Mundy said, while the greater Sacramento region has roughly 70,000.

People in the River Valley below the Lake Oroville Dam were ordered to move away from their homes on Sunday when one of two damaged spillways appeared in danger of imminent collapse from severe erosion.
Nineteen-year-old Marina Lonina was sentenced Monday in Columbus after pleading guilty to one count of obstructing justice under a deal with prosecutors. (Representational Image: AP)

Columbus, Ohio: An Ohio woman accused of livestreaming images of a man raping a 17-year-old girl has been sentenced to nine months in prison.

Nineteen-year-old Marina Lonina was sentenced Monday in Columbus after pleading guilty to one count of obstructing justice under a deal with prosecutors. She initially faced other charges, including rape and pandering sexual matter involving a minor.

Authorities alleged that she used the social media app Periscope to livestream the assault last February.

Defense attorney Sam Shamansky tells The Columbus Dispatch that Lonina admitted to failing to report the rape or turn over her evidence afterward.

The 29-year-old rape suspect, Raymond Gates, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine years in prison.

The victim alleged that Lonina set up the rape. Shamansky calls that allegation "unmitigated nonsense."
Mayor Mohammad Ramdhan Pomanto said he was not against the sale of condoms but that outlets needed to be careful about whom they were sold to. (Photo: Instagram/ @photomicona)

Makassar, Indonesia: Indonesian authorities raided convenience stores and seized condoms in a major city to stop teenagers having casual sex on Valentine's Day, an official said Tuesday, the latest crackdown on the holiday in the Muslim-majority nation.

The mayor of Makassar, a conservative city on central Sulawesi island, led public order officers in the raids late Monday on the eve of the celebration.

Mayor Mohammad Ramdhan Pomanto said he was not against the sale of condoms but that outlets needed to be careful about whom they were sold to.

"Valentine's Day is often misused by teenagers to have casual sex, this can destroy the morality of the nation," he was quoted as saying in local media.

Iman Hud -- head of the local public officers, similar to police but with fewer powers -- told AFP that convenience stores had been failing to check teenagers' IDs to see whether they were at least 18 years old, the age of consent, before selling them condoms.

"We are doing this to prevent promiscuity," he said, adding that hundreds of condoms were seized in the raids in the city of 1.3 million.

It was the latest expression of anger at Valentine's Day in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, where Islamic clerics and some pious Muslims use the occasion to criticise what they see as Western decadence.

On Monday teenage pupils, including girls in headscarves, staged a protest outside a school in the city of Surabaya, chanting: "Say no to Valentine!"

Celebrating the romantic holiday has also been banned by authorities in some parts of the country, as it is every year.

Despite some objections, many in Indonesia mark the occasion, particularly in major cities where cards and chocolates are widely available. Most in the country practise a moderate form of Islam.
In this photo taken Friday, June 4, 2010, Kim Jong Nam, the eldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, waves after his first-ever interview with South Korean media in Macau. (Photo: AP)

Seoul: The half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has been assassinated in Malaysia, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported Tuesday.

The agency quoted a Seoul government source as saying Kim Jong-Nam was killed on Monday. The source gave no further details.

Officials in Seoul were not immediately available for comment.

The 45-year-old was poisoned by two unidentified female agents using poisoned needles at an airport in Kuala Lumpur, according to South Korean broadcaster TV Chosun.

The report, citing what it called multiple government sources, said the two women hailed a cab and fled immediately afterwards.

In Malaysia, the police chief in charge of Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Assistant Commissioner Abdul Aziz Ali, told AFP a Korean in his forties was found sick at the airport on Monday.

Airport authorities rushed him to the hospital and he died on the way, the police chief said.

"We do not have any other details of this Korean man. We do not know his identity," Abdul said.

Kim Jong-Nam was once considered heir apparent but fell out of favour with his father Kim Jong-Il following a botched attempt in 2001 to enter Japan on a forged passport and visit Disneyland.

He has since lived in virtual exile, mainly in the Chinese territory of Macau.

Kim Jong-Un took over as North Korean leader when his father died in December 2011.

Kim Jong-Nam, known as an advocate of reform in the North, once told a Japanese newspaper that he opposed his country's dynastic power transfers.

If confirmed, Kim's case would be the highest-profile death under the Kim Jong-Un regime since the execution of the leader's uncle Jang Song-Thaek in December 2013.
Seoul: North Korea said on Monday it had successfully test-fired a new type of medium to long-range ballistic missile the previous day, claiming advances in a weapons programme it is pursuing in violation of UN resolutions.

North Korea fired the missile on a high arc into the sea early on Sunday, the first probe of US President Donald Trump's vow to get tough on an isolated regime that tested nuclear devices and ballistic missiles 2016 at an unprecedented rate.

The North's state-run KCNA news agency said leader Kim Jong-un supervised the test of the Pukguksong-2, a new type of strategic weapon capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

The United States, Japan and South Korea requested urgent UN Security Council consultations on the test, with a meeting expected later on Monday, an official in the US mission to the United Nations said.

Japan said further sanctions against North Korea could be discussed at the United Nations, and called on China to take a "constructive" role in responding.

China is North Korea's main ally and trading partner but is irritated by its repeated aggressive actions, although it rejects suggestions from the United States and others that it could be doing more to rein in its neighbour.

"We have asked China via various levels to take constructive actions as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and we will continue to work on it," said Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.

China said it opposed North Korean missile tests that run contrary to UN resolutions.

"All sides should exercise restraint and jointly maintain regional peace and security," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a regular briefing, adding that China would participate in talks at the United Nations on the launch with a "responsible and constructive attitude".

Russia's foreign ministry expressed concern over the launch, RIA news agency quoted the ministry as saying.

High angle

North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests, including two last year, although its claims to be able to miniaturise a nuclear weapon to be mounted on a missile have never been verified independently.

Leader Kim said in his New Year speech the North was close to test-launching an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and state media have said such a launch could come at any time.

A fully developed ICBM could threaten the continental United States, which is about 9,000 km from North Korea.

The KCNA news agency said the missile fired on Sunday was launched at a high angle in consideration of the safety of neighbouring countries. A South Korean military source said on Sunday it reached an altitude of 550 km.

It flew about 500 km towards Japan, landing off the east coast of the Korean peninsula.

The missile was propelled by a solid fuel engine and was an upgraded, extended-range version of its submarine-launched ballistic missile that was tested successfully last August, according to KCNA.

The missile's name - Pukguksong-2 - translates as north star or Polaris, the same name of the first US submarine-launched missile.

South Korea's military said the missile had been launched using a "cold-eject" system, whereby it is initially lifted by compressed gas before flying under the power of its rocket, a system used for submarine-launched missiles.

North Korea's pursuit of large solid-fuelled missiles was "a very concerning development", said Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

"Large solid-fuel motors are difficult to make work correctly so this is indeed a significant advance by North Korea," McDowell said.

'Intolerable'

In addition to launching more quickly, solid-fuel engines also boost the power and range of ballistic rockets.

"Solid-motor engines mean that the fuel is pre-stored and the missile can be launched quickly. For example, rolled out of a cave, tunnel, or bridge," said Melissa Hanham, a senior research associate at the US-based Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, California.

"They are also more difficult to track by satellite because they have fewer support vehicles in their entourage."

The North's Rodong Sinmun newspaper showed pictures of a missile fired from a mobile launch vehicle, with a flame appearing only after it had risen clear of the vehicle.

Before Sunday, the North's two most recent missile tests were in October. Both were of intermediate-range Musudan missiles and both failed, according to US and South Korean officials.

A US official said at the weekend the Trump administration had been expecting a North Korean "provocation" soon after taking office.

The latest test came a day after Trump held a summit meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and also followed a phone call last week between trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Abe described the test as "absolutely intolerable".

In brief comments made while standing beside Abe in Florida, Trump said: "I just want everybody to understand, and fully know, that the United States of America is behind Japan, our great ally, 100 percent."

Trump and his aides are likely to weigh a series of responses, including new US sanctions to tighten financial controls, an increase in naval and air assets in and around the Korean peninsula, and accelerated installation of new missile defence systems in South Korea, the administration official said.

However, the official said that, given that the missile was believed not to have been an ICBM, and the North had not carried out a new nuclear explosion, any response would seek to avoid increasing tension.
Bangkok: An Ecuadorian and a Russian have been arrested for attempting to smuggle 2.3 kilogrammes of cocaine into Thailand mixed into bottles of skin lotion, police said Tuesday.

Acting after a tip-off from Interpol, Thai drug police held the Ecuadorian woman after she arrived on a flight from Peru at Bangkok's main airport on Monday.

A search of her luggage uncovered six containers of body lotion laced with cocaine, said Wutthipong Phetkamnerd, the narcotics officer leading the case.

"It was mixed in with the skin moisturising lotion - a new smuggling tactic to avoid arrest," he told reporters, without detailing how the would-be traffickers intended to extract the cocaine from the lotion.

After her arrest the woman led police to a Russian man who was waiting for her at a hotel.

Both have been detained while officers investigate the case - the latest drug bust in a country that serves as a key transit stop for contraband.

Thailand is a major drug market as well as transit route, with a particular penchant for "yaba" - meth pills produced in in the notorious Golden Triangle region bordering Laos and Myanmar.

While drug seizures and arrests of low-level couriers are common, it is rare for Thai police to take down cartel kingpins.

Yet in January Thai cops arrested 42-year-old Xaysana Keopimpha, a Laotian who they allege is a high level drug dealer behind a network that ran drugs from the Golden Triangle through Thailand and into Malaysia.

Officers are investigating whether a a network of Bangkok high society figures and celebrities helped launder his drug profits and shield the gang's assets from authorities.
United Nations/Seoul: The UN Security Council denounced North Korea's weekend missile launch, urging members to "redouble efforts" to enforce sanctions against the reclusive state, but gave no indications of any action it might take.

Pyongyang's test of the intermediate-range ballistic missile on Sunday was its first direct challenge to the international community since US President Donald Trump took office on January 20.

At a news conference on Monday, Trump said: "Obviously North Korea is a big, big problem and we will deal with that very strongly."

Trump did not speak of any planned response but Washington's UN ambassador Nikki Haley said in a statement: "It is time to hold North Korea accountable  not with our words, but with our actions."

She issued the statement after an emergency Security Council meeting on Monday that was called by the United States, Japan and South Korea to discuss the North's missile launch.

US, Japanese and South Korean military officials held a teleconference on Monday in which they condemned the launch as "a clear violation" of multiple Security Council resolutions. The United States "reaffirmed its ironclad security commitments" to South Korea and Japan, the Pentagon said.

A South Korean official said the United States has planned to deploy "strategic assets" in upcoming annual military exercises with South Korea because of the increased threat from the North. The exercises usually start in March.

The official did not say what assets might be used. In the past, these have included B-2 bombers, F-22 stealth fighter jets and nuclear-powered submarines.

South Korea's intelligence agency estimates the solid-fuel missile launched by North Korea on Sunday has a range of more than 2,000 km (1,240 miles), according to a lawmaker briefed by the agency. That would bring large parts of China, Taiwan, Japan, Russia and the tip of the Philippines within range.

The North has tested missiles with a range of over 3,000 km (2,000 miles) in the past, but has said it is on the verge of testing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which could eventually threaten the continental United States, which is about 9,000 km (5,500 miles) from North Korea.

"We are keeping an eye out, thinking data and technology from the latest test can be applied (to an ICBM)," South Korean Defence Minister Han Min-koo told lawmakers on Tuesday.

He added it was his belief that the new administration in the United States was still formulating a North Korea policy.

Regular threats

North and South Korea are technically still at war because their 1950-1953 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. The North regularly threatens to destroy the South and the South's main ally, the United States.

The Security Council did not specify what steps might be taken beyond the U.N.-sponsored sanctions regime imposed on North Korea since 2006 over its nuclear and ballistic missile tests.

"The members of the Security Council deplore all the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea ballistic missile activities, including these launches," the council said in a statement that also referred to North Korea's missile launch on Oct. 19.

The statement "called upon all member states to redouble their efforts to implement fully the measures imposed on the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea by the Security Council."

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday that he expected the Trump administration would adopt a harder line on North Korea.

"I believe that the stance of the United States towards North Korea will become much tougher, that is clear," Abe said on an NHK public broadcasting news program after returning from meetings with Trump in the United States.

North Korea has said any sanctions against its missile or nuclear programs are a violation of its sovereignty and right to self-defense.
Dr Sachiendra Amaragiri was struck off from the UK's medical practitioners' register recently after a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) hearing was told that the 59-year-old was infatuated with a woman he treated for a stomach complaint, known only as Patient A. (Representational Image)

London: An Indian-origin surgeon has been banned from practising medicine after a UK medical tribunal found him guilty of abusing his professional position by writing a love letter to a female patient.

Dr Sachiendra Amaragiri was struck off from the UK's medical practitioners' register recently after a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) hearing was told that the 59-year-old was infatuated with a woman he treated for a stomach complaint, known only as Patient A.

"You twanged some distant cord which had laid dormant in me for so many years. When you stepped into my clinic for the first time, I was suddenly stunned and taken aback by your presence," the doctor wrote.

The patient called the police after receiving the letter and said she was very distressed, according to a report in Chronicle Live.

"I thought to myself, he knows my address, he knows where I live, he has my phone numbers," she told the tribunal hearing.

The tribunal heard that Amaragiri was aware that he had overstepped the mark in his behaviour and even went as far as to say in his letter: "By writing this letter, I strongly feel I am taking advantage of the information I have about you and I am sure you will feel that I have dipped below your expectation and belief in me as a doctor."

Amaragiri, who was not the MPTS hearing, has insisted he had not taken advantage of Patient A and described his letter to her, which also invited her out for a coffee, as a "moment of madness".

In letters to the UK's General Medical Council (GMC), he said: "I was never physically attracted to her, it was a moment of emotional awareness. Not only is this extremely disturbing but distasteful to read. I never had or have any intention of causing any hurt in any manner. I did invite her for a social drink and I acknowledge this was a mistake."

"I reassure you I've not taken advantage of my position as Patient A's surgeon. My letter can be interpreted in many ways, yes I did confess I did have feelings but these were pure from my heart. I sincerely regret this event happened and it's sad that my letter has been interpreted so cheaply." The doctor has since apologised to the patient and his colleagues at the Russells Hall Hospital at Dudley in the West Midlands region of England, where he worked as a consultant.

He has said he intends to appeal the tribunal's decision to suspend his medical registration.
Lahore: Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah on Tuesday claimed the target of the suicide bomber was the meeting of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the younger brother of Pakistan's Prime Minister.

Sanaullah had earlier said police personnel were the target of the attack, claimed by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a splinter group of Tahreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

"The target of suicide bomber was the meeting of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif," Sanaullah said, citing intelligence reports.

The CM's meeting which was scheduled to be held at 7.30 PM yesterday was cancelled after the blast.

Some 13 people mostly policemen including senior officers were killed when a teenage suicide bomber blew himself up after reaching near the police officers who were negotiating with protesting chemists outside the Punjab Assembly on the Mall Road yesterday. More than 80 others suffered injuries.

On the other hand, some other provincial ministers - Zaeem Qadri and Salman Rafique - and Punjab Inspector General Police Mushtaq Sukhera had claimed that the senior police officers were the target of the suicide bomber.

"The meeting of CM was scheduled at 7.30 PM yesterday while the blast took place at 6.10 PM disputing the law minister's claim," a senior Lahore police officer told PTI when his comment was sought on Sanaullah's fresh claim.

The officer further said there has been multiple security layers of the CM's security as a suicide bomber even can not reach the gate of his office building.

"It is naive to say that the suicide bomber was sent to target CM Shahbaz. Senior police officers were the target who were exposed because of no security layer at the protest demonstration," he said.

Sanaullah said the suicide bomber's head has been recovered by the police.

He claimed that the information gleaned so far about the suicide bomber matches the one released by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar.

The group was involved in two major bombings in Lahore at Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park and Wagah border in the past.
Islamabad: Pakistan on Tuesday summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner and condemned alleged "unprovoked" ceasefire violation by Indian troops on the Line of Control that killed three Pakistani soldiers.

Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria claimed India resorted to firing yesterday in Thub area (Bhimber Sector), killing three soldiers.

"The Director General (South Asia & SAARC), Dr. Mohammad Faisal, summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner, J P Singh, today and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violation by the Indian occupation forces," Zakaria said.

He said that the deliberate targeting of civilians and soldiers is indeed condemnable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws.

The Director General urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding; investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC, he said.

Singh was summoned to the Foreign Office for the second time in last seven days.

On February 8, Singh was summoned to the Foreign Office where the Director General condemned alleged "unprovoked" firing by Indian troops on the LoC.
Washington: National security adviser Michael Flynn has resigned after reports he misled Trump administration officials about his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the US.

Flynn's departure less than one month into the Trump administration marks an extraordinarily early shakeup in the President's senior team of advisers. Flynn was a loyal Trump supporter throughout the campaign, but his ties to Russia caused concern among other senior aides.

Flynn initially told Trump advisers that he did not discuss sanctions with the Russian envoy during the transition. Vice President Mike Pence, apparently relying on information from Flynn, publicly vouched for the national security adviser.

Flynn later told White House officials that he may have discussed sanctions with the ambassador.


"When I was campaigning, I said it's not a good situation. Now that I see it including with our intelligence briefings, we have problems that a lot of people have no idea how bad they are, how serious they are," said the US President. "We have problems all over the Middle East, we have problems just about every corner of the globe no matter where you look," Trump said.



Trump said people have no idea about the nature and intensity of the challenge both domestically and globally, which ranges from Middle East to terrorism. The US President said he had a great meeting this weekend with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan and got to know each other "very, very well," extended weekend, really.



"We were with each other for long periods of time and our staffs and representatives," he said. Trudeau said Canada and the US have been neighbours a long time and Canadians and Americans have stood together, worked together, at home and around the world. "We've fought and died together in battlefields in World War I and World War II, in Korea, in Afghanistan. But there have been times where we have differed in our approaches, and that's always been done firmly and respectfully," he said.



"The last thing Canadians expect is for me to come down and lecture another country on how they choose to govern themselves. My role, our responsibility, is to continue to govern in such a way that reflects Canadians' approach and be a positive example in the world," Trudeau said in response to a question.



Earlier, Trump thanked Canada's contribution to the counter-ISIS effort. "Now we continue to work in common and in common cause against terrorism and work in common cooperation toward reciprocal trade and shared growth," Trump said.



Describing North Korea as a "big problem", US President Donald Trump today vowed to deal with it "very strongly", after the reclusive country carried out yet another ballistic missile test. "Not only internationally but when you come right here, we have - obviously, North Korea is a big, big problem, and we will deal with that very strongly," Trump told reporters during a joint news conference with the visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Treadue.Trump was responding to a question on greatest national security threat based on the intelligence briefings that he has been receiving for about a month now after he was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on January 20. "Many, many problems," Trump said in response to a question.
In his book on deal-making, President Donald Trump offered a key piece of advice on getting what you want: promise big.





I play to peoples fantasies, he said in 1987s The Art of the Deal. People want to believe that something is the biggest and the greatest and the most spectacular. I call it truthful hyperbole. Its an innocent form of exaggeration  and a very effective form of promotion.



Some of Asias biggest dealmakers understand that principle  and are making big promises accordingly. In recent months, Alibabas founder, Jack Ma; Japanese tech investor Masayoshi Son; and head of Foxconn Terry Gou, have made big, public plans to invest in the United States. Together, the deals proposed would help to create more than 1 million US jobs and tens of billions of dollars in new investments.



Their promises have set off a host of offerings from Asia in recent weeks  even if those offerings are not entirely new or solid. Toyota Motor of Japan promised in January to spend $10 billion in the US over the next five years, which would essentially match its previous spending levels.



News reports that Samsung of South Korea may also build a US plant won praise from Trump on Twitter. Samsung said it continued to evaluate new investment needs in the US that can help us best serve our customers.



In contrast, US firms have made largely symbolic or modest promises to keep a small number of jobs in the United States, while European companies have been mostly silent. Only Intel seems to have borrowed a page from the Asian tycoon playbook, as its chief executive, Brian Krzanich, appeared with Trump to announce a $7 billion Arizona plant that was conceived in 2011 and then delayed. 



The promises from the big Asian business leaders will be tough to keep, experts say. But they show that Asias tech titans see a familiar figure in Trump.



The US leaders have largely shied away from interfering in individual business decisions, instead relying on competitiveness to keep American companies ahead in a global market. But Trumps focus on job protection, tariffs and the dictating of terms to business leaders is closer to the more mercantilist outlook that Ma, Son and Gou see to varying degrees in China, Japan, Taiwan and other places in Asia.



They see where this guy Trump is coming from and, at a visceral level, identify with him, said Alberto Moel, an analyst at Sanford Bernstein. It plays directly into their style. These guys are political animals. They live in Asia, where things are different. Theres more autocracy and more connected transactions. In the US, people still expect things to be fair.



The Asian executives come from a region Trump accuses of using unfair trade practices and stealing US jobs  and all three have a lot to lose. It is not clear whether their lofty promises will lead to better treatment from the Trump administration.



Alibaba, which has shares that trade in the United States, has been under fire there for the fakes that proliferate on its Chinese sales platforms. It also has an eye toward expanding into places like Hollywood.



Sons SoftBank owns Sprint, the US telecom company, and has long desired to expand. Foxconn  a Taiwan-based company with many factories in China  assembles iPhones and other gadgets for Apple, which Trump has said should make its products in the United States. Foxconn also has plants in Mexico that benefit under the North American Free Trade Agreement.



A SoftBank spokesman said, Son was greatly encouraged by the economic agenda of the new administration, and he intends to invest significant resources in the US in the years ahead. A Foxconn spokeswoman said that the company was evaluating an investment in the United States and that it expected a new US project would create many direct and indirect job opportunities. An Alibaba spokeswoman declined to comment.



Of course, the United States has a long history of supporting its homegrown industries. Still, East Asian governments often intervene more directly in business, and many of Trumps proposals suggest he wants to adopt similar strategies.



In China, government officials give public and financial support to building up industries to make the country less dependent on exports. In Japan, the government is supporting a new effort to build an aerospace industry. In South Korea, the government has lavished subsidies and tax breaks on its largest exporters, like Hyundai and Samsung.



Even Trumps public praise and cajoling have an East Asian feel. In Japan and China you need to go through these rituals, said Willy Shih, a professor at Harvard Business School. The first to pay homage to Trump was Son, who in a meeting late in 2016 vowed a $50 billion investment that he said would create 50,000 jobs. Then in January, Ma of Alibaba assured Trump that small businesses selling goods on his websites in China would add 1 million new US jobs.



More recently, Gou of Foxconn said at a news conference that Foxconn was considering a $7 billion investment in a flat-panel production facility in Pennsylvania that could create up to 50,000 jobs.



Fostering good will



The Asian companies appear to have fostered good will. After meeting with Ma, Trump said that the Alibaba founder loved the United States and China, and that the two of them would do some great things. It is not clear how many of the pledges will come to pass.



Gou has cautioned that the Pennsylvania plant is more a wish than a promise. Putting a flat-panel production centre in Pennsylvania places it far from the electronics supply chain that crisscrosses Asia. There is also less experience in building such factories in the United States, and regulatory risks could threaten to turn a multibillion-dollar investment into a big money loser if there are delays in opening it.



All three of the tech leaders are consummate showmen and self-promoters. In a recent investor letter, Ma said that in the next 20 years, the company would create 100 million jobs. Son has a 300-year plan for SoftBank, and he often follows up big deals with big promises.



In places like China, Gou has used the lure of a huge factory to extract major tax breaks. But in other countries, such as Indonesia, long talks about building a plant failed to bear fruit. Still, their tactics could work with a president who has said he wants to emulate East Asia even as he fights it over jobs.



We got to bring back the jobs from China, we got to bring back the jobs from Japan, and all these countries that are ripping us off, he had said at one campaign event. But he had added, I dont hold it against these other countries. I mean, if they can get away with it, let them do it. I want to get away with things.




Congress MLC K Govindaraj on Monday said he has written to Legislative Council Chairman D H Shankaramurthy to allow him to move a privilege motion against BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa.





Govindaraj told reporters in Bengaluru that Yeddyurappa has made baseless accusations against him. The MLC said he is also taking steps to file a defamation case against the BJP leader.



Govindaraj has also written a two-page letter to the Director General (Investigation) I-T department, Bengaluru seeking a clarification whether the department has provided details or copies of documents, diary seized by them on his premises to Yeddyurappa or any other person. He has sought to know whether the department has apprehension that the details of enquiry/seizure with regard to his income has been leaked to Yeddyurappa.






A section of members in the Legislative Council on Monday raised objection to Governor Vajubhai Vala delivering his address to the joint session of the legislature in Hindi.





Basavaraj Horatti (JD-S), who raised the issue, said he had failed to comprehend what the governor said as he did not understand Hindi. H M Revanna (Congress) said the governor could have made an effort to read out at least one line in Kannada. Leader of the Opposition K S Eshwarappa said Vala was not from Karnataka and he chose to deliver his speech in the national language.
The Rs 150-crore kickback charge against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah echoed in the Legislative Council with the BJP seeking to move an adjournment motion.





As soon as the House met, B J Puttaswamy (BJP) said there were charges that Siddaramaiah and others in the government were indulging in corrupt activities and sought to move an adjournment motion in the House.



Congress members, including K C Kondaiah and Motamma, objected to the move. However, Puttaswamy insisted that the charges were against the chief minister himself that he had sought Rs 150 crore as kickbacks for sanctioning the Chalukya Circle-Hebbal steel flyover in Bengaluru.



When the issue is taken to its logical end, it could even result in the resignation of the chief minister. It is an important matter and needs to be discussed, Puttaswamy said.



However, Council chairman D H Shankaramurthy said he was rejecting the motion proposed to be moved by Puttaswamy on two grounds. One the letter submitted by Puttaswamy to the chairmans office, seeking his consent to move the adjournment motion, did not have a date.



Besides, an adjournment motion cannot be allowed based on charges. If there are documents and evidence to back the charges, the same will have to be placed before the House, Shankaramurthy said.



Leader of the Opposition K S Eshwarappa said the party would seek to move another adjournment on the issue after rectifying its letter to the chairman on Tuesday. Eshwarappa said I-T raids on ministers in the Siddaramaiah Cabinet and Congress MLAs had unearthed unaccounted for assets worth hundreds of crores of rupees. Basavaraj Patil Itagi (Congress) recalled that a note-counting machine had been found in Eshwarappas residence a few years ago.


Opposition leader in the Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar on Monday demanded the resignation of Small Scale Industries Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi in the wake of income tax raids on his house and offices in Belagavi recently.





Jarkiholi has no moral right to continue as minister. The I-T Department has seized large amounts of unaccounted for cash and properties during the raid, he said. The minister should either resign voluntarily or chief minister should drop him from the council of ministers immediately, Shettar said.



But Congress members rejected Shettars demand. Law Minister T B Jayachandra accused the BJP of giving a political colour to the I-T raid. The state government has nothing to do with the I-T raid. It cannot access any document on any raid done by the I-T department. Hence, there is no point in discussing the issue in the House, he said.



Shettar argued that action can be taken on facts admitted by the minister. Jarkiholi has told the media that assets worth around Rs 115 crore were seized during the raid and that he has given accounts of all the assets to the I-T Department. But the minister has not disclosed these assets to the Karnataka Lokayukta in his annual affidavit of assets and liabilities. The BJP members staged a walkout.
The Supreme Court on Monday put for final hearing a petition filed by the Karnataka government against the Karnataka High Court's decision to quash 15 FIRs against former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa in the denotification case.





A bench of Justices A K Sikri and R K Agrawal posted the special leave petition by Karnataka for consideration on April 18 after senior advocate Ashok K Panda, appearing for the Comptroller and Auditor General, submitted that they have already filed a response in the matter.



Senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the Karnataka government, along with standing counsel Joseph Aristotle, submitted that the matter required adjudication if the single judge of the high court was authorised to quash FIRs registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act.



The court allowed Karnataka's counsel to file a rejoinder, if required, to the affidavit of the CAG.



In a special leave petition, the Karnataka government has contended that the Comptroller and Auditor reports could be relied upon for initiating action for cognisable offence against the senior BJP leader.



It had countered the senior BJP leader's contention that the registration of 15 FIRs on the direction of the Lokayukta on the basis of CAG's reports was completely misplaced.



The state government submitted that right from fodder scam of Bihar to 2G spectrum, coal and CWG scams, there were instances where action was taken resulting in charge sheets and conviction based on such reports.



The Karnataka government has challenged before the apex court the high court's order of January 5, 2016, quashing 15 FIRs against Yeddyurappa.




Four years into the sensational rape and murder of 17-year-old student Soujanya Gowda at Dharmasthala near Mangaluru, both the police and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) seem to have bungled the probe.





A special CBI court was unsparing in its criticism of the central agencys failure to carry out proper investigation and settle unanswered questions.



On February 7, the special court judge, B S Rekha, allowed an application filed by Soujanyas father Chandappa Gowda for further investigation and directed the CBI to examine certain witnesses, who were not included in the charge sheet. Gowda had urged the court to direct the CBI to investigate the role played by three people from Dharmasthala  Uday Jain, Mallik Jain and Ashrith Jain.



During the trial, DNA expert Dr Vinod J Lakkappa had testified that the sample of hair recovered from the crime spot belonged to a person other than the accused, Santosh Rao. He also pointed out that police failed to recover any sample of blood, semen or sperm from the clothes of the accused.



The judge noted, Keen observation of the circumstances of the case diary and the statements of some of the witnesses recorded by the Belthangady police reveal the role of these persons (Uday Jain, Mallik Jain and Ashrith Jain). None of the witnesses has seen the accused Santosh Rao in the vicinity of the place of occurrence either on the date of the incident or prior to it.



Interestingly, most of the witnesses who have deposed before the court so far stated that it had rained heavily on the night of October 9, 2012, when Soujanya, a PUC student at SDM College, Ujire, was raped and killed on her way back home.



The body was found the next morning near Belthangady. Interestingly, it was the Jains who had turned Rao over to the Belthangady police. The state government ordered a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe into the case. In November 2013, the CID endorsed the local police investigation and said the crime was committed by Rao.



Judge Rekha observed, The clothes of the victim were not stained with mud and the bag was not wet, even the books were not wet. Further, the undergarment of the victim was not secured by the local police from the place of occurrence. The court further observed that the CBI had not taken serious note of the murder of one of the material witnesses in the case, Ravi Poojari, a local resident.



The observations made by PW1 (prosecution witness number one  Soujanyas father) are borne out from the records and even in my opinion also there are serious lapses on the part of the CBI in not conducting proper investigation (sic), the court noted and directed the CBI to submit a report by April 24, 2017.



HC denies bail to suspect



The High Court of Karnataka has dismissed the bail petition of Santosh Rao, who is accused of raping and murdering Soujanya. Justice John Michael Cunha dismissed the petition as Raos lawyer failed to appear for the third consecutive hearing, reports DHNS from Bengaluru.



The CBI, which is investigating the horrific crime, stated that if Rao was let out on bail, he was likely to tamper with evidence in the case. In the statement of objection, the CBI said there were reasonable grounds to believe that Rao had committed the offence.


Veteran AIADMK legislator Semmalai today extended support to O Panneerselvam, giving a boost to the chief minister's camp. Semmalai, the MLA from Mettur and a former Minister, arrived at the CM's Greenways Road residence and extended his support to Panneerselvam, sources in his camp said.



With the arrival of Semmalai, the number of MLAs in the Panneerselvam camp rose to nine, including the Chief Minister. On February 5, AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala was elected as the Legislature Party Leader.



However, two days later, Panneerselvam had raised a banner of revolt against her, alleging he was forced to step down for her. Three-time MLA from Mettupalayam in Coimbatore district, OK Chinnaraja, also extended support to the Chief Minister.



"OK Chinnaraj, MLA from Mettuppalayam (three-time MLA) declares support to #OPS Annan (brother)! Trickle turns into torrent," School Education Minister K Pandiarajan, a supporter of Panneerselvam, said in a tweet.
An Indian-origin Muslim NASA scientist has said he was detained and forced to unlock his PIN-protected work phone at the US border by custom officials.





Sidd Bikkannavar, 35, said in a post on social media that US Customs and Border Protection officers wanted his cell phone and password -- before they would let him through at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport.



"On my way home to the US last weekend, I was detained by Homeland Security and held with others who were stranded under the Muslim ban," Bikkannavar wrote in a Facebook post.



"I initially refused, since it's a (NASA)-issued phone and I must protect access," Bikkannavar wrote.



Bikkannavar, born in Pasadena, designs technology for space telescopes like the enormous James Webb telescope that's set to be launched into orbit in 2018.



"Just to be clear -- I'm a US-born citizen and NASA engineer, travelling with a valid US passport. Once they took both my phone and the access PIN, they returned me to the holding area with cots and other sleeping detainees until they finished copying my data."



Bikkannavar spent a few weeks away pursuing his hobby of racing solar-powered cars.



As a member of a Chilean team, he visited Patagonia in early January under the Obama administration.



He returned after Trump took office and issued the executive order on travel into the United States.



Nothing about Bikkannavar should have caused concern for CBP  he's a naturalborn US citizen, enrolled in a programme that allows individuals who've already passed background checks to quickly enter the country.



In addition, he has never visited the countries on the immigration ban, and he's 10-year employee of a major US federal agency.



"I don't know what to think about this. I was caught a little off guard by the whole thing," Bikkannavar told media here in a phone call.Bikkannavar detailed his experience on Facebook, explaining his absence to friends and coworkers.



The episode, aside from the profiling it ostensibly involved, also put him in a fix with his employers, because he was required to protect access to the phone.



"I'm back home, and JPL has been running forensics on the phone to determine what CBP/homeland security might have taken, or whether they installed anything on the device," Bikkannavar explained in the post, adding that he has also been working with JPL legal counsel and the lab has issued him a new phone and new phone number.



The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) filed numerous complaints in January against CBP for demanding that Muslim-American citizens give up their social media information when they return home from overseas.



Earlier this week, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly issued a statement in response, telling the House Homeland Security Committee, "We want to get on their social media, with passwords: What do you do, what do you say? If they dont want to cooperate then you dont come in".


The Government of Karnataka has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of India (GoI) for setting up of Tumkur Machine Tool Park in Vasanthnarasapura.





As per the MoU, both the state government and the central government will be working jointly to develop the Machine Tool Park through a Special Purpose Vehicle, said Industries Minister R V Deshpande. The MoU was signed at the Make in India-Karnataka conference here, organised by Government of Karnataka in association with Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Government of India and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).



The two-day conference is aimed at re-energising the industry to create employment and boost the manufacturing sector of the state by attracting more investments. The conference which witnessed participation from ministers and bureaucrats from both the Centre and state government, was inaugurated by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.



Speaking on the occasion, Jaitley thanked the chief minister and the state government for being the most active member in the GST Council.



More than 2,500 delegates from India and abroad participated in the first day of the conference, with over 200 B2B meetings scheduled across different focus sectors.



The conference also witnessed five interactive sectorial sessions on aerospace and defence, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, textiles, apparel and leather, and heavy engineering and machine tools.


Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy on Monday made it clear that he hasnt withdrawn his concerns about governance lapses in the company.





In a reply to DH, Murthy said, No, I have not withdrawn my concern. They have to be addressed properly by the Board and full transparency should be displayed and people responsible for it should become accountable.



His comments come after reports that he had backed down from his earlier stand on the corporate governance issues raised against the Board. The spat between the promoters and the Board members attracted attention globally, as Indias IT bellwether company is going through another transitional phase in its history. Murthy said that the Board members are good intentioned people of high integrity. But obviously, being human, even good people sometimes make mistakes.



But good leadership demands that they listen to all shareholders concerned, re-evaluate their decisions, and take corrective action. I hope they take corrective action soon and improve governance for a better future for the company, he said. The Infosys co-founder is unhappy with the Boards decision to give CEO Vishal Sikka's $11 million pay and expensive severance packages for former executives Rajiv Bansal (CFO) and David Kennedy (General Counsel).



Time needed for buyback



Infosys has set aside its huge cash reserve for the mergers and acquisitions, and the company would need time to decide on that. Speaking to DH, Independent Director at Infosys, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said, If we dont find the kind of merger and acquisition opportunities that we are looking at, obviously we would look at the buyback of the shares. But please give us time, because not every company wants to do a share buyback.



Last week, the company called the report of a Rs 12,000 crore share buyback plan to be speculative. Infosys cash and cash equivalents amounted to Rs 26,113 crore, and total assets worth Rs 80,640 crore as on December 31, 2016.



We understand that every shareholder must be provided with the return and if you have a lot of cash sitting in your books you should make a good use of it. And thats what we are trying. This board and management is a very recent one. We must give an opportunity to the management and board to look at mergers and acquisitions, Kiran said.
In a move that would increase domestic demand weighed down by demonetisation, Chinese investment of $20 billion (about Rs 1.20 lakh crore) promised during President Xi Jinpings 2014 visit, has started flowing in, the Finance Ministry confirmed on Monday.





It said, the focus would now be on achieving trade balance which is heavily tilted in Chinas favour. Chinese President during his visit to India in 2104, announced $20 billion investment in India. It has started flowing now, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikant Das said.



He said India was now looking for more inflow of investment from China.

Our embassy is working closely with China for this, he said in a series of tweets.

We are very strong in IT software and pharma. We would like to export these to China along with fruits, fish and vegetables. For sustainable trade relationship, balance of trade is required between India and China, Das said.



Our commerce and trade department is working with China to increase our exports there so that there is parity in trade with China, he said.



According to official figures, trade between India and China in 2016 was $71 billion, but India had a wide trade deficit of $46 billion vis-a-vis China.



During President Xi s visit in September 2014, China had committed $20 billion investment in the next five years. It had also promised to reduce the widening trade imbalance.



The two countries also signed a $6.8 billion deal to set up China-dedicated industrial parks near Pune and in Gujarat. These parks would act as manufacturing and export hubs. These parks are expected to be spread over 1,250 acres. In the past 10 years China has invested $400 million in India.



Bounty from China



Chinese President during his visit to India in 2014, announced $20 billion investment in India



Official figures states trade between India and China in 2016 was $71 b, but India had a trade deficit of $46 b
About 30 million Chinese men will have to look for brides outside China in the coming decades or end up single, according to a new study.





The number of unmarried Chinese men between 35 and 59 will reach 15 million in 2020 and 30 million in 2050, Wang Guangzhou, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said.



Poorly educated lower class men are far more likely to end up single, he told state-run People's Daily.



This is because males who only have a primary education or below increased to 15 percent in 2010.



Yuan Xin, a professor at Nankai University and expert on family planning policy, told state run Global Times that the number will likely exceed 30 million in 2050, as gender bias in favour of males at birth is still high in China.



The national average sex ratio at birth peaked at 121.Two males for every 100 females in China in 2004, while the standard ratio set by the UN is between 103 and 107 males for every 100 females.



In 2015, the nationwide average was 113. Five males against 100 females, the seventh decrease since 2009.



Zhai Zhenwu, a sociologist at the Renmin University of China, said the continued imbalance was caused by the development of ultrasound technology in the 1980's, which aided the traditional family preferences for a son, the People's Daily report said.



"The family planning policy which also promoted late birth had the negative effect on increasing the desire for people to select the sex of their child.



Coupled with new, cheap and safe sex determination and selection technologies, this made the existing preference for a son become a reality," Yuan said.



China bans any testing for gender or selective abortion over gender preference.

Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on January 20 shows that Chinas male population reached more than 708 million at the end of 2016, while the number of females was more than 675 million.



China's sixth national population census in 2010 showed that unmarried Chinese women above 30 years old accounted for 2.47 per cent of the female population - almost two times higher than the figure reported in the 2,000 census.



Yuan cautioned that recent trends of more well-educated Chinese women choosing to remain single will exacerbate the situation.



"Besides the marriage issue, a high single male population might also cause many other social problems such as sexual violence, women and child trafficking, not to mention the pension burden they will bring about when they get old," Yuan said.



The National Health and Family Planning Commission said early this month that China would reduce its sex ratio at birth to 112 boys for every 100 girls by 20.



Already the widening sex ratio prompting rural Chinese men to marry women from neighbouring east Asian countries like Vietnam.
Supreme Court today favoured framing of a uniform national policy to deal with those suffering from mental illness and their release from hospitals after being cured.





A bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar issued notice to the Union Health Ministry saying the issue figured in the concurrent list of the Constitution and hence the Centre also has the authority to frame norms.



The bench, also comprising Justices N V Ramana and D Y Chandrachud, expanded the scope of a PIL filed by advocate G K Bansal and sought responses from all states and union territories (UTs).



The PIL has raised the issue of release of about 300 persons from various mental hospitals in Uttar Pradesh, alleging they were still languishing there despite being cured of their ailments and most of them belonging to poorer sections.



"We are of the considered view that the Union of India shall assist us in finalising a national policy or norms that should be adopted in the entire country to deal with persons who have been cured of mental illness and are still being kept in mental hospitals," the bench said.



"There should be a national policy which can be applied uniformly across the country," the bench said, asking the lawyer to ensure that the Centre and others are served with the court notice in the matter.



Earlier, the court had issued notices to six states on the PIL seeking release of over 300 cured persons still languishing in mental hospitals in Uttar Pradesh.



States like Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir and Meghalaya were asked to respond on why the people, who are now fit for discharge from mental hospitals, were still kept there.



The PIL has alleged that many underprivileged persons were still languishing in mental hospitals despite being cured and there was no policy in place to ensure their well-being after release.



The plea also referred to responses received under RTI with regard to the release of persons living in mental hospitals at Bareilly, Varanasi and Agra in Uttar Pradesh even after being cured.



The queries, which were posed under transparency law to Mental Health Hospital, Bareilly, Institute of Mental Health and Hospital, Agra and Mental Hospital, Varanasi, pertained to names, residential address and age of the patients who were now normal and waiting for discharge from these hospitals.



Bansal had also sought information about the year in which the patients were declared fit for discharge.



The plea had sought issuance of directions to states and others to "forthwith make arrangements to shift the patients, who are absolutely normal and are fit for discharge, from the mental hospitals to any other secure place like Old Age Homes etc."


A decision on many big ticket projects like procuring the much-awaited fighter jet planes and self-propelled guns is likely to be taken this year, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said today.





He said work on a second manufacturing line for indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas will also commence in the next three months to boost production.



"Many of the private sector projects like SP (self- propelled) gun, C-295 (Airbus transporter aircraft) and even single and twin-engine fighter jets are in an advanced stage of decision making.



"We expect to get these in line during the current calender year," Parrikar told a news conference here after inaugurating the biennial edition of International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition -- Aero India 2017.



To replenish its fleet, the Indian Air Force is looking for new fighter jets. With another indigenous aircraft carrier to be inducted in service soon, the navy is also looking to procure over 50 fighter jets.



In his last interaction with the media as the air chief on December 29 last year, Arup Raha had said that the air force would need over 200-250 medium-weight category planes. The air force has already placed an order to procure 36 Rafale jets.



Criticising his predecessor A K Anthony and the UPA government, Parrikar said the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has been making efforts to augment production in different sectors, but earlier there was "no encouragement, there was no timeline and no discussion on Make in India".





Parrikar said HAL has been asked to outsource in "large quantity" several production areas in various sectors.



"For example, for the LCA model we are putting up a second (production) line for which Rs 359 crore has been approved by the government. It is expected this work will start in three months.



"In about one-and-a-half years the actual production will start. A lot of indigenous capability has to be developed through the local industry," the defence minister said.

With the navy disapproving of the present variant of LCA Tejas, Parrikar said it would be wrong to say the navy does not support the project. Instead, its requirements are different, he said.



"The project is thoroughly supported by the navy and all expenses are being undertaken. The LCA expansion (project) for eight aircraft has financial components coming from the navy and the air force.



"What the navy wants is a different variety and it thinks that a twin-engine one would be a better version. The LCA naval version has to be successfully tested," Parrikar said, adding that the navy has agreed to help in the project.



"The naval requirement has a different aspect and requires an engine with bigger thrust," he said.





The Defence Minister said in the coming years the Indian civilian aviation industry will require 1,000 aircraft while the defence sector will need 300 to 400 fighter jets and 800 helicopters.



"The aviation sector can boom. Helicopter engine requirement is 5,000, for new as well as for replacing old ones. Each engine has its shelf life, so there is a huge potential for Indian companies," he said.



With an aim to boost the startups, the government will create a new technology innovation fund for defence aerospace, Parrikar said.



"We are initiating a defence innovation fund with an initial contribution from HAL and BEL (Bharat Electronics Limited). The fund will support innovation and technology development in identifying areas and will be open to both Indian and foreign firms," he said.


US President Donald Trump today said the real story behind the National Security Advisor's resignation is illegal leaks, indicating that it was not the top official misleading him as being reported in the media.





"The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington? Will these leaks be happening as I deal on N. Korea etc?" Trump told his more than 24.8 million followers on Twitter.



His tweet came a day after Gen (rtd) Michael Flynn resigned as the National Security Advisor amidst reports that he mislead the President and Vice President Mike Pence about his conversation with the Russian Ambassador on sanctions.



Flynn resigned after he apologised to Trump and Pence for not providing them all the information about his call with the Russian Ambassador to the US before Trump's inauguration.



Trump has named Lt Gen Joseph Keith Kellogg, Jr. (Ret) as Acting National Security Advisor.



Top Republican Senator John McCain said that Flynn's resignation is a troubling indication of the dysfunction of the current national security apparatus.



"As our nation confronts the most complex and diverse array of global challenges since the end of World War II, it is imperative that the President select a new National Security Advisor who is empowered by clear lines of authority and responsibility and possesses the skills and experience necessary to organize the national security system across our government," he said.



McCain said Flynn's resignation also raises further questions about the Trump administration's intentions toward Vladimir Putin's Russia, including statements by the President suggesting moral equivalence between the US and Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine, annexation of Crimea, threats to NATO allies, and attempted interference in American elections.



"American policy toward Russia must be made clear and unequivocal: we will honor our commitments to our NATO allies, we will maintain and enhance our deterrent posture in Europe, we will hold Russian violators of human rights accountable for their actions, and we will maintain sanctions on Russia so long as it continues to violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine," McCain said.



House Democratic Whip Steny H Hoyer demanded that Congress and the American people must learn the full extent of what Trump knew about Flynn's communications with Russian leaders, and when they knew it.



"We also need to know if promises were made by the Trump campaign and Trump transition team to the Russians regarding sanctions  and what the Trump Administration may be doing to follow through," he said.



Top Democratic leaders in the House led by Nancy Pelosi have called for the FBI to accelerate their investigation into the extent of the ties between Trump and Russia.

They have also called for passage of legislation to create an outside, independent commission to investigate.



"The truth and consequences of the Russia connection: the American people deserve to know the full extent of Russia's financial, personal and political grip on President Trump and what that means for our national security," Pelosi said.



"Flynn's resignation is a reflection of the poor judgment of President Trump and demands answers to the grave questions over the Presidents involvement. By what authority did Flynn act and to whom did he report?" she asked.



"The FBI must accelerate its investigation of the Russian connection with the Trump Administration, and Congress must call for a bipartisan, independent, outside commission to fully investigate Russia's influence on the Administration and the election," Pelosi said.



Senator Mark Warner, Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said the American people deserve to know at whose direction Flynn was acting when he made these calls, and why the White House waited until these reports were public to take action.



"These developments underscore how many questions still remain unanswered to the American people more than three months after Election Day, including who was aware of what, and when," he said.



"This reinforces both the urgency and the significance of the Senate Intelligence Committee's bipartisan investigation into Russian interference, which will include a thorough examination of contacts between Russia and individuals associated with political campaigns, as well as interviews with current and former government officials," Warner said.
Lalith Mahal Palace Hotel (LMPH), owned by the Indian Tourism Development Corporation has offered to procure 54 items from Micro and Small Enterprises (SMEs) under the Marketing Assistance Scheme, being promoted by the Union government.



Along with a letter issued to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Council, in the city, recently, the hotel management has also issued the list of items required.



Joseph Mathias, general manager of LMPH, said, even in general tenders and bidding, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) get a bit of relaxation, as per the (MSME) Development Act, 2006. If the required items are not available directly from the SMEs, they will be either procured through tenders or purchased from the open market, he said.



Bidders under Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development Act, 2006, are exempt from payment of tender form fee and EMD deposit, if they enclose requisite certificate issued by the authorities concerned. The MSMEs also get some more concessions and relaxations, as per an advertisement on the LMPH website.



As per a notification of the Union government, SMEs, which are facing a tough competition from multinational and large sector firms marketing industrial goods and services, need support. SMEs need support in the field of innovation and technology upgrade, appropriate credit facility, skill development and market. Besides, SMEs also deserve encouragement to become competitive by improving quality and cost reduction and also delivering the goods and services well in time as per the agreement with the buyers.



To provide marketing support to this sector, the Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises introduced the Public Procurement Policy 2012 under Section 11 of MSME Development Act, 2006. According to the policy, all Central ministries, government departments and CPSUs should procure a minimum of 20% of store items from the MSME sector and 4% of the total procurement should be from MSMEs owned by SC/ST entrepreneurs. This policy is mandatory after April 1, 2015.



Speaking to DH, general secretary of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Council in Mysuru, Suresh Kumar Jain said, this is the first time the LMPH has issued a circular to procure items from SMEs. All government agencies are mandated to procure required items from SMEs as far as possible. But, not many agencies follow the rules. However, earlier, the state government owned Mysuru Varnish and Paints Limited had sought the assistance of the council to procure caps for its indelible ink vials. The private sector Rane Madras had also sought the help of the council for procurement of a few items earlier, said Jain.



At least 6,000 varieties of products are churned out by the SME sector in Mysuru district alone, but the council does not have a database of those who have not enrolled. I have sent emails to at least 8,000 firms across Karnataka from my own contacts. The SME sector will get a boost if such establishments directly procure necessary products from the firms, he said.


The 11th edition of the biennial International Aeroscape and Defence Exhibition- Aero India 2017 took off to a thrilling start with an impressive display of skill and military might.





The audience sat with their eyes glued to the skies as the Surya Kiran, Tejas and Grippens soared into the sky and stunned the onlookers with their aerobatics.



The inaugural show had the VVIPs from the armed forces, those holding high posts in the aviation industry and the aviation enthusiasts in full attendance. Davies Chama, defence minister of Zambia, was impressed with the way the show was knit together. What we got to see is the latest advancement in the Indian aviation industry. Every aircraft has a distinct character and one also got to see the power and might of the aircraft. The display by Surya Kiran and Tejas was stunning, said Davies. Miti Jackson, Deputy Army Commander, Zambia, couldnt agree more with Davies when he said We witnessed the skill and finesse with which the pilots make the aircraft dance to their tunes. It takes a lot of guts to do daring stunts in the skies.



Joakim Wallin, head of international relations, Swedish Defence Material Administration, SPL, said, I am happily surprised. The event is well organised and the security arrangements are wonderful too. I like the mix between Make in India and the display of foreign prowess. That way India not only shows its own capabilities but also focusses on collaborations with its international partners. Its a nice mix.



Joakim adds that he has a few things on his agenda when it comes to expectations from this show. I want to make some good connections in the Indian government and have discussions with them on how we can cooperate in different areas.



ACM Padet Wongpinkaew, chairman of the Royal Thai Air Force Headquarters Advisory Board, is vocal about his admiration for the display of skill and might that he saw at the inaugural session. No wonder it is called the biggest air show in Asia. When asked about their favourite part of the show, his wife, Group Captain Pacharee Wongpinkaew is quick to answer. The yellow vintage helicoptersthe Tiger Moth. I loved that bit. Padet adds, Tejas also put up a spectacular show. It was comparable with any aircraft from USA or Russia in terms of technical superiority.



There was also representation from Nepal. Major General Yogendra Khans of the Nepalese Army Air Service agrees with the general sentiment. It was a wonderful show. We are planning to expand our helicopter base which is why we participated in this event. We will try to procure some helicopters or their parts from the stakeholders here.



His colleague, Brigadier General and aeronautical engineer S K Karki, of the Nepal Aviation, said This is the first time that I am witnessing an aero show and I was taken aback by the powerful display in the skies. I hope to meet as many people from the Indian aviation industry as possible.



In the crowd were also ordinary people, who didnt quite understand the technical aspects but said that the various aerobatics they saw, did well to arouse their curiosity. Roopali Jain, a student of fashion, said I have never witnessed some of the countrys strongest aircraft in such close proximity. More than the design, I found the many twirls, loops and sideturns performed in mid-air very interesting.

Reeni Francis, a regular visitor at the Aero Show, for the last eight years said, The show is getting better with every edition. It is not only the stunning display of aircraft capability that we got to see but also how Indian is capable of manufacturing and rolling out some powerful aircraft. I was thrilled to see how every aircraft smoothly switched its speed and took swift turns and was also stunned by the ability of the pilots to control the aircraft.




Much has been written and said on this and the modal rating of the budget is a healthy 7 out of 10. This stems from the fact that the most refreshing feature of the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley statement is the recognition that the salaried class has been paying its taxes as a result of the tax deducted at source provision that enables the taxman to collect taxes most easily.





In fact the FM went on to say that it is salaried tax payers who have been carrying the burden of paying taxes and having to make up for those who have not been paying these taxes. So the reduction of taxes in the tax brackets up to Rs 5 lakh is something to cheer about.



Hard drive

The auto sector has reason to be less than pleased as it was unfairly made the villain of the piece last year when two of its members found their state of the art vehicles banned by the Supreme Court in the NCR on the specious reasoning of vehicles above 2,000 cc being more polluting.



Yet in the current budget there was no measure announced by the Government in scrapping old vehicles particularly those using engines compatible only with older grade BS 1, BS2 and BS3 fuel.



A scrappage scheme would have been most helpful in removing old vehicles from the road and putting in newer vehicles, enhancing tax collections thereby and ensuring that a culture of pollution reduction takes root. Indeed a missed opportunity.



Further more a formal scheme to capture the second hand vehicle trade and bring it within the tax net would have been a healthy precursor to the advent of GST this July.



The income arising out of the transfer of carbon credits is sought to be taxed at 10% of such income. This is not encouraging at all. Rather the Government of India would have done well to incentivise the generation of carbon credit as this will force companies to look for environment friendly ways to generate production. Those who buy carbon credits ought to have been taxed. Infrastructure spend of course has been fixed at Rs 64,000 crore  while this is laudable it remains to be seen whether the government can sustain the spend at the scorching pace of 133 km per day.



While numbers are important in a budget this is one area where implementation is key to evaluating whether the budget direction is successful or not.



The hard analysis

The auto sectors growth has always been linked to job creation. With the punitive tax structure on excise in respect of the bigger cars this sector has hardly been incentivised to grow.



The magic of the auto sector is that for every vehicle built the jobs in the service sector grow concomitantly whether it is in simple service jobs for autos or in the allied financial services and certainly in the auto component sector.



Small cars do not necessarily mean lower pollution or lower congestion which is the bane of Indian urban roads. People mover cars such as the 8 seaters equipped with state of the art engines and compatible with modern fuels ought to have been encouraged with a lower tax structure to provide last mile connectivity and to lessen the scourge of pollution.



(The author is Vice Chairman, Toyota Kirloskar Motor)


Deputy Commissioner T Venkatesh said that the district administration followed the instructions issued by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) on providing police protection at toll collection booths.



Speaking to mediapersons here on Tuesday, the deputy commissioner said that the decision to initiate toll collection was taken at the meeting held by NHAI in September. As per the agreement signed by the central and state governments, the latter has to provide police protection when sought. The DC said the chief secretary would call the meeting shortly in state capital as informed by the district in-charge minister over the issue.



He added that on February 1, Navyug Constructions approached the district administration seeking police protection and if the district administration failed to do so, the company said it would sue the state government demanding compensation for the loss incurred as it has the permission from NHAI to collect the toll.



He said that the company categorically declined to offer any relaxations to the vehicles with KA-20 registration. The toll was collected from the midnight of February 12. However, the company has agreed to offer concessions and charge Rs 110 up to five kilometers radius, while Rs 135 would be charged within a radius of 20 kilometer for locally registered vehicles.



Discharging duty

Defending his action for imposing Section 144, the DC added that he was responsible to discharge the duty as per the agreement between the two governments. He added that in Udupi district the company has proposed to carry out work for 65.15 kilometers, of which work has already been completed on 58.15 kilometers. The work on 2.2-km stretch is pending in Kundapur along with a proposed flyover. In Udupi, work on one-km stretch and flyover at Karavali junction is pending while 3.3-km road work is pending in Padubidri.



The land acquisition work at Padubidri was delayed, as earlier underpass was proposed in the area. The land acquisition was taken up after the flyover plan was finalised recently. There are 545 building owners in the area who had been served with a notice on December 30 with a 60-day time.



As per the agreement, the company has taken up 30.90 kilometers of the service road works although it can increase the stretch depending on the public requirements. The work on 14.50 km of service road has already been completed.



The meeting held on February 4, decided to set up a work assessment committee and accordingly the PWD engineer was put on task. The PWD principal secretary directed to provide police protection at the toll collection gates, he added.


The MRPLs Kaushal Vikas Kendra (MRPL KVK) was inaugurated on Sunday in the city by MP Nalin Kumar Kateel.





He emphasised on the need to light the lamp of prosperity and knowledge in every home and every village drawing from the vision of Gandhiji and Swami Vivekananda who called every person a unit for nation building.



Complimenting the MRPL on launching the MRPL Kaushal Vikas Kendra, he said this was a wonderful opportunity for talented youth to further their careers. The Central government under Narendra Modi is committed to building and transforming India. Therefore the emphasis on many schemes such as Swacch Bharat Mission, Skill India, Digital India, Start up India, and Make in India, said the MP.



MLA Mohiuddin Bawa said that he would wholeheartedly support the Kendra as it will generate more job opportunities to the unemployed youth in the region. He promised to help sanction 10 acres of land for setting up of the Kendra for the benefit of people of Dakshina Kannada.



MRPL MD H Kumar said that the first batch of 60 youth will be trained in partnership with NTTF in two trades  industrial electrician and CNC operator-turning. In this batch, youth within the age group of 17 years to 25 years with eligibility of 12th/ITI will be trained in industrial electrician and those with 10th Pass/ 12th Pass or fail, will be trained in CNC Operator-Turning. All expenses, including food, lodging, tutorial expenses and clothing in the form of uniform, will be borne by the Kendra. On completion of the course, certification at Level 3, under Capital Goods Sector Skill Council, will be issued and candidates with no mobility constraint will be placed by NTTF.



He said the MRPLs commitment to support the national development schemes of Government of India. He also announced that MRPL has received the approval to launch a start up fund of Rs 10 crore which will be used to support the new ventures/ start ups of the youth.



MRPL opened a Facebook page www.facebook.com/mrpl.kvk for public interface and registration.


Pakistans ultimatum to Afghan refugees living on its soil to leave the country by end-March or face deportation gives the latter no choice but to return home. They are being forcibly repatriated. In its latest report, Pakistan Coercion, UN Complicity: The Mass Forced Return of Afghan Refugees, Human Rights Watch (HRW) alleges that since July 2016, Pakistani authorities have carried out a campaign of harassment, abuse and intimidation to drive out nearly 6,00,000 Afghans. This is a matter of serious concern for several reasons.



For one, the situation in Afghanistan is neither secure nor stable; violence, civilian deaths and displacement touched record highs last year. Pakistans decision to force refugees out of its territory is callous. It is an illegal action too. The 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1968 protocol confer on refugees the right to non-refoulement. Of course, Pakistan could argue that it is not a signatory to these refugee treaties and hence not bound by their provisions. However, forced repatriation is forbidden by international customary law too. It is widely believed that Pakistans decision to send back the refugees stems from the deterioration in its relations with Afghanistan and Kabuls cozying up to Delhi. South Asian geopolitics has triggered yet another upheaval in the lives of lakhs of Afghan refugees.



The role of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the unfolding tragedy is distressing. The refugee agency appears to be complicit in the forced repatriation. Instead of stoutly opposing Pakistans crackdown on the refugees, it is offering money to the returning refugees. The payment may be well-intended; it is probably aimed at providing the refugees with cash support or seed money to begin a new life in Afghanistan. However, on the ground, this cash support is luring to get the refugees to leave Pakistan. The UNHCRs provision of such monetary inducements without strongly and unequivocally condemning the Pakistani governments crackdown on the refugees is fuelling the perception that the refugee agency is supporting Islamabads action. The UNHCR should not be operating in a way that weakens its credibility as an agency that is committed to protecting the rights of refugees.



Pakistan has had an above average record on refugee matters. Despite not being a signatory to the refugee conventions, it has hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades. Security interests may have prompted it to do so. Still, its generosity in providing Afghan refugees a home was remarkable. It is unfortunate that Pakistan is abandoning them now. It must rethink its decision. The forced repatriation of the Afghan refugees will only add to the worlds perception of Pakistan as a hostile society.
At the Raisina Dialogue in Delhi last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke of his world view, of the purposes he has imparted to Indias foreign policy, of its core principles and the extensive spread of the countrys external engagements in these uncertain and changing times.





However, as he goes deeper into the second half of his term, it is probable that domestic issues will occupy greater salience in his work schedule. Consequently, the spread of his foreign interaction may diminish and its pace may get slower while its focus becomes sharper, more concentrated on priority countries and issues.



In the coming months, Modis foreign policy pre-occupations would centre on Indias relations with the US, China and Pakistan in the context of bilateral ties. He would nurture relations with South Asian neighbours, West Asia and his Act East initiative but their pursuit is likely to be at ministerial and diplomatic levels.



He would also have to travel abroad for multilateral summits including the G-20, Brics (a forum of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), and the East Asia Summit with Asean (Association of South East Asian Nations). Last year, he had given the United Nations a miss, so perhaps, he may make an appearance at the annual gathering of world leaders in New York in autumn.



There are, however, no outstanding global issues requiring his constant attention in which India has an inescapable role or where Modi may wish to take a leading role. It is unlikely if he will profile either Indias desire for the reform of institutions of international governance or the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT).



Modi seeks to build personal ties with his international peers as he believes that personal chemistry among leaders plays an important role in the conduct of foreign policy. Thus, he will seek to build a personal relationship with American President Donald Trump who values the US-India relationship; Modi was the fifth world leader he called after his inauguration.



The US president wants to re-orient the American foreign policy in many areas. It is not certain how far he will go. While on immigration and trade he has sought to go against conventional US positions, on others, after giving indications to the contrary, he has fallen back on standard US policies. This is significantly illustrated by Trump accepting the one-China position though he had, as president-elect, indicated on using it as a negotiating card.



Modi may, therefore, have to wait for the Trump administration to spell out its full policies on areas of core interest to India such as the countrys western neighbourhood, China and the struggle against global terrorism. A more forceful approach to Pakistan on terror, especially in the Afghanistan context, may be Trumps intention but the US room for manoeuvre has constraints.



In his inauguration speech, Trump said, We will follow two simple rules: buy American and hire American. This position especially impacts Indian IT companies in the context of H1B visas.



India is in contact with Trumps people on this issue. It is unlikely that Trump will give in on a fundamental tenet of his election campaign.



However, in the medium term, the Trump administration may be compelled to take pragmatic positions if the absence of skills at appropriate costs begins to hurt the US industry. In this process, the Indian industry will be hurt.



The basic policy dilemmas of Indias Pakistan strategy confront Modi as they have his predecessors. Pakistan wants to restore a comprehensive dialogue process which would include talks on Kashmir.



For the past few months, the LoC has been quiet and Pakistan has taken some action against Hafiz Saeed, a wanted terrorist who was involved in the Mumbai terror attacks and is co-founder of the banned Lashker-e-Taiba, but his organisation mutates and other anti-Indian tanzeems (organisations) continue to operate freely.



Thus, there is no evidence that Pakistan wishes to abandon the use of terror instead of calibrating it as it traditionally does. The question is if Modi will show the stamina to pursue the present approach of no talks or participation in the Saarc summit till Pakistan gives full satisfaction on terror.



Isolating Pakistan

Or, would he like to make another effort to try to turn the course of history with Pakistan? Modis desire to isolate Pakistan internationally is unlikely to fully succeed, for most countries want to engage it on terrorism, if nothing else.



Chinas stand on either Indias Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership or on the designation of Masood Azhar as a terrorist under the United Nations 1267 process is unlikely to change. The China-Pakistan nexus, if anything, will become stronger because of the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).



Chinas actions in Nepal will require careful watching. Modi seems to be now adopting the approach that successive governments have pursued since Rajiv Gandhi  cooperate where advantageous and confront where required. In his Raisina address, he emphasised the need for China to respect the sovereignty of countries and international norms. At the same time, he stressed the desire for bilateral economic cooperation.



The real question would be how far to go with the US if Trump, despite his adherence to the one-China principle, decides to take on China in the South China Sea and other issues. Caution would have to be exercised even while developing ties with the US and important Asian countries, especially Japan and Vietnam.



While Modi pursues his international agenda, will his international standing continue to remain high in 2017 and beyond? This will impact on his ability to sway his global peers who were all impressed with his election victory in 2014. If Modi, as the undisputed BJP leader, succeeds in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, his international reputation will only grow; if he fails, it will be somewhat dented.



(The writer is retired Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs)
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Tuesday categorically ruled out any post-poll alliance with the BJP in case of a fractured mandate in the ongoing Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.





We are going to win the elections. We will never ally with the BJP even if we do not get majority and will sit in the Opposition, Mayawati said at an election rally in Kanpur.



The BSP chief said the BJP had been spreading rumours that it would get her partys support after the polls in the event of a hung House.



I want to assure you that we will never join hands with the BJP, she said. She said that the BJP was making such claims as it had now realised that it would be defeated in the polls.



Mayawati said her party would, under no circumstances, tolerate persecution of the community and accused the BJP of having an anti-Dalit mindset.



I will never forget the Rohith Vemula episode, she said, referring to the suicide of the Hyderabad University research scholar in January last year.



Attacking Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, she said her party would not spare Samajwadi Party goons if it forms the next government.



All of them will be in jail, Mayawati said.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday described as unexceptionable the trial courts order of confiscation and forfeiture of the properties of six companies floated by Jayalalithaa and others.



A bench of Justices P C Ghose and Amitava Roy also said it should be construed as an order by the apex court.



The bench directed Sasikala and two others to surrender forthwith before the trial court, which was further directed to take immediate steps to ensure that Sasikala and others serve out the remainder of sentence.



The trio has served 21 days in prison after their conviction by the trial court in September 2014. The Supreme Court had on October 17 that year released Jayalalithaa and her co-accused on bail.



Notably, the bench also said that the apex court did not need to make fresh calculation of the assets and liabilities to arrive at a number since the trial court had already undertaken this exercise in a correct manner.



The court found unimpeded, frequent and spontaneous inflow of funds from the account of then Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa to those of the other co-accused and the firms/companies, which overwhelmingly demonstrated their collective culpable involvement.



Following the criminal conspiracy, the accused tried to present those transactions as masked banking exchanges involving several accounts, but mostly of the same bank, the court said.



Free society from corruption: SC

While convicting Sasikala and others in the disproportionate assets case, the Supreme Court on Tuesday called for a collective, committed and courageous turnaround to free the civil order from the suffocative throttle of the deadly affliction of corruption, DHNS reports from New Delhi.



In his supplementary verdict, Justice Amitava Roy said, Both the corrupt and the corrupter are indictable and answerable to the society and the country as a whole. This is more particularly with respect to the peoples representatives in public life committed by the oath of the office to dedicate oneself to the unqualified welfare of the laity...in accordance with the Constitution.



The judge called upon every citizen to be a partner in this sacrosanct mission for a stable, just and ideal social order as envisioned by our forefathers.



This virulent affliction (corruption) triggers an imbalance in societys existential stratas and stalls constructive progress in the overall well-being of the nation, besides disrupting its dynamics of fiscal governance. It encourages defiance of the rule of law and the propensities for easy materialistic harvests, whereby the societys soul stands defiled, devalued and denigrated, Justice Roy said in his separate 7-page judgement.
Soon after the Supreme Court confirmed the conviction of V K Sasikala, there was high drama at the luxury resort in Kancheepuram where AIADMK MLAs have been camping.



Large number of policemen were deployed in Kuvathur, where the Golden Bay resort is located, as Section 144 has also been invoked.



A pall of gloom descended over the camp at 10.30 am when the Supreme Court upheld a lower court verdict finding Sasikala and two of her relatives of illegally amassing wealth.



Sasikala, who stayed overnight at the resort, was visibly upset after the verdict and was consoled by MLAs. With the court asking her to surrender immediately, she is likely to stay Tuesday night at the hotel.



AIADMK sources said Sasikala, who skipped her breakfast, convened an emergency meeting that elected PWD Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami as the new AIADMK legislative party leader.



Tempers run high



Sasikala also expelled O Panneerselvam and other senior AIADMK office-bearers from the primary membership of the party for alleged anti-party activities.



Tempers ran high when a group of MLAs emerged from their rooms at noon and staged a protest after Education Minister Mafoi K Pandiarajan from the OPS camp announced that the chief minister will be meeting them soon.



Pandiarajan proceeded to the Kuvathur resort to make arrangement for the chief minister to meet the MLAs, but the police stopped him before he could reach the resort. The chief minister cancelled his visit due to the law and order concerns.

With more than 2,000 police personnel piled in the hotels vicinity, it is not yet clear how long the MLAs would camp in the luxury resort.
After the Supreme Court convicted AIADMK leader V K Sasikala in a corruption case on Tuesday, BJP leaders hailed Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Raos wait and watch policy and the Centres hands-off approach to the political crisis in the southern state.



Governor Raos move vindicated his position, they contended.



Union government sources said Governor Rao avoided rushing for a floor test to give the warring factions of the AIADMK, led by Sasikala and caretaker Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, a chance to form the government after he consulted legal luminaries.



His decision to wait for the Supreme Court verdict in the disproportionate assets case against Sasikala and two others pronounced on Tuesday, may have been seen as delaying tactics. But, it was former Tamil Nadu governor M Fathima Beevis decision in the case of the late J Jayalalithaa, which made Rao exercise restraint, they said.



The first woman Supreme Court judge, who went on to become the states governor, had allowed Jayalalithaa to be sworn in as chief minister in May 2001 though she could not contest elections due to her conviction in a case.



Beevi was subsequently reprimanded by the apex court, which had also stripped Jayalalithaa of the chief ministers post after an appeal was filed challenging her appointment. Beevi was removed from the constitutional post for her controversial decision by the then Vajpayee government.



BJP general secretary Ram Madhav defended Vidyasagar Rao and said, The governor must have exercised due diligence, which has turned out to be right.



He hailed the apex court verdict, which he insisted will help clean politics, but termed as most unfortunate the charge that the Centre sided with Panneerselvam and delayed formation of the government in Tamil Nadu. Madhav clarified there was neither interference by the party or the government nor a bid to fish in troubled waters after Jayalalithaas demise.



On allegations levelled by his own party colleague Subramanian Swamy, that some Union ministers, if not the central government, were taking undue interest in the Tamil Nadu crisis, Madhav said it was not true.



Swamy, the original petitioner in the corruption case in which Jayalalithaa was the main accused, welcomed the apex court verdict although he had openly sided with Sasikala throughout.



BJP leader Muralidhar Rao tweeted, AIADMK should now go for a leader who can chart a clean political course and deliver good governance. The state in charge said, the conviction of Sasikala for four years would have deep ramifications for Tamil Nadu politics, hinting that the political turmoil in the state was far from over.

Congress wants special session

As political drama unfolded in Chennai after AIADMK chief V K Sasikalas conviction, the Congress on Tuesday called for a special session of the Tamil Nadu Assembly to decide on the next chief minister of the state, DHNS reports from New Delhi. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala wanted Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao to call a special session of the Assembly and also speak to the warring factions of the AIADMK to find a way forward.



Former home minister P Chidambaram recalled a similar situation in Uttar Pradesh when Jagadambika Pal and Kalyan Singh claimed majority in the Assembly.



If there are two claimants, the governor should seek a composite vote following the Uttar Pradesh precedent, Chidambaram said.



The Congress, which enjoys friendly ties with the DMK, was in two minds on whom to support in the factional fight in the AIADMK.



Out of power for half a century in Tamil Nadu, the Congress is eager to regain lost ground in the post-Jayalalithaa era. While state Congress chief Su Thirunavukkarasar favoured supporting the Sasikala faction, Chidambaram was keen on backing Panneerselvam.



Last week, after Sasikala staked claim to form the government in Tamil Nadu, Chidambaram had said that Sasikala would be unacceptable to most of the people in the state.
Twitterati and Facebook users have reacted unfavourably to Infosys CEO Vishal Sikkas kshatriya remark.





Sikka, hours after the press conference on Monday, had said, I am a kshatriya warrior. I am here to stay and fight, which people see as a jibe on promoters of Infosys, who apparently are unhappy with the board and the management.



Ah, so the Infosys boardroom fight is actually a brahmin-kshatriya struggle. Nice to know. Do tell us, are dalits involved? Is your CFO a vaishya? The nation wants to know, Mahesh Murthy, founder and CEO of Pinstorm posted on Facebook.



If there is one governance issue at @Infosys it is this-locating battle within caste context. Even vote seeking UP Netas dont talk like this, journalist Barkha Dutt posted on micro-blogging site Twitter.



Vishal Sikka says am a kshatriya, a warrior, am here to stay! He forgot Narayana Murthy is a brahmin and from Chanakyas clan, posted yet another Twitter-user.



The way you express your opinion is equally important as opinion itself. Vishal Sikka should not have used the term kshatriya warrior, said another user.



Once a joker, always a joker. Let me remind him that its now Republic of India , not pre-1947 royal states. Narayana Murthy should kick him out, suggested another Facebook user.
Four militants and equal number of soldiers, including an army major, were killed, while 11 security personnel were injured in two separate encounters in Kashmir on Tuesday.



In the first encounter, a top commander of Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) and three soldiers were killed, while 11 security forces personnel and a civilian were injured in north Kashmirs Bandipora district.



Sources said, based on specific intelligence about the presence of a group of four LeT militants at Parray Mohalla in Hajin, 32 km from here, a joint operation was launched by the army, CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police early on Tuesday.



As the security forces were laying a cordon around the village, they came under heavy fire from the hiding militants in which 15 security personnel, including Major Thappa of 13 Rashtriya Rifles and Commandant Chetan Cheetah of 45 Battalion CRPF were injured, sources said, adding that in retaliatory action, one militant was neutralised.



The police said the injured soldiers were airlifted to the armys 92-Base Hospital in Srinagar where three of them succumbed. The condition of injured CRPF commandant is stated to be critical.



PRO Defence Rajesh Kalia said the operation has been terminated. Sources told DH that three militants managed to escape from the encounter site. The slain militant has been identified as Abu Harris from Pakistan, a top LeT commander.



Second encounter



Three militants and an army major were killed in north Kashmirs Kralgund village of Handwara area in Kupwara district on Tuesday evening.



A defence spokesperson said based on a specific information about the presence of militants, the armys 30-Rashtriya Rifles and the special operations group of the Jammu and Kashmir Police cordoned the area. As the security forces were searching the area, militants opened fire in which an army major was injured. In retaliatory fire, three terrorists were neutralised, he said, adding that Major S Dhaiya, who was leading the operation, succumbed to his injuries later in the evening.



These encounters came just two days after four local militants of Hizbul Mujahideen were killed by security forces in south Kashmirs Kulgam district. Two army personnel and a civilian also lost their lives in that encounter, while one more civilian was killed in subsequent stone pelting.



Such mobs thronging the encounter sites allow militants to flee, posing a huge challenge for the security forces since the last one year. Despite an advisory by the police, asking people to stay indoors at the time of an encounter between militants and security forces, people come out on to the streets and attack forces, which is seen as a diversionary tactic to help the besieged militants.
A locality in Punjabs Amritsar is gripped with an uncanny situation of several wailing stray dogs on streets bandaged all over the stomach. Its become a common sight in the last two months as many stray dogs being left to die.





It is now learnt that all this was the handiwork of a youth who would first slit the stomach of stray dogs and later stitch it up with surgical equipment. The wound was then covered with bandage wrapped all around the lower back of the stray dog. Many would die after a few days of pain.



The youth is said to be an aspiring doctor and is pursuing a degree in medicine, although the veracity of the charges against the youth are so far only limited to the version of the local residents.



The motive behind such repeated incidents of cruelty towards animals so far remains an enigma. An Amritsar-based social activist, Simardeep Singh, has shot off a letter to the local deputy commissioner and Union Minister Maneka Gandhi seeking a probe into the mysterious developments.



Singh has sought their urgent intervention to check this cruelty. The local police, it is learnt, have declined to interfere in the case on the premise that the matter has jurisdiction outside police preview.



Residents of the area are at a loss to figure out the strange behaviour of the youth. They say bandaged dogs and carcasses on streets had become a common sight.



According to Singh, a medical student could be behind all this. He claims he confronted the youth on the issue who informed him that he had operated on the dog since he had a growth on the body which, if not removed, could have caused abnormality.



The youth went silent after his weird logic became the talk of the town. Killing strays is covered under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Such acts of cruelty fly in the face of the citizens duty enshrined under Article 51A (g) of the Constitution which asks for compassion for all living beings.
Minister for Large and Medium Industries R V Deshpande (RVD) on Tuesday claimed that the Hubballi Airport was ready for the Airbus aircraft to land there.





Briefing reporters at the Make in Karnataka conference, Deshpande said, Hubballi Airport runway has been extended to accommodate Airbus. Now, only ATRs are operating. There is huge potential for bigger aircraft to operate.



I spoke to Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju and he was sympathetic. However, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and Airports Authority of India (AAI) will have to act. We are on the job, Deshpande said.



Ongoing projects

He said similarly AAI has to help promote ongoing projects across Karnataka, including Belagavi and Kalaburagi.



We can promote private airports like the one in Torangal (Ballari district), owned by JSW. This will help us promote tourism as it is located strategically near the tourist hub of Hampi, the minister said.



The government is doing its best to encourage small and medium enterprises to boost employment, he said.

DH News Service
AIADMK general secretary Sasikala Natarajan and her two relatives V N Sudhakaran and Ilavarasi, convicted in the Rs 66.65-crore disproportionate assets case, are likely to be lodged at the central prison, Parappana Agrahara, in the city by Wednesday night.





The convicts should surrender themselves before the court in Bengaluru as per the Supreme Courts directions. The judge will remand them in judicial custody soon after this. He will issue an arrest warrant if they fail to follow the directions, H N Sathyanarayan Rao, DGP (Prisons), told DH.



Ashwath Narayan is the judge nominated to complete formalities to ensure the surrender of the convicts. As the special court set up at Parappana Agrahara has been wound up, the trio could appear before the city civil court, said the police.



The prison authorities clarified that Sasikala would not be given facilities which VVIP prisoners are entitled to as she neither holds any public post of utmost importance or faces threats from organisations, like Jayalalithaa did. She would be treated like any other female convict. The lone solace for them is the provision of getting food from home. She can plead with the court for getting food cooked at home. She will be entitled to the facility only if the court grants permission, Rao clarified. There is a two-storey structure at the womens enclosure in the prison, where a hospital is housed on the ground floor and a single cell on the first floor. Sasikala may be lodged in one of these cells. The authorities will allot a prisoner number to them once she arrives.



Sasikalas prisoner number was 7403 when she was in the prison in 2014, along with Jayalalithaa, Sudhakaran and Ilavarasi. Sasikala was lodged, with Ilavarasi, in a cell where Subha, convicted in the murder of a software engineer, was lodged.



Sudhakaran was kept in the VIP cell. Jayalalithaa and Sasikala were released on October 18, 2016, after the Supreme Court granted them bail. The police have tightened security in and around the prison. We are contemplating deploying additional forces. We are yet to take a decision regarding the number of platoons for deployment and places to station them, DCP (Southeast) Dr Boralingaiah said. We will take the decision based on the situation. There is no information yet regarding the arrival of the convicts, he said.

DH News Service


A month after they launched a website for filing complaints, the state police have not received the expected response. People still visit police stations to file complaints even for minor issues.





The website  www.policeseva.ksp.gov.in  launched on January 16, has received only 107 complaints till date. Senior police officers attributed this to lack of awareness among citizens.



Despite our best efforts, the public is yet to take to the website. People can file complaints of loss of mobile phones and documents, alert the police regarding vigil needed if their house is locked for several days. This can save a lot of time for the police, said superintendent of police (PCW) Shivamurthy.



Though complaints on lost mobiles or documents are not regarded as FIRs, they would be given the same importance by the police. Every district has a nodal officer who will flag the complaints and forward them to the police station concerned. The superintendent of police will be responsible for dealing with the compliants of the district. Many people do not know about the portal as yet. It will take time before it catches on, the SP said.



Recognising that Bengaluru is the IT capital of India, we are trying to advance the complaint redressal mechanism for minor issues.



Citizens have also been invited to provide information to the police to prevent crime through Citizen Tip. We hope the project will be used by many in the coming days, the officer said.


At last justice has been done, exclaimed B V Acharya, special public prosecutor in the Disproportionate Assets case, involving former Tamil Nadu chief minister late J Jayalalithaa and her aide- AIADMK general secretary Sasikala Natarajan.



When his reaction was sought on the Supreme Court upholding the trial courts verdict by setting aside the Karnataka High Court order, Acharya said, The judgement of the Supreme Court has sent a clear message to the corrupt politicians and bureaucrats that, however, rich and influential they may be, they cannot escape from the clutches of law if they indulge in corruption (sic).



Saying that the Supreme Court verdict has sent a good message to the public, the senior counsel said, There are many cases where people get an honour of acquittal. But at least in some cases of this nature where very important people are involved, if there is a conviction from the highest court of law, it sends a good message to the public.



There was a setback for the prosecution in the high court. Ultimately justice has been done. I am proud of our judiciary. Though there are some black sheep here and there, ultimately, our judiciary is strong and independent, he said.



Acharya pointed out that the accused was a very rich and influential person holding high position in public life as that of a chief minister of a state. For the first time, a chief minister in office was convicted by the court, he said.



Acharya, who was under pressure from the political class, had to first resign as advocate general of Karnataka to continue as SPP. Ultimately, I had to resign as SPP too, he said. It is highly improper thing, what to do (sic)? he said when asked to comment on the armtwisting tactics of the political class when he was the SPP.



The state once again called me to conduct the case before the Supreme Court. I am glad that I successfully conducted the case, he said.



Saying that the judgement has given him satisfaction, Acharya said that he would not call it a victory. Nor do I say I am very happy about it. All that I say is that it has given me full satisfaction for all the efforts that I have put in. Justice has been done.



Acharya appreciated the then District and Sessions Court judge Michael Cunha and Tamil Nadu police investigating officer Nallamma Naidu. As a district and sessions judge, you must have courage to convict a chief minister in office by withstanding all troubles. Naidu did a wonderful job of investigation and collected all evidences, he said.



G Bhavani Singh, who replaced Acharya as SPP and ensured that Jayalalithaa and others were convicted in the lower court said that the Supreme Court has upheld the order and given the same quantum of punishment as was pleaded by him in the lower court.

DH News Service

Advocates congratulate Justice Cunha

A host of advocates on Tuesday congratulated Karnataka High Court judge, Justice Johan Michael Cunha, the man who had sent former Tamil Nadu chief minister late J Jayalalithaa to jail in September 2014, reports DHNS from Bengaluru.



Senior counsel B V Acharya, the prosecutor in the case, too, visited Justice Cunha. Justice Cunha headed the special bench which tried Jayalalitha, Sasikala and their aides in the disproportionate of assets case. In his verdict, he had sentenced Jayalalithaa and her aides to four years of prison and also imposed a fine of Rs 100 crore. However, the special bench of Justice C R Kumaraswamy, now retired, had acquitted Jayalalithaa and others later.



Justice Cunha later on become the registrar vigilance and registrar general of the Karnataka High Court and in November 14, 2016, he was elevated as the high court judge.


While Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday claimed credit for Bengaluru being dubbed the most dynamic city, Opposition leader Jagadish Shettar accused the government of turning Bengaluru into a most unsafe city.





The World Economic Forum has said Bengaluru is the most dynamic city. We all have to be proud of it, the chief minister said in the Legislative Assembly while claiming that his government has contributed immensely to the development of the state capital.



Then Shettar said Bengaluru has also earned the dubious distinction of being the most unsafe city, quoting a document from the National Crime Records Bureau. Crime cases have increased alarmingly, especially sexual abuse against women, in Bengaluru. The credit for rendering Bengaluru unsafe goes to the government, he charged.



Siddaramaiah claimed that crime cases have come down drastically in Bengaluru in 2016 compared to 2011 when the BJP was in power. He also reeled out statistics to substantiate his claim.



JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy said the credit for Bengaluru becoming the most dynamic city should go to the private sector and not the government. The leaders were speaking in the Legislative Assembly on the motion of thanks on the governors address.


The Congress on Tuesday accused the BJP of trying to destabilise the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka like they did in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh.





The Congress charges come a day after it claimed to have exposed top BJP leaders B S Yeddyurappa and Ananth Kumar allegedly discussing sharing of ill-gotten money with their party high command.



Attempts are being made to destabilise Congress governments like in Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Now, it is Karnataka. The dirty tricks department of the BJP is working overtime, Dinesh Gundu Rao, the working president of the Karnataka Congress, told reporters here.



Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said fortunately for the Karnataka government, the BJP conspiracy was taped and the leaders were caught red-handed confessing their own acts of corruption.



At the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters, the Congress leaders also played the video of Yeddyurappa and Ananth Kumar apparently admitting to paying money to the party high command when in power in the state.



Last week, Yeddyurappa had claimed that Siddaramaiah paid the Congress high command Rs 1,000 crore to stay in power in the state and also sought kickbacks to the tune of Rs 150 crore for sanctioning the steel flyover project in Bengaluru.



Gundu Rao accused Yeddyurappa of trying to destabilise the Karnataka government by levelling wild allegations based on a certain diary to malign political opponents.



To a question whether seeking political funding was illegal, Surjewala said the tone and tenor of the minister clearly suggested otherwise. He claimed that the Cabinet minister has not been assigned the role of seeking political funding for the BJP.



Nobody is suggesting that Ananth Kumar or Yeddyurappa are talking of contributing Rs 20,000 (legal limit for donations in cash) to the party fund, the Congress spokesperson said adding that the inference was loud and clear that the BJP leaders were taking about sharing of ill-gotten money.
A Bill, which provides for protecting the sanctity of examinations, has been referred to a select committee of the Legislative Council by the state government after the Opposition feared that some provisions may be used to harass teachers.





BJP and JD(S) members even staged a dharna in the well of the House on Tuesday demanding that the government withdraw the Karnataka Education (Amendment) Bill, 2017, as some of its provisions could be used to penalise innocent teachers.



Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Tanveer Sait repeatedly tried to convince the members that the Bill had been introduced to curb question paper leaks and protect the sanctity of examinations. When the Opposition members did not relent, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah agreed to refer the Bill to a select committee of the House.



I agree to refer the Bill to the committee on the condition that the panel should submit its report within a month so that the Bill can be taken up in the budget session. The provisions have to be implemented when examinations for the current academic year are conducted, he said. The Bill has been passed in the Legislative Assembly.



According to the provisions of the Bill, any person indulging in question paper leak will face up to five years imprisonment or fine of Rs 5 lakh or both. The Bill also proposes to crack down on people who instigate teachers to boycott evaluation of answer papers. Those guilty of instigating teachers to boycott examination or evaluation duty can be punished with up to five years imprisonment. The Bill proposes to enhance the fine which can be imposed on those who have been assigned examination work but fail to report for work from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 with one-year imprisonment.



Opposition members, including Puttanna, Basavaraj Horatti (both JD-S), Ganesh Karnik and Arun Shahapur (both BJP), said some provisions of the Bill had created panic among teachers as they could be hauled up in court even for staging a protest. They pointed out how previous instances had shown that question papers were leaked during printing or from government treasuries. Question paper bundles reach the examination hall only 30 minutes before the start of exams. How can teachers, who are entrusted with invigilation, be blamed for question paper leaks? Puttanna said.
JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy has charged the Congress government with regularly sending money to its party in New Delhi by special flights.





Replying to questions from reporters here on Tuesday, he said only some select people accompany the chief minister with the money. Carrying such money on regular flights is not allowed. Hence, special flights are used, he charged.



The two national parties  the Congress and the BJP  have looted Karnataka over the last nine years. This was evident even from the discussions in the legislature, he said.



Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his election campaigns in UP, has been speaking about high-level corruption in that state. In case Modi comes to Karnataka and sees the level of corruption, he will ask people to vote for the JD(S), he said sarcastically.



Kumaraswamy, who chaired the partys core committee meeting, said that 33 sitting MLAs of his party would get tickets to contest the next Assembly elections. Of the total 40 MLAs, seven have been suspended. He said the rest of the contestants would be selected based on their ability. In the first phase, the list of names of 105 to 120 contestants would be released.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday lashed out at the Opposition BJP in the two Houses of the legislature for charging him with having paid Rs 1,000 crore to the Congress high command and said he will quit if proved guilty.





I first became a minister in 1984. I will be presenting my 12th budget next month. Till this day, there is not even one black mark against me. You (BJP) are making baseless charges just to defame me. I will quit as chief minister and also retire from politics the moment it is proven that I have indulged in corruption, Siddaramaiah said in the Legislative Council.



In the Assembly, Siddaramaiah termed the recent raids by Income Tax (I-T) department against the Congress leaders as conspiracy and political vendetta unleashed by the Centre against the Congress government. He rejected BJPs demand to drop Small Scale Industries Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi from the council of ministers in the wake of I-T raids, claiming lack of evidence.



The House witnessed uproar with the BJP members led by Jagadish Shettar rubbishing Siddaramaiahs charges and demanding clarification on Siddaramaiahs aide K Govindarajs diary wherein details of payments he had reportedly made to the Congress bosses are mentioned. Shettar and Siddaramaiah indulged in heated exchanges, with the latter displaying a copy of the CD which, the Congress leaders claim, is proof of Yeddyurappa having paid money to the BJP high command.



The ruling party and the BJP made accusations against each other. As a result, Siddaramaiahs reply to the motion of thanks to the governors address concluded with mug-slinging and slogan-shouting by members on both sides. The BJP members staged a walkout, protesting against the chief ministers charges, while the JD(S) members remained mute spectators.



BJPs R Ashoka claimed that Congress had doctored the CD and dared the ruling party to allow a discussion on the issue. Govindarajs diary has proved that the chief minister had taken kickbacks for sanctioning the steel flyover project in Bengaluru and paid Rs 1,000 crore to the high command, Shettar said. Siddaramaiah hit back, charging the BJP government at the Centre with conspiring against his government.



The chief minister claimed there is no evidence against Ramesh Jarkiholi. The I-T department informed the state government recently that it cannot disclose any information on the raid as investigations are on.



How can BJP access information on the I-T raids? This proves that the BJP leaders are making baseless charges and conspiring against the government. The CD has corroborated this, he said.



Why only Congress leaders are targeted in Karnataka? Are all the BJP leaders BPL (below poverty line) ration card holders? Siddaramaiah said. Shettar hit back, saying how can the ruling party justify when I-T department seized large sums of unaccounted for money from Congress leaders during the raids.

DH News Service
The Make in India thrust was unmistakable. Yet, as the 11th biennial international aerospace exhibition, Aero India 2017, began in trademark style at the Yelahanka Air Force station here, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar was also eager to reach out to foreign firms.



Minutes before a unique Make in India formation of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited-built aircraft flew past, Parrikar spelt out the Centres plan: To encourage Indian companies in defence manufacturing, while inviting international firms to invest, collaborate and boost joint production. Besides the usual statements of intent, the inaugural lacked the excitement of last year. The general perception was that the air show was low key this year, indicated by reduced participation of aerospace companies.



Liberalised foreign direct investment norms, improved ease of doing business, and the large number of licenses issued were indicators of this trend, he said.



As if in sync, a prototype of the indigenously designed and developed Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) recorded its maiden flight at the inaugural. Piloted by Wg Cdr Unni Pillai, it flew past, flanked by two Cheetal copters in beam formation.



The Dornier 228, Sukhoi-MKI and the indigenous version of the Hawk that came next in Mike formation drove home the point further.



Impressing the crowds with its steep climbs and extreme tail-up manoeuvres, the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) too was part of the same game plan.



If the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) made a statement with its rapid climb and slow-speed passes, the high-speed manoeuvres of the Saab Gripen fighter jet, Lockheed Martins F-16 and Dassaults Rafale struck a chord for foreign firms.



Parrikar talked about the governments future orientation by focusing on aerospace start-ups. This, he said, would be open to both domestic and foreign players.



In the absence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Industries Minister R V Deshpande connected the dots between aerospace and Karnataka.
Dashing her hopes of becoming the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a Bengaluru court judgement convicting AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala in a 20-year-old case relating to the acquisition of disproportionate assets by J Jayalalithaa.



A bench of Justices P C Ghose and Amitava Roy directed Sasikala and her relatives V N Sudhakaran and Elavarasi to surrender forthwith to serve a four-year jail term, awarded by the trial court.



The apex court restored the trial courts verdict passed on September 27, 2014, in full, including consequential directions, like payment of a Rs 10-crore fine by the three convicts and confiscation of properties of six firms floated by them.



The judgement shuts the door for Sasikala who staked claim to form the government after being elected as legislature party leader and also faced a revolt from chief minister O Panneerselvam. She now cannot contest any election for the next 10 years as the Representation of People Act disqualifies a convict for six years after serving the sentence.



The apex court set aside the May 11, 2015, Karnataka High Court decision.

The court had had acquitted all the accused in the case as untenable.



Allowing the Karnataka governments appeal, the bench said, The percentage of disproportionate assets as 8.12% as computed by the HC is based on completely wrong reading of the evidence on record compounded by incorrect arithmetical calculations.



In his separate judgement, Justice Roy said the facts and circumstances of the case demonstrated a deep-rooted conspiratorial design to amass vast assets without any compunction and hold the same through shell entities to cover up the sinister trail of such illicit acquisitions and deceive and delude the process of law.



The bench said the trial court was correct in finding criminal conspiracy and abetment against Sasikala and others in the face of the overwhelming evidence.



The trial court was meticulous, sensitive, vigilant and judicious in appraisal of the evidence, the bench said after analysing the material.



We come to the conclusion that A1 (Jayalalithaa) to A4 have entered into a conspiracy and in furtherance of the same, A1 who was a public servant (CM) at the relevant time (1991 to 1996) had come into possession of assets disproportionate to the known sources of her income during the check period and had got the same dispersed in the names of A2 (Sasikala) to A4 and the firms & companies involved to hold these on her behalf with a masked front, the bench concluded in a 570-page judgement.



The proceedings against Jayalalithaa got abated due to her death on December 5.



The trajectory of 1996 case lodged by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 66.65 crore saw Jayalalithaa step down as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister in 2014 after her conviction. It has now sealed the fate of Sasikala, a daughter of a medical compounder, who lived with Jayalalithaa as her aide since 1988.
Flight simulators, which promised a piece of sky, drew crowds at Aero India-2017, but not all could get into the coveted seat with many returning disappointed and others entreating the authorities to give them a chance.





The Advanced Hawk simulator allowed a visitor to fly the trainer jet jointly developed by BAE Systems and HAL by offering the best real-time (4-dimension) experience. The Lockheed Martins F-16 simulator promised the same experience, but had very less seekers as it was not immediately visible in the glitzy display arena.



The most number of people were seen at DRDOs Tejas simulator, with a minimum of 20 people waiting in queue and many others exiting the room after waiting for a few minutes.



An IAF officer, who steered the F-16 from the Lockheed Martins simulator, said though he had vast flying experience, the features in the simulator make it exceptional.



At the Advanced Hawk simulator, Alan Garwood, group business development director, BAE Systems, patiently explained the features of the cockpit simulator to visitors with his colleague John Hurrel.



Hurrel showed how the features can be changed in the interactive dashboard of the simulator to offer experience of flying different fighter jets, from F-16 to Rafale.



Though flight simulators are not new to the air shows in the city, there is no shortage of visitors who have never seen them. I came here first after a friend told me about this last year. But even after waiting for an hour, my turn has not come. I have been requesting the authorities for a chance, said Rakesh R, a software engineer, who was in the front of the queue behind the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft simulator.



Rakesh stood in earnest for another half an hour before he was allowed to sit in the simulated cockpit and asked others in queue to take his picture. His plane crashed within a minute, but Rakesh emerged happy as he successfully took a selfie.


Indias first indigenously built Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&C), was inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at Aero India.



Parrikar handed over the keys to the Brazilian Embraer-145 jet (Netra) on which the AEW&C is mounted, to Indian Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa at the Yelahanka Air Force Station. Netra, with the AEW&C, was displayed as part of the flypast in the inaugural session.



It is developed by DRDO and will be used to detect enemy aircraft and missiles.



Parrikar said after handing over the plane to IAF, This is a technology demonstrator and it is not the ultimate. We want to further develop a higher capacity radar with 360-degree coverage. At present, the AEW&C has a 240-degree coverage. He said India would increase the number of planes equipped with AEW&C.



M S Easwaran, director at DRDO's Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS) which developed AEW&C, was present at the induction with his team.



DRDO has spent Rs 2,400 crore on the programme. Extensive modifications were done on the Embraer EMB145 to equip it with the system.
Indias helicopter aerobatic team, Sarang, which will dazzle the audience at Aero India 2017, is fuelled by women power with four females among its 20 members.





In a field dominated by men, they are working in various capacities, as pilots, engineers and commentators among others. Squad leader Sneha Kulkarni is the first female pilot to be in the Sarang display team and is among three women at the air show this year. On the experience of being in the pilots seat, she said, When you are flying, you are so occupied with the controls and getting everything right that there is no time for adrenaline rush. But the experience is great and there is nothing like it.



She was inspired by her elder brother who is in the Indian Army. I want to represent India abroad and make my country proud. We will be performing in the air show in Malaysia soon, she said.



Sarang, which means peacock in Sanskrit, flies Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) or Dhruv helicopters developed indigenously by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Making sure that the choppers are ship-shape is Flight Lieutenant Sandeep Singh, Technical Officer with Sarang. At a time, only four helicopters are used for display but my job is to ensure that five aircraft are air-worthy at any given time, she said.



Flt Lt Singh was inspired to join the armed forces by the Doordarshan serial Aarohan, about a woman in the Indian Air Force. I used to watch this serial when I was in class III and aspired for this career ever since. Immediately after engineering, I tried for the Air Force and was accepted in the very first attempt.



The upkeep of a fleet of nearly 15 helicopters is challenging, she says, especially at air shows when the team makes at least two display performances in a day.



The radio jockey of the team, Flight Lieutenant Tinju Thomas, is the voice of Sarang in her role as commentator and education officer. It involves a lot of multitasking because I have to watch the display, listen to the instructions being communicated to the pilots, speak into the microphone and change music tracks at the same time. But I have done so many displays by now that it is in my nerves, Flt Lt Thomas said. Her mother was apprehensive about her joining the Air Force as she thought the career was not suitable for women. But I wanted the uniform, a central government job and wanted to continue my interest in sports. This was the best career option which satisfied all these requirements and I am loving it. I encourage other girls to consider this career, too, Flt Lt Thomas said.
Despite the Indian Navy rejecting the naval version of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), it would bear 25% of the cost to develop an upgraded variant with a much stronger landing gear and frame. This was Defence Minister Manohar Parrikars retort to those who were shocked by the decision.





Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba had sparked off a controversy by stating that LCA Navy lacked the necessary capabilities. Reiterating this at the Aero India 2017 here, Parrikar said the Navys requirement was for a twin-engine variant. HAL would bear 50% of the cost.



The Navy wants to acquire 57 multi-role fighters for its aircraft carriers. With the indigenous option in trouble, global defence firms have lined up their aircraft for competition at the air show. The Swedish Saab Gripen is one of them.



The Make in India push, Parrikar told mediapersons, had begun to yield results. Defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has managed to stick to timelines of many projects over the last two years. The basic trainer aircraft was ready to fly in just 15 months, he said.



In an apparent dig at the previous government, Parrikar said the emphasis earlier was not on timelines or indigenisation. HAL has now been told to outsource in a big way. A lot of indigenous parts will have to developed by the local industry. This can generate huge business for the private sector.



He was convinced that the entire aviation industry was set for a boom. We will require about 1,000 aircraft for civil aviation alone. The requirement for helicopters in defence could be 800-1,000 and fighters around 600-800. We would need 5,000 engines for helicopters alone, Parrikar said.



To a query on the differences between BJP and RSS on foreign direct investment in the defence sector, Parrikar said no decision would be taken that could compromise with the nations interest. All concerns will be taken into account and decisions taken on a case-by-case basis.



Trump factor



Asked whether the Donald Trump factor would influence Indias defence ties with US firms such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin, Parrikar said it was for the companies to decide.



He said, I want the product to be made in India. Exporting it to a third country is a bonus. But I am not very concerned. I have not heard of any restrictions so far.



However, the original equipment manufacturer would be put a condition that for any joint venture, in-principle approval of their respective governments should be obtained. Let things be more clear, the minister said.



In the civil aviation sector, he said, Boeing was already manufacturing wings in India. India too is part of the global supply chain. Only 50% of Tejas is indigenous, the rest is sourced from outside.



Security interests



To a question on the relative calm on the Indo-Pak border after General Qamar Bajwa took over as Pakistan army chief, Parrikar said it should not mean lack of preparedness. My preparedness is an individual exercise, not an offensive one, Parrikar said.


By Claire Salisbury

14 February 2017 (Mongabay)  From the Amazon Basin to boreal forests, and from the Mekong to the Himalayan foothills, rivers worldwide are being targeted for major new dams in a global hydropower boom that also aims to supply drinking water to exploding human populations and to facilitate navigation on the planets rivers; 3,700 new dams  847 of them larger than 100 MW  are slated for construction. But one strong argument in favor of hydropower is now looking far weaker. Scientists have compiled the most comprehensive assessment yet of the global impact that dam reservoirs have on the worlds atmosphere and greenhouse emissions. And it isnt good news. Globally, the researchers estimate that reservoirs  long considered zero emitters by the United Nations climate program  contribute 1.3 percent of man-made greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions on this scale are comparable to those from rice paddy cultivation or biomass burning, the study authors write. But despite their magnitude, these reservoir emissions are not currently counted within United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (UN IPCC) assessments. In fact, countries are currently eligible under the UNs Clean Development Mechanism to receive carbon credits for their newly built dams. The study raises the question as to whether hydropower should continue to be counted as green power. The study, published in BioScience, looked at the carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) emitted from 267 reservoirs across six continents. In total, the reservoirs studied have a surface area of more than 77,287 square kilometers (29,841 square miles). Thats equivalent to about a quarter of the surface area of all reservoirs in the world, which together cover 305,723 square kilometers (118,040 square miles)  roughly the combined size of the United Kingdom and Ireland. The new study confirms that reservoirs are major emitters of methane, a particularly aggressive greenhouse gas, said Kate Horner, Executive Director of International Rivers, adding that hydropower dams can no longer be considered a clean and green source of electricity. [more]
By Kimberlee Kruesi

9 February 2017 (The Associated Press)  An Idaho House panel has approved new K-12 science standards, but only after striking key references to climate change caused by human behavior. This is the third year the Idaho Legislature has struggled to agree on science standards for public schools. Previous efforts that included references to global warming and the origin of the universe have been rejected by Republicans unhappy that the language didnt offer alternative views. Climate change can still be taught in schools, even if they are not part of the state standards. Standards are only a minimum of what students are expected to know. This is not about curriculum, said Republican Rep. Ryan Kerby, of New Plymouth, who voted in favor of the amended rules. If a school district wants to teach the dickens out of global warming, have at it. The last time Idahos science standards were updated was in 2001  sparking criticism from educators that the current system is too vague and lacks depth. The version approved Thursday had originally included the need to reduce and monitor human impacts on climate change. For example, the standards would require teachers to ask students questions on the causes of rising global temperatures over the past century with an emphasis on the major role of human activity. [] Meanwhile, House Assistant Minority Leader Ilana Rubel, of Boise, blasted the committees decision for suppressing facts. Not only do we owe it to our children to teach them 21st century science, but we owe it to the farmers, foresters and citizens of Idaho to take this issue seriously and not bury our heads in the sand, she said in a prepared statement. [more]
Shares in BlueRock Diamonds are up more than 5% thanks to a well-received update on operations at Kareevlei, its licence area in the Northern Cape of South Africa.

The licence area contained five known kimberlite pipes.

"The first blast of the current series was completed successfully on 9 February 2017, liberating approximately 15,000 tonnes of kimberlite," the company said.

It added that material from this blast was now being processed through the processing plant.

"The new primary crushing and screening circuit is expected be commissioned later this week when volumes will start to gradually ramp up."

CEO Adam Waugh said it was encouraging that the company was finally processing run-of-mine material for the first time since June 2016.

At 10:29 GMT, shares in AIM-quoted BlueRock were up 5.26% to 5p each.
British Prime Minister Theresa May will miss the EU's 60th anniversary summit in Rome next month as she sees no point in being involved in talks on the bloc's future, the Guardian reported, citing an unnamed diplomat.

The door was open, but the response was, We dont think it is appropriate for us, the EU diplomat told the newspaper.

A second EU source said Mays decision was entirely logical because the main focus of the summit on March 25 would be the future.

We are still a union of 28 and Theresa is of course very welcome to come and celebrate 60 years of the EU in Rome, the source said. Rome will be an opportunity to look back at what the EU has done, its achievements  but obviously the main focus is to look to the future.

Britain voted in a referendum last June to leave the EU. May has declared she will trigger the two year process by the end of March.

The Guardian said Italian officials have warned May not to upstage the summit by invoking Article 50  the formal trigger to start exit talks  close to the summit date.

It added that there was an expectation in Brussels that May would hand in the divorce notice at a summit on March 9 - 10. The UK government did not confirm the timing as the domestic parliamentary vote on Article 50 still has to clear the House of Lords.

Last week in the Commons, or lower house, MPs passed the Governments European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill by 494 votes to 122. The Lords will begin debating the bill next week.

Earlier on Tuesday Brexit Secretary David Davis in Stockholm said it was unlikely that the early March date for a trigger was unlikely.

The 9th or 10th is not a date I recognise in terms of our timetable. What we have said is by the end of March, sometime during March, he told a news conference.
Peugeot is in talks with General Motors about acquiring its European Opel business.

"PSA confirms that it is exploring a number of strategic initiatives with GM with the aim of increasing its profitability and operating efficiency, including a potential acquisition of Opel," a company spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said talks were at an advanced stage but nothing has been agreed.

General Motors and Peugeot  in which the French government holds a 14% stake  already share production of SUVs in France and Spain. In December 2013, GM sold its 7% stake in PSA for 250m after the companies plans to make cost savings by working together on several projects failed to bear any fruit.

Any deal would include Opel's UK affiliate Vauxhall and a combination between the two would create a manufacturer with around 16% of the European market.

At 1300 GMT, Peugeot shares were up 3.7% to 18.60 while GM shares were up 3.9% in pre-market trade to $36.91.
Several of the world's largest car-makers have written a letter to US President Donald Trump , urging him to reevaluate legislation introduced by the Obama administration which will restrict fuel usage by 2025.

The letter was signed last week by car companies from the US and abroad, including General Motors, Ford, Fiat Chrysler, Volkswagen, Toyota and Honda.

The firms claimed that thousands of jobs would be put at risk if the new strict regulations were locked in by 2025.

Under the policy, vehicles would have to run 54.5 miles per gallon or better in the next eight years, significantly reducing passengers' fuel costs.

However, despite the rise of electric cars in recent years, the claim goes that if Trump were to continue the policy it would cost the car industry as much as $200bn.

In the letter, which was seen by Reuters, the companies praised Trump's "personal focus on steps to strengthen the economy in the United States and your commitment to jobs in our sector."

Were the new rules to be introduced, the letter said, it would "threaten future production levels, putting hundreds of thousands and perhaps as many as a million jobs at risk."

Trump's relationship with the car industry has been rocky so far, after he criticised some in the sector for moving production of cars to Mexico.

The so-called "Big Three" in the US of Ford, Fiat Chrysler and General Motors have all felt the wrath of Trump, most of which has been via pithy swipes on Twitter.

Ford scrapped plans to build a $1.6bn plant in the country in favour of a $700m investment in Michigan, while Fiat announced plans to spend $1bn to create 2,000 jobs in Michigan and Ohio.
Kim Jong-un's estranged half brother has died after reportedly being poisoned by two agents in Kuala Lumpur international airport.

Kim Jong-nam, the older sibling of the current leader of North Korea, fell ill at the airport before dying on his way to a Malaysian hospital.

He was widely expected to be the successor to his father Kim Jong-il, but was reportedly passed over for the position due to suggesting that he would implement reforms to the secretive state.

South Korean media reports allege that two females approached Kim from behind, injecting him with poison needles before fleeing the scene.

A spokesperson for the police told Reuters the account Kim had given shortly after the incident.

"The deceased... felt like someone grabbed or held his face from behind," Fadzil Ahmat said. "He felt dizzy, so he asked for help at the... counter of KLIA [Kuala Lumpur International Airport]."

"So far there are no suspects, but we have started investigations and are looking at a few possibilities to get leads," Fadzil added.

Kim had apparently been ruled out of succeeding his father, in favour of his younger estranged brother, when he expressed a desire to reform North Korea. He wrote to Japanese newspaper Tokyo Shimbun in emails saying that he was forced out following his education.

"After I went back to North Korea following my education in Switzerland, I grew further apart from my father because I insisted on reform and market-opening and was eventually viewed with suspicion," he wrote.
Donald Trump's national security adviser Michael Flynn stepped down from his post overnight amid allegations of improper contacts with the Russian embassy in Washington DC before he took up his new position.

His resignation came as the new US administration was in the midst of preparations of key summits with other countries, beginning with Europe that same week.

Flynn was reported to have misled vice president Mike Pence by saying he had not discussed sanctions with Russias ambassador before joining the administration, before transcripts were uncovered that showed this to be untrue.

Keith Kellogg, former chief of staff of the White House National Security Council, was named the acting national security adviser while the President chooses a new permanent replacement.

-- More to follow --
Most markets in Asia finished lower on Tuesday, with investors keeping their wallets firmly shut ahead of Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellens two-day testimony in front of the US Congress.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 was down 1.13% at 19,238.98, after Finance Minister Tao Aso said the timeframe for Tokyo and Washington to establish a bilateral economic dialogue could be lengthier than perhaps anticipated.

Shares in Toshiba were down 8.01%, after the firm could not confirm when its earnings for the quarter through December would be released.

There were also suggestions in local media that the technology-focussed conglomerate may not be continually viable, after excessive losses following its acquisition of a US nuclear power developer.

The yen was stronger against the greenback, last gaining 0.32% to JPY 113.38 per $1.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite was up 0.05% at 3,218.38, with the smaller Shenzhen Composite similarly unchanged at 1,964.32.

State owned chemicals firm Sinochem was reportedly in talks with embattled Singaporean commodities trader Noble Group to take on a chunk of it.

South Koreas Kospi finished down 0.2% at 2,074.57, while Hong Kongs Hang Seng Index finished down 0.03% at 23,703.01.

In Seoul, the political scandal involving impeached President Park Geun-hye continued, with Samsung chief Jay Lee emerging from the special prosecutors office early on Tuesday.

He had been held for questioning for most of Monday and through the night over his alleged involvement in the cash-for-influence scheme.

Stateside, Yellen was expected to face questions on the role of the Fed during the Trump administration during her semiannual appearance in front of Congress, with the new Republican president making his desire for financial deregulation well known.

Markets are anticipating a reaffirmation of the Fed's stance for a gradual pace of rate normalization, expecting Yellen to adopt a wait-and-see stance on new fiscal policy changes from Trump given the lack of clarity for now, noted Mizuho Bank economist Chang Wei Liang.

Oil prices were slightly higher during Asian trading, with Brent crude last up 0.86% at $56.07 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate climbing 0.77% to $53.34.

In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.09% to 5,755.24, with business conditions now at a nine-year high as profits and sales were steadier, according to the January edition of the National Australia Bank survey.

The major miners were mixed, with BHP Billiton down 0.91%, Fortescue Metals virtually flat and Rio Tinto rising 0.28%.

Copper prices were surging overnight ahead of the Asian session, with workers at BHP Billitons Escondida mine and Freeport McMorans Grasberg mine heading on strike, leading to supply concerns.

New Zealands S&P/NZX 50 added 0.2% to finish at 7,150.89, led higher by the countrys largest seaport, Port of Tauranga, which was 2.3% higher.

The down under dollars were both stronger on the greenback, with the Aussie last ahead 0.7% at AUD 1.2998 and the Kiwi strengthening 0.19% to NZD 1.3907 per $1.
Defence spending in the UK has fallen below the 2% of GDP required by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) , according to new research from a thinktank.

The International Institute for Strategic Studies estimates that around 1.98% of GDP was spent on defence during 2016.

Despite the fact that it suggests a narrow miss for Theresa May's government, it appears to be at odds with her commitment to fully back NATO at a time when the support of new US President Donald Trump has been doubted.

According to the research, only the US, Poland, Estonia and Greece meet the 2% requirement.

The government have responded strongly to the report, with the Ministry of Defence stating that the think tank's figures are not correct.

"NATO's own figures clearly show that the UK spends over 2% of its GDP on defence," a spokesman said. "Our defence budget is the biggest in Europe, the second largest in NATO, and it is growing each year as we invest 178bn in new equipment and the UK steps up globally, with new ships, submarines and aircraft over the next decade."

May travelled to Washington last month for a meeting with the new US President, in which she affirmed her commitment to making sure other European powers to reach the minimum spend.

"I've agreed to continue on my efforts to encourage my fellow European leaders to deliver on their commitments to spend 2% of their GDP on defence so that the burden is more fairly shared," May during her trip to the White House.
The British government has rejected a petition calling for the withdrawal of US President Donald Trump's state visit invitation.

The petition has so far been signed by 1.85m people who claimed a visit by the controversial leader would cause embarrassment to Queen Elizabeth.

However, in its response published in the early hours of Tuesday morning, the government said it believed Trump should be extended the full courtesy of a state visit.

We look forward to welcoming President Trump once dates and arrangements are finalised, it added.

HM Government recognises the strong views expressed by the many signatories of this petition, but does not support this petition.

The invitation was issued during Prime Minister Theresa May's talks in Washington with the newly-elected US president last month.

This invitation reflects the importance of the relationship between the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

Dates have yet to be agreed. The government is wary of large anti-Trump protests after he implemented a travel ban on seven mainly Muslim countries which sparked outrage around the world and has now led to a court battle within the US.
Specialist information business Electric Word posted its audited results for the year to 30 November on Tuesday, with group profit for the year of 9.2m- swinging from a 2.3m loss - including a 10.7m profit from discontinued operations.

The AIM-traded firm reported 13.9m net cash inflows from disposals, leaving the group with 13.0m net cash at year-end.

Sylvania Platinum

Sylvania Platinum posted its interim financial results for the six months to 31 December on Tuesday, with group EBITDA has increasing to $9.22m from $3.61m in the first half of the prior year.

The AIM-traded company said net profit increased to $4.52m from $0.28m and revenue improved 32% to $24.55m.

LiDCO Group

Cardiovascular monitoring company LiDCO Group provided a trading update for the full year to 31 January on Tuesday, with product revenues in the period expected to be up 14% to 6.76m, with total revenues - including third party products - expected to be up by 8% to 8.21m.

The AIM-traded firm said overall, it saw strong demand for monitors with 186 units being sold - up from 103 units - and continued growth of smartcards up 17% to 46,580 units.

Veltyco Group

Online gaming, lottery and financial trading marketing company Veltyco Group provided a trading update for the year to 31 December on Tuesday.

The AIM-traded firm said that, further to the update it gave on 13 December, it could confirm that trading in December continued to be strong.

SRT Marine Systems

AIM-listed SRT Marine Systems has received and shipped an order for 1500 basic I100 Identifier VMS AIS Transceivers with SAT-Trak technology that will be deployed in Africa.

These were for the tracking and identification of small fishing vessels as part of a government supported programme.

Collagen Solutions

Collagen Solutions announces a placing and open offer to raise up to 8m, and a conditional commitment from Norgine Ventures to subscribe for 4m in secured private bonds with warrants.

AIM-quoted Collagen said the placing and open offer were subject to shareholder approval.

RWS Holdings

Intellectual property support provider RWS Holdings is to buy Luz, a San Francisco-based life sciences language service provider, for $82.5m, in order to increase its presence in the US.

The company believes that Luz will strengthen its position in the life sciences market as it adds complementary regulatory and medical device specialisms and that it would increase its footprint in the US.

Keras Resources

Shares in Keras Resources are up more than 5% after it announced an initial inferred mineral resource (IMR) at the Copenhagen Deposit.

This deposit, along with Keras' flagship Klondyke Gold Project, comprised the Warrawoona Gold Project in the East Pilbara Gold Belt of the Pilbara Goldfield of Western Australia.

BlueRock Diamonds

Shares in BlueRock Diamonds are up more than 5% thanks to a well-received update on operations at Kareevlei, its licence area in the Northern Cape of South Africa.

The licence area contained five known kimberlite pipes.

Getech Group

Shares rose in Getech Group, a provider of natural resources exploration data, as it announced it has won a contract from the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) for a petroleum system related study of the UK continental shelf's South West Approaches region.

The contract win comes on the heels of the publication of the Wood Report for Oil and Gas which said that the government and the oil and gas industry should have a current and easily accessible digital record of the geology and prospectivity of the continental shelf region, and so the 21st Century Roadmap Technical Advisory Committee was set-up to support this and promote investment in the frontier regions.

Horizon Discovery

Gene editing technology company Horizon Discovery has teamed up with a global pharmaceutical to support its drug discovery developments as it aims to increase revenue in 2017.

The AIM-listed company penned a master service agreement with the pharmaceuticals adding to its original agreement to include Horizon's in vitro services, defining the pricing and terms and entry into future deals.
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John Glenn's home rejected as historic

CAMBRIDGE, Ohio (AP)  A New York graduate student seeking historic recognition for John Glenn's birthplace in Ohio says the proposal has been rejected.

The Times-Reporter of Dover-New Philadelphia reports state history officials wrote 24-year-old Adam Sackowitz that the Cambridge home in eastern Ohio where Glenn was born in 1921 wasn't a strong candidate for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Ohio History Connection says the National Park Service now views Glenn's boyhood home in New Concord, where he moved at age 2, as most suitable for recognition.

Sackowitz is continuing to pursue a Glenn statue, signage and historic marker in Cambridge to honor the astronaut and statesman, who died in December at the age of 95.




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Officials are inspecting a 200-foot-long erosion scar on the spillway at Oroville Dam.



By DON THOMPSON

Associated Press

OROVILLE, Calif.  Nearly 200,000 people who were ordered to leave their homes out of fear that a spillway could collapse may not be able to return until the barrier at the nation's tallest dam is repaired, a sheriff said Monday.

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea did not say how long the fixes could take and offered no timetable for lifting the evacuation order. Officials from the California Department of Water Resources were considering using helicopters to drop loads of rock on the eroded spillway at Lake Oroville, about 150 miles northeast of San Francisco.





. . .
Subscriber content preview

ANCHORAGE (AP)  The Environmental Protection Agency halved the number of staffers attending an annual Anchorage forum on issues like climate change in response to a request from President Donald Trump's transition team.

Trump transition official Doug Ericksen told Alaska's Energy Desk in an email that the EPA was directed to limit staff at the conference to save money on travel. This is one small example of how EPA will be working cooperatively with our staff and our outside partners to be better stewards of the American people's money, Ericksen wrote.





. . .
Vodka is usually produced using the same grains; wheat, rye, corn etc. However, vodka can also be started with vegetable mashes such as white beets and potatoes, and using these ingredients  and with the end goal being alcohol that is completely free of any old flavours that usually characterise other alcoholic drinks  means that vodka needs to go through a few extra steps in the distillation and filtration phases.

Many people consider the truly best vodka to be colourless, flavourless and odourless. Something that goes down smooth, caresses the palate like a ninja in kids gloves and then hits you like a freight train in the inner-ear.

The pinnacle of perfection for vodka-makers? Perhaps, its something very much like water. After all thats what the word vodka actually means in Russian.

Best Vodka FAQ

Below are our thirty favourite vodkas from all around the globe which range in price, flavour and appeal, and are what we consider to be the best vodka brands to buy in Australia.
Many people can be cautious when it comes to proposing, but for one former Donegal Peoples Press reporter, this wasnt an issue as he told his wife he was going to marry her on the fourth day he met her.

Many know Paddy Clancy as a veteran reporter, a man who has worked the wires at home and in England and become one of the best known journalists in Irish media.

Few know the softer side of the man who has been known to write stories that have directed the course of history, both here and in England.



Young reporter had a roving eye



Paddy Clancy sat on a bus going to Lifford, when two women came on the bus in Donegal town. One of the women, Bernadette Hanna, caught his eye. Paddy recalls that she got off the bus in Ballybofey.

Paddy continued on his journey to Lifford, where he would meet the chief reporter in the Donegal Peoples Press, he had previously been working in the Sligo Champion.



He lost his voice and couldnt speak



A few months later, Paddy was after returning from a tame affair at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann, when he spotted Bernie, once again, at a dance in Donegal town.

The brave reporter went over and despite the fact that he had lost his voice at the fleadh, made it clear to the beautiful Bernadette that he wished to dance with her.

I had to whisper and for a while, she didnt know what to make of me, he said.

It was on their fourth date, that Paddy was certain that Bernadette was the one for him and he told her exactly that.



Marriage in Brighton and the first export of Hanna hats



The happy young couple got married in Brighton on November 11, 1967, a significant day which Bernadettes father pointed out to Paddy, the anniversary of the date in 1918, that peace was called after World War 1.

This November they will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

Her father who was a tailor, started making a hats about a year before we got married and when he arrived at the wedding, he went down the street and went into a clothes shop and showed them his hats, Paddy recalls.

An order was placed for a half a dozen of the wonderful hats.

That eventful day, marked a new departure for both Paddy and Bernadette and Hanna Hats, as that was the first time an agreement was made to export them and now they are exported throughout the world.
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An international business woman and a former news reader for a national broadcaster, Lisa McKelvey, can recall the actual moment that her wonderful partner, Trevor Parsons, proposed to her.

The romantic duo were in Dublin for Valentines day ,the most romantic day of the year. The former Mary from Dungloe was working in RTE at that time.

Trevor told her that they were going away for the night and picked her up in Donnybrook in an exceptionally fancy car. He then surprised Lisa by telling her that they were staying in one of Dublins most famous hotels, The Shelbourne.



Room covered in rose petals

They enjoyed a romantic lunch and were going to their room when Trevor surprised her again by telling her he was going to cover her eyes, when they entered the room, their song began to play and when Lisa looked down Trevor was down on one knee. The room was covered in rose petals. There was a huge sign on the bed, which said: Lisa will you marry me?

It was a wonderful surprise and the rest is history, Lisa told the Donegal Democrat.



Moved to America

Lisa began her new venture in Boston, Just Happy Tears and it is doing exceptionally well. The business provides customised writing and gifts for any occasion. Weddings and engagements are a huge part of what the couple focus on.

Lisa said: Its in its infancy but it has taken off really nicely with weddings and engagements being a big market for us. Just Happy Tears has been featured on weddings blogs like Emmas wedding blog and Donegal Bride.
A Donegal County Councillor has sworn at a council meeting while labelling council staff as arrogant.

Independent councillor John ODonnell launched a verbal attack on council engineers at todays meeting of the Letterkenny Municipal District.

Cllr ODonnell was speaking on a motion he tabled at the meeting calling for the council to install a yellow box at two roundabouts in Letterkenny to help relieve congestion, due to drivers in slow moving traffic blocking the roundabout.

A written answer from the council said the council's roads section had assessed the two locations and found that installing a yellow box was not appropriate.

But an angry Cllr. O'Donnell disagreed with the response from the council and accused engineers of not listening to councilors and the public.

I would say yous are arrogant, he said.

You engineers are arrogant and you're not listening to us and youre not listening to the people. I f****** might as well turn that phone off, he said.

He had called on the council to install yellow boxes on the inward lanes the Mountain Top and Pramerica roundabouts.

I can't see why it is a problem to install these boxes. We are not making progress, he said.

The motion was seconded by Sinn Fein councillor Gerry McMonagle who said the hospital roundabout has experienced serious gridlock in the last week.

It's drivers behaviour we need to do something about - to make them think, he said.
The governments on both sides of the border have been called on to further develop cross border health services in the north west region.

The call was made by Donegal cancer services campaign group Co-operating for Cancer Care NorthWest at a joint ministerial visit of the North West Cancer Centre at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry by Northern Ireland health minister Michelle ONeill and the Republics health minister, Simon Harris.

The 50 million cross-border cancer centre opened in Derry in November.

Members of CCC(NW) have long campaigned for this much needed facility to treat cancer patients in the North West Region of this Island, ending for the majority of radiotherapy patients in Donegal the very stressful journeys of travelling to Dublin or Galway. It has taken many years for this project to reach its end goal and it's fantastic that treatments have commenced, the group said.

Donegal TD and minister for state Joe McHugh also attended the tour of the new facility.

I want to pay tribute to all those who campaigned for this centre over many years and who can now see the end result, he said.

There are nursing staff from Gaoth Dobhair and others parts of Donegal now working at the radiotherapy centre at Altnagelvin and that is an important part of the care being delivered.

Patients from Donegal are getting a first class service from highly-trained professionals using equipment which is world-class.

Minister McHugh spoke with Minister Harris at todays tour about enhancing services in Letterkenny University Hospital as well as more cross-Border services where appropriate.

Donegal Senator Padraig Mac Lochlainn described the centre as "a victory for people power".

"Today is a proud day for the cancer campaign groups in Donegal and Derry. They told their harrowing stories of having to travel to Galway, Dublin and Belfast and rightly said that this had to stop.

They said that the people of Donegal, Derry and the North West deserved equality of access to cancer care and they campaigned vigorously for our peoples rights.

They have demonstrated what can be achieved when our people and our governments work together."
The first salmon from the famous Drowes River was caught on Sunday last, February 12th, by Bangor angler William Rainey around 11.30am, four miles from the sea, near the Four Masters Bridge on the Donegal/Leitrim border.

The 8lbs sea liced fish was taken on a worm at the Mill Pool, by William, on what was his first visit to the river in 2017.

The river is famous for delivering up the first salmon of the year, but in 2017 catching the first salmon proved elusive, but it wasnt for the lack of trying, as the river saw large numbers of anglers on the banks from the day fishery opened on January 1st.

In 2016 the first salmon wasnt landed until January 23rd, by Ballybofey angler Eddie Roulston; a year earlier the first salmon was caught on January 28th.

Last Sundays catch is the latest in the year since records began 40 years ago in 1977.

Bangor angler William Rainey with the salmon he caught on Sunday.

Shane Gallagher, manager of the Drowes Fishery, told the Democrat: In the 40 years since we monitored this we have more or less constantly caught the first salmon in the country on opening day, but more recently the run times for salmon seem to be getting later.

There was always a tradition that the first salmon was bought by a local hotel or restaurant and the fee paid donated to charity, but new regulations dont allow this to happen these days.

In this case the angler retained the fish.

Shane told us that the Drowes Fishery is offering an incentive to anglers to catch and release their salmon. Any angler who catches and releases a salmon between now and the 1st of May will get a free day fishing on the Drowes, worth 25 euro.

Research shows us that 85 per cent of the early running salmon are female, so in terms of conservation it make sense that we would encourage catch and release, and thats why we have the added incentive of the free day fishing here. Incidentally, a prize of a Go Pro camera can still be won by Drowse River anglers for the first salmon caught and released.



First Salmon

Meanwhile, the first salmon caught in Ireland, a distinction enjoyed so often by the Drowes, was landed on Wednesday, February 1st in the Careysville Fishery on the Munster Blackwater on the opening day of the river, according to Inland Fisheries Ireland. Angler Ronan OConnor caught a fresh run salmon in Fermoy, Co. Cork.

The salmon weighed 7lbs and was confirmed as the first salmon caught in 2017 by Inland Fisheries Ireland. The fish was caught while the river was high with around two foot visibility at 4pm on Wednesday. OConnors success followed a morning of stormy weather which cleared slightly before he managed to catch the elusive salmon.

"Hugely valuable" resource

Ciaran Byrne, CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland said: The 2017 fishing season has commenced in earnest now and we are delighted that the first salmon of the New Year has been caught. Ireland is known as an angling destination across Europe as a result of its indigenous wild fish populations and impressive scenery. With over 273,600 domestic anglers in Ireland, Ronan OConnor did extremely well to secure the title for catching the first fish of 2017.

We look forward to growing angling participation in Ireland even more this year. Our fisheries resource is hugely valuable and offers rural communities sustainable tourism and job opportunities outside of the traditional tourist seasons. We will continue to work with these communities to develop our angling infrastructure and improve access with a view to increasing angling participation and growing local economic growth as a result.

Anglers looking for fishing information in Ireland in 2017 can visit www.fishinginireland.info for the latest news and fishing reports. For those looking to try out fishing for the first time, Inland Fisheries Ireland will run a number of Education and Outreach initiatives throughout the year with all information posted on www.fisheriesireland.ie.

Inland Fisheries Ireland is also inviting the public to help protect and conserve the fisheries resource during the year by reporting incidents to its confidential hotline number telephone1890 34 74 24 or 1890 FISH 24. The phone line is designed to encourage the reporting of incidents of illegal fishing, water pollution and invasive species.
Dungloe District Court has heard that in west Donegal, female solicitors are now outnumbering their male counterparts, which is following a national trend in the legal profession.

New Dungloe-based solicitor, Geraldine Boyle, was welcomed at today's sitting of the court by local solicitor Sean Bonnar.

He outlined Mrs Boyle is originally from Scotland but returned to Ireland with her family in 1999. She began her early education in Scotland and studied for a law degree at LYIT where she graduated with a first class honours degree. She is the wife of solicitor Michael Gillespie who has been based in west Donegal for over 15 years.

"Welcome trend"

Mr Bonnar said of the 14 solicitors practicing in the region, there are now eight women and six men.

Judge Paul Kelly said he endorsed the welcoming comments of Mr Bonnar and added the increase in the number female practitioners was a "welcome trend".

He stated that she was surrounded by some of the "most able practitioners in the county" and he urged her to seek their advice when possible as they would all be "helpful".

Garda Inspector Sean Grant said on behalf of the gardai he would also like to welcome her to court and wished her well with her career.

Mrs Boyle thanked everyone for their comments and outlined that she has been working in Mr Gillespie's office since 2009.
The engineering students at Enterprise High School have hit the floor running this year by building robots and creating 3D models, along with countless other projects, but now theyve been given a task by a company for a real world challenge to apply their knowledge.

Environmental Analyst Kasey King with Georgia Power came to the high school last week to present Josh Kings engineering students with an industry design challenge.

Within my professional field, we are always looking for better designed tools and equipment, Kasey King said. Since these students have access to CAD software and 3D printers, it just made sense to challenge them to design some equipment I could really use. I was very impressed with the kids creativity and problem solving skills and look forward to seeing their designs.

The students were able to choose between four different projects, ranging from a filter assembly to a glassware stand. They are working to make the design better and more user friendly. The students will then create a video to explain the design features and usefulness of their product. The top videos in each class will be sent to King at Georgia Power.

This is as real world as it gets. The students are using the skills learned in class to create a product that will help industry, EHS engineering teacher Josh King said. They are learning so many problem solving skills through this challenge and getting a taste of doing real engineering consultant work.

Josh King said that it would be his dream to have the students get a patent on their design, and that their product could be used in industries across the nation.

The students are getting to experience the full process of their craft by creating and implementing a designs, 3D printing prototypes of their creations and making promotional videos explaining their product and its benefits.
The McKameys will be at Samson First Baptist Church on Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. A love offering will be taken. Call 334-898-2213 for more information.

Temple Emanu-El will host Neighbor Night on Friday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. Members of the community are invited to attend the Temples worship service, and Rabbi Lynne Goldsmith will explain the parts of the service. There will be a reception following the service. Temple Emanu-El is located at 188 N. Park Ave.

Aglow International Meeting will be held Saturday, Feb. 18, at 10 a.m. at Po Folks in Enterprise. Guest speaker will be Rose Stephens from Dothan. For more information, call 334-406-9683.

Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Headland will present A Change is Gonna Come, written by Karen Boyd, on Feb. 18 in honor of Black History Month. Presented by the Performing Arts Ministry, the stage play will begin at 6 p.m. A Wax Museum will be held at 5 p.m. The church is located at 12 Martin Luther King Drive.

New Hope Baptist Church in Brundidge will hold its annual Chili Cook-Off and Cake Auction on Feb. 18 at 6 p.m. in the New Hope Fellowship Hall. The church is at 5711 County Road 114. Proceeds from cake auction go to missionaries in the field, Ryan and Philann Stewart with Forgotten Children Ministries and Chase and Kimmey Barbrey with For Life Ministries. For more information, call Judy at 334-475-6098.

Patterson Street Free Will Baptist Church will host the Patterson Street Scholarship Banquet on Feb. 18 at 5 p.m. at the church, located at 406 Patterson St. in Dothan. Guest speaker will be Darius McKay. A $10 donation is requested.

Grimes Gospel Lighthouse, 1512 County Road 25, Grimes, will host local talent on Feb. 18 and Michael McGowan on Feb. 25. Music starts at 7 p.m. Admission is free; offering will be taken. Call 334-983-4654 or 334-714-4658 for more information.

Klondyke Gospel Music Center, located between Newton and Ozark at 3885 Highway 123 S., will host: Heartline Trio from Prattville, Feb. 18; Jordans River from Rockledge, Georgia, Feb. 25. Music starts at 7 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, contact Ron Jeffers, president and concert coordinator, at 334-797-9862.

Cloverdale United Methodist Church at 102 Rollins Ave. in Dothan will celebrate their 63rd Homecoming on Feb. 19. The special speaker will be the Rev. Mark Lilly. Services will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a covered dish lunch following the morning worship service.

Balkum Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 10014 County Road 53, Headland, will hold a 10th Appreciation service for Pastor James E. and Charlo Melton on Sunday, Feb. 19, at 2:30 p.m. Guest speaker will be the Rev. Wilbert Dawsey, pastor of Burdeshaw Street Missionary Baptist Church in Dothan. All pastors and their churches are invited. Dinner will be served in the fellowship hall.

Glory To Him Church, 6193 Andrews Ave., Ozark, will be celebrating its 30th Church Anniversary on Sunday, Feb. 19, at 10 a.m. with a special service featuring guest speaker, Dr. Jesse Duplantis. Known throughout the world as the Apostle of Joy, Jesse Duplantis has been sharing a memorable mix of strong, biblical preaching and hilarious life lessons every week on television for years. His unique way of ministering the Gospel and making Jesus real to all generations has made him one of the most loved ministers today. This event is open to the public and everyone is welcome. For more information, call 334-774-7677 or visit www.jdm.org or www.gthchurch.com.

The Masterworks Choir of Enterprise will present selections from Mendelssohn's Elijah and other music on Feb. 19 at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Enterprise with guest organist Urs Tolotti from North Carolina. Besides several choruses from Elijah, Tolotti will play pieces by J.S. Bach and Mendelssohn. Soloists will sing selections and the program will finish with the WindNotes Youth Choir singing Elijah Rocks. The concert is free but donations are welcome. Enterprise First Baptist Church is located at 302 N. Main St. in Enterprise. For more information, visit the Masterworks Choir's Facebook page or call 334-390-1009.

St. John AME Church, 3 St. John St., Abbeville, will celebrate Founders Day on Sunday, Feb. 19, with a service at 3 p.m. The Rev. Eddie W. Thomas, moderator of the Abbeville District Association and pastor of Mary Magdalene Baptist Church in Abbeville and Mount Sinai Baptist Church in Newville, will serve as the guest preacher. The celebration theme is Standing on the Promises of God.

Fadette Pentecostal Ministries will host revival services with guest speaker the Rev. Fred Wynn on Sunday, Feb. 19, through Thursday, Feb. 23. Service times will be Sunday at 10:50 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Monday through Thursday services will be at 7 p.m. Fadette Pentecostal Ministries is located at 5161 S. State Highway 103 in Fadette. For more information, call the church at 334-886-2102.

Pleasant Shade Missionary Baptist Church will host the Iron Sharpening Iron Conference on Feb. 22 and Feb. 24-25. The conference begins Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 6:30 p.m. and continues on Friday, Feb. 24, from 6-8 p.m., and culminates on Saturday, Feb. 25, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The Revs. Kevin Griffin, Trevor Woolridge and E. Steven Richardson are collaborating to offer teaching that is biblical and relevant to the changing of lives through an abundant relationship with Christ.

The Dothan Evening Community Lighthouse of Aglow International will meet on the fourth Thursday, Feb. 23, at 5:30 p.m. at Shoneys Restaurant in Dothan. The guest speaker is Alice Duke. All are invited to attend.
A Cottonwood man charged with murder in connection with a 2014 single-vehicle crash that resulted in the death of another man, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Circuit Judge Larry Anderson sentenced Chase Aaron Mathis, 23, to 15 years in prison for his responsibility in the death of Jeffrey Jordan Speed.

A Houston County grand jury returned an indictment in June of 2015 against Mathis, charging him with murder. The incident happened Dec. 4, 2014. A police investigation indicated Mathis was the driver of a red pickup truck when he lost control and left the road on Hartford Highway before eventually hitting a tree.

Police indicated the primary factor in the crash was the driver being under the influence of an impairing substance.

The case was set for trial multiple times. Court records indicate the trial date was continued in May of 2016 due to a request from the prosecution over the objection of the defense. It was continued again in November after an agreement by both parties.

Court records indicate the prosecution filed a motion on Friday to amend the indictment to include manslaughter, a Class B felony. The defense consented to the amended indictment. Mathis then pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Mathis is currently serving 17 years for a 2015 first-degree arson conviction. His manslaughter sentence will run concurrent with the arson sentence.

Persons convicted of Class B felonies can be sentenced to between two and 20 years in prison. Escalated sentence ranges apply if the defendant has prior felony convictions. Mathis also has a prior conviction for third-degree escape.

Mathis is also ordered to pay a fine of $2,000, a victims compensation assessment of $500, a bail bond fee of $750 and contract attorney fees of $2,500. The State of Alabama has 30 days to request restitution.

Dothan attorney Eric Davis represented Mathis.
MARIANNA, Florida - Officials released the names of the two women on Monday who were shot to death in a mobile home in the Rocky Creek area of Jackson County on Saturday, and released an unsettling detail that led them to the suspected killer: He was the emergency contact person for one of the women he is believed to have killed.

William Hawk, 75, of Fountain, is charged with two open counts of murder in the case in which 61-year-old Mary Reed and 33-year-old Kassi Henderson were found dead around 11:30 p.m. in the living room of Reeds home at 1887 Crystal Lane. They are believed to have been killed around 8:45 p.m.

The Jackson County Sheriffs Office says Reed and Hawk had been in a relationship and that the shooting appeared to be a deadly instance of domestic violence.

A disrupted 911 call had led officials to the scene that night. The woman calling had not been able to give any names before the line went dead. She had only been able to give the address and say he has a gun before the call disconnected. The responding deputy would eventually force his way into the home and find the bodies. It was his troubling conversation with Hawk a little less than three hours after that 911 call that led the deputy to take that action.

Initially, the officer had canvassed the neighborhood when no one came to the door at the Reed home following the disconnected 911 call. There were no outer signs that anyone had broken in or other apparent circumstances that could justify forced entry at that point, officials say.

Authorities learned that the neighbors had heard a vehicle leaving, and before that, noises they thought were slamming doors. Officials speculate now that those noises may have instead been gunshots. Although officials did not disclose where in their bodies the women were shot, or how many times, they do say the trauma was so extreme that it is very unlikely that their lives could have been saved if the officer had breached the door immediately upon arriving in response to the 911 call.

A single handgun has been recovered and is believed to have been used in the killings. That gun was taken from Hawk when, officials allege, he returned to the scene around 2 a.m. Sunday. That was more than five hours after the women may have been killed and roughly 2.5 hours after the bodies were discovered.

Investigators were still working the scene at 2 a.m. when they were alerted by an officer who had driven some distance away that a slow-moving truck was approaching which met the description given by neighbors as the one theyd seen leaving around the time they heard noise at the Reed home hours earlier. Officials say Hawk was behind the wheel of that truck. In the arrest complaint, officials stated that Hawk opened the door of his truck when he rolled up that morning and said Yall looking for me? Im the shooter. Hawk initially refused to comply with orders to get out of the vehicle. Instead, he produced a weapon and was shot by an officer as he continued moving with it toward officers after opening the door to his truck and announcing that he was the shooter, authorities allege.

Officials said while he was receiving emergency care immediately after the shooting, he asked deputies to shoot and kill him.

He was treated for non-life threatening injuries at Southeast Alabama Medical Center in Dothan that Sunday morning and was later booked into jail on two open counts of murder as well a charge of aggravated assault upon a law enforcement officer based on his alleged behavior on arrival at the scene Sunday morning. Officials say Hawk also reportedly shot his dog at his residence in Fountain. He allegedly told officers that hed been drinking when he armed himself with a .357-revolver and that hed shot Reed in an argument over their past romantic relationship. He also allegedly admitted that hed shot his dog as he would not be around to take care of it, officials said in recounting his confession. Authorities would not confirm or deny the type and caliber of weapon seized in the case.

Hawk was being held in the Jackson County jail without bond as of late Monday afternoon.
Alabamas new attorney general, Steve Marshall took the oath of office Monday, and, to his great credit, addressed the elephant in the room  the investigation into potential wrongdoing by Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley.

A scandal that began with revelations of an inappropriate relationship between the governor and a former top advisor, Rebekah Caldwell Mason, has grown to fuel questions about former Attorney General Luther Stranges request that lawmakers suspend an impeachment probe as his office was working on an unspecified investigation.

Bentley appointed Strange to the U.S. Senate last week to fill the seat vacated by Jeff Sessions, who was confirmed as U.S. Attorney General in the Trump administration.

Strange ascended to the U.S. Senate without mentioning the status of an investigation into Bentley.

On Monday, Marshall acknowledged controversy surrounding Bentley, and told reporters he did not know what investigative work Strange was talking about when he asked lawmakers to suspend the impeachment probe.

And he said he would recuse himself from any investigation into Bentley.

Thats a good first step for the new attorney general, but should be followed by the creation of a team of prosecutors to proceed with the investigation in his personal recusal.

Marshall has said his priorities will be fighting human trafficking and public corruption.

The Bentley investigation is paramount to the latter.
Wiregrass Works is connecting current workers with available jobs and creating a solid labor pool for the areas future, sponsoring two workforce events next Tuesday.

The organization will host a career exploration event Tuesday morning at the National Peanut Festival. About 5,700 students from schools in Alabama, Georgia and Florida will attend the event, which will provide them with hands-on learning opportunities in various in-demand career fields.

Mike Tew, president of Wiregrass Works, said the event will allow students to get a feel for a variety of career opportunities that dont always get a lot of attention.

Most kids have no idea whats out there, he said. There are a lot of opportunities out there that dont require a four-year degree.

Tew said there is a critical demand for skilled laborers in a variety of fields. He said most of these jobs require career technical training rather than a college education. For students who may not be interested in traditional academics, but have an aptitude for mechanical and other skills, these jobs can provide an excellent standard of living.

Tew said recruiting workers for these jobs is important to drawing industry to the Wiregrass, as many manufacturing and related businesses insist on having a strong labor pool to choose from when relocating to an area.

The career exploration event starts at 8 a.m. Later that evening, Wiregrass Works will host a job fair to allow workers to connect with employers searching for talent. Employers will be hiring for 600 available positions at the fair. Tew said men and women seeking work should be prepared to interview on site. The fair will be in Building 7 (old Winn Dixie building) of the National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds.

Theyre looking for everything from entry level to executive, he said.

Wiregrass Works is a state-supported program, sponsored by the Workforce Council of Alabama, Region 6.
The Elba Police Department is currently searching for Ben Nelson, 38, of Elba, after a missing persons report was filed in Geneva County and then passed along to Elba Police.

Nelson was last seen in Elba. His Chevrolet Tahoe was found on Highway 189 before being towed.

Nelson is 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 180 pounds. He has brown and gray hair and blue eyes. He also has a birthmark on his arm that is described as resembling a burn, as well as a scar on the left side of his neck. Nelson frequents both Samson and Troy.

Nelsons family and Elba Police are requesting that anyone with information on Nelsons whereabouts contact the police department immediately at 334-897-2555.
Home Four wheelers Nissan Sued By South Korea For Manipulating Mileage Test Results oi-Rajkamal

Japanese carmaker Nissan's South Korean unit has been sued by South Korea for manipulating mileage test results in the Infiniti Q50 sedan. The ministry is also investigating Porsche and BMW in regards to this matter.

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Irish Life, which is part of the global Great-West Lifeco group of companies, has announced today that it plans to increase its presence in Dundalk, with the building of a new Irish Life Customer Service Centre in Finnabair Business Park. The proposed new office space reinforces the commitment that Irish Life has made to both its employees and the local community of Dundalk over many years.

David Harney, Chief Executive of Irish Life, was present at the announcement today, which was also attended by Irish Life employees, members of Dundalk Chamber of Commerce, Louth County Council, the IDA and local representatives.

The proposed new site area is 1.6 hectares with an office size of 45,000 sq. feet (net). The new building planned will accommodate omni-channel Customer Service contacts in an open plan office space over three floors, including associated car park spaces, bicycle parking and landscaping. A planning application will be submitted to Louth County Council in the coming weeks for the proposed site development.

Irish Life has operated a Customer Service Centre in Dundalk since 2002 and is a key employer in the area, currently employing 160 staff. All current Irish Life employees based in Dundalk will move to the new building upon completion, which has the capacity for future growth.

Commenting on the announcement, David Harney, Chief Executive of Irish Life, said; We are delighted to make this expansion announcement, which reinforces our continued commitment to the local area and our employees based in Dundalk. As one of Irelands largest employers, this commitment to a new premises demonstrates our investment in the future of service operations in the area as we continue to grow our pension, investment and health businesses.

The expansion of our operations in Dundalk is an indication of our future growth strategy for the company, in keeping with our ambitious plans for 2017 and beyond. A new and larger premises for our Customer Service Centre also reflects our continued customer-first focus, which is a core element of our business.

Subject to a successful planning application, it is expected that work on the new building will start later this year, and will be completed in 2018.
A new documentary by Dundalk filmmaker Niall McCann, 'Lost in France' screens as an exclusive cinema event on Tuesday 21 February, broadcasting live from Glasgow to cinemas across the UK and Ireland.

This will be followed by a once-off performance broadcast live via satellite from the Glasgow O2 ABC, featuring a supergroup including Alex Kapranos (Franz Ferdinand), Stuart Braithwaite (Mogwai), RM Hubbert, Emma Pollock and Paul Savage (The Delgados). Hosted by the Glasgow Film Festival.

'Lost In France' explores the rise of Scotlands independent music scene in the '90s, led by cult label Chemikal Underground.

Featuring The Delgados, Bis, Mogwai, Arab Strap, Franz Ferdinand and other seminal acts, this is an intimate film exploring friendship, creativity and music.

On the journey, the film revisits a defining, chaotic trip early in the musicians careers, re-staging a concert in Brittany that connects the characters in life (and on stage) for the first time in many years.

Niall is from Priorland Road in Dundalk originally, but lives in Dublin now. he went to the CBS in town and Colaiste Ris.

REVIEWS:

"After his sharp-edged documentary about art-pop agitator Luke Haines, Art Will Save The World, director Niall McCann broadens his scope without losing punch" - Kevin Harley, Screen International

Fascinating film - The Scotsman

A warm-spirited mix of glowing nostalgia, tremendous music, gang bonds and on-point politics - Screen International

"An intermittently delicate portrait of a particular kind of ageing... this is like finding old photos in the cupboard, being prompted to remember" - Eye on Film

Check out http://www.lostinfrancefilm.com/ for more info and tickets.
The national intellectual property agency has introduced world-leading trade mark image recognition technology to make it easier for Australias small businesses and entrepreneurs to protect their logos and brands.

The technology has been incorporated into IP Australias new Australian Trademark Search Tool to make the process of searching for similar logos simpler and faster for businesses.

The tool was launched by Assistant Minister for Innovation, Craig Laundy, who explained that in the past, businesses searching for similar trade marks had to undertake complex searches using written descriptions of a logo image. He said business can now use images to search IP Australias database of over 400,000 trade mark applications and have results returned in seconds.

The technology, developed by Queensland start-up TrademarkVision, uses multiple algorithms to detect objects within an image and make instantaneous comparisons across Australias entire trade mark database, returning any similar marks in seconds.

Patricia Kelly, Director General at IP Australia said the innovation would save businesses and individuals considerable time during the trade mark application process and increase confidence that their trade mark application would be successful.

Australian Trade Mark Search will greatly enhance the experience of customers and improve results, she said.

The ability to find similar trade mark images is an essential part of the application process. We anticipate that providing an effective, easy-to-use search tool will lead to better quality trade mark applications that are more likely to succeed. This has benefits for IP Australia and our customers, especially small businesses and sole operators and even our professional attorney customers.

For more information about IP Australia, head to www.ipaustralia.gov.au.
Mr. Pham Cao Phong speaking at the event (Photo: VNA)



Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) shakes hands with Peng Qing Hua, Secretary of the Party Committee of Chinas Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Source: VNA)



Delegates at the ceremony (Photo: VNA)



A view of Nha Trang city (Photo: VNA)



Photo for illustration. (Source: dantri.com.vn)



Overview of the 39th meeting of the Laos-Vietnam Inter-Governmental Committee (Photo: VNA)



President Donald Trump (Photo: EPA/VNA)



The 87th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3rd) was solemnly organized by the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia on February 6th.Guangxi province will do its best to implement the shared perception between Vietnamese and Chinese State and Party leaders as well as expand cooperation with Vietnamese localities, stated Peng Qing Hua, Secretary of the Party Committee of Chinas Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.The 110th birth anniversary of the late Party General Secretary Truong Chinh was marked at a ceremony in the northern province of Nam Dinh on February 9th.The preparations for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings to be held in Nha Trang city have been well done, the Khanh Hoa provincial steering committee on APEC 2017 organization said on February 7th.In January 2017, Vietnam lured 175 new FDI projects with a total capital of USD1.244 billion, a year-on-year rise of 23%, reported the Ministry of Planning and Investments Foreign Investment Agency.The local media in Laos on February 10th gave much space to highlight the success of the 39th meeting of the Laos-Vietnam Inter-Governmental Committee, saying that it will lay firm foundation for both countries to lift up their ties to a new height.On February 5th, the White House said President Donald Trump agreed to join a meeting of leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in Europe in May./.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives Israeli Ambassador to Vietnam Meirav Eilon Shahar (Source: VNA)



The two countries boast a great potential for cooperation in many fields like health care, defence and IT, the diplomat said during a reception given by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Hanoi on February 13th.

She said she hoped a business forum will be held on the occasion of the visit to boost trade links between the two countries enterprises, adding that Israel is expanding investment in Vietnam, especially in training human resources and, receiving Vietnamese citizens to Israel to study agriculture and start-up.

While expressing her pleasure to witness the strong development in the Vietnam-Israel relations, the ambassador affirmed the early conclusion of negotiations and signing of a free trade agreement between the two nations will contribute to stepping up the bilateral ties.

For his part, PM Phuc expressed his hope that cooperation between the two sides will be stronger and flourished in the coming time.

Sharing the ambassadors opinion, the host suggested the Israeli embassy enhance coordination with the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry to expand cooperation activities.

Vietnam welcomes Israeli companies to invest in the country, he added.

He called on the Israeli side to soon recognise Vietnams market economy, and support the Southeast Asian nation in developing the fields of cyber security, agriculture, labor and defence  the strengths of Israel./.
Almost four years after being poached from a critical post at Google to join Chinese upstart Xiaomi, Hugo Barra on Monday announced he will return to Silicon Valley in February.

Barra, who led the Xiaomis overseas expansion as vice president, international, explained the move largely as a desire to reconnect with his family and restore a sense of normalcy to his life.

However, it also coincides with a widespread perception that Xiaomis international growth has run into a great wall.

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 a Facebook post. 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.

Senior Vice President Xiang Wang reportedly will take over Barras post at Xiaomi.

Barra thanked company CEO Lei Jun, calling him a mentor and friend, and noted that the executive has asked him to stay on indefinitely as an advisor to the firm.

US Launch, Chinese Market

Barras move comes just weeks after the firm made its long-awaited debut at CES in Las Vegas, where it introduced Mi TV 4 and a white version of the Mi MIX smartphone for the Chinese market, along with a range of products for the Mi Ecosystem.

His decision is certain to have far reaching implications for the company, which was considered one of the fastest-growing smartphone makers in the world. Barra, who was vice president of product management at Google before leaving in 2013, is widely credited with helping Xiaomi reach a global valuation of US$45 billion, introducing its products into key international markets across Asia and Europe.

However, Xiaomi recently has stumbled. The has lost market share to competing firms, including Vivo and Oppo, in its core Chinese market. Oppo became the leading smartphone maker in China, growing mainly due to increased offline sales that were less dependent on operator subsidies, according to an IDC report released last fall.

During his tenure, India became Xiaomis largest international market, with $1 billion in annual revenue, faster than any company in the countrys history, Barra noted. The company also expanded into Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia on his watch, and recently added 20 other new markets including Russia, Poland and Mexico.

Xiaomi also worked with Google to launch its first-ever official product in the U.S. at CES 2017.

Mixed Legacy

Its an interesting move, especially as he was the lead spokesman for Xiaomi internationally, said Ryan Reith, program vice president for worldwide mobile device trackers at IDC.

Barra has been a key figure in the companys patent acquisition strategy and was the point person in the companys relationships with foreign telco firms, Reith told the E-Commerce Times.

Despite those successes, Xiaomis decision to hire Barra was problematic, according to Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group, who described it as a bad skill match.

Xiaomi stumbled in a couple of key areas during Barras tenure there, and it is still feeling the ramifications of those mistakes, Enderle told the E-Commerce Times.

It is a far different thing to convince OEMs to use [Android], a free OS that was modeled after one they couldnt license, iOS, than it is to sell phones to end users, Enderle said, referring to Barras prior tenure as part of Googles Android expansion team.

On the one hand, you are giving people something they want for free, and on the other hand you are competing with a bunch of folks for a limited set of far less sophisticated buyers, Enderle observed.

Xiaomi wasted resources on the international expansion, he maintained, while failing to pay enough attention to domestic sales and product development in its own home market, which caused the company to bleed market share.
Facing growing pressure to respond to growing wireless data demands in the U.S. mobile phone market, Verizon finally relented. The company on Sunday announced its own unlimited smartphone option while keeping alternatives open for lighter data users.

Verizons new introductory plan provides unlimited data on smartphones or tablets, along with unlimited texts and phone calls, for US$80 per month. The deal is restricted to customers who sign up for autopay.

The Verizon plan includes HD video streaming, mobile hotspot service, calling and texting to Canada and Mexico, and 500 MB a day of roaming in those countries.

Customers also will have the option of adding a connected smartwatch, GizmoPal or other connected device for $5 a month, or an overseas TravelPass allowing up to 500 MB per day for $10 a month.

Customers will get 10 GB of 4G LTE data per month, and 3 GB after that, the company said. After 22 MB of data usage, Verizon may prioritize customers in the event of network congestion.

Weve built our network so we can manage all the activity customers undertake, said Ronan Dunne, president of Verizons wireless division.

Verizon customers who dont use a lot of data will have other options, including 5G small, medium and large plans, he said.

Bad Business?

Verizon, one of the leading wireless carriers in the U.S., has resisted offering unlimited plans for years  last month, it even ran a full page ad touting the fact that it didnt have to so.

Most customers did not need unlimited plans, former CFO Fran Shammo told a Goldman Sachs investor conference last fall, warning that unlimited plan abusers can wreak havoc on your network and hurt cash flow.

All of the competing firms with unlimited plans eventually would show cracks in the armor, as tests showed problems due to the high usage of video under those plans, he also warned.

Verizon claims to have the nations largest 4G LTE network, covering 2.4 million square miles and 314 million people.

Resistance Was Futile

Verizon was forced to react to competing plans because new customers were choosing its competitors and some existing customers were jumping ship, suggested telecom analyst Jeff Kagan.

It was never a matter of it, only when Verizon Wireless would do this, he told the E-Commerce Times.

T-Mobile, considered the market leader in terms of promoting unlimited plans, reported last month that it added 8.2 million net customers in 2016, marking the third year in a row that it added more than 8 million customers.

Told You So

The CEO of T-Mobile took to his familiar practice of throwing shade on Twitter, blasting Verizon for coming late to the party.

OMG. FINALLY. Only took @Verizon 4 years to realize customers dont want limits. #bouttime #yourewelcome https://t.co/KARKmCmRGA

 John Legere (@JohnLegere) February 12, 2017

Verizons unlimited plan might be the most expensive ever, Legere also tweeted, and he suggested they might want to include taxes and fees, as T-Mobile does.

Legere returned to social media Monday afternoon to announce that T-mobile would one-up Verizon by throwing in HD video and 10 GB of hotspot data.

6/ Starting Fri, #TMobileONE price includes HD video & 10GB high-speed hotspot data all at no extra charge. AND taxes & fees are included!

 John Legere (@JohnLegere) February 13, 2017

The Verizon bashing didnt end with T-Mobile, as Sprint piled on.

Not much we can say to speculate on Verizons decision making, except theyre likely trying to catch up to Sprint, said John Votava, spokesperson for Sprint.

Verizon said time and time again that customers dont need unlimited. Now theyve changed their tune, he told the E-Commerce Times.

The Sprint unlimited plan offer allows customers to get unlimited talk, text and data for $50 per month, Votava said, noting that the deal is available until the end of March.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Greek Foreign Minister N. Kotzias (Source: VNA)



During a reception in Hanoi on February 13th for Greek Foreign Minister N. Kotzias, Phuc said given the 40-year cooperation since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties, the two countries need to facilitate visits at all levels and channels, thereby raising mutual understanding and collaboration in potential fields between the two nations.

Vietnam highly values Greeces support for the development of Vietnam-EU ties and the Greek legislatures approval of the Vietnam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, he said, suggesting Greece back the early signing and adoption of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

He expressed his hope that Greece will support Vietnams stance on the East Sea issue, including the settlement of the East Sea issue by peaceful means, including diplomatic and legal measures; the objection to the use of force or threat to use force; and the serious abidance by international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), contributing to maintaining peace, stability and development in the region.

Kotzias, for his part, said Greece holds great potential of goods transit thanks to its geographical location as an important gateway from Asia to Europe.

He affirmed that Greece backs Vietnams strengthening of ties with the EU as well as Vietnam-Greece ties in shipbuilding and culture.

Informing the host of the outcomes of his talks with Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, he said both sides discussed measures to reinforce bilateral links in diverse areas.

The two countries will continue working closely together within the framework of multilateral cooperation mechanisms, he said./.
MADRID - Three leading Spanish textile businesses have joined forces to create a new brand of fibres which is produced from recycled plastic collected from the ocean. Seaqual is the brand name of a yarn developed by Ecoalf, Antex and Textil Santanderina.
The longest aerial bike path in the world opened late January for a trial run in the Xiamen province of China. The concept for this path was designed about eight years ago by middle school students in the annual Xiamen City Youth Science and Technology Innovation Competition.

The aerial bike path offers an alternative travel option in the city to reduce traffic and air pollution. It is undergoing a month-long trial in efforts to promote green transport, Xinhua reported.

The path is nearly five miles long and runs below the citys Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes. It offers 11 exits to subway and bus stations. Bikes can be rented and returned at various locations throughout the city.

The path can accommodate more than 2,000 bikes per hour and has a maximum speed limit of 15 miles per hour. Gates at the entrance to the path will automatically close when its at capacity, according to Co.Exist.

The original design, called the Xiamen BRT Air Bike Road Concept, was created by students from a Xiamen University-affiliated science and technology school. One of the student designers, Li Yunpeng, is pictured below left.

Li Yunpeng (left) and his classmates design the Xiamen aerial bike path. Photo credit: Chen Lu

The paths highest section is 16 feet off the ground, a measurement which mimics the original design. The students also suggested that the paths link to public transit hubs.

Early reviews of the path are positive. Its nice to ride a bicycle under the blue sky in the sunshine, local resident Wu Xueying told Xinhua. He also commented that the guardrail helped him to feel safe.

Another resident said his work commute took the same amount of time whether he drove a car or biked on the aerial path, Xinhua reported.

A similar undertaking is the Cykelslangen, or Cycle Snake, an elevated bike track in Copenhagen. Another recently unveiled innovative bike path is Texas A&M Universitys solar-powered, glow-in-the-dark bike lane.
By Andy Rowell

A federal judge refused to issue a temporary injunction Monday against construction of the highly controversial Dakota Access Pipeline.

The latest setback for the First Nations fighting the pipeline means that it could be operational in as little as 30 days, according to a lawyer for the company building it, Energy Transfer Partners.

https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/status/831114496651444224

In court Monday, lawyers for the Cheyenne River and Standing Rock Sioux tribes had argued that Lake Oahe, which the pipeline crosses, is sacred: The Lakota people believe that the pipeline correlates with a terrible Black Snake prophesied to come into the Lakota homeland and cause destruction. The Lakota believe that the very existence of the Black Snake under their sacred waters in Lake Oahe will unbalance and desecrate the water.

They added the pipeline would desecrate the waters upon which the Cheyenne River Sioux tribal members rely for their most important religious practices.

Cheyenne River Sioux tribe chair Harold Frazier also argued that to put that pipeline in the ground would be irreparable harm for us in our culture.

The judge, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg rejected the claim, though. He argued that he was not ruling on whether the pipeline was a good or bad idea, but whether construction would cause imminent harm.

To this end, he ruled that as long as oil actually is not flowing along the pipeline, there is no risk of imminent harm to the tribes, who had argued the pipeline poised a threat on religious grounds. The threat of harm to the tribe comes from when the spigots are turned on and the oil flows through the pipeline, argued the judge.

Although this is a setback for the Indigenous water protectors fighting the pipeline, the judge did say he would consider the case more thoroughly on Feb. 27.

Michael Jackson's Daughter Uses Grammys Stage to Protest Dakota Access Pipeline https://t.co/qsIzwrPcff @KXLBlockade @Indigeneity  EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) February 13, 2017

The Associated Press reported yesterday that although a spokeswoman for the company building the pipeline, Energy Transfer Partners, said last week that it could be operational in about 3 months, a lawyer for the company, David Debold, now said work is going more quickly and suggested the pipeline could be ready for oil in as soon as 30 days.

But activists remain defiant, with three new camps springing up in recent days: Paulino Mejia, a 21-year-old Chorti Maya, who returned to Standing Rock last week, said: I dont think this will stop the movement. If anything, it might even make it stronger. Im going to stay here indefinitely.

Chase Iron Eyes, lead counsel in the Dakotas for Lakota Peoples Law Project, said in a statement: Were disappointed with todays ruling denying a temporary restraining order against the Dakota Access Pipeline, but we are not surprised. We know this fight is far from over. The tribes will continue to pursue legal remedies through the courts, seek an injunction against the pipeline and push for the full Environmental Impact Statement to be completed.

Reposted with permission from our media associate Oil Change International.

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The energy company behind the disputed Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) has reported hundreds of thousands of gallons of spills from pipelines between 2015 and 2016, according to an analysis released earlier this month.

According to the Feb. 6 report from the Louisiana Bucket Brigade and DisasterMap.net, Energy Transfer Partners and its subsidiary Sunoco have filed 69 accidents over the past two years to the National Response Center, the federal contact point for oil spills and industrial accidents.

Thats 2.8 accidents every month, the analysis said, adding that these are just the accidents that are reported.

https://twitter.com/labucketbrigade/status/828620467263135744

Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners owns about 71,000 miles of natural gas, natural gas liquids, refined products and crude oil pipelines across the country.

The report lists 42 known oil spills, 11 natural gas spills, nine gasoline spills, three propane spills, two other spills and two unknown spills. Those 69 incidents led to eight injuries, five evacuations and a total damage dollar amount of $300,000. In all, the total known amount of various substances spilled was 544,784 gallons.

Heavy rain was the explanation for some of the worst accidents. Bad weather, however, just exposes faulty equipment, the report states. While Energy Transfer Partners and other companies portray weather related accidents as unavoidable, they are in reality a result of poor planning and neglected maintenance. For example, the largest tank fire in history happened in south Louisiana in 2001. Because it occurred during a storm, Orion Refining blamed the weather. In truth, a faulty drain on the tank sank the roof, exposed the gasoline and attracted lightening.

Pipeline proponents have repeatedly touted that pipelines are much safer than tankers or trains. But as the report revealed, the majority of Energy Transfer Partners and Sunocos reported spills (51 percent) were specifically linked to pipelines.

Those 35 pipeline-related spills released 111,559 gallons of oil and polluted rivers in four different states, the Louisiana Bucket Brigade pointed out on its Facebook page.

Three drinking water sourcesthe Delaware River (Pennsylvania, New Jersey), The Schuylkill River (Pennsylvania) and the Red River (Louisiana)were among the water bodies polluted, thereby confirming the concerns of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe who fear the Dakota Access Pipeline would pollute the Missouri River, the report states.

But the tribe was dealt a major setback on Monday when federal judge refused to issue a temporary injunction against construction of the DAPL.

Pipeline opponents argue that the DAPL crosses sacred land and would threaten the drinking water for the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation as the proposed route cuts through the Missouri River.

https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/status/831515169406722048

The Louisiana Bucket Brigade itself is battling the proposed Bayou Bridge Pipeline, which is also Energy Transfer Partners-operated. The 162-mile pipeline would cut through the heart of Louisianas Cajun Country, carrying oil from Nederland, Texas, to St. James Parish, Louisiana, near New Orleans.

The planned route crosses major bodies of water and important ecological sites, including the Atchafalaya Basin, Calcasieu, Vermillion and the Mermentau Rivers, as well as Bayou Lafourche and Bayou Teche. The Vermillion River and Bayou Lafourche are sources of drinking water and the Atchafalaya Basin is the countrys largest wetland and swamp, and home to several endangered species.

Sunoco and Energy Transfer Partners accidents stretch from Texas to Massachusetts, said Dr. Ezra Boyd, a geographer with DisasterMap.net who conducted the research. While these accidents cover a large area of the map, the Bayou Bridge pipeline would put an entirely new area at risk: south central Louisiana, including the Atchafalaya Basin.

The oil industry and the elected officials theyve bought off are claiming that pipelines are safer despite the facts, added Anne Rolfes, founding director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade. What we know is that Energy Transfer Partners had 35 pipeline accidents in two years. Theres nothing safe about that.

Renate Heurich of 350 Louisiana noted there are far safer and environmentally friendly alternatives to pipelines.

Energy Transfer Partners records contradict their claim that pipelines are a safer way of transporting oil, Heurich said. Pipelines make transporting tar sands cheaper, thus stimulating dirty tar sands extraction despite low oil prices. The real question is: Why do we still invest in more pipeline infrastructure when we urgently need to invest in sustainable alternative energy sources?

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By Carey Gillam

A new court filing made on behalf of dozens of people claiming Monsantos Roundup herbicide gave them cancer includes information about alleged efforts within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect Monsantos interests and unfairly aid the agrichemical industry.

Judge Blocks Monsanto's Bid to Stop California From Listing Glyphosate as Carcinogenic https://t.co/srYsV0fmtA @justlabelit @GMWatch  EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) January 30, 2017

The filing, made late Friday by plaintiffs attorneys, includes what the attorneys represent to be correspondence from a 30-year career EPA scientist accusing top-ranking EPA official Jess Rowland of playing your political conniving games with the science to favor pesticide manufacturers such as Monsanto. Rowland oversaw the EPAs cancer assessment for glyphosate, the key ingredient in Monsantos weed-killing products, and was a key author of a report finding glyphosate was not likely to be carcinogenic. But in the correspondence, longtime EPA toxicologist Marion Copley cites evidence from animal studies and writes: It is essentially certain that glyphosate causes cancer.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs declined to say how they obtained the correspondence, which is dated March 4, 2013. The date of the letter comes after Copley left the EPA in 2012 and shortly before she died from breast cancer at the age of 66 in January 2014. She accuses Rowland of having intimidated staff to change reports to favor industry, and writes that research on glyphosate, the key ingredient in Monsantos Roundup, shows the pesticide should be categorized as a probable human carcinogen. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, an arm of the World Health Organization, declared as muchthat glyphosate was a probable human carcinogenin March 2015 after reviewing multiple scientific studies. Monsanto has rejected that classification and has mounted a campaign to discredit IARC scientists.

Glyphosate in Monsanto's Roundup Is Linked to Cancer, But Big Ag Wants it in Your Food Anyway http://t.co/zvYbhPrHNQ @pesticideaction  EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) September 17, 2015

The communication, if authentic, could be an explosive development in the snowballing multi-district litigation that now includes more than 60 plaintiffs from around the United States accusing Monsanto of covering up evidence that Roundup herbicide could cause cancer. The plaintiffs, all of whom are suffering from non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL) or lost a loved one to NHL, have asserted in recent court filings that Monsanto wielded significant influence within the EPAs Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), and had close ties specifically to Rowland, who until last year was deputy division director within the health effects division of the OPP. Rowland managed the work of scientists who assessed human health effects of exposures to pesticides like glyphosate and he chaired the EPAs Cancer Assessment Review Committee (CARC) that determined glyphosate was not likely to be carcinogenic to humans. Rowland left the EPA in 2016, shortly after a copy of the CARC report was leaked and cited by Monsanto as evidence that the IARC classification was flawed.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs want the federal judge in the case to lift a seal on documents that detail Monsantos interactions with Rowland regarding the EPAs safety assessment of glyphosate. Monsanto turned the documents over in discovery but marked them confidential, a designation plaintiffs attorneys say is improper. They also want to depose Rowland. But Monsanto and the EPA object to the requests, court documents show. Rowland could not be reached for comment, and the EPA declined to comment about the court matters.

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The Plaintiffs have a pressing need for Mr. Rowlands testimony to confirm his relationship with Monsanto and EPAs substantial role in protecting the Defendants business plaintiffs attorneys wrote in the Feb. 10 filing in the multi-district litigation, which has been consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Mr. Rowland operated under Monsantos influence to cause EPAs position and publications to support Monsantos business.

The EPA has spent the last few years assessing the health and environmental safety profile of glyphosate as global controversy over the chemical has mounted. The agency had planned to finish its risk assessment on glyphosate in 2015; then said it would be completed in 2016; then said it would be finished by the first quarter of 2017. Now the agency says it hopes to have it completed by the end of the third quarter of 2017.

Monsanto Wants Documents Kept Secret

In a bid to stop the release of further damning documents, attorneys for Monsanto on Monday asked the federal judge in the Roundup litigation to block plaintiffs attorneys from including copies of documents theyve obtained through discovery as exhibits in the court filings because members of the public and the media can see them. They argued that plaintiffs attorneys were unfairly attempting to try this case in the court of public opinion. Monsanto specifically complained that the organization I work for, U.S. Right to Know, was monitoring the court docket looking for confidential materials to report to the public. The company said reporting on cherry-picked documents could be potentially prejudicial to its business and to the fairness of the litigation, potentially tainting a jury pool. Litigation in the press is not in the public interest, Monsantos filing states.

Monsanto and EPA Seek to Keep Talks About Glyphosate Cancer Review a Secret https://t.co/RLPAQyxd6l  Dana Ivey (@hekasia) January 19, 2017

The company asked Judge Vince Chhabria to order that discovery materials not be filed as exhibits or other types of filings that could be visible to the public.

Monsanto also made a new filing in the litigation on Friday, laying out its assertion that there is no evidence Roundup and glyphosate products are defective or unreasonably dangerous and said the products complied with all applicable government safety standards. There is no evidence of carcinogenicity in glyphosate or Roundup, Monsanto said in its filing.

In a separate filing made on Feb. 8, Monsanto submitted a court brief arguing that the IARC classification of glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen is not relevant to the question of whether or not Roundup caused the plaintiffs cancers. IARCs approach is less rigorous than EPAs in evaluating scientific evidence, and IARCs conclusions are scientifically unreliable, according to the brief. Monsanto told the court that neither the views of IARC or EPA are necessarily relevant to the general causation issue of the litigation, because plaintiffs will need to present admissible expert testimony showing the companys products in fact caused their cancers.

As the litigation drags on, legislation that could potentially benefit Monsanto and numerous other companies facing consumer class action lawsuits was proposed on Feb. 9. The Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act of 2017 (H.R. 985) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA.) Business interests backing the law say it would reduce frivolous suits and ensure that plaintiffs receive the bulk of any damage awards rather than enriching the attorneys who bring such lawsuits. But opponents say it would make it nearly impossible for individuals with limited financial resources to challenge powerful corporations in court. The bill would apply both to pending and future class action and multi-district litigation.

The bill is designed to ensure that no class action could ever be brought or litigated for anyone, said Joanne Doroshow, executive director of the Center for Justice & Democracy. It would obliterate civil rights, antitrust, consumer, essentially every class action in America.
Clean energy supporters in Massachusetts announced legislation Monday, backed by more than a quarter of the state legislature, committing Massachusetts to get 100 percent of its energy needs from clean and renewable sources by mid-century.

https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/status/820463036171481089

The legislation, introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Sean Garballey and Marjorie Decker and in the Senate by Sen. Jamie Eldridge, establishes targets for Massachusetts to meet its electricity needs from renewable energy by 2035 and all of its energy needs, including heating and transportation, from renewable sources by 2050.

The supporters of this bill have joined the growing number of stakeholders and leaders who recognize the need for rapid transition to clean, renewable energy to tackle our environmental challenges, Rob Sargent said. With a can-do attitude, powering our state entirely with clean, renewable energy is as feasible as it is necessary.

A combination of environmental concerns and declining costs for renewable energy have made it the go-to option for many communities and businesses, in part because it is pollution-free, but also because it requires no fuel costs. As a result, dozens of major corporations from Google to General Motors to Walmart have already committed to a complete shift to renewable energy. Similarly, dozens of local governments including San Diego, California, St. Petersburg, Florida and Georgetown, Texas, have plans to go 100 percent renewable.

The federal government is moving backwards on clean energy. So, the states must lead, said S. David Freeman, a long-time utility executive at Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the New York Power Authority and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Massachusetts can show the way by enacting the 100 percent renewable bills and by so doing save consumers millions of dollars in the future with a free fuel energy supply.

Given the considerable resistance renewables are likely to face in Congress and the Trump administration, clean energy proponents are looking to state and local governments, businesses and institutions to ensure continued progress. In addition to the campaign in Massachusetts, Environment America and its partners are planning campaigns to get other states to go 100 percent renewable. And, today they will launch an effort to persuade Americas colleges and universities to make similar commitments.

Renewables Dominated New U.S. Power Generation in 2016: Exceeded Gas, Coal, Oil and Nuclear Combined https://t.co/yHmY0MWPXL @RenewableUK  EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) February 3, 2017

Despite tremendous progress on renewable energy in the past decade, weve got much more to do and leaders in Washington who want to take us backward, Sargent said. Thats why were counting on our local and state governments, along with businesses, colleges and universities and other institutions to lead the way by setting their sights on 100 percent renewable energy.
Students Thriving Under Guidance of New Entrepreneur Lab

As Elizabeth City State University Chancellor Thomas Conway, and Department of Business and Economics Chair Dr. Joy Smith were preparing to cut the ribbon celebrating the official opening of the Entrepreneur Lab in Williams Hall, senior business major Natifa Powell was already hard at work, using the tools in the lab to further develop her business plan.

The reception and ribbon cutting for the lab happened on Feb. 4. The Chancellor, Dr. Smith, staff, faculty, students and community members celebrated the opening of a facility that is designed to encourage and teach entrepreneurship to students such as Powell. And while Powell, 23, says she is using the lab facilities to its full measure, as a student shes been developing her business plan for some time.

I always had a dream of owning a chain of hair salons, said Powell, an Elizabeth City native.

But that dream isnt simply limited to hair salons. Since shes attended ECSU, Powells idea has evolved to include a line of what she describes as ethnic clothing, some of which she designs using specialized fabric from African nations such as Ghana.

Working with the resources and skills available to her, and with the guidance of her professors, Powell says she is growing confident in her ability to pursue her dream. Its clear that the ECSU entrepreneur lab was designed for students like Powell.

ECSU is helping me develop my skills, she said. Now in my senior year, Im finding ways to work my strategies.

And that is, says Dr. Smith, precisely the function of the entrepreneur lab.

This gives them the focus and the mentorship to create their own business plan, said Dr. Smith.

The lab consists of computer terminals with programs designed to enhance business planning skills, and workstations designed to enhance creativity. During the ribbon cutting ceremony, Powell could be seen working in the creativity station.

And there is guidance from faculty. Dr. Confidence Amadi, a professor of business administration, is overseeing the lab activities. Students such as Powell can seek his guidance as they develop their business strategies.

Shes one of my gems, says Dr. Amadi of Powell.

Powells journey toward entrepreneurship actually began with her parents, who met as students at ECSU. Her mother, Adria Gibbs, actually began a business called The Lions Den: The House of Cultural Vibes a number of years ago, and that will be the name of Powells venture. With family living in Ghana, and a father who is a native of Jamaica, Powell has the resources to create a multi-cultural business that will provide not only fashion and hair, but inspiration to a community she is certain will embrace the business, Elizabeth City.

The experience Powell is gaining as a student, she says, is preparing her for all of the intricacies of running a business. From budgeting and marketing, to leadership skills, Powell says the ECSU Business and Economics department and her studies relating to entrepreneurship, are setting her off on a path that she hopes will begin to see a great deal of progress after she graduates this May.

By the time I graduate in May, Ill have a business plan, says Powell.

And that plan will be developed, in large part, due to the creation of the entrepreneur lab, and the guidance of professors such as Dr. Smith and Dr. Amadi.

Im getting what I need to be an entrepreneur, Powell said.
Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Viet Dung and his spouse take a photo with overseas Vietnamese

(Photo: Vietnamese Embassy in New Zealand)

Auckland is the largest trade centre of New Zealand and it has about two out three of the more than 6,000 overseas Vietnamese living, working and studying in New Zealand.

At the event, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Viet Dung delivered best wishes to the overseas Vietnamese on the occasion of the Lunar New Year of the Rooster, and wished them to continue to unite and support each other to preserve the culture, language and national identity, look towards the homeland, join hands to build a strong and prosperous country of Vietnam and work as a bridge to promote friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and New Zealand and towards a strategic partnership.

He also reported the achievements of economy, politics and society of Vietnam over the past year, and highlights of the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and New Zealand, especially the official visit to New Zealand on December 2016 by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh, which has contributed to promoting the friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries, especially in trade and the economy.

The meeting was organized in warm atmosphere and was also an opportunity for overseas Vietnamese to enjoy traditional dishes on Lunar New Year Festival.

On this occasion, the Vietnamese Embassy in New Zealand also organized a lucky draw, supported by Vietnam Airlines, with the special prize of a pair of return tickets from Sydney/Melbourne to Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh city./.
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At a pivotal time for state education policy, half the nations state legislatures have at least one new education committee chairperson this year, and a quarter of state schools chiefs are less than a year into the job, according to an Education Week analysis.

This years large freshman class of key education policymakers has advocates and district leaders on edge as state leaders scramble to finalize the accountability plans due by next fall under the Every Student Succeeds Act .

The plans cut across the policy arena, and state officials have plenty of flexibility to chart their own courses, while still making sure they live up to the federal education laws requirements. Those new to the job have a steep learning curve andas suggested by the controversy over the qualifications of newly confirmed U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy Devoslittle margin for error.

For new chiefs coming in, theyre potentially walking into a firestorm, said Stephen Bowen, the Council of Chief State School Officers strategic-initiative director for innovation.

In prior years, education leaders in many states had some running room in getting to understand a states school system, the capacity of education departments to roll out policy, and the political will for change.

But, on the first day of the job last month, core state legislative leaders and school superintendents were grappling with plans to turn around their states worst-performing schools, allocate millions of federal dollars to districts, construct new English-language-learner tests, and retool teacher-evaluation systems.

Experience Matters

Education advocates and district officials are still determining where state chiefs and legislative leaders stand on issues such as school choice, testing, and accountability.

Seeing all this disruption at the top levels can be unnerving to the education community, said Michelle Exstrom, the education program director at the National Conference of State Legislatures. Experience always matters because you need the legislators who tend to be more experienced and have a better sense of different education policy approaches that have been tried through the years.

Fewer than half the lawmakers who head up their chambers education committees have K-12 education experience, such as teaching or serving on a local school board. Ten state superintendents have never taught in a classroom.

While that doesnt necessarily mean theyre unqualified to do the jobExstrom said fresh voices, in fact, can bring about positive changethey will have to move quickly to craft state policies that may have unintended consequences at the local level this fall when ESSA plans are expected to go into effect.

Consultants describe state board meetings, listening sessions, and department staff meetings in recent weeks in which wide-eyed legislators and superintendents are inundated with a slate of acronyms, and technicalbut importantdetails of education policy, process, and research.

Groups such as the NCSL and the CCSSO have dispatched staff members across the country in recent weeks to shore up leaders with hourslong Education Policy 101 sessions. With a dearth of knowledge at the top, others can end up making important decisions.

Were putting more policymaking into the hands of the executive branch, lobbyists, and even capital staff, said Wendy Underhill, an NCSL researcher and program director who tracks term limits among state legislators.

Education Week examined the resumes and tenure of every states chief education official and of those who chair the committees tasked with handling the bulk of K-12 policy in every state legislature. (All 50 state legislatures are in session this year.)

Among the new education committee chairpersons, some have experience with K-12, while others are veteran lawmakers but have no specific background in education.

Experts point to a variety of reasons for the number of new state chiefs and new education committee chairs. For one thing, term limits passed in several states in the 1990s have dramatically shortened the tenure of state legislators, which can leave some committee chairs vacant. Across the country, about 1,200 of the 7,400 legislators this year are new to the job.

In addition, amid the political volatility and pressures of policy at the state level, schools chiefs are resigning, or getting fired, at a record pacecurrently, they have an average tenure of 2 years.

Continuity an Issue

The result can be a lack of continuity.

New legislators and superintendents are not interested in inheriting someone elses agenda and then sustaining it, said David Conley, a researcher at the University of Oregon, in Portland, who studies education policy. You cant go back to constituents and say, Look at what I did. 

In New Mexico, Senate education committee Chairman William Soules, a Democrat appointed last month after four years as vice chairman, said his committee goes through about six bills a day in a matter of three hours. Some bills have misleading titles; others are full of acronyms that the former teacher and education professor said would baffle anybody that doesnt have a general sense of education policy.

I couldnt imagine not having an extensive background in education, Soules said. I looked over in the corner one day, and one of the committee members eyes were huge because she cant swallow any more coming out of the fire hydrant.

In some states, having a new superintendent this year has thrown into question the details of ESSA plans first crafted by previous state leaders last year when the federal law was first passed.

Washington state Superintendent Chris Reykdal, along with Hans Zeiger, the Senate committee chair, both new to the job this year, will take to lightning speed the pace of crafting that states plan so that its mostly completed by the end of this legislative session in April.

On the first day of his job, Reykdal replaced his deputies and the departments chief financial officer and dramatically reorganized the department. The state is expected to redesign its K-12 funding formula this year. Its a very unique time for us, Reykdal said.

Montanas superintendent of public instruction, Elsie Arntzen, elected last November as the states first Republican superintendent in 28 years, said she will retract the ESSA plan submitted to the federal government in December by her predecessor and make several changes, including to the states long-term goals, the amount of control local districts have, and the indicators on their accountability system.

When we pull it back, I want more discussion in all of our communities, Arntzen said.

Every morning, working to build a relationship with lawmakers, she serves them hot coffee and apple fritters at the states capitol building. Shes also had her share of fires to put out: In her first month on the job, a whistleblower accused the prior superintendent of misrepresenting the states ACT scores to the federal government, and her employees had to be evacuated from an education department building because of a gas leak.

I have a great sense of humor about it all, Arntzen said. This time is a wonderful opportunity for myself and those deployed in the field to make sure we put Montanas students first.
Bill to get Mexico to buy corn from Brazil and Argentina instead of US

Mexican senator Armando Rios Piter, who heads a congressional committee on foreign relations, said that he will introduce a bill that will have Mexico to acquire corn from Brazil and Argentina instead of the US, CNN reported.

This marks another acrimonious development between both countries since US President Donald Trump took office in January and argued for the establishment of a border wall which Mexico is exhorted to pay for. "I'm going to send a bill for the corn that we are buying in the Midwest and...change to Brazil or Argentina," Piter commented, adding that it's a "good way to tell (the US) that this hostile relationship has consequences, hope that it changes".

Mexico is currently one of the top buyers of US corn in the world. The grain is heavily used in production of local food. The US also happens to be the world's biggest producer and exporter of corn. NAFTA, the free trade agreement between Mexico , the US and Canada, have helped to boost American corn shipments to the North American nations. Yet, even that deal is facing possible challenges as Trump has prominently expressed intention to renegotiate the FTA as a result of withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). This and Piter's proposed bill put US corn exports to Mexico - which amounted to US$2.4 billion in 2015 - in possible peril, consequentially affecting American farmers.

"If we do indeed see a trade war where Mexico starts buying from Brazil...we're going to see it affect the corn market and ripple out to the rest of the ag economy," Darin Newsom, senior analyst at DTN, an agricultural management firm, remarked.

- CNN
Vaccinating poultry (Photos: VNA)

First, the province will take over two million doses of vaccines from the reserves to provide free vaccination to poultry in communes bordering Cambodia. In addition, a reward of VND500,000 will be given for each accurate piece of information about mass poultry die-off or suspected poultry infections.

According to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the first news about the disease came from a flock of poultry in Vam Nao village, Tan Trung commune, Phu Tan district, with 238 dead and 300 carrying symptoms of the disease.

After the poultry tested positive for avian flu H5N1, the district destroyed all the remaining poultry, and sanitized the whole breeding ground.

The district Veterinary and Breeding Department took 5,800 doses of avian flu vaccines to vaccinate nearly 3,000 poultry in Tan Trung commune and the surrounding commune of Phu Hung.

At present, inspection of slaughtering houses and illegal transport of poultry through border lines continues, besides vaccination activities./.
Manx public urged to limit antibiotic use

The Manx public is being urged to limit the amount of antibiotics used in order to stop infections becoming resistant to the drugs.

The Department of Health and Social Care is backing a campaign run by Public Health England warning of the dangers of using antibiotics too often.

The Department says people should follow their doctor's advice and not take anti-biotics for illnesses like the common cold.

It's estimated around 5,000 people die in England every year as a result of infections that have become resistant to antibiotics.
The grapevine whispers that Kendall Jenner wants to return to Harry Styles, the boyfriend that she had broken up with. The reality TV star had thought of him as her one truly "serious boyfriend" in the past few years.

Even though Kendall Jenner has had some liaisons with a number of men in the past few months, it is Harry Styles that she's interested in. She misses their past get-togethers. Her last meeting with him was at a Caribbean trip in January 2016.

Harry Styles has got over it all and moved on. But Kendall Jenner is still obsessed with him, and "will always hold a torch" for the ex-boyfriend, according to Belfast telegraph. The idea that they could reunite in order to be a couple again is actually making her hold back from taking action.

Kendall Jenner did not get any invite to Harry Styles' sparkling birthday bash in January, but sources saw them a few days ago at the King of Leon's concert in Los Angeles. Harry had got an unknown girl with him and ignored Kendall Jenner. Both of them just cut each other out, behaving like strangers, according to E News.

The source of the trouble for Kendall Jenner was that her mother Kris Jenner wanted Harry Styles to be part of her reality show, "Keeping Up With The Kardashians," yet he did not like it. Since their break-up, Kendall Jenner has not been able to find any love in her life. Other boys that she has been linked with include Travis Scott and rapper ASAP Rocky. She had also been seen with Chandler Persons recently and she had been lunching with sister Kourtney Kardashian's partner, Scott Disick.

Yet, in spite of all the noise, most of the relationships did not go beyond a few dates. Hence, she is trying to get back Harry Styles, even though her friends and relatives are doubtful about it. They feel that Harry Styles is not interested in a "high-profile relationship" at present, and it would cut up Kendall Jenner badly.
Google is reportedly undergoing several speculations about its highly rumored Google Nexus 7. Apparently, there are no official report yet or any insights about its release. However, some rumors surfaced allegedly indicating that Google is preparing some really advanced device in terms of hardware and software specifications. It is said that this will be the company's ace to challenge Apple's much-admired iPad Pro 2.

According to the Pocket-Lint, there is an apparent confusion among tech fans whether the device will be called Google Nexus 7 or it will be named as a new variant of Pixel considering the success of the Pixel brand name. But with a huge amount of debate circulating around as to the name of the next Google smartphones, it is allegedly currently thought that it could be named the Pixel or Pixel XL.

It is moreover reported by LatinPost that Google publicized its first ever smartphone with the brand name Pixel early last year. After the official release, Pixel experienced a tremendous amount of sales apparently due to its extensive ease in handling and advanced features. It was then accordingly speculated by many potential sources that Google will equip its upcoming device with Andromeda OS, and name it as Google Nexus 7.

Accordingly, the company may be going up with Android Nougat, notable among these is probably the Day Dream compatibility and the innovative Virtual Reality mechanism. Rumors indicate that the Google Nexus 7 will be powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 820 processor. The memory specification is hinted to come with 4 GB of RAM, although until now there is apparently no credible source as to the camera specifications.

Reportedly, Google might be naming the device as Google Nexus 7 due to the enormous popularity and the global statement of the Nexus title. Nonetheless, since Google has not disclosed any information about the device's official release date, Nexus 7 is still a rumored subject.
"Longmire" season 6 is all set to air on Netflix and it is going to be a complete delight for fans. The end of the crime thriller series has been given a 10-episode nod by the live streaming service and if actress Katee Sackhoff is to be believed, the last season will be epic.

Kate Sackhoff, who plays Victoria Moretti on "Longmire," has tweeted that she spoke to the producer and the last season, is going to be epic, Carter Matt claims. She also said that she cannot wait to start filming in March. Lou Diamond Phillips, her co-star, also shared the news on social media, declaring the shooting for "Longmire" Season 6 begins in March. So, fans can expect "Longmire" Season 6 to premiere in late summer or even early fall.

Notably, "Longmire" used to air on A&E but after Season 3 finale, the network called off the show, leading to much heartache for the fans. They were furious and began demanding renewal and Netflix came to their rescue in 2014. Executive producers Greer Shephard, John Coveny and Hunt Baldwin have nothing but gratitude for the Netflix as it is with their support that "Longmire" Season 6 is happening.

The three said that they are grateful to Netflix for the opportunity to compose a closing chapter for "Longmire" Season 6 for those beloved characters that inspire lasting memories, Deadline reported. They also emphasized their commitment to delivering a dynamic and satisfying conclusion to their fans to reward their longtime loyalty to the series. With "Longmire" Season 6, they have the chance to create a conclusion for the series over the span of 10 episodes.

What is more, Netflix is all too happy to be producing "Longmire" Season 6. Cindy Holland, VP Original Content of Netflix, said that they are proud to be the home of "Longmire" series as many viewers over the last few seasons have watched and been captivated by Walt's journey.

She also praised the trio saying that there has been no better team to work with on "Longmire" Season 6 than Greer, Hunt and John and their tremendous cast and crew. Holland also expressed confidence in them and said that they will give a satisfying conclusion to the revered series.
Some of Camilla Parker-Bowles' public action can be pretty appalling. Seen to be "flirting" Michael Middleton in front of the very eyes of the Duchess of Cambridge, Camilla Parker Bowles has broken some breaches in the royal family.

Reportedly, Kate Middleton doesn't like Camilla Parker Bowles chatting with her father Michael Middleton openly. Why do the two of them talk to each other during royal and family functions and events? Kate is not able to see the two of them hanging out with each other.

But was that really happening? Camilla Parker-Bowles' behavior was pretty obvious, according to New Idea magazine: "Whenever they're in the same room, she makes a beeline straight for him and flirts outrageously," reported the magazine. But it also added that Michael Middleton is a "devoted family man." So he would certainly not think of flirting with any woman who is married, or the wife of the future king, as it happens!

Moreover, there are rumors that Camilla Parker-Bowles may be flirting only to provoke Kate Middleton. The two of them haven't seen eye to eye for years, and Camilla does not take kindly to the fact that Kate Middleton gets so much attention from the media.

Although Kate Middleton does not want Camilla Parker-Bowles to come near her family, she cannot voice her displeasure openly, as it would only give a beating to her public image, according to Yahoo.

Moreover, there are even rumors that some trouble is brewing in the marriage between Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles. The two have shown some signs of a dinner argument last week. As Camilla is said to be "fun-loving", she might be trying to make Prince Charles jealous, say gossip mongers. Buckingham Palace has never made any public comments about the two, but there are indeed speculations. Maybe Camilla is indeed flirting with Michael Middleton.

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Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman is a perfect example that celebrities, no matter how popularity, can be stricken with cancer, just like average people. While cancer may be a pesky sickness to deal with, it seems like the 48-year old actor is a good sport to open up about his sickness via social media.

According to CNN, Hugh Jackman posted a photo on Instagram with him seemingly taking a selfie with a bandage on his nose. The caption went right to business, blatantly informing the readers that it was another case of basal cell carcinoma for the "Logan" actor.

It can be noted that this isn't the first time that Hugh Jackman was treated for basal cell carcinoma. In fact, he has gone under treatment for at least four times. The "X-Men" actor is suffering from one of the most common forms of skin cancer, which is fortunately rarely fatal. Hugh Jackman's battle with basal cell carcinoma dates back to 2013.

According to Sky News, Hugh Jackman found out about his skin cancer condition when his wife told him to get a suspicious-looking mole checked. From there, the doctors diagnosed him with basal cell carcinoma, which, looking on the bright side, might be a good thing, because at least it was treated right away instead of getting worse without the right treatments. Basically, basal cell carcinoma is mainly caused by too much unprotected sun exposure and the actor has warned the public of its dangers several times.

Meanwhile, Hugh Jackman seems to shrug off the sickness as he continues to work as an actor for major Hollywood projects. In fact, "Logan," where he plays the role of the titular character, is set to be released in movie theaters in March. The actor also plays the role of P.T. Barnum in "The Greatest Showman On Earth," slated for release by the end of 2017.
Short hair, don't care is one thing, but flat hair can't be ignored. Take the steps outline below to keep your hair from becoming a droopy mess.

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Photo credit | Asavea Hair that looks good all day Photo credit | Asavea Get ready in a hurry?! Taking too long to straighten your hair? Asavea Straightener Brush is your next best bet. Photo credit | Asavea Super Lovely

We all want what we haven't got and often times that desire is for perfect hair. Hair that looks good all damn day, doesn't lose body or become a frizzy jumble. Is it possible to go from unruly and chaotic to lush perfection? Yes, it is, but you've got to do the work. Here are the steps we take to keep our tresses on point.

Start the night before.

Brush or comb your hair before bed and put it in a loose topknot. The topknot will give you volume and keep your hair from getting tangled. Just be sure to secure the knot with a loose band or clip-the last thing you want is the dreaded hairband crease.

Sleep in satin.

Don't just pass out in bed at night and wonder why your hair looks like hell the next morning. Invest in a satin pillowcase or bonnet. The satin will protest you style and won't suck the moisture out of your hair the way a cotton pillowcase will.

Don't over do it with the product.

Hair products are like makeup-too much is too much. Re-washing your hair is the only recourse once you've gone to far with the cremes, gels and sprays. Start will a little product and add more as needed.

Get the right tools.

This one is a no brainer. The wrong tools will damage your strands making a perfect hair day near impossible. Get a wide-tooth comb for conditioning and detangling. Get a gentle brush that doesn't pull or cause damage. Boar bristles are best.

Heat style with care.

The importance of using the right heat-styling tools cannot be minimized. Gone are the days of contorting to flatiron that unreachable strip of hair on the back of your head. Modernize your routine and get a heat-styling brush. Asavea's Hair Straightening Brush with MCH Technology is our favorite. We won't bore you with an explanation of "MCH technology"-just know it will keep your hair frizz free. The brush maintains a consistent temperature and the seven heat settings will help prevent you from burning your strands. Don't be shocked when this brush helps cut your flat ironing time in half. Not to mention, we're obsessed with the rose gold color.
Following up on this post, Alan Krupnick:

Taking the first part of the order literally means that we just count the number of regulations, so two really low-cost regulations could offset one new high-cost regulation, making net costs larger over the three regulations involved. The second part, though, takes care of that problem in the aggregate, saying that over all regulations in a given agency, net costs need to be zero or negative. So the latter requirement is possibly the binding constraint. Given the third part, this presumably means that new regulations at an agency cant have greater aggregate costs than the agencys cost allotment, even if it meets the zero net cost requirement. Thus, this condition could bind sometimes as well.

There are many unresolved issues that could make this entire executive order more or less sensible. For example, what is a cost? Is it a projected cost in the rule or actual costs as implemented? is it present discounted costs or something else to account for cost streams over time? Is it direct costs or do indirect costs (say, to consumers) count? Is it private costs or costs to society, or is the cost defined to be very narrow, as in some other countries, being limited to paperwork?

Andprobably of greatest importanceare the benefits of the rule count taken into consideration? Counting only costs is like having a scissors with only one blade: pretty useless for accurate cutting, but great for gouging. Clearly, costs have to net in some sense. A given rule may make some businesses better off and others worse off. Surely we cant ignore that. But, mostly, the benefits of health and safety regulation are nonmarket benefitsthey accrue directly to individuals health from lower air pollution and water pollution, and to their safety from safer vehicles, better designed roads, and so on.

Since costs and benefits were used to justify the regulation in the first place, how can benefits be ignored now? Indeed, the purely efficiency-driven economists prescription would be to count social costs and benefitsnet benefitsand the policy prescription would be to maximize net benefits. This would mean eliminating rules with net costs and passing rules with net benefits, with no limit on the size of the costs or net benefits.

This does not seem to be what the Trump administration has in mind. But what is the thinking? All we know for sure is that the devil is in the details, and the details are left up to the director of OMB, who will define what costs mean, what qualifies as a regulation (just major ones covered by previous executive orders in this area, or something else?), use (or not) of discounting, whether trading of regulatory costs across agencies will be allowed and under what conditions, and circumstances to justify a waiver. On the last point, the executive order recognizes that agencies must follow the Administrative Procedures Act (i.e., using notice and comment rulemaking and avoiding arbitrary and capricious actions) and other applicable laws (e.g., EPA has to set air quality standards, although the agency can reduce their stringency so long as it protects health with a margin of safety and doesnt consider costs in the process).

Compared to all the other issues on the plate of the US government, the two-for-one issue may seem like small potatoes. But, it can affect the fabric of our regulatory process and up to around 3,000 regulations per year that to agency administrators, their civil servants, their advisory committees, and at least some parts of the public make eminent sense. It is not too late for Congress to ask Representative Mick Mulvaney, Trumps yet-to-be-confirmed nominee to direct OMB, how he plans to implement this Executive Order.
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Get the latest on all the biggest court and crime news in Essex direct from our expert court reporter

A prominent trader who says his tropical fish business has been struggling from the after-effects of Brexit has been spared jail after admitting assaulting a delivery driver.

John Brydon, 48, pleaded guilty to causing assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) at Basildon Crown Court on Monday (February 13).

The incident took place last year at around 10am on January 12 outside H20 Aquatics, the tropical fish shop owned by Brydon.

Brydon pulled up outside the shop on Ongar Road, in Brentwood, to unload boxes of fish and stock, where he had 10 minutes to park in accordance with his agreement with the council.

At the same time, gas cylinders were also being unloaded outside the Eclipse Nightclub next door by the victim Andrew Hunt, while another vehicle parked behind Brydon, blocking him in.

A disagreement broke out between the two men when Brydon asked Mr Hunt to move the lorry, saying "Can you move your f****** truck?"

A verbal altercation followed, which led to Brydon pushing Mr Hunt to the ground.

Mr Hunt suffered a two-and-a-half inch cut to the head which required 11 stitches when he was taken to hospital in Romford.

Speaking in mitigation, defence counsel Janick Fielding, said how CCTV footage showed his client walk away from the scene, running his hands through his hair and asking for people to help.

Shortly after this, Byrdon drove away from the scene.

"The defendant is someone who works very hard, does long hours and is very dedicated to his business," he said.

"He found himself inconvenienced by the lorry. There is no dispute that the two men spoke to each other in a gruff and unpleasant manner.

"In hindsight, he should have not reacted to it but one could not have foreseen the injury from that action.

"He was clearly shaken by what happened, his first reaction was to go to offer help. He is very remorseful. It's not something he would normally do."

Mr Fielding also spoke of the long hours spent driving by the defendant, including an hourly commute to work as well as a weekly trip to the Netherlands to buy supplies.

Describing his client as a hard-working man, Mr Fielding spoke of how Brydon was feeling the effect of Brexit, with currency changes affecting customer sales.

Passing sentence, Judge David Pugh said: "You did not intend to cause him any injury, but this was a nasty laceration.

"Although you have previous convictions for violence, none of them are recent and your remorse was genuine."

Brydon was given a three-month custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months and was ordered to pay compensation of 300 and 500 in costs.
The Interdepartmental Commission on International Trade on February 13 decided to suspend anti-dumping measures on imports to Ukraine of certain nitrogen fertilizers (carbamide and carbamide-ammonium mixture) produced in the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade has said in a statement.

"The commission members agreed that to ensure food security there is an urgent need for measures to diversify the supply of fertilizers to Ukraine (from China, the Middle East, the United States and other states)," a press release reads.

The ministry noted on December 27, 2016 the commission after the investigation, which had lasted for the maximally permitted 18 months, decided to impose anti-dumping duties on imports of these types of Russian fertilizers, which should have come into force 60 days from the date of publication of the decision.

The agency said the results of the anti-dumping investigation showed that imports of Russian fertilizers to Ukraine at dumped prices cause injury to domestic producers of chemical fertilizers. However the commission also recognized the need to take into account the current situation in the market  supplies from Russia cover 80-90% of all deliveries of fertilizers in Ukraine - to prevent the deficit and a sharp rise in fertilizer prices in the country.
The European Union has decided to move forward with a cooperation agreement on partnership and development with Afghanistan, which will create a new framework for EU-Afghan relations. Yesterdays (13 February) deal formalizes the EUs commitment to Afghanistans development under the decade of transformation (2014-2024), a follow-up to the undertakings given at the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan in October 2016.

The agreement reflects the principles and conditions on which the future partnership will be based. It emphasizes a regular political dialogue, including human rights issues with focus on the rights of women and children. The agreement creates a stage for the development of a mutually beneficial relationship across a wider and wider range of economic and political areas such as the rule of law, health, rural development, education, science and technology, as well as actions to combat corruption, money laundering, terrorist financing, organized crime and narcotics. The deal also counts on the future cooperation on migration and involvement of Afghanistan in global challenges such as climate change, nuclear security and non-proliferation.

The European Union has a long-term partnership with Afghanistan. Since 2002, Brussels has provided 3.66 billion in development and humanitarian aid, making it the fourth biggest donor in support of the Afghan people. Afghanistan is the largest beneficiary of EU development assistance  combined with the aid from the Member States, the EU contributes more than 1 billion in development assistance per year to Afghanistan annually. The EUs development agenda, which is guided by aid effectiveness principles, focuses on the coordination of development assistance across national capacities. The EU has pledged to provide up to 300 million in funding per year until 2020, above and beyond the 200 million development funding per year that was committed at the Tokyo Conference in 2012.
The European Union is seeking Russias help to broker a deal with Libyas strongman General Haftar, who commands the Tobruk-based Libyan National Army (LNA). The aim of the deal is to bring rival Libyan factions under the civilian command of the UN-backed government, established in December 2015. Italy will lead the talks with Russia with the aim to prevent General Haftar from creating a secular military dictatorship such as the one of Bachar in Syria or of Sisi in Egypt. Brussels fears that the ongoing lawlessness and instability in Libya would give rise to another refugee crisis that would take its toll on Italy. Rome therefore has a stake in bringing Libyas competing factions to the negotiating table to find a political solution.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini last week spoke by phone with her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov about Ukraine, Syria and Libya. Both leaders agreed to meet in the coming weeks, possibly on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. Both on Libya and Syria, we decided to find ways to join efforts and cooperate, Mrs. Mogherini commented regarding her call with Mr. Lavrov, adding that working with the Russians to help Libyans unite their country can only be a positive thing. This latest diplomatic flurry comes a month after Maltas foreign minister, George Vella, openly warned that Khalifa Haftar, the Russian-backed Libyan warlord, could start a civil war in Libya, increasing refugee flows to the EU.

Libyas General Haftar is Russias ally who has made major advances westwards, defeating other rival factions including the Islamic State. General Haftars most significant victories include the September 2016 capture of the eastern oil sector, which accounts for two-thirds of the countrys oil exports. Russia has been vehemently against a NATO intervention in Libya and instead endorsed General Haftar, seeing new opportunities in the power vacuum. General Haftar visited Moscow twice in the past six months in an attempt to secure arms supplies despite a UN arms embargo in place since 2011, which put a ban on the sale of weapons to Libyan factions. The only exception is that of the government in Tripoli, which can import weapons upon the approval of the UN Security Council.
By Leonid Bershidsky

Last year, the global security establishment was mildly worried about a growing U.S. disengagement overseas. This year, the worry has given way to a realization that the "liberal world order" -- another name for Pax Americana -- may be finished, and that new security arrangements are needed.

That's the conclusion that can be drawn from this year's edition of the Munich Security Report, an agenda-setting document put out annually by the organizers of the Munich Security Conference, the world's most prestigious geopolitical gathering. The conference will open on February 17, and dignitaries such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence are expected to attend. Perhaps for the first time since the Soviet Union's demise, the participants will try to map out strategy in a world in which they cannot see more than one or two moves ahead.

     .





 : bloomberg.com

20
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has set up a company in Ukraine to manage its own wagons, Bank Senior Adviser Anton Usov has told Interfax-Ukraine.

"This is a specially created company CREA I UA LLC. It will carry out management. The bank will consider various options for the further development of events: sale of cars to a strategist, for example," he said.

Earlier EBRD Senior Banker Mark Magaletsky said in an interview with the Center of Transport Strategies that Interleasinginvest had not fulfilled its obligations on the EBRD loan service for financing the purchase of wagons and as a result the EBRD left the project with the assets that were pledged - freight wagons.

"Currently we already reach the finish line and have received the title of ownership of these cars. A subsidiary has been established, which is the holder of the wagons, and the cars will work directly on us. Some 2,387 cars  with this park we actually entered the top five largest private owners of wagons in Ukraine," Magaletsky said.
Credit Suisse On the Money in Current EUR GBP Exchange Rate Research

On Monday morning, with the EUR GBP exchange rate straddling the 0.85 handle, technical analysts at Credit Suisse had this to say about the euro-sterling cross:

The risks remain lower for a test of the key 200-day moving average and price support at 0.8468-0.8446.

And later in their report, they narrowed that supportive price zone to 0.8450-0.8446  what they called important support.

Testing that support is exactly what did happen overnight following a horrible day for the euro  a day in which we saw thirteen consecutive hourly falls in the single currency against the pound, beginning at 8am GMT.

Investors should note that an exchange rate valuation in euro-to-pound of 0.8450 is equivalent to a pound-to-euro rate (GBP/EUR) of 1.1834.

A Critical Level in Euro vs. Pound

We will look for a fresh floor here [around 0.8450], said Credit Suisse yesterday morning.

And while we cant describe the current price action as a floor, the market has held 0.8450 precisely as of 04:15 GMT on Tuesday. The current low in the pair is exactly 0.8450.

And yet the pair cant muster much in the way of bullish strength at this moment in time, being contained in the past several hours beneath 0.8465.

Credit Suisse warned yesterday that a break of this level would mark a potentially important top in EUR/GBP and that following a break a move to 0.8304 (the December low) would be likely.

Regular readers of Exchange Rates UK may have seen our mention of this important top back on February 3rd. We highlighted the fact that: On a daily price chart EUR/GBP is forming a spectacular looking Head and Shoulders pattern.

In addition to the December low at 0.8304 referenced by Credit Suisse, traders can look to technical support just below the 0.83 handle in the form of the downward sloping neckline of the Head and Shoulders.
The Cabinet of Ministers at a meeting on February 14 approved state guarantees for a $150 million loan issued by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) to Ukreximbank.

"These funds will be used to support small and medium-sized businesses when entering export markets. This is our priority and this is a practical instrument that businesses will use," Finance Minister Oleksandr Danyliuk said during the meeting.

Having considered the issue, the government decided to adopt a resolution defining the conditions and cost of the guarantees, as well as a draft regulation on completion of negotiations with the EBRD.

Ukreximbank was founded in 1992. Its sole owner is the state.

The bank ranked third among 93 banks operating in the country as of January 1, 2017 in terms of assets (UAH 160.304 billion), according to the National Bank of Ukraine.
Hello to everyone.

I've been combing forums and trying to contact immigration lawyers. I'm confused as to what to do.

I'm from NY and my partner is from the UK. We've been together for 3 years with me doing the bulk of the traveling throughout the UK and EU. Now that we are growing weary of the distance. We want to know what our options are. Yes, we've explored the k1 visa. However, that's another 6 months to wait for it to complete. Then there is him coming with his ESTA and we do an adjustment of status and he doesn't leave the US until we can either get his I-131 or until he receives his green card. I know this is risky, but we're tired of being apart. We need more answers. I've contacted a few attorneys and it's all different advice. I've combed forums and been online for awhile now.

If the safest and best option is to simply apply for the k1, then so be it. If we have options here. I'd love to explore them. I'd love if someone who has been in a similar situation would be so kind to offer some insight.
Hi,

We are making a move to Auckland in the next 3-4 months with my 2 kids(3&5). My husband will be working in the CBD.

My 5 yr old has ADHD with a developmental delay and i am looking for a school that will best suit his needs. He is not a sever case where he needs to attend a special school but he does have issues that needs attention.

Who can recommend a school that can accommodate him and from there it will help me decide on an area to live in to fall into that decile.

If there is anyone/teacher out there that can advise i will really appreciate it.



Regards,
Alternative to coal from Donbas uncontrolled areas is imports of Russian electricity, coal or gas

An alternative to anthracite coal produced in the areas of Donbas that are not under control of the Ukrainian government is imports of Russian electricity or coal and resumption of imports of gas from Russia to launch oil and gas units, Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Ihor Nasalyk has said.

"There are two ways to settle the situation: imports from Russia or import Russian gas to oil and gas units," he said on 112 Ukraine TV Channel late on Monday.

He said that at present it is hard to import anthracite from South Africa or Australia as the volumes required for Ukraine have been contracted.

The minister said that the introduction of temporary emergency measures on the electricity market would help to load anthracite-consuming units of thermal power plants as less as possible.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman denies accusations that the tariff for electricity in Ukraine is calculated on the basis of existing coal prices at the Rotterdam port, stressing that today the coal price in the tariff is 41.2% less than the price in Rotterdam.

"I hear that the Rotterdam plus is used in the tariff now. This is not so. The price of coal in Rotterdam is around UAH 3,000 [per tonne], and in the tariff it is calculated at UAH 1.730 [per tonne]," he said at a government meeting in Kyiv on Tuesday.

"UAH 3,000 is a fake that someone is trying to thrust on Ukrainian society," Groysman said.

He said that today Ukrainian producers cannot buy coal in Rotterdam, as it is more expensive than coal on the Ukrainian market.

As reported, the National Commission for Energy, Housing and Utilities Services Regulation (NCER) late April 2016 started applying the new rules to form the forecast wholesale market price of electricity. The price was approved for Q2-Q4 2016. The new rules envisage the calculation of the coal price using the Rotterdam port (2) plus the delivery cost formula. However, this price is set as average price for 12 months. In the conditions of sharp rise in the price of coal in H2 2016 this average price was considerably lower than the current price in Rotterdam.

The commission took into account the 2 index CIF in main ports of Western Europe in the period of December 2015 through November 2016 when the commission calculated the forecast wholesale price for 2017. Average price was $56.48 per tonne. Average freight rate to deliver coal to Ukrainian ports was $8.52 per tonne and average loading rate of $7.21 per tonne were considered. Average coal price on the European market with delivery to Ukraine was $72.21 per tonne.
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Valentines Day sweethearts wont find chocolates in the heart-shaped candy box from Alamo Candy Co. in San Antonio.

Instead of praline- or caramel-filled bites, significant others may find the San Antonio companys chili powder-covered cherry bombs and sweet-and-sour chamoy belt candies.

Candymakers at the companys store at 2738 Blanco Road on the North Side make the items year-round, general manager William Samame said. But packaging the treats for Feb. 14 adds a spin on the typical Valentines Day gift, he said.

You can find chocolates anywhere, Samame said. This is something special. This is something you wont find anywhere else.

Valentines Day, like Thanksgiving and Christmas, is a lucrative holiday for restaurants and retailers. Restaurants are booked across the city, and specialty stores and flower shops have seen an uptick in sales as residents look to woo their better halves with roses, chocolates, jewelry, stuffed animals and fancy meals.

But if you really cant buy love, the estimated dip in Valentines Day spending this year shouldnt matter.

The National Retail Federation projects total Valentines Day spending at $18.2 billion, down 7.6 percent from the record high of $19.7 billion in 2016, according to a study co-authored by Prosper Insights & Analytics.

Lovers are slated to spend an average of $136.57 on candy, greeting cards, flowers and other romantic items on their dearest, compared with $146.84 last year, according to the retail group.

If San Antonians are spending less on Valentines gifts this year, Lisa Allen wouldnt know it.

Allen, who owns Allens Flowers and Gifts at 2101 McCullough Ave., said she has seen a 20 percent increase in flower sales this year compared with the same period in 2016.

The shops customers are spending big. Employees arrived at 6:30 a.m. to load six delivery trucks  four of which are rentals for the holiday  with roses, carnations, teddy bears and gourmet chocolates, Allen said. One customer placed eight gift orders valued at $250 each for delivery to his daughters, grandchildren and other women in his life, Allen said.

Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery at The Pearl development has maxed out reservations for 125 tables on Tuesday and expects to turn them over at least three times between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., general manager Philippe Place said. Last year, the restaurant  which couples beer brewed in-house with its Gulf Coast cuisine  served 320 people for dinner on Valentines Day, Place said. The restaurant will also have limited table space for spur-of-the-moment customers.

Were expecting a busy night, Place said.

Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Retailers hope to see a burst of foot traffic from last-minute shoppers.

Jessica Chiles, manager at The Tiny Finch at The Pearl, said there was a slight uptick Monday in shoppers perusing the boutiques heart-shaped jewelry and candles, among other offerings. She said she expects the store to see more shoppers today barring an expected downpour.

Big-box stores are also trying to keep shelves stocked with chocolate boxes, cards, wine, stuffed animals and, of course, roses.

H-E-B spokeswoman Dya Campos said the San Antonio-based supermarket chain expects to maintain a steady supply of roses, gift baskets and baked goods through Tuesday. Employees will be hand-dipping strawberries in chocolate on-site, Campos said, and bakeries will offer a two-layer cake made of strawberry cake and cheesecake.

Walmart spokeswoman Anne Hatfield said customers have been using the chains in-store and curbside pickup program to order last-minute gifts and groceries online, including gift baskets, stuffed animals and baked goods.

jfechter@express-news.net

Twitter: @JFreports
In a strip mall that brings together state offices, a massage therapist, a beauty parlor and a bingo hall, Don Jose understands the power of bundling. Lunch specials abound, and breakfast goes all day, but the real players here are tacos that combine three or four of the things we like best about tacos for the price of one. Enjoy a free bowl of fideo while you wait.

Tacos: Simplicity has its place. Witness the bean and cheese taco. But theres a time and place for complicated, too. And these all-in-one tacos from Don Jose are three of the best tacos Ive had in San Antonio, starting with A La Casa, a grilled collective of shrimp, beef and chicken that brings out the caramelized edges in each and makes them even better with peppers and onions ($2.69). I dont know which specific holiday the Holiday Taco is celebrating, so Ill say all of them. Its a party hat of a taco with sweet smoked sausage, carne asada, salty beans and melted colby Jack ($2.39). And after Don Joses El Mexicano, Im wondering why I havent been ordering barbacoa with guacamole and pico de gallo all along. With barbacoa soft and easy like Sunday morning, this is among the best $2.25 tacos of the series so far.


First of two columns

My house in Mahncke Park first was owned by the family of U.S. Army Air Corps Major William N. Hensley, who flew in 1919 aboard the first trans-Atlantic crossing of a dirigible and was a flying instructor near Dallas in the early 1920s, according to the Handbook of Texas. I have understood that he was associated with the Air Corps at Fort Sam Houston but have no documentation. I wonder if Hensleys service fits in somehow with the (World War I observation balloon training) activities in Olmos Basin? He would have been living on Elmhurst beginning in 1927, but I dont know when he moved to San Antonio. Its possible that the Elmhurst house was purchased at or near his retirement. If your sources can provide more information about him, I would be interested.

Unrelated but interesting, his son, also William, was a World War II flying ace who became Bexar Countys youngest district attorney, who died on his way to join his unit during the Korean War. Hensleys daughter, Barbara Hensley Halbardier, was concertmaster (with orchestras) in both New Orleans and San Antonio. I cant find much on Mrs. Hensley but she must have been pretty special to support her husbands career and raise two exceptional children. Hensley died when his son was about 12 years old.

 Francille Radmann

The first owner of your house was a swashbuckling star in his field, who took his turn at the controls of a technological revolution.

When William Nicholas Hensley Jr.  pioneer aviator and father of Bexar County District Attorney William N. Hensley (who did not use a suffix)  started his military career, the horse was the principal means of transportation. While he was still a young man, air power became an important strategic focus, and he was involved, even identified with the transformation of his service.

According to the U.S. Select Military Register, he was born in 1881 in Nebraska, graduated in 1901 from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and in 1912 from the Armys Mounted Service School. He was a cavalryman through 1916, was assigned temporarily to the Signal Corps the following year and became a colonel in the Air Service (later Air Corps and Air Force) in August 1917.

He was involved in observation balloon training schools  like the one at Camp Wise in whats now Olmos Basin Park, described here Dec. 11, 2016  but not here in Texas, says Jacqueline Davis, director of the Fort Sam Houston Museum. According to Hensleys entries in Cullums Register, a biographical reference work on West Point graduates, he spent time during and just after World War I at balloon camps at Fort Omaha, Nebraska; in several locations in California and in Dallas and Akron, Ohio.

After the war, Hensley made an agreement with the Germans to buy a Zeppelin  a rigid airship made for observation and as bombers  for $110,000. Through some confusion among the general staff of the American Expeditionary force, and maybe some diplomatic objections from allies, the deal was scrapped.

He didnt lose interest in this form of air travel. Hensley made international news for his role as the only American observer on the British R-34 airship on its return flight from Roosevelt Field in Mineola, New York, to Pulham, England  a 76-hour odyssey that began July 10, 1919. On a hotel roof in New York City, his wife, Nettie, watched the dark skies with their baby son in her arms as the crafts distinctive silhouette was seen circling a few times before taking off over the ocean from a midnight start.

Fortunately for proponents of the airship, Hensley had a gift for looking on the bright side. This has been a great trip, he told reporters upon landing, as quoted in the New York Times, July 14, 1919. We were lost one whole day, because the fog was so thick that we could not get a shot at the sun, moon, star or horizon, but we worked out of it by the time they reached the Irish coast.

Despite gale-force winds, the airships crew  including the chief engineers kitten  suffered no airsickness. They cooked eggs in the engines exhaust, sent radio signals to ships whose surprised crews did not know about us and even managed to shave with cold water, our only hardship. As spokesman, Hensley talked up the relative comfort of the trip and its implications for eventual passenger travel by giant dirigible.

As chief of the U.S. Army Balloon Service, Hensley spent the next year in Europe  the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany  with his family. The only cloud on their horizon seems to have been an acid attack in Berlin on their 1-year-old son by a demented nurse, says the San Antonio Evening News, Jan. 26, 1920, among whose possessions was found a paper reading, The lions and tigers are hungry, so why shouldnt the children of the bourgeois be fed to them? (Attending physicians said little William would recover but be permanently scarred  a gloomy prediction that doesnt seem to have come true, judging from photographs.)

From his British adventure onward, Hensleys was a marquee name. When an ocean liner carrying the Prince of Wales was pulling into New York Harbor in 1924, Hensley buzzed the Berengaria, broadcasting the nations greetings over the wireless (radio). When he became head of a West Point program to provide flight instruction to all cadets, it was his picture that made the papers.

Speaking on behalf of the War (later Defense) Department, Hensley gave frequent glowing reports on advances in aviation, especially those that were expected to make flight safer, such as lights, instruments and cameras. He was commander of Mitchell Field on Long Island, New York, where he often was called upon to introduce these innovations to the media. As commander at Langley Field in Virginia, he predicted that it would someday be possible for civilian passengers to go by airship overland at a cost of about five cents a mile, at a speed of 69 to 70 miles an hour.

He wasnt Charles Lindbergh, but it was expected that the public would recognize Hensleys name. You sent an advertisement from the San Antonio Light for developer Robert McGarraughs Greenwood Village in Monte Vista that features a letter from him, praising the house on Elmhurst  a model home  for its artistic design and solid foundations. The Light, July 1, 1928, also published a photo of Hensley, by then air officer of the 8th Corps Area at Fort Sam Houston, and his wife with the new Stutz presented them recently by Charles Levine of Brooklyn, first passenger to cross the Atlantic Ocean by airplane.

While still headquartered in Fort Sams Quadrangle, where he was assigned from October 1926, he opened a new flight training field in early 1929 at Grand Prairie that would become the Dallas Naval Air Station, known as the Prairie Navy until it closed 57 years later. It would be his last major accomplishment.

The first American to fly the Atlantic from west to east in the R-34 rigid airship died March 23, 1929, on a train while en route from Walter Reed Hospital in Washington to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., as reported in the next days San Antonio Express. Six airplanes from Fort Sam Houston flew in formation over the post chapel during Hensleys funeral. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Next week: The son also rises  and falls.
Under the pink Capitol dome with hundreds of eyes upon him, Gov. Greg Abbott issued an ultimatum to lawmakers mulling over how much to invest in the next two years on high-quality early education.

"Do it right," he implored, raising his voice as lawmakers sat silent, "or don't do it at all."

Those words rang out in his State of the State speech last month, accenting criticism of the state's legislative branch whose budget gurus minimized funding for one of his most prized priorities to increase quality learning inside pre-kindergarten classrooms across Texas.

If budgets are a reflection of lawmakers' priorities, both the House and Senate put pre-K on the proverbial back burner in their preliminary spending proposals this session. Both offer around half of the funding needed to make Abbott's ongoing dream of a robust pre-K program a yearly reality. Key figures in neither chamber are talking yet about adding more.

In a legislative session where money is tight and the state's top leaders already are butting heads, appearing to give lawmakers an option to pass on expanding a controversial early education program inherently offered an out.

'Absolutely perplexed'

People working behind the scenes to ensure the state's grant program that has paid for training and in some cases, full-day programs, for pre-kindergarten say they are confident, however, that lawmakers will pony up money to keep Abbott's early education priority well-funded, even if some politics need to be played first.

"This is the session of Republican-on-Republican warfare and chamber-on-chamber warfare," said Jason Sabo, a long-time social issue lobbyist who represents Children at Risk, a non-profit advocacy group. Add in the governor's office and "of course they're going to game one another for advantage on X, Y and Z," he said.

In 2015, Abbott convinced lawmakers to spend $118 million on high quality pre-K grants that school districts could apply for. Although initial proposals pitched larger spending plans, the governor's high-quality pre-K program handed out grants to 573 school districts serving nearly 190,000 pre-K students this school year. The one-time grants doled out $734 per child, which districts report they largely spent on professional development, curriculum, instructional materials, technology and parent engagement, according to Texans Care for Children, a non-profit policy organization that surveyed districts last fall. Some school systems said they used the money to expand to full-day classes.

Texas has a history of low scores for its pre-K program, meeting two of 10 quality standards recommended by the National Institute for Early Education Research for the last four years, losing points for lacking limits on class sizes and staff-child ratios, among other measures.

Advocates saw the initial grants allowing pre-K programs to use the money as a "down payment" to improve quality after years of pressure by children's groups and a growing array of chambers of commerce, individual businesses and law enforcement calling for an investment in early education, Sabo said.

Instead of doubling the funding to $236 million for the new biennium, the Senate's first draft of the budget released this session offered $75 million per year. The House of Representatives said it would give $117 million the first year and nothing the next.

Abbott admonished the chambers in his speech, saying he was "absolutely perplexed" by the House and Senate budgets that "nod in the direction of pre-K, but they really turn a blind eye to the goal of achieving high-quality pre-K."

'Bucket of priorities'

The Legislature is poised to tackle several weighty and expensive issues this year pertaining to children's well-being. Lawmakers have agreed to focus on reforms to the state's overwhelmed Child Protective Services department, its foster care program which is under fire in the courts, and an antiquated education funding formula that has left Houston Independent School District poised to give up millions of dollars to other school districts. These changes, and other demands for state funding, come as Texas needs to trim back its budget amid lower-than-expected tax revenues due in part to the state's weakened oil industry.

Sitting on a long wooden bench in the marbled hallway of the state Capitol, Stephanie Rubin, CEO of Texans Care for Children, said she was confident both chambers ultimately will fund the pre-K program to the tune of $236 million.

"Given the focus this session on kids and the success and well-being of kids, high-quality pre-K should and, we expect, will be included in that bucket of priorities," she said, adding the cuts both chambers have proposed give citizens and the governor an opportunity to get fired up about the program.

Both chambers contend their early drafts of the budget are starting points in a months-long negotiation over how the state should prioritize more than $100 billion in general revenue funds to be spent over the next two years. State officials and advocates say most of the talk about the early education budget is happening behind the scenes and lawmakers are reticent to make waves.

Senate Education Chairman Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, declined to comment for this story and newly appointed House Public Education Chairman Dan Huberty, R-Houston, was not available for comment.

'Getting personal'

Abbott spokesman John Wittman said the governor wants to see funding for his high-quality pre-K plan increased to $236 million, not sidelined.

"Gov. Abbott was clear that when it comes to early education, Texas children must have the tools they need to succeed and that begins with optional, high-quality pre-K, which he expects the legislature to fully fund this session," Wittman said.

Sabo, a longtime political observer, said he found it telling that Abbott stressed pre-K in his state address.

"This is getting personal, this is his thing," Sabo said.
The San Antonio Independent School District board of trustees Monday night approved a resolution to provide resources to, and safeguard the privacy of, immigrant students.

It affirmed that SAISD will not collect information on the immigration status of students and will not disseminate any information relevant to their status. The resolution also authorized Superintendent Pedro Martinez to direct students and their families to resources explaining their legal rights.

At the end of the day, we are here to protect our students and the families, trustee Debra Guerrero said before the resolution was approved 6-0, with trustee Arthur Valdez absent.

The resolution didnt change district policy, and it didnt contain the specific instructions to restrict the districts cooperation with immigration authorities that the districts employees union has called for in recent weeks. Shelley Potter, the president of the San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel, said before the meeting that she was satisfied with the shorter resolution, given no change in a federal policy that avoids immigration enforcement at schools.

Some parents and teachers told trustees, however, that it might not lessen the fears of students and their families, especially after immigration raids in Austin.

The district recently added an immigration frequently asked questions page to its website, explaining that it does not collect or share information on students immigration status. The district only gives immigration officials other identifying information with written parental consent or after receiving a subpoena. In the case of a subpoena, the district would try to notify a parent before complying, unless a court orders the district not to.

If federal immigration agents request access to a school to speak to a student, the district requires verification of the agents credentials and parental notification efforts. In such cases, district officials also would seek legal advice on a case-by-case basis until more unanswered questions are resolved on a national level, according to the webpage.

We really need to be prepared to do more, teacher Jenny Muniz said. Is the resolution that we put forth enough? Is it pointed enough to ease some of the concerns of our parents?

Alicia Perez, an immigration attorney with two sons at the Advanced Learning Academy, said the resolution and FAQs were not clear enough for many families.

I think your statement is all right, she said. Id love it to be stronger. Were talking about people with a lower education level and who are scared out of their minds right now.

Board President Patti Radle said the district could organize parent workshops and principals coffees discussing immigration concerns. Martinez said the district would also organize a meeting with immgration experts, add more materials to the website and provide hard-copy materials to schools.

This is something very personal for me and my family, said Martinez, who was born in Mexico and came to the United States at age 5. His wifes parents are also from Mexico.
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While it may seem there has been an increase in the number of pet abandonment cases in recent weeks, Animal Care Services officers say its a problem they see regularly.

The latest case involved three turtles left in ice chests and a female pit bull mix found Monday morning after an eviction near Montana Street on the East Side.

When ACS officers entered the East Side apartment they found two large turtles in less than two inches of brackish, green water in an ice chest so small they couldnt turn around. Another turtle had an extensive crack on its shell from tip of its tail to its head.

Leeches, more than an inch long, were attached to the turtles shells, a sign ACS officials said indicated they had been removed from a local waterway. The young dog was malnourished and had hair loss.

Just last week, ACS officers picked up a fourth domesticated pig found roaming the streets in less than a month. Officers also have rescued malnourished ferrets and numerous dogs and cats abandoned by their owners.

Joel Skidmore, ACS field operations supervisor with animal cruelty investigations, said abandoned animals range from those dumped on the side of the road to those left behind after the owner moves.

Unfortunately, its what we deal with, he said. Our primary objective is to save the animals and make sure that we do everything we can to hold the perpetrator accountable. When an animal is abandoned they cant ask for help. Thats where we need to step in and do everything we can to hold the person accountable and remove the animal from the situation its living in.

According to Chapter 5 of the citys ordinance, pet abandonment is illegal in San Antonio. Based on the severity of neglect, pet owners could face animal cruelty charges ranging from a misdemeanor to a state jail felony.

ACS spokeswoman Lisa Norwood said last fiscal year, ACS referred four cases to the district attorneys office. She said ACS hasnt referred any cases so far this fiscal year, which started in October.

Skidmore said many abandonment cases involve evictions, a writ of possession or arrest. Sometimes, he said, people arent intentionally abandoning their animals.

Its just the property was repossessed with the owner or the resident not having legal rights to the property and the animals not having legal rights to stay there, Skidmore explained. Our role is to remove those animals if the owner isnt present, and the animals are held at ACS for an owner reclaim request.

Skidmore said if its established that the owner made no reasonable accommodations for the care of the animal, thats when the case can turn into a criminal investigation.

He said its not a foregone conclusion that ACS will remove an animal when calls are received claiming a pet has been abandoned. Sometimes, an animal may appear to be abandoned at a place where no one lives but the animal actually is getting daily visits providing food and water, unseen by those who call ACS.

Any time we take immediate action and seize an animal or remove an animal, its if the animal is in jeopardy of dying and we have to take immediate action for the welfare of the animal, Skidmore said.

Norwood said with so many programs in Bexar County, theres no a reason pet owners cant provide for their animals even if it means giving up the pet.

When they can no longer take care of the responsibility, they need to rehome, she said, and look for resources to help them do so.

vtdavis@express-news.net
Immigration officials arrested 51 people in Austin last week, part of a nationwide operation that netted almost 700 immigrants who were mostly targeted for committing crimes.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced Monday that officers targeted public safety threats, including gang members and immigrants with criminal convictions, after reports last week that the agency had begun using new enforcement methods, including checkpoints.

In a statement, the agency called those reports false, dangerous and irresponsible.

ICE does not conduct sweeps, checkpoints or raids that target aliens indiscriminately, the agency said.

An ICE official said none of the arrests took place in San Antonio, and a spokesman for the Mexican consul general here said she was not aware of any detentions.

ICE arrested 680 immigrants across the U.S. as part of the operation, 75 percent of whom had been convicted of crimes, Homeland Security Department Secretary John Kelly said in a statement.

In a separate statement, ICE described the operation as part of regular operations conducted by its fugitive operations teams. However, the agency did mention a change in policy brought on by President Donald Trumps executive order last month greatly relaxing whom immigration officials can put into deportation proceedings. ICE officers have more leeway to arrest undocumented immigrants who are not the targets of their enforcement operations, which was discouraged under the Obama administration.

During targeted enforcement operations, ICE officers frequently encounter additional suspects who may be in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws, the agency said. Those persons will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and, when appropriate, arrested by ICE.

jbuch@express-news.net

Twitter: @jlbuch
The Army judge hearing the case against accused deserter Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl on Monday said comments Donald Trump made on the campaign trail about the soldier were disturbing material and a potential black eye on the military justice system.

At a hearing at Fort Bragg, North Carolina over a defense motion filed last month within minutes of Trumps inauguration, Col. Jeffery R. Nance appeared to share the concerns of Bergdahls lawyers, who have argued that then-candidate Trump had made it impossible for their client to receive a fair trial.

Bergdahl, 30, of Hailey, Idaho, could get life in prison. He is charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy for walking off his remote outpost in Afghanistan in 2009. Taliban fighters captured him within hours and held him for five years until the Obama administration exchanged five high-profile Taliban prisoners for his release.

The motion to dismiss the charges catalogued dozens of comments at rallies and interviews in which Trump called Bergdahl a dirty, rotten traitor, a dirty, no-good traitor, a horrible traitor, asserted Bergdahl went to the other side and negotiated with terrorists, and called the soldier the worst, no good, this bum, a whack job, this piece of garbage and a son of a bitch who would have been shot decades ago.

Bergdahl has not been charged with treason, and evidence presented in San Antonio last year showed he was held under brutal conditions, resisted his captors and attempted escape.

At times, Bergdahl couldnt bear to watch a video of Trumps comments as it was played in the courtroom Monday, said his civilian attorney, Eugene Fidell.

He did look away from the screen, said Fidell, a Yale Law School lecturer, confirming media reports. It was a painful experience for him.

Nance adjourned the hearing without making a decision. A trial is set for April 18.

Bergdahl has said that he left the base in hopes of triggering a search that would help him bring concerns about his unit before a high-level commander.

One prosecutor, Army Maj. Justin Oshana, said Trumps comments amounted to campaign rhetoric against the Obama administrations actions that freed Bergdahl, and that potential jurors exposure to Trumps comments could be addressed through questioning during jury selection, the Associated Press reported

When Oshana said it would be unprecedented to dismiss the case without first trying to seat a jury, Nance asked, How does that relate to overcoming the black eye to the military justice system ... the view the public might have?

If the defense goal to get the case thrown out of court doesnt succeed, Bergdahls lawyers also can try to convince the judge to spare him from prison as a remedy to the things Trump has said, Fidell said.

The motion to dismiss is based on a rule that those in a military defendants chain of command are not to interfere with the legal process. Some legal experts note that Trump, as a candidate, was not the commander-in-chief when he lambasted Bergdahl.

The judge's concern is not what the general public thinks, as he states it. The only relevant issue is whether Bergdahl can get a fair trial. Since President Trump has made no such comments as president this is a non-issue from a legal perspective, St. Marys University School of Law Professor Jeff Addicott said.

Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Charles Dunlap Jr. agreed, while calling Trumps comments unhelpful to the prosecution. A trial might be held even if Trump made similar comments as president, Dunlap said.

Lets not forget that when President Obama was actually commander-in-chief, his comments about sexual assault cases that appeared to direct that in all instances a dishonorable discharge (was warranted) did not result in cases being barred or, to my knowledge, convictions being reversed or sentences modified, he said. Interestingly, in a case where those remarks were litigated, the government argued that President Obama was not covered by  the provision of law that bars command influence.

Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Rachel Vanlandingham, a professor at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles, said it was hard to forecast the judge's decision but noted that Nance expressed skepticism that merely striking jurors will solve the perception of unfairness arising from Trumps comments.

Geoffrey Corn, a professor at South Texas College of Law in Houston, predicted that Nance will agree with defense that this is problematic, but also conclude that remedies short of dismissal will cure any perception of unfairness.

Had this been a general, he might make the case go away. I don't see that happening here, Corn added.

sigc@express-news.net
Government approves compensation of 15% of agricultural machinery cost to farmers with growth of production localization

Starting from 2017 farmers will receive partial compensation of the cost of agricultural machinery in the amount of 15% of its cost via banks if the production localization for the machinery in Ukraine exceeds 35%.

Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers approved the relevant resolution in Kyiv on Tuesday.

"We want to achieve that the localization of Ukrainian agricultural machinery manufacturers by 2020 reaches 60%," Agricultural Policy and Food Minister of Ukraine Taras Kutoviy said presenting the documents at a government meeting on Tuesday.

He said that the decisions made foresee the increase of localization to 45% in 2018, to 55% in 2019 and to 60% in 2020.

The minister recalled that the legislation passed at the end of 2016 allocates 0.1% of the cost of gross agricultural products for this partial compensation, or around UAH 550 million.

He said that next year the sum will be increased to 0.15% or around UAH 900 million, and will reach 0.2% in 2019, exceeding UAH 1 billion.

"The volume of agricultural engineering goods will be over UAH 4 billion," Kutoviy said. He added that deterioration of agricultural machinery at farms today is some 85%, and its pace exceeds the upgrade pace.
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BOERNE  Kendall County commissioners on Monday backed rebating 75 percent of future property taxes generated for a decade by a planned hotel complex, for which the Boerne City Council last month approved incentives worth more than $4.75 million for the developer.

This is a project like weve never had before, County Judge Darrel Lux of the roughly 130-room hotel with a 7,400 square-foot convention center proposed for construction off South Main Street by Phoenix Hospitality Group in conjunction with Hilton Hotels.
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Under the pink Capitol dome with hundreds of eyes upon him, Gov. Greg Abbott issued an ultimatum to lawmakers mulling how much to invest over the next two years on high-quality early education.

Do it right, he implored, raising his voice as lawmakers sat silent, or dont do it at all.

Those words rang out in his State of the State speech last month, accenting criticism of the states legislative branch whose budget gurus minimized funding for one of the governors most prized priorities: to increase quality learning inside prekindergarten classrooms across Texas.

In a legislative session where money is tight and the states top leaders already are butting heads, Abbotts remarks, appearing to give lawmakers an option to pass on expanding the program, inherently offered an out. Both chambers proposals offer around half of the funding needed to make Abbotts ongoing dream of a robust Pre-K program a yearly reality. Key figures in neither chamber are talking yet about adding more.

Education leaders at the state and local level are raising the alarm.

Im very worried about what it would do to early childhood education in San Antonio, said Sarah Baray, CEO of San Antonios city-wide program Pre-K 4 SA.

While Pre-K 4 SA itself only relies on state funding for 10 percent, or $4.2 million, of its total budget this fiscal year, less state funding would put a strain on its mission to improve preschool education for all of San Antonio through grants to local providers. This year, the program distributed $4.2 million in grants, Baray said.

For every dollar that doesnt come to our districts from the state, that means Pre-K 4 SA is going to have to try to help districts make up for that to make sure we dont lose the great gains weve made, she said.

People working behind the scenes to ensure the states grant program that has paid for training and in some cases, full-day programs, for prekindergarten say they are confident that lawmakers will pony up money to keep Abbotts early education priority well-funded.

Given the focus this session on kids and the success and well-being of kids, high-quality Pre-K should and, we expect, will be included in that bucket of priorities, said Stephanie Rubin, CEO of Texans Care for children. She added that the cuts proposed by the Senate and House give citizens and the governor an opportunity to get fired up about the program.

Its likely some politics will need to be played first.

This is the session of Republican-on-Republican warfare and chamber-on-chamber warfare, said Jason Sabo, a long-time social issue lobbyist who represents Children at Risk, a non-profit advocacy group. Add in the governors office and of course theyre going to game one another for advantage on X, Y and Z, he said.

In 2015, Abbott convinced lawmakers to spend $118 million on high quality Pre-K grants for local school districts. Although initial proposals pitched larger spending plans, the governors high-quality Pre-K program handed out grants to 573 school districts serving nearly 190,000 Pre-K students this school year. The one-time grants doled out $734 per child, which districts report they largely spent on professional development, curriculum, instructional materials, technology and parent engagement, according to Texans Care for Children, a non-profit policy organization that surveyed districts last fall. Some school systems said they used the money to expand to full-day classes.

Texas has a history of low scores for its Pre-K program, meeting two of 10 quality standards recommended by the National Institute for Early Education Research for the last four years, losing points for lacking limits on class sizes and staff-child ratios, among other measures.

Advocates saw the initial grants allowing Pre-K programs to use the money as a down payment to improve quality after years of pressure by childrens groups and a growing array of chambers of commerce, individual businesses and law enforcement calling for an investment in early education, Sabo said.

Instead of doubling the funding to $236 million for the new biennium, the Senates first draft of the budget released this session offered $75 million per year. The House of Representatives said it would give $117 million the first year and nothing the next.

Baray said by slashing state funding, San Antonio providers are going to have to bear the burden, and Pre-K 4 SAs grant dollars wont be going toward improved quality of service and new programs but just to keeping preschool full-day.

She also said the lack of consistency in funding also poses a problem for preschool programs, who struggle with knowing how much to save and how much funding they can rely on in the future.

These giant swings in cuts to Pre-K funding make it difficult to create and sustain high quality-programs because you dont know year to year if youll have the funding to support the curriculum. It make it difficult to keep the momentum going, she said. Were very concerned about any cuts to Pre-K education.

The Legislature is poised to tackle several weighty and expensive issues this year pertaining to childrens well-being. Lawmakers have agreed to focus on reforms to the states overwhelmed Child Protective Services department, its foster care program which is under fire in the courts, and an antiquated education funding formula that has left Houston Independent School District poised to give up millions of dollars to other school districts. These changes, and other demands for state funding, come as Texas needs to trim back its budget amid lower-than-expected tax revenues due in part to the states weakened oil industry.

The investment in early education is a wise investmentfiscally and socially, said Baray. Its the best place to put the money. I understand the legislators competing needs, but I think our children, particularly our youngest children, are certainly worth the investment.

Andrea.Zelinski@chron.com; sfosterfrau@express-news.net
Councilman Alan Warrick has filed some curious campaign finance reports, and they havent escaped the eye of William Cruz Shaw, his challenger in District 2.

In 2015, for instance, Warricks campaign lent his own nonprofit $15,000.

Warrick is CEO of World Technical Services Inc., a 501(c)(4) nonprofit founded by his grandfather that provides employment for people with disabilities.

In 2014, Warrick earned a salary of $142,138 running the organization, which had a negative fund balance of -$470,717 at the end of the year, according to the most recent publicly available records.

There was a cash flow issue, Warrick said. All of the money has been returned.

Shaw, a local attorney, was taken aback by the transaction.

What? That makes no sense, Shaw told me. I think Alans a good guy  but we need to be mindful of ethics violations.

Shaw was reacting tit for tat to a previous tiff.

Last year, Warrick accused Shaw of knowingly violating the City Charter by preparing to run in the district while still serving on the San Antonio Zoning Commission. Mayor Ivy Taylor had appointed Shaw to the commission while she was a councilwoman, and Shaw was refusing Warricks requests for him to resign.

At the time, Colin Strother, a campaign strategist for Warrick, quipped that Shaw was playing footsie with the ethics code. Shaw later stepped down from the commission.

Whether Warricks loan to his nonprofit violated the Texas Ethics Code would depend on the exact use of the funds, said Buck Wood, an Austin elections lawyer and Texas ethics expert.

Its not something that I would ever recommend to a client to do, Wood said. You cant use campaign funds for personal use, thats for sure  It raises questions that might be very difficult to answer. Youre using the money for what? Are you running short of money for a particular project, or are you just running short of money overall?

En route to Washington on Monday, Warrick couldnt recall.

Im not sure, he told me.

Of his salary, Warrick said, I took a significant pay cut when I became a council member. Its closer to $100,000.

I also asked Warrick about another campaign finance curiosity.

According to his most recent report, he had received about $17,000 in political contributions and spent about $13,400.

That same report put his total balance at zero, raising the question: What happened to the remainder?

That was a mistake, Warrick told me. I know I had more than zero dollars. I had $20,000 in the bank.

On Monday, Strother called the campaigns 2015 loan to Warricks nonprofit bridge funding and maintained that none of it was converted to the councilmans personal use.

He didnt receive any of it, Strother said. The nonprofit has since satisfied the loan and paid it back.

And Strother parried Shaws broadside with a fresh attack.

Were happy to compare the record of someone whos been spending his career helping thousands of disabled and chronically unemployed people find work versus a guy whos planning on making money off the misfortune of others as an active participant in gentrifying the East Side, he said.

Shaw has been running around buying property up in the district, Strother said.

Shaw found that mildly amusing.

I have three empty lots, he said, adding resignedly, Here we go.

bchasnoff@express-news.net
Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, said it is better to get your news directly from the President. In fact, it might be the only way to get the unvarnished truth.

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway spoke of the Trump teams trustworthy alternative facts.

Chief White House strategist Stephen Bannon said, The media should be embarrassed and humiliated and keep its mouth shut and just listen for a while.

And Donald Trump, as president and candidate, has spoken of a dishonest and crooked media out to get him.

This is more than the usual pique coming from the powerful and directed at a perpetually favorite whipping boy  the news media. This is something that threatens vital cogs in the workings of our democracy.

Those cogs are facts and truth.

These are friends of the informed  of those actively engaged and interested in current affairs  and they are the enemies of those who, with intent to deceive or not, misinform. There really are no alternative facts or truths.

The president and his team would have Americans believe that the press is at war with the president.

There is no war.

There is only the press doing what it has done since the advent of modern journalism  watching, listening and reporting as factually as it can. And, so, if the president or any person in power speaks an untruth, distorts or misleads, Journalism 101 demands fact and clarity. When obfuscation occurs, the antidote is explanation.

And where there are deliberate attempts to mislead, the press has an obligation to report.

To suggest that the press role in such matters is merely to report what is said  balancing that out in he-said, she-said fashion  is to misunderstand the journalists job. And the meaning of balance.

Professional journalism demands reporting the accuracy and effect of what is being said and done. Reputable  yes, mainstream  journalists do this by tapping a variety of knowledgeable sources. They dont make it up from whole cloth. They get fired for doing so.

In this case, the press real crime is not lying; it is reporting precisely what the president says and then explaining how that is either correct or not. Yes, the press can get facts wrong, can make mistakes, which is why the correction has long had a place of honor in modern journalism.

But we see very little of this type of self-correcting apparatus in this administration to date. Instead, we see a penchant for shooting the messenger.

And it is easy to detect a purpose in this.

If truthful hyperbole is your chosen method of expression, if facts dont play a meaningful role in your truth, if your alternative facts are demonstrably untrue and if balanced and accurate coverage thwart your agenda  your truth  then, of course, fact-checkers are your sworn enemy. And then there is advantage in convincing readers and viewers that the fact-checkers are, in fact, liars.

There was a commentary in this newspaper recently by Richard Cherwitz, a professor of communications at the University of Texas at Austin, on the continuing need for accountability when untruths are spoken by the president. He explained that Trump has tapped into the publics lack of trust in the believability of the media, that the constant barrage of these charges desensitizes the reading and viewing public to lies and that there are simply those who dismiss the lying as speaking boldly and decisively. For these latter people, facts dont matter. But they will matter, Cherwitz credibly asserts, when the falsehoods begin to materially affect their believers.

This is indeed the landscape confronting the modern news media, along with other headwinds offered by changing reading habits and waning interest in public affairs generally  low voter turnout being yet another symptom. But, the antidote to these is not abandoning what modern journalists do  reporting as accurately as possible and performing the public watchdog role democracy demands of a free press.

The new world brought on by the Trump presidency merely demonstrates the need for journalists to adhere to the old values theyve long practiced. Whatever the platform  digital, broadcast or print  these values are what allow journalists to do their jobs. They are why many of us come to work every day.

And it is a certainty that it is to the advantage of some that journalists not do these jobs, not do them well or that journalists be labeled as lacking credibility when they do that job according to established norms. There is no war, but when those salvos happen, there are casualties  fact, truth, accountability and the ability for the governed to govern, foremost among them.
REYNOLDSBURG, OH (Feb. 08, 2017)  Ohio Proud, the Ohio Department of Agricultures (ODA) marketing program is assisting Columbus City Schools as the district implements its Ohio Days: My Plate, My State lunch initiative. Once a month, Ohios largest school district will serve more than 52,000 students a full plate of Ohio-sourced foods.

ODA stands ready to help any district across Ohio implement programs as successful and impactful as this one from Columbus City Schools, said ODA Director David T. Daniels. Students benefit from fresh, local lunches and Ohio Proud companies benefit from increased business, ultimately adding to agriculture and food productions enormous impact as the states number one industry.

Our new effort will provide healthier, locally sourced meals to our students, with the meats, the grains, the fruits, the vegetables and the milk all coming from Ohio farms and producers, said Columbus City Schools Superintendent Dr. Daniel Good. Were excited about bringing this opportunity to all 110 of our cafeterias.

Columbus City Schools, with the help of ODA and OSU Extension, have identified more than 20 companies with the capacity to meet the districts need for local apples, turkey, chicken and beef products, shredded cheese, milk, corn tortillas, whole grain tortilla chips, lettuce, beans, carrots, potatoes, cucumbers, squash and peaches.

With Columbus ordering such large quantities, its our hope that smaller districts, that otherwise would not be able to place orders with these local companies, will have an avenue to source Ohio grown and processed foods for their students, said Daniels. Its also exciting for students to learn where their food really comes from, a farm not too far from home.

Ohio school districts interested in participating can contact the Ohio Proud program for more information on sourcing Ohio foods at 1-800-IMPROUD (1-800-467-7683).

Ohio Proud is the ODAs marketing program. Companies that grow, make or process at least 50 percent of their product in Ohio are eligible to join Ohio Proud. Becoming an Ohio Proud member gives businesses another way to market their products, and provides consumers a quick and reliable way to identify local food and agricultural goods.
Sowing campaign in Ukraine under threat of failure due to stoppage of seed certification - UCAB

Seed in Ukraine have not been certified since December 2016. This puts under a threat the spring crops sowing campaign, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB) Oleksandr Zhemoida said at a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday.

Since the moment of termination of operation of the State Agricultural Inspectorate the Ukrainian Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry was authorized to carry out seed certification. The ministry started creating state-run enterprise State Certification and Agricultural Products Examination Center.

Zhemoida said that at present the seed certification has not been restored. The creation of the state-enterprise has not been finished, and the Ukrainian government has not yet approved the certification rules. Certification of seeds started in 2016 has not been completed.

"According to our information, certification in Dnipropetrovsk region could resume in April or May. The sowing campaign would finish in this period and no one would need our goods. If farmers fail to sow we would have losses. First the Ukrainian economy will face losses as it significantly depends on exports of grain," Syngenta in Ukraine Director General Gebhard Rogenhofer told Interfax-Ukraine.

He said that seed companies are ready to pay for certification services, but no one understands the rules and knows the terms.

"Now we can import our products, but it cannot be certified. It is more difficult for Ukrainian companies in this situation. They are obliged to have the Ukrainian certificate, while foreign companies have OECD and ISTA seed certificates," he said.

He said that the approval of the seed certification rules was put on the agenda of the government meeting scheduled for February 22, but if the issue is not settled in coming week, many farmers would have nothing to sow this spring.

Director for Business Development of Agroscope International Oleh Stetsenko said at the press conference that 25-30% of 400,000-450,000 tonnes of corn, sunflower, soybean and other spring crop seeds required for this spring campaign are waiting for certification.

"Some 150,000 tonnes of seeds has not been certified and cannot be sowed. This means that 2 or 3 million ha of farmland could be left unsowed," he said.

Rogenhofer said that now his company has contracted seed batches and some of them have been paid by clients, but the company cannot sell the products without certification.

Deputy Director of the land cultivation and technical policy department of the Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry Leonid Sukhomlyn said at the press conference that laboratories in 14 regions of Ukraine started accepting applications for certification.

"A total of 1,300 applications have been accepted and 610 samples were selected for tests. The applications and tests are sent to the central accredited laboratory. The tests are ending, but the certifications have not been issued," he said.

He said that inspectors have not been appointed in Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv and Chernihiv regions. Inspectors were appointed in Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kirovohrad, Luhansk, Ternopil, Kharkiv and Chernivtsi regions, but seed samples have not been selected. He believes that these problems would be settled in two weeks.

UCAB proposes to permit sales of seeds with international OECD and ISTA certificates to settle the problem with seed certification, approve the certification rules and foresee that label numbers assigned by the State Agricultural Inspectorate are valid for the issue of certificates for the existing batches.
PITTSBURGH, Pa.  Participants at the 2017 Fusion Conference walked away with new and rekindled friendships, and a broader support system of people inspiring and challenging them to enhance their own lives.

The American Farm Bureau Federation hosted the Fusion Conference Feb. 10-13 at the David Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh.

The conference brought together three AFBF groups for professional development and networking: Womens Leadership, Young Farmers and Ranchers, and Promotion and Education.

More than 1,120 Farm Bureau members joined to discuss best practices, compete and celebrate the years successes.

Sessions

Professional development workshops were organized around advocacy, business, communication, education, leadership, rural development/entrepreneurship, technology and a focus on the collegiate age group.

Paige Pratt, Ph.D., with the Kansas Farm Bureau Federation, discussed Family Farm Transitions: The Good, the Bad and the In-Laws. She spoke to a standing-room-only crowd about the challenges and rewards of family farm transitions. Sharing her own experiences, she kept the crowd and engaged and amused.

The first question you must ask before going back to the farm is, Are they done living their own dream, so they can help you live yours? she said. If the answer to this question isnt yes, then youll be nothing more than a laborer.

Pratt went on to discuss identifying qualified legal and accounting experts, improving communication between generations and the importance of making a plan.

Tell your story

In another session, Jean Lonie, director of student recruitment and activities at Pennsylvania State University, discussed Owning Our Story.

She asked the crowed, Who here has heard something ridiculous while standing in the dairy section of your local grocery store? Heads nodded in agreement as the audience raised their hands.

We must take advantage of teachable moments, she said, encouraging the crowd to tell the story of agriculture. We must meet consumers where they are, not where we want them to be.

Farm Bureau members of all ages jotted notes and shared their own stories of advocacy.

This conference occurs every other year,with the three AFBF groups sharing the conference space.

We want these three groups to interact, collaborate and share ideas, said Zippy Duvall, American Farm Bureau president. The enthusiasm from young farmers is contagious.

Duvall spend time chatting with members one-on-one.

I recognize a good leader is a good listener, said Duvall. I try to make myself accessible to our grass-roots members, hear them share their stories, so I can share them in my travels with other members to make a difference.

Harvest for All

YF&R members also made a difference in the fight against hunger this year. As part of Farm Bureaus 2016 Harvest for All program, they raised more than $1.1 million and donated more than 28.9 million pounds of food to assist hungry Americans.

Combined, the monetary and food donations also reached a record level of the equivalent of more than 31 million meals.

The California Farm Bureau took top honors for donating the most food, 15.1 million pounds. Illinois Farm Bureau raised the most money, $978,000. Illinois Farm Bureau also tallied the most volunteer hours, 3,292.

Each of those state organizations received a $750 grant from Nationwide to donate to a local food bank of their choice or for another Harvest for All project.

Second-place winners were the New York Farm Bureau for food donated at 13.2 million pounds; Tennessee Farm Bureau for donated funds at $48,000; and Michigan Farm Bureau for volunteer time at 1,815 hours. Each of these winners received a $500 grant.

In addition, three state YF&R committees received $250 grants from Nationwide for most innovative programs. Those winners were from Michigan, New Hampshire and Tennessee.

Discussion meet

Fifty-three young farmer members from across the country competed in the National Collegiate Discussion Meet.

Local contestants were Kameron Rinehart and Meghan Bruns, Ohio; Simon Itle, Pennsylvania; Carriel Schmitt, New York; Michael Mann, Kentucky.

The winner of the meet was Ryan OReilly, a student at Colorado State University.

Millennials

Reaching members age 20-30 is a challenge for many membership organizations, and AFBF works with strategies to keep this age group engaged.

That age group likes fun activities they can take their families to, or that are informative, so they dont feel like they are wasting their time, said Duvall.

In an effort to stay current, AFBF asks their interns how they would like to be communicated with and works with them to brainstorm new ideas.

We have to ask questions and keep the conversation going and stay open to new ideas. Its not your grandfathers Farm Bureau, Duvall said.

National committee

Also keeping AFBF fresh with grass-roots engagement ideas is the national YF&R Committee. The committee is comprised of 16 positions representing all regions of the U.S. Committee members are responsible for young farmer program planning, which includes the coordination of competitive events during AFBFs annual convention and the Harvest for All program.

One of the best parts [of serving on the committee] has been to see the growth to us professionally, in advocating, public speaking and our ability to tell our story. Being on the committee has given us the tools, said Katie Farley of Dayton, who serves with her husband, Latham.

This is the fifth year the Farleys have attended this conference. They operate a hog and grain farm and both work off the farm.

It has been wonderful to learn from the other members. We come from around the country, we have our differences, but also a lot of similarities. We learn from them and talk through issues we all face, Katie said.

The Farleys are retiring from the committee this year as it welcomes another Ohioan, Brad Heimerl.

Heimerl is from Johnstown, Ohio, in Licking County. When asked why he applied for the national committee he said, Those who show up get to drive the future. I want to make a difference.

Heimerl works in the hog division of his familys farm. He represented Ohio in the collegiate discussion meet in 2013, getting his feet wet and was hooked.

With my background in 4-H, FFA and public speaking, I enjoy sharing about what we do. I am proud and willing to advocate. Serving on this committee as my next step was a no-brainer and Im excited to see whats next, Heimerl said.

National committee members are nominated by their respective state Farm Bureaus. They study farm and food policy issues, participate in leadership training exercises and hone other professional skills during their two-year terms.

Politics

In 2017, AFBF is pushing engagement, from the local level to the White House, said Duvall.

AFBF is involved in advocating for issues and bills at all levels, currently focusing on issues such as taxes, trade, estate taxes, labor laws and regulatory reform.

We, rural America, paved the road for Mr. Trump, but we have to recognize it was only half the job. Now we must get to work, confirming Gov. Perdue, working on our relationships and keeping our seat at the table, Duvall said.

Duvall shared Sonny Perdues qualifications to be the next U.S. secretary of agriculture.

As a vet, he understands sound science; as a farmer in his adult life, he knows the hours and the hard work, he owns businesses that buy and sell grain. We will continue to build on our positive relationship with him.

Duvalls advice for Farm Bureau members moving forward in the political arena, Be patient, supportive and engaged.

AFBF is currently discussing how best to communicate its policy positions with the administration, particularly on issues such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which President Donald Trump opposes. Duvall said the farm group will work to keep the positive qualities of such trade agreements, fix whats not working and develop something even better.

Weve been promised a seat at the table on such issues and, on behalf of our members, well be there, Duvall said.

AFBF Fusion concluded Feb. 13 with business and industry tours in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. Next years YF&R conference is scheduled for Feb. 16-19 in Reno, Nevada.
REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio  The opportunity for locally raised and processed meats is strong right now. Demand is growing and there are countless ways of distinguishing your product.

But niche markets have their own set of challenges, and successful farmers and meat processors have to find ways to work together if they want to take advantage of the current market opportunities.

That was part of the message at the first Ohio Meat Industry Marketing Summit Feb. 10, held at the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

The one-day event was sponsored by the Ohio Pork Council and Ohio Beef Council, and focused on ways that farmers, processors, retailers and restaurants can work together to bridge some of the gaps involved with the whole farm-to-plate process.

Consistent supply

Supply and volume were some of the top concerns among the retailers who spoke. Jennifer Williams, of Weilands Market in Clintonville, said once customers get hooked on a product, they expect it to be available.

If you hook a customer on a product and they love it, you better have it, she said. And they dont really care about why (not).

Williams said its about the same as going to the hardware store for a two-by-four and finding out they dont have any. The customer loses confidence, and the store loses the customer.

Producing a steady volume of local meat takes planning, but it can be done. Bill Glover, chef at Hilton Columbus Downtown, said he sometimes has to serve as many as 800 people, but he still maintains the focus on local meat and knowing where it came from.

Knowing the story

He works with a ranch in Athens, known as RL Valley Ranch, and he makes regular visits, to see how the animals are cared for. By knowing his suppliers, Glover and his staff are able to share the farmers message with Hilton guests.

But farmers need to share in telling their own story, said Williams. She said theres not always time nor resources at the retail end to be able to tell each customer where the food came from, or how it was raised.

She said labeling and packaging are important parts of telling the story, and farmers need to think about what their product will look like when its on the shelf.

Consumers are all about what it looks like, what it costs, the story behind it, and you have to help tell your story, she said.

Niche markets are usually tailored toward customers who are willing and able to spend more on food. But the buyers of niche foods still have their limits.

Yes, theyre health conscious; yes, theyre concerned; but they want to know what its going to cost, and theyre only concerned up to a certain point, said Kevin Sharrett, a pork producer with Sharrett Family farms, of Sabina.

Target customers

Henry Zerby, a supply chain expert with Wendys, and recently the head of Ohio State Universitys Department of Animal Sciences, said niche meat producers should focus on customers who are affluent enough to buy niche products.

Zerby said its important to have a food supply chain for everyone. But with niche products, farmers need to produce for customers who can pay for the higher costs of production.

He said producers also need to understand the behaviors and concerns of customers, and be prepared to adapt to changes in customer demand. He continues to see a demand for healthy foods and demand for foods that are easy to prepare and save time.

Zerby added that everyone needs to understand that the entire process of farm-to-table is bigger than any one segment  and that all segments are part of the whole.

Being efficient

For small-scale meat processors like Mike Jessee, of Dee-Jays Custom Butchering and Processing (Knox County), and Jamie Graham, of R&C Packing (Gallia County) everything comes down to time spent and pounds processed.

Graham said the biggest issue he sees is a lack of expertise and knowledge about the whole supply chain. He said the gaps in communication are often large, while the profit margin is small.

Graham said producers and processors havent been able to tap the full potential of local meats because theres too much misunderstanding.

Its been very frustrating to see the market potential that is there for producers, Graham said.

Grahams business became the first in Ohio to slaughter livestock under the U.S. Department of Agricultures Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program, which allows certain state-inspected processors to ship meat over state lines, without needing a federal inspection.

This program helped R&C gain new business, and helped farmers and buyers of meat, in and out of the state.

Cooperative efforts

One way that farmers and processors can work together is through cooperative agreements.

Hannah Scott, manager of the Ohio Cooperative Development Center at OSU-South Centers, gave an overview of how cooperatives can help farmers and retailers.

The big question about joining a co-op, she said, is can you do something better as a group, than you can individually.

Scott said co-ops offer the advantage of shared resources and knowledge. But with that sharing comes shared profits and losses.
From February 14-25, Soy Canada will travel to Indonesia and Japan on a market development mission to build on existing relationships and seek out new market opportunities.



The mission marks Soy Canadas first visit to Indonesia where the delegation will host two seminars and will have an opportunity to meet with importers, processors and feed manufactures. Indonesia is a growing market for Canadian commodity and food-grade soybeans. In 2014-15, Canadian exporters have shipped over 80,000 metric tonnes of product to the country at a value of nearly $55 million.



Indonesia has been identified as an up-and-coming market for the soybean industry over the coming years, said Soy Canada Executive Director Jim Everson. This mission will provide us an opportunity to build on our existing trade of whole soybeans and collect more information on the export of value-added products and processed soybeans.



Soy Canadas annual visit to Japan will allow our sector to meet with one of the industrys top trading partners. Soy Canada will meet with a number of industry associations and host a seminar with stakeholders to highlight the growing soybean industry in Canada as well as new research and innovation. Japan is an important market for Canadian soybeans, representing approximately 32 percent of food-grade soybean exports. In 2015, Canada exported over 290,000 metric tonnes of non-GM, food-grade soybeans to the country at a value of $260 million.



This years mission to Japan will really focus on showcasing the high quality of Canadas 2016 soybean crop and introduce new points of contact for Japanese stakeholders with Soy Canada, said Everson. Soy Canadas delegation will include several members of the soybean value chain including producers, seed companies and exporter representatives.

Source: Soya Canada
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Danica Roem is a transgender woman who began her transition in 2013. But thats only part of the reason she says she entered the race to unseat 13th District state Delegate Bob Marshall.
Manassas, VA (20110)

Today

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 65F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 65F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.
The Ministry of Justice has registered the order of verifying electronic declarations, Justice Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Petrenko has said.

"As I promised, today the Ministry of Justice has registered the order of carrying out a full verification of electronic declarations. So now the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) has a mechanism to verify electronic declarations and can start it," Petrenko wrote on his Facebook page.

The minister also said in the near future the working group should finalize the procedure for monitoring the lifestyle of officials.

"I hope this will be the last document we are developing instead of the NACP. We continue to monitor the work of the NACP to make it public, legitimate and respectable," he said.
Fayetteville woman says anti-abortion laws hurt her mom, then herself

Judy Pittard said her and her mother's pregnancy complications that required abortions were made worse by the decisions of "old men in big buildings."
Norway has consistently supported Ukraine in the issue of sovereignty and territorial integrity and points to the importance of maintaining the sanctions against the Russian Federation to fully implementation of the Minsk agreements.

"Norways position of support to Ukraine in the preservation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity remains unchanged," State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway Marit Berger Rosland said on February, 13, during the Ukrainian-Norwegian consultations held on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations, the Foreign Ministry said on its site.

Special attention was paid to implementation of the Minsk agreements. The Ukrainian side informed about the aftermath of the latest escalation of Russian aggression in Donbas. "The Norwegian side stressed the official Oslos principled stance to condemn any violation of international law and emphasized the importance to keep sanctions against Russia up to the full implementation of its commitments under the Minsk agreements," a message says.

In addition, Norway will continue to be engaged in projects of humanitarian assistance to the population of Ukraine suffered from the Russian aggression.

Both sides pointed out high dynamics of bilateral partnership, underscoring the outcomes of recent official visit of President of Ukraine to Norway. The growth of bilateral trade in 2016 was also emphasized.

The head of the Ukrainian delegation, Deputy Minister Vadym Prystaiko, expressed interest in sharing the Norwegian experience of building-up relations with the EU, which may be useful for our country in the context of the implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.

Both sides also discussed cooperation within NATO, including implementation of projects supported by the relevant Trust Funds.
Summary

Company Announcement Date: February 12, 2017 FDA Publish Date: February 09, 2018 Product Type: Food & Beverages

Snack Food Item

Food & Beverage Safety Reason for Announcement: Recall Reason Description potential of being contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes Company Name: Country Fresh Brand Name: Brand Name(s) Country Fresh, Southwest, Marketside, HEB Ready Fresh Go Product Description: Product Description Stuffed mushrooms, fruit and cheese

Company Announcement

Following the Sargento Cheese Company recall where select Sargento branded cheeses were recalled due to the potential of being contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, Country Fresh, LLC. of Conroe, Texas, is recalling 2,552 cases of various cooking and snacking products (product descriptions attached), that contained Sargento branded cheeses because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.



Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.



The product in question was shipped to retailers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia under the Country Fresh and store brand labels described in the product listing.



The list of products subject to this recall follows:

Product Description Description of

Packaging UPC Best-By Dates Country Fresh Tuscan Style Mushroom Foam Overwrap Tray 74641-

07211 February 14, 2017 thru

February 17, 2017 Country Fresh Stuffed Mushrooms Foam Overwrap Tray 74641-

07207 February 14, 2017 thru

February 17, 2017 Southwest Stuffed Mushrooms Foam Overwrap Tray 72036-

88471 February 14, 2017 thru

February 17, 2017 Marketside Garlic Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms Clamshell 681131-

14821 February 15, 2017 thru

February 17, 2017 Ready Fresh Go Fruit and Hatch Pepper Cheese Clamshell 41220-

03680 January 19, 2017 thru

February 16, 2017 The product bears BEST IF USED BY dates between January 19, 2017 (1/19/17) through February 17, 2017 (2/17/17). No products except those on this list are subject to this recall.



To date, no illnesses have been confirmed by public health authorities.



Sargento Cheese advised Country Fresh of the issue and Country Fresh is taking this action in the interest of protecting the public health. Nothing is more important than ensuring that consumers enjoy nothing but high quality, nutritious, and safe and wholesome products from us said Bryan Herr, Country Freshs President.



Consumers who have purchased any of these products are urged to dispose of the product or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 281-453-3305 , Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.  5 p.m. CDT.

Company Contact Information Consumers: 281-453-3305
As I write this, I am faced with the unthinkable: I have to kill someone. I dont want to do it, but my hand has been forced. Someone must die, and probably for no greater crime than loving another.

Tracy St. John

Im talking about a fictional character here. I hope that is obvious. So, no horrific loss. There is no reason to call the police on me. Everything is just fine.

Though there will be no real bloodshed, I find pretend people are hard to murder when youve grown attached to them. Ive killed many times, in many books, and it never gets any easier. I suppose I should be glad my overactive conscience remains intact, but it would be nice to grow a little jaded about the matter. The sense of dread when I approach a life-ending scene hurts in a very real sense. I grieve in all sincerity when it happens.

It must seem strange to hear a romance writer talk death, but my stories take place in a science fiction setting full of turmoil. In Alien Salvation, the fourth book in my Clans of Kalquor series, the death of a beloved character is par for the course in a universe of struggle between two species, Earther and Kalquoriantwo species that love each other sometimes as violently as they fight.

Even minor characters can make themselves grief-worthy. Ive had people who appeared only for a few pages, characters Ive killed off before Ive truly gotten to know them. Yet somehow, I got too close to them, close enough that losing them has inspired an ache in my chest. Its no fluke that a seemingly arbitrary character has set off emotion either; my readers have told me they were greatly affected by these same instances. Some have begged that the loved ones of the deceased be granted their own stories, so that they might find a true love to heal their grief.

Its tough to kill those I love. The characters I write are just as alive to me as my family and friends. Yet I find love is made more poignant by the inevitability of death in the tumultuous universe in which my characters move. When circumstances dictate that the end of life could occur at any time, the people involved are more intent in their passion and love. They take nothing for granted. Their love is as fierce as the cosmos they inhabit.

Its still hard to send them to their doom, even though Im never truly given a choice in the matter. The story and even the characters themselves insist upon it. I often curse these tales that insist on having their way. I know better than to fight what must be, but its so hard to give in to the inevitable sometimes. The worst part of it all is that Im the writer. I should be in control of this ride...right? Unfortunately, thats never how it works. If I assert my will and go against what the story wants, I end up with a pile of refuse. I can write well and have hearts broken, or I can write something else, save us all from tears, and have the story broken. There is no middle ground, no compromise that will keep it from being one or the other. When the story dictates it, there must be sorrow.

When all is revealed and you learn who has passed on, remember I am sitting next to you at the funeral. Im crying too. Yes, I am the one who killed that character. Their blood is on my hands. However, I am only the instrument of their destiny, one which vicious Fate wielded with no mercy.

Trust me when I say that the killer laments too.

Alien Salvation: https://www.totallybound.com/book/alien-salvation

Tracy St. John Bio

Tracy St. John lives in coastal Georgia with her husband and son. You'll often find her haunting train museums with her locomotive-loving son. Besides writing, she also works in video production both in front of and behind the camera. She's usually cast as the gun-toting bad gal, getting handcuffed in the end. She has no complaints.

Links:

Website: https://www.tracystjohn.com/

Blog: http://tracystjohn.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TracySaintJohn
Katherine Jackson's nephew has denied accusations he was abusing her.

Katherine Jackson

The 86-year-old matriarch - the mother of the late Michael Jackson and his famous siblings including Janet, Jermaine and La Toya Jackson - recently obtained a restraining order against "abusive con-man" Trent Lamar Jackson but he insists that he has done nothing wrong.

Trent, 52, says he has not been served with a restraining order and is still living in Katherine's Calabasas, California, home. He added that he has not heard from the matriarch since she left for London to visit her daughter Janet, who recently welcomed a baby boy Eissa.

Speaking on the 'Crime Stories With Nancy Grace' podcast, he said: "My aunt left me paying the bills and taking care of the household when she got over there.

"We haven't heard from her since she left. And it seems to me that someone is over there putting all these things together, going after me so they can control my aunt, I guess. I don't know.

"That TRO that they claim I've been served with, I've never been served with anything. I'm still at the house right now, and we're all puzzled at why we can't contact her and talk to her - that's the problem.

"She has attorneys that make sure her money is being advocated in the right way, and we also have an accountant that also looks at the bank statement, and it's gonna be strange when you look at those bank statements, you're gonna really see who's manipulating her with her money, and it's not me ... I just can't understand why they're making these accusations.

"They are keeping her totally in the dark. One thing they don't understand is that she needs special care. My aunt has polio and she limps and needs strong medication .... She can't defend herself when she's around them. She didn't want to go [to London].

"I had to contact the doctor to get the release for her to even be able to fly, so I wasn't trying to keep her from family."

Trent - who is related to Katherine through her husband Joe - also claimed her late son Michael asked him to care for Katherine.

He said: "All I do is pay Mrs. Jackson's bills. I've been paying her bills for 15 years now, and that was my job -- to be her driver, her provider, far as taking care of her, making sure she's taking her medicine, making sure she's going to the doctor. These are the things Michael told me to do for her, and I've been doing these things for her - very well, by the way - and people who know me, know that this is the second time this has happened. They did this to me before.

"If some family members are still unhappy with the situation Michael made, and they feel like if they could control their mom the way that they want it ... I would like to know what is it they're trying to do. If there was a case and they had something against me, it would seem by now I would be put in jail, or at least arrested or something like that."
Keanu Reeves wanted to see John Wick 'suffer'.

Keanu Reeves

The 52-year-old actor stars as the hitman in the eponymously titled 'John Wick' and it's recently released sequel 'John Wick: Chapter 2', and has said he enjoyed exploring a script in which John "literally had to fight for his life", as it meant he could develop his character further.

He said: "We wanted to come to a place that John literally had to fight for his life, and that he's starting to become a little anti-establishment. And that's really where the character starts to develop. It's like the rules and world that he lived by, aren't starting to work for him, and they're not working!

"There are people who are out to get him because of [his] transgressions. And we liked that idea because we like John - when I say 'we' I mean the producers, the writer, the director - we like to see him suffer!"

Keanu also divulged that writer Derek Kolstad and director Chad Stahelski wanted to end the new movie in a place that left John "vulnerable".

He added to CinemaBlend.com: "We wanted to put him in another vulnerable... 'How's he going to get out?! How's he going to survive?! What's it mean?! What's he going to do?!' I don't know! We have some ideas. Maybe he needs to go to Jerusalem! Or he's in the middle of the desert. Or whatever!"

Meanwhile, Keanu recently revealed he would "love" to reprise his role for a third time if there was a demand for it from the audience.

Asked if he would do another 'John Wick' movie, Keanu said: "Absolutely. I love the character and the world. Whether or not I get the chance to do another chapter is really up to the audience.

"If they enjoy what we did - and hopefully they do, fingers-crossed, I really dig it - but if they do enjoy it, then I'll have the chance to continue the story of the character and the world."
I have just returned from an amazing week spent in one of the Indian Oceans finest tropical gems, Mauritius. The clear turquoise waters, white sandy beaches and lush green mountainous landscape were beyond stunning at this time of year and the iconic pink sunsets quite literally took my breath away!

Sabrina with dolphins

With the beauty of the island already winning me over it was so easy to fall in love with Mauritius but my main reason for visiting this gorgeous island was not for the dreamy landscape, it was, in fact, for the amazing sea life that surrounds this paradise, namely the Dolphins!

I have always been a little bit of a mermaid, from swimming professionally as a child for England to gaining my Scuba Diving licence at 18 years old, me and water have somewhat of a love affair. So hearing about the opportunity to swim with wild dolphins in Mauritius had me booking a flight as fast as you can say Flipper!

I travelled with my friend Inge, who is also a fellow water baby and we were hosted by the stunning Dinarobin Beachcomber resort in Le Morne which, as well as being a really fabulous resort, was a perfect location to base ourselves at before heading into the Indian Ocean for the morning. The concierge booked us a private boat that took around 30 minutes to get to the dolphins preferred morning hang-out and within moments of arrival we spotted them dancing across the surface of the water.

Spotting whales and dolphins in the wild, for me, is one of the most overwhelmingly exiting sights and this experience was incredible as we saw both bottle nose dolphins and spinners saying hello to the morning sun, the water was glistening away as their fins were breaking the surface, it was magical! So for those not wanting to brave physically jumping into the sea this view alone was enough to travel out for!

After admiring them from the boat we had a few seconds to kit up with our snorkel and fins and jump in! As soon as you land in the water the dolphins continue to swim around you and then they all dive down into the ocean making you work for your view ;)

The sound of them singing together put me in a trance and as soon as we jumped in the dolphins grouped together and swam deeper down in unison which was truly spectacular, it was like free diving my way through a Planet Earth documentary!

There really is no experience like it, when I was underwater with the dolphins I had the most incredibly calm feeling, their beauty and the way they glide through the vast ocean creates a moment of true Zen and it was one of the most memorable and exhilarating moments of my life. That was of course, until my ears popped and I had to swim back up to reality! ;)

Until next time, Sabrina x

Sabrina is a TV Host and Travel Expert  find her at her blog- www.clutchandcarryon.com
Valentines Day gets mixed reactions all over the world but in the end if a day makes you feel happy, loved and special, and gives you memories of a lifetime, its worth it. So are these other days of love across the world.

White Day, South Korea: On March 14th, aka White Day, men gift women chocolates. The holiday is also observed in China and Japan, but here, its a celebration with friends, family and co-workers.

Lantern Festival, Hong Kong: On the 15th day of the lunar calendar, Hong Kong is lit up with countless Chinese lanterns. Its believed that single women werent allowed to venture outside of home except on this day, which is when they would look for lovers, carrying lanterns through the streets at night. On this day, couples visit a temple and pray to "Yue Lao," the mythological god of marriage and love.

Qixi Festival, China: An ancient Chinese folk tale states that a fairy, in love with a cowherd, could only unite with him once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar. Qixi is celebrated to mark this. People wear traditional clothes from the Han dynasty and mass weddings are conducted. A ceremony called Begging for Cleverness has young, single women praying for husbands.

St. Jordis Day, Spain: On this day, a Roman soldier, St. Jordi, slayed a dragon to save a princess and became a Christian martyr. On April 23rd, he is commemorated and men gift women roses and books! The books are to celebrate Shakespeares birth and death anniversary.

St. Dwynens Day, Wales: On January 25, Wales celebrates St. Dwynwen, the patron saint of lovers, who fell in love with a man she couldnt be with and devoted herself to God, after three of her wishes were answered. Couples visit the ruins of her church still stand on Llanddwyn Island and gift traditional Welsh love spoons to each other.

St. Gregorys Day, Slovenia: March 12 is celebrated here as it signifies the start of spring and all things love, including a popular Slovenian belief that birds get married on this day. One of the traditions is giving heart-shaped honey cookies to loved ones.

Dragobete, Romania: February 24 is dedicated to Dragobete, the Pagan god of love. According to one folk tale, boys and girls would spend the day in the woods gathering flowers. At sunset, the girls would run home and the boys would chase, catch and kiss the girl they liked, thereby claiming her. That custom has thankfully died out but Dragobete is still celebrated.

Tu B Av, Israel: This day dates back to Biblical times, when women used to wear white and dance in vineyards at the start of the grape harvest season. Today, its celebrated with chocolates and flowers.
Leading innovation and market driven company DuPont is showcasing its new protective garment Nomex at the ongoing Middle East Electricity show in Dubai. Garments made of DuPont Nomex brand fibre provide outstanding built-in flame resistance and protect users from electric arc flash. They are especially designed to be used by workers of the utility sector.

Garments made of Nomex fibre are inherently flame-resistant, lighter in weight for increased comfort, and breathable. Innovative Nomex fabrics rapidly dissipate sweat through the fabric, helping the wearer feel dry and more comfortable.

Nomex is a highly cost-effective solution in terms of cost per wear, thanks to its exceptional durability. The fabric can also offer additional protection against chemical hazards if it is treated with an appropriate fluorocarbon finish.

Leading innovation and market driven company DuPont is showcasing its new protective garment Nomex at the ongoing Middle East Electricity show in Dubai. Garments made of DuPont Nomex brand fibre provide outstanding built-in flame resistance and protect users from electric arc flash. They are especially designed to be used by workers of the utility sector.#

The spirit of innovation has always been the driving force behind DuPonts endeavours and we are committed towards further improving our products to ensure the safety of our customers in even the harshest conditions. The protection of the people is of utmost importance to us and this has led us to cultivate more efficient ways to develop and test new materials. Nomex aims to create new benchmarks of excellence in safety apparel and we believe that it will greatly contribute towards ensuring workplace safety, said Amr El Moniem, UAE country manager, DuPont.

Nomex garments with flame-resistant properties are apt for workers from sectors like electricity or gas as they face the risk of heat and flame due to electric arc flashes and gas accidents. (KD)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Japans clothing and accessories imports decreased by 12.3 per cent year-on-year to 2,996.330 billion yen ($26.368 billion) in 2016. Of this, 92.9 per cent or 2,784.796 billion yen ($24.506 billion) worth of goods were imported from Asia, trade statistics from the ministry of finance showed.

Among the Asian countries, imports from China stood at 1,907.396 billion yen ($16.785 billion), registering a decrease of 16.6 per cent year-on-year, the data showed.

During January-December 2016, Japan imported apparel and accessories worth 156.504 billion yen ($1.377 billion) from the EU, down 7.2 per cent year-on-year. The Far Eastern country also imported 14.476 billion yen ($127.39 million) worth of clothing and accessories from the US, down 25.6 per cent.

Japan's clothing and accessories' imports decreased by 12.3 per cent year-on-year to billion yen in 2016. Of this, billion yen worth of goods were imported from Asia, trade statistics from the ministry of finance showed. Among the Asian countries, imports from China stood at billion yen, registering a decrease of per cent year-on-year, the data showed.#

Meanwhile, value of Japans import of textile yarn and fabrics dropped 10.5 per cent year-on-year to 874.666 billion yen ($7.697 billion) during the period under review. A bulk of these imports valued at 775.885 billion yen ($6.828 billion) were supplied by the countries in the Asian region, with China alone accounting for 487.678 billion yen ($4.291 billion), while imports from Asean nations stood at 175.557 billion yen ($1.544 billion).

Japan imported yarn and fabric worth 58.283 billion yen ($512.91 million) from the EU countries, whereas its imports from the US were valued at 24.918 billion yen ($219.28 million), during the year. (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
A course on the rules of working out curricula and teaching materials for the training of Ukrainian personnel according to NATO standard has been completed under the guidance of experts of the Armed Forces of Canada.

As the liaison department of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Saturday, this is the training course of instructors and teaching staff of the highest level in the countries of the Alliance. It was held for the first time in Ukraine.

During the training, officers and sergeants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine gained knowledge and skills according to the rules of working out of curriculum and teaching materials for the training of military personnel in accordance with NATO requirements.

Instructors and experts of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the development of curricula and teaching materials of the 197th training center for non-commissioned officers training centers, colleges and military commanders of the individual arms and services of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the officers of the Centre operational standards for the Armed Forces of Ukraine got thorough training.

The course was organized by the department for work with sergeants of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the framework of military cooperation on NATO program "Improvement of military education" (DEEP) and the activities of the Multinational Joint Coordinating Committee (MJC).
Cotton growers in the US intend to plant the crop on 11 million acres this spring, up 9.4 per cent from 2016. Upland cotton intentions are 10.8 million acres, up 8.8 per cent from 2016, while extra-long staple (ELS) intentions of 266,000 acres represent a 36.9 per cent increase, according to the 36th Annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey.

Cotton growers in the US intend to plant the crop on 11 million acres this spring, up 9.4 per cent from 2016. Upland cotton intentions are 10.8 million acres, up 8.8 per cent from 2016, while extra-long staple (ELS) intentions of 266,000 acres represent a 36.9 per cent increase, according to the 36th Annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey.#

Planted acreage is just one of the factors that will determine supplies of cotton and cottonseed. Ultimately, weather, insect pressures and agronomic conditions play a significant role in determining crop size, said Dr. Jody Campiche, vice president, Economics & Policy Analysis, at the National Cotton Council (NCC)the organisation that carried out the survey.

Cotton growers in the US intend to plant the crop on 11 million acres this spring, up 9.4 per cent from 2016. Upland cotton intentions are 10.8 million acres, up 8.8 per cent from 2016, while extra-long staple (ELS) intentions of 266,000 acres represent a 36.9 per cent increase, according to the 36th Annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey.#

With abandonment assumed at 12 per cent for the US, Cotton Belt harvested area totals 9.7 million acres. Using an average US yield per harvested acre of 830 pounds generates a cotton crop of 16.8 million bales, with 16.0 million upland bales and 760,000 ELS bales, Campiche said at the NCCs 2017 Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas.

Cotton growers in the US intend to plant the crop on 11 million acres this spring, up 9.4 per cent from 2016. Upland cotton intentions are 10.8 million acres, up 8.8 per cent from 2016, while extra-long staple (ELS) intentions of 266,000 acres represent a 36.9 per cent increase, according to the 36th Annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey.#

The NCC questionnaire, mailed in mid-December 2016 to producers across the 17-state Cotton Belt, asked producers for the number of acres devoted to cotton and other crops in 2016 and the acres planned for the coming season. Survey responses were collected through mid-January.

Cotton growers in the US intend to plant the crop on 11 million acres this spring, up 9.4 per cent from 2016. Upland cotton intentions are 10.8 million acres, up 8.8 per cent from 2016, while extra-long staple (ELS) intentions of 266,000 acres represent a 36.9 per cent increase, according to the 36th Annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey.#

Campiche noted, History has shown that US farmers respond to relative prices when making planting decisions. During the survey period, the cotton December futures contract averaged 70 cents per pound, which is higher than year-ago levels. Looking at competing crops, corn prices were lower than year-ago levels while soybean prices were about 12 per cent higher. The price ratio of cotton to corn is more favorable than in 2016.

Cotton growers in the US intend to plant the crop on 11 million acres this spring, up 9.4 per cent from 2016. Upland cotton intentions are 10.8 million acres, up 8.8 per cent from 2016, while extra-long staple (ELS) intentions of 266,000 acres represent a 36.9 per cent increase, according to the 36th Annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey.#

The increase in cotton acreage is largely the result of weaker prices of competing crops, improved expectations for water availability in the West, and above average cotton yields in 2016.

Cotton growers in the US intend to plant the crop on 11 million acres this spring, up 9.4 per cent from 2016. Upland cotton intentions are 10.8 million acres, up 8.8 per cent from 2016, while extra-long staple (ELS) intentions of 266,000 acres represent a 36.9 per cent increase, according to the 36th Annual Early Season Planting Intentions Survey.#

While current futures markets have increased since last year, many producers will continue to face difficult economic conditions in 2017. Production costs remain high, and unless producers have good yields, the higher price still may not be enough to cover all production expenses, the NCC delegates were told. (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Annual cotton spinning capacity in Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has increased by 150 per cent year-on-year in 2016 to 15 million spindles, according to data from the regional conference on economy and information technology. Total textile sector investment in the region reached nearly 65 billion yuan ($9.39 billion) last year.

Xinjiang is a major cotton production base in northwest China and the region produces about 60 per cent of Chinas raw cotton. In June 2015, the State Council issued a guideline supporting the textile and garment industry in Xinjiang and hoped to increase local employment and boost exports.

As a result of state support to the textile industry, 112,300 workers were newly recruited in the sector in the region in 2016, accounting for over 50 per cent of new industrial employment in the region, a Xinhua report said quoting an official in the regions textile industry.

Annual cotton spinning capacity in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has increased by 150 per cent year-on-year in 2016 to 15 million spindles, according to data from the regional conference on economy and information technology. Total textile sector investment in the region reached nearly 65 billion yuan ($9.39 billion) last year.#

For the current year, Xinjiang region is aiming to create over 100,000 new jobs in the textile sector through labour intensive projects such as garment manufacturing. This would be two-thirds of planned new jobs in the regions industrial sector in 2017, or a quarter of all new jobs.

In the past three years, Xinjiang region is estimated to have attracted more than 90 billion yuan investment in the textile industry, an amount equivalent to the total investment in the sector from 1978 to 2013. (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  China
Bangladesh and Cambodia are working towards forming a trade commission, which will most probably be signed this year, said an official from Cambodias commerce ministry. Bangladesh is very close to finalising terms for the commission that will result in a bilateral trade agreement between the two countries. The agreement will lower tariffs on imports.

The commerce ministry of Cambodia has already agreed to form the commission and is currently waiting for an approval from Bangladesh, a Cambodian daily said quoting Soeng Sophary, spokesperson for the ministry of commerce of Cambodia.

Sophary added that both countries have formulated a list of products and items that will be imported and exported between the two countries. It will be revealed after they sign the agreement. She also said that the apparel industry drives the growth in both countries and the trade will be carried out to complement both the countries growth.

Bangladesh and Cambodia are working towards forming a trade commission, which will most probably be signed this year, said an official from Cambodia's commerce ministry. Bangladesh is very close to finalising terms for the commission that will result in a bilateral trade agreement between the two countries. The agreement will lower tariffs on imports.#

The trade between Bangladesh and Cambodia amounts to $6.7 million per year. The main exports from Cambodia to Bangladesh include cotton, cooking oil and fertilisers, while the former imports garments, footwear and leather goods from the latter.

A trade deal between the two countries is likely to boost garment production in both nations and tariff-free leather will help increase Cambodias travel goods sector, said president of the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia Van Sou leng.

Sou leng also spoke about a labour-sharing agreement to allow workers from Bangladesh to migrate to Cambodia. This is likely to help with the growth of Cambodias manufacturing capabilities. (KD)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Gant, American lifestyle brand that offers premium clothing, accessories and home furnishings for men, women and kids, has announced a successful Centric Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) implementation on time, on scope and on budget. Centric Software is the leading PLM solution for fashion, retail, footwear, outdoor, luxury and consumer goods companies.With ambitions to become the leading lifestyle brand in the world by 2020, Gant decided to adopt a new digital approach across all of its sub-brands under House of Gant; Gant Rugger, Gant Diamond G, and Gant. Only six months after the project kicked off, teams at Gant Diamond G are already using the Centric 8 PLM suite across all product categories.

Gant, American lifestyle brand that offers premium clothing, accessories and home furnishings for men, women and kids, has announced a successful Centric Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) implementation on time, on scope and on budget. Centric Software is the leading PLM solution for fashion, retail, footwear, outdoor, luxury and consumer goods companies.#

Carl Borg, global IT director at Gant, We wanted to improve our product development process and switching to Centric PLM system was a major stepping stone in reducing time to market and having greater control over the entire product lifecycle. But working with Centric is not only about implementing a PLM system. It is about developing new ways of working together and benefiting from the industry leaders best practices and expertise. Our goal for 2017 is to scale our Centric PLM system to our two other brands Gant Rugger and Gant across all of our products and concepts to improve our product hit rate and shorten lead times.Chris Groves, CEO of Centric Software said, We are very proud to have gone live across Gant Diamond G and fully met our commitment to support their new digital strategy. It is a confirmation that our Agile DeploymentSM methodology speeds value delivery and we are looking forward to supporting Gant in achieving its aggressive growth plan. (GK)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Disha Patani is surely one of the hottest actresses in Bollywood, no doubt about that! She's so hot and beautiful that any man would love to take her out on a Valentine's date night. However, a few college students from a reputed college in Delhi have something else in mind as the boys are taking part in a bizarre rather strange ritual in which they'll worship Disha Patani under a banyan tree inside the college campus on Valentine's Day in the hope of losing their virginity! The boys have also named the ritual as 'Damdami Mai'.

Bikini Diaries! Riya Sen Holidays In Goa With Her Girlfriends

The students have a firm belief that those who attend the Damdami Mai puja, will find a partner within the next 6 months and lose their virginity within a year of performing the puja. Several seniors have confirmed the magic and have passed on the idea on to their juniors.



Damdami Mai ritual takes place every year on February 14 and single boys gather around the banyan tree and perform pujas placing the photo of the actress (Disha Patani for 2017). Each year they select the most hottest actress of the year and this time they've all voted for Disha Patani to be their saving grace. A second year student who stays in the college hostel opened up to TOI as saying, "The second and third-year hostellers have chosen her (Disha Patani). We picked her after having a meeting. Along with Disha, one name that was also considered was of Nargis Fakhri, but since most of the guys liked Disha, we have chosen her as our Damdami Mai."

Priyanka Chopra Talks About 'Showing Off Her Bra'!

Who would have thought all one needs to do to lose their virginity is to perform Damdami Mai puja under a tree by just using the photo of an actress! These college guys from Delhi stole the cake! We wonder what Disha Patani and her alleged boyfriend Tiger Shroff have to say about this strange rather stupid ritual.




Microsoft Dynamics  International User Conference to be held 4-6 April, Amsterdam.

TAMPA, Florida, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Dynamic Communities, the supporting organization behind the official user groups for Microsoft Dynamics AX (AXUG), Dynamics CRM (CRMUG), Dynamics NAV (NAVUG), and Microsoft Power BI (PBIUG) products, announces Microsoft executives to keynote Summit EMEA, held 4-6 April 2017 at the RAI in Amsterdam. Microsoft, the charter sponsor for Summit EMEA 2017, is a key proponent of this event and heavily integrated in the programming being offered to attendees.

The Summit EMEA 2017 Microsoft executive keynote and general session presenters include:

Summit EMEA Keynote Speaker: James Phillips , Corporate Vice President of Engineering , will share Microsoft's strategy for digital transformation and show Microsoft Dynamics 365, the next generation of intelligent business applications that enables organizations to grow, evolve and transform. Learn more.

AXUG Summit EMEA General Session Speakers: Sri Srinivasan , General Manager for Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Operations in the Cloud and Enterprise Group , Mike Ehrenberg , Microsoft Technical Fellow and Kees Hertogh , Senior Director of Product Marketing will feature the latest updates of Dynamics 365 for Operations. Attendees will have the opportunity to see firsthand the latest updates, roadmap and future of the new Intelligent business application "Dynamics 365 for Operations." Learn more.

CRMUG Summit EMEA General Session Speakers: Jujhar Sing , Corporate Vice President of Engineering, CRM and Angela Bandlow , Senior Director of Product Marketing will kick off the event to welcome attendees to CRMUG Summit EMEA and will feature the latest Dynamics 365 news, product strategy, and roadmap update from Microsoft executives. Learn more.

NAVUG Summit EMEA General Session Speakers: Jannik Bausager, NAV Principal Group Program Manager and Gordan Macdonald , Director of Dynamics Product Marketing will discuss their commitment to SMBs, top capabilities in Dynamics NAV 2017 and the product roadmap to help support the ambition of attendees' growing business. Learn more.

PBIUG Summit EMEA General Session Speaker: Kamal Hathi , General Manager of Engineering will assist attendees in learning about how Power BI and Dynamics 365 work together, the latest Power BI updates and what is driving our user-led innovation. Learn more.



In addition to the Microsoft keynote and general session involvement, Microsoft personnel will be leading 25+ sessions dedicated to recently unveiled Microsoft Dynamics 365. Dynamics 365 will empower business users with built-in insights and intelligence within the business applications they're working in. Attendees will have direct access to Microsoft personnel, product insights, practical answers to Dynamics questions, and peer to peer expertise that will provide gains in product knowledge and streamline business operations.

"We are excited to be part of Summit EMEA 2017, the premier conference for European-based Microsoft Dynamics users," said Chris Rothwell, Microsoft UK Dynamics Business Lead. "The knowledge sharing opportunity at the event is phenomenal, with access to other users, product experts as well as Microsoft engineering and product managers."

Click here to learn more about Summit EMEA keynote speakers and join us at the largest gathering of Dynamics users in Europe, 4-6 April in Amsterdam by registering today: www.summitemea.com/pricing.

Dynamic Communities is the business management organization that supports technology-centric user groups and associations - providing necessary resources and business operations such as staff, systems and event production. Dynamic Communities is independent from Microsoft; however, the two organizations maintain an intentional close working relationship so that our members can provide a collective voice to Microsoft on user concerns, needs, and requests.

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ATLANTA (dpa-AFX) - Delta Air Lines (DAL) said that on February 14 it will pay out more than $1 billion in profit sharing for the third year in a row and celebrate the outstanding accomplishments made possible by its more than 80,000 employees around the world. The airline said it has paid out nearly $5 billion through its profit sharing program over the past five years. In addition to profit sharing, Delta's Shared Rewards program pays out monthly bonuses for meeting corporate operational goals throughout the year. In 2016, Delta employees earned more than $90 million in Shared Rewards as the company achieved history-making operational and financial results. Employees will also receive a 6 percent raise in base pay in April, resulting in a total pay rate increase of 25 percent in two years. 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.
Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, honors Arthur D. Little for supporting the success of its ambitious Travel Transport agenda

Arthur D. Little (ADL) today announced that it has been awarded the "Management Consulting Supplier Award" by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai, UAE. A leading partner in the agency's work to deliver a series of innovative Travel and Transportation projects, ADL was recognized by His Excellency Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, for its efforts to help RTA deliver several breakthrough innovation-smart mobility projects. The successful projects will help solidify Dubai's position as a premiere business and economic hub in the region.

ADL has enjoyed a long-established partnership with RTA and throughout 2016, supported RTA in multiple assignments, covering strategic topics such as innovation in urban transport, smart mobility and regulation. The award reflects ADL's extensive experience in the Middle East, and will only strengthen its commitment to RTA's vision for the future of travel and transportation in the UAE. Established in the region in the 1950s, ADL consultants play an active role in many of the Middle East's key industries, including smart mobility and transportation, energy, real estate, and technology infrastructure. Today ADL maintains offices in Dubai, Riyadh, and Beirut, and has strategic and management expertise in supporting the public sector and government services in delivering a range of innovative and transformational projects.

Thomas Kuruvilla, Managing Partner of Arthur D. Little Middle East, said, "We are delighted and thankful to receive this award from such a valued client as RTA. Our Middle East practice is committed to providing high-quality, pragmatic, and implementable recommendations in the region, and with this award, we are confident to continue partnering with the public and private sectors to grow the region's economy and infrastructure."

Morsi Berguiga, Associate Director, Arthur D. Little Middle East and Travel Transportation Regional Practice Leader, added, "As our clients work in a rapidly changing regulatory and economic environment, we remain committed to providing unique expertise in key areas of innovation that will help them to anticipate, innovate, and transform their operations for long-term sustainability and growth."

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170213005969/en/

Contacts:

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Sue Glanville

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TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - Toshiba (TOSYY.PK) will issue Tuesday its first-ever warning that it may not be able to continue as a going concern, acknowledging uncertainty over its revival strategy and future in the face of massive nuclear-related losses, the Nikkei newspaper reported.



Nikkei noted that the warning will be included in the earnings announcement for the nine months ended December. The Japanese electronics giant is expected to book an impairment charge of 600 billion yen to 700 billion yen or $5.26 billion to $6.14 billion on U.S. nuclear operations, leaving it with a group net loss in the high-400 billion yen range.



Nikkei said that the loss could wipe out shareholders' equity and send Toshiba's net worth into the red. Though Toshiba is taking steps to ensure it ends the fiscal year with more assets than liabilities, including spinning off and selling part of its memory business, its financial situation remains extremely precarious.



The report said that Toshiba will also announce as early as Tuesday an investigation into whether any improprieties were involved in the massive loss at its nuclear business. If anything inappropriate is found, the probe will examine if, and to what extent, top management and the company as a whole were involved.



In addition, Nikkei reported that Toshiba is considering selling an interest in a U.K. nuclear venture to Korea Electric Power Corp., aiming to reduce its involvement in the riskier side of the atomic power business in the wake of massive losses linked to U.S. projects.



The Japanese conglomerate controls 60% of NuGeneration, a joint venture planning to build a nuclear plant in northwestern England. Toshiba has sought to unload part of this stake for some time.



Toshiba officials including President Satoshi Tsunakawa are expected to outline steps for improving oversight of the nuclear business at an earnings briefing Tuesday. One likely measure is setting up a committee at Westinghouse Electric, the subsidiary responsible for the loss, to evaluate its profits and finances on a daily basis. Toshiba's goal of winning orders for at least 45 new reactors by fiscal 2030 will likely be effectively scrapped, the report said.



Meanwhile, Toshiba said Monday that Nikkei reported that, 'Toshiba group will report a net loss of about 400 billion yen or $3.52 billion for the nine months through December 2016.' However, Toshiba said it is still finalizing fiscal year 2016 third quarter figures, and will report its results on February 14, as previously announced.



As of the end of the fiscal year 2016 third quarter, Toshiba expects to record a major third-quarter loss on the recognition of a loss of goodwill as a result of Westinghouse's acquisition of CB&I Stone & Webster (S&W).



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - Japan's final industrial production data for December is due in the early Asian deals at 11:30 pm ET Tuesday. Ahead of the data, the yen rose against its major rivals. As of 11:25 pm ET, the yen was trading at 120.33 against the euro, 142.18 against the pound, 112.91 against the Swiss franc and 113.42 against the U.S. dollar. 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.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman favors speeding up of rearmament of the Ukrainian army.

According to the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, he said about this during a meeting with NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller (performs duties of Secretary General when Jens Stoltenberg is sick).

"We need to accelerate the upgrading and re-equipment of the Ukrainian Army," a report says referring to Groysman.

He noted that the military and industrial complex of Ukraine is working on a modernization of weapons, and called for the acceleration of this process.

The prime minister also stressed the need to bring the Ukrainian army in line with NATO standards.
LUXEMBOURG, Feb 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Millicom has today published its first integrated Annual and Corporate Responsibility Report for the year ended 31 December 2016. The company also issued its second Law Enforcement Disclosure Report, covering the year 2016.

For the first time, Millicom is publishing an integrated Annual Report that brings together the Corporate Responsibility and Annual reports. The combined report is a natural evolution for the company reflecting both, the strong social and economic impact of its products and services in the markets where it operates, and how it continues to embed responsible business practices within its business processes.

The report is also in line with Millicom's commitment to transparency. Conducting business ethically and managing sustainability risks and opportunities is a key element of building trust with the company's shareholders and wider stakeholders.

In line with this commitment to transparency, Millicom also publishes today its second dedicated Law Enforcement Disclosure Report, outlining the context, nature and extent of its interactions with government and law enforcement agencies regarding customer data and surveillance requests.

Millicom's integrated Annual Report and Law Enforcement Disclosure Report are fully digitized, in line with its mission to lead the adoption of a digital lifestyle in its markets.

The reports can be viewed or downloaded from the Millicom website at:http://www.millicom.com/investors/reporting-centre/.

For further information, please visit: www.millicom.com or contact

Press:

Vivian Kobeh,

Corporate Communications Director

Tel: +352-277-59084 / +44-7971-919-610

E-mail:press@millicom.com

Investors:

David Boyd,

Interim Investor Relations Director

Tel: +44-20-3249-2413

E-mail:investors@millicom.com

Mauricio Pinzon,

Investor Relations Manager

Tel: +44-20-3249-2460

E-mail: investors@millicom.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/millicom-international-cellular/r/millicom-publishes-integrated-2016-annual-and-corporate-responsibility-report--the-company-also-publ,c2186850

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Vilnius, Lithuania, 2017-02-14 08:28 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- INVL Asset Management, one of Lithuania's leading asset management companies, has established the first closed-end umbrella fund intended for informed investors, the INVL Alternative Assets Umbrella Fund, and its subfund, the INVL Baltic Forests Fund I. They began operations on 13 February this year after the Bank of Lithuania approved the fund rules.The period of the INVL Baltic Forests Fund I subfund's investment activity will be 5 years, while the subfund itself will operate for up to 8 years with the possibility to extend that term for 2 more years. It is planned that the offering of the subfund's units to informed investors will begin this month."In broadening the range of alternative investments, we first of all focus on the value created, so in introducing this new fond we'll be offering a chance to invest in assets which we know well and believe in. We see investments in the Baltic region's forests as an opportunity to broaden a portfolio with an asset class which stands out for annual natural growth and is characterised by stability and attractive returns with little correlation to global markets," said Vytautas Plunksnis, the Head of Private Equity Funds at INVL Asset Management.The new INVL Baltic Forests Fund I subfund will invest in forests in the Baltic countries, above all Lithuania, which are suited to forestry activity. The aim is to build up a consolidated parcel of forest land plots, thus increasing their value and the potential income from planned harvestings. The target average annual net return on investments after expected costs for the fund is 8 per cent."In our assessment, forests in the Baltic countries, especially Lithuania, have big potential. We believe in this investment and are prepared to participate in this market in accord with the principles of sustainable forest management," said Sigita Bizuliene, the manager of the INVL Baltic Forests Fund I subfund, who has extensive experience in the area of forest and agricultural land management.Sigita Bizuliene holds a master's degree in forestry from Aleksandras Stulginskis University and has completed the "Euroforester" international master's programme at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. From 2005 to 2014 she managed a portfolio of agricultural land within the Invalda INVL group, and from 2014 to 2016 she served as forest purchasing manager for an international forest management company.Units of the fund will be available for acquisition by natural and legal persons who meet the established criteria for informed investors. The minimum investment amount for professional and informed investors will be EUR 30,000. During the initial offering, no single investor will be able to acquire fund units for more than EUR 1 million, with a total of EUR 5 million expected to be raised. Later, with successful development of the fund's activities, its assets under management may reach up to EUR 50 million.INVL Asset Management obtained authorisation to manage investment funds intended for informed investors from the Bank of Lithuania in October 2016. It is part of the Invalda INVL group, whose companies manage pension and mutual funds, alternative investments, private equity assets, individual portfolios and other financial instruments. As of the end of 2016, they had been entrusted with over EUR 500 million of assets by more than 170,000 clients in Lithuania and Latvia and international investors.The person authorized to provide additional information is: Darius Sulnis, President of Invalda INVL E-mail: Darius.Sulnis@invl.com
FRANKFURT, GERMANY -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 -- From May, the four airlines Thomas Cook Airlines UK, Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia, Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium and Condor will be heading to a total of 109 dream destinations with their 2017 summer flight plan, accompanying holidaymakers on their way to the nicest time of the year. Highlights of this year's summer flight plan include the Portuguese Atlantic island of Porto Santo (PXO), Comiso (CIY) on Sicily, Almeria (LEI) and Malaga (AGP) in Spain and San Diego (SAN), New Orleans (MSY) and San Francisco (SFO) in the USA. Some destinations can even be booked for April departures. You can find an overview of all the airline group's new flight connections for summer 2017 at the end of this press release.

"After the cold winter months, our customers are already looking to the future and planning their holiday. And to help them, we are offering even more destinations in our flight plan this summer," says Christoph Debus, Chief Airlines Officer of the Thomas Cook Group. "We are predominantly expanding our short haul and medium haul network in Italy, Greece and Croatia. And we are adding four new routes to North America to our flight plan."

In total, the four airlines of the Thomas Cook Group Airlines will fly from 48 airports in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Finland, Great Britain, Norway and Sweden to 109 destinations during summer 2017. This means passengers from all over Europe can start their summer holidays conveniently and without any long journeys, choosing from a wide selection of dream destinations all over the world. Long haul flights can be reached very easily using feeder flights.

The North American plan is being expanded to include San Diego, New Orleans, Pittsburgh (PIT) and San Francisco. This means that Thomas Cook Group Airlines now fly to a total of 22 North American airports, from where guests can continue on to a multitude of other destinations using partner airlines. As well as well-known tourist hotspots, there are also insider's tips such as Whitehorse in Canada and Austin in Texas. Whether you're looking for a city break to a hip metropolis, a relaxing holiday on the coast or an adventure in the endless expanses of the continent -- the diversity of Canada and the USA leaves little to be desired.

Ralf Teckentrup, Chief Commercial Officer of the Thomas Cook Group Airlines and CEO of Condor, says, "North America has so much potential and we want to make these versatile regions of the world readily accessible to our guests. As well as the almost endless possibilities for holidaymakers, Canada and the United States also has an infrastructure that makes travelling in many places very simple and safe."

Another focus of the long haul network of Thomas Cook Group Airlines is in the Caribbean and Central America. In this colourful region with its sunshine guarantee and picturesque beaches, there is a total of 14 dream destinations, such as Barbados, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

With short haul and medium haul flights, guests of the four Thomas Cook Group Airlines can take a journey of discovery to a total of 63 destinations. In summer 2017, the airlines set off with their "sunny heart" to many places which were not on the flight plan in previous years. This includes, for example, Malta, Split and Dubrovnik in Croatia, as well as Samos and Mykonos in Greece, which is tipped as a particularly popular destination in 2017.

"With the new flight plan, we are diversifying and our guests will benefit from the additional opportunities," explains Ralf Teckentrup. "We are excited about the feedback on our new routes and are convinced that they will be well received by our customers."

Low-priced flights in summer 2017, for example from Frankfurt to San Diego, are available at a one-way complete price from 349.99 EUR in Economy Class, from 499.99 EUR in Premium Class and from 999.99 EUR in Business Class. You can book them online at https://www.thomascookairlines.com/ or www.condor.com, from travel agents or by telephone.

All you need to know about the 2017 summer flight plan of the Thomas Cook Group Airlines

------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total destinations 109 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- of which short haul and medium haul 63 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- of which long haul 46 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- New destinations compared with previous year 20 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Departure airports 48 in seven countries -------------------------------------------------------------------------

New flight connections of the Thomas Cook Group Airlines (summer 2016 vs. 2017)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Departure point Destination First flight ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Condor Frankfurt Burgas 24th May Dubrovnik 29th April Larnaca 3rd April Malta 26th April New Orleans 3rd May Paphos 30th March Pittsburgh 23rd June Samos 30th May San Diego 1st May Split 30th April Thessaloniki 28th April ------------------------------------------ Munich Larnaca 3rd April Las Vegas 3rd May Samos 30th May Seattle 21st June Volos 29th April ------------------------------------------ Hamburg Malta 26th April ------------------------------------------ Dusseldorf Larnaca 3rd April Porto Santo 10th April ------------------------------------------ Hannover Larnaca 3rd April ------------------------------------------ Leipzig Burgas 22nd May ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas Cook Airlines UK Manchester Kavala 15th May Malaga 1st April Mykonos 4th May San Francisco 14th May Split 5th May ------------------------------------------ Birmingham Comiso 3rd May ------------------------------------------ Gatwick Kavala 15th May ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia Stockholm Almeria 19th May ------------------------------------------ Copenhagen Almeria 19th May ------------------------------------------ Gothenburg Almeria 15th May ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Thomas Cook Group Airlines, as part of Thomas Cook plc, is made up of four airlines, which take their customers to the most beautiful holiday destinations in the world: Thomas Cook Airlines UK, Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium, Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia and Condor Flugdienst. The group's airlines carry 16.7 million passengers to about 100 dream destinations every year. They generate a total turnover of 2.8 billion GBP. The combined fleet comprises 95 airplanes, including 25 new Airbus A321s. Over the last few years, the Thomas Cook Group has invested 100 million GBP in the comfort and technology of its airplanes. Ultra-modern engine technology and optimised aerodynamics ensure lower kerosene consumption, fewer CO2 emissions and improved soundproofing. More than 9,000 employees work passionately on providing passengers with a perfect start to their holiday. This is confirmed by a number of awards for the four airlines.

Pictures and further information can be found at www.condor.com/newsroom

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3108735



Press contact:

Condor Flugdienst GmbH

Johannes Winter

Head of Communication

Tel.: +49 (0) 6107 939-7804

Fax: +49 (0) 6107 939-7147

Email: Email Contact




SAN JOSE, CA--(Marketwired - February 14, 2017) - Danal, Inc., a global leader in mobile identity and authentication solutions, today announced that it has signed a Mobile Identity Services Partnership Agreement with Bouygues Telecom in France. Bouygues Telecom is a French mobile phone, Internet service provider and IPTV company, part of the Bouygues group. Since 1996, Bouygues Telecom has been offering innovative mobile and broadband solutions to over 15.7 million subscribers. Danal and Bouygues Telecom formed this partnership to address the growing demand for mobile identity services in France, providing services to solve for digital KYC, identity proofing, risk management and auto form-filling/check-out.

Danal's real-time mobile identity and authentication solutions are deployed today with a host of brand-name financial services and online retail customers. Danal's patented technology and processes can rapidly commercialize identity services for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) around the globe. Danal enables the protection of customers' data privacy, which is of utmost importance to Bouygues Telecom. With this latest partnership, Danal is further expanding its global capabilities to service the enterprise marketplace.

Danal will service Bouygues Telecom's subscribers from its EU based regional office and Data Center. Last year Danal announced a similar partnership with Orange Group. This Bouygues Telecom partnership will further enhance existing partnerships already in place in the French market. Danal is experiencing a growing demand for its mobile identity solutions in Europe which is driven by confluence of multiple trends such as stringent KYC requirements that need in-person steps, lack of authoritative data providers, growing usage of mobile phones, and expectations from consumers for a user-friendly experience.

Danal's mobile identity and authentication solutions are used globally by financial institutions for digital KYC and Fraud management. In addition, Danal works with eCommerce companies to address the growing enrollment and cart abandonment challenges. The company combines its strong mobile operator partnerships and unparalleled deep integrations into these MNOs' networks with its patented technology to offer best-in class, real-time mobile identity solutions for companies seeking a seamless, frictionless and secure commerce experience for their end consumers.

"The partnership with Bouygues Telecom means a better service for our enterprise customers in the European market," said Jim Greenwell, CEO at Danal, Inc., "We will continue to expand partnerships supporting mobile carriers as they enter this exciting digital compliance market -- while focusing on making the consumer experience effortless and safe."

About Danal

Danal, Inc. is the premier provider of mobile identity and authentication solutions driven by unique real-time connections to mobile operator networks and data. Danal's Mobile Identity platform offers financial institutions and major retailers groundbreaking mobile transaction risk management services, compliance services such as TCPA and KYC, and streamlined, customer conversion solutions that lower customer abandon rates during registration and checkout. Danal, Inc. is a privately held US company whose investors include Discover Financial Services, Morgenthaler Group and majority shareholder Danal Co, Ltd., a publicly traded company (KOSDAQ) based in South Korea with offices worldwide.
NEW YORK, LONDON and HONG KONG, 2017-02-14 09:00 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hazeltree, the leading provider of integrated buy-side treasury management solutions, today announced that it has expanded its management team by hiring seasoned commodities trading and hedge fund consultant and software executive, Don Jefferis, as Managing Director of Strategic Accounts. Mr. Jefferis will focus on expanding and leading Hazeltree's business development into strategic markets such as insurance companies, endowments and pension plans. Mr. Jefferis brings to Hazeltree more than three decades of experience in professional services, software product management, business development and executive management in the consulting, energy, and software industries.



"We are consistently seeing increased interest in Hazeltree's treasury solutions across all areas of the investment management industry, driven by the increasing complexity resulting from regulatory shifts, investment diversification and escalating demands for transparency," said Sameer Shalaby, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hazeltree. "Hazeltree has earned a strong reputation for success in the hedge fund and asset management industry, and with Don's leadership, we are well positioned to expand into a number of additional buy-side markets."



Throughout his career, Mr. Jefferis has identified and driven the adoption of strategic opportunities to enable companies' journeys towards greater financial, operational and risk management excellence leading to overall, bottom-line results. He most recently launched energy-focused consultancy Opportune LLP's Process & Technology practice, where he served as a strategic advisor and operations consultant to numerous energy producers, marketers and traders. Early in his career, Mr. Jefferis co-founded Arthur Andersen's Energy Risk Management practice, where he advised and assisted electric power and natural gas producers and transporters on operational, risk management and control, and information management systems necessary to capture market opportunities in deregulating, competitive markets. Mr. Jefferis joined Mirant Corp. in the mid-1990's as Chief Information Officer, leading and supporting growth to a Top 5 global energy marketer with 1400 employees spanning 4 offices in 3 countries. In 1999, Mr. Jefferis joined TenFold Energy as president, where he led that start-up to over $60 million in bookings. Mr. Jefferis subsequently was appointed Chief Financial Officer of TenFold Energy's parent company, publicly-traded TenFold Corp.



"After considerable due diligence," said Don Jefferis, Managing Director of Strategic Accounts for Hazeltree, "I became unequivocally convinced that the operational pain that Hazeltree solves for its asset management clients has broader applicability across new markets. In Hazeltree terms 'active treasury management' turns treasury operations on its head, from a cost center to a profit center, while reducing risk and facilitating regulatory compliance. Perhaps most importantly, 'active treasury management' is also emerging as a due diligence topic among increasingly discerning institutional investors in search of greater transparency, systemic risk diversification and a commitment to best practices."



Mr. Jefferis has a B.S. degree in Accounting from Michigan State University and is a CPA. He serves on the National Board of Advisors of the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum.



About Hazeltree Hazeltree is the leading Treasury Management solution provider, serving hedge funds, asset managers, fund administrators, insurance companies and pension funds with powerful, proactive performance enhancement and risk mitigation capabilities that generate operational alpha, reduce a range of risks and streamline operations. Hazeltree's integrated treasury management solution includes comprehensive cash management, securities financing, collateral management, counterparty management and margin management capabilities. Hazeltree is headquartered in New York with offices in London and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit www.hazeltree.com.



Contact: Sameer Shalaby, President & CEO sshalaby@hazeltree.com 646.790.7250

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VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 -- ALTAIR RESOURCES INC. ("Altair" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: AVX) (FRANKFURT: 90A) (ISIN: CA02137W1014) (WKN: WKN A2ALMP) Mr. Harold (Roy) Shipes, President and CEO, announces that Altair has retained SJ Geophysics of Vancouver, BC, Canada to immediately begin a gravity survey to precede drilling under the 2017 exploration program scheduled to begin in March on its Invictus project, Mitrovica district, Kosovo.

The Canadian technical team, under the direction of Jordan Perk, will be assisted and supported in the field by Altair's current Kosovo technical team including Prof. Dr. Alaudin Kodra - Eng. Geologist and Selim Berisha, Geologist, Masters Technical Sciences (Geology) with additional support staff including Mustafa Havolli and Munir Havolli.

SJ Geophysics is now mobilizing its field crew to initiate this gravity survey. Drilling will commence immediately upon completion and interpretation of the gravity survey.

As discussed in an earlier release, numerous high-grade zinc and lead occurrences lie within a target zone measuring 500 metres by 300 m. In this area several surface trenches exhibit high grade zinc-lead mineralization zones running between 17 to 35 per cent zinc plus lead over 2 to 4 m widths within broader mineralized zones. These zones lie within a pronounced zinc and lead geochemical anomaly defined by earlier work. Also from earlier work, two zones of induced polarization response and one zone of self-potential response also lie within the target area generally coincident with the geochemical anomalies.

Gravity surveying is scheduled to test not only the above described target area in detail, but will also investigate, on a broader scale, the possibility of a large target within this belt of limestones and schists that hosts numerous rich surface showings and some historical underground workings. The overall target zone on the property extends over five kilometres in length and 200 to 300 m in width.

Gravity surveying using a gravity meter can measure variations in the gravitational attraction and thus define areas of greater mass within a target area. Dense metal-rich orebodies show up as positive gravity anomalies because of the high density of ore minerals sphalerite, smithsonite and galena in contrast with the surrounding host lithologies of carbonate and schist.

The gravity technique allows us to detect large masses of zinc ore such as smithsonite and sphalerite even though they are non-conductive in nature and not responsive to induced polarization or electromagnetic surveys.

One of the most notable successes of gravity surveying in mineral exploration is the Polaris discovery in the 1960s in carbonate rocks on Little Cornwallis Island in the Canadian Arctic as described by William C. Wonders (2003, pg. 233, in "Canada's Changing North"): "Cominco undertook a gravity survey over the surface showing and discovered one of the biggest gravity anomalies recorded in the history of Canadian mineral exploration. A several milligal anomaly was delineated, which upon drilling, turned out to be a massive body of high grade galena-sphalerite ore."

Altair's Invictus exploration project lies within the Crepulje property in the Mitrovica district of Kosovo, 17 kilometres due west of the city of Mitrovica. Altair holds a 9.82-square-kilometre exploration license within this historical zinc-, lead- and silver-producing region where metals have been produced since the Middle Ages.

It should be noted that there are no reserves or resources on the Altair property holding, nor can there be any assurance that any such resource or reserve will be established, and if established whether such resource or reserve will be economically recoverable.

The contents of this press release have been reviewed and approved by Dr. Stewart A Jackson, P.Geo, a technical adviser to the Company, a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

To learn more about Altair, please visit http://altairresources.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,

Harold Shipes, President & CEO

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Altair Resources Inc.

604-685-9316

604-683-1585 (FAX)

http://altairresources.com




LONDON, February 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

New policy and claims data from mobile phone insurance provider, loveit coverit, reveals that during 2016, 20% of Samsung customers made a claim, compared to just 13% of those with an Apple device. The same data also showed that Samsung claims rocketed in the second half of 2016 with the ratio of policy-to-claims increasing by 73% from July onwards.

The announcement comes following a press statement from Samsung pledging to enhance product safety, after an investigation confirmed that faulty batteries were responsible for the well-publicised Note 7 fires which made headlines in September.

However, claims data from loveit coverit shows that the Galaxy S6 Edge and S7 Edge phones appear to have the highest claims ratio. Together, the two devices made up over a quarter of all claims for the five-star Defaqto-rated company, but accounted for less than one sixth of handsets in total policies taken out. Furthermore, it was discovered that those with a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge are 110.6% more likely to claim for their phone than those with a standard Galaxy S7.

The most notable difference between the two handsets is the curved display of the S7 Edge; something the South Korean firm looks set to continue with its next device, the Galaxy S8. Rumours regarding the new phone, which is now expected to be unveiled in April, indicate a bezel-less, edge-to-edge 'infinity' display. loveit coverit CEO, Mark Gordon, shares his concerns for another wraparound screen following the problems caused by the Edge phones.

"The low metal content and wraparound screen of the Samsung Edge phones naturally leaves them more vulnerable to damage but the problems go deeper than this. Samsung experienced a parts shortage in the final quarter of last year, pushing out less replacement parts to the market, in a move we believe to be related to uncertainty over the cause of the Note 7 fires. This shortage of replacement parts pushed up the cost of repairs, in turn leading consumers to place fraudulent claims upon realising that a new screen from their local repair shop was likely to cost them two or three times what it might have done a few months previously," said Mark.

Mark further added, "If the leaked specs of the S8 are to be believed, we're concerned this pattern could continue. Whilst features like an infinity screen are appealing initially, the evidence that they are not built for long term durability is overwhelming. We would urge potential customers to do their research before purchasing the latest model in April."

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, loveit coverit are a trading name of Pier Insurance Managed Services. Providing gadget insurance for over 13 years, the company has insured over 870,000 mobile devices to date, and all claims are handled by an in-house team.

For further information please contact:

Angie Smith

Phone: 01702-222855

Email: angie.smith@pierinsurance.com


Leading automotive supplier renews multi-year network contract to connect key markets in Europe, Americas and Asia

Global Cloud Xchange (GCX), a subsidiary of Reliance Communications, today announced the renewal for a multi-year agreement with automotive supplier Autoneum to provide a fully managed, end-to-end Hybrid network solution, by connecting 50 sites across more than 20 countries in Europe, North and South America and Asia. Autoneum is the market leader in acoustic and thermal management solutions for vehicles and a highly respected premium partner of nearly all automobile manufacturers throughout the world.

"Customer excellence is a key success factor for Autoneum and it is our mission to create the highest value for our customers. With our global production facilities located in close vicinity of our customers, it is crucial that we are seamlessly connected at all times regardless of the location," said Georg Kvas, Global IT Manager Infrastructure, Autoneum. "GCX's unrivalled global IP VPN coverage and its ability to deliver outstanding global support with strong in-country capabilities give us the competitive edge to further innovate and drive customer efficiency."

As part of the agreement, GCX will deliver a comprehensive end-to-end managed hybrid communication platform that enables Autoneum to securely connect its own affiliated companies, joint ventures and licensees across a resilient and scalable Global Network, while optimizing cost and efficiencies to bridge its network operations into a seamless function with a single, centralized point of management.

"Ensuring operational excellence is a key success factor for both Autoneum and GCX, and we are proud to have supported Autoneum's business growth for more than a decade," said Andre Schadt, General Manager Central and Eastern Europe, Global Cloud Xchange. "Our global reach and world-class delivery capabilities will continue to support Autoneum to drive measurable results in today's automotive industry."

Managed Hybrid Networks from GCX offer reliable and seamless end-to-end enterprise WAN communications for the agile world. Delivered as a fully-managed service, including CPE and connectivity and irrespective of underlying technology or telecoms providers, GCX's Managed Hybrid Networks provide high performance, cost effective and scalable connectivity in almost any country in the world, meeting critical enterprise networking needs, and giving customers the ideal mixture of reach, value for money, service and flexibility. Building on this unrivalled pedigree of providing global managed hybrid WANs, GCX has recently introduced CLOUD X WAN, a complementary, fully-managed SD-WAN service, offering zero-touch provisioning, dynamic traffic routing and Virtualized Network Functions, all of which are designed to be fully interoperable with the GCX Managed Network Services portfolio.

About Global Cloud Xchange

Global Cloud Xchange (GCX), a subsidiary of Reliance Communications, offers a comprehensive portfolio of solutions customized for carriers, enterprises and new media companies. GCX owns the world's largest private undersea cable system spanning more than 67,000 route kms which, seamlessly integrated with Reliance Communications' 200,000 route kms of domestic optic fiber backbone, provides a robust Global Service Delivery Platform. With connections to 40 key business markets worldwide spanning Asia, North America, Europe and the Middle East, GCX delivers Managed Services to more than 160 countries and offer extensive VPLS-enabled Ethernet network capabilities globally. GCX is equipped to support businesses through the deployment of next generation Enterprise solutions across its Cloud Delivery Networks.

About Autoneum

Autoneum is the globally leading automobile supplier in acoustic and thermal management for vehicles. Autoneum develops and produces multifunctional and lightweight components and systems for noise and heat protection and thereby enhances vehicle comfort. Autoneum's innovative products and technologies make vehicles quieter, safer and lighter. They not only protect against noise and heat but thanks to their lightweight also reduce the vehicle weight and therefore fuel consumption and emissions. The world's largest vehicle manufacturers in Europe, North America, South America and Asia benefit as customers and partners from Autoneum's innovative materials and technologies for automobile noise and heat protection. Autoneum is represented at around 50 locations in over 20 countries and employs more than 11,000 people across the world, 5% of them in Switzerland. The headquarters of the stock listed company is in Winterthur, Switzerland.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170214005580/en/

Contacts:

Global Cloud Xchange

Genevieve Li, +852-6028-8236

gli@globalcloudxchange.com

or

Anja Ziegler, +49-(0)-6102-785-610

aziegler@globalcloudxchange.com


DANA GROUP INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENTS LIMITED

("DANA" or the "Company")

Change in Number of Securities Outstanding

DANA, the Dubai-based real estate investment company, wishes to advise a significant change in its share register following the completion of a capital reduction approved by shareholders on 30 May 2016, details of which were contained in a Circular dated 5 May 2016 (the "Circular").

The Company is pleased to confirm that of the 1,268,049,125 Class A voting shares of GBP 0.005 (one halfpenny) each with ISIN: BSP014091040/ SEDOL no. BD3HCB3 ("Shares") previously in issue, all of the 1,018,759,378 which were scheduled for cancellation (the "Cancellation Shares" as defined in the Circular) have now been surrendered to the Company's registrar, Computershare Investor Services (Jersey) Limited, and cancelled.

Following the cancellation of the Cancellation Shares, the total no. of Shares and depository interests in Shares outstanding on the share register at close of business on 14 February 2017 will be therefore 249,289,747.

Muin El-Saleh, Chairman,

Dubai, 13 February 2017

This announcement, for the content of which the Directors of DANA accept responsibility, has been made after due and careful enquiry.

Enquiries:

Dana Group International Investment Limited:

Mustafa Saifuddin, Financial Manager: tel: +971 (0) 4 818 3030; e-mail: ir@dana-investments.com; more information on Dana Group International Investments Limited is available from the Company's website: www.dana-investments.com and from http://www.nexexchange.com/member'securityid=2074447

Keith, Bayley, Rogers & Co. Limited:

Graham Atthill-Beck: tel: +44 (0) 20 7464 4092; mobile: +971 (0) 50 856 9408/+44 (0) 750 643 4107; e-mail: blackpearladvisers@gmail.com; Graham.Atthill-Beck@kbrl.co.uk

Hugh Oram: tel: +44 (0) 20 7464 4096; e-mail: Hugh.Oram@kbrl.co.uk
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - April 25, 2017) - Manganese X Energy Corp. (TSXV: MN) (FSE: 9SC2) (TRADEGATE: 9SC2) (OTC: SNCGF) (the "Company") has concluded its drill tender process and, after signing a drill contract, intends to commence the spring drill program mid-May at the Battery Hill Deposit, on the Company's Houlton Woodstock manganese property in New Brunswick. The drill programme will consist of 7-8 holes of approximately 1,600 meters total. The purpose of this spring drill programme is to investigate and establish some key structural issues such as dip, true thicknesses and folding in preparation for designing and implementing a larger resource oriented late summer drill program. Focus of the spring drill program will be on the Sharpe and Moody Hill sectors. The spring program should also help to indicate the tonnage range potential for Red and Grey ore types and provide guidance towards the possibility of achieving higher grades within these two sectors of the property.

In reference to our latest Press Release dated April 6th, 2017: "Manganese X Energy Announces Potential Acquisition", the Company is continuing in its negotiations to acquire an additional manganese deposit, the parties are very close to finalizing a binding letter of intent and expect to have it completed within the next 14-21 days.

Qualified Persons and QA/QC

Roger Dahn, B.Sc., P.Geo (New Brunswick), Manganese X Energy's Vice President of Exploration, is designated as the Qualified Person in compliance with National Instrument 43-101 with respect to this release and has reviewed the contents for accuracy.

About Manganese X Energy

Manganese X Energy's mission is to acquire and advance high potential manganese prospects primarily located in North America as well as potential global acquisitions with the intent of supplying value added materials to the lithium ion battery and other alternative energy industries as well as the steel industry. In addition, our company is striving to achieve new methodologies oriented to environmentally friendly green/zero emissions and producing manganese at a lower competitive cost.

For more information, visit the website at www.manganesexenergycorp.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Martin Kepman

CEO and Director

martin@kepman.com

1-514-802-1814

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains "forward-looking information" including statements with respect to the future exploration performance of the Company. This forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements of the Company, expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, as well as others, are disclosed within the Company's filing on SEDAR, which investors are encouraged to review prior to any transaction involving the securities of the Company. Forward-looking information contained herein is provided as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation, other than as required by law, to update any forward-looking information for any reason. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking information.
Ukrainians will be able to travel to the EU countries without visas this year, Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Hugues Mingarelli has said.

I hope that Ukrainians will be able to travel to the EU without visas by summer, as Ukrainian citizens deserve it, no doubt, he said during a forum on reform priorities in Kyiv on Tuesday.

Mingarelli mentioned also some reasons which constrain the EU on this issue.


LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Shares of Rolls Royce Holdings plc (RYCEF.PK, RR.L, RYCEY.PK) declined around 6 percent in London trading after the luxury-car and aero engine maker reported a hefty loss in its fiscal 2016, compared to last year's profit, on charges. Revenues , however, increased from last year, and the company projects marginally higher revenues in fiscal 2017.



For the year 2016, the company's loss before tax was 4.64 billion pounds, compared to profit of 160 million pounds in the previous year. Loss to ordinary shareholders was 4.0 billion pounds or 220.08 pence per share, compared to profit of 83 million pounds or 4.48 pence per share last year.



The latest results reflected a non-cash impact of 4.4 billion pounds period-end mark-to-market revaluation of derivatives and a 671 million pounds charge for financial penalties from agreements with investigating bodies.



Underlying profit before tax was 813 million pounds, compared to 1.43 billion pounds a year ago. Underlying earnings per share were 30.13 pence, compared to 58.7 pence last year.



Underlying profit before finance charges and tax was 45 percent lower at 915 million pounds. All segments posted weak results. Civil Aerospace' underlying profit fell 60 percent and Defence Aerospace's profit was down 8 percent.



Fiscal- year reported revenue increased 9 percent to 14.96 billion pounds from 13.73 billion pounds in the previous year. Underlying revenue was down 2 percent at constant exchange rates, reflecting weakness in Marine.



Order book increased to 79.81 billion pounds from last year's 76.40 billion pounds.



Warren East, Chief Executive, said, 'We have made operational progress and performed ahead of our expectations for the year as a whole. While we have made good progress in our cost cutting and efficiency programmes, more needs to be done to ensure we drive sustainable margin improvements within the business.'



Further, the company said its final payment to shareholders is maintained at 7.1 pence per share, giving a full year dividend of 11.7 pence, higher than last year's 16.4 pence. The distribution will be in the form of C Shares.



Looking ahead, for fiscal 2017, the company said group revenue on a constant currency basis should be marginally higher than that achieved in 2016, despite expected further weakening in offshore oil and gas markets in Marine.



Rolls Royce said the year-on-year incremental progress will be modest, after a better than expected 2016. The company said its medium-term trajectory for revenue, profit and free cash flow remains unchanged.



In London, Rolls Royce shares were trading at 697.12 pounds, down 5.79 percent.



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ALBANY, New York, February 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The leading players in theGlobal Hip Replacement Implant Markethave been relentless working on achieving product differentiation and maintaining price differences to lure in bigger consumer bases. The global market is being led by Zimmer Biomet, Johnson & Johnson, Stryker, and Smith & Nephew. Collectively, these companies held a share of 85.2% in the global market in 2015. In the coming years, the market position of these players will be determined by factors such as material safety, safety features, distribution network, and supply capabilities.

According to the research report, the global hip replacement implant market was worth US$6.5 bn in 2015 and is expected to reach US$9.1 bn by the end of 2024. During the forecast years of 2016 and 2024, the global market is estimated to progress at a CAGR of 3.9%.

North America Poised to Dominate Global Market throughout Forecast Period

On the basis of product, the global hip replacement implant market is segmented into total hip replacement implant, hip resurfacing implant, partial hip replacement implant, and revision hip replacement implant. The total hip replacement implant segment is further sub-divided into fixed bearing hip implants and mobile-bearing total hip implants. As of 2015, the total hip replacement implant segment held a dominant share in the global market. This segment is estimated to continue its dominance in the coming years as it is slated to acquire a share of 58.1% by the end of 2024.

Download PDF Brochure of Research Report: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=1901

In terms of geography, the global hip replacement implant market is divided into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. North America has been leading the global market and is expected to continue its dominance throughout the forecast period. By the end of 2024, the North America hip replacement implant market is expected to acquire a share of 52.7% in the overall market.

Increasing Expenditure on Healthcare Opens Up Lucrative Opportunities for Global Market

The global hip replacement implant market is predominantly being driven by the increasing number of surgeries for hip replacement amongst the growing pool of geriatrics. The growing incidence of obesity is the primary cause of increasing pressure on the hips and their degeneration over time amongst the aging population. The significant rise in hip surgeries is also due to the remarkable advancements in the development of minimally invasive surgeries that use techniques such as 3D printing for achieving accurate results. Efforts by the governments to bring in hip implant reforms are also contributing to the rising revenue of the global market. The increasing per capita income, expenditure on healthcare, accessibility to healthcare, and better awareness are also some of the key factors that are expected to support the global hip replacement implant market.

Stringent FDA Regulations Slow Down Product Approval Processes

Despite the advancements, awareness, and adoptions of new methods, the global hip replacement implant market continues to face a few challenges. The major challenge in its way is the high cost of hip replacement products and surgery that is made these surgeries significantly unaffordability for patients, especially in the developing nations. The market is also being challenged by the growing number of product recalls as the metal in these medical devices has proved to be faulty or less effective. Furthermore, the strict regulations pertaining to the approval of all-metal hip implants are also slowing down the process of introducing new products in the global market.

Inquire for Report Customization:

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This review is based on Transparency Market Research's report, titled "Hip Replacement Implant Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast2016 - 2024."

The global hip replacement implant market has been segmented as follows:

Global Hip replacement Implant Market, by Product Type Total Hip Replacement Implant Fixed Bearing Hip Implants Mobile-Bearing Total Hip Implants. Partial Hip Replacement Implant Hip resurfacing Implant Revision Hip Replacement Implant



Global Hip Replacement Implant Market, by Material Metal-on-Metal Metal-on-Polyethylene Ceramic-on-Metal Ceramic-on-Polyethylene Ceramic-on-Ceramic



Global Hip Replacement Implant Market, by End-users Hospitals Orthopedic Clinics Ambulatory Surgical Centers Others



Global Hip Replacement Implant Market, by Geography North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany France U.K. Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan Australia & New Zealand Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Middle East and Africa Saudi Arabia South Africa Rest of MEA



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Surgical Procedures Volume Market (Procedures - Cardiac Rhythm Management Device Implantations (Cardiac Pacemaker Procedures, Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators), Interventional Cardiology Procedures (Cardiac Catheterization, Coronary Revascularization, Coronary Angiography), Heart Transplantations, Neurosurgery Procedures (Craniotomy, Aneurysm Coil Embolization, CSF Drainage, CSF Shunt), Orthopedic Procedures (Joint Replacement Surgery (Knee Replacement, Hip Replacement, Shoulder Replacement), Ligament/Tendon Repair, Spine Surgery Market (Spinal Fusion ), Ophthalmic Procedures (Cataract Surgery, Glaucoma Surgery, Refractive Surgery), Gynecology Procedures, Hysterectomy, Laparoscopic Hysterectomy, Uterine Artery Embolization, Cesarean Section) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2023

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Orthopedic Braces & Support, Casting & Splints Market: (Product Type - Casting Supplies & Equipment (Plaster Casts, Casting Tapes, Cast Cutters, and Casting Tools and Accessories), Splinting Supplies & Equipment (Fiberglass Splints, Plaster Splints, and Splinting Tools and Accessories), and Orthopedic Braces & Supports (Upper and Low Extremity Braces and Support); Distribution Channel - Orthopedic Clinics, Hospitals, Over the Counter (OTC), and E-Commerce) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/orthopedic-braces-support-casting-splints-market.html

About Us:

Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S. based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMR's global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.

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PUNE, India, February 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

According to the new research report "Display Market by Technology (LED-backlit LCD, OLED, QD-LED, E-Paper), Display Type (Flat, Flexible, Transparent), Application (Smartphone & Tablet, TV & Digital Signage, PC Monitor & Laptop), Vertical, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2022", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is expected to grow to USD 169.17 Billion by 2022, from USD 106.41 Billion in 2015, at a CAGR of 7.5% between 2016 and 2022.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 )

Browse68 market data Tables and77 Figures spread through 199 Pages and in-depth TOC on"Display Market"



http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/display-market-925.html

Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report.



The high growth of the flexible panel market, rising demand for OLED-based devices, and development of energy-efficient, attractive, and high specification display products are expected to be the major drivers for the market.

Consumer Electronics to hold the largest share in the display market

Consumer electronics includes devices such as TVs, smartphones, tablets, laptops, PC Monitors, and smart wearables. These applications account for a significant share of the market and, in turn, the consumer electronics industry. Rising demand for attractive and high specification display products is the main driver for the growth of the consumer electronics vertical and its high market share.

Quantum dot LED technology-based devices to achieve highest market growth

Quantum dot-based devices are new to the display market and account for a very small market share, but due to the promising technological advantages over OLED and LED-backlit LCD, it is expected to grow at the highest rate. The market penetration of QD-LED technology is expected to be high for TVs and digital signage applications.

Download PDF Brochure : http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=925

North America to hold the major market share for display market during the forecast period

North America, comprising the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, held the largest share of the display market in 2015. The U.S. is a major contributor to the growth of the market in North America. The growth of the market in North America can be attributed to the fast adoption of latest technologies such as QD-LED and OLED in the consumer electronics domain, especially in the U.S. Due to the large population in economies, such as Japan, South Korea, China, and India, coupled with the thriving consumer electronics and retail sectors, there are immense opportunities for panel manufactures in the APAC region.

Inquiry Before Buying @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=925

Major players in the market are LG Display Co., Ltd. (South Korea), Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (South Korea), AU Optronics Corp. (Taiwan), Innolux Corp. (Taiwan), Japan Display Inc., (Japan), Sharp Corp. (Japan), BOE Technology Group Co. (China), Hannstar Display Corp. (Taiwan), Varitronix International Limited (Hong Kong), TCL Display Technology Holdings Limited (Hong Kong), Universal Display Corp. (U.S.), and E Ink Holdings Inc. (Taiwan).

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Flexible Display Market by Application (Smartphone, Tablet, E-reader, Laptop, TV, Smartcard, Wearable Display), Technology (OLED, LCD, E-paper), Component (Emissive &Non-emissive), Material (Polymer, Glass, GRP) & Geography - Forecast & Analysis to 2013 - 2020

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/flexible-display-market-788.html

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About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets is the largest market research firm worldwide in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to a multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors.

M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical info graphics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers.

We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository.

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PUNE, India, February 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

India's oldest and most trusted investment fortnightly Dalal Street Investment Journal (DSIJ) has launched a new product, Vriddhi - Growth; envisions wealth creation for their investors on Darwin's philosophy of 'Survival of the fittest' with only one focus - 'Customer is the King'. The companies that are in a position to widen their moats every year and like chameleon can adapt to the changing environment of the economic jungle, will be our picks for the product.

(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/454610/PRNE_DSIJ_Logo.jpg )

(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/467312/Vriddhi_Logo.jpg )





The company's agility to understand the business environment, adapt to them and evolve new technologies to stay competitive will be under our watch list. The parameters that we will be using to recommend companies with long term growth prospects to our investors will be based on a mix of technical and fundamental analysis.

Vriddhi - Growth recommended with a holding period up to 3 years has interesting key features including monthly detailed report on provided stock via e-mail and SMS along with half yearly stock reviews assessing the performance of the company. Investors can also SIP in the recommendations as per their capital availability, so no worry about daily turbulence of the share market. http://www.dsij.in/vriddhi.aspx

On the new product launch, Rajesh V Padode, Managing Director of DSIJ Pvt Limited said, "We received a lot of enquiries from investors wanting a product with a longer holding period. Our research team put on their thinking caps and evolved this new product aptly based on growth investing. We believe this will provide further investment opportunities to our loyal investor friends."

About DSIJ

Starting off as a 12-page cyclostyled stapled booklet in 1986, Dalal Street Investment Journal (DSIJ), the flagship product of the company, soon began to be looked upon as the gospel of stock market investing. At a time when quality financial and guidance was rare, the company (DSIJ) pioneered many 'firsts' to cater to the fast growing investor base of India. Over the years, its primary publication and other products have helped investors create and protect their wealth in the most meaningful manner, guiding both new investors and the experienced ones, not to forget the established traders, to choose the right stocks, avoid pitfalls and reap the benefits of high tides in the vast ocean of equity investments. It is this vast experience, study and toughening during all kinds of scams and markets ups and downs that gives DSIJ an unbiased balanced insight about the several unfolding events without getting swayed by temporary and misleading populous excitement.

To learn more about the company and services offered please visit: http://www.dsij.in

To subscribe Vriddhi-Growth, please visit: http://www.dsij.in/vriddhi

Media contact

Mayank Dubey

Sr. Manager - Online Marketing

DSIJ Pvt. Ltd.

+91-020-49072625

mayankd@dsij.in


Jacobs to provide engineering and environmental consultancy support until 2020

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (NYSE:JEC) has been selected by Thames Water Utilities Limited in the United Kingdom to provide engineering and environmental consultancy services for the remainder of its existing Asset Management Program (AMP6) operating until 2020. The framework also has options to extend to the end of AMP8 in 2030.

Under the framework agreement, Jacobs' engineering scope extends across all asset areas and includes identifying, defining and validating needs; providing feasibility studies; identifying operational and delivery efficiencies; preliminary and detailed design; and project management across all engineering disciplines.

The environmental scope includes strategic planning for drought and water resources management; outcomes and performance commitments measurement and optimization; odour and environmental impact assessments; ecological surveys; flow monitoring; water quality sampling; and project management. Both areas of work include providing support to Thames Water as it interfaces with regulators and stakeholders.

"We are delighted to be supporting Thames Water with their priorities for enhancing service to customers, underpinned by responsible environmental management," said Jacobs Senior Vice President Buildings and Infrastructure Bob Duff. "We are well positioned to leverage our global water resources expertise to help deliver sustainable, pragmatic solutions, particularly as Thames Water moves towards future planning cycles."

Thames Water is the UK's largest water and wastewater services provider, supplying around 2,600 million liters of drinking water a day, and serving 15 million wastewater customers across London and the Thames Valley. An investment of 4 billion ($5 billion) between 2015 and 2020 is planned across its asset base to improve customer service.

Jacobs provides professional services to its clients' water, wastewater, and flood control challenges across the world. Support ranges from advice on regulatory requirements, energy and utility master planning, water and waste treatment, reuse and networks, irrigation, dams and reservoirs, and more.

Jacobs is one of the world's largest and most diverse providers of full-spectrum technical, professional and construction services for industrial, commercial and government organizations globally. The company employs 54,000 people and operates in more than 25 countries around the world. For more information, visit www.jacobs.com.

Statements made in this release that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements. We base these forward-looking statements on management's current estimates and expectations as well as currently available competitive, financial and economic data. Forward-looking statements, however, are inherently uncertain. There are a variety of factors that could cause business results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements. For a description of some of the factors which may occur that could cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements please refer to our Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2016, and in particular the discussions contained under Items 1 Business, 1A Risk Factors, 3 Legal Proceedings, and 7 Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements made herein.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170214005522/en/

Contacts:

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.

Salim Rahimi, 214.583.8428
MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 -- Yorbeau Resources Inc. (TSX: YRB.A) (the "Company" or "Yorbeau") is pleased to report on a material increase in the updated mineral resource estimate for its copper, zinc, gold and silver project in Scott Township, Chibougamau, PQ. The mineral resource estimate was prepared by William E. Roscoe, Ph.D., P.Eng. and Katharine Masun, MSA, M.Sc., P.Geo. of Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. ("RPA"). A Technical Report in compliance with National Instrument NI-43-101 will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days of this release.

Mineral resources have been classified in the Indicated and Inferred categories as follows:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Category Tonnes %Cu %Zn g/t Au g/t Ag ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Indicated 3,556,000 0.9 4.2 0.2 37 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Inferred 13,970,000 0.8 3.5 0.2 22 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: 1. CIM Definition Standards were followed for Mineral Resources. 2. Resource are reported at an NSR cut-off value of $100/t for massive sulphide and $65/t for stringer sulphide lenses. 3. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. 4. Numbers may not add due to rounding.

The current mineral resource estimate was done by block modeling techniques, using a minimum horizontal width of approximately two metres and a cut-off value based on a Net Smelter Return (NSR(i)) basis, as warranted by the style of mineralization. The resources enclose both massive sulphide and stringer sulphide lenses, and cut-off values were determined to be $100 per tonne, except for wide stringer sulphides envelopes where a cut-off value of $65 per tonne was used to account for favorable geometry that suggest potential suitability for underground bulk mining methods. All technical parameters will be fully disclosed in the Technical Report prepared by RPA, which will also be posted on Yorbeau's web site when received.

(i) Assumptions made by RPA for the determination of the NSR cut-off include: a US$0.80 Canadian dollar and the following metal prices: copper - US$3.25/lb, zinc - US$1.20/lb, gold - US$1,500/oz, and silver - US$22/oz. Mill recoveries for copper, zinc, gold and silver were established at 90%, 90%, 75%, and 70%, respectively.

The recently updated resource includes mineralization in several volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) lenses and stringer mineralized zones located over a two kilometre strike length. All lenses range in depth from surface (Selco Lens) to approximately 1,000 m below surface along a shallow general westerly plunge. A 3D isometric view of the wireframes of the mineralized bodies is shown in the attached Figure 1.

To view Figure 1: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1085745Figure1.pdf

Increases in mineral resources relative to the previous estimate prepared by RPA and filed by Cogitore Resources in 2011 are attributable to the following factors:

-- Discovery and inclusion of the Gap Lens discovered in June 2015; -- Inclusion of the historical Selco Lens; -- Additional drilling on the Scott Lake Stringer sulphide zone and West Lens done in 2012 (after 2011 Resource Estimate); -- Revised exchange rate (US$0.80:C$1.00 vs 1:1 exchange rate used in 2011). Stringer-type mineralization is particularly sensitive to a low Canadian dollar, smelter terms and commodity prices, especially for zinc.

Gerald Riverin, Company president commented: "We are most enthusiastic about the results of this new mineral resource estimate which no doubt marks a very important milestone for the project and the Company. With the remarkable positive drift in zinc price observed in the market since the summer of 2015, we consider the new resource estimate particularly timely and positive for our Company. The next step is to complete metallurgical testing and initiate a preliminary economic assessment to have a better idea of what we have in our hands".

Work at Yorbeau is carried out under the supervision of Gerald Riverin, PhD, P. Geo. He is a qualified person (as defined by NI 43-101) and has reviewed and approved the content of this release. The February 12, 2017 Mineral Resource estimate disclosed in this press release was prepared by William Roscoe and Katherine Masun. Both are employees of RPA and are independent of Yorbeau. By virtue of their education and relevant experience, they are "Qualified Persons" for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101. William Roscoe and Katherine Masun have read and approved the contents of this press release as it pertains to the disclosed Mineral Resource estimate.

About Yorbeau Resources Inc.

The Company's 100% controlled Rouyn Property contains four known gold deposits in the 6-km-long Augmitto-Astoria corridor situated on the western half of the property. Two of the four deposits, Astoria and Augmitto, have substantial underground infrastructure and have been the subject of NI 43-101 technical reports that include resource estimates. The Company recently announced signing an Option Agreement with an affiliate of Kinross Gold Corporation to pursue exploration on the Rouyn Property (see press release dated October 25, 2016). In 2015, the Company expanded its exploration property portfolio by acquiring strategic base metal properties in prospective areas of the Abitibi Belt of Quebec and Ontario that also feature infrastructure favourable for mining development. The newly acquired base metal properties include Scott Lake which hosts important mineral resources.

More information on the Company may be found on the Company's website at www.yorbeauresources.com.

Forward-looking statements: Except for statement of historical fact, all statements in this news release, without limitation, regarding new projects, acquisitions, future plans and objectives are forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Contacts:

Gerald Riverin, Ph D., P. Geo

President

Yorbeau Resources Inc.

griverin@yorbeauresources.com

819-279-1336



G. Bodnar Jr.

Vice President

Yorbeau Resources Inc.

gbodnar@yorbeauresources.com

514-384-2202

Toll free in North America: 1-855-384-2202




CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 -- Petrus Resources Ltd. ("Petrus" or the "Company") (TSX: PRQ) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with a private company to acquire certain oil and natural gas interests in the Ferrier area, subject to customary closing conditions (the "Acquisition").

PROPERTY ACQUISITION

Pursuant to the Acquisition, Petrus will acquire approximately 40 boe/d of production as well as a 100% working interest in a drilled and completed Cardium horizontal well ("Non-Producing Well") which is expected to be tied in later in 2017 and production rates are expected to be consistent with wells recently drilled by Petrus in the Ferrier area. In addition, Petrus will acquire a 100% working interest in approximately 3,360 net acres (5.25 net sections) of undeveloped Cardium land in its Ferrier core area. Petrus anticipates the undeveloped land will add 21 gross (21 net) Cardium drilling locations. Closing of the Acquisition is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and is expected to occur on or before February 28, 2017, with an effective date of January 1, 2017. The purchase price for the Acquisition is expected to be financed by way of a non-brokered private placement and through availability under its credit facilities.

PRIVATE PLACEMENT

Petrus is also pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has approved a non-brokered private placement of approximately 1,585,000 common shares of Petrus ("Common Shares") at an issue price of $2.53 per Common Share for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $4,010,050 (the "Private Placement"). It is anticipated that the Common Shares will be subscribed for by a director of the Company.

The Private Placement is expected to close on or before the closing of the Acquisition, with the proceeds to be used to pay a portion of the purchase price for the Acquisition. Closing is subject to receipt of all requisite approvals, including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange. The Common Shares will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus one day from the distribution date.

ABOUT PETRUS

Petrus is a public Canadian oil and gas company focused on property exploitation, strategic acquisitions and risk-managed exploration in Alberta.

READER ADVISORIES

This press release contains forward-looking statements. More particularly, this press release contains statements concerning the expected closing of the Acquisition and the Private Placement, the use of proceeds of the Private Placement, the tie-in of the Non-Producing Well and the number of drilling plans to be added as a result of the Acquisition. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by Petrus, including the satisfaction of all conditions to closing of the Acquisition and the Private Placement, including the receipt of all regulatory approvals, the availability of adequate and secure sources of funding, the availability of drilling rigs, expectations and assumptions concerning the success of future drilling and development activities and prevailing commodity prices and the performance of wells. Although Petrus believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because Petrus can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, the failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals, risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general (e.g., operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of reserve estimates; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses; health, safety and environmental risks; commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations; and uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures). Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all possible risks and uncertainties.

The forward-looking statements contained in this document are made as of the date hereof and Petrus undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws.

The term barrels of oil equivalent ("boe") may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion ratio of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one boe (6 mcf/bbl) is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. All boe conversions in this report are derived from converting gas to oil in the ratio of six thousand cubic feet of gas to one barrel of oil. Given that the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6:1, utilizing a conversion on a 6:1 basis may be misleading as an indication of value.

Contacts:

Neil Korchinski, P.Eng.

President and Chief Executive Officer

403-930-0889

nkorchinski@petrusresources.com




COEUR D'ALENE, IDAHO -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 -- Timberline Resources Corporation (OTCQB: TLRS)(TSX VENTURE: TBR) ("Timberline" or the "Company") today announced consolidated financial results for its first fiscal year 2017 quarter which ended December 31, 2016. A summary of selected financial results is presented in the following table:

Quarter Ended ($US 000's, except earnings per share) December 31, 2016 2015 ---------------------- Consolidated net loss $ (327) $ (784) Consolidated net loss per share, basic and diluted (0.01) (0.06) Mineral exploration expenses 46 139 Working capital 121 (583)

Timberline reported a consolidated net loss of $0.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, including exploration expenditures of $46 thousand. The Company's exploration expenditures during the quarter continued to be curtailed to conserve cash. During the quarter ended December 31, 2016, the Company received $375 thousand from the refund of reclamation bond funds that are no longer required in Nevada. The Company has an ongoing metallurgical and geotechnical test program at the Talapoosa gold and silver project in Nevada from which it continues to receive positive results. The primary objective of the test program is to assess the potential to improve heap permeability and enhance gold and silver leach efficiency for the processing of the mineralized material at Talapoosa. The Company expects, subject to raising sufficient capital, to continue to advance the Talapoosa project toward a feasibility study and further development.

Timberline's President and CEO, Steve Osterberg, commented, "We are pleased to see recent strengthening in the precious metal commodities and equities markets. As noted in our press release on January 31, the results of our ongoing metallurgical testing at Talapoosa continue to confirm our belief that recoveries can meet or exceed those estimated in the May 2015 Talapoosa Preliminary Economic Assessment. Based in part on these factors, we anticipate that we will be able to obtain capital for the continued advancement and development of Talapoosa."

About Timberline Resources

Timberline Resources Corporation is focused on advancing district-scale gold exploration and development projects in Nevada, including its Talapoosa project in Lyon County where the Company has completed and disclosed a positive preliminary economic assessment. Timberline also controls the 23 square-mile Eureka project lying on the Battle Mountain-Eureka gold trend. At Eureka, the Company continues to advance its Lookout Mountain and Windfall project areas. Exploration potential occurs within three separate structural-stratigraphic trends defined by distinct geochemical gold anomalies. Timberline also owns the Seven Troughs property in northern Nevada, known to be one of the state's highest grade, former producers.

Timberline is listed on the OTCQB where it trades under the symbol "TLRS" and on the TSX Venture Exchange where it trades under the symbol "TBR".

Forward-looking Statements

Statements contained herein that are not based upon current or historical fact are forward-looking in nature and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Company's expectations about its future operating results, performance and opportunities that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. These statements include but are not limited to statements regarding ongoing results of metallurgical and geotechnical tests, potential to improve heap permeability and enhance gold and silver leach efficiency, the Company's ability to continue to advance its projects toward feasibility and development, continued strength in the gold market, recoveries being able to meet or exceed the projections in the preliminary economic assessment, the Company's ability to raise any or sufficient capital for the advancement and development of Talapoosa, advancement of projects, and exploration potential. When used herein, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "upcoming," "plan," "target", "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to Timberline Resources Corporation, its subsidiaries, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, risks related to changes in the Company's business resulting in changes in the use of proceeds, and other such factors, including risk factors discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2016. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Timberline Resources Corporation

Steven A. Osterberg

President and CEO

208-664-4859

info@timberline-resources.com

www.timberline-resources.com




VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 -- Scorpio Gold Corporation ("Scorpio Gold" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: SGN) announces it has reached a settlement with National EWP, Inc. ("National") to end the court proceedings involving its 70% indirectly owned subsidiary Mineral Ridge LLC ("MRG"), the operator of the Company's Mineral Ridge gold operation.

In its prior ruling, the Second Judicial District Court of Washoe County, Nevada issued a judgment awarding National US$2.3 million in its lawsuit against MRG. The Company and its legal advisors disagreed with both the Court's legal conclusions and its factual findings and began the appeals process. To prevent any collection activities during the pendency of the appeal, MRG was required to provide cash security to the court in the amount of the judgment. During the early stages of the appeal, Nevada court rules required both parties to attend a settlement conference with a court-appointed mediator to seek agreeable settlement terms. After negotiation with National, the Company determined that it was in its best interest to settle the case for an amount of US$1 million and end the costly litigation.

This settlement allows Scorpio Gold to avoid significant legal fees during a potentially lengthy appeals process and provides for return of $1.3 million of the $2.3 million cash security posted with the court. MRG can thereafter use the freed up funds to further advance its Nevada properties.

About Scorpio Gold

Scorpio Gold holds a 70% interest in the Mineral Ridge gold mining operation located in Esmeralda County, Nevada with joint venture partner Elevon, LLC (30%). Mineral Ridge is currently in production as a conventional open pit mining and heap leach operation. The Mineral Ridge property is host to multiple gold-bearing structures, veins and lenses at exploration, development and production stages. Scorpio Gold also holds a 100% interest in the advanced exploration-stage Goldwedge property in Manhattan, Nevada, with a fully permitted underground mine and 400 ton per day mill facility. The Goldwedge mill facility has been placed on a care and maintenance basis and can be restarted immediately when needed.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

SCORPIO GOLD CORPORATION

Brian Lock, Interim CEO

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

The Company relies on litigation protection for forward-looking statements. This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the Company's current expectations and estimates. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results implied or expressed in such forward-looking statements, including the outcome of the litigation and those risk factors outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis as filed on SEDAR. Any forward-looking statement 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 statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof.

Contacts:

Scorpio Gold Corporation

Chris Zerga

President

(819) 825-7618

czerga@scorpiogold.com

www.scorpiogold.com



Investor Relations

JNS Capital Corp.

Jag Sandhu

778-218-9638

JAGJNS@outlook.com




Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 14, 2017) - Bearing Resources Ltd. (TSXV: BRZ) (OTCQB: BRGRF) (FSE: B6K1) ("Bearing" or the "Company") has received results from Li3 Energy Inc ("Li3") from the ongoing exploration program at the Maricunga lithium brine project located in Chile (the "Maricunga Project"). Bearing has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Li3 and its interest in the Maricunga lithium brine project (the "Li3 Definitive Agreement"). Li3 holds a 17.7% interest in the project along with Minera Salar Blanco ("MSB") and Lithium Power International Limited ("Lithium Power") at 32.3% and 50% respectively. Under the terms of the joint venture, Lithium Power has agreed to fund exploration and development costs with both Li3 and MSB having a free carry until the completion of a definitive feasibility study.

Exploration Results

Assay results for two holes are provided which were drilled on the San Francisco and Cocina properties, both of which are "old code" tenements. Results were initially released by Lithium Power on February 1st, 2017. Highlights include results from hole S6 drilled on the San Francisco tenement which averaged 1,368 mg/l lithium over 186 metres with a peak assay of 3,375 mg/l lithium which represents the highest-grade lithium brine intersection from the program to date. Drill results remain pending for three holes. The current exploration program was comprised of a total of 11 holes plus one production well for pump testing, in addition to 8 monitoring wells.

San Francisco (1 hole) - Rotary drill hole S6 was drilled in the south of the tenement to a depth of 200 metres. Sample assays returned an average grade of 1,368 mg/l lithium plus 9,468 mg/l potassium over the 186-metre sample interval (from 12 metres to 198 metres) with a peak of 3,375 mg/l lithium and 20,640 mg/l potassium over a 6 metre sample at 12 metres depth. S6 is located approximately 2.4km south from hole S3, and 4.8km southwest from hole M10.

Cocina (1 hole) - Hole M1A was drilled in the northeast of the tenement to a depth of 200 metres. Sample assays returned an average grade of 822 mg/l lithium and 6,104 mg/l potassium over the 186-metre sample interval (from 12 metres to 198 metres) . Hole M1A was completed using sonic drilling and was a replacement for hole M1, which was using rotary drilling, but abandoned at 77 metres. M1A is located adjacent to M1 and approximately 1.3km north east from hole M10, and 2.7km southeast of hole S13

Both holes S6 and M1A were drilled vertically to 200 metres and sampled every 6 metres, with reported intervals representing true thicknesses. Both holes terminated in high-grade lithium brine at depth hosted within a favorable sand and gravel sequence.

Jeremy Poirier, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company commented: "Assay results from drilling on the Maricunga project and notably "old code" tenements continue to deliver high-grade lithium and potassium rich brine over thick sequences of favorably lithology. Of the remaining holes pending assays, one was drilled to a depth of 360 metres and continued to intersect the favorable thick sand and gravel sequence present in the upper 200 metres. Results from the remaining three holes are anticipated shortly and will form the basis of a resource estimate anticipated in Q2/17."

QA/QC:

Drilling of hole S6 was by rotary drilling that provide cuttings for lithological logging and for geological interpretation. Sonic drilling of hole M1A produced cores with close to 100% core recovery. This technique uses sonic vibration to penetrate the salt lake sediments. Brine samples were collected at 6 m intervals during drilling. This involved purging brine from the drill hole and then taking a sample corresponding to the interval between the rods and the bottom of the hole. The brine sample was collected in a clean plastic bottle and filled to the top to minimize air space within the bottle. Brine samples collected following the purging of the holes are homogenized as brine is extracted from the hole using a bailer device. Each bottle was taped and marked with the sample number and details of the hole and the time of the sample were noted. The University of Antofagasta in northern Chile was used as the primary laboratory to conduct the assaying of the brine samples collected as part of the drilling program. They also analyzed blanks, duplicates and standards, with blind control samples in the analysis chain. Additional details of the QA/QC program and sampling procedures are provided in the Lithium Power press releases mentioned.

Robert Cameron, P.Geo., who is a technical consultant to the Company and is a qualified person within the context of National Instrument 43-101, has read and takes responsibility for this news release.

About Bearing Resources Ltd.

Bearing is an exploration and development company. The Li3 Definitive Agreement will enable it to acquire an interest in the advanced-stage Maricunga project located in Chile, which represents one of the highest-grade development opportunities in the Americas. Assuming completion of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, Bearing will have an undivided 17.7% interest in the project with all expenditures through to the delivery of a Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) fully-funded by its joint-venture partners. The Maricunga Project has had in excess of US$25 million of exploration to date.



ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD



Signed "Jeremy Poirier"

Jeremy Poirier, Director President and CEO



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Jeremy Poirier-- President and CEO Bearing Resources - Telephone: 1-604-262-8835



Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information

This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements"(collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating the future operating or financial performance of the Company, are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this press release relate to, among other things: completion of the transactions contemplated by the Li3 Definitive Agreement, the benefits of the proposed transaction with Li3 to shareholders of Bearing . Actual future results may differ materially. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: completion of satisfactory due diligence by each of Bearing and Li3, , the absence of a material adverse change in the Maricunga Property and the receipt of all necessary regulatory and shareholder approvals to complete the proposed transaction with Li3 . Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these times. Except as required by law, Bearing does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.
Ukraine's Ministry of Defense during 2017 plans to conduct more than 100 military exercises involving missile (ground-to-air) defense units. Live-fire drills using the ground-to-air Buk-M1 system will be held in Kherson region," Defense Ministry of Ukraine spokesman Dmytro Gutsuliak has said.

"For ensuring the integration of missile defense units we plan about 50 tactical training exercises involving brigade command and control points, regiments and regular units, as well as 25 tactical exercises using ground-to-air missile systems Buk-M1, as well as around 35 special tactical drills with support units," he said during a briefing in Kyiv on Friday.

Gutsuliak said during the Cyber Guardian-2017 multinational training exercise at Shabla training grounds in Bulgaria, ground-to-air S-300 missile systems will take part in tactical live-fire exercises. At the Yahorlyk training area in Kherson region the Buk-M1 will take part in live-fire training, he added.

Special radar platoons and radio-electronic equipment of Ukraine's Air Force will monthly practice deployment maneuvers in new regions, and there will be a number of tactical special training drills involving the deployment of unmanned aviation vehicles (UAVs).

"Foreign military instructors of NATO member-states will take part in the training exercises, he said.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The embattled US National Security Advisor Lt. General Michael Flynn has resigned. In his letter of resignation Monday, the top official in charge of the nation's security said he had inadvertently briefed the vice-president-elect and others with incomplete information regarding his phone calls with the Russian ambassador to US before the Trump administration assumed power, and apologized to the President. He is the first top official to quit the Trump administration which is in power hardly a month. 'In the course of my duties as the incoming National Security Advisor, I held numerous phone calls with foreign counterparts, ministers, and ambassadors. These calls were to facilitate a smooth transition and begin to build the necessary relationships between the President, his advisors and foreign leaders. Such calls are standard practice in any transition of this magnitude,' Flynn said. The White House said the President accepted Michael Flynn's resignation, and appointed Lt. General Joseph Keith Kellogg, Jr. as Acting National Security Advisor. Michael Flynn encouraged a softer policy on Russia and a harder line on Iran. At the beginning of this month, Flynn had announced that the United States has put Iran 'on notice' for test-firing a ballistic missile and carrying out a deadly attack on a Saudi warship in the Red Sea. 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.
LAS VEGAS, NV -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 -- Freedom Leaf, "The Marijuana Legalization Company" (OTC PINK: FRLF), announced that it has entered into the first two of a series of strategic joint ventures that will be the driving source of revenue for the company in 2017.

Freedom Leaf's CEO Clifford J Perry stated, "We are proud to announce that Freedom Leaf has entered into a Strategic Joint Venture with NuAxon BioScience to distribute their large capacity super critical CO2 extraction units. The booming demand for high grade cannabinoid extracts, such as CBD (cannabidiol), can only be met with large capacity super critical CO2 extraction devices that are manufactured to maximize efficiency for the Cannabis and Industrial Hemp sector.

The industrial hemp harvest is expected to dramatically increase in the US and worldwide. NuAxon BioScience's 17 year experience in manufacturing large capacity super critical CO2 extraction units with patented proprietary 5,000 psi pumps, delivers greater economies of scale in the extraction process.

Freedom Leaf has also entered into a Strategic Joint Venture distribution agreement with Nisarga Biotech Group of India, for their US Patent Pending proprietary formulas for Ayurvedic medicine. Freedom Leaf, Inc. has the exclusive distribution rights for these formulas, which combined with CBD's will create a health enhancing line of skin care and breathable vapor products. "Ayurveda" is one of the world's oldest holistic ("whole-body") healing systems. It was developed more than 3,000 years ago in India. It's based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body, and spirit. Its main goal is to promote good health.

Nisarga Biotech Group of India is a consortium of natural product companies creating sustainable, organically based holistic products. Nisarga received the Pharmexcil Patent Award 2012-13 for commendable contribution in developing pharmaceutical patents.

Freedom Leafs launch of HempOLOGYsm will provide a "first mover's advantage" into the exploding CBD Market. The demand for this product was apparent at the Champs Trade Show in Las Vegas February 7th-9th. "Retail and wholesale distributors were excited to see a new category of functional CBD skin care and breathable vapor products introduced into the marketplace. Functional CBD gives users benefits they can immediately experience and feel on their skin," said Charles Mui, VP of sales and marketing at Freedom leaf, Inc.

Jon Doukas Managing Partner at Trends Mergers and Acquisitions, strategic business advisor to Freedom Leaf had this to say: "Management under the leadership of its CEO Clifford J Perry has made it clear that it intends to aggressively pursue joint ventures and exclusive licensing agreements in cannabis hemp related enterprises. Both NuAxon Bioscience, Nisarga Biotech Group are solid indications of the path the company has taken toward developing a portfolio of revenue-generating joint ventures within the Cannabis Hemp sector."

The HempOLOGYsm High CBD skin care and vapor products are made from all-natural ingredients that provide nutritive assistance to the body. All of the ingredients are considered safe and adhere to GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards in both the sourcing and manufacturing of all the ingredients.

All formulas include only Hemp CBD grown in America

Provide Anti-oxidants at a cellular level

Contain Essential Vitamins and Minerals

Provide Protection from the elements

Supports your own immune system

None of the statements contained in this news release are health claims and the FDA has not evaluated these claims. Freedom Leaf's products and proposed products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

You can see the product line for HempOLOGYsm at www.MyHempOLOGY.com

About Trends Mergers and Acquisitions

Trends Mergers & Acquisitions is an Advisory and Consulting Firm which consults and guides business entities seeking to enter the public markets. Year to date, we have assisted our clients in achieving over $2 billion in newly realized market cap.

We advise our clients on strategic planning, corporate structure, accounting, investor relations, capital raising and investment banking matters.

Trends has been involved in over 180 reverse mergers transactions, providing mergers and acquisition advisory services, along with capital raising capabilities, to companies in the United States and abroad. With direct links to Europe, Asia, and North & South America, Trends serves as a vehicle to allow companies access to capital markets around the globe.

We operate three primary divisions; Merger Advisory Services and Management Advisory Services and PUBCOxchange.com. Corporate website: www.TrendsMergers.com

About Freedom Leaf

Freedom Leaf, Inc., The Marijuana Legalization Company, is a fully reporting and audited, publicly traded company trading under the symbol (OTC PINK: FRLF). Freedom Leaf, Inc. is the leading go-to resource in the cannabis, medical marijuana, and industrial hemp industry. It is involved in mergers and acquisitions in the marijuana industry, including the FLI Agency, a full service creative, marketing and talent agency accepting clients for the creation and launch of private label products. With full service production capabilities FLI Agency will be able to craft unique brands and affiliate marketing and direct sales programs to service the rapidly growing nutritional supplement and skin care industries. FLI Agency can handle every aspect of the production in addition to branding and marketing of the consumable products it will create for any forward thinking business.

Freedom Leaf calls itself "The Marijuana Legalization Company" because the Freedom Leaf team has nearly 200 years collective experience in the marijuana legalization effort, which gives Freedom Leaf great credibility as a trusted source in the global Marijuana/Hemp sector.

Freedom Leaf Inc.'s flagship publication is Freedom Leaf Magazine, The Good News in Marijuana Reform. The company produces a portfolio of news, print and digital multi-media verticals, websites, and web advertising, for the ever changing emerging cannabis, medical marijuana and industrial hemp industry. Freedom Leaf, Inc. does not handle, grow, sell, or disperse marijuana or related products.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical are "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases such as Freedom Leaf, Inc. or its management "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "foresees," "forecasts," "estimates" or other words or phrases of similar import. Similarly, statements herein that describe the Company's business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals also are forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to differences include the uncertainty regarding viability and market acceptance of the Company's products and services, changes in relationships with third parties, and other factors described in the Company's most recent periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K dated June 30, 2016 and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

Investor relations information can be found on the Freedom Leaf, Inc. company website.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Raymond Medeiros

PR and Business Development Director

Phone: 415-601-1974

ray@freedomleaf.com



Freedom Leaf, Inc.

3571 East Sunset Road

Las Vegas, Nevada 89120




TULSA, OK--(Marketwired - February 14, 2017) - RJD Green (OTC PINK: RJDG), announced the first franchise sale of the Silex Interiors, an operation of the Silex Holdings Division of RJD Green Inc. As part of the $600 billion dollar construction industry sector, Silex Holdings Division looks to expand its market presence with the launch of their franchise segment. As a franchisor, the ability to expand will require far less capital and provide faster growth, increased profitability, and increased organizational leverage.

RJD Green Inc. announced the awarding of its initial franchise to be located in Tulsa Oklahoma.

Ron Brewer, CEO of RJD Green Inc. states, "Our initial franchise is part of the Master Franchise Agreement awarded to Silex Franchise Services, Inc., and will be located in Tulsa Oklahoma. This initial Silex franchise will be the franchise model in regards to facility and operations for other units that will be brought forward in full launch in 2017 and 2018."

Brewer further stated; "From our Officers and Directors franchising experience, we feel that all the components required for a unique franchising opportunity have been established, which allows a franchisee to acquire a real nuts and bolts industrial business opportunity that will require business management and sales capabilities only. From establishing the initial franchise, our focus will be to bring forward four to eight additional franchise locations in our first twelve months of franchising the Silex Interiors opportunity.

By launching the Silex franchising opportunity, we continue to implement our growth plan for Silex Holdings by expanding our market segments, and creating a faster growth rate of revenues and profitability."

Clay Cooley, spokesperson for Silex Franchise Services said; "We are excited to be on the ground floor of this franchise opportunity as a Master Franchisee. We expect to generate over $1,000,000 in revenue in year one and over $2,000,000 in year two revenue. We have executed a management agreement with Silex Holdings for the operation of our first unit. We feel this is an excellent profit opportunity for both parties creating a win-win business opportunity."

About RID Green Inc.

The Company operates as a holding company with a focus of acquiring and managing assets and companies. RJD Green operates in three divisions: RJD Green Healthcare Services Division, which holds interest in IoSoft Inc, a company that provides discrete payment technologies, services and software that can be integrated into targeted offerings for healthcare provider networks, hospitals, healthcare payers and individual providers: Earthlinc Environmental Services Division, which provides green environmental services and technologies; Silex Holdings Division, which is engaged in specialty construction and industrial manufacturing and fills a market niche between the Home Depots and local contractors. Silex offers installed granite/other counter tops, cabinets and related products to the residential builder, commercial contractor, remodel contractor and retail customer. Visit http://www.rjdgreen.com

Forward-looking Statement:

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events of future performance of the company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. In evaluation such statements, prospective investors should review carefully various risks and uncertainties identified in this release and matters set in the company's SEC filings. These risks and uncertainties could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.

For additional information contact:



Ron Brewer

CEO

ronb@rjdgreen.com

(918) 551-7883



Douglass Baker

OTC PR Group

corp@otcprgroup.com

(561) 807-6350
OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 -- Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. ("Cornerstone" or "the Company") (TSX VENTURE: CGP) (FRANKFURT: GWN) (BERLIN: GWN) (OTCBB: CTNXF) announces the following project update for the Cascabel copper-gold porphyry joint venture exploration project in northern Ecuador.

Figures, table and photographs referred to in this news release can be seen in PDF format by accessing the version of this release on the Company's website (www.cornerstoneresources.com) or by clicking on the link below:

http://www.cornerstoneresources.com/i/pdf/NR17-04Figures.pdf.

HIGHLIGHTS:

-- Drill Hole 19 returned a broad mineralized zone of 1132m grading 0.50 % copper and 0.33 g/t gold (0.80% CuEq(1)) from 268m depth, across an interpreted true width(2) of approximately 500m to date (further assays to come), at the growing Alpala deposit. -- This long intersection includes 802m grading 0.63 % copper and 0.43 g/t gold (1.02% CuEq) from 572m depth, or 516m grading 0.75 % copper and 0.50 g/t gold (1.20% CuEq) from 838m, across true widths of approximately 360m and 230m respectively. -- The Hole 19 assay results reflect intersections significantly richer in Bornite, (a copper rich sulphide mineral containing approximately 63% copper) than in previous drill holes, representing the southernmost and shallowest high grade mineralization discovered at Alpala to date -- Drilling focus moving to Hematite Hill, towards Alpala Southeast, where strong bornite mineralization and high temperature advanced argillic alteration are mapped at surface. -- Hole 20R is continuing at 1342.4m. -- Holes 21 & 22 entering increasingly strong mineralization at 750.4m and 702.2m respectively. -- Two additional rigs to mobilize in February, increasing to seven drill rigs by years' end.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

The Cascabel Project is located within the gold-rich northern section of the prolific Andean Copper belt renowned as the production base for nearly half of the world's copper (Figure 1). The project area hosts mineralization of Eocene age, the same age as numerous Tier 1 deposits along the Andean Copper Belt in Chile and Peru to the south. The project base is located at Rocafuerte, in northwestern Ecuador just west of the City of Ibarra, approximately 3 hours drive north of Quito and close to water, power supply and Pacific Ports (Figure 2).

Fourteen individual targets have been defined at Cascabel and only one of these, the Alpala Deposit, has been drilled to date (Figure 3). The deposit at Alpala continues to grow with each new drill hole. Drilling continues to focus on defining the geometry of the growing Alpala deposit, which is open in virtually all directions. Over 29,000m of drilling has been completed to date (Figure 4).

Drill Hole CSD-16-019 ("Hole 19") was terminated at a depth of 1632.52m, on January 20, 2017. Assay results from 0m to 1400m have been received for this hole, with results for the last 232.52m from 1400m to end of hole pending.

Hole 19 was drilled designed to test the trend and tenor of mineralization approximately 150m above holes 12 and 16 and was drilled in the direction of 211 degrees true north at a declination of -80 Degrees.

Hole 19 is the most southerly of the drill holes at Alpala and the increased presence of bornite (a copper rich mineral containing 63% copper) in comparison to other holes at Alpala, endorses Solgold's south easterly extension targets.

Hole 19 intersected a relatively bornite rich mineralization in a high grade 516m long interval from 838m to 1354m, and represents the southernmost and shallowest high grade intersection discovered at Alpala to date. Hole 19 exemplifies the growing potential for increasingly shallower intersections in high grade bornite rich mineralization at the Alpala deposit.

The mineralization intersected in Hole 19 remains open to the southeast, where relatively strong bornite mineralization and high temperature advanced argillic alteration are mapped at surface. Hole 19 is interpreted to have drilled into a late stage lower grade "intra-mineral" dyke from approximately 1343.3m depth.

Highlights from the assay results received from Hole 19 are shown below in Table 1.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cascabel Project - Drill Hole Intersections ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- True Hole ID Depth Depth Interval Width Cu Au Cu.Eq Cut-off Comments From To (m) (m) % g/t % Grade ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- bulk halo - open at CSD-16- bottom - 019 268 1400 1132 500 0.50 0.33 0.80 0.10 waiting on results from 1400-EOH -------------------------------------------------------------------- hand 572 1374 802 360 0.63 0.43 1.02 na selected samples -------------------------------------------------------------------- upper zone - separated 572 662 90 40 0.57 0.53 1.04 0.50 from lower zone by volcanics -------------------------------------------------------------------- 838 1354 516 230 0.75 0.50 1.20 0.50 lower zone ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- (i)Data Aggregation Method: Intercepts reported using copper equivalent cutoff grades of 0.1,0.2,0.3,0.5,0.7,1.0 and 1.5% with up to 10m internal dilution, excluding bridging to a single sample. Minimum intersection length 6m. Gold Conversion Factor of 0.89 calculated from a copper price of US$2.20/lb and a gold price US$1350/oz. (i)The true widths of downhole interval lengths are estimated to be approximately 25% to 45%.

Table 1: Drilling Results from Hole 19 (CSD-16-019) at Alpala.

The results of all holes drilled and assayed to date can be seen in the Table in the Figures.

The confirmation of shallow relatively bornite rich mineralization in Hole 19 bodes well for the extension of the deposit to the southeast, where relatively strong bornite mineralization and high temperature advanced argillic alteration are mapped at surface, covering a further 750m of strike, or double the existing strike of the Alpala zone (Figure 5).

At Alpala, higher portions of the system appear rich in bornite (Image 1), while deeper portions of the known system are rich in chalcopyrite (Image 2).

The Solgold geology team believe the highest grade and deepest portion of the copper-gold system at Alpala has not yet been discovered by drilling. A high grade bornite-chalcopyrite-rich zone is believed to exist at the core of the Alpala mineralized system and it is being targeted in future drilling programs, aimed at defining both the shallowing and southeastern extents of the growing Alpala Deposit as well as revealing the prognosed high grade bornite-chalcopyrite rich heart of the system.

Drilling with Rig 1 continues with Hole 22, which is at a current depth of 702.2m, and intersecting increasing copper sulphide mineralization from 253.8m (Image 3). Hole 22 is testing for shallower extensions above recent high grade mineralization encountered in Hole 19.

Rig 2 was moved to Hematite Hill drill site for Hole 21, which is at a current depth of 750.4m, and also intersecting increasing copper sulphide mineralization from 685.2m (Image 4). Hole 21 is testing the southeast extensions of the Alpala deposit. The high-grade core of the Alpala deposit is open southeast and below Hole 16, which returned 856 metres grading at 0.80 % copper and 1.04 g/t gold.

Rig 3 continues deepening Hole 20R, which is at a current depth of 1342.4m, having intersected strongly mineralized clasts of mineralized porphyry, hosted within hydrothermal breccia (Image 5). Technical drilling challenges have delayed the recent advance of this hole. Drilling rates are, however, expected to improve in the near future.

SolGold is awaiting the arrival of two additional man portable rigs within the next month to focus on defining the extent of the Alpala system, prior to completion of an optimized maiden resource statement, as part of an increase in drilling activities to seven rigs by years' end, facilitating the drill testing of other targets including the promising Trivino, Tandayama /America and Aguinaga targets.

About Cascabel:

Exploraciones Novomining S.A. ("ENSA"), an Ecuadorean company owned by SolGold Plc and Cornerstone, holds 100% of the Cascabel concession. Subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including SolGold's fully funding the project through to feasibility, SolGold Plc will own 85% of the equity of ENSA and Cornerstone will own the remaining 15% of ENSA. SolGold Plc is funding 100% of the exploration at Cascabel and is the operator of the project.

Cascabel is located in northwestern Ecuador in an under-explored northern section of the Andean Copper Belt, 60 km northeast of the undeveloped inferred resource of 982 million tons at 0.89% Cu Llurimaga (formerly Junin) copper project (0.4% Cu cut-off grade; Micon International Co. Ltd. Technical Report for Ascendant Exploration SA, August 20, 2004, pages 28 & 29). Mineralization identified at the Llurimaga copper project is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the Cascabel Property.

Qualified Person:

Yvan Crepeau, MBA, P.Geo., Cornerstone's Vice President, Exploration and a qualified person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, is responsible for supervising the exploration program at the Cascabel project for Cornerstone and has reviewed and approved the information contained in this news release.

Logging, sampling and assaying

Holes referred to in this release were or are being drilled using HTW, NTW, NQ and BQ core sizes (respectively 7.1, 5.6, 4.8 and 3.7 cm diameter). Geotechnical measurements such as core recovery, fracturing, rock quality designations (RQD's), specific density and photographic logging are performed systematically prior to assaying. The core is logged, magnetic susceptibility measured and key alteration minerals identified using an on-site portable spectrometer. Core is then sawed in half at the ENSA core logging facility, and half of the core is delivered by ENSA employees for preparation at LAC y Asociados ISO 9001-2008 certified sample preparation facility in Cuenca. Core samples are prepared crushing to 70% passing 2 mm (10 mesh), splitting 250 g and pulverizing to 85% passing 75 microns (200 mesh) (MSA code PRP-910). Prepared samples are then shipped to MS Analytical Services (MSA), an ISO 9001-2008 laboratory in Langley, BC, Canada where samples are assayed for a multi-element suite (MSA code IMS-230, 0.2g split, 4-acid digestion, ICP-AES/MS finish). Over limit results for Cu (greater than 1%) are systematically re-assayed (MSA code ICF-6Cu, 0.2 g, 4-acid digestion, ICP-AES finish). Gold is assayed using a 30 g split, Fire Assay (FA) and AAS finish (MSA code FAS 111). Over limit results for Au (greater than 10 g/t) are systematically re-assayed (MSA code FAS-415, FA, 30g., gravimetric finish).

Drill hole intercepts from the Cascabel Property are calculated using a data aggregation method, defined by copper equivalent cut-off grades and reported with up to 10m internal dilution, excluding bridging to a single sample. Copper equivalent grades are calculated using a gold conversion factor of 0.89, determined using copper price of US$2.20/pound and gold price of US$1350/ounce. Copper equivalent calculation assumes 100% recoveries of copper and gold.

All reported drill core intervals from the Cascabel Property are core lengths, unless otherwise indicated. At present the true thicknesses of all of the holes has not been calculated by SolGold. Low-grade intersections, where applicable, are expressed as average true widths (utilizing the "B-vein greater than 0.5%" shell orientations). High-grade intersections are better constrained for holes 1, 5, 8 and 9, and these intersections are also expressed as average true widths (utilizing the "B-veins greater than 20%" shell orientations).

Quality assurance / Quality control (QA/QC)

The MSA Analytical Laboratory is a qualified assayer that performs and makes available internal assaying controls. Duplicates, certified blanks and standards are systematically used (1 control sample every 15-20 samples). Rejects, a 100 g pulp for each core sample and the remaining half-core are stored for future use and controls.

About Cornerstone:

Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. is a well funded mineral exploration company with a diversified portfolio of projects in Ecuador and Chile, and a proven ability to identify, acquire and advance properties of merit. The company's business model is based on generating exploration projects whose subsequent development is funded primarily through partnerships.

Further information is available on Cornerstone's website: www.cornerstoneresources.com and on Twitter.

Cautionary Notice:

This news release may contain 'Forward-Looking Statements' that involve risks and uncertainties, such as statements of Cornerstone's plans, objectives, strategies, intentions and expectations. The words "potential," "anticipate," "forecast," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "may," "project," "plan," and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify 'Forward-Looking Statements.' Although Cornerstone believes that its expectations reflected in these 'Forward-Looking Statements' are reasonable, such statements may involve unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed in our regulatory filings, viewed on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. For us, uncertainties arise from the behaviour of financial and metals markets, predicting natural geological phenomena and from numerous other matters of national, regional, and global scale, including those of an environmental, climatic, natural, political, economic, business, competitive, or regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our Forward-Looking Statements. Although Cornerstone believes the facts and information contained in this news release to be as correct and current as possible, Cornerstone does not warrant or make any representation as to the accuracy, validity or completeness of any facts or information contained herein and these statements should not be relied upon as representing its views subsequent to the date of this news release. While Cornerstone anticipates that subsequent events may cause its views to change, it expressly disclaims any obligation to update the Forward-Looking Statements contained herein except where outcomes have varied materially from the original statements.

On Behalf of the Board,

Brooke Macdonald

President and CEO

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

(1) Copper Equivalent (CuEq) calculated using a gold conversion factor of 0.89, with copper price of US$2.20/lb and gold price of US$1,350/oz.

(2) The true widths of downhole interval lengths are estimated to be approximately 25% to 45%. Estimates have been made in defining true widths due to insufficient drilling in the outer limits of the currently known extension of the Alpala deposit and drill results not having been fully interpreted. These estimates may change as more drilling is completed and results continue to be processed.

Contacts:

Investor, corporate or media inquiries:

Investor Relations

Mario Drolet

(514) 904-1333

Mario@mi3.ca




BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The Bureau of Labor Statistics is expected to release U.S. Producer Price data for January at 8:30 am ET Tuesday. Economists call for consensus of a gain of 0.3%, in line with last month. Ahead of the data, the U.S.dollar showed mixed trading against its major rivals. While the greenback fell against the franc and the yen, it held steady against the euro and the pound. The greenback was worth 1.0620 against the euro, 1.2481 against the pound 1.0037 against the franc and 113.40 against the yen as of 8:25 am ET. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 14, 2017) - Pistol Bay Mining Inc. (TSXV: PST) (FSE: OQS2) ("Pistol Bay" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Jody Dahrouge, B.Sc., Sp.C., P.Geol., has joined the Advisory Board of Pistol Bay.

Mr. Dahrouge is a professional geologist with over 25 years of experience in Canada and internationally, and has a successful background in base metals, industrial minerals, rare metals and uranium exploration.

Since 1998, Mr. Dahrouge has been the president of Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd., a geological services company that provides consulting services to a broad range of public and private exploration and mining companies. He is a professional geologist (Alberta) and holds Bachelor of Science degrees in geology and computing science, both from the University of Alberta. Mr. Dahrouge has been involved in all aspects of mineral exploration and development for a wide variety of commodities worldwide.

Until September 2007, Mr. Dahrouge was President and COO of Fission Energy Corp. ("Fission"), and played a key role in the acquisition of several of Fission's key exploration properties, including Waterbury Lake, Patterson Lake and Patterson Lake South ("PLS"). Two very significant uranium occurrences were eventually discovered at those projects, including the J-Zone at Waterbury Lake, and the Triple R uranium deposit at PLS. Mr. Dahrouge has been a director and VP Exploration of Commerce Resources Corp. since 2000.

Charles Desjardins, CEO of Pistol Bay, stated: "We are excited to be able to benefit from the knowledge and expertise of Mr. Dahrouge and look forward to working with him."

About Pistol Bay Mining Inc.

Pistol Bay Mining Inc. is a diversified Junior Canadian Mineral Exploration Company with a focus on precious and base metal properties in North America. For additional information please contact Charles Desjardins - pistolbaymining@gmail.com - at Pistol Bay Mining Inc.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

PISTOL BAY MINING INC.

"Charles Desjardins"

Charles Desjardins,

President and Director

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary note:

This report contains forward-looking statements. Resource estimates, unless specifically noted, are considered speculative. Any and all other resource or reserve estimates are historical in nature, and should not be relied upon. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on factors that will or may occur in the future. Actual results may vary depending upon exploration activities, industry production, commodity demand and pricing, currency exchange rates, and, but not limited to, general economic factors. Cautionary Note to US investors: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission specifically prohibits the use of certain terms, such as "reserves" unless such figures are based upon actual production or formation tests and can be shown to be economically and legally producible under existing economic and operating conditions.
SailPoint, the leader in identity management, today announced that it closed its 13th consecutive quarter of profitability, surpassing $130 million in revenue in 2016. SailPoint's performance represents more than a 30 percent year-over-year revenue growth increase. Given its consistent high growth trajectory, the company was named to the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 list for the fourth consecutive year.

Specific company growth, profitability and scale milestones for the year 2016 include:

Customer base grew to 750+ customers globally, adding more than 220 new customers across its IdentityIQ, IdentityNow and SecurityIQ solutions, with the fastest growth driven by the demand for cloud identity management; SailPoint's customers are among the world's largest companies in virtually every industry, including 9 of the top banks, 6 of the top 7 credit card lenders, 6 of the top 10 healthcare organizations, 6 of the top 20 property and casualty insurance providers, and 6 of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies.

Partner ecosystem increased to more than 300 technology, SI and reseller partners around the world; and

Total employee count reached over 650, worldwide.

While delivering this explosive growth, SailPoint sustained a 95 percent customer satisfaction and retention rating, which is a testament to the company's steadfast focus on market-leading customer service.

"2016 was a hugely successful year for SailPoint. We are now a global, scalable, and self-sustaining company that balances profitability with high growth while continuing to invest in our identity solutions," said Mark McClain, SailPoint's CEO. "We're most proud of the fact that we're the only independent company in the identity market executing against the trifecta of enterprise performance metrics high growth, profitability and scale. From a scale and operating performance standpoint, this positions us well as we consider a potential IPO. As for 2017, we're already off to a strong start, continuing to balance company performance with what we do best: helping customers leverage the power of identity to secure their critical data, confidently embrace new technologies, and, most importantly, empower their businesses."

SailPoint's success was driven, in part, by its growing global partner ecosystem. As 2016 came to a close, the company honored its top partners: Optiv as Worldwide Partner of the Year; Edgile as Partner of the Year for the Americas; Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) as Partner of the Year in Europe; PwC as Global Advisory Firm of the Year and Deloitte as Worldwide Services Partner of the Year. These awards recognize the top-performing partners who share SailPoint's dedication to delivering the industry's best open identity platform and ensuring customers have the tools they need to increase the effectiveness of their security and risk mitigation efforts.

"We know identity we've lived and breathed it for over a decade. As a result, we continue to lead the market by driving innovation for our customers who have come to expect us to deliver best-of-breed products," said Kevin Cunningham, SailPoint's President and Co-Founder. "The 2017 Piper Jaffray CIO Survey named identity management as one of the fastest-growing spending priorities within security, validating our belief that managing identity will increasingly take center stage as part of enterprise IT security infrastructure. We're seeing incredible interest in all of our identity and data access management solutions, and expect that demand to accelerate in 2017."

Additionally, the company solidified its undisputed status as the market leader, as validated by every third-party report published on the identity governance market. Finally, SailPoint was named by Glassdoor as one of the top five Best Places to Work in the US, while CEO Mark McClain was named one of the top five highest rated CEOs.

For more on how SailPoint brings the power of identity to enterprises around the world, please visit: https://www.sailpoint.com

SailPoint: The Power of Identity

SailPoint, the leader in identity management, brings the Power of Identity to enterprise customers around the world. SailPoint's open identity platform gives enterprises the power to enter new markets, scale their workforces, embrace new technologies, innovate faster and compete on a global basis securely and confidently. The company pioneered and is the undisputed leader in identity governance, and provides an integrated set of cloud-based services, including compliance controls, provisioning, password management, single sign-on and data access governance, all built on the belief that identity is a business enabler. SailPoint's customers are among the world's largest companies in virtually every industry, including: 9 of the top banks, 6 of the top 10 healthcare organizations, 6 of the top 20 property and casualty insurance providers, and 6 of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies.

Stay up-to-date on SailPoint by following us on Twitter and LinkedIn and by subscribing to the SailPoint blog.

SailPoint, the SailPoint logo, IdentityIQ, IdentityNow, SecurityIQ and all techniques are trademarks or registered trademarks of SailPoint Technologies, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other products or services are trademarks of their respective companies.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170214005473/en/

Contacts:

SailPoint

Jessica Sutera, 978-278-5411

Jessica.sutera@sailpoint.com
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The US Government has blacklisted Venezuela's Vice President Tareck El Aissami as a major drug trafficker, and imposed sanctions on the hardline veteran politician. The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said it designated El Aissami as a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker pursuant to the Kingpin Act for playing a significant role in international narcotics trafficking. El Aissami's primary frontman, Venezuelan national Samark Jose Lopez Bello, was also designated for providing material assistance, financial support, or goods or services in support of the international narcotics trafficking activities of, and acting for or on behalf of, El Aissami. OFAC further designated or identified as blocked property 13 companies owned or controlled by Lopez Bello or other designated parties that comprise an international network spanning the British Virgin Islands, Panama, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Venezuela. 'OFAC's action today is the culmination of a multi-year investigation under the Kingpin Act to target significant narcotics traffickers in Venezuela and demonstrates that power and influence do not protect those who engage in these illicit activities,' said John E. Smith, Acting Director of OFAC. 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.
DUBLIN, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "UAE Elevators & Escalators Market, By Type of Carriage (Passenger, Freight & Others), By Type of Machinery (Hydraulic Vs. Traction), By Type of Door (Manual Vs. Automatic), By End Use, Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2011-2021" report to their offering.

The elevators market in the UAE is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of around 8% during 2016 - 2021, on account of improving living standards, booming industrialization and growing construction market, which is backed by massive investments by public and private enterprises coupled with increasing foreign direct investments (FDIs) in the country.

Mounting industrial applications of elevators, technological advancements and growing demand for energy efficient devices are expected to drive the demand for smart elevators with high security features and better access control features during 2016-2021. In addition, growing government focus towards building high class infrastructure coupled with increasing investments on improvement of public infrastructure such as construction of new airports and metro rail projects in large cities are driving the demand for elevators & escalators in the UAE.

Passenger elevators occupied the largest share in the UAE elevators market in 2015. The segment is anticipated to maintain its dominance during the forecast period as well owing to surging disposable income, increase in number of residential units, booming hospitality industry and expanding aging population.Region-wise, northern region is the largest demand generating region for elevators as well as escalators in the country.

Some of the major companies operating in the UAE elevators market are ETA Melco, Kone Middle East, Otis, Schindler and ThyssenKrupp, among others.

UAE Elevators & Escalators Market report discusses the following aspects of UAE elevators & escalators market:



UAE Elevators & Escalators Market Size, Share & Forecast

Segmental Analysis - By Type of Carriage (Passenger, Freight & Others), By Type of Machinery (Hydraulic Vs. Traction), By Type of Door (Manual Vs. Automatic), By Region, By End User, By Company

Policy & Regulatory Landscape

Changing Market Trends & Emerging Opportunities

Competitive Landscape & Strategic Recommendations

Market Trends & Developments



Upcoming Dubai World Expo 2020

Increasing Number of Smart Cities

Growing Demand for High Speed Elevators

Rising Focus on Smart Elevators

Mounting Demand for Energy Efficient Elevators

Companies Mentioned



ETA Melco Elevator Company LLC

Hyundai Elevators CO., Ltd.

KONE Middle East LLC

Massaed Installation of Elevators and Escalators

Otis LLC

Safety Elevators

Schindler Pars International Ltd.

Skodtec Elevators LLC

ThyssenKrupp Elevator UAE (LLC)

Toshiba Elevator Middle East

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/t7k6vp/uae_elevators_and

Media Contact:

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



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MUMBAI, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Rolta India Limited (Rolta), a leading provider of innovative IP-led IT solutions for many vertical segments, including Defence and Security, today announced unaudited financial results for quarter ended December 31, 2016 (Q3 FY -17).

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Consolidated Revenue for Q3 FY-17 at Rs. 911.23cr (Rs. 9.11 Billion) against Rs. 736.95 cr (Rs.7.37Billion) in Q2 FY-17, registering a growth of 23.6 % Q-o-Q.

Consolidated EBITDA for Q3 FY-17 at Rs. 254.75 cr (Rs. 2.55 Billion) against Rs. 217.12 cr (Rs.2.17Billion) in Q2 FY-17, registering a growth of 17.3% Q-o-Q.

Consolidated profit after tax for Q3 FY-17 at Rs. 36.94 cr (Rs. 3.69 Billion) against Rs. 54.30 cr (Rs.5.43 Billion) in Q2 FY-17, registering a decline of 32.0% Q-o-Q.

Foreign Exchange loss for Q3 FY-17 at Rs. 16.09 cr (Rs. 1.61 Billion) against a gain of Rs. 15.79cr (Rs. 1.58 Billion) in Q2 FY-17 impacting the profit after tax in Q3 FY-17 versus Q2 FY-17.

Mr. K. K. Singh, Chairman and Managing Director said, "Rolta has consciously made efforts to remain at the forefront as a solutions provider with a sharp focus on the Digital revolution. Having made significant investments in the recent years, the Company today, is well positioned to address the huge Digital Transformation opportunities in the markets it serves."

CORPORATE HIGHLIGHTS

Rolta was the first company to introduce CAD, CAM and GIS in India. Mr. K. K. Singh, as the Founder of Rolta, was recently honoured by the Geospatial World Forum by acknowledging him as a 'Living Legend' in the Geospatial Hall of Fame which recognised ten such World Leaders. On the occasion Geospatial World Forum stated "They inspire us to innovate, and motivate us to work towards making the world a better place. We salute these extraordinary leaders who took the road not taken and did the impossible - took geospatial technologies out of research labs in limited sectors and introduced it into our everyday chores."

Rolta's relentless efforts at indigenously developing cutting edge intellectual property was recently rewarded with the grant of patent (No. US 9,378,417 B2), by the US Patent & Trademark Office. This new patent is for an image processing algorithm used for normalization of colour remote sensing images. This technology facilitates contrast enhancement of satellite images and is critical for defence applications as it improves image interpretation for greater situational awareness. Rolta's continuous investment in R &D demonstrates the organization's unparalleled commitment to the fundamental R&D necessary to drive progress in business. This new patent is part of a series of patents filed by Rolta which uniquely differentiates Rolta products giving them a competitive edge.

The Rolta OneView' solution deployed byCairn India recently won the Geospatial World Excellence Award selected by an eminent panel appointed by Geospatial World Forum. They chose this solution from a selection of over 30 nominations across the globe. This Rolta OneView' solution stood out for its geospatial enabled enterprise business intelligence, predictive analytics and operational excellence with a focus on improved capacity and energy utilization of assets, risk management, improved safety and maintenance practices and supply chain optimization.

Defence and Security

Rolta has built a successful track record having served the Indian armed forces by developing and deploying Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) solutions. C4ISR is a crucial element for the modernisation of the Indian armed forces with a prime focus of building synergy in inter-service military operations. This indigenously developed Military-off-the-Shelf (MOTS) software continues to be enhanced with the addition of new features and functionality to act as a force multiplier. With the introduction of its most recent 64-bit release, Rolta has introduced the fourth dimension of time which places Rolta in the top league of global defence software suppliers.

The modernization and digital transformation of the Indian Defence has been accorded highest priority for all future procurements. Rolta as an Indian organization with its own IP is ideally positioned to address the large opportunities based on the recent "Make India" vision and introduction of new categorization, "Buy Indian IDDM" (indigenously designed, developed & manufactured). Based on Rolta's deep defence domain knowledge and its proven BI and Big Data analytics platform, Rolta has been invited to bid for a major pan-India digital enablement initiative. This innovative solution is expected to deliver actionable insights and predictive analytics across diverse types of assets such as weapons & ammunition, vehicles, equipment, personnel, etc. Apart from being invited for all three large Make India projects announced so far, Rolta has also been invited to participate in a global RFI for another large project on Software Designed Radios (SDR).

Rolta has made significant inroads in the Homeland Security market in India by providing full range of solutions that cover Command, Control and Mission Critical Communications to equip the Police and Paramilitary forces with best of breed technologies. With the implementation of specialized communications projects across the country, Rolta has successfully established itself in the rapidly expanding mission critical communications segment. With the NAVTEX project implementation becoming fully operational along the entire coast of India including Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Rolta's presence now covers the remotest corners of the country.

The Battlefield Management System (BMS) project is progressing well under the active guidance of Directorate General of Information Systems. As a part of its exclusive consortium with BEL, Rolta is responsible for complete BMS application software, GIS software and services. In addition, Rolta is working with BEL for Soldier Systems, overall system design, integration and installation.

Geospatial and Engineering Information Systems

Rolta has been successfully leveraging its Geospatial expertise and proven IP in the areas of Smart Cities and e-Governance which are gaining global acceptance. A few examples of recent wins include a multi-million dollar order from a Ministry of Housing in the Middle East to design, develop and manage a Geospatial enable web portal for Land Management. With the global initiative for better Cadastral Management Rolta has been selected to create the parcel fabric database for two countries in Africa. Another government organisation in the Middle East responsible for establishing and developing of industrial cities with integrated infrastructure and services in various regions chose to engage Rolta to build a geospatially enabled mobile application.

In the Smart City Transportation space a Roads and Transport Authority in the Middle who has been a long standing customer again elected to engage Rolta to enhance their spatial web applications as a single interface for issuing the No Objection Certificates to contractors. Rolta's other projects entrusted by this customer such as the traffic permit system and their ambitious multi-million dollar multi-year unified Identity and Access Management (IDAM) continue to progress smoothly with the IDAM project achieving the Go-Live milestone. Similarly, in the Smart City Utilities area Rolta had been engaged in a multi-year, multi-million dollar project in UK to develop an ambitious geospatial enabled Enterprise Asset Management solution for effective digital workforce management. Here also a key Go-Live milestone was achieved recently.

As a pioneer in the Engineering area Rolta continues to grow and during the quarter won several prestigious projects. One of India's leading public sector engineering company decided to upgrade their engineering capabilities and selected Rolta for deployment of next generation 3D plant design solution for designing next-generation capital projects while remaining backward compatible with their existing infrastructure of engineering automation and procurement systems. Similarly, one of India's leading private sector Energy and Petrochemicals conglomerate engaged Rolta for standardizing discipline-specific engineering information systems. Based on the strong confidence in Rolta's design and engineering capabilities, a leading Japanese multinational conglomerate awarded additional contract for design, engineering and site support for projects being executed globally.

Enterprise IT and Cloud Solutions

Rolta's Enterprise IT and Cloud Solutions group is looked upon to provide cutting-edge solutions for IT Transformation, Cloud-enablement and enterprise security culminating in multi-year Managed Services engagements. During this quarter Rolta won contracts worth almost $21M from a major National Insurance and Financial Services Company in the US for their Data Centre Transformation in order to manage their growing diverse international operations and the ever expanding data.

In the Cloud Solutions area Rolta has been assisting organisation cutting across industry vertical to establish their Cloud adoption strategies. Examples of this include the deployment of a Hybrid Cloud worth US $ 3.5M for by a US based speciality retailer while a leading global supplier of plastic fasteners contracted Rolta with a US $ 3.3M order to support their Cloud based supply chain applications. Other examples include building of a Cloud environment for a leading global supplier of Vision systems to support their manufacturing applications worth US$1.8M while a National Healthcare service provider in US engaged Rolta to enhance their Cloud capacity with a contract worth US $ 1.5M.

Big Data Analytics

Rolta has built an enviable track record to engage with customers in their entire BI and Big Data Analytics journey. Rolta SmartMigrate' is an essential tool in automating several aspects of this journey for BI and Big Data Analytics platform consolidation cutting across industries and is gaining greater traction. One of the world's largest retail chain stores based out of North America recently signed a Master Services Agreement to consolidate their dashboards and reports on to a single platform which is expected to grow into a multi-million dollar contract. While at the other corner of the world one of the largest dairy farm in New Zealand chose Rolta to migrate their analytics to the latest in-memory analytics platform.

Asset intensive industries in their quest for digital transformation have grown to trust Rolta for its rare combination of engineering know-how, deep industry domain knowledge and cross functional technical expertise, to build robust Asset Information Management systems. These successes include one of the largest utility company in Africa who recently chose Rolta for the initial phase of their project while in India Rolta is now engaged with multiple refinery majors to build their Asset Information Management Systems.

Rolta has now established several marquee customers across the globe in the select industry it addressed with its flagship Rolta OneView' enterprise suite. Encouraged by this growing success Rolta has now elected to leverage its robust and mature technology architecture and adapt it to new industries to serve, Oil and Gas, Refineries, Petrochemicals, Chemicals, Power Generation, Utilities including Water, Electricity and Gas, Pharmaceuticals, Transportation, e"'Governance including City Operation Centres, Cyber Security and Crime Analytics for Security forces.

A good example of this expansion was Rolta's ability to position its Rolta OneView' product elements in a modern e-Governance and decision support system. Recently, Rolta has been awarded a US $ 2.7M contract for the deployment of a Rolta OneView' based State Residential Data Hub for a State Government in India leveraging Rolta OneView'. This Master Data Management Solution will bring together a variety of information available with multiple state departments and map the pan India Unique Identity Data to create a single trusted data hub.

While in the traditional industry segments Rolta OneView' continues to grow from strength to strength. A large power utility company in GCC chose to extend their contract with Rolta to enhance their Outage Management Analytics solution while another department within the organisation chose to deploy Rolta OneView' to generate compliance reports that have to be submitted to the Electricity & Cogeneration Regulatory Authority. Rolta was recently engaged by a UK based water Utility to provide Analytics as a Service over the Cloud. With the increasingly stringent UK Government regulatory and reporting norms, several water utilities are finding that Rolta OneView' with its predictive analytics could become a natural choice to meet these ongoing requirements.

About Rolta:Rolta is a leading provider of innovative IP-led IT solutions for many vertical segments, including Federal and State Governments, Utilities, Oil & Gas, Petrochemicals, Financial Services, Manufacturing, Retail, and Healthcare. Rolta is recognized for its extensive portfolio of solutions based on field-proven Rolta IP tailored for Indian Defence and cutting edge Big Data Analytics. By uniquely combining its expertise in the IT, Engineering and Geospatial domains, Rolta develops State-of-the-Art Digital Solutions incorporating rich Rolta IP in the areas of Cloud, Mobility, IoT, BI and Big Data Analytics. Rolta is a multinational organization headquartered in India and the Company's shares have been publicly traded for more than 25 years in India. Rolta GDRs are listed on the London Stock Exchange for 10+ years.

For additional information please visit www.rolta.com, or contact:

Lt. Gen K.T. Parnaik

JMD - Defence & Security Business

Member of the Board

kt.parnaik@rolta.com

Tel: +91 (22) 2926 6666



Preetha Pulusani

President - International Operations

Member of the Board - Rolta Intl.

preetha.pulusani@rolta.com

Tel: +1 (678) 942 5000



Rajesh Ramachandran

JMD - Global Products & Technology Solutions

Member of the Board

rajesh.ramachandran@rolta.com

Tel: +91 (22) 2926 6666



Ramakrishna Prabhu

Director - Corporate Affairs & CFO

Member of the Board

ramakrishna.prabhu@rolta.com

Tel: +91 (22) 2926 6666





Disclaimer: This press release includes statements that are not historical in nature and that may be characterized as "forward- looking statements", including those related to future financial and operating results, benefits and synergies of the Company's brands and strategies, future opportunities and the growth of the market for open source solutions. You should be aware that Rolta's actual results could differ materially from those contained in theforward-lookingstatements, which are based on current expectations of Rolta management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, Rolta's ability to integrate acquired operations and employees, Rolta's success in executing its strategies, Rolta's ability to take a competitive position in the industry, business conditions and the general economy, market opportunities, potential new business strategies, competitive factors, sales and marketing execution, shifts in technologies or market demand, and any other factors. The Company may make additional written and oral forward looking statements but do not undertake, and disclaim any obligation, to update them.
Further blocking of rail cargo traffic to and from Donbas will lead to a crisis in the energy and metallurgical sectors, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said, adding that the supply of critical goods should be unblocked.

"Certain Ukrainians have been trying to thwart the heating season and to initiate rolling blackouts with their own hands. This is inadmissible; we should make a distinction between a crackdown on contraband and a fight against the Ukrainian people," he said in the opening remarks at a governmental meeting in Kyiv on Tuesday.

"I believe we can easily use the critical imports of a minimal set of products mined in Ukraine," Groysman said.

These deliveries are vital for metallurgy, which employs 300,000 people and provides a substantial portion of the country's exports and hard currency earnings, he said.

"The Avdiyivka Coke Plant shut down once because of a Russian attack. It can shut down again because we have no raw materials," the prime minister said.

Ukraine generates over 30% of its electricity using coal, and some cities, such as Kyiv, Kharkiv, Cherkasy and Chernihiv, are highly dependent on coal as a heating agent.

"Anthracite coal is mined in the territory which is temporarily beyond our control. It will take three to five years and annual investments of at least UAH 15 billion to conduct modernization, to stop using that coal, and to shift to the use of gas extracted in the territory we control," the prime minister said.

The government is diversifying supply of energy resources, but this will take time, he said.
Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, AG (NYSE:AWH) announced today that Karsten Buescher has been appointed Assistant Vice President, Onshore Construction, Australia. He will report to Clifford Scott, Vice President and Head of Onshore Construction, Asia-Pacific.

Clifford Scott said: "Karsten's depth of knowledge and experience gained around the world underlines our ongoing commitment to attracting the brightest and best talent and ensuring that we are able to respond to our clients' changing needs. His appointment is the latest step in the building out of our Australia office, adding to our strong offering in Onshore Construction in Asia-Pacific."

Mr. Buescher has almost two decades of professional experience in engineering, underwriting and risk engineering. He has held a variety of senior positions at companies in central Europe, the United States and Australia, including FM Insurance Company Ltd and Munich Re. He holds a Master of Business Engineering and Bachelor of Engineering in Utilities and Environmental Technologies from the University of Applied Sciences in Cologne, Germany.

About Allied World

Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, AG, through its subsidiaries and brand known as Allied World, is a global provider of innovative property, casualty and specialty insurance and reinsurance solutions. Allied World offers superior client service through a global network of offices and branches. All of Allied World's rated insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries are rated A by A.M. Best Company, A by Standard & Poor's, and A2 by Moody's, and our Lloyd's Syndicate 2232 is rated A+ by Standard Poor's and AA- by Fitch.

Please visit the following for further information on Allied World: Web: www.awac.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/alliedworld | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allied-world

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Any forward-looking statements made in this press release reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in these statements. For example, our forward-looking statements could be affected by the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the proposed acquisition by Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited ("Fairfax"); the inability to obtain Allied World's or Fairfax's shareholder approval or the failure to satisfy other conditions to completion of the proposed acquisition, including receipt of regulatory approvals; risks that the proposed acquisition disrupts our current plans and operations; the ability to retain key personnel; the ability to recognize the benefits of the proposed acquisition; the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and charges related to the proposed acquisition; pricing and policy term trends; increased competition; the adequacy of our loss reserves; negative rating agency actions; greater frequency or severity of unpredictable catastrophic events; the impact of acts of terrorism and acts of war; the company or its subsidiaries becoming subject to significant income taxes in the United States or elsewhere; changes in regulations or tax laws; changes in the availability, cost or quality of reinsurance or retrocessional coverage; adverse general economic conditions; and judicial, legislative, political and other governmental developments, as well as management's response to these factors, and other factors identified in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. We are under no obligation (and expressly disclaim any such obligation) to update or revise any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170214005224/en/

Contacts:

Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, AG

Media:

Faye Cook, +1-441-278-5406

Senior Vice President, Marketing Communications

Faye.Cook@awac.com

or

Investors:

Giuseppe Montefinese, +1-646-794-0690

Manager, Investor Relations

Giuseppe.Montefinese@awac.com

Website: www.awac.com
OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - US President Donald Trump and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held their first official meeting Monday in Washington, D.C. and affirmed their longstanding commitment to close cooperation in addressing both the challenges facing the two countries and problems around the world. Both the countries have pledged to work jointly to provide growth and jobs for both countries, to move forward on energy infrastructure projects, and to keep their borders secure. A joint statement issued after their meeting said the United States and Canada recognize the importance of cooperation to promote economic growth, provide benefits to its consumers and businesses, and advance free and fair trade. Canada and the US will encourage opportunities for companies in both countries to create jobs through infrastructure investments. The Gordie Howe International Bridge, which will serve as a vital economic link between the two countries, will be expeditiously completed. The two countries committed to a coordinated entry-exit information system so that records of land and air entries into one country establish exit records for the other. The feasibility of co-locating border officials in common processing facilities also will be looked into. United States and Canada vowed to work to modernize and broaden their NORAD Partnership in the key domains of joint aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning in defense of North America. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 -- Amarillo Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE: AGC) ("Amarillo") is pleased to announce the appointment of Colin Sutherland to the board of Amarillo as an independent director.

Buddy Doyle, CEO and President commented, "I speak for all the board in welcoming Mr. Sutherland as a director of our company, he brings with him operational experience from his senior positions held in junior to intermediate gold producers. This is especially important to Amarillo as we progress towards building and operating the Mara Rosa Project."

Colin is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 20 years of financial and operational experience. Most recently he served as President of McEwen Mining Inc. During his tenure, the share price more than tripled, the Company grew its treasury, met operational guidance and improved its financial guidance. Immediately prior to McEwen, he was Managing Director and CEO of Archipelago Resources Plc, which operated a large producing gold mine in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. In 2013, Mr. Sutherland led the successful privatization of Archipelago, and continued to deliver significant returns to its shareholders. During his tenure gold production grew to 200,000 ounces per annum, and costs were significantly reduced. Mr. Sutherland has also held senior financial and executive roles with Timmins Gold, Capital Gold, Nayarit Gold and Aurico Gold.

"Amarillo's Mara Rosa project has robust economics, and the team has successfully captured overwhelming community endorsement. With key permits in place and enthusiastic support from both state and federal mining authorities, I look forward to being involved as Mara Rosa evolves to a producer in the near future," commented Colin.

Colin will receive 200,000 5 year options as part of the same incentive package in place for Amarillo's other independent directors.

About Amarillo Gold Corp.

Amarillo Gold Corp. is focused on acquisition, discovery, and definition of gold resources in Brazil. It is the Company's policy to strive to do this in a sustainable, safe way using best practices whilst benefiting our shareholders and the communities we work in. The Company's principal projects are the Mara Rosa Project in the state of Goias, and the Lavras do Sul Project in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The Posse Deposit at Mara Rosa contains 8.887MT @ 1.98 g/t Au Measured, 13.149MT @1.53 g/t Au Indicated and 7.119MT @ 1.26 g/t Au Inferred. (A NI 43-101 resource as independently determined by Australian Exploration Field Services Pty. Keith Whitehouse QP July 2016). The Mara Rosa Gold Project has received a positive economic assessment from a Pre-Feasibility study and Amarillo has obtained the LP, the first stage of a three-stage permitting process. The Posse Deposit was successfully mined by Western Mining Corporation (WMC) during the 1990s (mined areas are excluded from the above-stated resource figures), and is located in an area of excellent infrastructure: approximately 35 km NE of Yamana's Chapada open pit Cu-Au operation, some 80 km NE of Yamana's Pilar Au project (in feasibility), 95 km NW of Votorantim's Niquelandia Ni laterite mine, 105 km from NE of Serra Grande's underground Au mine, and 105 km NNW of Anglo American's Ni laterite project at Barro Alto.

The Lavras do Sul Project is an advanced exploration stage property (190 sq. km.) comprising of more than 19 prospects centered on historic gold workings, with encouraging gold mineralization discovered and defined by more than 16,000 meters of drilling. The initial resource estimate at the Butia prospect reported 215,000 ounces of gold Indicated from 6.4 MT at 1.05 g/t Au, and 308,000 ounces of gold Inferred from 12.9 MT at 0.74 g/t Au using a 0.3 g/t cut-off grade in a NI 43-101 resource as independently determined by Atticus Consulting in 2010, Anthony Amberg, QP. Lavras do Sul is also located near excellent infrastructure. The Company also has a portfolio of earlier stage projects and all properties under Amarillo's management are located in areas of good infrastructure and mining-friendly communities.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

AMARILLO GOLD CORP.

Buddy Doyle, President

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 news release contains Forward Looking Statements regarding our intentions and plans. Forward looking statements in this news release include the numbers estimated for 2017 and the time line for completion. Various factors may prevent or delay our plans, including but not limited to, the ability to raise funds, contractor availability and performance, weather, access, mineral prices and success and failure of the exploration and development carried out at various stages of the program. Permission from the Government and community is also required to proceed with future mining production. We may not be able to fulfill our obligations under the proposed gold loan and we may be unable to raise sufficient financing to carry out our plans. Readers should review risk factors applicable to junior mining exploration companies generally to understand the variety of risks that can affect the Company. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Contacts:

Amarillo Gold Corp.

Buddy Doyle

President

+ 1-604-689-1799 (Canada)

+1-604-760-0325 (Cell)

+55-31-3261-5974 (Brazil)



Amarillo Gold Corp.

Scott Eldridge

+1-604-722-5381

info@amarillogold.com




TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 -- Microbix Biosystems Inc. (TSX: MBX) ("Microbix" or the "Company"), an innovator of biological products and technologies, today reported financial results for its fiscal first quarter ended December 31, 2016.

First Quarter Financial Results

Microbix reported total revenue of $1,952,502 in the first quarter, an increase of 84% from $1,063,405 in the first quarter last year. Virology product revenue increased 87% to $1,886,824 in the first quarter from $1,009,316 for the same period last year, driven by strong growth in Asian markets and increased sales to the Company's key customers.

Operating expenses in the first quarter were $4,181,001 compared to $785,874 in the first quarter last year, primarily due to a one-time non-cash expense of $2,582,526 related to the restructuring of the Company's convertible debentures as part of an overall debt refinancing plan to access an enhanced credit facility for the Company to support strategic growth. The Company also incurred a one-time expense to settle a dispute with the buyer of its WFI business in 2012 in the amount of $258,540. The Company incurred a net loss of $3,216,472 in the first quarter, compared to a net loss of $338,420 in the same period last year. Adjusting for these one-time costs, the net loss before debt restructuring and WFI settlement expenses would be $525,406 for the quarter compared to a net loss of $428,420 in the same period last year.

Cash generated from operations was $309,542 in the first quarter compared to negative $31,698 in the same period last year, primarily due to increased sales. Cash from financing activities was negative $107,536 in the first quarter compared to $670,735 in the same period last year. This was driven primarily by the repayment of shareholder loans during the quarter, and the issuance of common shares and the receipt of equipment loans in the same period last year. Cash used in investing activities was $205,741 in the first quarter compared to $676,784 in the same period last year; this positive change was due to the completion of the Company's bioreactor automation project. As a final result, net cash flow was $3,735 negative in the first quarter, compared to $37,747 negative in the same quarter last year.

Vaughn C. Embro-Pantalony, Microbix' President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "I am very pleased with the strong sales performance of our Virology products in the first quarter, which builds on the strong momentum we established in 2016. We are optimistic that sales will continue to grow in the coming months based on strong customer orders, supporting our expectation of strong sales growth for the current fiscal year."

Financial Highlights 3 Months Ended Dec 31 2016 2015 ------------------------------ Revenue $ 1,952,507 1,063,405 Net (loss) income $ (3,216,472) (338,420) Net (loss) income per share $ (0.038) (0.004) Cash Flow $ (3,725) (37,748)

Corporate Update

Virology Products

In January 2017, Microbix launched a new partnership with Meridian Life Sciences to expand its Virology product sales in the Asia Pacific market. The new agreement will allow the Company to utilize new production capacity from its bioreactor manufacturing process to support growing demand for antigens in these markets.

Mr. Embro-Pantalony commented, "We are very excited to be working with Meridian Life Sciences, a recognized leader in the global diagnostics industry, to better serve diagnostics customers in the Asian market and help expand both companies' sales in the region."

Microbix also reported that development work is now underway on its new line of molecular control products, while work continues on upgrading the manufacturing and quality process standards required to ensure the operation is compliant with regulatory standards for medical devices. The Company plans to commercially launch the new product line in the fall of this calendar year.

Kinlytic

Microbix has formally requested a meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA') to seek input on the Company's scientific and clinical development plan for the return of urokinase to the market in the United States. The meeting is expected to take place in the near future, depending on FDA staff schedules.

Mr. Embro-Pantalony commented, "We look forward to receiving important feedback from the FDA on our urokinase program that will help guide us and our potential partners to the specific clinical and regulatory approaches best suited to the expeditious re-launch of Kinlytic in the U.S. With this information in hand, we will be well-positioned to advance discussions with potential partners."

LumiSort

The Company continues to evaluate partnership opportunities to complete the development and commercialization of its LumiSort technology. As previously disclosed, there are many complexities that have contributed to the extension of the timeline to consummate a partnership, including the challenging legal landscape in the animal genetics industry.

Mr. Embro-Pantalony added, "LumiSort is a game-changing technology that can help the livestock industry achieve superior yields and throughput of sexed semen. We believe this can generate efficiency improvements and cost savings for the industry and, at the same time, unlock significant value for Microbix shareholders."

About Microbix Biosystems

Microbix Biosystems Inc. specializes in the research, development, marketing and distribution of biological solutions. This includes products for human health applications in the vaccine, therapeutic and diagnostic markets, in addition to a product for the worldwide animal reproduction market. In its revenue generating business, the Company manufactures and distributes a wide range of infectious disease antigens to a worldwide customer base. The Company is also developing a pipeline of innovative technologies and product candidates, including LumiSort semen sexing technology for the livestock industries and Kinlytic, a thrombolytic drug with several approved and potential applications, including the treatment of life-threatening blood clots. Established in 1988, Microbix is a publicly traded company, listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, and headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes "forward-looking information," as such term is defined in applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, the risks associated with its revenue business, development projects, operations in foreign jurisdictions, engineering and construction generally, production (including control over costs, quality, quantity and timeliness of delivery of products), foreign currency and exchange rates, maintaining adequate working capital and raising further capital on acceptable terms or at all, and other similar statements concerning anticipated future events, conditions or results that are not historical facts. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward looking information is inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Accordingly, actual future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. All statements are made as of the date of this news release and represent the Company's judgement as of the date of this new release, and the Company is under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking information.

Please visit www.sedar.com for recent Microbix Biosystems Inc. filings.

For further information, please visit www.microbix.com.

Contacts:

Microbix Biosystems Inc.

Vaughn C. Embro-Pantalony

CEO

(905) 361-8910 x 350

vaughn.embro-pantalony@microbix.com



Microbix Biosystems Inc.

Jim Currie

CFO

(905) 361-8910 x 255

jim.currie@microbix.com



Microbix Biosystems Inc.

Stephen Kilmer

Investor Relations

(647) 872-4849

stephen.kilmer@microbix.com

www.microbix.com




PALO ALTO, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 -- CloudMedx, a Health AI analytics company, today announced its release of risk adjustment module as part of its Clinical AI Platform. For larger healthcare providers, physician practices, and systems they will now be able to leverage their unstructured data to automate their risk adjustments for high risk patients. For payers, they can now get highly accurate risk scores to assess the overall health of their risk pool, ensure that they are reimbursed appropriately by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) based on how sick their members actually are, and know whether they will receive transfer payments or pay them out.

Risk adjustment is a tool that allows payers to be reimbursed based on health status or "actuarial risk" of a patient population. It is designed to pay health plans more precisely for the anticipated health costs of a patient population by adjusting payments based on demographics and health status.(1) These attributes are used to generate a risk score -- a measure of a patient's cost to a plan. As approximately 80% of the Medicare population has at least one chronic condition(2), the clinical and financial impact of missing data is high, given the risk associated with an elderly population. Therefore, CloudMedx risk adjustment provides a quick snapshot of patients' risks to payers and providers that are regularly affected by overlooked data.

How it is currently done

Currently, health plans and providers continually conduct manual medical record reviews to identify additional conditions not captured through claims or encounter data and to verify the accuracy of coding. This is always done well after the patient has already been seen, diagnosed and treated by the provider, with little emphasis on longitudinal health care. This process is labor intensive, expensive and time consuming and can have serious repercussions on patient health.

"Physician data is critical for accurate risk adjustment as physicians are the largest source of healthcare data," said Tashfeen Suleman, CEO of CloudMedx. "With CloudMedx's risk adjustment module, we are automatically pulling charts out of EMRs, and using natural language processing to identify the correct codes, diagnoses and automatically risk adjusting patients based on CMS guidelines. This information can be provided within 24 hours so care providers can more properly assess patient risk, improving the course of treatment. Payers can use this information to more accurately reflect their patient risk pool, potentially leading to accurate reimbursement."

How CloudMedx does it

CloudMedx combines a curated clinical ontology -- a dynamic network of interrelated symptoms, diagnoses, medications, lab tests and procedures -- with natural language processing so large volumes of unanalyzed free text (otherwise known as unstructured data such as clinical notes, discharge summaries, etc.) inform the patient risk profiles. This reduces the burden of the current risk adjustment pipeline that exists in many healthcare systems and leverages key data that hasn't been used in the past. The logic is that if a clinician is armed with an extensive knowledge base combined with their informed observations, a holistic diagnosis can be made when the patient is being seen by providers. Further, if a patient's risk score is correctly represented, the patient can benefit from appropriate interventions that can benefit their long term health.

Dr. Imran Hameed, CEO of All Medical Care IPA, stated that, "As an IPA, we believe that CloudMedx's new module is the answer to many issues surrounding patient's data collection and its proper and efficient use. The system is the much needed tool to collect the right clinical and financial data from doctors' EMRs to identify sicker patients, missing quality metrics data and improve care quality and efficiency. What makes this module unique and effective is that it does this electronically and efficiently instead of current labor intensive mechanisms like chart review."

CloudMedx can integrate directly with a provider's electronic health record and workflow while providing insights that assist the physician at the point of care as well as coders that are assessing the clinical documentation. As more providers become integrated payer/provider organizations and as the healthcare industry is regularly improving risk adjustment methodology, CloudMedx technology can catalyze effective use of this vital tool. The potent combination of the CloudMedx Clinical AI platform and a clinician's experience will have a very significant impact on how care is delivered.

About All Medical Care IPA

All Medical Care IPA (individual practitioner association) was established in the spring of 2012 by a group of 10 high caliber doctors and healthcare providers with impeccable reputations with a combined New York City practice experiences of more than 100 years. The goal of the IPA is to strengthen the delivery of healthcare by connecting physicians to meet the challenges of today's complex healthcare system and bring about positive changes in it. Mr Joel Greenberg, Esq and Ms Claudia Hinrichsen, Esq, with extensive healthcare legal background helped establish the IPA. Imran Hameed, MPH, PhD, is the CEO of the group and has extensive healthcare management experiences which includes board and operations steering committee membership at Healthfirst HMO, director of managed care at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, physician practice management, medical billing, outcomes manager at Schering Plough pharmaceutical company and related fields. Beverly Slater, RN, has an extensive clinical and management experiences, and is the network manager of the IPA.

About CloudMedx

CloudMedx is a "Clinical AI Platform" that provides precision encounters by offering real time and retrospective clinical insights at all points of care. The company utilizes evidence based algorithms, machine learning and natural language processing to read through structured and unstructured data sources and provides predictive analytics to support health systems and payers better manage their patients. Trusted by some of the best performing healthcare organizations in the country, CloudMedx is headquartered in downtown Palo Alto. More information is available at www.cloudmedxhealth.com

(1) https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Health-Plans/MedicareAdvtgSpecRateStats/Downloads/Evaluation_Risk_Adj_Model_2011.pdf

(2) https://www.cms.gov/research-statistics-data-and-systems/statistics-trends-and-reports/chronic-conditions/downloads/2012chartbook.pdf

Kerry Metzdorf

Big Swing Communications

978-463-2575

Email Contact




SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - February 14, 2017) - There is a fix that can prevent a great amount of email-born attacks on consumers and businesses. Unfortunately, the vast majority of public and private organizations globally, including leading cyber security companies, have not deployed DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) to prevent spammers and phishers from using an organization's name to conduct cyber attacks, according to new research from the Global Cyber Alliance (GCA).

DMARC provides insight into any attempts to spam, phish or spear-phish using an organization's brand or name. DMARC is supported by 85 percent of consumer email inboxes in the United States (including Gmail, Yahoo, Microsoft, etc.) and more than 2.5 billion email inboxes worldwide. However, DMARC adoption rates among enterprises and government remains low.

The UK Government's guidance for government agencies directs them to implement DMARC i but as of December 2016 only five percent of UK public sector domains ii had done so. A mere 16 percent of the healthcare sector has adopted DMARC.

The latest research from GCA, an international cross-sector organization dedicated to confronting systemic cyber risk, finds that adoption remains low in the cyber security industry as well.

Only 15 percent of the 587 email domains (that were scanned) for companies exhibiting at the RSA Conference -- one of the world's largest gatherings of cyber security experts -- use DMARC. Of the 90 RSA exhibiting organizations that do use DMARC, more than 66 percent use the DMARC policy of "none," which only monitors for email domains, greatly reducing the effectiveness of DMARC.

It is time for the cyber security industry to lead the charge and push for DMARC use across the globe. GCA strongly advocates that organizations implement DMARC and has developed a free DMARC Setup Guide to make DMARC implementation easier (https://dmarc.globalcyberalliance.org/).

The value of correctly implementing DMARC is clear as studies iii have shown that organizations that use DMARC correctly receive just 23 percent of the email threats that those who do not use DMARC.

"As world leaders in cyber security, we can do better. DMARC protects brands and preserves consumer confidence. While no security effort is cost-free, clear guidance and tools, such as the GCA DMARC Setup Guide, make DMARC implementation practical, and the benefits are considerable. DMARC is one of the cyber security protocols that can broadly reduce risk, and the more it is implemented, the more protection if offers for everyone," said Philip Reitinger, President and CEO of GCA. "I'm placing a stake in the ground and calling on the cyber security industry to lead the adoption of DMARC, with a goal that 50 percent of the companies that exhibit at the 2018 RSA Conference implement DMARC prior to the conference, and that 90 percent implement prior to the 2019 RSA Conference. Working together the cyber security industry can be a role model and make a difference."

About The Global Cyber Alliance

The Global Cyber Alliance (GCA) is an international, cross-sector effort dedicated to confronting cyber risk and improving our connected world. It is a catalyst to bring communities of interest and affiliations together in an environment that sparks innovation with concrete, measurable achievements. While most efforts at addressing cyber risk have been industry, sector, or geographically specific, GCA partners across borders and sectors. GCA's mantra "Do Something. Measure It." is a direct reflection of its mission to eradicate systemic cyber risks.

GCA, a 501(c)3, was founded in September 2015 by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, the City of London Police and the Center for Internet Security. Learn more at www.globalcyberalliance.org.

i https://www.gov.uk/guidance/set-up-government-email-services-securely

ii https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/blog-post/making-email-mean-something-again

iii https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2017/02/01/phishing-display-name-spoofs/

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/2/14/11G130227/Images/GCA_logo_p_rgb-36d371176cd0a3a8ac63792f0d222fc9.jpg

CONTACT:

Josh Zecher

Vrge Strategies

Phone: (703) 930-4941

email: josh@vrge.us
MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 -- Laurentian Bank of Canada (TSX: LB) will publish its first quarter financial results on Tuesday, February 28, 2017. It will also hold a conference call for media representatives and the financial community at 3:30 p.m. (ET). To facilitate the presentation of financial results, a reference document as well as a press release will be available on the Bank's Web site.

CONFERENCE CALL Date: Tuesday, February 28, 2017 Time: 3:30 p.m. (ET) Call-in number: 1-800-263-0877 Access code: 3493742 Live webcast: www.laurentianbank.ca, under the Laurentian Bank tab, Investors section, Quarterly results, Audio webcast (listen only mode) PLAYBACK Availability: From 6:30 p.m. (ET) on February 28, 2017, until 6:30 p.m. (ET) on March 30, 2017 Playback link: Follow this link.

About Laurentian Bank

Laurentian Bank of Canada is a financial institution whose activities extend across Canada. Founded in 1846, its mission is to help customers improve their financial health and is guided by values of proximity, simplicity and honesty.

The Bank serves one and a half million clients throughout the country and employs more than 3,600 individuals, which makes it a major player in numerous market segments. The Bank caters to the needs of retail clients via its branch network based in Quebec. The Bank also stands out for its know-how among small and medium-sized enterprises and real estate developers owing to its specialized teams across Canada. Its subsidiary B2B Bank is, for its part, one of the major Canadian leaders in providing banking products and services and investment accounts through independent advisors and brokers. Laurentian Bank Securities offers integrated brokerage services to a clientele of institutional and retail investors.

The Bank has more than $43 billion in balance sheet assets and more than $43 billion in assets under administration.

Contacts:

Laurentian Bank of Canada

Helene Soulard

Assistant Vice President, Communications

514 284-4500 extension 8232

helene.soulard@laurentianbank.ca

www.laurentianbank.ca




TORONTO, ONTARIO and CHICAGO, ILLINOIS -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 -- BMO and more than 42,000 of its employees across Canada and the United States marked the bank's 200th year in an extraordinary way, contributing more than $29 million through local fundraisers, corporate donations and the bank's Employee Giving Campaign to help United Ways and other charities across North America. BMO employees also volunteered at hundreds of charities in communities across Canada and the U.S. throughout the year.

"This is a special time for us - we're beginning our 200th year of supporting communities where we live and work, and more than 42,000 of us across the bank decided to mark this significant milestone with an extraordinary gift," said Bill Downe, CEO, BMO Financial Group.

"It's a source of immense pride that BMO employees have chosen to celebrate by giving back. Fairness, equity and evening the odds have long inspired us - but the generosity of the people who work here continues to exceed all expectations," he said. "It is a privilege to be a part of an organization where people show this level of commitment. All of us at BMO share a deep respect for the communities we serve and are proud of the standard we have set. In this regard, we strive to lead by example - it's part of our tradition."

The Employee Giving Campaign is an annual employee-driven initiative that has raised more than $126 million for charities over the last five years.

BMO Financial Group Receives 2016 Spirit Award from United Way Toronto & York Region

Awarded to an organization that runs an exceptional Leadership Campaign

On Tuesday, February 7, United Way Toronto & York Region recognized BMO Financial Group with its 2016 Spirit Award. This award honours an organization that runs an exceptional Leadership Campaign, generating personal gifts of $1,200 or more through United Way best practices - including awareness building, peer-to-peer canvassing, and recognition - and improving results over the previous year.

For more information on the United Way Toronto & York Region Spirit Award, please visit: http://www.unitedwaytyr.com/spirit-awards

About BMO Financial Group

Since its founding in 1817, BMO Financial Group has followed a principle of corporate and social responsibility and of reinvesting in the communities it serves. In addition to the generous support from BMO employees, charitable, not-for-profit and community-based institutions and organizations received more than C$57.3 million in donations from BMO in 2016, which has helped to build and sustain resilient, vital and healthy communities across North America.

Contacts:

For News Media Enquiries:

Ralph Marranca, Toronto

(416) 867-3996

ralph.marranca@bmo.com



Valerie Doucet, Montreal

(514) 877-8224

valerie.doucet@bmo.com



Chris Nardella, Chicago

(312) 461-6625

chris.nardella@bmo.com



Internet: www.bmo.com

Twitter: @BMOmedia




DUBLIN, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Rotavirus Group A Forecast for selected Asian Markets 2017-2027" report to their offering.

Rotavirus is a contagious virus that can cause gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines). Symptoms include severe watery diarrhoea, often with vomiting, fever, and abdominal pain.

Rotavirus infects and damages the cells that line the small intestine, causing gastroenteritis. It is the most frequent cause of diarrhoea in young children, worldwide.

Although eight distinct groups of rotavirus have been identified (A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H), Rotavirus Group A is the most common species affecting humans. Group A rotaviruses are then typed on the basis of the variability in the genes encoding the 2 outer capsid proteins (VP7 and VP4) into 15 ""G"" and 26 ""P"" genotypes, respectively. This results in potentially > 300 different rotavirus A strains in Group A.

This report provides the current incident population for Rotavirus for Selected Asian Markets (Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR and Vietnam) split by gender and 5-year age cohort. Along with the current incidence, the report also contains a disease overview of the risk factors, disease diagnosis and prognosis along with specific variations by geography and ethnicity.

Providing a value-added level of insight from the analysis team, several of the main symptoms of Rotavirus have been quantified and presented alongside the overall incidence figures. These sub-populations within the main disease are also included at a country level across the 10-year forecast snapshot.

Rotavirus is transmitted via the faecal-oral route either by direct contact with an infected individual. According to the CDC, rotavirus can be spread by contact with contaminated:

- Hands



- Objects (toys, surfaces)



- Food



- Water

Reasons to Buy:

- Able to quantify patient populations in global Rotavirus market to target the development of future products, pricing strategies and launch plans.



- Gain further insight into the incidence of the subdivided types of Roravirus and identify patient segments with high potential.



- Delivery of more accurate information for clinical trials in study sizing and realistic patient recruitment for various countries.



- Identify sub-populations within Rotavirus which require treatment.



- Gain an understanding of the specific markets that have the largest number of Rotavirus patients.



Key Topics Covered:

1. Introduction



2. Cause of the Disease



3. Risk Factors & Prevention



4. Diagnosis of the Disease

5. Variation by Geography



6. Disease Prognosis & Clinical Course



7. Methodology for quantification of patient numbers

8. Top-line estimated incidence for Rotavirus



8.1 Genotype of Rotavirus A

9. Rotavirus in Vietnam



9.1 Distribution by Province within the Red River Delta area



9.2 Distribution by Province within the North Central & Central coastal areas



10. Abbreviations used in the report



11. Patient-Based Offering



12. Online Pricing Data and Platforms



13. References

14. Appendix

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/q3pq2h/rotavirus_group_a

Media Contact:

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716
NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 -- DigitalOcean, the cloud for developers, today released Load Balancers, one of the most requested products from customers. Load Balancers is a highly available product that enables developers and small businesses to distribute traffic across their infrastructure to achieve 100% uptime for their production workloads.

DigitalOcean is approaching one million registered users with more than 40,000 active teams since releasing its cloud five years ago. With workloads becoming more complex, DigitalOcean is focused on delivering the tools and performance that are required to seamlessly deploy, scale and manage any sized application.

"We're quickly expanding the capabilities of our cloud to support larger scale-out applications," said Julia Austin, CTO of DigitalOcean. "With Load Balancers, we are providing developers and businesses with a simple service for maximizing the availability and reliability of applications without disrupting the end user experience. Load Balancers is the first major new product DigitalOcean has released this year. Over the coming year, you'll see us continue to release a number of important products and features to meet our customers' high availability, data storage, security, and networking needs."

Load Balancers on DigitalOcean can be created effortlessly from the control panel or API -- no additional installation or configuration needed. Using Load Balancers to distribute connections enables developers and small businesses to scale their applications horizontally by sending traffic only to healthy Droplets, ensuring no single point of failure and increasing availability across their infrastructure.

With Load Balancers, developers have access to the following:

Support for multiple protocols including HTTP, HTTPS, and TCP

Managed TLS certificates

Full access through DigitalOcean's API

Supporting Quotes

"Scalability is one of the major architecture benefits of moving to the cloud, vendors who make it easy to uptake load balancing for better performance and reliability are creating value for customer and prospects," said Holger Mueller, Vice President and Principal Analyst at Constellation Research. "Developers take note of new capabilities like load balancing and factor that in their partner and deployment decisions."

"DigitalOcean is an incredibly popular cloud provider for users of the Rancher container management platform," said Sheng Liang, co-founder and CEO of Rancher Labs "The new Load Balancers make it simple to run a clustered Rancher management server and deliver high availability configurations for this critical service."

Additional Resources

Read the blog on What's Shipping Next on DigitalOcean: https://www.digitalocean.com/company/blog/2017-whats-shipping-next-on-digitalocean/

Read the blog on Load Balancers: https://www.digitalocean.com/company/blog/load-balancers-simplifying-high-availability

Read the tutorial on how to use Load Balancers: https://www.digitalocean.com/products/load-balancer/

Pricing and Availability

Load Balancers on DigitalOcean work right out of the box and are priced at $20 per month with no additional bandwidth charges and are available in all data center regions.

About DigitalOcean

Founded in 2011, DigitalOcean is a cloud platform company that is simplifying the complexities of infrastructure for software developers. DigitalOcean has become the second largest and fastest growing cloud computing platform in the total number of public facing apps and websites, according to Netcraft.com. The company has raised $123 million in funding from Andreessen Horowitz, Access Industries, IA Ventures, CrunchFund, and Techstars. The company is headquartered in New York City with data center regions throughout the world. For more information, simply visit https://www.digitalocean.com or follow @digitalocean.

Media and Analyst Contact:

Amber Rowland

press@digitalocean.com

+1-650-814-4560




Ottawa is still interested in strengthening cooperation with Ukraine in the defense sector, including military and technical cooperation, Canada's Ambassador to Ukraine Roman Waschuk.

The ambassador announced Canada's position during a meeting with the management of Ukroboronprom state concern in Kyiv, the state concern's press service said.

Waschuk said Canada is interested in strengthening cooperation with Ukraine in the defense sector, highlighting the efforts of the Ukrainian defense industry in providing for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the press service said.

According to the report, during the meeting the sides discussed the current joint projects, including the project on creating a new transport An-132 for Saudi Arabia. The meeting participants also named armored vehicles modernization and aerospace industry among the promising areas for cooperation.
Invitation-Only Full-Day Forum on February 28, 2017, in Partnership with Google, Kargo, Syniverse, The Trade Desk, Turner Verve

IAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau) and dmexco are joining forces for the second year in a row to produce a full-day of programming at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The invitation-only event by IAB and dmexco will bring together some of the biggest names in media and marketing to share insights and guidance on "Surviving in a Mobile-Only Marketplace: Strategies of Top Marketers and Publishers to Connect with Consumers." High-level discussions will focus on emerging trends in mobile, including VR, AR, the connected home, and the importance of tapping into AI for smarter marketing.

Brand and agency leaders on the roster include:

Sophie Blum, Vice President of Marketing, Europe, India, Middle East, Africa, P&G

Lisa Donohue, Global President, Starcom Worldwide

Andreas Gall, Chief Technology Officer, Red Bull Media House

Leonid Sudakov, President of Connected Solutions, Mars Petcare

Dr. Torsten Wingenter, Head of Digital Innovations, Lufthansa Airlines

They will be joined by such senior publishing executives as:

Sacha Berlik, Managing Director, EMEA, The Trade Desk

Paul-Henri Ferrand, Vice President, U.S. Sales and Operations, Google

Ian James, Chief International Officer, Verve

AJ Mathew, Vice President, Research, Kargo

Christina Miller, President, Cartoon Network

Rob Newlan, Head of EMEA Creative Shop, Facebook

Donna Speciale, President, Ad Sales, Turner

The full agenda is available here.

"IAB is taking a pole position on mobile marketing at Mobile World Congress-ensuring that leaders on the cutting-edge of mobile advertising share their strategies and tactics for success," said Anna Bager, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Mobile and Video, IAB. "Marketers, agencies, and publishers all need to transform how they connect with consumers in order to prosper in what will no doubt soon be a mobile-only landscape."

"Mobile means nearly every screen in today's consumer world, with the emergence of VR, AR, and the Internet of Things taking it way beyond just a single smaller screen," said Christian Muche, Co-Founder, dmexco. "All stakeholders in the ecosystem must take advantage of the opportunities that this evolution has brought."

The special all-day event will be produced in partnership with Google, Kargo, Syniverse, The Trade Desk, Turner, and Verve, and held at Fira Gran Via in Barcelona from 9:00am to 5:45pm on Tuesday, February 28, 2017. To request an invitation, please go to iab.com/mobileworldcongress.

About IAB

The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) empowers the media and marketing industries to thrive in the digital economy. It is comprised of more than 650 leading media and technology companies that are responsible for selling, delivering, and optimizing digital advertising or marketing campaigns. Together, they account for 86 percent of online advertising in the United States. Working with its member companies, the IAB develops technical standards and best practices and fields critical research on interactive advertising, while also educating brands, agencies, and the wider business community on the importance of digital marketing. The organization is committed to professional development and elevating the knowledge, skills, expertise, and diversity of the workforce across the industry. Through the work of its public policy office in Washington, D.C., the IAB advocates for its members and promotes the value of the interactive advertising industry to legislators and policymakers. There are 43 IABs licensed to operate in nations around the world and one regional IAB, in Europe. Founded in 1996, the IAB is headquartered in New York City and has a West Coast office in San Francisco.

About dmexco

dmexco is the global business and innovation platform of the digital economy. It connects the real economy with visionary trends and defines the commercial potential of tomorrow. Within a few years, dmexco has developed into the pioneer of the digital transformation. Today it is the engine of growth that is driving the global digiconomy forward by means of direct business deals, valuable new contacts, the evaluation of business ideas, new standards for the digital economy, maximum value creation, and concrete added value. dmexco the leading global trade fair and conference of the digiconomy. The Bundesverband Digitale Wirtschaft (German Association for the Digital Economy BVDW) is the owner of the dmexco brand. With special assistance from OVK Circle of Online Marketers, the BVDW is also the conceptual and professional partner of the trade fair and conference. dmexco is organized by Koelnmesse. dmexco 2017 will be held in Cologne on September 13 and 14, 2017. You can find all the information about dmexco 2016, as well as photos, videos, and original audio material at www.dmexco.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170214005426/en/

Contacts:

IAB Media

Lauren Milligan, 212-609-3732

lauren.milligan@iab.com
Appointment Affirms Move Towards a Unified Newsweek Brand Across the Globe

NEW YORK, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --IBT Media, the global digital media company and owner of Newsweek and International Business Times (the "Company"), today announced that Newsweek has appointed Matt McAllester, current Editor, Newsweek International, as Global Editor in Chief, Newsweek, effective today. The move will help Newsweek accelerate its vision to bring a more consistent and unique global perspective to its readership around the world. As part of the transition, Jim Impoco, Editor in Chief, Newsweek will step down. McAllester plans to relocate to New York this spring, and Newsweek International will be actively seeking a new London-based editor.

"On behalf of everyone at IBT Media and the entire staff of Newsweek, I would like to congratulate Matt on his new role," said Dev Pragad, Chief Executive Officer of IBT Media. "Matt has overseen the revitalization of our Newsweek International property, and I am confident that his extensive experience as an international journalist will help Newsweek realize its editorial promise as a leading global source of news, information and culture for consumers and businesses around the world.

I would also like to extend my deepest thanks to Jim on behalf of our entire organization for his years of remarkable stewardship of Newsweek in the U.S. Jim literally brought this iconic brand back to life and in many ways it is better than it has ever been. His commitment to the highest standards of journalism, his sharp eye for great narrative stories and his knack for hiring fantastic writers have made him a legend in the news business. He leaves an inspiring legacy at Newsweek that we will work hard to maintain."

Newsweek plans to increase its coverage of East Asia, India, developing parts of Africa and Europe, and will likely add to its editorial team in both the U.K. and the U.S.

"I'm very excited-and honored-to take on this new role," said McAllester. "My priority will be to continue the superb work of Jim and the Newsweek staff in New York, London and elsewhere. Newsweek is as editorially strong as it has ever been. We have so many opportunities to build on that success and help Newsweek's extraordinary reporting, analysis and storytelling reach an ever-growing global audience."

Today's announcement follows a number of recent steps the Company has taken to invest in Newsweek and its other world-class properties and to find new ways to reach consumers and businesses on multiple platforms.

Pragad added, "We have made terrific progress over the past several months putting our business on a stable financial footing, improving our content offerings and expanding the ways in which we deliver our world-class content to consumers and businesses. The joining of our Newsweek editorial teams, the recent launch of Newsweek Events and the appointment of Alan Press as President, IBT Media, are all important steps to help us achieve our potential as a unified, global digital media organization."

About IBT Media

IBT Media is a fast-growing digital media company headquartered in New York City. It was founded in 2006 with the launch of the International Business Times, a digital news publication that today reaches an average of 57+ million readers each month via eight separate editions, in four languages. Market-specific editions are now available in the U.S., the UK, Australia, China, India, Italy, Japan & Singapore. Today, IBT Media owns and operates a total of 14 digital properties including the International Business Times, Design & Trend, Fashion Times, iDigital Times, Latin Times, Medical Daily & the iconic Newsweek brand which it bought in 2013 as a digital-only property before enhancing the offering with the reintroduction of the print edition. Newsweek now publishes a U.S. and International edition weekly in English. The international edition - branded as Newsweek International -serves the Europe, Middle-East, Africa and Asia-Pacific regions while language-specific editions are available in Japan, Korea, Latin America, Pakistan, Poland and Serbia. A separate English-language edition is also published for the Middle East. The print edition of Newsweek is now available in 68 territories while round-the-clock- coverage on the latest breaking world news can be found at newsweek.com.

Contact:

Mark Lappin

T: +44 (0)20 3040 6989

M: +44 (0) 7823 770 922

m.lappin@newsweek.com

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com.
DENVER, CO -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 -- The National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS) will hold its Summer Meeting at the four-star Westin Denver Downtown hotel here June 9-11, and the event promises to be one of the most important in the long history of this nationwide organization of lawmakers.

"As the gaming industry expands, the policy issues that lawmakers and regulators must confront will grow more challenging, and NCLGS is committed to addressing those issues to the benefit of our members and their states," said NCLGS President Bill Galvano, a senator from Florida and an established leader on gaming issues. Galvano is expected to serve as the President of the Florida Senate from 2018-2020.

NCLGS Vice President Helene Keeley, the immediate past President of NCLGS, and Secretary Bill Coley, a member of the Ohio State Senate where he serves as Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Government Oversight and Reform, recently returned from London as part of International Legislators' Day, where they met with many of their counterparts from Europe and elsewhere in the world.

"NCLGS is committed to both educating our members and learning what works elsewhere in the world," Keeley said.

"Our meetings in London showed us that the challenges we face are often universal and must be addressed in a comprehensive, fair manner that allows gaming to succeed for both operators and states," Coley said. "Our global outreach will expand further as we address these challenges."

More than 40 legislators from across the United States attended the NCLGS Winter Meeting in Arizona. With a growing interest in NCLGS in the U.S., conference organizers expect the number of attendees to increase during the Summer Meeting. In addition, invitations have been extended to lawmakers from Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa.

The NCLGS summer meeting is open to the public, and registration will be available soon.

NCLGS is the only organization of state lawmakers that meets on a regular basis to discuss issues relating to gaming. Members of NCLGS serve as chairpersons, or are members of state legislative committees responsible for the regulation of gaming in their state legislative houses. NCLGS does not promote or oppose gaming but is primarily concerned with the proper regulation of the industry. The NCLGS Foundation is the educational and research arm of NCLGS. The 501(c)(3) non-profit is a source of non-partisan data on issues of gaming legislation and regulation.

Spectrum Gaming Group (www.spectrumgaming.com), a global independent gaming research and advisory firm, serves as the Executive Director of NCLGS.

Legislators and others seeking information on membership in NCLGS contact Wayne Marlin at wmarlin@spectrumgaming.com. For information on sponsorships and registrations for the upcoming NCLGS Summer Meeting in Denver, contact events@nclgs.org.
MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 -- Matamec Explorations Inc. ("Matamec" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: MAT)(OTCQX: MHREF) and Canada Strategic Metals ("CSM") (TSX VENTURE: CJC)(FRANKFURT: YXEN)(OTCBB: CJCFF) are pleased to announce that CSM has exercised the option to acquire an additional 20% interest ("Additional Option")in the Sakami property as per the agreement between the two companies ("Option Agreement"). To do so, CSM has issued 1,000,000 common shares to Matamec and will now need to complete an independent bankable feasibility study ("feasibility study") within five years. Until the feasibility study is completed, CSM must spend a minimum of CDN$2,000,000 per year on exploration works on the property. CSM will remain the operator of the exploration works during the option period, supervised by a management committee comprising two representatives of CSM and two representatives of Matamec.

After exercising the first option, by which CSM spent CDN$2,250,000 in exploration work during a three-year period and issued 2,000,000 common shares to Matamec, CSM and Matamec each hold a 50% undivided interest in the Sakami property (see press release of August 18, 2016 for more details). As per the terms of the option agreement, CSM had 180 days from the initial acquisition of its 50% undivided interest in the Sakami property to advise Matamec of its intention to exercise the additional option.

Sakami Property

The Sakami Property straddles the contact of the Opinaca and La Grande Subprovinces which offer a variety of lithologic settings in which to host various mineral deposit types (see figure 1). Several mineralized areas hosting significant gold grades are known to exist throughout the Property and have been the focus of exploration work.

In August 2016, the property was enlarged by 4,500 ha and now covers an area of 10,737 ha. Mineralized zones are generally associated with the major tectonic contact, which spans more than 20 km on the Sakami property.

4 main sectors of interest in the northeast part of the property

Before adding 93 new claims in August 2016, exploration work had mainly been completed on the following sectors, from south to north: La Pointe, Peninsule, JR and Ile.

1. The recent drilling campaigns, which took place between 2014 and 2016, have been located in the La Pointe sector, particularly on Zone 25, in which gold occurs in proximity the subprovince contact in association with a strong shear zone. In Zone 25, the last 3 drill holes done in 2016 in the west have resulted in the following intersections: -- PT-16-91: 2.21 g/t Au over 43.3 metres; -- PT-16-92: 2.52 g/t Au over 48.55 metres; -- PT-16-93: 1.87 g/t Au over 27 metres. 2. The Peninsule sector is located approximately 1.5 km northwest of La Pointe and is almost entirely within the Laguiche sedimentary units. There are numerous outcrops of greywacke, paragneiss, pegmatite, and a single outcrop of basalt to the northwest. Gold showings in this area are associated with quartz-pyrite veinlets. Following channel sampling done in 2016, the Simon showing has been identified and supports the presence of high-grade gold values, with channel sampling results of up to 20.8 g/t Au over 1 metre and 17.45 g/t Au over 1 metre. This new gold showing is located on a geophysical anomaly where a strong magnetic low is observed, as well the junction of multiple faults. It is also located on the contact between the Laguiche sediments (Opinaca) and the La Grande belt volcanic. 3. The JR sector consists mainly of Yasinski group basalts from the La Grande Subprovince, which contact the detrital sediments of the Laguiche Group (Opinaca Subprovince) in the east; this contact continues to be the focus of exploration work on JR. 4. The Ile showing could be a northeastern extension of the JR showing, 2.5 km to the east-northeast.

Figure 1. 'Map of the Sakami Property, identifying regional geology and explored local sectors.' is available at the following address: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1085820a_fig1.jpg

La Pointe Sector: Zone 25 (see figure 2)

Matamec has identified three (3) distinct gold zones between the two geological subprovinces of La Grande and Opinaca on the La Pointe sector, namely Zones 23, 25 and 26 from east to west. Zone 25 in particular is continuous along a lateral distance of at least 500 m and extends more than200 m in the down dip direction (50-60 degrees to the south). Zone 25 outcrops at surface, however, it plunges gently to the west-north-west under lake Sakami.

Figure 2. 'Geology and west part of Zone 25' is available at the following address: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1085820a_fig2.jpg

The results from PT-16-93 together with PT-16-91 and PT-16-92 confirm that Zone 25 increases in thickness and grade to the northwest. The mineralization remains open to the northwest, as well as at depth, with the best intersects along the northern edge, where the thickness varies between 6 and 40 metres. Note that the grade of the intervals are relatively consistent; there are no extreme grade assays that carry very low grade intervals. The very thick intervals and their relative position suggest a possible merging of Zone 22 and 25 to the northwest (see figure 3).

Figure 3. 'Composite section of Zone 25 and 22 looking in an oblique angle illustrating potential merging of these zones' is available at the following address: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1085820a_fig3.jpg

Guy Desharnais, P.Geo., Ph.D. (OGQ No.1141), is a Qualified Person as per NI 43-101; he is employed by SGS Canada Inc., is independent of Matamec, and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this press release.

About Matamec

Located in Montreal (Quebec), Matamec Explorations Inc. is a junior mining exploration company in which activities are based on two main axes of development: gold, and key elements for technologies related to energy with properties containing, among others, lithium (Tansim-100% owned), Cobalt (Fabre-100% owned), nickel (Vulcain-100% owned) and rare earths (Kipawa-72% owned).

Matamec's main focus is the development of the Kipawa Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREE) deposit, a joint venture owned at 72% by Matamec and 28% by Ressources Quebec (acting as agent of the Government of Quebec); Toyota Tsusho Corp. (Nagoya, Japan) holds a 10% royalty on net profit in the deposit.

In addition to the activities in energy sector, Matamec is exploring for gold, with three properties: HMR (1% NSR), Matheson JV (50% owned) and Pelangio (100% owned), located in the area of the Hoyle Pond Mine in Timmins (Ontario), as well as two in the Quebec Plan Nord region. These include Sakami (50% owned) and Opinaca Gold West (100% owned) properties in similar geological settings as the Eleonore Mine in James Bay (Quebec).

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Andre Gauthier, President

(514) 844-5252

info@matamec.com



CHF Capital Markets

Cathy Hume, CEO

+1 416-868-1079 x231

cathy@chfir.com




Median Technologies will showcase its iBiopsy platform for liver diseases at the FURUI/Echosens booth #116-117 and present during the FURUI/Echosens satellite symposium on February 16, from 18:00 to 19:30

The joint participation and presentation result from FURUI's investment into Median Technologies completed in December, 2016

Regulatory News:

Median Technologies (Paris:ALMDT), the Imaging Phenomics Company, announced today that it will participate in the Annual Meeting of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL), February 15-19 at the Shanghai International Convention Center, Shanghai, China (exhibition dates: February, 17-19). The company will demonstrate its new Imaging Phenomics platform iBiopsy applied to the assessment of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) at FURUI/Echosens booth #116-117.

iBiopsy, or Imaging Biomarker Phenotyping System, is a groundbreaking imaging platform that combines noninvasive image biomarkers with phenomics. This unique combination of science and technology is at the very core of precision and predictive medicine because it can provide insights into development of novel therapies and individualized treatment strategies. Remarkably, iBiopsy can measure disease and treatment response without an invasive and costly biopsy. The initial application of iBiopsy is for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases including NASH, which are dramatically increasing in prevalence in the Asia Pacific and other parts of the world.

Median Technologies will also present during the FURUI/Echosens joint satellite symposium "Innovative Technologies change hepatology". The satellite symposium will take place February 16, from 18:00 to 19:30. Median's presentation topic is "Imaging Phenomics for the Assessment of Progression of NASH."

"We have been working very closely with FURUI since their investment into Median Technologies completed in December 2016 and are very pleased to have been invited to participate in the Annual Meeting of APASL under their aegis", said Fredrik Brag, CEO of Median Technologies. "Liver diseases are rapidly increasing in prevalence in Asian countries and our iBiopsy platform's first application is for NASH. We are confident that this groundbreaking technology will bring new insights to better assess these liver diseases and will contribute to the emergence of new therapies for liver patients in need."

APASL is one of the leading associations in the world focused on investigation and treatment of liver diseases. It is the largest scientific body dedicated to advancing improved treatment methods for millions of liver patients in the Asia Pacific Region.

About Median Technologies: Median Technologies provides innovative imaging solutions and services to advance healthcare for everyone. We leverage the power of Imaging Phenomics to provide insights into novel therapies and treatment strategies. Our unique solutions, LMS for lesion management and iBiopsy for imaging phenotyping, together with our global team of experts, are advancing the development of new drugs and diagnostic tools to monitor disease and assess response to therapy. Median Technologies supports biopharmaceutical sponsors and healthcare professionals around the world to quickly and precisely bring new treatments to patients in need, with an eye on reducing overall care costs. This is how we are helping to create a healthier world.

Founded in 2002, based in Sophia-Antipolis, France, with a US subsidiary in Boston, Median Technologies has received the label "Innovative company" by the BPI and is listed on Euronext Paris' Alternext market (ISIN: FR0011049824, ticker: ALMDT). The company is eligible for the PEA-PME SME equity savings plan setup and has received the label Pass French Tech Promotion 2016-2017. More information: www.mediantechnologies.com .

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170214005912/en/

Contacts:

Median Technologies

Fredrik Brag, CEO

+33 4 92 90 65 82

fredrik.brag@mediantechnologies.com

or

Press

ALIZE RP

Caroline Carmagnol Wendy Rigal

+ 33 1 44 54 36 66

median@alizerp.com

or

Investors

ACTIFIN

Ghislaine Gasparetto, +33 1 56 88 11 11

ggasparetto@actifin.fr
SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwired - February 14, 2017) - A nearly $3 million boost is coming to the Seattle economy when more than 1,600 community-development professionals from around the country convene in the city for the NeighborWorks Training Institute. The week-long event is hosted by NeighborWorks America, a national, congressionally chartered nonprofit that creates opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives and strengthen their communities.

Included in the many courses and workshops at the NeighborWorks Training Institute is a Feb. 22 symposium focusing on Reframing the Narrative Around Race, Equity and Inclusion (ML926). This is the first in a year-long series focusing on pathways out of poverty.

"NeighborWorks Training Institutes give community-development professionals the expertise and skills to go back and strengthen communities," said Paul Weech, chief executive officer of NeighborWorks America. "The Training Institutes also allow for peer sharing so professionals who are at every stage of their career can share lessons learned."

Among the confirmed speakers at the symposium are:

David B. Grusky, Professor of Sociology at Stanford University

Glenn Harris, President, Center for Social Inclusion

Rinku Sen, President and Executive Director of Race Forward

The NeighborWorks Training Institute in Seattle is supported by a variety of partners, including JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Wells Fargo Housing Foundation, Bank of America, HUD, Citi and Citi Foundation, Bank of the West, BB&T, and Capital One.

In addition to the training institute, NeighborWorks organizations work every day to serve Washington State. In fiscal year 2016, NeighborWorks organizations in Washington State generated nearly $140 million in total direct investment and served more than 3,400 individuals and families.

NeighborWorks America's new book, "NeighborWorks Works: Practical Solutions from America's Community Development Network," which highlights new ideas in cross-sector collaboration, community engagement, community revitalization, and outcome measurement, features three case studies from Washington State NeighborWorks organizations.

To read more about NeighborWorks organizations' impact, view the NeighborWorks America interactive map.

For more information about NeighborWorks America, visit neighborworks.org.

About NeighborWorks America

For more than 35 years, NeighborWorks America, a national, nonpartisan nonprofit, has created opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $27.2 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation's leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.

Contact:

Lindsay Moore

lmoore@nw.org

202-760-4059

@neighborworkspr
LAGOS, Nigeria, February 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Plus Start Your Own Online-TV Solution

KairoswebTV, the proprietary and sole online-TV network in Nigeria, today announced the launch of its online PR and social media communication platform, DigitalPR-Wire (www.digitalprwire.com), which has been specifically designed for online press release distribution, monitoring, analytics and social media communication enterprise solutions.

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/467985/Cihan_Group_DigitalPR_Wire_Launch.jpg )



DigitalPR-Wire is a web-based, hosted media intelligence solution designed to distribute, socially amplify and push press releases and news stories across 250+ online media outlets and influencers with a potential reach of 80 million within 24 hours. It enables users monitor all news story, media and influencer pick-ups and gives detailed visibility report with links to stories. Media outlets include Yahoo news, CNET, Reuters, CNN, Tech Crunch, CNBC and Brandish.

DigitalPR-Wire was developed by Cihan Group, in cooperation with its award-winning providers of global media intelligence and content publishing partners which include PRNewswire, Sendible, Votigo, Folcon and Agility. Tailored to meet the requirements of DigitalPR-Wire's clients, DigitalPR-Wire incorporates elements of its developers' partners' technology and KairoswebTV proprietary social media communication solution.

Mr. Ifeanyi Aniagoh, Senior Special Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on Social Media, and special guest at the occasion, congratulated Cihan Group for the innovative platform.

Mr. Aniagoh said that the platform was capable of generating digital jobs for teeming young Nigerians, adding that the State was ready to partner the Firm on leveraging the DigitalPR-Wire tools to reach citizens of the State.

"I was highly elated to hear that such innovative platform now exists in Nigeria. We are used to the foreign tools, but today we have this which we can proudly say is made in Nigeria. I urge our people to partners the brains behind this platform. The most interesting part is that you need not spend dollars to get your job done and delivered. It is such a tool needed now.

Speaking on the features of the platform, Mr. Celestine Achi, Group Managing Director of Cihan Group, said DigitalPR-Wire also incorporates real time online monitoring and alerting system, campaign analytics solution to enable users measure and evaluate the success of their communication efforts and run social media contests and social media management to aid publishing of stories across all social media networks at the same time.

The platform can schedule posts in advance, get shortened links, engage with the user's audience and measure ROI from all-in-one dashboard, as well as live streaming of events that connect with key stakeholders.

Achi, who is also Founder of KairoswebTV (www.kairosweb.tv) and DigitalPR-Wire, further said: "Our new online PR and social communication platform takes DigitalPR-Wire's service to the next level with its new communication and information intelligence capabilities. Now, more than ever, we can help our clients to ensure that the right information is channelled to the right people in the right format and at the right time. Its intuitive interface makes it very easy to use, while the solution is also quick and easy to implement."

Always seeking to break new grounds, KairoswebTV also announced the immediate availability of their Start-Your-Own-Online-TV Solution (SYOOTS) for content providers, broadcasters, publishers and entrepreneurs who are constantly searching for new ways to reach their audiences and take advantage of the new opportunities the digital video age provides.

According to Achi, the online TV company would maximise the disruptive nature of digitisation. He explained: "We are set to bring the entire structure of conventional television and traditional press crashing down - and you can pick up the pieces."

The new service, SYOOTS, which will be available to anyone, including brands, religious organisations, political parties, governments and communication agencies, will enable users to launch their own interactive TV channel or network, with a full web-based channel management system available round-the-clock. Users will also have real-time statistics and unique interactive layers added to their content.

Achi further said: "We discovered a gap between TV and online video. The internet is full of independent videos, on-demand solutions but lacks real time TV experience.The traditional television offers no room for countless niche markets, topicsor target groups because of the specialised expertise, high costs, and equipment in both broadcasting and content production."

Describing SYOOTS as the sought-after solution, Achi stated that the service would deliver its technology straight from its cloud. "No more four-storey buildings packed with all kinds of expensive equipment and staff. KairoswebTV SYOOTS makes it easy and cheaper toexploit and manage your own TV channel on the internet," he assured.

DigitalPR-Wire's vision is to become the standard on-demand online PR and social media communication platform in Africa. www.digitalprwire.com

About Cihan Group:

DigitalPR-Wire was developed by Cihan Business Solution, a leading Digital PR consulting firm with special focus on online PR, Social Communication Solutions and Media Intelligence, serving the complete workflow of today's communications, social media and content marketing professionals. Cihan enables clients to improve their marketing intelligence and strengthen data-driven decision making through intelligent insights. Cihan Group also represents PRNewswire and agility as a publishing partner, Sendible as a solution partner, as well as Votigo and Falcon brands.
DUBLIN, Feb 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "2-Axis OIS Gyroscopes: Reverse Costing Analysis" report to their offering.

This market is only made with high-end smartphones and mainly two players shared the pie: InvenSense with 49% and STMicroelectronics with 39% of the market.

The 2-axis gyroscopes are located inside the camera module of high-end smartphones and the main constraint consists on providing a small footprint and more importantly a small thickness.

The thickness was the same than standard LGA or QFN packages some years ago, close to 1mm. Now the standard is 0.65mm, and both InvenSense and STMicroelectronics released a device with this thickness.

InvenSense has been the first, with the IDG-2030, a 2.3x2.3x0.65mm gyroscope which is still the smallest on the market. Since its introduction we found it in several smartphones from various OEM. The IDG-2030 uses the same Nasiri platform as other InvenSense inertial devices, making the wafer-level integration of the MEMS sensor on top of the ASIC, thus providing only one die in the final LGA package.

STMicroelectronics on its side released the L2G2IS some month after the IDG-2030 and shares the same dimensions. The device is manufactured using the same THELMA process than all STMicroelectronics inertial devices. This THELMA platform requires a two dies approach which became to be very challenging for very thin package integration. At the end both players have been able to propose very low cost gyros due to die size reduction and process optimization.

Key Topics Covered:

Overview/Introduction Company Profile & Supply Chain Physical Analysis

- Package

- Package views and dimensions

- Package opening

- Package cross-section

- ASIC Die

- View, dimensions, and marking

- Delayering and process

- Cross-section

- MEMS Die

- View, dimensions, and marking

- Cap Removed

- Sensing Area

- Cross-sections (Sensor, Cap, Sealing)

Manufacturing Process Flow

- ASIC front-end process

- ASIC wafer fabrication unit

- MEMS process flow

- MEMS wafer fabrication unit

- Packaging process flow

- Package assembly unit

Cost Analysis

- Yields hypotheses

- ASIC front-end cost

- ASIC back-end 0: probe test and dicing

- ASIC wafer and die cost

- MEMS front-end cost

- MEMS back-end 0: probe test and dicing

- MEMS front-end cost per process steps

- MEMS wafer and die cost

- Back-end: packaging cost

- Back-end: packaging cost per process steps

- Back-end: final test cost

- Gyroscope component cost

Estimated Price Analysis

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/z5dmmd/2axis_ois

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - In an apparent effort to downplay the resignation of National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump argued Tuesday that the 'real story' is the leaking of information to the media. 'The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington? Will these leaks be happening as I deal on N.Korea etc?' Trump tweeted. Trump's comments about leaks come after the media cited anonymous sources in reports on Flynn's conversations with Russia's ambassador to the U.S. while he was still a private citizen. The conversations reportedly involved sanctions imposed on Russia by the Obama administration, although Flynn has denied that sanctions were discussed. In his resignation letter, Flynn said he inadvertently briefed Vice President Mike Pence and others with incomplete information regarding his phone calls with the Russian Ambassador. Flynn said he apologized to Trump and Pence for providing the incomplete information, which he attributed to the fast pace of events. The White House said Trump has named retired Lt. General Joseph Keith Kellogg, Jr. as Acting National Security Advisor following Flynn's resignation. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., told Fox News he wants the FBI to conduct an assessment of recent media leaks. 'We are going to be outlining all of our concerns over the last 60 days that appear to all be related, maybe even coordinated in some ways,' Nunes said. He added, 'I am going to be asking the FBI to do an assessment of this to tell us what's going on here because we cannot continue to have these leaks as a government.' 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.
OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 -- Media representatives are invited to join the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science, as she makes an important announcement in support of scientific research and innovation. This support will focus on collaborations between academia and businesses, securing a more innovative economy and growth for Canada's middle class.

After the announcement, Minister Duncan will tour a lab at the University of Ottawa Advanced Research Complex. Media are invited to join the tour.

Minister Duncan will be available for questions from the media following the announcement.

Date: Wednesday, February 15, 2017 Time: Announcement: 9:00 a.m. Tour: 9:30 a.m. Location: Announcement: Advanced Research Complex Lobby University of Ottawa 25 Templeton St. Ottawa, Ontario Tour: Advanced Research Complex SUNLAB, 3rd Floor University of Ottawa 25 Templeton St. Ottawa, Ontario

Contacts:

Stefanie Power

Press Secretary

Office of the Minister of Science

343-291-2600



Media Relations

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

343-291-1777

ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic@canada.ca




Head of the EU Delegation in Ukraine Hugues Mingarelli has expressed concern over the blocking of the railway in Donbas and noted that people on both sides of the contact line suffer from this blockade.

Speaking at the forum on reform priorities in Kyiv on Tuesday, Mingarelli said the EU was concerned over the railway blockade in the past two weeks.

He said they are aware that the situation is difficult and a lot of smuggling is happening across the contact line.

However, these are local residents on both sides of the contact line, who suffer most from the recent developments and this should not be happening, the diplomat added.

As earlier reported, veterans from Anti-Terrorism Operation (ATO) operations and Verkhovna Rada deputies in late January blocked the Luhansk-Lysychansk-Popasna railway line at Horske-Zolote in order to intercept illegal trade with Russia-backed militant groups. The checkpoint of the blockade was named "Bohdan Redoubt." Later, they blocked the Svitlanovo railway station.
DAVENPORT, IA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 -- Quad Cities orthopaedic surgeon Tyson Cobb, MD was an invited guest speaker at the 2016 combined meetings of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (IFSSH) and for Hand Therapy (IFSHT) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 24-28 of October. Dr. Cobb was selected to present his experience and expertise in the minimally invasive treatment of thumb arthritis, Arthroscopic Assisted Treatment of CMC Arthritis.

"In order to respond to the demand for safer, better, faster surgical outcomes," says Dr. Cobb, "my attendance and collaborative interactions at meetings like the one in Buenos Aires allow me to respond to patient demands by being on the cutting-edge of the latest surgical advancements. Although it was an honor to be asked to present at the meeting, I really enjoy the opportunity to learn from and discuss ideas with brilliant surgeons from around the world."

With more than 120 speakers and over 1,500 attendees from all over the world, hand surgeons and hand therapists from North America, South America, Asia Pacific, and Europe gathered to share their latest scientific findings and clinical experience. When not speaking, Dr. Cobb attended lectures and engaged in scientific discourse, "constantly seeking to learn how to better serve my patients using the most up-to-date minimally invasive treatment options."

According to Dr. Cobb, the theme of the meeting was to discuss the Past, Present, and Future of Hand Surgery. Topics relevant to Dr. Cobb's Davenport area practice included microsurgery of nerves and tendons, wrist surgery, treatment of finger contractures, hand trauma, wide-awake hand surgeries, and the use of ultrasound for diagnosis and minimally-invasive surgical treatment.

About Tyson Cobb, MD

Dr. Tyson Cobb is the board certified Director of the Hand and Upper Extremity Center at the Orthopaedic Specialists, PC. A member of several distinguished medical organizations, including the American Association for Hand Surgery and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, he is also a pioneer of minimally invasive surgical techniques. Dr. Cobb earned his medical degree from the Texas Tech School of Medicine and completed additional training at the Mayo Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and the University of Texas. He is available for interview upon request.

For more information about Dr. Cobb and his practice, please visit osquadcities.com and facebook.com/osquadcities.

To view the original source of this press release, click here:

https://www.osquadcities.com/uncategorized/quad-cities-orthopaedic-surgeon-discusses-past-present-and-future-of-hand-surgery

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3109507



Orthopaedic Specialists, PC

Davenport Office:

3385 Dexter Ct.

Davenport, IA 52807

(563) 344-9292



Bettendorf Office:

4480 Utica Ridge Rd., Ste. 2240

Bettendorf, IA 52722

(563) 344-9292



Clinton Office:

2635 US 30

Clinton, IA 52732

(563) 243-4170



Rosemont Media

(858) 200-0044

www.rosemontmedia.com




KUGLUKTUK, NUNAVUT -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 -- Modern public infrastructure is key to supporting the unique needs of northern communities. The governments of Canada and Nunavut are investing in green infrastructure that will improve community services and increase future investment and growth opportunities, while safeguarding the environment that northerners depend upon.

Together with local residents, the Honourable Peter Taptuna, Premier of Nunavut, and Ryan Nivingalok, Mayor of Kugluktuk, today marked the official opening of three new community buildings that will improve services, provide reliable access to clean drinking water and help protect the environment.

The projects include the construction of a new water treatment plant, a public works building, as well as a six-bay garage to house the community's water and wastewater trucks. These infrastructure projects will not only help reduce the community's operational costs and energy dependency, but also better support the delivery of services to the residents.

Quotes

"Investing in infrastructure creates jobs, strengthens the economy and gives municipalities the building blocks they need to support a high standard of living for Canadians and their families. This important investment will help ensure Kugluktuk residents have access to safe and reliable drinking water, as well as effective wastewater treatment services that will help protect their local environment."

- The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"Through partnership at all levels, the Government of Nunavut is helping to build capacity in communities throughout the territory. The hamlet administration and residents of Kugluktuk should be commended for their use of resources and effective planning. What we see here today demonstrates how good ideas and teamwork help build communities."

- Peter Taptuna, Premier, Government of Nunavut, MLA for Kugluktuk

"We invested a lot of time and energy into research and planning for these projects to make the best use of funding, local contractors and other resources that were available in Kugluktuk. The benefit from this is that we have new facilities and renovated buildings that will serve our community for many years and we did it in a very cost-effective way."

- Ryan Nivingalok, Mayor, Kugluktuk

Quick facts

-- The Government of Canada contributed $1,812,957 through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund for the new water treatment plant, as well as $300,000 through the federal Gas Tax Fund for the 6-bay garage. -- The public works building will be funded through a $250,000 Government of Nunavut contribution agreement. -- The Government of Canada will provide more than $180 billion in infrastructure funding over 12 years for public transit, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, transportation that supports trade, and Canada's rural and northern communities.

Associated links

Government of Canada's $180-billion+ infrastructure plan

Federal infrastructure investments in Nunavut

Federal Gas Tax Fund

Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund

New Building Canada Plan

Twitter: @INFC_eng

Web: Infrastructure Canada

Contacts:

Brook Simpson

Press Secretary

Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

613-219-0149

brook.simpson@canada.ca



Kris Mullaly

Policy Analyst/Communications Officer

Department of Community and Government Services

867-975-5342

kmullaly@gov.nu.ca



Don Leblanc

Senior Administrative Officer

Hamlet of Kugluktuk

867-445-9070



Infrastructure Canada

613-960-9251

Toll free: 1-877-250-7154

media@infc.gc.ca




TORONTO, ONTARIO and NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 -- BMO Capital Markets will host its 26th annual Global Metals & Mining Conference from February 26 to March 1, 2017, in Hollywood, Florida. The conference will bring together metals and mining industry leaders and institutional investors from around the world.

BMO Capital Markets will be welcoming more than 1,000 industry professionals representing nearly 500 companies from 35 countries and six continents to the conference, one of the industry's most important global gatherings.

"We are honoured once again to host the industry at our Global Metals & Mining Conference, an annual event celebrating our commitment to the sector across commodities cycles," said Pat Cronin, Group Head, BMO Capital Markets.

The conference brings together the global investors and executives who continuously map the future of the diverse and dynamic mining industry. It is considered an early barometer of industry sentiment for the year to come, featuring presentations from some of the world's largest mining companies.

BMO Capital Markets has been advising companies on the mining industry for more than a century. For seven consecutive years, Global Finance Magazine has recognised BMO Capital Markets as the best investment bank for metals and mining in the world.

Some of the companies scheduled to present at the conference include:

-- Agnico-Eagle Mines (AEM) -- Agrium Inc. (AGU) -- Alcoa (AA) -- Anglo American (AAL) -- Antofagasta (ANTO) -- Barrick Gold (ABX) -- BHP Billiton (BLT) -- Cameco (CCO) -- First Quantum Minerals (FM) -- Franco-Nevada (FNV) -- Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (FCX) -- Gemfields (GEM) -- Glencore (GLEN) -- Goldcorp (GG) -- HudBay Minerals (HBM) -- Ivanhoe (IVN) -- Lundin Mining (LUN) -- Mosaic (MOS) -- Newmont Mining (NEM) -- Nucor (NUE) -- Petra Diamonds (PDL) -- PotashCorp (POT) -- Randgold Resources (RRS) -- Rio Tinto (RIO) -- Silver Wheaton (SLW) -- Steel Dynamics (STLD) -- Teck Resources (TECK)

The three-day event is hosted by the BMO Capital Markets' Metals & Mining Equity Research team. With dedicated metals and mining analysts in Toronto, London, and New York, BMO covers more than 135 publicly-listed companies, making it one of the largest mining and fertilizer research groups in the world.

"In the last 12 months, metals and mining has undergone an amazing transformation and rightsizing. This year's conference will be a totally different environment from last year's," said David Gagliano, co-head of metals and mining research for BMO Capital Markets.

"How companies grow, how they will differentiate themselves and how management deploys their cash are the challenges facing metals and mining these days," said Andrew Kaip, co-head of metals and mining research for BMO Capital Markets.

Members of the BMO Metals & Mining Equity Research Group include:

-- Andrew Breichmanas, Research Analyst, Precious Metals -- David Gagliano, Research Analyst, US Metals & Mining -- Joel Jackson, Research Analyst, Fertilizers & Chemicals -- Andrew Kaip, Research Analyst, Precious Metals -- Andrew Mikitchook, Research Analyst, Precious Metals, Minerals, Gold -- Alexander Pearce, Research Analyst, Base Metals, Bulks & Uranium -- Brian Quast, Research Analyst, Precious Metals -- Edward Sterck, Research Analyst, Diversifieds, Uranium, Diamonds -- Alex Terentiew, Research Analyst, Base Metals

For media who would like a copy of the agenda, access to Webcast presentations, or to request a telephone interview, please contact Pav Jordan or Mallory Micetich at BMO Media Relations.

Members of the Research team will be available at the close of the conference to discuss the conference and market sentiment.

About BMO Capital Markets

BMO Capital Markets is a leading, full-service North American-based financial services provider, with approximately 2,400 professionals in 30 locations around the world, including 16 offices in North America, offering corporate, institutional and government clients access to a complete range of investment and corporate banking products and services. BMO Capital Markets is a member of BMO Financial Group (NYSE: BMO)(TSX: BMO), one of the largest diversified financial services providers in North America with US$513 billion total assets and over 45,000 employees as at October 31, 2016.

Contacts:

Media Contacts:

Pav Jordan, Toronto

(416) 867-3996

Pav.jordan@bmo.com



Mallory Micetich, New York

(212)-885-4158

Mallory.micetich@bmo.com



Paul Rea, Toronto

416-867-5384

Paul.rea@bmo.com



Internet: www.bmo.com

Twitter: @BMOMedia




CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 -- Pennine Petroleum Corporation (TSX VENTURE: PNN) (the "Corporation" or "Pennine") is pleased to announce that it has signed a Production Sharing Agreement ("PSA") with Albpetrol Sh.A ("Albpetrol") for the exploration and development of the Velca Block in Albania.

The finalized PSA contains a license agreement signed by Pennine, Albania's Ministry of Energy and Industry, and Albpetrol, the country's state-owned energy firm, for a six(6)-year exploratory lease-convertible to a 25-year production lease, upon discovery of oil and/or natural gas accumulations.

"This is a very exciting day for Pennine. Albania has a long history of oil and gas development dating back nearly a century, and Pennine is excited to bring its expertise to this region" says Chief Executive Officer N. Desmond Smith.

"Albania has mature energy infrastructure, established legislation and regulations, and a recent history of significant foreign investment for the development of its energy sector," adds Mr. Smith. "We look forward to working in the Republic of Albania, providing value to Pennine shareholders, and bringing prosperity to the people of Albania."

Pennine intends to initiate a Technical Report in the next 60 days, and with existing data, identify potential drilling targets within the Velca Block.

Pennine is currently working with industry experts from Albpetrol and the Ministry of Energy and Industry in an advisory committee, with Pennine acting as operator.

"Our understanding and experience with Albania has enabled us to develop a partnership with the Albanian government and Albpetrol through a new production sharing agreement. We believe this agreement provides a balanced risk-and-reward contract for the exploration and development of the Velca Block-and, we hope, many other opportunities in Albania," says Pennine chairman Richard Wadsworth, who led Bankers Petroleum Ltd. in re-developing the Patos Marinza oilfield as its president from 2004 through 2008.

"We look forward to a seamless integration of Pennine into Albania's oil and gas exploration and development landscape."

The PSA consists of an Exploration Phase and a Drilling Phase. Under the Exploration Phase, Pennine and Albpetrol will conduct an examination of all currently existing geological, geophysical and well data on the Velca Block, and conduct any processing or re-processing of data to select drilling targets. The Drilling Phase will consist of a commitment to drill a minimum of two (2) wells, to a minimum depth of 2,500 metres.

Pennine will recover all exploration and development costs from 90% of the net operating revenue, after the state's 10% royalty tax, then subject to an R-factor revenue sharing with Albpetrol, ranging from 2% to 15% of net operating revenue, depending on the multiple of cost recovery to the project. After payout of all costs, the interest in the revenue stream is shared, with 50% earmarked for the Albania Ministry of Energy and Industry and 50% for the participants of the PSA (a 100% working interest before payout and a 50% working interest after payout).

Main terms and conditions of the Velca Block PSA were signed in February 2016. Pennine and Albpetrol agreed in April 2016 to the terms of the PSA and submitted the document to Albania's Ministry of Energy and Industry for approval. Pennine reviewed the License Agreement, an integral component of the PSA, in December 2016.

In connection with this transaction, Pennine will pay a finder's fee to an arm's-length entity through the issuance of up to 7,000,000 common shares subject to TSX Venture Exchange policy.

About Pennine Petroleum Corporation: Pennine Petroleum Corporation is an emerging oil and gas exploration and development company (www.penninecorp.com) currently active in Albania and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Pennine Petroleum Corporation

Desmond Smith

403.277.4421

des.smith@penninecorp.com



Pennine Petroleum Corporation

Dean Stuart

403.617.7609

dean@boardmarker.net




PALO ALTO, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 -- SentinelOne, the company transforming endpoint security by delivering unified, multi-layer protection driven by machine learning and intelligent automation, today announced it has received a "recommended" rating for Advanced Endpoint Protection from NSS Labs. SentinelOne was recommended for its combined total cost of ownership and security effectiveness in the first public test of its kind. This rating reinforces SentinelOne's innovation and leadership in the next-generation endpoint protection market.

"It goes without saying that the endpoint remains the most critical line of defense against the latest cyberattacks and the old way of protecting the endpoint through aging antivirus technology simply doesn't cut it anymore. SentinelOne's powerful machine-learning applied to both static prevention and dynamic behavior detection is what helps us to stand apart from the competition in a very crowded field," said Tomer Weingarten, co-founder and CEO of SentinelOne.

"This 'recommended' rating from NSS Labs is proof that we are outperforming traditional AV solutions and other next-generation endpoint protection platforms," continued Weingarten. "We take pride in knowing that our technology can withstand any attack and we have the third-party validation to back our claims."

SentinelOne's Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) unifies prevention, detection and response in a single platform driven by sophisticated machine learning and intelligent automation. With SentinelOne, organizations can prevent and detect attacks across all major vectors, rapidly eliminate threats with fully automated, policy-driven response capabilities, and gain complete visibility into the endpoint environment with full-context, real-time forensics.

The company recently launched a major new enhancement to its machine-learning capabilities with its Deep File Inspection (DFI) engine. The DFI engine identifies and prevents the execution of advanced threats and performs powerful, on-access static analysis to uncover and block file-based malware prior to execution and without any dependence on signatures. The DFI engine makes the SentinelOne EPP the only next-generation endpoint protection offering to seamlessly pair advanced static prevention with dynamic behavior-based detection within a single platform.

NSS Labs' Advanced Endpoint Protection evaluation analyzed the security efficacy, total cost of ownership per protected agent, stability and reliability of next-generation protection platforms. As advanced threats and targeted attacks continue to surge, the NSS Labs report provides customers with an impartial, third-party resource establishing SentinelOne EPP as a sophisticated solution for detecting and defending against complex cyberattacks.

Highlights of SentinelOne's results from the Advanced Endpoint Protection NSS Labs report includes:

Leading TCO rating

"SentinelOne's Endpoint Protection Platform demonstrated excellent protection in an exhaustive series of tests by our team," said Vikram Phatak, CEO of NSS Labs, Inc. "As cyberattacks continue to increase in sophistication, organizations should look for solutions that demonstrate both effectiveness and accuracy in identifying and stopping these threats before they can cause damage. We believe that SentinelOne demonstrated its capabilities well, earning it a 'recommended' rating in our Advanced Endpoint Protection group test."

This news comes on the heels of other recent momentous distinctions for SentinelOne:

Earlier this month the company announced it had been placed furthest for "completeness of vision" in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Endpoint Protection Platforms. This was the second straight year that SentinelOne has been named a Visionary in the Gartner report.

In January, SentinelOne also announced it had secured an additional $70 million (USD) in series C funding led by Redpoint Ventures, bringing total funding to date to more than $110 million. The company plans to use this influx of funding to aggressively expand its sales and marketing efforts to drive more than 400% global sales growth in 2017, while continuing to maintain a strong investment in its research and development initiatives towards its next-generation endpoint protection platform.

For more information, or to download a complimentary copy of the NSS Labs report of SentinelOne's Advanced Endpoint Protection test results, visit: https://go.sentinelone.com/NSSLabsResult_2017.html.

SentinelOne is exhibiting its award-winning Enterprise Protection Platform this week at the RSA Conference in 2017. For more information or for a demonstration of the technology, stop by booth #845.

About SentinelOne

SentinelOne is shaping the future of endpoint security with an integrated platform that unifies the detection, prevention and remediation of threats initiated by nation states, terrorists, and organized crime. SentinelOne's unique approach is based on deep inspection of all system processes combined with innovative machine learning to quickly isolate malicious behaviors, protecting devices against advanced, targeted threats in real time. SentinelOne was formed by an elite team of cyber security and defense experts from IBM, Intel, Check Point Software Technologies, McAfee, Palo Alto Networks and the Israel Defense Forces. To learn more visit sentinelone.com or follow us at @SentinelSec.

Follow SentinelOne:

Website: sentinelone.com

Blog: sentinelone.com/blog

Twitter: twitter.com/sentinelsec

LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/company/SentinelOne

YouTube: SentinelOne on YouTube

Media Contact:

Ryan Siss

(415) 963-4174 x 33

SentinelOne@highwirepr.com




LOS ANGELES, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 --Beagle Freedom Project (BFP), the renowned non-profit national, animal rescue and advocacy organization, filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). BFP, along with five other animal advocacy groups, are challenging the USDA-APHIS to restore the Animal Abuse Registry, an online database of records related to puppy mills, laboratories, roadside zoos, traveling animal shows, and other enterprises that use and exploit helpless animals.

It was earlier this month that, without warning, the USDA-APHIS deleted thousands of records relating to the welfare of animals in abuse industries, including research facilities that experiment on dogs and cats. This means all animal labs and inhumane acts/abuse going on internally, will now stay hidden from public record.

"In an effort to restore records relating to animals and animal welfare, we are proud to announce that BFP has joined forces with PETA, Born Free USA, PCRM, Delcianna Winders, and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals," said Shannon Keith, President and Founder of BFP. "Our organization relies and uses these public records to consistently fight for animal rights, helping to protect them.

BFP's fundamental mission is to place animals in loving homes after they have been used for research. The organization's core principles and values have always centered on the fact that every animal deserves the opportunity to experience life as a beloved member of an adoptive family. With this new regulation in place, BFP is virtually blinded and no longer privy to the locations of where animals are being used for testing. Therefore, the non-profit would cease full resources that assist in its mission to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home animals formerly used in research.

BPF encourages the public to speak out against this action by contacting their members of Congress and urging them to do everything in their power to compel the USDA-APHIS to restore all records back onto its website. The public can also sign BFP's petition on Change.org.

For more information on Beagle Freedom Project, or to interview Shannon Keith, please contact Eileen Koch of EKC PR, a full service Branding, Marketing, and Public Relations firm at 310.441.1000 or email Eileen@ekcpr.com. Visit www.EKCPR.com.

EKC PR

310.441.1000

Eileen@EKCPR.com

www.EKCPR.com




WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - A number of Republican Senators remain undecided on Andrew Puzder's nomination as Labor Secretary, raising some questions about whether the fast food executive will ultimately be confirmed. CNN and the Washington Post both reported that Senators Susan Collins, R-Maine, Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Tim Scott, R-S.C., are withholding their support for Puzder. All four Senators are members of the committee that is scheduled to hold hearings on Puzder's nomination on Thursday. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will finally hold the hearing after previously postponing four scheduled hearings to give Puzder time to submit required paperwork. Citing several sources, CNN said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ken., and business groups are engaged in an intense effort to convince at least two of the Senators to back Puzder. With every Democrat in the Senate expected to vote against Puzder, his nomination will need the support of at least 50 Republicans. Collins and Murkowski previously voted against the nomination of Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary, requiring Vice President Mike Pence to break the 50-50 tie. Democrats and labor groups have been critical of Puzder's opposition to the Obama administration's proposal to expand overtime pay as well as his views on raising the minimum wage. Puzder, who currently serves as CEO of CKE Restaurants, Inc., the parent of Carl's Jr. and Hardee's, has also come under pressure amid revelations he once employed an undocumented immigrant as a housekeeper. While Puzder said he immediately ended the woman's employment after learning of her status and paid back taxes, similar revelations have derailed other Cabinet nominations. (Photo: Gage Skidmore) 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.




Results from Mount Sinai, Washington University, and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories to be presented at AGBT

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Swift Biosciences today announced the commercial release of its Accel-NGS XL Library Prep Kit, the fastest sequencing solution for whole genome sequencing on Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) platforms. This library preparation kit, specially optimized for PacBio's Single Molecule, Real-Time (SMRT) sequencing technology, provides significantly longer sequencing reads with a simple, single-tube workflow utilizing lower sample inputs. Swift Biosciences is now accepting orders for the Accel-NGS XL kit-sold exclusively by Swift.

"With its easy four-hour workflow and longer read lengths, the Accel-NGS XL kit substantially improves whole genome sequencing applications, such as de novo assembly and haplotype sequencing, on any genome including microbial, plant, animal, and human," said Haley Fiske, Chief Commercial Officer of Swift Biosciences. "These quality and workflow improvements help PacBio users generate more meaningful results from every run with twice the productivity."

Swift Biosciences and several scientific collaborators presented two posters at the AGBT 2017 General Meeting showcasing sequencing data generated with this new chemistry. The first poster, entitled "A Method to Improve Read Length of SMRT Sequencing," displayed results, generated in collaboration with Mount Sinai and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories, from diverse genomes including plant, bacterial and human reference DNA. The supporting data produced average reads up to 20Kb, with 50% less sample inputand no adapter dimer artifacts. In the second poster, entitled "Improved Library Construction Methods for the Pacific Biosciences Sequencing Platform Using Swift Accel-NGS XL Library Prep Kit for PacBioApplied to Challenging BAC Clones for Human Genome Reference Improvement,"Robert Fulton, Director of Project Development and Management at McDonnell Genome Institute of Washington University, presented results from human BAC clone sequencing, demonstrating higher library yields with longer sequencing reads.

"Swift Biosciences is the first company to offer library preparation solutions on all three major sequencing platforms, including Pacific Biosystems, Illumina, and Ion Torrent'," stated Timothy Harkins, Ph.D., President and CEO of Swift Biosciences. "We are strategically focused on expanding the NGS market by simplifying complex workflows through our innovative library technologies and bringing new applications to each of the NGS platforms. Our libraries provide the highest quality data in the most challenging of applications. Swift is 'The NGS library company.'"

Visit https://swiftbiosci.com/products/accelxl to learn more.








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.
ATLANTA, GA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 -- Luvu Brands, Inc. (OTCQB: LUVU), a manufacturer and marketer of premium consumer brands in the categories of sexual wellness, comfort top-of-bed accessories and lifestyle fashion furniture, today reported financial results for the three and six months ended December 31, 2016.

Operating highlights for the quarter ended December 31, 2016:

Net sales increased 5% to a record $5.1 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2017, as compared to $4.9 million for the comparable prior-year period.

Total gross profit increased 16.3% to $1.5 million, as compared to $1.3 million for the comparable prior-year period.

Net income increased 78% to $399,000 during the current year second quarter compared to net income of $224,000 in the prior-year.

EBITDA, as adjusted, for the second quarter improved by 40.2% to $579,000, as compared to $413,000 in fiscal 2016.

Operating highlights for the six months ended December 31, 2016:

Net sales increased 7.4% to a record $9.2 million for the six months ended December 31, 2016, as compared to $8.6 million for the comparable prior-year period.

Total gross profit increased 12.5% to $2.5 million, as compared to $2.2 million for the comparable prior-year period.

Net income increased to $222,000 during the six months ended December 31, 2016, as compared to $2,000 for the comparable prior-year period.

EBITDA, as adjusted, for the first half of fiscal 2017 improved by 69.5% to $612,000, as compared to $361,000 in the comparable period of fiscal 2016.

Louis Friedman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased with the growth in net sales and gross profit during the three and six months ended December, 31, 2016. The production improvements that we made during calendar year 2016 are yielding positive results and the roll pack machine that was delivered in January of this year should allow us to continue that trend."

Mr. Friedman added, "During the second quarter, sales of our Jaxx and Avana products (combined) increased by 27%. Unit shipments of Avana products increased 80% during the second quarter to approximately 4,500 units. And, excluding a one-time order from a retailer last year for 5,000 Jaxx products, unit shipments of Jaxx products increased approximately 19% during the second quarter over last year second quarter. We expect to see continued strong growth for both of these brands during the remainder of calendar 2017."

Luvu Brand's executive management will host a business update conference call for investors, analysts and other interested parties on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 at 11:15 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. To listen to the call, please dial 412-902-6510 and ask to be joined into the Luvu Brands, Inc. call. The replay of the call will remain available on the Company's investor relations website, www.luvubrands.com, for approximately 60 days.

LUVU BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets December 31, 2016 June 30, (unaudited) 2016 ----------- ----------- (in thousands, except share data) ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 570 $ 545 Accounts receivable, net 1,119 794 Inventories, net 1,630 1,444 Prepaid expenses 74 96 ---------- ---------- Total current assets 3,393 2,879 Equipment and leasehold improvements, net 950 870 Other assets 9 3 ---------- ---------- 3 Total assets $ 4,352 $ 3,752 ========== ========== LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 2,560 $ 2,363 Current debt 2,360 2,397 Other accrued liabilities 515 477 ---------- ---------- Total current liabilities 5,435 5,237 Long-term liabilities: Long-term debt 936 853 Deferred rent payable 171 188 ---------- ---------- Total noncurrent liabilities 1,107 1,041 ---------- ---------- Total liabilities 6,542 6,278 Commitments and contingencies (note 15) - - Stockholders' deficit: Preferred stock, 5,700,000 shares authorized, $0.0001 par value none issued and outstanding - - Series A Convertible Preferred stock, 4,300,000 shares authorized $0.0001 par value, 4,300,000 shares issued and outstanding with a liquidation preference of $1,000,000 as of December 31, 2016 and June 30, 2016 - - Common stock of $0.01 par value, 175,000,000 shares authorized; 73,452,596 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2016 and 71,452,596 at June 30, 2016 735 715 Additional paid-in capital 6,063 5,968 Accumulated deficit (8,988) (9,209) ---------- ---------- Total stockholders' deficit (2,190) (2,526) ---------- ---------- Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit $ 4,352 $ 3,752 ========== ========== LUVU BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended December 31, December 31, ------------------------------------------------ 2016 2015 2016 2015 ------------------------------------------------ (in thousands, except share data) Net Sales $ 5,134 $ 4,888 $ 9,239 $ 8,605 Cost of goods sold 3,593 3,563 6,721 6,366 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Gross profit 1,541 1,325 2,518 2,239 Operating expenses Advertising and promotion 124 111 206 181 Other selling and marketing 281 307 566 649 General and administrative 563 504 1,147 1,067 Depreciation and amortization 52 63 103 122 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total operating expenses 1,020 985 2,022 2,019 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Income from operations 521 340 496 220 Other Income (Expense): Loss on disposal of assets (1) - (1) - Interest income - - - - Interest expense and financing costs (121) (116) (273) (218) ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total Other (Expense) (122) (116) (274) (218) ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Income before income taxes 399 224 222 2 Provision for income taxes - - - - ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Net income $ 399 $ 224 $ 222 $ 2 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Net income per share Basic $ 0.01 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 Diluted $ 0.01 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 Shares used in computing net income per share Basic 72,496,074 71,159,188 71,974,335 70,930,857 Diluted 72,922,615 75,459,188 72,352,420 75,230,857

Use of Non-GAAP Measure - *Adjusted EBITDA

Luvu Brands management evaluates and makes operating decisions using various financial metrics. In addition to the Company's GAAP results, management also considers the non-GAAP measure of Adjusted EBITDA. While Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of performance in accordance with GAAP, management believes that this non-GAAP measure provides useful information about the Company's operating results. The table below provides a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

As used herein, Adjusted EBITDA income represents net income before interest income, interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, and stock-based compensation expense.

Reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA income for the six months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015:

Six months ended (Dollars in thousands) December 31, 2016 2015 ----------- ----------- Net income $ 222 $ 2 Less interest income - - Plus interest expense, net 273 218 Plus depreciation and amortization expense 103 122 Plus stock-based compensation 14 19 ---------- ---------- Adjusted EBITDA income $ 612 $ 361 ========== ==========

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this press release may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such matters involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the following: changes in economic conditions; general competitive factors; acceptance of the Company's products in the market; the Company's success in obtaining new customers; the Company's success in product development; the Company's ability to execute its business model and strategic plans; the Company's success in integrating acquired entities and assets, and all the risks and related information described from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including the financial statements and related information contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and interim Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Examples of forward-looking statements in this release include statements related to new products, anticipated revenue and profitability. The Company assumes no obligation to update the cautionary information in this release.

About Luvu Brands

Luvu Brands, Inc. designs, manufactures, licenses, and markets a portfolio of premium consumer lifestyle brands including products for intimacy enhancement, fashion seating and furniture, and top-of-bed comfort products. The Company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia in a 140,000 square foot vertically-integrated manufacturing facility that employs over 160 people. Bringing manufacturing back to the USA, sustainable manufacturing practices, and decreasing the overall impact on the environment are core to the Company's operating principles. Luvu Brands promotes its products in a variety of consumer categories to retailers, wholesalers, and distributors in the United States and globally. The Company's brand sites include: liberator.com, jaxxliving.com, avanacomfort.com plus other global e-commerce sites. For more information about Luvu Brands, please visit luvubrands.com.

Company Contact:

Luvu Brands, Inc.

Ronald Scott

Chief Financial Officer

770-246-6426

ron@LuvuBrands.com




KYIV. Feb 14 (Interfax-Ukraine)  The adoption of the bill on electronic trust services by the Verkhovna Rada would allow citizens to use smartphones to receive services from public agencies, while business will be able to take part in tenders of the European Union (EU) countries, Ukrainian Justice Minister Pavlo Petrenko has said.

"For ordinary Ukrainian this means that using own smartphone each of us will be able to register a company, sign any contract, send an inquiry and receive any information about operations of a public agency. All active operations of small and medium sized enterprises can be carried out in communications with public agencies using one small smartphone, without paper and talks with red tapists," he said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine in Kyiv on Monday.

Petrenko said that the Verkhovna Rada earlier failed to pass the bill at second reading and he urged parliamentarians to adopt the bill soon.

"The adoption of the bill allows Ukrainian business to take part in tenders in the EU," the minister said.

He said that tenders in the EU are held in the electronic form, and companies are indentified using MobileID and BankID.

He said that by the end of 2017 many mobile operators are ready to introduce the identification system using MobileID, while banks are using BankID. The approval of the bill would allow introducing these systems to the operation of pubic agencies.

The minister promised that the Justice Ministry will be the first agency which will execute the bill after its adoption.

First Deputy Economic Development and Trade Minister Maskym Nefyodov said that the Economic Development and Trade Ministry is ready to start a friendly contest with the Justice Ministry in the issue of the quick introduction of the bill.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 -- Aurcana Corporation (TSX VENTURE: AUN) ("Aurcana" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that due to positive investor response, it will increase the size of its non-brokered private placement offering (the "Offering") that was announced in a February 13, 2017 news release. The Offering will now consist of the issuance of up to 12,000,000 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.30 per Unit, for gross proceeds of up to $3,600,000. Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of the Company (each a "Share") and one transferable common share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one additional Share at an exercise price of $0.45 per Share for a term of three years from the closing date of the Offering. A finder's fee or commission may be paid on part of the Offering.

The net proceeds from the Offering will be used by Aurcana for the exploration and development of the Shafter Silver Project in Texas and for general working capital purposes.

All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day following the closing of the Offering.

This proposed Offering is subject to the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.

ABOUT AURCANA CORPORATION

Aurcana Corporation owns the Shafter Silver Project in Texas, U.S.A. The Shafter Silver Project was put on care and maintenance in December of 2014, in part due to depressed silver prices.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF AURCANA CORPORTION

Kevin Drover, President & CEO

For further information, visit the website at www.aurcana.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statement Cautions:

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, relating to, among other things, the Company's plan to undertake the Offering and the proposed use of proceeds. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include, the risk that the Company will not be able to secure sufficient subscriptions from investors to complete the proposed Offering, possible, accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.

Contacts:

Aurcana Corporation

(604) 331-9333

www.aurcana.com



Gary Lindsey

Corporate Communications

(720)-273-6224

gary@strata-star.com




Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 14, 2017) - Abattis Bioceuticals Corp. (OTCQB: ATTBF) (CSE: ATT) (the "Company") is announcing today that it will be seeking to adjourn its upcoming annual general meeting of shareholders, originally scheduled to be held on Friday, February 17, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) (the "Meeting"), to a to-be-announced date. The Company will seek to hold the adjourned meeting as soon as practicable. As of this time, no changes are expected to be made to the record date of the Meeting. The Company has decided to seek an adjournment of the Meeting to provide shareholders with a sufficient opportunity to review the audited annual financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2016 which have yet to be filed. The Company anticipates the filing of these financial statements and the lifting of the cease trade order in the very near future.

About Abattis Bioceuticals Corp.

Abattis is a specialty biotechnology company that aggregates, incubates, integrates, and invests in the botanical drug development industry. The Company develops and licenses natural health products, medicines, extractions, and ingredients for the biologics, nutraceutical, bioceutical, and cosmetic markets - some of which will contain cannabinoid compounds. The Company also has an extensive pipeline of high-quality products and intellectual property for the rapidly expanding botanical drug market. We follow strict standard operating protocols, and adhere to the applicable laws of Canada and foreign jurisdictions. For more information, visit the Company's website at: www.abattis.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Rene David"

Rene David, CFO/COO

For further information, contact the Company at (604) 336-0881 or at news@abattis.com.

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
SAN ANTONIO, TX -- (Marketwired) -- 02/14/17 -- EnerJex Resources, Inc. (NYSE MKT: ENRJ) (OTC PINK: ENRJP) (the "Company") announced today that a group of investors unrelated to the Company has purchased from EnerJex's secured bank lender all rights to the Company's secured indebtedness, and that EnerJex has executed with the purchasing investor group a definitive written agreement for the discharge of the Company's secured indebtedness.

Under the terms of that definitive written agreement, and subject to approval by EnerJex's shareholders, the Company would convey to the purchasing investors all of EnerJex's oil and gas properties located in Colorado, Texas, and Nebraska, and would pay to the purchasing investors the sum of $3.30 million. In exchange, those purchasing investors would forgive the Company's approximately $17.925 million of secured indebtedness and EnerJex would retain title to its Kansas-based assets, which generate the majority of the Company's revenue and cash flow from operations.

EnerJex also announced today that Louis G. Schott has been appointed interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company. This appointment follows the resignation of Robert G. Watson Jr. as Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company, in order to pursue other business opportunties.

Mr. Schott has served in the oil and gas industry for 20 years and has extensive legal and business experience, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, public company regulations and requirements, title, energy finance, business development, general negotiations and land. Most recently, he served as General Counsel and Treasurer of TexOak Petro Holdings LLC, where he performed all legal functions, including negotiating oil and gas acquisitions. Mr. Schott previously served in various roles with TDC Energy for a period of 10 years and was an oil and gas attorney with Liskow & Lewis in New Orleans, LA. He is a non-practicing Certified Public Accountant and earned Master of Business Administration and Juris Doctor degrees from Tulane University.

Further, the Company announced today that it will hold an Annual Meeting of shareholders on March 30, 2017 (the "Annual Meeting"). Additional details regarding the Annual Meeting will be provided in the definitive proxy statement that will be distributed to shareholders after the Company completes its review process with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

At the Annual Meeting, at which the Company will seek shareholder approval of the transaction described above, the Board of Directors intends to seek approval of holders of EnerJex's Series A Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock") to convert into Common Stock at a conversion ratio of approximately 1-to-5, or 5 shares of Common Stock for each converted share of Series A Preferred Stock. Based upon the average closing price of the Preferred Stock and Common Stock over the past 30 and 60 trading days, this conversion ratio represents a premium for the Preferred Stock holders of 25% and 30%, respectively.

In addition, the Company's Board is developing alternative plans for generating, from debt or equity financing, the funds needed to pay the $3.30 million amount due to the investor group that purchased EnerJex's secured indebtedness, and to provide working capital for the Company.

Finally, EnerJex announced today the resignation from employment by Douglas M. Wright. Mr. Wright will continue to serve as the Company's Chief Financial Officer pursuant to a consulting agreement dated effective February 10, 2017. Mr. Wright will focus his services on completion of EnerJex's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and the preparation of materials for the Company's Annual Meeting. There were no disagreements between Mr. Wright and the Company.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and the materials referenced herein include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements give EnerJex's current expectations or forecasts of future events.

For further information contact:



Louis G. Schott

EnerJex Resources, Inc.

Phone: (210) 451-5545

Web: www.enerjex.com




Washington D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - February 14, 2017) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged a California-based penny stock company and four corporate officers with misleading investors about the research, development, and profitability of their purported business to manufacture power generation products such as fuel cells.

The SEC alleges that while raising approximately $7.9 million from investors in Terminus Energy Inc., the company and its officers claimed to have a viable prototype capable of being sold and earning revenue. According to the SEC's complaint, Terminus did not have the fuel cell technology or the funding to match their claims, and the officers were instead converting substantial amounts of investor funds to their own use.

According to the SEC's complaint, the company failed to disclose to investors that Terminus's operations manager George Doumanis is a convicted felon who went to prison for securities fraud and was secretly acting as an officer of the company despite being barred from participating in penny stock offerings. Emanuel Pantelakis served on the Terminus board of directors despite having been permanently barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Also charged in the SEC's complaint are Terminus's CEO Danny B. Pratte and its former president, director, and legal counsel Joseph L. Pittera.

Terminus also allegedly used unregistered brokers to sell its securities and paid them more than twice as much in commissions than was disclosed to investors in offering documents. Joseph Alborano is charged in the SEC's complaint with soliciting and selling investments for which he received more than $1 million in commissions.

"As alleged in our complaint, these company insiders spent massive, undisclosed amounts of investor funds and left the company with no realistic chance of developing a fuel cell product," said Eric I. Bustillo, Director of the SEC's Miami Regional Office.

In a parallel action, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York today filed criminal charges against Pratte, Doumanis, and Pantelakis.

The SEC's complaint seeks disgorgement of ill-gotten gains plus interest and penalties as well as officer-and-director bars and penny stock bars.

The SEC's investigation, which is continuing, is being conducted by Robert H. Murphy and Mark Dee in the Miami office. The case is being supervised by Jessica M. Weissman, and the litigation is being led by Alejandro Soto. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Dedrone, a San Francisco, CA-based developer of drone detection software, raised $15m in Series B funding.

The round was led by Felicis Ventures and John Chambers, executive chairman of Cisco, with participation from Menlo Ventures.

The company intends to use the funds to increase marketing and sales efforts, as well as investing in global research and development.

Founded in 2014 by the serial entrepreneurs Joerg Lamprecht, Rene Seeber and Ingo Seebach, Dedrone offers security solutions addressing airspace vulnerabilities exploited by the advances in consumer and commercial drone technology. Its software platform detects aerial intrusions, provides early warning of malicious drone activities and is used to protect data centers, prisons, airports and other critical facilities from, corporate espionage, smuggling, terrorism and hacking.

The company also has production, research and development in Kassel, Germany.

FinSMEs

14/02/2017
Venture capital firm Draper Esprit (AIM: GROW, ESM: GRW) added Irish online entrepreneur and venture capital investor Nicola McClafferty to the Dublin office.

McClafferty will join Brian Caulfield to focus on identifying and investing in Irish tech companies.

Most recently, she was co-founder and CEO of Covetique.com, an online retailer of pre-owned luxury fashion. The company received investment from ASOS plc, the UKs largest online fashion retailer, who subsequently acquired the company in 2015.

Born in Ireland, McClafferty graduated from University College Dublin. After moving to London, she joined investment bank Jefferies International where she worked as an Analyst in the Technology team with a focus on consumer internet and digital media. McClafferty then left to begin her career in the venture capital industry, investing in and developing early-stage technology and media startups, first with Balderton Capital and latterly with Ravensbeck.

FinSMEs

14/02/2017
Mumbai: Nearly 65 percent of startup executives and founders believe that the Indian startups are in a technology bubble, while 18 percent feel that the bubble was close to bursting soon, a study by venture debt and specialty lending business, InnoVen Capital, said.

The India Startup Outlook Report 2017 highlights the perspective with responses from over 170 startup leaders across bootstrapped as well as funded ventures.

The study said that 63 percent of the respondents, who attempted to raise funds in 2016, confirmed that they had an unfavourable funding experience with almost half of these not being able to raise any funding and the rest raised either a sub-optimal external round or a bridge round.

The respondents believe that in 2017, more companies with robust business models followed by more exits is most likely to improve investor sentiment.

The least likely factor to better the funding environment is Indian unicorns raising more money at a higher valuation, the report added.

"The startup outlook report is part of our continued effort to understand and communicate the nature of the Indian entrepreneurship ecosystem. In this report, we explore the mood and outlook of Indian startups given the recent budget, cautious investor climate and an uncertain global economy..." Ajay Hattangdi, Group COO and CEO India, said.

Ninety four percent startups are looking to raise funding in 2017, with VC-backed companies aiming to raise a median of $12.5 million, the report pointed out. The average expectation on how long it could take to close the round is 4-5 months.

Difficulty in raising equity funding was voted as the top business challenge, followed by difficulty in managing talent and market creation. However, the respondents were uncertain whether fundraising will be more challenging in 2017 or less.

Overall, almost 75 percent of the set supposed that the startup ecosystem in 2017 will be driven by entrepreneurs, whilst 26 percent voted that investors will play the pivotal role.

The survey also concluded that the most critical factor in choosing a lead investor is strategic fit with the startup followed by the investor network and commercial terms of the deal. For VC-backed companies, specifically, strength of the institution brand was most important.

Focus in 2017 for majority respondents will be growth, however VC-backed companies opted for profitability as the primary factor to solve for.

Only 38 percent of the cash-burning companies had a higher burn rate in 2016 as compared to 2015 and overall, the median timeline for achieving profitability is expected to be 1-2 years, the report noted.

Separately, the preferred mode of exit for majority startups is to publicly list either in India or offshore with 30 percent selecting M&A as the top choice and another 30 per cent opting to continue to remain private.

In all, about 64 percent of the respondents expect an exit event in the next six years.

On the workforce hiring and representation front, 24 percent of the companies observed had women representation on the board, 18 percent had women in executive positions, and 33 percent were actively looking to hire women in senior roles.

GST was selected as the most helpful recent government initiative, especially by founders in retail consumer brands and logistics sector. Media sector and fintech companies found the push towards Digital India a shot in the arm.

Interestingly, demonetisation policy was seen as favourable by only 22 percent respondents in the short term, but increasing to 52 percent in the long term, the report said.
New Delhi: N R Narayana Murthy and his wife Sudha are known to be frugal, despite being a billionaire couple. A news report mentions today that amid the raging controversy over the company Murthy co-founded  Infosys - he treated Infosys Chairman R Seshsayee to simple breakfast of idli and dosa at his modest Bengaluru residence yesterday morning. No fancy multi-course meal for the Murthys and none obviously for their guests. So, when last week Murthy raised the issue of the Infosys CEOs obscene salary, triggering the present crisis, one was forced to sit up and take notice. For the last few days, newspaper reports have spoken of Murthys displeasure with the proposal to further increase Infosys CEO Vishal Sikkas remuneration.

Founders together own about 13 percent in Infosys and have been a collective weighty voice on important matters. Murthy has also voiced concerns over a large severance package devised for the ex-CFO. On the former, Chairman R Seshasayee said last evening everything was in order. But on the severance pay issue he admitted that due process may not have been followed and that the situation would be rectified. There are no major corporate governance issues at Infosys but the company and its management should look at perception issues which have cropped up after Murthy pointed out the obvious.

Sikka took home close to Rs 49 crore last fiscal. No one is saying that Sikkas pay packet violates any law, neither has it been kept a secret. The remuneration Sikka received in FY16 was duly approved by Infosys board of directors and has been duly disclosed in the companys annual report. The issue is really this: the obscene amount of money Sikka earns to run Infosys may perhaps be justified by the salary math the worlds top corporate honchos apply to their own packages but makes little sense when put in perspective.

This piece shows Sikka took home a salary which was 935 times the median pay at Infosys last fiscal. And that he was the second highest paid non-promoter CEO among Indias top 10 bluechip companies, after L&Ts A M Naik, to get multiple times more than the median pay at his company. While all this is within the law, above board  what Murthy is alluding to perhaps is some sort of sanity in pay packets of the top honchos of India Inc. His long-stated philosophy on compassionate capitalism" suggests the ratio between highest compensation in the firm and the median salary should ideally be 50 to 60. Sikka is already taking home way beyond this.

The recent report by Oxfam An economy for the 99 percent points out not only that the worlds wealth is concentrated in the hands of the very few, it also shows why corporate goals of maximising shareholder profits are leading to increasing inequity in the world. Instead, this money could be put to better use, is what Oxfam says, and in the context of Murthys objections, perhaps a part of the hike Sikka wants this year could also be redeployed for the more needy?

Oxfm says In many parts of the world, corporations are increasingly driven by a single goal: to maximise returns to their shareholders. This means not only maximising short-term profits, but paying out an ever-greater share of these profits to the people who own them. In the UK, 10 percent of profits were returned to shareholders in 1970; this figure is now 70 percent. In India, the figure is lower but is growing rapidly, and for many corporations it is now higher than 50 percent.... The increased return to shareholders works for the rich, because the majority of shareholders are among the richest in society, increasing inequalityEvery dollar of profit given to the shareholders of corporations is a dollar that could have been spent paying producers or workers more, paying more tax, or investing in infrastructure or innovation.

Even if one shrugs off the hint of philanthropy and socialist mindset in all of this, perceptions have always mattered. A flamboyant Vijay Mallya was once the cynosure of all eyes for his flashy lifestyle and the airline he built, which is still remembered for the various luxuries offered to guests. But since Mallya continued to flaunt his wealth long after the business had sputtered and died, no one really now cares if he actually committed any fraud in the Kingfisher Airlines saga  he is remembered for complete lack of empathy with hundreds of employees who suffered as the airline shut down. That perceptions matter more in a country like India becomes more apparent when one scans the list of corporate defaulters to public sector banks  many corporate defaulters are way ahead in this list over Mallya but his name evokes disgust while the others continue to lead peaceful lives in near anonymity.

Gordon Gekkos motto of Greed is good in the Oscar winner eighties movie Wall Street may have been the greatest advertisement for capitalism in the eighties, but post 2008, when the same masters of the universe sought and got US government dole to resurrect their sinking businesses, a little more humility would have been in order. Similarly, Sikka may deservedly be getting a very high compensation but he should abandon hopes of either winning the perception game or the sympathy of the public.
The Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog Amitabh Kant said on Monday that US President Donald Trump will soon realise that protectionist measures like restrictions on H1-B visa will impact America itself.

"....I think Donald Trump will soon realise that a vast number of Indians have contributed very significantly to the growth of software in America," Kant said.

He said, "America has all along talked about open trade. America is what it is because of open trade, because of its ability to attract best talent from across the world. All countries which have prospered whether it is Japan, Korea, China, America itself have grown because of open trade." "You can't have a policy saying that when I grow, I believe in open trade and when the rest of the world wants to grow, we want to have close trade...," he added.

Kant was responding to a question on apprehensions of a clamp down on H1-B visa by the Trump administration in the US, during a conversation with CNN's Kristie Lu Stout at CNN Asia Business Forum tonight here.

He said, he is quite "sure" that President Trump will soon realise that such embargoes or restrictions will weaken America as input cost will raise enormously and the goods produced will become expensive for consumers.

"We are in a world of open trade, one part of a world can't close, we are globalised... you cant reverse it back again... It is not possible." he added.

Responding to a similar query, IT czar Nandan Nilekani said such attempts will accelerate city like Bengaluru and work happening there.

"Every time there has been any effort to stem the the visa, IT wise Bangalore has only grown. We have had more and more people establishing centres here. It will just accelerate the work happening right here.

"The H1-B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialised fields. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year," he said.

On the Centre's demonetisation move and its impact, Nilekani said in his view the big impact was acceleration of digital financial services.

He further said in the last 60 days more has been done to build infrastructure for cashless finance.... I think it is going to be a leap frog and India is going to dramatically increase cashless transaction using phone or Aadhar number.

"That's the big by product of it," he said.
Infosys board members at a press conference on Monday sought to downplay the 'battle' with the founders who have raised a few corporate governance issues in the functioning of the company and reiterated their commitment to uphold the values of strong governance the institution is built on.

Earlier in the day, NR Narayana Murthy, who co-founded the pioneering IT services company and has been in the forefront raising issues of corporate governance among others, had indicated he would now step back and leave it for the board to take it forward.

Murthy's stance had given rise to the hope that the both the founders and the board may be working their way to bury the differences. However, the press conference belied all such expectations, with board members standing ground on most of the issues raised by the founders and rebutting all of them point by point.

Analysts also echoed the same. "Things could potentially deteriorate for Infosys hereon," said Girish Pai of Nirmal Bang Securities in an interview to CNBC-TV18. He said the indications are that friction between Infosys founders and board continues. The press conference, in fact, did not reveal any new material information.

Here are 10 quotes from the presser that clearly indicates it is not all over:

R Seshasayee, Chairman, Infosys

On differences with founders:

You (the media) have been describing it as a battle but we have here a few stakeholders and founders and nothing but good intentions in mind. When you have built an institution with passion, you will be concerned. For sure there will be differences in perceptions, judgement. It is our interest as members of board to listen to these voices, be sensitive to them and calibrate our actions.

On appointment of directors:

Punit Sinha (wife of Union minister Jayant Sinha) is a very accomplished woman. A woman should not be judged by the profession of her spouse. We are very proud of our 3 women directors

DN Prahlad is qualified to be an independent director in terms of letter and spirit, has vast knowledge of business. His name was suggested by founders. This is not a governance issue. We have a process for appointment of directors.

On CEO Vishal Sikkas salary hike:

Vishal's salary revision was discussed many times. We had a global consultant to benchmark his pay with similar global consultants, mainly US companies, and meant to ensure as a motivational package. There are some shareholders who think this is excessive but we have to do what is best for the company and the vast majority of shareholders. In many companies, the compensation package is approved by board. Since we were revising Vishals package, we decided to go to the shareholders first. The company used postal ballot for the approval of Vishals compensation as a measure of good governance practice and 98 percent were in favour. We do not believe there is any issue of governance.

On profligacy of the CEO:

I have been asked why Vishal Sikka is using corporate jets. Roopa Kudwa (independent director) has been at pains to say we don't have a corporate jet. Sikka was traveling 60,000 to 80,000 kms per month. Of this, eight percent was on chartered flights. It is important to equate cost and issues.

Bay Area is a fantastic place for implementing innovation. Vishal thought we should have a place in High Street and we took a place on rent. He discussed it with me. The figure being quoted is a million. What is being picked up is a number without understanding the true value.

We need to recognise that a global company that is on cusp of a new business needs globally diverse talent.

On Rajiv Bansal's severance package issue:

We respect founders' remarks on it. Severance pay that was agreed to pay at the time he agreed to leave was Rs 17.5 crore but we paid only Rs 5.4 crore. That had a mutual agreement and judgment by board. On looking back, it would have been different if processes were different. The learning was subjectivity should be taken away. We have made changes and it will no longer be subjective. What is most important is the suspicion that this was hush money which is deeply disturbing.

CEO Vishal Sikka

On Rajiv Bansal:

Rajiv was a great CFO, but had team chemistry issues

On relationship with Murthy:

We have had conversations and in the interest of company we will [continue to] discuss. In all this [debates in public], it is important that we communicate. I meet Mr Murthy four or five times a year. I have a heart-felt and warm relationship with him. I value his wisdom and criticism. In fact, I was discussing my Apple watch with him today.

On capital allocation:

The board will look up to policy time and again. In the next five years or so, it will be about business initiative, strategies, etc. We are focused on strategies.

On automation:

Several jobs will go at Infosys [if the company continues with the earlier model of cost arbitrage]. The endeavor is to transform the company to a reality where automation is getting common place. I want the company to be innovative and go higher on the value chain.

On learning platform:

Learnability will be a critical thing in future. Infosys Learning Platform is to teach our employees what is happening in the world and in the company, so the learning is accelerated. One of the most interesting programmes is a global leadership programme with Stanford. We have invested in onsite learning. Design thinking training has become an integral part of Infosys now.

Balanced view

What needs to be noted in the quotes above is the balanced attitude that shines through in the stance taken by the board members. They have clearly indicated the willingness to listen to the criticisms raised by the founders but they are also strongly defending the decisions taken in the best interest of business.

For instance, the allegations on travel by corporate jets by Sikka. The board clarified that the company doesn't have a corporate jet. They also gave the details of the travel and the proportion of his travel by chartered flight. Seshasayee reminded that picking up a number without understanding the true value to it is not right.

Clearly, the differences of opinion is not closed yet. What is prevailing is an uneasy calm.

But one thing is for sure. The public debate about the governance issues at Infosys, though Sikka thinks is distracting, is good. It should bring into focus the issues of business ethics at a time when a new world order is emerging with the far right increasingly pushing for more inwardly looking, protectionist trade policies. Such debates are an opportunity to find a finely balanced business practice. Hope the rift at Infosys will help find this soon.
Sayenko Kharenkos criminal defence team successfully represented Reckitt Benckiser Household & Healthcare Ukraine http://rb-health.com.ua/ua/ (Reckitt Benckiser) in criminal proceeding. Alongside comprehensive protection of the foreign investors rights , Sayenko Kharenkos scope of work also included advising and representing Reckitt Benckiser on forcible return of the companys foreign executives and possible application of special sanctions against the company. On 24 January 2017, the Prosecutor General of Ukraine initiated an official meeting whereat he announced a termination of criminal proceeding against Reckitt Benckiser. Please follow the link html?_m=publications&_t=rec&id=200512 to read the official press release of the Prosecutor Generals Office of Ukraine. Sayenko Kharenkos team included counsel Sergiy Smirnov http://www.sk.ua/people/sergiy-smirnov , associates Igor Voronov and Kuzma Pozychaniuk, and was led by partner Sergey Pogrebnoy http://www.sk.ua/people/sergey-pogrebnoy . To learn more about Sayenko Kharenko expertise and experience, please contact: Alyona Onishchenko Director of Marketing and Development AOnishchenko@sk.ua www.sk.ua +38 044 4996000
There are two ways of looking at the friction between N R Narayana Murthy and the leadership team at Infosys. The first is to see it as a symptom of founders who are finding it difficult to let go of companies that they have built from scratch. There are enough precedents in the Indian corporate history for such a narrative to hold fort. The recent return of Ratan Tata, though not a founder like Murthy, to actively helm the affairs of the Tata Group is a strong proxy for the archetypal sticky founder.

The second is to see it as an indication of an emergence of a mature and professional corporate culture within India that is more focused on performance, efficiency and bottomlines than on the emotional whims and fancies of the founders. Again, there are enough examples to back this story line. The edging out of Bansals from top leadership positions in Flipkart by investment major Tiger Global, who positioned their inside man Kalyan Krishnamurthy as the e-commerce giants CEO is an indication of a hard-nosed professionals winning battles against stubborn founders.

Both ways of seeing have their merits, and their vociferous supporters.

As a method to seek a balanced perspective, ways of seeing that concentrate on just the two ends of a spectrum will always run the risk of missing the forest as well as the trees. In short, there is possibly a third way of seeing this friction between Murthy, the Infosys board and its CEO Vishal Sikka. The third way is more in the nature of two opposing world views of corporate governance, leadership and values that underpin what of performance, why of rewards and how of engagement with people as employees, individuals and hard-nosed professionals.

In the third way, Narayana Murthy is asking some fundamental questions that need a reassessment of the what, why and how of the emerging Indian corporate landscape. There is no doubt that Infosys had hit the IT equivalent of doldrums a couple of years back. Results were stagnating and the once nimble giant was finding itself on the wrong foot time and again in the rapidly changing global markets overtaken by higher value IT projects revolving around algorithms and artificial intelligence. Even domestic boutique firms were bagging projects that ordinarily would have gone to Infosys.

The IT giants travails were not very different from those being faced by its other big rivals: Wipro and TCS. Infosys, however, was besieged by a strange ennui and lack of imagination. Murthy led the way in re-jigging the board and bringing in CEO Vishal Sikka, who insiders say has a remarkably sharp and photographic memory. Sikka and the re-jigged board has delivered turning automation and artificial intelligence, once their Achilles heel, into opportunities that are now coming to fruition. No one disputes this story, least of all Murthy.

The seeds of divergences lie in the questions asked by Murthy. In large parts, Murthys questions allude to conflicting models of corporate management. There are two models of management: the American and the Western/Northern European and its offshoots in Japan and Korea.

The American model of management puts the CEO at the centre of every corporate landscape. If a company performs well, the CEO is rewarded with stars and moon, and seemingly everything in between. In short, the CEO is the rockstar, the main show. Think Jack Welch. Think Eric Schmidt and think Marissa Meyer. Sikkas salary hike was not American by any standard, but it did raise the bar as far the Indian corporate landscape was concerned. The American model also puts a premium on certain professionals who are expected to keep the companys internal affairs, well, internal and the audit books spotless and clean.

The massive severance package of Rs 17 crores given to CFO Rajiv Bansal was archetypal American management model. The American model also favours speed, execution, scale and efficiency over costs. While Board Chairman Seshasayee did clarify that Infosys does not own a private jet, he did admit that Sikka did take chartered jets regularly. Typically American, and think Gulfstream and luxurious interiors. Narayana Murthy and Azim Premji are meticulously frugal, always travelling by economy class, even going to the extent of using low cost airlines.

The Western/Northern European models of management typically put the company at its centre, seeing all employees as part of a collective effort. The resultant culture does not allow the gap between the CEOs pay and the lowest paid employee to breach a certain ratio. Think Martin Lundstedt. You cant because he is the low profile CEO of Volvo. CEOs in this model of management are not rockstars, and are not the main show. The Western/Northern European model also does not put a premium on any specific group of professionals, relying more on robust structures, processes, systems of accountability, transparency and governance. And, yes, typically private jets are avoided.

In asking the questions in the way he has asked Narayana Murthy has also implicitly shown his hand about which model he prefers. In his own unique way, Murthy has raised relevant questions that need to be debated by corporate India seriously, especially if they want to contribute to building a more equitable and just India.

For now, at least, the Infosys Board and CEO Vishal Sikka agree with the founder and have aligned completely with the sharply and deeply articulated values by Murthy. It wouldnt hurt the Indian corporate sector also to adopt these values of equity, rational rewards and frugality as foundations of management and governance.

(Swaminathan is Consulting Editor at Firstpost)
India's second largest software exporter Infosys led by chief executive officer Vishal Sikka, and the company's board headed by R Seshasayee have been facing flak, especially from the promoters, over the past week or so for not maintaining the highest corporate governance standards in the company.

Even as founding promoter of Infosys N R Narayana Murthy has clearly stated that governance issues remain a key concern, both the company's chairman of board and CEO have promised to maintain higher standards of transparency going ahead.

However, the board chairman declined to conduct a fresh investigation on the issue of severance package given to ex-CFO Rajiv Bansal, and stated that experts were consulted and the processes were followed in a correct manner.

"One is that do we need to re-probe that, I do not think so, because we have consulted the experts on this and they have said that whatever process we have gone through that is absolutely correct and we were quite conscious of that and despite, that we certainly thought that we could get some assurance which we have. So I do not think there is any need for looking at another probe," R Seshasayee said in a interview to CNBC-TV18.

Despite the ongoing drama unfolding in the media and public, Vishal Sikka said less than 10 percent, or probably around 5 percent of investors, posed question pertaining to the corporate governance issues. In fact, majority of investors were interested in knowing about the performance of the business and the role of automation, etc among others.

"I would say less than 10 percent, probably around 5 percent of the questions were around this particular set of matter  governance and so forth. Vast majority of the questions were about performance of the business and about the macro economic climate, the geo-political climate, role of automation and things of this nature," Vishal Sikka said in an interview to CNBC-TV18.

In fact, the Infosys CEO described the whistleblower's letter on governance issues as a direct, reckless, malicious, slanderous and personal attack on him by diabolical minds, the Times of India report said.

"I will not tolerate it. It is unacceptable. If somebody attacks me personally , we will follow whatever legal recourse we have to after that," Sikka said in an interview to ToI.

Sikka said he won't get bogged down by the ongoing challenges as he is a Kshatriya warrior, and he will stay for a long time in the company. The bigger endeavour will be to transform business, and keep pace with the role of automation and digitisation process, which is going to have a massive impact on the IT industry over the next three, five, seven year, said Sikka.

On being asked whether he favoured the acquisitions of Panaya and Skava because the shareholders of these companies were his ex-SAP colleagues, Sikka clarified that third parties had evaluated these buyouts and their valuations.

"Panaya is a picture perfect example of the automation story that I talk about. Hasso Plattner (SAP co-founder) was an investor in Panaya. That makes no difference. Infosys was aware of the company many years before," said Sikka to TOI.

On his goal of achieving $20 billion revenue target by 2020, Sikka said it's a collective responsibility of the management team and the company.

"Our revenue performance, market performance is something that's the collective responsibility of the management team and the company . Yes, these are distractions we can live without. We will do our jobs," said Sikka.

On reports of Murthy hinting at having Marti Subrahmanyam on the board of Infosys as a co-chair, Seshasayee said the board will take a decision in the interest of shareholders at large, the ToI report added.
New Delhi: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Tuesday reported 4.72 percent decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 1,471.82 crore for the December quarter, 2016-17.

It had posted net profit of Rs 1,544.85 crore for the same period of the previous fiscal, Sun Pharma said in a BSE filing.

The company's total income from operations rose however to Rs 7,912.66 crore for the third quarter of the current fiscal, from Rs 7,122.31 crore in the year-ago period.

"While we continue to focus on growing our existing business, we are happy to invest our strong cash flows in enhancing our specialty pipeline, though currently without commensurate revenue streams," Sun Pharma MD Dilip Shanghvi said.

During the quarter under review, the company commercialised BromSite, its first specialty ophthalmology product in the US, he added.

Sale of branded formulations in India for the third quarter this fiscal was at Rs 1,969 crore, up 5 percent and accounting for 26 percent of total sales, Sun Pharma said.

Sales in the US were at $507 million for the quarter under consideration, a growth of 4 percent over same period last year and accounted for 45 percent of the total sales, it added.

The company's sales in emerging markets were at $172 million for the third quarter this fiscal, a growth of 14 percent compared to the same quarter of last year and accounted for 15 percent of the total sales, Sun Pharma said.

Formulation sales in Rest of World (ROW) markets excluding US and Emerging Markets were at $113 million in the quarter under consideration, a growth of 33 percent from the corresponding quarter last year, it added.

The company currently has approved ANDAs for 424 products while filings for 149 ANDAs await USFDA approval, including 14 tentative approvals.

In another filing to the bourses, the company said its board has appointed Kalyanasundaram Subramanian as an additional director with immediate effect.

The board has appointed him as the wholetime director without any remuneration for two years from 14 February, 2017 to 13 February, 2019.

Sun Pharma stock closed 0.73 percent lower at Rs 650.15 on BSE.
SS Rajamouli's much-anticipated war epic Baahubali 2: The Conclusion seemed to have got even bigger when it was reported that Shah Rukh Khan has been roped in to play a cameo in the film after the success of Rahul Dholakia's crime drama Raees.

Hindustan Times reported that the makers have signed Khan for a special appearance in the sequel to Baahubali: The Beginning.

Now, the makers of Baahubali have clarified, through a tweet, that though they would have loved to have Khan on board but the news of him joining the star cast of Baahubali 2: The Conclusion is merely a rumour.

They denied the news with a clear 'Not true', much to the dismay of Khan's fans who would have had another reason to catch the long-awaited war epic in the theatres.

Khan has given various memorable cameos in the past, such as in Shaad Ali's 2002 romantic film Saathiya, Raj Kanwar's 2010 romantic drama Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega, Sajid Khan's 2007 directorial debut Heyy Babyy, Zoya Akhtar's directorial debut Luck By Chance, the Bhoothnath franchise and Karan Johar's romantic drama from last year, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

We would have loved to have @iamsrk in our movie ! Who wouldn't ? But unfortunately it's a rumour! Not true ! #Baahubali2  Baahubali (@BaahubaliMovie) February 14, 2017

Mumbai Mirror reported that the makers of Baahubali were looking for an established superstar from another language to play the role of the mediator between Prabhas and Rana Dagubatti's characters. They initially approached Tamil superstar Suriya followed by Malayalam stalwart Mohanlal but eventually chose to go ahead with Khan, probably to enhance its pan-Indian appeal.

Interestingly, Khan's good friend Karan Johar foresaw Baahubali: The Beginning as a pan-Indian film and therefore, offered to present it in North India under his banner Dharma Productions. His association with Baahubali continues in the sequel as well.

Baahubali: The Conclusion also stars Tamannaah Bhatia and Anushka Shetty. It is slated to release on 28 April.
SRINAGAR, India Three Indian soldiers and four militants were killed on Tuesday in two separate gun battles in its Kashmir region, in the second deadly clash between security forces and separatist fighters in three days.Five soldiers were also wounded in the shootout in North Kashmir's Bandipora district as a joint army and police team mounted a search following a tip-off that up to three gunmen were in the area, a defence spokesman said."During the searches, militants hiding in a house opened fire, triggering off an encounter," Lieutenant Colonel Rajesh Kalia told Reuters. He said there were no arrests, while the remaining gunmen were unaccounted for.Separately, security forces shot dead three militants in the region's Handwara district, a senior police official told Reuters. An army officer also got injured in the gun battle that was still on, the official said.

India is trying to contain a low-level insurgency in its northernmost region that dates back more than a quarter century. Protests flared last year after security forces killed a popular underground separatist leader called Burhan Wani.

India accuses Pakistan of smuggling in men, equipment and counterfeit cash to back separatist fighters - a charge Islamabad denies. The nuclear-armed neighbours have fought two of their three wars since independence over Kashmir, which both claim in full but rule only in part.Four militants and two Indian soldiers were among seven killed in a gun battle in South Kashmir on Sunday.

(Reporting by Fayaz Bukhari; Editing by Douglas Busvine, Rajesh Kumar Singh and Alison Williams)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told the Bombay High Court on Monday that it will charge eight Mumbai police officials under Section 377 (unnatural sex) of the Indian Penal Code in the Agnelo Valdaris case, as per a report in The Times of India. The agency, however, said that there was no evidence to slap murder charges on the accused.

Agnelo and three others were picked up by the Wadala railway police on charges of robbery on 15 April, 2014. According to PTI, they were allegedly stripped, tortured and even forced to have oral sex with each other over the next three days.

On 18 April, Valdaris died in custody while the others were released on bail on 22 April. After his death, the Wadala police claimed that Agnelo died while trying to escape from custody and was run over by a train.

According to India Today, advocate HS Venegaonkar, representing CBI, said, "The CBI stated in their report that charges of murder couldn't be established against the accused policemen and they were going to file the final chargesheet in the case." He added that the next hearing for the case has been scheduled for 9 March.

The Indian Express had reported that a day that before his death, Valdaris had informed his brother that he was beaten throughout the night and asked him to get Glucon D and some clothes to the police station.

Earlier in December, the Bombay High Court had directed the CBI to carry out a further probe and to file supplementary chargesheet.

Petitioner's counsel Yug Chaudhary had argued that CBI has failed to consider material evidence which clearly points out to offence under IPC section 377 (unnatural sex).

The bench, after perusing the witness statements, postmortem report and doctor's report, observed that Agnelo had not suffered an accidental death.

"There is prima facie material against the police officials, which discloses commission of offence under IPC sections 302 (murder), 304 (II) (culpable homicide) and 377 of the Indian Penal Code. We also find that the CBI in its chargesheet has not invoked proper charges. We therefore direct CBI to carry out a further probe in the case and file supplementary chargesheet," it said.

The bench directed the agency to complete the probe and file the chargesheet within eight weeks.

With inputs from PTI
Srinagar: An unidentified militant was killed on Tuesday while five security force personnel were injured in an ongoing encounter in north Kashmir's Bandipora district, police said in Srinagar.

The militant was killed in the encounter in Parray Mohalla in Hajin area of the district.

The injured security force personnel have been rushed to a hospital, a police official said.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the area this morning following specific intelligence inputs about presence of militants in the area.

While the forces were conducting the search operation, the hiding militants fired upon them, triggering the encounter, the official said.

The operation was on when last reports came in.
China and India accounted for more than half of the total number of global deaths attributable to air pollution in 2015, a study published on Tuesday said.

Research by the US-based Health Effects Institute (HEI) showed that air pollution caused more than 4.2 million early deaths worldwide in 2015, making it the fifth highest cause of death, with around 2.2 million deaths in China and India alone.

The institute, which has also launched an online database showing the global impact of pollution on health (www.stateofglobalair.org), said 92 percent of the world's population lives in areas with unhealthy air.

Air pollution has been linked to higher rates of cancer, stroke and heart disease, as well as chronic respiratory conditions like asthma.

China and India, the world's two most populated nations, each accounted for 1.1 million deaths, the findings showed, but China is now pushing ahead when it comes to taking action, HEI president Dan Greenbaum told Reuters.

"(India) has got a longer way to go, and they still appear to have some ministers who say there is not a strong connection between air pollution and mortality in spite of quite a lot of evidence," he said.

China's authorities have also been reluctant to draw direct links between air pollution and mortality, with the country's health ministry saying it had "no data" linking smog to higher incidences of cancer.

"It is currently too early to draw conclusions about the extent of the impact of smog on health, especially its long-term impact on the body," a ministry spokesman told domestic media during a press briefing in January.

In a long-term national healthcare plan published last October, the government acknowledged the link between health and pollution, and pledged to assess the precise impacts as well as boost environmental monitoring capabilities.
New Delhi: On Tuesday, decks were cleared for prosecution of Rajendra Kumar, former Principal Secretary to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in a corruption case, after the Centre accorded sanction for it.

The Centre also rejected the IAS officer's plea for voluntary retirement.

Kumar is facing corruption charges related to his earlier stint with the Delhi government when he held multiple posts including that of Secretary, Information Technology Department.

CBI had filed charge sheet against him in December last year.

After careful examination of the CBI's request, the Home Ministry has decided to give its sanction for his prosecution, official sources said.

The Centre also rejected his plea for voluntary retirement, saying it cannot be done since a corruption case is pending against him.

In its charge sheet, the CBI has alleged the accused persons had entered into a criminal conspiracy to cause a loss of Rs 12 crore to the Delhi government in award of contracts between 2007 and 2015. The FIR had also claimed the officials had taken "undue benefit" of over Rs three crore in award of contracts.

The 1989-batch IAS officer has been charged with criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery under Indian Penal Code, besides provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act with eight others and Endeavour Systems Private Limited.

Kumar was arrested on 4 July and granted bail by a CBI court on 26 July.

The suspended officer while rejecting the allegations, had recently written in a blog post: "It is clear that they understand that the charge sheet filed is going to fail and therefore the only way to continue to threaten the people is to misuse the provisions of Criminal Procedure Code."

Accusing CBI of harassment, Kumar said the investigative agency could have otherwise filed the charge sheet only after having completed the probe and gathering all evidence required.
The Delhi High Court has observed, last week, that an act and allegation by either spouse, irrespective of gender, would cause mental cruelty to the other spouse with the same intensity. Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Yogesh Khanna, the Bench which examined this case, observed that it tends to get difficult to carve out the truth in matrimonial disputes because of allegations and counter-allegations by parties as there is always a tendency to blow up incidents. The Bench reversed a trial courts verdict dismissing a mans plea seeking divorce from his wife on the grounds of cruelty.

In the case - Navratan Baid vs Neetu Baid, the family court judge had expressed that an allegation of infidelity made against the husband is not mental torture, and does not amount to cruelty. The trial court had also asked the man to provide an explanation to remove the suspicion from the mind of his wife. Setting aside this 2012 verdict of the trial court, the Delhi High Court stated that the appellant and respondent who were married in 1992, were living in separate houses since December 2005 and therefore, there would be no useful purpose served from maintaining the matrimonial bond. The Bench noted: Where a marriage is broken down irretrievably, the insistence by one to continue with the matrimonial bond itself would be evidence of the desire to inflict further cruelty on the other.

The High Court also stated that the trial courts approach on the issue of infidelity allegations as not amounting to mental torture was perverse. Justices Nandrajog and Khanna observed and rightfully so that: A gender bias approach to the issue is revealed, when the judge reasons that unchastity by a wife is to be viewed seriously because a higher level of fidelity is expected from a wife. An allegation of infidelity made against the husband cannot be treated as mental torture. The approach by the judge is totally perverse and contrary to law. Citing an irretrievable breakdown of marriage, the Court stated: cruelty is a feeling which one forms in view of the conduct of the other party.

It is interesting to note that the offence of adultery within the Indian Penal Code is also immensely gender biased. According to Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code, Whoever has sexual intercourse with a person who is and whom he knows, or has reason to believe to be the wife of another man, without the consent or connivance of that man, such sexual intercourse not amounting to the offence of rape, is guilty of the offence of adultery, and shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both. In such case the wife shall not be punishable as an abettor. The laws prohibiting adultery treat the woman adulterer as a victim of the crime, instead of an accomplice  she is treated as the goods and chattels of her husband who can file a case against the male adulterer in a bid to protect his wife, the victim.

In the case of V Revathi vs Union of India (1988), it is striking how the law punishes the outsider in the marriage  the male adulterer is regarded as the seducer. This ideally means that when a mans property has been defiled and tainted, the man can seek justice for being wronged in a court of law. In Sowmithri Vishnu vs Union of India (1985), Sowmithri argued that the law was gender biased  her lover was prosecuted for adultery, and despite being an accomplice in the offence, she was considered the victim who had to be protected by law, and exempt from punishment. It was established that adulterer under the civil law has a wider connotation than under the Penal Code, and [...] it is true that the erring spouses have no remedy against each other within the confines of section 497 of the Penal Code, that is to say, they cannot prosecute each other for adultery, each one has a remedy against the other under the civil law, for divorce on the ground of adultery. The interpretation of the law did not provide for a justice pathway that might allow her to prosecute her husband for adulterous behaviour, or ways by which a husband might charge his wife as a perpetrator rather than a victim of a crime that she is an abettor of.

The social construction of infidelity, therefore, seems deeply connected to the law against adultery that provides for a framework that discriminates against gender. In V. Revathi v. Union of India, Justice Chandrachud opines that Section 497 does not envisage the prosecution of the wife by the husband for 'adultery'. The offence of adultery as defined in that section can only be committed by a man, not by a woman. The present Delhi High Court case, Navratan Baid v. Neetu Baid, takes this perverse judicial approach and turns it on its head, thereby, paving the way for more gender-neutral interpretations of laws surrounding matrimonial relationships.
Chinese students at Columbia University, in New York, have had an unusual response after non-Western name tags were ripped from dorm room doors during the Chinese Lunar New Year. In a campaign later joined by other international students, the Chinese students attempted to explain to the English-speaking community the meaning carried by different characters in their names in a video entitled Say my name.

In the video, students introduce their names, explain the origin of their name, its meaning in Chinese, and why the names are important to them.

Students say the names are part of the Chinese culture and contain their parents' wishes and expectations for them, which they take seriously. That's why the incident incited outrages among the Chinese and the East Asian students' community.

It's often the practice for Chinese students in English-speaking societies to have a Western name so as to make conversations with locals easier, as the Chinese names can sometimes be hard to pronounce.

The university's Office of Multicultural Affairs said they had received students' reports and have launched an investigation to determine whether the incident was racially biased, as the vandalism came in the week following an executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump that heavily restricted immigration to the United States.

The Asian American Alliance has also released a statement in which they condemned the vandalism, describing the acts as "xenophobic efforts to divide and incite fear among Columbia's Asian and Asian American community."

Several other groups of students at the University have also spoken out against the incidents taking place. The groups have banded together to release a joint statement regarding the matter.
Ahmedabad: At least seven policemen, including District Superintended of Police R V Asari, were injured on Tuesday in stone pelting when cops tried to stop a farmers' rally near Sanand town in Gujarat.

Police resorted to lathicharge and lobbying of tear gas shells after senior police officials of the district were injured in stone pelting.

According to Asari, who received injury on his head, some agitating farmers hurled stones on the policemen deployed on Sanand-Nal Sarovar road, from where, farmers living near Nal Sarovar had planned to take out their rally till Gandhinagar to protest scarcity of irrigation water.

"To raise the issue of water supply, farmers living in villages near Nal Sarovar had announced to take a rally till Gandhinagar today, for which, police had already denied them permission. When the rally reached near Sanand, we tried to convince some of their leaders not to go ahead," said Asari.

"When our talks were on with leaders, some persons in the rally started throwing stones on policemen, injuring at least 7 personnel, including me. We then resorted to mild lathicharge and fired some tear gas shells to control the situation. There are no reports of civilian injury yet," said the SP, who remained stationed at the spot after getting first aid.

He claimed that unidentified persons in the rally resorted to violence after their leaders agreed to stop the rally at Sanand after being convinced by police.

"The rally consisted around 3,000 persons. We have detained around 15 persons involved in the violence. A formal FIR will be lodged in this regard at Sanand GIDC police station. The situation is totally under control," added Asari.

Meanwhile, opposition Congress and Patel quota stir leader Hardik Patel criticised the police action to use force against farmers.

"Police thrashed innocent farmers at the behest of BJP-led Gujarat Government, which is known for suppressing people who raise their voices," alleged Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi.

"We condemn such atrocity on farmers, who were just demanding adequate water for their farmlands," Doshi added.

In a statement, Hardik said BJP government is trying every trick in the book to retain power by terrorising people.

"Farmers were lathicharged for raising a legitimate demand. Such atrocities proves that this government is anti-farmer. It is their known method of being in power by terrorising people and suppress every voice of dissent. In coming days, farmers will take appropriate decision in this regard," said the fire-brand leader.
Sixteen persons have been killed while more than two dozen, mostly civilians, have been injured in three different gunfights this week in the Kashmir Valley. The latest, among the rising number of casualties, are the three soldiers who were killed on Tuesday during an encounter in Hajin area of north Kashmirs Bandipora district.

A dozen government forces, including an army major and a CRPF Commandant, were also injured in the incident.

The Indian Army's 13 and 31 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), the 45th battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Kashmir police had cordoned off two villages in the Hajin area of Bandipora in the wee hours on Tuesday after receiving inputs about the presence of militants in the area.

In the initial shootout, five soldiers and four policemen were injured. While the security forces killed Abu Musa, district commander Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit in the gunfight, three soldiers injured during the operation also succumbed to their injuries later.

The soldiers killed in the encounter were Astosh Kumar of 13 RR (resident of Sultanpur in Badlapur, Uttar Pradesh), Ravi Kumar of 31 RR (resident of the Samba area of Jammu and Kashmir), and Dharmendra Kumar of 31 RR (resident of Nainital in Uttarakhand).

"It was a bad day," a senior police officer, based in Bandipora, told Firstpost. The tragic killing of three soldiers happened because the area was over-crowded, we try to avoid collateral damage. These people (militants) spray the area with bullets, he added.

The rising number of casualties among security forces, police officials said, is a cause for concern. And this, they add, normally happens when the security forces try to corner militants to a spot after receiving real-time intelligence of their presence in a house. "When forces are about to zero-in on the house, they receive fire and suffer casualties," a police official said.

The security forces have lost five personnel since Sunday (two in Kulgam and four in Hajin area of Bandipora), whereas they killed four militants in both the operations.

Three terrorists were killed in Handwara encounter on Tuesday evening, while one was killed in Bandipora, Army spokesman, Colonel Rajesh Kalia, told Firstpost.

The Handwara encounter took place on Tuesday evening in a brief gunfight at Kralgund area of Handwara, a town in Kupwara district in north Kashmir.

Officials said that soldiers from the 30 Rashtriya Rifles and the SOG were acting on a tip-off. The security forces launched a search operation and soon, the militants hiding in the area opened fire. The gunfight resulted in the death of all the three militants.

Even as the security forces were exchanging bullets with the militants hiding in the area, protests broke near the encounter site and the locals attempted to break the security cordon.

The security personnel fired several rounds in the air and resorted to teargas shelling to disperse the crowd. A civilian, identified as Hilal Ahmad Parrey of Parray Mohalla, was injured in these protests.

An army Major, S Dhaiya, who was earlier injured in a gunfight with militants in Handwara district later succumbed to injuries. Major S Dhaiya, who was leading the operation in which three militants were killed at Hajin, Handwara on Tuesday succumbed to his injuries sustained in the operation, Army spokesperson, Col Rajesh Kalia, said.

In the last three days, eight militants, six army soldiers and two civilians were killed while around 35 persons wounded in Kashmir.
Hindustan Times recently shut down a few of its branch offices and fired a large number of its employees. According to a press release, the combined layoffs in Hindustan Times and Anand Bazaar Patrika (ABP) group of publications in the past few weeks amount to over 1,000.

On Tuesday, more than 150 journalists and non-journalist employees of several newspapers and a news agency held hour-long demonstration before the Hindustan Times office in Mumbai, raising slogans against mass termination of media employees.

According to News Laundry, the business section of Hindustan Times will now be syndicated to HT Media's financial publication, Mint. "While the shutting of the business bureau has meant close to six people losing their jobs, there is uncertainty over the fate of about 40 journalists that make up the Kolkata bureau. HT Media is also closing its editions (and possibly bureau) in Ranchi, Bhopal and Indore.

Its operations in Allahabad, Varanasi and Kanpur will also be shelved from Monday onwards. The management, in an email, has explained this move on the back of HTinvesting into a 'Digital Future' and the 'creation of an ultra modern and hi-tech newsroom in Delhi'. It has also said that the group hopes to strengthen its prime editions in Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Lucknow," reported News Laundry.

According to a leaked internal letter, Hindustan Times is moving towards a "digital trajectory". Vineet Jain of the Times Group, a competition of HT Media tweeted in support of the paper and said:

I support ht.Wage board&demonetisation is hurting print industry.print needs zero rating in gst. #narendramodi https://t.co/G6ClrrxEVN  Vineet jain (@vineetjaintimes) January 6, 2017

Outlook reported that the entire photo department of ABP was wiped out and that the head office in Kolkata resembled a "moratorium".

At the demonstrations in Mumbai, media employees also waved placards that said 'Journalists-Media Workers unity Zindabad', 'Media barons: Honour SC order and Implement Majithia wage board' and 'Don't shoot the Messenger, Don't sack the Messenger'. Another demonstration will be held at the India Bulls Towers in front of the Hindustan Times office in Mumbai. These layoffs come in the backdrop of the failure of media managements to implement the Majithia wage award.

According to a press release, a memorandum has been submitted to Hindustan Times Chairperson, Shobana Bhartia condemning the "harassment" and "coercive action" taken against employees:

1. Your act has violated numerous provisions of the law, including Sec 16A of the Working Journalists Act. You are well aware that a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by the then Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam had on Feb 7, 2014 (ABP Pvt Ltd and Onr vs Union of India and Othrs), upheld the Constitutional validity of the Working Journalists Act, 1955, and the amendment Act, 1974, and rejected the contention of improper constitution of the Wage Boards, irregularity in the procedure adopted by the Majithia Wage Board and that Majithia Wage Boards had overlooked the relevant aspects and considered extraneous factors while drafting the recommendations.

2. Your establishment has collected, under Sec 20J, undertakings from your employees, both journalist and non-journalist newspaper employees, on a mass scale, that they do not want the Wage Board. In the Supreme Court, a contempt petition is pending against your establishment to determine whether these are obtained by force or really voluntary? Which sensible journalist will voluntarily accept a lower wage?

3. It is clear that you have decided to close down these editions in other to avoid the implementation of the Supreme Court order and the Majithia Wage Board award.

4. Your action led to untold misery and disrupted the lives of scores of employees, besides leading to the tragic and untimely death of a senior staffer of Hindustan Times -- soon after his illegal termination by the company. Your callousness and cynical apathy only shows how much you are only concerned with the maximisation of profits.

5. We do not accept your excuse that demonetisation has forced you to take this step because, although it is only a three month old process, you have evaded the process of implementation for more than three years.

The JAC demanded the restoration of editions with reinstatement of all employees and implement the Majithia Wage Board Award in toto, thereby maintaining the spirit and letter of the Supreme Court verdict in this regard.

Most media houses according to News Laundry have stated demonetisation as a cause for downsizing, The Hindu sent an email to its employees in December 2016 low advertising revenues caused due to demonetisation.

The website also reported that The Economic Times and The Times of India have frozen hiring.

However a commentary in the Economic and Political Weekly suggests that the downsizing was in play long before demonetisation  "The impact of the demonetisation on the volume of advertisements in The Times of India has not been particularly noticeable either. For instance, on 20 January, eight-and-a-half of the Mumbai editions first nine pages were filled with advertisements," says the report in EPW, arguing that demonetisation is not really to blame, instead it is the "structural factors, compounded by the cult of profit, that have led to layoffs in media houses."
The Andhra Pradesh government has declared Rohith Vemula, the research scholar of University of Hyderabad whose suicide in January 2016 triggered a nationwide uproar, as belonging to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and not a Dalit.

The District Level Scrutiny Committee in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, which was reviewing the Dalit status of Rohith Vemula, submitted its final report to the government stating that neither Rohith nor his mother Radhika were Dalits, reports News18.

The government has also decided to cancel the SC certificate fraudulently obtained by the duo, reports Hindustan Times. The government also served a show cause notice on Radhika as to why she cannot be declared as belonging to the Vaddera community, which falls under the OBC category.

Earlier on 17 January, his first death anniversary, his mother alleged that governments were desperate to declare him an OBC.

"Governments are desperate to declare Rohit as Other Backward Class (OBC). After my son's demise... they are now behind me. They want to declare my son as OBC. I know what humiliation I have undergone being Dalit in the society," she alleged.

Radhika was addressing a group of students as part of the Shahadat Din organised at the main entrance gate of University of Hyderabad (UoH) here. Rohith was found hanging in a hostel room on UoH campus.

Radhika questioned why there was a delay in arresting the accused, including UoH vice-chancellor Appa Rao Podile, Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya and others, who have been booked under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and for abetment of Rohith's suicide.

Addressing the group, Rohith's brother Raja alleged, "During inquiry at the Guntur Collector office (with regard to the caste status of Rohith) they insulted my mother by questioning her character. She was also questioned how she raised her kids."

"Whoever is raising his voice in the country is being labelled as 'anti-national'," he alleged, adding, "Unless we get justice, we will continue to fight till our death."

Raising questions on Rohith Vemula's Dalit status, a commission constituted by the HRD ministry after the scholar's death, had said that the material on record did not establish the caste of the deceased and attributed his suicide to personal reasons.

However, National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) chairman PL Punia had rejected the judicial commission's report on Vemula's suicide as "fake and fictitious", and said the deceased research scholar was a Dalit.

With inputs from agencies
Last November, the Supreme Court had ordered that the National Anthem must be played in public theaters across the country before a movie, minus any dramatisation, in an attempt to promote patriotism. This author had respectfully disagreed with the apex court's ruling back then, as forcing citizens to honour the nation is a great insult to India, and this author continues to maintain the same view.

The National Anthem is merely a symbol of our nationhood and symbols, by their very nature, can be changed at any time. It is our nation that is more important; our national values of freedom, liberty and democracy that ought to be protected far more than symbols like the national flag or the anthem.

This afternoon, the Supreme Court has clarified that Indian citizens will no longer be required to stand in cases where the national anthem is played in the middle of a film as part of the storyline or as part of a newsreel or a documentary. This comes in light of the fact that many people were assaulted for not standing up during a scene in the Aamir Khan starrer Dangal, in which the National Anthem is played, despite a Ministry of Home Affairs notification exempting them from the same.

But now, things are beginning to border on the absurd as last Sunday, director Atul Kumar's adaptation of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night ran into a spot of trouble at Mumbai's Rangasharda Auditorium. The management of the auditorium insisted that the director begin the performance of the folk adaptation with the national anthem, followed by a public announcement encouraging people to go vote for the upcoming BMC elections in the city. Despite there being no legal requirement to do so.

The poor director tried to explain that the adaptation was done in the nautanki form of Indian Theatre and that playing a CD with a pre-recorded official version of the National Anthem would disrupt the mood of the play, especially if it was followed by an announcement encouraging people to go vote for a local municipal election.

To this, the director was told to somehow work it into the play. Thankfully, the play went on uninterrupted. In a community theatre format, with predefined music, the experience begins the moment the audience walks inside. It's a format that emerges from India's villages, where there are no CD players that play anthems or announcements, and far predates either.

Though the entire incident begs to question, is the National Anthem a can of soft drink that artists now have to 'work' into their productions, even though there is no legal requirement to do so? Is this really how we want to treat this most sacred of national symbols?

One of the flip sides of secularism is the emergence of a civic religion, often built around elements of the state and its history that take on a near religions element. We garland portraits of Gandhi and Nehru; erect statues of Netaji. The National Flag and Anthem obtain near divine significance in civic life.

But to reduce it to the status of a can of soft drink, as the management of Rengasharda did, seems to degrade and denigrate the civic symbol rather than honour it.

Coupled by the fact that there seems to be no legal basis to make this demand of an artist, let alone another human being, this act seems to be nothing more but an act of overzealous patriotism, that results in an act of malice towards the very symbol it aimed to protect.

While this author will respectfully continue to maintain his differing opinions about enforcing patriotism via the judicial diktat, one does feel, that there ought to be a general consensus on calling out what is plainly an absurd attack on artistic freedom.

If the organisers wanted to play the national anthem and make an announcement, they could have done so at the end of the programme or done so outside the hall without interrupting the performance. Attempting to place the national anthem in the performance like product placement in a film does neither the artist nor the national anthem any justice.
As I walk down Park Street, the still glitzy if slightly faded epicenter of cosmopolitan nightlife in Kolkata, I notice the Valentines Day billboards outside the restaurants.

One promises a crab and duck special, a live band, surprise gifts for lucky couples and a rose for every lady. I wonder what they would do if the couple happened to be two women. If two men showed up on V-day would neither get a rose? Would they be refused service? Or is all business good business, especially in times of demonetisation?

I had not grown up thinking of Valentines Day as anything special. In Kolkata, we joked that Saraswati Puja was the Bengali Valentines Day when young men and women sent their text books to be blessed by the Goddess and took advantage of that respite to indulge in a bit of wholesome romance. The western style Valentines Day felt cloying, an artificial sweetener sponsored by Archies cards, hard-selling some pink cotton-candy version of love. Even Bollywood dance-around-trees felt more authentic than that. It was at least homegrown.

If you were gay, it reminded you even more bluntly that this was a day where heteronormativity was hardcoded in every offer of a complimentary rose for the lady. Gay romance was often secretive, hidden away from prying eyes. There was no Valentines Day to put it on public display with roses and balloons. Gay romance was romance that was stolen every day and 14 February was no different really.

Years ago, a gay American friend visiting India had been amazed at the number of young men he saw holding hands. Its like gay Valentines Day every day, he marvelled. Of course it was not. Holding hands in a homosocial culture meant nothing homosexual. But it provided cover for the homosexual men who could hold hands and get away with it. Thats changed. Fewer men hold hands in India and certainly the higher you climb on the class ladder, the more hands-off it becomes.

The first time I remember celebrating Valentines Day was probably in the United States. Id embarked on a new relationship. It felt obligatory to celebrate Valentines Day, the done thing. Id booked a restaurant in advance after much research and debate. I called, the man asked me to hold while he checked availability and then said a table for two was available at 8:30. It was a new European restaurant that looked romantic with dim lighting and an intriguing menu. Then on Valentines Day there was a freak snowstorm. But we trudged through the snow reassuring ourselves that it was just adding to the romance of it all with some bonus winter wonderland spectacle.

When we reached the restaurant we discovered that it was entirely empty  just waiters milling around aimlessly among tables where candles burned in anticipation of romantic couples who were missing in action. The maitre-d made a great show of looking into his ledger for our reservation as if the restaurant was bustling with people. Then he led us with a flourish to our table in a corner. Its the snow, he said apologetically. So many cancellations because of the snow. We didnt believe that everyone had cancelled en masse but we did not contradict him either as we clutched onto the promise of our romantic evening.

But the weight of that empty restaurant crushed all romance out of our dinner. We talked in hushed voices as if we were in a library, nervous that bored waiters were eavesdropping on our conversation. We were acutely aware of the entire waitstaff hanging around waiting to refill our water glass every time we took a sip. Outside the snow was still falling gently, piling up prettily on the sidewalks. Inside, it felt oppressive  as if we were desperately trying to keep the Valentines Day spirit from being snuffed out from both the restaurant and our love life. By the time the dessert arrived, we had stopped talking entirely. The emptiness of the restaurant weighed down on us like the heavy velvety drapes at its door. We could not wait to escape.

That night we had our Valentines Day fight. I cannot blame it on the restaurant alone but that pressure to have a perfect special Valentines Day certainly took its toll. Next year we decided to avoid overpriced restaurants. We went to see a play instead in San Francisco. The theatre was quite full. It was a one woman show by Anna Deveare Smith, an extraordinary performer. We loved it and decided that should be our Valentines ritual.

Every couple we felt needs a Valentines ritual. Theatre would be ours. The pickings were uneven. Some plays were enthralling. Some were no better than amateur community theatre. Some were so experimental, we understood nothing. Once it was a gay play by some debut playwright, badly-acted and badly staged. Sometimes it was in a grand old playhouse, sometimes in some musty church basement. But at least it was a respite from the monotony of teddy bears and chocolates.

The plays I realise now were actually an act of resistance. It was a resistance to the barrage of marketing gimmicks to celebrate Valentines Day, the relentless pressure to have a day that would be extra-special and different though it was always the same.

Back in India, I let go of Valentines Day rituals but I understood that here too it was an act of resistance in its own way. In a country where hooligans protest cultural imperialism by attacking couples on Valentines Day and vandalise storefronts in the name of all-Bharatiya values, Valentines Day, commercial as it is, is a way of pushing back. And so if a gay couple walks into a restaurant for that crab-and-duck dinner and demands that complimentary rose, I will not roll my eyes at the tackiness of it all. I will chalk it down as one small act of resistance in a country where the right to love must still be fought for every inch of the way.
Editor's note: This article was originally published on 30 September, 2014. It is being republished in light of the fact that the Supreme Court has convicted VK Sasikala in the disproportionate assets case on Tuesday.

Chennai: Forced by circumstances to fill her shoes for a second time, O Panneerselvam has an unenviable task of heading the Tamil Nadu cabinet in the wake of conviction and jailing of AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa.

From humble origins as a farmer and tea shop owner to Fort St George, the seat of power in Tamil Nadu, he has travelled a path of unexpected twists and turns.

'OPS', as the new Chief Minister is called in political circles, is taking over in troubled times for his party and its unquestioned chief Jayalalithaa exactly in the same situation that had unfolded 13 years ago.

Jayalalithaa had sprung a surprise by handpicking him to fill her shoes in 2001 when she had to step down due to her conviction in TANSI land scam case. But this time, following her conviction, it was more or less clear he was leading the race among his colleagues, considering his unflinching loyalty to Jayalalithaa that even earned him the sobriquet 'Mr Faithful.'

Incidentally, the politician had then chosen not to function from the chair on which his 'revered' leader sat while he performed the role of night watchman. He duly vacated the post after Jayalalithaa was acquitted in the case.

Representing Bodinayakanur Assembly constituency in Theni District in the current assembly, Pannerselvam has risen from humble origins. His family still owns a tea stall he once ran.

He was also an agriculturist and began his political career when he was elected to Periyakulam Municipality. He went on to become its Chairman during 1996-2001.

A graduate, he was elected to the state Assembly in the 2001 elections and straightaway was made Revenue Minister by Jayalalithaa.

Panneerselvam also served as leader of the AIADMK legislative party and Leader of the Opposition for about two weeks after the party lost the Assembly elections in May 2006.

With PTI inputs
Editor's note: This article was originally published on 27 September, 2014. It is being republished in light of the fact that the Supreme Court is expected to announce its verdict in the disproportionate assets case on Tuesday.

It was a complaint by Subramanian Swamy in a Chennai in 1996 that led to a probe against Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers Jayalalithaa in what later came to be known as the "Disproportionate assets case" in which she was convicted by a Bangalore court today.

What the case is all about:

In the mid-90s, Jayalalitha was booked for amassing wealth to the tune of Rs 66 crore-which was disproportionate to her known sources of income-following a complaint by a DMK worker. Jayalalitha is the accused number one in the case followed by Shashikala Natarajan, Sudhakaran-foster son of Jayalalitha-and Illavarasi.

The charge against her was that her assets were around Rs3 crore in 1991 and had grown to around Rs 66 crore between 1991-1996.The AIADMK was voted out in 1996 as it was perceived to be corrupt.

The history:

On June 14, 1996, Subramanian Swamy, then Janata Party leader, filed a complaint before the Principal Sessions Judge in Chennai alleging that Jayalalithaa had assets disproportionate to her known sources of income. Swamy, was then the President of the the Janata Party, which has since merged with BJP.

The court directed the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption wing to investigate the complaint.

Subsequently, an FIR was registered by the police on September 18, 1996 and a probe was conducted which also included search and seizure procedures at multiple locations including Hyderabad. A chargesheet was filed and witnesses examined.

The witnesses who were recalled in court after the AIADMK returned to power in 2001 invited the censure of the Supreme Court later.

It was alleged that the value of Jayalalithaa's assets increased to Rs.66.65 crore when she demitted office in 1996 after a five year stint. Before assuming office as Chief Minister on July 1, 1991, the value of her assets was Rs 2.01 crore, it was alleged. Jayalalithaa had then declared that she was drawing only Re1 as salary.

While Jayalalithaa was the first accused in the case, her aide Sasikala, her erstwhile foster son V N Sudhakaran and J Ilavarasi, a relative of Sasikala, are the other accused.

The case, in its 18 year journey has seen many petitions filed by the accused involving questions, including that of law, procedures and relief in several courts like the trial court, High Courts of Madras and Karnataka and the Supreme Court.

The case was transferred to Bangalore in 2003 by the Supreme Court on a petition filed by DMK leader K Anbazhagan in which Swamy, impleaded himself in his capacity as the original complainant. Swamy also supported the transfer of cases out of Tamil Nadu for a fair trial.They had maintained that the trial will not be conducted in a free and fair manner if it was done in Tamil Nadu.

Transferring the case to Karnataka, an apex court bench, comprising Justice S N Variava and Justice H K Sema in its judgement on November 18, 2003 observed: "It does appear that the new public prosecutor (appointed by the AIADMK Government) is hand in glove with the accused thereby creating a reasonable apprehension of likelihood of failure of justice in the minds of the public at large. There is strong indication that the process of justice is being subverted. Free and fair trial is sine qua non of Article 21 of the Constitution.

The big question now:

he big question now is who will head the government in the absence of Jayalalithaa. Again this is not the first time such a question has cropped up.

In 2001, Jayalalithaa had to step down as a chief minister following a Supreme Court verdict which held that she cannot hold the office after being convicted for criminal offences.

However, she made O. Panneerselvam, a senior minister in her government, as the chief minister.

In 2002, Jayalalithaa again became the chief minister after being acquitted by the Madras High Court. She was later elected from Andipatti constituency.

AIADMK leaders do not rule out re-run of such an arrangement.

Friends and foes are in awe of Jayalalithaa, who is the tallest Brahmin politician in a state where anti-Brahminism is a part of political discourse.

Even her critics admit that Jayalalithaa is a fighter and has an iron grip over her party.

The judgment against her was delivered in a state where she was born.

Born in what was then known as Mysore on Feb 2, 1948, Jayalalithaa moved to Chennai with her mother, who started acting in movies.

Jayalalithaa studied at the Bishop Cotton Girl's High School in Bangalore and another Christian convent, Church Park, in Chennai. A bright student, Jayalalithaa ventured into acting and made her debut at the age of 16 in a Kannada movie.

Her first Tamil movie was the memorable "Vennira Aadai". But it was the grand success of "Aayirathil Oruvan" pairing with the legendary M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) that turned Jayalalithaa into a leading light of Tamil movie world.

She has paired with almost all the leading Tamil heroes. She has acted in over 100 movies, mostly in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.

A charismatic leader who is at home in Tamil, English and Hindi (a rare quality in Tamil Nadu politics), Jayalalithaa has also sung many songs and written several stories. But when she entered politics, few could have predicted her meteoric rise.

AIADMK founder-leader MGR made Jayalalithaa the party's propaganda secretary in the early 1980s. In 1984, she entered the Rajya Sabha.

Jayalalithaa, who chose never to marry, was elected to the Tamil Nadu assembly for the first time in 1989. Just two years later, she became the chief minister, sweeping the election of 1991 held in the wake of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination.

She lost her huge mandate within five years amid corruption charges.

Agencies
On Monday, in reaction to a Congress leader's statement that the BJP was turning Arunachal Pradesh into a Hindu state, Rijiju tweeted "Hindu population is reducing in India because Hindus never convert people... Minorities in India are flourishing unlike some countries abroad."

Hindu population is reducing in India because Hindus never convert people. Minorities in India are flourishing unlike some countries around. pic.twitter.com/W4rZnk1saM  Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) February 13, 2017

The minority jibe has added another feather to Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju's cap. Here is a look at all the times the 45-year-old minister stoked a new controversy with his disputable statements.

1) SIMI shootout at Madhya Pradesh

In November 2016, just after eight members of the Students Islamic Movement of India, also known as SIMI were shot, Rijiju was heard saying, First of all we should stop this habit of raising doubt, questioning the authorities and the police. This is not a good culture. But what we have been observing in India that the people have developed this habit of raising unnecessary doubts and questions.

According to Hindustan Times, after facing backlash, he clarified that the government should be questioned rather than security forces in a democracy.

2) Attacking Anurag Kashyap's Modi comment

As India Today reports, in October 2016, Rijiju had tweeted about film directors attacking the prime minister saying, "A new fashion has developed in India. A student or a film person can put a question or speak against PM without any logic to get into news."

Movie director Anurag Kashyap was expressing his support for Karan Johar's directorial venture Ae Dil Hai Mushkil'. The film was criticised for casting Pakistan actor Fawad Khan and Cinema Owners Association had decided to stall the release of the film. Questioning the protests, Kashyap had asked why should the film be affected, considering Johar shot it way before tension between India and Pakistan escalated following the Uri terror attack.

3) Nehru comment

According to India Today, in May 2016, Rijiju said the former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru hurt the sentiments of the people of North-East during the 1962 war, drawing sharp reactions from the Congress. "First Prime Minister of India Pandit Nehru, for whom I have the greatest respect, had caused a great heartburn to the people of Arunachal Pradesh," he had added.

4) When people of North India were at the receiving end

At a Delhi even in October 2015, reports in The Indian Express on Rijiju's comments quoted him, I was witness to a statement made by one of the lieutenant governors of Delhi some years ago. He had stated that people of north India enjoy breaking rules and by evening he was forced to apologise. But I believe what he said was right.

However, Rijiju later retracted his comment after Congress and the BJP protested. He went on to state that people here love to brag about having threatened a police official. That means the society as a whole needs to change, he added.

5) Reaction Naqvi's beef remark

According to NDTV, in May 2015, Rijiju was quoted by a newspaper saying, "I eat beef, I'm from Arunachal Pradesh, can somebody stop me? So let us not be touchy about somebody's practices." The comment was in reaction to minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi's statement that those who want to eat beef should go to Pakistan. Later, Rijiju denied it by saying he was misquoted.
Chinese President Xi Jinping makes remarks when addressing the opening session of a workshop on the 6th Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, attended by senior provincial and ministerial officials, at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, Feb. 13, 2017. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

President Xi Jinping on Monday told leading officials to practice strict self-discipline and eliminate special privileges.

Xi made the remarks when addressing the opening session of a workshop on the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. The workshop at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee was attended by senior provincial and ministerial officials.

The opening session was presided over by Premier Li Keqiang. Other leaders including Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli were also present.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said implementing the decisions of the plenum would have far-reaching and profound significance for both the Party and socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Xi urged leading cadres to "build a fence" against special privileges to prevent themselves and those around them from abusing power.

Leading officials should use their power "impartially, cautiously and legally," Xi said in his speech.

The CPC Central Committee held the workshop to help senior provincial and ministerial officials understand two documents, one on the norms of political life within the Party in the new era, and a regulation on intra-Party supervision, which were approved by last year's plenum.

"Leading officials should strengthen their political capability, firm their political ideals, uphold political direction, be steadfast in their stance and strictly observe political rules," Xi said, stressing they should enrich their political experience and match their political capability with the positions they were holding.

Xi said upholding the authority of the CPC Central Committee with strict observance of orders and rules was related to the future and fate of the Party and the nation as well as the fundamental interests of all people across the nation.

Xi called on all Party members to become more aware of the need to uphold political integrity, keep in mind the bigger picture, follow the CPC as the core of the Chinese leadership, and act consistently with CPC Central Committee policy.

Safeguarding the authority of the CPC Central Committee and the centralized and unified leadership chimed with democratic centralism, Xi stressed.

The Party sets great store by intra-Party democracy, as all major decisions follow strict processes, and are informed by wide opinions and suggestions, Xi said.

Strengthening and regulating political life within the Party requires the correct political direction, and advancing with the times, said Xi, who also stressed principles of political life and its spirit of holding firmly to the truth and rectifying errors.

Self-development is the most distinctive characteristic of the Party, and its biggest advantage, because the CPC has no interests of its own except for the interests of the country, the nation and the people, according to Xi.

Xi said leading officials, especially those in senior roles, must strengthen their self-discipline, be discreet when being alone and on small matters. They should ensure their words and deeds are in line with the Party constitution, and embody the Party spirit in all that they do.

Xi called for thorough study of the two documents adopted at the key CPC session, which were designed to address outstanding contradictions and problems within the Party.

While addressing the workshop, Xi stressed that Party organizations at all levels must improve inspections and ensure accountability. He also underscored that high-raking cadres should take the lead in complying with the Party's code of conduct.

Li Keqiang called on leading officials to uphold the authority of the CPC Central Committee, improve intra-Party political life and work to build a cleaner political environment.

Li said leading cadres must unite closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, boost reform and development, work hard, and greet the 19th National Congress of the CPC with achievements across the board.
In a letter to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Manipur has demanded a ban on the United Naga Council (UNC) for continuing its economic blockade, thereby, putting the NDA government at the Centre in a Catch-22 situation.

The demand  reaching the BJPs table at a tricky time just before the Assembly election  if accepted, may result in a loss of the partys newly-garnered support in the Naga areas and cause further erosion of trust among the Meitei voters.

The demand

The CLP in Manipur, in a meeting held on Saturday, decided to urge the prime minister to declare the UNC illegal, says a report published by The Indian Express.

A copy of the letter sent to the PMO, accessed by Firstpost, says that the UNC has illegally continued the indefinite economic blockade for over three months, which has affected communal harmony in the state and has caused unbearable hardship to the people of Manipur and hence, the Congress demands that it should be declared unlawful.

How a possible ban may affect politics in the plains?

Support for the saffron party has been increasing gradually until it was stopped by the economic blockade imposed on 1 November last year.

The BJP-led Centre was seen at a loss while tackling the new challenge thrown up by the blockade.

Since the Meiteis in the plains, who are seen as the core voters of the saffron party, are the worst-affected by the blockade, it was expected that the NDA government would take prompt counter-action to protect them from misery. On the contrary, the Centre was rather late in its move to send paramilitary forces as a counter-measure.

Pradip Pahanjoubam, an intellectual in Manipur, wrote in The Indian Express about this delay made by the Government of India: "It should have done this at least a month ago, when as a consequence of an indefinite blockade on the lifelines of Manipur by the UNC over the anticipated creation of two new administrative districts, signs of retaliation from those at the receiving end of the blockade began showing."

The ruling Congress has been trying to capitalise on this failure to mobilise Meitei support in its favour by forwarding a new narrative hinting that this failure was intentional and that the Centre has sided with the UNC.

Okram Ibobi Singh, the chief minister of Manipur told The Indian Express in an interview, "Since the central government is in peace talks with the NSCN(IM), they can easily put pressure on the UNC to call off the economic blockade, which has caused much suffering here."

The letter demanding a ban on the UNC is seen as a new political pressure on the BJP. The dispensation runs the risk of being seen by the valley dwellers as siding with the UNC, if it rejects the demand. This may result in further slide in its core support base which it is so keen to retain.

Affect on the hills

Though the ethnic tension has resulted in a drop in BJPs support base in the Meitei dominated plains, Naga emotions in the hills of Manipur are either in favour of BJP or its NDA ally Naga Peoples Front (NPF).

In recent times, the saffron brigade has seen a number of Congress leaders in the Naga dominated areas switching their loyalty to BJP, boosting the partys prospect in the upcoming election.

A Bimol Akoijam, a JNU teacher told Firstpost, Even if the BJP wins 22 seats on its own from the plains, it is likely to form a government in Manipur with a post-poll alliance with NPF. The NPF is likely to gain more number of seats this time around than it did in the earlier election in the Naga dominated constituencies.

He also added that of the 19 seats reserved for the tribals in the state, nearly 12 have a substantial number of Naga voters, who can play a decisive role in electing a candidate.

In the last Assembly election, the NPF fielded 11 candidates and won only four. But the recent ethnic tension has resulted in swelling of Naga nationalistic emotion laying a fertile ground for NPF, a regional party, that has been representing the Naga identity politics in the region.

Enthused by this shift in political dynamics, the regional party has increased the number of fielded candidates to 15 this time around.

Accepting the CLPs demand to ban UNC may not only mean diminishing the saffron partys prospect in the Naga dominated areas, but also strain political ties with the NPF, that has been enjoying strong support from the civil society organisation for the last 10 years.

The political equation prior to ethnic tension

Good days for Manipur BJP began just after the results of the Assam Assembly election were announced last year.

Bhabananda Singh, the president of Manipur at that time, told Firstpost, The political situation in Manipur somewhat resembles Assam. Like Assam's large Hindu population, we have a sizable Meitei population who are also mostly Hindus.

He also said that Nagas and Kukis who stay in the hills are mostly Christians.

Being seen as a party with a Hindutva agenda, BJPs focus was to win as many as 27 seats in the Meitei Hindu dominated plains and garner post-poll support in the Assembly to reach the tally of 31 seats required to form a government in the state that has 60 Assembly constituencies.

Ethnic tension can potentially affect BJP's prospects in the Meitei dominated plains, polarisation among Nagas, in favour of NPF and the BJP, could be the only hope.

It remains to be seen if the BJP will gain by banning UNC.
While India's most populous state Uttar Pradesh conducts Assembly elections, the country's richest municipal body, the Brihnamumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), will also hold polls to elect its corporators. Elections will be held on 21 February, while results will be announced two days later, on 23 February. We would soon know if Shiv Sena can continue its control of the BMC, or whether the BJP can successfully install its own mayor. The BMC has 227 seats, and 114 is the magic figure both saffron parties are eyeing.

And though there are nine other municipal corporations which will simultaneously go to polls, with six days of campaigning still left, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and BJP's Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis are both focussing on Mumbai alone.

Thackeray and Fadnavis are also the star campaigners of their respective parties. Sena has also called upon the likes of Aditya Thackeray, and leaders Ramdas Kadam, Diwakar Raote, Subhash Desai and Sanjay Raut among others. But Uddhav has conducted maximum rallies, and will hold one final rally, at Bandra Kurla complex on Saturday.

Also like the 2014 Assembly polls in Maharashtra, when BJP brought in many big names, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the party has enlisted many Union ministers again this time, including Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, Urban development minister Venkaiyah Naidu, road minister Nitin Gadkari, environment minister Prakash Jawdekar, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, etc.

In 2014, BJP did exceedingly well in Mumbai, winning 15 seats in the island city as against 14 for Shiv Sena. Both parties are hoping the same formula will again help them win, banking on a hi-tech social media blitzkrieg and promises of zero corruption. Uddhav Thackeray has openly attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also Fadnavis over their double standards. The Sena chief has also openly attacked demonetisation, as also the BJP's stance on Ram Mandir and other contentious issues.

On the other hand, Fadnavis has attacked Sena's record of corruption in the BMC in its 20-year reign of the civic body.

Other parties in the fray include the Congress, NCP, MNS, Samajwadi Party and the AIMIM. For Congress, whose hold over Maharashtra state politics ended in 2014 after a 15-year reign, former chief ministers Prithviraj Chavan and Narayan Rane, and other senior leaders like Sanjay Nirupam have campaigned in Mumbai. Senior Congress leader Gurudas Kamat had been unhappy with the party, but has resumed campaigning in the last one week.

The NCP too realises that it's unlikely to make a mark on Mumbai's electoral landscape. NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and daughter Supriya Sule have addressed public rallies in the city, but even the party's Mumbai unit chief Sachin Ahir knows they will struggle to reach double figures in Mumbai.

MNS too hasn't approached the campaign with any great focus. In the 2012 civic polls, MNC had 28 corporators, but their stock has been falling in the last five years. Many of these corporators have even left the party. To the point where if MNS can win nine seats this time, it would be a great performance.

The AIMIM and the Owaisi brothers, meanwhile, are quietly becoming popular. They have been holding public meetings in the city's Muslim dominated areas. Akbaruddin and Asaduddin Owaisi, with their elected MLA Waris Pathan, are the party's star campaigners.

In 2014, BJP had utilised its national heavyweights to help the party succeed in Mumbai. Its chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has been campaigning throughout the city. On the other hand, Shiv Sena has been using the Thackeray father and son duo to visit the length and breadth of the city. The two parties, allies at the Centre and the state government, have been bitterly attacking each other ahead of the municipal elections. Who ends up winning the upcoming civic polls could well decide the nature of their relationship at the national level in years to come.
Editor's note: This article was originally published on 14 February. In the light of E Palaniswami becoming the new chief minister of Tamil Nadu, it is being republished today.

Just after AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala was convicted by the Supreme Court in the disproportionate assets case, Edappadi K Palanisamy was elected as the legislature party leader. The Sasikala loyalist and five-time MLA has already sent a letter to the governor to form the next government in Tamil Nadu.

According to The Indian Express, Palaniswamy is an MLA from Salem's Edappadi constituency and currently holds the portfolios of Highways, Public Works and Minor Ports. Edappadi was elected as an AIADMK MLA since 1989  in 1991, 2011 and 2016. Hailing from Edappadi in Salem district, which lies in the Kongu belt of Tamil Nadu, Palanisamy had also served as the minister of the state.

One of the prominent faces of the party, Palanisamy hails from a region that is known for its powerful representation of Gounder community and a stronghold of the AIADMK. On Tuesday, Palaniswami said he was elected unanimously and that party treasurer and forests minister Dindigul C Srinivasan announced his unanimous election as the legislature party leader.

Palanisamy was also close to late J Jayalalithaa. According to The News Minute, Palanisamy was a member of Amma's close coterie of the 'Four Man Army' or Nalvar Ani. Over the years, the MLA has worked his way up through the ranks of the party. He was retained in 2016, both by Jayalalithaa and later by her successor Panneerselvam, who has since revolted against Sasikala for allegedly forcing him to step down from chief ministership.

Earlier in the day, Sasikala expelled O Panneerselvam from the party before selecting Palanisamy as the legislature leader, hours after the Supreme Court upheld the trial court verdict that sentenced Sasikala to four years jail. The verdict brought almost a week of political drama, where the Centre had maintained its distance before giving any decision, to a close.

"I have sent a letter to Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao staking claim to form government. After Governor invites me, I will give him the official paper of my election signed by the legislators," said Palaniswami. His election came at an emergency meeting called by Sasikala at a resort here within hours of the Supreme Court upholding a Bengaluru trial court order convicting her in the disproportionate assets case, crushing her hopes of becoming the chief minister.

Minutes after after the apex court delivered the verdict, Sasikala went into a huddle with her MLAs to decide on the next steps. Sasikala was elected AIADMK Legislature Party Leader on 5 February, paving the way for her becoming chief minister. Two days later, Pannerselvam had rebelled against her.

To read more, click here.

(with inputs from PTI)
New Delhi: With AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala pushing her nominee to be the next Tamil Nadu chief minister, BJP on Tuesday said appointment of a proxy can never win people's trust and urged the Governor to take a decision on the basis of numbers as well as credibility.

The party's General Secretary and Tamil Nadu in-charge P Muralidhar Rao said Sasikala, whose hope of becoming the state's chief minister was dashed following her conviction by the Supreme Court in a corruption case, may have the advantage of being the AIADMK chief but she unlike late J Jayalalithaa does not have people's endorsement.

"Sasikala has the advantage of being at the top of the party but she does not have the advantage that Jayalalithaa had, which was having people's endorsement. That is a very important factor. By appointing a proxy you can never win people's trust, which is essential.

"The Governor (Ch Vidyasagar Rao) has to take a call in the context of the Supreme Court's verdict. It has become a new factor. He cannot go by mere numbers. He has to go by both numbers and credibility. "He has to judge as to who is more viable and capable of giving a stable government," Rao told PTI.

If the new AIADMK leader is not able to create confidence among the people and cadres and is like a "puppet" and a "yes man", then the party should "know that the verdict is a blow to all kinds of manipulation", he said. The state needs a clean and effective government, he said.

Though BJP has not made any official comment on the power struggle between caretaker Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and Sasikala, party leaders have indicated their support for Panneerselvam.

Her loyalist Edappady K Palanisamy was elected as the new Legislature Party Leader following her conviction and she also sacked Panneerselvam from the party's primary membership.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of India reversed the verdict of the Karnataka High Court that had acquitted VK Sasikala in the disproportionate assets case, thereby, restoring her conviction.

Consequently, this makes her ineligible to sit in the Legislative Assembly and she cannot take office as chief minister of Tamil Nadu. Further, she cannot take office for a period of 10 years as Section 8 (1)(ii) of the Representation of the People Act of 1951 makes her ineligible from holding elected office for six years after her release.

She has few options now before her. She can file a review petition against the judgement of the Supreme Court. This may be admitted if the court is satisfied that there is an error on the face of the record. If that fails, she may move a curative petition before the Supreme Court, the court may admit that if it is satisfied that there was a failure of natural justice in her case. Short of having this order reversed though, it's safe to say, Sasikala's career in Indian politics has effectively ended on Tuesday.

While one love story with power has broken this Valentine's Day, another may have just begun prematurely. O Paneerselvam seems to have a lot of MLAs flocking to him. Latest reports say that 22 MLAs have arrived at his camp, causing Saskikala to no longer have an effective majority. However, Paneerselvam does not have enough support to prove or command a majority on the floor of the House, his road to making his seat at Fort St George permanent is still quite murky.

The AIADMK's new legislative party leader can submit his name to the governor. This time, the governor will have no option but to either order a floor test for Paneerselvam or invite the AIADMK leader to form a government. In the event Paneerselvam fails the floor test, the AIADMK leader will have to be called.

In all likelihood, the new AIADMK government will not be able to have a clear majority in the Assembly now, which means Tamil Nadu could see early elections. Unless somehow, their new AIADMK leader is able to reconcile the OPS camp and the Sasikala Camp, it seems the AIDMK will go into the polls as a fractured party. However, if the AIADMK does manage to pass a floor test, it will emerge stronger than ever before as it would have won a propaganda victory of mammoth proportions.
Two very contrasting pictures greeted the world on Tuesday morning as the fate of two Tamil Nadu chief ministerial candidates shifted drastically, following a Supreme Court judgment convicting AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala in a 19-year-old disproportionate assets case.

Scenes emanating from O Panneerselvam's residence and Sasikalas temporary abode at the Golden Bay Resorts told the entire story of a high-stakes political drama, that now seems to be headed towards a dramatic conclusion.

Outside Panneerselvams residence, jubilant AIADMK party workers, along with enthusiastic ordinary citizens, were seen relishing the conviction, as they claimed that justice had finally prevailed and that the basic tenets of democracy had been restored.

While outside the luxurious Golden Bay resorts, where Sasikala had flocked the MLAs supporting her claim to avoid defections, there was an uneasy quiet as police vans entered the premises to take her to jail for four years of rigorous imprisonment in the neighbouring state of Karnataka.

As of this morning, Sasikala still had an overwhelming number of party MLAs by her side, but the popular opinion and support was no longer with her. Her luck had finally run out; the chief ministerial crown had been snatched from her grasp and the entire episode had turned into a soured dream. Now, staring in her face was years of hardship in a jail; that too in a state where people and the administration would not be kind to her.

The verdict, overturning Karnataka High Courts order, found Sasikala guilty and awarded a four year jail sentence along with a Rs 10 crore fine. As per law, the friend-cum-custodian of the late J Jayalalithaa cant contest any election for the next 10 years, effectively putting an end to her political ambitions.

The verdict shall forever be referred to by constitutional authorities and students of politics, for its import is as much legal as it is political  not just for the state of Tamil Nadu but for the rest of the country as well. The timing of the verdict has saved democracy from being sullied, by stopping someone from occupying the chief ministers post whose opinions on any given subject were not known to people.

Sasikala was a mysterious character in the public eye, who had neither been in politics nor in administration and had never had any kind of public dealing. Her only credentials were that she was Jayalalithaa's or Amma's friend and household manager  thus earning her the title Chinnamma.

Governor Vidyasagar Rao, who till the other day was criticised by a section of politicians and analysts for delaying Sasikala's swearing-in is now being hailed for exercising prudent discretion  for weighing all possible implications before making his decision. He can now hold his head high, and fight off allegations of him being a partisan towards the Centre.

He has saved himself from the ignominy suffered by Fatima Bibi, governor of the state in 2001, when she had chosen to administer the oath of the chief ministers office to Jayalalithaa, despite the fact that she had not contested the elections (nomination papers rejected) and that she was convicted by a lower court in the Tansi land acquisition case.

The Supreme Court had later disqualified Amma and she was forced to step down. Bibi had to face embarrassment and she too was made to relinquish her post.

History, it seems, has now come full circle for Panneerselvam. In 2001, he was chosen by Jayalalithaa to keep the chief ministerial seat warm  apparently on Sasikala's advise  till she was acquitted in the case by the apex court in 2003.

Though the two cases and circumstances  of Jayalalithaa's Tansi case of 2001 and Sasikala's disproportionate assets case and conviction in 2017  are a bit different, there is a great deal of similarity in the political dividend reaped by Panneerselvam. The only difference being that back then, he was a docile party subservient but now, he has emerged as a challenger.

In her ambition to occupy the chief ministers office, Sasikala had showed undue haste and desperation  like keeping party MLAs under captivity at a resort, under the watchful eyes of her men. This was because she knew that the Supreme Court verdict was about to come and that it could possibly end in her conviction. In such a scenario, if she had become chief minister by that time, she could have installed her nominee as a successor before going to jail.

Some reports suggest that her husband, M Natarajan, was working at the behest of Congress party. DMK too had been playing its cards well, biding for its turn on the political chess board and ultimately pulling down the government to force an early election in the state. Both Congress and DMK had their apprehensions that Panneerselvam had grown closer to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and thus could play ball with the Centre.

The ongoing political drama in Chennai is unlikely to end soon, for now the various contours of anti-defection law would play out. Sasikala is still the party chief and elected leader of the AIADMK legislature party. Which is how she could expel Panneerselvam from the party before going to jail and nominate Edappadi Palaniswamyclaim as her proxy. This political and legal drama will further unfurl in the days to come.

The Centre would be watching the drama closely and playing its cards, being careful not to appear biased towards either side. It has its reasons to be worried. The enabling GST bills have to be passed by the Parliament in the second part of the Budget session and more importantly, during the summer, the presidential and vice-presidential elections are to take place. Given the size of Tamil Nadu and its Assembly, the legislators and MPs from the state would carry significant weight in the Electoral College for the Presidential Election.
New Delhi: Following is the chronology of events in the disproportionate assets (DA) case in which the Supreme Court on Tuesday convicted AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala that also involved the late chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

1996: Subramanian Swamy, then Janata Party chief, files a case against Jayalalithaa alleging that during her tenure as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister from 1991 to 1996, she amassed properties worth Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate to her known sources of income.

7 December 1996: Jayalalithaa arrested. Many allegations follow, including accumulation of disproportionate assets.

1997: Prosecution launched in sessions court in Chennai against Jayalalithaa and three others for having assets 'disproportionate' to their known income.

4 June 1997: They are charge-sheeted for offences under sections 120-B IPC, 13(2) read with 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

1 October 1997: Madras High Court dismisses three petitions by Jayalalithaa including one challenging the sanction granted by then Governor M Fathima Beevi for prosecuting her.

Trial progresses. By August 2000, 250 prosecution witnesses examined and only 10 more remained.

In the May 2001 Assembly elections, AIADMK secures absolute majority and Jayalalithaa becomes the chief minister. Her appointment is challenged due to her conviction in October, 2000 in the Tansi (Tamil Nadu Small Industries Corporation) case. The Supreme Court nullifies the appointment.

21 September 2001: Jayalalithaa ceases to be the chief minister.

After her conviction is set aside, Jayalalithaa is elected to the Assembly in a bypoll from Andipatti constituency on 21 February 2002, and again sworn in as CM.

2003: DMK general secretary K Anbazhagan approaches SC for transferring the trial to Karnataka on the ground that a fair trial was not possible in Tamil Nadu with Jayalalithaa as chief minister.

18 November 2003: SC transfers the case to Bengaluru.

19 February 2005: The Karnataka government appoints BV Acharya, a former Advocate General, as Special Public Prosecutor to conduct the prosecution.

October/November 2011: Jayalalithaa deposes in the Special Court and answers 1,339 questions.

12 August 2012: Acharya expresses his inability to continue as SPP. Karnataka government accepts his resignation in January, 2013 and discharges him from the case.

2 February 2013: Karnataka government appoints G Bhavani Singh as SPP.

26 August 2013: Karnataka government issues a notification withdrawing the appointment of Bhavani Singh as SPP without assigning any reason and without consulting the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court.

30 September 2013: SC quashes the notification withdrawing appointment of Bhavani Singh as SPP.

12 December 2013: Special Court allows plea by DMK General Secretary K Anbazhagan and directs physical production of valuables and other assets seized from Jayalalithaa in 1997 and deposited in an RBI treasury in Chennai.

28 February 2014: Special Court dismisses plea by SPP seeking a direction to produce before it the seized silver articles belonging to her. Judge says SPP had filed it only with the purpose of delaying the proceedings.

14/15 March 2014: Special Court imposes a cost of one-day salary on SPP Bhavani Singh for not resuming final arguments citing ill-health.

18 March 2014: Singh moves Karnataka HC challenging the special court order imposing cost.

21 March 2014: HC rejects his petition saying the order of the special court imposing cost was right.

28 August 2014: Special Court reserves judgement for 20 September and directs all the four accused, including Jayalalithaa, to appear before it on that date.

16 September 2014: Special Court defers by a week the pronouncement of its verdict to 27 September .

27 September 2014: Special Court convicts Jayalalithaa and three others including aide Sasikala. Awards four years' prison term to Jayalalithaa, slaps Rs 100 crore fine.

29 September 2014: Jayalalithaa moves Karnataka HC challenging conviction, seeks bail.

7 October 2014: High Court denies bail, citing 'no grounds,' to do so.

9 October 2014: Jayalalithaa moves SC seeking bail.

17 October 2014: SC grants bail to Jayalalithaa.

18 October 2014: After 21 days in prison, Jayalalithaa released from prison on bail. SC says it will ask Karnataka High Court to complete hearing on appeal in three months.

18 December 2014: SC extends Jayalalithaa's bail by four months. A bench headed by CJI HL Dattu orders that her appeal challenging conviction in Karnataka HC be conducted on a day-to-day basis by a Special Bench.

26 February 2015: DMK General Secretary K Anbazhagan moves SC seeking stay of the case against Jayalalithaa questioning impartiality of SPP Bhawani Singh.

9 March 2015: SC issues notice to Jayalalithaa and others on plea by Anbazhagan seeking removal of prosecutor.

11 March 2015: Karnataka HC reserves order on appeal by Jayalalithaa and three others including confidante Sasikala in disproportionate assets (DA) case.

1 April 2015: Jaya defends Singh's continuance.

15 April 2015: SC gives split verdict on plea seeking removal of Bhawani Singh in Jayalalithaa's DA case before Karnataka HC, refers the matter to a larger bench.

27 April 2015: SC rejects Bhawani Singh's appointment as "bad in law", says case does not warrant de novo (fresh) hearing of appeals. Allows Anbazhagan and Karnataka to file written submissions in HC.

27 April 2015: Anbazhagan files written submission with Karnataka HC seeking confirming of Jayalalithaa's sentence.

28 April 2015: B V Acharya appointed new SPP, files written submission before Karnataka HC praying for dismissal of Jayalalithaa's appeal.

8 May 2015: Karnataka High Court notification says Special Vacation Bench of Justice CR Kumaraswamy will pronounce verdict on Jayalalithaa's appeal on 11 May 2015.

11 May 2015: Karnataka HC acquits Jayalalithaa and three others.

23 June 2015: Karnataka Govt moves SC against Jayalalithaa's acquittal in DA case.

27 July 2015: SC issues notice to Jayalalithaa on appeal challenging her acquittal.

23 February 2016: SC commences final hearing on the appeals against Jayalalithaa's acquittal.

7 June 2016: SC reserves verdict on appeals in DA case against Jayalalithaa.

5 December 2016: Jayalalithaa dies after prolonged illness in Chennai.

14 February 2017: SC convicts Sasikala and her two relatives, VN Sudhakaran and Elavarasi by restoring the trial court verdict in toto directing them to serve the remaining jail term.
Celebrations broke out in the O Panneerselvam camp after the Supreme Court convicted AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala in the disproportionate assets case, sentencing her to four-year jail-term. The verdict also bars her from contesting polls for nearly 10 years.

While the SC verdict dealt a severe blow to Sasikala's dream of becoming the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, Pannneerselvam thanked his supporters after the verdict and said that unfinished task left by Amma must be fulfilled and he urged the AIADMK MLAs and ministers to resume their work.

Unfinished task left over by Hon. Amma must be fulfilled, therefore I urge AIADMK MLAs and ministers to resume their work: O #Panneerselvam  ANI (@ANI_news) February 14, 2017

The verdict came even as Panneerselvam won more support from party MPs and MLAs. Veteran AIADMK legislator Semmalai on Tuesday extended support to Panneerselvam, giving boost to the caretaker chief minister camp.

Semmalai, the MLA from Mettur and a former minister, arrived at Panneerselvam's Greenways Road residence and extended his support to Panneerselvam, sources in his camp said. With the arrival of Semmalai, the number of MLAs in the Panneerselvam camp rose to nine.

Three-time MLA from Mettupalayam in Coimbatore district, OK Chinnaraja, also extended support to Panneerselvam.

"OK Chinnaraj, MLA from Mettuppalayam (three-time MLA) declares support to #OPS Annan (brother)! Trickle turns into torrent," tweeted school education minister K Pandiarajan, a supporter of Panneerselvam.

OK Chinnaraj, MLA from Mettuppalayam (three time MLA) declares support to #OPS Annan ! Trickle turns into torrent !  Pandiarajan K (@mafoikprajan) February 14, 2017

Meanwhile, Edapadi K Palanisamy was elected as legislature party leader and expelled Panneerselvam from AIADMK's primary membership.

(With inputs from PTI)
AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala was convicted by the Supreme Court on Tuesday, which set aside the Karnataka High Court verdict acquitting her in the 19-year-old disproportionate assets case, that also involved late chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

The apex court restored in toto the judgment and findings of a trial court in Bengaluru, which had initially held guilty all the accused, including Sasikala's two relatives, VN Sudhakaran and Elavarasi. The two-judge bench comprising Justices PC Ghose and Amitava Roy directed Sasikala, Sudhakaran and Elavarasi to surrender forthwith to the trial court in Bengaluru and serve the remaining part of a four-year jail term.

The verdict disqualifies Sasikala from becoming a legislator, and means she will have to spend 10 years out of active politics  effectively putting paid to her aspirations of the chief minister's chair.

The bench read the operative portion of the voluminous judgement, saying that "according to the materials and evidence placed on record, we set aside the judgement and order of the high court and affirm in toto the judgement and order of the trial court convicting the accused persons".

The bench said since Jayalalithaa has expired, the proceeding against her is abated.

"Nevertheless, we reiterate that having regard to the facts, the charge framed against them by the trial court is restored," the bench said. "Since the charges framed by the trial court have been restored against all of them, they will surrender forthwith before the trial court and serve the remaining part of the sentence," the bench said.

The trial court had sentenced Sasikala and her two relatives to four years imprisonment with a fine of Rs 10 crore each. Jayalalithaa was sentenced to four years with a fine of Rs 100 crore. In a separate but concurring judgement, Justice Amitava Roy said, "We have expressed deep concern about escalating menace of corruption in society."

On 7 June last year, the apex court had reserved its verdict in the case after hearing detailed arguments from all the parties including the Karnataka government. On 27 July, 2015, the apex court had issued notices on Karnataka government's appeal seeking stay of the high court judgement to Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and her relatives.

The Karnataka HC had on 11 May, 2015 ruled that Jayalalithaa's conviction by special court suffered from infirmity and was not sustainable in law, clearing decks for her return as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. The special court had in 2014 held Jayalalithaa guilty of corruption and sentenced her to four years imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 100 crore.

Jayalalithaa and three others were accused of allegedly amassing disproportionate asserts to the tune of Rs 66.65 crore during her first term as Chief Minister from 1991 to 1996.

According to reports, a team of Tamil Nadu police has reached the Golden Bay resort to arrest Sasikala.

Tamil Nadu: A unit of Tamil Nadu Police with senior officials enter Golden Bay Resort in Kovathur pic.twitter.com/XEeBS72ywC  ANI (@ANI_news) February 14, 2017

Subramanian Swamy, the petitioner who filed the case in 1995, spoke to media after the verdict.

I was expecting the conviction. I don't think she can escape the 4 years sentence: Subramanian Swamy on SC's verdict on #VKSasikala DA case pic.twitter.com/9xBqElaXkW  ANI (@ANI_news) February 14, 2017

Former Advocate General BV Acharya called the verdict a "victory for the Indian legal system".

Justice has been done.Judgement shows how strong & independent is our judiciary: Frmr Advocate General BV Acharya on #VKSasikala conviction pic.twitter.com/E9X3T0B3Jh  ANI (@ANI_news) February 14, 2017

AIADMK took to Twitter following the verdict. The party quoted the convicted leader as saying, "In the past whenever Amma was in crisis, I also suffered. This time also, I will take it upon me. 'Dharma' will win."

Her bete noir O Panneerselvam took a jibe at Sasikala and said that Tamil Nadu has been saved.

with inputs from agencies
The Supreme Court verdict convicting AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala in a 19-year-old disproportionate assets case, effectively ending her chances of ever taking office as Tamil Nadu chief minister, is a vindication for Governor Vidyasagar Rao.

Throughout the political turmoil, the governor had been targeted for his use of "delaying tactics". There were elaborate conspiracy theories drawn and endless sound bites given on why his office had taken the wait-and-watch approach. With the apex court indicating that it would deliver the verdict within a week, it made little sense for Rao to call Sasikala for swearing-in and usher in a Constitutional crisis should there be an unfavourable verdict (as it turned out to be the case). Considered legal opinion was of the view that he was right in not rushing into a hasty decision. No less than former Attorney-General of India Soli Sorabjee had come out in his favour.

But politics in India is a 24x7 reality show, driven by TV ratings. To the breathless media and its many pundits, the governor's "delay" was a sure sign that somebody was conducting a backroom operation from somewhere, dictating his actions. No evidence was offered for such a conjecture, but what's the point in waiting for facts when journalism can be conducted through speculation?

The Congress, never to lose an opportunity to bang its face on eggs, accused the governor of 'acting at the behest of the Centre' and trying to destabilise the state.

Emerging from the Parliament, a solemn-looking Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi "advised" the Centre and BJP not to "fish in troubled waters" of Tamil Nadu "unconstitutionally", though he didn't clarify how the prime minister stood to gain from prolonging the crisis. He also didn't make clear which part of the Constitution did governor Rao (and by extension, the Centre) violate.

Speaking to reporters on 8 February, he said, "I must say it is extremely wrong, unconstitutional and patently illegal on the part of BJP and the Central government to fish in the troubled waters of Tamil Nadu. They have no business to instruct the governor to not go to Tamil Nadu," and added that Rao cannot delay the swearing-in even "by a minute".

ANI quoted state Congress president S Thirunavukkarasar as saying: "The Narendra Modi government is playing a dirty game. They want to create a problem for the political parties and they want to get some advantage as BJP has no hold in Tamil Nadu. They think this an opportunity to be utilised."

His party colleague Randeep Surjewala tweeted that Modi was "trying to bring down an elected government".

Not only does it sound a bit rich when Congress, which 'boasts' of an elaborate history, accuses other parties of trying to bring down elected governments but its position is indicative of the rudderless nature of its politics. It was pressurising the governor to swear in either O Paneerselvam, who didn't have the numbers or Sasikala, who was facing an imminent SC verdict. The improbability of its own position was irrelevant when it came to blaming the Modi government for one pretext or other.

For all the heat being piled on him, governor Rao showed admirable patience in holding his counsel and not taking a decision that could trigger another crisis in the state later.

It is now clear, with the SC sending Sasikala to prison for four years and slapping a Rs 10 crore fine on her, that Rao's stand was accurate and that the charges against him  that he was letting gubernatorial preference interfere with the will of a state in choosing a chief minister  were unfounded and incorrect.

The SC verdict disqualifies Sasikala from becoming a legislator, and means she will have to spend 10 years out of active politics.
(Xinhua) 09:11, February 14, 2017

The UN Security Council on Monday "strongly condemned" the most recent ballistic missile launches by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), saying that "these launches are in grave violation of the DPRK international obligations under UN SC resolutions."

The 15-nation UN body was "unanimous" in condemning the DPRK ballistic missile launches on Feb. 11, 2017 and Oct.19, 2016 while the council met behind closed doors here on Monday afternoon, Boloymyr Yelchenko, the Ukrainian permanent representative to the United Nations, who holds the rotating council presidency for February.

The closed council meeting, which kicked off shortly after 17:00 EST (22:00 GMT) on Monday and lasted about 50 minutes, took place at the request of the United States, Japanand South Korea.

"The members of the Security Council deplore all the DPRK ballistic missile activities, including these launches, noting that such activities contribute to the DPRK's development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and increase tension," the council president said while reading a press statement from the most powerful UN body.

"The members of the Security Council further regretted that the DPRK is diverting resources to the pursuit of ballistic missiles while DPRK citizens have great unmet needs," the statement said.

"The members of the Security Council expressed serious concern that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea conducted these ballistic missiles launches after the April 15, April 23, April 27, April 28, May 31, June 21, July 9, July 18, Aug. 2, Aug. 23, Sept. 5, and Oct. 14 launches, as well as the nuclear test of Sept. 9, in flagrant disregard of the repeated statements of the Security Council," the statement said.

The DPRK has claimed that it had successfully test-fired Pukguksong-2, a surface-to-surface medium- and long-range ballistic missile, and its top leader Kim Jong Unguided the test firing, according to the state news agency KCNA.

Under relevant UN resolutions, the DPRK is barred from staging ballistic missile launches or nuclear weapons tests.

"The members of the Security Council reiterated that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea shall refrain from further actions, including nuclear tests, in violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions, and comply fully with its obligations under these resolutions," the statement said.

"The members of the Security Council called upon all member states to redouble their efforts to implement fully the measures imposed on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea by the Security Council, particularly the comprehensive measures contained in resolutions 2321 (2016) and 2270 (2016)," said the statement.

"The members of the Security Council reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in North-East Asia at large, expressed their commitment to a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to the situation and welcomed efforts by Council members, as well as other States, to facilitate a peaceful and comprehensive solution through dialogue," the statement said. "The members of the Security Council stress the importance of working to reduce tensions in the Korean Peninsula and beyond."

"The members of the Security Council agreed that the Security Council would continue to closely monitor the situation and take further significant measures, in line with the Council's previously expressed determination," the statement said.

Earlier Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the DPRK's latest launch of another ballistic missile, saying that "this action is a further troubling violation of Security Council resolutions."

Guterres said in a statement issued here by his spokesman that "The DPRK leadership must return to full compliance with its international obligations and to the path of denuclearization."
As we wait for the Supreme Court verdict, a look back at the list of legal minds whose names will remain associated with this corruption case that has its roots in a gaudy million dollar wedding that pockmarked both Tamil Nadu and Jayalalithaas legacy and continues to haunt Sasikala.

Every time Jayalalithaa went in and out of courts for 19 years, these are the folks behind those headlines.

 Justice John Michael DCunha

Special Court judge who delivered the September 2014 verdict that sent Tamil Nadu into a tizzy  he convicted and jailed the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 for holding disproportionate assets. In November 2016, he was appointed the judge of the Karnataka High Court.

 Justice CR Kumaraswamy

The judge who acquitted Jayalalithaa of all charges in the Disproportionate Assets case. Was his judgement a tragedy of arithmetic errors as Subramanian Swamy calls it? The last word on that comes up this week.

 BV Acharya

The first special public prosecutor in the case.

 Fali S Nariman

After Jayalalithaa was jailed, her team leaned on this eminent jurist to get bail for the AIADMK chief.

 Justice HL Dattu

Former Chief Justice of India Dattu heard Jayalalithaas petition in the Supreme Court against Karnataka High Courts rejection of her bail plea in the DA case.

 Justices PC Ghose, Amitava Roy

Heard the appeal against the High Court Judgment delivered by Kumaraswamy J, and reserved the verdict June 2016 after 20 days of court arguments.

 Senior Advocate L Nageswara Rao

Appeared for Jayalalithaa as defence counsel in Supreme Court and argued that appeals by DMK and Subramanian Swamy had no locus.

 B Kumar, S Senthil

These two led 25 lawyers from Tamil Nadu defending Jaya; strengthened the hands of more famous lawyers pushing for bail, played a leading role in the Karnataka High Court acquittal.
New Delhi: On Tuesday, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his policies including demonetisation, saying it does not matter how wide his chest is, but he should have a heart inside.

"I had good relations with Narendrabhai. There is no personal enmity, but when you find that his policy is causing damage to the country, then one has to oppose...Modiji is not my enemy, but I have the right to say what is good and what is bad," he said in an interview to India TV.

Hitting out at the Centre's demonetisation move, the Shiv Sena chief said no affluent person died because of 'notebandi'.

"Did affluent people die because of notebandi? Nearly 200 persons lost their lives while standing in the queues. One of them was a jawan of BSF," he said.

"It doesn't matter to me how many inches wide his chest is, but he should have a heart inside his chest," a press release quoted Uddhav as having told the channel.

Thackeray said the central government made people stand in queues for money.

"In their manifesto, they (BJP) had promised to bring back black money stashed in Swiss banks and put it into people's accounts. Demonetisation could be the Prime Minister's own decision, but how many people were rendered jobless, how many people died? Unemployment has increased, who is responsible for that?

"Even today, we read reports of fake Rs 2,000 currency notes being seized. Did it stop terror attacks? Did the government get black money? Was corruption brought to a halt? Has the circulation of fake currency stopped? I didn't notice a single rich man standing in queues," the Shiv Sena chief said.

Thackeray said Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav should be given "one more chance" to become Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.

"Why shouldn't I praise Akhilesh? He is doing good work and he should get another chance (to become CM). He is a young man, and if he doesn't make any mistake, he should get a chance," he said.

Asked whether his party would snap its ties with BJP in Maharashtra altogether, Thackeray quipped: "They (BJP) can also take the decision (to break the alliance), why should I take? Could they have formed the government without our support?"

When asked whether the Devendra Fadnavis government will last its full term, he said," I don't know".

Despite the two parties having decided to go separately in the local bodies elections in Maharashtra, they are in the alliance government both in the state and at the Centre.

The Shiv Sena chief questioned Prime Minister Modi's "closeness" to NCP chief Sharad Pawar, saying "During the elections, Modiji used to level charges of corruption against chacha-bhatija (Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar) but now he visits Sharad Pawar ji at his residence and says he is my guru. Isn't it a duplicitous policy?"
Even as rebel AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam (OPS) failed to gain any additional momentum with no more show of strength from his senior party colleagues on the seventh day of his sensational Marina revolt, his bete noire VK Sasikala seems to have upped her ante in a decisive fashion.

From a practically unconvincing midnight-start a week ago, she has fast-tracked her political transformation with a backstory that now claims a legacy of three decades, not just a few days or years. And she also has begun to appear more confident about the support of the MLAs who are siding with her. It wont be surprising if she allows them to go home soon from a suburban resort where they have been housed for the last few days.

She is certainly far from addressing even the periphery of the public sentiment against her, but strategically she has achieved quite a bit in at least establishing her claim as J Jayalalithaas legitimate heir by partially disputing her critics charges, and even the pubic perception that she was a caregiver-turned-political squatter. The biggest charge against her was that Jaya considered her only as a caregiver and housekeeper and never gave her any political job. The apparent proof was that whenever Jaya had to step down, it was OPS that she banked on.

In Sasikalas address on Monday to the party workers as well as the media, her strategy was to debunk this perception and claim a legacy even while maintaining that she was never interested in any role of authority, but was jumping headlong because OPS had turned out to be quite a traitor. She said that she had been doing a lot nuts and bolts work for the party. Besides taking care of Jayas needs, that was what occupied her most of the time. It also included screening the petitions from local leaders and even handling alliance talks.

In fact, her claim about this office-work for Jaya is not entirely unfounded because it was an open secret that she was the first port of call for most of the leaders in the party and that she had a roll in handpicking the candidates for both assembly and parliament elections. Leaders of other parties who had negotiated poll-alliances with the AIADMK also have vouched for her role and had even found her reasonable.

However, whats questionable is whether it was a role that she systematically appropriated and whether it was a ploy for keeping the party infrastructure away from Jaya so that she became a power centre. Her critics  whether it is the OPS camp, Jayas niece Deepa Jayakumar or even movie director Visu, who made programmes for Jaya TV  say that she had usurped this go-between job herself to be in command. OPS on Sunday said that the harassment she suffered at the hands of Sasikala for more than 15 years, ever since he was chosen by Jaya as her standby, had been terrible, while Deepa had alleged that Sasikala wilfully kept her away from her aunt. Deepa had said that she wasnt allowed to visit Jaya when she was in Apollo Hospital even when the others were easily walking in.

Sasikalas backstory was also aimed at the general public that have been visibly raged  going by the countless videos that are trending on social media, TV channels and YouTube  at her self-claimed role not only as Jayas heir, but also as the chief minister. She is seeking to establish is that she is not a novice or an opportunist, but a legitimate member of the AIADMK who handled high level affairs of the party with the approval of Jaya.

And this story is as old as Jayas political genesis itself. According to Sasikala, it was she who gave Jaya the moral courage when she was disheartened by the attack against her after MGRs death and wanted to quit. So, her claim is far deeper than what OPS's because his apparent win of Jayas trust happened only in 2001 whereas she had been a part of Jayas political life right from the beginning.

Will it cut ice with the people of Tamil Nadu? Will they trust her? At the moment, it might not; but if she can surmount the present image and power crisis, she may.

Her situation is almost similar to what Janaki Ramachandran faced when Jaya was edged out of the party in 1987-88 after MGRs death. Janaki had all the leaders and the majority of the MLAs with her, but she disappeared into insignificance in a year while Jaya rose like a star and continued to dominate Tamil Nadu politics for the rest of her life. However the difference is that Janaki was a just a prop for Jayas detractors and didnt have the interest, ambition or training that Sasikala has. Janaki made no impact, had no image and easily gave way. Sasikala will not do that. Her makeup is visibly different and she is ruthlessly following the Jaya template. As somebody who has seen very closely how Jaya operated, Sasikala will be a tough opponent. She will not give up easily even if OPS wins the initial battle. The spread of her Mannargudi family has the muscle to support her.

Sasikala also appears to be relaxed with her MLAs. She has made her third trip in a row to their camp on Monday, that is nearly two hours from Chennai, and seemingly it looks like an indoctrination programme to completely win their trust and loyalty. She clearly wants to be a step ahead of his rivals and factor in the possible support that Raj Bhavan might offer OPS. If the Governor calls for a floor test first, without swearing her in, she wants the MLAs to still stick with her even if there are inducements from the rival camp, which can happen only if they embody loyalty. Possibly, the repeated visits, personal assurances and the bonding over the last three days have achieved that and now even in a free environment, many of them might not switch sides as OPS and his backers hope.

OPSs biggest advantage is the public support, similar to what Jaya had when she was ousted after MGRs death. He is by far the most democratic and affable leader in Tamil Nadus contemporary politics and has clearly found instant connect with the people across class barriers. The only way to ensure that that hes not on a sticky wicket is unleashing a lethal counter attack and puncture Sasikalas backstory because her credibility factor is still very low.

This is an opportunity he cannot miss. If he wants to stay in the race, he has to get at least the number that will not give Sasikala a majority in the assembly. Its hard for OPS to win a vote of trust in the assembly, all that he can try for is to kill Sasikalas chances because a poll in the near future will be good for him.

Meanwhile, the chances of the entire scenario going haywire are also high if Sasikala gets an adverse verdict from the Supreme Court on Tuesday. If that happens, the story will have to be rewritten.
Like a wily leg-spinner, Subramanian Swamy looks on with glee as he watches another wicket fall courtesy an elaborate stretch of play he orchestrated, nay, masterminded. On Tuesday, wheels he set in motion over 20 years ago finally arrived at their destination:

After 20 years I won. Now turn of TDK Buddhu PC BC & Tata to join in jail  Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) February 14, 2017

And now, he's got his sights set on plotting the respective downfalls of Sonia Gandhi (widely believed to be 'TDK'), Rahul Gandhi (equally widely believed to be 'Buddhu'), P Chidambaram (PC), Karthi Chidambaram (BC) and Ratan Tata (presumably).

But instead of gazing into the crystal ball and contemplating his next moves  something that's almost impossible to do, it's worth revisiting his track record or, to extend the analogy, the fall of wickets so far. And a good starting point is this article by Ambikanand Sahay:

At the peak of Indira Gandhi's heydays in early 1970s, Swamy had suggested to the iron-lady that Indias Five Year Plans be scrapped. Indira not only dismissed the suggestion summarily but also described him as a 'Santa Claus with unrealistic ideas'. Remember, those were the heady days when India under Indira was known for its pro-poor, socialistic leanings. Garibi Hatao used to be the war-cry of the Congress, which had re-emerged as an unbeatable political force once again. There was absolutely no room for neo-economic reformists such as Swamy. But Swami persisted nonetheless. This infuriated Indira so much so that she got him sacked unceremoniously from professorship at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in December, 1972. The sacked professor could get back his position in the IIT in 1991 through a court order  long after Indira Gandhi had left the world for her heavenly abode.

The article goes on to point out how Indira was merely his first target. Over the years, he would pull the rug out from under several more feet.

Here's a small sample:

Swamy also basks in the glory that he had cornered through his exposes of J Jayalalithaas corruption, A Rajas 2G spectrum scandal, Ram Krishna Hegdes telephone-tapping saga, Hashimpura massacre and the National Herald case. Incidentally, the Tamilian maverick is also known for his description of Sonia Gandhi, Jayalaithaa and Mayawati as Lakshmi, Saraswati and Durga. He had managed to bring the three ladies together under one umbrella to pull down the Vajpayee government in April 1999.

But let's return to Tamil Nadu politics, since it is here that he has picked up his latest trophy.

As this Caravan article points out, before going after Jayalalithaa and VK Sasikala in the disproportionate assets case, Swamy enjoyed a good relationship with the AIADMK:

In the 1990s, Swamy first helped topple the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government in Tamil Nadu led by M Karunanidhi, and then railed against Karunanidhis rival, (Jayalalithaa), before finally partnering with her, in an awkward pas de deux, in both local-body and national elections. When the first, short-lived NDA government was formed in 1998, Swamy swallowed his bitterness against Vajpayee long enough to offer him the support of the AIADMK-Janata Party combine.

And now, with Sasikala facing four years in jail, we'll have to wait and see which of Swamy's targets is the next to fall.
By John Walcott and Steve Holland

| WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON A senior naval officer who served under President Donald Trump's Defense Secretary James Mattis is the leading candidate to replace Michael Flynn after the national security adviser resigned under pressure over his conversations with a Russian diplomat, two U.S. officials said on Tuesday.Vice Admiral Robert Harward, who was deputy commander of U.S. Central Command under Mattis, will likely replace Flynn, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity as the White House scrambled to contain the fallout from the abrupt departure of one of the president's top advisers.Flynn resigned late on Monday after revelations that he had discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to the United States before Trump took office, in a potentially illegal action, and had later misled Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations.Flynn's departure followed days of speculation that he might be forced out.The retired Army general and former U.S. intelligence official quit the post hours after a report that the Justice Department had warned the White House weeks ago that he could be vulnerable to blackmail over his conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak before Trump took office on Jan. 20. Losing his national security adviser three weeks after taking office is an embarrassment for the new Republican president, who has made national security a top priority.Trump, a wealthy businessman, had never previously held public office and his early weeks in the White House have been marked by missteps and controversies, in particular his travel ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries.

Flynn, an early and enthusiastic supporter of Trump, was a strong advocate of a softer line toward Russian President Vladimir Putin and his departure from the key post could hinder Trump's efforts to warm up relations with Moscow.Russia's aggression in Ukraine and Syria and Republican congressional opposition to removing sanctions on Russia make any White House attempt to embrace Putin problematic.Democratic President Barack Obama added sanctions on Moscow in December, weeks before leaving office, in response to what his administration charged were Moscow's efforts to try to influence the 2016 presidential election in Trump's favor.U.S. Senator John McCain, a leading Republican voice on foreign relations, said Flynn's resignation raised questions about Trump's intentions toward Russia, "including statements by the President suggesting moral equivalence between the United States and Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine, annexation of Crimea, threats to our NATO allies, and attempted interference in American elections."

SCRAMBLE TO REPLACE FLYNN

The scramble to replace Flynn began on Monday evening and continued with phone calls and meetings into the early hours of Tuesday in an effort to enable Trump to make a decision and put the matter behind him as soon as possible, said an official involved in the effort.Also under consideration was retired General David Petraeus, a former CIA director whose reputation was tainted by a scandal over mishandling classified information with his biographer, with whom he was having an affair.

Harward, a Rhode Island native who went to school in Tehran before the shah was toppled in 1979, did a tour on the National Security Council under Republican President George W. Bush working on counterterrorism. He has experience on SEAL teams and served in Iraq and Afghanistan. "If the president goes in his direction, there would be very little opposition, said the official. "He's very highly regarded, and doesnt have the baggage that Petraeus has."Congressional Democrats expressed alarm at the developments surrounding Flynn and called for a classified briefing by administration officials to explain what had happened.U.S. Representative Adam Schiff of California, the top Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said Flynn's departure did not end the questions over his contacts with the Russians."The Trump administration has yet to be forthcoming about who was aware of Flynn's conversations with the ambassador and whether he was acting on the instructions of the president or any other officials, or with their knowledge," Schiff said.Flynn's discussions with the Russian diplomat could potentially have been in violation of a law known as the Logan Act, banning private citizens from negotiating with foreign governments in relation to disputes or controversies with the United States. (Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu and Susan Heavey; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Frances Kerry)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Berlin: On Tuesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel pushed Tunisia's prime minister to speed up the returns of rejected asylum seekers, as Tunis rebuffed criticism that it was blocking repatriations.

The German leader has been battling to get Tunis to take back its citizens, with the issue taking on greater urgency since the deadly assault on a Berlin Christmas market in December.

The jihadist attack which claimed 12 lives has been blamed on Anis Amri, a Tunisian whose asylum application had been rejected half a year earlier, but could not be expelled because of Tunisian bureaucratic delays.

But ahead of the meeting in Berlin, Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed threw out any criticism.

"One thing that I must say very clearly: the Tunisian authorities have not made any mistakes," Chahed told Germany's biggest selling daily Bild.

"Anis Amri was no terrorist when he left Tunisia in 2011, there were no signs that he had been radicalised.

"With regards to the identity documents, here too, the Tunisian authorities acted correctly," he said.

Chahed said "cooperation with Germany works very well now" but threw the ball back in Berlin's court.

"We need from the German side clear evidence that we are really dealing with Tunisians," he said, estimating the number of his fellow citizens concerned by possible expulsions from Germany at around 1,000.

"Illegal immigrants who use false identity documents make it difficult and delay the process."

Merkel has been under pressure to reduce the number of asylum seekers in Germany, after the country took in over a million migrants and refugees since 2015.

While most refugees from war-torn Syria have qualified for temporary safe haven, applicants from Tunisia as well as Algeria and Morocco generally have not, because their countries are considered stable.

Last year the success rates for asylum requests was 3.5 per cent for Moroccans, 2.7 per cent for Algerians and just

0.8 per cent for Tunisians.

In a press conference following talks with Chahed, Merkel noted that only 116 Tunisians were repatriated last year.

"That is not fast enough and here we talked about how we can improve this process," she told reporters, raising the prospect of incentives to make returning to Tunisia more appealing.
By Toby Sterling

| AMSTERDAM

AMSTERDAM Campaigning for the Dutch election kicks off on Wednesday with anti-Islam leader Geert Wilders frontrunner in a vote that will test the anti-establishment sentiment that swept Britain out of the European Union and Donald Trump into the U.S. presidency.Wilders, a eurosceptic, anti-immigration fan of Trump has dubbed the March 15 parliamentary election the start of a "Patriotic Spring" in Europe, where French and German voters go to the polls in May and September.Unlike Trump's win and the Brexit vote, it will not be a shock if Wilders and his Party for Freedom win, he has led in opinion polls for most of the past two years and the fragmented political landscape means a coalition government of four or more parties is all but inevitable.His main rival, Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the conservative VVD Party, is banking on a strengthening economic recovery to restore popularity lost during the austerity years of 2012-2014.Wilders' party is expected to get 20 percent of the popular vote, compared to Rutte's 16 percent. A simple majority of just over half is generally sought to govern, but all but one party have ruled out sharing power with Wilders, whose policies are seen by many as offensive and sometimes unconstitutional.There are 31 parties competing for votes, with 14 likely to win at least one seat in the 150-member Dutch parliament. The next three largest parties command no more than 10 or 11 percent of the vote.

"The overwhelming majority of Dutchmen basically do not vote for (Wilders)," said Kristof Jacobs, a teacher at Radbout University in Nijmegen.NO "NEXIT"

So a victory for Wilders is unlikely to lead to the Netherlands leaving the European Union, closing the border to Muslim immigrants or reinstating the Dutch currency, policies only his party endorses.

In December, Wilders was convicted of inciting discrimination against Moroccans for leading a chant of "Fewer! Fewer! Fewer!" at an election rally in 2014.If Wilders' PVV party finishes first but is unable to form a government, Rutte will be left trying to forge a centrist coalition with several parties that share little more than opposition to Wilders.In that case "we will stay put and manage the country until there is a new coalition," Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem said on Tuesday. "That could even last for up to four years."

The Netherlands, a country of 17 million that relies heavily on foreign trade, in 2005 rejected the European constitution and last year voted down a treaty for closer EU ties with Ukraine.A poll by Motivaction on Tuesday showed more than 61 percent of respondents see Dutch politicians as "elitist, unreliable and dishonest."Around 37 percent of likely voters said they were undecided about who to vote for."I find it difficult to make a decision," said Renee Keijzer, from the town of Volendam. "So much has happened in the world that it is hard to position yourself properly." (Additional reporting by Stephanie van den Berg; Editing by Anthony Deutsch and Janet Lawrence)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Dhaka: A close aide of the mastermind of the brutal Dhaka cafe attack has been killed in a "shootout" with the police in Bogra district, 197 km northwest of Dhaka.

The district's senior police official Sonaton Chakraborty told journalists that 32-year-old Abu Musa, involved in the killings of two minority community people in 2016, was killed in a "gunfight" early on Tuesday, bdnews24.com reported.

The "shootout" took place around 2:30 am at Patnoja of Kahalu Upazila when a group of militants opened fire at a police patrol. As the police fired back, the militants fled leaving behind an injured 32-year-old Musa, officials said.

He was later declared dead by doctors at Shahid Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital, said a police official. Musa operated under pseudonyms like Abuzar alias Abu Talha, "Robin", and "Samiul".

The police said Musa was a close aide of Jahangir Alam alias "Rajib Gandhi", who operated in Pabna, Natore and Sirajganj districts and was one of the main coordinator of the Gulshan cafe attack.

Alam, a leader of Neo-JMB, was arrested by the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police on 14 January.

Neo-JMB is an offshoot of the banned militant outfit Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh.
Tokyo: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe believes that US President Donald Trump is a "good listener", as well as "friendly and open", the media reported.

"President Trump is surprisingly a good listener though it may seem that he isn't. He's also very frank and open. But he's very committed to his campaign pledges," Abe told public broadcaster NHK in an interview on Monday.

During the interview, Abe spoke of his meetings in the US over the weekend with Trump, in which they discussed security issues such as Washington's stance over the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, a point of conflict and contention between Tokyo and Beijing.

Trump had previously suggested that Japan should pay more to maintain a US military presence in Japan.

But Abe said the US President did not mention the issue during their meeting.

"Defence Secretary Mattis visited Japan and said the Japanese and American cost-sharing model is an example for other nations to follow. I think that settled the issue. We were wondering whether President Trump would mention the matter, but he didn't. Rather, he thanked Japan for the warm hospitality extended to the US Marine Corps," the Prime Minister said.

He also discussed the North Korea's latest missile test on Sunday, while he was still with President Trump at his resort in Florida.

"President (Barack) Obama was very cautious about using military force against North Korea, calling his stance 'strategic patience'. I believe the Trump Administration is aiming to review the stance and seek a diplomatic solution, putting all options on the table," Abe said.

The premier also believes that the Trump administration will renew its stance towards China and Russia.

"I think the US government is in the process of establishing its foreign policy against China. Right before our summit, President Trump talked for one hour over the phone with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The timing was very good for me. President Trump and I were able to discuss how to deal with China, taking into consideration what the leaders of the US and China talked about and various other factors."

"I have also insisted that dialogue between the US and Russia is essential for resolving the issues of Syria, the Middle East, Iran and Ukraine."

President Trump plans to hold a close dialogue with Russia," Abe concluded.
Washington: President Donald Trump's embattled national security adviser Michael Flynn resigned late Monday night, following reports that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russia. His departure upends Trump's senior team after less than one month in office.

In a resignation letter, Flynn said he held numerous calls with the Russian ambassador to the U.S. during the transition and gave "incomplete information" about those discussions to Vice President Mike Pence. The vice president, apparently relying on information from Flynn, initially said the national security adviser had not discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy, though Flynn later conceded the issue may have come up.

Trump named retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg as the acting national security adviser. Kellogg had previously been appointed the National Security Council chief of staff and advised Trump on national security issues during the campaign.

The Justice Department warned the Trump administration weeks ago that contradictions between the public depictions and the actual details of the calls could leave Flynn in a compromised position, an administration official and two other people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press Monday night.

One person with knowledge of the situation said the Justice Department alerted the White House that there was a discrepancy between what officials were saying publicly about the contacts and the facts of what had occurred. Pence  apparently relying on information from Flynn  initially said sanctions were not discussed in the calls, though Flynn has now told White House officials that the topic may have come up.

A second official said the Justice Department was concerned Flynn could be in a compromised position as a result.

The White House has been aware of the Justice Department warnings for "weeks," an administration official said, though it was unclear whether Trump and Pence had been alerted.

The people insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The Washington Post was the first to report the communication between the Justice Department, including former acting attorney general Sally Yates, and the Trump administration.

Flynn apologized to Pence last week, following a Washington Post report asserting that the national security adviser has indeed discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Trump was consulting with Pence on Monday about his conversations with the national security adviser. Asked whether the president had been aware that Flynn might discuss sanctions with the Russian envoy, Spicer said, "No, absolutely not."

Trump, who comments on a steady stream of issues on his Twitter feed, has been conspicuously silent about the matter since The Washington Post reported last week that Flynn had discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy. A U.S. official told The Associated Press that Flynn was in frequent contact with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak on the day the Obama administration slapped sanctions on Russia for election-related hacking, as well as at other times during the transition.

Flynn's discussions with the Russian raised questions about whether Flynn offered assurances about the incoming administration's new approach. Such conversations would breach diplomatic protocol and possibly violate the Logan Act, a law aimed at keeping citizens from conducting diplomacy.

Earlier Monday, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said Trump had "full confidence" in Flynn, though her assertions were not backed up by other senior Trump aides. Spicer would say only that Flynn was continuing to carry out "his daily functions."

Flynn was spotted near the Oval Office just after 10 p.m. Monday. Amid the uncertainty over Flynn's future, several of the president's top advisers, including chief of staff Reince Priebus and counsel Don McGahn, ducked in and out of late-night meetings in the West Wing.

Several House Democrats called on Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, to launch an investigation into Flynn's ties to Russia. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi called for Flynn to be fired, saying he "cannot be trusted not to put Putin before America."

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said that if Pence were misled, "I can't imagine he would have trust in Gen. Flynn going forward." She said it would also be "troubling" if Flynn had been negotiating with a foreign government before taking office.

It's illegal for private citizens to conduct U.S. diplomacy. Flynn's conversations also raise questions about Trump's friendly posture toward Russia after U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Moscow hacked Democratic emails during the election.

The controversy comes as Trump and his top advisers seek to steady the White House after a rocky start. The president, who seeks input from a wide range of business associates, friends and colleagues, has been asking people their opinions on his senior team, including Spicer and Priebus.

Advisers have privately conceded that the White House spit out too many disparate messages in the first few weeks, though they also note that the president's own tweets sometimes muddy the day's plans before most of the White House staff has arrived for work.

Trump voiced support for Priebus Monday, saying the chief of staff was doing, "not a good job, a great job." But he did not make a similar show of support for his national security adviser.

Flynn sat in the front row of Trump's news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier Monday. The president did not receive a question about Flynn's future from the two reporters who were called upon, and he ignored journalists' shouted follow-up inquiries as he left the room.

Over the weekend, Trump told associates he was troubled by the situation, but did not say whether he planned to ask Flynn to step down, according to a person who spoke with him recently. Flynn was a loyal Trump supporter during the campaign, but he is viewed skeptically by some in the administration's national security circles, in part because of his ties to Russia.

In 2015, Flynn was paid to attend a gala dinner for Russia Today, a Kremlin-backed television station, and sat next to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the event.

Flynn spoke with the vice president about the matter twice on Friday, according to an administration official. The official said Pence was relying on information from Flynn when he went on television and denied that sanctions were discussed with Kislyak.

The administration officials and those who spoke with the president recently were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and insisted on anonymity.

The controversy surrounding Kislyak comes as the young administration grapples with a series of national security challenges, including North Korea's reported ballistic missile launch. The president, who was joined at his Mar-a-Lago estate by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over the weekend, voiced solidarity with Japan.

The White House is also dealing with fallout from the rocky rollout of Trump's immigration executive order, which has been blocked by the courts. The order was intended to suspend the nation's refugee program and bar citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.
U.S. President Donald Trump (R) attends a joint press conference with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the White Housein Washington D.C., the United States, on Feb. 13, 2017. U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday vowed to deal with Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) "very strongly", calling the Asian country a "big, big problem." (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday vowed to deal with Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) "very strongly", calling the Asian country a "big, big problem."

Trump made the remark at a joint press conference with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, after the DPRK launched its ballistic missile on Sunday. But the U.S. president did not elaborate on what actions he planned to take in relation to the DPRK.

"We have problems all over the Middle East. We have problems just about every corner of the globe no matter where you look," Trump said when asked about the most important national security issues facing the United States.

Trump on Saturday vowed U.S. support to Japanin a hastily called joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abein Florida.

"I just want everybody to understand and fully know that the United States of America stands behind Japan, its great ally, 100 percent," Trump said.

The DPRK claimed on Monday it had successfully test-fired Pukguksong-2, a surface-to-surface medium- and long-range ballistic missile, and its top leader Kim Jong Unguided the test firing, according to the state news agency KCNA.

On Monday, China said it is opposed to the DPRK's test-launch of the ballistic missile, which is in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

China calls for all parties concerned to exercise restraint and jointly maintain stability in the region, Geng Shuang, a spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry, told a routine press briefing.

Earlier Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a statement issued by his spokesman, strongly condemned the latest move by Pyongyang, saying "this action is a further troubling violation of (UN) Security Council resolutions."
Washington: US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the real story behind the National Security Advisor's resignation is illegal leaks, indicating that it was not the top official misleading him as being reported in the media.

"The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington? Will these leaks be happening

as I deal on N. Korea etc?" Trump told his more than 24.8 million followers on Twitter.

His tweet came a day after Gen (rtd) Michael Flynn resigned as the National Security Advisor amidst reports that he mislead the President and Vice President Mike Pence about his conversation with the Russian Ambassador on sanctions.

Flynn resigned after he apologised to Trump and Pence for not providing them all the information about his call with the Russian Ambassador to the US before Trump's inauguration.

Trump has named Lt Gen Joseph Keith Kellogg, Jr. (Ret) as Acting National Security Advisor.

Top Republican Senator John McCain said that Flynn's resignation is a troubling indication of the dysfunction of the current national security apparatus.

"As our nation confronts the most complex and diverse array of global challenges since the end of World War II, it is imperative that the President select a new National Security Advisor who is empowered by clear lines of authority and responsibility and possesses the skills and experience necessary to organize the national security system across our government," he said.

McCain said Flynn's resignation also raises further questions about the Trump administration's intentions toward Vladimir Putin's Russia, including statements by the President suggesting moral equivalence between the US and Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine, annexation of Crimea, threats to Nato allies, and attempted interference in American elections.

"American policy toward Russia must be made clear and unequivocal: we will honor our commitments to our Nato allies, we will maintain and enhance our deterrent posture in Europe, we will hold Russian violators of human rights accountable for their actions, and we will maintain sanctions on Russia so long as it continues to violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine," McCain said.

House Democratic Whip Steny H Hoyer demanded that Congress and the American people must learn the full extent of what Trump knew about Flynn's communications with Russian leaders, and when they knew it.

"We also need to know if promises were made by the Trump campaign and Trump transition team to the Russians regarding sanctions  and what the Trump Administration may be doing to follow through," he said.

Top Democratic leaders in the House led by Nancy Pelosi have called for the FBI to accelerate their investigation into the extent of the ties between Trump and Russia.

They have also called for passage of legislation to create an outside, independent commission to investigate.
By Emily Chow

| KUALA LUMPUR

KUALA LUMPUR Already under fire for widespread environmental damage, Malaysia's once lucrative bauxite mining industry is facing a likely death knell from neighbouring Indonesia's move to allow a resumption of exports.This time last year, Malaysia was the world's biggest supplier of the aluminium-making raw material to top buyer China, but its exports tumbled after government action aimed at reining in the little regulated industry.The latest move could spell the end for a sector that only sprang to life in late 2014 after Indonesia banned ore exports, and illustrates the risks facing miners across Southeast Asia from increasingly uncertain government policy.Copper giant Freeport-McMoRan Inc (FCX.N) warned last week it could slash output from Indonesia amid a long-running dispute with the government, while the Philippines has ordered the closure of more than half the country's mines on environmental grounds."Policy risk is huge in mining right now," said Daniel Morgan, mining analyst at UBS in Sydney. "In supplier policy, you've got changes to Indonesia's mining policy, the Philippines and Malaysia."A host of mining operations sprang up along Malaysia's bauxite-rich east coast to fill a supply gap after Indonesia in 2014 barred exports of mineral ores in a bid to push miners to build smelters.In 2015, Malaysia shipped more than 20 million tonnes to China, well ahead of nearest rival Australia and up nearly 700 percent on the previous year. In 2013, it shipped just 162,000 tonnes.But the dramatic rise came at a cost as largely unregulated miners failed to secure stockpiles of bauxite. The run-off from monsoon rains turned rivers and coastal seas red, contaminating water sources and leading to a public outcry.

The government imposed a mining moratorium in early 2016, and shipments to China from existing stockpiles fell to 165,587 tonnes in December, with little indication the government is set to change its mind.MINING BAN

Malaysia's natural resources and environment ministry said any decision to lift the moratorium would be based on how well miners follow regulations to preserve the environment rather than economic gain.Recent rains in Kuantan have caused some bauxite runoffs from existing stockpiles, minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar told Reuters.

"The heavy rains proved that the mitigation was not adequate. Now by having this before me, I am not yet prepared to allow them to start the operations," he said, declining further comment on the topic.Indonesia introduced new rules last month that will allow exports of nickel ore and bauxite and concentrates of other minerals in a sweeping policy shift, but did not specify when it would resume exports.The announcement could be the final nail in the coffin for Malaysia's industry, as its miners expect China to switch to Indonesia's better quality and cheaper ore, due to lower production costs. "Indonesian bauxite miners kept a lot of stockpiles ... They can sell cheap," said a miner from local company based in Kuantan, a key bauxite mining area in the state of Pahang.

"If the volume coming out of Indonesia is over 10 million tonnes, Malaysia has to say goodbye."Unlike recent ructions in nickel supply from Indonesia and the Philippines that pushed up prices, Malaysia's near exit from bauxite has had little impact on the supply chain as new suppliers emerged, particularly in Guinea in West Africa."Some of these commodities are pretty plentiful, like bauxite for instance," noted UBS's Morgan. "When we talk to aluminium companies in China, we haven't detected that they're worried about a bauxite shortage."The greater effect may be on Malaysia's export-based economy where bauxite surged to become a key mineral shipped to China, its largest trading partner. At a bauxite price of $50 a tonne, Malaysia's 2015 exports were worth over $1 billion.The scandal-tainted Prime Minister Najib Razak's government is pushing to boost revenue as he prepares for a tough election that has to be called by end-2018."There will be less export income," said Ooi Kee Beng, deputy director of Singapore based research centre ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. "The loss of jobs at a time when common people are facing economic difficulties will have political impact that is unwelcomed by the government." (Additional reporting by Joseph Sipalan and Melanie Burton in Melbourne; Editing by Praveen Menon and Richard Pullin)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Ju-min Park

| SEOUL

SEOUL North Korea said on Monday it had successfully test-fired a new type of medium- to long-range ballistic missile the previous day, claiming advances in a weapons programme it is pursuing in violation of U.N. resolutions. North Korea fired the missile on a high arc into the sea early on Sunday, the first probe of U.S. President Donald Trump's vow to get tough on an isolated regime that tested nuclear devices and ballistic missiles last year at an unprecedented rate.The North's state-run KCNA news agency said leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test of the Pukguksong-2, a new type of strategic weapon capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. The United States, Japan and South Korea requested urgent U.N. Security Council consultations on the test, with a meeting expected later on Monday, an official in the U.S. mission to the United Nations said.Japan said further sanctions against North Korea could be discussed at the United Nations, and called on China to take a "constructive" role in responding.China is North Korea's main ally and trading partner but is irritated by its repeated aggressive actions, although it rejects suggestions from the United States and others that it could be doing more to rein in its neighbour."We have asked China via various levels to take constructive actions as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and we will continue to work on it," said Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.China said it opposed North Korean missile tests that run contrary to U.N. resolutions."All sides should exercise restraint and jointly maintain regional peace and security," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a regular briefing, adding that China would participate in talks at the United Nations on the launch with a "responsible and constructive attitude".Russia's foreign ministry expressed concern over the launch, RIA news agency quoted the ministry as saying.HIGH ANGLE

North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests, including two last year, although its claims to be able to miniaturise a nuclear weapon to be mounted on a missile have never been verified independently.Leader Kim said in his New Year speech the North was close to test-launching an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and state media have said such a launch could come at any time.A fully developed ICBM could threaten the continental United States, which is about 9,000 km (5,500 miles) from North Korea.The KCNA news agency said the missile fired on Sunday was launched at a high angle in consideration of the safety of neighbouring countries. A South Korean military source said on Sunday it reached an altitude of 550 km (340 miles).It flew about 500 km towards Japan, landing off the east coast of the Korean peninsula.The missile was propelled by a solid fuel engine and was an upgraded, extended-range version of its submarine-launched ballistic missile that was tested successfully last August, according to KCNA.The missile's name - Pukguksong-2 - translates as north star or Polaris, the same name of the first U.S. submarine-launched missile.

South Korea's military said the missile had been launched using a "cold-eject" system, whereby it is initially lifted by compressed gas before flying under the power of its rocket, a system used for submarine-launched missiles.North Korea's pursuit of large solid-fuelled missiles was "a very concerning development", said Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics."Large solid-fuel motors are difficult to make work correctly so this is indeed a significant advance by North Korea," McDowell said.'INTOLERABLE'

In addition to launching more quickly, solid-fuel engines also boost the power and range of ballistic rockets.

"Solid-motor engines mean that the fuel is pre-stored and the missile can be launched quickly. For example, rolled out of a cave, tunnel, or bridge," said Melissa Hanham, a senior research associate at the U.S.-based Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, California."They are also more difficult to track by satellite because they have fewer support vehicles in their entourage."The North's Rodong Sinmun newspaper showed pictures of a missile fired from a mobile launch vehicle, with a flame appearing only after it had risen clear of the vehicle. Before Sunday, the North's two most recent missile tests were in October. Both were of intermediate-range Musudan missiles and both failed, according to U.S. and South Korean officials.A U.S. official said at the weekend the Trump administration had been expecting a North Korean "provocation" soon after taking office. The latest test came a day after Trump held a summit meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and also followed a phone call last week between trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.Abe described the test as "absolutely intolerable".In brief comments made while standing beside Abe in Florida, Trump said: "I just want everybody to understand, and fully know, that the United States of America is behind Japan, our great ally, 100 percent."Trump and his aides are likely to weigh a series of responses, including new U.S. sanctions to tighten financial controls, an increase in naval and air assets in and around the Korean peninsula, and accelerated installation of new missile defence systems in South Korea, the administration official said.However, the official said that, given that the missile was believed not to have been an ICBM, and the North had not carried out a new nuclear explosion, any response would seek to avoid increasing tension. (Additional reporting by Tony Munroe and Christine Kim in SEOUL, David Lawder in WASHINGTON, Kaori Kaneko in TOKYO and Ben Blanchard in BEIJING; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Robert Birsel)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Emily Chow and Ju-min Park

| KUALA LUMPUR/SEOUL

KUALA LUMPUR/SEOUL The U.S. government strongly believes that North Korean agents murdered the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Malaysia, a U.S. government source said on Tuesday.American authorities have not yet determined exactly how Kim Jong Nam was killed, according to the source, who did not provide specific evidence to support the U.S. government's view.A South Korean government source also had said earlier that Kim Jong Nam had been murdered in Malaysia. He did not provide further details.South Korea's foreign ministry said it could not confirm the reports, and the country's intelligence agency could not immediately be reached for comment.In the United States, there was no immediate response to a request for comment from the Trump administration, which faces a stiff challenge from a defiant North Korea over its nuclear arms programme and the test of a ballistic missile last weekend.Kim Jong Nam was known to spend a significant amount of his time outside North Korea and had spoken out publicly against his family's dynastic control of the isolated state.In a statement, Malaysian police said the dead man, aged 46, held a passport under the name Kim Chol.Kim Jong Nam has been caught in the past using forged travel documents. Malaysian police official Fadzil Ahmat said the cause of Kim's death was not yet known, and that a post mortem would be carried out."So far there are no suspects, but we have started investigations and are looking at a few possibilities to get leads," Fadzil told Reuters.According to Fadzil, Kim had been planning to travel to Macau on Monday when he fell ill at the low-cost terminal of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

"The deceased ... felt like someone grabbed or held his face from behind," Fadzil said. "He felt dizzy, so he asked for help at the ... counter of KLIA."Kim was taken to an airport clinic where he still felt unwell, and it was decided to take him to hospital. He died in the ambulance on the way to Putrajaya Hospital, Fadzil added.The U.S. government source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was possible that Kim Jong Nam had been poisoned. The U.S. source said it could not be ruled out that assassins used some kind of "poison pen" device.South Korea's TV Chosun, a cable-TV network, reported that Kim had been poisoned with a needle by two women believed to be North Korean operatives who fled in a taxi and were at large, citing multiple South Korean government sources.Reuters could not independently confirm those details.

SECRETIVE FAMILY

Malaysia is one of a dwindling number of countries that has close relations with North Korea, which is under tightening global sanctions over its nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches, the latest of which took place on Sunday.Malaysians and North Koreans can visit each other's country without visas.A phone call to the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur late on Tuesday went straight to an answering machine.Kim Jong Nam and Kim Jong Un are both sons of former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, who died in late 2011, but they had different mothers.

Kim Jong Nam, the elder of the two, did not attend his father's funeral. His mother was an actress named Song Hye Rim, and Kim Jong Nam said his father kept his parents' relationship a secret.The portly and easygoing Kim Jong Nam was believed to be close to his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, who was North Korea's second most powerful man before being executed on Kim Jong Un's orders in 2013.In an embarrassing 2001 incident, Kim Jong Nam was caught at an airport in Japan travelling on a forged Dominican Republic passport, saying he had wanted to visit Tokyo Disneyland. He was known to travel to Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China.Koh Yu-hwan, a professor at Dongguk University in Seoul, said Kim Jong Nam had occasionally been the subject of speculation that he could replace his younger half-brother, the country's third-generation leader."Loyalists may have wanted to get rid of him," he said.Kim Jong Nam said several times over the years that he had no interest in leading his country."Personally, I am against third-generation succession," he told Japan's Asahi TV in 2010. "I hope my younger brother will do his best for the sake of North Koreans' prosperous lives."His cousin, Lee Han-young, who defected to South Korea through Switzerland in 1982, was shot and killed by North Korean agents in Seoul in 1997, according to South Korea. (Additional reporting by Se Young Lee in SEOUL, Joseph Sipalan, Rozanna Latiff, Praveen Menon and A.Ananthalakshmi in KUALA LUMPUR and Mark Hosenball in WASHINGTON; Writing by Tony Munroe and Praveen Menon; Editing by Mike Collett-White, Ian Geoghegan, Grant McCool)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Emily Chow and Ju-min Park

| KUALA LUMPUR/SEOUL

KUALA LUMPUR/SEOUL The estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been murdered in Malaysia, a South Korean government source said on Tuesday.Kim Jong Nam, the older half brother of Kim Jong Un, was known to spend a significant amount of his time outside North Korea and had spoken out publicly against his family's dynastic control of the isolated state.The South Korean government source who spoke to Reuters did not immediately provide further details. In Washington, A U.S. government source said the United States believed that North Korean agents were responsible for the murder, but did not provide firm evidence to support that conclusion.There was no immediate response to a request for comment from the Trump administration, which is facing a stiff challenge from a defiant North Korea over its test of a ballistic missile last weekend.In a statement, Malaysian police said the dead man, aged 46, held a passport under the name Kim Chol.Kim Jong Nam has been caught in the past using forged travel documents. Malaysian police official Fadzil Ahmat said the cause of Kim's death was not yet known, and that a post mortem would be carried out."So far there are no suspects, but we have started investigations and are looking at a few possibilities to get leads," Fadzil told Reuters.According to Fadzil, Kim had been planning to travel to Macau on Monday when he fell ill at the low-cost terminal of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)."The deceased ... felt like someone grabbed or held his face from behind," Fadzil said. "He felt dizzy, so he asked for help at the ... counter of KLIA."Kim was taken to an airport clinic where he still felt unwell, and it was decided to take him to hospital. He died in the ambulance on the way to Putrajaya Hospital, Fadzil added.South Korea's TV Chosun, a cable-TV network, reported that Kim had been poisoned with a needle by two women believed to be North Korean operatives who fled in a taxi and were at large, citing multiple South Korean government sources.

Reuters could not confirm those details.South Korea's foreign ministry said it could not confirm the reports, and the country's intelligence agency could not immediately be reached for comment.The U.S. government source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was possible that Kim Jong Nam had been poisoned. The U.S. source said it could not be ruled out that assassins used some kind of "poison pen" device.A former U.S. official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said U.S. authorities had been closely following Kim Jong Nam for years and thought he was at risk but could not say whether North Korea was behind his murder.When asked about the nature of the reported attack, Malaysian police official Fadzil said: "We don't know if there was a cloth or needles; the receptionist said someone grabbed his face, he felt dizzy."Malaysia is one of a dwindling number of countries that has close relations with North Korea, which is under tightening global sanctions over its nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches, the latest of which took place on Sunday.

Malaysians and North Koreans can visit each other's country without visas.A phone call to the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur late on Tuesday went straight to an answering machine.SECRETIVE FAMILY

Kim Jong Nam and Kim Jong Un are both sons of former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, who died in late 2011, but they had different mothers.Kim Jong Nam did not attend his father's funeral.

The portly and easygoing Kim Jong Nam was believed to be close to his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, who was North Korea's second most powerful man before being executed on Kim Jong Un's orders in 2013.In an embarrassing 2001 incident, Kim Jong Nam was caught at an airport in Japan travelling on a forged Dominican Republic passport, saying he had wanted to visit Tokyo Disneyland. He was known to travel to Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China.Koh Yu-hwan, a professor at Dongguk University in Seoul, said Kim Jong Nam had occasionally been the subject of speculation that he could replace his younger half-brother, the country's third-generation leader."Loyalists may have wanted to get rid of him," he said.Kim Jong Nam said several times over the years that he had no interest in leading his country."Personally, I am against third-generation succession," he told Japan's Asahi TV in 2010. "I hope my younger brother will do his best for the sake of North Koreans' prosperous lives."His cousin, Lee Han-young, who defected to South Korea through Switzerland in 1982, was shot and killed by North Korean agents in Seoul in 1997, according to South Korea.Kim Jong Nam's mother was an actress named Song Hye Rim."My father was keeping highly secret the fact that he was living with my mother who was married, a famous movie actress, so I couldnt get out of the house or make friends," Kim Jong Nam was quoted as saying in a 2012 book by a Japanese journalist."That solitude from childhood may have made me what I am now, preferring freedom." (Reporting by Ju-min Park and Se Young Lee in SEOUL and Joseph Sipalan, Rozanna Latiff and A.Ananthalakshmi in KUALA LUMPUR; additional reporting by Mark Hosenball in Washington; Writing by Tony Munroe and Praveen Menon; Editing by Mike Collett-White, Ian Geoghegan, Grant McCool)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had some unexpected advice when top officers gathered for his speech, his first since assuming official capacity, last year: "Read an American academics book on how India has succeeded in keeping the military out of politics".

The army has no business trying to run the government, Bajwa told the gathering of senior army officers of Rawalpindi Garrison at the General Headquarters auditorium in the last week of December, according to The Nation newspaper.

Bajwas first speech as army chief, described by the daily as an articulation of his vision, was delivered in a poised manner and his views were communicated to his officers in unequivocal terms.

Apart from other professional advice, the general urged the officers to read Army and Nation: The Military and Indian Democracy since Independence, written by Steven I Wilkinson, the Nilekani Professor of India and South Asian Studies at Yale University.

The 2015 book, which was well-received in India and the West, draws on comprehensive data to explore how and why India has succeeded in keeping its military out of politics when other countries have failed. It uncovers the command and control strategies, the careful ethnic balancing, and the political, foreign policy, and strategic decisions that have made the army safe for Indian democracy.

The almost 300-page book makes for an interesting reading as it details why the democratic process in India has been a success.

Bajwa is a voracious reader with a library consisting almost entirely of books on history, diplomacy, and politics. It is widely believed that he reads extensively about India, including reports in the media and books about the country. His colleagues have said his interest in India dates back to his days as a young major serving on the Line of Control in 1992.

Brigadier (retired) Feroz Hassan Khan, who was Bajwas commanding officer on the LoC, told the Hindustan Times that the man in what is usually seen as the most powerful position in Pakistan also does not have a visceral hatred of India.

According to Hindustan Times, some have credited Bajwa for a reduction in tensions along the LoC and international border in Jammu and Kashmir though attacks by Pakistan-based terror groups have continued unabated.

Bajwa told the officers that the Pakistan Army must remain within its constitutionally defined role and alluded that an impression of a competition between the civilians and the military is counter-productive for the country, The Nation reported.

The report added that three months after becoming army chief, it could be discerned that while Bajwa believes in civilian supremacy, he will also not do anything that upends that existing structures and dynamics. When a controversy recently erupted about land allocated to his predecessor, Raheel Sharif, a sharp, almost edgy, rebuttal came from the military.

It also said the comparison between the personal styles of Sharif and Bajwa cannot be starker. While Sharif basked and glowed under the glare of television and press cameras, Bajwa likes to go about his job without pomp and show. Also his trips to the frontlines or speeches to troops have "lacked the breathless coverage that was the defining factor" of Sharifs tenure and till now there has been no attempt to portray Bajwa as a "parallel, competing powerhouse, with strong political undertones.

Bajwa, through his public remarks, has said the army will support and assist the civilian government in the national interest. Officials were quoted as saying that United we rise was the theme adopted by the military and its media arm under Bajwas leadership.
BEIRUT Demonstrators attacked the headquarters of a Lebanese television channel in Beirut on Tuesday night, protesting against a broadcast they said was insulting to Lebanese Shi'ite cleric Imam Musa al-Sadr.Around 300 people, some carrying flags of Lebanon's Shi'ite Amal Movement, tried to storm the headquarters of Lebanese channel al-Jadeed, throwing fireworks, stones and eggs at the building. Scores of police and troops rushed to the area. One policeman was injured and the army later broke up the protest.Sadr, the founder of the Amal Movement, disappeared after travelling to Libya in 1978 and is presumed dead. Lebanese media said the Tuesday demonstration had been in reaction to a broadcast comedy sketch that referred to the disappearance.

Protesters broke windows, shouted insults at the channel's owner, and chanted "Here we are Nabih", referring to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, head of the Amal Movement.

A security source described the attack as serious but said the army was in control of the situation. An al-Jadeed correspondent said on live television that a fire had erupted in the building, ignited by the fireworks.Various Lebanese political parties denounced the attack, and President Michel Aoun called the minister of defence and other officials to restore calm, al-Jadeed said.

(Reporting by Ellen Francis and Alaa Kanaan in Beirut; editing by Andrew Roche)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Tehmina Janjua, Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, was appointed on Monday as the country's first woman foreign secretary. Janjua will replace incumbent Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, who will take charge as Pakistan's new ambassador to the US, the Foreign Office said on Monday. "Tehmina Janjua will assume the post of Foreign Secretary in the first week of March 2017," it said in a statement.

Earlier, local media reports had said Pakistan's high commissioner to India, Abdul Basit, and its envoy to China Masood Khalid were among the front-runners. Janjua is a seasoned diplomat with a career spanning over 32 years. She holds Master's degrees from Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, and New York's Columbia University.

Janjua has a rich experience of working in bilateral and multilateral domains, both at headquarters and missions abroad, the statement said. She has also served as spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as Pakistan's envoy to Italy.

At present, she is serving as Pakistan's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva since October 2015. Last year, she had raised the Kashmir issue at the UNHRC and had engaged in a war of words with Indian diplomats.

According to Dawn, Janjua joined the Pakistan Foreign Service in 1984  she is a career diplomat and her experience has been in multilateral diplomacy. The report says that she did not serve on "major territorial desk at the headquarters, except for a year-long posting at the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe desk at the start of her Foreign Service career".

As a diplomat, Janjua has been vocal in calling out human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir and said, "Ending human rights violations in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir is the first essential step towards resolution of this long-standing dispute."

She has also said that people in Kashmir are being bludgeoned and brutalised by India. She has also blamed India for sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan.

With inputs from PTI
London: UK Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday formally rejected a petition that had garnered popular support against US President Donald Trump being welcomed to Britain on a State Visit, saying her government "does not support" the view. The rejection comes after the petition 'Prevent Donald Trump from making State Visit to the United Kingdom' has attracted 1.8 million signatures, ensuring a debate in the parliament on the matter on 20 February.

Any petition crossing a million signatures has to be considered for a debate in the House of Commons, but the British government has the right to take a stand on the issue in the lead up to that debate. May's official response said the government believes the US president should be extended the "full courtesy of a State Visit".

"We look forward to welcoming President Trump once dates and arrangements are finalised. [Her Majesty's] government recognises the strong views expressed by the many signatories of this petition, but does not support this petition," the response read.

"During her visit to the United States on 27 January 2017, the Prime Minister, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, invited President Trump for a State visit to the UK later this year. The invitation was accepted. This invitation reflects the importance of the relationship between the United States of America and the United Kingdom. At this stage, final dates have not yet been agreed for the State visit."

The State Visit, expected later this year in August-September, has been at the centre of a lot of protests and controversy, including Commons Speaker John Bercow's impartiality coming into question after he said Trump should be barred from addressing Parliament.

The petition, to be debated later this month, states: "Donald Trump should be allowed to enter the UK in his capacity as head of the US Government, but he should not be invited to make an official State Visit because it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen."
Washington: Investment banker and former Goldman Sachs executive Steven Mnuchin has been sworn in as the new Secretary of Treasury, filling a crucial position in US President Donald Trump's economic team.

He was sworn in as the Treasury Secretary by Vice President Mike Pence soon after he was confirmed by the US Senate by a vote of 53 to 48 on Monday.

Mnuchin, 54, is the third former Goldman Sachs executive to become Treasury Secretary. The other two being Robert Rubin and Henry Paulson.

In this position, Mnuchin is expected to play a key role in the economic reforms that Trump plans to undertake to remove bureaucratic bottlenecks, simplify tax codes and make America an attractive investment destination.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady welcomed Mnuchin's confirmation. "With decades of private-sector experience, Secretary Mnuchin understands how today's broken tax code and wasteful spending directly discourage economic growth and make it harder for Americans to get ahead," he said.

However, a number of Democratic lawmakers opposed the nomination of Mnuchin as the Treasury Secretary.

"The American people don't suffer from the same collective amnesia that Wall Street and its allies in Congress have about how devastating the crisis was to our country," Senator Sherrod Brown said on Senate floor. "As the people we represent know, and Mnuchin's bank proves, when we turn the reins to Wall Street, it's working families who pay the price," he said.

Born and raised in New York City, Mnuchin holds a Bachelor's Degree from Yale University.

Mnuchin will be the principal economic advisor to Trump on domestic and international financial, economic, and tax issues.

"Regrettably, while Mr Mnchuin may have a knowledge of the inner-workings of Wall Street, he seems to know shockingly little of the hardships faced on Main Street. One need look no further than his role during the height of the housing crisis in foreclosing on tens of thousands of American families," Senator Patrick Leahy said.

"Reducing these actions to mere administrative matters belies the true struggles of those who don't boast the personal coffers Mr Mnuchin enjoys. I simply cannot accept his explanation of his role in these actions," he said.

The Senate also confirmed David Shulkin as the Secretary of Veterans affairs with a vote of 100 to 0.

Mnuchin is responsible for the executive branch agency whose mission includes maintaining a strong economy, promoting conditions that enable job growth and stability, protecting the integrity of the financial system, strengthening national security, and managing the US government's finances effectively.

He succeeds Jacob J Lew, who served in the position under former US President Barack Obama.

Prior to his confirmation, Mnuchin was finance chairman for Donald Trump for President. In this role he spent the last year travelling with Trump, met with hundreds of business leaders. He also served as a senior economic advisor to the President in crafting his economic positions and economic speeches.

He has also served as founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Dune Capital Management. He also founded OneWest Bank Group LLC and served as its chairman and chief executive officer until its sale to CIT Group Inc was the first bank merger over 50 billion dollars post financial crisis.

Earlier in his career, Mnuchin worked at The Goldman Sachs Group, where he was a partner and served as chief information officer. He has extensive experience in global financial markets and oversaw trading in US government securities, mortgages, money markets, and municipal bonds.

Senator Tim Kaine said he was not confident Mnuchin will be an advocate for working families and their financial security.

"His complicity in the 2008 financial crisis raises serious doubts about whether he will prioritise the interests of Virginians who are trying to build personal savings while keeping their homes and being able to send their kids to college," he said.
(Global Times) 10:45, February 14, 2017

Firefighters force open the door of an elevator car to rescue a trapped family of three in Suining, Southwest China's Sichuan Province on January 3, 2016. Photo: IC

Elevator accidents, though they are decreasing in number, are still raising questions about the safety of infrastructure, the quality of maintenance and accountability.

Governments across the nation are looking to ensure that tragedies - which range from people dropping down empty shafts to people getting trapped inside elevators for days - never happen again.

Declining but deadlyYang Chaolin, 43, and Yang Yong, 44, an uncle and nephew from Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning Province, plummeted down an elevator shaft on the night of February 3, 2017.

According to the Peninsula Morning Post, a newspaper in Dalian, Liaoning Province, after celebrating Yang Chaolin's father's birthday, the pair stepped into the shaft after the door opened on the 28th floor and fell until they hit the top of the elevator car, which was stuck on the third floor.

The elevator had malfunctioned before they stepped in, sliding from the 28th floor and getting stuck on the third floor.

Rescuers who arrived at the scene after they received a phone call from the family found the pair were already dead.

The tragedy was not only a blow to the family, but shocked and worried people across the country.

"A total of 48 elevator accidents happened in 2016, killing 41 people, a drop from 58 incidents and 48 deaths in 2015," said Jia Guodong, Vice Director of China's Special Equipment Safety Supervision Bureau, at a seminar on the elevator industry held in Shanghai on January 19.

While China's elevator death rate of 0.12 accidents per ten thousand elevators is similar to that in developed countries, the cause of accidents is still important, as around one-third of the world's elevators - about 4.9 million - are located in China, the Procuratorate Daily reported.

"Over 80 percent of accidents are due to poor maintenance or repairs," Peng Jinsheng, Director of the Beijing Elevator Commerce Committee, was quoted as saying by the Procuratorate Daily on February 8.

National regulations say that elevators should be cleaned, lubricated, adjusted and checked once every 15 days, however the Procuratorate Daily reported that this rule is rarely followed.

Procuratorate Daily reporters found that elevator problems are often ignored by building managers even when complaints are made, and expired or forged inspection certificates were found in some elevators.

A report compiled in August 2014 by the Prospective Industries Institute, a civil organization specializing in market data surveys, in August 2014 claimed that in order to cut costs, building owners often outsource maintenance to third parties who usually charge around 4,000 yuan ($667) per year, much cheaper than the price offered by manufacturers.

These "bargain" maintenance deals often lead to poor safety.

Furthermore, regulations on the installation and maintenance of elevators stipulate that it is forbidden to install, alter, maintain or repair elevators if one doesn't have the relevant license.

But many unqualified installers have slinked into the elevator industry, becoming a significant cause of accidents.

In January 2016, a resident of Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province surnamed Wu was trapped in a malfunctioning elevator for more than 30 days without food or water due to the negligence of maintenance staff, Guangdong-based sounthcn.com reported.

The elevator she was riding in her apartment building got stuck between floors, but when repairmen checked on the elevator, instead of opening the doors to check if there was anyone inside - as the relevant regulations say they should - they simply shouted through the door.

After hearing no response, they turned off the power and left it closed. When repairs began on the elevator on March 1, the body of the 43-year-old woman was discovered.

Local legal experiments

Facing these problems, governments have put forward a variety of ways to provide accountability and improve the management of elevators.

The government of Baoji, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, started to offer elevator liability insurance from November 1, 2016, covering all sorts of elevators in the city.

The government offers the basic premium while owners pay 80 yuan every year, with the coverage providing up to 3 million yuan in compensation.

In Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province, the local government publicized newly revised regulations on elevator safety and supervision on its official webpage on February 8, canvassing public opinions.

The rules stipulate that elevators in schools, kindergartens, hospitals, supermarkets, parks and other public places should be equipped with video surveillance systems.

In the case of an accident, rescue work should be coordinated by police officers, the fire department and the local quality supervision department.

Elevator maintenance units are also required to set up 24-hour hotlines and dispatch rescuers to the scene in a timely fashion.
By Richard Cowan and Steve Holland

| WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON U.S. lawmakers, including some leading Republicans, called on Tuesday for a deeper inquiry into White House ties to Russia, after national security adviser Michael Flynn resigned in President Donald Trump's biggest staff upheaval so far. Flynn quit on Monday after only three weeks in the job amid revelations that he had discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia with Moscow's ambassador to the United States before Trump took office, in a potentially illegal action, and had later misled Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations. Trump asked for the resignation after his level of trust in Flynn eroded to the point that he felt he needed to make a change, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said. "The erosion of that trust, frankly, was the issue," he said.Flynn's departure was another disruption for an administration already repeatedly distracted by miscues and internal dramas since the Republican president took office on Jan. 20.Transcripts of intercepted communications, described by U.S. officials, showed that the issue of U.S. sanctions came up in conversations between Flynn and the ambassador in late December. The conversations took place around the time that then-President Barack Obama was imposing sanctions on Russia after charging that Moscow had used cyber attacks to try to influence the 2016 presidential election in Trump's favor.Flynn, a former U.S. intelligence official, quit hours after a report saying the Justice Department had warned the White House weeks ago that he could be vulnerable to blackmail over his conversations with Ambassador Sergei Kislyak.Democrats, who do not have control of Congress, clamored for more action over Flynn, and asked how much Trump knew about his connections to Russia.The American people deserve to know at whose direction Gen. Flynn was acting when he made these calls, and why the White House waited until these reports were public to take action, Democrat Mark Warner, the Senate intelligence committee's vice chairman, said in a statement. Two leading Republicans in the Senate, Bob Corker and John Cornyn, also said the intelligence committee should investigate Flynn's contacts with Russia. Corker said Flynn may need to testify to a congressional hearing.

Republican Senator Roy Blunt, a member of the same committee, told a St. Louis radio station that the panel should interview Flynn very soon as part of its investigation into attempts by Russia to influence the U.S. election.But the highest-ranking Republican in Congress, House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, sidestepped questions about whether lawmakers should look into Flynn's Russia ties, adding he would leave it to the Trump administration to explain the circumstances behind Flynn's departure.Democratic Senator Chris Coons asked why Flynn was allowed to remain in his post for so long after the White House was warned of the potential for blackmail.This isnt just about what happened with General Flynn, Coons told MSNBC. What did President Trump know? What did the president know and when did he know it? Coons said, echoing a question made famous by the Watergate scandal, which forced President Richard Nixon to resign in 1974. Flynn, an early and enthusiastic supporter of Trump, was a strong advocate of a softer line toward Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his departure from the key post could hinder Trump's efforts to warm up relations with Moscow.

General Flynns resignation also raises further questions about the Trump administrations intentions toward Vladimir Putins Russia," said Senator John McCain, a leading Republican voice on foreign relations.LEAKS WORRY TRUMP

The Washington Post reported last week that the issue of sanctions came up in the conversations with the ambassador, although Flynn told Pence they had not.In his first public comment about the Flynn issue since the resignation, Trump deflected the focus to leaks from his administration. "The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington? Will these leaks be happening as I deal on N.Korea etc?" he wrote on Twitter.

In his resignation letter, Flynn acknowledged he had "inadvertently briefed the vice president-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador." A U.S. official familiar with the transcripts of the calls with Kislyak said Flynn indicated that if Russia did not retaliate in kind for Obama's Dec. 29 order expelling 35 Russian suspected spies and sanctioning of Russian spy agencies, that restraint could smooth the way toward a broader discussion of improving U.S.-Russian relations once Trump took power.To the surprise of some observers at the time, Putin did not take retaliatory measures. Trump praised his restraint.Despite Trump's attempts to improve relations with Putin, the New York Times reported on Tuesday that Russia has deployed a new cruise missile in the face of complaints by U.S. officials that it violates an arms control treaty banning ground-based U.S. and Russian intermediate-range missiles.Flynn's discussions with the Russian diplomat could potentially have been in violation of a law known as the Logan Act, banning private citizens from negotiating with foreign governments about disputes or controversies with the United States. However, nobody has been prosecuted in modern times under the law, which dates from 1799.Vice Admiral Robert Harward, who served under Defense Secretary James Mattis, is the leading candidate to replace Flynn, two U.S. officials said on Tuesday.The scramble to replace Flynn began on Monday evening and continued with phone calls and meetings into the early hours of Tuesday in an effort to enable Trump to make a decision and put the matter behind him as soon as possible, said an official involved in the effort.Also under consideration was retired General David Petraeus, a former CIA director whose reputation was tainted by a scandal over mishandling classified information with his biographer, with whom he was having an affair. (Additional reporting by Susan Cornwell, John Walcott, Doina Chiacu and Susan Heavey; Writing by Alistair Bell; Editing by Frances Kerry and Jonathan Oatis)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
United Nations: The UN Security Council has unanimously condemned North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch and threatened to "take further significant measures" against Pyongyang.

Council members including China, Pyongyang's main ally, agreed on a US-drafted statement describing the test-firing of the missile as a "grave violation" of UN resolutions.

The United States, Japan and South Korea on Monday requested the urgent meeting after North Korea announced it had successfully tested a new missile on Sunday, the first launch since US President Donald Trump took office.

"We call on all members of the Security Council to use every available resource to make it clear to the North Korean regime  and its enablers  that these launches are unacceptable," US Ambassador Nikki Haley said in a statement.

"It is time to hold North Korea accountable - not with our words, but with our actions."

At a Washington news conference just hours before the council meeting, Trump described North Korea as a "big, big problem" and vowed: "We will deal with that very strongly."

The latest missile  said by Pyongyang to be able to carry a nuclear warhead  flew east for about 500 kilometers (310 miles) before falling into the Sea of Japan (East Sea), South Korea's defense ministry said.

North Korea is barred under UN resolutions from carrying out ballistic missile launches or nuclear tests.

But last year, it conducted two nuclear tests and numerous missile launches in its quest to develop a nuclear weapons system capable of hitting the US mainland.

The Security Council has imposed six sets of sanctions since Pyongyang first tested an atomic device in 2006.
Washington: US immigration officers last week arrested more than 680 people in the country illegally, the homeland security chief said on Monday, in a broad enforcement action that alarmed immigrant rights groups.

US Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said the operations, conducted in at least a dozen states, were routine and consistent with regular operations carried out by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

Immigrant rights advocates said the operations, which they describe as raids, were not business as usual, and were more sweeping than operations conducted during the administration of former Democratic President Barack Obama.

Kelly said in a statement that 75 percent of the immigrants arrested have criminal records, ranging from homicide to driving under the influence of alcohol.

He said the operation also targeted people who have violated immigration laws.

Some had ignored final orders of deportation, according to ICE, the agency responsible for immigrant arrests and deportations.

Obama was criticised for being the "deporter in chief" after he deported over 400,000 people in 2012, more than any president in a single year.

In 2014, Obama's homeland security chief issued a memo directing agents to focus on deporting a narrow slice of immigrants, namely those who had recently entered the country or committed serious felonies. Immigrants who were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, for example, were treated as lower priorities for deportation.

Republican President Donald Trump promised to deport 2 million to 3 million migrants with criminal records on taking office.

At a news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday, Trump said his administration had "really done a great job" in its recent arrests of immigrants.

"We're actually taking people that are criminals, very, very, hardened criminals in some cases with a tremendous track record of abuse and problems," Trump said.

ICE said in a statement on Monday that the operations targeted immigrants in the Midwest, Los Angeles, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and San Antonio.

Among the 190 people arrested in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, were 17 people who had no criminal convictions or a prior order to leave the country, according to ICE.

In a Jan. 25 executive order, Trump broadened an Obama-era priority enforcement system for immigrants subject to removal from the United States.

"Now it seems like anyone could be arrested," said Shiu-Ming Cheer, senior staff attorney at the National Immigration Law Center. "The level of fear and anxiety is much higher than I've ever seen it."
UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Monday unanimously adopted resolution 2341 (2017), calling upon member states to consider developing or further improving their strategies for reducing risks to critical infrastructure from terrorist attacks.

The 15-member Council reiterated "the need to strengthen efforts to improve security and protection of particularly vulnerable targets, such as infrastructure and public places, according to a UN press release posted on its website.

Attacks against objects and sectors such as banking and finance, telecommunications, emergency services, air, maritime and rail transportation, and energy and water supply -- perceived as "attractive targets" for terrorist groups -- can result not only in civilian casualties, but also damage property on a large scale, disrupt proper functioning of public services, and create chaos in societies, says the press release.

Further in the resolution, the Security Council -- the UN body with the responsibility for maintenance of international peace and security -- also underscored the importance of partnerships at all levels and with public and private stakeholders, it says.

The resolution was adopted at an open Security Council debate on vulnerabilities, interdependencies and capabilities and the cascading impacts of terrorist attacks on critical infrastructure, as well as measures to prevent them.

Noting that international counter-terrorism cooperation -- especially in the area of critical infrastructure -- has been limited, Maria Luiza Viotti, Chef de Cabinet of the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, called on all international community to unite in a coordinated response and outlined the importance of a coordinated response comprising all actors and stakeholders.

Also cautioning that the consequences of an attack in today's interconnected world could be far reaching, Jurgen Stock, the Secretary-General of the International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO-INTERPOL) said: "one attack on a single point of failure could lead to the disruption or destruction of multiple vital systems in the country directly affected, and a ripple effect worldwide."

"In an interconnected world, we will not succeed in protecting national infrastructure in isolation. This is why initiatives ... and the steps ... by the international community are essential," he underlined.
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The Lord Mayor of the City of London will visit China to strengthen business ties

LONDON FEB. 14(People's Daily Online) The Lord Mayor of the City of London, Dr Andrew Parmley, is to lead a business delegation to Hong Kong and Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin in Mainland China from 16 to 26 February. The Lord Mayor will look to strengthen the commercial ties between the UK and China and promote Britain as the place in which to invest and do business.

In his four day visit to Hong Kong, the Lord Mayor will meet senior business representatives to explore opportunities for further cooperation on international trade, including specific opportunities for investors from Hong Kong and mainland China.

While in mainland China, the Lord Mayor will meet policy makers and business leaders to share the views on economic development in both countries, and discuss areas of mutual interest such as RMB internationalisation and Green Finance.

Speaking ahead of his visit to China, the Lord Mayor Andrew Parmley said:

China is a vital trade and investment partner for the UK. My visit comes at an opportune time to show government and industry that the UK remains open for business.

While in China I will reiterate our commitment to deepening the long-standing links between the UK and China, I will celebrate the strength bonds of economic co-operation that bind our nations, and I will explore new ways for us to work together.

As the financial and commercial heart of both Britain and Europe, the City of London is a natural partner for Chinese investors and businesses that want to expand their global presence.

It is no secret that our relationship with China is more important than ever as we negotiate our departure from the European Union, but I believe that opportunities to collaborate will continue to emerge, benefitting both our economies, as well as driving wider global growth.
(file photo)

China plans to start 35 new railway projects in 2017, spending upwards of 800 billion RMB on new lines, Economic Information Daily reported on Feb. 14.

The construction plan, which will be carried out by China Railway Corporation (CRC), states that China will maintain its railway investment scale and complete its scheduled investment in fixed assets. In 2016, China invested 801.5 billion RMB in fixed assets in the domestic railway sector, starting 46 new projects. China's operating railway lines covered 124,000 kilometers by the end of 2016, and high-speed rails exceeded 22,000 kilometers.

Recently, many regions have released their key project construction plans for 2017, with railways making another strong showing. Guangzhou, for instance, plans to invest more than 49 billion RMB in 56 railway construction projects this year.

Lu Dongfu, general manager of CRC, stressed at the company's annual work conference that they plan to continue promoting railway construction and strengthening project quality and safety. Lu said the release of a longer-term plan and devolution of project approval rights will further boost railway investment.
Living in Delhi, air pollution is an accepted fact and air purifiers are a way of life. If youre out and about a lot though, theres a good chance that you are getting exposed to much higher doses of pollutants than is healthy. The recent advent of Car Air Purifiers has had us intrigued so when Crusaders got in touch with us to check out the CF-100 Car Air Purifier, we jumped on the opportunity. Read on to find out what we think about the Crusaders CF-100 Car Air Purifier.

Specifications

Elementary Pre Filter

Active Carbon Filter

HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arrestor) Filter rated at 0.3 Microns

UV Lamp

Negative Ions.

From a design perspective, the CF-100 is pretty straightforward. About the height of a bottle of water, the air purifier has vent grilles on either side with another set towards the top from where it blows out clean air.

At its core, the CF-100 is just a miniaturised version of a full size air purifier. The grilles on either side can be removed to expose the filter stage. Starting from the elementary filter to the carbon filter that removes contaminants and impurities using chemical adsorption. Next up is the HEPA filter that can remove particulates as small as 0.3 microns.

This air is then routed up towards the upper went which also incorporates an ioniser to remove odour. Over the course of testing we observed that the Crusaders CF-100 was able to effectively remove odour and cleanse out a car in about 10 minutes of work. The CF-100 is rated for an area of about 60-70 square feet. What this means is that the air purifier will work fine within a car or a desk cubicle but is certainly not going to replace a full size home air purifier.

In terms of controls, the CF-100 is pretty spartan. A toggle switch lies along the bottom of the purifier which as the name suggests, turns it on or off. A cut away allows you to easily position a microUSB cable within that charges the built-in battery. There is pass through support here so you can simply run the purifier plugged in. The cut away comes in particularly handy if you plan to place it on your desk. Over on the front face youll observe three buttons. While the central power button simply indicates power status, the other two allow you to toggle the lights and adjust the air flow speed.

Theres not too much to be said about the Crusaders CF-100 air purifier considering it does its job just fine. The build quality while not fantastic, isnt something youll complain about either. Similarly, as a desktop or car air purifier, it is reasonably fast and cleaning out your surroundings and delivers about 3-4 hours of autonomy as well on the built-in battery. The Crusaders CF-100 is priced at Rs. 5,000 and is definitely something you should consider if you drive a lot in a city like Delhi where air pollution is a genuine concern.
We already know that HMD Global is going to introduce new Nokia Android smartphones at MWC 2017. Now, according to a latest report from Venturebeat, the company will launch three Android phones at the event in Barcelona at the end of this month.

The Finland based company has bagged exclusive global license to sell Nokia-branded feature phones, Android smartphones and tablets for the next ten years. Along with Nokia 6, which is available only in China, HMD Global will announce Nokia 5 and Nokia 3 budget Android phones, said the report.

The Nokia 5 is expected to be powered by a Snapdragon 430 (same as Nokia 6) but will sport a 5.2 inches at 720p display and come with 2GB RAM. It is said to have a 12-megapixel rear camera. The phone is tipped to be priced at 199 ($211 approx.). Meanwhile, the Nokia 3 will be an entry level Android phone that will start at 149 ($157 approx.).

Finally, the report also states that HMD Global will even introduce a modern version of the Nokia 3310, one of the companys most famous devices. HMD Global has scheduled an event on February 26 at MWC 2017 where it will showcase these phones. We will be live from the MWC 2017 in Barcelona will bring you all the latest updates.

Source
Qualcomm today announced IPQ8074, its latest 2GHz quad-core 802.11ax integrated SoC designed to deliver maximum capacity, range and performance for the next generation of enterprise access points, carrier gateways and consumer routers. It also announced QCA6290 802.11ax client device SoC for homes, enterprises, public venues and other high-traffic areas, and automobiles.

Qualcomms 802.11ax solutions support 12-streams (eight 5GHz and four 2.4GHz), 88 MU-MIMO, 80 MHz channels and other features to maximize capacity and coverage.

The IPQ8074 is Qualcomms first 802.11ax network solution, designed to meet the growing demands of increasingly crowded and dense Wi-Fi environments. It offers the optimal 11ax configuration to bring unprecedented capacity and coverage to Wi-Fi networks, and supports several unique features to ensure the best possible Wi-Fi performance for all types of applications, said the company.

The QCA6290 is a state-of-the-art 802.11ax client device supporting 22 configuration and 802.11 ac Wav-2/ax WLAN standards. When paired with an 88 MU-MIMO supported access point, it can provide up to 4x increase in user throughput, and up to 2/3rd reduction in Wi-Fi power consumption, delivering a superior user experience in crowded scenarios, it added.

Qualcomm IPQ8074 specifications

2 GHz quad-core (4x ARM Cortex A53) CPU based on 14 nm FinFET process tech

WiFi  802.11ax (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), 1212 (88 5GHz + 44 2.4 GHz)

Wi-Fi Features  MU-MIMO, OFDMA, 1024 QAM, Advanced QoS, Uplink scheduling, TxBF and Wi-Fi SON

DDR4, DDR3L memory and Serial NOR and NAND flash

Wi-Fi Security  WAPI, TKIP, AES-GCMP, AES-CCMP, WEP, WPA, WPS, WPA2, 802.11i security, PRNG

Supported Interfaces  PCIe 2.0, USB 3.0, SD/eMMC, UART, SDIO, PCM, IS, SPI, IC, LTE, Ethernet, Bluetooth, LCD

Home Networks: Routers, Enterprise Networks: Enterprise Access Points, Carrier Networks: Wi-Fi Backhaul and Broadband Gateways

Peak speed 4.8 Gbps

Qualcomm QCA6290 specifications

Form Factor  Laptops, Smartphones, Tablets

Wi-Fi Standards  802.11ax, 802.11ac Wave 2, 802.11n, 802.11a/b/g

Wi-Fi Spectral Bands  2.4 GHz and 5 GHz

Peak Speed  1.775 Gbps

Channel Utilization  20/40/80 MHz

MIMO Configuration  22 (2-stream)

Wi-Fi Features  MU-MIMO, Dual-band simultaneous (DBS), 88 Sounding, Target Wake-up Time (TWT)

Qualcomm IPQ8074 and QCA6290 are expected to be sampled for OEMs in the first half of 2017.

Source
Reliance Jio and Samsung today announced a joint press conference at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017 in Barcelona on February 28th. This event is to foster engagement and participation among industry leaders, governments and communities by discussing Jios successful 4G LTE business and how it has transformed the everyday lives of Indians, said Samsung.

Samsung was the first company to partner with Jio to offer Jio SIM with some of its smartphones so users could enjoy free data, calls and bouquet of Jio apps early.

Samsung said that it will also share the contributions made by the company as Jios solution partner at the event. It believes that this will befits the participants attending the event in understanding how it has and will make impacts at local and international levels for the growth of the country.

Jyotindra Thacker, President, Jio and Youngky Kim, President Head of Networks Business, Samsung Electronics will host the event that starts at 8:45 AM CET (1:15 PM IST) on February 28th. Check out the full invite below.

Source
As millennials disposable incomes grow, two disruptive online lingerie startups are looking to tap in and gain a bigger piece of the $13.5 billion intimate-apparel market.

According to IBISWorld Industry data, the overall lingerie market only grew 1.9% from 2011 to 2016. However, the online sector has grown from 5% of market share in 2008, to nearly 15% in 2016, with estimates saying it could grow to 25% by 2022.

Morgan Hermand-Waiche, founder & CEO of Adore Me, a New York-based start-up specializing in e-commerce lingerie, says his company has seen some of that growth first-hand since the company launched in 2012 out of his Harvard dorm room.

I started Adore Me still as a student, my Harvard Business School professors were my first investors, Hermand-Waiche tells FOX Business. Since its inception, [we] have experienced exponential growth. In 2012, our revenues were $1.1 million; in 2013, they grew to $5.6 million; by 2014, we were grossing $16 million; and in 2015, we raked in $42.6 million. We kept a very similar growth rate in 2016, but we cant reveal revenue figures for 2016 yet.

Hermand-Waiche says the company is also on track to break a new sales record this Valentines Day, as January 2017 was its biggest sales month to date, leading up to the hallmark holiday of love.

"Valentine's day has been crazy. The volume of sales have picked up three to five times on a daily basis compared to a few weeks ago," he adds.

While those numbers may seem small in comparison to Victorias Secret and parent company L Brands annual sales of $12.57 billion in 2016, Adore Me was ranked No. 9 on Crains Fast 50 in 2016 -- as well as being ranked No. 2 as the fastest-growing private retail company on Inc.s 500 list in 2015.

Meanwhile, another startup called Negative Underwear, which college friends Lauren Schwab and Marissa Vosper launched in 2014 while attending the University of Pennsylvania, is positioning itself as the anti-Victorias Secret brand.

The companys motto is Less fakemore real, and In a world of pushed up and overdone, were intentionally not.

We offer a luxury quality product at a more accessible price, an aesthetic that aligns with the less is more mantra, a brand ethos and voice that resonates with the contemporary female and high-touch customer service experience to help guide the customer to finding product she loves, Lauren Schwab, co-founder of Negative Underwear, tells FOX Business.

Like Adore Me, Schwab says Negative Underwear is committed to an e-commerce strategy that offers customers the highest-quality product at the best price.

I believe that women have had enough with the Mean Girls attitude of certain brands, making them feel bad about their bodies, Hermand-Waiche adds.

More on this...

At the same time, both Negative Underwear and Adore Me say they still believe in having a presence on Main Street.

We recognize that buying a well-fitting bra online is hard. Offline opportunities have been important to the growth of our business because they allow our customers to feel and try the product in person and experience the brand on a much personal level, Schwab says.

Adore Me also recently recognized the same, opening its first brick-and-mortar pop-up store last February in Manhattan. Hermand-Waiche says since the company has expanded its line to big box retailers such as Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor and Hudsons Bay.

We still take pride in our online DNA. In addition to our website, we have a state-of-the-art mobile app, and over 70% of our traffic comes in from mobile. This has made us a go-to for the millennial shopper, and indeed, over 75% of our customers are millennials, says Hermand-Waiche.
Both of their company names appear on gas station signs around the country, but that's where the similarities between energy companiesSunoco LP(NYSE: SUN) andConocoPhillips(NYSE: COP) pretty much end. Conoco spun off its retail operations in 2012 to focus exclusively on oil and gas exploration and production, while Sunoco -- now a limited partnership controlled byEnergy Transfer Partners(NYSE: ETP) -- has moved exclusively into downstream operations, selling wholesale and retail gasoline.

Oh, there's one more similarity, too: Both stocks have been hit hard by current weak oil prices. So, let's see which one of these stocks looks like the better bargain today.

ConocoPhillips spun off its retail fuel business in 2012. Sunoco still has its retail business...for now. Image source: Getty Images.

Dividend yield

While oil prices -- and energy sector stocks -- are down, a robust dividend can reward patient investors until the market starts to rebound. And it doesn't get more robust than Sunoco's incredible 10.9% current yield. That tops most companies in the sector, including the integrated majors, for whichRoyal Dutch Shell's current 7.2% dividend yield is best in class.

It also absolutely blows away poor Conoco's lackluster 2.1% dividend yield, but it wasn't always that way. At the beginning of 2015, the companies' dividend yields were nearly identical, at 4.1%. But in 2016, with its debt load rising and oil prices slumping, Conoco slashed its quarterly dividend from $0.74/share to just $0.25/share.Sunoco held its dividend steady, even in the face of mounting debt.

We'll look at how that debt is affecting Sunoco, but with a yield more than five times higher than that of its competitor, Sunoco clearly comes out on top by this metric.

Winner: Sunoco

Debt load

Neither company's balance sheet is pristine, and that's hardly a surprise in this weak oil market. Even the largest integrated oil companies likeExxonMobil and Shell have seen their debt loads rise as oil prices wreaked havoc on their bottom lines.But the question is how well the companies are managing the debt they've had to take on.

Sunoco's dividend yield isn't the only number that's much higher than Conoco's. Its debt-to-equity ratio is nearly 1.5, compared to Conoco's 0.4. Even for an energy company, that's astronomical. Sunoco has so much debt, in fact, that S&P Global downgraded it to a BB- rating in January before its creditors finally stepped in and forced it to accept a debt reduction plan.

That plan, which only calls for the company to reduce its debt to 5.5 times its equity (down from 6.5 times equity in Q4 2016), is being augmented by a $300 million infusion of liquidity by Energy Transfer Equity, one of the other partnerships in the Energy Transfer family, and by the recent sale of 1,110 of Sunoco's convenience stores to 7-Eleven for $3.3 billion.

Management expects that this transaction will bring total debt down to about 4.5 to 4.75 times equity. That may be enough to satisfy the company's creditors, but it's still a lot of debt. Conoco's balance sheet seems downright tame by comparison.

Winner: ConocoPhillips

A path forward

Dividends and current debt loads only tell us about where a company is today. Of more interest to investors should be where a company is going. And right now, these companies have charted very similar paths forward: trimming the fat.

For ConocoPhillips, that means focusing on oil drilling projects with a low breakeven point. The breakeven point for an oil producer is the price per barrel above which the company makes a profit. With oil prices hovering just above $50/barrel, that means companies are trying to invest in projects with breakeven points well below that threshold.

ConocoPhillips has done a pretty good job of this recently. It's begun getting out of the risky and expensive business of deepwater exploration. It's also cutting costs and has promised to trim its capital budget by 4% this year.In its Q4 earnings call, Executive Vice President Don Wallette suggested that the company's breakeven would be in the "high 40s" moving forward.

Sunoco, as I mentioned, has sold off 1,110 of its convenience stores to 7-Eleven, and it has plans to sell another 207, which would get it out of the convenience store business entirely, with the exception of a handful of high-margin Aloha Petroleum stores in Hawaii.However, it's received a15-year, fixed-rate take-or-pay fuel supply agreement from 7-Eleven as part of the deal. The agreement includes required growth components to deliver expanding volumes in future years, and it requires current Sunoco-branded stations to retain branded Sunoco fuel offerings.

This will make 7-Eleven the company's largest wholesale fuel customer, with 29% of overall wholesale volume. It also reduces Sunoco's capital needs and simplifies its business model. But even big positive changes are still big changes and inject a certain amount of risk into the business. It's a close call, but ConocoPhillips seems to have the clearer path forward at the moment.

Winner: ConocoPhillips

Investor takeaway

While Sunoco has a mouth-watering dividend and has taken some concrete steps to reduce its debt, the big changes it's making to its business and the fact that the debt is nowhere near eliminated make it a risky play at the moment. That's why ConocoPhillips, despite its smaller dividend and balance sheet problems of its own, is the better buy. However, smart investors should keep an eye on Sunoco as it transitions to a leaner business model. If Sunoco can manage the transition effectively, ConocoPhillips may not come out on top next time.

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Japanese stocks fell more than 1 percent on Tuesday, with investor sentiment soured after Toshiba Corp delayed its earnings release, including details of a multibillion dollar charge related to cost overruns at its U.S. nuclear arm.

The mood was also hurt by the dollar's weakening after President Donald Trump's national security adviser Michael Flynn quit.

The Nikkei share average dropped 1.1 percent to 19,238.98 points.

Toshiba's stock nosedived 8 percent after it announced during the midday market recess that it would delay its earnings release, which was originally scheduled for 0300 GMT.

"The delay shows that the company is in a mess," said Makoto Kikuchi, chief executive of Myojo Asset Management.

"We can assume that the company is not delaying its earnings release for good news. The market speculates that Toshiba will be releasing figures worse than what is being reported already."

The broader Topix dropped 1.0 percent to 1,539.12 and the JPX-Nikkei Index 400 fell 1.1 percent to 13,794.36.

(Reporting by Ayai Tomisawa; Editing by Kim Coghill)
Oil pared gains on Tuesday as concerns about rising supply from U.S. shale output overshadowed an OPEC-led effort to cut global output, which has supported oil prices in a higher range.

Brent crude was 61 cents higher at $56.20 a barrel by 11:30 Eastern (1530 GMT), after earlier rising to $56.46 a barrel. U.S. light crude was up 45 cents at $53.38.

The two benchmarks fell 2 percent on Monday. They are both now near the middle of $5-per-barrel trading ranges seen since early December.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other exporters including Russia have agreed to cut output by almost 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) during the first half of 2017 in a bid to rein in a global fuel supply overhang.

The market has largely priced in the production cuts that OPEC and other producers agreed to in November, leaving little room for prices to break out of the range, said Tariq Zahir, managing member of Tyche Capital in New York.

"It would take either a supply outage or serious cuts to move it," he said. "The first month, obviously, OPEC is going to do the best it can, but after that, let's see what the second and third month bring."

Rising production in the United States, where increased drilling activity especially by shale oil producers, has undermined these efforts. U.S. crude output is up 6.5 percent since mid-2016 to 8.98 million bpd, its highest level since April last year. <C-OUT-T-EIA>.

U.S. shale oil production for March is expected to rise by the most in five months to 4.87 million bpd, its highest rate of since May last year, government data showed on Monday.

"Oil just appears to be caught in a range at the moment and mainly focused on those supply considerations," said Ric Spooner, chief market analyst at CMC Markets in Sydney.

Although OPEC countries are largely sticking to their agreement with compliance around 90 percent, investors suspect the cuts may not be maintained, preventing them from having a bigger impact on prices.

"OPEC producers want the market to believe they will stick to the agreed production freeze (cut). But lessons from the past have made the market deeply suspicious," said Hans van Cleef, senior energy economist at ABN AMRO Bank in Amsterdam.

Many analysts say oil producers will have to cut production more quickly to drain the global oversupply this year.

"Based on OPEC's own numbers the message is loud and clear," said Tamas Varga, analyst at London broker PVM Oil Associates.

"Improve on compliance, cut production further and extend the deal for the second half of the year if you want to avoid yet another year of global oil inventory builds."

(By Jessica Resnick-Ault; Additional reeporting by Henning Gloystein and Mark Tay in Singapore and Christopher Johnson in London; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Susan Fenton)
Photo shows 87-year-old Deng Yingtang and his wife, 86-year-old Li Mingqing. (Photo/West China City Daily)

Romance is not only for the young. Nowhere is this clearer than in the case of Deng Yingtang, an 87-year-old man in Nanchong, Sichuan province, who arranged a special Valentine's Day gift for his wife, 86-year-old Li Mingqing. The couple took a series of photos to commemorate their 70th wedding anniversary, West China City Daily reported on Feb. 14.

Deng and Li both dressed in red and black clothing. They demonstrated tacit understanding and affection for one another throughout the shoot.

"My grandpa and grandma didn't have a marriage certificate when they got married 70 years ago, let alone any wedding photos," said Yang Jie, their 26-year-old granddaughter. It was Deng's wish to take photos with his wife, and Yang helped him to find a photographer.

Deng and Li met for the first time on their wedding day in 1947, and they have enjoyed a happy life together ever since. Deng is an intellectual while Li is illiterate, but they do not allow that difference to separate them; they constantly display patience and love for one another.

They now have three daughters and an adopted son, and their family extends across four generations. Their eldest great grandchild is already 25 years old. No doubt influenced by Deng and Li, all the couples in the family have good relationships.
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South Korean special prosecutor's office said on Tuesday it is seeking an arrest warrant for Samsung Group [SAGR.UL] leader Jay Y. Lee as part of its investigation into a graft scandal that could topple President Park Geun-hye.

The special prosecution said it would also seek an arrest warrants for Samsung Electronics Co Ltd <005930.KS> President Park Sang-jin. It did not elaborate or say what charges it planned to bring against the two executives. 005930.KS>

(Reporting by Se Young Lee and Ju-min Park; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Toshiba said Tuesday it expected to book a $6.3 billion write-down on its nuclear business because of cost overruns in U.S. projects, but it postponed issuing its official earnings results after a whistleblower warned of possible improprieties at the nuclear unit.

The delay in releasing results sent Toshiba shares down 8% in Tokyo trading and deepened the turmoil at the 140-year-old Japanese electronics giant, which barely survived an accounting scandal in 2015.

Toshiba said it was studying a sale of a majority stake in its main remaining crown jewel, a memory-chip business that supplies smartphone makers such as Apple. The company said its shareholder equity fell into negative territory as of Dec. 31, leaving just a month and a half to find ways to get back above zero before its fiscal year ends March 31.

The company had been scheduled to announce its April-December results at noon local time on Tuesday, the final day for companies to release quarterly results under Tokyo Stock Exchange rules. But after that hour came and went with no release, Toshiba said it was asking for a one-month delay.

It said an internal whistleblower had raised suspicions that management at its U.S. nuclear subsidiary, Westinghouse Electric Co., had exerted inappropriate pressure over the unit's accounting. It said a law firm hired by Toshiba had interviewed those involved in the issue and found multiple inconsistencies in their stories.

Toshiba said it couldn't release official results while the investigation continued, so it was asking for a one-month delay. It didn't give details about the alleged pressure.

Later Tuesday, the company released a presentation containing many of the numbers that would normally go in an official results release. That is where the company said it expected to take a Yen712.5 billion ($6.3 billion) write-down on the nuclear business. Toshiba also said it expected to record an operating loss of Yen544.7 billion during the April-December period owing to the impairment charge.

Toshiba said it would overhaul its nuclear business. The company's chairman, Shigenori Shiga, an executive long involved in nuclear matters, will resign effective Wednesday, while Danny Roderick, former head of Westinghouse Electric, will give up his executive position at Toshiba's Tokyo headquarters and focus on resolving Westinghouse's problems, Toshiba said.

The company confirmed reports that it would stop building nuclear power plants and focus on selling reactor designs as well as nuclear services.

The nuclear losses stem from cost overruns at two U.S. facilities still under construction--reactors in Georgia and South Carolina commissioned by utilities Southern Co. and Scana Corp., respectively.

To end litigation over cost overruns, Toshiba's Westinghouse unit in 2015 made a deal to acquire Stone & Webster, its construction partner on the U.S. nuclear projects. Westinghouse and its parent became the only guarantor on the projects, meaning that if the reactors couldn't be completed in a timely manner, Toshiba would shoulder the costs.

Toshiba provided some details Tuesday on the cost overruns, saying labor costs were expected to run $3.7 billion more than earlier calculations, while contractors and materials were responsible for $1.8 billion in cost overruns.

Investors said the turmoil left them uncertain whether Toshiba had a viable survival plan. "They are losing trust," said Ichiro Yamada, general manager of the equities department at Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance Co. He said it wouldn't be easy for Toshiba to recover quickly because it has already sold several of its healthier businesses.

Kosaku Narioka contributed to this article.

Write to Takashi Mochizuki at takashi.mochizuki@wsj.com
Greece will not receive any further financial support if it fails to fully implement its economic reform obligations, a leader in parliament for the ruling conservative Christian Social Union (CSU) said on Tuesday.

Hans-Peter Friedrich, parliamentary floor leader for the Bavarian sister party to Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU), told Reuters that he had told the leader of Greece's conservative opposition Nea Demokratia party, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in Berlin the reform obligations must be fulfilled.

"We told Mitsotakis that there should be no doubt whatsoever that the conditions for the reform program must be completely fulfilled," Friedrich said. "Without implementing the structural reforms agreed upon there will be no further release from the third bailout."

Earlier on Monday, the German government had voiced support for Greece to stay in the euro zone while the European Commission dispatched a senior official to Athens to persuade it to take on further reforms to salvage its bailout accord.

The future of Greece's multi-billion-euro financial aid program is contingent on Athens concluding a second review of progress in its economic reform obligations.

Mitsotakis also met Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday and will meet Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble on Tuesday.

But months of wrangling over changes to labor and energy markets have been compounded by differences between the IMF and Greece's European lenders over fiscal targets for Greece, struggling to emerge from years of recession.

A mission of experts from the lenders was expected to return to Athens this week to give their latest state of play report, EU officials said. European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici said he would travel to Athens on Wednesday to help conclude the review.

A deal would release another tranche of funds from this bailout, worth up to 86 billion euros ($91.12 billion), and facilitate Greece making a major 7.2 billion-euro debt repayment this summer.

But it is a process fraught with difficulty, raising fears of a re-run of the high drama of mid-2015 when Greece teetered on the verge of falling out of the euro zone.

Germany sought on Monday to say that nothing has changed in its desire to keep the euro zone intact with Greece in it.

"For years, euro zone member states, including Germany, have shown active solidarity with Greece with the goal to bring this country to a path of sustainable finances and economic growth," German government spokesman Steffen Seibert told a regular government news conference. "It is a mission that has dragged on for many years and we are holding on to it."

(Reporting by Erik Kirschbaum; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
President Donald Trump asked for the resignation of his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, after his level of trust in Flynn eroded to the point that he felt he needed to make a change, White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters on Tuesday.

A day after Flynn's resignation, Spicer said Trump had been concerned that Flynn had misled Vice President Mike Pence over his contacts with Russian officials before Trump took office on Jan. 20. Trump had been reviewing Flynn's situation for a few weeks, he said.

Amid congressional calls for an investigation into the extent to which Flynn discussed the possibility of lifting U.S. sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to Washington, Spicer said the White House legal counsel had reviewed the situation and believed Flynn's case was viewed "not as a legal issue but a trust issue."

Spicer said Trump was informed of Flynn's conversations with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak and asked counsel to review the case.

"The erosion of that trust, frankly, was the issue," Spicer said.

He said Trump had not told Flynn to discuss U.S. sanctions on Russia with the Russian diplomat.

(Reporting By Steve Holland; Editing by Chris Reese and Jonathan Oatis)
Burberry made quite an embarrassing gaffe on Sunday when they confused Dev Patel with fellow British actor and rapper Riz Ahmed at the Baftas at the Royal Albert Hall.

Both actors were wearing the British brand but when they were sharing pictures of them on the red carpet, they confused Dev, 26, who won Best Supporting Actor for his role in Lion, with Riz, 34.

Their Twitter account tagged Patel after sharing a picture of Ahmed instead of the former "Skins" star.

The tweet read: Celebrating the EEBAFTAs in London this evening, Best Actor in A Supporting Role winner #DevPatel wears a @Burberry custom-made navy tuxedo, along with a photo of Ahmed in a black tux.

However, they quickly realized their faux pas and shared a new tweet with a snap of Patel and another one of Ahmed.

The new tweet read: Actor @rizmc wearing a grey mohair tuxedo on the #EEBAFTA red carpet at the @RoyalAlbertHall this evening."

Despite swiftly removing the offending tweet, fans quickly picked up on their mistake and called out the legendary fashion brand.

One wrote on Twitter: You should be ashamed of yourself, thats not Dev.

Another said: Burberry dressed Riz Ahmed and Dev Patel very well for the #BAFTAs but sadly cant tell them apart. Get your s--t together @Burberry/"

Ahmed is known for role in "Nightcrawler" and has also made appearances in "Jason Bourne" and "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" and is also a member of hip-hop group Swet Shop Boys.

A Burberry spokesperson said: We apologize unreservedly for the incorrectly titled pictures of Dev Patel and Riz Ahmed posted late last night.

This was a mistake that should not have happened and was corrected immediately. We have apologized directly to Dev and Riz. We are checking our processes to make sure this doesnt happen again."

Click here for the full report in The Sun.
Playboy made waves when it announced in 2015 that beginning in March 2016, it would no longer feature nude pictorials, but that groundbreaking decision lasted just under a year, begging the question: Why the big changeagain?

After Playboy shifted to non-nude issues, newsstand sales jumped 28 percent. Subscription sales, meanwhile, fell 23 percent, but a Playboy rep said at the time that the change was all going exactly how the Playboy had expected.

In September 2016, a rep for Playboy told Fox News the brand had recently acquired 100,000 new subscribers, and it was an indication that the magazine is starting to generate interest among a new group of readers. Plus, sales were technically up.

But behind the scenes at Playboy, things were going less smoothly.

According to The New York Post, Editorial Director Hugh Garvey resigned last month, just five months after he was appointed in place of Jason Buhrmester. Similarly, Creative Director Mac Lewis recently resigned and was replaced by his assistant creative director.

This all came as Cooper Hefner, who was named Chief Creative Officer in October 2016, criticized the magazines non-nude decision in public. Hefners role at the company hasnt been without drama either  the 25-year-old son of founder Hugh Hefner took time away from Playboy after he lambasted the companys leadership in February 2016 and declared they needed to be "moved out."

" I do not agree with the decisions and direction the company is actually going in," the Cooper Hefner said when he announced he was taking time away from Playboy. "I was essentially asked to no longer participate in the board meetings because I didn't agree with his vision for the company. You either sort of take a step back and say, 'Ok, I'm going to let this happen' or you try and do something about it."

It seems reinstating the nude pics may be a product of the younger Hefner getting his way. He was the one to announce the decision to go back to nude pictorials on Monday in a statement that called the choice to remove nudity from the magazine entirely "a mistake."

PR expert Marc Marcuse, of Reel Management, said removing nudity may have been a ploy for attention for the at time struggling brand.

"Temporarily removing nudity from Playboy was probably just a publicity stunt to begin with, and this probably was their plan all along," he told Fox News. "Playboy without nudity, even dated in its depiction, is like Christmas without Santa Claus."

Another public relations expert Ryan McCormick cautioned going nude once again could prove problematic for Playboy.

"I think this decision is perplexing and may [end] up hurting Playboy in the long term," he said. "They now risk alienating new subscribers who came on board in the past year because there was no nudity. Also, Playboy's readers who unsubscribed because of the original nudity ban, may not necessarily return. If Playboy was doing financially better without nudity, why fix something if it's not broken?

Playboy told Fox News it wouldn't make any additional comments at this time regarding the switch back.
An Italian wine brand is marketing a new beverage that they claim is actually good for you.

Vitis Vitae creator and director, Roberto Pasqua, says his new wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Bovale and Tannat grapes-- but features select varietals naturally higher in antioxidants which offer greater health benefits than the usual glass of red.

After six years of collaborating with the University of Verona, the producers say their wine offers 50 percent more procyanidins-- or condensed tannins, the powerful polyphenols that help fight oxidative stress and protect blood vessels-- than the average glass, reports The Drinks Business.

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Most wine makers control tannins because of the taste. Wines with low tannins are thin tasting, and those with too much have astringency, and are not palatable, Andrew L. Waterhouse, professor of Enology, University California, Davis, told Fox News.

Waterhouse suggests the wine makers may have to make the wine sweeter to mask the astringency.

Compared with a Trapiche Malbec, which contains about 1200 mg/l of procyanidins, for example, Vitis Vitae claims their wine is close to 2400 mg/l of procyanidins  almost six times the level in a Californian Cabernet, according to findings published by researchers from the University of Veronas Oenology department.

Despite its high tannic components, this is not a wine to be cellared for a long time, Pasqua told The Drinks Business.

Its a non-vintage red. Its always going to be a fresh wine. The idea is to drink it young, so the tannins dont precipitate, he explained.

PICKING WINE FOR A SPECIAL VALENTINE'S DAY DATE

But Waterhouse argues that tannins dont precipitate until ten years for most wines.

Vitis Vitaes current production is 20,000 bottles and it is now available in Hong Kong through YesMyWine.com. The company is targeting Mainland China and Hong Kong markets where drinkers are actively seeking out alcoholic beverages for their so-called anti-aging properties, Michelle DeFeo, President of Champagne Laurent-Perrier U.S. told Fox News.

But if you're looking for the fountain of youth at the bottom of your wine glass, don't hold your breath. Waterhouse says it might be extremely difficult for the company to get this wine label approved in the U.S.

The organization that regulates alcoholic beverages in the states-- the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)-- is very strict on health claims. Its very questionable if it could ever be sold in the U.S. under this label, he adds.
Oregon is known for its artisanally crafted coffee but beans and brews in the state could get even pricier.

The state legislature is currently considering a bill which would impose a tax of five cents per pound on wholesale coffee.

The legislation, known as House Bill 2875 (sponsored by the Oregon House Committee on Revenue), would theoretically go toward building an Alternative Education Sustainability Fund.

Some of that money would be allotted to the Oregon Military Department and would also be used in the Oregon National Guard Youth Challenge Program. Half of the funds could support grants for Oregon school districts that operate alternative high school programs.

IS THIS AMERICA'S MOST EXPENSIVE CUP OF COFFEE?

According to KOIN 6, Republican lawmakers in the state are opposed to the proposal. Ill say this about House Democrats; they never seem to run out of ideas for new tax increases, a spokesman said in a statement.

A tax on coffee is clearly not a proposal Oregonians would support, and we hope Democrats will disavow it just as quickly as they introduced it.

But Oregon House Democrat Scott Moore said the bill wont move out of committee consideration and thus wont become law. But just because the bill-- which was intended to help cover a $1.8 billion budget gap in the state  may be scrapped, coffee prices could still jump for different reasons.

Bloomberg reports that coffee prices could rise later this year due to a drought in parts of Brazil. Excessive rain in Vietnam and a smaller harvest in Indonesia could also adversely affect coffee supply.

Combined, unfavorable weather has caused a drop in the amount of robusta bean growth, which is often used as filler in coffee blends as well as in instant coffee and espresso. With robusta in shorter supply, coffee roasters have turned to the use of Arabica beans, which have then experienced their own rise in price.

Prices already increased on Dunkin Donuts, Folgers and Cafe Bustelos coffee, the Huffington Post reported in January.

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And The J. M. Smucker Company, which owns all three brands, estimated that the cost of their Dunkin' Donuts packaged coffee products are set to rise by 6 percent this year. The drink prices at the chains various locations arent set to change just yet. And the cost of K-cups will remain the same, for now.

Last summer, Starbucks increased its prices for the third consecutive year. Select beverages at the chain jumped as high as 30 cents.
With romance on many minds this Valentine's Day, you might be wondering what really puts someone in the mood.

Is it low lighting? Slow and sexy romantic music? Or, just maybe, is it a certain gourmet creation?

Sure, it's been said that foods like oysters and pomegranates may enahnce the mood. But is there any truth to these old wives' tales?

Most foods considered aphrodisiacs do have some kind of ingredient that stimulates blood flow, be it ginger, chili peppers, strawberries, chocolate, yams or artichokes," Jenny Levison, owner of Souper Jenny restaurants in Atlanta, told Fox News. "And many are associated with fertility, such as figs or pomegranates."

Levison adds theres also the belief that certain foods-- like a fig's deep pink flesh flecked with fertile seeds-- look sexy and so they have the effect of seeming sexy. So theres a double entendre, Levison adds.

But many researchers believe the amount of pleasure-enhancing properties in any of these foods is too minimal to have any measurable effect on desire-- unless consumed in great quantities.

Mary Ellen Camire, the former president of Chicago's Institute of Food Technologists told Fox News that the meaning of aphrodisiac varies, and its difficult to standardize research studies like scientists do for diabetes and other conditions with clear biochemical markers.

STIFF BULL APHRODISIAC COFFEE SLAPPED WITH FDA WARNING

We can test a food to see if it lowers people's blood glucose, but measurements for aphrodisiacs are not so well-understood," Camire says. However, she notes that one way to measure whether a food really has any special properties would be to be see if "improved blood flow to the genitals" occurs which "might make sexual activity more pleasurable for both genders."

She adds that medicines like Viagra relax the blood vessels to increase blood needed for erections, and recently, there has been more research on how certain foods might do the same thing. She sites red, purple and dark blue foods-- such as red wine, blueberries and pomegranates-- that contain natural colors called anthocyanins which also relax blood vessels and improve blood flow in the body.

Still, others argue that in today's busy world, aphrodisiacs may not be the ingredients themselves, but the way people are dining.

Katherine Miller, senior director of Food Policy Advocacy at the James Beard Foundation, told Fox News that entrees meant to be shared, often eaten with your hands, create a fun, relaxed and sexy vibe for diners.

In an era, where so many of us are connected to our smart phones 24-seven, I really hope people take advantage of ways to be disconnected," Miller says. "These include some of the sexier food trends chefs are talking about such as shared plates of luscious lamb shoulder, beef cheek or hearty roasted vegetables."

She adds that these types of comforting dishes are meant to be shared and savored communally-- not alone. Plus, she says, eating with your hands can be "intimate" and "pleasurable."

5 BEST APHRODISIACS FOR ROMANCE

This Valentine's Day, instead of booking a reservation at a restaurant, Miller suggests that couples learn how to cook together.

But even in the food world, not everyone is onboard the edible erotic food train.

Chef Jonathan Zearfoss, a professor in the culinary science department at The Culinary Institute of America is a self-procliamed aphrodisiac denier.

He says many of the symbols associated with being aphrodisiacs are somewhat misogynistic in that theyre directed at arousal purely for men. A more modern approach, the chef says, would be to ensure that both sexes are enjoying their dining experience.

I spend a lot of time writing the menu, for example, using language that inspires passion or romance, Zearfoss says.

Though eating with your hands might create sensual placebo effect, Zearfoss says the best way to really get in the mood (and not be a sloppy date) is to steer "clear of foods heavy in calories and drinking in moderation."

Soon, however, chilis, ginger and chocolate might be replaced by an entirely new culinary agent. In the era of marijuana legalization, one of the latest aphrodisiacs being tested is cannabis.

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A study published Nov. 2016 in the medical journal Pharmacological Research, found that cannabis could be a great friend to both men and women in the bedroom.

Researchers from the University of Catania in Italy and Charles University and Masaryk University in the Czech Republic reviewed several investigations conducted in the 1970s and 80s on the effects of cannabis on sexual desire and satisfaction.

The team discovered that eople who consumed cannabis before sex experienced aphrodisiac effects in roughly half of the reported cases-- while 70 percent claimed that pre-coitus consumption led to enhancement in pleasure and satisfaction.

So whether it's a classic oyster, a fertile-looking fruit, or a little something green, the mental-- and possible physical-- powers of aphrodiasics are likely here to enchant lovers of many generations to come.
On Feb.13, a beginner Mandarin class was officially launched by Nepal's Ministry of Education, in a bid to strengthen education exchange between Nepal and China, according to Xinhua.

Over 20 Nepalese education officials have attended the class. Each official is entitled to 80 hours of class time. So far, officials in the Foreign Ministry, departments of culture, tourism and civil aviation, and top military positions can avail themselves of the opportunity to learn Mandarin, according to Wang Shengli, Chinese dean of the Confucius Institute at Kathmandu University.

The Nepalese are increasingly keen to learn Mandarin and study Chinese culture, as the friendship between the two countries has deepened, according to Chinese ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong.

"Nepal has a lot to learn from China in sectors including technology, education, culture, trade and tourism. Learning about these areas is possible only through [shared] language, so we feel it's necessary to train our officials for the transfer of knowledge and technology," stated the joint secretary of the Ministry of Education.

In Nepal, the Confucius Institute at Kathmandu University has trained over 20,000 Nepalese citizens since its establishment in June 2007. It is regarded as the best base for the promotion of Chinese culture and language in the Himalayan country.
Older women who sleep well at night are more likely to have satisfying sex lives, a recent study suggests.

Postmenopausal women reported less sexual activity and less sexual satisfaction if they also had trouble sleeping through the night, researchers found.

Based on the findings, doctors may want to consider an older woman's overall health if she brings up issues like sexual satisfaction, said lead author Dr. Juliana Kling, a women's health internist at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona.

"When a patient is asking me about a sexual health concern, it's important for me to look at other aspects of her health and ask about sleep," she told Reuters Health.

For the new study, Kling and colleagues analyzed data collected from nearly 94,000 women, ages 50 to 79, who were enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. The women had answered questions about their sexual function in the previous year and their sleep in the previous month.

Overall, 56 percent of the women reported being at least somewhat satisfied with their current sexual activity. Additionally, 52 percent reported sexual activity with a partner during the previous year.

Nearly one third of women had insomnia, as determined by a tool that takes into account their ability to fall asleep, how often they wake during the night and overall sleep quality.

After accounting for variables that may influence the results, like hot flashes and vaginal dryness, the researchers found that women who scored high on the insomnia tool were about 8 percent less likely to report being satisfied with their sex lives.

The researchers also report in the journal Menopause that sexual activity and satisfaction decreased with shorter sleep duration.

Women who slept six hours per night were about 6 percent less likely to be sexually active and 6 percent less likely to be sexually satisfied, compared to women who slept seven to eight hours per night.

Likewise, women who slept only about five hours per night were about 12 percent less likely to be sexually active and 12 percent less likely to be sexually satisfied than those who slept seven to eight hours per night.

"The study suggests high-quality and sufficient sleep is important for sexual function," said Kling.

The results don't prove poor sleep causes less sexual activity and satisfaction, however. The study also can't say whether increasing sleep duration would improve the women's sex lives.

"It certainly suggests that, but it's an observational study we can't show the directionality of that relationship," Kling said.

Women and their doctors should recognize how symptoms of menopause and sleep affect women's lives, including their health, work, home and relationships, said Dr. JoAnn Pinkerton, who is executive director of the North American Menopause Society.

"We know that seven hours of sleep have been determined by the national sleep foundation as best for your cognitive functioning and prevention of Alzheimer's," said Pinkerton, who is also affiliated with the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville.

For women having trouble with sleep, there are a number of interventions that may help, including short-term hormone therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and good sleep hygiene, Pinkerton told Reuters Health.

"Paying attention to getting seven hours of sleep per night is one of the most important things you can do for your family, your relationship your work and your health," said Pinkerton, who was not involved with the new study.

SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2jZqFhw Menopause, online January 30, 2017.
The bloody scenes of Syrian President Bashar al-Assads scorched-earth campaign in Eastern Aleppo have faded from the news, yet the killing in Syria continues. As you read this, thousands of peaceful activists are still being murdered in the Assads regimes industrial-scale torture system, and nearly 1 million Syrians are still trapped under siege.

But even if you are unmoved by these crimes, you should still be paying attention. The events in Syria have consequences that are reshaping the modern world order: American credibility has been damaged, our allies have been weakened, our enemies have grown in strength and Syria isnt over yet.

Over the past six years we have learned that when America  the strongest power in the world  fails to exercise leadership in the face of global crisis, malicious actors will gladly step in. As a result, the world is more dangerous and unstable than it has been in decades. The Trump Administration can avoid the errors of its predecessor by acknowledging the full range of the threats that Syrias ongoing war poses to American interests and then acting with urgency bring the bloodshed to an end.

The Syria conflict has created the perfect breeding ground for religious extremists of all stripes. Iran has imported foreign fighters from Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan to join with Hezbollah and a slew of new Syrian sectarian paramilitary groups to create a Shiite coalition to prop up the Assad regime.

The path forward in Syria is difficult and complicated, but it is a path that the U.S. must forge because there is no other actor up to this task.

The conflict also allowed for the rise of a new al-Qaeda affiliate, and birthed the monster known as the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). Ignored and even supported by the Assad regime as it attacked the legitimate Syrian opposition, ISIS was given safe haven to grow and spread its hateful ideology around the world.

From 2011 to 2017 the Obama Administration pursued a Syria policy that was somehow both ill-defined and inflexible at the same time. In lieu of either intervention or disengagement, its approach was confusing and half-hearted, and often went against the advice of the nations national security, defense, and diplomatic officials.

Americas capricious and inept efforts to support various actors on the ground both weakened moderate Syrian groups and alienated regional allies like Turkey and Saudi Arabia. The Obama administration acknowledged that the Assad has committed atrocities, aided the rise of ISIS, and now stands in the way of peace in Syria, yet it was unwilling to take steps to deter Assad and his backers.

The Syrian carnage today stands as indisputable proof of the folly of this course of action.

The secondary consequences of the conflict are too numerous to count. Here are some of the big ones: waves of refugees have destabilized Syrias neighbors and weakened the European Union, with anti-refugee propaganda playing a key role in Brexit and a similar wave of fear-driven nationalism threatening to engulf France.

In the U.S., this anti-refugee sentiment is creating political turmoil and distracting us from the very real terror threats we face.

Russia and Iran are growing threats to international peace and stability, as both countries have leveraged their interventions in Syria to expand their influence and become increasingly aggressive. Russian obstruction at the UN Security Council has allowed the Syrian government to continue to launch chemical attacks and commit other war crimes with impunity. Russia itself has been directly implicated in using internationally banned arms such as cluster munitions.

Vladimir Putin tested the Obama Administrations will in Syria, and called its bluff. Only a fraction of Russian airstrikes in Syria have targeted ISIS or al-Qaeda-linked groups. Instead they support Assads efforts to destroy all domestic opposition, hitting civilian targets like hospitals and schools in a massive collective punishment campaign that threatens to drive millions more people from the country.

The path forward in Syria is difficult and complicated, but it is a path that the U.S. must forge because there is no other actor up to this task. American leadership can help prevent the worst humanitarian crisis of our time from deepening further and can halt the destabilizing forces it has unleashed on the world: the refugees, the growth of terror, and the empowerment of Russia and Iran.

The price of inaction in Syria has been incredibly high, but it can and will increase unless we prioritize ending this war. It is incumbent upon our political and military leaders to make sure that Syria does not get lost in the bitter partisanship of the moment.

Global stability and American security are bipartisan issues: we all benefit when our power is exercised responsibly and effectively on the world stage. If we fail, we all pay the price together.
Editor's note: The following column originally appeared in The Hill newspaper and on TheHill.com.

The big news for the GOP majority on Capitol Hill last week came as a tweet  and it was not from President Trump.

Matt Drudge, the proprietor of The Drudge Report, the conservative website which played a leading role in the rise of the new president, raised eyebrows with this note:

Republican Party should be sued for fraud. No discussion of tax cuts now. Just lots of crazy. Back to basics, guys!

Later he pointed to the inability of the Trump White House to immediately dismantle President Obamas Affordable Care Act, asking meanwhile, is Obamacare penalty tax still in place?

Drudges scolding was amplified by another leading voice in the successful Republican takeover of Congress, my Fox News colleague Sean Hannity.

Hannity called the Republicans in Congress spineless, gutless, timid politicians. He lambasted them for failing to keep their promise to kill off ObamaCare. During campaign season, Republicans  and their sirens in the media  demonized ObamaCare to win the votes that enabled the GOP to maintain its majorities in the House and Senate. The strategy also helped Trump win control of the White House.

Hannity and Drudge are among the loudest  if not the most powerful  voices speaking to the hard right base. Their unforgiving attacks on Obama, Democrats and the old-school Republican establishment stirred the populist resentments that shaped todays Congress.

So, the speed with which these conservative media titans have turned on their creations  the politicians they helped put in power at the Capitol and White House  is a sign of the deep divisions already splitting the ruling Republican majority in Washington.

The right-wing media-led assault that won elections with the promise to disrupt Washington politics is now confronting reality. As the governing party, the GOP is now accountable for what comes after the party disrupts and tears down existing programs.

But note that the fire is not evenly distributed.

While Drudge is not happy with what he considers the slow pace of attack coming from the Trump White House, both he and Hannity are aiming their strongest shots at Republicans on Capitol Hill.

Meanwhile, Democrats are smiling as they watch Republican members of Congress come increasingly under siege at town hall meetings. Voters are alarmed at the idea that their ObamaCare benefits might be stripped away by the GOP, and no comparable services offered in their place.

The public anger at the town halls and Trumps high public disapproval rating  53 percent of adults give him the thumbs-down, according to the most recent CNN/ORC survey  have led to the rising conservative media discontent.

Less than two months into what Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) called the dawn of a new, unified Republican government, the discontent on the right is revealing the shallow limits of negative ads and sloganeering at rowdy rallies.

Ambitious campaign rhetoric about cutting taxes, for example, is now entangled in the reality of negotiations over a border adjustment tax and the potential for a trade war, sparked by the tariffs on imports promised by Trump.

As for doing away with ObamaCare, the impassioned GOP promise to repeal now faces the reality that after almost seven years the party has no plan strong enough to attract enough votes to pass both the House and Senate.

Trump admitted last week that repeal of ObamaCare is now an issue to be dealt with down the road: by the end of the year at the earliest and possibly in 2018. All the president could promise is that itll take till sometime into next year but were certainly going to be in the process.

The president also noted that he has discovered the process is very complicated.

One source of that complication is division between the Trump White House and veteran Republican leaders, the so-called establishment.

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), the chairman of the Senates Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which deals with healthcare, put the populist Republican call for Trump to repeal ObamaCare immediately in perspective this way:

No one is talking about repealing anything until there is a concrete practical alternative to offer Americans in its place.

Tax reform and ObamaCare are not the only issues dividing Republicans in power from the media voices that once championed them.

When Trump recently defended Russian President Vladimir Putin against charges that he is a killer, by arguing that there are a lot of killers  you think our countrys so innocent?  MSNBCs Joe Scarborough, a former Republican congressman, responded angrily.

President Trumps claim that America is morally on par with Russias corrupt dystopian regime was so historically ignorant that even timid Republicans felt compelled to speak out this week, Scarborough wrote in The Washington Post. Perhaps that is because remaining silent in the face of such a morally disorienting claim would make them look like fools.

Scarboroughs critique reflects the split between the Trump White House and several Republicans in Congress on maintaining sanctions against Russia.

Last week, Republican Sens. John McCain (Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and Marco Rubio (Fla.) actually joined Senate Democrats to introduce legislation to block the Trump administration from loosening economic sanctions on Russia without first getting approval from Congress.

Even Trumps issuance of executive orders to create the image of keeping his campaign promises is being derided in some quarters as small ball and mundane, in the words of Gregory Korte in USA Today.

Attacking ObamaCare once rallied the GOP base. Now, failure to act on those campaign attacks has Drudge tweeting that Republicans only know how to be opposition not lead! DANGER.

Yes, danger for Republicans.
Once again, there is collective hysteria from the alt-radical left over the fact that over the last week, federal immigration officials arrested 680 mostly dangerous individuals in a series of raids.

From press accounts, you would think they were all virtuous, wonderful people just trying to make a better life for their children. In fact, the vast majority of these people were, in addition to being here illegally, convicted of serious crimes.

"Of those arrested, approximately 75 percent were criminal aliens convicted of crimes including, but not limited to, homicide, aggravated sexual abuse, sexual assault of a minor, lewd and lascivious acts with a child, indecent liberties with a minor, drug trafficking, battery, assault, DUI and weapons charges," read a statement put out by the Department of Homeland Security.

Amid all the wailing and gnashing of teeth, President Trump reminded us that he was just doing what he said he would do.

We have really done a great job. We're actually taking people that are criminals, very, very hardened criminals in some cases, with a tremendous track record of abuse and problems, and we're getting them out, Trump said. And that's what I said I would do. I'm just doing what I said I would do.

Of course, these facts didn't matter to the abusively biased alt-left media, which went into breathless hysteria.

A stern warning to all 11 million undocumented living in the United States, most of them law-abiding and paying taxes and working, that they're no longer safe to stay here, Jim Avila said on ABCs World News Tonight, Feb. 12.

On the same night, NBCs Nightly News reported somberly, We begin tonight with the growing battle over immigration in this country. Hundreds of undocumented immigrants were arrested this week across the nation in what authorities insist are routine law enforcement operations.

The media forgot to mention that these raids had been planned for a long time. On top of that, the media is now actively working to help and protect illegal alien law breakers. USA Today has put out an article with the headline, "What to do if immigration officers come knocking at your door?"

Imagine if the tables were turned and a conservative outlet had encouraged law-breaking?

President Trump made it very clear he was going to deport criminal illegal immigrants, and it was one of his key campaign promises. But he was not the first president to make such a pledge. Presidents Obama and Clinton said the exact same thing.

It is wrong and ultimately self-defeating for a nation of immigrants to permit the kind of abuse of our immigration laws we have seen in recent years, and we must do more to stop it, Clinton said in 1995.

Ten years later, then-Sen. Obama had this to say:

We all agree on the need to better secure the border and to punish employers who choose to hire illegal immigrants, the future president said. You know, we are generous and welcoming people here in the United States, but those who enter the country illegally and those who employ them disrespect the rule of law and they are showing disregard for those who are following the law.

Just two years ago, Obama as president elaborated.

Today, our immigration system is broken, and everybody knows it, Obama said. Even as we are a nation of immigrants, we're also a nation of laws. Undocumented workers broke our immigration laws, and I believe that they must be held accountable. If you're a criminal, you'll be deported.

Where was the outrage over those statements? Its absence exposes the rampant hypocrisy from the alt-radical left and it proves that they'll attack President Trump for anything to try and score cheap political points.

President Trump, like many of his predecessors, wants to keep Americans safe. That's the bottom line here. The left wants to play the race card while the president wants to stop drugs and criminals from pouring across the border.

According to a 2015 report from the Migration Policy Institute, an estimated 820,000 of the projected or estimated 11 million illegal immigrants living in America are convicted criminals. In fiscal 2015, 36.6 percent of the over 70,000 federal sentences meted out were for crimes committed by illegal aliens.

Back in 2014, I sat through a briefing with former Texas Gov. Rick Perry where we were told a shocking statistic about illegal immigrant crime just in the state of Texas. Criminal aliens have been responsible about 642,000 criminal offenses over the previous seven years.

This is beyond a serious problem. It is impacting every single American. And the American people are being hurt and you're paying a lot of money because of illegal immigrants, crimes and drugs that are coming across the border.

President Trump says he wants to stop this from happening. But again, many on the alt-radical left are doing everything they can do to prevent it from happening, and it's putting American lives in danger.

Adapted from Sean Hannity's monologue on "Hannity," Feb. 13, 2017
The Justice Department warned the Trump administration about embattled national security adviser Michael Flynn's contacts with Russia, two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Monday night.



One of the people said the Justice Department alerted the White House that there was a discrepancy between what officials were saying publicly about the contacts and the facts of what had occurred. The person said the Justice Department was concerned Flynn could be in a compromised position.



A Trump administration official said the White House has been aware of the Justice Department warning for "weeks." The official would not say if the president had been briefed on the matter.



Both people insisted on anonymity to discuss the matter. The Washington Post first reported the communications with the Justice Department.

The White House earlier said President Donald Trump was "evaluating the situation" regarding Flynn's conversations with Russia's ambassador to the U.S., deepening the uncertainty surrounding Flynn's future in the new administration.



Flynn apologized privately for the controversy to Vice President Mike Pence, according to a White House official. Pence, relying on information from Flynn, publicly vouched that the retired Army lieutenant general did not discuss U.S. sanctions against Russia in calls late last year. Flynn has since told the White House that sanctions may have come up.



White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Trump was consulting with Pence about his conversations with the national security adviser. Asked whether the president had been aware that Flynn might discuss sanctions with the Russian envoy, Spicer said, "No, absolutely not."



Trump, who comments on a steady stream of issues on his Twitter feed, has been conspicuously silent about the matter since The Washington Post reported last week that Flynn had discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy. A U.S. official told The Associated Press that Flynn was in frequent contact with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak on the day the Obama administration slapped sanctions on Russia for election-related hacking, as well as at other times during the transition.



Earlier Monday, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said Trump had "full confidence" in Flynn, though her assertions were not backed up by other senior Trump aides. Spicer would say only that Flynn was continuing to carry out "his daily functions."



The conflicting signals created confusion at the White House, with reporters crowding around Spicer's office for hours Monday afternoon seeking information on Flynn's future.



Several House Democrats called on Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, to launch an investigation into Flynn's ties to Russia. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi called for Flynn to be fired, saying he "cannot be trusted not to put Putin before America."



Republican Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said that if Pence were misled, "I can't imagine he would have trust in Gen. Flynn going forward." She said it would also be "troubling" if Flynn had been negotiating with a foreign government before taking office.



It's illegal for private citizens to conduct U.S. diplomacy. Flynn's conversations also raise questions about Trump's friendly posture toward Russia after U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Moscow hacked Democratic emails during the election.



The controversy comes as Trump and his top advisers seek to steady the White House after a rocky start. The president, who seeks input from a wide range of business associates, friends and colleagues, has been asking people their opinions on his senior team, including Spicer and chief of staff Reince Priebus.



Advisers have privately conceded that the White House spit out too many disparate messages in the first few weeks, though they also note that the president's own tweets sometimes muddy the day's plans before most of the White House staff has arrived for work.



Trump voiced support for Priebus Monday, saying the chief of staff was doing, "not a good job, a great job." But he did not make a similar show of support for his national security adviser.



Flynn sat in the front row of Trump's news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier Monday. The president did not receive a question about Flynn's future from a pair of reporters, and he ignored journalists' shouted follow-up inquiries as he left the room.



Over the weekend, Trump told associates he was troubled by the situation, but did not say whether he planned to ask Flynn to step down, according to a person who spoke with him recently. Flynn was a loyal Trump supporter during the campaign, but he is viewed skeptically by some in the administration's national security circles, in part because of his ties to Russia.



In 2015, Flynn was paid to attend a gala dinner for Russia Today, a Kremlin-backed television station, and sat next to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the event.



Flynn spoke with the vice president about the matter twice on Friday, according to an administration official. The official said Pence was relying on information from Flynn when he went on television and denied that sanctions were discussed with Kislyak.



The administration officials and those who spoke with the president recently were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and insisted on anonymity.
The Republican leadership of the House Intelligence Committee wants the FBI to do an assessment of recent media leaks that have revealed details of sensitive discussions involving key Trump administration officials.

"We are going to be outlining all of our concerns over the last 60 days that appear to all be related, maybe even coordinated in some ways," committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., told Fox News. "I am going to be asking the FBI to do an assessment of this to tell us what's going on here because we cannot continue to have these leaks as a government."

The leaks include reported details from phone calls between President Donald Trump and the leaders of Australia and Mexico; from the intelligence community investigation into Russian interference in the U.S. presidential campaign; and most recently from conversations between National Security Adviser Mike Flynn and the Russian ambassador to the U.S.

The latter leak has created new pressures for the Trump White House, even raising questions about Flynn's future with the administration.

But the release of information from the Flynn phone calls also appears especially problematic, because when the intelligence community captures phone calls of an American inside the U.S., even if the discussion involves a foreign national (in this case an ambassador), steps must be taken to shield the American caller's identity.

"If [the conversation] was picked up inadvertently, then that would have had to been approved by someone in the last administration to actually unmask his name so that the FBI or intelligence officials knew who it was on the other end of the phone talking to the Russian ambassador," Nunes explained. "If in fact the press reports are right, someone made the decision to deliberately listen to General Flynn's phone calls and that is, I think, unprecedented, unwarranted, and flat-out wrong."

Former NSA analyst and whistleblower Bill Binney confirmed to Fox News that surveillance programs that touch on leadership are highly restricted.

"I think it is compartmentalized, meaning a small circle, less than 100 [people would have access to the intelligence]," Binney said. "They are supposed to minimize the American side. ... All presumed U.S. citizens have rights under the Fourth Amendment."

Nunes said the timing may be significant because the authorization to unmask Flynn was likely taken under the Obama administration, as the phone calls occurred in December. The committee chairman said the issue goes beyond politics because it is also undermining the relationship between a president and world leaders.

"I think all foreign leaders now are going to be worried that this is going to somehow leak out. I think it has done tremendous damage to [America's] reputation around the world, and no one's talking about it -- and this is because someone in the national security apparatus decided to leak this out. It's very, very serious," he said.

Simply revealing the contents of the calls can have the effect of what the intelligence community calls "burning the source," because the parties involved know beyond a doubt the U.S. government has the ability to track the conversations. The leaking of information about the investigation into Russian interference in the U.S. race points to the possible compromise of even more sensitive collection sources.

"If the shoe was on the other foot here and this was a Democrat, you can imagine Democrats in the House and the Senate would be going crazy - if this happened to someone within the Obama administration from one of our national security agencies," Nunes said.
President Trumps embattled national security adviser Michael Flynn resigned Monday night, after days of controversy over his past contact with the Russian ambassador.

Flynn, in his resignation letter, wrote that he "inadvertently" briefed top officials with incomplete information regarding a call with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

"I have sincerely apologized to the president and the vice president, and they have accepted my apology," the letter read.

Vice President Mike Pence, after being briefed by Flynn, had said in television interviews that Flynn did not discuss sanctions with the ambassador. Flynn later admitted the issue may have been raised, which escalated the matter from a simmering controversy to a full-blown firestorm -- resulting in Monday night's resignation.

Flynn, separately, told Fox News in an email: "I have nothing to be ashamed for and everything to be proud of."

Trump has named Lt. Gen Joseph Keith Kellogg, Jr., as his acting national security adviser.

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said on Fox and Friends that the situation with Flynn had become "increasingly unsustainable."

"In the end it really was the misleading or the forgetfulness about the characterizing of that conversation that was the lynchpin here," she said.

The White House earlier said Trump was "evaluating the situation" regarding Flynn's conversations with Russia's ambassador to the U.S., deepening the uncertainty surrounding Flynn's future in the new administration.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Trump was consulting with Pence about his conversations with the national security adviser. Asked whether the president had been aware that Flynn might discuss sanctions with the Russian envoy, Spicer said, "No, absolutely not."

VIDEO: WHAT FLYNN FLAP REVEALS ABOUT TRUMP'S INNER CIRCLE

Trump, who comments on a steady stream of issues on his Twitter feed, has been conspicuously silent about the matter since The Washington Post reported last week that Flynn had discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy. A U.S. official told The Associated Press that Flynn was in frequent contact with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak on the day the Obama administration slapped sanctions on Russia for election-related hacking, as well as at other times during the transition.

Earlier Monday, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said Trump had "full confidence" in Flynn, though her assertions were not backed up by other senior Trump aides. Spicer would say only that Flynn was continuing to carry out "his daily functions."

The conflicting signals created confusion at the White House, with reporters crowding around Spicer's office for hours Monday afternoon seeking information on Flynn's future.

Fox News' John Roberts, James Rosen, Edmund DeMarche and The Associated Press contributed to this report
House Republicans have escalated a simmering battle with District of Columbia leaders after voting Monday night to block a controversial law legalizing assisted suicide in the nations capital.

The move is the latest effort by Congress to flex its constitutional muscle to challenge policies in the district it calls home.

Republicans recently have used  or threatened to use  that power to roll back everything from D.C.'s gun laws to the legalization of marijuana.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, which voted to block D.C.s assisted-suicide policy, told The Washington Post his opposition stems from deep personal, moral conviction and said hes worried the law will create a marketplace for death.

D.C. critics have questioned his motives and accused him of using his post to gain favor with conservative and religious groups.

As the House committee voted to block the bill, more than 700 residents and locally elected leaders held a Hands Off D.C. brainstorming session to look for ways to prevent Congress from intervening in District laws.

We are tired of Congress playing politics with our laws and with our city, D.C. council member Robert White told the riled-up crowd. Jason Chaffetz does not live in our neighborhood, his kids do not go to our schools  Jason Chaffetz, we did not elect you, you do not represent us; go back to Utah.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called the committee vote egregious and said the committee had sent a signal to D.C. residents that Congress has zero respect for their concern.

In 1973, Congress granted D.C. the right to elect a mayor and a legislative body to enact local laws. However, it retained the right to veto any of the citys legislation -- and also has a say in how the federal district spends money. D.C. has no voting member of Congress.

Rep. Elijah Cummings, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, urged Republicans to use restraint when weighing in on D.C. policy.

None of us was elected by D.C. voters, he told The Washington Post. None of the members of this committee would stand for congressional interference in their own state and local affairs, and none of us should stand for it in this case.

Despite the committee vote, overturning D.C.s assisted-suicide policy isnt a sure thing. Both houses of Congress would have to block it by Friday  the deadline period for congressional review.
Univision anchor Jorge Ramos squared off with Fox News' Sean Hannity Monday night in a debate over President Donald Trump's illegal immigration policy, with Ramos calling the president the "deportation czar."

Ramos, who famously confronted Trump on the campaign trail over his promise to build a wall across the southern border hours after the president took credit for a series of raids that netted 680 undocumented immigrants in six major cities.

TRUMP PRAISES IMMIGRAION RAIDS, SCHUMER PRESSES FOR MORE INFO

"The vast majority of immigrants in this country," Ramos told Hannity, "are not criminals, are not terrorists, and are not rapists ... Immigrants are less likely to be criminals than those born in the United States. Immigrants are less likely to be behind bars than U.S. citizens."

"That's not true," responded Hannity, who later asked Ramos "Should every criminal illegal alien be thrown out of this country? Every one?"

"If they committed a crime, a real crime, absolutely," said Ramos, who pointed out that FBI statistics showed violent crime in America has dropped 48 percent since 1990, a period in which the number of undocumented immigrants increased threefold.

""Even though you might want to present undocumented immigrants as criminals, thats not the case," said Ramos, who later added, "Thanks to immigrants, crime is going down in this country."

The host fired back, asing Ramos, "Why should Americans have to pay for the education of citizens of Mexico for their education, their healthcare and if they break laws, sending them to jail? Why do we have to pay trillions of dollars?"

In response, Ramos conceded that "cities and states, theyre spending billions of dollars on immigrants. I agree with that. [But] undocumented immigrants, they pay taxes, they create jobs, they do the jobs that nobody else wants to do."
National Security Adviser Mike Flynn's resignation came just a few hours before Defense Secretary Jim Mattis boarded a plane for Brussels to meet with NATO allies.

But despite the political firestorm back in Washington over Flynns departure, the defense secretary downplayed the impact the changes to Trumps security team would have with regard to the meeting of NATO allies at its headquarters this week.

"Frankly this has no impact," Mattis told reporters traveling with him. "Obviously, I haven't changed my message at all, and who's on the president's staff is who I will work with. And so it's full-speed ahead."

The comments were his first public remarks since Flynn's departure and were made en route to his first meeting with NATO allies in Europe. Mattis spoke onboard the E4B, also known as the Doomsday plane for its ability to communicate and remain airborne in the event of a nuclear war. Fox News is traveling with the secretary to the NATO meeting.

Reaction to Flynn's departure was immediate from Capitol Hill and elsewhere. Rep. Devin Nunes, the Republican head of the House Select Intelligence Committee, praised Flynn for his years of service.

"Washington, D.C., can be a rough town for honorable people, and Flynn -- who has always been a soldier, not a politician -- deserves America's thanks," Nunes said in a statement.

Democrat Adam Schiff, the ranking member of the House intelligence committee, took a different stance: "Flynn was always a poor choice for National Security Advisor, a role in which you need to be a consensus builder, and possess sobriety and steady judgment. It is certainly no role for someone who plays fast and loose with the truth."

The committee is still investigating Flynn and other Trump team members' contacts with the Kremlin before the election.

The Justice Department warned the White House that Flynn may be vulnerable to blackmail from the Russians in the wake of his conversations with Russia's ambassador and Vice President Pence's denial that the two had discussed sanctions. Flynn resigned after it emerged that he apparently gave Pence inaccurate information about his discussions with the Russian diplomat.

Before leaving, Mattis was at the White House the morning of the Canadian prime minister's visit Monday. Trump consulted with his defense secretary before Flynn's resignation.

In what was originally slated as a listening tour, Mattis will have the added challenge now to reassure NATO allies that Washington's national security leadership is stable as the allies coordinate their message to an increasingly aggressive Russia.

"2014 was a watershed war," Mattis said, referring to Russia's annexation of Crimea. "It was a year when many of our hopes for some kind of partnership with Russia were finally shown to be unavailing. So what we have got to do, we've got to adapt and make certain that the transatlantic bond remains strong."

The turmoil at the top of Trump's national security Team puts Mattis firmly in the spotlight, which he had hoped to avoid, as he steps forward to reassure NATO allies.
Wang Jing, a young woman from Wuhan, Hubei province, has suffered from brittle bone disease for much of her life. As the adopted daughter of Wang Kejian, who is now plagued by a malignant tumor in his prostate, the girl is working desperately to save money to pay for her father's treatment.

Wang works as a part-time customer service representative, processing orders for an e-commerce platform. She earns a monthly salary of 1,000 RMB, or a little more on certain important shopping days like Nov. 11 and Dec. 12. However, she has to get up at 4 a.m. and works until 1 or 2 a.m. the next day.

What drives Wang to work so hard is that she wants to help her father, as Wang Kejian raised her and refused to ever give her up, even though she suffered from disease. Due to concerns about surgical fees, Wang Kejian has so far opted for cheap radiotherapy to treat his tumor. He said he is primarily worried about the health of his daughter.

When Wuhan police officer Zheng Shaofeng learned about Wang's situation, he offered the young woman a helping hand. Zheng bought her a new computer to make her work more convenient. In addition, Zheng and his colleagues now come to visit Wang and her father over the holidays. Zheng even arranged for Wang to receive a free education in digital media design and production.
The White House is reopening for public tours, first lady Melania Trump announced Tuesday.

The first lady and President Trumps home and offices at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue have been closed to visitors since the Obama family moved out and the Trump family officially moved in on Inauguration Day in late January.

Public tours are now set to resume March 7.

"I am excited to reopen the White House to the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come each year," the first lady said in a statement. The White House is a remarkable and historic site, and we are excited to share its beauty and history. I am committed to the restoration and preservation of our Nation's most recognizable landmark."

The first lady and the Trumps' 10-year-old son, Barron, are expected to leave New York City and move into the White House at the end of the school year.

The announcement comes two days after Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley went on a Twitter rant about the tours being suspended and other complaints.

Whoever monitors twitter at WH for businessman president Trump "when is WH going to be opened for public tours?" Grassley tweeted. Mrs G wants to know.

Immediately after the White House announcement, Grassley's office said that Iowa residents will be pleased by the news of the reopening and that Mrs. G is indeed Grassleys wife, Barbara Grassley.

The senator later tweeted: "Mrs G appreciates WH responding 2my Twitter WH will open for public tours starting March 7 Im positive distraught Iowans will be very happy2"

Requests for the self-guided tours must be submitted to members of Congress. President Trump reportedly has done some minor remodeling since the Jan. 20 Inauguration Day.
A prominent Jewish Democratic lawmaker in New York City is launching a petition to force Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to abandon his support for Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., to assume control of the Democratic National Committee, the Washington Free Beacon has exclusively learned.

Dov Hikind, a 34-year Democratic New York state assemblyman and leading pro-Israel voice, disclosed to the Free Beacon late Monday that he has started a petition meant to pressure Schumer into pulling his public support for Ellison, who has long been accused of holding anti-Israel positions that fall out of the mainstream Democratic party.

Electing Ellison to head the DNC would send a message that the Democrats have embraced anti-Israel policies and no longer care about being a centrist party in touch with mainstream America, according to Hikind, who lashed out against Schumer and Ellison in a wide-ranging interview with the Free Beacon.

Hikind's public campaign against Ellison comes just weeks before the Democratic party is set to elect its new leader, with most polls showing that Ellison is the frontrunner.

Click for more from The Washington Free Beacon.
President Trumps embattled national security adviser Michael Flynn resigned Monday night and three names have emerged as possible replacements.

Vice Adm. Bob Harward is one name that has come up to replace Flynn as national security adviser, and the leading candidate to get the job, a senior official told Fox News.

Harward is a U.S. Navy SEAL, but also has a previous relationship with Secretary of Defense James Mattis. Harward was the deputy commander of the U.S. Central Command under Mattis and was also the deputy commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command.

He also served on the National Security Council for President George W. Bush and commissioned the National Counter Terrorism Center.

TRUMPS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER MICHAEL FLYNN RESIGNS

White House sources described Harward as the toughest guy in the SEALs and a real rock.

A senior administration official added that if Howard is the choice to replace Flynn, he could be in place by the end of the week.

Lt. Gen. Joseph Keith Kellogg, Jr. has been floated as a permanent replacement for Flynn. Trump named him the acting national security adviser after Flynn resigned.

Kellogg is a decorated U.S. Army veteran, having served from 1967 to 2003. He earned the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with V device and the Air Medal with V device during his time in the Vietnam War.

Kellogg was chief operating officer of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, the interim governing body following the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. He previously worked as executive vice president of research and technology for Virginia-based information technology firm CACI International, which works as a contractor for defense, intelligence and homeland security agencies.

Another name floated as a possible replacement for Flynn is retired Gen. David Petraeus.

Trump routinely dropped Petraeus name during his election campaign. Trump said that Petraeus was punished more severely for leaking classified documents to his mistress than Hillary Clinton was punished for setting up a private email server during his time as Secretary of State.

READ: MICHAEL FLYNNS LETTER OF RESIGNATION AS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER

Petraeus was briefly considered for the secretary of state job, but was passed up because of his rocky tenure as CIA chief and the possibility that he wouldnt be confirmed in the Senate because of those issues.

An administration source told Fox News that Petraeus would be a "bad choice" for the NSA job considering he was still on "federal probation" and would give Trump critics ammunition to cry hypocrisy, given Trump's frequent lambasting of Clinton's classification issues.

According to the Washington Examiner, Bushs former national security adviser Stephen Hadley and Tom Bossert, a former national security aide under Bush have been considered a Flynns replacement. The paper added that Adm. James Stavridis, a dean at Tufts University, is also on the table.

Flynns resignation ended speculation about his fate following reports he had misled Vice President Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russia.

Flynn conceded that discussions of sanctions may have come up during several calls with the Russian ambassador during the transition period leading up to Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration.

He acknowledged that he gave "incomplete information" about those discussions to Pence who, apparently relying on information from the national security adviser, initially said Flynn had not discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy.

Whoever emerges as Trump's choice will take the helm of the National Security Council at a time when the young administration is grappling with a series of national security challenges, including North Korea's reported ballistic missile launch. The president, who was joined at his Mar-a-Lago estate by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over the weekend, voiced solidarity with Japan.

The White House is also dealing with fallout from the rocky rollout of Trump's immigration executive order, which has been blocked by the courts. The order was intended to suspend the nation's refugee program and bar citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.

Fox News John Roberts and Lucas Tomlinson and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
In the wake of Michael Flynns resignation as national security adviser, President Trump and Republican allies on Capitol Hill are turning their attention to the potentially illegal leaks that revealed Flynn's politically fatal discussions with a Russian diplomat and other sensitive details from inside the administration.

Fox News first reported Monday night that House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., wants the FBI to conduct an assessment of recent media leaks.

TOP REPUBLICAN WANTS FBI REVIEW ON TRUMP LEAKS

The president, after accepting Flynns resignation overnight, tweeted Tuesday morning that, The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington?

Flynn echoed that point. Asked Tuesday morning whether the leaks were targeted, coordinated and possibly a violation of the law, Flynn told Fox News: Yes, yes and yes.

Flynn resigned following reports that he had spoken with the Russian ambassador about sanctions, after having apparently given Vice President Pence incomplete information on the issue. Pence, based on that information, previously had claimed Flynn did not discuss sanctions with the Russian official.

Such conversations would breach diplomatic protocol and possibly violate the Logan Act, a law aimed at keeping private citizens from conducting U.S. diplomacy. The Justice Department also had warned the White House late last month that Flynn could be in a compromised position because of contradictions between his public depictions of the calls and what intelligence officials knew to be true based on routine recordings of communications with foreign officials who are in the U.S.

Yet the leak itself is raising serious questions -- because when the intelligence community captures phone calls of an American inside the U.S., even if the discussion involves a foreign national (in this case an ambassador), steps must be taken to shield the American caller's identity.

Recent leaks also have revealed reported details from phone calls between Trump and the leaders of Australia and Mexico and from the intelligence community investigation into Russian interference in the U.S. presidential campaign.

"If [the Flynn conversation] was picked up inadvertently, then that would have had to have been approved by someone in the last administration to actually unmask his name so that the FBI or intelligence officials knew who it was on the other end of the phone talking to the Russian ambassador," Nunes told Fox News. "If, in fact, the press reports are right, someone made the decision to deliberately listen to General Flynn's phone calls and that is, I think, unprecedented, unwarranted and flat-out wrong."

Nunes said he is going to be asking the FBI to do an assessment of this to tell us what's going on here because we cannot continue to have these leaks as a government."

Senate homeland security committee Chairman Ron Johnson, R-Wis., told Fox News that somebody in the nebulous intelligence community would have had access to the Flynn discussions.

Who tapped the phones, who was listening to it, who leaked it? I think those are legitimate questions to ask, he told Fox News on Tuesday. Leaks of this nature are incredibly damaging to America  and we need to look into it.

A congressional source told Fox News they believe the intelligence was known to a small circle of Obama administration officials and appointees at the end of last year, including some working within the intelligence community -- and the leaks were targeted and coordinated to undermine the administration.

House Democrats, meanwhile, want to know more about the nature of Flynns contact with Russia.

" Flynn's departure does not end questions over his contacts with the Russians, which have been alleged to have begun well before December 29, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., top Democrat on the House intelligence committee, said in a statement. These alleged contacts and any others the Trump campaign may have had with the Kremlin are the subject of the House Intelligence Committee's ongoing investigation. Moreover, the Trump administration has yet to be forthcoming about who was aware of Flynn's conversations with the ambassador and whether he was acting on the instructions of the president or any other officials, or with their knowledge."

Fox News Catherine Herridge and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
President Trump is setting an ambitious timetable for the construction of his promised big, beautiful border wall. But aside from potential funding and political complications, geologists and law enforcement officials are pointing to what could be a bigger challenge: the terrain.

Citing everything from bedrock depth to soil chemistry, experts say building a wall spanning the 2,000-mile border will be much tougher than erecting one of Trump's trademark skyscrapers.

Earth doesnt forgive sloppy, field geologist Mika McKinnon warned in a tweet following Trumps directive last month to design and construct the wall.

The southern border between the U.S. and Mexico is made up of wetlands, grasslands, desert, rivers, mountains and forests  all of which could pose pitfalls for builders.

Swaths of the area also feature a thick layer of loose sediment  like dirt, sand and soil  on top. Some spots are packed with hydrophilic clay soil, which swells, moves and could destroy the foundation.

In some places the bedrock will be too deep  youll never be able to reach the bedrock in an affordable fashion, McKinnon told Smithsonian Magazine.

McKinnon says in order to make sure the wall itself doesnt topple, builders need to survey the land first.

Trump in his executive order called for a study to be completed within 180 days that looks at, among other things, "all geophysical and topographical aspects of the southern border."

Such planning could entail assembling a team of scientists to test everything from clay particles to loose silt. The Trump administration continues to express confidence it can get the job done -- and quickly.

Homeland Security Secretary Gen. John F. Kelly told Fox News he wants the wall finished in two years.

The timeline Kelly gave Fox News is different than one laid out in a U.S. Department of Homeland Security internal report obtained by Reuters last week. In it, Trumps wall actually would be a series of fences and walls potentially costing taxpayers twice what the president quoted on the campaign trail. The report put the figure at $21.6 billion  higher than the $12 billion Trump regularly cites. Trump later tweeted that once he gets involved in negotiations, "price will come WAY DOWN!"

The report also said the wall would take longer to build.

It lays out three phases of construction covering more than 1,250 miles by the end of 2020. With 654 miles of the border with Mexico already fortified, the barrier would extend almost the length of the entire border.

The presidents vow to build a wall  and make Mexico pay for it  was a concept first introduced on the campaign trail. It gained momentum and support from like-minded immigration hawks, but drew denunciations from Democrats, immigrant activists and environmentalists.

In the Texas border city of Brownsville, Democratic Mayor Tony Martinez questioned the walls feasibility and purpose. He also believes the time frame the Trump administration is touting is nearly impossible.

Martinez accused the Trump administration of offering a quick fix in a difficult location that most Americans  and Washington lawmakers  know little about.

Allowances will need to be made in certain areas for flooding because the border crosses numerous floodplains. In New Mexico, engineers will have to carefully carve out areas near Big Bend National Park to keep in compliance with environmental regulations.

In some parts of California, they would have to build on sand dunes -- something that, while tricky, is doable.

To safely erect a wall in sand, geophysicists would have to conduct extensive seismic surveys to determine what lies beneath. Conducting such a survey would involve installing rows of 3D microphones that detect vibrations in the ground.

U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, whose district includes more than 800 miles of border, said it would be impossible to build a wall in many places and calls the wall the most expensive and least effective way to secure the border.

Each sector of the border faces unique geographical, cultural and technological challenges that would be best addressed with a flexible, sector-by-sector approach, Hurd said in a written statement. What you need in San Diego is very different from what you need in Eagle Pass, Texas.

Trump supporter Jon Anfinsen, president of Local 2366 of the National Border Patrol Council in Del Rio, Texas, also has his concerns.

Anfinsen told Fox News that while some sectors can support a wall, his in Del Rio, Texas, is too hilly to feasibly make a wall on its entire stretch of border.

Anfinsen said most border agents are in favor of some sort of wall or fence but stresses a wall alone wont make the country safer.

He suggested combining a fence, wall or barrier with new technology and adding manpower to patrol the patchy parts of the border.

The original border barrier was authorized under the Secure Fence Act of 2006 which was signed by former President George W. Bush. The legislation OKd hundreds of miles of fencing along the Mexican border. Over the years, its been tweaked and in some areas hastily redrawn, cheating homeowners and businesses out of their own land.

When the border wall was first authorized, then-Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison pushed a measure that would give the Department of Homeland Security the authority to decide what type of fence should go up in different areas  the reason why there are so many different types of border barriers in place today.
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer conducted his daily press briefing Tuesday, where he answered questions on the resignation of Gen. Michael Flynn, and the U.S. relationship with Russia.

Check out FoxNews.com's live blog below for live coverage of the briefing as it played out.
A 1,700-year-old untouched tomb bearing the bones of a dozen male adults, as well as pre-Columbian figurines and statues, has been unearthed in Mexico.

Archaeologists discovered the ancient tomb, which dates to the Comala Period (between 0 and A.D. 500), during work to remodel a Seventh-day Adventist church in Colima, Mexico. The archaeologists uncovered a hole that was sealed up with stones, artifacts for grinding, and human bones.

Inside, 12 skulls and other bones were piled atop one another in a haphazard manner. Some of the skulls showed signs of damage, as well as tooth fractures and wear, said Rosa Maria Flores Ramirez, a physical anthropologist at the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) in Mexico.

When the archaeologists explored further, they discovered three burial levels. In the second burial level, the team found two figurines  a male and female  placed facedown next to two skulls. [Prince's Tomb: Images from a Mayan Excavation]

Ancient figurines

The male figurine, which measures 15 inches tall and 6 inches wide, was wearing an elaborate headdress with a horn jutting out from it. In his hand, he holds an ax.

The female figurine, which is 12.5 inches by 5.5 inches, shows a woman with a sharp nose and a triangular head. She wears a banded headdress and has her hands crossed, with the right hand holding a pot. The burial also contained two other pots.

Each of the figures was sculpted from fine paste that was polished when complete. The ancient artists used cuts to etch in the facial features.

"The presence of these pieces in the offering hint at the worldview of the groups that inhabited the Colima valley in that period. The sculptures, according to their attributes, served as propitiatory elements that ensured the protection of the deceased, as is the case with the male sculpture, which represents a shaman. The other objects fulfilled the function of bringing the requirements to the underworld," Rafael Platas Ruiz, an archaeologist at the INAH, said in a translated statement .

The finding is rare because tombs of this type are almost invariably looted before archaeologists can get to them.

The fact that the tomb was untouched "allowed us to have a first approach with the bone remains, to observe the lesions, deformations and to have more information to know what was their way of life," the researchers said in the statement.

It's possible that this isn't the only burial in the area, because the entire Colima valley was occupied continuously from 1500 B.C. to A.D. 1500, and cultural relics from different periods in the city's history may be lying beneath it, the researchers said.

Originally published on Live Science .
Archaeologists cleaning the forecourt of a high officials tomb in Egypt poked through a hole and discovered another tomb behind it  one that was built for a man more than three millennia ago.

The team, led by Egyptology professor Jiro Kondo of Waseda University in Tokyo, was cleaning up the tomb of Userhat, a high official under Amenhotep III, the ninth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty, when they discovered the hole. Beyond it lay the transverse hall of a previously unknown tomb built for a royal scribe named Khonsu.

A frieze pattern near the ceiling is typical of the Ramesside period, around 1200 B.C.

KING TUT TOMB MYSTERY: EXPERTS TAP TECH IN NEW HUNT FOR SECRET CHAMBERS

The magnificently decorated T-shaped tomb runs 15 feet long from east to west and 18 feet from north to south. A carved picture on the wall of the entrance area shows four baboons worshipping the solar boat of the god Ra-Atum. Next to these images, hieroglyphics describe Khonsu as a true renowned scribe.

On another wall, Khonsu and his wife, with two ram-headed deities in the background, are shown worshipping the gods Osiris and Isis, who also are depicted in a seated position on another wall.

The discovery raises hopes that more unknown tombs may be found in the Luxor area of Egypt, according to a report on Wasedas website.

STUDY CONFIRMS KING TUT'S DAGGER WAS MADE WITH IRON FROM A METEORITE

The Waseda University Institute of Egyptology was granted permission to begin excavating in the area in 1971. It continues to conduct excavations every year from its base in Luxor.
An international team of astronomers has found 60 new planets orbiting stars close to Earths solar system, including a rocky super Earth.

The experts also found evidence of an additional 54 planets, bringing the potential discovery of new worlds to 114.

One planet in particular, Gliese 411b, has been generating plenty of attention. Described as a hot super Earth with a rocky surface, Gliese 411b is located in the fourth-nearest star system to the Sun, making it the third-nearest planetary system to the Sun, according to the U.K.s University of Hertfordshire, which participated in the research. Gliese 411b (also known as GJ 411b or Lalande 21185) orbits the star Gliese 411 (or GJ 411).

CROWDSOURCING THE SKY: HUGE STAR DATABASE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC

Despite the super Earth label, Dr. Mikko Tuomi from University of Hertfordshires Centre for Astrophysics told Fox News that Gliese 411b is too hot for life to exist on its surface.

Gliese 411 and Gliese 411b are located 8 light years from earth. A light year, which measures distance in space, equals 6 trillion miles.

By way of comparison, the recently-discovered Earth-like planet Proxima b, which orbits the red dwarf Proxima Centauri, is about 4 light years from Earth. A red dwarf is a relatively cool small star.

'SUPERFLARES' LIKELY MADE PROXIMA B UNINHABITABLE LONG AGO

Tuomi, who was also involved in the discovery of Proxima b, told Fox News that the latest batch of planets marks a significant discovery. Over the recent years it has been established as a scientific fact that there are more planets in the Universe than there are stars. This means that virtually every star has a planet, or several of them, orbiting it, he explained, via email. Our discovery of dozens of new nearby planets highlights this fact. But it also does more. We are now moving on from simply discovering these worlds.

In essence, we are now building an observational roadmap for future giant telescopes that can be used to image some or even most of these newly found worlds, Tuomi added. This is like mapping an archipelago so that we are familiar with it in the future when taking a closer look at what its islands actually look like.

The 60 new planets are found orbiting stars that are mostly some 20 to 300 light years away, according to Tuomi.

NASA INVESTIGATES SENDING A LANDER TO JUPITERS MOON EUROPA TO LOOK FOR LIFE

The discoveries are based on observations taken over 20 years by U.S. astronomers using the Keck-I telescope in Hawaii as part of the Lick-Carnegie Exoplanet Survey. During the course of the research, scientists obtained almost 61,000 observations of 1,600 stars, which are now available to the public.

Sponsored by NASA and the National Science Foundation, the Lick-Carnegie Exoplanet Survey harnesses the talents of planet hunters from a number of organizations, including the University of California (UC) Santa Cruz and the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, D.C.

The Carnegie Institution of Science also led a team that included MIT to release the data on the almost 61,000 observations of 1,600 stars.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers
Mexico's Desert Museum has unveiled a replica of a new dinosaur species, Yehuecauhceretops.

THE DINOSAURS DIED A COLD, DARK DEATH, NEW STUDY SHOWS

The dinosaur, whose name means ancient horned-face, is a small herbivore, measuring 3.2 feet in length, Reuters reports. Its remains were found were found in Ocampo, Coahuila in 2007. It is the newest species to be found in the country and native to the northern desert region. Yehuecauhceretops hails from the genus of the horned centrosaurine ceretopsid dinosaur and walked the earth 70 million years ago when the area was a coastal marsh and flood plain, according to Reuters.

Hector Rivera, who serves as the museums head of Paleontology, told Reuters the beast was found with its head intact. "There is no other example of this cranium with these particular characteristics anywhere in the world. This is one of a kind in the world," he said.

FEATHERED DINOSAUR TAIL GRAGMENT TRAPPED IN AMBER AMAZES SCIENTISTS

The Desert Museum has uncovered four other new dinosaurs in the past. Other fossils that have been found in Mexico include a flying reptile known as the Peterosaur, and the Albertosaurus.

Yehuecauhceretops is now featured among Latin Americas most important dinosaur remains, including the Tyrannosaurus Rex, according to Reuters.
(Xinhua) 20:08, February 14, 2017

China is considering revisions to the 1984 Maritime Traffic Safety Law to prioritize searches for survivors over searches for property.

The Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council announced Tuesday it is soliciting public opinions on revisions.

The draft states that it is the right of the people in distress at sea to be rescued without charge, adding that life should come before the environment and assets.

Passengers have the right to be informed of developments during maritime accidents when vessels are in distress, and are obliged to obey the instructions of the captain, the draft reads.

The captain should organize evacuation and be the last to leave the vessel if it is to be abandoned.

The State Council and local governments should set up maritime search and rescue centers, if needed, to organize, coordinate and command rescue operations.

In addition to professional maritime rescue teams established by the government, civilian groups are also encouraged to set up rescue teams and participate in operations.

Crews of vessels and maritime facilities are forbidden from concealing, delaying or falsifying reports on maritime accidents.

According to the white paper "Development of China's Transport," an efficient safety regime and maritime emergency aid system has been established in China.

The white paper, released in December, said the nation has improved its maritime search and rescue capability and increased the number of volunteers.
A newfound amoeba species whose funnel-shaped shell resembles a wizard's hat has been named after one of the most famous warlocks: Gandalf, of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

The blob-like aquatic creature now goes by the scientific name Arcella gandalfi.

"New amoeba species are very rarely discovered because they're so tiny and not widely studied," study principal investigator Daniel J. G. Lahr, an assistant professor of zoology at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, said in a statement.

Most amoebae are single-celled organisms that sort of crawl to get around. The newly identified A. gandalfi is a camoeba, a type of amoeba that can create a carapacearound its soft body. [ Extreme Life on Earth: 8 Bizarre Creatures ]

The discovery occurred after Lahr began receiving reports of the amoeba's existence in bodies of freshwater in the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais, Tocantins, Parana and Amapa, and the city of Rio de Janeiro.

However, the specimens from these regions were so small, it was nearly impossible to examine their anatomy and determine whether they belonged to a new species, Lahr said.

Luckily, Lahr got a little help from a friend  Jordana de Carvalho e Feres, a biologist who works for an environmental consultant firm in Espirito Santo. She had a sample from Rio de Janeiro with 180 specimens and another sample from Amapa, and said she could use her expertise in identifying zooplankton , tiny free-floating marine organisms, to help classify the new critter.

The two agreed to study the amoeba in Lahr's lab in Sao Paulo, where they could use advanced microscopy and partner with other university researchers.

"We succeeded in isolating the organism from the samples, performed all [of] the necessary measurements and produced images to make sure it really was a new species," Lahr said.

In the end, they found that the funnel shape of A. gandalfi was unique in the genus Arcella, one of the largest groups of amoebae with carapaces that grow in wetlands, damp soils and bogs, he said.

Hats off

A. gandalfi is an itty-bitty creature. It ranges in color from light yellow to brown, and its carapace has a diameter of 0.0032 inches and a height of 0.0028 inches.

Despite its minute size, A. gandalfi is considered large for a single-celled organism, especially one in the genus Arcella. There are about 200 Arcella species, and most are half that size. "It's just one cell, and yet it's capable of building this funnel-shaped carapace," Lahr said.

It appears that A. gandalfi lives only in South America, he said. The amoeba is so unique that he and his colleagues are calling it a flagship species  a key species for a habitat that can serve as an icon of an environmental cause, just as the polar bear has become a symbol for climate change.

However, despite the amoeba's exceptional "wizard's hat" carapace, it's not clear why A. gandalfi,  or other amoebae, for that matter  make carapaces. One idea is that amoebae make these structures to protect themselves against predators. [ 5 Key Facts About Brain-Eating Amoeba ]

But Lahr said he doesn't find this idea convincing. "The camoebians are strongly predated, and we often find their carapaces ingested by a class of protozoans called ciliates, for example," he said. "For these microorganisms, the shell is not protective like armor plating, as it is in the case of arthropods [such as insects and arachnids], which are preyed on by animals of the same size."

Rather, the carapace might protect against dryness. These amoebae are often left high and dry when water levels fluctuate, and the carapace likely helps them stay moist, Lahr said.

"We think they're able to maintain a humid microenvironment inside the shell when it's dry outside, by storing even a tiny amount of water," Lahr said.

The carapace might also shield the creature from ultraviolet (UV) radiation .

"Their habitats are aquatic, and they're often exposed to sunlight, so protection against UV rays must be a very important factor," Lahr noted. "A multicellular organism has a number of protective barriers against UV radiation, including a layer of keratin, as well as skin pigments. In the case of single-cell organisms like amoebae, their DNA is basically exposed."

The newly identified organism isn't the only new creature that looks like a hat. In December 2016, researchers formally gave a hat-shaped spider the name Eriovixia gryffindori , because it looked like the Sorting Hat from J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series.

The findings were published online in December 2016 in the journal Acta Protozoologica .

Original article on Live Science .
It has been said that Valentines Day is one for the worlds amateurs, but for the last-minute shopper fatigued on chocolates, flowers and overrated restaurant reservations, the Bronx Zoo is offering a perfect little something (creepy) for just $10.

NEW SPECIES OF MOTH NAMED FOR TRUMP, THANKS TO 'YELLOWISH' MOP

Dubbed Name-a-Roach, the gift drive debuted in 2011 and serves as a fundraiser for the World Conservation Society. In a nutshell, it allows donors to name a Madagascar hissing cockroach after a loved one, or not-so-loved one, such as an ex.

For the great low price of $10, the zoo will send the lucky recipient a digital certificate to cement the purchase and cherish for a lifetime...or not.

The Madagascar hissing cockroach is the worlds largest cockroach species, often growing to nearly four-inches long, according to the Bronx Zoo.

REAL-LIFE SPIDER-MAN COMING SOON: ARTIFICIAL SPIDER WEB CAN BE GROWN IN LABS

The namesake hissing noise is emitted as a defense mechanism, wrote the Bronx Zoo in a press release. Like nearly every roach species, Madagascar hissing cockroaches are not considered pests and rarely enter homes.

Whether the giver and recipient are completely creeped out or totally amused, the WCS and Bronx Zoo promise not to judge.
All the rumors suggest the iPhone 8 will be a very different smartphone to the iPhone 7 and what has come before. We're already expecting a handset encased in glass, and with that the integration of wireless charging. Now it seems as though, yet again, Samsung will be an integral part of delivering the next iPhone thanks to a huge order for OLED panels.

According to The Korean Herald, last year Apple ordered 100 million OLED panels from Samsung Display for use in the iPhone 8. However, it is now thought that order has been increased to 160 million, which is worth an additional $4.3 billion to Samsung.

Although iPhone sales dipped in 2016, they still remained above 200 million a year. If this Samsung order is to be believed, the Korean company will be relied upon for the bulk of the panels used in the iPhone 8. As to why Apple decided to increase the order, it could be down to a supply issue.

Apple likes to source components from a number of companies for its products. That way risk is lowered if one of those suppliers experiences a supply issue. In this case, it could be that one of the companies Apple selected to supply OLED panels isn't viable and Samsung agreed to pick up the slack. Either that, or Apple reviewed its sales forecast for the iPhone 8 and decided it needed to make more of them. As for who will handle the rest of Apple's OLED panel orders, LG is thought to be the other main supplier.

Samsung used OLED panels in many of its smartphones and can therefore be relied upon to produce them in large quantities and to the standards Apple requires. This also demonstrates Samsung's production capacity, which must cope with its own needs as well as this massive new order from Apple.

This article originally appeared on PCMag.com.
Over 2,000 passengers who thought they'd be sailing to the Bahamas this week were unexpectedly delayed at port after a Royal Caribbean cruise ship failed an annual Coast Guard safety inspection Monday.

The Majesty of the Seas was scheduled departure from Port Canaveral, Fla. late Monday but Coast Guard officials ordered the liner to remain docked on Valentines Day after inspectors found multiple safety infractions, including the vessels life preservers that were showing their age, according to Florida Today.

"Yesterday, the U.S. Inspectors found 'multiple' safety concerns involving the ship's lifesaving equipment for its 2,700 passengers and 800 crew members, officials reported. Ultimately, they failed the inspection, Royal Caribbean said in a statement on Tuesday morning.

Over 2,000 passengers and 800 crew members are currently aboard the 13-deck vessel that has now been stuck at the port for over 24 hours. The ship was set to depart for a four-night excursion through the Bahamas, CocoCay and Nassau.

The ships major mechanical components, such as the engine and the hull, passed the inspection.

FOR THE LATEST TRAVEL FEATURES FOLLOW FOX LIFESTYLE ON FACEBOOK

New life jackets are expected to arrive on the ship Tuesday, at which point the Majesty of the Seas must undergo another inspection to be cleared for sailing.

Royal Caribbean is keeping the docked passengers entertained with food, shopping and shows onboard the static ship.

Still, several passengers who thought they'd be enjoying a romantic Valentine's Day trip have taken to social media to express their frustration with the line.

Jonathan Galed reached out to the cruise line via Twitter seeking more information on the delay.

@JonGaled Hey, Jonathan. We passed our previous inspection but the U.S. Coast guard would like for us to change the jackets immediately.  Royal Caribbean (@RoyalCaribbean) February 14, 2017

Hey @RoyalCaribbean thanks for turning my Caribbean vacation into a docked shipyard stay, says Whitney Linn on Twitter.

Hey @RoyalCaribbean thanks for turning my Caribbean vacation into a docked shipyard stay. #majestyoftheseas #RoyalCarribean  Whitney (@WhitLinn) February 14, 2017

Others remain optimistic. Chill out @RoyalCaribbean #majestyoftheseas passengers. There are worse places to be "stranded" & you're aboard a floating city of fun! posted Erica Bourdage.

Chill out @RoyalCaribbean #majestyoftheseas passengers. There are worse places to be "stranded" & you're aboard a floating city of fun!  https://t.co/8O5lPDq7C9  Erica Bourdage (@ECBourdage) February 14, 2017

A representative for Royal Caribbean Cruises was not immediately available for comment.
Many visitors to Key West are looking to soak up the sun or go whale-watching. But one visitor from Arizona was itching to try something a little different-- the drug meth.

According to the Miami Herald, Robert Bare, a 24-year-old man from Bullhead City, Ariz., was arrested after mailing a package of crystal methamphetamine to the Inn at Key West. The would-be visitor reportedly sent the drug across state lines hoping to try the drug during his Florida vacation.

SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT THE SOON-TO-CLOSE WALDORF ASTORIA

Bare sent the drugs prior to his arrival at the Inn, but neglected to address the box to himself. He did, however, list Robert Dean Bare as the name on the return address.

Not knowing where to deliver it, the hotel staff opened Bares package on Feb. 8-- a few days before Bare himself was scheduled to arrive. They discovered the drugs  which he had wrapped in dirty socks and newspaper  and immediately contacted the authorities.

Bare later arrived at the front desk to retrieve his mail but was greeted by an undercover detective acting as a hotel employee. The guest was apprehended in the Inns lobby after a brief struggle.

FOR THE LATEST TRAVEL FEATURES FOLLOW FOX LIFESTYLE ON FACEBOOK

According to police spokeswoman Alyson Crean, Bare told police he sent the meth to himself because he was in town to party.

Bare was arrested on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine, resisting arrest, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released early on Friday morning on a $19,000 bond.
Ten days after getting hit with a $4 billion bond, Antonio Marquis Willis walked out of the Bell County (Texas) Jail to find his family and attorney happily waiting for him in the waiting area lobby.

The roller coaster ride began when Willis became a suspect in the December killing of Donte Samuels, and voluntarily turned himself in to police.

Newly elected Bell County Justice of the Peace Claudia Brown then decided to use Bell as an emblematic case for the unfair bonds set for poor people around the country, and set Willis bond at four billion dollars to bring attention to what she feels is an injustice.

Willis attorney, Billy Ray Hall, spoke with Fox News as he waited in the jail for his client to be released.

Pretty big, Hall described the moment.

Justice of the Peace Brown told Fox News on Friday that she never intended for the bond to be punitive and she knew the bond would be reduced and that Willis did too.



I think that we had a connection," said Brown. "When we looked at each other, he knew that I did not intend for this to be a punitive thing, but one that would be redeeming for all people."

However Hall said his client was dismayed when he heard the news and he doesnt believe his client had any similar understanding.

There was no agreement with my client, or with me or anyone. There was no understandings or gentlemens agreements or whatever you say, said Hall.

Hall added, And then to be told, and he watches TV in the cells with everyone else, to be told this is the highest bond in U.S. history or one of them, he was really dismayed by the whole thing.

Friday afternoon, Hall was able to get Willis bond reduced to $150,000 after filing an agreed motion with the district attorney stating that the $4 billion bond was unconstitutional. The district court judge promptly agreed and reduced the bond without a hearing.

Willis family was then able to make a deal with Anderson and White Bail Bond and posted it Monday morning, according to Hall. Hall originally thought he would call for a bond reduction hearing to get the bond reduced below the $150,000 dollars, but now its moot.

The family came up with the money, and was able to get that done today, and he was ready to go home, said Hall. Im not going to stand in the way of that if theyre able to do it.

Although this is a brief moment of relief for the family and his attorney, Hall said theyre all very much aware of the serious charges hes facing and want to maintain their privacy.
Unusually deep snow in Grand Teton National Park has made life dangerous for bison lumbering on the park's only plowed highway and for motorists traveling the route, prompting park workers to escort the big animals to safer areas and urge drivers to slow down, park officials said Tuesday.

The problem is that bison, which can weigh up to 2,000 pounds, prefer to use the road rather than struggle through the 3 feet of snow that accumulated recently.

Vehicles have killed at least one and possibly two bison in the park so far this year after cars and trucks killed five in all of 2016. On Saturday, a truck killed a bison on U.S. Highway 26-89-191. A bison hit in January has yet to be found.

Hoping to prevent a run of collisions that can be just as dangerous for motorists, park officials in trucks guided small groups of bison along several miles of the highway twice over the last four days.

"They're definitely very tired. So we make a long, slow escort to get them to safer areas," said park spokeswoman Denise Germann.

Park officials also plowed a side road they usually don't bother clearing to help bison move to areas with less snow covering the shrubs and grass they like to eat. Moose have also been spotted taking advantage of the plowed route through Grand Teton, Germann said.

Deep snow has put wild animals in close quarters with people elsewhere in the Rocky Mountain region this winter. Oregon wildlife officials recently killed five cougars that left the snowy wilderness to feed on pets and chickens in a town.

Wintry weather in the Rockies also has been unusually hazardous for antelope, which have been stranded on river ice, and horses unlucky enough to get stuck out in deepening snows.

On the National Elk Refuge just south of Grand Teton, supplemental feeding of elk and bison with alfalfa pellets began three weeks earlier than usual because the snow covered up their natural food.

Then even more snow fell: So far this month, Jackson Hole at the base of the Teton Range in the park has been walloped with more than 30 inches in a series of storms.

The snow and wind cut off electricity to parts of the popular resort area and closed Jackson Hole Mountain Resort for five days. Normally jubilant about extreme weather, ski resort officials reopened Monday after the big hit at peak season.
A two-year-old boy was one of two people shot and killed in Chicago Tuesday, hours after an 11-year-old girl who was shot in the head over the weekend died of her injuries.

Chicago Police suspect the shooting in the Lawndale section of the city's West Side was a "gang hit" targeting a man in a vehicle with the toddler. The 25-year-old man was also killed in the shooting.

Department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said police suspect the man, a well-known gang member with an extensive criminal history, was the target of the shooting that also left a woman wounded. Police identified the woman as the man's girlfriend and the child's aunt.

No other details were released and Guglielmi said no arrests had been made.

GIRLS, 11 AND 12, SHOT IN HEAD IN SEPARATE CHICAGO ATTACKS

Earlier Tuesday, local media reported that 11-year-old Takiya Holmes had died three days after she was shot in an area of the city's South Side known for heavy gang activity. Twelve-year-old Kanari Gentry Bowers, who was shot on the same day as Holmes approximately four miles away, remained in critical condition.

The shootings highlight the street gang violence that police say was largely responsible for 762 homicides last year  nearly 300 more than occurred in 2015  and more than 3,500 shooting incidents. That violence has continued this year, with January ending with 51 homicides, the highest total since January 1999 when there were 55.

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner's office said he will announce on Wednesday in his budget speech a push to fund 200 more state police cadets to patrol Chicago-area expressways. In 2016, there were 51 shootings on those roadways, compared to 37 in 2015. State police have said that the gun violence in the city is spilling onto the expressways.

It is unclear how Illinois can find the money to pay for the new state troopers in the midst of a budget crisis. Rauner's office would not elaborate..

The violence on the expressways also prompted the Chicago Crime Commission to ask that state and federal officials find the money to purchase a high-tech "expressway video surveillance system."

"An expressway video surveillance system would be designed to assist law enforcement in identifying and apprehending those responsible for the epidemic of shootings occurring on area expressways," J.R. Davis, the chairman and president of the commission, said in a statement.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click for more from Fox32Chicago.com
The parents of a 10-year-old boy who died while riding on the world's tallest water slide at a water park in Kansas said they are still grieving but are thankful for the condolences they have received from around the world, the AP reports.

In an interview Monday on ABC News' "Good Morning America," Kansas state Rep. Scott Schwab and his wife, Michele, recalled the "surreal" events of Aug. 7, 2016, when their son, Caleb, died aboard the "Verruckt" waterslide at the Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, Kansas.

FATHER IN TUNNEL GUN CASE MOURNS TRAGIC DEATH OF TEEN

"Six went to the park, five came back," Scott Schwab said.

The Schwabs, of Olathe, took their four sons to the waterpark that day because it was offering free admission for state lawmakers. When they arrived, Caleb and his 12-year-old brother, Nathan, went right to the "Verruckt," which featured a 17-story plunge.

Scott Schwab recalled the last conversation he had with his son. "Before they took off, I said, 'Brothers stick together,' and he said, 'I know, Dad.' I said, 'Look at me, brothers stick together.' 'I know, Dad.'"

Nathan was waiting at the bottom when Caleb was somehow decapitated by the ride. Investigators have not publicly indicated how the boy was injured.

No criminal charges have been filed in Caleb's death, but the family has reached settlements with several organizations. Schlitterbahn officials have said the ride will be dismantled as soon as the investigation is complete.

Click for more from Newser.
News that a crab fishing boat went down on the Bering Sea Saturday stunned the close-knit community that spawned the hit show Deadliest Catch and, for members of its cast, the reality that six of their colleagues are likely gone has set in.

Late Monday, the Coast Guard suspended its search for the crew of the 100-foot fishing vessel Destination, and Capt. Keith Colburn, one of the stars of the Discovery channel show, told Fox News he knows their chances of survival are slim.

Its a miracle if someone gets out alive.  Capt. Keith Colburn

"You dont want to give up hope, but the reality is that, an instantaneous capsizing -- the survival rates are less than 1 percent, Colburn said. Its a miracle if someone gets out alive.

"Deadliest Catch" features crews that fish for crabs on the rugged Bering Sea, charting their successes and failures and spotlighting the dangers of the job.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the crew members aboard the F/V Destination and their families. https://t.co/qrGaAouYru  Deadliest Catch (@DeadliestCatch) February 13, 2017

The Seattle-based Destination, which was not featured on the show, vanished early Saturday after a radio beacon sent an emergency signal from 2 miles off St. George Island, off the western coast of Alaska.

A search for the boat and its crew members -- identified as Charles Glenn Jones, Larry O'Grady, Raymond Vincler, Darrik Seibold, Kai Hamik and Jeff Hathaway -- proved fruitless.

Colburn said he heard about the missing vessel from Sig Hansen, who captains The Northwestern on Deadliest Catch.

Hansen told Fox News the two crews are "extremely close."

Jeff has been a close friend for the past 23 years. Hes a true leader and not a follower. Ive learned a lot from him and know for a fact that he is calm under pressure, Hansen said. When the Northwestern hit the beach a few years ago, there was only one boat in the area that had a tow. I was in a state of panic and thought we were done. It was Jeff who walked me through this ordeal on what to do over the radio. I did exactly what he told me and sure enough, the stern came around and we got off the beach. Its what saved us.

Colburn, who considered Destinations captain, Jeff Hathaway, and engineer, Larry OGrady, close friends for more than 25 years, told Fox News that if anyone survived, the Coast Guard would have found them. Even in survival suits, the waterproof suits fishermen wear to protect them from hypothermia in case they go overboard, rescue must come quickly.

A window of life is 18 or 20 hours -- that window of life evaporated very quickly, Colburn told Fox News. Youve got a very good, safety-conscious crew on a really good boat, and something catastrophic happened."

The U.S. Coast Guard 17th District Alaska issued a statement on Monday night announcing the suspension of the search. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the six crew members during this extremely difficult time, Rear Adm. Michael McAllister, Coast Guard 17th District commander said in a statement. The decision to suspend a search is always difficult and is made with great care and consideration.

The Coast Guard coordinated 21 searches, totaling more than 69 aircraft and surface hours and covering approximately 5,730 square miles. The cause of the incident is still under investigation. For Colburn, Hansen and the others who risk their lives at sea to put food on Americas tables, the fate of their peers is only the latest reminder of the aptness of the reality shows name.

"This is a warning to never get complacent -- to always be vigilant at sea, Colburn told Fox News. The grand sea is a very wicked place to work -- my heartfelt condolences to the families and the children associated with the boat. Were going to miss them.

Hansen said whatever happened to the ship "must have happened extremely fast."

"If there was trouble, he would have notified someone of any impeding danger," he said. "I just dont see this as human error.
(Xinhua) 20:59, February 14, 2017

The half-brother of top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un has been killed in Malaysia, South Korean cable news channel TV Chosun reported on Tuesday citing multiple government sources.

Kim Jong Nam, the older half-brother of the DRPK leader and the eldest son of late leader Kim Jong Il, has been found dead in Kuala Lumpur early Monday, the Chosun TV said.

He has been based outside the DPRK since he was caught trying to enter Japan on a fake passport in 2001.

Multiple South Korean government sources were quoted as saying that the half brother seemed to have killed at a Kuala Lumpur airport at about 9 a.m. Malaysian time (0100 GMT) Monday.

Yonhap news agency reported that South Korea's foreign and unification ministries declined to confirm the killing.
A North Texas man who was drunk and killed a woman when he slammed into the back of her car in Uptown Dallas will spend three months in prison after pleading guilty to intoxication manslaughter.

MURDER SUSPECT RELEASED FROM JAIL AFTER HISTORIC $4 BILLION BOND

Police said 34-year-old Emily Javadis car was hit from behind two years ago as she was putting gym equipment in the back seat. She was thrown into a pole and later died from her injuries.

Police documents show Travis Elwell of Mesquite admitted to having two drinks in the hours before the crash. The arresting officer said he had bloodshot eyes and the smell of alcohol on his breath. He was driving "at a high rate of speed" and failed to notice Javadi's parked car ahead of him, police said.

FBI AERIAL VIDEO SHOWED TO JURY IN BUNDY RANCH STANDOFF TRIAL

Javadi was 34 years old, a businesswoman, and violinist and baked and sold cake pops. Her mother, Karen, had just spoken to her over the phone minutes before the crash happened. Javadi was on her way to a workout class.

In the two years since the crash, friends and family have organized benefits in her honor, raising tens of thousands of dollars for charity.

Karen Javadi says her focus has remained on her daughter's bright life and her legacy, not on Elwell. But she is glad he will go to prison.

I never felt anger, I just felt such loss," she said. "I found out in court there were things I did that week I didn't even remember."

The Javadis originally wanted Elwell to get life in prison but later had a change of heart. In a plea deal they agreed on with prosecutors, Elwell was sentenced to 120 days in jail and, starting next year, a week in jail on the anniversary of her death for the next ten years. He will also get ten years probation.

"It didn't matter if it was 180 days or 20 years," Karen said. "For us, it's always going to be the same."

Click for more from Fox 4.
A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction barring the Trump administration from implementing its travel ban in Virginia, adding another judicial ruling to those already in place challenging the ban's constitutionality.

The Monday ruling is significant from a legal standpoint because U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema found that an unconstitutional religious bias is at the heart of the travel ban, and therefore it violates First Amendment prohibitions on favoring one religion over another. She said the evidence introduced so far indicates that Virginia's challenge to the ban will succeed once it proceeds to trial.

A federal appeals court in California has already upheld a national temporary restraining order stopping the government from implementing the ban, which is directed at seven Muslim-majority countries. But the ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals was rooted more in due process grounds, said Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, a Democrat who brought the lawsuit against Trump in Virginia.

"Judge Brinkema's ruling gets right to the heart of our First Amendment ... claim," Herring said in a conference call Monday night.

In her 22-page ruling, Brinkema writes that Trump's promises during the campaign to implement what came to be known as a "Muslim ban" provide evidence that the current executive order unconstitutionally targets Muslims.

"The president himself acknowledged the conceptual link between a Muslim ban and the EO (executive order)," Brinkema wrote. She also cited news accounts that Trump adviser Rudy Giuliani said the executive order is an effort to find a legal way for Trump to be able to impose his Muslim ban.

Herring said that "the overwhelming evidence shows that this ban was conceived in religious bigotry."

Also, the preliminary injunction issued Monday night by Brinkema in Alexandria is a more permanent type of injunction than the temporary restraining order issued in the Washington state case. Herring said he expects the injunction to remain in place until the case goes to trial.

Brinkema's injunction, though, applies only to Virginia residents. Herring had asked the judge to issue the injunction nationwide, but Brinkema limited it to Virginia, saying that the nationwide restraining order in place out of the Washington state case already provides much of the relief Virginia is seeking. Herring said he could ask the judge to extend the injunction nationally if the 9th Circuit stay gets reversed.

Virginia's lawsuit also does not challenge the portion of the executive order directed at refugees. The 9th Circuit case covers refugees.

Virginia based its arguments on the harms the state would suffer if the travel ban were allowed to go forward. The state has said, for instance, that 1,000 students at its universities and dozens of university staff members and professors could be affected by the ban.

In her ruling, Brinkema said the Trump administration offered no justification for the travel ban, and wrote that the president's executive power "does not mean absolute power."

Brinkema chided the federal government for offering no evidence to support its rationale for the ban, other than arguing the president's authority for issuing such an order.

She said the president's executive authority is still limited by the Constitution. "Every presidential action must still comply with the limits set by Congress' delegation of power and the constraints of the Constitution, including Bill of Rights," she wrote.

A Justice Department spokeswoman did not immediately return an email seeking comment Monday night. Trump has raised the possibility that he will issue a new executive order to replace the one being challenged in court.
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner will propose that the state pay to add hundreds of state troopers to combat the growing number of shooting incidents on Chicago area expressways.

Rauner's office confirmed a Chicago Sun-Times report that during his Wednesday budget speech he will push for funding for 200 more state police cadets over the next two years.

During his State of the State address last month, Rauner suggested that he would make such a move, saying, "We're committed to hiring more State Police officers to help patrol Chicago expressways, and other high violence areas."

Unclear is the cost of the new troopers and how the state, in the midst of a budget crisis, can find the money to pay for the new state troopers. Rauner's office would not elaborate. Chicago police said the department had not been told that more troopers might be coming to the area, and the Illinois State Police declined to comment on Tuesday.

Concerns about the safety of Chicago's expressways are part of a rise in gun violence in the city. There were more than 760 homicides and more than 3,500 shooting incidents, according to police department statistics.

The problem has caught the attention of the White House, where President Donald Trump has vowed to "send in the Feds" if the city's violence problems didn't improve.

Those homicide and shooting totals, which were dramatically higher than those 2015, do not include shooting incidents on the expressways because those roads are patrolled by the state police and not the city's police department. But state troopers were seeing a similar trend on the expressways, though on a much smaller scale.

Worried that Chicago's gun violence was spilling onto the expressways, state police announced before Memorial Day weekend last year that the agency would flood the expressways with more troopers and dispatch planes overhead spot any gun violence.

The shootings continued and by the end of 2016, there were 51 shootings on area expressways, compared to 37 in 2015.

That prompted the Chicago Crime Commission to ask in a news release that state and federal officials to find the money to purchase a high-tech "expressway video surveillance system." The commission welcomed the governor's proposal.

"An expressway video surveillance system would be designed to assist law enforcement in identifying and apprehending those responsible for the epidemic of shootings occurring on area expressways," J.R. Davis, the chairman and president of the commission, said in a statement.
The murder case against New York real estate heir Robert Durst took a trip back in time Tuesday to the mysterious disappearance of his first wife in 1982.

CONVENIENCE STORE CLERK CONVICTED OF MURDERING 6-YEAR-OLD ETAN PATZ, WHO VANISHED IN 1979

Prosecutors seeking to get testimony on the record now from elderly witnesses and those who fear Durst could have them knocked off began calling witnesses in Los Angeles Superior Court even before a judge rules whether the aging mogul will go on trial in the 2000 killing of Susan Berman, his best friend.

Dr. Albert Kuperman, 85, a retired associate dean at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, testified that he remembered Kathleen Durst as a bright, attractive, smartly dressed medical student. She was the only medical student who vanished during his 40 years at the school in the Bronx section of New York.

SUSPECT IN OHIO STATE STUDENT'S RAPE, MURDER HELD WITHOUT BOND

Kuperman said he got a call from a woman who identified herself as Kathie Durst on Feb. 1, 1982. She informed him she couldn't make it to her first day of a clerkship in pediatrics because she had diarrhea.

The call was long considered the last known conversation anyone ever had with Kathie Durst, though Deputy District Attorney John Lewin suggested while interrogating Durst that someone else placed the call.

Durst told Lewin that the filmmakers who interviewed him extensively for the six-part HBO series "The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst" think Berman made the call. Durst disputed that during interrogation after his arrest two years ago in New Orleans, saying Berman wouldn't have done that.

Durst, 73, has denied killing either woman, and his lawyers have said it's absurd to suggest that he could have witnesses killed. He has pleaded not guilty to one count of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Berman in her Los Angeles house just before Christmas 2000.

Berman and Durst had been close friends since they attended the University of California, Los Angeles. Berman, the daughter of a Las Vegas mobster and a writer, acted as Durst's unofficial spokeswoman after his wife's disappearance.

Prosecutors contend Durst killed her because he thought she was prepared to speak with police about Kathie Durst's disappearance. Kathie Durst was never found, but Deputy District Attorney Habib Balian said Tuesday that authorities believe it's a "no-body homicide."

Defense lawyer Dick DeGuerin objected to the use of that term to which Balian snapped, "Do you have her body?"

Durst, who is frail looking and has previously been brought into court in a wheelchair, walked into court Tuesday. He then turned and scanned the gallery packed with reporters.

One face he may have recognized was New York Times writer Charles Bagli, who has covered the case since Kathie Durst disappeared.

DeGuerin asked the judge to boot Bagli from the courtroom because he may be called as a witness in the case.

Bagli has previously interviewed a "secret witness," who has not been named to protect their identity until testimony, and may be able to contradict that person's testimony, DeGuerin said.

The secret witness is expected to provide "sensational testimony," DeGuerin said and he doesn't want that to influence Bagli's potential testimony.

Deputy District Attorney John Lewin said the courtroom should be open to the press and he asked for a full hearing on the matter.

Judge Mark Windham allowed Bagli to stay in the courtroom for Kuperman's testimony. He said he would take up the matter before the "secret witness" is called, which is expected Tuesday.
A Russian spy ship was spotted patrolling off the East Coast of the United States on Tuesday morning, the first such instance during the Trump administration -- and the same day it was learned the Kremlin had secretly deployed controversial cruise missiles inside Russia and flew within 200 yards of a U.S. Navy destroyer, U.S. officials told Fox News.

The Russian ship was in international waters, 70 miles off the coast of Delaware and heading north at 10 knots, according to one official. The U.S. territory line is 12 nautical miles.

It was not immediately clear where the ship is headed.

VIDEO: RUSSIA MAY USE SNOWDEN AS BARGAINING CHIP

Later Tuesday, a U.S. official confirmed to Fox News that Russia had deployed ground-launched cruise missiles to two locations inside the country in December. The New York Times first reported that the Obama administration had previously seen the missiles -- then in a testing phase -- as a violation of a 1987 treaty between the U.S. and Russia that banned ground-launched intermediate-range missiles.

But Russia has pressed ahead with its program, apparently testing a Trump administration which has sought better ties with Moscow -- but is also fresh off the loss of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who resigned Monday night in the wake of a scandal surrounding his communications with Russia.

Adding to the aggressive actions, Fox News confirmed a report from The Washington Free Beacon that four Russian jets buzzed the USS Porter in the Black Sea on Friday. The destroyer was roughly 186 miles southwest of Crimea and roughly 50 miles off the coast of Romania, a U.S. official said.

The jets buzzed the destroyer over course of several hours, the official said without specifying. A Russian IL-38 maritime patrol aircraft came in first, followed by two Su-24 attack jets, and then a single Su-24.

All approached low and fast, the official added, saying the ship was conducting routine operations in international waters.

The USS Porter made repeated radio calls to the Russian jets, but the calls were ignored. The jets had their transponders turned off, the official said.

"There were several incidents involving multiple Russian aircraft," Navy Capt. Danny Hernandez, spokesman for the European Command, told The Free Beacon. "They were assessed by the commanding officer as unsafe and unprofessional."

TRUMP, GOP LAWMAKERS EYE 'ILLEGAL' LEAKS IN WAKE OF FLYNN RESIGNATION

The ship, the SSV-175 Viktor Leonov, last sailed near the U.S. in April 2015, an official said. It was also seen in Havana in January 2015.

Capable of intercepting communications or signals, known as SIGINT, the ship can also measure U.S. Navy sonar capabilities, a separate official said.

The Russian spy ship is also armed with surface-to-air missiles.

Its not a huge concern, but we are keeping our eyes on it, one official said.

This action by the Russian military follows recent missile test launches by Iran and North Korea.

In the past, Russian spy ships have loitered off the coast of Kings Bay, Ga., home to a U.S. Navy ballistic missile submarine base. During the Cold War, Russian intelligence gathering ships routinely parked off U.S. submarine bases along the East Coast

In September 2015, another Russian spy ship was spotted near the U.S. outside the submarine base in Kings Bay.

Outside of U.S. intelligence gathering satellites monitoring the Russian spy ships voyage north, there are several airborne platforms along the East Coast that could be used by the U.S. military to monitor the Russian ship, according to one official.

Currently there are four U.S. Navy warships in the Atlantic off the coast of Norfolk participating in normal training, but none have been tasked with shadowing the Russian spy ship.

There are no U.S. Navy aircraft carriers nearby.

The USS Eisenhower, an aircraft carrier, is currently off the coast of Florida doing carrier qualifications, with young pilots making their first landings. Ike does not currently have strike aircraft.

Last April, Russian Su-24s buzzed the USS Donald Cook in the Baltic Sea flying as low as 30 feet above the ocean and coming very close to the American warship.
A confirmed tornado destroyed at least one home and damaged more than a dozen others Tuesday in a Texas town near the Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Weather Service.

The twister in Van Vleck came amid a powerful storm system walloping much of the state. Fortunately, reported injuries were minor, Fox 26 reported.

Twister damage in Van Vleck. Community feeling blessed only 3 injuries #Fox26 pic.twitter.com/e1NjbmaFDf  Greg Groogan (@GrooganFox26) February 14, 2017

CALIFORNIA DAM MANAGERS BRUSHED OFF THREATS OF FLOODING 12 YEARS AGO

In Van Vleck, a town of about 1,800 people near the Texas coast, "Tops of trees are twisted off and at least one home is completely torn apart," Doug Matthes, emergency management coordinator for Matagorda County, told The Associated Press.

Paramedics rushed at least seven people to hospitals but they didn't appear to have serious injuries, he said.

'DEADLIEST CATCH' STARS KNOW HOPE IS RUNNING OUT FOR LOST COLLEAGUES

The National Weather Service's Houston/Galveston office claimed it was looking into reports of a tornado and damage near Rosenberg, along with a possible twister spotted over the Houston Ship Channel.

As many as 15 homes in Rosenberg suffered damage and one was destroyed, Fox 26 reported. The station noted some minor injuries there as well.

"There have been a number of spin-ups, gusty winds reported," Dan Reilly of the NWS told the Houston Chronicle. "We're kind of in the middle of it right now."

Tornado warnings across parts of the Houston area were lifted Thursday morning, as tornado watches remained through the early afternoon. Students and teachers sheltered in place inside schools in the affected areas.

Winds of around 50 mph were lashing Corpus Christi and other coastal regions. Driving rain also triggered a travel nightmare for drivers in Austin, Dallas, Houston and other parts of the state.

More than 3 inches of rain fell in some areas west of Austin, and rain was mixing with snow in the Texas Panhandle, resulting in slick roads and delays in school openings.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A family went through some terrifying moments after leaving a monster truck show on Sunday night, when a case of apparent road rage led to gunshots.

DRUNKEN DRIVER GETS 3 MONTHS IN PRISON AFTER DEADLY CRASH

Houston police said the family was on its way home when the driver tried to get around two cars swerving back-and-forth between lanes.

As soon as I was about to enter the entrance ramp of 288, two cars were blocking traffic. They were swerving and driving erratically, cars were trying to pass them on the right. I tried to pass them on the left, and as soon as I tried to pass them, I heard a gunshot, said the father.

MURDER SUSPECT RELEASED FROM JAIL AFTER HISTORIC $4 BILLION BOND

Someone from those cars had opened fire, and those bullets hit his wife and his 10-year-old son.

When I heard the gunshots, I just hit the gas. I look over, my wife's bleeding from her hand and I look back, and my son's bleeding from his face, said the father, who wished to remain anonymous.

The pellet spray also injured the father. His other child in the car was not hurt.

The shots blew out one of his tires, and so, they had to hope their car would make it to the hospital.

Imagine driving a car with three wheels and having a place that's imperative that you get there. It was definitely something I don't wish on anybody or perceive doing this again in my lifetime. It was just really tough for me, said the father.

Thankfully, the car made it. His wife and son are now recovering, but he is asking the public for any information at all that will lead to the arrest of the men who shot at his family.

Click for more from Fox 26.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is heading to Germany this week on his first trip abroad as America's top diplomat.

The trip is occurring amid disarray in the Trump administration's national security team and European concerns over U.S. priorities and commitments.

Tillerson will attend a meeting of about 20 foreign ministers in Bonn on Thursday and Friday. The State Department says he'll also meet separately with counterparts from Britain, Saudi Arabia and Oman, and participate in talks on Syria and Yemen.

Tillerson departs Wednesday.

On Monday, Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump's national security adviser, resigned for misleading White House officials about the substance of conversations he had with Russia's ambassador to the U.S.
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An Ohio woman accused of livestreaming images of a man raping a 17-year-old girl has been sentenced to nine months in prison.

Nineteen-year-old Marina Lonina was sentenced Monday in Columbus after pleading guilty to one count of obstructing justice under a deal with prosecutors. She initially faced other charges, including rape and pandering sexual matter involving a minor.

Authorities alleged that she used the social media app Periscope to livestream the assault last February.

Defense attorney Sam Shamansky tells The Columbus Dispatch (http://bit.ly/2lLa9Qy ) that Lonina admitted to failing to report the rape or turn over her evidence afterward.

The 29-year-old rape suspect, Raymond Gates, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine years in prison.

The victim alleged that Lonina set up the rape. Shamansky calls that allegation "unmitigated nonsense."

___

Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.com
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 14

Trend:

Over the past 24 hours, Armenias armed forces have 22 times violated the ceasefire in various directions along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry told Trend Feb. 14.

The Azerbaijani army positions located on nameless heights of Azerbaijans Gazakh district underwent fire from the Armenian army positions located on nameless heights of the Ijevan district of Armenia.

Moreover, the Azerbaijani army positions underwent fire from the Armenian army positions located near the Armenian-occupied Chilaburt village of the Tartar distirct, Marzili, Yusifjanli villages of the Aghdam district,Garakhanbeyli, Ashagi Seyidahmadli villages of the Fuzuli district, as well as from the positions located on nameless heights of the Tartar, Khojavand, Jabrayil and Fuzuli districts 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. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
A young couple eloped in Afghanistan and was later killed by an angry mob, the New York Times reports.

HAMAS NAMES SHADOWY MILITARY COMMANDER AS ITS NEW LEADER IN GAZA

The woman was said to have been married to someone else against her will, and eloped with her lover.

Police caught the couple Saturday and held them on suspicion of adultery, and the mob descended on the police station within hours, eventually dragging the couple away and killing them as well as injuring three police officers, one seriously, in the process.

The 250- to 300-person mob was said to have been made up mostly of the woman's legal husband's family, but it also reportedly included her own brothers and cousins.

Click for more from Newser.
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Experts are warning that an invasion of armyworms is stripping southern Africa of key food crops and could spread to other parts of the continent.

Representatives of 16 African nations are holding an emergency meeting in Zimbabwe, one of the countries where the fall armyworm has invaded maize fields. South Africa, Malawi and Zambia are among the most affected.

The fall armyworm is a new threat in southern Africa. David Phiri, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization coordinator for the region, said Tuesday it is mostly associated with the Americas.

Phiri says the pest is devastating to crops and so far impossible to eradicate.

"The outbreak is spreading to other countries. If the situation remains like this, food insecurity will worsen," he said.
Anti-government protesters have clashed with police in Bahrain as they marked the sixth anniversary of the tiny island kingdom's Arab Spring uprising.

Images posted on social media Tuesday showed masked protesters hurling rocks and other projectiles at riot police, who responded with tear gas. Protesters elsewhere were seen marching peacefully through rain-soaked streets carrying the national flag.

Large-scale protests led by Bahrain's Shiite majority erupted on Feb. 14, 2011, demanding political reforms from the country's Sunni monarchy. Hundreds of thousands took to the streets then, with many occupying a prominent roundabout known as Pearl Square.

Authorities backed by forces from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates eventually suppressed the protests. The government later agreed to some reforms, but low-level unrest continues.
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Thousands of Greek farmers are marching in central Athens to protest tax increases imposed as part of efforts to meet conditions of the country's international bailout.

About 2,000 farmers from across the country headed to the Greek capital Tuesday to complain about the higher taxes, some of which took effect on Jan. 1. Farmers have been blocking highways sporadically as part of their protest, including at some of Greece's northern border crossings.

Addressing the crowd before the march began, protest leader Vangelis Boutas said public opinion was backing them.

He said: "This is all about fewer people having more. But ordinary people support our blockades."

Greece is struggling to agree with its international creditors on what further reforms might be needed as part of its bailout agreement.
An Italian court has convicted a Moroccan-born man and his wife on charges of international terrorism in connection with an Islamic State plot to carry out attacks in Rome during the Holy Year in 2016.

A court in Milan on Tuesday convicted Abderrahim Moutaharrik, and his wife, Salma Bencharki, and sentenced them to six years and five years in jail, respectively.

Prosecutors say Moutaharrik, who had taken Italian citizenship, had received orders from Islamic State to carry out attacks in Italy, particularly in Rome, last year. Authorities characterized the plot as serious but not imminent at the time of their arrest last April.

The court also withdrew the parental rights of the couple, who had planned to travel to IS territory with their two small children.
North Korean dictator Kim Jong Uns half-brother was assassinated Monday in Malaysia, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported early Tuesday, citing a government source.

CHINA BLAMES UNITED STATES, SOUTH KOREA FOR NORTH KOREA MISSILE LAUNCH

Kim Jong Nam was attacked by two unidentified women who stabbed him with poisoned needles at a Malaysian airport before fleeing, according to cable TV broadcaster TV Chosun.

Malaysian police reportedly suspect Jong Nam was targeted by North Korea.

NORTH KOREA FIRES ITS STATE SECURITY CHIEF, SOUTH KOREA SAYS

The 45-year-old Jong Nam was the oldest son of former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and held no official title.

In the late 1990s he was thought to be the heir apparent to Kim Jong Il to lead North Korea. However, his chances to succeed his father took a blow when Jong Nam tried entering Tokyo Disneyland using a fake passport in May 2001.

Sometimes a critic of his brothers rule, Jong Nam had previously suspected he was a target for assassination by North Korean agents.

He had two wives, a mistress and three children, according to a 2010 South Korean newspaper profile in The Chosun Ilbo.

The man who died was waiting for a flight to Macau on Monday when he fell ill, district police chief Abdul Aziz Ali told The Associated Press.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
An annual report on military power throughout the world cites Chinese and Russian activity as rising threats to Western powers.

The International Institute for Strategic Studies report, released Tuesday, said analysts have noted "real and important" increases in Chinese military activity in the air, at sea, and in missile forces.

It said Chinese weapons systems are becoming more sophisticated and advanced.

The report says a resurgent Russia has placed "the exercise of military power and even the importance of nuclear weapons" at a centerpiece of its power, provoking the need for a strong NATO response.

It also says Britain has fallen below the 2 percent defense spending target set for NATO countries, a charge rejected by British officials and some other analysts.
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The chairman of Romania's ruling Social Democratic Party on Tuesday denied wrongdoing in a trial where he is charged with putting no-work jobs on the government payroll.

The case against Liviu Dragnea, one of Romania's most powerful politicians, comes from the time when he was a regional party chief. After a hearing, Dragnea said he was innocent and that testimony against him was false.

Prosecutors say Dragnea intervened to keep two women on the payroll of a family welfare agency, though they were working for the Social Democratic Party. The women have pleaded guilty. The next hearing is March 28.

Romania's center-left government passed a decree last month decriminalizing official misconduct, which would have helped Dragnea. But the decree sparked huge protests, with critics saying the government wanted to dilute the anti-corruption fight.

Premier Sorin Grindeanu withdrew the decree but protests have continued.

Dragnea is barred from being prime minister because of a two-year suspended sentence last year for vote rigging. He calls the ban deeply unfair.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 14

By Elmira Tariverdiyeva  Trend:

The US is not applying the same rules and actions to all the states in the world equally when it comes to the international law, Kamal Makili-Aliyev, an independent analyst, wrote in his article for the Modern Diplomacy.

The stark example is the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent districts of Azerbaijan by Armenia, the author, who is also a scholar specializing in international relations, armed conflicts, security and defense, said.

This occupation has been reflected in the multiple international legal documents and even in the decision of international judicial body that works specifically with international law, the article said.

Nonetheless, the US hasnt recognized Armenia as an aggressor state and hasnt imposed any sanctions on the aggressor despite the fact that this situation has been protracted since the early 1990s, the author wrote.

On the other hand, the US has imposed sanctions against Russia with practically no international legal documents or decisions of international organizations to support them, reads the article.

If the US can impose sanctions on Russia, a nuclear power and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, it is obvious it can do so in regards to Armenia, the author of the article wrote.

Then, that brings us to the conclusion that the point of sanctions of the US was not to uphold the international law and its principles, but to take steps on international arena that would show discontent with its adversary, said the article.

Quite frankly the sanctions have proven to be ineffective towards Russia anyway, as they have not changed the position of Russia towards situation in Ukraine and have yet to show any other effect desired by the US, reads the article.

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, Feb. 14

By Anakhanum Hidayatova  Trend:

The EU has an ambitious approach to the upcoming agreement between the Union and Azerbaijan, Malena Mard, head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan, told reporters in Baku Feb. 14.

We want to look into very many areas  as you know  energy, economy, trade, people to people contacts, good governance, she said.

The European Council adopted a mandate for the European Commission and the high representative for foreign affairs and security policy to negotiate, on behalf of the EU and its member states, a comprehensive agreement with Azerbaijan in November 2016.

The new agreement should replace the 1996 partnership and cooperation agreement and should better take account of the shared objectives and challenges the EU and Azerbaijan face today.

The agreement will follow the principles endorsed in the 2015 review of the European Neighborhood Policy and offer a renewed basis for political dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan.

Currently, bilateral relations between the EU and Azerbaijan are regulated on the basis of an agreement on partnership and cooperation that was signed in 1996 and entered into force in 1999.

The new agreement envisages the compliance of Azerbaijans legislation and procedures with the EUs most important international trade norms and standards, which should lead to the improvement of Azerbaijani goods access to the EU markets.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Anahanum
Fredericksburgs weather hasnt been all that frightful this winter, but theres still time. February has brought some of the worst snowstormsor best, depending on personal perspective. Flashback readers were invited to share their own snowman pictures from winters past, and the results were delightful.

And however this months weather plays out, the groundhog and calendar both agree that spring arrives in a few weeks. Then readers will be invited to check their family archives for photos featuring Easter bonnets for an April column. But first, the snowmenand women.

The Gillenwater family made one of each, as seen in the photo taken in front of the familys Fredericksburg home in 1996. Son Lucas was 7, and daughter Kelsey, 5.

After a record-breaking January storm that left 21 inches on the ground, the sun shone againparents Mike and Sandy Gillenwater wore sunglasses when they ventured outside their Braehead Woods home.

We thought OK, were going to build a Hawaiian snowman and snow woman, and this was their beach having a day in the sun, Sandy Gillenwater recalled in a recent conversation.

The family got busy, piling the snow and raiding a dresser full of costume possibilities.

Fashionable Ms. Snowman wore a lei instead of a scarf. A bright brimmed straw hat covered her red pompon wig. A hula hoop circled her midsection.

Super Snowmannote the letter S on his chest skipped the classic snowman pipe and carrot nose in favor of a snorkel and mask. A red Ninja turtle sword peeks out at his side. Hes wrapped in a large scarf that doubles as a cape in accordance with his tough-guy image.

We were pretty proud of our snow people, said Gillenwater.

Bob Martin, then a Free LanceStar photographer, happened to be taking snow photos at the nearby Fredericksburg Battlefield when he spotted the family and their snow people in the yard.

He took their photo and, though it wasnt published, sent them a copy. Sandy Gillenwater put the photo into a frame surrounded by snowmen, and has displayed it as a holiday decoration every year.

This year, when she removed it from the frame to share with the Flashback column, she remembered a second article and photograph by Bob Martin that shed tucked into the frame behind the original.

A few days after the original family photo, unseasonably warm temperatures were making the news when Martin returned to the Gillenwaters neighborhood for more weather-related photos.

This time, a photo was published Jan. 19 showing Super Snowman (or what was left of him). As stated in the caption, the snowman had melted overnight, leaving behind a chunk of snow and its Hawaiian shirt, goggles and snorkel.

Mike and Sandy Gillenwater still live in the same house. The children, now in their late 20s, both live in Colorado where the snow isnt so quick to melt.
High winds caused widespread power outages around the region early Monday morning, damaging power lines and leaving many in the dark.

The National Weather Service released a weather advisory Monday morning on its website cautioning people in the Baltimore and D.C. region, including the Culpeper, Dahlgren and Shenandoah areas, to watch for high winds until 3 p.m. There were reported winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour, with expected gusts of 50 miles per hour or higher.

In Culpeper, around 1,000 Dominion Virginia Power customers lost electricity at approximately 2 a.m. Monday morning, according to Daisy Pridgen, the spokesperson at Dominions Richmond office.

The outages were due to high winds, thought to have broken three cross arms located on Aspen Street and Sperryville Pike.

The majority of the power outages were restored as of 10 a.m., Pridgen said.

Rappahannock Electric Cooperative had 378 customers without power in Culpeper County as of 2 a.m. However, the cooperative restored most of the service as of 4 a.m., according to Brian Wolfe, public relations specialist with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative.

There are still 30 customers in the Culpeper area without power, and customers have experienced scattered outages Monday due to high winds, Wolfe said.

High volumes of power outages have also spread to other regions. An outage in Stafford Countys Widewater area left 152 without power due to a damaged power line. Electrical service is expected to be restored between 3 and 6 p.m.

More than 4,000 customers in Northern Virginia and more than 300 in the Richmond area were reported without power of 1:30 p.m. Monday, according to Dominions outage map.

For the most up-to-date reports of area power outages, people can view the outage map on outagemap.dom.com or call 866/366-4357. Rappahannock Electric Cooperatives outage map can be viewed at myrec.coop/outagecenter, or customers can call the toll-free number at 800/552-3904 for more information.
The Fredericksburg Area Museum just reopened in November, but changes to its exhibit spaces are already underway.

The museum, which recently trimmed and Cultural Center from its name, received a $30,000 grant from the Richard & Caroline T. Gwathmey Memorial Trust in Richmond. The money will go toward revamping the second floor of its home in Old Town Hall at 907 Princess Anne St. Old carpet will be replaced, woodwork will be caulked and painted, and new exhibits will be installed or tweaked.

Three of them will debut at 4 p.m. on April 22 when the museum holds its grand reopening and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Im super excited, said Sara Poore, the museums president and CEO.

The museums second floor will remain closed until the reopening. That will give museum staff time to move the PNC Legacy Collection of historic local banking artifacts from The Peoples Street: Princess Anne, an exhibit running through March on the third floor, to its own display on the second floor. PNC donated the artifacts when it sold the National Bank Building at 900 Princess Anne St.

The story will change to be about banking, Poore said. Before, it included Princess Anne Street.

Other second-floor exhibits opening April 22 will include one that will be held in conjunction with the Virginia World War I and World War II Commemoration Commission. It will commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War I and the 75th anniversary of World War II. The museum will also hold a symposium in July that will give teachers a chance to talk to World War II veterans about ways to teach students about the war.

The Quarles Gallery on the second floor is also getting a redo, but wont open until November. Portraits of prominent Fredericksburg residents that had hung on the walls for the Fredericksburg Portrayed exhibit have been removed to make way for an exhibit called The Art of Living. It will not only feature the big, impressive pieces of furniture that graced the homes of the 1 percent of their day, but also those of the middle class and slaves to give a more multidimensional picture of what life in the area was like.

They had big stories to tell, Poore said. Its a completely different approach in decorative arts.

She and her staff will refresh the exhibit by switching out pieces in the gallery from time to time. This will give people a reason to return, and the museum a chance to display more of its collection.

In addition, the second floor will have a section near the elevator called Oddities & Curiosities that will showcase various items from the museums collection as well as those from the public in wall-mounted display cases.

The Fredericksburg Area Museum featured permanent displays when it was located across William Street in the Catherine W. Jones McKann Center at 1001 Princess Anne St. and 215 William St. The museum board shuttered that location in 2015 for financial reasons, and the center was sold at auction last February to Battle Creek Construction for $1.76 million. This enabled the museum to reopen debt-free in its original home in old Town Hall with semi-permanent and changing exhibits.

The response has been really good, said Poore. Word on the street is that the community is very excited and feels that the museum is moving in the right direction. That it is accessible to everyone.

Other changes are coming to the museum. A new website is in the works, a new name will go up over its Princess Anne Street entrance, and funding is being sought for banners and planters to go up outside the building.

The museums April 22 grand reopening ceremony will be followed at 5 p.m. by the museums biennial Highballs and Hydrangeas cocktail event to recognize its volunteers, sponsors and donors. Admission will be $25 for museum members and $50 for nonmembers.

Afterward, the museum will be open Thursdays through Mondays. Admission will be $3 for students and teachers, $4 for seniors and AAA members, and $5 for adults. It will also be free for everyone on Mondays, and all days for children under the age of 5 and active-duty military and their families.

The museum is now open Fridays through Sundays and admission is free.
A project to fix longstanding erosion problems at Fairview Beach has been given the No. 1 ranking by a state panel and is headed to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for review.

The King George Service Authority applied to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to get funding for its Fairview Beach Riverbank Stabilization Project. Christopher Werle, chairman of the authority, found out recently that an independent panel considered the Fairview Beach effort the top priority in the state.

As a result, the state agency will submit the request to FEMA for funding.

It got through one hurdle, Werle told fellow Service Authority members on Feb. 7. Of course, theres no guarantee that FEMAs going to fund it.

The King George project would be considered with others across the nation seeking funding through FEMAs Hazard Mitigation Grant program. Werle said he was hopeful the county would hear something by late spring or early summer.

Fairview Beach is perched atop the tall banks of the Potomac River and its residents association has struggled for more than 20 years to keep the river at bay. Residents say the bank erodes at a rate of about two to three feet per yearand that about 35 feet of it was swept away during Hurricanes Isabel and Ernesto.

As a result, a county sewer line and state roadFairview Drive near the corner of Second Streetare six feet away from the edge of the bluff.

Over the years, residents raised about $300,000 through community barbecues and bake sales to stem erosion problems. But as things worsened, they turned to the county for help. Because the erosion had gotten so bad it put community infrastructure at risk, Werle hoped FEMA might get involved.

He and others put together a plan to stabilize about 1,020 feet of riverbank. He couldnt release the estimated cost of the work because, if funding is approved, the project will go out for bids.

Werle has served since January 2016 as the firstand onlycitizen member of the King George Service Authority. The other four directors are also members of the Board of Supervisors.

An environmental engineer, Werle currently works as a senior consultant after a 21-year career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. While on active duty, his key assignments included the Army staff in the Pentagon, where he helped manage the Armys $1.2 billion worldwide environmental program, and a tour in the Persian Gulf, where he oversaw environmental program support for reconstructing Kuwait.

During his time on the Service Authority, hes met regularly with General Manager Chris Thomas as well as residents and businesses. Hes worked on varied issues such as complaints about the water quality at Eden Estates, negotiating utility easements for the extension of water and sewer lines past King George Courthouse and with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality about water withdrawal permits for the county.

On Feb. 7, Thomas asked the supervisors to consider compensation for Werle and other citizens who may serve on the utility. Supervisors agreed to pay citizens $75 for each meeting and to reimburse their expenses.

County supervisors, who make $5,000 a year, do not get additional pay for their Service Authority duties.
Its that time of year againstores across the country are teeming with red and pink boxes of chocolates, bouquets of flowers and romantic cards. But commercialized gifts were far from the minds of the Stafford County community members who came together on the eve of Valentines Day to show their love and gratitude to a local injured veteran and his family.

Dozens gathered on Monday at the home site of retired U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Goodrich and his family to write inspirational notes of love on the bare studs, headers and other areas of the home, which is currently under construction.

On Veterans Day, Goodrich and his wife, Jacqueline, and their two children, Lucy, 7, and Tag, 4, received the surprise of their lives when the plans for their custom, mortgage-free home at Embrey Mill in Stafford were revealed during a Washington Wizards game at the Verizon Center in Washington.

Goodrich has deployed twicefirst to Iraq and later to Afghanistan. Only 10 days after his son was born, Goodrichs outpost in Afghanistan was attacked and he sustained severe injuries to the right side of his jaw and body. He received a Purple Heart, an Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star and the Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star.

Notes of Love is a signature event of Operation Finally Homea nonprofit organization that brings together builders, suppliers and communities to provide homes for Americas military heroes. Over the past 11 years, more than 200 homes either have been completed or are in progress in more than 30 states across the U.S.

Rusty Carroll, executive director of OFH, said a lot of emotion always surrounds these events. It provides a unique way for the communityeven total strangersto show their appreciation and genuine thanks to those who have sacrificed in service to their country.

These notes will be here when the family crosses the threshold after a hard day, and they will give them hope, he said.

Although the notes will be invisible once the drywall goes up, Goodrich said his family will never forget the love contained within. To those who come through the door, it will look like any other house, but to the Goodrich family, it will stand apart. Their home contains a message under its walls: hope.

Goodrich traced his fingers along the words etched into the studs with tears in his eyes while his children eagerly asked to see their rooms.

Thank you for filling the walls of our home with words of hope, encouragement and love, he told those gathered for the ceremony. A simple thank-you doesnt feel like enough.

As the family meandered from room to room, they saw messages written in permanent marker throughout the house, as well as printed emails and letters from those who could not physically be there.

Mary of Miller & Smith left the message: Thank you for your commitment to our safety. May God bless you and your family.

A letter from Lucys teacher, Donna Petty of Virginia Virtual Academy, was stapled to a wall near the front of the house.

Lucy, you are an amazing young lady and you are going to do awesome things to make this world a better place. I love you! Petty wrote.

Scattered throughout the house were heart-shaped notes in every color of the rainbow. One red heart featured a sticker that read, Proud to be an American and another featured a blue mask and the words, You are my superhero.

Some notes were anonymous, including one featuring a quote from Theodore Roosevelt: Do what you can with all you have wherever you are.

It takes a village to build a home, and, in this case, several partners helped make the home a reality including Miller & Smith, Embrey Mill by Newland Communities, Atlantic Builders, Drees Homes, Integrity Homes, K Hovnanian Homes, Lennar, Stafford, Virginia and Stanley Martin Homes.

Dale Hall, vice president of Miller & Smith, said it is impossible to thank everyone who had a hand in helping to build the house, and it took a small army to make it happen.

This is not about the companiesit is about individuals getting here early and starting up late to make this house perfect for this family, he said.

The family will receive the keys to their new home during a dedication ceremony scheduled for May 2017.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 14

By Anakhanum Hidayatova  Trend:

The new strategic partnership agreement will contribute to the deepening of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union, said Malena Mard, head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan.

Mard was addressing a ceremony dedicated to the opening of a twinning project titled Support for Continuation of Reforms in the State Service System of Azerbaijan.

She said the negotiations on the new Azerbaijan-EU agreement were started by Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev, during his visit to Brussels.

Mard also said 47 twinning projects have been implemented since 2007 as part of the EU program.

The number of these projects will be brought to 50 until late 2017, noted Mard, adding that the current projects budget is 1.2 million euros and it will last for two years.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Anahanum
A Virginia House of Delegates subcommittee on Tuesday dealt the finishing blow to redistricting reform efforts for the 2017 legislative session after sparring between the two lawmakers who spearheaded the last redrawing of legislative lines in 2011.

Three anti-gerrymandering measures that passed the Senate with bipartisan support, two of them sponsored by Republicans, died in 5-2 party-line votes in a Republican-controlled subcommittee dealing with elections. The bills were all aimed at creating what supporters said would be a fairer, more competitive electoral process with a map that doesnt favor a particular party or protect incumbents.

The House had already killed redistricting proposals from its own members, which left the Senate measures as the only vehicles for reform this year with a new round of redistricting - the drawing of Virginia's legislative and congressional boundaries - coming after the 2020 U.S. census.

Though House Republicans killed redistricting bills silently earlier in the session, they offered a more forceful response at Tuesdays 7 a.m. committee meeting, which was packed with redistricting reform advocates.

When Sens. Jill Holtzman Vogel, R-Fauquier, and Janet D. Howell, D-Fairfax, stood to explain their proposal to set new redistricting criteria in the state constitution, a prominent Republican delegate asked Howell why she didnt use the same apolitical criteria in 2011 when she led redistricting of the Senate, which at the time had a Democratic majority.

You had control over that when you were there, said Del. S. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk. You could have done exactly what you wanted.

There is no way in a political system that we could possibly have allowed the House to do a totally political redistricting and leave the Senate unilaterally disarmed, Howell said. Were not going to do that. That's the argument for why we need it in the constitution."

Republicans now hold majorities in both the House and the Senate, despite holding no executive offices. The GOP has not won a statewide election since 2009.

Jones asked Howell how Senate Democrats would have been unilaterally disarmed by a fair process?

It was spoken that the House was going to do a totally political redistricting, Howell said. And you did.

Thats not true, Jones replied. We had bipartisan support.

Several reform advocates and civic groups spoke in favor of the proposals, portraying them as good-government fixes that would refresh the democratic process at a time of rising citizen activism and flagging faith in politics.

The people are watching now. They're watching more closely than they have in the past, said Sen. Emmet W. Hanger Jr., R-Augusta, whose proposal for an appointed redistricting commission was also rejected by the subcommittee.

Though the previous failed effort to get redistricting reform on the House election committees agenda this month ended with yelling from the audience, the reaction Tuesday was more muted. The crowd voiced audible disappointment as each proposal failed, but the boos were more subdued than shouted.

Del. Mark D. Sickles, D-Fairfax, requested separate votes on the proposals immediately after the meeting began, potentially warding off a repeat of an earlier House action to kill all its redistricting proposals in one vote.

A lot of people think is the most important thing happening in government and the biggest problem we have in the United States and Virginia, Sickles said.

Del. Mark L. Cole, R-Spotsylvania, disagreed with the notion that gerrymandering breeds political polarization. He attributed the divide to the stark political differences between urban and rural areas

I challenge you to draw a competitive district in Arlington. You can't do it, Cole said. In most of rural Virginia, you can't draw a competitive district."

To change the state constitution before the 2021 redistricting, reforms would need to gain initial approval by 2019 because constitutional amendments require passage in two successive General Assembly sessions before going to voters on the ballot. Advocates say reform could be achieved without a constitutional amendment, which could allow them to pursue legislation in 2020.
PRESIDENT Trump recently signed an executive order aimed at slashing federal regulations protecting healthy air and clean water.

Despite this assault, the Trump administration might actually be opening a door of opportunity for communities hoping to see action on the worlds most pressing environmental concernclimate change. The key to stepping through that door is for environmental advocates to join forces with conservatives turned off by Trumps policies.

Dont get me wrong; I hold no illusions that such a partnership would convince Trump to reverse his position on climate change. I am well aware of the presidents fact-free allegation that The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese.

So why am I optimistic?

Because many traditional Republicans are wary of Trumps Russian entanglements, his immigration ban and his hostility toward free trade. They have been left out in the cold by the new presidents fiercely isolationist and nationalist rhetoric. Environmentalists now have an opportunity to reach out and build bridges with so-called Never Trump Republicans.

Given their precarious political standing, these GOP leaders are undoubtedly looking for new alliances. Why not one that builds on the Defense Departments assessment that climate change is a present security threat and a significant risk ... to U.S. interests globally?

Of course, it wont be easy to do.

Amid the hyperpartisanship of recent years, environmental groups have been corralled almost exclusively underneath the Democratic tent. The Sierra Clubs national endorsements in 2016 included more than 220 general election races for the House, Senate and, of course, the presidency. Not a single one of those endorsements went to a Republican.

Environmentalists and conservatives must start bridging this divide, and it begins with both sides recognizing how much in common they already have.

At the end of 2015, a congressional budget compromise included tax breaks for wind and solar investments. Green groups cheered the promotion of zero-carbon energy resources, but anti-tax advocates should also have celebrated. The reduced tax burden, after all, is expected to spur the creation of 220,000 jobs in solar businesses alone.

Turning back to Trumps executive order, environmentalists have rightly opposed it as a flippant rejection of longstanding environmental safeguards. But it also seems to ignore a bedrock principle of conservative theory: cost-benefit analysis.

A traditional conservative approach would require an evaluation of the benefits that a given regulation provides. Those benefits would be quantified and balanced against the real-world costs of imposing the regulation on business.

That approach is decidedly contrary to what Trump has proposed with this order. For any new rule put forth, the president is requiring that two older ones be marked for elimination without any consideration of benefits that will be lost.

A two-for-one special might work for selling canned beans at the grocery store, but it is a ludicrous concept when applied to regulatory oversight by the White House. Many have dismissed it as a campaign-inspired gimmick, but make no mistakethis pronouncement, by appearing to abandon cost-benefit analysis, might be just as hostile to free-market economics as an import tariff on Mexico.

To highlight this fact, environmental groups need to collaborate with Republicans like former South Carolina Rep. Bob Inglis, who has founded the Energy and Enterprise Initiative to advocate for free enterprise action on climate change.

Taking to the presidents favorite medium, Inglis recently tweeted, Republicans need to be ready to break ranks & choose truth over power. Environmentalists must be ready to endorse, fund and campaign for Republicans who do break ranks.

The obvious reality is that Donald Trump did not just shake up the Republican Party. His rise has triggered a seismic shift in the ground underneath all political actorsvoters, lobbyists, activist organizations and elected officials.

Disenchanted Republicans who are gravely concerned about Americas standing in the world are in need of options. When it comes to global free trade, they know they dont have an ally in Trump Tower. These conservatives will need to look elsewhere for allegiances, and environmental organizations should be aggressively courting them.

To start, the two sides should work together to promote market-based solutions in clean energy. The opportunity is there, given that the cost of harnessing solar power has fallen dramatically and will be roughly even with conventional gas plants by 2020.

No doubt, a quickly worsening climate crisis will be significantly worse in four years. We cannot afford to be Pollyannaish about that fact. But environmentalists must play a longer game.

Cale Jaffe is an assistant professor and director of the Environmental and Regulatory Law Clinic at the University of Virginia School of Law. Email him at cjaffe@virginia.edu.
WHY is the sky blue?

Ah, thats one of those classic philosophical questions that has a solid scientific answer.

Now, heres a political variation: Why is Virginia sometimes blue and sometimes red?

As in, why has Virginia voted three times in a row for a Democrat for president yet has Republican majorities in the General Assembly that is now in session?

Turns out theres a scientific answer for that, as well, or at least a numerical one.

Its not because Virginia is a so-called swing state, although thats a good guess, just wrong.

Nor is it because General Assembly districts are gerrymandered in Republicans favor. They are, of course, but not really a complete answer, either.

Lets look at these numbers, which come to us courtesy of the Virginia Public Access Project, a nonpartisan group dedicated to political transparency. The data-heads at VPAP have done some number-crunching on last Novembers presidential election and have come up with some fascinating results that should help give everyone a better sense of Virginia politics.

Hillary Clinton, of course, carried Virginia in the presidential election, just as Barack Obama carried twice before. She carried it by a wider margin than Obama did in 2012though she was still short of his 2008 margin. [She lost localities in the Fredericksburg area, which are represented by Republicans in the state House and Senate.]

Thats old news, though. Heres the new news. When VPAP looked deeper, it found that Clinton carried 22 state Senate districts, while Donald Trump won 18.

Thats a curious split because Republicans right now hold 21 of those Senate seats while Democrats hold 19.

The key point here: That means Clinton won three state Senate districts that are currently held by Republicans. Does that mean Democrats really ought to be able to win those three seats back come the next Senate elections in 2019?

When VPAP looked at House of Delegates districts, it found that Clinton carried 51 districts while Trump took 49. This is even more extraordinary because Republicans hold 66 of those districts, while Democrats have just 34. That means Clinton won 17 House districts represented by Republicans. Right now, Republicans have a veto-proof majority in the House, but based on the presidential numbers, Democrats ought to be able to take control of the chamberperhaps as early as this falls House elections.

Umm, probably not. The reality is the people who turn out to vote for Democrats in presidential elections simply dont turn out to vote for Democrats in state legislative races. Political scientists write study after study on the question, and still dont agree. Generally speaking, off-year elections see an electorate that tends to be older, whiter, more conservativeand thus more suited for Republicans than Democrats.

To be fair, in two of the three Republican state Senate districts that Clinton carried, Democratic candidates have come close. Were talking here about the 10th in the Richmond area, now held by Glenn Sturtevant, and the 13th in Northern Virginia, now held by Richard Black. In those two districts Clinton won handily by 13 percentage points in one, and 7 percentage points in the other.

The third Republican/Clinton state Senate district is the 12th in the Richmond suburbs. Clinton won that one narrowly, but Republican Siobhan Dunnavant won the last state Senate race in a landslidewith nearly 58 percent of the vote.

In the 17 Republican/Clinton House districts, the contrast is even more vivid. Only three of those legislative races were even close in 2015.

Look at it this way: Even if Democrats had won those three close races, and even if they found candidates and won in those four previously unopposed districts, that still means Republicans would still win the remaining 10 districtsand easily retain control of the House.

To win control of the House, Democrats would have to turn out in unprecedented numbers for an off-year election to oust long-time Republican incumbents. Thats highly unlikely.

There are two ways to look at these numbers, and both are right.

In any case, these numbers also suggest one other thing: Democrats shouldnt blame gerrymandering for not being able to win the General Assembly. They should blame themselves.

The Roanoke Times
Pennies from heaven

Love was the furthest thing from Don Stranathans mind in October 2011 when the Santa Rosa, California, lung cancer patient answered a question about juicing from a woman on the online patient community Inspire. But love was what he found with Penny Blume, a vivacious 49-year-old blonde who, like him, was living with terminal lung cancer.

Both single, they quickly friended each other on Facebook and soon were texting every day. Blume was in active treatment for her aggressive small cell lung cancer in New York and was determined to make it to her 50th birthday, several months away. Stranathan, then 59, gamely offered to fly out and buy her dinner for the occasion.

But neither wanted to wait. Neither had the time to wait.

Shortly after connecting, Blume flew to California for her first date with Stranathan, who by then was responding well to a targeted drug known as Tarceva. The pair clicked and spent several days traveling around Lake Tahoe and Mendocino, falling in love.

They couldnt move in together since they were both in treatment on opposite sides of the country, so instead, they met up every six weeks.

Penny had never left New York, said Stranathan, now 64. So my goal was to get her to see as much as possible. When someone has a terminal illness, its critical that you give them something to look forward to. Every few weeks, she would come out here or I would go back there or wed meet up at lung cancer summits and conferences. Any opportunity we would get, we would be together.

Stranathan was able to share Yosemite, Morro Bay, Las Vegas, the Mojave Desert and the California coast with Blume before her cancer progressed, her treatment options dried up and she became too weak to travel. He then took a retirement disability from his business development job, flew Blume out to his home and cared for her there until she died in January 2014.

Since then, Stranathan has become even more involved in patient advocacy, fulfilling a promise he made to his beloved. He has not yet re-entered the dating pool.

Its hard, he said. Penny and I had a beautiful relationship. In the two and a half years we were together, we never once had a disagreement  we were dealing with bigger issues. Im not opposed to the idea of a new relationship, but I have two options: a fellow survivor or someone not affected by cancer. Knowing the pain I went through at the end, I would have a hard time asking someone to go through it with me. And I know I wouldn't want to experience that heartache again.

Now on an immunotherapy drug, Stranathan still wrestles with the side effects and late effects of his treatment. But he continues to hike, spin and mountain bike regularly and looks for blessings every day.

Ever since she passed, there will be times when Im alone and Ill find a penny in the most unusual places, he said. A year ago I was in Wisconsin and had gone down to the river to fish after dinner and I was thinking how lovely the evening was and how I would have liked to have shared it with Penny. And just as I thought that, I looked down and there was a penny shining up at me in the water. I reached down and it was gone. But I always know that shes with me.
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Details added (first version posted on 17:23)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 14

By Seba Aghayeva  Trend:

The illegal referendum on constitutional changes planned to be held in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan is a clear violation of the countrys constitution, as well as the norms and principles of international law and, therefore, has no legal effect, Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry said in a statement Feb. 14.

This provocative step, as well as Armenias attempts to change the name of Nagorno-Karabakh region, an integral part of Azerbaijan, is yet another clear manifestation of the fact that Armenia is not interested in seeking a political settlement of the armed conflict, the statement said.

Instead, Armenia pursues the path of escalation, undertakes consistent measures to consolidate the results of its occupation policy and to maintain unacceptable and unsustainable status quo, undermines efforts for the peaceful resolution of the conflict, reads the statement.

Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry reiterates that the illegal regime established by Armenia in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan is ultimately nothing other than the product of aggression and occupation.

In addition, Armenia illegally changes the demographic, cultural and physical character of the occupied territories, engages in economic and other activities, including transfer of Armenian population into these territories, reads the statement.

By such actions Armenia also undermines and puts under jeopardy the regional and international peace and security, Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry said.

This so-called referendum is being conducted in the seized lands in the conditions created through the use of force against the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, ethnic cleansing and other flagrant violations of the norms and principles of international law by Armenia, according to the statement.

We call upon the international community to reject this fabricated illegal referendum, exercise and exert political and diplomatic pressure on Armenia with a view to drop its futile attempts to mislead its own people and the wider international community, cease its policy of occupation and annexation, engage constructively in the conflict settlement process and comply with its international obligations, reads the statement.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Asebaa
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb.14

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Diplomacy at the US Department of State Robin Dunnigan will represent the country in the meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council to be held in Baku Feb.23, Trend learned from the US Department of State.

The Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council held its first meeting on Feb. 12, 2015, and the second meeting on Feb. 29, 2016.

The Southern Gas Corridor envisages transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian region to Europe via Georgia and Turkey.

The gas will be exported through expansion of the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline.

Further, in response to the question about who will serve as the special envoy and coordinator for international energy affairs in the new US administration, a source in the State Department said that the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Mary Burce Warlick is the acting special envoy.

The role of Energy Advisor is one that is filled by political appointment. We refer all questions about political appointments to the White House, said the US Department.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 15

Trend:

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has amended a presidential decree, dated 23 January 2017, on the determination of a unified monthly allowance for IDPs and persons equated to them. Under the amendments, bills for utility services, including gas, electricity, water and sewage system, used by IDPs and persons equated with them living in places of temporary residence (former dormitories, boarding houses and other buildings), where the installation of meters is impossible, will be paid by the state.

In accordance with the amendments, bills for electricity consumed by IDPs and persons equated with them living in places of temporary residence with no gas supply will also be paid by the state starting from February 1.

The amendments also set a unified monthly allowance of 20 manats for this category of IDPs and persons equated with them.
A farmer and his dog were killed on a level crossing after their Land Rover was hit by a train travelling at 50mph.

Colin Cameron, 60, suffered multiple injuries and died following the incident in Frampton Mansell, Gloucestershire, on Tuesday (7 February).

It has since emerged that Network Rail raised safety concerns about the unmanned level crossing last year.

See also: How farmers can reduce risk on train level crossings

Married father-of-two Mr Cameron was the second person to die at the crossing in recent years. Motorcyclist Paul Martin, 37, from Stroud, died in May 2014 when his trail bike was hit by a train at the level crossing.

Mr Cameron was one of the founder members of Stroudco Food Hub, a not-for-profit community organisation which brings together a range of locally produced artisan food and drink.

Passion for farming

Nick Weir, of Stroudco, said he was struggling to come to terms with the loss of a dear friend and neighbour.

He was a very important part of our local community  a mutual friend described him as a tall oak in the forest of our community, Mr Weir told Gloucestershire Live.

He was incredibly generous with his time and resources, providing not just a supply of wholesome, delicious food but also a source of advice, wisdom and a wonderful, infectious sense of humour.

Mr Cameron was passionate about his farming and he believed in producing the highest quality food while maintaining the utmost respect for the animals in his care.

He was a pillar of strength through the long, slow process of setting up the food hub, said Mr Weir.

His belief in our aims of building a fairer, more sustainable food system helped keep us going through the dark days.

His perseverance was inspirational  I remember him sitting through the long evening meetings every month in the early days of setting up Stroudco.

He had been up every day from 5am and he was struggling to stay awake as our meetings dragged on to 10pm and even 11pm.

As we slowly come to terms with the loss of such a great man, I am deeply touched by the outpouring of grief, love and sadness from the community that Colin did so much to build around him and his family.

Although there is nothing we can do to fill the gap left in his beautiful family, I hope that they can take some comfort from the huge amount of goodwill that so many local people are expressing in many different ways.

Man, 60, killed in accident between train and landrover in Frampton Mansell near Chalford https://t.co/YV9evegUEQ pic.twitter.com/FGNcGfQgDp  Eddie Bisknell (@eddiebisk) February 7, 2017

Following the incident, officers have been speaking to witnesses and specialist search teams were called to the scene to try and establish the circumstances which led to Mr Camerons death. Chief Inspector John Angell, of Gloucestershire Police, said:

We continue to appeal for anyone who saw what happened, or feels they may have any information which would be relevant to our investigation, to contact us.

Anyone with information can call British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 reference 311 of 07/02 or text 61016.
Story Highlights Index at +7 for week ending Feb. 12

Current conditions component remains relatively high, at +13

Economic outlook down significantly from January scores, now at +1

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans are slightly less confident in the U.S. economy than they were in late January, but they remain positive overall. Gallup's U.S. Economic Confidence Index averaged +7 for the week ending Feb. 12.

The latest weekly average is similar to the prior week's +8 index reading, but these are down from weekly scores averaging between +10 and +14 in January.

Around President Donald Trump's inauguration last month, the index reached highs not seen before in Gallup's nine years of tracking economic confidence. Although the index has dropped several points in the first half of February, it remains higher than most of the readings Gallup has recorded since 2008.

Gallup's U.S. Economic Confidence Index is the average of two components: how Americans rate current economic conditions and whether they feel the economy is improving or getting worse. The index has a theoretical maximum of +100 if all Americans were to say the economy is doing well and improving, and a theoretical minimum of -100 if all Americans were to say the economy is doing poorly and getting worse.

Americans remain just as upbeat as they were in late January about current economic conditions, but they are now less optimistic about the economy's future.

The current conditions score for the week ending Feb. 12 was +13, similar to the +12 to +14 weekly scores since mid-January. This was based on 32% of Americans rating the economy as "excellent" or "good," and 19% rating it as "poor."

Last week's economic outlook score was +1, similar to the prior week's +2 but much lower than the +13 scores in each of the last two weeks of January. The latest score was based on 47% of Americans saying economic conditions in the country were "getting better," and 46% saying they were "getting worse."

The drop in Americans' economic outlook is due to a decrease in optimism among Democrats and independents. Compared with their outlooks for the economy in late January, Democrats have become much more negative about the economy's future (from -28 in late January to -41 last week). At the same time, independents have fallen into negative territory on this component (from +14 in late January to -5 last week).

Republicans, who largely prompted the recent increase in overall economic confidence, have maintained their newfound optimism.

Bottom Line

Americans are just as positive as they were in January about current economic conditions in the U.S., but their optimism for the economy's future is flagging. This change in optimism has occurred mainly among Democrats and independents, while Republicans remain optimistic.

This imbalance can perhaps be remedied by continued progress in gross domestic product growth, low unemployment and gains in the stock market. If positive signs such as these aren't visible to Americans, it could further chip away at their economic outlook.

These data are available in Gallup Analytics.
Story Highlights Trump approval on economy at 48%, disapproval at 47%

Approval on foreign affairs low at 38%

Democratic approval of Trump's handling of economy at 13%

Editor's note: On Feb. 22, 2021, several entries in the "U.S. Adults' Approval of Presidents' Handling of Economy and Foreign Affairs" table were updated to reflect the accurate percentages.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans are split almost evenly on their views of President Donald Trump's handling of the economy, with 48% approving and 47% disapproving. Of four key focuses of the new administration, the economy is the only issue with more Americans approving than disapproving.

U.S. Adults' Approval of Trump's Handling of Policy Issues Approve Disapprove No opinion % % % Overall job approval 42 55 3 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling -- ? The economy 48 47 5 Foreign trade 45 51 4 Immigration 42 57 1 Foreign affairs 38 57 4 Gallup, Feb. 1-5, 2017

A higher percentage of Americans disapprove than approve of the way Trump is handling foreign trade, immigration and foreign affairs. For these issues, more than half of Americans disapprove. Trump gets his highest approval for how he handles the economy and his lowest for how he handles foreign affairs.

The approval rating of Trump's handling of the economy exceeds his overall job approval rating of 42%, which is down three percentage points from the historically low job approval rating of 45% that he had when he began his presidency.

Opposing-Party Approval Lower for Trump Than Predecessors

Trump scores lower on his handling of the economy and foreign affairs than Barack Obama and George W. Bush did at the beginning of their presidencies.

At the outset of the Obama administration, 59% of Americans approved of his handling of the economy, and 54% approved of his handling of foreign affairs. The comparable ratings at the beginning of Bush's presidency were 53% and 46%, respectively. Compared with Bill Clinton, Trump has a lower approval rating on foreign affairs but gets a slightly higher rating on the economy.

Approval ratings regarding the economy and foreign affairs among those in the opposing party are lower for Trump compared with the opposing-party approval ratings of his three predecessors at the start of their presidencies.

U.S. Adults' Approval of Presidents' Handling of Economy and Foreign Affairs All Americans Republicans Independents Democrats % % % % Economy Trump 48 90 44 13 Obama 59 28 59 88 G.W. Bush 53 80 53 30 Clinton 45 26 42 63 Foreign affairs Trump 38 82 30 6 Obama 54 26 54 79 G.W. Bush 46 73 42 26 Clinton 53 39 51 67 Feb. 1-5, 2017 (Trump); Feb. 9-12, 2009 (Obama); Feb. 1-4, 2001 (Bush); Feb. 12-14, 1993 (Clinton) Gallup

Just 13% of Democrats approve of Trump's handling of the economy, but 30% of Democrats approved of Bush's handling of that issue. Obama and Clinton received 28% and 25% approval ratings, respectively, from Republicans regarding their handling of the economy.

An even greater political rift exists today in public perceptions of the president's handling of foreign affairs, with only 6% of Democrats approving of Trump's handling of the issue. By contrast, Clinton started his presidency with 39% approval from Republicans on his handling of foreign affairs. Obama and Bush started with 26% approval from Americans who identified as members of the opposing party.

Bottom Line

American presidencies often begin with a "honeymoon" period, during which partisans on both sides of the aisle offer support for the new president. Obama, George W. Bush and Clinton started their presidencies with at least a quarter of Americans in the opposing party expressing approval of their handling of the economy and foreign affairs. With no more than 13% of Democrats approving of Trump on these issues in early February, his honeymoon appears to have never even begun.

Trump's lower approval ratings on the economy and foreign affairs compared with those of his predecessors stem almost entirely from low ratings among independents and Democrats, particularly regarding his handling of foreign affairs. Reports of Trump's controversial statements to the leaders of Russia, China, France, Mexico and Australia may have factored into Americans' low level of confidence in his ability to handle foreign affairs.

But Trump's difficulties go beyond foreign affairs. His approval rating on the economy nearly matches his disapproval rating, and majorities disapprove of his handling of immigration and foreign trade, two signature issues of his campaign. Americans, especially Democrats and independents, perceive a rather rocky start for the new president.

Follow Trump's job approval ratings daily on Gallup.com. Explore his approval ratings in depth and compare them with those of past presidents in the Gallup Presidential Job Approval Center.
Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS) hosted scheduled training session entitled EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS): Scholarly Searching for Research and Education. Regional Manager for CIS Countries of EBSCO Information Services (Prague, Czech Republic) Iryna Krejcarova and Director of SaaS Innovation Benelux, D-A-CH and Eastern Europe (Berlin, Germany) Roman Piontek conducted the training for teachers and second and third year students of the Higher School.

Opening the session, the BHOS Rector Elmar Gasimov emphasized that libraries operating today in the rapidly changing environment should actively introduce innovations and new methods to maintain their activities up to date. In his words, while advanced technology has been always used in the education process, recent development of information and communications technologies alongside Internet expansion have created new opportunities not only in this sphere, but also in the process of scholarly searching for information and research.

Speaking about successful cooperation between BHOS and EBSCO Information Service, Iryna Krejcarova said that the latter provides a range of library database services including an online research tool with access to the institutions vast global resources. Metadata found in EDS includes, among others, subject headings, full-text of articles, article titles, author(s) and journals. All leading universities around the world, such as, for example, Harvard University, Stanford University, and University of Pennsylvania, use this research service, commented Iryna Krejcarova.

Director of SaaS Innovation Benelux, D-A-CH and Eastern Europe Roman Piontek reported that there are more than 20,000 content providers, six million books, more than 100 million articles, over 400 thousand conference reports and resource materials from 50 thousand journals in the EDS database.

During the session, practical training on usage of full-text EDS resources online for education and scientific research was conducted.

EBSCO Information Services is a division of EBSCO Industries Inc. and a leading provider of library database services. EBSCO Discovery Service, which is the company product, is used for scientific research in more than 8,600 universities around the world. At BHOS, the system has been implemented since 2015 and can be accessed from the Higher Schools website.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 14

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

Sixty inspections on entrepreneurship activity were held in Azerbaijan in 2016, said the countrys Deputy Economy Minister Sahil Babayev.

He made the remarks during a joint meeting of the Club of Exporters of the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) and American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan (AmCham) in Baku Feb. 14.

The meeting was attended by more than 200 entrepreneurs representing the spheres of tourism, construction, pharmaceutics, consulting, logistics, ICT, finance and others.

Babayev noted that 60,000 analogical inspections were held in 2015.

Over the last two years, the government has been continuously taking steps to improve the business environment, added the deputy minister.

For example, the number of licenses for conducting business activity decreased and reforms were carried out in the customs sphere, he explained.

Among such steps the deputy minister also highlighted the introduction of the investment promotion mechanism.

As of today, entrepreneurs obtained relevant certificates for implementation of projects worth more than one billion manats, said Babayev. These projects will allow to open more than 7,000 new jobs.

He added that the mechanism envisages various privileges for investors.

Speaking about the export expansion, the deputy minister noted that the main goal in this issue is not only the expansion of the non-oil export, but also its geography.

Meanwhile, Babayev said that the government managed to reduce export costs, reduced the time required to obtain a certificate of origin to one day.

Moreover, we are conducting analysis of target markets, which is also important for the exporters, he added.

Over the last three months, almost 590,000 manats were returned to entrepreneurs as part of the export promotion mechanism, noted Babayev, adding that a major part of this amount [80 percent] was obtained by wine exporters.
The Corvallis-OSU Symphony will perform Anton Bruckners 8th Symphony at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the La Sells Stewart Center at Oregon State University.

Maestro Marlan Carlson will load more than 100 musicians on stage for the massive symphony, which runs approximately 80 minutes without intermission.

The show is titled Alpine Journey, and Carlson compares a listeners experience of the symphony to a hike in the Cascades in which you dont know what might be around the next bend.

Another journey also will be reflected in the performance, for which Carlson is doubling up on the horns from four to eight, with the horn players doubling up on Wagner tubas.

Four of the Wagner tubas, whose development was inspired by Richard Wagner as he sought new instrumentation for his Ring cycle, belong to veteran horn player and OSU instructor Larry Johnson.

Johnson first played the Wagner tuba in 1976 in a performance of Bruckners 7th Symphony, an experience in which he got really inspired by the whole idea.

Fast forward to 1994, when Johnson got wind of four Wagner tubas available at a music store called Lark in the Morning. The price tag  $2,400 for the set  was daunting and his wife thought he was nuts, but in February of that year Johnson drove the nearly 400 miles from Jacksonville, Oregon, to Mendocino, California, to pick up the set.

The instruments date to 1900 and were built in Bohemia, the western-most region of what is now the Czech Republic. Some minor repairs were needed, but the set has been in service ever since. Johnson has made up his original investment five times over by renting the tubas, and his original purchase looks like genius given that a new one can cost up to $20,000.

Four modern Wagner tubas also will be deployed for the Bruckner show and Johnson said they have a different sound from my set, but they work well together. There is going to be an epic sound coming out of that hall.

This will be the first Bruckner performance for Carlson and as noted above, he compares the experience to an alpine hike.

Youre not just going uphill, he said. First you walk through a forest, then there is a meadow, then all of a sudden you come across an avalanche or a mountain lake.

There is an unpredictable quality to Bruckner that appeals to Carlson, who adds that his students also can relate to it because of their experience with lengthy, improvisational rock concerts.

My students love this stuff, he said. Its got a mystical quality to it. Kids go with the flow instead of wanting to understand it all. More experienced listeners have a tougher time.

The process of this Bruckner symphony has been one of the most rewarding of my musical life, said Carlson, who noted that he begins working with the score about 18 months before the performance. You live with it, digest it, ingest it. There are always new discoveries. Like a Cascade trail its a different journey every time.
As Shannon Jones awaits sentencing on federal fraud charges, local courts are still trying to unravel the tangled web of transactions  both legitimate and illegitimate  left unresolved when his Corvallis used car dealership was shut down.

In mid-December, more than a year after the November 2015 collapse of Jones 5 Auto Sales, attorneys for the city of Corvallis went to Benton County Circuit Court to try to sort out the rightful ownership of 10 vehicles involved in the case.

It was clear that there were some competing interests, said Jim Brewer, the citys chief legal counsel.

Thats an understatement: According to court documents filed in the case, there were at least three businesses and 19 individuals that appeared to have legitimate claims to the cars in question. The documents also referenced an unspecified number of John Does, indicating a belief that there might be other people in a position to assert an interest in the vehicles who were unknown to investigators.

Three of the vehicles  a 2002 Nissan Sentra, a 1999 BMW and a 2010 Chevy Camaro  had been impounded by the Corvallis Police Department and were being held at a secure storage facility. The other seven were in the possession of people with a claim to ownership, but the police had the titles.

After legal notice of the proceeding was published in the newspaper, the matter was settled in the Benton County Courthouse on Dec. 14.

Heres how it shook out:

 The three impounded cars were returned to Next Gear Capital, an Indiana company that provides so-called flooring services to car dealers across the country to finance operating expenses. Such services typically include making loans to dealers secured by the titles to vehicles on the showroom floor and providing vehicles to dealers to be sold on a consignment basis.

 Title to a 2001 Nissan Sentra was also granted to Next Gear after nobody else asserted a claim to the car.

 Title to a 2008 Chevy Avalanche was granted to Scott Sanders.

 Title to a 2004 Toyota 4Runner was granted to Megan Van Vleet.

 Titles to a 2009 Chevrolet Traverse and a 1997 Chevrolet Astro Van were granted to Randy and Dawn Jones, the parents of Shannon Jones.

 Title to a 2004 Buick Century was granted to Jill Eby after Howard F. Horton agreed to give up his claim to the car.

 Title to a 2004 Honda Element was granted to Itzel Magana after Donna and Phillip Rinaldi relinquished their claim.

Part of what made the case so challenging, Brewer said, was the variety of fraudulent transactions involved. In some cases, he said, cars may have been sold, but the titles were never delivered to the purchasers. In others, Jones may have sold the same car more than once, may have sold cars belonging to the flooring company without passing on the proceeds and may have used titles that werent his to secure loans that were never repaid.

There were as many complications as you can possibly have, Brewer said.

Some of the victims in the case may have received settlements from their insurance companies, but others seem to have resigned themselves to taking a loss  including Next Gear Capital, which relinquished its claim to some of the vehicles involved.

Next Gear was pretty responsive to the idea that somebody who purchased a car in good faith should be the rightful owner of that vehicle, Brewer said.

Most people have been pretty reasonable, he added, understanding that theyre all victims.

The December court proceeding represents only a small fraction of the fallout from the Jones 5 debacle. In a case filed in Benton County Circuit Court in December 2015, at least seven individuals and businesses filed claims totaling close to $200,000 against Great American Insurance Co., which held the performance bond for Jones 5. The bond, however, was capped at $40,000.

At the time his dealership shut down, Jones was advertising 36 cars for sale, but that appears to represent only about half the vehicles involved in the wide-ranging Jones 5 fraud case. According to Brewer, investigators identified at least 74 vehicles with disputed or unclear ownership claims that went through Shannon Jones hands.

And in addition to any fraudulent business transactions, a number of people have come forward claiming they made personal loans to Jones that were never repaid.

Meanwhile, the day of reckoning is approaching for Jones.

Jones was charged Sept. 13 in U.S. District Court with one count of wire fraud alleging that he systematically defrauded customers, vendors and business associates of Jones 5 Auto Sales.

In a plea deal with prosecutors, Jones admitted engaging in a scheme dating back to early 2012 that included accepting payment for vehicles that were never delivered, selling vehicles on consignment and pocketing the proceeds, obtaining loans by falsely claiming to hold title on vehicles he didnt own and misrepresenting the financial health of his business to lenders and associates.

He also agreed to pay at least $1.3 million in restitution to the victims in the case, including more than $800,000 in fraudulently obtained loans and $500,000 in illicit proceeds from vehicle sales.

Jones could face up to 20 years in prison on the charge, although prosecutors have recommended a sentence in the range of 30 to 37 months in exchange for the guilty plea and the promise of restitution.

Sentencing, originally set for last week, has been rescheduled for March 13.
Fix the potholes, fill in the cracks in the sidewalks and keep water from flooding the streets and swamping the parks.

That was the message the approximately 20 or so Ward 6 residents gave Monday night to new Councilor Nancy Wyse, who was hosting her first ward meeting at Calvin Presbyterian Church.

No mention was made of a climate action plan or vision work. Those on hand were concerned about better streets, affordable housing and getting their moneys worth on what they pay in taxes.

Wyse opened the meeting with remarks on current budget challenges and encouraged residents to offer their ideas on how to solve them.

I really like value for my money, and taxes are always going up, said one audience member. If we have a lot of niceties, but we are going in the hole, we might not be able to afford the niceties. If we have to pay too much, people might move across the river.

One challenge the city faces is getting the word out to residents. Those at the meeting had only limited knowledge of the possible fee and tax increases the city is considering to help meet unmet needs.

The most likely revenue increases that will be discussed later this year by the citys Budget Commission are a local sales tax, a local income tax or a renewal of the citys local option property tax, which raises approximately $3 million per year. The city also is looking at raising the transportation maintenance fee on the city services bill to pay for street improvements.

Christy Anderson Brekken said she prefers to renew the levy and raise the transportation fee because they are already in place rather than starting something new. When Im doing my taxes, I dont want to have another form.

Anderson Brekken also said she liked the fact that the levy identified the services it would pay for, noting the restored Sunday hours for the library.

"We're all on same team," Wyse said, "and we want the same things. That's the challenge  what can we afford."

Assisting Wyse during the meeting was Stewart Wershow, former councilor for Ward 6 and president of the Garfield Park Neighborhood Association. Wyse and Wershow paid particular attention to helping residents find access to information on the city website.
We believe in the Constitution. It is the bedrock of our freedom and the supreme law of the land. No person great or small is above it  not the president, not any of us. It establishes order  the three branches of government and their functions and powers  and it protects us lest the government overreach and try to take away our liberties.

We, and our Constitution, face two significant perils today: political parties have become more important to our leaders than serving all the citizens, and the First Amendment is under attack. I am trying to be nonpartisan, but let me give just one example. Vice President Pence, when he was chosen, described himself as a Christian, a father and a Republican in that order. What about being a citizen? What about serving all of the people, not just those on ones own team? Democrats are no better. If the Republicans want it, they are against it.

We have to start listening to each other. Each of us, regardless of education or economic status, knows where our individual shoe pinches and that is the genius of democracy: that each person has something to contribute. The great patriot of the American Revolution, Thomas Paine addressed this issue: He that would make his own liberty must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach himself. What goes around comes around and if we Democrats and Republicans can think of nothing but beating each other up, our government will continue to be dysfunctional and our democracy flawed.

Here comes the civics quiz: What five freedoms does the First Amendment protect? No fair looking ahead. Here are the most important 46 words in the Constitution: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

First, religion. The government cant make you pray. Belief is off-limits for the government. It can neither favor nor persecute any religion, and that includes Islam. You can worship as you please or not at all. A uniform ban of people of a particular religion would seem to offend both ends of the religion clause.

Speech, press, petition and assembly. These four freedoms are how we avoid violent revolution. They give us the machinery to change and a democratic form of government is always in the process of becoming. The notion that there are alternative facts (namely, that if you believe something, it must be true) is totally contrary to the marketplace of ideas upon which the First Amendment is based (put all of the information out there and the truth will emerge). The founders protected the press because the people have to have accurate and timely information to govern themselves.

Petition and assembly are the other two ways we speak to power. We gather; we discuss. We march; we protest. But the government has to listen for this to work. A government with a closed and armored mind  one that can not abide criticism  is immune to the petitions of its citizens and is, therefore, undemocratic by definition.

My wish for us all is that we listen to each other with patience and good humor, and that we protect each others right to speak and try to persuade with facts and logic. After all, the Constitution is just paper unless it lives in the hearts and minds of citizens. So here is an exercise we can all try: each day engage a stranger on a topic you care about and actually listen to what that person says. Who knows. We might learn something.
There is a bit of progress to report in the continuing Corvallis struggle to find better times for the graduation ceremonies at the city's two public high schools.

Now, let's be forthright: This is not the No. 1 problem facing Corvallis. But it is irritating, and it's something you would think could be readily addressed and fixed.

But this is Corvallis, after all. And some tentative progress is better than nothing.

Here's the issue, in a nutshell: Both Corvallis High School and Crescent Valley High School in recent years have scheduled their graduation ceremonies on the same Monday nights. That's not so much the problem.

The graduation ceremonies take place at different locations: Crescent Valley typically holds its ceremonies at the school. Corvallis High holds its ceremonies at Gill Coliseum on the Oregon State University campus.

The big problem is that the ceremonies are scheduled in such a way to make it virtually impossible for anybody to attend both. This past June, for example, Crescent Valley started its ceremony at 6 p.m. Corvallis High started its ceremony 90 minutes later.

It's not academic, so to speak, that some people might want to attend both ceremonies: This still is a small town in many ways, and students (and families) have plenty of opportunities to mix with students and families from the other high school.

But unless a student you want to see takes the graduation walk near the start of the first ceremony, you've really got to hustle along Highland Drive to make it to the second ceremony before the first notes of "Pomp and Circumstance" start to play.

(To be completely fair, this type of scheduling problem is not isolated to the Corvallis schools; it's not unusual to have flustered families and friends try to sort through a variety of mid-valley graduation scheduling conflicts.)

In any event, we thought we were alone in our whining about this topic, but apparently not so. In response to other comments, the administration at the Corvallis School District is starting to look at other scheduling options for graduation ceremonies.

No change is planned for 2017, so you better start planning your strategy in the event you want to see both ceremonies. But the district is putting together a staff team to consider other options for years after that.

To that end, school officials sent out surveys asking for comments from parents with students at both schools. The responses were a little surprising: Most of the parents preferred a Saturday graduation. And at least some of the respondents at Crescent Valley said they would entertain moving that school's ceremony to Gill Coliseum; such a move would allow the schools to hold the ceremonies on the same day, and if you wanted to see both, you could just stay put until the second ceremony started. (We assume that the schools would rotate starting times from year to year.)

In addition, most of the respondents said it was "somewhat important" that the ceremonies be scheduled so that community members could attend both; that seems about right to us.

You'd still want to schedule the two ceremonies on the same day, so graduating students can attend the traditional all-night party  an event that usually is held at OSU.

We expect that the district team will encounter a variety of other hurdles as it works through these scheduling issues. But we might be making some progress. Soon, those white-knuckle drives down Highland on graduation night could be just bad memories. (mm)

Happy birthday, Oregon

It's possible that your calendar doesn't list this, but today, Feb. 14, is not just Valentine's Day. This also is the 158th anniversary of that red-letter day in 1859 when Oregon became the 33rd state. Happy birthday, Oregon; many happy returns. (mm)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 14

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

Azerbaijan will resume the export of cognac to Belarus, said Elchin Madatov, head of Azerbaijani Wine Exporters and Producers Association.

He made the remarks at a joint meeting of the Exporters Club and the American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan (AmCham) in Baku Feb. 14.

Madatov noted that a corresponding contract has already been signed.

Azerbaijani Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayevs visit to Belarus in December 2016 played a significant role in this, he added.

Madatov reminded that Azerbaijan used to export cognac to Belarus, but for some reasons the supplies were discontinued.

Thanks to the measures taken by the Azerbaijani government, viticulture is now experiencing a rebirth, according to him.

Given Azerbaijans natural conditions and capabilities of our plants, we can significantly increase the export of wine to other countries, he added.

Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Belarus amounted to $124.5 million in 2016, out of which $76.3 million accounted for the import of Belarusian products, according to Azerbaijans State Customs Committee.
Details added (first version posted at 13:19)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 14

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

Azerbaijan will resume the export of cognac to Belarus, said Elchin Madatov, head of Azerbaijani Wine Exporters and Producers Association.

He made the remarks at a joint meeting of the Exporters Club and the American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan (AmCham) in Baku Feb. 14.

Madatov noted that a corresponding contract has already been signed.

Azerbaijani Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayevs visit to Belarus in December 2016 played a significant role in this, he added.

Madatov reminded that Azerbaijan used to export cognac to Belarus, but for some reasons the supplies were discontinued.

Thanks to the measures taken by the Azerbaijani government, viticulture is now experiencing a rebirth, according to him.

Given Azerbaijans natural conditions and capabilities of our plants, we can significantly increase the export of wine to other countries, he added.

Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Belarus amounted to $124.5 million in 2016, out of which $76.3 million accounted for the import of Belarusian products, according to Azerbaijans State Customs Committee.
G20 Minister meeting : Police set up security zone on Tuesday

Bonn When foreign ministers come to Bonn for G20 meetings at the World Conference Center Bonn, drivers and pedestrians in the vicinity will face traffic problems. Heres an overview.

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The G20 meeting of foreign ministers at the World Conference Center Bonn (WCCB) on Thursday and Friday will result in some traffic disruptions. Around the WCCB, there will be a security perimeter with streets blocked and a no-stopping zone. The WCCB parking garage was expected to be cleared by police on Tuesday afternoon at 2 pm. All cars which remained in the car park were to be towed away.

Additionally, the Stresemannufer (at the riverbanks) will be closed to any bicycle or foot traffic during the conference. Beginning already on Wednesday, the Rheinaue parking lot at Petra-Kelly-Allee can no longer be used.

Police in Bonn also want to advise people that random inspections may occur in the vicinity of the WCCB. Those who work in the affected areas are advised to keep their work badge and identification available. Access to the underground parking garages of DHL Deutsche Post, the United Nations, Deutsche Welle and the Bundesnetzagentur are not affected by the closures. The same is true for the Johanniter Hospital.
Even though it is hotter than the surface of the Sun, the crystallized iron core of Earth remains solid. A new study from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden may finally settle a longstanding debate over how thats possible, as well as why seismic waves travel at higher speeds between the planets poles than through the equator.

Spinning within Earths molten core is a crystal ball  actually a mass formation of almost pure crystallized iron  nearly the size of the moon. Understanding this strange, unobservable feature of our planet depends on knowing the atomic structure of these crystals  something scientists have been trying to do for years.

As with all metals, the atomic-scale crystal structures of iron change depending on the temperature and pressure the metal is exposed to. Atoms are packed into variations of cubic, as well as hexagonal formations. At room temperatures and normal atmospheric pressure, iron is in what is known as a body-centered cubic (BCC) phase, which is a crystal architecture with eight corner points and a center point. But at extremely high pressure the crystalline structures transform into 12-point hexagonal forms, or a close packed (HCP) phase.

At Earths core, where pressure is 3.5 million times higher than surface pressure  and temperatures are some 6,000 degrees higher  scientists have proposed that the atomic architecture of iron must be hexagonal. Whether BCC iron exists in the center of Earth has been debated for the last 30 years, and a recent 2014 study ruled it out, arguing that BCC would be unstable under such conditions.

However, in a recent study published in Nature Geosciences, researchers at KTH found that iron at Earths core is indeed in the BCC phase. Anatoly Belonoshko, a researcher in the Department of Physics at KTH, says that when the researchers looked into larger computational samples of iron than studied previously, characteristics of the BCC iron that were thought to render it unstable wound up doing just the opposite.

Under conditions in Earths core, BCC iron exhibits a pattern of atomic diffusion never before observed, Belonoshko says.

Belonoshko says the data also shows that pure iron likely accounts for 96 percent of the inner cores composition, along with nickel and possibly light elements.

Their conclusions are drawn from laborious computer simulations performed using Triolith, one of the largest Swedish supercomputers. These simulations allowed them to reinterpret observations collected three years ago at Livermore Lawrence National Laboratory in California. It appears that the experimental data confirming the stability of BCC iron in the Core were in front of us  we just did not know what that really meant, he says.

At low temperature BCC is unstable and crystalline planes slide out of the ideal BCC structure. But at high temperatures, the stabilization of these structures begins much like a card game  with the shuffling of a deck. Belonoshko says that in the extreme heat of the core, atoms no longer belong to planes because of the high amplitude of atomic motion.

The sliding of these planes is a bit like shuffling a deck of cards, he explains. Even though the cards are put in different positions, the deck is still a deck. Likewise, the BCC iron retains its cubic structure.

Such a shuffling leads to an enormous increase in the distribution of molecules and energy  which leads to increasing entropy, or the distribution of energy states. That, in turn, makes the BCC stable.

Normally, diffusion destroys crystal structures turning them into liquid. In this case, diffusion allows iron to preserve the BCC structure. The BCC phase goes by the motto: What does not kill me makes me stronger, Belonoshko says. The instability kills the BCC phase at low temperature, but makes the BCC phase stable at high temperature.

He says that this diffusion also explains why Earths core is anisotropic  that is, it has a texture that is directional  like the grain of wood. Anisotropy explains why seismic waves travel faster between Earths poles, than through the equator.

The unique features of the Fe BCC phase, such as high-temperature self-diffusion even in a pure solid iron, might be responsible for the formation of large-scale anisotropic structures needed to explain Earth inner core anisotropy, he says. The diffusion allows easy texturing of iron in response to any stress.

The prediction opens the path to understanding the interior of Earth and eventually to predicting Earths future, Belonoshko says. The ultimate goal of Earth Sciences is to understand the past, present and future of Earth  and our prediction allows us to do just that.

Reference:

Anatoly B. Belonoshko, Timofei Lukinov, Jie Fu, Jijun Zhao, Sergio Davis, Sergei I. Simak. Stabilization of body-centred cubic iron under inner-core conditions. Nature Geoscience, 2017; DOI: 10.1038/ngeo2892

Note: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by KTH The Royal Institute of Technology. Original written by David Callahan.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 14

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

Azerbaijan plans to organize five export missions more in 2017 - to Kazakhstan, Russia, the US, China and Qatar, Rufat Mammadov, head of Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO), said.

He made the remarks at a joint meeting of the Exporters Club and the American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan (AmCham) in Baku Feb. 14.

Along with these missions, we plan to take part in various international conferences, he said.

This year we have already organized export missions to Germany, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Mammadov said. Id like to note that the participants of the last mission have already returned from Pakistan and we are waiting for positive results from this visit.

Head of AZPROMO added that two missions to China (Hong Kong and Guangzhou) and the UAE (Dubai) each were organized last year.

Certain agreements were reached within the framework of these missions, Mammadov said. So, in January 2017, Azerbaijan sent the first batch of wine to China, and we have reached agreements to supply narsharab (pomegranate sauce) and fruit, especially apples, to Dubai. Maybe we will also be able to reach an agreement on the supply of honey to Dubai.
xspraise at 14-02-2017 08:02 AM (5 years ago) (m)



Two Ghanaian men have been arrested by the Suhum District Police Command in Ghana on suspicion of possessing human parts. The suspects identified as Akakpa Kwame 26 and Daniel Larbi 18, were said to have gone to a fetish priest on Sunday, February 12, 2017, to sell what is suspected to be human parts.

Two Ghanaian men have been arrested by the Suhum District Police Command in Ghana on suspicion of possessing human parts. The suspects identified as Akakpa Kwame 26 and Daniel Larbi 18, were said to have gone to a fetish priest on Sunday, February 12, 2017, to sell what is suspected to be human parts.

According to the priest, when they told him that they have the right-hand bone of a human being to sell to him, he was shocked. He told them to sit and wait for him while he finds money to pay them. He, however, pretended to look for the money, but he rather alerted the Odikro (chief) of the town, Baffour Adu Ameyaw to inform him about the intention of the men before informing the police about the two who are currently in police custody.



Speaking to Joy News, the District Police Commander, DSP Yaaya Musheratu who confirmed the arrest revealed that investigations are ongoing.



According to the priest, when they told him that they have the right-hand bone of a human being to sell to him, he was shocked. He told them to sit and wait for him while he finds money to pay them. He, however, pretended to look for the money, but he rather alerted the Odikro (chief) of the town, Baffour Adu Ameyaw to inform him about the intention of the men before informing the police about the two who are currently in police custody.Speaking to Joy News, the District Police Commander, DSP Yaaya Musheratu who confirmed the arrest revealed that investigations are ongoing.

Post Reply I am Victor, I write reportage on sport news and latest metro happenings in Nigeria. Posted: at 14-02-2017 08:02 AM (5 years ago) | Hero
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 14

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

Turkish Agriculture Minister Faruk Celik will visit Baku Feb. 23 to participate in the Azerbaijan-Turkey business forum dedicated to agriculture, the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of Azerbaijan said Feb. 14.

Azerbaijani Agriculture Minister Heydar Asadov, Head of the Turkey-Azerbaijan Business Council of Turkeys Foreign Economic Relations Board Selcuk Akat and President of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of Azerbaijan Mammad Musayev will also take part in the event.

It is expected that 150 entrepreneurs, operating in various sectors of agriculture, will take part in the event.
clarajancita at 14-02-2017 12:22 PM (5 years ago) (f)

A secondary school student reportedly took pesticides after he was told to repeat a class. Clifford Odhiambi, a form 3 student of Luora Secondary School in Homa Bay, Kenya who wanted to join the armed forces next year after his KCSE examinations, committed suicide after he was stopped from entering his new class by the schools head of exams department, Ishmael Ngicho and head of languages, Nicholas Aswani.

A secondary school student reportedly took pesticides after he was told to repeat a class. Clifford Odhiambi, a form 3 student of Luora Secondary School in Homa Bay, Kenya who wanted to join the armed forces next year after his KCSE examinations, committed suicide after he was stopped from entering his new class by the schools head of exams department, Ishmael Ngicho and head of languages, Nicholas Aswani. His heartbroken father, Jabos Ocholla, revealed that Clifford left a suicide note where he said he will rather die than repeat the class.



On the other hand, The Director of Homa Bay County Teacher Service Commission (TCS. Diosiana Ahindukha, in a statement, noted that repeating of classes had been banned by the government and said that the two teachers and the principal will be invited for questioning.

His heartbroken father, Jabos Ocholla, revealed that Clifford left a suicide note where he said he will rather die than repeat the class.On the other hand, The Director of Homa Bay County Teacher Service Commission (TCS. Diosiana Ahindukha, in a statement, noted that repeating of classes had been banned by the government and said that the two teachers and the principal will be invited for questioning. Quote We will not allow any teacher to violate regulations they were given by the Ministry of Education. Anyone found in violation will face stern punitive measures. There is a team from TSC that will question that two teachers and the principal to decide whether to sack them or reinstate them, he added.r to sack them or reinstate them, he said. he said.

Post Reply I am a metro reporter on Gistmania, I have been publishing news materials for over 5 years Posted: at 14-02-2017 12:22 PM (5 years ago) | Hero
These latest high-res images highlight the complete design of Samsung Galaxy S8 Features oi -Rohit The leaked images show the complete exterior design of soon-to-be unveiled Samsung Galaxy S8

The soon-to-be unveiled Samsung Galaxy S8 is taking the online world by storm. The smartphone has been the talk of the town since last six months and is still ruling the rumor charts. The latest to join the rumor mill is the high-resolution images of the smartphone that highlights each and every aspect about the exterior design of the upcoming flagship smartphone.

Reported by Sammobile.com, these high-res images may be the final leak of the flagship smartphone. Let's have a look.

SEE ALSO: ZTE Blade A2 Plus review

Dual-Edge Curved Displays The upcoming Samsung Galaxy S8 will retain the Dual-Edge Curved design, however the images show that the design look more elegant and premium this time. QHD Super AMOLED 4K Displays As noted, Samsung is expected to launch two variants- Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus, both featuring QHD Super AMOLED 4K displays Dedicated Physical button for Smart Assistant Bixby Samsung might include a dedicated button for its digital assistant, the Bixby just below the volume rockers on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus. Black variant with Matte finish The images show a Black variant with matte finish that simply look stunning. The elegant dual-edge curved design will once again make the Samsung flagship the best looking handset out in the market. Samsung is not ditching the 3.5 mm headphone jack Contrary to reports, the images show a 3.5mm headphone jack at the bottom of the smartphone. This shows that Samsung is still sticking to the roots even after packing the top-of-the line features and hardware in the upcoming flagship smartphones. Rear-mounted Fingerprint sensor One of the biggest change in the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S8 will be the placement of fingerprint sensor. Samsung is now offering the bio-metric sensor at the rear side, placed along with the camera module Rounded edges for an ergonomic design I am currently using the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge and have no problem using the handset even with one hand. Samsung will continue offering the ergonomic design with the upcoming flagship smartphones. The handset will have rounded edges for comfortable handling in everyday usage. Red Variant? Samsung is expected to launch the upcoming smartphones in a variety of exciting colours. This image show the handset in glossy Red colour that looks stunning. A Blue variant? As we mentioned, Samsung might also include a Blue variant in the lot, which also looks quite impressive in this image. And who wants to miss this Stunning Green variant Last but not the least, Samsung might also include a Green variant that as per the leaked image, will certainly turn some heads. Top-of-the line specifications As noted, the Samsung Galaxy S8 (and the Plus variant) is believed to be the first smartphone to come with the Snapdragon 835 chipset which is based on a 10nm node. In terms of memory, the smartphone is expected to come in two variants: one with 4GB of RAM (for select European markets) and another with 6GB of RAM both of them offering at least 64GB of internal storage space (expandable up to 256GB via a microSD card). The Galaxy S7 had a 12MP image sensor at the back with a f/1.7 aperture along with dual-pixel PDAF, OIS, Auto HDR, 4K video support and a LED flash to assist in low-lighting conditions. The Galaxy S8 is believed to pack similar (or better, of course) specs in the camera department with improvements on the whole. The selfie camera may receive a bump to 8MP, though. Android 7.0 Nougat out-of-the box and IP68 certified The Galaxy S8 will, of course, run Android 7.0 Nougat out-of-the-box with a layer of Samsung Experience atop (earlier known as TouchWiz). The company is expected to debut an AI-based assistant called Bixby to compete against the likes of Google Assistant and Apple's Siri. The device will also see a bump in the battery capacity. The Galaxy S8 is now rumored to pack a 3,250mAh battery while the S8 Plus is speculated to come with a 3,750mAh battery. The smartphone should also come with IP68 certification a la Samsung Galaxy S7. Image Source: Sammobile.com

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Nokia 5, Nokia 3 and high-end Nokia 3310 to launch at MWC 2017: prices and specs leaked News oi -Sneha Nokia will be launching a range of devices at the MWC 2017 press meet.

Nokia will be announcing a range of devices at the Mobile World Congress this year. The smartphone pioneer is apparently working on several Android devices and is also planning to bring back its classic N-series and more.

To recall, Nokia had stirred the smartphone space with the recently launched Nokia 6 running on Android 7.0 Nougat. Working towards regaining its lost market position, Nokia in a joint venture with HMD has further plans to announce similar such handsets, at a lower price tag.

In support of the statement, fresh reports confirm that the Finland-based firm is geared up to unveil a number of low-end devices. If the rumors are to be believed, HMD is apparently working on announcing mid-ranged Nokia 3, Nokia 5 which will come packed with Android 7.0 Nougat.

SEE ALSO: Nokia 6 available in India at a premium price tag

As per the specs are concerned, Nokia 5 will feature a 5.2-inch Full HD display and is going to be a sub-ranged phone, probably a cheaper variant of the already announced Nokia 6.

Under the hood, Nokia 5 will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 430, clocked at 1.4 Ghz and will be running on the latest Android 7.0 Nougat operating system. Further talking about the storage capacity, the smartphone might feature a 2GB of RAM with 16GB internal storage capacity.

On the camera front, Nokia 5 will feature a 12MP rear camera, while fitting a 7MP selfie shooter at the front. Well, if the rumors are to be believed, both cameras will support full HD video recording.

Rumored specs rundown: Galaxy S8 Plus, Gionee A1, LG G6, Nokia 8 and other upcoming smartphones

Moving ahead to Nokia 3, there is no information available about the handset, for now, however, reports are such that the device will sport an entry-level Android OS.

Both Nokia 5 and Nokia 3 will be a cheaper variant of the high-end Nokia 6 as mentioned earlier. Therefore, rumors suggest that Nokia 5 may be available for 199 which comes roughly around Rs. 14,134. Whereas on the other hand, Nokia 3 will be available at a price tag of 149, which when calculated in INR comes around Rs. 10,582.

Not only this, Nokia is planning to bring back the classic nostalgic devices back on board. In line with the same, rumors are such that Nokia is planning to unveil a premium version of the 3310, alongside the rumored N-series phones.

The high-end variant of the Nokia 3310 is expected to come packed with a price tag of 59 which comes around Rs. 4,190.

Well, although Nokia hasn't revealed any information on the launch of these devices yet, but predictions are such that the smartphone pioneer may unveil these handsets on February 26, at the MWC press meet.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 along with S Pen leaked in a new image News oi -Chakri Kudikala The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 will be an upgraded variant of Samsung Galaxy Tab S2.

Samsung wont be launching the Galaxy S8 at the MWC 2017. Instead, the company has sent out media invites for a tablet launch. Rumors have it all. Yes, speculations say that Samsung will announce the successor to Galaxy Tab S2, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 at the mega event.

It was earlier rumored that the upcoming Tab S3 will have support for S Pen. But, leaked images doesnt reveal any cradle for the S Pen placement. So, we thought that the S Pen wouldn't be featured in the phone.

However, a new leak popped out today revealed the product image of the phone and that revealed the support for S Pen. However, the cradle is still absent on the phone. However, the same rumor confirmed that the S Pen would be an additional accessory with no extra cost.

Other rumors claim that the phone will have support for Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC aided with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. A 12MP rear camera along with a 5MP front-facing camera are said to be seen on the phone. The tablet will feature a massive 9.7-inch display.

SOURCE

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Sony Pikachu pays a visit to GFXBench; 21MP camera and Android Nougat spotted News oi -Prajith The Sony Pikachu smartphone should be unveiled at the MWC 2017.

As most of you may be aware, Sony is rumored to unveil at least 5 smartphones at the upcoming MWC 2017 event. A mysterious phone codenamed Sony Pikachu has been spotted on GFXBench which, in all its probability, may be one among the bunch of phones we will get to see from Sony at the MWC 2017 event.

The listing reveals a set of mid-range specs. Speaking of which, the Sony Pikachu should be powered by a 2.3GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio P20 MT6757 SoC along with a dual-core Mali-T880 MP2 GPU to take care of graphics. There will also be 3GB of RAM and 32GB onboard storage space.

Also Read: Sonys flagship phone may not make it to MWC 2017 as Samsung is hoarding Snapdragon 835 chips

It will feature a 5-inch Full HD display with attest 5 finger gesture support. The imaging department will be taken care of by a 21MP camera at the back. For selfies, there will be an 8MP shooter at the front. The Sony Pikachu, as the listing suggests, will run Android 7.0 Nougat out-of-the-box.

A few days ago, rumors were abuzz that Sony would launch a couple of phones with the Helio P20 chipset. Probably, the Sony Pikachu is one among the two, more likely the G3112.

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Reliance Jio and Samsung to host a joint event at MWC 2017 News oi -Abhinaya Prabhu Samsung and Jio team up again.

It is known that Samsung will not be unveiling its flagship Galaxy S8 at the MWC 2017 in Barcelona later this month. Also, we know that Nokia, Lenovo, LG, Huawei and a few other manufacturers are all set to announce their offerings at the upcoming tech event.

Meanwhile, it appears like Samsung and Reliance Jio have teamed up for a joint press conference pegged to happen on February 28 at the MWC 2017 in Barcelona. Going by the invite that has been sent, it appears like the event is aimed to foster participation and engagement among the industry leaders, communities, and governments. As per Samsung, the successful 4G LTE business of Jio and the transformation it has brought about in the lives of Indian users will be discussed at the event.

Jio users can schedule downloads at night on JioMusic and JioCinema

This is not the first time that Samsung is teaming up with Jio. Both the companies partnered to offer Jio SIM cards with select smartphones in the last year. Samsung has stated that it will share its contributions as Jio's solution partner. The impact left by both Samsung and Jio at the local and global levels will be made clear at the event.

Samsung's President Heard of Networks Business, Youngky Kim and Jio's President, Jyotindra Thacker will host the event starting at 1:15 PM IST on February 28.

Source

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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.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb.14



By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:



The office of the consortium for construction of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) has been attacked in Italy on the night to Feb.13, Italian media reported.



Reportedly, a group of unknown persons threw two Molotov cocktails at the TAP office in Italys Melendugno city.



The office wall was blackened, as one of the cocktails exploded.



Currently, police are investigating the incident with the help of CCTV cameras installed nearby.



Commenting on the issue, TAP Manager for Italy Michele Elia said that the work underway on the project for construction of TAP, which is a strategic project for Italy.



We condemn any acts of violence. Perpetrators should be punished in accordance with the law, he added.



This is not the first incident against the TAP project. In March 2015, the TAP office was attacked in Italy and the work as part of the project was suspended for some time due to the incident.



TAP is a part of the Southern Gas Corridor which is one of the priority energy projects for the European Union.



TAP project envisages transportation of gas from the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz gas and condensate field to the EU countries.



The pipeline will be connected to the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) on the Turkish-Greek border, run through Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Italy's south.



TAP shareholders are BP (20 percent), State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (20 percent), Snam (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagas (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent).



TAP will be 878 kilometers in length (Greece 550 km, Albania 215 km, Adriatic Sea 105 km, and Italy 8 km). Its highest point will be 1,800 meters in Albanias mountains, while its lowest point will be 820 meters beneath the sea.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Flying High: Task Force Southwest Marines test new drone capabilities

US Marine Corps News

By Sgt. Lucas Hopkins | February 13, 2017

Throughout Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, the armed services used unmanned aerial equipment to capture imagery of battlespaces, execute reconnaissance and conduct airstrikes on enemy targets. These devices proved indispensable in their abilities to move quickly and clandestinely.

A team of four Marines with Task Force Southwest practiced flying new drone technology, known as the Instant Eye small unmanned aerial system, at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 8, 2017.

Unlike other drones, which require either a runway or throwing for takeoff, the Instant Eye is capable of launching and landing at 90 degree angles.

"We can take off in any direction we want, and we can hover if we need to, which is a significant difference when it comes to maneuverability. That technology is great," said Shaun Sorensen, a SUAS instructor with Training and Logistics Support Activity.

The aircraft's small size allows for optimum stealth. It uses rotary wing as opposed to fixed-wing capabilities, allowing for the device the move through tightly-confined spaces such as buildings, around corners and up and over walls and hills.

"We can send this thing ahead and it can look for us," said Cpl. Isaac Brown, an intelligence specialist with Task Force Southwest. "We don't have to send Marines not knowing what's on the other side of any obstacle."

"It reduces the need for forward observation and can take some of the risk out of patrolling," added Sorensen.

The Marines also practiced maneuvering the Instant Eye at night, through and around obstacles, and inside in order to bolster their flying skills in preparation for a nine-month deployment to Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Above all, the aircraft will greatly diminish the need to send Marines into possibly hostile areas without knowing key factors beforehand, such as the number of enemy troops or equipment.

"The Instant Eye is going to be a great tool for operations in Afghanistan; it allows us to go places we wouldn't necessarily want to for our first look," said Brown. "These systems are going to be invaluable to force protection."

Task Force Southwest is comprised of approximately 300 Marines whose mission will be to train, advise and assist the Afghan National Army 215th Corps and 505th Zone National Police. The unit is scheduled to deploy in the Spring.

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Iran sentences man to 10 years in jail for espionage

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 13, 2017 2:58PM

Iran has sentenced a 62-year-old man to a 10-year prison term on the charge of plotting against national security through acts of espionage, an Iranian judiciary official in the northeastern city of Mashhad says.

Hassan Heidari told IRNA on Monday that the man had been arrested five months ago following investigations by intelligence officials. He added that the spy had collected intelligence for an Arab country.

Heidari added that the man was recruited by a foreign intelligence service on the pretext of obtaining a visa to attend the annual Hajj rituals in Saudi Arabia.

The convict had also carried out acts of espionage for another country, he said but gave no more details.

The identity of the man has not been revealed.

Secretary of Iran's Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei said in May 2016 that the country had apprehended a number of terrorists tasked by Saudi Arabia with carrying out bombings inside the Islamic Republic.

"The Saudis opened a consulate in Iraq's Arbil and had a number of terrorist groups enter into Iran to carry out explosions; they all have been arrested," he said, referring to the capital of the Iraqi Kurdistan.

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



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Afghanistan: UN mission expresses grave concern at high civilian casualties in Helmand

12 February 2017  The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) today expressed its grave concern at the recent escalation of violence in Helmand province, which reportedly claimed the lives of at least 25 civilians, mostly women and children, and injured many more.

On 9 and 10 February, international military forces conducted airstrikes in Helmand's Sangin District reportedly targeting anti-Government elements, according to a news release. UNAMA's initial enquiries suggest that the airstrikes killed at least 18 civilians, nearly all women and children. UNAMA notes that Resolute Support has initiated an investigation into the incident.

On 11 February, Taliban conducted a suicide attack targeting Afghan National Army soldiers outside of Kabul Bank in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand. The attack killed at least seven civilians, and at least as many were injured, mainly child vendors outside the bank, the release added.

The people of Helmand have suffered greatly due to the armed conflict in Afghanistan, with 891 civilians killed or injured during 2016. This figure was the highest in the country in 2016 outside of Kabul.

UNAMA reiterated the need for all parties to the conflict to strictly adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law to take all feasible measures to protect civilians from harm while expressing its sincere condolences to the families of victims and hopes for a speedy recovery to those injured.

Afghanistan has been in protracted conflict for some 35 years, which has seen an ever-growing number of civilians killed and poverty reduction and development efforts seriously hampered.

UNAMA is mandated to support the Afghan Government and the people of Afghanistan as a political mission that provides 'good offices' among other measures. 'Good offices' are diplomatic steps UN takes publicly and in private, drawing on its independence, impartiality and integrity, to prevent international disputes from arising, escalating or spreading.

UNAMA also promotes coherent development support by the international community; assists the process of peace and reconciliation; monitors and promotes human rights and the protection of civilians in armed conflict; promotes good governance; and encourages regional cooperation.

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F-35A stealth brings flexibility to battlespace

By Micah Garbarino, 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs / Published February 13, 2017

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFNS) -- Stealth isn't new in the Air Force; but, stealth combined with the multirole capabilities of the F-35A Lightning II is proving to be a game changer in the Nevada desert.

Units from across the Air Force have converged here for Red Flag 17-1, the Air Force's premier air combat exercise, which pits a friendly force against an aggressor force in scenarios designed to give pilots true-to-life experiences before heading into actual combat.

Military strategists have long noted that while the United States has invested heavily in combat aircraft technology, potential adversaries have pushed their capital toward advanced surface-to-air missiles in integrated air defense systems. Planners say any realistic large-force exercise must test the Air Force's ability to survive and suppress these sophisticated systems.

That is what the Airmen of the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, bring to the fight with the combat-capable F-35A.

"During this Red Flag we're training against the highest level threats we know exist," said Lt. Col. George Watkins, the 34th Fighter Squadron commander. "Just as we're getting new systems and technology, the adversary's threats are becoming more sophisticated and capable."

Fourth-generation aircraft, such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-15 Eagle, F/A-18 Hornet, A-10 Thunderbolt II and others, cannot operate in an environment where they are targeted by advanced anti-air systems with sophisticated radar and infrared capabilities.

Red Flag planners are tasking the F-35A with taking out these threats and the aircraft's stealth capability is proving pilots can survive and operate effectively where others cannot.

"I flew a mission the other day where our four-ship formation of F-35As destroyed five surface-to-air threats in a 15-minute period without being targeted once," said Maj. James Schmidt, a former A-10 pilot. "It's pretty cool to come back from a mission where we flew right over threats knowing they could never see us."

In past Red Flags, the friendly force did not have the capability to directly target advanced surface-to-air missile threats with an aircraft like the F-35A. Exercise planners would engage the targets with long range "standoff" weapons  like tomahawk missiles  before sending aircraft in to the fight.

"We would shoot everything we had at that one threat just to take it out. Now between us and the (F-22) Raptor, we are able to geo-locate them and precision target them." Watkins said. "With the stealth capability of the F-35A we can get close enough to put a bomb right on them. That would be impossible with a fourth-generation aircraft."

After taking out the ground threats, the multirole F-35A is able to "pitch back into the fight" with air-to-air missiles, taking out aircraft that don't even know they're there, Schmidt said.

This is the largest exercise to date for the combat pilots of Hill's 34th Fighter Squadron and they're learning to believe in what the multirole fighter can do in combat, said Maj. Shad Stromberg, a 419th FW Reserve F-35 pilot.

"After almost every mission, we shake our heads and smile, saying 'We can't believe we just did that'," Schmidt said. "We flew right into the heart of the threat and were able to bring all of our jets back out with successful strikes. It's like we hit the 'I Believe' button again after every sortie."

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Nar won Bomba  social media award in the nomination of the best tweet of the year. The reason behind the achievement is the active involvement of the mobile operator in social media. The customers can follow the interesting posts by Nar and write directly their requests to Nar over the Twitter, Facebook and other social networks. Since Nar is the first and yet the only mobile carrier providing full customer care service through the social media. Internet users can write to Nar without any further redirection and take the benefit of customer service regardless of their location.

Yet Twitter users are not limited to requests about the services; they write to Nar on any topic they wish and always get feedback. Therefore, according to the statistics of 2016, Nars Twitter page had an average activity of 544 per 1000 followers. That means the Nars Twitter page is the most active corporate page in Azerbaijan.

Alongside with that, in 2016 requests through Nars social media pages increased 84% in comparison with 2015. Although the amount of requested increased, the service quality also kept growing very steadily; so, according to Facebook, Nars page answers 98% of the requests within the minutes.

Not only Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram is included in Nars social media activity, but also Google+ and SoundCloud is where users can follow and interact with Nar. Providing high quality service to the customers and also making interesting publications for the followers through the social media is part of Nars customer-oriented policy. As a success of this strategy Nar won prestigious social media award Bomba. This award is dedicated to the bloggers, users and corporate pages sharing interesting content in Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. All the candidates are chosen by the social network users. Then the jury of the award chooses winners among the candidates. Social media users chose Nar in three nominations: the best tweet of the year, the best Facebook page of the year and the best Instagram page of the year.

It is already several years that Internet users follow Nars pages in Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and other social networks to get in touch with Customer Care, to know about the Nars campaigns and new products, or simply to follow interesting posts.

You can also follow Nar here: facebook.com/narofficial, twitter.com/salam_nar, instagram.com/salam_nar, youtube.com/c/nar_official.
Military Strikes Target ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Feb. 13, 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 the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Strikes in Syria

Attack, bomber and fighter aircraft conducted 15 strikes consisting of 15 engagements in Syria:

-- Near Abu Kamal, a strike destroyed 27 oil barrels, 11 oil storage tanks and two oil tanker trucks.

-- Near Palmyra, a strike destroyed an anti-air artillery system.

-- Near Raqqa, 13 strikes engaged eight ISIL tactical units; destroyed eight fighting positions and a vehicle and damaged four supply routes.

Strikes in Iraq

Artillery as well as attack, fighter and rotary wing aircraft conducted two strikes consisting of 22 engagements in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government:

-- Near Mosul, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and a staging area; destroyed eight watercraft, three barges, three vehicles, a tunnel entrance, a mortar system and a weapons facility; and suppressed four mortar teams.

Task force officials define a strike as one or more kinetic events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative, effect. Therefore, officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against buildings, vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making those targets harder or impossible for ISIL to use. Accordingly, officials said, they do not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target. Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike.

Part of Operation Inherent Resolve

The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said.

Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

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USS Somerset Visits Duqm, Oman

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS170213-19

Release Date: 2/13/2017 11:34:00 AM

From Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group Public Affairs

DUQM, Oman (NNS) -- Amphibious transport dock USS Somerset (LPD 25) departed Duqm, Oman, following a port visit and mid-deployment maintenance availability, Feb. 10.

The port visit allowed Somerset to conduct maintenance required to keep the vessel mission-ready for the remainder of its deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

The crew and members of the embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) also took advantage of the opportunity to experience Oman's culture during liberty.

Port facilities and services in Duqm have expanded in recent years to offer U.S. naval warships deployed to the area a wider range of maintenance and logistics capabilities. With the port's deep draft, the facility is capable of accommodating nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers.

USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) tested the capabilities of the port to handle an aircraft carrier for the first time, October 2014.

The U.S. has worked closely with Oman's government to grow capabilities at the port of Duqm to provide increased logistical support for the U.S. Navy in regional security and theater security cooperation efforts. The port of Duqm provides a unique capability to support repairs and maintenance which would otherwise need to be completed in homeport.

"The port visit to Duqm, Oman, was an excellent opportunity to conduct maintenance on the ship," said Capt. Darren Glaser, commanding officer of Somerset. "The facilities and maintenance support in Duqm are top-notch and made sure we had everything we needed. For several of 'Team Somerset,' the port of Duqm was a first visit to the country of Oman, and the entire 'blue-green team' performed perfectly while enjoying their well-deserved liberty."

The nearby port of Salalah, the largest port in Oman, complements the support provided by the port of Duqm with fuel and material distribution facilities.

Strategically located on a key naval chokepoint, the Strait of Hormuz, through which 40 percent of the world's exported oil shipments pass, Oman plays an important role in helping the U.S. contribute to regional stability.

Somerset is deployed with the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) to support maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

The MKI ARG, comprised of Somerset, amphibious dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45), and amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), the command ship for Amphibious Squadron 5 and the 11th MEU, arrived in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, Nov. 30, 2016.

The 11th MEU is a sea-based Marine Air-Ground Task Force comprised of a ground combat element, Battalion Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines; an aviation combat element, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 163 (Reinforced); a combat logistics element, Combat Logistics Battalion 11; and a command element with a commanding officer who leads the entire MEU.

While in the region, the southern California-based Navy-Marine Corps team falls under Commander, Task Force 51/5, and will help ensure the free flow of commerce, provide crisis response, and support ongoing missions in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

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USS Porter Departs Black Sea

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS170213-12

Release Date: 2/13/2017 9:51:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ford Williams, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

BOSPHORUS STRAIT (NNS) -- Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) departed the Black Sea, Feb. 11, after conducting maritime security operations, theater security engagements with allies and partners, and participating in the multinational exercise Sea Shield 2017.

Porter's operations in the Black Sea demonstrated the U.S. commitment to collective security with NATO allies and partners in the region.

"The Porter crew thoroughly enjoyed our time in the Black Sea, including our port visit to Constanta, Romania," said Cmdr. Andria Slough, Porter's commanding officer. "Participating in Sea Shield 2017 provided a tremendous opportunity to enhance our overall operability and combat capability across all warfare areas with our NATO allies in a very challenging environment. We look forward to our next visit to the region."

Porter entered the Black Sea, Feb. 2, to demonstrate the U.S. commitment to the collective security of NATO allies as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

Porter also conducted a port visit in Constanta, Romania, Feb. 3-8. Senior leadership participated in the in-port planning phase of Sea Shield 2017 while crew members played in a volleyball tournament hosted by the Romanian Naval Academy.

Sea Shield is an annual Romanian-led multinational exercise in the Black Sea to improve interoperability and proficiency of participating units.

Porter, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe.

The ship deployed from Naval Station Rota Nov. 30, 2016.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

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China firmly opposes U.S. endorsement of Japan's illegal claim on Diaoyu islands

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 20:41, February 13, 2017

China on Monday firmly opposed the affirmation made by U.S. and Japanese leaders that the U.S.-Japan security treaty covered China's Diaoyu islandsin the East China Sea.

"China expressed grave concern at and firm opposition to the statements [concerning the Diaoyu islands] made by Japan and the United States," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a daily press briefing. "We firmly oppose that Japan asked for the endorsement of the United States on its illegal territorial claim in the name of the U.S.-Japan security treaty."

A joint U.S.-Japan statement issued over the weekend after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington D.C. affirmed that Article 5 of the U.S.-Japan security treaty covered the Diaoyu islands.

"Diaoyu island and its affiliated islets are China's inherent territory. No matter what anyone says or does, the fact that the Diaoyu islands belong to China cannot be changed," Geng said.

"China will never waver in its determination and will to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity," he added.

He said that Japan and the United States should speak and act discreetly and stop making false statements so as to avoid complicating relevant issues and casting a shadow on regional peace and stability.

The joint U.S.-Japan statement also mentioned China's reef construction in the South China Sea. Geng said that China's construction on its own islands was "totally within China's sovereignty and has nothing to do with militarization."

Geng said that the leading cause of militarization in the South China Sea was that some countries had sent aircraft and vessels to show military force or drive a wedge between countries in the region.

He said that China had indisputable sovereignty over islands in the South China Sea and its adjacent waters.

He added that China was committed to solving differences with countries directly concerned in a peaceful way, and safeguarding stability in the region with ASEANcountries.

"We urge the United States and Japan to view the South China Sea issue objectively and rationally and do more to contribute to the peace and stability of the South China Sea, not the other way around," Geng said.

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20 killed as Houthis, Hadi loyalists clash in western Yemen

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 13, 2017 6:13PM

Nearly two dozen people have been killed in overnight clashes between fighters from the Yemeni Houthi Ansarullah movement and militiamen loyal to resigned president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi in the country's strategic western province of Hudaydah, military and medical officials say.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Monday that skirmishes in the Red Sea port cities of Midi and Mukha have claimed the lives of 14 Ansarullah fighters.

Pro-Hadi militia forces, backed by the Saudi air force, began a major offensive on January 7 to recapture Mukha, which overlooks the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, from Ansarullah fighters. Tens of people from both sides have been killed so far in the ongoing clashes.

Yemeni snipers shoot dead Saudi trooper

Meanwhile, Yemeni soldiers, backed by fighters from Popular Committees, have shot dead a Saudi trooper in the kingdom's southwestern border region of Jizan as the Riyadh regime pushes ahead with its aerial bombardment campaign against its crisis-hit southern neighbor.

Yemeni forces shot and killed the Saudi trooper in Soudah military base of al-Khoubah district on Monday afternoon, Arabic-language al-Masirah television network reported.

Yemeni soldiers and their allies also fired a locally-developed al-Sarkha 3 (Shriek 3) missile at a gathering of Saudi troops in the Eastern Umm al-Qotb district of Jizan, located 969 kilometers south of Riyadh, but there were no immediate reports of possible casualties or damage.

Later, Yemeni forces and their allies targeted an Emirati armored vehicle in an area of the city of Sirwah, which lies about 120 kilometers east of the Yemeni capital city of Sana'a, killing all those onboard.

Also on Monday, Saudi military aircraft launched an airstrike against an area in the Baqim district of the northwestern Yemeni province of Sa'ada, leaving three civilians dead and four others injured.

Separately, a civilian lost his life and two others sustained injuries when Saudi fighter jets pounded al-Mina district.

According to the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick, the Yemeni conflict has claimed the lives of 10,000 people and left 40,000 others wounded.

McGoldrick told reporters in Sana'a on January 16 that the figure is based on lists of victims gathered by health facilities and that the actual number might be higher.

Local sources, however, say the Saudi war, which was launched in March 2015 in an attempt to bring back the country's former government to power, has so far claimed the lives of at least 11,400 Yemenis.

The Saudi military aggression has also taken a heavy toll on Yemen's facilities and infrastructure, destroying many hospitals, schools, and factories.

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US military helicopters arrive in Germany to boost NATO

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 13, 2017 6:5PM

The US Army has begun unloading dozens of helicopters at a port in northern Germany as NATO continues boosting its combat presence in Eastern Europe.

Ninety-four Chinook, Apache and Black Hawk helicopters were sent to Bremerhaven so the aircraft can be moved to a base in Bavaria, German news agency DPA reported Sunday.

Several trucks from the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade in Fort Drum, New York, were also shipped to the port.

Most of the military equipment is bound for an Army base in the Bavarian town of Illesheim, but some will be assigned to rotating stints in Lithuania and Romania.

"Today, we are downloading a portion of the combat aviation brigade and it will be moved to Germany and Eastern Europe and will be scattered between Latvia and Romania, while a big chunk of it will be stationed in Germany," Major General Duane Gamble, the commander of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, told reporters.

The equipment along with the deployment of 3,500 US troops, which began last month, are meant to boost NATO's eastern frontier to counter any perceived threat from Russia.

However, some observers fear the sheer scope of the deployment would only exacerbate tensions with Moscow.

Former defense secretary Ashton Carter announced the deployment last year, declaring that the force would take part in regular military drills across the region with NATO allies.

The move is the culmination of a heavier armed troop presence in Eastern Europe since the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea reunited with the Russian Federation following a referendum in March 2014.

The United States is not the only NATO member to beef up military presence in Eastern Europe. Britain has deployed fighter jets to patrol the Black Sea. Germany is also deploying hundreds of soldiers to the Baltic region near the Russian border.

Moscow has hit out at the biggest deployment of troops in Europe since the end of the Cold War, criticizing the move as a threat to Russia's national security.

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Clashes between militia, army leave 11 dead in central DR Congo

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 13, 2017 2:51PM

At least 11 people have been killed in a series of violent clashes between the army and fighters loyal to a slain militia chief in central Democratic Republic of the Congo, a local activist says.

Jean Rene Tshimanga, a local activist, said that the clashes took place between the DR Congo soldiers and the militia loyal to a traditional chief killed in fighting with security forces last year. He added that the violence occurred near the town of Tshimbulu in Kasai-Central Province on Monday.

"This morning, we learned again that (the militia) attacked the men in uniform [who] repelled them," Tshimanga, the president of the Civil Society of Kasai-Central Province, said.

The activist did not specify how many of the dead were militia members and how many army soldiers.

The town, where the army killed more than 60 militia members in fighting last Friday, has been the scene of constant clashes between the soldiers and armed groups over the past few months.

Similar clashes in recent months have killed hundreds and uprooted thousands across the troubled region.

The militia's leader, Kamwina Nsapu, was killed by police last August after having vowed to rid the province of all state security forces.

On Saturday, the United Nations' peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, also known as MONUSCO, said Nsapu had committed violent atrocities and used child soldiers. It also criticized the army for what it said was a disproportionate use of force against the militia fighters, who are typically only lightly armed.

Militia violence in the Congo, a tinderbox of conflicts, is linked to land, ethnicity and mineral resources. The wave of violence has been exacerbated by President Joseph Kabila's failure to step down when his constitutional mandate expired in December.

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Veteran Palestinian prisoner elected new Hamas Gaza chief

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 13, 2017 2:30PM

The Palestinian Islamic resistance movement, Hamas, has named a high-ranking member of its military wing as its new leader in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas officials said on Monday that Yahya Sinwar, a senior commander of the Ezzedine Qassam Brigades, was elected to head the movement's political office in Gaza.

He will succeed Ismail Haniya, who served as the democratically-elected prime minister of the Hamas government which took control of the coastal sliver in June 2007. Many observers view Haniyah as the most likely successor to Khaled Meshaal, who is the Hamas political bureau chief and lives in exile in the Qatari capital city of Doha.

Khalil al-Haya was elected as Sinwar's deputy as well.

Sinwar, who is in his mid-50s, is a founder of the Ezzedine Qassam Brigades. Sinwar, who was detained by Israel in 1988, was released in October 2011 under an agreement to exchange about 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for Israeli trooper Gilad Schalit, whom Hamas fighters had captured in a cross-border raid five years earlier.

Sinwar rejects any form of reconciliation with Israel.

The Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli siege since June 2007. The blockade has caused a decline in the standards of living as well as unprecedented levels of unemployment and unrelenting poverty.

Israel has launched several wars on the Palestinian sliver, the last of which began in early July 2014. The 50-day military aggression, which ended on August 26, 2014, killed nearly 2,200 Palestinians, including 577 children. Over 11,100 others -- including 3,374 children, 2,088 women and 410 elderly people -- were also wounded in the war.

The Israeli military also frequently bombs the Gaza Strip, with civilians being the main target of such attacks.

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Trump's national security adviser under attack for Russia ties

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 13, 2017 11:31AM

US President Donald Trump's national security adviser, Michael Flynn, has come under attack for reportedly contacting Russia and discussing then-President Barack Obama's sanctions against the country.

The White House launched an investigation into Flynn's alleged ties with Moscow over the weekend, according to Reuters.

The retired US Army general, who once headed the Defense Intelligence Agency, is accused of discussing the removal of bans with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak weeks before Trump's January 20 inauguration.

Flynn denied the accusations at first. Vice President Mike Pence even went on television to deny the allegations.

However, when The Washington Post reported last week that officials had found evidence of a possible contact, Flynn changed his tone and said he may have discussed the sanction but he could not remember with 100 percent certainty.

An official told Reuters that the development has troubled Pence, who based his defense of Flynn on a simple conversation and not concrete facts.

Flynn has since apologized to Pence and others over the gaffe, the report added, citing another administration official.

Any discussion of sanctions would amount to a breach of laws against private citizens engaging in foreign policy.

The problem seems to have troubled Trump as Stephen Miller, his top policy adviser, has refused in a number of interviews to explicitly state whether Trump backed Flynn or not.

"That's a question for the president," he told reporters when asked if the president still had confidence in his national security adviser.

'Revoke Flynn's security clearance'

Meanwhile, Representative Elijah Cummings, who is a ranking Democratic on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said Flynn should lose his security clearance over the issue.

He made the remarks in an interview with ABC on Sunday, saying that the real question was whether Trump knew about the contact beforehand.

"Did the president instruct General Flynn to talk to the [Russian] ambassador? And did he know about it? If he knew about this conversation, when did he know it? That, to me, that is the key question. And we need to find out what that answer is," he said.

Flynn's case is expected to embolden Trump's critics, who accuse the new Republican president of being secretly in touch with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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UN chief urges Yemeni warring sides to return to negotiations

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 13, 2017 7:11AM

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the resumption of peace talks between the warring sides in Yemen, which has been under incessant attacks by the Saudi regime and its allies.

"Whatever we can do to make resurrection of the need for people to be able to negotiate, to be able to come to a solution for the Yemeni people, is something that we will always be available to contribute to," Guterres said at a joint press conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir in Riyadh on Sunday.

The UN chief also urged the conflicting sides in Yemen to ensure the unhindered delivery of relief aid to civilians.

"Humanitarian aid is for those that really need it, and so we are very keen in always appealing to all parties to any conflict not to use humanitarian aid for purposes that are not humanitarian, and we will always condemn any form of intervention that will lead for that deviation to take place," he said.

UN peace envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed also attended the press briefing. He has been pushing for a peace plan meant to pave the way for a political transition in the country.

Guterres is on his first Middle East tour since he was sworn in on January 1. He is due to visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Qatar and Egypt.

Saudi Arabia, backed by its allies including several Persian Gulf Arab states, has launched a military campaign since March 2015 in support of Yemen's former government, a close Riyadh ally, and against the Houthi Ansarullah movement.

The Houthi fighters, along with the Yemeni army and popular forces, have been defending the nation against the war, which has so far left over 11,400 people dead, according to the latest tallies

Several rounds of peace talks between Ansarullah and the party loyal to ex-president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi have failed to yield results amid deep divisions.

The Houthi movement has been running Yemen's affairs since late 2014, when Hadi resigned and fled to Riyadh. The former president is now based in Aden, but spends most of his time in the Saudi capital.

In January, the UN envoy told the UN Security Council that Hadi "continues to criticize" the peace proposals without agreeing to discuss them, adding that such an approach "will hinder and impede the path towards peace."

The Houthi Ansarullah movement is also critical of Cheikh Ahmed's role, saying the UN official fails to speak the truth about the situation on the ground in Yemen, and that he is siding with the invaders by keeping silent on Saudi crimes.

However, the UN chief on Sunday voiced his full support for Cheikh Ahmed during the news conference in Riyadh.

On the battlefield in Yemen

The developments come as Yemeni forces continue their retaliatory attacks against the Saudi military and its mercenaries.

On Sunday, Yemen's al-Masirah television reported that the Yemeni army and Ansarullah fighters purged several areas and hills near Yam Mountains in Nihm district, northwest of the capital Sana'a, of Saudi-backed militants, leaving a number of them dead and injured.

Yemen's War Media released footage that shows Saudi mercenaries fleeing amid clashes with Yemeni forces.

Meanwhile, the Yemeni forces destroyed a weapons warehouse belonging to the Saudi military in the kingdom's Asir region by firing rocket-propelled grenades.

The Yemeni forces also fired artillery shells at a military position in the Saudi southwestern province of Najran, leaving an unspecified number of soldiers injured.

In another development, the Saudi military issued a statement late Sunday, declaring the southern city of Hudaydah a military zone from 10 a.m. (0700 GMT) on Monday until further notice.

It urged civilians in the port city to "remain in their homes and avoid clashes."

The statement came days after the UN reported a rise in Saudi airstrikes against Hudaydah, possibly trapping civilians and hampering humanitarian operations there.

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Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Feb. 14

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov mulled topical issues of bilateral trade and economic relations in a phone conversation, the press service of the Russian government reported.

The sides also touched upon the schedule of upcoming contacts, according to the message.

Medvedev congratulated Berdimuhamedov on his convincing victory in the presidential election held Feb. 12, and wished him further success in his state activities.

It was earlier reported that Russias Ministry of Industry and Trade plans to hold talks in Turkmenistan and upon reaching a concord, sign an agreement on industrial cooperation.

The purpose of the agreement is to create mutually beneficial competitive environment in the two countries markets of industrial products.

Russia and Turkmenistan intend to cooperate in this sphere to implement joint programs and projects, enhance the competitiveness of enterprises of the two countries and facilitate the development of industrial cooperation.
'Knives out' amid fears Flynn may 'put Putin before America'

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 13, 2017 10:57PM

"Unhappiness" rises in the administration of US President Donald Trump, says a senior White House official as pressure mounts on the new commander-in-chief to dismiss his national security adviser over his contact with Russia.

"The knives are out," a senior administration official said."There's a lot of unhappiness about this."

US National Security Adviser Michael Flynn reportedly had secret discussions with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak about sanctions the outgoing administration of President Barack Obama imposed on Moscow late last year.

According to the reports that emerged last week, the two secretly held a series of phone calls the month before Trump's grip on power.

"Kislyak was left with the impression that the sanctions would be revisited at a later time," a US officials told The Washington Post February 9.

Flynn, had earlier rejected such claims and was backed by Vice President Mike Pence, who said the calls "had nothing whatsoever to do with those sanctions."

The development made a Flynn spokesman walk back his earlier denial, saying that while Flynn "had no recollection of discussing sanctions, he couldn't be certain that the topic never came up."

Trump's policy adviser, Stephen Miller, also refused Monday to assure reporters that the president still trusts Flynn, asserting that such a matter should be addressed by the president himself.

Meanwhile, bipartisan pressure was mounting on Trump to fire Flynn in the wake of the new revelations.

"It would be very difficult for me to continue to rely on someone in such a vital position [if Flynn] had not been truthful," Republican Senator Susan Collins said of the retired US Army general, calling the contact "inappropriate and troubling."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi also released a statement, warning Trump that the conversations show Flynn may put Russian President Vladimir Putin "before America."

"Michael Flynn's conduct was alarming enough before his secret communications with the Russians were exposed," said the Democrat. "Now, we have a National Security Adviser who cannot be trusted to put Putin before America. National security demands that General Flynn be fired immediately."

Pelosi tapped into earlier allegations that Trump himself has ties with Putin, referencing the two men's proclivity for a thaw in Washington-Moscow ties.

"The reports of the Trump-Russia dossier gain credence with each passing day. As long as Republicans refuse to compel the release of President Trump's tax returns, they are complicit in covering up Russia's financial, personal and political hold on the Administration," Pelosi said. "This administration has exhausted its excuses. Vladimir Putin's grip on President Trump must be investigated, exposed and broken. National security demands that General Flynn be fired immediately."

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Israel's Netanyahu To Offer 'Responsible Policies' During U.S. Visit

RFE/RL February 13, 2017

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will put forward "responsible policies" when he travels to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Iran on the agenda.

Netanyahu will leave for Washington on February 13 and is scheduled to meet the president on February 15 for their first meeting since Trump's inauguration.

Netanyahu had often-difficult dealings with Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, and he has expressed hopes of a better relationship with the new president.

During his presidential campaign, Trump expressed strong support for Israel while indicating a tough stand on the Palestinians.

But, since taking office, Trump has pulled back on unqualified support for Netanyahu's policy of establishing more Jewish settlements in territory claimed by the Palestinians.

In an interview on February 10, Trump said settlement growth was not "good for peace."

Trump has also backed off a campaign pledge to transfer the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a move fiercely opposed by the Palestinians, who regard East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

"For [the past] three weeks, Donald Trump has been speaking differently," said Michael Oren, an Israeli deputy minister. "We must act cautiously."

Netanyahu told his February 12 cabinet meeting that Israel's relationship with the United States "requires a responsible and considered policy, and that is how I intend to act."

"I have navigated Israeli-U.S. relations in a prudent manner, and I will continue to do so now," he said.

Education Minister Naftali Bennett of the far-right Jewish Home Party urged the prime minister to take a hard line.

"Netanyahu, please make it clear to Trump in our name: There will not be a Palestinian state in the heart of our land," he wrote on Twitter. "It will not happen."

Mark Heller of the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv told AFP the visit will be a chance for the prime minister to test how far he can go with the new president.

"In Washington, Benjamin Netanyahu will test his room to maneuver [with Trump] on settlements," Heller said.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/israel- netanyahu-trump-washington-visit- palestinians-iran/28305994.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.

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European Parliament Paves Way For Visa-Free Travel For Georgians, Ukrainians

RFE/RL February 13, 2017

BRUSSELS -- The European Parliament is set to endorse new rules governing the suspension of visa-free regimes with countries outside the European Union, a key step toward visa-free travel for Georgians and Ukrainians to the Schengen zone.

EU lawmakers approved the visa-suspension mechanism in December, and an announcement of its final version was made on February 13 after the text was translated into all EU languages and vetted by legal experts.

Under the new set of rules, visa-waiver agreements with third countries may be suspended faster in certain cases, such as an upsurge in baseless asylum applications or imminent security threats posed by third-country nationals.

The measure paves the way for Georgia and Ukraine to be allowed visa-free travel to the Schengen Area within months.

The European Parliament overwhelmingly approved visa liberalization for Georgia in a February 3 vote, and this will be implemented now that the new visa-suspension mechanism has been endorsed. Diplomats say visa liberalization for Georgia is expect to enter into force in late March.

The approval of the suspension mechanism also clears the way for further steps on visa liberalization for Ukraine, which diplomats say is expected to enter into force in June.

Georgia and Ukraine have long sought greater integration with Europe, largely as a bulwark against Russian influence, but have been frustrated in the past with the pace of EU moves to bring it closer.

Russian forces drove deep into Georgia in a five-day war in 2008, and Moscow supports the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Russia seized control of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and backs separatists in a war that has killed more than 9,750 people in eastern Ukraine since April 2014.

The 26 Schengen Area countries are Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Reporting by RFE/RL Brussels Correspondent Rikard Jozwiak

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/eu-georgia-ukraine- visa-free-travel/28307248.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.

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US Navy Selects Indian Shipyard to Repair Its Vessels Operating in Indian Ocean

Sputnik News

19:05 13.02.2017

US is concerned about India's unwillingness to implement Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), military bases sharing agreement, which was signed in August 2016. Meanwhile, US has started tying up with Indian shipyard for repairing and alternation services for hundreds of naval vessels.

New Delhi (Sputnik)  Furthering progress on key military bases sharing agreement, US Navy has chosen Indian company for repair and alteration services for warships of the largest forward-deployed Seventh Fleet operating in the region. "Reliance Infrastructure Limited (RInfra) controlled Reliance Defense and Engineering Limited (RDEL) has signed the Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) with U.S. Navy. Earlier in January 2017, the Reliance Shipyard was qualified by U.S. Navy as an approved contractor to perform complex repair and alternation services for the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet vessels operating in the region," reads a statement send by Reliance Defense and Engineering on Monday.

Seventh fleet of US Navy operates in Indian Ocean and Western Pacific. There are roughly 5,070 ships and submarines, 140 aircraft and approximately 20,000 sailors under its command.

Currently, the vessels of US Navy's Seventh Fleet visit Singapore or Japan for such works.

India and the United States had signed the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) on 29 August last year but India has not issued executive order which is necessary for implementation of LEMOA. LEMOA is a facilitating agreement that establishes basic terms, conditions, and procedures for reciprocal provision of Logistic Support, Supplies, and Services between the armed forces of India and the United States. Last week, in a telephonic conversation with Indian Minister of Defense Manohar Parrikar, US Secretary of Defense James Mattis had asked India to expedite the talks on concluding two others foundational defense agreements as well. These two pacts are Communication and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA). But, Indian government has clarified several times that it is not in hurry to go ahead with CISMOA and BECA.

 Sputnik

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Egypt Ready to Support Efficiency of Lebanese Army

Sputnik News

18:41 13.02.2017

The president of Egypt expressed support for Lebanon's fight against terrorism.

CAIRO (Sputnik)  Cairo is prepared to show support to strengthen the efficiency of the Lebanese army and security services, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi said on Monday.

"We have agreed to jointly fight against the threat of terrorism, and I told His Excellency [President of Lebanon Michel Aoun] that Egypt was ready to support the efficiency of the Lebanese army and the country's various security services," Sisi said at a joint press conference with Aoun in Cairo.

The Egyptian president added that they had also discussed the Syrian crisis and the issue of the refugees "that Lebanon suffers from."

Aoun is currently in Cairo with his first visit to Egypt after assuming office on October 31, 2016.

 Sputnik

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Amid unprecedented needs, UN and partners launch $1.6 billion aid appeal for South Sudan

13 February 2017  Against the backdrop of dramatic deterioration of the humanitarian situation in South Sudan due to a combination of conflict, economic decline and climatic shocks, the United Nations together with relief partners have appealed for $1.6 billion to provide life-saving assistance and protection to 5.8 million people across the country.

"We are facing unprecedented needs, in an unprecedented number of locations, and these needs will increase during the upcoming lean season," said Eugene Owusu, the Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan in a news release issued by the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Humanitarian organizations estimate that some 7.5 million people across South Sudan are now in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, including some 3.4 million people who had been forced to flee their homes since conflict began in December 2013.

While disturbing accounts of violence and atrocities, including sexual violence, continue to be reported, food insecurity and malnutrition have skyrocketed. Furthermore, the risk of famine looms over thousands of people in conflict-affected communities and food deficit areas.

"With needs rising rapidly, we have rigorously prioritized the 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan to target those who most urgently require assistance and protection," added Mr. Owusu.

Under the Plan, 137 aid organizations, including 62 non-governmental organizations (an increase of 55 per cent over the number in 2016) aim to respond to the most urgent life-threatening needs of the target population. The objectives include:

- Saving lives and alleviating the suffering of those most in need of assistance and protection

- Protecting the rights and upholding the dignity of the most vulnerable

- Supporting at-risk communities to sustain their capacity to cope with significant threats

Swift action during the dry season essential

According to OCHA, delivering supplies in the country depends, in a large part, on good weather conditions.

Humanitarian organizations strive to maximize the window of opportunity provided by the dry season to deliver supplies by road. Once rain set in  usually in May  most roads become impassable and supplies must be delivered by air, multiplying the cost of the humanitarian operation, which is one of the largest and most complex in the world.

"It is imperative that this appeal is funded early, and funded fully, so that the aid workers deployed across South Sudan can respond robustly and rapidly," said Mr. Owusu.

"I appeal to the international community, which has given so generously to this young country, to support us now. If we fail to act swiftly, lives may be lost."

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UN and partners launch multimillion dollar appeal for DR Congo

13 February 2017  The United Nations and humanitarian partners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have appealed for nearly $750 million to aid 6.7 million people this year.

"It is vital that the world does not forget the urgent and massive humanitarian needs," said Rein Paulsen, Head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the country.

The 2017 appeal is for $748 million, as part of a new three-year action plan "to respond to the humanitarian needs of millions of civilians affected by one of the world's most acute and protracted crises," according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The three-year strategy aligns with development plans created by national authorities, the United Nations system, the World Bank and other bilateral partners.

The appeal also targets the needs of more than 2.1 million displaced people, including half-a-million of children under the age of five suffering from acute malnutrition, according to OCHA. Hundreds of thousands of people are also facing measles, cholera and other diseases.

"While over 60 per cent of the humanitarian needs are located in the eastern part of the country, western and central provinces suffer from generalized poverty that calls for solutions that go beyond humanitarian assistance," OCHA said.

In addition to the needs of the Congolese, violence in the country is also affecting refugees from South Sudan living the north-eastern part of the country.

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UN Accused of Complicity in Pakistan's Alleged Unlawful, Coerced Repatriation of Afghans

By Ayaz Gul February 13, 2017

An international rights defender has accused Pakistan and the United Nations refugee agency of complicity in promoting "unlawful and coerced" repatriation of tens of thousands of Afghan refugees.

In a report released Monday, Human Rights Watch alleges that in response to deadly security incidents and deteriorating political relations with Afghanistan over the past two years, Pakistani authorities have mounted a concerted campaign to drive Afghans out of Pakistan.

"In the second half of 2016, a toxic combination of deportation threats and police abuses pushed out nearly 365,000 of the country's 1.5 million registered Afghan refugees, as well as just over 200,000 of the country's estimated one million undocumented Afghans," the report noted.

HRW senior researcher Patricia Gossman, while sharing details of the report at a news conference in Kabul, said the exodus amounts to the world's largest unlawful mass forced return of refugees in recent times.

"The way Pakistan carried that out was through a range [of] abuses toward the refugee[s] and the undocumented Afghans in Pakistan. And this included, detentions, extortion, extracting bribes, the closure of Afghan schools, raids on people's homes and other threats, including from the local population that Afghans we[re] no longer welcome."

Pakistan denies coercion

Pakistani authorities maintain that areas where Afghan refugees reside have lately become security challenges and safe havens for anti-state militants, and after hosting them for four decades, host communities also want the refugees to be relocated. But Islamabad denies allegations of any concerted campaign of abuse and coercion.

Gossman warned that the refugee families pushed out of Pakistan are returning to expanding armed conflict in Afghanistan where they also face widespread destitution and a near-total absence of social services.

The report harshly criticized the U.N. Refugee Agency, or UNHCR, for allegedly facilitating repatriation of refugees from Pakistan, saying the agency was actually complicit in this forced return of displaced families.

"Rather than saying something, speak out publicly when this concerted campaign by Pakistan began, UNHCR in Pakistan remained silent and in fact increased its cash grant to the refugees all of which facilitated the return of hundreds of thousands of people in conditions that cannot be called voluntary."

UNHCR promptly responded to the allegations, saying it disagrees with the conclusions of the HRW report. In a statement sent to VOA, the agency said that throughout 2016, it has informed Afghans of their rights, intervened in cases of unlawful arrest and detention, and intervened in nearly 6,000 cases of arrest, securing the release of almost all.

"UNHCR does not promote returns to Afghanistan given the enduring conflict in different parts of the country and its limited absorption capacity. At the same time, the agency does help those who decide to return based on the options available to them," the agency said in the statement.

Complex situation

It maintained that the multiple drivers behind the surge in the returnees are complex and influenced by shifting regional dynamics and relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

"They include pressures by authorities amidst broader security operations, changing attitudes among host communities, uncertainty about the renewal of refugee ID cards, economic hardship, stricter border controls disrupting trade and family ties. There was also a campaign by the Afghan government in Pakistan to encourage Afghans to return home."

Speaking in Kabul, Gossman also slammed Afghan authorities for encouraging the refugees to return when the conflict has worsened and the government is unable to deliver on its resettlement incentives.

"It is very reckless and irresponsible at the very least to promise land or other advantages to people who return when that is actually not forthcoming."

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Russia Gathers Stakeholders, Sans US or NATO, for Afghanistan Conference

By Ayesha Tanzeem February 13, 2017

Russia is hosting a conference in Moscow this week that will bring together Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, India and Iran to discuss a possible solution of the conflict in Afghanistan.

This meeting is part of Russia's effort at playing a more pro-active role in Afghanistan for the first time since its invasion of the country in 1979. Its efforts, however, have encountered controversies at the very outset.

The last conference Moscow hosted on Afghanistan in December included only China and Pakistan, prompting a strong protest from the Afghan government.

The one this week is more inclusive of the regional stakeholders, but excludes the United States or NATO, leading to speculation that Russia is more interested in undermining the Unites States than in solving the regional problems.

At a recent Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, chairman Senator John McCain said Russia is propping up the Taliban to undermine the U.S.

"Given how troubling the situation is in Afghanistan, any efforts by any outside stakeholder to look for regional solutions to the war there should be welcomed," said Michael Kugelman, deputy Asia director at the Washington based Wilson Center. The question he asked, however, was what is Russia trying to do.

"Is it genuinely trying to rally the key players to come up with an actionable plan to wind down the war? Or is it just trying to scale up its role in Afghanistan to undercut U.S. influence?"

Other regional analysts, however, are looking at the development with more optimism.

"This framework does include all the regional players that have a major stake in Afghanistan," according to Amina Khan of the Institute for Strategic Studies Islamabad, a Pakistani government run think tank.

"Terrorism is a global phenomena but I think regional countries need to play a more pro-active role," she added.

At the last trilateral, Russia's primary focus was on the presence of the Islamist militant group Islamic State in Eastern Afghanistan. Moscow does not want its influence to spread to the Muslim population in the Caucasus bordering Russia.

However, Gen. John Nicholson, the man leading the U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, told the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee recently that Russia is trying to "publicly legitimize the Taliban" with a "false narrative" that the Taliban is fighting Islamic State, not the Afghan government.

However, Russia is not the only country in the region worried about IS influence and using the Taliban as a hedge. Iran also has started supporting the Taliban to keep IS influence away from areas bordering Iran. China has had contacts with the Taliban for a while, hosting several secret meetings between the Taliban and Afghan government officials or peace envoys.

Expectations from the upcoming conference, meanwhile, are low at this stage.

"The fact that three countries have been added to the list at this point for the first time means it's still going to be in the initial stages of getting to know each other, and getting to hear each other's narrative and try to make sense of it. I don't see anything big coming out of this," said Omar Samad, former Afghan ambassador to the U.S.

Several similar efforts have fallen victim to the tension and mistrust between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Whether this process succeeds, will depend on whether Russia and China can persuade the two to work out their differences.

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Somali Military Court Sentences 7 Al-Shabab Militants to Death

By Mohamed Olad Hassan February 13, 2017

A military court in northern Somalia town of Bosaso has on Monday sentenced seven suspected al-Shabab Islamist militants to death.

Abdifatah Haji Aden, the Chairman of Puntland's military court, said, the militants are proved to have been part of a high profile assassination against Puntland officials.

Aden earlier accused the militants of having carried out coordinated assassinations against Puntland officials.

"After all the court proceeding including hearings and the presentation of evidences the court sentences these seven men to death," Aden said. "They can take an appeal within 30 days otherwise the sentence will be carried out."

At the court, before the sentence were announced, some of the defendants shouted "We are innocent!"

The defendants' lawyers said, "The sentence was unfair and no credible evidences were brought before the court."

The past three months suspected militants killed three senior Puntland officials in Bosaso port city, the commercial hub of Puntland.

Those killed included the third deputy commander of police forces, Jama Sahardiid, the director of Puntland's presidential palace, Aden Huruse, and the prosecutor of the Puntland military court, Abdkarim Hassan Firdiye.

Al-Shabab's insurgency aims to drive out African Union peacekeepers, topple Somalia's Western-backed government, and impose its strict version of Islam on the Horn of Africa state.

Meanwhile, three people were killed and three others injured early Monday when suspected al-Shabab militants attacked a government military post in Qalimow Village, 50 kilometers north of Mogadishu.

Witnesses and officials told VOA that those killed included two government soldiers and one militant.

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Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 14



By Fatih Karimov  Trend:



Russias aircraft manufacturer, Sukhoi, is pursuing to receive the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) permission to start cooperation with Iranian airlines, Secretary of Association of Iranian Airlines Maqsoud Asadi Samani said.



Samani said that the company has informed Iran that it has settled the technical problems of Sukhoi Superjet 100 passenger aircraft and will be able to cooperate with Iranian firms once the OFAC grants the approval, Mehr news agency reported Feb. 13.



Samani further said that Sukhoi also should receive permission from the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran (CAO) in order to sell the Superjet 100 passenger aircraft, which was introduced to Iranian airliners on Dec. 13, 2016.



Samani earlier said that Tehran is no longer interested in purchasing Superjet 100 passenger aircraft, due to technical problems with the planes tail.



Sukhoi Superjet 100 is a 75-seat and 95-seat passenger plane being produced since 2000 commissioned for flights services by the airlines from 2008.
Trump Makes First Calls to African Leaders

By Dan Joseph February 13, 2017

U.S. President Donald Trump made his first phone calls to African heads of state Monday, speaking with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and South African President Jacob Zuma.

Nigeria and South Africa said the calls were made at the request of the U.S. president, who until now has said little about Africa or African issues since assuming office last month.

The Nigerian presidency said Trump and Buhari discussed issues of terrorism, and said Trump assured Buhari the United States is ready to make a new deal to help Nigeria "in terms of military weapons."

The statement said Trump also commended Buhari for the strides Nigeria is making against Islamist radical group Boko Haram, and invited Buhari to come to Washington at a mutually convenient date.

Buhari has not made any public appearances since going to London for medical treatment on January 19.

The South Africa presidency said that in their call, Trump and President Zuma affirmed their commitment to "strengthening the already strong bilateral relations between the two countries."

It said they also discussed the need to work together on other issues, "especially the quest for peace and stability on the African continent."

Buhari and Zuma congratulated President Trump on his election.

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US National Security Adviser Flynn resigns over Russia contacts

Iran Press TV

Tue Feb 14, 2017 4:10AM

US President Donald Trump's national security adviser, Michael Flynn, has resigned over allegations that he had contacts with Russia.

The White House confirmed Flynn's resignation on Monday night. Keith Kellogg, a retired US Army general, has been named as Flynn's interim replacement.

In his resignation letter, Flynn said he had given incomplete information to Vice President Mike Pence, who went on live TV and denied the allegations against the retired US Army general.

"I inadvertently briefed the Vice President-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador. I have sincerely apologized to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology," Flynn wrote.

"I am tendering my resignation, honored to have served our nation and the American people in such a distinguished way," he wrote. "I know with the strong leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence and the superb team they are assembling, this team will go down in history as one of the greatest presidencies in US history."

Flynn's resignation came just hours after reports surfaced that the Justice Department warned President Trump last month that Flynn lied regarding his communications with the Russian ambassador to the US and was potentially vulnerable to blackmail by Moscow.

The conversation, which took place well before Trump's inauguration, centered around lifting then-President Barack Obama's sanctions against Russia.

Any discussion of sanctions at that time would have amounted to a breach of law against private citizens engaging in foreign policy.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said hours before Flynn's resignation that Trump was "evaluating" the situation and had talked to Pence and "various other people" about the issue.

The news came days after the White House launched an investigation into the matter.

'Flynn is an open Islamophobe'

Flynn said in August that "Islamism" was a "vicious cancer" in body of all Muslims and had "to be excised."

"We are facing another 'ism,' just like we faced Nazism, and fascism, and imperialism and communism; this is Islamism, it is a vicious cancer inside the body of 1.7 billion people on this planet and it has to be excised," he said during a speech to the Ahavath Torah Congregation in Stoughton, Massachusetts.

According to Scottish writer and journalist John Wight, "Flynn is an open Islamophobe."

He told Press TV on Monday that "Flynn seems to carry a particular hatred of Iran. He has talked in the past of the need for 'regime change' in Iran, and he has described Islam as 'a malignant cancer.' That's a direct quote. He has also described it as a 'sick religion' that requires healing."

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White House Aide Flynn Resigns Amid Questions About Talks With Russian Envoy

February 14, 2017

The White House has announced that National Security Adviser Michael Flynn has resigned amid reports he misled top officials from President Donald Trump's team about his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the United States.

Flynn's departure late February 13, less than one month since the Trump administration took over the presidency, marks an unusually early shakeup for a president's senior team of advisers.

Flynn was a loyal Trump supporter throughout Trump's improbable campaign last year, but his ties to Russia caused concern among other senior Trump advisers.

In what may have been a irreversible mistake, Flynn initially told Vice President Mike Pence that he did not discuss sanctions with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak during multiple phone conversations they had in December when former President Barack Obama was preparing a new round of sanctions against Russia for allegedly hacking the presidential election.

Flynn's assurances led Pence to vouch for the former general in a television interview. But weeks later, Flynn conceded in response to published reports that he may have discussed sanctions with Kislyak. Any such discussions may have violated U.S. law prohibiting private citizens from conducting foreign policy.

'Incomplete Information'

In a resignation letter issued late on February 13, Flynn said he gave Pence and others "incomplete information" about the phone calls.

The White House named retired General Keith Kellogg to replace Flynn as acting security adviser. He is also among three people the White House said Trump is considering naming to the post permanently. The other two are former CIA Director David Petraeus and Vice Admiral Robert Harward.

The resignation came amid allegations that the White House may have known more than officials have publicly admitted about the phone conversations.

The Associated Press (AP) and Reuters news agencies both reported late on February 13 that the U.S. Justice Department had warned the White House that Flynn could be in a compromised position as a result of the contradictions between the public depictions of the calls and what intelligence officials knew to be true based on recordings of the conversations, which were picked up as part of the routine monitoring of foreign officials' communications in the United States.

The Washington Post reported last week that Flynn discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy. AP reported that Flynn was in frequent contact with Kislyak on December 29, the same day the Obama White House imposed a new round of sanctions on Russia for allegedly hacking the U.S. presidential election.

Several House Democrats have called on the House Oversight Committee Chairman to launch an investigation into Flynn's ties to Russia. Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer told reporters he wants an independent investigation of Flynn's discussions with Kislyak.

Representative Eliot L. Engel, ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said after Flynn announced his resignation that he was "doing the right thing by stepping down."

"However, far too many questions remain unanswered about this administration's ties to Russia," he added.

Knowing that "Putin was working to tip the scales in President Trump's favor" during the election, Engel said, "we need a thorough, bipartisan investigation to get the complete picture of Russia's interference in our election, and Congress needs to take steps...to punish those responsible.

Besides being illegal to conduct U.S. diplomacy before taking office, Flynn's repeated conversations with Moscow's ambassador have also renewed questions about Trump's friendly posture toward Russia at a time when U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Moscow hacked and released Democratic Party e-mails with an eye toward helping Trump get elected.

With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/white-house-aide-flynn- resigns-amid-questions-about-talks-with -russian-envoy/28308327.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.

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Kim Jong Nam

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's half-brother was assassinated in Malaysia 13 February 2017. Kim Jong-nam was poisoned at Kuala Lumpur Airport. This was the highest-profile death since the regime's leader Kim Jong-un purged his uncle Jang Song-thaek in late 2013. Kim Jong Nam was critical of the third-generation power succession in North Korea although he had refrained from making public comments about his home country. South Korea's Institute for National Security in December 2016 claimed that Kim Jong Un had ordered the execution of 340 people since he came to power in December 2011.

A Chinese government official suggested in Februasry 2018 that the killing of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's brother in Malaysia one year ago resulted from a conflict over who should succeed their father, Kim Jong Il. The source told NHK that in August 2012, 8 months after Kim Jong Il's death, North Korea's then-number-2 man Jang Song Thaek told then-Chinese president Hu Jintao that he wanted the older brother to succeed his father. Jang Song Thaek is the brothers' uncle and was visiting Beijing.

The meeting was recorded by then-Chinese Communist Party high-ranking official Zhou Yongkang, using a subordinate. Zhou tipped off Kim Jong Un about the meeting early the next year. Jang was executed for treason in December of that year.

China's government believes that information conveyed by Zhou prompted Kim Jong Un to get rid of his uncle and brother. It's not known why Zhou told Kim the information. Some say Zhou wanted to avoid being investigated for corruption by using his ties with North Korea. Zhou was later given an indefinite prison term on charges of corruption and leaking state secrets. The source says the latter includes the tip-off to North Korea. China's government has not commented on the murder of Kim Jong Nam. But the latest revelation could be a key to understanding relations between the country and the North.

The banned chemical weapon VX nerve agent was used to kill Kim Jong Nam. The substance, deadly even in minute amounts, was detected on Kims eyes and face, Malaysias inspector general of police said in a written statement 24 February 2017. Two women  one of them Indonesian, the other Vietnamese  coated their hands with chemicals and wiped them on Kims face. There is an antidote that can be administered by injection. Kim Jong Nam sought help from airport staff but he fell into convulsions and died on the way to the hospital within two hours of the attack, police said.

Malaysia had three people in custody in connection with Kim Jong Nams death, including the two suspected attackers. Authorities were also seeking several other people, including the second secretary of North Koreas embassy in Kuala Lumpur and an employee of North Koreas state-owned airline, Air Koryo.

Kim Jong-nam's son, Han-sol, was believed to be staying in Chinese territory. Kim Han Sol, entered an international school in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2011 and was admitted to the prestigious Paris Institute of Political Studies in 2013. Kim Han Sol once told foreign reporters that his father was not interested in politics.

Kim Jong Nam was reportedly considered a threat to his brothers rule because of his outspoken criticism of the continued repressive and authoritarian practices within the country, because he was a proponent of reform polices that would loosen state controls, and because there was speculation that Chinese President Xi Jinping would prefer to see him replace his younger brother as the leader of North Korea.

North Korea observed the 75th anniversary of its late leader Kim Jong Il's birthday on 16 February 2017. His third son and current leader Kim Jong Un and other executive officials attended a meeting in Pyongyang to celebrate the anniversary on 15 February 2017. Kim said Sunday's launch of a new ballistic missile brilliantly decorated his father's birthday. He praised the late Kim, saying the former leader raised North Korea to nuclear power status. He also said North Korea vows to defeat the US hostile policy toward his country.

Initial reports said that Kim Jong-un died after two women presumed to be North Korean agents shot him poisoned needles, and that the women fled from the scene. Some witnesses said that the murder suspects sprayed an unidentified substance on his face. BBC quoted a Malaysian police official as saying that a woman covered his face with a cloth laced with a liquid.

Korea's National Intelligence Serice did confirm the victim was Kim Jong-nam, and that he had died of poisoning, although the method of delivery, either a poisoned needle or spray, was still to be determined. The agency added that it was not the first time Kim had been targeted and that a previous assassination attempt had been made in 2012.

Kim Jong-nam had been exposed to the threat of attack since March after China stopped providing as much security to him as it cozied up to the regime in Pyongyang in opposition to the planned deployment of THAAD in South Korea. The Royal Malaysia Police released a statement on 15 February 2017 confirming the arrest of a female suspect in the investigation of the murder of Kim Jong-nam. The statement identified the suspect as a 29-year old woman in possession of Vietnamese travel documents. She was arrested at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the scene of the crime, and was alone at the time. She was said to have been identified from CCTV footage at the airport.

To understand this murder, ask why Michael whacked his brother Fredo. "Fredo, you're my older brother, and I love you. But don't ever take sides with anyone against the Family again. Ever." - Michael Corleone in the Godfather Part II. "I don't feel I have to wipe everybody out, Tom. Just my enemies." - Michael Corleone in The Godfather Part II. The assassination of Kim Jong Nam bolstered the argument that North Korea is a mafia state that operates outside the law, ruthlessly eliminates its enemies and is dependent upon criminal enterprises for survival.

North Korean analysts have categorized the Kim regime as a highly corrupt, family-led criminal enterprise that disregards international laws and is involved in smuggling, arms dealing, including the proliferation of nuclear materials and missile parts, drug trafficking, counterfeiting money, all to generate revenue for the wealthy ruling elite.

Kim Jong-un had so far reportedly executed at least 140 senior officials, including his uncle and mentor Jang Sung-thaek in 2013. Whether Kim Jong-nam would have posed a threat to Kim Jong-un is unclear. Although he showed no signs of ambition to challenge his younger brother, Kim Jong-nam represented a question-mark of legitimacy and remained a potential thorn in the leader's side.

The fact that Kim Jong-nam was in the bloodline could be seen as a threat to the dictator. Entering his sixth year in power, Kim Jong-un appeared to be cementing the cult of personality around him. Some saw the assassination as a typical case. "All the tyrants tend to kill their brothers, their in-laws, kin people around them because they believe this is the only way to solidify his power base because he feels pressed by all people." Possibly adding to Kim Jong-un's hostility towards his half-brother, . Kim Jong-nam had publicly criticized the transfer of power that brought Kim Jong-un to the top of the regime, replacing their father.

Another possible motive being discussed is China's protection of Kim Jong-nam in case Kim Jong-un died. Kim Jong-nam has been China's favorite. The Chinese government has been financially supporting Kim Jong-nam because Beijing looked to him as the next North Korean leader in case an emergency occurs. For Kim Jong-un, eliminating his half-brother favored by Beijing was necessary, especially because he himself did not have good relations with China.

Another reason for the killing was to prevent Kim Jong-nam from going to South Korea. A source who asked not to be named said Kim Jong-nam had been called back Pyongyang by the North Korean authorities for various reasons, but did not respond. There are also reports that an attempt by Kim Jong-nam to enter the South led to his murder.

Experts on the Korean Peninsula said the reported assassination of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, indicated the internal instability of the North Korean regime. Victor Cha, chair of Korea studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told Yonhap News that the death of Kim Jong-nam hinted at how much resistance there was inside the country. He said he does not agree with the assessment that the North had maintained stability for the past five years during the transition of power from former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to his son Kim Jong-un. Pointing out that Kim Jong-un sacked the minister of state security Kim Won-hong last month and now kills the elder brother, Cha said the North does not look so stable to him.

Mark Tokola, vice president of the Korea Economic Institute of America, had a similar analysis on the North Korea situation. In a statement, Tokola said there are very few that would directly benefit from Kim Jong-nam's death other than his half-brother in Pyongyang. He added that the death of Kim Jong-nam might have been prompted by a continuing sense of paranoia on the part of Kim Jong-un.

Carl Thayer, a defense analyst at the University of New South Wales, said Kim Jong Nams death was a further indicator of political anxieties in North Korea. And even though his older brother was pushed outside and it was clear he was never going to come back to challenge him, it may be just another indication of Kim Jong Uns perceived anxieties, he said.

It is known that dozens of North Korean defectors are being protected in the South under high-level police protection measures, with security guards staying with them around-the-clock. The police plan to increase the number of security guards escorting North Korean defectors that may be targeted by North Korean operatives or move their places of residence for their safety.

Kim Jong-nam, the eldest son of late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, was once considered a potential successor until he was caught trying to enter Japan with a fake passport with his son and two women in 2001. Kim Jong Nam's travel habits demonstrated that he was not in line to succeed his father to the leadership of North Korea. He evidently travelled by commercial scheduled passenger aircraft, rather than by government VIP aircraft. When he travelled commercially, he appeared to travel with a modest entourage that could provide no more than perfunctory physical security. These measures were inconsistent with the protection that would be accorded the second most valuable person in the country, the successor to the leader.

Kim Jong Nam was born on 10 May 1971 to Song Hye Rim, Kim Jong Il's second wife. But it is not known with certainty whether Kim Jong-il actually married Sung, and there are suggestions that Kim Jong-nam may be illegitimate, and thus not the obvious heir-apparent. Sung Hye-rim soon moved to Moscow after falling out with Kim Jong-il. At the age of 10, Kim Jong Nam was packed off to study at an international school in Geneva.

South Korean reports claim during his time studying in Switzerland he reportedly learnt about democracy. He was said to have tried to convince his father to reform North Korea too, and that's when he started to fall out of favor with his father.

Kim Jong Nam was at one time believed to be a prospective successor to his father to take the helm of the communist North. He had been appointed to a senior post in the domestic intelligence agency, featured in defector accounts as leading a purge in 1996 in which dozens of people were executed. He was also known as a computer enthusiast. As of 2001 he led North Korea's committee on computing, and was believed to be responsible for information technology policy.

As of 2001 a few South Korean businesses employed the Korean Computer Center (KCC), a state-owned enterprise in Pyongyang, to write software for specialty applications such as voice recognition and fingertip identification. The KCC, established in 1990, had about 800 employees with an average age of about 26. [Hard-Line Software, BY TIM LARIMER Time Asia, FEBRUARY 19, 2001, VOL.157 NO.7]

In January 2001 the Nodong Sinmun announced a policy of "New Thinking" (Saeroun kwanjom) which called for scrapping outmoded habits and mentalities and putting all efforts into the technological reconstruction of North Korea, with a special emphasis on information technology. This special mention of information technology, Kim Jong Nam's area of special responsibility, might have been taken as an indication of his impending or actual elevation to the succession.

The so-called "Small General" was said to have visited Japan to build up his knowledge in the Japanese language and computer technology. Kim Jong-nam first sneaked into Japan with a forged passport around 1995. Japanese security authorities did not recognize him because there were few close-up pictures of him, and little other information available, since he had never officially appeared in public. He was also known to have recently studied at the universities in Geneva and Moscow.

On Tuesday 01 May 2001 Japanese authorities detained Kim Jong Nam, the eldest son of Kim Jong Il, at Narita airport for attempting to enter the country illegally. He was detained by immigration officers when he arrived from Singapore aboard Japan Airlines Flight 712 with two women and a 4-year-old boy. The younger of the two women was said to be Jong-nam's secretary and Japanese interpreter. The child was his son, but it was not clear whether the other female companion was his wife, Shin Jong-hi, or a relative who takes care of the child.

The man was found to possess a forged Dominican Republic passport, which contained records of previous entries into Japan, once in October 2000 and twice in December 2000. He reportedly told investigators through an interpreter that he was the son of Kim Jong Il and "wants to go to Tokyo Disneyland." Kim Jong Nam had previously attempted to sneak into Japan several times under a false name to visit sightseeing spots. Foreign Ministry officials said the man was "highly likely to be Kim Jong Nam" but stopped short of officially identifying as such. The four were deported on Friday 4 May 2001 to Beijing.

Kim Jong-nam's weakened position became apparent in 2002, when he spent much of the year in Russia, tending his ailing mother. Kim Jong Nam's 65-year-old mother Sung Hae Rim [Sung Hye-rim] died in July or August of 2002 in Moscow. A former actress, she suffered chronic diseases including cardiopathology, diabetes and mental depression, and a complication of these killed her. Sung used to be the most famous actress in North Korea during the 1960s and 70s. Reportedly Sung left the Dear Leader because she was tired of Kim Jong Il's adultery. Sung had been living in Moscow since the early 1980s. In February of 1996, Sung Hae Rim and her sister Sung Hye Rang, briefly moved to Geneva, Switzerland. But Sung Hae Rim eventually returned to Moscow.

Although Kim Jong Nam had previously been touted as Kim Jong-il's heir-apparent, after the Tokyo airport incident and the death of his mother, he appeared to be out of the leadership race. As of early 2003 he was believed to be residing in China.

Kim Jong Nam's appearance at a Beijing airport 25 September 2004 further fueled doubts about his status. He was travelling alone and there was no one greeting him on his arrival. He appeared to have arrived from an unknown third country, not North Korea. His overseas trip with no bodyguards and officials indicated that he was out of the contention for the leadership.

There is precedent for the regime re-instating disgraced figures after a period of atonement, and his rehabilitation cannot be excluded. Oldest sons are generally favored in North Korea, where Confucian traditions that honor seniority still hold sway.

A collective leadership headed by North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's brother-in-law is in the making in Pyongyang, the Yomiuri Shimbun claimed 15 January 2009. The Japanese daily said Jang Song-taek (62), who is director of the administrative department of the North Korean Workers Party, is to head this setup, with Kim's eldest son Jong-nam as the titular head of state. According to the paper, these plans had been made in Kim was incapacitated or dies. Jang Sung Taek was said to have been conducting operations related to the succession since November of last year, and additionally reported that Kim Jong Nam had started to be called the "Morning Star General," a title which tended to suggest newly-elevated importance.

On 24 January 2009 North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's eldest son, Kim Jong-nam, said that his father is the only figure that can decide on his successor. "Nobody can assert anything... My father will only decide," Kim told reporters upon arriving at a Beijing airport, when asked about the next leader of the communist country. He was in the Chinese capital for a couple of days "on leisure for personal events".

Kim Jong-nam was essentially exiled from North Korea thereon and spent much of his time in China and Macau, and eventually his half-brother Kim Jong-un was named heir-apparent in 2010. Although rarely appearing in public, he would speak to reporters occasionally and make critical comments about his brother and the regime.

He lived with his family in a villa in the Beijing suburbs, and regularly stayed at a luxury hotel in Macau. Kim Jong Nam was spotted eating at Japanese and Korean restaurants, and buying luxury goods. Some analysts say North Korea covered his living expenses. Others note that he was involved in managing funds and exporting arms for Pyongyang. But the details remained murky.

Kim Jong Nam's family had lived in Macau. An employee at a casino said Kim came in a group of 4 or 5 and those with him were well-built. This suggests Kim was accompanied by bodyguards. The employee related a person who saw Kim gambling said that he bet tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars when he visited the VIP room. A house Kim Jong Nam once used is located in a toney residential area along the coast. A neighbor said they haven't seen people coming or going in the past few years.

Since his uncle Jang Song-thaek was executed in 2013, he had been living in Singapore and other Southeast Asian countries. The chief of the National Intelligence Service(NIS) said 15 February 2017 that North Korea had previously attempted to kill Kim Jong-nam, the elder half brother of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un in 2012. NIS Director Lee Byung-ho told the parliamentary intelligence committee that Kim Jong-nam begged the North Korean leader not to kill him and his family in a letter written in April 2012 after the assassination attempt.

In 2012, authorities in South Korea arrested a man who entered the country posing as a defector from the North. The man was indicted on suspicion of planning to attack Kim Jong Nam on orders he received from North Korean officials while hiding in China. In 2004, South Korean media said Kim survived a trip to Australia because authorities there stepped up security after being told of a plot to assassinate him.

In 2012 he wrote a note to Japanese journalist Yoji Gomi saying, "The Kim Jong-un regime will not last long. Without reforms."

Kim Jong-nam had once been regarded as a leading candidate for succeeding his father. But Kim Jong-nam said he was personally opposed to the handover of power to the third generation, during an interview with Japans Asahi TV on Oct. 11, 2010, and he made similar remarks in an interview with Japans Tokyo Shimbun in Jan. 2011. Kim Jong-nam adopted a cautious attitude. I think that this was what my father decided. Since Ive never had any regrets or interest in this, I dont care at all, he said.

Even though more than five years had passed since Kim Jong-un became North Koreas leader, he had not had a summit with China. Kim Jong-un had not received official recognition from China, and some said his greatest fear was the possibility of China replacing him with a puppet regime under Kim Jong-nam. In the event of a crisis in North Korea, Kim Jong-nam was thought to be Chinas likely choice, given his relative openness and flexible outlook. That is why China was providing Kim Jong-nam with protection in his travels overseas. This prompted speculation that Kim Jong-nams assasination was connected with the sudden execution of Jang Song-thaek, Kim Jong-uns uncle, in Dec. 2013. Jang Song-thaek was the North Korean figure with the closest ties to China.





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DoD Prepares Response to Possible Dam Collapse in California

By Terri Moon Cronk DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2017  The Defense Department stands ready to assist in operations surrounding a failing dam in northern California, a Pentagon spokesman told reporters today.

Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said DoD officials are watching closely as the dam erodes.

"The dam is failing, and evacuation orders have been given to close to 200,000 people in the area," he said. "While the [water] depths are reported to be decreasing, we do note that rain is expected later this week."

In Touch With FEMA

DoD is in touch with the California National Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency through the commander of U.S. Northern Command, Davis said. Northcom provides command and control of Defense Department homeland defense efforts and coordinates defense support of civil authorities.

"We've dispatched liaison officers to the state emergency operations center, and are prepared to deploy any Title 10 capabilities  federal military  quickly if requested," Davis noted, adding that the entire California National Guard, which comprises about 23,000 service members, is on alert status.

FEMA and DoD coordinating officials stand by to put state and federal asset requests into action as they arise, he said.

'Leaning Forward, Ready to Assist'

"If the dam should break, there are FEMA, California National Guard and DoD personnel who will all be prepared to respond," the Pentagon spokesman told reporters. "We are leaning forward and are ready to assist if needed." Types of help DoD is prepared to provide include aviation, airborne imagery and water rescue -- both swift water and still water -- as well as mass care and shelter assistance, he added.

DoD officials are trying to anticipate such requests before they come, Davis said, and is keeping a dialogue open to quickly get its forces ready should they be needed.

"We recognize that one of our most solemn duties is to assist the American people in their greatest time of need," the captain said. "While the state, first and foremost, has the responsibility for doing that, there's a federal element, should they need it, which is ready to respond quickly."

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China plans to launch 1st cargo spacecraft as early as mid-April

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 19:52, February 13, 2017

China plans to launch its first cargo spacecraft via a Long March-7 Y2 carrier rocket in April, sources said Monday.

The Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft, which departed from north China's Tianjin on Feb. 5, arrived at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province on Monday for assembly and testing, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

Consisting of a cargo capsule and a propellent capsule, Tianzhou-1, the first cargo spacecraft independently developed by China, has a take-off weight of about 13 tonnes, up to six tonnes of which is payload. It can remain in space on its own for as long as three months.

It is capable of docking with the Tiangong-2 space lab and refueling it in addition to carrying out experiments and tests.

The Long March-7 Y2 carrier rocket is scheduled to arrive at the launch center in March, the CMSA said.

The launch of Tianzhou-1 will be a crucial step for China in building a space station by 2020, as cargo spacecraft are required to ship necessities to astronauts aboard the station.

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UK may lose access to EU's GPS navigation

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 13, 2017 10:30AM

Leaving the European Union would put the UK at the risk of losing access to the EU-wide Galileo satellite navigation, a super-accurate global positioning system (GPS) that is partly designed and implemented by British companies.

After 15 years of cooperation between the EU and the European Space Agency (ESA), Galileo went live in December, ending European countries' dependence on existing GPS solutions provided by the US, Russia or China.

Although Britain has indicated that it would not leave the 22-member ESA after Brexit, the country could still lose its access to the system as it is only accessible in EU countries for the time being, The Independent reported on Sunday.

This is while, UK trade minister Mark Garnier has raised concerns by displaying his lack of knowledge about the satnav system.

When asked by Scottish National Party MP George Kerevan that if the government had any plans to renegotiate a deal to use Galileo after Brexit, Garnier confused it with the so-called spectrum, which lays out TV and radio frequency allocations.

"The use of spectrum is incredibly important and that spectrum is a very valuable asset for this country and we will work with Ofcom to ensure that we get our fair share," the minister said at the House of Commons.

Kerevan told The Independent that it was "woefully negligent" of government officials not address the problem sooner.

"There is technology there reserved for member states to use for public services, and the UK could be locked out. I'm sure that a deal will be done, and the UK could pay its whack and get access, but it's just another part of Brexit that no one's actually thought about," he said.

"There are targets for growing the UK space industry and it's just woefully negligent that they haven't thought about this in the past year," the lawmaker added.

Norway and Switzerland, both ESA members, had to negotiate a deal before being granted access to the system.

Jean Bruston, the chair of the European Space Agency's EU policy office, had previously warned London that would need to renegotiate its partnership in Galileo and other space projects.

This means Britain's participation in a slew of other EU-led space projects such as the Copernicus satellite system, which monitors environmental damage, is at stake.

Chiefly designed for military purposes, the US variant of GPS, which is currently being used in Britain, deliberately provides less accurate data to commercial users.

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China Reveals Launch Date of New Aircraft Carriers

Sputnik News

14:46 13.02.2017(updated 15:04 13.02.2017)

Chinese media has revealed when the country is expecting to reinforce its fleet of aircraft carriers with two more domestically built vessels: the second aircraft carrier is scheduled to be launched later this year while the third one is expected in about 2021. It also provided some details about their technical characteristics.

In November 2016, Beijing declared the Soviet-era Liaoning, its sole carrier, "combat ready." Following the declaration, the ship departed on a training voyage that featured a stop on the edge of the South China Sea, at the People's Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN) base on Hainan Island.

The Liaoning, which got its name from the country's Liaoning Province, is in fact, the ex-Soviet aircraft carrier Varyag which was laid down as a Kuznetsov-class carrier for the Soviet navy in the 1970s, and which was only 70% completed and floating in Ukraine before being purchased by China.

In June 2011, People's Liberation Army Chief of the General Staff Chen Bingde confirmed that China was constructing its own aircraft carrier. Just a month later, in July, a senior researcher of the Academy of Military Sciences said China needed at least three aircraft carriers due to the same number of vessels possessed by its close neighbors India and Japan.

China then announced that two aircraft carriers were being built at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai.

On Monday, the South China Morning Post revealed when the country is expecting to reinforce its fleet of aircraft carriers with two more domestically built vessels and provided some of their technical characteristics.

The second aircraft carrier, which is provisionally named Type 001A, is scheduled to be launched later this year, but it will take several more years to develop as part of a real battle group before entering full service in the navy, Li Jie, a Beijing-based military expert told the newspaper.

However Andrei Chang, founder of military magazine Kanwa Asian Defense has argued that the Type 001A was not of Chinese design but "purely a copycat" of the same Soviet-era Varyag, which was further refurbished into the Liaoning.

Li Jie though maintained that "while the appearance of the Type 001A may be similar to the Liaoning, its layout, interior equipment and overall operational concept would be more advanced than the Liaoning."

One difference, he explained, is the Type 001's take-off ramp slope of 12 degrees, compared with 14 degrees for the Liaoning.

The 12-degree ramp would help fighters shorten their take-off distance, save fuel and increase their weapons payload while strengthening the ship's structure, Li told the newspaper.

"There are different operational concepts between the Liaoning and Type 001A," he said.

"Based on the Varyag design, the Liaoning was designed with both weapons systems and aircraft in an equally important layout, but the Type 001A has learned from US carriers to focus on how to make aircraft on board more functional," the expert said.

He also added that certain weapons were excluded from the Type 001A platform to allow more room to park carrier-based Shenyang J-15 (carrier-based fighter aircraft). The hanger was also being expanded to allow the new carrier to carry between six and eight more J-15 fighter jets than the Liaoning.

"The control tower island on the deck was shrunk 10 per cent, which allows the deck to dock more helicopters and fixed-wing early-warning aircraft," he said, adding that four weapons sponsons, or projections, on the aft deck had been dismantled.

S-band radars with four large antennae would be installed on the top of the control tower. The system is China's most advanced and is capable of covering a 360-degree search field to scout dozens of targets in the air and at sea, the expert explained.

Four HQ-10 short-range air defense missiles systems with 24 tubes would also deployed on the new ship.

However the newspaper quotes Macau-based military observer Antony Wong Dong as saying that the country's "limited production capacity for carrier-based J-15s might hinder the 001A entering full service on schedule."

"The Liaoning was designed to carry up to one aviation regiment, or 24 carrier-based fighters," he said.

"But the vessel has so far got only about 20 carrier-based J-15 because the [state-owned] Aeroengine Corporation has not yet developed a reliable replacement for the Russian-produced AL-31 models," he further told the newspaper.

"It's likely that the Type 001A will face the same problems as the Liaoning," the expert stated.

Meanwhile, commenting on its second domestically built aircraft carrier and the third overall, the Type 002 vessel, the construction if which got underway at the Jiangnan Changxingdao shipyard in Shanghai in March 2015, naval experts said that China will not adopt highly advanced electromagnetic take-off technology on it but instead rely on a conventional system.

The Type 002 would be equipped with at least three conventional steam launch catapults, South China Morning Post quotes a source close to the navy as saying.

It would be the first Chinese aircraft carrier to use this type of launch system.

"There are still some technical problems applying nuclear  propulsion to the carrier platform, so the Type 002 will still use steam catapults," the source said.

"But this is still a breakthrough compared with Liaoning and the Type 001A carrier, both of which are equipped with ski-jump ramps."

"It will [also] take a couple of years for the newest carrier to enter full service after its launch, as it takes two or three years to train carrier-based pilots," the source added.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong-based military expert Liang Guoliang told the outlet that the first Type 002 carrier was expected to be launched in about 2021.

The expert also added that China planned to produce two Type 002 carriers, each with a displacement of 85,000 tonnes, which would make them the biggest Chinese carriers. The Liaoning is about 55,000 tonnes while the Type 001A will be 70,000 tonnes

 Sputnik

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U.S. Condemns North Korean Ballistic Missile Launch

By Terri Moon Cronk DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2017  The United States strongly condemns North Korea's weekend ballistic missile launch and its other recent attempts and will take all necessary measures to deter and defeat threats to U.S. and ally territories and citizens, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters today.

Davis said that on Feb. 11 at 5:55 p.m. EST, U.S. Strategic Command detected and tracked what was assessed as a North Korean missile launch of a probable intermediate-range ballistic missile.

"[The launch] occurred near the North Korean northwestern city of Kusong and it flew roughly due east out into the Sea of Japan about 500 kilometers [more than 310 miles]," Davis said, adding that the missile landed in international waters.

"The North American Aerospace Defense Command determined the missile launch did not pose a threat to North America," he said. "We also worked very quickly with our Japanese and South Korean allies to make sure it did not pose a threat to them either."

The captain said the United States maintains capabilities to respond quickly and intercept missiles from North Korea if they do pose a threat to the nation or its allies.

"There are multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions that explicitly prohibit North Korea's launches using ballistic missile technology," Davis said.

'Unlawful Weapons Programs'

"North Korea's unlawful weapons programs represent a clear, grave threat to our national security," he added. "North Korea openly states that its ballistic missiles are intended to deliver nuclear weapons to strike cities in the United States, the Republic of Korea and Japan. Our commitment to the defense of our allies, especially the Republic of Korea and Japan in the face of these threats is ironclad."

Davis said based on a public video North Korea reportedly released, the rocket's bright, white emissions is indicative of North Korea's use of solid fuel in the launch.

The missile also is very similar to what the North Koreans have launched from their submarines in the past, the spokesman said, adding that the Feb. 11 launch appears to be a land-based variation of past launches.

"[Such launches from North Korea are] all serious," Davis said. "This is a program they are moving forward on to try to develop this capability, and they've been doing it in defiance of multiple resolutions and actions to try to get them to stop. They are very open and transparent about their desire to build this capability, and we are open about our ability to defeat it."

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DPRK claims successful test firing of medium long-range ballistic missile

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:21, February 13, 2017

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday claimed it successfully test-fired a surface-to-surface medium- and long-range ballistic missile Pukguksong-2 and its top leader Kim Jong Un guided the test firing, according to the state news agency KCNA.

The state media called Pukguksong-2 a "Korean style new type strategic weapon," which was developed on the instructions of top leader Kim Jong Un on the basis of the success made in the test-firing of the submarine-launched ballistic missile last August.

Kim received the report on the development of this surface-to-surface ballistic missile, set the date for the test launch and personally guided the preparations on the spot, it said.

The missile test proved the reliability and security of the surface launch system and starting feature of the high thrust solid fuel-power engine and reconfirmed the guidance and control features of the ballistic missile during its active flight and working feature of the engines and those of separation at the stages, the KCNA said.

The launch also verified the position control and guidance in the middle section and section of re-entry after the separation of the improved missile warhead, which can be tipped with a nuclear warhead, and the feature of evading interception, it added.

The state-run media noted that the test firing was conducted at a high angle considering security of the neighboring countries.

Kim was satisfied with the test launch, saying that the new type ballistic missile system "provides convenience in operation and ensuring speed in striking."

He said Pukguksong-2 ballistic missile is a "Juche weapon in name and reality" because both the launching truck and the missile were designed and produced on indigenous efforts and technology.

South Korea's Joint Chief of Staff said that the DPRK fired a ballistic missile which flew about 500 km into its eastern waters early Sunday.

The presumed intermediate-range Musudan ballistic missile was launched at around 7:55 a.m. local time (2255 GMT Saturday) near Banghyeon in the DPRK's northwestern North Pyongan province.

Pyongyang test-fired Musudan missiles near the same place, where an airfield is located, in October last year.

It was the DPRK's first test-launch of a ballistic missile in 2017 and also the first since U.S. President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20.

South Korea's military said Pyongyang's launch of ballistic missile was a provocative act in violation of UN Security Council's resolutions, which ban the DPRK from testing any ballistic missile technology.

The launch, the South Korean military believed, was aimed at drawing attention by showing off its nuclear and missile capability and was also part of armed protest against the Trump administration's hard-line stance toward the DPRK.

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Tehran, Iran, Feb. 14

By Mehdi Sepahvand  Trend:

An Iranian official says the countrys export of engineering and expert services to the neighboring country Iraq has come to a dead-end as the Iraqi side isnt paying Iranian contractors for their services.

The volume of Irans engineering service contracts in southern Iraq and with the central government is $1.3 billion. We have also worth $600 million contracts in the Kurdistan Region, but nothing of the total $2 billion has been paid to the Iranian companies, Said Owhadi, advisor to Irans first vice president, told an Iranian-Iraqi trade conference, Fars news agency reported February 14.

They have paid some $200 million to Iranian engineering companies, not as credit, but for housing, he lamented, adding, This is only a pain killer.

The biggest problem in Iraq now is the banking. Our banking warranties are not accepted by Iraqi banks despite the fact that they have been signed by the central banks of both countries, added Owhadi.
US has 'ironclad' commitment to protecting allies, Pentagon tells N Korea

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 13, 2017 7:30PM

The US Department of Defense has censured North Korea for its latest missile test, saying that Washington's commitment to protecting the homeland and its allies is "ironclad."

Speaking to reporters in Washington, DC, on Monday, Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis described North Korea's weapons programs as a grave threat to US national security.

"We are capable of defending against a North Korean ballistic missile attack and will take all necessary measures to deter and defeat threats to our and our allies' territories and citizens," Davis stated.

According to North Korea's KCNA news agency, the East Asian country had successfully test-fired a new type of medium- to long-range ballistic missile on Sunday.

"It's very similar to what they've launched from their submarines in the past," Davis told reporters. "This appears to be a land-based variant of it."

US officials told CNN on Monday that North Korea's latest missile launch showed new capabilities

Two US officials said the launch involved the first land-based test of an intermediate-range missile that was fired from a submarine last August.

They added that the missile flew farther than any previous North Korean tests, about 300 miles before dropping into the Sea of Japan.

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N Korea Tested Land-Based Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile - Pentagon

Sputnik News

20:41 13.02.2017

The North Korean military appears to have tested a land-based variant of its submarine-launched intermediate-range ballistic missile on Saturday, US Department of Defense spokesperson Jeff Davis said in a briefing.

WASHINGTON(Sputnik)  The medium-range ballistic missile was fired from an airbase in the western province of North Pyongan and traveled around 300 miles before plunging into the Sea of Japan on January 12. The test was declared successful by Pyongyang.

"It is very similar to what they have launched from their submarines in the past," Davis told reporters on Monday. "It appears to be a land-based variant of it. It is an intermediate-range ballistic missile."

North Korea's neighbors warned Pyongyang they considered the launch a provocation and a violation of the UNSC resolution, which prohibits it from carrying out ballistic missile tests.

North Korea has conducted a number of missile launches in the past months as well as its fifth and biggest nuclear test last September, prompting condemnation from the United Nations.

 Sputnik

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China Condemns North Korea's Ballistic Missile Test Launch

Sputnik News

12:39 13.02.2017

China condemns the missile test carried out by North Korea Sunday in contradiction to the UN Security Council resolutions, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Monday.

BEIJING (Sputnik)  The medium-range ballistic missile was fired from an airbase in the western province of North Pyongan and traveled around 300 miles before plunging into the Sea of Japan. The test has been declared successful by Pyongyang.

"We took note of the reports and we are monitoring the situation. The resolutions of the UN Security Council include specific guidelines concerning ballistic missile tests by North Korea. The Chinese side opposes the missile launches by North Korea violating the United Nations Security Council resolutions," Geng told reporters.

North Korea's neighbors warned Pyongyang they considered the launch a provocation and a violation of the UNSC resolution, which prohibits it from carrying out ballistic missile tests.

North Korea has conducted a number of missile launches in the past months as well as its fifth and biggest nuclear test last September, prompting condemnation from the United Nations.

 Sputnik

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UN chief Guterres 'strongly condemns' DPR Korea's ballistic missile launch

13 February 2017  United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres today voiced strong opposition to the latest ballistic missile launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, calling on Pyongyang to fully comply with its international obligations to denuclearize.

"The Secretary-General strongly condemns the launch of another ballistic missile by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 12 February," his spokesperson said in a statement.

The launch "is a further troubling violation" of Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2321 (2016) which strengthened sanctions against the regime.

The Secretary-General urged the DPRK leadership to return "to the path of denuclearization;" while appealing to the international community to continue addressing the in a united manner.

This afternoon, the UN Security Council will discuss the missile launch behind closed doors.

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UN Chief Calls on North Korea to Return to Full Nuclear Compliance

By VOA News February 13, 2017

The U.N. Security Council is set to hold emergency talks Monday about North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the missile test a "further troubling violation" of U.N. resolutions.

Guterres said in a statement that Pyongyang "must return to full compliance with its international obligations and to the path of denuclearization."

The United States, Japan and South Korea requested the session, which is scheduled for the afternoon.

North Korea launched the missile Sunday morning, and South Korean military officials said it traveled about 500 kilometers before landing in the Sea of Japan.

The state news agency KCNA said Kim "expressed great satisfaction over the possession of another powerful nuclear attack means, which adds to the tremendous might of the country."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Monday China opposed the launch, which violated U.N. Security Council resolutions. He added that China, one of the five permanent Security Council members, urges all sides to refrain from any provocative acts and believes dialogue is the path to a resolution.

Russia's Foreign Ministry also expressed concern Monday about the missile launch.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called North Korea's actions "absolutely intolerable."

Abe's comments came at a news conference alongside U.S. President Donald Trump during a visit to Florida.

"North Korea must fully comply with the relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions," the Japanese leader said. "During the summit meeting that I had with President Trump, he assured me that the United States will always (be with) Japan 100 percent, and to demonstrate his determination as well as commitment, he is here with me at his joint press conference."

Trump said: "I just want everybody to understand and fully know that the United States stands behind Japan, its great ally, 100 percent."

The North Korean test was widely interpreted as a challenge to the Trump administration.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also condemned the launch, calling it a further violation by Pyongyang of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions.

North Korea conducted two unauthorized nuclear test explosions last year and launched nearly two dozen rockets in continuing efforts to expand its nuclear weapons and missile programs. Kim declared in a speech on New Year's Day that his country has "reached the final stage" in its program to build ICBMs (Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile), but Western experts have been skeptical about his forecast.

At the time, Trump answered Kim's ICBM boast with one of his trademark curt Twitter messages: "It won't happen!"

Harry Kazianis, the director of Defense Studies at the Center for the National Interest in Washington said North Korea wanted to provoke Trump with Sunday's missile launch, but did not want to risk an ICBM test that might fail.

"I think the North Koreans would be a little bit afraid that if (an ICBM) test failed that would obviously not make them look very good," he said.

North Korea watchers reported late in January that the North Korean military had loaded missiles aboard two mobile launchers, a sign that test-firings could be imminent. They noted at the time, however, that the missiles appeared to be no more than 15 meters long, which would tend to rule out the possibility that a long-range weapon was involved.

Analysts are divided over how close Pyongyang is to realizing its full military ambitions, especially since it has never successfully test-fired an ICBM. Most experts, however, agree that the North has made considerable progress since Kim took over absolute power in the country following the death of his father, Kim Jong Il, in December 2011.

Talks broke down in 2009

For more than a decade, the U.S. and a vast majority of world governments have demanded that North Korea denuclearize the Korean peninsula. Western leaders, however, have yet to devise a plan that would either compel the North to cooperate or create incentives for it to do so.

China-sponsored talks between Pyongyang and a six-nation panel have been stalled since 2009, when the communist North pulled out of the negotiations. The North had carried out its first underground nuclear test explosion three years before the talks broke down.

The U.S. has since said the six-party talks could not resume until Kim's government in Pyongyang would recommit itself to halting all nuclear tests and scrapping its nuclear development program. That policy was agreed to during the administration of former President Barack Obama, and President Trump's government has reaffirmed it.

Pyongyang has so far rejected Western overtures and continues to resist world leaders' attempts to bring it into compliance with a string of United Nations resolutions.

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Trump Calls North Korea 'Big Problem' Following Missile Launch

By VOA News February 13, 2017

U.S. President Donald Trump called North Korea a "big, big problem" following the communist nation's latest ballistic missile launch.

During a news conference Monday at the White House with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Trump said his administration will deal with North Korea "very strongly." He did not give further details.

Trump also praised his weekend meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Florida. The two leaders were together Sunday when they learned North Korea launched its latest missile, which South Korean military officials said traveled about 500 kilometers before landing in the Sea of Japan.

Abe called North Korea's actions "absolutely intolerable."

International community reacts

The U.N. Security Council met in an emergency closed-door session to discuss the launch late Monday. The United States, Japan and South Korea requested the meeting.

In a statement, the 15-member council condemned Sunday's launch as a "grave violation" of Pyongyang's international obligations under six U.N. resolutions.

"The members of the Security Council deplore all the Democratic People's Republic of Korea ballistic missile activities, including these launches, noting that such activities contribute to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and increase tension," the statement said.

The council added that it will "continue to closely monitor the situation and take further significant measures." It did not elaborate on what those measures would be.

In the past, most recently in November, the council tightened existing international sanctions and imposed new ones targeting the sectors that generate cash to fund the nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

"We call on all members of the Security Council to use every available resource to make it clear to the North Korean regime  and its enablers  that these launches are unacceptable," U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said in a statement. "It is time to hold North Korea accountable  not with our words, but with our actions."

Japan's U.N. envoy, Koro Bessho, whose country was in the line of fire of Sunday's test launch, told reporters that the council was "very unanimous" in saying there must be implementation of the resolution adopted in November. "That's a starting point," he said, adding that the council will keep watching the situation closely.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the missile test as a "further troubling violation" of U.N. resolutions.

Guterres said Pyongyang "must return to full compliance with its international obligations and to the path of denuclearization," and he urged the international community to continue addressing the situation in "a united manner."

Tom Karako, with the Washington-based policy research group, Center for Strategic and International Studies, told VOA the missile launch is a test for the new Trump administration. "Every administration is tested early in its tenure. This may be one of the early tests but it won't be the last."

'Great satisfaction'

In North Korea, the state-run KCNA news agency said the test was a "Korean-style new type strategic weapon system," and boasted it was overseen by leader Kim Jong Un.

It said Kim "expressed great satisfaction over the possession of another powerful nuclear attack means, which adds to the tremendous might of the country."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang on Monday said China opposed the launch, which violated U.N. Security Council resolutions. He added that China, one of the five permanent Security Council members, urges all sides to refrain from any provocative acts and believes dialogue is the path to a resolution.

Russia's Foreign Ministry also expressed concern Monday about the missile launch.

Test taken as challenge

The North Korean test was widely interpreted as a challenge to the Trump administration.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also condemned the launch, calling it a further violation by Pyongyang of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions.

North Korea conducted two unauthorized nuclear test explosions last year and launched nearly two dozen rockets in continuing efforts to expand its nuclear weapons and missile programs. Kim declared in a speech on New Year's Day that his country has "reached the final stage" in its program to build ICBMs [Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles], but Western experts have been skeptical about his forecast.

North Korea plays it safe

Harry Kazianis, the director of Defense Studies at the Center for the National Interest in Washington, said North Korea wanted to provoke Trump with Sunday's missile launch, but did not want to risk an ICBM test that might fail.

"I think the North Koreans would be a little bit afraid that if [an ICBM] test failed that would obviously not make them look very good," he said.

VOA's Libo Liu and Margaret Besheer contributed to this report.

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Germany Confirms Plans to Buy Naval Strike Missiles From Norway

Sputnik News

19:43 13.02.2017(updated 19:44 13.02.2017)

Germany will purchase naval strike missiles for some $1.19 billion from Norway.

STOCKHOLM (Sputnik)  Germany has confirmed its intention to make an agreement with Norway on purchasing missiles for the German Navy, the Norwegian government said on Monday.

"Germany plans to purchase a significant number of missiles for its navy. This gives big opportunities for Norwegian industry  both for the Konsberg company and for the Norwegian contractors," Norwegian Defense Minister Ine Marie Eriksen Soreide said, as cited in the press release.

According to the statement, Germany will purchase naval strike missiles for over 10 billion Norwegian krones ($1.19 billion) from Norway's Kongsberg Defence Systems company. No further details as to the period of supplies or the number of missiles were provided.

On February 3, Norway announced strategic partnership with Germany, which implies in particular purchasing new submarines from the German company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. Norway expects the shipment of four submarines to begin in 2019. The partnership also includes personnel training and technical maintenance of the submarines.

 Sputnik

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Supersonic BrahMos Russian-Indian Missile Upgraded to Be Launched From Fighters

Sputnik News

17:03 13.02.2017(updated 19:02 13.02.2017)

India is due to test the air-launched version of the supersonic Russian-Indian BrahMos cruise missile in the next three months, according to the Russian newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

The Russian newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta quoted Sudhir Kumar Mishra, chief executive of the Russian-Indian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace, as saying that India will test-fire the air-launched version of his company's supersonic Russian-Indian BrahMos cruise missile in the next three months.

Mishra also said that the hypersonic version of the BrahMos missile, capable of flying at a speed of up to 5,000 kilometers per hour, may be created by 2020.

The 2.5 metric ton supersonic Brahmos air-to-ground missile will be fired from an Indian Air Force's Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft that has already undergone modifications to accommodate the new weapon.

A successful preliminary trial was carried out earlier, and several more dummy trials are in the pipeline before the actual test.

"In March, we will hold three more tests, which will be followed by actual firings on sea and ground targets. However, we are already certain the launches will be successful, Mishra said.

Currently, BrahMos is capable of hitting targets beyond the radar horizon and can be launched from sea-based and land-based weapon systems.

If the air-launched version of the BrahMos missile is successful, Russia and India may get a strike system which will be second to none in terms of effectiveness among conventional airborne weapons, Rossiyskaya Gazeta quoted experts as saying.

The nine-meter BrahMos missile can travel at a speed of Mach 2.8, making it one the fastest missiles in the world. It has a flight range of up to 290 km and carries a 200-300 kg conventional warhead.

As for the supersonic version of the BrahMos missile, it is expected to be created before the end of 2019, Mishra said, adding that the project is being developed by Mashinostroyeniya rocket design, a Russian NPO bureau, the Moscow Aviation Institute and India's Defense Research and Development Organization.

 Sputnik

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India Not in a Hurry to Sign Foundational Defense Agreements With the US

Sputnik News

13:54 13.02.2017

US is pushing India to sign the two Foundational Defense Agreements, the Communication and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA), which India is yet to sign as per the US-India strategic defense partnership.

New Delhi (Sputnik)  In an effort to strengthen the defense partnership with India, Trump administration has asked India to speed up the talks on two foundational agreements which has not been signed yet.

According to the Defense Ministry sources, US Secretary of Defense James Mattis has conveyed to Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar that India should sign the foundational defense agreements as early as possible.

"India-US Defense cooperation will be strengthened further. As far the Foundational Defense Agreement is concerned, India has signed the Logistics Agreement but government is reluctant to sign the other two agreements in the present format. India has objections on certain aspects of the Foundational Agreement and it is to sorted out. US has conveyed India that signing of the agreement will enhance the defense cooperation "Major General (Retd) R K Arora, Chief Editor 'Indian Military Review' told Sputnik.

As a part of India-US Defense Foundational Agreements, India has only signed the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) with US in August, 2016.

The LEMOA will facilitate logistical support, supplies and services between Indian and US militaries and provide a framework to govern them.

The other two agreements which are also part of the Foundational Agreement include Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA).

The CISMOA will secure communications interoperability between India and US and multinational training exercises and operations. The agreement will also guide sale and transfer of high-end technologies between US and India. The BECA will provide no-cost exchange of unclassified and controlled unclassified geospatial products, data and services between India and the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

US is now pushing for these agreements and wants an early commitment from Indian side. But India is not in a hurry to sign the CISMOA and BECA as signing of the LEMOA in August, 2016 was not well received in India.

 Sputnik

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Shamkhani:JCPOA's success depends on conclusive commitments of all parties

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Feb 13, IRNA -- Supreme Leader's Representative and secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said on Monday that success of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) depends on undisputable fulfillment of unfinished tasks by the west and full implementation of commitments by all parties.

Shamkhani made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn on Monday.

During the meeting, the two sides reviewed mutual relations along with regional and global developments.

Welcoming expansion of long-term and sustainable cooperation between the two countries mainly in economics, banking cooperation and insurance, Shamkhani called for implementing executive agreements signed between the two sides.

'Expansion of cooperation with independent states will be based on mutual respect and meeting both sides' interests,' Shamkhani said adding that after implementation of the JCPOA and removal of all economic sanctions, Luxemburg can make use of Iran's vast capabilities for investment opportunities.

The JCPOA is an internationally-recognized and binding agreement for the signatory countries as well as other members of the international community, he said.

The Islamic Republic of Iran as evidenced by supervisory bodies has fulfilled its commitments but sound success of the JCPOA depends on fulfillment of the unfinished pledges by the western states, Shamkhani said.

Bitter experiences in recent years indicate that the Europeans should play a constructive and non-discriminatory role in dealing with terrorism in Iraq, Syria as well as in other places, he said.

He also advised the European Union to help prevent merciless carnage of innocent people in Yemen by Saudi Arabia.

Silence in dealing with regrettable crimes of Al-Salman against defenseless women and children in Yemen is regarded as being accomplices to genocide and destruction of the country's resources and infrastructure, Shamkhani said.

Luxemburg foreign minister, for his part, referred to the positive role of Iran in fight against terrorist groups and called for expansion of all-out relation and cooperation between the two countries.

1430**2050

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Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 14

By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

The Iranian Mines, Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) will host a conference to introduce investment opportunities in Irans mining sector for Finnish companies.

Cooperation opportunities in the mining sector between Iran and Finland will be discussed in the event, which will be held on Feb. 19, IMIDRO said.

Major Finnish companies and organizations including Metso, Outotec, Geological Survey of Finland(GTK), Mining Finland, Poyry, Millisecond and Sleipner will take part in the event.

Senior Finnish officials including GTK head Mika Nykanen and Petri Peltonen, under-secretary of State of Finlands ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will also attend the conference.

Iran has significant mineral resources and reserves as well as a lot of down stream industry based on its mineral production. However, the facilities are in need of being updated, which is a good market potential for Finnish mining and metal industries.
West must make amends for JCPOA implementation shortfalls: Iran

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 13, 2017 5:30PM

A senior Iranian official says Western countries must make amends for their lost ground in the implementation of the landmark nuclear agreement signed between the Islamic Republic and six global powers in 2015.

"As verified by supervisory bodies, the Islamic Republic of Iran has fulfilled all its obligations but the success of the JCPOA [the nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action], hinges on [efforts] by Western countries to make up for their shortcomings," Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani said in a meeting with Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn in Tehran on Monday.

He added that all parties to the JCPOA must "unabatedly implement their obligations" under the deal.

The JCPOA is an international and binding agreement, he stressed.

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

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

The SNSC secretary also welcomed the expansion of long-term and lasting cooperation between Iran and Luxembourg in economy, banking and insurance sectors.

He stressed the importance of developing cooperation between Iran and independent countries based on mutual respect and common interests.

"In the era following the [implementation of] the JCPOA and the removal of the obstacle of sanctions, Luxembourg can tap into the broad existing capacities in Iran for investments," Shamkhani said.

'European countries seek broad cooperation with Iran'

Luxembourg's foreign minister, for his part, said the JCPOA implementation created opportunities for the expansion of relations between Iran and European states.

Asselborn added that European countries were pursuing an approach, particularly after the deal's implementation, to strengthen all-out cooperation with Iran and increase investment in infrastructure areas with the purpose of establishing sustainable economic relations.

He also praised Iran's positive role in fighting terrorist groups and called for more consultations and cooperation between the two countries in this regard.

Heading a high-ranking political delegation, Asselborn arrived in Tehran Sunday night for an official two-day visit to hold talks with senior Iranian officials.

He paid a visit to Tehran in November 2015 and held talks with top Iranian officials, including President Hassan Rouhani, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

JCPOA opens up prospects for Iran-Europe ties: Zarif

Also in a meeting with Asselborn, the Iranian foreign minister said the implementation of the JCPOA offered new prospects for the bolstering of relations between the Islamic Republic and European countries.

Zarif added that Iran was determined to enhance cooperation with member countries of the European Union.

Pointing to the favorable grounds for joint venture between Tehran and Luxembourg City, he expressed Iran's readiness to improve banking cooperation with Luxembourg.

Asselborn also said the two countries would sign agreements to boost cooperation in different fields during his visit.

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Iran's Hardliners Grow More Confident

By Jamie Dettmer February 13, 2017

With tensions between the United States and Iran mounting over Tehran's test-firing of mid-range ballistic missiles, Iran's hardliners appear emboldened. They talk now of having a chance of winning their country's presidential election in May - or at least turning incumbent Hassan Rouhani into a lame-duck president, if he does manage to secure reelection.

Observers say Rouhani had hoped a nuclear deal with the West would strengthen his political position. The deal was concluded during the administration of President Barack Obama. Public disapproval of President Donald Trump's ban on Iranians entering the U.S., currently suspended by the American courts, and the absence of any obvious economic benefit for ordinary Iranians from the deal, appear to be boosting the prospects of a hardliner winning in May - or at least it is adding to their hopes of doing so, say analysts.

The hardliners have yet to pick a candidate: but there's talk their standard bearer might be Qassim Sulemani, the head of of the foreign legion of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the Quds Force. He's been overseeing Iran's military intervention in Syria.

If Sulemani does get the nod, then it will signal that Iranian conservatives really do think they have a chance to pull off a win in three months' time.

Former state broadcasting chief eyed for presidential run

Another possible hardline pick is Ezzatollah Zarghami, a former boss of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, according to Saeid Jafari, an Iranian journalist. The 57-year-old Zarghami, an IRGC veteran, was added to the European Union sanctions list in 2012 for what Brussels deemed "gross human rights violations" related to the state broadcaster's coverage of the disputed 2009 presidential elections.

"Although Zarghami has denied the possibility of his own candidacy, he has behaved in a way that can be interpreted as preparing for the elections," Jafari said on the news site, Al Monitor.

Zarghami oversaw the expansion of Iran's state broadcaster, including the launching of English-language PressTV and Spanish-language HispanTV. On Instagram in December, Zarghami warned Rouhani that 2017 will not be like 2013 when Rouhani first won the presidency because he will be defending a record rather than campaigning as an insurgent.

Last April, moderates and reformists won a working majority in the Iranian parliament for the first time in more than a decade. Hardliners won just under a third of the seats in a humiliating performance that appeared to position Rouhani for this year's presidential contest. April's results were seen as an endorsement of the nuclear accord that Rouhani's government signed with the U.S. and other world powers to curtail Iran's nuclear program in return for the lifting of international sanctions.

Trump's upset election win, his threats to rip up the 2015 nuclear deal, and his aides' talk of fostering regime change in Iran, are all seen by conservatives as opportunities by Iranian conservatives to reshape politics in the Islamic Republic.

After the November U.S. elections, the official newspaper of the IRGC, Sobhe Sadeq (True Dawn) said in an editorial, "With the presence of Trump, in practical terms, nothing will be left of the nuclear deal." The paper reported that the nuclear agreement was viewed by the Rouhani government as its "winning card" for the presidential election, but with Trump it "will be transformed into the Achilles Heel of the administration."

Many still waiting for economic boost from lifted sanctions

Aside from Trump's threats to rip up the deal, frustration with the economy is building among ordinary Iranians. Rouhani, during his campaigning for the accord, had led them to believe that lifting the sanctions would have a quick impact. The economy indeed has improved as a result of the deal, growing by 4 percent last year, and the International Monetary Fund had predicted growth to reach 6 percent this year.

Most Iranians, however, have not seen any turnaround in their lives. According to a recent poll conducted for the Center for International and Security Studies at the University of Maryland, 63 percent of Iranians see Iran's economic situation as "somewhat" or "very" bad. Nearly 73 percent say living conditions have not improved as a result of the deal.

Analyst Michael Rubin of the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington DC-based research institution, says the U.S. should be making it clear that the economic benefits from the deal have not trickled down because of graft and a rigged system, one that helps fund the IRGC. He says Washington should be helping to "expose bank accounts and corruption, and do it in a way that 80 million Iranians can hear."

Rubin doesn't fault the Trump administration for wanting to confront Iran. "There's nothing wrong with a no-nonsense approach," he adds, but added there's danger in speaking loudly, "while waving a small stick."

The stern talk from the U.S. has included a warning from Trump's national security adviser, Mike Flynn, that the U.S. has officially "put Iran on notice."

Reprisals are threatened and on February 3, Trump imposed fresh sanctions on Iran, but they affected only 13 Iranian individuals and 12 companies. Rubin maintains this is just replicating "the worst of Obama," by "utilizing red lines as a rhetorical tool without the preparation and will to enforce the threat."

Rubin, like some other Americans who advocate a more aggressive policy, would like to see clear practical steps taken by the Trump administration to contain what they argue is an expansionist Iranian regime - ones that make it costly for Iran's hardliners but also erode public support for them. Otherwise, they argue, harsh rhetoric without tougher action will merely embolden Iran's hardliners.

Washington's talk of applying more pressure on Tehran is prompting alarm in European capitals. Last week, the 28-member bloc's foreign affairs chief, Federica Mogherini, was in Washington for talks and while emphasizing the importance of the nuclear agreement being "fully implemented in all its parts by all sides," she made it clear the EU doesn't have an appetite for confrontation with Iran.

"The European Union and its member states continue and will continue, as the nuclear deal is implemented, to have open channels with Iran," she said. The European Union is "not introducing additional sanctions" on Iran, she added.

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Iraqi military: 13 Daesh commanders killed, Baghdadi fate unclear

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 13, 2017 7:31PM

Iraqi Air Force says it has killed at least 13 commanders of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group during an airstrike that targeted a house in the country's west where the group's ringleader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was thought to be meeting with other extremists.

The military said in a statement on Monday that Iraqi F-16 warplanes had targeted the house in the border city of Qa'im in Anbar Province two days earlier. It also published the names of the 13 senior members of the terrorist group killed in the airstrike, but the list did not include Baghdadi.

Iraqi sources raised the possibility that the ringleader had been hit and injured in the Saturday strike.

The statement also noted that during the same wave of airstrikes, three other positions belonging to the Takfiri group had also been targeted in western Iraq, where 64 terrorists had been killed.

The military said Baghdadi had moved in a convoy from the Syrian city of Raqqah to Qa'im in Iraq last week to discuss with commanders "the collapse happening in Mosul and to chose a successor for him."

Baghdadi, whose real name is Ibrahim al-Samarrai, has been reported wounded several times in the past.

Daesh has been ravaging Iraq and Syria since 2014. The terrorist group has overrun territory in both countries and has declared the city of Raqqah in Syria and Mosul in Iraq as its so-called headquarters.

Over the past year, concerted pushes by Iraqi and Syrian forces, along with volunteer fighters, have caused the group's major turf to dwindle to a handful of cities and towns.

Iraqi forces have liberated the eastern half of Mosul and are in the middle of an offensive to retake the western rest, while reports from Syria say Damascus is contemplating an operation to put Raqqah back under the its command.

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Pentagon Unable to Confirm Reports About Daesh Leader's Heavy Injuries

Sputnik News

20:58 13.02.2017(updated 20:59 13.02.2017)

The US Department of Defense has no information to corroborate reports that Daesh leader Abu Bakr Baghdadi was injured in an Iraqi military strike on February 9, department spokesperson Jeff Davis said in a briefing on Monday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Baghdadi may have been injured during an Iraqi Air Force airstrike in the city of Qaim on February 9, the Alhurra channel reported citing Iraq's Interior Ministry intelligence department.

"We don't have any information to corroborate it," Davis told reporters. "Clearly, Baghdadi is someone who we would like to see meet his end, but we have not independently been able to corroborate that."

Reportedly, Baghdadi sustained heavy injuries and was sent to Syria, and several other Daesh terrorists were killed in the strike.

Reports of Baghdadi being injured or killed have appeared over the past several months, but none of them have been confirmed.

 Sputnik

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Myanmar police to probe allegations of abuse against Muslim Rohingyas

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 13, 2017 10:0AM

Myanmar's police are to conduct a "departmental enquiry" to determine whether law enforcement officers have committed human rights violations against the Muslim Rohingyas in the Buddhist-majority country.

"The departmental enquiry will be conducted ... to find out whether the police forces have committed illegal actions, including violations of human rights, during their area clearance operations," the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a press release published on Saturday.

The ministry instructed police to conduct the investigation following a damning report by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) accusing Myanmar's security forces in northern Rakhine of violating Rohingyas' human rights.

"The UN report includes very serious human rights abuses allegations against police in Myanmar including rape," Police Colonel Myo Thu Soe said on Monday, adding, "and that's why an investigation committee was set up to respond to the report with evidence."

The February 3 report, entitled "Interviews with Rohingyas fleeing from Myanmar since 9 October 2016," said that Myanmar's security forces had committed mass killings and gang rapes of Rohingya Muslims and burned their villages since October last year in a campaign that "very likely" amounted to crimes against humanity and possibly ethnic cleansing.

The military had said last week that it was setting up a team of investigators to conduct a similar probe about the military atrocities in Rakhine.

Myanmar has so far denied almost all human rights violations in northern Rakhine State despite UN reports providing many documented accounts of the crimes and global condemnation of the crackdown.

The military crackdown was launched in October 2016 after nine policemen were killed in attacks by unidentified gunmen along the border. Authorities blamed the attack on the Rohingya.

Myanmar has previously conducted a government probe into the accusations of abuse and murder against the Rohingya in Rakhine, but final reports have astonishingly claimed that no such violations had taken place.

The UN's special rapporteur on Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, has repeatedly slammed the country for its violation of the Rohingyas' rights. Lee has said the estimated 1.1 million Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine are victims of "decades of systematic and institutionalized discrimination."

"The government's response to all of these problems seems to currently be to defend, dismiss and deny," she said in January at the end of a probe of her own into the human rights situation in Myanmar.

More than 1,000 Rohingya Muslims may have been killed and almost 69,000 Rohingyas have fled across border to Bangladesh since the crackdown has started, according to UN sources.

The Rohingya have faced discrimination in Myanmar for generations. They live in apartheid-like conditions and are not classified as a distinct group under citizenship laws and are regarded instead as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

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Bomb Rips Through Protest Rally in Pakistan, at Least 13 Killed

By Ayaz Gul February 13, 2017

Police and witnesses in Pakistan say that a suicide bomber detonated a blast at a protest rally in the eastern city of Lahore, killing at least 13 people and wounding around 85 others.

Two senior police officers were among the dead and rescue workers feared the toll was likely to increase.

The rally was being staged outside the provincial legislature by chemists and pharmaceutical manufacturers who oppose new regulations.

Witnesses said the slain police officers were negotiating with protest leaders to seek an end to the rally when the bomb exploded.

It was not clear immediately whether a planted device or a suicide bomber conducted the blast.

A breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the violence in the capital city of the country's most populous Punjab province. A spokesman for Jamaat-ul-Ahrar said one of its suicide bomber carried out the attack.

The bomb attack in the second largest Pakistani city came after an overnight roadside bomb killed three soldiers in a volatile tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

A spokesman for the main anti-state Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the violence in South Waziristan, a semi-autonomous tribal region where counter-insurgency military operations are underway.

The group also took credit for ambushing a van carrying the reporting team of a private television station in Karachi.

The Sunday night gun attack in the largest southern Pakistani city left an assistant cameraman dead, according to police.

Pakistani troops have been battling the insurgents and claim to have dismantled their hideouts and bases in remote areas near the Afghan border but the militants are still able to carry out terrorist attacks.

Meanwhile, police in Quetta confirmed that two experts of its bomb disposal squad got killed and 8 other people wounded in a bomb blast in the city minutes ago. The slain explosive experts had just arrived on the scene after receiving information about a suspicious bag when the device went off.

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Russia Sends Military Police Battalion to Syria to Boost Security of Personnel

Sputnik News

17:25 13.02.2017(updated 18:17 13.02.2017)

Russia has sent a military police battalion to protect its personnel in Syria.

MAGAS (Ingushetia), (Sputnik)  A military police battalion from Russia's North Caucasus Republic of Ingushetia has been sent to Syria to boost security of Russian military personnel on various missions in the war-torn country, Ingushetia leader Yunus-Bek Yevkurov told Sputnik on Monday.

"A military police battalion comprising Ingushetia residents has left for Syria to work in settlements and towns where the conflicting sides have been separated, and peace agreements have been signed," Yevkurov said.

He clarified that the military police will focus on protecting personnel of the Russian air group and the Center for Syrian reconciliation.

"I am sure that our guys will fulfill the tasks set by Commander-in-Chief [President Vladimir Putin] and Defense Minister [Sergei Shoigu], well," the leader of Ingushetia said.

It is the second Russian military police battalion sent to Syria on a peacekeeping mission. In December 2016, a military police battalion was sent to the city of Aleppo to maintain order on the territories freed from terrorists.

"We will be sending humanitarian assistance there [to Syria] in the near future, in coordination with the Defense Ministry and the presidential administration," Yevkurov said, adding that the humanitarian aid could be sent to Syria within a week.

Since 2011, Syria has been engulfed in a civil war, with government forces fighting against numerous opposition and terrorist groups, including al-Nusra Front and Daesh, banned in a range of countries, including Russia.

Moscow has been conducting a counter-terrorist campaign in Syria since September 30, 2015, at President Bashar Assad's request.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in December that the Syrian government and armed opposition groups had reached an agreement on a nationwide ceasefire in Syria and on readiness to start peace talks.

 Sputnik

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Turkey renews call for establishment of safe zone in northern Syria

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 13, 2017 7:20PM

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has renewed his call for the establishment of a "safe zone" in northern Syria, an area he says should be free from terrorists and should include a "no-fly zone."

Erdogan said in a televised speech in Bahrain on Monday that Turkey seeks to set up the safe zone in thousands of square kilometers in northern Syria where the Turkish army has a military presence.

"Our objective here is (to establish) an area of at least 4,000, 5,000 square kilometers free from terrorism, to create a safe zone," Erdogan said, echoing similar remarks in the past that the zone would alleviate the burden of accommodating Syrian refugees. The Turkish president added that the area would also require a "no-fly" zone.

Ankara began its unauthorized military operation in northern Syria in August 2016, claiming that it was aimed at supporting the militants in northern Syria in the drive against Daesh terrorists. The Turkish military and allied militants managed to seize control of the city of Jarablus in early weeks of the operation and the battle continues now to retake the town of al-Bab from Daesh.

Erdogan said Sunday that the full recapture of al-Bab was now a "matter of time." Reports said Turkish troops and allied militants had reached the center of the town and they were pushing ahead into other neighborhoods. Turkey has suffered an unknown number of casualties in the operation in al-Bab over the past weeks.

Erdogan repeated earlier statements that after retaking al-Bab, Turkish forces would move toward Manbij, a Kurdish-dominated city which is under control of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), a militant group backed by the United States.

The Turkish president said after Manbij, the next station would be Raqqah, the de facto capital of Daesh.

Erdogan reiterated that Turkey would contribute to the long-anticipated operation for retaking Raqqah if "we take a joint step with (US-led) coalition forces."

Turkey's calls for setting up a safe zone in northern Syria comes more than two weeks after reports said that Washington was working on a plan to create a number of safe zones in the Arab country. Turkey greeted the news cautiously and officials said that they would watch the plan closely.

The US has promoted the creation of safe zones, claiming they would aim at easing pressure on Turkey which is housing 2.7 million Syrian refugees. However, the Pentagon has yet to announce whether the plan would include creating a no-fly zone.

Russia, which supports the Syrian government in its anti-terrorism drive, has viewed the US plans suspiciously, calling on Washington to present more details.

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Syria signals readiness for prisoner swap deals with militants

Iran Press TV

Mon Feb 13, 2017 11:25AM

The Syrian government has expressed its readiness for prisoner swaps with militant groups ahead of a new round of peace talks in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana.

Syria's state media said the government was "always ready" to exchange prisoners in its jails for people kidnapped by terrorist groups, "particularly in the framework of efforts being made for the coming meeting in Astana."

The militant groups have not commented on the report so far.

Last week, the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Damascus and militants had exchanged 112 people under a swap deal.

More than 50 Syrian women and children returned home in Latakia Province after the Syrian government secured their release from militant captivity under the deal.

The news comes as the Kazakh Foreign Ministry said in a Saturday statement that delegations from the Syrian government and opposition as well as UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura have been invited to the next round of Astana talks on February 15-16.

On January 23-24, Astana hosted Syrian talks organized by Iran, Russia and Turkey, with the presence of representatives from the Syrian government and opposition groups.

Infighting erupts between rival militants

In another development, fierce infighting erupted between militants seen as close to the Daesh terrorist group and a rival Takfiri outfit in northwestern Syria on Monday, the Observatory said.

The pro-opposition monitoring group said members of the Jund al-Aqsa and Tahrir al-Sham militant groups clashed around Kafr Zeita in the provinces of Hama and Idlib.

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. Backed by Russian air cover, the Syrian military is engaged in an operation to rid the country of terrorist groups.

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Syrian Kurds Want Turkish 'Occupants' to Stay Away From Liberating Raqqa

Sputnik News

15:55 13.02.2017(updated 16:02 13.02.2017)

The Syrian Kurds are capable of liberating the city of Raqqa, a stronghold of the Daesh terrorist group, on their own without participation of Turkey, Representative to Russia of Northern Syria's Rojava Kurdish region Rodi Osman told Sputnik.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke on the phone last week, reportedly agreeing to act jointly in Raqqa and the northern town of al-Bab.

"We have notified the international coalition fighting Daesh that we were capable of liberating Raqqa by ourselves independently of anyone else. Our resistance against Daesh, our fight against them evidences that we are able to liberate regions of our motherland," Osman said.

Late last week, a source in the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) told Sputnik that the SDF units had advanced to a position just three miles to the north-east from Raqqa.

Osman added that Rojava did not "need any support from Turkey, because their help would only complicate the situation. They would seek to stay in Northern Syria."

According to him, the Turkish forces would use its operation in Raqqa to expand Ankara's presence in Syria that it had managed to gain by carrying out its Euphrates Shield operation in Northern Syria.

"Turkey violated Security Council Resolution 2268 adopted on February 26, 2016 on the cessation of hostilities in Syria and opened its borders to Daesh terrorists, who in turn moved in the direction of the Syrian city Tell Abyad. These actions make it clear what the real intentions of Erdogan are. His desire is to occupy our country. No region can be liberated from terrorists with the support of the occupants," Osman said.

On Sunday, Erdogan said that Turkish forces had entered the center of al-Bab and Daesh jihadists started to flee the town. He added that the operation would not stop, since the ultimate goal was to free northern Syria including Raqqa. Erdogan stressed that Turkey had no intentions to stay in the region after freeing it from Daesh, so all the settlements will be returned to the local residents.

On August 24, the Turkish army launched Operation Euphrates Shield against militants of the Daesh group, which is outlawed in Russia and many other countries. Turkish forces, with assistance from Syrian opposition fighters, occupied the city of Jarablus in northern Syria and are currently conducting its offensive on al-Bab. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the aim of the operation is to clear the region of terrorists and make it a safety zone for refugees.

The operation has been widely criticized both by the Syrian Kurds and Damascus, who have accused Ankara of violating Syria's territorial integrity.

Operation Wrath of Euphrates aimed at liberating Raqqa from Daesh was launched on November 5 of last year.

 Sputnik

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Tehran, Iran, February 14



By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:



Some 90 businessmen attended a meeting at the Iranian-German Chamber of Commerce in Tehran to discuss the ways and means of establishing

business ties with German counterparts.



The Iranian delegation specifically discussed ideas and possibilities on how to open branches in Germany from where to export their products to

other countries.



During the meeting, lawyers discussed the procedures that Iranian businessmen have to adopt to register a company, agency, or brand in

Germany, Dawood Nazirizadeh, manager at Business Support Germany law firm told Trend February 14.



Nazirizadeh also pointed out that in an early February trip to Iran, Joe Weingarten, head of the Department of Innovation, Medium-Sized

Enterprises and Telecommunications of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Transport, Agriculture and Viniculture from Rhineland-Palatinate state

of Germany led a 12-strong business delegation to hold successful

meetings with Iranian businessmen.



During the visit, various B2B meetings were held at the chambers of Iran, Alborz, and Tabriz; and also the German delegation visited the

Iran Tractor Manufacturing Company and the petrochemical company in Tabriz, Nazirizadeh said.



The Iranian and German sides also signed two contracts and a German company also employed someone in Iran for their business affairs,

Nazizizadeh said, adding that the chambers of Germany and Alborz signed a cooperation agreement and arranged for a trip by the Alborz Chamber to

Rhineland-Palatinate state in the near future.



On the sidelines of the Rhineland-Palatinate state business delegation visit, Mr. Weingarten had told Trend that the state of

Rhineland-Palatinate wants to improve and develop its trade contacts with Iran, adding that the state of Rhineland-Palatinate is very

export-oriented and we see a win-win situation and a positive future for both countries.



Due to the medium-sized structure and the often long tradition of the Rhineland-Palatinate companies, we can offer a great innovative and

technical know-how in our products, especially in mechanical engineering, the German official added.






Rights Report: Syria Dropped Banned Chlorine Bombs on Aleppo

By VOA News February 13, 2017

A leading international human rights organization is accusing Syrian government forces of dropping banned chlorine bombs on residential areas of a key northern city at least eight times late last year.

Human Rights Watch (HRW), in a report issued Monday, said the chlorine attacks on Aleppo began November 17, as government forces backed by Russian airpower pushed into rebel-controlled sectors of the city. The report said it found no evidence that Russian forces backing the offensive were directly involved in the chlorine attacks.

Video embedded in the report shows an explosion from a distance and yellowish-green gas spreading from the blast site. A still photograph then shows four dead children lying side-by-side with a caption saying the toxic vapors killed an entire family. HRW says about 200 people suffered injuries.

High-level exposure to chlorine causes suffocation, but the industrial chemical has many controlled civilian uses and is not by itself illegal. However, the international Chemical Weapons Convention, which Syria signed in 2013, bans the use of the toxic properties in any chemical as a weapon. More than 190 other nations have also signed the accord.

The report also notes that chlorine gas is heavier than air and consequently sinks into basements where Aleppo's civilians sheltered from weeks of intense bombings by Syrian and Russian warplanes.

"Each attack involved a number of canisters that were dropped often by several helicopters," said HRW's United Nations Director Louis Charbonneau. "We saw in one case three helicopters dropping two canisters of chlorine gas each, and this was used to push [advance] the frontline" as government forces moved to retake the entire city.

The government of President Bashar al-Assad has repeatedly denied ever using chemical weapons in its nearly six-year war against rebels, and has accused human rights monitors and Western governments of fabricating evidence implicating Damascus in such attacks.

For its part, the United Nations has been examining evidence of chemical weaponry and has so far implicated the Assad government in three chlorine attacks in 2014 and 2015. An update to the U.N. findings is expected within weeks.

HRW official Ole Solvang described the eight attacks as systematic, "coordinated with the overall military strategy of retaking Aleppo, [and] not the work of a few rogue elements." He also said the U.N. Security Council "should not allow Syrian authorities or anyone else" using such weaponry to "get away without consequences."

The report further notes that the actual number of chemical attacks between November 17 and the truce that took effect December 13 may have been higher than the eight documented in Monday's report. Other witnesses took to social media during that time to report at least 12 such bombings.

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Han Kuang military exercise to include live-fire drills: MND

ROC Central News Agency

2017/02/13 22:04:18

Taipei, Feb. 13 (CNA) Taiwan's annual military exercises for 2017 will be held before the end of May and include both computer-simulated war games and live-fire drills as has been the case in the past, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Monday.

In a statement, the ministry said the procedures of the Han Kuang exercises (), Taiwan's major war games, will remain unchanged this year.

They will involve "computer-simulated war games first, followed by live-fire drills," the statement said, clarifying reports by some local media outlets, including CNA, the previous day that no live-fire drills will be held this year.

The Han Kuang exercises involve all three branches of the military -- Army, Navy and Air Force -- and are conducted to test their joint response to simulated threats from China.

(By Lu Hsin-hui and Elizabeth Hsu)

ENDITEM/ls



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Turkish Police Detain Over 1,300 Terrorist Suspects During Last Week

Sputnik News

15:53 13.02.2017

1,300 terror suspects, including 45 supposed the Daesh members, were arrsted in Turkey since February 6, according to Turkey's Interior Ministry statement.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Turkish police have detained more than 1,300 terror suspects since February 6, local media reported Monday citing Turkey's Interior Ministry statement.

According to the Hurriyet newspaper, 792 suspects are believed to be members of the Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organization (FETO), which is accused by Ankara of being behind the July 15 military coup attempt, 520  of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), 45  of Islamic State terrorist organization (ISIL or Daesh), and 6  of other banned leftist terrorist groups. Out of them, a total of 147 FETO and 26 PKK alleged members have been arrested so far.

Turkey was hit by dozens of terrorist attacks throughout 2016 carried out by Daesh terrorist group outlawed in Russia, and PKK listed as a terrorist organization in Turkey. The majority of terrorist attacks were directed against Turkish security forces engaged in violent clashes with PKK militants in eastern parts of the county striving to create their own independent state, as the Kurds represent the largest ethnic minority in the country.

Dozens of foreign nationals fell victims of the terrorist attacks carried out in Istanbul and Ankara. In particular, at least 39 people were killed, including more than 20 foreigners, almost 70 were injured as a result of the attack in Reina nightclub on Istanbul's European side during New Year's Eve celebrations.

 Sputnik

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Turkish-Russian Rapprochement Questioned

By Dorian Jones February 13, 2017

Russia is to host a pan-Kurdish conference Wednesday, and among those invited to attend are members of the Syrian Kurdish group the PYD.

Syria's neighbor, Turkey, calls the PYD terrorists, alleging they are affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which is fighting the Turkish state. Turkey accuses the PYD of being an extension of the PKK, and claims the PYD is seeking to carve out an independent state along its border.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov invited the PYD to Moscow for a briefing on January's meeting in Kazakhstan about ending the civil war in Syria. Ankara blocked the PYD's participation in that meeting and in United Nations-backed Syria peace talks in Geneva.

"If Russia is seen by Ankara as having decided to fully invest with the PYD, that certainly has the potential to very much undermine the overall outlook toward Moscow," said visiting scholar Sinan Ulgen of Carnegie Europe in Brussels.

Turkey keeps quiet

Turkey has so far voiced little public criticism of Russia. Some experts suggest the reason could be that Lavrov's invitation to the PYD may have been in exchange for Moscow acquiescing to Ankara's demand for the PYD to be excluded from the Kazakhstan talks.

Last week, a PYD affiliate opened a bureau in the Russian capital, in a move that analysts say is likely to add to Ankara's angst. Moscow also is pushing for a decentralized state in a future Syrian settlement, a stance strongly opposed by Ankara, which fears an autonomous Kurdish state on its border would lead to similar demands from its restive Kurds.

There have been recent rapprochement efforts between Moscow and Ankara after a Turkish jet downed a Russian fighter operating from Syria in November 2015.

Experts, however, are increasingly questioning the dynamics of those efforts. "My view of the rapprochement is, basically, Turkey approaching and the Russians accepting this, so long as it serves its interests," said international relations expert Soli Ozel of Istanbul's Kadir Has University. "It is not a relationship of equals."

Waiting game for Russia

Turkish leaders are normally vocal on any move by another country deemed supportive of the PYD.

Russia and Turkey are cooperating on a cease-fire in Syria, efforts perceived in Ankara as enhancing its regional standing. Analysts say Moscow values Ankara's influence over Syrian rebels being a main supply route as well as supporter. Experts say Turkey also sees its deepening relations with Russia as providing leverage over Turkey's Western allies.

Moscow chose to continue its rapprochement despite the December assassination of its ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, in Ankara.

Regional experts say Moscow could be biding its time.

"Russia has long memories. It will never forget the downing of its fighter plane or even the shooting of its ambassador at the very center of its capital," said political consultant Atilla Yesilada of Global Source Partners. He says Moscow has few illusions about its dealings with Ankara, adding, "What Russia realizes is Turkey is the antidote to its ambitions in the Middle East."

Another test

Moscow sent its own investigators to liaise with their Turkish counterparts in the probe over Karlov's assassination. Skepticism continues to surround Ankara's explanation that the killer was connected to followers of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey blames for a failed coup last July.

Turkish political instability will likely add to questions in Moscow over Ankara. "They [Moscow] are aware of the difficulties faced by Turkey," notes Haldun Solmazturk, head of the Ankara-based research group 21st Century Turkey Institute. "They are aware of the priority given by the Turkish government to domestic political needs. Moscow doesn't trust Turkey."

Turkish-Russian relations were dealt another setback Thursday when a Russian airstrike killed three Turkish soldiers in what Ankara accepted as a friendly fire incident in fighting Islamic State for control of the Syrian town of al-Bab. IS extremists seized control of al-Bab in 2014 as part of a large offensive in northern Syria and neighboring Iraq aimed at establishing an Islamic caliphate.

Turkey's pro-government media showed rare restraint, offering little criticism of the incident.

Turkey-Russia are not equals

Ankara for now appears ready to continue its courtship of Moscow.

Analysts warn that the Russian stance toward the Syrian Kurds underscores the fact that the Turkey-Russia relationship is increasingly not one of equals and that Turkey may be making a series of missteps.

"Certainly these guys may think they are geniuses by playing Russia against the United States and vice versa, but the results show they are singularly incapable of doing that," said analyst Ozel. " My question is, is it because they are incompetent or is it because they are over-invested in the idea of Turkey's indispensability and they think the margin of maneuver for Turkey is almost limitless. I doubt that it was and I still do."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is scheduled to visit Russia next month.

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9M729 - SSC-8 SCREWDRIVER

Russia has deployed a cruise missile in violation of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, complicating Trump's approach to Russia. Michael Gordon writing in the New York Times reported 14 February 2017 that "... the Russians now have two battalions of the prohibited cruise missile. One is still located at Russias missile test site at Kapustin Yar in the countrys southeast. The other was shifted in December from that test site to an operational base elsewhere in the country... Each missile battalion is believed to have four mobile launchers and a larger supply of missiles."

The INF Treaty defines an intermediate-range missile as a ground-launched ballistic missile (GLBM) or GLCM having a range capability in excess of 1,000 km [about 540 nm] but not in excess of 5,500 km [2969.762 nm, but this is too precise, 3,000 nm is better]. The Treaty defines a shorter-range missile as a GLBM or GLCM having a range capability equal to or in excess of 500 km [270 nm] but not in excess of 1,000 km. A GLCM is defined as a ground-launched cruise missile that is a weapon delivery vehicle.

Russia is committed to its obligations under the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty), Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said 09 March 2017. His remarks came after the Vice Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Paul Selva told Congress the previous day that Russia violated the "spirit and intent" of the INF pact by deploying a banned land-based cruise missile.

The treaty, signed by American and Soviet leaders in 1987, prohibits both countries from testing, producing and possessing land-based intermediate-range missiles. It was deemed as a cornerstone of global arms control and helped end the Cold War. "Russia fully complies with the INF treaty, although it does not totally meet our interests," Peskov was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying. Viktor Ozerov, chairman of the defense committee of Russia's upper house of parliament, said Russia strictly observes the arms control treaty and called the repeated U.S. accusations groundless. "Let them present the facts of these violations. We have heard enough baseless conversations lately," Ozerov said.

The 9M729 is by some accounts a variant of the 9M728 missiles, and its improved version - an extended-range missile - a new land-launched "Garnet." The 9M729 SSC-X-8 is a long-range ground-based cruise missile system. According to Western reports, the rocket is a land version of the SS-N-30 3M14 missile complex "Caliber-NK" and developed OKB "Innovator" (Ekaterinburg). From the report of the 2014 GosNIIP - "management system for 9M728 / 9M729 missiles and its improved version" has passed state tests.

The missiles assessed range is between 300 miles and 3,400 miles  the distance covered under the landmark INF treaty that banned an entire class of intermediate-range missiles. The missile is made by the normal aerodynamic scheme with wings folded in the fuselage of the missile in the transport position. The missile is equipped with a starting solid propellant, which fires after the launch. The control system and guidance of the cruise missile is presumably inertial control system (autopilot) with Doppler sensors drift angle correction according to satellite navigation systems GLONASS and GPS. At the final stage it may use active radar homing.

There is speculation that the missile is a surface option CBRC X-101 with a range of over 5,500 km [about 3,000 nm]. Creation and testing of such missiles in the ground form is recognized by Western observers in violation of the Treaty on the Reduction of INF, which was signed in 1987 between the Soviet Union and the United States.

The operational tactical or strategic rationale for a missile with a range of 3,000 nautical miles is difficult to understand. If launched from Moscow, it would provide coverage of all Western Europe [but surely there is no lack of coverage of this area], and if fired from the Eastern extremity of Siberia, coverage would extend along the US West coast down to Los Angeles. Neither of these coverage areas seem particularly interesting, so the new missile may simply represent unbridled technological exuberance, or complete indifference to the musty INF Treaty.

The United States determined that the cruise missile developed by Russia meets the INF Treaty definition of a ground-launched cruise missile with a range capability of 500 km to 5,500 km, and as such, all missiles of that type, and all launchers of the type used or tested to launch such a missile, are prohibited under the provisions of the INF Treaty. As was the case in previous years, in 2015, the United States again raised concerns with Russia on repeated occasions in an effort to resolve U.S. concerns. The United States will continue to pursue resolution of U.S. concerns with Russia.

The Treaty Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Elimination of Their Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles (INF Treaty) was signed by President Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev on December 8, 1987, and entered into force on June 1, 1988. Elimination of all declared missiles and launchers under the Treaty was completed in 1991. The Treaty is of unlimited duration and bans the possession, production, and flight testing of intermediate- and shorter-range missile systems. The Treaty required complete elimination of all the approximately 800 U.S. and approximately 1,800 former Soviet ground-launched missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers, their launchers, and their associated support equipment and structures. All such items were eliminated by May 28, 1991.

During the Cold War, both the United States and Soviet Union developed and deployed nuclear-tipped Air Launched Cruise Missiles [ALCM] and Sea Launched Cruise Missiles [SLCM]. Discounting the large inter-continental systems of the 1950s, But only the United States developed and deployed nuclear tipped Ground Launched Cruise Missiles [GLCM]. The Soviet-era nuclear ALCMs and SLCMs are comparable in size and mass to the shorter range conventional land attack Klub SS-N-27 Sizzler 3M14E missile has a range of approximately 300km when launched from a ship and is subsonic. Five types of missiles - 3M-54E, 3M-54E1, 3M-14E, 91RE1 and 91RE2 - have been developed for the Club system.

Robert M. Gates, Chairman, National Intelligence Council, and Deputy Director for Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency, testified before the Senate Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Appropriations on 26 June 1985 that "The ALCM is the first in a series of deployments of long-range,land-attack cruise missiles. Over the next 10 years, we expect them to deploy 2,000 to 3,000 nuclear-armed ALCM's, sea-launched cruise missiles [SLCM's], and ground-launched cruise missiles [GLCM's]. The deployment of cruise missiles provides the Soviets with newmultidirectional capabilities against U.S. targets."

A GLCM would certainly have generated the most acute anxiety in Europe. Although the SS-20 and Backfire were already viewed as adding a disturbing and qualitatively different dimension to the Soviet nuclear threat to Europe, yet another element in the Soviet long-range nuclear arsenal would seen menacing indeed. Initially there was some speculation that the Soviets might attempt to use their emerging GLCM program as a bargaining chip, protecting their basic military requirement for SS-20s by insisting on trading Soviet GLCMs against NATO GLCMs, but this nevery happened. Based on the RK-55 Granat cruise missile, the SSC-X-4 SLINGSHOT GLCM variant was was destroyed in compliance with INF disarmament negotiations prior to reaching operational status.

Russian media have reported since 2005 that the country was considering withdrawing from the INF treaty, signed by the United States and Soviet Union in 1987. In June 2013, Kremlin chief of staff Sergei Ivanov implied that the treaty benefits the US more than Russia, saying that the US faces no regional threats to its security. The Americans have no need for this class of weapon, they didnt need it before and they dont need it now, Ivanov told state news channel Rossiya-24. They could theoretically only attack Mexico and Canada with them, because their effective radius doesnt extend to Europe.

President Barack Obama informed Russian President Vladimir Putin in a letter on 28 July 2014 of the United States' determination that Russia violated the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. The US said Russia tested a new ground-launched cruise missile, breaking the INF treaty that President Ronald Reagan signed with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest on 29 July 2014 accused Russia of violating the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. The United States has determined, according to an intelligence analysis, that the Russian Federation is in violation of its obligations under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF), he stated at a press briefing in Washington.

Ernst stated that Russia had violated the treatys obligations not to possess, produce or flight-test a ground-launched cruise missile with a range capability of 500 kilometers to 5,500 kilometers or to possess or produce launchers of such missiles.... It is a very serious matter which we have attempted to address with Russia for some time now. The United States is committed to the viability of the INF Treaty. It is our view that the INF Treaty  and agreements that are part of it  are in the broad national security interest of every party that has agreed to that treaty, he said. This is a serious concern that we have raised with the Russians on a number of occasions through our standard diplomatic channels he noted.

In January 2014 the United States notified NATO allies of Russian tests of a new missile that could be in violation of a nuclear disarmament treaty. The weapon, a ground-based cruise missile, had allegedly been tested repeatedly since 2008 and was considered by senior US officials to have clearly violated the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

Some experts believe that the cruise missile in question is the R-500; derived from the Iskander-K, using the same TEL carrier vehicle and control system as the the Iskander-M ballistic missile, but armed with a turbojet-powered cruise missile. Development of a new missile might be an effort to ensure nuclear parity with China, which is not a signatory to the treaty and within range of such weapons.

Daryl Kimball, head of the Arms Control Association, the private research organization, said There are some in Russias defense establishment who are itching to find ways to either get around or break out of the INF treaty so that Russia can counter these other kinds of short and medium-range ballistic missile opponents.

The Russian Foreign Ministry dismissed US accusations of violating the Soviet-era intermediate-range nuclear treaty. "These statements are as ungrounded as all other Washingtons claims against Moscow that have been voiced recently, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. No supporting evidence has ever been provided, the statement said. The ministry also stressed that Russia had its own complaints about the US compliance with the INF treaty. The ministry has criticized Washingtons plans to deploy the MK 41 VLS launching systems in Poland and Romania as part of the phased adaptive approach for missile defense. These launching systems are capable of launching cruise missiles of medium-range cruise missiles and their ground version may be considered as a direct violation of the INF treaty, the statement said.

The ministry said "... we have accumulated a considerable amount of complaints to [be addressed to] the US in the framework of the treaty. In particular, on target missile defense tests similar in characteristics to the short- and intermediate-range missiles and the manufacturing of armed drones, which meet the treaty's definition of ground-launched cruise missiles.

Brian P. Mckeon Principal Deputy Under Secretary Of Defense For Policy, testified before the House Committee On Armed Services Subcommittee On Strategic Forces And Committee On Foreign Affairs Subcommittee On Terrorism, Nonproliferation, And Trade December 1, 2015 "Our determination on the INF Treaty violation has not changed since we first announced the violation in July 2014. There has been some speculation about what missile the United States is referring to and whether we have mistaken its testing for a treaty-compliant sea-based cruise missile. The evidence is conclusive. Russia has tested this ground-based system well into the ranges covered by the INF Treaty. We are talking about a real system and not a potential capability. Since determining that Russia is in violation of its INF Treaty obligations, our objective has been to preserve the viability of the INF Treaty by convincing Russia to come back into compliance with those obligations....

"... the Joint Staff conducted a military assessment of the threat posed by Russia if it were to deploy an INF Treaty-prohibited ground-launched cruise missile in Europe or the Asia-Pacific region. The assessment tells us that the deployment of such a system by the Russian Federation would increase the risk to our allies and an indirect threat to the United States.... the Administration determined that we needed to consider Russian actions with regard to the INF Treaty in the context of its overall aggressive and bellicose behavior that flouts international legal norms and destabilizes the European security order. Russia is not violating the INF Treaty in isolation from its overall aggressive behavior."

Rose E. Gottemoeller, Under Secretary of Arms Control and International Security, testified at the same hearing "Since 2013, we have raised with Russia our serious concerns regarding conduct that we ultimately determined to be a violation of the INF Treaty and have held senior-level and technical-expert level bilateral discussions with the aim of returning Russia to verifiable compliance with its Treaty obligations. Throughout the course of this year, we have raised this issue with Russian officials on repeated occasions and at various levels and departments within the Russian government in an effort to resolve U.S. concerns. We have made very clear that this is not a technicality, a one-off event, or a case of mistaken identity, but a serious Russian violation of one of the most basic obligations under the INF Treaty. Russian officials have denied violating the Treaty and told us the issue was closed. We do not accept this response."

A Russian announcement by GosNIIP, the design bureau that builds guidance for cruise missiles, stated that that Russia had completed state acceptance trials of the ground-based 9M729: "An important outcome of the works that were carried out with great intensity with the best forces of the Institute - the completion of State tests of products ZM54 and ZM14 Naval complex and the beginning of the serial deliveries of these products with our management systems design and manufacture. Completed state testing and automated control systems these systems. Complex automated preparation of flight assignments for these products pass inter-institutional test. An equally important milestone in our lives was the completion of State testing ground-based complex 9M728, 9M729 and its upgraded version. They are equipped with control system of our Institute."

According to Western reports, the missile tests have been conducted since 2008. Apparently, in 2014 completed state tests 9M729 missiles and its improved version. In 2016, it was planned to producre 8-7930 chassis MZKT to build 4 STC and 4 TPM at the facilities of the CDB "Titan" (Volgograd). Presumably, these STC and TPM will go for tests and trial operation in the 630th missile battalion (Kapustin Yar). Accordingly, there is an assumption that the complex and facilities of the complex are a modification of the missile system "Iskander-M" with enhanced details of which were unknown ( as of March 2016).

The rocket name "9M729" was originally taken from different foreign sources. And confirmed the message of congratulations on the 70th anniversary of the Russian Ministry of Defense GTSMP 4 (Kapustin Yar, March 2016) by the General Designer of OKB "Innovator" Paul Kamneva: "Your team is making a significant contribution to the development of missile systems of different class in the same time we were convinced. repeatedly in tests such missiles as the 9M82, 9M82MD, 9M83, 9M728,9M729, 77N6-H, MN-300, 53T6".

On 02 September 2015 came the first launch of the rocket SSC-X-8 the date of which was specified exactly.

On 23 January 2019 the Russian Defence Ministry displayed the 9M729 (NATO reporting name SSC-8) cruise missile to foreign military attaches for the first time. Military attaches and representatives of the military-diplomatic corps of the CSTO, BRICS, the European Union and NATO, as well as some other European and Asian countries were invited to the briefing, the Defense Ministry said.

The briefing was attended by more than 20 representatives of the diplomatic corps of foreign countries. "The military attaches of the United States, Britain, France and Germany, as well as representatives of NATO and the European Union, to whom an invitation was sent, refrained from attending the briefing," the defense department stressed.

During the missile presentation, the ministry also revealed its specifications, which have caused such great concern in the US, because Washington claims that Moscow tested the 9M729 in ranges that violate the treaty. The missile has a minimum firing range of 50 km, the same as its predecessor 9M728, and maximum range of 480 km that is 10 km shorter than the 9M728's range, which doesn't violate the INF Treaty.

Matveevsky also added that the missile's engine, fuel tank, and booster remain unchanged, while its warhead and guidance system has been upgraded. The warhead's modifications led to an increase in its weight and thus a drop in the missile's range by 10 kilometers. He explained that the upgraded mobile launcher for the new type of missile is bigger because it carries four of them rather than the previous two.

According to Lieutenant General Mikhail Matveyevsky, Russia has fulfilled and continues to strictly comply with the provisions of the INF Treaty and does not allow any violations. As for this missile, it is a modernized version of the 9M728 cruise missile, which is part of the Iskander-M complex. The 9M728 and 9M729 missiles are unified across most of the main units. Modernization of the 9M728 cruise missile was aimed at increasing the power of the warhead and accuracy characteristics, the Lieutenant General noted.

The 9M729 missile is equipped with combat equipment of increased power and a new airborne control complex, which provides higher accuracy in hitting the target. The change in the number of warheads and the introduction of additional equipment while maintaining the diameter of the rocket led to an increase in its length and, accordingly, the size of the transport and launch container. The total length of the transport and launch container has increased by 53 cm.

The 9M728 and 9M729 missiles, Matveyevsky noted further, are equipped with a warhead and refuel only in factory conditions. The mass of fuel at the same time provides the maximum constructive range of the flight, limited by the requirements of the INF Treaty. They are delivered to the troops in special containers. The maximum flight range of the 9M729 missile decreased by 10 km compared to the 9M728 missile and is 480 km.

The Lieutenant General noted that the starting and main engines with the fuel system of the 9M729 missile remained unchanged - the volume (mass) of the fuel remains the same as in the 9M728 cruise missile. However, the refinement of the head part and the control system, along with an increase in the length of the rocket, led to an increase in its mass. As a result, the maximum range of the missile 9M729 decreased by 10 km compared to the 9M728 rocket and is 480 km. The specified distance was confirmed during the West-2017 SKSHU.

The overall dimensions of the 9M729 missile and its container, which have changed in length, do not allow placing it on a self-propelled launcher instead of the 9M728 product. Therefore, for the 9M729 missile developed a specialized version of a self-propelled launcher. In addition, it hosts four 9M729 missiles, and not two 9M728 missiles, as on the old launcher. Accordingly, this led to an increase in the length of the launcher and its height.

Focusing on the US statements about missile launches at the Kapustin Yar proving ground in the Astrakhan region, Matveyevsky pointed out that, in addition to the rocket forces and artillery of the Ground Forces, missiles for strategic purposes, the Aerospace Forces and the air defense forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. As you can see, a wide range of various flight products is being tested at the test site, including a range exceeding 500 km, he said.

Thus, over the period from 2008 to 2014, more than 100 rocket launches for various purposes were conducted at the test site. At the same time, all launches of ground-to-ground missiles were conducted at a distance not exceeding the limits provided for by the INF. The only exceptions are strategic launches launched by the United States under the 1982 Agreement.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who addressed the briefing participants, said that the US demand to destroy all 9M729 missiles is absolutely unacceptable for Russia, and the Americans are well aware of this. At the same time, Russia is ready for an equal dialogue and the choice is now for the United States.

The briefing was attended by more than 20 diplomatic representatives from other countries and over 190 employees of leading foreign media. But the military attaches of the United States, Britain, France and Germany, as well as representatives of NATO and the European Union, to whom the invitation was sent, abstained from attending the briefing.

In order to highlight the briefing, the Patriot Congress and Exhibition Center of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation organized more than 190 representatives of the world's leading media. The briefing was broadcast on Russia 24 TV channel and on the main foreign language versions of Russia Today TV channel. More than 1.6 thousand publications and photo reports appeared in foreign media and Internet resources.

Russia has deployed its controversial 9M729 cruise missile at more locations than previously thought, a German newspaper reports. Citing an unidentified Western intelligence source, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (FAZ) said on 10 February 2019 that missile battalions were stationed in Mozdok in North Ossetia and in Shuya, close to Moscow. Thats in addition to a training battalion stationed at the rocket-testing development site in Kapustin Yar in southern Russia and one in Kamyshlov, east of Yekaterinburg, the paper said. Each of Russias four 9M729 battalions has four launchers on wheels, each of which has four missiles -- meaning that Russia now has at least 64 such missiles, according to FAZ.

The Kalibr-M shipboard cruise missile with a range of more than 4.5 thousand km created for the Russian Navy is also planned to be developed in the land-based variant due to the possible US withdrawal from the Treaty on Medium and Short-Range Missiles. This was reported by TASS on 23 February 2019 a source in the rocket industry of the Russian Federation. "Taking into account the possible final withdrawal of the US from the INF Treaty, it is planned that the Kalibr-M cruise missile with a maximum firing range of more than 4.5 thousand km will be developed in the land-based variant," the agencys source said.

TASS previously reported only on the ship version of the rocket. As a source in the defense industry told TASS in January, research is underway to create the newest high-precision Caliber-M cruise missile for the Navy with a maximum range of more than 4.5 thousand km. He specified that the creation of the Caliber-M rocket was included in the state armaments program until 2027. The missile will be different from the standing in the arsenal "Calibrov" as increased firing range, and larger dimensions and more powerful warhead.

The United States announced that they would suspend the fulfillment of their obligations under the INF Treaty from February 2, and six months later they would cease to be its participant if actions are not taken by the Russian Federation to return to the implementation of its provisions. On February 2, Russia announced the suspension of participation in the agreement.

As stated on February 5 by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, in the 2019-2020, a ground version of the Kaliber complex currently in service will be created. According to him, this is one of the mirror measures in response to the ongoing work in the United States to create land-based missiles with a firing range of more than 500 km, which is a violation by Washington of the requirements of the INF.

3M14 missile variant X-101 variant missiles Length 8 m (with booster) 8 m or more (with booster) Case Diameter 533 mm 0.8 m Wingspan 3m 4.4 m (estimated) Mass not less than 2300 kg not less than 2,700 kg (with booster) Weight warhead 400-500 kg 400-500 kg Range No more than 5500 km 2000-2500 km (assessment) More than 5,500 km (on the basis of going beyond the limit of the INF Treaty) speed 180-240 m / s (figures in 3M14 missiles) about 200 m/s height of flight 50-150 m (figures in 3M14 missiles)

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February 2017 by Marc Jacob

IBM and ServiceNow are teaming to bring intelligent automation solutions to customers across the globe. The firms have agreed to a multi-year, strategic partnership to offer ServiceNows cloud-based service automation platform and IBM products and services to replace the unstructured work patterns of the past with intelligent workflows of the future. By automating work, customers can energize their employees, increase service levels and deliver game-changing economics in an enterprise that works seamlessly.

Enterprises need to move faster, but legacy tools and manual processes hold them back. The average employee is distracted once every 11 minutes and needs an average of 25 minutes to refocus on tasks. People compensate by working faster (but not necessarily more effectively), and experience more stress, higher levels of frustration and greater time pressures.

IBM and ServiceNow will focus on automating manual processes to deliver greater efficiencies to their customers workplace  especially for the complex operations of the Global 2000. For this new global strategic partnership:

IBM will leverage its extensive investment and intellectual capital around Cognitive computing as well as its global services integration and delivery resources.

ServiceNow will provide its industry-leading, cloud-based software that intelligently automates work across IT, HR, customer service and security. ServiceNow analytics and benchmarks deliver actionable insight into service demand, service level compliance and other key performance indicators to improve enterprise efficiency.

IBM and its customers can also use the ServiceNow platform to build business applications that automate processes in any department and any vertical market.

ServiceNow will integrate with IBMs Global Technology Services including Cognitive solutions, Bluemix infrastructure and IBM Cloud Orchestrator.

More specifically, the partnership will allow customers to:

Leverage extensive IBM domain expertise and capabilities to architect an enterprise-wide system of action that leverages a common platform for departments to assign and prioritize, collaborate and get down to root cause of issues while gaining real-time insights that drive productivity.

Take advantage of IBMs programmatic approach to merge, migrate and deploy solutions to optimize departmental service clouds.

Incorporate IBM experience to define and guide how service integrations will be done for the most complex environments.

IBM is a ServiceNow global strategic partner and has been a managed service provider since 2011 for the complete ServiceNow portfolio. IBM is currently responsible for managing some of the largest ServiceNow deployments globally.
Edge data centres will account for most of the telecom server market growth and is projected to reach US$14 billion by 2026 according to a new report from DellOro Group.
Baku, Azerbaijan Feb. 14



By Khalid Kazimov  Trend:



Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is expected to pay an official visit to the countrys southern neighbors of Oman and Kuwait on Wednesday.



According to IRNA news agency, Rouhani will arrive in Omans capital of Muscat in the morning on Feb. 15.



He will later leave Oman for Kuwait in the day, said the report.



A high ranking delegation will accompany the president during the visit where the sides will discuss expansion of ties on the level of

government and private companies.



The latest regional developments are also expected to be discussed during the visits.


Virginia lawmakers are one step closer to reforming how suspensions are doled out.

A House of Delegates committee on education approved two Senate bills Monday that would change the length of time students can be suspended from school. That legislation now joins two House bills that the Senate will take up.

While the House and Senate bills differ in the number of days students may be suspended, a compromise could be reached in a conference committee.

Senate Bill 995 calls for reducing the maximum length of a long-term suspension from 364 calendar days to 60 school days. School officials could go over 60 days  but not more than 364 days  if a case involves offenses including felonious assault, criminal sexual assault and arson at school or school events.

It passed 14-8.

The House version, House Bill 1534, calls for reducing the maximum length of a long-term suspension from 364 calendar days to 90 school days.

And Senate Bill 997 eliminates long-term suspensions of preschool through third-grade students but gives schools leeway to go up to 10 days if the incident involves a weapon, inappropriate sexual behavior or serious bodily injury.

It passed 13-9.

House Bill 1536 prohibits students in preschool through third grade from being expelled or suspended for more than five days, except in cases of drug offenses, firearm violations or other certain criminal acts.

Sen. William M. Stanley Jr., R-Franklin County, sponsored the Senate bills. Del. Richard P. Dickie Bell, R-Staunton, sponsored the House versions.

It seems as though they are all headed to committee where well try to come to some kind of compromise (I hope!), Amy Wollard, an attorney and policy coordinator with the Legal Aid Justice Centers JustChildren Program, wrote in an email Monday.

Of the two, I think were most happy with Del. Bells version of SB 997/HB 1536, which caps out of school suspensions for preK-3rd graders at 5 days (rather than 10).

Both bills look to keep students in a controlled setting when they get in trouble rather than sending them home, where they may be unsupervised.

Kids who are suspended can fall further behind and are more likely to drop out of school or land in the juvenile justice system, proponents say.

In other education news:

The House Education Committee also approved Senate Bill 1516 Monday by a vote of 22-0.

This bill would assure that districts have a reading specialist in place trained in how to identify and address dyslexia. The specialist would also be trained in accommodations and teaching techniques for students with dyslexia or a related disorder and to serve as an adviser on dyslexia and related disorders.

A House version of the legislation, House Bill 2395, has been referred to the Senates Committee on Education and Health.

And the full Senate approved House Bill 2290, which calls for teaching students taking drivers education to learn how to interact with police when pulled over.

The bill, which passed 40-0, requires that drivers education programs at schools include instruction concerning traffic stops, including law enforcement procedures for traffic stops, appropriate actions to be taken by drivers during traffic stops and appropriate interactions with law enforcement officers who initiate traffic stops.
REIDSVILLE, N.C.  North Carolina is offering a reward for information in a 2016 Reidsville homicide.

Up to $5,000 is offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the death of Darnell Michael Long, according to Gov. Roy Cooper's office.

Long, 49, was shot several times outside his house at 1308 Vance St. about 8:15 p.m. on Jan. 7, 2016, according to police. He was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries. Long may have been shot while walking to his car.

Anyone with information can call Lt. Shannon Coates at (336) 347-2338 or the main police number at (336) 349-1010. People can also call Crime Stoppers at (336) 349-9683 or the State Bureau of Investigation at (336) 662-4500.
To the editor:

This is a call to arms for all Christian soldiers and those who care for their fellow man. America is known to be the most generous nation in the world. I believe she and we are blessed because of that generosity.

The Lord loves a cheerful giver. We are directed to help not only friends and family but strangers as well.

It is long time since we rallied to help our fellow Christian brothers and sisters in the Middle East. In all but Israel, Christians are tortured, raped, enslaved and even crucified. Children have eyes burned out and limbs cut off. They will walk, weekly to crosses refusing to deny Christ. These are present day mortars.

Boones Chapel Church of the Brethren, 2228 Circle Creek Road, Penhook, VA, 24137 has a growing fund to send help. If you talk to your pastors and friends, we hope to raise even enough to build a refugee camp for Christians. The church will collect and send funds to Rev. Franklin Graham. His Samaritans Purse has a very low overhead so most of the money goes to the intended. Further, money goes further over there than here. Wont you be a part of our army that will make history and show the Middle-East that we care about and support Christians? U.S. aid goes to foreign governments who dispense money that mainly help those of their own religion. Christians receive little or nothing even in the few refugee camps that exist.

Some will say we have needy here. Friends, nobody in America is threatened with life and limb for their beliefs. World change could result if we show the Middle East how we care about human life. Now its your move. What will you do? We send money to save tigers, wolves and even whales. Are our brothers and sisters worth less?

C. EDWARD TOWNSEND III

Penhook
Baku, Azerbaijan Feb. 14



By Khalid Kazimov  Trend:



Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan has called for using nuclear energy for marine propulsion in making heavy vessels as

well as submarines.



Dehqan said that the industry should consider environmental issues in developing propulsion devices, ISNA news agency reported.



He made the remarks addressing a conference on marine propulsion in Tehran this morning. Iran earlier announced that the country has started taking countermeasures over a US violation of the 2015 multilateral nuclear accord.

Following a vote by the US Congress to renew a piece of legislation against Iran that has been deemed by Iranian officials as a violation of the nuclear accord last December, Iranian President Hassan Rouhnai ordered the countrys Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI) to start certain nuclear activities.

Under the order, the AEOI was tasked with working on nuclear propulsion devices to be used in sea transport.
State inspections at Goodyear following the Aug. 12 workplace death of an employee resulted in numerous fines for unsafe conditions at the facility, according to documentation.

Violations included failure to guard employees from falls and failure to provide adequate training to workers for properly shutting down equipment, among others.

A floor hole into which persons could accidentally walk was not guarded by either a standard guardrail system with a toeboard or a floor hole cover, according to an attachment to the pre-citation agreement between the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry and Goodyear. Employees were exposed to falling through a floor hole in the drum room mezzanine.

Also, guardrails were not installed for protection from falls along the perimeter of the drum room roof where a fixed ladder was installed, according to state inspectors.

Those two violations resulted in $6,300 fines for each item.

In addition, training on machine-specific lockout/tagout procedures had not been provided to all employees authorized to perform lockout/tagout (shutting down machines) on the alpha shears and other similar equipment, according to officials. That led to a $7,000 fine.

Other violations included failure to ensure that openings in fan blade guards  where the periphery of the blades was less than 7 feet above the floor or working level  were not more than a half inch. Goodyear was fined $6,300 for that violation.

Workers also were exposed to an unguarded rotating shaft at an alpha shear, according to the inspection. That resulted in a $6,300 fine.

Goodyear and the state announced an agreement in which the company would pay $1.75 million in penalties related to the Aug. 12 death of William Billy Scheier, other deaths at the plant, and health and safety inspections.

He was fatally injured Aug. 12 while adjusting a proximity switch near a cutter wheel, according to the inspection report.

Fines stemming from the Scheier incident totaled $986,600.

His death marked the fourth in a year-long period between August 2015 and August 2016.

Fines paid by Goodyear to the state will go to the commonwealths general fund, just like other fines and penalties, said Jennifer Rose, Virginia Occupational Safety and Health safety director.

Barbara Hatala, communications manager with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. in Akron, Ohio, said the companys resources in Danville are focused on working with the commonwealth and the United Steelworkers to improve the plants safety and join the Virginia Voluntary Protection Program.

Hatala declined to comment whether the company would compensate the victims families,

Goodyear doesnt comment on legal matters involving our associates, she said.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Skyharbour Resources Ltd. (TSX-V:SYH) (OTCQB:SYHBF) (Frankfurt:SC1P) (the Company) announces that pursuant to its stock option plan, the Company has granted incentive stock options to its various directors, officers, employees and consultants to purchase up to an aggregate of 400,000 common shares in the capital stock of the Company, exercisable for a period of five years, at a price of $0.63 per share.



About Skyharbour Resources Ltd.:

Skyharbour holds an extensive portfolio of uranium and thorium exploration projects in Canada's Athabasca Basin and is well positioned to benefit from improving uranium market fundamentals with five drill-ready projects. In July 2016, Skyharbour acquired an option from Denison Mines to acquire 100% of the Moore Lake Uranium Project which is located 20 kilometres east of Denisons Wheeler River project and 39 kilometres south of Camecos McArthur River mine. Moore Lake is an advanced stage uranium exploration property with over $30 million in historical exploration, 370 diamond drill holes, and a high-grade uranium zone known as the Maverick Zone with drill results including 4.03% eU3O8 over 10 metres at a vertical depth of 265 metres. The Company owns a 100% interest in the Falcon Point (formerly Way Lake) Uranium Project on the eastern perimeter of the Basin which hosts an NI 43-101 inferred resource totaling 7.0 million pounds of U3O8 at 0.03% and 5.3 million pounds of ThO2 at 0.023%. The project also hosts a high grade surface showing with up to 68% U3O8 in grab samples from a massive pitchblende vein, the source of which has yet to be discovered. Skyharbour also has a 50% interest in the large, geologically prospective Preston Uranium Project proximal to Fission Uraniums Triple R deposit as well as NexGen Energys Arrow deposit. The Companys 100% owned Mann Lake Uranium project on the east side of the Basin is strategically located adjacent to the Mann Lake Joint Venture operated by Cameco with partners Denison Mines and AREVA, where high-grade uranium mineralization was recently discovered. Skyharbours goal is to maximize shareholder value through new mineral discoveries, committed long-term partnerships, and the advancement of exploration projects in geopolitically favourable jurisdictions.

To find out more about Skyharbour Resources Ltd. (TSX-V:SYH) visit the Companys website at www.skyharbourltd.com.

Skyharbour Resources Ltd.

Jordan Trimble



Jordan Trimble

President and CEO

For further information contact myself or:

Nick Findler

Corporate Development and Communications

Skyharbour Resources Ltd.

Telephone: 604-639-3850

Toll Free: 800-567-8181

Facsimile: 604-687-3119

Email: info@skyharbourltd.com

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that management of the Company expects, are forward-looking statements. Although management believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, include market prices, exploration and development successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Please see the public filings of the Company at www.sedar.com for further information.
/NOT FOR DISSEMINATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES AND NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO US NEWSWIRE SERVICES./

MELBOURNE, Feb. 14, 2017 /CNW/ - OceanaGold Corp. (TSX/ASX: OGC) (the "Company") advises that the Company received an order from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources ("DENR") today calling for the suspension of the Didipio operations.

The order repeated allegations previously made by the DENR, citing " petition of the Local Government of Nueva Vizcaya for the cancellation of the FTAA; alleged damages to houses caused by the blasting operation; and the potential adverse impact to the agricultural areas of the Province". The Company was also given a period of up to three months to address the issues raised against it.

Subsequent to receiving the order, OceanaGold filed an appeal directly with the Office of the President which, in accordance with the rules and regulations, stays the execution of the suspension order. The Company anticipates that Didipio will continue to operate during the appeal process.

Mick Wilkes, President and CEO of OceanaGold said, "We are an environmentally and socially responsible mining Company that has delivered meaningful benefits to a multitude of stakeholders in the host communities that support the mine in the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino. We have the strong endorsement from our host communities to operate and are a major employer of Filipino nationals, majority of whom are from the local communities. A suspension of operations will adversely impact thousands of Filipinos directly and indirectly."

"The Didipio operation has not violated or breached any Philippines laws, rules or regulations. In fact, OceanaGold has a successful track record of operating for 27 years in accordance with Australian and Canadian standards on health, safety, environment, community and sustainability across all our operations. We strongly believe that the Didipio operation is the template for what President Duterte is seeking in his desire for a responsible mining sector in the Philippines," Mr. Wilkes added.

info@oceanagold.com | www.oceanagold.com | Twitter: @OceanaGold

About OceanaGold

OceanaGold Corp. is a mid-tier, high-margin, multinational gold producer with assets located in the Philippines, New Zealand and the United States. The Company's assets encompass its flagship operation, the Didipio Gold-Copper Mine located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. On the North Island of New Zealand, the Company operates the high-grade Waihi Gold Mine while on the South Island of New Zealand, the Company operates the largest gold mine in the country at the Macraes Goldfield which is made up of a series of open pit mines and the Frasers underground mine. In the United States, the Company is currently commissioning the Haile Gold Mine, a top-tier asset located in South Carolina along the Carolina Terrane. The Company expects the Haile Gold Mine to commence commercial production in early 2017. OceanaGold also has a significant pipeline of organic growth and exploration opportunities in the Australasia and Americas regions.

OceanaGold has operated sustainably over the past 26 years with a proven track record for environmental management and community and social engagement. The Company has a strong social license to operate and works collaboratively with its valued stakeholders to identify and invest in social programs that are designed to build capacity and not dependency.

In 2017, the Company expects to produce 550,000 to 610,000 ounces of gold and 15,000 to 17,000 tonnes of copper with sector leading All-In Sustaining Costs that range from $600 to $650 per ounce sold.

SOURCE OceanaGold Corp.
Lower 44 Mineral Claims Host Zinc-Lead-Copper-Silver-Gold Zones

TSXV: SXL OTCBB: SLMF

MIRAMICHI, NB, Feb 14, 2017 /CNW/ - SLAM Exploration Ltd. (TSXV: SXL) ("SLAM" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has acquired 5 mineral claims covering 1350 hectares of land known as the Lower 44 property located in the Bathurst Mining Camp ("BMC") of New Brunswick, Canada. The site is 20 km west of the former producing Brunswick No. 12 mine owned by Glencore and 18 km south of the Caribou mine owned and operated by Trevali Mining Corp.

The Lower 44 property is host to three historic zinc-lead-copper-silver-gold mineral occurrences known as the Lower 44 zone, the Essex zone and the Tribag zone. The best drilling intercept to date is a 3.8 m core length grading 12.9% zinc, 5.35% lead, 0.78% copper, 70.6 g/tonne silver and 1.37 g/t gold reported from the Lower 44 zone in 1983. The Lower 44 zone (formerly known as the "Bog" zone), was intersected by 4 drill holes over a strike length of 60m and drilled widths ranging from 0.6 to 3.8 m.

The Essex zone comprises banded to massive sulphides traced over a strike length of 450 m and to a depth of 100 m by 5 diamond drill holes. Essex zone intercepts include 2.3 metres grading 3.25% zinc, 0.99% lead, 0.18% copper, 43.64 g/t silver and 1.29 g/t gold.

The Tribag zone was discovered in 1962 and drilled by 8 diamond drill holes over a strike length of 200m to a depth of 60m. Intercepts of banded to massive sulphides with visible zinc-lead-copper mineralization were reported over core lengths ranging up to 6.5m. The historical records reviewed by SLAM do not include assay data for the Tribag drill holes.

The Lower 44, Essex and Tribag zones are volcanogenic massive sulfide occurrences (VMS) discovered by previous workers in drilling campaigns dating back to the 1950's. Sulphide mineralization occurs within folded sedimentary and volcanic rocks similar in age and lithology to the Brunswick No. 12 and Caribou ore-bodies. There is potential to expand all 3 occurrences by drilling at depth and along strike within the Lower 44 property. Soil geochemical anomalies associated with airborne geophysical conductors demonstrate potential for extensions along strike as well as at depth and are considered drill-ready VMS targets.

Joint Venture/Earn-In Opportunity: SLAM has a portfolio of zinc-lead-silver properties that are available for joint venture and/or option-earn-in agreements in the Bathurst Mining Camp of New Brunswick. These include Costigan, Connector. Lower 44 and other mineral properties with mineral potential demonstrated by previous drilling results as well as airborne and ground geophysical and geochemical surveys. For additional information, call Mike Taylor 506-623-8960.

About SLAM Exploration Ltd:

SLAM is a project generating Resource Company with a portfolio of gold, base metal and lithium projects in the mineral-rich Province of New Brunswick where SLAM's main focus is the wholly-owned Menneval gold project. SLAM holds an NSR royalty on the Superjack and Nash Creek zinc?lead?copper?silver deposits and owns a portfolio of base metal properties in the Bathurst Mining Camp ("BMC"). The Company intends to utilize its extensive BMC mineral database to explore and develop properties in this region of world-class mineral potential. SLAM also owns the Cumberland lithium project in southeastern New Brunswick. Other gold projects include the Reserve Creek and Miminiska gold projects in Ontario. Additional information about SLAM and its projects is available at www.slamexploration.com or from SEDAR filings at www.sedar.com. Follow us on twitter @SLAMGold.

Qualifying Statements: Mike Taylor, P.Geo. President and CEO of SLAM Exploration Ltd., as the Qualified Person, approves the scientific and technical disclosure in the news release.

Certain information in this press release may constitute forward-looking information, including statements that address the Private Placement, the closing of the Private Placement, future production, reserve potential, exploration and development activities and events or developments that the Company expects. This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward looking-statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to the Company. There are a number of risk factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those described herein. Information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SEDAR: 00012459E

SOURCE SLAM Exploration Ltd.
VANCOUVER, Feb. 14, 2017 - JDL Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE:JDL) ("JDL") and Luna Gold Corp. (TSX:LGC) ("Luna Gold") are pleased to announce that in connection with the business combination and private placement financing announced on February 1, 2017, JDL has entered into an agreement with Haywood Securities Inc. and National Bank Financial Inc. (together, the "Co-Lead Underwriters"), on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters (collectively with the Co-Lead Underwriters, the "Underwriters"), for a bought deal private placement of subscription receipts for gross proceeds of C$15 million. The Company has also granted the Underwriters an option, exercisable in whole or in part up to 48 hours prior to the closing of the offering, to purchase up to an additional 2,500,000 subscription receipts for additional gross proceeds of up to C$5 million.In addition, due to substantial demand, the previously announced non-brokered private placement of subscription receipts has been increased to up to C$50 million.JDL will issue subscription receipts (the "Subscription Receipts") at a price of C$2.00 per Subscription Receipt. Each Subscription Receipt will entitle the holder to receive automatically upon closing of the Transaction (as defined below), without any further action on the part of the holder and without payment of additional consideration, one Unit, comprising one JDL common share (a "Common Share") and one JDL listed common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of C$3.00 with an expiry date of October 6, 2021. The Common Shares and Warrants issued upon conversion of the Subscription Receipts may be traded by the holders through the facilities of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V") and will not be subject to a statutory hold period. A commission of 5% will be paid to the Underwriters in connection with the bought deal private placement.Closing of the financing is subject to customary conditions, including the approval of the TSX-V. Following completion of the business combination and the financing, proceeds will be used to repay debt, for the exploration and development of the Aurizona gold project and for general corporate and working capital purposes.JDL and Luna Gold have entered into an arrangement agreement (the "Agreement") to combine their businesses (the "Transaction"), creating a multi-asset mining company. Under the terms of the Agreement, JDL will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Luna Gold in exchange for 1.105 JDL common shares.The combined company intends to change its name to Trek Mining Inc. and expects to trade on the TSX-V under the ticker symbol "TREK". Trek will be well-funded with no cash debt and will be strongly positioned to advance its Aurizona gold project to production. The increased financing will also allow Trek to plan a larger exploration program at Aurizona, with a focus on drill-ready targets directly along strike from the existing reserves and resources at the Piaba open pit.Closing of the Transaction is subject to customary conditions including court and regulatory approvals and the approval of the securityholders of both JDL and Luna Gold. A joint information circular detailing the terms and conditions of the Transaction will be filed with regulatory authorities and mailed to the securityholders of Luna Gold and shareholders of JDL in accordance with applicable securities laws. The special meetings of both companies are expected to be held in the second half of March 2017, with completion of the Transaction anticipated by the end of March 2017.The Subscription Receipts will be offered by way of a private placement in all of the provinces of Canada and may be offered in the United States on a private placement basis pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act").The securities offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor in any other jurisdiction.JDL Gold is a financially strong emerging gold-copper production and development company focused on building shareholder value through the acquisition and development of precious metal and copper assets. JDL controls a diverse portfolio of assets in Peru, Ecuador, Chile and Canada. Further information is available at www.jdlgold.com or by email at info@jdlgold.com.Luna Gold is engaged in the exploration and development of its past producing Aurizona Gold Mine in Brazil, which was placed on care and maintenance in 2015. A pre-feasibility study for the project completed in September 2016 outlined the design of an open-pit mine producing on average 150,000 ounces of gold annually for the first five years (see the "Pre-feasibility Study on Aurizona Mine Project, Maranhao, Brazil, NI 43-101 Technical Report" completed by Lycopodium Minerals Canada Ltd.). A feasibility study for the Aurizona project is underway, with the objective of pouring gold at the Aurizona Gold Mine in late 2018. Further information is available at www.lunagold.com or by email at ir@lunagold.com.This document contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively "forward-looking statements"). The use of the words "will", "will be", "may", "may be", "creating", "intends", "expected", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed Transaction, the proposed non-brokered and brokered private placements, the anticipated restart of production at Aurizona, the financial position of Trek following the Transaction, and the timing for completion of the Aurizona feasibility study. Although Luna Gold and JDL (the "Companies") believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and/or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements since the Companies can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in the Companies' periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators, and assumptions made with regard to: the Companies' ability to complete the proposed Transaction; the Companies' ability to secure the necessary shareholder, legal and regulatory approvals required to complete the Transaction; JDL's ability to complete the proposed brokered and non-brokered private placements; the anticipated results of the feasibility study for the Aurizona Project; the anticipated Board of Directors decision to approve construction of Aurizona; the ability to raise the capital required to fund construction and development of Aurizona; the ability to restart production at Aurizona; the timing of the anticipated restart of production; the ability to achieve the gold production rates and costs outlined in the Aurizona pre-feasibility study; the ability to advance exploration efforts at Aurizona and the other projects; the results of exploration efforts at Aurizona; and the Companies' ability to achieve the synergies expected as a result of the Transaction. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Companies do not undertake any obligations to publicly update and/or revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of additional information, future events and/or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.Greg Smith, Chief Executive Officer+1 604-628-1164greg@jdlgold.comwww.jdlgold.comChristian Milau, Chief Executive Officer+1 604-558-0560Rhylin Bailie, Vice President Investor Relations+1 604-558-0560ir@lunagold.com
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 14



By Khalid Kazimov  Trend:



Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said that Tehran welcomes deepening ties with the EU members in all spheres.



Speaking at a meeting with Luxembourg's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean Asselborn, President Rouhani called for expansion of ties in banking and

insurance spheres, the official news website of Iranian government reported.



Nowadays, the main key to economic cooperation is banking and insurance issues, Rouhani said at the meeting this morning in Tehran.



Elaborating on ways for expansion of economic ties with the Europe, Rouhani added that Iran and Europe can cooperate in the spheres of

energy and transit.



Hassan Rouhani further touched upon Irans nuclear deal with the world powers inked in 2015 saying Tehran will keep its promises as far as the

other sides of the nuclear accord honor their commitments.



Iran and the world powers in 2015 reached a historic deal on Tehran's nuclear program removing sanctions on the Islamic Republic in exchange

for curbing the country's nuclear program.
The GOP-controlled S.C. House of Representatives approved a 935-word resolution Tuesday urging new Gov. Henry McMaster to expand Medicaid, a basic tenet of Obamacare.Except, it was an accident.A day later, the House quickly passed a retraction.S.C. House Speaker Jay Lucas took to the floor Wednesday to explain the mistake.The resolution appeared congratulatory, Lucas said.The resolution begins: "To congratulate the honorable Henry Dargan McMaster on assuming the office of governor of the state of South Carolina," before urging him to expand Medicaid, the joint federal-state program that pays for medical care for the poor and disabled."The resolution actually has some substantive portions in it that I did not announce to the body," Lucas said, adding he took responsibility for the error. "What happens up here is my responsibility."The resolution's main sponsor -- state Rep. Joe Jefferson, D-Berkeley -- said the bill's retraction "probably happened for the best."Congratulatory "resolutions do get read across the desk and passed unanimously without any discussion or debate," said state Rep. Russell Ott, D-Calhoun, a co-sponsor."Obviously, Medicaid expansion is a very contentious issue that has proponents and opponents, and so a resolution of that nature should have ... had the opportunity to be debated.""It pays to read with comprehension," quipped state Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, another co-sponsor of the proposal."It just suggests that, sometimes, we should pay closer attention," she said, adding, "We should probably read beyond the third or fourth line of a resolution."Cobb-Hunter said she was shocked when she was told the bill had passed. "For just a moment, it felt good to think we could have a conversation about expanding Medicaid in South Carolina."Cobb-Hunter urged McMaster and GOP Speaker Lucas to consider a proposal she has introduced, similar to a Republican-backed Arkansas plan, that would cover more uninsured South Carolinians.
In 2015, the editor of a newspaper in Florida filed a public records request with the Broward County Sheriff's Office asking for the email of every employee during a five-month period to be searched for specific gay slurs.In response, the received a $339,000 bill.The office said fulfilling the request would take four years and require hiring a dedicated staffer. The exorbitant charge set off a year-long legal battle that attracted the Associated Press and its lofty resources. To show how arbitrary the number was, the AP andfiled a similar request to the sheriff's office in other Florida counties. They were quoted fees ranging from as little as $37 to more than $44,000.Why then is there such a big range of costs for similar information?Local and state laws regarding what constitutes the publics domain are about as uniform as a patchwork quilt. And technology -- or a lack thereof -- further contributes to the increasing cost variance between jurisdictions.New IT software, for the governments that can afford it, has certainly sped up the time it takes to fulfill requests and thus lowered the price of information. But in some cases, technology can complicate matters. This issue is particularly heightened when privacy concerns require time-consuming redaction work.Take the emerging issue of police body cameras. People caught on video in homes or hospitals have a reasonable expectation of privacy, so faces need to be blurred or redacted -- a process that some say requires a painstaking number of manhours. The New York City Police Department made news last year for charging a local TV station $36,000 for access to 190 hours of body camera footage.Partially in an attempt to avoid the labor, some governments have limited the publics access to police videos. So far, jurisdictions in 21 states have passed laws regarding body camera footage -- most of them restricting it. The state of South Carolina has exempted the footage from public records requests altogether.After receiving an imposing public records request for footage, the Seattle Police Department decided to hold a hackathon. The winner created software that automated some of the redaction process and now the police department uploads redacted body camera clips to YouTube for anyone to see.Meanwhile, watchdog groups and media organizations that push for more transparencyargue that redaction technology has evolved in recent years. Companies like MotionDSP are retooling their software to work faster, while companies like PRI Management will redact videos for agencies either for a per-video or annual fee.Body cameras are a new technology, so inconsistency is understandable. Emails, on the other hand, aren't so new and yet the cost of fulfilling a records request for them still varies greatly.According to Frederic Smalkin Jr., a Baltimore City Law Department attorney, new software has easily cut down on the e-discovery process in his agency by half. Meanwhile, Andy Wilson, CEO of the data management company Logikcull, said he regularly speaks with governments that are still printing out emails and redacting by hand.As new types of electronic records pop up -- like text messages and Snapchats -- governments will have to consider whether they apply to the public domain. The landscape will likely continue to be inconsistent from one jurisdiction to the next. But in the meantime, Adam Marshall of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, thinks governments could be doing better.The tools already exist for these types of records requests to be complied with, he said. The agencies need to be thinking about ensuring compliance with existing law when they adopt new technology.
On Monday, in the evening, at the Concert Hall, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC attended the Australian Chamber Orchestras performance Murder and Redemption followed by the opening night reception.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 14By Fatih Karimov  Trend:Tanzania released eight Iranian fishermen who were arrested recently due to illegal entry into the African country's waters, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said.The fishermen, who are from Irans Konarak city in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, are expected to return home on Feb. 14, Qasemi said, ISNA news agency reported.He rejected reports that the released fishermen are those who were hijacked by pirates in Somalia.In November 2015 Somali pirates hijacked an Iranian fishing vessel with 15 crew members. Two other Iranian fishing ships were captured bypirates in March of that year.The 16 crew members of one boat managed to raise anchor and escape in August, but the other ship and 26 crew members remained in captivity.
(TNS) -- Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens state spending plan cuts $17.9 million from a fund that invests in startups and $90 million from Missouris colleges and universities. These are perplexing actions from a man who campaigned on a pledge to grow jobs.Greitens may have pinned his hopes on the right-to-work law that he signed Tuesday, but economic development studies show that one of the most important factors for companies looking to relocate is an educated and trained work force.Investing in new technology is another option for states without mountains or oceans that want to attract companies offering jobs with a future for younger workers. That was the goal of the Missouri Technology Corp., a public-private partnership that has invested more than $33 million in 97 tech startups since it launched a funding program in 2011. The states return on one of those companies, St. Louis-based LockerDome, was twice its investment of $200,000.Missourians need good, high-paying jobs, which Greitens pledged to deliver during his State of the State address. His plans include passing the right-to-work law barring mandatory union fees and scaling back government regulations.But the value of those measures as job creators is still being debated. Missouri is one of 28 states with a right-to-work law. A Pew study from October shows other factors do more to create high-paying jobs. The study says employment is rising faster in fields that require more educational and specialized preparation. Employment and wages have increased most in occupations that require higher social or analytical skills, the study says.In other words, higher-paying jobs are going to where employers have access to a ready, well-trained workforce. The politically motivated right-to-work law doesnt rank that highly as a factor.Yet Greitens budget plan slices nearly 80 percent in funding for the Missouri Technology Corp., an arm of the states Department of Economic Development. The corporation co-invests directly in startups by matching venture capital funds from other investors. It used money from last years $18.27 million budget to raise about $142 million in venture capital and create 150 jobs.Greitens understands the importance of education, having attended Duke University and Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. His toughest task as governor was to trim $146 million from the states $27.6 billion budget to balance a revenue shortfall. He suggested that state colleges and universities may not have to raise tuition to cover the $90 million he cut from their budgets.Greitens suggested they follow Purdue Universitys example, cutting administrative bureaucracy and costly contracts. Purdue, a state university in Indiana, has kept tuition flat the past five years, partly by reducing spending.A governor in a state with declining revenue needs to think creatively. Its essential that the governor not work at cross ends with the workforce he claims to be fighting for.
(TNS) -- A next generation weather radar system is to be installed the campus of Texas A&M University-Commerce in 2018, under an agreement to be approved this week by the Hunt County Commissioners Court.The Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA WX) Radar Project would provide a more accurate picture of the approach of threatening weather.The commissioners are scheduled to sign an Interagency Agreement by and between the State of Texas, Hunt County and Texas A&M University-Commerce in regards to the CASA radar system during Tuesdays regular session, starting at 10 a.m. inside the Auxiliary Courtroom, 2700 Johnson Street in Greenville.The commissioners voted in October to award a $478,000 contract to Ridgeline Instruments Incorporated, should the county confirm receiving the grant from the North Central Texas Council Of Governments (NCTCOG).The grant would pay for 75 percent of the total cost, although the countys 25 percent match would come in the form of in-kind services.The radar would be placed atop Whitley Hall on the Texas A&M University-Commerce campus. The university would provide the site, the pedestal design and the installation for the radar.The radar is designed to provide a more accurate reading of the local weather conditions than can be obtained through the radar systems in use in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, which will assist in mobilizing first responders to a specific area.The NCTCOG is wanting to establish eight proposed radars that are currently committed to the NCTCOG region for an Urban Test Bed. to gauge the effectiveness of the system.
Innovating within the Government Space

Making Engagements Count

Embracing Risk

Drawing in New Blood

LONG BEACH, Calif.  Local government technology officials gathered to discuss the myriad challenges and opportunities facing their respective organizations during the Laserfiche Empower conference Feb. 8.The session, hosted by e.Republic* Chief Innovation Officer Dustin Haisler, broached some of the more pressing topics facing the public sector  namely how to bring new blood into the government fold, taking risks and getting the most out of engagements with the public and elected officials.While technology was the main underpinning of the roughly hourlong panel discussion, speakers also stepped outside the IT box and focused on complementary issues as well.As Tim Nolan, senior applications manager with Collin County, Texas, explained, innovation in government has developed into more than just an added bonus to end-users  innovation has become an expectation.Rapid growth and greater reliance on devices and connectivity have put pressure on the county government to provide new services at a faster rate. They expect this level of technology, anything less would be complaints, he said.Where the drive to push new technologies and features poses great opportunity for a tech-savvy organization, it poses very real challenges for those struggling to negotiate between the way things have been done and process evolution. These changes often garner resistance from those comfortable with the way things are.In rural Franklin County, Pa., Application Software Manager Ed Yonker said changing the culture of a well established organization is easier said than done. As far as that culture, for us to innovate, basically its a mindset. Its hard to change our processes internally. Weve got to fight that internal battle trying to get that done, Yonker explained.Despite the challenge before them, Yonker said persistence has helped his organization to make inroads, though, he admitted, the changes have been slow.One of the primary goals for the city of Long Beach has been fostering better relationships with the public and leadership around technology.Long Beach CIO Bryan Sastokas told attendees that framing the conversation around economic development, or how it can support other key initiatives outside of IT, can be a useful tactic when gathering support and engaging with stakeholders.During efforts to build the citys open data program and policy, Sastokas said the goal was to connect directly with the public and outline the information they hoped to draw on. We went out to the community and said, What is it that you want? How do you want that data? What are you looking for? What should that policy be?The creation of the policy was ultimately opened to the public for edits and additions. That physical engagement, that ability to have them feel that they crafted something that then we took up to our commission and our council, is something that I think everyone in TID [the Technology and Innovation Department] is excited for because normally you just have them tell you what they think you need.Though this route will open the doors to improved transparency in government service delivery, Sastokas warned that it will also mean hearing other issues as well  not all of which will be pleasant.Its not easy either. When you go out asking for something from your community, get ready to hear a bunch of things you probably cant deliver on, or dont know if you want to deliver on, because everyone has their own opinion.When it comes to taking the plunge into new waters, panelists made the argument that taking the risk can actually help the cause of an organization, rather than setting it back.As Nolan explained, a measured risk can be just what elected officials need to turn their attention to the IT aspects of government. He said the competitive nature of many elected officials can also be leveraged for organizational benefit. The competitive nature of a lot of these elected officials actually makes it a lot easier for us to be innovative because they are trying to outdo each other, Nolan said.The result can be a veritable race for innovation, where elected officials, dependent on organizational successes for re-election, get behind initiatives that improve constituent services in some new way.As Sastokas sees it, risk is synonymous with failing, but also innovating. My argument is if you are going to fail, fail fast. Fail fast, get it over with and move along. You cant be innovative without failing.Knowing the overall organizational goal is key to approaching any mission, Sastokas said, whether its addressing homelessness, education or any other issue. Whatever those topics are, keep that as your focus and just keep trying.When discussing the challenges facing local government, the panelists said there are a number of considerations that stretched from enterprise security to replacing the institutional knowledge that leaves an organization with each retirement.The so-called silver tsunami has forced many IT shops to rethink how they approach recruiting. And the effort is not as simple as posting an opening on popular employment websites. Sastokas explained that he sees recruiting millennials as an integral part of a larger cultural shift to government.You have to look at your department, your technologies, your information and how that is going to shift and change over time to not have it all in one basket, he said.This requires employers to look beyond the benefits and stability that attracted previous generations to public service. As the Long Beach CIO explained, the millennial workforce is less interested in tenure and more focused on making a difference and working in an environment they identify with.Its really looking at that and trying to revamp the workplace, making it exciting, being more open, being more progressive in the way we do our jobs," Sastokas said. "Thats something that I think is the biggest challenge for us in IT in government.In Collin County, Nolan said his organization hasnt been as focused on attracting millennials as it has on maintaining the core principles of public service. Rather than altering the course or ideals of the enterprise, Nolan said his staff focuses on recruiting people who want to be there.In a way, [its] almost a litmus test. If thats not your desire, then we are really not that interested. We have a position, if this is where you want to serve, give back to your community, we have an opportunity to do so, he said. At least at this moment, we havent found ourselves marketing too much trying to change our environment. We have just been saying this is what we are, and if this is what you are, then come and join us.Government Technology
(TNS) -- DANBURY, Conn.  The future of fuel cell power in Connecticut may be brighter than its past and present.In an industry that has lagged behind its clean-power cousins in terms of recognition, fuel cells are poised to be a strong player in the power market in the years to come.Fuel cell energy is 95 to 97 percent available. Solar is available 12 to 15 percent of the time, Joel Rinebold, director of energy initiatives with Connecticut Center for Advanced Technologies, said. If you buy kilowatt-hours from fuel cells, it will be there when you need it. Its extraordinarily reliable.Last year had ups and down for fuel cell companies in Connecticut, a state considered to be on the frontlines of the technology. Fuel cell plants, using ambient air and a hydrogen-rich fuel such as natural gas, create electricity and heat through an electrochemical reaction without producing noxious emissions.In 2016, three microgrid projects powered by fuel cells were funded by a state grant program. Two of those projects were built by Danbury-based FuelCell Energy.The industry, however, felt slighted by the states Department of Energy and Environmental Protection in October when no fuel cell projects were selected for long-term, state-run energy contracts. The 20-year power purchase agreements with United Illuminating and Eversource allow for a constant flow of revenue to finance projects. Solar and wind energy projects received all of the clean-power contracts.One rejection was particularly painful for FuelCell Energy. At 63.3 megawatts, Beacon Falls Energy Park was to be the largest fuel cell plant in the world, with FuelCell Energy manufacturing and operating the plant for developer O&G Industries.Those selections were very focused on price, Dennis Schain, communications director at DEEP, said. In other areas, and when price is not the focus, fuel cells have been the power of choice.Schain said the state has been good to the fuel cell industry in other ways, as well. Connecticut is one of eight states to classify fuel cell energy as Class 1 renewable. The classification allows fuel cell plants to fit into the Connecticut Renewable Portfolio Standard, a policy that sets specific goals for energy from renewable sources.Rinebold said fuel cell plants are considered renewable, even though most plants manufactured today require natural gas, because hydrogen is the main energy source and could be obtained through renewable sources.That (classification) is part of what the state is doing to support the industry. We recognize the contributions fuel cells can make and we are definitely supportive, Schain said. We understand they were disappointed with the RFP selection, but they have done well in other areas.Michael Bishiop, senior vice president and CFO of FuelCell Energy, questioned the states overall commitment to the industry and said his company in particular is receiving mixed signals. In 2015, the states Department of Economic and Community Development announced $30 million in low-interest loans and tax credits to help fund a major expansion of the companys Torrington manufacturing facility. The expansion will essentially double the space of the site. A portion of the funding was tied to job growth.Gov. Dannel Malloy visited the facility in Torrington shortly after announcing the funding.Then, according to Bishop, the state threw a curveball by not selecting fuel cell projects for the long-term contracts in October. Shortly after the decision not to award Beacon Falls Energy Park a contract, FuelCell Energy laid off 17 percent of its workforce, with cuts coming from both its Danbury headquarters and in Torrington.The administration has been very supportive, publicly, of fuel cells and wanting to allow deployment in the state, Bishop said. Theres a bit of a disconnect between the public policy of the state versus some of the actions that state agencies have taken. You see DECD investing significantly in our factory expansion because they see value in it. Then you have DEEP not selecting any fuel cell projects in the latest round of decision making. Were scratching our heads a little bit about how some of these decisions are made.Chip Bottone, president and CEO of FuelCell Energy, had equally harsh words over the perceived disconnect.I think the state needs to get its act together and recognize, from a policy perspective and energy perspective, what is the right thing for the state economy. Weve had to make adjustments at our factory in our run rate, he said. We bring a massive intersection of value when you bring that collective, no-biased discussion.FuelCell Energy, however, sees a strong future for its industry. Bottone said the lack of fuel cell projects selected in 2016 set his company back in terms of hiring, but he expects to start hiring again in 2018 and beyond.He said the fuel cell industry creates jobs in Connecticut, while many solar cells are manufactured in China.Rinebold said the state has been supportive of the industry, but more can be done.They (fuel cell companies) havent received everything theyve asked for, but the state listens and thats a good thing, he said. The state has done a good job, but in a competitive environment we have to be extraordinarily thoughtful in how to do better.Citing a study by the Northeast Electrochemical Energy Storage Cluster, Rinebold said the fuel cell industry in Connecticut supports 600 supply chain companies, 3,400 jobs, and produces $726 million in revenue and $40 million in state and local tax revenue.Moving the Beacon Falls Energy Park project forward would go a long way in pushing the industry into the future. Despite not selecting it in October, DEEP gave the project a boost in January by granting an air permit to build the plant.At this point, there is nothing specific on the books to address that (funding the project), Schain said. Thats a business decision they will have to make.Bishop expects the project to move forward.The project is fully developed and shovel ready, he said. We hope there is a new process in 2017 where we can wind up with an energy contract.
(TNS) -- In early January, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced the winner of its Smart City Challenge. Seventy-eight cities competed on plans on how they will integrate technology into future transportation projects. Columbus, Ohio, the winner, proposed a plan to use connected infrastructure, electric vehicle charging stations and autonomous vehicles. The technology would be used to create a system to help expectant mothers reach doctors' appointments to reduce infant mortality in Columbus' Franklin County.As autonomous vehicles become more common on America's roads, "smart infrastructure" will also become common. Smart infrastructure refers to buildings, roads, and bridges that can provide data to feed vehicles' computers and let them make more educated decisions about what actions to take. It can help revolutionize how cities operate and traffic flows through them, advocates say.The Columbus plan -- which will receive up to $40 million in federal funding -- will include a trip-planning application across transportation modes, such as buses and trains; a common payment system across transportation methods; and a combination of travel options at important locations.The city will create a "smart corridor" to connect underserved parts of the city with jobs and services. The corridor is expected to help improve a bus rapid transit system by putting in smart traffic signals and street lighting, traveler information, and free public wireless internet access along the route. It will feature six electric autonomous vehicles to help expand the reach of the BRT system to help it reach more retail areas and job centers, according to a Department of Transportation report.Other finalists were Austin, Denver, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Portland, and San Francisco.San Francisco was awarded nearly $11 million to install connected vehicle technology that could allow the city's traffic signal system adjust signals' timing and to detect vehicles that run red lights. The proposal also includes a pilot program of an autonomous electric shuttle.Pittsburgh got nearly $11 million to install traffic signal technology to reduce delays along main traffic corridors.A May report by the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation argued that infrastructure has always been important to the country's economic success, but adding "information and communication technology" will be vital for economic growth.The technology will "enable all infrastructure elements within a nation's transportation system -- the roads, bridges, traffic lights, toll booths, message signs, etc. -- to become intelligent by embedding them with sensors and empowering them to communicate with each other through wireless technologies," the report said.The future of infrastructure development won't be about building more roads, but using existing roads more effectively, said Stephen Ezell, the foundation's vice president for global innovation policy.Studies have shown that investing in smart infrastructure has a 60 percent greater impact than investing in roads alone, Ezell said.Automated vehicles can increase the capacity of roads without building new ones because sensors let vehicles travel much closer together than cars driven by humans, said Christopher Leinberger, the chairman of the Center for Real Estate and Urban Analysis at George Washington University."You can be bumper-to-bumper, almost," when vehicles' speed, direction, braking and other actions are controlled by information from cars around them, he said.The move toward smart infrastructure likely will increase a trend of more dense, walkable urban communities, where the vast majority of new economic growth is coming, Leinberger said.That sort of development -- near or centered around public transportation and providing a vibrant mix of residential and commercial development -- is particularly popular among younger workers.Leinberger cited the recent example of Marriott, which announced its intention to move from a Montgomery County corporate park to downtown Bethesda. The company said a desire to be closer to public transportation was a key motivation for its move.Those types of communities likely will involve collecting large amounts of data to help them run more efficiently, Leinberger said.They include significantly fewer parking spaces and fewer cars per household -- often 25 percent of the spaces per capita of those provided in drivable suburban spaces, he said.To help guide people to where those spaces are -- via smartphones or by sending information directly to their cars -- or to provide other services or information, the communities will gather large amounts of information from a wide variety of sources, Leinberger said.He warned that such development won't be here right away, because "we are just 1 or 2 percent" of the way toward a truly smart city grid.Ezell thinks it will take at least a decade for smart infrastructure to truly be implemented."I think it's near term, but it's not tomorrow," he said.
As home to almost half of all of the electric vehicles (EVs) being sold in the United States, California is clearly the nation's proving ground for their deployment. But the trend is not promising. With about 71,000 zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) being bought annually in the state, the adoption rate is less than half of what will be needed to reach California's target of 1.5 million ZEVs on its roads by 2025.The vast majority of ZEVs are expected to be electric vehicles, and California's state government is pushing hard for their adoption with a combination of regulation and incentives such as rebates to purchasers on top of the federal tax credits they can receive. Still, the rate is lagging, leaving transportation experts to debate why that's the case in a state legendary for its green attitudes and activist mindset.During last November's Los Angeles Auto Show, for example, the California Electric Transportation Coalition hosted a roundtable luncheon on the status of the EV market that included representatives of utilities and automakers along with state and local government leaders. A panel of experts was divided on the most significant barriers to widespread adoption between "lack of a full range of EV models" and "inadequate public charging infrastructure."One organization that's deeply involved in the issue is CALSTART , a coalition that works with business, fleets and governments on clean transportation solutions. "We're not seeing the public-access infrastructure as being as much of a challenge to getting easy deployment," Joseph Oldham, director of CALSTART's San Joaquin Valley Clean Transportation Center, said in an interview. "People have figured that this thing is amazing as a commute vehicle," he said, adding that EV owners particularly appreciate never having to go to the gas station. To Oldham, the biggest challenge seems to be getting the word out that these vehicles even exist.History certainly supports the value consumers place on ease of use. The first low-emission auto to significantly capture Californians' interest -- and dollars -- was the Toyota Prius. The gasoline-electric hybrid got fantastic mileage, drove well, had great reliability and at one point was the bestselling car in the state. An important factor in its success was that it required no change in how you fueled your car.Unlike the Prius, however, plug-in EVs require the buildout of an entirely new fueling infrastructure, in parallel with existing gasoline service stations, to move them beyond their limited role as commuter cars. To service the growing number of longer-range EVs, such as the different Tesla models and the new Chevy Bolt, an expanded fast-charger network will be required. These devices, which bring an EV's battery to 80 percent of its capacity in about 30 minutes, make EVs truly comparable to gasoline-fueled cars for distance travel.These advances will no doubt raise consumer confidence in EVs and accelerate their deployment. But to think that better cars and a wider network of charging facilities define the path to 1.5 million EVs in California would be to miss the mark. "We're still planning for electric vehicles with the assumption that these are going to be individually owned vehicles with similar driving patterns as the past," Kate Meis, executive director of California's nonprofit Local Government Commission, observed in an interview. "I don't think that's a safe assumption anymore. We need to be thinking about autonomous vehicles and the changes that they will bring."Meis is raising the provocative issue of what the EV landscape will look like when there is widespread use of self-driving vehicles with the potential for them to operate as micro transit and car-shared transport. This clearly ties EVs and their charging infrastructure into the broader transformation of the entire transportation system now underway across the country.So, how does all of this fit into the question of California's lagging EV adoption trendline? The adoption rate probably won't prove to be a straight line. Rather, we're likely to see an inflection point, perhaps five or 10 years in the future, where the intersection of improved battery technology, expanded charging infrastructure and a wider range of better, lower-cost vehicles brings about an exponential adoption rate.There are too many factors simultaneously at play to make an accurate forecast today. There is, however, one very positive outcome that will most certainly come to pass: cleaner air. Regardless of which way technology turns, that will be a win for Californians and for Americans in other places that follow the path California is blazing.
(TNS) -- A top cyber expert says he expects big changes soon on how the government approaches cybersecurity.Retired Lt. Gen. Harry Raduege who has advised the Obama and Trump administrations says the time is right for Congress and the military to advance their cybersecurity efforts. Raguege headed the Pentagon's Defense Information Systems agency before he left the service in 2005 He's now director for cyber risk services at consulting giant Deloitte.He said recent cyber attacks, from hacking credit cards at Target stores to stealing email from the Democratic National Committee have taken the once-obscure topic of computer security into the mainstream."What has happened is that cyber is now in the boardroom and the situation room," Raduege said during a stop at the Rocky Mountain Cyberspace Symposium last week at The Broadmoor.Raduege played a role in the increased awareness of America's computer vulnerabilities. He helped lead a 2009 panel that helped President Barack Obama set priorities for cybersecurity.Last fall Raduege joined a group of experts through the Center for Stratyegic and International Studies that readied a similar report for incoming President Donald Trump."It's critical that we haven't moved fast enough," Raduege said of the nation's efforts.Moving fast is a key component to staying safe in cyberspace. Hackers and nations are constantly improving their abilities to exploit vulnerable networks."Now we're starting to think about the internet of things," Raduege said, referring to the exponentially increasing number of everyday items tied to the internet.With everything from refrigerators to automobiles connected to computer networks, the chances for a successful hack have grown.The willingness of Congress to aggressively work to thwart hackers is at an all-time high, Raduege said."There are all these committees and subcommittees and they all have questions on cyber," he said. "They have their oar in the water."And Trump, too, has voiced serious concerns about America's ability to counter hackers."I'm very hopeful with the new administration," he said.Colorado U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman agreed with Raduege, saying with Congress and the White House in Republican hands, bills could move more swiftly. And top leaders are making computer security a top issue."It's an emphasis for the Defense Department," said Coffman, who heads the manpower subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee.Raduege said he's also bullish on the burgeoning cyber industry growing in Colorado Springs.The Pikes Peak region has an estimated 13,000 cybersecurity workers and is home to the National Cyber Security Center, Air Force Space command, which oversees that service's work in cyberspace, and Cyberworx, a new Air Force Academy-based initiative that will help the Pentagon combat cyber attacks.Colorado Springs is becoming a real hub of security and cybersecurity," he said.
A congressional tax oversight committee will not seek U.S. President Donald Trump's tax returns, despite calls from Democrats for a review to determine possible business ties to foreign countries including Russia, the panel's Republican chairman said on Monday, Reuters reported.

"If Congress begins to use its powers to rummage around in the tax returns of the president, what prevents Congress from doing the same to average Americans?" House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady told reporters.

"Privacy and civil liberties are still important rights in this country, and (the) Ways and Means Committee is not going to start to weaken them."

The Texas Republican was responding to questions about a Feb. 1 request from Representative Bill Pascrell, a Ways and Means Democrat who asked him to obtain Trump's returns from Treasury so the committee could review them in closed session and vote on whether to release them to the public.

Defying decades of precedent, Trump has long refused to release the documents, which Democrats say could show whether his sprawling business empire poses any conflicts of interest as he moves forward with initiatives on issues ranging from tax reform to foreign relations.
The UN Security Council has condemned North Korea for its latest ballistic missile test conducted on Sunday, a UN press statement said, Sputnik reported.

According to the statement, Pyongyang carried out tests in "grave violation" of the DPRKs international obligations under six United Nations Security Council resolutions.

"The members of the Security Council strongly condemn the most recent ballistic missile launches conducted by the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea [North Korea] on 11 February 2017 and 19 October 2016," the statement said on Monday.

The statement also reads that UN member states should increase their efforts to ensure that measures introduced against Pyongyang are fully implemented.

"The members of the Security Council called upon all member states to redouble their efforts to implement fully the measures imposed on the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea by the Security Council".

Japanese Ambassador to the United Nations Koro Bessho said in a press conference after the meeting that the Security Council was unanimous in condemning North Korea for its latest ballistic missile launch on Sunday, and will push for implementation of existing resolutions to address the issue.

"We were very unanimous in saying that obviously we have to implement the very robust, strong resolution that we already have, that is a starting point, and that we will keep watching the situation very seriously."

On Sunday, Pyongyang confirmed that it had carried out a successful test of an intermediate-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile. Launched from an airbase in the western province of North Pyongan, the missile was reported to have traveled about 480 km before plunging into the Sea of Japan.

North Korea's neighbors warned Pyongyang that they saw the latest missile launch as a provocation, and a violation of a UN Security Council resolution prohibiting it from carrying out ballistic missile tests.

US President Donald Trump said in a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday that North Korea is a problem that will be dealt with "strongly."
The main suspect in the New Years Eve Istanbul nightclub attack has reportedly asked the court to give him the death penalty, Anadolu reported.

If the death penalty were given [to me], it would be great," Abdulgadir Masharipov told an Istanbul court after recounting the deadly attack, in testimony released Monday.

A Turkish court on Saturday remanded Masharipov in custody over the attack, which claimed 39 lives and injured 70 others in a crowded nightclub in Istanbuls Ortakoy district. Masharipov was apprehended on Jan. 16.

"I do not think that I did anything against Turkey. I did not take any action against Turkey. I took revenge. I do not regret what I did. I think I exacted retaliation," he told the court.

Masharipov, an Uzbek citizen, is charged with membership in an armed terrorist group, premeditated murder, trying to overturn the constitutional order, and possession of heavy weapons.

Masharipov said he had been ordered to carry out the attack by Yasser Mohammed Salem Radown, a foreign national also known as Abu Jihad.

Radown was arrested last month when Turkish police raided a residence in Istanbul's Zeytinburnu district.

Masharipov said that Radown gave him the address and photos of the nightclub to target, called the Reina, adding, "He didnt give me any information on the people there, where they came from or their religion".

Saying that he got weapons training from the "Jihad and Community" group in Afghanistan, a wing of the Taliban, Masharipov added: "I entered there [the club] after I killed the police. I opened random fire on the people with a Kalashnikov. After I was out of bullets, I threw flash charges. I pointed the third one at my face, but I didnt die.
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Blancpain  Ultraplate Saint-Valentin



Blancpain is celebrating this 14th February with a new 99-piece limited edition, specially created for Valentines Day. The bezel and lugs of this 29 mm timepiece are set with 68 diamonds, while the delicate mother-of-pearl dial has eight. The second hand represents Cupids arrow, and a heart set with 19 rubies adorns the dial at 12 oclock. The sapphire caseback reveals the new automatic calibre 913 with silicon balance spring for optimum precision. The Blancpain logo is engraved directly onto the white gold rotor, as well being prominently displayed on the dial. This Valentines watch comes with two interchangeable alligator straps: one in white for purity, and the other red for passion.



Bovet  Amadeo Fleurier Miss Audrey and 19Thirty Fleurier



This year, the Maison Bovet has created a duet of his and hers timepieces in stainless steel with blue dials. The Miss Audrey has the Amadeo case that allows the timepiece to be effortlessly converted from a wristwatch into a table clock or pendant watch. Despite its dainty 36-mm diameter, the model is driven by an automatic mechanical movement. Its deep midnight blue dial features a guilloche decoration carried out in-house by Bovets master dial makers.

The 19Thirty line, first seen in spring 2015, comes exclusively in steel, and is inspired by one of the last pocket watches made by Bovet in 1930. The calibre 15BM04 that drives the 19Thirty was specifically developed for this range, and has a quality of execution and finish generally reserved for grand complications. Its manual movement provides a power reserve of seven days with a single barrel.





Chopard  Imperiale La Vie en Rose

The Imperiale collection, a Chopard classic, now has a new pastel pink model in honour of Valentines Day. Its sculptural lines, Roman hour markers and hands in the shape of Roman fighting daggers are all references to the Ancient Empire. The subtle curves of the timepiece are softened by its delicate pink hue, which gives the whole watch an ethereal lightness. The centre of the dial, in old rose mother-of-pearl, glows with a velvety lustre. The Imperiale La Vie en Rose comes in a steel case with pink alligator strap, and is available in a limited edition of 100.



De Grisogono  Samsung Gear S2 by de Grisogono



De Grisogono caters for the less traditional Valentine with the Samsung Gear S2 by de Grisogono. Combining style and functionality, this smartwatch lives up to its watchmaking and jewellery heritage with a bold display of the aesthetic codes of the maison: rose gold, black diamonds and de Grisogonos signature textured shagreen strap. This tactile watch has menu functions accessible from the bezel, with two digital screens  in black or white  featuring the companys distinctive pink gold accents and the famous de Grisogono crest. The dials give access to a world of infinite possibilities and a library of apps including all the usual notifications and monitoring functions.



Glashutte Original  PanoMaticLunar and PanoMatic Luna



These two Glashutte Original moon phase models feature an off-centre hour display and a finely worked moon phase indication. The picture is completed by slim white gold hands and the classic Panorama Date. Both watches nevertheless have their own distinct character. The PanoMaticLunar features a midnight blue dial with matching calfskin strap, offset by silvered indices and SuperLuminova-coated hands for optimum legibility. The 40 mm stainless steel case contains an automatic manufacture movement. Its feminine counterpart, the PanoMatic Luna, goes for lustrous mother-of-pearl and a Louisiana alligator strap in delicate azure blue. The bezel and dial set with 83 diamonds bring a glamorous touch to the stainless steel 39.4 mm case, which encloses an automatic movement. The womens watch is an exclusive model available only in Glashutte Original boutiques.

Jaquet Droz  Petite Heure Minute Astorite



With its off-centre dial at 12 oclock, the Petite Heure Minute provides a generous playing field for Jaquet Droz artisans. For Valentines Day, the face of this timepiece is embellished with astorite, a gemstone with a unique radiance. The pink of the mineral is answered by the red gold glimmer of the case, chapter ring and hands, and offset by the white mother-of-pearl subdial. The elegant look is completed by a diamond-set bezel and lugs. The supremely feminine Petite Heure Minute Astorite is available in a limited edition of just 28.




The three-year project, Model Predictive Control for Energy-Efficient Maneuvering of Connected and Automated Vehicles, calls for the team to develop optimal control algorithms that leverage vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), and other vehicle-to- everything (V2X) technologies to simultaneously optimize the vehicles route, speed profile, and power flows from the hybrid system.

A team led by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has been awarded up to $2.9 million in funding to develop connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technologies aimed at improving fuel economy by more than 20%. The project is part of ARPA-Es Next-Generation Energy Technologies for Connected and Autonomous On-Road Vehicles (NEXTCAR) program. ( Earlier post .)s

These developments could help define future powertrain performance requirements and enable more efficient control of the powertrain and vehicle dynamics. SwRI will demonstrate these technologies using a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), Toyotas 2017 Prius Prime.

This is an important research step in furthering the development of powertrains for connected and automated vehicles. Our teams collective expertise in vehicle powertrain development and connected and automated vehicle technologies will help optimize vehicle efficiency. Scott Hotz, an assistant director in SwRIs Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division

The team will develop and integrate components that assist in automated eco-drivinginforming the vehicle about approaching traffic signals as well as preferred routes and optimal vehicle speed profiles. Given this connected look ahead preview of conditions, SwRI engineers also will optimize powertrain operation to achieve its goal of 20% improvement in fuel economy.

In addition to SwRI, team members include Toyota Motor North America and the University of Michigan.

ARPA-Es NEXTCAR (NEXT-Generation Energy Technologies for Connected and Automated On-Road Vehicles) Program supports enabling technologies that use connectivity and automation to co-optimize vehicle dynamic controls and powertrain operation, thereby reducing the energy consumption of light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.
Many men's and women's college basketball players are finding it's been good business to return to college instead of chasing professional playing careers in the NIL era. College athletes have been permitted to make endorsement deals using their name, image and likeness by the NCAA since summer 2021. That means money coming in that used to be reserved until after leaving school to play professionally. It proved a factor in decisions by preseason men's All-Americans like North Carolina's Armando Bacot and Gonzaga's Drew Timme in returning to school. It's also a factor for women mulling early jumps to the WNBA.
Actress Shailene Woodley of the series 'Big Little Lies' speaks onstage during the HBO portion of the 2017 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour at the Langham Hotel on January 14, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo : Getty Images/ Frederick M. Brown)

Star Shailene Woodley, who played Beatrice Prior in the sci-fi film based on the novel of Veronica Roth, just recently made a surprising "Divergent" TV movie updates. She is not coming back to reprise her role on the small screen.



It has been a while since rumors about the "Divergent" TV movie have been hitting the headlines on the internet. Although Woodley did not seal her answer when she was asked in September 2016 whether or not, she would be joining the spin-off TV series her answer this time signals a revelation.



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"No," Woodley told Vanity Fair at the premiere of her new HBO miniseries "Big Little Lies." "I'm not going to be on the television show."



Woodley is not the only one who has made the decision not to return to the "Divergent" TV movie. Her co-star Miles Teller echoed his stance during the premiere of his film "War Dogs" in 2016. He was shocked with the news about "Divergent" TV movie because they all signed to make films and not a TV project, Variety quoted him as saying.



Theo James, who played Tobias Eaton, has also expressed his disappointment with the sudden end of the franchise on the small screen. He, like his co-stars made it clear that he is not interested to reprise his role on the television.



"Divergent" TV movie was supposed to film in 2016 and was originally scheduled to release it in March. However, Lionsgate, the studio behind the futuristic franchise, changed its plan when the third series failed to make it in the box-office.



Lionsgate has trashed the plans to release the fourth and final movie in the theaters and instead, proposed to make "Divergent" TV movie. It also planned to cast new characters and storylines.



Although Woodley would not be coming back to reprise her role for "Divergent" TV movie, she is so glad to be part of the HBO miniseries. She plays a single mother, opposite Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Laura Dern. "Big Little Lies" will debut on Feb. 19.



As of this moment, Liosgate has not released any comment about Woodley's statement. The studio has not divulged any information about the planned the TV project. It is likely that the studio will still feature Beatrice as the main protagonist of the franchise.



Check out the news about "Divergent" TV movie below:






Two years after states around the country passed an unprecedented number of police reforms after the killing of George Floyd, some are struggling to make the new policies stick. The momentum for change has slowed from its earlier frenetic pace. Some of the reforms have been rolled back or at least tweaked after police complained that the new policies were hindering their ability to catch criminals. Legal experts say police killings of Black people over the last decade  epitomized by Floyds killing  have altered the trajectory of policing. But change has come about unevenly in thousands of police departments across the U.S.
B-21 Nuclear Bomber Recommended as New Air Force One by US Consulting Firm

The new Air Force One?? (Photo : Northrop Grumman)

Believe it or not, an American consulting firm has recommended the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider nuclear stealth bomber currently under development be considered a choice for the new Air Force One aircraft used exclusively by the President of the United States of America.



This proposal, which seem to be way out of this world, was made by consulting company Wright Williams & Kelly (WWK) based in Pleasanton, California whose expertise is software and consulting services.



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The bean counting firm says the focus of its efforts is "to assist our clients in improving the productivity of their manufacturing operations while reducing their per-unit costs."



And in line with this focus, WWK issued a report suggesting major cost savings can be achieved by changing the requirements to allow smaller aircraft (like the B-21?) to be considered for Air Force One.



WWK said the passenger capacity of the B-21, which only seats two pilots, will have to be increased to accommodate the President and a few other aides. The president will conduct his business using encrypted communication systems.



The president and his staff will be crammed into the B-21's weapon bays that are normally packed with conventional smart bombs or missiles, or nuclear bombs, on an operational B-21 flown by the U.S. Air Force.



Additional White House staff and the media will have to fly in convoy aircraft accompanying the B-21 Air Force One.



WWK said the arguments in favor of the B-21 include unsurpassed survivability because of the plane's stealth, and protection against conventional and electronic attacks because of its advanced electronic systems.



The firm feels the B-21 can better deal with sophisticated surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) that might one day become available to radical Islamic terrorists. The bottom line is the survivability of Air Force One trumps all other considerations, including comfort.



Aviation experts say WWK's recommendations won't fly in the face of realities of the ground, the chief of which is the B-21 is optimized as a stealth bomber designed to destroy people and not transport people. Having the B-21 become a people carrier will require extensive refitting that will add enormously to the plane's overall cost.



The B-21 is being designed to bomb distant targets such as China, and can loiter for long periods over an area in search for targets of opportunity.


Gen. Michael Flynn was a terrible choice to be national security adviser, but his resignation last night hardly closes the book on his short tenure in that vital role.

Many questions remain.

Flynn is out because he discussed sanctions in a December phone conversation with Russia's ambassador to the U.S. and then told Vice President Mike Pence and others that he didn't.

Exactly what he said hasn't been revealed publicly but was known by the intelligence agencies that routinely monitor the Russians.

The subject matter was reportedly compromising to Flynn. Acting Attorney General Sally Yates informed the White House a couple of weeks ago  so we can wonder whether refusing to defend President Trump's travel ban was the only reason she was fired.

The White House tried to keep a lid on the Flynn affair until the press got wind of it.

Since Flynn had his conversation on the same day that former President Obama announced sanctions to punish Russia for meddling in last year's elections, to Trump's benefit, one might surmise that Flynn was offering reassurances that the sanctions would be lifted after Trump took office.

That hasn't happened, first, because many Republicans in Congress refuse to go soft on Moscow, and, second, because Trump's friendly attitude toward Vladimir Putin is now politically toxic.

Which, of course, raises the question of whether Flynn was acting on Trump's behalf with Trump's knowledge.

How could he not have been?

Trump says he respects Putin. When challenged by Fox's Bill O'Reilly to explain why, since Putin's "a killer," in O'Reilly's words, Trump came back with "There are a lot of killers. You think our country's so innocent?"

During the campaign, Trump said he might recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea and expressed less than full support for NATO. Flynn had close connections to Russia and Putin, as does Rex Tillerson, Trump's secretary of state.

The Russians are certainly upset about Flynn's resignation.

"The resignation of the US President's National Security Adviser Michael Flynn will have a negative impact both on the Trump Administration and prospects of Russian-American relations, Russian military expert Vladimir Batyuk told Sputnik."

That's the Kremlin's perspective.

From a broader perspective, to the extent that Flynn was helping shape U.S. foreign policy, he was doing a terrible job.

Trump's statement to O'Reilly, as well as his comment at the CIA that the U.S. might take Iraq's oil, have diminished our country's moral standing in the world. The travel ban surprised and confused other countries. The White House has made contradictory statements regarding Israeli settlements and moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Trump seemed to disavow the "One-China Policy," then said it would be up for negotiation with the Chinese, then embraced it after holding his first conversation with China's leader. Even while speaking with Putin, when the Russian mentioned an arms-control treaty, Trump first paused the conversation to ask aides what it was, then denounced it.

In other words, there's been no consistency. Trump either hasn't been getting good advice, hasn't been well-informed, or just doesn't listen to his advisers.

He needs a competent, trustworthy NSA.

Also needed is more digging to find out what's been going on with the Russians.

Trump is fortunate to have sympathizers in key positions, such as Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr, who could be expected to soft-pedal investigations. Democrats, the media and intelligence professionals should not accept that.

The American people deserve answers. Flynn's resignation is not the end of this. It's one event in a much bigger story.
GREENSBORO  After more than 27 years at the helm of Community Theatre of Greensboro, Mitchel Sommers will take on a new role there.

Sommers will help recruit a new executive director to take his place, then move to the new post of CTG artistic director.

At 64, after handling both the management and the artistic oversight of the nonprofit theater, Sommers said he wants to focus on the artistic side.

Its what I do best, Sommers said. Thats who I am.

He proposed the change to CTGs board.

Sommers will continue to direct and produce programming, including CTGs popular annual The Wizard of Oz.

He will continue to lead OnStage and Inclusive, its summer theater program for people with disabilities, and support the efforts of CTG education director, Rozalynn Fulton.

CTG has grown over the years under Sommers, and his current role is much more than a full-time job, said Board President Stacey Youngdale. Its too big for one person.

Sommers looks forward to handing off other management responsibilities to a new executive director.

Those include fundraising, as well as managing the staff and CTGs Starr Theatre building at 520 S. Elm St, which includes a 160-seat theater, event space and offices.

The fundraising has really been overwhelming for me, he admitted. I have asked so many people for money. I want a period of my life when people see me coming, they dont take off for the hills because they know Im going to be asking them for a donation.

He found rejection difficult to handle.

If people said No, or Another time, I would focus on Oh, theyre rejecting me,  Sommers said. That wears on you, especially when a lot of these people are your personal friends.

Sommers relishes the thought of more flexibility and personal time  time to perform, to spend time at his beach house or with his two adult children, or just to go home at a normal hour.

I kind of want to find out who I am when Im not the executive director, Sommers said.

Sommers has earned a reputation as CTGs passionate, behind-the-scenes wizard, credited with turning it around artistically and financially.

Youngdale expressed gratitude for Sommers leadership, and for giving the board time to find a new executive director and make a smooth transition.

He gave CTG his heart and soul for all these years, Youngdale said.

The board plans to stay within CTGs existing $800,000 annual budget as it makes the change, Youngdale and Sommers said.

That pays for operational expenses, including the current staff of four full-time and three part-time employees. A fifth full-time position is vacant.

They plan to hire the new executive director this year.

We want someone with strong leadership and business acumen, and to take CTG into its next phase, Youngdale said.

CTG began in 1949 as Greensboro Little Theatre, making it Guilford Countys oldest arts organization. It changed its name in the 1970s.

By 1989, CTG found itself on shaky ground. Its executive director had left, productions were bare-bones and audiences had diminished.

That began to change when its board hired Sommers, a native New Yorker and professional actor with a masters degree in acting and directing from UNC-Greensboro.

He created a nurturing atmosphere where all ages, genders, ethnicities, religions, incomes and abilities can showcase their talent in dramas, musicals, troupes, educational programs and classes.

Several of its actors have gone on to Broadway.

His efforts earned him the Betty Cone Medal of Arts in 2005 from the United Arts Council, now ArtsGreensboro.

Under Fulton, its education director, CTG offers a youth theater program with classes, camps and productions and an award-winning Centerstage performing group.

It added Teens Downtown, which provides teens with arts experiences.

Sommers led the $2 million capital campaign in 2012 to purchase the former Broach Theatre for CTGs current home.

I am thrilled and proud that I led the charge to raise that money, he said.

The capital campaign still needs about $225,000 to reach its $2 million goal.

Im still praying that before I would actually retire, which I hope is many years from now, we will have paid off the building, Sommers said.

As he reduces his responsibilities at CTG, Sommers will keep other part-time jobs.

He teaches theater at Elon University, and serves as cantorial soloist at Temple Emanuel.

He directs some productions at Greensboros Barn Dinner Theatre and will direct Nunsense there this summer.

Sommers also wants to do more acting.

He will play Captain Hook in an April CTG production.

Sometime after he steps down as executive director, hed like to try out in New York for a part in a Broadway or summer-stock production.

Even if I didnt get it, he said, what fun that would be to rent an apartment for a couple of months, go to auditions, take some classes, go see some Broadway shows, then bring all that back to CTG and the community.
Updated at 9:24 a.m. on Feb. 14

When we compile a list of local Grammy Award nominees and winners, we typically overlook one by accident.

Such is the case with Victoria Livengood of Thomasville.

The mezzo-soprano was part of the cast in the Los Angeles Opera's recording of John Corigliano's "The Ghosts of Versailles," which received the Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording on Sunday.

She was the featured headliner of Greensboro Operas "Go to the Movies" Gala in 2014.

Thanks to David Holley, artistic director of Greensboro Opera, for drawing our attention to her award.

North Carolinas musical talent was well-represented among the 59th annual Grammy Award nominees.

But only a few won an award during the Premiere Ceremony that aired live online Sunday before the CBS broadcast.

Fiddler/violinist Mark OConnor of Charlotte and his familys OConnor Band took home the Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album for Coming Home.

And longtime Asheville resident and kid-hop artist Secret Agent 23 Skidoo won for Best Childrens Album, Infinity Plus One.

Grammys eluded several other North Carolina artists, including Greensboro native Rhiannon Giddens, High Point native Fantasia Barrino and Concord band The Avett Brothers.

Giddens was nominated for Best American Roots Performance for Factory Girl, the title track of her extended play album of the same name. The album also was nominated for Best Folk Album.

Sarah Jarosz took home the awards in both categories.

Congratulations to Sarah Jarosz, Giddens said via email. Both fields were super strong; I was super honored to be included with my EP.

Giddens is in Nashville, Tenn., where she is filming the television musical drama, Nashville. She plays a social worker with quite a voice in the show, which airs Thursdays on the CMT network.

She opted not to attend the Grammy ceremony because of her obligations to Nashville  and most importantly because I have my two children with me, and Im touring a lot this year, Giddens said.

She will release a new album, Freedom Highway, on Feb. 24.

Giddens has won a Grammy before.

The Carolina Chocolate Drops, her band with Justin Robinson and Dom Flemons that carries on the tradition of the African American string band, won in 2011 for best traditional folk album with Genuine Negro Jig.

Fantasia Barrino, the 2004 winner of televisions American Idol competition who uses her first name professionally, was nominated for Best Traditional R&B Performance for Sleeping With the One I Love, a track from her album, The Definition Of ...

The award in that category went to Lalah Hathaway.

Barrino won a 2011 Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

The Avett Brothers, a folk rock/bluegrass/Americana band, was nominated for Aint No Man in the category of Best American Roots Performance.

Aint No Man is a track from their album True Sadness, which was nominated for Best Americana Album. William Bell won in the album category.

Two others with Greensboro ties performed on recordings nominated for Best Musical Theater Album. That Grammy went to The Color Purple.

Drew Gehling, who grew up in Greensboro, sang on several tracks on the original Broadway cast recording of Waitress.

Bennett Sullivan, a 2007 graduate of Greensboros Weaver Academy, played banjo in the musical Bright Star.

Other areas of the state also were represented among Grammy nominees.

Asheville native Chris Bullock plays in the 25-member band Snarky Puppy, which won Best Contemporary Instrumental for Culcha Vulcha. Bullock is a saxophonist, flutist and clarinetist who now lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Other nominees with North Carolina ties include saxophonist Branford Marsalis, who lives in Durham. He was nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album for Upward Spiral, a recording with the Branford Marsalis Quartet and special guest Kurt Elling.

Durham native Shirley Caesar was nominated for Best Gospel Performance/Song for Its Alright, Its OK, featuring Charlotte native Anthony Hamilton. Caesar also earned a Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Album for Fill This House.
GREENSBORO  Guilford County Schools has made measurable progress on many different fronts over the last three years  but not much when it comes to increasing the overall percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced on end-of-grade or course tests.

On Monday, the administration released its annual report on the progress made toward strategic goals. Officials have been working toward the 2016 goals since 2013.

Among the highlights, the district:

Increased the number of industry certifications earned by its career and technical students by nearly 67 percent from the 2011-12 school year to the 2015-16 school year.

Increased the percentage of graduating seniors who earned at least one college credit while in high school for 2015-16 to 35.3 percent. The goal was 35 percent.

Increased the percentage of graduating seniors who earned a passing grade in at least one college course while in high school to 37.8 percent. The goal was 36.8 percent.

The district is also hovering within striking distance of its 2016 goal of 90 percent of students graduating from high school in four years. The graduation rate is 89.4 percent  a district record  up from 86.2 in 2012-13.

However, the report showed the district made what it called good progress on only one of its 12 End of Course or End of Grade proficiency goals. Specifically, the percentage of students scoring at college- and career-ready levels on end-of-grade tests in fifth- and eighth-grade science.

Since 2013-14 thats increased from nearly 50 percent of students scoring at advanced levels to nearly 58 percent  still short of the 61.6 percent goal the district wanted.

On another goal, the district came up short. Grade-level proficiency in third through eighth grade reading has stayed right around 52 percent for the last three years despite a goal of 66.5 percent.

Today, our schools fall on a spectrum, with some excelling beyond state and national standards and others still struggling, Contreras, the districts new leader, wrote in her introduction to the report.

Interestingly, district leaders did point to progress on end-of-year tests  but by a different measure. Proficiency  which the state stresses  measures the percentage of students scoring at grade level or at college and career levels on end-of-grade tests. But tests can also measure how much schools increase individual students knowledge and capabilities in a given year.

Thats known as growth and theres currently a raging battle in education circles about the relative merits of proficiency versus growth.

By using growth as a measurement, though, the district is succeeding. According to the report, almost 83 percent of all schools met or exceeded their expected growth in 2016. Thats up from about 80 percent of schools in 2015. Its also above the state average of 73.6 percent.

Reached by phone Monday, Contreras said the state emphasizes proficiency over student growth in how it evaluates schools and districts. Thats not her preference. She thinks measuring how much progress schools make in educating each student is a fairer method.

However, 80 percent of a schools letter grade from the state comes from proficiency and 20 percent from student growth.

I disagree with that, she said.

Asked whether the district is likely to keep the same goals for EOC and EOG tests  given that they werent met  Contreras said its premature for her to say. Shell make decisions about the next round of goals in cooperation with the countys board of education.

She said she and other district leaders are proud of where progress has been made. In addition to academic measures like the number of students taking or passing a college course, she pointed to a major increase in the number of students earning a service-learning certificate for the work theyve done in high school.

The district also blew away a goal for decreasing out-of-school suspensions. The goal was to decrease suspensions by 10 percent from the 2011-12 school year to 2015-2016. Instead, the number decreased by about 22 percent.
The ink was hardly dry on the press release announcing the departure of Elon Universitys president when a petition appeared about who should succeed Leo Lambert.

The petition, posted on Change.org by an Elon student, suggested that the university consider hiring a recently unemployed Washington insider.

No, not former NSA director Michael Flynn. This guy.

Lambert, cornered by a student journalist at a reception on campus this morning, said he had seen the petition.

Said Lambert on video: "I think I'm going to sign it myself. The other better idea, I think, is Michelle (Obama). I think ... she would be a terrific candidate as well."

In other search-related news, trustee Wes Elingberg of Greensboro, the retired LabCorp CFO, will chair the presidential search committee. Maybe someone ought to tell him that the current president is already sending out job offers.

Want to make sure you see these blog posts? Like me on Facebook, and follow me on Twitter.

Have something to say? Email me at john.newsom@greensboro.com.
I guess it's going to be Elon Week here at The Syllabus. In the past 24 hours or so, I've published two things (here and here) about Elon University. This will makes three.

So I was killing time before I started working on yet another blog post and stumbled on this interesting graphic from the New York Times about Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump's Florida resort, aka the Winter White House.

The NYT graphic isn't much  just a nice overhead shot of the clubhouse with some numbers 'shopped on. The graphic shows Trump's movements on the night that Mar-a-Lago became a temporary Situation Room.

The fourth bullet point mentioned the wedding that Trump crashed after dealing with the North Korean missile crisis. (Or maybe Trump isn't a wedding crasher; TMZ says the president was on the guest list.) I didn't know the bride or groom  Carl Lindner IV and Vanessa Falk  so I did what any good journalist would do and Google 'em.

The first image result for Carl Lindner IV led to a story posted on the Elon website, swear to god on a stack of Bibles.

That picture shows give people with shovels. That's Carl IV (the groom) on the left next to his brother Christopher His parents, Carl III and Martha Lindner, are on the right. (The guy in the middle is retiring soon; don't worry about him.)

Carl Lindner III is co-president and co-CEO of American Financial Group, the Cincinnati insurance and finance company founded by his father. One of Carl III's sons, Christopher, majored in business at Elon. About a decade ago, Carl III and Martha (aka the parents of the groom) gave $2.5 million to Elon.

Elon turned that gift into Lindner Hall, which opened in 2010. Lindner Hall is the home of Elon's College of Arts and Sciences. It's also Elon's first green building and one of the reasons Elon was the first North Carolina university to win the Green Ribbon School designation from the U.S. Department of Education.

So if you saw the Trump-crashes-wedding story and wondered why the groom's name might have seemed familiar, here you go.

Oh, and that other blog post I mentioned. Not about Elon, in case you were wondering.

Want to make sure you see these blog posts? Like me on Facebook, and follow me on Twitter.

Have something to say? Email me at john.newsom@greensboro.com.
Updated 1:14 a.m.

GREENSBORO  The condition of a Greensboro toddler mauled by two dogs improved Tuesday night, police said.

The 19-month-old boys condition improved to serious, but not life-threatening, said police spokeswoman Susan Danielsen.

The pit bulls, which were owned by a neighbor, attacked the boy about 9:10 a.m. at 1206 Valley View St.

The boy, whose injuries were originally listed as critical, was taken to Brenner Childrens Hospital in Winston-Salem, police said.

An officer responding to reports of a dog attack saw the dogs beside the boy in a backyard, police said. When the male dog moved away from the boy, the officer shot and killed it.

The female pit bull ran away. Guilford County Animal Control caught it about 11:30 a.m. on Valley View Street. The animal control officer took the dog to the county animal shelter, where the owner surrendered it and it was euthanized.

The body of the male dog was also taken to the shelter. Both dogs are to be tested for rabies at a state lab, according to Guilford County Animal Services Director Drew Brinkley. Brinkley did not know if the dogs were up to date on their vaccines.

The shelters policy is to quarantine a dog involved in an attack for 10 days, rather than to immediately euthanize it, he said.

We felt this was the best thing, given the nature of the circumstances, Brinkley said.

He said the dogs had not been involved in any prior attacks.

Police are not releasing the name of the officer who shot the male dog while the incident is under investigation, Danielsen said.

Because the shooting is considered a use of force, the department will not release the name of the officer until it determines whether the shooting was necessary, Danielsen said.

Updated 3:43 p.m.

GREENSBORO  The condition of the toddler attacked by two dogs this morning has improved, police said.

The 19-month-old boy's condition is now listed as serious, but not life-threatening, according to police spokeswoman Susan Danielsen.

Earlier reports indicated the child was 2 years old.

Two pit bulls attacked the boy about 9:10 a.m. today at 1206 Valley View St., police said.

He was taken to Brenner Children's Hospital in Winston-Salem for treatment of his injuries.

Updated 3:12 p.m.

GREENSBORO  The two dogs involved in a morning attack on a toddler are dead.

A 2-year-old boy was attacked by two pit bulls at 1206 Valley View St. about 9:10 a.m. today, critically injuring the child, police said.

The child was taken to Brenner Children's Hospital in Winston-Salem for his injuries, police said.

The dogs belonged to a neighbor, said Drew Brinkley, Guilford County animal services director.

A responding Greensboro officer saw the two dogs beside the toddler in a backyard, according to police. The officer fatally shot the male pit bull when it moved away from the child.

The female pit bull ran off. Guilford County Animal Control captured the dog about 11:30 a.m. on Valley View Street and brought it to the shelter, where it was euthanized after the owner surrendered it, Brinkley said.

The male dog involved in the attack was also brought to animal control. Both dogs will be tested at a state lab for rabies, Brinkley said. He did not know if the dogs were up-to-date on their vaccines.

The typical policy of animal control is to quarantine a dog involved in an attack for 10 days, rather than to be immediately euthanized, he said.

"We felt this was the best thing, given the nature of the circumstances," Brinkley said.

The ages of the dogs was not available. Brinkley said the dogs had not been involved in any prior attacks.

The name of the male officer who shot the pit bull is not being released while Greensboro police investigate the incident, said Susan Danielsen police spokeswoman.

The shooting is deemed use-of-force, and the officer's name will not be released while the police department investigates the incident to determine if the shooting was necessary, Danielsen said.

Updated 11:37 a.m.

GREENSBORO  Police said the second dog involved in the attack on a child, a pit bull, has been captured.

Updated at 10:47 a.m.

GREENSBORO  Police are investigating an incident in which two dogs attacked a toddler this morning.

According to a police news release, around 9:10 a.m., police were alerted when the mother called Greensboro Metro 911. When officers arrived at 1206 Valley View St., they saw two large dogs lying beside the child in the backyard.

Susan Danielsen, police spokeswoman, said the two dogs were pit bulls.

Police believe the child is about 2 years old, Danielsen said. Officials are still trying to determine details. Danielsen said the family doesn't speak English and the police department is trying to find a translator.

The child is in critical but stable condition at Baptist Children's Hospital in Winston-Salem, Danielsen said.

Out of safety for the boy, an officer shot one of the dogs after it moved away from the toddler. The other dog fled and has still has not been found, the release stated.

"It is still unclear whether the toddler was playing with the dogs when it was attacked," Danielsen said.

It is also unknown if the dog that was shot is still alive. The dogs belong to a neighbor, Danielsen said.

GREENSBORO  Police are investigating an incident in which two dogs attacked a toddler this morning.

According to Susan Danielsen, police spokesperson, around 9:10 a.m., officers responded to the 1200 block of Valley View Street in reference to a dog attack.

The toddler was in the backyard of its residence when it was attacked. Danielsen said it is still unclear whether the toddler was playing with the dogs who belong to a neighbor. An officer shot one of the dogs while the other fled.

Danielsen said the toddler, approximately 2 years old, is in critical but stable condition in a local hospital. Also, it is not known if the dog was fatally shot.

"The dogs were initially described as pit bulls, but that hasn't been verified," Danielsen said.
Updated at 1:43 p.m.

WASHINGTON  The White House says that President Donald Trump asked his national security adviser to tender his resignation because of a trust issue, not a legal issue.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Tuesday that retired Gen. Michael Flynn either mislead Vice President Mike Pence and others, or forgot "critical details" about his call with Russia's ambassador to the U.S., creating "a critical mass and an unsustainable situation."

Flynn resigned his position late Monday, days after a Washington Post report revealed that Flynn addressed sanctions with the diplomat while President Barack Obama was still in office.

Spicer said that Trump was briefed by his advisers after officials with the Justice Department flagged the phone call. Spicer says the White House counsel determined the situation did not pose a legal issue.

Updated at 1 p.m.

WASHINGTON  House Speaker Paul D. Ryan panned calls Tuesday for an independent investigation into Russia after the resignation of President Donald Trumps national security adviser, Michael Flynn, saying the administration will explain what happened.

Ryan said it was right to ask for his resignation after disclosures that Flynn, a retired general, misled some in the administration about his conversations with the Russian ambassador. It remains unclear whether Trump asked Flynn to step down.

Ryan dismissed the need for further investigation. Congress already is investigating Russias intervention in the November election.

Ill leave it up to the administration to describe the circumstances, Ryan said. Im not going to prejudge any of the circumstances surrounding this until we have all of the information.

Several members of Congress have pressed for a fuller investigation into the administrations relations with Russia after it was disclosed that Flynn had discussed U.S.-imposed sanctions on the country ahead of the inauguration. The Washington Post reported that other Trump administration officials were made aware of the talks.

Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Congress should exhaustively examine Flynns actions.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has pushed for a 9/11-style panel to investigate Russias role in the election.

House and Senate Intelligence committees are pursuing investigations, but some in Congress would prefer an independent query to take over a broader role.

The House Intelligence Committee Chairman, Rep. Devin Nunes of California, had backed Flynn earlier Monday, before his resignation. Nunes thanked Flynn for his service Tuesday and lamented in a statement that Washington can be a rough town for honorable people.



2017 Tribune Co.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Updated at 10:57 a.m.

WASHINGTON  National security adviser Michael Flynn has resigned following reports he misled Vice President Mike Pence about contacts with a Russian diplomat, upending Donald Trump's White House team less than a month after the president's inauguration.

In a resignation letter, Flynn said he gave Pence and others "incomplete information" about his calls with Russia's ambassador to the U.S. The vice president, seemingly relying on information from Flynn, initially said the national security adviser had not discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy though Flynn later conceded the issue may have come up.

Such conversations would breach diplomatic protocol and possibly violate the Logan Act, a law aimed at keeping private citizens from conducting U.S. diplomacy. The Justice Department had warned the White House late last month that Flynn could be at risk for blackmail because of contradictions between his public depictions of the calls and what intelligence officials knew to be true based on routine recordings of communications with foreign officials who are in the U.S.

The revelations were another destabilizing blow to an administration that has already suffered a major legal defeat on immigration, botched the implementation of a signature policy and stumbled through a string of embarrassing public relations missteps.

Trump, who has been conspicuously quiet about Flynn's standing for several days, took to Twitter Tuesday morning and said the "real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington?"

Kellyanne Conway, a close aide to Trump, had said Monday that Flynn continued to have the "full confidence" of the president. On Tuesday, she said in televised interviews that Trump had supported Flynn out of loyalty but that the situation reached a "fever pitch" and had become "unsustainable."

"By night's end, Mike Flynn had decided it was best to resign. He knew he'd become a lightning rod, and he made that decision," Conway told NBC's "Today" show.

When asked why the White House didn't move sooner after being warned by the Justice Department that Flynn could be in a compromised position, Conway was vague: "As time wore on, obviously the situation became unsustainable," she repeated.

She added: "We're moving on."

Trump named retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg as the acting national security adviser. Kellogg had previously been appointed the National Security Council chief of staff and advised Trump during the campaign. Trump is also considering former CIA Director David Petraeus and Vice Admiral Robert Harward, a U.S. Navy SEAL, for the post, according to a senior administration official.

A separate administration official said Flynn's deputy, K.T. McFarland, a former Fox News analyst, was expected to stay at the White House.

A U.S. official told The Associated Press that Flynn was in frequent contact with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak on the day the Obama administration slapped sanctions on Russia for election-related hacking, as well as at other times during the transition.

An administration official and two people with knowledge of the situation confirmed the Justice Department warnings on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. It was unclear when Trump and Pence learned about the Justice Department outreach.

The Washington Post was the first to report the communication between former acting attorney general Sally Yates, a holdover from the Obama administration, and the Trump White House. The Post also first reported last week that Flynn had indeed spoken about sanctions with the Russian ambassador.

Trump never voiced public support for Flynn after that initial report but continued to keep his national security adviser close.

The White House officials sent contradictory messages, meantime, about Flynn's job status. While Conway was remarking that Trump had "full confidence" in the retired general, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said the president was "evaluating the situation" and consulting with Pence about his conversations with the national security adviser.

Asked whether the president had been aware that Flynn might have planned to discuss sanctions with the Russian envoy, Spicer said, "No, absolutely not."

The Kremlin had confirmed that Flynn was in contact with Kislyak but denied that they talked about lifting sanctions. On Tuesday, Russian lawmakers mounted a fierce defense of Flynn.

Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the foreign affairs committee at the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, said in a post on Facebook that firing a national security adviser for his contacts with Russia is "not just paranoia but something even worse." Kosachev also expressed frustration at the Trump administration:

"Either Trump hasn't found the necessary independence and he's been driven into a corner... or russophobia has permeated the new administration from top to bottom," he said.

Kosachev's counterpart at the lower chamber of the Russian parliament, Alexei Pushkov, tweeted shortly after the announcement that "it was not Flynn who was targeted but relations with Russia."

California Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Flynn's resignation "does not end questions over his contacts with the Russians." He said the White House has yet to be forthcoming about whether Flynn was acting at the behest of the president or others.

___

Associated Press writers Catherine Lucey and Matthew Daly in Washington and Jonathan Lemire in New York contributed to this report.

Updated at 10:02 a.m.

MOSCOW  The Kremlin on Tuesday played down the resignation of U.S. National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, a sign that Russia is already looking ahead to talks with the U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to improve the two nations' strained ties.

Flynn was often perceived as Donald Trump's key contact with Moscow. In 2015, he was paid to attend a gala dinner for Russia Today, a Kremlin-funded television station, and even sat next to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the event.

Flynn resigned Monday night after conceding that he gave "incomplete information" about his calls with Russia's ambassador to U.S. officials.

A U.S. official told The Associated Press that Flynn was in frequent contact with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak on the day that the Obama administration imposed sanctions on Russia after U.S. intelligence reported that Russia had interfered with the 2016 U.S. election. The Kremlin has confirmed that Flynn has been in contact with Kislyak but denied that they talked about lifting sanctions.

The Russian establishment has not harbored any illusions about the Trump administration's pro-Russia stance for some time now, said Alexei Makarkin at the Moscow-based Center for Political Technologies.

"This infatuation with Trump in Russia is over, and Flynn as a person who has contributed to this infatuation stopped being perceived as a figure who can have a real impact on the U.S. foreign policy," Makarkin said.

The nomination of Tillerson, former chief executive at ExxonMobil, showed to the Russians that it would be him, not Flynn, who would be doing the negotiating, Makarkin said.

Ties between Moscow and Washington plummeted to post-Cold War lows after Russia annexed Crimea and threw its weight behind separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine in 2014. The United States responded with economic sanctions and visa bans.

Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to comment Tuesday on Flynn's resignation. Asked if Moscow still hopes for its relations with the U.S. to improve, he said it is "too early to say" since "Trump's team has not been shaped yet."

The Kremlin earlier said it was not expecting a breakthrough before the two presidents meet in person. Putin has suggested, however, that could take place in Slovenia, the home nation of Trump's wife Melania.

Russia's visibly muted reaction to Flynn's departure comes one day before Tillerson is holding his first meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Tillerson, who has sealed multiple deals in Russia and was even decorated with the Russian "Order of Friendship" award, is widely described as a tough negotiator who will not give Russia promises he cannot keep.

Still, several senior Russian lawmakers took their disappointment over Flynn's resignation out on social media early Tuesday.

Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the foreign affairs committee at the Federation Council, said in a post on Facebook that firing a national security adviser for his contacts with Russia is "not just paranoia but something even worse."

Kosachev also expressed frustration with the Trump administration, writing "either Trump hasn't found the necessary independence and he's been driven into a corner... or Russophobia has permeated the new administration from top to bottom."

Alexei Pushkov, chairman of the information committee at the Federation Council, tweeted shortly after the resignation announcement that "it was not Flynn who was targeted but relations with Russia."

By early afternoon, some lawmakers began to retract their original indignant comments.

Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the foreign affairs committee at the State Duma, two hours after he described Flynn's departure as a "negative signal" for Russia-U.S. relations, switched to more moderate language, stressing that it "cannot fundamentally influence Russia-U.S. ties."

Fyodor Lukyanov, chairman of the Council for Foreign and Defense Policies, a group of Russian foreign policy experts, told the RIA Novosti news agency that it's not yet clear whether Flynn's resignation could influence bilateral ties.

"There's nothing to influence yet, there are no relations as such. Our countries have relations shaped by the former administration, which were awful, and Trump was going to change that," he said.

Yet Trump's first telephone call with Putin last month demonstrated that Trump did not really have anything to offer to Russia immediately, Makarkin said.

"It has led to a realization that if Flynn wanted to promote better ties with Russia, he would not have the real chance to," Makarkin said.

___

This story corrects the title of Alexei Pushkov to chairman of the information committee at the Federation Council.

Updated 7:06 a.m. Tuesday

MOSCOW  Russian lawmakers on Tuesday mounted a fierce defense of U.S. President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, who resigned following reports that he misled White House officials about his contacts with Russia.

Michael Flynn resigned Monday night, conceding that he gave "incomplete information" about his calls with Russia's ambassador to the U.S.

A U.S. official told The Associated Press that Flynn was in frequent contact with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak on the day the Obama administration imposed sanctions on Russia after U.S. intelligence reported that Russia had interfered with the U.S. elections. The Kremlin has confirmed that Flynn has been in contact with Kislyak but denied that they talked about lifting sanctions.

Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the foreign affairs committee at the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, said in a post on Facebook that firing a national security adviser for his contacts with Russia is "not just paranoia but something even worse."

Kosachev also expressed frustration with the Trump administration.

"Either Trump hasn't found the necessary independence and he's been driven into a corner... or Russophobia has permeated the new administration from top to bottom."

Kosachev's counterpart at the lower chamber of the Russian parliament, Alexei Pushkov, tweeted shortly after the announcement that "it was not Flynn who was targeted but relations with Russia."

President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to comment on Flynn's resignation, saying that "it's none of our business." Asked if Moscow still hopes that relations with the U.S. are going to improve, he said it is "too early to say" since "Trump's team has not been shaped yet."

The Kremlin earlier said that it was not expecting a breakthrough before the two presidents meet in person.

Fyodor Lukyanov, chair of the Council for Foreign and Defense Policies, a group of Russian foreign policy experts, told the RIA Novosti news agency that it is not yet clear whether Flynn's departure could influence bilateral ties.

"There's nothing to influence yet, there are no relations as such. Our countries have relations shaped by the former administration which were awful, and Trump was going to change that," he said. "But who he is going to change it with  Flynn, or not him, (Secretary of State Rex) Tillerson  it is not clear right now."

Posted 11:29 p.m. Monday

National security adviser Michael Flynn has resigned after reports he misled Trump administration officials about his contact with Russia's ambassador to the U.S.

Flynn's departure less than one month into the Trump administration marks an extraordinarily early shakeup in the president's senior team of advisers. Flynn was a loyal Trump supporter throughout the campaign, but his ties to Russia caused concern among other senior aides.

Flynn initially told Trump advisers that he did not discuss sanctions with the Russian envoy during the transition. Vice President Mike Pence, apparently relying on information from Flynn, publicly vouched for the national security adviser.

Flynn later told White House officials that he may have discussed sanctions with the ambassador.
Chinas law against cheating in national exams imposes heavy penalties for those who will be caught. (Photo : Getty Images)

A massive case of cheating in the 2016 National Higher Education exams for self-taught adults was uncovered by police in Hengshui, Hebei Province, which involved 300 people connected to a "cheating gang" posing under the guise of a training agency.



The scheme employed by the training agency involved a team of ghostwriters who are given fake exam permits to sit in place of the real examinees they're representing. One of the ghostwriters, surnamed Li, came forward to the police and acted as a whistleblower.



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Li provided valuable leads to the police, who later found a truck near the testing center, with 15 people and exam permits, both fake and real, inside it. The discovery enabled the police to arrest 20 people and the identification of a further 170 students and 100 ghostwriters as suspects, the Global Times reported.



Sun Huanlun, one of the Hengshui police officers involved in the arrests, the training agency involved is led by two of the suspects, surnamed Liu and Cheng. Both would charge prospective students for a fee within the region of 2,000 yuan and 3,000 yuan.



Cheng oversees online recruitment, and all those who are interested are asked to pay half of the fee as a down payment. If the students pass the exams, they are asked to pay the other half, but they are ensured of refunds in case they fail.



The training agency hires around 100 ghostwriters tasked to sit in for the students during the exams, and all of them are paid 500 yuan each per exam. Inside the training agency, the exam permits of students are forged to represent those of the ghostwriters so they can take the exams.



China's law against cheating in national exams imposes heavy penalties for those who will be caught, with those caught in mass cheating schemes or sit-ins set to face prison time amounting up to seven years, TIME reported. Students who are caught cheating will be banned from retaking exams.



Currently, the Hengshui police have yet to file charges against the captured suspects, while all others named for their involvement in the cheating scandal are the subjects of an ongoing manhunt.


Richard G. Cox (letter, Feb. 4) wonders if the terrorists have scared us into giving up our values  religious or otherwise  and are therefore winning. No, Mr. Cox. The terrorists will only have won when our values  especially religious  have become subject to the dhimmitude, those restrictions imposed on non-Muslims living under Sharia law in a Muslim country.

In eighth-century France, the Moors  Islamists of that day  were defeated by Charles Martel at the Battle of Tours. A setback, no doubt. However, as a Taliban sympathizer more recently noted, The West may have all the watches, but we have all the time. And so, 13 centuries later on Nov. 13, 2015, the Islamists  still determined to overthrow the West  committed one of the deadliest attacks on French soil since World War II. Many of the perpetrators managed to exploit Europes immigration crisis and had crossed into France without any difficulty.

Suggesting terrorists are winning because precautions are taken to protect against terrorist attacks is like saying burglars are winning because we lock our doors. It is not fear that drives the sale of home security devices. It is simply common sense.

Romaine Worster

Greensboro
President Donald Trump constantly brags that hes smarter about everything. Nows the time to show that he can be smarter than he was Jan. 27.

On that day, he signed an executive order that sought to freeze entry into the U.S. by people from seven Muslim-majority countries and all refugees.

Trump insists the order was beautifully written. It was anything but  so flawed that it confused the security agencies tasked with implementation and failed to withstand legal scrutiny by federal judges.

The executive action remains under a temporary restraining order placed on it by a federal district judge in Seattle and affirmed by a panel of the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco. This happened despite the broad authority that presidents generally hold to protect national security.

Trump has not lost the court case yet. Challenges to his travel ban havent been fully argued in federal district court, let alone at the appellate level. But he is losing, badly. In the meantime, he claims that the country is in grave danger from bad people pouring across our borders.

If he believes that, he wont wait for the case to work up to the Supreme Court. Instead, hell rescind his order, listen to national security experts, and craft a workable policy to address real weaknesses in our defenses.

Trumps advisers and supporters say he was just fulfilling a campaign promise to immediately tighten security. Trump made a lot of simplistic campaign statements that have yielded to reality since Jan. 20. He said he would present a plan to replace Obamacare as soon as his secretary of Health and Human Services took office. Since he doesnt have a plan, that promise has been discarded. He said he had a plan to destroy ISIS. If he has such a plan, its still a secret.

So it shouldnt faze Trump or his supporters to backtrack on the refugee ban. Rescinding his sweeping order will allow entry by people who have been vetted, have proper papers or who already have connections to the U.S. Trump can have appropriate agencies find ways to improve the screening process. And he can focus more directly on areas where likely threats exist.

The countries Trump listed have not been associated with terrorist attacks in the U.S. Many countries that he left off the list, such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Pakistan, have been. The courts didnt give Trump much deference precisely because his lawyers didnt even try to show that his order really would make the country safer. Because the president says so isnt an answer the American people, or the courts, have to accept.

Trump would be more credible if he examined the recent history of terrorist attacks, looking at who committed them, who inspired or supported them, and where these people are or came from. Experts say most terrorists are home-grown, not immigrants and especially not infiltrators posing as refugees.

Starting with basic information, and working with Congress, the administration could begin to craft policy meant to stop actual threats. Thats what a smart president would do.
Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf speaks during a press event at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center for the 2014 International CES on Jan. 6, 2014, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo : Getty Images / Justin Sullivan)

Qualcomm has unveiled their new 802.11ax products that will help solve capacity problems with Wi-Fi in dense settings. The new standard addresses the potential obstacles with Wi-Fi connections that are deployed over large areas such as universities, hotels, airports and more.



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The current Wi-Fi standards or platforms have addressed concerns with peak speeds. They do work well in small areas such as a home or a cafe but the problem of capacity handling appears when the connection is located in a dense are.



Qualcomm knows that the 802.11ax standard is the next innovation for Wi-Fi as it tackles both 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands across the spectrum, Anand Tech has learned. The Qualcomm IPQ8074 is one of the first products from the company that has a 12-stream solution of 8x8 5GHz and 4x4 2.4GHz combined. It also supports MU-MIMO for both downlink and uplink operations.



The Qualcomm QCA6290 is better suited for large networks that need a fast connection thanks to its 2x2 MU-MIMO support with an 8x8 sounding mechanism, CNET reported. It also has the Dual Band Simultaneous feature which can allow speeds to reach 1.8Gbps while still consuming only two-thirds the power a 802.11ac product may use.



Broadcom, which is Qualcomm's main competitor in the Wi-Fi industry, has been unusually stagnant after its acquisition from Avago. Quantenna was the first to unveil 802.11ax solutions while Marvell's devices are still under wraps.



Marvell is focusing on the enterprise field which means their 802.11ax solutions will be larger-scaled compared to Quantenna's and Qualcomm's which are targeting the mainstream market.



Qualcomm will be launching their 802.11ax solutions for businesses first before the consumer devices will be released later this year. The prices have not yet been disclosed but they may be close to the current 802.11ac solutions.



Learn more about the technology leap below:






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It's that time of year again. The Knot released its annual report on wedding trends, and the average cost for 2016 comes to ... drum roll please ... $35,329. This is an 8 percent increase from the 2015 average of $32,641.

That's a national average, with a lot of variation across the country. According to the Knot's study of 13,000 heterosexual couples who married in the United States last year, the most expensive place to get hitched is Manhattan, with the average wedding there costing $78,464; and the most affordable spot is Arkansas, at an average of $19,522. The survey found that, on average, a bride's parents cover 44 percent of the overall wedding budget; the couple contribute 42 percent; and a groom's parents' pay for 13 percent. However, 10 percent of couples pay for their weddings entirely on their own.

Last year, we brainstormed five things you could get for about the same price as a wedding: a boat, a trip around the world, two years of graduate school tuition, one year of college for 10 women in Africa or 82,000 meals for people in the Washington, D.C., area. We're keeping that tradition alive with six new ideas of how to spend $35,000 if you were to forgo a wedding altogether.

More Living Here's how much people are spending to get married in San Francisco

1) Food truck: $34,000

Some couples rent food trucks as a low-cost catering option at their weddings. However, an entrepreneurial couple could buy their own food truck for the price of a wedding - Craigslist recently had a posting in the D.C. area for a food truck with a 14-foot kitchen includes a griddle, deep fryer, stove, salad bar unit, freezer and more for $34,000. Parking permits and taco shells sold separately.

2) Model 3 Tesla: $35,000

Let's say you're in the market for a less-clunky vehicle than a food truck. There's the "Tesla for the masses," available at just $35,000 (compared to their other models, which range from $68,000 to $140,000). After the electric-vehicle tax credit, you'll have $7,000 or so left over to fund your honeymoon.

3) Feed 350 school children, on weekends, for an entire school year: $35,000

The average amount spent on catering at a wedding in 2016 was $71 per guest. Now, the full price of a wedding could provide food for 350 school children on the weekends. According to its website, the nonprofit organization Blessings in a Backpack provides food to 89,000 children who get free meals at school but can't always count on being fed over the weekends.

4) Tiny home: $35,000

In a tiny home (typically 300 square feet), you'd have no room for wedding gifts anyway, so good thing you're skipping the nuptials. The Tiny House Blog puts the average contractor-built tiny house at $35,000, though there's quite a range out there.

5) Go on $35,000 worth of extravagant dinner dates

Let's see: For about $16,000, two people can dine at the world's 12 most expensive restaurants -- according to this list from Forbes - in New York, Spain, France, Japan, Beverly Hills and more. That leaves about $20,000 left over for airfare and hotels, which should do just fine as long as you're not flying first-class and staying at the world's most expensive hotels.

6) Four tickets on the 50-yard line at the Super Bowl: $36,000

According to TicketCity, around $9,000 will get you a club-level premium ticket to this year's Super Bowl on the 50-yard line. For $36,000, you and your significant other can go - and bring your best friends along.
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GREENWICH  Once again, the Board of Estimate and Taxations Budget Committee has refused to release money to fix the fields at Hamilton Avenue School and residents are hopping mad.

I dont understand why this is an issue, Syl Pecora, a resident, said after the budget committees Monday meeting. Its so frustrating that they are dragging this out. Were talking about $700,000 difference here. They can put marble in our police station and our fire station and they cant spend $700,000 on our children?

The upgrade is part of a 2008 school renovation project that included money for the field work. The field was used as a staging area during construction and remains uneven and in poor shape. Despite its condition, it is used by the school.

The money wasnt released pending settlement of a lawsuit over rebuilding the schools parking garage. The lawsuit was resolved last year.

We were told we couldnt do anything about it because of the lawsuit, Pecora said. We were kind enough to wait and not abuse the town to get this done. Now were the ones being abused because were asking for what we should have had.

The committee declined to release the money at its January meeting. On Monday, it again rejected the payment, citing concerns about the cost.

The Board of Education is asking for the estimated current cost of the project  $791,800  to get started on the work. But Budget Committee members were skeptical of the price tag Monday, particularly given budget restraints and cuts in state funding.

I think its clear we need to do some work on the field, BET Budget Committee Chairman James Lash said to representatives of the school board. Maybe theres another option that we can hear. We meet every month and if you can bring us something that is more in keeping with the current budgetary realities, wed be happy to move on it.

The lack of action was frustrating to neighborhood residents who attended the meeting to support the work.

Community member Dawn Fortunato said Western Greenwich children did not have good fields, putting them at a disadvantage. She called any delay unfair since promises had been made to the community years ago.

The east side doesnt look like this, why does the west side? Fortunato said. We only have two small playing fields in Chickahominy, one in Christiano Park on Lyons Avenue and the Hamilton Avenue field.

Our kids are playing on compressed patches of dirt here, Fortunato said. Theyre tripping on manhole covers. Theres dog feces all over the place on the school field and theyre tracking it into the school when they play on it. Its not grass and its not level.

It was the lack of playing fields on the western side of town that Budget Committee member Leslie Tarkington cited as why the work should wait.

Contaminated soil has been found at both the New Lebanon School field and at Western Middle School. Taking the field out of commission for repairs would mean even less field access, she said. She said she preferred to wait until work on at least one of the other fields was done first.

She also worried soil testing would be required, which could potentially add to the price.

District Managing Director of Operations Jim Hricay said the plan calls for leaving the existing soil in place at the field and placing new soil on top of it.

But we dont know if that plan works or not, quite frankly, Tarkington said.

Lash added, And if we test and we do find something, we will have no playing field for some extended period of time.

Both Pecora and Fortunato are members of the Representative Town Meetings District 3. They were joined at Mondays meeting by RTM District 3 leader Tom Conelias and Hamilton Avenue School PTA President Catherine Fiorito Brunetti, among other community members.

All were asking for is a level playing field with real grass, Brunetti said.

BET member John Blankley said he was upset with the committees decision.

Democrats on the school board all supported the best long-term solution to the Ham Ave playing field, as did three Republicans, Blankley said. I am truly disappointed that Jeff Ramer and Leslie Moriarty, the two Democratic representatives on the budget committee of the BET, did not support this project which is a key component of the attraction of a magnet school and the Chickahominy community as a whole.

BET Chairman Michael Mason has also been in favor of releasing the money, saying in January it was part of a commitment the town had made to the community as part of the school project.

Board of Education Chairman Peter Sherr said Monday his board would look for new options.

Our goal for this property is to have a field that is consistent with Connecticut law, Sherr said. This field is not similar with the ones at our other elementary schools.

kborsuk@scni.com
Givenchy : Front Row - Paris Fashion Week - Menswear Spring/Summer 2017 (Photo : Getty Images)

The worries of fans of Angelababy that the 27-year-old new mother may find it difficult to adapt to a life with an infant in the house turned out to be baseless. Three days after she gave birth to Little Sponge, the actress was seen already out shopping with her mother.



Angelababy and her mother shopped to prepare for Chinese New Year eight days after her delivery. On Lantern Festival, she posted a photo on her Weibo account to greet her fans. She wrote, I know about how much you missed me, Toggle reported.



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Early Delivery



Little Sponge was her first baby with husband, actor Huang Xiaoming whom she married in 2015. A day after the couple arrived in Hong Kong to deliver the baby, she went into labor earlier than her expected delivery date by caesarian.



Meanwhile, China Film Insider reported that a newspaper affiliated with the Communist Party of China criticized the young actors of a Chinese TV drama. Although the performers and the drama were not identified, readers suspect the newspaper was referring to General and I.



Poor Acting



It is a period drama during the Jin dynasty, starring Zhong Hanliang and Angelababy. The newspaper accused the young stars for earning high salaries while showing poor acting skill or professionalism.



According to TV audiences and critics, the performance of the actors were not natural and were stilted. A commenter also took note of the production taking advantage of the post-production process by using mostly green screens instead of using real-life settings, believed to reduce the time that actors stay on the set.



The commenter also noted the heavy dependence of actors on post-production effects such as voice dubbing and body doubles to accommodate the busy schedules of the stars.


South Korean actor Lee Joon-Hyuk plays the lead character of Kang Cheol-Soo in KBS 2TV's "Naked Fireman." (Photo : YouTube/DramaKBS)

Here comes another generous donation by the "Naked Fireman" actor Lee Joon Hyuk. It was recently revealed that the 32-year-old Hallyu star has donated his entire profit from the KBS 2TV drama to a charity group that is providing welfare and support to the firefighters.



Lee's charitable action came to light when the fire department uploaded a post on an online community on Feb. 10, Friday. The post also revealed that they were currently recruiting three beneficiaries of these donations from 18 cities.



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"As Lee Joon Hyuk acted as a firefighter in 'Naked Fireman,' he empathized with the professional difficulties of firefighters, so he decided to donate all his earnings," Lee's agency LN Company confirmed in a press statement obtained by Korean newsoutlet Star MBN, as cited by Soompi. "It was supposed to be a quiet affair, so it's embarrassing that it got revealed."



Lee, who rose to popularity with his starring role in 2011's "City Hunter," recently starred in a 4-part television series "Naked Fireman." In the show, he played Kang Chul Soo, an enthusiastic fireman who poses as a nude model to make money for his sick friend.



Currently, Lee is preparing for his next project tentatively titled "Secret Forest." He has been confirmed to play a handsome and successful prosecutor, Seo Dong Jae, who has an inferiority complex because of his background.



Joining Lee in "Secret Forest" are Bae Doo Na and Cho Seung Woo. The former transforms into a police lieutenant Han Yeo-Jin, while the latter has been tapped to play Hwang Shi Mok, a cold and lonely prosecutor who lost the ability to feel emotions following a brain surgery in his youth, according to Drama Beans.



"Forest of Secrets" is a fully pre-produced drama. It was given a Monday-Tuesday timeslot on tvN and will most likely premiere sometime in May. While waiting, check out the first episode of KBS 2TV's "Naked Fireman" here:






Just but one soldier in the Vita Coco coconut army. Photo: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images

Americas coconut-water industry is about to crest a wild new milestone: Vita Coco, the brand with a near-monopoly in every corner store in the country, is headed for the triple-comma club. Bloomberg says the company, which already accounts for an insane 46 percent of the U.S. market, expects to reach, or at least come very close to making, a billion dollars in sales this year. Just for comparison, the most recent total revenue for Coca-Cola  a Fortune 500 company with 123,000 employees  was $44 billion.



Whether Vita Coco crests $1 billion hinges on owning the coconut in different areas of the store, CEO Michael Kirban says. The brand is launching an organic coconut milk in March, and the potential for that could be huge  milk sales have fallen for the last five years, but plant-based alternatives are up 61 percent. The product will debut in Safeway supermarkets first, then gravitate to other retailers. The company is also ramping up its chilled-coconut-water line and adding coconut oil over on the cosmetics aisle, among other products.



Its hard to imagine that the struggling soda industry doesnt regret its shortsightedness here. Big Soda tried giving consumers more bottled water, and sweetening soft drinks with real sugar or stevia, when it shouldve been draining the liquid from coconuts. Coke actually realized its error in 2013, when it bought Zico, the second-largest coconut-water maker. Its sales, though, are still barely a third of Vita Cocos.



Vita Coco, meanwhile, has taken investments from the Anheuser-Busch InBev families and Red Bull Chinas owner, and uses Dr Pepper as a distribution partner. One thing Bloombergs profile makes clear is that Kirban is sort of obnoxiously a fan of this newfound success. He reminds the writer, Jennifer Kaplan, that Vita Coco is probably the largest independently owned natural-beverage company in the world, meaning that business-world VIPs are regularly courting him in hopes of being able to invest. He expects to either sell the business or do an IPO once Vita Coco has fully infiltrated stores pizza and toothpaste sections, or whatever their end goal is. What he apparently isnt doing, though, is leaving his coconut conglomerate to his kids. I dont see this as a business Im going to pass on to my children  theyd screw it up, he explains.
Googles financial service is quickly expanding its reach. Lately Android Pay was made available in Poland and New Zealand.

The company has now announced that 9 more small banks were added to the list of financial institutions that support Android Pay. They are:

First American Bank

First Interstate Bank

Gruver State Bank

NBKC Bank

Norway Savings Bank

Ollo

River Valley Community Bank

Timberland Bank

Trustco Bank

If you have a banking product at any of these banks, you should be able to add it to Android Pay. Then comes the harder part to put the service to action - find stores with POS terminals that support NFC.

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After the 9.7-inch variant, the 8.0-inch variant of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 running Android 7.0 has now also been spotted in a benchmark listing, suggesting that the South Korean company is currently testing the Nougat update for the device.

The listing reveals a model number of SM-T719, meaning it's the updated, 2016 version of the Galaxy Tab S2 8.0 that was launched by the tech giant back in April last year. The tablet is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 652 and runs Android Marshmallow out of the box.

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Ever feel like you are way too caught up in the rat race of life and quality time with your family is taking a serious hit as a result? Well, thanks to the Tottori West Family Time Watch, you no longer have to play the guessing game on how horrible of an empty shell of a person you have become - the watch can give you an exact verdict, by measuring how much time you spend with your loved ones.

Yes, all it takes for the smart wearable to function is a smartphone on your end and a beacon for your children, parents or even pets. We can only presume a collar mounting system fits all anyway. Kidding aside, the product was put out by Veldt - a Tokyo-based company and is actually part of a government program to encourage relocation of people to the rural Tottori prefecture.

This western territory is the least densely populated area of Japan and with over 13,600,000 people living in the Tokyo metropolis as of July last year, it really makes sense to try and relocate as many people as possible, to ensure a better standard of living. The government initiative in question is a short stay program in Tottori. Each family that decides to take part in it and move out of an overcrowded metropolis is given a Tottori West Family Time Watch. The idea is that participants can see how much of a difference the change has on family dynamics. As long as a child wearing the beacon is within 30 meters of the watch, time is being tracked, which will likely make the wearer feel better about the potentially life-changing decision to abandon the big city.

Besides the unique time tracking feature, the Tottori West Family Time Watch also sweetens the deal with traditional features, like email and social media notifications, step and sleep tracking. Other than that, it mostly looks like a classic timepiece.

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If you bet on hell freezing over before Verizon once again offered a plan with unlimited data, well, you lost that bet. Amazingly, the carrier that just last year told its customers that they don't need unlimited data has now decided that maybe they do after all.

Let's get one thing clear first. The data traffic is technically unlimited, but after the first 22GB used each month per line you could be subjected to throttling. Then again, it's unlimited data. At Verizon. Oh, how things change in the mobile space.

Anyway, the plan is intuitively called Verizon Unlimited and it costs $80 (with paper-free billing and AutoPay) for one line. As you'd expect, it also gives you unlimited talk and text. The price goes up to $140 for two lines, $160 for three lines, and $180 for four lines. If you need more you can add up to 10 lines per account for an additional fee of $20 per line after the fourth.

To make this even more appealing for those who are currently with another carrier, Verizon has a special offer for you if you want to switch to its network. If you trade in one of 14 eligible devices, you can receive any of "the hottest smartphones" for free.

Here's the list of phones you can get for free: iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, Google Pixel, Moto Z Droid, Moto Z Force Droid, Samsung Galaxy S7, Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, LG V20.

And here's the list of devices you can trade in to be able to take advantage of this offer: iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S6, Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+, Samsung Galaxy S7, Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, Samsung Note 5, LG G5, LG V20, HTC 10.

If you don't have any of those, there's another option. You can trade in an Apple iPhone SE, Samsung Note 4, Samsung Galaxy S5, LG G4, LG V10, or HTC M9. In this case you'll be able to grab one of the "hottest smartphones" listed above for $5 per month with a device payment plan. In all cases, the traded in smartphone needs to be "in good working cosmetic condition" for this to work.

Source
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French PLFS. (Photo : DGS)

The French Army will immediately deploy its new Poids Lourds Force Speciale (PLFS, or Heavy Special Forces Vehicle), to the Sahel Region in sub-Saharan Africa where it has been engaged in a little known but bitter war since 2014.



The first 25 of these new four-wheeled, all-terrain fighting vehicles will go to the Commandement des Operations Speciales (COS) or the Special Forces Command that combines special forces units from the French Army (Armee de terre); the French Navy (Marine nationale) and the French Air Force (Armee de l'air).



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Deliveries of the second batch of 172 vehicles should begin in January 2019 with all the vehicles being delivered by December 2021.



The vehicles for COS are the first of 202 ordered from Renault Trucks Defense in January 2016. The government also ordered 242 Vehicule Leger des Forces Speciales (VLFS) or Special Force Light Vehicle for COS.



COS is at the forefront of France's little known war being fought against Islamist rebels in the Sahel Region in Africa.



Operation Barkhane is an ongoing anti-insurgent operation in the Sahel involving 3,000 French soldiers, fighting out of N'Djamena, capital of Chad. The operation is being supported by five countries and former French colonies that span the Sahel: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger.



The Sahel region in Africa is a belt up to 1,000 km wide that spans the 5,400 km from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea.



The standard version of the PLFS will be fitted with two radios; one 12.7 x 99 mm (.50 caliber) machine gun and two 7.62 x 51 mm MGs. The Standard 2 version is expected to feature improved endurance and much improved payload. It will carry up to seven radios and the capacity to fire heavier weapons.



Most of the French troops for Operation Barkhane come from the French Legion etrangere (the French Foreign Legion) and the Troupes de marine, the successor to the French Colonial Infantry.






Haiti - FLASH : Accused by Guy Philippe, Youri Latortue denies





Senator Guy Philippe currently in prison in the United States, following his arrest on January 5, followed by his extradition the same day https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19721-haiti-flash-senator-guy-philippe-extradited-to-the-usa.html , alleges in a telephone conversation with an unidentified person that according to the information he has, Youri Latortue, the President of the Senate and 4 pro-Lavalas senators were allegedly involved in the conspiracy leading to his arrest.



Jeantel Joseph the President of the National Consortium of Haitian Political Parties confirms that it is the voice of their candidate Guy Philippe that is heard in this conversation. According to our information the wife of Guy Philippe would also have authenticated the voice of Senator Philippe.



Monday, February 13, following Guy Philippe's remarks, Youri Latortue strongly reacted in a note and formally denied these accusations, believing that the voice of Guy Philippe was tampered and that it is a maneuver of former officials of the State pointed out in its report on corruption...



Guy Philippe accuses, telephone conversation :









Youri Latortue's statement of denial :

"Senator Youri Latortue, President of the National Assembly, was surprised to learn that the elected Senator of the Grand'Anse, Mr. Guy Philippe, would put him responsible for his extradition to the United States.



By acquaintance, but above all by a duty to his Department, his constituents, his political party and all those who trust him, Senator Latortue formally and unreservedly denies the presumptions made about any role he played in this file.



The obligation of reserve accompanying the high office of which he is invested leads him to refuse to feed such debates, especially since the case in question seems to be much more complex than one would like to believe. According to him, manipulate an imprisoned man is horribly dishonest and to isolate him from the various sectors devoted to his cause by pushing him to the gratuitous and unjust blame, demonstrates the cynicism of certain actors, who are supposedly well-meaning, now prowling around Guy Philippe [...]"



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20036-haiti-flash-trial-of-guy-philippe-in-the-united-states.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19799-haiti-politics-demonstration-of-support-to-guy-philippe-front-us-embassy.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19796-haiti-flash-guy-philippe-pleads-not-guilty.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19731-haiti-flash-guy-philippe-the-charges-are-known-appearing-on-january-13-2017.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19730-haiti-justice-guy-philippe-appeared-the-minister-of-justice-convened.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19721-haiti-flash-senator-guy-philippe-extradited-to-the-usa.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19720-haiti-flash-arrest-of-senator-guy-philippe.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19774-haiti-flash-guy-philippe-was-extradited-on-what-legal-basis.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19757-haiti-flash-violent-reprisals-of-guy-philippe-s-supporters.html



SL/ HaitiLibre



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Humanitarian : Taiwan at the rescue of Haiti





As Haiti endures a severe food shortage in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, Republic of China's (Taiwan) Ministry of Foreign Affairs announces a donation of 5,600 metric tons of rice to Haiti this year through Food For The Poor.



The rice will be sent to Haiti in 7 shipments of 40 containers each, with the first one leaving Taiwan in May and arriving in Haiti in June. The shipments will continue throughout the year until December.



The latest donation of rice will provide 49 million meals.



Food For The Poor President/CEO Robin Mahfood greeted Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lee of the Republic of China (Taiwan) at the charity's office and warehouse in Port-au-Prince to express his gratitude "This is a true blessing to so many Haitians who will benefit from this donation of rice, especially for those who depend on Food For The Poor as their only source of food for their day," Mahfood said.



The generosity of Taiwan's donation comes at a crucial time as the number of Haitians facing hunger and food insecurity has grown to more than 1.5 million due to the impact of the hurricane, coupled with effects of years of drought and severe flooding.



Hurricane Matthew, a Category 4 storm that hit the Caribbean country on Oct. 4, wiped out crops, drowned most livestock and destroyed critical infrastructure, according to the United Nations.



Food For The Poor will distribute the donated rice to sponsored programs, one of which is the charity's feeding center in Port-au-Prince. Approximately 15,000 hot meals are cooked and distributed from this location six days a week.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping politics...





Pre-Carnival Exercise

1 death and 6 arrests, this is the balance of the pre-carnival exercise of Sunday, February 12 at the Champ-de-Mars in Port-au-Prince...



The Consortium writes to Donald Trump

Jeantel Joseph the President of the National Consortium of Political Parties Haitians announces for this Tuesday a sit-in in front of the American embassy to demand the return of elected Senator Guy Philippe, consortium candidate arrested on January 5 last and extradited to the United States on the same day https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-19721-haiti-flash-senator-guy-philippe-extradited-to-the-usa.html , This sit-in will be followed by a letter to Donald Trump in front of the American Embassy.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20095-haiti-flash-accused-by-guy-philippe-youri-latortue-denies.html



First official visit of the First Lady

On Monday for her first official visit to the regions of the country, First Lady Martine Moise went to Chansolme, in the Northwest Department, her home town. At the "Ecole de source de Beauvoir", 2nd communal section of Chansolme, she declared ""I can promise these children that they will soon have a modern and adequate school for them to receive quality education. Education is the key to the success of our children."



President Moise has a recipe ?

Monday, in the Plain of Cul de Sac (commune of Croix-des-Bouquets), in the framework of the reinforcement of the agriculture promised during his campaign, President Jovenel Moise, visited partners (PLANTEH and ANAPAAAH) which are involved in the production and processing of tomatoes. "I have always said that I knew how to combine water, land, sun and people to improve production in Haiti, so that citizens' pockets and plates are no longer empty."



Validation of the 5 new senators

Monday the 5 newly elected senators https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20046-haiti-flash-final-results-2nd-round-elections-1-3-senate.html received their certificate at the offices of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), as well as a copy of the official newspaper "Le Moniteur" confirming their election. On Tuesday they will have to register as a senator at the General Secretariat of the Senate to participate in the ceremony of validation of their power, the same day in plenary session of the Senate.



 Kazino  confirms its presence

The Kazino Group has confirmed its participation in the 2017 National Carnival, which will take place in the City of Les Cayes on 26, 27 and 28 February.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















By William Schwartz | Published on 2017/02/13

Gil-dong has taken Amogae's precautions too much to heart. He's just goofing around like a secondary character rather than the hero. Amogae, oddly enough, seems to be trying to avoid being the main character, even though his decisions drove all the action for the first four episodes. That's how we get to the main dramatic climax and aftermath here, which is just Amogae getting involved in a gang war while Gil-dong watches on helplessly.

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"Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People" is steadily, very steadily, escalating the difficulty of the opponents Amogae runs into. No more does he have to deal with petty aristocrats or faceless pirates. Now, Amogae has to deal with other gangsters- the kind who are smart enough to lay a trap and get their own introductions. Still, I have to confess that this is another episode that's not terribly exciting, what with being the fifth part of an origin story and all.

"Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People" itself highlights this with an explosive preview that you should not watch, since it clearly ruins most of the big plot points of the next episode and may well spoil the cliffhanger. That is never a good sign. Overly spoilery previews are often symptomatic of how a drama is inconsistent enough with its big scenes that there just isn't anything else to whet our interest. Amogae's noble dad shtick is rather overdone by now.

One character does make an important appearance- Gil-dong's little sister Eorini (played by Jung Soo-in) is adorable. But more than that she telegraphs clear motivation for Gil-dong. Up until now Gil-dong, as the youngest son, was the family member most in need of protecting. But watching Gil-dong interact with Eorini, we finally get a sense of something he would be willing to fight for. Business and romance are all well and good, but ultimately, Gil-dong requires a truly epic cause to command his attention.

I just hope we get there sooner rather than later. Well, I know we're getting there sooner rather than later, thanks to the preview, but all the same. This episode didn't even have much in the way of class commentary to add depth. We have all these clearly defined characters with all sorts of possible arcs, yet only Amogae has really done much of anything so far. I can't rightly call anything we've seen so far filler, yet all the same, I'm impatient.

Review by William Schwartz

"Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People" is directed by Jin Chang-gyoo (), Kim Jin-man, written by Hwang Jin-yeong and features Kim Sang-joong, Yoon Kyun-sang, Kim Ji-suk, Lee Hanee and Chae Soo-bin.

Watch on Viki
Published on 2017/02/13

Gong Yoo's popularity is at all-time high, thanks to last year's blockbuster zombie movie, "Train to Busan", and the runaway drama hit, "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God". According to his management company, while Gong Yoo has a full schedule until mid-March, invitations are pouring in for fan meetings from 15 countries all over the world, including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Canada, the US and Australia.

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Given the choice, I'd rather hear that Gong Yoo was getting offers for films all over the world, but it never hurts to be popular, especially if there's a chance that he'll come to my home country of Canada (I missed his visit during the filming of "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God", unfortunately). 2016 was a banner year for Gong Yoo, between "Train to Busan", period action film, "The Age of Shadows", and "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God", so he can probably spend 2017 filming commercials, popping up at the odd event, and holding fan meetings. Alternately, he can choose to go straight back to acting in his next project.

Unfortunately for drama fans, it's unlikely that Gong Yoo will be back on the small screen anytime soon. It was a long gap between 2012 drama, "Big" and "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God", and it took a lot of wooing on the part of writer Kim Eun-sook to get him back to television. Much like Song Joong-ki before him, the likely path for Gong Yoo is to spend some time capitalizing on his current fame with international fan meetings and events, and then come back with another blockbuster film. He'll probably stay in the same vein as the more serious films he's chosen since his return from the army in 2011, like "Silenced" or "The Suspect". Is it too much to hope that Gong Yoo uses at least some of his comedic talents in his next movie? We'll have to wait to find out.

Love,

Only of Noonas Over Forks
Published on 2017/02/14

"The Liar and His Lover" teasers feature appealing close-ups of a smitten Lee Hyun-woo and Red Velvet's Joy's inviting smile. Will the show live up to its sweet promise?

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"The Liar and His Lover" is adapted from a Japanese manga about a genius composer going through depression and in hiding. A high school student with a beautiful singing voice falls in love with him at first sight, and eventually helps him overcome his mental illness. From what little has been revealed about the Korean adaptation, it appears that the drama will follow the same plot.

Since the female lead is supposed to have a great voice, this would explain the casting of Red Velvet member, Joy. This will be her first professional acting job, which raises concerns for such a high profile role. At least, Joy demonstrates that she has charisma in the teaser, which will go a long way in playing a supportive Candy character.

"The Liar and His Lover" also marks a first for Lee Hyun-woo: it is his first romantic lead role. As a former child actor, there is no concern about Lee Hyun-woo being a capable actor. So, it's just a matter of Lee Hyun-woo proving that he can carry a drama. The pressure is on since his co-star is a drama rookie.

I have a few reservations about "The Liar and His Lover". First, the age of the lead couple. In the Japanese film adaptation, the female lead character is 16 years old while the male lead character is 25 years old. Romance between an underage teenager and a grown adult feels icky to me, and was a barrier to me fully enjoying "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God". Unfortunately, it appears that Joy will play a high school student in the Korean drama. Hopefully, she's on the verge of graduating?

Second, the main purpose of the female lead of "The Liar and His Lover" seems to be to help the male lead battle his demons while overlooking his propensity for lying. It would be nice to have a female lead who has her own life and dreams that are separate from the male lead's. Apparently, the female lead gets scouted by a producer, so hopefully, she has some ambition and gets her moment to shine.

tvN did a good job with those teasers though. They sure are pretty.

Love,

JK of Noonas Over Forks


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A couple write on a heart-shaped sticker at a shopping mall on Valentine's Day in Beijing. (Photo : Getty Images)

High-end hotels recorded a surge when it comes to the sales of their rooms as Valentine's Day approaches. Chinese couples prefer to spend more this Valentine's Day, making the demand for budget hotels lower.



According to a report by Ctrip International Ltd., China's leading online travel agency, Chinese people who were born in the 1990s account for nearly half of the total hotel orders for Valentine's Day this year. This showed an increase Year-over-year.



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In addition to hotel rooms in major cities that have been constantly in demand, orders for Valentine's Day hotel rooms surged significantly in some third-tier and fourth-tier cities.



The report indicated that smaller cities such as Yangzhou, Wenzhou and Weihai saw an 80 percent increase in the orders of rooms for Valentine's Day compared to last year.



Chen Xiaotian, the director of business development of the accommodation business at Ctrip, said: "Valentine's Day this year falls on a working day. That's why many lovers chose to spend their sweet time in hotels instead of going traveling."



"The price drop in hotel rooms after the Lantern Festival led to the surge in reservations for Valentine's Day," he added



There is also an increase in the number of parents choosing to take their children traveling this year. It is a perfect time as well, as young children are still on their winter vacation.



Warm and coastal cities are among the popular destinations in the country this Valentine's Day. Coastal cities such as Shenzhen, Kunming, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Sanya and Haikou have already welcomed a greater number of tourists.



Southeast Asian locations such as Bangkok, Phuket and Singapore were favorite destinations for lovers when it comes to overseas travel.



According to Ctrip, the top hotel booking cities in the country are Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Xiamen and Wuhan.


Published on 2017/02/14 | Source

Added episodes 49 and 50 captures for the Korean drama "The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop" (2016)

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Directed by Hwang In-hyeok

Written by Koo Hyeon-sook

Network : KBS

With Lee Dong-gun, Jo Yoon-hee, Cha In-pyo, Oh Hyun-kyung, Ra Mi-ran, Choi Won-young,...

54 episodes - Sat, Sun 19:55

Synopsis

"Suited Gentlemen In Yanggye-dong" is based on a traditional tailor's with history. The drama depicts the tears, friendship, success and romance of four men.

Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2016/08/27

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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.

03:14, 6 NOV 2022
Relationships between two people with different races are proven to be happier. (Photo : Getty Images)

This Valentines Day, western women who have relationships with Chinese men share their insights on how the chemistry is kept amid the great cultural barrier.



While many single women in China are worried about being "leftovers," there is a growing trend of Chinese men getting involved with women from the West. Many of them share remarkable stories of how interracial coupling works.



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For Viktoria Varadi, a Hungarian who is married to a Chinese man for four years, marriage has been a romantic bliss with her Chinese husband. They are to be married in Las Vegas for the second time.



"It was his idea," she said. "He had traveled to the US and said it was so much fun that we should go as a couple, which I think is really romantic."



She explained that most of her friends said that Chinese men are not romantic. She said, "But my husband is not the shy type."



Varadi also confessed that contrary to popular belief, Chinese men are sweet partners because her husband cooks for her and takes care of her when she is ill.



She explained that her husband is the more practical type, who instead of buying flowers, focuses on taking care of her to show his affection.



The same is true for a Swiss woman with the pseudonym Doris Nilsson with her Chinese boyfriend of two years.



"He can be romantic just out of nothing on any other day by just inviting me to a special restaurant, cooking breakfast for me, or by simply saying I love you," she said.



She admitted that it is not exactly her style as she is the romantic type, but she now learned that the Hollywood-type romance falls second to him taking her to a spontaneous weekend trip.



According to the American Psychologists Association, more Chinese and Western couples succeed because of the similarity of values when it comes to family relations, which is very important in the Chinese culture.



The association released a study that revealed higher satisfaction levels between interracial couples than pure Chinese couples.


Will HSTA Report Expenses for 6,000 Lobbyists?

Dear Editor: February 16, 2017

I'm wondering whether the HSTA will report its 6,000 paid lobbyists at the Capitol on Teacher Institute Day as an 'in-kind' expense. It can't be a salary expense as the HSTA didn't pay the lobbyists: the taxpayers' DOE, under contract with the HSTA, did. I estimate, at average $45K salary, 180 working days, 7 hours/day, labor burden of 1.3 X earnings that the 6,000 paid lobbyists that day cost us about $1,900,000.00.

Looking up the history of Teacher Institute day Joan Husted says it has become a day of professional development with speakers and workshops. In the early days it often included the teachers "hearing about lobbying, political activities, and negotiations." Has it now become 'rent-a-crowd' or 'hire a mass of lobbyists' for actual political action on the taxpayers' dime?

DOE by telephone inquiry says TID is 'in the contract.' The contract names it, but it is completely undefined. History posting says courts defined it as a work day when a teacher once got hurt on TID.

Boyd Ready

Haleiwa, Oahu

* * * * *

Falls of Clyde: Ige Ignores Call from British Parliament

Dear Editor, February 13, 2017

The silence from the Governors office in response to a British politicians request for a stay of execution for this U.S. Historic Landmark is deafening.

The politician Alison Thewlis M.P. has now been prompted to raise the matter in the British House of Parliament in the form of a question to the Foreign Secretary Mr. Boris Johnson.

Why is the state of Hawaii prepared to spend an estimated $1.5m of taxpayers money to dispose of the ship, when if he just spoke to the M.P. he would learn of the interest in Scotland in saving this unique ship.

We are all awaiting a response from Governor Iges office.

Matson Shipping have been approached for their support as previous owners responsible for bringing the Falls of Clyde to Hawaii in the past, they are considering how even they can assist us in this mission.

Here in Scotland we are working to find a dry dock, new home which we believe will become a major tourist attraction.

Part of our plan is that once she is restored and can be put back to sea that she becomes a Sail Training and Campus Afloat community college offering opportunities to all.

Many thanks for reading this appeal.

David O'Neill

Save Falls of Clyde

Related: Scottish Nationalists Demand Ige Return Falls of Clyde
Thousands of Teachers and Parents Rally at State Capitol

News Release from HSTA, February 13, 2017

Honolulu, HI- Today at the Hawaii State Capitol, about 6,000 (Not!) public school teachers and advocates of Hawaiis public education system rallied for a fair contract for teachers and to lobby for a constitutional amendment to properly fund public schools proposed by the Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA).

Its our responsibility as a community to come together and fight for our keiki to make education a priority, said HSTA President Corey Rosenlee. Instead of just talking about the inadequacy of our school system, we have come up with attainable solutions. Our plan will give all children the quality education they deserve.

We need to start paying our teachers better. We need to make sure that every child, regardless of where they live, has a quality teacher in their classroom, said Rosenlee during a rally at the Capitol Monday morning.

State Sen. Michelle Kidani, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, addressed the crowd and said, We want our legislators to know that we mean business!

Thank you for fighting the good fight. It is about our children. Let us not forget that! added Kidani, who introduced HSTAs constitutional amendment proposals in the State Senate.

We were encouraged to see so many teachers, parents, students and members of the community gather to raise awareness about our proposals that are designed to significantly improve Hawaiis school system and create a better future for our keiki, added Rosenlee.

By levying a surcharge on residential investment properties and visitor accommodations, the state would be able to raise about $500 million a year for education without placing an unfair financial burden on local residents. The proposals are SB683 and SB686 in the Senate and HB180 and HB182 in the House.

# # #

About the Hawaii State Teachers Association: The Hawaii State Teachers Association is the exclusive representative of more than 13,500 public school teachers statewide. As the state affiliate of the 3.2-million-member National Education Association, HSTA represents and supports teachers in collective bargaining, as well as with legislative and professional development issues.

Reality: UHERO: Discriminatory HSTA Property Tax Plan hits Renters Hardest

More Reality: Matayoshi Dismissal -- Retaliation for Investigation of Kaiser Principal?

Even More Reality: It goes to the Top: Ige Education Policy Based on Underage Drinking and Football Recruiting Trips

HNN: March for more funding, better pay

HNN: PHOTOS: TEACHERS RALLY AT STATE CAPITOL

KITV: Hawaii teachers march to Capitol calling for better pay

KHON: Public school teachers rally for better pay

SA: Thousands of teachers protest over education funding

SA: Hawaii teachers march to Capitol calling for better pay

SB683: Text, Status Feb 14--Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 179) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM/JDL.

SB686: Text, Status

HB180: Text, Status Passed Second Reading--Bill scheduled to be heard by JUD on Tuesday, 02-14-17 2:00PM in House conference room 325.

HB182: Text, Status Passed Second Reading--Bill scheduled to be heard by JUD on Tuesday, 02-14-17 2:00PM in House conference room 325.
Domestic or family violence is a significant issue for workplaces in Australia, according to Michele Grow, CEO of Davidson Trahaire Corpsych.



It involves an abuse of power by a partner, ex-partner or family member, and keeps talented people  mainly women  out of the workforce, added Grow.



It could include physical and psychological violence (actual or threatened), sexual assault, financial control, emotional abuse, damage to property or social isolation.



Indeed, when an employee is living with domestic and family violence, there are often very real costs and negative impacts that flow to the workplace.



Some of these behaviours at times will come into the workplace, meaning the employer then needs to take action and provide the appropriate support and intervention to ensure the ongoing safety of the workplace, she said.



Physical injuries can mean more sick days and poor attendance. In addition, those affected may take many unplanned days off with no apparent reason.



Every workplace can make a difference to the safety and wellbeing of people experiencing domestic violence. Davidson Trahaire Corpsych offers the following tips:



Dos



 Promote gender equality and provide a supportive and informed workplace. This will help enable employees to feel safe to disclose their situation to their employer.

 Those in leadership and governance roles must recognise that domestic violence is a workplace issue and be prepared to put in place appropriate responses including clear policies and procedures that demonstrate a commitment to support impacted employees.

 Support reasonable requests such as flexible work arrangements, relocation, changes to contact details and access to leave, including special domestic violence leave if appropriate.

 Education and awareness can be improved through a range of activities such as training, information sessions, newsletter articles, inclusion in OHS and team briefings, posters, and supporting special days such as White Ribbon Day.

 Facilitate referrals to specialist domestic and family violence support services.



Donts



 A combination of lack of awareness of the issue and the signs, lack of confidence to address the issue, and lack of knowledge of the support available, means that people often do not get the support they may require.

 Policies and practices may not support the required responses.

 Collaboration and consultation is critical. Dont try to immediately remove the person from the workplace, or escalate the issue to emergency services or crisis support networks without the victims consent and approval. This can potentially exacerbate the issue.

 Doing nothing is not an option. Instead, provide a safe, confidential space; share non-judgmental observations; ask if they are OK; provide reassurance about their job; ask what the organisation can do to support them are all steps that can be very helpful.


Pizza Hut was recently in the news for the wrong reasons after the Fair Work Ombudsman found three franchises paid drivers just $5.70-$8 on a per-delivery basis and did not issue pay slips.



Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James said those employed as delivery drivers are often very young, making them more vulnerable to exploitation in the workplace.



Thirty-two per cent of the 170 workers we dealt with as part of this Activity Report were under the age of 24, said James.



We know that younger people, who have less experience in the workplace are more likely to be unaware of their rights.



Thats just one reason why the Fair Work Ombudsman is seeking to educate both employers and employees on myths surrounding employing young people.



James added that too many people mistakenly believe that a range of workplace practices relating to young workers are alright when they are actually unlawful.



Its time to address the myths that have achieved widespread levels of acceptance and are resulting in employers short-changing young workers around the country, said James.



Young workers make up about 16 per cent of the Australian workforce but account for a disproportionately high 25 per cent of requests for assistance to the agency. Last year 44% of the litigations we filed in court involved young workers.



It is critical to raise awareness among employees and employers that they may be involved in serious contraventions of workplace laws by unwittingly continuing with practices that they believe are acceptable.



Between July 2011 and June 2016, the Fair Work Ombudsman received more than 27,000 requests for assistance from young workers and recovered over $18 million for young workers who had been short-changed.



Ten common young worker myths the Fair Work Ombudsman encounters are:



MYTH 1: Paying low, flat rates of pay for all hours worked is OK if the worker agrees.

FACT: Minimum lawful pay rates are mandatory. In many jobs, penalty rates must be paid for evening, weekend, public holiday and overtime work.



MYTH 2: Lengthy unpaid work trials are OK.

FACT: Unpaid trials are only OK for as long as needed to demonstrate the skills required for the job. Depending on the nature of the work, this could range from an hour to one shift.



MYTH 3: Employees dont need to be paid for time spent opening and closing a store or for time spent attending meetings or training outside their paid work hours.

FACT: If a meeting or training is compulsory, then it is work. Employees must be paid for all hours they dedicate to work and this includes time spent opening or closing a store. For example, if an employee is required to be at work at 7.45am to prepare for an 8am store opening, they need to be paid from 7.45am.



MYTH 4: Employers can make deductions from an employees wages to cover losses arising from cash register discrepancies, breakages and customers who dont pay.

FACT: Unauthorised deductions from an employees pay are unlawful. Deductions can be made only in very limited circumstances.



MYTH 5: Employees are obliged to buy store produce such as clothing or food.

FACT: Employers cannot require staff to purchase store produce. This includes any items for which the worker may receive a staff discount. For example, an employer cannot require workers to purchase the particular clothing stocked in a retail outlet.



MYTH 6: Unpaid internships are OK for all inexperienced young workers looking to get a foot in the door.

FACT: Internships can only be lawfully unpaid when they are a requirement of a course at an authorised educational or training institution.



MYTH 7: Employers can pay young workers as trainees or apprentices without lodging any formal paperwork.

FACT: Employers must negotiate and lodge a registered training contract for an employee in order to lawfully be able to pay trainee or apprentice rates. An employer cannot pay an employee trainee rates just because they are young or new to the job.



MYTH 8: Paying employees with goods such as food or drink is OK.

FACT: Payment-in-kind is unlawful. Employees must be paid wages for all work performed.



MYTH 9: If a worker has an Australian Business Number (ABN) they are an independent contractor and minimum pay rates dont apply.

FACT: Having an ABN does not automatically make a worker an independent contractor. Fair Work inspectors apply tests of fact and law to determine whether a workers correct classification is as an independent contractor or an employee. Whether an employer has labelled a worker as a contractor and required them to obtain an ABN may not be relevant.



MYTH 10: Pay slips arent mandatory  employers only need to give employees pay slips if they ask for them.

FACT: Employers must give all employees a pay slip within one working day of pay-day. Employers can give employees paper or electronic pay slips, such as a link sent via email.




Are you looking for ways to lose weight and achieve your weight-loss goals? One way is by changing
One of Serbia's four MiG-29s. (Photo : Serbian Air Force and Air Defense )

Serbia, one of Russia's only two allies in Eastern Europe and a reluctant one at that, is set to receive 14 used Mikoyan MiG-29 air superiority fighters: six from Russia and eight from Belarus, Russia's lapdog and only real European ally.



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Belarus, which has been oppressed with an iron fist by dictator Alexander Lukashenko since 1994, will donate the eight MiG-29s and will also donate two BUK missile systems, as well. Lukashenko is reviled as Europe's last dictator and is a close friend of Russian dictator, Vladimir Putin.



The MiG-29s will soon be handed over to Serbia, which is hemmed in on all sides by NATO member countries or countries sympathetic to NATO. The Serbian Air Force and Air Defense operates only four MiG-29s.



To Serbia's north and west are NATO member states Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Croatia. To its southwest is Montenegro, which will soon become a NATO member state. To its east and southeast are Romania and Bulgaria, both of which are also NATO member states.



The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Serbia also said Russia will send experts to upgrade the old jets, which are mothballed as part of the reserve force of the Russian Aerospace Forces. It said the jets will be delivered "soon."



"The MiGs will be equipped with the most modern arms, radars, optical and communication systems," said the ministry. It earlier said the arrival and modernization of the Russian jets will "significantly enhance the capabilities of (Serbia's) air force."



It also revealed it has begun training and retraining pilots and technicians. The trainging will continue throughout this year since the air force currently lacks the pilots to fly the jets and the ground crews to maintain them.



The MiG-29 (NATO reporting name: Fulcrum) is capable of reaching speeds of up to 2,200 km/h and covering a distance of up to 1,500 km. All MiG-29s are armed with 30 mm cannons, guided missiles and smart bombs.


SAK highlights in a press release that the percentage of its members in blue-collar jobs with access to employer-provided training and development programmes has dropped from 50 to 40 in no more than two years.

The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) has expressed its concerns about an apparent the availability of employer-provided training and development opportunities.

The situation at workplaces has clearly deteriorated, concludes Juha Antila, the development manager at SAK.

He reminds that blue-collar workers have traditionally had fewer training and development opportunities than white-collar workers.

Junior and senior white-collar workers are being trained at workplaces, but not blue-collar workers. The trend is evident from the adult education study conducted by Statistics Finland in 2012. A white-collar worker has access to training two times and senior white-collar workers almost three times as often as workers, says Antila.

He also expresses his bafflement with the failure of businesses to recognise the significance of developing the occupational skills of blue-collar workers, despite the fact that all employees contribute to the productivity of a business.

Productivity is created at every level of businesses, from management to manual workers. Education is important to everyone, he says.

SAK's biennial survey of workplace conditions also identified a new trend: employees in the youngest and oldest age groups are less likely to participate in employer-provided training than their middle-aged colleagues.

The dip in training [participation] may soon have an impact on competitiveness and productivity. The current trend is opposite to what Finnish businesses need to improve their productivity, argues Antila. Personnel with the sufficient know-how to adopt new ways of working and product development will guarantee success.

The survey was conducted by Innolink between February and March, 2016. A total of 1,200 SAK members responded to the survey.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Roni Lehti  Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi Suomi
Citizens from South Korea hold protests to voice opposition to North Korea's missile launch. (Photo : Getty Images)

A ballistic missile, the Pukguksong-2, which flew for about 500 kilometers and splashed in the sea between the Korean peninsula and Japan.



The missile was fired on Sunday despite the United Nations ban on nuclear weapons testing. The launch was done at the same time as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington.



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China was first to react to the nuclear activity. Geng Shuang, a spokesman for China's foreign ministry, said that China opposed the launch.



U.S. President Trump then blamed China for not giving stronger pressure to Pyongyang. China was accused of not persuading North Korea to end nuclear weapons testing.



However, Geng said that the issue is between North Korea, South Korea, and the U.S.



"The root cause of the (North Korean) nuclear missile issue is its differences with the U.S. and South Korea," he said.



The spokesperson said that China has been implementing the resolutions of the U.N. Security Council.



He added, "Beijing has been striving for a settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue by proactively engaging in mediation and promoting peace talks."



China is slowly tightening trade with North Korea and slowly increasing restrictions. The number of exports has decreased in the past year.



A specialist on Korean studies thinks that the North Korean strategy was done in timing with the U.S.'s non-position on the relations with Pyongyang.



According to Shi Yuanhua, a Korean studies professor at Shanghai's Fudan University, China is not in the position to change North Korea's position. Shi suggested that the U.S. should respond to the issue.



He said, "The key to solving the problem lies in the hands of the United States. If the United States is willing to sit and talk with North Korea, China will be happy to promote it."



Both Russia and Japan have expressed opposition to the North Korean missile testing.


Brad Pitt, Maddox Jolie-Pitt, Pax Jolie-Pitt and Angelina Jolie attend the World Premiere of 'World War Z' at The Empire Cinema on June 2, 2013 in London, England. (Photo : Getty Images/Stuart C. Wilson)

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are still embroiled in a bitter custody battle over their six children. According to reports, the former couple could not agree on the financial support for the children. Reports claim that Pitt is refusing to accept the demand for child support Jolie is requesting.



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According to a source, Jolie wants $100,000 a month in child support. The money is said to cover all of the kids' expenses and part of it will also be set up in a trust fund for each child. The insider added that Pitt would prefer to set aside $250,000 annually for the children's trust fund.



However, another source claimed that Pitt is not agreeable to Jolie's financial demands. It is said that although Pitt has no issue with taking care of the children, she does not want Jolie to have control of the funds. He would rather have all the money put in a trust fund instead.



Meanwhile, Jolie is seeking sole custody of the children. In a December filing, Pitt filed a motion to seal the custody records of the case to keep it from being made publicly available. A source told ET that Pitt wants to keep the information private, as it relates to the alleged child abuse incident that took place during a flight from Europe in September.



"The kids are clearly traumatized, and Angelina has been protecting the kids by not revealing what really happened on the plane," the source said. "The interest since the onset of this has not changed, and all along that has been to protect the well-being of the children."



Much of the Jolie-Pitt divorce and child custody case have been kept quiet and out of the public eye. According to Vanity Fair, the estrange couple have reportedly filed their case before a private judge.



California is one of the many states that allows a private judge to handle a case. In a nutshell, the judge's decision is binding just as any decision rendered by other courts. The only difference is that the proceedings are held in utmost privacy.






The jury in a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial has been discharged after a juror fell asleep 15 minutes into the opening of the trial.

Garrett Baker, prosecuting, was giving his opening address in the trial of Dean Joyce yesterday, when it was noticed that one of the male jurors was in fact asleep.

Mr Baker was about 15 minutes into his address and was explaining the concept of "beyond reasonable doubt" when the sleeping juror was discovered.

Struggling

The opening address came to a halt as a jury minder approached the juror and woke him up.

After a short adjournment, defence barrister Pieter Le Vert told Judge Elma Sheahan that another male juror had also appeared to be on the verge of falling asleep during Mr Baker's opening address for the prosecution.

"It would seem two jurors were struggling," Mr Le Vert said.

Mr Baker joked that it was a "new low" for opening addresses.

The court heard it may not be legally possible to replace the two jurors, as the trial had already begun.

As a result, the judge ruled that she should discharge the entire jury.

"In a most unusual turn of events, I'm going to thank you for your service and discharge you," she said.

Endangering

Mr Joyce (24) with an address in Rowlagh Park, Clondalkin, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges, including endangering gardai by driving his car into a garda van, four counts of dangerous driving, and possession of stolen property in Ballyfermot and Clondalkin on March 3, 2015.

He has also pleaded not guilty to driving without a licence, driving without insurance, possession of a boxcutter that was used in a burglary, criminal damage of a garda van and failing to stop for gardai on the same date.

A new jury was due to be sworn in today.
A man has been accused of burglary at the Law Society of Ireland after a woman's phone was stolen when she left it on her desk for 10 minutes.

Paul Meehan (41) is also charged with two other burglaries in Dublin city centre.

Judge Patricia McNamara adjourned the cases at Dublin District Court.

Mr Meehan, with an address at North Circular Road, has not yet entered pleas.

It is alleged he entered premises as a trespasser with intent to commit a theft on August 4, 7 and 29 last year.

The judge was told the DPP was consenting to both cases being heard in the district court.

Sgt Paul Keane said it was alleged that the victim left her office at the Law Society at 2.20pm.

Her mobile phone was left behind on her desk and when she returned 10 minutes later it had been taken.

Jumping

In the second alleged incident, Sgt Keane said gardai were called to Grants clothing shop on Manor Street at 1.35pm.

A woman said she had seen a man in the stores at the rear of the premises.

He had been seen entering the building via a back door after jumping over a wall and had no reasonable excuse for being there when he was challenged.

He then left by the front door, it was alleged. Nothing was ultimately stolen in that incident, the court heard.

At Teeling Whiskey rooms in Newmarket Square, gardai were called after an alarm was activated. A staff member alleged that a man had opened the front door and tampered with the alarm system.

He left on foot and nothing was taken or damaged.

Legal aid was granted after John O'Doherty, defending, said Mr Meehan was in receipt of disability allowance.
The addition of Chanelle McCoy to the panel of RTE's Dragons' Den makes it the first version of the programme to have three female mentors.

The reality show is replicated in more than 30 countries, but all have to make do with just one or two female Dragons.

Chanelle, who is the wife of legendary jump jockey AP McCoy, joins Eleanor McEvoy and Alison Cowzer, alongside Gavin Duffy and Barry O'Sullivan.

Speaking for the first time about her decision to join the show, producer Larry Bass told the Herald he was "delighted" to have her on the team.

"We're looking forward to having Chanelle joining us. We're the first country in the world where we're going to have female Dragons.

"Uniquely this year, we also have more entries than ever from female entrepreneurs.

"That's a reflection of how Ireland is going. Maybe we're finding our feminine side."

Chanelle, a Galway native, is a successful businesswoman in her own right.

She is a director of Chanelle Medical, the pharmaceutical firm her father, Michael Burke, set up in Loughrea in the 1980s.

Boutique

She joined the company, which has an annual turnover of 93m, 16 years ago.

Chanelle, who was a regular at all of AP's race meetings during his 20-year career, also runs her own boutique near her home in Berkshire, England.

Although the mum-of-two has featured in a number of newspaper interviews over the years, this will be her first foray into the world of TV.

"She's an extraordinarily successful young woman who's had an extraordinary career," said Larry Bass.

"She joined her father's business after working in various parts of the pharmaceutical industry and transformed it."

Over the past seven years, the Dragons have seen a total of 415 pitches and invested in more than 95 businesses with an investment figure of more than 5m.

The show is currently accepting applications from budding entrepreneurs for the eighth series.

It is understood filming of the new series, which will air in about six weeks, is due to start shortly.
Aidan The Beast ODriscoll was gunned down in the street

Gardai believe a former Real IRA boss and friend of slain Alan Ryan was murdered by his dissident colleagues who may have used a hired gunman from Dublin.

Former RIRA commander Aidan 'The Beast' O'Driscoll (37) was ambushed and killed by his old dissident republican associates in Cork.

Detectives suspect gunmen from Limerick or Dublin were involved in the killing last December 7.

They believe it was orchestrated by O'Driscoll's former Cork associates in an elaborate double-cross.

Forty detectives at Watercourse Road Garda Station in Cork are now investigating the killing, which was carried out on a busy street in the Blackpool area of the city.

Feuds

O'Driscoll was the former chief of staff of the RIRA and was involved in a number of feuds with Dublin gangs.

He was Alan Ryan's boss while the Donaghmede-native launched an extortion campaign against the city's drugs gangs.

A senior garda source said they believe O'Driscoll fell victim to a power struggle within the dissident republican ranks in Cork, with the former chief of staff also being targeted because of personal feuds with a number of other RIRA men.

"This was a very carefully planned murder because of the manner in which the killers fled from the scene," said the source.

Up to four vehicles were used in the getaway, two of which, a Nissan Almera and Vauxhall Astra van, were found burned out on Redemption Road in the city and at Killeens a couple of hours after the shooting.

A third vehicle, an Opel Astra, was only found shortly before Christmas in a remote ravine in Nadd.

A fourth was used by the killers to flee from Nadd, possibly a Toyota Avensis. Gardai also suspect a motorcyclist may have operated as a spotter for the gunmen.

Two weapons - a sawn-off shotgun and a US-made Colt semi-automatic pistol - were seized from a property on the Old Commons Road in Cork only hours after O'Driscoll was killed.
Actress Shailene Woodley attends the premiere of HBO's 'Big Little Lies' at TCL Chinese Theatre on February 7, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo : Getty Images/evork Djansezian)

Viewers of the "Divergent" trilogy will miss a familiar face when the sci-fi action film returns to the small screen for the special finale. Shailene Woodley has confirmed that she will not reprise her role as Beatrice "Tris" Prior in the planned TV event to cap off the saga.



In July 2016, it was announced that the fourth and final film in the series would be released as a TV movie instead of a theatrical one. The move comes after "Allegiant" received mainly negative reviews and has only earned $179 million worldwide, becoming the lowest-grossing "Divergent" film.



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Finally, Woodley broke her silence and succinctly confirmed her departure in the franchise. While she had respect for the studio and everyone involved, the American actress reiterated that she did not sign up to for a television show.



"No," Woodley told Vanity Fair at the premiere of her new HBO mini-series, "Big Little Lies," at Hollywood's TCL Chinese Theater. "I'm not going to be on the television show."



With Woodley dropping out of the franchise, her co-stars are also considering the same move. Theo James and Miles Teller, who respectively played Tobias Eaton and Peter Hayes, have also expressed their disappointment with the sudden end of the franchise on the TV screen. The two previously made it clear that they are not interested in reprising their roles in the planned TV finale.



Nonetheless, fans can still watch Woodley as Jane Chapman in HBO's mini-series "Big Little Lies." The upcoming seven-episode comedy series follows Woodley, Nicole Kidman, and Reese Witherspoon as three mothers whose children all attend the same kindergarten in Monterey, California.



"It was so fun," Woodley told Access Hollywood when asked about what it was like to play a mom in the HBO drama. "I can't wait to have children of my own. It was like a practice round."



"Big Little Lies" premieres on Feb. 19 at 9:00 PM ET/PT on HBO. Check it out below:






Park Shin Hye attends the Chanel Haute Couture Spring Summer 2017 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 24, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo : Getty Images/Pascal Le Segretain)

Park Shin Hye looked radiant in the latest photo shoot for Marie Claire magazine. Modeling the Valentine's Day-theme collection of famous jewelry brand Swarovski, the South Korean actress exuded casual elegance and style in the photo stills.



Park perfected the cool and casual girlfriend look for Swarovski's photo shoot for Marie Claire magazine. Images released by the said magazine, as obtained by Korea Herald, showed the "Doctors" actress wearing three distinct attires from very casual to sexy elegance.



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In one of the images, Park wore a sexy black top with a plunging neckline and sheer sleeves. The actress kept her hair loose and flowing around the face as she looked directly at the camera. To accessorize, she wore dangling earrings, a bracelet with small heart pendants, as well as a choker and necklace set with several heart accent pieces.



Meanwhile, Park also showcased her casual style in a simple white top with another choker and necklace piece to accentuate her look. She also kept her hair down to frame her face and wore a studded earring with a unique design.



For the third photo still, the "Pinocchio" star looked cute and very relaxed wearing a pale pink collared top with long sleeves and oversized cuffs. With her hair up in a messy bun, the South Korean star's hairstyle highlighted the double strand necklace with small moon and star pendants that she wore around her neck.



In other news, the actress has been busy completing filming activities for the suspense crime movie "Silent Witness." Portraying the role of Hee Jung, Park's character is a lawyer tasked with clearing the name of a wealthy businessman's daughter who is charged with murder.



Recently, Park gave the movie's production team with a winter jacket to help ward off the chill of South Korea's winter season. The actress even personally handed each of the crew members their special gift, All Kpop reported.



The release date for Park's upcoming film "Silent Witness" has yet to be announced. Watch a clip from the actress' recent drama "Doctors" below:






President Xi Jinping Calls for Order in Government, Advises Officials to Stop Abuse of Power

President Xi Jinping extends his deep condolences to the families affected by the landslides that hit Mocoa, Colombia. (Photo : Getty Images)

In his campaign to rally anti-corruption in the government, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the attention of senior officials.



Since the beginning of his term, the Chinese leader waged a full force implementation of ousting corrupt government officials. The campaign led to thousands of arrests and disciplinary actions against prominent Party leaders and their relatives.



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After a meeting with core officials in Beijing last week, he again released two statements to reiterate the importance of fighting corruption.



According to the statement, officials are called to "build a fence" surrounding them to ensure that they are not abusing power, or use their government position to protect themselves or their relatives.



Xi is asking government officials to practice self-discipline and warned that a repeat of his predecessors' mistakes of letting corruption run the Communist Party.



The statement read: "A handful of senior party officials, overcome by their political cravings and lust for power, have resorted to political conspiracies by working with ostensible obedience while forming cliques to pursue selfish interests."



He then cited the case of one of the most remarkable arrests done to former domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang, as an example of the success of the anti-graft campaign.



The president added, "Nepotism and election fraud have endured and power abuse, corruption as well as legal and disciplinary violations have been spreading."



Due to the massive devastation that occurred in previous administrations, the Communist Party suffered many political and economic problems. Xi explained that the country suffers from giving way to the interest of the few.



Xi wrote, "Like natural ecology, political ecology is also vulnerable to pollution. Once problems emerge, we have to pay a huge price to restore it to its original state."



The leader is also faced with a multitude of critics. Xi then called on Party officials to stop these anti-Party ideologies from spreading.



"No party member should make or distribute statements that run counter to the party's theory, path, principle, policy, and decisions," they said.


Tareck El Aissami (left). (Photo : Getty Images)

The United States has imposed sanctions against Venezuelan Vice President Tareck El Aissami, accusing him of playing "a significant role in international narcotics trafficking."



The U.S. Treasury Department froze El Aissami's access to a fortune estimated at $3 billion after an investigation of his alleged links to drug traffickers and Muslim extremists. El Aissami is the son of Syrian and Lebanese Druze immigrants.



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El Aissami, who was appointed Vice President only last month by unpopular and embattled President Nicolas Maduro, also heads an "anti-coup commando unit" whose mission is to pursue officials and opponents suspected of treason against Maduro.



The Treasury Department revealed El Aissami "facilitated shipments of narcotics from Venezuela" by plane. It also said he "oversaw or partially owned narcotics shipments of over 1,000 kilograms" from Venezuela with a final destination of the U.S. or Mexico.



El Aissami was also said to have received payment for facilitating drug shipments from Venezuelan drug boss Walid Makled Garcia, and officials linked him to Los Zetas, a Mexican drug cartel. The U.S. also said El Aissami provided protection to Colombian drug lord Daniel Barrera and Venezuelan drug trafficker Hermagoras Gonzalez Palanco.



El Aissami is the most senior Venezuelan official to ever be targeted by the U.S.



The Treasury Department also sanctioned Samark Lopez, a wealthy Venezuelan businessman described as El Aissami's front man laundering drug money through a network of companies in several countries.



Venezuela has yet to officially respond to the U.S. action against its Vice President, which is the result of a years-long investigation. The U.S. Justice Department, however, said there are no pending criminal charges against either El Aissami or Lopez.



Both men are barred from entering the United States. The U.S. said 13 companies owned or controlled by Lopez, including five in Florida, will be blocked and several real estate holdings in the Miami area tied to Lopez were also blocked.



Lopez released a statement calling the actions baseless and "politically motivated."



El Aissami and Lopez were the latest of several Venezuelan government officials and supporters listed as alleged drug traffickers by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the agency in charge of enforcing U.S. sanctions. The sanctions were authorized under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act.


Xiao Jianhua (Photo : NewsBeat Social/YouTube)

Hong Kong billionaire Xiao Jianhua is allegedly being held by Chinese authorities because of his potential to bring instability to the stock markets of China. As one of the richest and politically connected financier in China, Xiaos inside knowledge of the financial transactions of the powerful clans in China could cause instability which is a no-no before the Communist Party of China picks five new members to the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee.



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Beijings control over Xiao is not limited to the billionaire but includes his employees in the mainland. The New York Times reported that at least 30 workers of Xiao were prevented from leaving China. Another employee was held at the Hong Kong Airport on Sunday night. The employee worked on computer systems at the companies of Xiao and was on his way to Japan when he was detained for alleged passport violations.



Forcible Abduction?



Xiao was allegedly forcibly abducted from his Four Seasons apartment in Hong Kong. His head was covered by a cloth and Xiao was in a wheelchair when he was transported by boat from Hong Kong to the mainland. He is in police custody, reports said.



The Tomorrow Group, the companies established by Xiao in 1999, has control over billions of dollars in assets, while the conglomerates holdings cover shares in over 30 financial institutions in China such as insurance giant Ping An, Harbin Bank and Industrial Bank.



Stock Market Gyrations Probe



He was allegedly abducted before the Party meeting in October or November which values stability. A Hong Kong daily said the billionaire is helping probe stock market gyrations in China in 2015. The movements are seen as influencing the more than 40 percent decline in shareprices in Shanghai which had reached high levels in early June 2015 but plummeted in more than two months time.



Epoch Times reported that a deleted post from a social media account of the Tomorrow Group and a front page advertisement in a prominent newspaper in Hong Kong claimed Xiao is overseas seeking medical treatment. It added Xiao is actually assisting in corruption investigations to implicate the other members of the Jiang faction.


Police Raid Entertainment Center In Beijing (Photo : Getty Images)

Even if her grandmother was sold as a young girl to a brothel to be a prostitute, Chinese author Lijia Zhang favors the legalization of Chinas sex trade. Her grandmother, before she died, shared her story of being treated as a commodity as a flower girl.



While all brothels were shuttered and prostitutes were reformed after the Communists seized power in China in 1949, the sex trade returned during the reform era. Women once more were used as bribes for the wheels of business negotiation to move forward, Caixin reported.



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Grandmothers Story



Inspired by her grandmothers account, Lijia Zhang, who used to be a worker in a munitions factory but secretly studied English to rise in life, wrote the novel Lotus. The novel follows the Sichuan woman Lotus who works as sex trade worker in a Shenzhen massage parlor.



To write her book, Lijia Zhang interviewed a lot of Chinese prostitutes whom she insisted are real people. She wants reader to be exposed to the reality about the sex trade in China that many women enter the profession by personal choice, although like other careers, the sex trade has drawbacks. She cited the case of a sex trade worker who was killed and when authorities searched her house, they discovered 200,000 yuan ($29,000) cash hidden in her apartment.



Wealth & Prostitution in China



She explained the growth of the sex trade industry in China to the increasing wealth, the relaxed social control and individual personal freedom, and Chinas mobile population. Lijia Zhang added that Chinas concubine culture has a big role in why the sex trade industry is a big industry in China.



Men used to keep concubines and mistresses as a way to show prestige, and they still do the same. The growing wealth gap between urban men and rural women really magnifies this, she pointed out, Asia Society reported.


The late Kim Jong-nam. (Photo : Getty Images)

Kim Jong-nam, half brother to North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un and eldest son of former dictator Kim Jong-il, was murdered by North Korean agents at the Sepang District in the state of Selangor in Malaysia on Feb. 13, said the South Korean government.



Oddly, the Royal Malaysia Police said Jong-nam died from "sudden causes" but refused to elaborate what this meant. Jong-nam, 45, was apparently poisoned despite his being protected by bodyguards.



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Jong-nam has long been critical of Jong-un, once saying his younger brother "won't last long" because of his youth and inexperience.



South Korean political observers noted that only the highest authority in North Korea, meaning his younger brother Jong-un, would have had the gall to order Jong-nam's assassination in a foreign country.



Jong-nam is survived by two sons and a daughter, as well as a sister and two-half brothers, including Jong-un.



South Korean media quoting a South Korean government official said Jong-nam was assassinated at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang by two unidentified women -- apparently North Korean agents -- wielding poisoned needles. The assassins have not been caught.



Jong-nam has been estranged from Jong-un since he fled North Korea in 2003 after a falling out with his late father. After his father's death in 2011, Jong-nam was said to have been considered for the post of Supreme Leader but was dropped because of an embarrassing incident in 2003 in Japan.



South Korean political analysts said that if Jong-nam was indeed murdered by North Korean assassins, it indicates his brother still suffers from a sense of paranoia about his own future and wanted to remove any potential successors.



Murdering his opponents has become normal for Jong-un. The deranged dictator had some 50 officials executed in 2014 on charges as petty as watching South Korean soap operas. Two senior officials were blown to pieces by anti-aircraft guns on Jong-un's orders.



Jong-un had his own uncle (his mother's brother) and one-time deputy, Jang Song Thaek, murdered in 2013.


The Lebanese President's visit to the papal seat at Cairo's Saint Mark's Cathedral shortly followed his meeting with Egypt's President Sisi

Egypt is a model of religious moderation and coexistence, Lebanons President Michel Aoun told Egypt's Coptic Pope Tawadros II Monday during a meeting in Cairo.

In an official statement, a spokesperson from the Coptic Orthodox Church's said Aoun gave a short speech during his visit with an official delegation to the papal seat at Cairo's Saint Mark's Cathedral, expressing his happiness to visit Egypt.

We live in difficult times, especially with the world around us aggravated by a sectarianism that was able to destroy many areas. Our visit is an emphasis on the spirit of fairness and love, Aoun said in a speech.

Aoun added that despite the internal divisions Lebanon still faces, the country preserves relationships between various sects. He described the small Levantine state as a model for the global civilisation.

Pope Tawadros praised strong relations between Egypt and Lebanon, welcoming Aoun to his second country: Egypt.

We pray for the stability of Lebanon, the Lebanon that is mentioned in the bible. All the arts, literature, poetry, and beautiful aspects of humanity we remember in Lebanon, the Pope said.

Tawadros added that he hoped Aouns visit would strengthen ties between Egypt and Lebanon, saying that cooperation between the two countries enriches diversity, unification, and interdependence.

The Coptic Pope told Aoun he maintained good relations with Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayeb of Egypt's Muslim institution Al-Azhar, adding that love and respect for the other is what builds nations.

Tawadros said he also enjoys good relations with Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, the cabinet and its Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, as well as other Christian sects in Egypt.

We are building a new Egypt; the country is developing right now in terms of stability. You might have noticed mega projects like the new administrative capital, land cultivation, and other projects, Pope Tawadros II said, speaking about the government's ongoing efforts on development.

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Children in Hoddesdon could be breathing in a greater amount of pollution if plans for a 1 billion incinerator are given the green light according to residents.

Concerns are growing that fumes from the proposed incinerator, in Rattys Lane, and increased traffic in the area  including an estimated 134 Heavy Goods Vehicles in operation  will reduce the air quality in Hoddesdon.

There are 13 schools within a two-kilometre radius of the incinerator and Jan Metcalf, secretary of the Hoddesdon Society, which is spearheading the opposition to the plans, said she is "extremely concerned" by the potential health risks.

"We are concerned by the number of lorries coming through Hoddesdon to the incinerator each day, which will bring more pollution and increase traffic in an area with so many schools," she said.

"There are going to be more emissions and while they may be regulated I think it is indisputable that our air quality is going to be lowered in the area as a whole."

These fears come as Plume Plotter, a service that models air pollution from incinerators, was tasked by the Hoddesdon Society to model the impact of nitrogen dioxide on the area around the incinerator.

Nitrogen dioxide is a foul-smelling gas and can cause respiratory problems.

Plume Plotter has predicted the fallout from the pollution over the course of a year based on the weather conditions from 2016 and produced a video, which you can watch above, to illustrate the impact at each point in time.

The planning application, submitted by environmental services company Veolia, maps an annual average of nitrogen dioxide emitted per metre cubed in the area surrounding Rattys Lane.

Plume Plotter calculated the combined impact of the incinerator and the neighbouring Advanced Thermal Treatment Plant (ATT) currently under construction.

Its findings based on the proposed incinerator only are almost identical to Veolia's, but the impact is greater when also considering the ATT.

Veolia predicts an increase in the amount of nitrogen dioxide of 2.67 ug/m3 at the worst-affected location while Plume Plotter predicts an increase of 2.96 - this difference could be accounted by the use of different software.

When modelling the incinerator with the ATT, Plume Plotter predicts an increase of 3.91 at the worst-affected location, while Veolia calculates 3.3 ug/m3.

Father-of-three, Paul Blythe, is concerned about the impact of increased traffic as well as the incinerator itself and said he would consider moving house if the incinerator poses a serious health risk.

His children go to John Warner School and Cranbourne Primary School, which are both within two kilometres of the site in Rattys Lane.

"I do need assurances that the health of my children will not be affected," he said.

"The increase in traffic is a worry and could be a detriment to air quality. Health is paramount and if this risks health then moving is something I would consider."

Brenda Murrell, 74, lives in Gladstone Road, which is less than a kilometre form Rattys Lane.

She has suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for eight years and has been told by doctors to go on regular walks to cope with her breathing problems.

However, she fears an increase in pollution will keep her indoors.

She said: "My concern is the incinerator fumes and the pollution from the lorries. Just a walk up the stairs can leave me short of breath and when the weather is cold it is even more difficult.

"It is hard enough as it is. We are in a valley so the extra fumes are going to affect the air quality."

Councillor Tim Hutchings, who is a Broxbourne borough councillor and a county councillor, also opposes the incinerator plans.

He said: "My main concern is about transport and the impact the incinerator would have due to its sheer size and increased traffic.

"That could bring more pollution, which will add to the problems. It is a significant problem and until we get some real assurance then it must be a concern."

A spokeswoman for Veolia moved to reassure residents that impacts on air quality have been "considered thoroughly" and this includes the impact of the ATT.

She said: "The proposed Energy Recovery Facility [incinerator] will operate under permit from the Environment Agency.

"The ERF is designed to meet all necessary air pollution regulations, and emissions from the chimney stacks will be monitored via the Continuous Environmental Monitoring System (CEMS) designed to monitor compliance with the Industrial Emissions Directive.

"The results are regularly reported to the Environment Agency."

She also said that Public Health England's position is that well-managed incinerators make "only a small contribution" to concentrations of air pollutants.

She added: "It is possible that such small additions could have an impact on health but such effects, if they exist, are likely to be very small and not detectable."
The head of Libya's U.N.-brokered government and the country's most powerful army commander, who is allied with rival authorities, are expected to meet to discuss a political settlement.

A spokesman for the unity government said Tuesday that Fayez Serraj's meeting with Field Marshal Khalifa Hifter could lead to a "180-degree turn." The spokesman, Ashraf al-Tulty, said he hoped the Egyptian government will help bridge the gap.

Egypt strongly supports Hifter.

Serraj's government has failed over the past year in unifying Libya, which slid into chaos after the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed Moammar Gadhafi.

Hifter is allied with the Libyan parliament, which meets in the east of the country and has rejected the U.N.-backed government, in part because of a dispute over his future role in the country.

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During his Senate confirmation hearings, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson rightly identified China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and militant Islamism as his priorities for the threats they pose to American interests. He also declared that "supporting human rights in our foreign policy is a key component of clarifying to a watching world what America stands for." While Tillerson did not explicitly connect that general conviction with his specific statements on his priority countries, it was a promising insight. Bringing human rights back to the forefront of America's diplomatic agenda offers a rare opportunity to regain the initiative and strategic advantage.

One regrettable legacy of the Obama era is the relative neglect of human rights and democracy promotion in American foreign policy. Arriving in office with a reflexive, ideological rejection of anything associated with its predecessors in the Bush administration, the Obama team ostentatiously marginalized human rights in its efforts to pursue a "re-set" with Russia, an economic partnership with China, a rapprochement with Iran, and "strategic patience" with North Korea. Setting aside the relative failures of those policy initiatives on substantive grounds, the abandonment of human rights was a missed opportunity, especially as reformers and dissidents in nations such as Iran, Russia, China, Cuba, Egypt, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia implored the administration for support that either arrived too little, too late, or not at all. The Obama administration did make some gestures towards recalibrating this in its second term, especially with the appointments of principled professionals like Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Rights and Labor Tom Malinowski and Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom David Saperstein. Yet even then, human rights never enjoyed meaningful support on the 7th floor of John Kerry's State Department or at the White House, as the administration dogmatically pursued legacy items such as the Iran nuclear deal and the Cuba opening while giving human rights short shrift.

Secretary Tillerson already confronts an overwhelming in-box of international challenges and urgent management needs such as appointing his deputy, under, and assistant secretaries (the latter category made all the harder by the White House's very regrettable rejection of Tillerson's choice of Elliott Abrams for Deputy Secretary). As he ponders the vexing challenges posed by China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, the understandable temptation will be to shunt human rights to the side as a tangential distraction from the priority issues of nuclear proliferation, territorial disputes, and economic differences.

This would be a missed opportunity. In addition to the moral imperatives of supporting human rights, doing so now also offers considerable strategic advantages. For one, bringing human rights back to the forefront will help the United States regain the diplomatic initiative. At this juncture Pyongyang, Moscow, Beijing, and Tehran all control the agendas of their troubled bilateral relations with the United States, as they push forward on their particular interests and force the United States to respond.

Tillerson first needs to strengthen America's diplomatic hand and gain negotiating leverage before confronting issues such as Russian territorial aggression, China's destabilizing land grabs in the South China Sea, Iran's support for terrorism and ballistic missile program, and North Korea's nuclear adventurism and missile testing. Bringing human rights and support for dissidents into the agenda will give the United States an asymmetric advantage, for these regimes fear their own populations and devote considerable resources to maintaining control. American efforts to highlight this repression and support freedom activists will bring aggravating internal and external pressure to bear on each government, and bolster America's standing at the negotiating table.

I have elsewhereobserved some of the similarities between former Secretary of State George Shultz and Tillerson, both in their respective backgrounds as CEOs of multinational companies and also the complex challenges each confronted in taking the helm at State. Here Tillerson would do well to take a page out of the Shultz diplomatic playbook. With President Reagan's full support, Shultz insisted on including human rights as one of the four core agenda items (along with regional issues, arms control, and bilateral issues) in all American negotiations with the Soviet Union. This irked the Soviets to no end, but America's principled resolve in this respect played a key role in the Cold War's peaceful denouement.

Crafting an effective human rights policy is not easy, but the United States still has an abundant tool kit at Tillerson's disposal. Effective measures can include meeting with dissidents, publicizing human rights abuses in speeches and public diplomacy efforts, restoring and increasing funding to freedom activists, providing overt and covert support for access to freedom of information, conducting training programs for democratic reformers, pursuing actions in multilateral fora, and targeted economic sanctions. Secretary Tillerson would need only to signal his support for a reinvigorated human rights policy, and creative policy ideas would flow his way from the NGOs, scholars, and the State Department's own DRL staff.

Tillerson should pay special attention to the State Department's process and structure on these matters. The DRL bureau will of necessity be at the forefront of any effective human rights strategy. Yet if those policies are to have any staying power, the support and ownership of the relevant regional bureaus will be essential. Rather than allowing them to drift into their customary bureaucratic roles of internal opposition to DRL initiatives, Secretary Tillerson should select regional Assistant Secretaries who will be committed to a prudent and effective human rights agenda, and instruct them to work closely with DRL in crafting strategies for countries within their area of responsibility. The ultimate effectiveness of any policy depends on the support of the relevant regional bureau and associated embassies and country teams.

Returning freedom promotion to a priority in American diplomacy would also help restore some of our nation's damaged alliances. Some of our most reliable partners in human rights advocacy have been our closest allies on broader military and diplomatic policy. Japan has helped in pressing the North Korea regime; Australia assists with our human rights efforts on China, and the United Kingdom in supporting dissidents in Russia and Iran. Many of America's alliances in recent years have suffered the dual blows of neglect from the Obama administration and disdain from the Trump campaign. For good reason Tillerson and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis have placed repairing America's alliances at the top of their respective priority lists; partnering on shared values is a tangible way to start.

Vuving is a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies.
RALEIGH  Other than Dale Folwell, North Carolinas new state treasurer, no state politician made a big campaign issue last fall of the condition of the health plan for teachers and state employees. Did you hear candidates for governor or legislature talk about the states past promise to provide retiree health benefits, and the fact that the state has no money to pay for those benefits?

I doubt it. But this unfunded promise, worth tens of billions of dollars to North Carolina teachers and state employees, is about to become a big political issue in 2017  even though none of the options on the table is likely to make anyone particularly happy.

The promise of relatively generous non-wage benefits has long been a recruiting device for government agencies who couldnt offer competitive wages to workers. You might not take home as much pay as you would in a private-sector job, the pitch went, but if you stick around long enough, youll have much better pension and health benefits.

When it comes to retiree health benefits, at least, this pitch has sadly become a bit of a flimflam. Todays retirees do, indeed, get the supplemental coverage. But it is paid almost completely out of current revenues. Unlike the pension plan, the retiree health benefit does not rest on a diverse portfolio of financial investments accumulated over time. There is no piggy bank to break open.

By 2020, the unfunded liability for retiree health benefits is projected to reach nearly $38 billion. Thats real money, even in government-speak. Past governors and legislatures have done next to nothing about this big hole in the states finances. Some likely werent even aware of it, despite the fact that it has been dutifully reported in the states audited financial statements for years.

Such dilatory or ignorant behavior is no longer an option. Baby Boomers are retiring from government jobs in increasing numbers. They are getting coverage and making medical claims. This is not a future fiscal emergency in the making. It is unfolding now.

There are basically three ways state policymakers can respond to the problem. One is to save more money, lots of it, every year. Another is to change the terms of the employment deal for new hires, so that we arent promising future benefits we cant afford. The third alternative is to reduce the cost of services for those already in the system, up to and including at least a partial repudiation of the benefit.

Expect lots of discussion about all three options. One panel, led by Folwell, has already endorsed a plan to put an initial $153 million into a fund for retiree health benefits, with annual contributions escalating to an estimated $683 million by 2026. State lawmakers are also talking about changing the vesting period for eligibility, introducing premiums or savings requirements, expanding deductibles and copayments to deter wasteful medical consumption, creating health savings accounts as a positive inducement for retirees to spend more wisely, and encouraging more recipients to enroll in Medicare Advantage and exchange plans (which would basically shift some of the medical costs off the states books).

At this point, eliminating the entire unfunded liability for retiree health benefits through additional state savings is unlikely. Can you imagine the General Assembly setting aside a billion dollars or more every year, rather than spending that money on schools, universities, and other current operations? Neither can I. But simply stiffing state retirees isnt feasible, either  or ethical.

Dale Folwell, Sen. Andy Wells, Sen. Joyce Krawiec, and other leaders on this issue should be commended for taking on what may prove to be a thankless task. They didnt create the fiscal mess now confronting North Carolina. That was the handiwork of many former politicians whose reputations, alas, wont be harmed by their irresponsible actions. They took the easy way out. Like Popeyes friend Wimpy, they promised to pay government workers on some far-distant Tuesday for a service delivered today.

Electing wimps to office is never a good idea.

John Hood is chairman of the John Locke Foundation and appears on the talk show NC SPIN.
HICKORY  The Hickory Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously in favor of the conversion plans for Southwest and Longview Elementary schools during Mondays meeting at Northview Middle.

The plan was first proposed by Superintendent Robbie Adell toward the end of last year.

The reason for the change is to help improve reading scores. For Southwest, the states reading accountability grade for the previous school year was a D while Longviews was a C.

These young people are not going to make itif they dont know how to read, Adell told the crowd at Longview Town meeting in January. We cannot afford to keep moving kids from one grade level to the next without the proper reading skills. Were setting them up for failure.

Hickory Public Schools (HPS) will convert Southwest Elementary to a primary school serving only students in kindergarten through second grade from the two schools. Southwest would be changed to Southwest Primary with a literacy focus.

Longview Elementary School would then serve only students in third through fifth grade, with a concentrated focus on leadership and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) program learning, according to the release.

Whats unique about this is being able to look and see what we need as a district to help ourselves, Board Chair Reginald Hamilton said. Because of the low performing status for so many years, what will happen is the state can come in and they can do what they want to do, move the principal, eliminate jobs.

Hamilton said he understood some parents didnt understand the need for change, but the school system had to do something, thats beneficial for our kids.

Board member Margaret Pope added the district has gotten information from other schools which have been successful implementing similar plans.

I think the main concerns I heard from parents was about transportation and we feel working with our transportation coordinator we have a plan that will work, Pope said. As with any plan of transportation, we always have to iron out some kinks at the beginning of the school year but what we have is reasonable.

Third grade students receive extra attention in North Carolina because of the states Read to Achieve legislative initiative, a part of the Excellent Public Schools Act, according to ncpublicschools.org. Under this state law, third grade students who are not reading at grade level by the end of third grade will receive special help, including summer reading camp and other interventions to make sure that they can read well enough to be able to do fourth grade work.

According to Hickory Public Schools Read to Achieve end-of-year (2015-16) results for first grade, the percentage of students in the school system demonstrating reading comprehension at grade level was 48.4 percent. The percentage of first grade students not demonstrating reading comprehension at grade level was 51.6 percent.

In second grade, the number demonstrating reading comprehension at grade level was 59.8 percent while the percentage of those not demonstrating comprehension at grade level was 40.2 percent.

I hope everybody considers the fact we are trying to do something good for our schools, just trying to make it better for our students so they can be more successful, Pope said.

The boards next meeting will be its monthly work session Feb. 27 at 5:30 p.m. in the HPS Resource Center.
Duke Energy is under fire for attempting to limit the solar power-purchase agreements it is required to offer according to state and federal law.

These laws make it easier for renewable energy producers to compete with utilities, providing consumer choice and helping the local economy.

Having lived in North Carolina my entire life, I am enraged by these efforts to stifle solar in our state.

North Carolina is a leader in solar energy, ranking second in the nation for solar capacity. According to the N.C. Sustainable Energy Association, solar generated $4.8 billion in state revenue in 2014.

This industry will grow tremendously in the near future as installation prices drop, providing even more local jobs and revenue.

That Duke Energy is pushing state regulators for more limitations on solar development goes directly against the interests of working class North Carolinians.

I hope the N.C. Utilities Commission protects independent energy producers by rejecting Duke Energys proposal to limit solar.

The General Assembly should also vote to protect laws making it easier to expand solar. North Carolina should maintain its status as a leader in solar production so that when coal gets buried, our economy doesnt go with it.

Sara Edwards

Catawba
It is just plain outrageous that the number of deaths from diabetes per 100,000 people for African-American residents in Catawba County is over double the rate of North Carolina.

The rate of deaths of white residents in Catawba County is much higher than North Carolina.

You can rest assure that the white establishment is not losing any sleep nor the white medical establishment in Catawba County.

The white medical establishment wants people who are diabetics to beg for insulin or any other prescriptions.

I personally will stand up to the Dixiecrat establishment until the day I cease living. That includes legal and judicial corruption as well, which is alive and well in Catawba County and the 25th Judicial District.

The white establishment which controls the Health and Social Services Departments has never helped this American citizen nor the VA Medical Clinic.

Big pharma wants people who have diabetes to be hooked on insulin and their other drugs so they can make money to spend on members of Congress and their very wealthy executives.

Big pharma is the largest lobbyist spending group. By the way, do members of Congress pay federal and state income taxes on lobbyist money? The millionaires, billionaires and members of Congress need federal income tax cuts.

What is their true effective tax rate? How close to zero is it?

The HDR article was about prediabetes, not diabetes.

Robert Read

Hickory

Time to hurt animals

As he was signing edicts hurting one group after another over the past two weeks, it was only a matter of time before Donald Trump got around to hurting animals  already the most oppressed sentient beings on earth.

The animals' turn came last Friday  by taking down the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) site that reports on government regulation of roughly 9,000 animal handling facilities.

These are laboratories, dog breeders, fur farms, circuses, zoos and aquariums. The site is used every day by animal protection activists to monitor government enforcement of the 1966 Animal Welfare Act, the only effective federal law protecting animals.

Taking down the APHIS inspection site is a huge setback for animal protection. It will almost certainly lead to reduced government inspection of animal facilities and more animal suffering  a virtual repeal of the Animal Welfare Act.

Ironically, this oppressive act was launched by the same dark-of-night process as that of pulling more than 100,000 visas from thoroughly vetted Muslim immigrants one week earlier  no notice, no hearings, no due process, no public announcement.

The oppressive mindset doesn't really care who the victims are. Hopefully, the courts will.

Hal Dykes

Hickory

A walk in someone elses shoes

Just a few thoughts on what I believe could make our nation and our world better: Dont buy or acquire something you cannot afford, including children.

Dont break the law. If a police officer tells you to do something do it and promptly.

Respect the lives and property of others. Dont drink, text or check your emails and drive.

If you are a father or mother, be a good one. If you are an elected official, put common sense first and party second.

If we disagree lets talk, debate, but dont shout.

Lets pay our teachers, police and firefighters more and pro athletes and movie stars less.

Let us all try and take a walk in someone elses shoes.

MK Mason

Hickory
MORGANTON  A man pleaded guilty to the statutory rape of his 9-year-old daughter at a Monday morning Burke County Superior Court hearing before Judge W. Todd Pomeroy of Lincoln County.

Pomeroy sentenced Jerry Mathew Anjerok, 33, to 221 to 326 months in prison on the charge of first-degree statutory rape.

Upon release, Anjerok will be added to the sex offender registry and be under satellite surveillance for 30 years. At the end of surveillance, Anjerok will be 90-years-old.

Anjeroks court-appointed attorney, Carol A. Bauer, said Anjerok originally came to the U.S. from the Marshall Islands to study. Bauer told the court her client had desired to plead almost immediately after his arrest.

The case began in June 2016, when Anjeroks wife reported bruises on her two children to authorities. The Child Advocacy Center became involved and learned of a history of abuse, including multiple rapes of the 9-year-old daughter.

The prosecution noted the plea spares the victims from having to testify against their father.
Related Cabinet reshuffle to include nine ministries: Egypt PM Ismail Egypt cabinet reshuffle delayed to Tuesday: Parliamentary sources Egypt's Prime Minister Sherif Ismail is expected to attend the House of Representatives' plenary session on Tuesday when it will vote on the cabinet reshuffle, Al-Ahram Arabic website reported.



The session, which is expected to start at noon, will be preceded by a meeting between speaker Ali Abdel-Aal and the heads of parliamentary committees to discuss the reshuffle.

According to the constitution, the complete list of reshuffled ministers should be presented to parliament for a single vote of approval or rejection.

The reshuffle will include nine ministries from the economic and public service ministries group, Ismail said on Monday evening.

The PM said that the new reshuffle would include the merger of two ministries into one, without giving further details.

He also confirmed that the list of names of ministerial candidates in the reshuffle was submitted on Monday to the House of Representatives.

Ismail's 34-minister cabinet underwent its last reshuffle in March 2016, when 10 ministers, mainly those with economic portfolios, were replaced.

The philosophy of change adopted by the cabinet depends mainly on continuing social and economic reforms, the PMs statement said.

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) looks set to blaze a new trail with the upcoming launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C 37 from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. If all goes well, ISROs workhorse launcher will lift off on Wednesday carrying a suite of 104 satellites in one go. This includes 101 nano-satellites (weighing below 10 kilograms each) from five countries  the United States, Netherlands, Israel, Kazakhstan and Switzerland  along with a couple of Indian nano-satellites and a heavy Cartosat.

Russia launched into orbit 37 satellites simultaneously in June 2014, while the US orbited 29 satellites in November 2013. But the hype building over records being toppled on this launch is only of statistical importance. Indeed, Isro scientists acknowledge this is a different PSLV launch compared to previous missions. According to B Jayakumar, mission director, the focus of the launch is anything but creating records; instead the idea is to utilise the excess capacity available on the PSLV. The PSLV has a payload capacity of more than 1,500 kilos, but its carrying only 1,360 on this mission.

Read | ISRO has eyes set on Venus and Mars, may find a partner in NASA

It would be touch and go for the mission as ISRO switches the angular degrees at which the small satellites are released into orbit to avoid collisions. While the three heavier satellites would be ejected separately along the launchers axis, the rest of the satellites would be released radially at different angles.

The real significance of the launch, therefore, lies in the fact that it allows ISRO to test its capabilities for multiple launches of small satellites. This is crucial if India wants to grab a slice of the global market for nano and micro-satellites, which is set to grow close to $3 billion in the next three years. ISRO sources point out that some 3,000 satellites will be ready for launch in the next 10 years for navigation, maritime, surveillance and other space-based applications.

Having a large number of small satellites instead of a few heavy ones makes sense as they could cover the same piece of ground more frequently  say, every 15 minutes  for collecting imagery. This could spell a revolution in the way satellites are used  whether it is helping fishermen identify catches, keeping track of crops, or detecting natural disasters like floods and earthquakes. Similarly, increasing miniaturisation in electronics makes redundant the use of heavy satellites for telecommunications and remote sensing. Smaller satellites deliver better coverage at a fraction of the cost.

Read | Why a falling Chinese space station is dangerous

No wonder major space agencies are more interested in developing launch-specific boosters tailored to the needs of smaller satellites. As satellites become smaller and less expensive to build, launch vehicles need to be correspondingly cheaper so that the number and rate of launches could be higher to keep launch costs down.

Enter ISRO which has arguably chalked up more successful PSLV missions  38 so far  than any other space agency has with comparable boosters. That ISRO has done this with less funds and fully home-grown technology makes it all the more remarkable.

With Indias proposed orbiter mission to Venus and Mars Orbiter Mission 2 (this time with a lander to plant the tricolour on the Red Planet) on the horizon, ISRO is in for some exciting times.

Prakash Chandra is a science writer. The views expressed are personal.
Justice shall ultimately prevail, wrote poet Subramanya Bharathi. He has been proven right today. After 21 years the countrys highest court has upheld the principle that those who come to serve should serve others and not themselves.

Todays Supreme Court judgment is another wake up call to all those who aspire to a public career but instead turn it into a tool for their self-aggrandisement, amass wealth making a mockery of public service. Todays verdict is a reset button reaffirming the fundamentals of public life  that service ought to be the only motto. We ought to thank the apex court again for doing its bit to instil the fear of god or justice in our mostly selfish breed of politicians and leaders.

In a trendsetting judgment in 2013 the court laid down that MP/MLAs will be disqualified immediately on conviction in a serious offence and sentenced to two or more years imprisonment. The following year, in September, J Jayalalithaa stepped down as a sessions judge sentenced her to four years in the disproportionate assets case. She returned as chief minister after a single judge of the Karnataka high court overturned the judgment in May 2015 dealing a serious blow to justice. The Supreme Court has removed that blemish today.

Regretfully, in the last decades, Indias public life has been on a slippery slope. Corrupt politicians, public servants and even judicial officials have come to be accepted as a way of life. No one is anymore surprised if MLAs and MPs and elected officials are alleged of corrupt practices or of enriching themselves. In fact many of us expect them to be so. Those who are honest, modest, accessible and service-minded are an exception. Many even consider them weird. Selflessness and service mindedness are no more the jargon of public discourse or lexicon. Instead, social mobility has become the mantra and Indians remain fatalists true to their conditioning  leaving everything to karma.

Read | Sasikala DA case: Palaniswami is AIADMK legislature party leader, Panneerselvam expelled from party

As early as 2002 the Supreme Court asked that candidates among others to furnish details of their and their familys assets. Sadly, even those who have had no need for such wealth change when they reach the dizzying heights of power. The late Jayalalithaa was a classic example. She and her sibling in spirit VK Sasikala behaved as the neo-East India Company, except their fief was limited to one state  Tamil Nadu. If public life had begun degenerating soon after Independence the duos arrival accelerated the rot and Tamil Nadu was in a free fall and was in the news for all the wrong reasons.

Much was expected of Jayalalithaas pharaoh-like status, charisma, intelligence and the fact that she did not have a family of her own. She could have transformed the state easily making it the most prosperous. Instead, thanks to her and her sister in spirit, it soon ranked first in corruption.

Read | J Jayalalithaa: A political icon like none

Today the Supreme Courts decision has laid thread bare our own morals and values  Jayalalithaa was buried with all State honours. Yes. She was the chief minister when she died. We did not pause to consider that the nations flag was on the woman whose morality and honesty was still in the balance. Partly our slow judicial system is to blame. But we should also hang our heads in shame for the words of eulogy and praise that we heaped on her  partly in the tradition that no ill should be spoken of the departed but also because our bar is so low and most of our leaders have become adept pretenders.

But when the AIADMK sought that the nations highest honour should be bestowed on their late leader  what were they thinking? What are we thinking?

R Kannan is author of Anna: The Life and Times of CN Annadurai.

The views expressed are personal
India is ranked low in the rule of law global index but todays judgments of Justices PC Ghosh and Amitava Roy will restore peoples faith in the majesty of law. The two have overturned the May 11, 2015, judgment of the Karnataka High Court authored by Justice CR Kumaraswamy. The highest court has restored the conviction order of the trial court dated September 29, 2014.

Due to the high-profile nature of the case, appeals were quickly disposed off. But the original case dates back to 1996 when the DMK government after coming to power filed case against the former AIADMK chief minister J Jayalalithaa for having disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 66,44,73,573 crore. Thus it is indeed the case of justice delayed but not of justice denied. Due to long delay, the main accused became chief minister thrice and Sasikala was able to make money because of Jayalalithaa but she is the one who will eventually have to pay a much bigger price.

Read: Sasikala DA case: The governor should immediately appoint K Palanisamy CM

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy was leading this battle against corruption. Why he has remained silent about the corruption of BJP leaders such as BS Yeddyurappa is not clear. Swamy relied on the Rajya Sabha replies to demonstrate that from zero income in 1989-90, J Jayalalithaa had amassed Rs 38.21 crore by 1995 though officially as CM she was drawing just the salary of Rs 1 per month. Moreover from her declaration of assets of Rs 1.89 crore in 1990-91, her assets had increased by 21 times in just five years to Rs 38.21 crore and thus these assets were clearly disproportionate to her known sources of income

But the former Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaas close friend Sasikala, who was wrongfully denied the swearing in as CM by the politically motivated governor, was accused number two in this case. Her husband --- Natarajan --- was small government official. After her conviction and jail term of four years, her political journey too had come to an end as she cannot contest any elections for a further period of six years. It is too long a time for anyone to make a comeback.

Read: Sasikalas conviction shows that those who come to serve should not serve themselves

In 2002 cases were transferred to Karnataka as the main accused J Jayalalithaa was yet again CM. The Supreme Copurt while transferring the matter to the adjoining state did not accept the contention of political vendetta being the primary aim of the motivated case.

Sasikala too had number of properties including Jaya Publications and JJ TV Pvt. Ltd. The charge against her was that she actively aided Jayalalithaa. Sasikala had 32 enterprises in her name. Sasikalas main defence was that she had collected Rs 14.30 crore under a scheme from public and had disclosed all her properties and assets to the income-tax department. She had also asserted that she is not related to properties mentioned by the prosecution. She had bravely answered as many as 1,032 questions put her during trial.

The high court judge in his 918-page order relying on the 1977 Supreme Court order in the Krishnanand Agnihotri case acquitted J Jayalaithaa and three others wherein the apex court had held that for conviction in the disproportionate case, it is necessary that assets acquired should be more than 10% of the known sources of income.

The high court also noted that Rs 18 crore, which had been taken as loan, cannot be shown as income. The high court valued the assets as Rs 37,59,62,466 crore instead of Rs 66 crore and calculated the income as Rs 34,76,65,654 to reach the finding that disproportionate assets are just Rs 2,82,36,812 crore, which in percentage comes to meagre 8.12%.

The Supreme Court in its 570-page order has not accepted this logic and has restored the decision of the lower court. The court held that Sasikala was closely related to J Jayalalithaa and so the conspiracy has been proved.

The governor should now immediately appoint the new leader K Palanisamy CM as he has support of 120 legislators.

Faizan Mustafa is vice-chancellor, NALSAR, University of Law

The views expressed are personal
Dehradun: Wooing voters in the assembly elections wont be easy for top leaders of Congress and BJP in Uttarakhand.

The biggest challenge is for chief minister Harish Rawat, who is contesting from two seats - Kiccha (US Nagar) and Haridwar Rural (Haridwar). Kiccha is one of the nine seats in US Nagar district. During the last assembly elections, Congress won only two seats - Sitarganj (Shailendra Mohan Singhal) and Jaspur (Vijay Bahuguna) - in the district. Remaining seven seats were claimed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Interestingly, both the Congress candidates, who had won in the district, have ditched the party and joined BJP. However, Rawat, who isnt a voter either from Kiccha or from Haridwar Rural, is hopeful of winning the Kiccha seat, dominated by minority community voters. But what goes against him is that local sentiment does not seem in his favour.

Apparently, Haridwar Rural (See Box: Game of Thrones) has a few facts in his favour. He had been an MP from Haridwar. This assembly constituency also has healthy minority percentage, but looks divided. Presently, Swami Yatishwaranand of BJP holds the seat. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) also has a strong presence in the region.

The other top leader of the party, state Congress chief Kishore Upadhyay, who is contesting for Sahaspur seat, was defeated by an independent candidate, Dinesh Dhanai, in Tehri constituency in the 2012 assembly elections, though with a slender margin of 377 votes. What goes against him that he is an outsider and face rebels.

Indira Hridyesh contesting from Haldwani and Pritam Singh fighting from Chakrata on the party ticket look better placed. Pritam is three-time winner from the Chakrata seat, which is ST dominated and Indira has been a cabinet minister. Ranjeet Rawat, a close aide of Rawat, is trying his luck from the Ramnagar seat. The seat was with Congress during the last elections when Amrita Rawat had won. But she later joined BJP.

Top leaders of BJP too will face challenges. State BJP chief Ajay Bhatt, who won in the 2012 assembly elections with a thin margin of 78 votes, has a tough battle ahead. In 2007, he was defeated by Karan Mahara, brother-in-law of Rawat. Congress has once again fielded Mahara against Bhatt. Pramod Nailwal, a BJP rebel who is fighting as an independent, may also add to Bhatts woes.

Harak Singh Rawat, a Congress rebel who is now contesting from Kotdwar on the BJP ticket, may face incumbency. He won in 2012 election from Rudraprayag. Saurabh Bahuguna, son of former chief minister Vijay Bahuguna, also faces the outsider taboo. Though senior Bahuguna contested the by-election in 2014 from the seat and had worked in the area, but a heavy vote bank of Bengali community may affect Saurabhs chances.

However, BJPs Satpal Maharaj, who is contesting against Congress candidate Rajpal Singh Bisht for Chaubattakhal seat, may benefit from the fact that his village falls in the constituency and he has a large number of followers.

Yashpal Arya, a cabinet minister in the Harish Rawat government who switched loyalty to the BJP, is contesting from Bajpur seat. Votes on this seat, reserved for an SC candidate, may get divided as Congress has fielded Sunita Tamta Bajwa. Sunita, niece of BJP MP Almoa Ajay Tamta, has an advantage, as she will not only woo 32% SC votes, but also 24% Punjabi voters for being married in the Punjabi community.

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Pitching the Bahujan Samaj Party as the only one capable of stopping the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, former chief minister Mayawati on Tuesday urged the people to prefer a bedaagi chehra (untarnished image) like hers over that of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, whom she described as the daagi face of the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance.

Only my government can stop the BJP as well as act against Sapa ke gundey (criminal elements in the SP), the four-time former chief minister, who is desperately eyeing a Dalit-Muslim combine to ride to power, said at a party rally on Lucknows outskirts.

Like the BJP and the SP-Congress alliance that have promised the moon to the voters, Maya too joined the sop opera, promising loan waiver of up to Rs 1 lakh to the poor, release of innocent people behind bars, fruits, eggs, milk and cake to school students as part of the mid-day meal, cash to poor meritorious students and a traders commission.

Having faced flak over her focus on memorials to Dalit icons during her previous regime, she reiterated that Mission Memorial was over and this time she will focus wholeheartedly on development and security of poor, women, Dalits and minorities.

The BSP chief played on the family feud in the ruling Samajwadi Party, targeted the jumlebaaz (tall-talking) Narendra Modi government over demonetisation, questioned the BJPs moral right on Hindu exodus and said that unlike the shift in the alliances Muslim vote, her Dalit vote base was intact.

By voting for the SP-Congress alliance, Muslims will waste their vote as chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle Shivpal Yadavs lobby are working against each other. The BJP is so weak as it has been unable to project a chief minister, she said.

In all her rallies, Mayawati has been regularly raising the issue of the family feud in the hope that Muslim voters will end up voting for her.

Her aggressive anti-BJP pitch too is aimed at attracting the Muslim vote, say experts. That is why she has focused on triple talaq, uniform civil code and Muslim personal law -- issues where some All India Muslim Personal Law Board members suspect the intentions of the BJP.

Mayawati also questioned the BJPs claim on exodus from Uttar Pradesh, even as she hit out at the Modi government on demonetisation.

The BJP lacks moral right to raise the issue of Hindu exodus as the Modi governments demonetisation has forced widespread exodus, she said amid applause.

To connect with Dalits, Maya raised the issue of the flogging case in Gujarats Una, Rohith Vemulas suicide, besides claiming that Dalits will lose reservation under the BJP.

Both Muslims and Dalits need to be wary of the RSS agenda that is targeted to embarrass you in the name of gau raksha (cow protection), love jihad, culture and deshbhakti (patriotism), she said.

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Joshimath: As Uttarakhand gets ready to vote Wednesday, the Niti valley, a part of Badrinath constituency close to China border, seems to have remained forgotten. Far away from political hullabaloo, the valley is quiet with a majority of the natives having migrated to lower ranges for the winter.

Some of the villages they have migrated to fall under under Karnprayag and Thrali constituencies while 4,000 are listed in Badrinath constituency.

The administration puts up polling booths for them at Maso village near Nandprayag and Ghingran village near Gopeshwar and also makes arrangements to bring the voters to the booth and take them back.

Over the years, the area has also seen people migrating out of the valley in search of the greener pastures. The dwindling number of inhabitants here does not augur well from the security point of view as this valley in Chamoli district is also considered to be the second line of defense for the country. The issue of migration assumes significance in view of the reports of Chinese infiltration near Barahoti last year.

Every year, residents of 11 villages --- Jhelam, Dronagiri, Kaga, Malari, Kailashpur, Mahargaon, Farkiya, Bampa, Gamshali and Niti --- migrate to the lower ranges in winters for six months and return in summers. However, as per the official data, not even 1,500 people return to the valley in summers to till their fields or rear the sheep and cattle.

A close look at the MGNREGA scheme statistics shows that 95% of the job card holders in Niti valley are above the age of 55 making it evident that only the elderly have stayed put even as more than 60% of the inhabitants have permanently migrated out of the valley.

While the country is entering into the digital era, there is no communication facility in the entire valley even after 70 years of Independence, says Jai Singh, village head of Kosa. Though each village has been provided with one digital satellite phone terminal (DLSP) yet the call charges are so high (almost 7 per minute) that people use it only during emergency, he added.

The lone government hospital is at Bampa. It is run by a pharmacist in the absence of any doctor. In case of emergency, patients are taken to Joshimath, almost 60 to 90 km away from different villages, says Indra Singh Bisht, native of Jhelam village. Bisht adds that all the government schools in the valley have been shut --- the lone exception being the primary school at Malari.

While most of the villages have been connected with motorable roads, the lone bus started running on it only in 2016. People have to resort to taxis or private vehicles to reach this valley from Joshimath.

Sanjay Chauhan, a local journalist says that nothing tangible has been done to create employment opportunities to stem the tide of migration and bring the youth back to the valley. This valley is a treasure trove of medicinal plants. Add to it the areas natural beauty. It can be turned into a tourist destination, but the successive governments have failed on this front. The promises of strengthening the second line of defense has proven to be rhetoric, doled out at the time of elections, says Laxman Singh Negi, president, village head association, Joshimath.

Pawan Rawat of Malari village, who is pursuing post graduation at Gopeshwar,says that job opportunities would increase and the youth could be lured back to the area if the popular demand of starting the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Niti valley was accepted. It would bring back the hustle and bustle back to the valley that was lost after the sealing of the Indo-Tibet border in 1962 and cessation of the cross-border trade relations, he adds.
Known for his big moustache, Indraprakash Pandey alias Raka Pandey will contest assembly polls as Bharatiya Mahasamman Party (BMP) candidate from Pindara assembly constituency, Varanasi. Pandey is the national president of the party.

Pandey, who took his nomination paper from district election office, claims that he constituted BMP 11 years ago to serve people across UP. Pandey has coined several interesting slogans: Jo chunav me panch karor karela la kharcha, baad me paach saal janta ki aankho me jhokenga mircha (Leaders who spend Rs 5 crore to win polls will ignore public for the next five years). Interestingly, the man spends around Rs 1100 per month on maintenance of his moustaches, which he claims to be his identity.

Riding on his unique identity, he wants to win election with the support of voters and has also coined several interesting desi slogans: Chunav me khala mithaai, baad me paanch saal hola pitaai (Enjoy sweets during polls only to be ignored for next five years post election by candidates).

Raka Pandey warns voters not to get swayed by promises of outsiders and those who travel in luxury cars. He never forgets mentioning that he is a down to earth candidate who knows everyone personally. Pandey says, Jitani badi meri moonchh hai, usase badi meri sonch hai (My thinking is far bigger than my moustaches.

The BMP chief nurtures dream of becoming chief minister of UP and claims that development in the state will take place only when he comes to power. He, however, did not elaborate on the number of candidates contesting from his party and is for all purpose the lone BMP candidate. He rides a bike to campaign for himself.

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He came, but late; he saw, but it was an obviously limited crowd, and he conquered, but only a slice of society.

The crowds had started trickling in around 2 pm on Monday - but it never escalated to a wave, for after two and a half hours, when Rahul Gandhis chopper arrived, rows of empty chairs remained.

Rahul had come to canvass for the Congress candidate from the Bareilly cantonment seat, Nawab Mujahid Khan. The constituency has over 100,000 Muslims - and local buzz is strong that the community is consolidating entirely behind the candidate. Going to polls on 15th, in the second phase, the SP-Congress alliance has more than a fighting chance here.

The build-up

The SP and Congress flags merged seamlessly. The posters had images of leaders of both the parties. And a Congress supporter, waiting for Rahul, excitedly told us, Jai and Veeru have come together to defeat Gabbar Singh. Jai is Rahul and he will rule Delhi, Veeru is Akhilesh and he will rule Lucknow, and you know who is Gabbar.

When asked why the crowds were sparse, a SP supporter who had come to attend the rally said it was all voluntary. Modis crowds are all paid for. Ham dil se aate hai.

Both the supporters - like almost the entire audience - was Muslim. And the preliminary speakers were emphasising the BJPs communal politics.

One speaker, from Jharkhand, attacked BJP for love jehad - BJP should ask Mukhtar Naqvi, it should ask Shahnawaz Hussain who they married; it should ask Subramanian Swamy who his daughter married. Another speaker accused BJP of fomenting a Hindu-Muslim divide and said it was time to defeat them. The crowd, now getting restive, did not pay much attention.

The crowds had started trickling in around 2 pm on Monday - but for after two and a half hours, when Rahul Gandhis chopper arrived, rows of empty chairs remained. (HT Photo )

From made in China to make in UP

When Rahul arrived, there was only half an hour to go before campaigning had to formally end for the second phase of the elections, and so the rush was palpable. The speech was laced with sincerity, but it lacked energy, focus and often meandered.

Rahul began with a straight message - Indias biggest challenge is jobs. Modiji had said they will create 2 crore jobs. I asked them in Parliament. How many jobs have you created? One minister said they created one lakh jobs in the first year. In the second year, they created no jobs. And then Rahul subtly played the religion card. Modiji makes fun of Manmohan Singh. There are Sikhs here. Manmohan Singh created ten lakh jobs a year as PM.

But Rahuls speech was striking for its complete silence on issues of communalism that speakers before him had tried to rally the crowd around. Despite the Muslim composition of the crowd, he stayed away from accusing the BJP of being anti-minority.

One explanation for this is that he wanted to have a clear message that resonated across castes and communities. But the other is that by focusing on those issues, he would have only ended up aiding the polarisation. Back in Bihar in 2015, Muslim community leaders had told the Mahagatbandhan leaders not to speak about them at all - for it gave BJP a chance to consolidate the Hindus. Was something similar happening here?

The crowds cheered most when Rahul spoke of demonetisation - The plan is simple. Get the poor to deposit their money in banks. Keep it there for some months. And then use it to waive off loans of 50 big families. The crowd also cheered when Rahul had a dig at Modi and the media - Media is under Modijis pressure. And so when Modiji waives off the 6 lakh crore loan of 50 families, it will only appear on the back page. You will have to look for it carefully.

But the crowd lost him entirely when Rahul went on to narrate an anecdote. I went to China and met a local neta over lunch. I kept asking him about China; he kept asking me about Himachal. I said arre Bhaiya India is such a big country, why are you only asking about Himachal? And he said we compete with apples from Himachal and want to see a day when Made in China items are sold there.

After a long detour into farm loans and demonetisation, Rahul returned to the story and said he wanted to see a day when Obamaji now that he is free and his friend in China would see products with a Made in Allahabad, Made in UP sign.

The problem was not as much with the message of the story - that UP needed to boost manufacturing and exports - than the fact that it lacked coherence and roadmap of how UP would get there.

Rahul Gandhi had gone to canvass for the Congress candidate from the Bareilly cantonment seat, Nawab Mujahid Khan. (HT Photo )

In the middle of the speech, every few minutes, from one segment of the crowd, came chants of Rahul Gandhi Zindabad, interspersed with Narendra Modi Murdabad. That was when Rahul mildly rebuked the crowd. We are not a murdabad party. We will defeat them on issues and policies, not with anger.

A few minutes before 5 pm, Rahuls close aide Kaushal Vidyarthee nudged him, and the Congress vice president hastily wrapped up his speech - to not fall into trouble with EC guidelines

Crowd reaction

As we walked out, Ahmed, a Congress worker, said he liked the speech. What did he like about it? Rozi-roti ki baat ki, he talked about livelihood. Another said he liked the emphasis on unity rather than division.

Rahuls Bareilly speech was both a sign of the strengths and weaknesses of Congress party and the alliance.

The limited audience reflected the fact that the partys organisational machinery and mobilisational capacity remains limited. Rahul and the alliance has a captive audience in Muslims - but if this rally was an indication, they have not made much headway in expanding beyond Muslims into other communities. Rahuls speech itself spoke to larger universal, material needs of the people - but the absence of any prescription of how to address these needs took away from its strength. It also lacked the metaphors, the connect for a speech to resonate long after the speaker has departed.

Congress may win Bareilly cantonment, but it will need to do a lot more to win the state.

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The Egyptian army announced on Tuesday the successful release of 13 Egyptians who had been kidnapped in Libya.

The army said it coordinated the captives' release with the Libyan National Army, led by Field Marshal Khalifa Hifter.

In its statement, the army said the captives -- migrant Egyptian workers -- had been kidnapped by militant criminal gangs.

In January, the families of the workers staged a protest in Cairo demanding that President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi intervene to bring their relatives home.

Fifteen workers were reported kidnapped at the time. In its statement on Tuesday, however, the army announced the release of only 13.

In 2015, Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs began urging citizens to avoid travel to Libya due to unstable security conditions following the killing of 20 Egyptian migrant workers near Derna by the Islamic State militant group.

The warning was renewed in 2016 and is still in effect.

Despite the government's warning and Libya's difficult economic conditions, Egyptian workers continue to migrate to the country.

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Dehradun: The 2017 assembly poll adds a new chapter in electoral history of Uttarakhand, as perhaps its for the first time that a poll battle was fought as intensely in the real world as in the virtual. From viral spoofs to hilarious caricatures, the social media remained abuzz in the run up to the polls with a series of political campaigns.

Facebook and Twitter are the new battlegrounds and WhatsApp proving no less an effective tool for the political parties, especially Congress and BJP. At the centre of focus were over 41.32 lakh youth voters below the age of 40 who constitute not just over 55% of the states total electorate but also the biggest chunk of the social media-savvy users.

Among the viral videos circulated by the Congressmen was one which portrayed the chief minister as Baahubali, the protagonist of a fictional film, wherein a muscled Rawat was seen carrying an Uttarakhand-shaped rock on his shoulders. The Congress supporters also circulated mash up videos of superstar Rajanikanth, Bollywood movie Dangal and meme Harda ko mitaa sake ye kisi mein dum nahin among others. Last month, Congressmen had trended bank notes with Yashpal Arya Bewafa Ha written on them in a spoof of the original Sonam Gupta Bewafa Hai meme.

One of the cartoon strips on Congress that was circulated by BJP workers in Dehradun. (HT Photo)

The idea was to reach out to and persuade the youth voters who form the largest section of social media users, Congress information technology cell president Amarjeet Singh said.

The saffron partys creative team, on the other hand, circulated caustic caricatures, mocking the corruption-ridden Congress government as well as projecting the promises made by BJP if voted to power. Our social media teams remained busy with propagating content such as cartoons and memes generated by our creative teams, BJP state social media in-charge Ravindra Dutt Petwal said.

Apart from these tricks, Congress also undertook a hashtag campaign titled Dhol Ki Pol, where it fired one question everyday at the opposition BJP. In response, BJP introduced a Pol Khol campaign, which highlighted plight of the people under the Congress government. The national parties also hit out at each other over distribution of tickets.

In the process, both the parties gave social media users many moments to laugh. If only these parties made so many efforts (as invested in creating spoofs) to develop Devbhoomi, Shweta Nautiyal, a software engineer, said.

BOX:

Youth voters in Uttarakhand: 41.32 lakh

Age-wise youth voters:

18-19 years  1.35 lakh

20-29 years  20.67 lakh

30-39 years  19.30 lakh

Total general voters: 75.12 lakh

Official FB and Twitter pages of BJP and Congress:

BJP: FB: 1, 41,199 likes; Twitter: 7,168 followers

Congress: FB: 44,223 likes; Twitter: 2,443 followers

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Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav hit out at the BJP on Tuesday, asking the party to tell the people what it did for them in the nearly three years that it has been in power at the Centre.

Yadav, who addressed seven rallies in Farrukhabad, Kannauj and Hardoi, said the first phase of the Uttar Pradesh assembly election has led to increase in the blood pressure of BJP leaders.

They (BJP leaders) will be hospitalised by the time the election enters the third phase, he added.

In Kannauj, Akhilesh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi kept doing his Mann Ki Baat but could never understand the feelings of the common people.

People were forced into long queues in the name of achche din (better days), he said, referring to the governments demonetisation move.

In Hardoi, the Samajwadi Party chief predicted hospitalisation of BJP leaders by the third phase of polling.

Attacking the BJP government at the Centre, he said it wasnt clearing no objection certificates (NOCs) for Metro projects in Uttar Pradesh.

Just give us the NOC, we will take the Prime Minister whereever he wants to go on Metro, he said.

His comment was a reaction to Modis barb in Lakhimpur Kheri on Monday where he had invited the chief minister to take a ride with him on the Lucknow Metro, alluding to the fact that the project was inaugurated despite being incomplete.

Akhilesh said the Samajwadi Partys alliance with the Congress had added extra speed to the cycle (his party symbol).

Once the alliance forms a government in the state, he said he will find a way to give permanent employment to rozgar sevaks (daily wagers), he said.
In a bid to ensure that their candidates dont face each other in the Uttar Pradesh assembly election, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) have asked 10 candidates to withdraw.

A joint list issued by the two parties on Tuesday had the names of five candidates from each party. The two parties asked the district office bearers to ask the candidates to withdraw from the polls.

On Monday too, the Congress had asked four candidates to withdraw from the contest. However, three of them refused to do so, with some hoping that the party will ultimately agree to friendly contests.

Those asked to withdraw include Congress candidate from Lucknow (Central), Maruf Khan, who appears to have turned a rebel.

On Tuesday, Khan declared that he would contest the polls. The partys candidate from Payagpur, Bhagat Ram Mishra, has also declared that he had been allotted a poll symbol and would contest the election.

The Congress candidate from Shobratgarh (Siddharthanagar), Anil Singh, has also decided to remain in the fray.

I got the message only five minutes before the withdrawal (of nominations). I have been now allotted a Congress symbol and so will contest the poll, said Singh.

Gondas city Congress president Abdul Rehman said the partys candidate from Mankapur (Gonda), Hanuman Prasad, has decided to withdraw.

The names of Khan and Mishra figured in the joint list released on Tuesday.

Other Congress candidates asked to withdraw include Abhimanyu Singh (Bindki), Jawahar Lal Diwakar (Soraon), and Bhagoti Chaudhary (Chhanve).

A senior Congress leader said the party was sure that those asked to withdraw would do so.

The SP candidates asked to withdraw include Aruna Tomar (Maharajpur), Hasan Rumi (Kanpur Cantonment), Ramdev Kol (Koraon), Ajay Kumar Amritlal (Bara) and Ramesh Kumar (Mehroni).

The SP and the Congress are contesting the polls in alliance. As per their understanding, the SP was to field candidates on 298 seats, giving 105 seats to the Congress. Uttar Pradesh has a 403-member assembly.
Union finance minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday accused Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi of misleading the country with his limited knowledge of facts. The senior BJP leader was speaking at a press conference in Lucknow on Tuesday.

Responding to a question about Rahul Gandhis repeated allegations that the Modi government had waived Rs 1.10 lakh crore loan of the countrys big industrialists, he said, All that has happened is that the interest amount is increasing on the loan that the Congress-led UPA government had doled out to the industrialists who did not repay the debt.

The NDA government did not waive a single penny of any industrialists loan in the country after May 26, 2014, he added.

Jaitley also countered UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadavs allegations of the Centre having withheld the states share of funds. The allocation of funds to states is done under a set formula as per the Constitution and the Centre has no power at all to withhold any funds due to them, he said, adding that such allegations were merely a confession of Yadavs failures and a trick to divert peoples attention from them.

Labelling the Congress-SP alliance in the state opportunistic, he said, Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya was the first politician to give the slogan defeat Congress, save country, in the 60s, he reminded, adding ,But UP has witnessed the fall of that anti-Congress socialist ideology with the SP entering into an alliance with the same Congress.

The SP and the Congress had different ideologies but their meeting point was their belief in dynasty politics and corruption, he further added.

Addressing questions about demonetisation, the finance minister said the Modi governments move was a part of its larger policy to clean the countrys economy as well as politics and had nothing to do with elections. Cash, he added, facilitated crime and corruption and that the note ban would rid the country of its excessive cash economy.

Jaitley also attacked the ruling Akhilesh Yadav government for poor law and order, calling the state of affairs a total anarchy. UP still had a long way to go in achieving parity of development with other states.

Building a half-complete highway in five years and asking people to vote for that is ridiculous, he said, referring to the SPs much vaunted Agra-Lucknow expressway.

Jaitley said it was the BSP that was in fight with the BJP on several seats in the first phase but the situation, he added, might change in next phases.

Stressing the need for a stable and clean government in UP, he said people should vote the BJP to power rejecting the tried, tested and failed. He said a pro-BJP wave prevailing for long in the country was clearly evident in UP as well with the recent MLC results indicating that trend only. He claimed the BJP would get a comfortable majority in UP.
The narrow bylanes of the Haridwar rural assembly segment, from where chief minister Harish Rawat is contesting, reflect the contest between the Congress and the BJP in the state where the difference between the winning and the losing party has historically been slender.

Rawat is banking on 30% Muslim voters and 15% Dalits in the constituency to defeat sitting Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Swami Yatishwaranand and swing the state in favour of Congress. The Haridwar Lok Sabha seat has 14 assembly segments, of which Congress won only three in the 2012 polls.

The importance of Haridwar, bordering Uttar Pradesh, can be gauged from the fact that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi visited the religious city to galvanise voters.

Haridwar has traditionally been a BJP bastion as the Congress was considered a party of the hills. To change that, Rawat decided to contest from Haridwar rural, where a high Muslim-Dalit vote appears to favour Congress and was nurtured by his daughter Anupama Rawat for the past few years. However, one thing is clear  there is no wave in Rawats favour that could have a cascading effect in other seats.

In fact, there are two factors that are likely to upset his applecart  BSPs Mukarram Ansari, who appears to be eating into the Congress Muslim and Dalit votes, and uncertainty over which seat Rawat will retain if he wins. The chief minister is also contesting from Kicha, an assembly segment in his native Kumaon. He (Rawat) will opt for Kicha and not us, said Yasat Ali, with many around him in Dhanpura village agreeing. A hill leader is against plains. Otherwise, Rawat would have carried out development work here also like he did in Kumaon, he said.

Rawat vs Modi

Like in most parts of the state, the BJP here has pitted Modi against Rawat and pushed its local candidate to the sidelines.

We will vote for Modi and his work, said Mange Ram of Bhogpur village, accusing Rawat of ignoring the plains even though he represented the region in the Lok Sabha in 2009. When told that Modi could not be the chief minister, Ramkant, another villager, argued that he would give the state a good administrator who will not be corrupt like Rawat.

However, there were others who feel Modis charisma has waned since 2014 and the BJP committed a mistake by contesting the polls in his name.

Numbers game

Since the first election in 2002, the contest between the Congress and the BJP has been close. The difference between them has never been of more than two percentage points, even though their vote share has risen because of the decline of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal and the BSP.

In 2002, the first poll two years after the state was carved out of UP, the Congress won 36 seats with almost 27% vote share and the BJP got just 19 with 26% votes. Five years later, the BJPs vote share increased by six percentage points, with the party bagging 34 seats. Congress vote share also increased to 30% but it got only 21 seats. In the last elections, the difference of vote share of the two parties was just 0.7 percentage points with the Congress getting 32 and the BJP 31. Of the total 70 seats, the winning margin in 19 seats was less than 2,000 votes or less than 5% of the votes polled.

Mirroring the state

The constituency reflects Uttarakhand as it has a sizeable population of people from the hills  Kumaon and Garhwal  that account for around 40 seats. While people from Garhwal are rooting for BJP, Kumaon is backing son of the soil Rawat.

Breaking the BJP hold in Haridwar will be crucial for Rawat to win the polls. Or else, history  no party returning to power  will repeat itself.

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In Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, Gangotri is unlike any other assembly constituency. A lore has it that the party which wins this seat, forms the government in Uttarakhand.

With 82,415 voters, the Gangotri constituency in Uttarkashi district houses the famous shrine by the same name, which is the seat of Goddess Ganga and the last road heads to the rivers glacial origin, 18 km uphill at Gomukh. In the 2012 election, Congress Vijay Pal Singh Sajwan had polled 20,246 votes, defeating BJPs Gopal Singh Rawat (13,223 votes) with a margin of around 14% votes. That year, the Congress went on to form the government in the hill state.

Prior to that, Rawat had defeated Congress Sajwan in the 2007 assembly election by a margin of 11% votes. The saffron party had captured power that year.

In 2002, Sajwan had defeated Communist Party of India candidate Kamala Ram Nautiyal with barely 2% votes, and the grand old party formed its government. It was the first assembly election held after the formation of Uttarakhand in 2000.

And the lore has held true not just in the past three assembly elections held after formation of Uttarakhand, but also when the region was a part of Uttar Pradesh and the present-day Gangotri seat was a part of the Uttarkashi constituency, locals say.

This time, the poll battle on Gangotri seat - which has largely been between BJP and Congress - has become a triangular contest. Giving a stiff competition to Rawat and Sajwan is former BJP leader Surat Ram Nautiyal, who is contesting as an Independent. There are total nine candidates in the poll fray on this seat, including three Independents.

Attributing the lore to the mystic power of Maa Ganga, Gangotri temple committee chairman Bhageshwar Semwal says both the parties had worked very hard, time and again, to win this seat. It (the lore) has been because of Maa Gangas blessings...its a divine land and we are sure that whoever wins this seat this time, will make the government again. Even if an Independent wins, he/she will play the kingmaker in forming the government, he told HT.

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Bollywood actor Amy Jackson has claimed that her phone was hacked recently and her personal images leaked on the internet. The actor was at a London mobile store where the incident happened.

According to a report in Mid Day, Amy was on a connecting flight from London to Chennai to shoot for Robot 2.0 and had to make a pit stop in Mumbai.

She alleged that her phones automatic sync with iCloud was on.

Amy added that she was in London when she could not log into her account and approached a store for help. However, it was on February 7 when two pictures with her best friend having dinner appeared online that she realised her phone was hacked. She went to the service centre again before coming to India, a source said.

I was shocked when this happened. This isnt a trivial matter and has to be taken up seriously. I will register a complaint with the cyber crime cell in London and ensure the hackers are taken to task. Cyber safety is the need of the hour, Amy said, adding that she will lodge a complaint with the cyber crime cell in Mumbai once she is back.

Thanks Kerala! Next stop Chennai for Robot 2.0 shoot   Amy Jackson (@iamAmyJackson) February 13, 2017

Amy is currently busy shooting for 2.0 with Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar.

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While shooting for Madaari (2015), Irrfan Khan took time out to see several cities in India, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Now, the actor, who is currently shooting in Bikaner (Rajasthan) for his next film directed by Tanuja Chandra, is set to travel to two other cities Rishikesh (Uttarakhand) and Gangtok (Sikkim) as well.

The shoot commenced in Bikaner earlier this week and Irrfan is excited about visiting these cities. A source says, He is not only looking forward to shooting the film in various locales, but also hopes to get to taste the food and flavours the cities are famous for. Irrfan has plans to spend his time off with the locals in each of these cities. He doesnt want to visit the cities as just a tourist. He wants to experience each city in its truest manner.

Shooting in Rewari with ' fairy queen ' oldest working steam engine 1855 pic.twitter.com/UL2j7LYHHz  Irrfan (@irrfank) February 10, 2017

Apart from his desire to eat local food, Irrfan is apparently spending a lot of time this week with locals who gather to see the shooting. He, along with some crew members, went around town with some of the locals to see some of the hangouts and unconventional locations to see the city in its best light, adds the source.

Dilli ki sardiyon mein ... Dilli ki galliyon mein .. pic.twitter.com/1PUd1FEWgZ  Irrfan (@irrfank) February 13, 2017

Irrfan was unavailable for comment.

Bahaaro phool barsaaon.. Inka mehboob aaya hai  pic.twitter.com/S1QDcM8U7i  Irrfan (@irrfank) February 14, 2017

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An election day in the worlds largest democracy. With this story shot in the jungles of Chhattisgarh in central India, Newton couldnt be more Indian in its taste for movie aficionados at a gala as prestigious as the 67th Berlin International Film Festival, says the films lead actor Rajkummar Rao.

The movie had its world premiere at the film jamboree last week, and ended with a standing ovation from the audience.

Overwhelmed at the reception at the Berlinale, one of the most important events on the film calendar of the world, Rajkummar said, India is the biggest democracy in the world, and I am sure people are always curious to know how it functions. In that way, Newton is a very Indian film.

The political black comedy, directed by Amit V. Masurkar, features Rajkummar as Newton, a rookie clerk on election duty in a conflict-ridden jungle of Chhattisgarh. The character tries his best to conduct free and fair voting despite the apathy of security forces, and the looming fear of an attack by Maoist rebels.

What happens in this pursuit, forms the crux of the story.

When I read the script of the film and when I saw some real people acting in it, it took me back to the days of the golden age of Indian cinema, when names like Shyam babu (Shyam Benegal) and Govind Nihalani sir used to make films... You can get the taste of real India, said the actor, who has attended a film fest as big as the Berlinale for the first time.

I could not go to Cannes when Gangs Of Wasseypur was there, I couldnt come to Berlin when Kai Po Che was here, and I couldnt even go to Toronto when Shahid was screened there. So, Berlinale was my first big film festival, said the 32-year-old with a child-like excitement to meet like-minded people and to see cinema from all over the world.

Steering the conversation back to Newton, he said the film portrays the power of democracy that we live in and the power of voting that so many people dont understand the value and importance of.

Is he a regular voter himself?

Oh yes, said Rajkummar, who feels whoever the leader of the country may be, the aim should be to do well and progress.

Whats the Newton connect in the film -- anything to do with Isaac Newton?

Well, theres a subtle reference to the actual Newton as like the scientist, this character is also always in search of something, explained the actor, who says shooting for the movie in dense forests of Chhattisgarh was a unique experience in itself.

There were all real locations with indigenous people. It was a very thrilling experience. There was no network in mobiles and no connect with the outside world, just our group of people who wanted to tell this story. It was a lot of fun making this film, he said, even as he turned nostalgic that it was when he was shooting for Newton that his mother had passed away in Delhi last year.

Its still tough for me (to overcome it), but she has given me that strength, said Rajkummar, a Film and Television Institute of India alumnus, who got his first break in Bollywood with Love Sex Aur Dhokha, and has since featured in movies like Shahid, Citylights, Hamari Adhuri Kahani and Aligarh.

Experimenting with characters, irrespective of the screen time, has been a mainstay in Rajkummars filmography -- Queen being a case in point. His forthcoming films -- Trapped, Omerta, Bareilly Ki Barfi, Behen Hogi Teri, 5 Weddings and Love Sonia -- are also different from one another, and it seems hes now trying to balance his presence in the commercial and parallel space.

Is it?

Yeah, but thats not a very planned thing. I have never given too much thought to it. I just look out for some value in my role in the films. The story has to excite me, and then I have to see what I am contributing to it, said Rajkummar, adding that unless a project throws up a challenge, theres no fun being an actor.
The statements from the country's two top religious leaders come following repeated calls by President El-Sisi to renew religious discourse

The Grand Imam of Egypt's Al-Azhar Ahmed El-Tayyeb and Pope Tawadros II, the head of Egypt's Orthodox Church, stressed the importance of reviving values and ethics as an imminent necessity to maintain national unity and preserve the community's social fabric.

On Tuesday, Egypt's religious leadership attended the opening session of the "ethics and values initiative," which comes in light of consecutive calls by Egypt' s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to purge extremist ideas from religious discourse.

Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayyeb said that Egypt's youth belong to a civilization that is deeply rooted in human history.

El-Tayyeb also urged the leadership entitled with the country's educational and cultural process not to ignore the heritage of Egypt's youth or assume that it has faded away or that there is no chance of it being restored.

"This cultural heritage can be revived at anytime if called upon by those responsible, under the condition that all cooperate, each in his field, to provide the suitable atmosphere and conditions to revive the role of the youth, El-Tayeb said.

For his part, Pope Tawadros demanded that educational faculties be given more attention, as they are entitled with upbringing the nation's youth since childhood. He called on the respective figures among Egyptian society, starting from the families' mothers and fathers, to carry this out.

Tawadros highlighted the role of the family as the cornerstone of society, expressing hope that the initiative would provide a practical vision to revive morals and principles within Egypt.

The pope suggested that entrance to educational faculties should not be limited to the Egyptian schools' score system and that people be allowed to join by personal preference, calling on faculties to expand their role.

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Actors often let their fans in on their fitness regimen through health-centric books, work out DVDs and the like. One such B-Town personality known for her dedication to fitness is Shilpa Shetty Kundra. The actor released a yoga DVD in 2015, and now has plans to share her fitness tips with a broader audience.

Shilpa will soon launch a new health and wellness venture that will have videos, tutorials, recipes and tips for a healthier lifestyle. The content will be available only on digital platforms.

Speaking about turning to the Internet for her new venture, the actor says, I thought of going digital with my series, as the Internet is very accessible and digital is the easiest medium to use now. Improving health would be easy with access to the right information. This will be one platform with information on a combination of elements such as strength training, yoga, and food and nutrition.

Dread to think what life would be without you @rajkundra9 . This day is no different from the others,U r my Valentine everyday ..but what the heck..Happy Valentine's Day..Cheesy but true #valentine #loveofmylife #hubbylove #gratitude A post shared by Shilpa Shetty Kundra (@officialshilpashetty) on Feb 13, 2017 at 8:01pm PST

A source says that in addition to a website, the initiative will have presence on a YouTube channel as well as a Facebook page. It aims to cover various aspects of health and wellness, and will feature fitness tips, healthy food recipes, pain management tips, Yoga asanas, weight loss programmes, etc. Also, the actor will be seen cooking healthy recipes herself, and performing yoga as well as strength training exercises in the videos.

Apart from Shilpa, other actors who have launched their fitness DVDs are Bipasha Basu and Lara Dutta. Shilpa Shetty was last seen as a judge in the TV reality show Super Dancer, with co-judges Anurag Basu and Geeta Kapur.

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Run by a kshatriya, a warrior  Vishal Sikka calls himself one  Infosys stocks continue to perform well despite allegation of low corporate governance by former chairman and co-founder NR Narayana Murthy.

The rise in stock prices of Infosys, once the bellwether of the Indian software services industry, signal the Murthys diminishing grip over the company he founded with six others in 1981.

Sikka, too, did not get bogged down. I am a kshatriya warrior. I am here to stay and fight, he said, in a television interview, after he and chairman R Seshasaaye addressed the reporter at the Taj Santacruz Hotel, in Mumbai, on Monday.

Infosys share price at the end of Wednesday, a day before the controversy broke out, was Rs 934. That is up by 5.5% to Rs 986 when this article was updated.

That is also because analysts and investors believe in Sikkas vision of the company. On Monday he said that 5% to 10% of investors concern was about corporate governance. The larger issues were on macroeconomic factors such as H1-B visa and Infosys financial performance.

Infosys has fallen from the glory days, when it was the poster boy of the $140 billion IT industry. But not anymore. TCS, Wipro, Cognizant, and others have chipped off Infosys clients, and the company, which once enjoyed the highest gross margins, has struggled to keep those up.

Sikka is transforming the company towards areas of automation, internet of things, and analytics.

Infosys deserves to get back its bellwether status. It is the only company that witnessed a revenue upgrade cycle in FY16, while most others have seen the reverse, Nirmal Bang had written in its report last year.

True to that, Oppenheimer Funds, the third largest institutional investor in Infosys also supported Sikkas way of running the company. After many years of internal volatility and competitive underperformance, it is encouraging to see that Vishal (Sikka) has stabilised the core and articulated a clear  and appropriate  long-term strategy to help Infosys thrive amidst industry disruption, the Fund said in an open letter.

It added that, the Board of Directors should restrain divisions in the firm and contain inappropriate interventions by non-executive founders.

Rather, it applauded Sikka for doing what he hired for, and asked the Board to appraise him on his efforts.

There will always be differences in how an organisation can be run and this is expected all the more when founders are no more at the helm, said Sanchit Vir Gogia, CEO and chief analyst at Greyhound Research. 

He further added, there is misreporting about Vishals compensation; both the figure and structure are aligned to standard industry practices and not out of the ordinary.

Meanwhile, the global IT business looks positive, which analysts said is another reason why Infosys continues to perform well on the bourses.

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Infosys Ltd Chief Executive Vishal Sikka attempted on Monday to allay concerns over a corporate governance row between the software services firm and its founders, saying his relations with N.R. Narayana Murthy and co-founders were excellent.

Indias No.2 IT services company, based in the southern tech hub of Bengaluru, has been locked in an escalating public war of words with its founders and former executives, who, led by Murthy, have accused its board of lapses in corporate governance.

Infosys founders, who own 12.75 percent of the firm, have questioned the pay of Sikka and severance payouts given to others, including its former finance head Rajiv Bansal. According to local media reports, the founders have also questioned the appointment of an independent director.

Addressing an investor conference in Mumbai on Monday, Sikka called Murthy an incredible man. He dubbed issues raised in the media around corporate governance lapses at the firm as distracting.

My relation with the founders is wonderful, Sikka said at the event hosted by brokerage firm Kotak.

All this drama thats been going on in the media, its very distracting, it takes away attention, but underneath that there is a very strong fabric that this company is based on and it is a real privilege for me to be its leader.

The row comes at a time when the more $150 billion Indian IT services sector has seen a slowdown in deal wins from Western clients, and is bracing for changes in visa rules in its biggest market, the United States, that could increase costs significantly and dent profits.

Infosys, founded in 1981 when seven engineers, including Murthy, pooled $250 that was mostly borrowed from their wives, is expected to address the governance concerns at a separate news conference at 1230 GMT on Monday.

Sikka, a former member of the executive board at German software firm SAP, took the top job at Infosys in 2014, becoming its first non-founder CEO. Later that year, Murthy voluntarily gave up his board position.

One of the sore points between the board and the founders has been the salary of Sikka - who is due to get as much as $11 million based on Infosys performance.

Murthy also questioned in a recent media interview Infosys agreed severance payment of about 174 million rupees ($2.6 million) to former finance chief Rajiv Bansal. Large severance pays are rare in India.

The board has backed Sikka and has brushed aside concerns over CEO compensation, appointment of independent directors and severance pay relating to former employees, saying those were old issues and that full disclosures had been made.

Investors have worried that the dispute over alleged corporate governance lapses at Infosys will turn as ugly as it has at the Tatas, Indias top conglomerate, where the ousted former chairman has waged a legal battle against the company.

Sikkas comments on Monday and Infosyss upcoming news conference seemed to soothe investors, with a fund manager calling it a confidence building measure. Infosys shares rose 1.7 percent after Sikkas comments to their highest level in a month.

Probably this is not going to precipitate into something like the Tatas, said R.K. Gupta, managing director at Taurus Asset Management, which owns Infosys shares.

Responding to a query on a potential share buyback, another concern raised by former some executives, Sikka said Infosys would weigh buybacks against the companys business needs and the use of capital toward potential acquisitions. The company is sitting on a cash pile of more than $5 billion, as of Dec. 31.
The Infosys management on Monday sought to allay concerns that the company was facing a worsening dispute with its founders over how the company was being run.

Days after Infosys co-founder and former chairman NR Narayana Murthy raised concerns over governance issues, CEO compensation, and severance package of former finance head, Rajiv Bansal, the company board has defended its stance.

The founders were unhappy at the huge severance package paid to Rajiv Bansal, Infosys former CEO. The generosity of this seemed suspicious and made it look like hush money.

Infosys had already reduced this payment from Rs 17 cr to Rs 5 cr. Chairman R Seshasayee said the board had learnt to not be subjective about severance and make it part of employment contracts

The appointment of Punita Kumar Sinha as independent director was opposed by some founders. She is the spouse of minister Jayant Sinha and Infosys has always steered clear of politics they argued

Sinha has the boards complete confidence, said Seshasayee. As does another independent director DN Prahlad, a relative of founder NR Narayana Murthy and a former employee of the company, added Seshasayee. Prahlad was appointed to the board only recently at the founders insistence and there have been reports that the rest of the board wasnt happy with this.

The founders were unhappy that the board, last year, raised CEO Vishal Sikkas salary by 55% to $11 million.

The board and the shareholders approved this and there is nothing wrong with the salary, Seshasayee said.

The board has not done a good job with these issues and the chairman should resign

Seshasayee said he sees no reason to go unless the board and the shareholders ask him to.
Months after India and US signed a key logistics pact, Reliance Defence and Engineering today announced an agreement with the American Navy for repair and alteration services for warships of the largest forward- deployed Seventh Fleet operating in the region.

The Seventh Fleets area of responsibility includes the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean and at any given time there are roughly 5070 ships and submarines, 140 aircraft and approximately 20,000 sailors under its command.

A statement by the Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra) controlled RDEL said it has signed the Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) with US Navy.

It added that earlier in January, Reliance Shipyard was qualified by US Navy as an approved contractor to perform complex repair and alteration services for the US Navys Seventh Fleet vessels operating in the region.

Reliance Shipyard at Pipavav, Gujarat is the first shipyard in India to have received MSRA Certification to undertake servicing and repairing works for the vessels of Seventh Fleet.

It is estimated that the potential business for RDEL will be very high.

The fleet has about 100 vessels of different types, including auxiliaries. Currently, the vessels of US Navys Seventh Fleet visit Singapore or Japan for such works.

Reliance Shipyard has been selected after a detailed site survey by US Government representatives in end October 2016, the statement said.

After over a decade of negotiations, India and the US had in August last year signed the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), a tweaked India-specific version of the Logistics Support Agreement (LSA), which the US has with several countries with close military-to-military ties.

The pact enables their militaries to use each others assets and bases for repair and replenishment of supplies, making joint operations more efficient.

LEMOA facilitates the provision of logistical support, supplies and services between the US and Indian militaries on a reimbursable basis and provides a framework to govern them.

This may include food, water, billeting, transportation, petroleum, oils, lubricants, clothing, medical services, spare parts and components, repair and maintenance, training and other logistical services.
Tata Motors Ltds fiscal third-quarter profit plummeted 96% as lower sales at its British luxury car unit Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Plc. (JLR) and a wider loss in its domestic business took its toll on Indias largest automaker by revenue.

Net profit fell to Rs111.57 crore in the three months ended 31 December from Rs2,952.67 crore in the year-ago period, the Mumbai-based company said on Tuesday. A Bloomberg poll of 20 analysts had estimated a profit of Rs2,264.5 crore.

Consolidated sales fell 2.2% to Rs67,864.95 crore from Rs69,398.07 crore in the year-ago period.

Tata Motors said the invalidation of high-value banknotes by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 8 November hurt its domestic commercial vehicles business, a cash cow, with sales of trucks and buses declining 9%. Sales of light commercial vehicles were flat.

The biggest hit came from JLR, where net profit declined to 167 million ($208 million) from 440 million a year ago on a 13.1% increase in revenue to 6.5 billion.

These are terrible numbers, said Mahantesh Sabarad, head (retail research), SBI Cap Securities Ltd. That is because the JLR margin seem to be settling in to the single digit space unlike (in) the past where a 14% was a given. More so, the JLR product mix has altered quite substantially and variable marketing spending has been on the rise, Sabarad said.

Investors punished the stock. Tata Motors shares declined as much 7% after the earnings announcement but recovered some ground to close 3.68% down at Rs486.80 on a day the BSEs benchmark Sensex edged down 0.04% to 28,339.31 points on Tuesday. The fall wiped away Rs5,993.23 crore off the companys market value.

On a standalone basis, the company said net loss widened to Rs1,046 crore in the December quarter from Rs137 crore a year ago. Revenues grew marginally to Rs10,167 crore from Rs10,019 crore.

Standalone has been struggling with the passenger vehicle business unit not really picking up pace but this quarter has been one of the better ones, Sabarad said.

Passenger vehicle sales rose 25.4% on the back of a continued strong customer response to the Tiago hatchback, the company said. Exports grew by 34.6% year-on-year.

Managing director and chief executive officer Guenter Butschek, a former chief operating officer at European aircraft maker Airbus, has been tasked with turning around the fortunes of Tata Motors, whose domestic passenger car sales and market share have roughly halved in the past two years.

As the domestic business foundered, JLR has sustained Tata Motors. In the December quarter, total retail sales at the unit rose 8.5% to 149,288 units, led by higher demand in China, North America and Europe.

What is it that we need to be a high performance organization being lean, its about being agile and its about having clearly addressed and delegated accountability, Butschek told a news conference on Tuesday.

The company expects to fare much better in the fourth quarter, chief financial officer C. Ramakrishnan told the conference.

JLR margins would definitely be better in the fourth quarter, hopefully on the back of the new launches that we have, Ramakrishnan said.

Other issues facing JLR include Britains Brexit vote and US President Donald Trumps promised protectionist policies, according to a 20 January report by Mumbai-based IDFC Securities Ltd. The US accounts for about 25% of JLR sales.

Given this, JLR is in a more precarious position than its peers, IDFC Securities analyst Deepak Jain wrote in the report.

The JLR unit is vulnerable because it doesnt have factories in the US and sells much of its UK output abroad. The units operating profit margin narrowed to 9.3% from 14.4% a year earlier.

To offset the impact of a border tax now being studied by the Trump administration, Jaguar Land Rover would need to raise prices by more than $17,000 per vehicle, according to West Bloomfield, an analyst at Michigan-based Baum & Associates LLC.

(In arrangement with www.livemint.com)
Honda Cars, the local subsidiary of the Japanese carmaker, has been struggling to arrest its falling sales, which the company said is because of shift in diesel cars and bad inventory management.

To get back on growth, the company is looking at re-designing its sales strategy and inventory management.

Two years ago, Honda heavily focussed on bringing out diesel variants of the City and Amaze. However, things changed as the market shifted towards petrol.

The company said that they had not anticipated that the consequences of the shift at Honda would prolong so long.

As a result, between April and January, Hondas domestic sales dropped by 33% to 1,03,161 units compared to last year, according to data from Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). The passenger cars segment grew by 9.17% during the same period.

Two years ago the wholesale numbers were higher compared to retail numbers, said Yoichiro Ueno, president and CEO, Honda Cars India Ltd, after the launch of the new Honda City on Tuesday. The difference was 10,000. To put that in context, dealers had three months of inventory in stock.

The situation curbed the liquidity of dealers, and often locking their capital position, resulting in poor dealer morale.

Ueno decided to revamp the sales strategy, policy and schemes, and put proper sales systems in place. That has helped bringing down the stock position from three months to three weeks.

If retail is good, wholesales follows... It is important -- how much we deliver to the customer, and not to the dealer, Uneo said.

Meanwhile, Honda has been struggling to sell its multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), Mobilio. The company is also contemplating taking the car off the roads. We might or might not... The volumes are not very high. Also, once the BS-VI is implemented, we will have to see the investments. BRV (the new SUV) is taking away a lot of the MPV customers, Uneo concluded.

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These two companies over the years have not done any innovation, said Rajiv Vij, managing director and CEO of Carzonrent, the company that owns EasyCabs and Myles.

Vij is talking about Ola and its American rival Uber. He is sore, Easycabs was one of early radio taxi companies, and was growing fast until the fight between the two cab-hailing companies almost killed the radio taxi business.

Huge incentives, promotion schemes, and heavy discounts attracted both drivers and customers. In the next two years, the taxi market, at least in the bigger cities shifted in favour of Ola and Uber.

Both of them boast of more than 4,00,000 driver-partners. If you call them drivers, executives at the cab-hailing companies get offended. They are micro-entrepreneurs, they drive the cars when they want to, they say.

But, that is not entirely the case. What a driver earns on Ola and Uber is very little. That would not even pay for the fuel cost, said an Ola driver in Delhi, who is on strike, against falling incomes and long working hours.

For the past five days, a large number of drivers are on strike in the national capital region. The strike is indefinite.

The reason: drivers have to drive a set number of rides to avail the incentives, without which the income is negligible.

The promise of high income, and be the master of your own time is slowly giving way.

Their pricing is not predictable It changes day to day. In this business consistency is important. That is the reason why Uber has not been very successful in many parts of the world, said Vij. He is right  Uber is facing similar criticism in London and other part of Europe.

This is also a time for the other taxi providers to capitalise on the strike. In the case of Easycabs, it is targeting the office-goers, a segment which Uber and Ola was chipping away. We have developed a mobile app, and the bill goes straightaway into your email, or to the office travel desk, said Vij.

Vij is not the only one. Meru Cabs, is looking at educating drivers about driving cycles.

It is important to handhold the driver, through the cycles of high and low income That is what Meru still does. The income is stable Meru doesnt force the driver to drive long hours to earn, said Siddhartha Pahwa, who was the companys CEO until December 31.

Meru is also pushing advance booking, and business predictability. That is why more than 80% of the drivers continue with Meru, he said.

However, Pahwa, a veteran in the industry said that Uber and Ola incentive pricing is not good for the industry. As the income fall many drivers would leave the industry, and that would be detrimental for the growth in economy, he said.

Others seem to agree with Pahwa.

There should be a symbiotic relationship between the cab operator, drivers and customers. If one of them is missing the eco-system fails, said Vivek Kejriwal, co-founder and CEO, Oneway.cab, an inter-city taxi company.

It is upon the cab company, Kejriwal said, to ensure that the drivers should get a minimum threshold of payment at the end of the day.

The objective should be that more and more drivers come on board This (strike) has created a negative impact. There is a lot of service disruption caused, said Kejriwal.

Meanwhile, Jugnoo, which is an auto rickshaw aggregator, has launched its cab service. We analysed the issues faced by taxi drivers of late and have come up with a strategy to provide taxi services at prices where drivers do not work at artificially lower rates than their costs, co-founder and chief operating officer Chinmay Agarwal said in a statement.

(Inputs from Livemint)

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Perhaps inevitably, North Koreas ballistic-missile test last Sunday was characterised by many analysts as Donald Trumps first foreign-policy challenge, or at least the first not caused by his own blundering. But this is to overstate both the threat presented by Pyongyang, and the options available to the White House. There is no realistic scenario in which Kim Jong-un, North Koreas dictator, launches a war against South Korea or Japan. And so long as he doesnt cross that line, Washington has no influence over his behaviour. The only challenge Kim presents is to Trumps claim as the planets most egotistical leader.

In reality the first foreign-policy crisis of the Trump presidency has been unfolding since the end of January, 7,000 km due West of Pyongyang. In Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his proxy militias have resumed in earnest their programme of destabilisation and annexation. The campaign had been paused during the US presidential election, and started up again within hours of Putins January 28 phone-call with Trump.

With his biggest American fan safely ensconced in the White House, Putin seems to have decided to return to his plans to expand Russias territorial outlines in the west, while pushing the envelope with his foes in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Violence flared up in the Donbas region of Ukraine, where Moscows proxies as well as regular Russian forces have been competing with the government in Kiev for control. Observers for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe reported that the number of explosions in eastern Ukraine shot up from 420 on Jan. 26 to over 10,000 on Jan. 31. Attacks on civilian infrastructure by Russian and separatist forces killed 13 Ukrainian soldiers, and left the town of Avdiivka without electricity for a week, in the middle of the winter freeze.

Read: Lets not kid ourselves, with Trump, what we have seen is what we will get

How would the Trump administration respond? The first auguries were mixed. On Feb 2, Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nations, slammed Russia for its continued occupation of the Crimean peninsula  snatched from Ukraine in 2014. The United States continues to condemn and call for an immediate end to the Russian occupation of Crimea, said Haley. Crimea is a part of Ukraine. Our Crimea-related sanctions will remain in place until Russia returns control over the peninsula to Ukraine.

But that same day, the U.S. Treasury Department issued a notification easing one of the sanctions the Obama administration put in place against Moscows Federal Security Service, better known by its Russian acronym, as the FSB. CNN quoted a top State Department official as saying it was a technical fix, to avoid unintended consequences of US government business with Russia. It was certainly not, as some American media outlets portrayed it, a peace offering by Trump to Putin  but the timing of the announcement was ill-judged. Ukrainians could be forgiven for seeing it as a sign that the new occupant of the White House didnt much care if bits of their country were seized by his counterpart in the Kremlin.

Read: By feuding with intelligence agencies, Trump is putting the world in harms way

The uncertainty about Washingtons intentions on sanctions against Russia continued on Feb 5, when Vice-President Mike Pence hinted that the US might consider them if Putin proved a valuable ally in the fight against the so-called Islamic State. But that same day, Trump himself spoke with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, and promised to negotiate a peace between Kiev and Moscow.

It is hard to see Trump playing the honest broker in any such negotiations. Ukrainians would right be sceptical, given the Presidents man-crush for Putin. Never mind the Ukrainians, many in the US intelligence community worry that Trumps admiration for the Russian leader makes him unreliable  so much so, they are reported to be keeping some sensitive Russia-related information out of his briefings, for fear that he might blab about it in his next call with Putin.

But keeping Trump in the dark wont help keep Russia at bay; Ukrainians need the American President to see the light. And quickly, too. Unlike the kabuki-theatre confrontation played out along the demilitarised zone between the Koreas, the prospect of an all-out war in eastern Ukraine, where over 10,000 people have been killed since 2014, is frighteningly real.

Why is it in American interests to protect Ukraine? There are many reasons  political, military and economic. But the simplest is this: the US owes Ukraine. Washington led the effort, after the fall of the Soviet Union, to persuade Kiev to give up its stockpile of nuclear weapons, in exchange for guarantees of protection from Russia. To President Barack Obamas eternal shame, he betrayed Ukraine in 2014, allowing Russia to grab Crimea. Trump has an opportunity to redeem Americas honour, as well as to reassure other former Soviet states that Washington will not allow them to go the way of Crimea.

Read: On Trump, Obama would do well to emulate the silence of some ex-presidents

It will be hard for Trump to undo the damage done by Obama, and immediately restore Crimea to Ukraine: that will likely take years of difficult negotiations. But the President can immediately signal to Putin that Russias territorial expansion must stop right now, on pain of even harsher sanctions than Obama had imposed. He can demand that Moscows troops return to its own side of the border, and its surrogates give up their weapons and make peace with Kiev. If they dont, the US and NATO should supply Ukraine the firepower it needs to protect itself. While talking tough with Putin, Trump must also pressure Poroshenko to give the Donbas separatists not only amnesty, but a fairer share of political power.

Thats what a real foreign-policy challenge looks like.

Bobby Ghosh is editor-in-chief of Hindustan Times

Twitter: @ghoshworld

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DEHRADUN

Political parties and turncoats are keeping fingers crossed as there seems no wave clearly blowing in favour of either Congress or Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttarakhand that goes to polls on Wednesday. Riding high on Prime Minister Narendra Modis image, BJP is hoping to reap dividend in the hill areas. But in the plain areas, it is Congress which is hoping to double its number from the last polls.

Uttarakhand which has 70 assembly seats is broadly divided into three regions  Kumaon, Garhwal and plain areas, consisting Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts. These two districts together have 20 seats. In 2012, BJP won 12 seats from both the districts. In this part of the state, the political equations and issues are entirely different from that rest of the hills. The BSP won 3 seats while Congress could get only 5 seats.

The scene is different in the five hill districts of Kumaon. The ruling Congress bagged 11 seats and BJP won 8 seats. In Garhwal regions six hill districts too, the Congress was ahead with 17 seats while BJP could win 11 constituencies. Two seats went to independents and one to UKD.

However after the 2013 June floods, the Congress has faced public ire in the Garhwal region. Experts feel the Congress could lose grip in the Garhwal districts owing to negative publicity and lack of focus during campaigning.

BJP was focused in Garhwal region particularly in the last few days of campaigning. It could help the saffron party, said Anil Bahuguna, Pauri Garhwal based political commentator.

The saffron party has campaigned across the length and breadth of Kumaon. On Sunday, the PM held two rallies one each in Kumaon and Garhwal, with a clear indication that the party is banking on votes from the hills.

In Haridwar and US Nagar district, demonetization may play spoilsport. Although the PM has addressed two rallies there, the sentiment there is not in favour of the BJP.

Besides the Congress turncoats contesting on BJP ticket have upset the morale of saffron party cadre. BJP has given tickets to three turncoats in the plain districts. Former minister Yashpal Arya is facing trouble in his constituency as most of the BJP workers there refused to work for him. The situation is same in Jaspur, where party candidate Shailendra Singhal faced a difficult time trying to cut ice with the workers there.

Ends

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A Cairo court sentenced the legal counsellor for the now-dissolved Freedom and Justice Party and a journalist at state-owned El-Gomhoreya newspaper to six months in jail for insulting and defaming former justice minister Ahmed El-Zend.

El-Zend filed a complaint after El-Gomhoreya published an interview with the counsellor, Ahmed Abu Bakr, in August 2012.

The FJP was the political arm of the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood group,

The general prosecution fined the former editor-in-chief of the newspaper EGP 20,000 in the Tuesday ruling for insulting the judicial authority and the former minister.

Ahmed El-Zend, the head of Egypts Judges Club from 2009 to 2015 and justice minister from May 2015 to March 2016, has filed a number of complaints against journalists.

In July 2016, an Egypt court has sentenced Al-Ahram journalist Ahmed Amer to one year in prison in absentia and fined the editor-in-chief of Al-Ahram Arabic website, Hisham Younis, EGP 10,000 on charges of "spreading false news" after a 2015 complaint filed by El-Zend following an investigative report published by the website.

El-Zend was fired from his ministerial position in March 2016 after widespread criticism of comments he made regarding the Prophet Muhammed that were considered to be blasphemous.

In response to a TV host's question on whether he would jail journalists, El-Zend said, "Even if he was a prophet, peace and blessings be upon him."



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DEHRADUN: As Uttarakhand goes to the polls on Wednesday, BJP state president Ajay Bhatt says he is confident of his partys victory in the assembly election. People will vote us to power as they want to get rid of this corrupt Congress regime headed by chief minister Harish Rawat, Bhatt said.

Bhatt feels corruption in the Rawat regime was the main poll issue this time. Thats why this assembly election is different from all the three preceding assembly elections held in the mountain state since it came into being 16 years ago, Bhatt claimed.

In a chat with HT on the eve of the polling day he said people would vote for the BJP as they expect it to speed up the states impeded growth. He agreed that the sentiment is inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modis promise to ensure all-round development in the state.

Modi had also warned of legal action against those running the Congress government for their involvement in corruption. Like his (Modi) promise to speed up development in the state, his warning of legal action against the corrupt Rawat regime was also justified, Bhatt said, adding that the people were desperate to vote for the BJP because the party (Congress) in power has left them disappointed on both fronts.

People are peeved with the ruling party, especially after a case of corruption against the chief minister surfaced, the BJP leader said, referring to a sting video that showed him (chief minister) offering bribes to nine dissident legislators to save his government in the wake of the last years political crisis.

Besides, a series of scams relating to the relief works post 2013 floods, illicit liquor and mining that tumbled out of the (Rawat) governments closet, one after another, also tarnished the states image, Bhatt alleged. He also accused the ruling Congress leaders of spreading terror by engineering attacks on officials who initiated action against the mining mafia.

These were no small issuesThey were big issues in a small state, Bhatt said adding that people would vote the BJP to power also because they are badly fed up with the wishful schemes the CM had announced since taking over in 2014.

For instance, he (chief minister) announced 200 development schemes for my assembly constituency but none of them was implemented, Bhatt said, referring to Ranikhet from where he is re-contesting election.

He also rubbished the Congress allegations that PM Modi reduced himself to being the BJPs chief ministerial candidate with the way he went about campaigning for his party in the state. Modiji is the Prime Minister of this country. So, it was only natural that he shared with people his roadmap for the states development, Bhatt said adding that the ruling Congress had no right to object to that. It has no right because that (Rawat) regime siphoned off all the funds the BJP-led Centre released for the states development, he alleged.

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The residents of Delhi will soon be able to get their driving licence and other transport-related work done while sitting at home.

All one needs to do is to dial the number issued by the department and call them home for the service.

In a bid to take government services to the doorsteps, transport minister Satyendar Jain announced the ambitious scheme on Tuesday as the Aam Aadmi Party government completed two years in power.

We are going to make all the services of transport department online. People will have to come to the authority only when they are required to take the test or get their vehicle checked. Those unable to avail the services online can call and fix time between 9am and 10pm. A transport official will come to your home and do the required work, said Jain at an event to unveil the Arvind Kejriwal-governments two-year report card.

In the absence of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is in Bengaluru for treatment, deputy CM Manish Sisodia unveiled the report card enlisting the governments achievements and upcoming projects.

On the big-ticket projects which are yet to fructify, the AAP ministers said most of them are in process and they will be implemented in due course as the 70-point manifesto was a five-year document.

Jain said that a Master Plan is being prepared for integrated transport system and they are buying buses for the same. Sisodia said work on another big promise of AAP, free WiFi in the city, is also on.

WiFi is something which is not available anywhere in the country. WiFi is available at airports and smaller establishments, but world over not many cities have free WiFi. We had a dream and we have worked on this with commitment. There were many hurdles as Delhi might be geographically small but it is densely populated. We have studied many models and zeroed in on a few. But it was a promise of pannch saal Kejriwal and not do saal Kejriwal, said Sisodia.

The deputy CM said the biggest achievement of the AAP government has been that it is fast moving on the path to realise the dream with which the city residents gave the unprecedented mandate in 2015 assembly elections.

A disconnect had set in between the priorities we have in personal life and the way people in government plan and prioritise. While education and health top the list of any household, they fall of the priorities list in the government. One of our biggest achievements has been that we have plugged this disconnect in two years, said Sisodia.

The deputy CM also highlighted implementation of innovative ideas as the hallmark of the governments two year tenure. We have implemented several things which were not in the manifesto. As we went along we took several innovative decisions such as odd-even, bill banao inam pao scheme, reading melas and parent-teacher meetings in schools, he said.

While the AAP government has shared an uneasy relationship with the bureaucracy, the ministers also tried to reach out by giving all credit of implementing the decisions of the government and delivering the achievements. Besides the deputy CM and Gopal Rai, Chief secretary MM Kutty also appealed the officers to contribute in service delivery as desired by the Delhi government.
When the Aam Aadmi Party stormed into power with 67 out of 70 seats in 2015, Arvind Kejriwals thumping mandate was meant to translate into smooth governance for the Capital. Over the last two years, facing civic strikes and a broken relationship with the L-Gs office over control of the city, things havent exactly gone according to plan.

In an exclusive interview, Delhis Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia talks about the successes and failures, pointing to strides taken on education, healthcare, water and electricity. He asks citizens to focus on the positives and says that the relationship with the L-Gs office is getting better with the exit of Najeeb Jung and the entry of Anil Baijal.

Two years into power, you face your first big test in the MCD elections. What are your big poll ideas?

We have to stop corruption in MCD. The civic bodies are full of ghost employees. The MCD officers and politicians are gaining while workers are being exploited. We want to improve the lives of the sanitation workers by decentralising the system and making sanitation inspectors accountable.

For approval of building plans, we will put up templates on the website. If you choose from the given options, you will not require approval. We will incentivise payment of property tax.

Will MCD elections be a referendum on your government?

Every election is a referendum in that way. Sanitation is something which needs to come to us. We have the key to (resolve) sanitation issues in Delhi. We will transform Delhi into a clean city

AAP had promised to turn Delhi into a world-class city in its manifesto. Where do you stand on this promise?

Shining roads or buildings are not the foundations of a world-class city. It begins with shining schools, a shining health system, proper water and power supply to all. We have been able to achieve this in the last two years.

What are your biggest achievements?

People now confidently pay their power bills, much less than what they used to pay, without the fear of being overcharged. We have ensured a crackdown on the water tanker mafia and are giving free water.

Besides, I am personally working on a project where residents of several colonies will get clean drinking water straight from their taps. Our government will guarantee that the water is totally clean and safe to drink.

Again, a world-class city is not about infrastructure only. It is about citizenship. The poor are confident of sending their children to school. Even those who can afford decent education for their children are confident that my government is working for my kids education and no private school can deny a child admission.

We have built a world-class skill centre where after passing out of Class 12, the youth are learning skills for a year and getting jobs of Rs 6-7 lakh per annum at multi-national companies.

In the health sector, Mohalla Clinics are a shining example of a world-class city. Everybody is guaranteed free medicines at government hospitals.

Six slum camps have been shifted without any hue and cry. Slum dwellers have broken their own hutments and moved on. No demolition took place. We are gradually moving towards making Delhi a slum-free city.

Which areas of governance remain a concern?

(Getting) buses (for Delhi) is one thing that has not happened as per our expectations. It got caught up in bureaucratic hurdles. I wont blame anyone, but officers who are being put (on the job) are not able to handle work properly. The services department is not with us, which is a problem. This department is not for transfers and postings. It is meant to ensure efficiency in administration.

Hasnt the situation changed since the new L-G took over?

Not really. As you can see, the officers are still where they are.

Which other projects have seen no progress?

Providing free Wi-Fi is one such issue. It is caught up in bureaucratic hurdles. Officers are being warned and terrorised that if you work on this project then you will be in a fix. The CBI will be at your doorstep. So they just dont do anything.

The bus aggregator scheme got stuck in the same way. I was surprised that the project, which Union finance minister, Arun Jaitley, had praised in front of 10 finance ministers of other states at a meeting on GST, became a corruption issue four days later. He had appreciated it, saying this is the solution to transport and congestion problems. But, a few days later, a CBI inquiry was what we got.

The same happened with the Talk to AK campaign. The moment bureaucrats try working on innovative ideas, they are taken down (shifted). We are trying to work it out the safe way.

Has your relationship with the L-G changed after Anil Baijal took over?

I think it (the channel) is reopening. From all the discussions I have had with the L-G so far, its been a good experience. I am optimistic. It is just the beginning and I hope he will look at things from a different perspective.

If he has dreams for Delhi, he would work. If he has dreams for his chair.... if he keeps thinking about how to save the sanctity of his chair...not much will happen for the city (welfare).

Is he clearing files/proposals that you said were stuck during Najeeb Jungs tenure?

Yes, he has cleared the names we suggested for the board of directors at the Indira Gandhi Delhi Technological University. A proposal to allow sportspersons to train at school grounds during after school hours, too, has been given go-ahead. A number of files were returned without any objection.

I am meeting the L-G at least once every week, sometimes even more frequently. We have had elaborate discussions on a parking policy for the city. Pollution and public transport were also discussed.

Read: Govt push puts schools back on learning curve

During Jungs tenure, your government alleged interference by the Centre in city affairs. Has it reduced after Baijals appointment?

Time will tell. It wont be fair to comment right now.

There is a view that the tussle between the AAP government and L-G office has been used as an excuse for slow governance. How would you respond to that?

There is a published opinion and there is public opinion. People understand whatever work has happened. They know that if we hadnt fought, this work wouldnt have happened. People understand the politics.

The government has not received the Shunglu Committee report yet. But, its with the media and thats how I managed to see it. It states that the government did not send files to the L-G. But, that was our stand and we had made it clear in the beginning itself. This was the fight  we said we are the elected government, why should we (send files to L-G). The High Court said L-G is the administrative head. So, after HCs August 4 order, we started sending all the files to him.

Read: Govt high on ideas on Delhi pollution but low on implementation

You announced some radical measures to clean Delhis air and remove road congestion but odd-even and car-free days stopped abruptly. Little was delivered on public transport.

Odd-even is not the ultimate solution

to the problem of pollution. It is a flood relief kind of a measure. In winters, pollution increases. This time crop burning was causing it (polluted air). So, at that point, odd-even wouldnt have helped.

On the public transport front, some things were struck down. We wanted to reduce bus fares for a month so that bus travel becomes economical and more and more people could use it. But it got stuck too. The L-G (Jung) raised objections and then he left.

Car free was not successful since it did not get Delhi Polices support.

So what is the solution to Delhis air pollution problem?

Air pollution requires a lasting solution. This city has some harsh realities. It is overpopulated and has developed in a haphazard manner. There is unorganised growth of industries. We have our enforcement teams which take action as and when required.

But in the longer run, we are working on curbing vehicular pollution though better governance. We are trying to encourage students and senior citizens to use public transport by giving free passes. We are in the favour of (running) medium-sized buses.

Most portfolios are divided between you and Satyendar Jain. Is it a democratic way of running the cabinet?

Basically, this is because there are departments which are inter-linked. If PWD, transport, urban development stay with the same minister then it is a healthy practice. I handle issues related to governance such as law and revenue because these departments should be with one minister.

Read: For Delhis unauthorised colonies, change only on paper

Will CM Arvind Kejriwal get more active in Delhi now that elections are over in Punjab and Goa?

Yes, of course. He is always active

here.
Khan Market, a favourite haunt in Delhi, may be a disaster waiting to happen just like the iconic Connaught Place, if experts and traders are to be believed.

The roof of Unplugged Courtyard, a restaurant in L-Block, caved in on February 10  a few days after New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) banned dining on the terrace in Connaught Place due to safety concerns. On February 2, a part of the C Block building near the popular Jain Book Depot collapsed.

The NDMC shut down the rooftop sections of 21 open-air restaurants after the incident at C Block.

There are 156 shops and 74 residential spaces in Khan Market, which was set up as a neighbourhood market in 1950 and is now one of the most expensive commercial spaces in the world.

Of the 74 residential spaces on the first and second floors, 44 are engaging in commercial activities housing 30 restaurants, while another 10 eateries are located on the ground floor.

Delhi Fire Service chief GC Mishra said every structure has certain limitations and overloading the rooftops of these structures are causing a lot of harm. If you keep loading indiscriminately, then it becomes unsafe.

Be it Connaught Place or Khan Market. Any construction, especially one which is more than 50 years old, with time its loading capacity decreases. If you keep adding floors to these and put generators, water tanks and mobile towers, they will become vulnerable. Safety is largely influenced by loading characteristics, Mishra told HT.

Khan Market was initially meant for shops on the ground floor and residential flats on the first floor. In 2000, residential flats on the first floor were converted into commercial complexes. In the past few years, most restaurants have come up on the first and above floors.

These were meant for four people. Instead, if there are 40 people, the load gets multiplied. There is an inadequacy in the law regarding the number of persons these establishments can cater to, the fire chief said.

Restaurants that have a seating capacity of more than 50 need necessary clearances from the fire department. However, those with a seating capacity of less than 50 need no such nod from the fire personnel.

Most restaurants at Khan Market have got their licenses showing a seating arrangement of 48 people and thereby are out of the ambit of the fire departments jurisdiction. The law needs to be revisited. Criteria for determining the number of seats should be made methodically, rather than leaving it up to the restaurants, Mishra said.

Cars parked in a haphazard manner at Khan Market. (Raj K Raj/HT photo)

In November last year, Delhi high court directed NDMC to reconsider its policy that exempts restaurants with a seating capacity of fewer than 50 persons from obtaining clearance under the Delhi Fire Service Act, observing that the eateries on the first-floor flats of the market are a disaster waiting to happen.

We are working on making changes to the policy so that fire clearance is made mandatory for all eateries in Khan Market. This is being done in compliance with high court orders. Inspections are also being done to check unapproved constructions, a senior NDMC official said.

In its order in October, the high court directed the NDMC and the Delhi Fire Service to decide within two months whether the first-floor flats that can cater to more than 50 persons qualify as assembly building and, if yes, whether these eateries satisfied all requirements, including fire safety norms.

NDMC cannot on the one hand assume the power to grant licence for using the premises as a restaurant/eatery and on the other hand absolve itself of responsibility to satisfy itself that restaurant does not pose a fire hazard to the safety of those patronising the same and that in the event of fire, proper measures for evacuation of the patrons therein and to prevent the fire from spreading to the entire market, exist, the court had said.

Fire officials say Khan Market has over the years become so congested that reaching there in the time of emergency is also a problem. Fire brigade response time will also get hindered due to this. There is no provision for fire exits, too, an official said.

The Khan Market Traders association had in 2013 moved Delhi high court against NDMC for allegedly not having implemented the redevelopment plan, which included a fire emergency plan, thereby putting lives of traders, shoppers and visitors at risk.

A team from IIT-Roorkee conducted a survey on the structural safety of the market almost 2 years ago as part of the Khan Market redevelopment project. The revamp proposal, however, is stuck.

We are scared. Khan Market is in a similar situation, too. Every year, the foundation of these buildings gets weaker and the load has increased manifold posing a grave danger to these structures.

Experts from IIT-Roorkee were hired by New Delhi Municipal Council two years back for advice on retrofitting of the old structures of this market established in 1950. However, we are yet to see any real action, Khan Market traders association president Sanjeev Mehra said.

Box

There are 156 shops and 74 residential spaces in Khan Market

Khan Market was set up as a neighbourhood market in 1950

It is one of the most expensive commercial spaces in the world

Of the 74 residential spaces on the first and second floors, 44 engage in commercial activities house 30 restaurants.

Another 10 eateries are located on the ground floor

Khan Market was initially meant for shops on the ground floor and residential flats on the first floor

In 2000, residential flats on the first floor were converted into commercial complexes

In the past few years, most restaurants have come up on the first and above floors

Fire officials say Khan Market has over the years become so congested that reaching there in the time of emergency is also a problem

The Khan Market Traders association had in 2013 moved Delhi high court against NDMC for allegedly not having implemented the redevelopment plan, which included a fire emergency plan, thereby putting lives of traders, shoppers and visitors at risk

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Union home ministry has accorded sanction to prosecute Rajendra Kumar, former principal secretary to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The ministry has also declined to entertain Kumars request for voluntary retirement from service given the pending prosecution.

The prosecution sanction is required under section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which says it is necessary for the prosecuting authority to have the previous sanction of the appropriate administrative authority for launching prosecution against a public servant.

Since the CBI had chargesheeted Rajendra Kumar without the sanction from the home ministry, the court cannot take cognizance of the chargesheet against him.

Prosecution sanction as well as denial of voluntary retirement has been formally communicated to authorities concerned, said a senior home ministry official.

The CBI in its chargesheet has alleged that accused persons, including Rajendra Kumar, entered into a criminal conspiracy to cause a loss of Rs 12 crore to the Delhi government in award of contracts between 2007 and 2015

Kumar, a1989-batch IAS officer, was arrested on July 4 by the CBI and later granted bail by a court on July 26.

"It is clear that they understand that the chargesheet filed is going to fail and, therefore, the only way to continue to threaten the people is to misuse the provisions of Criminal Procedure Code, Kumar had said in a recent blog post, rejecting the corruption charges against him.

He had also accused the CBI of harassing him, but the CBI in a statement denied the charge.

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The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has asked all shop owners in Connaught Place to get safety certificates from structural engineers.

This will include self declaration by the owners and attestation by the structural engineer that the particular shop space doesnt deviate from the sanctioned building plan and items on rooftop are there with necessary permission, an NDMC official said.

Read: Illegal renovation led to CPs Unplugged Courtyard roof collapse: Delhi Police

In case, any building is found dangerous further action will be taken as per provisions of NDMC Act 1994 in this regard.

The council has also formed 15 teams to take stock of condition of the buildings in Connaught Place to prevent any collapse like the two incidents which took place on February 2 and 10.

The teams, consisting of technical officers of different departments, will work under the overall supervision of chief engineers, chief architect, director and medical officer of health. The teams will submit their report within two days.

They will carry out visual inspection of the buildings to identify the structural stress, if any, and inspect the rooftops terrace of each premise, list out utilities like water storage (capacity), generators and other stacked material. Tentative estimate of load on each premises will also be assessed and signs of seepage or other factors leading to building deterioration will be identified, an official said, adding that the current use of the premises will also be inspected.

The council actions come after the roof of Unplugged Courtyard, a restaurant in L-Block, caved in on February 10  a few days after NDMC had banned dining on the terrace in Connaught Place due to safety concerns. Earlier, on February 2, a part of the roof in C block near the popular Jain Book Depot had also collapsed, raising concerns regarding safety of this 84-year-old shopping hub.

Read: After crackdown on CP rooftop restaurants, is Delhis Khan Market next?

After the first incident, the NDMC had also shut down the rooftop sections of 21 open-air restaurants. Unplugged Courtyard was on that list too, along with My Bar Headquarters, Warehouse Cafe in D-block, The Vault Cafe in F-block, Kinbuck-2 and Kitchen Bar in C-block, Lord of the Drinks, Open House Cafe, Jungle Jamboree, Boombox Cafe, Farzi Cafe, House of Commons, Hotel Palace Heights, Office Canteen Bar, Luggage Room, Cafe OMG, Barbeque Nation, TC Bar & Restaurant, Teddy Boy Restaurant and The Niche Restaurant and Cafe Public Connection.

Earlier on Monday, the NDMC suspended four engineers for dereliction of duty resulting in the two incidents. According to senior officials, they were responsible for monitoring the Connaught Place area.

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Congress MP Shashi Tharoors bungalow was burgled of six idols, an antique piece and copper spectacles in November 2016. One of Delhis oldest watch showrooms Gangoly Brothers was broken into and 600 expensive watches stolen in January 27. The common thread connecting the three crimes is that the Delhi Police have failed to nab the culprits.

Polices annual crime statistics show that 2,09,519 cases were registered in 2016 out of which 1,53,562, around 74%, remained unsolved. In 2015, the percentage of the unsolved cases was a little over 72%, when the city witnessed 1,91,377 crimes.

Among all heads, motor vehicle thefts, burglaries, house thefts and other thefts in 2016 had the highest unsolved percentage. Out of 38,644 vehicle thefts, the police could only solve 5,340 cases while 33,304 cases, around 87%, remain unsolved. Similarly, around 83% burglary cases reported last year had no breakthrough. As far as snatching cases were concerned, 6,207 out of 9,571 could not be solved in 2016.

The decline in the ability to solve cases directly affects the victims who not only lose their belongings but also their trust in policing. Sumana Vasishta, investment banker in West Delhis Janakpuri, too lost trust in Delhi Police when her purse containing credit cards was stolen in October last year.

I hoped of recovering it and filed an online FIR. But when the thief began using my cards, I received multiple SMSes about successful and failed transactions within a span of minutes. I called some senior officers and provided them the exact timing and locations of the business establishments where my cards were being used, she said. The thief was captured by multiple CCTV cameras, but the police showed little intent to catch him.

Asked why the proportion of unsolved cases went up in 2016, Dependra Pathak, Delhi Police spokesman said, Our area of focus remained heinous and street crimes such as robbery, murder, rape and extortion because they affect the victims in a bigger way. Other cases are also an area of concern for us. We have drawn strategies to curtail them.

Former Delhi Police commissioner Ajai Raj Sharma, however, has a different opinion. These cases are considered as petty but they are the stepping stone for bigger crimes. To control the crime rate, these cases have to be solved. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of staff and diversion of duties leads to poor detection rate.

Many police officers blame the new-age policing system for the trend. They say Delhi Polices mobile applications such as MV Theft, Lost and Found and Theft Apps allow an individual to file his e-FIR without any hassle and with just a click of a button. But auto-lifters, burglars and thieves know that such cases are not probed with seriousness, until and unless the case involves high-profile personalities.

After the launch of MV theft mobile application in 2015, the detection rate declined drastically from 14% to 4%. It happened because investigators adopted no-investigation strategy in such cases, as they knew the application automatically sends an untraced report to the complainant if no progress is made in the case for 21 days. The complainants too do not complain as the untraced case report is all they need to claim insurance money, said a senior police officer on the condition of anonymity.

Earlier, investigators used to physically conduct raids at all such places in Delhi and other states where stolen items are disposed of. A majority of the stolen vehicles are dismantled at illegal factories in Delhi and Meerut in Uttar Pradesh. Some stolen vehicles are sold as second-hand vehicles in northeastern states of India and Nepal. Stolen mobile phones and laptops are rarely recovered because thieves change even their IMEI numbers before selling them. Similarly, snatched or stolen jewellery are sold to jewellers who melt them to make solid gold, silver.

Rounding up habitual criminals, keeping a tab on their movements and activities constituted the traditional style of policing. Investigators rarely follow them now, another officer said.

The success rate in solving heinous cases, however, showed improvement in 2016 from 2015. Of the total 46 dacoity cases, only three remained unsolved. Twenty-three cases of kidnapping for ransom were registered in 2016, but 22 of them were solved by the police. Cases of rape went down from 2,199 in 2015 to 2,155 in 2016. Of the total rape cases registered last year, 1,864 were solved.
The Delhi high court on Tuesday stayed a controversial nursery admission notification by the AAP government that made 298 private unaided schools, built on public land, to accept admission forms based only on the neighbourhood or distance criteria.

Justice Manmohan termed the notification as arbitrary, unreasonable and against the public interest before ordering a stay on its application on the private unaided schools for this years nursery admission process.

Earlier, the court had directed the private schools to accept applications based on their own criteria as well as city administration guidelines. Tuesdays order will give the schools a free hand to admit toddlers using their own criteria.

State cannot impose a restriction on choice of parents to choose a school for their wards just because it is beneficial for the child, justice Manmohan remarked.

Around 150,000 aspirants vie for 125,000 seats every year but the process gets caught in last-minute litigation as either parents or schools go to court almost every year.

The court also questioned the city governments decision to impose the neighbourhood restriction to only those schools that are built on Delhi Development Authority land.

Public interest cannot be confined to 298 schools, justice Manmohan remarked adding, primary cause of nursery admission chaos is the lack of good schools in the capital.

The courts order came on pleas by the Action Committee for Unaided Recognised Private Schools  comprising more than 450 private unaided recognised schools in Delhi  and the Forum for Promotion of Quality Education and some parents challenging the governments January 7 notification.

The notification gave priority to those living within a radius of 1 kilometre. In case seats remained vacant, those living within a 3-kilometre radius could get a chance. Which meant these schools could no longer deny admission to anyone from the neighbourhood.

Earlier, the high court stayed city governments controversial nursery admission notification that made it mandatory for private unaided minority schools to admit students, in the unreserved category, on the basis of neighbourhood criteria.

The order gave relief to around 15 minority schools in the capital that were set up on public land.
A 45-year-old man from Darjeeling died in a scuffle with two men at Nangal Rai in west Delhi on Monday night. The

A 45-year-old man from Darjeeling died during a scuffle with two men at Nangal Rai in west Delhi on Monday night. The man, identified as Raju Darnal, ran a momos shop in the locality. Rais preliminary autopsy hinted that he died due to a cardiac arrest. The police, however, are waiting for the final report to ascertain the exact cause of death.

Police said, Darnal borrowed Rs 24,000 from one of the two men, identified as Chandan Kumar Pandey. Pandey had been asking him to return the money. But Darnal was delaying the payment. It had led to arguments between the two in the past.

On Monday night around 11, Pandey along with his friend Sumit arrived outside Darnals home and asked him to return his money. When Darnal told Pandey that he had no money, an argument broke out between them. Soon, they entered into a fight during which they punched and kicked each other.

During the scuffle, Darnal collapsed on the ground and fell unconscious. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors pronounced him dead on admission, said a senior police officer.

Vijay Kumar, deputy commissioner of police (west), said that they have registered a case of voluntarily causing hurt and wrongful restrain at the Mayapuri police station. We are waiting for the final autopsy report. Further action will be taken accordingly, said Kumar.

Pandey and Sumit were questioned by the police to ascertain the exact sequence of events that led to Darnals death. The family members of Darnal have sought action against the two and justice for their dear one.
Private schools in Delhi will now be free to set their own norms for nursery admissions with the Delhi High Court on Tuesday staying a state governments earlier notification making neighbourhood or distance the sole criterion.

The AAP government had made it mandatory for the 298 private unaided schools, built on public land allotted by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), to admit students in nursery only from their neighbourhood.

While issuing the notification, the government had invoked a clause in the allotment letter.

The court order has automatically reinstated the 20% management quota of the unaided schools.

The last day for submission of application for admission for the academic session 2017-18 is Tuesday.

Around 150,000 aspirants vie for 125,000 seats every year but the process gets caught in last-minute litigation as either parents or schools go to court almost every year.

The relief, however, could be temporary for the schools with the state government maintaining that from the next academic year it will implement the terms of the allotment letter.

We will respect the judgment of the court and give the relaxation this academic year. But before the next academic year we will come up with a legal provision to fulfil the terms of the allotment letter, said Atishi Marlena, advisor to the Education Minister Manish Sisodia.

Even the Supreme Court has time and again in various cases, including the Modern School and the fee-hike cases, stated that the directorate of education should ensure that terms of the allotment letter are fulfilled, she said.

The schools expectedly welcomed the courts verdict. They also said that parents will not have to fill application forms again in the wake of the courts order.

The list will be released on the basis of the application forms the parents have already submitted. There is no need for new forms, said Jyoti Arora of the Mount Abu Public School.

The fist list will be released on March 7.

Some parents though are disappointed by the stay, felt relieved that the confusion over the admission process is now over.

This governments rule increased the number of seats for general category students. Now the scenario will change. I can now hope to manage a seat for my child in any of the schools, said Latika Rathi, a resident of Chattarpur in south Delhi.

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On Thursday a criminal court dismissed corruption charges against Salem and former agriculture minister Youssef Wali, Al-Ahram Arabic reported.

The former minister was accused of selling 36 acres of land on Bayadeya island in the governorate of Luxor to Salem while he was in office for an undervalued price.

The prosecution had alleged that more than EGP 700 million of public funds were squandered in the case.

A number of other businessmen were also defendants in the case, which was dismissed by a Giza criminal court.

Salem, 82, fled to Spain shortly after Egypts 2011 revolution, which overthrew long-time president Hosni Mubarak. He has received two jail terms in absentia over corruption charges including squandering public funds, profiteering and money laundering.

In his reconciliation deal with the Egyptian government in 2016 the businessman tycoon and his family gave up EGP 5.3 billion, reportedly 75 percent of their wealth, including the Bayadeya island lands.



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A 40-year-old man who suspected his wife of having an extra marital affair beat her with a wooden stick for 12 hours, injected painkillers into her and when she died, beheaded her with a saw. The ghastly incident was reported from east Delhis Madhu Vihar on Friday night.

Police said Subodh Kumar, a plumber, planned to torture his wife and bought a wooden stick on Wednesday to beat her up. On Friday evening, he reportedly came home drunk and picked up an argument with her.

Sources said Subodh also has a second wife. He had two daughters from his first wife and a two-month old daughter from his second wife. All of them stayed in the Madhu Vihar house together.

He beat her all night

On Friday night, Subodh came home and asked his second wife to go inside a room with their child. He locked the door. He then called his first wife and asked her to name her lovers. When she told him that she had none, he started beating her up with the wooden stick, a senior police officer said.

Police said Subodh beat her up all night. He tortured her by beating her mercilessly with a stick. He refused to give her water and kept her awake for 12 hours. He smashed her head into the wall a dozen times till she started bleeding, a police officer said.

When his wife fainted and stopped screaming, he went to a local doctor, a quack, and asked him to inject painkillers.

He told us he was so angry that he could not stop beating her. When she fell silent, he went to the doctor. The woman, however, could not survive and succumbed to her injuries on Saturday morning, an investigator told HT.

Sources said his two daughters from the first wife were at home and when they intervened, he locked them up inside the same room where he had locked the second wife and child.

The plan

The next day Subodh allegedly planned to cut the body into pieces and then dump it at separate locations.

He told us that after he realised she has died, he made a plan to dispose of the body. He sent his second wife and daughters to Jharkhand and then returned to dissect the body. He took a saw he used for plumbing and cut the head off. He put it in a bag and was planning to dump it into the Yamuna, a police officer said.

By this time, the woman had already been dead for 72 hours, and a foul smell started emanating from the house. This prompted the neighbours to call the police.

The police broke open the door and found the dissected body inside.Subodh said he planned to dispose of the head in the Yamuna and then the limbs, arms, torso and legs at separate locations. He said he had bought separate bags to pack the body parts and planned to dispose them over a week so that he is not caught, an investigator said.

Subodh told the police that his first wife had started objecting to the presence of his second wife inside the house, which enraged him. He said the two women often fought with each other, a police officer said.

We have registered a case of murder and are questioning him. Investigation is on, Om Vir Singh, DCP East, said.

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A 34-year-old territorial army head constable allegedly killed himself using his service AK-47 assault rifle on Tuesday morning. The incident took place around 7.30 am at the Territorial Army headquarters located at Sher Shah Road near Delhi High Court, the police said.

The head constable was identified as Suneel Patole, a native of Nasik in Maharashtra.

Patole was posted in coy quarter master, 116TA para, at the Terrotorial Army headquarters.

The police said Patole was depressed because of some personal and family issues.

BK Singh, deputy commissioner of police (New Delhi), said a suicide note was recovered from Patoles possession. The note written in Marathi said he had some family problems and because of that he was taking the extreme step.

In the note, Patole has mentioned his bank account details and the code required for operating his account. He has written that he did not wish to work anymore, said Singh.

A senior police officer said the incident came to light when some colleagues of Patole heard gunshots and rushed to find Patole lying on the ground in a pool of blood.

Patole was rushed to the Armed Force Clinic, Dulhousie road, where he was declared brought dead, the officer said.
Teachers and students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Tuesday received support from Members of Parliament (MPs) from different political parties, in their protest against the new admission policy over seat cut.

The protesters were joined by Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, Communist Party of India leader D Raja, Janata Dal United (JDU) leader Ali Anwar Ansari and Communist Party of India (Marxist) A Sampath.

The MPs assured students and teachers that they will raise the issue in the next session of Parliament.

Read: JNU announces new admission policy amid student protest, teachers seek Presidents intervention

If people from every category cannot join JNU, then the character of JNU, the hopes with which Indira Gandhi started this university, it will fail its objective. If this issue is not resolved by the time Parliament convenes on March 9, then we all will fight your battle in Parliament, Singh said.

Raja said, We give our solid support all your demands. I support the demand raised by teachers and students.

The new policy puts a cap on the number of students each faculty have. Students and teachers claim this will lead to many schools and centers not taking any student for many years to come.

JNUTA president Ayesha Kidwai accused the VC of violating procedures while imposing the new policy. Two acts of the Parliament have been attacked. Procedures have been violated. All with the intention, that began last year, to shut down JNU. We are being attacked from within. We expect the MPs to take our protest to rest of the Parliament, she said.

Read: Students demands are unacceptable, says JNU VC Jagadesh Kumar

However, the VC had said all procedures were followed. The VC on Tuesday issued an appeal to the JNU community to save the university from detractors and agitators who appear hell bent upon making JNU dysfunctional.

This illegal occupation of the administrative building is a criminal offence since a government building is occupied and government employees are prevented from doing their duty by the agitating students, he said.

Meanwhile, Democratic Students Federation, a left-leaning students organization ran a signature campaign against the policy and collected close to 5000 signatures of JNU students.

We have collected 4,496 signatures of students which we have sent to the Presidents office. All of us want the President to intervene in the matter and annul wrongful adoption of the UGC 2016 notification as it leads to seat cut, said Pratim Ghosal, secretary DSF.
Jawaharlal Nehru University vice-chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar on Monday said the demands of agitating students are unacceptable as every university has to adopt the 2016 UGC gazette putting a cap on number of students a faculty can guide.

Students have been sitting in protest at the administrative building since Thursday and are demanding that the VC meets them to discuss their concern over seat cut in the university due to adoption of the UGC rules.

Students are adamant that we should not consider the 2016 UGC gazette. This is totally unacceptable. Because there are close to 800 universities and all have adopted it. JNU cannot differ because we get funding from same source, which is UGC, Kumar said on Monday.

Read: JNU announces new admission policy amid student protest, teachers seek Presidents intervention

The VC also warned that if students continue to remain adamant and disrupt the functioning of university then he will be forced to take appropriate action.

Let me tell you very firmly that law of the land will take its course. Preventing government official from doing their duty and occupying a government building is a criminal offence. We do not want our students to indulge in criminal offence and face the consequences, he said.

The VC said admission to MPhil and PhD prorgammes will depend on vacancies. As per the UGC gazette, a professor can guide 8 PhD students and 3 MPhil students while an associate professor can guide 6 and 2 students, and an assistant professor can guide 4 and 1 students, respectively.

PhD students can enrol only if there are vacancies. It is not a right that every student who is studying MA or MPhil will get into PhD. It is linked to the vacancies and that is linked to faculty number, he said.

Read: Missing JNU students mother to lead protest march on Sunday

JNU students union said the university has an integrated MPhil/PhD and promotion to PhD or second year of MPhil is based on grades scored in previous semester.

In no way can the JNU administration alter this criterion and bring in supervisor-scholar ratio as conditionality, said JNUSU general secretary Satarupa.

On the issue of already registered students, the VC said, After you adopt the UGC gazette there will be a transition periodone or two year. We will do everything possible so that interest of students already registered is protected.

The VC said a small section of students are spreading the rumour that there is going to be a large seat cut. It is totally unfound, he said.

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A truck driver, allegedly carrying beef and camel meat, was detained on Tuesday from northwest Delhis Keshav Puram area, police said.

The incident came to light on Tuesday morning after an activist associated with an NGO informed police after stopping the truck suspected to be carrying beef, they said.

It is suspected that the truck had come to the Jagdish cold storage located on Lawrence Road in Keshav Puram from Mewat region of Haryana, a police official said.

After news about the truck carrying meat spread, locals gathered outside the cold storage and staged a protest following which police force was deployed to ensure that the situation didnt go out of hand, he said.

A case on charges of mischief by killing or maiming cattle, and other charges under the Delhi Agriculture Cattle Preservation Act, 1994 has been registered, the official said.

The vehicle has been seized and the meat has been sent for the examination. The driver and helper of the truck have been detained. They used to work at the cold storage, he said, adding that the cold storage has been sealed.
As the Arvind Kejriwal government completes two years in office, a survey indicated that the Delhi government was able to achieve positive results in some key sectors such as healthcare, education, drinking water supply, power tariff and checking corruption.

The survey was conducted by LocalCircles, a community social media platform to understand how the citizens feel about the performance of the Aam Aadmi Party government. Over 20,000 people were asked different questions and total 45,000 votes received. Of the total respondents, 66% of the were male while the rest were female.

The findings show that Delhi citizens believed corruption in the government offices has somewhat reduced and the government schools are getting more funds and attention from the government. Water and electricity bills have also reduced and the Mohalla Clinics have made healthcare accessible to the poor.

Removing corruption was one of the most prominent electoral promises of AAP that has its genesis in the anti-corruption movement led by social activist Anna Hazare.

Of the total respondents, 61% said they did not need to pay a bribe to get their work done. Only 19% said that they had paid a bribe, with 20% citizens choosing not to answer the question, said Yatish Rajawat, Chief Strategy Officer, LocalCircles.

Around 41% respondents said water supply in their area had improved, whereas 44% were of the view that the situation is the same as it was two years back. On the other hand, 15% of them said it had gotten worse.

On power supply, 38% respondents said it has become better in their colonies, while 48% said it remained unchanged and 14% said power situation has deteriorated.

According to the study, majority of people believe the government did not make efforts to ensure ease of doing business and reduce pollution. People also think the state government was not able to deliver on curbing air pollution, one of the biggest health hazards in the Capital.

Despite decisions such as odd-even scheme and plan to make Connaught Place vehicle-free zone, majority of the respondents rated the efforts as poor. Only 13% citizens rated the governments measures as good, while 23% of those surveyed described them as average due to the poor implementation strategy. An overwhelming 63% marked them as poor, the findings show.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of India brought an end to a two-decade-old disproportionate assets case filed against the late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, her aide VK Sasikala, Sudhakaran and Ilavarasi. The two-judge apex court bench convicted Sasikala and the two to four years in prison and Rs 10 crore each.

The case has gone through many twists and turns: Seven years after it was filed, in 2003, the case was shifted from Tamil Nadu to neighbouring Karnataka. About 11 years later, the special court convicted Jayalalithaa and the three others. In 2015, the Karnataka High Court acquitted the accused and this was challenged by the Karnataka government in the Supreme Court. The apex courts 500-page judgment on Tuesday found incriminating evidence against the accused. However, the proceedings against the late chief minister were abated.

Read | The Tamil Nadu governor should immediately appoint K Palaniswami as CM

The Supreme Court verdict is good news on many counts. The most important is that it sends the message that the law will catch up with those who indulge in financial irregularities, no matter how powerful and politically well connected they are. On the political front, the verdict seals Sasikalas electoral chances and with that her ambitions of becoming the chief minister of the state for the next 10 years.

The legal options before her are limited: Sasikala can file a review petition, which will be heard by the two judges, and thereafter file a curative petition before the court. Sasikala could still run the AIADMK government from jail, if the faction loyal to her  led by Edappadi Palaniswamy  forms the government. But that will be unfortunate. It will reflect poorly on the party and above all, it will be injustice to those voters who have been against Sasikalas involvement in the party or government. Many have welcomed this judgment. This is a reflection of the anger against the way Sasikala had gone about taking over the power structure of the AIADMK and state government.

Read | Sasikalas conviction shows that those who come to serve should not serve themselves

Now that the Supreme Court has given its order, it is time to focus on governance. But for that to happen, Governor C Vidyasagar Rao must end the political stalemate and administrative uncertainty in the state. He must appoint the leader of AIADMKs legislature party as chief minister and ask him to face a floor test in the assembly.

At the time of going to press, Mr Rao had neither appointed a chief minister nor called for a floor test.
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, the organising institute for Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2017, has issued a notification saying that the answer keys of the test will be published on February 27, 2017 and they can challenged between March 3-6, 2017. The institute will declare the results of the test on March 27.

Meanwhile, candidates can view their response by login to : http://appsgate.iitr.ac.in/

IIT Roorkee has also said in the same notification that all excess payments received from GATE 2017 candidates have been refunded to their bank account/card from where payments were made. It has also asked candidates to send an email with details of their roll number, payment ID and Bank Reference No. and amount to gateiitr.2017@gmail.com with email subject Extra Payment Refund Request if they have not received all excess the payments.

Conducted by the Indian Institute of Science and the Indian Institutes of Technology, GATE scores are used for admission to MTech/PhD programmes in IITs, IISc and various other institutes. GATE is conducted in 23 disciplines of engineering and science subjects and identifies the candidates understanding of a subject and aptitude and eligibility for higher studies. GATE scores are also used as a criterion for recruitment in government organisations such as cabinet secretariat, and national and state public sector undertakings in India. Many GATE qualified candidates are paid scholarships/assistantship, especially funded by the ministry of human resources development and by other ministries. The GATE score of all qualified candidates is valid for three years.

The test, this year, was conducted on February 4, 5, 11 and 12.

If a candidate is to be selected through test/interview for postgraduate programmes, a minimum of 70% weightage will be given to the performance in GATE and the remaining 30% to the candidates performance in test/interview and/or academic record, as per MHRD guidelines. The admitting institutes could, however, prescribe a minimum passing percentage of marks in the test/interview. Some institutes specify GATE qualification as the mandatory requirement even for admission without MHRD scholarship/assistantship.

Note: Candidates should visit the GATE website regularly for updates.

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The setting up of a funding agency for universities and higher educational institutes or Higher Education Funding Agency (HEFA) and a National Testing Agency for entrance exams will hardly have an impact on the higher education system as the University Grants Commissions (UGC) has through the years lost most of its autonomy, an academic expert has said.

The alleged misuse of section 20(1) of the UGC Act by the HRD ministry, which makes it binding on the UGC to act on government directions, has disempowered it, alleges MM Ansari, former UGC member. The Distance Education Council was transferred from Indira Gandhi National Open University to UGC (when it required amendments in both the UGC Act and Ignou Act) and the four-year undergraduate programme of Delhi University was scrapped. HEFA has the mandate for funding select public and private institutions, but where is HEFA? he asks.

Under section 20 (1) of the UGC Act, the Commission is bound to follow the diktat of the government, mainly in the matter of providing policy guidance. However, under this provision, functional autonomy of the UGC is totally compromised due to its misuse by the Central bureaucracy. This section has been used undemocratically and illegally to bypass the Commission. As a result, it has failed to ensure transparency and objectivity in its decision-making processes as well as implementation of its regulatory guidelines, adds Ansari.

In fact, Ansari in a presentation before the Hari Gautam Committee set up to assess UGCs status had said UGCs funding role, particularly in respect of state universities, had been taken over by the HRD ministry, which in turn had undermined the role and responsibility of UGC for disbursement of grants to universities. The committee had also recommended revamping of the UGC but the report is not in the public domain.There was undue duplication of roles and efforts in funding of universities by the HRD ministry and UGC, Ansari had told the committee. He had also called for greater clarity in sources and methods of funding of universities fix accountability and to seek value for money.

In the last Budget, the government had promised to establish HEFA for supporting 10 universities each from the public and private sector to make them world-class institutions. The government has forgotten about it and no one knows what happened to HEFA, Ansari says.

Funding by the UGC also totals a mere one-third of expenditure of Central institutions. It will hardly have any impact on the higher education system. More than half of Central universities and other institutions like IITs and IIMs established in the last five years have hardly been operational. They continue to suffer due to lack of infrastructure, including shortages of staff to the extent of 40% to 50%. The government is silent on these issues, Ansari says.

The Centre, last year, had announced the setting up of HEFA to give a major push for creation of high quality infrastructure in premier educational institutions.

The HEFA will be promoted by the ministry of human resource development (MHRD) with an authorised capital of Rs 2,000 crore. The government equity will be Rs 1,000 crore. The HRD ministry will leverage this equity to raise up to Rs 20,000 crore for funding projects for infrastructure and development of world-class labs in IITs, IIMs, NITs and such other institutions.

All Centrally-funded higher education institutions will be eligible for joining as HEFA members. Some experts have welcomed these proposed moves and the existing issues related to formation of a National Testing Agency, central depository for degrees, creation of education funding agency or the general revamp of UGC .

Ashok Thakur, former secretary to the government of India, department of higher education, HRD ministry, has pointed to the positives announced in the recent budget. HEFA and a National Testing Agency will free the UGC to apply its energies solely on regulatory aspects without getting distracted by funding matters which are purely administrative and routine.

The National Commission for Higher Education and Research Bill has proposed that instead of UGC, one single regulator be created in the higher education domain in the country instead of 13 at present. As for general revamping of UGC, no major enactment of legislation is required. All that is needed is to appoint only persons of stature and academic excellence as chairperson and members of the Commission which alone will pave the way of autonomy and re-visioning of the apex higher education regulatory body, says Thakur.

In his presentation before the Hari Gautam Committee, Ansari had also pointed out legal flaws in the composition of the Commission. Of all the national commissions in the country, UGC is the only Commission which is functioning without the support of full-time executive members for regulating and for providing funding support to the second largest education system of the world. Clearly, it suffers from deficiencies in organisational structure because of which it is unable to respond to emerging challenges in the field of higher education and research, Ansari had said.

Keeping in mind these issues, Thakur says immediate steps should be taken to deal comprehensively with the issue of accreditation and making it autonomous of UGC, cleaning up the process of setting up and running state private universities and deemed-to-be universities (including the appointment of its boards, vice chancellors and faculty) are some of the steps that are necessary.

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The Embassy of Japan in India has started inviting applications for the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET Programme).

The JET programme is an opportunity for young college graduates to assist with international exchange and foreign language education throughout Japan as either assistant language teachers (ALTs) or coordinators for international relations (CIRs).

Founded by the Japanese government in 1987 to help promote internationalisation with rural Japan, JET began with less than 100 participants but has grown to become one of the largest cultural exchange programmes in the world. Today, the programme has more than 4,000 current participants and over 60,000 alumni.

JET programme participants travel to Japan as representatives of their home countries and play an integral role in helping to promote grassroots internationalization and understanding. This year, the Japanese government is going to recruit JET participants from India. A candidate can apply for either the ALT or CIR position (only one of the two; not both).

An ALT is placed mainly in a local board of education or elementary, junior high, and senior high school.

ALT selected from India this time is to be placed in Hyogo Prefecture. A CIR is placed in international exchange departments or bureaus of contracting organisations. CIR selected from India this time is to be placed in Toyama Prefecture. CIR applicants must be from Andhra Pradesh (by birth or have lived/living in the state).

Application deadline is March 7, 2017. The first stage of screening process (written applications) will be conducted between March and April. The second stage of screening process (interviews) will also be conducted during this period.

The pre-departure orientation, preparation, etc will be conducted in June-July. Selected candidates will arrive in Japan by July 30.
Nine new ministers were appointed, although the sovereign ministries of defence, foreign affairs, interior and justice were not affected

Egypt's parliament has voted in favour of a long-touted cabinet reshuffle, approving the appointment of nine new cabinet ministers, mainly in ministries related to public services and the economy.

The reshuffle includes new ministers for the portfolios of agriculture, parliamentary affairs, local development, planning and administrative reform, education, higher education, and transport.

The ministries of supply and of internal trade and industry were also merged, as were the ministries of investment and international cooperation.

Parliamentary speaker Ali Abdel-Aal told MPs in a plenary session on Tuesday afternoon that he had received a letter from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi informing him that a limited cabinet reshuffle had been introduced and that parliament should vote on this reshuffle in line with Article 147 of the constitution.

Abdel-Aal indicated during the session that the reshuffle represents the first application of Egytpt's new mixed presidential-parliamentary system.

The speaker also said the approval vote was in line with Article 147 of the constitution, which stipulates that the reshuffle must be approved by a third of MPs, or at least 200 MPs.

Prime Minister Sherif Ismail was also in attendance during the vote session.

New faces

Abdel-Aal read out the list of the new cabinet ministers during the session, along with details from their curricula vitae.

Hesham El-Sherif, a former head of the Cabinet's Information and Decision Support Centre (IDSC) thinktank, was appointed minister of local development, replacing Ahmed Zaki Badr.

Hala El-Said, an MP and professor of economics at Cairo University, became minister of planning, follow-up and administrative reform in place of Ashraf El-Arabi.

Abdel-Moneim El-Banna, head of the Agricultural Research Centre, was appointed minister of agriculture in place of Essam Fayed. 

Former judge Omar Marawan was appointed minister of parliamentary affairs in place of Magdi El-Agati.

MP and Mubarak-era minister of social solidarity, Ali El-Moselhi, was named minister of supply and internal trade in place of Mohamed Ali El-Moselhi (no relation), former minister of supply. After the merge of the internal trade portfolio with the supply ministry and Tarek Qabil, remains the minister of industry and external trade.

Khaled Atef Abdel-Ghaffar, the head of Menoufiya University, was appointed minister of higher education in place of Ashraf Shiha.

Tarek Galal Shawki became minister of education in place of El-Hilali El-Sherbini.

Hesham Arafat was appointed minister of transport in place of Galal Saeed.

Contrary to media expectations and parliamentary demands, the cabinet reshuffle did not see the departure of Minister of Health Ahmed Emadeddin, Minister of Culture Helmi El-Namnam, and Minister of Religious Endowments Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa.

The four "sovereign" cabinet ministers  Minister of Defence Sedki Sobhi, Minister of Interior Magdi Abdel-Ghaffar, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry, and Minister of Justice Hossam Abdel-Reheim  kept their posts. 

The reshuffle also saw the appointment of three ministerial deputies  Mohamed Abdel-Tawab, Mona Mehrez, Safwat Abdel-Hamid  for the minister of agriculture and one ministerial deputy  Salah Abdel-Rahman  for the minister of planning.

The new ministers are:

Sahar Nasr - minister of investment and international cooperation (a merger of two separate ministries)

Abdel-Moneim El-Banna  minister of agriculture, replacing Essam Fayed

Omar El-Khattab Arafa  minister of parliamentary affairs, replacing Magdy El-Agati

Ali El-Sayed Mosselhi  minister of supply and trade (a merger of two separate ministries)

Mohamed Hesham Zein El-Abdein El-Sherif  minister of local development, replacing Ahmed Zaki Badri

Hala Helmy El-Saeed Younis  minister of planning and administrative reform, replacing Ashraf El-Arabi

Khaled Atef Abdel-Ghaffar  minister of higher education and scientific research, replacing Ashraf El-Sheehy

Tarek Galal Shawki Ahmed Shawki  minister of education, replacing El-Hilali El-Sherbeeni

Hesham Arafat Mahdi Ahmed  minister of transportation, replacing Galal El-Said

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Bar and pub owners affected by the Supreme Court directions to ban sale of liquor within 500 metres of state and national highways are using different means for measuring the distance after the advocate general of Haryana clarified that motorable, and not aerial distance, would be the yardstick.

With a number of bars and restaurants falling in the red zone, the affected owners are making their staff measure the distance from the edge of the highway to the establishment or using Google Maps to find out if they would be impacted by the ban.

The advocate general was asked to clarify the Supreme Court judgment after bar/pub owners questioned its purview.

Read: 34 top-end pubs, bars in Gurgaons CyberHub could go dry from April 1

Although the bar and pub owners have decided to file a public interest litigation seeking relief from the Supreme Court order, they are also trying to ascertain whether their property is safe or not.

We have calculated the motorable distance using Google Maps, and Star Mall, Sector 30, is 900 metres from the main carriageway. So we are safe, said RN Rathi, director of Nainkasi brewery in Sector 30.

Read: SC liquor ban that may hit CyberHub evokes strong reactions in Gurgaon

Many of the pubs and bar owners have roped in technical persons to find out the distance from the edge of the highway to their establishments. I am planning to hire a team of technical persons and I also get legal advice on the issue. Our bar is on the edge of the 500 metre area. But it is in the heart of a large market and it would be inappropriate to close it, said an owner requesting anonymity.

Another owner is factoring the distance from the edge of the highway by taking into account the U-turn and the distance travelled in both directions to reach the bar in Sector 15 Part 2. Even more worried are the bar and pub owners in the CyberHub where there is confusion whether the edge of the highway is to be calculated from the main causeway or the service lane.

We assume that we are safe as the DLF CyberHub is 513 metres from the highway and many would be even more farther. The excise department had come to measure the distance, though they have not disclosed to us what the status is, said Arvind Kumar GM, The Wine Company, CyberHub.

Aruna Singh, deputy excise and taxation officer, Gurgaon, said, We have started measuring the distance and the process is still ongoing. The licences have to be renewed after March 31 and we still have time to complete the survey.

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Actor Ryan Reynolds celebrated the one year anniversary of his 2016 superhit Deadpool by sharing an advertisement-like photo of toilet paper, with dirty jokes printed all over it.

The 40-year-old star took to Instagram to share an image of what can only be described as a pack of toilet paper with his face on it.

One year ago today, we released Deadpool. And the gift for a one year anniversary, is of course, paper. A post shared by Ryan Reynolds (@vancityreynolds) on Feb 12, 2017 at 9:39am PST

The photo featured Deadpool-brand toilet paper with promotional lines, such as Ultra Soft and 60 Percent More Sheets! See if you can spot all the jokes.

One year ago today, we released Deadpool. And the gift for a one year anniversary, is of course, paper, Reynolds captioned the picture.

Reynolds is now set to reprise his role as the Merc with a Mouth in Deadpool 2, which will hit the US theatres on March 2 2018.

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Actor Tom Cruise, who lost his mother, Mary Lee South, last week, attended her memorial service at her local Church of Scientology.

The Mission: Impossible stars mother died peacefully in her sleep after battling health issues at the age of 80.

Cruise, 54, was joined by his three sisters, Lee Ann DeVette, 57, Cass Mapother, 55, and Marian Henry, 52, as well as other family and friends, reported People magazine.

South, who split from Toms father, Thomas Cruise Mapother III, in 1974, was using a walker and looked thinner than usual when she was last seen in Clearwater, Florida in May 2016.

RIP. Our thoughts are with #TomCruise and his family during this difficult time. Link in bio has the sad details. (: Getty Images) http://bit.ly/2lItyBo A post shared by @closerweekly on Feb 13, 2017 at 2:54pm PST

Our hearts go out to #TomCruise following the sad news of his beloved mother Mary Lee South passing away at the age of 80. For more head to the #linkinbio A post shared by Woman's Day Magazine Australia (@womansdayaus) on Feb 13, 2017 at 2:21pm PST

#tomcruise #maryleepfeiffer #cruiser #forever #love# A post shared by Tom Cruise Forever (@cruiser.forever) on Feb 13, 2017 at 11:44pm PST

#TomCruise mother #MaryLeePfeiffer died at 80 #RIP A post shared by BUNNY (@ray_ferrier) on Feb 13, 2017 at 7:43pm PST

Cruise, along with his mom moved to New Jersey when he was 16, after she got married to John Jack South in 1978.

The actor had a close relationship with his mom and she often attended his premieres.

The 54-year-old actor developed his passion for acting from his mom, who was a special-education teacher.

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Hardik Patel is in a tearing hurry. He might be too young to contest elections but the 23-year-old is fast adapting to a politicians life starched white shirts have replaced the trademark yellow and orange T-shirts, selfie and camera poses are struck in a jiffy and quotes from leaders such as Jyotiba Phule and Bal Thackeray pepper his speeches.

Only two things of the fast-maturing leader is reminiscent of his fiery past as the leader of raucous Patidar quota protests two years ago: A revolver dangling from his waist and a sword under his seat when he travels.

In the last two years I have learnt not to trust anyone, says Hardik, sitting in the front passenger seat white Toyota Fortuner, a sober Titan watch on his left arm.

He is on a breakneck tour of Gujarat since he was allowed into the state in January after a six-month exile following sedition charges. He has travelled some 20,000 kilometres and wants to cover all 18,000 villages in Gujarat before polls by year-end.

His mission is to secure OBC quota for Patidars and dislodge the BJP after over two decades in the prime ministers home state. He is a one-man army  fixing his own appointments, making travel plans, arranging logistics, writing speeches and managing social media.

His only permanent companion is aide Ravi Patel. Everyone else from the initial team has split. I no more make any permanent team, Hardik adds.

He has started to only use WhatsApp. I have learnt to play safe, he says, recalling the two sedition cases slapped on him based on call recordings with members of his outfit Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS).

The first stop of the day is his home is around 11 am at Zalawadi Patidar Samaj Society in Viramgam town, 50km from Ahmedabad. Hardik is visibly happy at coming home only for the third time since January 17.

Bhakri (a Gujarat bread) is the best breakfast. It keeps you going the whole day. In a huge frame hanging in the hall, a morphed image portrays Hardik alongside a lion, the image he projects at rallies now.

A large number of people attended Hardik Patels rally at Dhrangdhra on Saturday. (HT Photo)

This is my father Bhartbhai and mother, he settles on the floor for breakfast after a short introduction of parents. My grandfather wears dhoti, my father likes trousers and I prefer jeans. This development is not because of (Narendra) Modi.

What about the luxury cars that dot his cross-Gujarat cavalcade? Just a help from a well-wisher, he says.

As he starts again for Dhrangadhra half an hour later, a black Tata Safari carrying his core team joins him. I would not like to name them to protect their identity, he quips as the two cars communicate the route through walkie-talkie. We take interior roads so that no one comes to know about our plan, says Hardik.

On the way, Hardik quotes Jyotiba Phule, Bhagat Singh and Bal Thackarey, founder of the Shiv Sena that has pledged support to him. I read them during nine months in Surat jail, he says, comfortably positioning himself for cameras while managing two iPhones.

Hardik Patel with Ravi having Bhakhri for breakfast at his home in Viramgam. (HT Photo)

At Vasavada village, some 15 km from the destination, a group of bikers welcome him with flowers. The cavalcade swells as bikers, an Audi, a Honda City and a mini truck carrying a sound system join in playing a Gujarati song on Bollywood beats  Patel maare entry to dole aakhi country (Patel rocks the whole country with his entry). Jitu Patel, a young biker, starts filming Hardik on his mobile phone from his moving bike with one hand on the handle.

Soon, men, women and children come forward for selfies and handshake as Hardik balances himself on the SUVs sidestep. Four men travelling in Safari now play guards standing two each on both sidesteps as the contingent starts taking more breaks to oblige villagers alongside the highway showering flowers on his moving vehicle. Around 1pm, Hardik enters Dhangadhra with more than 1,000 two-wheelers and cars in tow. As locals throng the two-lane roads to catch a glimpse, he asks his friend-cum-driver Akshay to slow down where women or elders wanted to welcome him.

But he is annoyed. Why has the DJ stopped playing music? he asks. When told it was on instructions of a police team that joined him at Dhangadhra, he reacts, Permission or no permission, when I am around, dont worry.

But suddenly, the revelry is disturbed as someone from the crowd pushes towards the car and tries to hit him. He escapes an injury by a whisker.

His supporters in other cars are out with batons in no time. Ravi, inside his SUV, checks the revolver and gets ready. While his SUV moves on, his supporters reportedly thrash the attacker, said to be a BJP worker.

Hardik Patel during a rally in Dhrangdhra, Gujarat. (Siddharaj Solanki/HT Photo)

The scuffle, however, has no impact on Hardik. He asks Ravi to bring the camera storage card from a young man clicking his photographs sitting atop another SUV. Ravi downloads the Dhrangadhra rally pictures and sends them to Hardik, who then uploads them on Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp, without any mention of the incident.

The cavalcade, now almost 2-km-long, reaches Naarichaani village around 5pm where Hardik addresses a public meeting.

Is anyone among you a PSI (police sub-inspector), talati or mamlatdar (district administrative posts)? No? This is why we need reservation, he tells a 2,000-strong crowd.

Narendra Modi credits himself for Gujarats development. But it is we who have elected them and developed Gujarat. He adds, Im not afraid of General Dyer (as he refers to BJP chief Amit Shah). Im ready to go to jail again if you all join hands to defeat those who have failed us.

After his 30-minute speech, Hardik visits a local temple before winding up his tour. A month later, I will take you to another public meeting. It will have banners, sound system and all other arrangements that you see at Modis rallies. I am doing a research on that, Hardik tells HT on his way back to Ahmedabad.

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Top military contractors from countries across the world have firmed up plans to tap new business opportunities under the Modi governments Make in India initiative at the Aero India-2017, Asias biggest air show that opens in the outskirts of Bengaluru on Tuesday.

The five-day event will see firms from Russia, Europe, Israel and the United States  among others  hardselling their latest armament technologies to India in the hope of partnering with indigenous companies for setting up manufacturing bases that would cater to the militarys future requirements.

The Make in India plan seeks to cut the countrys dependence on imported weapons and position the country as a hub of defence manufacturing.

India signed 51 contracts valued at Rs 1.16 lakh crore with foreign vendors for buying weapons and equipment, compared to 90 deals worth Rs 83,344 crore inked with Indian suppliers, in the last three years. The defence ministry has also accorded its acceptance of necessity  the first step towards making an acquisition  for 85 projects worth Rs 1.6 lakh crore in the last two years. Many of these projects come under the Make in India plan.

An Airbus spokesperson said strengthening Make in India partnerships would be the groups main focus at the air show. The future of Indian aerospace and defence industry rests on the realisation of the Make in India vision, said Pierre de Bausset, who heads Airbus India.

Airbus has partnered with the Tata Advanced Systems Limited to set up a final assembly line for C295W military transport planes in the country. The C295Ws will replace the Indian Air Forces ageing Avro fleet as part of a $2-billion programme for 56 new planes. While 16 of these will come in a flyaway condition, the remaining will be built in India.

Airbus has also tied up with Mahindra Defence for manufacturing military helicopters. The group aims to make India the global hub for manufacturing AS565 Panther helicopters for catering to domestic as well as international markets.

British engine maker Rolls-Royce will also pursue opportunities to co-create, co-develop and co-manufacture high-end products in India in collaboration with local partners. Aero India highlights the complete spectrum of the countrys aerospace and defence interests. For us, this is a significant platform to showcase our continued commitment to support Indias future indigenisation and self-reliance ambitions, said Rolls-Royce India and South Asia chief Kishore Jayaraman.

The company will exhibit the Adour Mk951 engine, which powers the latest variant of the Hawk aircraft. The IAFs Jaguar fighter planes have been flying with Rolls-Royce Adour Mk811 engines since 1981.

European missile maker MBDA also believes that the Make in India initiative holds potential. It has offered to share its latest guided missile system technology with India, and will pitch for it again at the air show.

The IAFs latest Rafale fighters will be equipped with the MBDA-built Meteor Beyond Visual Range missiles, whose no-escape zone is touted to be three times greater than that of current medium-range air-to-air missiles. It has a range of 150 km. The French aircraft will also be equipped with the MBDAs Storm Shadow/SCALP missile, which can hit targets at a range of 560 km.

The air show will also bear witness to the Defence Research and Development Organisation delivering the countrys first indigenous airborne early warning and control system (AEW&C) to the IAF in initial operational clearance configuration, bringing it a step closer to induction.

An Embraer-145 plane mounted with AEW&C systems took part in the Republic Day parade for the first time last month. India inked a $208-million deal for three Brazil-built Embraer-145 planes in 2008 as part of a DRDO programme to scale up the IAFs AEW&C capabilities. The deal made headlines last year over kickback allegations.

The air show comes a fortnight after India allocated Rs 2.74 lakh crore for defence spending through 2017-18, a marginal increase over last years budget of Rs 2.58 lakh crore. The spending includes Rs 86,488 crore for the militarys modernisation.

The budget, excluding defence pensions, has gone up by 6%. However, experts feel it is insufficient to meet the needs of the armed forces.
As VK Sasikalas dreams of a political career were shattered on Tuesday after a Supreme Court bench held her guilty of corruption in a 21-year-old disproportionate assets case, the beach resort Golden Bay where most of the AIADMK MLAs are camping continues to be a site of extreme scrutiny.

Read more | Sasikala case: Stunned silence at Kovathur resort, celebration at OPS home

Conflicting reports are emerging on whether the MLAs are being held against their wishes or not.

On Monday, Kancheepuram police reported to the Madras high court that the 129 MLAs showed no sign of being held against their will, resulting in the court adjourning the case.

However, numerous missing complaints have been filed across Tamil Nadu, either by relatives of the MLAs or their families.

Follow | Live: Jayalalithaas niece Deepa joins Panneerselvam at memorial, Sasikala leaves resort

AIADMK MLA Saravanan, from Madurai (South), claimed on Monday that he had to escape Golden Bay to join Panneerselvam.

I had to change my clothes and climb a wall, the legislator said after he arrived at the caretaker CMs residence. I had to leave before Sasikala reached, he added.

Saravanan claimed that the MLAs are being held against their wishes, and that their phones have either been taken away from them or have been switched off by private guards employed by Sasikala.

Read more | Pervading pestilent presence: 5 quotes from Sasikala DA verdict thatll awe you

An AIADMK leader in the Panneerselvam camp, who did not wish to be named, said that the caretaker CM is aware of the issues and is in contact with some of the MLAs at the Koovathur resort, but refused to clarify how he is in touch as the phones have been taken away.

At least 800 policemen and teams from the Rapid Action Force have been deployed at the Golden Bay resort. Sasikala is also staying there along with her family members.

A senior AIADMK member told HT that Sasikala was furious after the verdict was pronounced, and immediately went into an emergency meeting with several key members of her camp, including Palanisamy and Dindigul Sreenivasan.

Police have received directions to begin evacuating the MLAs but are yet to act against them.

The MLAs had earlier declared that they would not leave until Governor C Vidyasagar Rao visited them.

Tamil Nadu DGP TK Rajendran, who briefed the governor and Chennai police commissioner S George about the law and order situation, will take the final decision.

Read| Sasikala DA case: A timeline
The BJP is cheering AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikalas conviction in a corruption case, which brings to an abrupt end her bid to be the chief minister of Tamil Nadu.

Sasikala, a confidante of late chief minister J Jayalaithaa for more than 30 years, was perceived to be close to the Congress. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah suspected that her husband M Natarajan was working at the behest of the Congress, sources said.

They didnt want the state, which is vital to its calculation in Parliament, to be led by a person close to the main opposition party especially after their cordial ties with Jayalalithaa.

It is a serious blow to Sasikala. It is also introspection time for the AIADMK, BJP general secretary P Muralidhar Rao, also party incharge for Tamil Nadu, told HT.

After Jayalalithaas death on December 5, O Panneerselvam, who was named her successor, suspected that Sasikala would try to usurp the party as well as the government. He spoke about it to some top BJP leaders, sources said.

The fears were not unfounded.

Sasikala, a former video parlour who wielded immense clout due to her close ties with Jayalalithaa, was made the AIADMK general secretary on December 29.

On February 5, she was named the legislature party leader that cleared her way to the states top job, forcing Panneerselvam to rise in revolt two days later.

But much to Saiskalas dismay, governor C Vidyasagar Rao was in no rush to invite her to form the government.

The governor was right in waiting for the judgment, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said on Tuesday after the Supreme Court ordered Sasikalas arrest in the disproportionate assets case.

Irrespective of what happens next in Tamil Nadu, the BJP is sensing a few opportunities.

As a parting shot, Saiskala expelled Panneerselvam and made a Jayalalithaa loyalist, Edappadi K Palaniswami, the CM nominee. But, the BJP remains hopeful of a positive outcome during a floor test.

If Sasikala faction is going to form the government, they will not be on good terms with the Centre. The NDA will lose favour with the Sasikala faction. They see the present turmoil in Tamil Nadu as the doing of the Centre, said Dr R Manivannan, who heads the department of politics and public administration at University of Madras.

The BJP as well as the Modi government see immediate gains in Panneerselvam.

The BJP doesnt have the numbers to get its nominee elected the president when Pranab Mukherjees term runs out in July. AIADMK support will be crucial.

The AIADMK has 13 members in the Rajya Sabha, where the ruling coalition is in a minority. The lack of numbers has hurt Prime Minister Narendra Modis economic agenda, with several bills failing to make a headway.

Politically, a weak Dravidian party suits the BJP, which is trying to gain a toehold in the state.

There will be no AIADMK leader who has the political strengthen or moral conviction to stand up against the BJP at the Centre. In Tamil Nadu, no party that wants to win will have an alliance with the BJP. Only a weak party will have an alliance with the BJP, said AR Venkatachalapathy, a professor at Chennai-based Madras Institute of Development Studies.

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Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has no interest to interfere in the ongoing political tussle in Tamil Nadu, adding that Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao will act on his discretion.

The Centre has no role to play. The Governor will take decision based on situation. The BJP has no interest to interfere, Naidu told the media.

Read: BJP cheers Sasikalas conviction in corruption case, pins hope on Panneerselvam

Earlier in the day, AIADMK general secretary V.K. Sasikala Natarajan suffered a major jolt after the Supreme Court upheld the trial courts judgment convicting her in the 19-year-old disproportionate assets case against her.

Former Tamil Nadu chief minister late J. Jayalalithaa, along with Sasikala and two others were involved in the case.

The Bengaluru trial court had convicted Jayalalithaa on September 27, 2014 and ordered her four years of imprisonment along with Rs. 100 crore fines, with Rs. 10 crore fine on the other three.

The conviction disqualified her as an MLA requiring her to step down as the chief minister.

She, however, returned as the chief minister after Karnataka High Court on May 11, 2015 acquitted her and the others in the case.

Read: AIADMK after Amma: All you need to know about the origin of the OPS-Sasikala war
The Border Security Force (BSF) on Tuesday claimed to have detected another trans-border tunnel, this time in Ramgarh sub sector of Samba district. The discovery effectively foiled a possible infiltration bid by terrorists into India.

In view of security scenario in the past few months on international border of Jammu region and after assessing various threats from Pakistani side, Border Security Force had taken various innovative measures to ensure foolproof security. In this context, an anti-tunnel exercise is being carried out regularly along the border, said BSF Jammu Frontier DIG D Pareekh.

Trans-border tunnel, detected by BSF in Ramgarh sub sector of Samba district. (HT Photo)

On Monday, a BSF patrol specifically tasked to detect tunnels, came across the subway in Ramgarh sector, Pareekh said.

The tunnel of approximately 20 meters in length with a circumference of 2.5 feet by 2.5 feet originated from Pakistani side and ended 20 metres ahead of the barbed border fence in Indian territory, he added.

The officer said that the tunnel was yet to be completed and was detected before it reached the fence.

Efforts of alert BSF troops deployed in our multi-tier counter-infiltration grid once again resulted in neutralizing another attempt of Pakistan Rangers in connivance with terrorists to send them into India for terror attacks, Pareekh said.

Highlights On July 28, 2012 a trans-border tunnel from Shakkargarh area on Pakistan side had entered 540 meters inside the Indian Territory but had caved in due to rains in Chachwal Village of Samba district.  On August 23, 2014 Indian troops had detected another trans-border tunnel that ran 50 meters inside the Indian territory in Chakla area near Munawar Tawi in Akhnoor.  On March 3 last year, another trans-border tunnel originating from Pakistan was detected 30 metres inside the Indian Territory near Allah Mai De Kothe post of the BSF in RS Pura sector of Jammu district.

For the past few years Pakistan has been adopting the tunnel strategy to push terrorists into Jammu.

Pakistans trans-border tunnels have been found largely in the plains of Jammu from Chilyari in Samba district to RS Pura and Pallanwala areas of Jammu district.

It is the fourth such tunnel found on the border since July 2012, exposing Pakistans sinister game plan of trying to push ultras into Jammu and Kashmir for staging terror attacks.

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday restored a trial court direction to confiscate properties allegedly registered in the name of six firms, following the conviction of AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala and others in the disproportionate assets case.

A bench comprising justices PC Ghose and Amitava Roy refused to agree with the submission given by the companies that their properties cannot be confiscated without hearing them, as they have not been placed as accused.

The decisions cited on behalf of the respondents (Sasikala and others) on this issue, are distinguishable on facts and are of no avail to them, the apex court said.

The firms, which found mention in the trial court records, are Lex Property Development, Meadow Agro Farms Ltd, Riverway Agro Products Pvt Ltd, Ramraj Agro Mills Ltd, Signora Business Enterprises Pvt Ltd and Indo Doha Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd.

The companies claimed that they are lawful owners of some of the properties which have found mention in the list of assets in the case.

The firms claimed that they have been deprived of their right to be heard in the proceedings leading to confiscation of their assets.
Minister of supply and commerce - Ali Moselhi

Ali El-Sayed Moselhi, who is from the city of Abu Kabir in Sharqiya governorate, graduated from the Military Technical College in 1971. In 1980, he received a PhD in microchip design from France's Ecole Polytechnique.

He headed the computer section at Egypt's Military Technical College until 1991 when he moved to an IT company in the private sector.

In 1999, he was appointed head adviser for the minister of telecommunications and IT. In 2002, he was appointed as Egypt Post's CEO. In December 2005, the former member of Mubaraks National Democratic Party was appointed social solidarity minister.

In the same year, he was elected MP for his hometown, Abu Kabir. He was relected in 2010.

Moselhi left the ministry of social solidarity in January 2011 following the start of the uprising against Mubarak and his regime. In late 2011, Moselhi ran for parliamentary elections in his town, but he failed in the runoffs.

After the ouster of Islamist president Morsi in July 2013, Moselhi returned to the political scene as one of the co-founders of the Egyptian Patriotic Movement Party along with former presidential candidate and prime minister Ahmed Shafiq.

He ran for parliamentary elections in 2015 in an independent seat in his hometown and won in the runoffs. In January 2016, the former Mubarak minister became head of the parliamentary economic committee, as he was its oldest member.

Moselhi will now head the ministry of supply and internal trade, a new ministry resulting from the merger of the supply ministry with the internal trade portfolio, taken from the former trade and industry ministry.

Minister of local development - Hisham El-Sherif

Hisham El-Sherif has roots in Sohag, Upper Egypt.

The IT expert gradiated from Egypt's Military Technical College with a bachelors degree in electronic engineering in 1971.

He received a masters degree from the University in Alexandria then a PhD in decision support systems from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1983.

He founded the Egyptian Cabinets Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC) thinktank in 1990 and headed it until 1999.

El-Sherif also founded a number of companies and ventures in the IT field including Nile Online (NOL) in 1999. He also founded the Regional IT institute RITI in 1999, and has still heads the institution.

El-Sherif is replacing Ahmed Zaki Badr as minister.

Minister of education - Tarek Galal Shawki

Tarek Galal Shawki, born in June 1957, received a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from Cairo University in 1979 and then a masters in engineering in 1983 from Brown University in the US. He was subsequently awarded a PhD and went on to work as a researcher and professor in mechanical engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

He went on to hold the title director of UNESCO's Regional Bureau for Science in Arab States from 2008 to 2012. In 2012, he became the dean of the School of Sciences and Engineering at the American University in Cairo.

He is replacing El-Hilali El-Sherbini, who faced calls for his resignation from MPs last summer when school exams were leaked on social media.

A recent decision to introduce a new examination booklet system has also been controversial, and several protests against the new system have been organised by students.

Minister of Agriculture: Abdel-Moneim Abdel-Dawoud Mohamed El-Banna

Abdel-Moneim Abdel-Dawoud Mohamed El-Banna, the now-former head of the Agricultural Research Centre, was appointed minister of agriculture in Tuesday's reshuffle.

El-Banna, born in 1960, received a degree in agriculture from Cairo University, where he also received his Masters and PhD.

He was also the vice president of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA).

El-Banna is replacing agriculture minister Essam Fayed, who assumed the post in the last cabinet reshuffle in 2016 on the heels of a corruption scandal involving his predecessor.

As head of the agriculture ministry, El-Banna will be expected to oversee a national project aimed at expanding Egyptian farmland by 1.5 million feddans.

Minister of transportation  Hesham Arafat

Hesham Arafat was appointed minister of transport in place of Galal El-Saeed.

Arafat received his bachelor's and master's degree from Cairos Ain Shams University in 1986 and 1991 respectively and later earned his PhD in 1997 from the same university.

He is a member of the Faculty of Engineering in Mansoura University where he has held different academic and administrative posts, from teaching assistant in 1997, professor in 2008 to vice dean for education and students Affairs in 2015.

He was also an advisor to the ministry in the affairs of highways and tunnels in 2010, and during his tenure he supervised implementation of the Cairo-Alexandria highway and a number of bridges.

Minister of investment and international cooperation  Sahar Nasr

The two ministries of international cooperation and investment were merged together under Sahar Nasr, who has been the current minister of international cooperation since September 2015. Dalia Khorshid was the previous investment minister.

Sahar received her bachelors in economics from the American University in Cairo (AUC) in 1985, followed by a masters in economics from the same institution and a PhD in economics from Cairo University in 2002.

Nasr, who is a member of the presidential advisory economic council, previously worked in several technical and managerial bank positions in restructuring, mortgage finance, and affordable low-income housing, as well as on issues of corporate governance and transparency.

She also worked as an adjunct professor of economics at AUC, and as an economist at the World Bank, working on issues of financial sector development and on assistance for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

Minister of planning - Hala Helmi El-Said

El-Said was born in Cairo on 19 May 1957 and went on to obtain a bachelors, masters and PhD in economics from Cairo University.

She subsequently went on to teach at Cairo University, becoming dean of economics and political science in 2011. She has also been the university presidents assistance for scientific research and exterior relations since 2013.

She also headed the economics department at King Abdul Aziz University in Saudi Arabia between 1990 and 1992.

El-Said was also advisor to the Governor of Central Bank of Egypt and Executive Director of the Egyptian Banking Institute (EBI).

Minister of higher education - Khaled Atef Abdel-Ghaffar

Khaled Atef Abdel-Ghaffar obtained his PhD from Ain Shams University in 1995 and subsequently headed the oral medicine, periodontics and diagnosis department at the university.

He has been the dean of the faculty of dentistry at Ain Shams University since 2014.

He is also the universitys vice president for graduate studies and scientific research.

Minister of parliamentary affairs - Omar Marwan

Marwan graduated from Faculty of Law at Ain Shams University in 1979, and joined the prosecution service in 1989.

He was assistant minister of justice for notarisation and registration authority affairs from 2011 to 2014.

Marwan was the official spokesperson and general secretary for the Supreme Elections Committee in 2015, which supervised the most recent parliamentary elections.

His latest post in the justice ministry was as assistant minister for the forensic authority and expert affairs.

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday convicted AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala in a disproportionate assets case on Tuesday, delivering a blow to her chances of becoming the Tamil Nadu chief minister since the ruling bars her from holding a public office and contesting elections for at least next six years.

Tamil Nadu minister and Sasikala loyalist Edappadi K Palaniswami was nominated the AIADMK legislature party leader shortly afterwards, and caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam was expelled from its primary membership.

Tuesdays events are the latest in a string of events in Sasikalas bitter turf war with Panneerselvam. The latter had resigned from the CMs post last week and later claimed that he was forced to resign by a section of party legislators.

Here is a timeline of events since Jayalalithaas death.

December 5, 2016: J Jayalalithaa dies at Chennais Apollo Hospital at the age of 68 after suffering a cardiac arrest. O Panneerselvam, popularly known as OPS, swiftly sworn in as chief minister.

December 6: At her funeral, VK Sasikala and her family, many of whom Jayalalithaa despised, surround her body and welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others.

December 10: Calls for Sasikala to become the leader of AIADMK grow stronger. Posters with the moniker Chinnamma or Little Mother start appearing.

December 29: In an unprecedented move, Sasikala is appointed the general secretary of the party at AIADMK general meeting. According to bylaws, she is ineligible for the post. Same bylaws also stipulate that an interim GS post cannot be established.

January 3, 2017: The Tamil Nadu government finally responds to mass farmer suicides after the failure of the northeast monsoon and drought destroy the winter crops. OPS establishes an investigative committee to probe the extent of the damage and award compensation.

January 17: The arrest of 500 pro-Jallikattu activists in Madurai districts Alanganallur spurs a large scale protest at Marina Beach in Chennai. Protesters demand the law to be amended and permission for the sport to be held.

January 19: Panneerselvam meets PM Modi to get an ordinance permitting Jallikattu passed.

January 22: The TN government tries to hold Jallikattu events, despite intense pressure from pro-Jallikattu activists. Panneerselvam not allowed to enter vaadi vaasal or the entrance of the arena in Alanganallur, and has to return to Chennai.

January 23: Emergency ordinance passed in legislative assembly amending the 1960 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Violence ensues as police clash with protesters at Marina Beach. Police also attack nearby fishing hamlets on the pretext of combating anti-nationals. OPS government faces intense criticism across India.

February 5: OPS resigns as the CM for personal reasons. Sasikala elected as head of the legislative party, makes plans to form the government the next day. Governor C Vidyasagar Rao accepts OPS resignation, but orders that he continue on the post until a new CM is elected.

February 6: Plans to elect Sasikala as CM as postponed, as governor Rao says he is unable to attend the ceremony due to scheduling issues.

February 7: OPS meditates for 40 minutes next to Jayalalithaas memorial. He then proceeds to tell reporters he was forced to resign, and that Sasikala and her family have tarnished Jayalalithaas legacy and that he will fight them alone if need be.

February 9: OPS camp gets a huge boost after E Madhusudhanan, presidium chairperson, joins.

February 10: Sasikala takes 129 MLAs and keeps them at Golden Bay resort at Kuvathur near Chennai to prevent any defections to OPS side.

February 14: Sasikala is convicted in the DA case, sentenced to 4 years in jail. Edappadi K Palaniswami appointed head of the legislature party, expels OPS from AIADMK.
It is not just D-Day for VK Sasikala. It is D-Day for Tamil Nadu. And for the judiciary and the countrys leaders in the fight against black money. It has been 19 years since this singular case was filed by the Tamil Nadu directorate of vigilance and anti corruption (DVAC) in 1996 against former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, her close aide and confidante VK Sasikala, VN Sudhakaran (Sasikalas nephew) and Ilavarasi (Sasikalas sister-in-law), in that order of accused.

What was originally a case of the accused possessing assets disproportionate to their income  to the tune of Rs 66 crores  has, following the judgement of the trial court in Bangalore, now become a DA case worth Rs 58 crores. The verdict in the trial court in Bangalore was delivered by Judge Michael Cunha in 2014, convicting all four accused of holding disproportionate assets. He handed down a four-year jail term and a Rs 100 crores fine. Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and the others spent 21 days in jail in September 2014 before being bailed out. Jayalalithaa had to step down as chief minister and the current caretaker O Panneerselvam was her stand-in at the time.

In 2015, the case which was on appeal in the Bangalore High Court turned turtle. Judge Kumarasamy acquitted all four in the case. The Karnataka government, which was the prosecuting agency, decided to appeal against the High Court order in the Supreme Court. On 7th June, 2016, the Supreme Court finished hearing all sides in the matter and reserved verdict.

This case has been long and exhausting and has seen judicial loopholes stretched to impossible realms. It has all the ingredients of a potboiler too  a public prosecutor who quit trying the case stating that he could simply not handle the threats and political pressure on him, witnesses who turned hostile willy nilly, simple arithmetic errors in judgment, another public prosecutor who wasnt one after all and finally, at the finale, the death of the public servant on whom the entire case hinged.

So what could happen in the case?

The cause list of the Supreme Court indicates that both the judges would deliver verdict separately. This could mean one of two things  two differing verdicts, also known as a split verdict or two verdicts that concur with each other in principle, but may have differing outcomes. Here are some scenarios that could arise tomorrow.

1. Split verdict: One judge could acquit and the other could find all three accused guilty or send the case back to the Bangalore High Court for a re-trial. In such a scenario, the appeal goes to a higher bench, meaning a bench comprising three judges in the Supreme Court itself. Politically, this means that Sasikala buys some time as the case runs its course on appeal. This would put added pressure on Tamil Nadus Governor-in-charge C Vidyasagar Rao to swear in Sasikala, since she currently has the majority of the MLAs on her side.

2. Concurring verdict: Both judges could feel that the Bangalore High Courts verdict acquitting the accused is flawed. In this case ,there is a decision to be made  either send it back to the Bangalore High Court for a re-trial or rule on the acquittal itself. If the case goes back to the Bangalore High Court for a re-trial, Sasikala and others will revert to the status quo of the trial court verdict  which means they stand convicted for four years. Even if the case is sent back to the Bangalore High Court, she is convicted, says BV Acharya, Special Public Prosecutor, who is trying the case. If the judge decides to rule on appeal  meaning he treats the case as a final appeal and has to decide on whether the Bangalore High Court verdict is correct or not  that is the last and final appeal for Sasikala and family, who would have exhausted all legal options in the case. Either way, in both scenarios, Sasikala becomes a convict in the eyes of the law and is not eligible to contest elections for 10 years. This would mean that she loses the basic qualification to become a chief minister and it will be unthinkable for the Governor to even consider swearing her in. We will need to wait for the fine-print of the judgment before arriving at what this will mean for the defendants, says a senior Chennai-based lawyer. The best case scenario for Sasikala and family would, of course, be if both judges concurred on acquittal, paving the way for her to become the Chief Minister.

AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala with party's MLAs supporting her at the resort in Koovathur at East Coast Road, near Chennai. (PTI)

Issues before the apex court

The Supreme Courts two-judge bench has a number of issues that it needs to decide upon, as per the appeal of the Karnataka government against the Bangalore high court verdict of acquittal.

1. Arithmetic errors: In page 852 of his over 1,000-page order, Judge Kumarasamy of the Bangalore High Court (now retired), has committed a glaring arithmetic error. This page contains a calculation of the loans taken by Jayalalithaa and co-accused and the HC judge sums up a figure of Rs 24,17,31,274 in his order. But the calculator actually reveals that the sum of the figures in that table comes to only Rs 10,67,31,274. Kumarasamy has taken this amount in calculations later in the order, to show that Jayalalithaa and others held the ratio of disproportionate assets to their income is only 8.12 percent. Then citing a judgement in the Krishnanand Agnihotri case, Kumarasamy acquits all four stating  The percentage of disproportionate assets is 8.12 percent. It is relatively small. In the instant case, the disproportionate asset is less than 10 percent and it is within permissible limit. Therefore, Accused are entitled for acquittal. When the principal Accused has been acquitted, the other Accused, who have played a lesser role are also entitled for Acquittal. This was on 11th May, 2015. But factoring the arithmetic error in, shows that the ratio of disproportionate assets zooms to over 76 percent. Apart from these errors, there are various issues with duplication of loans taken by the accused, the use of IT returns as proof of income  which, according to legal experts is settled law and cannot be used as such and also inflating the costs of construction of properties of accused suo motu by the Judge  when the accused themselves have given a lower figure.

2. The 10 percent loophole: The Krishnanand Agnihotri case is a disputed one in terms of a precedent and legal experts frown upon its usage. This will legitimise corruption at the end of the day, if the usage of this 10 percent rule is upheld by the apex court, says a senior Supreme Court lawyer, who did not wish to be named. If the apex court decides to acquit Sasikala and others on the basis of the Bangalore High Court verdict, what will happen? Lawyers say this will open up a Pandoras box. Every crook can take refuge behind the Agnihotri case, cook his books and say  see, I am within the 10 percent limit. It is like saying 10 percent of black money is okay, not a problem, pat him on the back and let him go. Who decides the 10 percent? Why not 20 percent? This is a problematic judgement, he said.

3. No public prosecutor: The Supreme Court in April 2015, before the acquittal of the Bangalore high court, held that Special Public Prosecutor Bhavani Singh who had argued for the Karnataka government since 2013, was invalid. This meant that the entire High Court appeal did not have a public prosecutor at all! Singh was pulled up harshly by the Supreme Court in 2015 for his frequent absences, which led to the trial court judge fining him twice, causing unnecessary delays and even speaking on behalf of the defence. Once the apex court declared Singh as invalid, the Karnataka government re-appointed octogenarian BV Acharya as the Special Public Prosecutor. This was days before the verdict was to be announced. Acharya protested that he was not given time to try the case properly and handed in a written submission to Judge Kumarasamy. Is an entire trial, without a public prosecutor in the court, a valid trial? This too will be decided by the court on Tuesday.

What will happen on Tuesday, is larger than VK Sasikala and O Panneerselvam. It is larger than political uncertainty in the state of Tamil Nadu.

What will happen on Tuesday will make or break the faith of the Indian people in the judiciary, specifically in the Supreme Court. And this verdict will shine a light on the path that the country will tread in its avowed battle against corruption and unaccounted wealth.

(Published in arrangement with GRIST Media)
Three years after he surprised the security establishment by seeking revenge for the execution of Afzal Guru at a large rally in Muzaffarabad, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar has emerged as possibly the biggest threat in the jihad against India by Pakistan-based groups.

At the time when he addressed the rally by phone on January 26, 2014, little had been heard from Azhar for several years. The JeM, however, had continued to operate largely unfettered despite being banned by Pakistan, recruiting in its heartland in Punjab and raising funds across the country.

Read: US moves UN to ban Jaish chief Masood Azhar; China again puts a hold

And while the Indian security establishment and government had largely focussed on the Lashkar-e-Taiba and its founder Hafiz Saeed in the quest for justice after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, there are some who now believe Azhar poses a more potent threat.

This is the man whose group has been blamed for last years brazen attacks on Indian military facilities at Pathankot and Nagrota that killed nearly 30. And while Saeed has continued to speak to the media even after being put under house arrest, Azhar has kept a low profile, writing occasional columns under the pen name Saadi in JeMs publications and focussing on the Kashmir issue to motivate cadre.

Despite reports that Pakistan had placed Azhar in protective custody after the JeM was blamed for the Pathankot attack, security sources said this had not, in any way, affected his activities.

Security analysts believe it is more cost effective for Pakistans security establishment to use a proxy such as Azhar, who formed the JeM after he was freed by India with two other jihadi commanders for the passengers of an Indian Airlines flight that was hijacked from Kathmandu to Kandahar in 1999.

They point out that Azhar, unlike Saeed, has not been sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council committee on al-Qaeda and Islamic State and is thus under less scrutiny from the world order after severing links to groups that are perceived as threats by the West.

Masood Azhar, head of the Jaish-e-Mohammed rebel group. (AFP Photo)

Azhar is not vocal, he doesnt address rallies. He also doesnt take a role in politics like Saeed, who is active in the Defa-e-Pakistan Council. Instead, he focusses on recruitment, indoctrination and is considered a major asset by the Pakistani intelligence set-up, Animesh Roul, executive director of the Society for Study of Peace and Conflict, told Hindustan Times.

And China has been doing Pakistans job of protecting Azhar, he said, referring to the repeated blocking of efforts by India and the US to get the JeM chief banned by the al-Qaeda and Islamic State committee of the UN.

Read: India needs to consider permanent interests, not permanent allies

Azhars comeback followed several years spent in the doghouse after elements in the JeM were found to be involved in two attempts to assassinate former military ruler Pervez Musharraf within a space of 11 days in December 2003, said Ajai Sahni of the Institute for Conflict Management.

For some time, the JeM had no role in operations. There was a purge within the organisation and the JeM has again been given an operational line, he said.

But Sahni also believes that groups such as the JeM and LeT have no capacity of their own to operate and only act at the behest of the Pakistans security establishment. The US is no longer paying much attention to the activities of these groups at a time when they sought to portray their operations in Kashmir as a localised freedom struggle, he said.

Kashmir is the leitmotif of the JeMs campaign in recent months. Articles on its website, Alqalamonline, are replete with references to Kashmir and calls for the Pakistan government to back the movement in the Indian state.

In a piece written to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5, Azhars confidant Talha Saif contended Pakistani leaders were not openly backing the Kashmir issue as they were fearful of the Donald Trump administration that is implementing Indias agenda. Last year, Azhar himself argued in an article that the ceasefire on the Line of Control should be cancelled and jihadi groups let loose by Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir and river waters issues.

Read: India lodges protest against Chinas stand on banning Masood Azhar

The JeM has also continued its fundraising, soliciting donations through its website, publications and pamphlets, with the money being used for projects such as a new madrassa spread over 10 acres in Bahawalpur.

Organisations that track terror financing have reported that the group has also invested in legal businesses, including real estate and commodity trading. Azhars brother Abdul Rauf Asghar plays a key role in these activities. Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar and (Hizbul Mujahideen chief) Syed Salahuddin remain the triumvirate in jihadi operations against India. As long as Pakistan continues to have a policy of good and bad militants, they will pose a threat to India, Roul said.

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An army major was among four soldiers killed in two encounters in Kashmir where an equal number of militants were neutralised on Tuesday.

In an encounter in the afternoon in north Kashmirs Handwara three militants were gunned down while Major Satish Dhaiya who was injured later died in hospital.

Deputy inspector general of police, north Kashmir, Nitish Kumar told Hindustan Times that during the cordon and search operation, militants fired from the house they were hiding. The security forces returned the fire.

Shortly after the encounter, the army said Major Dahiya had been evacuated.

Late Tuesday night, a Srinagar-based army spokesperson said that Major Dhaiya who was leading the operation in Handwara succumbed to his injuries.

Earlier in the morning, one militant and three soldiers were killed in a gunfight in northern Kashmirs Bandipora in the morning, police and army said.

Three soldiers have been martyred and five others are injured. The operation has been terminated, the army spokesperson said.

The gunfight started at 5.30 am after security forces launched a search operation after being tipped off about the presence of militants in Hajin area.

Police said that the slain militant belonged to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and was a foreigner.

The Army said the three soldiers who were killed were paratrooper Dharmendra Kumar of Uttarakhand, rifleman Ravi Kumar of Jammu and Kashmir, and gunner Astosh Kumar of Uttar Pradesh.

There have been three encounters in Kashmir since Sunday.

Two soldiers, two civilians and four militants were killed on Sunday in south Kashmirs Kulgam district.

One of the civilians was killed when the police opened fire to disperse people protesting against the death of militants, who hailed from south Kashmir, and the other was caught in the crossfire during the encounter.

The situation in the Valley has worsened after Sundays violence, and a shutdown was called on Monday by the separatist leadership in protest against the civilian deaths.

On Wednesday, there is a Kulgam Chalo march called by the separatist leaders.

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Supreme Court on Tuesday favoured framing of a uniform national policy to deal with those suffering from mental illness and their release from hospitals after being cured.

A bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar issued notice to the Union Health Ministry saying the issue figured in the concurrent list of the Constitution and hence the Centre also has the authority to frame norms.

The bench, also comprising Justices N V Ramana and D Y Chandrachud, expanded the scope of a PIL filed by advocate G K Bansal and sought responses from all states and union territories (UTs).

The PIL has raised the issue of release of about 300 persons from various mental hospitals in Uttar Pradesh, alleging they were still languishing there despite being cured of their ailments and most of them belonging to poorer sections.

We are of the considered view that the Union of India shall assist us in finalising a national policy or norms that should be adopted in the entire country to deal with persons who have been cured of mental illness and are still being kept in mental hospitals, the bench said.

There should be a national policy which can be applied uniformly across the country, the bench said, asking the lawyer to ensure that the Centre and others are served with the court notice in the matter.

Earlier, the court had issued notices to six states on the PIL seeking release of over 300 cured persons still languishing in mental hospitals in Uttar Pradesh.

States like Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir and Meghalaya were asked to respond on why the people, who are now fit for discharge from mental hospitals, were still kept there.

The PIL has alleged that many underprivileged persons were still languishing in mental hospitals despite being cured and there was no policy in place to ensure their well-being after release.
The Gujarat high court has lambasted the state police government for genuflecting before people in power and ordered a probe into a mob attack on a family allegedly led by former BJP parliamentarian Dinu Solanki.

The observations came after judges watched a video that purportedly showed Solanki leading a mob and vandalising a vehicle outside the house of Jetunben Rafiqbhai Salot in Kodinar town.

The BJP leader is an accused in the 2010 murder case of RTI activist Amit Jethwa and is known to be close to party chief Amit Shah. The Saurashtra strongman is out on bail and his name figures nowhere in the FIR filed in the Salot case.

The entire state machinery appears to be stacked in favour of Solanki, probably, because he belongs to the ruling dispensation, the court said, directing the police to file a fresh FIR.

The court also ordered police to ensure that a proper, unbiased and meaningful investigation is carried in the matter.

Jetunben moved the HC to quash an FIR filed by the local police as it did not name Solanki. She also sought investigation in the attack by the crime investigation department. She appealed to the court to cancel Solankis bail as he was involved in an act of violence. The court observed that if the state government was serious, it should approach the Supreme Court to get his bail cancelled.

As per details of the case, the mob was allegedly looking for Jetunbens husband Rafiq Salot who was not at home when the attack took place.

After watching the video of the incident presented by Jetunbens lawyer, justice J B Pardiwala observed: I wondered for some time whether I was a judge in the state of Gujarat or in any other state. The video speaks for itself.

On the governments argument in defence that Jetunbens husband Rafique has a criminal past, the court said, I take notice of the fact that the writ applicant belongs to a minority community. The incident, like the case at hand, could have easily triggered communal tension.

The clouds of danger hovering over the social, economic and political scenario of India cannot be blown away so long as corruption, criminalisation of politics, politicization of crime and corruption and politicization of bureaucracy occur, the judge added.
The Indian Air Force inducted its first indigenously developed airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system, mounted on a Brazilian Embraer-145 jet, on Tuesday ramping up its capability to detect enemy aircraft and missiles.

The Netra AEW&C system has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and has a range of around 200 km.

The aircraft was handed over to the IAF on the opening day of Asias largest air show Aero India-2017, more than six years behind schedule. Over 550 defence and aerospace firms, including 279 foreign companies, are taking part in the biennial event being held at the Yelahanka air force base.

The induction of the AEW&C aircraft is the highlight of the airshow for the air force. We need to swiftly scale up our airborne surveillance capabilities, a senior IAF officer said.

India inked a $208-million contract for three Brazil-built Embraer-145 planes in 2008 as part of a DRDO programme to scale up the IAFs AEW&C capabilities. The deal was in the news last year due to kickback allegations.

The IAF currently operates three Israeli Phalcon airborne warning and control system (AWACS) mounted on Russian IL-76 heavy-lift planes and there are plans to buy two more. The system has a range of 400km. The numbers are not enough to cover the eastern and western sectors during offensive operations.

In 2015, the defence ministry accorded its acceptance of necessity, the first step towards making an acquisition, for a $760-million project involving mounting two such indigenously developed surveillance systems on the European Airbus A330 platform.

India is considering a proposal to buy a total of six A330 aircraft on which the AWACS may be mounted, taking the value of the deal to around $2.5 billion. The first such aircraft could be inducted by 2025.

The radar system to detect far-off targets will be developed by the DRDO. Airbus Defence & Space was the only bidder for the AWACS India programme, making it the first single vendor project to be cleared by the NDA government.

The AWACS is a robust monitoring system that provides 360-degree coverage, compared to AEW&Cs 240-degree capability. The AWACS also has better range and endurance.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday sent VK Sasikala, AIADMK general secretary and leader of the legislature party, to jail for four years for corruption, a verdict that dashed the 61-year-old politicians hopes of becoming the state chief minister.

The former Jaya aide had been locked in a bitter turf war with O Panneerselvam over the past weeks.

Police was put on high alert in Chennai and across Tamil Nadu n Tuesday morning, ahead of the SC verdict in the DA case.

Tight security at the AIADMK headquarters in Chennai on Tuesday. (HT )

In its ruling, the court also barred the former video cassettes saleswoman from holding public office or contesting elections for 10 years after holding her guilty of amassing wealth disproportionate to her known income. She was also fined Rs10 crore.

The verdict came on a 21-year-old case that also involved Sasikalas mentor and chief minister J Jayalalithaa whose death in December last year sparked a power tussle in the state. Sasikala, who was not present at the sentencing in New Delhi, was asked to immediately surrender to the police to begin serving her sentence.

The news sent shockwaves among her fans back in Tamil Nadu.

Tight secured at AIADMK head quarters, in Chennai on Tuesday. (HT )

VK Sasikala on her way to Golden Bay resort in Chennai (HT )

V K Sasikalas opposition celebrates outside Golden bay resort in Chennai on Tuesday. More than 200 anti-riot police were deployed at a seafront resort where Sasikala was camped with a group of state lawmakers she said supported her in her bid to become the state chief minister. (HT )

Supporters of O Panneerselvam celebrate after the court ruling outside his Greenways Road residence in Chennai. (HT)

A vendor sets up shop outside O Panneerselvams house, selling photographs of Amma and OPS. (HT )

O Panneerselvam addresses the media at his residence in Chennai on Tuesday afternoon. (HT )

Knocked out of the turf war by the SC verdict, Sasikala nominated loyalist and senior AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami as party general secretary to checkmate Panneerselvam.

Minutes after taking charge, Palaniswami, a four-time MLA from Salem and minister for highways and ports, moved to expel Panneerselvam from the AIADMK. Nineteen others were also expelled on charges of acting against the partys policies and principles.

Read: All you need to know about the Supreme Court DA case against Sasikala

Palaniswami is now being viewed as a front-runner for the CM post. Palanisami, a powerful leader from Salem, has contested and won four elections. He is the minister for highways and ports.

Palaniswami urged Tamil Nadu governor Vidayasagar Rao to let him form the government. But Panneerselvams camp has rejected his appointment.

Nobody has the authority to elect anybody, said Pandiarajan, a leader considered close to Panneerselvam.
One Sasikala is out, another Sasikala is in.

The Supreme Court verdict against VK Sasikala in a corruption case has given new hope to L Sasikala Pushpa to come to the frontline of Tamil Nadu politics.

She supports O Panneerselvam, the caretaker chief minister.

A rebel AIADMK member and Rajya Sabha parliamentarian, she has been in the news for opposing the appointment of Sasikala to the post that late party supremo J Jayalalithaa once held.

Sasikala Pushpa was expelled from the AIADMK by the late chief minister after she allegedly slapped Trichy Siva, a DMK parliamentarian in New Delhis Indira Gandhi international airport on August 1, 2016.

A former mayor of Tuticorin, Sasikala Pushpa, is from Mudalur near Sathankulam in Tamil Nadu. She was elected to the Rajya Sabha on April 3, 2014.

A couple of days after her expulsion from the AIADMK, she alleged in Parliament that some forces within the party were threatening her and that she was being forced to resign.

She was the first to cry foul when the AIADMK passed a unanimous resolution to work under the leadership of Jayalalithaas confidante Sasikala.

After Jayalalithaas death last December, Sasikala Pushpa moved the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe or a judicial investigation into the new party chiefs elevation.

Read: AIADMK after Amma: All you need to know about the origin of the OPS-Sasikala war

She alleged that Jayalalithaas death was suspicious as her medical condition was not disclosed, no one was allowed to visit her in hospital, the funeral photographs showed embalming marks, and everything was kept under wraps.

Sasikala Pushpas lawyers were attacked by party workers and her husband was arrested by Tamil Nadu police a day after a ruckus outside the AIADMKs office in Chennai over who will succeed Jayalalithaa.

Party spokesperson CR Saraswathi had then said: Pushpa is no more with the AIADMK and has no right to be present at any meetings.

Panneerselvam was promoted as chief minister, the post he had filled in twice briefly for Jayalalithaa.

In the weeks that followed, the ruling AIADMK appeared to be running smoothly. Gears began grinding two weeks ago when Panneerselvam said he would not allow Sasikala to replace him as the chief minister as decided by the party.

Read: Sasikalas conviction: Panneerselvam says Ammas spirit alive, asks MLAs to unite

The Supreme Courts judgment on Tuesday convicting Sasikala in a disproportionate assets case has added suspense to the ongoing chaos for the chief ministers chair.

The question being asked now is will it give a new chance to Sasikala Pushpa to reenter the AIADMK.

She might be taken back only if Panneerselvam wins a floor test to prove support of the majority of party legislators in the assembly and retains the chief ministers post.

For Sasikala Pushpa, a ray of hope has also arisen because the other Sasikala will not be able to contest elections for 10 years or hold public office.
India witnessed the maximum bombings in the world last year, even more than war-torn Iraq and Afghanistan, according to a report.

There were 406 such incidents, which include IED and ordnance explosive blasts, in the country. Iraq came second with almost half the number at 221, the report by the National Bomb Data Centre (NBDC) said though it did not mention the casualties.

NBDC functions as the nodal post-blasts investigation department under countrys federal contingency force NSG. The report did sound a word of caution on the global data saying the centre obtained these figures from open source.

Neighbouring Pakistan witnessed a total of 161 incidents during 2016 followed by Afghanistan where 132 bombings were recorded, 92 in Turkey, 71 in Thailand, 63 in South Africa, 56 in Syria, Egypt 42 and 29 in Bangladesh among others.

This does not reflect the exact number and details of the incident, the National Security Guards NBDC said in its annual compilation of such incidents called Bombshell.

Out of the total 406 incidents reported during this period in India, 337 were triggered using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) while the rest 69 occurred using ordnance explosives like grenades or ammunition shells.

The report delved deeper and analysed that the maximum of IED blasts in a week in India, at 63, occurred on Thursdays, followed by 50 on Wednesdays and so on.

March proved to be most deadliest in India with a maximum of 42 incidents being recorded in this month in 2016 followed by 36 in April.

The data... has been obtained from police records available from time to time. This does not reflect the exact number and details of the incident, the report added .

The NBDC report, published last week, also reported that Jammu and Kashmir saw an over 121% rise in blast and IED related incidents after the killing of militant Burhan Wani in the Valley in July last year.

While 14 IED bombing incidents were reported in J&K in 2015, the numbers went up to 31 last year.

Jammu and Kashmir saw an increase in blast incidents and casualties particularly after the death of Burhan Wani, the report said.
The new secretary-general of the United Nations is currently on a regional tour

Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi will meet the secretary-general of the United Nations Antonio Guterres in Cairo, where he is expected to hold a joint press conference with the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry, state news agency MENA reported.

Guterres is currently touring the region.

Earlier on Monday he spoke to the World Government Summit in Dubai, asserting that restoring trust in politics and institutions is the key to resolving global conflicts, the official website of the UN said on Monday.

The UN secretary-general held meetings with the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, as well as the crown prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

On Sunday, the secretary-general also travelled to Saudi Arabia where he visited the Coalition Air Forces Joint Operations Centre and was briefed on the coalitions air operations in Yemen.

He held a meeting with King Salman and also held a joint press conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir.

Guterres was asked about the Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, replying that he is doing impartial work in a very professional way and has his full support.

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An indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&C) christened Netra was handed over to the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday at the Aero India 2017 event, ushering India into an elite club of nations that have developed such technology on their own.

The United States, Russia and Israel are the other countries which have developed the technology for the system.

The indigenous system mounted on an aircraft can track an area within 240 degrees of its sides at any given point of time.

The handover of the system -- mounted on a Brazilian Embraer-145 jet -- by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to the air force was done in the presence of defence minister Manohar Parrikar, DRDO chief S Christopher and defence ministers scientific adviser G Satheesh Reddy.

The AEW&C consists of a state-of-the-art active electronically scanned radar, secondary surveillance radar, electronic and communication counter measures, LOS (Line of Sight) and beyond-LOS data link, voice communication system and self-protection suite, built on an Emb-145 platform, having a mid-air refueling capability to enhance surveillance time.

A complex tactical software has been developed for fusion of information from the sensors, to provide the air situation picture along with intelligence to handle identification/classification of threat.

It has battle management functions, built in-house, to work as a network centric system of Integrated Air Command & Control System (IACCS) node.

This system has been developed and evaluated through collaborative efforts between the DRDO and the Indian Air Force.

The IAF is already using the Israeli Phalcon AWACS on the Russian IL-76 heavy-lift aircraft to detect aerial threats from jets or missiles even from a distance of 400 km away.
An all-party meet chaired by Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Kannur on Tuesday decided to take strict measures to maintain peace in the trouble-torn north district of Kannur which has been rocked by frequent political clashes between the ruling CPI(M) and the BJP.

The meeting took a decision to isolate forces that fan trouble in the district and give a free hand to police in Kannur, where seven political murders have taken place in eight months. Other than the CPI(M) and the BJP, other parties which attended the meeting included the CPI, Congress, Muslim League and the Janata Dal.

Leaders of both the CPI(M) and the BJP agreed to rein in their cadres and disown workers who disrupt peace. It was also decided to hold regular peace meetings in affected areas presided over by the local station house officer. A committee comprising three local leaders of prominent parties will be constituted for this.

The parties also decided that the committee would visit the victims families at regular intervals to reassure them and keep tabs on any possible retaliatory attacks. Last week, CPI(M) Kannur district secretary P Jayarajan had visited the house of BJP worker E Santhosh who was hacked to death in January allegedly by CPI(M) workers.

Often small incidents trigger major violence in the area. Cadres of both will have to be made aware this to bring ever-lasting peace, said CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakirshnan after the meeting.

The CM was forced to convene a meeting after the violence associated with Kannur began to be replicated in other parts of the state. Last week, a BJP delegation from the state had met union home minister Rajnath Singh and complained that the police force was partisan and party workers were annihilated in a planned manner.

The RSS also conducted a series of exhibitions called Redtrocity in main cities to highlight violence in north Kerala. The CM who was in Delhi last month was forced to cut short his visit after RSS-BJP workers threatened to lay a siege to the Kerala House where he was staying.

The enmity between the CPI(M) and RSS-BJP dates back to more than three decades. Kannur is a Marxist stronghold and is home to all its tall leaders including late AK Gopalan, EK Nayanar, KPR Gopalan and the CM and party state secretary Kodidyeri Balakrishnan.

In the early 1960s, the RSS, backed by the Mangalore business lobby, began trying to establish its foothold into the Communist bastion which sparked off tension. The business lobby needed the RSS to check the influential Muslim traders of Malabar Koyas. The uneasy co-existence between the CPI(M) and the RSS exploded in 1968 when the Marxists killed as RSS activist, Vadikkal Ramakrishnan. Since then, it has been a gory battle between the two for supremacy in the district.

Three decades of violence has left the district economically backward. As a social fallout, in some of the villages affiliated either to the Marxists of the RSS, many women remain unmarried as outsiders dread to visit these areas.

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The navy is in the hunt for a new foreign fighter jet after rejecting an indigenously made aircraft as too heavy, the latest sign of the struggle to get Asian militaries to buy locally to grow their defence industries.

The navy last month invited manufacturers to pitch for 57 planes for its aircraft carriers, a multi-billion dollar order the government had hoped would go to the state-run producers of Indias Tejas, a combat aircraft 33 years in the making.

India, South Korea, Taiwan and other Asian buyers are expected to intensify efforts this year to develop indigenous warplanes, military officials said, due to anxieties that the United States may be less engaged in the region under President Donald Trump.

But their hopes of manufacturing state-of-the-art warplanes could still be decades away as countries need more time to master the technology, experts said.

Its been long on ambition short on success, Richard A. Bitzinger, senior fellow at Singapores S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said of the drive.

These things are being done because of techno-nationalism. They are done because these countries perceive of themselves as rising powers.

As part of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Make-in-India campaign, scientists will showcase the Tejas warplane at an air show opening in Bengaluru on Tuesday. But the jet remains a work in progress, with only three in service with the air force.

South Korea, supported by Indonesia, has multi-billion dollar plans to develop a twin-engined KF-X fighter jet, while Taiwan said this month it plans to build 66 jet trainer aircraft that could eventually help it manufacture a combat plane.

Chang Yeoung-keun, an adviser on the KF-X fighter jet project and a professor at Korea Aerospace University, said full development of the plane and its technologies will take decades.

South Korea needs to develop core technologies of the jets, not just shells, he said. I am sceptical. South Korea may be able to develop core technology in 30 to 40 years, but they have to develop them in 10 years, with current fighter jets ageing.

Read| 33 years in the making: What took Tejas so long to fly

Indias struggle

Cleared by the government in 1983, the plane was meant to be the backbone of the air force due for induction in 1994.

Instead, it suffered years of delay with scientists trying to build the worlds most modern light combat aircraft from scratch, including the engine.

In December, the navy chief, Admiral Sunil Lanba, said the sea version of the plane was not up to the mark and it could not take off from an aircraft carrier once weapons were loaded.

A source in the navy said that the plane for years has failed flight tests when taking off from a 200-metre carrier deck with weapons on board. That prompted the navy to issue a request last month for information for a foreign fighter to fill the gap, the first stage in a long procurement process.

Boeing Co has pitched its F-A/18 Hornet, that the US navy flies from its carriers, to the Indian defence ministry, including an offer to build it locally.

Swedens Saab AB said on Friday it will offer the naval version of its Gripen fighter to the Indian navy.

Indias top defence scientists said they were disappointed by the navys decision and that fighter aircraft development was a challenge everywhere, including with the US Joint Strike Fighter, the F-35.

Look at the F-35, with all the might of the multinational effort, is still evolving, said a source in the aeronautical development agency which is spearheading the LCA effort.

There are no shortcuts.

Read| Tejas deserves one cheer today, maybe two later
An NRI couple from London has been book booked for allegedly murdering a boy, whom they adopted in 2015, so as to pocket the insurance amount of Rs 1.20 crore which they had taken as cover for the boys life, police said.

Police lodged an FIR against Arti Loknath (53) and her husband Kanwaljitsinh Raijada (28), currently living in London, for allegedly being part of the conspiracy to murder Gopal (13), said police inspector Ashok Tilva of Keshod in Junagadh district.

Arti and Kanwaljitsinh conspired with one Nitish Mund to adopt Gopal (13), get him insured and then kill him so that they could get insurance money. Nitish, who also lived in London before shifting here after his visa expired, had planned along with the couple since 2015 to kill Gopal, Tilva said.

The NRI couples role was revealed after police arrested Nitish on Monday in connection with the murder.

The boy died at a Rajkot hospital on Monday, days after he was attacked with a knife by unidentified accused riding two motorcycles on the night of February 8 in Keshod.

Gopal was returning from Rajkot to his hometown Maliya along with Nitish, Harsukh Patel, and one Mahadev, Tilva said.

He was living with Nitish, who planned the attack by hiring two assailants for Rs 5 lakh each, Tilva said.

Hired assailants attacked Gopal and Harsukh Patel after they came out of a vehicle at a pre-decided place at Keshod. We have initiated a process to arrest the NRI couple who are at present in the UK, Talvia said.
Pakistan on Tuesday summoned Indian deputy high commissioner, JP Singh over alleged ceasefire violations along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

The director general (SA & SAARC), Dr Mohammad Faisal, condemned the alleged ceasefire violations on the LoC in Thub area (Bhimber Sector) and urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding.

He also asked India to investigate recent incidents of ceasefire violations.

Faisal told Singh to ask the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC.
Defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday acknowledged that a multi-billion dollar Indian programme to co-develop a stealth fighter with Russia was facing some issues that needed to be resolved.

The ministers comments came three days after HT reported that the fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) project was facing an uncertain fate with the government deciding to set up a committee to examine how India would benefit from the programme.

There are some issues to be addressed in terms of manufacturing, how it will be exported after the project is completed and what approvals will be required, the minister said, responding to a question on the progress on the FGFA at Aero India-2017.

He said the ministry had constituted a team to look into various aspects of the FGFA and it was likely to submit its report within a month after which things would be finalised. A three-star officer is heading the panel.

The two countries have been discussing the project for several years but are yet to sign a $4-billion research and development (R&D) contract. India has already spent around $22 million on the preliminary design stage (PDS) of the FGFA project.

The Indian Air Force has flagged some concerns about the fighters design. It also wants the plane to have a more powerful engine as the existing one doesnt give it super cruise capability. The ability to super cruise or sustain supersonic speeds in combat configuration without kicking in fuel-guzzling afterburners is a key Indian requirement.

(R-L) Defense minister Manohar Parrikar, navy chief Sunil Lanba, air force chief Birender Singh Dhanoa, and army chief Bipin Rawat during the inaugural day of the 11th edition of Aero India in Bengaluru on Tuesday. (AFP Photo)

A prototype called the T-50, built under the PAK-FA (Prospective Airborne Complex of Frontline Aviation) project is undergoing tests in Russia. The first prototype flew its maiden sortie in January 2010.

India has a requirement for 120-130 such swing-role planes with stealth features for increased survivability, advanced avionics, smart weapons, top-end mission computers and 360-degree situational awareness.

The IAF does not have sufficient number of warplanes to tackle a combined threat from China and Pakistan. The count of IAFs fighter squadrons has shrunk to 34 compared to a desirable strength of 42, a capability gap the air force is struggling to fill.

The IAF hopes to add more muscle with the induction of French-built Rafales, the indigenous light combat aircraft, more Sukhoi-30s, the FGFA and a medium-weight warplane to be built in India in collaboration with a foreign player.
The Supreme Court judgment on Tuesday dealt a huge blow to VK Sasikalas political ambitions, ruling her out of electoral politics for at least 10 years. The ruling which has implications for Tamil Nadu virtually ended the 61-year-olds political career before it even took off.

Here is what the verdict in the 21-year-old corruption case means for Sasikala:

1. Sasikala found guilty in the Rs 66-crore corruption case. She cannot be the chief minister.

2. She faces four years in jail and has been asked to surrender immediately.

3. The ruling AIADMK will need to name a new legislature party leader to take over as the chief minister.

4. The guilty verdict rules Sasikala out of electoral politics for at least 10 years -- the representation of the people act bars a convicted person from contesting elections for six years after the completion of the sentence.

5. Sasikala will come under increased pressure from the faction led by caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam who rose in revolt against her. With her sister-in-law Ilavarasi and nephew Sudhakaran also found guilty, it is curtains for the Mannargudi mafia.

6. Sasikala can file a review petition against the order.

Watch | SC convicts Sasikala in DA case; deck cleared for O. Panneerselvam?
AIADMKs leadership tussle reached a frenzy on Tuesday after the Supreme Court convicted late Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaas aide VK Sasikala in the disproportionate assets case, potentially paving the way for a the governor to call a floor test.

As the supporters of the rival camp hailed the verdict, Sasikala expelled caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam and rebel MLAs from the party on Tuesday as both sides staked claim to form the Tamil Nadu government.

Sasikala also nominated Edappadi Palaniswami as the AIADMK legislative party chief after announcement of the SC order, which disqualifies her from the CMs post for 10 years.

Heres how the day panned out:

9.30 pm: Sasikala returns from Golden Bay Resorts to Poes Gardens

10 pm: Pannerselvam along with Deepa, niece of Jayalalithaa and a host of followers, comes to Marina Beach to pay floral tributes to Jayalalithaa at her samadhi.

(Click here for highlights)

9 am: Tamil Nadu police rushes more Rapid Action Force personnel, buses to Kuvatthur resort

10 am: Two more mlas reach OPS residence and support, total to 11

10.36 am: SC delivers verdict convicting Sasikala and others

10.40 am: A crest-fallen Sasikala closeted with lawyers

10.45 am: Celebrations outside residence of OPS, he speaks to media.

OPS camp supporters celebrate after Sasikalas conviction in Chennai. (HT Photo)

11 am: Sasikala chairs meeting of MLAs

12.38 pm: E Palanaiswamy elected leader of AIADMK legislature party

2 pm: State education minister M Foi Pandiarajan leaves for Golden Bay resort to talk to MLAs there.

2.30 pm: Sasikala removes OPS, Pandiarajan and 17 other AIADMK leaders from primary membership of the party

3.12 pm: OPS camp rejects Palaniswamis election as legislature party leader

3.30 pm: Section 144 imposed at Kuvatthur resort area. Education minister and his entourage stopped from going to the resort

4.30 pm: Sasikalas legal team attempts to buy time by filing a petition before the Supreme Court seeking four weeks time to surrender on health grounds.

5.40 pm: Edapaddi Palaniswamy calls on governor, stakes claim to form government

Edappadi Palaniswamy meets Tamil Nadu governor Vidyasagar Rao at Raj Bhavan in Chennai. (PTI Photo)

6.20 pm: OPS camp claims it has majority. OPS plans to meet governor later in the day

6.40 pm: Police stationed at Koovathur resort receive directions to begin evacuating MLAs from Golden Bay. DGP Rajendran to take final call.

6.55 pm: Palanisamy reaches Golden Bay Resort.

7 pm: OPS camp reaches Raj Bhavan, speaks to Governor Rao

7.30 pm: DGP Rajendran and Chennai commissioner S George reach Raj Bhavan, discuss law and order situation with governor.
Stunned silence enveloped the Golden Bay resort on Tuesday, where AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala spent the night with her party MLAs, after the Supreme Court sent her back to prison in the disproportionate assets case.

Rapid Action Force personnel reached the resort amid confusion whether she would be taken into custody or be required to surrender in court immediately.

Tamil Nadu: A unit of Tamil Nadu Police with senior officials enter Golden Bay Resort in Kovathur pic.twitter.com/XEeBS72ywC  ANI (@ANI_news) February 14, 2017

Chief minister O Panneerselvam tweeted that Sasikala must surrender immediately, even as the atmosphere outside his residence turned ecstatic amid expectations that most AIADMK MLAs would soon jump ship. One more MLA, Semmalai, had joined the OPS camp just half an hour before the apex court verdict was delivered.

Sasikalas political innings lasted very short  just about 45 days  since she became the partys general secretary on January 5. She cannot contest the elections for six years now, and is faced with the possibility of party MLAs deserting her.

SS Saravanan, an MLA who escaped from the Golden Bay resort on Monday night, had asserted that all MLAs would come to OPS.

Celebrations erupted at Panneerselvams residence, with crackers being burst and a giant poster in his now-famous pose  sitting crossed legged in prayer before Ammas memorial last Sunday  being displayed prominently. Inside, the caretaker chief minister and his supporters plotted the future course of action, and ways to get more MLAs.

At Kuvathur, Sasikala reportedly broke down and blamed the BJP for her plight. However, the fight is not over yet, as Sasikala is likely to activate her plan B and nominate senior minister Edapaddi Palaniswamy as the new legislative party leader.

Ultimately, Dharma will win, Sasikala is reported to have said. Judgment has been forced on us.

The AIADMKs official twitter handle, for its part, tweeted: Ammas virtue disturbed by traitors.

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The Supreme Court will deliver its verdict on Tuesday in a 21-year-old disproportionate assets case in which AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala is a co-accused along with former Tamil Nadu chief minister late J Jayalalithaa.

The judgment could potentially impact the ongoing political crisis in the state.

Here is the low-down on the case:

 The case has its root in a complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in 1996 against Jayalalithaa, Sasikala, her foster son Sudhakaran and another aide Ilavarasi.

 Swamy had accused Jayalalithaa of amassing assets disproportionate to her known sources of income. The then Karunanidhi-led DMK government in the state directed the Vigilance department to file an FIR against the former chief minister.

 In the chargesheet, the vigilance department alleged her assets increased from Rs 2 crore in 1991 to Rs 66 crore in 1996, the period in which she was in power.

 Sasikala, who was initially an occasional visitor to Jayalalithaas residence, started staying there permanently from 1988 onwards. Investigations revealed she held properties and pecuniary resources in her name as well as in the names of firms floated by her and others on behalf of Jayalalithaa. According to inquiry officers, they went on a land-purchase spree after Jayalalithaa first became CM in 1991.

 Scrutiny of various bank accounts maintained in the names of Jayalalithaa, Sasikala, other individuals and different firms disclosed that huge credits in cash had been frequently made that could not be explained by their as well as the firms known sources of income.

 Shortly after Jayalalithaa came back to power in 2002, the DMK moved the Supreme Court seeking to shift the case out of the state so that a fair trial could be held. In 2003, the top court transferred the trial to a special court in Bangalore, stating that a fair trial was not going on in the Chennai courts.

 But the case dragged on for over a decade. After about 18 years since the case was first registered, on August 28, 2014, the special court concluded hearing the case and a month later pronounced the accused guilty. They were all sentenced to four years in jail and an order to confiscate their properties was also issued. A fine of Rs 100 crore was imposed on Jayalalithaa. The other three convicts, including Sasikala, were asked to pay Rs 10 crore each.

 Jayalalithaa was forced to resign as the CM immediately in accordance with a Supreme Court ruling that disqualified an elected lawmaker, if convicted, for three or more years. This resulted in Jayalalithaa going into custody for three weeks. Sasikala too was jailed until the top court on October 17, 2014 suspended their sentence and gave them bail.

 About a year later, on May 11, 2015, the Karnataka High Court acquitted all the four.
The staff to Israel's embassy in Cairo has been ordered to stay at home because of security concerns, the Shin Bet security service said Tuesday.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry has declined to comment, but Israel's Channel 2 television said that for three months, ambassador David Govrin and his staff have been working from Jerusalem.

"Due to security considerations, the return of the Foreign Ministry's embassy team to Cairo has been curbed," the Shin Bet said in a brief statement.

Israel re-opened its embassy in Egypt in 2015, four years after it was stormed by dozens of protesters in violence that led to the evacuation of the ambassador.

The ambassador then, Yitzhak Levanon, and other staff were airlifted from Egypt after demonstrators attacked the city centre embassy in September 2012, in a protest over the shooting of five Egyptian security guards by Israeli soldiers pursuing militants who had ambushed and killed eight Israelis along the border.

*The story was edited by Ahram Online.

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday found AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala guilty in a 21-year-old disproportionate assets case and asked her to surrender immediately.

Shes been sentenced to four years in jail and also asked to pay a fine of Rs 10 crore.

The judgment also bars Sasikala from holding a public office and contesting elections for 10 years, strengthening the hand of caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvam, who is locked in a bitter power struggle with her.

Here are some reasons why this judgment gives the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a reason to smile:

1. The BJP leadership did not want Sasikala, a close aide of J Jayalalithaa, to become the chief minister of Tamil Nadu. There were apprehensions that she was close to the Congress.

2. The BJP had suspicion that Sasikalas husband M Natarajan, a forme public relations officer with the Tamil Nadu government, was working at the behest of the Congress to dislodge the O Panneerselvam government.

3. All along the BJP was backing chief minister Panneerselvam, who faced challenge from Sasikala and her loyalists. OPS, as the chief minister is popularly known, had discussed the issues with senior BJP leadership.

4. The message that the Centre was backing OPS helped him win back the support of many MLAs and MPs who were siding with Sasikala.

5. The BJP has been looking for a dependable ally in the south and the it was backing OPS in the belief that he will reciprocate appropriately.

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The Supreme Court will in a couple of hours decide on a corruption case that will have a bearing on the political uncertainty in Tamil Nadu. It will make or mar VK Sasikalas nascent political career as she eyes the chief ministers position in the southern state.

Justice PC Ghose and justice AK Roy will author separate verdicts in the 21-year-old disproportionate assets case. The two can either disagree completely on the merits of the allegations or could partially differ on punishment to the convicts  slightest of the differences will alter the way the case is decided.

Possible scenarios:

Separate but concurring rulings

a) If both the judges hold Sasikala guilty, she will be disqualified under the representation of the people act. She will be barred from contesting polls for six years, the bar kicks in after she completes her jail term for the offence.

b) In case the two uphold the Karnataka high court judgment acquitting Sasikala then governor C Vidyasagar Rao might call for a composite floor test, as advised by attorney general Mukul Rohatgi.

c) The Supreme Court may also ask the Karnataka HC to decide the matter afresh if it finds infirmities in the procedure followed. In such a scenario the top court may set aside the HC order, which means Sasikala would stand disqualified.

Dissenting verdict

a) If the two judges differ on merits of the allegations then the matter would be placed before the Chief Justice of India for setting up of a larger bench and hearing the case afresh.

b) The Karnataka HC judgment will hold till the larger bench decides the case, allowing Sasikala to stake claim to the chief ministers job. The governor will have to follow the AGs advice and hold a floor test.

c) If judges agree and convict Sasikala but differ on the quantum of punishment then, too, the case will go to a larger bench. But, Sasikala will be barred from elections, necessary for her as she is not an MLA.

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Drawing a parallel between the J Jayalalithaa case, which the Supreme Court disposed of on Tuesday, and that of YS Jaganmohan Reddy, the ruling Telugu Desam Party on Tuesday demanded expeditious trial of the illegal assets case against the YSR Congress president.

There is no difference between the two cases. There, Sasikala (close aide of the late Tamil Nadu CM) misused Jayalalithaas position and amassed illegal wealth through quid pro quo deals. Jagan did the same in Andhra Pradesh abusing his father (late) YS Rajasekhara Reddys position (as CM), said TDP MLC and spokesman Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy.

If Sasikala got a four-year jail term for a scam of Rs 66 crore, Jagan should get many more years as he illegally amassed about Rs one lakh crore, he added..

VK Sasikala, who was leading an aggressive bid to become CM of the southern state, received a jolt when the apex court restored her conviction in a disproportionate assets case and sent her back to jail.

Reddy said the modus operandi used by both Sasikala and Jagan, by floating shell companies and laundering money, were the same.

As per the supreme courts previous directions, the cases against Jagan should be disposed of within one year. Even if he gets convicted in one out of 11 cases, he is sure to end up in jail for many years, the TDP leader said.

He said the enforcement directorate had already attached Jagans properties worth Rs 3,000 crore while the CBI and the ED have unearthed illegal assets to the tune of Rs 40,000 crore in name of Jagan and his companies.

We demand a speedy trial into Jagans illegal assets cases, Reddy added.
Editor of jagran.com Shekhar Tripathi was arrested on Tuesday for publishing an exit poll of the first phase of elections in Uttar Pradesh in violation of the model code of conduct.

The arrest was made after the Election Commission (EC) on Monday directed poll officers of 15 districts of the state to book editorial heads of the media group for publishing the exit poll, police said.

The districts went to poll on Saturday.

Ghaziabad superintendent of police (city) Salmantaj Patil said Tripathi was called for questioning on Monday night and was later arrested.

An FIR was lodged under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code and sections 126A and 126B of the Representation of the People Act against the managing-editor/editor-in-chief of the publication.

The managing director of Resource Development International (I) Private Limited (RDI), a management consulting firm, is also named an accused in the FIR.

In the case of Jagran dot com, the EC noted that it allegedly quoted an RDI exit poll that put the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the lead at the end of the first phase of elections in the state.

Taking serious note of the violation, the EC directed Uttar Pradesh election officer to get FIRs registered against the accused in 15 districts of Shamli, Muzaffar Nagar, Baghpat, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Mathura, Hathras, Agra, Firozabad, Etah and Kasganj.

The offence under the section 126A of the Act is punishable by imprisonment for a term up to two years or with fine or both. The other, section 126B, provides that if offence is committed by a company, every person who is in charge of and is responsible for conduct of business of the company shall be held guilty of the offence and face punishment.

Dainik Jagran on Monday said that its report on exit polls was inadvertently published on its English website and was immediately removed.

We clarify that we will fully comply with the directive which has been issued by the Election Commission of India and are in the process of filing a detailed fact-based response with the ECI clarifying the position, it had said.

Media houses are barred from publishing or broadcasting exit polls so that the results do not influence voters.

As part of the investigation, we are now trying to access the URL of the pages of their website on which the report was published. We are also trying to find out in whose name the domain is registered, said Hemant Rai, station house officer of Kavi Nagar police station.
VHP on Tuesday came out in support of Union Minister Kiren Rijiju over his remarks on declining Hindu population, saying they were in the nations interest and were made by a responsible leader who himself is a Buddhist.

Rijiju, a Buddhist, made this statement in the nations interest, VHPs International General Secretary Surender Jain said in a statement, adding Rijiju is a responsible leader.

Jain further said, those who are criticising Rijiju for his remarks are indulging in cheap politics and minority appeasement which will not only impact the country but even Muslims also.

Read more | Things Kiren Rijiju says: Four times the minister triggered a controversy

He added that today all societies across the globe have accepted concept of family planning but there a section of politicians who do not want Muslims to do so, which is only hurting the community.

A controversy had erupted yesterday over a tweet by Union Minister of State for Home Rijiju that Indias Hindu population was decreasing as Hindus do not convert other people.

Rijijus comment came after the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee accused the Narendra Modi-led BJP government of trying to convert Arunachal Pradesh into a Hindu state.
Bhopal killer Udayan Das who has shocked the nation by murdering both his parents in 2010 and live-in partner in 2016 is ready to make a confessional statement to a magistrate, Bankura police super Sukhendu Hira said on Tuesday.

Das will be produced in court on Wednesday as his police custody will end. The police will submit a plea for recording the statement of Das under section 164 in the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973.

Udayan has admitted his crime and has also told us that he is ready to confess it before a magistrate, said Hira.

The Bankura district top cop also claimed that his live-in partner Akanksha Sharma earned Dass wrath after she discovered the passports of his parents -- both documents were incidentally forged -- in his Bhopal house. She also found the death certificate of his mother.

Das apprehended that she will find out the truth behind the death of his parents, and killed her, remarked Hira.

Das at the press conference on Tuesday. He appeared calm and composed. (HT Photo)

Police officers presented Das at the press conference on Tuesday. Wearing a blue tee shirt and a black jacket, clean shaven Das appeared calm.

Read: Bhopal killer Udayan trying to mislead police during interrogation

It appeared from the 30-minute press conference that the primary motive for Das killing both his parents on July 27, 2010 was to grab their savings.

A confidential statement, according to section 164 laid down in the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973, is made to a metropolitan magistrate or judicial magistrate. It can be used as evidence in a court of law.

The statement has to be made voluntarily, and the magistrate is supposed to ensure that the accused is not giving the statement under duress. According to the rules, the magistrate will explain to Das that he is not bound to make the statement that can be used against him in the court.

The police super said the youth was addicted to sex and spent a fortune on escort services. He not only went to Delhi and Mumbai to satiate his appetite but also went abroad to satisfy himself.

Read: Did Bhopal murderer have more women on his hit-list? Police probe on

He kept spending the savings of his parents. When the funds were about to be exhausted, he sold their house to carry on his expenditure, said Hira.

The remains of the body recovered from Dass residence has a necklace. Akanksha Sharmas brother confirmed that it belonged to his sister, said the police super.

The police officer also narrated how he purchased cement from a neighbouring hardware stores to build a structure on the casket in which he put the body of his girlfriend.

Das wanted to prove that he will achieve something in life, said Hira.
Students at Lucknows Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU) are mustering all the support they can for Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Partys Thakur candidate from the Sarojini Nagar constituency in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

Ajay Kumar, a Dalit research scholar at BBAU, says Shivshanker Singh aka Shankari Singhs caste is immaterial.

He is adhering to Babasahebs philosophy, which is the key for me. Also, BSP chief Mayawati handpicked him from Sarojini Nagar constituency, the 28-year-old said.

Kumar was referring to social reformer and Dalit icon Bhimrao Ambedkar and BBAU, which has 50% seats reserved for scheduled caste and scheduled tribe students, is named after him.

The central university hogged headlines in January last year after a few Dalit students shouted slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during its convocation ceremony. Modi also spoke about Hyderabad University student Rohith Vemulas death for the first time during his speech.

Now, the onus is on us (Dalits) to ensure his victory and the defeat of the BJPs candidate. The saffron party has always promoted communalism and hatred in society, Kumar added.

Voting will take place in Sarojini Nagar, which is an open constituency, in the third phase of polling on February 19.

In the 2012 assembly elections, Samajwadi Partys Sharda Pratap Shukla defeated Singh by 8,365 votes. Shukla got 67,601 votes and Singh 59,236 votes.

Door-to-door campaigning is a part of the students strategy to build up momentum for BSP Shivshanker Singh. (HT Photo)

Kumar is not the only student from the university to come out in Singhs support. Many present and former students are not only supporting Singh but they are also campaigning for him on social media as well as through door-to-door interaction with voters.

Shreyat Boudh, another student, says he is campaigning for Singh as well as all the other BSP candidates in the district. I have attended their public meetings and am drumming up support for them in whatever way I can, the 23-year-old said. Students are also inspiring women to contribute to Singhs campaign.

We have formed a body called Bahujan Samajik Mahila Sangathan and are mobilising the women of Sarojini Nagar to step out and vote for the BSP candidate, Bela Turkey, a student, says.

The varsitys teachers are also not far behind. BB Malik, a teacher at the sociology department, says, In a democracy, every individual has a right to their opinion. The BSP rule will bring peace, law and order in the state.

Singh is happy with the overwhelming support from the Dalit students of the university.

It is always good for a candidate if he has the support of the youth. I am heavily banking on youth power. They are working tirelessly for my election campaign, he says.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded the state units women wing chief, Swati Singh, from Sarojini Nagar. Swati is the wife of former BJP state vice-president, Dayashankar Singh, who had made derogatory remarks against BSP supremo Mayawati.

The saffron party has never won the Sarojini Nagar seat, which has been held by SP and BSP candidates during the past decades.

The ruling Samajwadi Party has given the ticket to chief minister Akhilesh Yadavs cousin, Anurag Yadav. Shukla, who is sitting MLA from the seat, was denied ticket by the SP, following which he filed his nomination on a Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) ticket.

The BJP rebel Rudra Daman Singh alias Babloo is also in the fray. After being denied ticket, he is contesting as Shiv Sena candidate.

Students of other varsities are also busy campaigning for candidates.

Monu, an Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad student leader at Lucknow University, is campaigning for BJPs Lucknow North candidate, Dr Neeraj Nora, who lost the last assembly election.

Similarly, members of Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha are campaigning for ruling Samajwadi Party candidates in the district.

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Two construction labourers died after falling off an under-construction building in Goregaon (West) on Sunday. The incident occurred around 11.30 am.

According to the police, the duo was employed with a private construction company at a building in Siddharth Nagar. The incident took place while the two men, later identified as Riju Sher Afghan Khan, 26, and Islam Sai, 22, were working on the seventh floor.

The duo fell off the building after losing their balance. Cops said the men were not given any safety equipment and were working without helmets. They also said that there was no safety net around the higher floors to prevent such accident.

The victims were rushed to the Cooper Hospital where they were declared dead on arrival, following which the police were informed.

A case has been registered two employees of the construction company for causing death by negligence, said an officer from Goregaon police station.

Also read: Eight killed in Bhiwandi building collapse

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After its inception in 1997, it took a decade for Mumbais second airport near Panvel to reach the drawing board. It took another decade to find a builder.

Although the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) has set a deadline to get the airport ready by May 2020, industry experts feel that the project is unlikely to have it smooth.

The project is likely to see challenges in terms of funds. And keeping in mind the volatile nature of the aviation sector, a major surge in international crude prices would have an impact on the timeline, said a senior executive with an aviation think tank.

On Monday, the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), the GVK-led private consortium that operates the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), won the bid to build the new airport

Experts said that even if it the project meets the new deadline, air travel out of Mumbai will continue to be chaotic for at least another four years. From handling less than 25 million passengers in 2006, the CSIA entered the big league of the worlds busiest airports by catering to 41.7 million passengers in 2015-16. Industry projections indicate that the clock has begun ticking for the city airport to hit saturation in the next two years.

For instance, a report released by aviation think tank Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, last November projected that by 2018-19, CSIAs capacity would be filled with 48 million annual users. Until last year, the airport had consumed more than three-fourth of its capacity - the highest among metro airports in India, with Chennai. Even Delhi, the countrys busiest airport, has utilised only 41% of its capacity.

A comparison of Mumbais air traffic planning structure with Istanbul and Dubai showed a dismal picture. In 2014, the Istanbul Ataturk airport handled 56 million fliers, but the airport has already invested US$8 billion for a bigger airport with six runways, four terminals and a capacity to handle 150 million passengers a year. Similarly, Dubai airport, which saw 70 million air passengers in 2014, is being prepared to accommodate 100 million passengers by 2020. The city, with a population of more than 2 million, has started building its second airport at the Dubai Central World, with an estimated capacity for 260 million passengers, the report said.

Mumbai is projected to hit saturation by 2018. Even if the second airport is ready in the next five years, Mumbai would need a third airport by 2035.

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Mumbais airport operator set to build Navi Mumbai airport

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The survival rate among Indian children suffering from cancer is poor compared to most in western countries, said doctors from Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) Parel on Tuesday. In India, only 20% minors survive cancer, as compared to more than 80% in western countries.

The main reasons for the low survival rate are incorrect diagnosis and treatment, said doctors. The figures were released by the hospital on Tuesday to mark International Childhood Cancer Day on February 15.

In children, the symptoms of cancer are often missed because they overlap with common illnesses. For example, we need to raise the red flag and suspect cancer if a child has fever for more than two weeks, said Dr Sripad Banavali, head of TMHs medical oncology unit.

According to doctors, most paediatric cancers cannot be prevented as they have a strong genetic basis, but some tumours can be picked up early on. These days a simple sonography can diagnose solid tumours in an unborn child, said Dr Banavali.

Paediatric cancers are classified into solid and liquid tumours. Blood cancers, which are known to be aggressive, fall under liquid tumours and constitute 50% of all cancer cases, said doctors.

Blood cancers are among the worst to treat as they advance very fast. One of the reasons is that in children the blood cells multiply very fast, added the doctor

Nearly 30% of children with blood cancers require bone marrow transplant  a procedure in which a patients blood stem cells are replaced with those from a donor or sometimes their own stem cells.

Cancer cases which relapse are candidates for bone marrow transplant. The cure rate of cancers with bone marrow transplant is 50%, said Dr Naveen Khattry, who heads Tata Memorial Centres bone transplant unit.

However, factors such as high cost, unavailability of donors, often push patients away from the procedure, he added.

Over the years TMH has become the only centre in the country to achieve a cure rate of 70% for paediatric cancers. In a quest to increase survival rates across the country, doctors are using online portals. We are using an online portal called Navya, where patients across India can upload their case history and TMH doctors give opinion on the diagnosis and treatment within 24 hours  Dr Banavali said.

A survival story

Eleven-year-old Bhumi Prajapati, who is studying in class 6, was diagnosed with an advanced form of rare cancer called Neuroblastoma when she was three

Neuroblastoma affects the nerves of the parasympathetic nervous system, which controls the bodys unconscious actions such as salivation, digestion and urination. Doctors said at her stage of the disease, there was only 40% chance of survival

Doctors at the Tata Memorial Hospital had given up hope. She was diagnosed at stage four and had slim chances of survival. She still went ahead with the treatment and was given high dose of chemotherapy followed by a bone marrow transplant, said Dr Sajid Qureshi who treated her

Now, almost eight years later, Bhumi is free of cancer and has travelled to Russia to be a part of the Special Olympics. I won prizes in swimming and rifle shooting, said Bhumi

Incidence of childhood cancer in India

38-124 per ten lakh children per year

40,000 new cancer cases seen in India each year

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Cancer treatments affect brain, heart tissues in children

Most children with cancer malnourished
Tunisia's prime minister on Tuesday rejected German claims that his country has been blocking the return of rejected asylum seekers including the key suspect in the Berlin attack, hours ahead of talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The German leader plans to press Youssef Chahed to speed up the repatriations of Tunisians, with the issue taking on greater urgency since the deadly assault on a Berlin Christmas market in December.

The Islamist militant attack which claimed 12 lives has been blamed on Anis Amri, a Tunisian whose asylum application had been rejected half a year earlier, but could not be expelled because of Tunisian bureaucratic delays.

Chahed however threw out any criticism.

"One thing that I must say very clearly: the Tunisian authorities have not made any mistakes," Chahed told Germany's biggest selling daily Bild.

"Anis Amri was no terrorist when he left Tunisia in 2011, there were no signs that he had been radicalised.

"With regards to the identity documents, here too, the Tunisian authorities acted correctly. We are always standing in close contact with Germany," he said.

Chahed said "cooperation with Germany works very well now" but threw the ball back in Berlin's court.

"We need from the German side clear evidence that we are really dealing with Tunisians," he said, estimating the number of Tunisian citizens concerned by possible expulsions from Germany at around 1,000.

"Illegal immigrants who use false identity documents make it difficult and delay the process."

Merkel has been under pressure to reduce the number of asylum seekers in Germany, after the country took in over a million migrants and refugees since 2015.

While most refugees from war-torn Syria have qualified for temporary safe haven, applicants from Tunisia as well as Algeria and Morocco generally have not, because their countries are considered stable.

Last year the success rates for asylum requests was 3.5 percent for Moroccans, 2.7 percent for Algerians and just 0.8 percent for Tunisians.

Merkel has stressed that she wants Germany to list the three as "safe countries of origin", raising the bar for asylum requests further -- but the proposal has been held up in the upper house of parliament in Berlin over human rights concerns.

Amnesty International this week alleged that a rise in "brutal tactics" by Tunisian security forces, including torture and arbitrary arrests, are threatening pro-democracy reforms.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere last year visited all three Maghreb countries to urge better cooperation on repatriations.

The question had already became a hot-button issue after New Year's Eve 2015-16, when mobs of North African men sexually assaulted and robbed hundreds of women in the western city of Cologne, sparking public outrage.

Germany worries that with the advent of spring, the number of migrants making the dangerous Mediterranean crossing will rise again.

Many are travelling via chaotic Libya, which has lacked a functioning national government since the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi.

But Berlin also hopes other regional countries can help deter migrants from heading for the EU.

Merkel voiced support for a proposal for Tunisia to set up "holding facilities" for refugees rescued from the Mediterranean.

She said that in her meeting with Chahed, they need "to calmly discuss, with mutual respect, what possibilities exist".

The German leader stressed that both countries could cooperate on security, a top issue for Tunisia with its important tourism sector.

Since the 2011 Tunisian revolution that sparked the Arab Spring, Islamist militant attacks have killed some 20 civilians, 59 foreign tourists and over 100 soldiers and police.

Tunisia has also been the largest country of origin for foreign fighters joining the Islamic State (IS) militant group, with over 5,500 of its nationals having flocked to the extremists' self-declared caliphate.

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SHODH (www.shodh.gov.in), the Mumbai railway polices search engine for accident victims and missing people, last year helped the families of eight missing people find out what had happened to their loved ones.

We managed to trace eight such cases using SHODH last year, said a police official who helped the family of missing Kurla resident Suresh Hemji, 48, find out what had happened to him.

According to his family, Suresh had gone missing on September 17 last year. A day later, they registered a missing-person complaint with the VB Nagar police. Two months passed but the police were unable to find Suresh. His family then approached Mumbai police commissioner Datta Padsalgikar and on November 8 the crime branch began looking into the case.

Using details provided by the family about Sureshs age, height, weight, build, identifying marks, hair type and complexion, the police were able to use SHODH to narrow down the search. They identified a few possible candidates from which the family picked out Suresh. According to the polices records, he had died the same day in a train accident at Dadar and the GRP had registered a case of accidental death. The family thanked the police for helping them get closure.

People looking for their missing relatives should run a search on the SHODH website to find out if he or she died in a train accident, said a GRP official.

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Mumbai GRP collecting DNA samples from unidentified bodies for future identification
A driver from Pune lost control of his car because of the foggy conditions on the highway on a bridge in Dahanu and fell from a height of 35 foot, into the river on Monday dawn. The driver survived without a scratch but the car was destroyed.

The Dahanu police are investigating the case. The driver has blamed the absence of railings on the bridge to have led to the mishap.

Laxman Jagdale, 30, a resident of Dehu Road, Pune, had come to drop his boss off in Dahanu for a wedding. Patel had asked Jagdale to return to Pune as they planned to stay back in Dahanu. The driver drove a black Renault Scala back to Pune, and while crossing the Vadna Ranshet bridge, 18km from Dahanu, he lost control of the car because he could not see properly in the fog, and fell off it. There were no iron railings, said Jagdale.  I dont know how I survived.

Locals trying to figure out the best possible angle to pull the car out of the river using a crane. (HT photo )

Jagdale could not contact Patel because of poor network, initially. But after he could, Patel rushed Harbans Singh, a crane operator to haul the car up. When we reached the spot, it was difficult to put the crane in place, as the area is steep and there was no strong rocky base to park the crane to hoist the car, said Singh. It is surprising that Jagdale survived the plunge.

The Dahanu police have conducted a panchanama of the incident, but no case was registered against Jagdale, as there was no injury.

We are investigating the case, said a police official. We will register a case of accident.

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20-year-old Vasai marathoner falls off express train, dies
While the rest of the city has Monday blues, residents of N ward in Ghatkopar dread Thursdays. Reason: it is the market day for this Gujarati heartland, which, in their words, is equivalent to illegal hawkers, traffic and unending chaos.

There is no space to walk. It is better not to step out of the house or remove your vehicle on a Thursday, said Ghatkopar resident Priya Vijaykrishnan, 32.

The suburb has witnessed major infrastructure development in the past two decades, with its industrial units and factories being replaced with malls, high-rises, shops and a metro station.

Old residential buildings in Cama lane, Garodia Nagar, MG road and Pant Nagar were pulled down to create high-rises without the supporting infrastructure for wider roads.

The LBS Marg, one of the major arterial roads in the city, is choked for most part of the day. So are the link road, 90-feet roads and narrow lanes of MG Road.

A ride from Garodia Nagar to Ghatkopar station should not cost more than Rs20. But after 3.30pm, it definitely costs more than Rs60. There are no facilities for pedestrians and the footpaths are encroached upon by hawkers and shops, said Vijaykrishnan.

Unregulated hawkers and illegal parking add to the congestion. Mihir Palan, a media professional who frequents the area, said, The use of paver blocks on footpaths is a wrong idea. The stalls set up by hawkers damage the footpaths further.

A major part of the Vikhroli-Vidyavihar-Ghatkopar stretch provides easy access to other parts, adding to the congestion. The eastern express highway connects the stretch to Bhandup, Mulund, Thane, while the LBS Marg connects it to the western suburbs.

Traditionally dominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena, the BJP won two of the 12 electoral wards in 2012. The Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) won three seats each. However, with MLA Ram Kadam defecting from the MNS to the BJP before the 2014 Assembly elections, MNS chances are bleak. The area has MLA Prakash Mehta and MP Kirit Somaiya from the BJP.

Candidates contesting this civic election have made promises of solving Ghatkopars woes.

Recently, Congress candidate Pravin Chheda held a Facebook live to address traffic woes and wrote a letter to the traffic department.

BJP candidate Ritu Tawde has also made suggestions on widening roads to solve the crises.

Read

Unclog Mumbai: Ghatkopar is chaos central

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The result for the Mumbai civic body elections could sound the poll bugle for state assembly elections, indicated Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Monday and asserted that his party was ready for a mid-term poll.

NCP is ready to face mid-term polls in Maharashtra if such a situation emerges after February 23 (the day the results of Mumbai civic polls are announced), Pawar tweeted on Monday.

His statement is being taken as a hint that the NCP is unlikely to support BJP if Shiv Sena pulls out from the state government.

There wont be any loss of Maharashtra if elections are held within two-and-a-half years, Pawar added further.

His tweet assume significance as the NCP had declared unconditional support to the BJP government immediately after the results were declared for 2014 assembly elections, during which the BJP bagged 122 seats. To remain in power, the BJP needs 145 seats in the 288-member assembly.

In the run up to BMC polls, the ally turned foes, BJP and Sena, are targeting each other with no holds barred. Scaling up the attack, Sena leaders even hinted that the party may quit the state government, sparking in the political circles that Sena may withdraw support to the BJP-led state government after the BMC polls.

Also read: Will NCP support BJP govt in Maharashtra if Shiv Sena quits?

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In a bid to avoid a repeat of last years chaos around admissions, principals of law colleges have proposed setting up facilitation centres to help the students taking the Common Entrance Test (CET) for law courses.

At a meeting on Monday, principals and representatives from government-aided law colleges asked for a simplified admission process. In addition to facilitation centres, the principals also suggested putting in place a standard operating procedure (SOP) for admissions, so that the aspirants wouldnt have to run around making compliances at the eleventh hour.

Last year, the states first ever attempt to centralise law admissions by introducing common entrance tests (CETs) for three year and five year LLB courses faced many roadblocks, as the entire process stretched for almost half a year. The process itself was marred by multiple litigations, persistent delays and enormous confusion, with many aspirants in the city unable to secure admission despite availability of seats.

This year, the CETs for five-year and three-year LLB courses are likely to be held on May 20 and 21, respectively, which is a month before as compared to last years schedule. Although the State CET Cell had scheduled the tests towards the April-end, but had to shift them for the third party service providers convenience, said an official from the Cell.

The facilitation centres proposed by the principals help students with filling the forms and other formalities. The director of higher education will decide which colleges will serve as the facilitation centres, said the official from CET Cell.

According to a source, the principals who attended the meeting on Monday expressed concerns over the large number of vacant seats in law colleges. They suggested that many students were put off by the persistent changes in the admission procedure and were unable to secure admission, he said. There was much misunderstanding. Many students who appeared for the CET didnt even register for the Centralised Admission Procedure (CAP), said the source.

Data from the state CET cell shows that over 6,000 out of 10,000 seats available for five-year LLB course and 5,000 out of 15,000 seats available for the three-year course remained vacant even after six rounds of admissions.

The principals insisted that the admission process should be simplified and communicated to the students early, said the source. The students had little knowledge as to which documents are required at the time of admission. The principals suggested that the government should come up with an SOP for admission and post it online, he said.

What went wrong last year?

Notification of CET

A student had moved the Bombay high court seeking the cancellation of the test stating that the syllabus of any test has to be declared at least six months before the exam. Though the court allowed test, it asked the state to include Bar Council of India (BCI) members while framing the syllabus

Application form

Students were confused by the application form, which had a list of college divisions to choose from instead of a list of colleges. As a result, many of them, reportedly, marked only a single division from a college of choice, instead of marking all the divisions of the college, and lost seats in the process

BCI approvals

The aspirants also bore the brunt of the uncertainty over the BCI approvals to many coveted law colleges. The apex body had withheld the approvals to 64 out of 128 colleges across the state, util they agreed to meet its criteria

Age limit

Many aspirants were turned away by colleges after BCI imposed an age limit for admissions. The maximum age for seeking admission for a five-year LLB course is 20 years (22 years for reserved category) and the maximum age for admission for a three-year LLB programme (offered after graduation) is 30 years (35 years for reserved category students). The rule has been a subject of litigation, with various petitions opposing it being filed in courts across the country

Allotment of seats

The CET cell decided to change the first and the fourth list of college allotments after many discrepancies were reported in it. Students alleged that the state didnt fill minority and ladies quota seats properly

Nationality and caste validity certificates

Many aspirants were unaware of the requirement of nationality and caste validity certificates at the time of seeking admissions. The students were forced to furnish the documents at the eleventh hour.

Also read: Mumbai law students file PIL against incorrect allotment of seats

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Maharashtras first policy for safety of children in daycares and creches will be ready by March, but it has already drawn criticism from experts and parents.

They have demanded extending the policy to include children between three and six years and for stakeholders  schools and parents  to be included in the policy making.

The state commission for women is drafting a policy for the safety of children up to three years of age. Hindustan Times reported on Tuesday that the government decided to frame the policy in the wake of the brutal assault on an 11-month-old girl at a daycare in Kharghar.

Parents of the TreeHouse preschool chain objected that the policy has restricted itself to children below three years.

TreeHouse had shut some of its centres without prior notice in December and later opened them after parents moved the economic offences wing.

While the Kharghar incident showed the vulnerability of newborns, children from three to six years also need protection, said Vikas Pandey, a parent who was affected due to the closure of the centres and one of the complainants. The TreeHouse debacle happened because of lack of government regulation on preschools, he added.

Parents demanded stricter penalties to be put in place for schools that do not follow the safety guidelines. Merely having a policy is insufficient. The government needs to supervise the schools and daycare centres to check whether the guidelines are being followed, said Pandey.

Vijaya Rahatkar, womens commission chief, said a special panel of child care experts and mahila mandals has been appointed to chalk out the policy. Mumbai has the maximum number of working women and so thousands of creches have sprung up in the city, said Rahatkar. The Kharghar incident has highlighted the need for the safety guidelines.

Rahatkar added that the policy would be ready within a fortnight, after the panels final meeting. While framing the guidelines, we have drawn from the experiences of the mahila mandals running the creches, said Rahatkar.

But Mumbai-based think tank, Early Childhood Association (ECA), said stakeholders from branded daycare centres and preschools, too, must be consulted. The panel doesnt have any representation from managements of private preschools although the policy will affect them, said Swati Popat Vats, president of the Podar Education Network and head of ECA.

Safety policy for daycares and creches

The state womens commission is drawing the policy for safety of children between zero and three years in daycares and creches.

It is based on the Regulatory Guidelines for Private Play Schools, 2017, released by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in January, as well as adding suggestions from its expert panel.

THE SUGGESTIONS

*Daycares and creches shall register with local government agencies (which havent been defined)

*Training on handling children will be provided to all employees in such centres

*Preschools will be appointed as mentors to help centres implement the safety guidelines

*Police verification for all employees that they havent been convicted under Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Act, Juvenile Justice Act and Prohibition of Child Labour Act

*No child will be subjected to physical punishment or mental harassment; employees will be punished according to the penalties in the Right to Education Act, 2009

Nine-month-old girl assaulted at Mumbai daycare centre, 2 arrested

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As Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray continue their slugfest during rallies, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray is starting his campaign from today with two rallies in Mumbai.

The MNS chief, who had initially planned to address at least 36 rallies across the state for the civic elections, has now restricted himself to just six in the next five days. Raj would be addressing rallies in Vikhroli and Vile Parle, where he is expected to slam the Sena and the BJP.

After Mumbai, he will be addressing rallies in Diva, Pune and Nasik and conclude it with a grand one at Dadar on February 18, which is the last day for campaigning.

An MNS leader claimed that the party chief delayed his rallies owing to health issues. Rajsaheb was unwell and so he could not address rallies. Though we are not expecting an outstanding result, we seek to win respectable number of seats, he added.

The MNS has won 28 seats in the 2012 BMC elections, and came to power in Nashik. However, it has suffered a big blow due to spate of defections across the state.

In the battle for BMC, after the BJP and the Sena decided to go solo, Raj extended an olive branch to his stranged cousin and Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. However, his offer was rejected.

Moreover, political experts are sceptical about MNS posing any serious threat during BMC polls as they feel that Raj has lost the appeal among the electorate.

He squandered the mandate he got during the previous elections. Today, he is seen more as an entertainer than a serious politician. People may throng to hear his speeches, but they dont get converted into votes, said political analyst Prakash Bal.

The 2017 civic polls is seen as a do-or-die battle for the MNS, as the party has failed to recover from the crushing defeat it suffered during the 2014 Lok Sabha and assembly polls. Another problem plaguing the party is the low morale among its cadre.

Also read: Proposed alliance with Shiv Sena to thwart BJP, says Raj Thackeray

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Smart thinking on the part of the police team which has laid a trap to arrest an externed criminal helped them accomplish the task despite forgetting their firearms. One of them used a flashlight to fool the accused and made him surrender.

With civic elections around the corner, police are leaving no stone unturned to maintain a peaceful atmosphere. As part of this process, they are keeping an eye on the activities and locations of criminals externed from Mumbai.

Tardeo police learnt that one such criminal, Salim Ismail Shaikh alias Salim Petrol, 27, who was externed in December 2016, was spotted in their jurisdiction.

An officer from Tardeo police station said, We have been ordered to conduct thorough inquiries so that we have peaceful elections. We got a tip-off that Shaikh, a history-sheeter who was externed from Mumbai in 2016, was spotted in our jurisdiction. He is one of those criminals who dont think twice before attacking police personnel. We learnt that he was seen entering his Tusliwadi residence.

In the past, Shaikh had managed to evade arrest by jumping through the window of his residence when the police were about to enter it through the front door.

So this time we laid a trap on both the sides of his house. While two policemen guarded the door, two others were deployed near the window through which he had escaped last time. Only one of the two was supposed to carrying his firearm, the officer said.

As expected, Shaikh jumped out of the window and landed in front of the officers waiting for him. However, he started manhandling the two officers. Sensing that Shaikh could hurt them grievously, one of the officers asked his partner to use his firearm.

The officer who was asked to brandish his service revolver had forgotten it. So when his senior asked him to use his firearm while Shaikh was manhandling him, the officer, showing presence of mind, placed a flashlight at Shaikhs back and asked him to stop or else he would shoot him. It worked and Shaikh surrendered, said an officer.

Shiakh was arrested and booked under sections 142 (penalty for entering without permission area from which a person is directed to remove himself or overstaying when permitted to, return temporarily) under the Bombay Police Act, 1951, and is in judicial custody.

Also read: Mumbai man gets two years in jail for slapping woman cop during Ganeshotsav

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Few days after HT reported that the dates for first-year degree college examinations could clash with class 12 tests, the new dates for the University of Mumbai exams is creating more complications.

According to the initial draft of the schedule for first-year (second semester) exams, exams will now begin after April 15. This means, college teachers will be busy supervising exams from mid-March all the way till the last week of April and might end up assessing papers all through the May vacations.

Assessment will not be an easy task because teachers will have to ensure that they finish their work within a stipulated period in order to ensure that results are declared in time. With exams being held all the way till end of April, most assessment work will begin in May, which teachers are against, said Kiran Mangaonkar, principal of GN Khalsa College, Matunga. He added that the University of Mumbais latest introduction of on-screen assessment for all answer booklets will only add to the delay.

Last week, MU had announced that the second semester exams will begin in mid-March and then principals complained that the dates will clash with HSC examinations. The new dates too are already receiving flak from colleges. MU cannot turn a blind eye on teachers right to a break from academic work. Earlier, when we could conduct first and second year exams as per our schedule, we ensured that college assessment was completed before university assessment began, said Anju Kapoor, principal of UPG College, Vile Parle. She added that such a pattern of exams will burden teachers physically as well as mentally with extra work.

Officials from MU have also received requests from many teachers to allow them to finish assessment of first and second year exams first, and then be sent for third year assessment. We have put forth this issue to the academic council and sought a solution. Meanwhile, we will release the final schedule of first year examinations after consultation with some principals and senior university members, said Deepak Wasave, in-charge, Controller of Examinations (CoE). He added that the final schedule will be released soon.

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College exams, HSC schedule clash; Mumbai University struggles to set timetable

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With Shiv Sena threatening to pull out of the government and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) claiming to prefer a mid-term poll, doubts are being raised over the stability of the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government in Maharashtra.

Fadnavis government, which has been enjoying smooth sailing so far, will have to prove its majority during the assembly floor test if Sena decides to withdraw its support. The current strength of the BJP is 121 seats, and it will need another 24 seats to claim majority 288-seat assembly if Sena quits the government. Sena has 63 MLAs.

Pawar added fuel to the speculations doing rounds about BJP governments future after Shiv Sena leaders last week hinted at pulling out from the government.

NCP is ready to face mid-term polls in Maharashtra if such a situation emerges after February 23 (the day results of the Mumbai civic polls are declared). There wont be any loss of Maharashtra if elections are held within two and a half years, Pawar tweeted on Monday

Speaking a Marathi news channel on Tuesday, the NCP chief reiterated that he would prefer fresh elections in Maharashtra in case Sena quits the government.

Pawars statement assumes significance as it was the NCP which had declared unconditional support to the BJP soon after assembly election results were announced back in 2014. He had then supported the BJP on the pretext that the party didnt want the state to go for re-elections immediately.

On the other hand, he also opined that he did not believe that Sena would pull out of the BJP-led government.

Also read: Is Maharashtra heading for mid-term poll?

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Demonstrators clashed with police in the Bahraini capital and neighbouring Shiite villages on Tuesday, the sixth anniversary of anti-government protests that were brutally suppressed by the authorities, witnesses said.

"Revolution until victory" and "No forgetting the martyrs", chanted the protesters, many of whom held up pictures of those killed in the crackdown in 2011.

In Manama, protests ended when policemen fired tear gas and stun grenades into the demonstrators to prevent them from reaching the main entrance to the capital.

Activists posted pictures of injured protesters online, but the interior ministry has not published any official statements about the reported demonstrations.

Sunni-ruled Bahrain has been rocked by unrest since March 2011 when authorities backed by Saudi-led forces put down a month of Shiite-led protests demanding democratic reforms.

Since then, hundreds of Shiites have been arrested and put on trial, and others have been stripped of their citizenship.

The country, ruled by the Al-Khalifa dynasty for more than two centuries, has a majority Shiite population which has long complained of marginalisation.

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What is the use of having a 56-inch chest or even a 5,000-inch one, if there is no heart inside it?

You say Dr Manmohan Singh wears a raincoat while taking bath. Did he not cover RBI governor Urjit Patel in the very same raincoat when the latter was being torn apart by the parliamentary committee questioning him on your demonetisation?

One might be forgiven for thinking the first statement was from Arvind Kejriwal and the second one by Rahul Gandhi at the UP or Punjab elections. But this is now what is an emerging vintage Uddhav Thackeray, going hammer and tongs, at the BJP day-after-day as he fights the biggest battle of his life  the polls to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on February 21.

So this one has come up as a favourite of his supporters: The BJP is like an elephant gone out of control. It needs the restraining hand of a mahout to keep it in check .The Shiv Sena is that mahout.

I do not think anyone in the BJP, which has in turn labelled the Shiv Sena as Kauravas who need to be destroyed at these polls, quite appreciates the manner in which Uddhav and his party seem to be turning the tables on them. For example, when BJP MP Kirit Somaiyya charged the Sena with corruption in the BMC, Sena MP Rahul Shevale had an unanswerable comeback  how come you were partners with us for 20 years in that corruption?

The BJP is shaking with anger at not just the mahout comment but also the Senas coup with speaking to the leader of the Patidar movement, Hardik Patel, from neighbouring Gujarat. While Patel could do much damage to the BJP at the Gujarat elections later this year with the Senas backing and resources, the significance of his meeting with Uddhav right now is not lost on anyone in the party.

The BJP seems to be living in a 2014 bubble believing that its good showing during both the Lok Sabha and assembly elections that year will coast it to victory even at the civic polls. But while two years is a long time for things to remain static and people also vote differently at different elections, they are waking up to the fact that they can no longer take the Gujarati vote for granted.

Even without the pain of demonetisation that affected both the rich and the poor (Gujarati entrepreneurs and north Indian workers) the most  the middle-classes were much better off during that drive  Gujaratis may still have preferred the Shiv Sena for the simple reason that they wish to be left in peace to conduct their business. It is prudent to keep the Sena in power in the BMC for an uncaged tiger would be much more difficult to deal with in the future. But now, Uddhav, who knows he may have bagged much of this vote already, is also setting the Congresss teeth on edge by bringing to the fore the issues that the Congress should have raised in the first place.

In a bid to lay bare the pretensions of the BJP government in the state, Uddhav has pointed out that the metro rail and other projects were not the BJPs plans for the city. These were formulated by the previous Congress government; all that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is doing is either laying foundation stones or cutting ribbons for projects started or completed by the Congress.

Congress city president Sanjay Nirupam was not amused. The party has been running a negative campaign against the Shiv Sena for months, concentrating mostly on potholed roads (which now even the BJP is using as a weapon against its ally) and water and electricity, which the BMC has failed to provide in full measure to the people. The party quite forgot to show case its own achievements like the Eastern Freeway which has made life so much easier for motorists or, yes, the metro and mono rails saving time on suburban commutes to office goers and others.

But listening to Uddhav Thackeray I am beginning to believe that he has finally moved out of the shadow of his father  his whipping criticism of the BJP is not unlike Bal Thackeray s but he is tearing huge chunks off the BJPs sides with such a smile on the face (of the tiger, dare I say?) that it is leaving BJP leaders flustered and speechless.

The tiger is indeed riding the elephant and it makes for quite a riveting picture!

Also read: Mumbai civic polls: A toss up between overlords and underdogs
An FIR has been registered against a Noida-based company for allegedly duping people of Rs 500 crore, police said today.

In a similar case, the Uttar Pradesh Polices Special Task force had on February 2 busted an online trading scam worth over Rs 3,700 crore by Noida-based Ablaze Info Solutions in which nearly seven lakh people were duped on the pretext of getting money in lieu of clicking on specific links. It also arrested its owner Anubhav Mittal and his two accomplices.

Amit Kishore Jain, a Ghaziabad resident, filed a complaint at Sector 20 police station alleging that the companys owners duped nearly two lakh people who were promised handsome returns by clicking on web links and made Rs 500 crore in the past four months.

Webwork Trade Links is located at D 57, Sector 2 and has shut operations till April 20.

An FIR has been filed based on Jains complaint and the UPSTF has started a probe into the matter.

The companys directors Anurag Garg and Sudesh offered membership to more than four lakh people in the past four months for the click and earn plan. It is alleged that they collected over Rs 500 crore from around two lakh people, SP (City) Dinesh Yadav said.

The complainant has alleged that Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui are brand ambassadors of the firm and have featured in its advertisements.

UPSTF ASP Triveni Singh said, We have other such companies on our radar and started a probe into this case.

The company in a notice on its website has said its operations will remain closed till April 20 due to transaction problems.

Read: Who is Anubhav Mittal, the prime accused in Rs 3,700-cr online trading scam
The Ghaziabad police has roped in its crime branch to trace an 11-year-old girl who went mysteriously missing from her house at Shakti Khand in Indirapuram on Monday afternoon. The girl is a student of class 6 in a Vaishali-based school.

According to the police, the girl was with her mother at their house on Monday afternoon, when the mother went to the school bring home her other daughter.

The mother locked the house from the outside and went to ferry her other daughter from school. From there, she had called the landline and her daughter was present at home. However, when the mother returned about 20 minutes later, the girl was not home. It is suspected that the girl opened the door from the inside and locked the house from outside, leaving the keys on the staircase, Anil Yadav, circle officer (Indirapuram), said.

Police in nearby locations have been alerted and we are trying to track the girl. We are also tracing call records for the purpose. An FIR for abduction is also registered as per provisions of law for minors. CCTV footage is also being scanned. We are also enquiring her friends and neighbours for any possible clues, he said.

In one of the CCTV cameras near her house, the girl is seen running outside but no other person is seen with her.

In the CCTV footage she was found running but a girl in the neighbourhood said that my daughter was crying. We have searched everywhere but she is still not traceable, Subhash Yadav, the girls father, said.

Sources in the crime branch said that they are also scanning the call records of the family members, friends of the missing girl and have roped in several teams to trace her in the NCR.

On Monday night, the family members and locals from the area also held a demonstration at the Indirapuram police station over the polices inability in tracing the missing girl.

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The family of seven-year-old Ghazal Yadav, who died in the school hours of DPS World School in Noida Extension, has approached National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to intervene and find out the events that led to the girls death.

Ghazals parents said that there was a delay in the investigation by the police, due to which they decided to approach NCPCR. They said that the truth will be revealed only after an investigation is ordered by a judicial magistrate.

Since January 31, I am running from pillar to post to seek justice for my daughter. I want to know the sequence of events that led to her death. The school managements version is suspicious. Statements have been changed several times by the school, Lal Chand Yadav, Ghazals father, said.

Ghazal died on January 31, soon after participating in a karate competition in the school. Since then, her family has been demanding the sequence of events that led to her death.

Following an uproar by Ghazals parents, a case of negligence was registered against the school at the Ecotech-3 police station in Greater Noida. However, Ghazals parents allege that no strict action has been taken.

I was told Ghazal started bleeding profusely from the nose when she was being taken to the hospital. A teacher informed me that she had tried to call me but the management had stopped her. The truth will emerge only after a thorough probe, Lal Chand said.

Ghazals mother, Savita, in a letter to the chairman of NCPCR mentioned that many school children told her that Ghazal had complained of a severe headache to her teachers, but no attention was paid to her.

We are holding the school responsible because they have made different statements. Moreover, young children cannot manipulate the truth. Her classmates and other children had seen her complain to teachers and also saw her bleeding from the nose. We dont have evidence and we are not authorities. A fair investigation will bring out the truth, Savita said.

Ghazals parents had started a Facebook campaign to garner the support of parents and residents. The parents are also hopeful that the district magistrate will take cognizance of the issue.

DPS World School, in a statement to the media, mentioned that the CCTV footage of all events on January 31 has been handed over to the police and the management is cooperating with the police for the investigation.

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The police arrested two persons on Tuesday on charges of murder of a 21-year-old

polytechnic student whose bullet riddled body was found at a vacant plot in Murad Nagar on February 9.

The police arrested sharp shooter Monu Pal and his friend Rohit Kumar, while the prime accused, Akash alias Golu, is still absconding.

The victim and the accused are both residents of Murad Nagar.

The victims family had lodged an FIR against Monu and Rohit at Murad Nagar police station on February 9 after Shubhams body was found.

Police said that the victim had some altercation with the accused persons at a wedding function two years ago.

It was Monu who knew that Shubham and had gone out of his house on the night of the incident. Later, they called him and brought him along to a vacant plot where he was battered with bricks and also shot dead, said Ashish Srivastava, circle officer (Murad Nagar).

The accused said that they acted at the behest of prime accused, Akash, who had a previous altercation with the victim around two years ago at a function, Srivastava said.

Following the arrests, the police also recovered the belongings of the victim and the weapon used by the accused for committing the crime.

Monu had used a Pulsar bike during the incident, which was recovered on his instance.

Monu is a novice sharp shooter and was known to the victim as well as the prime accused. He said that it was Akash who planned to kill Shubham and roped in other persons as well. Our teams are trying to trace Akash, who is absconding, Srivastava said.

An FIR for rioting, murder, destruction of evidence with common intention was registered by Shubhams family.
The Uttar Pradesh police is investigating allegations of fraud levied against an online social trading company, Web Work Trade Link Private Limited. The company is suspected to be working on the lines of Ablaze Info Solutions Private Limited, which is currently being investigated for fraud.

According to the complaint filed by AK Jain, an insurance agent from Ghaziabad, Web Work, which has an office in Noidas Sector 2, offered people a chance to make money following an initial investment.

Noida police on February 12 lodged an FIR under the charges of cheating against Web Works directors  Anurag Garg and Sandesh Verma  following the complaint.

Today, we are taking statements of the complainant, AK Jain, who accused Web Work of cheating and fraud. Once we are done with that, we will move onto the next phase of investigations. We are understanding the case in detail  as to how Web Work is cheating investors and its modus operandi, Gaurav Grover, additional superintendent of police (DSP), Gautam Budh Nagar, said.

The complainant has invested 3.5 lakh in Web Work, as per the investment scheme. He got returns for a few days after which the web portal stopped payments. In an FIR, prima facie, allegations are that the company has violated law to cheat investors. We are trying to pinpoint the law that has been violated and determining the best way to proceed with the investigation, Grover said.

Web Work Trade Link Private Limited, located in Sector 2 of Noida, asks people to invest 11,000-57,500 to become a publisher in the company. The company subsequently sends links of websites, which should be liked by a publisher, to make a profit. The company promises to pay 6 per like. A username and a password were also provided to investors to access the website.

The company told me that it had tied up with a private company that provides them pages for promotions and hence, they make a profit, which is distributed among publishers, Vivek Sharma, an investor, said.

The directors could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

One of the directors, Anurag Garg, in a video message posted on YouTube, has refuted the allegations. Ours is a legitimate business. Many people do not understand it. Investors need not worry because we will soon begin payments as promised, said Garg, in a video message.

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Taking a step towards the safety of the children, over one lakh students will participate in a mega mock drill to be conducted in 101 schools in Gautam Budh Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh.

The evacuation drill would be conducted by Disaster Management Cell of Noida authority in collaboration with the district administration.

Dr Kumar Raka, the planning specialist of the Disaster Management Cell, Noida, said, Noida is earthquake-prone and it falls under seismic zone 4, the highest being zone 5. The drill will be conducted as part of the district administrations plan to strengthen the citys disaster management plan. The multi-disaster mock drill would be conducted simultaneously in all schools.

He also said that this would be worlds largest mega mock drill being conducted in the district. Guinness Book of World Records and Limca Book of Records are also being contacted for documentation of the drill.

The measures are being taken to prepare the students for any disaster. Officials have decided to conduct the drill in third or fourth week of April. State-owned and private schools have been already intimated about the exercise and will be notified with the date next week.

The drill would be conducted in a single day at the same time and for an expected time of three hours. The move came to fore after a meeting was held by Disaster Management Cell with district magistrate NP Singh late Tuesday evening.

To conduct the drill, around 1,000 men will be deployed in the district. Disaster Management Cell has already collaborated with Shuttl and Policy Perspective Foundation (PPF) to conduct this drill.

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The ancient Dudheshwar Nath temple turned into a battleground as two groups clashed inside the premises, pulled out weapons and assaulted each other up on Tuesday afternoon. The temple authorities said that nearly 100 men had visited the temple for an event, during which an altercation arose.

Following the episode, senior police officials and administration officials rushed to the spot and rounded up several persons. During the incident, equipment of the media persons was also damaged by the rioters. The incident took place even as prohibitory orders are in place until February 15.

I have asked the police to take necessary legal action even if neither of the parties files a police complaint and they reach a compromise, Bhramdev Singh, city magistrate, said.

The temple authorities said that the rioters also misbehaved with the temple authorities.

Just before the start of the event inside the premises, both groups got into an altercation on some issue. People from both sides were beaten up and the altercation also ensued inside my room. When we tried to intervene, they pushed us aside and misbehaved. Some of these persons beat up others with the help of weapons they had brought along, Mahant Narayan Giri, temple coordinator, said.

Generally, we dont check for weapons when devotees visit the temple. It is assumed that such items will not be brought to a place of worship. However, we have decided to put up a board stating that no weapons or any such items will be allowed inside henceforth, Giri said.

He said that the police from Ghanta Ghar Kotwali was immediately informed about the incident and he also dialled the emergency number for help.

The police said that they have rounded up four persons in connection with the incident and said they will take action against those responsible. Equipment of media persons was damaged. We have asked the persons involved to pay for the damages. So far, four persons have been detained. We will take necessary action in the matter, IP Singh, circle officer (city II), said.

The ancient temple is thronged by thousands of devotees every day and is also a popular location for major festivals, including the culmination prayers of the annual Kanwar Yatra in Ghaziabad.

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With the arrest of two persons, police on Tuesday claimed to have solved the case pertaining to demand of  30 lakh in extortion from a doctor couple in Bihars Kaimur district , about 199km from state capital Patna.

Police said the arrested persons had been identified as Sanjog Kumar Singh alias Sanjeev Singh, 28 of Mohania and his relative Rakesh Kumar Singh, 25. Rakesh was a computer application graduate and son of a retired railway employee, now settled at Mughalsarai in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, the police added.

The extortion demand was made to leading lady doctor of Mohania, Dr Kiran Singh, and her husband, Dr Santosh Singh. The accused believed that the doctor couple had with them huge currency in the denomination of banned 1000 and 500 and would pay the amount to them easily following demonetisation on November 8, 2016,  the police said.

The doctor couple had lodged a case on November 15 with Mohania police station against unknown persons after receiving the extortion call for the first time. Later, the couple received ransom calls and threat SMSes on many occasions, the police said..

The probe team arrested the accused after it traced the extortion calls through scientific investigation, the police said.

Kaimur superintendent of police Harpreet Kaur said the mobile phone and the SIM card used for making the extortion calls were recovered from the arrested persons.
Media, expecting to grab TRP-enhancing visuals, has been kept away from entering examination centres, as the intermediate exams got underway across Bihar today.

A direction to this effect has been issued to all magistrates, policemen and centre superintendents by Bihar School Examination Board secretary Anup Kumar Sinha. Earlier, the district magistrates and superintendents of police (SPs) in all the districts were apprised of it.

It was the media that had exposed mass cheating in matriculation in 2015. The viral pictures had caused huge embarrassment to the state government in the election year.

A year later, it was again media that exposed the toppers truth, which caused another big embarrassment to the state and led to the arrest of the Bihar board top brass.

However, this time, the board seems to be taking all precautions to prevent any goof-up, though chaos at some places over admit card distribution has already caused jitters.

In the light of cheating and toppers scam for two successive years, the board has taken a number of steps to stem the rot with digitisation and linking of Aadhaar card number of students with their examination forms to avoid duplication.

However, the biggest thing is how many days a year classes have been held to complete the syllabus in schools and colleges. Perhaps, that would be the best way to resurrect the image, said a school principal in Patna, adding for everything and anything, it is the government schools that bear the brunt.

A board official, however, clarified that the BSEB is just an examining body and it has made arrangements for peaceful conduct of exams.

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Valentine's Day returned Tuesday to the eastern sector of the Iraqi city of Mosul from where the Islamic State group was expelled last month, at least for a group of enthusiastic schoolchildren.

"My feelings for you flow like a river, and will flow on for the rest of my life," young volunteers recited in front of the children at one school, as plastic roses, balloons and heart-stickered pens were handed around.

In a celebration of "love for our liberated city", multi-coloured confetti was scattered across the floor and in the children's hair, as they awaited the arrival of a big cream cake.

"This February 14 will be unforgettable!" was the verdict of schoolgirl Manal.

"I knew there was an event that celebrates love but this is the first time I've had the chance to take part," said the girl with honey-coloured eyes lined with black kohl, framed by a traditional niqab covering the rest of her face and hair.

Nour, aged 14, was equally enthralled.

"To hold a feast with girls and boys in the same room, with music, simply to have fun, this was unthinkable just a few months ago," she said.

Organisers of the Mosul-style Valentine's Day, however, remained on their guard, preventing children from venturing out into the courtyard of the Azzuhur school, whose name means flowers in Arabic.

Drones operated by the Islamic State (IS) militant group still overfly parts of eastern Mosul retaken by Iraqi forces.

"Daesh has threatened to attack any schools which reopen. We're not safe here. They can still reach us from the western bank (of the Tigris River dividing the city) or with suicide bombers," warned Farid, a volunteer of the Nahdat Jeel (Rebirth Generation), using an Arabic acronym for IS.

The group, made up of around 300 local young men and women aged between 15 and 30, was formed a month ago through contacts on social media, and it has set itself the task of cleaning up schools and hospitals, repainting public squares and planting trees.

"We must get rid of all trace of Daesh, whether visible or symbolic," said Rafal Muzaffar, 26.

The many slogans splattered on the walls to glorify the "caliphate" proclaimed by IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi from a Mosul mosque in 2014 at the start of the group's two-year rule of the city have almost all disappeared.

"We're trying to carry out symbolic actions that provide a sharp contrast with what life was like over the past two years," said Muzaffar, dressed in a long black tunic and yellow scarf.

Last week, the all-Muslim group worked on cleaning up a huge church nicknamed "The Titanic" because of its ship-like shape, "to show that in Mosul our differences are our strength", she said.

Mohamed Namoq, one of Nahdat Jil's founders, was jailed and tortured by IS for almost two months for having recited poems on the radio that the group deemed subversive.

"Whatever the threats we face, nothing can stop us from carrying on and from shouting it out loud and clear, something we should have done long ago," said Namoq.

Haneen, 17, is also determined to play a role in restoring life to Mosul. "All young people should take part, not only boys but girls as well," she said.

As for celebrating Valentine's Day, that was "magical, because how can you live without love?" she asked, while pointing out shyly -- in deference to her conservative society -- that she does not have a boyfriend.

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Amid raging controversy over question leak of intermediate-level clerical-grade examination conducted by the Bihar Staff Selection Commission (BSSC), here comes a new twist.

Apparently apprehending trouble, BSSC chairman Sudhir Kumar had written a confidential letter to Bihar home secretary Amir Subhani on January 31, just a couple of days after the first phase examination on January 29, to suspend mobile and internet services in all district headquarters and places with exam centres to prevent rumours on question leak through WhatsApp messenger.

Going by experiences, rumours of question paper leak cause law and order problem and discontent among candidates. Keeping in mind the large number of candidates taking the recruitment exam, it is requested that temporary suspension of internet services in all the districts of Bihar be put in place between 10 am and 1 pm on February 5 so that miscreants do not indulge in rumour mongering, he wrote.

The chairman sought direction to all mobile service providers to suspend internet services for the period. Though the exam date is Sunday, exceptions may be exercised for banking services, LAN and other essential services, he wrote.

A copy of the letter was also marked to chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh.

According to sources, the BSSC chairman provided a copy of the letter to special investigation team (SIT), which is probing the alleged question leak, on February 11 when it quizzed him.

The SIT should also satisfy the chairman with regard to steps taken in the light of the apprehensions expressed by the chairman. With over 18.5 lakh examinees applying for the posts, its importance was huge, said an officer, adding it was quite common in Gujarat to suspend internet connectivity during important exams.

Sources said the home department ignored the BSSC chairmans letter while job racketeers allegedly leaked the question papers, which went viral on WhatsApp. Officers investigating the leak are tightlipped on the issue of the chairmans letter.

Patna senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaaj, who is heading the SIT, said he was looking into the matter. We will seek legal opinion on it, he added.

An IG-rank officer said if the SIT was really serious about getting to the bottom of the matter and track the leak trail, a senior officer should have been included in the probe team.

How can a SP-level officer put questions to senior IAS officers? Five years ago, when an exam racket surfaced, the economic office unit (EOU) was entrusted with the responsibility to inquire and an IG-rank officer monitored everything, he said.

The BSSC was conducting exam for over 17,000 posts of panchayat secretary, revenue worker and clerks in government departments across the state. The exams have since been cancelled.

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Two motorcycle-borne criminals looted cash from a petrol pump after gunning down its salesman in Bihars Vaishali district on Monday night.

Police said the incident took place at Gurmia village in Kartanaha police station area, about 25 km from Hajipur.

Protesting against the incident, an irate mob blocked the Sarai-Lalganj link road for hours and allegedly Kartanaha station house officer RK Paswan when he reached the petrol pump to investigate the incident.

The criminals reached the petrol pump and asked salesman Saroj Kumar to fill the tank. As the salesman was filling the tank, the criminals tried to snatch the money bag from him. When he resisted the loot attempt, the pillion rider fired at the salesman and escaped with the money, the police said quoting petrol pump staff.

Vaishali superintendent of police Rakesh Kumar said the body of Saroj Kumar, nephew of former Gurmia mukhiya and RJD leader Jawahar Rai, had been sent for post-mortem.

The complaint lodged by the petrol pump owner does not have details of the cash looted. I guess, the amount would not be big as the petrol pump had not been doing a good business, the SP said.

This is the second incident of petrol pump loot in Vaishali district within a week. Criminals had looted Rs 2 lakh from a petrol pump at Jandaha on February 7.
A delegation of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders met the chief election commissioner (CEC) on Tuesday and sought an inquiry into the alleged breach of security of electronic voting machines (EVMs) at strongrooms in Punjab, where polling was held on February 4.

The delegation led by Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia submitted a memorandum alleging that there are multiple instances of breach in EVMs safety in the state, where the party is hopeful of forming the government. We have submitted a memorandum to the CEC where we have pointed out there has been security breaches in strongrooms where the EVMs are kept.

Also Read | AAP asks EC to impose restrictions on activities near EVMs in Punjab

We have also mentioned that the May 2015 notification of the EC, which lists out instructions regarding the storage, physical verification and movements of EVMs, is not being complied with, Sisodia said.

Alleging that EVMs were moved out of a strongroom in Patiala, he termed it absolute violation of EC norms.

The returning officer, along with a few other officials entered the strongroom on the pretext of procuring certain documents. It was, however, found that they were moving steel boxes in which the EVMs were kept. We have demanded an inquiry into the matter, Sisodia said.

AAP leader Raghav Chadha alleged that in some districts, EVMs are kept in schools where there is regular movement of teachers. Also, as per the May 2015 notification, there has to be uninterrupted power supply to strongrooms and EVM warehouses so that the CCTV cameras are operational 24x7 and any movement can be captured. But there have been instances of no electricity for three hours in some places which is a violation of the rules and needs to be looked at, Chadha said.
Vicky Gounder, one of the six criminals who fled the high security Nabha jail in November last, had a lucky escape on Sunday when mastermind Gurpreet Singh Sekhon was arrested.

Sources said he had left the house, from where Sekhon and three others were nabbed, hours before the Punjab counter-intelligence team (PCIT) and police teams from Moga and Patiala cordoned off the area, at Dhudike village in Moga district.

Also read | Fugitive aided Nabha jailbreak from Hong Kong

Also read | Nabha jailbreak mastermind Sekhon, 3 aides held in Moga

Gounder, whose real name is Harjinder Singh Bhullar, is a resident of Ferozepur and a prime suspect in the January 2015 murder of gangster Sukhbir Singh alias Sukha Kahlwan. He is now one of the three escapees who remain to rearrested. He was originally part of the gang started by Jaipal Singh that executed a number of highway robberies and murders.

Gurmeet Singh Chauhan, assistant inspector general (AIG), PCIT, when asked about it, said, Yes, we have traced movement of Gounder in around the area, and he had also visited the house.

Sources said the men often stayed at the house, owned by a non-resident Indian, Kultar Singh Goldy, who is still absconding.

OWNER OF HOUSE IS AN AAP SUPPORTER

Goldy, who had come to India in January from Australia, is a supporter of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and had organised several rallies in support the AAPs Nihalsinghwala segment candidate Manjit Singh Bilaspur ahead of the February 4 assembly polls, results of which are to be out on March 11. His social media accounts also have several posts professing support to the AAP and seeking votes.

Jasdeep Singh Garry, Dhudikes sarpanch who is also an AAP worker, identified Goldy as an NRI AAP worker. But Goldy is not that kind of person! There is no criminal case on him. I feel he must have been misused by someone, he said.

AIG Chauhan, however, said Goldy must have links with the accused persons as they often stayed at his house. That will come out once he is arrested, he added.

About the possible purpose of their staying here, Chauhan said that after the voting, the men came here as they are familiar with the area. They wanted to flee abroad eventually, he said.

SEKHON, AIDES SENT TO 5-DAY POLICE REMAND

NABHA: A local court on Monday sent the Nabha jailbreak mastermind, gangster Gurpreet Singh Sekhon, and his three aides to five-day police remand till February 18.

The Punjab counter-intelligence team in a joint operation with the Patiala and Moga police arrested Sekhon and his three aides  Manvir Sekhon of Makhu village, Rajwinder Singh Raja, alias Sultan, of Mangewal village in Moga and gangster Kulwinder Sidana, brother of another gangster, Surinder Sidana  from a non-resident Indians (NRI) house at Dhudike village of Ajitwal town in Moga on Sunday.

While Sekhon had planned the jailbreak, his cousin Manvir and Sultan were involved in executing it and helping the prisoners escape.

Manvir was the one who conducted the recce of the jail and made a video with a pen camera and plotted the escape route besides providing logistics.

While Sekhon was firing from inside the jail, Manvir and Kulwinder facilitated the stay of escapees.

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This chocolate did not find a sweet tooth to satisfy. Instead, its unique characteristics has kept it intact for 30 years now. How? Ask noted industrialist and 83-year-old Raj Paul Oswal, who is the proud owner of a large collection of rare stamps from across the world. Among his collection is a real chocolate stamp that he imported from Switzerland. The man has refrigerated the stamp for three decades and it is the cynosure of everyones eyes, from relatives and neighbours to philatelists across the state.

The Swiss are famed chocolatiers and this stamp stands testimony to their unique craft. On Monday, Oswal was at the opening of the two-day district level philately exhibition at the head post office where he showcased dozens of his other stamps. Nothing can keep me from collecting stamps. It has kept me connected with the world, he says.

He did not bring his rare chocolate stamp to the exhibition but has plans to do so provided the organisers make appropriate arrangements for it on the concluding day. There was a time when electricity was a big issue but I was so concerned about it that I bought special ice boxes for it, he adds.

He has collected stamps for over 40 years and a majority of them, he claims, to have imported from different pockets of the world. People are ready to believe all my stories but they find the tale of the chocolate stamp hard to digest, he says.

The Swiss post came up with the idea and I decided to bring it home. I got to know of this interesting stamp thanks to several visits to Switzerland. Later, the story of this stamp became popular on the internet, he adds. Oswal feels strongly about his stamps and has no plans to sell any of them, no matter what the price.

His valuable collection also includes exclusive embroidered stamps from many European and African countries and a stamp on Swiss cheese. To keep a tab on rare stamps and what other philatelists are up to, Oswal makes sure he does not miss a single philately exhibition, be it in any part of the country or world. Its my passion for the hobby that keeps me going. It means a lot to me because stamp collection makes you more knowledgeable about the different cultures and traditions across the world.

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The public prosecutor in the June 24, 2016, Malerkotla Quran desecration case moved an application in a Sangrur court seeking more time for prosecution sanction on Monday.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator from Mehrauli Naresh Yadav has been booked by the Sangrur police after the alleged mastermind in the case, Vijay Kumar, told the police that the MLA had allegedly offered him Rs 1 crore to burn the pages of holy Quran.

Also read | Quran desecration: Was forced by cops to name AAP MLA, says accused

However, Yadavs advocate Harpal Singh Cheema said the case holds no ground and the AAP leader was being framed.

Yadav was arrested for his suspected role in the alleged desecration, but in November, the mastermind in the case did a U-turn alleging that police forced him to take the MLAs name in the case.

Also read | Malerkotla Quran desecration: What happened and who is saying what

The state has failed to prove allegations. They are demanding time of file prosecution sanction. The charges are baseless so they are taking time to prove it. The case will come up for hearing on March 3, said Cheema.

Meanwhile, replying to a question that the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in Haryana has given a call to dig the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal from February 23, Yadav said: The party leadership has already cleared its stand. We will protect Punjab water.
Gurdwaras within 100 kilometres of Oroville Dam in Northern California in the United States have opened their doors for all residents evacuated from the area following fears of dam collapse and flooding.

Erosion at the spillway on Lake Oroville is still to be plugged and threatens to flood downstream towns of Yuba City, Turlock, Oroville, Fresno and Sacramento. With floodwater expected to reach certain places by Monday evening (Tuesday as per Indian time), the US government ordered evacuation of 1.9 lakh people. A large number of people of Indian origin, particularly Punjabis, reside in these towns.

Volunteers ready with food at the Yuba City Gurdwara, a 40-minute drive from the breach area. (HT Photo)

We have decided to accommodate as many people evacuated from the flood-affected areas as possible, said Jaswant Singh, president of the Yuba City Gurdwara, which is a 40-minute drive from the erosion site. He said announcements were made on the local radio and TV for evacuees to reach the gurdwara. As many as 20 families from Oroville reached here on Sunday night and the gurdwara management is taking care of them. We are serving them morning langar, and are making preparations to deal with any eventuality, said the gurdwara secretary. Gurdwaras in Turlock, Fresno and Sacramento have also decided to chip in.

Kanwar D Singh from San Ramon, California, said there was no immediate reason to be alarmed, but the situation could worsen. The coming two days are very crucial, he said. One lakh cusecs of water is reported to be flowing out of the breach, following unprecedented rains in the area that filled the dam to capacity.

Karmandeep Singh Bains, a peach farmer in Yuba City, said all school, colleges and offices have been closed in the area. As many 25,000 rescue workers have been put into service, and youngsters associated with gurdwaras in the region are also making preparations to provide all possible help to evacuees, irrespective of their ethnicity, said Bains.

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Britains Foreign Office on Tuesday told more than 1.8 million petitioners seeking to prevent a visit by US President Donald Trump that it did not support the petition, adding he should be extended the full courtesy of a state visit.

No date has been finalised yet but the forthcoming visit has raised many hackles inside and outside Parliament, raising the prospect of demonstrations and protests when Trump arrives later this year.

Prime Minister Theresa May, whose invitation to Trump during her recent US visit was accepted, has refused to concede to demands that the visit be called off. Opponents of the visit include the House of Commons Speaker, John Bercow, who made his views known in a rare intervention last week.

Responding to the petition, the Foreign Office said it recognised the strong views but did not support the petition. This invitation reflects the importance of the relationship between the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

Parliament is scheduled to debate the petition on February 20.

The petition said Trump should be allowed to enter the UK in his capacity as head of the US government but he should not be invited to make an official State Visit because it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen.

The petition, which continues to attract signatures, adds: Donald Trump's well documented misogyny and vulgarity disqualifies him from being received by Her Majesty the Queen or the Prince of Wales. Therefore during the term of his presidency Donald Trump should not be invited to the United Kingdom for an official State Visit.

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Athenss half a million Muslims are set to get their first official mosque in more than a century.

The city has not had a formal mosque since it drove out occupying Ottomans in 1833, and deputy foreign minister Ioannis Amanantidis told parliament last year that it was the only European capital to be deprived of such a religious space.

For years Muslims have resorted to praying in hundreds of makeshift sites, in crowded basements or dark warehouses targeted by racist attackers.

In May, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras declared building a mosque long overdue. The government, he said, would push ahead out of respect for the Muslim residents in our capital, but also because we are obliged to actively defend our values.

The new mosque  a 1,000 square metre building without a minaret, split over two levels  is expected to be ready in April in an old naval base in an industrial, rundown part of Athens.

We need the mosque for our new generation, for our youth ... to feel equal in law, equal in society, said Greeces Muslim Association spokeswoman Anna Stamou, a Greek who converted to Islam.

Friday prayers in the underground garage where she and her family went were recited in Arabic and Greek. Men knelt down to pray on its humid crimson carpet, ventilation pipes barely above their heads.

Plans to build a mosque began in 1890 with an act of parliament, but all fell through, including one timed for the 2004 Olympics. The latest effort split the ruling coalition and Tsiprass right-wing partners voted against a bill to speed up construction.

Critics say Athens, kept afloat by international funds since 2010, cannot spare the 800,000 euros to build it.

A slogan reads No Mosque on a building wall next to the construction area of the first formal mosque in Athens, Greece, on February 6, 2017. (Reuters)

Golden Dawn, the ultranationalist party third in popularity in polls, says migrants are burdening state resources at a time of crisis. Others still associate mosques with Turkey, its Muslim neighbour and longstanding rival.

For months last year a dozen Greek nationalists occupied the mosque site and set up a homeless centre, calling it a hot spot for Greeks drawing a contrast with centres on Greek islands for mainly Muslim refugees and migrants arriving from Turkey.

Messages still on the compounds boarded up gate are stark: No mosque, graffiti reads. Muslims out.

A poster plastered on a wall depicts a minaret in a circle with a line through it. Muslims are enemies of Christ, Orthodoxy and our country, it says. They should go back from where they came.

Golden Dawn says it will step up its protests.

We have done many protests and of course we will do much more, lawmaker Ilias Panagiotaros said at a rally in January.

Around him, a few hundred supporters raised flaming torches and waved the Greek flag alongside the partys red-and-black flag featuring its swastika-like emblem.

With the help of God  I repeat that  this mosque will not have a good end, he said.
As the White House confirmed National Security Adviser (NSA) Micheal Flynn was indeed under the scanner, President Donald Trump himself faced criticism for conducting his administrations first response to the North Korean missile test in full public view, at a dinner he had hosted for the visiting Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe.

Trump went into a huddle with his top officials right there in the dinning room of his Miami resort Mar-a-Lago, with aides turning on their cellphone flashlights to compensate for the dim lighting. The resorts other guests and members were there too, and one of them posted a pictures of the huddle with a breathless post on Facebook, HOLLY MOLLY  it was fascinating to watch the flurry of activity at dinner when news came that North Korea had launched a missile 

Former White House officials and experts were not so impressed. Former president Barack Obamas official photographer posted a picture of his boss in a huddle with his aides during a 2011 crisis while he was on an official visit to El Salvador, pointedly, away from public view.

But Trump chose to ignore the blowback, probably because he had other problems on his hands, specially one with the potential to severely dent his presidency, just three weeks in office: the controversy swirling around his National Security Adviser, the man who was at his elbow in Mar-a-Lago Sunday night and who has now admitted to lying to senior officials, including the vice-president, about his interactions with Russians.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer said in a statement on Monday, The President is evaluating the situation. Hes speaking to the vice president relative to the conversation the vice-president had with Gen. Flynn, and also speaking to various other people about what he considers the single most important subject there is: our national security.

Flynn, a retired Lt General with long years in defence intelligence, spoke to the Russian ambassador to the US multiple times on December 29, the day Obama announced a slew of sanctions against Russia for allegedly meddling in the presidential election.

When the interactions were reported  US intelligence routinely monitors all foreign embassies communications including and specially the Russian (and the Indian missions) as do all host countries  he claimed, one, he spoke only once to the embassy and, two, the sanctions were not discussed.

Flynn had been disingenuous on both counts, and with the senior-most officials in the administration, including vice-president Mike Pence, who were fielded by the White House to defend the embattled NSA in interviews and interactions on all major television news networks.

They feel particularly aggrieved now, thus the reference to Pence in Spicers statement, which, on a day marked by twists and more twists, came just an hour after another White House aide Kellyanne Conway stated on a major television network the president had full confidence in his national security adviser.

She was shown up wrong just a short while later, exposing what has been described as anything from a new administrations teething issues to palace intrigue to an impending staff shake-up Trump is known to order when he is unhappy with the course of events, as he did several times during his campaign.

There have been reports Trump was not happy with his chief of staff Reince Priebus, the former Republican party boss, which the president disputed vigorously on Monday telling reporters he  Priebus  was doing not a good job, a great job.

Trump hasnt been as generous with his press secretary, Spicer who has been the target of withering spoofs by an iconic comedy show that is understood to have deeply upset the president among other reasons.
Donald Trump's national security adviser Michael Flynn resigned amid controversy over his contacts with the Russian government, a first stunning departure from the president's inner circle less than a month after his inauguration.

The White House late Monday said Trump had accepted Flynn's resignation amid allegations the retired three star general discussed US sanctions strategy with Russia's ambassador Sergey Kislyak before taking office.

Flynn -- who once headed US military intelligence -- insisted he was honored to have served the American people in such a "distinguished" manner.

But he admitted that he "inadvertently briefed" the now Vice President Mike Pence with "incomplete information" about his calls with Kislyak.

Pence had publicly defended Flynn, saying he did not discuss sanctions, putting his own credibility into question.

"Regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador. I have sincerely apologized to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology," read Flynn's letter, a copy of which was released by the White House.

The White House said Trump has named retired lieutenant general Joseph Kellogg, a decorated Vietnam war veteran who was serving as a director on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to be interim national security advisor.

Flynn's resignation so early in a US administration is unprecedented, and comes after details of his calls with the Russian diplomat were made public -- increasing pressure on Trump to take action.

Several US media outlets on Monday reported that top Trump advisers were warned about Flynn's contacts with the Russians early this year.

Questions will now be raised about who knew about the calls, and why Trump did not move earlier to replace Flynn.

Flynn's resignation will also fuel calls for an independent investigation into Russia's influence during the 2016 US presidential election.

Earlier in the day White House spokesman Sean Spicer insisted Trump was not consulted about Flynn discussing sanctions, nor did he task Flynn to do so.

Asked if Trump was aware Flynn would discuss sanctions with the Russian envoy, Spicer said: "No, absolutely not. No way."

A former head of defense intelligence, Flynn's encounters with Russian President Vladimir Putin had already drawn criticism.

US media reported Monday that the Justice Department had warned the White House that Flynn had misled senior administration officials about the contents of his talks with Kislyak, and that it could make him vulnerable to Russian blackmail.

The message was delivered in the last days of Barack Obama's administration by then-acting attorney general Sally Yates -- who Trump sacked after she instructed Justice Department lawyers not to defend his contested travel ban.

CNN said then director of national intelligence James Clapper and John Brennan, the CIA chief at the time, agreed the White House should be alerted about the concerns.

In the hours before his resignation, some Trump aides suggested that Flynn had the full support of the president.

Until now, Flynn had been an instrumental player in Trump's inner circle.

He was an early supporter of Trump's improbable bid for the presidency and has encouraged tougher policies on Iran and a softer policy on Russia.

That was a sharp break with the Obama administration, which introduced sanctions over Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea, support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, and what US intelligence says were its attempts to sway the 2016 election in Trump's favor.

Washington and Moscow had also clashed over alleged war crimes in Syria, where Russia is accused of aiding the bombing of hospitals and other civilian targets. Despite this, Flynn had argued for rapprochement.

A few of Trump's fellow Republicans had joined their Democratic foes in urging Flynn to resign over a situation that had become a major embarrassment for the ruling party.

"It is his duty to be fully transparent and forthright in his actions -- anything less is unacceptable," Representative Mike Coffman, a Colorado Republican, said in a statement.

"If in fact he purposely misled the president, he should step down immediately."

Flynn's resignation took place just days before his first official talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, discussions in which the president's national security advisor would normally have a key role.

The Justice Department and Congress are both investigating possible links between Trump campaign advisors and Moscow, and US intelligence has concluded that Putin personally directed an operation to interfere in the US election.

On December 29, the Obama administration sanctioned four Russian individuals and five entities, and expelled 35 Russian diplomats in retaliation.

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Nine persons were killed in an explosion in a coal mine in central Chinas Hunan province on Tuesday, officials said.

The blast occurred at the Zubao coal mine in Lianyuan city, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Twenty-nine people were working underground at the time of the blast, 16 of whom managed to escape through a shaft. Another four were rescued.

Three injured miners were being treated at a hospital and were said to be stable.

Efforts were on to retrieve bodies of three victims.

The licensed coal mine with an annual production capacity of 90,000 tonnes is owned by Tengfei Coal Mine Co Ltd.

China is worlds largest producer and consumer of coal.
US President Donald Trump and Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau failed to paper over differences on the treatment of refugees during a joint public appearance Monday, but appeared to tone down harsh trade rhetoric.

The two leaders avoided directly criticizing each other after a meeting in the White House, but made it clear they did not see eye-to-eye on Trumps efforts to ban refugees and travelers from seven majority-Muslim nations.

Trump defended his controversial immigration decree as common sense and demurred when asked if Canadas open door policies posed a threat for the United States.

You can never be totally confident, Trump said when asked about Americas northern border, before vaunting his Department of Homeland Securitys migrant round-ups.

Recent days have seen the arrest of hundreds of undocumented migrants across the United States.

Were actually taking people that are criminals -- very, very hardened criminals in some cases, with a tremendous track record of abuse and problems, and we are getting them out, Trump said.

Civil rights group say migrants with no criminal record are also being caught in the dragnet.

Trudeau said that Canada has always understood that keeping Canadians safe is one of the fundamental responsibilities of any government.

At the same time, we continue to pursue our policies of openness towards refugees without compromising security.

The gulf between the two neighbors was always going to be difficult span: Trump has painted Syrian refugees as terrorists-in-waiting, while Trudeau has traveled to Torontos Pearson International airport to greet them.

Trade tweak

After striking up a much-flaunted bromance with president Barack Obama, Canadas youthful liberal leader was in Washington to woo a septuagenarian Republican, with whom he shares little in common.

Trudeau is the third foreign leader received by the Republican mogul since he took office on January 20, following meetings with Britains Theresa May and Japans Shinzo Abe.

Trudeau visit got off to an awkward start, when he arrived at the White House early and his limousine was forced to wait on the driveway for around five minutes before Trump came out.

The two men then greeted each other with a handshake and headed into the Oval Office.

While there was little common ground on migration, Trudeau and Trump did appear to narrow the gap on trade.

Trump had vowed to put America first and rip up the North America Free Trade Agreement, but significantly toned down that rhetoric after meeting Trudeau.

Trump called for trade to be reciprocal, but said he wanted to only tweak rather than gut the terms of trade.

America is deeply fortunate to have a neighbor like Canada, Trump said, hailing the opportunity to build even more bridges of commerce.

We understand that both of our countries are stronger when we join forces in matters of international commerce, Trump said.

The economic ties between America and its northern neighbor -- who share the worlds longest common border -- run deep.

Three-quarters of Canadas exports go to the US, and Canada is the top destination for exports for many US states.

Trudeau, a fervent supporter of free trade, emphasized the importance of NAFTA and issued a subtle warning about the risks of protectionism for the US states.

Make no mistake, at the end of the day, Canada and the US will always remain each others most essential partner, Trudeau said.

As we know, 35 US states list Canada as their largest export market, and our economies benefit from the over $2 billion in two-way trade that takes place every single day.

Millions of good, middle class jobs on both sides of the border depend on this crucial partnership.

Trump had not been specific on how he wants NAFTA talks to develop, but has repeatedly trashed the 23-year-old pact, calling it a catastrophe for American jobs and threatening to slap tariffs on imports from Mexico.

Polar opposites

Trump and Trudeau are a study in contrasts: their path to power, their political stripes, their style -- they could not be more different.

Manhattan property mogul Trump won the White House in a shock November election victory over Hillary Clinton after painting a dark picture of a country in turmoil and vowing to put America first.

Trudeau, the son of a well-liked prime minister, came to power promising to provide a positive and good government for Canadians and enhance the countrys image abroad.

Family connections were deployed by both sides on Monday, with Ivanka Trump sitting in on the two leaders meeting with female business leaders and Trudeau gifting Trump a photo of his father and the now US president together.
Pakistans foreign secretary-designate Tehmina Janjua will soon be face to face with two key challenges  putting ties with India on an even keel and ensuring Islamabad is on the right side of the Trump administration.

Janjua, who will be the first woman to hold the post, will assume office in the first week of March, according to a statement from the foreign ministry. She is currently Pakistans permanent representative to the UN in Geneva.

Officials said Janjuas vast experience in multilateral diplomacy will help her in raising the issue of Kashmir at different platforms. She will also have to play a key role in easing tensions with India, triggered by a string of terror attacks last year, and nudging the two sides back towards peace talks.

The other challenge, the officials said, is ensuring Islamabads foreign policy is on the right side of the Trump administration, which has hinted at possibly extending a controversial visa ban to Pakistan.

Pakistans envoy to India, Abdul Basit, was once considered the front runner for the job but Foreign Office insiders said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chose Janjua because of her experience at the UN and other international bodies.

Sharif had earlier approved her posting in Geneva in 2015. During 2005-09, she was the deputy permanent representative in Geneva and also served as counsellor during 1996-2000.

Hailing from a Pashtun family, Janjua is a career diplomat with 32 years of experience. She has masters degrees from Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad and Columbia University in New York.

After joining the foreign service in 1984, Janjua went on to serve in the offices of the foreign secretarys and the National Security Adviser. During 2009-11, she served as director-general (strategic planning) in the foreign secretarys office and also did a stint as the spokesperson of the foreign ministry.

Observers said Janjuas experience has mainly been in multilateral diplomacy with her only bilateral posting as the envoy to Rome. Janjua has also not served on a major territorial desk at the headquarters in ISlamabad, except for a year-long stint on the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe desk at the start of her career.
Last week, a senior Indian diplomat visited the Ontario Khalsa Darbar, better known as the Dixie Gurdwara, in Mississauga, a suburb of Toronto. The occasion was a condolence meet for a senior member of the community who had passed away recently.

Over the past couple of years, Indian officials have been to this particular gurdwara at least thrice. While this may appear a commonplace occurrence, this particular temple, once known to be frequented by pro-Khalistan elements, was long considered forbidden territory for any representative of the Indian government.

Other gurdwaras also thought of as out of bounds because they were controlled by hardcore elements have witnessed such visits. The official who was at the Dixie Gurdwara, Indias consul general in Toronto, Dinesh Bhatia, has also been to temples in Rexdale, Malton, Scarborough and Brampton.

Ranjit Singh Dulay, secretary of the Dixie Gurdwara, told Hindustan Times, The gurdwara is open for everybody. We cannot refuse anybody as long as they are coming to pray. However, he did add people were upset after the events of 1984 and its aftermath but following overtures and apologies from the Indian government, sometimes the relationship starts changing, and people are getting softer.

While Bhatia did not comment on specific visits, he said, It is a privilege to receive blessings at Indo-Canadian places of worship. Ill continue to seek support and blessings at religious places important to the community. The cohesiveness of the Indo-Canadian community is visible at these places of worship.

Ontario Khalsa Darbar, better known as the Dixie Gurdwara, was once known to be frequented by pro-Khalistan elements. (HT Photo/Anirudh Bhattacharyya)

These forays to temples once aligned to the Khalistan cause is part of an outreach programme undertaken by the government that includes backchannel talks with former Khalistani extremists and pruning of a blacklist.

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Canada in the spring of 2015, one of the more significant stops on his schedule was at the Khalsa Diwan Societys historic Ross Street Gurdwara.

While such visits would not have been contemplated even five years ago, when portraits of Khalistani saints such as Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale were, at times, prominently placed at some gurdwaras, time has been a great balm, as one official put it.

More moderate elements are being elected to gurdwara managements, reflecting the change in the mood. That is partly due to newer immigrants from Punjab having little to do with the Khalistan movement. However, as the number of hardcore advocates of Khalistan has dwindled, those remaining have become more strident.

There are about 40 gurdwaras in the province of Ontario, and of those nearly 30 are in the Greater Toronto Area. The vast majority of these have never been inclined towards the radicals.

The few remaining that have some support for separatists also now appear to be on the path to moderation. Still, the visits by Indian officials so far have been for public events, such as condolence meets, and officials have yet to be formally invited to some gurdwaras.

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Indonesian authorities raided convenience stores and seized condoms in a major city to stop teenagers having casual sex on Valentines Day, an official said on Tuesday, the latest crackdown on the holiday in the Muslim-majority nation.

The mayor of Makassar, a conservative city on central Sulawesi island, led public order officers in the raids late Monday on the eve of the celebration.

Mayor Mohammad Ramdhan Pomanto said he was not against the sale of condoms but that outlets needed to be careful about whom they were sold to.

Valentines Day is often misused by teenagers to have casual sex, this can destroy the morality of the nation, he was quoted as saying in local media.

Iman Hud -- head of the local public officers, similar to police but with fewer powers -- told AFP that convenience stores had been failing to check teenagers IDs to see whether they were at least 18 years old, the age of consent, before selling them condoms.

We are doing this to prevent promiscuity, he said, adding that hundreds of condoms were seized in the raids in the city of 1.3 million.

It was the latest expression of anger at Valentines Day in the worlds most populous Muslim-majority country, where Islamic clerics and some pious Muslims use the occasion to criticise what they see as Western decadence.

On Monday teenage pupils, including girls in headscarves, staged a protest outside a school in the city of Surabaya, chanting: Say no to Valentine!

Girls from a local boarding school shout during an anti-Valentine's Day rally in Surabaya, East Java province on February 13, 2017. Conservative Indonesian Islamic groups have denounced Valentine's Day, saying it is un-Islamic, promoting promiscuity, casual sex and consumption of alcohol while other groups described the day as foreign cultural influence. (AFP)

Celebrating the romantic holiday has also been banned by authorities in some parts of the country, as it is every year.

Despite some objections, many in Indonesia mark the occasion, particularly in major cities where cards and chocolates are widely available. Most in the country practise a moderate form of Islam.
North Korea on Tuesday rejected the UN security councils statement on its weekend missile launch and declared that all of its tests were self-defence measures designed to protect its people.

The security council on Monday denounced North Koreas missile launch, urging members to redouble efforts to enforce sanctions against the reclusive state, but gave no indications of any action it might take.

Han Tae Song, the new ambassador of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the United Nations in Geneva, was addressing the conference on disarmament a day after taking up his post.

Read: North Korea missile launched Sunday has range of over 2,000 kms

The various test fires conducted by DPRK for building up self-defence capabilities are, with no exception, self-defence measures to protect national sovereignty and the safety of the people against direct threats by hostile forces, Han told the 61-member state forum.

The successful test launch of a medium-to-long range missile on February 12th is a part of self-defence measures, he said. In this respect, my delegation strongly rejects the latest statement of the UN security council and all UN resolutions against my country.

In New York, US ambassador Nikki Haley said in a statement that it was time to hold North Korea accountable with actions.

US, Japanese and South Korean military officials held a teleconference on Monday in which they condemned the launch as a clear violation of multiple security council resolutions. The United States reaffirmed its iron-clad security commitments to South Korea and Japan, the Pentagon said.

Han said the divided Korean peninsula remains the worlds biggest hotspot with a constant danger of war.

He condemned joint military exercises carried out annually by South Korea and the United States, as well as what he called nuclear threats and blackmail towards his country.

It is the legitimate self-defence right of the sovereign state to possess strong deterrence to cope with such threat by hostile forces aimed at overthrowing the state and the socialist system, he said.

Read: North Korea fires ballistic missile, apparently challenging Donald Trump

North Korea shared mankinds common goal of global denuclearisation, Han said.

The DPRK supports global efforts toward nuclear disarmament and complete obliteration of nuclear weapons and we play a responsible role to contribute to achieving global denuclearisation, he said.

Japans disarmament ambassador Nobushige Takamizawa in Geneva condemned North Koreas latest missile launch and urged Pyongyang to comply with security council resolutions and not take further provocative actions that undermine peace and security in the region.
A day after a suicide blast at Lahores Mall Road killed 16 people and injured 87 others, local police arrested 30 suspects and registered first information reports against four unidentified terrorists.

We have arrested 30 suspects in connection with the Lahores Mall Road blast so far. Investigation is underway and we will reach the mastermind of this attack, Pakistans Punjab government spokesman Zaeem Hussn Qadri told reporters.

According to the FIR, four suspected terrorists reached outside the Punjab Assembly building on the Mall Road to carry out the attack, while a protest march of chemists was underway.

The blast killed six police officials, including Lahore traffic police chief Ahmed Mobeen and senior superintendent of police Zahid Gondal.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif declared a day of mourning.

A faction of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Jamaatul Ahrar claimed responsibility for the assault, which came three days after it announced it would carry out a series of attacks on government installations around the country.

The group had claimed a blast on March 27 last year at Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park in Lahore that left 75 people dead.

(with Agency inputs)
A federal judge Monday granted a preliminary injunction barring the Trump administration from implementing its travel ban in Virginia, adding another judicial ruling to those already in place challenging the bans constitutionality.

The ruling is significant from a legal standpoint because US District Judge Leonie Brinkema found that an unconstitutional religious bias is at the heart of the travel ban, and therefore violates First Amendment prohibitions on favouring one religion over another. She said the evidence introduced so far indicates that Virginias challenge to the ban will succeed once it proceeds to trial.

A federal appeals court in California has already upheld a national temporary restraining order stopping the government from implementing the ban, which is directed at seven Muslim-majority countries. But the ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals was rooted more in due process grounds, said Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, a Democrat who brought the lawsuit against Trump in Virginia.

Judge Brinkemas ruling gets right to the heart of our First Amendment ... claim, Herring said in a conference call Monday night.

In her 22-page ruling, Brinkema writes that Trumps promises during the campaign to implement what came to be known as a Muslim ban provide evidence that the current executive order unconstitutionally targets Muslims.

The president himself acknowledged the conceptual link between a Muslim ban and the EO (executive order), Brinkema wrote. She also cited news accounts that Trump adviser Rudy Giuliani said the executive order is an effort to find a legal way for Trump to be able to impose his Muslim ban.

Herring said that the overwhelming evidence shows that this ban was conceived in religious bigotry.

Also, the preliminary injunction issued Monday night by Brinkema in Alexandria is a more permanent type of injunction than the temporary restraining order issued in the Washington state case. Herring said he expects the injunction to remain in place until the case goes to trial.

Brinkemas injunction, though, applies only to Virginia residents. Herring had asked the judge to issue the injunction nationwide, but Brinkema limited it to Virginia, saying that the nationwide restraining order in place out of the Washington state case already provides much of the relief Virginia is seeking. Herring said he could ask the judge to extend the injunction nationally if the 9th Circuit stay gets reversed.

Virginias lawsuit also does not challenge the portion of the executive order directed at refugees. The 9th Circuit case covers refugees.

Virginia based its arguments on the harms the state would suffer if the travel ban were allowed to go forward. The state has said, for instance, that 1,000 students at its universities and dozens of university staff members and professors could be affected by the ban.

In her ruling, Brinkema said the Trump administration offered no justification for the travel ban, and wrote that the presidents executive power does not mean absolute power.

Brinkema chided the federal government for offering no evidence to support its rationale for the ban, other than arguing the presidents authority for issuing such an order.

She said the presidents executive authority is still limited by the Constitution. Every presidential action must still comply with the limits set by Congress delegation of power and the constraints of the Constitution, including Bill of Rights, she wrote.

A Justice Department spokeswoman did not immediately return an email seeking comment Monday night. Trump has raised the possibility that he will issue a new executive order to replace the one being challenged in court.
US National Security Adviser Michael Flynn resigned on Monday, admitting that he gave senior officials of the Donald Trump administration an incomplete account of his dealings with the Russian ambassador to the US.

Lt Gen (retd) Joseph Keith Kellogg, who has been named acting NSA, former CIA director Gen (retd) David Petraeus and vice-admiral (retd) Robert Harward  all military personnel as several others in the brass-heavy Trump administration  lead the race to replace Flynn.

In his resignation letter, Flynn said: In the course of my duties as the incoming National Security Advisor, I held numerous phone calls with foreign counterparts, ministers, and ambassadors. These calls were to facilitate a smooth transition and begin to build the necessary relationships between the President, his advisors and foreign leaders. Such calls are standard practice in any transition of this magnitude.

Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador (Sergey Kislyak). I have sincerely apologized to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology.

After Flynn quit, Donald Trump named Lt Gen (Retd) Keith Kellogg, a decorated Vietnam war veteran who was serving as a director on the joint chiefs of staff, the interim national security advisor. (AP)

Flynn spoke to the Russian ambassador multiple times on December 29, the day President Barack Obama announced a slew of sanctions against Russia for allegedly meddling in the US presidential elections.

When the interactions were reported  US intelligence routinely monitors all foreign embassies communications including and specially the Russian (and the Indian missions) as do all host countries  Flynn claimed that, one, he spoke only once to the ambassador and, two, sanctions were not discussed.

Flynn had been incorrect on both counts and with the senior-most officials in the administration, including Vice-President Mike Pence, who were fielded by the White House to defend the embattled NSA in interviews and interactions on all major television news networks.

There was no word on when President Trump will announce his pick. New Delhi will be watching closely with perhaps a sense of frustration at having to start all over. Indian NSA Ajit Doval had an extended meeting with Flynn in December and both sides had felt pleased the two, both with extensive intelligence experience, had got along well.

Questions are now being raised if Flynns conversation with Kislyak was cleared as part of Trumps stated aim to improve ties with Russia and whether he was asked to bring up sanctions or he was freelanced.

Obama administration officials who knew of the conversation had told the White House, according to reports, last month that Flynn had misled the administration about his phone call, which had left him vulnerable to blackmail by Moscow.

But it was not known what the Trump administration did. As questions continued to be raised, it became clear last weekend that Flynn was in trouble. Reports based on leaks said knives were out for him and that his position was being reviewed.

On Monday afternoon, a key Trump aide, Kellyanne Conway told a TV news anchor the president had full confidence in his national security adviser.

After some time, White House press secretary Sean Spicer issued a statement saying: The President is evaluating the situation. Hes speaking to the vice president relative to the conversation the vice president had with Gen. Flynn, and also speaking to various other people about what he considers the single most important subject there is: our national security.

Flynn quit a few hours later.

Flynns unprecedented early departure poured fuel on demands for an full independent investigation into alleged collusion between Trumps inner circle and the Kremlin.

This. Is. Not. Normal. said Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, insisting Trump owes Americans a full account of his administrations dealings with Moscow before and after the 2016 election.

The CIA, FBI and other intelligence agencies have already investigated Moscows influence over the 2016 vote, concluding the Kremlin tried to sway the vote in Trumps favor.

Various committees in the Republican-controlled Congress are already looking into Russias election-related hacking and the Trump campaigns links to Moscow.

But Democrats are now demanding a fuller investigation, which could bring with it the power to call Flynn and members of Trumps inner circle to testify.

(With AFP inputs)
A US federal judge on Monday rejected a Justice Department request to suspend Seattle courtroom proceedings over President Donald Trumps temporary travel ban from seven Muslim-majority countries until an appeals court has fully reviewed it.

The US Justice Department had argued that the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals should review the nationwide suspension of Trumps order before more proceedings take place, including potential discovery into the presidents motives for the action.

Trumps January 27 order, which he called a national security measure meant to head off attacks by Islamist militants, barred people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering for 90 days and all refugees for 120 days, except refugees from Syria, who were banned indefinitely.

US District Judge James Robart in Seattle suspended Trumps entire order across the country on Feb. 3 after its legality was challenged by Washington state, eliciting a barrage of angry Twitter messages from Trump against the judge and the court system. That ruling was upheld by the 9th Circuit in San Francisco last week, raising questions about Trumps next step.

At a Seattle court hearing on Monday, Robart said he saw no reason to slow down the case, adding he was surprised the Justice Department would seek a delay given Trumps angry tweets over the 9th Circuit ruling. Robart ordered both sides to prepare to move forward.

Separately, a Virginia federal judge on Monday issued a preliminary injunction against portions of Trumps order that dealt with visa holders. That has no immediate effect as Trumps ban has already been suspended by Robarts Feb. 3 ruling.

Following the 9th Circuits decision, Trump announced the possibility of a brand new order that could be issued as soon as this week. Trump gave no details of any new ban he is considering.

He might rewrite the original order to explicitly exclude green card holders, or permanent residents, a congressional aide familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters last week.

Neither side discussed any new executive order at the Monday court hearing. White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters the administration would maintain all options regarding the legal strategy, including another order.

An unidentified judge on the 9th Circuit on Friday requested that the courts 25 full-time judges vote on whether the temporary block of Trumps travel ban should be reheard before an 11-judge panel, known as en banc review. The 9th Circuit asked both sides to file briefs by Thursday.

The Justice Department did not say on Monday what position it would take on the 9th Circuits en banc decision, or whether it would ultimately appeal the suspension to the Supreme Court.

In a court filing on Monday, Washingtons attorney general said a Seattle judge should immediately allow discovery into the merits of its case.

We would oppose discovery, Justice Department attorney Michelle Bennett said at the hearing, which was conducted on a teleconference played aloud in Robarts courtroom in Seattle.

In ruling from the bench, Robart did not make clear what the next steps in Seattle would be.
A Malaysian ship carrying aid for thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled a bloody army crackdown in Myanmar docked in Bangladesh Tuesday, days after it met with protests in Yangon.

Senior Bangladeshi officials and Malaysian diplomats gathered at Chittagong port as Nautical Aliya docked in the southern city, from where its aid cargo will be transported to Rohingya camps.

The shipment was received by local officials of the Red Crescent and International Organisation of Migration at the port's container terminal in a brief handover ceremony.

Trucks will carry the 1,472 tonnes of food, clothing and medical items to Cox's Bazar, some 200 kilometres (125 miles) south of Chittagong for distribution to tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees.

Bangladesh has allowed 25 Malaysian volunteers out of 183 people who came with the aid ship to travel with the cargo to the Rohingya camps in the southern district of Cox's Bazar, the district's chief administrator Ali Hossain told AFP.

Abdul Aziz Mohd Abdur Rahim, a representative of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and a member of parliament who travelled with the ship, called for a "long-standing solution" to the Rohingya crisis as he handed over the aid cargo.

"Thirty million Malaysians are with you (Rohingya)," Rahim said.

There was, however, no representative of the Rohingya community or any of the elders at the port.

"We hope our humanitarian efforts will pave the way to resolve the Rohingya issue and awaken the international community," Malaysian volunteer Azmi, who uses one name, told AFP.

The ship initially planned to dock at Teknaf in southern Bangladesh, where almost 70,000 Rohingya have fled from Myanmar's Rakhine state since October to escape the violence.

It also tried to dock near the island of Kutubdia on Monday, but "technical issues" forced it to travel further north to Chittagong, chief administrator of the region Ruhul Amin told AFP.

Dozens of Buddhist monks and nationalist demonstrators last week protested the ship's arrival in Myanmar's capital, Yangon, with some waving national flags and signs reading: "No Rohingya".

Myanmar denies citizenship to the million-strong Rohingya, despite many of them living on its soil for generations.

Tens of thousands have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh bringing harrowing tales of murder and rape.

Myanmar's treatment of the Rohingya has sparked international criticism, including from Muslim-majority Malaysia -- a rare spat between the Southeast Asian neighbours.

Myanmar initially refused to allow the ship into its waters and has barred it from sailing to Rakhine's state capital Sittwe.

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Shand Panesar, an Indian-origin constable with Scotland Yard, has been awarded this years Outstanding Bravery of the Year Award for risking his life with a colleague to rescue a couple from a burning building in London last September.

Panesar and Craig Nicholson were jointly awarded after the public voted for them in the Total Excellence in Policing Awards, which were presented by Metropolitan Police police commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe.

According to the details, Panesar and Nicholson arrived at the scene of the blaze in Hillingdon before the London Fire Brigade did, and quickly learnt that two people were trapped inside.

Although both had no fire safety equipment or protective clothing, Scotland Yard said they acted in the best traditions, charged into the flame engulfed house without any hesitation and managed to rescue the couple, who later made a full recovery.

Hogan-Howe said: "These awards give us the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the courage and professionalism of our officers and police staff, in saving lives, fighting crime and tackling armed and dangerous criminals.

We all joined the Met to serve and protect Londoners and make our city safer for everyone. Today is an opportunity for me to say a final thank you to all those men and women of the Met who give so much for London every day."

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US immigration officers last week arrested more than 680 people in the country illegally, the homeland security chief said on Monday, in a broad enforcement action that alarmed immigrant rights groups.

US Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said the operations, conducted in at least a dozen states, were routine and consistent with regular operations carried out by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

Immigrant rights advocates said the operations, which they describe as raids, were not business as usual, and were more sweeping than operations conducted during the administration of former Democratic President Barack Obama.

Kelly said in a statement that 75% of the immigrants arrested have criminal records, ranging from homicide to driving under the influence of alcohol.

He said the operation also targeted people who have violated immigration laws.

Some had ignored final orders of deportation, according to ICE, the agency responsible for immigrant arrests and deportations.

ICE agents at a home in Atlanta, during a targeted enforcement operation aimed at immigration fugitives. (AP Photo)

Obama was criticized for being the deporter in chief after he deported over 400,000 people in 2012, more than any president in a single year.

In 2014, Obamas homeland security chief issued a memo directing agents to focus on deporting a narrow slice of immigrants, namely those who had recently entered the country or committed serious felonies. Immigrants who were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, for example, were treated as lower priorities for deportation.

Republican President Donald Trump promised to deport 2 million to 3 million migrants with criminal records on taking office.

At a news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday, Trump said his administration had really done a great job in its recent arrests of immigrants.

Were actually taking people that are criminals, very, very, hardened criminals in some cases with a tremendous track record of abuse and problems, Trump said.

ICE said in a statement on Monday that the operations targeted immigrants in the Midwest, Los Angeles, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and San Antonio.

The ICE statistics revealed regional differences in the profiles of the immigrants arrested. Of the 41 people arrested in New York City and surrounding areas, 93% had criminal convictions, while 45% of the 51 people arrested in the San Antonio, Texas area did.

Map and table detailing the 20 US cities with the most numbers of undocumented immigrants.

Among the 190 people arrested in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, were 17 people who had no criminal convictions or a prior order to leave the country, according to ICE.

In a Jan. 25 executive order, Trump broadened an Obama-era priority enforcement system for immigrants subject to removal from the United States.

Now it seems like anyone could be arrested, said Shiu-Ming Cheer, senior staff attorney at the National Immigration Law Center. The level of fear and anxiety is much higher than Ive ever seen it.
The homestretch of the 2016 election resounded with Donald Trumps charge that the whole thing was fixedabsolutely being rigged, as the candidate put it, on Twitter and in person. By this, Trump meant that mainstream media was against himnot hard to demonstrate. But Trump also meant that he would suffer from fraud at the polls. Asked during the third debate if he would accept the election result, Trump answered that he would keep youthat is, everyonein suspense. The next day, Trump added that he would accept a clear election result, especially if he were the winner. Trumps remarks were horrifying, Hillary Clinton said. Hes talking down our democracy.

In its 240 years, our democracy has survived many problems, including being talked down by sore losers. Rigged elections, and fear of them, are a part of that long story. One way to rig an election is to flood it with dead or otherwise bogus voters. After the 1960 Kennedy/Nixon cliffhanger, Republicans suspected vote-thieving in Texas and Illinois. Texas refused to re-examine its count. Illinois, which did, found false votesmainly in Chicago, but not enough to affect the result. Ironically, the only state that switched its 1960 vote after a recount was Hawaii, which went from Nixons column to Kennedys.

Intimidation and violence are the most thuggish forms of rigging. Threaten or kill enough would-be voters, and others will stay homethe Republican Partys fate in the post-bellum South. A morning-after deal also can deflect the peoples will. Andrew Jackson won the most states and votes in 1824, but because he fell short of a majority in the Electoral College, the election went to the House of Representatives. There, Henry Clay threw his support to John Quincy Adamswho, in gratitude, made Clay Secretary of State. Jackson supporters spent the next four years denouncing the corrupt bargainthough had Clay backed their man, and become Secretary of State, they doubtless would have approved.

Another way to rig is to throw out votes after they have been cast. This method decided a 1792 gubernatorial contest between founding fathers George Clinton and John Jay.

George Clinton was a natural politician. A son of Irish Protestant immigrants, Clinton won New Yorks first post-independence election for governor in 1777. New York governors then served three years, and Clinton kept accumulating terms, earning the nickname The Old Incumbent. In 1788, Clinton opposed the Constitution, presiding over a state ratifying convention packed with antis. After nine states ratified, however, the conventionand Clintonwent along with the new order.

John Jay got important things done, often behind the scenes. During the Revolution, he served as a spymaster and a diplomat, helping to negotiate the Treaty of Paris. Unlike Clinton, Jay, in his quiet way, backed the Constitution. At the New York ratifying convention, while Alexander Hamilton was giving passionate pro-Constitution speeches, Jay was mending fences and offering deals. In 1789, President Washington tapped Jay to be the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Jay had a tart streak; when an accident cost lecherous friend Gouverneur Morris a leg, Jay wrote Morris might better have lost something else. Experience had etched Jays face with sadness. Two of his siblings were blind, and a third insane; Jay looked after all three.

In 1792, the two New Yorkers personified the nations new two-party system, Clinton allied with Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and the Republicans; Jay with Washington, Hamilton, and the Federalists. Jay welcomed the chance at a new job, since the Supreme Court in those days involved less prestige than hard work. Justices doubled as circuit court judges, riding hundreds of miles on execrable roads.

New York election law directed that each countys sheriff seal the ballots and send them to a board of 12 canvassershalf chosen by the state senate, half by the assemblythat then met to count the ballots and declare the winner.

The Republicans stole a march by packing the board. Federalists thought they had a deal for the parties to split membership evenly. The senate picked three Republicans and three Federalists. However, the assembly, in what a Federalist called a damned maneuver, picked six Republicans. Advantage Clinton.

Republicans then noticed that the frontier county of Otsego had racked up a relatively huge margin400 votesfor Jay. This was the work of local grandee William Cooper, a self-made developer and promoter who founded and named Cooperstown. Cooper literally had grabbed townsmen, led them to the polls, and insisted they vote Federalist. Strong-arm tactics were common among New Yorks one percent: Republican Robert Livingston, a super-wealthy Hudson Valley aristocrat, was said to drive his tenants to the polls like sheep to slaughter. But Coopers tactics seemed over the top, even in 18th century New York.

Cooper also was careless. Otsego County Sheriff Richard Smiths term had expired three months before the election. Because Smiths successor had not taken office, it was Smith who sent the Otsego ballots to the board. But if Smith had acted improperly, were the votes valid?

Canvassers argued among themselves, then wrote to Philadelphia, the nations capital, for advice from New Yorks United States Senators. Aaron Burr hewed to the letter of the law, maintaining that since Smith was no longer sheriff, ballots from Otsego had not been legally delivered. Rufus King, holding that the election laws were made to serve voters, said votes cast legally should not be suppressed owing to post-facto technicalities. Burr was a Republican and King a Federalist, so each stuck by his party. But King, as even Burr biographer Milton Lomask admits, took the high road. The board of canvassers took the low road, refusing to count the Otsego ballots and for good measure burning them and declaring Clinton the winner by a statewide margin of 108 votes.

The result prompted brawls in Albany and Kingston and a duel in New York City. Notably missing from the post-election uproar was John Jay. Jay learned of his defeat while riding circuit in New England. The reflection that the majority of electors was for me is a pleasing one, Jay wrote his wife. That injustice has taken place does not surprise me. Amazingly, the outcome did not bother him, either. A few more years will put us all in the dust, and it will then be of more importance to me to have governed myself than to have governed the state.

Jay got his chance to govern New York in 1795 by beating a new Republican, Robert Yates, by a margin too large to have it rigged out of his grasp. Jay served until 1801, when he retired from politics. In his now-copious spare time, Jay told tales of espionage to William Coopers son James Fenimore, who turned those recollections into his first best seller, The Spy. George Clinton, who would as soon stop politicking as breathing, won a seventh term as governor, followed by two terms as vice president, dying in office. Each man had his reward.

Vote rigging of any kind is a serious crime, undermining democracys very foundation. But it is good sometimes to remember what John Jay knew, that politics isnt everything.

This story was originally published in the March/April 2017 issue of American History magazine. Subscribe here.
Cover Star Uncovered

With interest I studied the cover of the May/June issue of World War II and I found I had another picture [above] of the same man. Notice the folded jacket pocket and the same undershirt collar. Since he was there in June 1944, I hope he was still alive when Germany surrendered in 1945.

Joseph Doyon

Also there on D-Day

Tigard, Ore.

That anguished GI on the May/June 2014 cover has a name: Walter Sidlowski of Brooklyn. I dont know if Walter is still with us, but several years ago we contacted him seeking information about anyone pictured around him that he might know because my uncle, John J. Knott Jr., is standing behind Walter. Walter did not know anyone there, he said, because GIs were coming from everywhere to help. The photo was taken on D+1. My uncle was killed on June 17, but Walter survived. He told us that he was checking the boot size on the body he was straddling. I hope that we can pay these nameless soldiers the respect of giving them names.

Judy Kohler

Vancouver, Wash.

Man the Guns

First off let me say that I enjoy your magazine and look forward to getting it. Your answer about the navy not employing black gunners was way off the mark (Challenge, May/June 2014). Many ships of all sizes let cooks and mess men man the guns. The USS Mason, a destroyer escort, was manned almost entirely by black sailors.

Mike Geiger

Hayti, S.Dak.

Editors note: There were no black crew men on PT boats, and our answer failed to make that clear. You are right that in general, when a vessel with a racially mixed crew came under attack, any sailor, including cooks and mess orderlies, could and did man guns.

First Off Omaha?

I am surprised that John McManus states as fact that E Company, 16th Infantry Division was the first unit to fight their way off Omaha Beach on D-Day in his otherwise excellent article (A Knife in the Vitals, May/June 2014). There is no way to know who got off the beach first, a natural result of the enormous scope and utter confusion of the invasion. My father, Gale Beccue, E Company, 5th Ranger Battalion, landed on Dog White that morning. With the urging of General Norman Cota and other leaders, small groups of Rangers, including my father, soon fought their way off the beachas did other men along the entire length of Omaha.

I had the privilege of visiting Omaha Beach with my father in 1973 while I was a young lieutenant stationed in Germany with the 3rd Infantry Division. As we walked along that famous battlefield I asked Dad if the 5th Rangers were the first to the top of the ridge. He smiled and said that just about everyone who survived the early hours of D-Day claimed to have been first, but there was really no way to tell since every man was focused on the obstacles and German emplacements on his immediate front.

It is more historically accurate to say that along the more than 5,000 yards of Bloody Omaha, several bands of very brave men, acting independently, fought their way to the high ground, each being the first to get off the beach in their own small sector of hell.

Boyd Beccue

Willmar, Minn.

John C. McManus responds: You make a valid point that it is hard to determine with absolute precision who was first off Omaha Beach, and I certainly honor the vital contributions of your father and the other Rangers. I have come to believe, though, after many years of study, that the John Spalding and Phil Streczyk group was first off the beach. If someone can provide me with concrete evidence to the contrary, I would be happy to revise my view.

A Patchs Past

Among the items to be identified in your May/June 2014 Challenge is a Thunderbird shoulder patch. A tougher challenge might have been to have shown a swastika shoulder patch and asked what American infantry division wore it.

The answer is the same for both patchesthey were worn by the 45th Infantry Division.

The 45th was organized in 1920 with units from Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, with the swastika, an Indian symbol, as its emblem. The swastika was discontinued in the mid 1930s, and the Thunderbird, another Indian symbol, was adopted in 1939.

I served in the 45th during the Korean War. During a company reunion in the 1990s, Horace Ware, who had been one of my officers, told me that in 1937, as a corporal in the division, he and another fellow were given hammers and chisels and the job of chipping up the 12-foot square tile mosaic of the swastika from the floor at division headquarters.

Ridgway M. Dunton

Onancock, Va.

The Amazing Hal

The interview of Hal Baumgarten by Gene Santoro in the May/June 2014 issue took my breath away. What an amazing story of human perseverance and a will to survive. His recollection and attention to detail is incredible and his story is one that everyone should be familiar with. Thank you sir for your service and to all those who served in World War II. Your legacy will live on and your service will never be forgotten.

Michael G. Markov

Riverside, Calif.

Not a Swimmer

The Nakajima A6M2-N Rufe, featured in the Up on the Rufe sidebar of John M. Curatolas Fog of War story (May/ June 2014), was not amphibious. It had no retractable wheeled undercarriage as the Supermarine Walrus, the Grumman J2F Duck, the Grumman JRF/OA-9 Goose, the Grumman J4F Widgeon, and the Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina flying boats.

Tim Birkett

Bartonville, Ill.

Correction

In the article Fog of War (May/June 2014) we stated that the Japanese planned airstrikes at American bases on Atka and Adak. These bases were not actually formed at the time of the planned attacks; the original Japanese plan suspected that an American garrison existed at Adak, but, due to weather delays, an attack on Dutch Harbor was undertaken instead.

Originally published in the October 2014 issue of World War II. To subscribe, click here.
Submariner Sam Dealey achieved the hunter-killer ideal, but success at sea cost him his life.

The pinging started in at 5:32 a.m. on August 24, 1944, a signal to two U.S. Navy submarines lying outside Dasol Bay on Luzon that enemy vessels were about to make the 130- mile run for the safety of Manila along the islands west coast. The day before, the subs had devastated a four-ship Japanese convoy whose sole survivor had spent the night in Dasols shallows among other enemy vessels. At 5:54 the periscope watch on the USS Hake spotted two sets of masts near the bays entrance. Chimes rang as the Hakes rookie commander, Frank Haylor, ordered battle stations torpedo. A few thousand yards away, the USS Harders veteran skipper, Sam Dealey, issued the same call. Within an hour the Hake identified both targets: the PB-102, a captured American destroyer, and CD-22, a new Imperial Navy frigate bristling with antisubmarine gear.

As Haylor was setting up for a shot, the old destroyer zigged. He broke off the attack. Sighted Harders periscope dead ahead about 600-700 yards, he recorded in his patrol report. Lookouts on the enemy frigate must have spotted the scope, too, for the CD-22 turned directly toward the subs. As Haylor noted, the frigate continued to ping and apparently had two targets and couldnt decide what the score was. He changed course, took Hake deep, rigged for depth charge, and crossed his fingers.

Dealey, a bold and confident officer who had 20 enemy ships to his credit, held firm. As the frigate approached head-on, he launched three torpedoes down the throata risky gambit that sent the fish in a tight cluster, a degree or two apart, so that by the time lookouts aboard the target saw them streaking toward their ship there would be no way to evade. Dealey had already sunk two enemy destroyers using this daring tactic. But that morning he miscalculated: two torpedoes went wide to port, the other wide to starboard. A few minutes later Frank Haylor heard 15 rapid depth charges. He didnt realize then that the explosions marked the end of the Harder and its 79-man crew.

News of the Harders loss with all hands rocked the American undersea force. How could a plodding frigate have taken out Sam Destroyer Killer Dealey, winner of four Navy Crosses and one of the best submarine skippers of the war? Some believed he had simply run out of luck. Others thought Dealey had finally crossed the line between boldness and recklessness, and paid the ultimate price.

SAMUEL DAVID DEALEY JR.S navy career began inauspiciously. He bilged out of the Naval Academy at the end of his first semester for poor grades and a stack of demerits. The ex-midshipman was the Dallas-born namesake of a well-known real estate developer and nephew of a powerful local newspaperman. When Sam Sr. died in 1912, his widow moved the family to Denver, Colorado, then Santa Monica, California, and finally back to Dallas, where Sam finished high school. In 1925 Representative Hatton Sumners (D-TX) nominated Sam to the Academy, and a year later young Dealey was back pleading for a second endorsement. The usually stern Sumners assented; after all, Sams uncle George Dealey had recently bought the influential Dallas Morning News. This time Dealey put his nose to the grindstone but only just. On his way to becoming an ensign the 59 midshipman boxed intramurally; displayed, according to the yearbook, The Lucky Bag, a never-failing sense of humor; and earned notoriety as an organizer of parties, real parties. Just days after graduating in 1930, Sam married his longtime sweetheart, Edwina Vawter.

Following sea duty aboard the battleship USS Nevada, Dealey requested transfer in 1934 to the Submarine School at New London, Connecticut. Not only did submarine work pay a bonus, but boats rarely went on long cruises, meaning more time at home with his young family. Dealey did well at New London. He was a quiet officer, not a colorful one, his first skipper noted. That decorousness fit Americas 1930s-era submarine culture, which applauded caution and punished innovation and aggression. A subs primary role was scouting, not offense. At annual fleet exercises skippers won points for their boats cleanliness, not the ability to stalk and attack targets. Night exercises were banned. If a referee spotted a periscope breaking the surface, the skipper using it could be relieved instantly.

Dealey returned to surface duty aboard the battleship USS Wyoming, leaving after a year in spring 1940 to be executive officer of the destroyer USS Reuben Jamesprobably at the request of its skipper, H. L. Tex Edwards, a close friend and mentor at Annapolis. The old four-stacker was on neutrality patrol in the Gulf of Mexico, working with British warships to waylay German U-boats and surface raiders. Dealey soon sought transfer back to subs, and in April 1941 received his first command, the vintage S-20, assigned to test experimental gear. Dealey seemed a careerist: soft-spoken, well regarded, unremarkable. Events would change that.

On October 31, 1941, a U-boat sent the Reuben James to the bottom with Tex Edwards and all but 45 of its 160-man crew. The loss devastated Dealey. Then the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor. From that moment, Sam Dealey had one purpose: to get into the war. He bore down on readying the S-20 for combat, relentlessly driving his crewand himself.

AFTER PEARL HARBOR, American submariners quickly realized their culture of caution had to change. Subs needed highly adaptive, enterprising, independent officers eager to take risks that would have deep-sixed peacetime careers. Doctrine began to evolve as skippers back from combat filed war patrol reports with superiors and peers. These 50-to-60- page accounts of lessons learned addressed plane and ship contacts, radio reception, equipment malfunctions, habitability, and, of course, details about tactics and techniques used in torpedo attacks. To these remarks senior commanders added assessments encouraging or discouraging particular methods, and skippers shipping out on war patrols were expected to absorb the documents. Over time this accumulated into a formal doctrine dedicated to aggressiveness. In the short term, the change battered many older skippers; during 1942 nearly 30 percent lost their commands. Among candidates pinpointed in the search for combat-ready replacements was Sam Dealey, still running that test-bed relic out of New London. In September 1942, hoping he would demonstrate an ability to sink enemy ships, the navy gave him command of the USS Harder, a new 1,525-ton Gato-class sub. By April 1943 Dealey was bound for Pearl Harbor and showing a perfectionist streak. His log describes diving drills, fire control drills, battle surface drills, torpedo drills, and more. On the afternoon of June 7, 1943, the Harder cleared Pearls Hospital Point, bullnose aimed west toward Japanese waters for its first war patrol, with orders to behave boldly and strike hard.

By late June, when Dealey reached his station south of Tokyo Bay, he had digested the patrol reports, and quickly put their lessons to work. Just after midnight on June 22, Harder encountered a two-ship convoy with a single escort. Dealey maneuvered into position and fired four torpedoes at the small tanker leading the group. The first fish exploded prematurely, but the other three plowed into the target, setting it ablaze. He went for the escort vessel but glare from the tanker spoiled his night vision. He prudently took his sub deep. Working the shallow waters along the Japanese coast, Dealey made four more attacks over the next seven daysall successful. When he had expended his 24 torpedoes, he turned Harder around. Back at Pearl, the rookie skipper handed in his patrol report, and was credited with three enemy ships sunk, four damaged. Superiors reacted ecstatically. One of the finest first patrols made by any submarine, the division commander wrote. A beautiful job. Dealey was modest about his achievements but his aggressiveness had established a patternand earned him a Navy Cross.

Harders second patrol, also in imperial waters, went much like the first. On the six-week sortie Dealey fired all 24 torpedoes. The enemy responded forcefully; in the subs 23 days on station Japanese warships dropped 102 depth charges on the boat, which at one point escorts forced down for 58 hours. None the worse for wear, and claiming four ships sunk, the Harder returned to Pearl on October 6, 1943, to more adulation and a second Navy Cross for its skipper.

On October 30, the Harder departed for the Mariana Islands with the Snook and the Pargo in the navys second-ever wolf pack, led by Captain Frederick B. Fearless Freddie Warder. The evolving American wolf pack doctrine called for subs to operate in groups, coordinating their attacks (see Pack Mentality, September 2009), but on this run each boat worked alone. Dealey sank three ships, damaged two, and, out of torpedoes, headed back to the barn nine days ahead of his pack mates. The personnel of the Harder are attack minded, Dealey wrote in his war patrol report, no doubt meaning him self as well as his men. They grow restless when targets are hard to find, are eager for each attack to be pushed home, and would not be satisfied with less aggressive patrols. He received another Navy Cross and another shower of praise.

On its fourth patrol, the Harder stood lifeguard duty in the Caroline Islands, where aviators from Vice Admiral Marc Mitschers Task Force 58 were to work over the 6,500 Japanese holding Woleai Atoll. During that April 1, 1944, attack, an American pilot parachuted to the atolls beach. Guided by other airmen circling above, Dealey grounded the Harders nose on the reef forming Woleais lagoon and sent three volunteers in a rubber boat to shore. For an hour, the sailors, amid sniper fire, struggled to reach and retrieve the injured flyer, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) John R. Galvin. Once his team returned with Galvin, Dealey backed the sub off the coral and headed to sea.

Twelve days later lookouts sighted a destroyers masts. The modern, powerful, and fast Ikazuchi seemed to be circling and pinging. Sounded battle stations and headed for the destroyer at 1/3 speed keeping the bow always pointed at the target, Dealey wrote. After two-and-a-half hours of tracking he fired four torpedoes that sank the destroyer, his first. The next night a message from Pearl Harbor declaring open season on Japanese destroyers prompted much hilarity in the wardroom.

Early on April 16, a 3,500-ton cargoman and two destroyers emerged from Woleais lagoon. The Harder stalked them until 3:35 the next morning, when Dealey attacked, sinking the maru and damaging a destroyer. His fourth patrol brought a fourth Navy Cross and a change of Harders base to Fremantle, on Australias west coast.

THE LEGEND OF DESTROYER KILLER Dealey solidified on the Harders fifth patrol. This time the subs station was the Sibutu Passage, a 30-mile corridor between the Celebes and Sulu Seas. Besides conducting a war patrol Dealey had two special missions: extracting an intelligence team stranded on Borneo and reconnoitering Tawi-Tawi, the Japanese fleet anchorage in the southern Philippines.

He threaded the Harder north through the Malay Barrier, a maze of islands, shallows, and narrow straits dense with enemy traffic, and reached the Sibutu Passage on June 6, 1944. At 7:30 p.m. radar picked up three large tankers, escorted by two destroyers. The enemy vessels were steaming south at 14 knots; the night sky was cloudy. Dealey raced ahead. The Harder had surfaced, waiting to pounce, when the moon broke through. A lookout aboard the closest destroyer saw the sub, and the hunter became the hunted. He was headed hell-bent for Harder, Dealey reported. We turned tail. At 19 knots we left a wake that looked like a broad avenue for five miles astern. He dove and swung hard left. Bringing Harders stern tubes to bear, he fired three torpedoes. Two struck broadside. Within five minutes the destroyer had sunk. About an hour later another destroyer charged the Harder. Dealey emptied all six bow tubes. When every torpedo missed, he dove.

At the mouth of the Sibutu Passage the next morning, Harder and a Japanese destroyer spotted one another. The enemy captain attacked; Dealey stood fast. When the range shrank to 650 yards he fired three torpedoes down the throat, then watched through the periscope as his assailant sank stern first within a minute. That afternoon two destroyers, and then a third, came into view. Soon six Japanese destroyers were dogging him, and Dealey reluctantly slipped away. I really believe we might have gotten one or two more, he wrote. The gamble would have been made at too great a risk. Two days late for his Borneo rendezvous, he steered west. Just after midnight on June 8, Harder extracted six British and Australian intelligence agents.

By the next evening the Harder was back at the north end of the Sibutu Passage when lookouts identified two Japanese destroyers on patrol. Dealey stalked the lead ship, but as he was setting up, the enemy vessels courses converged. Thinking he might be able to sink both with a single volley, he fired four. Three connected. A huge explosion erupted on the first destroyer, heavily concussing the Harder. Through the periscope Dealey next saw no trace of the first ship and the tail of the second destroyer straight in the air.

Dealey headed for Tawi-Tawi, where on June 10 he observed the arrival of a large part of the Japanese Combined Fleetan armada of three battleships, four or more cruisers, and six or eight destroyers. Spotting the Harder, one destroyer charged at 35 knots. This time there would be no evading. We had to hit himor else, Dealey wrote later. At 1,500 yards he fired three torpedoes down the throat and dove, maintaining course. In the 55 seconds it took his first fish to hit, the sub traveled to a spot almost directly beneath its target and all Hell broke loose. Dealey alerted Pearl Harbor to the enemy fleets position. In five days he had sunk five destroyersthe Japanese thought a squadron of American subs had encircled Tawi-Tawibut stress was high. Fatigue of all hands approached a dangerous stage several times, wrote Dealey, who was not immune. Sam was showing unmistakable signs of strain, recalled executive officer Frank Lynch, who once found his captain in a state of mild shock, unable to make a decision.

The Harders crew expected a three-week leave, but was diverted to Darwin to pickup Seventh Fleet submarine commander Rear Admiral Ralph Christie, who wanted to observe the legendary Dealey in action. He even had a target in mind: an enemy transport said to be hauling nickel ore, essential for making steel. Just 10 hours after docking, the sub was steaming back toward the Malay Barrier, its patrol extended 18 days.

Six days out, lookouts sighted an enemy cruiser with two escorts, but the trio was too far away to approach. Why didnt you expose your conning tower and lure the destroyers and sink them? asked Christie. Dealey asked the admiral if he was being serious. He was. Dealey demurred. On June 30, the submariners spotted the nickel ship, but it had protection: two floatplanes aloft, plus an escort vessel. Dealey and Christie watched the freighter steam away. After the fruitless patrol extension, the Harder headed for Fremantle, arriving on July 10, 1944, to a grand reception. Christie presented his host a plaque depicting an enemy destroyer broken in two, with the legend To Comdr. Sam DealeyDestroyer KillerIn grateful appreciation from his fellow submarine skippers. Kudos-laden endorsements piled up: The most brilliant in a series of five outstanding patrols; An epoch making war patrol; It is recommended that this patrol report be studied by all submarine officers. And from Fremantle to New London, the Harders fifth run was the talk of the force. Rarely had a single war patrol received such unrestrained praise and enthusiasm, recalled James F. Calvert, an officer on the USS Jack. Every submariner tipped his hat to the Harder for this one.

AS THE WAR PROGRESSED, skippers inevitably began to burn out, leading to a policy of relieving captainsparticularly successful onesafter four or five patrols. To recuperate, they got shore duty or assignments to subs under construction. Such interludes were as necessary as oxygen. You get too confident, said submarine ace Slade Deville Cutter, second among sub captains in wartime sinkings. When you made your fifth patrol, you became careless, you had lost your respect for the enemy. He could have been describing Dealey, who according to Frank Lynch had become, by the end of his fifth patrol, quite casual about Japanese antisubmarine measures.

Commander Dealey obviously was in line for a break. Fearless Freddie Warder, poised to head the Submarine School, asked the navy to give him Dealey. The possibility excited the Texan, who insisted that before heading to New London he take the Harder out once more. Christie bowed to his star skippers will. On August 5, 1944, in company with the Hake, the Harder departed Fremantle, never to return.

The most ghastly, tragic news we could possibly receive, Christie wrote in his diary upon learning Harders fate. We cant bear this one. Submariners hotly debated the cause of the Destroyer Killers demise. Most blamed Christie for letting Dealey go on that final sortie. But Dealey shared in that responsibility. He firmly believed he was fit for command, and insisted on another patrol. Given his record and the submarine cultures celebration of risk, it would have taken a bold superior, even one wearing gold braid, to buck him. Dealey received a posthumous Medal of Honor and Silver Star to go with his four Navy Crosses, Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart, and Presidential Unit Citationthe fourth-most highly decorated serviceman in American history. Of 20.5 ships the Harder claimed, postwar analysis allowed 16; of six destroyers claimed, review confirmed four. Dealeys record placed him fifth among American submariners in vessels sunk during the war.

How did an officer rated unremarkable before the war transform into one of the navys most audacious, successful submarine commanders? In assigning Dealey the Harder the admirals were gambling that he possessed a native ability to sink enemy ships. Right out of the gate he showed that ability in spades, and his legend grew in tandem with his record. He came to epitomize what the wartime navy valued most in sub skippers, as well as the kind of submariner all skippers aspired to be.

Dealeys transformation may have begun when he recognized he liked hunting and sinking enemy ships, and that he was good at it. Perhaps in those moments when he was sweating in the conning tower waiting for a torpedo to strike or a depth charge to detonate, Sam Dealey found a sublime and addictive thrill, a feeling of invincibility that in the end carried him to and over the precipice of boldness.

Originally published in the October 2014 issue of World War II. To subscribe, click here.
Russian President Vladimir Putin sends 100,000 soldiers to the country's western borders leaving a fear for safety for Europe. The soldiers will be stationed at Baltic States following a joint military exercise between Russia and Belarus.

The dispatch of the soldiers on the western border has brought on a rising tension in the region and the cryptic lack of information from the Kremlin. NATO on the other hand maybe put into a state of alarm, Philip Mark Breedlove the Ex-NATO Chief General told the US Senate that 100,000 soldiers could be taking part in the Russian war games as per the Brief Report.

General Breedlove also stated that he has been worried about the scale of the military exercises on the borders, which is directly targeted towards the west. According to Moscow's standpoint Russia is preparing to ward off foreign aggression. However, experts believe that hostile scenarios are secretly in action due to the recent events in Ukraine.

According to the Express, this has not been the first time for the maneuvers as they have been carried out near Belarus since 2009 for every four years. Reports state that Lithuania's Minister of Defense Raimundas Karoblis, believes that Russia wants to re-establish its dominance and change the defense system in entire Europe.

Some people strongly believe that this is danger for Central Europe and especially for the Baltic States. There is no exact information from the Kremlin of the operation, but NATO experts and diplomatic sources expect the numbers to be too great. The rising tension grew worse when it came to notice that Russia had repeatedly misinformed the exact number of soldiers used in its exercises in the past.

The drill in 2013, reported 10,000 troops but certain independent analysts estimated that those numbers were actually seven times greater. On the other hand the president of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite warned that the "West 2017" is a preparation of war.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
When it comes to the nuclear power North Korea is one of the most concerning nations in the world. The country suffers from intense poverty but it never lacks in showing off its strong nuclear power. The nuclear power of the country is getting dangerous day by day and it is becoming the big reason for worry for many nations like the US.



Recently the North Korean government has tested one of its ballistic missiles on east sea. It is reported that the missile was launched from the North Korean capital Pyongyang and it was dropped almost 300 miles from the North Korean capital in the middle of the east sea.



This missile testing has concerned many countries across the world. Event the allies of North Korea Russia and China has opposed this decision. Therefore, many people can think that it may draw a line between the friendship of North Korea and China. If it happens then there is a good possibility that the economic system of North Korea will be affected as well. But it looks like that nothing can stop North Korea from testing out its ballistic missiles. The North Korean government has tested 24 missiles last year and it looks like they are ready to test more missiles this year.



It is a known fact that North Korea poses a constant threat to the United States and they are constantly upgrading their nuclear arsenal. According to a report published by the US, it was said that North Korea had 20 nukes in 2015 and it is expected to double up in few years time. Therefore, it can be considered as a big reason for worry to the US. Though North Korean missiles don't have enough power to hit the main lands of the United States but it can certainly hit the South Korea who is an ally of the United States.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Haslemere, Surrey

What it costs: average price is 473,424, up five per cent in two years  about 591,000 for a house and 239,000 for a flat.



The commute: trains to Waterloo take from 49 minutes. An annual season ticket costs 4,732.



Top schools: Grayswood CofE Aided Primary School is Ofsted outstanding. Most of the towns other primaries are rated good, as is Woolmer Hill, for seniors.



Who it would suit: with prices spiralling in prime Surrey, many buyers are leapfrogging Guildford and the Surrey Hills for Haslemere, on the edge of the South Downs. Its location on the A3 makes it handy for the coast and the capital, and now that the Hindhead Tunnel is in operation the local roads are far less gridlocked.

Alamy Stock Photo
The United States warned Russia to respect its arms control treaty obligations on Tuesday amid reports that Moscow has deployed a new cruise missile that may breach them.

According to the New York Times, Moscow has secretly deployed an operational ground-launched cruise missile unit of a type that contravenes a 1987 US-Russia arms control treaty.

The US State Department would not directly confirm the report, but expressed concern that Russia was in any case already in breach of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

"We do not comment on intelligence matters," acting State Department spokesman Mark Toner said of the report.

But, citing a 2016 US treaty compliance report, Toner said Russia "remains in violation of its INF Treaty obligations."

This treaty, signed by then US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, bans ballistic missiles with a range of between 500 and 5,500 kilometers.

"We have made very clear our concerns about Russia's violation, the risks it poses to European and Asian security and our strong interest in returning Russia to compliance with the treaty," Toner said.

"We value the INF Treaty and believe it benefits the security of the United States, our allies, our partners and the Russian Federation."

The previous US administration under president Barack Obama has already complained that President Vladimir Putin's Russia violated the INF Treaty by testing a banned cruise missile.

Now, according to the Times' report, this missile has been deployed to active units, including one at a test site in Kapustin Yar in southwest Russia.

Putin has defended Russia's test program, arguing the United States is also in breach of the INF Treaty and that new missiles are needed to maintain the balance of power.

The United States and its NATO allies are deploying an anti-missile shield in eastern and central Europe that Moscow sees as a threat to its nuclear deterrent.

Washington insists the interceptor shield is designed to protect Europe from so-called "rogue states" such as Iran.

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Theft of confidential data by hackers is a major threat to businesses worldwide and the hotel industry is no exception. Hoteliers remain vulnerable to hackers seeking confidential information such as guests' credit card data and employees' personal information. They are also vulnerable in other ways. In a recent hotel breach, the hackers did not go after confidential data, but rather sought a ransom payment after taking control of the hotel's technology. My partner Bob Braun, senior member of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group and co-chair of JMBM's Cybersecurity and Privacy Group, describes what happened, and shares what hotels can do in response to such threats.

Hotels and Ransomware  Something Special

Last year, at the Global Hospitality Group's Meet the Money Conference, I participated in a panel on Cybersecurity and we discussed how cybersecurity issues affect the hotel industry. One of the comments was that hotels, more than most private industries, have to take into account the kind of physical harm that might be done by a hacker. We noted that not only are guest information systems targets, but also the life and safety systems  HVAC, elevators, electricity and so on. We concluded that while financial theft could impact a hotel and its reputation, a hack of the physical structure of a business could put the hotel out of business.

Locked Out

Our discussion turned out to be prescient when, this week, Romantik Seehotel Jaegerwirt, in the Austrian Alps, had their systems frozen by hackers, which resulted in the complete shutdown of hotel computers.

The 111-year-old hotel had already been targeted by hackers twice. This time, however, the hackers breached the key card system, made it impossible for guests to enter their rooms and prevented the front desk from reprogramming cards.

The hackers demanded 1500 in Bitcoin, promising that control of the key card system and room locks would be returned. Management of the hotel, fully occupied at the beginning of the winter season, chose to pay the ransom, rather than attempt a solution that could have taken significant time and harmed their 180 guests.

The story could have been worse; once a hacker breaches a system, the system remains open until the vulnerability is eliminated. In this case, the hotel took the precaution of seeking and remediating a backdoor the hackers left (which they tried to exploit, almost immediately) and was able to secure their systems.

The Threat to Hotels

We have pointed out before that hotels are particular targets of hackers. During 2015 and 2016, every major hotel company was breached. In each case, however, hackers attacked hotel point of sale systems for the straightforward goal of obtaining personal information. This, however, may be the first case where hackers threatened the safety of guests, something much more important. After all, guest safety is paramount, and threats to safety can overcome every other achievement.

Moreover, hotels are complex businesses with overlapping and interconnected systems. Thus, finding a way into one system can allow a bad actor to access other parts of the hotel, giving them the opportunity to demand payment for protection. Hotel owners and operators should be aware that ransomware is increasingly popular because it provides for almost immediate return on a hacker's "investment." Rather than selling personal information, which rapidly loses value, the use of ransomware gains the hacker an immediate return. Moreover, as with the Romantik Seehotel Jaegerwirt, hackers will now know the hotel's vulnerability, or leave a backdoor, allowing them to shake down the same institution multiple times.

What Can Hotels Do

Hotels need to take the same steps that other business take to achieve data security:

Analyze risk. Each business is different, and each business needs to identify the risks it is willing to take, and how it can neutralize the other risks. For a hotel, this can include decoupling systems  preventing, for example, the key card system from access through the hotel's website  or preparing for workarounds. In the case of the Romantik Seehotel Jaegerwirt, the decision has been made to include physical keys, allowing a manual override of the system.

Train Personnel. Virtually every breach is the result of a human act, whether an error or malicious act. Training personnel to identify risks and avoid them is one of the most effective steps to reduce cyber risk.

Plan for the breach. No matter what technical or personnel prevention is taken, every system capable of authorized access is vulnerable to unauthorized access. When that happens, it is too late to design the response playbook. Hotels, like other businesses, have to design, implement and test response plans, and update them regularly.

JMBM's Global Hospitality Group works with the JMBM Cybersecurity and Privacy Group to help clients analyze risk and develop response plans and other procedures to reduce vulnerability to data breaches. For more information, contact Bob Braun at [email protected].

Bob Braun is a Senior Member of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group and is Co-Chair of the Firm's Cybersecurity & Privacy Group. Bob has more than 20 years experience in representing hotel owners and developers in their contracts, relationships and disputes with hotel managers, licensors, franchisors and brands, and has negotiated hundreds of hotel management and franchise agreements. His practice includes experience with virtually every significant hotel brand and manager.

Bob also advises clients on condo hotel securities issues and many transactional matters, including entity formation, financing, and joint ventures, and works with companies on their data technology, privacy and security matters. These include software licensing, cloud computing, e-commerce, data processing and outsourcing agreements for the hospitality industry.

In addition, Bob is a frequent lecturer as an expert in technology, privacy and data security issues, and is one of only two attorneys in the 2015 listing of SuperLawyers to be recognized for expertise in Information Technology. Bob is on the Advisory Board of the Information Systems Security Association, Los Angeles chapter, and a member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Contact Bob Braun at 310.785.5331 or [email protected].

Jim Butler

+1 310 201 3526

JMBM
It is human nature to always look for a better, more enhanced experience. Arguably, innovation is the key idea that is shaping corporate life, or even defining the actual corporate mission. Hospitality firms are not indifferent to the changes occurring at the level of their competitors, the fast-paced market, or emerging technology breakthroughs.

Yet, as we have argued before in previous articles, the bulk of the hotel industry is somehow lagging behind. There is however a leading group of firms that not only keep up with the pace of innovation but are able to innovate the very way they provide customers with enhanced experiences.

How do top hoteliers think, tinker with and discover a more innovative, personalized and memorable customer experience? We have analyzed several disruptively innovative approaches from leading hotels.

Open versus closed innovation

The one word answer to the question above is opening the innovation process to users and customers. The idea of using contests to stimulate innovation has a long history. Back in 1795, Napoleon offered an award of 12,000 francs to improve upon the prevailing food preservation methods. After 14 years of experimentation, Nicolas Appert claimed the prize when he devised the same basic technology that is still used to can food today.

And yet, generating ideas for new services used to be the exclusive domain of top management, marketers, and/or designers. Not anymore. Many industries have been relying on open innovation as a source of strategic innovation to continue growing and to continue catering to ever-changing customer demand. Open innovation activities (co-design, co-creation, crowdsourcing and contests) are powerful instruments to stimulate innovations in diverse fields of application. These collaborative innovations engage a variety of external stakeholders, including users, designers, producers (management and coworkers) and suppliers.

Employees are extremely knowledgeable about their business and their integration into the early phases of an innovation process brings in creativity while mitigating the not-invented here syndrome. Nevertheless, the average hospitality incumbent does not have proper training on the newest gadget/technology available. To be completely blatant, they do not know of certain existing technologies or how an application actually works. Using the same judgement, an IT person cannot understand the core of hospitality. What if they would be brought together and placed in a friendly, potentially unconventional, environment that fosters creativity, such as the suite of a hotel or a section of an art gallery/museum? Telling people to think outside the box won't actually make them do so, showing them how to think outside the box might.

Best practices in open innovation

Among hotels, some first movers have already started experimenting with crowdsourcing and open innovation. In this article, we document two of them. These innovation contests refer to the early stages of the innovation process.

The Lopesan Group in Spain organizes a contest where employees come up with creative ideas, suppliers and companies from related service industries discuss the scope of the initiatives, students with different backgrounds help develop them, and top management evaluates the solutions. Every year since 2012, Lopesan Group has produced the 'Think in Innovation' Contest, bringing together colleagues from other companies, students from around the world, employees eager for innovative experiences and management deeply convinced of the value of service innovation. From IT apps to workplace design, from management practices to new service offering to operational solutions, each initiative takes advantage of an intensive twoday sort of hackathon initiative to bring ideas out into the real world. Each year, Thinking in Innovation generates a set of ideas, and each year, hundreds of participants gather in the Gran Canaria's Exhibition and Convention Center for a full weekend of fun and work.

Take also the example of Park Inn by Radisson Manchester City Centre. Their management team arranges an open innovation contest where teams from several hotel management schools take part in a three-day kick-off event in Manchester. Students attend a set of conferences, exchange ideas with peers and, afterwards, develop innovative ideas that will help revolutionize the Park Inn by Radisson guest experience. These ideas are further submitted for consideration by the contest judges and the public votes. Driven by an open innovation spirit, a dedicated webpage allows the public to choose their favorite innovation. Two innovations move to the final stage of the contest where the judges select the final winner. Blending a mix of cutting-edge conference content with innovative experiences from leading creative teams, ParkInn Innovation is the one essential innovation event for Park Inn by Radisson Manchester City Centre seeking to harness the power of creativity and the dynamic interplay that is underway. All these ideas have as a purpose to foster change starting from the heart of the business: including customers, students and hotel employees. The belief that the employee interacts with the guest every day or that the hotel management student knows what the "new customer" wants is valid, but does not suffice. Innovation contests have the ability to create the conditions for innovation to thrive.

Co-creation involves a bigger picture

Just to clarify, these innovation initiatives are not driven by branding or marketing models. Surely, marketing strategies attempt to create memorable experiences, become trendsetters and enable a unique brand journey. Instead, the examples offered here are strategy-centered innovations driven by organizational needs for service, business model and process innovations.

A quote often attributed to Albert Einstein states that insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over again and to expect different results. Customers are now used to receiving a service that is adapted and customized to their own specific needs. The industry has caught on to the trend and is scrambling to innovate every aspect of its business. Today's hoteliers understand that innovation thrives on technology, new apps, social media, new services and service processes, as well as new management and organizational tools and techniques.

"Service is a monologue, hospitality is a dialogue" Danny Meyer coined this phrase in his bestselling book, Setting the Table. Open innovation helps open up the dialogue. Hoteliers can unlock their innovation strategy by combining the key elements mentioned above: the perspective of the up-and-coming millennial student, the work and experience of the current employee, the educated view of the guest, and management's profound technological awareness.

Carlos Martin-Rios

Ecole htelire de Lausanne HES-SO // University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland

+41 21 785 18 20

EHL
Restel Oy (Finland) has sealed a partnership agreement with Otrum for the provision of interactive TV solutions. This agreement encompasses all 43 hotels within Restel, including both domestic and International brands such as Cumulus City & Resort, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and Hotel Indigo.

Mr. Stein Surlien, CEO of Otrum, comments "Restel is a future-thinking company, putting guests needs and demands at the forefront of decision-making. Otrum Enterprise is a first-class software platform, with unrivalled system stability and innovative guest facing applications."

Anni Kallioniemi, Commercial Director of Restel adds, "Here at Restel we have complete confidence in Otrum, they have delivered on promises in the past and we have a very good relationship. Our guests will be very happy to see the new TV services, and we look forward to rolling out the latest Otrum software in Finland."

Mr. Nigel Bateson, Senior Vice President Products at Otrum, states, "From a technology standpoint, Restel's solution upgrade will offer exciting new functionality for both staff and guests. Using the latest SmartTV services, Otrum will enable new revenue generation opportunities, whilst giving guests access to new Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) applications to enhance their in-room stay."

About Restel

Restel Oy is the leading hospitality and restaurant operator in Finland. The group operates approx. 240 restaurants and 43 hotels. The turnover in 2015 was 382,6M. The company employs more than 5000 horeca professionals. The hotels are Cumulus City & Resort -hotels, Hotelli Seurahuone Helsinki, International Holiday Inn -hotels, Crowne Plaza Helsinki and Hotel Indigo Helsinki-Boulevard. The restaurants are e.g. BURGER KING-, Rax Buffet-, HelmiSimpukka-, Grillsson-, Huviretki-, Martina-, O'Learys-, Wanha Mestari-, Hemingway's -restaurants and Tapahtumaravintolat. For more information, visit www.restel.fi

About Otrum

Otrum is a privately owned segment leader, which was founded in Norway in 1985. The company provides cloud management and control of over 180,000 smart TVs, and in addition provides the digital signage solutions for over 1,000 sites. Otrum's in-house Research & Development division enables the company to rapidly address changing market needs, additionally with full control of our product IPR we set the industry standards. Otrum interactive solutions are the market leading solutions for functionality, stability and ease of use  with over 3 million users per month. Otrum operates through a network of strategic regional partners placed throughout EMEA and. For more information visit www.otrum.com.

Stein Surlien

CEO

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Central Atlanta Progress and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (CAP/ADID) recently released a report revealing data on the potential impacts of proposed casino gaming in the state of Georgia. In order to provide a neutral viewpoint on the issue, CAP/ADID selected Horwath HTL, among other advisory firms, to consider the proposed legislation and provide an expert outlook on the introduction of the casino industry at both the State and local area. "In the past decade, Downtown Atlanta enjoyed more than $3.8 billion in investment," explains Paul Breslin, Managing Director of Horwath HTL in Atlanta. "It is important, if not crucial, for future hospitality ventures to capitalize on this momentum, and ensure the right mix of development that would facilitate, not hinder, continued growth in Downtown. CAP/ADID's final report concluded the following key takeaways:

Casino gaming could indeed generate an additional source of state revenue, but has its drawbacks;

Casino revenue is primarily generated from locals, not tourists;

Substitution effects will likely exist, but are complex and difficult to fully predict;

Local communities will incur costs. Therefore, funding mechanisms must be in place to mitigate any potential impacts;

Social issues need to be mitigated for communities closest to a casino;

Local communities must set and negotiate specific objectives before allowing a casino development.

Recently proposed legislation in Georgia would see the creation of two casinos in Georgia, one of which would require a minimum investment of $2.0 billion. At this early stage, much has been said about their implementation approach, the use of tax revenue generated, and their overall contribution to the local environment. "We hope this study will allow all of us to better understand the ultimate impacts, both positive and negative, of casino gaming in our City, and, ultimately, our State's economy. We are grateful to have had Horwath HTL as our hospitality experts for their contributions to our final report," comments Alena Green, Project Manager of Economic Development at CAP.

CLICK HERE to read the Casino Gaming in Georgia report in its entirety.

About Horwath HTL

Horwath HTL is focused one hundred percent on hospitality, tourism, and leisure consulting. Our services cover every aspect of hotel real estate, tourism, and leisure development. Our clients choose Horwath HTL because we have earned a reputation for impartial advice that will often mean the difference between failure and success. Each project we help is different, so we utilize the experience we have gained throughout our 100-year history. Being a global firm with 52 offices in 40 countries, we have successfully carried out over 30,000 assignments for both public and private clients. As part of the Crowe Global network, a top 10 accounting, and financial services network, Horwath HTL is the number one choice for companies and financial institutions looking to invest and develop in the industry.

For more information, please visit www.horwathhtl.com.
The Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the fastest growing hotel companies in the world and a member of international Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, is proud to announce the signing of the first Radisson RED in the Central Europe, notably in Krakow.

Radisson RED is Carlson Rezidor's new lifestyle select brand that is inspired by the growing customer need for new experiences, fashion, music and art. RED boasts a forward-thinking focus on design and detail, the guest, personal interaction, individual choice and recognition of the increasingly important role that technology plays in facilitating the best of everyday life. The world's very first Radisson RED hotel opened its doors in Brussels in April 2016, in Minneapolis in November 2016 and the brand plans to have 60 hotels operating globally by 2020.

The newly built Radisson RED Krakow is expected to be completed by fall of 2019 and will feature 230 rooms, signature restaurant and bar concept, meeting space and 24/7 fitness center. The property will be an integral part of the development of the largest high-rise building in Krakow's, Unity Centre, within walking distance to the central train station and Cracow University of Economics. The project is developed by Treimorfa Project, a joint venture entity of Eurozone Equity Company and GD&K Group.

Elie Younes, Executive Vice President & Chief Development Officer of The Rezidor Hotel Group said, "We are proud to bring our ageless millennial-mindset, lifestyle brand Radisson RED to Poland. We couldn't have picked a better destination for RED than Krakow, Poland's premier hotel market and a city that comes steeped in legend and myth. Radisson RED will be an exciting fusion and complement to the city's vibe and will undoubtedly become a distinct social anchor in Krakow"

Iwona Furmanik, Eurozone Equity: "We are happy that this idea came to its realization and the start of it is marked by a significant, exceptional hotel deal. Hospitality is fairly new to us, but we feel comfortable with it in this particular location and with this partner. We got convinced that a hotel component of an office complex is beneficial both for tenants and guests. This is the first business destination like this in Krakow."

Henryk Gaertner, Co-founder of GD&K Group said: "It took us 10 years to bring this concept to life. We do not regret, however, the time spent for the fact that it improved the quality of the product we deliver to the local society and potential customers. We are truly excited about it and with the new partner onboard we are working now with double the energy on the construction of Unity Center."

"This transaction creates value to all stakeholders. With an average GDP growth of 3.6% in 2015, Poland is an important economic player in Europe. The addition of Radisson RED is a key pillar in delivering our development strategy for Poland, a market where we are present with 12 hotels (2,700+ rooms) under the Radisson Blu - Poland's largest upper-upscale hotel brand, both in number of hotels and number of rooms in operation - and Park Inn by Radisson brands and confirms our commitment to Poland, one of Rezidor's focus growth markets in Europe." added Younes.

The Radisson RED Krakow will be managed and operated by The Rezidor Hotel Group. This property celebrates the 8th Radisson RED under construction in EMEA.

About Radisson Hotel Group

Radisson Hotel Group is one of the world's largest hotel groups with nine distinctive hotel brands, and more than 1,600 hotels in operation and under development in 120 countries. The Group's overarching brand promise is Every Moment Matters with a signature Yes I Can! service ethos.

The Radisson Hotel Group portfolio includes Radisson Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Radisson Individuals, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, and prizeotel brought together under one commercial umbrella brand Radisson Hotels.

Radisson Rewards is our international rewards program that delivers unique and personalized ways to create memorable moments that matter to our guests. Radisson Rewards offers an exceptional experience for our guests, meeting planners, and travel agents at over 550 hotels in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.

Radisson Meetings provides tailored solutions for any event or meeting, including hybrid solutions placing guests and their needs at the heart of its offer. Radisson Meetings is built around three strong service commitments: Personal, Professional and Memorable, while delivering on the brilliant basics and being uniquely 100% Carbon Neutral.

The health and safety of guests and team members remain a top priority for Radisson Hotel Group. All properties across the Group's portfolio are subject to stringent health and safety requirements, as outlined in the Radisson Hotels Safety Protocol.

More than 100,000 team members work at Radisson Hotel Group and at the hotels licensed to operate in its systems. For more information, visit our corporate website. Or connect with Radisson Hotels on:

LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube

Lucie Cardona

Corporate Communications & PR Leader

Radisson Hotel Group
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Egypts petroleum ministry, the Italian energy company Eni and British Petroleum signed a deal in Cairo to complete the sale of a 10-percent stake in the "super-giant" Zohr gas field in the Shorouk concession, off Egypts shores, to BP.

In a press statement on Monday, Eni said that the Italian company and BP first agreed on the sale of the concession stake in November 2016.

Zohr, discovered by Eni in August 2015, is the largest gas field in the Mediterranean, estimated to contain 850 billion cubic metres of gas.

Eni, through its subsidiary IEOC, now holds a 90 percent stake in the licence, while Rosneft has agreed to acquire a 30 percent stake, subject to Egyptian governmental approval.

During a meeting with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in January, Enis CEO confirmed that the development of Zohr is progressing very quickly, having been fast tracked, and that the start of production is confirmed for 2017, just two years after the discovery was made.

In the January meeting, the CEO said that Italian energy company plans to increase its energy exploration investments in Egypt to $3.5 billion in 2017. Enis CEO also met with El-Sisi during this visit in February.

The signing took place in Cairo in the presence of the Prime Minister Sherif Ismail.

In late December, Eni signed two new concession agreements with the Egyptian government for gas exploration in two Mediterranean fields.

Eni has been operating in Egypt since 1954 through its subsidiary International Egyptian Oil Company (IEOC), with an equity production of approximately 230,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

Egypts production of natural gas is currently estimated at around 4.4 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd), and is expected to increase by 1.5 bcfd by the end of 2017, according to a statement from the petroleum ministry last week.

In May 2016, the ministry expected production to range between 5.5 and 6 bcfd by the end of 2019.

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Kendall Jenner was DJing at an NYC club last Friday for New York Fashion week and rumored beau A$AP Rocky was on hand to encourage her. The two have spotted across two continents but have yet to make anything official.

According to US Weekly, the pair arrived together at 1 Oak nightclub. A source told the celebrity gossip mag that, A$AP was at the table next to the DJ booth as Kendall spun all night. They all danced the night away and had an amazing time.

The two were also spotted in France during Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week strolling around the flea markets there. And just a few days ago, they went on a double date with sister Kylie and her boyfriend Tyga. Stay tuned for more developments on this titillating story.

A$AP Rocky & Kendall Jenner
After his historic win at the 59th annual Grammy Awards Sunday, Chance The Rapper let loose at an afterparty. The Chi-Town emcee took the opportunity to unveil his remix of Drakes song Grammys.

After the show, Chance went to a turn up and offered the lucky few present the chance to hear the remix of Drakes Future-featured standout on Views. The Coloring Book rappers verse can be heard in the video below courtesy of Twitter user Julz.

Surrounded by his team, Lil Chano spits his verse while the music plays. He even pulls out a mic so everybody in the club can hear him.

Chance is the first Black hip hop performer to win in the Best New Artist category since Lauryn Hill way back in 1999. He also won the Best Rap Album award for Coloring Book and Best Rap Performance for Coloring Books No Problem. Drake sent a text message congratulating his Chicago peer for the wins.

Chance is the first artist to be nominated for a streaming-only project.

Drake & Chance The Rapper
On Saturday, the body of 51-year-old Frank Ancona, a professed leader within the KKK, was found near a bank on the Big River, near the town of Belgrade, Mo., by a family who was fishing in the area.

Anconas wife, 44-year-old Malissa A. Ancona, and his stepson, 24-year-old Paul Jinkerson Jr., were charged with his murder yesterday. In addition to first-degree murder, Ms. Ancona and Jinkerson Jr. face charges of abandonment of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence. Both of them are being held in jail without bond.

Jinkerson is accused of shooting and killing his stepfather while he was asleep in the master bedroom of their home in Linkwood, Mo., according to a probable cause statement, reports The Kansas City Star.

Ms. Ancona admitted that she failed to report the crime and additionally attempted to destroy blood evidence and altered the crime scene in an attempt to conceal the offense and was acting in concert with her son Paul Jinkerson Jr., said the same statement.

St. Francois County Prosecutor Jarrod Mahurin told The New York Times that the murder is believed to be related to a marital dispute and not to Anconas affiliation with the KKK.

According to Washington County coroner Brian DeClue, Ancona died of a gunshot wound to the head.

Authorities learned that Ancona was missing on Thursday, via Facebook, Washington County Sheriff Zach Jacobsen told the St. Louis Daily Journal. Later that day, they were told a Federal Forestry Service employee had found Anconas vehicle on a heavily-wooded forestry service road in the Mark Twain National Park, nearby Potosi, Mo.

Ms. Ancona allegedly told Leadwood Police Chief William Dickey that she had last seen her husband on Wednesday morning. She reportedly said that his employer had called and told him to drive across the state to deliver a vehicle part, but his employer denied ever making that call or the delivery request.

When police searched Anconas home, they discovered an empty safe that had been damaged and broken into. They also found that several of Anconas firearms were missing. Ms. Ancona said that her husband had taken the guns with him on his trip, according to Dickey.

Police also report that Ms. Ancona had made a suspicious Facebook post  about looking for a new roommate  on the day she said her husband had left. She reportedly told Dickey that her husband had said that he planned to file for divorce upon returning from his business trip. She made the post because she figured she would need help paying for rent after her husband left her, said Dickey.

Ancona was a Grand Imperial Wizard and the president of the Traditionalist American Knights, a seemingly prominent group within the KKK. Earlier this month, The NYT had contacted Ancona while investigating a story regarding KKK flyers that had been anonymously dispersed at night in neighborhoods in Augusta, Me. Ancona answered when reporters called the number on the flyer.

Though he would not speak much about the size or operation of his sect, he denied that the KKK still practices or promotes violence. The only thing people might see as a negative is we dont believe in the mixing of the races, he said. We need to preserve the white race because we are the ones who keep civilization civilized.

Ancona also made a TV appearance on MSBNC in Nov. 2014, during the height of the Ferguson protests in response to the police killing of Michael Brown. Ancona was asked about the allegedly violent manner in which the Traditionalist American Knights were telling their followers to deal with protestors. Watch the interview below.

KKK
The museum's soft-opening will showcase "Crafts and Industries through the Ages" in Egypt, offering free admission 16-28 February

Under the name "Crafts and Industries through the Ages" the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) is set to open its first temporary exhibition Wednesday evening, showcasing the history of four crafts in Egypt: clay, jewellery, textiles and wood.

The opening will be attended by UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova.

On a tour of the exhibition Monday, Egypt's Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany told Ahram Online that to celebrate the NMEC's soft opening the museum will offer free admission from 16 through 28 February.

Mahmoud Mabrouk, the exhibition's designer, said the museum will showcase a collection of 400 artefacts selected from Cairo's Egyptian Museum, Coptic Museum, Museum of Islamic Civilization and Al-Manial Palace Museum, as well as Alexandria's Jewellery Museum and NMEC storage.

Final preparations for Wednesday's opening are currently underway.

"The exhibition will bring to life the continuation and development of ancient crafts into modern times through graphics, multimedia electronic guides and a documentary screening," Mabrouk said.

The most important artefacts, Mabrouk said, will be a collection of prehistoric clay pots, the royal chair of Hetep-Heres, mother of King Khufu, and a small ancient Egyptian stool carved from 120 wooden pieces.

A Qabbati robe textile and set of Islamic doors decorated with foliage and geometric designs with ivory are also among the distinguished items to be displayed, along with jewellery from Siwa, Nubia, Upper and Lower Egypt.

Saeed Mahrous, NMEC Supervisor-General told Ahram Online "This exhibition is a step toward the NMECs third and final stage along the road to opening; it includes the museums 23,000 square metre exhibition hall.

The exhibition will be organised by the chronology and geography of the artefacts, Saeed added.

Plans to create the NMEC began in 1982 and construction finished in 2009. In 2000 a location on Lake Ain Al-Sira in Fustat was selected and in 2002 the large, square foundation stone  the platform of the building's stylised pyramid design  was installed.

When it opens fully to the public, the museum will display a collection of 50,000 artefacts from different eras in Egyptian history from the pre-dynastic through the modern age. The site houses a number of high-tech storage galleries, as well as a state-of-the-art security system, much like its counterparts the British Museum in London and the Louvre in Paris.

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Musician Moby has taken to social media to claim that the Russians do have enough damaging inside information that could potentially bring down Donald Trumps controversial reign as the so-called leader of the free world.

Writing on his Facebook page, Moby insists that its true that Russian spies have a dossier on US President Donald Trump, which includes a videotape of him with Russian prostitutes.

The Russian dossier on Trump is real. 100% real. Hes (Donald Trump) being blackmailed by the Russian government, not just for being peed on by Russian hookers, but for much more nefarious things, claims Moby, who says that hes been talking to friends who work in DC who can back-up the allegations.

Moby also claims that the Trump Administration is in collusion with the Russian government, and has been since day one!

Back in January, it was reported that senior US intelligence officials briefed both outgoing US President Obama and Donald Trump about claims that Russian spies had obtained compromising personal and financial information about the ex-reality TV star turned politician.

It was claimed that, back in 2013, Donald Trump was videotaped as he ordered and watched Russian prostitutes perform - as the dossier alleges  "golden showers in front of him" in the presidential suite of a Moscow hotel. The dossier claims Trump wanted the hookers to perform degrading sex acts, including urinating on the bed in that particular room because he "hated" President Obama who had once slept in the very same bed on a visit to Moscow!

The material was reportedly based on an credible source who is a former British M16 intelligence officer, who received the alleged embarrassing information from his Russian contact and promptly handed it over to the FBI.

BuzzFeed News website put the full 35-page dossier up on its website, which includes graphic claims of sexual acts about Donald Trump's sexual perversions", as well as alleged disturbing information about his close links with Russian officials, who were cultivating, supporting and assisting him as he made his bid to become US President. It also disclosed compromising claims about Trump's business dealings.

The unverified report stated: "Speaking separately in June 2016, Source (the former top level Russian intelligence officer) asserted that unorthodox behaviour in Russia over the years had provided the authorities there with enough embarrassing material on the now Republican presidential candidate to be able to blackmail him if they so wished.

Now Moby is adding fuel to the fire with his post on Facebook claiming that it is all true. And Moby even suggests that he can back it up by saying that he can "safely" and "accurately" post his comments, thanks to his friends in high places.

Moby also believes that Trump is now looking to drag America into war. He says that the Trump Administration needs a war and it will most likely be with Iran. At present they are putting U.S warships off the coast of Iran in the hope that Iran will attack one of the ships and give the U.S a pretense for invasion, Moby wrote on his Fcaebook account.

Heres Mobys full post: after spending the weekend talking to friends who work in dc i can safely(well, 'accurately'...) post the following things:

1-the russian dossier on trump is real. 100% real. he's being blackmailed by the russian government, not just for being peed on by russian hookers, but for much more nefarious things.

2-the trump administration is in collusion with the russian government, and has been since day one.

3-the trump administration needs a war, most likely with iran. at present they are putting u.s warships off the coast of iran in the hope that iran will attack one of the ships and give the u.s a pretense for invasion.

4-there are right wing plans to get rid of trump. he's a drain on their fundraising and their approval ratings, and the gop and koch brothers and other u.s right wing groups are planning to get rid of trump.

5-intelligence agencies around the world, and here in the u.s, are horrified by the incompetence of the trump administration, and are working to present information that will lead to high level firings and, ultimately, impeachment.

i'm writing these things so that when/if these things happen there will be a public record beforehand.

these are truly baffling and horrifying times, as we have an incompetent president who is essentially owned by a foreign power.

"-moby.

Trump took to Twitter back in January to dismiss the story, saying: FAKE NEWS - A TOTAL POLITICAL WITCH HUNT!

Donald Trump's attorney, Michael Cohen said the claims were false and so ridiculous on so many levels. He added, Clearly, the person who created this did so from their imagination or did so hoping that the liberal media would run with this fake story for whatever rationale they might have.

A Kremlin spokesperson also dismissed the allegations. "It is an attempt to damage our bilateral relations. It is pulp fiction." he said. "You have to react to this with a certain humour, but there's also a sad side to this. Hysteria is being whipped up to maintain a political witch hunt."

Despite the denials, it's a story that doesn't look like it's going to go away in a hurry...
The Houston Chronicle's Brian M. Rosenthal was named winner of the 2017 Selden Ring Award for Investigative Reporting on Monday for a seven-part series that showed how thousands of disabled children in Texas were denied specialized instruction guaranteed by federal law.

In selecting Rosenthal, the University of Southern California's Annenberg School of Journalism noted that his 10-month investigation, "Denied," had "resulted in immediate and sweeping changes to state policy, freeing up benefits that may now help a countless number of children with disabilities.

"A bipartisan chorus of outrage in the Texas Legislature, blasting the 'immeasurable' damage done to children, has led to eight bills being introduced to address the issues Rosenthal uncovered," the Annenberg School said in its announcement. "State education officials have agreed to end their decade-old cap on special education enrollments, federal regulators have launched an investigation and several large school districts have hired auditors to review their special education operations."

The award, one of the most prestigious investigative prizes in American journalism, honors outstanding journalism that leads to direct results and comes with a $35,000 prize.

Rosenthal, 27, a reporter in the Chronicle's Austin bureau, began his investigation after an advocate told him that the Texas Education Agency had established an 8.5 percent benchmark that had become a de facto cap on special education enrollments, unbeknownst to legislators, federal education officials, parents and even many educators outside special education circles.

Rosenthal amassed state and federal data that showed how special education enrollments had plummeted from just under the 13 percent national average in 2004, when the 8.5 percent benchmark went into effect, to precisely 8.5 percent in 2015, by far the lowest in America.

Rosenthal then tracked down hundreds of parents, teachers and administrators across the state who described the impact of the state's benchmark. Numerous current and former educators said they had been instructed to delay evaluations and deny services.

Parents told often heart-wrenching stories about their struggles to obtain special instruction for their disabled children.

Rosenthal, an alumnus of Northwestern University, joined the Chronicle in 2014 and was named the Texas Star Reporter of the Year for 2015 by the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors for stories on state contracting and personnel irregularities. Previously, he worked in the capital bureau of the Seattle Times.

Read the full series below:

Denied: In 2004, Texas arbitrarily decided what percentage of students should get special education services. Today, tens of thousands of children are paying the price.
Major shareholders of NRG Energy struck a deal to oust the company's board chairman and secure two open seats, the first move in an effort by the two hedge funds to boost the company's stock by unloading underperforming assets, such as coal-fired power plants and some renewable energy projects.

The board shake-up continues efforts to scale back the company's investments in wind and solar projects, which have produced disappointing returns and weighed on the company's stock price.

In 2015, former CEO David Crane, a champion of electric car-charging stations and residential solar panels, was fired and replaced by Mauricio Gutierrez, who favors more traditional sources of power such as natural gas-fired plants.

Now that two hedge funds, Dallas-based investment firm Bluescape Energy Partners and the New York hedge fund Elliott Associates, have secured seats on the 13-member board, they will likely push to unwind more investments in wind and solar power, analysts said.

"My expectation is that, since they are now inside the tent, they are going to start to put brakes on those kinds of things," said Praveen Kumar, a professor at the University of Houston who studies hedge fund activism.

NRG said Monday that it reached an agreement with the hedge funds, which control a combined 9.4 percent of NRG stock, to create two openings on the board for their designees through the retirement of board Chairman Howard Cosgrove, who held the position since 2003, and another director, Edward Muller. The hedge funds' picks included John Wilder, the former chief executive of TXU, who cut costs and drove the Dallas power company's stock higher before its sale to private equity firms in 2007. Their second is Barry Smitherman, a Houston lawyer who has served as chair of the state Public Utility Commission and the Railroad Commission of Texas, which oversees the state's oil and gas industry.

Smitherman is said to be under consideration by President Donald Trump to lead the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Neither Wilder, who is also the chairman of Bluescape, Smitherman, nor representatives of the hedge funds responded to requests for comment. NRG declined to comment.

NRG, which has headquarters in Houston and Princeton, N.J., has struggled in recent years. In the third quarter, the most recent earnings reported by the company, NRG said that its operating revenue, bogged down by weaker demand for electricity, low prices and debt, fell 10 percent to $4 billion from $4.4 billion in same period in 2015. In November, NRG's stock price closed below $10 a share, down from nearly $13.50 a year earlier and a recent peak above $37 a share in June 2014.

NRG shares rose 9 cents Monday to close at $16.75.

In January, the hedge funds combined their shares of NRG stock in a bid to get seats on the board. In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, they took aim at NRG's "deeply undervalued stock" and said they would unload debt-laden subsidiaries and push the company to lower operating costs.

Kumar said the new board members will likely pressure management to cut costs and put the NRG subsidiary GenOn into bankruptcy to relieve the parent company of GenOn's $2.5 billion debt. GenOn operates coal-fired power plants in the Middle Atlantic states.

The new board could also push management to divest some renewable energy projects. Gutierrez, who also serves on the 13-member board, has said he remains committed to investing in renewable energy. In September, NRG bid up to $188 million to acquire a massive West Texas solar farm run by SunEdison, a bankrupt renewable energy company.

Kumar expects that NRG won't kill all investment in renewables - which can still be profitable - but that its focus will be on natural gas-fired power plants, which are cheaper to run than coal-fired power plants and have a more stable revenue.
AUSTIN - U.S. oil producers would get a financial boost from a proposed border adjustment tax that would add 20 percent to the price of imported crude, and a senior Texas congressman says the wider benefits would outweigh the resulting higher gasoline prices.

U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, a senior Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said that to eliminate the estate tax and lower the maximum corporate and individual income tax rates to 20 percent, the government will need to tax all imports 20 percent.

"In the case of crude oil, if the price is $50 ... you would add to that price $10," Barton said while answering questions at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Energy Symposium in Austin.

"It would help domestic producers, it would hurt the big importers of oil, the Exxons, the Chevrons, the BPs, the ConocoPhillips, and all the big oil companies that import oil," he added. "It would raise gasoline prices at the pump, because you would raise the price domestically of crude oil."

Despite the burden on commuters, Barton said he supports the border adjustment tax because it comes along with lower income tax rates and would give small oil producers higher profits to pump more Texas oil. Oil exported from Texas, by the way, would not be taxed.

Barton, who's served 32 years in Congress, deserves credit for his honesty about the winners and losers of a border adjustment tax. He didn't try to convince anyone that exchange rates would magically adjust and wipe out the 20 percent tax hike on imported goods.

Realistically, though, this doesn't make the border tax a good idea. And it reveals how and why the tax overhaul currently under discussion in Congress would cut taxes on the rich and shift the burden to the middle class.

RELATED: Why tariffs on Mexican goods are bad for American consumers

President Donald Trump's choice for treasury secretary promised Congress in November "there would be no absolute tax cut for the upper class." But that's not the direction Congress is heading.

The plan Barton describes lowers the highest tax rates on the wealthiest American, while collecting revenues from imported goods. Any economist will tell you that the middle and lower classes, many of whom pay no income tax, spend a larger portion of their income on goods than the wealthy, who typically invest or save a much larger portion of their income.

Therefore, any tax on imported goods will hit low and middle income Americans more than the wealthy, who will pay less in taxes. The New York Times published a very detailed look at the Republican tax plan that proved the wealthy will benefit the most.

RELATED: Plan: Boost American profits on consumers' backs

Barton wasn't done sharing the truth about our nation's finances. He also came clean on the nation's $20 trillion debt, created by running a federal budget deficit for 17 years.

"We're still borrowing about half a trillion dollars a year," Barton said. "It's the biggest problem facing our nation. My biggest failure and disappointment as a congressman is I haven't been able to be a part of something to really change the basic pattern of deficits."

The Republican leadership laughed at him when he suggested getting back to a balanced budget within four years, Barton said. Getting to a balanced budget will take at least eight years because of increased spending on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid as the U.S. population gets older.

Barton and his Republican colleagues refuse to see the solution that sits right in front of them. They have a once-in-a-generation chance to overhaul the tax system and make the budget balance.

Yet they'd rather continue to run up the national debt rather than admit that they have not properly managed the money Americans have been paying into Social Security and Medicare for their entire working lives. Frankly, they gave away too much in past tax breaks, and they are about to do the same again.

Barton said the Republican Congress will present a comprehensive plan in the coming weeks. He said he fully expects howls of protest from every corner of the nation about losing their favorite tax provisions. The draft plan will evolve, of course, as the president gets involved.

This is the time, though, for everyone to pay attention. What happens next determines how much you pay for imported goods at Walmart. Cutting taxes could mean Social Security and Medicare won't be available when you turn 65.And the closer I get to retirement, the more worried I become about these programs in the future.
Hughie's Tavern & Vietnamese Grille has secured a lease in the space previously occupied by Foreign Correspondents restaurant for a second location.

The new venue, Hughie's Heights, will open in 4,742-square-foot space 4721 N. Main St.by the end of the second quarter, according to NewQuest Properties.
A small parking area in a corner of the Rice Village will soon be a pedestrian plaza as part of an ongoing transformation of the longtime shopping and dining district.

Known as Morningside Plaza, the space will provide seating and free Wi-Fi in front of D'Amico's Italian Market Cafe, Nao Ramen Houston and the soon-to-open Hopdoddy Burger Bar. It's on Morningside Drive, between Times and University boulevards.

"Within the tight confines of Rice Village, our biggest challenge has been finding opportunities to add much-needed public space for the community," Tommy Miller, managing director of Trademark Property Co., said in an announcement Monday.

"This plaza was basically created out of thin air. We're creating an engaging gathering place framed by landscaped planter boxes with new shade trees and seating. It is time for this beloved but neglected stretch of Morningside known for its vibrant restaurant and bar scene to evolve, and hopefully this will be a catalyst for future improvements."

Eleven parking spaces were eliminated to make way for the new Morningside Plaza, Rice Village spokesman Bernard Kaplan said. That is a small fraction of the more than 750 parking spaces in a region of Rice Village owned by Rice University and managed by Trademark Property. The area is bounded by Morningside, University, Kirby and Times.

A planned widening of the 130-foot length of the sidewalk along Morningside will create a more pedestrian-friendly walkway and provide access to food trucks, Kaplan said.

Patrons of food trucks such as Dough Cone, Smoosh Cookie and Yoyo's Hot Dog, which park along Morningside Drive, will be able to order from the new 5-foot-wide sidewalk.

Completion is planned in early March in time for the Hopdoddy Burger opening.

Rice Village is changing the parking set-up, essentially flipping the paid and free spaces, Kaplan said. Newly installed meters, currently undergoing testing, are expected to be in service next week. Shoppers will pay rates starting at $1 per hour for prime spots in front of stores, while garage parking will be free for the first two hours.

The parking changes follow a 2015 study by Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research that found that as many as 1,000 spots are unused during peak demand times such as lunchtime or on Saturdays.
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Gena Quiroz was shopping Saturday night when her boss called and said that My Fit Foods was shutting down immediately. She needed to notify employees and advise them to look for new jobs.

"A lot of them were in shock," said Quiroz, who recruited and trained managers for My Fit Foods north of the city. "I have a lot of college students, younger individuals who were just, kind of, very shocked."

Despite other stores closing earlier in the week, upper management had assured Quiroz that her stores selling healthy prepared meals in The Woodlands would remain open. Saturday's call felt out of the blue, but there were warning signs. Some she had seen firsthand, others she heard about from colleagues, Quiroz said, citing layoffs late last year and stories about unpaid rent and vendor invoices.

Austin-based My Fit Foods did not respond Monday to requests for comment.

In a statement on its website and in the windows of its stores, the company said the decision to close all its locations was made "with a heavy heart."

The company began in Houston a decade ago and later moved its headquarters to Austin.

My Fit Foods had about 50 locations, and it attracted investment as recently as last year to help fuel its growth.

Quiroz, who was told employees would be paid through Saturday, was applying for unemployment on Monday.

She had already planned to move for a new job in March, but she said she is concerned about her colleagues.

"I really hope that everyone does get paid," she said. "I'm worried about that because of the way the company just shut down."

Among others caught off-guard by the abruptness of the closures was Chris Tripoli, president of A'La Carte Foodservice Consulting Group.

He said My Fit Foods didn't show outward signs of financial struggle. The store across from his office was open Friday.

"We're shocked by the way it closed," he said.

Related: Muscle Maker Grill to help customers abandoned by My Fit Foods

Tripoli said he didn't want to speculate on why it closed, but he acknowledged the market for healthy prepared meals is "horribly competitive now."

Retail stores like Snap Kitchen, online companies like Blue Apron and grocery stores all sell similar products.

The My Fit Foods website was shut down except for the statement, but Quiroz said there were more than a dozen locations in the Houston area.

"We have so many stores in Houston so close together," she said. "That definitely played a factor."

There may also be consumer trends to consider. A May 2016 report from market research firm Mintel found sales of prepared meals turned slightly positive in 2015 after three consecutive years of decline.

"While usage of frozen and refrigerated meals is high and relatively steady, consumers who say that they are eating fewer of these meals than a year ago outnumber those who report eating more," the report said.

Yet George Kelemen, president and CEO of the Texas Retailers Association, said many Texas businesses have been successful selling ready-made healthy food options.

"This is definitely an emerging market both for stand-alone establishments and is also a trend among grocery stores expanding their prepared meals options for health-conscious buyers," Kelemen said in a written statement.

Tripoli added that the closing of My Fit Foods may be an opportunity for competitors to reach out to the abandoned customers and make them a first-time offer.

Quiroz, who began working at My Fit Foods six years ago in an entry-level position, said the culture began to change as the company grew and more investors got involved.

But she was still proud to have a hand in its growth and to help customers create healthier eating habits.

"I put my heart into My Fit Foods," she said.
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A consummate professional, Sir Griffin walks into work each morning with his head held high.

He's dapper, all in black, save the peekaboo of white at his chest and designer lapels. The look is perfect for the JW Marriott Houston Downtown.

But his dignified presence on the staff of one of Houston's poshest hotels begs an undignified question: Who's a good boy?

Sir Griffin is, of course. That's why he was chosen as the hotel's dog ambassador - an increasingly frequent, if not common, position at high-end hotels and residential communities.

"I didn't know what to expect from having him," says Magen Pastor, the hotel's marketing manager, who came up with the idea to adopt and hire the black-and-white rescue dog.

"I knew internally, it would bring different teams together and bring up the morale in the office, and I think it put positive vibes out," she says as she scratches Sir Griffin behind the ears in the hotel lobby on a Thursday morning in late January.

"We really didn't have any idea of what it would do marketing-wise. But now when we walk on the street, people come up to us and start conversations with him. And now he's known around town as Sir Griffin, pet director at the JW Marriott."

Sir Griffin - a mixed breed, who likely has some pug and perhaps beagle somewhere in his lineage - has worked at the hotel for a little more than a year. His presence is an extension of the dog-friendliness that people have come to demand in their daily lives.

"People's perspectives on dogs and hotels and other business has widened by a lot," Pastor says, before pausing to whisper "Good boy" to Sir Griffin. "I don't think this would have taken off as much five years ago. I think more people are feeling more comfortable traveling with their pets and going places, and it's kind of even assumed that if you are a restaurant, you're pet-friendly."

The growing dog love isn't just at restaurants and hotels. Apartment communities throughout Houston are constantly stepping up their dog amenities. Many newer properties include small dog parks on their property, offer dog treats in the leasing offices and even include on-site dog-washing stations.

Still, dog ambassadors are considered cutting-edge.

"We have member properties with ambassador dogs around the country, like Emmy the English bulldog at 2M in Washington, D.C., but we haven't seen a large ambassador dog trend," says Robert Pinnegar, president and CEO of the National Apartment Association. That said, he notes that "ambassador dogs could potentially be a trend this year."

Currently, none of the new luxury apartment complexes in Houston has a dog on staff.

But two new planned communities in the area employ dog ambassadors: Cane Island in Katy; and Meridiana, south of the Medical Center. The two sister communities each employ a golden retriever trained as a therapy dog. The retrievers' job: to help make the neighborhoods feel homey.

At Cane Island, the golden retriever, Hub, has become the community's most popular resident - even though he's just one of many dogs who call the neighborhood home.

"There are plenty of other dogs," says Dan Naef, president of Cane Island's parent company, Rise Communities. "A lot of people don't put a pool in their backyard because we have multiple pools in the amenities village. But I don't know that the same thing is true for having a family dog. I bet you there are some parents who say, 'We don't need a dog, we have Hub.' But that's never the primary reason."

The primary reason Rise employs Hub is just to make people feel at home.

"It really goes back to how do you create community? And when we have perspective buyers come in, and they see the residents out there with their young kids, throwing the ball for Hub, that shows a lot about us," says Naef.

Hub will play ball until he passes out. As a therapy dog, he's highly trained, but he has a mischievous side, too.

"There's no dogs allowed in our swimming pools, but if Hub can squeeze in past a resident, he runs right in and jumps in," Naef laughs. "So we're constantly pulling Hub out of the pool. But the residents love it, and it's those kinds of things that create community."

Sir Griffin is more buttoned up in his community outreach, but he's a sucker for a scratch behind the ears, and that appeals to a wide variety of the hotel's guests.

"So often, our business travelers want to see him," Pastor says of Sir Griffin.

She expected Sir Griffin's biggest fans to be the children who visit the hotel. "But the business travelers are the ones who really want to see Griffin and pet him for a second," she says.

"They say they're traveling, and their dog is at home, and they love their dog and miss their dog. It's men in business suits."
29 year old Abbad Yahya's novel was confiscated by the Palestinian authorities in the West Bank that issued him an arrest warrant too

A young Palestinian author is stranded in Qatar after Palestinian authorities in the West Bank confiscated all copies of his latest novel and issued an arrest warrant for him  accusing him of including "sexual terms" in a provocative work that takes aim at taboo issues such as fanaticism, religious extremism and homosexuality.

The crackdown on 29-year-old Abbad Yahya has set off a wide public debate between the Palestinian society's large conservative segment and the small liberal minority.

In a telephone interview, Yahya told The Associated Press that he was visiting Doha when he learned of the ban and the arrest warrant, published by the official governmental news agency. He said he is now stuck in the Qatari capital, fearing he would be arrested as soon as he returns home.

"I don't know what to do. If I go back, I will be arrested, and if I stay here, I can't stay far from my home and family," he said.

The novel, "Crime in Ramallah," tracks the lives of three young Palestinian men who meet in the city, which serves as the headquarters of the Palestinian government that rules in autonomous enclaves of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The youths work together in a bar, where the murder of a young woman takes place.

One of the three, a gay youth, is arrested and interrogated about the crime. Although he is cleared of any charges, the officers realize he is gay and they beat and humiliate him. He ends up moving to France, looking for a society that accepts him.

The second man faces huge outrage from members of his conservative family after they learn that he works in a bar that serves alcohol, which is banned by Islam. Later in the book, he turns into a religious extremist.

The third man is the boyfriend of the murdered woman. He is haunted by the killing, which he witnessed while remaining paralyzed, unsure whether he should chase the killer or try to save his dying girlfriend.

Unable to stand the torment any longer, he ends up killing himself. The scene is meant to symbolize the Palestinian national movement, which has failed to rescue the nation or deliver independence from Israel's 50-year-old occupation.

"Like all societies in the region, our society is seeing the growth of fanaticism and extremism and is reproducing social conservativism," Yahya said. "These trends appear in the society in a mixture of religious and national slogans."

The novel makes fun of Palestinian leaders and portrays them as losers. It also includes some graphic sexual language that many see as unacceptable in this conservative society.

The criticism of the novel and its author has been widespread, even among his colleagues.

Yahya "went too far in crossing the red lines of Palestinian society," said literature professor Adel Osta. "The novelpresented a bad image of the Palestinian Authority, and it uses unfamiliar sexual words which drove the Palestinian Authority to ban it."

The head of the Palestinian Writers Union, Murad Sudani, harshly criticized the writer, saying he wrote a "silly novel that violates the national and religious values of the society in order to appease the West and win prizes."

"The job of the writer in our occupied country is to raise the hope and enlighten people  not to break the national and religious symbols," Sudani added. "My freedom as a writer ends when the freedom of the country begins."

Yahya said that since the warrant was issued, critics have started to threaten to harm him and his family. "I don't know what else they are going to do," he said.

Ghassan Khader, a Palestinian Facebook user, wrote on his page that Yahya "should be killed or arrested or deported."

Another Facebook user, Hussein Mihyar, wrote on the page of the attorney general to praise the ban. "This novelserves the Israeli occupation and destroys our young generation," Mihyar said.

The internationally backed Palestinian Authority has tightened its grip in the West Bank since losing control of the Gaza Strip to the Hamas militant group a decade ago. It has occasionally arrested or harassed critics over comments posted on social media.

The uproar over Yahya's book, however, has helped increase sales.

One bookshop owner in Ramallah said that he sold 10 copies of the novel in its first two months of release. But on the day of the ban, he sold 17 copies  before police came and confiscated his remaining copies.

The book's distributor, Fuad Akleek, said he was arrested at a bookshop "in a very humiliating way."

He said police grabbed him and pushed him into a car without showing a warrant. Akleek said he was held for six hours before the Palestinian culture minister, Ehab Bsaiso, intervened and arranged his release. But he said police confiscated all remaining copies, about 500 in bookstores and 500 in libraries across the West Bank.

Akleek said he was surprised by the rough treatment because there is no legal requirement for obtaining a permit in order to publish or distribute books in the West Bank.

"It is not a crime to distribute a book," he said. "The one who judges a novel and author is the reader."

Bsaiso, the culture minister, has also urged the attorney general to cancel the book ban and Yahya's arrest warrant.

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The 2017 Carnival season is inching to a close, as Mardi Gras - the most popular tourist time of the year for New Orleans - happily looms over the city like a giant, grinning jester on a parade float.

New Orleans is buzzing with activity through Fat Tuesday, Feb. 28. It's a time when the city's 37,000 hotel rooms are mostly full (95 percent occupancy during Mardi Gras) and its restaurants and bars spill over as revelers take in the flavors of the Big Easy. The importance of Carnival season is not lost on the city whose hospitality business is its lifeblood: Mardi Gras' economic impact is estimated at more than $840 million. That's a lot of beads, Hand Grenades and po'boys.

This year, tourists will have a variety of new options for sleeping, dining, drinking and sightseeing in New Orleans. Here's a taste.

The Troubadour: Two blocks from Canal Street just outside the French Quarter, this 17-story hotel - a handsome renovation of the former Rault Center - features 184 guest rooms boasting a modern design with retro-style refrigerators, minibars stocked with locally sourced goodies and spacious bathrooms with Jonathan Adler amenities. On the lobby level, guests will find one of the city's hottest new restaurants, Petit Lion. Upstairs is the Monkey Board, the hotel's rooftop bar offering a "food truck" menu, communal cocktails and shareable birthday cakes. Rates from about $196 per night. 1111 Gravier, 504-518-5800; jdvhotels.com

The Traveller Bar: Fans of classic cocktails will want to check out this pop-up in the Loews New Orleans Hotel, open through Feb. 27. Constructed from an old elevator car, the bar - that will eventually visit 25 Loews properties across the country - is an homage to the Golden Age of cocktails, dispensing eight classic drinks crafted from 150-year-old recipes. The bar also stocks 50 rare and vintage cocktail books, which guests can access digitally on iPads on the bar counter. 300 Poydras, 504-595-3300; loewshotels.com/new-orleans

Maypop: Chef Michael Gulotta's spinoff of his popular Mid-City restaurant MoPho is a newbie in the South Market District. Named for a flower native to southeast Louisiana, Maypop merges Southeast Asian with regional Southern fare. The result is a menu that offers dishes such as crispy fried oysters with bourbon barrel soy mash aioli; squid-ink fusilli with chorizo sausage, blue crab and saffron coconut butter; and fermented pork belly with crispy sticky rice cake and shallot kimchi. Gulotta, former chef de cuisine for John Besh's Restaurant August, was named a best new chef for 2016 by Food & Wine magazine. 611 O'Keefe, 504-518-6345; maypoprestaurant.com

Toups South: Fans of Bravo reality series "Top Chef" will recall the colorful presence of Isaac Toups on Season 13 last year. Toups, who runs Toups' Meatery in Mid-City with his wife, Amanda, expands on his evocation of modern Cajun/Southern cuisine with this restaurant in the Southern Food & Beverage Museum. On offer: sourdough biscuits with crab fat butter; goat tamales with charred green tomato relish; heritage pork boudin with bread and butter pickles; and fried bone-in pork chop stack with pickled squash and coffee aioli. At the bar, Juleps are made with sweet tea syrup and persimmon. 1504 Oretha Castle Haley, 504-304-2147; toupssouth.com

Petit Lion: Chef Phillip Lopez of the foodie favorite Root and Square Root restaurants is behind this Paris-flavored bistro at The Troubadour. His menu includes smoked trout rillettes; salad Lyonnaise with bacon lardons and poached egg; moules frites in Indian-spice-flavored coconut milk; crab-stuffed deviled eggs with smoked caviar; and roasted sea bass with sauce Americaine and rouille. Lopez also presides over the rooftop Monkey Board bar, where guests can dine on casual lobster dogs and fried chicken sandwiches washed down with frozen drinks and large-format cocktails meant for sharing. 1111 Gravier, 504-518-5500; petitlionnola.com

Music Box Village: Even a city that rocks to its own continuous local and international musical score was thrilled by the reception to this new cultural attraction in the city's Bywater neighborhood. Created by New Orleans Airlift (a local nonprofit arts organization), Music Box Village is a public performance space consisting of artist-made, interactive "musical houses." These shantylike structures can be "played" by visitors; at night, the park becomes a venue for musicians. Admission is $12; $5 for locals or kids between 5 and 18. 4557 North Rampart; musicboxvillage.com
A federal judge Tuesday sentenced four Houston men, who pleaded guilty to violently robbing a string of pawn shops, to federal prison where they each are expected to serve at least 10 years.

A fifth member is scheduled for sentencing in late March.

The men Jerrieus Williams, 32, Alonzo Flowers, 24, Kye Rue, 23, Andre Coleman, 25, and Paul McCoy Jr., 24, robbed Jet Pawn, Cash America Pawn and attempted to rob Mad Dog Smoke Shop in January 2015, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

Each of the robberies and the attempted robbery occurred in unincorporated north Harris County.

Flowers and McCoy were sentenced earlier this year to 12 years and 10 years, respectively. Rue was previously sentenced to 10 years, based on his role during these three robberies, which included being a getaway driver.

Chief U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal sentenced the crew's leader, Williams to 18 years in prison. He will also be required to serve three years of supervised release following his prison release.

The judge noted the need for a substantial sentence based on the managerial role Williams played in the crimes.

Williams sat outside of the robbery locations acting as a lookout while other crew member conducted the robberies. He also scouted the locations and provided the firearms to members.

He was ultimately held accountable for the conduct of his co-defendants, which included the theft of 26 firearms, substantial monetary losses and abducting victims within the business by moving them at gunpoint to safe and jewelry cases.
Posters targeting Muslims, racial minorities and immigrants startled University of Texas at Austin students on Monday, the latest display in what has become a disturbing pattern on Texas campuses after President Donald Trumps election.

Imagine a Muslim-free America, one sign displaying the World Trade Center read, affixed to an outdoor pole. Kristie Flannery, a graduate student studying history, took a photo of the poster and said she reported it to UTs dean of students.

Universities responding to these reports often find themselves in a tough position, balancing the need to protect free speech with making sure students feel safe on campus. The sign Flannery reported on Monday was particularly chilling after Trumps recent executive action on immigration, which barred citizens of seven majority-Muslim countries from entering the U.S. A federal appeals court last week let stand a temporary suspension of Trump's travel ban that a federal judge had ordered.

GRAFFITI DEFACED: Houston's popular 'Be Someone' slogan marred

UT leaned on campus policy in its response to the signs. The university vigorously supports free speech, but posting signs of any nature on the outside of university buildings is not allowed under campus rules, spokesman J.B. Bird said in a statement.

Only students and student organizations can post signs on campus, he said, and any person on campus who defaces UT property is subject to criminal prosecution. A white supremacist group whose website was on the anti-Muslim poster took responsibility for the signs on Twitter.

Flannery called the response "weak," urging UT to take a stronger stand against the sentiments behind the display. "The posters are pretty hateful and, I think, intimidating."

THRICE STRUCK: Swastikas found at Rice University for third time

The white supremacist group, called American Vanguard, also said they placed racist recruitment posters on other college campuses earlier this year, including at Rice University. The University of North Texas in Denton and Texas State University in San Marcos were targeted in that sting. Rice also saw chalk graffiti that read Trump! with a swastika.

Rice officials removed the displays and vandalism after each report. The university, spokesman David Ruth said at the time, has a policy against solicitation without permission.

President David Leebron and undergraduate dean John Hutchinson sharply criticized the swastika graffiti earlier this month.

GRAFFITI: Swastikas, Trump signs appear around Fort Bend

I have had it with this behavior, Hutchinson said in a Facebook post. The use of the swastika clearly reveals that whoever did this is either ignorant of the history of true evil associated with this emblem of hate or is genuinely motivated by blind hatred."

University President David Leebron echoed Hutchinsons statement. We wont tolerate such behavior, and it will be punished.

Nearly 1,365 hate crimes and bias incidents have been reported in the U.S. since the election, the Southern Poverty Law Center said Friday. Of those, 85 sightings of racist posters have been reported around the country, the majority of which have been on college campuses, that group found.

>>>Scroll through the above gallery to see a sampling of what's been found on high school and college campuses around Texas
Each year, Gary Johnson starts preparing for Katy ISD's next FFA livestock show and rodeo only days after the last one has ended.

As president of the show and rodeo, Johnson said every detail matters.

After almost a year of planning, he said his crew is ready to host the 74th edition of the event from Feb. 15-18 in what has become a tradition deeply rooted in the suburb's history, with the show having begun when Katy was still a farming town that harvested rice and had land that stretched for empty miles.

"It's a community event that draws a lot of people to Katy," Johnson said. "For many of the volunteers and for the community, they see the benefits of the FFA program even years after the (participating students) graduate."

The livestock show will again be held at the L.D. Robinson Pavilion, 6301 S. Stadium Lane, while the rodeo will take place at the next door W.E. Billy Morgan Rodeo Arena. More than 20,000 people are expected to attend.

A special rodeo will kick off events on Wednesday and be followed by four days of judging animals such as rabbits, steers, goats and hogs, with a grand champion eventually being crowned for each category. Each night will conclude with rodeo competitions by professional cowboys and cowgirls, with some student events such as the calf scramble being mixed in as well.

More Information Want to go? What: 74th Annual Katy ISD FFA Livestock Show When: Feb. 15-18 at the L.D. Robinson Pavilion, 6301 S. Stadium Lane. Wednesday, Feb. 15: 10 a.m. special rodeo, 4 p.m. rabbit show and 7 p.m. broiler show Thursday, Feb. 16: 8 a.m. swine show, 1 p.m. steer show and 7 p.m. rodeo Friday, Feb. 17: 7:30 a.m. goat show, 10 a.m. lamb show, 1 p.m. auction sale meeting and 7 p.m. rodeo Saturday, Feb. 18: 7 a.m. barn sale, 9:30 a.m. parade, 11 a.m. buyer's luncheon, 1 p.m. auction and 7 p.m. rodeo KATY ISD FFA LiVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO Parade When: 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18 Theme: Boots, Chaps and Cowboy Hats Parade marshal: Ms Van Scroggins Route: Parade leaves west gate of Rhodes Stadium, travels on Katyland Drive, ends at L.D. Robinson Pavilion on FM 1463 Judging categories: Adult general; cars, toys and tractors; churches/church organizations; civic organizations; commercial; cowboys/cowgirls; performing/marching groups; school and scouting organizations Details: http://katyrodeo.org/parade_schedule.aspx See More Collapse

There will be 494 students participating in this year's livestock show, according to Guy James, head of the event's auction and sales committee. About 350-400 cowboys and cowgirls will be present.

Participating students have been raising their animals for months, spending hours feeding the livestock and making early-morning trips to the district's Gerald D. Young Agricultural Sciences Center, where most of the animals are kept. Each student hopes to make a profit at the end of the livestock show, when animals are auctioned.

Students who make sales on their animals average a profit of $5,000, according to James.

"Being able to showcase their animal and show them off and say, 'this is what I've done with this animal'  the kids love it," James said. "It's a year-long process to make it come together for four days. We enjoy watching the kids compete."

At Houston's Livestock Show and Rodeo, which this year begins on March 7, there are often protests by animal rights activists towards the treatment of the rodeo animals, with most of the livestock eventually being slaughtered for meat once the competitions end. Johnson has said, though, that he's never seen protesters for Katy's show.

All proceeds from the rodeo are given to Katy ISD's FFA program, according to Johnson. Last year, the rodeo raised $65,000 for Katy ISD's program, and in the past 10 years, it has raised more than $500,000.

The event is sewed into Katy's history, beginning at a time when the suburb was far removed from the booming town it is today and was still a place where farm animals roamed everywhere.

Each night before the competitions begin, Johnson said he looks around the rodeo arena to take in the atmosphere. After a year's work, he said the feeling is nostalgic.

"Some of these people have been going to this rodeo since it began more than 70 years ago," Johnson said. "People remember it. It defines how Katy began in the FFA program. No matter how suburbanized Katy is now, it began as a farming community. The FFA was a large part of that. This event brings that home to the community each year."
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When Yasmin Saleh set out to attend a recent Monday evening prayer at Masjid Al-Ansaar Woodlands - or The Woodlands Mosque - she was anxious.

The day before, a Canadian student with far-right ideologies shot up a mosque in Quebec City, killing six and wounding 19 people.

And three days before, President Donald Trump signed an executive order temporarily barring travel from seven Muslim-majority countries and blocking entry for all refugees, sending shock waves across the nation. The tension was tangible.

But as Saleh drove past the quiet country estates and grazing horses just north of FM 1488 and approached the gates to the mosque, she saw something she didn't expect.

About a dozen non-Muslim women stood outside the gates holding signs with messages of support. The sight put Saleh at ease.

"You belong here." "We stand UNITED with our Muslim brothers and sisters." "USA: made by and for immigrants."

Trump's presidential campaign and the travel ban he issued have thrown the national spotlight even more squarely on Muslims in the past couple of weeks. The attention inspired a smattering of anti-Islam actions across the country, from reports of obscene graffiti on an Islamic Center in Roseville, Calif., last week to a man arrested for harassing a woman wearing a hijab at JFK airport in New York in late January.

But even as tension and anxiety has risen in the Muslim community, so has the expression of support from their non-Muslim neighbors. Thousands across the nation gathered to protest the travel ban at airports and in city streets. After someone set fire to a mosque in Victoria on Jan. 28, the local Jewish synagogue opened its doors for Muslims to pray there. Within a week, a Go Fund Me webpage raised $1.1 million to help rebuild the mosque, surpassing its $850,000 goal.

And Muslims around the Houston area have experienced a wave of solidarity from neighbors who have offered their acceptance, protection and friendship.

"We are extremely overwhelmed with gratitude for the outpouring of support, solidarity and love that our non-Muslim neighbors have shown," said MJ Khan, president of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston, which serves the roughly 300,000 Muslims and 21 mosques in the greater metropolitan area.

He said that the positive messages have far outweighed the negative.

On a recent Friday afternoon at The Woodlands Mosque, the signs of support lined the way to the front gate and adorned the inside of the building's entryway as a couple dozen non-Muslim community members came to attend Khutbah, a sermon, and Jumu'ah, Friday prayer.

As the mosque slowly filled for the ceremony, Rodwaan Saleh, the imam, or prayer leader, stood before the congregation, most of whom sat on the carpeted floor. The visitors sat in folding chairs that had been placed in the back of the room so they could observe the prayer.

"There is no distinction between a white man and a black man, a red man and a yellow man," Rodwaan Saleh preached. "All of us are created from Adam, and Adam was created from dust."

He spoke of justice and kindness, encouraging those present not to do harm to anyone - even those who harm them.

"If I want to be respected, I must be respectful," he said. "When you deal with someone who doesn't like you, that's the test  the world is watching us from afar, and we will be tested."

As he concluded his message, Rodwaan Saleh began to pray. First, in English, he asked Allah - the Arabic word for God - to bring unity and blessings to their city, state and country.

Then, turning toward Mecca - Islam's holiest city and the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad - he led the congregation in prayer.

'Words matter'

Most of the congregation at Masjid Al-Ansaar Woodlands consists of first- or second-generation immigrants, with almost half emigrating from Pakistan, explained Ahmed Ibrahim, associate director for the mosque. The majority live in The Woodlands - a wealthy suburban enclave known for its strong Republican base - and work as doctors or engineers, he added.

The Woodlands Mosque is not unique in its demographics. As immigrants from South Asia, the Middle East and Africa have moved to Houston and the surrounding suburbs over the past couple of decades, the number of mosques in the area has grown, said Rodwaan Saleh, who serves as executive director for the Islamic Society of Greater Houston and is the U.S.-born son of Sudanese immigrants.

Although Trump's executive order banned travel from only seven countries, many Houston-area Muslims from other countries still worry that, if they leave the country, they might not be allowed to return, Khan said.

"There is anxiety because of the uncertainty as to what it all means," Khan said. "I'm getting calls from people, 'Should I cancel my trip?' There are students who wanted to visit their families; green card holders or permanent residents who wanted to visit their families."

While a U.S. judge blocked the president's travel ban and a federal appeals court refused to reinstate it last week, the president may continue to pursue legal action.

Rodwaan Saleh said that he understands and shares the desire to protect America, but believes that the rhetoric used by Trump has emboldened "closet haters." He spoke of recent incidents where people have shouted at women wearing hijabs, telling them to "go home" or chanting "Trump! Trump!"

"The president is the most powerful person in the world," Rodwaan Saleh said. "It trickles down.  Words matter."

Hugs and handshakes

After Jumu'ah, Rodwaan Saleh addressed the visitors in the back.

"We are absolutely honored that you are here today," he said, inviting everyone to share food and socialize after the service.

In the back room where the women pray to avoid distracting the men, dozens of Muslim women turned to smile at the visitors sitting behind them. They flocked to greet their guests. Some extended hands, others embraced, still others bestowed kisses on each cheek.

"Thank you for coming!" "We appreciate your support."

"I'm so happy to meet them," said Medinat Adewale, a Nigerian immigrant, who recently moved to The Woodlands from Katy.

"It's very heartening," said Fatima Ashraf, a Pakistani native who lived in Canada for 10 years before moving to the U.S. five years ago.

The group of visitors, many of whom attend Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Church in The Woodlands, responded with smiles, handshakes and hugs of their own.

"We came to show our Muslim neighbors that we love them," said Sharilyn Wood-Merriam, a retired English professor who lives in The Woodlands. "The ban - that's not the right way to go about protecting America. It's ridiculous."

Khan, the president of ISGH, believes the Muslim-American's testimony of the U.S. as a great and welcoming community can be a powerful defense against what he says is a false narrative crafted by extremists that the Western world is the enemy of Islam.

"We want to make sure we're part of the narrative to condemn that propaganda," Khan said. "The Muslim community will always be in the forefront in the fight against extremists.  We have a wonderful story to tell about America. We believe America is the best country on Earth."

The sentiment rang true at Masjid Al-Ansaar Woodlands.

Yasmin Saleh, who was born in Pakistan and lived in New Jersey, Florida and Louisiana before settling in The Woodlands, has two teenage children. Saleh said she was nervous the first day her daughter chose to wear a hijab to school. She had heard stories of discrimination and nearly asked her not to wear it, but her daughter's friends were supportive and respectful.

And that's how Saleh feels her neighbors in The Woodlands are - respectful.

"I love it here," she said. "This is home."
A United Airlines flight headed from Houston to Florida was forced to return to the runway after reports of smoke in the cockpit, according to an airport spokesman.

Flight 3883 was initially headed for Fort Walton Beach, slated to arrive just before 4 p.m.
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No university president wants to lay off dozens of faculty or cancel hundreds of classes - especially in his first year on the job.

But Texas Southern University's new president, Austin Lane, realizes that if the state Senate's proposal passes as written, he would have to do exactly that, as the plan calls for nearly $15 million in cuts to TSU.

"This is counterproductive to all of the things we're trying to put in place to graduate students and fuel the Texas economy," Lane said Monday in an interview.

Facing hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts proposed by the Senate and smaller spending reductions put forward by the House, public universities across the state are trying to shore up lawmakers' support for their research activities, specialized centers and even basic operations.

The Senate's proposal would eliminate about $700 million in "special items," through which Texas universities finance research centers, academic programs and faculty salaries. The plan provides about $300 million for such special items statewide, dramatically lower than the roughly $1.1 billion that was approved during the last session.

"I don't believe higher education can absorb the loss of this much funding for these projects without some significant consequences," Sen. John Whitmire, a member of the Senate finance committee, said Monday.

These special items are just one portion of higher education funding in Texas. Formula funding, which is tied largely to enrollment, gives millions of dollars for university operations. But universities are accustomed to receiving millions of dollars in special-item funding that they say plays a crucial role in maintaining operations, especially for smaller campuses.

The proposed House budget, which lawmakers begin discussing this week, offers about $1 billion in special items. Under its proposal, energy research at the University of Houston, TSU's pharmacy program and an academic advising center at Sam Houston State University receive more than 90 percent of what the universities requested.

Lane believes the Senate proposal is just a starting point for budget negotiations. Still, he worries about the effect of severe cuts on TSU's goals, which include improving completion rates and graduating more students on time.

Lawmakers at a lengthy Senate finance committee hearing last month cited a tight budget as a reason for the cuts - a familiar refrain this year in Austin.

Clear Lake campus affected

The University of Houston at Clear Lake opened its doors to freshmen and sophomores for the first time in 2014, an important step in a long-planned expansion to serve more students southeast of the system's flagship. Enrollment grew by about 500 students, and that spring, state lawmakers allocated $6.5 million to the university in a special item to finance the growth.

The Senate finance committee's proposed budget eliminates funding for this special item, and the House's proposal allocates $5.85 million over two years.

"If the item wasn't funded, we would either have to severely limit the admission of freshmen or go back to being an upper-level university," UHCL President William Staples said Monday.

Like other presidents and some lawmakers, he said he's optimistic the final budget will find middle ground.

"I think we'll end up with special items - I don't think they're going to disappear," he said.

Still, Senate finance committee chair Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, said at a hearing in January that there wasn't much wiggle room in the budget. She urged university leaders to rank their requests.

"We're going to have to look at every penny we're spending," she said.

Whitmire said Monday that the proposed reduction in the Senate proposal could devastate many programs.

"But the leadership seems to be intent on that amount of reduction," he said.

Five medical school presidents told lawmakers that the proposed Senate budget would impede their mission and their ability to recruit top researchers, the Houston Democrat said.

Rep. John Zerwas, a Katy Republican leading the House's appropriations committee, said the chamber is open to using the Rainy Day Fund for higher education special items as the state faces smaller revenues.

"The Senate's working at a bottom-up point of view, and we're working on it from a top-down point of view," said Zerwas, who served last session as chair of the House's higher education committee. "We're going to do everything we can to minimize (cutting) any of those priorities that we've set."

Nationwide problem

Proposed cuts to higher education spending in Texas are in no way unique as states across the country are working to rein in their budgets amid stagnant economic growth. University money has been on the chopping block in conversations in statehouses nationwide.

In Missouri, Gov. Eric Greitens said the state would eliminate more than $80 million from university funding as part of $146 million in cuts. The University of Iowa, the University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University will each see multimillion-dollar cuts in a new law that Gov. Terry Branstad proposed to balance the state budget.

And a Senate committee in Kansas approved $23 million in cuts to higher education this fiscal year as the state tries to reduce a $310 million deficit, the Topeka Capital-Journal reported.

Here in Texas, stress over special-item funding is just the latest tension over higher education funding and costs. Over the summer, Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus asked all state agencies - including public universities - to reduce their budgets by 4 percent.

Bills introduced this session by Republicans and Democrats would limit public universities' ability to raise tuition and fees. Lawmakers criticize universities for raising tuition - which has more than doubled at Texas' four-year universities since 2003 - but presidents say they need the revenue to finance ambitious research agendas and enrollment growth.

Presidents expect to return to Austin next week to again advocate for their university's interests - this time, before the House's appropriations committee.

TSU's Lane said he plans to reiterate to House lawmakers the importance of maintaining special items in the budget.

"I'm hopeful we're able to do that," he said.

Mike Ward contributed to this report.
With President Donald Trump in his fourth full week in office, the upheaval inside the administration that West Wing officials had optimistically dismissed as growing pains is now cementing itself as standard operating procedure.

Trump - distracted by political brushfires often of his own making - has failed to fill such key posts as White House communications director, while sub-Cabinet positions across agencies and scores of ambassadorships around the globe still sit empty.

Upset about damaging leaks of his calls with world leaders and other national security information, Trump has ordered an internal investigation to find the leakers. Staffers, meanwhile, are so fearful about being accused of talking to the media that some have resorted to a secret chat app - Confide - that erases messages as soon as they're read.

The chaos and competing factions that were a Trump trademark in business and campaigning now are starting to define his presidency, according to interviews with a dozen White House officials as well as other Republicans. Most spoke on the condition of anonymity to candidly discuss internal White House dynamics and deliberations.

Some senior officials are worried about their own standing with the president, who through his casual conversations with friends and associates sometimes seems to hint that a shake-up could come at a moment's notice. Aides said they strive to avoid appearing "weak" or "low-energy" - two of Trump's least favorite attributes.

Staffers buzz privately about who is up and who is down, with many eagerly gossiping about which poor colleague gets an unflattering portrayal on NBC's "Saturday Night Live." For the past two weeks straight, it has been White House press secretary Sean Spicer. But aides said Trump himself was especially upset by a sketch that cast White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon as the Grim Reaper manipulating the president - who was ultimately relegated to a miniature desk, playing dolefully with an expandable toy.

On Monday afternoon, as speculation of a staff shake-up was rife on cable news channels, Trump made clear to a small group of reporters what he thought of his chief of staff: "Reince is doing a great job. Not a good job. A great job," the president said.

"None of this is normal," said Steve Schmidt, a Republican strategist and top official in former president George W. Bush's White House, who has been highly critical of Trump and ticked through controversies that included the false White House statements and the administration's halted travel ban targeting seven majority-Muslim countries. "The incompetence, the sloppiness and the leaking is unprecedented."

Problem with Flynn

The ongoing saga of Michael Flynn - which left the White House paralyzed for much of the weekend and into Monday - encapsulates the problems.

As scrutiny of the national security adviser has intensified over the past few days amid reports that he had misled colleagues about his talks of sanctions with a Russian envoy, administration officials found themselves in an uncomfortable holding pattern, unsure about whether to defend him and privately grumbling about the indecisiveness on high.

The problem: Trump had yet to weigh in, and aides and advisers were loathe to take sides without knowing for certain whether their often mercurial and erratic boss wanted to keep Flynn or cut him loose.

On Monday, after Trump made it through a joint news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau without being asked about Flynn, a group of reporters gathered outside Spicer's office for more than 80 minutes. Spicer twice declined to answer questions about Flynn. When White House chief of staff Reince Priebus walked by, he was asked whether the president still had confidence in Flynn. Priebus gave no answer.

Not long after, Kellyanne Conway, the counselor to the president, said the president has "full confidence" in Flynn. Yet a few minutes later Spicer issued an official - and conflicting - statement, saying Trump "is evaluating the situation."

Although Flynn has lost the trust of some of his colleagues in the administration, some White House officials said he could survive out of fear that his firing would leave blood in the water. That, as one official put it, would empower the media and Trump's critics to try to "scalp another staffer."

In an administration where proximity to Trump is power, aides, advisers and visitors often mill about in the West Wing, lingering long after their scheduled appointments have ended. "It's a campaign administration," said someone who recently paid a visit to the White House. "You walk in and there's a pastor from Des Moines, Iowa and a couple of small business guys. You're waiting for the cats and dogs to walk through."

The White House has also struggled to fill the top West Wing post of communications director, which was left vacant when Trump campaign communications adviser Jason Miller abruptly resigned in the final weeks of the transition.

Spicer filling two jobs

Spicer, the press secretary, also has been filling the communications director job, which is more of a long-term planning and strategy post - a double-duty assignment has left him beleaguered and battling on several fronts.

Several candidates have turned the job down, including Brian Jones, who said no after a preliminary approach by the White House. Jones, a former communicators director on Sen. John McCain's 2008 presidential bid and a senior adviser to Mitt Romney in 2012, declined to comment.

The administration has also reached out to Ann Marie Hauser, the deputy staff director of the Senate Republican Conference and longtime Hill veteran.

Christopher Ruddy, a longtime friend of Trump who on Sunday publicly criticized Priebus in television and print interviews as being "in way over his head," received calls from both the chief of staff and Jared Kushner - Trump's son-in-law, senior adviser and enforcer - and said Monday that he thought the White House was working to remedy its challenges.

"My personal view is they know that they can improve in the area of their messaging, and they're working quickly to do it," said Ruddy, the chief executive of Newsmax Media, a conservative website, and a member of Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla.

Other supporters of Trump say too much of the senior staff's attention seems to be taken up by internal conflicts. Only a handful of ambassadorships have been announced so far, for instance, and some major Republican donors in line for such posts are privately complaining that they have felt cut off from Priebus, after having enjoyed regular contact with him when he was Republican National Committee chairman.

Edward Rollins, a former White House adviser to Ronald Reagan, said part of the problem for Trump's team is that so many top officials are "big, national personalities where everything they do is amplified."

"The real problem here is you have a bunch of people who were pretty much unknown four months ago, and now they're all characters on 'Saturday Night Live,' " Rollins said.

Outreach to Capitol Hill has also faced some setbacks. Lawmakers are comfortable with Vice President Mike Pence - a former House member who regularly attends a weekly Tuesday lunch of Senate Republicans - but wonder how much influence he will ultimately wield with the president on big decisions.

Trump's legislative affairs team - headed by Rick Dearborn and Marc Short, both veterans of the Hill - is also considered well-liked, disciplined and professional. But congressional staffers say they have been given advance notice about some executive orders on topics such as cybersecurity and Guantanamo Bay that have never materialized, a delay they attribute to chaos within the West Wing.

T
WASHINGTON - Despite sharp differences on immigration, refugees, trade and climate change, President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada struck a cordial tone in their first meeting on Monday, alternating between attempting to bridge those gaps and steering clear of them.

Trump has called for a halt to the admission of refugees, saying that terrorists might slip into the United States among them, while Trudeau has held out Canada as a haven for refugees, particularly people who have fled the war in Syria, publicly hugging newly arrived families.

When asked at a White House news conference whether he now sees the northern U.S. border with Canada as insecure, Trump skirted the question, speaking instead of his administration's efforts to deport criminals from the United States.

U.S.-Canadian bonds

In the same vein, Trudeau declined to say whether he agreed with the president's executive order restricting immigration.

"The last thing Canadians expect is for me to come down and lecture another country on how they choose to govern themselves," he said.

Trudeau had forged an unusually close relationship with former President Barack Obama, but many of Trump's policies, particularly his protectionist stance on trade and his call for renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement, are chilling for Canadians. They count on trade with the United States for about 25 percent of their country's gross domestic product.

"It is a real concern for many Canadians, because we know that our economy is very dependent on our bonds with the United States," said Trudeau, who has expressed a cautious openness to renegotiating the trade pact.

Trump's complaints about trade have focused primarily on Mexico, another partner in the North American agreement, and China, which he has accused of taking advantage of the United States. He did not answer a question about whether he sees Canada as a fair trader, but suggested that he does not foresee deep changes in that relationship, which he called "outstanding."

"We'll be tweaking it," he said. "It's a much less severe situation than what's taking place on the southern border."

He said the two leaders had spoken privately about "doing some cross-border things that will make it a lot easier for trade and a lot better and a lot faster." They issued a joint statement pledging to continue border security programs that began under Obama, and reaffirming their commitment to NATO, an alliance that Trump had previously questioned.

In presentation and speech, Trump, a bombastic Republican, and Trudeau, a more mild-mannered Liberal who is 25 years younger, are poles apart. But the prime minister has carefully avoided direct criticism of Trump and his policies. After the U.S. election, he reorganized his Cabinet to better deal with the change of power in Washington and swiftly sent emissaries to meet with Trump's advisers. Monday's meeting was the first test of the Canadian leader's effort to foster a good working relationship.

Friendly relations

Trump greeted Trudeau warmly on Monday, a reception similar to the president's greeting last week to Shinzo Abe, Japan's prime minister.

Trudeau appears determined to maintain friendly relations with Trump despite their differences, while signaling to Canadians who are wary of their powerful neighbor that Canada still charts its own course.

"We continue our policy of openness to immigration and refugees without compromising security," the prime minister said. "There have been times where we have differed in our approaches, and that's always been done firmly and respectfully."
AUSTIN - Educators from across Texas showed up at the Capitol on Monday to blast a bill that would bar government agencies from deducting union dues from public employees' paychecks, calling it "an anti-teacher bill" and likening themselves to first responders, who are exempted from the measure.

The Senate State Affairs Committee held its first public hearing on Senate Bill 13, authored by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, which revives a similar bill she introduced in 2015 that died in the House after being passed by the Senate. It would not apply to police officers, firefighters and emergency medical services personnel, but would cover all other public employees, including teachers, corrections officers and Child Protective Services workers.

Huffman said first responders should continue to be allowed to have dues deducted from their paychecks because "they serve the community" and because they "generally don't interfere with the business entities in Texas."

Sen. Craig L. Estes, R-Wichita Falls, called making such a distinction among public employees "problematic."

The majority of the three hours of public testimony came from teachers, the result of a statewide organizing effort by the Association of Texas Professional Educators to bring some of its 100,000-plus members to the Capitol to protest what they describe as an "anti-teacher bill." Many teachers argued that their contributions to the community are not recognized under the proposed legislation.

Beaumont teacher Suellen Ener, who described herself as a lifelong Republican, testified that "it is breaking my heart that I am being attacked by the people" of the party.

Stacey Ward, a fifth-grade math and science teacher from Humble, said the bill has broader ramifications for educators.

"They don't want us coming up to the Capitol and expressing our opinions on vouchers, which is privatizing public education, and that's what this whole bill is about," she said.

Members of law enforcement also showed up to protest the legislation, which they said could be extended to include them later. Charley Wilkison, executive director of the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, testified that he felt compelled to attend the hearing after receiving a call from a prominent leader in the Republican Party who told him that law enforcement officers would lose their exemption by the time the bill was passed.

Huffman said police officers would remain exempt under the current bill, but others said they remained concerned they would lose their privileges in a future legislative session.

Graciela Zapata, a corrections officer from Amarillo, asked why she is allowed to have contributions to charities and deductions for insurance taken from her paycheck, but not union dues. "That's like micromanaging my money, and I don't like that."

Several representatives from business organizations spoke in support of the bill, which they see as necessary to limit the government's role in assisting unions that promote labor efforts that harm their members' interests.

Annie Spilman, Texas legislative director for the National Federation of Independent Business, emphasized that causes supported by labor unions affect small business, citing the "Fight for $15" campaign to raise the minimum wage as an example.

The public testimony followed questioning of Huffman, who also chairs the State Affairs Committee, by several senators on the rationale behind the proposed legislation.

"I'm trying to figure out where the problem is coming from, because I haven't heard of any," said Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio. He said he had received many emails opposed to the bill.

Ending voluntary payroll deductions of union dues from public employee paychecks has been highlighted as a priority for the current legislative session by Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

Texas is a "right-to-work" state, meaning that employees cannot be required to be part of a union or other association as condition of employment.

In a fiscal note, the Legislative Budget Board noted that there would be no financial impact on the state as a result of the proposed legislation.
Nick Anderson

The controversy over the national security adviser, General Michael Flynn, and his contacts with the Kremlin are kind of funny when you think about it. If his behavior is inappropriate, his boss's is potentially impeachable. Hmmmm, hold that thought. Click the gallery below to see many more cartoons by Nick Anderson.
Jon Shapley/Staff

In a time of so much political enmity - hostility that sometimes spills over to personal, withering attacks - we're glad to set a different tone on Valentine's Day to celebrate displays of humanity and compassion.

Locally, there have been few examples of love for one another greater than what we've seen unfold just to our south. In a story now well-told, but worth highlighting again, thousands have rallied to support the Muslim community in the South Texas town of Victoria. After a Jan. 28 fire destroyed the town's only mosque, a Jewish synagogue and office building owners offered their keys to the Muslims. Meanwhile, more than 23,000 people in 16 days pledged more than $1 million to rebuild the Victoria Islamic Center.
Every day as I've read the news and tried to get some rest, my heart has been filled with sorrow, my mind with anguish, and my soul aching for relief. But I remind myself to be hopeful. I keep repeating Langston Hughes' poem to myself: "I, too, am America."

While the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has refused to reinstate President Trump's controversial executive order on refugees, I'm still waiting to hear my U.S. senators, John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, respond to the president's initiative in a way that shows they value the views of Muslim Texans and Muslim Americans who look like me and pray like me. This executive order and other anti-Muslim immigration proposals, which President Trump has set forth and Cornyn and Cruz have defended, do not represent our great American melting pot. These events have triggered me to express my personal views.

Recently, I arrived in Sri Lanka as a State Department-funded Fulbright Research Scholar to look at best approaches for peace-building and conflict resolution after a bloody, multi-decade civil war here. More important, I came to serve as a cultural ambassador for the United States and to reinforce the bonds of friendship and mutual understanding between our two nations.

Those around me are also appalled by the decisions of U.S. elected officials who allow fear-based, ill-informed immigration and national security priorities to outweigh the guiding principles that our nation long has espoused. While I work to further instill the principles of tolerance and acceptance here, my country is breeding hatred, and my senators have not entirely condemned it. The executive order indicates mistrust of Muslim-majority countries and elevates unfair, xenophobic stereotypes about all adherents of Islam.

Martin Luther King Jr. said, "There comes a time when silence is betrayal," and the response of the legislative leadership signals complicity in the oppression of Muslim Americans and Muslims worldwide. Respecting religious diversity is a bedrock value and it is at stake today. The Muslim Ban does not make us safer; it exacerbates tensions and weakens our national security objectives.

These policies have attempted to normalize bigotry through hateful legal actions aimed to make our accepting nation shift toward intolerance. I know, as do my senators, that Texas is better than that. The United States - founded on the ideal that all people are created equal and should be treated with respect and dignity - is better than that. We value unity. We value inclusion. We love our neighbors; we learn from them and they learn from us; we worry about them and we care for them. When our community is at risk - when the legitimacy of our democracy is at risk - we rally together to send a collective message of compassion, not one of division.

I am a Truman Scholar with a deep, abiding passion for public service and faith in our democratic system. "We the people" expect our senators to hear us and voice our genuine concerns. They've dismissed mainstream media, but they must not dismiss me; they must not dismiss the rest of their Texas constituents. We are hurt by their readiness to neglect us and be complacent. History will remember this.

I would like to remind them of the contributions of immigrants and refugees in our community. These individuals make our mosaic stronger, more connected, and more prosperous. Immigrants are the backbone of America, working tirelessly to build the US into the country it is today. Immigrants are part of America's success recipe because they've imagined new possibilities and worked tirelessly to build the United States into the country it is today. Every immigrant has a story not only filled with trials and tribulations but also triumphs.

My own parents came to Texas nearly 30 years ago, after fleeing a childhood of war, conflict, and civil unrest in India and Pakistan. My grandparents, who instilled in me a love of service, were refugees from Bangladesh and Burma and arrived in the U.S. more than 20 years ago. Despite having to overcome economic and language barriers, they believed in the American promise and persisted until their resilience paid off. Over the past three decades, my parents have employed several hard-working American citizens of all shades and creeds. They've lifted others up, provided economic opportunities, supported their educational endeavors, attended their weddings and become beacons of hope. Because of their sacrifices, my brother and I are the first in our family to attend American universities. Their experience in the U.S. encouraged me to do all I could to make our country a more perfect union.

Ours is just one of many success stories that makes Texas and the U.S. what it is today. Immigrants and refugees like the ones who plan to come to our cities now share similar struggles and aspirations. They are not here to harm us; they come to make America their home.

I urge my senators to reflect on the gravity of their words and the weight of their vote when they use their voice to represent all Texans. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright reminded us that there is no fine print in the words inscribed on the Statue of Liberty. Those who seek refuge deserve to be welcomed. That has always been our motto - E Pluribus Unum.

Farishta, of Sugar Land, is a Harry S. Truman and J. William Fulbright Scholar based in Sri Lanka.
When I travel to Asia, I'm fairly often met at the airport by someone holding a sign reading "Mr. Paul." Why? In much of Asia, names are given family first, personal second - at home, the prime minister of Japan is referred to as Abe Shinzo. And the mistake is completely forgivable when it's made by a taxi driver picking up a professor.

It's not so forgivable, however, if the president of the United States makes the same mistake when welcoming the leader of one of our most important economic and security partners. But there it was: Donald Trump referring to Abe as, yes, Prime Minister Shinzo.

Abe did not, as far as we know, respond by calling his host President Donald.

Trivial? Well, it would be if it were an isolated instance. But it isn't. What we've seen instead over the past three weeks is an awesome display of raw ignorance on every front. Worse, there's no hint that either the White House or its allies in Congress see this as a problem. They appear to believe that expertise, or even basic familiarity with a subject, is for wimps; ignorance is strength.

We see this on legal matters: In a widely quoted analysis, the legal expert Benjamin Wittes described the infamous executive order on refugees as "malevolence tempered by incompetence," and noted that the order reads "as if it was not reviewed by competent counsel at all" - which is a good way to lose in court.

We see it on national security matters, where the president continues to rely on a chief adviser who, suspicious closeness to the Kremlin aside, appears to get his strategic information from right-wing conspiracy theorists.

We see it on education, where the hearings for Betsy DeVos, the education secretary, revealed her to be completely ignorant about even the most elementary issues.

We see it on diplomacy. How hard is it to ask someone from the State Department to make sure that the White House gets foreign leaders' names right? Too hard, apparently: Before the Abe flub, the official agenda for the state visit by Theresa May, the British prime minister, repeatedly misspelled her name.

And on economics - well, there's nobody home. The Council of Economic Advisers, which is supposed to provide technical expertise, has been demoted from Cabinet rank, but that hardly matters, since nobody has been nominated to serve. Remember all that talk about a trillion-dollar infrastructure plan? If you do, please remind the White House, which hasn't offered even a ghost of a concrete proposal.

But let me not be too hard on the Tweeter-in-chief: disdain for expertise is general in his party. For example, the most influential Republican economists aren't serious academics with a conservative bent, of whom there are many; they're known hacks who literally can't get a number right.

Or consider the current GOP panic over health care. Many in the party seem shocked to learn that repealing any major part of Obamacare will cause tens of millions to lose insurance. Anyone who studied the issue could have told them years ago how the pieces of health reform fit together, and why. In fact, many of us did, repeatedly. But competent analysis wasn't wanted.

And that is, of course, the point. Competent lawyers might tell you that your Muslim ban is unconstitutional; competent scientists that climate change is real; competent economists that tax cuts don't pay for themselves; competent voting experts that there weren't millions of illegal ballots; competent diplomats that the Iran deal makes sense, and Putin is not your friend. So competence must be excluded.

At this point, someone is bound to say, "If they're so dumb, how come they won?" Part of the answer is that disdain for experts - sorry, "so-called" experts - resonates with an important part of the electorate. Bigotry wasn't the only dark force at work in the election; so was anti-intellectualism, hostility toward "elites" who claim that opinions should be based on careful study and thought.

Also, campaigning is very different from governing. This is especially true when the news media spend far more time obsessing over your opponent's pseudo-scandals than they do on all actual policy issues combined.

But now things have gotten real, and all indications are that the people in charge have no idea what they're doing, on any front.

In some ways this cluelessness may be a good thing: malevolence may indeed be tempered by incompetence. It's not just the court defeat over immigration; Republican ignorance has turned what was supposed to be a blitzkrieg against Obamacare into a quagmire, to the great benefit of millions. And Trump's imploding job approval might help slow the march to autocracy.

But meanwhile, who's in charge? Crises happen, and we have an intellectual vacuum at the top. Be afraid, be very afraid.

Krugman is a New York Times columnist.
Throughout my 20 years in long-term care, I have consistently been humbled as I observe and hear of the dedication demonstrated by the hard-working employees in long-term-care facilities across Texas.

Despite the low pay and long hours, those employees are lifelines for families who can no longer care for their loved ones. Caring deeply about the residents and families they support and look after, they read and watch the same news you do, and they are equally disgusted by the same reports of elder abuse. But for them, it hits close to home. That's not who they are.

As called for in a recent Chronicle editorial ("Intolerable care," Page A16, Feb. 1,) more regulations and penalties, while made with good intentions, won't prevent a rogue employee from ignoring policy if that's the choice they are willing to make. And for those trying to do the right thing, penalties and punishments won't make them work harder. They are already working as hard as they can.

Texas nursing facilities are already under the authority of 34 different local, state and federal agencies, and they are subjected to federal penalties as well. More regulation isn't the solution.

The "right to correct" provision in Texas law doesn't prevent the state from applying penalties. It provides regulators the ability to recognize variation in inspection findings and recommend enforcement actions based on those findings. Current "right to correct" statute mandates enforcement action for violations that result in serious harm or death of which constitute a serious threat to the health or safety of a resident. For those providers who have a repeat violation under "right to correct" within a year, the state may enforce a penalty three times the amount of the original penalty recommended.

Serious violations of health and safety standards in Texas facilities are never acceptable. We must be committed to do all we can to ensure they are prevented.

But Texas nursing homes are truly at a tipping point. Woefully inadequate funding - not a lack of regulation - is the real problem.

The Medicaid reimbursement rate for Texas nursing homes is among the lowest in the nation. In fact, at less than $6 per hour per resident, it doesn't even cover the cost of care. State budget numbers this legislative session are expected to show the current nursing home Medicaid rate methodology is underfunded by $800 million.

Analysis of the most recent available Medicaid cost report database reveals the average allowable Medicaid cost per resident is almost $20 dollars a day more than the average state Medicaid reimbursement.

Let that sink in: $800 million and $20 a day per Medicaid resident.

The consequences of this ongoing shortfall are many. The underfunding keeps wages low and makes it hard to attract and retain front-line staff. It makes it hard to invest in capital equipment and facility renovations to enhance the quality of life for the residents being served - today and tomorrow.

Texans know solutions do not come from increased government regulation, but from pulling together to meet challenges. Let's focus our efforts on solutions that fully fund staffing needs and invest in the necessary training, equipment and renovations that residents and their families deserve.

Instead of showing employees of long term-care facilities the back of the hand, why not give them a hand and say thank you for the tireless dedication these men and women show on a daily basis, performing duties and responsibilities that so many are either unwilling or unable to perform?

Lawmakers should support full funding for Texas nursing facilities, not more fines and regulations.

Warren is president and CEO of the Texas Health Care Association, which advocates for better long-term care for Texas seniors.
The following are excerpts from reports generated by the Texas County Sheriffs Department:

A deputy was dispatched at about 7:25 p.m. Feb. 11 after a woman reported her children might be in danger at a Shafer Road residence at Licking.

The officer made contact with a woman who lives there and she said her former daughter-in-laws children  who are both adults  live with she and her husband and that they hadnt had contact with their mother for more than a year. They told the officer they didnt want any contact with their mother and she was using the TCSD as a means to harass them because she is mad.

A 75-year-old Cabool man reported on Feb. 9 that numerous items had been stolen from a storage building on Oak Grove Road at Cabool.

The man said swiped goods included $1,500 worth of drill bits, numerous tools and other items. Investigation of the case continues.

The Mountain Grove Police Department called Feb. 11 to report that a citizen had reported finding a skull in their driveway. An investigating deputy determined it was an animal skull.

A 44-year-old Plato woman reported on Feb. 11 that 200 gallons of diesel fuel had been stolen from her Highway AH property. There are no suspects.

A representative of Upton Township reported on Feb. 10 that someone had broken into the townships building on Upton Road at Huggins and stolen numerous items with a total value of $1,675. There are no suspects.

A 24-year-old Raymondville woman came to the TCSD office at about 11:40 p.m. Feb. 3 to report that a man had sent her a friend request on Facebook. The woman stated she had blocked him.

A 63-year-old Cabool woman reported at about 2 p.m. Feb. 9 that a prowler had come to her Berry Road residence before sunrise and repeated the same statement eight times. An investigating officer was unable to find physical evidence of the prowlers presence.

A 26-year-old Licking woman reported on Feb. 9 that a safe containing cash, jewelry and other items with a total value of $2,705.64 had been stolen from her Highway 137 residence. The woman named three men as suspects and the case is being investigated.

An officer responded on Feb. 9 to a request for assistance by a DFS agent regarding a report that snakes at the womans Hickory Drive residence at Plato were not being fed properly and were biting children. After an investigation, the officer determined the snakes were well cared for and adequately housed, the children had not been bitten and the claim was unfounded.

A 53-year-old Licking woman reported on Feb. 8 that $500 had been swiped from her Bailey Road residence. An investigating deputy found the cash between a bed and nightstand.

A deputy responded on Feb. 7 to a request by a woman to check the well-being of another woman living at a Highway HH residence at Willow Springs. Upon arrival, the officer observed that the home was used for storage and did not appear lived in.

A 42-year-old woman came to the TCSD office at about 5:20 p.m. Feb. 7 and reported a 46-year-old man had pushed her out of a moving vehicle on Brushy Creek Road at Houston. An investigating officer observed that the woman had several visible injuries. She declined pursuit of charges.

Texas County Jail admissions

Feb. 7

Anthony R. Spencer  48-hour hold

Andrew T. Mathews  driving while revoked

Crystal M. Daily  possession of controlled substance

Kari D. Young  drug charge

Patrick A. Dodson  48-hour hold

Brent M. Fry  Pulaski County hold

Shane L. Briggs  driving while suspended

Feb. 8

Lamont A. Brown  Shannon County hold

Feb. 9

Shawn W. Jeffery  receiving stolen property, fraud

Jennie S. Wells  Wright County hold

Gerald W. Toman  burglary, assault

Feb. 10

Corey J. Fitzpatrick  burglary

David W. Barton  writ

Michael S. Sheets  Wright County hold

Feb. 11

Walter J. Scheets  DWI

Albert C. Groff  possession of controlled substance

Amy L. Mulready  possession of controlled substance

Samantha J. Flieger  stealing

Nelson Neal  receiving stolen property

Feb. 12

Thomas W. Murphy  possession of controlled substance, endangering welfare of a child

Jennifer D. Henderson  12-hour commitment
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A raid of a suspected dogfighting ring in Purral, Costa Rica, resulted in the rescue of 15 severely neglected dogs, several of whom showed clear signs of fighting. The Costa Rican National Animal Health Service conducted the seizure, with the help of Humane Society International/Latin America and American Stafford Costa Rica.

As the authorities entered the property, one of the suspects attempted to escape with four dogs. Authorities were able to detain the suspect after a chase. The dogs found in the property, mainly pit bull type dogs, including American Staffordshire terriers, displayed scars and wounds consistent with those resulting from dogfighting. They were kept in enclosures closely resembling those commonly used by dogfighters in the United States. The authorities confiscated nine of these dogs, along with six free roaming dogs found on the property. Two dogs are gestating, indicating a breeding facility that perpetuates the cruel practice of dogfighting.

Help us continue this life-saving work.

Amanda Chaves, team manager of HSI/Latin Americas animal rescue team, said: Sadly, situations such as this one are not uncommon. The suffering that these animals have to endure is truly inhumane. We are grateful for the commitment and dedication from both the Costa Rican authorities and our partners at American Stafford Costa Rica to fight this cruel practice, and we look forward to increase our response to cases involving dogfighting, for the sake of the animals.

The animals will now go through an evaluation, while the authorities determine the adequate course of action in this case. HSI/Latin America will support the government in processing this case legally.

Facts:

HSI/Latin America collaborated with SENASA and American Stafford Costa Rica to draft specific legislation to penalize individuals participating in dogfights. With the passing of the law in 2014, dogfighting became a criminal offense entailing economic sanctions and possible jail time for organizers.

The dogs involved in dogfighting often suffer life-threatening injuries, and due to the illegal and brutal nature of this practice, animals dont receive necessary medical care.

Dogfighting is frequently related to activities such as gambling, drug dealing and illegal gun sales, and it exposes youth to violence and desensitizes them from committing acts of cruelty towards animals.

HSI-Latin Americas programs on companion animals and wildlife protection save lives. You can support our work by donating through our website, or directly through our local accounts:

Banco BAC San Jose SWIFT: BSNJCRSJ

Account Number: 905337655 (USD)

Account Number: 905337663 (Colones)

Account Name: Asociacion Humane Society International Latin America

Media Contact: Raul Arce-Contreras, rcontreras@humanesociety.org, 301.721.6440
Amidst a continuing rhino poaching and rhino horn trafficking crisis, last week South Africa proposed a new regulation to allow domestic trade and export of rhino horn purchased in the country.

Audrey Delsink, Humane Society International/Africa executive director, says: While the global community is working to save rhinos from poaching and to eradicate the illegal trade in their horns, South Africas proposed regulations will not only open a loophole for criminal syndicates to launder poached rhino horn, but also create an enforcement nightmare, both within the country and internationally. We do not have the luxury of time to spare when it comes to the fate of rhinos, and we have to focus on shutting down the illegal trade rather than endorsing legal trade in rhino horn which has significant enforcement challenges and poor capacity.

Sign the Dont Buy Wild Pledge.

Rhinos are poached for their horns, which are sold on the black market for high prices and consumed as medicinal tonics, despite not having any medicinal value thats scientifically backed. It is also purchased to demonstrate wealth.

The United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) bans the international trade in rhino horns for commercial purposes. And the two main destination countries, China and Viet Nam, also ban domestic trade in rhino horn. But significant illegal trade exists and this demand drives poaching and trafficking.

Private rhino owners in South Africa have hailed the proposed regulations, as they would allow them to sell their vast stockpiles of horns that they have removed from the animals, ostensibly to protect them from poachers. Under the proposed regulations, they could sell the horns to people from other countries who travel to South Africa, thereby creating loopholes and weak spots for an already failing system.

Facts:

Only about 29,000 rhinos remain in the world, with about 90 percent living in South Africa, where 1,175 rhinos, or the equivalent of about three rhinos per day, were poached in 2015, a 9000 percent increase since 2007 (2016 numbers have not been released yet).

South African banned domestic trade in rhino horn in 2009, but private rhino owners challenged this in 2012. The case went to the Supreme Court, which overturned the moratorium in late 2015. However, the government appealed that decision and the moratorium is still in effect.

Private rhino owners in South Africa hold approximately 6,200 rhinos.

The South African government holds a stockpile of approximately 25 tons of rhino horns.

Media contacts:

US: Raul Arce-Contreras, rcontreras@humanesociety.org, +1 301-721-6440

For interviews, please contact Audrey Delsink at adelsink@hsi.org, +2782 417 6065
OTTAWA  The deaths of two young recruits at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School (CFLRS) in the past five months have been ruled as suicide, The Huffington Post Quebec has learned.

The situation at the facility in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que. has the federal government gravely concerned. The school conducts basic training for both officers and non-commissioned members of the Armed Forces. "Every year, more than 4,000 people star their military career at CFLRS," says its website.

"We are obviously concerned about the situation," said Jean Rioux, parliamentary secretary to the defence minister and MP for the area. "I was at the school [on Thursday], on the base where it happened. It is of course a tragedy for the family, the community and the Armed Forces."

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The two Quebec cases are in addition to the sudden deaths of five other students or recent graduates at two military colleges over the past nine months, without ever having been deployed.

Dylan James Barclay, 23, enrolled in the Armed Forces on Jan. 17, in the hopes of becoming a web developer or a technician for the army, according to friends who attended Algonquin College in the Ottawa area with him.

Classmates described Barclay as funny, intelligent and rather quiet, and noted that he liked playing video games. None of them believe his death could have been a suicide.

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"I never saw him depressed, just quiet. You could never guess what he was thinking, his emotions were hard to read," said one of his friends who had been his classmate for a year at the college.

"I'm in shock... I'm in shock that he's dead," said another.

They both asked that their names be withheld so as not to interfere with the pending investigation.

Inquiry will be held

A witness to the scene, who is not authorized to speak to the media, confirmed that Barclay threw himself from an eighth-storey window of the building where the recruits are housed in the evening of Jan. 28, shortly before the beginning of the morning routine.

Barclay had only been in training at the CFLRS for five days.

His obituary  which mourns a "precious, youngest son" and "dearly loved little brother"  states that he died "tragically, while training." He was given a private military service.

As is the case for all non-deployed soldiers, the Armed Forces will open an inquiry into the circumstances of the death. In the meantime, they will provide "direct support to the family during this difficult time."

"We are saddened by the sudden and tragic death," spokeswoman Lt. Christine Hurov said in an email. "We have extended our sincerest condolences to his family and friends."

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Rioux remained cautious in his comments about recent deaths at the Quebec training school: "Following the investigations, steps will clearly need to be taken," he said.

2 cases in 5 months

This is the second time in five months that the CFLRS has seen a death during the "indoctrination period," the first five weeks where recruits are not allowed to leave the military base.

Last September, Michael Pinel-Duquette, 19, was found dead in his room during his second week of training. He had been placed in isolation due to a cold.

He hung himself, according information confirmed with a member of his family.

Pinel-Duquette enrolled in the Forces in the hopes of becoming a tank driver and to help his father, Carole Duquette told HuffPost in a series of written exchanges. Michael  who was her niece's son, and was very close to her and her daughter  spent summer vacations with them.

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"He was proud to have got there, despite having made tremendous sacrifices. He knew he would have a great life to offer his future family, and he had big plans with my daughter, full of dreams," she wrote. "He didn't believe suicide was an option in life."

However, Pinel-Duquette found it hard to be isolated and to have to miss a significant part of his training, she said. "[He] didn't know how he was going to make up all that he was missing."

Other deaths

The military is already investigating the sudden deaths of three cadets from the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ont. between May and August 2016. Harrison Kelertas, 22, and Brett Cameron, 20, died on campus within days of each other, while 19-year-old Matthew Sullivan died in August in Saint John, N.B.

Officials have not confirmed the cause of death in any of the cases, though suicide is suspected.

In November, Capt. Vanessa Chamberland, 27, was found dead in Kingston, Ont. She ran a squadron of student officers at the Royal Military College in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, reported La Presse.

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Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan stated that any death in the Armed Forces was "tragic" and said he was prepared to consult with Canadians on the issue of mental health, once the review of Canadian military policies was complete.

"The minister takes very seriously the health and wellbeing, especially mental health, of our men and women in uniform, and as a former soldier and first responder, he understands the need to ensure we have all the right resources in place to support our people throughout their careers and after they leave the CAF," his press secretary Jordan Owens said.

Questions raised by the opposition

Opposition parties have urged the government to interrogate both the chain of command and instructors at the CFLRS to find out why the deaths happened only a few days after the beginning of classes.

Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative defence critic and a former Armed Forces lieutenant colonel, believes this number of sudden deaths or suicides in such a short period of time is "unheard of" among recruits who have never been deployed overseas.

"I find it very difficult to understand, because there is no type of post-traumatic situation. You have just completed a long process and you should be happy to have got there [to the school] ... and then you commit suicide. It's very strange," he said in an interview.

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Michel Boudrias, the defence critic for the Bloc Quebecois and a former military instructor, explained that recruits are expected to complete "many evaluations" in the first two or three days of training.

They must write a 750-word autobiography that can be useful in detecting potential suicide risk, said Boudiras, who considered it his "duty" to read them all.

"If mistakes were made in terms of responsibility for the command, which is highly possible, I expect there would be a proper administrative review, to shed light on the situation," he said.

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The Canadian Armed Forces state that recruits have access to help from the beginning of their training. Here are some examples of courses given in Basic Military Qualification:

Chaplain's hour: Day 1

Health promotion: Week 1

Suicide awareness: Week 1

Alternate conflict resolution: Week 2

On the way to mental preparedness: Week 2

Harassment prevention: Week 2

Anne Minh Thu Quach, the NDP critic for Youth, believes Defence should look into the situation of at-risk youth as part of its studies on mental health.

Boudrias pointed out: "There are many, many resources available. But even with responsible leadership, with every effort made in terms of supervision, and with all safeguards in place, we can't prevent someone from acting if they have made up their mind, either."

Paul-Hus said the Armed Forces should not lower current standards for new recruits.

"When you're in the military, you're in the military," he said. "The goal of basic training is precisely to see if you have the capabilities to be one day sent on a mission overseas and experience combat situations."

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With a file from The Canadian Press

CORRECTION: Dylan Barclay died in the evening of Jan. 28, 2017, and not at 4:30 a.m. as previously reported.

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Justin Trudeau never asked to be anointed the "anti-Trump."

After his first face-to-face meeting with the U.S. president in Washington Monday, Canadas prime minister made it clear that he wont be the one to pick up that mantle.

But those eager to read between the lines are, it seems, invited to keep reading.

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The contrasts were easy and obvious long before the bellicose billionaire won the Republican nomination and then improbably took the White House.

Donald Trump ran a movement many saw as demonizing Muslims and immigrants, and was accused of mistreating women. Meanwhile, somewhere up north, Trudeau won international acclaim as the sunny feminist who greeted Syrian refugees one cold night in Toronto.

It felt for some like Canada was having a moment.

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But those following along know Trudeau has long ducked invitations to directly criticize Trump, even after the controversial executive order banning travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries.

On Monday, in careful, measured words, Trudeau suggested his stance wont change.

"There have been times where we have differed in our approaches and that has always been done firmly and respectfully," Trudeau said when asked to comment on Trumps executive order, now being challenged in court.

"The last thing Canadians expect is for me to come down and lecture another country on how they choose to govern themselves. My role, our responsibility, is to continue to govern in such a way that reflects Canadians approach and be a positive example in the world."

Trump defended the policy as "common sense."

Trudeau said that he and his counterpart share common goals.

"Both President Trump and I got elected on commitments to support the middle class, to work hard for people who need a real shot at success," Trudeau said. "We know that by working together, by ensuring the continued effective integration of our two economies, we are going to be creating great opportunities for middle class Canadians and Americans, now and well into the future."

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"The last thing Canadians expect is for me to come down and lecture another country on how they choose to govern themselves."

It was, perhaps, a perfectly reasonable approach for a prime minister responsible for keeping almost US$2 billion in trade flowing across the border each day. Trump aims to reopen the North American Free Trade Agreement and the words that define his presidency so far  "America First"  can be startling for millions of Canadians who depend on a strong U.S. for their livelihood.

Trudeau leaves Washington with a public commitment from Trump that he will co-ordinate closely to protect jobs, promote trade, and "keep wealth on our continent."

While many will interpret that as a win or even a model for other leaders who must likewise deal with Trump, those who hoped for more might be slow to celebrate.

Just before the press conference, the daughter of former Canadian prime minister Joe Clark tweeted that she hoped Trudeau might go full "Love Actually," if things went sideways. Its a reference to the scene in the movie when Hugh Grant as the British prime minister, charmingly and forcefully knocks the U.S. president down a peg in front of the cameras.

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Its the kind of stuff of which Canadians (and Brits and Aussies and maybe others) sometimes dream. Real life is trickier.

As he has been celebrated elsewhere, Trudeau has also faced some pressure at home from those who want him to be bolder. The outgoing leader of the left-wing New Democratic Party, who recently called Trump a fascist in the House of Commons, has accused Trudeau of staying quiet in the face of Trumps "Muslim ban."

"It is always the role of a Canadian prime minister to stand up to racism and hatred, Tom Mulcair recently lectured Trudeau in front of his colleagues.

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Up until now, Trudeaus strategy seemed to be one of sub-tweets.

When women marched in the streets the day after Trumps inauguration, Trudeau took to Twitter to laud Canadian protesters as inspirations. While some U.S. media outlets pounced on it as another reason to move to Canada, it was later pointed out that no Liberal ministers, not even the one responsible for the Status of Women, participated that weekend.

In the wake of Trumps executive order, Trudeau tweeted that those fleeing persecution and violence would be welcome in Canada. The message was interpreted by international media as a sign that Canada would take in those now turned away from the United States.

While incredibly popular, the tweet was not followed with changes in Canadas refugee policy.

All along, Trudeau has maintained he would be able to work with Trump, despite their obvious differences. That work began in earnest Monday with a handshake outside the White House.

Trudeau led with his right hand and placed his left firmly on Trumps shoulder. Maybe it was an act of warmth, maybe it was an attempt to prevent the president from jerking his arm forward, as Trump is wont to do.

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Trudeau has a firm handshake. One imagines he might have learned it from his father Pierre Elliott Trudeau, a former prime minister. Trudeau gave Trump a framed photo of the president and his dad at an event in 1981, perhaps another reminder of things they share in common.

The elder Trudeau, whose legacy looms large over the prime minister, once famously said that living next to the U.S. was a lot like sleeping with an elephant.

No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast  one is affected by every twitch and grunt, he said.

The world shouldnt look to Trudeau to deliberately poke.

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When Trudeau Met Trump See Gallery
A photo of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appearing to hesitate before shaking U.S. President Donald Trump's hand has sparked a delightful Photoshop battle.

The leaders met for the first time in Washington, D.C. on Monday.

When Trudeau arrived at the White House, he managed to avoided the president's characteristically overzealous handshake. But perhaps he worried Trump wouldn't spare him a second time  a photo taken at a later photo-op shows Trudeau gazing awkwardly at Trump's outstretched hand.

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Users on Reddit pounced on the opportunity. Check out the magnificent results:

Follow The Huffington Post Canada on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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The chief economist of a prominent B.C.-based mortgage lender is warning that new regulations in China could seriously slow the foreign-buyer juggernaut in Vancouver and around the world.

In a bid to stop a massive outflow of cash from its economy, China last month started enforcing rules for currency exchange that forbid its citizens from buying real estate abroad. It is the latest in a series of steps China has taken, or has said it would take, to stop an outflow that has seen US$1.2 trillion leave the country since 2015.

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Noting a decline in Vancouver's housing market since last year, Dominion Lending Centres chief economist Sherry Cooper wrote in a blog post that "it might just be that some of that slowdown was the result of Chinas efforts to stem the outflow of capital.

She noted that sales started to slow in Vancouver even before the foreign-buyer tax the province introduced in August. Chinas central government announced a crackdown early last year, before the B.C. tax was put in place.

Chinas currency conversion rules limit nationals to exchanging a maximum of US$50,000 at a time. And as of last month, Chinese nationals who request a currency exchange will now be required to sign a declaration that they will not use the money to buy property, among other things.

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Anyone who violates the rules will be banned from currency conversions for two years, and will be subject to a tax audit.

The number of Chinese homebuyers around the world will drop sharply as a result of the crackdown, former Morgan Stanley economist Andy Xie told the Globe and Mail last month. Those who rely on Chinese buyers for their sales should prepare for business to shrink dramatically.

Evidence is mounting that this is already happening. According to a recent report from Bloomberg, Chinese buyers are having a hard time coming up with down payments in cities from London to Sydney.

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In Vancouver, home sales were down 40 per cent in January from a year earlier, and after years of double-digit growth, house prices have turned negative. At $1.5 million, the benchmark price for a detached home in Vancouver was down 6.6 per cent in half a year.

To get around the $50,000 limit, many Chinese homebuyers used a technique known as smurfing to transfer money out of China, meaning the cash for a home purchase was broken down into small amounts that would be hard for the government to detect.

But the new rules are putting a damper on smurfing, Bloomberg reported.

If a large number of people smurfing require their money soon, theyll have to sell. This will provide downward pressure on house prices, Cooper wrote.

Still, Cooper expects the money to continue flowing.

"While no one expects Chinese demand to disappear anytime soon, the clampdown is deterring first-time buyers who lack offshore assets and the expertise to skirt tighter capital controls," she wrote.

Also on HuffPost

Expensive Vancouver Homes Owned by Students (September 2015) See Gallery
A year ago, Canadians were feeling the "Trudeau effect": Trust in government, business, media and NGOs had jumped in the wake of the November, 2015, election, amid prospects for a new direction for Canada.

This year, Canadians are feeling the "Trump effect"  trust has fallen to its lowest level in 17 years of the Trust Barometer from public relations firm Edelman.

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For the first time ever, Canada has joined the ranks of "distrusters," the term Edelman uses to describe countries where fewer than half of the population express trust in their civil institutions.

Canada is not immune from the impact of the global trust crisis. In fact, were seeing similar trend lines as our neighbors in the United States, Lisa Kimmel, president and CEO of Edelman Canada, said in a statement. Canadians are telling us they are worried about their futures and dont trust our institutions to fix their concerns.

Worldwide, trust declined at its fastest pace ever across the 28 countries that Edelman surveyed between October 13 and November 16 of last year.

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That period ran from the closing days of the U.S. election  when the media was chatting about the legitimacy of the FBI's probe into Hillary Clinton  through to the aftermath of the election, when talk centred around Russia's influence over the vote.

The survey found Canadians hold many attitudes "that commonly underpin populist outcomes":

48 per cent said they are "concerned" the influx of people from other countries is damaging the economy and the country's culture;

80 per cent said the elites are out of touch with regular people;

61 per cent lack faith the country's leadership can solve Canada's problems;

48 per cent said globalization "is taking us in the wrong direction."

The Edelman poll found trust in media worldwide has plunged to an all-time low in 17 countries. In more than four-fifths of surveyed countries, fewer than half expressed faith in the media. Canada joined this club in the latest survey, with trust in media falling to 45 per cent, from 55 per cent the year before. Fifty-five per cent of Canadians said they didn't listen to people or organizations they disagree with.

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Trust in government is also in decline, in Canada and worldwide. Forty-three per cent of Canadians said they trusted government, down from 53 per cent a year earlier. One-third of Canadians said they would support politicians who can make their lives better even if they exaggerated the truth.

Large 'trust gap' in Canada

The implications of the global trust crisis are deep and wide-ranging, Edelman's president and CEO, Richard Edelman, said in a statement.

It began with the Great Recession of 2008, but like the second and third waves of a tsunami, globalization and technological change have further weakened peoples trust in global institutions. The consequence is virulent populism and nationalism as the mass population has taken control away from the elites.

"The system is broken. Without trust, belief in the system fails."  Edelman Trust Barometer report, 2017

Edelman's survey found a growing gap in Canada, and around the world, between what it calls the "informed public" (13 per cent of the world's population) and the "mass population" (87 per cent). Trust is far lower among the "mass population" than the "informed public."

In fact, virtually all of the decline in trust in Canada took place among the "mass population," with trust in that category dropping nine percentage points, to 47 per cent. There was little change among the "informed public," with trust falling to 62 per cent from 63 per cent.

"Current populist movements are fueled by a lack of trust in the system and economic and societal fears," Edelman said. Globally, the top reasons for distrust were:

Corruption (40 percent)

Immigration (28 percent)

Globalization (27 percent)

Eroding social values (25 percent)

The pace of innovation (22 percent)

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Melania Trump took to Twitter on Monday evening to thank Emily Ratajkowski for defending her from a journalist who blatantly slut-shamed her.

Earlier in the day, after attending the Altuzarra show during New York Fashion Week, the 25-year-old "Gone Girl" actress said she was seated next to a male journalist from the New York Times who told her "Melania is a hooker."

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Sat next to a journalist from the NYT last night who told me "Melania is a hooker." Whatever your politics it's crucial to call this out for  Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) February 13, 2017

what it is: slut shaming. I don't care about her nudes or sexual history and no one should.  Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) February 13, 2017

And although Melania has been a controversial figure throughout Donald Trump's presidency, her being devalued based on her gender and her work as a model just didn't sit well with EmRata.

"Whatever your politics it's crucial to call this out for what it is: slut shaming," the brunette beauty said. "I don't care about her nudes or sexual history and no one should."

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Gender specific attacks are disgusting sexist bullshit.  Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) February 13, 2017

"Gender specific attacks are disgusting sexist bullshit," she also tweeted.

On Twitter, Emily praised Teen Vogue writer Brittney McNamara for noting Melania's "sexuality has nothing to do with her execution of office" and the reporter's comments were a "gender-based attack."

Ratajkowski is an advocate for female empowerment and has spoken openly many times before about women having the right to choose when and how they want to share their sexuality and bodies.

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And Melania isn't the first woman Emily has stood up for. After getting slammed for taking a naked mirror selfie, Em stood in solidarity with Kim Kardashian.

However sexual our bodies may be, we need to hve the freedom as women to choose whn & how we express our sexuality. pic.twitter.com/1KK0MtXRuv  Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) March 30, 2016

In response to Emily's claims, the New York Times released a statement claiming the journalist in question does not cover politics for the paper.

"At a party last night, a Times reporter who does not cover Washington or politics, referred to an unfounded rumour regarding Melania Trump," spokesperson Eileen Murphy told USA Today. "The comment was not intended to be public, but it was nonetheless completely inappropriate and should not have occurred. Editors have talked to the reporter in question about the lapse."

Shortly after, Melania took to her FLOTUS Twitter account to thank Ratajkowski for standing up and speaking out for her.

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Applause to all women around the world who speak up, stand up and support other women! @emrata#PowerOfEveryWoman#PowerOfTheFirstLady  Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) February 14, 2017

"Applause to all women around the world who speak up, stand up and support other women! @emrata #PowerOfEveryWoman #PowerOfTheFirstLady," Trump tweeted.

As Ratajkowski has noted before, women are more than just their bodies, and they shouldn't be shamed for them.

Bravo, Emily!

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Emily Ratajkowski See Gallery
In the world of celebrities and social media stars, it can be difficult to find role models for young children.

But the ladies below are leaders in their communities  outspoken when it comes to issues of women's rights and equality  and all can be considered some of the great future feminist leaders of our time.

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They are actresses, authors and humanitarians, all trying to make our world a better place.

Children's rights activist Malala Yousafzai on February 4, 2016 in London.

Malala Yousafzai is one brave young woman.

The 19-year-old activist was shot by a Taliban gunman in 2012, but survived and went on to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013 and wrote a book.

The Pakistani teen is an advocate for children and women.

Rowan Blanchard attends the Milly show during New York Fashion Week.

The 15-year-old actress from "Girl Meets World" is an outspoken feminist, who gave a moving speech at the UN Women's Conference in 2016.

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"When I was in preschool, I played catch with the other kids and I was told I threw like a girl. I've identified as a feminist ever since," she said.

"My eleven year old sister has been taught by the media that her body is an object, will be compared to other bodies and that it holds more significance than her mind or her talent. This should not be the first thing she learns," she said.

A photo posted by rupi kaur (@rupikaur_) on Dec 22, 2016 at 4:43pm PST

The Canadian poet, artist and spoken word artist started drawing at the age of five.

As an immigrant from India unable to speak English, the 24-year-old fell in love with books at a young age.

"Her work engages with themes of femininity, love, loss, trauma, and healing. At times it is a composition of personal tales and in others, the experiences she encounters through life and travel," her bio notes.

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Actress Amandla Stenberg attends the 'Morris From America' premiere and Youth Talent Show.

The 18-year-old may be known for her role in "The Hunger Games," but on social media she makes powerful statements on police brutality, the black lives matter movement and even mainstream white feminism.

And as Mic notes, she is also inspiring young people to fight back against racist trolls.

"Racism is still alive and flourishing and even though we don't see it in the same way we used to, it exists," she said in 2015. "It's often subconscious: It's the way we treat each other and the assumptions we make without thinking."

LGTBQ rights advocate Jazz Jennings attends the 2016 Social Good Summit.

Jennings is an LGTBQ rights advocate, YouTube personality and one of the youngest people in the public eye to be identified as transgender.

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The 16-year-old was on a reality TV show in 2011 called, "I Am Jazz: A Family in Transition," which followed her personal and family life when she was 11.

Her and her family also founded the TransKids Purple Rainbow Foundation, which helps transgender children and their families understand gender dysphoria, transitioning and barriers children may face.

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Bravo, French Vogue!

In a first for the magazine, the fashion bible has put transgender model Valentina Sampaio on the cover of the March 2017 issue, paving the way for major fashion publications to step it up (ahem, American Vogue). The cover reads "Transgender beauty: How theyre shaking up the world."

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The decision to feature a transgender model on the cover is notable in that the magazine put Sampaio, a native of Brazil, on the second biggest issue of the year. According to Jezebel, only the September issue surpasses March in terms of importance and physical heftiness.

This cover is about the importance of [human] rights, and that we still need to make progress on an awful lot of stuff, French Vogue editor in chief Emmanuelle Alt told American Vogue.

According to American Vogue, Alt discovered the Brazilian beauty  who has also covered Elle Brasil and is a L'Oreal Paris ambassador  last year when Alt's assistant suggested she look at a story about her. After scrolling through Sampaio's Instagram page, Alt knew she wanted to feature her in the magazine.

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Alt also knew she wanted to make a major impact on newsstands, which is where most European magazines make the majority of their sales, instead of through subscriptions.

"We are living in a world at the moment, what is happening right now, we are stepping back, Alt told American Vogue. "Instead of being in a constant evolution, which is what should happen, human rights... theyre not going in a good direction. This cover is about the importance of those rights, and that we still need to make progress on an awful lot of stuff."

Shot by renowned photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, Sampaio looks glamorous in a metallic silver-gold lame dress, red lips and a smoky eye.

Of course, Sampaio is only one of dozens of other transgender models who are rising the high fashion ranks including Hari Nef, Lea T, Andreja Pejic and Geena Rocero. And recently, an Indian Fashion Week show had its first transgender model walk the catwalk.

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Let's hope this cover encourages more fashion magazines to embrace transgender models more fully and put them on their covers, too.

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George Rose via Getty Images OKANAGAN FALLS, CANADA - JUNE 9: Hillside vineyards at the See Ya Later Ranch are viewed after sunset on June 9, 2013 near Okanagan Falls, British Columbia, Canada. Located across the U.S. Border in the northeast corner of Washington State, the Okanagan Valley is marked by an 83 mile long Okanagan Lake and has become a major Canadian retirement center and vacation destination. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)

Sam Holmes travelled more than 13,000 kilometres for a wine festival that will celebrate Canadian wines on a scale that has never been seen before. Holmes is the general manager of Yalumba, the oldest family-owned winery in Australia, and arrived for the 39th annual Vancouver International Wine Festival to showcase some of his property's vintages. But he will also be tasting many Canadian wines -- from British Columbia to Nova Scotia.

If you've wondered how the Canadian wine industry has evolved, the 2017 Vancouver Wine Fest promises to reveal the breadth and depth of a viticulture scene that is surprisingly diverse and increasingly important. For Holmes, the past two decades have marked a stark change in perception for the nation's wine culture.

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"Twenty years ago if you asked a world-class wine maker, 'Why don't you move to Canada and start a winery or work for a winery?,' they would've said, 'What for? That's not going to advance my career.' Now, you ask them if they want to move to the Okanagan Valley and be part of what's happening there, and they would say for sure. Now, the response you get is, 'Why wouldn't you?'" says Holmes, whose company has been attending the wine festival for about 15 years.

The Okanagan Valley, which has 330 wineries (about 100 more than the Barossa Valley), is the premier wine region in Canada and will be showcased during the festival. Like many Australian winemakers, Holmes has come to respect Canada's grape-growing industry and he says that slowly the wine consumer Down Under is beginning to realize there's excellent food and drink to be had in regions of North America outside of California.

"Canadian wine is probably still a little unknown in Australia. We know icewine, of course," Holmes says. "But Australians are coming to Whistler and coming to Banff to ski and enjoy the outdoors, and so they're also getting to try the wines. They're discovering the white wines and the good red wines of Canada. So it's starting to get recognized by the consumer."

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This year's Vancouver Wine Fest includes the largest collection of Canadian wines and winemakers at any international wine show. The celebration marks the nation's 150th anniversary, making the timing ideal for such a gathering, says Harry Hertscheg, the executive director of the festival.

More than 1,700 wines will be poured during the festival, which launched Saturday night at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver with the annual Bacchanalia Gala. Before the event closes on February 19, 54 events will have taken place, providing several opportunities for unique and romantic dining experiences during the course of celebrations on and around Valentine's Day. The wine festival features wine-focused dinners at some of the city's top restaurants and a massive tasting room at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

Yet, as Hertscheg says, pulling the nation's different regions together for the festival wasn't an easy feat.

"We do a good job with trade with other countries but we don't always do that with each other," he says, noting the hope is to have more availability of Canadian wines across all provinces. "We will see if Ontario and Nova Scotia wines will be selling here in B.C. someday soon. We hope that's the case."

Chocolate Delights in B.C.

For chocolate lovers, there may be no better place to find satisfaction than Wild Sweets, a bean-to-bar chocolate maker in Richmond. Located in a storefront in an industrial park about 20 minutes by car from downtown Vancouver, Wild Sweets may be the most under-the-radar foodie gem in British Columbia.

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Owned and operated by Belgian-born Dominique Duby and his wife, Cindy, Wild Sweets has won international acclaim for its excellence. They've produced five cookbooks and their products are available in retail stores such as Whole Foods. Recently, they began to offer an in-store tasting experience that is an education as well as an indulgence.

"The bean-to-bar process is about passion," says Dominique Duby. "It's very similar to people who make wine. They have the passion to make as good a product as they can, and it is the same with us."

Duby, whose father was a chemical engineer, studied physical and chemical engineer before deciding he wanted to enter the culinary world because "I wanted to travel." His goal for his customers is to deliver a "brain-based" experience. "The hope is to make you have an emotional connection to what you are eating," he says.

The emotion you will feel during the tasting experience, which lasts two hours and includes about 40 samples, is joy. You'll taste the raw cocoa beans from Peru, Mexico and Venezuela, as well as chocolate at various points during the creation process. There's also chocolate tea, brewed with the husks of the cocoa bean, and hot chocolate varieties to sip.

Thomas Haas (2539 W Broadway, Vancouver) -- Similar to the Dubys' experience, Haas and his wife pursued a life as chocolatiers that began in Europe. Along with its decadent, award-winning chocolates, the cafe run by the German-born Haas features pastries, croissants and other treats to savour.

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Beta 5 (413 Industrial Avenue, Vancouver) -- If you like your chocolates to go, Beta 5 is a tempting choice with cream puffs, caramels, bars and gift boxes. It's products have won rave reviews from consumers and critics.
seb_ra via Getty Images Valentines day hearts on wooden background

The abundance of roses, candy hearts and Hershey kisses can only mean one thing, the day of love is almost here. And while we all know February 14th is a Hallmark-invented holiday, it's a great time to celebrate all type of love, because #LoveIsLove. Of course, your darling will want to be whisked away and showered with romance. Sure, roses are lovely, but why not use the upcoming "holiday" as an excuse for a romantic getaway.

Booking.com, the world leader in connecting travellers with the widest choice of places to stay, has found some of the best destinations to get away if you're an LGBTQ couple. So, should Cupid's arrow strike, here's a round-up of where you can heat up your Valentine's Day.

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Los Angeles, California

Who doesn't want to go to Hollywood? Home to so many celebs and one of the largest LGBTQ communities in the world, the sophisticated lifestyle and glitz and glam of this metropolis is sure to impress your sweetheart. Who knows, you might even bump into a few A-List lovebirds, like Modern Family's, Jesse Ferguson and Justin Mikita or our favourite daytime host, Ellen Degeneres and her wife, Portia De Rossi.

With endless rooftop bars, spectacular coastal sunsets, and candlelit dinners, you'll find romance in every corner of the City of Angels. Cozy up at Palihouse West Hollywood, and retreat into a luxury urban oasis and upscale comfort. This residential-style property offers an oversized loft-style suite, a rooftop 'Sunset Cocktail Lounge' and a luxurious lobby lounge, drawing in locals and visitors alike.

Kauai, Hawaii

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We're almost positive that if you looked up the synonym for romance, Hawaii would be it. Its sun kissed beaches, exotic landscapes and majestic mountains are perhaps the most quintessential backdrop for igniting passion. Of the six islands, Kauai is where to go for an intimate and secluded escape for two. Less developed than the other islands, Kauai offers visitors an authentic and unspoiled glimpse of paradise. Its sharp rugged cliffs and lush valleys will leave you and your partner in complete awe.

For the best views of the island, book a helicopter tour and fly through the colorful Waimea Canyon, the remote valleys of the Napali Coast and into the Waialeale Crater where waterfalls will surround you. And if that isn't enough, Hawaii passed the marriage equality act in 2013, so if you want to seal the deal this Valentine's Day, this might be the place to do it. Book a room at the five-star, St. Regis Princeville Resort for incredible views, access to a 5,000-square-foot infinity pool and the on-site Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant. By the time you have to leave, you'll be begging bae to stay for just one more day.

Reykjavik, Iceland

Dazzle your Valentine with a getaway to an icy winter wonderland where the world's first openly gay head of state was elected in 2009. Dotted with sparkling glaciers, breathtaking waterfalls and volcanoes, Iceland is a land full of natural wonder. Offering miles of undiscovered whimsy and dramatic landscapes, you and your boo are in for an epic adventure. Forget about the freezing temperatures as you snuggle up close to one another and marvel the spectacular Northern Lights.

To really get your heart racing, head to one of the most picturesque wonders of the world - the Blue Lagoon. Nestled around a black lava landscape, relax, and soak up the tranquil environment at this natural geothermal spa. After an eventful day, head back to the country's capital and make the luxurious Alda Hotel Reykjavik your basecamp. Ideally situated by the city's main shopping hub, Laugavegur, and close to dozens of bars and restaurants, you'll be walking distance to just about anything you choose to do.

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Portland, Oregan

Forget about the grey skies, this trendy and progressive city is impossible to resist. It's vibrant art scene, pulsing nightlife and accepting attitude makes it a wonderful escape for LGBTQ lovebirds. The bohemian centre has something for any type of duo. Foodies get excited, you'll have a field day scrolling through Opentable and discovering some of the best farm-to-table dining options. Beer enthusiasts you're in luck as Portland is home to more craft breweries than any other city in North America.

Finally, those looking to embrace the outdoors can take full advantage of the countless hiking and biking trails just moments outside of the downtown core. Unwind at the quirky century-old Crystal Hotel which features 51 guest rooms each decorated with inspiration from a song or performance from one of Portland's premier music venues, the Crystal Ballroom.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Woo your loved one and take them on a Scottish adventure they'll never forget. Named the best European country for LGBTQ protection, the charming and historic capital city of Edinburgh has an intoxicating and welcoming atmosphere the two of you will love. Surrounded by century old castles, the locale offers everything from art and literature, to music and theater and of course that warm Celtic hospitality.

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Don't miss the beautiful Edinburgh Castle, Royal Yacht Britannia and the National Museum of Scotland. Consider a stay at the Witchery by the Castle, because what could be more romantic than sleeping in a castle? The sixteenth century building, offers a range of opulent suites and promises a memorable and magical stay.
I'm referring, of course to Valentine's Day. And what a blessed relief it is to hit the pause button, take a break from hatred and celebrate love. I can't remember a time we needed it more.

But before we get into that, did you know that the Feast of Saint Valentine (or Valentine's Day) wasn't always about couples expressing their love for each other?

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That only happened later, first in the 14th-century, when Geoffrey Chaucer incorporated Saint Valentine's Day into his love poem, "The Parliament of Fowls" and then, in 18th-century England, when lovers began giving flowers, confectionary and sent greeting cards.

Before that Valentines was anything but loving.

Legend has it that way back in the third century the Roman Emperor Claudius II was building up a military and thought single men made better soldiers. So he outlawed marriage for young men. A priest, named Valentine, disagreed and thought the ban was unfair, and he continued to perform marriage ceremonies secretly.

"More and more I hear Canadians making mean and disparaging comments about those who disagree or have different points of view. I also hear racist remarks, which is terribly distressing."

Yep, Claudius got pissed and had the priest killed. I suppose we should be grateful that President Trump just takes to Twitter.

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Some of you may wonder why I harp so much on Donald Trump. There are a few reasons, not the least of which is that I detest everything he stands for. It just goes against all I believe in and hold dear. Plus, If he continues to head down this same path he's currently headed on, I believe he will put America -- and very possibly other countries, Canada included -- in danger.

His influence, his message of hatred and hostility, are alarmingly far-reaching and that really concerns me.

More and more I hear Canadians making mean and disparaging comments about those who disagree or have different points of view. I also hear racist remarks, which is terribly distressing. It's not who we are as a nation. Some of the things said after the shooting at the Mosque in Quebec made me feel like I was at a Trump rally.

And I'm not ashamed, or afraid, to say I don't like it.

We need to nip it in the bud before we find ourselves smack dab in the middle of a rebellion here, in Canada. We cannot delude ourselves into thinking we're immune. We have plenty of issues of our own -- like income inequality, like aboriginal issues, like the Keystone pipeline, like electoral reform -- and I sure hope Justin Trudeau's paying attention. Because the Trump effect crosses borders, we're already seeing some evidence of that. And I'd prefer us to solve our problems our way, not his.

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There may be another way to counter his revolution of hate and it's Valentine's Day that's made me think of it. Maybe it's time we -- and by "we" I mean the world -- had a revolution of our own. Maybe it's time for another love-in.

What if every time Donald Trump tweets something hateful, we tweet something loving and kind.

What if we respond to every nasty act of his, by being considerate.

What if every time he points fingers, we give hugs.

What if we smile at strangers on the subway, in the elevator, on the street, in restaurants and cafes and supermarkets.

What if we always remember to take the extra minute to say "thank you."

What if we all wore little red heart pins on our lapels.

What if ...

If you enjoyed this story click on "become a fan" at the top of the article right next to my name. You'll be notified every time I post.

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On January 17, the Conservative Party of Canada held its only French-language debate of the leadership race. For anyone who believes that the French language should be an intrinsic part of the political life of Canada, it was an exercise in frustration. To quote a National Post headline, it was a case of the "Tories and the (broken) French Connection."

Of the 13 candidates who had the guts to participate in this sorry show, less than half were able to show the basic ability to debate in Canada's other official language. Worse! In order to mask his inability to speak French, Mr. Kevin O'Leary chose to join the race the day after the debate. Such a devious tactic shows a lack of political courage!

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Since the late '70s, all Conservative prime ministers were able to speak French. Mr. Joe Clark and Ms. Kim Campbell were not totally at ease in French, but they had the basic communication skills needed for the job; at the other end of the spectrum of linguistic competence, Mr. Brian Mulroney had complete fluency in both languages.

By beginning his speeches en francais, Mr. Stephen Harper showed his respect for the preamble to the Constitution of 1982 which states that French and English are the official languages of the country. Even that preamble has a flaw, since Quebec is in constitutional limbo.

(May I remind all functionally unilingual candidates for the leadership of the Conservative party that the constitution of 1982 was adopted, despite the unanimous rejection of l'Assemblee nationale. Thirty-five years later, no contemporary political party of Quebec nor any government of Quebec, whether they be independantiste, nationaliste or federaliste have ever proposed to adopt this document as it is written. If I may paraphrase Hamlet, something is wrong in the kingdom of Canada.)

What is the one skill that all politicians, whatever their party or the level of government, simply must possess?

The possibility of a unilingual prime minister brings us back to the tired gripe: "It's not fair! If my grandchild can't speak French, then he can't become prime minister of Canada!" I will take a deep breath and carefully search for diplomatic words.

To this, I ask you: what is THE ONE SKILL that all politicians, whatever their party or the level of government (municipal, provincial or federal) simply must possess?

A politician's daily duties include reading documents, researching, interacting with civil servants and bureaucrats, writing speeches, answering pointed questions from news reporters, convincing other politicians and voters that his vision is the best. He or she must be able to encapsulate a complex situation in a neat 20-second clip for the evening news on TV. In other words, all politicians must be skilled communicators.

In 1971, I acquired the certificate to teach French as a second language in Ontario. With my five years of experience teaching languages, I can say with confidence that three conditions are essential to learn a language. You must have a) intelligence, b) motivation and c) be willing to work hard over a long period of time. So, if your grandson or granddaughter cannot or will not acquire the communication skills needed to become prime minister of a bilingual country, please do the kid a favour and ask his or her guidance counselor to steer them towards a profession where effective communication is not the most important skill required.

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A few candidates have said that they will learn to speak French; as a teacher, I am skeptical of this claim. I'm sure that being the leader of a political party is an extremely demanding job. On top of possibly more than 60 hours per week dedicated to the job, dozens of town hall meetings -- to say nothing of a family life -- you would need to commit an extra 10 or so hours to learn a new language.

Perhaps those language classes might give him or her the ability to order an all-dressed pizza in a restaurant and then ask the way to the washrooms -- and with a heavy accent, he or she may sputter a few words in broken French. But is that effective communication? A politician that already has a sound, basic knowledge of the French language will be able to improve on the job -- but to start from scratch appears to be mission impossible.

From my side of the "Two Solitudes," the divide between Anglophone and Francophone Canadians, I would like to ask a fundamental question to all functionally unilingual candidates who are aiming for the job of prime minister: Est-ce que nous faisons partie de votre pays lorsque nous parlons le francais? (Are we in your country when we speak French?)

Monsieur O'Leary, my motto is Je me souviens!

Any top politician who hasn't got the linguistic competence to communicate effectively in the two official languages implicitly suggests a significant step backwards towards the constitution of the United Canadas of 1840, where the stated objective was to "swamp the French," as Lord Durham said. Fluency in both official languages is a non-negotiable minimum for top bureaucrats, cabinet ministers, judges on the Supreme Court or a prime minister.

In Quebec, a situation where such pillars of the country are functionally unilingual, can only be perceive as a de facto rejection du fait francais. The ROC (Rest of Canada) should be aware that there is only one possible answer for what appears to Quebec as a hostile policy.

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Monsieur O'Leary, my motto is Je me souviens!

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CP/Dominic Chan

When I was 13 years old, I watched Do the Right Thing. I was a white kid in a Toronto suburb, and I was energized, angered and curious when Spike Lee's character tossed that garbage can through that window at Sal's Pizzeria. I sat for hours thinking about it, and watched the movie a half dozen times, often rewinding that scene several times to try and figure out the emotion, the purpose of that broken window.

Public Enemy became my conduit between a 13-year-old white kid and the meaning behind those shards of glass. "Fight the Power" was the first piece of political music I absorbed as a youngster. It provided the context I was seeking. The buildup and frustration of that Brooklyn neighbourhood reached a crescendo and Mookie punctuated the rage of the people, providing a tipping point for the film and my inaugural lesson in race relations.

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As I got older, some schoolmates would label me a "wigger," a byproduct of wearing Travel Fox and dragging my radio around blasting golden era hip hop at high volume. I can see why some saw my actions as a youngster an example of cultural appropriation. I sort of acted like hip-hop was my culture, too, but as I matured I realized I was a just a guest in hip-hop, one who should not put his feet up on the furniture while visiting. Nevertheless, the gravitation towards black music, art, and culture came quite naturally. Appropriation turned into admiration, and I didn't apologize for embracing any of it.

I'm 40 years old now. I have two children and write about politics and social issues. Recently, I wrote a blog calling for the resignation of the co-founder of Black Lives Matter Toronto, Yusra Khogali, citing her pattern of vitriol as an obstacle to BLM's stated goals. I knew the piece would be a little controversial, but I did not predict such a firestorm of hate, punctuated by thousands of people labelling me a white supremacist or a racist.

And then that childhood hero, Chuck D, tweeted the following, and my heart sank.

A sad 500 yr human track record of white males in world leadership has spawned this @jamesdifiorehttps://t.co/VivHJlmcbV # @HuffPostCaLiv  Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 9, 2017

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The kid wearing that Fear of a Black Planet T-shirt is long gone, morphed into a 40-year-old getting slammed on Twitter from the artist depicted on that shirt. Chuck D called me out in front of 580,000 followers, a stinging rebuke and a bookend to what was three decades of unquestioned admiration.

But to be honest, I understood Chuck D's point. He lives in a country where the government has altered the destiny of black people, rerouting their fate through heinous and evil chapters like slavery, Jim Crowe, mass incarceration, police brutality and countless other state sponsored atrocities.

I took a step back and tried adjusting my lens and realized something: the juxtaposition of a white person pontificating about the credibility and good standing of a black activist leader seems so stark to some people, good people, that even if they agreed with the underlying point they could not bring themselves to support it.

And I get that. It is an honest, human response to an issue that embodies so many powerful emotions and opinions, and while I do not regret what I said, I am fine with being criticized for saying it in the first place.

I still feel she is a liability, and counterintuitive towards the ultimate goal of BLM if that goal is racial equality.

But does a rebuke from a childhood hero and countless others mean I want to absolve Yusra Khogali for calling white people a genetic defect? No. I would be lying if I said her comments met the threshold of rationalism. I believe that power is responsible for the crimes of humanity, not genetics. And while other writers have backed up her hyperbole, especially her statements about Justin Trudeau, I still feel she is a liability, and counterintuitive towards the ultimate goal of BLM if that goal is racial equality.

A counterargument claims that because Trudeau is the head of a state with a history of oppression, he automatically becomes the leader of a white supremacist state. This ever-widening definition of white supremacy would entrap any newly elected prime minister, and incidentally also implies that Barack Obama was a de facto white supremacist himself, which, despite some questionable policies, seems like an obvious overreach and a departure from reality.

Other BLM allies, black and white, constantly use words like "white tears," "whitesplaining," "white fragility," "white guilt," "concern trolling," "tone policing" and a slew of other buzzwords meant to box in critics, a tactic by the regressive left when condescension replaces civil discussion. I read so many phrases relating to my skin tone that I found myself wondering why any moderate Caucasian would ever want to align themselves with the supposed gatekeepers of racial justice.

They seem to be looking for outright obedience and submissiveness, not to mention a requirement to suspend independent thought. Of course, all of their lecturing was shrouded inside a cloak of infallibility, presenting themselves as truth-tellers who were merely trying to educate someone they perceived as being uninformed. This fundamentalist approach snuffs out any chance to build bridges or enhance dialogue. In fact, it has the opposite effect.

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Criticizing the fundamentalism of the left can result in support from unwanted places, such as white nationalists and fundamentalist right-wingers who are pleased to see anything negative written about BLM. Interestingly, some right-wingers labeled me a "cuck" because I balanced my critique with an unabashed support for racial justice. Of course, activists conveniently referred to this as "concern trolling," a popular, arbitrary label for those who do not follow a hardline, unwavering position.

I had white people lecturing me, black people praising me, and vice versa.

But the eclectic set of responses from readers revealed an interesting sociological split between activists and regular people. I had white people lecturing me, black people praising me, and vice versa. The reactions proved that ethnicities are not monolithic, despite their statements that implied they were speaking on behalf of their respective races and movements. A common skin tone doesn't mean we share the same opinions, and even after receiving a death wish and hundreds of messages soaked in angry criticism, I was pleased overall to see a myriad of positions from people of various backgrounds. I was also satisfied that the fringe on both the right and the left hated my stance, verifying my status as a non-ideological thinker in the blood sport of identity politics.

Granted, I'm both outspoken and stubborn, but I do not subscribe to the widely held belief that being white precludes me from contributing to the marketplace of ideas. The climate within identity politics is heavily reliant on groupthink, otherwise you are met with rebuttals like "you just don't get it," implying a monopoly on orthodoxy embedded inside racial activism. Are white people supposed to ignore black people who agree with them, and gravitate solely towards black people and their white allies with whom they vehemently disagree? Is the lecturing class the most righteous sect of activist communities?

Because as someone who is familiar with the inner workings of politics and public relations, I know bad optics when I see it. The BLM leader had become a detriment to her own movement by using speech that would prevent her from sitting face-to-face with the very people she needed to engage with in order to facilitate the change she sought.

And rightfully so.

This was removed by @yusrakhogali from twitter after I tweeted about it. She is co-founder #blacklivesmatterTOpic.twitter.com/TksW5kj4oX -- Jerry Agar (@jerryagar1010) April 5, 2016

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A substantial amount of people believe that criticizing a black leader automatically makes a white person "problematic" or a racist. This is not a sustainable position. I approach racial issues from a starting point that makes some people uncomfortable, but self-respect prevents me from submitting to a doctrine that mimics the dehumanization that propelled systemic racism in the first place.

For better or worse, I'd rather be perceived as an imperfect supporter in the realm of racial justice than a submissive pretender looking for validation.

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Getting Intimate with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)

Let's not hold back on this. You've got Spondyloarthritis and your back and joints hurt, a lot. You've lost some flexibility and simply can't get into the positions you used to be able to. Furthermore, what with the fatigue and bouts of depression, you don't feel like doing "it." But, you are still young and you know it's healthy for couples to have regular sexual intercourse. What's to be done?

As a married man of close to 44 years living with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) for nearly 36 of them, I have faced the challenges of keeping my relationship intimate and romantic. That's why a presentation by Iris Zink "Sex and Intimacy in Chronic Disease: at the American College of Rheumatology annual meeting in Washington, DC this past November truly resonated. As a nurse practitioner with a speciality in rheumatology, Ms. Zink noted that sexual dysfunction is often the first manifestation of physical illness. Yet few health care practitioners bring up the subject with their patients, many of whom are also too embarrassed to talk about it. They shouldn't be.

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For people with AS and other rheumatic diseases, not only may their disease cause pain with sexual activity but their medication may be causing sexual impairment. A survey of patients with arthritis showed almost one-fifth said they were unable to engage in sexual intercourse due to limitation from arthritis.

Ms. Zink's message is that sexual intimacy doesn't have to involve intercourse, pointing to the fact that the brain and the skin are the largest sexual organs. A lot of intimacy can be enjoyed by hugging, caressing and sexual stimulation that does not involve intercourse. In some cases, people have to overcome cultural or religious taboos to practice forms of intimacy that they may otherwise regard as out of bounds. Everything about sex and intimacy is normal, and some patients may need to be taught how to be more creative.

Communication between partners is crucial, as is a willingness to experiment. In the Facebook group of the Canadian Spondylitis Association, there have been discussions on intimacy and finding a position that is not painful. The missionary position (man on top) is painful for both men and women with AS, so the cowgirl position (woman on top) may be better. A physical therapist may be required to provide treatment for functional activities, such as the female AS patient Ms. Zink came across who admitted that she could not open her legs wide enough to allow for sex. Physical therapists can also offer advice on modifications in positioning.

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A healthy sexuality, of which there are many forms, is key to a normal, happy relationship. Any sexual dysfunction such as those caused by disease or medications can impact not only people's quality of life, but lead to frustrations and a backing away from intimacy. This is a pity. Everyone suffering from AS and other rheumatic diseases should be able to discuss their situation openly with their rheumatology health care team. The health-care team in turn should be prepared to discuss intimacy and offer advice and treatment options.

Don't give up!

Some of the advice can address the top myths about sexuality, such as sex always equals intercourse and the goal of sex is orgasm. Another myth is that there comes a time when sex is not important. In Ms. Zink's view, sex is as important at 80 as at 20.

For people living with AS, it is important not to feel that their health and any physical challenges no longer make them sexy. After all, this is a young persons' disease and strikes men and women in the prime of their lives, usually before age 35. Who wants to give up on sex and intimacy when there are decades of life left?

Key to a continuing healthy sex life is a sense of humour, proper communication and a taste for adventure. Don't give up! As Ms. Zink said to the gentleman who complained his arthritis had made him unable to have an erection and therefore he couldn't keep his wife happy with sex, "What, you don't have a tongue?!"

Michael Mallinson has lived with AS for over 35 years. He developed this content as a consultant to Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. No payment was received. To learn more about AS, visit www.spondylitis.ca and watch this video at Youtube.com.

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As a former Toronto resident, I used to enjoy any mention of Canada at the European Parliament where I work. It was refreshing, rare. Now CETA, the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, has everyone talking about Canada in Brussels, the EU capital, ahead of February 15's vote -- and it's not always good. So, here is a tip for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ahead of his Thursday speech at the European Parliament (he will be the first Canadian prime minister to do so).

The 751 elected members of the European Parliament represent voices as diametrically different as those of Greece's far left and the U.K.'s far right. The conversation, however, has been particularly divisive among Europe's left -- intense campaigns against CETA have influenced millions of voters, and that may leave both Canada and the EU at an impasse. It is hence by understanding and addressing the concerns of the left that the Canadian prime minister may successfully bring an agreement.

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Canada is being held hostage in one of Europe's deepest political crisis. The rise of anti-establishment parties has forced our politicians to adopt an ever more populist rhetoric, for fear of losing popular support. For example, France's centre-left government officially supports CETA, while most of the party's elected representatives will vote against it on February 15 because the far-left's campaign against CETA has won the hearts of many left-leaning voters.

Canadians also face the increasingly nationalistic rhetoric of some European leaders; most seem to struggle to explain the benefits of the European Union, let alone CETA. That is why the U.K.'s Labour Party, overwhelmed by the abysmal descent into Brexit, has decided to give up its EU membership rather than find the political and moral courage to engage with voters. CETA is essentially an "international compromise," two words that raise the suspicions of a disenchanted public in the era of Trump and Brexit.

Meanwhile, Putin has waged an information war on CETA to further weaken the EU. Russia Today (RT) and its many online affiliates have offered unlimited coverage to anti-CETA campaigners, especially in Angela Merkel's Germany. A majority of Europe's online campaign against CETA actually come from this country, where far-left anti-trade organisations have prospered.

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Yet beyond anti-establishment and nationalist rhetoric, CETA's great obstacle is the controversial setting of a supranational Investors Court System (ICS). Critics claim the ICS to be a private and secret court in which multinationals will win lawsuits against our states to privatize public services and erode our social and environmental rights. A careful study of CETA will reveal these claims to be unfounded.

Rather, Canada and the EU agreed to retake control of the ICS by entirely redrafting it in February 2016. Only our governments will fund and appoint the 15 judges that will deal with investors' claims in public proceedings. There will also be a strict code of ethics and a new court of appeal. Despite these improvements, it seems nothing short of its complete removal would adequately tackle the public's concern.

As if these challenges were not enough, Europe's powerful Greens have been campaigning vehemently against CETA with an environmental focus. Canada's stance on environmental protection remains tainted by Stephen Harper's legacy, which included removing Canada from the Kyoto Protocol, promoting the use of tar sands and unsustainable mining practices around our planet. The Greens have asked more time be given to vote on CETA, as some NGOs have claimed the EU-Canada deal will allow fracking, tar sands, shale gas, hormone beef or chlorine chicken into Europe. Canada's shaky reputation in this field has helped campaigners spread those fears, however unfounded.

CETA is an agreement to reduce the costs of EU-Canada trading, not to weaken our democracy.

Finally and with my most sincere apologies to Canadian readers: European citizens and politicians interchange Canada and the U.S., confusing CETA with TTIP, its U.S. equivalent. Sadly, my constituents have never heard of Canada's pride for its free universal health care or its inclusive education system, values held dear in Europe, too. Conflating Canada with America's highly capitalistic society, which the European left rejects, has brought about horror scenarios of mass privatizations -- even the end of democracy, a rise in tobacco and alcohol consumption and higher rates of cancer, to use a few of the allegations I have read from anti-CETA statements.

Determined as they are, Canada and the EU provided evidence again, in a binding declaration in October, that CETA would neither prevent regaining control of a privatized public service, nor would it prevent regulating in the public interest (for example, by banning tar sands). Our parliaments will still fully legislate on workers' rights, public health measures or the rights of states to expropriate investors based on environmental concerns. CETA is an agreement to reduce the costs of EU-Canada trading, not to weaken our democracy.

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Still, many Europeans are skeptical. While CETA is expected to pass with a clear majority in the European Parliament on February 15, it remains unclear whether all national parliaments will ratify it. Truth be told, their approval is mandatory before CETA's full implementation. So my best advice to Justin Trudeau might just be for him to hold his breath a little longer -- it's still a wide ocean between us.

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If someone had told me a decade ago that I'd be living at home as a 30-something, I never would have believed them. Yet, here I am.

Realizing you've become the kind of person you used to scoff at as a 20-something (an educated adult who literally lives in their mom's basement) can definitely feel lonely at times, but according to a recent Pew Research Center study, my living situation is far from unique. In fact, it's actually kind of trendy.

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As of 2014, for the first time in more than 130 years, adults ages 18 to 34 are more likely to be living in their parents' home than with a spouse or partner in their own household. According to their research, this turn of events is fueled primarily by the dramatic drop in millennials who are choosing to settle down romantically before age 35, but also by larger economic issues.

I am one of those millennials that has yet to settle down with a romantic partner. After living in one of Canada's most expensive rental markets (Toronto) for over twelve years, I broke up with my long term partner. In need of a fresh start, I moved back to my hometown on the West Coast. In a city where a shabby 1950 bungalows sell for more than $600,000, living at home seemed like the smartest option. Since moving back home, I've launched a business and a career that I love, paid off commercial debt and saved money towards a down-payment on an apartment. It's been pretty great. However, my living situation has definitely impacted my dating life.

As someone who writes about dating, relationships and sex for a living, the first thing people always ask me when I tell them about my living situation is, "how does that work?" Well, dating as an adult living at home can be, well, kind of awkward at times.

When I first moved home, I stayed in my sister's former teenage bedroom and quickly learned that there's nothing romantic about making out in a room where you can still see the tape marks from your sibling's discarded Beastie Boys poster that they had in 7th Grade. So, bringing home date is a no-go. If I want to cook the person I'm seeing a romantic dinner or plan a romantic night in, it almost always involves hanging out at their place, not mine.

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When I read through autoTRADER.ca's annual dating survey, I was reminded of a few other ways that living at home as an adult can impact your dating life:

1. The likelihood that your date will meet your parents is high.

While most people consider "meeting the parents" as a big step forward in a relationship, for me it's almost unavoidable. I live with my mother. If you come over to my house and she's home, you'll see her. Because of this, I prefer if my date just texts me to let me know they've arrived, rather than come to the door -- or better yet, that we meet somewhere neutral. Interestingly enough, I'm not alone on this. According to autoTRADER.ca's research, millennials aged 18 to 34 (35 per cent) are the most likely age group to prefer their date send them a text message from their vehicle when coming to pick them up.

2. Driving your parent's car is apparently a mood killer.

Nearly half (48 per cent) of Canadians find it unattractive or "embarrassing beyond words" if their date were to pick them up in a vehicle owned by friends or a parent. However, if you're a millennial living at home or in a large urban core, owning your own car isn't necessarily realistic. I live in a city where almost everything is accessible by foot or bike. I'd much rather borrow a car occasionally than pay for a vehicle I never use.

3. There's still a stigma associated with living at home.

Although a lot of the stigma I feel is self-imposed, it's still there. I'm proud of what I've accomplished during my time living at home, but when I meet someone new, there's always a moment (usually after I've explained that I write about love and sex on the Internet) where I have to say, "and by the way, I also live with my mother." Most people react positively and the ones that don't aren't the people I want to be dating anyways.

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With rents rising faster than wages, I predict that the reality of adults living at home isn't going to change any time soon. Taking that into account, I think we have to weigh the material status of potential partners with what else they bring to the table.

As Jacob Black, senior editor, of autoTRADER.ca says, "If people want their dates to arrive in their own car, drivers should also want to take care of their date and show them consideration, sophistication and class."

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If you were injured doing your job and could no longer work or faced ongoing medical problems you might, as thousands of people do each year, turn to legal experts to advise you of your rights.

Now such access to justice is under threat.

Ministers are currently proposing to raise the limit in the small claims court for all personal injury claims from 1,000 to 5,000. The Government says the measure will crack down on inflated whiplash claims by motorists, however, as the NASUWT has highlighted to the Ministry of Justice, an across-the-board rise in the limit will affect many other types of claim, including accidents at work.

The government's proposals will affect 1 million injured people every year - 95% of all personal injury claimants.

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Under the plans, cases falling below the 5,000 limit would need to be heard in the small claims court where legal costs are not recoverable, meaning claimants would be liable for their own costs. This will seriously hamper the ability of non-unionised workers to get justice and for employers to be held to account.

The Government claims that the reforms are necessary to tackle the 'whiplash epidemic' and clamp down on fraudulent claims, however, these changes will affect anyone injured anywhere, not just behind the wheel.

It is the insurance giants who are set to benefit if these changes go ahead. It is estimated they stand to gain an additional 200 million a year as a result. The losers will be the public services we all rely on as the Government has stated the Treasury stands to lose 135million-money that will be siphoned from our already stretched schools and hospitals. So much for the Prime Minister's vow that 'the Government I lead will be driven not by the interests of the privileged few, but by yours.' And, what do these proposals mean for Theresa May's promise that 'when we take the big calls, we'll think not of the powerful but you. When we pass new laws, we'll listen not to the mighty but to you'?

These plans are just the latest attack by the Government on workers' rights. Fees have been introduced for employment tribunals, resulting in a 70% fall in the number of workers taking cases to tribunal. Cuts have been made to compensation for workers who have been unfairly dismissed. Draconian anti trade union legislation has been passed. All of these measures undermine workers' rights and are designed to make it more difficult for ordinary working people to exercise their rights and get justice.

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When it comes to AI and jobs, there's two theories on how things will end up. Optimists will tell you that man and machine can coexist, be better together and live harmoniously. Others say new tech will leave millions unemployed.

The problem with the former view is that there are already signs that contradict it. One is called the gig economy, and it's not pretty. Let me explain why the gig economy puts man in a precarious position.

Business school graduates may already be familiar with the work of Harvard professor Michael Porter - one of the leading minds in competitive advantage and business strategy. As part of his research, Porter identified that the best competitive position for a platform to be in is to have both a multitude of suppliers and a multitude of customers.

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Imagine you're a business without this luxury; you have just a handful of suppliers, or a handful customers. Under these circumstances you're forever in a weak negotiating position. All it would take is for you to lose one or two key suppliers or customers, and your business could be finished. Furthermore, any supplier or customer worth their salt will recognise this power dynamic and be continually squeezing your profits.

This is the reason why companies such as Netflix and Amazon have invested hard in original content, and why it took so long for music streaming services to take off. The media landscape is dominated by a handful of very strong suppliers - major record labels and major cable companies - who had, and still have, strong negotiating power over companies such as Spotify.

On the other hand, take Uber. Uber has millions of suppliers (taxi drivers) and millions of customers. Strategically it's in a phenomenal position. Neither the suppliers nor the customers have great power over them. Uber can afford to lose many of each without much of an impact on their business, and that's why it has a stratospheric valuation

The idea that man and machine can work together fails to consider this power dynamic between platform and labour.

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While you could argue that there is a substitution effect - if Uber were to squeeze its drivers too much they would all quit - you would be ignoring the centralising tendency of technology.

It's very likely that we'll end up with a few dominant platforms for these gig economy jobs, and therefore they will have a great leverage over the suppliers of labour. It's akin to having one or two major employers in a small town. In this scenario you daren't quit your job or get fired, because you'll have no other option than to move somewhere else or accept being unemployed.

Advancements in driverless car technology, and Uber's recent acquisition of AI firm Geometric Intelligence, suggest that space for human workers in the gig economy will soon be dwindling. Already in a weak position, these employees will find themselves unable to push back against the AI invasion and doomed to accept their fate of obsolescence.

This eventuality is supported by Erik Brynjolfsson - professor of management at MIT's Sloan School and author of influential book The Second Machine Age. According to Brynjolfsson the profits of technology will go to an increasingly select few "superstars" and the economy will ultimately be dominated by members of a small technological elite.

One prime minister reportedly said recently: "There are three or four powers left in the world - one in the US, one is China and one is Alphabet."

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The inclusion of creative opportunities should, however, be a key objective across the curriculum. Creativity in schools isn't limited to traditional arts subjects, but the ability to play with ideas in History, experiment in Science and apply knowledge taught to solve problems in novel ways in Maths and Geography. Students should be able to express themselves in ways which aren't rigorously structured and which have no pre-determined outcome to be defined as correct or incorrect, but which in themselves contribute hugely to an individual student's academic and personal development.

We can see why schools timetable the day so militaristically. We can't waste any time. As teachers, we want to make the most of every opportunity we have with our students. Young people do have to sit exams and we must ensure we give them every chance to be successful in them. A secure knowledge base is essential, but without a willingness to engage in creative pursuits, we run the risk of preventing students from reaching their full potential. Thorsteinsson and Page assert an 'emerging concern that, currently, students are not adequately encouraged to think for themselves. Many struggle to develop unique perspectives or acquire knowledge which enables them to generate better, more innovative solutions to problems [...] The impact of this is significant'.

We should remember that the opportunity to engage in creativity doesn't come at the expense of acquiring knowledge, rather it is a complement to it. Sir Ken Robinson claims 'an essential bit of every creative process is evaluation'. The creative process isn't unsuccessful when it doesn't instantly result in fully-formed ideas. It's a journey in progress, but that journey is what gives us the chance to explore and experiment. This can be time-consuming but should be considered an investment. If we can 'enhance their ability to play', young people can gain knowledge and apply this creatively, helping them not just develop academically, but better negotiate the difficulties of growing up.

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There is a need for us to become more proactive in introducing creativity to the curriculum. We must ensure 'our capacity to produce creative, world-leading scientists, engineers and technologists'. This could be met through curriculum changes. For example, the current focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects could be broadened, as the Warwick Commission suggests, to incorporate arts-based subjects (STEAM). It could also be better met through how we assist individuals. In Creativity in Schools: Tensions and Dilemmas, Anna Craft suggests that as parents, carers and teachers with more expertise and experience, we can 'intervene to nudge creativity forward'. If we are to both successfully prepare our young people for an unknown future and to ensure their wellbeing, we must adopt a more student-centric approach to education, encouraging them to think creatively, alongside the learning of knowledge, to help them pass exams.
As a data science entrepreneur and an advocate for STEM subjects, I have often been invited into schools to talk to about my own career path, and female success and leadership in general. After speaking to young people on many occasions about their passions and goals, I noticed that girls often struggled to name female role models outside of their immediate family, while their male classmates reeled off sportsmen, politicians and well-known business leaders. Many successful women work across almost every industry, but for some reason, their names are not familiar to the majority of young people, eclipsed by a small group of celebrities who dominate our media. This disparity is one of the reasons that I set up The Female Lead project dedicated to increasing the visibility of female role models.

In 2014, I decided to publish a book and films to showcase the stories of 60 inspirational women with the goal of fostering ambition and self-belief in young women. When choosing our Female Leads, we strove to represent a wide spectrum of talents, ages, and backgrounds, from actor Meryl Streep and director Ava DuVernay to lawyer and politician Christina Lagarde and activist Leymah Gbowee. Each interview is illustrated with original photography by world-renowned photography, Brigitte Lacombe, and a video interview by Marian Lacombe.

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As the purpose of The Female Lead has always been to encourage young people, we have worked in conjunction with The Mulberry School in London to produce a teaching resource that brings The Female Lead into the classroom, drawing on the lessons we've learned from the 60 women interviewed for the book and emphasizing the sheer breadth and diversity of their personal stories. The Female Lead book, along with the accompanying teaching materials, will be distributed free to thousands of schools across the UK and US, offering both personal testimonies and practical advice for setting and achieving goals and finding your own path to fulfillment. I hope they can open up more inclusive conversations about ambition in the classroom, so more young people of all genders are inspired to think positively about their future.

As I worked on the book, I noticed something surprising. While the 60 women featured are from a wide range of industries and backgrounds, they never really mentioned 'ambition'. These women are leaders in their professions, breakers of new ground and unafraid of relentless endeavor, but the idea of being 'ambitious' did not resonate with all of them. This unexpected detail inspired us to take a closer look at the qualities, characteristics, and tools that enabled these female leaders on their path. The following five hallmarks were the result: a new roadmap to professional fulfillment, reflecting the diverse paths taken by our 'Female Leads'.

1.Feed Your Passions

Many of the Female Leads interviewed attested to the transformative power of deep and authentic passions and interests, as well as demonstrating a commitment to them over time. From politician Mhairi Black to journalist Katharine Viner, the interviewees all agreed that giving time and energy to your passions is a strong beginning, even if you're not yet sure of the end destination.

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2.Stay Curious

The Female Leads were driven by curiosity; they were hungry to expand their horizons and to learn and engage beyond their immediate sphere. Actor Meryl Streep testified to the power of imagination, saying that it 'took me out of my circumstances and enabled me to understand the lives of other people in a way I found thrilling'. All of the interviewees knew the value of continuing to listen and learn, long after leaving school.

3.Dare to be Different

The Female Leads revealed the importance of learning to embrace the ways in which they differed from their peers: standing out might feel uncomfortable, but it can be a brilliant enabler of success. Many of them struggled with exams or were bullied by classmates, but later turned their perceived 'weaknesses' to their advantage. Jo Malone states that the dyslexia that hindered her at school has been her 'best friend' in the business world, helping her to 'think of the less obvious solution'.

4.Ask for Help

The Female Leads gained strength from families, allies, and mentors, building support networks throughout their lives. Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness, and many of these women broke new ground through successful collaboration. Christine Lagarde recommends that young women 'reach out to other women...ask them for advice, for support'.

5.Find Strength in Setbacks

The Female Leads emphasised how the acceptance of setbacks was a critical part of achieving their goals. Each failure or obstacle became a learning experience which made them stronger and more focused. As producer Yvette Vega says: "Young people think everything has to be perfect...but if you fall down and scrape your knee, you put on a Band-Aid, get up and run faster!".

It's important to note that all of the advice offered by the 60 Female Leads is inclusive and accessible, applicable to any gender and background. While the five hallmarks may seem obvious, I don't think they are known or visible as I reflect on my career. I hope that by sharing our insights via practical classroom resources and providing a broader spectrum of female role models for both girls and boys, we can make success feel more open to all and inspire the next generation.

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Above an image of a bare-shouldered young woman gazing pensively out of frame top right, expensively groomed but otherwise stripped of any signs of social involvement and seemingly waiting for something to come her way, the lifestyle section of the Independent recently asked 'Valentine's Day: What do women really want?' The answers--jewellery, cosmetics and lingerie--are less paradigm-shattering than that 'really' might suggest.

Six hundred or so years ago, Geoffrey Chaucer ended his poem The Parliament of Fowls by asking his audience to think about what a woman--or, in the poem, a female eagle--wants and with a song in praise of St Valentine, which might be the first time love and Valentine's saint's day on 14 February were associated. Chaucer's poetry, however, is often seen as the exception that proves the rule in medieval culture and, anyway, it is not clear that his eagle will be allowed to want anything except one of the three male suitors who is vying for her wing in Nature's parliament, where birds convene to find their mates. Medieval culture was strongly patriarchal and, looking beyond Chaucer, we might not expect its main stream to think too deeply about women's desires. We certainly wouldn't start by looking in popular chivalric romances, the stories which have given us the enduring image of questing knights who, as Nicola McDonald of the University of York has put it, go forth and 'do' while ladies 'wait to be undone'.

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It is all the more fascinating, then, to find such texts imagining female desire and imagining it strikingly and unsettlingly. In endlessly surprising ways, popular medieval stories recognize that women have understandable erotic desires. Even where they ultimately decree that those desires had best be circumscribed by men, these stories vividly imagine independent female desire and admit that patriarchal interests can encourage coercion. In a romance of the early 1300s called Sir Degare, which was popular throughout the late middle ages and beyond, a princess wanders in a forest and is raped by a fairy knight. The story's happy ending involves the marriage of the princess and the knight.

Is it possible that such a story can have any interest in what women want? Perhaps; if we see the knight at his first, mysterious fairy appearance, when he announces that he has loved the princess 'mani a yer', as desirable through the princess's own gaze and as some external manifestation of her own repressed desire which forces itself on her conscious self, her law-of-the-father-abiding ego. This seemingly perverse, 'no means yes' reading makes more sense when we realise that the knight, and the son, Degare, to whom she subsequently gives birth, free the princess from the grasp of her possessive father. There are insinuations of incest in that possessiveness and, significantly, Degare finds his own happy ending and reunites his parents only after he has helped a lady against another lord who is trying to coerce her into marriage. It is true that the poem's noble ladies both end up married to their violent protectors and, in warning against coercive patriarchy, the poem is chiefly seeking to strengthen 'caring' patriarchy; but it is a warning nonetheless.

About the time Sir Degare was being printed for the first time, in the early 1500s, the same printer, Wynkyn de Worde printed a much newer romance, Undo your Door, later titled The Squire of Low Degree. In this poem, another princess falls in love with a (relatively) low-born hall servant of her father, a squire, and takes it upon herself to plan and fund a crusade which will literally earn the squire his spurs and turn him into an eligible bridegroom for her royal person. An envious steward discovers their love and, after a skirmish, the squire ends up imprisoned and the steward ends up dead. At this point, the princess is fooled into thinking that the mutilated corpse of the steward, dressed as her lover, is the squire himself and, in a remarkable passage, she takes the body into her bedchamber, eviscerates and embalms it, and spends the next seven years tenderly worshipping and kissing it until it has crumbled into 'powder small'. Only then does her father reveal that he knew where the squire was all along, that he had himself sent him to win his spurs and that the couple will now be married. All the princess can do is ask 'Father, why dyd ye so?' before falling unconscious.

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On the one hand, this romance ruthlessly misdirects and crushes out its female protagonist's independent desire. On the other hand, the princess's necrophiliac devotions are by far the most compelling and abiding rendering of emotion in the poem, easily overshadowing any of the squire's adventures, which are logged in the most summary fashion.

During the centuries between Degare's composition and Undo your Door, a ballad about forbidden love was being sung in numerous different versions across Europe. The English ballads are usually grouped under the title Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight. In one core version, Isabel hears an elvish horn and as soon as she expresses yearning for horn and elf-knight (with suggestive resonances with Degare's father's appearance), the elf-knight leaps in at her window and leads her away. In the greenwood, he declares that she will die, but Isabel lulls him with song or a charm and kills him with his own dirk.

As with the romances, this ballad is centrally concerned with female desire and there is a tension between the highly evocative expression of that desire and the moves the piece makes to contain it. The lady Isabel violently cuts short her own flirtation with mysterious desire and it is telling that she longs for her parents when the elf reveals his lethal purpose: the ballad implies that a woman needs to tame her own desires to her family's indoor agenda. The fairy/elf treatments of female desire face in opposite directions in Isabel and Degare.
Mary Turner via Getty Images

We are three volunteers who met working in the Ashram Kitchen, a small community kitchen in the Calais 'Jungle' which served tea, coffee and 600 hot meals a day. The Ashram became part of the informal child protection network in the camp. We worked closely with the organisations providing specific support for the children living there, and tried to ensure that any minors who passed through Ashram had access to the right services. Being a static point in the camp meant we were able to check up on many of the minors on a daily basis when they came in to get food and hot drinks.

We began the Voices for Child Refugees campaign and wrote this open letter as a reaction to the inaction of both the U.K. and French governments, and to address their failure to work together in the best interests of these children. After the closure of the camp, we kept in touch with a number of young refugees. Almost all of them are still waiting to hear about legal cases which have stagnated.

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The recent announcement about the end of the Dubs Amendment was the culmination of months of neglect and inaction on the part of the U.K. government. 129 children went missing during the eviction of the south side of the camp earlier in 2016. Despite this, and despite warnings by organisations on the ground that it would happen again, prior to the closure of the camp in November 2016 there was no plan to properly implement measures to safeguard the minors. This, even though there was a serious risk that many children would again be vulnerable to traffickers.

Throughout the evictions, there was extreme confusion about the what the French and U.K. Governments intended to do about the minors. They were registered multiple times in a fashion so chaotic, that even those organisations who had been working exclusively to safeguard children in the camp, were at a loss as to what was happening. 1500 children were accommodated in a set of repurposed shipping containers by the camp for a full week after the evictions, without running drinking water.

When the children were eventually moved to accommodation centres located across France, it seemed transfers to the U.K. under the Dubs Amendment and through a family reunification scheme, would continue. The minors we were in touch with seemed hopeful, as they continued to be interviewed by Home Office officials. However, a month or two later this process began to stall. The Home Office announced stricter criteria for which children were to remain eligible under the Dubs Amendment, determining that only Sudanese and Syrian children were to be taken, and setting an age cap at 14 years. Why were the boys from Afghanistan, fleeing the Taliban, and those from Eritrea, fleeing lifelong conscription, not also considered to be in need of refuge? And are unaccompanied fifteen year olds not considered vulnerable?

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Furthermore, months on, those hundreds of minors with family in the U.K who have been denied family reunification, have still not been issued reasons for the rejection of their cases and as a result, are unable to appeal. They are living in centres in France, and are often without proper care, all while they have family members waiting to welcome them in the U.K.

The continuously confusing nature of their situation and the lack of any new information about their cases has led to to a rise in mental health problems in many of the minors. Many have expressed feeling abandoned, lied to, and that they have had their rights taken from them. In many ways they are right. This frustration is causing hundreds of children to run away from youth accommodation centres, with the idea of reaching the U.K. in other ways. They are sleeping in the freezing cold, vulnerable to traffickers, unable to set up tents for fear it will attract attention from the police.

We put our letter on change.org on Saturday and we got 25,000 signatures within 24 hours. By Monday we had over 50,000. Reading the comments on the petition is particularly uplifting, as so many people have left messages of support for these children. There is clear outrage that the government could behave so dishonestly.
As more and more refugees find themselves seeking safety in Turkey, and the Syrian war rages on with no end in sight, it can be difficult to find the beauty in every day life.

It can be difficult to remember that we are all brought together by more than conflict and loss.

This is why International Medical Corps worked together with Arada Art and Culture Association and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to bring together artists from Turkey and Syria for the Istanbul Art Fair. The group consisted of artists from different backgrounds and disciplines, all collaborating on two exhibitions, created to be relatable to everybody.

Gulnar Hajo, a Syrian artist who is a part of the exhibition, told me what this opportunity meant for the visiting female participants.

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"After surviving the tragedies of war in their homeland, they want to add a beauty and a small touch of love to the things they create in their everyday lives."

Prior to the war, Gulnar had a publishing house for children and was an author and illustrator for children's books. When she came to Turkey in 2012, like so many others she was struggling to adjust - yet she never gave up her work as an artist, instead building a life and a name for herself in her new home.

"My work is flexible and I can take it everywhere with me," she says. "I continue to work with my publisher here in Turkey and I also translate children's books into Turkish."

After two years in Istanbul, Gulnar together with a partner opened a bookstore and cafe called Pages - today a popular hub for Syrians to come, meet and exchange ideas. There she started conducting workshops for children on reading and drawing, as well as providing art therapy sessions. It was through the Istanbul Art Fair that she first came into contact with International Medical Corps and knew she had to get involved.

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"For many women, this was the very first time they ever attended an art exhibition," she explains. "When they were exploring the art you could see a smile on their faces, a light in their eyes and a passing happiness.

"I discovered that I can give something to these women - therefore I have a duty to do what I can."

The first exhibition, called 'Similarities in Turkish and Syrian Architecture', is a comparative photography project showing the historical and cultural similarities between Turkey and Syria that go back to the Ottoman Empire era. The second exhibition - titled 'Women, Land and Cities' - puts women in focus: their status in society, their connection to nature, as well as global suffering as seen through the eyes of a woman.

The exhibition was the first time the group had worked together on a project.

In addition to the exhibitions, International Medical Corps organised psychosocial activities for children and women from the Syrian community during the art fair, with the aim to inspire them and encourage them of their abilities.

For both the participants and the artists, this experience has opened new doors.

Evrim Dogan, a Turkish artist, said: "I found many similarities between us Turks and Syrians. I am looking forward to working with this group again. We are always coming up with new ideas which keeps us motivated and inspired. It enables me to see different perspectives."

Through the universal language of art, people of all ages and backgrounds can find a common ground for understanding one another. The exhibitions achieved exactly that and much more.

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Photographer: Jack Offord

It looks like in the next few years all of us who believe in human rights and peace will need to do a lot of protesting. We will need to fight for what we believe in. But when the other side speaks its mind in the most direct, violent and careless way possible, can you win the fight if you constantly maintain a peaceful approach?

I am currently in rehearsals for Bucket List, a show I directed and wrote, which will be London premiering at Battersea Arts Centre in Feb and then touring around the UK. In Bucket List we follow the story of Milagros, an orphan in a Northern Mexican boarder town. Milagros' mum gets shot in the head for protesting government and corporate corruption -just like thousands of other people who have non-violently fought for what they believed in, and for justice. The plight of her mother leaves Milagros, and us, faced with the uncomfortable question - in order to stop violence, is peaceful protest enough or do you need to fight fire with fire?

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I believe that the arts must be at the forefront of the fight against fascism. As artists we need to be putting forward pieces of resistance so that together with our audiences we can at least keep talking about it and keep considering our levels of political and social engagement, if not to inspire ourselves to take action. We need to make art that holds governments, corporations and ourselves to account and ask: where is our role in this extreme right-wing story unfolding in front of our eyes like a car crash in slow-motion?

Now more than ever, art needs to play its socio-political part and provide not only a good-night-out, but also a smack in the face for all of us to make sure we are fully conscious as we march like a herd into a bleak future.

As I am writing this I can hear a voice in my head telling me to be careful of preaching. What am I? A Priest? A rabbi? An Imam? Why do I feel I know better than anyone else what art should or shouldn't do in these mad times? Well, I don't.

Bucket List asks its audience - 'can we achieve socio-political change using non-violent democratic tools?' - and in rehearsal I found myself thinking that too often as artists we are afraid of being too direct, of being distasteful or sounding like we have a clear and simple opinion or a question to ask. I guess this goes against the 'liberal instinct' we were brought up in the light of - there's no right and wrong, two opinions can co-exist and by challenging each other they develop and grow. The so-called liberal elite is constantly looking for complexity and depth. But politically this only works when everyone is playing the same game. If one of the participants has broken the rules we can't keep playing with them as if we have a level playing field.

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Photographer: Jack Offord

In Bucket List, years after her mother dies and she sees no way of holding people responsible for the series of injustices that has become her life, Milagros decides to take matters to her own hands and achieve justice for herself and her loved ones. She murders a series of politicians and CEO's. The play is constructed so that we feel for Milagros. So that when she stabs the police officer raping and abusing her best friend for months we delight in her achievement. But things get more complicated when she murders the president of the US. What is Milagros - a fighter for justice; a murderer; a terrorist? Has she become as bad as those she is claiming to fight against? What were her other options?

We watched as the Leave side made simplified, racist, untrue and overemotional claims here in the UK during the Brexit referendum while Remain was using facts and experts. We lost - Britain is leaving. We then watch a similar campaign unraveling in the US. I am NOT propagating violence and murder as a way forward but I do believe that in order to progress we should have clear ideas and a passionate way of expressing them. Be it in theatre or just as we go about the everyday business of having a political debate.
Image: Pixabay

Donald Trump's immigration order has ignited the social conscience of the business world.

CEOs at Google, Apple, Ford, Amazon, Microsoft, Nike, Netflix and Starbucks front a long list of global business leaders who have stood up and made their voices heard.

The response is not surprising, and should be expected. There has been pressure on big brands for a long time to defend the rights of a global society on whose favour and support they wholly rely.

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The difference now is that people don't just want these companies to be socially responsible - they want them to be social activists, too.

Companies have got to keep pace with expectations. The commercial case is pretty clear. More than ever before people want to engage and spend money with brands that do their bit for people and planet. What was once considered a nice side-line programme for business leaders is now an integral part of business strategy.

Given the growing pressure to get it right, you'd think most big brands would be campaigning on important, global issues with real intelligence, energy and impact by now. Sadly that's not the case.

There have been some brilliant campaigns in recent years that have delivered real results - Unilever, Microsoft and Lego all spring to mind. But the truth is that a lot of businesses consistently and painfully miss the mark with their investment in social responsibility. And it's frequently the large and unwieldy CSR teams at the biggest international firms - who should in theory be best placed to have a positive impact - that get it most wrong.

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Too often they lose clarity, get caught up in a web of jargon and exaggeration, and pump out the sort of nauseating, confusing or transparent corporate initiatives that feed the appetite of the satirists and cynics.

Big businesses have a huge opportunity - and responsibility - to become some of the world's most powerful social campaigners. In many ways we've never needed them more. Here's my take on what they need to do to get it right.

Prioritise

Tackle existing social problems head on. If you're under fire from environmental campaigners because of your production methods, deal with it. No-one will care about your employee diversity initiative until you do.

Authenticity

Focus on areas where you have an authentic voice, close to your central business activity. People will understand and remember a mineral water brand increasing access to clean drinking water in developing countries. Stray too far from your areas of expertise and your story will lose clarity.

Action

Reputation is driven by action as well as words. Commit resources to enforce tangible change. It's far more compelling to talk about what you're doing, than what society at large 'should do'. Don't get caught up in talking shops.

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Scale

Act at a scale that is meaningful. If your business turns over hundreds of millions, you won't have an impact or change perceptions of your brand with a 500 investment in a small project that no-one will ever hear about.

Simplicity
February 19, 2017 is the 75th anniversary of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signing Executive Order 9066 , which authorised the detention not just of enemy aliens during World War II, but also American citizens. Unlike President Trump's recent Executive Order restricting immigration and refugees, there was no popular outcry at the time, despite the fact the constitutional rights of American citizens were at risk.

Roosevelt was a democrat, Trump is a republican; Roosevelt turned America into a world superpower , and Trump wants to 'make America great again' . Both political parties are just as likely to write controversial Executive Orders as each other. One only has to look at EO 9066, Obama's family detention policy , or Trump's current stance on immigration to see how concerns over minorities and national security affect policy.

Executive Orders have to fall within the constitution, or else they can be shut down by the courts. However, during World War II, despite the fact EO 9066 blatantly contravened the constitution, only a handful of individuals were willing to challenge the order . These challenges were unsuccessful, in large part due to the withholding of evidence from the Supreme Court (though the courts were not completely blameless). However, much has changed in the 75 years since EO 9066 was allowed to continue unchecked, and the US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit believes that Trump's order did not respect the Constitution in that it discriminated against a particular religious group.

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It is interesting to see how times have changed in that when Japanese Americans were negatively affected, there were no widespread protests, but when the rights of those who are not even American citizens are affected in present day America, there have been large scale protests across the western world. In many ways, this shows how far America has come in the past 75 years. However, there is still a huge amount of xenophobia and fear of non-whites present in American society.

While it is unlikely that those of Japanese ancestry are ever likely to witness again the discrimination they suffered during World War II, what is clear is that other minority groups continue to be just as vulnerable despite greater awareness of civil liberties issues in America. The fact that Japan has been transformed from America's worst enemy to one of their staunchest allies shows how much can change over time. The Japanese were labelled the murderers and rapists of the 1940s, and Trump has called Mexicans and other immigrant groups the murderers and rapists of the present day. With the identification of common interests, such as fears about China's growing strength, the links between the USA and Japan have never been stronger . Certainly, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's most recent visit to the US has been heralded a great success, and according to Trump they have 'great chemistry' .

February 19, The Day of Remembrance, remains a significant date in the civil rights calendar, and this year is perhaps more important than ever. A number of exhibitions across the country will tell the story of Japanese American internment, which is still hugely misrepresented. Since 2010, a handful of US states have celebrated Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution at the end of each January . If anything is clear, it is that greater education is needed nationally in order to protect the civil liberties and constitutional rights of all Americans as, unbelievably, there are still many who believe that the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II was not racist . The US government and Supreme Court have both acknowledged that the mass internment was not conducted for reasons of national security, yet many do not seem aware of the government's own report and conclusions . Based on a huge amount of evidence, the conclusion of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians was that a grave injustice was done and the nation should apologise, which it ultimately did.

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By Ana Sofia Reis

Love may be a mystery, but Valentine's Day trends from Waze make this romantic holiday more predictable for brands seeking to influence the purchasing decisions of lovestruck Americans.

With so many consumers eager to splurge on the ones they love, Valentine's Day is an excellent opportunity to show customers why they should fall in love with your brand. According to a 2016 National Retail Federation (NRF) survey, last year 54.8 percent of consumers planned to celebrate Valentine's Day, spending an average of $146.84 on flowers, jewelry, candy, apparel, and more.

And consumers weren't just intending to buy something special for their significant others, the NRF found. Respondents also planned to spend on their children (and their classmates and teachers), parents, pets, and coworkers.

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Say It With Flowers

According to Google Trends, in 2016, searches for "flowers" on Google began ramping up about a week before Valentine's Day, and those searches peaked on Friday, February 12, two days before the holiday. They remained high on February 13 and on Valentine's Day itself, perhaps reflecting a late realization about a sweetheart's expectations (or pure procrastination).

Waze data reveals that navigations to flower shops, meanwhile, jumped on February 12. Consumers may have stopped in to pick out flowers for a Valentine's Day delivery, do some comparison shopping, or get a jump on gift-giving. Navigations reached their highest point the next day, February 13, but there were still plenty of folks driving to flower shops on the day itself, hoping that beautiful bouquets would still be in stock.

These Valentine's Day trends suggest that florists and others in gift categories could benefit, not only from increasing their advertising efforts in the immediate run up to the holiday, but also by going strong on the day itself when last-minute wooers may be desperately searching for the perfect gift. Placing your brand's icon on a Waze map could prove highly effective. Additionally, you could enhance your online advertising strategy by using search retargeting to show display ads to users who have searched for "flowers."

A Romantic Getaway

Valentine's Day fell on a Sunday last year, and many Americans chose to celebrate over the course of the whole weekend. According to Waze data, there was a 40 percent spike in US navigations to hotels during the holiday weekend compared to a normal February weekend.

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And what romantic weekend would be complete without that perfect candlelit dinner? Indeed, Waze navigations to restaurants were higher on Valentine's Day than on a typical February Sundaythere was an overall jump of 53 percent.

With Valentine's Day falling on a Tuesday in 2017, hoteliers and restaurant owners may need to offer more attractive promotions to draw in couples for a romantic evening or an elegant meal. Sending deals to starry-eyed Wazers throughout the day can help fill rooms and tables.

The Current State of Romance

Meanwhile, Virginia may be for lovers, but it's Michigan that tops the inaugural Waze Romantic Index. The scoring system reflects the combined increase in drives to flower shops, hotels, and restaurants during last year's Valentine's Day weekend (from Friday, February 12 through Sunday, February 14).

Michigan scored highest, even as Detroit was being hit by an arctic front. Oregon and California earned second and third place in the index, respectively. How did your state rate?

A Holiday to Adore

Even though Valentine's Day falls on a Tuesday this year, it doesn't mean would-be romantics won't want to show their lovewhether out of pure desire or perhaps the pressure to please. Advertisers can send contextually relevant messages to Wazers that play to both motivations.

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Moreover, it's not just florists, hotels, and restaurants that should actively try to bring in customers on and before the holiday. Smart campaigns can also help other marketers, like those selling candy, greeting cards, jewelry, apparel, pet toys, and experiences, feel the love on Valentine's Day.

Need a Shortcut?

1. Last year, navigations to flower shop locations peaked on February 13, the day after Google searches for "flowers" maxed out.

2. Searches and navigations relating to flowers remained high on Valentine's Day itself, offering an opportunity for advertisers to reach last-minute consumers with location-based marketing and search retargeting.

3. Marketers that could benefit from contextually relevant campaigns include florists, hotels, and restaurants as well as those selling candy, greeting cards, jewelry, apparel, pet toys, and experiences.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem February 12, 2017. REUTERS/Gali Tibbon/Pool

President Trump should not be swayed by Netanyahu's duplicitous argument, however convincing it might sound, that he is committed to a two-state solution when in fact he has opposed and will continue to reject in principle the creation of an independent Palestinian state under any circumstances.

Netanyahu's repeated assertions that he is ready to negotiate with the Palestinians unconditionally is hollow because he knows that President Abbas will not enter into negotiations unless Israel suspends the continuing expansion of settlements and the creeping annexation of Palestinian land, which prevents the Palestinians from establishing their own viable state.

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To establish Netanyahu's lack of commitment, one has to simply observe his actions in the occupied territories and listen to his public narrative, which squarely contradicts his presumed willingness to negotiate an end to the conflict. Netanyahu's objections in words and deeds to the creation of a Palestinian state are undisputedly manifested in the following:

First, Netanyahu's insistence that he is ready to negotiate unconditionally is in and of itself a precondition. Suppose President Abbas agrees to negotiate on that basis -- there is simply no avoiding the requirement to first agree on rules of engagement, including the venue, makeup of the negotiating teams, their mandate, etc. Most importantly, they must agree on which of the main conflicting issues to tackle first that could facilitate negotiations on other critical issues.

Netanyahu has all along refused to commence negotiations by first meeting the Palestinians' demand to establish the contours of their future state. Instead, he kept insisting that Israel must first negotiate the mechanism that would ensure its national security. The fact, however, that he always sought "secure borders" would have made it reasonable and practical to negotiate borders first.

This would not only establish what constitutes (from his perspective) secure borders, but it would have also met the Palestinians' demands and given them the confidence that a future state will eventually be created. In conjunction with that, the future of many of the settlements could have also been settled. Netanyahu's insistence, however, on negotiating national security first was nothing but a ploy designed to play for time as previous negotiations have clearly shown.

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Second, Netanyahu presides over a coalition government that includes, other than his own right-of-center Likud party, two other extremely right-wing parties -- Yisrael Beiteinu and Jewish Home, led by Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Education Minister Naftali Bennett, respectively, who are both committed and subservient to the settlement movement. Bennett in particular openly calls for the annexation of much of the West Bank, especially Area C, which constitutes 61 percent of the Palestinian territory.

If Netanyahu were to embark in earnest on negotiating a two-state solution, this would immediately unravel his government, as these two parties (along with many members of his own Likud party) have threatened to leave the government if he were to take such a step. Thus, as long as he maintains the present make-up of the current government, there is absolutely no prospect of reaching a peace agreement that would grant the Palestinians a state of their own.

Following his 2015 campaign for reelection, Netanyahu clearly stated "I think that anyone who moves to establish a Palestinian state today, and evacuate areas, is giving radical Islam an area from which to attack the State of Israel. The left has buried its head in the sand time and after time and ignores this..." When asked whether a Palestinian state would not be created under his leadership, the prime minister said "Indeed." What he said then he still means today; anything he says to the contrary is for show.

Third, the unabated expansion of existing settlements and the passage of the recent law that authorizes the government to retroactively legalize scores of illegal settlements unambiguously suggests that he has no intention whatsoever of allowing the Palestinians to establish a state of their own. This systematic annexation of Palestinian land makes it impossible for them to maintain land contiguity. To suggest, as he claims, that the settlements are not an obstacle to peace is disingenuous at best and he knows it. Under Netanyahu's watch, the government has built a major network of roads crisscrossing the West Bank exclusively designated for the settlers, while confining the Palestinians to cantons with the intention of making the current status quo permanent.

Fourth, his objective is to settle at least one million Israelis throughout the West Bank and create irreversible facts on the ground. Currently, there are nearly 650,000 settlers in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, making the removal of any significant number of settlers simply impossible. The lesson that Netanyahu's father, Benzion Netanyahu, who was a staunch revisionist Zionist, ingrained in his son was the belief that all of the biblical "land of Israel" belongs to the Jews in perpetuity. In a 2009 interview, Benzion stated "The two-state solution doesn't exist. ...There is no Palestinian people, so you don't create a state for an imaginary nation." That lesson was not lost on Netanyahu.

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Not surprisingly, whenever Israel's Supreme Court orders the removal of a certain illegal settlement built on private Palestinian land, such as the recent dismantling of Amona with roughly 250 settlers, Netanyahu immediately announces plans to build new units. He is determined that the number of settlers continues to grow to reach the milestone of one million, regardless of what the Israeli courts decide or the international community demands--including the US, Israel's closest ally.

Fifth, if Netanyahu were to truly opt to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of a two-state solution, he could disband his current and establish a new coalition government composed of several centrist and left-of-center parties, including the Zionist Union, Yesh Atid, Kulanu, Meretz, and Netanyahu's own Likud party, which would provide him a decisive majority of 80 out of 120 seats in the parliament, versus the current government of Likud, Kulanu, Shas, Jewish Home, Yisrael Beiteinu, and UTJ, a very slim majority of 67 out of 120 seats. Although some members of his own party will defect, he will still have a significant majority that reflects the aspiration of the Israelis who want to end the conflict. It should be noted that with a new government, the 13 members of the Arab List would support any initiative towards a two-state solution.

Such a coalition can certainly agree on an equitable peace with the Palestinians that would entail some land swaps if only Netanyahu wills it. Sadly, however, Netanyahu simply will not entertain such a peace agreement because he is ideologically committed to control in perpetuity all of what he terms the 'Land of Israel', while accusing the Palestinians of wanting to destroy rather than make peace with Israel.

To be sure, Netanyahu is not and has never been a proponent of creating a Palestinian state. Hence, President Trump will be wise not to engage him during his visit to the White House in a futile discussion searching for an agreement based on a two-state solution. This outcome cannot and will not happen as long as Netanyahu is in power.

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[People gathered in a street market in Hong Kong on Jan. 31./ Source: AFP, Yonhap News]

By AsiaToday reporter Jina Koh - Australia's Qantas recently unveiled Qantas Concierge, a Facebook Messenger bot that responds to customers. Through this virtual concierge, customers can get information about their preferred destinations, whether they are beach destinations or accommodations.

The purpose of this service is to provide relevant information through channels that consumers can easily access. Qantas plans to expand the chatbots capability this year to provide flight itineraries, flight and gate change updates and more.

Tourism companies are prioritizing customer experience by launching customized services that meet the needs of Asian customers. Companies are trying to keep up with changing trends among Asia's middle class as they are expanding rapidly.

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Such trends can be seen in a study released last month by travel technology company Sabre in collaboration with social commerce TrendWatching. The report revealed three distinct behavioral trends among Asia-Pacific consumers: "Self-improvement," "Local Love," and "Infolust." Among them, the trend of infolust, whereby consumers actively seek for relevant information, poses a challenge for companies to provide services that are much more tailored to consumer needs.

Infolust is highly related to the expansion of internet and mobile penetration. Consumers are open to information sharing as they can access to a relatively larger amount of information compared to before. Popular messaging apps like WeChat, Line, and Facebook have become the main window of information sharing as they are used nearly dozens of times a day. Which is also why Qantas is reaching customers through Facebook messenger.

In particular, China is a market where changes in customized services are evident. Start-ups are focusing on personalized travel services, while traditional travel companies are competing to add the personal touch to their services. "Customized travelling is still in its early stages in China, but it is picking up quickly," Lei Tao, a co-founder of Beijing-based Unique Way, told South China Morning Post previously. He revealed that when he started the business in 2012, the company only got two or three orders per month but now it gets hundreds of phone calls.

Big companies are competing in the market as well. Chinese travel company CITS Group has created a team called "dream builders" to produce travel products tailored to customers' needs. Online travel platform Qunar has a travel planner system that provides tailor-made trips to 305 cities worldwide.

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[International tourist arrivals by region since 1950 and a forecast until 2030./ Source: UNWTO]

Personalized services are especially necessary for people with disabilities. Xu Lin, a 32-year-old hearing-impaired engineer in Shanghai, revealed that her applications to travel have been often turned down by existing travel agencies. However, she discovered a customized travel agency through the internet in 2015. First, the trip planner helped her plan her itinerary, purchase tickets, book hotels and even apply for visa. After arriving at the destination, a smartphone app guided her to tourist attractions and provided explanations of the sites in Chinese. The app provided 24-hour emergency support as well. The 11-day customized trip cost was about 45,000 yuan (approx. US$6,500). Since personalized trips are not so expensive, they are now attracting a much wider customer base.

Hotels have also joined the competition. They are trying to differentiate themselves to win the battle with accommodation sites such as Airbnb, which provide lower-priced options. Instead of lowering prices, they are looking for ways to make a difference in niche markets with value-added services, such as halal breakfasts and partnership with luxury brands.
A version of this post originally appeared on Forbes. Sign up for Caroline's newsletter to receive her latest articles to your inbox.

The name of Microsoft's first and still most popular operating system, Windows, came from a then-revolutionary development: windows on a computer screen.

Before the mid-1980s, computers were text-only and displayed just one task at a time. Then, Xerox, Apple and eventually Microsoft designed a graphical user interface that imitated real desks, with folders, multiple papers and tasks available simultaneously.

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The "desktop metaphor" was initially done with tiles (think: Microsoft's colorful four-box logo as applications side by side), but subsequent versions favored an overlapping system with minimizing and maximizing windows.

This function was novel. So novel, in fact, that Windows 1.0 included a computer game that relied on mouse control rather than a keyboard to accustom users to clicking, selecting and toggling between tasks on the screen.

Today, of course, we need no prodding. Millennials were born after the invention of windows, so we've never known life or work without them. Multitasking with technology has become so engrained in our work processes that it's bewildering we ever did anything without it.

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These consequences are typically presented as side effects. But the biggest problem with multitasking isn't what it causes; it's what multitasking makes us into.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports that multitasking is rewiring our brains, enabling "multiple tasks to be processed in more rapid succession." As our brains adapt to task management, we lose "our ability to think deeply and creatively," Nicholas Carr writes in The Shallows. The better we get at multitasking, the worse we get at creative problem solving. Summing the research, Carr explains that multitaskers are "more likely to rely on conventional ideas and solutions rather than challenging them with original lines of thought."

What this means for developing brains and advancing technology is uncertain. Paul Gardner-Stephen, a telecommunications fellow at Flinders University, believes we'll one day become dependent on the Internet to solve our problems. Or, more moderately, perhaps people will just solve easier, less urgent problems. Our tendency - maybe even our new biological instinct - will be to address small, Google-able annoyances rather than large, systemic, time-consuming challenges.

In other words, as Carr observed, we'll become more like computers ourselves: quick, efficient task executers. In fact, the word multitasking was initially a computer word, not a human word. "Multitask" first appeared in a 1965 IBM paper, referring to a computer's ability to process multiple tasks simultaneously.

The word was applied to humans several decades later. Writing for The New Atlantis, Christine Rosen notes that in the late '90s and early 2000s, "advertisements started celebrating the use of technology for doing lots of things at once," and multitasking became a defined skill on resumes.

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Today we use the words "efficient," "effective," "methodical," "productive" and "fast processor" to describe what we want in ourselves, not just for our technology. Meanwhile, millennial multitasking is considered a boon to the workforce.

When I recently returned to my alma mater, Colorado College, I had dinner with the Student Alumni Association. A career counselor asked the seniors how they planned to pitch the block plan -- CC's unique schedule, where students take just one class at a time for three-and-a-half weeks -- to potential employers. They all answered similarly: We can do lots at once, balance extracurriculars with an intensive course load, handle relentless assignments, and so on.

But I see the strength of CC's schedule as exactly the opposite: in this multitasking machine world, we need to train young people to focus on one problem at a time.

This isn't just because they'll do better in the modern job market as a result (though they will); it's so we keep them fundamentally human, as it seems like that's something we're losing.
Much blood has been shed during human history in the name of religion. Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) knew this all too well. Here are Jefferson's very words: "Millions of innocent men, women, and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined, and imprisoned" ("Notes on the State of Virginia, Query XVII," 1781-1782). It is useful to recount a few such incidents which occurred during periods prior to Jefferson, some of which he may very well have had in mind. John Hus (1369-1415) was a Czech Priest, but he had been critical of the Church, especially the perceived moral failings of some of the Church's clerics. In addition, his views on Holy Communion were different from the established doctrines of the Church. And he was candid about being displeased with the Church's use of Indulgences. For such things, John Hus was summoned to appear before the Council of Constance (in 1415). Emperor Sigismund had given Hus a guarantee of safe conduct for the Council. But at the Council, he was condemned and then summarily burned at the stake.



But there is more. At this same Council, the views of the English Churchman and Oxford teacher John Wycliffe (ca. 1320-1384) were also condemned. Wycliffe was deceased, though, having died peacefully around thirty years before the Council of Constance. But he had been buried in a Church Cemetery, so the Council decreed that Wycliffe's body should be exhumed. And in time his remains were exhumed (in 1428), and then callously thrown into the Swift River. Or again, the great reformer John Calvin (1509-1564) is famous for offering sanctuary to the Spanish physician and theologian Michael Servetus (1511-1553) because Servetus was fleeing from the Roman Catholic Inquisition. But after the arrival of Servetus in Geneva, John Calvin soon had him burned at the stake, because Calvin was displeased that Servetus did not accept the doctrine of the Trinity. Of course, on a much larger scale, the European Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) was a bloodbath anchored in religious garb, leaving in its wake some eight million dead. It is not surprising, therefore, that Thomas Jefferson wished for freedom of religion to be the law of the land in the United States.

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Thomas Jefferson was the first Secretary of State of the United States, the second Vice President of the United States, and the third President of the United States (1801-1809). Of course, he was particularly proud of the Declaration of Independence (1776). For this reason, at Jefferson's Monticello (just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia), the following words are chiseled deeply into an obelisk as the opening of his epitaph: "Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of American Independence." The words of the Declaration are powerful, moving. Jefferson was so very justified in the pride that he felt as its author.

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But that is not the conclusion of his epitaph. Here are the words that immediately follow: Author of "the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom." This document was drafted the year after the Declaration of Independence (i.e., in 1777). It is a particularly powerful, moving document as well. Here are some of the most poignant and direct words from that foundational document: "Be it enacted by General Assembly that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief, but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of Religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge or affect their civil capacities." Obviously, Thomas Jefferson believed that someone's religious beliefs were a matter of conscience, and he believed that coercion should never be part of the equation.

Jefferson fleshed out his views about religious freedom in even more concrete form just four or five years later. Here are some of his most candid statements: "It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg" ("Notes on the State of Virginia, Query XVII," dating to 1781-1782). I have long marveled at those two sentences. After all, with those words, Jefferson proclaims that polytheism and atheism, and everything in between, are all acceptable positions for the citizens of Virginia. For Thomas Jefferson, religion is a matter of conscience and so long as it is not "injurious to others" (a phrase he uses in the same context), religion is not something with which the government should be concerned.

The Constitution of the United States was penned some five years later, and the First Amendment to the Constitution has language that embraces Jefferson's stance on the freedom of religion. Here are those immortal words: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" (1787). Later, after being elected to the Presidency of the United States, during Thomas Jefferson's First Inaugural Address (on March 4, 1801), he uttered these potent words: "It is proper that you should understand what I deem the essential principles of our Government, and consequently those which ought to shape its Administration." Then, within the list of essential principles are the words "freedom of religion." Similarly, in Jefferson's discussions of the University of Virginia (which he founded, which is the third notation of his epitaph), he notes that the Constitution of the United States "places all sects of religion on an equal footing" (August 4, 1818).

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It will come as no surprise that Thomas Jefferson was criticized in his own day for his views of religion, including his belief in the freedom of religion. For example, at one point a certain Mrs. Samuel H. Smith wrote a letter to him about such matters. She was someone whom he knew from societal events in Washington as well as from a prior visit of hers to Monticello. From Jefferson's letter of response to her (sent from Monticello, and dated August 6, 1816), it is apparent that she had heard something about Jefferson's views of religion that disturbed her and she seems to have suggested in her letter that his later views are different from his earlier views. Jefferson's letter of reply is warm, but he seems to bristle slightly at times in his response. He tells her that there have been no changes. Then he writes: "the priests indeed have heretofore thought proper to ascribe to me religious, or rather anti-religious sentiments, of their own fabric, but such as soothed their resentments against the act of Virginia for establishing religious freedom. They wished him [i.e., Jefferson] to be thought atheist, deist, or devil, who could advocate freedom from their religious dictations." He goes on to state that "I have ever thought religion a concern purely between our God and our consciences, for which we were accountable to him...I never told my own religion, nor scrutinized that of another." And then he states that "I have ever judged of the religion of others by their lives....For it is in our lives, and not from our words, that our religion must be read."
'Learned helplessness' is a term used by psychologists to describe a behavior where a human or animal feels such overwhelming hopelessness and powerlessness that it ceases attempts to resist the situations that cause it pain or discomfort. An example is found in factory hog farms, where breeding sows confined in metal cages - so narrow that they cannot turn around - will initially bite the metal bars and thrash around, trying to escape. Finally, the animal gives up and enters a state of hopelessness and despair.

Republicans in Washington are attempting to use such psychological techniques on their constituents. Many concerned Kentuckians have simply given up trying to contact Senator Mitch McConnell's Washington D.C. office because his office will not answer their phone calls. A recorded message at (202) 224-2541 claims that they are experiencing "a high call volume" and then hangs up, without even providing an opportunity to leave a message.

While a high volume of calls might be understandable during the chaotic early days of President Trump, the Senate Majority Leader could quickly fix the problem, if he wanted to, by installing more phone lines and hiring more interns. Instead, Senator McConnell apparently hopes to instill learned helplessness in his constituents.

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McConnell's Chief of Staff Robert Steurer falsely blames "liberal activists" for his own office's telephone incompetence, but this problem has actually existed for many years, as any frequent caller to his DC office can attest. Years ago, after many auto-hang-ups, I finally reached one of McConnell's DC staffers who told me that they had only two people to answer phone calls. Two people - for over 4 million constituents! That's worse service than even the sleaziest cable company.

Sen. McConnell's recent comments are absurd. Referring to hearings for Trump's Cabinet nominees, he said, "It seems this gridlock and opposition has far less to do with the nominees actually before us than [with] the man who nominated him... enough is enough."

This from the undisputed king of partisan Washington gridlock - the same Senator who refused to consider President Obama's Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland for 10 full months, and who once vowed that his highest priority was to make President Obama a one-term President. Apparently, Sen. McConnell thinks that all Kentuckians are so stupid that they do not remember his obstructionism during President Obama's eight years in office.

I believe that Sen. McConnell has a deep contempt for average working people. He wants to take health care away from poor and sick people, he claimed that Americans spend more on yogurt than on political campaigns, he supported the invasion of Iraq, a country that never attacked us or harmed us in any way. How does he get away with all this?

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We are simply too polite and too complacent, and we are not holding him accountable. Now is the time to break out of our metal cages. I have invited Sen. McConnell to hold a Town Hall meeting in Lexington with the people who will lose their health care when he repeals Obamacare "root and branch."

There is absolutely no chance that Sen. McConnell will ever appear in such a public forum. He is terrified of hecklers. He only speaks in public to business groups, GOP audiences and wealthy donors.
Along with students and alumni, the citizens of Rensselaer, Indiana, expressed shock last week when St. Joseph's College announced that it would close at the end of the academic year. The small, private Catholic college was founded 128 years ago and was a fixture - and major employer -- in the town.

St. Joseph's president, Robert Pastoor, argued that the College would need about $100 million to be feasible, with an immediate infusion of $20 million needed before the end of June. He stated: "Despite our best efforts, we were not able to escape the financial challenges that many tuition-dependent smaller universities have faced in the past several years."

Financial Challenges, Decades in the Making, Were Insurmountable

Mr. Pastoor cited extensive debt, fears the College would permanently lose accreditation, depreciated facilities, and pressure from auditors that would limit access to student loans as the reasons for the Board of Trustees' decision. Last November, an accreditor, the Higher Learning Commission, placed St. Joseph's on probation through 2018 citing concerns over "resources, planning and institutional effectiveness."

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There are many lessons to be learned from the financial failure of St. Joseph's College. There are also strong views about the failure of the Board and administrators to demonstrate transparency even if the signs were there after the accreditation actions last November. The finger pointing will likely begin, especially directed to the Board of Trustees, but there's undoubtedly plenty of blame to go around.

The cold fact is that no one expects a college to close even when the signs point to it.

Much of the reporting on the closure focused on the sense of loss felt by students and alumni, who invested their sense of self - psychologically and emotionally - in the place. Students are now scrambling to find a way to complete their education affordably. Alumni feel strongly about their alma mater and wonder if their degrees will continue to hold value.

Impact of College's Closure on Local Community Cannot Be Ignored

The story of loss that is more often ignored, however, is the impact the closing of a college has on its community. In college communities affected by closures, the economic impact of a college's business operations suddenly becomes important. In the case of St. Joseph's, the College employed more than 200 individuals, making it a major employer in a town of 6,000 people in a largely agricultural region. These soon-to-be former employees will face limited options as they begin to think about future employment.

There are also secondary effects on a community when larger employers like St. Joseph's close. The college is the town's third largest utility customer after the local hospital and the school district, spending $640,000 last year, according to its Mayor. The ripple effect on local businesses will spread across the region as the employment base shrinks and 900 students spend their consumer dollars elsewhere.

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As Melissa Shultz, a local businesswoman and lifelong resident lamented to a Chicago Tribune reporter: "I just don't want this to become a ghost town."

The loss to a community is comparable to an auto plant shutting down or a mine closure except for an important distinction. The business of higher education is a public good whose benefits extend well beyond employment. America's colleges - of whatever size - prepare citizens for the workforce. They are also among the principal economic engines in their region. They bring visitors to Main Street, anchor the quality of life, and provide continuous stable employment in a way that the much touted reopening of the Carrier plant in Indianapolis cannot do.

America can continue to let its Rust Belt deteriorate as demographic shifts depopulate its rural stretches. Or, policy makers can see the impact that inattention has had well beyond the slogans and the politics of nationalism that will delay but not stop globalization. That boat sailed before this century began.

Instead, what is most needed is a kind of Tennessee Valley Authority approach to re-imagining the towns that America's post-industrial economy will otherwise leave behind.

The closing of St. Joseph's College is a warning shot to America about the loss of bedrock institutions that defined entire towns.

It was like a death in the family. The solution to solving the problems of the Rust Belt is not simply to find more manufacturing jobs for unemployed workers in new Toyota plants.

In the end, all politics is local.
Very few capital cities in the world witnessed scenes of joy on the eighth of November 2016, when Donald Trump was elected President, and nowhere there registered a bigger, louder sigh of relief than in Jerusalem. PM Benjamin Netanyahu and President Barack Hussein Obama were not bosom buddies, to be as polite as possible, and the former simply could not conceal his sense of joy. Moreover, some of his Right Wing coalition partners seemed to be in seventh heaven, believing Trump's pre-election rhetoric about a dramatic change in the relationships between the US and Israel. Well, to the credit of the more experienced Netanyahu it is fair to say, that even his initial reactions, though so obvious, were toned down compared to his colleagues. He, after all, has seen a thing or two in his long tenure as leader of Israel, understanding that Trump was elected President of the US, not a correction officer of the faltering US-Israel relationships under President Obama. Events of the last three weeks were to prove Netanyahu right, whereas his hot-headed coalition partners looking detached from reality.

Netanyahu is in Washington, enjoying a far better hospitality than the one accorded to him by President Obama in 2009, when the Israeli leader, against protocol, and in a deliberate snub, was waiting in the corridors of the White House, waiting for the first family to finish their meal. Netanyahu already hears a sweet note from Trump about not condemning Israel repeatedly, contrary to what has become the usual procedure of the Obama Administration. Surely he likes it, but the complexity of the Middle East situation is such, that the tone here is not necessarily the music. Netanyahu will very well find himself under pressure to make unpleasant decisions, much earlier than anticipated. Take, for example, the issues of the possible move of the American Embassy to Jerusalem and the issue of settlements. There already have been many signals sent by the Trump Administration to the effect, that there will not be any move of the Embassy, surely not a quick one, and that settlements construction is not the cup of tea of the Trump team. Netanyahu, so we are told by unverified reports, is whispering to the Americans that he does not really prioritize the Embassy move as being important, and that he wants the Administration to publicly indicate its displeasure with continuing settlements talk and activity. According to these reports, the PM basically invites pressures on him, especially with regards to the settlements. It will not be out of tune with how previous Israeli Prime Ministers handled similar situations, however, this time the PM may be in a better situation than some of his predecessors. There are enough points of agreement between him and Trump, something which will make it easier for him to sell some flexibility about the settlements to his coalition partners.

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To do that, Netanyahu will have to say in public what a Likud PM usually does not like to say, and this is, that he freezes settlement activity in accordance with the President wishes, while expecting the President to publicly and unequivocally reassure Israel, that the UN will cease to be the pro-Palestinian playground. Any specific statement from President Trump against anti-Israel unilateral steps will help Netanyahu back home when dealing with his detractors from the Right Wing. Besides, the parties can agree on the need to include Arab countries, like Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan in future talks with the Palestinians, making it very difficult to Mahmoud Abbas to refuse such a course of action, though it will be a bitter pill for him to swallow, after the short time of unrealistic expectations he had following UNSC resolution no.2334. It will be useful for Netanyahu to urge the President to caution the Palestinians that going to Hague[the International Court] and steps like that, will lead to removal of the American recognition of the Palestinian Authority [PA] , and at the same time complete Congressional ban on any money allocation to the PA. While the sticks held by the new administration are obvious for all to see, and early indications are, that they consider using them, Netanyahu will have to deliver his part of the formula, and the settlements are the one issue which can make it to him.
In the aftermath of President Trump's Executive Order banning entry into the US from seven predominantly Muslim countries--Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan and Libya--his supporters have hailed his initiative as an important terrorist deterrent while detractors have attacked it as a recruitment tool for ISIS. While there may be some truth to both of these positions, the long-term fallout of other pronouncements may be more far-reaching--affecting US relations with the 1.7 billion Muslims in the years to come and also shaping conditions in Muslim countries.

Before elaborating on the future fallout of the new administration's initiatives, let's list its many pronouncements.

Candidate Trump has often made disparaging remarks about "Islamic terrorists." To many devout Muslims, this was and is an insult. Yes, there are terrorists who call themselves Muslims, but Islam is a religion that preaches the unity of humankind, freedom and justice. The candidate's then national security advisor, General Flynn, was even less circumspect when in 2016 he tweeted "fear of Muslims is rational."

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In December of 2016, President Elect Trump condemned the Obama Administration's abstention on a UN Resolution demanding that Israel cease Jewish settlement activities on Palestinian territory, which then resulted in the passage of the resolution. Yes, in the past the US had always vetoed such resolutions supported by nearly every country in the world, who view Israel's actions as illegal under international law. President Elect Trump also stated that he would support moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on the very day of his inauguration. This move, apparently still under consideration, has allegedly not been carried out because of the possible fallout. But the damage is done. Muslims heard the administration's sympathies loud and clear. Furthermore, in support of Prime Minister Netanyahu, the new administration did not condemn the Israeli Parliament's passage of a law expropriating Palestinian land--this law represents a line that Israel had not before crossed and a line that even some right-wing Israeli politicians have seen as dangerous. President Elect Trump further alienated Muslims, and especially Arabs, when he nominated David Friedman, a vocal supporter of Jewish settlements on Palestinian territory, as the US Ambassador to Israel. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Netanyahu is scheduled to meet President Trump. In the past, President Elect Trump made numerous pronouncements in favor of further strengthening US-Israeli ties. While Arabs and indeed all Muslims are watching, further US indifference as to Palestinian rights will only continue to alienate Arabs and most other Muslims.

There are other provocative initiatives that the new administration may be contemplating. One of these is the designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. Most Muslims would strongly disagree with such a designation and would find this to be another slap in their face, as the administration continues its support of oppressive rulers in Egypt and Saudi Arabia who back such a designation to quash all opposition to their rule.

While the travel ban on seven Muslim countries has received most of the attention, these numerous initiatives may do much more long-term damage to US-Muslim relations. Interestingly, on a number of occasions when the President has addressed the travel ban, he has made matters worse by casting the refugee problem, in part, as a persecution of Christians. Religious freedom is prohibited in Saudi Arabia (which is not on the President's dirty 7 list), ISIS has taunted Christians by its barbarous acts against non-Muslims to further divide the two religions, and Iran has persecuted Baha'is, but in terms of sheer numbers, it is Muslims who have been the principal victims of ISIS and other Muslim terror.

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With all the attention on the seven-country-travel ban, the pundits have not taken up one critical fact: some of them allege the reason for these seven countries is that President Trump has no business interests in these places but has business in Saudi Arabia, home to 15 of the 19 9/11 terrorists, and in other Muslim countries not on the list; while this is true they miss the fact that the seven countries are not ruled by Muslim dictators who are supported by the US. This is important because the administration's anti-Islam initiatives, coupled with its support of oppressive Muslim dictators, will increasingly encourage Muslims to engage in protests against their oppressive rulers. The chickens will come home to roost the day America's dictator friends are overthrown.

What does all this portend for America's standing in the Muslim world?

A simple fact that we have said before: in all of the Middle East and North Africa, the US is most popular in Israel and Iran (see the results of Pew Surveys). Israel is understandable, but why Iran? Our hypothesis is that the US is not unduly distrusted in Iran because Washington has not supported Iran's oppressive rulers. Trump's rhetoric and travel bans against Muslims, his increased and overt support of Netanyahu's provocative initiatives and of oppressive Muslim rulers (who condemn and incarcerate peaceful opposition) will further alienate Muslims around the world. This alienation could be seen clearly when Iran's former President Ahmadinejad and Hassan Nasrallah of Hezbollah were the region's two most popular Muslim leaders in the Middle East. Why? Because they spoke out against the United States and US-backed Arab rulers. But matters will not rest there. The broad citizenry in many Middle Eastern Muslim countries will increasingly protest against their oppressive rulers--rulers who are backed by the United States.

Sadly, the Trump Administration, instead of promoting reconciliation, may be unknowingly sowing the seeds of discord.

In the end, to be effective, US policies must appeal to the people of the region, not just to their rulers. There is one inescapable fact. Islam is the fastest growing religion. Today it has 1.7 billion adherents. The US has no choice but to forge better relations. Words matter, as do actions. Provocative rhetoric will only alienate. Blind support of Muslim dictators who do Washington's bidding will one day blow up in America's face. Blind support for Netanyahu's excesses will in the end hurt Israel as well as alienate Muslims.

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My grandson came home from his first experience in school this year and reported that at the start of class, they recited the "American prayer." My son and daughter-in-law were, at first, incredulous. Then livid.

My other son had dealt with this same dilemma a year or two earlier when his oldest child first started school. This was a shock all too familiar to my husband and me. While we smiled at our little man's astute assessment of the Pledge of Allegiance to be a "prayer," we wholly understood our children's outrage, applauding and backing them up with our indignation. We, too, had dealt with this same issue many years earlier when my sons first started school here in this country.



Growing Up

Like just about every school-age American kid, I grew up reciting the Pledge of Allegiance from kindergarten on, attending schools in Southern California. I never thought much about it, though. It's just what you did -- although, I didn't have a clue what I was saying. My husband, being French, never had such an experience.

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I don't remember if we still recited it in junior high and high school. That was a long time ago. Then, on to college, followed by a life abroad for many years. By the time I came back to the states, I had my own school-age children. We enrolled them in our local school, and that first week, my husband and I were surprised and shocked when our two young boys came home relaying that the school day started with a recitation in front of the flag.

"What is the Pledge of Allegiance?" they asked. Oh my!

Wasn't that a vestige from the 1950s, I thought? Do they still do that in school here? It had been a long time since my school days, and this was my first experience (or skirmish, rather) with school in the states with children -- my children. My French husband was equally shocked. He had never heard of, nor participated in, such a ritual in his school days in France.

My oldest child had attended school in France and Brazil, and he was never obliged to participate in a similar exercise in class in those countries. We were adamantly opposed to this. We were opposed to forcing a child to repeat words that he/she could not yet understand. This was a teaching moment, and my husband and I seized it.

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"You don't have to say the Pledge of Allegiance," we told them. "You have that right not to. The Pledge says that you promise loyalty to the flag, a symbol of this country, and the democratic principles it stands for, but at your ages," -- they were 8 and 11 years old -- "We don't think it's right to force that on you when you don't fully understand what you are saying."

Blind Repetition

If one day their hearts were to implore them to participate with everyone else, so be it. But at this stage, they were too young to understand what it all meant. This is how indoctrination begins. This is how the subtle influence of dogma, dare I say "brainwashing," wields its control. I was acutely reminded of the mindless ten "Our Fathers" and fifteen "Hail Marys" the Catholic priest would mandate that we recite as children for penance following confessional sessions when I attended Catholic school. (I am now estranged from all religion). Indeed, my grandson had seized the essence of what the Pledge is: a prayer. (Although, we are somewhat mystified as to how he could know what a prayer was, his family being non-religious.)

The Right to Say "No"

Nevertheless, out of respect for their classmates and teachers, and the solemnness of the morning ritual, we told them that they should stand with everyone, but under no circumstances were they obliged to put their hands over their hearts, or recite the words, no matter what anyone else may tell them or how they may be intimidated. They had the right not to recite.

"If anyone says anything to you, let us know and we will speak to them, and the school, about it."

As it turned out, my children were never again confronted with this quandary after that first year because the following year, and for the remainder of their education, they attended a French school here in the states, where the Pledge of Allegiance was not part of their program.

Consequently, our sons completely forgot about this American custom, as did we. Putting their own children in their local public schools was their first renewed experience with the American public school system in over 25 years.

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Citizens of Civics

When I was in the 8th grade back in the 1960s, we were required to take a rather rigorous class on the Constitution. We had to memorize the Declaration of Independence, the Preamble of the Constitution and know the all the amendments inside and out. We had to thoroughly read, study and understand the entire document in this semester-long course, replete with regular exams, quizzes and essays. No student could pass into the 9th grade without passing this class, and a very intimidating final exam. Now THAT is something I wholeheartedly applaud. This experience deeply marked me, and being a child of the 60s, a time heavily shadowed by a long and loud public opposition to the Vietnam War, coupled with outrage over the Watergate scandal, we wielded our 8th grade constitutional proficiency and brought down a president who disregarded these principles and tried to circumvent the law.

Students should have civics lessons -- a mandatory class. They should learn the principles and philosophies of this government and their duties as citizens. Only then should they learn the Pledge of Allegiance. It would make more sense. There is a profound difference between indoctrination and civic instruction, and I venture to say that given the current state of civics and the political environment of this country, we are now witnessing the prevalence of indoctrination over civic knowledge. Mindless repetition of a mantra does not a patriot make.
PepsiCo is a multi-billion dollar leader in consumer packaged goods sales, in part, due to its history of investing in employee and leadership development. Indra Nooyi, Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, was kind enough to write the foreword to my book, Learning to Succeed: Rethinking Corporate Education in a World of Unrelenting Change. Nooyi writes, "At PepsiCo, we have established a comprehensive learning organization that values and prioritizes professional development for every employee throughout the company... our learning initiatives link directly to our company's strategic goals." This strategic approach is what I recommend, supported by frameworks and successful case studies, throughout Learning to Succeed.

Nooyi affirms that the concrete recommendations in Learning to Succeed are as applicable for a large-scale conglomerate like PepsiCo as for a small business seeking to stay competitive while in growth mode. "The book astutely maps...elements, such as C-suite sponsorship, structural innovation, and a cultural aptitude for change, while also pinpointing the roadblocks that organizations will need to overcome to become fully functioning learning organizations..." - Indra Nooyi, Foreword, Learning to Succeed.

Last semester, I taught an intensive course at Columbia on Organizational Strategy and Learning which reviewed and analyzed many of these same topics. The graduate students in my course are earning master's degrees in fields ranging from Enterprise Risk Management to Actuarial Science to Nonprofit Management to Strategic Communication. As part of these programs, they are learning market-driven functional skills and management best practices. In my course, in particular, we explored the competitive advantages companies can create by building strong talent development programs and aligning with strategic and operational priorities. To tie this to the "real world," I invited guest speakers in prominent positions at companies including BlackRock, McKinsey, JP Morgan, United Nations, and AIG, to engage with my students. These guests discussed issues in strategy, leadership, and talent development and facilitated dynamic exchanges with my students, who offered input from readings, case studies, and their own career experiences.

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As the final guest lecturer of the course, Umran Beba, Chief Human Resources Officer at PepsiCo, joined us to discuss her career path and ascension to the C-Suite. She started at the company in her home country of Turkey, in the marketing department. "While I enjoyed the thrill of launching original campaigns, I decided to open up opportunity for myself by moving across departments," she said. She is now based out of PepsiCo's headquarters in Purchase, NY, and oversees human capital management and operations. She shared her experiences in such intimidating circumstances as attending leadership retreats as the only female in attendance--and how she used those trials as an advantage to develop her voice, her core values, and what she prioritizes as a leader.

As a reflective and productive scholar/practitioner, Beba codified and translated her experiences and recently contributed to publish a white paper for the World Economic Forum: "Realizing Human Potential in the Fourth Industrial Revolution: An Agenda for Leaders to Shape the Future of Education, Gender and Work." In it, the authors propose "a new deal on lifelong learning," urging the public and private sectors to adopt new models that support learning throughout career spans.
The Continuum Center for Health and Healing on First Avenue in New York City was a pearl among the large integrative medicine centers that were sponsored by medical delivery organizations in the first years of the integrative era. First conceived in 1998, an estimated $10-million in philanthropic funds directly backed the construction and supported clinical services. The clinic's leaders included Woodson Merrell, MD, Barbara Glickstein, RN, MPH and Ben Kligler, MD, MPH.

The work at the Continuum Center was leading edge. The team fostered a high level of interprofessionalism and team care. They generated an important body of research. They experimented with business models and experienced times of profitability. Yet amidst a larger economic drama of what was called a merger between Continuum Health Partners and the now dominant Mt. Sinai Medical Center, the formerly 32-clinician integrative center, with its 6,000 visits per month, was put on the corporate chopping block last fall.

To gain an understanding of what took place, I contacted Merrell, pictured above, who left his position prior to the decision, and Kligler, who had already accepted a new position with the Veteran's Administration's integrative health initiative prior to Mt. Sinai's closure decision. Glickstein left early on.

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In a short interview, Merrell spoke to how significantly new leadership or corporate culture can shift an integrative center's stature: "A vice president of the (former) Beth Israel leadership described us as a 'crown jewel' of the system. We were drawing a high percentage of new patients to the system. We got great reviews from patients for our care. Now Mt. Sinai is taking a more limited view of how to assess value, focusing on RVUs [relative value units]. They clearly didn't see the value in the center."

Kligler and I spoke at length about the turns of events leading to the decision. At the core of our exchange was the vulnerability of these stand-alone clinics amidst leadership changes and system mergers. I shared that I had recently interviewed his frequent colleague, University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine's executive director Victoria Maizes, MD about the shutdown of ACIM's Phoenix-based integrative health clinic. Maizes had referenced what she viewed as a parallel with the Continuum story. In both cases, the clinics seemed to be collateral damage to a larger merger with a dominant player who didn't have much interest in the field. (That interview is here.)

Kliger began by sharing a perspective from the Continuum partner, Beth Israel, with which the clinic was most directly associated: "From Beth Israel there was a long-time commitment to the idea of integrative health and of integrative health having value to the system. There was always pressure about the business model but there was never a question that integrative health had more value to Beth Israel than just the stand-alone clinic."

Kligler was vice chair and Merrell chair, for instance, for an associated Department of Integrative Medicine, formed in 2007. The Center's robust activities hit on all three of the research-education-clinical care sweet spots. They had not only an Academic Fellowship in Integrative Medicine but also an inpatient acupuncture fellowship. Kligler secured a series of major federal research grants.

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This was a remarkable track record of local and national engagement. Yet, Kligler added, "we never got a message from Mt. Sinai that integrative health as a clinical service was important to them."

Kligler quickly clarified that he "totally understands how it looks from [Mt. Sinai's] point of view. We just looked like another practice in a hospital that was losing money." He shared that the termination of operations is part of the territory. Mt. Sinai is also ending Beth Israel's service as a general hospital. "Some systems have integrative health in their core clinical mission," Kligler says, adding, with finality: "Others don't."

Kligler views the loss of the Center as "just bad luck." Why? "[Mt. Sinai] came in when we were the most vulnerable." Had the merger come through a couple of years earlier, it would have been when the center "was booming."

Kligler explains. In 2012, demand exceeded the ability to fulfill on meeting patient interest. The Center was operating profitably and expanded to a third floor. New investment coupled with new practices not yet overflowing added up to a temporal moment of significant red ink. Had the merger come later, in Kligler's view, the new configuration would have had time to fill out and flourish. Mt. Sinai caught the snapshot of that moment's performance rather than considering a promising revenue trajectory. Kligler summed up his view: "Honestly, we can't hold Sinai responsible. It was terrible timing."

Mt. Sinai's integrative clinical services will not be fully terminated. A core of 4 physicians will re-locate to a clinic across Manhattan in the West Village. Some are pushing the system to keep some of the non-MD practitioners associated. Research grants and education initiatives have been moved to the Sinai Department of Family Medicine, reflecting the fact that Sinai remains supportive of research and education in integrative medicine, reports Kligler.

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Meantime, the Department of Integrative Medicine has not been terminated. Kligler, who applied in August 2015 for his current new position as the National Director of the Integrative Health Coordinating Center at the Veteran's Health Administration, maintains a role in research as principal investigator on three projects. How well these will survive the departure of Kligler's driving energy is yet to be seen, especially as the curret research grants come to an end.

Kligler noted that "health systems tolerate losses in many areas, for all kinds of reasons - primary care for instance." While typically losing money, primary care serves as a funnel for more lucrative tertiary care operations.

I asked Kligler his views of what Mt. Sinai lost in their decision to shut the Center. He spoke first of the group of patients "for whom integrative health is important." He then considered the loss to students and residents to experience integrative practices on such a large scale through their rotations through the interprofessional and multidisciplinary Continuum Center. Mt. Sinai lost, he concluded "the opportunity to envision a healthcare system that brings a wider range of tools and practitioners to the treatment of patients."

This article is one in a series on significant ups and downs with major centers. We see significant expansion at Jefferson in Philadelphia, a new 17,000 square foot space for the Center for Functional Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, and system-wide integrative health at Meridian Health. The build-up of integrative health and research in the Veterans Administration with which Kligler is now involved is another bright light.

Meantime, on the deficit side: the shutdown of the Banner/Center for Integrative Health in Phoenix which was intended as a proving ground for integrative care; the Allina/Penny George Institute shut its research department and limited its inpatient program; and while not a clinical site, the Samueli Institute, an engine of integrative health research, also announced that it is ending operations.

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I am still digesting the meaning of all these changes. One reasonable conjecture is that the lack of discussion in the Trump administration of the need to move to from "volume to value" that is promoted in some ways through the Affordable Care Act will make the medical industry even less hospitable to integrative services.
Today marks the five-year anniversary of the founding of Californians for Safety and Justice, an advocacy organization seeking to replace prison and justice system waste with smarter safety solutions that save public dollars, in the state with the largest corrections system in the nation.

We began this journey with a fundamental belief: Californians of all walks of life were ready for large-scale change. The incarceration-first approaches of the "tough-on-crime" era were not only bad for public safety and bad for budgets they were also no longer popular with the public.

Then, like now, California was at a crossroads. While litigation and budget crises had already set changes in motion, the $10 billion per year corrections system price tag (up 300% from thirty years ago) remained in tact, along with severe racial disparities, increased spending on county jails and a lack of support for prevention in the communities hardest hit by crime.

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So five years ago we set out to harness the power of the public to win bold change. We aimed to grow a broad-based movement - engaging new and diverse allies and joining with philanthropy and community leaders to envision new safety solutions that expand prevention, rehabilitation and community health.

Since then, a lot has changed. Our political action team joined with law enforcement leaders, grassroots leaders, faith leaders, business leaders and more to win two major criminal justice reform ballot initiatives in just two years, Propositions 47 and 57. Our Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice network has grown to become the largest network of crime victims in the country, and we've helped dozens of local jurisdictions advance innovations from enrolling justice populations in healthcare to reentry jobs, trauma recovery and more.



Today, there are about 15,000 fewer people incarcerated in California's prisons and jails and eight new trauma recovery centers supporting underserved victims across the state. More than one million Californians can remove old nonviolent felonies from their records to reduce barriers to stability, and more than $68 million dollars are being reallocated from the prisons budget to local prevention and treatment. State corrections leaders now have discretion to incentivize prisoner rehabilitation, and juveniles no longer face prosecutor direct file into adult criminal court. The majority of counties have enacted strategies to enroll system-involved people into healthcare and Los Angeles established the first-of-its-kind task force to help people with records find jobs.

A more balanced approach to public safety is starting to emerge. But we have further to go, and the stakes have never been higher. Despite continued historic lows in crime rates, many of the old debates about punishment are being rehashed around the nation. Those who seek to rollback progress continue presenting a false choice between reduced crime and reduced incarceration.

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Rather than rest on the gains we've made, now is the time to double down. We must commit to go further in our efforts to abandon ineffective justice policies that deplete resources and make matters worse. Here are just a few of the needed reforms California is poised to achieve.

When it comes to California's crowded county jails, the large pretrial population is the elephant in the room. Too many people languish in jail waiting for their court dates because they cannot afford to pay bail - amounts that are five times the national average. Replacing money bail with smart and safe pretrial community supervision would save jail space and money.

Despite consensus that incarceration cannot stop cycles of chronic illness and nonviolent crime, our state sorely lacks the prevention and treatment infrastructure needed to address addiction and mental illness. California must scale substance abuse and mental health treatment up to match the scale of the problem. The bloated prisons budget is one place to look for resources to achieve this.

We must eliminate post-release restrictions that prevent stability. Giving people a fair shot at a second chance means rethinking the more than 4,000 post-release restrictions (over half of which are job related) facing Californians with criminal records. Families and communities fare better when dignity and opportunity are provided to all of our community members.

We must also continue reducing incarceration. While recent reforms have helped, too many Californians still remain incarcerated for no good public safety reason. Increasing judicial discretion, improving preparation for release, and shortening unnecessarily long sentences can continue safely reducing incarceration and costs.

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Finally, and most important, we must stop pretending that growing incarceration protects crime survivors - it does not. Low-income communities and communities of color continue to bear the brunt of cycles of crime and violence and have the least access to crime prevention, treatment and trauma recovery-investments that more effectively stop the cycle and help victims heal.
A few years back, I picked up an issue of National Geographic and stumbled upon the creepy true story of parasite wasps.

The stuff of nightmares, these sinister creatures inject their eggs into hapless victims. The developing larvae drain nutrients from their hosts' bodies and take control of their hosts' minds, directing their behaviors for the exclusive benefit of the nascent wasp.

Ladybugs protect the wasp larvae emerging from their bodies from would-be predators, only to die, gutted and paralyzed, after the wasps fly off.

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Spiders affixed with wasp embryos sucking their blood for nourishment build webs designed not to trap food for themselves, but to shelter the growing wasp. When the job is completed, the spiders wither away.

Cockroaches drugged by a wasp sting obediently allow the wasp to lead them by their antennae into a burrow where they are implanted with eggs, serving as nurseries and ultimately as lunch for baby wasps.

This real-life horror tale has come vividly back to me as I watch the behavior of the Republican Party in response to the new presidency of Donald Trump. Like those crawly brainwashed victims, the majority of Republican senators and representatives are acting not on behalf of all Americans, whom they have pledged to serve (and by whom they are paid), but for the good of Donald Trump and his coterie of special interests.

As if under a hypnotic spell, they vote by overwhelming margins to approve Cabinet appointees with proven records of bigotry, corruption, and ignorance of the basic functions of the agencies they are supposed to head.

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They remain silent while Trump and his surrogates undermine our democracy by threatening our judiciary, attempting to bully the press into submission and silence, and repeatedly lying to the American people.

They utter not a word of criticism when President Trump equates our country's moral standing with that of Russia and suspiciously cozies up to Vladimir Putin while berating long-time allies. In fact, Republican Congressman Steve King criticized Gary Kasparov, a Putin critic who was arrested and beaten multiple times by the Russian government, for calling out Trump's embrace of Putin, noting that Kasparov is still, after all, alive.

Our Republican Congress voices no outrage over National Security Advisor Mike Flynn having discussed with Russia's ambassador the lifting of sanctions imposed by the United States government against Russia for having interfered with our presidential election--a discussion that took place ahead of Trump's inauguration.

They are mute to Trump's violating free-market principles, ethics, and the very dignity of the United States as he berates companies that won't sell his family's products.

And they do not open their mouths in protest when Trump threatens to "destroy" the career of a state senator with whom he disagrees.

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At Trump's behest, Jeb Hensarling, Republican Congressman and Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Services, has proposed quashing bank regulations that protect consumers, thereby exposing Americans to financial predators.

Bill Johnson, Republican Congressman, recently sponsored a measure (approved by House Republicans) that scuttled a regulation preventing the coal mining industry from dumping debris into streams.

And Republican Representative Jason Chaffetz threatened the Director of the United States Office of Government Ethics for questioning Trump's conflicts of interest.

We're just three weeks into this new administration, yet I could go on--and on--with such examples.

But I've made the point.

Do Republicans who unquestioningly line up behind Trump realize that--just to give a few looming consequences--they are working to undermine the financial well-being of fellow citizens, pollute our drinking water, and unravel the fabric of our democracy?

And I won't get into the dire results to the United States and to all life on earth if our nation's government continues to deny the reality of global warming and refuses to take action on this issue.

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I am descended from a long line of Republicans: My great-great-grandfather was voting the ticket way back in the 1870s. So I am especially aggrieved that our Republican lawmakers do not see how their own behaviors and the policies that they are endorsing endanger the United States.

It is as if these senators and representatives don't realize that their will, their reason, and their ethics have been hijacked by the political equivalent of a parasite wasp.

I'm fearful how this will end. In nature, the wasps' victims die after acting against their own survival and being bled dry by their masters.

Will this be the fate of the United States? Our own government is now marching us away from the ideal we have striven to be, that flawed but shining city upon a hill, and toward becoming a riven, frightened kleptocracy.

The similarities between the tale of the parasite wasp and our own predicament do not end there. One particular wasp's sting contains a virus whose agenda of mayhem dovetails nicely with that of the wasp. It's as if the parasite wasp is acting both on its behalf and in the service of the virus it unknowingly hosts. The parallels to Trump and Russia are obvious.

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The good news is that we humans are capable of a great deal more awareness than are our distant insect and arachnid cousins. So I am hopeful that patriotic Americans of all political stripes will utilize this gift to realize exactly what is being done to us, and take immediate action.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks by phone with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S. January 28, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

America Third

Cross-posted with TomDispatch.com

If theres a single consistent aspect to Donald Trumps strategic vision, its this: U.S. foreign policy should always be governed by the simple principle of America First, with this countrys vital interests placed above those of all others. We will always put Americas interests first, he declared in his victory speech in the early hours of November 9th. From this day forward, its going to be only America first, America first, he insisted in his Inaugural Address on January 20th. Since then, however, everything hes done in the international arena has, intentionally or not, placed Americas interests behind those of its arch-rivals, China and Russia. So to be accurate, his guiding policy formula should really be relabeled America Third.

Given 19 months of bravado public rhetoric, there was no way to imagine a Trumpian presidency that would favor Americas leading competitors. Throughout the campaign, he castigated China for its predatory trade practices, insisting that it had exploited Americas weak enforcement policies to eviscerate our economy and kill millions of jobs. The money theyve drained out of the United States has rebuilt China, he told reporters from the New York Times in no uncertain terms last March. While he expressed admiration for the strong leadership of Russian President Vladimir Putin, he decried that countrys buildup of advanced nuclear weapons. They have gone wild with their nuclear program, he stated during the second presidential debate. Not good!

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Judging by such comments, you might imagine that Donald Trump would have entered the Oval Office with a strategic blueprint for curbing the geopolitical sway of Americas two principal potential great power rivals. Presumably, this would have entailed a radical transformation of the strategy devised by the Obama administration for this purpose -- a two-pronged effort that involved the reinforcement of NATO forces in Eastern Europe and the rebalancing of U.S. military assets to the Asia-Pacific region. Obamas strategy also envisioned the use of economic pacts -- the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) -- to buttress those military measures. But Trump had made known his disdain for NATO and the TPP, so it was reasonable to assume that he would arrive in Washington with an alternative plan to ensure Americas primacy on the global strategic chessboard.

As President Trump has made clear in recent weeks, however, his primary strategic priorities do not include the advancement of Americas status in the race for global strategic preeminence. Instead, as indicated by the outline of his America First Foreign Policy posted on the White House website, his top objectives are the extermination of what he calls radical Islamic terrorism and the enhancement of Americas overseas trade balance. Just how vital these objectives may be in the larger scheme of things has been the subject of considerable debate, but few have noted that Trump has completely abandoned any notion that the U.S. is engaged in a global struggle for power and wealth with two potentially fierce competitors, each possessing its own plan for achieving greatness.

And its not just that Trump seems to have abandoned the larger geopolitical playing field to Americas principal rivals. He appears to be doing everything in his power to facilitate their advance at the expense of the United States. In just the first few weeks of his presidency, he has already taken numerous steps that have put the wind in both Chinas and Russias sails, while leaving the U.S. adrift.

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Trumps China-First Foreign Policy

In his approach to China, Donald Trump has been almost exclusively focused on the issue of trade, claiming that his primary goal is to combat the unfair practices that have allowed the Chinese to get rich at Americas expense. Its hardly surprising, then, that his nominee as U.S. trade representative, Robert Lighthizer, is an outspoken critic of that countrys trade behavior. It seems clear that the U.S. manufacturing crisis is related to our trade with China, he told Congress in 2010. But while trade may be an important part of the U.S.-China relationship, Trumps single-minded fixation on the issue leaves aside far more crucial political, economic, diplomatic, and military aspects of the Sino-American competition for world power and influence. By largely ignoring them, in just weeks in the Oval Office, President Trump has already enabled China to gain ground on many fronts.

This was evident in January at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. While no senior representative of the soon-to-be installed Trump administration even put in an appearance, China was represented by no less than President Xi Jinping himself, a first appearance for a Chinese head of state. In a major address, denouncing (no names mentioned) those who seek to turn away from globalization, Xi portrayed China as the worlds new exemplar of free trade and internationalism. Say no to protectionism, he insisted. It is like locking yourself in a dark room. Wind and rain are kept out, but so are light and air. For many of the 1,250 CEOs, celebrities, and government officials in the audience, his appearance and remarks represented an almost mind-boggling shift in the global balance of political influence, as Washington ceded the pivotal position it had long occupied on the world stage.

Six days later, on his first weekday in office, President Trump appeared to confirm the Chinese leaders derisory comments by announcing his intent to withdraw from negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, thereby abandoning U.S. leadership in efforts to vastly augment trade in the Asia-Pacific region. From Trumps perspective, the 12-nation trade deal (which included Australia, Malaysia, Japan, and Vietnam, while carefully excluding China) would harm American workers and manufacturers by facilitating exports to this country by the other participants (a view shared by some on the left). At the same time, however, many in Washington saw it as bolstering American efforts to limit Beijings influence by increasing trade among the prospective TPP member states at Chinas expense. Now, China has an unparalleled opportunity to reorganize and potentially reorient trade in the Asian region in its direction.

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Theres no doubt that this action will be seen as a huge, huge win for China, said Michael Froman, the trade representative who negotiated the TPP under President Obama. For the Trump administration, after all this talk about being tough on China, for their first action to basically hand the keys to China and say were withdrawing from our leadership position in this region is geo-strategically damaging.

Among other things, China is expected to encourage Asian countries to join it in an alternative trade arrangement, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Including the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and India (but not the United States), the RCEP aims to lower barriers to trade -- without the environmental and labor-rights provisions incorporated into the TPP.

On January 28th, in a phone conversation that ended abruptly, President Trump further undermined Americas geopolitical stature in Asia by berating Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of Australia, a country that has been a staunch American ally since World War II and which houses several U.S. military bases. According to press accounts, Trump responded angrily to Turnbulls plea to honor a promise made by President Obama to take in some 1,250 refugees -- many from Iraq -- being held by Australia in squalid conditions in offshore detention centers. I dont want these people, Trump is said to have shouted before hanging up on the Australian leader. The insulting tenor of the call has provoked widespread revulsion in Australia, with many people there reportedly questioning the value of that countrys close association with the United States.

Above all, his rebuff of Turnbull is thought to be beneficial to China. Trump is needlessly damaging the deep trust that binds one of Americas closest alliances, said Professor Rory Medcalf, head of the National Security College at the Australian National University in Canberra. China and those wishing to weaken the strongest alliance in the Pacific will see opportunity in this moment.

Trump, China, and the Global Climate Fight

Perhaps the greatest gift Trump has bestowed on China, however, has been his drive to scuttle the Obama administrations clean energy initiatives and its commitment to the Paris climate agreement. By turning the clock back on climate action and putting in office a crew of climate-change deniers, Trump has opened the door for China to emerge both as the worlds leader in green technology (while creating millions of new jobs for Chinese workers) and in international efforts to slow global warming.

Recall that in pursuing progress on clean energy, President Obama was driven not only by a concern for the future depredations of climate change, but also by a desire to ensure American preeminence in what he perceived as a global race to master the green technologies of the future, a race in which China was feared to be a likely winner. In 2013, he pointed out that, until recently, other countries had dominated the clean energy market and the jobs that came with it, [but] weve begun to change that As long as countries like China keep going all-in on clean energy, so must we.

To assure American primacy in the clean-energy race, Obama channeled vast sums of money into the development and deployment of renewable technologies, including advanced solar power plants and electrical storage devices. He also assumed a leadership role in the diplomatic drive to gain approval of the Paris accord, meeting personally with Xi Jinping and with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, among others. From an international perspective, this lent the United States the aura of an enlightened, forward-looking world power.

Donald Trump aims to turn his back on all of this. More interested in pleasing his friends in the fossil fuel industry than saving the planet from ruin, he has repeatedly expressed his resolve to eviscerate Obamas clean energy plan and withdraw from the Paris agreement. The U.S. will clearly change its course on climate policy, said Myron Ebell, the climate-change denier who headed Trumps Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) transition team. Trump has made it clear he will withdraw from the Paris Agreement. He could do it by executive order or he could do it as part of a larger package, Ebell told reporters on January 30th.

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Whether or not Trump and his prospective EPA director, former Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, succeed in unraveling everything that Obama achieved, the new administration has already ceded leadership in the global climate fight to the Chinese, who have been all too happy to seize the limelight. In January, Beijings chief climate change negotiator, Xie Zhenhua, affirmed his countrys intention to be out front on climate issues. China is capable of taking a leadership role in combating global climate change, he told reporters from China Daily.

While gaining international recognition as the new leader in this area, China is also moving swiftly to assume primacy in the development and deployment of new green technologies, assuring future domination of a global market expected to grow by leaps and bounds in the decades to come. On January 5th, the countrys National Energy Administration announced a plan to spend $360 billion on renewable energy systems between 2016 and 2020. This is expected to create perhaps 13 million new jobs. Although detailed spending plans were not disclosed, much of this largesse will undoubtedly be devoted to new wind and solar installations -- fields in which China already enjoys a substantial advantage over the rest of the world.

From an economic perspective, the implications of this drive are hard to miss. Many energy experts believe that the demand for oil and other fossil fuels will begin to decline in the years ahead as consumers increasingly favor clean energy over carbon-emitting fuels. If so, the demand for renewables will skyrocket. According to the latest projections from the International Energy Agency in Paris, the demand for wind power in electricity generation will grow by 440% between 2014 and 2040, and that for solar power by over 1,100%. Given the worlds colossal thirst for energy, growth on this scale is bound to generate trillions of dollars in new business. In other words, the anti-green posture of the Trump administration offers the gift of the century to China: an extraordinary shift in global wealth.

Trumps Russia-Second Foreign Policy

If President Trump appears determined to make China the worlds leading power, he also seems strangely intent on elevating Russia to the number two spot. In his single-minded drive to enlist Moscows help in fighting ISIS, he appears willing to eliminate any barriers to Russian President Vladimir Putins undisguised campaign to establish a sphere of influence in the territory of the former Soviet Union and other areas once under Moscows sway.

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Ever since assuming the presidency in 2000, Vladimir Putin has made no secret of his determination to restore Russias former glory and to reverse what he and like-minded Russian analysts view as NATOs encroachment on Russias legitimate security zone in eastern and southeastern Europe. This led to the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea and the barely-disguised Russian intervention in eastern Ukraine. For the Baltic states -- Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania -- and other Eastern European countries once under Moscows thumb, this has, in turn, rekindled fears of a new Russian drive to subvert their independence. More recently, Putin has sought to reestablish the former Soviet Unions ties to the Middle East, most notably through his military intervention in Syria.

In conjunction with Americas NATO allies, President Obama sought to curb Putins plans by imposing tough economic sanctions on Russia and by bolstering the defenses of NATOs front-line states. Last July, at a NATO summit in Warsaw, he and the leaders of Britain, Canada, and Germany agreed to deploy reinforced battalions to Poland and the three Baltic states as a deterrent to any future Russian attack on those countries. Had she been elected president, Hillary Clinton was expected to step up the pressure further on Moscow.

For Trump, however, Putins transgressions in Europe and elsewhere seem to be of little consequence in comparison to his possible collaboration in fighting the Islamic State. I think it would be great if we got along with Russia because we could fight ISIS together, he declared during the second presidential debate last October. As for NATO and the Europeans, Trump has indicated little sympathy for their worries about Moscow and has shown little inclination to increase Americas contributions to their defense. Not only did he claim that NATO was obsolete last March, insisting that it wasnt doing enough to fight terrorism, but that it was unfair, economically, to us, because it really helps them more so than the United States, and we pay a disproportionate share.

Since assuming the presidency, President Trump has behaved as if Russia were indeed a key ally-in-waiting and the NATO powers were former lovers who had lost their appeal. Yes, he met with British Prime Minister Theresa May before any other foreign leader, but he remained silent when she spoke of the need to maintain pressure on Moscow through sanctions, making her look at that moment like an unwelcome houseguest.

Later, he spoke at length with Putin by telephone. From published accounts of their conversation, they avoided awkward topics like Crimea and the Russian hacking scandal of the election past, discussing instead increased collaboration in counterterrorism operations. While the Trump team had little to report on the specifics of what was said, Russian officials were effusive about the conversation. The two leaders emphasized that joining efforts in fighting the main threat -- international terrorism -- is a top priority, they indicated.

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According to the Russian media, Trump and Putin agreed in their January 28th phone call to arrange high-level meetings among their senior security staff to facilitate collaboration in the anti-ISIS war. Included in many of these reports was speculation that the two leaders were moving towards a conceptual understanding whereby Washington would grant Moscow a zone of influence in the former Soviet space in return for Russian cooperation in battling ISIS. Whether or not Trump agreed to any such plan, it appears that events are beginning to proceed as if he had, with Russia evidently playing a more aggressive role in eastern Ukraine in recent weeks.

In this way, Trumps embrace of Russia as a legitimate partner in anti-ISIS operations has given Putin what he seeks more than anything else: recognition as an equal player on the world stage with the United States and China -- despite the fact that he presides over a rickety petro-state with a weakened economy the size of Italys.

Choosing Number Three

For all his talk of placing Americas interests first, Donald Trump appears to be advancing the interests of China and Russia, not as the result of conscious policy, but because hes driven by such a narrow view of Americas foreign policy priorities: counterterrorism against Islamic radicalism, the exclusion of Mexicans and Muslims from the U.S., and an improved balance of trade. The broader dimensions of international relations do not seem to register on his mental radar screen, such as it is.

How does this affect us? The biggest danger: that China and Russia will feel emboldened by Trumps narrow-minded approach to seek geopolitical advantage in some area like the South China Sea or the Baltic Sea region that is either important to the United States or seen as bearing on its prestige and credibility. In that case, the president, feeling personally threatened or affronted on the issue of Americas presumed paramountcy, might respond forcefully, possibly igniting a major crisis with nuclear implications. Even if such a crisis is avoided, its likely that American influence in such areas as Eastern Europe and South Asia will diminish, resulting in fewer trade opportunities and possibly a rollback of rights and liberties (which could, of course, happen in the U.S. as well). Certainly, if his first weeks in office are indicative of what a Trumpian vision of an America First policy means, we are entering a period when the phrase multipolar world will gain new meaning.

Most important of all, the abandonment of U.S. leadership in the struggle to slow global warming will mean both the surrender of technological preeminence in the fields most likely to dominate the world economy in the decades to come and a far greater chance of planetary catastrophe. This should be considered a betrayal of all Americans -- and especially of those who voted for him in the belief that he would ensure Americas political and economic primacy.
If Michal Flynn informed Donald Trump about his multiple conversations with the Russian Ambassador about rolling back President Obama's sanctions to punish Russia for interfering in the US election, it's an impeachable offense for now-President Trump.

It would mean that while still a civilian, Trump violated the Logan Act which makes it a crime for civilians to engage in diplomatic negotiations with foreign governments in a dispute with the United States.

Either Flynn was freelancing, which seems unlikely for a matter of such gravity. Or he was representing his boss, the Donald, which makes the Donald equally guilty.

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The Senate must hold hearings on Russia's dangerous interference in American elections and diplomacy.

And they must call Michael Flynn to testify under oath about what Trump knew about Flynn's discussions with the Russian Ambassador and when Trump knew it.


Artwork by Ashley Bennett

It's been three weeks since the new administration has been in place. Since then, we've seen hundreds of thousands of people across this nation protesting their policies - from the Women's March on Washington, to the anti-Muslim Ban protests at LAX and airports around the country, to an LGBTQ dance party protest taking place in front of Mike Pence's house. It seems as if every day there has been an executive order, new policy or cabinet member appointee so controversial (and dangerous) that Americans have finally gotten off their collective butt to voice their opposition.

The idea is simple: don't go to work and don't purchase anything. Instead hold peaceful protest, engage in community service, or reach out to your local representatives. Engage in democracy in some active way.

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For those of you who have never heard of a General Strike, historically it has been used to send a powerful message to governments through shutting down of businesses, schools, and institutions. The idea is to send a loud and clear message: people hold the REAL power. Without people purchasing goods, services and providing labor and paying taxes, corporations and governments cannot function properly. When mass populations engage in this kind of dissent, real change has been shown to follow.

Case in point: Iceland. On October 24, 1975, the women of Iceland went on strike to demand equal rights. Almost 90% of women walked off their jobs and out of their homes, shutting down the entire country. The next year, Parliament passed a law guaranteeing equal pay. Five years later, they elected the world's first female President.

To date, we've seen cities like Seattle and Davis which recently divested from Wells Fargo Bank because of their involvement in financing the North Dakota Access Pipeline. Silicon Valley's top tech companies signed a collective brief opposing the administration's controversial Muslim Ban. Since then, a federal appeals court judge has ruled against the travel ban. We are already beginning to see the power of economic protest in the face of policies that impact millions of people.

So how can you participate? Organizers of the National Strike are calling for people to stay home from work (if they can afford to), school (if they can), and to not purchase anything within reason (gas up the previous day and stock up on food). Participate in local gatherings that are being organized in your city. Here's a list of actions you can take.

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This year at the World Economic Forum (WEF) inequality topped the bill as the most discussed issue. Inequality comes in many forms wealth, income, gender, country, age religion, etc. It's such a priority that it's Goal Number 10 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals- 'to reduce inequality in and between countries'. So why is inequality such a problem? Surely in our capitalist society, you work hard you get rewarded, right? This belief is starting to be shattered all across the world and manifesting in shocks like Brexit and Trump.

Let's go back 4 years to the WEF in 2013, Christine Lagarde, Head of the International Monetary Fund, warned us all that inequality will lead to populist and nationalist tendencies. We've seen this come to fruition in 2016 with the anti-establishment rhetoric, and 'protest' votes. What is worrying is that these votes indicate a significant see-change in global thinking on what is best for society. Individualistic attitudes are emerging rather than a collectivism approach. We're moving away from collaboration and partnership towards protectionism and the isolation of countries. This is due in large part as a result of rising wealth inequality.

No one listened to Lagarde then and it's exacerbated since. Oxfam's latest report, 'An economy for the 99%', found that eight of the world's richest people (all men...) hold the wealth of 3.6 billion people, that about half of the worlds entire population. Economic growth seems to have favoured those the system is already working for and it falls down for not being inclusive of those left at the bottom of the pyramid. Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, "The test of our progress is not if we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little".

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Whilst globalisation and the capitalist system, and some argue the Millennium Development Goals, have done a wonderful job of raising millions of people out of poverty, it's also sadly been at the expense of the global commons, our oceans, air, forests, wildlife, natural habitats and ecosystems. Now we face anti-globalisation, anti-establishment, anti-capitalist sentiment. Are we moving 180 degrees? How can we be pro-capitalism and against globalisation? Surely the two go hand in hand. Can 'America first' be self-sustaining? And, will this in fact actually be good for sustainability objectives? For example will we see less imports and more locally produced goods? Or will the system be at risk at collapse?

Laissez-faire capitalism's 'free for all' attitude has not led to the kind of society we want to live and work in. The rich have gotten richer and the middle class is eroding. Ironically it's those who attend Davos discussing this issue of inequality who are in this wealthy elite and have benefited the most. While many criticise this, it is this elite that wields the most power and influence to enact change, who better than world and business leaders to discuss and take action on 'responsive and responsible leadership'. The problem with inequality is that it's bad for everyone and even the wealthy may see themselves affected as the effects of a Trump administration and Brexit take hold. The disenfranchised have spoken and change is happening. Unfortunately we do not live in a meritocracy just yet but how do we get there?


(Photo: Ben Sales)

Last week, I attended a convening of rabbis and cantors from around the country, called together by T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights. 200 rabbis from all over the country came together to talk and learn and pray and sing about this singular moment in American history -- and the work we as clergy are called to do for our people and our country.

As part of the conference, the T'ruah leadership organized a march from the Upper West Side to Trump International Hotel off Columbus Circle, to protest the Trump administration policies of closed borders and mass deportation. The result, as you may have read, was perhaps the largest group arrest of rabbis in US history.

And I never would have gotten there if it weren't for Hector Lopez.

You see, before signing on to the march, I had already signed up to lead morning prayers on Shabbos morning at my Bay Area synagogue -- which meant getting up early the next morning to catch a flight to Newark Airport. From there, the only way to arrive on time would be to take a car service.

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And that's where Hector comes in.

Hector was my savior, his chariot a silver Toyota RAV4. As we chatted on the way, we began to talk about the conference. Turns out, Hector has a few thoughts about Donald Trump, and the New York where Trump made his name.

Once upon a time, Hector was a doorman at an upscale Upper West Side address. His building was at 290 West End Avenue (he wanted me to tell you), no more than 15 blocks from the site of the conference where he dropped me off. Hector took pride in his good union job, and made sure to remember the needs of the folks who lived in his building.



Hector is Puerto Rican, proud of his family and the sacrifices they've made for this country. ("Do you know how many Puerto Rican soldiers died in World War II? How come we never talked about that in school?") Despite this, it didn't escape Hector's attention that his light skin might have had something to do with the good treatment he enjoyed at work. "The board treated me better because I look white," he told me. Compared to darker-skinned colleagues, in the eyes of his employer, "I upgraded the building."

But even with that comparative advantage, Hector noticed the treatment at his workplace slowly begin to change. He felt less support both from his supervisor and his union. The change in the culture, he couldn't help notice, came at the same time as rumors of shady goings-on began to emerge from Trump Tower. Trump was passing over union workers in favor of local "street thugs." The Trump organization, says Hector, "liked this idea of hiring non-union security guards."

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Sure enough, in 2004 a fired elevator operator named Ioan Ghilduta had filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against both Trump and the Local 32BJ labor union. The suit charged that workers at Trump's building had to pay for their positions.

"Sure, all the guys pay the money," Ghilduta said in a 2005 deposition. He described a scheme in which he was required to hand over $1,000 in cash and a gold crucifix in order to secure a position with the company. "It was a common practice when you get the job."

As for Hector, he ultimately felt forced to leave the job he loved. "I was getting harassed by the superintendent, and the union did not defend me properly, or relocate me."

That's how I ended up sitting in the front of a Toyota RAV4, crossing the Lincoln Tunnel, a customer of Hector's Car Service.

And it's how I ended up thinking about Hector when my rabbinic colleagues and I headed for Trump International Hotel. A jumble of thoughts competed for space in my brain as we marched down Broadway, 200 rabbis carrying signs and shouting and singing on a clear February evening. As a marshal, it was my job to do crowd control, keeping my fellow marchers on one side of the sidewalk so that non-protesting pedestrians could pass, blocking taxis so that our group stayed out of danger, steering clear of police officers who warned me to stay out of the road.

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I've marched and undergone arrest plenty of times before, so I wasn't experiencing the surge of adrenaline that some of my colleagues would later report. But as we rounded the corner of Central Park West -- as our destination came into focus -- my pulse began to quicken. I had seen the hotel hundreds of times before, but not since the election.

Mixed in with the police detail, I saw other men, men in suits, all assigned to secure this building. How many of them were Trump's private security guards? How many had been selected for their skin color? How many had paid for their positions? How many had forced others to pay for theirs?

And it was at that moment that I knew that, in Trump's America, I was marching for Hector.

If a man like Hector, an American citizen with a Latino name, could be mistreated, what did it mean for Latinos without American citizenship?

If a man like Hector, whose skin was light enough to be seen as an "upgrade" for his building, could still be elbowed out of his livelihood, what did that mean for folks with darker skin?

If a man like Hector, who had a union behind him, could still feel abandoned, what did that mean for those of us with no union representation?

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What did it mean for the refugee and the racially-profiled, the undocumented and the underpaid?

What did it mean for America?

In the back of his RAV4, Hector has a sign: "Believe in Good." It's hard these days Hector. But I keep believing. Because my ancestors also spoke with accents. Because my people were slaves in Egypt, and we got free. Because to be a Jew is to believe in redemption, even when it's slow in coming.

But mostly I believe in Good because of the good people I meet. People like you Hector, who refuse to give up, who keep smiling no matter what.
It feels like we all know someone who met their significant other through an online dating site. Many of us have even been to a wedding or two of a couple who fell in love online. The stigma of online dating has certainly subsided since it began decades ago, and according to Pew Research Center, 15 percent of adults use online dating sites or mobile dating apps.

But no matter how normal it's become, there remains a dark side of dating online-and it isn't just the risk of being matched with someone who is a bore at dinner. There's a more serious risk of being found--and romanced--by a criminal or con artist.

At the National Consumers League, we are in the business of monitoring Americans' fraud experiences and tracking patterns and trends. Since online dating websites first gained popularity, we have found that "sweetheart swindles" and other scams of the heart have maintained a strong presence in our complaint database.

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In 2016, "friendship and sweetheart swindles" were the 9th-most reported type of fraud to the National Consumers League's Fraud.org campaign. This is no surprise, since romantic feelings and emotions are involved. In this category of scams, the set-ups often vary, but the important details are consistent: a con artist nurtures an online relationship, builds trust, and then convinces their victim to send money to them. The scams can be financially ruinous for the victims. In 2016, they were the single most expensive type of scam for victims, with a median loss of $2,000.

With so many of us turning to the Internet to find dates, friends, community activities, and more, it's no wonder that scammers have cultivated a new way of taking money from their victims. Think you've found a new friend online but suspect something's fishy? You're certainly not alone. In honor of both Valentine's Day and anti-celebrations by members of the broken hearts club, read on for some example of romance scams reported to Fraud.org (note: names have been changed to protect consumers' privacy):

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"Jennifer," a 32-year-old woman from Wisconsin, met a man calling himself "Nick" on the dating website OKCupid. Nick said he was originally from Australia but living in Nebraska.

Shortly into their online relationship, Nick had to go to Africa for a routine business trip. While he was there, "tragedy" struck. He told "Jennifer" that he was robbed, left with no cash, and desperately needed money to buy a plane ticket to return to the United States.

Having developed romantic feelings for Nick, Jennifer dutifully obliged and sent thousands of dollars to help him. Following this, Nick experienced a string of more unfortunate (and fake) events--getting arrested, needing a diplomatic passport, his mother falling gravely ill, having a heart attack, and getting arrested again. Throughout all of this, a devoted (and entirely duped) Jennifer agreed to his requests for cash through credit card advances, iTunes gift cards, and even by sending iPhones. In all, Jennifer is now in credit card debt for $31,000, and lost a total of $35,000, including the cash she wired to her sweetheart.

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***

After being single for many years, "Dan" befriended a woman on a dating Web site. She said she was an artist in Lagos, Nigeria. The two developed a spiritual connection and grew romantically involved. The woman told Dan that she longed to come to California to be with him. That's when she asked him for money, and he happily wired her $2,500. Dan was soon contacted by a man claiming to be the woman's doctor, who said Dan's true love had been in a terrible accident and was in a coma.

Dan never heard from her again.

***

"Molly" met a man on an online dating site and they conversed regularly for about a month before the man told Molly that his daughter needed heart surgery. Over the course of several months, Molly sent the man a total of $1,000. Only later did she realize that the man was after her money and nothing more, and that the daughter who needed heart surgery probably didn't even exist.

***

"Pam" told us about a man she'd met online who asked her for $150 because he'd been hit by a car and needed treatment. He then sent her documents that he claimed were copies of medical bills and receipts, and asked her to send him another $760 to help him come to the United States so that they could be together.

Pam was in love and wanted to help her new beau. She sent the money. He never showed up, but Pam reported that the man still harasses her for more money from time to time.
Imagine if you can save the world by saving your time and saving your money. While reducing your carbon footprint while helping the food value chain to optimize itself - and even create new green growth. Too good to be true? Well, the fight against food waste nails it. And it's becoming big business.

New food products made from surplus produce. Mobile apps which help you buy cheap surplus food from restaurant's buffets. Supermarket offers on cheap food nearing its expiry date. And large marketing campaigns by the retailers and the industry to show off their work to stop wasting food. The fight against food waste is a hot topic - and it's no longer reserved for the hippie activists.

We are in a great hurry. In just 13 years, the human population's global food losses and food waste must be reduced by 50%. This deadline is made by the United Nations as a new UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3. Fortunately - and despite of Donald Trump - the many green initiatives are growing stronger, in the USA and all across the world. In 2011, the UN FAO launched the global SAVE FOOD initiative - and today the fight against food waste has gained great momentum.

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Recently, I was invited to participate in the European Commission's new EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste, a 4 year long network and research project which will focus on helping the world to deliver that goal. On the Platform's first meeting in Brussels, I addressed that it's important to take a look at the entire value chain - and especially focus on the prevention.

Prevention versus symptomatic treatment

A food company donating a truckload of surplus cookies which passed its expiry date to a local refugee center creates many good headlines in the media. But if the very same food company creates better forecasting to prevent the overproduction of surplus food to begin with, the media is not interested. Why? Apparently, the symptomatic treatment of food waste is far more sexy than the prevention itself.

As the Minister for Environment and Food of Denmark Mr. Esben Lunde Larsen wrote in one of his opinion editorials: it's good and important to donate surplus food to charities, but the best case scenario is to reduce the amounts of surplus food to begin with.

We need to take a look at the overproduction of food.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, one third of the world's produced food is either lost or wasted. Imagine, theoretically, a possibility of massive global green growth, if we put that lost of wasted food into business.

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From food waste to big business

Today, a lot of produce never leaves the farms, because the customers have no interest in buying an ugly tomato or a wonky looking cauliflower in the supermarket.

But if the farmer would have a chance to sell his "ugly" surplus produce to a food company, which produces "rescued vegetable soups" and doesn't really care about the aesthetics of vegetables, it will not only prevent the loss of food, but also give the farmer a new source of income.

The "rescued food" products will also make it easy for the consumers to fight against food losses and waste. The only thing a consumer should do is to buy the product and eat it - every bit. And with the raising awareness on food waste, many food companies can even create a new branding out of it.

The stop wasting food trend is growing all over the world, lately with food waste supermarkets and food waste restaurants. The consumers are soon made ready to buy the "rescued food" products - and it will create a new growing mainstream market.

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If we take a look at the food service and catering industry, a lot of "wonky" produce can be put into good use. When you eat your salad, it doesn't really matter if the vegetables were perfect or odd looking to begin with - it's all gets chopped and ends in a salad bowl. A local hospital can make a deal with a local farmer to buy the farmer's "wonky" produce, probably at a reduced price. The farmer cam earn money on the produce which he previously tossed away, the hospital can make delicious meals to its patients and can brand itself by being a green hospital, which supports stop wasting food.

Nothing is rotten in the state of Denmark

In many media coverages all over the world, recently in National Geographic and BBC, Denmark's has been crowned as the European leading country in the fight against food waste. Within 5 years, Denmark's national food waste has been reduced by 25%. That's quite something. That's a good start.

Many Danish supermarkets are starting to sell good food, which is nearing its expiry date, at reduced prices. That means that supermarkets waste less food and earn money on the food, which otherwise could have been tossed in the bin - and customers can buy food at a reduced price and thus avoid food waste. Many Danish supermarkets brand themselves on these initiatives, labeling them "Save Food" of the "Stop Food Waste" bargains. This trend has become quite popular, and perhaps the international supermarkets should take a closer look at the model for Danish retail industry.

Today, restaurants, especially with buffets, can get the food waste apps such as the Danish Too Good To Go app, counting over one million Danish and international users, which makes it easy for the customers to buy a takeaway box from the restaurant's buffet at a cheap price. Thus, the restaurant avoids food waste, the customer gets good, cheap restaurant food and the food waste is avoided. Another Danish app, YourLocal, concentrates on the surplus food from the supermarkets, and highlights the good local offers, helping the local supermarkets avoid food waste and earn money on the food, which otherwise would have been wasted. Both apps have recently received substantial financial funding counting several millions of DKK.

Reducing food waste helps food insecure families

Latest surveys show that Danes love the good cheap close-to-be-expired food, and thus our NGO Stop Wasting Food initiated the national SAVE & HELP campaign in collaboration with Danish People's Aid and the Danish KIWI retail chain.

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SAVE & HELP targets to reduce food waste and at the same time helps vulnerable and food insecure families in Denmark. SAVE & HELP campaign is in every KIWI supermarket in Denmark and contains stickers on good food items, which are nearing their expiration date. Every time a customer buys a product with SAVE & HELP sticker, KIWI Denmark donates 1 DKK to the Danish People's Aid. It allows customers to fight food waste while helping vulnerable and food insecure families in Denmark. The SAVE & HELP campaign gives consumers a good and easy incentive to buy good food nearing its expiration date, while helping supermarkets to reduce food waste while helping the most vulnerable people in Danish society. It's an easy, tangible and measurable way to make a difference in everyday life on several levels.

In the first month of campaign, the SAVE & HELP already generated 200,000 DKK (28,575 USD) to the Danish People's Aid's work - and the campaign is widely popular. Today, every retail chain in Denmark has more of less a food waste reduction strategy - and the fight against food waste has become the retailers' competition parameter.

The unavoidable food waste

While we really must avoid and reduce food waste at every level, sometimes the food waste in unavoidable. Another annual initiative started by our NGO is the Christmas Surplus, which targets the supermarket's Christmas surplus food, that they cannot sell after Christmas. Thus, the Stop Wasting Food, Danish People's Aid and REMA 1000 Denmark retail chain teamed up and with the help of 500+ volunteers collected and delivered free surplus food worth of 4,000,000 DKK (571,505 USD) from 245 REMA 1000 supermarkets to 10,000 food insecure Danes. The charity event attracted a lot of Danish and international attention and the Charity Dinner in November last year hosted by the Minister for Environment and Food of Denmark Mr. Esben Lunde Larsen, Stop Wasting Food and Danish People's Aid to support the Christmas Surplus was attended by His Royal Highness Prince Joachim of Denmark and Her Royal Highness Princess Marie of Denmark as well as 180 prominent guests. The Charity Dinner fundraised 180,000 DKK (25,717 USD) to help the food insecure families.

It is needless to say, that the focus of food waste has grown so big, that it won't go away. But just because the industry, retailers, entrepreneurs, politicians, NGO's and many others have started a global war on food waste, it doesn't mean that we the consumers are off the hook. We are all in this together - we are all a part of this giant global problem.
The Fundacao Edson Queiroz in Fortaleza, Brazil-- home of the Airton Queiroz Collection: "fueled with resources and vision"

THE FIRST EXHIBITION of the year that really struck an emotional chord was viewing Itau Cultural Sao Paulo's permanent exhibition of 17th- and 18th-century maps and books, watercolors, and illustrations chronicling the Portuguese discovery and colonization of Rio de Janeiro. The installation delivers an emotional punch by tracing an historical arc reaching from the natural wonder encountered by Brazil's early European settlers -- the breathtaking 20-foot watercolor of Rio's harbor is but one gem -- to the nation's economic development created through the heart-wrenching savagery inflicted on enslaved Africans. It's a remarkable time capsule that left me hungry for more of the Brazil story. And that's when I recalled the much broader historical reach of the current exhibition "Airton Queiroz Collection" in Fortaleza, at the Espaco Edson Queiroz.

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The Fortaleza exhibition is drawn from the extensive collection of Brazilian businessman Airton Queiroz and gives a powerfully touching perspective of the sweep of Brazilian history from the Portuguese colonial period--the painstakingly detailed landscape paintings of Dutch painter Frans Post are a revelation in their almost cinematic sweep--up to the years between the 20th century's two world wars, when Brazil's independent artistic vision was first coming into focus. Numerous works among the collection's extensive holdings are of standout interest: poignant portraits by Candido Portinari, who is best known in the Northern Hemisphere for his epic War and Peace murals to be found at the United Nations; an in-depth selection of geometric abstractions of the 1950s and '60s, by such legendary figures as Lygia Clark, Mira Schendel, Ibere Camargo, Abraham Palatnik, Alfredo Volpi, and Helio Oiticica; and several recent works by Beatriz Milhazes and Adriana Varejao that knowingly bring the collection full-circle, as they touch on earlier historical themes while centering on current concerns. Thrillingly, the harmony and parallels between the works of Frans Post and Adriana Varejao give a perspective about Brazil that I haven't seen elsewhere.

From the Airton Queiroz Collection: at top, a Brazilian landscape by Franz Post (1612-1680); and a selection of works by Alfredo Volpi (1896-1988)

It's always fascinating to meet someone who has been a passionate, life-long art collector and has fueled that love with resources and vision. Airton Queiroz began collecting as a young man, when he traded his first car for artworks by Antonio Bandeira. In those early days, his family's now colossal business empire was but a mere fraction of what it is today. Based in Fortaleza in Brazil's northeast, Grupo Edson Queiroz has grown to encompass more than 14,000 employees in sixteen companies, and is an integral part of the nation's business culture, listed in the ranks of Brazil's hundred largest companies. Through its subsidiaries and more than 35 constituent brands, Grupo Edson Queiroz is a diverse conglomerate operating in liquid petroleum gas distribution, mineral water and beverages, mining and real estate, farming and agro-industry, media communications, and education.

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This vast and successful enterprise represents an important side of the Brazilian personality, alongside the popular images of Sao Paulo's fast-talking city slickers and Rio de Janeiro's beach-focused samba sybarites: the much maligned, rough-and-tumble Nordestinos-- people of the country's northeast. (For American television audiences, think "Dallas.") Begun in 1951 by Airton Queiroz' entrepreneurial father Edson, who sold propane out of the back of a pick-up truck, Grupo Edson Queiroz today is recognized as a leading national asset. But achieving this has not been without tragedy. In 1982 Edson died in what was, at the time, the largest air disaster in Brazil's history. His wife Yolanda stepped up to company leadership along with two of her six children: Airton and his brother Edson Junior. At the time of Yolanda's death, last year, Wikipedia ranked her as the 23rd wealthiest individual in Brazil, with $3.6 billion.

From the Airton Queiroz Collection: a bicho of Lygia Clark (1920-1988)

What's fascinating about the Queiroz legacy is that it's more than an entrepreneurial success story. It's also a story of a family with a vision much larger than just business. It's also a legacy of philanthropy that cries out for exposure and for connections with audiences hungry for cultural insights.

The Queiroz family has championed education, supporting the University of Fortaleza UNIFOR, which was founded by Edson in the mid-1970s and today embraces 25.000 students annually in undergraduate and graduate studies in business, law and medicine. Airton Queiroz and his family have also championed Brazilian culture not only with his formidable art collection, but with the Edson Queiroz Foundation, which supports exhibitions both at their museum on the UNIFOR campus and in sponsored exhibitions of high curatorial excellence in museums across the country, including shows of work by Adriana Varejao, Beatriz Milhazes, and Helio Oiticica.

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And there is so much more that is possible, building on the unique resources of the Airton Queiroz Collection. Selections currently on view in Fortaleza, while powerful in scope, don't come close to telling the greater cultural story of Brazil that could be told if more of the Collection's works were on view and/or toured in exhibitions. The unique scope and depth of the collection cries out for more exhibition space and an international audience commensurate with the collection's riches. To a foreign visitor who regularly probes exhibitions on four continents for new cultural stories and insights, it's clear that works from the Queiroz collection would find a wide and rapt audience on the global level.

This is a time of great evolution in the world, when people are attentive both to new cultural stories and to new insights into enduring stories. Whoever codifies the Brazilian legacy story viscerally for a pan-global audience will enhance the world's interest in and understanding of the Brazil of today. One hopes that now, when so many North American European museums are looking more closely at Latin American art of all periods and places, that the Airton Queiroz Collection, like a sleeping giant, will awaken to its full power.


If you keep your eyes peeled, you will find that there are natural hearts all throughout America's National Parks. This one found in Zion in Utah. Photo credit: Stefanie Payne

Whether your idea of romance is relaxing in a serene lake setting, watching a technicolor sunrise or sunset, wandering among trees that reach into the heavens, swimming with sea life, or enjoying a paradise beach that has been called one of the ten most beautiful in the world--there are plenty of places in America's national parks that will stoke anyone's romantic heart. Here we offer six wilderness places where love is all around...



Sunset at Delicate Arch

Visitors to Arches National Park in southeastern Utah gather every night of the year at sunset to watch the desert sun warm one of the most iconic sights in all of the national parks: Delicate Arch. The amphitheater-like setting provides an ideal perch from where you and your sweetie can cuddle up and watch the sunset colors slowly illuminate the Delicate Arch with the stunning La Sal Mountains in the backdrop.

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Sunset at Delicate Arch in Arches National Park in Utah. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish

Sunrise Atop The Haleakala Crater

At the top of the Haleakala Crater, you will find yourself above the clouds looking upon one of the most unique sunrise views in any of the national parks. It is one of those extreme places that makes you wonder where on Earth you are... a place so enchanting that hundreds of people wake up at 3:00am every morning to make the drive to the top of the crater. Romance abounds at Haleakala National Park on the island of Maui--on one December morning we witnessed a marriage proposal as the sun burst over the horizon (she said yes!) and wedding photos being taken a short time later as the golden hour kissed the landscape.



Standing atop the Haleakala Crater in Haleakala National Park on the island of Maui, Islands of Hawai'i. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish

Swimming With Sea Turtles in The Virgin Islands

Being on a beautiful beach and swimming in warm Caribbean waters is already romantic--adding an experience snorkeling with graceful sea turtles makes it even more so. At Caneel Bay's Turtle Beach in Virgin Islands National Park, you are in the perfect place to get up close to those beautiful creatures while swimming aside the one you love. Afterwards, grab some beach chairs and share pina colada on the beach to celebrate the experience.



Swimming with sea turtles at Caneel Bay in Virgin Islands National Park. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish

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America's Most Beautiful Beach... American Samoa

On the island of Ofu in the National Park of American Samoa, you will find a four-mile stretch of pristine paradise beach which has been touted as one of the top ten beaches in the world in terms of beauty. Given the isolation of these islands you are likely to have the entire place to yourselves. It truly is the kind of beach that postcard dreams are made of.



Perfection at Ofu Beach on the island of Ofu in American Samoa. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish



Wandering Among The World's Largest Trees in Sequoia

At Sequoia National Park in California, you can experience the romance of John Muir's beloved forest that became the first of its kind in the park system, while exploring with your heart's desire. There is something fantastically mysterious about strolling through cathedral-like columns of trees that are the largest in the world... and where there is mystery, there is romance.



Wandering among the largest trees in the world at Big Trees Trail in Sequoia. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish

Relaxing Lakeside at Lake McDonald

When you think of the most serene and peaceful lake setting your imagination can dream up, you probably place yourself in that scene with someone who makes your heart skip a beat. At Glacier National Park in Montana, Lake McDonald is that perfect place, where quiet moments are met by a mountainous backdrop rising 8,000 feet from the landscape. It's peaceful, it's beautiful, it's a perfect place to be in love.



Among the most peaceful settings in the national parks, Lake McDonald in Glacier NP, Montana. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish

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Date Night Alaska-Style in Lake Clark



Summer is the bet time to do this adventure, when the Alaska wild opens up to warm weather. A backcountry journey awaits at Turquoise Lake in Lake Clark National Park. After getting dropped off by bush plane, it is just you and your beloved, whatever gear you brought with you, and your own shared company. Wilderness backcountry travel forces you to think as a team, communicate well, and rely on each other. For the adventure-loving couple, this is an ultimate date night.
On January 5th of last year, I discovered that I was adopted. The experience was soul-crushing and devastating. The people I thought were my parents for nearly 33 years of my life weren't blood relatives at all. It turned out, that the only person I knew for sure was related to me was my newborn son -- the little being I brought into this world just three months prior to my own new rebirth.

The clues weren't exactly so obvious in my case. See, I actually looked like my adopted parents. Okay, maybe not exactly like them, but there was a resemblance. The truth lied in family dynamics that weren't so obvious and you can easily chalk it up to it being 'the middle child syndrome.' I felt a different time of love than what was offered to my big brother and little sister. It was a love that had me constantly feeling like I had to overachieve, over-commit and over-perform to be seen.

I had to rediscover who I was while also defining my identity as a mother. Do I breastfeed or not? Do I try to find out who my birth parents are? Is sleep training going to work for my child? Was I loved by my birth parents at all? Am I still Cuban and Argentine? All of these thoughts flooded in, which caused a major case of anxiety, depression, and lack of sleep (not that you get any of that with a newborn anyway).

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Once the family secret was unleashed, I cried for a full day in bed while my husband took care of our son. His constant love and support is always the reason I'm writing this right now. At the time, I felt weak, tired, and depressed. I thought that my emotions were going to stay in a permanent state and I instantly felt the guilt rush in as a new mom. That mom guilt saved me.

The more time I spent with my son, the more connected I felt to a higher power. I decided to shutdown to the outside world. My focus became self-healing to become a stronger mother and wife. Part of that healing process was reaching out to my birth mom, a Puerto Rican woman who resides in a mental institution.

At first, I felt distraught to learn that she was mentally ill. What if she can't emotionally connect with me? The first visit was the start of a lifelong friendship with my birth mother. I'm grateful that she was sane enough to offer me an explanation, to let me know I was loved, and that she prayed for me each day while we were apart. She also let me know that she met my birth father, an Irish American, at a mental institution.

I looked at my birth mother and felt her loving stare. I couldn't relate to what she was feeling in her heart after being apart from me for most of my life, but I knew the love she was offering with her gaze. I realized how incredibly luckily I was to be raising my son--to have the luxury to watch him grow and offer him my love and guidance each and every single day.

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IMF leaders should practise what they preach when it comes to inequality. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

"I hope people will listen now" said Christine Lagarde, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month.

Lagarde was alluding to the wave of reactionary populism that's currently sweeping the developed economies, and was harking back to her speech at Davos in 2013 when she warned that economic "inequality is corrosive to growth; it is corrosive to society".

The IMF has been expressing public concern about inequality since 2010, but this has not translated into concrete action within the IMF's own policies and programs, according to new research by British political economists, Alex Nunn and Paul White.

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No references to inequality were added in 2014 when the IMF last reviewed the operational guidelines for its annual macroeconomic surveys, the grading of national economies, which it conducts in consultation with each of its member states (including Australia).

In a sample of 11 countries surveyed since the latest guidelines became effective, Nunn and White found little more than "very passing references" to inequality.

Nor has anything significant changed in the requirements that the IMF imposes on countries to which it provides financial assistance. The IMF reviewed the guidelines that shape the conditions on borrowing members in 2011-12 and revisions were introduced in mid-2015. The new "guidance on the guidance" accepts inequality as a concern, but only as secondary and subordinate to its long-established primary concerns with economic growth and fiscal discipline.

Nunn and White's 11-country sample included all seven member states that have struck new borrowing arrangements with the IMF since the guidelines were updated. In every case, the IMF has continued to recommend fiscal discipline, and very few of the policies that could be used for reducing inequality have even been mentioned.

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Challenging Piketty but getting it wrong

Another example of the IMF's hypocrisy on this issue is its stance on research from French political economist Thomas Piketty. The IMF has criticised Piketty's evidence and arguments on making the case for reducing wealth inequality.

A widely-reported IMF working paper, released last August, purported to show that there is "no empirical evidence" to support Piketty's claim that growing inequality results from the return on capital exceeding the economic growth rate.

Less widely reported was Piketty's patient response, pointing out that the IMF paper made the embarrassing error of confusing labour incomes with the return on capital, and that the latter was incorrectly estimated in any event.

Together, the IMF's apparent lack of practical action and the sponsoring of this research paper reinforces the suspicion that Lagarde has failed to move "the IMF in the direction of looking at inequality as mainstream and core business", as she boasted in Davos in 2015.

Why hasn't the IMF walked the talk?

The IMF has long been criticised for tending to create the inequality it now claims to be tackling. Historically, its "structural adjustment programs" forced many poor countries to scrap welfare policies and pursue privatisations under the so-called "Washington Consensus", exacerbating economic inequalities. This was the subject of a withering critique by Nobel-prizewinning economist Joseph Stiglitz in the wake of the East Asian financial crisis, and has spawned numerous protests around the world.

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One reading of the IMF's new high-level rhetoric is that it seeks to distance the institution from this history. It offsets the criticism while allowing the IMF to maintain its adherence to neoliberal policies. This is what Nunn and White refer to as "organised hypocrisy".

A somewhat more sympathetic reading of the situation would be that, while the IMF's commitment to managing the systemic risks that inequality presents for global economic stability and growth is real, the institutional barriers to implementation are formidable. Large organisations seeking to make a change of direction are often frustrated by internal struggle and institutional inertia.

It might also be be inferred that there is a need for greater support from the member states if reducing inequality is really to become a practical policy priority. This is because of changes to the operational guidelines for the IMF's surveillance activities, including it's annual economic surveys, in the wake of the global financial crisis.

The guidelines have been changed so that the IMF is more firmly guided by the economic objectives of its member states, whose social and political policies are supposed to be respected. Perversely, the central global body that many believe exacerbated inequality is now less able to redress the problem.

Implications for Australia

If tackling the general trend to increased inequality is to be a reality, the main political pressure still needs to be on national governments. In Australia, for example, we need a federal government committed to directly implementing policies to reduce inequality.

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Dovetailing with these concerns is the more mundane matter of improving the distributional economic data. The aggregate income statistics in the standard national accounts need to be augmented by distributional measures, as recently modelled by a group of leading inequality scholars.

The current disconnect between national accounts and inequality data makes it difficult to know what fraction of economic growth accrues to the bottom 50% and the top 10%, and the relative income that goes to workers and owners. Nor do policymakers have a comprehensive view of how government programs designed to ameliorate the worst effects of inequality succeed.

This data should be of interest to any government that is serious about eschewing populism in favour of effective policies to head off the wave of discontent and destabilisation.

As a report for the Evatt Foundation last year showed, the distribution of wealth in Australia is dramatically and increasingly unequal. There's no basis for thinking this country is immune from the corrosive effects of inequality on economic growth, society and politics.

So people should listen now, both in Australia and worldwide, as Christine Lagarde urges -- including those who have apparently remained deaf in the IMF.

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By Emad Nadim, Harvard Business School,

Class of 2018 and Contributor at The Harbus

Harvard reacts to the implications of President Trump's Immigration Policies

President Donald Trump on Friday 27th January signed an executive order limiting foreign nationals' admission into America. While the first wave of the order affects citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, due to the ambiguity embedded within the it, the full extent of the order's scope is yet to be determined.

The executive order has created great anxiety for international students. An HBS Classcards search revealed that at least three current MBA students list their country of origin as one that is immediately affected by the ban. A significant number are considered to be affected across Harvard University. There is widespread doubt and unease amongst the entire international student body about how they should treat their current status in the US, and what they should do regarding any travel plans - academic, professional or social.

The future is uncertain for many faculty members. In addition to the international faculty that benefit Harvard with their vast experience, there are many whose primary research lies in regions of the world that they may no longer be able to access. For example, Harvard Kennedy School has a considerable Iran Project.

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Admitted Students Weekend takes place at the start of February and many future students expect greater clarity about the future. Under conditions of anonymity, one international admit for the class of 2019 told the Harbus, "I have no idea if I will be able to get a student visa. I cannot apply 120 days prior to the start of the program and as I am currently working abroad, I will be quitting my job and going home to apply for a visa. If this doesn't work out, it'll mess up my entire future".

Harvard International Office is monitoring the situation and has set up an assistance service for those affected. This comprises of legal and immigration specialists. In an email to international students on 28th January, HIO states that "all foreign nationals should carefully assess whether it is worth the risk to travel outside the country".

at Sunday's Copley Square rally against Immigration Orders. Photo Credit: Vigunthaan Tharmarajah

The RC year recently received news of where they will travel to for FIELD Global Immersion, a crucial part of the HBS MBA Program. HBS will have to ascertain whether international students should be asked to travel abroad without guarantee of admission into the US upon their return. International EC students are concerned as well. Work visas are likely to be impacted and more immediately, many are distressed about cancelling their parents' plans for attending their graduation.

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Hazami Barmada is a Syrian student at HKS. A social justice activist herself, she feels that the University and the student body have an important role to play. "Harvard has a diverse student population who give the school a huge amount of perspective and pay substantial fees. These are individuals who are set to be large contributors to society and to the economy. Harvard should partner with students to find solutions".

Dean Nitin Nohria's email on January 29th acknowledged the plight of international students and reiterated the value of the School's diversity, "Let's draw on this diversity in the days and weeks to come to determine what we as a community can do to make sure our voices and viewpoints are heard, and to support one another during difficult times".

As participants of a leading MBA program, HBS students, faculty and administration will need to debate some complex issues:

How will this order impact or restrict the talent pool of students and scholars at HBS?

How will the program be affected in its ability to impart globally relevant experiences through components such as FIELD Global Immersion?

Will HBS still be able to deliver on its mission to educate leaders that make a difference in the world?

What will be the ramifications for the school's funding?

How should "allies", especially US citizen students, react?

Drew Faust, the President of Harvard University, has already hinted at coordinated action across American Universities to lobby government. In doing so, they would attempt to safeguard the wellbeing of some vulnerable members of the academic community, such as undocumented students and Muslims.

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As divisions run rife across the nation and scenes of protest rallies become commonplace, the strength and unity of our community will be undoubtedly tested in the upcoming weeks and months.

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Emad Nadim (HBS '18) has managed global brands such as Cadbury chocolate for 8 years prior to HBS. While at college, he started the Pakistan chapter of the world's largest youth leadership organization, AIESEC. Being a dual citizen of Pakistan and the UK, and having grown up in the UAE, he is passionate about diversity and global cohesion.


By Nathan Vink

UCF Forum columnist

I spent nearly a year of my life walking within the borders of what is now designated as the Bears Ears National Monument in southern Utah. I covered hundreds of miles hiking across plateaus, climbing into canyons, and scrambling up cliff walls as a wilderness educator, guide and recreationist. I stumbled upon countless Native American artifacts and sites, giving me a glimpse into the ancient history of native people of the region. My first steps on the land were as a student and eventually I came full circle and became an educator.

So when I heard the news regarding the designation of the Bears Ears National Monument by President Obama in December, I was elated. The time I spent in the region left a profound impression on me, helping to mold my ideals and ethics around the importance of wilderness, not only in its beauty but in the real feeling of freedom in mind and body.

The designation said to me that many others felt the same way. The Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, created by 30 Native American tribes, made a great effort to push for this designation, as all the member tribes claim ancestral and historical ties to the region. The designation of this land as a national monument protects cultural sites and artifacts from looting, mineral development and unauthorized off-road vehicle use. This was not wilderness to them, but a road map of their past and future.

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All of this was made possible through the Antiquities Act of 1906, which gives a president power to protect areas that hold significant historical, prehistorical and scientific features. This is not just designated for wilderness sites, as Obama also designated two sites within city limits, the Freedom Riders National Monument and Birmingham Civil Rights National Historical Monument, both in Alabama.

I have also spent considerable time working and recreating in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument also in Utah, which was designated in 1996 by President Bill Clinton. Following the designation, the local population and economies of surrounding towns have grown, which can be tied to the designation of the area. Grazing rights and mineral rights are still in place and while there may be some differing on details, overall the relationship between the Bureau of Land Management, the federal governing body, and local residents is agreeable.

What is my point in all of this?

Now more than ever there is a need to take interest in what is happening with our public lands. The federal government has managed public lands in an attempt to make them accessible to all, but this doesn't always agree with everyone. There is a movement in some circles that would like to repeal the Bears Ears designation and significantly shrink the boundaries of Grand Staircase-Escalante. They would also like control of public lands to be given to the states to allow each state to manage the land as they see fit, including selling to private investors. This can be hazardous to accessibility, as partials of land being sold off can block and limit access, not to mention the environmental implications from how the land is used.

Historically speaking, a national monument has never been repealed after the official designation, but it does not mean it can't happen.

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Some would say that these lands are empty and disposable. I would ask them: Have you spent time there? Have you walked in that space and slept under the stars?

Author Edward Abbey, who frequented the Bears Ears region, once said, "Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread. A civilization which destroys what little remains of the wild, the spare, the original, is cutting itself off from its origins and betraying the principle of civilization itself."

Take it from those that have been there, these places are worth protecting.
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 1: National Security Adviser Michael Flynn speaks in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room during the daily news briefing at the White House in Washington, DC on Wednesday, Feb. 01, 2017. (Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Let's all gaze at the darkness of the world together, shall we?

1. Michael Flynn has resigned as National Security Adviser. One down, and how many more is that to go? More here.

2. Youtube star PewDiePie has been dropped from upcoming YouTube and Disney deals because of anti-Semitic content in multiple videos of his. Advice to entertainers: don't be racist. More here.

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3. Michael Lawrence, who ran former KKK leader David Duke's campaigns, says Duke's views are the same as Trump's. You don't have to tell us twice. More here.

4. Senate votes former Wall Street banker, Steven Mnuchin, as Treasury Secretary. The Washington Swamp seems to be filled with more shit than ever before. Thanks Donald Trump. More here.
By Helaine Feldman, ZEALnyc Contributing Writer, February 14, 2017

He was 23 years old, had a degree from the prestigious Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and had an extremely profitable family business waiting for him.

But Donald Trump thought he would like to be a Broadway producer. He met with David Black, a successful producer (George M! with Joel Grey and Bernadette Peters; The Impossible Years with Alan King; and Ready When You Are, CB! with Julie Harris, among others) and they joined together--Black providing the experience and know-how and Trump putting up a sizeable chunk of the money--for a new comedy, Paris Is Out, slated for the 1969-70 season.

The play starred Molly Picon, who in 1962 received a Tony nomination for her appearance in the Jerry Herman musical, Milk and Honey and was a popular performer who began her career in the Yiddish theatre, and Sam Levene, a Broadway veteran, the original Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls and star of the classic, Three Men on a Horse. The playwright was Richard Seff, who was adding a new credit to an already impressive resume.

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From original Playbill program; courtesy of PlaybillVault.com

Richard remembers: "I did not actually meet young Trump, except briefly and informally, for he was an investor and I didn't even know he was involved until after we opened. I do recall standing next to him on two occasions during our 13 week run, at the back of the orchestra, where we both stood, watching the play. He had arrived on his own, in his white convertible, stayed awhile, then drove off."

The play had a modest run, but ran into some bad luck along the way. Variety had a headline around the ninth week of the run which read: "Broadway down, Paris Up." "For each week that we ran," says Seff, "despite mixed reviews, our gross was creeping up to the point where the house manager told me, 'If we get through Easter and Passover (traditionally bad for business), we'll be here all summer.' Alas, on Easter Sunday, there was a blizzard in New York and three 'nervous hits,' (Broadway talk for a production that was always on the edge of closing), were forced to shut down the next week. They were Noel Coward's Private Lives with Tammy Grimes and Brian Bedford; Sheep on the Runway by Art Buchwald, and my Paris is Out!"

All of us had about three months. We ran for 104 performances (including previews); audiences loved the play, and Brooks Atkinson, the dean of American critics (for whom a theatre is named), offered us a great quote: 'A delightful family comedy in which Molly Picon and Sam Levene are in top form.' Only we couldn't use it because Mr. Atkinson had retired as New York Times critic and he did not want to undermine his replacement. Not a good break for us."

The play did, however, have an afterlife. With original star Molly Picon in it, it broke house records at the Philadelphia Playhouse in the Park after closing on Broadway. Film star Pat O'Brien somehow was sent the play, loved it and toured for 48 weeks in dinner theatres around the country. "People thought it was a Jewish play because of Sam and Molly," Seff told an interviewer, "but it had a 48 week tour with Pat O'Brien and his wife. Suddenly it was about an Irish family--without one line changed" Ann B. Davis (from TV's The Brady Bunch), toured it, too. And, Seff adds, "A couple of years ago, 40-odd years after we closed on Broadway, a dinner theatre in Paradise, Pennsylvania played it for 11 weeks with great success."

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Today, of course, Donald Trump has gone on to other things...

But, what about Richard Seff? Now 89, he has been the quintessential hyphenate: an actor, agent, playwright, librettist, novelist, memoirist and critic. His book, Supporting Player: My Life Upon the Wicked Stage, catalogues his long career. "I have done everything in theatre," he says, "but sell tickets." His apartment reflects this and is filled with memorabilia: books, records, CDs and photos, lots of photos, of his friends and former clients including Chita Rivera and lyricist Fred Ebb (Chicago and Cabaret, to name a few). His latest gig is writing reviews of New York theatre for the website DC Metro Theater Arts.



Richard Seff; photo courtesy of artist

In 2004, he created an award, the Richard Seff Award, presented by the Actors' Equity Foundation each year to a character actor and actress, supporting players, who have devoted at least 25 years to their profession, have not achieved "stardom," but continue to work as featured players--like he was--and is!

Cover: Donald Trump in 1976; photo: Bettmann Archive.

_________________________

Helaine Feldman, a Contributing Writer for ZEALnyc, writes about theater performance and related features.

For more features from ZEALnyc read:
Here are 5 takeaways from Kansas' 37-16 win against Oklahoma State

The Jayhawks are bowl eligible for the first time since 2008. Kansas just topped Oklahoma State for that pivotal sixth win.
According to the Perceptum research, in 2016 only 15 percent of the Romanians who used the internet refused to give their personal information to be used in advertising objectives, compared with an average of 80 percent. The same percentage of Romanian internet users limited the access to others to the personal profile or their own delivered content compared with an EU average of 40 percent.

Thirty one percent of Romanian internet users gave personal information online in 2016, which is almost half of the EU average, says a study.

The EU statistics shows that seven in 10 Internet users with ages between 16 and 74 years are aware that via cookies they are exposed to abuses.

In Romania, only four in ten Romanians (38 percent) are aware of these files and to the offers to the site owners, a valuable feedback regarding the users preferences in shopping, information sources, holidays, etc.

Twenty four percent of the users read the confidentiality policies of the sites (37 percent EU average) and 70 percent of those who were online used the mobile phones/smartphones and 26 percent used the tablets.

The used data for the research were issued to the European Office of Statistics (Eurostat) during December 2016- February 2017.

Source: http://www.business-review.eu/news/thirty-one-percent-of-romanian-internet-users-gave-personal-information-online-in-2016-says-a-study-129985
Bruce Collingwood and Janis Akerstrom have both left employment with the city.

Two Department Heads No Longer Work For Pittsfield

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Two department heads are no longer working for the city.

Mayor Linda Tyer said Commissioner of Public Utilities Bruce Collingwood and Director of Community Development Janis Akerstrom are no longer working for the city but that plans are in place for continuity of service. The mayor said she would not comment any further because it is a personnel issue.

It is not clear whether the two were fired or had resigned.

In an email to the City Council on Friday, Tyer wrote, "I thanked them for their service to the city of Pittsfield. Their tenure with the City of Pittsfield has come to an end effective immediately."

The email went on to read that Tyer planned to assess each position and determine the most effective way to operate the departments.

She followed up with an email on Monday saying she named Commissioner of Public Services David Turocy as the interim head of Public Utilities and Bonnie Galant as the director of Community Development. Galant is the city's Community Development and housing program manager

Collingwood had been with the city for 14 years, being hired in 2002. He served as the commissioner of public utilities and spent years in charge of the Department of Public Works as well.

Akerstrom moved to the city a year and a half ago from Orlando, Fla., to take the job after Douglas Clark resigned to attend to his engineering business.
Diedre Griffin runs the resettlement program for Jewish Family Services of Western Massachusetts.

Pittsfield Refugee Resettlement Uncertain After Federal Changes



A large crowd attended the meeting Monday night at Herberg Middle School. PITTSFIELD, Mass.  President Donald Trump's push to halt refugee resettlement leaves a question mark about the future of such a program in Pittsfield.

Jewish Family Services of Western Massachusetts is still planning to bring 50 refugees, likely from Syria, to the city this year.

But there is no timeline on when that will happen and a severe reduction in the number of refugees being taken in by the United States could mean none move to the city.

"I'm very optimistic that Pittsfield will become a refugee resettlement community. When they will be here, we don't know," said Maxine Stein, president and CEO of Jewish Family Services, on Monday during a community conversation at Herberg Middle School.

The plans were in the works for the Springfield-based organization to resettle the families here since last summer. In the fall, the organization announced its intentions publicly and held a community meeting at the library. Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, which runs the federal program alongside the State Department, approved Pittsfield's application to become a resettlement community.

And then the election placed Trump in office. After moving into the White House, he signed an executive order placing a travel ban on people coming from seven Muslim countries, and halting the resettlement program. That order has since been suspended by the courts.

"We were nervous after the election. The executive order was signed that Friday at 4:30 in the afternoon," Stein said. "Everything is currently on hold. Then the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals put the executive order on hold."

A judge ruled against Trump's travel ban and the refugees who had their travel plans canceled were re-booked on flights to America.

But, in that order, Trump had also cut the number of refugees the country would admit by more than 50 percent. Former President Barack Obama had set a cap at 110,000 and Trump reduced that to 50,000.

Stein said 35,000 refugees have already been resettled, leaving just 15,000 more before the country hits the cap. Another group of refugees will land in Massachusetts next week, but beyond that, there are no more currently scheduled to arrive here. The remaining refugees planned to be settled may end up going elsewhere in the country.

Stein doesn't know whether or not all or some or any of 50 individuals eyed for Pittsfield will be placed. The city is getting prepared nonetheless to welcome the families.

Director of the New American Program Deirdre Griffin called the efforts a "public and private partnership" among the agency and community groups. The goal is to bring the families escaping areas of war or natural disaster to America and help them re-establish lives.

Stein said once HIAS provides the information about the individuals, Jewish Family Services finds a suitable apartment. She said the organization works with local landlords on lease agreements and then gathers donations from the community to furnish it.

The group is then informed of when the individuals were coming, not all at once but a family at a time, and greets them at the airport. Staff gets them to medical appointments, enrolls children in schools, signs them up for any needed public assistance. Then it helps those who are able to work to find jobs and into programs to learn to speak English.

"If you are not financially independent and have no means to pay your rent, you are not going to succeed easily," Stein said. "We are working very intensely with these families for the first three months."

The federal government gives the individuals $925 when they arrive but that's it.

"This money has to last them until they are standing on their own two feet," Stein said. "They don't want to be living off of a system. They don't want to be living off of JFS. They want to be standing on their own."

The group has translators and runs culture orientation programs to help refugees integrate into American culture. They work with community partners such as the Berkshire Immigration Center. But what they need from the community is to be welcoming and to help those individuals adjust.

"We will do all of the heavy lifting," Stein said. "The most successful programs are the programs in which communities and agencies work together."

Griffin addressed the two biggest questions her organization receives: medical and security. She said the United States has a rigorous process of vetting refugees and the program takes some two years from the time an individual applies to traveling to a new country.

Once given refugee status, there is a medical screening to identify any medical conditions. Twenty-four hours before they travel there is another. Once they arrive, there are two medical appointments scheduled to follow up again. She said the most common health issues are malnutrition, tuberculosis, or significant cases of diabetes. And psychological trauma. The organization makes sure the appointments and plans are in place for any medical issues.

"They have experienced trauma. They have experienced violence and there is behavioral health problems as well," Griffin said.

Security screenings are done throughout the process. The United Nations performs one. The State Department does interviews and background checks. And then another check. And then another check. There are three rounds of fingerprinting and running those across FBI, Homeland Security, and international watch lists. It is only after Homeland Security clears them that they can start the medical screening. Before they travel, yet another check is done to make sure nothing has changed in the meantime.

A large audience attended the presentation at the school but just about all of the comments were in support of the program. The majority of those wanted to know more about how to help, and not oppose, the program. There were faith groups and employers all asking who to contact to become involved. There were a few pointed questions, though.

One woman voiced support for the program but then said there are currently people in the community who are homeless, there are people who can't find work, and the food pantries are feeding some 500 families and running out of food. She asked how could resources be available to support refugees when the community has current needs to address.



State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier is supportive of the program. State Sen. Adam Hinds handled that one, saying, "They can both happen at the same time. They will happen at the same time. They are designed to happen simultaneously." He said there is still a need to get things right for those who are currently struggling but that is a separate issue from the refugee program.

Another questioned the success rate, to which Griffin responded that 85 percent of the refugees get jobs within a year. She said she has only had two families decide to leave the country and go back home because re-establishing a life in the United States was too difficult.

Ward 7 Councilor Anthony Simonelli asked about Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno's recent criticism of Jewish Family Service's program. Sarno is fighting against the resettlement, saying the program is creating concentrations of poverty in Springfield.

Stein and Griffin said it was not their organization that caused issues in Springfield. There was an issue with a different resettlement group, they said, and that their program always has an open-door policy with officials to discuss issues.

Mayor Linda Tyer said she doesn't have those fears. Tyer supports the program on a humanitarian level and doesn't see the 50 individuals putting a strain on city services.

"This is our responsibility as global citizens who have an abundance to be able to provide safe harbor," Tyer said.

As for the local services, she said, "They will get the same level of service as everyone else ... I don't see the added strain on local government." The mayor does see a benefit in bringing in the refugees by creating a more multicultural city.

Others asked how neighbors will be engaged, Stein responded saying the organization would meet with neighbors who have concerns. She said if a certain neighborhood was particularly hostile, then the refugees wouldn't be moved into that apartment.

At this point, though, all of that is a question mark. But if the organization gets notice that a refugee family is traveling into Massachusetts looking to be resettled, the organization will have everything in place to make sure things go smoothly.
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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!
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We expect love to be one of our greatest joys. But, in practice, it is one of the most reliable routes to misery, wrote Alain de Botton in a recent article, before informing us that divorce rates peak post-Christmas.

Some have blamed a certain well known publisher of romance novels as one reason behind this tidal wave of lost hopes. One scholarly article in the British Medical Journal recently claimed that Mills & Boon was a contributing factor to divorce, adultery and unwanted pregnancy.

Mills & Boon is more than 100 years old and has an established reputation for supplying escapist romantic fantasies to its predominantly female readership across the globe. But with Valentines Day just around the corner, Id like to come out in defence of these romantic novels. Despite their escapist nature, there is a considerable amount of realism contained within their pages.

This might seem like a surprising claim. But realism in romance has always been a part of romantic fiction. Charlotte Smith (1749-1806), an early writer of romances, also injected a degree of reality into her novels. While her heroines of sensibility were being wooed from the turrets of their high towers by heroes with appellations such as Orlando and Willoughby, her subsidiary characters faced issues such as extra-marital affairs, unwanted pregnancies and marital rape. As Stuart Curran argues of Smiths works, they record a moment in English fiction where the intrusion of real life into the world of romance marks the beginning of a reconstituted literary realism.

Charlotte Turner Smith, an early pioneer of romantic fiction (George Romney/Creative Commons)

And I reckon that this literary realism is equally available, at least in some measure, in many of the romantic novels of Mills & Boon. But how shall we define realism? The sceptics definition should suffice. De Botton lists seven rules that will allow any reader to develop the emotional skill of romantic realism, and thereby save their marriage.

Embracing imperfection

Now, the heroes of the average Mills & Boon romance, despite appearances on the covers (which generally feature muscular Adonis-like men or heroes who bear a resemblance to popular film stars), are, in fact, very far from perfect. The male lead of Penny Jordans The Most Coveted Prize (2011) freely admits this to himself. As the reader is introduced to Kiryl, the narrator informs us that he has a darkness within him that he had never wholly been able to control. Something of a mental vampire, an echo of himself that, when aroused, could only be calmed by feeding off the emotional pain of others.

It will take the equally far from perfect 19-year-old heroine Alena to save Kiryl from himself and cement their relationship. In order for this to happen, Alena has to accept the reality that Kiryl is not the perfect hero she has constructed him to be within her imagination, saying to him: I didnt love you. I loved someone I created inside my own head and heart  someone I now know never existed. That was weak and foolish of me.

Culture news in pictures Show all 33 1 /33 Culture news in pictures Culture news in pictures 30 September 2016 An employee hangs works of art with "Grand Teatro" by Marino Marini (R) and bronze sculpture "Sfera N.3" by Arnaldo Pomodoro seen ahead of a Contemporary Art auction on 7 October, at Sotheby's in London REUTERS Culture news in pictures 29 September 2016 Street art by Portuguese artist Odeith is seen in Dresden, during an exhibition "Magic City - art of the streets" AFP/Getty Images Culture news in pictures 28 September 2016 Dancers attend a photocall for the new "THE ONE Grand Show" at Friedrichstadt-Palast in Berlin, Germany REUTERS Culture news in pictures 28 September 2016 With an array of thrift store china, humorous souvenirs and handmade tile adorning its walls and floors, the Mosaic Tile House in Venice stands as a monument to two decades of artistic collaboration between Cheri Pann and husband Gonzalo Duran REUTERS Culture news in pictures 27 September 2016 A gallery assistant poses amongst work by Anthea Hamilton from her nominated show "Lichen! Libido!(London!) Chastity!" at a preview of the Turner Prize in London REUTERS Culture news in pictures 27 September 2016 A technician wearing virtual reality glasses checks his installation in three British public telephone booths, set up outside the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague, Netherlands. The installation allows visitors a 3-D look into the museum which has twenty-two paintings belonging to the British Royal Collection, on loan for an exhibit from 29 September 2016 till 8 January 2017 AP Culture news in pictures 26 September 2016 An Indian artist dressed as Hindu god Shiva performs on a chariot as he participates in a religious procession 'Ravan ki Barat' held to mark the forthcoming Dussehra festival in Allahabad AFP/Getty Images Culture news in pictures 26 September 2016 Jean-Michel Basquiat's 'Air Power', 1984, is displayed at the Bowie/Collector media preview at Sotheby's in New York AFP/Getty Culture news in pictures 25 September 2016 A woman looks at an untitled painting by Albert Oehlen during the opening of an exhibition of works by German artists Georg Baselitz and Albert Oehlen in Reutlingen, Germany. The exhibition runs at the Kunstverein (art society) Reutlingen until 15 January 2017 EPA Culture news in pictures 24 September 2016 Fan BingBing (C) attends the closing ceremony of the 64th San Sebastian Film Festival at Kursaal in San Sebastian, Spain Getty Images Culture news in pictures 23 September 2016 A view of the artwork 'You Are Metamorphosing' (1964) as part of the exhibition 'Retrospektive' of Japanese artist Tetsumi Kudo at Fridericianum in Kassel, Germany. The exhibition runs from 25 September 2016 to 1 January 2017 EPA Culture news in pictures 22 September 2016 Jo Applin from the Courtauld Institute of Art looks at Green Tilework in Live Flesh by Adriana Vareja, which features in a new exhibition, Flesh, at York Art Gallery. The new exhibition features works by Degas, Chardin, Francis Bacon and Sarah Lucas, showing how flesh has been portrayed by artists over the last 600 years PA Culture news in pictures 21 September 2016 Performers Sean Atkins and Sally Miller standing in for the characters played by Asa Butterfield and Ella Purnell during a photocall for Tim Burton's "Miss Peregrines Home For Peculiar Children" at Potters Field Park in London Getty Images Culture news in pictures 20 September 2016 A detail from the blanket 'Alpine Cattle Drive' from 1926 by artist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner is displayed at the 'Hamburger Bahnhof - Museum for Contemporary Arts' in Berlin. The exhibition named 'Ernst Ludwig Kirchner - Hieroglyphen' showing the complete collection of Berlin's Nationalgallerie works of the German artist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and will run from 23 September 2016 until 26 February 2017 AP Culture news in pictures 20 September 2016 A man looks at portrait photos by US photographer Bruce Gilden in the exhibition 'Masters of Photography' at the photokina in Cologne, Germany. The trade fair on photography, photokina, schowcases some 1,000 exhibitors from 40 countries and runs from 20 to 25 September. The event also features various photo exhibitions EPA Culture news in pictures 20 September 2016 A woman looks at 'Blue Poles', 1952 by Jackson Pollock during a photocall at the Royal Academy of Arts, London PA Culture news in pictures 19 September 2016 Art installation The Refusal of Time, a collaboration with Philip Miller, Catherine Meyburgh and Peter Galison, which features as part of the William Kentridge exhibition Thick Time, showing from 21 September to 15 January at the Whitechapel Gallery in London PA Culture news in pictures 18 September 2016 Artists creating one off designs at the Mm6 Maison Margiela presentation during London Fashion Week Spring/Summer collections 2017 in London Getty Images Culture news in pictures 18 September 2016 Bethenny Frankel attends the special screening of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" to celebrate the 25th Anniversary Edition release on Blu-Ray and DVD in New York City Getty Images for Walt Disney Stu Culture news in pictures 17 September 2016 Visitors attend the 2016 Oktoberfest beer festival at Theresienwiese in Munich, Germany Getty Images Culture news in pictures 16 September 2016 Visitors looks at British artist Damien Hirst work of art 'The Incomplete Truth', during the 13th Yalta Annual Meeting entitled 'The World, Europe and Ukraine: storms of changes', organised by the Yalta European Strategy (YES) in partnership with the Victor Pinchuk Foundation at the Mystetsky Arsenal Art Center in Kiev AP Culture news in pictures 16 September 2016 Tracey Emin's "My Bed" is exhibited at the Tate Liverpool as part of the exhibition Tracey Emin And William Blake In Focus, which highlights surprising links between the two artists Getty Images Culture news in pictures 15 September 2016 Musician Dave Grohl (L) joins musician Tom Morello of Prophets of Rage onstage at the Forum in Inglewood, California Getty Images Culture news in pictures 14 September 2016 Model feebee poses as part of art installation "Narcissism : Dazzle room" made by artist Shigeki Matsuyama at rooms33 fashion and design exhibition in Tokyo. Matsuyama's installation features a strong contrast of black and white, which he learned from dazzle camouflage used mainly in World War I AP Culture news in pictures 13 September 2016 Visitors look at artworks by Chinese painter Cui Ruzhuo during the exhibition 'Glossiness of Uncarved Jade' held at the exhibition hall 'Manezh' in St. Petersburg, Russia. More than 200 paintings by the Chinese artist are presented until 25 September EPA Culture news in pictures 12 September 2016 A visitor looks at Raphael's painting 'Extase de Sainte Cecile', 1515, from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence during the opening of a Raphael exhibition at the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow, Russia. The first Russian exhibition of the works of the Italian Renaissance artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino includes eight paintings and three drawings which come from Italy. Th exhibit opens to the public from 13 September to 11 December EPA Culture news in pictures 11 September 2016 Steve Cropper and Eddie Floyd perform during Otis Redding 75th Birthday Celebration - Rehearsals at the Macon City Auditorium in Macon, Georgia Getty Images for Otis Redding 75 Culture news in pictures 10 September 2016 Sakari Oramo conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Chorus and the BBC Singers at the Last Night of the Proms 2016 at the Royal Albert Hall in London PA Culture news in pictures 9 September 2016 A visitor walks past a piece entitled "Fruitcake" by Joana Vasconcelo, during the Beyond Limits selling exhibition at Chatsworth House near Bakewell REUTERS Culture news in pictures 8 September 2016 A sculpture of a crescent standing on the 2,140 meters high mountain 'Freiheit' (German for 'freedom'), in the Alpstein region of the Appenzell alps, eastern Switzerland. The sculpture is lighted during the nights by means of solar panels. The 38-year-old Swiss artist and atheist Christian Meier set the crescent on the peak to start a debate on the meaning of religious symbols - as summit crosses - on mountains. 'Because so many peaks have crosses on them, it struck me as a great idea to put up an equally absurd contrast'. 'Naturally I wanted to provoke in a fun way. But it goes beyond that. The actions of an artist should be food for thought, both visually and in content' EPA Culture news in pictures Culture news in pictures Culture news in pictures

Once she has admitted the truth to herself and, in de Bottons words, she has grasped the specifics of his imperfections, she is free to focus on the fact that she loves him anyway, and would rather be with him and his imperfections than spend the rest of her life without him.

The art of loving

This leads me nicely onto de Bottons fourth rule of romantic realism, which instructs us to be ready to love rather than be loved. Alena  along with countless other Mills & Boon heroines  loves her hero even though she is fully aware of his failings.

So the heroines have no issue following de Bottons advice. But it must be acknowledged that the heroes do have more trouble. Their alpha male status seems to inhibit them from admitting what they perceive as weakness  which for the main part, manifests itself in the form of their vulnerability to the heroine. The final admission of the heros undying love for her will almost destroy him.

But, as Kiryl admits, a man can only lie to himself for so long, and despite Jordan reducing him to a shadow of himself  as she does with so many of her heroes  it will become clear that the hero of the tale can only be saved by embracing both the heroine and his love for her.

But its all about the sex, right?

One of the criticisms that have been levelled at Mills & Boon romantic novels over the years is the inclusion of scenes of an explicit nature. How realistic is the invariably great sex the average Mills & Boon heroine can anticipate with her hero?

As de Botton observes, one of the frequent failings in relationships is that we fail to understand that sex and love do, and dont, belong together  the general view expects that love and sex will be aligned. But in truth, they wont stay so beyond a few months or, at best, one or two years.

Not many Mills & Boons address this point. But some do. In another sample from her corpus, Jordan does attempt to hint that the other key concerns that de Botton highlights, such as companionship, administration, another generation do have an impact on sex in relationships. In her 1982 novel, Blackmail, the heroine, Lee, is forced to take a break in sexual relations with her husband Gilles because the birth of her son had not been an easy one.

And akin to her literary ancestor, Charlotte Smith, Jordan also featured many older heroines. In her novel from 1989, A Rekindled Passion, for example, the heroine, Kate, is just shy of 40. Kate has spent all of her adult life as a single mother, having fallen pregnant at age 16. When the babys father, Joss, reappears, Kate turns down his offer of sex after he tells her he wants her, saying: It wouldnt be sensible. Wed both regret it.

Both Kate and Lee love their heroes, but their love is not aligned with sex. The heroines and heroes reach their happy endings in these novels, because all parties accept this.

Harlequin Mills & Boon, as a publisher, openly retails their fiction as escapism. But like all great romantic fiction, from its earliest days to contemporary times, these novels do address realistic issues that people face every day in their relationships.

Valerie Derbyshire, doctoral researcher, school of English, University of Sheffield. This article first appeared on The Conversation (theconversation.com)
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20th Century Fox's new horror thriller may premise itself on a world where no one can be trusted - but that seems to have infiltrated the film's marketing campaign as well.

A Cure for Wellness, directed by Gore Verbinski, sees Dane DeHaan play a ruthless young executive sent to retrieve his company's CEO from a strange, secluded "wellness centre" located in the midst of the Swiss Alps; a place whose approach to health care seems overtly sinister, as a bizarre mystery soon begins to unfold.

Buzzfeed now reports the marketing campaign for the film created five fake local news sites, inserting promotional references to the film within a string of constructed hoaxes, and alongside ads for the film and for a fictional water brand.

Which may seem relatively innocuous - clever, even - except for the fact some of the more politically-flavoured posts actually tricked both internet users and conservatives sites alike. An article which claimed that Donald Trump had implemented a temporary ban on vaccinations, for example, was shared widely on Facebook by anti-vaccine parents.

Meanwhile, an article which claimed Lady Gaga was set to perform a tribute to Muslims as part of her Super Bowl performance was picked up by the likes of Red State Watcher and 100PercentFedUp.com.

An example of one of five fake news sites created in conjunction with the marketing campaign for A Cure for Wellness (Salt Lake City Guardian)

However, the sites have since been deleted, with the homepages of each of the five sites - Sacramento Dispatch, Salt Lake City Guardian, Houston Leader, NY Morning Post, Indianapolis Gazette, and fake wellness site healthandwellness.co - all now redirecting to the film's main site.

A spokesperson for Regency Enterprises, who are producing the film, released a statement: "A Cure for Wellness is a movie about a fake cure that makes people sicker. As part of this campaign, a fake wellness site healthandwellness.co was created and we partnered with a fake news creator to publish fake news."

 A Cure For Wellness - Trailer 2

A Cure for Wellness hits UK cinemas 24 February.
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Last week, Lars von Trier released the first haunting promotional image for upcoming serial-killer thriller The House That Jack Built, featuring himself holding a giant scythe.

According to recently revealed details, the film follows a highly intelligent serial killer named Jack - played by Matt Dillon - over the course of 12 years, starting in the 70s.

Speaking about the upcoming project - which will shoot in Trollhattan, Sweden, and Copenhagen this March - the Melancholia director revealed how Donald Trump has partially inspired him.

The House That Jack Built celebrates the idea that life is evil and soulless, he told The Guardian. Which is sadly proven by the recent rise of the Homo trumpus  the rat king.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

The film - which was originally planned as a TV series - stars Oscar-nominee Bruno Ganz as the character Verge, who The Hollywood Reporter describe as a mysterious man who engages Jack in a recurring conversation about his actions and thoughts.

American Honeys Riley Keough and The Killings Sofie Grabl will star alongside Dillon, both playing women who come into contact with the titular character as he attempts to create the ultimate artwork.

Von Triers last film, Nymphomaniac, was a controversial two-part pornographic drama that starred the likes of Shia LaBoef, Uma Thurman and Willem Dafoe.
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It may seem like a small act of resistance - but for film fans, this will be a particularly moving one.

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced a free premiere screening of the The Salesman, directed by Iran's Asghar Farhadi and nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars; which will see Trafalgar Square transformed into London's biggest open-air cinema on 26 February, with around 10,000 expected to watch the film - mere hours before the Oscars ceremony itself.

Farhadi has made the decision to boycott this year's Academy Awards in response to Donald Trump's 'Muslim Ban', which had ordered a four-month ban on all refugees from entering the country as well as enacting an indefinite ban on all those who hail from Syria.

For 90 days, visas would not have been issued to nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. The Department of Homeland Security has since suspended all enforcement of Trump's immigration ban following a nationwide locking of the executive order from federal judge James Robart in Washington.

The Guardian reports the London event is being organised with the co-operation of Khan, Palme d'Or-winning director Mike Leight, model/actress Lily Cole, producer Kate Wilson, and filmmaker Mark Donne; with the intent "to celebrate the capital's success as a creative hub and beacon for openness and diversity".

 Oscars 2017: Our film team discuss who will win and who should

"The gathering of the audience around The Salesman in this famous London square is symbolic of unity against the division and separation of people," Farhadi commented. "I offer my warmest thanks to the mayor of London and the cinema community for this generous initiative. I welcome and appreciate this invaluable show of solidarity."

The film, starring Taraneh Alidoosti and Shahab Hosseini, tells the story of a young couple who play the leads in a local production of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman; while their personal lives come under crisis when they move into a house that was previously inhabited by a woman who may have been working as a prostitute.



The Trafalgar Square screening will begin at 4.30pm. Curzon Artificial Eye will also show the film across the country on the same day.
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Stormzy has accused the Metropolitan Police service of breaking into his house after mistaking him for a burglar.

The Croydon-born grime artist tweeted a photo of a smashed-in doorway the morning after he attended the Elle Style Awards.

The 23-year-old wrote: "Woke up to Feds destroying my front door coz apparently I'm a burglar who burgles his own home. @metpoliceuk need your bank details still."

Fans reacted with outrage, branding the incident as "absolute madness".

One joked that whoever broke his door was "after them tour tickets #soldout".

It was recently announced that Stormzy's upcoming tour for March and April has sold out, following the news that his debut album GSAP [Gang Signs and Prayers] will be released on 24 February.

Stormzy revealed the album via a series of mysterious billboards around south London, which featured lines presumably from tracks on the record.

GSAP features a strong lineup of guest artists including Ghetts, Kehlani, MNEK, and Raleigh Ritchie.

The Independent has reached out to representatives for Stormzy for comment.
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Eighteen major car companies have written to Donald Trump urging him to overturn a fuel efficiency target set by the Obama administration.

Under the regulation, cars would have to run for 54.5 miles per gallon or better by 2025, saving American motorists $1.7 trillion (1.4 trillion) in fuel costs over the lifetime of their vehicles  but costing the car industry $200bn over 13 years.

However the election of Mr Trump  who has downplayed the need to cut fossil fuel emissions  clearly represents an opportunity for the motor industry.

The letter was written by the chief executives of General Motors, Ford, Fiat Chrysler and the leading US executives of Volkswagen, Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Hyundai among others.

The letter praised Mr Trumps personal focus on steps to strengthen the economy in the United States and your commitment to jobs in our sector.

And it also claimed the fuel efficiency target could threaten future production levels, putting hundreds of thousands and perhaps as many as a million jobs at risk.

The chief executives asked Mr Trump to reopen a review of the target without prejudging the outcome.

The worst countries in the world for air pollution deaths Show all 10 1 /10 The worst countries in the world for air pollution deaths The worst countries in the world for air pollution deaths Ukraine The worst countries in the world for air pollution deaths Bulgaria Rex Features The worst countries in the world for air pollution deaths Belarus The worst countries in the world for air pollution deaths Russia The worst countries in the world for air pollution deaths Armenia The worst countries in the world for air pollution deaths Bosnia and Herzegovina REUTERS The worst countries in the world for air pollution deaths Georgia The worst countries in the world for air pollution deaths Hungary DigitalGlobe The worst countries in the world for air pollution deaths China The worst countries in the world for air pollution deaths Moldova

Gloria Bergquist, a spokeswoman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, said that the carmakers were seeking a restoration of the process, that's all. This is a reset.

Luke Tonachel, of the Natural Resources Defence Council, said a lower emissions target would cost consumers more, increase our dependence on oil and put Americans at greater risk from a changing climate.
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The Government is worryingly complacent over how it will enforce environmental regulations after the UK leaves the European Union, according to a new House of Lords report.

Peers said European institutions  such as the Commission and the Court of Justice  have played a key role in ensuring member states upheld EU environmental regulations, with threat of heavy fines having a significant deterrent effect.

Campaign groups like ClientEarth have also been able to take the Government to court in the UK to force it to come up with an effective plan to cut air pollution to levels considered to be safe.

Under the Governments plans for Brexit, much of EU law will be transferred onto the British statute book in an attempt to provide some continuity.

But, while the rules will be broadly the same, members of the Lords EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee said an effective and independent system of enforcement would be required to fill the vacuum left by the European Commission.

This new procedure would need to be powerful enough to ensure the Government and public bodies stayed true to their environmental obligations, they stressed.

But it was clear that the committee did not have confidence that the Government was planning to have such a system in the UK post-Brexit.

The Governments assurances that future Governments will, in effect, be able to regulate themselves, along with ministers apparent confusion between political accountability to Parliament and judicial oversight, are worryingly complacent, they said in the report.

We note the concerns of witnesses [giving evidence to the committees hearings] that existing domestic judicial review procedures may be inadequate and costly.

It will be important for any effective domestic enforcement mechanism to have both regular oversight of the Governments progress towards its environmental objectives, and the ability, through the courts, to sanction non-compliance as necessary.

Lord Teverson, who chairs the sub-committee, said the country post-Brexit would need to cooperate particularly closely with the European Union on environmental issues because of their very nature.

Were leaving the EU, but not Europe: whether its a question of migratory birds, managing our oceans, or air pollution, the environment transcends political boundaries, and the UKs environment and Europes will remain inextricably linked, he said.

We heard evidence that 80 per cent of the public support at least the same level, if not higher levels of environmental protection post-Brexit.

We need to continue to work together and protect our shared environment for future generations.

How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Show all 8 1 /8 How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Weetabix Chief executive of Weetabix Giles Turrell has warned that the price of one of the nations favourite breakfast are likely to go up this year by low-single digits in percentage terms. Reuters How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Nescafe The cost of a 100g jar of Nescafe Original at Sainsburys has gone up 40p from 2.75 to 3.15  a 14 per cent risesince the Brexit vote. PA How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Freddo When contacted by The Independent this month, a Mondelez spokesperson declined to discuss specific brands but confirmed that there would be "selective" price increases across its range despite the American multi-national confectionery giant reporting profits of $548m (450m) in its last three-month financial period. Mondelez, which bought Cadbury in 2010, said rising commodity costs combined with the slump in the value of the pound had made its products more expensive to make. Cadbury How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Mr Kipling cakes Premier Foods, the maker of Mr Kipling and Bisto gravy, said that it was considering price rises on a case-by-case basis Reuters How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Walkers Crisps Walkers, owned by US giant PepsiCo, said "the weakened value of the pound" is affecting the import cost of some of its materials. A Walkers spokesman told the Press Association that a 32g standard bag was set to increase from 50p to 55p, and the larger grab bag from 75p to 80p. Getty How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Marmite Tesco removed Marmite and other Unilever household brand from its website last October, after the manufacturer tried to raise its prices by about 10 per cent owing to sterlings slump. Tesco and Unilever resolved their argument, but the price of Marmite has increased in UK supermarkets with the grocer reporting a 250g jar of Marmite will now cost Morrisons customers 2.64 - an increase of 12.5 per cent. Rex How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Toblerone Toblerone came under fire in November after it increased the space between the distinctive triangles of its bars. Mondelez International, the company which makes the product, said the change was made due to price rises in recent months. Pixabay How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Maltesers Maltesers, billed as the lighter way to enjoy chocolate, have also shrunk in size. Mars, which owns the brand, has reduced its pouch weight by 15 per cent. Mars said rising costs mean it had to make the unenviable decision between increasing its prices or reducing the weight of its Malteser packs. iStockphoto

Translating EU laws into British legislation would be an immensely complicated task, he added.

The Great Repeal Bill is a welcome first step, and we also welcome the Governments ongoing review of EU legislation, but with many hundreds of regulations, directives, and court judgments, we are not convinced that the Government has yet found a way to deliver the continuity of environmental protection that we all want to achieve, Lord Teverson said.

The European Commission and the Court of Justice have played absolutely vital roles in monitoring and enforcing environmental law in the UK.

The bottom line is that if the UK fails to honour EU environmental law, it will end up in court. Thats going to change after Brexit, but the vast majority of our witnesses were emphatic that an effective and independent domestic enforcement mechanism will still be needed.

Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Show all 30 1 /30 Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? David Beckham (REMAIN) The former captain for the England international football team announced on Instagram that he was voting to Remain. He said: We live in a vibrant and connected world where together as a people we are strong. For our children and their children we should be facing the problems of the world together and not alone. Getty Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Victoria Beckham (REMAIN) 'I believe in my country, I believe in a future for my children where we are stronger together and I support the remain campaign.' Getty Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Daniel Craig (REMAIN) Actor He was pictured wearing a white T-shirt with the slogan: 'No man is an island. No country by itself. Vote Remain on 23rd June.' Getty Images Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Bob Geldof (REMAIN) Irish singer expresses his support for the Remain vote as he waves from a boat carrying supporters for the 'Remain' campaign in London AFP/Getty Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? John Cleese (LEAVE) The Monty Python star signalled he will vote to leave the EU when he tweeted: "If I thought there was any chance of major reform in the EU, I'd vote to stay in. But there isn't. Sad." Getty Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Daniel Portman (REMAIN) Game of Thrones actor supports Reamin vote Getty Images Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Elton John (REMAIN) The singer also announced his intention to vote Remain on Instagram, sharing an image which said Build bridges not walls, along with the caption I'm voting to remain. #StrongerInEurope Getty Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Roger Daltrey (LEAVE) Former frontman of iconic rock band The Who. I am not anti European, but I an anti the present way we are being governed in Europe, he wrote in The Mirror. The whole system has been corrupted by political ego and massive government overreach. The Euro being a perfect example I do not want to be dragged into the kind of Federal State that this present EU is pushing for - with the UK's voice getting smaller and smaller. AFP/Getty Images Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? JK Rowling (REMAIN) The author of the Harry Potter books has expressed concern that "racists and bigots" are directing parts of the Leave campaign. She added: How can a retreat into selfish and insecure individualism be the right response when Europe faces genuine threats, when the bonds that tie us are so powerful, when we have come so far together? How can we hope to conquer the enormous challenges of terrorism and climate change without cooperation and collaboration? Getty Images Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Vivienne Westwood (REMAIN) British fashion designer expressed her support for Remain vote Getty Images Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Michael Caine (LEAVE) The actor has said he is a reluctant Leaver. He said: "I don't know what to vote for. Both are scary. To me, you've now got in Europe a sort of government-by-proxy of everybody, who has now got carried away. Unless there is some extremely significant changes, we should get out." Getty Images Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Benedict Cumberbatch (REMAIN) Benedict Cumberbatch and Sir Patrick Stewart led more than 280 figures from the arts world who backed a vote to stay. An open letter pledging support for Remain was also signed by music stars Hot Chip, alt-J and Paloma Faith, authors Dame Hilary Mantel and John le Carre, and fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood. Daniel Craig was pictured wearing a vote Remain t-shirt with the words "No man is an island. No country by itself" emblazoned across it in a picture tweeted on the Stronger IN account. Getty Images Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Patrick Stewart (REMAIN) Actor is a leading supporter of the Remain campaign Getty Images Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Elizabeth Hurley (LEAVE) The actress said If it means we can go back to using decent lightbulbs and choose high-powered hairdryers and vacuum cleaners if we so wish, I'm joining Brexit for sure. Getty Images Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Stephen Hawking (REMAIN) The physicist was in favour staying, and said "progress comes from co-operation". He said: "By working together in Europe we make our economy stronger and we give ourselves more influence in the world and we provide future opportunities for young people." Numerous scientists have also voiced their support for Remain, claiming an out vote would badly damage the field. Getty Images for Breakthrough Pr Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Sol Campbell (LEAVE)  The former England international football star said he is backing Brexit so that young British sporting talent would be nurtured and given greater opportunities at British clubs. He said: "I'm looking at the sporting side - how youngsters aren't getting the opportunities at some of the big clubs and some of the big clubs are bringing in youngsters from 14, 15, 16 and becoming homegrown, which is pushing some of our youngsters out." Getty Images Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Hilary Mantel (REMAIN) Author Hilary Mantel announced her support for Remain vote Getty Images Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Bear Grylls (REMAIN) The adventurer and TV presenter said he spoke "from the heart" in backing the EU. "At such a time for the UK to retreat, run and cut ourselves loose from Europe, when there are so many challenges on our doorstep, to me just doesn't feel either courageous or kind, he said. Europe has many flaws, but I also believe the way to help resolve many of those tough issues is from within... I have never been a good quitter and I am so proud of the UK and our values: tolerance, kindness, respect, courage and resilience. This is why I want us to stay together and Remain in Europe." Getty Images Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Billy Bragg (REMAIN) British singer decided to support Remain campaign AFP/Getty Images Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Ian Botham (LEAVE) The former England Test cricketer and Test team captain supports Brexit Getty/Laureus Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Simon Cowell (REMAIN) Music mogul Simon Cowell announced his support of staying in EU Getty Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? David James (LEAVE) The former England goalkeeper supports Brexit Getty Images Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Idris Elba (REMAIN) The actor voiced his support for Remain vote Getty Images Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? John Le Carre (REMAIN) British writer supports Remain campaign Getty Images Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Paloma Faith (REMAIN) English singer supports Remain campaign Getty Images Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Perry McCarthy (LEAVE) The racing driver supports Leave campaign Rex Features Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Keira Knightley (REMAIN) The actress intends to vote for Remain campaign Getty Images for Lincoln Center Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? James Cracknell (LEAVE) British athlete and rowing champion decided to vote for Brexit Getty Images Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Florence Welch (REMAIN) British singer supports Remain campaign Getty Images for Gucci Which celebrities support Brexit and which support Remain? Helena Bonham-Carter (REMAIN) The actress expressed her support for Remain vote AFP/Getty Images

Andrea Leadsom, the Environment Secretary, has repeatedly said it is the Governments ambition for this generation to be the first to leave the environment in a better state than they found it.

However, despite this vague but ambitious pledge, other Conservative politicians have suggested Brexit is an opportunity to cut environmental protections.

And some campaigners have expressed fears of a bonfire of regulations.

In a statement, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs repeated the official mantra.

Our ambition is to be the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than we found it, it said.

We are committed to building on our long history of wildlife and environmental protection and securing the best deal for Britain as we leave the EU.

We are clear that we are ready to deliver all of this Governments priorities and will continue to build the right skills, experience, and leadership to deal with the challenges, and take advantage of the opportunities, that lie ahead.

Animals in decline Show all 8 1 /8 Animals in decline Animals in decline Harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) Where: Orkney Islands. What: Between 2001-2006, numbers in Orkney declined by 40 per cent. Why: epidemics of the phocine distemper virus are thought to have caused major declines, but the killing of seals in the Moray Firth to protect salmon farms may have an impact. Alamy Animals in decline African lion (Panthera leo) Where: Ghana. What: In Ghanas Mole National Park, lion numbers have declined by more than 90 per cent in 40 years. Why: local conflicts are thought to have contributed to the slaughter of lions and are a worrying example of the status of the animal in Western and Central Africa. Animals in decline Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) Where: Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Costa Rica. What: Numbers are down in both the Atlantic and Pacific. It declined by 95 per cent between 1989-2002 in Costa Rica. Why: mainly due to them being caught as bycatch, but theyve also been affected by local developments. Alamy Animals in decline Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) Where: South Atlantic. What: A rapid decline. One population, from Bird Island, South Georgia, declined by 50 per cent between 1972-2010, according to the British Antarctic Survey. Why: being caught in various commercial longline fisheries. Alamy Animals in decline Saiga Antelope (Saiga tatarica) Where: Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan. What: fall in populations has been dramatic. In the early 1990s numbers were over a million, but are now estimated to be around 50,000. Why: the break up of the former USSR led to uncontrolled hunting. Increased rural poverty means the species is hunted for its meat Animals in decline Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) Where: found worldwide in tropical, subtropical and temperate seas. Why: at risk from overfishing and as a target in recreational fishing. A significant number of swordfish are also caught by illegal driftnet fisheries in the Mediterranean Animals in decline Argali Sheep (Ovis mammon) Where: Central and Southern Asian mountains,usually at 3,000-5,000 metres altitude. Why: domesticated herds of sheep competing for grazing grounds. Over-hunting and poaching. Animals in decline Humphead Wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) Where: the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea to South Africa and to the Tuamoto Islands (Polynesia), north to the Ryukyu Islands (south-west Japan), and south to New Caledonia. Why: Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing and trading of the species

It did not address the sub-committees concern that it was complacent about the enforcement of environmental protections after Brexit.

ClientEarth has twice gone to court to force the Government to come up with a better plan to reduce air pollution  blamed for the premature deaths of some 40,000 people a year in the UK  in order to comply with EU air quality legislation that is expected to be transferred into British law after Brexit.

It is also threatening to sue the Government for allegedly breaching the UK Climate Change Act by repeatedly delaying publication of its Emissions Reduction Plan, which is the main method by which Britain will live up to its international commitments to reduce global warming.

Catherine Weller, a senior ClientEarth lawyer, said: The House of Lords today confirmed the immense risk to the UK environment posed by Brexit, saying that maintaining existing standards through the Great Repeal Bill will be a hugely complex task.

"As a first step, the Government must enshrine current environmental protections in law  well be watching the detail to ensure that they do, and that they dont sneak in a way to undo these protections overnight.

The Lords rightly highlighted the danger of a lack of oversight and enforcement once the UK leaves the EU. We agree that a strong, independent domestic mechanism is crucial to make sure effective environmental laws are made and followed.

This mechanism must be underpinned by judicial oversight, and people must be able to go to court to defend the environment. This is the only way to make sure the environmental gains of the last 40 years are not lost, and the best way to protect people and the planet.
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More people in Scotland believe climate change is real than in England, according to a new survey.

A poll by ComRes, commissioned by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), found 64 per cent of people thought global warming was happening and was primarily caused by human activity, such as burning fossil fuels.

In Scotland 69 per cent of respondents agreed this was true, compared to 67 per cent in Wales and 63 per cent in England.

Within England, London had the largest share of the population who think climate change is real on 71 per cent, compared to the lowest figure of 57 per cent in the North East.

There was also a clear age-related pattern with 73 per cent of 18-24-year-olds backing the scientific consensus compared to just over half (54 per cent) of those aged 65 or over.

Some 34 per cent of the older age group said climate change was happening, but humans were not actually responsible for it.

Very few people of any age group thought climate change was not happening at all, ranging from two to five per cent.

The overall figure of 64 per cent shows growing support for the idea that humans are causing the planets climate to change, up from 57 per cent in 2014 and 59 per cent in 2015, when ComRes asked the same questions.

Andrew Hawkins, chairman of ComRes, said: Over just three years there has been a discernible shift in public opinion towards acceptance that climate change is both happening and mainly caused by human activity.

Seven in ten now believe that almost all, or a majority, of climate scientists believe the same.

The significance of this is that the public are becoming increasingly willing to see polluting energy sources phased out, to adopt alternative technologies and accept public policy changes to shift behaviour.

Professor Joanna Haigh, co-director of the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London, welcomed the news that the public realised that global warming is happening.

For people who have worked on climate change for decades, the finding that people recognise the sheer weight of scientific evidence is extremely heartening, she said.

But as the climate system sends increasingly urgent signals of the stress it is coming under, this understanding must be turned into action to address to the problem.

We have the means to avoid the very worst impacts of climate change, and create a cleaner, healthier society  all it takes is the will.

The ComRes survey also found that harm to wildlife and nature and an increase in flooding were key concerns for the majority of British people (80 per cent and 73 per cent respectively).

Three in five are concerned about an increase in variation of availability and price of some foods.

10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Show all 10 1 /10 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A group of emperor penguins face a crack in the sea ice, near McMurdo Station, Antarctica Kira Morris 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Floods destroyed eight bridges and ruined crops such as wheat, maize and peas in the Karimabad valley in northern Pakistan, a mountainous region with many glaciers. In many parts of the world, glaciers have been in retreat, creating dangerously large lakes that can cause devastating flooding when the banks break. Climate change can also increase rainfall in some areas, while bringing drought to others. Hira Ali 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Smoke  filled with the carbon that is driving climate change  drifts across a field in Colombia. Sandra Rondon 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Amid a flood in Islampur, Jamalpur, Bangladesh, a woman on a raft searches for somewhere dry to take shelter. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable places in the world to sea level rise, which is expected to make tens of millions of people homeless by 2050. Probal Rashid 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Sindh province in Pakistan has experienced a grim mix of two consequences of climate change. Because of climate change either we have floods or not enough water to irrigate our crop and feed our animals, says the photographer. Picture clearly indicates that the extreme drought makes wide cracks in clay. Crops are very difficult to grow. Rizwan Dharejo 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Hanna Petursdottir examines a cave inside the Svinafellsjokull glacier in Iceland, which she said had been growing rapidly. Since 2000, the size of glaciers on Iceland has reduced by 12 per cent. Tom Schifanella 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A river once flowed along the depression in the dry earth of this part of Bangladesh, but it has disappeared amid rising temperatures. Abrar Hossain 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A shepherd moves his herd as he looks for green pasture near the village of Sirohi in Rajasthan, northern India. The region has been badly affected by heatwaves and drought, making local people nervous about further predicted increases in temperature. Riddhima Singh Bhati 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A factory in China is shrouded by a haze of air pollution. The World Health Organisation has warned such pollution, much of which is from the fossil fuels that cause climate change, is a public health emergency. Leung Ka Wa 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Water levels in reservoirs, like this one in Gers, France, have been getting perilously low in areas across the world affected by drought, forcing authorities to introduce water restrictions. Mahtuf Ikhsan

Marylyn Haines Evans, of the National Federation of Women's Institutes (NFWI), agreed that climate change was a growing concern.

Like the rest of the British public, WI members are becoming increasingly concerned both about the impact that climate change is having now, and that it will have on our children and grandchildren, she said.

The loss of British wildlife and the impact on our countryside is one of their biggest worries. Increased risk of flooding, and the impact the changes to the climate can have on the cost of food, also highlight how the problem is becoming all too real to British people.

ComRes interviewed 2,045 British adults online on 1 and 2 February. The survey and data table can be found at www.comres.co.uk.
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Handsome felon Jeremy Meeks became an internet sensation back in 2014 when his police mugshot went viral.

Fast-forward three years and hes made his New York Fashion Week debut on the runway for Philipp Plein.

The 33-year-old was arrested in February 2014 and sentenced to 27 months in prison for possessing an illegal firearm but, after his photo was shared on Facebook, he gained a huge following.

Thousands of swooning replies and hashtags later, the ex-convict signed a modelling contract before being released from prison and is now represented by London model management agency SUPA.

I want to thank my family and everybody for all your love, support and prayers, he said after signing.

I'm overwhelmed and grateful for what lies ahead.

Yesterday, Jeremy made it to the runway at New York Fashion Week for the first time, walking for Philipp Pleins first show in the US.

Jeremy Meeks: 'Handsome felon' in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Jeremy Meeks: 'Handsome felon' in pictures Jeremy Meeks: 'Handsome felon' in pictures Jeremy Meeks Jeremy Meeks: 'Handsome felon' in pictures Jeremy Meeks Jeremy Meeks: 'Handsome felon' in pictures Jeremy Meeks Jeremy Meeks: 'Handsome felon' in pictures Jeremy Meeks Jeremy Meeks: 'Handsome felon' in pictures Jeremy Meeks Jeremy Meeks: 'Handsome felon' in pictures Jeremy Meeks Jeremy Meeks: 'Handsome felon' in pictures Jeremy Meeks Jeremy Meeks: 'Handsome felon' in pictures Jeremy Meeks Jeremy Meeks: 'Handsome felon' in pictures Jeremy Meeks Jeremy Meeks: 'Handsome felon' in pictures Jeremy Meeks

Hosted at New Yorks landmark Public Library, the model was joined by American rappers Young Thug, Desiigner and Fetty Wap for a collection that featured people dressed as Statues of Liberty, Elvis impersonators and Times Squares famous naked cowboy.

Last seasons catwalk cameo, Paris Hilton sat front row this time round with none other than Madonna, Kylie Jenner and Tiffany Trump.
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When Madeline Stuart first walked a catwalk show at New York Fashion Week in 2015, she made instant headlines becoming the first ever professional adult model with Downs Syndrome.

Fast forward two years and 20-year-old, Australian-born Madeline has launched her very own fashion label.

Recommended Everything you need to know about London Fashion Week

In a bid to further change perceptions of people with disabilities she returned to New York Fashion Week on Sunday with her new brand, 21 Reasons Why by Madeline Stuart.

Wearing blue patterned leggings, the model-come-designer kicked off the show on the Art Hearts Fashion runway, where she was joined by several other international designers who were showcasing their new collections.

The collection, described as mirroring her own daily style, was a contemporary take on trendy daywear with short flared skirts, crop tops and t-shirts and will be sold exclusively online.

The name of the label, 21 Reasons Why, was inspired by Madelines passion for inclusivity within the fashion world and the pride she insists upon in her 21st chromosome.

This wont be the models last foray on the runway though.

Before heading back to Australia next year Madeline will walk in a number of designer shows including PromGirl and Norish Kareem.
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Donald Trump might still be using his unsecured Android phone and putting the country at risk, according to two senators.

As President, Mr Trump is expected to use a secure, encrypted and locked down phone so that his communications can remain secret. But there are doubts that he is actually doing so, with rumours that he is still staying in touch with contacts using the phone that he had before he took office.

"Did Trump receive a secured, encrypted smartphone for his personal use on or before Jan. 20? If so, is he using it?" Senator Tom Carper wrote in a tweet. Mr Carper, alongside with fellow Democrat Claire McCaskill, wrote a letter to the Trump administration asking for more information about what phone Mr Trump is using.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

"Trump should be well aware by now of the appropriate and necessary protocol to safeguard our nation's secrets," he wrote.

The two Senators wrote to Defense Secretary James Mattis along with Homeland Security chief John Kelly and the National Security Agency director Michael Rogers and made the same letter available to the public.

It voices concern that Mr Trump appears to still be using his old Android device  potentially to post his tweets, since the phone usually issued to president's is understood to be far more locked down. His Android phone could be several years old and so lacking important security updates, according to reports.

Mr Trump was given his new secure phone at the same time as his inauguration, apparently by the Secret Service. But reports including from the New York Times have suggested that he continues to breach protocol and so make his communications liable to hacking.

"While it is important for the president to have the ability to communicate electronically, it is equally important that he does so in a manner that is secure and that ensures the preservation of presidential records," the letter said.

"The national security risks of compromising a smartphone used by a senior government official, such as the president of the United States, are considerable."

As well as asking whether Mr Trump is using the secure phone, the two senators asked for further information about what his personal device was. They also asked for detail information on what measures had been put in place to protect his phone, and whether the Secret Service and the NSA were part of that process.

The two senators also want to know whether the device is in compliance with the Presidential Records Act. That is an important law that requires details of a president's communications to be kept  and might already have been broken by Mr Trump's propensity to delete his tweets when they feature an error.

If the phone is easy to hack, then it would immediately become "the most widely-prized device on the internet for hackers - and top of the target list for intelligence agencies around the world", according to security expert Graham Cluley. The concerns are "too important to ignore or dismiss as a political attack, rather than recognise it for the hacking threat it could potentially represent", he wrote.
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A passage in Philip Roths novel Nemesis describes the horror of catching polio in the US town of Newark in 1944, when outbreaks of the disease were common and each summer was spent in fear of infection.

Finally the cataclysm began  the monstrous headache, the enfeebling exhaustion, the severe nausea, the raging fever, the unbearable muscle ache, followed in another forty-eight hours by the paralysis, it says.

Polio, or poliomyelitis, has existed for millennia. There is ancient Egyptian art which depicts a victim of the disease with a frail, deformed limb, using a staff for support.

While the paralysing effects of polio have always been devastating, outbreaks of the disease were relatively rare in the West until the late 19th century, when major epidemics swept Europe and the US.

In Roths story, everyone knows what polio is but no one knows where it comes from or how it spreads, with everything from flies to fast food blamed for its rapid transmission.

In fact it is passed on through contact with faecal matter, by drinking contaminated water and eating food that has been touched by the unclean hands, and sometimes through coughs and sneezes.

A polio patient in an iron lung in 1938 (Getty) (Getty Images)

Once infected, the virus invades the nervous system and begins to destroy nerve cells which control the muscles, especially in the legs. If someone is paralysed by polio, there is a five to 10 per cent chance they will die when the disease reaches their respiratory system. There is no cure.

He was there for three weeks before he no longer needed catheterisation and enemas, and they moved him upstairs and began treatment with steamed woollen hot packs wrapped around his arms and legs, all of which were initially stricken, writes Roth, of one characters experience.

He underwent four torturous sessions of the hot packs a day, together lasting as long as four to six hours. Fortunately his respiratory muscles hadnt been affected, so he never had to be moved inside an iron lung to assist with his breathing, a prospect that he dreaded more than any other.

The iron lung was invented in 1928 by American physiologists Philip Drinker and Louis Shaw.

The huge ventilator, which left only the head visible, kept polio victims alive for a number of weeks while they recovered from the illness  but those left permanently paralysed could spend their whole lives encased in one.

Polio: iron lungs, leg braces and vaccination Show all 8 1 /8 Polio: iron lungs, leg braces and vaccination Polio: iron lungs, leg braces and vaccination A hospitalised child suffering from polio shows off his biceps to a doctor in 1947 Getty Images Polio: iron lungs, leg braces and vaccination Children being given an oral vaccine for polio, known then as infantile paralysis, in Hull during the 1961 epidemic Rex Features Polio: iron lungs, leg braces and vaccination A boy suffering from polio being treated with a type of 'iron lung' in hospital. A nurse operates the equipment at the end of the bed which controls the flow of air pressure Getty Images Polio: iron lungs, leg braces and vaccination A woman sees her new born baby whilst lying inside an iron lung as part of her treatment for Polio Getty Images Polio: iron lungs, leg braces and vaccination Polio victim Margaret Dixon watching the opening matches of the 1957 Wimbledon championships from her invalid chair Rex Features Polio: iron lungs, leg braces and vaccination Young children polio patients doing physiotherapy exercises wearing calipers against their outside beds at Wingfield Nuffield Orthopaedic hospital in Oxfordshire Rex Features Polio: iron lungs, leg braces and vaccination A five year old polio victim walks into the outstretched arms of Doctor George Deaver, faculty member of the New York University College of Medicine, during a demonstration at the Institute of Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine Getty Images Polio: iron lungs, leg braces and vaccination 6 May 1956: First injections for children against polio at the Hendon clinic Getty Images

Dawn Varma, a 20-year-old who was paralysed by polio when she was 10 weeks pregnant, even gave birth while she was in an iron lung.

A photograph from 1959 shows Ms Varma, the wife of an Indian scientist, inside the ventilator with a nurse tending to her healthy newborn baby, called Dilip.

In 1952, Jonas Salk developed an injectable polio vaccine and in 1961 Albert Sabin pioneered the oral vaccine drops, which had the advantage of spreading immunity through communities. These vaccines were highly effective, and cases in the US fell from 35,000 in 1953 to 5,300 in 1957.

Dawn Varma, who gave birth while inside an iron lung at the age of 20 (Rex) (Rex Features)

The new oral vaccine was approved for emergency use in Hull in 1961 when an epidemic hit the city, with parents taking their children to improvised immunisation centres in their thousands to be given sugar lumps with the vaccine.

The success of mass polio vaccination in the developed world led doctors and international humanitarian organisation Rotary International to consider its potential elsewhere.

John Sever, head of the infectious disease branch at the US National Institutes of Health and a Rotary member, in 1979 proposed the idea to the groups president, who wanted to develop a new project for Rotary that would involve the entire organisation.

He asked my opinion of what we could do, and I wrote him: If a single vaccine were to be selected, I would recommend poliomyelitis. At the time, less than half the children in the world were receiving any vaccine, Dr Sever told National Geographic.

At the time, there had just been the last cases of polio to occur in the United States, and smallpox had just been declared to be eradicated. So people felt it was possible, that we could aim to eradicate polio.

Dr Jonas Salk, who developed the injectable polio vaccine, in the lab with his assistant (Rex) (Rex Features)

He said soon afterwards, the legislative body that represents all Rotarians voted that we would make immunisation for the eradication of polio our number one priority throughout the world.

That same year, Dr Sever and several fellow Rotary members travelled to the Philippines, where with the support of the government and health industry, they immunised around six million children.

Recommended Suicide bomber kills at least 15 outside polio centre in Pakistan

Soon, the virus had been eradicated across the Americas  a remarkable feat that led Rotary International and the World Health Organisation to announce the goal of worldwide Polio eradication in 1988.

Now the disease is only endemic in three countries, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria, and there were just 37 cases last year. Optimistic health workers and organisations such as Rotary International say 2017 could be the year in which the world sees the last case of polio.

Serious challenges, including violent attacks on vaccinators by Islamists and poor routine immunisation coverage, remain.

But one day taking children to the doctor for polio vaccination drops may be a distant memory, and the long list of famous Polio survivors including Francis Ford Coppola, David Starkey and Mary Berry will fade into history.

 National Polio Immunisation Day in New Delhi, India

The hope generated by this possibility is summed up in Roths novel when the protagonist listens to his grandmother reminisce about diseases of the past.

His grandmother was remembering when whooping cough victims were required to wear armbands and how, before a vaccine was developed, the most dreaded disease in the city was diphtheria, it says.

She remembered getting one of the first smallpox vaccinations. The site of the injection had become seriously infected, and she had a large, uneven circle of scarred flesh on her upper right arm as a result. She pushed up the half-sleeve of her housedress and extended her arm to show it to everyone.
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There is a new taboo in the workplace: retirement. Age discrimination legislation and the abolition of the default retirement age means that companies are worried about talking to older workers about retiring, for fear of being accused of ageism. As ongoing research Im involved in has begun to show, this is helping nobody.

Governments in many countries are encouraging us to work for longer as we live longer, largely to rescue failing pension systems by continuing to pay tax and possibly save more for our retirement.

In the UK, recent policy changes have had an impact on how companies and their employees regard retirement. Age discrimination legislation made direct or indirect discrimination on the basis of age illegal in 2006 and this was followed by further legislation in 2011, which got rid of the default retirement age set at 65 years. This made it illegal to force someone to retire at a particular age.

The change was justified on the grounds that it gave people more choice and more scope to continue working if they wanted to. But, as the age at which you can get your state pension is also rising  to 66 from December 2018, with a further rise to 67 by 2028  for the lower paid, it may be less a choice and more a necessity to carry on working.

Wary of broaching the subject

You might expect that workplaces across the UK are full of people having conversations about their retirement. However, as part of a project, Uncertain Futures: Managing Late Career Transitions and Extended Working Life, my colleagues and I have undertaken work in five organisations in different sectors that suggests a very different picture. No one is talking to their employees about retirement for misguided fear of acting in a discriminating way.

As a human resources manager in local government told us: "We used to sort of institute discussions between the line manager and the individual sort of six to 12 months before they turned 65 to say, What are your intentions? As soon as that default retirement age was taken away we just left it to run its cause."

An idea that no one should mention retirement is taking hold. One employee in a large multinational manufacturing company told us: "I know theyre not allowed to come and discuss retirement and everything with me, or what my plans are, but no ones even come and said now youre 65, what do you want to do or is there something we can do for you?"

From the employers point of view, people need to come forward to resign. Another employee from the same company told us: Its now seen from the companys point of view that we dont actually retire, we leave.

Unintended consequences

In the organisations we have been studying, this reluctance to talk about retirement is causing problems on a number of different levels. From the management point of view, it makes human resource planning difficult. In a transport company we talked to, key skilled employees that keep the operation moving only have to give one months notice, but training up replacements can take a minimum of 18 months. The staff group is ageing, have good pensions and if large numbers decided to leave in a short space of time there would be severe skill shortages. A similar prospect was faced in a mineral extraction and processing company with an ageing workforce and considerable problems attracting younger workers into the industry.

The employees weve spoken to did want to talk about their retirement options but were not clear how to go about it. Nor did they see it as their role to initiate the conversation. Many people were interested in the idea of gradual retirement but relatively few believed that it would be available to them  it was cast as a rare option only available for certain roles.

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Following the abolition of the mandatory retirement age, one of the companies we spoke to had actually phased out an option that used to be available for a flexible reduction in hours up to retirement. But people needed guidance about various aspects of what they very much still saw as their retirement rather than their resignation.

There will be good line managers out there who know their staff and talk to them about their aspirations and intentions  but it certainly was not the norm in the cases we looked at. The message appears to be begin the retirement conversation earlier perhaps via a line manager as a part of an established staff review process. In order to make sure this happens smoothly, line managers need formal training in how to go about this.

While employees should not feel that they are being coerced, there are clear benefits for the employee and employer in planning for and managing the retirement process. Fear of being accused of ageism should not be an obstacle to the sensitive and appropriate discussion of retirement plans with older workers.

Sarah Vickerstaff, professor of work and employment, University of Kent. This article first appeared on The Conversation (theconversation.com)
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How have we reached the point where the US is set to spend $30 billion on Valentine's Day?

It all goes back to a mysterious, third century saint who suffered a brutal fate.

St. Valentine of Terni was martyred in 269 C.E. (or somewhere around then  it kind of depends on what martyrology you're reading). According to legend, the Roman physician and priest was beaten, stoned, and beheaded for the crimes of marrying Christian couples ... and possibly attempting to convert Emperor Claudius II.

Thanks to the marital angle of his story, Valentine became the patron saint of love, young people, and marriages (and also of plague, epilepsy, and beekeepers).

The cartoons that perfectly sum up relationships Show all 10 1 /10 The cartoons that perfectly sum up relationships The cartoons that perfectly sum up relationships Catana Chetwynd The cartoons that perfectly sum up relationships Catana Chetwynd The cartoons that perfectly sum up relationships Catana Chetwynd The cartoons that perfectly sum up relationships Catana Chetwynd The cartoons that perfectly sum up relationships Catana Chetwynd The cartoons that perfectly sum up relationships Catana Chetwynd The cartoons that perfectly sum up relationships Catana Chetwynd The cartoons that perfectly sum up relationships Catana Chetwynd The cartoons that perfectly sum up relationships Catana Chetwynd The cartoons that perfectly sum up relationships Catana Chetwynd

His February 14 feast day was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 C.E. There's disagreement amongst historians about whether the holiday was meant to replace the pagan fertility festival Lupercalia.

Either way, as time went on, more romantic connotations came to be associated with the saint. One legend has Valentine befriending (or falling in love with) the blind daughter of a judge (or his jailer  again, it depends). He supposedly wrote her secret letters signed "from your Valentine" and then restored her sight from beyond the grave.

As the cult of courtly love spread across Europe in the Middle Ages, an even more romantic light was cast upon mid-February. As the Folklore Society notes, Geoffrey Chaucer mentions Valentine's Day and describes February as the time "when every fowl cometh there to chose his mate" (although the blog Got Medieval asserts that the poet didn't invent Valentine's Day and it was already likely associated with love by the time he referenced it).

So, we know how Valentine's Day came to be seen as the most romantic day of the year. However, the truth is, we don't know much about St. Valentine himself. There are eleven Valentines commemorated by the Catholic Church, and there were at least two other St. Valentines who lived around the time of St. Valentine of Terni. Because his origins are so obscure, he was actually removed from the General Roman Calendar by the Roman Catholic Church in 1969 (but he's still technically considered a saint).

So, don't feel bad if you have a crummy Valentine's Day. It (hopefully) won't be worse than getting killed, confused with other people, and kicked off the general liturgical calendar  which is what actually happened to the real St. Valentine.

Read more:

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Read the original article on Business Insider UK.  2016. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter.
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February 14 is the day marked for lovers in many countries around the world, but in Wales there is another date traditionally associated with romance: St Dwynwens Day, January 25.

Dwynwen  pronounced [dnwn]  was the daughter of an early medieval king who became the Welsh patron saint of lovers. As you might expect, she has her own love story  although its not quite what we today would consider a romantic one.

As the earliest version of her tale goes, Dwynwen was deeply in love with a young man called Maelon Dafodrill, but when she rebuffed his premarital sexual advances, he became enraged and left her. Saddened and fearful, Dwynwen prayed to God, and soon enough her former suitors ardour was decisively cooled  he was turned into a block of ice. And for rejecting Maelons untimely advances, God allowed Dwynwen three wishes.

Her first wish was that Maelon should be defrosted at once. The second was that her prayers on behalf of all true-hearted lovers should be heard, so that they should either obtain the objects of their affection, or be cured of their passion. Her final wish was that she should never have to marry; she is said to have ended her life as a nun at the isolated church named after her, Llanddwyn, on the island of Anglesey.

Creating a legend

Although it echoes other medieval saints lives, Dwynwens story only appeared for the first time in the writings of the self-taught polymath Edward Williams (1747-1826), better known by his bardic name Iolo Morganwg. Now Morganwg, depending on your point of view, was either a creative literary genius or a shameless forger. Either way, it seems certain that Dwynwens story is not medieval at all, but rather a product of Morganwgs vivid imagination.

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However, Dwynwen may well have been a real woman: she is mentioned in early genealogies as one of the numerous saintly daughters of the semi-legendary fifth-century king, Brychan Brycheiniog. Part of a Latin mass from the early 16th century states that she walked on water from Ireland to escape the clutches of the Welsh king Maelgwn Gwynedd  although fleeing to Ireland might have been a better plan.

Our knowledge of the cult of Dwynwen is mainly based on two Welsh-language poems. The most famous was composed by medieval Waless greatest poet, Dafydd ap Gwilym, around the middle of the 14th century, and was certainly known to Morganwg. In it, the amorous poet calls for Dwynwens assistance as a llatai, or love-messenger, for him and his married lover Morfudd. Aware that his actions are, to say the least, morally dubious, Dafydd promises the saint that she wont lose her place in heaven by helping the lovers. Indeed, ensuring that his back is at least metaphorically covered, he also calls on God himself to keep Morfudds interfering husband from interrupting the lovers in their woodland trysts.

The other poem, by the priest-poet Dafydd Trefor, dates from around 1500 and describes the pilgrims that thronged to her church to see her image and to seek restoration from her holy wells. Their offerings ensured that the church grew wealthy, although Dwynwens fame  inevitably  receded after the Reformation. But she never slipped into complete obscurity.

Modern reworkings

Dwynwens re-emergence began in earnest when extracts from Morganwgs manuscripts were published with English translations in 1848. As a result, her story slowly but surely gained a foothold in the Welsh imagination. In 1886, for instance, composer Joseph Parry wrote the music for Dwynwen, a rousing chorus for male voice choirs. And in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Welsh newspapers in both languages would occasionally relate the story of the Celtic Venus.

In the 1960s, as the commercialisation of St Valentines Day continued apace, the first St Dwynwens Day cards were produced in Wales. Yet, unlike her ice-melting prototype, the modern Dwynwen proved to be a slow burner. Indeed, by 1993 a commentator stated that attempts to create a Dwynwen tradition were withering away.

The church of Llanddwynwen or Llanddwyn in the 18th Century (National Library of Wales)

But in the current century St Dwynwens Day is once more flourishing, bolstered by the media and the same kind of special offers that you see around St Valentines Day. And although St Dwynwens Day is more familiar to those who speak Welsh than to those who dont, even this is slowly changing.

Does it say something about the passion of the Welsh that they have two days for lovers, Valentine  Ffolant as he is known in Welsh  and Dwynwen? Probably not. But the relationship between the two is revealingly ambivalent.

St Dwynwens day is in part a protest against the globalising commercialisation of St Valentines Day. But its also an attempt to find a place in the same marketplace for a distinctively Welsh product. It certainly shouldnt be seen as a repackaging of St Valentines Day for a Welsh audience  that would be like marketing St David as the St George of Wales.

If you should ever find yourself in Wales on January 25, do make the most of the opportunity to follow your hearts desires. The only advice Id give you is this: dont call Dwynwen the Welsh Valentine.

Dylan Foster Evans, reader in Welsh language and literature, Cardiff University. This article first appeared on The Conversation (theconversation.com)
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Lloyds Banking Group is close to selecting Berlin as a European base to secure market access to the European Union when Britain leaves the bloc, sources told Reuters.

Britain's largest mortgage lender is examining steps to turn its branch in the German capital into a subsidiary and may apply for a licence to do so later this year, the sources said.

Lloyds, which declined to comment, is the only major British retail lender without a subsidiary in another EU country and it would be the first major lender to commit to Berlin as a hub to access the rest of the continent after Britain quits the EU.

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Many other European banks are considering Frankfurt, the countrys main financial hub and the home of the European Central Bank, as the preferred destination.

Lloyds, which has almost all of its assets in Britain, has been examining how to retain its EU clients and maintain access to the European payments system.

Banks are expected to announce more concrete plans for how they will adapt to Brexit in the coming months after Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed in a speech in January that Britain would leave the European single market.

For Lloyds, the German capitals appeal is that it already has the banks main European hub with a full management team in place, including the finance, risk and human resources staff required of a full subsidiary.

Therefore, in terms of staff, the Berlin branch would only need to change the status of those roles to meet legal requirements for a subsidiary, rather than having to transfer more people, according to one of the sources.

Lloyds operates in Germany via the Bank of Scotland brand, which it acquired in 2008 as part of the takeover of HBOS and would still likely need to capitalise the new entity in line with regulatory requirements, the sources said.

Franz von L'Estocq, the managing director for Bank of Scotland in Germany, is based in Berlin, where the bank offers savings accounts, private banking and consumer and car loans.

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The bank had previously explored setting up a subsidiary in both Frankfurt and Amsterdam.

Last month UBS and HSBC, two of Europe's biggest banks, warned they could each move around 1,000 jobs out of London in the clearest sign yet of how financial firms are preparing for the disruption.
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An explosion in the number of people in insecure employment is costing the Government 4bn a year, according to a new report published on Tuesday.

The sharp rise in the number of people working without guaranteed hours or basic employment rights, such as sick pay, holiday pay and a guaranteed minimum wage, has lowered the income tax and National Insurance take, the TUC found.

Self-employed workers also earn significantly less on average than salaried employees so are more likely to rely on in-work benefits such as tax credits and housing benefits, the TUC said.

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The rise in low-paid self-employment accounts for just over half of the 75m-per-week bill, with the surge in those working zero-hour contracts responsible for the other half. The amount is equivalent to a quarter of Englands social care budget.

The report warns the problem could get worse if current trends continue. Insecure working has grown by more than a quarter over the past five years and now accounts for 1 in 10 (3.1 million) UK workers.

TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: The huge rise in insecure work isn't just bad for workers, it's punching a massive hole in the public finances too.

Zero-hours contracts and low-paid self-employment are costing the economy billions every year in lost tax revenues. That's money that could be spent on stopping the crisis in our schools and hospitals and making sure every elderly person gets decent care.

Bosses who employ staff on shady contracts are cheating all of us.

Ms OGrady urged people to join unions to combat the issue. Workers in unionised workplaces are twice as likely to be on better-paid secure contracts.

The news comes as the Government launches an independent review into whether employment regulation and practices are keeping pace with the changing world of work.

Matthew Taylor, Tony Blairs former policy chief, was appointed to lead the review in October last year and on Tuesday began a nationwide tour at the Google campus in London before visiting Belfast, Cardiff, Nottingham, Maidstone and Glasgow.

A slew of recent court cases have put the gig economy under scrutiny. On Friday, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of Pimlico Plumbers, which had claimed it did not need to pay one of its workers sick pay because he was self-employed.

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The plumber, Gary Smith, had been working for Pimlico for six years, ostensibly as a contractor.

In October 2016, a London employment tribunal found ruled that Ubers contracts with its drivers resorted to fictions, twisted language, and even brand new terminology, in order to present drivers as indirect contractors rather than workers.

Judges said the notion that Uber in London is a mosaic of 30,000 small businesses linked by a common 'platform' is in our minds faintly ridiculous, adding that Uber's arguments were absurd.
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The independent review headed by Matthew Taylor into the rights of self-employed and gig-economy workers has terms of reference from the Government that prevent it from recommending that the Treasury close loopholes in the tax system.

However, Mr Taylor has told The Independent, that his report will nevertheless not shy away from highlighting the issue of tax and that he believes the Treasury is moving in the direction of reform in any case.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies has highlighted that the current National Insurance system makes it considerably less expensive for employers to take on a self-employed contractor rather than a full-time employee.

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And new analysis by the Trade Union Congress estimates that the sharp rise in self-employment in recent years, to 15 per cent of the workforce, is effectively costing the Government around 2bn a year in revenues.

Were not empowered to make tax recommendations but we are looking at why we have the model of work we have and it is clear that part of what drives this is the tax advantages of self-employed status, Mr Taylor told The Independent, as he launched his reviews regional tour at the Google Campus in east London.

Its not frustrating and the main reason is that the Chancellor himself has flagged this up in the Autumn Statement. The Treasury is doing work on it. This is not something where Im lobbing missiles at the Treasury and saying you need to think about this.

In the Autumn Statement in November the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, announced that the Government would clamp down on the self-employed using disguised remuneration avoidance schemes.

At the same time, the Office for Budget Responsibility highlighted the threats to the tax take from the rising trend of self-employed individuals to create their own companies, which pay a lower rate of tax on income than individuals.

Greg Marsh, an entrepreneur and member of the Taylor committees expert panel, also said the issue of tax loopholes would not be ignored.

Tax arbitrage is not a good way to run a company[but] while there remains a perverse incentive in the tax system, economic actors will use them, he said.

Some 40 per cent of all the 2.2 million jobs created since 2008 have been self-employed. And the typical self-employed worker is estimated to earn 20 per cent less than they did two decades ago according to research by the Resolution Foundation.

The self-employment jobs boom

A non-tax related proposal under active consideration by the Taylor committee is the creation of an official questionnaire website that enlightens someone over their true employment status - whether employee, worker or self-employed  and then shifts the onus onto the employer to disprove it, rather than the worker having to go to court.

Mr Taylor, the head of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce think tank and a former head of the Downing Street policy unit under Tony Blair, conceded that making such a system trusted would be problematic, not least checking that people are filling in their details accurately or honestly.

But he added: We live in a world of machine learning and AI [artificial intelligence]. It shouldnt be beyond our whit to develop a reasonably flexible tool that you can update and which give people pretty reliable information.

New economy firms such as the cab-hailing app Uber and the food delivery firm Deliveroo have been accused by campaigners and some workers of dodging their legal and financial responsibilities to their workforce by designating them as self-employed contractors, rather than employees, meaning they miss out on holiday pay, the minimum wage and pension contributions.

The Court of Appeal ruled last week that a self-employed contractor working for Pimlico Plumbers had, in fact, been a worker.

Business news: In pictures Show all 13 1 /13 Business news: In pictures Business news: In pictures Flybe collapses Airline Flybe has collapsed. All future flights on the Exeter-based airline have been cancelled  leaving more than 2,300 staff facing an uncertain future, and wrecking the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers. The chief executive, Mark Anderson, said: Europes largest independent regional airline has been unable to overcome significant funding challenges to its business. AFP via Getty Business news: In pictures Future product placement will be 'tailored to individual viewers' Marketing executives say that product placement in films and televison shows on streaming services such as Netflix may be tailored to individuals in future. For instance, if data shows that a viewer is a fan of pepsi, a billboard in the background of a shot would host an advert for pepsi, while for a viewer known to have different tastes it could be for Coca-Cola Paramount Business news: In pictures Corbyn wishes Amazon a happy birthday In a card sent to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on the company's 25th birthday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn writes: "You owe the British people millions in taxes that pay for the public services that we all rely on. Please pay your fair share" Business news: In pictures No deal, no tariffs The government has announced that it would slash almost all tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Notable exceptions include cars and meat, which will see tariffs in place to protect British farmers Getty Business news: In pictures Fingerprint payment NatWest is trialling a new bank card that will allow people to touch their hand to the card when paying rather than typing in a PIN number. The card will work by recognising the user's fingerprint NatWest/PA Wire Business news: In pictures Mahabis bust High-end slipper retailer Mahabis has gone into administration. 2 Jan 2019 Mahabis Business news: In pictures Costa Cola Coca-Cola has paid 3.9bn for Costa Coffee. A cafe chain is a new venture for the global soft drinks giant PA Business news: In pictures RIP Payday Loans A funeral procession for payday loans was held in London on September 2. The future of pay day lenders is in doubt after Wonga, Britain's biggest, went into administration on August 30 PA Business news: In pictures Musk irks investors and directors Elon Musk has concluded that Tesla will remain public. Investors and company directors were angry at Musk for tweeting unexpectedly that he was considering taking Tesla private and share prices had taken a tumble in the following weeks Getty Business news: In pictures Jaguar warning Iconic British car maker Jaguar Land Rover warned on July 5, 2018 that a "bad" Brexit deal could jeopardise planned investment of more than $100 billion, upping corporate pressure as the government heads into crucial talks AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures Spotif-IPO Spotify traded publically for the first time on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday. However, the company isn't issuing shares, but rather, shares held by Spotify's private investors will be sold AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures French blue passports The deadline to award a contract to make blue British passports after Brexit has been extended by two weeks following a request by bidder De La Rue. The move comes after anger at the announcement British passports would be produced by Franco-Dutch firm Gemalto when De La Rues contract ends in July. The British firm said Gemalto was chosen only because it undercut the competition, but the UK company also admitted that it was not the cheapest choice in the tendering process. Business news: In pictures Beast from the east economic impact The Beast from the East wiped 4m off of Flybes revenues due to flight cancellations, airport closures and delays, according to the budget airlines estimates. Flybe said it cancelled 994 flights in the three months to 31 March, compared to 372 in the same period last year.

Mr Taylor said he had already had talks with Uber and Deliveroo.

Businesses always want to pay as little tax as they can and Im sure if we make broad recommendations on the direction of travel on tax or employment which increases the burdens for them they wont be happy about that, he said.

On the other hand they also say to me what we want is clarity we are creative entrepreneurs. Help us to know what the law is, what the expectations are so we can design our business model around the rule. I dont think were going to make everyone happy but if we do make things clearer for people it will be good for workers and also good for business.

Mr Taylor was commissioned by Prime Minister Theresa May to lead the review last October.

The regional tour will also visit Maidstone, Coventry and Glasgow to take evidence from employees and employers.

The two other members of the Taylor panel are Paul Broadbent, the chief executive of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, and Diane Nicol, an employment lawyer.

The final report is due to be delivered in the summer.
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Shares in British engine maker Rolls-Royce tumbled on Tuesday after the group reported a 4.6bn pre-tax loss for 2016  one of the largest losses in its corporate history  plagued by a bribery fine and tough market conditions on account of the tumbling pound in the wake of the UKs EU referendum.

The company, whose customers include airlines, armed forces and navies in more than 150 countries, said that underlying revenue fell 2 per cent at constant exchange rates for the full-year and underlying profit before tax slumped by 49 per cent. Shares were more than 5 per cent lower shortly before midday in London.

Rolls-Royce, which has also struggled recently with a slowdown in high-margin aircraft engine servicing, has endured a turbulent few years, prompting chief executive Warren East to implement an ambitious turnaround programme and restructure the company. Last month Rolls-Royce said that it had agreed to pay 671m to British, US and Brazilian authorities to settle bribery and corruption claims.

As I set out in November last year, it is now time to look further ahead, Mr East said on Tuesday. Over the next few months we will conclude our review of our strengths and investment opportunities and set out an appropriate vision for the business and the best way we can deliver sustainable shareholder value.

He said that the companys priority was now to focus on key milestones and ensure that a wide-ranging business transformation programme delivers the full benefits expected, not only in terms of cost savings but also the cultural and behavioural changes necessary to ensure the transformation is sustained and high standards of business conduct are maintained.

Mr Warren said that these are essential if we are to become a more trusted, resilient company".

Business news: In pictures Show all 13 1 /13 Business news: In pictures Business news: In pictures Flybe collapses Airline Flybe has collapsed. All future flights on the Exeter-based airline have been cancelled  leaving more than 2,300 staff facing an uncertain future, and wrecking the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers. The chief executive, Mark Anderson, said: Europes largest independent regional airline has been unable to overcome significant funding challenges to its business. AFP via Getty Business news: In pictures Future product placement will be 'tailored to individual viewers' Marketing executives say that product placement in films and televison shows on streaming services such as Netflix may be tailored to individuals in future. For instance, if data shows that a viewer is a fan of pepsi, a billboard in the background of a shot would host an advert for pepsi, while for a viewer known to have different tastes it could be for Coca-Cola Paramount Business news: In pictures Corbyn wishes Amazon a happy birthday In a card sent to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on the company's 25th birthday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn writes: "You owe the British people millions in taxes that pay for the public services that we all rely on. Please pay your fair share" Business news: In pictures No deal, no tariffs The government has announced that it would slash almost all tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Notable exceptions include cars and meat, which will see tariffs in place to protect British farmers Getty Business news: In pictures Fingerprint payment NatWest is trialling a new bank card that will allow people to touch their hand to the card when paying rather than typing in a PIN number. The card will work by recognising the user's fingerprint NatWest/PA Wire Business news: In pictures Mahabis bust High-end slipper retailer Mahabis has gone into administration. 2 Jan 2019 Mahabis Business news: In pictures Costa Cola Coca-Cola has paid 3.9bn for Costa Coffee. A cafe chain is a new venture for the global soft drinks giant PA Business news: In pictures RIP Payday Loans A funeral procession for payday loans was held in London on September 2. The future of pay day lenders is in doubt after Wonga, Britain's biggest, went into administration on August 30 PA Business news: In pictures Musk irks investors and directors Elon Musk has concluded that Tesla will remain public. Investors and company directors were angry at Musk for tweeting unexpectedly that he was considering taking Tesla private and share prices had taken a tumble in the following weeks Getty Business news: In pictures Jaguar warning Iconic British car maker Jaguar Land Rover warned on July 5, 2018 that a "bad" Brexit deal could jeopardise planned investment of more than $100 billion, upping corporate pressure as the government heads into crucial talks AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures Spotif-IPO Spotify traded publically for the first time on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday. However, the company isn't issuing shares, but rather, shares held by Spotify's private investors will be sold AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures French blue passports The deadline to award a contract to make blue British passports after Brexit has been extended by two weeks following a request by bidder De La Rue. The move comes after anger at the announcement British passports would be produced by Franco-Dutch firm Gemalto when De La Rues contract ends in July. The British firm said Gemalto was chosen only because it undercut the competition, but the UK company also admitted that it was not the cheapest choice in the tendering process. Business news: In pictures Beast from the east economic impact The Beast from the East wiped 4m off of Flybes revenues due to flight cancellations, airport closures and delays, according to the budget airlines estimates. Flybe said it cancelled 994 flights in the three months to 31 March, compared to 372 in the same period last year.

But Tuesday's results were not as bad as some had expected. Underlying profit beat the average forecast by analysts in a Reuters poll.

The outlook for 2017 is for modest progress with cash flow guided to be a similar level to 2016, said Andy Chambers, an analyst at Edison Investment Research.

This is starting to feel a lot better than the depressing commentaries that surrounded the stock a year ago.

Neil Wilson, a market analyst at ETX Capital, said that the company chalked up one of the biggest losses in corporate history, but its not as bad as it looks.

He said that if the effects of the slumping pound and bribery settlement were stripped out, then the earnings figures did not disappoint.

There are lots of questions for the business about where its going, but this huge loss shouldnt blind investors to some solid fundamentals.
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Plans for a multibillion-pound British nuclear power project in Cumbria could be at risk of falling apart as Japanese conglomerate Toshiba, which owns a majority stake in the group tasked with developing the project, struggles with mounting financial woes.

It had been hoped that the 10bn Moorside Nuclear Power Station, located near Sellafield, would bring more than 20,000 jobs to the region.

Recommended Toshiba chairman quits after huge losses

But Toshiba on Tuesday said that it was on track to report a net loss of 390bn yen ($3.4 bn, 2.71 bn) in the current fiscal year to March, prompting Chairman Shigenori Shiga to step down and leaving the future of the power station in down.

The Japanese conglomerate owns a 60 per cent stake in NuGen, the company which has the contract to build the Moorside plant. Unions on Tuesday called for urgent clarity from the Government on the project.

Chris Jukes, a regional political officer for the GMB trade union, said that West Cumbria needs the regeneration that would stem from new plant.

In terms of Moorside, this potential new build is part of a broader and home-grown energy mix, built, maintained and operated by 20,000 British workers, he said.

Mr Jukes said new infrastructure, better railways, demand for housing, health and school places, would all follow a brand new power plant.

All of these can fuel employment and keep skills in the area. Uncertainty over the Toshiba deal shows exactly why foreign investors shouldn't be left to keep Britain's lights on, he added.

Kevin Coyne, an officer for trade union Unite, said Toshiba's announcement is potentially a deeply troubling development and points to the need for the Government to take a more strategic approach in bringing new nuclear power stations on stream.

Rebecca Long-Bailey, the shadow business secretary, said the Government's energy policy was in chaos.

We have become increasingly reliant on the decisions of foreign companies whose interests lie with their owners and not British consumers, she said.

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Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the UK Nuclear Industry Association, said: Building new nuclear capacity in west Cumbria is an integral part of the UK being able to replace old power stations, keeping a balanced mix as carbon emissions are reduced. This is a vital part of our country's energy future.

NuGen said on Tuesday that it remains committed to the multi-billion-pound project. and that it has made significant progress since Toshiba took over as major shareholder in 2014.

The UK Government is committed to new nuclear as an important part of our energy mix, Business and Energy Secreatery Greg Clark said.

Toshiba itself has been more ambiguous.

Last month, Satoshi Tsunakawa, chief executive of Toshiba confirmed it is reviewing its involvement in overseas project: Going forward, we will revise the positioning of the nuclear business as our main focus business in the energy sector, and review the future of nuclear businesses outside Japan.
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Donald Trump's administration has not contacted the head of the United Nations' atomic agency or others about their criticism of the Iran nuclear deal, he said.

Yukiya Amano, the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said that his organisation was "in constant touch" with the US, but had yet to hear from the new administration on their concerns.

He said: "I'm expecting to have direct contact with the new administration very soon."

During his presidential campaign, Mr Trump said he wanted to renegotiate the Iran deal, without elaborating.

The accord limits Iran's ability to enrich uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

Mr Amano was in Dubai as part of the annual World Government Summit.

The deal, which is formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was struck between the European Union, China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK, the US and Iran.

 Iran nuclear deal, a year on

Under the agreement, Iran suspended and dismantled a large part of its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of many  but not all  sanctions against the country.

Iran conducted another ballistic missile earlier this month prompting the Trump administration into imposing new economic sanctions against Iran.

Afterwards, the US President tweeted, "Iran, #1 in terror", and questioned how the 2015 agreement was ever signed.
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The Government faces embarrassment at a key Nato summit tomorrow after an analysis warned the UK is no longer meeting the alliances spending target.

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon is due to head to Brussels for a Nato defence ministers meeting just 24 hours after the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) said Britain was no longer spending two per cent of GDP on defence.

The calculations are particularly key as Theresa May promised Donald Trump just last month that she would encourage other European countries to meet the alliances target  in exchange for his 100 per cent commitment to Nato.

Recommended Britain could lose senior Nato position to France after Brexit

Sir Michaels meeting would have been a key opportunity for the Government to encourage the spending targets. The warnings that the UK itself is not meeting the target are likely pull the rug out from under the UKs position, however.

Two influential Conservative select committee chairs with oversight of international affairs and defence said the Government needed to re-think its approach.

The UK was previously one of just five Nato countries to meet the target, but now, along with Poland, it has fallen below the line. Now only the United States, Estonia and Greece meet the spending pledge.

US President Donald Trump said during his election campaign that the US should consider not coming to the military aid of countries that were not meeting the two per cent target.

In its regular briefing The Military Balance the IISS said the UK was now spending just 1.98 per cent of GDP. This amounts to a 380m shortfall, they said.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence rejected the figures.

These figures are wrong: NATOs own figures clearly show that the UK spends over two per cent of its GDP on defence, he said.

Our defence budget is the biggest in Europe, the second largest in NATO, and it is growing each year as we invest 178bn in new equipment and the UK steps up globally, with new ships, submarines and aircraft over the next decade.

Nia Griffith, Labours shadow Defence Secretary, said the Government had changed its accounting methods to give the illusion of keeping the commitment. She branded the breach utterly unacceptable.

This report exposes the Governments complete and shocking failure to maintain its commitment on defence spending to our Armed Forces and to the country, she said.

Just weeks after the Prime Minister was lecturing our allies about increasing spending to meet the two per cent Nato commitment, it is now clear that her Government is unwilling to commit the necessary resources to our nations defences.

As the Defence Select Committee has shown, the MoD was already barely scraping over the two per cent mark and had changed its accounting methods to give the illusion of keeping the commitment. To be spending less than two per cent of GDP on defence is utterly unacceptable, particularly in this time of immense global uncertainty.

Sir Michael Fallon is due to visit Brussels to urge countries to meet the target tomorrow (Getty)

Labour is committed to spending at least two per cent of our GDP on defence spending, as we consistently did when in Government.

Dr Julian Lewis, the Conservative chair of the Commons Defence Select Committee, told The Independent that whether the target had been barely met or not was not the most important issue.

This shows the danger of just scraping over the line of a minimum figure. People keep talking about the 2 per cent as if its a target  its not a target, its a minimum guideline that countries should spend at least 2 per cent. Its a bit like arguing on the head of a pin whether youve scraped over the line, he said.

"The reality is that whether the IISS is right or not that 2 per cent isnt nearly good enough in terms of the strategic threat picture that confronts us today."

Last year his Committee produced research showing that the UK had for decades spend substantially more than 2 per cent  in the 1980s often double that figure.

Theresa May promised Donald Trump she would encourage other European countries to meet the alliances target (Getty)

Foreign Affairs Select Committee chair Crispin Blunt told The Independent that the Government needed to completely re-think not just the defence budget but the way it allocated money to departments that represented British interests abroad.

It shows that we need proper debate about actually how we secure our country and its international interests and whether these ring-fenced budgets are really the right way to do it, he said.

He noted that unlike the Nato target and the aid aid budget the Foreign Office budget was not protected. He said the department had been institutionally hollowed out, lacking the expertise to represent the UK abroad.

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Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Also speaking today Natos secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said that fair burden-sharing and increased defence spending underpins the trans-Atlantic alliance.

He added that some allies were really struggling.

Dr Giegerich, IISS director of defence and military analysis, said he expected Britain's defence spending would continue to fall as a share of GDP.

We have for 2016 the spending at 38.3bn. In dollar terms at $52.5bn. That equates to 1.98 per cent of GDP, he told a briefing in London.

The obvious point here is that British GDP growth for 2016 was estimated to be 1.8 per cent and defence spending therefore grew at a slower rate and hence you have that development.

Now if you project forward, unless that situation changes this trend will be the direction of travel.
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There was a rending of garments in the close-knit community of public international lawyers at the passing of Elihu Lauterpacht  or, Sir Eli, as he was affectionately known to so many. His was a life well lived, surrounded and embraced by, and embracing of, family and friends and professional colleagues, and even passing acquaintances. Chance meetings led to life long friendships, and there are few in the community of international law whose lives he did not touch and enrich.

Elihu Lauterpacht was born in Cricklewood, London on 13 July 1928 to Rachel Steinberg and Hersch Lauterpacht, she from Palestine, from a small community just outside Jerusalem, he from Lvov, by way of Vienna. She was a pianist. He was to become one of the foremost international lawyers of his generation, Whewell Professor in Cambridge and later Judge of the International Court of Justice in The Hague. This silver spoon was credited by many as the font of Sir Elis own remarkable generosity, as he grew up in a world that he was later to inhabit professionally and in which he became so influential.

His early years were spent in London, attending the Hall School for boys. The family later moved to Cambridge but, when war intervened, the young Sir Eli was packed off to school in Andover, Massachusetts, while Hersch, with Rachel alongside, worked in support of the war effort, assisting in the crafting of Lend-Lease and other arrangements to facilitate US support of Britain in its darkest hour.

With the end of the War, Sir Eli returned to the UK, first to Harrow and then as an undergraduate to Trinity College, Cambridge, initially in history, later switching to law in which he went on to obtain a first-class degree in 1949, followed by a first in the LLB, now LLM, specialising in international law in 1950. He was called to the bar at Grays Inn that same year and became a member of chambers at 3 Essex Court alongside his father and Arnold (later Baron) McNair.

Sir Elis practice at the Bar in the years that followed reads like a chronicle of the development of public international law as an applied discipline alongside other areas of law in which a young practitioner might hope to forge a professional life. What was perceived by many as an academic subject at the time of Sir Elis call to the Bar went on to become a thriving area of practice, between and against States, international organisations and corporations, and individuals seeking to hold them to account. This emergence of the subject from the halls of academia to courtrooms and boardrooms and corridors of power is in no small measure due to the acuity and creativity of mind that Sir Eli brought to the subject.

Sir Eli was probably most at home in the International Court of Justice in The Hague, with which he first became familiar as a boy alongside his father. As counsel, he went on to play a leading role in many of the seminal cases of the Court over more than 60 years, from behind the scenes assistance in the Nottebohm case between Liechtenstein and Guatemala in the early 1950s to the Certain Documents case between Timor Leste and Australia in 2013.

Throughout this period, Sir Eli taught international law, first at the London School of Economics and subsequently in Cambridge as a fellow of Trinity College. In this role he brought to the lecture room a smell of gunpowder on his clothes, a phrase not used of Sir Eli at the time but one that captures his essence as a teacher, infused with the real worldness of the subject he was teaching. The students loved it and many went on to seek out careers in international law enthused by the possibility that they too could dip their toes into such waters. It was Sir Elis gift to his students that they saw international law as a calling, not simply as a job to be done.

In 1975, Sir Eli took a break from teaching and practice to become Legal Adviser of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, a post he held for three years and in which he played an important role in the negotiations that led to the conclusion of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Alongside his teaching and work as a practitioner, Sir Eli was also instrumental in forging new avenues of legal scholarship. As a Consultant on International Law on the UK Central Policy Review Staff from 1972 to 1975, he was instrumental in the collection of British Practice in International Law, an annual review that persists to this day as part of the British Yearbook of International Law. At an early stage, he took over the editorship of the Annual Digest of International Law Cases, later to become the International Law Reports, which had as its guiding philosophy the collection and publication of judicial decisions on questions of international law from national and international courts with the view to making the subject both more visible and more universal. Sir Eli went on, subsequently, to found his own publishing imprint, Grotius Publications, later acquired by Cambridge University Press, which was path-breaking in providing a publication avenue for up and coming young scholars.

Sir Elis enduring intellectual guide remained his father, whose collected works he edited and published in five volumes and a biography of whom opened a vision into an extraordinary life. In a continuing act of filial piety, Sir Eli arranged an annual series of lectures in Cambridge, named the Hersch Lauterpacht Memorial Lectures, in which a speaker of note was invited to deliver a series of lectures, later to be published as a book, on some topic of international law. In November 1990, thirty years after his fathers death, Sir Eli delivered the lectures under the title Aspects of the Administration of International Justice, subsequently published in a well-received volume the following year. It is to be hoped that the lecture series will continue, now as much in honour of the son as of the father.

Mention must also be made of Sir Elis enduring connection and commitment to Israel. Raised in a Jewish household, with a mother from Mandatory Palestine and a father who had a hand in the early drafting of the Israeli declaration of independence. Sir Eli retained strong family and professional ties with the country. In 1968, he published a short book entitled Jerusalem and the Holy Places. In the early 1990s, he was called upon by the then Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin, to advise on aspects of the peace negotiations with Jordan, an engagement he embraced with a passion appropriate to its historic endeavour. His creativity in the search for just solutions is evident in the peace agreement that followed.

Amongst many lasting achievements, Sir Elis most enduring legacy is likely to be the creation of the Research Centre for International Law in Cambridge, later renamed the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law and incorporated into the Cambridge University Faculty of Law. It is the intellectual home, and more, for scholars and students of international law in Cambridge, both resident and visitors. Its creation and nurturing by Sir Eli, from its infancy to its present position of fixture in the intellectual firmament of international law life in Cambridge, holds the promise to be as enduring a legacy to academic enquiry as the establishment of the first Cambridge colleges hundreds of years ago.

Sir Eli was appointed Queens Counsel in 1970 and became a Bencher of Grays Inn in 1983. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1989 and knighted for services to international law in 1998.

For all its colour, this focus on Sir Elis professional life paints only half a picture. In 1955, Sir Eli married Judith Maria Hettinger, with whom he had three children, Deborah, Gabriel and Michael. Following Judiths untimely death in 1970, Sir Eli married Catherine Daly in 1973, with whom he had a son, Conan, and with whom, until cut short, there followed a lifetime of enduring warmth, commitment and co-conspiracy. For the many who made their way to Cambridge to visit Cathy and Eli, and enjoy their generosity and hospitality around the warmth of an aga-heated kitchen table, the memories will be prized and enduring. Above all else, there was humanity!

A wonderful series of seven interviews with Cambridge Law Librarian, Lesley Dingle, in 2008, available online in both audio and print format, captures a remarkable life.

Eli Lauterpacht, lawyer and mensch; born 13 July 1928; died 8 February, 2017
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The Archbishop of Canterbury has linked the Brexit vote and the election of Donald Trump as US President to fascism.

Justin Welby, in a speech to the General Synod, said there were a thousand ways to explain the rise of leaders in a nationalist, populist, or even fascist tradition of politics.

Included in his examples were the EU referendum result; Mr Trump; the far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders and Marine Le Pen, French presidential candidate and leader of the Front National.

Almost certainly there is no simple explanation, almost certainly the impact of globalisation economically, or marginalisation politically and of post-modernity culturally have some role to some extent, he said.

That will be the material of a thousand PhDs and no consensus in the next 50 years. We are in the middle of it all, and we see neither the destination nor the road.

Archbishop Welbys denunciation of populist politics risks adding to the difficulties facing Theresa May after she invited Mr Trump to a state visit.

As the most senior bishop in the Church of England, the 61-year-old will likely figure in the planning for the trip.

The biggest protest in British history is being planned to coincide with the billionaires arrival.

When asked two weeks ago if he would welcome Mr Trump, Archbishop Welby said he would be very glad to meet him and try to persuade him to change his views.

 Donald Trump state visit is likely to be 'around June'

He also condemned the billionaires Muslim ban, saying it would lead to terrible results and warning the White House not to start dissing communities.

On Brexit, Archbishop Welby said there was a litany of associated issues which he had discussed with experts.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

In a recent meeting with some economists we reviewed the very serious and ultimately unsustainable balance of payments deficit, the appallingly low levels of investment by the corporate sector, the near absence of research and development funding, the dreadful levels of educational aspiration amongst those who have the least opportunities, the growing demands of care for an older population to a degree that will put massive strain on government funding, the skills gap, the lack of progress towards our goals of a carbon neutral economy, and so on and so on.

But Archbishop Welby ultimately struck an optimistic tone, saying there is now a wide and liberal choice for the future of this country.
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Notorious life inmate Charles Bronson has reportedly marked Valentines Day by asking his actor girlfriend to marry him.

Bronson, who has frequently been called Britains most violent prisoner, is said to have popped the question when Paula Williamson, formerly an actor on Coronation Street, visited him in HMP Wakefield yesterday.

The armed robber, who is one of the most high-profile criminals in Britain, is reported to have initially planned to propose to her by having a ring delivered to her house and singing to her on the phone on Valentines Day. However, he is said to have pushed the proposal forward so he could ask her in person on the prison visit.

Miss Williamson, 36, who has been in both Coronation Street and Emmerdale, told The Sun before the meeting: "We are so in love.

"I've had relationships with both men and women in the past but none of them come close to my love for Charlie.

"He's so eccentric, but so am I. It's a perfect match."

Bronson has spent 37 years of his over 40 years in prison in solitary confinement after continuously having his sentence increased for attacking prison staff and taking them hostage. The prisoner, who has been featured in numerous books and studies on penal reform, is currently serving a life sentence for robbery and kidnap.

The end of innocence: Inside Britain's child prisons Show all 6 1 /6 The end of innocence: Inside Britain's child prisons The end of innocence: Inside Britain's child prisons The end of innocence: Inside Britain's child prisons GETTY IMAGES The end of innocence: Inside Britain's child prisons GETTY IMAGES The end of innocence: Inside Britain's child prisons The end of innocence: Inside Britain's child prisons PA The end of innocence: Inside Britain's child prisons PA

The inmate changed his name to Charles Salvador around three years ago in tribute to the late artist. He has become known for surrealist paintings he has created while imprisoned. At the time, he said his new name embodied his calmer approach to life.

In 1999, Bronson was handed a life sentence for holding a prison art teacher hostage for 44 hours for criticising some of his sketches.

Ms Williamson, who appeared on Coronation Street in May 2008, June 2011 and May 2012 as a Nurse at Weatherfield General, said she had been in a relationship with Bronson for five months.

I know he has a public image of being a violent prisoner, but in reality, he is so different.

There are obviously difficulties that him being in prison cause our relationship, but we feel so strongly about each other were determined to make it work.
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Haaruun was nine years old when he stood up in class and said he supported Isis.

He had found and watched gory Isis execution videos after searching for news coverage of the Paris attacks, reaching the groups propaganda after a series of news websites.

It led me to this one that had brutal executions and them burning people, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme.

It just showed them lighting them on fire. The people chained up, lighting them on fire and then they burned them.

Lawyer questions Prevent

Haaruun, now 10, was referred to the Governments Prevent counter-extremism programme, which has now finished its work with the boy and his family in London.

His caseworker, Mariam, told the BBC he had played a violent video game formulated by Isis supporters to simulate a terror attack on an airport, as well as researching the groups ideology and leadership structure.

Haaruun accessed the videos on the family computer when the house was empty, and also managed to watch footage in a school classroom with other pupils.

After a year of counselling, and efforts to stop bullying that isolated the boy at school, Haaruun has stopped searching for the videos.

"He is a vulnerable young man who's seeing things, forming opinions, said Mariam. How that would have developed without Prevent, we can't predict that.

"We're not saying he's going to take a bomb and blow anyone up but it's about minimising those risks."

Isis recruiters are known to trawl online chatrooms and social networks to find people deemed susceptible to radicalisation, either urging targets to join the so-called Islamic State in Iraq or Syria or commit attacks in their home countries.

Timeline: The emergence of Isis Show all 40 1 /40 Timeline: The emergence of Isis Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2000 Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (pictured here) forms an al-Qaeda splinter group in Iraq, al-Qaeda in Iraq. Its brutality from the beginning alienates Iraqis and many al-Qaeda leaders. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2006 Al-Zarqawi is killed in a U.S. strike. Al-Zarqawis successor, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, announces the creation of the Islamic State in Iraq (ISI). Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2009 Still al-Qaeda-linked ISI claims responsibility for suicide bombings that killed 155 in Baghdad, as well as attacks in August and October killing 240, as President Obama announces troop withdrawal from Iraq in March. Getty Images Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2010 Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi becomes head of ISI, at lowest ebb of Islamist militancy in Iraq, which sees last U.S. combat brigade depart. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2012 In Syria, protests (pictured here starting in Daree) have morphed into what president Assad labelled a real war with emergence of a coalition of forces opposed to Assads regime. Syria group Jabhat al-Nusra are among rebel groups who refuse to join, denouncing it as a conspiracy. Bombings targeting Shia areas, killing more than 500 people, spark fears of new sectarian conflict. Sunni Muslims stage protests across country against what they see as increasingly marginalisation by Shia-led government. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2013 Al-Baghdadi renames ISI as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or Isis, as the group absorbs Syrian al-Nusra, gaining a foothold in Syria. In response, al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri (Bin Ladens successor) concerned about Isis expansion orders that Isis be dissolved and ISI operations should be confined to Iraq. This order is rejected by al-Baghdadi. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - January Isis fighters capture the Iraqi cities of Fallujah and Ramadi, giving them base to launch slew of attacks further south. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Isis declares itself the Caliphate, calling itself Islamic State (IS). The group captures Mosul, Iraqs second largest city; Tal Afar, just 93 miles from Syrian border; and the central Iraqi city of Tikrit. These advances sent shockwaves around the world. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Around the same time Isis releases a video calling for western Muslims to join the Caliphate and fight, prompting new evaluations of extremists groups social media understanding. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Isis take Baiji oil fields in Iraq - giving them access to huge amounts of possible revenue. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - August James Foley is executed by the group as concerns grow for second American prisoner, fellow reporter Steven Sotloff. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - August Obama authorises U.S. airstrikes in Iraq, helping to stall Isis along with action by Kurdish forces following the deaths of hundreds of Yazidi people on Mount Sinjar. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Isis release video showing Steven Sotloffs murder prompting Western speculation his executioner is same man who killed Mr Foley. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Obama tells us that America will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Isis release a video appearing to show David Haines, who was captured by militants in Syria in 2013, wearing an orange jumpsuit and kneeling in the desert while he reads a pre-prepared script. It later shows what appears to be the aid worker's body. Rex Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Peshmerga fighters scrabble to hold positions in the Diyala province (a gateway to Baghdad) as Isis fighters continue to advance on Iraqi capital. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - October Aid worker Alan Henning is killed. Self-imposed media blackout refuses to show images of him in final moments, instead focuses upon humanitarian care. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - October Isis raise their flag in Kobani, which had been strongly defended by Kurdish troops. The victory goes against hopeful western analysis Isis had overextended itself, while alienating much of the Muslim population through the murder of Henning. Victory causes fresh waves of Kurdish refugees arriving in Turkey. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - November American hostage, who embarced values of Islam, Peter Kassig and 14 Syrian soldiers are shown meeting the same fate as other captives. But intelligence agencies will be poring over the apparently significant discrepancies between this and previous films. Seramedig.org.uk Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis has released a video revealing the murder by burning to death of a Jordanian pilot held by the group since the end of December 2014. Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis militants have released videos which appear to show the beheading of Japanese hostages Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February American aid worker, Kayla Mueller was the last American hostage known to be held by Isis. She died, according to her captors, in an airstrike by the Jordanian air force on the city of Raqqa in Syria, though US authorities disputed this. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis militants have posted a gruesome video online in which they force 21 Egyptian Coptic Christian hostages to kneel on a beach in Libya before beheading them. Egypt vowed to avenge the beheading and launched air strikes on Isis positions. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February The British Isis militant suspected of appearing in videos showing the beheading of Western hostages has been named in reports as Mohammed Emwazi from London. Rex Features Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - March Isis triple suicide attack has killed more than 100 worshippers and hundreds of others were injured after the group members targeted two mosques in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Iraqi forces have claimed victory over Isis in battle for Tikrit and raised the flag in the city. EPA/STR Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Isis has claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan that killed at least 35 people queuing to collect their wages and injured 100 more. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Isis media arm released a 29-minute video purporting to show militants executing Ethiopian Christians captives. The footage bore the extremist groups al-Furqan media logo and showed the destruction of churches and desecration of religious symbols. A masked fighter made a statement threatening Christians who did not convert to Islam or pay a special tax. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of Isis has been "incapacitated" by a spinal injuries sustained in a US air strike in Iraq. He is being treated in a hideout by two doctors from Isis stronghold of Mosul who are said to be "strong ideological supporters of the group". Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis has also claimed responsibility for killing 300 of Yazidi captives, including women, children and elderly people in Iraq AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis attack on Prophet Mohamed cartoon contest in Texas was its first action on US soil. Two gunmen were shot and killed after launching the attack at the exhibition. Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi have been named as the attackers at the Curtis Culwell Centre arena in Garland. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isiss deputy leader, Abu Alaa Afri, a former physics teacher who was thought to have taken charge of the deadly terrorist group, has been killed in a US-led coalition airstrike. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May US special forces have killed a senior Isis leader named as Abu Sayyaf in an operation aiming to capture him and his wife in Syria. Getty Images Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Iran-backed militias are sent to Ramadi by the Iraqi government to fight Isis militants who completed their capture of the city. Government soldiers and civilians were reportedly massacred by extremists as they took control and the army fled. Charred bodies were left littering the city streets as troops clung on to trucks speeding away from the city. Ramadi is the latest government stronghold to fall to the so-called Islamic State, despite air strikes by a US-led international coalition aiming to stop its advance in Iraq and Syria. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis rounded up civilians trapped in Palmyra and forced them to watch 20 people being executed in the historic citys ancient amphitheatre. The Unesco World Heritage site was overrun by militants, threatening the future of 2,000 year-old monuments and ruins. Thousands of Palmyras residents fled but many are still living within the city walls, while the UN human rights office in Geneva said it had received reports of Syrian government forces preventing people from leaving until they retreated from the city. Getty Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May A group of Isis-affiliated fighters have captured a key airport in central Libya. The militants took control of the al-Qardabiya airbase in Sirte after a local militia tasked with defending the facility withdrew from their positions. Affiliates of Isis, already control large parts of Sirte, the birthplace of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and a former stronghold of his supporters. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June The US Air Force has destroyed an Isis stronghold after an extremist let slip their location on social media. According the Air Force Times, General Herbert "Hawk" Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, said that Airmen at Hulburt Field, Florida, used images shared by jihadists to track the location of their headquarters before destroying it in an airstrike. Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Kurdish forces captured a key military base in a significant victory in Raqqa as well as town of Tell Abyad. YPG fighters, backed by US-led airstrikes and other rebels, consolidated their gains, when they seized the key town on the Syria-Turkey border. They are now just 30 miles to the north of Raqqa and have cut off a major supply route deep inside Isis-held territory. Ahmet Silk/Getty Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Isis has released gruesome footage claiming to show the murder of more than a dozen men by drowning, decapitation and using a rocket-propelled grenade as it seeks to boost morale among its fanatical supporters. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Isis has begun carrying out its threat to destroy structures in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, blowing up at least two monuments at the Unesco-protected site as Syrian government troops made advances on the Islamists positions. AFP

Haaruuns case is one of more than 1,000 handled by Prevent since 2012, including concerns over Islamist and far-right extremism.

Around 60 children are referred to the programme every week, Government figures revealed in December, with minors making up just under half of referrals.

Prevent has been credited with helping to disrupt more than 150 attempted journeys to war zones in Iraq and Syria, but it has repeatedly come under fire, with critics labelling it heavy-handed and "toxic", and there have been calls for it to be independently reviewed.

It is one of several agencies attempting to counter the influence of Isis multi-faceted propaganda operation in the UK as jihadis continue to use videos, magazines, websites and social networks to gather followers.

A new report released on Tuesday warned that the groups propaganda will continue to radicalise followers and inspire terror attacks long after its self-declared caliphate has been destroyed.

The terrorist group is losing swathes of territory in its Iraqi stronghold of Mosul as enemy forces advance on its de-facto capital of Raqqa in Syria, but claimed media can be more potent than atomic bombs in its battle against the West.

Research by Kings College Londons International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR) found that although Isis was likely to suffer a military defeat, its leaders were making contingency plans to ensure the groups continued ability to instruct and inspire jihadis online.

The caliphate idea will exist long beyond its proto-state, the report said. If compelled to, the groups true believers will simply retreat into the virtual world, where they will use the vast archive of propaganda assembled by the group over these past few years to keep themselves buoyant with nostalgia.

In years to come, this resilience will enable it to perpetuate  and perhaps worsen  the terrorist menace it already presents.


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Britain has summoned the North Korean ambassador to object to the firing of a nuclear-capable missile in the direction of Japan.

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said the UK "fully supports the UN Security Council's strong condemnation of North Korea's recent ballistic missile launch".

The North Korean test, which saw a missile fired 500km across the Sea of Japan and was hailed as a "success" by Pyongyang, was "a threat to international security", the Foreign Office said.

"We urge North Korea to stop its provocative actions, which threaten international peace and security, and instead re-engage with the international community, and take credible, concrete steps to prioritise the well-being of its own people instead of the nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

"The Ambassador was asked to convey this message to Pyongyang in the strongest possible terms."

Earlier on Tuesday, North Koreans celebrated the latest missile launch, which foreign experts were analysing for evidence of advancement in the country's missile capabilities.

For the next several days, North Korea will be marking the birthday of late leader Kim Jong-il, father of current leader Kim Jong-un. The holiday reaches a climax this Thursday with the "Day of the Shining Star" and will be feted with figure skating, synchronised swimming exhibitions, fireworks and mass rallies.

At the opening of a flower festival featuring a begonia named "Kimjongilia," the missile was front and centre, too.

Visitors posed and took photos in front of a painting of the missile next to a portrait of the late leader and a large arrangement of Kimjongilia flowers that were provided by a military unit. A slogan next to the missile touted the value of the North being a powerful nuclear state.

"I felt great pride and excitement when I saw the launch on TV," said Kang Kuk Hwa, who works at a greenhouse run by the North's trade ministry to grow Kimjongilia and flowers for another event held in April that features a kind of orchid named after Kim Il-sung, North Korea's "eternal president" and Kim Jong-un's grandfather.

"As long as there is a threat from the United States, we must build up our defenses," said Kang, who is 23.

The missile tested Sunday flew about 500 kilometers (310 miles) before splashing down into the Pacific and is believed to have featured several elements  including solid fuel and new mobile launching techniques  that could indicate significant advances in the country's missile capabilities. It has been widely criticized as a violation of a U.N. resolution.

Last year, the North also conducted two nuclear tests and is believed to be moving quickly closer to having a nuclear device that can be mounted on a long-range missile.

The North has repeatedly defended the nuclear and missile programs as necessary for national defense.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press
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The Government has officially rejected a petition calling for Donald Trumps state visit to the UK to be cancelled.

Nearly two million people signed the petition on Parliaments website, with the number still rising.

In a written response the Foreign Office, the Government said it did not agree with the request and would extend the full courtesy of a state visit to the US President.

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The Governments statement says: HM Government believes the President of the United States should be extended the full courtesy of a state visit. We look forward to welcoming President Trump once dates and arrangements are finalised.

HM Government recognises the strong views expressed by the many signatories of this petition, but does not support this petition.

During her visit to the United States on 27 January 2017, the Prime Minister, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, invited President Trump for a state visit to the UK later this year.

The invitation was accepted. This invitation reflects the importance of the relationship between the United States of America and the United Kingdom. At this stage, final dates have not yet been agreed for the state visit.

However, the petition will still be debated by MPs in Westminster.

Downing Street yesterday refused to rule out moving the state visit to Birmingham in the hope of avoiding protests. House of Commons leader David Lidington said on Sunday discussions about the visits many variables were still ongoing.

The Stop Trump coalition, which includes MPs from several parties, trade unionists and campaigners, has pledged to hold the largest anti-racism demonstration in British history no matter where the state visit is held.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had called for the state visit to be cancelled until Mr Trumps Muslim ban policy was lifted, while Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, has said he will bar Mr Trump from addressing the Commons.

The rejected petition said that Mr Trump should not be invited to make an official state visit because it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen.

It continued: Donald Trumps well documented misogyny and vulgarity disqualifies him from being received by Her Majesty the Queen or the Prince of Wales.

 Bernie Sanders: Trump is a pathological liar

Therefore during the term of his presidency Donald Trump should not be invited to the United Kingdom for an official state visit.

The Prime Minister was the first world leader to officially meet Mr Trump after his inauguration.

A spokesperson for the Stop Trump coalition said Theresa May had shown her contempt for people asking her to take a stand against racism.

He said that she had decided to side with a bigoted megalomaniac.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

He continued: Theresa May wants to sell the values of tolerance and respect down the river for trade deals and influence with a far right administration.

In recent weeks, we have witnessed an outpouring of opposition to the politics of hatred and division that Donald Trump represents.

Tens of thousands have taken to the streets at barely a day's notice  many of them new to protest and politics.
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A raft of celebrities and campaigners are calling on the Prime Minister not to end the Dubs scheme for vulnerable and lone child refugees.

The scheme, named after its architect, Labour peer Lord Alf Dubs, will be capped once another 150 unaccompanied children are brought to Britain, on top of the 200 already in the UK.

Branding the decision "truly shameful", more than 200 figures including Carey Mulligan, Gary Lineker, Keira Knightley, Benedict Cumberbatch and Ralph Fiennes have signed an open letter to Theresa May.

The letter, backed by Help Refugees and Citizen UK's Safe Passage programme, states that it is "completely unacceptable" to "slam the door shut after just 350 children have reached safety".

"Lord Dubs was himself a child saved by Sir Nicholas Winton who rescued 669 children virtually single-handed," it reads.

"It is embarrassing that the Prime Minister's entire Government will not even manage to match the example set by her former constituent all those years ago, let alone the efforts of the Kindertransport movement of which he was a part which saved 10,000 children from the Nazis."

A storm of criticism has engulfed the Government since the announcement was made earlier this month that it will be scrapping the programme for resettling lone youngsters from mainland Europe to the UK.

Although the Government had not committed to any specific number, campaigners and opposition figures have previously called for 3,000 children to be given sanctuary.

The letter comes days after the Home Office said that due to a lack of places for vulnerable child refugees identified by local authorities, the scheme would finish at the end of the financial year.

Despite this, the signatories of it have called the consultation with the local authorities "threadbare" and "nine months out of date", and are urging the Government to "agree to extend the programme and re-consult with councils immediately".

The letter has been signed by figures which range from authors, actors, musicians and broadcasters - these also include Coldplay, Juliet Stevenson, Gok Wan, Caroline Flack, Jude Law, Michael Morpurgo, Douglas Booth, Joely Richardson, Lily Allen, Sir Mark Rylance and Ruby Wax.

Josie Naughton, co-founder of Help Refugees, said: "The outpouring of support for the continuation of the Dubs scheme by these well-known figures and the public demonstrates that its closure is at odds with the British values that make this country great.

"We ask that the Government finds a way to do more to protect these vulnerable children fleeing war and conflict just as we did before the Second World War."

Rabbi Janet Darley, of Citizen UK's Safe Passage programme, also welcomed the "intervention by this broad range of public figures".

"Voices right across society are challenging the Government's decision to close the 'Dubs' and the lifeline it offers to the most vulnerable child refugees because we know it reflects our true national character," she said.

"Shutting the door on refugee children leaves them with a terrible choice of train tracks on the one hand and people traffickers on the other.

"Councils and communities across the country stand ready to do more. We appeal to the Government to live up to our proud history of offering sanctuary to the most vulnerable child refugees.

"Britain is better than this."

In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea Show all 7 1 /7 In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A baby being taken on to MSF's Bourbon Argos ship from a boat carrying 130 migrants and refugees Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A refugee boat carrying 101 people being rescued by MSF's Bourbon Argos Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A refugee boat carrying 101 people being rescued by MSF's Bourbon Argos all images by Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A baby among refugees on a boat carrying 185 people off the coast of Libya Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea Migrants and refugees sleeping after being rescued by MSF's Bourbon Argos ship Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A crew from MSF's Bourbon Argos ship rescuing a boat carrying 130 migrants and refugees off the coast of Libya, at sunrise Lizzie Dearden In pictures: A day of refugee rescues in the Mediterranean Sea A woman in a stretcher being lifted onto MSF's Bourbon Argos ship from a boat carrying 130 migrants and refugees off the coast of Libya Lizzie Dearden

On Saturday, flanked by a group of children, local politicians and faith leaders, Lord Dubs delivered a 50,000-signature petition to the Prime Minister's Downing Street residence, accusing the Government of a "very shabby cop-out".

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has also previously said he was "saddened and shocked" at the decision.

He has insisted it is "deeply unjust" to leave the burden of caring for them on Italy and Greece, where thousands of refugees and migrants arrive from the conflict-ridden Middle East and north Africa.
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The extraordinary resignation of Toshibas chief executive over 5bn worth of losses in the nuclear power industry has thrown the future of a planned Toshiba built nuclear power plant in the Copeland constituency to the heart of next weeks knife edge by-election.

An estimated 12,000 jobs in Copeland in Cumbria are dependent on the nuclear industry, with the Conservatives having made their commitment to nuclear a central part of their strategy in could be a truly historic victory of a governing party winning a seat from the opposition in a by-election.

But Toshibas announcement that is scaling back and effectively ending its nuclear power business outside Japan has piled pressure on the government to step in and protect the plans for the Moorside Power plant, for construction has not yet begun and which is not yet scheduled for to come online until 2024.

Nugen, the Japanese consortium behind the project have said they remain committed to it, but they are 60 per cent owned by Toshiba.

Business and Industrial Strategy Secretary Greg Clark said he welcomed the continued commitment of the Nugen consortium to the Moorside project, but it is far from clear what steps the the government might have to take, and whether it will be prepared to take them, to ensure the project goes ahead.

Mr Clark added: The UK Government is committed to new nuclear as an important part of our energy mix, having commissioned the first new nuclear power station in a generation. The UK is one of the most attractive countries to invest in new nuclear and we continue to work closely with partners to see Moorside built.

Labours Shadow Business Secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey said her party was committed to the Moorside project, despite decades of opposition to nuclear power from party leader Jeremy Corbyn, and has called for the government to invest public money if necessary to guarantee the project.

Both the Labour and Conservative candidates in the by-election face a hustings tomorrow night in Whitehaven with an audience of nuclear industry workers, who will expect them to make guarantees on behalf of their parties over Copelands nuclear future.

The challenging by-election was forced on Labour by the resignation of its popular local MP Jamie Reed, who has taken a job as the head of development and community relations at Sellagield, the nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in the heart of the constituency.

Labour faces two crunch by-elections on the same day next Thursday, when it must also face down the challenge of Ukip leader Paul Nuttall in Stoke Central.
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Jeremy Corbyn has accused the Prime Minister of a "Hunger Games approach to Brexit" by refusing to guarantee the rights of European Union citizens in the UK.

The Labour leader hit out as a leaked EU document suggested that other countries could adopt a tough approach on the issue because of the difficulties their citizens may face acquiring permanent rights in the UK.

Theresa May will face a challenge to her approach on the issue in the House of Lords over the coming weeks as Labour and Liberal Democrat peers attempt to rewrite the Bill giving her permission to trigger Article 50 and start the Brexit process.

How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Show all 8 1 /8 How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Weetabix Chief executive of Weetabix Giles Turrell has warned that the price of one of the nations favourite breakfast are likely to go up this year by low-single digits in percentage terms. Reuters How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Nescafe The cost of a 100g jar of Nescafe Original at Sainsburys has gone up 40p from 2.75 to 3.15  a 14 per cent risesince the Brexit vote. PA How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Freddo When contacted by The Independent this month, a Mondelez spokesperson declined to discuss specific brands but confirmed that there would be "selective" price increases across its range despite the American multi-national confectionery giant reporting profits of $548m (450m) in its last three-month financial period. Mondelez, which bought Cadbury in 2010, said rising commodity costs combined with the slump in the value of the pound had made its products more expensive to make. Cadbury How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Mr Kipling cakes Premier Foods, the maker of Mr Kipling and Bisto gravy, said that it was considering price rises on a case-by-case basis Reuters How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Walkers Crisps Walkers, owned by US giant PepsiCo, said "the weakened value of the pound" is affecting the import cost of some of its materials. A Walkers spokesman told the Press Association that a 32g standard bag was set to increase from 50p to 55p, and the larger grab bag from 75p to 80p. Getty How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Marmite Tesco removed Marmite and other Unilever household brand from its website last October, after the manufacturer tried to raise its prices by about 10 per cent owing to sterlings slump. Tesco and Unilever resolved their argument, but the price of Marmite has increased in UK supermarkets with the grocer reporting a 250g jar of Marmite will now cost Morrisons customers 2.64 - an increase of 12.5 per cent. Rex How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Toblerone Toblerone came under fire in November after it increased the space between the distinctive triangles of its bars. Mondelez International, the company which makes the product, said the change was made due to price rises in recent months. Pixabay How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Maltesers Maltesers, billed as the lighter way to enjoy chocolate, have also shrunk in size. Mars, which owns the brand, has reduced its pouch weight by 15 per cent. Mars said rising costs mean it had to make the unenviable decision between increasing its prices or reducing the weight of its Malteser packs. iStockphoto

She has repeatedly said she wants to guarantee the rights of EU citizens in the UK - but only if reciprocal arrangements apply to Britons living in other member states.

A leaked document drawn up by the European Parliament's legal affairs committee, obtained by the Guardian, said it will be down to each member state to decide whether British citizens are allowed to carry on living within their borders after 2019.

It notes: "The fact that it appears to be particularly difficult for foreign nationals, even if married to UK nationals or born in the UK, to acquire permanent residence status or British nationality may colour member states' approach to this matter."

Mr Corbyn told the Guardian the document showed "the human cost of a Tory-style Brexit".

"Families, jobs and homes are all in the balance," he said.

"There must be an end to this Hunger Games approach to Brexit negotiations, which gives no consideration to EU nationals in our country or British nationals living abroad."

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said: "This issue could have been settled from the start if the Government had done the right thing and made clear EU citizens who have made the UK their home can remain indefinitely.

"Instead, millions of people on both sides of the channel are being left in limbo and faced with agonising uncertainty over their futures.

"Antagonising our European partners is no way to get a good deal for Britain and for the many UK citizens living in EU countries."

Dutch MEP Sophie in 't Veld said the situation was "unacceptable" and the 4.5 million citizens affected - more than three million EU nationals in the UK and over a million Britons on the continent - were not "bargaining chips".

The document was drawn up by the European Parliament's committee on legal affairs this month, the newspaper said.

In a foreword to the report, Pavel Svoboda, the Czech chairman of the committee, writes: "One important preliminary question affecting all policy areas is the extent to which transitional arrangements could be envisaged legally.

"It would seem to us that such arrangements could only be adopted by international agreement or a protocol to the treaties, which would require the unanimous agreement of the member states and ratification in accordance with their national constitutional tradition.

"It would seem difficult, if not impossible, to reach such an agreement before the end of the period provided for in Article 50."

A Home Office spokesman said: "This Government has been clear, that we want to protect the status of EU nationals already living here and the only circumstances in which that wouldn't be possible is if British citizens' rights in European member states were not protected in return.

"The Prime Minister has reiterated the need for an agreement as soon as possible as part of the negotiations to leave the EU."

Press Association
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Jeremy Corbyns key allies in Westminster are set to take part in a series of events in Labours heartlands where Ukip represents a serious threat to the party.

John McDonnell, the Shadow Chancellor, and Diane Abbott, the Shadow Home Secretary, are among the senior Labour MPs to appear at the events in marginal constituencies, starting in Sunderland on 1 April.

Clive Lewis and Rachael Maskell, who both recently resigned from the shadow Cabinet, are also set to appear at the events arranged by The World Transformed  an organisation that has grown out of Momentum, the grassroots group of activists behind Mr Corbyns election and re-election as Labour leader.

The events will launch at the beginning of April and aim to bring together Leave and Remain voters, make sense of the Brexit negotiations and discuss how voters take back control from economic elites and establishment politicians.

Events will also be held in Barnsley, Bradford, Plymouth and Dagenham. At the 2015 general election Ukip came second in the northern seat of Barnsley with 22 per cent of the vote  a 17 per cent increase on their previous vote share. In the Dagenham and Rainham constituency the partys candidate Peter Harris came second in the contest, behind Labours Jon Cruddas by 4,980 votes.

It comes as Labour faces a serious challenge to its Stoke-on-Trent Central seat on 23 February,, following the resignation of Tristram Hunt to become the next director of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. At the 2015 general election Mr Hunt, the former shadow Education Secretary and well-known critic of the Labour leader, held onto the seat with a majority of 5,179. Ukip came second in the constituency, just 33 votes ahead of the Conservatives.

Just last week Mr Lewis, the former Shadow Business Secretary, warned his constituents that Labour was hanging on by its fingernails to keep Ukip at bay. He added that if Mr Nuttall emerged victorious in Stoke then the politics of Trump in Westminster could have a domino effect.

 Clive Lewis warns Ukip could rout Labour in North

Rachael Maskell, the former shadow Environment Secretary, who resigned from her post after defying a three-line whip on the Brexit bill, will also speak at the events arranged by the left-wing activists. The overriding cry from the EU referendum was that people wanted more control over the lives they lead and those who represent them in our political institutions, she said.

The Government, in refusing to listen to the needs people have, highlights the need for people across every community to get their voice heard and make their politicians work for them. The debate should not be about the political institutions but the way those who hold office engage and respond and most importantly empower people in their community to have a voice.

One organiser at Take Back Control, Steve Hansom, from Sunderland, said: Paul Nuttall may wear a flat cap and speak with a Scouse accent, but that doesnt mean hes got your back. He is no different to Farage, who is no different to May  just another politician who directs anger and frustration at the most vulnerable instead of going after those at the top. I desperately want to see a better future for Sunderland, one with jobs, homes and a stronger community.

Another organiser, Charlie Clarke, added that the establishment have peddled the idea that every Remain voter is part of a croissant-munching metropolitan elite while every Leave voter is racist, xenophobic and backwards.

These stereotypes are divisive, poisonous and flat out untrue. Instead of letting our vote define us and divide us, we have to recognise the large amount of common ground the majority of people in this country share. Worries about housing, pay and the loss of community. Aspirations for a future better than that of our parents. The sense that our lives are always at the whim of somebody else. The Brexit negotiations mean a radically altered future for Britain. They mean a time of instability and change. Now is when the future will be born. Now is the moment we must fight for something better.
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The Supreme Court Brexit ruling may affect attempts to take legal action against Tony Blair and other state officials over their role in the Iraq War, it has emerged.

Bereaved families of soldiers who died in Iraq are now appealing for funds to pay for an expert constitutional lawyer to examine exactly how Januarys controversial Brexit judgement may help or hinder any case against those who took Britain to war.

By Tuesday afternoon, the families had raised 14,800 of their 22,000 target in little over 24 hours, with the comments of those donating including for the sake of justice, this has to go forward, and Blair should have to account for his actions. It's a disgrace that it has to be privately funded.

The Iraq War Families Campaign Group started exploring the possibility of taking action against Mr Blair and others after Julys Chilcot report delivered a damning verdict on how Britain went to war in 2003.

After an emotional press conference in which the grieving sister of one of the 179 British servicepeople killed in Iraq described Mr Blair as the worlds worst terrorist, the families rapidly raised 159,000 to explore the possibility of a legal case.

The money was used to employ lawyers to go through Sir John Chilcots 5,000-page, 2.6m-word report with a fine tooth comb to see whether legal action was possible.

 Chilcot report: Key points from the Iraq inquiry in 90 seconds

The lawyers came back with the opinion that the evidence supported the case that certain state officials might have acted unlawfully and might be liable for a claim for misfeasance in public office, under legal precedents about abuse of power that stretch back to 1703.

Representatives of the families have refused to confirm or deny any names, but it is widely believed that Tony Blair  who has steadfastly denied wrongdoing - is one of the state officials who may face action.

Now, however, an unexpected constitutional complication has been thrown up by a series of rulings, of which Januarys Supreme Court Brexit judgement is the most prominent.

In pictures: Families of Iraq War victims react to Chilcot report Show all 10 1 /10 In pictures: Families of Iraq War victims react to Chilcot report In pictures: Families of Iraq War victims react to Chilcot report Relatives and friends of the military personnel who died in Iraq, leave the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre PA In pictures: Families of Iraq War victims react to Chilcot report Dawn Holmes, the mother of L Cpl Sarah Holmes who died in Iraq, is consoled by solicitor Matthew Jury as she leaves the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre PA In pictures: Families of Iraq War victims react to Chilcot report A family member holding a photograph of Stephen Robert Wright (R), outside the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, after the publication of the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq War PA In pictures: Families of Iraq War victims react to Chilcot report Families of soldiers killed in the Iraq conflict stand together outside the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre after the outcome of the Chilcot report Getty Images In pictures: Families of Iraq War victims react to Chilcot report Relatives of military personnel killed during the Iraq War talk at a news conference after listening to Sir John Chilcot present The Iraq Inquiry Report at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster Getty In pictures: Families of Iraq War victims react to Chilcot report Relatives of military personnel killed during the Iraq War react after listening to Sir John Chilcot presenting The Iraq Inquiry Report at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London AP In pictures: Families of Iraq War victims react to Chilcot report Relatives and friends of military personnel killed during the Iraq War attend a news conference after listening to Sir John Chilcot present The Iraq Inquiry Report at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster Getty Images In pictures: Families of Iraq War victims react to Chilcot report Family of those who died in Iraq speak to the media as they leave the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London PA In pictures: Families of Iraq War victims react to Chilcot report Relatives and friends of military personnel killed during the Iraq War attend a news conference after Sir John Chilcot presented The Iraq Inquiry Report at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster Getty Images In pictures: Families of Iraq War victims react to Chilcot report Victoria Jones (L), a relative of a British soldier killed in Iraq, holds a copy of The Report of the Iraq Inquiry, by John Chilcot, at the Queen Elizabeth II centre in London Reuters

At its simplest, the Brexit ruling said that Theresa Mays Government had to put the triggering of Article 50 to a Parliamentary vote and could not simply use the so-called Royal prerogative to force the measure through.

But the Iraq families are concerned that the Supreme Courts full, 98-page judgement could help them but may also throw up constitutional issues that may affect how their case can or cannot proceed.

Previously, it had been understood that the Blair government could have used Royal prerogative to go to war, but chose instead to put the issue to a controversial Parliamentary vote that many said was manipulated.

The Chilcot report subsequently ruled that when MPs gave authority for military action by a 263 majority on March 18 2003, diplomatic options had not been exhausted.

The families say they need a constitutional lawyer to untangle how the Brexit ruling and other recent judgments may affect the way the law can now be interpreted in relation to the actions of the Blair government in the run-up to war.

Roger Bacon and his wife Maurren lost their son Matthew when he was killed by an IED in Basra in September 2005

The call for more help to fund their case was issued in a joint statement by Reg Keys, whose son Lance Corporal Tom Keys, a Royal Military Policeman, was murdered by an Iraqi mob in 2003, and Roger Bacon, whose son Matthew, an Intelligence Corps major, was killed in a roadside bomb in 2005.

In their statement, Mr Keys and Mr Bacon referred to An issue of great constitutional importance that must be fully and carefully resolved before we can issue any proceedings.

The statement added: This issue is all the more significant because, as you will be aware, in 2016 the UK experienced major changes. In the past few months there have been significant court judgments, including the Supreme Courts Article 50 decision, that must inevitably inform our legal teams approach.

"All this has to be taken into account and our legal arguments finalised to ensure we are able to take the next step.

The statement also said that the bereaved families had no other option but to try to fund their own private legal action  despite the state officials being likely to have any legal costs paid for by the state.

Major Matthew Bacon

Mr Keys and Mr Bacon said: It has already been reported that those we may prosecute will have their legal costs automatically paid for by the state. If we are to succeed, we will need to be equally resourced.

There is no prospect of the case being referred to the International Criminal Court. As time passes, it is increasingly unlikely that the state will carry out any arrests or prosecutions. Parliament has voted not to take any action, such as impeachment.

Our only hope is for the Families to bring private legal action. It is down to us.

The two bereaved fathers added: If, for any reason, we determine we cannot proceed, we will be able to rest in the knowledge that we have left no stone unturned and taken our campaign for justice on behalf of our loved ones as far as possible.

On behalf of Matthew, Tom, and the 177 others killed in Iraq  we truly thank you for your support.
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The man reforming UK employment rules has signalled a possible future crackdown on firms trying to minimise their taxes by manipulating the official status of staff.

Matthew Taylor suggested lower tax rates that firms can lock in by re-classifying people as self-employed, had led to a rise in the number of jobs undertaken without the rights a full employee has.

It comes after a union study claimed increasing self-employment and the use of zero-hours contracts is costing the UK 4bn a year in lost tax, and ahead of data on Wednesday expected to show a continuing trend of high UK employment, pumped up by a rise in part-time jobs.

Recommended The gig economy will have to give workers the rights they deserve

Theresa May asked RSA chief executive Mr Taylor to lead an independent review into how employment practices should change to keep pace with modern business models.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4s Today programme, Mr Taylor said: I think all businesses will try to minimise their tax burden.

But because we have ambiguity over whether people are self-employed or workers  some businesses have designed themselves in order to try to make sure people are defined as self-employed because there is a lower tax burden.

Thats one of the incentives driving the pattern of employment that we have.

Research into the gig-economy by the Trades Union Congress found a rise in less secure work in the UK could be costing the Government almost 4bn a year in lost tax income and benefit pay-outs.

Increasing numbers of self-employed workers and those on zero-hours contracts earn less than regular employees, pay less tax and national insurance and mean a lower tax burden for firms using them.

The TUC study said their relatively low earnings also make them more likely to need in-work benefits, with the accumulated cost of 75m a week for the exchequer.

Office of National Statistics data shows the rise in self-employment since 2001 (Office of National Statistics)

Mr Taylor said: You can never be absolutely sure of how much it is costing because you then have to have an alternative of how much it would cost if you were to close down that activity, but there is certainly an impact and the public finances.

Official employment figures out last month showed there were 8.55 million people working part-time between September and November, 86,000 more than for a year earlier.
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The UKs cyber security chief has ridiculed public guidelines on internet passwords, claiming they require average Britons to memorise the equivalent of a 600-digit number every month.

The head of GCHQs new National Cyber Security Centre, Ciaran Martin, said even his best spooks would not be able to remember all the different passwords current guidelines require.

He called for some new simpler advice to help people manage security, as the Queen was due to formally open his new centre, with Chancellor Philip Hammond also present to outline the threat to the UK from both criminals targeting the public and state actors attacking the Government.

Mr Martin said that last year the Government blocked 300 million attempts from criminals emailing members of the public, pretending to be HM Revenue and Customs in a bid to commit fraud.

Asked about the burden of current personal security guidelines, which require people to have a multitude of different passwords and to regularly change them, he said: Weve got to make it easier for people to operate safely.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4s Today programme, he went on: We did some work where we worked out what we are asking the average British citizen to do in their personal and professional life, if they follow all the guidance on changing their password and how their password should be configured.

We worked out, what we were asking every British citizen to do was to memorise a new 600-digit number every month, my best technical people cant do that. None of my best people can do that.

So we shouldnt be telling other people to do that.

He said people could use password managers to help them deal with the problem and potentially have a single strong password for things that matter most to apply better protections to a smaller number of things.

Mr Martin added: What we need to do is help people make sensible, informed, evidence-based decisions about what protections are appropriate to them.

He also explained that over the past two years there had been a significant increase in the threat in cyber-space from Russia against the West, focussed on critical infrastructure and on political and democratic systems, such as the allegations relating to the US and German elections.

While the same intense attacks had not yet taken place in the UK, he explained that the threat was real. The state had suffered 60 attacks per month in the first three months of the new National Cyber Security Centres operation.

 DNI Chief describes current Russian cyber threat

In his speech today, Mr Hammond was set to call on businesses to play a greater role in helping protect the country from cyber-attacks.

The Industry 100 initiative will see 100 employees from the private sector be invited to temporarily transfer their work to the NCSC.

Mr Hammond believes the move will allow the Government to draw on the best and the brightest in industry to test and challenge the Governments thinking.
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Political parties in the UK have asked for help from the security agencies following a cyber attack during the 2015 British general election and the hacking of the Democratic Party emails as part of an alleged campaign by Vladimir Putins government to help Donald Trump win the US presidential elections.

The head of the UKs new National Cyber Security Centre, Ciaran Martin, revealed that informal talks had been held with the political parties and a programme to protect their sensitive online information will be put in place in the near future.

It also emerged that there is evidence of attempted cyber attacks in the run-up to the May 2015 British general elections, with a rise in clandestine online activity by the Russians across the UK at the time.

This followed an attack on Frances TV5Monde by hackers believed to be linked to the Kremlin, an act which demonstrated, said Mr Martin, a step change in Russian cyber aggression.

Recommended Trump fires White House staffer who ensures he does not get hacked

Speaking about the security needs of British politics after the opening of the Centre in central London by the Queen, Mr Martin said: "There is talk about it [with the parties] and we are ready to work with them. We have had some approaches and we would expect to be offering seminars and that sort of thing for political parties in the future. We have not done it yet: but we would expect to do so.

Mr Martin said he wanted to stress the need to protect Britains political system as a whole from the danger of cyber attacks:  What I would say is that protecting the integrity of the electoral democratic system is a top priority. You have to look at the totality of this. Of course, we will try to look at political parties. We support the parliamentary authorities at their request. We look at what is going on in government networks.

We did a huge amount of work in the last parliament when there was the move to online and individual electoral registration to protect that system. As well as parties, we would look at government departments, the media, think-tanks, and high profile individuals who may be under threat.

Ian Levy, the chief technical director at the Centre, drew an analogy between the threat faced by business and politics and the response needed. Political parties were set up like medium-sized enterprises and constituency parties like small enterprises he stated. The kind of advice given to medium-sized and small enterprises could also be given to political parties. We are looking at all this.

There had been persistent and rising reports of the Kremlins interference in the Wests political system using cyber attacks amid claims that the coming elections in Holland, France and Germany, with right-wing populist parties which have varying degrees of Russian support, may be vulnerable. Mr Martin said: Across the West we are on the alert and looking at defences in that sort of areas of the electoral process. This is obviously an area of concern.

In one of the latest allegations the Kremlin is accused of targeting Emmanuel Macron, the frontrunner in the French presidential elections, who may end up in a second round run-off against Marine Le Pen, the Front National candidate, who is a professed admirer of Mr Putin.

Richard Ferrand, the head of Mr Macrons party, held that  fake news has been circulated about the candidate and his campaign has faced  thousands of cyber-attacks. But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov maintained "We didn't have and do not have any intention of interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, or in their electoral processes in particular.That there is a hysterical anti-Putin campaign in certain countries abroad is an obvious fact."
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Seven Kenyan doctors who are officials of the medics union have been jailed for failing to call off a two-month strike by doctors at public hospitals.

Judge Hellen Wasilwa said she could not delay further the contempt of court sentence she had suspended earlier on condition the doctors call off their strike.

At least 5,000 doctors are on strike for better pay and to protest over the dilapidated state of Kenyas public healthcare.

This court declines to review its order sentencing the applicants to one month jail terms ... you can now start serving your sentences, those are the orders of the court, Judge Wasilwa said.

The Kenyan Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentist Union said it has called off all communications with President Uhuru Kenyattas government until their officials are released.

There will be no negotiations as long as the union officials are in jail ... Jailing them is actually stalling the negotiations to end the strike. It is not a solution, said Thuranira Kaugiria, a top union official.

Doctors want the Kenyan government to implement pay rises agreed on in 2013.

That agreement would raise their salaries by 180 per cent.

Currently doctors earn an average basic salary of 320 to 680 per month compared with a Kenya legislator who earns nearly 11,200 a month.

The strike has caused a near-total paralysis in Kenyas public health sector and many people are believed to have died from a lack of emergency services.

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The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. 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In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. 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Early in December, President Kenyatta said at least 20 people had died as a result of the strike.

Mr Kenyatta has twice asked the doctors to return to work, first appealing to their humanity for the suffering masses and then offering a partial increase of the salary hikes agreed upon in 2013.

The doctors union rejected both offers and urged the government to pay the full salary increases promised four years ago.

In 2012, Kenyas doctors went on strike to protest over the bad state of public healthcare.

Emergency rooms in some of Kenyas public hospitals frequently do not have gloves or medicine, and power outages sometimes force doctors to use their mobile phones to provide adequate light for a surgical procedure.

Mr Kenyatta has said his government must cut down on a ballooning wage bill which he says is not sustainable.

Critics have said the problem is not the wage bill but corruption.

Several large-scale corruption scandals exposed recently  including one at Kenyas health ministry where government auditors questioned the diversion of millions of dollars  have brought many Kenyans to question the Presidents commitment to ending corruption.

Leading economist David Ndii argues that Mr Kenyattas regime is the most corrupt of all of the four presidents Kenya has had.

In an opinion piece in Kenyas largest circulating newspaper, The Nation, in December, Mr Ndii argued the reason the government does not want to increase salaries is because officials want to create more headroom for looting.

John Githongo, a former Kenyan government adviser who exposed millions of dollars in government corruption in the previous regime, makes similar allegations.

This is the most corrupt government we have in history, said Mr Githongo, charging that the government has the resources to pay doctors, but officials are diverting the funds.

Here we have entire government projects that are designed from the onset to steal, Mr Githongo said.

We no longer have corruption in Kenya, we have theft and plunder.

Kenya has fallen six places to be ranked 145 out of 167 countries in an index by Transparency International for 2016.

AP
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The father of a young journalist shot and killed with her cameraman during a live broadcast, has said he will devote his life to seeing that some good comes from this evil.

Last Wednesday, my daughter Alison was brutally struck down in the prime of her life by a deranged gunman. Since then I have stated in numerous interviews with local, national and international media that I plan to make my lifes work trying to implement effective and reasonable safeguards against this happening again, Mr Parker wrote in the Washington Post.

In recent years we have witnessed similar tragedies unfold on TV: the shooting of a congresswoman in Arizona, the massacre of schoolchildren in Connecticut and of churchgoers in South Carolina.

Reporter Alison Parker interviewing Vicki Gardner moments before the attack

He added: "We have to ask ourselves: What do we need to do to stop this insanity? In my case, the answer is: Whatever it takes"."

Ms Parker, 24 and cameraman Adam Ward, 28, journalists with the WBDJ7 station in Roanoke, died last week after being shot by a disgruntled former colleague.

Vester Flanagan, who also used the television name Bryce Williams, shot himself several hours after he opened fire in southern Virginia. Mr Flanagan had accused the station of racial discrimination and rambling letters discovered since his death suggested he was struggling with mental health problems. It is unclear what treatment he may have received.

In the hours and days since last weeks shooting, Mr Parker has said he will fight to force politicians to enact regulations. He said while he does not want to ban guns, he believed there was a way to ensure people with mental health problems did have such easy access to such weapons.

Journalists Alison Parker and Adam Ward, who were killed after a gunman opened fire during a live broadcast in Virginia

He cited the example of anti-crime activist and television personality John Walsh, whose campaign began after the death of his son, Adam in 1981. He claimed many politicians were cowards and accused them of being in the pocket of the National Rifle Association, a gun industry and users advoacy and lobbying group.

I plan to devote all of my strength and resources to seeing that some good comes from this evil, he wrote in the Washington Post.

I am entering this arena with open eyes. I realise the magnitude of the force that opposes sensible and reasonable safeguards on the purchase of devices that have a single purpose: to kill.

Mr Walker said he would be calling on politicians such as Rep. Bob Goodlatte,who represents Roanoke, and state senators Senators John Edwards and William Stanley Jr.

Vester Lee Flanagan, known professionally as Bryce Williams, later killed himself (Facebook)

Mr Parker finished his article by recalling the week before his daughter was killed and a rafting trip she took to the Nantahala River in North Carolina with him, her mother, her boyfriend, Chris, and her close friend Katy.

It was her favourite place on earth. She was a brilliant kayaker and it was a family tradition she relished, he said.

We told each other often the mantra all paddlers must keep in mind while fighting the force of the rapid water: Never stop paddling. You just have to paddle through the rapids. You just have to paddle through.
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On the campaign trail, President Donald Trump repeatedly made scathing remarks regarding the highly publicised decision of Army Sgt Bowe Bergdahl to abandon his post in Afghanistan in 2009.

Now, a military judge is questioning whether Mr Bergdahl has a shot at a fair trial given Mr Trumps accusations that the sergeant is a traitor deserving of harsh punishment. MrBergdahls lawyers have argued the Presidents comments violate their clients rights to due process and the case should therefore be dismissed.

Charges against Mr Bergdahl include desertion and misbehaviour before the enemy. If convicted, he could face a life sentence.

In a pretrial hearing, Mr Bergdahls lawyers played footage of the President repeatedly  and harshly  denouncing the Army sergeant's behaviour. The defences motion highlights more than 40 instances of Trump criticising Mr Bergdahl.

Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear Show all 16 1 /16 Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2001 Afghans at the Killi Faizo refugee camp desperately reach for bags of rice being handed out to the thousands who escaped the bombardment in southern Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. (Chaman, Pakistan, December 4, 2001) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2002 Mahbooba stands against a bullet-ridden wall, waiting to be seen at a medical clinic. The seven-year-old girl suffers from leishmaniasis, a parasitical infection. (Kabul, March 1, 2002) All photos Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2003 A mother and her two children look out from their cave dwelling. Many families who, fleeing the Taliban, took refuge inside caves adjacent to Bamiyans destroyed ancient Buddha statues now have nowhere else to live. (Bamiyan, November 19, 2003) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2007 Students recite prayers in a makeshift outdoor classroom in the Wakhan Corridor, a mountainous region in northeastern Afghanistan that extends to China and separates Tajikistan from India and Pakistan. (Northeastern Afghanistan, September 2, 2007) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2007 Bodybuilders in the 55-60 kg category square off during a regional bodybuilding competition. Many Afghan men, like others around the world, feel that a macho image of physical strength is important. (Kabul, August 6, 2007) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2008 A woman in a white burqa enjoys an afternoon with her family feeding the white pigeons at the Blue Mosque. (Mazar-e-Sharif, March 8, 2008) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2009 Addicts inject heroin while trying to keep warm inside the abandoned Russian Cultural Center, which the capital citys addicts use as a common gathering point. Heroin is readily available, costing about one dollar a hit. (Kabul, February 9, 2009) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2009 An elderly man holds his granddaughter in their tent at a refugee camp after they were forced to flee their village, which US and NATO forces had bombed because, they claimed, it was a Taliban hideout. (Surobi, Nangarhar Province, February 7, 2009) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2009 Seven-year-old Attiullah, a patient at Mirwais Hospital, stands alongside an X ray showing the bullet that entered his back, nearly killing him. Attiullah was shot by US forces when he was caught in a crossfire as he was herding sheep. (Kandahar, October 13, 2009). Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2010 US Army Sargeant Jay Kenney (right), with Task Force Destiny, helps wounded Afghan National Army soldiers exit a Blackhawk helicopter after they have been rescued in an air mission. (Kandahar, December 12, 2010) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2010 An Afghan National Army battalion marches back to barracks at the Kabul Military Training Center. (Kabul, October 4, 2010) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2014 Eid Muhammad, seventy, lives in a house with a view overlooking the hills of Kabul. He and millions of other Afghans occupy land and housing without possessing formal deeds to them. (Kabul, November 21, 2014) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2014 Razima holds her two-year-old son, Malik, while waiting for medical attention at the Boost Hospital emergency room. (Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province, June 23, 2014) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2014 Young women cheer as they attend a rally for the Afghan presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani. (Kabul, April 1, 2014) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2014 Burqa-clad women wait to vote after a polling station runs out of ballots. (Kabul, April 5, 2014) Paula Bronstein Afghanistan: Between Hope and Fear 2015 Relatives, friends, and womens rights activists grieve at the home of Farkhunda Malikzada, who was killed by a mob in the center of Kabul. Farkhunda was violently beaten and set on fire after a local cleric accused her of burning a Quran. (Kabul, March 22, 2015) Paula Bronstein

While the judge, Army Col Jeffery Nance, has not yet ruled on the defenses request, he called Mr Trumps condemnations of Mr Bergdahl disturbing.

After walking off his post in 2009, Mr Bergdahl became a captive of the Taliban and was held by the group and its allies for five years. Mr Bergdahl maintains he walked off his post in order to raise alarm and highlight what he saw as problems within his unit.

In May 2014, the Obama administration traded five Taliban prisoners for the release of Mr Bergdahl, a move decried by Republicans as a threat to national security.

Army Maj Justin Oshana, a prosecutor, has argued the case should not be dismissed without first attempting to seat a jury, noting to dismiss a case without doing so would be unprecedented.

Mr Bergdahls trial is scheduled for April, but faces a strong likelihood of being delayed as problems relating to the discovery process are resolved.
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The possibility of impeaching Donald Trump has been raised by a Democratic congressman to keep every option open when dealing with the US President.

Mark Pocan told the House of Representatives that they need to try to get this administration to function like any other administration in the pastDemocrat or Republican.

The Wisconsin politician added: Clearly, one of those remedies is the power of impeachment.

Mr Trump's aides have attacked impeachment as extreme rhetoric from a completely out-of-touch party.

But Mr Pocan told representatives that impeachment is actually a valid political tool, designed to hold members of the executive branch to account.

Mr President, its time for you to fix this, he said, before calling on Mr Trump to address the serious criticisms which have been levelled at him since he took office, or face the consequences.

A fierce critic of the former reality TV star Mr Pocan used a map of the Middle East to illustrate another round of questions about President Trumps potential conflicts of interest over his business holdings.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

Pointing to the countries that were targeted by Mr Trumps executive order restricting travel from predominantly Muslim countries, he said: "These seven countries do have at least one thing in common. According to Bloomberg News, the Trump Organisation does not have business or pursued business deals in any of them.

He added that Mr Trump does have business interests in other Muslim countries  Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and potentially Egypt  which were not affected by the ban.

"It is unacceptable that business interests have played potentially a role in such a destructive policy, a policy that also makes our country less safe in the long run," he said. Its time for the president to stop defending his divisive and unconstitutional executive order and start being transparent about his business interests."

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

He stressed that impeachment is not a legal mechanism, it is a political act, and should be considered as such.

The US founders intentionally employed the catch-all phrase high crimes and misdemeanors to give representatives and senators the power to hold presidents, vice presidents, cabinet members, and other errant officials to account.

An impeached official is not charged by a prosecutor and tried in the courts, nor is he or she jailed or fined if found guilty. An impeached official is charged by the House of Representatives, tried by the Senate, and removed from office if convicted.

Should the president fail to address potential conflicts and embrace necessary transparency, Mr Pocan said, well have to take other actions, including legislative directives, resolutions of disapproval and even explore the power of impeachment.

In a recent poll 46 per cent of registered voters said they thought Mr Trump should be impeached, nine per cent said that they did not know and only 45 per cent said he should not be removed from office.
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Donald Trumps ban on US-funded groups that perform or provide information on abortions around the world has been condemned by Bill Gates.

The global gag rule could endanger the lives of millions of women and girls, and create a void that even a foundation like ours cant fill, Mr Gates and his wife, Melinda, said.

The executive order, which was signed by President Trump on his first full day in office, is expected to result in family planning funding being slashed in developing countries.

The US is the number one donor in the work that we do. Government aid cant be replaced by philanthropy, the 61-year-old told the Guardian.

When government leaves an area like that, it cant be offset, there isnt a real alternative.

Mr Gates, the world's richest man, revealed he had a good discussion with Mr Trump in December, where they spoke about the eradication of polio and the research the Gates Foundation is supporting towards an Aids vaccine.

But the Microsoft co-founder said he did not anticipate the scope of the ban on abortion funding.

 Democrat Senator Al Franken: Senate Republicans are worried Donald Trump is mentally ill

Melinda Gates told the newspaper the order would impact millions of women and girls around the world.

It saves moms lives and it saves babies lives, and that has long had wide support in the United States, she added.

Mr Trumps reinstatement of the rule reverses President Barack Obamas executive order that lifted the ban in 2009.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

Under the order, which is also known as the Mexico City Policy after it was first unveiled at a UN conference there in 1984, no government funding for family planning services can be given to clinics or groups outside the US that offer abortion or counselling services.

It was one of the centrepiece social policies of President Ronald Reagans administration, and has been rescinded and reinstated by Democrat and Republican governments respectively.

It is known to critics as the gag rule because it does not even allow for funding of groups which advocate for the lifting of abortion restrictions, claiming it infringes on free speech.
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Donald Trump has broken his silence following the resignation of his national security adviser.

But instead of issuing a statement on the departure of Gen Michael Flynn, he instead attempted to divert attention away from the matter at hand and point them to what has plagued his administration in its first few weeks: leaks.

Mr Flynn resigned amid scrutiny over his ties with the Kremlin, after reports revealed that he spoke with the Russian Ambassador prior to President Trump's inauguration  a severe break in protocol.

"The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming ot of Washington?" Mr Trump tweeted. "Will these leaks be happening as I deal with N Korea etc?"

But despite the President's deflection, questions still remain about Mr Flynn's ties to the Russian government  not to mention how much Mr Trump and his team knew, and what exactly they knew, before Monday.

In a resignation letter, Mr Flynn said he gave Vice President Mike Pence and others "incomplete information" about his calls with Russia's ambassador to the US.

Apparently relying on this information, Mr Pence initially said the national security adviser had not discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy, though Mr Flynn later conceded the issue may have come up.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

"Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador," Mr Flynn wrote in his resignation letter. "I have sincerely apologised to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology."

"I am tendering my resignation," Mr Flynn wrote, "honoured to have served our nation and the American people in such a distinguished way."

 Kellyanne Conway tried to explain Flynn's resignation was told on national TV she 'made no sense'

In the final days of the Obama administration, the Justice Department had warned the White House and the Trump transition team that Mr Flynn may have "put himself in a compromising position" with Russia.

The issue had been address by former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates, whom President Trump fired after she directed the DOJ not to defend the current administration's travel ban in court.

However, when news broke of Mr Flynn's phone call with the Russian envoy, Mr Trump claimed he had no idea what reporters were talking about.

"I don't know about that, I haven't seen it," Mr Trump said aboard Air Force One last week. "What report is that? I haven't seen that. I'll look into that."
Nearly 200,000 people remained under evacuation orders Monday in the western U.S. state of California while authorities tried to repair erosion of an emergency spillway at the country's tallest dam to keep it from failing and unleashing uncontrolled flood waters.

The immediate emergency that led to the evacuation appeared to have waned; but, officials were assessing how to fix the overflow channel at the Oroville Dam before deciding whether it was safe to let people return to their homes in rural communities 240 kilometers northeast of San Francisco.

"Now that there is no more water going over the emergency spillway, though it brings stability to the situation, there are still a lot of unknowns," Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea told reporters late Sunday. "We're not at the point yet where we can make decisions about whether or not it is safe to repopulate areas."

The 235-m dam, which holds back Lake Oroville, was not in danger of collapse. Authorities were releasing 2,830 cubic meters of water per second from the main spillway on Sunday, bringing down the reservoir so that there was no more flow into the emergency channel. Officials are trying to drop the dam's water level by 15 meters ahead of more storms forecast to hit the region on Wednesday.

The emergency is the result of winter storms that brought relief to the most populous U.S. state after four years of drought, but, water levels behind the dam forced officials to use the emergency spillway for the first time in almost 50 years. The evacuation was ordered after engineers spotted a hole in the concrete lip of the emergency spillway.
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Donald Trumps administration has imposed sanctions on Venezuelas Vice President after accusing him of being a major drug trafficker.

The US Treasury Department said it was freezing the assets of Tareck El Aissami and designating him as a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker.

US officials accused him of playing a significant role in the international drugs trade.

The US also took action against Samark Lopez, a wealthy Venezuelan businessman who it said was a front man for Mr El Aissami. Mr Lopez was guilty of providing material assistance, financial support, or goods or services in support of the international narcotics trafficking activities of, and acting for or on behalf of, El Aissam, the Treasury Department claimed.

Utilising laws passed during Bill Clintons presidency that allow the US to penalise anyone considered a drug kingpin, the Trump Administration blocked 13 companies owned by Mr Lopez, allegedly on behalf of Mr El Aissam, and barred both men from entering the US.

Mr El Aissami is the most senior Venezuelan official to ever be targeted by the US Government.

The move is likely to fuel ongoing tensions between the US and socialist Venezuela. Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuelan President, has previously called Donald Trump a bandit and mental patient.

There was no immediate response from Mr El Aissami but he has previously denied having criminal connections.

The 42-year-old was appointed as Venezuelas Executive Vice President in January 2017, having previously served as a state governor and then Minister of Interior and Justice.

World's 10 deadliest street drugs Show all 10 1 /10 World's 10 deadliest street drugs World's 10 deadliest street drugs Whoonga Whoonga is a combination of antiretroviral drugs, used to treat HIV, and various cutting agents such as detergents and poisons. The drug is widely available in South Africa due to South Africas high rate of HIV sufferers, and is believed to be popular due to how cheap it is when compared to prescribed antiretrovirals. The drug is highly addictive and can cause major health issues such as internal bleeding, stomach ulcers and ultimately death Getty World's 10 deadliest street drugs Scopolamine Scopolamine is a derivative from the nightshade plant found in the Northern Indian region of South America (Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela). It is generally found in a refined powder form, but can also be found as a tea. The drug is more often used by criminals due its high toxicity level (one gram is believed to be able to kill up to 20 people) making it a strong poison. However, it is also believed that the drug is blown into the faces of unexpecting victims, later causing them to lose all sense of self-control and becoming incapable of forming memories during the time they are under the influence of the drug. This tactic has reportedly been used by gangs in Colombia where there have been reports of people using scopolamine as way to convince victims to rob their own homes World's 10 deadliest street drugs Heroin Founded in 1874 by C. R. Alder Wright, heroin is one of the worlds oldest drugs. Originally it was prescribed as a strong painkiller used to treat chronic pain and physical trauma. However in 1971 it was made illegal under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Since then it has become one of the most destructive substances in the world, tearing apart communities and destroying families. The side effects of heroin include inflammation of the gums, cold sweats, a weak immune system, muscular weakness and insomnia. It can also damage blood vessels which can later cause gangrene if left untreated World's 10 deadliest street drugs Crack cocaine Crack cocaine first came about in the 1980s when cocaine became a widespread commodity within the drug trafficking world. Originally cocaine would have attracted a high price tag due to its rarity and difficulty to produce, but once it became more widespread the price dropped significantly. This resulted in drug dealers forming their cocaine into rock like shapes by using baking soda as a way of distilling the powder down into rock form. People were doing this because it allowed for them to sell cocaine at a lower quantity and to a higher number of people. The side effects of crack cocaine include liver, kidney and lung damage, as well as permanent damage to blood vessels, which can often lead to heart attacks, strokes, and ultimately death World's 10 deadliest street drugs Crystal meth Not just famous because of a certain Walter H White, but also because it is one of the most destructive drugs in the world. First developed in 1887, it became widely used during the Second World War when both sides would give it to their troops to keep them awake. It is also believed that the Japanese gave it to their Kamikaze pilots before their suicide missions. After the war crystal meth was prescribed as a diet aid and remained legal until the 1970s. Since then it has fallen into the hands of Mexican gangs and has become a worldwide phenomenon, spreading throughout Europe and Asia. The effects of crystal meth are devastating. In the short-term users will become sleep depraved and anxious, and in the long-term it will cause their flesh to sink, as well as brain damage and damage of the blood vessels World's 10 deadliest street drugs AH-7921 AH-7921 is a synthetic opioid that was previously available to legally purchase online from vendors until it became a Class A in January 2015. The drug is believed to have 80% of the potency of morphine, and became known as the legal heroin. While there has only been one death related to AH-7921 in the UK, it is believed to be highly dangerous and capable of causing respiratory arrest and gangrene World's 10 deadliest street drugs Flakka Flakka is a stimulant with a similar chemical make-up to the amphetamine-like drug found in bath salts. While the drug was originally marketed as a legal high alternative to ecstasy, the effects are significantly different. The user will feel an elevated heart rate, enhanced emotions, and, if enough is digested, strong hallucinations. The drug can cause permanent psychological damage due to it affecting the mood regulating neurons that keep the minds serotonin and dopamine in check, as well as possibly causing heart failure World's 10 deadliest street drugs Bath salts Bath salts are a synthetic crystalline drug that is prevalent in the US. While they may sound harmless, they certainly arent the sort of salts you drop into a warm bath when having a relaxing night in, they are most similar to mephedrone, and have recently been featured throughout social media due to the zombification of its. The name comes from the fact that the drug was originally sold online, and widely disguised as bath salts. The side effects include unusual psychiatric behaviour, psychosis, panic attacks and violent behaviour, as well as the possibility of a heart attack and an elevated body temperature World's 10 deadliest street drugs Purple Drank One of the more unusual drugs around at the moment, purple drank was popularised in 90s hip hop culture, with the likes of Jay Z and Big Moe all mentioning it in their songs. It is a concoction of soda water, sweets and cold medicine, and is drunk due to cold medicines high codeine content, which gives the user a woozy feeling. However it can also cause respiratory issues and heart failure World's 10 deadliest street drugs Krokodil Krokodil is Russias secret addiction. It is believed that over one million Russians are addicted to the drug. Users of krokodil are attracted to the drug due to its low price; it is sold at 20 a gram while heroin is sold for 60. However, krokodil is considered more dangerous than heroin because it is often homemade, with ingredients including painkillers, iodine, lighter fluid and industrial cleaning agents. This chemical make-up makes the drug highly dangerous and likely to cause gangrene, and eventually rotting of the flesh

In a statement, the US Treasury Department claimed he had, Facilitated shipments of narcotics from Venezuela, to include control over planes that leave from a Venezuelan air base, as well as control of drug routes through the ports in Venezuela.

In his previous positions, he oversaw or partially owned narcotics shipments of over 1,000 kilograms from Venezuela on multiple occasions, including those with the final destinations of Mexico and the United States.

He also helped co-ordinate drug shipments to Los Zetas, a violent Mexican drug cartel, they added.

Mr El Aissami had previously been named by Venezuelas top convicted drug trafficker, Walid Makled, who said he had paid bribes through the now Vice Presidents brother to officials so they would turn a blind eye to cocaine shipments.

Announcing the sanctions, John E. Smith, Acting Director of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), said the action was "the culmination of a multi-year investigation under the Kingpin Act to target significant narcotics traffickers in Venezuela and demonstrates that power and influence do not protect those who engage in these illicit activities."

He added: "This case highlights our continued focus on narcotics traffickers and those who help launder their illicit proceeds through the United States. Denying a safe haven for illicit assets in the United States and protecting the U.S. financial system from abuse remain top priorities of the Treasury Department."

The Treasury sanctions were welcomed by some experts on the South American drugs trade.

Mark Feierstein, who served as Barack Obamas top national security adviser on Latin America, said: This was an overdue step to ratchet up pressure on the Venezuelan regime and signal that top officials will suffer consequences if they continue to engage in massive corruption, abuse human rights and [the dismantling of] democracy,
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The resignation of Donald Trumps national security adviser has reignited debate about the US administrations alleged links with Russia after revelations Michael Flynn misled the Vice President about the extent of his contacts.

Mr Flynn admitted giving Mike Pence and others incomplete information about phone conversations with the Russian ambassador because of the fast pace of events during the transition period.

The Vice President initially said the national security adviser had not discussed sanctions implemented against Russia over the Ukrainian war and alleged interference in the US election with Sergei Kislyak, but Mr Flynn later conceded the issue may have come up.

 Michael Flynn resigns as national security adviser over Russia row

Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, confirmed the phone calls took place in December but denied he and Mr Kislyak had discussed easing sanctions.

Any assurances offered over the incoming administrations new approach would breach diplomatic protocol and constitute a possible violation the Logan Act, which aims at keeping citizens from conducting diplomacy.

The Justice Department  under dismissed acting Attorney General Sally Yates - had reportedly warned the White House over the conversations last month, arguing that they could leave Mr Flynn vulnerable to blackmail.

His eventual departure on Monday evening came after the White House issued a statement saying Mr Trump was evaluating the situation over his adviser, who was previously dismissed by Barack Obama as head of the Defence Intelligence Agency in 2014.

The following year, Mr Flynn was paid to attend a gala dinner for state-owned broadcaster, and sat next to Vladimir Putin during the event.

Mr Flynn was one of several presidential appointments hailed by pro-Kremlin analyst Sergei Markov as a fantastic team, alongside Rex Tillerson.

Mr Tillerson, the Secretary of State, has had business ties in Russia for two decades as head of the Exxon Mobil oil and gas corporation and its join Russian venture Exxon Neftegas.

Vladimir Putin speaks with Rex Tillerson during the signing of a Rosneft-ExxonMobil strategic partnership agreement in Sochi in 2011. (AFP/Getty Images)

He has met the Russian President several times during the course of his business dealings, being bestowed with the Order of Friendship by Mr Putin in 2013, and was also linked with sanctioned Rosneft head Igor Sechin.

In an Exxon shareholder meeting in May 2014, Mr Tillerson said the anti-Russian sanctions putting millions of dollars in his firm at risk were not found to be effective.

He said he never lobbied against the sanctions during his confirmation hearing, where he was grilled on Russias record on human rights and intervention in Syria, telling Democrats that he would not use the term [war criminal] to describe Mr Putin.

When confronted by claims that Mr Putin was a killer in a Fox News interview, Mr Trump replied: There are a lot of killers, we've got a lot of killers. What do you think? Our country's so innocent?

The US President has reiterated his respect for his Russian counterpart, who complimented him during his presidential campaign.

Mr Trump also dismissed the FBIs allegations that Russian hackers had interfered in his election, sparking a row with his own security agencies, and praised Mr Putins very smart decision not to immediately impose counter-sanctions in December.

He has denied having any financial links with Russia himself, tweeting last month: "Russia has never tried to use leverage over me. I have nothing to do with Russia - no deals, no loans, no nothing."

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

A Trump hotel was proposed in Moscow in the 2000s but never built, while the President visited Moscow in 2013 to host the Miss Universe pageant.

Mr Trump's alleged activities during his stay were included in a dossier passed to the FBI, but could not be verified.

Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister, said Mr Trump had agreed with Japans promotion of dialogue with Russia over territorial issues, as well as the Syrian and Ukrainian wars during his recent visit to the US.

The friendly overtures caused unease in Washington that has been worsened by Mr Flynns departure.

But Konstantin Kosachev, the chairman of the Russian State Dumas foreign affairs committee, said the national security advisers removal represented not just paranoia but something even worse.

Either Trump hasn't found the necessary independence and he's been driven into a corner...or Russophobia has infected the new administration from top to bottom, he wrote in a Facebook post.

His counterpart in the lower chamber of the Russian parliament, senator Alexei Pushkov, tweeted shortly after the announcement that it was not Flynn who was targeted but relations with Russia.

Mr Peskov, Mr Putins spokesperson, declined to comment further on Tuesday morning. This is the internal affair of the Americans, the internal affair of the Trump administration, he said. It's nothing to do with us.
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Actress Emily Ratajkowski has defended the First Lady after she claimed a New York Times journalist told her Melania is a hooker.

The actress and model, who is a vocal feminist and Bernie Sanders supporter, tweeted about the alleged comment on Monday, claiming that whatever political beliefs a person holds, it does not excuse slut shaming.

She tweeted: Sat next to a journalist from the NYT last night who told me Melania is a hooker. Whatever your politics its crucial to call this out for what it is: slut shaming, she tweeted. I dont care about her nudes or sexual history and no one should.

Recommended Emily Ratajkowski compares dress criticism to burkini ban

Gender specific attacks are disgusting sexist bulls***.

Mrs Trump responded to Ms Ratajkowskis comments from the official First Lady twitter account, writing: Applause to all women around the world who speak up, stand up and support other women!

She credited Ms Ratajkowski in the tweet by citing her twitter handle, @emrata, adding the hashtags #PowerOfEveryWoman and #PowerOfTheFirstLady.

Ms Ratajkowski is a vocal feminist and regularly calls out negative comments about female nudity. The tweet pinned at the top of her Twitter page states: Women choosing when and how they want to share their sexuality and bodies.

A New York Times spokesperson said: At a party on Sunday night, a Times reporter who does not cover Washington or politics, referred to an unfounded rumour regarding Melania Trump.

The comment was not intended to be public, but it was nonetheless completely inappropriate and should not have occurred. Editors have talked to the reporter in question about the lapse.
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Harvard, Yale and Stanford are among 17 elite universities that have launched a legal challenge to Donald Trumps ban on refugees and citizens of seven Muslim-majority nations entering the US, saying it has serious and chilling implications.

The schools said the ban threatened their ability to attract international students and academics they needed to meet their goals of educating tomorrows leaders from around the world.

They filed the papers on Monday in a New York federal court in support of an existing lawsuit.

The government has argued the case should be dropped since no one was in custody.

 Trump considers "brand new" travel ban

President Trump signed an executive order at the end of January blocking entry to the US by people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

The order stopped Syrian refugees from entering the country indefinitely and immediately halted the US Refugee Admissions Program for 120 days.

Following widespread outrage, the government amended the order to allow citizens to enter if they possessed a green card.

Activists protest Donald Trump's proposed Muslim ban Show all 11 1 /11 Activists protest Donald Trump's proposed Muslim ban Activists protest Donald Trump's proposed Muslim ban People listen to speakers at a demonstration against racism and conservative presidential candidate Donald Trump's recent remarks concerning Muslims on December 10, 2015 in New York City. Dozens or demonstrators and activists converged at Columbus Circle to denounce the politics of Trump and the treatment of Muslim refugees both in America and Europe. Spencer Platt/Getty Activists protest Donald Trump's proposed Muslim ban People listen to speakers at a demonstration against racism and conservative presidential candidate Donald Trump's recent remarks concerning Muslims on December 10, 2015 in New York City. Dozens or demonstrators and activists converged at Columbus Circle to denounce the politics of Trump and the treatment of Muslim refugees both in America and Europe. Spencer Platt/Getty Activists protest Donald Trump's proposed Muslim ban People listen to speakers at a demonstration against racism and conservative presidential candidate Donald Trump's recent remarks concerning Muslims on December 10, 2015 in New York City. Dozens or demonstrators and activists converged at Columbus Circle to denounce the politics of Trump and the treatment of Muslim refugees both in America and Europe. Spencer Platt/Getty Activists protest Donald Trump's proposed Muslim ban People listen to speakers at a demonstration against racism and conservative presidential candidate Donald Trump's recent remarks concerning Muslims on December 10, 2015 in New York City. Dozens or demonstrators and activists converged at Columbus Circle to denounce the politics of Trump and the treatment of Muslim refugees both in America and Europe. Spencer Platt/Getty Activists protest Donald Trump's proposed Muslim ban People listen to speakers at a demonstration against racism and conservative presidential candidate Donald Trump's recent remarks concerning Muslims on December 10, 2015 in New York City. Dozens or demonstrators and activists converged at Columbus Circle to denounce the politics of Trump and the treatment of Muslim refugees both in America and Europe. Spencer Platt/Getty Activists protest Donald Trump's proposed Muslim ban People listen to speakers at a demonstration against racism and conservative presidential candidate Donald Trump's recent remarks concerning Muslims on December 10, 2015 in New York City. Dozens or demonstrators and activists converged at Columbus Circle to denounce the politics of Trump and the treatment of Muslim refugees both in America and Europe. Getty Activists protest Donald Trump's proposed Muslim ban People listen to speakers at a demonstration against racism and conservative presidential candidate Donald Trump's recent remarks concerning Muslims on December 10, 2015 in New York City. Dozens or demonstrators and activists converged at Columbus Circle to denounce the politics of Trump and the treatment of Muslim refugees both in America and Europe. Spencer Platt/Getty Activists protest Donald Trump's proposed Muslim ban People listen to speakers at a demonstration against racism and conservative presidential candidate Donald Trump's recent remarks concerning Muslims on December 10, 2015 in New York City. Dozens or demonstrators and activists converged at Columbus Circle to denounce the politics of Trump and the treatment of Muslim refugees both in America and Europe. Spencer Platt/Getty Activists protest Donald Trump's proposed Muslim ban People listen to speakers at a demonstration against racism and conservative presidential candidate Donald Trump's recent remarks concerning Muslims on December 10, 2015 in New York City. Dozens or demonstrators and activists converged at Columbus Circle to denounce the politics of Trump and the treatment of Muslim refugees both in America and Europe. Spencer Platt/Getty Activists protest Donald Trump's proposed Muslim ban People listen to speakers at a demonstration against racism and conservative presidential candidate Donald Trump's recent remarks concerning Muslims on December 10, 2015 in New York City. Dozens or demonstrators and activists converged at Columbus Circle to denounce the politics of Trump and the treatment of Muslim refugees both in America and Europe. Spencer Platt/Getty Activists protest Donald Trump's proposed Muslim ban People listen to speakers at a demonstration against racism and conservative presidential candidate Donald Trump's recent remarks concerning Muslims on December 10, 2015 in New York City. Dozens or demonstrators and activists converged at Columbus Circle to denounce the politics of Trump and the treatment of Muslim refugees both in America and Europe. Spencer Platt/Getty

The universities wrote in a joint statement: By prohibiting persons from freely travelling to and from this country, the executive order divides students and their families, impairs the ability of American universities to draw the finest international talent, and inhibits the free exchange of ideas.

On Thursday, US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously upheld a lower court's ruling blocking enforcement of the order. The Trump administration has indicated it will fight the decision.

Despite the block on the travel ban, the schools said it had already had a negative effect and argued the potential for harm continued.

While the Executive Order is currently limited to seven countries, its damaging effects have already been widely felt by American universities," the schools said in their friend-of-the-court brief.

President of Maryland university Johns Hopkins  which is among the schools mounting the legal challenge  said in a message to its supporters that the executive order takes our country down the ominous path of erecting barriers not on the basis of a demonstrated security threat but on the basis of religion".

He added: "The order stands in unambiguous opposition to our country's long-cherished values and ideals.

In the 2015-16 academic year, US universities accepted more than one million international students.

Around 10 per cent of Yale's faculty is international and approximately 65 per cent of its postdoctoral research community comes from abroad, according to the universities.

Scholars from around the world have called for a boycott of conferences in the US in response to the order. An online petition has accrued thousands of signatures from academics both inside and outside the country.

More than 42,000 scholars, including 62 Nobel Laureates and 813 Members of the National Academies of including the Sciences, Engineering and Arts have expressed their opposition to the travel ban, the court document claimed.
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Kellyanne Conway upset a fair few people when she made a sales pitch for Ivanka Trumps line of products on live television. Not only did the White House rebuke its senior adviser, she was also accused of violating federal ethics law.

However, according to a report, the damage of Ms Conways saga hit closer to home than anyone realised and she inadvertently enraged the very person she sought to protect  Ms Trump herself.

Ms Trump, the Presidents second child who is said to be his favourite, is reported to have reproached Ms Conway for endorsing her brand on air.

A source close to the President told Politico the First Daughter scolded Ms Conway for dragging her brand into an ethics mess and told her not to mention it again on TV.

According to the unnamed source, this was linked to a conversation that Ms Trump reportedly had with her father weeks before the saga about keeping her business out of the politics  a chat Ms Conway is said to have been unaware of.

Ms Conway, Mr Trumps former campaign manager, sparked controversy after she weighed in on Nordstrom department stores decision to stop selling Ivanka-Trump branded products.

"Go buy Ivanka's stuff, is what I would say," she told interviewers on the Fox & Friends TV programme last week. "It's a wonderful line."

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

She claimed Ms Trump was being targeted by people who disliked her father, saying: Theyre using her to get to him.

Mr Trump also attacked the decision by the retailer, rushing to the defence of his daughter on Twitter. White House press secretary Sean Spicer called the department stores decision to stop selling some of her merchandise a direct attack on the President.

Nevertheless, Ms Conway was seen to have overstepped the mark after her on-air plug. Chris Lu, the former US Deputy Secretary of Labour, highlighted a section of statute in a screenshot on Twitter.

"This is the federal ethics law that @KellyannePolls just violated". He tagged Congressman Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the Congress oversight committee.

Norm Eisen, who served as Special Counsel for Ethics and Government Reform in the White House, before going on to become the US ambassador to the Czech Republic, backed him up.

The law, 5 CFR 2635.702, which Mr Lu cited, states: "An employee shall not use his public office for his own private gain, for the endorsement of any product, service or enterprise, or for the private gain of friends, relatives, or persons with whom the employee is affiliated in a nongovernmental capacity".

The White House also made it clear they were not best pleased with Ms Conways remarks. After being probed about the blunder, Spicer appeared to change his tune, saying: She has been counselled on that subject, and thats it.

Ms Trumps brand, which she has stepped down from, has taken a hit since increasing numbers of Trump critics have boycotted her clothing and accessories line. A recent report by The Wall Street Journal said her brands sales fell by nearly a third in the past financial year, with a sharp decline in the weeks running up to Mr Trumps win.

The Grab Your Wallet boycott campaign (a reference to the Presidents leaked sexually aggressive 2005 pussy-grabbing comments) emerged last autumn and urges consumers to boycott shops which sell products affiliated with Mr Trumps family businesses.

A representative for the White House did not immediately respond to request for comment.
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Justin Trudeau was all smiles, handshakes and encouraging words at the White House during his first meeting with Donald Trump, despite a slightly frosty start for the US-Canada relationship.

The leaders posed for a photo in the Oval Office in reported near silence as the cameras clicked.

I think they want a handshake, Mr Trump said.

Later in the Cabinet Room, Mr Trudeau pulled out a chair for the Presidents eldest daughter, Ivanka Trump, and thanked her for organising the roundtable of women executives to discuss how to create paths for entrepreneurial success.

Recommended The photo that shows how Justin Trudeau feels about Donald Trump

The Canadian leaders visit to Washington, including a lunch and meetings with House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, will be viewed as critical for strengthening relations and maintaining daily, cross-border trade of around $2bn.

Behind the smiles and formalities, the liberal Canadian leader and the conservative American populist were set to discuss two polarising issues: refugees and workplace gender equality.

Mr Trudeau warned Canada would "not agree on everything", referring to Mr Trumps executive order to ban people from seven Muslim-majority countries.

The ban, which was signed on 27 January, confused Canadians and those with dual nationalities, as well as visa and green card holders.

Mr Trudeau posted a photo on the day of the ban, kneeling beside a child refugee  one of 40,000 Syrian refugees last year  with the caption Welcome to Canada. The US has taken in 12,500.

 Justin Trudeau moved to tears when reunited with refugee family he welcomed last year

While Mr Trudeau said that he would continue to welcome refugees without compromising national security, Mr Trump insisted that he wanted to keep out the very bad dudes.

Mr Trudeau added that while the two nations had fought and died together, there have been times where we have differed in our approaches and that's always been done firmly and respectfully.

He added: The last thing Canadians expect is for me to come down and lecture another country on how they choose to govern themselves. My role and responsibility is to continue to govern in such a way that reflects Canadians' approach and be a positive example in the world.

The leaders also announced a joint initiative, the Canada-United States Council for Advancement of Women Entrepreneurs and Business Leader, but their stances on womens rights could also be seen as polar opposites.

 Democrat Senator Al Franken: Senate Republicans are worried Donald Trump is mentally ill

While Mr Trudeau created a gender-balanced cabinet in 2015 and has often declared himself a feminist, Mr Trump has not been so warmly regarded by proponents of gender equality.

Alongside multiple accusations of sexual assault, which Mr Trump has strongly denied, the President also admitted that he regretted hiring his first wife, Ivana Trump, and bragged that he had never changed a diaper.

We need to make it easier for women to manage the demands of having a job and a family, Mr Trump told the roundtable.

One of his first acts as President was to reinstate the Mexico City Policy, which bans US aid for any foreign organisation that even talks about abortion. He is pro-life and critics fear he will roll back women's reproductive rights, preventing them from being able to contribute fully to the workforce if they cannot make decisions about their own bodies.

 Justin Trudeau vows to defend women and stick up to Trump

The White House gathering was expected to discuss maternity leave. Under a proposal crafted by his daughter, Mr Trump promised to provide six weeks of paid maternity leave if a womans company did not offer any form of cover, and the government would pay for the multi-billion dollar bill by targeting workplace insurance fraud.

We need to think about how we level the playing field for this generation and the next, said Ivanka Trump at the meeting.

In Washington on Monday, Mr Trudeau was accompanied by several key Canadian ministers, but not his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau. Around 6pm, he was scheduled to fly back to Ottawa.

Mr Trump had insisted that their conversation was very, very productive.

Mr Trudeau can only hope he struck the right note with his neigbour after a fair share of controversy in recent months  Mr Trump was widely criticised for not making a public statement about the Quebec Mosque shooting, which was carried out by a white man against Muslims, killing six. Mr Trump did call Mr Trudeau on 30 January to offer his condolences.

Mr Trump has also recently met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who he referred to as Prime Minister Shinzo on twitter, and UK Prime Minister Theresa May. He grabbed her hand as they headed along a White House corridor together, which some pundits said was due to his fear of slopes.
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The New York Times has responded to a claim that one of its journalists said the First Lady "is a hooker", calling the comment "completely inappropriate".

Actress Emily Ratajkowski tweeted on Monday that a journalist from the newspaper had made the comment to her the night before, and called it out for slut shaming Melania Trump.

Ms Ratajkowski tweeted: Sat next to a journalist from the NYT last night who told me Melania is a hooker. Whatever your politics its crucial to call this out for what it is: slut shaming.

Recommended Melania Trump could be about to feature on the cover of Vogue

I dont care about her nudes or sexual history and no one should, she said, adding: Gender specific attacks are disgusting sexist bulls***.

New York Times spokeswoman Eileen Murphy said the reporter had referred to an unfounded rumour regarding the First Lady, and editors have spoken to them regarding the lapse.

The comment was not intended to be public, but it was nonetheless completely inappropriate and should not have occurred, she added.

The journalist has not been named, but they do not cover Washington or politics, Ms Murphy said.

The First Lady did not respond directly to the comments, but she tweeted a message from the @FLOTUS Twitter account that was directed at Ms Ratajkowski, and cited her twitter handle @emrata.

The tweet read: Applause to all women around the world who speak up, stand up and support other women! @emrata #PowerOfEveryWoman #PowerOfTheFirstLady.
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Donald Trump's embattled national security adviser Michael Flynn resigned las than month after taking office, following reports that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russia.

Mr Flynn had been embroiled in controversy since it was revealed that he had a conversation with a Russian diplomat about sanctions prior to the US President's administration taking office.

In a resignation letter, Mr Flynn said he gave Vice President Mike Pence and others "incomplete information" about his calls with Russia's ambassador to the US.

Apparently relying on this information, Mr Pence initially said the national security adviser had not discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy, though Mr Flynn later conceded the issue may have come up.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

His resignation letter said that he held numerous calls with "foreign counterparts, ministers, and ambassadors ... to facilitate a smooth transition".

He added: "Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador. I have sincerely apologised to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology."

"I am tendering my resignation," Mr Flynn wrote, "honoured to have served our nation and the American people in such a distinguished way."

The White House said it will replace Mr Flynn with retired Army Lieutenant General Joseph K Kellogg Jr as acting national security adviser.

Officials who had seen the transcripts of Mr Flynn's conversation with the Russian Ambassador, said he had touched on the subject of the sanctions imposed after the intelligence community determined the Russian government was behind the 2016 hacks of the Democratic National Committee  an alleged attempt to sway the election in Mr Trump's favour.

It is considered a drastic break in protocol to discuss policy with foreign officials, let alone those in an adversarial government, before the new administration takes office.

Mr Flynn had originally denied that he had the conversations, at one point claiming that he could not remember what was discussed in his talks with the Russian diplomat.

When first asked about the situation, Mr Trump was aboard Air Force One with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He claimed to have no idea what reporters were referring to.

 Michael Flynn: We're officially putting Iran on notice

"I don't know about that, I haven't seen it," Mr Trump said. "What report is that? I haven't seen that. I'll look into that."

The White House later said it was "evaluating the situation" regarding Mr Flynn.

California congressman Adam Schiff, a ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said that questions over Mr Flynn's contact with Russia still remain despite his departure.

"General Flynn's decision to step down as National Security Adviser was all but ordained the day he misled the country about his secret talks with the Russian Ambassador," Mr Schiff said in a statement. "In fact, Flynn was always a poor choice for National Security Adviser, a role in which you need to be a consensus builder, and possess sobriety and steady judgement.

"It is certainly no role for someone who plays fast and loose with the truth."

Recommended Sally Yates warned Trump that Flynn was compromised by Russia

House Intelligence Committee chair Devin Nunes struck a different tone in his statement about Mr Flynn, whom he honour for his three decades of service to the US.

"Washington, DC, can be a rough town for honourable people," he said, "and Flynn  who has always been a soldier, not a politician  deserves America's gratitude and respect for dedicating so much of his life to strengthening our national security."

Nevertheless, Mr Flynn raised red flags for the Justice Department late last year.

In the final days of the Obama administration, Acting Attorney General Sally Yates  whom Mr Trump fired after she spoke out against his travel ban  had reportedly warned incoming Trump administration officials that "Flynn had put himself in a compromising position".

The Trump administration has been plagued with leaks during its first few weeks, but none had appeared to have the same damaging effect as those related to Mr Flynn.

"This is very new, because usually the administration is united and unified and quiet," Robert Shapiro, a Columbia University government professor, told The Independent.

He added that the leaks were especially damaging to the infant administration because senior officials  including Vice President Mike Pence  had backed Mr Flynn.

I think Mr Flynn has to go, he said. This is an embarrassing distraction.

Mr Flynn was one of Donald Trump's earliest supporters. During his appearance at the Republican National Convention, the former general led the audience in cheers of "Lock her up!"  a popular rallying cry of Trump supporters who shared the unsubstantiated belief that Hillary Clinton was guilty of criminal misconduct.

"If I did a tenth of what she did," Mr Flynn told the crowd, "I'd be in jail today."
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Lawyers for Michael Slager, the former South Carolina police officer who was videotaped fatally shooting an unarmed black man after a routine traffic stop in 2015, have requested that federal charges against their client be dropped because the timing of the case would impose an unjust burden.

Mr Slagers lawyers argued that the federal civil rights case would overlap with a state murder trial stemming from the same incident and it would be crushingly, unfair and highly prejudicial to force him to defend against both charges at the same time.

The request comes months ahead of the scheduled start for the federal trial, which is set to begin jury selection in May. Mr Slager is also scheduled to face state murder charges in August after an initial trial resulted in a hung jury last year. If convicted of murder, Mr Slager faces a sentence of 30 years to life without parole, the Associated Press said.

(Getty Images)

The former officer was fired from his post with the Charleston Police Department after cellphone footage released online by a bystander showed the 35-year-old shooting 50-year-old Walter Scott as he ran some 17 feet in the opposite direction.

 Mother of accused killer cop Michael Slager speaks out

In the graphic video, which went viral online and sparked national outrage, Mr Slager was seen shooting Mr Scott five times. The footage contradicted the original statements made by the officer, who originally justified the use of lethal force by saying that Mr Scott had grabbed his Taser and ran toward him during the traffic stop.

The administration of President Donald Trump indicated last month that it might consider dropping the federal charges against Mr Slager.

The video of the shooting added to a series of similar clips released in recent years that have shown unarmed black men getting killed by white police officers across the country and have sparked a national conversation over police brutality. That attention has led to several Justice Department investigations into police brutality in cities like Chicago and Baltimore.
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Almost 200,000 California residents remain under threat after being ordered to evacuate their homes as officials desperately search for a fix to a damaged spillway on the nations tallest dam ahead of heavy rain expected later in the week.

Yet there is no timetable to fix the eroded spillway (which helps to control the flow of water) at Lake Oroville  about 150 miles (241 km) north of San Francisco  Butte County Sheriffs said.

The water level behind the dam fell, however, allaying fears that the spillway would collapse, resulting in catastrophic flooding of the nearby town.

Recommended Thousands evacuated amid fears largest dam in US could collapse

As rain approaches later this week, the California Department of Water Resources is up against the clock to repair the spillway. In one last ditch effort, officials said they may use helicopters to drop rock loads on the spillway to fill the gap.

Residents living below the lake, home to largest dam in the US, were ordered to evacuate on Sunday. All 188,000 people still remain under those orders.

People were just panicking, Nancy Borsdorf said. Ms Borsdorf has been an Oroville resident for 13 years, but she is staying at a shelter in nearby Chico until it is safe to return home.

Weve always loved and trusted our dam, she added. Im really hopeful Oroville wasnt flooded.

Over 200,000 people have been evacuated after a hole emerged in an emergency spillway of the Oroville Dam, threatening to flood the surrounding area (Getty Images)

The Oroville dam was completed in the 1960s. As the area received significant rainfall in recent weeks, the water level raised, causing DWR officials to drain some water through the spillway for the first time in five decades.

But water officials denied that the state neglected the spillway.

We have a very rigorous schedule of inspections that is determined by state and federal regulators, said DWR spokesperson Eric See. We actually do those inspections annually.

Mr See added that workers are still working to identify the best plan to proceed with inspections.

Recommended Engineers in race against time to repair Oroville dam slipway

But as the water level falls, as does the threat of flooding.

When officials ordered the Sunday evacuation of residents living below the 770-foot dam, engineers believed the spillway structure could fail within the hour.

The water level will need to drop 50 more feet by mid-week for the threat to be fully lifted.

The Red Cross said more than 500 people arrived at an evacuation centre in Chico.

The California National Guard is on notice to deploy its 23,000 soldiers and airmen in case of a disaster.

Still, it remains unclear what caused the rift in the spillway, but DWR officials believe that it has stopped crumbling.

It emerged this week that federal and state officials ignored warnings from local groups about the impact severe weather could have on the dams capabilities.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. 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Built in 1968, the structure is 230 metres high, nearly nine metres taller than the Hoover Dam, the next largest in the country.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press.
The secretary-general of the United Nations says he "deeply regrets" the United States' decision to block a former Palestinian prime minister from leading the world body's political mission in Libya.

Antonio Guterres says that Salam Fayyad was "the right person for the right job at the right moment."

Guterres said: "I think it is a loss for the Libyan peace process and the Libyan people I'm not able to appoint him."


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Russias relationship with the US has encountered a new challenge after it was reported that Moscow had secretly deployed a new cruise missile amid complaints that it had violated a landmark arms control treaty.

A report said that the ground-launched cruise missile is one that the Obama administration said in 2014 had been tested in violation of a 1987 treaty that bans American and Russian intermediate-range missiles based on land.

Without providing any evidence to support the claim, the New York Times said US officials had said the Russians have two battalions of the prohibited cruise missile. One is still located at Russias missile test site at Kapustin Yar in the countrys southeast.

The latest report came as the Trump administration is dealing with the impact of the resignation of Michael Flynn, as national security advisor.

The former general was obliged to stand down after he misled officials about the details of a telephone conversation he had with the Russian Ambassador to the US before Mr Trump took office. A month ago, the acting attorney general, told Mr Trumps senior officials that Mr Flynn may be vulnerable to blackmail as a result of the conversation.

 Trump said he does have a relationship with Putin in 2013

Steven Pifer, a former US Ambassador to Ukraine and a fellow at the Brookings Institution, said the news was not entirely surprising given the Obama administrations warning three years ago.

He said that while the deployment of cruise missiles by Russia would not impact the US, unless they were deployed opposite Alaska, countries in Europe and Asia would likely be alarmed.

As to the prospects of a reset in US-Russia relations, he told The Independent: The prospect of there being a change in US-Russia relations has just had another problem thrown into the pot.

Mr Trump has concerned arms control advocates by many of his comments, some of which where he said it may not be a bad thing if countries such as Japan and North Korea, developed their own nuclear weapons.

During a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mr Trump reportedly dismissed the 2010 New START treaty as one of several bad deals negotiated by the former.

The treaty caps the number of nuclear warheads the United States and Russia can deploy.

Mr Trump also tweeted in December that the United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes.

He subsequently said: Let it be an arms race. We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all.
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The acting attorney general informed the Trump White House late last month that she believed Michael Flynn had misled senior administration officials about the nature of his communications with the Russian ambassador to the United States, and warned that the national security adviser was potentially vulnerable to Russian blackmail, current and former U.S. officials said.

The message, delivered by Sally Q. Yates and a senior career national security official to the White House counsel, was prompted by concerns that Flynn, when asked about his calls and texts with the Russian diplomat, had told Vice President-elect Mike Pence and others that he had not discussed the Obama administration sanctions on Russia for its interference in the 2016 election, the officials said. It is unclear what the White House counsel, Donald McGahn, did with the information.

In the waning days of the Obama administration, James R. Clapper Jr., who was the director of national intelligence, and John Brennan, the CIA director at the time, shared Yates' concerns and concurred with her recommendation to inform the Trump White House. They feared that "Flynn had put himself in a compromising position" and thought that Pence had a right to know that he had been misled, according to one of the officials, who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.

A senior Trump administration official said that the White House was aware of the matter, adding that "we've been working on this for weeks."

The current and former officials said that although they believed that Pence was misled about the contents of Flynn's communications with the Russian ambassador, they couldn't rule out that Flynn was acting with the knowledge of others in the transition.

The FBI, Yates, Clapper and Brennan declined to comment on the matter. The White House said in a statement Monday that Trump was "evaluating the situation" regarding Flynn.

In a Feb. 8 interview with The Washington Post, Flynn categorically denied discussing sanctions with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, repeating public assertions made in January by top Trump officials. One day after the interview, Flynn revised his account, telling The Post through a spokesman that he "couldn't be certain that the topic never came up."

Two officials said a main topic of the relevant call was the sanctions. Officials also said there was no evidence that Russia had attempted to exploit the discrepancy between public statements by Trump officials and what Flynn had discussed.

Flynn told The Post earlier this month that he first met Kislyak in 2013, when Flynn was director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and made a trip to Moscow.

U.S. intelligence reports during the 2016 presidential campaign showed that Kislyak was in touch with Flynn, officials said. Communications between the two continued after Trump's victory on Nov. 8, according to officials with access to intelligence reports on the matter.

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Show all 18 1 /18 Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Protesters gather outside the White House at the finish of the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds attended the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president. Getty Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Protesters hold up signage near the Washington Monument during the Women's March on Washington 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. Drew Angerer/Getty Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Protesters gather during the Women's March on Washington January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. The march is expected to draw thousands from across the country to protest newly inaugurated President Donald Trump. Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Protesters arrive at the Capital South Metro station for the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Following the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States, the Women's March has 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. Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Protesters arrive on the platform at the Capital South Metro station for the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Following the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States, the Women's March has 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. Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Demonstrators protest during the Women's March along Pennsylvania Avenue January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of protesters spearheaded by women's rights groups demonstrated across the US to send a defiant message to US President Donald Trump. Joshua Lott/AFP/Getty Images Thousands attend Women's March on Washington WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: Protesters attend the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Following the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States, the Women's March has 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. Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Thousands attend Women's March on Washington A marcher holds a sign during the Women's March on Washington January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. The march is expected to draw thousands from across the country to protest newly inaugurated President Donald Trump. Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Thousands attend Women's March on Washington A woman chants while attending the Women's March on Washington 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 Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Protesters attend the Women's March on Washington 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 Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Protesters march in Washington, DC, during the Women's March on January 21, 2017. Hundreds of thousands of people flooded US cities Saturday in a day of women's rights protests to mark President Donald Trump's first full day in office. Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images Thousands attend Women's March on Washington A protester gestures toward the White House on the Ellipse near the South Lawn of the White House during the Women's March on Washington 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. Drew Angerer/Getty Thousands attend Women's March on Washington A protester, holding a Donald Trump doll wearing a pink cap, marches in Washington, DC, during the Womens March on January 21, 2017. Hundreds of thousands of people flooded US cities Saturday in a day of women's rights protests to mark President Donald Trump's first full day in office. Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Protesters take to the National Mall to demonstrate against the presidency of Donald Trump Washington, DC on January 21, 2017. Hundreds of thousands of protesters spearheaded by women's rights groups demonstrated across the US to send a defiant message to US President Donald Trump. Dominick Reuter/AFP/Getty Images Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Protesters march during the Women's March on Washington 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 Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Demonstrators gather on The Ellipse during the Women's March on Washington January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of protesters spearheaded by women's rights groups demonstrated across the US to send a defiant message to US President Donald Trump. Zach Gibson/AFP/Getty Images Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Demonstrators march down Pennsylvania Avenue during the Women's March on Washington January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of protesters spearheaded by women's rights groups demonstrated across the US to send a defiant message to US President Donald Trump. Zach Gibson/AFP/Getty Images Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Protester's signs are left near the White House during the Women's March on Washington 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. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) Mario Tama/Getty

Kislyak, in a brief interview with The Post, confirmed having contacts with Flynn before and after the election, but he declined to say what was discussed.

For Yates and other officials, concerns about the communications peaked in the days after the Obama administration on Dec. 29 announced measures to punish Russia for what it said was the Kremlin's interference in the election to help Trump.

After the sanctions were rolled out, the Obama administration braced itself for the Russian retaliation. To the surprise of many U.S. officials, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Dec. 30 that there would be no response. Trump praised the decision on Twitter.

Intelligence analysts began to search for clues that could help explain Putin's move. The search turned up Kislyak's communications, which the FBI routinely monitors, and the phone call in question with Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general with years of intelligence experience.

From that call and subsequent intercepts, FBI agents wrote a secret report summarizing Flynn's discussions with Kislyak.

Yates, then the deputy attorney general, considered Flynn's comments in the intercepted call to be "highly significant" and "potentially illegal," according to an official familiar with her thinking.

Yates and other intelligence officials suspected that Flynn could be in violation of an obscure U.S. statute known as the Logan Act, which bars U.S. citizens from interfering in diplomatic disputes with another country.

At the same time, Yates and other law enforcement officials knew there was little chance of bringing against Flynn a case related to the Logan Act, a statute that has never been used in a prosecution. In addition to the legal and political hurdles, Yates and other officials were aware of an FBI investigation looking at possible contacts between Trump associates and Russia, which now included the Flynn-Kislyak communications.

Word of the calls leaked out on Jan. 12 in an op-ed by Post columnist David Ignatius. "What did Flynn say, and did it undercut U.S. sanctions?" Ignatius wrote, citing the Logan Act.

The next day, a Trump transition official told The Post, "I can tell you that during his call, sanctions were not discussed whatsoever."

White House press secretary Sean Spicer, in a conference call with reporters on Jan. 13, said that the conversation between Flynn and Kislyak had "centered on the logistics" of a post-inauguration call between Trump and Putin. "That was it, plain and simple," Spicer added.

On Jan. 15, Pence was asked about the phone call during an appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation." Citing a conversation he had with Flynn, Pence said the incoming national security adviser and Kislyak "did not discuss anything having to do with the United States' decision to expel diplomats or impose censure against Russia."

Before the Pence statement on Jan. 15, top Justice Department and intelligence officials had discussed whether the incoming Trump White House should be notified about the contents of the Flynn-Kislyak communications.

Pence's statement on CBS made the issue more urgent, current and former officials said, because U.S. intelligence agencies had reason to believe that Russia was aware that Flynn and Kislyak had discussed sanctions in their December call, contrary to public statements.

The internal debate over how to handle the intelligence on Flynn and Kislyak came to a head on Jan. 19, Obama's last full day in office.

Yates, Clapper and Brennan argued for briefing the incoming administration so the new president could decide how to deal with the matter. The officials discussed options, including telling Pence, the incoming White House counsel, the incoming chief of staff or Trump himself.

FBI Director James B. Comey initially opposed notification, citing concerns that it could complicate the agency's investigation.

Clapper and Brennan left their positions when Trump was sworn in, but Yates stayed on as acting attorney general until Jan. 30, when Trump fired her for refusing to defend his executive order temporarily barring refugees and people from seven majority-Muslim countries - an action that had been challenged in court.

A turning point came after Jan. 23, when Spicer, in his first official press briefing, again was asked about Flynn's communications with Kislyak. Spicer said that he had talked to Flynn about the issue "again last night." There was just "one call," Spicer said. And it covered four subjects: a plane crash that claimed the lives of a Russian military choir; Christmas greetings; Russian-led talks over the Syrian civil war; and the logistics of setting up a call between Putin and Trump. Spicer said that was the extent of the conversation.

Yates again raised the issue with Comey, who now backed away from his opposition to informing the White House. Yates and the senior career national security official spoke to McGahn, the White House counsel, who didn't respond to a request for comment.

Trump has declined to publicly back his national security adviser since the news broke.

On Monday afternoon, Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the president, said Trump had "full confidence" in Flynn. Minutes later, however, Spicer delivered a contradictory statement to reporters.

"The president is evaluating the situation," Spicer's statement read. "He's speaking to Vice President Pence relative to the conversation the vice president had with Gen. Flynn and also speaking to various other people about what he considers the single most important subject there is: Our national security."

Karen DeYoung and Greg Miller contributed to this report.

Washington Post
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A Danish journalist claims President Donald Trump's top adviser said that he believes Western civilisation is at war with the Islamic faith.

Steve Bannon, the chief White House strategist who pushed the administration to implement a travel ban on seven predominantly-Muslim countries soon after Trump took office last month, is said to have made the remarks in May during a conversation at a private event with Flemming Rose, who had come to discuss the rising influence of Islam in Europe.

Bannon is of the belief that, if Europe is to be saved, there is no way to avoid armed conflict. The power of Islam cannot be stopped by peaceful means. In short, Bannon told me in no uncertain terms that the West is at war with Islam, Mr Rose, who was at the centre of controversy for his part in publishing cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed in 2005, wrote in the Huffington Post.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

During the exchange, Mr Rose said that Mr Bannon expressed the belief that a violent war could have a cleansing effect and may be necessary to overcome the conflict between Western nations and terrorist organisations  like Isis and its supporters.

Islamic communities  whether violent or not  in Europe were eroding traditional Christian values, he said.

In the first few weeks of the Trump administration, Mr Bannon successfully pushed Trump to sign a series of executive orders that were later called a "Muslim ban" by critics.

That executive order, which restricted refugees from travelling to the US  and even targeted green card holders who were on trips overseas  has since been blocked in federal court.

Mr Bannon is the former chairman of Breitbart News, a conservative alternative news website that has given voice to the alt-right movement. The alt-right is defined by the Southern Poverty Law Centre as "a set of far-right ideologies, groups, and individuals whose core belief is that 'white identity' is under attack by multicultural forces using 'political correctness' and 'social justice' to undermine white people and 'their' civilisation."

His association with that movement has proven to be controversial and has resulted in Mr Bannon being called a white supremacist by his opponents, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a ranking Democrat
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Disgraced former CIA director David Petraeus has been tipped as the most likely replacement for Michael Flynn following the latters resignation as National Security Adviser.

Mr Flynn became the first major resignation from Donald Trumps administration after it emerged that contrary to federal law, he spoke to Russian officials about sanctions and then attempted to cover up the conversations. His brief tenure in the role amounted to less than a month.

Mr Petraeus now appears poised to replace Mr Flynn. He is a well-known former military figure who came to prominence under the Obama administration. He led troops in Afghanistan before being appointed to the top position at the CIA.

However, Mr Petraeus career came to a dramatic end after he was forced to resign after a Justice Department investigation found that he had shared classified information with a woman with whom he was having an extra marital affair.

He plead guilty to the findings and subsequently served a probation period of two years, as well as paying a $100,000 fine. The probation period is to expire in April.

Sources say he is now tipped to be the most likely contender for the prominent role of National Security Adviser, in the now-vacant position, CNN reports.

If chosen by President Trump for the role, it is likely to be viewed by many as a controversial hire amid concerns Mr Petraeus past conduct renders him an unviable option for a key security role. Critics might contest the hire as at odds with President Trumps pledge to drain the swamp of Washington, and potentially hypocritical in light of his vehement criticism of election rival Hillary Clintons use of a private email server, amid concerns that amounting to a security breach.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

Last year, then President-elect Trump reportedly considered Mr Petraeus for the role of Secretary of State, before ultimately giving the job to Rex Tillerson.

Other possible names said to be in consideration for the National Security Adviser role include Retired Lt Gen Keith Kellogg, who was foreign policy adviser to President Trump during the election campaign, and former Vice Admiral Bob Harward, a retired navy SEAL, CNN reports.
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Donald Trump should be arrested over his former national security advisers potentially illegal discussions with Russia, Michael Moore has said.

General Mike Flynn resigned late on Monday night after it was revealed he had held conversations with senior Russian diplomats before he was appointed to the administration and before Mr Trump took office. It is illegal for private citizens to conduct diplomatic conversations on behalf of the US.

The retired general had reportedly discussed the possibility of dropping sanctions against Russia with Sergei Kislyak, the Kremlins ambassador to the US. Mr Flynn, who had initially told Vice President Mike Pence that the topic had not been discussed, admitted in his resignation letter that he inadvertently briefed the Vice-President-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador".

 Who is Michael Flynn?

However, Mr Moore claimed it was unthinkable Mr Flynn had acted alone or that Mr Trump had not had knowledge of the conversation.

Writing on Twitter, the filmmaker said: Lets be VERY clear: Flynn DID NOT make that Russian call on his own. He was INSTRUCTED to do so. He was TOLD to reassure them. Arrest Trump.

TRUMP KNEW EVERYTHING. It will all come out. Along with the rest of Trumps collusion and obedience to Putin.

This is who Trump named "National Security Advisor." A lapdog to the lapdog of Putin. Feeling secure America? He's gonna get us all killed.

Let's be VERY clear: Flynn DID NOT make that Russian call on his own. He was INSTRUCTED to do so.Hewas TOLD to reassure them. Arrest Trump.  Michael Moore (@MMFlint) 14 February 2017

The Washington Post & NY Times now reporting Trump HAS KNOWN FOR A MONTH Flynn lied about the Russian call - and Trump did nothing. #IMPEACH  Michael Moore (@MMFlint) 14 February 2017

Moore then tweeted directly at Mr Trump, saying: 1 hour after Obama put sanctions on Russia YOU told Flynn to call them and promise em itll be OK. Traitor! Resign by morning!

The director, whose films include Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11, has been a vocal critic of Mr Trump, having suggested the Republican is not a legitimate president and could be the last president of the United States.

Mr Flynn resigned after days of mounting pressure over the content of his conversations with Russian representatives. A series of intelligence leaks had brought into question the repeated claims by Mr Flynn, Mr Pence and other White House officials that the conversation with Mr Kislyak had consisted only of Christmas greetings and planning for a phone call between Mr Trump and Vladimir Putin.

The leaks revealed that, in fact, Mr Flynn and Mr Kislyak had discussed the sanctions imposed on Russia by Barack Obama after allegations the Kremlin had interfered in the US presidential election. The retired army general is said to have suggested Mr Trump might lift the sanctions when he took office.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

It also emerged that the US Justice Department warned Mr Trump weeks ago that his national security adviser had acted unlawfully in discussing sanctions with Russia before he held any official post, and might be vulnerable to Russian blackmail.

 Michael Moore suggests Trump still might not become President

In his resignation letter, Mr Flynn wrote: In the course of my duties as the incoming national security advisor, I held numerous phone calls with foreign counterparts, ministers, and ambassadors.

These calls were to facilitate a smooth transition and begin to build the necessary relationships between the president, his advisors and foreign leaders. Such calls are standard practice in any transition of this magnitude.

Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the vice president elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador. I have sincerely apologized to the president and the vice president, and they have accepted my apology.
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The media should be seriously discussing Donald Trumps mental health, a conservative commentator has claimed.

Andrew Sullivan added his voice to a growing number of mental health professionals and Senators - of both parties - who have expressed concerns over Mr Trumps psychological state.

Mr Trump campaigned as an outsider candidate who would shake up the Washington system, but his actions since becoming President have unnerved many.

Over the weekend, he reportedly led the response to a North Korean missile test from the Mar-a-Lago dining room, despite the presence of numerous guests present at the sensitive event.

 Democrat Senator Al Franken: Senate Republicans are worried Donald Trump is mentally ill

Mr Sullivan told CNN: To have such an unstable figure, incapable of accepting reality, at the centre of the world, is an extremely dangerous thing.

He added: "I know we're not supposed to bring this up  but it is staring us brutally in the face."

Mr Sullivan, who recently penned an article entitled The Madness of King Donald in New York Magazine, justified his comments by citing the Presidents incorrect claims of thousands of illegal voters and inaccurate crime statistics.

He added: We have to respond by saying 'Excuse me, Mr President, with all due respect, you keep telling us things that are not true. Can you please stop this?

And if you can't stop it, if you simply keep asserting the world is one way when it really isn't, because everybody else can see it, then we have a serious problem at the very heart of our government."

Republican colleagues of Donald Trump have also expressed concern about his mental health, a Democratic senator told AP.

Minnesota senator Al Franken said there is concern among "a few" Republicans "that we all have this suspicion" that "he lies a lot".

He added: "He says things that aren't true. That's the same as lying, I guess."

New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Show all 27 1 /27 New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Ethnic Yemenis and supporters protest against President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen on February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. At least 1,000 Yemeni-owned bodegas and grocery-stores across the city shut down from noon to 8 p.m. today to protest the order. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Men pray during a protest by ethnic Yemenis and supporters over President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen on February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. At least 1,000 Yemeni-owned bodegas and grocery-stores across the city shut down from noon to 8 p.m. today to protest the order. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Ethnic Yemenis and supporters protest against President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen on February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. At least 1,000 Yemeni-owned bodegas and grocery-stores across the city shut down from noon to 8 p.m. today to protest the order. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban Men pray during a protest by ethnic Yemenis and supporters over President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen on February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. At least 1,000 Yemeni-owned bodegas and grocery-stores across the city shut down from noon to 8 p.m. today to protest the order. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People gather for evening prayer at a rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally with flags at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest US President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban People rally at Brooklyn Borough Hall as Yemeni bodega and grocery-stores shut down to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen, on February 2, 2017 in New York. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban A Yemeni business owner places a sign on the gate of his store February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Across the city, Yemeni owned bodega and grocery-stores will shut down from noon to 8 p.m. to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen. It is expected that over 1000 stores will be closed in protest with workers and owners participating in an afternoon rally in Brooklyn. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban A Yemeni business owner places a sign on the gate of his store February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Across the city, Yemeni owned bodega and grocery-stores will shut down from noon to 8 p.m. to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen. It is expected that over 1000 stores will be closed in protest with workers and owners participating in an afternoon rally in Brooklyn. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 02: Yemeni business owner Musa closes the gate to his store February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Across the city, Yemeni owned bodega and grocery-stores will shut down from noon to 8 p.m. to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen. It is expected that over 1000 stores will be closed in protest with workers and owners participating in an afternoon rally in Brooklyn. Spencer Platt/Getty New York City bodegas strike to protest Trump's travel ban A Yemeni business owner closes the gate to his store February 2, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Across the city, Yemeni owned bodega and grocery-stores will shut down from noon to 8 p.m. to protest President Donald Trump's Executive Order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen. It is expected that over 1000 stores will be closed in protest with workers and owners participating in an afternoon rally in Brooklyn. Spencer Platt/Getty

Mr Franken cited Mr Trump's groundless claim that he would have won the popular vote in the presidential race if not for 3 million to 5 million immigrants in the country illegally voting for his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton.

Mr Trump is also said to have told some senators in a private meeting at the White House that he and former Republican senator Kelly Ayotte would have won in New Hampshire if it had not been for voters bussed in from out of state.

Mr Franken said: "You know, that is not the norm for a president of the United States, or, actually, for a human being."

Earlier this month, it was announced Democratic congressman Ted Lieu is planning to introduce legislation to appoint a mandatory White House psychiatrist.
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Psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers have signed an open letter warning Donald Trumps mental state makes him incapable of serving safely as president.

The 35 mental health professionals said Mr Trumps words and behaviour suggest a profound inability to empathise.

The Presidents tendency to distort reality to fit his personal myth of greatness and attack those who challenge him with facts was likely to increase in a position of power, they added.

It is usually frowned upon among psychiatrists to give a professional opinion of the mental state of a public figure they have not examined in person, as dictated by a passage in the American Psychiatric Associations code of ethics known as the Goldwater rule.

But in a letter to the New York Times, the doctors said they had decided it was necessary to break their silence on the matter because they feared too much is at stake.

This silence has resulted in a failure to lend our expertise to worried journalists and members of Congress at this critical time, they wrote. We fear that too much is at stake to be silent any longer.

 Andrew Sullivan: Journalists need to question Trump's mental health

The letter continued: Mr Trumps speech and actions demonstrate an inability to tolerate views different from his own, leading to rage reactions. His words and behaviour suggest a profound inability to empathise.

Individuals with these traits distort reality to suit their psychological state, attacking facts and those who convey them [journalists, scientists].

In a powerful leader, these attacks are likely to increase, as his personal myth of greatness appears to be confirmed. We believe that the grave emotional instability indicated by Mr. Trumps speech and actions makes him incapable of serving safely as president.

Among the letters signatories were Lance Dodes, a retired Harvard Medical School assistant clinical professor of psychiatry, and Joseph Schachter, who has held a senior position in the International Psychoanalytic Association.

A growing number of mental health professionals and Senators of both parties have expressed concern over Mr Trumps psychological state.

Conservative commentator Andrew Sullivan said the media should be seriously discussing the Presidents mental health.

To have such an unstable figure, incapable of accepting reality, at the centre of the world, is an extremely dangerous thing, he told CNN.

I know we're not supposed to bring this up  but it is staring us brutally in the face.

Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Show all 28 1 /28 Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Dave Brown Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Brian Adcock Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Christian Adams for Daily Telegraph Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Martin Rowson for The Guardian Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Christian Adams for Daily Telegraph Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Morten Morland for The Times Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Bob Moran for Daily Telegraph Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Christian Adams for Daily Telegraph Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Morten Morland for The Times Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' KAL for The Economist Trumped! The best cartoons on 'The Donald' Martin Rowson for The Guardian

Mr Sullivan, who recently penned an article entitled 'The Madness of King Donald' in New York Magazine, justified his comments by citing the Presidents incorrect claims of thousands of illegal voters and inaccurate crime statistics.

Republican colleagues of Donald Trump have also expressed concern about his mental health, a Democratic senator told Associated Press.

Minnesota senator Al Franken said there is concern among a few Republicans that we all have this suspicion that he lies a lot. He added: He says things that aren't true. That's the same as lying, I guess.
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Former General Michael Flynn offered his late-night resignation as it became clear Mr Trump would no longer tolerate the flurry of embarrassing revelations, including a claim that he was potentially vulnerable to Russian blackmail.

As Democrats demanded an inquiry into the links with Russia, of not just Mr Flynn but the entire Trump senior team, it became clear that Mr Flynns departure would not draw a line under the issue.

The million dollar question is who knew what and when, Professor Jeanne Zaino of Iona College, told The Independent. Did the president know, and other than the president, who else knew, and sat on information for a month that the national security advisor was open to Russia?

Mr Flynn, 58, had found himself at the centre of a gathering storm after it emerged he had spoken with a Russian diplomat about the issue of US sanctions before Mr Trump took office, and indicated the relationship between the two countries would improve under a new administration.

Sanctions had been imposed by Barack Obama in response to Russias alleged cyber-interference in the presidential election.

Mr Flynn had originally denied discussing sanctions, and senior officials including Mike Pence, had defended him. But when it emerged that US intelligence officials had been monitoring the call to the Russian Ambassador to Washington, Mr Flynn had to reverse course.

 Kellyanne Conway tried to explain Flynn's resignation was told on national TV she 'made no sense'

On Monday evening, the Washington Post reported that a month ago, the acting attorney general Sally Yates - an official whom Mr Trump subsequently fired - had informed the White House that she believed Mr Flynn had misled senior administration officials about the nature of his communications with the Russian ambassador.

She warned that as a result of that, the national security advisor was potentially vulnerable to Russian blackmail. The paper said it was unclear what the White House legal counsel, Donald McGahn, did with the information Ms Yates passed on.

Democrats have seized on the developments and demanded to know not only precisely what Mr Flynn said to Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, but also the extent of other links to Russia among senior administration officials.

Democratic Senator from Montana, Jon Tester, told CNN there was a need for an independent inquiry. General Flynn may be the tip of the iceberg or he may not, he said.

Congressman Adam Schiff, the senior Democrat on the House intelligence committee, said it was essential to discover that the president knew.

There are tonnes of questions, he said. We need a thorough investigation.

Many observers in Washington had suspected that Mr Flynns days in the job were numbered.

Mr Trump was asked about the controversy last Friday as he flew to Florida on Air Force One with Japanese premier Shinzo Abe. He claimed to have no idea what story journalists were even referring to.

I dont know about that, I havent seen it, Mr Trump said. What report is that? I havent seen that. Ill look into that.

On Monday evening, an hour after Ms Conway told reporters that Mr Flynn had the president's full confidence, the White House suggested the ground under the former generals feet was not so solid.

The White House said Mr Trump was evaluating the situation involving Mr Flynn. The Presidents spokesman, Sean Spicer, told reporters the president was speaking with Mr Pence and others about the matter, according to the Associated Press. At around 11pm, it was announced that Mr Flynn had resigned.
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The White House has admitted Donald Trump was told several weeks ago that national security adviser had not told the truth about a telephone call with a Russian diplomat - and chose not to fire him immediately.

Michael Flynn handed in his resignation amid mounting controversy over his interaction with Russian officials, and a false assurance he gave that he had not discussed the issue of sanctions. Senior officials in Mr Trumps team were told a month ago by the acting US attorney general they feared the falsehoods made him vulnerable to potential blackmail from Moscow.

Vice President Mike Pence was also reportedly told about Mr Flynn's interactions with Russia, 11 days after Mr Trump found out.

On Tuesday, White House spokesman, Sean Spicer, said Mr Flynn was not ousted from his post because of legal issues, but because the trust between him and Mr Trump had eroded.

We had been reviewing this for weeks. It got to trust issues, Mr Spicer told reporters. It got to the point where Mr Flynn had to leave.

The White House has been bombarded with questions about what Mr Trump knew about Mr Flynns interactions with Russia. Indeed, senior Democrats have called for an independent investigation into possible links between not just Mr Flynn and Russia, but other senior members of the Trump team.

Mr Flynn, 58, had found himself at the centre of a gathering storm after it emerged he had spoken with a Russian diplomat about the issue of US sanctions before Mr Trump took office, and indicated the relationship between the two countries would improve under a new administration.

Sanctions had been imposed by Barack Obama in response to Russias alleged cyber-interference in the presidential election.

 Kellyanne Conway tried to explain Flynn's resignation was told on national TV she 'made no sense'

Mr Flynn had originally denied discussing sanctions, and senior officials including Mike Pence. But when it emerged that US intelligence officials had been monitoring the call to the Russian Ambassador to Washington, Mr Flynn had to reverse course.

On Monday evening, the Washington Post reported that a month ago, the acting attorney general Sally Yates - an official whom Mr Trump subsequently fired - had informed the White House that she believed Mr

Flynn had misled senior administration officials about the nature of his communications with the Russian ambassador. She warned that as a result of that, the national security advisor was potentially vulnerable to Russian blackmail. Within hours, Mr Flynn had resigned.

Mr Spicer said the Department of Justice had spoken to Mr Trump about this on January 26. He said that Mr Trump spoken with White House legal counsel, Donald McGahn.

He said Mr Trump did not believe that Mr Flynn had breached the law. However, he said that Mr Trump had concluded he could not trust the man tasked with advising him on matters of national security.

It was not a legal issue, it was a trust issue, he said. General Flynn is a dedicated public servant, he has served this country admirably. I think the president has appreciated his service to the country.

He added: It was not a matter of law. It was a matter of trust.

The revelations were another destabilising blow to an administration that has already suffered a major legal defeat on immigration, botched the implementation of a signature policy and stumbled through a string of embarrassing public relations missteps.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a longtime Russia critic, said Congress needed to know what Mr Flynn discussed with the ambassador and why.

The idea that he did this on his own without any direction is a good question to ask, Mr Graham said, according to the Associated Press.

House Speaker Paul Ryan said Trump made the right decision in asking Mr Flynn to step down.

You cannot have the national security adviser misleading the vice president and others, Mr Ryan said.

Mr Trump, who has been conspicuously quiet about Mr Flynns standing for several days, said on twitter that the real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington?
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Donald Trump is "evaluating the situation" in regard to his national security advisor, the White House has said, as pressure continued to mount on Michael Flynn.

The former general is under intense scrutiny after it emerged he spoke to a Russian diplomat about US sanctions before Mr Trump took office  something he originally denied having done.

Every day new leaks emerge from the White House about a state of fear and loathing at the National Security Council, which Mr Flynn at least nominally heads. The latest, published by the New York Times, suggested things were so chaotic that members of staff were waking in the morning, reading Mr Trumps latest Twitter posts, and then struggling to make policy to fit them.

 Michael Flynn: We're officially putting Iran on notice

The same report said that others have begun using encrypted communications to talk with each other, after hearing that Mr Trumps top advisers were considering an insider threat programme that could result in the monitoring of phones and emails.

Meanwhile, efforts to get Mr Trump to focus on complicated issues are not straightforward. In short, Mr Trump is not a details man. NSC staff members have been told keep papers to a single page, with lots of graphics and maps. The president likes maps, one official told the newspaper.

The leaks suggest various factions fighting for primacy within the White House. Observers suggest secretary of state Rex Tillerson and defence secretary James Mattis are in one group, with political advisers Stephen Bannon, Stephen Miller and Kellyanne Conway  a group that has its own internal battles  in another.

It was noticeable that over the weekend, Mr Miller, who appeared on the major networks political shows, did very little to voice support for Mr Flynn.

On NBC he was asked if the President still had confidence in his national security advisor.

Thats the question that I think you should ask the President, the question you should ask Reince, the chief of staff. Im here today as a policy advisor, said Mr Miller.

Mr Trump was asked about the controversy last Friday as he flew to Florida on Air Force One with Japanese premier Shinzo Abe. He claimed to have no idea what story journalists were even referring to.

I dont know about that, I havent seen it, Mr Trump said. What report is that? I havent seen that. Ill look into that.

On Monday, an hour after Ms Conway told reporters that Mr Flynn had the president's "full confidence", the White House suggested the ground under the former general's feet was not so solid.

The White House said Mr Trump was "evaluating the situation" involving Mr Flynn. The President's spokesman, Sean Spicer, told reporters the President was speaking with Mr Pence and others about the matter, according to the Associated Press.

Robert Shapiro, Professor of government at Columbia University, told The Independent the leaks regarding Mr Flynn were very damaging. Previous administrations had not leaked just four weeks into their term.

This is very new, because usually the administration is united and unified and quiet, he said.

He said that Mr Flynn's admission to having spoken to the Russian ambassador to Washington about sanctions before Mr Trump took office, was especially damaging because other senior members of the government  including Mike Pence  had backed him.

It subsequently emerged his conversation had been monitored by US intelligence officials who said he had discussed the future of sanctions and the chance for a new US-Russia relationship under Mr Trump.

Some have suggested Mr Trump will not fire Mr Flynn as he would not want to have to admit defeat. But Mr Shapiro disagreed.

I think Flynn has to go, he said. This is an embarrassing distraction.

Ambassador Eric Edelman, a former undersecretary of defence who was among those former security officials to write an open letter against Mr Trumps candidacy, said every administration suffered teething pains.

But he said it seemed the situation currently playing out was different. For one thing, he said, it was unclear whether information from the NSC was making it onto Mr Trumps desk.

It seems that in some of these calls with foreign leaders, he did not get the pre-brief, he said. It meant he was not prepared for things that might crop up.
The solid fuel technology and launch vehicle suggest that the regime is close to being capable of striking U.S. military bases as far afield as Guam and avoid detection.

The projectile North Korea launched on Sunday was a new intermediate-range ballistic missile propelled by a solid fuel engine. The regime also published footage of a new mobile launch vehicle with caterpillar treads.

The official [North] Korean Central News Agency said the "strategic intermediate-range ballistic missile Pukguksong-2" was tested successfully.

It described it as an improved version of a submarine-launched ballistic missile whose test launch was successful in August last year.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un expressed satisfaction over the creation of another nuclear weapons delivery system, KCNA added.

The previous day, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff speculated that the missile was an improved medium-range Musudan.

White House policy adviser Stephen Miller on Sunday said the U.S. government would be "sending another signal very soon" to the North. "That signal is when we begin a great rebuilding of the armed forces of the United States," he added.

He added Washington would show "unquestioned military strength beyond anything anyone can imagine."

Cory Gardner, the chairman of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific and International Cybersecurity Policy, urged the Trump administration to take a "determined and resolute U.S. policy toward North Korea."

He called for additional sanctions, a secondary boycott of Chinese businesses dealing with the North, and the early deployment of a U.S. Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery in South Korea.

The UN Security Council is expected to hold an urgent meeting on Tuesday at the request of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan and adopt a press statement denouncing the North.


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The Kremlin has responded to the resignation of Donald Trump's national security adviser Michael Flynn by saying it is an "internal affair" of the US and "nothing to do" with Russia.

"This is the internal affair of the Americans, the internal affair of the Trump administration," Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "It's nothing to do with us."

Mr Flynn resigned less than a month after taking office after revelations he had discussed US sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to the US before Mr Trump took office and misled Vice President mike Pence about the conversations.

"We have said everything we want to say," Mr Peskov added.

Mr Peskov has previously said Mr Flynn and the ambassador did not discuss lifting sanctions in their conversations. He declined to elaborate on those earlier comments when asked following Mr Flynn's resignation.

 Michael Flynn resigns as national security adviser over Russia row

Earlier, a senior Russian politician claimed it was clear Mr Flynn was forced to resign in an effort to damage relations between Russia and the US.

"It's obvious that Flynn was forced to write the letter of resignation under a certain amount of pressure," Leonid Slutsky, head of the lower house of parliament's foreign affairs committee, was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency.

"The target was Russia-US relations, undermining confidence in the new US administration. We'll see how the situation develops further," he added.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the foreign affairs committee in Russias upper parliamentary chamber, wrote on Facebook that Mr Flynns resignation was not just paranoia but something even worse.

Either Trump hasnt found the necessary independence and hes been driven into a corner or Russophobia has permeated the new administration from top to bottom.
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A Russian state broadcaster announced the resignation of Donald Trump's national security adviser as his "retirement" in a tweet sent shortly after he quit.

Michael Flynn stepped down amid a series of intelligence leaks that claimed he had secretly discussed sanctions with the Russian ambassador to Washington and then tried to hide details of their conversations from Vice-President Mike Pence.

But Russia Today  a TV network and online news site funded by the Russian government  said in a Twitter post that the former lieutenant general had retired.

The tweet, which apparently ignored the scandal that alleged Russian interference in US politics, was widely ridiculed online and was later deleted.

Further articles and posts written by Russia Today correctly said Mr Flynn has resigned.

The former lieutenant general, who served as secretary general for less than a month, admitted to giving incomplete information about a phone call he had with Ambassador Sergey Kislya in late December, weeks before President Trumps inauguration.

He had previously denied having any substantive conversations with the ambassador. Mr Pence had repeated that claim in television interviews.

After Mr Flynn's departure, one senior Russian politician said it was clear he had been compelled to quit in an effort to damage Russia-US ties.

"It's obvious that Flynn was forced to write the letter of resignation under a certain amount of pressure," Leonid Slutsky told the RIA news agency., ,

The head of Russia's lower house of parliament's foreign affairs committee, added: The target was Russia-US relations, undermining confidence in the new US administration. We'll see how the situation develops further."

 Michael Flynn resigns as national security adviser over Russia row

Mr Slutsky's counterpart in the upper chamber of the parliament, Konstantin Kosachev, described Mr Flynn's apparent dismissal over his ties with Russia as "not just paranoia but something even worse".

He said in a Facebook post: "Either Trump hasn't found the necessary independence and he's been driven into a corner... or russophobia has permeated the new administration from top to bottom."

Yet Mr Flynn's exit may not resolve lingering suspicions about the Trump team's pre-election contact with the Kremlin.

The administration is facing further difficulty over allegations a former Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) chief accepted money in 2015 for a speaking engagement in Moscow  a transaction that may have broken military rules.

Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural Show all 14 1 /14 Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural A lesbian couple kisses in front of mural depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, on the walls of a barbecue bar 'Keule Ruke' on May 19, 2016 in Vilnius, Lithuania. Barcroft Media/Getty Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural A lesbian couple kisses in front of mural depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, on the walls of a barbecue bar 'Keule Ruke' on May 19, 2016 in Vilnius, Lithuania. Barcroft Media/Getty Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural VILNIUS, LITHUANIA - NOVEMBER 23: A woman walks past a mural showing U.S. President-elect Donald Trump (R) blowing marijuana smoke into the mouth of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the wall of a bar-b-que restaurant on November 23, 2016 in Vilnius, Lithuania. Many people in the three Baltic nations of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are concerned that Russia, because Trump has expressed both admiration for Putin and doubt over defending NATO member states, will be emboldened to intervene militarily in the Baltics. Sean Gallup/Getty Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural A woman walks past a mural on a restaurant wall depicting US Presidential hopeful Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin greeting each other with a kiss in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on May 13, 2016. Kestutis Girnius, associate professor of the Institute of International Relations and Political Science in Vilnius university, told AFP -This graffiti expresses the fear of some Lithuanians that Donald Trump is likely to kowtow to Vladimir Putin and be indifferent to Lithuanias security concerns. Trump has notoriously stated that Putin is a strong leader, and that NATO is obsolete and expensive. Petras Malukas/AFP/Getty Images Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural AP Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural A child walks past a graffiti depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, on the walls of a bar in the old town in Vilnius, Lithuania, Saturday, May 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis) AP Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural People walk past a mural on a restaurant wall depicting US Presidential hopeful Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin greeting each other with a kiss in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on May 13, 2016. Kestutis Girnius, associate professor of the Institute of International Relations and Political Science in Vilnius university, told AFP -This graffiti expresses the fear of some Lithuanians that Donald Trump is likely to kowtow to Vladimir Putin and be indifferent to Lithuanias security concerns. Trump has notoriously stated that Putin is a strong leader, and that NATO is obsolete and expensive. Petras Malukas/AFP/Getty Images Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural A man photographs a mural on a restaurant wall depicting US Presidential hopeful Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin greeting each other with a kiss in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on May 13, 2016. Kestutis Girnius, associate professor of the Institute of International Relations and Political Science in Vilnius university, told AFP -This graffiti expresses the fear of some Lithuanians that Donald Trump is likely to kowtow to Vladimir Putin and be indifferent to Lithuanias security concerns. Trump has notoriously stated that Putin is a strong leader, and that NATO is obsolete and expensive. Petras Malukas/AFP/Getty Images Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural AP Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural A young woman walks past a mural showing U.S. President-elect Donald Trump (R) blowing marijuana smoke into the mouth of Russian President Vladimir Putin with the slogan "make everything great again," in reference to Trump's campaign slogan of "Make America Great Again," on the wall of a bar-b-que restaurant on November 23, 2016 in Vilnius, Lithuania. Many people in the three Baltic nations of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are concerned that Russia, because Trump has expressed both admiration for Putin and doubt over defending NATO member states, will be emboldened to intervene militarily in the Baltics. Sean Gallup/Getty Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural A morning commuter stops to look at a mural on a restaurant wall depicting US Presidential hopeful Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin greeting each other with a kiss in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on May 13, 2016. Kestutis Girnius, associate professor of the Institute of International Relations and Political Science in Vilnius university, told AFP -This graffiti expresses the fear of some Lithuanians that Donald Trump is likely to kowtow to Vladimir Putin and be indifferent to Lithuanias security concerns. Trump has notoriously stated that Putin is a strong leader, and that NATO is obsolete and expensive. Petras Malukas/AFP/Getty Images Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural Restaurant owner Dominykas Ceckauskas pose next to a mural on the wall of his establishment depicting US Presidential hopeful Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin greeting each other with a kiss in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on May 13, 2016. Kestutis Girnius, associate professor of the Institute of International Relations and Political Science in Vilnius university, told AFP -This graffiti expresses the fear of some Lithuanians that Donald Trump is likely to kowtow to Vladimir Putin and be indifferent to Lithuanias security concerns. Trump has notoriously stated that Putin is a strong leader, and that NATO is obsolete and expensive. / AFP / Petras Malukas (Photo credit should read PETRAS MALUKAS/AFP/Getty Images) Petras Malukas/AFP/Getty Images Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural A passerby photographs a mural showing U.S. President-elect Donald Trump (R) blowing marijuana smoke into the mouth of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the wall of a bar-b-que restaurant on November 23, 2016 in Vilnius, Lithuania. Many people in the three Baltic nations of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are concerned that Russia, because Trump has expressed both admiration for Putin and doubt over defending NATO member states, will be emboldened to intervene militarily in the Baltics. Sean Gallup/Getty Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural Getty

The leaks from inside the US intelligence community also indicate that Mr Flynn's contact with the Russian ambassador dated from before the election, reviving existing questions about whether the Trump campaign knew of Russian plans to interfere in the Presidential elections

Several groups are investigating whether wrongdoing took place including The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Adam Schiff, who serves as the ranking Democrat on the panel, said questions about Mr Flynn's contact with the Russians remained after his departure.

The Trump administration has yet to be forthcoming about who was aware of Flynns conversations with the ambassador and whether he was acting on the instructions of the president or any other officials, or with their knowledge," he said.
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Vester Flanagan, the man who shot dead two journalists during a live broadcast, says he killed two cats because of how he was treated by the local news station which he had worked for.

Flanagan, who also went by the professional name of Bryce Williams, shot Alison Parker, 24, and Adam Ward, 27, dead on Wednesday morning. He had formerly worked for WDBJ7 but been let go after concerns were raised about his allegedly aggressive and hostile behaviour.

After their murders, he faxed a 23 page long document to the TV station where the pair worked. In it, he alleged that he had been discriminated against when he had previously worked for the company as a black gay man.

NBC reports that he also wrote that he had killed his two cats as part of an awful chain of events which he said had occurred because of them.

It is not clear when he killed the animals. He wrote: I drove to the forest and helped them exit. Ill spare the details.

Flanagan lived alone with the cats in a small apartment near the broadcasters studios in Virginia.

Journalists Alison Parker and Adam Ward, who were killed after a gunman opened fire during a live broadcast in Virginia

When police subsequently raided the apartment on Wednesday morning after the shootings, they found no traces of the cats.

After initially going on the run, Flanagan shot himself on Wednesday and died from his injuries.

Speaking yesterday, the father of murdered presenter Alison Parker, Andy Parker, called for greater gun control.

He said: Im not trying to take away guns. There has to be a way to force politicians who are cowards and in the pockets of the National Rifle Association to make sensible laws so that crazy people cant get guns. It cant be that hard.
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Rabiya had barely taken her first steps when she caught polio. Her young legs twisted inwards and became limp, leaving her unable to walk at all.

She is now 18 and dreams of becoming a teacher, despite the heavy plastic braces supporting her fragile limbs  braces which, had she been born just one generation later, she may never have needed.

Her six siblings helped her get around as she grew up, says Rabiya, but she wants to be more independent. She is dressed smartly in royal blue, sitting up in bed at St Stephens hospital in Delhi, where she is having a series of operations in the hope of one day moving by herself.

India was declared polio-free in 2014, an achievement reflected in the rising age of the polio survivors treated at St Stephens.

For the last five or six years, Ive been seeing fewer younger patients, says Dr Mathew Varghese, who runs the hospitals dedicated polio ward  the only one in the country. I never thought that would be possible.

Polio mainly affects children under five and can cause rapid paralysis and sometimes death. Once a worldwide scourge, concentrated vaccination efforts have caused the total number of cases to drop from about 350,000 in 1988 to to just 37 last year, in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria.

Rabiya (R) in the Polio ward of St Stephens hospital (Rotary International India National PolioPlus Committee)

The youngest patient I saw last year was a seven-year-old boy, says Varghese, adding that teenagers and young adults are more difficult to operate on because their joints have been stiff for so long.

Global health bodies and governments are optimistic that the worlds last ever case of polio could be recorded this year. There has been one so far, an 11-month old girl in Afghanistan.

Serious challenges, including violent attacks on health workers by Islamists, poor routine immunisation coverage and rumours the vaccine causes impotence make this a precarious possibility. But if India can do it, why not the world?

India was probably the most challenging place on earth to eradicate polio, says Dr Pankaj Bhatnagar of the World Health Organisation, which has worked closely with the Indian government, Rotary International, Unicef, the Gates Foundation and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to implement the 30-year vaccination drive.

Fighting to keep India polio-free: National Immunisation Day in Delhi Show all 10 1 /10 Fighting to keep India polio-free: National Immunisation Day in Delhi Fighting to keep India polio-free: National Immunisation Day in Delhi A volunteer from the UK joins local health workers going from house to house to make sure no child is missed Rotary International India National PolioPlus Committee Fighting to keep India polio-free: National Immunisation Day in Delhi Children at DAV public school in Dwarka, New Delhi take part in a Polio awareness rally Katie Forster Fighting to keep India polio-free: National Immunisation Day in Delhi A child has their little finger marked to show they have received the vaccine Rotary International India National PolioPlus Committee Fighting to keep India polio-free: National Immunisation Day in Delhi Manu, five, with her brother and sister after receiving the Polio vaccination Katie Forster Fighting to keep India polio-free: National Immunisation Day in Delhi One of the 700,000 vaccination booths set up around India on National Immunisation Day, with a coolbox full of vaccines on the table. This booth is at the entrance to a Hindu temple Rotary International India National PolioPlus Committee Fighting to keep India polio-free: National Immunisation Day in Delhi Children queue to receive polio drops in a slum in the Ekta Vihar region of New Delhi Katie Forster Fighting to keep India polio-free: National Immunisation Day in Delhi More than 172 million children are vaccinated on National Immunisation Day Katie Forster Fighting to keep India polio-free: National Immunisation Day in Delhi Rabiya, 18, in the Polio ward at St Stephen's hospital in New Delhi Katie Forster Fighting to keep India polio-free: National Immunisation Day in Delhi Dr Matthew Varghese, who runs India's only dedicated Polio ward Rotary International India National PolioPlus Committee Fighting to keep India polio-free: National Immunisation Day in Delhi More than two and a half million people are involved in the National Immunisation Day operation Rotary International India National PolioPlus Committee

The sheer number of people in India combined with low sanitation levels means conditions are ripe for the polio virus to transmit through the faecal route, says Bhatnagar. There are places in India that are hard to reach  people living in forests, along riverbanks, in mountainous areas in the north east or the flat plains of Bhatar, where there are no roads.

Even in crowded Delhi, its a challenge to make sure every child is seen on National Immunisation Day, a vast operation that aims to deliver polio drops to 172 million under-fives in one go.

Children jostle to reach the front of the queue at one of the countrys 700,000 vaccination booths. This one is in a small health centre amid ramshackle houses painted in pale pinks and bright blues, with washing strung up between them. A young woman of about Rabiyas age crouches to rinse her hair from a small metal bucket, the dirty water trickling away into an open sewer.

Among the two and a half million people delivering the vials of vaccinations to the booths in cool boxes, administering two drops to each child, and then going from house to house the next day to make sure no one is missed, are some 100,000 Rotary volunteers. The slogan on their bright yellow bibs has been recently updated to say: Keep India Polio Free.

A map used to plan vaccination rounds in the Madipur area of Delhi (Katie Forster)

A handful have travelled at their own expense from the UK, Japan, Belgium, Sweden and the US to support the charitys long-running global polio eradication programme, launched in 1985 as the first campaign of its kind. We have to finish the job. Were on the brink of a historic milestone, says Eve Conway, President of Rotary Great Britain and Ireland. When we do rid the world of polio, it will save us billions of pounds. And that money can be used to tackle other diseases.

Five-year-old Manu, wrapped in a woollen cardigan  we may be in India, but its still January  shyly shows me her little finger, painted purple to show she has received the drops. Shes done this before, and unlike some of the younger children, didnt squeal at its bitter taste.

Multiple vaccination rounds take place each year to ensure maximum coverage, but their frequency is now dropping, says Dr Sucheta Bharti. She works in a maternity clinic which plans and distributes the vaccines in Madipur in west Delhi, where on my way to meet her I spot a round-eyed kitten nestling among piles of fresh ginger on one of the many carts lining the streets.

Dr Sucheta Bharti plans and distributes vaccines (Katie Forster)

Bharti shows me the clinics hand-drawn, colour-coded plan of the local area and a detailed record of who lives where. At a nearby health centre, a simple, narrow room covered in posters of food groups and hand-washing diagrams, a group of children who outnumber the average reception class chant together and are reminded of the importance of the upcoming immunisation day.

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The structures put in place by the polio programme help to reinforce maternity care and other important initiatives, says Bharti. During the Ebola epidemic, Indian medical teams travelled to Africa to share their expertise. When Indias last case of polio was detected in 2011, she and her team were doing about 10 rounds in a year. Now were managing with five to six rounds, she says. This year we are planning four rounds in Delhi, depending on if the number decreases in neighbouring countries.

And if a new case of polio is discovered in India? We wont let that happen. That is not acceptable, she says. Everyone has worked so hard at the ground level and also at the higher level. Even if a case comes from elsewhere, we'll make sure it does not spread to other children. This phase is even more important than what we were doing when cases were still happening.

There may soon be a shift in some aspects of the programmes delivery, however. The Indian government has announced it will cut some ties with the Gates foundation and partially fund the countrys immunisation programme itself  a move linked to a broader push against foreign-led non-governmental organisations working in key policy areas.

Senior health ministry official Soumya Swaminathan told Reuters that the government had decided to manage its technical arm of the immunisation programme in Delhi, by itself as there was a perception that an external agency is funding it, so there could be influence, although she said no instances of such influence had been found. A spokesperson for the Gates Foundation said its grant for the programme ends this month and it was in advanced stages of discussion with the government about the next steps for collaboration.

Bharti and doctors across the country are also now required to administer an injected polio vaccine as part of routine childhood immunisation as well as the drops, which have been linked to a small number of cases of vaccine-derived polio. This occurs when the weakened live virus used in the vaccine mutates into a form that spreads infection, instead of prevention.

The big push has been to get rid of the wild poliovirus, which has been around for millennia, says Jay Wenger, head of the Gates Foundations polio programme. The issue of vaccine-derived poliovirus is essentially a side effect of the vaccine were trying to use to get rid of wild poliovirus.

Last year, five polio cases were caused by a vaccine-derived virus. Last April, all of the countries using the oral polio vaccine changed to a different formula, which doesnt include a strain that has been eradicated in the wild but was more likely to mutate into the disease-causing type. A global shortage of injectable polio vaccine has placed a stumbling block in the way of this plan, and the three countries where the wild virus is endemic are at the top of the list to receive it, while countries like India are training nurses to give micro-doses, essentially rationing the vaccine.

At first, the health workers encountered resistance from families, says Bharti  not just from the Muslim population, but also from the Rajasthani community. In a rural area in Uttar Pradesh, parents pushed health workers off roofs when they came to immunise children, resulting in fractures.

But through working with religious and community leaders, attitudes have changed in India. This is slowly becoming the case in Pakistan and Afghanistan too, but vaccinators continue to risk their lives. Last year, seven policemen guarding polio workers were killed by Islamist gunmen in Pakistan, while 15 people were killed in a bomb attack on a vaccination centre.

The Taliban has violently opposed vaccination efforts, calling them a Western conspiracy to sterilise children. Rejection of the programme intensified when it emerged that the CIA had set up a fake hepatitis vaccination campaign in Afghanistan during the 2011 search for Osama Bin Laden. There is certainly fear. Anyone could be attacked. The workers are heroes, especially female workers who go from door to door, said a doctor working with an international health organisation in Pakistan, who did not want to be named for security reasons.

Children at DAV public school in Dwarka take part in a Polio awareness rally (Katie Forster)

Almost everyone I speak to in Delhi knew someone with polio while they were growing up. At a polio awareness rally organised by a school in the west of the city, Deepti, a 20-year-old teacher, says she remembers when her neighbour, who was four years older than her, caught the disease. She couldnt hold her birthday cake properly at her birthday party, and now she is dependent on her parents.

Marching through the streets of Delhi, holding up motorcycles packed with passengers and bringing great grandparents with their small children out into the street to watch, the students hold handmade banners saying Now more than ever, stop polio for ever and Keep your health pristine! Get the vaccine! Getting rid of polio wont solve all of Indias problems, but the future looks bright. As Deepti remarks: Some of these students wont ever know what polio is.

Additional photography by Rotary International India National PolioPlus Committee. The polio ward and rehabilitation surgery at St Stephen's hospital is funded through the Rotary Foundation
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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's brother has been assassinated in Malaysia, South Korean media reports.

Kim Jong-nam was killed at Kuala Lumpur airport after being attacked by two women with poisoned needles, according to local TV reports.

The two women, believed to be North Korean agents, escaped in a taxi and remain at large, TV Chosun reported.

His death was confirmed by Malaysian police.

Kim Jong-nam, the eldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il (Getty) (Getty Images)

Police official Fadzil Ahmat told Reuters the cause of Mr Kim's death has not yet been confirmed, but said a postmortem would be carried out on the body.

So far there are no suspects, but we have started investigations and are looking at a few possibilities to get leads, Mr Fadzil said.

He said Mr Kim felt like someone grabbed or held his face from behind, He added: He felt dizzy, so he asked for help at an information centre.

Mr Kim was taken to an airport clinic and died in the ambulance on the way to hospital.

An employee in the emergency ward of Putrajaya Hospital told the agency a deceased Korean there was born in 1970 and surnamed Kim.

 Kim Jong-un's wife disappears from public for seven months

Mr Kim went into hiding in Malaysia after the execution in December 2013 of his uncle, Jang Sung-thaek, the once-powerful uncle of the current leader.

He was known to spend a significant time outside the country and had spoken out publicly against his family's dynastic control of the isolated state.

The eldest son of Kim Jong-il, he survived an assassination attempt in Macau in 2011.

North Korea Prison Camps Show all 7 1 /7 North Korea Prison Camps North Korea Prison Camps An overview of Camp 25 Amnesty International/DigitalGlobe North Korea Prison Camps The administration area of Camp 15 Amnesty International/DigitalGlobe North Korea Prison Camps A water treatment system in Camp 25 Amnesty International/DigitalGlobe North Korea Prison Camps Crop fields and, inset, prisoners in Camp 25 Amnesty International/DigitalGlobe North Korea Prison Camps The reported crematorium in Camp 25 Amnesty International/DigitalGlobe North Korea Prison Camps A possible mine Amnesty International/DigitalGlobe North Korea Prison Camps A walled compound in Camp 15 Amnesty International/DigitalGlobe

Mr Kim was born from his father's non-marital relationship with Sung Hae-rim, a South Korean-born actress who died in Moscow.

While he was widely seen as the hermit kingdom's heir apparent, he fell out of favour after being detained while trying to enter Japan on a forged passport.

He told authorities he wanted to visit Disneyland with his family.

North and South Korea are yet to officially comment on the reports.

If confirmed, Mr Kim's case would mark the most high-profile death under the Kim Jong-un regime since the execution of Jang Song-thaek.
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Conservation workers in New Zealand have been popping pilot whales like balloons to stop their carcasses exploding.

Around 400 whales died after one of the largest ever strandings in the countrys history.

The public has been warned about the dangers posed by whales exploding on Golden Beach, on the South Island, and the Department of Conservation (DOC) has cordoned off the area.

Workers spent Monday cutting holes in the animals, using knives and two metre needles, to release internal gases. It was like popping balloons, a DOC spokesperson told local radio.

It would take several months for the bodies to decompose and turn into skeletons.

The surviving whales were last seen swimming six kilometres (four miles) offshore on Sunday evening, according to DOC.

 Clean-up begins after 350 whales die on New Zealand beach

Last Thursday, a pod of about 400 whales became stranded, with a second pod of more than 200 whales stranded on Saturday.

The precise cause is not known.

Beached whales are not uncommon on Golden Bay. Its shallow muddy waters confuse the whale's sonar, leaving it vulnerable to stranding by an ebb tide, according to marine environmental organisation Project Jonah.

Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast Show all 8 1 /8 Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast Two dead sperm whales are seen washed up on a beach near Skegness in northeast England. Four sperm whales believed to be from the same pod washed up on beaches in northeast England. Three whales were found on a beach near Skegness and one died on Hunstanton beach AFP Getty Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast 50ft sperm whale beached in Norfolk The dead 50ft (14.5m) young adult male sperm whale beached in Norfolk, which was was part of a group of six spotted in the Wash at Hunstanton, is believed to have been part of a pod that stranded and died in the Netherlands PA Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast 50ft sperm whale beached in Norfolk The dead 50ft (14.5m) young adult male sperm whale beached in Norfolk, which was was part of a group of six spotted in the Wash at Hunstanton, is believed to have been part of a pod that stranded and died in the Netherlands PA Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast 50ft sperm whale beached in Norfolk The dead 50ft (14.5m) young adult male sperm whale beached in Norfolk, which was was part of a group of six spotted in the Wash at Hunstanton, is believed to have been part of a pod that stranded and died in the Netherlands PA Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast 50ft sperm whale beached in Norfolk The dead 50ft (14.5m) young adult male sperm whale beached in Norfolk, which was was part of a group of six spotted in the Wash at Hunstanton, is believed to have been part of a pod that stranded and died in the Netherlands PA Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast 50ft sperm whale beached in Norfolk Two of three dead sperm whales that have washed up on a beach in Lincolnshire, just a day after another was beached in Norfolk PA Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast One of three dead sperm whales that have washed up on a beach in Lincolnshire, just a day after another was beached in Norfolk PA Dead whales beached on the North Sea coast Photo taken from the Twitter feed of the @RNLIskegness of one of three dead sperm whales that have washed up on a beach in Lincolnshire, just a day after another was beached in Norfolk PA

Pilot whales are not listed as endangered, but little is known about their population in New Zealand waters.
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A man has been arrested on suspicion of glorifying Nazism after allegedly impersonating Adolf Hitler at the dictators birthplace.

Sporting a distinctive side parting, moustache and 1940s-style suit, the 25-year-old reportedly walked into a bar in Braunau am Inn and introduced himself as Harald Hitler, before demanding Austrian mineral water.

He was also spotted browsing Second World War magazines in a local book shop and posing for photos outside the house where Hitler was born in 1889 before being arrested on Monday.

The glorification of Adolf Hitler is punishable, a spokesperson for the Ried prosecutors office told the Oberosterreichischen Nachrichten newspaper. If I dress as Hitler and pose outside his birthplace, I am reviving this nationalist ideology.

David Furtner, a spokesperson for local police, said the suspect was detained after being seen repeatedly in front Hitlers birthplace.

He appears to glorify Hitler, he added, saying the man was not believed to be taking part in a prank or performance.

The man, named locally as Harald Zenz, remains in custody while prosecutors decide whether to press criminal charges ahead of a deadline on Wednesday.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. 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Known as the "Hitler double", he reportedly moved to Braunau in January from the Austrian state of Styria, renting a flat in the town.

A man closely resembling the suspect, in the same distinctive suit and hairstyle, was spotted at a demonstration by the anti-Muslim Pegida group in Graz last year.

Glorifying Hitler or the Third Reich is a crime in Austria, which Nazi Germany annexed in 1938.

Authorities in Braunau have been attempting to prevent the town becoming a destination for right-wing extremists and are locked in a legal battle attempting to repurpose the house where the Fuhrer was born.


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Police in Iceland have warned tourists to stop staring at the Northern Lights while driving.

Officers pulled over two cars moving erratically last week, initially on suspicion the drivers were under the influence of alcohol.

But on both occasions, the visitors said they has been mesmerised by the aurora borealis above them, reports Iceland Magazine.

The first incident occurred on the main road towards the countrys only major airport, near the capital Reykjavik. The driver told the police he saw the Northern Lights and couldnt bring himself to stop looking at them, a police statement read.

In the second incident, officers noticed a car veering across the road driving away from the airport.

In September, Iceland turned off the street lights in Reykjavik to allow people to view the Northern Lights.

Northern Lights across the UK - in pictures Show all 6 1 /6 Northern Lights across the UK - in pictures Northern Lights across the UK - in pictures The beautiful colours of light shining through the Sycamore Gap at Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland PA Northern Lights across the UK - in pictures The sky surrounding St Mary's Lighthouse in Whitley Bay, Northumberland PA Northern Lights across the UK - in pictures This shot was taken in Northumberland Graeme Stoker/Twitter Northern Lights across the UK - in pictures The beautiful skies could be spotted across the sea in Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland Caroline Burgess/Twitter Northern Lights across the UK - in pictures The lights seen over Great Park in Newcastle PA Northern Lights across the UK - in pictures A beach in Saltburn, North Yorkshire Darren Saltburn/Twitter

The display even be seen over the skies in Britain and the US.
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Students from celebrating Valentine's Day in parts of Indonesia, where authorities have also confiscated condoms, saying the romantic tradition encourages casual sex and runs counter to cultural norms in the Muslim majority nation.

Police in the city of Makassar on Sulawesi island, raided shops and seized condoms that were readily available in most parts of Indonesia, a secular country whose state ideology enshrines religious diversity.

"These raids were done after we received reports from residents that the minimarts were selling condoms in an unregulated way, especially on Valentine's Day," a police official told local media.

Employees of the minimarts were told not to sell contraceptives to teenagers.

Indonesia's highest Islamic clerical council declared Valentine's Day forbidden by Islamic law in 2012, saying it was contradictory to Muslim culture and teachings.

But the vast majority of Indonesia's more than 220 million Muslims follow a moderate form of Islam in a country with sizeable Christian and Hindu minorities.

In Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, and other parts of the country, Valentine's Day has grown in popularity with companies looking to cash in by offering special discounts and promotions.

Otter celebrates valentines

National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia is offering a 15 per cent discount on air fares this week and motor bike delivery services are promoting week-long discounts to send flowers and chocolates to loved ones.

Rights groups have expressed concerns over the growing influence of Islamist groups, who have targeted how people lead their lives.

A hardline group went around malls in East Java late last year to check whether outlets had ordered Muslim staff to wear Christmas apparel such as Santa hats.

In Indonesia's second largest city, Surabaya, government officials ordered schools to ban students from celebrating Valentine's Day "in or outside of school" because it ran counter to "cultural and social norms", according to a copy of the letter on the city's official website.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

A similar letter was also sent to public education agencies and schools in West Java province, according to a statement on the provincial government's website. West Java is the country's most populous province.

West Java and other provinces, such as Aceh, which is the only province in Indonesia to follow sharia law, have issued similar bans on celebrating Valentine's Day in previous years.

Under Indonesia's decentralised system of government, regional authorities are allowed to issue bylaws without approval from the central government.
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Malaysias Government has endorsed gay conversion therapy after federal authorities claimed sexual orientation can be changed with extensive training.

A video produced by the country's family, social and development department explains how Muslims can change their approach to the LGBT community so that it does not promote hate against a minority, but the video has sparked anger for its suggestion that sexuality can be cured.

The three-minute long video in the Malay language says: The fact is, there are those among Muslims that have non-heterosexual orientation but remain steadfast on the path of Islam.

For them, this is a test of Allah, and they choose to face the test appropriate with what Islam demands.

In Malaysia, LGBT rights are largely unrecognised and sodomy remains a criminal activity under British Empire colonial era law.

The film was shared by social activist Syed Azmi Alhabshi on his Facebook profile yesterday, attracting thousands of views and comments.

Dr Mohd Izwan Yusof, an assistant senior director of Malaysia's Islamic Development Department, confirmed his group was responsible for the video.

According to the Malay Mail Online, the film likens sexual orientation to horse riding, claiming when someone realises they have different preferences from the majority, they need extensive training and guidance to correct this.

It urges a repentant homosexual to fulfil their desires through marriage or to suppress their appetite through measures including fasting.

The video advises Muslims to be patient and help their friends change and return to the heterosexual path, if they discover them to be LGBT.

Conversion therapy consists of psychological treatment or counselling to change a person's sexual orientation from homosexual or bisexual to heterosexual.

It can include aversion therapy, such as showing someone gay porn, then inducing them to vomit or administering electric shocks so they associate their homosexual desire with sickness or pain.

It is widely regarded by the medical and scientific community as potentially harmful pseudoscience.

The practice has been legally challenged or banned in several countries around the world.

Controversy has raged over the therapy in the US, where it was recently claimed Vice President Mike Pence has advocated the treatment.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Tory MP Mike Freer has called for the UK Government to introduce a law to ban so-called gay cure therapies which he said are still available on the NHS because the psychotherapy industry is not sufficiently regulated.

In 2014, Harley Street doctor Nazim Mahmood, who came from a Muslim background, took his own life by jumping from his penthouse apartment after his mother suggested he undergo conversion therapy when he came out as gay.
Korea has seen increasing exports of chocolate on the back of Korean pop culture across Asia. Chocolate exports totaled US$22.68 million in 2015, up 43 percent from $15.83 million in 2011, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on Monday.

Mongolia and Southeast Asian countries have become the fastest growing markets for Korean chocolate.

In the last five years, exports to Mongolia rose by 309 percent, to Thailand by 205 percent and to Vietnam by 109 percent.

Overall, 42 percent of Korean chocolate was exported to China, followed by 14 percent to Hong Kong and 12 percent to Japan.

But imports still substantially outweigh exports. In 2015, Korea imported $211.4 million worth of chocolate, nine times more than exports, with 18.5 percent coming from the U.S.

Korea's chocolate market was worth W1.16 trillion as of 2015, accounting for 1.2 percent of the global market.
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel has reportedly nixed a conference in Berlin with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu because of a bill recently passed by the Knesset which retroactively legalises 4,000 settler Jewish settler homes.

While the annual summit with the Israeli government scheduled for May 10 was officially cancelled because of Germanys general election in September, an Israeli source connected to the German Foreign Ministry told Haaretz that the real reason for the cancellation is that Berlin is angry at both the Regulation Bill and other recent Israeli settlement policy moves.

Last week Israel voted to legalise 250 outpost settlements built without government approval on privately owned land in the West Bank.

 Barack Obama uses final interview as President to slam Israeli policy on settlements

Under the new legislation - which the countrys attorney general has warned he will not defend, and could put Israel at risk of breaching international law - Palestinian owners are to be given other land, or compensated financially.

The international community, which views all Israeli construction over the 1967 Green Line as illegal, does not recognise the difference between outpost settlements and those authorised by the government.

The controversial new law came into effect almost immediately after Israel announced plans for more than 11,000 new settler homes in the West Bank and annexed East Jerusalem.

It is thought that the bold new moves from Israels ruling coalition have been encouraged by the election of US President Donald Trump. The new president has signalled he is far more sympathetic to Israeli interests than predecessor Barack Obama.

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

Berlin released a statement condemning the new policies, which it said endangered the peace process and signal that Israel is no longer committed to a two-state-solution to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis.

Haaretz Israeli source said that the German government had been instructed to express its dismay at the legislation both publicly and in diplomatic channels.

German officials approached by the paper did not deny the Regulation Bill was the reason the conference - held to show the closeness between the two countries - was cancelled.

The governments summit will most likely not take place in May, one German Foreign Ministry source said. Regarding the elections  they are only in September."
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The Iraqi air force has carried out strikes targeting a compound where Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was thought to be meeting other commanders, the military has said.

The names of 13 senior Isis figures killed in the strike in West Iraq on Saturday were published on Monday, but Baghdadis was not among them, making it unclear whether the leader had been hit.

At least 64 other lower-ranking Isis fighters were killed in F-16 air strikes on four other extremist targets, a defence ministry statement said.

 Who is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi?

Iraqi intelligence believes the Iraqi cleric, whose real name is Ibrahim al-Samarrai, travelled from Isiss de facto capital of Raqqa in Syria to al-Qaim, just over the Iraqi border, to discuss the collapse happening in Mosul and to chose a successor for him.

His last public message appeared in November 2016, when he called on Isis supporters to defend the group against the huge US-backed coalition efforts to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul from the extremists hands.

In pictures: Mosul offensive Show all 40 1 /40 In pictures: Mosul offensive In pictures: Mosul offensive A doctor carries an Iraqi newborn baby at a hospital in Mosul, Iraq July 18, 2017. Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi girls play at a yard of a school in Mosul, Iraq July 18, 2017alal Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive A woman on crutches who is a relative of men accused of being Islamic State militants is seen at a camp in Bartella, east of Mosul, Iraq July 15, 2017. Picture taken July 15, 2017. Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive A displaced girl, who fled from home carries a doll at Hamam al-Alil camp south of Mosul, Iraq July 13, 2017. Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi federal police members and civilians celebrate in the Old City of Mosul on 9 July 2017 after the government's announcement of the "liberation" of the embattled city. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's office said he was in "liberated" Mosul to congratulate "the heroic fighters and the Iraqi people on the achievement of the major victory" AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive A picture taken on 9 July 2017, shows a general view of the destruction in Mosul's Old City. Iraq will announce imminently a final victory in the nearly nine-month offensive to retake Mosul from jihadists, a US general said Saturday, as celebrations broke out among police forces in the city. AFP In pictures: Mosul offensive Members of the Iraqi federal police raise the victory gesture as they ride on a humvee while advancing through the Old City of Mosul on 28 June 2017, as the offensive continues to retake the last district held by Islamic State (IS) group fighters. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Smoke billows as Iraqi forces advance through the Old City of Mosul on 26 June 2017, during the ongoing offensive to retake the last district held by the Islamic State (IS) group. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi man wearing the green scarf of the Shi'ite faith kisses an Iraqi Army soldier on safely reaching the Iraqi forces position as Iraqi civilians flee the Old City of west Mosul where heavy fighting continues on 23 June 2017. Iraqi forces continue to encounter stiff resistance with improvised explosive devices, car bombs, heavy mortar fire and snipers hampering their advance. Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive A picture taken from the inside of an Iraqi forces armoured vehicle shows residents walking through a damaged street as troops advance towards Mosul's Old City on 18 June 2017, during the ongoing offensive to retake the last district still held by the Islamic State (IS) group. Military commanders told AFP the assault had begun at dawn after overnight air strikes by the US-led coalition backing Iraqi forces. They said the jihadists were putting up fierce resistance. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi Army soldiers advance in a destroyed street after an Iraqi forces airstrike targeted an Islamic State sniper position 17 June 2017 in al-Shifa, the last district of west Mosul under Islamic State control. IS snipers, as well as car and suicide bomb attacks continue to hinder the Iraqi forces efforts to retake the final district. A series of airstrikes by Iraqi helicopter gunships attempted to hit multiple Islamic State sniper positions in al-Shifa. Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi soldier frisks a displaced Iraqi man at a temporary camp in the compound of the closed Nineveh International Hotel in Mosul on 16 June 2017 which was recovered by Iraqi troops from Islamic State group fighters earlier in the year. A screening centre set up in the compound's fairgrounds sees a constant stream of Iraqis fleeing the battle for Mosul, awaiting their turn to be checked by the Iraqi forces who are searching for suspected Islamic State (IS) group members. The small fairground lies at the end of a pontoon bridge across the Tigris recently opened to civilians that is the only physical link between the two banks of the river. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqis staying at the al-Khazir camp swim in a river near the camp for internally displaced people, located between Arbil and Mosul on 11 June 2017. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi government forces drive on a road leading to Tal Afar on 9 June 2017, during ongoing battles to retake the city from Islamic State (IS) group fighters. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi policeman carries a poster bearing an image of Mosul's iconic leaning minaret, known as the "Hadba" (Hunchback), on 22 June 2017. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqis stand in line to receive food aid in western Mosul's Zanjili neighbourhood on 7 June 2017, during ongoing battles as Iraqi forces try to retake the city from Islamic State (IS) group fighters. Living conditions in Mosul have again deteriorated since the start of the Iraqi government's offensive on the city in October in which they retook a large part of the west of the city. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Displaced Iraqis carry lightbulbs and sacks as they evacuate from western Mosul's Zanjili neighbourhood as government forces advance in the area during their ongoing battle against Islamic State (IS) group fighters on 13 May 2017 AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive A member of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) flashes the victory gesture as he patrols in western Mosul's al-Islah al-Zaraye neighbourhood on 13 May 2017 AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi army soldiers from the 9th armoured division on a truck flash the sign of victory as they drive back from Mosul to the town of Qaraqosh (also known as Hamdaniya) Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Members of Iraqi forces flash the sign of victory on their vehicle as they advance towards Hammam al-Alil area south of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive A member of Iraqi security forces gestures in Hammam al-Alil, south of Mosul, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi children, one flashing the sign of victory, greet Iraqi army's soldiers from the 9th armoured division in the area of Ali Rash, adjacent to the eastern Al-Intissar neighbourhood of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Peshmerga forces look at a tunnel used by Islamic State militants near the town of Bashiqa, east of Mosul, during an operation to attack Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi soldier takes a photograph with his phone as his comrade stands next to a detained man, whom the Iraqi army soldiers accused of being an Islamic State fighter, who was fleeing with his family in the Intisar disrict of eastern Mosul, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive Iranian Kurdish female members of the Freedom Party of Kurdistan (PAK) hold a position in an area near the town of Bashiqa, some 25 kilometres north east of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi families, who fled their homes in Hamam al-Alil, gather on the outskirts of their town Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Displaced people walk past a checkpoint near Qayara, south of Mosul, Iraq AP In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi families who were displaced by the ongoing operation by Iraqi forces against jihadists of the Islamic State group to retake the city of Mosul, are seen gathering in an area near Qayyarah In pictures: Mosul offensive A boy who just fled Abu Jarbuah village is seen with his family at a Kurdish Peshmerga position between two front lines near Bashiqa, east of Mosul, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi child eats a pomegranate upon the arrival of Iraqi forces in the village of Umm Mahahir, south of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive People who just fled Abu Jarbuah village sit as they eat at a Kurdish Peshmerga position between two front lines near Bashiqa, east of Mosul, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive A couple who just fled Abu Jarbuah village are escorted by Kurdish Peshmerga soldiers Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive Women carry a boy over a wall as civilians flee their houses in the village of Tob Zawa, Iraq AP In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi soldier and a civilian ride a motorbike as smoke rises behind them, on the road between Qayyarah and Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive A member of Iraqi forces, wearing a skull mask, waits at a checkpoint for people fleeing the main hub city of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi soldier sits at a checkpoint in an area near Qayyarah Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi men prepare food portions for Iraqi forces deployed in areas south of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi forces celebrate upon the arrival of vehicles bringing food to them Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi childen smoke cigarettes upon the arrival of Iraqi forces in the village of Umm Mahahir, south of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive A member of Iraqi forces distributes drinks to children in the village of Umm Mahahir, south of Mosul Getty

The battle  which since mid October has killed at least 1,000 civilians and displaced more than 200,000 from their homes  is still raging, as Iraqi coalition troops and militia forces struggle to make gains in the western side of the city.

Isis captured almost a third of Iraq in its 2014 blitz across the country from neighbouring Syria. While the group lost almost a quarter of its territory in 2016, Iraqi forces are now intent on stopping jihadi fighters from fleeing from West Mosul back into Syria.
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Isiss propaganda will continue to radicalise followers and inspire terror attacks long after the groups self-declared caliphate has been destroyed, a new report has warned.

The terrorist group is losing swathes of territory in its Iraqi stronghold of Mosul as enemy forces advance on its de-facto capital of Raqqa in Syria, but continues to churn out online magazines, videos and continual updates on its operations to followers around the world.

A document called Media Operative, You Are a Mujahid, Too that surfaced last year exposes Isiss strategy for its propagandists in the Middle East and further afield.

 Air strikes destroy Islamic State drone base in Mosul

Claiming the West is angered and terrorised by jihadi media, the authors urge followers to shatter enemy morale.

Media weapons [can] actually be more potent than atomic bombs and has far-reaching potential to change the balance in respect to the war between the Muslims and their enemies, the 55-page document continues.

It was translated by researchers at Kings College Londons International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR) as part of a report on Isis information warfare.

As well as its notorious execution videos, the group distributes gory battle footage alongside images attempting to depict the idyll of everyday life in the so-called Islamic State.

Footage distributed by Isiss Amaq news agency in recent days includes releases showing fighting, drone strikes and suicide bombings around the groups embattled strongholds of Raqqa and al-Bab, as well as devastation allegedly caused by bombing by the US-led coalition, Russian air force and Turkish artillery.

Graphic images of enemy soldiers heads and mutilated bodies are broken up with softer releases showing children being rewarded for memorising the Quran, award ceremonies and jihadis giving out food and money to civilians.

An Isis propaganda video released by Amaq agency on Sunday shows boys being rewarded by jihadis for memorising the Quran in Syria

Amaq is just one strand of Isiss propaganda machine, which includes glossy-style magazines published online in multiple languages, video sites, social media channels and countless mirror accounts set up by supporters to thwart authorities attempts to take the outlets down.

They frequently succeed, as do a number of anti-Isis hacking collectives, but websites and messaging services invariably pop back up under minimally altered names within a matter of hours.

Recommended Isis using kittens and honey bees in bid to soften image

Charlie Winter, the author of the ICSR report, said there was a growing sense of awareness among Isis propagandists that things arent going well.

The situation isnt sustainable  one day Isis will no longer control a territorially contiguous area of land and if thats the case they need another means of sustaining morale around the world, to keep themselves relevant and a sense of momentum, he told The Independent.

In those circumstances, propaganda will become even more important than it is now, as a way of referring back to the golden age.

Mr Winter, a senior researcher at the ICSR, said Isiss probable military defeat in its territories across Syria, Iraq and Libya will not prevent followers continuing to launch insurgencies and terror attacks, as propaganda continues the cycle of radicalisation.

He said the groups draw lies in its claim to offer an alternative existence for followers under the Islamic State, rather than just attacking the status quo.

Timeline: The emergence of Isis Show all 40 1 /40 Timeline: The emergence of Isis Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2000 Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (pictured here) forms an al-Qaeda splinter group in Iraq, al-Qaeda in Iraq. Its brutality from the beginning alienates Iraqis and many al-Qaeda leaders. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2006 Al-Zarqawi is killed in a U.S. strike. Al-Zarqawis successor, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, announces the creation of the Islamic State in Iraq (ISI). Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2009 Still al-Qaeda-linked ISI claims responsibility for suicide bombings that killed 155 in Baghdad, as well as attacks in August and October killing 240, as President Obama announces troop withdrawal from Iraq in March. Getty Images Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2010 Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi becomes head of ISI, at lowest ebb of Islamist militancy in Iraq, which sees last U.S. combat brigade depart. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2012 In Syria, protests (pictured here starting in Daree) have morphed into what president Assad labelled a real war with emergence of a coalition of forces opposed to Assads regime. Syria group Jabhat al-Nusra are among rebel groups who refuse to join, denouncing it as a conspiracy. Bombings targeting Shia areas, killing more than 500 people, spark fears of new sectarian conflict. Sunni Muslims stage protests across country against what they see as increasingly marginalisation by Shia-led government. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2013 Al-Baghdadi renames ISI as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or Isis, as the group absorbs Syrian al-Nusra, gaining a foothold in Syria. In response, al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri (Bin Ladens successor) concerned about Isis expansion orders that Isis be dissolved and ISI operations should be confined to Iraq. This order is rejected by al-Baghdadi. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - January Isis fighters capture the Iraqi cities of Fallujah and Ramadi, giving them base to launch slew of attacks further south. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Isis declares itself the Caliphate, calling itself Islamic State (IS). The group captures Mosul, Iraqs second largest city; Tal Afar, just 93 miles from Syrian border; and the central Iraqi city of Tikrit. These advances sent shockwaves around the world. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Around the same time Isis releases a video calling for western Muslims to join the Caliphate and fight, prompting new evaluations of extremists groups social media understanding. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - June Isis take Baiji oil fields in Iraq - giving them access to huge amounts of possible revenue. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - August James Foley is executed by the group as concerns grow for second American prisoner, fellow reporter Steven Sotloff. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - August Obama authorises U.S. airstrikes in Iraq, helping to stall Isis along with action by Kurdish forces following the deaths of hundreds of Yazidi people on Mount Sinjar. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Isis release video showing Steven Sotloffs murder prompting Western speculation his executioner is same man who killed Mr Foley. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Obama tells us that America will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Isis release a video appearing to show David Haines, who was captured by militants in Syria in 2013, wearing an orange jumpsuit and kneeling in the desert while he reads a pre-prepared script. It later shows what appears to be the aid worker's body. Rex Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - September Peshmerga fighters scrabble to hold positions in the Diyala province (a gateway to Baghdad) as Isis fighters continue to advance on Iraqi capital. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - October Aid worker Alan Henning is killed. Self-imposed media blackout refuses to show images of him in final moments, instead focuses upon humanitarian care. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - October Isis raise their flag in Kobani, which had been strongly defended by Kurdish troops. The victory goes against hopeful western analysis Isis had overextended itself, while alienating much of the Muslim population through the murder of Henning. Victory causes fresh waves of Kurdish refugees arriving in Turkey. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2014 - November American hostage, who embarced values of Islam, Peter Kassig and 14 Syrian soldiers are shown meeting the same fate as other captives. But intelligence agencies will be poring over the apparently significant discrepancies between this and previous films. Seramedig.org.uk Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis has released a video revealing the murder by burning to death of a Jordanian pilot held by the group since the end of December 2014. Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis militants have released videos which appear to show the beheading of Japanese hostages Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February American aid worker, Kayla Mueller was the last American hostage known to be held by Isis. She died, according to her captors, in an airstrike by the Jordanian air force on the city of Raqqa in Syria, though US authorities disputed this. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February Isis militants have posted a gruesome video online in which they force 21 Egyptian Coptic Christian hostages to kneel on a beach in Libya before beheading them. Egypt vowed to avenge the beheading and launched air strikes on Isis positions. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - February The British Isis militant suspected of appearing in videos showing the beheading of Western hostages has been named in reports as Mohammed Emwazi from London. Rex Features Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - March Isis triple suicide attack has killed more than 100 worshippers and hundreds of others were injured after the group members targeted two mosques in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa. AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Iraqi forces have claimed victory over Isis in battle for Tikrit and raised the flag in the city. EPA/STR Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Isis has claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan that killed at least 35 people queuing to collect their wages and injured 100 more. EPA Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - April Isis media arm released a 29-minute video purporting to show militants executing Ethiopian Christians captives. The footage bore the extremist groups al-Furqan media logo and showed the destruction of churches and desecration of religious symbols. A masked fighter made a statement threatening Christians who did not convert to Islam or pay a special tax. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of Isis has been "incapacitated" by a spinal injuries sustained in a US air strike in Iraq. He is being treated in a hideout by two doctors from Isis stronghold of Mosul who are said to be "strong ideological supporters of the group". Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis has also claimed responsibility for killing 300 of Yazidi captives, including women, children and elderly people in Iraq AP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis attack on Prophet Mohamed cartoon contest in Texas was its first action on US soil. Two gunmen were shot and killed after launching the attack at the exhibition. Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi have been named as the attackers at the Curtis Culwell Centre arena in Garland. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isiss deputy leader, Abu Alaa Afri, a former physics teacher who was thought to have taken charge of the deadly terrorist group, has been killed in a US-led coalition airstrike. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May US special forces have killed a senior Isis leader named as Abu Sayyaf in an operation aiming to capture him and his wife in Syria. Getty Images Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Iran-backed militias are sent to Ramadi by the Iraqi government to fight Isis militants who completed their capture of the city. Government soldiers and civilians were reportedly massacred by extremists as they took control and the army fled. Charred bodies were left littering the city streets as troops clung on to trucks speeding away from the city. Ramadi is the latest government stronghold to fall to the so-called Islamic State, despite air strikes by a US-led international coalition aiming to stop its advance in Iraq and Syria. AFP Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May Isis rounded up civilians trapped in Palmyra and forced them to watch 20 people being executed in the historic citys ancient amphitheatre. The Unesco World Heritage site was overrun by militants, threatening the future of 2,000 year-old monuments and ruins. Thousands of Palmyras residents fled but many are still living within the city walls, while the UN human rights office in Geneva said it had received reports of Syrian government forces preventing people from leaving until they retreated from the city. Getty Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - May A group of Isis-affiliated fighters have captured a key airport in central Libya. The militants took control of the al-Qardabiya airbase in Sirte after a local militia tasked with defending the facility withdrew from their positions. Affiliates of Isis, already control large parts of Sirte, the birthplace of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and a former stronghold of his supporters. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June The US Air Force has destroyed an Isis stronghold after an extremist let slip their location on social media. According the Air Force Times, General Herbert "Hawk" Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, said that Airmen at Hulburt Field, Florida, used images shared by jihadists to track the location of their headquarters before destroying it in an airstrike. Reuters Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Kurdish forces captured a key military base in a significant victory in Raqqa as well as town of Tell Abyad. YPG fighters, backed by US-led airstrikes and other rebels, consolidated their gains, when they seized the key town on the Syria-Turkey border. They are now just 30 miles to the north of Raqqa and have cut off a major supply route deep inside Isis-held territory. Ahmet Silk/Getty Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Isis has released gruesome footage claiming to show the murder of more than a dozen men by drowning, decapitation and using a rocket-propelled grenade as it seeks to boost morale among its fanatical supporters. Timeline: The emergence of Isis 2015 - June Isis has begun carrying out its threat to destroy structures in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, blowing up at least two monuments at the Unesco-protected site as Syrian government troops made advances on the Islamists positions. AFP

While Isis has for several years used propaganda to attract fighters to its territories and inspire terror attacks abroad, it is now attempting to recruit jihadi media operatives to spread its message.

The instruction manual frames their role in the terms of battle, calling propagandists unknown soldiers whose roles must not be belittled or underestimated.

To every media operative brother in the Islamic State, you should know and be convinced of the following fact, [that] the media is a jihad in the way of Allah [and that] you, with your media work, are therefore a mujahid in the way of Allah, it says.

It is no exaggeration to say that the media operative is a martyrdom-seeker without a belt.

The document, written in Arabic, appears to be aimed at militants employed by Isis to film battles on the ground, but was published by the group online last year in an apparent effort to reach volunteers further afield.

Inciting others to join the jihad is tantamount to engaging in the jihad oneself, as is steering others towards it and opening their eyes to it, it says.

Iraqi forces are battling to retake the city of Mosul from Isis (Reuters)

It offers a three-point recipe for recruits  the presentation of a positive alternative, attacking enemy values and actions, and launching targeted missiles to exploit the mainstream media.

The report cautions news organisations against spreading Isis propaganda and becoming unwitting instruments of the group and calls for creative solutions for ways to counter the communications.

Recommended How Isis is turning young criminals into new brand of terrorist

Despite the groups dwindling territory and plummeting intake of foreign fighters as leaders are picked off by drone strikes, the research concludes that it is wrong to imagine a post-Islamic State world at this time.

The caliphate idea will exist long beyond its proto-state, it continues. If compelled to, the groups true believers will simply retreat into the virtual world, where they will use the vast archive of propaganda assembled by the group over these past few years to keep themselves buoyant with nostalgia.

In years to come, this resilience will enable it to perpetuate  and perhaps worsen  the terrorist menace it already presents.

Intelligence agencies, social networks and internet providers around the world are cooperating in efforts to combat material published by Isis and other extremist groups.

The UK is part of the Global Counter Terrorism Forum, which coordinates efforts by governments, security services and charities in 29 countries and the EU to prevent radicalisation.

A spokesperson for the Home Office said the police Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit had led to the removal of 250,000 pieces of terror-related material on social media since 2010, working alongside industry and community-based initiatives.

This Government is taking robust action to tackle online terrorist and extremist propaganda, which can directly influence people who are vulnerable to radicalisation," he added.

We are working closely with law enforcement agencies and the internet industry and have made significant progress in removing terrorist material hosted here and overseas."
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Kim Jong-un and his recently killed brother might both have competed to be the supreme leader of North Korea but in the end they both ended up having wholly different lives and holding divergent political perspectives.

According to South Korean media reports, the North Korean leaders brother, Kim Jong-nam, has been attacked by two women with poisoned needles at Kuala Lumpar airport in Malaysia. The two women, believed to be North Korean agents, are reported to have immediately fled the scene in a taxi.

If reports are true, this could be the most significant killing of a member of North Koreas ruling family since the death of Jang Song Thaek in 2013.

Mr Kim, the supreme leaders half-brother who is the eldest son of Kim Jong-il, has spent far less time in the limelight than his younger brother who he is believed to have never met. The 45-year-old went into hiding in Malaysia after Mr Jang, his powerful uncle and guardian, was brutally executed in December 2013.

Mr Kim, who survived an assassination attempt in Macau in 2011, was formerly the current leaders rival heir to the country but he fell out of favour in the Hermit Kingdom and moved overseas, living in Macau, China, Singapore and, Malaysia.

But who is the estranged brother, who has been dubbed a playboy for his reported gambling and extravagant spending, and why has his life been so different to that of his brother?

He was educated in Switzerland

He was the non-marital son of Song Hye Rim, a North Korean actress who was with Kim Jong Il and one of three women known to have had children with the former leader.

According to Yoji Gomi, the author of My Father, Kim Jong Il, and Me who met with Mr Kim for interviews in Macau and Beijing several years ago, he said the half-brothers were kept apart because of an age-old history of raising potential leaders separately.

Mr Kim was born in Pyongyang in 1971 but was educated in Switzerland, prompting his father to later reportedly consider he had turned into a capitalist.

According to Gomi, it was his Swiss education which convinced him North Korea was in need of embracing economic reforms.

Interestingly, his half-brother, the current North Korea leader, was also educated in Switzerland but developed no such opinions.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un delivering his new year message in Pyongyang (Getty)

He was the former heir to be leader

If things had gone differently there is a chance the lesser-known of the two brothers could have been the leader of North Korea. From around 1994 to 2001, he was widely expected to become the leader of the country after his father.

In the late 90s, he was appointed to a senior position in the Ministry of Public Security. According to Gomi, he claimed his father outrightly refused to discuss the succession of power for many years because it indicated his own death.

But all this changed after he was arrested at Narita airport in Tokyo in May 2001 after it emerged he was travelling to the country on a forged Dominican Republic passport using a Chinese alias of Pang Xiong. At the time he told those questioning him that he had simply travelled to Japan to visit Disneyland. The highly-publicised incident caused Kim Jong-il to cancel a planned visit to China out of embarrassment.

North Korea Prison Camps Show all 7 1 /7 North Korea Prison Camps North Korea Prison Camps An overview of Camp 25 Amnesty International/DigitalGlobe North Korea Prison Camps The administration area of Camp 15 Amnesty International/DigitalGlobe North Korea Prison Camps A water treatment system in Camp 25 Amnesty International/DigitalGlobe North Korea Prison Camps Crop fields and, inset, prisoners in Camp 25 Amnesty International/DigitalGlobe North Korea Prison Camps The reported crematorium in Camp 25 Amnesty International/DigitalGlobe North Korea Prison Camps A possible mine Amnesty International/DigitalGlobe North Korea Prison Camps A walled compound in Camp 15 Amnesty International/DigitalGlobe

But according to Japanese magazine Shukan Shincho, he made several under the radar clandestine visits to Japan prior to the saga. A book about the Kim family called Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader reported that he became "a familiar figure" at a bathhouse in Yoshiwara which is one of Tokyo's red light districts in the late 1990s.

He survived an assassination attempt

Back in 2011, Mr Kim survived an assassination attempt in Macau. This was around the same time as the death of his father. Pyongyang-watchers have claimed Kim Jong-Un was attempting to get rid of his half-brother to bolster his own claim to the leadership of North Korea.

He went into hiding

According to The Telegraph, North Korean analysts think he had good reason to go into hiding after the purge of his uncle and dozens of his closest allies in North Korea's business and diplomatic areas.

Mr Kim is believed to have been close to his deceased uncle and Mr Jang is thought to have passed funds to him via business contacts and the North Korean embassy in Malaysia.

He was critical of his half brother

A Japanese journalist and author Gomi claimed in 2011 Mr Kim told him his brother would fail.

"He's not comfortable that his younger brother is succeeding the power of Kim Jong Il," Gomi told CNN. "He (Mr Kim) sees his brother failing. He thinks he (Kim Jong-un) has a lack of experience, he's too young, and he didn't have enough time to be groomed. Those three reasons are why he thinks he'll fail."

He was previously predicted to have the safest chance of survival of all the Kim Jong-Il children

"I would say maybe this smart, overweight playboy from Macau has the highest chances of physical survival of all the Kim Jong Il children," Professor Andrei Lankov of Kookmin University told the outlet in 2012.

"He (Mr Kim) is away, he is secure. It is quite possible that many of his siblings will die a violent death sooner or later, and he is likely to live until an old age, writing memoirs, explaining to everybody how misunderstood his family was."
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A top university has launched an investigation into the discovery of a swastika carving and a rights for whites sign on campus, amid concerns about rising anti-Semitism and far right influence across UK institutions.

The incidents at the University of Exeter follow reports last term that students had been pictured wearing clothes with handwritten anti-Semitic and racist slogans.

One T-shirt had the words the Holocaust was a good time scrawled across it, while another said: Dont talk to me if youre not white.

According to the universitys student news website Exepose, the swastika had been carved into a door at the Birks Grange halls of residence, while the Rights for Whites sign decorated with a union flag was found on the door of a student room in Llewellyn Mews.

University officials said they believed the incidents may have been part of a deeply offensive joke.

A spokesperson said the graffiti and carving have been removed and an investigation has been launched into the matter.

In a statement, the university said: The investigation into the students actions is being carried out under the universitys disciplinary procedures.

The rights for whites sign decorated with a union flag was spotted on the door of a student room in Llewellyn Mews (Susannah Keogh)

The investigation is ongoing and no conclusions have yet been drawn, but it appears, from initial inquiries, that this may have been an ill-judged, deeply offensive joke on the students part, parodying a sketch in a TV comedy show.

The university believes any form of racist or discriminatory behaviour is unacceptable and the actions of those involved are in contrast to the vast majority of students, who help to build our tolerant and inclusive university community.

The incident is the latest in a series of reported racist incidents at universities across the UK, and follows claims from higher education adjudicator, Ruth Deech, that Jewish students are avoiding certain universities due to concerns about anti-Semitism.

The Vice Chancellor of Cambridge University said he was profoundly concerned to discover Holocaust denial leaflets had been distributed around university buildings this term, and that a swastika had been drawn on a map in the city centre.

Student news in pictures Show all 34 1 /34 Student news in pictures Student news in pictures South Korean policemen detain a student demonstrator during a protest against South Korean President Park Geun-Hye EPA Student news in pictures South Korean policemen detain student protestors during a protest against South Korean President Park Geun-Hye outside the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea. The protesters demanded that the parliament takes steps to impeach President Park Geun-Hye EPA Student news in pictures Filipino demonstrators face off with anti-riot police during a protest near the US Embassy in Manila, Philippine EPA Student news in pictures Hundreds of protesters including Indigenous People, students and militant groups marched towards the US Embassy to protest against the presence of US military troops and condemning the violent dispersal which left at least forty people hurt including twenty police officers and three people who were run over by a police van EPA Student news in pictures A federal judge in Mexico has ordered that a once-fugitive police chief be held on charges of kidnapping in the disappearance of 43 students Student news in pictures A man holds up a photograph of a missing student with a caption reading 'We are missing 43,' during a meeting marking the 25-month anniversary of the disappearances of 43 students in the southern state of Guerrero, in Mexico City. A federal judge in Mexico has ordered that a once-fugitive police chief be held on charges of kidnapping in the disappearance of 43 students AP Student news in pictures Miguel Perez, an intern student from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, puts away his cell phone before walking into the operating room at the Dr. Isaac Gonzalez MartInez Oncological Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Once they complete their general surgery training, many residents are moving to the United States in search of better wages, one of the main factors linked to the current shortage of specialists in the Island Student news in pictures Fewer EU students have applied to start university courses in the UK next autumn. There was a 9% fall in the numbers who had applied for courses, according to admissions service UCAS. PA wire Student news in pictures University students protest against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela. Masses of protesters jammed the streets of Venezuela's capital on the heels of a move by congress to open a political trial against Maduro, whose allies have blocked moves for a recall election AP Student news in pictures University students protest against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela AP Student news in pictures Thousands, most of them high school students, march during a demonstration in Madrid, Spain, on a one day strike to protest about the country's education law that increases the number of annual exams AP Student news in pictures Students gather on the west mall to confront the Young Conservatives of Texas student organization over a controversial bake sale on The University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas. The Young Conservatives of Texas chapter at the University of Texas-Austin sparked the protest with an affirmative action bake sale. The club encouraged students to buy a cookie and talk about the disastrous policy that is affirmative action Student news in pictures Donald Parish Jr, right, confronts Electrical and Computer Engineering senior Dewayne Perry over a controversial bake sale on The University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas. The Young Conservatives of Texas chapter at the University of Texas-Austin sparked the protest with an affirmative action bake sale. The club encouraged students to buy a cookie and talk about the disastrous policy that is affirmative action AP Student news in pictures Brigham Young University announced that students who report sexual assault will no longer be investigated for possible violations of the Mormon-owned school's strict honor code that bans such things as alcohol use AP Student news in pictures Students of secondary education march to protest against the final examinations and LOMCE (The Improvement Quality Education Law) law, after a call by trade unions, in Murcia, Spain EPA Student news in pictures South African police have used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse hundreds of protesters who had marched to the parliament building to call for free university education, where the finance minister was giving a budget speech AP Student news in pictures Police break up student protests outside the parliament in Cape Town, South Africa Reuters Student news in pictures South African Policemen fire rubber bullets at student protestors in Cape Town, South Africa AP Student news in pictures A student protestor is hit by a rubber bullet in Cape Town, South Africa AP Student news in pictures An injured student is helped by colleagues during protest outside the parliament during South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's medium term budget speech in Cape Town, South Africa Reuters Student news in pictures Plaintiffs and bereaved families of elementary school students killed in the tsunami that followed a major earthquake in northeastern Japan in 2011, show banners that say 'victory in a suit filed with the Sendai District Court' in Sendai. A Japanese court ordered municipalities to pay $13.7 million dollars to families of school children who were swept away to their deaths by the 2011 tsunami Getty Student news in pictures A group of student at Ewha Womans University calls for a thorough investigation into those involved in years of engagement with state affairs backstage by Choi Soon-sil, a personal confidante of South Korean President Park Geun-hye, at the school's front gate in Seoul, South Korea EPA Student news in pictures Students raise placards during a strike action called by the student union, in Madrid against university entry exams Getty Student news in pictures Libyans throw a newly graduated student into a fountain as they celebrate during the graduation ceremony for students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Al-Arab University in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi Getty Student news in pictures Libyans celebrate as they attend the graduation ceremony for students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Al-Arab University in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi Getty Student news in pictures Libyans celebrate as they attend the graduation ceremony for students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Al-Arab University in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi Getty Student news in pictures Thousands of Thai Catholic students take part in mourning tributes and in singing the Thai Royal Anthem to honour late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Saint Dominic School in Bangkok, Thailand EPA Student news in pictures Students of Silpakorn University paint portraits of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the university campus in Bangkok Getty Student news in pictures A student of Silpakorn University paints a portrait of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the university campus in Bangkok Getty Student news in pictures St Andrews University students take part in a foam fight known as Raisin Monday in the Lower College Lawn behind St Salvator's Quadrangle following the Raisin Weekend PA wire Student news in pictures St Andrews University students take part in a foam fight known as Raisin Monday in the Lower College Lawn behind St Salvator's Quadrangle following the Raisin Weekend, an annual tradition where student 'parents' inflict tasks on the unfortunate first-years they have adopted as 'children' as part of a mentoring scheme PA wire Student news in pictures Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) in Havana, Cuba Reuters Student news in pictures Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) take part in a practice in Havana, Cuba Reuters Student news in pictures Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) wait in line to enter a classroom in Havana, Cuba Reuters

In December, the Governments Holocaust envoy, Sir Eric Pickles, commented that British universities had shown grave cowardice in terms of dealing with anti-Semitism on campus, and that he was looking into new legislation to protect Jewish students.

The classic definition of dealing with racism and anti-Semitism is those who stand by and do nothing, he added.

His comments followed a warning from universities minister Jo Johnson that academic institutions must act swiftly to investigate claims of anti-Semitism and other hate crimes on campus.

Mr Johnson said universities had a clear responsibility under the 2010 Equality Act to ensure they protect their staff and students and act swiftly to investigate and address hate crime, including anti-Semitic related incidents reported to them.

Commenting on the incidents at Exeter University, the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) expressed concern, but said it would not go so far as to accuse individual universities of developing a reputation for anti-Semitism.

Universities ought to be safe and welcoming for all students, but this vandalism undermines that principle and indicates instead that some students do not welcome their minority peers, the union said.

Incidents like the one in Exeter undoubtedly make Jewish students uncomfortable and some may feel unwelcome on campus, and even one single incident is one too many.

But even as we support the students affected by these incidents and help them to challenge and work to eradicate anti-Semitism, we must remember that every day on almost every campus, and almost every day at the remaining handful of campuses, Jewish students are safe and fully and freely expressing their Judaism.
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Sudan has more than twice the number of pyramids youll find in Egypt. I know  I couldnt believe it either. Which is why I had to see for myself.

Sure, mention Sudan and most travellers will admit to dismissing it as a war-torn stretch of bland desert  plagued by the genocide and refugee crisis in Darfur and the ongoing civil war in the new Republic of South Sudan following a north-south split in 2011.

Yet most of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office map of the country is a lovely shade of (safe) green. But the promotion of African antiquities isnt a priority for Omar al-Bashir, president of Sudan since his successful military coup in 1989. So its up to travellers to take the initiative. Indeed, with Egypt still recovering from a huge slump in visitors following a series of high-profile air crashes, Sudan makes the ideal alternative  with the added bonus of zero crowds or touts.

Soleb Temple was visited by Tutankhamun (Emma Thomson)

I leave the rickshaws and yellow taxis of Khartoum, the capital, to drive north on a slick belt of Chinese-built, tarred road towards Soleb  an ancient town of tombs and pyramids that is home to the Temple of Soleb, one of the best-preserved temples left in Sudan.

Here, on the west bank of the Nile river, not a single fence bars me from entering. Theres no guard posted at an admission booth and  best of all  Im completely alone. Shards of the far past crumble all around me: towering columns, arches and walls all carved with cartouches. Built by Pharaoh Amenhotep III in the 14th century BC, and dedicated to Egyptian Supreme God Amun, it was visited by none other than sickly child-king Tutankhamun. He inscribed his name on of one the Prudhoe Lions that once guarded the entrance  now missing from the site, as it sits in the British Museum.

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I follow the processional path leading from the Nile into the belly of the temple and there, high above my head (which indicates where the sand level would have been when it was rediscovered in 1844), are the names of those first Victorian archaeologists to explore the site, chiselled into the walls.

But why is it here? From 3,100 to 2,890 BC, Egyptian pharaohs sent their army south along the Nile in search of gold, granite for statues, ostrich feathers, and slaves.

Reaching as far south as Jebel Barkal  a small mountain north of Khartoum  they built forts, and later temples, along the route to demonstrate their dominance over the Nubians.

The pyramids at Jebel Barkal (Emma Thomson)

The conquered region came to be known as the Kush and the Kushites adopted all aspects of Egyptian culture, from gods to glyphs. But when the Egyptian empire collapsed in 1,070 BC, the Nubians were free.

However, the religion of Amun ran deep and 300 years later Alara, King of the Kush, spearheaded a renaissance of Egyptian culture, including the construction of their own pyramids.

Now believing themselves the true sons of the God Amun, Alaras grandson Piye invaded the north to rebuild the great temples, and for nearly 100 years Egypt was ruled by the Black Pharaohs.

At the peak of their reign, under the command of famous Kushite King Taharqa, their territories stretched all the way to Libya and Palestine. The crown of the king bore two cobras: one for Nubia, the other for Egypt.

The royal pyramids of Meroe (Emma Thomson)

The last great burial site of these royal Black Pharaohs was at Meroe, an ancient city on the east bank of the Nile. Its a nine-hour drive from Soleb, but well worth it: here, there are more than 200 pyramids, grouped across three sites.

I wake at dawn and, with my guide Hitam, pace across the empty dunes towards the northern site, where 43 Unesco-listed pyramids lie scattered along a ridge. The honeyed sunlight slides down their sandstone pinnacles as it rises, and the only other people are archaeologists excavating during the cooler morning hours. Two Egyptian eagles soar overhead, silhouetted on the sand, as I stand looking across the wide plain.

Notice anything strange on the stones? asks Hitam. I scan the bases. Thats an elephant, I say, surprised. And look here: giraffe and gazelle, he continues, pointing to different blocks. Its proof this area was once covered with lush grasslands. The fertile alluvial soil allowed the Kushites to grow barley and sorghum.

There are more than 200 pyramids in Meroe (Emma Thomson)

On others are scrawls made by General Kitcheners soldiers (he of the Your country needs you posters). They passed by en route to the bloody Battle of Omdurman, fought to avenge the death of General Gordon, who was killed fighting a Sudanese revolt against the British in 1898.

By 300 AD the Kush Empire was in decline. Dwindling agriculture and increasing raids from Ethiopia and Rome spelled the end of their rule. Christianity and Islam followed, and prayers to Egyptian God Amun faded from memory. Time may have weathered the outer stones, but as I stood alone in silence in the burial chapel that morning, running my fingers across the well-preserved hieroglyphs, I marvelled at the realisation I was touching the same grooves Kushite workers chiselled all those aeons ago.

Inside a temple dedicated to the Goddess Mut at Jebel Barkal (Emma Thomson)

The legends of the kings and queens live on  and their wish of immortality will be granted if tourists continue to support travel to Sudan. Which, as I can confirm, is so much more than desert.

Travel essentials

Visiting there

Explore (01252 884 723; explore.co.uk) offers a 12-day Ancient Nubia Explorer trip from 3,349 per person, including return flights, accommodation, most meals, transport and the services of a guide, driver and cook.

British nationals require a visa to enter Sudan, costing 55. Proof of yellow fever vaccination may be requested. Your tour operator or hotel will register you on your behalf with the Aliens Department at the Ministry of the Interior within three days of arrival, but youll need to take two spare passport photographs for processing.

Spending there

ATMs are scarce; take US dollars and change them into Sudanese pounds at the airport in Khartoum.

More information

Keep up to date with the latest FCO advice on travel to Sudan here
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Members of the union working for BAs Mixed Fleet operation will strike from 22 to 25 February inclusive. This stoppage is in addition to a four-day strike from 17 to 20 February. It will take the number of days of industrial action to 19 since the start of the year.

The latest tranche of strikes ended on Saturday, after six days of walkouts in one week.

BAs Mixed Fleet operation serves around 50 domestic, European and long-haul routes. All the staff have been recruited since the last cabin-crew dispute ended in 2010. They are employed on less favourable terms than longer-serving staff.

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The cabin crew are striking over what they describe as poverty pay. Unite says cabin crew earn an average of 16,000, including allowances, a year. BA does not recognise this figure, saying that the lowest paid full-time member of Mixed Fleet earned more than 21,000 last year.

The impact of the strikes appears to be dwindling. During the first three days of the latest stoppage, British Airways says it cancelled a total of 24 flights; during the latter three days, only 10 were grounded. That represents less than half of one per cent of total BA flights.

Some departures have been covered by chartering in planes and crews from other airlines, including Titan and Thomson Airways.

Unite regional officer Matt Smith said: For every hour British Airways wet leases an aircraft from another airline to cover striking cabin crew it costs in the region of 2,000 to 3,000.

Our estimates put the amount of money British Airways has spent on defending the dispute and poverty pay at 1m.

This is money which the airline has taken a conscious decision to give to other airlines rather than addressing pay levels which are forcing hardworking Mixed Fleet cabin crew into financial hardship.

The dispute affects only some flights to and from Heathrow; services from Gatwick, London City and Stansted are unaffected.

BA said: All British Airways customers will fly to their destinations during the proposed industrial action by Mixed Fleet Unite on 17-20 February.

To enable all customers to travel we will be merging a very small number of flights at Heathrow  about 1 per cent of total flights planned. We are contacting customers on those flights with the options available to them.

We will publish more details over the weekend in relation to further strikes called by Mixed Fleet Unite for 22-25 February, but as in previous strikes all customers will fly to their destinations.

The airline said its pay offer reflects pay awards given by other companies in the UK and it will ensure that rewards for Mixed Fleet remain in line with those for cabin crew at its competitors.

British Airways has warned strikers that they will lose their entitlement to staff travel benefits for a year.

A message to Mixed Fleet staff from Troy Warfield, the airlines director of customer experience, also said that eligibility for bonus payments would be affected.
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The average Brit born in 1967 has had an interesting journey in terms of the travel options open to them. The Boeing 737 twin-jet first flew 50 years ago, but it would be many years before air travel became affordable.

By 1977, charter airlines such as Laker and Britannia were extending horizons, but fares relative to earnings were still extremely high. A return trip from Gatwick to Athens typically cost 99  about six days work at the average salary.

Yet by the time the maternity ward of 67 hit their 30th birthdays, in 1997, the fare to the Greek capital had fallen. Thanks to a new airline called easyJet, they could pay as little as 78 return  or barely a days work for the average employee.

In 2017, you can easily find return flights from Gatwick to Athens on easyJet for 66 return (I recommend a spring escape on 25 April for a fortnight). Which will take the typical wage-earner just four hours to afford.

One man is responsible for reducing the cost of a 3,000-mile round-trip to a mornings work: Stelios Haji-Ioannou, who today celebrates his 50th birthday.

As the son of a billionaire shipping magnate, Stelios could have become a playboy, occasionally mentioned in gossip-page dispatches. Instead, he opted to work ferociously hard to cut the cost of flying from Luton to Scotland to the price of a pair of jeans.

Today travellers take for granted the notions of booking direct, buying food and drink on board and fares commensurate with demand (you could pay over 500 for that Gatwick-Athens flight in high summer). But in 1995, when Stelios was just 28, the idea of cutting out the travel agent and the free inflight meal were revolutionary  as was the realisation that it was rational to collect just a few pounds from some passengers so long as average fares could keep the airline aloft.

From what was little more than a large shed at Luton airport, Stelios and his team built a brand and a route network (Scotland, Amsterdam, Nice, Athens ). They rented a couple of planes from GB Airways, which easyJet would later subsume, and plastered a Luton phone number on the side; initially, the only way to buy an easyJet flight was by phone.

Stelios at 50 Show all 9 1 /9 Stelios at 50 Stelios at 50 Stelios opens the first easyHotel in Kensington, London Sleep talk: Stelios opens the first easyHotel in Kensington, London Simon Calder Stelios at 50 Brand values for easyGroup Brand view: the values of easyGroup easyGroup Stelios at 50 Stelios on the first voyage of easyCruiseOne Captain's quarters: Stelios on the first voyage of easyCruiseOne Simon Calder Stelios at 50 Go/easyJet check-in at Stansted All go: check-in at Stansted airport shortly after easyJet took over its no-frills rival Simon Calder Stelios at 50 easyCoffee in Leicester Square Pound land: the easyCoffee outlet in Leicester Square Stelios at 50 Stelios and Barbara Cassani Go easy: Stelios and Go CEO Barbara Cassani on the first Go flight easyJet Stelios at 50 Cabin of easyJet Athens flight Going Greek: inside the cabin of an easyJet flight to Athens Simon Calder Stelios at 50 easyJet at Stansted easy does it: an easyJet aircraft at Stansted Simon Calder Stelios at 50 easyJet first flight, November 1995 Maiden flight: easyJet's first departure from Luton to Glasgow, November 1995 easyJet

They created an airline that would grow to eclipse local rivals such as Britannia and Monarch, and overtake British Airways in passenger numbers; last month, BA ditched complimentary catering on short-haul economy flights in order to compete more effectively with its no-frills rival.

Along the way, easyJet took on and then swallowed up BAs first attempt to set up a low-cost rival, Go; the first Go flight was subject to a publicity hijack by Stelios leading a party of easyJet staff in orange boiler suits.

On an average day in 2017, easyJet carries more than 200,000 passengers across Europe. Which adds up to a handy pay-cheque for the founder.

Stelios and his family still control the largest stake in the airline, and every time someone buys a flight on easyJet he collects one-quarter of one per cent of the fare. On the cheapie to Athens, thats just 16p, but if 200,000 people are spending the same each day it adds up to a useful 32,000 daily cheque for licensing the brand.

Stelios was an early adopter of the possibilities of internet sales, and drove passengers to book online by making it impossible to book a flight more than a month ahead except via the web. The webs favourite airline, was the next slogan to be painted on the side of the aircraft.

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The genial Greek Cypriot declined my invitation for an interview to mark his 50th birthday, which is fair enough; I declined his invitation to the launch of easyJet in 1995, wrongly presuming it would be yet another here today, gone tomorrow airline that would join a long list of failed ventures.

If online sales, cutting costs and incentivising consumers to adjust their behaviour to save cash works so well in aviation, surely it can work in other industries? That was the rationale behind other easyGroup ventures: hotels, car rental, cruise, pizza, cinema, gyms and coffee.

The organisation has eight brand values, including relentless innovation, great value and taking on the big boys. They don't include changing the world, perhaps because Stelios already had done that before he was 30.

I have never had the good fortune to devour an easyPizza nor watch a movie at an easyCinema, because I dont live near Milton Keynes  the test beds for these ventures. But I have stayed in an easyHotel, sailed on an easyCruise, caught an easyBus and paid a bargain 1 for a decent easyCoffee in Leicester Square, central London.

They are all just fine. But if they didnt exist, you wouldnt need to invent them.

And perhaps, as Stelios contemplates his first half-century, that is the nagging problem that confronts him: the man who changed the world while young has yet to find another realm to conquer.

But as he begins his sixth decade, he is seeking to help the next generation through the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation: giving cash awards to disabled entrepreneurs, and breaking down the barriers between Greek and Turkish Cypriots on the Mediterranean's divided island.

You can fly easyJet to Larnaca and Paphos from a range of UK airports. At a time when division is ascendant, Stelios's brilliant ideas continue to bind us together.
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A cruise ship whose voyages have on several occasions been blighted by mechanical breakdown and missed ports of call has been given the all-clear.

The stricken vessel, Norwegian Star, has set sail once again from Melbourne, five days after its propulsion system failed at sea shortly after the start of a voyage to Auckland.

More than 3,000 passengers were aboard when she lost power about 20 miles off the coast of Victoria. After she had drifted for some time, a tug towed her back to land.

The latest breakdown follows a three-week cruise from Asia to Australia which was blighted by mechanical problems on the 16-year-old ship.

Norwegian Cruise Line said on Tuesday: Norwegian Star departed from Melbourne on February 14 at 2pm local time and will proceed directly to Auckland, after completing a short sea trial period.

The ship is expected to arrive in Auckland on the morning of February 18.

Planned calls in five other New Zealand ports have been abandoned: Dunedin, Akaroa, Wellington, Napier and Tauranga.

On arrival in New Zealands largest city, Norwegian Star is due to turn around and sail on the same day on a 19-day voyage back to Australia and onwards to Singapore.

The company is still selling cabins on the cruise from Auckland, for 949. It says passengers booked on the next cruise will be contacted in the next 48 hours to confirm the ships embarkation time.

Regarding the three-week cruise from Asia to Australia that broke down, Norwegian Cruise Line had promised a new 21-day Southeast Asia and Australia itinerary from Hong Kong, China to Sydney, Australia.

But David Dow, a passenger from Devon who was on the voyage, told The Independent: A few days before we left we were notified of an engine issue which had been in existence a month before.

Because of the lack of speed they cancelled two iconic destinations, Saigon and Bangkok.

In total, he said, half the planned 10 ports of call were missed.

We did not travel around the world to miss 50 per cent of the cruise, he added.

In a statement, the firm said: Norwegian Cruise Line would like to extend our sincerest appreciation to our guests for their patience and understanding.

The ship uses a radical propulsion system, called Azipod, which is more efficient and flexible than conventional propellers. But Norwegian Star has suffered problems with the technology in the past, cancelling a Panama Canal cruise in 2015 and curtailing some Caribbean itineraries in 2005.
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The Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be joining us in the European Parliament in Strasbourg this week. I cannot tell you exactly what will be in his speech, but it is clear that the timing of his visit is no coincidence.

Earlier in the week, the Canadian leader met with President Donald Trump for awkward talks on the US-Canada economic relationship. Just before his arrival on these shores, MEPs will be voting on the EU-Canada trade deal, known as Ceta. The contrast between the two relationships could not be starker.

As Trump threatens to put America first to the detriment of everybody else, it is ever more important that we Europeans seek and solidify alliances with like minded partners, like Trudeaus Canada. We all know what happened last time the world turned inwards towards protectionism.

Why we should all go to Canada Show all 8 1 /8 Why we should all go to Canada Why we should all go to Canada The great outdoors You might spot a moose, for goodness' sake Mark Rowland/Flickr Why we should all go to Canada Road trips You can drive through some of the most incredible scenery MaxGag/Flickr Why we should all go to Canada Maple syrup It's available in almost any form, including maple taffy - heated syrup that's been dropped on to ice to cool and turned into a kind of chewy lollypop Marcio Cabral de Moura/Flickr Why we should all go to Canada Friendly Cities The likes of Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto are not only cool, but welcoming too Getty Images Why we should all go to Canada Arctic cruises You can float between icebergs - enough said Shutterstock Why we should all go to Canada Skiing and snowboarding Resorts such as Whistler are world class Getty Images Why we should all go to Canada Real winter Canada really embraces the cold, with everything from igloo raves to husky rides EveryDamnNameIsInUse/Flickr Why we should all go to Canada Wine They make a pretty good tipple here Nomade Moderne/Flickr

There are of course serious problems that arise from unrestricted globalisation. The disgruntlement and downright anger in formerly proud industrial regions were important factors behind both Trumps election and the Brexit result.

The key question now is how to reform global trade to make it work for the many and not the few.

Trade critics, whether they come from the right or the far left have only one response: rip up Nafta. Stop TTIP. Chuck Ceta into the bin. Ask them, however, what exactly they would like to see instead and the answer is blank.

Instead, over the past eight years we MEPs have actually been working to make Ceta better, with some significant results.

 In 90 seconds: Trump and Trudeau differ over border control

First negotiated between the Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harpers government and an EU as yet unmoved by the important debates that emerged during the TTIP talks, Ceta was simply not up to scratch.

On the investor-state dispute settlement provisions, about which so much has already been written, it was centre-left MEPs who forced the EU and Canada to go back to the drawing board. The old toxic investor-state dispute settlement is no more, and has instead been replaced by a public, transparent court staffed by well-qualified judges. No wonder that the eight EU countries who have signed dodgy old style bilateral investment treaties with Canada are the treatys most fervent supporters.

Under the new system, the governments right to regulate in the public interest is enshrined in the treaty. To give one example, there is no way that President Trump could go behind the backs of Scottish courts who reject his wind farm objections. The case would simply be thrown out because they were erected in an attempt to improve the environment for Scottish citizens.

In addition, our persistence on issues like the NHS, labour rights, the environment and food standards has forced the EU and Canada to issue what is called a joint interpretative instrument alongside the text of the treaty itself. This legal binding statement provides a cast iron guarantee that the values that are important to EU citizens are safeguarded. The current Canadian government was only too happy to provide such assurances, given that in the majority of cases our values align.

Finally, we should also not lose sight of the fact that Ceta is a comprehensive deal that promises fantastic economic opportunities for British companies and their workers. Around 99 per cent of tariffs will drop to zero, EU companies can (for the first time) bid for Canadian government contracts at the regional level and it tackles many issues around red tape and paperwork that have proved thorny for our exporters.

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Most credible economic studies show modest increases in GDP, in keeping with Canadas relative size compared with the EU. However, in a dynamic world where other countries are making trade deals with each other all around us, not concluding Ceta would leave us trailing behind.

The Ceta deal on the table is the most progressive trade agreement ever negotiated, with a trustworthy partner with whom we share so much. Faced with Trumps neo-protectionism on one side and the unfettered free market on the other, with Ceta the EU is proving that it is open for business without compromising on our way of life.

David Martin is Labour MEP for Scotland
Beijing on Monday condemned North Korea's launch of a new medium-range missile and pledged to cooperate with the international community in censuring the North.

"China opposes North Korea's launch of ballistic missiles in violation of UN Security Council resolutions," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters.

He added that Beijing will "participate constructively in UN Security Council discussions" about a response that are scheduled for Tuesday.

Asked if the U.S. asked China to apply more pressure on North Korea following its latest provocation, Geng said, "As I have pointed out repeatedly in the past, the root cause to the North Korea nuclear missile issue is the conflicts between North Korea and the United States, as well as between North and South Korea."

He also said Beijing views North Korea's missile test and the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery from the U.S. in South Korea as "separate" issues.

But he warned that deploying the THAAD battery "will not solve the problem."

The official Global Times hinted at the consternation in Beijing. In an editorial titled "North Korea Launch Tests Washington's Attitude," the daily said, "Pyongyang's persistence in launching missiles will further provide an excuse to accelerate Washington and Seoul's pace to deploy [the THAAD battery], which damages China's strategic interests."

"Pyongyang's development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles has become a severe annoyance for Northeast Asia. It is nigh-on impossible to persuade it either by carrot or stick," the daily lamented.

"When Pyongyang started to develop nuclear weapons, it believed the weapons would make it safer. But today's North Korea is more dangerous... and it is now enduring the harshest sanctions since the end of the Cold War."

But it shrugged off calls for China to do more. "Seoul, Washington and Tokyo have been asking Beijing to pile more pressure on Pyongyang to force the latter to give up its nuclear development. The reality is that they are treating a secondary issue and not the root cause. If this continues, they will be lost in the maze of North Korea's nuclear issue."


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The invitation to the New York Public Library offered the chance to forget the madness of King Trump for a blessed moment and dive into the madness of Gotham. It didnt disappoint. The Beaux Arts edifice glowed with spinning stars and stripes, models dressed as Lady Liberty graced its granite steps. Inside, book spines shuddered to the beat as preternaturally sexy guests teetered on heels and competed for turns in the juddering dodgem cars in its main hall.

Fashion Week exists to distract us from all things woeful. Flaps of plaid and flashes of skin are the currency of choice. Madonna in the house? Check. Kylie pushing past? Check. Forget the Californians cowering beneath a dam on the point of bursting. Beauty and the next Bulldog gin take precedence. Donald Trumps administration on the brink of spinning apart? Pfft. Party on.

So it was jarring when at 11.05pm precisely my cellphone lit up to reveal that Michael Flynn had resigned as national security adviser. My ears were briefly deaf to the cacophony as I digested the alert. But if anyone else had become aware of the latest bombshell to rattle Washington, they were showing no signs of it. Boom, boom, boom. Preen, preen, preen.

Flynn-gate unfurled so swiftly it never earned the suffix. Its only been days since The Washington Post revealed that the barking General  you recall him leading lock-her-up chants at the Republican National Convention  had, in fact, broached the subject of US sanctions when he phoned the Russian ambassador to the US in December, in spite of his protestations to the contrary (protestations that Vice President Mike Pence was to publicly repeat).

The country so far has mostly shrugged. Everyone has things more pressing than Trumps HR problems. He was elected on promises to restrict immigration and create new jobs, not to be a perfect office manager. Indeed, chaos and nurturing inter-office rivalries were the modus operandi of his businesses and his campaign. Why would anyone expect anything different now? He will find a new, hopefully less unhinged, security adviser soon. With the Kremlin as his Valentine, Flynn will prosper once more advising governments and potentates.

Michael Flynn arrives at the swearing-in ceremony for senior White House staff (Andrew Harrer/Getty)

Yet, react we should. First, a little schadenfreude. If you were a supporter of Hillary Clinton, you might want to remind the victors of their fixation on her so-called email scandal. (Lock her up.) Part of the case was that any hacking into her accounts might have opened her to blackmail by the Russians  precisely what the Justice Department now says Gen Flynn was potentially facing having lied about the real content of his conversations with Russias ambassador.

And of course there is something satisfying about this West Wing being laid bare as the circus it is, particularly given its arrogance on the airwaves. Such certainty, such disdain for those who dare question or criticise it. We have a President who has done more in three weeks than most presidents have done in an entire administration, Stephen Miller, senior policy adviser, insisted in a testy interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC News.

What? Yes, Trump signed all those executive orders and brandished them before the cameras like so many Rotary Club citations. But not as many as Barack Obama at this stage in his administration. (And the noxious travel ban is on the rocks.) How about some other numbers, like the scores of ambassadorships that have not been filled and the thousands of empty seats all across government at just below cabinet level still remaining? Mr Obama had by now sent a $700bn stimulus law to Congress, seen it approved by both chambers and signed it. How many pieces of draft legislation has Trump sent to Capitol Hill? You guessed it. Not a one.

No-drama-Obama also ran a White House that was for the most part watertight. Castle Trump is leakier than a sodden nappy. Some of what we are hearing is trivial. West Wing staffers have allegedly held meetings in the dark because they cant figure out how the lighting system works. Trump spends evenings pottering about alone and watching TV upstairs in a dressing gown. Others less so. It was a leak, of course, that led The Washington Post to its Flynn scoop.

This exasperates the President. The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington? Will these leaks be happening as I deal on N Korea etc? he has pleaded on Twitter. Can he be surprised if some inside the Security Council are so demoralised  and afraid for their own jobs  that they feel the need to speak out? If you turn the White House into a battlefield, the wounded are not going to die silently. They are so fearful of being accused of leaking, meanwhile, they have, according to the Post, resorted to posting their complaints on a chat app called Confide that erases their words almost as soon as they are typed.

How can they not be moved to squeal when they see their new leader conferring with top national security advisors, plus Shinzo Abe of a Japan, at a patio table at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida after learning of another North Korea missile test? Presidents when travelling are meant to confine themselves to sealed-off rooms, or tents, before engaging in sensitive foreign-affairs business. This happened in full view of other club guests, who began posting it on Facebook.

We can giggle if we want to. It feels almost like a release of tension. Trump is being humiliated because he didnt get it that running a superpower is not the same as running a reality television show. But on balance Id say we should be paying attention  and freaking out.

The United States is meant to be a rock in a dangerous, shifting world. Instead we have a country run by someone who, before his inauguration, took a phone call from the President of Taiwan, seemingly on a lark. (He has since been forced to reassure Beijing that the US still believes in the One China policy.); who hung up on the Australian Prime Minister because he didnt like how the call was going; whose spokesman called the recent special forces disaster in Yemen that killed 30 innocent civilians and one US soldier a success; and whose first response to the latest North Korea provocation was to fiddle with napkins.

It is reassuring that in Gotham we can still party like there is no Trump tomorrow. But we have four more years of Trump tomorrows (barring death or impeachment). And when the next foreign crisis arises, we will want something more than a national security circus.
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The devil, as they say, is in the detail. That must mean that Brexit will be the most diabolical exercise the British state has been engaged in since the end of the witch trials.

Attention on Brexit is now focusing around two particular areas where implementation of apparently straightforward principles throws up some unforeseen and difficult dilemmas. Worried British citizens living in Spain  there are some 600,000 of them  have launched a campaign to win citizenship rights for all UK citizens living in the European Union. The rules surrounding voting and other matters determined by citizenship are messy: some nations permit the British expatriates to participate while others do not. The Choose Freedom campaign, being run by the wittily named Bremain In Spain group, gets to a serious point: how the UK and the EU will deign to treat each others peoples (whatever their citizenship) post-Brexit.

As with most things associated with Britains exit from the European Union, this one is not properly thought through. The Prime Minister fairly states that the European Commission refuses to engage on the issue until the UK has formally triggered its Article 50 procedure.

This is true  but it gives the impression that Theresa May wishes to keep the many Poles, Slovaks, Germans, French, Portuguese, and others as some sort of hostages during what will no doubt become fraught negotiations. It would be perfectly possible for the Government to now issue a unilateral guarantee to those people that, whenever and however Britain leaves the EU (and there remains the possibility that the nightmare will never take place), there rights and obligations in and to the UK will remain intact. They should be offered the option of British or joint-British, other national or EU citizenship, and their right to residence and participation in civic life, in elections and use of public services guaranteed as of right.

How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Show all 8 1 /8 How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Weetabix Chief executive of Weetabix Giles Turrell has warned that the price of one of the nations favourite breakfast are likely to go up this year by low-single digits in percentage terms. Reuters How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Nescafe The cost of a 100g jar of Nescafe Original at Sainsburys has gone up 40p from 2.75 to 3.15  a 14 per cent risesince the Brexit vote. PA How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Freddo When contacted by The Independent this month, a Mondelez spokesperson declined to discuss specific brands but confirmed that there would be "selective" price increases across its range despite the American multi-national confectionery giant reporting profits of $548m (450m) in its last three-month financial period. Mondelez, which bought Cadbury in 2010, said rising commodity costs combined with the slump in the value of the pound had made its products more expensive to make. Cadbury How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Mr Kipling cakes Premier Foods, the maker of Mr Kipling and Bisto gravy, said that it was considering price rises on a case-by-case basis Reuters How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Walkers Crisps Walkers, owned by US giant PepsiCo, said "the weakened value of the pound" is affecting the import cost of some of its materials. A Walkers spokesman told the Press Association that a 32g standard bag was set to increase from 50p to 55p, and the larger grab bag from 75p to 80p. Getty How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Marmite Tesco removed Marmite and other Unilever household brand from its website last October, after the manufacturer tried to raise its prices by about 10 per cent owing to sterlings slump. Tesco and Unilever resolved their argument, but the price of Marmite has increased in UK supermarkets with the grocer reporting a 250g jar of Marmite will now cost Morrisons customers 2.64 - an increase of 12.5 per cent. Rex How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Toblerone Toblerone came under fire in November after it increased the space between the distinctive triangles of its bars. Mondelez International, the company which makes the product, said the change was made due to price rises in recent months. Pixabay How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite Maltesers Maltesers, billed as the lighter way to enjoy chocolate, have also shrunk in size. Mars, which owns the brand, has reduced its pouch weight by 15 per cent. Mars said rising costs mean it had to make the unenviable decision between increasing its prices or reducing the weight of its Malteser packs. iStockphoto

This is for the sole reason that they deserve it. They make a valuable contribution to the economic life of the nation, and in the wider part they play in their communities. We want them, we need them and it does us nothing but good to keep them.

A pledge now, preferably linked to legislation framing their rights, would go a long way to allaying their fears and adding to the meagre supply of goodwill that exists in the Brexit debate. With all the complex and tortuous arrangements that will have to be made on everything from the definition of a pickle to the status of the Irish border, this is an easy win that can be prioritised now by David Davis.

Mr Davis would also profit by studying the report of the House of Lords EU Environment Committee, published today, and the case made by Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas for protecting the environment as we leave the EU.

The EU has some of the toughest rules on pollution and environmental standards in the world, and making sure they still operate effectively is about more than copy-and-pasting the relevant rules (many thousands of them) into a Great Repeal Bill. Even with British agencies substituted for European ones, there will be gaps in setting standards, in monitoring them and encoding them if and when the UK leaves the EU.

There is a substantial body of expertise and experience in the European Environment Agency, for example, which we risk losing under a hard Brexit. Even the most Eurosceptic critic would concede that issues such as fishing stocks, acid rain, climate change and clean beaches are cross-border, transcontinental matters that demand international cooperation. The agency is part of the EU, but has member states from outside the EU, such as Norway and Iceland, and does its valuable work quietly and efficiently. It is difficult to imagine Whitehall being able to replicate its abilities, and indeed it would be foolish to attempt to do so.

As in so many areas, we are discovering that if the EU didnt exist it would be necessary to invent it.
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The resignation of Michael Flynn as President Trumps National Security Adviser is welcome evidence that the new administration is not  contrary to what it might have liked to believe  immune to the effects of intense media scrutiny. For once, Mr Trump has not  at least, not yet  cried fake news.

Questions about Mr Flynns connections with Russia had been gaining traction since it was revealed in the middle of last month that he had had contact with Sergey Kislyak, the Russian ambassador, in late December, while President Obama was still in the Oval Office. Initially, the transition team claimed that conversations centred on the logistics of a potential post-inauguration phone call between President Trump and Vladimir Putin. That was it, pure and simple, said Sean Spicer, Trumps press man.

Yet suspicions grew that Mr Flynn and Mr Kislyak had also discussed the sanctions on Russian officials imposed by President Obama in the wake of the US election hacking scandal. Had they done so, Mr Flynn could have fallen foul of the Logan Act, which bans US citizens from trying to influence policy by unauthorised interaction with foreign governments. The fact that Mr Flynn had publicly dined with Mr Putin at a Moscow dinner for RT, the Russian broadcaster, in late 2015 added to the concerns.

Still, Mr Flynn held his ground, telling key members of the administration in waiting that he had not discussed sanctions. Subsequently, senior figures, including then Vice President-elect Mike Pence, repeated this assertion. The dam could not hold, however, and it emerged in more recent media reports that US intelligence officials had a transcript of a call, obtained as part of regular monitoring of Mr Kislyak, which contradicted the claims of innocence. Flynn backtracked, claiming that he couldnt be absolutely sure that the question of sanctions hadnt come up. His previous assurances to Mr Pence in particular, however, had already sealed his fate and his eventual resignation acknowledged that he had misled the Vice President.

The persistence of the American news media, then, has paid dividends and should be applauded. Journalists refused to be cowed by the bullying attitude of President Trump and his henchmen and instead redoubled their efforts to get to the true nature of Mr Flynns conversation with Mr Kisylak. The Fourth Estate in the US, hated though it may be by Americas head of state, is not taking the presidency lying down. There are lessons here for journalists across the world.

Yet troubling questions remain, both about Trumps own links to Russia and about his handling of the Flynn fiasco. On Mr Flynn, Mr Trump has tried to avoid the spotlight, and the extent to which the President knew that his adviser was discussing sanctions with Mr Kisylak late last year may never be known. Yet it is notable that the White House was apparently warned after Mr Trumps inauguration that Mr Flynn had misled administration officials and was, as a result, in a potentially compromising position. This warning, delivered by acting Attorney General Sally Yates, was seemingly ignored. Instead, a few days later, Ms Yates herself was fired over her refusal to enforce Donald Trumps travel ban.

In a typically bullish tweet on Tuesday the President sought to lay the blame for the mess at the door of those in the intelligence community who had leaked details of the Flynn-Kisylak contacts to the media. That is a remarkable dereliction of office by Mr Trump, yet nonetheless is hardly a surprising response from this most un-statesmanlike of Presidents.

Moreover, it renews once again his battle with Americas intelligence agencies and in the long run this is potentially the most serious challenge for the US under Trumps administration: in short, can intelligence operatives and other state officials maintain their distance from the White House and continue to be a conduit of vital information to the media? Or will Trump, by hook or by crook, clamp down on whistleblowers and seek to have critical figures removed from their posts? In that respect, we must hope that Sally Yates is not the first example among many.
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Despite unprecedented opposition to his presence in the UK, the Prime Minister is adamant that Donald Trump will make a state visit here in the summer.

Theresa May has closed the doors of the UK to unaccompanied refugee children but is determined to open them to the bigot Donald Trump. That is shameful.

Should May's xenophobic friend dare show his face anywhere in the UK, he will be met with a reception which will leave him in no doubt of the contempt which the vast majority hold for him here. And that goes for his mates too, Theresa May.

Sasha Simic

London

The world has become a frightening place

As long as the rich abuse the poor,

I see nothing but suffering and perpetual war,

Because Trump like every tyrant who came before,

Will deviate and then break international law,

Then we go into the Middle East for another tour,

With another landing on foreign shores,

With anti-terrorism as our noble cause,

Repeated in the media to the point where it bores,

So what are these invasions actually for?

Well our oil reserves have limits that's for sure,

And the ideology of our hypocrisy rots to the core,

When the use of chemical weapons in Syria we all saw,

The untold horrors of a country war-torn,

But did we not stop or think to pause,

Now Isis and fascists are at our door,

That we have no clue for what is now in store,

But doesn't it make you feel sore and so raw,

That instead of research into a global energy cure,

We follow lies that only us, our God or race is pure,

Brainwashed to the point extreme beliefs become yours.

Alan Peter Garfoot

Scunthorpe

We need to rehabilitate prisoners

The Government is clearly concerned about the size, and behaviour, of the prison population. However, little is said about the need to improve the morals of society so individuals do not offend in ways such that they need to be sent to prison.

There is need for more and effective programmes to cut reoffending rates. I would suggest the Government could benefit from copying action of the government in Zambia where, reportedly, the Christian church helped drastically reduce reoffending rates.

J Longstaff

Buxted

The Government should be ashamed over the welfare state

Ramya Kumar is absolutely right to say that parenting a child with learning difficulties gives you the priceless gift of perspective.

Tragically, as such a parent myself, it also gives one huge perspective and insight into the callous and immoral cuts in financial and respite support imposed on those with disabilities by both this Tory Government and the previous Lib Dem/Tory coalition.

While we have a Government that constantly appeals to the worst instincts of those who believe that all those receiving social security support (its not welfare) are scrounges and shirkers, it can be no coincidence that we see an increase in hate crime.

Meanwhile, few are as brave as Ken Loach in speaking the truth to both power and the public through award-winning films as I, Daniel Blake.

David Cameron (remember him?), Nick Clegg, George Osborne, and now professed Christian Theresa May (in the words of John Lennon): how do you sleep?

Russell Kennedy

Chelmsford

We need to tackle dog breeding

Dogs don't care which breed they are, and neither should anyone else (French Bulldog set to become UK's favourite dog breed, 13 February). The demand for pedigrees and designer pets is fuelling cruel breeding practices that cause animals to suffer from painful, debilitating conditions. French bulldogs, for example, have been bred to have unnaturally flat faces, which can cause them to develop brachycephalic airway syndrome, a condition characterised by severe breathing difficulties.

For dogs, these health issues mean a lifetime of wheezing and weight gain  because their breathing problems leave them unable to exercise  and can even result in death if left untreated. What's more, people who buy them often view them in the same way one might a designer handbag  and once the novelty wears off, many will inevitably be abandoned, putting extra strain on already overburdened shelters.

And while breeders continue to profit from churning out puppies with genetic mutations, thousands of healthy, highly adoptable dogs languish in shelters, just waiting for someone to take them home.

Jennifer White, assistant press officer, Peta UK

London

A possible solution to Trumps state visit

There's an alternative Midlands city in which we could turn our backs on Trump: send him to Coventry.

Rick Biddulph

Farnham
Tanaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has refused to answer questions set out by whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

The demand for explanations was turned down as the Government moved to open a potentially long-running tribunal to investigate an alleged smear campaign against the officer.

Mr McCabe sought answers on whether a superintendent held a meeting or had a phone call with health chiefs over the unfounded and false report of alleged sex abuse.

He also wanted the identity of an officer who took a call from the Health Service Executive about the untrue report of a rape allegation and who interviewed the alleged victim.

Mr McCabe also asked for information about garda activity around the issue and whether a decision had been taken to keep the false claim from him.

Ms Fitzgerald said it would be "fraught" to set up a tribunal and immediately demand answers from people involved.

"Of course, I understand well the concerns which people have expressed about the treatment of Maurice McCabe. But it would be a great pity for people here to try to rectify one injustice by causing others," she said.

"Whatever anger people might feel, in this country we do not set up tribunals of inquiry simply to confirm what people already believe. We set them up to look at all the evidence, hear all sides, and establish what the truth is.

"We have to be careful not to rush to judgment. And above all everyone is entitled to basic, fair procedures enshrined in our Constitution. I am not prepared to ignore that and engage in a rush to judgment, which ignores anyone's fundamental human rights.

"We have to investigate matters fully, but it must be fairly too. I cannot uphold the integrity of the office to which I have been honoured to be appointed by setting at nought the rights of others."
The UK could be in breach of its international obligations under the Good Friday Agreement if it presses ahead with plans to pull out of the European Convention on Human Rights, it has been warned.

Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan said there was a clear obligation on both the Irish and British governments, under the 1998 peace deal, to incorporate the Convention on Human Rights into law in both Northern Ireland and the Republic.

This obligation was unaffected by Brexit, he said.

The Conservative government under David Cameron proposed scrapping the Human Rights Act, the legislation which incorporates the convention into British domestic law, and replacing it with a British Bill of Rights.

British Prime Minister Theresa May is reportedly set to make plans to pull out of the European Court of Human Rights a central aspect of her 2020 election campaign, according to the British media.

"I'm very concerned at the proposed withdrawal by the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights. This could certainly place the UK in breach of its international obligations under the Good Friday Agreement," Mr Flanagan said.

He said he had flagged this issue with senior British politicians, including Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire, who will be in Dublin this week.

In his first visit to Dublin last year after taking office, Mr Brokenshire sought to play down fears that British plans to scrap the Human Rights Act would have repercussions for the peace process.

He said the proposed new British Bill of Rights would be consistent with the commitments set out in the Good Friday Agreement.

The convention, drafted under a British Conservative politician lawyer David Maxwell-Fyfe after World War II, in response to Nazism and Stalinism and ratified by Britain in 1951, was incorporated into British domestic law by the Human Rights Act of 1998.

Mr Flanagan was speaking at the Government's latest Brexit sectoral dialogue, this time focusing on human rights.

Les Allamby, chief commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, told the gathering at Maynooth University yesterday that the lack of a bill of rights for Northern Ireland was a "missing piece in the jigsaw of the implementation of the agreement".

He also said that retaining the common travel area would not address a number of economic and social cross Border rights, including childcare arrangements, healthcare issues and social security co-ordination.

Deirdre Duffy, deputy director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, signalled the potential loss of the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) in the UK post-Brexit could also mean the loss of certain procedural rights that accompanied it.

"Not only does the arrest warrant allow for co-operation in law enforcement, it also has a parallel pillar of rights associated with it. Because of those principles within EU law, we also have procedural rights such as access to a lawyer, right to legal aid, that have been developed in order to allow EU member states to be able to operate the EAW system effectively," she said.

"It's a niche area where there's going to be a lot of untangling that needs to be done."
A qualified civil engineer who opted for a career in full-time farming has been elected Limerick IFA chairman in the first election for the position in almost three decades.

Shay Galvin (44) from Croom defeated Donal O'Brien of Pallaskenry after an intensely fought election campaign.

Mr Galvin is the outgoing secretary of the county executive and a former member of the IFA's national grain committee.

The married father of three runs a beef and tillage operation with his brother John and his father, also John.

Support

After his election, Mr Galvin told those in attendance at the Dunraven Arms Hotel, Adare, that there was a need for the IFA "to be more proactive rather than reactive" in representing the interests of farmers.

Donal O'Brien committed his full support to the new county chairman and appealed to his supporters to do likewise.

"IFA is rising out of the ashes again and hopefully will be stronger than ever because it is our only hope for the future," he said.

A suckler farmer, Mr O'Brien hit the headlines when he staged a five-day sit-in at the Department of Agriculture to secure the release of 34m in direct payments.

The last time there was an election for county chairman was in 1988 when John Dillon was elected to the position. He was later elected IFA president.

In Kerry, Pat O'Driscoll from Valentia Island has been elected chairman in a three-way contest, while, in Tipperary North, the outgoing chairman, Tim Cullinan, was unanimously re-elected.
University College Cork has named Professor Thia Hennessy as the new Head of the Universitys Department of Food Business and Development.

The Department, which is part of the Cork University Business School (CUBS), undertakes teaching and research in the subjects of food business and marketing, international development and co-operative studies.

Speaking on Professor Hennessys appointment Professor Ciaran Murphy, head of the business school, said Cork University Business School (CUBS) is currently in the midst of an exciting development campaign including the appointment of a number senior staff, the acquisition of the iconic Cork Savings Bank, as well as a plan to construct a new 106m business school building at a city centre location in Cork.

We, at CUBS, recognise the importance of the agri-food sector to the local and national economy of Ireland and it is a key focus of our future development plans. We are delighted that Thia is joining the team and we look forward to building on her extensive experience and industry networks to better support the ongoing growth of the agri-food sector in Ireland.

Professor Hennessy, an agricultural economist, joins UCC from Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority of Ireland, where she was head of Agricultural Economics research for the last 10 years.

While working at Teagasc Thia developed an international reputation in the area of agricultural policy analysis and farm sustainability research.

She also headed up the National Farm Survey, the official source of statistics on farming in Ireland. Under the auspices of the Teagasc-UCC alliance, Thia will continue to work with Teagasc in a part-time capacity on agri-food economic issues of mutual interest.

Professor Hennessy said: Im delighted to be joining UCC at an exciting time in the development of the Business School. It is also an exciting time for the agri-food industry in Ireland with the ongoing expansion of the dairy sector, the continued growth in food and drink exports and the looming challenges associated with Brexit and climate change.

The need for food graduates and more agri-food business research has never been greater. I look forward to building on UCCs strong reputation for excellence in teaching and research in Food and to strengthening the collaborative research programme that exists between UCC and Teagasc.
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has ruled out demands for increased supports for suckler producers and also questioned the feasibility of an emergency fund for tillage farmers.

The IFA, backed by Meat Industry Ireland, has called for a direct coupled payment of up to 200/cow for all suckler cows. This would cost an estimated 200m a year for the national beef herd.

However, Minister Creed said the proposals are unworkable.

"Those advocating this, be it the IFA or anybody else, are avoiding the obvious questions.

"The way a coupled payment would be funded is that you top slice everybody else's single farm payment and you fund it out of [CAP] pillar one," Minister Creed told the Farming Independent.

"That would cause blue murder. Farmers won't want their single farm payment to be cut by the extent that would be necessary to fund a 200 suckler cow payment," he said.

On the ICSA proposal of a payment of 200/cow on every cow a farmer removes from their herd over a five-year period, the Minister said: "If the problem is in over-supply and you incentivise a payment on suckler cows, it's going to be counter productive and encourage even more production."

He also said bringing a suckler subsidy scheme under the Rural Development Programme (RDP) would be unreasonable and ruled out direct funding from other Exchequer resources.

"We need to have a bit of honesty around this search for 200m. The Exchequer is state aid and that wouldn't be allowed.

"I don't propose a cull, or a coupled payment, or a payment out of the RDP because I'm not taking it off sheep farmers, disadvantaged areas, or any existing commitments - and I don't have the space to do it anywhere else. All of our funding is committed," he said.

Instead, Minister Creed believes ensuring maximum levels of competition in the beef sector will ease income pressures and a cattle glut.

"Live exports are critical and we're hoping to see more growth in live shipments, with the possibility of live shipments to Egypt in 2017. China is a significant market that the industry is anxious to explore.

"At the moment the Commission is leading trade negotiations with Japan and we would see opportunities there, particularly on the beef side," he said.
The Office of the US Trade Representative will hold a hearing in Washington tomorrow to discuss applying a tariff as high as 100pc on a host of EU products, including Irish beef.

It comes as newly elected US President Donald Trump's highly protectionist agenda looks to have already called time on a host of high-profile trade deals, including the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

One news outlet in the US has said the tariff could be as high as 100pc.

Documents seen by the Irish Independent ahead of the hearing, which will look at the possibility of imposing a tariff on certain imported products, including beef, called for submissions on the situation and received more than 11,500 responses prior to the deadline.

In a statement the Department of Agriculture said it is aware of this issue and is closely monitoring developments.

"The negotiations in this case are between the European Commission and the US Authorities and we are in close contact with the Commission as the case proceeds, a Department spokesperson said.

Significant efforts have been made by successive Irish governments to export Irish beef into the US and in 2015 Irish beef was back on the menu in the US, with the first shipments arriving in time for St Patrick's Day.

At the time, the then-minister for agriculture Simon Coveney said the US market could be worth 100m a year to Irish beef exports.

Now, the US says it is taking action against what it calls the EU's unfair trade practices, which it says discriminate against the US beef industry.

It says the EU's ban on hormone-treated US beef is not based on sound science and discriminates against American beef farmers, ranchers and producers. The US National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the US Meat Export Federation wrote to the Office of the US Trade Representative before Christmas calling for an end to tariff concessions on EU exports and said that the US domestic beef industry would benefit from such a move.

The ban has been in place for around 20 years, and led the US to tackle the EU at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The EU bans the import of beef and beef products produced from animals to which any of six hormones have been administered for growth-promotion purposes in the US.

That case resulted in a 2009 deal with the EU agreeing to a hormone-free beef quota of 62,660 tonnes in carcass weight equivalent.

But the US says that agreement is not working as it should.

Other EU products under consideration for the imposition of increased duties include Roquefort cheese, hair clippers and Vespa scooters.

The European Commission had argued that this issue should be resolved through TTIP.

However, given that European officials decided after their trade ministers' meeting in September not to complete TTIP this year, the US has decided that now is the time to take action.

The US beef industry exports an average $6bn per year. These exports produce an estimated $7.6bn in economic activity and support 50,000 jobs in the US.
ICOS has called for all milk on the island of Ireland to be deemed 'Irish' - in light of Brexit and amid the possibility that milk from Northern Ireland would be labelled as 'non-EU'.

The call flies in the face of the National Dairy Council's policy of only allowing milk that is farmed and processed in the Republic of Ireland to carry its logo.

The National Dairy Council has resisted calls from some processors in recent years to allow milk that is farmed in the Republic and processed in Northern Ireland to carry the NDC logo.

However, now ICOS CEO TJ Flanagan has said that Ireland must include Northern Irish milk, or milk farmed in the Republic of Ireland and processed in Northern Ireland as 'Irish' milk.

Around 800m litres of Northern Irish milk travels into the Republic for processing on an annual basis and makes up 15pc of the Irish processing pool.

TJ Flanagan said there must be a technical solution where such milk is not kept out of the pool. "We have to have a very open discussion about it."

One of the solutions ICOS proposed (to the European Commission) was for the recognition of Irish milk as coming from the island of Ireland. Ideally this will allow for the continued trade of milk across the border, without being hindered by burdensome customs, SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures) and labelling regulations."

He said the proposal was considered by the Commission with interest, although any agreement made on customs controls between Northern Ireland and the Republic must be agreeable to the other 26 EU Member States.

He also said that Ireland must differentiate its production processes, for example away from cheddar cheese, should UK market access be more restrictive and this would take many years and a lot of investment to achieve. At the moment 90,000t of Irish cheddar ends up in the UK every year and this could be subject to a tariff of 150m if the EU and UK revert to WTO arrangements.

ICOS shared with the Commission the view that practical solutions are needed to avoid the introduction of a physical border between the north and south of Ireland."

He was speaking after ICOS attended meeting with members of the EU Commissions Brexit negotiating team, including those responsible for agricultural and Irish affairs within the upcoming talks, where ICOS made a submissions relating to Irish co-operatives.

In its most recent accounts the National Dairy Council received funding of 2.9m to promote the consumption of dairy. However, the NDC 'farmed in the Republic of Ireland' logo means that some processors who do not differentiate their milk pools cannot use the label.

Strathroy joint owner Ruairi Cunningham told FarmIreland.ie that from a dairy farmers' and processors point of view they would support the stance of ICOS and welcomed the move by ICOS.

"The risk in Brexit ultimately it is the farmer who is going to get hurt. They have to be protected.

Strathroy welcomes the fact that ICOS recognise the need for an all-island approach to milk produced here, especially in light of the threat of Brexit. The agricultural industry has always operated on an all-island basis over the years, in all its sectors.

"Agricultural products, including milk, have been traded throughout the island, to the benefit of the primary producer and processor alike. Producers have kept this trade alive as they appreciate the value and benefits of competition.

He also said that all agricultural products should be included in an all-island policy to protect primary producers as much as possible.

However, the NDC in a statement said that only milk which is both farmed and processed in the Republic of Ireland can carry the NDC Trademark.

It went on to say that Strathroy is not a member of the National Dairy Council and when asked about Strathroy's application for membership, the NDC said that "Any queries concerning membership remain a matter for consideration of the Board.

Meanwhile, Strathroy is currently advertising in the Republic for more dairy farmers to supply it with milk and has not ruled out building a processing site in the Republic if a hard Brexit occurs.
Dairy farmers received a welcome spring boost yesterday when Glanbia Ingredients Ireland (GII), Kerry Group and Lakeland Dairies all increased their January milk price.

Kerry Group lifted its milk price by 2c/l to a base of 31c/l. Glanbia are the same base price following its lift of 1c/l, while Lakelands also increased its base price by 1c/l to 31.28c/l. All prices are VAT inclusive.

Although Glanbia chairman Henry Corbally cautioned that there remained significant uncertainty in the global dairy market outlook, he said the company would continue to monitor markets on a monthly basis.

Reacting to the price lift, Gerald Quain of ICMSA said the move was a "recognition of reality". However, he insisted that further increases were needed to bring the Irish farmer milk price into line with the market.

Both the ICMSA and IFA had insisted there was room for price hikes in January on the back of the lift in Ornua's PPI and last week's stronger GDT.

The PPI increased by 1.6 to 105.4 points, which equates to 31.4c/l including VAT. Meanwhile, Fonterra's GDT was up 1.3pc.

They also pointed out that milk production across northern Europe has been down 5pc to 12pc through the back end of 2016, while prices of 32-33c/l were being paid by Europe's leading processors.

Quain said the ICMSA was looking for a price rise of at least 1c/l across the sector. Following yesterday's increases, the focus will now shift to other major processors such as Dairygold and Aurivo.

"We'd be looking at a rise of 1c/l, giving an average of 31c/l for January milk," Quain said.

"We think and trust that against the background of continuing gains and strengthening of dairy markets that co-ops will deliver the price rise that the facts support," he added.

"EU market returns throughout December and January have exceeded 37c/l gross, equivalent to a farm gate price of 32c/l-plus," Seanie O'Leary of IFA said.

"Milk price increases continue to be justified, and IFA will continue to lobby board members to deliver fully back to farmers what significantly stronger market returns allow," he maintained.

However, processor sources described the market as "nervous", with buyers not as anxious for product through January. Most observers believe buyers are waiting to see whether European milk production will hold at the current low levels or increase on the back of last year's market improvements.

The presence of around 300,000t of SMP in EU intervention stocks is also acting as a drag on markets.
Greg and Marian OGorman are in a dispute concerning ownership of the well-known Kilkenny group of luxury design retail stores, including the chains flagship shop on Nassau Street in Dublin

A MAN and his mother are in a dispute concerning ownership of the well-known Kilkenny group of luxury design retail stores, the Commercial Court has heard.

Greg O'Gorman claims, after 13 years' service and with "no suggestion of misconduct or non-performance", his mother Marian, ceo of the firm running the Kilkenny stores, "summarily terminated" his employment as group marketing director last July in a "demeaning and humiliating" manner.

This left him, his wife and three children "financially destitute" and he has been unable to get alternative employment, he said.

Despite promises over years of a share transfer for his hard work, his mother last June publicly repudiated a signed "Family Constitution" document, under which she held legal ownership of shares in the company in trust for the O'Gorman Family Business Partnership, comprising Mr O'Gorman and his three siblings, Christopher, Melissa and Michelle, he claims.

All four siblings hold a 25pc share, with his shareholding estimated to be worth 12.5m, it is alleged.

The "enormous personal toll" of these events has been compounded by marital disharmony between his parents, who recently separated after 41 years of marriage, he added.

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When the proceedings came before Mr Justice Brian McGovern at the Commercial Court yesterday, the judge said the case was "peculiarly suited" for mediation and urged the parties to consider that.

It would be "very undesirable" to have this family dispute involving a successful business being explored publicly, he said.

Rossa Fanning, for Mr O'Gorman, said he would convey what the judge had said but, unfortunately, there was a "history of acrimonious disputes", which Mrs O'Gorman, of Fernhurst Tower, Blarney, Co Cork, had found herself at the centre of over the years.

The judge agreed to join Christopher O'Gorman, of Castle Close Road, Blarney; Melissa O'Gorman, of Mount Street Crescent, Dublin 2; and Michelle O'Gorman, of Fernhurst Tower, Blarney, as notice parties in the case, which will come back to court in June.

Mr Fanning said Mr O'Gorman makes no criticism of his siblings and is not advancing any legal case against them but needs to join them as the outcome of the case would affect their interests.

Mr O'Gorman, of Castle Close Avenue, Blarney, said Clydaville Investments Ltd, which carries on the Kilkenny business brand, operates 15 stores employing 300 people, with its flagship store at Dublin's Nassau Street.

It had a 27m turnover in 2015 and he had secured a preliminary desktop valuation of some 50m for the business.

He was employed full-time by Clydaville between 2003 and 2016 and, after turning around the performance of the Galway store, was promoted by his mother to more senior roles and later to group marketing director. The business flourished, particularly during and since the economic recession, due "in no small part" to his management contribution, he said.

He made many personal sacrifices to ensure the success of the business, including working exceptionally long hours for a salary that did not reflect that, he said.

His mother represented he was effectively working for himself because of her promises to transfer a shareholding to him, he claimed. To give effect to "repeated" promises, she convened family meetings and instructed advisers from 2009 leading to her and all four children being bound by terms of the Family Constitution executed in September 2010, he claims.

That evidenced the creation of a family partnership involving the four children as general partners and their mother as managing partner, with Mrs O'Gorman continuing as the named shareholder of Clydaville but holding the shares in trust for the O'Gorman Family Partnership, it is claimed.

All parties complied with the terms of those documents until a company meeting of June 22, 2016, when his mother read a prepared statement saying the company was no longer to be considered as a "family company", he said.

His employment was summarily terminated without reasons shortly afterwards, he said.

He was "shocked and personally devastated" and found it "profoundly upsetting" his mother "publicly reneged on promises and commitments given to me over many years".
Dublin PR man Ray Gordon has nabbed the lucrative contract to provide public relations services to the Government on the flotation of AIB, in conjunction with London-based Citigate Dewe Rogerson.

A joint bid from Gordon MRM and Citigate Dewe Rogerson is understood to have secured the Department of Finance contract, which will run for a minimum of 18 months. The contract is likely to be worth between 100,000 and 250,000, according to tender documents.

The stock market listing of 25pc of AIB is expected as soon as June this year, but it has already been pushed back and an early election or any fresh market turmoil could well see it delayed again.

Mr Gordon, who set up Gordon MRM in 2009, has carved out a lucrative niche advising a swathe of State-linked entities in the aftermath of the financial crash. His clients already include Nama and the NTMA, which manages taxpayers' AIB holdings for the Department of Finance.

He also retained Permanent TSB as a client through its nationalisation and subsequent part-privatisation.

Mr Gordon was press officer for the Progressive Democrats from 1987 to 1992. He then spent two years as head of media relations at Irish Life before co-founding a firm in 1997 that is now part of MKC Communications.
Despite the strikes, the British based retailer has said all of its shops will open. Photo: PA

Tesco workers have been "left with no option" but to take strike action, according to Mandate, the union that represents the bulk of employees.

Despite strikes going ahead at eight stores across Ireland, Tesco released a statement on Monday to say that all of its shops will remain open.

The statement described the industrial action as "unjustified" and outlined how business will continue as usual with special promotions in all stores for St Valentine's Day.

"Tesco is focused on continuing to serve its customers despite this unnecessary action by Mandate," it read.

In response, Mandate representative Dave Gibney said "They are definitely right that it is unnecessary, but workers have been left with no choice."

"Tesco employees, some who have worked with the company for 40 years, are not only standing up for themselves, but for any future employees of this extremely profitable company," he added.

Staff at stores in Baggot Street, Ballyfermot Road and Finglas in Dublin, as well as stores in Tralee, Longford, Navan, Tullamore, and Bray mounted pickets at 7am this morning.

Two stores in Ballina and Sligo decided not to take part in this weeks strike action due to a technical error made in the original ballot.

However, Tesco claimed that staff in Sligo and Ballina had decided to "defy" Mandate's call for strike action.

The strikes are in response to Tesco wanting to move 250 staff recruited before 1996 onto less favourable contracts.

Mandate insists that this change would hit workers in terms of both pay and conditions, with cuts of up to 15pc.

However, Tesco once again urged the union to accept the Labour Court recommendation to resolve the dispute.

The Labour Court's recommendation was as follows:

Rate of pay is protected (90% of affected colleagues will see an increase in their rate of pay)

Premiums paid in line with everyone else

Pay increases implemented (now at 4%) as part of the Recommendation, as lump sum or rate increase

5pc share bonus has been protected

2/3 guaranteed overtime is protected

Sundays continue to be voluntary

Partial flexibility 2 days out of 5 on 5/6

In event of loss of income, compensation paid at 2 times or 2.5 times annual loss depending on option

Goodwill gesture of 2,000 or 3,000 depending on option to all affected colleagues

OR Voluntary redundancy 5 weeks per year uncapped (average pay out to date is 105,000)

Workers rejected the recommendation and have said they will not return until a resolution is found.
According to the Housing Agency, 81,000 units are required by 2020 to meet the needs of a growing population and cater for pent-up demand. Stock Image

State-owned lands will be offered to developers to build new homes in an effort to boost output and tackle rising prices.

The private sector will be invited to submit proposals to develop hundreds of sites controlled by local authorities, the Office of Public Works and other State agencies, the Irish Independent has learned.

The deals could include the imposition of an upper price limit to deliver 'affordable' units, while also insisting on a high number of social homes.

The State may also take a stake in the development, or allow the developer to build homes and pay a pre-agreed price for the land after works are completed and units sold.

The move comes as a major housing conference organised by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland and Department of Housing today discusses innovative measures needed to deliver additional units. It comes as figures show that housing output remains well below the levels needed to meet demand.

While 14,932 new homes were completed last year, an increase of 18pc, and work on another 13,234 units began - up 51pc - a minimum of 25,000 are needed following years of under-supply. Just last week the Housing Agency said that 81,000 units were required by 2020 to meet the needs of a growing population and cater for pent-up demand.

Official sources said the move was driven by a "crisis" in the housing sector. The proposal is similar to one employed by Nama, which has entered into licensing agreements with a number of developers in Dublin and Kildare.

The land value is agreed at the start of the process, and the cost repaid at the end of the project when the units are sold.

"Local authorities could employ this model," one source said. "Local authority land could be merged with private holdings, or by land held by other public bodies. A lot of big sites will provide homes at affordable prices. The local authority sites are well mapped, and we're gathering data on other lands in public ownership held by the HSE, OPW and others in the cities."

At least 10pc of new homes in developments must be set aside for social housing, but higher levels could be demanded under the scheme. In addition, an upper price limit for affordable units could be included.

Public bodies have been asked to submit details of lands in their ownership or control which may be suitable for housing in the main cities, and a national database and mapping tool will go live in the coming months, setting out the location of the landbanks. Other urban areas will be mapped later.

It is hoped that developers with access to finance, which could include those from outside the State, may express an interest. As many as 700 sites may be considered, including some transferred to the Housing Agency under the Land Aggregation Scheme. This is where city and county councils bought land for housing, but which remained undeveloped after the Government halted building programmes.

Councils that struggled to repay the loans were allowed transfer the debt to the Exchequer, and the lands transferred to the Housing Agency.

Some local authorities are already progressing similar plans.

The initiative is being directed by the Department of Housing, which has already identified 23 so-called MUHDS (Major Urban Housing Development Sites) capable of delivering 30,000 new homes in the Greater Dublin Area, Cork, Limerick and Galway.
Mark Bennett and Wawrzyniec Wawro, co-founders of BikeLook, one of the companies that Enterprise Ireland invested in

More than 220 startup companies received an average of 140,000 each in Enterprise Ireland subsidies last year, new figures show.

In all, the State agency invested 32m in 229 small young companies adjudged to have growth potential.

Half of the companies were Dublin-based, while 28pc were female-led.

Of those startups, 128 received money under 'Competitive Startup Fund' (CSF) rules which say Enterprise Ireland can take up to 10pc equity in the company for a cash subsidy of up to 50,000. This amounted to 6.8m in state subsidies.

The other 101 companies, 'High Potential Startups' (HPSUs), received an average of 220,000 each last year, totalling 22.2m.

A further 2.8m was invested in established startups, according to a spokeswoman for the organisation.

According to its last set of accounts, Enterprise Ireland holds 2,236 equity investments in 1,224 companies. In 2015, this portfolio returned around 29m from share sales, share redemptions and dividends.

The state agency says that its activity contributed to over 19,000 new jobs last year and over 9,000 new jobs after jobs lost are taken into account. It also says that companies financially assisted by Enterprise Ireland now employ over 200,000 people. The largest return made by Enterprise Ireland on a single company investment was 1.25m on the agency's 25,000 equity stake in Dublin-based startup Logentries.

The firm was acquired in 2015 for $68m (63.9m) by US tech firm Rapid7.

Under Enterprise Ireland rules, companies are allowed to receive up to 200,000 from other State-subsidised sources in addition to the money they get from Enterprise Ireland.

"A key focus for Enterprise Ireland over the past number of years has been on targeting under-represented sources of start-ups," said Julie Sinnamon, chief executive of Enterprise Ireland.

"In total we approved 63 investments in female-led start-ups, or 28pc. [This is] a great result considering only 8pc of HPSUs were female led in 2012."

Seventeen of the companies funded by Enterprise Ireland came from overseas, using Ireland as their base to build export-oriented firms.

Fifteen of the subsidised companies are spinout startups from third-level research, while 17 are startups specialising in startup technology.

"Of the total number of startups supported during 2016, we were particularly pleased to see that over half were in regions outside of Dublin," said Ms Sinnamon.

"The development of companies of scale throughout the country is a key priority."
Des Bishop and Giulia Dotta on RTEs Dancing with the stars  Ireland must keep its feet amid tricky economic conditions

Disappointed Des Bishop describes his shock exit from RTE's Dancing With The Stars as "weird" and says the public vote is clearly "not about the dancing".

Des and partner Giulia Dotta controversially exited the show on Sunday to a chorus of boos from the live audience.

The comedian said there are many factors at play - including regional voting.

"There's just weird stuff [going on] because people can multiple vote and you can kind of organise it so you get a ton of people voting a ton of times. You have to be kind of organised.

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"I think people think, 'Ah he's grand. He's up there'. All sorts of weird things where people just don't vote for you because they think you're OK. I have no idea. The public vote is such an odd thing.

"Is it because Giulia is Italian, so she doesn't have all her students voting for her? And people in Ireland like me, I've been around a long time.

"But at the same time, Kerry's not voting for me. Leitrim's not voting for me. Is that it? Who the h**l knows. It has nothing to do with the dancing."

Ironically, he was kicked off the show on the week that he scored his highest mark, thanks to his shirtless Paso Doble.

While Des (41) admits he was "disappointed" at his unexpected exit, he insisted there were no hard feelings towards rival Des Cahill, who managed to stay in the show, despite his performance receiving a luke-warm reaction from judges.

"I can understand the Des Cahill thing. He's a rubbish dancer but he's entertaining. He's a super likeable guy. So the Des Cahill thing doesn't bother me. It is what it is."

Newly-single Des said that he was gutted that he will not get to compete for another week because he was hoping he would be paired with Cahill's professional partner, the gorgeous Karen Byrne.

"I just wanted to do switch week because I wanted to dance with Karen."
Motorists experienced massive delays this morning after a collision on one of the capital's main commuter roads.

The collision occurred on the N11 Dublin/Wexford Road southbound at Junction 10 Delgany, between the exits for Greystones and Newtownmountkennedy.

The incident was soon cleared but the delays remained almost back to Junction 13 for a couple of hours afterwards.

A Roadwatch also reported a collision on the South Circular Road at St. James Hospital.

WICKLOW Collision on N11 Dublin/ Wexford Rd southbound at J10 Delgany. Gardai say road may have to close shortly https://t.co/r19oH1u8F2  AA Roadwatch (@aaroadwatch) February 14, 2017

Traffic was heavy in the area as a result.

In Cork, gardai dealt with a crash on the N40 South Ring Road westbound between JLT and J9 Bloomfield.

For train commuters, the 5.45am train from Sligo to Dublin Connolly experienced a 45-minute delay due to mechanical fault.

An extra service departed Enfield at 7.51am for commuters due to the delay.

Furthermore, the 5.20am from Westport to Heuston was delayed near Athlone due to animals on the line.

On the Dart northbound services, the Greystones/Malahide route experienced delays of up to 20 minutes on the 7.30am train.

Commuters were also warned to expect knock-on delays for the morning on all Dart northbound services.
Bust developer Sean Dunne has failed to secure permission from the High Court to allow his lawyers to cross-examine his bankruptcy trustee.

The request was rejected by Ms Justice Caroline Costello, who found Mr Dunne had failed to demonstrate any conflicting information existed in affidavits filed by official assignee Christopher Lehane.

Mr Dunne had been seeking to have Mr Lehane quizzed after the bankruptcy official made a series of allegations against the one time 'Baron of Ballsbridge', who went bankrupt in 2013 with debts of close to 700m.

Mr Lehane is seeking to extend Mr Dunne's period of bankruptcy while he investigates his belief the developer and his wife benefited to the tune of 12m from the recent sale to a Dermot Desmond-linked trust of Walford, a property on Dublin's Shrewsbury Road.

He also alleged Mr Dunne failed to co-operate in the realisation of assets for creditors and hid or failed to disclose income and assets.

In a written submission to the court, Mr Dunne said Mr Lehane had obtained a freezing order against the Lagoon Beach Hotel in South Africa and had issued proceedings against his wife, Gayle Killilea, and his son, John Dunne, "seeking to void bona fide transfers to me".

Mr Dunne argued that as those proceedings were not concluded, Mr Lehane could not in fact state that he had failed to disclose income or assets.

He claimed it was "equitable and just" that his lawyers be allowed to cross-examine Mr Lehane given the gravity of his application to extend the bankruptcy period.

But in a ruling yesterday, Ms Justice Costello said cross-examination of Mr Lehane was not necessary for any issue which needed to be determined by the court.

"In this application it is the bankrupt's conduct which is under scrutiny, not that of the official assignee," she said.

She said Mr Dunne had not demonstrated the probable presence of conflict in affidavits filed by Mr Lehane.

The judge also said the court should be sparing in its exercise of powers to allow bankruptcy officials to be cross-examined.
A 62-year-old store assistant, who injured her ankle when she slipped and fell on olive oil while working in a Dunnes store, has been awarded 12,500 damages in the Circuit Civil Court.

Bernardine Tuite told the court that on April 24, 2014, she had been going on her lunch break at Dunnes Stores, Kilnamanagh Shopping Centre, Kilnamanagh, Dublin, when she suddenly slipped and fell.

Ms Tuite said she fell heavily and immediately felt pain in her ankle. While she was lying on the floor and while being assisted by colleagues she had noticed a four-inch spot of olive oil on the floor where she had slipped.

She told her barrister, Conor Cahill, that she later attended a VHI clinic where X-rays revealed no fracture in her ankle. It had been swollen and she needed to keep it strapped and elevated for some time.

Ms Tuite, of Walkinstown Park, Walkinstown, Dublin, said she was off work for several weeks following the incident and her ankle still ached during cold weather. She sued Dunnes for negligence.

Dunnes Stores denied liability and argued the olive oil could only have been on the floor for a very short period of time before Ms Tuite slipped on it.

Circuit Court President, Mr Justice Raymond Groarke, said employment law required employers to provide a safe place of work and environment to their employees.

Olive oil was a potentially dangerous hazard and therefore Dunnes Stores had a particular duty of care. He awarded Ms Tuite 12,500 damages along with her legal costs.
Mr Baker was about 15 minutes into his address and explaining the concept of 'beyond reasonable doubt' when the sleeping juror was discovered. Stock picture

The jury in a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial had to be discharged after a juror fell asleep 15 minutes into the trial opening.

Garrett Baker BL, prosecuting, was giving his opening address in the trial of Dean Joyce yesterday when it was perceived one of the male jurors was asleep.

Mr Baker was about 15 minutes into his address and explaining the concept of "beyond reasonable doubt" when the sleeping juror was discovered.

The opening address came to a halt as a jury minder approached the juror and woke him up. After a short adjournment, defence barrister Pieter Le Vert BL told Judge Elma Sheahan that another male juror had also appeared to be on the verge of nodding off.

"It would seem two jurors were struggling," Mr Le Vert said.

Mr Baker joked it was a "new low" for opening addresses.

The court heard it may not be legally possible to replace the two jurors, as the trial had already opened.

As a result, Judge Sheahan ruled that she should discharge the entire jury.

"In a most unusual turn of events, I'm going to thank you for your service and discharge you," she told them.

Mr Joyce (24), with an address in Rowlagh Park, Clondalkin, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges, including endangering gardai by driving his car into a garda van, four counts of dangerous driving and possession of stolen property in Ballyfermot and Clondalkin on March 3, 2015.
Gavin Sheehan is led into Cork Circuit Criminal Court, where he was found guilty of the shot that seriously injured Ciara Sheehan. Photo: Provision

A self-confessed Garda informer was jailed for 11 years for a shooting which left a woman fighting for her life with a bullet wound to the neck.

Ciara Sheehan (21) admitted that the shooting left her fearing she was going to die - and , even after her successful recovery, with a large scar on her neck.

Judge Sean O'Donnabhain warned Gavin Sheehan (29) that it was a miracle Ms Sheehan hadn't been killed that night.

"The level of criminality and culpability is huge," he said.

"This man mercilessly and deliberately took a gun and fired it into a dwelling house that was lit and occupied."

Judge O'Donnabhain also said it was "reprehensible behaviour" that Mr Sheehan had sent a Christmas card to his victim from prison, an act which had greatly upset her.

"There is not a shred of remorse. I have been looking for remorse (in him) but I do not find it," he said.

He imposed a 14 year prison sentence but agreed to suspend the final three years.

Mr Sheehan has 72 previous convictions, 14 of which were for violent crimes before the Circuit Criminal Court.

In defence submissions, it was claimed that Mr Sheehan had been a Garda informer in Cork, supplying information about drugs, guns and general criminality.

However, Det Sergeant Denis Lynch said it was a matter he could not comment on.

"I am not in a position to answer that question," he said.

Mr Sheehan (30), a father of a 10 month old child, was convicted last November of the reckless discharge of a firearm and assault causing serious harm to Ms Sheehan by a Cork Circuit Criminal Court jury.

Mr Sheehan, who is no relation to the injured party, was convicted by unanimous jury vote after three and a half hours deliberation following a week long trial last November.

He had pleaded not guilty before Judge Sean O'Donnabhain and the jury of seven women and four men to a total of four charges.

The defendant of Laurel Ridge, Shanakiel, Cork denied assault causing serious harm to Ms Sheehan on May 15 last at Hollywood Estate off Corks Blarney Road.

He also denied the discharge of a firearm on May 15 at Hollywood Estate, being reckless as to whether any person was injured or not.

But the jury convicted him by unanimous vote on all four charges.

The trial heard that there had been a long-running dispute between Mr Sheehan and members of the family of Ms Sheehan's boyfriend, the Cunninghams.

Just hours before the shooting, Mr Sheehan had been involved in a confrontation in a fast food restaurant with the victim's boyfriend, Dillon Cunningham.

Ms Sheehan suffered a serious bullet wound to her neck as she sat in a property later that night watching TV alongside her boyfriend.

The young shop worker and Cork College of Commerce student was inside a friend's home when she was injured shortly after 12.30am.

She had to be rushed to Cork University Hospital (CUH) where she underwent emergency surgery.

Ms Sheehan spoke of her shock at realising precisely what had happened to her seconds after she heard a window in the property being smashed.

"I felt my throat getting all tight and my face was burning," she said.

"I put my hand up to my neck and it was covered in blood. I realised I was shot."

She went to CUH where she underwent surgery twice as the bullet was stuck in her neck.

The young woman subsequently remained in hospital for six days.

Dillon Cunningham said he heard a bang as they sat and watched TV.

He said there was then a "mad scramble in the house".

Mr Cunningham said that Ciara collapsed and he brought her out to his mother's car to drive her to CUH.

He was so concerned for her welfare he did not even want to wait for an ambulance.

Linda Casey, Dillon's mother, said: "Ciara turned to me and said: 'Linda I've been shot, I've been shot' and then she collapsed."

"Dillon got my keys and half dragged, half carried her out to the car. She was saying: 'Call my mam, call my mam' to me."

Ms Sheehan is now making a good recovery from her neck injury.

The defendant had also denied possession at his Laurel Ridge home of Smith & Wesson Model 6096 semi-automatic pistol with a reasonable inference that he did not have it for a lawful purpose.

Mr Sheehan was also charged with possession of a round of 9mm calibre ammunition, with a similar inference that he did not have it for a lawful purpose.

The charges were brought under the Firearms Act, 1964 and the Firearms and Offences Weapons Act, 1990.
A PASSENGER who was boarding a Ryanair flight with a pipe bomb in his hand luggage was allowed to continue his journey days later, a court heard on Monday.

Nadeem Mulhammed (43) was arrested by police on suspicion of terrorism after "batteries wrapped in brown tape" was found in his bag.

However, after allegedly telling officers the device had been planted by someone else, he was released on bail and allowed to travel.

He subsequently flew to Italy but in the meantime, tests revealed it was a "viable device" containing sufficient explosives to cause "serious damage and loss of life" on a plane, the court heard.

Mr Muhammed was arrested on his return back to the UK at Manchester Airport on Sunday and charged with being in possession of an explosive substance.

He had been boarding a Ryanair flight to Bergamo, Italy when he was held under the UK's Terrorism Act following a security screening.

The device found consisted of a "small pipe, like a large market pen' and was filled with "smokeless propellant often found in ammunition."

Mr Muhammed was remanded in custody and is due to appear in court in March.
Parents of the late Lorcan OReilly, Paddy Rooney, right, and Jenny OReilly, centre, leaving court after speaking to the media. Photo: Caroline Quinn

The heartbroken mother of stabbing victim Lorcan OReilly (21) has said he was a healthy, happy young man and knowing she will never see him again will be very hard.

Jenny OReilly broke down in tears as she spoke after a teenager was sentenced to four-and-a-half years detention for her sons manslaughter.

The accused (16) was handed down a six-year sentence, with 18 months suspended, for fatally stabbing Mr OReilly in the heart at a Halloween bonfire after telling him: You dont know who my dad is.

Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy told the Central Criminal Court at least one member of the accuseds immediate family was associated with criminal activity and a report stated that the youth was lacking a moral compass.

The court heard the accused was of extremely low intelligence, but had high social standing and notoriety among his peers due to the element of criminality in his background.

The judge said the offence was rendered far more serious when one brings a deadly weapon into the equation.

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He said Mr OReillys family had been deeply affected by his death.

The teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, showed no emotion as the sentence was given at yesterdays hearing, which was closed off to members of the public except close relatives of the accused and deceased. The final 18 months of the sentence will be suspended for two years, under conditions.

The defendants mother burst into tears and walked forward to hug him at the end of the proceedings.

Afterwards, Jenny OReilly, the deceaseds mother, gave a brief statement.

We would just like to say how missed our son Lorcan will be, she said.

Lorcan was a healthy, happy young man and knowing we will never see him again is very hard.

With the help of our family, friends and community we will try to be strong. We are moving forward for the sake of our children.

The accused pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mr OReilly at Oliver Bond flats in Dublins south inner city in the early hours of November 1, 2015.

He had denied an original charge of murder but his plea to the lesser count was accepted by the prosecution.

The court heard the accused was 14 years of age at the time of the killing.

Reading from a probation report, the judge noted that the accused had had a very unsettled childhood in terms of moving from place to place and had lived in three other countries.

His education was interrupted and extremely limited and in the household in which he lived members were in fear of third parties and had frequent visits by gardai.

Earlier, the court heard the accused had been swinging a hurley towards the deceased while shouting: You dont who my dad isYou dont know who I am.

Mr OReilly took the hurley and the accused left the scene but returned and struck Mr OReilly in the chest with a knife.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, has expressed his "deep disappointment" at a further adjournment in the case involving Irish citizen, Ibrahim Halawa, in Egypt.

"I am deeply disappointed that this case has again been delayed and I am concerned for Ibrahim to whom we are providing ongoing consular care. Irelands Ambassador to Egypt, Damien Cole, was present in the court for todays hearing and he has given me a report on the hearing."

Mr Halawa (21) has been in prison for more than three years after being detained in a mosque near Ramses Square in Cairo as the Muslim Brotherhood held a "day of rage" over the removal of elected president Mohamed Morsi in August 2013.

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Mr Flanagan said that despite the setback, the judges have "indicated a clear desire to move thus case forward".

Following petitions from defence lawyers today, the hearing was put back to March 22nd.

"The Government and the Department of Foreign Affairs and our Embassy in Cairo will be continuing to monitor all developments in relation to Ibrahim Halawas case and his welfare, and we will be providing every possible consular assistance to Ibrahim and his family.

"I will continue to use every available opportunity to highlight Irelands concerns with the Egyptian authorities."
Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan believes she is now the victim of a "campaign" of false accusations aimed at discrediting her leadership of the force.

The Garda chief is adamant that she will not step aside while an inquiry into the alleged smear campaign against whistleblower Maurice McCabe takes place.

The Irish Independent understands Ms O'Sullivan's determination to remain in place is partly driven by a belief that others within the force and political circles are out to destroy her reputation.

"A campaign of false accusations, repeated and multiplied, do not make me guilty of anything," she said in a strongly worded statement yesterday.

Sources say Ms O'Sullivan is "strongly of the view" that certain elements within the force are out to get her and that a campaign against her has "been ratcheted up over the last few weeks".

Regardless of the mounting calls for the commissioner to step down, they say she is "not one to bow to political pressure".

Fianna Fail, which had repeatedly defended her right to remain in position, has now changed its approach, with party leader Micheal Martin saying: "The commissioner should assess where she stands."

Labour's Brendan Howlin has called for her to step aside "without prejudice" until the controversy is resolved, while Sinn Fein has taken a similar line.

However, the Government continues to express confidence in Ms O'Sullivan.

Read more: 'Everybody entitled to presumption of innocence' - Taoiseach says Commissioner deserves fairness

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said: "Everybody in this country is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty and, in this case, the quicker that commission of investigation gets under way and to do its work the better for everybody concerned."

Colleagues described the uncompromising language used in a statement issued by Ms O'Sullivan yesterday as "extraordinary" and "unprecedented" for a serving Garda Commissioner.

"My position remains unchanged. Nothing has emerged in the last three weeks which in any way changes that situation," she said in response to the growing clamour for her resignation.

"I have made it clear that I was not part of any campaign to spread rumours about Sgt McCabe and didn't know it was happening at the time it was happening.

"I have repeatedly refuted that claim and do so again."

Ms O'Sullivan said the "easiest option" would be for her to step aside until the commission completes its work.

"I'm not taking that option because I am innocent and because An Garda Siochana, under my leadership has been making significant progress, with the help of our people, the Government, the Policing Authority and Garda Inspectorate, in becoming a beacon of 21st-century policing," she said.

Despite this the Social Democrats are to seek a Dail vote on the commissioner's position.

Read more: Majority believe garda commissioner should stand aside pending Commission of Inquiry - poll

They have compiled a motion relating to a number of aspects concerning the current crisis, which states that "the current Garda Commissioner be requested to step aside for the duration of this investigation and be replaced by an international senior police officer, in a caretaker capacity, for this period".

Minister of State John Halligan told the Irish Independent that while he believes Ms O'Sullivan should be allow stay in position, if she is replaced it should be by a person from outside An Garda Siochana.
The 80 schools to be included in the new programme for tackling educational disadvantage have been named by the Department of Education.

They will join the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (Deis) scheme next September, while 30 schools already in the scheme will be provided with extra resources.

Schools in Deis are awarded more resources, including extra teachers. The 80 schools are deemed to have a higher level of disadvantage than many of the 826 schools already in the scheme. All existing Deis schools will remain in the scheme for now, but following a review of the new arrangements at the end of the 2017/18 year, some may be at risk of being dropped.

As well as including more schools, features of the new Deis include mandatory book rental schemes in participating schools, access to more educational psychologists, and guidance counsellors.

Irish National Teachers' Organisation general secretary Sheila Nunan criticised the plan as "heavy on bureaucracy but light on resources".
Two of Ireland's leading aid agencies, GOAL and Oxfam, are considering a merger into one organisation rooted in Ireland.

In a joint statement this afternoon the charities confirmed that they are entering formal talks on the merger.

If successful, it will see the organisations coming together under the name Oxfam GOAL.

The boards of both organisations have come to the agreement that a merger will allow for "stronger results".

"GOAL and Oxfam Ireland believe a successful merger would result in greater impact for people in poverty and crisis and increase effectiveness. Coming together will increase the scale and scope of the organisations humanitarian and development programmes around the world and strengthen their voice as advocates for the communities they support," the statement reads.

We are very excited by the prospect of a successful merger. GOALs action-oriented approach and first responder ethos is core to their DNA and has saved millions of lives. Oxfams approach of practical action and people-led response, challenging the structures and systems that keep people locked in poverty, has led to real change across the world," Oxfam Ireland Chief Executive Jim Clarken said.

"Bringing our organisations together will increase our scale, which means we can deliver greater impact for people in poverty and in crisis. We believe it will create new energy and dynamism through sharing programmatic, geographic and other synergies.

Meanwhile, GOAL General Manager, Celine Fitzgerald said the agency had assessed the merits of remaining as a standalone entity.

"A merger with Oxfam would create a strong organisation in Ireland with a true global reach, saving and changing the lives of millions of the poorest and most vulnerable people on our planet for the better," she said.

"Accordingly, both parties have now engaged in a formal process to assess the practicalities and impacts of a merged entity.

The news comes just weeks after it was revealed that GOAL auditors Deloitte said there was "material uncertainty" over its future due to a dependence on donors for funds.

The charity's funding for 2017 is expected to be just over half of the 210m it received from donors in 2015.

Speaking at that time, Ms Fitzgerald said the agency had a major battle on its hands to regain the confidence of donors after its Syrian aid programme became embroiled in an investigation into allegedly fraudulent procurement practices.

The cut in funding will lead to the closure of programmes in India, Nepal, Yemen and Ukraine during 2017.

In a report on the charity's financial statements for 2015, Deloitte said "conditions indicate the existence of a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt over the company's ability to continue as a going concern".

The charities will now begin a "robust" due diligence exercise as they consider the possibility of a merger.

A spokesperson for GOAL told Independent.ie that while it the agencies were at the very early stage of the process, both agencies were complementary in the work that they each do and it is hoped that the scope for redeployment will minimize as much as possible any potential job losses.
Hospital support staff will begin an all-out strike in a dispute over the national public service agreements - on the same day nurses start their industrial action.

Trade union Siptu announced that health service support staff voted by 94pc in favour of taking strike action, which will begin in selected hospitals on Tuesday, March 7.

The action has been scheduled to take place on the same day some 30,000 nurses are to begin a work to rule in their dispute over retention and recruiting of staff.

More than 10,000 support staff, including cleaners, porters, security and assistants, will strike after the results of the ballot were released yesterday.

Paul Bell, a health division organiser with the union, said the size of the vote in favour of a strike was significant. "The response from our members is clear and emphatic," he said.

"The size of the vote in favour of strike action undoubtedly demonstrates our members' anger with the Health Service Executive and Department of Health due to their failure to give them the fair and equal treatment they demand.

"These issues include a failure by management to adhere to the fully binding provisions of the Lansdowne Road and Haddington Road Agreements," he said.

Mr Bell said it was never the desire of Siptu members to strike. "However, after 15 months of management obstruction and intransigence our members have been left with no option but to commence strike action."

Dispute

The union official explained the key areas of the dispute.

"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," he said.

A total of 39 acute hospital facilities will initially be hit by the support staff action.

"This strategy is our members' preferred option to reduce the impact on the public.

"We have three weeks to the expiry date of the strike notice so there remains ample opportunity for the issues in dispute to be resolved.

"However, for this to occur there needs to be a change in attitude and approach from management," he said.

The HSE said it was "disappointed" with the decision by the support workers to strike.

"The HSE is open to engaging with Siptu officials and is hopeful that a satisfactory resolution can be reached regarding the outstanding issues," it said.

Earlier this month, the Irish Nurses and Midwives' Organisation (INMO) rejected staffing, recruitment and retention proposals put forward by the HSE, describing them as "totally inadequate".

"The clear message received from INMO members is that their workplaces are now unsafe and dangerously overcrowded," general secretary Liam Doran said, adding the service was at "breaking point".
Teenage girls are to be offered a catch-up HPV vaccine to reduce the risk of cervical cancer.

The HSE said in the coming weeks immunisation teams will return to secondary schools to provide the second dose to girls in first year.

It follows a fall-off in take-up in the wake of unfounded fears about the vaccines safety.

Dr Brenda Corcoran, Head of the HSE Immunisation Office said: "It is not too late for girls in first year of second level school who missed out on the first dose of the HPV vaccine in September 2016 to get vaccinated with this life saving medicine.

"All girls who missed out on their first dose of the HPV vaccine will be offered the vaccine again in March when vaccination teams visits schools around the country.

"You may have heard stories that the HPV vaccine is unsafe and causes harm. This is simply untrue.

"Over 220,000 girls in Ireland have safely received the HPV vaccine, along with 100 million people worldwide in countries like the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Not one of these people anywhere in the world has been medically proven to have had a long term side effect from getting the vaccine.

She added: "HPV vaccine protects against cervical cancer and saves lives. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide.

"Each year in Ireland around 300 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 90 die from the disease.

"Furthermore, every year over 6,500 Irish women are diagnosed with precancerous abnormalities of the cervix caused by HPV and need hospital treatment. All cervical cancers are linked to high risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) types."

Dr Corcoran said all national and international scientific and regulatory bodies recommend HPV vaccine.

The vaccine is already known to reduce cervical cancer developing.

Australia was one of the first countries to introduce HPV vaccine in 2007 and the vaccine has already prevented one in every two cervical cancers and they have seen a decrease of up to 75pc in rates of pre cancer of the cervix over the last ten years. Similar results have been reported from Sweden and Scotland.

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A majority of people believe garda commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan should stand aside from her position pending the report of the Charleton Inquiry, which will investigate claims of a smear campaign against a whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe, as confidence in her ability to lead the force is low.

Details of a new poll carried out by Amarach on behalf of the Claire Byrne Live show, show that just 16pc answered yes when asked "do you have confidence in Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan to lead the Garda force?". More than half (57pc) of people said no, while a further 27pc answered I don't know.

In relation to whether she should stand aside 65pc of those questioned said yes, while 15pc answered no and 20pc answered I don't know.

The poll results come following an extraordinary day in Irish politics, which saw Ms O'Sullivan issue a strongly worded statement to say that she would not be stepping down.

The Commissioner, who has consistently denied any participation in or knowledge of a smear campaign allegedly orchestrated against Sgt Maurice McCabe, has said she will continue in her role.

"My position remains unchanged. Nothing has emerged in the last three weeks which in any way changes that situation," she said in a statement.

The Garda Commissioner said the "campaign of false accusations, repeated and multiplied" do not make her "guilty of anything".

She continued; "I have made it clear that I was not part of any campaign to spread rumours about Sergeant McCabe and didn't know it was happening at the time it was happening.

"I have repeatedly refuted that claim and do so again."

"The easiest option for me would be to step aside until the Commission finishes its work," she said.

"I'm not taking that option because I am innocent and because An Garda Siochana, under my leadership, has been making significant progress, with the help of our people, the Government, the Policing Authority and Garda Inspectorate, in becoming a beacon of twenty first century policing."
Opposition parties, including Fianna Fail have backed a call from Garda Whistleblower for a public inquiry into an alleged smear campaign, casting further doubt on the future of the inquiry.

In a statement on Monday Maurice McCabe and his wife Lorraine said they have been systematically attacked.

We wish to make it clear that we are definitely not agreeable to that entitlement being wholly postponed so that another Commission of Inquiry can conduct a secret investigation behind closed doors and make a report, into which we have no input as of right, in nine or 18 months time.

Independent.ie understands that the idea of a public inquiry will get a fair hearing at what is set to be a tense Cabinet meeting today.

Earlier on Monday , Fianna Fail justice spokesman Jim O'Callaghan said his party backs Mr McCabe's call for a public inquiry.

He said: I have studied the statement issued on behalf of Maurice McCabe this afternoon seeking a public inquiry into the alleged smear campaign conducted against him.

Fianna Fail has long maintained that the response to this issue must have the full support of the McCabe family. Accordingly we fully support their call for a public inquiry to be conducted into this matter. We also believe a public inquiry will benefit An Garda Siochana and the general public, Mr O'Callaghan added.

Labour leader Brendan Howlin has also said that he understands the call from Mr McCabe for a public inquiry, and backed the family.

"I am very loathe to say we need to have a public inquiry again... but I have never in my political life seen a more compelling reason to have one than we need one now," he said, speaking on the Six One.

"Unfortunately I do think we need to have all of this evidence taken public so that the public will see each of the issues being tested in a public forum."

He also said there is scope for GSOC to carry out an investigation that "would get to the bottom of all of these matters".

The politician also said that both Minister Zappone and the Taoiseach contradicted each other about who knew what about the scandal.

Mr Howlin also called again on Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan to stand aside until matters had been resolved.

Earlier on Monday the commissioner repeated again that she refuted all allegations against her that she was aware of an alleged smear campaign against Garda McCab

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Enda Kenny declined to answer questions about the McCabe family's demands for the proposed inquiry to be a public rather than private investigation.

Mr Kenny confirmed he will speak with Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin tomorrow about details of the commission of inquiry into the false allegations levelled against Garda Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

Both the Fine Gael and Fianna Fail leaders will attempt to reach agreement about the probe to be headed by Judge Charlton.

"I will speak to Micheal Martin in the morning," Mr Kenny said.

"We want to find the best way of finding out the truth."

The Taoiseach was speaking as he attended a Cork conference about the implications for Ireland of Brexit.

The Taoiseach also declined to comment on the statement by Children's Minister Katherine Zappone and her reasons for not disclosing the full Tusla file details to him before last Thursday's RTE Prime Time programme.
A government backbencher has claimed a public inquiry into the latest garda whistleblower scandal could prove costly and fail to deliver results.

Yesterday garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe called for a public inquiry into an alleged smear campaign against him.

In a statement with his wife Lorraine, he said a secret investigation should not be conducted "behind closed doors". Opposition parties, including Fianna Fail, have backed the calls.

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However Wexford TD Michael D'Arcy told Newstalk Breakfast that the Commission of Investigation under Mr Justice Peter Charleton might be the most effective way to deal with the matter.

Asked if he thought a public inquiry was a good idea the Fine Gael deputy said he did not.

"I have watched the other tribunals that you mentioned take years and years, everyone has to be represented.

"Before you know it, five years have gone and there has been no real evidence.

"I don't want that to happen. I have a lot of confidence in Supreme Court Justice [Peter] Charleton. I think he can come in, do a very short, sharp investigation into the nub of the matter as quickly as possible."

Mr D'Arcy said he can understand the McCabes' reservations in relation to a private investigation but added that he still believed a public inquiry was not the way forward.

The Co Wexford TD described the tussle over Enda Kenny's leadership as a "side-show" and said that now was not the time to be discussing this.

However he criticised Children's Minister Katherine Zappone for her handling of the affair.

"In my view the big mistake was the cabinet was not informed last Tuesday about the extent of the Tusla issue.

"I know Katherine Zappone, I served with her in the Seanad in the last term of the Oireachtas, I don't know anybody as honorable, she truly is a kind, decent honorable person but she made a political mistake and the political mistake was that I don't think she should have informed the Taoiseach or the Tanaiste. I think she absolutely should have informed her cabinet when the terms of reference were being discussed.

"I think everything else is secondary."
Superintendent Dave Taylor arrives back to work at Dublin Castle. Also included is his wife Michelle.

Superintendent Dave Taylor arrives back to work at Dublin Castle. Also included is his wife Michelle.

Superintendent Dave Taylor leaves his home to go back to work at Dublin Castle. Also included is his wife Michelle.

Superintendent Dave Taylor gets ready at his home to go back to work at Dublin Castle.

Superintendent Dave Taylor with his wife Michelle before leaving his home to go back to work at Dublin Castle.

Superintendent Dave Taylor with his wife Michelle before leaving his home to go back to work at Dublin Castle.

Superintendent Dave Taylor gets ready at his home to go back to work at Dublin Castle.

Superintendent Dave Taylor gets ready at his home to go back to work at Dublin Castle.

Superintendent Dave Taylor arrives back to work at Dublin Castle. Also included is his wife Michelle.

Garda whistleblower Superintendent David Taylor today returned to work with a smile after being cleared of allegations of leaking information to the media.

His return to the Traffic Department comes nearly two years after being suspended during which time he had been arrested and questioned for 21 hours at Balbriggan Garda Station, and had his salary reduced.

He was reinstated with immediate effect yesterday after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) cleared him of allegations relating to the Roma children controversy while he was former head of the garda press office.

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As the continuing controversy about the smear campaign against Sgt Maurice McCabe threatened to topple the Government, Supt Taylor today put on his uniform for the first time in 22 months and happily made his way to Dublin Castle.

Mr Taylor is one of the two whistleblowers at the centre of the current crisis engulfing An Garda Siochana and the Government. The second is Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

It is understood that Supt Taylor has alleged that Ms OSullivan knew about a smear campaign against Sgt McCabe.

The Commissioner has consistently denied this charge, including yesterday when she issued a statement saying: I have made it clear that I was not part of any campaign to spread rumours about Sergeant McCabe and didn't know it was happening at the time it was happening.

I have repeatedly refuted that claim and do so again.

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Whatsapp Superintendent Dave Taylor gets ready at his home to go back to work at Dublin Castle.

Standing in his living room in his north Dublin suburban home, Supt Taylor said he was looking forward to this day.

His wife Michelle helped him adjust his epaulettes and straighten his tie.

The troops in Traffic have been brilliant. It has been a long road and I feel vindicated at last, Supt Taylor told Independent.ie.

I just want to go back doing the job that I have been doing and just move forward, he added.

Im just looking forward to some normality really. We had to wait a long time but then things suddenly moved quickly in the end, he explained.

Wife Michelle said: Im very proud of Dave, and Im delighted he has been vindicated."

We have had so much support from Daves colleagues, and our friends and neighbours have been our rock over the last two years, she added.

Dave and Michelle, accompanied by their daughter Jane and nephew Keith, then made their way to Dublin Castle and the Traffic Corps offices.

It had been very difficult and stressful but I want to put that behind me now, he said

Later, in an interview with TV3 News, Supt Taylor said he was delighted to be back at work in Dublin Castle.

Im delighted to be back as I said in my statement last night , delighted to resume my life , vindicated, I would like to thank all my friends and colleagues for their support."

In a statement yesterday Supt Taylor said he is awaiting a copy of the Director of Public Prosecution's letter.

"I have waited a long time for this decision to be made. It has been an incredibly stressful and difficult time for my family and friends. I would like to thank my friends and colleagues who supported me through this time, he said.

As head of the Garda Press Office, Mr Taylor was authorised to speak to the media.

The manner behind Mr Taylor's suspension and the fact that it has lasted for so long has caused serious disquiet within garda and political circles.

The special unit tasked with investigating the alleged leaking of material to the media is headed up by Ms O'Sullivan's husband, Chief Superintendent Jim McGowan.
Tesco workers have proceeded with indefinite strike action at eight stores across Ireland with an "escalation" of the dispute on the cards.

Another eight stores are set to join them on Friday as long-term staff feel their contracts are being threatened.

Workers who have gone on strike on Valentine's Day, and from the other stores that follow, will continue to picket until a resolution is found.

The dispute centres on the contracts of about 250 staff that have been working in Tesco since before 1996.

They feel under "constant threat" and an "intolerable level of stress" after fears their contracts might be changed.

Gerard Mahady (52) from Finglas was protesting outside Tesco in Clearwater in Dublin.

He says he doesn't know how he'd "make ends meet" with the new recommendations.

He has worked in Tesco for 30 years with his wife who has been there for 26 years.

"We were told that our contracts are going to be ripped up, and we're being offered new ones. There'll be a loss of income for me personally of 15pc."

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"I wouldn't be able to afford my mortgage and my bills. We're getting dragged back to the dark ages. They employ 14,500 people how is 200 odd people affecting them? Just leave us alone, we've done nothing wrong and we shouldn't be treated like this," he said.

Brian Barrett has worked in Tesco for 28 years, he has a fixed contract and works Monday to Friday.

He is getting married to his partner - who also works in Tesco - next month.

He said: "Were getting married on March 25, the two of us will be really hit if this escalates to weeks or months, but we're willing to bite the bullet now at this stage."

He says they are set to lose 200 each week if the recommendations are introduced.

Mandate Trade Union have called on Tesco to agree to their request to the Labour Court which seeks clarification on certain aspects of the Workplace Relations Committee (WRC) proposals.

"It looks like an escalation of the dispute is where we are heading, there doesn't seem to be any desire by Tesco to sit down and engage. They don't want to seek clarification from the Labour Court," said Mandate representative Brendan O'Hanlon.

"There needs to be very clear clarifications that will help this dispute. The WRC tabled a set of proposals following a series of conciliation conferences which required various changing to workers terms and conditions of employment, their overtime rates, their earnings, their working hours."

"To assist us to assess the full extent of those changes we need the Labour Court to clarify what it meant by certain aspects of the recommendation around the WRC proposals," he added.

Tesco released a statement describing the strike as "unnecessary" and "unjustified".

The statement said: "Tesco and our colleagues remain shocked that Mandate is still going ahead with this strike and that the union has advised customers to shop in non-unionised competitor stores."

"Despite the actions of Mandate, the company has not made any changes to the pre-1996 terms and conditions of the 250 workers at the centre of the dispute."

They added that they have abided by the Labour Court recommendations.

The affected shops will remain open despite strike action.

There are three Tesco stores affected in Dublin which are based in Finglas, on Baggot Street, and in Ballyfermot.

The others are based in Tralee, in Kerry, Deanscurragh in Longford, Navan in Meath, Tullamore in Offaly and Bray in Wicklow.

The other eight that are set to go on strike on Friday are in Beaumont, Ballybrack, Blanchardstown, Drumcondra, Phibsborough and Arran Quay - all in Dublin - and Tesco stores in Tirkeenan in Monaghan and Greystones in Wicklow will join them.
Dublin couples will be spending St Valentine's Day a lot closer to the third-century saint than they may know.

The faithful come from far and wide to pray in the Carmelite Whitefriar Street Church. In the 18th century building, an alarmed casket contains a number of St Valentine's bones and a vial of his blood. A small inscription on the box reads: 'This shrine contains the sacred body of Saint Valentinus the Martyr, together with a small vessel tinged with his blood.'

The relics have been in the Dublin church since 1836, when Dublin preacher Fr. John Spratt was gifted them by Pope Gregory XVI.

Although the church regularly has visitors in to pay respects to the Patron Saint of Engagement, there is a notable rise in pilgrims at this time of year, according to the church's Sub-Prior Fr Bernard Murphy.

"A lot of young couples come in, especially after they just got engaged. I've also seen young couples come here and actually propose," he told Independent.ie.

"When I'm around the relics, I feel the care and concern people have for each other. That's what St Valentine was all about."

Ironically, while couples come into pray to St Valentine, they may not know that St Jude, the Patron Saint of Hopeless Cases, is staring down at them.

"The only hopelessness they have is that they're hopelessly in love," Fr Murphy joked.

"I always like to think St Jude gives them the nod to say 'it's okay'."

It's believed that on February 14 278AD, Valentine was beaten with clubs and then executed by beheading for defying Emperor Claudius II. The Emperor ruled that marriages and engagements were to be banned, but Valentine, then working as a holy priest, continued to marry couples in private.

He is also the Patron Saint of happy marriages, against fainting, beekeepers, love, plague and epilepsy.
A Fine Gael councillor has called for Enda Kenny to resign as Taoiseach immediately, tipping Richard Bruton or Leo Varadkar as his replacement.

In a heated exchange on RTE Radio 1's Liveline, councillors debated whether or not the Taoiseach should step down in light of the Maurice McCabe saga.

Cllr Brian Murphy from Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown launched a scathing attack on the Taoiseach, claiming Fine Gael "are constantly running to Fianna Fail for approval."

"I don't like that at all, this sort of idea that really Fianna Fail are in charge. The country was in a really tough state in 2011-2012 and we pulled them out of a crisis.

"The fact we are now going running to Fianna Fail for approval for everything is embarrassing," he added, when asked about the Taoiseach's comments that he would meet Michael Martin today.

Defending her party leader, Cllr Patricia Stewart, also from Mr Murphy's constituency, claimed Mr Kenny "will go down as one of the best Taoiseachs weve ever had."

"I would like the public to know he [Brian Murphy] doesnt speak for everyone in Fine Gael and he certainly doesn't speak for me. Enda is one of the least narcissistic people I've ever met," she added.

Mr Murphy retorted that he did not like how he has handled the controversy surrounding garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe.

He also hit out at Fine Gael's campaign for last year's General Election.

"The election in the last year was a disaster. It was a total nightmare but all the people who were part of that disaster for Fine Gael are in the same positions. The party is stagnating from the top down," he said.

"My ideal replacement would be Richard Bruton but I dont think Richard is going to run, so I would go for Leo."

Another councillor jumped to the Taoiseach's defence, saying "he doesn't know how Enda Kenny is still going," telling Cllr Murphy to "stand by his man."

A poll conducted by Liveline also saw 54pc of listeners stating Enda Kenny should resign.

The debate follows the announcement by the Taoiseach this morning that he intends to set up a public inquiry into the alleged smear campaign against Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe.

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At a meeting with Micheal Martin, the Fine Gael leader said he would discuss the potential terms of reference with the Cabinet today.

Independents 4 Change politician Clare Daly said it is "utterly ludicrous" that Taoiseach and Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald "didn't understand what they were being told" about the Children's Minister Katherine Zappone's meeting with the garda whistleblower.

She also said she believes a public inquiry is due into the alleged treatment of garda whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe.

It follows Minister Katherine Zappone revealing she told the Taoiseach about the bogus Tusla file on Sgt Maurice McCabe before last week's Cabinet meeting.

Ms Zappone has been in the firing line since Friday when it emerged she failed to brief her Cabinet colleagues on the dossier which contained a false allegation that Mr McCabe had molested a child.

However, after flying back from the United States yesterday she firmly dragged the Taoiseach into the frame by revealing she alerted him that she met Mr McCabe to discuss Tusla.

Responding to Ms Zappone's statement, a spokesman for Mr Kenny said the minister was correct not to divulge details of the Tusla report - but failed to address the fact the Taoiseach did not reveal his knowledge of the Tusla link before now.
President Michael D Higgins at the Universidad National de Colombia (UNAL) as he makes his way to give his address on the Irish and Colombian peace processes with Professor Ignacio Mantilla Prada, left, rector of UNAL. Photo: Maxwells

President Michael D Higgins said it was "deeply moving" that Colombia used the peace process in Ireland as an inspiration for its own conflict agreement, in a keynote address in Bogota yesterday.

Representatives from all sides of the Colombian Peace Agreement have made clear the importance of the Good Friday Agreement in settling its own conflict, with Mr Higgins telling a large crowd at the National University of Colombia that Ireland will continue to provide support.

"We in Ireland understand the difficult and painful choices that peace and reconciliation can entail and we also understand and were grateful for support that came to us from our friends at critical junctures on the path to peace," Mr Higgins said.

Among the audience were more than 30 members of the Irish community who have settled in Colombia - one of whom was James Goulding (42) from Cork, who introduced his six-month-old baby Rose to President Higgins and Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar before the minister jetted off back to Ireland for a vote of no-confidence today.

James has been living in Bogota with his partner, Karina Caraballo, for two years, and now with his daughter Rose.

"She's already got her Irish passport... she's got her Colombian passport too," James said of the new addition to the family.

"It's a very small Irish community and we're very proud of Ireland because of that, so of course for the president to come, it's something very important to meet him.

"When we meet a lot of the Colombian community, they recognise the input Ireland has had into their peace process and they can relate to Ireland because of that."

Earlier, on Monday morning, the president met with the vice-presidential candidate for the opposition party, Centro Democratico. The party has made its reservations to some parts of the peace agreement known. The president is understood to have insisted on the meeting so that he would be able to learn of the major concerns of the main opposition party, following his meeting with the FARC former rebel group on Sunday. Mr Higgins was also introduced to a number of civil rights groups last night.

He is due to visit Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos in the Presidential Palace later.
Official Visit to Peru , the Republic of Columbia and the Republic of Cuba by President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins 7th-18th February. (Pic: Maxwell's)

Official Visit to Peru , the Republic of Columbia and the Republic of Cuba by President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins 7th-18th February. (Pic: Maxwell's)

President Michael D Higgins has said "it is a matter for the Government" if Junior Minister David Stanton travels as planned to Cuba with him for the State visit on Wednesday.

Minister of State for Equality, Immigration and Integration, Mr Stanton was due to meet the President and his delegation in Cuba on Wednesday.

However, it is unclear if he will now travel given the vote of no confidence against the Government.

It is understood that it is highly irregular for an Irish President to go on a State visit without being accompanied by a Government Minister.

Social Protection Minister, Leo Varadkar - who travelled to Peru and Colombia with the President - left for Ireland a day earlier than planned in order to return for today's vote.

Mr Varadkar was absent for the President's meeting with with civil societies in relation to the Colombian Peace Agreement last night, and thus will not be with Mr Higgins to meet Colombian President, Juan Manuel Santos today.

However, the trips to both Peru and Colombia are viewed as official visits as opposed to State visits.

The President will leave Colombia tomorrow morning for a four day visit to Cuba.

Mr Higgins avoided speaking about whether or not Mr Stanton had rearranged his trip, but did say that issues that come up are a matter for the Government.

"That's a matter for the Government to decide who accompanies the president on his work abroad," Mr Higgins said.

"Usually what happens is that I get approval from the cabinet at a cabinet meeting for every trip I make and they do it very well in advance and then they have their own circumstances that they take into account about who the accompanying Minister should be, but I'm very happy with whatever the Government decides," he added.
Many of us have felt the flutters of young love, the heady hormonal rush of first dates, intense embraces and promises of forever. But what of enduring love?

When the first flush of romance wears off, what's the secret to making a relationship last? We've all heard the cliches about good communication and having a healthy sense of humour, but for Valentine's Day, we asked three long-term couples - with nearly 100 years of coupledom between them - to share their more unusual philosophies on how to keep love alive and find that happily ever after.

Mai and Fran Quaid (76) from Wicklow

Their advice: Fight, write and go through the bad times

According to Fran, Mai "picked him up" while trying to shake off an unwanted suitor at a party when they were both 19.

"I said 'would you ever dance with me quick, because I need to get away from that fella'," laughs Mai. In their 57 years of marriage she says they've experienced lots of ups and downs but developed a novel way of dealing with arguments. Mai explains: "Fran had a very high pressure job and we'd sometimes have a row. We came up with the conclusion that we didn't want to be shouting and roaring at one and other - so we used to write instead.

"I'd leave a letter on his side of the bed and he'd answer or vice versa. All bad feelings were vented in writing, and sometimes when you do that, everything calms down. It's in the heat of the moment that you say things you can't retract, and that is very dangerous." But she reckons it's better out than in. "It's a load of BS when couples say they don't fight," she says. "You're two individuals, you must have differences."

At one point Fran was out of work for several years, he's also undergone a double bypass, two hip replacements and had two stents put in, "but other than that, he's fine", chuckles Mai. In recent years he's supported Mai in her work as President of Active Retirement Ireland. "He's learned to be a very good cook and drive me if I'm tired," she says. "It's called marriage. You do have bad times and they can either make you or break you. You just have to stick it out together."

Stuart Coleman (38) and Mark Gaffney (41) from Dublin

Their advice: Be happy with "just us"

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Stuart hadn't come out when he first met Mark on a blind date in the summer of 2002, something he now sees as a "blessing in disguise" for their relationship. "I wasn't able to tell any of my friends or family about Mark for the first four months of our relationship, so all of our dates would be in secret, going to places that we were unlikely to meet anyone," he explains. "Looking back it was good to have that time together, where every time we met, it was 'just us'. We really got to know each other and developed a strong bond." A year later, they both took career breaks and went travelling, spending 24 hours together most of that time. "I think coming home surviving that year together, we knew it was forever!" laughs Stuart.

While they never wanted to hide their relationship, they feel there were positives to having that undiluted time together early on without the intrusion of other people or feeling like they'd to go out in large social groups. And, although they love kids - "my niece Molly is the apple of our eyes," beams Stuart - they're not currently planning to have any themselves. "What comes to mind is Carrie and Big in Sex and the City," says Stuart. "'You and me - just us two' we know we're enough for each other, but conscious of working on that too." The couple will marry this June.

Lisa Lynch (36) and Stephen Molloy (38) from Belfast

Their advice: Keep moving, keep trying something new and focus on experiences, not 'stuff'

One of the first questions Lisa asked Stephen, when she met him at a wedding in 1996, was if he'd ever been to the USA. "At that point I'd never even been on a plane," laughs Lisa, "but my question started a long conversation, that continued on many dates, about which parts of the world we'd love to see, where we'd love to travel to and where we'd like to live."

At first they travelled separately - Lisa studied in Colorado then London, while Stephen moved to Norway and then California. But, after marrying in Belfast in 2006, they went on to live in California, England and now Sweden.

"Moving base definitely helps to keep things interesting and exciting," says Lisa. "There is something very refreshing about leaving everything behind - old things and old habits - and starting afresh.

"When we move we like to sell and give away a lot of our material belongings so it really is a whole new beginning. You've the opportunity to start from scratch." They also place importance on pursuing individual goals as well as embracing less glamorous aspects of travel like when their son, Rowan, got his head stuck in the railings of a cathedral in Vienna.

"We've had so many shared experiences as well as interesting experiences apart, that give us so much to talk about," says Lisa. "Since the world is far too big to explore in a lifetime we have a lifetime's worth of things to do together and talk about." Their two children are still at school, so for now Sweden is home, but Lisa isn't ruling out a future move.

"I think it is easy to get bogged down in the domestic side of life and what is expected of one who lives in suburbia. Having a variety of experiences helps us think outside the box and realise what is actually important."
I was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of five. Luckily it affected me very little growing up. Occasional small seizures were all I contended with. So all in all, life was good and epilepsy caused me little trouble. My immediate family and two close friends were the only people who knew I had epilepsy - I never spoke about it to anyone else. I didn't feel I needed to. There can be an element of stigma attached to epilepsy. As a child, I just wanted to appear 'normal' like everyone else.

After school I received a place in University College Cork (UCC). I wanted to become a nurse and was very determined not to allow epilepsy stand in my way. My seizures began to increase in my 20s. They involved an aura, followed by staring, mixed-up speech, a feeling of paranoia and occasional mild jerky movements. I could have two to three per week, each lasting between 10 to 40 seconds.

I tried to conceal them from family and friends. Once I felt the sensation of an aura coming on, I'd usually try to cover up the seizure or at least not be noticed. In public, the bathroom was a great hiding place. I never liked how the seizures took over my body.

I qualified as a registered general nurse in 2006, and the following year I applied to Cork University Maternity Hospital and trained as a midwife. During my 20s I travelled overseas extensively, regardless of my seizures.

Meanwhile, my neurologist tried me on various different anticonvulsant medications, but no combination seemed to fully eliminate the seizures. Being the patient is so incredibly different to being the nurse. Sometimes as a patient you can feel vulnerable, and epilepsy has taught me many valuable lessons. Those lessons have given me a true insight into what it feels like to be the patient, and assist me every day in my role as a midwife. After qualifying, I kept my epilepsy as under wraps as possible. I was living a double life. Patient today, nurse tomorrow. I was beginning to realise though that my epilepsy was worsening and something had to be done. I felt I needed more answers.

Now in my mid-20s, my seizures were increasing in strength and frequency. So in 2012, after a brain scan, I went to London's Neurology Hospital and arranged an appointment privately. I wanted a second opinion. I brought my MRI scan reports with me.

The consultant I saw noticed a subtle scarring of my left hippocampus, which is a major part of the brain. This was the first time anyone had noticed a scar. I was, he said, a classic case of temporal lobe epilepsy.

I had my first tonic-clonic seizure in 2013. Thankfully my partner Joe was with me at the time and called an ambulance. After a few days off, I returned to work and continued working full time throughout this period. I used to have occasional simple partial or complex partial seizures within my workplace.

Working helped to take my mind off things, gave me a reason to get up each morning and provided a good social outlet. Over this period epilepsy and seizures were taking me through feelings of denial, frustration, vulnerability, sadness, anger, helplessness and powerlessness. Occasionally, I attended a counsellor and she helped me come to terms with my epilepsy, and my life.

By now, I had tried seven different medications: Tegretol, Lamictal, Keppra, Lyrica, Epanutin, Vimpat and Frisium, but none of them had fully controlled my seizures. I continued to have small seizures every day. As a result my neurologist began to speak about brain surgery, the option of a temporal lobectomy.

In February 2015 I celebrated my 31st birthday within the confines of the CUH's epilepsy monitoring unit. I spent over a week in the unit with 20 leads attached to my head, something all people with epilepsy have experienced with EEGs. I remained in bed for the week, under the watchful eye of nurses, monitors and video cameras. The aim of the unit was to catch a seizure and review it, through the EEG reading and cameras. Providing you have a seizure in the unit.

I had a very eventful summer in 2015. I got married in June, honeymooned in July, and continued to have daily partial seizures. Along with all this, I threw two tonic-clonic seizures into the mix. It kept my husband Joe on his toes, that's for sure. I took time off work in order to rest and undergo various neurological scans and procedures. I had decided surgery was my best option.

On November 2 2015, in the theatre corridors of Beaumont Hospital, I said goodbye to my husband Joe. I was put under general anaesthetic and that afternoon, under the watchful eye of the neurosurgical team, a left anterior temporal lobectomy was carried out.

Later that night I woke up. I felt so relieved to be awake and have the surgery behind me. The following day I was told it had been a success and the scarred area of my brain had been removed. All I could do now, was wait.

Throughout 2016 I recovered at home while relishing in the wonder of seizure freedom. I was graced with seven months of it. Occasionally I'd wonder, 'Might this be the end? Could epilepsy finally be behind me?' Slowly I was being weaned off one of my anticonvulsant medications. It seemed to me everything was working out. I couldn't have asked for more. The weekend before I returned to work we went to see a show in the Cork Opera House. During the show, out of nowhere, I was abruptly hit with a strong sense of deja vu. The next thing I knew, I was lying on a cold floor, completely powerless, unable to communicate, heavy breathing, and drooling, as my husband and an ambulance crew tended to me.

I was dealing with the shocking realisation that it was back. I'd had another two tonic-clonic seizures. So after a brief vacation, my epilepsy was back with a vengeance.

Since then I have had three more tonic-clonic seizures. I have realised that seizures are potentially here to stay. For the first time in my life, I am beginning to wholeheartedly accept my epilepsy; realising that I'd never fully accepted it, that I had been constantly fighting against it.

That I had been continually pushing it away. Believing it was almost not part of me and that the surgeons had simply disposed of it. Epilepsy is too strong however, too powerful a force.

Living with an occasional tonic-clonic seizure however, feels much easier than the daily struggle I had with complex partial seizures.

Outside of my epilepsy, I continue to live my life to the full, meet friends and work part time as a midwife. I trust in the medical team who watch over me, and know that whatever the future holds, the strength I have built up over this journey will stand to me forever. I am a big supporter of epilepsy research and epilepsy awareness is key to the public gaining a better understanding.

For now, I live in the moment and try not to worry about the road ahead. My husband remains my rock of solid support, along with my family. Over the past five years my life has changed irreversibly, epilepsy has changed me in more ways than I could have ever imagined but I wouldn't change a second of it. It has made me who I am today.

* For this year's International Epilepsy Day, Epilepsy Ireland is focusing on awareness of the condition in the workplace. For more information visit epilepsy.ie

 Epilepsy is a tendency to have recurring seizures

 A seizure is a sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain caused by complex chemical changes that occur in nerve cells

 There are over 37,000 people with epilepsy in Ireland, including an estimated 10,000 who are under 16 years of age

 About one in every 20 people will experience a seizure at some point (a diagnosis of epilepsy typically requires more than one seizure)

 There are 130 epilepsy deaths in Ireland per year - half of these are due to a fatal complication known as Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP)

- epilepsy.ie
Denmark's second city is now a European Capital of Culture, writes Pol O Conghaile. It's time for a visit.

Denmark and Ireland are similar in so many ways  small populations, big neighbours, fantastic foodie scenes, capital cities that dominate tourism.

But this year, the Danish spotlight could finally switch from Copenhagen to a coastal city you may not even have heard of: Aarhus.

One of two European Capitals of Culture of 2017 (the other is Paphos in Cyprus), Aarhuss time has definitely come.

This year, a stirring programme of art, gastronomy, music and design promises to examine our Danish DNA... and of course, we will have plenty of hygge. But theres a lot more to this Jutland Peninsula gem besides.

Think of Aarhus as the Cork or Galway to Copenhagens Dublin.

Here is a boutique, waterfront city set around a Latin Quarter crammed with oak-framed houses and cobbled streets.

Some 13pc of its residents are students, adding a buzz, and though Michelin-star restaurants are on the rise (three, at the last count), you can find plenty of affordable eats (try the hot dogs at Haute Friture, or the smorrebrod at F-Hoj). The weekend nightlife is kicking along Aboulevarden and Frederiksbjerg too.

The citys main draws are Den Gamle By (dengamleby.dk, above) and ARoS (see below)  the former a campus of historic buildings taken from their original locations and reassembled brick by brick in a brilliant heritage park.

The structures are arranged into themed areas; my favourite is the 1974 Quarter, complete with retro hi-fi shops and classic cars.

The Moesgaard Museum (moesgaard.museum.dk/en), an architectural gem focusing on archaeology and ethnography, is another must do - and families should note that Legoland Billund (legoland.dk; open from April) is an hour's drive away.

Alas, there are no direct flights from Ireland to Aarhus, but SAS (flysas.com) flies via Copenhagen, as does Ryanair (ryanair.com) from Stansted.

See visitaarhus.dk and aarhus2017.dk for more.

Rainbow views

Expand Close 'Your Rainbow Panorama' at ARoS in Aarhus, Denmark. Photo: Pol O Conghaile / Facebook

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It feels like walking through the colour spectrum. Your Rainbow Panorama is the crowning glory in the ARoS Museum of Modern Art (en.aros.dk)  quite literally, as the 150m circular walkway is mounted on the museums roof.

The work of Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, the skywalk offers a view of Aarhus as if through Instagram filters, and your feelings seem to change as you shift between them. Its just the start of the collection in a building whose swirling white stairwell descends to nine basement rooms inspired by Dantes Divine Comedy.

Tollund Man

Expand Close Tollund Man: The famous bog body housed in Silkeborg Museum, Denmark. Photo: Getty / Facebook

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Less than an hours drive from Aarhus lies one of the best-preserved bog bodies on earth. Reposing in a dimly lit backroom in Silkeborg Museum (museumsilkeborg.dk), you can still see His peat-brown head / The mild pods of his eye-lids / His pointed skin cap, as Seamus Heaney described it in his poem, The Tollund Man.

There is stubble on his chin, a tiny noose around his neck (the man died in a ritual sacrifice 2,350 years ago). Coming face to face with the past is unnerving, but somehow life-affirming too. A must-do in Denmark.

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Lynn Kelly pictured at the official launch of Dine in Dublin 2017, the capitals favourite food festival which returns from Monday, 27th February to Sunday, 5th March. Brought to you by DublinTown, Dine in Dublin sees over 70 of Dublins top restaurants offer an unparalleled dining experience over the course of seven days. For more information visit www.dineindublin.ie #DineinDublin. Picture Andres Poveda

Model Lynn Kelly has revealed that she is in no rush to walk down the aisle.

The Dublin woman has been dating her partner Robert Barr for over 11 years, with the couple celebrating their 12th anniversary this September.

However, wedding bells aren't ringing for the Assets model just yet.

"Nothing [is] planned. You know, my Mam and Dad were never married and they have been together since they were 14 or 15. I might, I might not. I'm not waiting around for any ring. I don't have that crazy list of all the things I need to do before I'm 30," she said.

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The former Miss Universe Ireland revealed that her secret to a lasting relationship is keeping the romance alive no matter what.

"I think if you're with someone for 11 years, you have to make an effort. We don't get sick of each other. He's my best friend and we just have a laugh," she told the Diary.

Lynn (27) is one of the country's busiest models, but makes sure her "private" boyfriend stays out of the spotlight.

"He is quite private, he doesn't like the limelight. It's not his job and I totally get that," she said.

Expand Close Lynn Kelly pictured at the official launch of Dine in Dublin 2017, the capitals favourite food festival which returns from Monday, 27th February to Sunday, 5th March. Brought to you by DublinTown, Dine in Dublin sees over 70 of Dublins top restaurants offer an unparalleled dining experience over the course of seven days. For more information visit www.dineindublin.ie #DineinDublin. Picture Andres Poveda / Facebook

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Whatsapp Lynn Kelly pictured at the official launch of Dine in Dublin 2017, the capitals favourite food festival which returns from Monday, 27th February to Sunday, 5th March. Brought to you by DublinTown, Dine in Dublin sees over 70 of Dublins top restaurants offer an unparalleled dining experience over the course of seven days. For more information visit www.dineindublin.ie #DineinDublin. Picture Andres Poveda

While it may be Valentine's Day, Lynn admitted the couple probably won't go out on the town this year.

"Everywhere is really busy. We'll probably have dinner or something," she said.

Video of the Day

Lynn and Robert's first date was at the IT recruitment consultant's debs.

"We met in school. We went to schools beside each other. Our first date was actually his debs and we've been going out ever since.

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"You just evolve together. We were so young when we started going out. We get on really well," she added.

Robert recently turned 30 and Lynn is treating him to a holiday in the Big Apple in the coming weeks.

"I'm off to New York for a holiday. This holiday is actually on me," she said.

"It was his 30th, so this is my present to him. I've never been, I've been to the States so much but never been to New York."

Lynn is among a group of Irish models who can work in front of the camera full time.

The brunette regularly travels to London to work in the UK, where she has noticed the industry is much more cut throat than it is at home.

"In Ireland, not so much, in London, yes, unbelievably," she said.

"In Ireland, the girls are more laid back. There's a core group of us that work all the time. I work with the same faces all the time.

"The worst thing about being a model is you're on your own a lot. I don't have anyone to hang out with during the day if I'm only working for an hour."
Ivanka Trump waves to the crowd as she walks on stage to deliver a speech during the evening session on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention on July 21, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.

Ivanka Trump's latest post on social media has sparked backlash online - again.

The First Daughter shared a photo of herself sitting in the president's Oval Office chair while Donald Trump and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau stand beside her.

"A great discussion with two world leaders about the importance of women having a seat at the table!" she wrote.

Ivanka attended a roundtable discussion about women in the workforce in which she "helped recruit participants and set the agenda", AP reports.

A great discussion with two world leaders about the importance of women having a seat at the table! pic.twitter.com/AtiSiOoho0  Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) 13 February 2017

The US and Canada announced a joint task force to help women in the workplace, looking at issues such as childcare and maternity leave.

However, Ivanka's post was not well received when she shared it to Twitter.

"How many 'bring your daughter to work' days is this administration going to have?" wrote one user.

"How can you possibly remain silent on Donald Trump's attacks on immigration when the USA is supposed to be a nation of immigrants?" wrote another.

"The only thing not repugnant about this [photo] is Justin Trudeau. Our nation's oval office is not your photo op."

"We didn't elect you," added another.

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This isn't the first time that a post Ivanka shared has sparked backlash online.

Last month, the clothing designer shared an image of her and her husband Jared Kushner to Instagram and Twitter as they attended the annual Alfalfa Club dinner.

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The post was quickly criticised by users as "insensitive," as thousands protested against President Trump's "immigration ban", which has been denounced by civil rights groups as discriminatory.
A casual date can turn into a happily ever after, writes Denise Smith, who met four couples that found love online.

For the unlucky-in-love, Tinder can be a wasteland of crotch shots, perverted pick-up lines and creeps... but then, there are the success stories  the 'we matched, we met and fell in love' sagas that we hear, but never quite believe.

If you still think that love cant be found online, in the spirit of Valentines Day, here are the couples whose love stories began on Tinder, Plenty of Fish and Grindr. And yes, they all live happily ever after...

Jillian and Ben

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When Jillian Byrne (35) moved to Australia 10 years ago, she had no idea shed find the love of her life on Tinder. Engaged and planning an October wedding, the Tallaght native explains how chance led her to Aussie man Ben Eldridge (36).

"I was on Tinder for about six months. I was chatting to a few people but didnt go on any dates when I decided, Right, I have had enough  I am over it!'

"But then, one night, I was sitting at home and I just said, 'I will go on it again,' and I ended up going on two dates and the second date was with Ben.

"Ben told me he fell for me because I was gorgeous  my eyes and smile got to him and he loved that I was Irish.

"For me, I found him very attractive and I loved his cheeky smile. I knew he had a sense of humour because he had funny quotes on his profile.

"We met in a restaurant in Coogee Beach in Sydney. From the beginning, it was all chat  there were no awkward moments. His family actually originated from Galway, so he has that Irish banter.

"For our second date, we went for a swim at Coogee Beach. My family were visiting at the time from Ireland, so when he dropped me home, he came in for a chat. My brother wanted to go to the races and he said, 'I will go with you,' and they went off for the day. Of course, my brother loved him.

Video of the Day

"I instantly knew that there was something there.

"Last October, we went to Hamilton Island in Australia and he proposed. His parents were on the holiday with us and his dad recorded the whole thing so I could show my family at home.

"Weve been together 15 months so it has been a whirlwind romance.

"You hear these horror stories and that people are only on it for one-night stands, but you hear about so many relationships coming from Tinder too.

"When I told my mam Id met a guy on Tinder, initially she said, 'He could have been crazy,' but she fell in love with him when they met. My mam always knows.

Of course, when she heard that he was Australian, she knew I wouldnt be coming home to settle in Ireland.

"We are getting married on October 2 in Boyne Hill House in Navan. We hired the estate for three days  there are about 30 Aussies coming home and then we will have a party when we get back to Australia.

"Ben is definitely the love of my life  Ive never met another man like him; he is so kind.

"Just think: he could have had a bad photo and I could have swiped left!

"My advice to people searching on Tinder for love would be:

Do...

- Read profiles on guys youre 50/50 about before swiping  there might be something information there to persuade you to swipe right

- Arrange a date soon after a match  that way you know if you have a connection  instead of wasting time texting for weeks

- Be yourself on a date. Be honest as to why youre on Tinder  whether its to meet friends, have fun, or youre looking for a relationship/husband. (I was upfront with Ben from the start and said I was looking for a person to spend the rest of my life with. I was ready to settle down. That was on our first date.)

Dont...

- Sit there and swipe left constantly just based on that first-photo look

- Dont match with a person you like and wait for them to make the first move to say hi. (Ladies, its 2017  its okay to ask guys out on a date on Tinder)

- Dont go on a second date if you dont like the guy after the first. Be polite. Unmatch and keep swiping for Mr Right.

Sarah and Luke

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Sarah Shortt (32) from Wicklow had to vanquish her fair share of oddballs before she found her prince charming, Luke (35), on Plenty of Fish.

"I was in a relationship for nine years and suddenly I was single. My little girl, Ella, who is five-years-old, was two at the time and my friend suggested I should join Plenty of Fish.

"Luke was the first person I ever messaged because I was waiting for people to message me. We got talking and, a week later, we went on a date.

"We have been together nearly four years now. We got engaged in April, and he is amazing in every way and like a father to my little girl.

"I fell pregnant and now we have a six-month-old baby together. Eva has completed our family.

"I did fancy him straight away from his pictures and, when we chatted, I knew he was really funny and good craic.

"There is still this taboo that it is a bit freaky meeting someone online but, for me, it was a genuine thing. I was in a relationship for nine years, so I wasnt used to going out and I didnt want to have to go to clubs and bars to meet people.

"Luke proposed in Glendalough; he really is a softie. Even though he was born on Valentines Day, the romance wouldnt come naturally. His mam was going to call him Valentine, so he had a lucky escape.

"We are planning on buying a house this year and then the wedding will be next. You definitely can find your perfect match online!

Nikki and Paul

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It was case of opposites attract when Nikki McLacuchlan, 23, from Cork fell head over heels for navy man Paul OGrady, 23.

"I was only recently out of a relationship and decided to sign up to Tinder but I was never looking for anything serious. Then, last January I matched with Luke and everything changed forever.

"He was the complete opposite to my normal type, I normally go for dark, short guys but he had these amazing bright blue eyes, he was blonde and so tall. He jumped out at me and I swiped right without hesitation.

"We were talking back and forth for two weeks, he is from Wexford but based in Cork with the Navy so it was two weeks before we went on our first date.

"Straight away we hit it off, we are literally the boy and girl version of each other.

"A year on and now were having a baby, it's absolutely surreal.

"We went for our 12 week scan last week and I got a notification from Facebook to say on this day, Paul O'Grady added you as a friend and we couldnt believe it.

"So much has changed in a year. Every day feels like Valentine's Day now.

Jason and Andrew

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Newly weds Jason Burke-Hannon, 31, and Andrew Burke-Hannon, 29, who live in Carlow met and fell in love after signing up to the popular hook-up app Grindr.

"Myself and Jason met on Grindr, Yes, Grindr. Neither of us imagined wed meet our husband on Grindr because of stories we'd heard about the app.

"It was August 2011 when we connected. We spoke for a couple of weeks before actually going on our first date. We went to Eddie Rockets and the Cinema. We are both huge Sarah Jessica Parker fans so we saw 'I dont know how she does it'. The date went great; it was natural and we had so much in common.

"From then on we did the usual things, our first European Holiday together was Disneyland Paris  we are still big kids at heart. From there we went on our first USA Holiday for Jasons 30th. We spent our first Christmas together, which is when we found out that our fathers' grew up together. They were Next door neighbours.

"In March 2013, I proposed to Jason and of course he said yes. We instantly started to plan our big day and to save for this Jason moved in with me in my family home in Clondalkin. We booked our Wedding and started the dreaded saving.

"In November, we moved back to Carlow where Jason is from to set up our little life.

We had our civil partnership on November 14, 2014 and it was the most amazing day. We loved every minute of it.

In May 2015 the people of Ireland voted on Marriage Equality and thankfully it was a massive yes. And, with that we decided we wanted to 'upgrade' our Civil Partnership to a good old Civil Marriage and we did that on our Anniversary in November 2016.

Are we happy we downloaded Grindr? Definitely."
First Lady Melania Trump welcomes U.S. President Donald Trump as he arrives at West Palm Beach International airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., February 3, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

One lump or two? Melania Trump and Michelle Obama met for tea in the White House in the days following Donald Trump's election victory Photo: Chuck Kennedy/The White House

Donald Trump acknowledges the crowd along with his wife Melania Trump during his election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of November 9, 2016 in New York City. Donald Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to become the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

President-elect of The United States Donald J. Trump and first Lady-elect Melania Trump arrive at Joint Base Andrews the day before his swearing in January 19, 2017 in Maryland.

President-elect of The United States Donald J. Trump and first lady-elect of The United States Melania Trump arrive at the "Make America Great Again Welcome Celebration concert at the Lincoln Memorial in January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump address the Freedom Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center January 20, 2017 in Washington, D.C. President Trump was sworn today as the 45th U.S. President. (Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images)

US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive at the Freedom Ball at the Washington DC Convention Center following Donald Trump's inauguration as the 45th President of the United States, in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017.

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump watch the Palm Beach Central High School marching band perform as it greets them upon arrival to watch the Super Bowl at Trump International Golf Club Palm Beach in West Palm Beach, Florida on February 5, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and first lady Melania Trump thank guests during the inaugural Armed Forces Ball at the National Building Museum January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. The ball is part of the celebrations following Trump's inauguration. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

U.S. President Donald Trump introduces his wife, first lady Melania Trump, as they arrive at the Inauguration Freedom Ball in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2017. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife first lady Melania Trump arrive at his "Liberty" Inaugural Ball in Washington, DC January 20, 2016. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk along Pennsylvania Avenue during the inaugural parade from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump descend the stairs to review troops on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. REUTERS/Michael Heiman/Pool

President Donald Trump's wife Melania Trump adjusts their son Barron's tie during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, with Vice President Mike Pence and his wife and the Trump family, attend the Freedom Ball in honor of his inauguration in Washington, U.S. January 20, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife first lady Melania Trump arrive at his "Liberty" Inaugural Ball in Washington, DC January 20, 2016. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend the 60th Annual Red Cross Gala at Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., February 4, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive for the 60th Annual Red Cross Gala at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach on February 4, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

First Lady Melania Trump arrives to welcome U.S. President Donald Trump (not pictured) at West Palm Beach International airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., February 3, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

There are a lot of misconceptions about Melania Trump - most of which we can't debunk or investigate further because she doesn't make herself available to the media.

Not before her husband became President of the United States and certainly not now in her role as US First Lady.

Unlike Trump's White House administration which has more leaks than a sieve, Melania's inner circle know when to keep their mouths shut. In the weeks since the inauguration, she has shared virtually no information about her intentions for her new role, she hasn't shared any of her official causes and quite frankly, no one knows what she's been doing except for a weekend in Mar-a-Lago.

"I am putting together a professional and highly experienced team, which will take time to do properly," she said.

Expand Close U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania attend the Inaugural luncheon at the National Statuary Hall in Washington, U.S, January 20, 2017. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas / Facebook

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During her husband's campaign, she was largely depicted as little more than a trophy wife, a silent supporter miserably following her husband, a characterisation which has been almost unquestionably embraced by Trump critics and supporters alike.

She rarely joined her husband at rallies and made a minimal amount of appearances in his bid for the White House. Similar to their pre-election life, she preferred to live out of the spotlight and and was instead holed up in her $100m triplex in Trump Tower, which came to be seen as her gilded cage.

For many, she has yet tor reach the role model status automatically assigned to her predecessors, nor does it seem she has any intention to follow in their footsteps.

She has become the most sympathetic First Lady in modern memory, all thanks to a few gifs capturing snapshots of her behaviour on Inauguration Day. Unlike her husband, she wasn't a figured to be feared or mocked, she was to be pitied.

Instead of supporting his divisive and often xenophobic rhetoric, she stayed quiet and never commented on his comments against Mexicans, addressed the irony of his anti-immigration stance despite her emigrating to the US from Slovenia in 1996 or his mocking of a disabled reporter early on the campaign trails.

She gave just one interview supporting her husband after more than a dozen women came forward accusing him of sexual assault, saying it came as a "surprise" and urged background checks for the women.

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She seems to take pride in her privacy, wearing her desire to show to little no public personality as a badge of honour.

In a 2016 GQ profile, she said "no one will ever know" her political views - a statement she seems oddly proud of, despite the fact that it indicates we should expect no personal passions or causes close to her heart to be pursued during her time in the White House.

Expand Close US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump watch the Palm Beach Central High School marching band perform as it greets them upon arrival to watch the Super Bowl at Trump International Golf Club Palm Beach in West Palm Beach, Florida on February 5, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump watch the Palm Beach Central High School marching band perform as it greets them upon arrival to watch the Super Bowl at Trump International Golf Club Palm Beach in West Palm Beach, Florida on February 5, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

Hers is the face that launched 1,000 memes and gifs all related to her perceived misery, but one hashtag which refuses to go away - #FreeMelania.

During Inauguration Day, pictures of a perpetually sad looking Melania flooded social media and returned on Super Bowl Sunday after husband was pictured ignoring her at a celebratory dinner they hosted at Mar-a-Lago.

Expand Close This photo of Melania Trump watching the Super Bowl has #FreeMelania trending again. Image: Twitter / Facebook

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Whatsapp This photo of Melania Trump watching the Super Bowl has #FreeMelania trending again. Image: Twitter

Public sympathy seems to have reached fever pitch for 'poor Melania' in the early weeks of Trump's presidency, but just as quickly as the tide changed in her favour, a clip from 2011 emerged of her repeating her husband's rhetoric nearly verbatim.

In an interview with Joy Behar, Melania, then described with only the tagline 'Married to The Donald', echoed her husband's claims that former President Obama was not born in the US, proving she does agree with her husband's way of thinking or she has one hell of a poker face.

Expand Close US President Donald Trump tells the crowd he loves them while dancing with US first lady Melania Trump during the Freedom Ball January 20, 2017 / Facebook

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"Do you want to see President Obama's birth certificate or no? In one way, it would be very easy if President Obama just show it because it's not only Donald who wants to see it - it's American people who vote for him and who didn't vote for him," she told Joy Behar.

It was one of the only interviews she's ever given. In the two years her husband campaigned, she gave only a handful of interviews - most notably, an in-depth profile with GQ and a sit-down with Anderson Cooper on CNN after tapes of her husband bragging about "grabbing women by the p***y" were leaked.

In the former, she slammed the magazine's extensive profile on her, which included information about her father and family life in her native Slovenia, labelling the piece as "yet another example of the dishonest media and their disingenuous reporting", which sounds like her way of saying "FAKE NEWS!" via press release.

In the latter, she said her husband was "egged on" to take part in "boy talk", adding: "The boys, the way they talk when they grow up and they want to sometimes show each other, 'Oh, this and that' and talking about the girls."

Should Melania be feared in the same manner as her husband? She hasn't given us any reason to believe so, but perhaps more worryingly is that she hasn't given a reason not to either - she has made no effort to distance herself from her husband's ideology, there has been no public defence of women's rights or immigration; her Twitter account, which Donald cherishes, has only been used once, to say she is "deeply honoured to serve this wonderful country as First Lady.

That was on January 21.

Expand Close US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive for the 60th Annual Red Cross Gala at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach on February 4, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive for the 60th Annual Red Cross Gala at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach on February 4, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

Melania has maintained virtual radio silence, which is no easy feat when you're married to the most talked about man in the world.

She has shown little to no enthusiasm for her role as First Lady, choosing to live in Trump Tower with her son at huge expense to the American taxpayer, and only appointed a Chief of Staff earlier this month in a bid to silence reports she had no intention of ever moving to the White House and assume her new role full-time.

Which is all the more jarring that she would choose to continue with her libel suit against the Daily Mail for running a false story claiming she once worked as an escort. The story has since been retracted and her decision to sue in the name of her reputation should come as no surprise - what should inspire shock though is her motivation.

In the papers lodged, her lawyers claim that Melania has been stiffed the potential "multiple millions of dollars" and "major business opportunities" she would have acquired during her term as First Lady and it appears that we are seeing the 'real' Melania for the first time.

According to the suit, Melania "had the unique, one-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as an extremely famous and well-known person, as well as a former professional model and brand spokesperson, and a successful business woman, to launch a broad-based commercial brand in multiple product categories, each of which could have garnered multi-million dollar business relationships for a multi-year term during with Plaintiff is one of the most photographed women in the world."

The moral of the story is that Melania is no innocent victim in this narrative, she is a very willing participant motivated by the one factor uniting the entire Trump clan - money.

While the rest of the Trumps have insisted on the maintenance of a Chinese wall between the president's personal businesses and executive duties, we could at least commend Melania for being entirely transparent for her desire to cash in as much as possible with her newly elevated status.

And we are all the fools for helping her build her empire.
Authorities have lifted an evacuation order for nearly 200,000 California residents who live below the crippled Oroville Dam that threatened to collapse and cause catastrophic flooding.

But Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea warned on Tuesday that residents should stay prepared in case the situation changes.

He said the water level at the lake behind Oroville Dam, the US's tallest dam, is now low enough to cope with a storm that is due over the next few days.

The National Weather Service's Sacramento office said heavy rain will fall in the area on Wednesday and Thursday morning, with two to four inches in the foothills and mountains.

But the storm is looking colder than first thought, meaning lower snow levels and less run-off into Sierra reservoirs than the storms last week.

Crews have been working around the clock to repair the dam's damaged spillway.

A California dam inspector said authorities may never know the exact cause of the earth and concrete blow-outs below the dam.

Eric Holland, of the state Department of Water Resources' dam-safety division, said any of a number of different problems could have caused the spillway troubles. Holland said authorities often never discover in these cases what exactly happened, because flood water has washed out everything at the scene.

Authorities ordered mass evacuations on Sunday for everyone living below the lake out of concern that the spillway could fail and send a 30ft wall of water downstream.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said President Donald Trump is keeping a "close eye" on the public safety crisis caused by the damaged dam.

AP
This file photo taken on February 11, 2007 shows a man believed to be North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il's eldest son, Kim Jong-Nam walking among journalists upon his arrival at the Beijing airport. AFP PHOTO / JAPAN POOL VIA JIJI PRESS / STRSTR/AFP/Getty Images

In a file picture taken on June 4, 2010 Kim Jong-Nam, the eldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, waves after an interview with South Korean media representatives in Macau. AFP PHOTO / JOONGANG SUNDAY VIA JOONGANG ILBO / STRSTR/AFP/Getty Images

The estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been killed in Malaysia, a South Korean government source told Reuters on Tuesday.

Kim Jong Nam, the older half brother of the North Korean leader, was known to be based mostly outside of his home country.

Police in Malaysia told Reuters on Tuesday an unidentified North Korean man had died en route to hospital from Kuala Lumpur airport on Monday. Abdul Aziz Ali, police chief for the Sepang district, said the man's identity had not been verified.

An employee in the emergency ward of Putrajaya hospital said a deceased Korean there was born in 1970 and surnamed Kim.

Expand Close This file photo taken on February 11, 2007 shows a man believed to be North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il's eldest son, Kim Jong-Nam walking among journalists upon his arrival at the Beijing airport. AFP PHOTO / JAPAN POOL VIA JIJI PRESS / STRSTR/AFP/Getty Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp This file photo taken on February 11, 2007 shows a man believed to be North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il's eldest son, Kim Jong-Nam walking among journalists upon his arrival at the Beijing airport. AFP PHOTO / JAPAN POOL VIA JIJI PRESS / STRSTR/AFP/Getty Images

South Korea's TV Chosun, a cable television network, said that Kim was poisoned at Kuala Lumpur airport by two women believed to be North Korean operatives, who were at large, citing multiple South Korean government sources.

The South Korean government source who spoke to Reuters did not immediately provide further details.

South Korea's foreign ministry said it could not confirm the reports, and the country's intelligence agency could not immediately be reached for comment.

In 2001, Kim Jong Nam was caught at an airport in Japan traveling on a fake passport, saying he had wanted visit Tokyo Disneyland.
The fighting centred in areas where the central province of Hama and the north-western province of Idlib meet

Clashes between two extremist factions in north-western Syria have left dozens of fighters dead on both sides and raised fears of more deadly violence between groups battling President Bashar Assad's troops.

The fighting between the al Qaida-led coalition known as the Levant Liberation Committee and the extremist Jund al-Aqsa group left nearly 70 dead in some of the worst clashes between insurgents in years, an opposition monitoring group and a rebel commander said.

The violence, ahead of UN-brokered peace talks later this month, was centred in areas where the central province of Hama and the north-western province of Idlib meet.

A Syrian rebel commander speaking from Turkey said Jund al-Aqsa has proven recently that it is a branch of the Islamic State group that is the arch rival of al Qaida's Fatah al-Sham Front.

The commander said Jund al-Aqsa fighters stormed several areas controlled by the Levant Liberation Committee and killed some of its members, triggering intense fighting.

"There is no solution but to uproot Jund al-Aqsa," the commander said.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Levant Liberation Committee has captured six villages from Jund al-Aqsa.

The Observatory said two days of fighting has left 69 fighters dead, including 39 from the Levant Liberation Committee. It said the 30 dead from Jund al-Aqsa include four suicide attackers who blew up their vehicles.

Abdul-Rahim Attoun, a senior al Qaida religious official in Syria, blamed Jund al-Aqsa for being a group that paid allegiance to IS. He added that Jund al-Aqsa was blocking roads used by the Levant Liberation Committee to attack government forces.

A Jund al-Aqsa commander who goes by the name of Karmo said the fighting was triggered by Levant Liberation Committee attacks on Jund al-Aqsa positions.

In the southern city of Daraa, where clashes between insurgents and government forces have continued for days, opposition activist Ahmad al-Masalmeh said an air raid had hit a hospital, putting it out of service.

The fighting came as a state-run newspaper said in an editorial that a meeting between the Syrian government and opposition in Kazakhstan this week will not be "fruitful" unless they are focused on fighting terrorism.

The two-day conference in Astana that begins on Wednesday is aimed at strengthening a December 30 ceasefire. The government has long referred to all those fighting against it, including mainstream rebels, as "terrorists".

AP
Charles Bronson, the notorious life inmate, has asked his actress girlfriend to marry him, it was reported on Tuesday.

Bronson (64) often called Britains most violent prisoner, went down on one knee when Paula Williamson visited him in HMP Wakefield.

The twice-married armed robber, who had been in jail for 40 years, had planned to make the proposal of Valentine's Day by having a ring delivered to her house and serenading her by phone.

Miss Williamson (36) who has been in Coronation Street and played a stripper in Emmerdale, told The Sun: "We are so in love.

Expand Close Actress Paula Williamson Credit: Brides of Comedy/Youtube / Facebook

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"I've had relationships with both men and women in the past but none of them come close to my love for Charlie.

"He's so eccentric, but so am I. It's a perfect match."

Bronson spent 37 of his years in jail in solitary confinement, after repeatedly having his sentence increased for attacking prison staff and taking them hostage.

He has taken up art and now goes by the name Charles Salvador, in a nod to his favourite artist Salvador Dali.

Miss Williamson, who has also appeared in Hollyoaks and Fred and Rose West drama Appropriate Adult, said they had been in a relationship for five months.

She said: "I know he has a public image of being a violent prisoner, but in reality he is so different. He can never change the things he has done in the past, but he is working so hard to put that behind him.

"There are obviously difficulties him being in prison cause our relationship, but we feel so strongly about each other we're determined to make it work."

Miss Williamson, of Stoke-on-Trent, wore a necklace spelling out Salvador and a revealing red dress for Monday's visit.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
A man carries a wounded child to a hospital in the Zahra neighbourhood of Mosul (AP)

The Iraqi army is moving troops around Mosul ahead of an expected push to retake its western half from the Islamic State group in a decisive battle for the city, a commander has said.

"We are preparing ... to launch a big operation in order to liberate the rest of Mosul," said Brigadier Walid Khalifa, deputy commander of the Iraqi Army's 9th Division.

On Tuesday afternoon, dozens of armoured vehicle and troops could be seen moving around the city. Brig Khalifa said the manoeuvres began on Sunday.

But even as the Iraqi forces were moving into place, IS launched a significant counter-attack near the town of Tal Afar, west of Mosul, on Sunday night.

Militants detonated 17 car bombs, targeting a position held by Iraq's government-sanctioned, mostly Shiite, militia forces known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces near Tal Afar, said Jaafar al-Hussaini, a spokesman for one of the militias.

The attack lasted nine hours and killed four militiamen and 48 IS fighters before it was repelled Mr al-Hussaini said.

Mosul's east was declared "fully liberated" in January, over three months after Iraqi forces launched the operation to retake the city.

At the beginning of the offensive, Iraqi forces made swift gains, but slow and gruelling urban combat followed before all of eastern Mosul was liberated.

Iraqi and coalition officials are warning that the fight for the west - a densely populated urban area - is likely to be more difficult.

The United Nations has said civilian casualty rates remain high in eastern Mosul as IS mortar attacks from the western side of the Tigris River - which divides the city into two - can still reach neighbourhoods in the east.

AP
Malaysian police said an unidentified North Korean man died en route to hospital from a Kuala Lumpur airport (AP)

A TV screen at Seoul Railway Station shows pictures of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, and his older brother Kim Jong Nam (AP)

The half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been assassinated at an airport in Kuala Lumpur, according to Malaysian officials.

Kim Jong Nam told medical workers he had been attacked with a chemical spray at the airport. He was taken to the airport clinic but died on the way to hospital.

The 46-year-old was attacked on Monday in the shopping concourse at the airport and had not gone through immigration yet for his flight to Macau, said the senior government official.

Kim Jong Nam was estranged from his younger brother, the North Korean leader.

He had been tipped by outsiders to succeed their dictator father, but reportedly fell out of favour when he was caught trying to enter Japan on a false passport in 2001, saying he wanted to visit Tokyo Disneyland.

He is believed to have been living recently in Macau, Singapore and Malaysia.

Multiple South Korean media reports, citing unnamed sources, said Kim Jong Nam was killed at the airport by two women. TV Chosun, citing unidentified "multiple government sources", said the women were believed to be North Korean agents who fled in a taxi and were being sought by Malaysian police.

Kim Jong Nam and Kim Jong Un have the same father, late dictator Kim Jong Il, but different mothers.

Since taking power in late 2011, Kim Jong Un has executed or purged a series of high-level government officials in what the South Korean government has described as a "reign of terror".

The most spectacular was the 2013 execution by anti-aircraft fire of his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, once considered the country's second most powerful man, for what the North alleged was treason.

Seoul has said North Korea also executed a vice premier for education last year for unspecified anti-revolutionary and factional acts, and a defence minister in 2015 for complaining and sleeping during a meeting.

Pyongyang has a history of dispatching spies to kill high-level defectors critical of its system.

In 1997, a nephew of one of Kim Jong Il's former wives was killed outside a Seoul apartment 15 years after she defected to South Korea. Officials never caught the assailants but believe they were North Korean agents.

In 2010, South Korea arrested what it called a pair of North Korean spies ordered to kill Hwang Jang Yop, a high-level defector who once mentored Kim Jong Il. North Korea denied the allegation.

Mark Tokola, vice president at the Korea Economic Institute in Washington, said it would be surprising if Kim Jong Nam was not killed on the orders of his brother, given that North Korean agents have reportedly tried to assassinate Kim Jong Nam in the past.

"It seems probable that the motivation for the murder was a continuing sense of paranoia on the part of Kim Jong Un, which may be a well-placed paranoia," Mr Tokola wrote.

Although there was scant evidence that Kim Jong Nam was plotting against the North Korean leader, he provided an alternative for North Koreans who would want to depose his brother.

Mr Tokola, who served as deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Seoul, said Kim Jong Nam has been fairly quiet in exile, but was quoted in the Japanese media in 2010 as saying he opposed dynastic succession in North Korea.

About a year later, his father died and Kim Jong Un took power.

AP
Michael Flynn has resigned after being at the centre of controversy over his contacts with Russia (AP/Evan Vucci)

President Donald Trump ousted his national security adviser because he lost trust in him, not for any legal concern, Mr Trump's spokesman said.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer said that the "erosion of that trust" over the circumstances surrounding retired general Michael Flynn's calls with the Russian ambassador to the US created "a critical mass and an unsustainable situation".

Mr Flynn's ouster appeared to be driven more by the idea that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials than by the content of his discussions with Russia's ambassador.

Still, the matter deepened questions about Mr Trump's friendly posture towards Russia.

"This was an act of trust - whether or not he misled the vice president was the issue and that was ultimately what led to the president asking for and accepting the resignation of General Flynn," Mr Spicer said.

Mr Flynn's resignation came after reports that the Justice Department had alerted the White House weeks ago that there were contradictions between Trump officials' public accounting of the Russia contacts and what intelligence officials knew to be true based on routine recordings of communications with foreign officials who are in the US.

Mr Spicer said the White House counsel's office reviewed the situation after it was flagged by the Department of Justice, and along with the president, the counsel determined that it did not pose a legal problem.

He declined to comment on whether anyone at the White House had read transcripts of the calls between Mr Flynn and the ambassador.

The revelations were another destabilising blow to an administration that has already suffered a major legal defeat on immigration, botched the implementation of a signature policy and stumbled through a string of embarrassing public relations missteps.

White House officials have not said when Mr Trump was told of the Justice Department warning or why Mr Flynn had been allowed to stay on the job with access to a full range of intelligence materials.

Senator Lindsey Graham, a long-time Russia critic, said Congress needs to know what Mr Flynn discussed with the ambassador and why.

"The idea that he did this on his own without any direction is a good question to ask," Mr Graham added.

Mr Pence and others, apparently relying on information from Mr Flynn, had said the national security adviser did not discuss US economic sanctions against Russia with the Russian envoy during the American presidential transition.

Mr Flynn later told officials the sanctions may have been discussed, the latest change in his account of his pre-inauguration discussions with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

Such conversations would breach diplomatic protocol and possibly violate the Logan Act, a law aimed at keeping private citizens from conducting US diplomacy.

The Justice Department had warned the White House late last month that Mr Flynn could be at risk for blackmail because of contradictions between his public depictions of the calls and what intelligence officials knew.

Asked whether the president had been aware that Mr Flynn might have planned to discuss sanctions with the Russian envoy, Mr Spicer said: "No, absolutely not."

House Speaker Paul Ryan said Mr Trump made the right decision in asking Mr Flynn to step down.

"You cannot have the national security adviser misleading the vice president and others," Mr Ryan said.

Mr Trump, who has been conspicuously quiet about Mr Flynn's standing for several days, wrote on Twitter on Tuesday morning that the "real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington".

He ignored questions about Mr Flynn from reporters during an education event at the White House on Tuesday morning.

Mr Trump named retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg as the acting national security adviser.

Mr Kellogg had previously been appointed the National Security Council chief of staff and advised Mr Trump during the campaign.

Mr Trump is also considering former CIA director David Petraeus and Vice Admiral Robert Harward, a US Navy SEAL, for the post, according to a senior administration official.

Mr Kellogg convened a brief meeting of the National Security Council staff on Tuesday morning and urged them to continue with business as usual.

Staffers have been told that Mr Flynn's deputy, KT McFarland, a former Fox News analyst, is expected to stay at the White House.

A US official told The Associated Press that Mr Flynn was in frequent contact with Mr Kislyak on the day the Obama administration slapped sanctions on Russia for election-related hacking, as well as at other times during the transition.

The Washington Post was the first to report the communication between former acting attorney general Sally Yates, a holdover from the Obama administration, and the Trump White House.

The Post also first reported last week that Mr Flynn had indeed spoken about sanctions with the Russian ambassador.

Mr Trump never voiced public support for Mr Flynn after that initial report but continued to keep his national security adviser close.

Mr Flynn was part of Mr Trump's daily briefing on Monday and sat in on his calls with foreign leaders, as well as his discussions with visiting Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau.

The Kremlin had confirmed that Mr Flynn was in contact with Mr Kislyak but denied that they talked about lifting sanctions.

On Tuesday, Russian lawmakers mounted a fierce defence of Mr Flynn.

AP
A car bomb explodes next to Iraqi special forces armored vehicles as they advance towards Islamic State held territory in Mosul, Iraq. Photo: REUTERS

Iraqi warplanes hit a house where Isil leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was holding a meeting with senior commanders, killing more than a dozen.

The Iraqi military released a list of the names of 13 dead commanders yesterday, which did not include Baghdadi.

They confirmed that Baghdadi, whose real name is Ibrahim Awwad Ibrahim Ali Muhammad al-Badri al-Samarrai, was seen moving from Syria to Iraq before the strike on the western city of Anbar, on Saturday.

The military said Baghdadi moved last week in a convoy from Raqqa, in Syria, to the region of al-Qaim, on the Iraqi side of the border, to discuss with commanders "the collapse happening in Mosul and to chose a successor for him".

Reports circulated over the weekend saying the Iraq-born Isil chief was injured in the strike but managed to escape.

However, it was not possible to independently confirm the reports, and rumours of his ill health circulate regularly.

Three other Isil positions in western Iraq were targeted in the same wave of air strikes by F-16s, killing 64 fighters, the statement said.

Baghdadi has long been thought to be moving between Isil territory in northeastern Syria and northwestern Iraq as he looks to evade capture. ( Daily Telegraph London)

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
First Lady Melania Trump and U.S. President Donald Trump (not pictured) attend the 60th Annual Red Cross Gala at Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., February 4, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

The New York Times has responded to a claim that one of its journalists said the US First Lady "is a hooker", calling the comment "completely inappropriate".

Actress Emily Ratajkowski tweeted on Monday that a journalist from the newspaper had made the comment to her the night before, and called it out for slut shaming Melania Trump.

Ms Ratajkowski tweeted: Sat next to a journalist from the NYT last night who told me Melania is a hooker. Whatever your politics its crucial to call this out for what it is: slut shaming.

I dont care about her nudes or sexual history and no one should, she said, adding: Gender specific attacks are disgusting sexist bulls***.

New York Times spokeswoman Eileen Murphy said the reporter had referred to an unfounded rumour regarding the First Lady, and editors have spoken to them regarding the lapse.

The comment was not intended to be public, but it was nonetheless completely inappropriate and should not have occurred, she added.

The journalist has not been named, but they do not cover Washington or politics, Ms Murphy said.

The First Lady did not respond directly to the comments, but she tweeted a message from the @FLOTUS Twitter account that was directed at Ms Ratajkowski, and cited her twitter handle @emrata.

The tweet read: Applause to all women around the world who speak up, stand up and support other women! @emrata #PowerOfEveryWoman #PowerOfTheFirstLady.
Then U.S. Army Lieutenant General Michael Flynn looks at U.S. President-elect Donald Trump as he talks with the media at Mar-a-Lago estate where Trump attends meetings, in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., December 21, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo

His administration has been dealt a significant blow after less than a month in office, and President Donald Trump must now fill a vital post after the resignation of national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Mr Flynn stepped down late on Monday, ending days of speculation about his fate following reports that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russia.

Mr Trump named Keith Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general, as the acting national security adviser and a senior administration official said he was one of three candidates the president was considering to replace Mr Flynn on a permanent basis.

Here are the top named contenders for the post, which does not require Senate confirmation:

Keith Kellogg

He had previously been appointed the National Security Council chief of staff and, along with Mr Flynn, advised Mr Trump on national security and foreign policy issues during the campaign. He had been considered for national security adviser before the post went to Mr Flynn.

He was chief operating officer of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, the interim governing body following the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. He was previously executive vice president of research and technology for Virginia-based information technology firm CACI International, which works as a contractor for defence, intelligence and homeland security agencies.

David Petreaus

Expand Close Ex-CIA chief Gen David Petraeus has testified on Capitol Hill about the attack on the US consulate in Libya (AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Ex-CIA chief Gen David Petraeus has testified on Capitol Hill about the attack on the US consulate in Libya (AP)

The most audacious choice would be former CIA director David Petreaus. The retired four star general was forced from his position at the intelligence agency in 2012 after he it was revealed that he passed on classified information to his biographer, who had also become his mistress.

But Mr Trump during the election campaign spoke sympathetically about Mr Petreaus' plight despite his frequent criticisms of his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton for mishandling classified materials. Mr Petreaus was briefly under consideration to become secretary of state before Mr Trump picked Exxon chief executive Rex Tillerson.

Robert Harward

Robert Harward, a Navy Seal, served as deputy commander of the United States Central Command when it was under the command of General James Mattis, who is now defence secretary. The retired vice admiral served on the National Security Council for President George W Bush and commissioned the National Counter Terrorism Centre.

In 2013 when he retired after a nearly 40-year career in the Navy, he took a post as a chief executive officer for defence and aerospace giant Lockheed Martin in the United Arab Emirates. Mr Trump has recently been in very public negotiations with Lockheed over the cost of its F-35 fighter jet programme.
Then White House National Security Advisor Michael Flynn (C) arrives prior to a joint news conference between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 13, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

President Donald Trump's embattled national security adviser Michael Flynn has resigned, following reports that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russia.

His departure comes after less than a month in office.

In a resignation letter, Mr Flynn said he held numerous calls with the Russian ambassador to the US during the transition and gave "incomplete information" about those discussions to Mr Pence.

The vice president, apparently relying on information from Mr Flynn, initially said the national security adviser had not discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy, though Mr Flynn later conceded the issue may have come up.

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Mr Trump named retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg as the acting national security adviser.

Lt Gen Kellogg had previously been appointed the National Security Council chief of staff and advised Mr Trump on national security issues during the campaign.

Expand Close FILE PHOTO: U.S. Army Lieutenant General Michael Flynn looks at U.S. President-elect Donald Trump as he talks with the media at Mar-a-Lago estate where Trump attends meetings, in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., December 21, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo / Facebook

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Whatsapp FILE PHOTO: U.S. Army Lieutenant General Michael Flynn looks at U.S. President-elect Donald Trump as he talks with the media at Mar-a-Lago estate where Trump attends meetings, in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., December 21, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo

The US Justice Department warned the Trump administration weeks ago that contradictions between the public depictions and the actual details of the calls could leave Mr Flynn in a compromised position, sources told The Associated Press.

The White House has been aware of the warnings for "weeks," an administration official said, though it was unclear whether Mr Trump and Mr Pence had been alerted.

Mr Flynn apologised to Mr Pence last week, following a Washington Post report asserting that the national security adviser had discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Mr Trump was consulting with Mr Pence on Monday about his conversations with the national security adviser.

Asked whether the president had been aware that Mr Flynn might discuss sanctions with the Russian envoy, Mr Spicer said: "No, absolutely not."

Mr Flynn's discussions with the Russian raised questions about whether he had offered assurances about the incoming administration's new approach.

Such conversations would breach diplomatic protocol and possibly violate the Logan Act, a law aimed at keeping citizens from conducting diplomacy.

Mr Flynn was a loyal Trump supporter during the campaign, but he is viewed sceptically by some in the administration's national security circles, in part because of his ties to Russia.

In 2015, Mr Flynn was paid to attend a gala dinner for Russia Today, a Kremlin-backed television station, and sat next to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the event.

The controversy surrounding Mr Flynn comes as the administration grapples with a series of national security challenges, including North Korea's reported ballistic missile launch.

The White House is also dealing with fallout from the troubled roll-out of Mr Trump's immigration executive order, which has been blocked by the courts.

The order was intended to suspend the nation's refugee programme and bar citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.

A judge on Monday granted a preliminary injunction barring the Trump administration from implementing its travel ban in Virginia, adding another ruling to those already in place.

The ruling is significant as US District Judge Leonie Brinkema found that an unconstitutional religious bias is at the heart of the ban, and it therefore violates First Amendment prohibitions on favouring one religion over another.

A California appeals court has already upheld a national temporary restraining order stopping the government from implementing the ban.
Staff with the California Department of Water Resources watch as water is released from the Lake Oroville Dam. Photo: Getty

Officials in California were scrambling yesterday to lower water levels behind America's tallest dam after 200,000 people were evacuated ahead of storms expected later in the week.

Erosion left an enormous crevasse in the spillway of the Oroville Dam, some 200km north of San Francisco on Lake Oroville, with residents warned that a 30ft high "wall of water" could be unleashed with little warning.

Authorities ordered those living below the lake to evacuate on Sunday evening, after the hole was discovered. It was 200ft long and 30ft deep at the time, and continuing to expand.

The worst-case scenario was that the dam's emergency spillway would fail, and water would begin roaring downstream. The earthen spillway had never previously been used, and began to erode as well.

The water level dropped yesterday, but rains expected tomorrow and Thursday could exacerbate the danger.

Kimberly and Patrick Cummings evacuated to a local Red Cross centre with their three-year-old daughter.

"We grabbed our dog and headed to higher ground - away from the river," Ms Cummings said.

"You can't take a chance with the baby," Mr Cummings said.

Raj Gill, manager of a Shell station where anxious motorists purchased petrol and snacks, said his boss told him to close and flee, but he stayed open to feed a steady line of customers. "You can't even move," he said. "I'm trying to get out of here too. I've seen the pictures - that's a lot of water."

About 250 police officers stood watch near the dam and along evacuation routes, managing the exodus and trying to prevent any looting. The California National Guard was told to be prepared to deploy. Officials said they had not yet determined what caused the cave-in at the dam.

Kory Honea, the Butte County sheriff, was waiting for word on whether residents would soon be able to return. "We need to give the Department of Water Resources time to fully evaluate the situation so we can decide whether it is safe to repopulate the area," he said.

Until recently the area was experiencing severe drought, but snow and rainfall in recent weeks have far surpassed historical averages.

Bill Croyle, director of the department of water resources, said it would not be possible to fix the hole in the main spillway immediately. "You don't throw a little bit of rock in it," he said. (Daily Telegraph London)

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
The alleged violation complicates the outlook for US-Russia relations

US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia has deployed a cruise missile in violation of a Cold War-era arms control treaty, a Trump administration official said.

The alleged violation complicates the outlook for US-Russia relations amid turmoil on President Donald Trump's national security team.

The Obama administration three years ago accused the Russians of violating the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty by developing and testing the cruise missile.

Officials had anticipated that Moscow would eventually deploy it.

Russia denies it has violated the INF Treaty.

An administration official said intelligence agencies assessed the missile became operational late last year.

The missile deployment was first reported by The New York Times.
Special prosecutors have asked a court to issue an arrest warrant for Lee Jae-yong (AP)

South Korean prosecutors are attempting for a second time to arrest Samsung's de facto leader, who faces bribery allegations in connection with a massive political scandal.

Special prosecutors investigating the influence-peddling scandal that led to the impeachment of the president said they have asked a court to issue an arrest warrant for Lee Jae-yong, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics.

They also are seeking an arrest warrant for Samsung Electronics president Park Sang-jin, who oversees the company's external relations.

Seoul Central District Court said it will hold a hearing on Thursday to review the arrest request.

This is the second attempt by prosecutors to arrest Lee, heir to the Samsung Group. Last month, a court said there was not enough evidence to justify his arrest.

The prosecutors said the 48-year-old billionaire offered a bribe of 36 million dollars (29 million) to President Park Geun-hye and her long-time friend to win government backing for a controversial merger.

The merger of Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries in 2015 was opposed by minority shareholders, who said it would benefit the Samsung founding family while hurting other shareholders.

Samsung narrowly secured shareholder approval, thanks in part to support from the National Pension Fund, its key investor.

The pension fund's current chief was arrested last year on suspicion of pressuring the fund to back the merger, which helped Lee increase his influence in Samsung Electronics without spending any of his money.

Lee admitted Samsung transferred funds to a company and foundations controlled by Choi Soon-sil, President Park's secretive friend, but denied allegations that he expected to win any government favours.

The court's rejection last month of the arrest request dealt a blow to the prosecutors, who have until February 28 to investigate unless parliament extends the deadline.

Prosecutors said the Samsung heir faces new charges in addition to bribery, embezzlement and lying under oath. They did not elaborate.

South Korean media reports said the prosecutors are looking at whether Samsung purchased a costly horse for Choi's daughter, who is an equestrian, an allegation Samsung has denied.

The investigators are also reportedly looking at whether South Korea's fair trade commission gave any favours to Samsung related to a complex cross shareholding structure that allows the Lee family to exert a disproportionate influence on Samsung Electronics and its dozens of affiliates, while holding a small stake.

The anti-trust regulator was raided earlier this month by prosecutors.

AP
Turkish authorities have arrested a man they believe was among the planners of the new year nightclub massacre in Istanbul that killed 39 people, a news agency said.

The private Dogan news agency, citing officials from the prosecutors' office in Burdur, southern Turkey, identified the suspect only by his initials, AS, and said he is a French citizen with an ethnic Turkish background.

He was found with a contract to rent an apartment used by Abdulkadir Masharipov, who carried out the nightclub attack, the agency said.

It said authorities in Burdur had previously issued a warrant for his arrest, but did not provide further details. The man, who had been living in France since 2009, was arrested in Istanbul two days ago.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the nightclub attack. Masharipov, an Uzbek citizen born in 1983, was caught on January 16 after evading police for more than two weeks.

Last week, he was charged with attempting to overthrow the constitutional order, membership of an armed terror group and murder.

In a related development, prosecutors are demanding that 41 people accused of involvement in an attack at Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport in June be sentenced to several life terms in prison each for attempts to overthrow the constitutional order and premeditated murder, according to an indictment cited by the state-run Anadolu Agency.

The airport attack, which Turkish authorities said was the work of IS extremists, killed 45 people. The three assailants - whom Turkish authorities said came from Uzbekistan, Russia and Kyrgyzstan - were also killed.

The indictment also seeks life imprisonment for three other suspects who are on the run and will be tried in absentia. They have been identified as Nazim Gasanov, Marat Pshnatov and Rustem Efendiev, Anadolu reported.

The indictment needs to be approved by a court before a trial date is set.

AP
Tareck El Aissami will have sanctions imposed on him by the US, which accuses him of playing a major role in international drug trafficking (AP/Fernando Llano)

The Trump administration will impose sanctions on Venezuela's new vice president, Tareck El Aissami, and accuse him of playing a major role in international drug trafficking.

Mr El Aissami has been the target of U.S. law enforcement for years over ties to the nation's largest convicted drug trafficker and a Middle Eastern militant group.

The US move, which is yet to be formally announced, freezes his assets in the US and bars him from entering the country.

The administration will also impose sanctions on Samark Bello, a wealthy businessman connected to Mr El Aissami who has held significant business interests in the US.

The US says Mr Bello provided assistance or support to Mr El Aissami's trafficking activities.

AP
CONCORD- Cabarrus County Schools is set to spend $967,500 over three years on a new benchmarking and assessment system.

Dr. Crystal Hill, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, talked to the Cabarrus County Board of Education about the selection of a new system during its work session on Monday, Feb. 6.

Hill said CCS has used Discovery Education Benchmarks to collect data for the last several years but it is discontinuing the assessment arm of its business at the end of this school year. The cutoff date is June 2017.

Therefore, staff began researching new vendors.

The current assessment system we are using is no longer. We are in need of a new one, Hill said.

After collecting input from stakeholders through focus groups at principal and assistant principal meetings and surveying certified staff, Mastery Connect/TE21 was selected as the recommendation to be made to the board.

TE21, Inc. is an education company that offers CASE (Collaborative Assessment Solutions for Educators) benchmark assessments aligned to College and Career Ready Standards/Common Core Standards. The assessments are designed to gauge the academic progress of students and provide timely feedback that can be used by teachers to guide instruction. The benchmark assessments can be administered as nine-week assessments, mid-year assessments or final comprehensive tests prior to administration of the state test.

MasteryConnect, a competency-based and formative assessment platform, provides TE21 customers with expanded mastery-based learning solutions in addition to the TE21s assessments and item bank offerings.

Hill said in discussions about a new system, stakeholders decided whichever one was selected needed to be user-friendly, import/export data, give immediate results, accessible to all students, meet budget and give access to professional development.

We wanted it to give immediate results but also have adaptability with state and federal changes, Hill said. We wanted to be sure we didnt invest in something and then didnt have the ability to pull back if we needed to.

Hill said Mastery Connect/TE21 met all of these requirements and came out as the first choice from the three vendors that submitted proposals.

With this we have the opportunity to change the destiny of our students, Hill said. Teachers will know exactly what students know at that point in time and can teach to that.

She added that this new system has 95 percent predictability, which means as students take its assessments the technology can predict what their outcome will be when it comes time for required state tests.

This does not address state and federal assessments we are required to give. This just replaces the local level of assessments, Hill said. This will streamline it. We are also in the process of doing an assessment audit to make sure we have a clear understanding of what we are giving and what is required.

The cost for the system for the first year would be $300,000 and the next two years would come in at $333,750 each.

The board will make a final decision on whether to accept the contract of the new program at its upcoming meeting on Monday, Feb. 13.

The meeting is at 6 p.m. in the board room of the education Center, located at 4401 Old Airport Road in Concord.
Ola, Uber face new challenge with driver strikes

Following initial protests in Hyderabad and Bengaluru last year, widespread strikes by drivers associated with cab aggregators are taking place this month across India. While Ola and Uber drivers partially called off their indefinite strike in the National Capital Region after meeting with Delhi transport minister Satyendar Jain on Sunday, not all drivers unions are convinced. Further, a planned joint strike is scheduled for February 15 across the southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Ola and Uber drivers will participate in the upcoming strike according to their union representatives.

RELATED: Legal & Financial Due Diligence Services from Dezan Shira & Associates

Multiple reasons have fueled the ongoing protests: reduced incentives for drivers, slowdown in earnings (falling to US$299 to US$597 from peaks of US$1195 to US$1494), low fares per kilometer, overwhelming demand versus supply, and the inevitable challenges emerging from an unstable business model.

Transport aggregators Ola and Uber have already faced multiple regulatory battles over surge pricing norms, antiquated laws, and the disruption of the monopoly of traditional cab companies. Ola, Uber, and their kin now face the uphill task of implementing a profitable business plan by growing their consumer base while also retaining driver loyalties.

TCS clause under GST worry e-commerce giants

E-commerce firms Flipkart, Snapdeal, and Amazon have expressed their worries over the Tax Collection at Source (TCS) clause in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) law. As per the regulation, online marketplaces are required to deduct two percent of the amount payable to sellers and remit it to the government on the sellers behalf. Online retailers believe the TCS clause will lead to a capital lock-in of about US$59.38 million (Rs 400 crore) per annum for sellers already operating on small margins. Online retailers instead propose that it should be enough that seller information is shared with tax authorities and sellers on their platforms are Value Added Tax (VAT) registered.

On the contrary, the All India Online Vendors Association (AIOVA) representing 1,800 sellers hopes that TCS will remove unfair competition in terms of product pricing from tax evaders. As for the working capital to be committed, e-commerce firms already hold a certain amount of the sellers money; TCS will therefore, not affect them substantially.

What is of concern to sellers is the application of TCS in the case of returned products, where they will have to claim TCS from tax authorities. AIOVA suggests that tax authorities implement a threshold for TCS depending on the sales of merchants, particularly in cases where the current VAT is less than the TCS amount for the seller. TCS under the GST will be in effect from July 1.

RELATED: Indias 2017 Budget: Sober Initiative after Heady 2016

India seeks more information from IT giants over H-1B visa conundrum

Responding to the growing Indian anxieties over the impending tightening of H-1B visa regulations in the US, Indias commerce ministry consulted with IT industry stakeholders last week, and asked companies in the sector to submit detailed business data on their contributions to the American economy. Industry body National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) will oversee the data collation as the Indian government prepares to take up their concerns with the Trump administration. The heads of the countrys leading IT firms will also meet separately with officials from the Trump administration and US lawmakers.

Indias IT sector contributes around 9.3 percent of the countrys GDP and will be significantly impacted if the US approves restrictive measures. Three bills are under consideration in the US Congress: the High-Skilled Integrity and Fairness Act, 2017, which proposes hiking the minimum wage for H-1B visa holders from US$60,000 to US$130,000; the `End Outsourcing Act that calls for a ban on outsourcing by the states; and the Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment (Raise) Act that seeks to reduce the number of green cards issued to half a million from about a million.

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In first of the case of a crackdown on top foreign officials, the Trump administration has blacklisted Venezuelas Vice President Tareck El Aissami for drug trafficking.

The US Department of Treasury said that it designated El Aissami for sanction under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (FNKDA) while his associate, Sarmark Jose Lopez Bello was targeted for funding El Aissamis activities, the Treasury department said in a statement.

Apart from the individuals, Treasury also targeted 13 companies either owned or controlled by Lopez Bello or other and their network cover large parts comprising the US, Panama, British Virgin Islands, Britain and Venezuela.

AFP

"El Aissami facilitated shipments of narcotics from Venezuela, to include control over planes that leave from a Venezuelan airbase, as well as control of drug routes through the ports of Venezuela," a senior U.S. administration official told a conference call with reporters and Reuters quoted him.

The Treasury also said that El Aissami partially owned the narcotics shipment of more than 1,000 kilograms from Venezuela on multiple occasions, including the shipment from the US and Mexico.

El Aissami (left) with President of Venezuela, AFP

U.S. officials called Lopez Bello a "key frontman" used by El Aissami to handle financial matters and purchase assets.

The Venezuelan government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, President Nicolas Maduro frequently accuses the US officials of trying to smear his administration.
The Border Security Force detected a 20-feet-long tunnel starting from the Pakistani side along the international border in Jammus Samba district and possibly foiled the infiltration attempt by the terrorists.

BSF detected the tunnel during the anti-tunneling exercise ahead of the fences into Indian territory in Ramgarh sector on Monday Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of BSF, Dharmendra Pareek told reporters in Jammu on Tuesday. The tunnel is 2.5 feet x 2.5 feet in size and width, he added.

With the detection, BSF has foiled Pakistans design to infiltrate terrorists into Indian territory, Pareek said. The BSF officer said the tunnels origin is found to be from Pakistans side and it is ending at a distance of approximately 20 metres ahead of the border fence in the area.

The tunnel was yet to be completed and was detected well in advance before it could reach the fence, the DIG said. The efforts of the BSF troops deployed in multi-tiered counter infiltration grid once again resulted in neutralising designs of terrorists working in connivance with Pak Rangers, he said.

The BSF, officials said, will seek a flag meeting with their counterparts Pak Rangers and inform them about the detection of the tunnel, built ahead of the IB fencing.
The ravishing night of 12th February skyrocketed many career paths and gifted fame to several names. One such name, who's talent remained undiscovered by the people of his own land won a Grammy Award.

So much love for this whole team, proud to be part of it  https://t.co/SLwRiDwGsX  Sandeep Das (@santript) February 14, 2017

Tabla wizard Sandeep Das won the Grammy for Best Global Music at the Grammy awards in LA held on Sunday night. He along with his group the Silk Road Ensemble made India proud.

There's no ounce of doubt we have explored the American music through and through, but it's a shame that we missed this gem, who was thriving in our own country.

(Also read: Famous Indian Sitarist Anoushka Shankar Lost A Grammy For The Sixth Time!)

Sandeep Das @santript gets a Grammy for Best World Music Album. Yayyyyyy ! pic.twitter.com/XHK3lABGIW  Shubha Mudgal (@smudgal) February 13, 2017

1. Sandeep was born on 23 January 1971, in Patna.

hopbackstage

2. He completed his schooling from St. Xavier's High School, Patna and graduated in English Literature with a gold medal from Banaras Hindu University.

egconf

3. His tryst with Tabla began at a tender age of 8, under the guidance Shiv Kumar Singh.

yamass

4. He's been performing with the Silk Road Ensemble of Yo-Yo Ma since the groups founding in 2000.

youtube

5. Prior to this, he was nominated twice for the Grammy Award in 2005 and 2009.

silkroadproject

The band's website describes him as 'Worlds leading tabla virtuosos' and we can't agree more. All his compositions exhibit both the Western and Indian genres of music and this speaks volumes about the man's talent.

Watch him perform:

Why does it take a foreign award to recognise our own talent? A similar case happened with Kailash Satyarthi. When he won The Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, we were the last ones to know about his goodwill and work done.

Let's hope we recognise this incredible Indian talent way before than we usually do.
Tamil Nadu politics which as been in turmoil ever since the death of J Jayalalithaa in December is bracing for more storm.

Chief Minister designate and long time aide of Jayalalithaa, Sasikala Natarajan who was set to take over as the state CM has run into a number of stumbling blocks.

BCCL

Initially, it was reported that after O Panneerselvam resigned on Sunday, Sasikala was expected to take oath on Tuesday. However, it has been delayed as the governor C. Vidyasagar Rao is not in the state.

Even though he is expected to return by tonight, it is unclear if he would administer the oath of office to her.

BCCL

Sasikala who took over AIADMK's leadership from Jayalalithaa, amid clear rifts within the party leadership and supporters have a number of things to worry about.

Her biggest concern is the Supreme Court verdict in the misappropriated assets case, which also involved later Jayalalithaa. The judgement in the tRs 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case has been pending before the Supreme Court since last June.

The court is likely to give its verdict next week. Any unfavourable verdict in the case could end Sasikala's political career even before it has started.

BCCL

Sasikala has been convicted along with Jaya in the four out of three cases the later was sentenced, and later acquitted by higher courts.

Her husband is still battling two cases relating to import of a Lexus car+ nearly 20 years ago. There were two parallel proceedings by the CBI and the ED.While he was convicted in the CBI case, and the appeal is pending in the high court, the ED proceedings have picked up momentum now before an economic offences court at Egmore in Chennai.

BCCL/ File

Sasikala's nephew TTV Dinakaran is facing the ED fine of 28 crore imposed on him for FERA violations, which has now been confirmed by Madras high court. Last week the high court revived two more ED probed JJTV transponder uplinking fee cases against the former MP.

If that wasn't enough, AIADMK founding leader PH Pandian on Tuesday dropped a bombshell by expressing doubts over the death of Jaya.

"Sasikala cheated us and wants to be the chief minister. We oppose it," he said.

ANI

Pandian questioned the circumstances lead to the death of Jaya and claimed that even without postmortem circumstantial evidence is enough to nail Sasikala and her family.

He has also questioned Sasikala's elevation as AIADMK General Secretary.

"When Jayalalithaa didn't make her even councillor in her lifetime, how could Sasikala become general secretary of the party."

Adding to the growing voice of dissent against Sasikala is Deepa Jayakumar, the niece of Jayalalithaa, who some in the party believe is the heir to Amma's political legacy and assets.

BCCL

Deepa, who has already made her political ambitions clear told the media on Tuesday that she will contest elections in the near future, but refused to clarify if it would be against Sasikala when she herself will be seeking vote, most likely from the seat vacated by the death of Amma.

Deepa is also set to announce her own political party on February 24, which is also the birthday of Jayalalithaa.

Hitting out at Sasikala Deepa said the people did not want her to be the next CM.

BCCL

Commenting on the explanation given by the doctors of Apollo hospital on Monday Deep said she was not satisfied with the clarification.

"I was not consulted before doctors pulled the plug on her. By not consulting me (as a family member), they are trying to make a point," she said.
Nearly half of the globe's population was lost to pollution in 2015 and guess which two countries housed the maximum number of these deaths? India and China. Obviously, this global benchmark is nothing to be proud of.

China and India have accounted for more than half of the total number of global deaths attributable to air pollution in 2015, a study published on Tuesday said. Research by the US-based Health Effects Institute (HEI) showed that air pollution caused more than 4.2 million early deaths worldwide in 2015, making it the fifth highest cause of death, with around 2.2 million deaths in China and India alone.

Reuters

The institute, which has also launched an online database showing the global impact of pollution on health, said 92 per cent of the world's population lives in areas with unhealthy air.

Air pollution has been linked to higher rates of cancer, stroke and heart disease, as well as chronic respiratory conditions like asthma. China and India, the world's two most populated nations, each accounted for 1.1 million deaths, the findings showed, but China is now pushing ahead when it comes to taking action, HEI president Dan Greenbaum told Reuters.

Reuters

"(India) has got a longer way to go. They still appear to have some ministers who say there isn't a strong connection between air pollution and mortality in spite of quite a lot of evidence," he said.

Reuters

China's authorities have also been reluctant to draw direct links between air pollution and mortality, with the country's health ministry saying it had "no data" linking smog to higher incidences of cancer. "It is currently too early to draw conclusions about the extent of the impact of smog on health, especially its long-term impact on the body," a ministry spokesman told the domestic media in China during a press briefing in January.

Reuters

In a long-term national healthcare plan published last October, the Chinese government acknowledged the link between health and pollution, and pledged to assess the precise impacts as well as boost environmental monitoring capabilities.
The picture that represented hate, anger, disgust and revenge has won the prestigious World Press Photo Award. To many, it might be a surprise, but the picture of an off-duty Turkish policeman assassinating the Russian envoy to Turkey in December 2016, won the prestigious World Press Photo Award on Monday.

Burhan Ozbilici, the photographer of the Associated Press, who clicked that photograph by putting his life at stake was praised by the judges. Ozbilici clicked Mevlut Mert Altintas while he fired nine shots at Russian ambassador to Turkey Andreo Karlov in an exhibition in Ankara.

AP

Altintas had shouted Allahu Akbar (God is greatest) and Dont forget Aleppo) before and while firing at Karlov, Russian ambassador.

From the moment I heard the shots I knew this was a historic moment, very serious," Ozbilici told AFP.

"I knew I had to do my job. As a journalist, I couldn't just run away to save my skin." The powerful photo went viral and has been viewed some 18 million times. Judges acknowledged that it was tough to choose the winner as a total of 80, 400 imgaes by a whopping 5,034 photographers from 125 countries were sent for the award.

AP

"It was a very, very difficult decision, but in the end we felt that the picture of the year was an explosive image that really spoke to the hatred of our times," said jury member Mary Calvert.
Evacuation orders for nearly 2,00,000 people living below the tallest dam in the United States remained in place after residents were abruptly told to flee when a spillway appeared in danger of collapse.

AFP

Authorities issued the evacuation order on Sunday, saying that a crumbling emergency spillway on Lake Oroville Dam in north California could give way and unleash flood waters onto rural communities along the Feather River.

Immediate evacuation from the low levels of Oroville and areas downstream is ordered, the Butte County sheriff said in a statement posted on social media.

AFP

The state water resources department said crews using helicopters would drop rocks to fill a huge gouge, and authorities were releasing water to lower the lakes level after weeks of heavy rains in the drought-plagued state.

Reuters

Local officials said the immediate danger had passed with water no longer flowing over the eroded spillway. But they cautioned that the situation remained unpredictable.

Butte County Sheriff Korey Honea told an earlier news briefing he was told by experts that the hole forming in the spillway could compromise the structure. Rather than risk thousands of lives, the decision was made to order evacuations.

Reuters

Officials said they feared the damaged spillway could unleash a 30-foot wall of water on Oroville, north of state capital Sacramento.

They said evacuation orders remained in place for some1,88,000 people in Oroville, Yuba County, Butte County, Marysville and nearby communities and would be re-evaluated at dawn.

AFP

Evacuation centres were set up at a fairgrounds in Chico,California, about 20 miles north-west of Oroville, but major highways leading south out of the area were jammed as residents fled the flood zone and hotels quickly filled up.

Reuters

Javier Santiago (42) fled with his wife, two children and several friends to the Oroville Dam Visitors Centre in a public park above the dam and the danger zone.

The Oroville dam is nearly full following winter storms that brought relief to the state after four years of drought. Water levels were less than 7 feet (2 meters) from the top of the dam on Friday.

Reuters

State authorities and engineers on Thursday began releasing water from the dam after noticing that large chunks of concrete were missing from a spillway.

California Governor Jerry Brown asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Friday to declare the area a major disaster due to flooding and mudslides brought on by the storms.

The earth fill dam is just upstream and east of Oroville, a city of more than 16,000 people.

At 770 feet high, the structure, built between 1962 and 1968, is the tallest U.S. dam, exceeding the Hoover Dam by more than 40 feet (12 meters).
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Organized Campaigns Hit At Trump's Foreign Policy Plans

The borg or deep state is way more concerned with keeping up its plans of uncontested global dominance than with the welfare of the citizens within the empire.

By Moon Of Alabama

February 13, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - " Moon Of Alabama " - At the end of his administration Obama implemented a series of anti-Russian moves. The most obvious was the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats over unfounded allegation of Russian interference in the U.S. elections. Other moves included the launching of an Ukrainian offense against the Russian supported resistance in the east Ukraine.

These moves were designed to impede the incoming Trump administration in its announced plans towards more friendly relations with Russia. The incoming Trump administration countered Obama's sanction move. Its designated National Security Advisor Flynn phoned up the Russian ambassador in Washington. He did not promise to immediately lift the sanctions but indirectly asked him to refrain from any harsh response:

The transcripts of the conversations dont show Mr. Flynn made any sort of promise to lift the sanctions once Mr. Trump took office, the officials said. Rather, they show Mr.Flynn making more general comments about relations between the two countries improving under Mr. Trump, people familiar with them said.

This was arguably a sensible move in line with a smooth transition of government.

In the end the Russian government refrained from any in kind reaction to the Obama sanctions.

This was blow to the promoters of hostilities with Russia. It did not stop their meddling. The effort moved towards kicking Flynn out of his new position as NSC. A concerted media campaign was launched to insinuate an early Flynn failure and to press for his dismissal.

Bradd Jaffy @BraddJaffy

Within the last 30 mins  NYT, WashPost, WSJ and Politico each dropped pieces that have to be alarming for your future if you're Mike Flynn

5:51 PM - 12 Feb 2017

Keep in mind that some 95% of the U.S. media was hostile to Trump during the election campaign. They all peddled the nonsense of "Russian hacks" when an insider leaked emails from the Democratic National Council. They are all willing to support any move that might hinder the Trump administration.

Thus this morning news was filled with these headlines:

All these stories are based on "inside views" from multiple "former and current officials". All are build around the baseless allegations against Flynn of somehow colluding with the Russian government. All are likely more wishful thinking than fact.

Information Clearing House - News You Won't Find On CNN Get Our Free Daily Newsletter

It would be astonishing if Trump falls for this obviously well organized campaign against his administration. Should he fire Flynn or give in to such pressure his enemies will smell blood, find a new target within his administration and intensify their fire.

Indeed a second well coordinated assault on an announced Trump policy, a change of course in Syria, is already in the making. This one aims at further maligning the Syrian government in an effort to make it impossible to argue for cooperation in the fight against the Islamic State.

A few days ago Amnesty International published an unfounded report about alleged executions in Syrian prisons.

Today Human Rights Watch claims that the Syrian government systematically used Chlorine in the fight over Aleppo. The sources are solely opposition supporters.

Based on similar vague "facts" the Atlantic Council, a NATO lobby with financial ties to Gulf governments, launches a huge propaganda report (large pdf) about the "war crime" of liberating Aleppo from Jihadis.

None of these "humanitarian" organization is concerned about the current devastating situation in Aleppo. For 40 days the water has been cut off by the Islamic State at the Euphrates pumping stations. There is no electricity. Fuel is sparse. Medications are difficult to find.

Their hypocrisy stinks to high heaven. These organizations all assert that the Syrian government, for example, attacked hospitals in east-Aleppo solely to hit civilians. At the same time they all applaud a much bigger assault on the Islamic State held Mosul by U.S. and Iraqi troops. There, the head of Human Rights Watch asserts, the hospitals are used by the Jihadis and thus attacks on them are justified:

Kenneth Roth @KenRoth

As battle for Mosul proceeds, ISIS is regularly occupying hospitals & medical facilities, endangering patients/staff bit.ly/2kqXuUR

The anti-Flynn campaign as well as the bad-Assad campaign are aimed at Trump policy changes. These changes move away from the course the borg implemented throughout the Obama reign.

Meanwhile the Trump administration implements regressive economic and social policies without any noticeable resistance in the media, in Congress or from so called Non-Government-Organizations:

President Trump has embarked on the most aggressive campaign against government regulation in a generation, joining with Republican lawmakers to roll back rules already on the books and limit the ability of federal regulators to impose new ones.

The borg or deep state is way more concerned with keeping up its plans of uncontested global dominance than with the welfare of the citizens within the empire.
The Elites Wont Save Us

By Chris Hedges

February 13, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - " Truth Dig " - The four-decade-long assault on our democratic institutions by corporations has left them weak and largely dysfunctional. These institutions, which surrendered their efficacy and credibility to serve corporate interests, should have been our firewall. Instead, they are tottering under the onslaught.

Labor unions are a spent force. The press is corporatized and distrusted. Universities have been purged of dissidents and independent scholars who criticize neoliberalism and decry the decay of democratic institutions and political parties. Public broadcasting and the arts have been defunded and left on life support. The courts have been stacked with judges whose legal careers were spent serving corporate power, a trend in appointments that continued under Barack Obama. Money has replaced the vote, which is how someone as unqualified as Betsy DeVos can buy herself a Cabinet seat. And the Democratic Party, rather than sever its ties to Wall Street and corporations, is naively waiting in the wings to profit from a Trump debacle.

The biggest asset Trump has is the decadent, clueless, narcissistic, corporate-indentured, war-mongering Democratic Party, Ralph Nader said when I reached him by phone in Washington. If the Democratic strategy is waiting for Godot, waiting for Trump to implode, we are in trouble. And just about everything you say about the Democrats you can say about the AFL-CIO. They dont control the train.

The loss of credibility by democratic institutions has thrust the country into an existential as well as economic crisis. The courts, universities and press are no longer trusted by tens of millions of Americans who correctly see them as organs of the corporate elites. These institutions are traditionally the mechanisms by which a society is able to unmask the lies of the powerful, critique ruling ideologies and promote justice. Because Americans have been bitterly betrayed by their institutions, the Trump regime can attack the press as the opposition party, threaten to cut off university funding, taunt a federal jurist as a so-called judge and denounce a court order as outrageous.

The decay of democratic institutions is the prerequisite for the rise of authoritarian or fascist regimes. This decay has given credibility to a pathological liar. The Trump administration, according to an Emerson College poll, is considered by 49 percent of registered voters to be truthful while the media are considered truthful by only 39 percent of registered voters. Once American democratic institutions no longer function, reality becomes whatever absurdity the White House issues.

Most of the rules of democracy are unwritten. These rules determine public comportment and ensure respect for democratic norms, procedures and institutions. President Trump has, to the delight of his supporters, rejected this political and cultural etiquette.

Hannah Arendt in The Origins of Totalitarianism noted that when democratic institutions collapse it is easier to accept patently absurd propositions than the old truths which have become pious banalities. The chatter of the liberal ruling elites about our democracy is itself an absurdity. Vulgarity with its cynical dismissal of respected standards and accepted theories, she wrote, infects political discourse. This vulgarity is mistaken for courage and a new style of life.

He is destroying one code of behavior after another, Nader said of Trump. He is so far getting away with it and not paying a price. He is breaking standards of behaviorwhat he says about women, commercializing the White House, I am the law.

Nader said he does not think the Republican Party will turn against Trump or consider impeachment unless his presidency appears to threaten its chances of retaining power in the 2018 elections. Nader sees the Democratic Party as too decadent and incompetent to mount a serious challenge to Trump. Hope, he said, comes from the numerous protests that have been mounted in the streets, at town halls held by members of Congress and at flash points such as Standing Rock. It may also come from the 2.5 million civil servants within the federal government if a significant number refuse to cooperate with Trumps authoritarianism.

The new president is clearly aware of the power wielded by civil servants, who swear an oath of allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, not to any president or administration, Maria J. Stephan, the co-author of Why Civil Resistance Works, writes in The Washington Post. One of Trumps first acts as president was a sweeping federal hiring freeze affecting all new and existing positions except those related to the military, national security and public safety. Even before Trumps inauguration, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives reinstated an obscure 1876 rule that would allow Congress to slash the salaries of individual federal workers. This was a clear warning to those serving in government to keep their heads down. Trumps high-profile firing of acting attorney general Sally Yates, who refused to follow the presidents immigration ban, sent shock waves through the bureaucracy.

A sustained, nationwide popular uprising of nonviolent obstruction and noncooperation is the only weapon left to save the republic. The elites will respond once they become afraid. If we do not make them afraid we will fail.

The four-decade-long assault on our democratic institutions by corporations has left them weak and largely dysfunctional. These institutions, which surrendered their efficacy and credibility to serve corporate interests, should have been our firewall. Instead, they are tottering under the onslaught.

Labor unions are a spent force. The press is corporatized and distrusted. Universities have been purged of dissidents and independent scholars who criticize neoliberalism and decry the decay of democratic institutions and political parties. Public broadcasting and the arts have been defunded and left on life support. The courts have been stacked with judges whose legal careers were spent serving corporate power, a trend in appointments that continued under Barack Obama. Money has replaced the vote, which is how someone as unqualified as Betsy DeVos can buy herself a Cabinet seat. And the Democratic Party, rather than sever its ties to Wall Street and corporations, is naively waiting in the wings to profit from a Trump debacle.

The biggest asset Trump has is the decadent, clueless, narcissistic, corporate-indentured, war-mongering Democratic Party, Ralph Nader said when I reached him by phone in Washington. If the Democratic strategy is waiting for Godot, waiting for Trump to implode, we are in trouble. And just about everything you say about the Democrats you can say about the AFL-CIO. They dont control the train.

The loss of credibility by democratic institutions has thrust the country into an existential as well as economic crisis. The courts, universities and press are no longer trusted by tens of millions of Americans who correctly see them as organs of the corporate elites. These institutions are traditionally the mechanisms by which a society is able to unmask the lies of the powerful, critique ruling ideologies and promote justice. Because Americans have been bitterly betrayed by their institutions, the Trump regime can attack the press as the opposition party, threaten to cut off university funding, taunt a federal jurist as a so-called judge and denounce a court order as outrageous.

The decay of democratic institutions is the prerequisite for the rise of authoritarian or fascist regimes. This decay has given credibility to a pathological liar. The Trump administration, according to an Emerson College poll, is considered by 49 percent of registered voters to be truthful while the media are considered truthful by only 39 percent of registered voters. Once American democratic institutions no longer function, reality becomes whatever absurdity the White House issues.

Most of the rules of democracy are unwritten. These rules determine public comportment and ensure respect for democratic norms, procedures and institutions. President Trump has, to the delight of his supporters, rejected this political and cultural etiquette.

Information Clearing House - News You Won't Find On CNN Get Our Free Daily Newsletter

Hannah Arendt in The Origins of Totalitarianism noted that when democratic institutions collapse it is easier to accept patently absurd propositions than the old truths which have become pious banalities. The chatter of the liberal ruling elites about our democracy is itself an absurdity. Vulgarity with its cynical dismissal of respected standards and accepted theories, she wrote, infects political discourse. This vulgarity is mistaken for courage and a new style of life.

He is destroying one code of behavior after another, Nader said of Trump. He is so far getting away with it and not paying a price. He is breaking standards of behaviorwhat he says about women, commercializing the White House, I am the law.

Nader said he does not think the Republican Party will turn against Trump or consider impeachment unless his presidency appears to threaten its chances of retaining power in the 2018 elections. Nader sees the Democratic Party as too decadent and incompetent to mount a serious challenge to Trump. Hope, he said, comes from the numerous protests that have been mounted in the streets, at town halls held by members of Congress and at flash points such as Standing Rock. It may also come from the 2.5 million civil servants within the federal government if a significant number refuse to cooperate with Trumps authoritarianism.

The new president is clearly aware of the power wielded by civil servants, who swear an oath of allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, not to any president or administration, Maria J. Stephan, the co-author of Why Civil Resistance Works, writes in The Washington Post. One of Trumps first acts as president was a sweeping federal hiring freeze affecting all new and existing positions except those related to the military, national security and public safety. Even before Trumps inauguration, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives reinstated an obscure 1876 rule that would allow Congress to slash the salaries of individual federal workers. This was a clear warning to those serving in government to keep their heads down. Trumps high-profile firing of acting attorney general Sally Yates, who refused to follow the presidents immigration ban, sent shock waves through the bureaucracy.

A sustained, nationwide popular uprising of nonviolent obstruction and noncooperation is the only weapon left to save the republic. The elites will respond once they become afraid. If we do not make them afraid we will fail.

Chris Hedges, spent nearly two decades as a foreign correspondent in Central America, the Middle East, Africa and the Balkans. He has reported from more than 50 countries and has worked for The Christian Science Monitor, National Public Radio, The Dallas Morning News and The New York Times, for which he was a foreign correspondent for 15 years.
Former Vice President and chieftain of All Progressives Congress, Atiku Abubakar visited former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida in Minna, Niger State on Tuesday, 14 February at Babangidas famous Hilltop Residence.

Babangida returned to Nigeria recently after a seven-week medical vacation in Switzerland.

He arrived in Minna International Airport on Saturday at 6.45 pm.

Alighting from the aircraft, General Babangida expressed gratitude for prayers and goodwill messages from different quarters during his vacation.

I am feeling stronger and better now.

I must thank Nigerians immensely for the prayers and concerns over my health.

I must use this opportunity to also call on Nigerians to continue to pray for the leaders and the country to move forward in positive direction.

He advised Nigerians to remain united and work collectively towards the progress of the nation.

The ex-military head of state advised that Nigerians should be thinking positively about the leaders and providing constructive criticisms and solutions to any challenge we may face.

On the situation in the country, IBB said the current economic recession is not peculiar to Nigeria.

I am aware that other countries face different political, social and economic challenges. I believe the current government is working assiduously towards addressing some of the issues.

We need to support all arms and tiers of government in their efforts to ensure economic recovery and political stability, He concluded

General Babangida left the country for medical vacation in Europe on December 18, 2016.
President Buharis media aide, Femi Adesina has given an update on the proposed phone conversation between the Nigerian president and U.S President, Donald Trump.

Read the brief report circulated by the SA to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina via his Facebook page:

President Muhammadu Buhari this afternoon from London spoke to President Donald Trump on telephone at the request of the American President.

The conversation was cordial and President Buhari congratulated Trump on his election as President of the United States, and on his cabinet.

The two leaders discussed ways to improve cooperation in the fight against terrorism through provision of necessary equipment.

President Trump encouraged President Buhari to keep up the good work he is doing, and also commended him for the efforts made in rescuing 24 of the Chibok Girls and the strides being taken by the Nigerian military.

President Trump assured the Nigerian President of US readiness to cut a new deal in helping Nigeria in terms of military weapons to combat terrorism.

President Trump also invited President Buhari to Washington at a mutually convenient date.

FEMI ADESINA

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

February 13, 2017.

Source: Tori
Muhammadu Buhari is no longer enjoying his stay outside the country and could return from London any moment from Tuesday, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu has said.

Shehu, who made this known in Abuja on Tuesday, said that the President would be returning to Nigeria soonest as he was no longer comfortable with the extended vacation in London.

As a matter of fact, we should be getting ready to see the President in fresh and that will be soon as possible.

The President (himself) is looking to being home to be with his people.

I dont think he is enjoying any longer with an extended vacation outside the country.

On the Presidents telephone conversation with United States President, Donald Trump, Shehu described as undiplomatic the request being made in some quarters for the release of the audio containing the conversation.

According to him, releasing an audio containing telephone conversation between two presidents is highly unethical and against modern day civilization.

No, I dont think so; I dont think it is permitted in international diplomacy. I think if we had recorded Mr. Trump in this conversation it would have offended our diplomatic relations.

I think the Americans themselves would not have recorded this conversation of president to president, he said.

On the Presidents test results being expected from his doctors, Shehu said he had no information on whether the President had collected the results or not.

He said: No, we have no information on that (test results). If he had received them, he would have been on the plane back home.

Buhari, who proceeded on vacation to United Kingdom on January 19 for a routine medical check as indicated in a letter to the Senate, transmitted another letter to the Senate, on February 5, requesting extension of time to complete the medical check-up.
A nurse has gotten herself into more trouble than she bargained for after she allegedly made away with a womans baby.

A Ugandan nurse and her alleged accomplice have been arrested in connection with stealing a five-day-old premature baby from hospital.

According to Daily Monitor, the two were apprehended on allegations that they stole the baby boy at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital on Wednesday evening last week.

The baby was receiving treatment at the health facilitys special care unit.

Police confirmed the arrest, adding that the two suspects remained in their custody.

The nurse was identified as Rose Sului while her accomplice was identified as Harriet Jalya.

Meanwhile, the toddlers mother, Zaina Magomu of Mpumudde, Kimaka Divison in Jinja, was said to still be in shock following the incident.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued a ban on Valentines Day on Tuesday, prohibiting celebrations at public places.

A Pakistani court on Monday, issued a ruling against observing Valentines Day in public places across the country.

Petitioner, Abdul Waheed told newsmen that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) also ordered local media not to publicise anything related to the day.

Majid Bhatti, a lawyer at the IHC, confirmed that the court order covered the entire country.

Report says Valentines Day draws mixed responses from people every year with many voicing objections, citing religious teachings.

In 2017, President Mamnoon Hussain had urged people not to observe Valentines Day because it was not a Muslim, but a Western tradition.

Valentines Day has no connection with our culture and it should be avoided, the president had said.

Waheed said had asked the court to issue orders against the promotion of Valentines Day because he believed print and electronic media had been presenting the day as if it was part of local culture.

According to him, private TV channels will be banned from airing special content in relation to Valentines Day.
A Coalition of Civil Society Groups under the aegis of Citizens Wealth Platform has descried the sum of N15 billion in the National Assembly budget as wasteful and frivolous.

They made the submission at the ongoing public hearing in Abuja.

In their presentation, the coalition urged the Upper legislative arm to cut cost of its budget from N115 billion to N110 billion in consideration of austere situation that the nation was passing through.

The total vote of N115 billion should be reduced to N110 billion in the spirit of of austere times and to demonstrate solidarity with Nigerians who are suffering and going through untold hardship, the group expressed.

They emphasised that the sum of N150 million voted to be used for passage of Petroleum Industry Bill was a wasteful Expenditure, adding that the budget was previously provided for the exercise, but yielded no results.

The group also identified the sum of N450 million for governance and institutional reforms as inappropriate, unclear, and a waste.

Meanwhile, the Senate President has repeatedly promised that the 8th Senate under his leadership would made public budget proposals of the National Assembly.

It was also recalled that following public suspicion of National Assemblys yearly budget, the former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume has advised that the Senate should make its proposals public.

Source: Dailypost
An Ex-CBN staff, Johnson Babalola has forfeited one Teedek Polytechnic to the federal government today.

According to a statement by the EFCC, the polytechnic was allegedly operating without the requisite approval of the Government.

Read the full statement below

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal office today, February, 13, 2017, executed the interim order granted by HonourableJustice Taiwo Taiwo of Federal High Court , Ado Ekiti against one Johnson Babalola in respect of the property of TEEDEK POLYTECHNIC, Ilogbo- Ekiti allegedly operating without the requisite government approval. The property located on Km 4 Ido-Ijero Ekiti Road, ilogbo Ekiti, Ekiti State.The order of the court is pending the final determination of prosecution of the accused person charged with advance fee fraud and operation of illegal Polytechnic.

You will recall that Johnson Babatola was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibadan Zonal Office on Monday, 10, October, 2016 in a Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti, before Justice Taiwo Taiwo for operating an illegal polytechnic.

Babatola, a former Principal Manager of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ado-Ekiti branch, was arrested following a petition from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in Kaduna, alleging that he was operating an illegal Polytechnic named Teedek Polytechnic at Ilogbo, Ekiti State.

The board said that the accused had allegedly extorted gullible students, who were not aware of the status of the institution.

The petitioner further alleged that some of the students of the Polytechnic had earlier reported the institution to the board and they had published the school as an illegal institution in some National Dailies.

It said that the accused failed to stop the fraudulent act and as such continued to fleece innocent students through the Polytechnic.

The petitioner said that Babatola had some time between the month of August 2013 and March 2015 intended to defraud Adakeja Thomas Olusola at Ilogbo Ekiti within the jurisdiction of the court to the tune of N118,000 having falsely represented that the money was tuition fees.

It said that the accused told the victim that money was for the award of National Diploma Certificate by Teedek Polytechnic.

Source; National Helm
Unknown hoodlums yesterday set ablaze a section of the Osun State High Court located in Ayeso area. The Guardian gathered that the ugly incident occurred yesterday morning.

There was some drama before the hoodlums succeeded in carrying out their nefarious act, as they reportedly tied up a correspondent, Opeyemi Olawale, and some security men on duty to prevent being challenged.

This occurred after the hoodlums, who came in large numbers, macheted a security man while trying to gain access into the court premises. The yet-to-be identified hoodlums also destroyed some documents of the court before leaving the premises.

Efforts to speak with the state Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo, who visited the scene to assess the level of damage done, were unsuccessful, as she declined interview.

But speaking with newsmen, chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilesa branch, Ebenezer Ogunfunminiyi, condemned the attack on the court premises.

He said lawyers might be forced to boycott the court, as their lives are in danger, if nothing is done to forestall a recurrence. Ogunfunminiyi said efforts were in top gear to reach the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, towards ensuring adequate security of lives of workers in the court.

Source: Guardian
Some South African nationals in Rosettenville, south of Johannesburg, have burned down about 15 houses belonging to immigrants, especially Nigerians residing there.

south

The locals, who were apparently peeved, have accused the non-indigenes of turning their neighbourhood into a drug den.

According to Africa Review, some shops belonging to foreign nationals in the area were also looted on Sunday, February 12, 2017.

The South African residents in the area are of the opinion that Nigerians had illegally taken over most property and turned them into drug and prostitution dens, thereby calling for their sack from the neighbourhood.

Confirming the attacks when contacted, Marc Gbaffou, African Diaspora Forum (ADM) chairperson, blamed Herman Mashaba, Johannesburg mayor, for his inflammatory comments.

In December 2016, Mashaba had told a media conference that illegal immigrants got there criminally and should be treated as such.

According to community members, these homes are illegally occupied by Nigerian foreign nationals who run the homes as brothels and have girls as young as nine years old working as prostitutes.

Many of the women in these brothels are also alleged to have no official identification documentation, he said.

Gbafou said the Mayor should not have made such statement without proof.

What proof does he have that foreigners are running these brothels? His remarks are very inflammatory, and it makes no difference that he has diverted from illegal immigrants to drug peddling. It is very dangerous and we see it as propaganda of hatred, he added.

Source: Ken Vibes
Justice Raliatu Adebiyi of the Lagos State High Court on Monday convicted and sentenced a 26-year-old man, Samuel Anuoluwapo to death by hanging for killing his friend during a drunken brawl.

The judge condemned Anuoluwapo to death after founding him guilty of a one count charge of murder brought against him by the Lagos State government.

The state had told the court through its counsel, Akin George that the convict committed the offence on May 2, 2012 at Oke-Afa Secondary School, Badagry, Lagos.

According to George the convict and the deceased, John Omobere, were involved in a fight after getting drunk for the consumption of locally made gin popularly called Ogogoro.

The lawyer also claimed, The fight was allegedly instigated by a third friend who goes by the name Lampard the convict was allegedly stabbed by the deceased with a broken bottle.

After the convict was stabbed, he ran to his house to get a machete and inflicted deep cuts in his right arm

The deceased did not die at the scene but at his home, the autopsy established that he died of Haemorrhagic shock and severe lacerations on his right hand, George stated.

The prosecutor further maintained that the deceased was discovered the next day lying dead in a pool of blood in his home by members of his family.

In her judgment, Justice Adebiyi held, the defendant, Samuel Anuoluwapo is hereby sentenced to death in accordance to Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

May the Lord have mercy on your soul, Adebiyi stated.

The judge also held in the judgment that prosecution established all the five ingredients necessary to secure a murder conviction.

She said, The defendant from the facts of the case did not set out to kill the deceased but he must have known that the machete wound he inflicted caused a grievous bodily harm.

The defendant left the scene of the fight to fetch a machete, that action was a proof of his intent to inflict the maximum injury on the deceased, the court held.

Source: Leadership
In what has been described as a Law of Karma, a mother of five, Mrs Patience Udoh who dumped her husband, Sampson Udoh to live with her lover, Udouk has equally suffered the same fate.

It was learnt that Patience has been dumped and her properties thrown out by the same Udouk, who has brought in another woman to replace her in his home in Shasha area of Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS learnt that Udouk informed Patience that he was tired of living with her and asked her to leave the house to elsewhere or he will be forced to leave.

Patience, who thought Udouk may be joking, was shocked when he started throwing out his property and threatened to kill her if she dare enter their apartment.

Following her eviction, Patience went to the police at Shasha division to report and claimed that she had been sent out of the house she actually paid its rent.

Five years ago, Patience dumped her former husband of 14 years, Sampson when he had financial setback.

She abandoned both her husband and their children in their home in Ejigbo suburbs and moved to Udouks Shasha home where she now claimed to pay the rent.

It was gathered that out of frustration, Sampson was forced to relocate back to his village in Akwa Ibom State and since then, Patience had been living with Udouk until last week.

When our correspondent visited the residence, Patiences property was still outside and some neighbours urged her to park and keep them somewhere pending the outcome of the police intervention.

At the Shasha police division where the matter was reported, the police confirmed report of such incident.

Meanwhile, the DPO was not around to comment, but police source said the police was looking into the matter and looking how best to resolve the matter.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that Patience is still interested in living with Udouk or in the alternative, suggested that he should rent another place for her.

Of all those conditions, Udouk had refused to yield to such demands.

Source: PM Xpress
The World Bank says that Nigerian Government will need about 140billion dollars to mitigate negative impacts of climate change in the country.

Mr Benoit Bosquet, an official of the World Bank, stated this at the Climate Change Knowledge Immersion Workshop (KIW) in Abeokuta on Monday.

The workshop was organised by the World Bank in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment.

Bosquet who is an environmental expert also called for stronger collaborations between the public and private sectors in Nigeria to mobilise resources and tackle the menace.

Bosquet, who is also the Practice Manager, Africa Environment and Natural Resources, noted with concern, the severe damages climate change had caused to the ecosystem and global food production.

He said Nigeria could not afford to toy with the global challenge, adding that the country would continue to get warmer by the days if the situation persisted.

However, he advised stakeholders to embrace zero deforestation, renewable energy system, good transportation, electric vehicles and low carbon industrial installation to reduce global warming.

Bosquet warned stakeholders against delaying action on greenhouse emissions, the sooner action is taken, the lesser the cost of adaptation.

He said that  the longer you wait, the higher the cost of adaptation.

The Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibril, in an address at the workshop, called for support from the private sector and various state governments in tackling the menace.

He, however, said that Nigeria would issue its first sovereign N20 billion green bond by March to finance environmental-friendly projects.

This, he said, would reduce emissions and provide robust climate infrastructure like renewable energy for achieving Nigerias National Determined Contributions (NDCs) in line with the Paris Agreement.

He said that the Federal Government was collaborating with the private sector including the World Bank Department of International Development (DFID) and financial institutions like Nigeria Stock Exchange on the project.

Source: Leadership
Nigerian newspaper headlines February 14, 2017.

Punch

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has approved 20 to 50 per cent fare increase for BRT, LAGBUS and other franchise buses, with effect from March 1, 2017.

Guardian

Nigeria plans to generate as much as $16.4 billion through asset sales in the next four years to reduce the burden on the public budget, a Budget Ministry document showed.

Vanguard

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and clerics drawn from various churches in Borno State, have declared a seven-day special fasting and prayers to God for the speedy recovery and good health of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Nation

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday ruled out electronic and diaspora voting in the 2019 general elections.

Thisday

The federal government has secured funding of over $1 billion from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to develop the Niger Delta region, acting President Yemi Osinbajo said monday.

The Sun

As reports of likely petrol scarcity push motorists into panic buying, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday said it was increasing February petrol supply with additional six cargoes.

Leadership

Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, has saidthe state government will invest $20 billion to ensure free and compulsory education in the state.

Premium Times

The Nigeria police on Monday again invited the publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, to a meeting on Thursday with the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigations Department(SCID) in Lagos.
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has urged Nigerians to shun ethnic or religious biases. Speaking yesterday at the 2017 Murtala Muhammed Memorial lecture in Abuja, Osinbajo expressed regrets that the spirit of the Nigerian project had degenerated to the extent that, The first question we ask is not what is the worth of a man or a woman, or what he or she can do but where he or she is from or what religious label he is wearing.

According to the acting president, Nigerians should emulate the legacy of the late General Muhammed, who even in his short reign, left indelible marks in the country.

Meanwhile, the Acting President yesterday paid an official visit to Rivers State in continuation of Federal Governments dialogue with peoples of the Niger Delta.

In Port Harcourt, he declared that the zone required a new vision devoid of the prevailing unhappy circle of discontent that sometimes resulted in violence, vandalism and security response.

He said that it was extremely discomforting that the Niger Delta region where he did his National Youths Service Corps 38 years ago was still grappling with the same challenges of underdevelopment and poverty.

He disclosed that the groundbreaking ceremony for the Integrated Contaminated Soil Management Centre provided for by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report will be performed on Thursday in Ogoni.

The acting president reassured the stakeholders that the Federal Government would continue the amnesty programme for ex-militants. In response, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike said he was in support of the 16-point agenda submitted by the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) to the Federal Government.

Osinbajo will also pay an official visit to Imo State today. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Sam Onwuemeodo in Owerri yesterday stated that the Acting President would inaugurate one or two projects, out of more than two thousand verifiable projects executed by the Governor Rochas Okorochas administration.

Source: Guardian
The Cross River State Police Command has arrested a man, Anyanime Festus, 33, for killing his twin children, Emediong Festus and Mfoniso Festus, both 11 years old for allegedly being witches.

Presenting the suspects to journalists in Calabar on Tuesday, the Acting Commissioner of Police in the state, Hafiz Inuwa, alleged that the suspect killed his twins for confessing to being witches.

Mr. Inuwa said the incident happened on January 11, 2017 in Uyanga community in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state.

He said the matter was reported to the police by David Innocent and Joseph Orok from the same area.

The incident happened on January 11, 2017 in Uyanga community in Akamkpa Local Government Area following a report to the police by one David Innocent and Joseph Orok.

They reported that the two female identical twins were found lying along Uyanga bush track in Akamkpa.

According to them, one of the twins was found dead while the other was lying down and was unable to speak.

Much later, the other twin that was lying down was able to speak and she gave her name as Emediong Festus and that of her twin sister as Mfoniso Festus, both 11 years.

That on Jan. 10, 2017, their father told them he was taking them to their mother, and on getting to a bush track, he gave them malt drink suspected to be mixed with poisonous substances.

Shortly after they drank the malt, her sister died and their father abandoned them there, he said.

The commissioner further said that the other twin later died in the hospital, adding that both corpses were now deposited at the General Hospital, Akamkpa, for autopsy.

The suspect, who is a taxi driver, told the News Agency of Nigeria that since the incident happened, he had not been himself.

Festus, who said he regretted his action, blamed the incident on the devil.

I poisoned them through the malt I gave them to drink. I did it because they confessed to being witches, he said.

Source: NAN
A tourist told police in the US that he mailed himself crystal methamphetamine so he could try the drug for the first time while on the tropical island of Key West, according to reports.

Robert Bare, 24, of Bullhead City, Ariz., admitted he mailed the package  meth wrapped in dirty socks and paper  to the Inn at Key West because he was in town to party, said police spokeswoman Alyson Crean.

On Feb. 8, an employee opened the small box, which was addressed only to the hotel, 3420 N. Roosevelt Blvd., and had a return address with the name Robert Dean Bare, who was not listed as a guest at the time. Hotel management called the police.

When Bare came to pick up the package, an undercover detective posing as a hotel manager handed it over. Bare took the package and was stopped by undercover detectives in the lobby. After a brief struggle, he was taken into custody.

Bare said he has never used methamphetamine before but wanted to try it, police said.

He was arrested on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest, and was released at 3:15 a.m. Friday after posting $19,000 bond.
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, on Monday admitted he visited President Muhammadu Buhari in the United Kingdom, UK, but, said he wont disclose any details about the Presidents health.

Addressing journalists during an event at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, the state capital, the governor maintained that the President is well and okay.

According to Amosun, Yes it is true I visited our president in London and he is doing fine. If you ask me pointedly whether I saw him or not, yes I did and that is the only thing that I can say. And of course you can see he is very well, he is okay. So I dont know what else you want me to say.

On the actual state of the Presidents health when he visited, Amosun declined comment, saying that is the work of the Presidents spokesperson.

I am not one of the spokespersons of Mr. President; so it will be out of place for me to talk on that. But then, they are doing their job and youve listened to all that they have said, Amosun said.

Recall that, shortly after Buhari embarked on his vacation few weeks ago; rumour had it that he was dead.

This was further fuelled by the fact that Buhari, who was expected back in the country last week Sunday, following the completion of his vacation, sent a letter to the National Assembly same day, extending his 10-day vacation in the United Kingdom, UK to enable him complete and receive medical results.

A new twist was added to the Buharis health story on Sunday, following the emergence of the letter Buhari wrote to the National Assembly, saying he would not return until doctors certify him well enough. http://dailypost.ng/2017/02/11/buhari-wont-return-nigeria-now-letter-senate-revealed/

Amidst the death rumour, photographs surfaced online, showing Amosun in company of a National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, with Buhari, this however, sparked controversy among Nigerians.

Source: Dailypost
Alleging that the Federal Government was deliberately holding its leader in detention in order to turn him blind, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Shiites yesterday said the Federal Government would be held responsible if Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky dies in solitary confinement.

The Shiites again urged the government to immediately obey the court judgment ordering his release and wife for urgent medical attention.

According to a statement issued by its spokesman, Mallam Ibrahim Musa, the doctor assigned to attend to our illegally detained leader, Sheikh Zakzaky, has clearly told the authorities detaining him that he could go blind if not given the proper medical attention he deserves without further delay.

According to IMN, ZakZaky has been denied access to his own doctor alleging that with the way he has been treated, government wants him to die. Thus far, the government has decided to play deaf, dumb and blind, as if all is well. The continued detention, illegally, in what it termed protective custody, against court orders and despite the doctors red alert is objectionable and condemnable. It is a moral obligation upon all people of conscience to show support and empathy to the plight of the oppressed Sheikh. Something urgent must be in place to save the deteriorating eye of Sheikh Zakzaky.

IMN appealed to Nigerians to join them in mounting pressure on government to release him, in compliance with court order and to enable him attend to his health.

The group also called on Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to obey court order and free Sheikh Zakzaky. The Shiite leader and his wife were arrested in Kaduna in December 2015, in the wake of the clash between his followers and the Nigerian military.

The military authorities claimed the Shiite followers wanted to assassinate chief of army staff, General Tukur Buratai, which prompted soldiers to open fire on them.

The clash had been a subject of probe by the Human Rights Commission and the Kaduna State Government.

Source: Guardian
A woman arrested by the police in Lagos Tuesday last week for allegedly drugging and robbing her medical doctor consort has several identities on social media, findings by PREMIUM TIMES have shown.

The woman, Mitchel Harrold, 37, from Warri, Delta State was arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, of the Lagos State Police Command in Agbor, Delta State.

She had allegedly drugged the medical doctor in a hotel room in Ojodu area of Lagos and made away with his car, laptop and mobile phone. The security operatives later traced her through a car dealer in Lagos, whom she had engaged to perfect import papers for the stolen Volkswagen Passat Wagon, 2001 model.

In a statement on Sunday, the police said the suspect and the medical doctor had on January 19 at about 5:30 p.m. checked into an hotel in the Ojodu Berger area of Lagos with the plan to spend the night together.

I went in to take a bath and when I returned, she had gone to buy some drinks. I took the malt drink and yoghurt and I slept off. I slept off at 6:00 p.m. and woke up around 2:00 p.m., the victim whose name was not revealed had told the police.

He realised his phone, gadgets and car had been taken away when he woke up from his drug-induced sleep.

According to the victim, he met the accused on a social media dating site, Badoo, about a year ago, where she introduced herself as Aisha Ibrahim. He only became aware of Ms. Harrolds real name after her arrest.

Apart from her Badoo account, checks on Facebook reveal that the suspect has two accounts, Harrold Mitchel and Otite Mitchel.

Pictures from the two Facebook accounts confirmed the same face and tattoos (crucifix on the right arm) as those of the suspect when she was arrested. (pix1)

In the account she posted as Otite Mitchel, she claims to live in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt; studied at University of Lagos and worked at First Battallion Regiment in the United States.

Investigation on Mukoro Okpako revealed the double identity of Ms. Harrold on Facebook.

The police said Mr. Okpako is Ms. Harrolds brother and accomplice who was to assist her in perfecting custom papers for the stolen car two days before she was arrested.

Mr. Okpako also keeps two Facebook accounts: Okpako Mukoro and Mukoro Okpako Glory.

Also arrested alongside Ms. Harrold was a generator repairer, Gbenga Adesanya, whom she engaged to drive the stolen vehicle.

According to Mr. Adesanya, I was surprised to see her opening the gate of the hotel herself for me to drive out instead of the gate man. That wasnt the first time I would be helping her take a vehicle out of Lagos to Sapele. It was about the third time.

First, it was a Toyota Camry Big for Nothing. I helped her move it from Ajah to Sapele, Delta State. The second one was an End of Discussion Honda Accord and thirdly, Volkswagen Passat, 2001 model. I moved that too all night to Sapele.

Mr. Adesanya said he was introduced to Ms. Harrold last year by her elder brother who worked as clearing and forwarding agent.

However, on one of Mr. Okpakos Facebook account, Ms. Mitchels alleged brother had advertised a Evil Spirit Honda Accord car.

As it were now, whereabouts of the other stolen, Honda Accord, End of Discussion and Toyota Camry, Big for Nothing remained unknown as she refused to cooperate with the Police during preliminary investigation, the police stated.

The Lagos State police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmus, who confirmed the arrest, noted that the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

Source: Leadership
Today is February 14, the famed days for lovers, known across the world as Valentines Day. Surprisingly, a court in Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, has banned the celebration of Valentines because it successfully argued that the Vals Day has no part in Muslim culture, directing the media not to cover any Valentine-related event.

That is not happening here. Even in spite of the ongoing economic downturns in the country, it is still a day lovers across the country are looking forward to. However, Pastor Charles Abiola of Christ Land Ministry, Sango, Ilorin, has warned Nigerians against wild celebration of Valentine on February 14.

Abiola gave the warning on Sunday in Ilorin, Kwara State capital in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He said the countrys present situation did not demand elaborate celebration.

He said Valentine should be a time to celebrate the loved ones, but in Nigerias situation, it should be on a low key, as things are not working well as expected of the country.Nigeria is facing an economic down-turn and many things are wrong with the country. We should rather celebrate our loved ones in form of sober reflection. Every Nigerian should know this is not the time to make merry, rather we should use the opportunity to pray to God for divine intervention, he said.

He advised the youths not to over -celebrate as they had turned Valentines Day to a day to practise immoral things and get out of control by engaging in adultery, drinking and smoking different kinds of hard drugs.

The pastor advised parents, pastors and imams to warn their children and followers against flirting around on valentine day and do things in Godly way.

The cleric said St. Valentine was known to be a philanthropist and a lover of everybody around him and therefore, deserved his famous hype from every path of the world, saying February 14 date was widely celebrated in the world.

The history of Valentines Day, and the story of its patron saint, is shrouded in mystery. We do know that February has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and that St. Valentines Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. But who was Saint Valentine, and how did he become associated with this ancient rite?

The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men.

Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentines actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
Expect ransomware to grow more aggressive in the coming years, including higher ransom payments and attempts to go beyond attacking data -- by shutting down entire computer systems to utilities or factories.

I see no reason for ransomware to stop, said Neil Jenkins, an official with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Its shown to be effective.

On Monday at the RSA cybersecurity conference, experts gave a grim outlook on the future of ransomware, which they fear will spread. Through the attacks, cybercriminals have already managed to rake in US$1 billion last year, according to at one estimate.

The computer infections work by first targeting the victims data, and encrypting it. The ransomware will then threaten to delete the data, unless a payment, usually in bitcoin, is made.

However, a key concern is that ransomware will start targeting critical infrastructure, said Jenkins, the director of the DHS enterprise performance management office.

He pointed to the recent example of an Austrian hotel hit with ransomware that took out its keycard system for the hotel doors. Future ransomware attacks might try to lockdown control systems for a water utility, threatening its operations, Jenkins said.

I worry thats going to be the next step, he said.

Too many important computer systems are also connected to the internet when they shouldnt be, said Gal Shpantzer, CEO of Security Outliers. Small businesses are also failing to properly segregate their computers from other processes, like a factory assembly line, he said. When a ransomware infection hits, it has the potential to shut down the entire operation.

Thats where ransomware is going to go, Shpantzer said. I think its inevitable. People are going to be injured or lose their life. This is starting to affect things that shouldnt be on the internet, or are physically moving.

The hackers behind ransomware infections are also demanding higher and higher payments, some times over $40,000, said Jeremiah Grossman, chief of security strategy at SentinelOne.

There have even been a few ransomware cases where victims had no choice but to pay over seven figures to recover their system, Grossman added, declining to provide details.

Bottom line, its getting worse out there, and it will continue to do so, he said.

Ransomware infections are already harassing small and medium businesses, according to Robert Gibbons, CTO at security provider Datto. His company conducted a survey that found 60 percent of its partners have experienced one to five ransomware attacks in the last year.

The remainder had experienced over five attacks. Ransomware is still an epidemic, he said.

Experts recommend that businesses and users frequently back up their data and also test to those backups to make sure they work. Security vendors have also published tools that can free computers from some ransomware infections.

When an attack hits, victims may be tempted to pay the hackers the ransom. But Gibbons warned that one out of four times, the hackers still declined to decrypt the victim's data, despite receiving payment.
Ransomware gangs have moved from consumer computers to health care networks, and they are likely to go after manufacturing companies next, according to researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

At the RSA Conference in San Francisco, the researchers showed a new type of ransomware can take over a water treatment plant, shut off valves, increase the amount of chlorine added to water, and display false readings. The good news is they had developed the ransomware themselves, and the water treatment plant was a simulated environment in the lab. The bad news is that the research underscores how vulnerable industrial control systems are to attack.

We are expecting ransomware to go one step farther, beyond the customer data to compromise the control systems themselves, said David Formby, a doctoral student in the Georgia Tech School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Security experts have been saying for several years that a campaign against critical infrastructure, such as electric grids, traffic control systems, or water treatment plants, was imminent, and their warnings are beginning to sound like Chicken Littles cries of The sky is falling! While there have been assaults on utility companiesthe power failure in the Ukrainian capital Kiev and the BlackEnergy attack against three Ukrainian regional power companies, notwithstandingwe havent seen a catastrophic attack yet.

Perhaps we need a different definition of catastrophic.

The assumption has long been that attacks against critical infrastructure and manufacturing would have a nation-state element. However, with the rise of ransomware attacks, its very possible that cybercriminals would shift their sights to manufacturing systems now that they can make the attacks pay off financially.

Ransomware gangs are motivated by money, and the back-of-envelope calculations suggest that targeting manufacturing companies could be extremely profitable. Researchers found 1,300 MicroLogix 1400 programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and 200 Modicon M221 PLCs directly accessible via the internet. Assuming a $10,000 ransom and a 50 percent payment success ratea figure Formby said was conservativeattacks against these two models alone could net criminals approximately $7.5 million.

The figure climbs even higher when taking into account the many control systems that are not directly accessible on the internet, but exist behind a corporate firewall. The corporate network, with the web server, business workstations, and email, should be completely walled off from the control network, which directly interfaces with the physical plant. If the two networks arent properly separated, attackers whove compromised a business system and gained a foothold in the corporate network would be able to pivot into the control network and take over PLCs, historian systems, engineering stations, and human machine interface systems.

There are many similarities between health care networks and manufacturing, which would allow attackers to easily make this shift. Health care networks are obvious targets for ransomware because they typically have older equipment, a weak security posture, and intense time pressure to stay up and running. That sounds a lot like manufacturing networks, where many of the industrial control systems are years old and have little to no security controls.

For example, Schneider Electrics M241 PLC had no brute-force password protections, so attackers could repeatedly try logging in with different password strings without getting locked out. Other commonly used models expected the engineering software that communicated with the PLC to perform basic password checking, which meant attackers could directly send commands to the PLC and manipulate its operations without worrying about passwords.

Many control systems assume that once you have access to the network, you are authorized to make changes to the control systems, Formby said.

Researchers obtained three commonly used PLCsSchneider Electrics Modicon M241, Schneider Electrics Modicon M221, and Rockwell Automation MicroLogix 1400and combined them with pumps, tubes, and tanks to create a simulation of a water treatment facility. The researchers were able to reprogram the M241, which was running a PLC runtime environment with no protections against brute-force password attacks, to scan the internal network and grab the model numbers of other systems.

We were able to simulate a hacker who had gained access to this part of the system and is holding it hostage by threatening to dump large amounts of chlorine into the water unless the operator pays a ransom, Formby said. In the right amount, chlorine disinfects the water and makes it safe to drink. But too much chlorine can create a bad reaction that would make the water unsafe.

The fact that control systems have vulnerabilities and poor security controls is widely known. While some vendors have responded to concerns with patches, the difficulties of updating systems in production means the systems remain susceptible to attack.

The simulation highlighted the vulnerabilities in control systems used to operate industrial facilities like manufacturing plants; water and wastewater treatment facilities; and building management systems for controlling escalators, elevators, and HVAC systems. Network operators need to segment the networks so that it isnt easy for attackers to pivot from the corporate network into the control network, limit direct connections to the PLCs, and improve password security.

Compromising the PLCs in these systems is a next logical step for these attackers, Formby said. Attackers have already targeted the corporate networks belonging to critical infrastructure operatorsthe ransomware attack against San Francisco light rail transit system is one example. Thats an early sign more of these attacks are coming, he said.
IBMs Watson supercomputer can now consult with the companys security information and event management (SIEM) platform to deliver well researched responses to security events and do so much faster than a person.

Called IBM Q Radar with Watson, the new offering is the introduction of IBMs push for a cognitive security operations center (SOC) that will be built around Watson contributing to decisions made in tandem with other security products from the vendor. IBM announced the service at the RSA Conference 2017.

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In the case of Q Radar, when the SIEM catches a security event, human security analysts can choose to enlist Watsons help analyzing the event to determine whether it fits into a known pattern of threat and put it a broader context, IBM says.

To do this, Watson has been fed relevant security research that is continually being updated as analysts publish more blogs and research. Thats more information than a human analyst could hope to keep up with, IBM says. The advantage is that Watson doesnt forget any of what it has learned and it can sift through its knowledge faster than a person, IBM says. How fast? It can come up with an analysis in 15 minutes that might take a person a week.

In its investigations, Watson can interact with Q Radar to zero in on the scope of attacks. For example, Watson might find that a security event includes indicators of an attack and compromise that add up to a possible advanced persistent threat from the cyber attack group known under the names CozyDuke, CozyBear, CozyCar or Office Monkeys. Watson can review other data gathered by Q Radar to determine whether there are additional indicators of compromise that point to a broader attack from the group that goes beyond the initial incident being investigated, IBM says.

The company says that the more Watson reads, the more it builds out an understanding of threat intelligence that it can apply to particular events. Underlying its analysis are probability ratings, weighting of incidents and algorithms to sort it all out.

Human analysts can drill down on incidents Watson has researched via descriptions of the threats written in natural language.

Customers have Q Radar on premises and the platform consults with Watson in the cloud.

The service isnt a replacement for human analysts, but rather a tool for them to work more efficiently and thoroughly, IBM says.

+ MORE FROM RSA: See all the stories from the conference +

Current customers of Q Radar can get the Watson integration as an add-on application, as can new customers.

In addition to Q Radar with Watson, IBM plans to add other tools to its Cognitive SOC including IBM BigFix Detect, which makes for quicker detection of endpoint threats and reduces the time to response. This can tie in to IBMs incident response platform, Resilient, to jump start and orchestrate remediation of incidents. It also includes IBMs threat intelligence sharing X-Force Exchange and its threat-hunting platform, i2.

This story, "IBMs Watson teams up with its SIEM platform for smarter, faster event detection" was originally published by Network World .
Microsoft is calling for a Digital Geneva Convention, as global tensions over digital attacks continue to rise. The tech giant wants to see civilian use of the internet protected as part of an international set of accords, Brad Smith, the companys president and chief legal officer, said in a blog post.

The manifesto, published alongside his keynote address at the RSA conference in San Francisco on Tuesday, argued for codifying recent international norms around cyberwarfare and for establishing an independent agency to respond to and analyze cyberattacks.

Whats more, he called on the tech industry to band together to protect users.

Such an agreement is necessary, in his opinion, because warfare in cyberspace involves infrastructure thats controlled and operated by private companies like Microsoft. Furthermore, some attacks, like the 2014 Sony hack widely attributed to North Korea, have targeted civilians.

Theres an additional consequence that results from all this, Smith wrote. The tech sector today operates as the first responders to nation-state attacks on the internet. A cyber-attack by one nation-state is met initially not by a response from another nation-state, but by private citizens.

Smith cited an attack the tech titan dealt with last year when it discovered a nation-state actor using domains aping trademarks it holds. Microsoft then got a court order allowing it to redirect the traffic going to those domains, blocking the attack.

Since last summer, in response to one extended such nation-state attack, we have taken down 60 domains in 49 countries spread over six continents, he wrote.

Smith called for tech companies to unite on cybersecurity issues to protect users. Furthermore, he called for the industry to promise not to assist with offensive attacks.

Even in a world of growing nationalism, when it comes to cybersecurity the global tech sector needs to operate as a neutral Digital Switzerland, Smith wrote. We will assist and protect customers everywhere. We will not aid in attacking customers anywhere. We need to retain the worlds trust. And every government, regardless of its policies or politics, needs a national and global IT infrastructure that it can trust.

He also wants those tech companies to contribute to an agency that would play a role similar to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Such an agency would, in his vision, include participants from governments, private industry, academia and civil society. That new group would be empowered to investigate attacks and attribute particular actions to certain nations.

All of this is complicated by the current geopolitical climate. In one of his first actions as president, Donald Trump withdrew U.S. support from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a sweeping free trade agreement negotiated under the watch of his predecessor that included the participation of Australia, Canada, Japan, and other nations.

Its unclear if Trump would be inclined to take part in a multilateral diplomatic exercise, such as the one Smith is suggesting. Such a convention on cybersecurity norms is made doubly difficult by reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered attacks on the U.S. Democratic National Committee in an attempt to get Trump elected.
By Fabian Sobak

The self-storage industry has gained momentum in numerous countries in recent years. In each, its obvious the business is developing in its own way, due to national differences such as consumer preferences and awareness, legislation, zoning, the real estate market, etc. In Norway, weve built our self-storage company, OK Minilager AS, in our own way, with the use of technology as the key to success.

The Beginning

I got started in the self-storage industry by coincidence. In 2009, I was 23 years old and studying marketing at the university. I was also running a part-time business, importing and selling specialty trailers; but business was slow. I had rented a parking lot to store the trailers, and the rent was eating up a lot of my profit.

I had a few vacant parking spaces and decided to buy a couple of shipping containers. The idea was to rent out the containers and cover some of my costs. I put up a banner on the containers and a few fliers in the neighborhood. In a couple of days, the containers were rented out and I was still getting calls. I instantly understood I had to get rid of the trailers and get started in the self-storage business instead!

I filled up the parking lot with containers and rented a second property after just two months. My father soon bought 50 percent of the companys shares, and within the first year, we were renting out containers at five locations. At this time, we knew we wanted to grow nationwide; but we had to get a system up and running that was scalable. The answer was to implement technology.

Using Self-Service

Today, OK Minilager has more than 40 locations across the country. Each site contains an average of 80 units.

Norway is a small market with just 5 million people, and the population density is among the lowest in Europe. With relatively low consumer awareness, Oslo (the capital) is the only city that can support several self-storage facilities with 500-plus units. One of our competitors already operates 10 facilities of that size in the area. However, all of our facilities are self-served, which has enabled us to build sites in smaller cities and towns.

With smaller facilities, weve also been able to grow faster than our competition in the bigger cities, which have proved to be our best markets. A great benefit of self-service is we can obviously reduce our labor costs. Even unskilled labor is expensive in Norway, so the self-service storage model is almost a no-brainer in our market.

Using Technology

First and foremost, its technology that has enabled us to operate nationwide. Its part of all our operations. For example, most of our marketing is done through the Internet. As the only self-storage company in the country with a national presenceand with a commitment to and investment in search engine optimization that spans several yearswe benefit from organic rankings in Google. We also use AdWords extensively to bring visitors to our website.

Weve also focused on creating a user-friendly website with a professional design and layout. Prospects can find all the information they need, and all bookings are done online. We offer a chat function thats really popular. It provides great customer service and saves us a lot of time. Tenants also pay their rent online with a credit/debit card. The card is automatically charged each month until the tenant cancels the rent.

New tenants are provided with an access code to the main gate as well as their unit, which is locked with a combination lock. This way, they can access their unit on their own, at their convenienceour facilities are open 24/7. Access to the main gate is administrated through a Web application. We also have a lot of cameras on each site that we can access live through the same application. With our system, new tenants can get instant access to the facility any time of day, any day of the week.

Recent Development and the Future

In 2014, we opened our first facility with conventional, climate-controlled units. The response was overwhelming, even though we knew they would be popular. We already have 11 climate-controlled facilities, with more in the loop. Our strategy is that all new facilities will either be 100 percent climate-controlled, or a mix of climate-controlled and containers. Were now able to meet most of the demand in the market, and the combination gives us a competitive advantage.

I still see great opportunities in the Norwegian market, as the industry is still in its relative infancy and consumer awareness is steadily rising. This year, we also plan to open our first facility in Sweden. The self-storage market in our neighboring country is more developed; however, with our self-service model and experience with building new facilities, were confident we can take market share in the growing Swedish industry as well.

For the first time, in this advent of international expansion, were looking to team up with investors. We hope to find some with experience in the industry who are just as eager to expand in the European self-market as we are.

Fabian Sobak is the co-founder and owner of OK Minilager AS, a self-storage company based in Oslo, Norway. The business was founded in 2009 and specializes in containerized storage. It has more than 40 sites comprising more than 2,500 units and is the second largest self-storage operator in the country based on revenue. For more information, visit www.ok-minilager.no.
In April 2003, I had the idea to include a new line to my familys real estate development business in Chile: Rezepka Inmobiliaria. Our company was already in the warehouse business; nevertheless, several clients had approached us in search of a solution for short-term storage and smaller units. As a result, I became a self-storage pioneer, founding Aki KB Minibodegas.

Self-storage was already popular in the United States, but in Latin America, it was still a relatively unknown industry. Aki KB has since grown to more than 36,000 leasable square meters. Meanwhile, the Chilean market has grown to more than 152,000 leasable square meters. Although these numbers might seem small when compared to other countries, Aki KB has been growing at an annualized rate of 16 percent, even though the average household income in Chile is half of that in the U.S. Chile is one of the most mature markets in Latin America and a perfect example for entrepreneurs who wish to enter the storage industry in other regions.

Today there are 70 storage facilities in the Chile, with the three largest holding approximately 40 percent of the market. Clients come in all shapes and sizes, from individuals to local businesses, and though their reasons vary, theyre all in need of the same product: space to store their belongings at a reasonable price.

Most customers find out about self-storage online, call for a quote and visit the facility before closing the deal. Hence, an operators commercial department need to operate as a well-oiled machine. In our case, premium service and safety are our best allies. As our operation expands and people become more aware about the product, we use a large arsenal of digital marketing tools. This includes traditional ad networks, media planning and optimization instruments to better target potential clients.

As in other self-storage markets, the Chilean industry faces many challenges: First, theres no legal framework to protect operators from delinquent tenants. Second, developers face construction regulations designed for commercial and residential real estate, and are forced to go through a qualification process each time a project is presented to the corresponding authorities.

Finally, finding a location that fits our investment guidelines at a reasonable price is complicated. Were not only competing with other self-storage developers but with commercial and residential real estate companies. Additionally, some of these companies have started to build self-storage units as part of their developments, which increases the market supply and competition.

Even though Latin America is going through an economic slowdown and new players have come into the market, earnings continue to grow. The reason is simple: Operators like my company have become more sophisticated and taken precautions to protect themselves from the ups and downs of the business cycle.

In the past year, weve opened facilities in Vina del Mar and Costa Rica as well as added more square meters to already stabilized properties. Moving forward, were looking to open five more facilities in Chile. Were also eyeing other markets in the region.

Arie Rezepka is CEO of Aki KB Minibodegas, which operates eight self-storage facilities in Chile and Costa Rica. Founded in 2003, the company has twice won the Mini Storage Messenger International Self-Storage Facility of the Year Award. For more information, visit www.akikb.cl.
Update 11/20/20  1784 Capital opened the Scottsdale Promenade Self Storage facility in Scottsdale, Ariz. Completed, the project comprises 140,600 square feet in 1,094 units. The site will be managed by real estate investment trust Life Storage Inc.

The coveted North Scottsdale market faces significant barriers to entry, McKone said. New residential development and prime retail centers within the area solidify the need for space and appeal for this high quality of service.

The facility was designed by RKAA Architects. TLW Construction served as contractor for the project.

2/26/19  1784 Capital has broken ground on its Paradise Lane self-storage project in Scottsdale, Ariz. Scottsdale Promenade will comprise 101,305 net rentable square feet, with three stories above ground and one below. Built near new residential development and retail, the facility is expected to be complete during the first quarter of 2020.

2/13/17  1784 Capital Holdings LLC intends to develop a self-storage facility on 2.52 acres in Scottsdale, Ariz. The company acquired the property at 7550 E. Paradise Lane for about $1.15 million. Its within the master-planned Scottsdale Promenade development, which includes and is adjacent to high-end multi-family housing, office buildings, resorts and retail. The company plans to break ground on Scottsdale Promenade Self Storage this summer, according to a press release.

We chose the Promenade location because of its impressive demographics and extraordinary fundamentals, said Shane Albers, chairman and CEO. The coveted North Scottsdale market is undersupplied with self-storage and faces significant barriers to entry. The market attracts strong rents that are twice the national average. New residential development and prime retail centers within the area solidify the appeal of developing this project within Scottsdale Promenade.

The building site is near the major thoroughfares of Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard and Scottsdale Road. 1784 Capital also has a project underway in the Phoenix suburb of Ahwatukee and indicated its actively looking for other opportunities in the area. It has allocated $250 million to expand its national portfolio, the release stated, and recently announced a project in Bethesda, Md. Executive vice president Kelly McKone is leading the companys expansion plan.

The Scottsdale deal was brokered by Denise Nunez, senior vice president of NAI Horizon, a full-service commercial real estate brokerage and management firm. NAI Horizon is a member of NAI Global, a managed network of independently owned commercial real estate brokerage firms. The company assists corporations with negotiating leases, sales, business brokerage, investments, relocation, site selection and development.

Founded in 2013 and based in Scottsdale, 1784 Capital acquires, develops, constructs and owns self-storage facilities. Its subsidiary, 1784 Solar LLC, provides short-term construction financing for solar projects in Canada and the United States.
Editors Note: Due to lack of support in the U.S. Senate, Andy Puzder has withdrawn his name for consideration to be Secretary of Labor. The editors of Institutional Investor will update this ranking when there is clarity surrounding the new nominee for this position.

There is almost no political issue that touches on the everyday essentials of American life more than retirement policy. Its not sexy in the way that, say, nuclear policy is sexy  confronting North Korea will always out-headline changes to discount rates, lifetime income solutions, and public sector benefits  but barring utter catastrophe, little is more important to Americans than maintaining a standard of living, and dignity, as they age. How can the U.S. accomplish that? A major part of the solution is to build structures to ensure that as citizens age and leave the workforce, they have been given the chance to acquire enough resources not to fall into poverty or lose their sense of self-worth.



No group has more power to affect these structures than those who populate and influence government  thus, Institutional Investor identified and ranked the new political power players in the field of pensions and retirement. To start, we identified four prominent themes running through the discourse on retirement. They are, in no particular order, the controversies surrounding public sector benefits; the intersection of corporate pension regulation and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.; high investment fees paid to asset managers via public pension plans; and innovation in defined contribution systems. We then looked  from the national to local levels  at relevant elected politicians, cabinet secretaries, appointed advisers, lobbyists, think tank leaders, judges, and union leaders. Each was judged by a simple calculus: Did this individual have the power to effect change over our four major themes?



Power, of course, is the ability to get things done  or to stop things from getting done. It is not what we want to happen. It is beyond our purview here to judge whether the changes being made  or not made  will help or hinder the ability of Americans to retire with dignity. Nor can we say this list is immutable given that many of President Trumps appointments had yet to be confirmed as of late January  and that their fates could change with a single tweet. Instead, we simply offer our best estimate of who will hold the levers of retirement power in 2017.

The 2017 Pension Political Power 25
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Inflation remains the primary concern for the worlds central banks, which have engaged in the broadest and fastest tightening regime in history, according to Alejandra Grindal, chief economist at Ned Davis Research.
Present-day workplace culture allows employees to date each other, but HR should keep a weather eye on developments, especially where supervisor-subordinate relationships are concerned.



Co-workers spend more time together than with anyone else, so it makes sense that feelings might develop between two colleagues, Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer of Chicago-based jobs website CareerBuilder, told Bloomberg.



But sometimes, these workplace connections come with some risk.



In a survey CareerBuilder did last year, close to half (45 percent) of employees didnt know whether their companies had a dating policy, Haefner said.



Most important, she noted, is that romances between supervisors and subordinates must be avoided because they can disrupt the office, harm teamwork and lower morale.



That last piece of advice is especially important in California, where liability risks are so high, Joe Beachboard, a shareholder at management-side law firm Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart PC in Torrance, Calif., told Bloomberg.



The employer has two options: an outright ban on such relationships, or requiring that they be disclosed to HR immediately, he said. If going the notification route, the employer should also take such steps as requiring the couple to sign a love contract.



Those contracts, he said, state that the relationship is consensual, that HR will be notified at once if the relationship no longer meets that standard, and that both people undertake to treat each other professionally even if their relationship ends.



Jay Starkman, chief executive officer of Engage PEO, said hes not a big fan of consensual contracts. Maybe they could have an impact on litigation down the road, but it is something counter to the culture most companies want to build, he told Bloomberg.



Starkmans Hollywood, Fla.-based professional employer organisation offers HR, benefits and payroll services to small and mid-sized companies.



Either way, the company should put its policies in writing, Starkman said, and disciplinary policies for violations must be followed religiously because otherwise, its a breeding ground for litigation.



Beachboard said he makes sure to touch on the supervisor-direct-report dating scenario when he delivers the two-hour sexual harassment training that California requires for managers and supervisors, even though it results in some grumbling from trainees.



Still, things have changed since Beachboard started working in employment law 28 years ago, he said; back then, it was common for employers to have non-fraternization policies that prohibited all dating among employees.



Such policies are counterproductive, Starkman said. All it does is force the office romances underground, which can cause even more liability.



As it is, HR professionals said in a recent survey that two-thirds of the time they only find out about dating relationships among employees through office gossip, he said.



Its all right for employers to prohibit public displays of affection, Starkman said.



More conservative employers can avoid getting into specifics in their employee handbooks, but they should be careful to use gender neutral language that doesnt single out opposite-sex partnerships as the norm, he said.
An industry veteran has joined the travel insurance arm of Arch Insurance . The firm announced Tuesday that Greg Johnson has been hired as Vice President of Business Development for Travel, effective February 6.Johnson reports to Linda Fallon, senior vice president of travel. We are excited to add Mr. Johnson to our team at a time when the industry is seeing competitive and regulatory changes, said Fallon.The firm has developed Arch Insurance Solutions (AIS) has a travel insurance company over the past five years. AIS is focused primarily on the small to mid-sized retail and wholesale channels.Johnson said he is excited to help drive increased market penetration of Arch Insurances RoamRight brand, by leveraging the integrated platform of underwriting, claims administration and customer service.RoamRights travel insurance plans are for leisure, business, student, and group travelers with both domestic and international trips.Some 36% of consumers expect to buy more travel insurance this year while 61% of travel agents foresee rosy prospects for travel insurance in 2017, according to a Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) white paper published last month.Significantly more international leisure trips are covered by travel insurance (39%) than domestic leisure trips (16%), which appears to lead to an expected increase in travel insurance sales, the report added.Prior to joining Arch, Johnson served as vice president, business development and sales at Trip Mate, and vice president sales at Travelex Insurance Services.Johnsons expertise and experience in business development and management will help to further strengthen the market position of Arch Insurance travel offerings and the AIS platform, Fallon said.
A partner at insurance firm Michelman & Robinson noted the need to categorically declare the amount of broker fees charged to clients during a talk he delivered in La Jolla, California.The speech was part of a series of lectures at last months 2017 California Wholesaler Industry days.Mark Robinson, a partner at the said firm, emphasized that as much as possible, the brokers fee has to be accounted for in detail, and where possible, the broker should undertake a broker fee agreement with their clients.He added that the fee should be more than just a line item in the contract and doing so brings you in compliance with state rules governing the communication and charging of the fee, he added.It needs to be set out specifically, he said in a video of the said event posted on JD Supra Business Advisor.The website noted that the California Insurance Department has been stricter in overseeing broker fees in the state over the past few months.
assess health, safety, and security risks

develop reasonable risk mitigation measures

prepare staff for international travel

create effective crisis management action plans

Lockton has teamed up with a crisis management planning firm to provide non-government organizations and businesses with an analytical review of international travelers risk posture.The firm announced Tuesday that its strategic alliance with O'Neill Paragon Solutions will work with clients to:"Our clients have a duty of care to their people when they work in high risk environments, and this alliance will help our clients immensely," said Keith Mulvihill, a Lockton executive in its Washington, DC operation.Some 36% of consumers expect to buy more travel insurance this year while 61% of travel agents foresee rosy prospects for travel insurance in 2017, according to a Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) white paper published last month.More than half (60%) of travel agencies and a quarter of travelers told BHTP that international terrorism was a threat to traveling. Some 12% of travelers stated that fear of terrorism is a reason for buying more travel insurance.O'Neill Paragon Solutions is headed by CEO Michael O'Neill, who has over a decades-worth of experience in safety and security risk management for Save the Children and Peace Corps. He will consult with Lockton clients."We also aim to provide guidance and support to better manage the risks clients face while meeting their duty of care responsibilities to their personnel, O'Neill said.
Markel is seeking to void a $2m malpractice insurance policy it issued to an indicted wills and trusts lawyer, and not pay out hundreds of claims  U.S. Bankruptcy Court documents show.Lawyers for Markel alleged that Robert Graham lied when he filled out an application for the policy on December 2015 saying he knew of no professional liability claims against him, a report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal said.According to Markel, roughly 390 parties have put in malpractice claims. It wants permission from a bankruptcy judge to pursue legal action against Graham in state court to nullify the insurance policy, the report added. A hearing on the Markels request is set for March 14 in bankruptcy court.Graham abruptly shut down his Las Vegas practice December 2, leaving his employees without jobs and abandoning more than a hundred client files, the State Bar of Nevada said. He is accused of stealing $2.1m from three victims, according to the Clark County District Attorneys office.Graham was indicted last month by a grand jury on charges including theft, exploitation of an older/vulnerable person and destroying evidence. The charges could get him jailed for approximately 90 years, according to figures from Clark County District Attorneys office.The criminal indictment against Mr. Graham and other publicly available information indicate that Mr. Graham began misappropriating client funds long before Dec. 10, 2015, when Mr, Graham signed and submitted his application for the Jan. 1, 2016, MIC Lawyers Professional Liability Insurance Policy, the lawyers wrote.
It may not come as a surprise that bruises and open wounds are the most common injuries in every state across America  with the one exception of Colorado, where youre more likely to have be injured by a fall.But did you know that over-exertion is disproportionately common in North Dakota, and a near-drowning experience six-times more likely in Hawaii?Or that Washington residents are unusually likely to suffer from spine dislocation, while those in Colorado are disproportionately likely to experience suffocation?New statistics revealed by healthcare data firm Amino, from a database of over 244 million healthcare insurance claims, has revealed the surprising injuries that are disproportionately common, or most distinctive, to each state across the U.S.Sohan Murthy, a data scientist at Amino, told Insurance Business that insurance regulations and laws could actually be behind the unusual trends.For example, in Florida, where unspecified head injury is the disproportionately common physical injury, there is a law that allows drivers over 21 years of age with at least $10,000 worth of medical coverage insurance to be able to operate or ride a motorcycle without a helmet, he explained.In general, state laws and insurance regulations could have a big impact on which injuries are disproportionately common in our data, Murthy said.Find out which injury is most unusually common in your state in the full list below:Alaska: Sprained kneeAlabama: Unspecified chest injuryArkansas: Motor vehicle accidentArizona: Motor vehicle accidentCalifornia: Motor vehicle accidentColorado: SuffocationConnecticut: Sprained backWashington D.C: Unspecified facial injuryDelaware: Rotator cuff sprainFlorida: Unspecified head injuryGeorgia: Motor vehicle accidentHawaii: ScrapeIowa: Unspecified arm injuryIdaho: SuffocationIllinois: Unspecified facial injuryIndiana: Struck by objectKansas: Insect biteKentucky: FallLouisiana: Unspecified facial injuryMassachusetts: ConcussionMaryland: Sprained handMaine: Broken ankleMichigan: Unspecified hand injuryMinnesota: Spine dislocationMissouri: Animal biteMississippi: Unspecified chest injuryMontana: Sprained kneeNorth Carolina: Insect biteNorth Dakota: OverexertionNebraska: OverexertionNew Hampshire: Sprained kneeNew Jersey: Sprained handNew Mexico: SuffocationNevada: SuffocationNew York: Unspecified knee injuryOhio: Sprained backOklahoma: Rotator cuff sprainOregon: Sprained backPennsylvania: Unspecified chest injuryRhode Island: Sprained neckSouth Carolina: Unspecified chest injurySouth Dakota: Spine dislocationTennessee: Motor vehicle accidentTexas: Insect biteUtah: SuffocationVirginia: Insect biteVermont: Spine dislocationWashington: Spine dislocationWisconsin: Spine dislocationWest Virginia: Unspecified back injuryWyoming: Suffocation

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Attorneys for Rolling Stone magazine are heading back to federal court to try to overturn a jurys defamation verdict over its botched story A Rape on Campus.

A judge is holding a hearing in Roanoke, Virginia, on Thursday to consider Rolling Stones request to throw out the jurys November verdict. The jury awarded University of Virginia administrator Nicole Eramo $3 million after finding Rolling Stone and a reporter defamed her.

The 2014 story told the account of a woman identified only as Jackie, who said she was gang raped at the school. A police investigation found no evidence to back up Jackies claims.

The magazine argues, among other things, theres no evidence reporter Sabrina Rubin Erdely acted with actual malice. Eramos attorneys are urging the judge to keep the verdict.

This story has been corrected to reflect that the hearing is in Roanoke, not Charlottesville.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Virginia
British technology startups are beginning to stress out over Brexit.

Initially confident their industry wouldnt be harmed by Britains break from the European Union, U.K. tech entrepreneurs are now girding for a bevy of challenges. A poll of 940 startup executives in the U.K. and other nations found that Brexit, which is set to be triggered in March, is sowing anxiety about fundraising, the hiring of non-British employees, and accessing the European market.

Less than half the executives believed 2017 will be a better year than 2016, according to the survey released Tuesday by the London unit of Silicon Valley Bank, a Santa Clara, California-based investment bank. More than a fifth of fledgling U.K. tech ventures expect to open offices in continental Europe, and one out of 10 are considering moving their headquarters across the English Channel.

Despite the angst, the U.K. should remain the biggest technology hub in Europe for some time thanks to supportive regulation and Londons vibrant startup scene, said Phil Cox, president of Silicon Valley Banks U.K. branch.

Im not saying its going to be easier but these companies are very disruptive and they will find a way to employ the right people and sell their products and services across borders, Cox said.

The survey is another sign that Brexit may exact a toll on an industry thats been a bright spot in the British economy since the 2008 global financial crash. London has become a hotbed for groundbreaking financial technology thats reshaping the banking and payments processing industries. But in 2016, venture capital investments in British fintech firms dropped 34 percent, to 625 million pounds ($783 million), according to a report released last week by Innovate Finance, a London-based trade group.

By contrast, German fintech companies received 35 percent more funding than their counterparts in the U.K. in the first three quarters of 2016, according to a separate report from KPMG and CB Insights, a New York research firm. The performance marked the first time German fintech ventures attracted more investment than their British counterparts.

A number of nations are trying to follow Germanys lead by encouraging fintechs. France, Spain, and the Netherlands are offering government-backed investments, subsidized office space, and tax incentives to startups. Portugal recently unveiled a 200 million-euro ($213 million) fund to invest in local ventures.

Some U.K. based entrepreneurs say Prime Minister Theresa Mays vow to leave the European single market and prioritize immigration was a body blow. Hiring talent is the biggest concern of startups. Even if a visa regime favors highly skilled workers, theyll be tied to the companies that hire them. That means employees wont easily be able to hop from one firm to another like they do now, nor quit and start their own enterprises. Such mobility is crucial to fomenting a thriving technology hub.

Leaving the single market is going to brutalize our startup culture, said Jennifer Arcuri, the founder of Hacker House Ltd., a Manchester-based firm that consults companies on cyber security. Running startups is hard enough, we dont need the extra burden.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics InsurTech Tech Europe London
Intesa Sanpaolo SpA is sounding out investors about a possible combination with Assicurazioni Generali SpA and weighing which of the insurers assets it might sell, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Intesa Chief Executive Officer Carlo Messina is seeking support from institutional investors in both companies, and doesnt plan to make a bid for Generali before collecting a consensus from shareholders, the people said, asking not to be identified because the deliberations are private. As part of the review, the company is evaluating potential buyers for businesses owned by Generali that it wouldnt want to keep after a takeover, one of the people said.

Messina sounded out some Intesa investors including BlackRock Inc. in London last week as part of a roadshow around the banks earnings announcement, the people said. The company has also been speaking to Generalis shareholders for the past month, one of the people said. Several investors have said theyd be open to a transaction, though Intesa may still be weeks away from making a final decision on whether to proceed, the people said.

Some investors have signaled theyd be open to a bid of more than 17 euros a share, one of the people said. Generali was up 1.6 percent at 15.01 euros as of 10:15 a.m. in Milan, making it the best performer on the benchmark FTSE MIB Index and boosting its market value to 23.4 billion euros ($24.9 billion). Intesa was down 0.4 percent to 2.14 euros and has lost about 14 percent since its interest in Generali was reported.

Intesa is considering a merger with Generali as part of its plan to expand into more fee-generating businesses, such as asset management and insurance. An acquisition may help Messina develop the companys non-life insurance business and expand abroad through Generalis network. The bank is determining whether a combination fits with strategic priorities, and will only consider a deal that wont threaten the banks dividend or capital buffer, Messina said Feb. 3.

Its good that Messina is consulting with Generalis anchor investors and with his own shareholders on the strategic opportunities for the bank, said Mario Russo, an analyst at North Square Blue Oak Ltd. Before forming a view, investors want to properly understand reasons, synergies and goals of such a deal.

Asset Sales

Intesa is exploring selling some of Generalis assets to European insurers, the people said. Allianz SE, Europes largest insurer, has weighed a bid for parts of Generali, people familiar with the plans said previously.

Representatives for Intesa, Generali and BlackRock declined to comment.

The Financial Times had previously reported that Intesa was speaking to investors and planned to approach Generali and its core investors in an attempt to reach friendly merger terms.

Following initial press reports that a bid was in the works, Generali bought voting rights equal to a 3 percent stake in Intesa last month. Under Italian rules, the purchase prevents Intesa from accumulating voting rights in the insurer without making a bid for majority control.

Defensive Move

Some of Generalis largest shareholders, including Mediobanca SpA, supported the insurers defensive move, one of the people said. Generalis Italian shareholders include Luxottica Group SpAs founder Leonardo Del Vecchio, with about 3 percent, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Institutional investors own about 32 percent of the company, according to the data. A spokesman for Mediobanca declined to comment.

Generalis board will meet Wednesday, the second time in a week, with ongoing business on the agenda, Il Sole 24 Ore reported Tuesday, adding that directors may also discuss the holding in Intesa.

The situation remains uncertain, Luca Comi an analyst at ICBPI, wrote in a note Tuesday. In the current environment, its likely that Generali shares can continue to benefit from rumors and hypotheses of an offer from Intesa.

A merger of Intesa and Generali would reshape Italys financial industry by combining the countrys second-biggest bank with its largest insurer. A combination of the two companies would revive a joint-business model known as bancassurance in which companies seek benefits from cross-selling products.

With assistance from Dan Liefgreen, Sarah Jones, Nishant Kumar and Chiara Remondini.

Related:

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Generali Life Assurance (Thailand) Plc.
The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has declared an insurance catastrophe for bushfires that have destroyed homes, stock and other assets across New South Wales, providing an initial insured loss estimate of at least A$20 million (US$15.3 million).

That figure is predicted to rise over coming days as residents return to their homes and businesses to assess the damage, the ICA said.

At least 30 homes and other properties have been lost, and insurers have also received reports of stock losses, as well as fencing and other farm equipment. Hardest hit so far has been Warrumbungle Shire in the states Central West, but communities close to Port Macquarie, Kempsey and Narrabri have also suffered losses, said ICA CEO Rob Whelan.

Source: Insurance Council of Australia

Topics Carriers USA
Bermuda-based AXIS Capital Holdings Ltd. announced that John Jay Nichols has resigned from his position as chief executive officer of AXIS Re. Nichols has agreed to remain with the company in a transitional role until March 31.

AXIS has named Jan Ekberg to succeed Nichols as interim CEO of AXIS Re. Ekberg, who has been with the company since 2004, currently serves as president and chief underwriting officer of AXIS Re Europe and will report directly to AXIS Capital President and Chief Executive Officer Albert Benchimol.

On behalf of AXIS, we would like to thank Jay for all he has done for our company. When Jay joined AXIS, we introduced a plan to strengthen our reinsurance business and broaden our risk-funding sources through high-quality partnerships, said Benchimol.

Over the past five years we have made significant progress and AXIS Re is a global reinsurance leader, well-positioned against the backdrop of a structural shift in the reinsurance industry. We have also established AXIS as a strategic partner to respected third party capital providers, he added. With this solid foundation in place, Jay has decided that he would like to leave to take on new challenges. We are deeply appreciative of Jays leadership and wish him the absolute best.

When I joined AXIS Re, we set a plan to profitably grow the reinsurance business, improve our analytical capabilities and expand into strategic capital partnerships to match the right risk with the right capital. I am grateful for what we have accomplished in all areas of the reinsurance business and I have been honored to lead such a talented and committed group for the past five years, said Nichols.

Ive very deeply enjoyed working with my team, my colleagues across AXIS, and being a part of the companys leadership. While there is still more work to be done, now is a good time for a transition, and I leave with the confidence that AXIS Re is well-positioned to succeed and in very capable hands, he added.

Ekberg has more than 40 years of re/insurance industry experience with more than 20 of these years managing underwriting businesses. He joined AXIS Re Europe in 2004 shortly after its formation and has been integral to establishing AXIS Re Europe as a leading international reinsurer, said the company in a statement.

In his current position, Ekberg serves as president and chief underwriting officer of AXIS Re Europe. During his tenure at AXIS, he has led the Property Risk team and the Engineering team. Before joining AXIS, Ekberg served in various underwriting and management positions at Nordisk Re in Copenhagen, Employers Re and GE Frankona in Munich. He spent the first nine years of his career in primary insurance.

Source: AXIS Capital

Topics Europe Reinsurance
The Minnesota Department of Transportation is testing the use of drones to inspect bridges.

Transportation officials expect the technology will save money and provide another perspective on how the states bridges are holding up. The drone allows inspectors not only to see the bridge, but detect temperature changes in the concrete.

Contract engineer Barritt Lovelace told KARE-TV the biggest benefit is being able to inspect parts of the bridge that are otherwise hard to access. MnDOT is contracting with Collins Engineers to test the drones.

MnDOT will begin its final phase of drone testing this spring and could begin using them full-time next year.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Minnesota
A national consumer group has charged that innocent drivers in most states are being forced to pay more for auto insurance for accidents in which they are not at fault.

The report from the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) further claims that drivers with higher incomes are penalized less than moderate income insureds involved in no-fault accidents.

Insurance industry groups say the research is flawed in its conclusion and in its methodology of comparing the experience of a new customer with no prior insurance with that of a driver who has had prior coverage.

But CFA and the industry agree it proves the value of consumers shopping around for the best deal on insurance.

CFA said it analyzed premium quotes in 10 cities from five of the nations largest auto insurers. Among the cities tested, drivers in New York City and Baltimore pay out the most for doing nothing wrong, and customers in Chicago and Kansas City also face average increases of 10 percent or more when another driver crashes into them, according to CFA.

CFA said it found that insurers vary in how they handle no-fault accidents. Progressive used the not-at-fault penalty most aggressively, surcharging drivers in every test where such an increase is not prohibited by state law, according to the report. GEICO and Farmers sometimes raised rates by 10 percent or more for not-at-fault accidents. Allstate occasionally penalized drivers who did not cause the accident, while State Farm never increased premiums for these accidents.

The CFA report compared the experiences of two female drivers in each city who lived at the same address, were 30 years old, licensed for 14 years, and drove a 2006 Toyota Camry 10,000 miles each year. The upper income driver was married, a homeowner and a bank executive with a Masters degree. The moderate-income driver was a bank teller, who was single, rented an apartment, and had a high school degree.

The upper income driver has had auto insurance with the same insurer for the past three years, while the moderate-income applicant has not had auto insurance because she has not had a car.

Comparing these two good drivers, CFA found the following:

Higher-income drivers paid $78 more on average after a not-at-fault accident;

Moderate-income drivers paid $208 more on average after a not-at-fault accident;

Higher-income drivers faced a 6.6 percent penalty on average after a not-at-fault accident;

Moderate-income drivers faced a 9.6 percent penalty on average after a not-at-fault accident.

Innocent drivers who dont cause accidents should not be charged more because someone else hit them, said J. Robert Hunter, CFAs director of Insurance and the former Insurance Commissioner of Texas. Most people know that if they cause an accident or get a ticket they could face a premium increase, but they dont expect to be punished if a reckless driver careens into them.

CFA called on state lawmakers to prohibit penalties on innocent drivers. It said that California and Oklahoma already have regulations preventing insurers from raising rates on drivers when they are involved in an accident that was not their fault.

The National Council of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL), which represents state lawmakers involved with insurance legislation, tends to agree with CFA. While he had not yet reviewed the CFA report in detail, Tom Considine, CEO of NCOIL and former insurance commissioner for New Jersey, said insurers should not be assessing a surcharge or raising premiums on innocent parties involved in no-fault accidents. In these situations, the insurer of the faultless party should use subrogation against the at-fault partys insurer to recoup its expenses, Considine said. The blameless driver should have no adverse economic consequences.

Insurance industry groups, however, took issue with CFAs data collection, methodology and conclusion.

Loretta Worters, vice president of Communications for the Insurance Information Institute, cautioned that data collected through an insurers website is not the full story when it comes to rating policies. There are often questions surrounding no-fault accidents. [I]t is rarely clear-cut as to whom the at-fault party is after a collision between two vehicles. Insurance companies look at each claim based on many factors. In addition, a not-at-fault drivers auto insurer often incurs expenses after an accident because of subrogation, said Worters.

Worters said assigning fault in an accident is rarely a zero-sum process where one driver is 100 percent at-fault whereas the other driver is zero percent at-fault.

CFAs choice of driver profiles to compare came in for criticism.

Prior auto insurance is a commonly used rating factor that is highly predictive of future loss. Rather than using the same prior insurance status to compare the moderate and higher income driver, CFA used no prior insurance for the moderate-income driver, but three years with the same insurer for the higher income driver. The result is a study that provides no real insights about the effect of a not at fault accident on premiums, said David Snyder, vice president of policy development and research for the Property Casualty Insurers of America (PCI).

Snyder also claimed the report fails to consider the variety of state laws concerning at-fault accidents. He said some states have blanket prohibitions, while other states address the specific circumstances CFA provided as examples such as being hit while parked, or struck from the rear. The end result is a report that attempts to present auto insurers negatively but fails to provide consumers with accurate or useful information, Snyder charged.

According to Neil Alldredge, senior vice president, State and Policy Affairs, for the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, the report underscores the fact that insurance rates can vary widely from company to company, based on how companies weigh the many different factors that are considered in determining rates. He, too, criticized CFA for comparing one driver who had prior coverage with another who did not. This is significant because some companies reward loyal customers by forgiving infrequent accident claims  a practice that belies the CFAs claim that insurers are trying to train their customers not to file claims of any sort, Alldredge said.

Alldredge also noted that the CFA report did not state whether any actual consumers are paying these rates, suggesting that in the real world consumers are often entitled to various discounts including for buying renters or homeowners coverage from the same insurer.

While critical of CFA, Alldedge couldnt resist noting that the one insurer that did not penalize for no-fault accidents was a mutual insurer, namely State Farm.

The American Insurance Association (AIA) drew one overriding conclusion from the report: consumers are wise to shop around.

Personal automobile insurance remains one of the most highly regulated and competitive markets in the United States. State regulators review policies and rates, including factors cited by the Consumer Federation of America, to ensure that they are not excessive, inadequate or discriminatory, said Lawrence Eckhouse, AIA counsel. He said even the CFA report highlights the variability of rating factors, business outcomes and prices, while also encouraging consumers to shop around.

Topics Carriers Auto Legislation Profit Loss
Almost a dozen years ago, then-New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer filed a fraud lawsuit against former American Insurance Group Inc. CEO Maurice Hank Greenberg over two reinsurance transactions that purportedly gave an improper boost to the companys financial statements.

On Friday, New Yorks current attorney general, Eric Schneiderman, announced the case was finally settled, with Greenberg admitting he approved two fraudulent transactions and agreeing to pay $9 million. The settlement also resolved civil claims against Howard Smith, AIGs former chief financial officer, related to the two transactions, Schneiderman said.

But Monday afternoon, Greenberg and Smith sat beside each other at a news conference in midtown Manhattan and made it clear that their animus toward New York states top lawyer was hardly settled, even if the lawsuit was.

Greenberg, 91, said he never admitted to fraud or any wrongdoing in settling the lawsuit, despite Schneidermans claims to the contrary. He said the lawsuit was filed as payback for his criticisms of Spitzer and that Fridays news release  which came as a surprise to Greenbergs camp  was an attempt by Schneiderman to put a positive spin on a case in which the attorney general failed to obtain the penalty and securities ban he sought from the two former executives.

He pursued the case so aggressively. Hes embarrassed the way it ended, Greenberg said.

Eric Soufer, a spokesman for Schneiderman, said the statement that Greenberg agreed to distribute  in which he admitted to initiating, participating in and approving two transactions that led to inaccurate portrayals of the companys health  speaks for itself.

No number of press conferences or TV interviews by Mr. Greenberg or Mr. Boies is going to change that, Soufer said, referring to Greenbergs attorney, David Boies. Spitzer didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

Two Transactions

The settlement resolves claims that stemmed from two reinsurance transactions: a deal with Berkshire Hathaway Inc.s General Reinsurance Corp. used to reverse a decline in loss reserves at AIG, and an agreement with CAPCO Reinsurance Co. The attorney general argued the transactions were fraudulent and intended to make AIGs financial statements look better than they were.

But rather than admitting fraud, Greenberg has said the inaccurate accounting statements were honest mistakes that he didnt know were wrong. The penalty is a small fraction of the $6 billion in damages the attorney general originally sought and less than the costs of litigating the suit, Boies said.

In an interview on Bloomberg Television Monday, Greenberg estimated he had spent about $200 million fighting the case over the years.

Greenberg and Smith had argued the attorney general couldnt prove that either transaction was improperly accounted for, that the defendants knew of any alleged impropriety or that the two deals had a significant impact on AIGs financial results.

Anthony Sabino, a law professor at St. Johns Universitys Peter J. Tobin College of Business, questioned why the attorney general continued to pursue the case against the executives long after AIG had settled, restated its earnings and was bailed out by the government, during the financial crisis. He suggested it was the work of a overzealous attorney general simply trying to make political points.

Why did the state of New York spend over a decade pursuing Greenberg when the injuries had already been fully addressed? Sabino said. Surely the New York attorney general had better things to do. Again, the states have a right to enforce the law in their own domains. But when the problem is solved or nearly so, why fight for years, especially here when the final gain, if you can call it that, is trifling.

Stepped Down

Greenberg stepped down from AIG in March 2005, two months before Spitzer sued. New York-based AIG eventually restated its earnings lower by $3.4 billion and agreed to pay $1.64 billion to settle allegations by Spitzer and other regulators, without admitting or denying wrongdoing.

Four former Gen Re executives and one from AIG were convicted of accounting fraud in 2008 but won reversals in 2011. Federal prosecutors agreed to drop the charges the following year under deferred-prosecution agreements after the former executives admitted aspects of the Gen Re deal were fraudulent.

Under the settlement, which came after more than two months of mediation, Greenberg agreed to return $9 million in bonuses and admitted to initiating, participating in and approving the transactions. Smith agreed to return $900,000 in bonuses and admitted to participating in and approving the deals.

New York had sought to bar Greenberg and Smith from participating in the securities business, from serving as officers or directors of public companies and to force them to give up more than $50 million in bonuses. While the settlement does include repayment of bonuses, it doesnt include the work prohibition.

The agreement resolves a legal battle in which Greenberg and Boies squared off against three successive state attorneys general who accused him of fraud. Greenberg, a World War II veteran, refused to settle, seeing the trial as an opportunity to redeem himself after he was pressured to resign from the company that he built, over almost 40 years, into the worlds biggest insurer.

From the beginning this was not about the facts, Smith said. It was about getting press releases for political gain.

_______________

[Insurance Journal Editors Note: During the press conference on Monday, Greenberg and his lawyer, David Boies, called Schneidermans press release issued last Friday very misleading and said that it came as a surprise to them since parties had agreed not to discuss the mediated settlement until it was presented in court. They said they called the press conference to counter the Schneiderman press release and set the record straight. In their own statement, Greenberg and Smith said they were completely absolved of all fraud claims made against them.

Greenberg said he admitted to initiating, participating and approving the transactions in question but never admitted, nor is it in the statement, that they were fraudulent. Boies charged Schneiderman with issuing a misleading press release claiming otherwise in a transparent attempt to claim a victory for destroying AIG and Mr. Greenbergs good name.

Boies and Greenberg said there was never any fraud. They said there were inaccuracies in the reinsurance deal that Greenberg did not know about but there was no fraud. They said the AG had no witnesses or evidence to support the fraud charge. Greenberg said he agreed to the reinsurance deals but said he delegated the details to others.

Greenberg noted that while his reputation may have been harmed by the 12-year, baseless, politically-motivated lawsuit, he has no other recourse against Schneiderman since a sitting attorney general cannot be sued for statements made while in office. Greenberg does have a defamation lawsuit against former attorney general Spitzer for statements he made after he left the attorney general position. Greenberg said this settlement has no effect on that suit.]

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits Fraud New York Reinsurance
EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants has named Adam Frugoli vice president of its health care strategy group.

He will divide his time between EPICs Idaho Falls, Idaho and Sacramento, Calif., offices.

Frugoli will be responsible for new business development, program design and management, marketing and coverage placement, and will oversee EPICs delivery of products, services and solutions to clients in the healthcare, consumer finance and banking industries. He will report to Tom McCready, managing principal of the Sacramento property/casualty operations.

Frugoli has more than 16 years of experience serving health care and financial services clients. Frugoli spent eight years as vice president and insurance broker with the Leavitt Group prior to joining EPIC. He started his career in 2001 at US Bank N.A., where he was a vice president of branch investment advisory services.

EPIC is a retail property/casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm.

Topics California
Changes loom for IPO listings

From:Xinhua | 2017-02-13 10:27

China will push for the normalization of initial public offerings and refinancing activities, while considering possible pressure on the market, said Deng Ge, spokesperson for the China Securities Regulatory Commission.



An IPO suspension between July and November 2015 was followed by a period of slower IPO approval. New shares are subject to approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission, which controls both the timing and price.

China is working on an IPO approval system based on registration that will allow bourses to take over IPO approval.

The regulator also said it will limit IPOs by steel and coal companies as the government trims the bloated sectors.

Money raised through refinancing by listed firms cannot be used to pay bank loans. The regulator also vowed to continue to crack down on illegal activities, pledging strong measures against capital tycoons.

Last year, 227 companies went public, raising total funds of 150.4 billion yuan (US$21.9 billion).
Its tough being an insurance agent today. Merger and acquisition activity is increasing. The demands of their customers evolve quickly. And start-up competitors such as CoverHound and PolicyGenius are waiting to disrupt the entire distribution chain.

As of 2016, the number of independent agents hovered at about 38,000, according to the Independent Insurance Agents Brokers of America (Big I), which says that since 2004, the estimate has fluctuated from between 37,500 and 39,000. Smaller agencies make up 21 percent of the overall population and jumbo agencies close to 2 percent. The Big I summarizes that M&A activity has had an impact on the size and health of the agency network.

In fact, results of the 2016 Agency Universe Study of the independent agency system, conducted by the Big I and 17 major insurance companies, indicate that emerging buying channels represents a greater concern among agents, particularly smaller ones, than does the impact of technological advancements or the sharing economy.

Ironically, agents also seem to struggle with the technological advancements necessary to market themselves effectively on the Internet. Fifty-seven percent of agencies report that marketing their agency effectively online is among their top three technological challengesa significant increase over the 46% of agencies that cited the same challenge in 2014, notes the report.

Its an understatement to say that independent agents need to keep pace with technology, and theres no shortage of options available to them as they build out platforms that enable them to engage with their customers. But the discussion is bigger than that. Its about how the industry is responding.

In Forrester's 2016 North American Financial Services Customer Life Cycle Survey, more than 4,000 new auto insurance customers were asked about interactions with their insurers after buying their coverage. Just 22 % of U.S. consumers surveyed said that they had registered for online self-service on their new auto insurer's web or mobile site. Equally important, only 12% said that they had gotten an email from the carrier or agent about how to use their insurance coverage--and the online services.

If insurers are having difficulty understanding the importance of communication with customers, what does that model for the agent? Without further connections with whoever sold them the policy, the customer may not know how to manage their coverage, much less understand that additional, valuable coverage even exists.

Frank Sentner, principal at Sentwood Consulting, says that there are plenty of digital communication platforms available that will allow agents to communicate with their customers in the way that each customer prefers providing customized, personalized messages that are triggered by meaningful events. The problem (as with everything else) is not the lack of technology, but rather the lack of vision and execution, says Sentner.

Sentner, whose professional mission is to help insurers and agents develop strategies that use apps that facilitate access by all stakeholders to online/anytime/anywhere access to policy information, adds that, sadly, I have several agency customers and when I mention these apps, I invariably get a blank look.

Meanwhile, insurtech startups are finding their way through the forest. This week Hippo, an online provider of home insurance founded in 2015, and Elafris, a developer of an artificial intelligence messaging platform, announced their efforts to create a virtual agent chatbot infrastructure. Elafris says its AI messaging platform can leverage neural networks and machine learning technologies to create virtual insurance agents that eliminate wait times and response lag for insurance customers when they need to communicate with their provider, file a claim or buy an add-on product.

I'm often surprised when I talk to independent agents and they've never heard of companies like Slice, Trov, or Lemonade, says Ellen Carney, principal analyst with Forrester Research. This ignorance will come back to haunt the independent agent community.

The future state for independent agents will call for even more attention to delivering value to their immediate customers and to the carriers they represent. For example, consider the recent launch by Bank of America of its Robo Banks, completely automated branches in Denver and Minneapolis (relatively new markets for BOA) where customers can use ATMs and video chat with employees at other branches. Its not a stretch to see a similar fate for the independent insurance agent, especially those tied to Tier 1 leaders in the industry.

Sentner believes P&C personal lines agents are particularly vulnerable to the likes of insurtech startups and other market disrupters. Unless they specialize in high net worth personal lines, they should find another line of work, he says. For 40 years, I have been told that agents were an endangered species, but I honestly believe that P&C Personal Lines Agents will be irrelevant in the near future because the long-awaited digital revolution is here. There simply isnt enough money in commodity lines to justify commissions for an agent.

Again, this gets back to the importance of the right response. Not every insurtech startup is going to be successful; theyll fight loyalty among certain age groups happy with their existing insurance carrier and agent. And Id even wager that some startups sport an innovation that is ranked too far forward, and will therefore fall to the slings and arrows of first adopters.

Against all of this, agents need to wake up and step forward with digital strategies that can be in alignment with their customers demandsregardless of where their carriers are on their own digital journey. And most importantly, they must be ready to add more value: For example, agents, whether they realize it or not, have an opportunity to be in relationship with their customerswhether its being the trusted financial advisor, the go-to source for information about whats covered, or the calming voice and support during a claim. Forresters Carney adds that theres nothing stopping agents from even approaching the disrupters: Who better to help the insurtech startups find customers than the independent agent?

If these agents continue to face obsolescence, maybe the discussion needs to be around who owns the relationship with the customerthe carrier or the agent. If we can assume that the insurer and the agent share the goal of being successful, this is a key question to be answered, because, to the independent agent, the customer should be anything but a commodity.
Choosing your stockbroker isn't too different from picking a stock. It starts with knowing your investing styleand of course, determining some investment goals (beyond making money, of course).

Today you have more broker options than earlier generations ever did. But of course, a variety of choicesthough welcomecan make decisions more complicated, too. Let's look at the types of brokers out there, how they work, and how they charge, along with some all-around thoughts about questions to ask and research to do, no matter what type of financial advisor you're considering.

Retail brokers fall into two basic categories: full-service brokers and discount brokers.

Key Takeaways Your choice of broker should reflect your investment stylewhether you lean toward active trading or a more passive, buy-and-hold approach.

Always make sure your broker is fully licensed by state regulatory authorities and FINRA and registered (individually or via their firm) with the SEC.

Key questions to ask a broker include "How do you charge for your services?" and "Do you hold yourself to a fiduciary standard or suitability standard?"

Robo-advisors can be a cheaper alternative to human brokers but don't allow for advice or participation on your part.

Research robo-advisors because some are tailored toward different audiences (for example, there are robo-advisors specifically geared toward women).

2:05 Click Play to Learn How to Pick a Broker

What Is a Broker?

There are two types of brokers: regular brokers who deal directly with their clients and broker-resellers who act as intermediaries between the client and a more prominent broker.

Regular brokers are generally held in higher regard than broker-resellers. That's not to say that all resellers are inherently bad, it's just that you need to check them out before you sign up. Regular brokers such as those who work for TD Ameritrade, Capital One, and Fidelity are members of recognized organizations such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC).

A broker is an intermediary between an investor and a securities exchangethe marketplace where financial assets are bought and sold. Because securities exchanges only accept orders from individuals or firms who are members of that exchange, you need a broker to trade for youthat is, to execute buy and sell orders. Brokers provide that service and are compensated either through commissions, fees, or payment by the exchange itself.

A broker may just be an order taker, executing the trades that you, the client, want to make. But nowadays, many brokers style themselves as "financial advisors" or "financial representatives" and do much more. As well as executing client orders, brokers may provide investors with research, investment planning and recommendations, and market intelligence.

Full-Service Brokers vs. Discount Brokers

There is a further distinction between full-service brokers and discount brokers. As the name suggests, full-service brokers routinely offer individual advice and recommendations, and these services don't come cheap. A full-service broker does much of the legwork for the investor.

Discount brokers generally leave you to make your own decisions, although many offer the option to solicit a broker for advice on a particular trade for a fee. Some recommend a full-service broker for new investors. But frankly, it's often not feasible for a young person to go with a more expensive full-service broker.

Today's online discount brokers typically provide a vast array of tools for investors of all experience levels. You'll learn a whole lot more about investing if you do the legwork yourself.

Costs and Fees

If you're under 30, chances are you're limited by your budget. Trade execution fees are important, but there are other brokerage fees to consider. Knowing the fees and additional charges that might apply to you is essential to making the most of your investment dollar. Here are some costs to consider:

Minimums : Most brokers require a minimum balance for setting up an account. Online brokers typically have the lowest minimums, ranging from $500 to $1,000.

: Most brokers require a minimum balance for setting up an account. Online brokers typically have the lowest minimums, ranging from $500 to $1,000. Margin accounts : A new investor might not want to open a margin account right away, but it's something to think about for the future. Margin accounts usually have higher minimum balance requirements than standard brokerage accounts. You also need to check the interest rate your broker charges when you trade on margin.

: A new investor might not want to open a margin account right away, but it's something to think about for the future. Margin accounts usually have higher minimum balance requirements than standard brokerage accounts. You also need to check the interest rate your broker charges when you trade on margin. Withdrawal fees: Some brokers charge a fee to make a withdrawal or won't permit a withdrawal if it drops your balance below the minimum. On the other hand, some allow you to write checks against your account, although they typically require a high minimum balance. Make sure that you understand the rules involved in removing money from an account.

Fee Structures, Pricing, and the Fine Print

A common fee structure for a broker is a per-trade commission. This can range from almost nothing to more than $100 per trade depending on how it is placed (i.e., online or with a human broker), the size of the order, and how liquid or accessible the security in question is.

Some brokers have complex fee structures that make it harder to figure out what you'll be paying. This is particularly common among broker-resellers who may use some aspect of a fee structure as a selling point to entice clients.

If a broker seems to have an unusual fee structure, it's all the more important to make sure that it's legitimate, suits your best interests, and complements your investing style.

Read the fine print in the account agreement and fee summaries if the rates seem too good to be true. Additional fees may be hidden there. These may include custodial fees as well as fees for wiring or withdrawing funds, closing accounts, transferring assets, margin fees, and so on.

Zero-commission trading

Today, many online brokers offer zero-commission trades in most listed stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This has dramatically brought down the cost of investing and trading for most individuals. How do these brokerages earn money then? Primarily through a process called "payment for order flow." This involves routing customer trades directly to specialized trading firms known as market makers who literally pay the broker for the opportunity to be on the other side of your trade.

Though this has resulted in free stock trading, some investors and regulators have become concerned that this practice is unfair and can result in inferior prices for customers. Citing it as a conflict of interest, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairman Gary Gensler has recently remarked that the SEC would evaluate payment for order flow and could ultimately ban it in the future.



Investment Styles

Your choice of broker should be influenced by your investment style. Are you a trader or a buy-and-hold investor? Traders don't hold onto stocks for a long time. They're interested in quick gains greater than the market average based on short-term price volatility, and they may make many trade executions over a short period.

If you envision yourself as a trader, you'll want to look for a broker with very low execution fees, or trading fees could take a big bite out of your returns. Also, don't forget that active trading takes experience, and the combination of an inexperienced investor and frequent trading often results in negative returns.

A buy-and-hold investor, often called a passive investor, holds stocks for the long term. Buy-and-hold investors are content to let the value of their investments appreciate over longer periods of time. Many investors will find that their investing style falls somewhere between the active trader and the buy-and-hold investor, in which case other factors will become important in choosing the most appropriate broker.

Vet Your Broker

Of course, you want to get along with your broker. But there are also certain criteria every broker should meet. The broker, or the firm they're affiliated with, should be a registered investment advisor (RIA). This means they are on record with and under the regulation of the SEC. The individual broker should be registered with FINRA, the trade organization that oversees the financial industry on the government's behalf.

To buy and sell securities, a broker has to have passed specific qualifying examinations and received a license from your state securities regulator before they can do business with you.

At a minimum, the broker should have passed the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam (if they entered the profession after 2018) and the Series 7 General Securities Representative Qualification Exam, which allows them to sell most types of stocks, bonds, and ETFs.

Most brokers also take the Series 6 Investment Company/Variable Contracts Products Limited Representative Exam, which allows them to sell packaged investment products such as mutual funds, variable annuities, and unit investment trusts (UITs).

exam

You can obtain background information on a brokerincluding registration, employment history, licensing, and disciplinary actionsby looking them up on FINRA BrokerCheck.

Questions to Ask Your Broker

Aside from specific discussions about your goals, appetite for risk, and individual investments, ask your broker these questions before you get started:

How are you compensated? Fees, commissions, or a combination of the two?

What other charges do you or your firm havetransaction fees, account maintenance fees, etc.?

Are you or your firm associated with any of the companies whose investment products you might recommend?

Will I have access to my account online?

How often will I receive statements?

How frequently will you review my portfolio and investment plan?

Do you subscribe to the fiduciary standard or just the suitability standard?

Robo-advisors

As an alternative to a human broker or broker-reseller, it's worth investigating the pros and cons of using a robo-advisor. Robo-advisors are automated trading and investing platforms. They use computer algorithms to select and manage investment portfolios, with little to no human interaction beyond the original programmingthough some services are supplemented with live support from real people.

Typically, an investor signs up with a robo-advisor online. They provide information about their investment goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. Though some platforms only ask basic questions, others will pose a more detailed range of queries. Based upon that information, the robo-advisor fashions a portfolio and adjusts it periodically.

Pros and cons of robo-advisors

One big pro of robo-advisors is the cost. Algorithms don't eat very much. As a result, robo-advisors are a lot cheaper than human advisors: Robo-advisors may charge between 0.02% and 1% of investment funds annually compared to traditional wealth managers' fees, which could be 1% or 2% or higher. Robo-advisor platforms usually have lower account requirements than regular investment managersa few hundred or few thousand as opposed to five or six figures. And enrolling in them is easy.

On the downside, there's not much choice or personalization. Robo-advisors primarily invest in ETFsanother reason their services come so cheapand they tend to slot you into predetermined model portfolios based on your risk tolerance and basic needs (appreciation, income, etc.), passive index investing, and modern portfolio theory (MPT). And of course, you can't chat with an algorithm (although many robo-advisory firms now have human advisors also on staff for just this purpose).

Note that such a platform is not always a great option for more nuanced financial planning or providing counsel on exactly how to save to buy a house or for retirement. Most of them also won't let you purchase any investments on your own, like individual stocks or bonds, either. Despite the "advisor" in their name, robo-advisors function more like money managers who have discretionary power over your portfolio.

Can I Have More Than One Broker? Yes, although it may not be ideal to have your assets invested in several places where they may overlap or even contradict each other. You may choose to have one broker for long-term investing while opening a trading account for more speculative or short-term plays.

Is It Hard to Change Brokers? Today, changing brokerage firms is quite easy and can all be done online with a few clicks and digital signatures. Cash and entire portfolios can be electronically transferred from your old broker to your new one in a matter of days.

Is Payment for Order Flow Bad? Payment for order flow (PFOF) seems to be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it allows for commission-free trading, which has made trading and investing much more accessible and cost-effective for ordinary individuals. At the same time, it involves directing orders to specific financial firms as your counterparty. This can lead to conflicts of interest, inferior fills, and the potential for front-running ordersall to the customer's detriment.

The Bottom Line

There are several factors to consider when choosing your first broker. With Investopedia's online broker reviews, we've created the most comprehensive tool set to help traders of all styles make informed, efficient, and intelligent decisions when looking for the right online broker.

Your first broker won't necessarily be your broker for life. Your life will change, and your needs as an investor may change along with it. However, if you choose the right broker to start with, you may have a much better chance of making money as an investor.
What Is Escrow?

Escrow is a legal concept describing a financial agreement whereby an asset or money is held by a third party on behalf of two other parties that are in the process of completing a transaction.

Escrow accounts are managed by the escrow agent. The agent releases the assets or funds only upon the fulfillment of predetermined contractual obligations (or upon receiving appropriate instructions). Money, securities, funds, and other assets can all be held in escrow.

Key Takeaways Escrow refers to a neutral third party holding assets or funds before they are transferred from one party in a transaction to another.

The third party holds the funds until both buyer and seller have fulfilled their contractual requirements.

Escrow is associated with real estate transactions but it can apply to any situation where funds will pass from one party to another.

Escrow can be used when purchasing a home and for the life of a mortgage.

Online escrow has been on the rise as a way to offer secure online transactions for expensive items, such as art or jewelry.

Understanding Escrow

Escrow is a financial process used when two parties take part in a transaction and there is uncertainty about the fulfillment of their obligations. Situations that may use escrow can involve internet transactions, banking, intellectual property, real estate, mergers and acquisitions, law, and more.

Consider a company that is selling goods internationally. That company requires assurance that it will receive payment when the goods reach their destination. The buyer, for their part, is prepared to pay for the goods only if they arrive in good condition.

The buyer can place the funds in escrow with an agent with instructions to disburse them to the seller once the goods arrive in a suitable state. This way, both parties are protected and the transaction can proceed.

For real estate, there are two escrow accounts. The first is used when youre buying a home. The second is used during the life of the mortgage.

Types of Escrow

Escrow and Real Estate

Escrow accounts can apply to real estate transactions. Placing the funds in escrow with a third party allows the buyer to make a good faith deposit or perform due diligence on a potential property acquisition. Escrow accounts also assure the seller that the buyer is serious about the purchase.

For example, an escrow account can be used for the sale of a house. If there are conditions attached to the sale, such as the passing of an inspection, the buyer and seller may agree to use escrow.

In this case, the buyer of the property deposits the payment for the house in an escrow account held by a third party. The seller can proceed with, e.g., house inspections, confident that the funds are on deposit and the buyer is capable of making payment. The amount in escrow is then transferred to the seller once all the conditions for the sale are satisfied.

Escrow can also refer to an escrow account that is set up at the time of mortgage closing. In this instance, the escrow account contains future homeowners insurance and property tax payments.

A portion of the monthly mortgage payment is deposited into the escrow account to cover these payments. Thus, borrowers that set up an escrow account, if required by the lender (or at their own discretion) will have higher payments than those who do not. However, they will not have to worry about paying the yearly premiums or property tax bills as they're already paying portions of them monthly into their escrow account.

Escrow and the Stock Market

Stocks are often issued in escrow. In this case, while the shareholder is the real owner of the stock, the shareholder has limited rights when it comes to the disposal of the stock.

For example, executives who receive stock as a bonus to their compensation often must wait for an escrow period to pass before they can sell the stock. Stock bonuses are often used to attract or retain top executives.

Escrow and Online Sales

Online escrow, like real estate and stock market escrow, protects the buyer and seller from fraud or nonpayment. An online escrow service acts as the third party for online product sales. Buyers send their payments to the escrow service, which holds the money until the product is received.

Once the product is delivered and verified, the online escrow service releases the funds to the seller. Escrow services are best suited for high-value items, such as jewelry or art. The online escrow company charges a fee for the service.

You can request an escrow account yourself for the tax and insurance payments on your house, even if your lender doesn't require it. Escrow can help a home owner be sure that money needed for property taxes and insurance will be available when payment is due. In other words, instead of having to come up with a large lump sum, the homeowner can make smaller monthly deposits in an escrow account, which will be disbursed by the agent at the appropriate times.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Escrow

For a fee, escrow can provide parties to transactions that involve large amounts of money an assurance of security.

Escrow accounts for mortgages can help protect the borrower and lender from potentially late payments for property taxes and homeowners insurance. These monthly amounts are usually estimated. You can overpay (or underpay) into your escrow account, which may require an adjustment when it comes time for the servicer to make the payments.

The convenience of monthly escrow payments requires a higher monthly payment compared to paying just principal and interest.

Pros Provides protection during transactions, notably for real estate involving sizable amounts of money

Allows for monthly payments toward insurance and taxes (instead of a large lump sum)

Beneficial for both the buyer and seller when big-ticket items are involved Cons Higher mortgage payments (if escrow is used for taxes and insurance)

Estimates might be incorrect for tax due

Online escrow service fees might be higher than those on other platforms, such as PayPal

Example of Escrow

Homebuyers often use escrow twice. First, as earnest money and then, at closing. Say that John wants to buy a home. He finds a house and decides to make an offer. The offer is accepted and he must put earnest money of $5,000 into escrow.

The money put in escrow shows the seller that John is seriously interested in buying the property. In return, the seller takes the property off the market and finalizes repairs, etc. All goes well and at the time of the purchase the escrow money is transferred to the seller and the purchase price is reduced by $5,000.

At the closing, John agrees to set up an escrow account with the lender to pay property taxes and homeowners insurance. Johns monthly payments look like this:

$1,000 for principal and interest

$100 for homeowners insurance

$300 for property taxes

Total monthly mortgage payment of $1,400

Then, when the yearly taxes and insurance payments are due, the lender makes them using money in the escrow account. Some lenders require an escrow account to ensure that both of these are paid on time. If taxes go unpaid, the tax authority could place a lien on the property, which is not in the best interest of the lender.

What Is the Escrow of a House? Escrow relating to buying a house is an account (called the escrow account) in which money from the potential homebuyer is deposited. Required escrow is generally 1% to 2% of the asking price for a home. The money is required to ensure the buyer is seriously considering the home and has the funds to make the purchase. In return, the seller will usually take the property off the market and allow the potential buyer access to the home for inspections.

How Does Escrow Work? Escrow required by mortgage lenders involves making monthly payments for property taxes and homeowners insurance into an escrow account held by a third party. If escrow is required by the lender (or requested by the borrower), the monthly payment will include principal and interest for the loan, as well as amounts for property taxes and homeowners insurance. The lender will keep the amounts for taxes and insurance in the escrow account. Then, when the bills come due, they will make the appropriate payments.

What Does Escrow Mean in Mortgage? Escrow relating to mortgages involves property tax and insurance payments. This escrow account can last for the length of a mortgage loan. Lenders don't always require escrow. However, if you are required to set up an escrow account, many lenders will consider a written request to end escrow after you've made, typically, a year of on-time mortgage payments and your loan-to-value is generally 80% or lower.

Is Escrow Good or Bad? Escrow is generally considered good, as it protects the buyer and seller in a transaction. In addition, escrow as part of mortgage payments is generally good for the lender and helps the buyer by ensuring property taxes and homeowners insurance are paid on time.

What Is an Escrow Disbursement? An escrow disbursement is a payment made from an escrow account. With real estate, it's made by the lender on behalf of a borrower to cover property taxes and homeowners insurance.

The Bottom Line

Escrow can be used for various transactions, including real estate, stock issuances, and online sales. Money from the buyer is held in an escrow account until the transaction is complete, or the buyer is able to receive or verify the condition of the product.

Once the buyer approves the transaction, the money is released to the seller from the escrow account. The company managing the escrow account generally takes a fee for performing the third-party service.
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China steps up efforts to prevent bird flu outbreaks

From:Xinhua | 2017-02-13 10:28

Several provinces in China have stepped up efforts to prevent bird flu following reports of scattered human cases of the H7N9 virus.



Authorities closed 280 live poultry trading and slaughtering venues in Suining in southwest Chinas Sichuan Province after four cases this year.

Commerce officials in the city have enhanced inspections to crack down on unlicensed poultry businesses.

The central province of Hubei has set up headquarters for the prevention and control of human H7N9 outbreaks.

Health authorities confirmed 19 human cases between January 1 and February 9, scattered across several cities.

Two patients have left hospital after recovering.

The province has sent out 16 inspection teams to check on prevention efforts.

In Changsha, capital of central Chinas Hunan Province, all live poultry markets have been suspended. The province has reported 24 human H7N9 cases, including five fatalities, this year.

In east Chinas Zhejiang Province, all markets were ordered to halt live poultry trading by 6pm on Saturday.

The Zhejiang Center for Disease Control and Prevention said the province had entered the high season for bird flu outbreaks.

In January alone, Zhejiang reported 35 H7N9 infections, with contact with live poultry the major source, particularly in rural areas.

On Saturday, Beijing reported an H7N9 case  a 68-year-old man from Langfang in neighboring Hebei Province.

The provinces of Liaoning, Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan, Guangdong and Guizhou have also reported human H7N9 cases this year.

Meanwhile, Taiwan reported three H5N6 bird flu cases in the past few days, and authorities are reinforcing measures to prevent further infections.

The latest case came yesterday when turkeys from a farm in Tainan were confirmed as infected, according to the islands animal and plant inspection authority.

More than 3,000 turkeys on the farm died in an unusually short space of time before the authority conducted tests to confirm the virus.

The first H5N6 case was confirmed on February 5 in a dead goose found in eastern Hualien county.

On Saturday, samples from 3,789 slaughtered ducks, from a farm near where the gosling was found, also tested positive.

The Taiwan authority said the viruss DNA sequence was 99 percent the same as that found in South Korea and Japan, where more than 35 million fowl have been culled in three months.
With technology becoming more and more a part of our lives, it was only a matter of time before it started to impact the way 
Krissy Marsh, Victoria Rees and Nicole O'Neil were recently in New Zealand to promote the first season of, which premieres on Bravo New Zealand at the end of the month. The women were in Auckland for a special screening of the premiere episode where they also got to metWhen asked about how the RHOS ladies felt about meeting the Kiwi Housewives, the Sydney ladies didn't hold anything back.Although they were impressed by the charm of Anne Batley Burton, they thought a few of the others left a lot to be desired. "I felt like walking over to them and saying 'Listen honeys you're not Nicole Kidman!'" Marsh told"I think the fame has gone to their head a little bit," said O'Neil.Marsh agreed naming Michelle Blanchard and Gilda Kirkpatrick as the worst offenders.Talking about their favorite moments of the show, Marsh was quick to bring up Angela Stone and book-gate."I think the naivete of Angela giving everyone the book on how to dress... that was just pure classic and she couldn't work out why any of these women would be offended."However, Marsh ended on a good note, giving a few good reasons why men should should tune in with their wives."I think with Sydney, it is not just a bitch fight... you can sit and look at beautiful boats, fast cars, there is a lot in there for a man to watch... and big boobs," laughed Marsh.This was something in which all the women were in agreement. "She [Marsh] won the Olympics for the best boobs," said Rees.The first season of The Real Housewives of Sydney premieres on Sunday, February 26 at 8:30pm on Arena In Australia and on Tuesday, February 28 at 8:30pm on Bravo NZ in New Zealand. For International TV Listings,Photo Credit: Lawrence Smith/FairfaxNZ
DUP leader Arlene Foster has insisted it is wrong to portray her as anti-Irish language.

Speaking at a Northern Ireland Chambers event in Belfast, Mrs Foster said people are "absolutely entitled" to "express themselves through their love of the Irish language or Irish culture".

Mrs Foster faced furious criticism recently after she said she would not be supporting the introduction of an Irish Language Act, as part of a series of measures to facilitate the restoration of power-sharing after the March Assembly elections.

Speaking at the launch of her party's election campaign in Lurgan recently, Mrs Foster said: "If we have an Irish language act, maybe we should have a Polish language act as well because there are more people in Northern Ireland who speak Polish, compared to Irish."

Referring to Sinn Fein demands, she said: "If you feed a crocodile, it will keep coming back for more."

However, speaking during the NI Chamber's 5 Leaders; 5 Days series, Mrs Foster insisted that just because she is not in favour of an Irish language act, does not mean she is anti-Irish language.

"People are absolutely entitled, and they want to be encouraged, to express themselves through their love of the Irish language or Irish culture," said Mrs Foster.

"My difficulty with the Irish language act is around the cost, the fact it would have equity and equality with the English language that in terms of the civil service, there would have to be affirmative action for people who were Irish speakers and there would be criminal offences if people didn't co-operate with an Irish language commissioner, all of those things.

"It is wrong to portray me in a way that I am anti-Irish language. That is not the case at all.

Mrs Foster described her experiences over the past two months, both personally and politically, as "brutal".

She said after she came back from her business trip to China late last year, "all hell had broken lose" in Stormont.

"The level of respect for difference, the level of tolerance isn't there at the moment. I deeply regret that," she said.

"I would wish for a more respectful, tolerant politics and maybe this might be a watershed moment and we have that after the election takes place."
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Update 9.55pm:Keith Harrison's solicitor Trevor Collins has this evening confirmed his client wants to be part of any public inquiry into the whistleblower crisis.

Alleging a "common pattern of treatment" of whistleblowers within the Force, including unfounded allegations of child sex abuse against whistleblowers and the spreading of rumours against them, Mr Collins reiterated Keith Harrison's earlier statement that his case should also be included in the inquiry.

Children's Minister Katerine Zappone has said she will meet garda Harrison to discuss his demand.

Update 8.25pm: Enda Kenny has admitted for the first time that he was aware of false allegations of sex abuse against Maurice McCabe.

The Taoiseach has conceded that Katherine Zappone did tell him of the sexual nature of the false allegations against the whistleblower.

Both ministers insisted that further details were not discussed, though the Taoiseach declared that the matter fell within the scope of their inquiry into an alleged smear campaign.

The matter was discussed in some detail before last Tuesday's Cabinet meeting.

The Taoiseach said: "Minister Zappone said that she had met with the McCabes and that the question of false allegations of sexual abuse had been made to Tusla and discussed by her with the McCabes."

Update 7.50pm: Tanaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has refused to answer questions set out by whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

The demand for explanations was turned down as the Government moved to open a potentially long-running tribunal to investigate an alleged smear campaign against the officer.

Sergeant McCabe sought answers on whether a superintendent held a meeting or had a phone call with health chiefs over the unfounded and false report of alleged sex abuse.

He also wanted the identity of an officer who took a call from the Health Service Executive about the untrue report of a rape allegation and who interviewed the alleged victim.

Sgt McCabe also asked for information about garda activity around the issue and whether a decision had been taken to keep the false claim from him.

Ms Fitzgerald said it would be "fraught" to set up a tribunal and immediately demand answers from people involved.

"Of course, I understand well the concerns which people have expressed about the treatment of Maurice McCabe. But it would be a great pity for people here to try to rectify one injustice by causing others," she said.

"Whatever anger people might feel, in this country we do not set up tribunals of inquiry simply to confirm what people already believe. We set them up to look at all the evidence, hear all sides, and establish what the truth is.

"We have to be careful not to rush to judgment. And above all everyone is entitled to basic, fair procedures enshrined in our Constitution. I am not prepared to ignore that and engage in a rush to judgment, which ignores anyone's fundamental human rights.

"We have to investigate matters fully, but it must be fairly too. I cannot uphold the integrity of the office to which I have been honoured to be appointed by setting at nought the rights of others."

Update 7.25pm: Ms Fitzgerald also referred to Sergeant Maurice McCabe's statement yesterday in which he asked for answers to six questions.

The Tanaiste says she does not have the information and is not certain she has the legal right to ask for it.

The Justice Minister said: "They are of course matters that will dealt with fully by any inquiry, and this gives rise to a difficulty with the suggestion it is simply a matter of asking the Garda Commissioner to ask the Gardai involved.

"I have not had a chance to get detailed formal advice from the Attorrney General, but there are clearly implications for the rights of people involved."

Update 7.15pm: The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has again admitted he gave an inaccurate account of his knowledge on the false Tusla allegations against Maurice McCabe.

For the second time he admitted he had not given an accurate account of what he knew and when.

Mr Kenny told the Dail: "I was aware of the meeting between Minister Zappone and Sergeant McCabe, but I was not aware of the details or of the very serious and disturbing issues that arose at the meeting.

"And in referring to this last Sunday, I mistakenly said that I had spoken to Minister Zappone before her meeting with Sergeant McCabe. That comment was inaccurate, alas Ceann Comhairle."

Update 6.30pm: Tanaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has again denied misleading the Dail regarding any knowledge of Tusla records relating to false claims involving Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe.

Speaking in the Dail today, she said: "Suggestions have been made that I had knowledge of Tusla records at the time the matter was before Government, which would have required me to amend the terms of reference.

"As I have repeatedly stated that is not the case. And I was as taken aback at - and disturbed - at watching the revelations about Tusla that were aired last Thursday as anyone else. Clearly very serious issues have arisen.

She added: "My engagement with Deputy Jim OCallaghan last Wednesday was constructive throughout and entirely focussed on ensuring that a commission of investigation would establish the full truth.

"I accept that each of our positions on this aspect of the discussion are genuinely held. And I acknowledge very much that is this spirit in which Deputy O'Callaghan has worked.

O'Callaghan '100% certain' he mentioned Tusla file to Tanaiste https://t.co/9NSjzwxn4J pic.twitter.com/yvQF8D9DT9  RTE News (@rtenews) February 13, 2017

"I regret that differences have arisen between the two of us as to what exactly was said.

I have always found the Deputy honourable and I do know he made very helpful suggestions about changes that might be made to the terms of reference - which, indeed, I accepted in substance.

She added: "There is no question of me having misled the Dail in any way in what I had to say here last Thursday."

Update 5.38pm: Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald, Children's Minister Katherine Zappone and Health Minister Simon Harris will give detailed statements to the Dail this evening over their contradictory views of the Maurice McCabe smear campaign scandal, writes Fiachra O Cionnaith, Political Correspondent.

However, while a Government no confidence motion on the controversy is due to take place tomorrow, a high-profile debate on the scale of an imminent public tribunal into what happened may now be delayed until next week.

The decisions were made by the Dail's 11-TD cross-party business committee this evening as the garda smear campaign scandal continued to escalate.

Mr Kenny, Ms Fitzgerald, Ms Zappone and Mr Harris will each give 10-minute statements addressing a series of contradictions over responses given by them and agencies under their remit to the McCabe scandal between around 6pm and 8.30pm this evening.

In particular, the statements are intended to clear up disagreements between Mr Kenny and Ms Zappone's version of events, and when other ministers became aware of the entirely false and incorrect Tusla sex abuse reports.

"What did Katherine Zappone tell you, and what did her officials tell your officials?" the Taoiseach is asked. pic.twitter.com/6qCZDyUSMU  RTE News (@rtenews) February 12, 2017

Taoiseach says he is guilty of 'not giving accurate information' in relation to his contact with Katherine Zappone pic.twitter.com/i5OKcvqiy3  RTE News (@rtenews) February 14, 2017

While opposition parties will be give limited opportunities to respond tonight, they will have greater scope to address the issues tomorrow during a Sinn Fein motion of no confidence in Government.

.@sinnfeinireland motion of no confidence in the govt will take place in the Dail tmw at 6.45pm-10.15pm  Martina Fitzgerald (@MartinaFitzg) February 14, 2017

Although it has yet to be definitively agreed, the business committee has also discussed delaying the mooted debate on the scale and scope of a public tribunal into the McCabe scandal until next week instead of holding it either today, tomorrow or Thursday.

The delay, which has yet to be agreed, would be to allow Mr Kenny to meet with the leaders of other parties to discuss the likely terms of reference of the investigation.

Update 3.55pm: Doubts have emerged over whether Supreme Court judge Peter Charleton will be able to chair any investigation into the alleged smear campaign against Sergeant Maurice McCabe, writes Fiachra O Cionnaith, Political Correspondent.

Mr Justice Charleton was named last week as the person who would chair the planned commission of inquiry into the case, which is now set to become a public tribunal.

However, while no decision has been made, it has emerged this afternoon that a serving Supreme Court judge may not be legally allowed to chair a public tribunal.

The situation, which will cause yet more problems for Government, was referred to in passing during Leaders Questions by Taoiseach Enda Kenny, when he said the investigation would be chaired properly by a person, "whoever that might be".

Update 3.47pm: A second Garda whistleblower has issued a public statement, demanding that his own case be included in an inquiry or tribunal.

Garda Keith Harrison, who was named in the Dail today, says the claims by Maurice McCabe are not isolated, but highlight "a common approach" to whistleblowers within senior management.

Breaking: statement in from another Garda whistleblower, Keith Harrison, demanding to be included in inquiry pic.twitter.com/P87EFjAYoO  Aubrey Robinson (@andyazi) February 14, 2017

He says those tactics include an unjustified referral of his family to Tusla, as well as "malicious falsehoods" being spread to the media.

The Garda claims that restricting the new inquiry to only one case will allow Maurice McCabe's treatment to be presented as a once-off, when there is an orchestrated system led by senior gardai.

"I demand my case be included in any Inquiry/Commission of Investigation by the Government and political establishment," his statement concludes.

"We will not rest until this happens."

Mr Harrison claimed there is an "orchestrated system and culture" among senior management of the force that dictates the treatment of whistleblowers.

Mr Harrison said: "The efforts of this Government to restrict the inquiry/commission of investigation to the very traumatic story of Sergeant McCabe absolutely ensures we will not get to the bottom of the culture of management failures and ill-treatment of whistleblowers within An Garda Siochana."

Update 3.28pm: Taoiseach Enda Kenny has admitted that he is "guilty here of not giving accurate information" regarding his conversation with Children's Minister Katherine Zappone regarding her meeting with Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe.

I might say mea culpa - I am guilty here of not giving accurate information, he told the Dail.

Speaking on the 'On 'This Week' programme on RTE Radio last Sunday, Enda Kenny said: "Minister Zappone is doing a very good job, did tell me that she intended to meet with Sergeant McCabe in a private capacity and that's all I knew.

I said to her: 'Well if you do have a meeting make sure that you have a thorough account of it', so when we had our meeting on Tuesday I wouldn't have been aware of any of the details of her discussions with [Maurice McCabe]."

Mr Kenny today said that he regrets saying that the conversation happened and that communication took place between his officials and Ms Zappones office.

AAA-PBP TD Paul Murphy said that the Taoiseach gave "a completely inaccurate statement" during Sunday's interview on RTE Radio.

"If you had said that conversation did not take place, then how could you remember it in such detail if it didn't take place?," said Deputy Murphy.

"It means on Tuesday, you knew about Tusla and you consciously didn't include it in the terms of reference, and it means you misled the public on RTE."

Deputy Murphy also called for the removal of Garda Commissioner Noirin OSullivan.

AAA-PBP TD Paul Murphy asks how the Taoiseach can he allow Garda Commissioner Noirin OSullivan to remain in place during the inquiry pic.twitter.com/8tLn3hhclV  RTE News (@rtenews) February 14, 2017

The Taoiseach also drew criticism from Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams.

"While your Government remains in office, there will be no truth, there will be no justice for Maurice McCabe," said Deputy Adams.

"A criminal investigation is needed."

The Taoiseach responded by calling Deputy Adams "an absolute hypocrite".

In response to Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams, Taoiseach said: 'You're an absolute hypocrite after what you said and did to Senator Mairia Cahill' pic.twitter.com/LARpdX7Or1  RTE News (@rtenews) February 14, 2017

Update 2.57pm: Taoiseach Enda Kenny has apologised and admitted his account last Sunday of his knowledge of events of a conversation with the Children's Minister was incorrect.

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin demanded that ministers come before the Dail and explain themselves regarding the recent Maurice McCabe controversy.

"I also want to put it to you that the establishement of a tribunal of inquiry, and it hasn't been established yet, is no basis for Ministers not coming into the House, to answer questions to the House, and to be accountable to the House, in relation to the Tusla file, which is over and above an additional to, the protective disclosures issues which gave rise to the inquiry in the first instance," he said.

'There was an attempt and a campaign to undermine the integrity of Maurice McCabe' - Micheal Martin pic.twitter.com/DDwweaVKZs  RTE News (@rtenews) February 14, 2017

"Sergeant McCabe and his family deserve, as do others, the fairness and justice that will come from a tribunal of inquiry," Mr Kenny said.

The allegations to be investigated in the judge-led inquiry will be decided over the coming days.

Enda Kenny says the Govt agreed in principle to set up a tribunal of inquiry into McCabe smear allegations pic.twitter.com/NGTkUqDqUa  RTE News (@rtenews) February 14, 2017

"The issue here is there is any issue of truth and justice that needs to determined. It's a very sensitive and serious public matter now, the way to do that is to have the cooperation of everybody," the Taoiseach said.

"There isn't any point in having some private investigation or commission if the McCabe family are not willing to participate in it."

Enda Kenny: 'An effective process to deal with' the alleged smear campaign is required pic.twitter.com/5g11J8zLEN  RTE News (@rtenews) February 14, 2017

In a lengthy statement on Monday, Sgt McCabe accused Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan of privately discrediting him while publicly declaring her support over his horrific ordeal.

The officer claimed the police chief's lawyers set out to discredit him at the O'Higgins Commission which investigated and vindicated a series of allegations by Mr McCabe of negligence in policing in the Cavan-Monaghan district.

Ms O'Sullivan again insisted she played no role in the peddling of false rumours of child sex abuse against Mr McCabe in order to blacken his name for exposing wrongdoing in the force.

The McCabes set out a number of questions they want answers to.

They include a demand that the Taoiseach, Justice Minister and Children's Minister and other members of Government disclose if they were ever "briefed formally or informally" about the false abuse allegations.

Update 2.32pm: The Government has confirmed that it is holding a public inquiry into an alleged smear campaign against whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny confirmed the Cabinet has agreed in principle to set up a tribunal into the scandal of unfounded and false sex abuse claims being peddled against the respected officer.

The decision was taken after Mr McCabe and his wife Lorraine said they would not accept any investigation into the controversy being held behind closed doors.

"There's nothing worse in this country than to be called a sex abuser, nothing worse," the Taoiseach told the Dail.

The terms of reference of the tribunal have not been finalised but Mr Kenny said the primary function will be to establish if there had been an organised smear campaign targeting Mr McCabe by senior garda.

Update 2pm: The Cabinet has agreed to set up a public inquiry into allegations of a smear campaign against Maurice McCabe.

Ministers signed off on the idea after it was discussed between Enda Kenny and Micheal Martin earlier today.

However there is no agreement on the terms of reference for the inquiry, which will only be drafted after talks with opposition parties.

Meanwhile there is no agreement yet on when a motion of no confidence in the Dail will be debated - with no agenda agreed for this week.

The Dail's business committee is to meet again at 4pm to discuss a weekly timetable.

Update 1pm: It is understood that Fianna Fail compiled draft terms of reference for a public inquiry into the Maurice McCabe scandal overnight, which leader Micheal Martin presented to Taoiseach Enda Kenny today.

Enda Kenny then held the usual midday pre-meeting with Fine Gael ministers and told them he would recommend the Cabinet proceed with a public inquiry.

The Government is also proposing to the Dail business committee this afternoon that a motion of confidence in itself be taken tomorrow, and that would be voted on immediately after the debate.

Separately, childrens charity Barnardos welcomed the announcement that the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) will undertake an investigation into how Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, manages child abuse cases.

It is crucial this investigation is thorough and concludes quickly to ensure confidence in Tusla is maintained, said CEO Fergus Finlay.

Any failings must be addressed so it is important senior social work professionals play an active role in the investigation.

It is inexcusable to leave cases unallocated and ignored, thereby increasing the risk of harm to other children or damaging the reputation of innocent people.

Tusla has advanced the reform of Irelands child welfare and protection system since its establishment in 2014. But it has struggled from the start with inadequate resources.

He added: So the HIQA investigation will not achieve its objective unless the Government accept that our child protection system has the child at its heart and is resourced appropriately.

Update 11.55am: Taoiseach Enda Kenny has assured Fianna Fail that a public tribunal of inquiry into the Maurice McCabe scandal will replace the Commission of Inquiry proposed last week, writes Daniel McConnell, Political Editor.

Mr Kenny met with Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin this morning and it was agreed that a public inquiry would now proceed after Sgt McCabe and his wife said they could not support a Commission, which would conduct its work in private.

At a meeting with Micheal Martin this morning, the Fine Gael leader said he would discuss the potential terms of reference with the Cabinet today.

The decision to scrap the Commission eases the chances of an election which had been threatened in the past 48 hours.

Independent Alliance ministers Finian McGrath and Shane Ross have said they will represent the views of Sgt McCabe at Cabinet and will be asking hard questions of their colleagues.

The Cabinet will this morning discuss establishing a public inquiry.

Sgt McCabe issued a statement yesterday saying he strongly opposed an inquiry that would be held in private.

He and his wife Lorraine said there is now "no reason to have any secret or private inquiry".

Update 11.51am: Health Minister Simon Harris has said the McCabe family deserve a public inquiry after saying they have "gone to hell and back" for speaking out about Garda malpractice, writes Fiachra O Cionnaith, Political Correspondent.

Speaking on his way into Cabinet, Minister Harris said a full public tribunal is now needed and that Government must accept it is the only way to address what has happened.

A man and his family have gone to hell and back, and Government must and will respond in a manner which enables a platform of truth to be established, he said.

The culture of secrecy must end. Both human decency and the public good demand no less.

Update 11.50am: Childrens charity Barnardos has welcomed the Health Information and Quality Authoritys decision to undertake an investigation into how Tusla manages child abuse cases.

They say this scrutiny is necessary to ensure lessons are learnt and high standards are kept to the fore.

Barnardos CEO Fergus Finlay said, It is crucial this investigation is thorough and concludes quickly to ensure confidence in Tusla is maintained. Any failings must be addressed so it is important senior social work professionals play an active role in the investigation.

Reassurances must be given that any complaints received will be handled robustly, consistently and in a timely manner. It is inexcusable to leave cases unallocated and ignored, thereby increasing the risk of harm to other children or damaging the reputation of innocent people.

Update 11.10am: The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) has backed calls for a public inquiry that encompasses a broad and systemic review of how TUSLA deals with sexual abuse allegations.

The ISPCC has released a statement following calls from the McCabe family to hold a public inquiry into TUSLAs procedures and the alleged smear campaign against Maurice McCabe.

They welcomed the involvement of HIQA in setting the terms of reference, but has called for child protection professionals to be an integral part of the investigations.

ISPCC Chief Executive Grainia Long said: While we welcome the investigation into handling of child sex abuse allegations by TUSLA, and the involvement of HIQA we are urging Minister Katherine Zappone to ensure the terms of reference allows for a systemic look at TUSLA systems and operations in this area.

In their statement the ISPCC said the investigation should go beyond the examination of a single case to include child protection professionals.

The ISPCC has consistently called for greater resources for TUSLA in both 2015 and 2016 budgets and we continue to believe that in resource terms, we have established a child protection system with one hand tied behind its back.

The Irish child protection system is entirely dependent on the existence of trust between children and social workers, between parents and TUSLA, and between organisations who make referrals and the child and family agency.

A timely investigation and implementation of findings will hopefully enable trust in TUSLAs practices in investigating allegations of child sex abuse, to be restored, Ms Long concluded.

Update 9.45am: The Taoiseach and Fianna Fail leader have been meeting this morning to discuss the next steps in the Garda whistleblower controversy.

They are expected to discuss the possibility of a public investigation, with Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein and Labour all reportedly in favour of a tribunal of inquiry.

After the talks with Micheal Martin and Enda Kenny will be facing into what is expected to be a stormy cabinet meeting.

Special Correspondent with the Irish Examiner Mick Clifford says the statement issued by Sergeant Maurice McCabe yesterday evening released some pressure after a dramatic day: It looked like it would be quite possible that there could be an election,

This has given everyone an out, now they can all say this is it, we will have a public tribunal and the heat comes off.

Update 9am: The whistleblower saga has led to questions over Taoiseach Enda Kenny's leadership.

Sinn Fein is trying to pass a motion of no confidence I the Government.

But Fine Gael TD for Wexford, Michael D'arcy, has come to the defence of his party leader: I absolutely don't think we should be having this conversation this week, absolutely not.

I think it is a matter for the Taoiseach, for him to determine, what he is deciding to do, whenever that is going to be.

Earlier: The Taoiseach Enda Kenny will meet Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin later, to discuss the option of a full public inquiry into allegations of a smear campaign against Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

There is growing pressure on the government to scrap the planned Commission of Investigation into the affair, after Sergeant McCabe said he was opposed to it taking evidence in private.

The cabinet will also discuss the matter this morning, with tensions running high between Fine Gael and their Independent Alliance partners.

But Fianna Fail's playing down suggestions they could withdraw from their agreement with the minority government.

Fianna Fail's Justice spokesperson is Jim O'Callaghan: "It took us a long time to put that Government together, I was part of the team that negotiated with Fine Gael, it took a long time.

"The Government is in position for approximately nine months, if we have an election now the biggest problem is going to be, the entitlement that Srgt McCabe has to have a full inquiry, will not be vindicated."
The man in charge of auditing Anglo Irish Bank for seven years has told a jury that he would have considered an alleged refinancing arrangement of loans to Sean FitzPatrick as significant to the audit.

Mr FitzPatrick (aged 68), the bank's former chairman, is accused of misleading auditors about multi-million euro loans from 2002 to 2007. He has denied all charges.

On day 79 of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Dominic McGinn SC, prosecuting, showed Kieran Kelly, a partner with audit firm EY (previously Ernst & Young) a number of loan facility letters from Irish Nationwide Building Society for the years 2002, 2003 and 2004.

The purpose of the loans from Irish Nationwide were listed variously as the refinancing of Anglo loans in the name of the accused as well as loans in the name of Triona, J and D FitzPatrick and loans linked to the accused's shareholding in the Beacon partnership.

The loan facilities, offered in September of each year, went as high as 18.3m in 2004. The jury saw the figure for directors loans was given in the bank's 2004 annual accounts as just over 10m.

Mr Kelly said in 2002 that he was not aware of a 4.4m loan arrangement Mr FitzPatrick had with Irish Nationwide (INBS).

The witness also viewed documents, known as letters of representation, presented by the bank to the auditors. He said representation letters were very important for confirming important aspects of an audit.

Mr McGinn told the witness that it will be for the jury to decide if the prosecution has proved what the INBS facility letters amount to and whether those refinancing arrangements should have been part of the letters of representation.

He asked Mr Kelly about the significance of the loans to his audit in the case where the jury were to conclude Mr FitzPatrick's loans were in existence during the financial year and Mr Kelly had not been told about the loans during the audit process.

Mr Kelly said that the drawing down of the loans from Anglo wouldn't have had a big impact on the audit.

Directors may take loans during the year and may repay, whatever their personal circumstances may have been and there may well have been a pattern of such activity, he said.

Mr McGinn then asked Mr Kelly would his view change if the jury were to conclude that arrangements were put in place at the year end specifically for those loans to be refinanced.

The witness replied: I would consider that to be of a greater significance to the audit.

He said he would first seek to understand the precise nature of the refinancing. He would also seek to understand that all accounting and disclosure obligations in relations to our duties as auditors have been properly addressed.

He added that if he judged what was happening to be unusual he would be obliged to make reports to the bank's board and audit committee.

Mr FitzPatrick of Whitshed Road, Greystones, Co Wicklow has pleaded not guilty to 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act.

These include 22 charges of making a misleading, false or deceptive statement to auditors and five charges of furnishing false information in the years 2002 to 2007.

The trial continues before Judge John Aylmer.
Newly filed accounts for Hertz Europe Service Centre show the companys pre-tax profits declined marginally, from 13m to 12.88m, and revenues fell by 1.5% to 62.7m in the 12 months to the end of December 2015.

In the accounts, the companys directors state: 2015 was another successful year for HESC. We are continuing to invest in process improvement initiatives across all of our functions in order to further enhance the quality of the service we provide to fellow Hertz Corporation subsidiary undertakings.
The authority yesterday reported combined commercial flight growth of nearly 4% at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports in January with each seeing individual growth of 4% to 6%.

The UK accounts for over 60% of capacity from Shannon, Kerry and Knock and over 40% from Dublin. While Ryanair recently warned Brexit will significantly lessen the number of UK tourists visiting Ireland, the authority said the terms of the UKs exit deal could be damaging also.
TUIs corporate governance arrangements fall short of UK investor expectations, said Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) in a report to shareholders ahead of the TUIs annual general meeting to be held later today.

While its based in Hanover, Germany, TUI is a member of the premium segment of the main market of the London Stock Exchange and about 30% of the companys shareholders are from Britain. In Ireland, the group owns the likes of Falcon Holidays, TravelMood, and American Holidays.

Weve seen some of the commentary, and its been noted by our chairman, said Hazel Newell, TUIs investor relations manager. Our intention is to adhere to the regulations in Germany and the UK, but under German disclosure rules the company is not required to have shareholders vote on remuneration, she said.

Governance groups have recently led successful campaigns to revise executive pay packages at other British companies such as tobacco giant Imperial Brands and Thomas Cook.

British prime minister Theresa Mays government is intensifying an effort to rein in executive rewards and narrow the gap with ordinary workers.

In general, we find that while TUIs overall corporate governance arrangements are consistent with German practice, there are a number of areas where the company falls short of UK investor expectations, said ISS, whose members represent 20% of the Ftse 100 by market value. The lack of any vote (even advisory, rather than binding) on remuneration-related matters represents a significant area of departure from UK market standards.

ISS criticised TUI for not providing shareholders with a vote on its remuneration report, and for allowing six management-board members to receive transaction bonuses without disclosing the companys stringent performance criteria.

Transaction-related bonuses are not in line with best UK market practice, and investors typically expect bonuses to be linked to business targets, it said. TUI operates the Thomson and First Choice brands. Competitor Thomas Cook has also been under fire and modified a pay plan for its CEO Peter Fankhauser after investors with about one-third of the companys shares voted against a proposal last week.
Dr Sean Redmond, a professor of youth justice at the University of Limerick, has just completed a four-year study of a criminal network using data from the Garda Pulse system.

Lifting the Lid on Greentown looks at a criminal network operating in an anonymous community outside of Dublin. The location of the study was anonymised and renamed Greentown to prevent young people and the community from being identified.

The study, commissioned by the Department of Justice, found that criminal gangs are using drugs, alcohol, and the notion of status to entice children into a life of crime.

Dr Redmond said the problems described in the report must be tackled, but fresh thinking was also needed.

He recalled a teenager who had run into debt with a local drugs gang and decided to leave the area. The boys mother contacted him after he left and pleaded with him to come back home and take his beating. Apparently, the local gang had made the parents life a living hell, he said.

Dr Redmond said the report, using Pulse data and the testimony of local gardai, tries to get under the bonnet of how children become engaged in criminal networks.

The report also seeks to identify the kind of drivers and motivations that entrap children into more prolific and more serious crime.

It points out that even though the children involved in the Greentown network represent a small minority, their activities, from a law enforcement perspective, posed a significant problem.

This small population of children in Greentown was, during 2010 and 2011, responsible for a significant level of serious crime, five times higher than equivalent national averages for burglary, the report states.

Garda analysts constructed a network map for the study using incident data to position 31 individuals, aged 11 to 36, who had been involved in either burglary or drugs for sale and supply in Greentown between 2010 and 2011.

Crucially, the map indicated relationships where two or more individuals were involved in the same offences.

The map was used as an essential reference tool to interview Greentown gardai about the activities and circumstances of the people identified.

The report recommends designing a more effective programme of interventions for children involved in criminal networks. It also recommends repeating the study in other locations to gauge the degree to which the Greentown findings can be generalised.

Childrens Minister Katherine Zappone and David Staunton, the junior justice minister, welcomed the report.

Mr Staunton confirmed that the department would fund the recommended follow-on research study.
The news has led to claims some Irish Water contractors installing the meters and connections to them were guilty of shoddy workmanship.

The figures were released in a report sought by Cllr Des OGrady, who said he had spoken to a number of county council-employed plumbers who had to fix the problems and they had expressed concern about the workmanship they had encountered.

Cllr OGrady said he had pictures in his possession  which he said he could pass onto council officials  showing leaks at newly installed connections.

In one estate, 70 water meters were put in and 30 had to be repaired, he said.

Cllr OGrady also maintained that new plastic pipes had been connected to old lead pipes during meter installations, instead of the latter being removed on health grounds.

Cllr Tim Collins said, as a former engineer, he was very surprised to hear that was happening. I wouldnt be happy to see lead and plastic pipes being connected to each other, he said.

Cllr Melissa Mullane said that if such situations were already happening, she would not be surprised if all the meters would have to be replaced well before the end of their lifetime.

Cllr Kevin Murphy suggested that Irish Water bosses should be brought to a meeting of the council to explain why this was happening.

The disclosure of the information about leaks at meter connections and faulty meters prompted several councillors to outline concerns about water services.

Cllr Kieran McCarthy said he reported a serious leak in his hometown of Cobh only to be told by an Irish Water phone operator there was no problem there.

They just dont know what theyre doing, he said.

Cllr Frank OFlynn said he had tried to report a leak in the North Cork village of Kildorrery and the people he spoke to did not know the location of the village.

The county council acts as local agents for Irish Water and last year fixed approximately 3,600 leaks in water mains around the county.

The report stated there were 230 manual workers in the councils water section, of which 175 are at skilled/curator level and 55 are general operatives.

Cllr OGrady said that, with the amount of leaks, there should be 10 times the number of general operatives.

Siptu is balloting the councils outdoor staff for industrial action, because it says there are too few of them to carry their massive workload of repairing roads, water leaks, etc.
Thats according to Gus Martyn, Irish traditional matchmaker, whose services are in even bigger demand now than ever before.

Gus has 50 people on his books, but the Meath farmer reckons he could easily give up agriculture and make a full-time career at matchmaking couples from all over Ireland.

Love may be in the air on Valentines Day but he says time has marched on for many single people who romance has forgotten.

The traditional matchmaker is still very much in demand and I get a lot of calls from the mammies and daddies asking to find a nice suitor for their child, said Gus.

Sometimes the child mightnt like being set up mind you, but after a few days, they normally calm down and decide to give it a try.

Sometimes too, as the romance goes on, I might get a call from the same mammy saying the suitor is not getting their feet under her table but we get around that too, he said.

Gus has been matchmaking for 18 years in his free time but says demand from all over the country is huge.

I dont charge but Im telling you, I could easily make a full-time living out of it if I did. Some people are just very shy and need an extra push.

Indeed Gus met his own wife Olive through a matchmaking father-in-law at Ballinasloe Horse Fair and theyve been married for 35 years.

Olives father Tom Feeney has been matchmaking for over 50 years and set us up. We were eyeing each other up for a while before we took the plunge, he said.

Gus arranges first dates at events and hangs around with Olive to make sure everything is OK before they leave.

Theyll meet at a GAA or rugby game, at the races or in the lobby of a hotel. Somewhere there are a lot of people around.

Myself and Olive will hang around for a while just to make sure the girl is all right and when we get the signal, we head off and wait for her text later to see how she got on.

We make sure to check out the guy first with the parish priest or the local garda, to be extra sure of him.

We will always meet with the girl or fella beforehand to find out their interests and see what kind of person they would like to meet.

When asked if he can match everyone, he says: There are men just not made yet for some of the ladies who insist their date has to have this, that and the other, especially if they are getting on in years.

Gus says that the singletons on his books range in age from 27-77 and he has been matchmaking as lately as last week for a Dublin girl whose career got in the way of meeting the right person earlier in her life.

He is adamant that the internet dating sites havent affected the demand on traditional matchmaking services. He insists the opposite is true: Were busier now than ever. The internet sites can be very impersonal and expensive and some are even a bit crude.

We are genuinely interested in finding that special someone for somebody and we dont charge.

Id say we have made about 100 successful matches all over the country down through the years.
The five, who are all from Dublin, received jail terms totalling 62 years from Judge Thomas Teehan in the circuit court in 2015 in relation to their role in the burglary at the home of Emma and Mark Corcoran and their three daughters outside Killenaule, Co Tipperary.

The circuit court heard that the November 2013 burglary  during which Mr Corcoran sustained a fractured eye socket when struck with the butt of a rifle, while gang members threatened to kill the children  had a catastrophic effect on the family. Seven men pleaded guilty to a single charge of aggravated burglary.
Sarah Keane, who was elected last Thursday as the successor to Pat Hickey, said there were definitely huge challenges around the Olympic movement and said she would strive to help restore any credibility lost as a result of events in the past year.

Ms Keane, who was chief executive of Swim Ireland ahead of her election to the OCI presidency, said over 800,000 has already been spent as a result of the incredible occurrences at last years Games in Brazil.

Mr Hickey was arrested by Brazilian authorities and hit with charges of facilitating ticket touting, formation of a cartel, and ambush or illicit marketing.

Brazilian police also said they were investigating the participation of the OCI with ticketing agents THG Sports.

Mr Hickey has persistently proclaimed his innocence of all charges and pledged to fight them in the Brazilian courts.

Speaking on RTE radios Today with Sean ORourke, Ms Keane outlined her background as a swimmer and said of the process which resulted in her election last Thursday: I feel now that we have a clear mandate.

Sometimes crisis is what is needed to bring about a change.

She said she was very shocked by what happened in Rio and also expressed sympathy for her predecessor, who she said was a very strong and dominant character.

She said she did not agree with the treatment of Mr Hickey by the Brazilian authorities, which she said must have been dreadful for his family.

Expenses associated with the debacle have already soared above the 800,000 mark and Ms Keane said it had been financially devastating for the OCI.

She said she hoped the financial outlay would ultimately be seen as an investment in the future and also referred to the Grant Thornton consultants report into last years events which cost 200,000 and publication of which has been postponed.

I think the new board will want to look at that again and have discussions on that, said Ms Keane, adding that her own view was that a substantial amount of money was spent on the report into ticketing arrangements and she would like to see it published.

THG is still the ticketing agent for the OCI for the upcoming Winter Games.

Ms Keane said she was aware that some family members of some competitors had previously struggled to secure tickets for events and said: Im not happy at all  nobody is  around that.

The first OCI board meeting since her election is to take place this Friday and Ms Keane said one aim was to rebuild the credibility of the organisation.

She also apologised to Irish competitors at last years Games as she said that, for many people, it had been a very successful competition but that this got lost amid the controversies.

Ms Keane also said she did not want any perceived split between sports administrators and competitors, even regarding air travel.

My view is the Olympic Council is paying for it, I will be at the back, she said.
Last year, Google hosted a charity auction in San Francisco. Up for grabs were 29 works of art. The prices commanded were unexceptional, the most expensive piece sold for just $8,000. In normal circumstances the event may well have got lost in the mists of time. Only, there was something altogether unusual about the work on show. It was all created by computers.

The paintings, described as looking like a computers dreams, were created through a process dubbed Inceptionism. As part of their research into artificial intelligence, Google fed a large number of images into a computer network.

Over time the network was able to recognise visual patterns and based on what it learned, it could closely copy the works of old masters or create new works of art in a style that is immediately recognisable as being that of, for example, Vincent VanGogh or Claude Monet. The results were staggering while also quite eerie.

All great art movements, from the Mannerism of Michelangelo to the Cubism of Picasso, have moved human creativity forward and brought humanity to new places. Given that computers can now invade the sacred space of human creativity, is there a risk that Inceptionism marks the beginning of the end for humanity?

Arguably, we have been on this road for quite a long time. In the 1970s and 80s, BBCs Tomorrows World was obsessed with robotics and computers but back then there was a feeling that it was quite novel, fun and even niche. But in recent years, particularly with advent of social media and apps, technology has become part of the everyday.

On the one hand automation has often improved the quality and reliability with which we carry out some tasks, says Professor Barry OSullivan, director of the Insight Centre for Data Analytics at UCC and deputy president of the European Artificial Intelligence Association.

The Hailo taxi app has revolutionized how people engage with taxi services because of the transparency and user-friendliness of the experience. On the other hand, theres a downside because were seeing huge numbers of jobs being replaced in manufacturing, in banking, in retail. There are serious issues to be debated around the impact of automation on work, jobs, and society.

It is exactly that debate that the Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin is trying to start with its latest exhibition, Humans Need Not Apply.

If machines or robots are able to do all these great things what does that leave humans to do? asks the shows curator William Myers. One of our hopes for this exhibition is that we push this conversation and lend it more urgency. Ideas like a universal basic income or life long learning programs where someone goes back to university three or four times in their life are issues that should be talked about at the highest levels of government but theyre not for the most part. Theyre just fringe issues.

The great promise of automation and robotics was that it would offer the human more free time. But more free time to do what exactly? What exactly will the impacts of this holy grail, or is it a poisoned chalice, actually be?

To answer that I think its useful to look back at the past, says Myers. Imagine someone from 125 years ago moving from a farm to a city who ended up working in a factory and what kind of upheaval that represented. Governments had to respond to that back then. They had to build schools and make primary education compulsory so that people could learn to do a lot more and what it did in the end was create a lot more jobs.

The societal transition that took place over the course of the industrial revolution did not happen overnight however. In the interim from its inception to its consolidation, many people came to cities in search of employment but were left on the scrapheap of poverty.

Generations were lost to preventable diseases and exploitation was rife. It was not until the creation of unions that employers and government were compelled to take responsibility, at least in part, for their employees. In the west, as we move from a post-industrial to a technological landscape are we doomed to repeat the same mistakes?

Programs helping people to retrain or even relocate if the jobs just arent there anymore, those have to be developed, says Myers. As do protections for people who work as freelancers. Thats so much more common now and they need systems where they can be earning vacation time and a pension and healthcare. Currently they bear all those costs alone.

This is not the first time humans have been overly worried about automation? In the mid 18th century there were riots when the newly invented looms and spinning machines replaced the cotton weavers of Lyons.

Around the same time, Luddites were destroying machines across Britain and in 1928, no doubt fuelling the fear around the Depression, the New York Times ran a headline stating that the March of the machines leads to idle hands. Humans have usually found a way around mechanisation and have not only survived but thrived. So what is different now?

It depends what you mean by survive, says Prof OSullivan. I think were much more enslaved by technology and automation now than we were before. The growth of social media is a case in point. There are many studies on the negative impact that technology can have on our self-worth and confidence.

"Also, the pace of change means it is becoming more challenging to deal with. Its a question, now, of how and resilient people can be in the face of automation due to technological advancement.

That challenge has always been there but along with it opportunities have arisen too. Can we be hopeful that this latest march of the machine will offer the same?

It would be nice if automation could help human beings be more humane and caring towards each other, says OSullivan. There might be the notion of a universal salary, and the opportunity for people to serve their communities more. Thats probably wishful thinking though.

OSullivans point is, perhaps, more a reflection on the bad workmen rather than the tools. It can only be hoped there is someone out there working on an algorithm for morality or, to coin a phrase, a moralgorithim.

Humans Need Not Apply is on at the Science gallery, Dublin until May 14. sciencegallery.ie

Exhibition highlights
The question immediately arises as to why events at the OHiggins commission are not being included in the terms of reference for the new Charlton commission into the smearing of Sgt McCabes character.

And that applies whether or not the forthcoming Charlton inquiry morphs into a public tribunal, as wished for by Maurice and Lorraine McCabe.

Last May, days after publication of the OHiggins commission  which investigated McCabes claims of Garda malpractice  the Irish Examiner reported on what had transpired in the first days of the hearings.

On the second day of the hearings, in May 2015, Judge OHiggins was told by counsel acting for Garda Commissioner Noirin OSullivan that it was going to be their case that McCabe had brought his complaints out of a sense of malice.

The counsel, Colm Smyth SC, said he would be attacking McCabes integrity and motivation all the way through the inquiry.

My instructions are to challenge the integrity certainly of Sgtr McCabe and his motivation, Smyth told the judge.

Later, Judge OHiggins asked: In other words, that he made these allegations not in good faith but because he was motivated by malice or some such motive and that impinges on his credibility. If those are your instructions from the commissioner, so be it.

Mr Smyth replied: So be it, that is the position, judge.

OHiggins ruled that there would have to be some written basis on which to ground any such attacks against McCabe.

READ MORE: Maurice McCabe: Nothing but a public inquiry will do

The following day, OHiggins was presented with a document compiled by the chief state solicitors office (CSSO) on behalf of the Garda commissioner.

This outlined a sequence of events which, it was to be claimed, would show that McCabe was acting out of a grudge when he brought his complaints of malpractice.

The five-page document centred on the allegation that has come to light in recent days, dating from 2006. This involved the daughter of a garda who claimed that McCabe had rubbed up against her inappropriately at a birthday party some eight years previously, when she was six.

That was investigated and a file sent to the DPP with the recommendation that there was no evidence to pursue a prosecution. The DPP agreed, adding that even if there had been evidence it is doubtful that the complaint amounted to a criminal act.

The CSSO document then goes on to say that McCabe requested that the DPPs directions be provided both to him and to the parents of the teenager, in order to clear up any misunderstandings.

The Irish Examiner understands that McCabe did in fact make such a request to his district officer, Supt Michael Clancy. The superintendent told him he would see if it was possible, but later informed him that it would not be. As was the case at the time, and remains so to a large extent, the DPPs directions cannot be given to complainants or the subject of a complaint.

McCabe says he accepted the decision and left it at that. It wasnt a major issue with him, but he would have appreciated the chance to clear the air between all parties.

Sometime after that, McCabes complaints of malpractice were made. Some of these included how Supt Clancy had handled certain criminal cases. (Last year, the OHiggins commission ruled that Clancy had handled the cases correctly).

McCabe has always said that there was absolutely no connection between his complaints and the manner in which the allegation against him was handled.

At the OHiggins commission, the position of Noirin OSullivans counsel was the opposite. According to the CSSO document, in August 2008 McCabe met two officers in Mullingar about the complaints of malpractice he had made.

READ MORE: A fact-finding mission that would have to start from scratch

The CSSO document goes on to state that notes were taken at the meeting between McCabe and Supt Noel Cunningham and Sgt Yvonne Martin. These notes were countersigned by McCabe.

However, the document then states: In the course of this meeting, Sergeant McCabe advised Superintendent Cunningham that the only reason he made the complaint against Superintendent Clancy was to force him to allow Sergeant McCabe to have the full DPP directions conveyed to him.

Supt Cunninghams solicitors have stated that the report prepared by their client of the meeting was in accordance with the transcript of Sgt McCabes recording and was prepared long before it was known that the meeting had been recorded. They have also stated that Supt Cunninghams report was made available to the commission.

The CSSO document was handed into the commission. However, McCabe also produced a tape recording of the disputed meeting, which shows he said no such thing.

Judge OHiggins was provided with the recording. He had it transcribed and later told the inquiry it showed that what McCabe was saying was accurate. The issue of McCabes alleged malicious motivation was never broached for the remainder of the inquiry.

Some weeks later, OSullivans lawyer told the judge his instructions had been to challenge motivation and credibility, not to attack his character.

McCabe maintains that the whole issue was just another attempt to smear him. OSullivan stated publicly at the time that she never issued instructions to attack McCabe and she supported his whistleblowing on malpractice.

Gsoc was appointed by the minister for justice to investigate the Mullingar meeting, and whether it represented an attempt to attack McCabe.

However, Gsocs remit is narrow. If the Charleton commission is intent on examining to what extent attempts were made to smear McCabe, it has to investigate what happened at OHiggins.

Questions are screaming out for answers, particularly the following:

Was there an attempt to attribute malicious motives to McCabe, based on a disputed meeting?

How did the chief state solicitors office come to compile a document that was shown to be at variance with the facts when McCabe produced his tape recording?

Was the Garda commissioner involved in any such attempt?

What transpired at the meeting?

Why was the whole matter dropped after McCabe produced the tape recording?

Why, until the matter became public did the commissioner not do anything to investigate the events around this meeting?

READ MORE: Courageous public servant Maurice McCabe has earned the gratitude of thousands

READ MORE: Any hearing should be held in public - McCabe scandal

READ MORE: From 2006 to present: A timeline of events in the Maurice McCabe whistleblower crisis

READ MORE: Conflicting accounts from Zappone and Kenny in McCabes case
Asia Malaysian Aid Ship Docks in Bangladesh

The Malaysian aid ship arrives at the Myanmar International Terminals Thilawa before heading to Bangladesh. / Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy

DHAKA, Bangladesh  A Malaysian aid ship arrived in Bangladesh on Monday carrying aid for hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who have fled from Arakan State, many citing abuses by the Burmas security forces.

A representative of the mission on the ship said it would unload about 2,000 tonnes of food and emergency supplies in Bangladesh, though staff were not being allowed access.

We are not allowed to get off the ship or to visit the camps, said the aid representative, who declined to be identified.

A Bangladesh government official said the ship was on its way to the Chittagong port after anchoring off the coastal town of Teknaf, near the Burma border, and arrangements were being made to unload its cargo.

But Ali Hossain, chief administrator of the coastal district of Coxs Bazar, which borders Burma, told Reuters he had not received clearance to let anyone off the ship.

A port official in Chittagong said a ceremony would be held on Tuesday with a senior foreign ministry official and Malaysias ambassador in attending to receive the shipment.
Burma CNF to Proceed with National-Level Political Dialogue

Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee meeting in Naypyidaw in 2016. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy

Ethnic armed group and nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) signatory Chin National Front (CNF) has been permitted to hold a national-level political dialogue in Thantlang Township of Chin State after it was repeatedly told not to do so by the governments Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC).

We are now able to implement a key task outlined by the NCA process, said CNF central committee member Pu Ram Kulh Cung, who is also the coordinator of the Chin National Dialogue Joint Committee (CNDJC).

The national-level political dialogue is a mandatory step of the NCA in which regional stakeholders express their suggestions and recommendations at large-scale public consultations which are then shared by representatives at the Union Peace Conference.

The CNF has tentatively set the date for the dialogue as next Thursday to Saturday after the governments peace commission secretary former Lt-Gen Kin Zaw Oo informed the CNF on Monday night that it could convene the consultations, said Pu Ram Kulh Cung.

Two NCA signatoriesthe CNF and the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP)were repeatedly told not to hold a national-level political dialogues, in Chin and Arakan states respectively, at the UPDJC meeting on Monday last week.

The ALP, however, had not received a response from the government despite requesting permission to hold their own consultations, according to the organizations vice chairperson Saw Mra Yaza Lin on Tuesday.

The CNF proposed Chin State capital Hakha to host the consultations, said Pu Ram Kulh Cung, but the government requested they instead be held in Thantlang Township, some 35 km west of Hakha and close to the CNF headquarters.

The CNF has led four smaller public consultations in Chin State, including in Paletwa Township from November 2016 to January 2017.

Salai David Van Bawi Manga Chin civil society group representative to the CNDJCsaid permission should have been granted earlier as the CNF now has very limited time to convene the consultations.

CNDJC said in a Sunday statement that the national dialogue was necessary in order to gather the collective voices of the ethnic Chin.

NCA signatory Karen National Union completed its national-level dialogue in January, while the All Burma Students Democratic Front conducted consultations in Mandalay, Rangoon, Irrawaddy, Bago, Tenasserim, and Magwe divisions.

The government led dialogues in Tenasserim Division and plan further consultations in Bago Division this week.

Later this week, ethnic Pa-O will hold a Pa-O national-level dialogue in Hopong Township of Shan state, from Thursday until next Monday.

The Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) is still collecting opinions through 13 smaller consultations.

We will know the date and venue [of the national-level dialogue] after the UPDJC meeting in Taunggyi on Wednesday, said Col Sai La, the spokesperson of the RCSS.

The Burma Army reportedly does not want any major public gathering in cities after the KNUs public consultation had an unexpectedly large turnout in the Karen State capital of Hpa-an last month.

But the RCSSs Col Sai La said optimistically that it is an ongoing process step by step. I think they [the UPDJC] want to organize it systematically.

He also said he believes the national-level political dialogues will be successful, since the initial Karen State dialogue was completed successfully.
Burma Ethnic Armed Groups Reject Burma Army Accusations of Killings, Abuses

A civilian wounded by a land mine in northern Shan State is carried to a hospital. / Office of the Commander-in-Chief

RANGOON  Ethnic armed groups operating in Kachin State and northern Shan State have rejected Burma Army claims that they have committed atrocities against civilians and accuse military chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing of making false claims to hide the Burma Armys own abuses.

On Saturday, the commander-in-chiefs office claimed in a Facebook post that ethnic armed groups had killed 38 civilians and wounded 137 throughout 2016.

The Facebook post said that ethnic armed groups had attacked and killed civilians for no reason, planted land mines, abducted civilians, extorted money, conscripted civilian soldiers, and destroyed buildings and vehicles.

Maj. Naw Bu, a KIA information officer, called the Burma Armys allegations baseless.

I have read the statements released by the Tatmadaw, he said. They are unfounded allegations. The Tatmadaw release these statements because they want to conceal the crimes they have committed.

The commander-in-chiefs offices Saturday statement said the KIA had killed four innocent civilians, conducted nine harassing attacks, detonated 11 mines, planted another 54 mines, conscripted soldiers, and extorted money in Kachin State.

Maj. Naw Bu denied these accusations. He said the KIA did not plant mines in civilian areas, but only in places where military columns were active.

In northern Shan State, the commander-in-chiefs office blamed the TNLA for two civilian deaths, six harassing attacks, two mine explosions, and arson attacks. It also blamed the AA for three mine explosions in Arakan State.

TNLA information officer Mai Ai Kyaw denied all the allegations. He said the Burma Army was squarely to blame for civilian deaths and injuries.

Mai Ai Kyaw also said he had evidence that the Burma Army committed attacks, kidnapped, raped, and tortured civilians in the conflict zones.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.
Burma Foreign Direct Investment Goal Reached Ahead of Schedule

Workers chat near a ship at Asia World port in Rangoon in 2014. / Reuters

RANGOON  With two months remaining in the fiscal year, the volume of foreign direct investment in Burma has nearly reached the target of US$6 billion set by the Myanmar Investment Commission.

Total foreign investment in Burma reached $5.8 billion during the period between April 1, 2016 and Jan. 31, 2017. The commission approved several new investment proposals in January which had previously been held on a waiting list.

The current fiscal year ends on March 31, making it likely that the commission will surpass its annual goal of $6 billion in foreign direct investment.

This year, the transport and communications sectors topped the list, more investors went there, said U Than Aung Kyaw, deputy director general of the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA).

According to the DICA figures, investment into the transport and telecom sectors totaled $3 billion during the first 10 months of the 2016-17 fiscal year. The manufacturing sector received another $1 billion, real estate took in $747 million, and the energy sector was targeted with $612 million in foreign investment.

Among foreign countries, Singapore is the top investor in Burma development projects, having invested $3.38 billion during the current fiscal year. Vietnam is second with $1.3 billion in investment, and China is third at $462 million.

In January, a joint telecom venture involving Vietnams Viettel was awarded Burmas fourth telecom license. That project pushed up the investment figures in Burmas communications sector.

Now we need heavy industry to invest here, but so far only small industries are coming. Thats why foreign investment remains low, said Dr. Maung Maung Lay, vice chairman of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Overall foreign direct investment was expected to decline during the 2016-17 fiscal year, the first year under the National League for Democracy (NLD) government. Investors had questions about stability during the transition from military to civilian rule.

The existing lack of infrastructure in Burma also posed serious barriers to foreign investors.

We are now worrying about power supplies in the summer. This is something that happens every summer. Why will foreign investors come here when they could go to another country that is able to offer better infrastructure? said U Myat Thin Aung, chairman of Rangoons Hlaing Tharyar industrial zone.

During the 2015-16 fiscal year, which was the last year of military rule, total foreign direct investment in Burma reached $9.4 billion. More than half of that total, $4.8 billion, went to oil and gas contracts.
Burma KNU Leader Remembered on Anniversary of Assassination

Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan memorial service held in Taw Kyaung village in Pantanaw Township, Irrawaddy Division. / Salai Thant Zin / The Irrawaddy

Relatives of Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan commemorated the prominent late Karen leader by unveiling a statue in his hometown in Taw Kyaung village in Pantanaw Township, Irrawaddy Division, on the anniversary of his death.

However, children of the late Karen National Union (KNU) leader, who was assassinated in the Thai border town Mae Sot exactly nine years ago, were unable to return to Burma for the occasion.

Nant Zoya Phan, daughter of Mahn Sha Lah Phan who serves as a campaign manager for the NGO Burma Campaign UK, told The Irrawaddy, I so wanted to go back to my fathers village especially for the memorial service, but, unfortunately, Im on the Burmese governments blacklist.

Mahn Sha Lah Phans children still live in exile: Two daughters, Nant Zoya Phan and Nant Bwa Bwa Phan, live in England while his son Slone Phan lives in Canada, and his adopted son lives in Thailand.

As a KNU leader, Mahn Sha Lah Phan was well-respected not only by his Karen people, but also by Burmese political activists for his leadership and broad-mindedness in the democracy movement. He was an outspoken leader while serving as the KNU general secretary in exile.

His four children established the memorial Phan Foundation, which gives an award every year to a young Karen leader along with a US$2,000 grant to support their work.

The Phan Foundation aims to alleviate poverty, provide education, promote human rights, and protect Karen culture.

This year, South Korea-based Sa Thu Hlaing Win, a founding member of Western Pwo Karen Culture and Literature Group, was honored for his active role in supporting the teaching of Karen literature and culture, according to a statement released by the Phan Foundation on Tuesday. He is also given a $2000 cash price.

Sa Thu Hlaing Wins initiative identified Karen villages in Burma that didnt have Karen teaching and initiated a western Pwo Karen literature summer school, providing text books and other school materials as well as financial support for teachers.

By the end of 2016, he and his group had successfully provided Karen literature and culture education to 3,000 students from 60 schools across 13 townships in the Irrawaddy Delta region, according to the Phan Foundation statement.

I am so thrilled and honored to receive this award. I would like to use the award money to support summer schools for Karen literature training, Sa Thu Hlaing Win said in the statement.

Slone Phan, Director of the Phan Foundation and the youngest son of Padoh Mahn Sha, said that despite many years of oppression from the central government, the culture and literature of western Pwo Karen is still alive because of hard working people like Sa Thu Hlaing Win and the Karen community there.

This is exactly what my father Padoh Mahn Sha would want to see, said Slone Phan.
Burma Motorbike Driver Says Mon Police Requested Bribes

A Buddha statue sits near Kalawthut village, Mudon Township. / Lawi Weng / The Irrawaddy

RANGOON  Some police officers in Mon State have been accused of petty corruption while enforcing local traffic laws.

Mon State authorities recently launched an effort to prevent motorbike taxi drivers from driving on the highway. But police officers, who are responsible for enforcing the policy, have started to demand payments from local drivers in Mudon Township, a motorbike owner told The Irrawaddy.

Last week, Mudon police seized five motorbike taxis in Kalawthut village after observing the motorbike drivers using the highway, the police reported.

But local residents told a different story. The drivers said they hadnt used the highway at all. Their motorbikes were parked in Kalawthut village when police came to take the motorbikes away.

Then the police demanded 90,000 kyats payment for each motorbike before they would be returned, the owners said.

Officer Wai Zin Phyo, who works at the police station in Kamawat village, said the motorbike drivers were at fault.

They are not allowed to drive motorbike taxis on the highway, he said. Our region has a policy to take action against offenders. These drivers violated the law, and that is why we went to arrest them.

Some motorbike owners were reluctant to speak publicly about what happened. One owner, Aung Htein, said he had to pay a bribe to get his motorbike back.

They [the police] came with three people. When they arrived at the spot where we park our motorbikes, they tried to take all the keys from the motorbikes. Some people tried to run away as well. But I didnt run; I watched them take it, Aung Htein said.

They forced us to drive our motorbikes to their police station, but I refused to do it. Still, other people had to drive their motorbikes to their police station, he said.

Driving a motorbike taxi on the highway is illegal, and police have the authority to take action against drivers who break the law, according to Nai Kyi Win, the Mon State minister of natural resources. But driving inside the villages is allowed, as it helps local businesses.

Nai Kyi Win said he has spoken with the five taxi drivers whose motorbikes were taken by police. The drivers complained to him about police abuses, he said.

The police cannot take money from drivers. That is corruption, said Nai Kyi Win.

Aung Htein said that many motorbike taxi drivers have become fearful and dont dare to leave their motorbikes in public anymore, and that there is a lack of taxis operating in Kalawthut village.

Minister Nai Kyi Win said that taxi drivers should keep doing their jobs, and they should inform him if the police demand bribes.
Burma North Korean Leaders Half Brother Killed in Malaysia: Source

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gives field guidance to the Kangdong Precision Machine Plant in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang February 7, 2017. / KCNA via / Reuters

SEOUL & KUALA LUMPUR  The estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been killed in Malaysia, a South Korean government source told Reuters on Tuesday.

Kim Jong Nam, the older half brother of the North Korean leader, was known to be based mostly outside of his home country.

Police in Malaysia told Reuters on Tuesday an unidentified North Korean man had died en route to hospital from Kuala Lumpur airport on Monday.

Abdul Aziz Ali, police chief for the Sepang district, said the mans identity had not been verified.

An employee in the emergency ward of Putrajaya hospital said a deceased Korean there was born in 1970 and surnamed Kim.

South Koreas TV Chosun, a cable television network, said that Kim was poisoned at Kuala Lumpur airport by two women believed to be North Korean operatives, who were at large, citing multiple South Korean government sources.

The South Korean government source who spoke to Reuters did not immediately provide further details.

South Koreas foreign ministry said it could not confirm the reports, and the countrys intelligence agency could not immediately be reached for comment.

In 2001, Kim Jong Nam was caught at an airport in Japan traveling on a fake passport, saying he had wanted visit Tokyo Disneyland.
Guest Column Peace and Trust in the Karen Hills

School children gesture at the Ei Thu Ta camp for displaced Karen along the Salween river, Nov. 17, 2014. / Reuters

The peace process in Burma may be in crisis, not least due to widespread fighting and serious human rights abuses committed mostly by the Burma Army in Kachin and Shan states. But across southeast Burma, ceasefires are holding and communities are beginning to recover from decades of armed conflict. There are huge needs for livelihoods and basic human security in these conflict-affected areas, which remain isolated from government-controlled Burma and feel like another country.

In mid-January, I spent three days walking through what the Karen call Lerdoh Township, in the Karen National Union (KNU)s Kler Lwee Htoo District. Officially, this area is designated Kyaukkyi Township, Bago Division by the central government. I was returning to this area after half a dozen visits between 2008  2015.

Before and After the Ceasefire

When I first visited these hills in 2008, I took part in a five-week trek with the KNU and Free Burma Rangers, a Christian humanitarian group. It was cold, beautiful, heavily forested in parts, and very isolated. During the first part of the trip, we traveled through KNU-controlled areas, staying in Karen villages. Later, we moved cautiously through jungle areas that had been cleared out during the previous decades by the Burma Armys four cuts counterinsurgency campaign.

I met with villagers who had fled from the lowlands a few years prior and were now living a precarious existence in hidingfrequently shifting location to avoid Burma Army hunt and kill patrols. They had previously been irrigated rice farmers, with enough crops to live year-round, and often a small surplus. Now, as upland swidden (slash and burn) farmers, they could rarely cultivate enough rice for six months each year.

In April 2012, following the confirmation of a ceasefire between the KNU and the government, I accompanied Charles Petrie to the Kyaukkyi area, to help initiate the first Myanmar Peace Support Initiative (MPSI) pilot project. It operated under the mandate of Norwegian support to the peace process, as requested by the Burmese government, and the trip was undertaken at the invitation of the KNU central and district leadership.

We traveled with Burma government and army officials to the frontline, before being handed over to the KNU and walking into the Keh Der Village Tract. We spent two days talking to villagers and confirming the findings of a needs assessment undertaken in the area by the KNUs relief and development wing, the Committee for Internally Displaced Karen People.

On the basis of this assessment, the MPSI facilitated a series of consultations which brought together conflict-affected communities, government and army officials, and KNU/KNLA leaders.

It was extraordinary to hear the Keh village tract leadera diminutive but tough IDP, who spoke only Sgaw Karensitting just a few yards from the Bago Division border affairs and security minister, and telling him how much the villagers appreciated the peace process, but also asking whether the minister (a Burma Army colonel) could guarantee that he would not burn down their villages again.

The minister was not pleased, and for a moment it seemed that this sensitive encounter would not turn out well. However, the minister said that he recognized the lack of trust, and that they would not burn down their villages again. He added that he knew the village tract leader wouldnt believe this, so they would have to continue meeting and learning to trust each other.

A few weeks later, once the project was underway, the MPSI facilitated another consultation, with another encounter between these two gentlemen.

At this point, Karen villagers had been walking down from Keh Der across the military frontline to collect supplies. Burma Army soldiers questioned them along the waynot particularly aggressively, but in a way that frightened villagers, who had only ever met government soldiers in the context of violent encounters, with the military trying to kill them (as suspected KNU supporters).

These encounters were intimidating for the project beneficiaries, as the village tract chairman explained. Again, the minister was unhappy, stating that the Burma Army was like a parent, and had the right to question wayward children. However, he again calmed down after a while, and issued instructions to the light infantry division operations commander not to bother the villagers with further questions, so as not to intimidate them.

Afterwards, the minister embraced the village tract leader, and told him it was brave to raise such issues, and they would learn to trust each other. I have been privileged to witness a few such moments, which have inspired me to see the possibilities of real transformation through the peace process. However, it remained a challenge to scale up from local peace-building, to achieve something which could be generalised in other areas. Of course, ongoing fighting the part of the country also undermines confidence in the peace process.

Five Years Later

When I first visited Keh Der, the village was abandoned. There was just one small hut  a staging post on the journey up into the hills, where the original Keh Der villagers had fled nearly 40 years ago.

In the years since, they had been living in small settlements in KNU-controlled areas, moving frequently to avoid Burma Army patrols. I remember asking why villagers had not fled to refugee camps in Thailand, and was told that they wanted to stay close to their ancestral lands. I was struck by the dignity of these villagers, and their strong animist commitment to locality.

In 2013, some displaced villagers started returning to Keh Der and other villages in the area, testing the reality of the peace process. These pioneers were beginning to rebuild their communities. Most people in this area are Sgaw-speaking, and mostly animists with just a scattering of Christians. No one I spoke to would admit to speaking Burmese.

Villagers repeatedly stated their fear of the Burma Army. I was told several times that local people value landmines, which they perceive as defending their fields and communities from army incursions. Many returning villagers have access to potential farmland, but are unable to cultivate this due to security concerns (including Burma Army occupation of their lands), and a lack of tools necessary for rice cultivation.

One young man told me, If there is real peace, I can live in my own village and on my own land, and can be safe and secure. However, we still fear the army, and worry about the future.

These fears were exacerbated by a Burma Army incursion in the area in 2014, which resulted in a firefight that left one Karen soldier dead and one injured.

A middle-aged woman told me, We dream of peace, and the ceasefire is a good start, but we still fear the Burma Army.

Many people worried that the ceasefire would break down, or that the peace process would facilitate improved access to their communities for the Burma Army. Therefore, most villagers strongly opposed upgrading roads into the hills, which could be used by the army to access these remote areas.

As they do not speak Burmese or English, villagers have little access to news. Most expressed little knowledge of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement of October 2015. Only two among the many I asked knew the name of Burmas president.

Some were aware of the 2015 elections but none had participated, explaining that this was not their business, but something related to the distant and feared government. The widespread perception seemed to be that the elections took place in another countrygovernment-controlled Burmaand were therefore of little relevance to villagers. Many people said they had heard of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, but didnt know much beyond that she was trying her best.

Several people expressed variations of a typical villager comment; the KNU and Burma governments should delineate positions, so that we know where we are safe in KNU-controlled areas and where we are not.

In an informal fireside discussion with village elders, I was told quite unambiguously, We support the KNU. We want the Burma Army to withdraw and their government to leave us alone. One should be cautious in generalizing these attitudes to other Karen communities, but they are striking nevertheless.

Before the ceasefire, very few villagers visited government-controlled areas. Such visits were dangerous, fearful and secret. Since the ceasefire, only a minority have ventured into government-controlled areas to visit markets or relatives, but numbers are increasing and less fear is reported.

In time, people in this area may learn to identify with the central government. However, trust and confidence will be built slowly, and will likely depend greatly on demilitarization and a reduced Burma Army presence.
Tuesday, February 14th, 2017 (10:22 am) - Score 2,051

BTs network access division, Openreach, has today announced the completion of an independent majority on their newly formed board with the final appointment of Liz Benison as a non-executive member. Liz is currently the CEO of public services provider Serco in the UK and Europe.

The first members were announced at the start of this month (here), with the decision to actually setup an independent board stemming in no small part from Ofcoms Strategic Review demand for Openreach to become a ring-fenced, wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group, with its own purpose and board members (more details here, here and here).

Admittedly BT and the telecoms regulator are yet to reach a final voluntary agreement on the Strategic Review proposals (issues over pensions and control are still causing a few headaches), but that hasnt stopped the operator from pressing forward on the areas where the two sides have aligned.

Openreachs Board

Clive Selley, Chief Executive

Mike McTighe, Chairman

Clare Sadlier, Chief Finance Officer

Brendan Barber, Non-executive Board member

Edward Astle, Non-executive Board member

Liz Benison, Non-executive Board member

Simon Lowth, BT Group nominee

Nigel Cheek, Board Secretary

Last years Strategic Review found that Openreach still had an incentive to make decisions in the interests of BT, rather than BTs competitors, which can lead to competition problems. Openreach hopes that the new board will show that its now being more transparent and autonomous (i.e. less directly controlled by big daddy BT), with new senior managerial roles responsible for strategy, regulatory affairs and corporate affairs all reporting directly to the CEO, Clive Selley.

Mike McTighe, Chairman of Openreach, said: We are determined to meet our customers expectations and to strengthen the autonomy, governance and transparency of Openreach, so we are putting a strong team in place to deliver that. Liz brings a wealth of experience in building businesses through forging strong relationships with clients and delivering long and complex contracts in the service industry. She is also passionate about good service and British innovation so Openreach is the perfect fit for her knowledge and expertise. Liz will play a key role in helping us to work more closely with all of our communication provider customers.

Todays announcement also confirms an update that we posted last week by officially unveiling Richard Allwood as Openreachs new Chief Strategy Officer, Mark Shurmer as Managing Director of Regulatory Affairs, Catherine Colloms as Director of Corporate Affairs and Katie Milligan as Managing Director for Customer, Commercial and Propositions (CCP).

Clive Selley, CEO of Openreach, said: These senior leadership changes are all about strengthening our relationship with the outside world and building even more productive partnerships with everyone that has a stake in our business. Openreach is crucial to the UKs thriving digital economy and our people already play an important and active role in communities throughout the country. I am confident that becoming even more transparent and collaborative will help Openreach deliver better service, broader coverage and faster speeds for consumers and businesses across the country.

Some of BTs rivals will no doubt continue to question just how much of a difference all of this can actually make to Openreachs behaviour and interaction with the wider market. Indeed its unlikely that todays changes will be enough to silence those who still call for total separation from BT, although Ofcom seems to have all but taken that option off the table (at least until the next review in around 9 years time).

As always, actions speak louder than words and no doubt ISPs will soon be testing Openreachs new found level of independence. In the meantime Ofcom have pledged to push forward with their proposed changes, regardless of whether or not BT agrees to their proposals. On this front the regulator, with Government backing, appears to hold a strong set of cards.

However both sides still want a voluntary agreement and that mentality usually results in a deal, even if it sometimes takes a little bit longer to surface.
It seems like Samsung may not release the Galaxy S8, instead announced the Galaxy S8 Plus. A recently leaked logo showing "Samsung Galaxy S+" is why we feel that the Samsung might skip the rumored Galaxy S8. A known mobile reporter, Evan Blass, posted on his Twitter the picture of the Galaxy S8 Plus' logo, though, there's still a doubt about its certainty as Samsung is yet to issue an official statement.

Blass posted a new tweet confirming the display sizes for the upcoming Galaxy S8 smartphone. He mentioned that the Galaxy S8 version will start at 5.8-inches, while the bigger version called the Galaxy S8+ will sport a 6.2-inch display. Both will have Super AMOLED display, which is not surprising given that Samsung is the biggest maker of AMOLED displays, and has been using these in its flagship smartphones for some time.

Samsung Galaxy S8

The new report came out of South Korea and said that Samsung has provided its battery suppliers with an updated roadmap which includes details of battery capacity. This has led to rumors that the Galaxy S8 Plus will use the 3,600 mAh found in the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. In addition, according to a source, the Galaxy S8 Plus will feature a 12-MP rear camera and an 8-MP front cam. Samsung is believed to feature its Dual Pixel technology in the rear cam and might make the new one even better than its predecessor in terms of autofocus, image, video stabilization and pixel density. The front camera will be combined with an Iris Recognition sensor and will act as another mode of biometric authentication. Moreover, the upcoming Samsung flagship will not have the 4GB RAM version, instead, will offer the 6GB variant built-in storage straight-away. Other reports claimed it'll sport a 128GB memory unit.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Release Date

The Galaxy S8 is anticipated for release at the MWC 2017. Considering the previous Galaxy S Series launches over the past three years. Nonetheless, the Galaxy S8 will be announced on a separate event in New York on March 29.
Fans have been waiting to see Keanu Reeves repeating his role as Neo in the "Matrix" trilogy. Though the new sequel appeared to be impossible yet, the actor and Laurence Fishburne might have unveiled that "Matrix 4" is already in the works.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Reeves and Fishburne spoke about their latest film "John Wick 2." Both great actors were asked if ever there is an opportunity for another "Matrix" movie. And deceptively, the two of them are very much open to do a new chapter on the big screen for their fans.

Reeves And Fishburne Wanting To Have New Matrix Sequel

"It's true. Folks always ask me, 'Will there be one more 'Matrix'? Is there more?' If we were to ever do something like that, can you envision the pressure we'd be under?" said Fishburne. Reeves, on the other hand, spoken how stirring it will be to handle that "pressure." He said, "Yeah, it would be breathtaking! You've got to go into the fire!"

On the other side, Reeves and Fishburne did not, in fact, confirm whether or not "Matrix 4" is conceivable. But clearly, they would not back down if ever producers will agree to make a new one. It was three years ago, there was a buzz about the new upshot of "Matrix." But clearly, it did not hit the big screens, so fans are still waiting for its onset. Let us wait for further statements from the actors, directors, and producers.

Fishburne On DCEU Movies

In the interim, apart from talking about "John Wick 2" and "Matrix 4," actor Fishburne also talked about his future presences in the DC cinematic universe. The actor confirmed that he is not a part of the upcoming "Justice League." But, he as well uttered his frustration at how DC has been handling their ventures.

"We've been waiting 35 years for these to show up on the screen. What were they doing over there? Marvel has been kicking their asses. This is the comic-book geek in me, who has a collection of comic books. I've been waiting to see these people on-screen forever," Fishburne said.It is pretty understandable that even Fishburne knows that Marvel is indeed doing a great job as compared to what DC is doing. With a bit of luck, his words would be caught by the DC team and address the issue directly.

Do you think "Matrix 4" is possible? Or is it just a rumor that will dissatisfy a lot of fans again?
Google is getting the love on this week for Valentine's Day. The company put forth a Google doodle game, which is meant to highlight the pangolin.

The Pangolin Lovers

The timely Google doodle tells the story of two long-distanced pangolin lovers, inviting people to take part in the love affair by taking the role of one pangolin who goes on a journey "around the world to learn how to best romance its partner." The Google's Valentine's Day doodle, which features love-struck pangolins, was available on the homepage as early as Monday.

According to the blog post, the pangolin first travels to Ghana to learn how to bake a chocolate cake. The second trip is to India where the pangolin asks a friend to teach it how to construct melodies for its loved one. Then in China, the pangolin collects fan in order to learn how to dance. Lastly, in the Philippines, it tries to learn how to make a bouquet and win the heart of its "pangolove".

Doodle With A Cause

The Valentine's Day doodle was worked on by six people composed of animators and engineers for a good whole year. Apparently, the love affair is one of the most in-depth Google Doodles ever made. It is even paired with an interactive video game.

According to the head artist for the doodle, Helene Leroux, "If they're endangered, they really have to meet." She says this during an interview, which took place at the Google headquarters located in Mountain View, California. "So it was a perfect theme for Valentine's Day."

Usually called "scaly anteaters", Pangolins, which are found in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, are deemed the most poached and trafficked mammal on earth. Google does not forget to invite people to donate in protecting these mammals and provided a link to a World Wildlife Fund page.
As todays world continues to evolve, the need for more science professionals are at a constant rise to help understand the changing needs of our time. One of the many fields that seem to become in demand at present are careers in environmental science. If one decides to foray into this field, he will have the opportunity to work from home or travel to places every year. But nevertheless, careers in environmental science will become one of the most lucrative jobs in the near future, not because of the potentially-big salary, but with the importance of their role in understanding climate change.

This job covers different events such as desk work, field observation and environmental science. The can also explore environmental policies, management and planning for local government units which mostly need research intensive work. On the other hand, environmental lawyers can use their legislative skills to defend the causes of the environment and pursue forces which intentionally rob our natural resources of its wealth.

Environmental Science also added that those interested to flourish their careers in this field can also become wildlife managers, horticulturists and zoologists. Also, there is also a projection of attaining a higher demand for oceanologists, meteorologists and ecologist who are very much needed in private companies, government agencies and other related institutions.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for environmental scientists is $67,460 per year (2015 rate) or $32.43 per hour. They are required to attain a bachelors degree for entry-level. No work experience in a related occupation or on-the-job training is required for these jobs. More than two years ago, about 94,600 were employed for environmental science-related jobs.

Last February 11, during the celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the United Nations encouraged more women to foray into science. They also released a data which reveals that less women are graduating with life science degrees in developing countries. On the other hand, there is an increase of women in engineering and computer science in progressive nations.
The polygamous family of "Sister Wives" is continuously battling the government of Utah for its bigamy law. The Brown family has reportedly joined a group of protesters last week in an attempt to get the attention of their state officials in their appeal to drop the anti-bigamy law. The Utah government though remains solid on its belief that such marital status brings several domestic cases of abuse among women and children.

Probably inspired by the success of TLC's "Sister Wives," hundreds of polygamous families rallied in front of the Utah capitol last Friday to deliver their plea to drop the anti-bigamy law. They said that they will not stop their fight until the state legalizes their right to practice plural marriage. Reality star and a husband of four, Kody Brown, was very much present during the march as he holds a sign writing: "I'm a father, a husband, and a lover, NOT a felon."

The rally comes after the Brown family was denied by the U.S. Supreme Court of their challenge to Utah's bigamy law last January. Instead of legalizing polygamy, the state legislators are reportedly changing the law to have the convicted under the bigamy law suffer harsher penalties once proven that they also committed domestic abuse. This makes Utah's bigamy law stricter than that of the other states of America.

This decision follows reports from witnesses to women and children abuse brought about by plural marriages. Supporters of the law claim that polygamy leads to welfare fraud, child abuse, sexual abuse and even forced labor. The Utah prosecutors then agree to leave polygamists alone, but the ban still continues to prevent domestic crimes including sexual assault and underage marriage. There are reportedly 30,000 recorded polygamists in Utah, and 10 of them were reportedly charged with violating the law between 2001 and 2011.

The saga of the Brown family and the Utah government reportedly began in September 2010, the same time when "Sister Wives" piloted on TLC. Utah prosecutors then investigated the Browns, which apparently forced them to leave their Lehi home to move to Las Vegas. Following this, the Brown family then filed a lawsuit against the unsolicited investigation.

Back in 2013, the Brown family tasted a legal victory when a Utah federal judge ruled that the law has violated the privacy and religious freedom of the polygamous family. However, the appeals court in Denver did not give the Browns the right to sue for the violation of their right since they were not charged under the Utah law. This decision has made the Browns along with their attorney, Jonathan Turley, disappointed.

Meri Brown has been Kody's legal wife until they secretly divorced last in 2014. Robyn now serves as the legal Brown wife, while Christine, Janelle, and Meri remain Kody's spiritual wives. All four wives live with Kody under the same roof together with their 16 kids as Maddie and Mykelti are already married.
Have you ever sent a package to a remote part of the world that lacks a consistent set of physical addresses? Unless your organization specializes in logistics and distribution, you probably outsourced the task to a company that does. At a more personal level, have you gone to one door at a concert when the friend with the tickets went to a different door? Have you tried to find a tourist attraction known by its name but lacking a street address? These situations highlight the importance of better ways to identify and find specific locations.

According to the United Nations Development Postal Union, an address is part of a persons identity. Roughly 4 billion people have no good way to describe where they live, making it difficult to receive deliveries, access social services or report a crime, fire, or other emergency. As the population of informal urban settlements explodes, it becomes virtually impossible to locate individuals within these communities. The same problem exists in remote areas that lack a formal postal addressing system.

What3Words (W3W), a London company, has developed a better solution. It overlays a grid of three-meter-by-three-meter squares on the globe. Each square is assigned a unique three-word identifier that is mapped to a precise latitude and longitude. The words are chosen from a database that has been carefully culled to eliminate homonyms and potentially offensive words (across cultures.) W3W enables consumers, businesses and governments to use the three words instead of the usual street address. While there are alternate solutions such as Mapcodes, GPS coordinates and military grid reference systems, the three-word combinations are easier to remember.

W3W augments, but does not replace, street addresses. W3W addressing is more precise than street addresses because most front doors and side doors are in different squares and therefore have different three-word identifiers. While this is less important in residential situations, it can be critical to anyone attempting to find the correct door in a large building. For driving directions, the W3W app feeds the three-word combinations directly into Google Maps, Waze, Scout and other navigation services.

W3W is being adopted in a variety of countries. Mongolias national post office is migrating to the W3W system, since few of its streets have names and the country is sparsely populated, with large, uninhabited areas. Moreover, roughly one quarter of the inhabitants are nomads, making mail delivery even more difficult. La Poste Cote d'Ivoire is also adopting the W3W system because there are few street addresses and many people rely on informal descriptions (such as between the gas station and the Blue Dog Cafe) to describe a location. Norway, Mali, France and Switzerland are building W3W into their addressing systems to increase accuracy.

The W3W app is helpful in emergencies and other special situations. It was used to coordinate first responders at the Super Bowl and at Glastonbury. If a hiker gets lost but has a smartphone connection, he can use the app to determine his position and send the three words to the rescue team. Courier companies are using W3W in time-sensitive situations such as transporting organs for transplant. Drone companies are evaluating it as a tool to improve navigation. The tool is useful in cities that reuse variations on street names. Atlanta has 71 streets that contain some version of Peachtree in the name. Mexico City is even more challenging, with 632 Juarez streets, 624 Hidalgo streets and at least 500 streets named Zapata.

Better mapping and addressing software makes consumers, businesses and government services more efficient. The U.S. Post Office states that 23% of all mail contains addressing errors. These errors create extra work for the post office and sometimes result in returned mail or mail that is delivered to the wrong address. During the 2015 holidays, U.K. consumers wasted 11.8 million hours addressing 4.8 million delivery problems.

W3W uses a common business model that allows consumers free use but charges businesses for access. The model gets troublesome when it becomes critical to the operation of the postal service. Having any for-profit entity at the center of a critical public function with no competition is at best unwise.

Addresses are bits of public infrastructure that convey a great deal of information. Street addresses announce both the country and the municipality. Street numbers usually convey information about the position of one address relative to a different address. Because W3Ws three words are random by design, they convey no information about the country or city, much less street address. While conventional addresses will not disappear anytime soon, as the three words become more embedded in the postal service, W3W will become ever more critical to the way government services are delivered.

Unfortunately, the W3W license prohibits the database with the three-word strings and the corresponding latitude/longitude from being published. If the system is to be adopted by postal services or other government entities, there needs to be an arrangement whereby the database is readily available at no or low charge to the public, businesses and the government.

The W3W team needs to be rewarded for a very creative solution to a difficult problem. In addition, as their system is more broadly adopted, some type of governance will be needed. (While the current management team undoubtedly has noble intentions, perspectives can change as companies grow; people leave, agendas clash, and companies get acquired.) Perhaps W3W could be treated as a public utility with a commission to establish the rates the utility can charge. Perhaps W3W could agree to operate for some period of time and then sell to a consortium of governments which then put the database in the public domain. Undoubtedly there are other approaches that could compensate the W3W team while protecting public interest.

W3W is a potentially disruptive tool that makes it significantly easier to find specific locations. In addition to assisting postal services and consumers, the tool can be leveraged by a variety of businesses, including self-driving vehicle companies, courier services, distribution companies, taxi services, any organization with its own fleet and a host of others. IT professionals need to follow W3W closely as it evolves over the next few years. Every company that uses physical or mailing addresses will need to update systems to accommodate the W3W format. After that, if you get lost, its your own fault!

Bart Perkins is managing partner at Louisville, Ky.-based Leverage Partners Inc., which helps organizations invest well in IT. Contact him at BartPerkins@LeveragePartners.com.
This Week in Review

A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
THE REGENERATION team charged with making the most of the Isle of Wight's assets has met with developers in London.

The team attended Sitematch 2017 at the Shard last Wednesday, an event designed to bring together public sector landowners and private sector developers and investors.

Isle of Wight Council director of regeneration Chris Ashman said: "SiteMatch is a bit like 'speed-dating for regeneration.

"It was a chance for us to put the Isle of Wight ambitions on the map and to get people talking about some of the great opportunities that have already been identified.

"While were still at the very early stages of devising our regeneration plans, its important that we start to build contacts, leads and prospects that could help us in the future.

"Those attending were really receptive to a series of initial projects that well be looking at in the coming weeks and months. It was good to gauge whats happening within the markets and what potential developers are looking for at the moment. I am very excited to get things moving because we have a real chance to create something great on the Island; something that will enable a prosperous and economically stable future for the Isle of Wight."

Executive member for regeneration, Cllr Julie Jones-Evans, said: "The opportunities for regeneration on the Isle of Wight are really exciting.

"The SiteMatch event was a chance for the team to start sharing our story with those who could support our plans in the future.

"Its also been heartening that local, Island businesses have already come forward and are showing interest in the future of these key sites. I look forward to working with the team as they shape their plans to progress the councils regeneration ambitions, which will secure future economic sustainability for the Island."

In December, the Isle of Wight Council executive approved a regeneration plan that identified 11 key sites, including the former Camp Hill prision, Newport Harbour, land at Stag Lane and Ryde Interchange.


Belgrave were the most successful club in the men's section, while Herne Hill just edged it in the women's events.

Belgrave's James Ellington stormed to a narrow victory in the boys under 15 200 metres race in 23.13 sec with clubmate Jonathan Regis winning the bronze in 23.37.

Ellington was unlucky to be edged out in a blanket finish in the 100 metres in which the first three all clocked in at 11.5 with the Bels running having to settle for the bronze medal.

Another Belgrave athlete to be pipped was Edward Walsh in the under 15 boys 80 metres hurdles where he took silver in 11.71.

Completing the Belgrave tally with five medals was Timothy Abeyie who took silver in the junior 200 metres in 21.9.

Herne Hill's only medalist in the men's events was Allandre Johnson who took the under 15 javelin with 43.61 metres.

Surrey champion Ruth Brereton sped home in the junior 400 metres hurdles in 65.25, while two other county winners Olivia Hines (40.29) and Charli Croll (25.6) took silver in the under 17 300 and 200 metres, respectively.

Sutton's Susan Bovill gained a narrow victory in the junior women's 400 metres in 57.04 while clubmate Georgina Hogsden gained bronze in the junior javelin with 39.51 metres.

Epsom and Ewell's Emily Parker won the under 17 triple jump (11.60 metres) and took silver in the 300 metres hurdles (44.74). Walton's Louise Massingham lifted the silver medal in the under 15.75 metres hurdles in 11.46.
Nation of Islam follower selected to fill St. Pete Council vacancy By a 4-3 margin, the St. Petersburg City Council voted to fill a vacant council seat with the appointment of Brother John Muhammad, a member of the Nation of Islam which is headed by Louis Farrakhan. Prior to the deliberations, council members received calls and emails from the Jewish community...

Community Hanukkah party planned A communitywide Hanukkah celebration is planned for Sunday, Dec. 18, featuring a concert by Noah Aronson, a musician, recording artist, composer and self-described intentional mover. The Jewish Federation of Floridas Gulf Coast is hosting the party at the 600-seat Pinellas Park Performing Arts Center, 4951 78th Ave N, Pinellas Park,...

Israeli military officers to give Tampa briefing A change in the U.S.-Israel military relationship that took place last year and has brought Israeli military brass to Tampa is reaping benefits for Israelis defense, an official in Israels Embassy to the U.S. says. The change, which took effect on Sept. 1, 2021, was for Israels military to be...

Jewish Federation of Floridas Gulf Coast statement The Jewish Federation of Floridas Gulf Coast (Federation) and its Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) does not endorse candidates but does speak out on issues of concern for our community. We believe people of all faiths and no faiths should be treated with dignity and respect. We believe we have...
CHARLOTTE  A federal judge Monday handed Paul Burks, founder of Zeek Rewards.com, three concurrent prison sentences of 14 years and eight months for his lead role in the Lexington Ponzi scheme.

ZeekRewards, which debuted in January 2011, was one of the largest Ponzi schemes in U.S. history at $939 million, according to federal regulatory officials and prosecutors. The companies were shut down and their assets frozen on Aug. 17, 2012. There were more than 800,000 victims worldwide.

On July 21, a federal jury found Burks guilty of wire- and mail-fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud and tax-fraud conspiracy.

He will remain free on bond until the site of his prison facility is determined.

It is likely he will be sent to a low-security camp at the Butner prison facility that houses convicted Ponzi scheme mastermind Bernie Madoff. The system will take into consideration Burks need to sleep in a recliner because of the removal of his esophagus due to cancer.

Burks opted to not speak except to say he approved of the case being presented by his attorney, Noell Tin. Tin said Burks is likely to appeal the verdict.

Judge Max Cogburn Jr. agreed with U.S. attorneys fair and generous sentencing recommendation of between 15 years and eight months and 19 years and seven months for the 70-year-old Burks.

The wire and mail-fraud conspiracy charge, the mail-fraud charge and the wire-fraud charge each carry a maximum prison term of 20 years and a $250,000 fine. The tax-fraud conspiracy charge carries a maximum prison term of five years and a $250,000 fine. There is no parole in the federal system for defendants sentenced in the past few decades.

Burks could have been sentenced to up to 59 years.

Cogburn took several minutes to deliberate Burks prison term, trying to balance the weight of the crime and number of victims with Burks age and health. He reviewed other convicted Ponzi scheme defendants, saying he recognized Burks sentence could set a precedent.

This is a huge amount of money, which is why the sentencing guidelines run to such a large extent, Cogburn said.

How it worked

ZeekRewards, at its essence, was about marketing unregistered securities in which participants received payments based on recruiting others. It began to collapse in August 2012 once the incoming revenues didnt cover what was due to net winners.

How could anybody think that this is going on in a small, rural North Carolina town and think there was a financial genius at work here? Cogburn asked aloud while looking at Burks.

Some people figured (the Ponzi scheme) out and stayed in it as long as they could so they could be one of the small number of winners, Cogburn said.

Tin requested a sentencing of 11 years and six months. He mentioned other health issues affecting Burks including hypertension, diabetes, heart arrhythmia that requires a pacemaker, chronic renal failure, prostate cancer and mild dementia.

Burks appeared in good health Monday, though he walked with a slight limp. He also serves as primary caregiver for his wife, Susan, who has breast cancer.

Cogburn dropped Burks sentence by a year so that it would be about double the 90-month term handed to Dawn Wright-Olivares.

Wright-Olivares and her stepson, Daniel Olivares, pleaded guilty in February 2014 to fraud charges after reaching agreements in December 2013 with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of N.C.

Wright-Olivares cooperated in the federal case against Burks.

Wright-Olivares served as ZeekRewards chief operating officer, while Olivares was senior technology officer. Olivares received a two-year prison term.

Tin said leniency should be extended to Burks because he had no lavish spending or high living. He lived the exact same life in Lexington. Tin cited Burks cooperation with federal officials.

Cogburn responded by saying that Burks was ill and older when he did this to people.

The negligence of people is no defense for taking advantage of the foolish, Cogburn said. He kept the scheme going even when he had an opportunity to stop.

Cogburn and Kenneth Bell, receiver of the defunct companies, cited how Burks and other ZeekRewards officials misled and mispresented how the company generated money and how it paid winners.

Cogburn referred to the Biblical story of Jesus turning loaves and fishes into enough food to feed at least 5,000 individuals. Burks would have needed to have been a Christ-like miracle worker to accomplish the things he promised, Cogburn said.

The scheme got out of hand, more than Mr. Burks may have thought was going to happen, he said. But anyone could have seen what was going to occur outside himself and his (marketing) cheerleaders.

Active up to the end

Bell said Burks continued to promote ZeekRewards even though he knew federal regulators were closing in. That included July 2012 being the biggest funding month of the scheme.

I dont know when he knew he was going to be shut down, but he knew it was coming, that what he was doing was illegal, and still he created more victims, Bell said.

Bell said that when he first went into the ZeekRewards office three days after it was shut down, there was $80 million in cashiers checks there.

Even the day before he was shut down, he was still taking in checks.

Bell said local and regional banks, particularly NewBridge Bancorp, eventually told Burks they didnt want his deposits and withdrew check-cashing services.

Bell said Burks responded by hiring a man from California who came to Lexington with empty suitcases to take back all the cashiers checks to put into accounts or cash.

In March, federal Judge Graham Mullen approved a settlement in which NewBridge paid $10 million to the receivership estate of ZeekRewards.

In return, Bell agreed to release the bank from further claims. Bell said he could have pursued up to $31 million from NewBridge on what he called the high end of a potential judgment.

Bell accused NewBridge of allowing Rex Venture Group, one of the brands associated with ZeekRewards, to conduct its fraudulent acts past the time NewBridge knew or should have known that RVG and its insiders were perpetuating a fraud.

NewBridge denied the allegations and any liability related to Bells claims. The bank said in the agreement that it settled to avoid litigation over the claims. It agreed to pay $5 million toward the settlement. The other $5 million came from Zurich American Insurance Co. on behalf of NewBridge.

Burks was found liable for a $244 million judgment, which Cogburn, the U.S. attorneys and Bell acknowledged was symbolic.

It was determined during Burks criminal trial that he profited by at least $10.1 million.

Burks reached a consent settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in August 2012. He did not admit wrongdoing or that his companies operated as a Ponzi scheme and agreed to pay a $4 million penalty.

The U.S. attorneys had said that recognizing the low likelihood that defendant will ever be able to pay a money judgment in this case ... the U.S. government may use the requested money judgment to collect overseas fraud proceeds that have not been repatriated.

The federal government determined ZeekRewards had a net money gain of $426.3 million.

As of Sept. 30, Bell had recovered $362 million and disbursed $269.8 million to victims. Bell has plans to distribute an additional $42.2 million in mid-March. That would raise the reimbursement totals to about 75 percent for qualified recipients.

Bell said he believes the sentencing that Burks received will serve as a deterrent to potential Ponzi scheme operators.

Given the sentence Paul Burks just received, and the fact that we are confident he barely has enough money to live on now, it is hopeful that this case will be an eye-opener, Bell said.

Bell said that when you have something promising a 125 percent return on your money in 90 days, and 500 percent over a year, no one, no real investor, should have believed that was true.

The second lesson is that it is not sufficient due diligence to ask your family members and neighbors about where to put your money.

There were a lot of folks recruited into this because they knew somebody who said This is a great deal, I made money off it, and you should, too. 
WASHINGTON  Michael Flynns real problem isnt the Logan Act, an obscure and probably unenforceable 1799 statute that bars private meddling in foreign-policy disputes. Its whether President Trumps national security adviser sought to hide from his colleagues and the nation a pre-inauguration discussion with the Russian government about sanctions that the Obama administration was imposing.

Its far less significant if he violated the Logan Act and far more significant if he willfully misled this country, said Rep. Adam B. Schiff of California, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, in a telephone interview late Friday. Why would he conceal the nature of the call unless he was conscious of wrongdoing?

Schiff said the FBI and congressional intelligence committees should investigate whether Flynn discussed with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in late December the imminent imposition of sanctions, and whether he encrypted any of those communications in what might have been an effort to avoid monitoring. Schiff said that if some conversations were recorded by U.S. intelligence agencies, we should be able to rapidly tell if Gen. Flynn was being truthful when he told Vice President Pence and other colleagues that sanctions werent discussed.

Flynns contacts with Kislyak were first disclosed in my Jan. 12 Washington Post column, so I have a window on the events surrounding that disclosure. I reported that, according to a senior U.S. government official, Flynn had phoned Kislyak several times on Dec. 29, the day the Obama administration announced the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats in retaliation for the Kremlins hacking attack during the 2016 presidential campaign.

What did Flynn say, and did it undercut the U.S. sanctions? the column asked. We still dont know the answers to those questions  but new reporting has made them more pertinent than ever.

The Flynn-Kislyak contacts gained new attention when the Post reported Thursday that the FBI was continuing to examine Flynns communications with the Russian official, and that the two men had discussed U.S. sanctions, contrary to the Trump teams denials.

The possibility that Flynn violated the Logan Act was noted in that January column. But Flynns defenders reasonably countered that there were good public-policy reasons for a future national security adviser to talk with the ambassador of a major power about future policies. Thats one reason the Logan Act has never been enforced.

The harder question is whether Flynn was open about his conversations, which he should have known would probably be controversial, especially given his past interaction, including a paid speech, with Russia Today, a Kremlin mouthpiece.

The White House needs to clarify several anomalies. Perhaps these are just the missteps that can afflict any new White House team, but theyre puzzling, at best.

Why did the Trump team give slow, initially conflicting and apparently incomplete accounts of the conversation? A Trump campaign spokesman forwarded my request for comment to Flynns team on Jan. 12, about seven hours before the column appeared. But there was no response until the next morning, when a colleague of Flynns said the retired lieutenant general had talked with Kislyak sometime between Dec. 27 and Dec. 29.

About an hour later, Trump press secretary Sean Spicer confirmed the Flynn-Kislyak contacts in a public briefing, but said they had come in texts on Dec. 25 and in a phone conversation Dec. 28, when it was widely reported sanctions were imminent. Sources continued to tell The Associated Press that day that there had been a call on Dec. 29.

The crucial question is what Flynn and Kislyak discussed. The Flynn associate told me initially that the two explored timing of a future conversation between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. A Trump campaign spokesman told me several hours later that Kislyak had also told Flynn that a Trump representative should attend a peace conference on Syria that would take place after the inauguration in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Various Trump team members said Flynn hadnt talked to Kislyak about the sanctions that were being announced near-simultaneously with the communications, whichever date you choose. Thats apparently what Flynn told Pence, too. But this denial became inoperative Thursday, when a spokesman said Flynn indicated that while he had no recollection of discussing sanctions, he couldnt be certain that the topic never came up.

A national security advisers success depends on maintaining trust, especially with his White House colleagues. After Flynns changing statements about a sensitive issue, he has a trust deficit that can only be filled with a full accounting of what happened  one that is consistent with any record that was compiled by U.S. intelligence agencies of his calls with Kislyak.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was right to invoke Rule 19 against Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) for her personal harangue against her friend and colleague, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.). Dignity is flowing out of Washington and Warren is doing more than her part as she desperately tries to prove she isnt just another tiresome Hillary Clinton. What a pretentious, grandstanding phony.

Warren is likely running for president in 2020, and she is trying to rally the embittered left and Sen. Bernie Sanderss (I-Vt.) crowd to her side. And her stunt disparaging now-Attorney General Sessions on the Senate floor, plus her tweet threatening that If Jeff Sessions makes even the tiniest attempt to bring his racism, sexism & bigotry into @TheJusticeDept, hell hear from all of us is a little much, even allowing for a shallow, pandering candidates sad attempts to crowd into the news cycle. Is Warren really the guardian of all that is fair and just and the defender of the oppressed? Since when?

Speaking as a proud Alabamian, trust me when I say that people from the state hate being screamed at about being bigots by someone from Massachusetts. This is nothing new. Anytime the left feels backed into a corner by Republicans or are having trouble defending their own actions, they yell racism  especially if their target happens to be a white, Southern, Christian Republican. They go straight to race quicker than you can say Pocahontas.

Are we going to have to endure this every week while Warren runs her pre-campaign for president and performs stunts to help her fundraising? I guess she knows she cant be effective, so shes going to settle for being insulting and loud.

Its a sad day when a U.S. senator is hailed by the left for violating the rules and acting without a shred of decorum. But today this is what the Democrats consider a victory: A personal, hypocritical attack on someone they have been warm with and greeted in the hallways as a peer for the past 20 years. And, Sessions able and extraordinary replacement, Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange, should pay particular attention to the senator from Massachusetts and greet her sure-to-come friendly overtures and cozy shoulder rubbing for what they really are  political cowardice and relentless ambition that is a mile wide and an inch deep.

I dont mean to give advice, but these events should suggest something to the Democrats about how egotistical, artificial and selfishly driven Warren really is. She should be embarrassed, and the Democrats should keep looking for someone authentic.
RICHARD MERLO, Elkin

Drawing the line

In the Spring of 2015, during Baltimore riots, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake famously remarked that her administration had given space to protesters who wished to destroy. This attitude seemed to encourage further rioting, and indeed were seeing more.

Recently, UC-Berkeley students protested President Trumps election and ousted conservative speaker Milo Yiannopoulos (who is also, by the way, a gay immigrant). Confusing freedom of speech with freedom of arson, some protesters burned to the tune of $100,000. Further protesting occurred at NYU, where 11 were arrested for preventing a scheduled speech by libertarian Gavin McInnes. Protests are occurring now at our southern border. Americans believe that protesting should be tolerated, but recently the line between protesting and rioting has become indistinct.

Fortunately, Trump seems intent upon enforcing the law.

******

SAMANTHA BURGE, Winston-Salem

Ban wouldnt work

Contrary to the opinion of the writer of the Feb. 6 letter Keep ISIS out, I do understand that there are people who want nothing more than to kill everyone that does not think like they do. And we need to be protected from people like that. But what President Trump and his white nationalist advisor, Steve Bannon, wanted to do doesnt address that problem. They wanted to ban immigrants from nations that have not been responsible for a single terrorist attack in America.

The perpetrators of 9/11 were from Saudi Arabia. French police believe the man who attacked soldiers in front of the Louvre Museum is an Egyptian who was living in the United Arab Emirates. But Trump and Bannon have done nothing to stop immigration from those nations. Instead, they go after refugees from Syria  the very people ISIS is trying to kill.

The letter writer says he served in Vietnam, and Im grateful to his service. But that doesnt make him an automatic authority in his matter.

Its obvious from Trumps executive order that what they want isnt a terrorism ban, but a Muslim ban, and thats wrong.

******

FLEMING EL-AMIN, Winston-Salem

People, policy and profits

We the people, in order to form a more perfect union ... will have ideas debated in the public square to arrive at public policies that benefit the general welfare  do ordain and establish this U.S. Constitution for profit?

What? Was that the original intent of the framers of our Constitution? Has the concept of government of, for and by the people been substituted for profits? Where is the public debate on the intent of Presidents George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson in forming and fighting for a government that recognized the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness been substituted for profits?

Were profits the motive of the English crown, which taxed those early colonists to the extreme point that eventually compelled them to declare war for their independence from a tyrannical system of government? Do we now have profits, policy and then people as the new order of our democracy?

We hold these truths to be self evident, that ... all people are born with the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

******

SCHUYLER R. DARSTEIN, Pfafftown

Two priorities

The new Congress has listed, as two top priorities, the reform of health care and the reform of the U.S. tax code. There is one long-standing part of the tax code begging for reformation that would a good step toward meeting both objectives.

Businesses have always been able to deduct 100 percent of all sums spent to service, repair and maintain capital assets. These expenses are deductible because they are a necessary cost of business and generation of revenue. Even costs of rearrangements of these assets are permitted tax deductions.

However, individual taxpayers are not permitted full deduction of expenses related to servicing, repairing and maintaining their bodies, arguably their greatest asset impacting their generation of revenue. Only in the case where health-care expenses exceed a significant percentage of income are some expenses deductible.

It seems only logical, reasonable and fair that an individual should be afforded 100 percent deduction of all health-care expenses, regardless of any income consideration.

******

WARREN DUNN, Winston-Salem

Achieving balance

In the Feb. 8 letter Time to step up, the writer raises the old hue and cry that philanthropists take a break from funding the arts when there are so many pressing needs in our society. I take exception to his well-intentioned but hopelessly misguided implication that those who donate to the arts dont also donate to other good causes.

My wife and I certainly arent in a league with the big givers, but when it comes to philanthropy, we try to achieve some balance. Yes, we gladly support the opera and symphony, but we also support Shalom Project, multiple sclerosis research, Fragile X syndrome research, El Futuro and others. My bet would be that most philanthropists dont have one-track minds and likely support a variety of causes.

On a practical level, supporting the arts makes a community a place that attracts the very people who take an active interest in supporting organizations devoted to serving the needs of the less fortunate.

The arts give a community a spirit that, while not easily measured, undisputedly adds to the quality of life for everyone. If anyone needs convincing of that, just look at the programs that Piedmont Opera, the Winston-Salem Symphony and the Reynolda House Museum of American Art provide the community at large.

For those who need convincing that that can include the homeless, just google Streetwise Opera and learn how the arts can restore hope and make a difference in the lives of the homeless.

THE REV. BILL GRAMLEY, Lewisville

Trumps behavior

I am writing because I am truly upset by the style and behavior of President Trump. At the National Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 2, he asked people to pray for Arnold Schwarzenegger because his TV program, The Apprentice, was doing less well than it was when Trump was running it. You know, I take prayer seriously and I do not think a prayer breakfast is the stage to vent ones egocentricity.

There are many topics for prayer: people hurting, grieving, caught in places of violence and similar conditions. The presidents disrespectful approach to life, as when he says a federal judge is a so-called judge, is simply uncalled for. Whether a judge or any person is right or wrong on an issue is no reason to demean that person.

Trump did a similar thing to a handicapped reporter some months back. Why? Why mock someone who has a disability?

The presidents attitude, to be better than others, to win the popular vote and to degrade anyone who questions his policies and practices, makes it very hard to give him the respect a president deserves.

******

ED SNAVELY, Pfafftown

Welcome DeVos

The Senate opened its doors to welcome Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. School choice and Common Core nodded to each other as one entered and the other exited. Life doesnt get much better, does it?

Vouchers, charter schools, virtual education classes and greater teacher accountability; all the necessary ingredients for making America great again and rebuilding our education system, right?

It gets even better. Local schools will soon reclaim their providence previously usurped by the false god worshiped by pagans in and out of the U.S. Department of Education. Is it too good to be true?

Yes. Thomas Jefferson foresaw and forewarned of wealth as a roadblock to public education. Having said,  the more wealthy class, were unwilling to incur that burden of funding public education . In your face, Jefferson; DeVos made a $200 million donation to the Republican Party. I hope she remembered to print for books and pencils on the checks memo line.

But hey, dont take DeVos and President Trump literally, take them seriously. Seriously, Jeffersons vision of a republic safeguarded by a populace educated in a system of parent-led public schools is about to blinded by a bubble of bluster.

Its not what DeVos has, its what she doesnt that boggles the brain. Follow the money, parents, it will lead to privatization and pocket-lining, and not ours.

Fifty senators, two crossing party lines, phrased the argument correctly. What do our schools need? Experience, affiliation, expertise and inspiration. DeVos is devoid of all.

******

MARQUIS WILLIAMS, Winston-Salem

A new feature

I think, because of the volatile nature of our politics, that we need a new feature in the Journal. It could simply be called What the president lied about yesterday. It would be longer or shorter, depending on the number of tweets in a given news cycle. Links to said tweets could also be included.

As an adjunct, you could list our North Carolina legislators daily lies. At some point, it has become harder and harder to parse any sense from them, and you could bigly help us. (from President Trumps own dictionary of Words That Are Really, Really Words, I Promise You). I know this would save us all a lot of time, as when I look up Trumps lies, I get about 25 million hits on Google. Please be aware that when one googles Trumps lies on a single day, the results exceed 10 million. Keeping track on a daily basis is more in the purview of a news organization. And to be frank, isnt the job of news organizations to report the truth?

So please help us out.

When You Write

The Journal encourages readers comments. To participate in The Readers Forum, please submit letters online to Letters@wsjournal.com. Please write The Readers Forum in the subject line and include your full name, address and a daytime telephone number. Or you may mail letters to: The Readers Forum, P.O. Box 3159, Winston-Salem, NC 27102. Letters are subject to editing and may be published on journalnow.com. Letters are limited to 250 words. Letter writers are allowed one letter every 30 days.

If you would like a photo of yourself included with your letter, send it to us as a .jpg file.

For more guidelines and advice on writing letters, go to journalnow.com/opinion/submit_a_letter.

The Journal welcomes original submissions for guest columns on local, regional and statewide topics. Essay length should not exceed 750 words. The writer should have some authority for writing about his or her subject. Our email address is: Letters@wsjournal.com. Essays may also be mailed to: The Readers Forum, P.O. Box 3159, Winston-Salem, NC 27102. Please include your name and address and a daytime telephone number.
Today

A steady rain in the morning. Showers continuing in the afternoon. High 74F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.

Tonight

A shower or two possible early with partly cloudy skies later at night. Low near 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.

Tomorrow

Sun and a few passing clouds. Near record high temperatures. High around 80F. Winds light and variable.
Fans of the namaste bow or tree pose will soon have a new studio to practice their regular stretching and breathing techniques, as Essential Yoga recently held its soft opening at 140 West Richardson Street (upstairs from Katie Mae's) in Summerville's historic downtown area. Read moreEssential Yoga debuts in Summerville
02/13/2017





During January 17-27, the American Democracy Project at JSU hosted the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Week. This event is sponsored by many schools nationwide as a way to honor King and his mission of unity, equality, and service to one another.

Looking back on this week, over 1,000 books were collected for the Little Free Libraries for United Way.

Around 25 students cleaned both inside and outside of HOPE Women's Services, in addition to sprucing up the flowerbeds and walls.

Around 50 students came and played games with residents of Legacy Village retirement community. Both the students and the residents had a great time.

Participating students were from Zeta Tau Alpha, Delta Zeta, Sigma Nu, LAE, Freshman Forum, National Society for Leadership and Success, Alpha Kappa Alpha, the Honors Program, Circle K International, and the National Honor Society at Saks High School, as well as students who were not yet involved in any organizations.

Overall, it was a fun and successful week!

Photo: Students at the HOPE Women's Services (courtesy of Angela Marino/American Democracy Project)
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British Museum | Safavid Painting |  

Painting: Portrait of a Lady in Green, Iran, 1600

British Museum

Description:

Recto

Painting. Portrait of a lady in green. Ascribed to Riza-yi Abbasi. Tempera and gold ink on paper.

Producer name: Formerly attributed to: Riza-yi Abbasi (falsely)

School/style: Persian School/Style term details

Culture/period: Persian

Date: 1600 (circa)

Museum number: 1977,0228,0.7
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TeleSur |  

At least seven Sikh temples opened their doors to evacuees.

"DO NOT TRAVEL NORTH TOWARD OROVILLE," was the message the Yuba County Office of Emergency Services blasted on its Twitter account Sunday.

It was the warning issued to the nearly 200,000 people in Northern California who were told to evacuate that day due to erosion of the emergency spillway in the nations tallest dam, the Lake Oroville Dam. In the wake of the evacuation order, several Sikh temples, or gurdwaras, in the area opened their doors to residents, providing blankets, shelter and meals.

Thousands of people from the counties of Yuba, Butte and Sutter scrambled from their homes Sunday night. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg tweeted that people in the Yuba county area could seek shelter in at least seven local Sikh houses of worship in the area.

Were well-prepared, Dr. Gurtej S. Cheema of Sacramentos Capital Sikh Center told The Huffington Post. We have meals, shelter. We can accommodate at least 50 people here.

Amid the wake of the evacuations, Cheemas gurdwara delivered enough bedding for 50 people to sleep at the temple and prepared hot tea and meals for them when they arrived.

Early Monday, authorities reported the risk from the dam was not as severe as initially warned, but residents remained evacuated, as a more thorough evaluation of the situation is underway.

The dam started to overflow after winter storms brought heavy waters to the area parched by drought for four years. But another major cause is the dams aging infrastructure.

A 50-year-old person isnt as robust as a 16-year, Bob Bea, a professor emeritus of civil engineering at the University of California Berkeley told Mercury News. And neither is a 50-year-old dam.

"Most of our infrastructure dates back to this time period. Its now in its old age  the geriatrics phase  and we are still using a reactive approach to manage these systems," he continued. "We wait until we have a big problem. It is much more cost-effective and safe to be proactive than waiting to fix something after an infrastructure disaster.

While environmental activists had pushed the federal government to cover the dams emergency spillway with concrete in 2005, the agency responsible for it, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, had refused to do so after the state Department of Water Resources and the State Water Contractors, a group of 27 water agencies, cited high costs.

Its a damn good idea to have an emergency spillway, said Ron Stork, policy director with Friends of the River, a Sacramento environmental group. But its cheaper to not pour concrete there.

It would be like if a few of the cables on the Golden Gate Bridge broke, David Freyberg, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University, added. The bridge is designed for that, but you dont want it sitting there broken, and it is going to take a while to fix it. I dont think it is catastrophic. But they are going to have to watch it very closely.

Via TeleSur

-

Related video added by Juan Cole:

USA: Oroville is a ghost town
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By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |  

The sudden resignation of Trump National Security Adviser Mike Flynn on Monday evening clearly was actually a firing.

Flynn was given a pink slip for embarrassing Vice President Mike Pence by assuring him that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian ambassador, Sergey Kislyak, in his unusual late December telephone call. Obama had just that day placed more sanctions on Russia, in reaction to Russian hacking activities during the election.

But in addition, the revelations about Flynn were flying in DC. WaPo revealed that the former acting Attorney General, Sally Yates, had warned Trump that the Department of Justice had reason to believe that he was open to being blackmailed by the Russians (because of his lie about not discussing sanctions). Of course, similar allegations have been made about Trump himself.

The Russian press reported that Flynn had retired.

I wrote on Saturday,

The Washington Post reports that conversations with no less than nine intelligence officials confirm that Flynn did talk with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak about Obamas sanctions on the Russian Federation. Flynn apparently urged the Russians not to be too upset about the new sanctions suggesting that the Trump administration would revisit them. Flynn at the time was not in any government office and had no right to negotiate with a foreign power, an act prohibited to civilians by the Logan Act. Flynn must have known that the Russian ambassadors telephone is under NSA surveillance and so it is weird to the extreme that he would risk breaking the law in public, so to speak. It is bad enough that Flynn may have committed this breach of the law. On top of that, when questioned about these allegations he lied and said he had not discussed sanctions with Kislyak. He not only lied himself but he told Vice President Mike Pence this lie and so arranged for Pence to go on television and repeat Flynns lie. Flynn wasnt under oath, so I suppose this is just a lie and not perjury. But surely lying to your boss and embarrassing him would be a firing offense?

So I put my finger on exactly the transgression that led to Flynns downfall that he lied to Pence. Apparently there are actual transcripts of the Flynn-Kislyak conversation in the hands of the CIA, which Flynn, Bannon and Trump had trashed on the issue of whether Russia had intervened in the election. Flynn was reckless to bring up an economic issue with Russia while still a civilian, and stupid if he did not know he was being recorded.

There is another investigation of Flynn that I also mentioned on Saturday, as to whether he took a fee from the Russian Federation to appear in Moscow at a dinner also attended by Vladimir Putin in honor of the Russian state-owned news service, Russia Today. This payment would violate the Logan Act, given that Flynn is a retired Lt. General and could have been recalled to service (as in a way he was, only on the civilian side, when Trump made him National Security Adviser).

Flynn had a lot of baggage. There are also questions concerning the about-face of Flynn with regard to Turkey. He had been a critic (he hates Muslims) but then when his consulting firm got a contract from a Turkish businessman close to President Tayyip Erdogan, Flynn abruptly switched around and became a big booster of Ankara.

These indications that the general is a man of easy virtue are not the only alarming things about him, of course. There is also his hatred of Muslims, what with calling Islam a cancer, and alleging that it is a political movement masquerading as a religion, his call for Arab and Iranian leaders publicly to confess that their Islamic ideology is sick, and in need of healing.

What takes the cake is his allegation on Sirius radio in 2015 that Arabic signs had been erected on the border with Mexico to guide Muslim radicals into the United States.

This is tin foil hat stuff (and theres lots more signs of mental instability in the mans twitter feed, including buying into the bizarre pizzagate conspiracy theory that Hillary Clinton was running a pedophilia ring out of a DC pizza joint).

Any normal person who knew anything serious about Flynns erratic and fantastic assertions and about his shady consulting with foreign powers should have known better than to put him in charge of advising on Americas national security. He had already been fired from the Defense Intelligence Agency.

That Trump could not see what a hot mess Flynn was reflects extremely poorly on Trumps judgment, and a mere resignation cannot change that.

Worse, questions are swirling about whether Trump himself put Flynn up to calling the Russians when Obama was still in office, and whether Flynn was just a messenger boy for his boss when he hinted around that Russia shouldnt worry too much about those Obama sanctions.

Flynn may have fallen on his sword, or been tossed off the Trump Tower onto it. But severe questions about Trumps judgment and perhaps even his entanglement in an illegal act (civilians are not allowed to conduct diplomacy with foreign powers). Every time Trump dances away from criticizing Putin, you have to wonder if he was in the same basket with Flynn. Kompromat.

-

Related video added by Juan Cole:

President Donald Trumps National Security Adviser Michael Flynn Resigns | The 11th Hour | MSNBC
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By David Patrikarakos | ( RFE/RL ) |  

2017, it seems, will be no less chaotic than its predecessor  an aphorism made plain by a mere glance at the state of international politics extending from Paris to Washington. But nowhere is this trend clearer than in that most tumultuous of countries, Syria. The end of 2016 saw the fall of the city of Aleppo, the primary stronghold of the rebels battling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Now, it appears, the rebels are beginning to turn on one another.

On January 26, the Syrian Islamist rebel group Ahrar al-Sham incorporated six other rebel groups into its ranks in northwestern Syria in order to battle Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (JFS), a former Al-Qaeda franchise once known as the Al-Nusra Front.

The announcement came just days after JFS attacked Free Syrian Army (FSA) groups west of Aleppo, accusing them of conspiring against it at Russian-backed peace talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, that began in the closing days of January.

In reality, JFSs attack is rooted in weakness. Over the summer, as the siege of Aleppo progressed, JFS played an increasingly important role in the defense of the city, using suicide bombers to blow open Assads front line positions. This forced Russia and Iran to commit more resources to the battle, which eventually turned the tide.

Since the Assad coalitions seizure of eastern Aleppo in December, JFS and the rebels in general have found themselves boxed in. Their options are running out. Idlib remains their only major stronghold in northwestern Syria.

The more moderate, mainstream factions among the rebels have had a problem since the second summer of the Syrian civil war: Jihadist groups have consistently proved themselves to be the most effective fighting force against Assad. Syrians were initially reluctant to deal with, let alone welcome, forces like JFS, but without sufficient support, groups like the FSA  made up primarily of former Syrian army officers  were forced to accommodate the more committed radical groups.

Rapid Developments

The loss of Aleppo has given JFS a chance to consolidate power. As Hassan Hassan, co-author of the New York Times bestseller, ISIS: Inside The Army Of Terror, and resident fellow at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, observes:

"JFS has sought to bring the rebel forces under one umbrella to run the north, especially focusing on Islamist and jihadist groups like Ahrar al-Sham and Harakat Nourreddin al-Zinki. With the failure of the merger attempts and the loss of eastern Aleppo, JFS wanted to consolidate its dominance in the north by force. So the ongoing campaign by JFS against some rebel forces is designed to clean up these areas to rule what remains of the north. JFS recognizes it is the most powerful and organized group in that region, and that its rivals are incapable of effectively organizing against it."

As Hassan further observes, JFSs end game is to ensure that Idlib and surrounding areas do not have the forces capable of eventually turning against it. JFS would usually seek consensus, build alliances, and infiltrate small and big groups to ensure it remains ahead of the curve.

But the rapid developments over the past few months have added urgency to its open campaign. These developments include the participation of major groups operating in the north in the Russia-sponsored peace talks that are under way in Astana. As the pro-Assad coalition is building up military and political momentum in northern Syria, JFS cannot afford to continue to play its old game of playing nice with fellow anti-Assad forces.

Indeed, things are becoming ever more chaotic in Syrias north. In the city of Azaz, an FSA group, the Levant Front, clashed with the Islamist group Ahrar al-Sham, which reportedly captured its headquarters and some checkpoints, forcing it to withdraw fighters from a battle it was fighting against the extremist group Islamic State (IS) in the neighboring city of Al-Bab. To make matters worse, the fighting prompted Turkey to close the border crossing at Oncupinar, across from the Syrian city of Bab al-Salam  a critical corridor for Turkish support to certain rebel factions in northern Syria.

Rise Of The Jihadists

Jihadist groups now stand ascendant among the coalition battling Assad. JFS in particular has spent years ensuring its indispensability to the antiregime effort. Those opposing the JFS are unlikely to succeed in any open war against it. The FSA and associated groups fought against IS in 2014, when they were much stronger  a campaign that cost them dearly. Those groups simply cannot afford to fight against JFS as well. As it stands, little can stop JFS from near total control of northwestern Syria.

All of this is of course a gift to Assad. Not only are the rebels fighting among themselves, and in the process weakening the coalition against him, but the regime can double down on a longstanding propagandist tactic of arguing that it is on the front lines of the battle against Jihadism. "Us or them?" runs the argument: an argument that, though largely fallacious, is being strengthened by the day.

Indeed, Turkey  once seen as the great ally of the FSA and a direct threat to the Assad government  is now fighting virtually side by side with Syrian soldiers in the campaign against IS in Al-Bab. The regime may be witnessing either a rebel implosion or a jihadist takeover of the opposition, both of which it will welcome with glee. It will help Turkey defeat IS while Al-Qaeda linked groups prosper.

This is a calculated move by the Assad regime, which has shown little interest in confronting jihadists of any stripe.

As Hassan concludes: "It is important to remember Idlib is small, it is only 1.5 percent of Syrian geography. Northwestern Syria is the only area where Al-Qaeda is dominant, so it is a major battle that the international community should keep its eyes on and try to shape."

The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect the views of

Via RFE/RL )

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.

-

Euronews: Airstrikes kill dozens in Syrian rebel-held Idlib
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Maan News Agency |  

BETHLEHEM (Maan)  The recently dismantled illegal settlement outpost of Amona was funded through a million-dollar loan from the Israeli government, a report by Israeli newspaper Haaretz revealed on Monday, further blurring the distinction between settlements recognized and unrecognized by Israel.



Israeli children at the now dismantled illegal settlement outpost of Amona. (File)

According to Haaretz, settlement building organization Amana obtained a $1.05 million loan in 2002 to build in the outposts of Amona and Migron by mortgaging private Palestinian lands to which it falsely claimed rights, and upon which it built the outposts.

Both Migron and Amona have since been evacuated upon orders by the Israeli Supreme Court, with residents from the latter outpost putting up serious resistance during its dismantlement earlier this month.

While the loan was officially obtained through Bank Tefahot, Haaretz said that the banking institution served a merely the conduit for funds supplied by the Israeli government for this loan.

Haaretz added that despite claims by Tefahot, Amana still owed nearly 90,000 shekels ($23,985) for construction in Amona, and more than 24,600 shekels ($6,555) for Migron construction.

The revelations come shortly after the passage of the Regularization law, which will grant official Israeli governmental recognition to more than a dozen illegal settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank established on private Palestinian lands.

While neither Amona nor Migron were included in the new legislation, the Regularization law states that any settlements built in the occupied West Bank in good faith  without knowledge that the land upon which it was built was privately owned by Palestinians  could be officially recognized by Israel pending minimal proof of governmental support in its establishment and some form of compensation to the Palestinian landowners.

As it stands, the law would affect the status of 16 outposts, although Israeli media reports indicated that more could be included in the future.

It remains unclear whether the allocation of loans through banking proxies, such as was the case with the two outposts, could constitute such proof of governmental support should it have occurred in other instances.

Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has repeatedly stated that the bill contravenes both Israeli and international law and that the Israeli Supreme Court would likely strike it down.

Several Palestinian municipalities have already petitioned the Supreme Court to dismantle the law.

While settler outposts constructed in occupied Palestinian territory were considered illegal by the Israeli government, each of the some 196 government-approved Israeli settlements scattered across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, have also been established in direct violation of international law.

Via Maan News Agency
Tunisian security forces have committed human rights abuses following a series of armed attacks in the country, Amnesty International (AI) [advocacy website] reported [text, PDF] Monday. In 2015 Tunisia passed [LOC report] a new counter-terrorism law in an attempt remove powers given to the deposed Ben Ali [BBC profile] regime to stop peaceful protests. AI believes this that this new law has too broad a definition of terrorism, increases the surveillance powers of the government and ultimately could endanger human rights. The report further illustrates rights abuses such as torture and other ill-treatment in order to force confessions at the Court of First Instance, created out of the 2015 counter-terrorism law. AI has urged Tunisia to implement the observations of the UN committee against Torture [official website] and recommendations from a May 2016 report [materials] to protect the gains of the nation and citizens since the uprising in 2011.

The warning from the International advocacy group is one of many that have been issued to Tunisia since 2011 when the UN rights chief urged the country to follow the rule of law [JURIST report] as they came to their first national elections. The country adopted a constitution [text, PDF] in 2014 with a hope that it would afford protections to all of its citizens. However, the government has faced continued terrorism concerns. In December Tunisia arrested three suspects [JURIST report] who were believed to be connected with the lorry attack in a Berlin holiday market. In October Human Rights Watch [advocacy website] was troubled by more than 139 people being placed under house arrest [JURIST report] in the name of terrorism.
[JURIST] A judge for the US District Court for the Western District of Washington [official website] on Monday determined that a lawsuit [materials] regarding President Donald Trumps immigration executive order [text] can proceed in district court while the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit [official website] hears the appeal of a temporary injunction on the ban. District Judge James Robart decided [Reuters report] at a hearing that the lawsuit brought by the states of Washington and Minnesota can proceed despite the fact that Justice Department (DOJ) [official website] sought a delay until appellate review is complete. A judge on the appellate court has requested [order, PDF] a vote as to whether the court will re-hear the appeal of the travel ban injunction en banc. The DOJ argued [memorandum response, PDF] that [f]urther proceedings in the Ninth Circuit will likely inform what additional proceedings on a preliminary injunction motion are necessary in district court. Robart is the same judge that initially issued [materials] the temporary restraining order halting the travel ban.

Trump signed the executive order [JURIST op-ed] in late January. Only a day later, a judge for the Eastern District of New York issued an emergency stay [JURIST report], temporarily preventing execution of the law, until the question of whether it applied to valid visa holders could be resolved. The issue was resolved by a district judge in Michigan, who ordered [JURIST report] that the travel ban could not be applied to legal citizens, including those holding visas.
[JURIST] A judge for the US District Court for the District of Columbia [official website] on Monday turned down a request [JURIST report] to stop construction on the final stretch of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Judge James Boasberg rejected [blog post] the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribes [official website] argument that the pipeline could contaminate the waters that the tribes use to practice their religion as it is a part of their sacred ground. The judge claimed [Law360 report] that the filing was premature. I think its important to have time to fully brief and analyze the issues in the context of a preliminary injunction motion or a motion for summary judgment. I would benefit from further attention and analysis, so I will deny the motion for a temporary restraining order. He said that there is no immediate harm until oil begins flowing down the pipeline to grant the temporary restraining order requested [text, PDF]. The judge also ordered Energy Transfer Partners [corporate website] to update the court on the status of the pipeline weekly. A hearing for the request for a preliminary injunction [text, PDF] filed by the tribe is set for February 27.

The Dakota Access Pipeline [informational website] is a partially constructed oil pipeline that would transport more than 470,000 barrels of oil per day over its 1,172 mile length through North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois. Earlier this month the US Army Corps of Engineers granted the final permit for the pipeline after an executive order [JURIST reports] by President Trump. Conflict between protesters and police has been condemned by both the UN and the American Civil Liberties Union. In November the ACLU reported that police at the Standing Rock site in North Dakota used life-threatening weapons to control protesters [JURIST report]. Earlier that month a UN rights group released a statement expressing concerns that the US government is ignoring treaty rights, as well as human rights [JURIST report] of Native Americans and others that are protesting the DAPL.
The Syrian government has conducted coordinated chemical attacks on the rebel controlled portions of Aleppo, Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy site] alleged [report] Monday. On the basis of interviews, video footage and social media posts, HRW concluded that the Assad regime dropped chlorine in residential areas at least eight times in November and December. HRW reported nine total deaths, including four children, as the result of the attacks. The report calls on the UN Security Council to impose sanctions, though such a measure is unlikely, as Russia, a permanent and veto-bearing member of the Security Council, has allied itself with the Assad regime.

The war in Syria [JURIST backgrounder] continues to have a devastating impact, particularly for the war torn region of Aleppo. In December the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein [official profile] accused Syrian pro-government forces of going door to door and systematically killing civilians [JURIST report] in at least four Aleppo neighborhoods. The Russian/Syrian coalition committed war crimes in Aleppo during September and October, HRW said [JURIST report] in early December. Earlier that month UN officials urged [JURIST report] the international community to unite with the UN Security Council to protect civilians in the eastern Aleppo region. US Central Command concluded [JURIST report] in November that airstrikes carried out by the US-led coalition near Dayr az Zawr, Syria, in September did not violate international law. Also in November a group of German lawyers announced [JURIST report] the filing of charges against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, alleging that he committed war crimes in Aleppo.
A judge in Kenya [BBC backgrounder] has sentenced the leaders of the doctors union to one month in prison over an ongoing strike.. The strike, which was started by the union over pay and service conditions, has continued since December. Judge Hellen Wasilwa had initially handed a one-month suspended sentence in January, stating that the doctors had two weeks to end the strike [JURIST report] or she would enforce the sentence. The dispute arose over a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) [Standard Media report] from 2013. Under the terms of the CBA the government had agreed to give doctors 150-180 percent pay raise, review working conditions and promotion criteria, as well as address under-staffing in state hospitals. However, the CBA was never implemented. The government had offered [Al Jazeera report] a 40 percent pay raise when the strike commenced, but the doctors say will not end their strike under the CBA is implemented.

Kenya has faced criticism for its treatment of protesters, though this strike has been peaceful. In November a group of UN human rights experts condemned reported violence [JURIST report] against anti-corruption protesters and journalists in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. President Uhuru Kenyatta has particularly come under fire for violence against protesters. Last year the ICC withdrew charges [JURIST report] against Kenyatta, who was accused of crimes against humanity for post-election violence, but indicated it would renew the charges if presented with enough evidence. In response to the charges against Kenyatta, the African Union unanimously resolved [JURIST report] in 2013 that African heads of state should be immune from prosecution by the ICC. Also in 2013 Kenyas National Assembly approved a motion [JURIST report] to leave the ICC.
Myanmar [BBC backgrounder] officials stated on Monday that they would investigate [Reuters report] whether police have committed crimes against Rohingya Muslims. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) [official website] found [press release] in a recent report [report, PDF] that Myanmar security forces had committed mass killings and gang rapes [JURIST report] of Rohingya Muslims. The police have allegedly been burning down villages and abusing the minority group in a campaign the UN says could potentially amount to ethnic cleansing. Up until this point Myanmar has denied all allegations, stating that a lawful counterinsurgency campaign as been under way since nine policemen were killed in attacks on security posts in October. The Home Ministry came out with a statement saying that an inquiry [RFA report] would be conducted to find out whether the police forces have committed illegal actions including violations of human rights during their area clearance operations.

The situation in Myanmar has continued to be one closely monitored by advocacy groups and world organizations. Earlier this week Human Rights Watch endorsed [JURIST report] an investigation into the abuses against the Rohingya population, specifically sexual abuses against women. Last month a prominent Muslim lawyer in the country was shot and killed [JURIST report] outside an airport in Myanmar, which brought condemnation from an UN expert about the human rights situation in the country. The continued abuses against this vulnerable population led the UN to send an envoy to the country last month to assess the human rights [JURIST report] situation.
Lee Jae-yong (Jay Y Lee) [Forbes profile], unofficial head of South Korean giant Samsung, faced questioning from Seoul prosecutors Monday. Though a court in January refused to issue a warrant for his arrest, prosecutors have continued to investigate Lees connection to impeached [JURIST reports] South Korean president Park Guen-hye. Lee, who governs Korean business giant Samsung in his fathers absence, is alleged to have donated a total of USD $36.42 million to secure the 2015 merger of Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries to non-profit organizations run by Choi Soon-sil, a close friend of the Park, while Park was president.

In October Park proposed [JURIST report] to amend the countrys constitutional provision that limits presidents to one term in office. In November the Parliament of South Korea appointed a special prosecutor [JURIST report] to investigate Park for allegedly allowing individuals to influence state affairs. In November two of the presidents former aides and a close friend were indicted on corruption charges [JURIST report].
The move is to hand them over to Nigeria, as per reports.
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A new course called "Cultural Discourse" may soon be a requirement at Texas A&M.

The class is designed to help expand a students' awareness about other cultures.

For decades, Texas A&M students have had to complete two international and cultural diversity classes. Jaye Wilson, a freshman at A&M, has taken one of the courses.

"Sociology--like the intro to race and ethnicity," said Wilson.

The core curriculum could soon change. The faculty senate has recommended that one of the two required courses focus more on cultural discourse. Students would cover topics like gender, race, religion and politics.

If approved, the changes could take effect by fall 2019.

"I think this is a way to move forward in a progressive and a constructive way, said Michael Buse, a Texas A&M student.

Buse supports the changes, not because of how he has been treated, but because of what he has witnessed.

Last year, a group of prospective students and their sponsors were meeting Buse for a campus tour. It was hard to undo what happened immediately before the tour.

"They had been yelled at by a group of students on campus to basically 'go home,'" said Buse.

Buse says that not all Aggies agree that a course is necessary.

"Even if you are not in agreement with the way the university is going forward with it," said Buse, "this a professional skill that you need to have."

Wilson says that a culture discourse class could help future Aggies overcome what she has had to deal with.

"There are a lot of times that I do not feel like an Aggie. There is a lot of times where I get looks or stares or people say certain things, so no, I do not feel the unison," said Wilson.

Before any changes are made to the core curriculum, the decision has to be approved by the provost and university president.
Uttar Pradesh election polls fervor are at the peak and all the party members are trying their best to create a government in Uttar Pradesh. As per the latest reports, The RLD (Rashtriya Lok Dal) candidate Ramkumar Kashyap have recently joined Bharatiya Janata Party.

Ramkumar said that he will join the party just two days ahead of the second phase of Uttar Pradesh election polls. The decision came into being when BJP president Amit Shah was having a rally on Monday.

RLD Western UP President, while talking about Kashyap's decision said, "Kashyap has spoiled his political career for his personal benefit. Munshi also asked people to vote for RLD and ignore Kashyap.

Also Read:

I have to take bath if I utter Azam Khan's name: Shivraj

Justice will prevail, said Sasikala Natarajan after the court's verdict

Congress shouldn't make such irresponsible statements: Kiren Rijiju
The second teaser trailer has been released for the new OCN time travel crime drama Tunnel starring Choi Jin Hyuk (Pride and Prejudice) and Yoon Hyun Min (Beautiful Mind). It's still just a small teaser, but it is continuing to build my anticipation.

It shows Choi Jin Hyuk in pursuit of a hooded person in a dark tunnel. He also stands in the middle of a busy street and ponders if catching the criminal in the present day will help him return back to his time.

Tunnel is about a violent crimes detective from the past that travels through time to the present day. Choi Jin Hyuk plays a detective from the 1980's who was trying to catch a killer when he time travels through a tunnel to present day Seoul. He partners with Yoon Hyun Min who has a sharp intellect and is very skilled at his job.

Tunnel is scheduled to air in March on OCN.

See the trailer here: https://youtu.be/nVFLy3iJ4tQ

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If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. The latest to learn the hard way are customers of Creative Creations, which got a little too creative with travel packages back in 2014 and 2015.

Patricia Urbanovsky of Omaha, 31, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $4.7 million in restitution.

She was convicted of 16 counts of wire fraud after claiming to have a special relationship with another travel company and an airline that enabled her to sell airline tickets and vacation packages far below the market rate.

Urbanovsky was able to keep the scheme going by using money from new customers to buy actual tickets in time for earlier customers to use.

Like all Ponzi schemes, however, it collapsed under its own weight, cheating nine victims out of almost $4.7 million.

That included a group of 27 eighth-graders and 20 adults who paid nearly $13,000 for a trip to Washington, D.C. After the fraud came to light, sympathetic donors pitched in to enable the kids to make the trip three months later.

The main victim was a credit card company that suffered more than $4.6 million in losses from charge backs from Creative Creation accounts.

Travel voucher victims can find some small solace in knowing they have something in common with Steven Spielberg, Kevin Bacon, Larry King and many more celebrities.

They were victims of the biggest Ponzi scheme in history, losing $65 billion to Bernie Madoff, who doesnt seem to be taking rehabilitation seriously while serving 150 years in prison.

His latest scheme involves cornering the market on hot chocolate.

Reporter Steve Fishman says Madoff hasnt lost his business touch in prison.

At one point, he cornered the hot chocolate market. He bought up every package of Swiss Miss from the commissary and sold it for a profit in the prison yard. He monopolized hot chocolate! He made it so that if you wanted any, you had to go through Bernie.

Fishmans interviews with Madoff are part of an Audible series called Ponzi Supernova.

Just two more reminders to stop and think before money leaves your hand in exchange for a promise of products or service.

Always try to deal with someone you trust.

McCook Daily Gazette
This Valentines Day we would like to celebrate the love of two Keesler couples. Below is the story of retired Master Sgt. Kenneth Flynn, an EMSEC instructor.



Kenneth Flynn met his wife while he was stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany in October 1983. Flynn was 22 at the time and his now wife, who was born and raised in Thailand, was 18. She had come to Germany on a tourist visa only knowing a few words in English to visit her aunt and uncle who were also stationed at Spangdahlem.





After six weeks of dating, Flynn knew his girlfriend would have to return to Thailand. He thought, If I would marry her, she would be able to stay with me in Germany and get to see snow.





He asked her family for permission to propose, and with their blessings, the two were off to wed. The city of Nykbing Falster, Denmark was having a promotion that stated if a couple stayed in the country for three days, the city would marry them for free. Flynn bought their train tickets and headed to Nykbing Falster.





Navigating the European rail system proved to be a task for the young couple, and they were on the lookout for their stop in Cologne. After spotting a sign that read Koln, Flynn told his fiancee they needed to stop there.





After stepping off the train with luggage in hand, the train doors shut behind Flynn  his fiancee was not next to him. She was stuck on the train with no money, tickets or passport.





Upon realizing he was not in Cologne, but at a sub-station outside the city, Flynn decided he would have to call the police for help. He picked up his suitcase and began to walk away when he heard his fiancee call his name. Flynn expected to see her head sticking out of the departing trains window, but instead he saw her laying across the train tracks.





After being unable to open the train door once it shut, she ran to a door opposite the platform and jumped off the moving train. Flynn ran to his injured fiancee and soon, they were on another train to Cologne.





After several more stops, including a surprise ferry ride, the two arrived in Denmark. The night before the wedding ceremony, Flynns fiancee upsettably decided she had changed her mind and would return to her family in Thailand.





By morning, Flynn convinced her to stay with him and they walked to the courthouse to be married. The newlyweds returned to their tiny apartment in Germany where they stayed for two more years before coming back to the states.





The two have been together now for 33 years, traveled to many countries, raised two children and have had many more adventures.
Pierre Trudeau listens to Donald J. Trump on November 5, 1981 in this Library and Archives of Canada photo in New York. Canada's diplomatic gifts to President Trump included a picture of himself, standing next to Pierre Trudeau, when they spoke at the same event in 1981. Trump said of the gift: "(Justin's) father I knew, and respected greatly." THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Library and Archives of Canada *MANDATORY CREDIT*
The water from the Feather River flows through Oroville, Calif., Monday, Feb. 13, 2017. Water levels at Lake Oroville, which feeds the river are continuing to drop, stopping water from spilling over the spillway. Thousands of Northern California residents were asked to evacuate their homes Sunday evening after authorities warned the emergency spillway of the Oroville Dam could fail at any time unleashing uncontrolled flood waters on towns below. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
The South Texas Food Bank says the poverty rate in Laredo is 37 percent, which means many families in the community struggle to put food on the table.

This is why the organization, along with Webb County, joined forces to start the Hearts End Hunger campaign.

Sponsors of the program were recognized among community leaders on Tuesday.

The organization says 60 families have been adopted and are getting help from members of the community.

"It's not about how much we collected today," says Precinct Four Commissioner Jaime Canales. "The idea here is that we can make it bigger and better every year, and Laredoans always open up their heart. To helping the needy people. And that's whats important."

If you are interested in adopting a family, you can stop by the South Texas Food Bank office - located at 1907 Freight Street - and fill out an application.

They are open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
The graying of America is accelerating, yet it feels as if no one is paying attention to the massive buying power of aging Baby Boomers.

The number of Americans 65 and older is expected to double by 2050, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, reaching nearly 84 million, or 20% of the population.

Globally, the phenomenon is even more striking; Euromonitor (an independent market research firm) estimates that by 2020 the spending power of consumers worldwide ages 60 and older will hit $15 trillion. Yet, Nielsen data show that only 15% of advertising dollars are spent marketing to seniors, despite their representing close to half of all sales of consumer goods.

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For investors with long time horizons, it would be wise to keep this Silver Tsunami in mind when constructing a portfolio for retirement. I believe there are three companies that are exceptionally well-positioned to take advantage of this powerful, multi-decade trend:

1. Amazon (AMZN)

As Boomers age, their preference naturally will shift toward the convenience of ordering online rather than driving to the store. Macquaries investment bank estimates that Jeff Bezos' e-commerce machine now captures more than 50 cents of each incremental dollar spent online. Twenty years of reinvestment in the online shopping behemoth are finally expanding margins and generating triple-digit free cash-flow growth. Amazon clearly sees opportunity in the underserved Baby Boomer market, boasting a 50+ Active & Healthy Living division offering items such as vitamins, skin-care products and blood-pressure monitors.

Despite Amazons size  approaching $150 billion in annual revenue and $400 billion in market capitalization  Bezos continues to innovate. The recent success of Amazons Alexa/Echo device exemplifies Bezos ability to create an entire product category quickly (smart home assistant), capturing dominant market share. The company estimates that sales of the device increased ninefold in 2016 compared with the 2015 holiday season.

Bezos also quickly signed deals with Wynn Resorts and Ford Motors to place Alexa in all Wynn hotels and in some Ford cars and trucks. Other long-term growth drivers for Amazon include Prime Video  their alternative to Netflix  and Bezos continued forays into logistics (read drones), which could slowly whittle costs down over time, paring back their reliance on UPS and FedEx delivery.

Most important, Amazon still has decades of runway left as global retail sales shift online. Exhibit A: e-commerce, which has grown 8% of total U.S. retail sales from under 1% in the year 2000. Digital research firm eMarketer estimates this figure will hit 15% in 2020 with e-commerce sales continuing to grow high-single digits beyond 2020. With Amazon expected to capture more than 50% of this growth, no other e-commerce company is as well-positioned.

2. Home Depot (HD)

Most investors are unaware that Home Depot has been the second-best performing U.S. listed stock of the last 30 years, with a minimum market cap of at least $50 million. (No. 1 is an obscure chemical company, Balchem.) Over that time, Home Depots shareholders have enjoyed a cumulative total return of nearly 68,000% or about 24% annualized, including dividends. The business  which has relied on do-it-yourself Boomers for nearly half of its revenue  should continue to grow.

Why? As the Woodstock Generation enters retirement, they arent flocking to Florida or Arizona as their parents and grandparents once did. They are more willing to stay put in their current homes to be closer to grandchildren and lifelong friends. The Department of Housing and Urban Development says the median age of owner-occupied homes in America is 37 years old, compared with 27 in 1993, with 63% of homes 30 years or older. These trends are honey to the home-improvement industry, and both Home Depot and Lowes should benefit as the two giants combine for a whopping 60% of industry revenue.

While many Boomers are happy to do some of their own home-improvement work, they arent house-poor anymore. Result: There is a large and growing do-it-for-me market opportunity for remodelers. Home Depot took notice last year, ramping up its small contractor program, which helps fix up customers with home-improvement professionals through workshops, on-site equipment delivery, bulk pricing and flexible credit options. If there has been lost business from Boomers, it hasnt shown up in Home Depots financial statements: Same-store sales have accelerated to an average increase of about 5.5% in the past six quarters, vs. a 4.6% five-year average.

My hunch: Home Depot will continue to benefit directly from the graying of America for decades as their customers age. Home Depots revenues are forecast to clear $100 billion in 2018, based on at least 5% annual growth from 2016 levels, and the stock offers a $2.76 annual dividend (2% annual yield), which has grown about 20% per year over the last five years.

3. Apple (AAPL)

A common misconception among marketers is that seniors are frugal and frightened of computers, so sales efforts are better directed toward younger, affluent customers. On the contrary, Nielsen has found that more than 40% of Apples products are bought by Boomers. Men ages 65 and up spent more time on Apple devices in 2015 than any other demographic group, according to e-commerce market research firm Slice Intelligence. Apples legendary innovation and attention to product development has helped it cultivate a devoted fan base that has no problem regularly paying more than $1,000 for new iPhones and MacBooks.

Apple has also done a brilliant job building out their services segment. Think Apple TV, iCloud, Apple Pay and the continued success of the App Store (now growing revenues over 30% per year). Samsungs Note 7 recall because of a potentially combustible battery flaw couldnt have come at a better time for Apple, as it rolled out the iPhone 7. Many analysts are already predicting the iPhone 8, to be unveiled in September 2017, will begin a new Apple supercycle and outsell the iPhone 6 by a wide margin due to a larger subscriber base. Apple stock remains attractively priced at 15x trailing earnings  a below-market multiple vs. the S&P 500  and pays a $2.28 annual dividend (1.9% yield). The house that Jobs built still rests on a firm foundation for future growth.

Greg Blotnick is an equity analyst at an asset management firm in New York. Blotnick holds an MBA from Columbia Business School, a B.S. in Finance from Lehigh University and is a CFA Charterholder. Follow him on Twitter at @Greg_Blotnick (opens in new tab). Blotnicks firm has no position in the securities mentioned.
With his student startup, Allen Ali Mohammadi made it into the Forbes list. (Photo: KIT/Victor Ackerheim)

After his grandmother died of a sudden heart attack, Allen Ali Mohammadi started to develop technology for the early diagnosis of heart problems. The result of the development work by 27-year-old Mohammadi, who studies mechanical engineering at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), impressed the team of the Forbes Business Magazine such that the born Iranian has now been included in list of the most influential young Europeans.

The US magazine is mainly known for its rankings of the richest and most powerful. In 30 Under 30, the magazine now lists the most ingenious founders, entrepreneurs, and innovators from ten branches and 51 countries.

Forbes reports that the technology developed by Mohammadi together with his older brother Max (28) is based on artificial intelligence and combines demographic data with medical findings. Everything started four years ago, when my grandmother suddenly died of a heart attack during a family party, Mohammadi says. For him, this was a terrible shock, because there had not been any symptoms of cardiac insufficiency. Mohammadi thinks that many cardiac diseases are not detected, because patients do not consult the doctor due to lacking symptoms. Now, his innovative work has resulted in a precise, low-cost, and non-invasive method for early detection of heart problems. Individual data, such as blood values and ECG results, are combined with statistical population data.

For commercialization of his Complex Disease Detector, Mohammadi, who is currently attending the Energy Technologies (ENTECH) masters program at KITs Department of Mechanical Engineering, founded the company Hippogriff AB: It is my vision to make this method accessible for everybody and to save as many lives as possible. In addition, I want to establish a company in Germany in order to commercialize my innovation and to give something back to German society.

Mohammadis project is not only liked by the Forbes expert jury. His business idea was also successful in a competition for the most successful startups, most innovative projects, and best young business talents in Europe launched by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).

Being The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,800 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,300 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.
(Adds analyst quote and details on meeting between Trudeau and Trump and updates prices)

* Canadian dollar ends at C$1.3075, or 76.48 U.S. cents

* Loonie touches its strongest since Feb. 6 at C$1.3055

* Bond prices lower across the yield curve

By Fergal Smith

TORONTO, Feb 13 (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar strengthened to a one-week high against its U.S. counterpart on Monday as U.S. President Donald Trump downplayed potential changes to trade ties between the United States and Canada.

Trump, who held a joint news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, said the United States will be "tweaking" its trade relationship with Canada, unlike its trade ties with Mexico, where it faces a more severe situation. Canada may have most to lose if a proposed renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) weakens trade between Canada and the United States.

Spending by Americans affects one-fifth of Canada's economy, while spending by Canadians affects less than 3 percent of U.S. gross domestic product, BMO Capital Markets said in a research note.

The U.S. dollar rose against a basket of major currencies as investors focused again on the U.S. reflation trade and braced for testimony by Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen this week. "The key event this week will be whether or not Yellen signals a March rate hike, and if she doesn't, there is a very good chance that dollar-CAD could break below the C$1.30 mark," said Bipan Rai, senior macro strategist at CIBC Capital Markets.

Gains for the loonie came even as U.S. crude prices settled 93 cents lower at $52.93 a barrel, pressured by a stronger greenback and signs of rising U.S. crude output. Oil is one of Canada's major exports.

The Canadian dollar ended at C$1.3075 to the greenback, or 76.48 U.S. cents, slightly stronger than Friday's close of C$1.3085, or 76.42 U.S.

The currency's weakest level of the session was C$1.3121, while it touched its strongest since Feb. 6 at C$1.3055.

The loonie weakened 0.4 percent last week after having posted a recent four-month high of C$1.2969. Some of last week's losses were pared after data on Friday showed a surge in domestic jobs.

Also on Friday, data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and Reuters calculations showed that speculators increased bullish bets on the Canadian dollar. Canadian dollar net long positions rose to 8,550 contracts as of Feb. 7 from 3,472 a week earlier. Canadian government bond prices were lower across the yield curve in sympathy with U.S. Treasuries ahead of Yellen's testimony. The two-year dipped 3 Canadian cents to yield 0.786 percent and the 10-year declined 28 Canadian cents to yield 1.729 percent.

(Reporting by Fergal Smith; Editing by Nick Zieminski and Jonathan Oatis)
HANOI, Feb 14 (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 0427 GMT.

Feb 14 Feb 13 USD/VND mid-point 22,235 22,234 USD/VND interbank 22,725/22,735 22,655/22,665 USD/VND unofficial 22,780/22,800 22,770/22,800 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 36.63/36.95 36.67/36.99

Interbank offered rates Overnight 3.0-3.9 2.0-3.0

1 week 3.2-3.9 2.4-3.0

1 month 3.6-4.1 3.2-3.8

3 months 4.2-4.6 3.9-4.6

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)
(Updates to close)

Feb 14 (Reuters) - Australian shares stepped back slightly to snap a five day winning streak on Tuesday, as earnings worries dragged on consumer and healthcare stocks.

The S&P/ASX 200 index was off 0.1 percent, or 5.488 points, at 5,755.2 by the close of trade. The benchmark ended up 0.7 percent in the previous session.

The healthcare care sector was pressured by a sharp 3.6 percent fall in Cochlear Ltd as its record half year profit was eclipsed by concerns over sales in China.

The firm said the number of implants for young children it sold under Beijing's national tender scheme fell 35.3 percent compared to the previous year and cut its full-year outlook for those units. A glass half-empty view also hurt world No. 1 stand-alone wine company, Treasury Wine Estates Ltd , which offered a muted outlook after a strong half year result. Its shares tumbled 4.7 percent, taking down the consumer non-cyclical sector with it. Both stocks were the worst performers on the benchmark

A rally in basic materials stocks also faded by day's end with the materials index ending 0.03 percent up.

China's iron ore futures rose on Tuesday to their highest in more than three years, while copper held on to solid overnight gains amid supply concerns and ahead of testimony from U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen later in the day Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals rose 2.6 percent, hitting its highest in more than six years. Rio Tinto tacked on 0.3 percent, its highest close in nearly 3 years.

BHP Billiton , however, ended the day 0.9 percent lower.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index was up 0.22 percent, or 15.39 points, to finish the session at 7,150.89.

Port Tauranga and Metlifecare were the biggest gainers on the index, adding 2.3 percent and 1.7 respectively.

On the downside, NZX Ltd and web advertiser Trade Me Group lost 2.6 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively.

(Reporting by Susan Mathew in Bengaluru; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)
Fed's Kaplan says prudent to raise rates sooner than later

HOUSTON, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Dallas Federal Reserve Bank President Robert Kaplan on Tuesday reiterated to reporters that it would be "prudent" for the U.S. central bank to raise rates sooner than later. "There are benefits to taking the next step and then assessing conditions after that," he said, adding that advocating for an earlier move is not aimed at giving the Fed the option to raise rates more times this year. "I'm not saying it's going to be one meeting versus another."

(Reporting by Ann Saphir; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli) Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in precious metal products, commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication. kitco news
OceanaGold Receives Suspension Order For Didipio Mine

OceanaGold Corp. (TSX, ASX: OGC) reports that it received an order from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Tuesday calling for the suspension of Didipio operations in the Philippines. The country has shut down a number of mines, mostly nickel, over environmental issues. DENR alleges damages to houses caused by the blasting operation and the potential adverse impact to the agricultural areas of the province, OceanaGold says. The company was also given up to three months to address the issues. Prior to receiving the order, OceanaGold filed an appeal directly with presidents office seeking a stay of the suspension order. OceanaGold officials say they anticipate that Didipio will continue to operate during the appeal process. Mick Wilkes, president and chief executive officer of OceanaGold, argued that the company has been environmentally and socially responsible, as well as a major employer of Filipino nationals. A suspension of operations will adversely impact thousands of Filipinos directly and indirectly," he said. The Didipio operation has not violated or breached any Philippines laws, rules or regulations.We strongly believe that the Didipio operation is the template for what President Duterte is seeking in his desire for a responsible mining sector in the Philippines. By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

kitco news
ROME, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Italy arrested 11 people for running an international gold laundering ring on Tuesday that melted down and sold some 300,000 euros ($318,000) worth of the stolen metal each week, Italian finance police said.

They were accused of buying and reselling stolen goods. Police in Italy, Hungary and Slovenia also searched about 60 homes and businesses.

Police picked up one of the group's leaders, who was not named, at the Italy-Slovenia border carrying 200,000 euros in cash obtained by selling stolen gold, finance police official Filippo Ivan Bixio told Reuters.

The group, which was based in the northern industrial city of Turin, bought stolen objects from a network of contacts, paying them in cash at a discount of about 30 percent compared with market prices, Bixio said.

A company set up in Budapest issued fake purchase receipts without ever taking possession of the gold. It then sold the precious metal to the countries' largest jewellers at market prices.

The Italian companies paid the Hungarian company by bank transfer, so each week one of the group's leaders drove from Turin to Budapest to pick up 200,000 to 300,000 euros in cash to pay for more stolen gold.

"They paid their suppliers in cash," Bixio said. "Then they melted it down into small bars and sold it to Italy's three or four top buyers, who thought they were buying gold from Hungary, but in reality it was Italian."

During the investigation, police documented the purchase of 750 kg (1,700 lb) and the laundering of some 25 million euros in stolen gold, police said.

Eurojust, the European Union's judicial cooperation agency, helped Italian authorities coordinate the operation with their counterparts in Hungary and Slovenia. ($1 = 0.9444 euros)

(Reporting by Steve Scherer; Editing by Alison Williams)
The Philippines' environment minister stepped up a crackdown on mining on Tuesday, cancelling almost a third of the country's contracts for undeveloped mines and rejecting any challenges to earlier orders to shut over half of all operating pits.

The move turns up the heat in her battle with the mining sector after she ordered the closure of 23 of the country's 41 mines earlier this month on environmental grounds, causing an outcry from the industry and threats of legal action.

The latest 75 contracts, which cover projects in the exploration stage or otherwise not yet in production, are all in watershed zones and would threaten water supply if they went ahead, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Regina Lopez said.

"You kill the watershed, you kill life," Lopez told a media briefing.

A long-time environmentalist, Lopez ordered the closure of the 23 mines on Feb. 2 for damaging watersheds and for siltation of coastal waters and farmlands. Five more mines were suspended. The industry says the orders will affect 1.2 million people.

The contracts canceled on Tuesday, known as mineral production sharing agreements (MPSAs), include the $1.2 billion copper-gold project of Philex Mining Corp, one of the country's biggest miners, in southern Philippines.

Also scrapped was the permit for the $5.9 billion Tampakan copper-gold project in South Cotabato province in Mindanao island, the biggest stalled mining venture in the Southeast Asian country.

Tampakan failed to take off after the province where it is located banned open-pit mining in 2010, prompting commodities giant Glencore Plc to quit the project in 2015.

"We're canceling this as a gift of love to the people of Cotabato," Lopez said.

There are currently 311 MPSAs including those for the 41 operating mines, government data showed.

Lopez also disputed the ability of the country's courts to halt her closure orders as affected miners prepare to take legal action.

"There is no TRO (temporary restraining order) that holds function in the case of environment enforcement," she said.

'ABSURD', SAYS INDUSTRY

Lawyer Ronald Recidoro from the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines said Lopez's latest action was "absurd" and ignored due process given MPSAs were contracts between the government and the companies.

"You cannot just unilaterally cancel contracts, especially if there are no specific grounds," Recidoro told Reuters.

Mining law allowed operations in watersheds, he added, except those declared protected by the government.

But Lopez said it was within her discretion "to decide on the resources of the country."

Top Philippine nickel ore producer Nickel Asia Corp said on Tuesday it would pursue all legal remedies to overturn an order to close the operations of its unit Hinatuan Mining Corp.

Hinatuan was told that its operation has "impaired the functions of the watershed in the area," according to a copy of the closure order.

The decision to close or suspend existing mine operations followed a months-long audit of the mines, although a government team that reviewed the audit recommended only suspensions and fines.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday said he would not stand in the way of Lopez's decision to shut several mines in southern Philippines, the second time he has thrown his support behind the minister he appointed last June.

If Duterte upholds Lopez's actions, Recidoro said affected miners could seek relief with the Court of Appeals and "then the Supreme Court."

For a graphic on Philippine mine closures, click here

(Reporting by Enrico dela Cruz and Manolo Serapio Jr.; Editing by Richard Pullin)
(Adds quotes, background)

OSLO, Feb 14 (Reuters) - The sale of new Norwegian homes rose by 12 percent year-on-year in January, while housing starts increased by 42 percent, the Norwegian Home Builders' Association (NHBA) said on Tuesday.

Rising demand has propelled the price of existing homes to record highs and has spurred a boom in construction, with a recent forecast predicting housing starts will hit a four-decades high in 2017. "Barring unforeseen circumstances, the extremely strong sales will translate into very positive housing starts," Chief Executive Per Jaeger of the NHBA told a news conference.

Despite the boom, the capital region is still unable to meet the demand for housing, Jaeger said.

"There's an upwards trend on housing starts, but Oslo has a need for even stronger growth. That's our challenge," he added.

In December, homes sales rose by 26 percent from the same month of 2015, while housing starts rose 1 percent.

Overall, the sale of new homes rose by 15 percent last year and housing starts were up 4 percent. Norway's top home builders include Selvaag Bolig , Veidekke , AF Gruppen and cooperative building association OBOS.

(Reporting by Camilla Knudsen, writing by Terje Solsvik, editing by Gwladys Fouche)
* Jan Iran crude imports at nearly 1.8 mln T, up 108.8 pct y/y

* Crude imports from Saudi Arabia fall 17 pct versus a month ago

* Total Jan crude imports at 12.4 mln T, up 14 pct y/y

By Jane Chung

SEOUL, Feb 15 (Reuters) - South Korea's January crude imports from Iran more than doubled from a year ago as the Middle Eastern country continues to increase its output to reclaim its market share.

South Korea, one of Iran's major oil customers, imported 1.79 million tonnes of Iranian crude, or 424,143 barrels per day (bpd), in January, compared with 859,223 tonnes a year ago and 1.55 million tonnes in the previous month, customs office data showed on Wednesday.

Iran, a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), was exempted from a supply cut deal agreed by OPEC members last year. Iran's current oil output was close to 3.9 million bpd, the country's oil minister said last month. The world's fifth-largest crude importer's intake of Saudi Arabian crude, in contrast, fell 17.3 percent to 3.32 million tonnes, or 785,084 bpd, in the first month of 2017 from a month ago as the world's top oil exporter complies with the global supply cut deal.

Saudi Arabia cut its oil output more than expected in January, reducing its production by more than 700,000 bpd to 9.748 million bpd, but that was still less than called for under the deal, according to an OPEC report. Overall, Asia's fourth-largest economy imported 12.41 million tonnes of crude oil in January this year, or 2.93 million bpd, up 14 percent from 10.88 million tonnes a year earlier but down 6.3 percent from 13.24 million tonnes a month ago, according to the customs data.

Final data for January crude oil imports will be released by state-run Korea National Oil Corp (KNOC) later this month.

(Reporting by Jane Chung; Editing by Adrian Croft)
LONDON, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Physical trading in West Africa was muted as the market awaited tender results and the April-loading Angolan crude oil export plan. * The benchmark oil prices on which West Africa crude oil trades retraced some of Monday's losses as confidence in OPEC's cut plan rose. * Nigerian oil minister Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu said the country lost up to $100 billion in oil revenues last year due to militant attacks. The vice president travelled to the oil-producing Delta this week to further talks with militants. * Oil majors Royal Dutch Shell and ENI have asked a Nigerian court to lift a temporary forfeiture of a long-disputed oilfield, a copy of the court documents filed by the two firms showed. NIGERIA

* Tenders from India, and scattered demand on the U.S. East Coast, had helped prop up values for Nigerian grades including Qua Iboe and Bonny Light.

* Qua Iboe was offered as high as $1.30-$1.50 above dated Brent, while Bonny premiums had reached at least $1 per barrel, some traders said.

* The two cargoes of Bonga that were scheduled for March loading were pushed into April, a trader said. Maintenance on the Shell-operated field has cut into exports.

* There were around 18 million barrels left to trade for March, a large amount but less than the overhang of recent months. The April loading plan was due later in the week.

ANGOLA

* Angola's April export programme was due out as early as Wednesday.

* A new stream of Cabinda, as well as Olombendo from the East Pole field recently started by operator ENI could be part of the export plans as early as April, traders said.

* The past few months' programmes have sold quickly on the back of firm demand in Asia.

* Some expect strong refinery margins to keep the oil attractive to Asian buyers.

* However, demand in India fell by 4.5 percent in January, while analysts expect heavy refinery maintenance across Asia in the first half of this year. TENDERS

* India's IOC is running a new tender to buy West African crude for loading between April 20-30.

(Reporting by Libby George; Editing by David Evans)
SunTrust Foundation and UTIA partner for financial literacy







Representatives of the University of Tennessee Insitute of Agriculture and SunTrust Foundation show off the foundation's recent grant to support the UT Extension On Your Own program for youth. From left: Tom Looney, UTIA Director of Advancement; Robert E. McNeilly, III, Region President, Nashville; Jim Vaughn, Region President, East Tennessee; Dr. Dena Wise, Professor and Consumer Economics Specialist, UT Extension; and Johnny Moore, Region President, Memphis. Photo courtesy SunTrust Foundation.



KNOXVILLE  Paying bills, creating a budget and reading a paycheck are fundamental skills children need as they become working adults. However, these skills are not commonly provided through the standard education curriculum. Thats why the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) has entered into a partnership with the SunTrust Foundation to increase financial literacy across the state.



We believe strongly in the importance of investing in our youth, said UTIA Chancellor Tim Cross. Our partnership with SunTrust Foundation will allow us to expand our reach and prepare even more of tomorrows leaders for personal financial success.



The SunTrust Foundation recently approved a $75,000 grant to grow UT Extensions On My Own financial literacy program in Tennessee. UT Extensions Family and Consumer Sciences Department, a part of UTIA, has been dedicated to supplementing financial literacy in Tennessees schools for more than a decade. Its simulation-based program currently reaches more than 30,000 middle school and high school-age children in approximately 250-300 schools.



Weve been looking for a partner to expand our reach, said Dena Wise, the state coordinator for the UT Extension On My Own program. Partnering with the SunTrust Foundation allows us to provide the needed personnel and time to make this program a continued success. Weve never had a financial partner so eager to have such an active role in our programs before.



In addition to financial support, the SunTrust Foundation will provide volunteers to help staff classroom simulations. SunTrust Foundation hopes to target Tier 1 schools, as well as other private schools across the state.



Building strong communities and partnering with organizations that align with SunTrusts purpose of Lighting the Way to Financial Well-Being is a fundamental goal of the SunTrust Foundation. We are honored to partner with UTIA to help grow the On My Own financial literacy program, said David Fuller, president of the SunTrust Foundation. This unique program provides middle school and high school-age children with the tools and skills they need to become financially confident later in life.



According to Wise, the goal of the On My Own program is to help students understand the connection between education, salary and lifestyle. The program provides real-life situations for students to encounter armed with a simulated education-level, career and salary. Students must choose options for transportation, childcare, education and other real-world monthly expenditures. Students are introduced to the differences between net and gross pay and how deductions and taxes impact a take-home salary.



Wise reports that students indicate a greater understanding of financial issues after each simulation. Most learn to write their first check, and many indicate that they are changing educational decisions because of the program. Wise hopes to expand these impacts across the state as the partnership between SunTrust Foundation and UT Extension continues.

Published February 14, 2017
Corker, others introduce bill to award Congressional Gold Medal to Master Sergeant Rodrick Edmonds

FEBRUARY 14, 2017 at 4:03 p.m.







Master Sergeant Rodrick Roddie Edmonds, a lifelong Tennessean. Image courtesy of the Edmonds family.





WASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) today introduced a bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Master Sergeant Rodrick Roddie Edmonds, a lifelong Tennessean, in recognition of his heroic actions during World War II.



As the senior noncommissioned officer responsible for 1,275 members of the Armed Forces at a prisoner-of-war camp in Germany, Edmonds orchestrated a remarkable show of unity when the Nazis ordered him to identify and separate out the Jewish-American soldiers under his command. Disregarding the orders, Edmonds and all 1,275 soldiers stood together. Upon seeing the soldiers united as one, a German officer angrily shouted, They cannot all be Jews!, to which Edmonds replied, We are all Jews here. The German officer eventually turned away and left the scene. The actions taken by Edmonds saved the lives of approximately 200 Jewish-American members that day.



Senator Corker said: The courage and foresight Master Sergeant Edmonds showed that day to save the lives of approximately 200 Jewish-American soldiers is truly remarkable. Even when faced with death himself, Master Sergeant Edmonds and the men under his command stood united to protect their fellow soldiers. His moral fortitude and humility serve as an example for us all, and I am pleased to join my colleagues to honor his life in this way.



Senator Cardin said: When I learned of Master Sergeant Edmonds valiant actions that saved Jewish-American prisoners of war in Germany, I was reminded of the Talmuds teaching that, whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world. At a dark time in humanitys history, Master Sergeant Edmonds was a bright light and did what his heart told him was the right thing to do. There are families alive today who can be thankful that their very existence is due in no small part to Roddies service and sacrifice. Im pleased to join my colleagues in an effort to have Congress honor this proud son of Tennessee.



Senator Alexander said: Master Sgt. Edmonds bold statement, We are all Jews here, saved hundreds of Jewish-American soldiers who were captured after the Battle of the Bulge. It is one of the most inspiring stories I know. The heroism of this 20-year-old East Tennessee soldier is an example for every one of us.



Senator Kaine said: Master Sergeant Edmonds was a true American hero and the embodiment of everything our nation was fighting for against the Nazis in World War II. In the face of death, his enormous courage and will to stand up for humanity saved the lives of hundreds of Jewish-American soldiers. Im proud and humbled to support this bipartisan effort to award him the Congressional Gold Medal.



The legislation, which includes details on Master Sergeant Edmonds heroic actions:



To award a Congressional Gold Medal to Master Sergeant Rodrick Roddie Edmonds in recognition of his heroic actions during World War II.



Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.



This Act may be cited as the Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act.



SEC. 2. FINDINGS.



Congress finds the following:



(1) Rodrick W. Edmonds (in this Act referred to as Roddie Edmonds or Edmonds) was born in 1919 in South Knoxville, Tennessee, and graduated from Knoxville High School in 1938.



(2) Roddie Edmonds was a Master Sergeant in the United States Army and a member of the 422nd Infantry Regiment while serving during World War II.



(3) Roddie Edmonds landed in Europe in 1944 and fought to the border between Belgium and Germany. In December of 1944, while fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, Edmonds was captured by Nazi forces and detained in Stalag IXA, a prisoner of war camp in Ziegenhain, Germany.



(4) Stalag IXA was a site used to identify, segregate, and remove Jewish soldiers from the general population of prisoners of war and many of the Jewish soldiers who were so removed were sent to labor camps or murdered. Members of the Armed Forces were warned of this policy and aware that their fellow servicemen could be at risk.



(5) As the senior noncommissioned officer in Stalag IXA, Master Sergeant Edmonds was responsible for 1,275 members of the Armed Forces at the camp. Approximately 1 month after the date on which Edmonds was detained, Edmonds was directed to order the Jewish-American soldiers under his command to fall out in order to separate the Jewish-American soldiers from their fellow prisoners.



(6) Disregarding the orders of the Nazis, Roddie Edmonds commanded all of his men to fall out and, the following morning, all of the 1,275 members of the Armed Forces under the command of Edmonds stood outside of their prison barracks.



(7) Upon seeing the soldiers, a German officer angrily shouted, They cannot all be Jews!, to which Edmonds replied, We are all Jews here.



(8) The German officer took out his pistol and pointed the gun at the head of Edmonds, but Edmonds refused to identify the Jewish soldiers. Instead, Edmonds responded, According to the Geneva Convention, we only have to give our name, rank, and serial number. If you shoot me, you will have to shoot all of us and, after the war, you will be tried for war crimes.



(9) The German officer turned away from Edmonds and the other soldiers and left the scene. The actions taken by Edmonds saved the lives of approximately 200 Jewish-American members of the Armed Forces.



(10) Lester Tanner, a Jewish-American member of the Armed Forces also captured during the Battle of the Bulge, witnessed the incident and stated that, There was no question in my mind, or that of Master Sergeant Edmonds, that the Germans were removing the Jewish prisoners from the general population at great risk to their survival. The U.S. Armys standing command to its ranking officers in POW camps is that you resist the enemy and care for the safety of your men to the greatest extent possible. Master Sergeant Edmonds, at the risk of his immediate death, defied the Germans with the unexpected consequences that the Jewish prisoners were saved.



(11) Edmonds survived 100 days in captivity and returned home after the war. Later, Edmonds served the United States in Korea as a member of the National Guard. Edmonds died in 1985, but never told his family or anyone else of his brave actions outside the barracks of Stalig IXA during World War II.



(12) Edmonds was posthumously recognized by Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, as Righteous Among the Nations, the first member of the Armed Forces and 1 of only 5 people of the United States to be so recognized. Avner Shalev, Chairman of Yad Vashem, announced the selection of Edmonds by saying, Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds seemed like an ordinary American soldier, but he had an extraordinary sense of responsibility and dedication to his fellow human beings ... The choices and actions of Master Sergeant Edmonds set an example for his fellow American soldiers as they stood united against the barbaric evil of the Nazis.



SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.



(a) Award Authorized.The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the posthumous award, on behalf of Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design to Roddie Edmonds in recognition of his achievements and heroic actions during World War II.



(b) Design and Striking.For the purpose of the award referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (referred to in this Act as the Secretary) shall strike a gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions to be determined by the Secretary.



(c) Presentation and Award of Medal.The gold medal referred to in subsection (a) shall be presented, and following the presentation awarded, to the next of kin of Roddie Edmonds.



SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.



The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck under section 3 under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal.



SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.



(a) National Medals.The medals struck under this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.



(b) Numismatic Items.For purposes of sections 5134 and 5136 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items. Published February 14, 2017
Yoo Toong / Screen capture from YouTube



By Ko Dong-hwan

Korean actor, businessman and self-claimed artist Yoo Toong, 60, is getting married in March  for the eighth time  to a Mongolian woman, 27.

Despite decades of failed marriages, Yoo assured in an interview with online news outlet The Fact on Tuesday that "this will be my last marriage."

"Until now, I have lived upon my fidelity (to former wives) and guts. This time, it's different," Yoo said, adding that he is a "little shy and ashamed that my news has grabbed many people's attention."

Yoo plans to hold the ceremony in Citizens Park, in the coastal city of Busan where he was born. Comedian friends will host the wedding and perform, according to the city's local daily.

Yoo, describing his life as similar to that of "an itinerant vendor," admitted his rambunctious lifestyle "may appear abnormal to many" but "holding the wedding, which I see as a joyous festival, at an open space is the most natural to me."

Yoo debuted with a movie in 1987 and was active during the 1980s and 1990s in movies and on television.

Yoo's first marriage, to a Korean woman, was when he was 19. He went on to divorce her three times. They have a son.





Yoo announced he is getting married for the eighth time to a Mongolian woman, above, in March.



In 1995, he made headlines with news he was to marry a bhiksuni  an ordained monastic. He enticed her by saying, "If you renounce Buddhism, I will be your opportunity to reach the spiritual realm of being delivered from worldly existence," according to an online gossip source.

Yoo broke the promise and, after five years, married a Korean woman 20 years younger than him. At the time, he told women's magazines he had "met my true love." He reportedly earned a lot of money by signing up with her for sex toy ads.

At 48, Yoo married his fourth wife, a Mongolian, 15, who gave birth to a daughter. But her mother's "expensive lifestyle" made him determined to break up, giving up his Mongolian restaurant, car and home.

In 2010, Yoo married a Mongolian woman, who is 33 years younger than him, and they had a daughter. The couple split up but resumed their relationship and will marry in March.

Yoo is well known for revealing on a TV talk show he had earned over 17 million won ($15,000) a day with his rice soup restaurant in Seoul. He also opened an art gallery on Jeju Island that is now derelict.

Yoo was convicted of smoking cannabis in 1997 and 2013.
Actress Kim Sae-ron talks during a press conference for her upcoming film "Snowy Road" at CGV Wangsimni in Seoul, Monday

/ Yonhap



By Kim Jae-heun

Actress Kim Sae-ron said her upcoming movie "Snowy Road" is a historic story well-known to everyone and it helped her learn more about "comfort women," or wartime sex slaves, while portraying her character Kang Young-ae.

Kang is a smart young student from a wealthy family who dreams of studying in Japan. She volunteers to join a student work group, which lures Kang with promises that she could study in Japan. She is kidnapped and taken to Japan where she soon faces the horrible reality of a comfort woman.

"First of all, I was careful about many things," Kim said during a press conference at CGV Wangsimni in eastern Seoul, Monday. "I was worried if I could act well to express the event. But everyone has to know the comfort women story and someone had to do the acting, so I decided to participate."

"The biggest difference before and after I participated in the movie is that I didn't think about the comfort women issue that much before, but now I think about it more and I can't ignore it," Kim said.

The actress rose to stardom after she stared in "The Man From Nowhere" with popular actor Won Bin in 2010 when she was only 10 years old. Kim continued to appear frequently in both TV dramas and movies but it took her three years to appear in a leading role.

Kim said she had to travel a lot in the cold weather and many staffers helped her but it was still a tough shooting environment.

However, the actor said she could not whine about her situation when she thought about how cold and horrible it would have been for the original comfort women.

"Not many people think about this issue deeply. I also learned more through doing research and shooting the film. It is really difficult to express their pain and resentment. I hope many people experience what I had felt while acting Kang after watching the film," Kim said.

"Snowy Road" will hit theaters on March 1, Korea's Independence Movement Day.
Lee Hye-young, left, as Medea and Ha Dong-jun as Jason in Robert Alfoldi's production of "Medea" / Courtesy of National Theater Company of Korea



By Kwon Mee-yoo

Medea is one of the most notorious women in Greek mythology. She murders her own brother while eloping with her love Jason. When Jason betrays her and leaves her to marry Corinthian princess Glauce, Medea murders Jason's new wife as well as her own children to cause Jason more pain.

The National Theater Company of Korea (NTCK) will stage Euripides' play "Medea," centering on Medea's mental state.

Kim Yun-cheol, artistic director of the NTCK, said Euripides' "Medea" is one of the archetypal texts of feminism and also most frequently staged these days among the Greek tragedies.

"We will bring the text up to contemporary times, reflecting the values of today," Kim said, mentioning how Medea explores a woman's deeper nature as an independent figure unlike most Greek tragedies using female characters as supporting roles.

The production is helmed by Hungarian director Robert Alfoldi, who is acclaimed for his adaptation of Shakespeare's "The Winter's Tale." Alfoldi said he is excited to collaborate with the NTCK again.

Alfoldi understands "Medea" as a love story, a passionate one that everyone desires. "Shakespeare and Euripides have something in common  their stories begin with being human. It is about something that can happen to anyone," Alfoldi said.

However, the play will not remain in the time 2,000 years ago when it was first staged but will portray contemporary values.

"I don't know and am not interested in what people of the past feel and think. I am interested in how people of today live and what they feel," the director explained. "What do people do when they are abandoned by their lover? Killing one's own children in revenge is not just an idea of Euripides from two thousand years ago. In Hungary, a woman killed her children and killed herself when her husband left her. Such dark, complicated sentiments exist today."

Veteran actress Lee Hye-young will play the titular role, exploding with madness and energy. Lee spent nearly three decades acting various roles from sophisticated businesswoman to hostess. Last year, she returned to the stage and played charismatic actress Arkadina in "The Seagull," directed by Felix Alexa.

Lee said playing Medea is the greatest challenge of her life as an actress. "I grew up as a human through playing many roles, whether the influence is positive or not. Medea made me look back upon my life as a woman, a mother, an actress and a human."

Lee had never seen Medea' before she accepted the role and worried about playing such a terrifying role, but the director helped her understand the love and revenge of Medea.

"Alfoldi is a great director as well as a refined actor and I learned a lot from him. Medea enlightened what acting is to me," Lee said.

Jin Tae-ok designs costumes

Another notable woman in the production is Jin Tae-ok, one of the first generation fashion designers in Korea.

Jin, known for her simple and romantic design, is the godmother of the Korean fashion history. She is the first Korean to take part in the Pret-a-Porter Collections in Paris in 1993 and used Korean traditional materials accented with traditional pattern or images from folk paintings.

"As a fashion designer, I express myself through my collection, but I have to express the characters on stage as a costume designer. Except for substituting myself for the characters, there are similarities in both jobs," Jin said. "I read the script over 15 times to design the costumes. The set design is simple, so I talked with the director several times to set the style."

She interpreted the extreme characters by carefully selecting materials for the costume.

"In the beginning, Medea wears a black velvet and silk dress representing her glamorous life as a princess as well as her deepest agony and wrath in the dark," Jin explained. "In the second act, Medea takes vengeance and she loses herself. I expressed her character drained of energy in a soft red jersey dress."

She also tailored costumes to make the actors comfortable in them. "Medea did three costume fittings and I tried to calculate how much Medea moves around on the stage," Jin said.

The veteran designer enjoyed making costumes for the characters, who will come alive on stage in her creations.

"I loved and enjoyed experimenting on the costumes. I saw a rehearsal yesterday and cried a bit. I am fascinated by Medea' and maybe I would do another set of stage costumes instead of designing my collection," Jin said.

The play runs from Feb. 24 to April 2 at the Myeongdong Theater in central Seoul. English subtitles are provided every Thursday and Sunday. Tickets cost from 20,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, visit www.ntck.or.kr or call 1644-2003.
Missile launch won't have an immediate impact on ratings'

By Kim Jae-kyoung





Steffen Dyck, senior analyst of Moody's Investors Service

SINGAPORE  South Korea's solid alliance with the United States will prevent geopolitical risks such as North Korea's missile launches turning into a military conflict, according to Steffen Dyck, a senior analyst at Moody's Investors Service.

He said that the real risk lies in the possibility of the reclusive country led by Kim Jung-un collapsing from within.

"We consider that Korea's robust alliance with the U.S. will continue to contain the risk of renewed military conflict on the Korean peninsula," Dyck told The Korea Times. Dyck is vice president of the agency's sovereign risk group that evaluates Korea's credit rating.

He pointed out that a conflict, which is a very low probability event, would have material credit implications through short-term disruptive effects on the functioning of the government in Seoul and the country's payments system.

"From a sovereign credit perspective, geopolitical event risk lies more in the potential for an internal regime collapse in North Korea leading to acute financial strains for South Korea's government for an extended period," he said.

His comments came after Pyongyang fired a ballistic missile into waters off its east coast Sunday, the first provocation since U.S. President Donald Trump took office, Jan. 20.












By Park Hyong-ki



Korea's financial regulators are set to assess the qualifications of major shareholders of non-banking financial companies such as credit cards, insurance and brokerages by the end of this month, according to the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), Tuesday.



The financial watchdog will evaluate the owners of companies in the secondary financial sector to check and see whether they are eligible to manage and run them as key stakeholders. The FSS will disclose its assessment before June.



Korean conglomerate owners such as Samsung Group Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo are most likely to be included in the regulatory inspection list given their majority equity holdings in their key financial subsidiaries.



Through a complex web of cross-shareholdings via their key financial subsidiaries, conglomerate chairmen such as Lee are able to hold onto their group ownership, despite not holding many direct equity stakes in some of the companies.



Samsung Vice Chairman Lee's father Lee Kun-hee, who has been in a coma for years, has a majority 20.76 percent in Samsung Life Insurance, which holds considerable stakes in Samsung Card and Samsung Securities. Samsung Life also owns 7.55 percent of Samsung Electronics, the group's flagship maker of consumer electronics appliances and smartphones.



The senior Lee only holds a 3.5 percent in common shares of Samsung Electronics, and has no shares in Samsung Card or Samsung Securities, but he is considered the owner of Korea's biggest tech, credit card and securities companies.



Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung's eligibility as a stakeholder in the group's non-bank financial companies will be reviewed as Chung's car giant and its subsidiaries hold significant stakes in Hyundai Life Insurance and Hyundai Card. Hyundai Motor Co. has a 36.96 percent stake in Hyundai Card, while Kia Motors' Hyundai Mobis jointly operates Hyundai Life with Taiwan-based Fubon Life.



Owners of more than 60 financial subsidiaries of Korean conglomerates are expected to be evaluated, according to Chaebul.com, an online information provider of Korean tycoons.



The regulatory inspection comes as the FSS strengthened its ownership assessment following the liquidity and embezzlement crises at Tongyang Group and several mutual savings banks caused by their owners and chief executives in 2012 and 2013.



The FSS said it would carry out the work in line with the relevant law, which has been recently revised.




National Pension gets 40 pct. of dividend from Samsung



By Yoon Ja-young



The National Pension will get over 1 trillion won in dividends from the country's top 30 conglomerates this year. Forty percent of the dividends will come from Samsung Group, according to a report by CEO Score, a local business information provider.



It analyzed 97 affiliates of top 30 conglomerates in which the National Pension holds over 5 percent stake. Among them, 65 have disclosed dividend payout plans as of last week. The National Pension will be getting 1.06 trillion won from them, which is 20.5 percent more than the previous year.



Samsung Group affiliates accounted for 40.1 percent of the National Pension's dividend income. It has over a 5 percent stake in 11 affiliates of the country's largest conglomerate and will get 424.1 billion won in dividends.



Samsung Electronics will be offering a 361.8 billion won dividend for the National Pension. The tech giant increased its dividend payout by 35.7 percent to 28,500 won per share this year from 21,000 won per share last year.



The pension fund, which holds a 9.03 percent stake in Samsung Electronics, is benefiting from Samsung's generous dividend payout plan as well as soaring share prices. After reaching 2 million won, the tech company's stock now trades at around 1.9 million won, which compares with 1.26 million won it traded at the end of 2015. It also rose much steeper than KOSPI which rose 3.32 percent last year. Samsung Electronics will also be buying back 9.3 trillion won of its own shares, which will further benefit shareholders.



"Samsung Electronics is taking shareholder-friendly measures, increasing dividend payouts and buying back its own shares. The possibility of governance structure change will also work positively on share prices," said Lee Jeong, an analyst at Eugene Investment and Securities.



Foreign investors, who hold a 50.8 percent stake in Samsung Electronics, will get a 1.9 trillion won dividend, while family members of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee will also enjoy over a 190 billion won dividend.



SK Group, in which The National Pension holds more than a 5 percent stake in 10 affiliates, will provide 196.5 billion won dividend for the pension fund this year, up 15.3 percent from a year ago.



It will also get 133.5 billion won in dividends from Hyundai Motor Group's six subsidiaries, on top of 99.4 billion won from LG Group.



The increasing dividend helped the National Pension to mark over 4 percent investment return despite economic uncertainties.



The National Pension holds 99.3 trillion won worth of stock on the Seoul bourse as of the end of 2016, which is 18.3 percent of its 543.3 trillion won total assets.




U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday denounced North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch as a violation of Security Council resolutions and urged the regime to abide by its international obligations.

"The secretary-general strongly condemns the launch of another ballistic missile by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 12 February," Farhan Haq, deputy U.N. spokesman, said in a statement. "This action is a further troubling violation of Security Council resolutions."

"The DPRK leadership must return to full compliance with its international obligations and to the path of denuclearization. The secretary-general appeals to the international community to continue to address this situation in a united manner," the spokesman said.

The Security Council was to hold an emergency meeting later Monday to discuss the North's launch. After the meeting, the council president, Ukraine's U.N. ambassador Vladimir Yelchenko, is expected to issue a press statement condemning the launch and urging Pyongyang to refrain from further provocative actions.

The North carried out the missile launch on Sunday morning local time in the first provocative act by Pyongyang since the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump. The launch came after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un threatened to test-fire an intercontinental ballistic missile apparently capable of reaching the U.S.

Experts said the latest firing could be aimed in part at testing how the Trump administration would react to a missile launch before the regime goes ahead with a full-fledged ICBM test that Trump has pledged to prevent from happening.

On Monday, the North said the launch represented a successful test of a newly developed intermediate-range missile powered by solid fuel. Weapons experts say solid-fuel missiles pose greater threats as they require less preparation time than liquid-fueled rockets, and can be fired from mobile launchers easy to move around. (Yonhap)
The U.S. State Department said Monday that North Korea's ballistic missile launch is unacceptable and urged countries around the world to take steps to show Pyongyang consequences for its action.



"We call on all states to use every available channel and means of influence to make clear to the DPRK and its enablers that launches using ballistic missile technology, or efforts to advance North Korea's ballistic missile capabilities, are unacceptable," a department official said on background.



"We further call on all states to take steps to show there are consequences to the DPRK's conduct. We call on the DPRK to refrain from provocative, destabilizing actions and rhetoric, and to make the strategic choice to fulfill its international obligations and commitments and return to serious talks," the official said.



The official also noted that multiple U.N. Security Council Resolutions explicitly prohibit the North's launches using ballistic missile technology or further development of its ballistic missile programs.



"North Korea's weapons programs represent a clear, grave threat to U.S. national security. North Korea openly states that its ballistic missiles are intended to deliver nuclear weapons to strike cities in the United States, the Republic of Korea, and Japan," the official said.



The U.S. reaffirms its "ironclad commitment" to the defense of allies, including the provision of extended deterrence, and will continue to develop a comprehensive set of alliance capabilities to counter the growing North Korean ballistic missile threat, the official said.



Following the missile launch, the U.S. special envoy for North Korea policy, Amb. Joseph Yun, spoke with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts and affirmed close coordination with the two countries, the official said.



The North carried out the missile launch on Sunday morning local time in the first provocative act by Pyongyang since the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump. The launch came after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un threatened to test-fire an intercontinental ballistic missile apparently capable of reaching the U.S.



Noting that the launch was not an ICBM test, experts said the firing could be aimed in part at testing how the Trump administration would react to a missile launch before the regime goes ahead with a full-pledged ICBM test that Trump has pledged to prevent from happening.



On Monday, the North said the launch represented a successful test of a newly developed intermediate-range missile powered by solid fuel. Weapons experts say solid-fuel missiles pose greater threats as they require less preparation time than liquid-fueled rockets, and can be fired from mobile launchers easy to move around. (Yonhap)




North Korea's latest missile test is "a dress rehearsal" for a full-fledged crisis, a former top U.S. negotiator with Pyongyang said Monday.

"This missile is obviously another example of their testing program, testing of military equipment more than testing of our president," former Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," referring to views that the launch could be aimed at testing how the new administration would react to such a provocation.

Hill, who served as chief nuclear negotiator with the North from 2005-2009, said that Pyongyang had been quiet up until the weekend missile launch in order not to galvanize conservatives in South Korea ahead of a presidential election.

"But this all changes that. I think it speaks to the fact they have an ongoing missile testing program and sooner or later it will be a crisis. But what happened over this weekend I think is more a dress rehearsal for a crisis," Hill said.

The North carried out the missile launch on Sunday morning local time in the first provocative act by Pyongyang since the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump. The launch came after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un threatened to test-fire an intercontinental ballistic missile apparently capable of reaching the U.S.












By Jun Ji-hye

North Korea's latest missile launch shows that it has taken a significant step forward in developing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that could strike targets on the U.S. mainland, analysts said Tuesday.

A report released on the same day by the Institute for National Security Strategy also said the North's launch was aimed at showing off its confidence that it will be able to test-fire an ICBM within this year.

"By showing off advances made in missile capabilities, North Korea appears to show that its development of an ICBM is proceeding smoothly and it can test-fire it within this year," the report said.

Kim Dong-yup, a researcher at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies (IFES), said that the launch showed that Pyongyang is in the middle stage of a process to develop the missile capability from a Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) to an ICBM. The Musudan is estimated to have a range of over 3,000 kilometers, which is theoretically capable of reaching the U.S. territory of Guam.

"The North made a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) using Musudan missile technology, and then it made this new strategic weapon using the SLBM technology," he said. "The new missile is seen as being an interim weapon between the Musudan and an ICBM."

Experts noted that U.S. President Donald Trump is likely to break with former President Barack Obama's strategic patience policy in dealing with the North amid its growing threats, and introduce a hard line policy such as increasing pressure through sanctions and enhancing military exercises with allies in the region.

On Sunday, Pyongyang successfully fired its new IRBM propelled by a solid-fuel engine using a caterpillar-tracked, self-propelled missile launching vehicle.

The North's state media said the country developed the Pukguksong-2 missile based on the success of the SLBM test last August, which also used a solid-fuel engine.












Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was assassinated by two unidentified female agents presumably from North Korea at an airport in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Monday. / Yonhap



By Kim Hyo-jin

Kim Jong-nam, the older half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was killed in Malaysia, according to Malaysian police on Tuesday.

Kim died while on his way to a hospital from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Monday, after two unidentified women presumably from North Korea assassinated him with poisoned needles, they said.

The two suspects fled in a taxi after the attack.

The Malaysian police suspect that North Korea was behind the assassination.



This marks the most high-profile death since Kim Jong-un took power in 2011. His uncle Jang Song-thaek was executed on his orders in December 2013.

South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs could not confirm anything regarding the incident.
Foreigners and Koreans hold a demonstration as part of the Seoul Rally Against Islamophobia at Incheon International Airport on Saturday. The banner reads: "Say no to Islamophobia." / Courtesy of Kelly Jarman



By John Redmond

About 20 foreigners and locals took to the streets around Incheon International Airport as part of the Seoul Rally Against Islamophobia last Saturday.

Canadian Kelly Jarman organized the march to show solidarity with those targeted by the attack on a mosque in Quebec City last month.

The demonstration coincided with rallies across Canada.

Jarman was also concerned by media coverage of attacks by non-Muslim Canadians.

"Setting up a rally to show solidarity was a way for me to feel useful rather than just horrified," Jarman told The Korea Times. "I was also dismayed by how the attacks by non-Muslim Canadians received much less media coverage than the 2014 attack on Canada's Parliament building by Michael Zehaf-Bibeau."

The group faced reams of red tape as the first foreigners requesting government permission to hold a public rally in Incheon and had to prove it had nothing to do with Korean policies or laws.

"According to the police, I'm the first foreigner to ask for a rally to be approved in Incheon at least, and it was simply a matter of filling out lots of paperwork and filing it at the police station," Jarman said.

"Everything needed to be translated but I had lots of help. The police just wanted to know what was going to go on and why we were doing it. The police officers at the rally were very helpful and polite."

Most locals who took part were friends and colleagues.

Getting information to the public also proved to be a challenge as translation became an issue.

"We made sure to translate all the materials and instructions but we could do a better job of reaching out to Korean citizens," Jarman said. "I did have a lot of support and help from Korean citizens with the translation and dealing with the police. It was an experiment and I wasn't sure it was going to be approved, so I'm happy it was able to be held at all."

Incheon International Airport was chosen because it was seen as the best place for maximum exposure to people from around the world.

Islam on the Korean Peninsula is a minority religion, with 130,000 followers  Korean and foreign. Many foreign Muslims are migrant workers from Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Korea's introduction to Islam dates back to the late 7th century when Muslim traders established contact with the Silla Kingdom.

The modern rise of Islam dates to the 1950-53 Korean War when Turkey sent a brigade to South Korea under U.N. command. The Turks made contributions on the battlefield and aided in humanitarian work, including helping operate wartime schools for orphans. After the war, some Turks stationed here as U.N. peacekeepers began teaching Koreans about Islam.

Early converts established their society in 1955 and it grew to become the Korea Muslim Federation in 1967.

The Seoul Central Mosque was built in Itaewon in 1976.

There are mosques in Busan, Anyang, Gwangju, Jeonju, Daegu and Incheon.
Punk band Yuppie Killer / Courtesy of Jon Dunbar



By Jon Dunbar

It has been a lousy year for expat bands in Korea, first with indie-pop trio Nice Legs' breakup, and this week with hardcore punk band Yuppie Killer calling it quits.

Yuppie Killer, once described by Groove Magazine as "possibly the loudest band in Korea," has one final show and album in them, both due this weekend.

"The average life expectancy of a hardcore band is demo, EP, LP," said guitarist Ian, who's been with the band since its start in 2012. "So by that metric, we're senile and retired to a farm upstate."

"Yuppie Killer is breaking up because it's time," said vocalist Tim. "I mean, c'mon, is a band like Yuppie Killer, in any universe supposed to last this long? We wrote the songs we wanted and that's that."

Ian is returning to Toronto, Canada, and Tim, also a Canadian, is moving on to Europe. The remaining two members plan to stay in Korea, continuing to make music on their own projects.

The band's breakup has been known for months, though its inevitable arrival has affected friends and fans. Many have reminisced on social media about their favorite Yuppie Killer moments, from hosting concerts in their tiny basement practice room and mixing memory-wiping cocktails with random liquors, to dogging energy drink maker Hot6 for an endorsement deal and advertising their shows on Craigslist.

"Never saw them actually killing a yuppie," one friend joked. "Very disappointed."

"We had a lot of great memories doing this, a lot which can never see print, but man, you can't say the Yuppie Killer crew didn't bring the party," Tim said. "I'm real proud of what we did. I hope we showed Seoul you don't have to be this type or that type and limit yourself to one style of music or community."

Yuppie Killer takes the stage one last time at GBN Live Hall in Mullae-dong, southwestern Seoul, with seven other bands, Saturday. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and entry costs 10,000 won, or 7,000 won for minors.

Their album, a split with Ian's other band Tokki Jot, will be their fourth album since forming in 2012. Proceeds made from offline sales will be donated to the Citizens' Alliance for North Korean Human Rights (NKHR).

"We directly sounded like no other band ever and that's something I'm proud of," Ian said. "When we were on, we were feral."

Visit facebook.com/YuppieKillers for more.
By Kim Bo-eun

A total of 273 foreign students invited by the Korean government to study here will receive their degrees this month.

According to the National Institute for International Education, 65 students are obtaining bachelor's degrees, 156 master's degrees and 52 doctor's degrees at 60 schools nationwide.

The students are from 75 countries  with the largest percentage from Asia (50 percent), followed by Africa (17 percent), Central and South America (14 percent) and Europe (12 percent).

The most popular field of study is humanities and social sciences (59 percent), followed by natural sciences (34 percent) and art, music and physical education (7 percent).

The government, through its Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), has been inviting foreign students to study here, covering tuition and living expenses, since 1967.

So far, it has invited 7,427 students from 155 countries. Including 871 students who were selected last year, a total of 3,259 students are currently pursuing their studies at 75 schools here.

Among those who studied here on the GKS, Moses Aduku Asaga from Ghana, who began his studies in 1986 and earned a master's degree from Yonsei University, became the minister of employment and welfare in his home country.
The United States will send its strategic assets to a joint military exercise with South Korea next month as North Korea has escalated tensions with its latest missile launch, a Seoul official said Tuesday.

"The two sides have agreed to send U.S. strategic assets, such as the F-22 stealth fighters and a nuclear-powered submarine, one by one to the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises in March," the military official familiar with the matter told Yonhap News Agency.

In a report to lawmakers, the Ministry of National Defense said, "We are in talks with the U.S. to determine the size of U.S. strategic assets to be deployed and the range of their exposure to local media."

The move is to show the allies' full readiness and combat capabilities against the North's evolving nuclear and missile threats in the "biggest-ever" joint exercise, the ministry said.

The North test-fired a newly developed intermediate-range ballistic missile Sunday morning in its first provocation since the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

The launch came after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un last month threatened to test-fire an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. (Yonhap)
Independent counsel seeks to extend investigation mandate

By Lee Kyung-min

The independent counsel team filed a request for an arrest warrant for Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong for a second time, Tuesday, on charges of bribery involving President Park Geun-hye and her confidant Choi Soon-sil.

The Seoul Central District Court will hold a hearing to determine the validity of the team's request Thursday.

The team also sought an arrest warrant for Park Sang-jin, president of Samsung Electronics.

Park allegedly played a key role in carrying out Lee's orders on providing the financial support for Choi.

The Samsung heir returned home in the early morning Tuesday after 15 hours of questioning at the team's office in Daechi-dong, southern Seoul about the 43.3 billion-won ($38 million) the group gave to Choi. This was his second questioning after a district court rejected an arrest warrant requested Jan. 19.

Meanwhile, the team submitted a letter of intent to the National Assembly, asking for the extension of its mandate set to expire Feb. 28, responding to the opposition bloc's move to give it more time to thoroughly investigate the influence-peddling scandal.

The team's letter was in response to a request made by the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and minor opposition People's Party seeking the team's opinion on revising the law to extend the mandate by 30 days.

"Given the results our ongoing investigation has produced thus far, we are considerably inclined to consider the extension," said the team spokesman Lee Kyu-chul during a press briefing.

"If the mandate expires without the extension, we cannot investigate further. But regardless of the extension, the team will continue to investigate in accordance with the law and principle," he added.












By Yi Whan-woo



An Hee-jung

South Chungcheong Governor An Hee-jung has expressed confidence that he can beat former Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) leader Moon Jae-in in the party's presidential primary.

Commenting on his surge in recent popularity polls, he said people have started to recognize the differences between him and other presidential hopefuls.

"I will try to go slow for now because people will eventually choose me," he jokingly said during a live debate program hosted by SBS, Monday.

He seemed confident of beating Moon, although the latter has had a firm lead in polls on potential presidential hopefuls for weeks.

"I still think of myself as having a low profile but the people think of my popularity as if it were like a hurricane," he said during a live Q&A session hosted by SBS. "I bet my popularity will be referred to as a bomb if it continues to rise, so I'll try to go slow."

An narrowed the gap with Moon Jae-in to 10 percentage points in a poll released by Gallup Korea, Friday. A week earlier, the gap was 12 percentage points.

In another poll conducted by Realmeter from Feb. 6 to 10, An ranked second with a support rating of 16.7 percent, up 3.7 percentage points from a week earlier. Moon maintained the lead with a 32.9 percent support, up 1.7 percentage points.

An said the late President Roh Moo-hyun would have endorsed him over Moon if he is still alive, referring to a rivalry between An and Moon over who is more capable of upholding progressive-minded Roh's political legacy.

An, who has made centrist remarks over national security and other ideological issues, downplayed criticism that his political view deviated from traditional values embraced by the opposition.

"Our conservatives were all about branding the progressives as North Korean sympathizers, leftists and communists, while the progressives have only talked about anti-globalism and anti-capitalism," he said. "Such two contrasting ideological views will not help in resolving any of the pending issues. That's where my idea for new politics can come in and I ask the people who are against me to think again when judging me."

An recently has been embroiled in dispute over his offer to share power with the conservative politicians if he is elected president, although he explained that it was intended to unite the country from ideological division.

"Those who demand to punish the conservatives over the latest political crisis will find it difficult to agree with me," he said. "But I want to make clear that it is not a politically-motivated move to woo voters."

Regarding North Korea's dire human rights record, An asked Pyongyang to "make efforts to keep its human rights situation up to international standards."

He said South Korea should also support international relief and sanctions on North Korea, although he warned against causing a conflict with the Pyongyang regime.

"It will be our priority to settle conflicting issues with North Korea through peace and dialogue," he added.
By Kim Rahn







Hwang Kyo-ahn

Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn may run for the presidency despite controversy over whether it is appropriate for the acting president to join the presidential race instead of overseeing the election.

The chances of him participating in the race appear to be growing, especially considering that the conservative bloc has no other alternatives who have as much support as Hwang, as the ruling Liberty Korea Party (LKP), formerly the Saenuri Party, has no strong contender of its own.

Hwang's support has grown to double-digits in recent polls. This is still far behind Moon Jae-in, the leading hopeful from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) who has around 30 percent, but he is running neck and neck with another DPK contender An Hee-jung.

But he has not declared his presidential bid yet, assuming an ambiguous attitude toward questions about it and just saying he is trying his best as acting president for now.

Contrary to the increasing support, negative public opinion is also high about his running for the presidency. Hwang was appointed by the impeached President Park Geun-hye, and before being named prime minister, he was justice minister. He faces criticism that he is partially responsible for the Park administration's failure.

Many also point out that it is not proper for him to become a "player" in the presidential race because the acting president should be the "referee" of the race.

But if Hwang decides to join the race despite these negative views, it is highly likely that he will run on the ticket of the LKP, which has been explicitly trying to bring him into the party.

The LKP is desperate because a political party, without a presidential candidate, loses public attention and cannot survive. It has only minor candidates whose support ratings are a mere 1 percent or less, far behind the 4 to 5 percent of Rep. Yoo Seong-min from the minor conservative Bareun Party.

Rhee In-je has the highest level of public awareness among LKP hopefuls. As a figure from South Chungcheong Province, he may absorb more support from former supporters of former U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon, also from Chungcheong who quit the race earlier this month.

But Rhee lost the general election last year, and has been criticized for switching parties multiple times whenever the situation went against him.

Rep. Won Yoo-chul officially announced his presidential bid last week, while party floor leader Chung Woo-taik, former Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo, North Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Kwan-yong, South Gyeongsang Province Governor Hong Joon-pyo, and former Incheon Mayor Ahn Sang-soo are expected to throw their hats into the ring. But these contenders' public awareness and support is too small to compete with the major hopefuls from the liberal bloc.
Leading presidential contender Moon Jae-in, front row center, holds hands with his advisers during an inauguration ceremony for his advisory group at the Korea Press Center in central Seoul, Tuesday. / Yonhap



By Kim Hyo-jin



About 60 former ministers and vice ministers launched an advisory group Tuesday to help Moon Jae-in's bid to become the next president.



They mostly served in the positions during the liberal Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun administrations.



The group will play a crucial role in developing policy ideas, said Moon, the top presidential contender from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).



Former Unification Minister Chung Se-hyun and Lee Young-tak, former head of the Prime Minister's Office, will serve as co-chairmen, he said.



"Those who had taken different paths over the past nine years of the Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye governments have gathered together with the aim of a change in power and building a new country," Moon said at a launch ceremony. "I have confidence in winning a victory, and if elected, well-managing the government with your support."



The move came as the potential presidential race is heating up amid speculation that an election could be held in May if the Constitutional Court rules in favor of the parliamentary impeachment of President Park.



Acting court President Lee Jung-mi implied last week that a verdict could be delivered no later than March 13, her last day as a justice.



The launch of the advisers' group is viewed as Moon seeking to create the image of being a prepared presidential candidate in voters' minds, with its members having experience of state management in previous governments.



"This time, it will be an early presidential election and the new president will have no chance to run a transition team," Moon said. "The next government, if launched without preparation, could fail. I expect the advisers' group will guide me as a transition team would after a change in government."



Former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kim Sung-jin said formation of the group started in mid-January at Moon's request.



"Now, we have 60 members. We plan to recruit more figures who worked under liberal governments," he said.

The members include former head of the Bank of Korea Park Seung; former Deputy Education Minister Yoon Deok-hong; ex-Minister of Construction and Transportation Choo Byung-jik; former chief presidential secretary Byun Yang-gyun; former Fair Trade Commission Chairman Kang Cheol-gyu; and former deputy director of the National Intelligence Service Suh Hoon.



Moon's camp is gearing up for the party's primary since he officially registered as a preliminary candidate, Monday.



The DPK will open up recruitment of those eligible to vote in the primary today. It earlier decided to allow non-party members to join the ballot as long as they have a financial authentication certificate. The number of participants is expected to reach between 1.5 and 2 million, party officials said.



Some officials say the expansion of a voting chance to ordinary citizens could be helpful to South Chungcheong Province Governor An Hee-jung, another DPK contender and the runner-up in opinion polls, as a majority of party members are thought to be Moon supporters.
By Jhoo Dong-chan





Audi Volkswagen Korea chief Marcus Hellmann

Audi Volkswagen Korea has appointed Marcus Hellmann as a co-managing director in its business operation in Korea, effective Feb. 1, the German carmaker's affiliate here said Monday.

Having overseen legal affairs of Volkswagen Group's international units in Germany, Hellmann has played an important role with his legal expertise in the company's recent emissions-cheating scandal.

This appointment is believed to be Audi Volkswagen's preparatory measure to reapply for sales certification of its scandal-mired models. Last July, the Ministry of Environment banned sales of 80 models of Audi and Volkswagen vehicles after its recall proposals were rejected three times by the ministry.

"The appointment of Hellmann, who has overseen legal affairs for all international Audi Volkswagen Group affiliates, implies the Korean market is crucial for the German carmaker," an Audi Volkswagen Korea official said.

"Under Hellman's leadership, Audi Volkswagen Korea plans to strengthen its legal and regulatory affairs in Korea."

She added that the existing Managing Director Johannes Thammer will focus on normalizing management of the company's sales, marketing and developing strategies while Hellmann is expected to take charge of legal affairs with the government.

Hellmann is known to have vast experience in M&As and investments. He also participated in the launch of Audi Volkswagen Korea in 2004.

Three weeks before Hellmann's appointment, the government approved Volkswagen Korea's proposal to recall two Tiguan SUV models. Out of some 27,000 Tiguan SUVs subject to the measure, the ministry asked Volkswagen Korea to meet an 85 percent recall rate, the same criteria of the U.S.

Shortly after getting a nod for the recall plan, Audi Volkswagen Korea introduced the Audi A7 55 TDI Quattro Premium sedan here, the first model to be sold in Korea after the emissions scandal erupted.

Audi Volkswagen Korea is also discussing its plan with the government to recall 15,000 CC sedans.
Recently a friend of mine came up against a common problem for foreigners. This friend, who happens to be a columnist for this esteemed publication, and whom for the purposes of this piece I'll call Andre, tried to purchase some volumes from a popular online literature vendor based in the United States. In order to receive his package, the bookseller informed him, he requires a Personal Customs Code from the Korea Customs Service. His quest to obtain this code led to one of the difficulties that living in Korea as a non-citizen can pose: how to write your name.

It sounds like a silly problem, almost farcical. Surely everyone can write their own name? And yet on myriad websites and phone apps daily, foreign folk try in vain to input their legally registered labels in order to register for a service, join a club, activate a mobile phone or even order a free pizza. Often, a pop-up will announce, coldly, "The inputted name does not match the registration number," or, even worse, "This is not [your] correct name."

Falling victim to this glitch is not a result of an inability to speak Korean. I consider myself to be fairly Korean-competent, but I too have found myself angrily shouting at the computer screen after being told that Jacco Zwetsloot is not my real name.

The key here is one's alien registration card (ARC). This document is obligatory for all non-Korean citizens residing in Korea on anything other than a tourist visa (Americans here under the Status of Forces Agreement, however, are exempted). Foreigners use the ARC just as Koreans do their nationally issued ID cards, for everything from proving identity at the bank (more on that later), to opening an account with a phone company and registering for online shopping. One's name as printed on this card becomes one's only legal name in Korea, and is connected to the 13-digit alien registration number. If a mistake is made in entering either of them into a website, it can lead to endlessly repeated requests to try again.

Although both Koreans and foreigners have registration numbers, it used to be the case some years ago that certain websites were not equipped to handle a foreigner's number. In all cases, the first six digits before the hyphen show one's birthdate, in the format YYMMDD. The first digit in the second batch (after the hyphen) is determined by gender and the century of one's birth. Numbers 5 and 7 are for foreign males; 6 and 8 are for foreign females. Foreigners' numbers were incompatible with checksum routines on some websites, so it was impossible to, for example, buy a movie ticket online or use certain home shopping services. Although this is less the case nowadays, entering one's name is still tricky. Here is what I have learned from trial and error:

1) You must write in all capitals (as on your Alien Registration Card);

2) You must write your name in exactly the same order as it appears on the ARC (if your surname comes first on the card, that's how you write it);

3) You must enter all components of your name, even if, for example, you have middle name(s) that you don't usually use;

If this doesn't work, try the next step:

4) Omit spaces, writing your name as one very long word (the website where one obtains a personal customs code works this way, at least for this author);

If your name is so long that it runs over two lines on your registration card, and the Korea Immigration Service has split one component of your name into two with a hyphen, try this step:

5) Include the hyphen in the spelling of your name (as happened to me when buying a new mobile phone).

Banks are a more complex story. I have accounts at two banks, and both compelled me to register not only my legal name as printed on my ARC, but an unaesthetic hangeul-ization thereof. It is this version that appears on my passbook and other documents. When I fill in a bank form, that is how I must write it. And yet when proving my identity, tellers still ask to see my ARC, on which my moniker only appears in Roman letters.

Recently, I received a package by courier; on it a sticker offered a free pizza. I went to the website as directed and tried to fill in my details, to be told that only names written in hangeul were applicable. I tried writing my name in Korean, but it didn't help. Only legally registered names as printed on ID cards would be accepted. No free pizza for me.

It would make things a lot easier if foreigners were allowed to register legal aliases. Such an alias could be a two-to-four character name in Hangeul, registered with the government, and usable on official documentation. I have used a Korean name for the last 15 years, but banks and so on won't accept it as a legal alias. In Japan, there is such a system. Long-term resident Korean citizens, some of whom have been there for generations, benefit by using a Japanese name as an alias, without having to give up the Korean name bestowed by their parents. Such a system would perhaps be helpful here. Not just for free pizza.



Jacco Zwetsloot is Director of Business Innovation at Hwang Mok Park, a Korean law firm. His email address is jacco@hmplaw.com.
Careful approach needed for raising current senior age



As Korea is aging rapidly, people's perception about who is elderly is changing. A survey by the DongA Ilbo published earlier this week said that 48 percent of respondents said one must be over 70 to be considered a senior citizen.



Another survey showed that 78.3 percent of the elderly also feel that 70 should be the standard age to be called elderly. Currently, the minimum age for pensions and other benefits is 65. The Korean Senior Citizens Association has proposed that the "official senior age" be gradually raised to 70 over the next 20 years, raising it by one year every four years.



Since Korea is on the threshold of becoming an aged society, it is inevitable to start discussing the need to adjust the age. Government data last month showed that almost 14 percent of the nation's population is 65 or older. Korea is aging so fast that by 2065, more than 42 percent of the population will be composed of senior citizens, which is the highest rate of the elderly among OECD countries.



A major dilemma for policymakers is how to expand policies to accommodate the elderly with limited resources. A recent dispute over the eligible age for senior citizens' free subway passes is just one of many complex issues Korea faces due to the swiftly aging population. Subway operators in major cities including Seoul, Busan and Daegu announced Monday they will jointly file a constitutional petition to get government assistance for their losses owing to the free rides of those over 65. The subway operators are complaining that with the aging population, the portion of those taking free subway rides is increasing, but the government has not been responsive to their requests for financial support. Subway operators have also called for raising the age limit.



But raising this should be approached with caution and a focus on how to advance the quality of life of the elderly. The key to this is creating more job opportunities. The poverty rate among people over 65 is the highest among OECD countries.



The retirement age has been extended to 60, but for many it is hard to keep working until they reach this age. If the minimum pension age were to be raised to 70, then there is the question of how to support oneself until they reach pension age. Unlike Japan, which has the world's highest proportion of people aged 65 or older, it is difficult for people after retirement to find new jobs. Raising the age limit must be preceded by policies to keep older people working.



Policymakers should study what Japan, which is also undergoing discussions to change the elderly age, has been doing to assist its senior citizens and raise their quality of life.




By Bernard Rowan





I'm writing about the Korean custom of not wearing shoes in the house. Though not unique to Korea, and in fact not even just to Asian cultures, it's a general practice that may want a few minor adjustments for foreigners. I learned to accept it too. Let's take a look at this custom.

The practice of not wearing shoes reflects Korean thinking about homes and other spaces. Since Koreans often heat their floors and sleep on their floors on bamboo mats and other types of bedding, keeping a clean floor has greater importance. Who wants to sweep dirt and shoe marks all the time? In addition, Koreans often sit on their living room floors and use special tables low to the ground where they sit while eating. Who wants to feel or touch dirt when sitting or eating? Not wearing shoes makes much sense!

The practice carries over to other buildings and spaces, including restaurants, saunas, and offices. The thinking about shoes and dirt applies where Koreans work or enjoy recreation. Not all Korean places forbid shoes. It's easy to notice the difference too.

I know that Japanese households reflect similar thinking and behavior. My wife's father was from Mongolia. He was meticulous about not wearing shoes in the house. He religiously swept all the spaces near the doorway or entrance to the home.

Korean households distinguish the outside and inside in a particular way. I'm referring to the sill or threshold of the door and its prior space. In traditional homes and palaces, one steps over a prominent lintel on entering. Today's apartments and homes make a space where all the shoes belong. It's an anteway  not a patio. The floor stands a bit lower than the space after the threshold. This place has the namehyeongwan. Its construction in Korean homes reflects the practice of not wearing shoes. Restaurants and saunas have similar but larger places for handling shoes.

There's another implication. Because of this practice, Koreans often wear slippers at home. This isn't unique to Koreans or Asians. However, a market for slippers occurs due to the custom. We can buy all kinds of simple to decorated and colorful household slippers. Others prefer walking barefooted or in their socks.

This way of setting up spaces in Korea to encourage taking off shoes reflects all manner of associated values. As a visitor, foreigners should be sure to show respect and regard for hosts by removing their shoes. Homes remain special and intimate places where families and those invited in, friends and guests, live, learn, and grow together. It shows basic self-respect for one's personal space or another's home. I think it's neat that the practice of not wearing shoes and of making a household with respect for this custom continues. That's true for Korean business spaces too.

At least for myself, I find one implication of the practice is that I don't like to wear shoes with laces. Balancing on one foot, I hold people up at restaurant doors. It's embarrassing to take off shoes around others. I've worn out the heels of some shoes with laces when I take the lazy route of just stepping into them instead of doing the balancing routine. I do like the widespread shoehorns in doorways and at restaurant entrances. That helps me to some extent with my poor balance and big feet.

Since traveling to Korea and China a bit, I've taken to the habit of not wearing shoes in my household. I don't have a special entryway, but my family deposits shoes on a shoe-shelf in our closet or outside our apartment door. I'm not sure Koreans think of this custom as an expression of hallyu or cultural diffusion. There's still dirt to clean. There is no perfect human custom.

It's a good idea not to wear shoes in Korean homes and other spaces. We should understand and adapt. When we value our spaces inside and away from the rest of the world, we show that we respect and value ourselves and cleanliness. Watch your feet!





Bernard Rowan is associate provost for contract administration and professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University. Reach him at browan10@yahoo.com
KT Future Business Development Unit Senior Vice President Koh Yoon-jeon, left, shakes hands with M3DICINE Executive Director Nayyar Hussain after signing to a memorandum of understanding for joint global digital healthcare business at the telecom company's office in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of KT



By Yoon Sung-won



KT is expanding its digital healthcare services business globally under cooperation with an Australian startup, the telecom company said Tuesday.



The Seoul-based outfit said it will expand its digital healthcare services business, focusing on respiratory and cardiac disease diagnosis. It pointed out that the deteriorating environment is causing more smog and ultrafine dust, making more people suffer from respiratory and cardiac illnesses.



"We seek diverse global business models under cooperation with partners with innovative technologies in the digital healthcare sector," said Koh Yoon-jeon, senior vice president of KT's Future Business Development Unit.



"Starting from providing early diagnosis and prevention of infectious diseases and chronic illnesses and improving the environment for maternal and child healthcare, we will continue to expand our digital healthcare services business."



Under their memorandum of understanding, the two companies will combine M3DICINE's mobile-connected stethoscope and KT's digital healthcare service platform.



Established in 2015 by Nayyar Hussain, M3DICINE is working on the development of a connected stethoscope named "Stethee." The company noted it is only 110 grams, small enough to hold in one hand, and can be connected to a smartphone.



"In the inevitable paradigm shift to digital healthcare, mobile diagnostic devices and hospitals' cloud electronic medical records will be increasingly interconnected," Hussain said.



According to M3DICINE, Stethee is capable of detecting cardiac and cardiopulmonary indexes such as cardiac sounds, vascular murmurs and oxygen saturation rate. Ordinary stethoscopes cannot measure such biometric data.



Once it is connected to a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet computer, the collected data can be shared. It can also tap into GPS to record where the diagnosis was made.



In January 2015, M3DICINE acquired approval for the device in European countries and seeks approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in March.



KT said it has worked with medical institutions in developing countries and university hospitals to provide on-site diagnosis services.



Earlier in August last year, the company collaborated with Yonsei University Health System and University Teaching Hospital of Kigali in Rwanda to provide telemedicine services for patients in remote areas. With this service, patients send their blood and urine samples from regional health centers through a long-term evolution (LTE) network to the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali database for diagnosis of viruses such as malaria, dengue fever, AIDS and renal failure.



In September, it also cooperated with a consortium of Pusan National University Hospital, Busan Technopark and local medical institutions in Kazakhstan for a similar telemedicine service.



Last October, KT has signed to an agreement with Ugandan healthcare business Critical Care Solutions to run a joint digital healthcare business in the country.
Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) CEO Cho Hwan-eik, third from left, attends a groundbreaking ceremony with other dignitaries for an 89.1MW wind farm in Amman, Jordan, Monday. / Courtesy of KEPCO



By Lee Hyo-sik

Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) has begun the construction of an 89.1MW wind power plant in Amman, Jordan, solidifying its status as a leading utility firm in the Middle Eastern country. The state-run utility firm already operates two coal-powered plants there, accounting for 24 percent of the nation's power demand.

Hosted by CEO Cho Hwan-eik, KEPCO held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Jordan Fujeij Wind Farm, Monday, inviting more than 150 Jordanian government officials and business leaders.

The company expects it will cost about $184 million to construct the plant by October 2018. KEPCO estimates it will earn about $570 million by operating the facility for 20 years.

"The planned wind farm, when it goes into operation, will significantly bolster Jordan's power supply capacity," Cho said. "This project will serve as momentum for both Korea and Jordan to further cooperate on energy production."

KEPCO was selected as a preferred bidder for the scheme in 2013 and signed a contract two years later.

Over the past decade, the utility has constructed and operated wind farms and solar power plants in Japan, the United States and other countries, the CEO said, stressing his continuing commitment to invest on expanding KEPCO's presence in the global renewable energy industry.

Besides two coal-powered plants in Jordan, KEPCO runs two more plants in the Middle East, one in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the other in Saudi Arabia. It is currently undertaking a $20 billion project started in December 2009 to build four nuclear reactors in the UAE.
By Jhoo Dong-chan



Walmart, the world's largest retailer with over 6,000 stores worldwide, has severed all contracts with Korean shippers after sustaining severe damage by the South Korean government's abrupt decision to let debt-ridden Hanjin Shipping go under in the name of corporate restructuring.



According to industrial sources, Tuesday, Walmart sent an email to Hanjin Shipping's local unit in the United States in December, saying, "Thank you for doing business with us. It is our company's policy not to deal with any Korean shipping line from now on. It is not because of Hanjin Shipping but because we don't trust the Korean government."



Walmart, which has been one of Hanjin Shipping's major consignors for more than 20 years since the 1990s, is believed to have been hit the hardest by the ailing shipping company filing for court receivership. The Seoul-based company had reportedly handled about 10 percent of Walmart's total freight volume every year, which means that Hanjin's amount was up to 30,000 containers.



As Hanjin Shipping could not deal with the transportation properly, Walmart has shipped its products with shipping companies with its headquarters in other countries such as China.



"It's evident that the nation's shipping companies are losing credibility after Hanjin filed for court receivership," said an industry source. "I believe there are more angry consignors like Walmart. The government should come up with a contingency plan as soon as possible."



The nation's other shipping giant Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM), which also had a rocky year last year, also expressed its concerns about Walmart's stance, but said that the impact won't be significant in the company's future.



"Concerns could, of course, be raised over Walmart's announcement. But the impact will be minor," said an HMM official.



"Unlike the case with Hanjin Shipping, HMM's credit rating was just upgraded from D to BB yesterday as the market recognized the government and creditors' strong support for the company. I don't think such a mentality would prevail for a long time."



Another expert suggests the possibilities of Walmart or other global retailers intentionally spreading such stories nearing the upcoming shipping contract renewal season.



"Retailers renew their shipping contracts with container carriers in March and April every year," he said. "It is possible they spread such stories in the industry in order to gain the upper hand in contract negotiation with shipping lines."



The world's seventh-largest shipping line, Hanjin Shipping's crisis started after the 2008 global financial crisis. As the slump in the global shipping industry became protracted, the company was hit by a liquidity crisis.



Chairwoman Choi Eun-young, who began leading the company after her husband and company Chairman Cho Soo-ho died in 2006, also sold her share right before Hanjin Shipping's liquidity and management crisis came to the surface in 2014.



A Seoul court ruled earlier this month to end the bankruptcy protection of Hanjin Shipping, bringing the world's No. 7 shipping company to an end.




Gerber 3rd Foods Roasted Vegetable & Chicken Dinner marketed by Nestle Korea. / Courtesy of Nestle Korea

By Park Jae-hyuk

Nestle Korea has recently been ordered by the country's food and drug authorities to recall some of its signature Gerber baby foods containing unapproved additives, according to industry officials, Tuesday.

The Korean branch of the Switzerland-based global food company has denied any safety problems of the products. But Korean mothers seem to be worried following the recent government measure, amid a growing concern for the safety of baby products here.

According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, three types of Gerber baby foods  3rd Foods Roasted Vegetable & Chicken Dinner, 3rd Foods Herbed Vegetable, Pasta & Chicken Dinner and Puffs Strawberry Apple  have been withdrawn from the market since last month.

The products have been banned from sale for containing so-called "natural flavors" which are not approved here to be used in baby foods. SSG.COM, an official retailer of the products here, posted on its website simply that the products were "sold out."

"The recall is not related to product safety, but to differences in regulations on natural flavors between Korea and the United States which manufactures the products," a Nestle Korea official explained. "However, we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience to our customers."

The company was also ordered last August by the Korean government to recall its German-made BEBA infant formula for a similar reason. Last March, several Gerber baby foods were withdrawn from the U.S. market for spoilage risks as well.

Critics pointed out that the Korean branch may have poorly inspected the imported products, failing to confirm whether they meet the safety standards of the country.

Currently, the month-long recall has yet to go viral among Korean mothers and the media, when considering similar controversies over Procter & Gamble (P&G) diapers and some other baby foods.

P&G Korea has faced recent criticism for allegations its signature Pampers baby dry diapers contain toxic materials such as dioxin and pesticides, in spite of the company's continuous denial of safety problems.

Also, German-made Aptamil and some other imported infant formulas have been under fire for allegations of containing cesium, a radioactive substance, after a Japanese-based civic group raised the issue.

Still, most experts said Korean consumers' fears on such products were exaggerated.

However, Korean consumers claim the international companies should be more considerate as consumers here have trauma following hundreds of deaths caused by toxic humidifier sterilizers, most of which were marketed by Oxy Reckitt Benckiser.
ST Unitas CEO Yoon Sung-hyuk, second from left, shakes hands with The Princeton Review CEO Kate Walker after signing a stock purchase agreement at the Conrad Hotel on Yeouido, Tuesday. ST Unitas has acquired one of the largest U.S. education service firms.

/ Courtesy of ST Unitas

By Lee Hyo-sik

ST Unitas has acquired The Princeton Review, a major U.S. education service firm, as its first major step toward becoming a global powerhouse in the rapidly expanding online-based exam preparation market.

Korea's largest operator of private learning institutes, which offer English, Chinese and other foreign language courses as well as various civil-service tests, plans to make the best use of the Massachusetts-based company's extensive database and knowhow on the scholastic aptitude test (SAT) and other standardized U.S. exams. ST Unitas also offers a range of lectures online.

"We are happy to announce that ST Unitas and The Princeton Review have become one family," ST Unitas CEO Yoon Sung-hyuk told reporters, Tuesday. "We will together build a global education platform that offers innovative, information-technology-based, tailored services to our users across the globe."

Yoon declined to say how much his company paid to secure management control of the U.S. firm. According to investment bank analysts, however, ST Unitas reportedly paid about 100 billion won ($87 million).

Founded in April 2010, ST Unitas has become the nation's largest education firm, generating 400 billion won in sales last year and employing more than 1,200. Its private learning institutes offers courses on TOEIC and other language proficiency tests as well as on civil administrative exams, both offline and online.

The Princeton Review, founded in 1981, is a college admission services company offering test preparation services, tutoring and admissions resources, online courses and books. Besides the United States, it has set up a presence in 20 countries.

"We believe that now is the right time for us to enter the United States, the world's largest education market. The U.S. online education industry has been expanding rapidly over the past five years," Yoon said. "Given that the majority of IT platforms that dominate the global market, such as Facebook and Uber, were born in the United States, we decided to create our platform in the world's largest economy. This is another reason why we decided to acquire The Princeton Review."

The CEO said ST Unitas will take advantage of the U.S. education service firm's vast database and its extensive overseas network to become a leader in the $250 billion online education market.

"We have been successful in Korea because we work hard to offer top-quality education materials to our customers at affordable prices," Yoon said. "What we would like to do is take this business model in cooperation with The Princeton Review to the United States and other countries. I have no doubt ST Unitas will become a top global education platform provider."

The Princeton Review CEO Kate Walker said that in cooperation with ST Unitas, the company will continue to expand its market share and secure technology leadership in the rapidly growing online education market.
PRESS RELEASE

Lavrov Discusses U.S. and Syria Settlement with Putin

Feb. 13, 2017 (EIRNS)Russian President Putins website en.kremlin.ru yesterday reported his meeting with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Feb. 10, "Diplomats Day" in Russia. Lavrov gave this analysis to Putin then: "We are currently in a situation which is much more favorable to start working on a real settlement of the crisis [in Syria]. We were close to it in September 2016, but the Americans failed to implement an agreement which had been coordinated with us earlier, which once more confirmed the Obama Administrations inability to negotiate on many issues.

"They [U.S.] took an agreement and then couldnt do anything [within it]," Lavrov said,

"largely because of Obamas reluctance to have an argument with some countries in the region. We know that Turkey has influence, and continues to influence a very considerable number of field commanders."

Lavrov emphasized that Russia is not trying

"to undermine the UNs efforts, although our initiative was largely based on [others] inaction, we understand that many more sides should be involved in peace talks than those currently working on the [Astana] negotiations."

There should be more participation from Syria and "players from the outside."

In those talks, he added, the "whims" of some Syrian opposition group leaders, "especially those who have long been living outside Syria," should not be taken into consideration. "If it once again becomes a hindrance to hold UN talks, then the organizations reputation will be seriously damaged," he said.

Lavrov said that U.S. representatives were present as monitors at the recent meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, and he confirmed that an invitation had been sent to Washington to take part in the talks, once a new team on the Middle East and Syria is formed under the incoming Administration.

"If U.S. President Trumps main priority in the international arena is fighting terrorism, then it should be admitted that in Syria, not only the Syrian army supported by the Russian Air Force are fighting ISIL, but also Hezbollah groups supported by Iran. There is a choice of priorities here." "I am sure that Donald Trump is absolutely sincere when he every time confirms his determination to defeat ISIS. We are ready to cooperate with him,"

Lavrov concluded, and he expressed the hope that cooperation between Russian military and American military in Syria "will soon start to form again."
Three thieves sliced through skylights with glasscutters, then rappelled into a London warehouse to steal  not jewels or cash  but antique books worth $2.5 million, the Guardian reports.

Londons Metropolitan Police Service confirmed that the heist had taken place in late January. It was first reported to the public by the Daily Mail newspaper on Friday.

Thieves eluded motion sensor alarms as they went through the skylights then used ropes to rappel 40 feet down into the warehouse, where they pried open six specific containers, leaving the rest untouched. One report estimated they spent several hours selecting their loot and escaped with 160 books.

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Of the scores of books the thieves absconded with, the most valuable was a copy of De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium by Nicolaus Copernicus, dating from 1566. The book, in which the astronomer presented his then-controversial theory that the earth revolves around the sun, is worth about $268,000.

The thieves also made off with a 1569 copy of Dantes The Divine Comedy, and books by Leonardo da Vinci and Sir Isaac Newton.

The stolen books were owned by three different dealers and stored at a warehouse near Heathrow airport. All were going to be flown to the U.S. for the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in Oakland, which took place last weekend.

The Guardian quoted a source familiar with the case, who theorized that whoever was behind the heist had extensive knowledge of book collecting.

They would be impossible to sell to any reputable dealer or auction house, the source said. Were not talking Picassos or Rembrandts or even gold bars  these books would be impossible to fence.... There must be a collector behind it. The books belong to three different dealers working at the very top of the market and altogether they form a fantastic collection.

Chris Marinello, the CEO of a group called Art Recovery International, told the Guardian that the thieves might try to cut up the books, making them more difficult to identify.

The books might then be broken up, he said. Some of the illuminated manuscripts and engravings contained therein might be traded in the art market, where many buyers dont know they were cut out of rare books. It becomes a lot more difficult to trace.

Marinello countered the theory that a book collector was behind the theft.

I think this was more likely similar to the Lufthansa heist in Goodfellas, where somebody had inside information that they were being kept in a warehouse and were particularly valuable, he said. Then someone allowed that information to leak out, and criminals took advantage.

London police have not announced any suspects in the burglary.
The undercover investigation youre about to see today is going to make you really angry, because were exposing the worst kind of scam  one that takes advantage of those most vulnerable, stealing not just their money, but their hope, their dignity.

Thats how Dr. Mehmet Oz introduces a series of segments scheduled to run on his daytime television program Tuesday. His quarry: those for-profit clinics offering supposed stem cell treatments for an implausible host of diseases  unproven, unlikely and very expensive cures.

We reported on this noisome corner of medical pseudo-science last year, outlining the absence of scientific support for their treatment and their intensive marketing pitches to hopeful patients. We reported that in a survey of stem cell tourism, stem cell scientist Paul Knoepfler of UC Davis and bioethicist Leigh Turner of the University of Minnesota identified 570 clinics around the U.S. offering stem cell interventions. Scores were concentrated in such hotspots as Beverly Hills, Phoenix and New York. Many were offering unproven therapies featuring the term stem cell as a marketing veneer.

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They are not telling us the truth.... Mortgage your house and borrow from your friends credit cards  thats not how medicine should be practiced.  Dr. Mehmet Oz

Dr. Ozs investigation of these clinics is a worthy addition to public awareness. Its must-viewing for patients and families desperate enough to contemplate turning to such clinics for succor, and for state and federal regulators and law enforcement agencies that should be riding herd on them but have almost universally given them a pass. Oz calls on the Food and Drug Administration and other regulators to step in and stop this now, thats how bad its become.

Weve been critical of Dr. Oz in the past for purveying untested medical nostrums, as have many other critics. But his investigation of the stem cell clinics is a model of public service. He musters his entire arsenal of crowd-pleasing techniques  his forceful, impassioned delivery, his cultivated aura of medical authority, and his credibility with his audience  to the best purpose.

The investigation is the product of the shows so-called medical unit and its chief of staff, Michael Crupain, a medical doctor and public health specialist who was hired from Consumer Reports about a year and a half ago. At one point during his research for the program Crupain dialed in to a webinar in which prospective patients were recruited by a clinic. It was like watching someone sell a time-share, he told me  an observation that made it into the show.

The three segments, which take up about half of Tuesdays scheduled program, include undercover visits to clinics in New York by Elizabeth Leamy, a reporter on the program, along with a former patient. At one point we see a clinic employee claim that hes treated 44 patients for multiple sclerosis, and every single patient had vast improvement. The investigators are pitched $15,000 treatments and encouraged to spread it out on their credit cards. (No insurer will cover these untested and unproven therapies.) One promoter seen on tape acknowledges to the undercover team, We dont know the exact mechanism of everything we do, but counsels them, We just know that it works, we use it. If it works and its safe [and]  its reasonable in cost, you know, why not?

Why not, indeed? Because the targets of these pitches are at the end of their rope, vulnerable to scamsters, and often have to make immense sacrifices to pay the fees. Doctors and others can prey on their vulnerability, Oz observes.

Oz displays a list of the conditions the clinics claim to treat  joint pain, autism, Parkinsons, Alzheimers, stroke, emphysema, and blindness, among many others. He explains that its impossible for a one-size-fits-all treatment to cure them all: It defies basic medical know-how, which means they are not telling us the truth. He lucidly describes their supposed technique, which involves extracting stem cells from the patients by liposuction, separating the stem cells by centrifuge and treating them with some sort of enzyme, then reinjecting them in the patients body and waiting for the concoction to do its magic.

He offers a withering assessment of doctors who claim to be engaged in clinical trials of stem cell treatments but ask you to give money upfront and mortgage your house and borrow from your friends credit cards  thats not how medicine should be practiced.

Oz is assisted by talk show host and multiple sclerosis patient Montel Williams and Sally Temple, a stem cell scientist who is president of the International Society for Stem Cell Research. Temple explains that real research into stem cell treatments takes years and aims to develop treatments that can receive FDA approval. She quite properly underscores the danger to legitimate research posed by bogus clinics offering medically dubious treatments.

Theyre saying they can cure a whole host of diseases, and we know they cant, she says. We are really concerned that its going to undermine the genuinely good work thats being done.

Crupain considers the stem cell investigation to be Dr. Oz at his best. Hes right.

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.
NBC News moved to shake up its management team Tuesday, putting the future of the news division in the hands of Noah Oppenheim, the executive in charge of the networks highly profitable morning show Today.

The respected 38-year-old news producer, who also has a successful career as a screenwriter, is replacing Deborah Turness as president of news. Turness, the former British television executive who arrived at NBC News in 2013 is returning to London, where she will run a new international news gathering venture for NBC News, which is looking to expand globally.

The leadership changes come at a critical time for NBC News. This fall, the division is creating a new network talk show for Megyn Kelly, the star anchor who was wooed away from Fox News. Successfully moving big name news talent to a new network has historically been challenging, so NBC News and Oppenheim will face heavy scrutiny when the show launches.

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But Oppenheim has already navigated difficult waters as executive-in-charge of Today, the networks venerable morning program that he is widely credited with rebuilding.

When he took over the program in early 2015, it was still reeling from a ratings drop that occurred after the messy departure of former anchor Ann Curry. Fans had defected over the handling of the longtime Today favorites exit.

Oppenheim, who had previously worked on the show from 2005 to 2008, became a stabilizing force after taking over. He brought more news content to the program  a move that came a time when many people who worked on the show believed it had become too soft as it chased ratings leader Good Morning America, the lighter and brighter competition on ABC.

Oppenheim is also responsible for simplifying the opening of the program and creating segments that make better use of the larger ensemble cast in the second hour.

Most importantly, Oppenheim made the main co-anchors Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie feel more comfortable, which is something that morning show viewers pick up on. Ratings at Today have stabilized in the last year and the program has regained its lead among viewers in the 25 to 54 age group coveted by advertisers.

Fixing Today is vital to NBC News as it produces nearly $500 million in ad revenue annually. Oppenheims reward is the presidents job that puts him in line to eventually succeed NBC News Chairman Andy Lack, who is 69.

Noah has done a fantastic job leading the Today, franchise, Lack said in his memo announcing Oppenheims promotion. He has honed the broadcast, and audiences have rewarded us for it.

Oppenheim, who reports to Lack, will still run Today while in his new role.

Oppenheims screenwriting credits include Jackie, the well-received 2016 release for Fox Searchlight that depicts former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in the days after her husbands assassination.

NBC also announced that it invested $30 million to take a 25% stake in Euronews, a global news-gathering service based in Lyon, France. Renamed Euronews NBC, the unit will give NBC coverage from nearly 500 journalists. It will also expand the reach of NBC News, putting its content in the 277 million homes that Euronews reaches globally, improving its ability to compete with rival CNN.

Turness will head the new international division. She had been hired as NBC News president when Pat Fili was running the division. But her influence waned after Fili was replaced by Lack, who was brought in to quell the turmoil that resulted from the scandal that took down former NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams.

Williams was permanently removed from the anchor chair in June 2015 after an internal investigation found that he lied on and off the air about his reporting experiences during the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq. He is now an anchor on NBCs cable news channel MSNBC.

Lack, who had previously overseen NBC News in the 1990s, a period that became its most successful in the networks history, became the top programming decision-maker once he arrived.

Before the Williams situation disrupted the division, Turness had steadied NBC News after a rocky start. Long timers at the news division were unhappy over her initial proposals, which included adding a studio audience to the Washington discussion show Meet the Press and putting a dog on Today. Meet the Press still has a closed set, but Today is already on its second dog.

NBC is making the moves while its in a position of ratings strength. Along with Today, the networks other high profile news programs Meet the Press and NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt are in first place in the 25 to 54 demographic. Its prime-time news magazine Dateline remains a profit center for the division as well.

stephen.battaglio@latimes.com

Twitter: @SteveBattaglio

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U .S.-based airlines last year had the lowest rate of lost luggage, canceled flights and passengers getting bumped off overbooked planes in decades, the U.S. Department of Transportation reported Tuesday.

But the number of discrimination complaints from passengers rose sharply in 2016 compared with the previous year, the federal agency reported.



For the record: An earlier version of this story included the category breakdown of passenger discrimination complaints filed by passengers against U.S. and international airlines but only the total number of complaints for U.S.-based carriers.

The rate of lost or mishandled luggage was 2.7 for every 1,000 passengers in 2016, down from the rate of 3.13 in 2015. It was the lowest rate since the Transportation Department began keeping track of the data in 1987.

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Seattle-based Alaska Airline had the biggest drop in the rate of lost luggage.

Airlines for America, a trade group for the nations biggest carriers, said airlines have been investing heavily in the last few years to improve their products and services, including new airplanes and luggage management systems.

Airlines share the same goals as our customers, which is to deliver passengers and their luggage to and from their destination as safely and efficiently as possible, said Vaughn Jennings, a spokesman for the group.

The rate of flights canceled last year dropped to 1.17%, down from 1.5% in 2015  the lowest rate in 22 years of comparable data, the agency reported. The rate of passengers denied boarding from overbooked flights dropped to 0.62 per 10,000 passengers in 2016, the lowest rate since 1995.

Industry experts noted that severe weather is usually to blame for most cancellations, and airlines faced fewer storms in 2016 than in previous years.

But not all airline statistics for 2016 were positive. The number of discrimination complaints filed by passengers against U.S. and international carriers jumped to 94 last year, compared with 65 in 2015, a 45% increase.

Of those complaints, 65 passengers said they were discriminated because of race, 12 because of national origin and eight based on religion, according to the Transportation Department. Seven complaints alleged sex discrimination and two were regarding color.

Our members do not tolerate discrimination in any form and, in fact, have been working collaboratively with DOT, civil rights organizations and other stakeholders to ensure the well-being of everyone who takes to the skies, Jennings said.

hugo.martin@latimes.com

To read more about the travel and tourism industries, follow @hugomartin on Twitter.
Zoot Suit, the landmark 1978 play by Luis Valdez that put the struggles of Mexican Americans front and center, is back where it originated at the Mark Taper Forum in an exhilarating revival that couldnt have come at a more opportune time.

It may be hard for 21st century theatergoers racking up credit-card debt to see Lin-Manuel Mirandas Hamilton to imagine the cultural impact of Zoot Suit when it first premiered nearly 40 years ago. But mainstream stages in those days werent exactly embracing Latino stories. Zoot Suit carved a path that Chicano theater artists such as Luis Alfaro and Culture Clash are more easily treading today.

The fight for artistic visibility continues, but what makes this revival of Zoot Suit especially urgent now is the way its story speaks so directly to the current political moment, when fundamental constitutional values are being tested and law enforcement and racial justice appear to be at loggerheads.

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Zoot Suit centers on events that followed what the tabloids dubbed the Sleepy Lagoon murder of Aug. 2, 1942. Los Angeles police rounded up Mexican American youths in an overreaction to a crime that served demagogic ends. Suspected gang members, who were presumed to have taken part in a violent altercation that may have led to a young mans death, were tried and convicted in a case that was exploited by politicians and sensationalized by the media.

The Zoot Suit riots of 1943, in which American servicemen and citizens attacked ethnic minorities dressed in a peacock manner that was considered unpatriotic during the war, could be linked to the fear and hostility that had been whipped up during the Sleepy Lagoon murder trial. The conviction was eventually overturned on appeal, a watershed legal victory for the Mexican American community that exposed the extent of bias in the criminal justice system.

Ladies and gentlemen, the play you are about to see is a construct of fact and fantasy, El Pachuco (Demian Bichir) announces at the start of Zoot Suit. Pachuco is the plays master of ceremonies, a trickster figure who represents the various voices bearing down on the protagonist, Henry Reyna (Matias Ponce), a character based on one of the men thrown in jail for the Sleepy Lagoon murder.

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Valdez, who directed an updated version of his script, creates a kaleidoscopic theatrical world around this documentary story to broaden the cosmology. The clarity of his moral voice, which resounds not only through the words of the characters but through the way the piece has been composed, is galvanizing.

When George (Brian Abraham), a lawyer for the defendants, says during his closing remarks at the trial, I have tried my best to defend what is most precious in our American society  a society now at war against the forces of racial intolerance and totalitarian injustice, the Taper audience responded as though the character were speaking at a rally today in Pershing Square.

As a play, Zoot Suit has weaknesses, the most noticeable being the handling of Henrys dramatic through line. His character is largely defined by what happens to him; its only in the later stages of the play that we come to know more about the personal conflicts besetting him. The way the court saga is parceled out seems lumpy in certain sections, meager in others. And Pachucos theatrical role is clearer than his dramatic function. (Hes meant to be slippery, but at times he just seems murky.)

Valdezs buoyant direction largely compensates for these deficiencies. The choreography by Maria Torres and the music direction by Daniel Valdez (who originated the role of Henry and now plays Henrys father, Enrique) contribute to the communal liveliness of the production. Music and dance keep things kinetic even when the drama become sluggish.

A streak of madcap political satire runs through Zoot Suit that made me think of the Italian playwright Dario Fo, who knew as well as any writer the subversive power of a shared laugh. Luis Valdez is working in a long tradition of populist theater that awakens audiences through humor and builds solidarity through shtick.

There is reverence too. Like August Wilsons great 10-play cycle chronicling African American life in the 20th century, Zoot Suit brings to the stage the rituals and daily routine of a marginalized community. Time spent with Henrys family is as integral to Valdezs vision as the court case itself.

What makes this revival of Zoot Suit especially urgent now is the way its story speaks so directly to the current political moment.

Fashion is obviously of crucial importance here. The zoot suit is a mark of pride in the flair and flamboyance of cultural style that directly challenges the more banal mainstream. Ann Closs-Farleys costumes offer variations on the long jackets and feather-spiked hats of these attention-grabbing ensembles.

The men strut on Christopher Acebos set, which in good Brechtian fashion keeps us mindful that the action is taking place on a stage. The scenic design makes artful use of incendiary newspaper headlines, sharpening our collective critical scrutiny of how the media gets locked into distorted narratives.

Press (Tom G. McMahon), the personification of yellow journalism, tries to persuade the jury that Los Angeles is in the midst of the biggest, most terrifying crime wave in its history. A crime wave that threatens to engulf the very foundations of our civic well-being. If these words sounds familiar, its because society is always looking for bad hombres to scapegoat.

Bichir (who was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in A Better Life) makes a snake-like El Pachuco, tempting Henry into rash actions and filling his head with doubts. Its a physical performance that could use a little more vocal heft, but unconscious figures are meant to skulk and Bichir does so with sinewy style.

Ponce portrays Henry as defensive and volatile, a guy whos always ready to reach for his switchblade. The characters circumstances dont permit much variation, but when Henry is forced to choose between his girlfriend, Della (Jeanine Mason), and the progressive journalist who has been helping him on his case, Alice Bloomfield (Tiffany Dupont), Ponce reveals new facets of a man damaged by a life that has deprived him of possibilities.

The strong supporting cast adds to the spirit of camaraderie that makes this revival of Zoot Suit such a timely gift to Los Angeles theatergoers.

         

Zoot Suit

Where: Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A.

When: 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays. (Call for exceptions.) Ends March 26.

Tickets: $25 to $99 (subject to change)

Information: (213) 628-2772 or www.centertheatregroup.org

Running time: 2 hours 25 minutes, including intermission

charles.mcnulty@latimes.com

Follow me @charlesmcnulty

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With the Academy Award nominations now out, the race is finally on to guess wildly about which of the nine nominated films will win the big enchilada, best picture. Of course you could read our Buzzmeter panelists (latimes.com/buzzmeter) or The Gold Standard column (latimes.com/theenvelope) for more educated perspectives. But wheres the fun in everyone calling it for La La Land already? We here at The Envelope figured that at this point, a backward glance might be just as useful in guessing at the future. Here, we compare each of this years contenders with a best picture winner from the past, looking for those commonalities that might offer insights into voters minds.

Arrival  Wall-E

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Not to diminish the dramatic elegance of this live-action feature, but no sci-fi film has won in the best picture category, and a paltry few winners have starred women, so we must stretch a bit further afield on this one. Women do often star in the animated feature winners, and the stories often tread in sci-fi or fantasy territory. In 2013s Frozen, a woman struggles to harness her supernatural powers while her world hangs in the balance. In 2008s winning Wall-E, the hero robot fights against ignorance on a universal level to save the future. In 2002s Spirited Away, the real and surreal comingle as a young girl fights to save those she loves.

Fences  Hamlet

With its theatrical study of a man weighed down by family turmoil and ancient rage, Fences has few comparisons. But in form if not theme, it bears a resemblance to 1948s Hamlet. Now hear us out. Yes, the tale of the melancholy Dane doesnt quite line up with that of the aggrieved Pittsburgher. But both are adapted plays written in the lyrical vernacular of their times by unquestionable masters of their craft  William Shakespeare in Hamlet, August Wilson in Fences. Both star men who are among the greatest actors of their respective generation  Laurence Olivier and Denzel Washington  who starred in the stage plays first. Both films are directed by their estimable stars. And each film features a ghostly presence  the first to disturb, the second to comfort.

Hacksaw Ridge  Braveheart

Director Mel Gibson makes it easy to find a companion piece with his own Braveheart, 1995s winner, about a man driven by his tenacious devotion to conscience and integrity, against an army of opposition (although in the case of Hacksaw Ridge, the army is his own). Here, as there, Gibson has not shied away from the ultra-graphic.

Hell or High Water  The Sting

In managing to be both deadly serious and insouciant, Hell or High Water is reminiscent of The Sting, 1973s winner. Both films reflect on the nature of wealth, greed, and class, and feature a set of charismatic scoundrels who fashion themselves after Robin Hood. Sure, theyre taking from the rich and evil to give to themselves, more or less, but sweet revenge is another element in both stories. Notably, neither film backs off from the darker side of their characters adventures. And Chris Pine flashes his baby blues with as much panache as Paul Newman.

Hidden Figures  Gentlemens Agreement

This tale of how a brilliant group of black women changed the course of history despite unspeakable oppression, and then were given no credit for it, is a powerful crowd-pleaser. And since no previous best picture winners have starred black women, its presence on the list of nominees highlights yet more hidden corners. The story finds echoes in 1947s Gentlemans Agreement, in which journalist Gregory Peck exposed the insidious way that anti-Semitism was woven into the fabric of American life. Both films feature a quiet but determined battle for equality that changed the way white Americans looked at something that most had never noticed before. We can throw in a dash of 2001s A Beautiful Mind, for all of that brilliant and incomprehensible scribbling on chalkboards.

La La Land  An American in Paris

An American in Paris (1951) was one of several acknowledged cinematic influences on La La Land, in style and substance. La La Land is as fervent a love letter to Los Angeles as American was to Paris. Sure, La Las stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone dont have the chops of Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron (who does?), but they share the same sweet enthusiasm, and their films the same whipped lightness.

Lion  Oliver!

Lion tells the story of a cherubic innocent named Saroo, lost and tossed into a churning world of peril in India before hes rescued just in time by, well, love. Saroo suffered and survived much like another angelic child, the eponymous star of 1968s Oliver! If only young Oliver had had access to Google Maps.

Manchester by the Sea  Ordinary People

With its unflinching look at loss and remorse, and a tiny glimpse of redemption, Manchester by the Sea conjures up another haunting family film -- 1980s Ordinary People. Both films also had the temerity to include humor with their heartbreak, and both featured young actors in breakout roles.

Moonlight  Slumdog Millionaire

Can you believe The 400 Blows didnt win best picture in 1960? Neither can we. There goes our comparison. Instead, lets turn to 2008 winner Slumdog Millionaire for its thematic resonance to Moonlight. Each film shows years in the life of a child, and then a young man, facing near-impossible odds to raise himself out of the painful world he was born into. Each film used different actors at different ages to broaden their storys timeline. Young Chirons final payoff in Moonlight may not be quite as big as Jamals in Millionaire, but they are just as miraculous.

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The first scene of a movie is often its defining moment: In subtle and large ways it lets the audience know where they are, where theyre going  and often, what to expect along the way. But deciding on that first major statement can be a challenge; sometimes, a main character dancing to Thriller in the bathroom mirror is the wrong choice.

Here, directors and editors from nine awards-season contenders share why they began their films as they did  and what alternate openings were abandoned along the way.

Tom Cross (editor, La La Land)

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First scene: Amid an all-too-familiar massive L.A. freeway backup, a musical number breaks out and our hero and heroine meet cute while sparring with one another in their cars.

Revelations: Damien [Chazelle, director] wanted to introduce our characters in a memorable way, but also their world: La La Land, says Cross. Our characters dream big, so it was important that the film start with a bang.

Alternate reality? The original plan was to open with a main title sequence that would serve as an overture. We eventually lifted out the overture and put the traffic number ahead of the intro. What was airtight on the page had been transformed through the shooting, and re-editing achieved the original spirit.

Nat Sanders (editor, Moonlight)

First scene: Drug dealer Juan chats with one of his corner boys, then observes a group of boys chasing the main character, Chiron.

Revelations: This is a low-income, African American community where crime and addiction are a normal part of life, says Sanders. These influences are eventually going to play a large role in the coming-of-age of Chiron. It also establishes that Juan isnt going to be quite what you expect.

Alternate reality? There was a lot of discussion in the edit room about whether this was the best way to open the film, says Sanders, who notes that one experiment had Chiron doing Michael Jacksons Thriller routine in the bathroom mirror. It was definitely charming  but tonally didnt really belong in the film.

Jennifer Lame (editor, Manchester by the Sea)

First scene: Adult brothers Lee and Joe and Joes young son Patrick spend the day on a fishing boat as Lee gently teases the boy.

Revelations: It allows the audience to be introduced to Lee [Casey Affleck] the way he was before we meet him in the present, says Lame. On a structural level, it establishes that we will be showing past and present scenes with no obvious clues.

Alternate reality? The scripted beginning is various shots of the ocean and town where Lee used to live, and then Lee shoveling snow and doing handyman duties. The scene on the boat was added later once we had finally figured out the best way to make the flashbacks work in the film.

Joe Walker (editor, Arrival)

First scene: A montage of the life of Hannah, the daughter of protagonist Louise (Amy Adams), which covers her birth to her death in her teenage years.

Revelations: I find it remarkable how Amy charms us all, says Walker. In a bit of ad-libbed play with Hannah dressed as a sheriff, Louise creeps forward wiggling her fingers, her face alive with the fun of it. Its a tiny symbol of the entire story: teaching to trust someone approaching with superior force.

Alternate reality? It was one of the earliest sequences, and yet the cut never changed throughout the year we spent making the film. The first time I showed it to [director] Denis Villeneuve, we both cried. Pretty much every other frame of the movie underwent massive upheaval, but never the opening.

David Mackenzie (director, Hell or High Water)

First scene: A beat-up Camaro drives behind a sleepy West Texas towns bank; two men emerge from the car and push an employee into the bank as she unlocks it for the day.

Revelations: This was the first shot we did on the first day of shooting, so it was a test, says Mackenzie. I was able to shoot most of the outlaw element of the film sequentially. I fell in love with the process because it allows everyone to tune into the arc of the story in a far more engaged and direct way than the normal out-of-sequence shooting.

Alternate reality? I thought about starting with a wide-high shot of the car in the Texan landscape, but rejected it because it felt overly grandiose and slightly cliched.

Thelma Schoonmaker (editor, Silence)

First scene: Clouds rising from a hot spring reveals men in priests clothing being scalded alive for refusing to renounce Christianity.

Revelations: During the editing process, we experimented with different ways to intercut Father Ferreiras [Liam Neeson] apostasy into a scene where he tries to persuade Father Rodrigues [Andrew Garfield] into also abandoning Christianity, says Schoonmaker. Understanding the terrible pressures put on Ferreira as he tries to save the lives of other Christians makes one wonder if he has truly given up his faith.

Alternate reality? The original script, by Jay Cocks and director Martin Scorsese, featured the apostasy of Ferreira in the beginning, but that was moved to later in the film. Marty and I dont always adhere to the script during the editing. If it is better to drop a scene, or move it to another position  we have no hesitation to do that if it will make the film work better.

Sebastian Sepulveda (editor, Jackie)

First scene: A journalist is welcomed into Jackies home, where she has lived since leaving the White House and they discuss the interview.

Revelations: It establishes that this interview is the present and were going to jump to other moments of Jackies life from that moment, says Sepulveda. Once we settle the characters and the main timeline, we can start playing with the timeline and involving the emotions of the audience.

Alternate reality? Multiple versions for opening the film were attempted: the entrance of Jackie into the White House post-assassination; Jackie watching the documentary Four Days in November at her home in Hyannis Port. But when I work in the editing room, I never look back at the script. You have to play with your footage.

Mike Mills (screenwriter/director, 20th Century Women)

First scene: A mother and her son stand in a supermarket parking lot and watch as her ex-husbands and his fathers car goes up in flames.

Revelations: Its like a funeral for what happened to her marriage and what happened to the fathers role in the family, says Mills. It situates them in time  this Depression-era mother talking about Casablanca and Louis Armstrong, talking to her punk-rock era son.

Alternate reality? Im not precious about my stuff. I try other beginnings often. But I love the burning car as a way to say, Theres no dad here and now the story begins. I love how its in a supermarket parking lot, where nothing bad is supposed to happen.

John Gilroy (editor, Rogue One)

First scene: Imperial Director Krennick tracks former employee Galen Erso, who now lives with his wife and daughter, Jyn, on another planet. But Krennick wants the scientist back to complete the Death Star.

Revelations: This deadly confrontation is the real key to understanding Jyn throughout the movie, whether you are clocking her ambivalence as an adult or her rekindled love and admiration for her father, says Gilroy. We definitely did give the beginning a space western feel  a homesteader and his family confronted by a group of bad men on a desolate plain.

Alternate reality? Rogue was always trying to push the boundaries of what a Star Wars movie could be. That was intentional. We engineered our opening so that an informational, back-story crawl was not important or needed.

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Cruel stories of youth tie together a pair of movies nominated for the foreign language Academy Award. The Australian Tanna, directed by Bentley Dean and Martin Butler, re-creates the legend of two star-crossed lovers who run afoul of tribal custom on a remote South Pacific island. Denmarks Land of Mine, directed by Martin Zandvliet, exposes the plight of adolescent German prisoners of war forced to clear landmines at the end of World War II. Heres a look at both films.

Tanna

The tiny South Pacific island of Tanna, part of the Republic of Vanuatu, is four hours by plane from Australia. In 2003, Bentley Dean visited to make a television documentary. It really just captured my imagination, said Dean, who was taken with the rapturous tropical landscape, which includes an active volcano. I thought, Ive got to find an excuse to come back here.

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And so he did. Tanna, which Dean co-directed with Martin Butler, is an immersion in the culture and folklore of the Yakel people, who were active collaborators in developing a drama based on real events: a kind of grass-skirted Romeo and Juliet.

Marie Wawa, left, and Mungau Dain in a scene from Tanna. (Philippe Penel / Lightyear Entertainment via Associated Press)

The filmmakers introduced their intentions by showing the Yakel the 2006 Australian film Ten Canoes, a landmark Aboriginal-language production, likewise made with a non-professional, indigenous cast. It was the first film the islanders had ever seen, and it made a solid impression.

They were keen to start immediately, Butler said. They are extremely proud of their culture and happy to expose it to the world.

The story arose early in Deans seven-month stay on the island, at a fiery tribal summit where the right of couples to marry out of love, rather than be bound by the tradition of arranged marriage, was formally recognized.

The new leniency was born of tragedy. Three decades before, two lovers defied the chiefs. They ran away, were dragged back, and ran away again, and did kill themselves, said Dean, who doubled as cinematographer in a three-person crew. No sooner had they died, a shaman received a song, which is in the film. People have been singing that song ever since.

While most of the cast embraced their roles with gusto, the filmmakers ran into an issue with the couple who play the young lovers. To express yourself in an amorous way is strictly taboo, Dean explained, noting a cultural barrier against public displays of affection. The performers, who were not together in real life, were understandably reluctant.

The chiefs ordered them to do it, Dean continued. Then they relaxed and got into the parts so much I was worried there might be an on-set affair.

Land of Mine

Digging into one of the darkest corners of Danish history, writer-director Martin Zandvliet sheds daylight on a tragic episode in the aftermath of World War II.

I wanted to tell a story that not only didnt the world know about, but that the Danes didnt know about, the Danish filmmaker said. Land of Mine, opening in L.A. on Friday, dramatizes the plight of young German prisoners of war, some of them barely teenagers, made to comb the beaches on the west coast of Denmark for thousands of landmines buried there by Nazi troops. Its quite crazy no one had taken it up.

The boys, many of them conscripted near wars end, lacked the necessary expertise for such hazardous duty. Their task, forced on them in violation of the Geneva Conventions, amounted to a death sentence.

We like to portray ourselves as a good and healing nation, said Zandvliet, whose story began to take shape after he examined the gravestones of some of the soldiers. I was walking around cemeteries, and I found out how young these boys were.

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Historical research underpins narrative invention in the film, which boasts an ensemble of new faces and acclaimed Danish actor Roland Mller (A Hijacking) as Sgt. Rasmussen, whose cruel and even violent treatment of the boys gradually gives way to compassion.

The location is a beach where such events happened during the war, shot by cinematographer Camilla Hjelm Knudsen, the directors wife, in stunning natural light, the better to offset the grim consequences at play.

The day before we started shooting we found a real mine, Zandvliet said. So the tension was high when the actors were lying there in the sand with their iron sticks. Is it a real mine or one we put there?

The filmmaker said he looked to the past to raise an all-too-timely question. They are building borders everywhere in Europe now, he said. Look at the way we treat political refugees, the way people hate in general. Sometimes its easy to look at a movie about something that happened 70 years ago. Oops, we did it then. Lets not do it again  we are doing it again.



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The movie business can often be cutthroat. But this Oscar season may be most distinct for the number of loyal friendships that have imprinted on the nominated works.

Whether its the longstanding collaboration between La La Lands director Damien Chazelle and composer Justin Hurwitz or Denzel Washingtons and Viola Davis patience in bringing Fences from Broadway to the big screen, there are unique cinematic families that have found the spotlight over the last few months.

One of those is the 13-year collaboration between director Barry Jenkins and cinematographer James Laxton. The latter has shot every short and feature Jenkins has made, culminating in the much lauded best picture nominee, Moonlight, the coming-of-age story of a gay black man growing up in the drug-infested Liberty City area of Miami.

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 The trailer for Moonlight.

Laxton and Jenkins attended Florida State University at the same time and have worked together ever since. And it should be noted that Adele Romanski, also a Florida State alum and Laxtons wife, is a producer on Moonlight. For this particular film, Laxton had to find a way to portray three eras in the life of its main character, Chiron (played chronologically by Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders and Trevante Rhodes), with Miami as a backdrop.

The big rooted concept behind the visual approach to the film was this idea of immersiveness and this idea of subjective perspectives, Laxton says. The attempt was to create a visual language that put the audience directly in the experience of Chiron. Theres even moments when he looks into a lens and breaks that fourth wall, and you have characters even speaking into the lens at times.

The naturalism and that realism in the film comes directly from shooting in Miami specifically, in real locations.

Laxton and Jenkins collaborated on a number of standout moments, including Juan (Mahershala Ali) teaching Little Chiron (Hibbert) how to swim in the ocean and the shot of Chirons drug-addicted mother, Paula (Naomie Harris), screaming in slow motion against the pink neon light spilling out behind her. But there is one remarkable scene that wowed even the most astute cinephiles. In the films second act, a teenage Chiron (Sanders) has a life-changing moment with his friend Kevin (Jharrel Jerome) on South Beach under the light of the moon. It was shot on the beach at night and Laxton says it was the one scene he was most nervous about.

Its rare when you approach a film when one of the most important scenes in the film is also the most challenging, Laxton says. I was very apprehensive about it and knew a great deal of forethought and planning and resources had to be allocated to that scene.

 WATCH: When Barry Jenkins directed Naomie Harris in Moonlight, he realized that following his emotional response to serendipitous moments in front of the camera was sometimes more important than strictly following the script.

The problem? The beach had no man-made lights illuminating it. Laxton remembers Jenkins had been certain theyd have enough ambient light spilling from the nearby clubs and hotels and bars. That wasnt the case.

In the end, with my meter, nothing was reading. I knew then I needed to provide everything if it was going to be photographable within the scene, Laxton says. Which was daunting, but at the same time, in some respects, very creatively freeing too, because now we can invent what moonlight looks like for us in the film. Obviously, its the name of the movie. Its an incredibly important image in the film. It evokes a tonality and an emotional chord that is not only important but lays the groundwork for so much emotional value that comes throughout the film.

The solution came in the form of a large soft box with 14 LED lights known as flo flos that was suspended over the actors. Because it was exceptionally windy during the beach shoot the box was only about 12 feet off the ground. That caused Laxton to have to dim the lights more than he expected, which, in the end, actually created a very different quality of light that worked really well for us.

After almost a decade as a professional cinematographer, Moonlight has become Laxtons calling card and hes been rewarded with his first Oscar and American Society of Cinematographers Award nominations. But finding the right next project is more important to him than landing a guaranteed blockbuster.

Moonlight wanted from me what my voice is, I think, on some level. I found that with Moonlight and I found that with Barry. Finding that with a director is super special, Laxton says. While Ive seen and read some fantastic screenplays and met with some directors that Im massive fans of, I need that next movie to need something from me that I want to give.

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The writers behind Moonlight, The Night Manager and The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story earned top honors at the 29th USC Libraries Scripter Awards.

The Scripter Award, established in 1988, recognizes adapted screenplays and their original source material. The award is given to both the author and screenwriter, acknowledging the collaborative process.

Screenwriter Barry Jenkins took the film honors Saturday for Moonlight with playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney, who wrote In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue.

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I love that this award is for the adaptation because I feel like blending Tarells voice with mine ... has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, said Jenkins, who accepted via video from Britain.

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour 

Moonlight beat out Arrival, Fences, Hidden Figures and Lion.

In the television category, voters were split between The Night Manager and The People v. O.J. Simpson.

The Night Manager screenwriter David Farr and novelist John le Carre shared the top prize with The People v. O.J. Simpson screenwriters Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, who adapted Jeffrey Toobins nonfiction book The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson.

Other television finalists included the writers and authors behind Game of Thrones, The Man in the High Castle and Orange Is the New Black.

Writer-director Carl Reiner received the 2017 Literary Achievement Award, and Kathleen McCarthy Kostlan was named the 2017 Ex Libris Award winner.

tracy.brown@latimes.com

Twitter: @tracycbrown
Give designer Philipp Plein credit where credit is due. The man knows how to make an unforgettable first impression. To mark his New York Fashion Week debut on Monday night, the German-born, Switzerland-based designer, who traditionally presents his collections in Milan, turned the foyer of the New York Public Library into a deliciously bizarre, living, breathing repository of 21st century American popular culture, complete with a star-spangled building facade, entrance steps lined with a dozen living, breathing, torch-wielding, all-green Statues of Liberty, an Elvis impersonator (Jay Allan) and the Naked Cowboy (the underwear-wearing, guitar-playing stage name of Robert John Burck), thrown in for good measure.

Just inside the front door, Plein assembled one of the most eclectic front-row lineups of all time: Madonna and photographer Steven Klein sat cheek by jowl with Kylie Jenner and Tyga, while Paris Hilton and sister Nicky Hilton Rothschild were perched not far away. Diagonally across the runway was Tiffany Trump under the watchful eye of her Secret Service detail  and less than a half-dozen seats away from rapper Fat Joe. And that doesnt include the high-profile folks who would eventually (more than an hour after the scheduled start time) hit the runway on Pleins behalf. Among them were Jeremy Meeks (also known as the Hot Mugshot Guy who became an Internet sensation), New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola (fresh off his Super Bowl win), Sofia Richie, top-hatted and masked graffiti artist Alec Monopoly, photographer Sebastian Faena and rappers Young Thug, Desiigner and Fetty Wap.

Tyga, from left, Kylie Jenner, Madonna and Steven Klein sit front row at the Philipp Plein runway show. (Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for Philipp Plein)

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When the show did finally start, it was kicked off by rapper Nas who took Plein on a sort of pre-show victory lap around the room; their arms slung over each others shoulders and convivially slapping hands with front-row VIPs.

In a rambling, two-minute address, Plein, who has a Beverly Hills store on Rodeo Drive, repeated (but didnt actually answer) the question scrawled across the look books at each seat (Who the ... is Philipp Plein????), thanked the crowd and voiced his resolve to make New York Fashion Week great again, presumably by welcoming him with open arms. (We get that it was one of the weeks many riffs on President Trumps Make America Great Again slogan, but its hardly the kind of shade-throwing likely to endear him to the local fashion community.)

At left, Robert John Burck, better known as the Naked Cowboy, and Elvis impersonator Jay Allan perform outside the New York Public Library before the Philipp Plein show on Monday. At right, the designer, (left) speaks to show guests with rapper Nas at his side. (Diane Bondareff / Associated Press)

The mens and womens fall/winter 2017 runway collection that followed, accompanied by live music courtesy of the Kills, was grounded in a palette of black with pops of red and white accent colors. It was heavy on the shiny puffer jackets, some in shiny metallics and others with fur-trimmed hoods, many long enough to touch the floor, some tightly cropped at the rib cage.

There were bomber jackets (some with random teddy bear appliques on the back), sequin-covered dresses (one memorable black dress had a fishtail hem that was embroidered with orange and red sequin flame details), distressed and bedazzled denim, screenprinted T-shirts (several bearing the image of an upside-down American flag), turtlenecks, thigh-high lace-up suede boots and the name Plein plastered across piece after piece in sequins or crystals.

The words Neighborhood Kings were nearly as ubiquitous, rendered in a typeface that could have been plucked right off the cover of a 1990s heavy metal band.

Looks from the Philipp Plein fall/winter 2017 runway collection presented at the New York Public Library on Monday during New York Fashion Week. (Albert Urso / Getty Images)

The collection was full of prints and patches that referenced the United States in general (the eye-and-pyramid design from the $1 bill appeared as an allover print; the Great Seal of the United States was tweaked to include Pleins name on T-shirt prints) and New York specifically via patches shaped like the Statue of Liberty silhouette with the phrase An Empire State of Plein emblazoned across a handful of pieces).

According to the post-show notes, the collection was intended as the designers personal love letter to the neighborhoods of New York, though in all honesty the vibe we were feeling was more along the lines of Liberace-level Goth-luxe streetwear, and we havent spent enough time in New York to know what neighborhood that would be, though it most certainly would include a New York souvenir shop.

Although its hardly our cup of puffer jacket, the over-the-top, Chinchilla-and-sequin-trimmed collection seemed in keeping with the designers Fashion Week debut, and it certainly went a long way toward answering that original question.

Aesthetic-wise, it would have been all but impossible to leave the New York Public Library on Monday night without knowing exactly who the heck Philipp Plein is.

adam.tschorn@latimes.com

For more musings on all things fashion and style, follow me at @ARTschorn.

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From a new uni restaurant in Torrance to a new Westside cocktail lounge, heres whats happening in the L.A. food and drink world:

Uni party: The South Bay area has a new destination for uni lovers. Miyabi Uni, a sea-urchin-centric restaurant in Torrance, is now open. It should fill the gap left when Maruhide Uni Club in Redondo Beach, the restaurant that sourced its sea urchin from the Long Beach Maruhide Marine Products company, closed last May. And Miyabi Unis executive chefs, Isao Minami and Hisao Kasama, worked as executive chefs for the Maruhide Uni Club when it opened in 2013. Uni is the star of more than 20 dishes on the Miyabi Uni menu, inclduing uni tempura, uni chawanmushi (Japanese steamed egg custard), uni pasta, uni soup and uni donburi bowls.1231 Cabrillo Ave, Suite 101, Torrance, (424) 376-5135, www.miyabiuni.com.

Celebrity dinner: The Ponte, Scott Conant and Stephane Bombets new Beverly Boulevard restaurant, is hosting a charity dinner to benefit No Kid Hungry and the Human Rights Society Thursday. The dinner will take place before the restaurant opens later this month. Participating chefs include Ludo Lefebvre (Trois Mec), Evan Funke and Vartan Abgaryan (71 Above) with hosts Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Lance Bass and Lea Delaria. The price per ticket is $125 per person and includes four courses served family-style. An additional wine pairing is available for $35. Seatings are available between 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Reservations can be made online. 8265 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, www.thepontela.com.

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French sugar: La Tropezienne Bakery, a location of the French boulangerie and patisserie thats been making pastries in Saint-Tropez since 1992, is now open on South La Brea Avenue. The bakery serves its namesake pastry, the cream-filled brioche tarte tropezienne, along with quiche, sandwiches and plenty of bread. There are also plans to open an additional location on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood. 211 S. La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, latropeziennebakery.com.

Spanish farewell: Bar Pintxo, the Spanish tapas restaurant chef Joe Miller opened in Santa Monica a decade ago, will close this month. Miller, who was also chef-owner of the late Joes Restaurant in Venice Beach, made the announcement on Bar Pintxos website. The neighborhood restaurant was a favorite known for its small plates, paellas and Spanish wines. 109 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 458-2012, www.barpintxo.com.

Cheers: Neat, a new cocktail bar, is now open on West Pico Boulevard in the former Liquid Kitty space. The bar boasts an impressive selection of mezcal, bourbon and scotch. General manager Jameson Algatt created the bars original cocktails, which he serves alongside a list of classics, including the Sazerac and Penicillin. 11780 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 570-2869.

Bread, bread, bread: Manresa Bread, the bakery that started in chef David Kinchs three-Michelin star Los Gatos restaurant Manresa, is coming to SoCal for two bread pop-ups. Head baker and partner Avery Ruzicka will be at Esters Wine Shop & Bar on Feb. 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with bread, pastries, sandwiches and toast she will make with chef Jeremy Fox, who is also the chef at Rustic Canyon Wine Bar and Seasonal Kitchen in Santa Monica. Then Ruzicka will collaborate with Akira Akuto and Kick Montgomery of the late Osso in downtown to create more bread, pastries, sandwiches and pasta at Baroo, chef Kwang Uhs restaurant in Hollywood. The second pop-up will be from on Feb. 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information visit www.manresabread.com.

Still hungry? Mr. Holmes Bakehouse, makers of the cruffin (croissant and muffin hybrid), will open a location in Union Market at the District in Tustin on Saturday. High Roller Tiki Lounge, a new hidden bar located behind Sort This Out Cellars wine tasting room in Solvang, is now open. Chef Suzanne Goin, Caroline Styne and chef de cuisine Javier Espinoza will hold their annual Cassoulet Night at Lucques on March 5. Sweet Rose Creamerys Shiho Yoshikawa and chocolatier Valerie Gordon of Valerie Confections are making what they are calling ice-cream-inspired chocolate bars together. And a new chocolate shop called KC Chocolatier is open in Santa Monica.

Jenn.Harris@latimes.com

Twitter: @Jenn_Harris_

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USC names retired aerospace executive Wanda Austin as acting president, announces Nikias departure By Harriet Ryan USC appointed a retired aerospace executive as interim president and laid out a detailed plan for selecting a permanent leader Tuesday, ending speculation about whether outgoing President C.L. Max Nikias might remain in the post. Nikias, embattled over his administrations handling of a campus gynecologist accused of sexually abusing patients, relinquished his duties after a meeting of USCs board. The trustees tapped one of their own, Wanda Austin, an alumna and former president of the Aerospace Corp., to temporarily run the university. The trustees also approved the formation of a search committee and the hiring of firm Isaacson, Miller to coordinate the selection of a successor. A second search company, Heidrick & Struggles, will also advise trustees. Read More Facebook

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Ex-student sues elite Brentwood School after teacher is charged with sexually abusing him By Richard Winton A former student sued the elite Brentwood School on Monday in the wake of a female teacher being charged with repeatedly having sex with the minor, alleging that other faculty members encouraged the unlawful behavior and failed to report it to authorities. The lawsuit accuses the private school, whose students include the children of many of Hollywoods elite and L.A.s powerful, of acting negligently and allowing Aimee Palmitessa to abuse and batter the teenager sexually. The suit alleges that the student was abused in summer 2017 after one of the schools counselors offered words of encouragement to the then-17-year-old, identified in the suit as only John Doe, to engage in an illegal relationship with the teacher. Read More Facebook

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Civil jury vindicates fired Montebello school executives in whistleblower case By Howard Blume The Montebello school district is in dire straits  at risk of insolvency and under apparent criminal investigation. An outside audit in July found some teachers earning more than $200,000 a year, as well as improper raises, excess paid vacation time and inappropriate overtime, sick leave and car allowances. Fixing the district and pinpointing blame could take time. Read More Facebook

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L.A. schools fall short on safety measures, new report warns By Howard Blume After the mass shooting at Floridas Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February, Los Angeles school officials reassured parents that much had been done to keep local schools safe. California had tougher gun laws, after all, and the school district paid close attention to students mental health. But a new report issued Monday by a panel convened to take a close look offers some cause for concern, flagging inconsistent campus safety measures, thinly spread mental health staff and inadequate coordination between the school district and other public agencies. With the stakes this high, we must strive to do better, said L.A. City Atty. Mike Feuer, who assembled the panel. Read More Facebook

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L.A. school district says more are graduating, but rate may not show it By Howard Blume The L.A. Unified School District has hopes of continuing its winning streak this year with another record graduation rate, but the official numbers may not show it. A senior district administrator warned the board Tuesday that graduation rates were likely to decline 2% to 3% across the state, even though L.A. Unified is likely doing better than ever in producing graduates, he said. The issue is that the state will now count high school students who transfer to adult school as dropouts, said Oscar Lafarga, who heads the districts office of data and accountability. Previously, schools treated these students as though they had simply enrolled in another high school, he said. Read More Facebook

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Betsy DeVos to California: Not so fast on that federal education plan By Joy Resmovits In April, Californias top education officials breathed a sigh of relief. After months of debate and back-and-forth with Betsy DeVos staff, they had finalized a plan to satisfy a major education law that aims to make sure all students get a decent education. The state focused on aligning its plan to fulfill the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act with Californias Local Control Funding Formula, which gives extra money to districts to help students who come from low-income families, are in the foster system or are English learners. But this week, DeVos team said not so fast. Jason Botel, the U.S. Department of Educations principal deputy assistant secretary, sent California education officials a letter asking for more information in such areas as measuring student progress, graduation rates and English learners. In an unsigned statement, the California Department of Education declared itself surprised and disappointed because officials thought  after a meeting with federal officials in Washington  that they were on the right track to get approval. Now the Every Student Succeeds Act plan will be up for discussion once again at the July meeting of the State Board of Education. The U.S. Department of Education has already approved most state plans. Every Student Succeeds is the Obama administrations 2015 replacement for the No Child Left Behind Act. Facebook

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L.A. school board sets a new goal: prepare every grad to be eligible to apply for Cal State or UC By Sonali Kohli Last month, Los Angeles school board president proposed a spate of highly ambitious mandates aimed at ensuring that every district graduate be eligible to apply to one of the states public four-year universities by 2023. By the time the L.A. Unified school board unanimously approved the resolution Tuesday, the original language had been watered down. The goal is no longer that in five years 100% of students meet the long list of benchmarks, which include not just college eligibility for graduates but first-grade reading proficiency and English fluency by sixth grade for all students who enter the district in kindergarten or first grade speaking another language. The original college-readiness goal, for example, called for 100% of all high school students to be eligible to apply to one of the states four-year universities. Now the goal seems to offer more wiggle room: Prepare all high school graduates to be eligible to apply to a California four-year university. Read More Facebook

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We have been hurt. More women say they were mistreated by USC gynecologist By Richard Winton USC student Anika Narayanan says she vividly recalls her first appointment with Dr. George Tyndall at the campus health center, alleging that he made several explicit comments during an examination she felt was inappropriate and invasive. When she came back for a second visit in 2016 after a nonconsensual sexual encounter, he allegedly chastised her, she said in a civil lawsuit and at a press conference Tuesday. He asked me if I had forgotten to use a condom again,  said Narayanan, 21. At one point, she said, Tyndall asked if I did a lot of doggy style,  she said. Read More Facebook

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L.A. Unified gives inspector general brief contract extension By Howard Blume The Los Angeles school board on Tuesday extended the contract of Ken Bramlett, its inspector general, by three months, though his job is far from secure and questions remain about the future direction of his watchdog office. Board members also unanimously promoted Vivian Ekchian, who had been the runner-up for the superintendents job, to deputy superintendent  the districts No. 2 position. Both moves had elements of peacemaking between different factions on the board. Read More Facebook

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USCs handling of complaints about campus gynecologist is being investigated by federal government By Harriet Ryan The U.S. Department of Education announced Monday that it has launched an investigation into how the University of Southern California handled misconduct complaints against a campus gynecologist, the latest fallout in a scandal that has prompted the resignation of USCs president, two law enforcement investigations and dozens of lawsuits. In revealing the inquiry by the departments Office of Civil Rights, officials rebuked USC for what they alleged was improper withholding of information about Dr. George Tyndall during a previous federal investigation. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, who has been criticized for taking a less vigorous approach to examining sexual misconduct than predecessors, called for a systemic examination of USC and urged administrators to fully cooperate. Read More Facebook

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Judge to sentence woman and her boyfriend for the murder of an 8-year-old that led to L.A. child welfare reforms By Marisa Gerber A woman and her boyfriend are expected to be sentenced Thursday for the torture and murder of an 8-year-old boy whose killing in 2013 provoked public outrage, prompted sweeping reform of Los Angeles Countys child welfare system, and led to unprecedented criminal charges against social workers who handled the childs case. Pearl Sinthia Fernandez, 34, faces life in prison without the possibility of parole for her role in the death of her son, Gabriel. A jury decided last year that her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, 37, should be executed. When paramedics arrived at the boys Palmdale home in May 2013, Gabriel had slipped out of consciousness. He had a fractured skull, broken ribs, burned skin, missing teeth and BB pellets embedded in his groin. A paramedic would later testify that every inch of the boys small body had been abused. Read More Facebook

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L.A. Unifieds spending out of step with similar school systems, task force says By Howard Blume The Los Angeles school district is out of step with similar school systems, spending more on teachers pay and health benefits and less on activities that could enhance student learning, according to a new report by an outside task force. The L.A. Unified School District Advisory Task Force did not make specific recommendations, but instead posed a series of questions it said the district needs to answer to make sure its funding is aimed at providing a full opportunity for all students to succeed. What were trying to say is: Lets put the data on the table. Lets look at the truth. Lets be transparent and here are the numbers, said task force member Renata Simril. This is not to say that  we should cut teachers salaries. Read More Facebook

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Top USC medical school official feared dean was doing drugs and alerted administration, he testifies By Paul Pringle A former vice dean of USCs Keck School of Medicine testified Tuesday that he feared the schools then-dean, Dr. Carmen A. Puliafito, could be doing drugs and expressed concerns about his general well-being to the universitys No. 2 administrator before Puliafito abruptly left his job in 2016. Dr. Henri Fords testimony at a hearing of the state Medical Board marks the first suggestion that any USC administrator had suspicions about Puliafitos possible drug use before he stepped down. A Times investigation in 2017 found Puliafito led a secret second life of using illegal drugs with a circle of young criminals and addicts. Puliafito testified about his behavior at the hearing Tuesday, saying he took drugs with one young woman on a weekly basis. Ford said that he decided to alert USC Provost Michael Quick after receiving reports in early 2016 that Puliafito was partying in hotels with people of questionable reputation, and that he came to worry about his mental stability. Read More Facebook

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Why L.A. Unified may face financial crisis even with a giant surplus this year By Jessica Calefati With more than half a billion dollars socked away for next school year, the Los Angeles Unified School District hardly seems just two years from financial ruin. Its a scenario that is especially tough to swallow if youre a low-wage worker seeking a raise or a teacher who wants smaller classes. But budget documents show that todays $548-million surplus cannot be sustained  and that even basic services face steep, seemingly unavoidable cuts because of massive problems barreling the districts way. Theres a disconnect between the rosy short-term picture and what we know is coming, said board member Kelly Gonez. Read More Facebook

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We have failed: Top USC officials try to reassure students amid gynecologist scandal By Joy Resmovits Top administrators at USC are reaching out to students in the wake of misconduct allegations against the universitys longtime gynecologist, acknowledging failings and vowing reforms as they try to address growing outrage over the revelations. Several USC deans have sent out messages trying to reassure students and faculty that the university is committed to changing. We have failed, wrote Jack H. Knott, dean of USCs Sol Price School of Public Policy, in a May 24 letter. What happened is antithetical to everything we know is right. Read More Facebook

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Rick Caruso is named chair of USCs trustees, vows swift investigation of gynecologist scandal By Thomas Curwen The University of Southern Californias board of trustees has elected mall magnate Rick Caruso to be the new chair of the board, giving fresh leadership as the university navigates a widening scandal involving a longtime campus gynecologist. The move marks the latest effort by USC to address the case, which has sparked a criminal investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department and dozens of civil lawsuits. More than 400 people have contacted a hotline that the university established for patients to make reports about their experience with Dr. George Tyndall. In his first act as chairman, Caruso announced that the white-shoe L.A. law firm OMelveny & Myers would conduct a thorough and independent investigation into the gynecologists conduct and reporting failures at the clinic. He set an ambitious timeline for the review, pledging it would conclude before students return for the fall semester. Read More Facebook

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UC Berkeley students persistence helps win more liberal rules for in-state tuition By Teresa Watanabe Ifechukwu Okeke thought shed be a shoo-in for in-state tuition when she was admitted to UC Berkeley for fall 2016. She had moved to the United States from Nigeria in 2012 to go to Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga. By the time she got her acceptance to transfer to UC to study molecular and cell biology, she had lived in California four years. She had a California drivers license, bank account and rental records as proof. UC Berkeley, however, ruled she was a nonresident  which meant she would have to pay nearly $27,000 more. Read More Facebook

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State medical board calls former County-USC doctor a sexual predator, suspends his license By Matt Hamilton A UCLA cardiologist has been temporarily stripped of his medical license after state regulators described him as a sexual predator who assaulted three female colleagues when he was working and training at L.A. County-USC Medical Center. Read More Facebook

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Global California 2030 aims to get more students learning more languages By Joy Resmovits Tom Torlakson (Andrew Seng / Associated Press) Outgoing state Supt. of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson on Wednesday announced a new statewide effort to encourage students to learn more languages. Called Global California 2030, its goal is to help more students become fluent in multiple tongues. Torlakson said that by 2030, he wants half of the states 6.2 million K-12 students to participate in classes or programs that lead to proficiency in two or more languages. By 2040, he wants three out of four students to be proficient enough to earn the State Seal of Biliteracy. Torlakson announced the initiative at Cahuenga Elementary School, which offers a dual-language immersion program in English and Korean. Californias public school students speak more than 60 languages at home, and 40% come to school with knowledge of a language other than English. Torlakson called his plan a call to action that invites parents, legislators, educators and community members to pool resources to expand language offerings in schools and get more bilingual teachers trained. He said the state already is working with Mexico and Spain to expand a teacher-exchange program. Fluency, the plan argues, can help students succeed economically  and language acquisition can help their overall critical thinking. The initiative builds on Proposition 58, a ballot initiative passed in 2016 that undid an earlier requirement that English learners be taught in English-immersion classes unless their parents signed waivers. Torlakson recently visited Mexico and met with that countrys education secretary. They later signed a pact to increase collaboration, particularly in language education. This [Global California 2030] is great follow-through on Toms part and very important, Patricia Gandara, a UCLA education professor who hosted the Mexico meeting, said in an email. It hands over a plan to move forward in an area in which California has a unique advantage, but must seize the opportunity. Facebook

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Jury convicts man of murder in 2015 slaying of UCLA student found inside her burning apartment By Marisa Gerber A jury on Tuesday convicted a man in the 2015 slaying of a UCLA student found dead inside her burning apartment  a gruesome stabbing case that led to a fierce rebuke of the police response amid concerns that the killing could have been prevented. The panel deliberated for about six hours before finding Alberto Medina, 24, guilty of murder, arson, burglary and animal cruelty. On Sept. 21, 2015, firefighters found the charred body of Andrea DelVesco inside her apartment after responding to the complex a block from campus. The 21-year-old student  an Austin, Texas, native known to her sorority sisters as a fearless giver who befriended others with ease  was stabbed at least 19 times, authorities said. Read More Facebook

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LAPD begins sweeping criminal probe of former USC gynecologist while urging patients to come forward By Adam Elmahrek The Los Angeles Police Department said Tuesday it is investigating 52 complaints of misconduct filed by former patients of USCs longtime campus gynecologist as detectives launch a sweeping criminal probe into the scandal that has rocked the university. LAPD detectives also made an appeal for other patients who feel mistreated to come forward, noting that thousands of students were examined by Dr. George Tyndall during his nearly 30-year career at USC. More than 410 people have contacted a university hotline about the physician since The Times revealed the allegations this month. Tyndalls behavior and practices appear to go beyond the norms of the medical profession and gynecological examinations, said Asst. Chief Beatrice Girmala. We sincerely realize that victims may have difficulty recounting such details to investigators. We are empathetic and ready to listen. Read More Facebook

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At L.A.'s only school for the deaf, parents want leaders who speak the same language By Anna M. Phillips Ever since her son was 6 months old, Juliet Hidalgo has been bringing him to the Marlton School, a low-slung building in Baldwin Hills that for generations has been a second home for deaf and hard-of-hearing students in Los Angeles. Marlton staff taught Hidalgos brother and sister, both of whom are deaf. The school was where her deaf son learned to make the signs for milk and food. Hidalgo had planned to enroll her daughter, taking advantage of a popular program that allows hearing children to learn American Sign Language alongside their deaf siblings. But after more than a decade of involvement, she and other family members are considering withdrawing their children. They are not alone. Read More Facebook

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Fueled by unlimited donations, independent groups play their biggest role yet in a California primary for governor By Ryan Menezes An unprecedented amount of money from wealthy donors, unions and corporations is flowing into the California governors race, giving independent groups  unrestricted by contribution limits  a greater say in picking the states chief executive than ever before. The groups have already spent more than $26 million through Thursday, the most ever spent by noncandidate committees in a gubernatorial primary, according to a Times analysis of campaign finance reports. California elections have always been expensive, and the future is even more expensive, said Jack Pitney, a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College and a former state Republican leader. The stakes are very real. Read More Facebook

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2 hurt in Indiana middle school shooting; suspect in custody, authorities say By Associated Press Authorities say two victims in a shooting at a suburban Indianapolis school are being taken to a hospital and the lone suspect is in custody. Bryant Orem, a spokesman for the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office, said in a news release that the victims in Friday mornings attack at Noblesville West Middle School are being taken to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis and their families have been notified. He says no other information is available about the victims. Orem said the suspect is believed to have acted alone and was taken into custody. No additional information about the suspect was made public. Read More Facebook

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For new L.A. schools chief Austin Beutner, some key unions are giving no honeymoon period By Howard Blume In the less than two weeks since Austin Beutner took charge of Los Angeles schools, unions representing teachers and administrators have staged a job action and a protest. Theyve made it clear that they will not give the new superintendent the traditional honeymoon period, and they are bashing him for his wealth and lack of experience running either a school or a school district. Beutner is a billionaire investment banker with zero qualifications, local teachers union President Alex Caputo-Pearl told members in a phone alert urging them to participate in a Thursday afternoon rally in Grand Park. The board is saying that billionaires who made their money blowing institutions up and making money off it know best  not the education professionals who have dedicated our careers to working with students. Read More Facebook

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Pressure grows on Board of Trustees amid USC gynecologist scandal By Paul Pringle USCs large and powerful Board of Trustees is coming under growing pressure to provide a stronger hand as the university faces a crisis over misconduct allegations against the campus longtime gynecologist that has prompted calls for President C.L. Max Nikias to step down. Allegations that Dr. George Tyndall mistreated students during his nearly 30 years at USC have roiled the campus, with about 300 people coming forward to make reports to the university and the Los Angeles Police Department launching a criminal investigation. USC is already beginning to face what is expected to be costly litigation by women who say they were victimized by the physician. So far, the trustees to whom Nikias reports have expressed sympathy for the women who have come forward and launched an independent investigation while also publicly backing the president. Read More Facebook

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UC regents approve leaner budget for Janet Napolitano By Teresa Watanabe University of California regents on Thursday unanimously approved a leaner, more transparent budget for President Janet Napolitano, moving to address political criticism over the systems central office operations. The $876.4-million budget for 2018-19 reflects spending cuts of 2%, including reductions in staffing, travel and such systemwide programs as public service law fellowships, carbon neutrality and food security. Napolitano shifted $30 million to campuses for housing needs and $10 million to UC Riverside to support its five-year-old medical school. She also permanently redirected $8.5 million annually to help enroll more California students, as required by the state. Read More Facebook

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USCs Academic Senate calls on university president to resign after a series of scandals By Matt Hamilton The body that represents USCs faculty called on President C.L. Max Nikias to resign Wednesday in the wake of relevations that the universitys longtime gynecologist faced years of accusations of misconduct by students and colleagues at the campus health clinic. The Academic Senate took the vote late Wednesday afternoon after a fiery town hall meeting attended by more than 100 faculty members, many of whom voiced outrage over Nikias and the Board of Trustees leadership. The vote came a day after the trustees executive committee stood firmly behind Nikias, saying it has full confidence in his leadership, ethics and values. At the town hall meeting, Senate President Paul Rosenbloom said he did not think Nikias or Provost Michael Quick committed wrongdoing but that the university president deserved criticism for a lack of transparency. Read More Facebook

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Californias public universities on the way to getting a big longed-for boost in funding By Teresa Watanabe The University of California and California State University systems are poised to get major funding boosts that will help them enroll thousands of additional state students and eliminate the need for tuition increases in the coming school year. A key Assembly budget panel on Wednesday approved $117.5 million in new funds for the UC. A Senate panel approved a similar sum last week. The same committees recently approved even more funding for the Cal State system. Read More Facebook

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UC regents to scrutinize Janet Napolitanos office budget in a step toward stronger oversight By Teresa Watanabe University of California regents this week plan to scrutinize the budget of President Janet Napolitano, whose office came under political fire last year for questionable spending and murky accounting. Regents will vote on the proposed $876.4-million budget for 2018-19 during their two-day meeting, which starts Wednesday, at UC San Francisco. They also will discuss state funding, financial aid, online education and transfer student policies. Board Chairman George Kieffer said regents are stepping up to exert stronger oversight of the presidents office after a blistering state audit last year found financial problems including an unreported $175 million budget reserve. Read More Facebook

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State legislative panels approve major funding boost for Cal State By Teresa Watanabe After months of intensive lobbying, Cal State University has convinced two key legislative panels to approve funding to enroll nearly 11,000 more students, hire more faculty and expand housing aid to those without shelter this fall. An Assembly budget panel on Tuesday approved $215.7 million more for Cal State, adding to Gov. Jerry Browns proposed $92.1 million general fund increase. A Senate budget panel approved a similar increase last week. The extra funding  which went beyond Cal States own request to the Legislature of $171 million  is still subject to final budget negotiations with Brown. But the actions by the Senate and Assembly panels amount to a demand from Democrats that the governor hike higher education spending. Cal State University is the workhorse undergraduate university serving hundreds of thousands of Californians, said Assemblyman Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), who heads the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance. We need more graduates for the California workforce and higher education is the ticket to the middle class. Cal State Chancellor Timothy P. White hailed the actions, but said it was too soon to celebrate. The CSU has a singular focus on helping students earn high-quality degrees sooner, and the entire university community has rallied to reinforce that message to our states lawmakers, he said in a statement. The actions taken thus far by the Assembly and Senate are promising and show that our message is being received, but there is still work to be done. Funding for the University of California was not taken up Tuesday as originally scheduled. McCarty would not comment on sticking points but said he was confident that a resolution would be reached this week. Were looking to provide resources above whats in the governors budget, but negotiations are ongoing, he said in an interview. State per-student funding is not what it once was, leaving both Cal State and the UC in a tough financial squeeze. Both systems raised tuition last year after a six-year freeze on higher costs. For this year, Cal State had asked for funding to enroll an additional 3,621 students, but both the Senate and Assembly panels approved three times that amount. Cal State, the largest public university system in the nation, turned away 32,000 eligible students last year because its campuses werent able to accommodate them. The panels asked that at least $50 million of the extra funding be used to hire more tenure-track faculty to help boost graduation rates. The Assembly panel also approved one-time funding of $5 million to ease hunger on campuses and $14 million for rapid rehousing pilot projects at three campuses, offering needy students rental support and short-term case management. Other items approved include $5 million to support the CSU Long Beach Shark Labs research on sharks and beach safety and $2 million for equal employment opportunity practices. This post has been updated to include comments from Assemblyman Kevin McCarty and Cal State Chancellor Timothy P. White. Facebook

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Faculty members call for USC president to step down: He has lost the moral authority to lead By Matt Hamilton Two hundred USC professors on Tuesday demanded the resignation of university President C. L. Max Nikias, saying he had lost the moral authority to lead in the wake of revelations that a campus gynecologist was kept on staff for decades despite repeated complaints of misconduct. Read More Facebook

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Gun battle, negotiations lasted 15 minutes before Texas school shooter was apprehended, sheriff says By Molly Hennessy-Fiske Minutes after a school shooter opened fire in an art class last week, killing 10 people and wounding 13, including a local police officer, fellow officers returned fire in a protracted gun battle before isolating the suspect, the local sheriff said Monday. Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset praised first responders as well as Santa Fe Police Officer John Barnes, who was working as a resource officer at the school the day of the shooting. Their actions, he said, prevented the attack from spreading to other classrooms and potentially claiming additional victims. As officials continue to probe last Fridays shooting at Santa Fe High School, students are worried about returning to the scene of the attack when classes resume next week. Read More Facebook

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6 women sue USC, alleging they were victimized by campus gynecologist By Richard Winton Six women filed civil lawsuits Monday alleging that a longtime gynecologist at the University of Southern California sexually victimized them under the pretext of medical care and that USC failed to address complaints from clinic staff about the doctors behavior. One woman alleged Dr. George Tyndall forced his entire ungloved hand into her vagina during an appointment in 2003 while making vulgar remarks about her genitalia, according to one of the lawsuits. Another woman alleged that Tyndall groped her breasts in a 2008 visit and that later he falsely told her she likely had AIDS. A third woman accused the doctor of grazing his ungloved fingers over her nude body and leering at her during a purported skin exam, the lawsuit states. The wave of litigation comes as USC continues to grapple with the scandal, which legal experts said could prove costly to the university as scores of former patients come forward about their experiences with the gynecologist. Read More Facebook

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Fatalities reported in Texas high school shooting; suspect arrested, officials say By Associated Press Houston-area media citing unnamed law enforcement officials are reporting that there are fatalities following a shooting at a local high school Friday morning. Television station KHOU and the Houston Chronicle are citing unnamed federal, county and police officials following the shooting at Santa Fe High School, which went on lockdown around 8 a.m. The Associated Press has not been able to confirm the reports. The school district has confirmed an unspecified number of injuries but said it wouldnt immediately release further details. Assistant Principal Cris Richardson said a suspect has been arrested and secured. Read More Facebook

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This student followed the new L.A. schools chief on his first-day tour Melissa Barales-Lopez, a senior at Garfield High School followed Supt. Austin Beutner on his first day on the job, as he toured a variety of programs around the Los Angeles Unified School District. Heres what she took from the experience. LAUSD students and staff alike are looking for a personal champion, someone who will address and improve the difficulties afflicting their education.  What LAUSD students need is someone whos willing to listen and learn, someone who can understand the current issues affecting their schools and act to efficiently amend them, someone who can unlock the full potential of LAUSD students and enable them to reach their goals. During the entirety of his first day, superintendent Austin Beutner did indeed demonstrate a willingness to learn. Posing questions to teachers and students, Beutner engaged with the student communities he encountered to gain a better comprehension of the minutiae and nuances that distinguish each school inside an overwhelmingly large district. From inquiries about Grand View Boulevard Elementary Schools dual language program to questions regarding the services of LAUSDs after-school program, Beyond the Bell, Beutner revealed he has a lot to learn about the system. But, Beutner also showcased a willingness to tackle challenges head-on on his first day. Read More Facebook

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USC let a gynecologist continue treating students despite years of misconduct allegations By Matt Hamilton For nearly 30 years, the University of Southern Californias student health clinic had one full-time gynecologist: Dr. George Tyndall. Tall and garrulous with distinctive jet black hair, he treated tens of thousands of female students, many of them teenagers seeing a gynecologist for the first time. Few who lay down on Tyndalls exam table at the Engemann Student Health Center knew that he had been accused repeatedly of misconduct toward young patients. The complaints began in the 1990s, when co-workers alleged he was improperly photographing students genitals. In the years that followed, patients and nursing staff accused him again and again of creepy behavior, including touching women inappropriately during pelvic exams and making sexually suggestive remarks about their bodies. Read More Facebook

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Cal State trustees to discuss Browns latest budget proposal, which they say still falls $171 million short By Joy Resmovits Just how much money does California State University need to serve its students? In recent years, this question has been front and center for the nations largest public university system. Cal States leaders say that to keep their campuses quality from slipping, they need much more money than the state is giving them. This year, theyre also at odds with Gov. Jerry Brown on the question of whether any extra money should come in one-time bursts or be ongoing. Read More Facebook

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On his first day as L.A. schools chief, Beutner plans a day of visits across the district By Howard Blume L.A. Unifieds new superintendent, Austin Beutner, will kick off his first day of work on Tuesday with a choreographed tour of the nations second-largest school district, from the San Fernando Valley to Carson. His day is scheduled to begin at 5:15 a.m. at a school bus depot and end more than 12 hours later at a parent meeting at Garfield High School. Along the way, Beutner is expected to be joined by school district administrators, L.A. Unified board members and the vice president of the union that represents school bus drivers. Though he will be covering a lot of ground, Beutners tour has him skipping Tuesdays school board meeting, when board members are expected to discuss labor negotiations in closed session. Read More Facebook

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Cal State trustees to discuss Browns latest budget proposal, which they say still falls $171 million short By Joy Resmovits Just how much money does California State University need to serve its students? In recent years, this question has been front and center for the nations largest public university system. Cal States leaders say that to keep their campuses quality from slipping, they need much more money than the state is giving them. This year, theyre also at odds with Gov. Jerry Brown on the question of whether any extra money should come in one-time bursts or be ongoing. Read More Facebook

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Why a handful of rich charter school supporters are spending millions to elect Antonio Villaraigosa as governor By Ryan Menezes California voters have seen a barrage of sunny television ads in recent weeks touting former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosas record on finances, crime and education, aired by Families & Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor 2018. But the group is, in fact, largely funded by a handful of wealthy charter-school supporters. Together they have spent more than $13 million in less than a month to boost Villaraigosas chances in the June 5 primary  at a time when his fundraising and poll numbers are lagging. Reed Hastings, the founder of Netflix, jump-started the group with a $7-million check, by far the largest donation to support any candidate in the election. Their efforts are part of a broader proxy war among Democrats between teachers unions  longtime stalwarts of the party  and those who argue that the groups have failed low-income and minority schoolchildren. Read More Facebook

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Talking schools with L.A. Unifieds new superintendent By Anna M. Phillips Austin Beutner, who officially starts Tuesday as the new superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, is taking on a famously difficult job at a particularly difficult time. The school board is divided and did not back him unanimously. The nations second-largest school district has deep-seated problems, including declining enrollment, lagging academic achievement and rising pension and healthcare costs that eat away at its budget. The 58-year-old former investment banker and former L.A. Times publisher has years of experience in the financial world but none as an educator. Earlier this week, he sat down with the Times education team to discuss the challenges facing the district, which has about 60,000 employees and 500,000 students in traditional public schools. He did not talk about his plans  saying repeatedly, stay tuned  but he spoke in broad terms about his mindset in approaching the tough decisions ahead. Read More Facebook

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Suspect detained, authorities search campus after reports of armed man at Palmdale high school By James Queally One person has been detained after a report of an armed man at a Palmdale high school sparked a massive law enforcement response Friday morning. The suspect was spotted at 7:05 a.m. on the campus of Highland High School in Palmdale, according to Sheriffs Department spokeswoman Nicole Nishida. The person was detained in a nearby parking lot, according to Nishida, who did not know whether that person was an adult or juvenile. Deputies at the scene are clearing the school methodically, and students will be transported home via school buses once the campus is deemed safe, Nishida said. Read More Facebook

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The education of Bertha Perez: How a UC Merced custodians disenchantment led to a political awakening By Robin Abcarian Its the third day of a three-day strike, and UC Merced custodian Bertha Perez is taking a break from a picket line at the universitys unremarkable entrance, an intersection with stop lights. Photos from other UC campuses this week have shown big crowds of striking service workers  members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees  marching and chanting pro-labor slogans as they try to force the University of California back to the negotiating table. But here, at UC Merced, whose handful of big buildings rise from a flat expanse of farmland, the picket line is tiny, maybe two dozen workers and a few students. Its not a big-city-style show of force. Then again, a union sympathizer is banging relentlessly on a snare drum, so its noisier than youd expect. Read More Facebook

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Ref Rodriguez resigns from teacher credentialing commission By Howard Blume Ref Rodriguez appears during a court appearance. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles school board member Ref Rodriguez has resigned from the states Commission on Teacher Credentialing, which oversees the integrity and quality of Californias teachers. Rodriguez faces felony and misdemeanor charges for political money laundering. Separately, his former employer, a charter school organization, has accused him of improperly authorizing checks to a nonprofit under his control. Rodriguez has denied wrongdoing. Rodriguezs resignation from the state body was effective May 4, days after he cast a crucial vote as part of a narrow majority that voted to authorize contract negotiations with Austin Beutner to become superintendent of the L.A. Unified School District. Beutners first official day on the job is Tuesday. Rodriguez remains in his $125,000-a-year position on the Los Angeles Board of Education. The mission of the state body is to ensure integrity, relevance, and high quality in the preparation, certification, and discipline of Californias teachers. Critics had questioned Rodriguezs continued service on the commission, given that teachers can be suspended from work if they face criminal charges. They also can lose their jobs for lapses in personal behavior, such as excessive drinking, with the potential to affect their performance. Police in Pasadena arrested Rodriguez on a Friday afternoon in March for public drunkenness. He was not charged in the incident and has apologized. The state commission reviews teacher discipline cases and can take action to remove a teachers credential to work in a California classroom. The commission has 15 members. Rodriguezs departure was disclosed in a one-sentence announcement on the agencys website. Facebook

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School board members request for restraining order against blogger is rejected By Priscella Vega An Orange County Superior Court judge on Wednesday denied a school board members petition for a permanent restraining order against a Huntington Beach blogger. Attorney Jeffrey W. Shields filed the petition on behalf of Ocean View School District trustee Gina Clayton-Tarvin, 46, who alleged in court documents that Charles Keeler Johnson, 56, has threatened her on social media and at school board meetings, causing her to fear for my own safety and for that of my immediate family members. Johnson, who goes by Chuck and publishes HBSledgehammer.com, said the trustee tried to stifle his freedom of speech. He also contended that Clayton-Tarvin took his blog posts and Facebook comments too seriously and out of context, saying anyone who is afraid of metaphors has serious issues. Read More Facebook

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Deal with workers averts one-day strike that could have shut down L.A. schools By Howard Blume Los Angeles school district and union officials announced a contract agreement Tuesday night that averted a one-day strike planned for next week. The pact, which runs through June 2020, removes one labor problem from the desk of incoming Supt. Austin Beutner  whose first day on the job would have coincided with the strike. Plenty of other challenges remain. Read More Facebook

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UC labor strike expands with show of support from more unions By Teresa Watanabe Fong Chuu is a registered nurse who has assisted with countless liver transplants, kidney surgeries and gastric bypasses during 34 years at UCLA. Working with her are scrub technicians who sterilize equipment, hand medical instruments to the surgeon and dress patient wounds. They are a team, Chuu says, which is why she walked off her job Tuesday in support of those technicians and other members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299. The 25,000 member AFSCME local, the University of Californias largest employee union, launched a three-day strike Monday. Read More Facebook

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We are humans too: Voices of UCLAs striking custodians, hospital aides and imaging technicians By Joy Resmovits Demonstrators parade in front of Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) This week, thousands of UC employees are staging a three-day strike for better pay and working conditions. On Monday, more than 20,000 custodians, cooks, lab technicians, nurse aides and other members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 walked off their jobs. By Tuesday, two more unions joined in sympathy strikes. The union and UC reached a bargaining impasse last year. The university has said it wont meet the workers demands. The strikers said they wanted better pay, more equity in the allocation of work, stable healthcare premiums and an end to the universitys use of contract workers. These are their stories. Read More Facebook

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Massive UC workers strike disrupts dining, classes and medical services By Joy Resmovits A massive labor strike across the University of California on Monday forced medical centers to reschedule more than 12,000 surgeries, cancer treatments and appointments, and campuses to cancel some classes and limit dining services. More than 20,000 members of UCs largest employee union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299, walked off their jobs on the first day of a three-day strike. They include custodians, gardeners, cooks, truck drivers, lab technicians and nurse aides. Two altercations involving protesters and people driving near the rallies were reported at UCLA and UC Santa Cruz. At UCLA, police took a man into custody Monday after he drove his vehicle into a crowd, hitting three staff members. They were treated for minor injuries at the scene and released, said Lt. Kevin Kilgore of the UCLA Police Department. Read More Facebook

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Sen. Kamala Harris to skip UC Berkeley commencement in support of striking workers By Teresa Watanabe California Sen. Kamala Harris has canceled plans to deliver UC Berkeleys commencement address this weekend in support of UC workers who are on strike over wages and health benefits. Due to the ongoing labor dispute, Sen. Harris regretfully cannot attend and speak at this years commencement ceremony at UC Berkeley, said a statement from Harris office issued Monday. She wishes the graduates and their families a joyous commencement weekend and success for the future. They are bright young leaders and our country is counting on them. UCs largest employee union, the 25,000-member American Federation of County, State and Municipal Employees Local 3299, launched a three-day strike Monday and had earlier called for a speakers boycott. The union and university reached a bargaining impasse last year and subsequent mediation efforts have failed to produce an agreement. The union is asking for a multiyear contract with a 6% annual pay increase while the university is offering 3% annual increases over four years. UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ will deliver the keynote address instead, the university announced. About 5,800 students are expected to participate in the ceremony Saturday. Facebook

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School mural depicting Trumps bloody, severed head sparks controversy By Gary Warth A Chula Vista school mural that depicts the bloody, severed head of President Trump on a spear sparked a controversy that prompted officials to cover it and issue a response distancing themselves from the work. The statement also said the artist will alter the painting. We understand that there was a mural painted at the event this past weekend that does not align with our schools philosophy of non-violence, read the statement from MAAC Community Charter School director Tommy Ramirez. We have been in communication with the artist  who has agreed to modify the artwork  to better align with the schools philosophy. Read More Facebook

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New blackface incident at Cal Poly prompts calls for state investigation By Kim Christensen Cal Poly San Luis Obispo officials have asked the state attorney generals office to investigate after a new photo of a white student in blackface surfaced on a fraternity groups private Snapchat. I am outraged, Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong said in a video address Friday to the campus. These vile and absolutely unacceptable acts cannot continue. We must not allow these acts to define us as an institution. Armstrong said the latest photo was intended to imitate an incident last month in which a white member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity was photographed at a party wearing blackface. Read More Facebook

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More than 50,000 UC workers set to strike this week but campuses will remain open By Teresa Watanabe More than 50,000 workers across the University of California are set to strike this week, causing potential disruptions to surgery schedules, food preparation and campus maintenance. The systems 10 campuses and five medical centers are to remain open, with classes scheduled as planned. UCs largest employee union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299, plans to begin a three-day strike Monday involving 25,000 workers, including custodians, gardeners, cooks, truck drivers, lab technicians and nurse aides. Read More Facebook

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New L.A. schools chief Beutner pledges to listen, learn and take action By Howard Blume New Los Angeles schools Supt. Austin Beutner proved Wednesday that hes a quick learner even without an education background. Like countless public officials before him, he appeared at an important event  his first speech and news conference  with a photogenic background of students. His message  that he would put those students first  seemed heartfelt if hardly original. Nor was it a huge surprise that he pledged to push cooperatively but unflinchingly to improve the districts academic performance and stabilize its finances. As an introduction, Beutner, a former investment banker who made a fortune on Wall Street, offered little flash, but that was partly the point. Read More Facebook

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In a school lockdown, one student takes stock of the stressful scene At the beginning of lunch one day late last month, Duarte High School, Northview Middle School, and California School of the Arts-San Gabriel Valley were advised by the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department to go into lockdown mode due to police activity in the immediate area. Phalaen Chang, a junior at the California School of the Arts, wrote a series of notes on her iPhone while she sat in a room with her classmates. By the time the lockdown ended an hour later, she wrote, she knew which of her friends would hold open the door for others, be the ones calming others down, be the ones barricading the doors. She knew that all of them have the potential to be such strong people. Read More Facebook

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Tale as old as time: L.A. Unified superintendent pick follows a historical pattern of outside-the-box choices By Joy Resmovits L.A. Unified has long gone back and forth between picking insiders and outsiders to run the nations second largest school district. The choice of Austin Beutner, announced Tuesday, places the district squarely back in the outsider camp  months after a consummate insider, Supt. Michelle King, announced that she had cancer and would not return to the job. Check out this timeline of former L.A. superintendents to see how the school board members have changed their minds, sometimes favoring leaders who come from the world of education and sometimes executives from elsewhere, recruited to shock the system into change. At one point, the district hired someone from the military  retired Navy Vice Adm. David L. Brewer III, who served as superintendent from 2006-2008. In hiring Brewer, board members had opted for a non-educator  largely because they sought a fresh thinker, unwedded to the bureaucracy, unafraid to make bold, even unorthodox moves, reads a 2008 Times story. Facebook

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Austin Beutner named superintendent of Los Angeles schools By Howard Blume Austin Beutner, a philanthropist and former investment banker, on Tuesday was named superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nations second-largest school system. His selection was the biggest move yet by a Los Angeles school board majority elected with major support from charter school advocates. The decision came after lengthy public testimony, most of it in support of the other remaining finalist, interim Supt. Vivian Ekchian, who is well known within the school system. Beutner, 58, has no background leading a school or school district. Less than 2 years ago, a school board with a very different balance of power named Michelle King, a former teacher who rose through the district throughout her career, to L.A. Unifieds top job. Read More Facebook

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Hearing delay gives both sides more time in Ref Rodriguezs potential trial By Howard Blume Ref Rodriguez and his attorneys will have more time to prepare their defense against charges of political money laundering, a judge ruled Monday. The preliminary hearing in the case had been scheduled to begin May 9, but that date will now be pushed back to July 23 per the ruling from L.A. Superior Court Judge Deborah S. Brazil. Rodriguez, 46, faces three felony charges of conspiracy, perjury and procuring and offering a false or forged instrument, as well as 25 misdemeanor counts related to the alleged campaign money laundering. Read More Facebook

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L.A. school board poised to name Beutner as superintendent By Howard Blume The Los Angeles Board of Education is poised to select philanthropist and former investment banker Austin Beutner to be the next superintendent of the nations second-largest school system. Barring a last-minute development, the only mystery is whether Beutner emerges with four or five votes from the boards seven members. Terms of his contract already have been under discussion, according to sources close to the process who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak. The selection of Beutner, 58, who has no experience managing a school or a school district, would be a signal that the board majority that took control nearly a year ago wants to rely on business management skills instead of insider educational expertise. Read More Facebook

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Teacher walkouts in Arizona and Colorado continue national debate on money for schools By Michael Livingston Following the lead of teachers who walked off the job in other states in recent weeks, thousands of teachers and their supporters took to the streets in Arizona and Colorado for the second day in a row to demand better pay and more funding for education. Read More Facebook

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Three decades before the #MeToo movement, UC San Diego led the way against sexual assault By Teresa Watanabe When Nancy Wahlig first started her fight against sexual assault, one company was marketing a capsule for women to stash in their bras and then smash to release a vile odor. Because of the very nature of society, the only person who can prevent rape is the woman herself, read a 1981 advertisement for the Repulse rape deterrent. Ideas about how to prevent sexual violence have come a long way since then, and Wahlig has helped lead that evolution on college campuses. In 1988, she started UC San Diegos Sexual Assault Resource Center (SARC), the first stand-alone program at the University of California. Today, she remains the systems most senior specialist. Read More Facebook

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Andres Alonso withdraws from consideration for L.A. schools job By Howard Blume Andres Alonso, believed to be one of three remaining finalists to lead the Los Angeles school system, has withdrawn from consideration. The remaining known candidates in the confidential search are former investment banker Austin Beutner and interim Supt. Vivian Ekchian. Alonso, 60, announced his decision on Twitter on Thursday night, saying he had notified the L.A. Unified School District on Monday. The exit of Alonso, the former Baltimore schools chief, seems to solidify the front-runner status of Beutner, who also was a former L.A. Times publisher and a Los Angeles deputy mayor. He held each of those positions for about a year. Read More Facebook

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Heres why the apparent increase in autism spectrum disorders may be good for U.S. children By Karen Kaplan The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among American children continues to rise, new government data suggest. And that may be a good thing. Among 11 sites across the U.S. where records of 8-year-olds are scrutinized in detail, 1 in 59 kids was deemed to have ASD in 2014. Thats up from 1 in 68 in 2012. Normally, health officials would prefer to see less of a disease, not more of it. But in this case, the higher number is probably a sign that more children of color who are on the autism spectrum are being recognized as such and getting services to help them, according to a report published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read More Facebook

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UC shelves tuition increase for now, in hopes of getting more state funding By Teresa Watanabe University of California regents will not vote on a tuition increase next month, shelving the plan for now in hopes that state lawmakers will come through with more funding. Raising tuition is always a last resort and one we take very seriously, UC President Janet Napolitano said Thursday in a statement. We will continue to advocate with our students who are doing a tremendous job of educating legislators about the necessity of adequately funding the university to ensure UC remains a world-class institution and engine of economic growth for our state. Last week, Cal State Chancellor Timothy P. White said the 23-campus system no longer would consider a plan to raise tuition for the 2018-19 academic year. But unlike Cal State, UC officials have not taken a tuition increase off the table entirely. Read More Facebook

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A chemical spill, unchecked eyewash stations, poor training: Audit details Cal States lax lab safety By Joy Resmovits In May 2016, two bottles tumbled off a poorly supported shelf and broke, leading to a chemical spill in a Sacramento State University lab. The liquid got onto one students legs and soaked anothers feet. Five employees cleaned up the mess, even though no one knew for sure what it was and whether it was dangerous. They called fellow employee Kim Harrington, their union representative, to let her know what happened. Read More Facebook

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After blackface incident, minority students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo say they dont feel welcome By Hailey Branson-Potts Aaliyah Ramos was walking through the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus last year when a prospective student approached her. Ramos was the only black person, the young woman said, that she and her mother had seen that day. They asked about the quality of education and the diversity of the student body. Ramos, a mechanical engineering student, didnt want to sugarcoat the truth: Cal Poly long has been predominantly white. But she told the young woman  who also was black  that she didnt want to discourage her from applying, because that wouldnt help with diversity at a school where only 0.7% of students are African American  the lowest percentage of any university in the California State system. Read More Facebook

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El Camino Real Charter High School in Woodland Hills wins the 2018 U.S. Academic Decathlon By Carlos Lozano El Camino Real Charter High School in Woodland Hills has won the 2018 U.S. Academic Decathlon, officials said. The winner was announced early Saturday at a ceremony in Frisco, Texas. More than 600 students from the U.S., Canada, China and the United Kingdom gathered there over the last three days to compete in the 37th annual U.S. Academic Decathlon. Congratulations to El Camino Real Charter High School for another impressive victory, said Vivian Ekchian, interim superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Your academic stamina and competitive spirit to win is remarkable. The entire L.A. Unified family is so proud of you. Read More Facebook

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Anticipation mounts as L.A. school board meets over superintendent selection By Howard Blume The Los Angeles Board of Education is reconvening in closed session Friday at noon as anticipation mounts about the choice of the next leader of the nations second-largest school system. The presumed front-runner is former investment banker and philanthropist Austin Beutner, but interim Supt. Vivian Ekchian and former Baltimore Supt. Andres Alonso also are in the running. Most district insiders appear to be rooting for Ekchian, who has spent her entire career in education within the school system. After her 10 years as a teacher, her roles have included head of human resources, chief labor negotiator and regional administrator for campuses in the west San Fernando Valley. Shes managed the district since September, when then-Supt. Michelle King went on medical leave and chose Ekchian to fill in for her. King, who is battling cancer, never returned and announced her retirement in January. Numerous influential civic leaders have urged  and pressured  the board to select Beutner. Also lending their weight have been advocates for charter schools, which are independently operated, growing in number and competing for students with district-operated campuses. Four of the seven board members  enough to control the outcome  were elected with major financial support from charter supporters. Beutner has two ongoing connections with the L.A. Unified School District. The first is his leadership of an outside task force that is making recommendations on how to improve the school system. The second is his charity, Vision to Learn, which supplies glasses to low-income students. The charity and the school system are in a dispute at the moment over who is responsible for delays in providing services to students as part of a $6 million contract, half of which is paid for by L.A. Unified. Unlike Ekchian and Buetner, Alonso, who currently teaches at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, has no deep-seated local constituency, but the prospect of his selection has generated some excitement. While in Baltimore, Alonso was recognized for pushing for progress at low-performing schools, and for being willing to take strong action. While in Baltimore, he also weathered a test-score cheating scandal and occasionally rocky relations with the teachers union. But by the time he resigned, after six years, he and union leaders seemed to be working together without rancor. Leaders of some community groups have split from the pro-Beutner camp. They worry that Beutners approach to confronting the districts financial problems could shut out their voices or involve severe economic cutbacks that would undermine programs that are helping students. Some prefer Ekchian; some Alonso. Theyve been reluctant to speak out publicly because theyll have to work with whoever is selected, but they have tried to get the ear of board members. On Friday morning, one leader of a community group decided to come out in favor of Alonso. L.A. Unified has the opportunity to bring in an instructional leader of color with a history of success, said Alberto Retana, president and chief executive of Community Coalition, which works on behalf of low-income students and families in South Los Angeles. If we have a shot at that, we should go for it  because its in the best interests of our kids and of our community. Retana said his statement was not meant to criticize Beutner or Ekchian but to alert board members that there also is community support for Alonso. Facebook

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Cal State leader shelves proposed tuition hike: Its the right thing to do, but its not without risk By Joy Resmovits Cal State, the nations largest public university system, will no longer consider a plan to raise tuition for the 2018-19 academic year, Chancellor Timothy P. White announced Friday. The decision is a bet that Sacramento will come through in the end. If Cal State loses that bet, it could mean cuts to campus programs. White said in an interview that Californias economy is strong enough that families should not be shouldering the burden of higher college costs. Read More Facebook

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L.A. students to participate in national walkout activities on Friday By Joy Resmovits Students are taking to the streets again Friday to protest gun violence on the 19th anniversary of the Columbine school shooting. Starting at 10 a.m., students at many schools will spend 13 seconds honoring the 13 people  12 students and one teacher  killed on that day in Littleton, Colo. After that, theyll participate in a host of different activities. Within L.A. Unified, one school is having an open-mic event for students to talk about school violence, and lawmakers are visiting campuses to hear students thoughts. According to a central hub for organizing the protests  written by the students of Ridgefield High School in Connecticut  the walkouts are intended to drive the political change necessary to curb school violence. The day is also a time for students to interact on an elevated platform they have never had before, the site states. It is a day of discourse and thoughtful sharing. Bringing together communities and students to get a national discussion rolling. Organizers have suggested using the event to convey the importance of curbing gun violence to legislators. They are encouraging students to push legislation that would ban assault weapons and tighten up rules around who can buy guns and how. Over 2,500 schools nationwide are expected to participate. In L.A., some students  at campuses including Eagle Rock High School, the Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts and Bravo Medical Magnet  plan to walk out. Students from various schools expect to join area marches, including those in Santa Monica and Huntington Park. Other schools are hosting career days and voter registration drives. At 1 p.m., students plan to start a rally in front of L.A. Unified headquarters. For the record: An earlier version of this article stated that 12 teachers and one student were killed in the Columbine shooting. The opposite is true: twelve students and one teacher died. Facebook

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Stabbing of popular student devastates South El Monte High School; teen friend suspected in slaying By Sonali Kohli When administrators at South El Monte High School called Jeremy Sanchezs parents to say he never showed up for class Wednesday, his father began to worry. It was unusual for the 17-year-old junior to miss school, so his father filed a missing persons report and assembled two of Jeremys close friends to look for the popular student-athlete. Their search took them to a scenic stretch of the San Gabriel River Trail, where one of the friends  a 16-year-old boy  made a tragic discovery. Among the bushes in the riverbed near Thienes Avenue and Parkway Drive was Jeremys body, punctured with stab wounds, according to Lt. John Corina of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Read More Facebook

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Racist fliers spark outrage at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo By Alene Tchekmedyian Soon after Neal MacDougall arrived on the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus Tuesday, the professor noticed university police standing outside a restroom near his office. A racial slur against African Americans had been scrawled in red marker on a stall wall. Later, he discovered a series of racist fliers pinned up next to his door. Someone had also slashed posters hed hung outside his office supporting students in the country illegally. The discovery was the latest controversy on the prestigious campus  which the president said is less than 55% white  that MacDougall said demonstrates a culture of racism at the university. Last week, photographs emerged of white fraternity members, including one in blackface, flashing gang signs. Read More Facebook

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The superintendent waiting game, paying for L.A.'s College Promise, Princetons slave history: Whats new in education By Joy Resmovits Acting LAUSD superintendent Vivian Ekchian is a finalist for the permanent job. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) In and around Los Angeles: The L.A. Unified school board spent 10 hours interviewing and discussing candidates for superintendent. When they adjourned after 10 p.m., they said they would reconvene on Friday. Who is paying for Mayor Eric Garcettis much-touted College Promise, a program that promises two years of community college for LAUSD grads? In California: The Legislature is considering a proposal that would boost K-12 education funding for black students. When the cost of living is taken into account, California has the highest rate of child poverty. Nationwide: The families of two children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School are suing Alex Jones and Infowars for saying the school massacre never occurred. Princeton will name two spaces  an arch and a garden  after slaves who lived or worked on the campus. Facebook

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L.A. school board meets privately with finalists and debates choice for school district leader By Howard Blume The Los Angeles Board of Education adjourned late Tuesday after spending more than 10 hours interviewing candidates and trying to reach a decision on who would be the next leader of the nations second-largest school system. When the meeting finally recessed at 10:11 p.m., a spokesman announced only that the school board would reconvene Friday at noon. Going into the days meetings, there were apparently four finalists, according to sources who could not be named because they were unauthorized to speak. Read More Facebook

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Two Sandy Hook families sue Alex Jones and Infowars for saying the school massacre never happened By David Altimari Families of two children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School have filed lawsuits in Texas against controversial radio host Alex Jones for continually claiming the massacre never happened. Neil Heslin, the father of Jesse Lewis, and Leonard Pozner and Veronique De La Rosa, whose son Noah Pozner died in the massacre, filed separate lawsuits late Monday in Travis County, Texas. The lawsuits allege that Jones defamed the parents by constantly calling them crisis actors and insisting the shooting was a false flag operation; they also claim Jones accusations have led to death threats against the Sandy Hook families by Jones followers. Read More Facebook

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Beutner emerges as a top pick for L.A. schools superintendent amid last-minute jockeying By Howard Blume Austin Beutner has emerged as a leading contender to run the Los Angeles school district, with backers saying he is smart enough and tough enough to confront its financial and academic struggles. Though he does not have a background in education, the former investment banker has in the last year examined some of the districts intractable problems, serving as co-chair of an outside task force with the support of then-Supt. Michelle King. Sources inside and outside the school district said Beutner appears to have more support on the seven-member board than other finalists, and his name could come up for a vote as early as Tuesday. Read More Facebook

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Challenge at Chicago school construction site: Watch for 38,000 unmarked graves By Nereida Moreno A 15-year effort to build a school in Chicagos Dunning neighborhood is underway with an unusual complication: Construction workers are taking careful steps to avoid disturbing human remains that may lie beneath the soil. The $70-million school is to be built on the grounds of a former Cook County Poor House, where an estimated 38,000 people were buried in unmarked graves. Among the dead are residents who were too poor to afford funeral costs, unclaimed bodies and patients from the countys insane asylum. There can be and there have been bodies found all over the place, said Barry Fleig, a genealogist and cemetery researcher who began investigating the site in 1989. Its a spooky, scary place. Read More Facebook

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Oklahoma teacher walkout winds down despite lawmakers failure to meet demands By Washington Post Oklahomas largest teachers union has announced an end to a walkout that has drawn thousands of educators out of classrooms and to the state Capitol demanding greater investment in the states schools, which have endured the nations steepest funding cuts. The announcement Thursday from the Oklahoma Education Assn. does not necessarily end the protests at the Capitol, as teachers not affiliated with the union vowed to stay longer. Instead of a walkout, the union and school districts across the state have said they plan to send delegations of teachers to Oklahoma City to keep the pressure on lawmakers. Teachers and their supporters have also promised to push education issues to the forefront of November elections, when the state chooses a new governor. As school districts begin to reopen, the protests may lose steam. The Legislature is not in session Friday, and observers are waiting to see what happens Monday, when lawmakers return. Read More Facebook

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Most Californians are worried about school shooting threats and oppose arming teachers, survey finds By Joy Resmovits Hamilton High School student Aiyana Dabriel holds a sign during a March 14 walkout in support of the Parkland shooting victims. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Most Californians are worried that a school shooting like the one that occurred in Parkland, Fla., in February could shed blood closer to home, a new survey found. Some 73% percent of adults and 82% of public school parents said they were very concerned or somewhat concerned about school shootings. The Public Policy Institute of California surveyed 1,704 adults in the state by phone just after the March for Our Lives protest against gun violence. Latino and black respondents were significantly more likely to be concerned about school violence than white or Asian respondents, the institute found. Two-thirds of adults and public school parents said they opposed letting more educators carry weapons in school. The response differed across party lines, with 86% of Democrats and 69% of independents voicing their opposition, while 60% percent of Republicans said they would support a measure to arm educators. The poll, which had a margin of error of 3.2% in either direction, also asked Californians about school funding, educational issues in the governors race and the impact of immigration enforcement on students. You can find the full results here. Facebook

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Californias largest virtual charter school network agrees to contract with its teachers By Anna M. Phillips Nearly four years after teachers at Californias largest online charter school voted to unionize, they have reached a deal to increase pay and create job protections, according to a spokesman for the California Teachers Assn. The contract, which is still tentative and subject to ratification, is a victory for the teachers union. Although charter schools are publicly funded, most are privately managed and their employees arent protected by labor contracts. Under the terms of the contract  the result of years of negotiation and legal wrangling  approximately 500 teachers working for California Virtual Academies will no longer be at-will employees who can be dismissed for almost any reason. Their average salary will rise to just over $45,000, according to union estimates, a figure that remains far below the norm for traditional public school teachers. Still, it is an improvement over the previous average of $38,000. The accord also places a limit on the number of students each teacher is responsible for monitoring in online homeroom classes. Were very satisfied with the gains we made, said teacher Brianna Carroll, president of California Virtual Educators United. I think were going to see some extraordinary changes in our schools. According to Carroll, teachers at California Virtual Academies  better known as CAVA  had grown frustrated with the organizations foot-dragging and were making preparations to go on strike when CAVAs leadership agreed to the deal. CAVA and K12, the Virginia-based for-profit company linked to its schools, did not immediately respond to an email Tuesday asking for comment. The network currently operates nine virtual charter schools across California. In 2016, the charter network agreed to pay $8.5 million to settle claims of false advertising, misleading parents and inadequate instruction. The state attorney generals office had also accused K12 of controlling the charters for its own financial benefit. Neither CAVA nor K12 admitted to wrongdoing in the settlement. A year later, the state imposed a $2-million fine on CAVA after an audit found that it had misspent public funds. The network disputed the findings. Facebook

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School board approves a new formula for funding high-need schools By Sonali Kohli L.A. schools will soon get more money if they are located in neighborhoods with such problems as high levels of gun violence and asthma. The Los Angeles Unified school board voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt a new formula to determine how to dole out some funding to schools, based not only on the characteristics of the student populations but on the traumas that affect the communities around campuses. The new formula will be applied to $25 million in funding next fiscal year and about $263 million annually in future years  a small part of the districts $7.5 billion annual budget. Read More Facebook

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Protesters demand Ref Rodriguez resignation outside school board meeting By Sonali Kohli Students, parents, teachers and UTLA marching outside the board meeting chanting "Ref resign" pic.twitter.com/W0LRWZSIXY  Sonali Kohli  (@Sonali_Kohli) April 10, 2018 A few dozen parents, students and teachers marched outside the Los Angeles Unified School Board meeting Tuesday, some calling for board member Ref Rodriguez to resign the week after news broke that he was taken into custody on suspicion of being drunk in public at a Pasadena bar and restaurant. Rodriguez was not cited or charged in that incident, but was held for more than five and a half hours before being released. The school board member faces felony and misdemeanor charges for political money laundering. He is accused of getting more than two dozen people people to donate to his campaign for his school board seat with the understanding that he would reimburse them. He stepped down from his post as school board president after he was charged last fall, but he did not give up his seat on the board. He has pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of conspiracy, perjury, and procuring and offering a false or forged instrument, as well as 25 misdemeanor counts related to the alleged campaign money laundering. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May. He cant give his full focus to our students, said Rebecca LaFond, a Highland Park parent whose three children marched with her as she chanted, Ref resign. One daughter marched in front of her, using a drum stick to hit the bottom of a gallon-size empty water jug. Our kids deserve someone who has the utmost ethical standards representing them, LaFond said. The protests continued into the board meeting, where some addressed Rodriguez directly, calling on him to step down during public comment portions of the meeting. Rodriguez, through his chief of staff, declined to comment. Some parents outside the board meeting did not know about the charges against Rodriguez but came out to protest the possibility of sharing their school campuses with charter schools. Protesters also oppose colocation  not all of the parents are here to ask Ref Rodriguez to step down pic.twitter.com/1Co8zQ9zSi  Sonali Kohli  (@Sonali_Kohli) April 10, 2018 Cynthia Martinez said her son, who goes to Christopher Dena Elementary School in Boyle Heights, has been bullied in the past by students from a charter school sharing the campus. She said she didnt know who Rodriguez was. Some parents and teachers are worried about losing computer labs, robotics rooms and fitness centers if they are required to share their campus with charter schools, said Ilse Escobar, a parent community organizer for United Teachers Los Angeles. The issues of Rodriguez and colocation are related, Escobar said. Rodriguez is part of a majority on the school board elected with financial backing from charter school supporters, and many parents, she said, feel that the school board is compromised if he is a part of it. Staff reporter Howard Blume contributed to this post. Facebook

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Delaine Eastin tries to gain momentum in the California governors race, one voter at a time By Seema Mehta Delaine Eastin was a sophomore in high school when a drama teacher urged her to try out for a part in The Man Who Came to Dinner. She hesitated until he told her: This is a metaphor for your whole life. If you never try out, you will never get the part. Eastin auditioned and won the role. Decades later, the advice sticks with the former state schools chief, this time in her unlikely run for governor. Despite calls for more women in leadership roles in state politics following sexual misconduct allegations in Sacramento, Eastin has been largely overlooked in the race, lagging far behind her Democratic rivals in fundraising and the polls. Read More Facebook

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Arizona high court rejects in-state tuition for DACA recipients By Associated Press Young immigrants granted deferred deportation status under a program started by President Obama are not eligible for lower in-state college tuition, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled Monday. The unanimous ruling will affect at least 2,000 students attending the states largest community college district and hundreds more at other colleges and the states three public universities. The Maricopa County Community Colleges District and state universities said they would begin raising tuition immediately for the coming school year. Read More Facebook

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New York high school students injured when bus strikes overpass By Associated Press A charter bus carrying teenagers returning from a spring break trip Sunday night struck a bridge overpass on Long Island, seriously injuring six passengers and mangling the entire length of the top of the bus. The crash happened shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday on the Southern State Parkway in Lakeview, according to New York State Police. One of the six injured passengers had very serious injuries, said State Police Maj. David Candelaria. Thirty-seven other passengers suffered minor injuries. Read More Facebook

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Some good news for California in national student test scores By Joy Resmovits Every two years, the nations fourth- and eighth-graders are tested in math and reading  and newly released results from last years tests give California at least a little reason to be pleased. The 2017 results  out Monday night  were mostly flat nationwide compared with 2015, though the average score in eighth-grade reading went up. But while that improvement largely came from the increased scores of the highest-performing students, California eighth-graders showed some reading progress from the lowest levels to the highest. Read More Facebook

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Under state control, Inglewood school districts financial picture worsened By Anna M. Phillips When Eugenio Villa agreed to return to the Inglewood schools for a second tour last summer, he knew the district remained one of Californias most troubled. Inglewood Unified had been nearly insolvent when it was taken over by the state Department of Education in 2012. Six years later, its enrollment was still declining. Its school buildings were tired  some edging into decrepitude. Its test scores and graduation rates were still below the state average. And the public was out of patience. Still, Villa, who had signed back on as the districts chief business official, was shocked at what he found when he arrived in June 2017. Two years earlier, he had left the school system on what he thought was firm ground. Read More Facebook

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Charter school group drops two lawsuits against L.A. Unified By Howard Blume A charter schools advocacy group last week announced that it would end two long-running lawsuits in which it was seeking more classroom space and construction money from the Los Angeles school district. The decision, the California Charter Schools Assn. said, reflects better relations between charter schools and the L.A. Unified School District. But the move also suggests that the litigation, which already contributed to significant gains for area charters, was unlikely to produce much more. It takes time, money and effort to litigate, said Ricardo Soto, general counsel for the charter group. Maybe its better to see if we can find the time and opportunity for collaboration. Read More Facebook

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L.A. school board member Ref Rodriguez is arrested on suspicion of public intoxication By Richard Winton Los Angeles school board member Ref Rodriguez was arrested recently on suspicion of being drunk in public at a Pasadena restaurant, the latest trouble for an elected official who faces political money-laundering charges. Pasadena police took Rodriguez into custody on March 16, according to city spokeswoman Lisa Derderian. Officers arrested Rodriguez at about 4:30 p.m. at the Yard House restaurant and bar at the Paseo Mall and held him in jail for more than five-and-a-half hours. Rodriguez was ultimately released without being cited or charged, Derderian told The Times. Other details about the arrest were not available, she said. Read More Facebook

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Kentucky teachers rally at Capitol over state budget By Associated Press Thousands of Kentucky teachers filled the streets near the state Capitol in Frankfort on a cold, overcast Monday to rally for education funding. Teachers and other school employees gathered outside the Kentucky Education Assn. a couple of blocks from the Capitol chanting, Stop the war on public education and holding or posting signs that say, Weve Had Enough. Were madder than hornets, and the hornets are swarming today, said Claudette Green, a retired teacher and principal. Read More Facebook

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Feb. 17, 2017, 3:04 p.m. During Oroville evacuations, authorities say these people tried to exploit the emergency Although Butte County sheriffs officials say there were no reports of looting during recent evacuations below Ororville Dam, there were a handful of burglaries and robberies that targeted fleeing residents, officials said. The incidents began Sunday night, hours after authorities ordered more than 100,000 people to flee to high ground, according to the Butte County Sheriffs Office. About 6:30 p.m., deputies said, Cody Bowles, 27, and Lucia Ripley, 31, carjacked the vehicle of an Oroville resident who was packing it to flee. The resident left the car running and was moving in and out of the house with items when the couple jumped into the vehicle, officials say. When the resident confronted the pair, they ran him over, seriously injuring him, officials say. Authorities are looking for the pair. About half an hour later, authorities said, Teran Washington 25, and a 16-year-old boy used a shotgun to blast through the front door of a local market and tried to ransack the business before they were confronted by neighbors. Though the two got away, deputies later searched their home and say they found the shotgun and arrested Washington and his young accomplice. The next morning, Michael Matlock, 31, was seen riding an ATV in Gridley and towing a gun safe, authorities say. Tailed by state Department of Water Resources employees who became suspicious, Matlock ran away when his vehicle got stuck on railroad tracks, investigators said. The ATV, the trailer and the gun safe had all been stolen, officials said. Matlock was identified as the ATV driver and arrested on suspicion of burglary, vehicle theft and looting during an emergency, officials said.



Feb. 17, 2017, 1:51 p.m. 150,000 cubic yards of debris stand in the way of Oroville Dams hydroelectric plant restart Helicopters ferry sand and rocks from a staging area to the Oroville Dams emergency spillway repair project. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Officials at Lake Oroville reduced the rate of water release once again Friday as workers continued make repairs to a damaged spillway and clear debris from a hydroelectric plant. State Department of Water Resources engineers will decrease the flow of water in the Oroville Dams main spillway from 80,000 cubic feet per second to 60,000 by Saturday morning, giving crews space to dredge debris from a pool at the bottom of the spillway, said DWR acting director Bill Croyle. Engineers had been pumping water out of the lake at 100,000 cfs for several days to make room for incoming storm runoff and to keep the lake from overflowing like it did over the weekend. That overflow badly eroded an emergency spillway and sent debris flowing into a pool at the bottom, forcing the closure of an underground hydroelectric plant. This reduction in flow will allow us to work on the debris pile in the spillway, Croyle told reporters at a news conference. He estimated that 150,000 cubic yards of sediment and debris were in the pool. The other focus by workers at the dam is the eroded emergency spillway, Croyle said. Rain began falling again in the area on Thursday and its not expected to stop until the middle of next week at the earliest. The heaviest showers are expected Monday and could drop up to 10 inches of rain onto the mountains and foothills that drain into the reservoir, the National Weather Service said. The storms arent likely to produce enough runoff to exceed the lakes capacity, Croyle said. Hundreds of thousands of tons of rocks and concrete slurry have been dropped into four fissures that threatened a retaining wall of the emergency spillway on Sunday. They were 50%, 75%, 90% and 100% full, respectively, Croyle said. Rain falling onto the slurry and a small stream that had formed on the hillside Friday did not worry DWR engineers, he said.



Feb. 16, 2017, 8:51 a.m. OROVILLE

New worry for Oroville Dam: a storm next week that could dump a lot of rain Its raining in the Oroville Dam area, though officials have said they are confident their efforts will prevent any problem. But now another storm is set to hit Monday. Heres a look at whats to come: ca_state2 95e1612 0.01 0.1 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 1.25 1.5 1.75 2 2.5 3 4 5 7 Legend Source:NOAA Projected at 2 a.m. Thursday 0.1 1 2 3 4 5 7+ @latimesgraphics Projected peak 11.3 inches Lake Oroville Sacramento 5-day forecast Cumulative inches of precipitation



Feb. 17, 2017, 7:19 a.m. Reporting from Sacramento

The crisis at the Oroville Dam could become a catalyst for change Reconstruction continued Wednesday in a race to shore up the emergency spillway, left, at the Oroville Dam. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Jeffrey Mount, a leading expert on California water policy, remembers the last time a crisis at the Oroville Dam seemed likely to prompt reform. It was 1997 and the lake risked overflowing, while levees further downstream failed and several people died. If this doesnt galvanize action, I dont know what will, Mount said he thought at the time. But spring came, the waters receded and no changes came to pass. Now another threat looms in Oroville, where deteriorating spillways forced widespread evacuations, and more heavy rain is around the corner. State officials have remained focused on quick fixes at the dam needed to prevent catastrophic flooding, but some already are thinking about how the crisis could spur long-term shifts in policy. Its a conversation thats gaining momentum in think tanks and government offices from Sacramento to Washington, and it touches on climate change, infrastructure spending and statewide water policy. Wade Crowfoot, a former advisor to Gov. Jerry Brown who now leads the Water Foundation, a nonprofit research organization in Sacramento, compared the situation to the states years-long drought. This is a wake-up call, he said. The drought reminded us we need to use water more wisely. Oroville reminds us that we need to upgrade our infrastructure and our management to move water more wisely. Read more

Feb. 16, 2017, 6:14 p.m. Flood warning for Oroville Dam lifted The National Weather Service has canceled the flash-flood warning issued Sunday, when officials worried the emergency spillway at Lake Oroville might collapse.



Feb. 16, 2017, 1:35 p.m. As storm moves in, engineers reduce outflow from Lake Oroville to clean up debris Spillway repairs continue at Oroville Dam on Wednesday. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Confident that a series of incoming storms wont overwhelm the Oroville reservoir a second time, state officials said Thursday that they would slow drainage of the lake so they can do work on an adjacent power plant. The reservoir exceeded its capacity over the weekend, which sent water overflowing into an unlined, emergency spillway. That overflow sent soil, rock and forest debris into the Feather River below. With the reservoirs water level down more than 30 feet since Sunday and getting lower, state Department of Water Resources acting director Bill Croyle said at a news conference Thursday that engineers will slow the flow down the Oroville Dams damaged main spillway from 100,000 cubic feet of water per second to 80,000 cfs over a period of several hours. The reduction will allow crews to move into the concrete channel to clear out trees, branches and other debris that has clogged the spillway and forced the downstream hydroelectric plant to go offline, Croyle said. There was no estimate on when the power plant would be back up and running, but it will probably not be before Monday, Croyle said. Meanwhile, the Herculean effort to reinforce the emergency spillway before more rain arrived used a caravan of helicopters and trucks to fill three deep fissures in the dirt hillside with rocks and cement. As of Thursday, repairs on one erosion site was completed, the second was 25% filled and the third was 69% filled, Croyle said. As long as the lake doesnt reach capacity the emergency spillway wont be used, Croyle said. The incoming storm system is weaker than the one that overwhelmed the lake last week after the dams main spillway eroded to the point of fracture, Croyle said. More than 100,000 residents south of the dam remain under an evacuation advisory and should be prepared to flee to higher ground should the dam overflow and the spillways collapse, authorities said.



Feb. 16, 2017, 11:14 a.m. Storm headed to Oroville Dam area could bring 10 inches of rain, revised forecast warns Friends Johnny Eroh, from left, Cody Balmer, Kristien Bravo and Jerel Bruhn hang out by the swollen Feather River in Oroville. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Spillway repairs at the troubled Oroville Dam will get their first major test this weekend after meteorologists revised their forecast and are now predicting a much wetter and warmer storm outlook for the region. Light to moderate rain began falling across Northern California early Thursday and will probably continue for several days, according to the National Weather Service. However, the situation will change substantially Sunday, when a larger storm arrives at Oroville and the Feather River basin. It looks like its going to be a pretty good rainmaker, said NWS meteorologist Mike Smith. Youre looking at 10 inches from Sunday night to Monday night. Read more



Feb. 16, 2017, 10:40 a.m. Oroville Dam flooding risks keep schools closed McKenna Harvey, 9, left, Kylie Atteberry, 11, and Brooklyn Atteberry, 7, hold signs thanking workers for the repair efforts at the Oroville Dam. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Time) Several schools remain closed in communities affected by the Oroville Dam emergency. All school districts except for Chico and Paradise in Butte County will be closed through Friday. Wheatland High School, Yuba College and the Marysville Joint and Wheatland Elementary school districts in Yuba County also will be closed. We believe this gives our families and staff sufficient time to make longer-term plans, said Supt. Craig M. Guensler of the Wheatland Elementary School District. Most school districts in Butte County will resume classes Tuesday. Monday is a holiday. Guensler said the district could reassess school closures next week. The safety of our staff and students is our largest priority, and we will continue to make sure we keep our schools safe, he said.



Feb. 16, 2017, 6:17 a.m. Oroville reservoir level continues to drop amid new rain storms In the hours since a series of storms in Northern California began dropping rain on the damaged Oroville reservoir, data shows that state water officials continue to drain the lake faster than the storms are filling it. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain has fallen in Oroville since the first of the storms arrived early Thursday, the National Weather Service reported. The area and surrounding foothills are expected to receive several inches of rain through the weekend. But that shouldnt be enough to fill Lake Oroville back up to capacity, when the lake reaches 900 feet, the Department of Water Resources said. The lake is draining water at 100,000 cubic feet per second, enough to drop the lake a foot every three hours. Meanwhile, runoff from the current and previous storms is sending water into the lake at only a fraction of that pace. The lake has dropped more than 30 feet since it overflowed during the weekend and damaged an emergency spillway that had never been used. If it drops another 30 feet by Sunday, officials hope, the reservoir should have enough space to catch water from rain and melting snow without overflowing the rest of the year.

Feb. 15, 2017, 8:31 p.m. OROVILLE

No looting but some burglaries during Oroville evacuation, sheriff says Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea repeated his insistence Wednesday that there had been no looting while Oroville was under mandatory evacuation orders, but he conceded that the town had seen burglaries. Certainly weve had burglaries, he said, adding that there are burglaries every day. Honea drew a firm distinction between the two forms of theft. Looting, he said, is a massive and organized stealing of everything within a structure, and is very rare. Honea urged residents returning to the area to be prepared to leave again if necessary. This is an ongoing situation. He said the state has agreed to post National Guard units in the region, part of what he called staging of resources should another emergency arise.

Feb. 15, 2017, 3:49 p.m. Community puts on Valentines Day wedding for couple evacuated in Oroville emergency

Leotta Litke and Henry Rueda had planned a romantic Valentines Day wedding at their community church in Olivehurst. But on Sunday, the couple was forced to evacuate their home after a hole developed in an emergency spillway at the Oroville Dam. The couple went to an evacuation center at the Placer County fairgrounds in Roseville and had been staying there through Tuesday. It appeared their dream of a Valentines Day wedding was crushed. That was until shelter workers found out about their wedding plans and decided to help them get hitched. So Placer County workers spread the word on Facebook, asking for help: We have one last, very special donation request for our Oroville emergency evacuees, workers wrote. This young couple, Leotta and Henry, planned to be getting married today at their home church in Olivehurst. Instead, theyll be honoring us today at our evacuation shelter. To help Leotta and Henry. To make this day as special as it should be, we need a wedding dress and suit ASAP! Message us if you can help, and please join us in wishing them congratulations! Soon after the call went out, donations from residents and area businesses began pouring into the fairground, according to workers. By the end of the day, the bride was given a beautiful white gown and the groom a black tux and a large tree was converted into a wedding altar. Surrounded by a large group of evacuees who remained at the shelter for the night, Litke walked down the grassy aisle to an acoustic version of the Elvis Presley hit Cant Help Falling In Love. The couple had been together 10-years before deciding to tie the knot, they said. I want to thank everybody, Litke told CBS Sacramento. I am happy to be Mrs. Rueda. To cap off the night, a limo and hotel room were also donated, KTXL-TV reported. Its hard to imagine a better way to celebrate Valentines Day than the surprise wedding we were honored to witness tonight at the Placer County shelter for Oroville spillway emergency evacuees, county workers wrote on Facebook.



Feb. 15, 2017, 1:33 p.m. reporting from OROVILLE, Calif.

Officials confident Oroville Dam will withstand new rainstorm: Its holding up really well Reconstruction continues in a race to shore up the emergency spillway, left, at Oroville Dam on Wednesday. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Even as rain began to fall in Northern California on Wednesday, state officials said the storms forecast over the next few days will not be enough to test the integrity of the Oroville Dam or its two damaged spillways. Bill Croyle, acting director of the state Department of Water Resources, called the storms fairly small and said the public wont see a blip in the reservoir levels, now dropping about eight inches an hour. Croyle said it was not the weather he was concerned about so much as the damage done to the dams already compromised main spillway during days of sustained heavy releases of water. Its holding up really well, Croyle said, but continued mass water releases could be causing hidden damage to the rocky subsurface adjacent to the concrete chute. A swarm of trucks and helicopters dumped 1,200 tons of material per hour onto the eroded hillside that formed the dams emergency spillway. One quarry worked around the clock to mine boulders as heavy as 6 tons. An army of workers mixed concrete slurry to help seal the rocks in place. At the main spillway, a different and riskier operation was underway: Despite a large hole in the concrete chute, officials have been sending a massive amount of the swollen reservoirs water down the spillway to the Feather River in a desperate attempt to reduce the lakes level. The objective is to lower the level enough so that the lake can accept runoff from the upcoming storms without reaching capacity. If the reservoir filled up again, water would overflow into the emergency spillway, which on Sunday appeared to be nearing collapse, forcing the evacuation of more than 100,000 people downstream. Croyle said there were plans to begin to taper off the water discharges at the end of the week. Data from the Department of Water Resources shows Shasta Dam discharges began to be sharply increased on Feb. 10 and have increased substantially every day since that. Federal emergency officials and the Trump administration approved Gov. Jerry Browns requests for presidential disaster declarations for the Oroville Dam and for the 34 counties struck in January by major winter storms that caused mudslides and power outages. I want to thank FEMA for moving quickly to approve our requests, Brown said in a statement from his office. At a news briefing Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said President Trump has been keeping a close eye on the situation at Oroville. The situation is a textbook example of why we need to pursue a major infrastructure package in Congress, Spicer said. Dams, bridges, roads and all ports around the country have fallen into disrepair.



Feb. 15, 2017, 12:54 p.m. Rio Linda

Sikhs opened their temple doors to Oroville Dam evacuees  and strangers came pouring in Evacuees and Sikhs chat at Shri Guru Ravidass temple in Rio Linda, Calif., north of Sacramento. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Each morning before the break of dawn, Nirmal Singh makes his way to a small stage at the Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, adorned with roses and silk. There, the priest sits and reads prayers from a centuries-old Indian text to open the day. Its usually a quiet affair, with words spoken in Punjabi to an empty hall the size of a large backyard  a solemn start at the small Sikh temple that sees few people outside of weekend services. But this week, Singh had company. Bodies shuffled under blankets in front of him. On Tuesday a Mexican couple and their kids woke up to his right, revealing the head scarves they wore in respect of Sikh traditions. In a nearby room, an African American man was also was getting up to the sounds of prayer. As tens of thousands fled low-lying regions on the Feather River this week amid warnings of flooding from the rapidly filling Lake Oroville, Sikh temples across in the Sacramento area opened their doors to evacuees. Read more

Feb. 15, 2017, 2:05 p.m. As new storms approach Lake Oroville, authorities warn residents to remain vigilant Although officials say the risk of flooding below Oroville Dam has dropped substantially since the weekend, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea warned area residents Wednesday that they remained in an emergency situation. During an afternoon news conference, Honea urged residents to maintain vigilance as dam operators continued to drain Lake Oroville before a string of storms began soaking the region again Wednesday evening. They need to pay attention, Honea said of residents. Its important for people to be prepared. This is an opportunity for them to get things together, so that if the risk level increases and there is a need for us to issue an evacuation order, theyll have the things they need and theyll be able to do that quickly and efficiently. The sheriff also asked residents to start making travel plans should they need to evacuate. On Sunday, when erosion of the lakes emergency spillway triggered a sudden evacuation order, area roads quickly suffered gridlock. That was an incredibly chaotic situation, and I was aware of it, Honea said. Sundays emergency order was lifted Tuesday afternoon, allowing more than 100,000 residents and business owners to return to their communities. Honea said that during the evacuation order, Oroville had seen some thefts, but he insisted there was no widespread looting of properties. Certainly weve had burglaries, he said. Looting, the large-scale and organized theft of property from a structure, is very rare, the sheriff said. Honea also said that the state has agreed to post National Guard units in the region, part of what he called staging of resources should another emergency arise.

Feb. 15, 2017, 11:54 a.m. Graphic: Lake Oroville water levels dropped dramatically

After exceeding capacity this week, Lake Oroville has seen water levels drop significantly in the last three days. The charge above shows the story, as officials bumped massive amounts of water through the damaged main spillway.

Feb. 15, 2017, 11:48 a.m. L.A. County dams to be inspected in wake of Oroville crisis

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has ordered inspections of all county dams, spillways and other flood control infrastructure. The move was sparked by the emergency at Lake Oroville in Northern California over the last week, when failures of two spillways used to lower the lakes water level prompted mandatory evacuations. Supervisor Kathryn Barger called for the inspections on Tuesday, and her motion was unanimously approved by the board. The supervisors have asked the countys Department of Public Works to provide a report on the condition of the dams within 30 days and to develop a list of priority flood-control infrastructure projects that need to be completed. The Oroville situation reminds us of the need to proactively evaluate our countys risk with regard to dams and other facilities which may be prone to failure from storms, earthquakes or other foreseeable events, Barger said in a statement. Read more

Feb. 15, 2017, 11:01 a.m. Rep. Doug LaMalfa says Oroville Dam looks stable for now Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) said Wednesday that officials will investigate what went wrong at the Oroville Dam once the emergency situation is over. In a Facebook post, LaMalfa wrote that Oroville Dam looks stable for now. LaMalfa said officials are focused on providing support to residents who were evacuated Sunday night. Residents were allowed to return home Tuesday afternoon after officials said the risk of flooding had diminished. Speaking on the House floor Tuesday, LaMalfa said the soil in front of the emergency spillway must be stabilized with rock and concrete. It looks good, he said. I think things are stable for now. We also need prayer for no more rain for a while. After meeting privately with emergency officials on Tuesday, state Sen. Jim Nielsen (R-Gerber) said he was told the repairs were temporary. This cannot be a case of put rocks in the spillway and it is taken care of, he said.

Feb. 15, 2017, 10:20 a.m. Kangaroos, zebra and deer, oh my! Woman sheltered wild animals during evacuation

Before evacuees returned home Tuesday afternoon, a woman cared for kangaroos, zebras and other animals left behind by residents. California Highway Patrol officers were checking on abandoned properties in the affected areas on Tuesday morning, when they came across the exotic animals at Tamara Archer Houstons family farm in Sutter County, said Officer Chad Hertzell, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol in North Sacramento. It was like Wow, a zebra,  he said. Archer Houston and her family had been collecting animals left during the rush to evacuate, according to the CHP. We had fun, she said in a video on Facebook. It was good. Among the rescued animals were two kangaroos named Kenzie and Dottie, Archer Houston said in the video, filmed by CHP officers. Kenzie actually sleeps inside with her owner every night in her bed in her diaper, so this has to be a whole new deal for her, she said. The sight was a rare treat for officers. We are thankful for the random acts of kindness we find out in the community, the CHP wrote on Facebook. Everyone seems to be coming together to take care of each other. This is what makes California so special. More than 100,000 people were ordered to evacuate from communities downstream of Lake Oroville on Sunday night after the emergency spillway at the dam developed a hole, prompting fears it could collapse. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea lifted the mandatory evacuation order Tuesday and changed it to a warning. Although residents and business owners were allowed to return to their communities, he urged them to be prepared to evacuate again at a moments notice should new problems arise.



Feb. 15, 2017, 9:59 a.m. Oroville

Dam operators now hope to lower Lake Oroville by 60 feet in preparation for rain and snowmelt Even after Lake Orovilles water level is reduced by a targeted 50 feet, water managers intend to further drain the reservoir so that it can absorb major rain storms and spring snowmelt, according to state planning documents. The most recent 10-day forecast calls for water levels to be dropped 60 feet below the lakes maximum of 901 feet, which would give it the ability to hold nearly 1 million acre-feet of water before overtopping a damaged emergency spillway that is still undergoing temporary repairs. A joint plan created by the Department of Water Resources, Cal Fire and the Butte County Sheriffs Office calls for the reduction of water releases down the reservoirs main spillway later in the week. Water has been coursing down the damaged spillway at a rate of 100,000 cubic feet per second but will taper off to a third of that by late Friday, according to the plan. A new series of storms forecast to arrive late Wednesday is expected to last through the weekend. Likewise, a cooling trend will drop more snowfall in the Sierra. Officials hope to reduce the lake level to below 840 feet by next Wednesday. That level falls below what engineering documents show is normally required for flood control in wet weather. The biggest surge in water reaching the lake from the Feather Basin is forecast to arrive Tuesday, according to the planning documents. With the mandatory evacuation order for the Feather River lifted, life in Oroville is returning to normal. As a result, the Gold Country Casino and Hotel  which has served as housing for emergency work crews  is now asking contract workers to leave by Friday so the hotel can honor prior reservations. The workers can return Monday. The state also is operating a less luxurious emergency base camp nearby with meals provided by inmates on state firefighting crews.
Diego Flores went door to door.

But nobody, it seemed, wanted to speak to a journalist.

Maybe I can leave my number for your manager and he can call me? he asked one shopkeeper.

What if I set up an appointment and return? he asked another.

This was the first time the 16-year-old was out on the street reporting. He wasnt going to let rejection get in the way of his deadline.

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This school year, Flores joined the Boyle Heights Beat, a newspaper in which high school students write about the historic Latino neighborhood east of downtown. Their stories run in Spanish and English, online and in print.

Its a small operation, run out of a donated space at an old hospital. But in the six years the Beat has been around, the paper has become a key voice for the community. The teenagers who run it have learned as much about themselves as they have about Boyle Heights.

Im a pretty confident person, said Flores, who caught a ride after school with his dad so he could spend the afternoon reporting. But this has really pushed me to do things I would have never done on my own.

The students, who learn as they go, cover Boyle Heights most pressing topics, including gentrification, street vending and immigration. Theyve reported on elections, real estate disputes and police shootings. Many of their stories generate from ideas that begin with family and friends.

Student reporter Diego Flores, 16, left, works on transcribing an interview as Senior Editor Antonio Mejias-Rentas, right, looks at notes for the Boyle Heights Beat newspaper. (Patrick T. Fallon / For the Los Angeles Times)

Jennifer Lopez at age 17 wrote a feature on Don Cheto, a man whom many in Boyle Heights, including her mother, count on to deliver packages to their native Puebla. Zola Cervantes, a junior who plans to go to college soon, wrote about Latino parents who have a hard time letting their kids move out. After he pushed through his own emotional struggle, 16-year-old Saul Soto reported on mental health issues.

Our kids have a tremendous sense of responsibility to tell their stories, said Co-editor and Publisher Michelle Levander. This is a way to get to know a community in a very intimate way.

Levander, whos the director of the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism, launched the Beat back in 2010 with Pedro Rojas, former executive editor of La Opinion. They wanted to create a youth-driven paper with a local focus, and chose Boyle Heights because of its history, strong Chicano identity and challenges.

The newspaper gets by on an annual budget of about $230,000, with donations from organizations such as the California Endowment and the USC Good Neighbor Campaign. Four times a year, about 16 reporters and three editors put out a paper with a circulation of about 33,000 .

The goal, Levander said, is not to persuade students to become journalists (though some want to), but to teach them skills such as leadership, research and time management.

They are not only getting professional journalism training, said Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar. They are learning how to think critically in a way that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.

To find story ideas, the teenagers host a quarterly community gathering. Its a town-hall-style meeting, with pan dulce and cafe de olla, held at Boyle Heights City Hall.

On a recent weeknight, when a rainstorm pounded the city, nearly 100 people showed up to the first meeting of the year.

There were parents, activists, city workers, college students and health professionals. In the crowd were a farmers market vendor, a hairstylist and a teacher.

Liberty Gonzalez, a high school junior, ran the meeting. After reporters took turns describing the pieces theyd written in the Beats last edition, Gonzalez stepped in to address the audience:

Were here to ask you for story ideas, she said. We want to know, what would you like us to write about next?

For nearly two hours, neighborhood people took turns at the mic.

An older man requested more follow-up on big stories. A healthcare worker wanted reporting on pregnant women and homelessness. A teacher asked reporters to pay close attention to how President Trump changes education.

I dont want guys smoking weed outside my house at night, said Francisco Gallardo, who has lived in the neighborhood since 1979.

I would really like to see a running club in Boyle Heights, said Vanessa Perez, a new resident who didnt know such a club already exists.

Gentrification, a growing concern for the neighborhood of 90,000, came up again and again.

New barber shop owner Lino Campos was among those concerned.

People came into my business and called me a gentrifier to my face, said Campos, without even knowing that Im from this community.

The students, spread out across the room, listened intently, took notes and asked for phone numbers. Flores took photos to share online.

It was a busy night for teenagers who spend most of their days sitting in classrooms. Working at the paper, theyve learned to handle their share of readers criticism. Theyve also come to understand the trust people put in them, and the responsibility that goes with it.

Everywhere I go, I talk about you and I talk about this paper, Daisy Chavez, the neighborhood council president, told them. Im proud of you.

Candelaria Medina, in the back of the room, nodded in agreement.

Her son, Alex, a junior at Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School, joined the paper nearly two years ago.

At the end of junior high, he told her he was gay.

OK, son, she told him. Were going to walk with you always.

Student journalist Alex Medina, 16, right, poses with his parents Mario, left, and Candelaria at their home in Los Angeles. (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times)

At school, Alex remained quiet about his sexuality. Then a year ago, at age 15, he decided to write a story about Boyle Heights growing gay community.

Writing that story helped me open up and feel more comfortable with who I am, Alex said.

Through his reporting, he and his mom discovered several local LGBT organizations, and they got involved.

Now, wherever mother and son go, they speak up about gay rights and help other Latino parents learn to be more accepting of their gay children.

Thanks to the newspaper, we found a community, Medina said. And weve educated ourselves so we can be out here, helping others.

esmeralda.bermudez@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATBermudez
Add fighting bullying to the long list of priorities for which the nations second-largest school system has good intentions but sluggish follow-through.

One in 5 Los Angeles high school students and 1 in 4 elementary students said they had been bullied last school year, according to a survey conducted as part of a newly released internal audit.

As for efforts to curb bullying, at one campus, the person in charge of handling bullying complaints was not aware that she was appointed for this role, the report says.

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And although schools were supposed to keep bullying complaint logs, at nearly every campus the audit examined they were either not in use or were not up to date.

Although the extent of bullying found by the L.A. Unifieds Office of Inspector General is not necessarily out of line with national figures, the audit suggests that students are getting less help than they should.

Most teachers and staff did not receive high quality training on bullying prevention on an annual basis, the report says. Schools try to address bullying but fall short, to varying degrees.

In addition, the district, according to the audit, has fewer staff members overseeing anti-bullying efforts than other school systems with similar goals.

Part of the problem is a lack of clarity about what to do. Some of the report consists of auditors and administrators disputing or trying to agree on the best approaches. The district conceded the need for better training.

Teaching has become increasingly complicated, with instructors already required, among other things, to get annual training to recognize and report sexual misconduct, to deliver specialized instruction to students learning English, and to stay up to date on academic goals, teaching methods and technology.

But curbing bullying also is important, said Ron Avi Astor, a professor at USCs schools of social work and education.

Part of a schools purpose is to create A-plus human beings, who get along and speak to each other in respectful ways, said Astor, who has analyzed and conducted research on bullying around the world. If you are able to create a school that makes kids happy, where theres a good school climate, it not only becomes fertile ground for creating civic, democratic and communal values but also for strong academic gains.

Anonymous student surveys, Astor said, offer the most reliable bullying data, and should be conducted at every school annually. If L.A. Unified made this happen, it could track progress and determine which schools are models and which ones need help.

So far, L.A. Unified has not taken this step, even though the school system has long considered itself a groundbreaker in addressing the social and emotional challenges of students going back to the mid-1980s, when a Fairfax High teacher started Project 10 to counsel gay and lesbian students and keep them from from dropping out.

More recently, the district has embraced restorative justice, which deals with student conflict and misbehavior through counseling rather than traditional forms of discipline, such as suspension. The goal is to emphasize personal responsibility and the importance of making amends. But that effort, too, has been problematic, according to faculty and some administrators, and the inspector generals office intends to review this as well.

The bullying audit was completed by the beginning of October, according to district insiders. It was released Monday following a public-records request by The Times. At least some of the four-month delay apparently was to give administrators an opportunity to respond to criticisms.

The survey conducted as part of the audit also found that:

In elementary school, equal numbers of boys and girls said theyd been bullied. In high school, it was more boys than girls.

Bullying declines somewhat as students move into higher grades.

The scene of bullying gradually shifts from the playground to online and in the classroom, and older students are less likely to tell an adult.

About 5% of students said they had bullied a peer during the current school year, and more than a third of that group said they had taken part in cyberbullying  online bullying that might involve such things as publicly posting a hurtful or threatening remark on social media.

About 83% of students at 228 schools answered all or part of the survey questions. About 61%, or 48,206 students, completed the survey, allowing for full analysis.

To read the article in Spanish, click here

howard.blume@latimes.com

@howardblume

Times staff writer Sonali Kohli contributed to this report.
Federal officials on Monday released details about an immigration sweep in Los Angeles and surrounding counties last week that resulted in the arrests of 161 people living in the country illegally.

In response to the protests and panic in immigrant communities that erupted as word spread of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Los Angeles and several other cities, federal officials in a statement reiterated their claim that the arrests were not the result of President Trumps aggressive stance on deportations.

The people targeted had criminal convictions and, in that sense, the raids were no different from operations conducted under previous administrations, the ICE statement said.

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Of the 161 people arrested in L.A. and surrounding counties last week, 151 had been convicted of a crime. More than a quarter of those arrested  42 people  had been convicted of domestic abuse, while an equal number had either drug or assault convictions, according to the statistics released Monday. Seventeen people had been convicted of a sex crime.

Three-quarters of the people arrested came from Mexico, with the rest coming from 12 other countries. Men accounted for most of the arrests, with only seven women in the group.

Some in the group who reentered the U.S. after previously being deported will now face possible criminal prosecution or be deported immediately. By Friday, more than three dozen Mexicans had been deported.

Those caught by immigration authorities for the first time will enter the countrys immigration court system, where an immigration judge will ultimately decide whether to order them deported.

The ICE statement highlighted the more serious criminals in the group, which included a Honduran man who had previously been deported and had convictions for drug trafficking, spousal battery and petty theft, and a Mexican man who already had been ordered deported by an immigration judge and had convictions for drug trafficking, a weapons violation and spousal battery.

The group also included a felon from Jamaica who had prior convictions for a weapons violation, drug trafficking and domestic violence, and an Australian man taken into custody in West Hollywood who was previously convicted of lewd and lascivious acts with a child.

joel.rubin@latimes.com

Follow @joelrubin on Twitter
The decades-long battle over the fate of Santa Monica Municipal Airport isnt over.

A group of aviation interests on Monday asked a federal appeals court to review a recent agreement between Santa Monica and the Federal Aviation Administration to shorten the runway immediately and close the embattled facility at the end of 2028.

In an attempt to keep the airport open, the National Business Aviation Assn., the Santa Monica Airport Assn. and four airport tenants requested a hearing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which handles cases involving federal agencies.

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Santa Monicas airport is a vital asset to our aviation system, both locally as well as nationally, and serves as a critical transportation lifeline for the entire Los Angeles Basin, said Ed Bolen, the business associations president and chief executive officer.

Santa Monicas airport is a vital asset .... and serves as a critical transportation lifeline for the entire Los Angeles Basin.  Ed Bolen, National Business Aviation Assn. president and CEO

NBAA remains committed to aggressively supporting unrestricted business aviation access to Santa Monica Airport through this petition and other available channels, he said.

The FAA and City Council agreed last month that the historic airport can be closed on Dec. 31, 2028, and the 4,973-foot runway could be shortened immediately to 3,500 feet, a move that could cut jet operations substantially. City officials have said they plan to reduce the runway in three months.

The agreement settled all litigation between the city and FAA, and held out the real possibility that the bitter fight over the future of the airport would end.

However, Bolen contended that the FAAs seeming acquiescence to a vocal minority of Santa Monica residents represented a one-of-a-kind development that would severely restrict aviation access throughout Southern California and across the U.S.

FAA officials declined to comment, stating that they do not publicly discuss pending litigation. Only Michael Huerta, the agencys top administrator, is named in the petition at this time.

Santa Monica Mayor Ted Winterer called the appeal a desperate move by an organization that represents an elite few who benefit from the airport at the expense of the communitys health and safety.

Closing the airport is what our residents voted for and it will close forever on Dec. 31, 2028, Winterer said. The agreement between the city and the FAA is fair and final.

Joining the petition were four airport tenants, Bills Air Center Inc., Kim Davidson Aviation Inc., Redgate Partners LLC and Wonderful Citrus LLC.

Bolen said city officials have repeatedly attempted to curtail access to the airport by aviation users and other stakeholders in violation of various federal agreements dating back to the 1948 instrument of transfer that returned control of the former military airfield back to the city.

Meanwhile, the NBAA continues to pursue a separate complaint to the FAA, which alleges that the city imposed illegal landing fees, diverted airport funds to non-aviation uses and set unfair leasing policies to force out aeronautical tenants.

Also involved in the so-called Part 16 complaint are the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Assn., Kim Davidson Aviation, Bills Air Center and Mark Smith, a local pilot and aircraft owner.

Another lawsuit brought against Santa Monica by two airport businesses, Atlantic Aviation and American Flyers, will be dropped, said David Shaby, an attorney in the civil case. He added that the city has agreed to drop its eviction actions against the companies and grant them leases.

dan.weikel@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter @LADeadline16
When Los Angeles voters overwhelmingly approved a bond measure in November to build apartments for the chronically homeless, long-frustrated advocates hailed the victory as a watershed in their efforts to provide permanent homes for thousands of people living on the citys sidewalks and parkland.

But despite enthusiasm that couldnt always be contained, proponents of Proposition HHH were mostly careful not to call it the ticket to ending homelessness. Rather, it was a down payment.

Now, voters across Los Angeles County are being asked to approve the balance  a quarter-cent sales tax to support a broad canvas of strategies. They include services for those living in thousands of new housing units, rental subsidies for thousands more across the county, hundreds of new outreach workers and short-term interventions to help those in crisis keep their homes.

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Measure H on the March 7 ballot would produce a projected $3.55 billion for homeless programs over 10 years. The tax increase would raise the sales tax rate to 9% across most of Los Angeles County and up to 10% in a few communities. Because it would increase taxes, it requires a two-thirds majority to pass.

Like Proposition HHH, Measure H is supported by a coalition of elected officials, nonprofit organizations, labor unions, business groups and philanthropists. Backers say it finally would fill the gap in resources that has prevented local agencies from arresting the spread of tent encampments and RV villages from the Palisades to Pomona.

Phil Ansell, head of the countys Homeless Initiative, said enactment of the measure would move an estimated 45,000 families and individuals from homelessness into permanent housing during the first five years, while preventing 30,000 more families and individuals from becoming homeless during the same period.

Measure H revenue will enable the most comprehensive plan to combat homelessness in the history of Los Angeles County, Ansell said.

A campaign fund that has topped $2 million will be spent primarily on motivating voters in cities and unincorporated areas where Measure H will be the only item on the ballot or listed with municipal or school board races, campaign manager Steve Barkan of SG&A Campaigns said.

No group has raised money to campaign against Measure H, and no opposing arguments have been filed with the Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters to be included in sample ballots being mailed to registered voters.

In launching the Measure H campaign on Jan. 30, backers emphasized the services of case managers, mental health clinicians and vocational and addiction counselors who will be needed to help those placed in the new housing units being constructed with city funds.

We know we cant simply dangle keys in front of people who are homeless and assume their homelessness will end, said Joel John Roberts, executive director of PATH, a homeless services agency. They need intensive services that help them back to a healthy and self-sustaining life.

But those services would account for only a fraction of the new money  about $245 million in the first five years, according to the Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.

The money would pay for case managers, clinical workers and job and addiction counselors for chronically homeless people who are provided housing under the housing first model that starts with a roof over their heads and then addresses individual issues that keep them from living independently.

Measure H revenue will enable the most comprehensive plan to combat homelessness in the history of Los Angeles County.  Phil Ansell, head of the countys Homeless Initiative

The complex and still-evolving plan also includes rent to house thousands in existing apartments, shelters and temporary housing for people waiting for permanent homes and assistance programs after leaving jails and hospitals, as well as employment services.

Some of the programs already are operating, funded by the $100-million short-term homelessness fund the Board of Supervisors created last year. A progress report on the countys homeless strategies was released Thursday.

County officials have outlined the basic strategies that will be funded, but they have not yet issued a budget showing the proportions each will receive. Those decisions will be sorted out by a panel of 50 people appointed from county government, cities and the nonprofit world, Ansell said. Its recommendation will go to the Board of Supervisors on June 13, just about the time the tax revenue would start to flow.

The panel will consider six main categories, subsidized housing, coordinated outreach and shelters, case management and services, homelessness prevention, income support and preservation of existing housing.

County officials in each of the departments that would provide the services are now working out budget requests for Measure H funds.

A framework for the big-ticket items is contained in the Homeless Authoritys 2016 study analyzing gaps in various forms of housing and shelter and estimating the cost to fill them. That analysis suggests that the largest portion of Measure H funds  as much as $1 billion over the 10 years  would go to shelters and rental housing.

Thats in addition to the 10,000 units to be funded by the city bond. The Housing Authority analysis projects the need for nearly 15,000 new permanent supportive housing units. Most of the difference would be provided by leasing apartments on the open market.

The analysis projects a need for rental subsidies of about $557 million over the first five years and then $186 million each succeeding year. That wont all come from Measure H.

About 2,000 federal rental subsidies will be thrown into the mix each year by the countys 18 housing authorities. By 2018, the county also will start receiving installments on the $615 million it anticipates receiving from the state No Place Like Home Act to provide housing for the mentally ill.

In addition to the permanent housing, $360 million is projected over the first five years for what is called rapid rehousing  primarily rental assistance to provide short-term housing for those who have lost their homes or are likely to because of a financial crisis, but dont require extensive services when they get back on their feet.

doug.smith@latimes.com

@LATDoug

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Evacuation orders were issued Monday for a small farming tract in the Sacramento River Delta after a compromised levee posed a risk of flooding the area.

Battered by recent storms, the levee in Tyler Island, an area about six miles south of Walnut Grove in Sacramento County, began crumbling after a nearly 70-foot-wide hole developed within the structure, said Matt Robinson, a spokesman for Sacramento County Water Resources.

Because the levee could fail, county officials ordered voluntary evacuations for about 20 homes in the area. The National Weather Services also issued a flash-flood warning.

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Tyler Island is expected to flood due to a compromised levee, the notice read. Residents are strongly advised to leave for their safety.

As of Monday afternoon, Robinson said residents had not evacuated the island.

The areas reclamation district is working to reinforce the levee with rocks and boulders, he said.

Its an all-hands-on-deck type of effort, Robinson said.

Surrounded by water from the Mokelumne River, the rural area is home to several produce farms, he said. Tyler Island is one of several communities in the Delta.

According to the U.S. Geological Service, a network of drainage ditches helps keep water levels in the islands 3 to 6 feet below land surface.

The flooding is not connected to the Oroville Dam situation, which triggered officials to evacuate more than 100,000 people due to concerns an emergency spillway could collapse.

Officials are trying to repair erosion at the spillway as well as the levee before the next storm on Wednesday.

The recent storms have replenished water in most of the states major reservoirs so much so that some are near capacity.

On Monday, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released more than 74,000 cubic feet per second from the Shasta Dam, increasing flow into the Sacramento River, according to the Shasta County Sheriffs office.

The releases are necessary in anticipation of the upcoming storm systems and to ensure adequate flood storage in Shasta Lake, the sheriffs office said in a statement. Water levels will continue to rise and are expected to fluctuate as it takes time for tributaries and mountain runoff to reach the valley floor.

Sheriffs officials have closed access to the river due to the high water levels.

High releases have caused localized flooding in many areas, as well as road closures throughout the county, the sheriffs office said. The closure will be lifted as soon as it is safe.

veronica.rocha@latimes.com

Twitter: VeronicaRochaLA
At a court hearing Tuesday, a retired New York City doctor testified about a phone call he received in 1982, a short conversation that could play a key role in the murder case against real estate scion Robert Durst.

Los Angeles County prosecutors sought to question Dr. Albert Kuperman and another witness ahead of Dursts eventual murder trial to preserve their testimony in case either of them dies or is killed. Durst isnt likely to stand trial for the slaying of his friend Susan Berman until at least 2018.

The second witness  a man whose identity is still secret  is expected to testify Wednesday, prosecutors said.

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Durst, 73, is charged with murder in the execution-style slaying of Berman. Prosecutors say he fired a single shot through the back of her head inside her Benedict Canyon home in 2000, because she knew too much about the disappearance of his first wife, Kathleen. He has pleaded not guilty.

At Tuesdays hearing in Los Angeles, Kuperman  who was associate dean of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where Dursts wife had been enrolled  testified that he received a call on Feb. 1, 1982, from someone identifying herself as Kathleen Durst. The call came the same day Durst was expected to begin a clerkship in pediatrics and a day after she was last seen. Prosecutors have said theres evidence to suggest she was already dead at the time of the call.

The call that Monday morning lasted about five minutes, Kuperman said, and the woman said she would be absent because she was sick.

Are you able to say based on the voice that it was or wasnt Kathleen Durst? a prosecutor asked.

No, Kuperman responded, adding that hed never spoken on the phone with Durst before.

Prosecutors say that evidence points to Berman making the call to Kuperman.

Under cross-examination by Robert Dursts lead attorney, Dick DeGuerin, Kuperman said he had believed for more than three decades that the call was from Kathleen Durst. The idea that perhaps it hadnt come from her began to gel, he said, after he had a conversation with prosecutors in 2015.

DeGuerin argued that police and prosecutors pressured him to change his stance and said Kuperman previously claimed to have recognized Dursts voice on the phone.

When Robert Durst was arrested by FBI agents on March 14, 2015, at a hotel in New Orleans, officials found guns, stacks of cash, a fake ID and an old-man mask. He was charged with Bermans murder two days later. He was transferred to Los Angeles in November 2016 after being sentenced on federal gun charges.

Bermans death and Kathleen Dursts 1982 disappearance were featured prominently in The Jinx, a six-part HBO documentary series about Robert Dursts life, which aired in 2015.

The series includes video from Dursts 2003 trial in Galveston, Texas, where he was accused of killing a neighbor, Morris Black. Durst admitted killing Black, saying hed shot him in self-defense before chopping up the mans body and tossing the pieces into Galveston Bay. He ultimately was acquitted of murder in Blacks death.

Los Angeles Times Staff Writer James Queally contributed to this report.

Follow @marisagerber for more news on criminal trials in Los Angeles.

marisa.gerber@latimes.com

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UPDATES:

7:35 p.m.: This article was updated with additional testimony from the court hearing and further edited.

2 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information about Kupermans testimony.

12:55 p.m.: This article was updated with information about a delay in the testimony of a secret witness.

This article was originally published at 4 a.m.
A Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy shot and wounded a man who allegedly pulled a firearm on the deputy Monday afternoon at a restaurant in Van Nuys, authorities said.

The shooting was reported about 2:45 p.m. at a Cuban restaurant near Van Nuys Boulevard and Valerio Street, according to Deputy Kimberly Alexander, a spokeswoman for the Sheriffs Department.

The deputy was eating lunch at the restaurant when he saw a group of men at the restaurants patio. One of the men appeared to be using narcotics, sheriffs officials said in a statement.

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The deputy approached the group. Two of the men walked away and headed north, out of view, and the deputy detained the remaining two.

During one of the pat-downs, a man pulled out a handgun, and the deputy then opened fire, authorities said. Officials did not provide further details about what immediately preceded the shooting.

The man, whose identity was not released, was struck by an unknown number of gunshots and was taken to a hospital, where he is in serious condition.

A handgun was recovered at the scene, sheriffs officials said.

The deputy who opened fire is assigned to the Sheriffs Departments Transit Services Bureau, the unit that provides security and policing services to the Metro rail and bus network across L.A. County.

matt.hamilton@latimes.com

Twitter: @MattHjourno

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10:05 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details about what led to the shooting.

This article was originally published at 3:45 p.m.
With more storms expected to slam Northern California later this week, officials worked frantically Monday to drain water from brimming Lake Oroville in hopes of heading off a potentially catastrophic flood.

The operators at Americas tallest dam found themselves in a precarious position Monday, with both of the spillways used to release water compromised and the reservoir still filled almost to capacity after a winter of record rain and snow. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of evacuated residents downstream of the dam still have no clear word when they can return home.

Officials sent millions of gallons of water per minute down the massive reservoirs main spillway. Engineers said that despite a huge gash that opened in the concrete channel a week ago, it was their best option for lowering the dangerously high lake level.

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They hoped this would avert further use of the emergency spillway, where damage was discovered Sunday afternoon.

It was the lesser of two evils, state Department of Water Resources spokesman Eric See said Monday. We didnt want to have more damage, but we needed to evacuate water.

The emergency spillway suffered severe erosion the day after water cascaded down the unpaved hillside for the first time since the dam opened in 1968.

The damage occurred even though the spillway was designed to handle much more water than the amount that overflowed. Some questioned why officials didnt heed suggestions more than a decade ago to fortify the emergency spillway.

When it appeared the erosion could quickly worsen Sunday afternoon and potentially undermine the spillways concrete lip  a scenario that could unleash a massive wall of water  officials ordered more than 100,000 people to evacuate the low-lying areas along the Feather River.

Racing against Mother Nature, water resources officials Monday sent water surging down the concrete main spillway -- a move that lowered the lake level by several feet but threatened to widen the gash. Erosion on the main spillway so far was manageable, See said.

Ive been doing these flood battles since 1978, said state Sen. Jim Nielsen (R-Gerber). This is the one with the greatest potential for damage of all the ones Ive dealt with.

Both spillways are separate from the Oroville Dam itself, which officials say is not in danger of collapsing.

Officials said they want to lower the lake 50 feet by Wednesday to avoid another overflow on the damaged emergency spillway. If the head of the spillway crumbles, a 30-foot wall of water could go crashing down the hillside into the Feather River and toward Oroville, Marysville and Yuba City.

Obviously any rain this week is not helpful at all, said Tom Dang, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Sacramento.

On Monday, geysers of water shot from the placid lake and down the concrete spillway, like a water slide the width of a freeway.

Live updates from Lake Oroville 

1 / 66 An aerial view of the water flowing out of the Oroville Dam main spillway, in Oroville, Calif., on Tuesday, February 21, 2017. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 66 An aerial view of the water flowing out of the Oroville Dams main spillway on Feb. 21. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 66 Reduced water releases at the Oroville Dam have made damage to its main spillway more visible. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 66 With a reduced flow on Sunday, most of the water being released from the Oroville Dam is not going down the spillway; it has broken through and is flowing down the hillside. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 66 With a reduced flow on Sunday, most of the water being released from the Oroville Dam is not going down the spillway, its broken through and is going down the hillside. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 66 With a reduced flow on Sunday, most of the water being released from the Oroville Dam is not going down the spillway, its broken through and is going down the hillside. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 66 Juan Alvarez reassures his girlfriend, Sarah Hendrix, after helping her move out of her home in rural Maxwell. Water was a foot high and crews had to evacuate 100 people because of flooding-- some by boat. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 66 Ron Chambers lets Duke out of his crate for the first time in hours since the flooding began n Maxwell, Calif. on Saturday. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 66 Kevin Anfinson and other volunteers help shovel the muddy sediment that has built up in the salmon raceway at the Feather River Fish Hatchery in Oroville, Calif. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 66 Fernando Martinez and his mother, not pictured, wade through a road in Gridley, Calif., flooded by the Feather River as it continues to swell from the water being let out of Lake Oroville. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 11 / 66 A man in a 4x4 truck turns around on Gridley Road after having second thoughts about making it across the flooded road, which had been closed. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 66 Randy Boheim packs up his tools and emergency supplies in anticipation of having to evacuate his whole family as floodwaters creep closer to his home in an Oroville, Calif., mobile home park. The nearby Feather River continued to swell from the water being let out of Lake Oroville ahead of this weekends storm. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 66 A plantation in Oroville, Calif., sits in floodwaters as the Feather River continues to swell from the water being let out of Lake Oroville ahead of this weekends storm. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 66 Helicopters ferry sand and rocks to the Oroville Dams emergency spillway reconstruction project in Oroville, Calif., ahead of coming rains. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 66 California Water Service district manager Toni Ruggle surveys the Feather River at Bedrock Park downstream from the Oroville Dam. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 66 McKenna Harvey, 9, left, Kylie Atteberry, 11, and Brooklyn Atteberry, 7, hold signs thanking workers in the repair effort at the Oroville Dam. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 66 A helicopter flies over as water flows from the main spillway at Lake Oroville. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 66 Reconstruction continues in a race to shore up the emergency spillway at Oroville Dam. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 66 As rain clouds gather, friends from left, Johnny Eroh, Cody Balmer, Kristien Bravo and Jerel Bruhn hang out by the flooded Feather river in the Bedrock neighborhood of Oroville, Calif., last week. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 66 Evacuees at the Bangor Community Hall in Bangor, Calif., listen to Butte County sheriffs deputies in February as the mandatory evacuation order was lifted. An evacuation advisory was lifted Wednesday. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 66 Evacuees at the Bangor Community Hall get the news from Butte County sheriffs Deputy Jeff Heath that the evacuation order has been lifted. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 66 Evacuee Sharon Dalton, right, hugs Raiden Ellis, 10 months, and Chris Ellis as they say their goodbyes as she leaves the Bangor Community Hall in Bangor, Calif., on Tuesday. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 66 David McGlamery returns to his Oroville home with his belongings after the evacuation order was lifted. The family had to retreat to Chico, where they initially stayed at a Walmart parking lot with other evacuees. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 66 Bill Tirey helps family members move back into their home in the Bedrock neighborhood of Oroville near the Feather River after evacuation orders were lifted. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 66 Maria Alancar returns home to greets her pet pig Bacon, who was left behind when the family moved to higher ground in Honcut, Calif. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 66 Sulet Lopez, 21, left, Melissa Mendoza, 3, and Yeanet Lopez, 18, pack up their car at the Bangor Community Hall in Bangor, Calif., to head home after the evacuation order was lifted. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 66 Erica Stenholm, left, Ronnie Vaughan, and Brooklyn Jackson, 7, unpack their car upon returning home after the evacuation order had been lifted in Oroville. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 66 Jonah Avina, left, and his wife, Eileen, pray before lunch at the Maranatha Mennonite Fellowship in Bangor, Calif., on Tuesday. The Bangor-area Mennonites are hosting several immigrant families evacuated from the nearby town of Honcut. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 66 Evacuee Estafani Reynoso, left, colors with Mennonite children at the Maranatha Mennonite Fellowship in Bangor, Calif. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 66 Crews work on a damaged section of the emergency spillway at Lake Oroville on Monday. (Josh Edelson / AFP/ Getty Images) 31 / 66 An Oroville property is flooded on Monday as thousands were under evactuation orders. (Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images) 32 / 66 The Marysville cemetery underwater along the Feather River. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 66 Nirmal Singh, a Sikh priest, conducts a morning prayer ritual as evacuees sleep in the background at the Shri Guru Ravidass, a Sikh temple that has opened its doors for evacuees of the Oroville Dam crisis in Rio Linda, Calif. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 66 Kamlesh Nahar, far left, talks to fellow evacuees at the Shri Guru Ravidass Temple. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 66 Maria Lopez reads on her smartphone as she spends a second night in her fathers car in the parking lot of the Bangor Community Hall. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 66 Sharon Dalton finds a quiet spot under a table as she spends a second night with her dog Cruiser inside the Bangor Community Hall. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 37 / 66 Verna Chadwick and 10-month-old son Raiden Ellis during a second night in the Bangor Community Hall. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 66 The emergency spillway, left, and the damaged main spillway at Lake Oroville are seen in an aerial photo Monday. (Elijah Nouvelage / Getty Images) 39 / 66 A dump truck crosses the primary spillway to deliver boulders to the damaged emergency spillway at Lake Oroville on Monday evening. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 40 / 66 Helicopters place large rocks on the damaged emergency spillway at Lake Oroville on Monday evening. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 66 Around-the-clock monitoring continues on the damaged primary spillway at Lake Oroville on Monday evening. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 42 / 66 Water rushes down a spillway at the Oroville Dam. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 43 / 66 California Department of Fish and Game wardens view the damaged spillway on Monday. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 44 / 66 Bill OKelley, 86, and wife Doris OKelley, 84, of Oroville sit near a flagpole Monday at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds evacuation center in Chico, Calif. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 45 / 66 Coua Tha, of Oroville prepares a meal for her family in the parking lot at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds evacuation center in Chico, Calif. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 46 / 66 Desiree Garcia and daughter Kaylee Pearl Garcia, 3, of Oroville look over donated clothing Monday at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds evacuation center in Chico, Calif. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 47 / 66 Members of Orovilles Jordan Crossing Mission pray with a volunteer service member Monday at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds evacuation shelter in Chico, Calif. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 48 / 66 The swollen Feather River flows through Oroville, Calif., on Monday. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) 49 / 66 A building is submerged in Riverbend Park as more water is released from Lake Oroville. (JOSH EDELSON / AFP) 50 / 66 Siblings Zach Soto, 11, left, and Gabby Soto, 13, keep an eye on the Feather River along a railroad bridge in Oroville, Calif., on Monday. The family decided to stay in Oroville as they live on high ground near downtown. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 51 / 66 Water flows down the damaged main spillway of the Oroville Dam at 55,000 cubic feet per second into the Feather River. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 52 / 66 Water from Lake Oroville flows down the damaged main spillway. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 53 / 66 Water from Lake Oroville flows down the emergency spillway of the Oroville Dam toward the Feather River. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 54 / 66 Pacific Gas & Electric crews aided by a helicopter removed transmission lines and insulators from towers standing in the bed of the emergency spillway of Lake Oroville. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 55 / 66 A rainbow appears over Feather River as water cascades down the damaged spillway at Lake Oroville Dam. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 56 / 66 Water cascades down the spillway below Oroville Dam. The water is being released by authorities to avoid flooding at Lake Oroville because of recent heavy rain. (David Butow / For The Times) 57 / 66 Pacific Gas and Electric Co. crews move two electric transmission line towers on the bank of Feather River as a precaution if the Lake Oroville Dam emergency spillway needs to be used. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 58 / 66 A California Highway Patrol cruiser patrols Lake Oroville Dam, which is closed to the public due to the damaged spillway. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 59 / 66 Water cascades down the spillway below the Oroville dam. The water is being released by authorities to ease flooding in Lake Oroville because of recent heavy rain. (David Butow / For the Times) 60 / 66 Butte Country Sheriff Kory L. Honea speaks with department of water and power workers at an overlook as the observe runoff from the Oroville Dam. (David Butow / For the Times) 61 / 66 Water trickles down as workers inspect part of the Lake Oroville spillway failure in Oroville, Calif. (Randy Pench / Associated Press) 62 / 66 A boat launch at Bidwell Canyon is still hundreds of yards above the current lake level on Jan. 21, 2016. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) 63 / 66 California State Park Ranger Bryan Taylor searches for signs of disturbance or theft as Californias severe drought conditions are revealing historic artifacts at Lake Oroville, June 21, 2014. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 64 / 66 Severe drought conditions are evident as a family treks across a long path back to their car at Lake Oroville, June 21, 2014. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 65 / 66 Houseboats are dwarfed by steep banks that show the water level down 160 feet from the high water mark at the Bidwell Bar Suspension Bridge over Lake Oroville on June 21, 2014. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 66 / 66 Houseboats at Bidwell Canyon Marina at Lake Oroville, January 21, 2016. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Helicopters flew overhead and dump trucks shuttled across the top of Oroville Dam, carrying loads of rock to fill the eroded section. Without reinforcements, water could creep beneath the lip, causing it to crumble and allowing water to gush over the side.

In a letter Monday, Gov. Jerry Brown asked the Trump administration for a federal disaster declaration, saying the problems were likely to be more than local and state officials can handle.

Brown told reporters that he spoke to a member of the presidents Cabinet on Monday, but declined to say which one. My office has been in touch with the White House, Brown said. I think that will be sufficient.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, meanwhile, sent an eight-person team to the area to help California officials prepare for potential flooding.

We are trying to plan for the worst-case scenario, said Ahsha Tribble, acting regional administrator for FEMAs Region 9, which includes California. Its not a wait-and-see game.

Lake Oroville is the keystone of the State Water Project, which sends Northern California water hundreds of miles south to the southern San Joaquin Valley and the Southland.

During much of the five-year drought, the lake level was far below normal, forcing officials to slash water deliveries. But an extraordinarily wet winter filled the lake so close to capacity that officials have been forced to release water to prevent flooding.

A series of powerful storms Tuesday sent runoff rushing into the reservoir, just as the hole appeared in the main spillway. Managers slowed the release of the water, and on Saturday, Oroville overflowed.

Earth and weak rock near the top of the spillway started to erode, when peak flows were 12,600 cubic feet per second, compared with the designed capacity of 450,000 cubic feet per second, according to the Department of Water Resources. The erosion happened so quickly that officials feared the concrete wall would be undermined and ordered sweeping evacuations in Butte, Yuba and Sutter counties that remained in effect Monday night.

Bill Croyle, the acting director of the Department of Water Resources, said Monday that he was not sure anything went wrong. This was a new, never-happened-before event.

But during 2005 relicensing proceedings for Oroville Dam, several environmental groups argued that substantial erosion would occur on the hillside in the event of a significant emergency spill. In a filing, they asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to order the state to to armor or otherwise reconstruct the ungated spillway.

State Water Project contractors, including the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, were involved in the relicensing. MWD General Manager Jeffrey Kightlinger said Monday his agency deferred to the state and federal agencies on the matter.

They did look at that issue and they determined that [the existing emergency spillway] did meet the appropriate FERC guidelines, Kightlinger said. In the FERC guidelines, they talk about how you dont put a lot of funding and concrete, etc. into emergency spillways because presumably they will rarely if ever be used.

We did not say it was a cost issue, he added.

Brown, after meeting with advisors at the states emergency operations center near Sacramento, was asked by reporters about the concerns raised in 2005 about Orovilles spillway system.

He said he welcomed calls for more scrutiny. Were in a very complex society where things can go wrong, he said. When they do, they ripple out and affect hundreds of thousands and in some cases millions of people.

Times staff writers John Myers in Sacramento and Veronica Rocha, Joseph Serna and Rong-Gong Lin II in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

chris.megerian@latimes.com | Twitter: @chrismegerian

bettina.boxall@latimes.com | Twitter: @boxall

melanie.mason@latimes.com | Twitter: @melmason

laura.nelson@latimes.com | Twitter: @laura_nelson

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Retired Lt. Gen. Harold G. Hal Moore, the American hero known for saving most of his men in the first major battle between the U.S. and North Vietnamese armies, has died at the age of 94.

Joseph Galloway, who with Moore co-authored the book We Were Soldiers Once ... and Young, confirmed that Moore died late Friday in his sleep at his home in Auburn, Ala. Relatives said Moore had recently suffered a stroke.

Theres something missing on this Earth now. Weve lost a great warrior, a great soldier, a great human being and my best friend, Galloway said. They dont make them like him anymore, Galloway said.

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Moore was best known for his actions at the 1965 Battle of Ia Drang, where he was a lieutenant colonel in command of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment. His actions were later reflected in the movie We Were Soldiers in which actor Mel Gibson portrayed Moore. The book tells what happened to virtually every trooper involved in the 34-day campaign and the climactic four-day battle in which 234 Americans died at landing zones X-Ray and Albany in November 1965.

Galloway, a former war correspondent for United Press International, said Moore was without question, one of the finest commanders I ever saw in action.

Those of us who survived Landing Zone X-Ray survived because of his brilliance of command. I think every one of us thought we were going to die at that place except Hal Moore. He was certain we were going to win that fight and he was right, Galloway recalled.

Galloway and Moore wrote a second book, We Are Soldiers Still, which he said grew out of a journey back to the battlefields of Vietnam 25 years later.

We went back and walked those old battlefields. At the end of the day, Hal Moore and Col. Nguyen Huu An, the North Vietnamese commander, stood in a circle in the clearing and prayed for the souls of every man who died on both sides.

He said the two shared an instant brotherhood that grew out of combat.

When we were discussing the book contract with a lawyer/agent, he asked to see the contract between me and Hal Moore, and Hal Moore said: I dont think you understand. This isnt just a matter of money. We have trusted each other with our lives in battle and we have no contract before that. I absolutely agreed.

Before serving in Vietnam, Moore graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and then commanded a battalion in the newly formed air mobile 11th Air Assault Division at Ft. Benning, Ga.

Born Feb. 13, 1922, in Bardstown, Ky., he served in the U.S. military for 32 years.

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Kim Jong Nam, the half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, was killed Monday in Malaysia after being ambushed in the Kuala Lumpur airport by two women who apparently poisoned him.

Once considered the successor to his father, Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Nam, 45, had been living incognito in exile in Macau, reportedly under the protection of the Chinese government. Even though he disavowed any aspirations to leadership, North Korea watchers invariably raised his name as a potential replacement in the case of a coup detat against Kim Jong Un.

Although the bizarre killing remains under investigation, intelligence officials in the U.S. and South Korea are calling it a likely assassination by the North Korean government. Kim was reportedly approached from behind while he waited in the departure area of the airport in Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital.

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Joongang Ilbo, a South Korean newspaper, quoted an unidentified intelligence official as saying that Kim was stung by a poisoned needle after being approached by two female spies working for North Korea. (Link in Korean.)

They fled in a taxi right after the crime, the newspaper quoted the official as saying.

Another version of events came from Malaysian police official Fadzil Ahmat, who told reporters that Kim said before his collapse that someone had grabbed him from behind and splashed a liquid on his face. A different Malaysian official described a cloth placed over his face.

By whichever method, the killing had all the hallmarks of a North Korean assassination. This sounds like a classic North Korean operation, said Sue Mi Terry, who was a senior North Korea analyst for the CIA from 2001 to 2008. Kim Jong Nam was the most reform-minded person in the family and whenever there are discussions about regime change, his name comes up.

The timing of the apparent assassination might be linked to reports of instability in North Korea. Kim Jong Un has purged many of his former deputies, most recently his minister of state security. A North Korean diplomat, Thae Yong Ho, who defected last summer said in a news conference last month that the traditional structures of the North Korean system are crumbling.

A file picture taken on June 4, 2010, of Kim Jong-Nam, the eldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, shown waving after an interview with South Korean media representatives in Macau. (Stringer / AFP/Getty Images)

Kim  portly like his father and brother, and frequently photographed unshaven with his shirttails hanging out  was the heir apparent to North Korean leadership until 2001, when he was arrested in Tokyo trying to enter Japan on a false Dominican Republic passport. He told authorities he was trying to bring his son to Tokyo Disneyland.

After his public disgrace, the North Korean government began grooming Kim Jong Ils youngest son, Kim Jong Un, who ended up taking over the country while still in his 20s after the 2011 death of the father.

Kim Jong Nam gave occasional interviews to Japanese media. Despite his slovenly appearance and a penchant for drinking and gambling, he was said to be something of an intellectual who expressed his belief in globalization, market economies and the need for North Korea to reform its communist economy.

He sees his brother failing, said a Japanese journalist, Yoji Gomi, who released a 2012 book about Kim Jong Nam, My Father, Kim Jong Il and Me. He thinks [Kim Jong Un] has a lack of experience. Hes too young and he didnt have enough time to be groomed.

Kim Jong Nam lived much of his life in hiding. He is believed to have been the first of Kim Jong Ils offspring, a love child of a long affair with Song Hye Rim, a North Korean actress. Their relationship and the existence of the child were kept secret for years out of fear that it would not be accepted by Kim Jong Ils father and North Koreas founder.

Wisteria House, a book about the family written in Korean by his aunt, Songs sister, described how the secret family was shuttled among secluded villas and seaside retreats in North Korea, Switzerland and Russia, a pampered but precarious life of luxury.

Kim Jong Nams mother had psychological problems and is believed to have died in Russia.

Although Kim Jong Il publicly acknowledged his first son and was said to be an affectionate father, he reportedly thought the young man had become too Westernized because of the time he spent abroad.

In recent years, Kim Jong Nam lived in exile in Macau but traveled frequently. For his protection, he often traveled under an assumed name; initial reports from Malaysia said he was using the name Kim Chol.

Kims son, Kim Han-sol, 21, educated in Hong Kong and the West, has spoken out about humanitarian issues such as human rights and famine in North Korea. Wearing ear studs and speaking unaccented English, he gave a videotaped interview in 2012 in which he said his father never wanted to be a North Korean leader. My dad was definitely not really interested in politics, he said.

Kim was reportedly in Kuala Lumpur visiting a girlfriend, and it was unclear whether she was suspected of having lured him away from Macau. An assassination in Macau would have been more likely to incur the anger of Beijing.

If an assassination is confirmed, it would be in keeping with the modus operandi of the North Korean government. Pyongyang has been blamed for numerous attacks against defectors and critics abroad, including the 1987 bombing of a South Korean airliner by a female North Korean agent and a 1983 bombing in Burma directed against South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan.

Kims first cousin and childhood playmate, a defector, was shot outside his home in South Korea in 1997.

The North Koreans have been implicated in at least one other poison needle attack, in 2011, when a South Korean pastor and activist died mysteriously in China.

Somebody like Kim Jong Nam who was living overseas must have been aware of the possibility of being assassinated, said Joel Wit, a senior fellow at the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins Universitys School of Advanced International Studies. He was originally going to succeed Kim Jong Il. He had been very critical of the regime. He was a focal point for potential opposition. Certainly the North Koreans had plenty of motives.

It is unclear whether Kim Jong Nam and Kim Jong Un spent any time together or had even met. In any case, familial loyalty has not stopped Kim Jong Un before. His uncle and regent, Jang Song Taek, was publicly purged and executed in 2013 after the young leader believed he had become too powerful; more than 100 other North Korean officials have met similar fates.

In his five years of leadership, Kim has resisted calls to reform his economy and has methodically pursued the development of weapons of mass destruction. Since the beginning of last year, North Korea has conducted two nuclear tests and more than two dozen missile tests, the most recent last weekend, when an intermediate-range missile flew about 300 miles from a launch site northwest of Pyongyang.

barbara.demick@latimes.com

Twitter: @BarbaraDemick

UPDATES:

7:44 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the assassination and political analysis.

3:25 p.m.: Updates throughout with additional quotes and details.

This article was originally posted at 9 a.m.
When John Chavez peers through chain link and razor wire into the vast tent city that once housed one of the nations most notorious prisons for immigrants, he does not see a failed experiment.

Two years ago, inmates set fire to the sprawling complex in protest of poor medical conditions, slashing holes in their tents and forcing the government to shut it down. Yet many people in this struggling south Texas county like Chavez, who once worked as a security guard at the privately run prison  have high hopes the abandoned detention center will reopen.

If Trump is going to crack down on immigrants, were going to have to process them somehow, the stocky 55-year-old said as he stood outside the empty shell of his old workplace. Maybe theres a shot I could get my job back.

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If Trump is going to crack down on immigrants, were going to have to process them somehow.  John Chavez, former private prison security guard

Stocks for private prison companies have surged in the two weeks since President Trump signed an executive order calling for expansion of immigrant detention facilities at or near the border with Mexico, specifically authorizing the use of private contractors to construct, operate, or control facilities in what is expected to be a substantial ramp-up of the massive detention system that thrived under the Obama administration.

With the number of immigrant detainees already at historic levels, critics warn that rapidly expanding prisons will only exacerbate squalid living conditions and substandard medical care. The big beneficiaries, they say, will be stockholders and executives of for-profit prison companies.

Carl Takei, a staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Unions National Prison Project, predicts an enormous boondoggle for the private prison industry.

The immigration system already lacks rigorous oversight and transparency, he said, and now theres this perfect storm  a push to rapidly expand the system, a lack of existing oversight and the profit motive driving these companies.

Private companies provide immigrant detention at a lower cost: about $144 per inmate a day, versus $184 in federally run Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities. Immigrant attorneys and human rights groups have long argued the profit motive spurs private companies to cut corners and cram inmates into shoddy and overcrowded facilities.

For critics, Raymondvilles Willacy County Correctional Center is Exhibit A in the case against private detention centers. Not long before it was forced to close in 2015, the ACLU dubbed it a physical symbol of everything that is wrong with enriching the private prison industry and criminalizing immigration.

Officials in Willacy County are still banking on being a place to lock up immigrants, even though the county has filed a lawsuit against the private company whose abysmal management, it claims, caused inmates to riot.

Everybody here wants it back because they need jobs, Eliberto Beto Guerra, a Democratic Willacy County commissioner, said of the facility. It means security for a lot of families.

Well-paid jobs are scarce in Raymondville, a Rio Grande Valley hub of cotton and sugarcane fields whose main street is dominated by loan stores and pawn shops. More than a third of Willacy County residents live below the poverty line.

The idea for an immigrant detention center was born 15 years ago, when a large construction company approached local officials with a pitch to revitalize their economy: borrow $65 million from the public debt markets to build prisons.

In 2006, as President George W. Bush pushed to crack down on illegal immigration, the county hired a Texas construction company to build the detention center on a cotton field on the outskirts of town. It then contracted with a Utah-based company, Management & Training Corp., to run the complex.

This has become a common arrangement. As ICE detention has exploded in recent years  reaching more than 41,000 beds last November  about 65% of ICE detainees are now held in facilities operated by private, for-profit contractors.

As Joe Alexandre, Raymondvilles former mayor, remembers it, county officials were assured they would earn more than they needed to recoup their multimillion-dollar investment.

Built in just a few months, the sprawling complex, dubbed Tent City, could hold 2,000 inmates and was the largest immigrant detention camp in the country. Ten huge tent domes, made of Kevlar stretched over metal frames, were erected over concrete pads. Each oval tent held 200 men or women, with no partitions dividing the toilets or showers.

Almost immediately, there were problems. Inmates complained of rotten food, unsanitary conditions, poor medical care and limited access to the law library and telephones.

Prisoners stand at the western fence as law enforcement officials converge on the Willacy County Correctional Center in Raymondville, Texas, in response to a prisoner uprising in 2015. (David Pike / Associated Press)

The level of human suffering was just unbelievable, Kathleen Baldoni, a former Willacy nurse, told a congressional briefing in 2009, adding she was unable to provide the level of medical care ethically required of her. A 2010 human rights report noted the prison had only one physician on staff to treat 1,358 inmates. The following year, a PBS documentary explored more than a dozen allegations of sexual abuse by Willacy guards.

Management & Training Corp. ended up losing its ICE detention contract in 2011. Yet almost immediately, it struck a new contract with the Bureau of Prisons to expand the facility and house 3,000 immigrants awaiting deportation while serving federal criminal sentences, many convicted of illegally entering the U.S. To fund the expansion, it refinanced, building up more debt.

Eventually, things came to a head. In February 2015, prisoners engaged in a mass uprising, cutting and burning holes in their tents, wielding pipes and brooms and seizing control of the prison for nearly two days.

When it was over, the Bureau of Prisons declared the detention center uninhabitable. After transferring all the inmates to other federal prisons, it canceled its contract with MTC and shut down the facility. All 400 employees lost their jobs.

Across Raymondville, former prison workers fell into debt as they struggled to find full-time work.

After working at Willacy for nearly 10 years, earning up to $18 an hour with overtime, Chavez and his wife, Diane Vasquez, suddenly had to survive on her $25,000 annual salary.

Chavez has taken on the odd landscaping job, but he remains unemployed. Were just living paycheck to paycheck, Vasquez said.

John Chavez, a former security guard at the Willacy County Correctional Center in Raymondville, Texas, stands outside the closed facility. (Jenny Jarvie / Los Angeles Times)

Vasquezs niece, Mia Vasquez, 27, who lost her job administering medication in the detention center pharmacy, is working part-time as a bartender, but she no longer can pay her student loans or her cable bill. The repo man has taken her Nissan Xterra twice.

Facing a $2.4-million budget shortfall, the county has frozen salaries and slashed jobs. After letting go of his chief deputy, an investigator, a dispatcher and a senior patroller, Sheriff Larry Spence said his department is hard-pressed to cover the countys 784 square miles.

Our city and our county have really gone downhill, said Alexandre, the former mayor, who owns a jewelry shop. So few enter his downtown shop since the jail closed that he plans to introduce financing and allow customers to pay in installments.

In December, Willacy County sued Management & Training Corp., claiming its abysmal management cost the county tens of millions of dollars in damages. In its lawsuit, the county claims MTC was only interested in the money and turned a blind eye to the enormous problems that plagued the prison.

It was a message that critics of private prisons and detention centers had pushed for years, and it came after activists had managed to win a string of victories across the country: Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who previously had accepted donations from private prison lobbyists, had pledged to end for-profit prisons and detention centers; the Department of Justice had announced it would begin phasing out the Board of Prisons use of for-profit prisons; stock prices plunged for prison contractors.

Trump, though, had spoken highly of for-profit prisons. And in December, a Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council subcommittee recommended continuing the use of private detention facilities for immigrant detainees because theyre cheaper and allow officials to adapt to sudden surges in immigrant detention.

Its report was rejected by a vote of the full advisory council, and the groups final recommendation was to begin a measured phase-out of reliance on private prisons. That recommendation, however, was nonbinding, and experts say it is highly unlikely to be followed under the new Trump administration.

Last week, a spokesman confirmed MTC was trying to secure a contract to reopen the Willacy facility, but he declined to specify whether it was seeking a new contract with ICE or the Board of Prisons. He also declined to comment on the countys lawsuit against MTC.

Celeste McDonald, a spokeswoman for MTC, said company executives completely disagree with the assertion that the Willacy facility was poorly managed. She noted that the center was fully accredited by the American Correctional Assn. and the Joint Commission, which reviews healthcare facilities.

It makes sense for governments to contract with private prison operators when there is a need, she said in an email. MTC and other contract prison operators are highly accountable and answerable to the government, offenders entrusted to their care, and the public. Contract prisons are required to meet the same standards and requirements mandated by the government for all prisons.

As many in Raymondville hope the detention center will reopen, they reserve their criticism less for the company that ran the facility than for the detainees who forced it to close.

They were given three meals a day and medication  more than many would have gotten in the free world, Alexandre said. I just think they got over-demanding.

Mia Vasquez said the detainees medical care was probably better than what she now has without health insurance.

Why would they complain? she said. Medical, dental, vision  they had it all. I wish I could get that care.

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UPDATES:

8:35 a.m.: This story was updated with information on the final recommendation of the Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council on the use of private prisons.

This story was originally published at 3 a.m.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security pushed back Monday against claims that it had broadened the scope of its immigration enforcement raids, saying that about three-quarters of the 680 immigrants arrested by federal agents last week had criminal convictions.

Over the last few days, immigrant advocacy groups have argued that Immigration and Customs Enforcement seemed to be going beyond the norm by arresting people who did not represent a public safety threat.

But John Kelly, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement Monday that the roundups were routine, targeting convicted criminals, gang members and others who posed public safety threats, as well as those who had illegally reentered the country after being removed and immigration fugitives who had already appeared before immigration judges and faced final removal orders.

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The focus of these enforcement operations is consistent with the routine, targeted arrests carried out by ICEs Fugitive Operations teams on a daily basis, Kelly said.

Roughly 75% of the 680 immigrants arrested in the raids last week had criminal records, including convictions for homicide and aggravated sexual abuse to drug trafficking and driving under the influence.

Immigrant advocates, however, suggested that under the administration of President Trump, federal agents were making fewer distinctions between serious and minor crimes.

What were those convictions? said Sarah Owings, an immigration attorney in Atlanta and chair of the Georgia-Alabama chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Assn. Was it driving without a license, which was made into a crime by the state of Georgia, or was it serious crimes?

Its not just a bunch of rapists and murders, as Trump said when he was campaigning on this, she said. There are a lot of people who may have very minor traffic offenses. If you didnt come to a full stop at a stop sign, thats a far cry from being a national threat.

Naomi Tsu, deputy legal director for the Southern Poverty Law Center, said some of the immigrants arrested in Georgia and the Carolinas last week and since interviewed by attorneys at Irwin Detention Center in Georgia appeared to have been stopped randomly in their vehicles as they were driving to work or pulling out of a trailer park. After identifying everyone in the car, she said, ICE agents detained all of them.

They were arrested for seemingly no other basis than being Latinos in a work van, she said, noting that at least one of the immigrants had a clean criminal history and no prior contact with ICE. This idea that they are targeting people with criminal backgrounds, it does not ring true. Either the administration is widening the definition of criminal to be meaningless, except as a marker of who ICE agents think dont belong, or theyre not targeting just people with criminal backgrounds.

In California, the Department of Homeland Security said that among those arrested were a previously deported Honduras citizen convicted of drug trafficking, spousal battery and petty theft; an Australian convicted of lewd and lascivious acts with a child; and a Mexican with a final order of removal with convictions for drug trafficking, a weapons violation and spousal battery.

It did not specify any of the other immigrants crimes.

The government figures also showed a sharp geographical discrepancy between arrests in coastal hubs, such as Los Angeles and New York, and Southern and Midwestern states.

In the Los Angeles area, the vast majority of those arrested  151 of 161  had prior criminal convictions. In New York, too, 38 of the 41 immigrants arrested had criminal records.

Across the South and Midwest, a lower proportion of immigrants taken into federal custody had criminal records.

A total of 235 foreign nationals were arrested across Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Kansas and Missouri. About two-thirds  or 163  had criminal convictions, 60 had illegally reentered the United States and 12 were immigration fugitives.

In San Antonio, fewer than half of those arrested  23 of 51  had prior criminal convictions.

Across Georgia and the Carolinas, that figure was about two-thirds, or 127 out of 190. Twenty-nine had illegally reentered the U.S. after having been removed and 17 were classified as immigration fugitives.

Without getting very clear guidance, youre going to have disparate effects, and its not surprising that things would shake out more anti-immigrant here, Owings said.

The region was the site of raids on immigrant women and children in January 2016, she said: The Atlanta area is traditionally more pro-enforcement.

del.wilber@latimes.com

Jarvie is a special correspondent.
A former store clerk was convicted Tuesday in one of the nations most haunting missing-child cases, nearly 38 years after 6-year-old Etan Patz disappeared while heading to his New York City school bus stop.

Pedro Hernandez showed no reaction as jurors delivered their verdict. Another jury had deadlocked following 18 days of deliberation in 2015, leading to a retrial that spanned more than three months. Hernandez, who once worked in a convenience store in Etans neighborhood, had confessed, but his lawyers said his admissions were the false imaginings of a mentally ill man.

This time, the jury deliberated over nine days before finding Hernandez, 56, guilty of murder during a kidnapping in a case that shaped both parenting and law enforcement practices in the United States.

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Some of the jurors from the first trial attended the second one, and several of them wept Tuesday as the verdict was read. The slain boys father, Stan Patz, was being comforted by the ex-jurors and appeared to wipe tears from his eyes.

The Patz family and authorities may never know exactly what became of the boy. No trace of him has been found since the May day he vanished, on the first day he got the grown-up privilege of walking alone to the bus stop about two blocks away in a then-edgy but neighborly part of lower Manhattan.

Etan became one of the first missing children ever pictured on milk cartons, and the anniversary of his disappearance has been designated National Missing Childrens Day. His parents lent their voices to a campaign to make missing children a national cause, and it fueled laws that established a national hotline and made it easier for law enforcement agencies to share information about vanished youngsters.

And his disappearance helped tilt parenting to more protectiveness in a nation where many families had felt comfortable letting children play and roam in their neighborhoods alone.

Its a cautionary tale, a defining moment, a loss of innocence, Manhattan Assistant Dist. Atty. Joan Illuzzi said in an opening statement. It is Etan who will forever symbolize the loss of that innocence.

The decades-long investigation took investigators as far as Israel, but Hernandez wasnt a suspect until 2012, when renewed news coverage of the case prompted a brother-in-law to tell police that Hernandez had told a prayer group decades earlier that hed killed a child in New York. Authorities would later learn that hed made similar, if not entirely consistent, remarks to a friend and his ex-wife in the early years after Etan vanished.

After police finally came to Hernandez Maple Shade, N.J., door, he confessed, saying hed offered Etan a soda to get him into the store basement, choked him, put him  still alive  in a box and left it with a pile of curbside trash.

Something just took over me, Hernandez said in one of a series of recorded confessions to police and prosecutors. He said hed wanted to tell someone, but I didnt know how to do it. I felt so sorry.

Prosecutors cast his confession as the chillingly believable words of a man unburdening himself, and they argued that it was buttressed by the less specific admissions hed made earlier to his relatives and acquaintances.

Defense lawyers and doctors portrayed Hernandez as a man with psychological problems and intellectual limitations that made him struggle to tell reality from fantasy  and made him susceptible to confessing falsely after more than six hours of questioning before recording began. His daughter testified that he talked about seeing visions of angels and demons and once watered a dead tree branch, believing it would grow.

Pedro Hernandez is an odd, limited and vulnerable man, defense lawyer Harvey Fishbein said in his closing argument. Pedro Hernandez is an innocent man.

Prosecutors have suggested that Hernandez faked or exaggerated his symptoms of mental illness.

Defense lawyers also pointed to a different man who was long the prime suspect  a convicted Pennsylvania child molester who made incriminating remarks about Etans case in the 1990s and who had dated a woman acquainted with the Patzes. He was never charged and denies killing Etan.
There is only one sensible reaction to the resignation of retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn as President Trumps national security advisor: Good riddance  and not merely because Flynn was caught in what looks like a lie.

Flynn had to go after admitting that he had inadvertently misled Vice President-elect Mike Pence and others about his conversations with Russias ambassador to the United States in the final days of the Obama administration. Relying on assurances from Flynn, Pence told a national TV audience on Jan. 15 that Flynn and the Russian diplomat didnt discuss anything having to do with the sanctions President Obama had imposed on Russia for interfering in the American presidential election. Well, it turns out they did. (In his resignation letter, Flynn said he provided incomplete information to his superiors about his phone calls with the ambassador. He later admitted to the Daily Caller that he had discussed one particular penalty, Obamas expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats.)

But Flynns departure is also good news because he was as volatile a presence in the administration as he was in the Trump campaign, where he is remembered for inciting delegates at the Republican National Convention in their anti-Hillary Clinton chants. Yeah, thats right, Flynn said. Lock her up. Not unlike the president who appointed him, Flynn engaged in stereotyping of Muslims, at one point tweeting a YouTube video listing bombings committed by Muslims with the title Fear of Muslims is RATIONAL. His brief tenure as national security advisor will be remembered most for a bellicose appearance at a White House news briefing at which he put Iran on notice  a vague but worrisome warning. Flynn was a rash and reckless hothead unsuited to a position of such tremendous responsibility.

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The Justice Department knew the truth about Flynns exchange with the Russian ambassador because the FBI routinely monitors the ambassadors communications  something Flynn, a former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, should have realized. In late January, days into the new Trump administration, the acting U.S. attorney general and a key intelligence official informed the White House counsel that Flynns denial didnt match the evidence and expressed a concern that Flynn might be vulnerable to blackmail by Russia.

The White House contended on Tuesday that Trump acted decisively after the Justice Department raised concerns about Flynns misrepresentations  although it was a slow-motion, several-weeks-long sort of decisiveness. In the end, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said, Trump asked for Flynns resignation not because of any illegality or even impropriety in his actions but rather because of trust issues. So if Flynn hadnt dissembled on the subject, Trump wouldnt have minded if he had talked substance with the Russians? He wouldnt have minded that Flynn floated the idea of lifting at least some of the sanctions that had been imposed on Russia for interfering in the election on Trumps behalf? Those are troubling thoughts.

Nor should the White House have the last word on whether Flynns conversations with the Russian ambassador were legal or appropriate.

A 1799 federal statute known as the Logan Act makes it a felony for a private citizen to negotiate with a foreign government. Sally Yates, the acting attorney general in late January, alerted the White House about Flynns misrepresentation of his conversation partly because she believed he was in potential violation of the Logan Act. Granted, the law is basically a dead letter; otherwise prominent figures who have negotiated for the release of American hostages held overseas over the years might have ended up in prison. Still, its the Justice Department, not the White House, that is responsible for assessing criminal responsibility. And Flynns conversations with the ambassador potentially could be of interest to an FBI investigation of Russian efforts to influence the election.

Flynn also must be scrutinized by the House and Senate intelligence committees, which are investigating not only Russian hacking operations but relationships between Moscow and people associated with the 2016 presidential campaign. Looking into exchanges between Russia and the Trump transition would be a natural extension of that mandate. Republican Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Tuesday that we should look into it exhaustively so that at the end of this process nobody wonders whether there was a stone left unturned.

Flynn is the first major casualty in an administration that has careened from one tempest to the next -- picking ridiculous fights with the media; offending and then making nice with leaders of China, Mexico and Australia; flubbing the rollout of a temporary ban on entry from seven mostly Muslim nations before the courts put it on hold; undermining its own agenda with startling tweets and discursive forays into petty beefs. And it comes at a time when Trumps foreign policy team is in disarray, led by a businessman with no diplomatic experience and riven with dissent from the ranks. Even with all that, some additional uncertainty is an acceptable price to pay for replacing a loose cannon like Michael Flynn.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook

UPDATES:

2/15: This editorial was updated with new information and additional editing.
The words from White House advisor Stephen Miller during Sundays Face the Nation program, in which he defended President Trumps dreadful executive orders on immigration, were straight out of The Idiots Guide to Authoritarianism: Our opponents, the media and the whole world will soon see, as we begin to take further actions, that the powers of the president to protect our country are very substantial and will not be questioned.

The executives power to implement immigration policy is indeed substantial. But should it be unquestioned? Of course not, especially when the policy runs hard up against constitutional protections. It is a fundamental principle of American democracy that the policies and statements of a president  any president  should and must be second-guessed by citizens, experts, artists, stakeholders and, of course, the media. Political protest is part of the lifeblood of American democracy, from the Boston Tea Party to the modern-day tea party to the Womens March on Washington last month.

Millers comment should have sent a chill down the spines of civil libertarians across the political spectrum. And its not out of tone with what others in the administration are saying. Trump strategist Stephen K. Bannon, for instance, called the media the opposition party. Trump himself tweeted nastily about a judge after a ruling didnt go his way, and he has sought to delegitimize news reporting about his administration by shouting fake news when he reads articles he doesnt agree with.

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Legislatures in at least 10 states are contemplating laws aimed at squelching public protests. One law in Indiana would require police to use any means necessary to clear protesters blocking a roadway. Another in North Dakota  site of the Dakota Access pipeline showdown  would exonerate any motorist who, while exercising reasonable care, kills or injures a protester who is intentionally obstructing vehicular traffic. A Virginia law would increase the penalty for failing to disperse from a $500 fine to $2,500 and up to a year in jail. A proposed Michigan law  which died in the last legislative session but could be reintroduced  would authorize fines of $1,000 a day for individuals and $1,500 for unions if they hinder or prevent by mass picketing access to a business or private home.

Of course, protesters shouldnt damage property or interfere with traffic, but laws already exist to penalize such behavior. Making them harsher and imprisoning people for political expression are the actions of a government afraid of its people, not of a mature democratic government. Trump and his acolytes need to be reminded of that.

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Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz is running for a third term representing Council District 5, which encompasses a mix of neighborhoods from Westwood and its sleek condo canyon east to mid-city and the aging apartments of the Fairfax neighborhood, south to Pico-Robertson and Cheviot Hills, and north to Encino in the San Fernando Valley. Development, whether of large-scale apartment buildings or single family homes, has been enormously controversial in this district.

Koretz is a painstaking decision maker who takes his time, unapologetically, weighing all aspects of an issue and talking to constituents before he makes up his mind on an issue. On this, both his supporters and critics (for the most part) agree. They also agree that he is not a firebrand and that hes not a terribly forceful leader on the council. After two terms in office, its troubling that he hasnt been more of a leader on the important citywide issues he says he cares about  the creation of affordable housing, for example.

And hes made some boneheaded moves. After supporting developer Rick Carusos controversial high-rise development across from the Beverly Center on La Cienega Boulevard, a story in the Los Angeles Times revealed that Koretz had received a total of $2,200 in donations from Caruso over three years (but not for his current reelection campaign). The day after the story ran, Koretz suddenly announced that he was withdrawing his support unless Caruso brought the project down in height  which Caruso eventually did, winning Koretzs support again. Koretz says he had decided two weeks earlier to ask Caruso to lower the height of the building. But announcing it the day after the story ran only made him look cynical and opportunistic.

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Still, Koretz cares deeply about his district and his constituents and makes himself available to them, by almost all accounts. On balance, he serves the district well and responsibly. He should be re-elected.

He led the charge to strengthen the citywide anti-mansionization ordinance, for example  which helped his constituents who live in neighborhoods of small bungalows preserve the character of their communities and fight off an onslaught of over-sized houses. He has proposed a multi-department study on limiting the number of rent-controlled apartments that can be demolished each year. On energy issues, he wants to install 900 charging stations for electric cars. Hes been a strong supporter of animal welfare; he led the successful effort to ban pet stores from selling commercially bred cats and dogs  one of the few ways to thwart the cruelty of puppy mills. Hes been a consistent environmental advocate; he proposed allowing residents to install graywater systems and supported a policy requiring developers in the Hollywood Hills to provide easements on their projects for wildlife crossing.

Koretz has two challengers. The more promising one is Jesse Creed, a 31-year old attorney who is smart, ambitious and knows the basic issues that face the district. As an associate at Munger Tolles & Olson, he worked industriously on implementing the landmark settlement between the Department of Veterans Affairs and homeless veterans who sued over the departments misuse of its campus in West L.A. Since then, Creed has been appointed to the Community Veterans Oversight and Engagement Board. That involvement in an important issue is a good start for an aggressive young activist who wants to become involved in community matters, but it is not enough to merit a seat on the City Council. The other challenger, Mark Herd, has experience on a neighborhood council and has run unsuccessfully for city council and Congress in the past. He knows the basic issues but doesnt offer any compelling ideas or solutions.

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Michael Flynns departure as national security advisor highlights the troubling and mysterious ties between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

We know that Trump is the most pro-Russian president in American history. He regularly praises Putin and dismisses well-founded charges that the Russian strongman murders innocent people. There are a lot of killers. We have a lot of killers, the president recently told Bill OReilly. What, you think our country is so innocent?

We know, too, that Putins intelligence agencies ran a hacking operation last year designed to hurt Hillary Clinton and help Trump. On Jan. 6, the U.S. intelligence community released a high-confidence report that makes untenable Trumps repeated claims that the hacking could have been done by a random 400-pound couch potato.

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What we dont know is this: What are the links, if any, between Trump and Putin? Is Trump merely an admirer of Putins (which is troubling enough), or does Putin actually have something on Trump that would cause the president to act in ways contrary to American interests?

Some curious connections between the Trump camp and the Kremlin already have come to light. Last summer, lobbyist Paul Manafort was fired as Trumps campaign manager after ledgers were discovered in Kiev showing millions of dollars in cash payments to him from Ukraines Russian-backed strongman, Viktor Yanukovych. Another cashiered campaign advisor, Carter Page, was close to the Kremlins state-owned oil industry.

This week Flynn left his White House post after the Washington Post reported he had lied  and opened himself up to blackmail  when he denied discussing U.S. sanctions on Russia with Sergei Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to Washington, in pre-inauguration phone calls. Flynn had at least one other connection to the Kremlin, having gone to Moscow in December 2015 as a paid guest to attend a dinner alongside Putin honoring the Russian propaganda outlet RT.

Is Trump merely an admirer of Putins (which is troubling enough), or does Putin actually have something on Trump?

The next revelation came from the New York Times: U.S. intelligence had intercepted repeated contacts last year between Trump associates and senior Russian intelligence officials. There is no innocent explanation for this  its hardly normal for American campaign aides to be in contact with a hostile intelligence service.

Rather than explaining this troubling behavior, Trump has been fulminating against the lying media and their sources within the U.S. intelligence community, claiming that the real story here is illegal leaks. No. The real story is Kremlingate: What did the president know and when did he know it?

Circumstantial evidence suggests Flynns outreach to the Russian ambassador was approved by Trump himself. The widespread assumption is that Flynn was relaying a message to Putin on Dec. 29 not to worry about President Obamas imposition of sanctions to punish Russia for its meddling in our election, suggesting that they would be lifted once Trump took office, perhaps as payback for the help that the Kremlin gave to Trumps campaign. When Putin got the hint and did not retaliate, Trump tweeted on Dec. 30: Great move on delay (by V. Putin) - I always knew he was very smart!

From the outside, it certainly looks as if both Flynn and Trump might have been colluding to undermine U.S. foreign policy while Obama was still in office, much as Richard Nixon did in the fall of 1968 by secretly sabotaging Lyndon Johnsons attempts to open peace talks with Hanoi.

Another troubling development: CNN has reported that U.S. intelligence corroborated at least some parts of the 35-page dossier compiled by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele in which he claimed that Trump was subject to Kremlin blackmail on sexual and financial grounds. While it may be impossible to embarrass Trump for sexual misdeeds after his taped confession of groping, there could well be shady financial dealings in his past that help to explain why he refuses to release his tax returns.

It is certainly curious that Trump has repeatedly denied any financial links to Russia (I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH RUSSIANO DEALS, NO LOANS, NO NOTHING, he tweeted on Jan. 11), and yet the public record reflects that he staged the Miss Universe pageant in Moscow in 2013 and tried to conduct numerous other deals there. His son Donald Trump Jr. bragged in 2008 that their company had a lot of money pouring in from Russia.

The American public deserves to know a lot more about what ties, if any, our president may have with a hostile foreign power. Media reporting is insufficient because reporters cannot subpoena documents or force testimony under penalty of perjury. The Republican-run Congress does have that authority but so far has not chosen to exercise it in any serious way. The only way we are likely ever to get to the bottom of Kremlingate is through the appointment of a bipartisan, 9/11-style commission.

It is scandalous that Republicans so far have blocked such a move; they are putting partisan considerations above the interests of the country. Will the stonewall crumble? Flynns resignation is not the end of the story.

Max Boot is a contributing writer to Opinion and a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

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UPDATES:

10:59 a.m.: This op-ed was updated with additional details about White House-Russia ties.

This piece was originally published on Feb. 14.
I heard a TV news anchor say over the weekend that when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu comes to Washington this week he will discuss a path to resolving the Middle East Conflict with the new American president.

That reminded me: I recently received a review copy of The Israel-Arab Reader: A Documentary History of the Middle East Conflict. It looked like a fine book, but that subtitle vexed me. I literally pulled it out of the envelope as the news on TV described some horrible slaughter in Syria. But the Syrian Civil War isnt called the Middle East conflict.

The term has always been a misnomer, making it sound like were it not for the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, the Middle East would be all peace and harmony. The Economist once ran A Chronology of the Middle East Conflict that was all about Israel and Palestine. It began in 1917 with the Balfour Declaration and ended with the election  apparently for life  of Mahmoud Abbas to the presidency of the Palestinian Authority in 2005. During that time there were dozens of conflicts in the region  cross-border wars, civil wars, rebellions, revolutions, massacres, etc.  that had nothing to do with Israel.

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The Middle East has always had much bigger problems and, often, much bigger conflicts than those having to do with the Zionist entity.

Islamic State is still in Syria, Libya and Iraq. The president of Syria, Bashar Assad, is finishing off the rebellion against his regime with the help of the Russians and Iranians. Amnesty International released a report over the weekend accusing the Assad regime of executing some 13,000 people in a single prison. Approximately 4.8 million civilians have fled Syria and an estimated 400,000 have been killed. The Syrian refugee crisis in Jordan and Lebanon is straining those relatively moderate states beyond their capacities.

The latest news in the Iran-Saudi proxy war in Yemen: The Saudis say Iran supplied the missiles Houthi rebels have been firing deep into Saudi territory.

Turkey is rapidly transforming itself into an authoritarian state, and Egypt isnt that far behind. The Kurds in Turkey, Syria, Iraq and elsewhere always seem moments away from asserting their independence. And then of course theres Al Qaeda and all the other terrorist groups  that hate Israel to be sure  but dont really focus on it.

The Middle East has always had much bigger problems and, often, much bigger conflicts than those having to do with the Zionist entity. Indeed, it is precisely because of those problems and conflicts that rulers in the region chose to magnify the Israel-Palestinian conflict into the Middle East conflict in the first place. Demonizing the Jews is always a useful distraction from domestic dysfunction and oppression.

During the campaign, Donald Trump vowed to be the most pro-Israel president ever. He followed the great American tradition of presidential candidates vowing to move our embassy to Jerusalem and then, upon taking office, discovering that more study was required.

President Trump has said hed love to make the greatest of all real-estate deals and settle the conflict once and for all. This, too, is an American presidential tradition.

Republican State Department veteran Elliot Abrams (recently denied a job as the number two guy at the State Department because he had criticized Trump during the campaign), writes in the current Weekly Standard that the Trump administration may be going for an outside-in strategy rather than an inside-out one: Instead of using an Israeli-Palestinian deal to improve Israels relations with the Arab states, use Israels relations with the Arab states to advance an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, he writes.

One reason to follow this approach, Abrams notes, is that the Palestinians dont have much to offer Israel. But good relations (which have been improving) with her Arab neighbors and a more united front against terrorism and Iran is perhaps the core of Israels national interest.

If President Trump is determined to cut a deal, this sounds like the smartest way to go. If hes determined to be Israels best friend, he might aim his sights a little lower and deflate the idea that the Israel-Palestine issue is the key to resolving the Middle Easts many conflicts.

jgoldberg@latimescolumnists.com

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Data are the most important resource of the 21st century. The capacity to transform raw data into decision-making recommendations is changing the world in ways that rival the Industrial Revolution.

Much of the data being created and shared are about our personal lives: where we live, where we work, where we go; who we love, who we dont and who we spend our time with; what we ate for lunch, how much we exercise and which medicines we take; what appliances we use in our homes and which stories grab our attention.

And the companies that collect and analyze these data are generating billions in revenue. According to a report by Oracle and the MIT Technology Review, the most successful data companies, including Amazon, Google and Uber, treat data as an asset  something that can be bartered, sold and monetized.

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If ... Facebook divvied up every cent of its profits among its users, each would receive about $5 for 2016.

If companies are banking on your personal data for their business, shouldnt you get a piece of their profits? To many observers, that seems only fair.

Microsoft Research scientist Jaron Lanier and others argue that users should receive nanopayments for data created by them. One Dutch technology pundit, Jathan Sadowski, has even said that a lot of data collection is a form of theft  an appropriation without consent and compensation.

But its pointless to chase nanopayments, and not just because the big technology companies might not like the concept.

Many of the products and services provided by data refineries  including Amazons recommendations, Googles traffic predictions and Ubers surge pricing  depend on information from millions of individuals. One persons contribution isnt worth much. If, for instance, Facebook divvied up every cent of its profits among its users, each would receive about $5 for 2016.

Was having unlimited access to a communication and networking platform  one that is constantly evolving, with new features including livestreaming and encryption in Messenger  worth more to you than a venti caramel macchiato? If so, youve already been paid for your data.

Of course the nanopayments crowd is quick to point out that not all users are equal; some people create more valuable content than others. If only the truly deserving received payment, that might add up to more sizable figures for them.

The question then becomes: Whos truly deserving?

Lets say you take a photo of a group of friends at a birthday party and post it on Facebook. Many people in your social network then repost it. The value of the post to Facebook comes from the traffic that the photo inspires as well as the data about relationships and interests embedded in peoples interactions with it. Should you alone get a kickback from Facebook? Or should you split it with everyone tagged in the photo? How about with those who comment, tag or like it? How much does a comment or like depreciate in value over time?

Not only would it be costly to implement algorithms to make these calculations, its often not clear what would be fair.

Besides, focusing on the value of our data ignores the benefits we receive. I know a man  lets call him Joe  who decided to try out Facebook but didnt want to share data about himself. He signed up under a false name and didnt make friends. Unsurprisingly, Joe didnt find anything very useful on Facebook. Because there were no data for Facebook to analyze, its algorithms couldnt deliver a personalized News Feed.

The value of data comes from improving the decisions we make. You have to give data to get this benefit.

But while Joe missed out on the joys of Facebook, Facebook missed out on essentially nothing. Since most people are not like Joe  most people share their data  Facebook has plenty of information to work with as it refines its services. Again, any one individuals data have a dollar value of close to zero.

Rather than focusing on how much our information is worth and asking for a paltry financial handout in return, we should demand something far more valuable: the right to experiment with our data and the settings that determine what data refineries show us. This seat at the controls will ensure that we can make the best decisions for ourselves, while still benefiting from these companies recommendations.

Andreas Weigend was the chief scientist at Amazon. He is now a lecturer at UC Berkeley and the director of the Social Data Lab. He is the author of Data for the People.

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Michael Flynns resignation late Monday may have resolved a political problem for President Trump, but it doesnt address the nagging questions about whether Trump, through his campaign, and then transition team, had improper  and potentially illegal  contacts with Russia. And they need to be answered.

Some Senate Republicans have already called for an investigation into Flynn, something that would be welcome, but is insufficient given the scope of Trump team connections with Russia. The Republican congressional leadership needs to put responsibility to country ahead of party loyalty to the president, and appoint an independent commission or special prosecutor to get to the bottom of it.

The reason for an independent inquiry? The existing mechanisms for such an investigation are too tainted by coziness with Trump, or by questions about their own behavior, to do the job in a way the public can trust.

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For instance, FBI Director James Comey  and, in fact the agency itself  is under review by the Justice Departments inspector general over questions about pre-election disclosures concerning the investigation into Hillary Clintons email server. While investigators deserve a presumption of professionalism, theres been sufficient controversy to justify skepticism about the agencys independence.

On Capitol Hill, the House Intelligence Committee is run by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare), a Trump transition team member who early Tuesday said his committee  which is already reviewing Russian meddling in the presidential election  wont investigate conversations between Flynn and Trump. Nunes cited executive privilege, a defense usually claimed by the president in response to demands for information.

Yet the conversations of most interest would have occurred during the campaign and transition, before Trump took the oath, and before executive privilege could come into play. But Nunes did say his committee will look into leaks from the White House  something Trump said was more significant than Flynns resignation. So with Nunes carrying Trumps water (and thanking the departed Flynn for his service), dont expect much independent oversight there (the House Oversight Committee has deferred to Nunes committee).

There needs to be an investigation, and a public accounting. The issues here are far too serious to leave to the manipulations of the usual partisan politics.

The Senate Intelligence Committee also is looking into Trump team ties to Russia, but that effort, too, draws reasonable skepticism. The head of the committee is Trump backer Sen. Richard M. Burr (R-N.C.), who initially balked at the investigation, but apparently came around after intelligence reports about Russia actions. But he has said that the committees work will be done mostly in secret.

And the nation still doesnt have a clear understanding of how much of the controversial dossier, which began as campaign opposition research by Republicans, is true. CNN recently reported that investigators have verified some elements of it, namely conversations among Russian officials. Clearly more investigation is required.

Nor do we have a full accounting of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manaforts connections with Russia.

But who should be finding the truth here? Who can the public trust to actually get as close to the truth as is possible?

The intelligence community needs to continue its work, but given the nations deep cynicism toward governmental institutions  cynicism fueled and exploited by candidate Trump  there needs to be a full and independent investigation into whether Trumps team violated federal laws in their contacts with Russia. And as much detail must be made public as possible without truly compromising national security (all too often such claims are defensive fig leaves, not efforts to keep legitimately sensitive material hidden).

The FBI is tainted. Congress is tainted. The best solution is likely either an independent commission with subpoena power, or an independent prosecutor, though given the restrictions on public disclosures by a prosecutor, a commission may be the better option.

Regardless, there needs to be an investigation, and a public accounting. The issues here are far too serious to leave to the manipulations of the usual partisan politics. Even the Republicans should recognize that. And such a move might even be a step toward renewing Americans faith in their government.

scott.martelle@latimes.com

Twitter: @smartelle
To the editor: As a scientist, I am aware that many Republicans have for years rejected mainstream evolution and climate science. But I worry more about the acceptance of alternative facts since President Trump took office. (Concerned about Trump, scientists are leaning into politics, Feb. 9)

I would very much like The Times to ask all our lawmakers the following yes-or-no questions and report their answers:

Do you believe the U.S. intelligence community reports that Russians interfered with the campaign to hurt Hillary Clinton?

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Do you believe that millions of people voted illegally for Clinton?

Do you believe that Clinton won the popular vote by nearly 3 million people?

The answers to these questions might determine the extent to which Trump has a mandate, but more importantly they would give constituents, regardless of their political leanings, knowledge of where their representatives stand on verifiable reality versus alternative facts.

Andy McCollum, Mount Vernon, Iowa

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To the editor: Now our scientists have to march and protest for facts to be counted as real? I have a great solution:

Lets create an alternate U.S. Food and Drug Administration for those who believe in alternative facts and have it do its research based on ideological and political persuasion. Let those people take the medications that end up being approved and see where it gets them.

The rest of us can follow the real FDA.

Noelle De Vita, Valencia

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To the editor: President Trump has brought anxiety to America like no terrorists have since 9/11. But he had help: Millions of Americans voted to make him president. (Fearing deportations, Mexico warns its citizens in the U.S., Feb. 10)

These Americans also share in the responsibility for creating a tsunami of fear crashing over the lives of millions of peaceful, hard-working and decent families living here. Children and their parents are now in terror of deportation and separation. Innocent refugees, some of whom helped us fight our wars, have been left in desperation and misery.

America used to stand for decency and compassion. No more. Americans who support these shameful attacks on fellow humans need to search their consciences and find where they left behind their own humanity.

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Walter Dominguez, Los Angeles

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To the editor: Why did these immigration protesters not march as vigorously against President Obama? After all, the National Council of La Raza dubbed him deporter-in-chief due to his efforts in this area.

While his two predecessors turned more illegal immigrants away at the border (our economy was good back then so people wanted to come), Obama deported more than Presidents George W. Bush and Clinton combined. I guess this is a problem only when the president is a white Republican but not one if he is an African American Democrat.

This is one more example that whats good for the goose isnt good for the gander  at least if youre on the left.

Chris Daly, Yucaipa

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To the editor: Trump has struck a bold blow for making American safe again by deporting longtime Phoenix resident Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos. She must be one of those vicious killers or rapists Trump warned us about.

Well, no: Her crime was using false papers to secure a job to help feed her two American-born children while paying taxes. I feel safer.

Trumps America can also feel safe while it cowers behind the wall.

Dennis M. Galligan, Beaumont

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To the editor: The situation is too familiar to those who monitor planning decisions by local agencies across the state, from coastal cities to desert towns. Developers need only mouth the J word (jobs) to hypnotize local officials into backing their projects. (When developers want to build more than zoning laws allow, L.A. planners almost always say yes, Times analysis finds, Feb. 10)

Planning departments work with developers throughout the approval process, whereas residents get limited opportunities for input. The developer and planner often are seen even at meetings greeting and chatting with each other.

Opponents are then decried for taking legal action on decisions, but the courts are often the only neutral arbiter available. Even with the California Environmental Quality Act, the deck is stacked in favor of the developer.

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We need a more neutral decision process for planning, one that justly weighs the concerns of residents against wealthy developers waving dollars in front of local officials.

Bryan Baker, Apple Valley

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To the editor: Please tone down the hysteria about variances and zoning changes.

Zoning will never be an exact science. Community plans cover thousands of properties. Planners dont have the resources to consider how the new rules apply to every unusual site, much less keep the rules constantly up to date. The economy changes, public preferences on housing and transportation change. Dense development along the Expo Line sounds like a smart idea, not a horrifying abuse.

Allowing someone to ask for an exception to the rules is not only fair but also wise. Most variances get approved (in every city, not just Los Angeles) because the crazy ideas get weeded out before they go to a hearing.

Dont squash innovation. Lets hear out the new ideas.

Timothy Foy, Los Angeles

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To the editor: I applaud the Los Angeles City Council for wanting to update community plans every six years, but I am not sure it will follow through given the size of the commitment. (With the election looming, L.A. moves to speed up review of neighborhood development plans, Feb. 8)

There are 35 community plans within the city of Los Angeles. Given the legal requirements for environmental review, traffic studies, public hearings and more, many community plans take three years to complete.

Furthermore, hundreds of thousands of dollars are necessary for each traffic study and the environmental consultants needed to complete legal requirements. Additional planners would need to be hired, or there would need to be a major shift of planners from current assignments in case processing, causing backlogs elsewhere.

Lets hope this results in more than just headlines.

David Gay, Santa Barbara

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Former President George W. Bush says his recent remarks have been misconstrued as criticism of Trump

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Former President George W. Bush on Wednesday pushed back at the notion that his recent remarks about the media were criticisms of President Trump.

Im asked the question, Do I believe in free press? and the answer is absolutely, I believe in free press  because the press holds people to account, he said. Power is very addictive and its corrosive if it becomes central to your life and therefore there needs to be an independent group of people who hold you to account. And so I answered that question and of course the headlines were, Bush criticizes Trump. And so therefore I needed to say, There should be a free and independent press, but it ought to be accurate.

Bush made the remarks at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley during an hourlong question-and-answer session promoting Portraits of Courage, his new book that features his paintings of veterans. While doing media interviews about the book in recent days, he has raised eyebrows by making comments about the media, immigrants and allegations of Russian interference in the November presidential election that were widely viewed as criticisms of the new president.

He said that he decided once he left the office not to second-guess his successor, former President Obama, and that the same holds true for Trump. Doing so would undermine the office, Bush said, adding that he wants all of his successors to succeed because it is good for the nation.

I dont want to make the presidents job worse, no matter what political party it is. Its a hard job, Bush said. Sometimes my remarks can be construed as criticism. Theyre certainly not meant to be, and after I finish this book tour you probably wont hear from me for a while.

But he was willing to offer advice to those who follow him.

Know what you dont know and find people who do know what you dont know and listen to them, he said. My advice is that the job is different once you get in. It looks one way and then you get in the Oval Office and it looks different. Trust me.

Bush also made an implicit criticism of Obamas foreign policy when asked whether the world is more dangerous than it was four years ago.

This may be taken as criticism of one of my successors and I dont really mean it to be. There is a lesson however when the United States decides not to take the lead and withdraw, he said. Vacuums can be created when U.S. presence recedes and that vacuum is generally filed with people who dont share the ideology, the same sense of human rights and human dignity and freedom that we do.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Aside from a handful of serious moments, Bush was jovial and self-effacing as he described how he became an oil painter after leaving the White House. Seeking ways to fill his time, he said he read an essay by Winston Churchill about painting.

I basically said, What the hell, this guy can paint, I can paint, Bush said.

He hired an instructor and started painting a cube and a watermelon before moving on to portraits. Former First Lady Laura Bush was not pleased with his depiction of her, so when he painted his mother, former First Lady Barbara Bush, he decided to depict her from behind.

Barbara Bush and former President George H.W. Bush are doing well despite their recent hospitalizations, the younger Bush said.

Theyre both great given their limitations. Dad cant walk, hes confined to a wheelchair and yet his spirit is joyful, Bush said.  Moms doing fine. Shes shrinking, and as she does, her voice gets louder. But shes a, shes a piece of work is what she is.

Bush has been reclusive since leaving office, but said he wrote the book and is publicizing it to raise money for veterans and to draw attention to the invisible wounds many of them suffer.

I think when you read [their stories] youll be moved by stories of courage, injury, recovery willingness to help others, he said.  Ive got a platform  its not as big as it once was  and I intend to use it to help our veterans for the rest of my life, and this is one way to do so.
While President Trumps daily activities continue to consume much of the nations attention, Congress has quietly launched a legislating spree at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue.

The House and Senate are churning out a steady stream of bills  not the big-ticket items Trump promised on the campaign trail, but a hand-picked collection of discrete measures aimed at dismantling the regulatory agenda that President Obama put in place during his waning days in office.

Many of the proposals come from a wish list compiled by the powerful Koch brothers network, designed to loosen federal rules on the energy industry, Wall Street and other businesses aligned to the industrialists.

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Other groups have also weighed in. A top priority of the National Rifle Assn., for example, would halt a rule requiring background checks for gun buyers who have a mental health condition for which they receive Social Security disability benefits. It was initially drafted in the aftermath of the 2007 Virginia Tech mass shooting and finalized late last year.

Because Republicans now control Congress and the White House, the measures have a good chance of becoming law. Congress is using special rules that require just a simple majority vote for fast-track passage.

White House aides who wrote Trumps travel ban see it as just the start 

Already, two measures have cleared both chambers on largely party-line votes. One rolls back mountaintop coal mining regulations that would have updated 30-year-old rules on downstream pollution. Another halts a previous bipartisan effort that sought to stem overseas corruption by requiring U.S. companies to disclose payments to foreign governments.

More House-passed bills are likely to clear the Senate this week, and Trump is expected to soon have his first bill signing at the White House.

Republicans say their bill-passing flurry will kick-start the economy by undoing cumbersome rules Obama put in without congressional approval.

With President Trumps signature, every one of these regulations will be overturned, said Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), the majority leader, announcing the agenda. Thats how to protect American workers and businesses, defend the Constitution, and turn words into actions.

But Democrats and advocacy groups warn the new measures will wipe out important safeguards.

We put in a lot of work to make sure there were protections for streams and communities, and [now] we dont get those protections, said Erin Savage, a program manager at Appalachian Voices, an environmental advocacy organization that had been working on the stream protection regulations for a decade.

Theyve said, This is a job-killing rule and were going to bring back coal by killing this rule, she said. But the coal industry, especially in Central Appalachia, has been on decline.... You cant change market demand with a stream rule.

What has been striking about the legislative activity is not necessarily the content of the measures, which largely match GOP goals for less government intervention in business and industry, but the speed at which the bills are being approved in Congress.

How the Senates once-revered traditions are falling victim to partisan divide 

Thats in large part thanks to the assistance of the Koch network.

Andy Koenig, a vice president at Freedom Partners, a Koch-backed business advocacy organization, said that many lawmakers thought that because Obama had done so much with a pen and a phone, President Trump could walk in with an eraser and get it done on Day One.

But he and other seasoned operatives knew it would be more complicated. We realized there was a need on Capitol Hill, he said.

As Trumps transition team began to take shape, Freedom Partners and Americans for Prosperity, another Koch-aligned group, got to work late last year on an early agenda  its Roadmap to Repeal  for Congress.

The Koch network sent advisors to Capitol Hill to meet with Republican leaders and help prioritize the agenda with rank-and-file lawmakers. Activists from the networks state chapters  many who knocked on doors to help get out the November vote  showed up in lawmakers offices to urge support.

They focused Republicans on a little-known procedural tool  the Congressional Review Act  that allows Congress to disapprove of new regulations within a short time frame after the rules are issued.

The tactic had been attempted by the GOP-led Congress before, but Obama was able to veto the resolutions. Only once, during the George W. Bush administration, had a disapproval resolution been signed into law. Now with Trump in the White House, Republicans have an opening.

The process must happen quickly, within 60 legislative days of new rules being issued or from the start of the new Congress. If they wait longer than that, legislation to overturn the regulations would be subject to filibuster by Senate Democrats.

Another House-passed measure sent to the Senate would halt new regulations on flares used to burn off methane gas. It is backed by the oil industry.

The American Petroleum Institute welcomed the rollback of the methane rule, calling the Obama-era regulation a step backward for energy policy that would impede oil and natural gas production on federal land.

Dozens more are in the queue. This week, the House is scheduled to vote to undo regulations that eased drug testing requirements for recipients of unemployment benefits and ensured federal funds were not blocked for family planning clinics.

GOP lawmakers have been quick to sign on as bill sponsors.

The hunger among Republicans in Congress to push back is very real, said Chrissy Harbin, vice president at Americans for Prosperity. They are jumping at the chance to move forward with resolutions of disapproval.

But not all of the measures may make it to Trumps desk.

The effort to roll back gun background checks has hit resistance in the Senate after advocates of the restrictions began flooding senators offices with phone calls and emails.

Donald Trumps victory was not, in fact, anything close to a mandate for an agenda for the corporate gun lobby, said Dan Gross, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. This is not going to be the cakewalk that they thought it was going to be.

But the NRA lobby, too, is not about to give up.

The first pro-gun act of the Trump-era Congress is on the verge of success, the NRA lobby wrote to supporters, but it needs your help to get over the line.

lisa.mascaro@latimes.com

@LisaMascaro

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Editors note: Retired Lt. Gen. Joseph  Keith Kellogg became President Donald Trumps acting national security advisor following the resignation of Michael Flynn on Monday, Feb. 13, 2017. This article touching on Kelloggs work expediting rebuilding contracts in Iraq first appeared in the Times on Dec. 20, 2003.

Hunched over an unadorned desk in a claustrophobic office on the ground floor of Saddam Husseins former Republican Palace sits the most popular reconstruction official in Baghdad.

Retired Adm. David Nash seems an unlikely focus of international attention. Yet the lanky, soft-spoken Nash has one asset that has had him collecting more calling cards than civilian administrator L. Paul Bremer III and U.S. commander Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez combined: $18.6 billion.

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As the man responsible for doling out rebuilding contracts approved by Congress this fall, Nash found himself besieged at a sold-out seminar for 1,400 contractors in Washington and at a more intimate London gathering. But the Coalition Provisional Authority official keeps a coy distance from them and the stream of would-be suitors in Iraq.

I have friends I didnt even know I had. They write me and call me all the time, Nash, 61, said in a recent interview. Sometimes I strike it up to old age that I dont even know who they are.

But the allure of a job doling out historic largess has come with headaches of equal proportion.

The process has angered the French, Germans and Russians, all of whom were declared ineligible for the 26 prime contracts for failing to join the U.S.-led coalition. And it is now irking eligible contractors because of this weeks White House directive that Nash stop issuing requests for proposals while rule changes are considered.

That means the money will probably not be doled out by the Feb. 1 target date. Meanwhile, Iraqi public opinion, increasingly hostile amid lingering power and water shortages and an unending spree of postwar violence, has shown no sign of reversing.

Despite such obstacles, coalition leaders insist that their efforts are about to move forward more quickly and smoothly. In recent weeks, the CPA has assigned two deputies to Bremer who were given one prime directive: Make it work faster.

Retired Lt. Gen. Joseph Keith Kellogg, who captured Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfelds attention as head of the Joint Chiefs command, control, communications and computer systems directorate, began working as Bremers chief of staff Dec. 2. The former leader of the Armys 82nd Airborne Division, Kellogg is described by colleagues as an expediter known for cutting through red tape.

Ensconced in his new second-floor office in the toppled dictators palace, he described his job as ensuring discipline and speed throughout a massive reconstruction program.

Im the guy whos supposed to make the trains run on time, Kellogg said.

Also joining Bremer was Richard H. Jones, an Arabic-speaking career foreign service officer who has spent the past two years as U.S. ambassador to Kuwait. Jones is charged with focusing on political reconstruction, including dealing with the quarrelsome Iraqi Governing Council, freeing Bremer and Kellogg to focus on security and rebuilding the war-ravaged nation.

Looking for leaders who probably wouldnt be rattled by mortar attacks at their offices, the Pentagon sought out Kellogg to oversee about 120 reconstruction staffers and contractors who employ thousands of workers. Kellogg, Nashs direct supervisor, is one of several former military leaders charged with instilling armed forces discipline in nominally civilian jobs within the CPA.

The change has come amid substantial reversals. Bremer was scheduled to approve 2,700 initial projects on Dec. 10 and to begin awarding construction contracts beginning Feb. 1. (Some emergency contracts have already been awarded through the U.S. Agency for International Development, which has given out $700 million in so-called bridge financing.)

But following the administrations order that he postpone putting out requests for proposals, Nash arrived in Washington on Wednesday to discuss whether that process -- and the rebuilding effort itself -- may wind up being delayed for months.

Working under Nash are half a dozen officials in charge of Iraqs oil, utilities and other sectors, men such as Bill Smith, who retired as a Navy captain in October and went straight to Iraq. The crop-haired cadre of former military officials would not look out of place at the Pentagon. Thats for good reason, Kellogg said.

It brings a culture to this. The reconstruction of Germany and the reconstruction of Japan, most of that was done by a lot of military, because were used to that.

There was also the matter of who would be comfortable in a war zone, Nash added. Part of it is who will come, he said. Its people who can cope with this type of environment.

Nash had just switched jobs from engineering firm Parsons Brinckerhoff in Michigan to BE&K in Alabama last summer when he got a call asking him to help with Iraqs reconstruction in Washington. He left the new job after one day and moved to Washington. In a meeting shortly thereafter, an intriguing question came up: Does anybody know how to spend about $20 billion?

Nash, who had headed a Navy civil engineering program with an $8-billion annual budget, was a logical choice. He arrived in July for a 90-day stint that became permanent when the $18.6-billion appropriation was approved.

CPA officials expect attacks to intensify as insurgents target new water, power and other projects, just as they have contributed to the fuel shortage by attacking oil pipelines.

The real wild card is security. The bad guys have a lot of incentive to try and make sure these projects dont come off, Smith said. How do you secure a 50-mile water line or a power transmission line?

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The nations uninsured rate tumbled further last year, hitting the lowest rate on record, according to new government data that underscored what is at stake in the Republican effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

In the first nine months of 2016, just 8.8% of Americans lacked health coverage, survey data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show.

That was down from 16% in 2010, when President Obama signed the healthcare law, often called Obamacare.

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California, which has expanded Medicaid (known as Medi-Cal in the state) and created its own insurance marketplace through the law, has seen some of the most dramatic insurance gains with the share of uninsured residents dropping by more than half between 2013 and 2016, to 7.1%, data show.

From expanding Medi-Cal to launching a competitive state-based marketplace, California is empowering consumers and providing quality and value, said Peter V. Lee, chief executive of the states Covered California marketplace.

President Trump and GOP congressional leaders have pledged to roll back the law and replace it with something that will provide Americans with more affordable healthcare options.

On Tuesday, House Republican leaders repeated their pledges. We will have a stable transition, where no one has the rug pulled out from under them while we work toward a better, more stable system, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) told reporters at the Capitol.

But Republicans are struggling to develop an alternative, even as growing numbers of Americans express concern about the repeal campaign.

And to date, neither the Trump administration nor Republicans in Congress have detailed how they plan to preserve the health protections that millions have gained through the current law.

The new report released Tuesday  which is based on surveys of more than 73,000 peoples health insurance nationally  indicates that about 20.4 million people have gained coverage since 2010.

The most dramatic declines began after the laws system of coverage expansion began in 2014.

That year, states were able to access federal aid through the law to expand their Medicaid programs to cover more very low-income residents.

To date, 31 states have taken advantage of the Medicaid expansion.

The new data indicate coverage gains have been most pronounced in those states, with the share of uninsured adults declining from 18.4% in 2013 to 9.3% in the first nine months of 2016.

By contrast, the uninsured rate for adults declined much more slowly in states that did not expand Medicaid, falling from 22.7% to 17.5%.

Many Republican governors and state legislators have opposed Medicaid expansion, arguing the program is not effective and too expensive, even though the federal government is footing more than 90% of the tab for the expansion.

Congressional Republicans and new Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, a former Georgia congressman, have called for dramatic cuts in federal aid for Medicaid.

The new report shows the coverage expansion has also been fueled by new insurance marketplaces, such as HealthCare.gov, that allow Americans who do not get health insurance through an employer to shop for health plans.

Low- and moderate-income consumers qualify for government subsidies to offset the cost of their monthly premiums.

Republicans are also looking to scrap these marketplaces, saying that they are collapsing.

In fact, despite rising premiums in some parts of the country and the departure of some insurers who were losing money, enrollment in the marketplaces has held relatively stable, according to enrollment data.

And many insurance industry officials say the marketplaces could be stabilized.

noam.levey@latimes.com

@noamlevey

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UPDATES:

3:25 p.m.: This article was updated with California figures.

This article was originally published at 11:20 a.m.
The White House sought Tuesday to quickly contain the fallout from the ouster of national security advisor Michael Flynn, but President Trump and top aides found themselves mired in further disarray as more details emerged that undermined their portrayal of the matter.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer contradicted assertions that he and other senior aides had made a day earlier about internal deliberations over Flynns contact with a Russian diplomat. Taken together, the various accounts suggested that Trump knew three weeks ago that Flynn had misrepresented the interactions but moved to dismiss Flynn only once they became public.

On Capitol Hill, momentum grew for a more far-reaching investigation of Russias attempts to influence U.S. government at its highest levels.

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The White House would not say whether Flynn had misled the president but blamed Flynns misrepresentations to Vice President Mike Pence and others for his downfall.

The evolving and eroding level of trust as a result of this situation and a series of other questionable instances is what led the president to ask for Gen. Flynns resignation, Spicer said in his daily press briefing. He didnt elaborate on the other issues.

Nor did he put to rest questions about what Trump and others in the White House knew about whether Flynn had discussed newly implemented Obama administration sanctions with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in December, which would be a breach of protocol and possibly illegal.

The Flynn episode is the latest misstep from a White House whose defiant attitude upon taking office has eased in recent days, perhaps most notably with the near-silence this week of Trumps normally busy Twitter account.

This is a full-blown crisis, and it is a hairs thread from unraveling the administration, and I dont know if theyre prepared for whats coming, said Rick Tyler, a Republican consultant who knows many of the top players in the White House.

Flynn came under fire last month amid reports that in phone calls and text messages he and Kislyak discussed the Obama administrations new sanctions over Moscows meddling in the U.S. election. Such talks might violate the Logan Act, a 1799 law prohibiting private citizens from negotiating with foreign governments.

Flynn and other administration officials, including Pence, denied those reports. But Flynns denials unraveled late last week after news stories revealed the existence of a transcript of his contacts with Kislyak, which were recorded as part of routine U.S. intelligence monitoring of foreign officials communications.

The timeline that has emerged, pieced together from information from the White House, law enforcement and intelligence officials, news accounts and other public information, shows a White House trying to contain Flynns breach but seeming to act only when explosive information was revealed widely or about to be.

Flynn and Kislyak were in touch in late December, including on the 29th, the day the Obama administration levied the sanctions.

The exchanges between Flynn and Kislyak were first revealed in a column in the Washington Post on Jan. 12, and Trumps transition team scrambled to explain that the conversations were limited. Flynn contended that he had not acted improperly.

He and Kislyak did not talk to relieve sanctions, he said in an interview Monday with the conservative website Daily Caller, hours before he would resign. It was basically to say, Look, were coming into office in a couple of weeks. Give us some time to take a look at everything.

Pence echoed Flynns claim on CBS News on Jan. 15. Obama administration officials grew concerned over the possibility that Flynn had lied to Pence, meaning Flynn might be vulnerable to blackmail by Russians who could threaten to expose him, said the former official. But Pence himself didnt become aware of the incomplete account for another two weeks, his spokesman said, and only found out from a news report.

After Trump was inaugurated Jan. 20, the FBI interviewed Flynn about his conversations with Kislyak, said a U.S. official who did not describe what Flynn told investigators.

Spicer defended Flynn at his daily briefing Jan. 23. That prompted then-acting Atty. Gen. Sally Yates, a career prosecutor and Obama administration holdover, to tell White House Counsel Donald McGahn three days later that Flynn might be susceptible to blackmail, according to Spicer. He questioned why the Department of Justice waited until then to make its concerns known.

McGahn told Trump, who ordered an internal review, Spicer said. McGahn concluded that Flynn hadnt broken the law. But he did not immediately review transcripts of Flynns calls to corroborate his claims, officials said later.

Trump did not act at the time, though he was aware that Flynns assertions belied the truth. Spicer characterized Trump as unbelievably decisive in ordering a review of Flynns actions.

Nonetheless, Spicer said, a trust issue arose and festered, and Trump ultimately concluded that he had to make a change. White House officials met with at least one possible replacement for Flynn last week.

Officials confirmed that Flynn apologized to Pence only on Friday.

For the vice president, I feel terrible, Flynn told the Daily Caller. I put him in a position. Hes a man of incredible integrity.

As late as Monday morning, Flynn said, Trump was encouraging him to defend himself, and the White House continued to publicly stand by Flynn until an abrupt shift late Monday afternoon, when Spicer said Trump was evaluating Flynns standing. Around the same time, the Post was preparing to publish a story that Yates had told the White House about her concerns, which were not yet public. Hours later, the White House announced Flynn had resigned.

By Tuesday, the change in tenor was complete. Trump, in recent weeks, had been very concerned that Gen. Flynn had misled the vice president and others, Spicer said, without specifying whether the president believed he himself was misled.

The president must have complete and unwavering trust for the person in that position, Spicer said.

Congressional Republicans nervously absorbed the unfolding drama and debated how aggressively to investigate the White Houses dealings with Russia as Democrats pushed for an independent review to assess whether Flynn was acting alone or at the direction of others.

The intelligence committee is already looking at Russian involvement in our election, said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). Its highly likely theyd want to take a look at this episode as well.

Were all wrestling with the best way to investigate Russias influence on the political process, said Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.

michael.memoli@latimes.com

Twitter: @mikememoli

del.wilber@latimes.com

Twitter: @delwilber

Times staff writers Lisa Mascaro, Brian Bennett and Noah Bierman contributed to this report.

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UPDATES:

6:15 p.m.: This article was updated with more details from the White House and comment from Flynn.

1:15 p.m.: This article was updated with comment from the White House.

10:20 a.m.: This article was updated with comment from Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho).

9:55 a.m.: This article was updated with comment from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

This article was originally published at 9:40 a.m.
Michael Flynn resigned late Monday as President Trumps national security advisor, following mounting scrutiny over his conflicting accounts of contacts with a Russian diplomat and his admission that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence about the matter.

Flynns departure, which came after several days in which Trump conspicuously refused to publicly back him, marked another embarrassing setback for an administration just over three weeks old, on a subject that has for months given pause to both Democrats and Republicans  connections between Trump and Russia.

Trump named retired Gen. Keith Kellogg, who served as a campaign advisor, as acting national security advisor.

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Kellogg was one of three candidates being considered to replace Flynn, White House officials said. The other two were retired Vice Adm. Bob Harward and retired Gen. David H. Petraeus, who was forced to resign as director of the CIA in 2012 while under fire for sharing sensitive information with his paramour. He pleaded guilty to one count of mishandling classified information and was fined and sentenced to probation.

Flynns downfall began with a series of contacts he had with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, which became the subject of news reports in January. Flynn and other administration officials, including Pence, initially denied the reports of multiple substantive contacts between the two men.

They then conceded that the two had spoken and exchanged text messages, but denied that Flynn and Kislyak had discussed sanctions the Obama administration had imposed in December after concluding Russia had attempted to interfere with the U.S. election. Such talks would have been highly inappropriate given that President Obama was still setting U.S. foreign policy at the time.

In his resignation letter, Flynn said he had not given Pence an accurate account of his conversations with Kislyak, but said he had not done so deliberately.

Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the vice president-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador, Flynn wrote. I have sincerely apologized to the president and the vice president, and they have accepted my apology.

His 24-day tenure is by far the shortest for a national security advisor since the position was created in the 1940s, and among the briefest for any senior West Wing staffer.

No evidence has emerged that Trump directed Flynn to act or was even aware of what he was doing. But Flynns departure is unlikely to put to rest questions about Trumps own relationship with Russia and public admiration for its president, Vladimir Putin.

Flynn, who was director of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency in the Obama administration, left in 2014 and later said he had become disenchanted with its strategy for fighting Islamic militancy. He found a kindred spirit in Trump. His views closely aligned with Trumps campaign attacks on Islam and calls to bar Muslims from immigrating to the U.S., and he became a close advisor during the election.

But Trumps choice of Flynn as national security advisor, a key White House role, prompted concern among critics who saw Flynns views as too extreme and noted his own visit to Russia in 2015, where he sat next to Putin at a dinner for RT, the Russian propaganda network.

A new round of media reports in recent days refocused attention on Flynns contacts with Kislyak. Based on information from unnamed U.S. officials, the Washington Post disclosed that U.S. intelligence officials had a transcript of a call, recorded as part of routine monitoring of Kislyak, which contradicted Flynns account.

Aides to Flynn then backed off his earlier denials to say he had no recollection of discussing sanctions, but that he couldnt be certain that the topic never came up.

Intelligence officials and others expressed incredulity that Flynn could have been unaware that Kislyaks calls were routinely monitored.

Flynn would have risked violating U.S. law by discussing the sanctions before Trump took office. The Logan Act, which has never been used to prosecute anyone, bars U.S. citizens from unauthorized interactions with foreign governments with an intent to influence government actions.

But it was Flynns recounting of his conversations to Pence that appeared to have proved fatal to his service in the administration. Pence said in a nationally televised interview just before the inauguration that the timing of Flynns contacts with Kislyak were strictly coincidental, and did not include a discussion of the U.S. decision to expel Russian diplomats and other measures announced about the same time.

Trump was silent about Flynn and the latest allegations during a weekend trip to Mar-a-Lago, Trumps Florida resort, with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, where Flynn was often by the presidents side.

His resignation, given about 10 p.m. Monday night and announced by the White House an hour later, came at the end of a frenzied day of closed-door talks in the West Wing and mixed signals about Flynns fate.

Flynn attended the presidents daily intelligence briefing, sat in during Trumps calls with several foreign leaders and went to meetings between Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as well as their joint news conference. In the midafternoon, a senior aide, Kellyanne Conway, said Flynn had the presidents full confidence.

But about an hour after that, Press Secretary Sean Spicer announced that Trump was evaluating Flynn. And in the evening, while Trump and Pence remained in the Oval Office after the swearing-in of new Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Chief of Staff Reince Priebus huddled with the White House counsel and senior aides to Pence.

In the meantime, the Washington Post reported that last month, Sally Yates, who was acting attorney general at the time, had told Trump administration officials that Flynn may have misled them about calls and texts with Kislyak and could be susceptible to Russian blackmail.

Throughout the day, Trumps Twitter account, his tool for impromptu screeds that can set the days news agenda, was silent, save for canned statements.

Finally, Flynns dismissal was made public.

michael.memoli@latimes.com

Twitter: @mikememoli

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UPDATES:

8:55 p.m.: The story was updated with Flynns resignation.

The story was originally published at 6:45 p.m.
As the healthcare vote looms, Trump sees opposition from conservatives, both on Capitol Hill and in the media By Kurtis Lee Its a really important vote in President Trumps fledgling first term. Will House Republicans pass a bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act  a promise from Trump on the campaign trail  or reject it? (House Speaker Paul D. Ryan rushed to the White House on Friday morning for a last-minute meeting with Trump as both attempted to corral enough votes.) Trump spent much of the week trying to win support from members of the Freedom Caucus, among the most conservative lawmakers, some of whom are holdouts because they believe the bill does not go far enough. After seven horrible years of ObamaCare (skyrocketing premiums & deductibles, bad healthcare), this is finally your chance for a great plan! Trump tweeted Friday. But even some in conservative media arent all that thrilled about the bill. Here are some of Fridays headlines: Polls: Ryancare even more unpopular than Obamacare and Hillarycare (Breitbart) So, its been clear in recent weeks that the right-wing website Breitbart does not like the new healthcare proposal. The news site has dubbed the current bill Obamacare-lite or Ryancare  an homage of sorts to Ryan, who helped craft the legislation  and argued it does not go far enough in its overhaul. Most conservatives want to repeal the Affordable Care Act, nicknamed Obamacare, they just differ on what the replacement should look like. For example, some on the far right want to see so-called essential health benefits, such as maternity and newborn care, stripped from the bill.) This piece highlights several of the dismal polls the legislation has received. Among them: A recent Fox News survey that showed 54% oppose the bill, compared with 34% who support it. The article also references an analysis of polling and data by FiveThirtyEight.com, which shows the GOP legislation is more unpopular than Obamacare and President Bill Clintons healthcare reform bill were when they were first introduced. A modest immigration proposal (Weekly Standard) Trumps recent immigration orders have left many immigrants on edge. Through social media and pop-up legal clinics, immigrant rights groups have doled out around-the-clock assistance, as families fear being separated. In this piece, Irwin Stelzer notes that at some point, our border will be secure, resistance to deporting felons will collapse, and we will have accepted the fact that Dreamers will be allowed to stay in this country, probably on a path to citizenship. He lays out his views of immigration reform, citing, among other things, setting an annual immigration limit and adopting a system that has the effect of enriching our citizens by filling that annual quota with immigrants who are likely to increase the well-being of the existing citizenry. Jeff Sessions is Rip Van Winkle on drug policy (American Conservative) Its clear from polls that most Republicans oppose marijuana legalization, while Democrats support it. However, libertarian-leaning Republicans often tend to support legalization. This piece highlights Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions recent comments in opposition to states legalizing pot. The attorney general regurgitates simplistic cliches right out of the 1970s and 1980s about marijuana use. I dont think America is going to be a better place when people of all ages, and particularly young people, are smoking pot, Sessions told reporters on February 26, the author, Ted Galen Carpenter, writes. He adds, Such comments confirm that critics may be right when they label him a drug war dinosaur. He seems either oblivious or scornful about the trend in public opinion regarding marijuana. Facebook

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FCC Chairman Pai wants to halt Internet privacy rules before they begin taking effect this week By Jim Puzzanghera (Nicholas Kamm / AFP/Getty Images) The nations new top telecommunications regulator wants to halt tough Internet privacy rules before they begin taking effect this week, arguing they would unfairly impose tougher requirements on broadband providers than on websites and social networks. Privacy advocates and a key Senate Democrat vowed Monday to fight the move as well as a separate effort in Congress to overturn the regulations, which were approved in October on a party-line vote by the Federal Communications Commission when it was controlled by Democrats under President Obama. Following President Trumps inauguration, control of the commission passed to Republicans and Ajit Pai took over as chairman. All actors in the online space should be subject to the same rules, and the federal government shouldnt favor one set of companies over another, a spokesman for Pai said Friday. Read More Facebook

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Trump says Hollywoods obsession with him led to best picture Oscar gaffe By Michael A. Memoli (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) President Trump is often loath to accept responsibility when things go wrong, but in the case of Sundays Oscars broadcast, he made an exception. As he explained it Monday, it was Hollywoods obsession with attacking him that contributed to the botched best picture announcement, calling the embarrassing episode sad, of course. Accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers has apologized for the mix-up that led Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway to announce La La Land as the winner of the top Academy Award prize, instead of Moonlight. But in Trumps eyes, the blame falls more broadly on an entertainment industry so preoccupied with politics that they didnt get the act together, he told Breitbart News. It took away from the glamour of the Oscars, Trump told a reporter from the website, which was once led by his chief White House strategist, Stephen K. Bannon. It didnt feel like a very glamorous evening. Ive been to the Oscars. There was something very special missing, and then to end that way was sad, he added. The ceremony did contain a number of slights at Trump during its telecast, some more subtle than others. Host Jimmy Kimmel openly at one point begged the president to weigh in by tweeting at him. Trump spent part of Sunday night hosting a black-tie dinner at the White House honoring the nations governors, who were visiting Washington for their annual winter meeting. But it appears from excerpts of the Breitbart interview that he may have spent at least part of the evening watching. Facebook

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Justice Department shifts course in closely watched Texas voter ID case By Del Quentin Wilber The Trump administration has scaled back its assault on a strict Texas voter identification law that federal courts have ruled discriminated against minorities, portending a shift in how the Justice Department plans to pursue allegations of voter suppression. The government revealed its decision in court papers filed in federal court Monday, dealing a blow to civil rights advocates who have relied on federal support to help them knock down the controversial Texas statute. Its a very concerning signal to American voters about the Department of Justices commitment to enforcing the Voting Rights Act, said Danielle Lang, deputy director of the voting rights unit of the Campaign Legal Center, which is suing Texas in the case. The administrations partial retreat in the dispute highlights how Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, a conservative Republican who has championed voter identification measures, is expected to handle such cases. The Obama administration had joined civil rights groups in aggressively challenging the Texas law and other such measures around the country. At issue in the case was how the Justice Department would proceed in a federal lawsuit that alleged the Texas legislature discriminated against minority voters when it enacted the strict voter identification law in 2011. Known as SB 14, the measure requires voters to present a specific form of government-issued photo identification - such as a drivers license, military ID card, U.S. passport or citizenship certificate - to be permitted to cast a ballot. The Obama administration and civil rights groups argued the state pushed the law, in part, to suppress the power of the states minority voters, who frequently dont drive or have a passport. State officials and lawmakers countered that the law was aimed at preventing voter fraud, though there is scant evidence that the problem exists. The law was challenged in court by civil rights groups and the Justice Department under provisions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which was intended to help overcome legal barriers erected at the local and state level to keep African-Americans from the polls. Last July, a federal appeals court ruled that the Texas law had a discriminatory impact on minority voters. It told U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos to craft a temporary remedy in time for the November elections. Ramos subsequently ordered Texas to permit voters to present other forms of documentation to verify their identities. The judges order is expected to remain in force until she imposes a permanent remedy or Texas addresses the judges concerns. According to the court papers filed Monday, the Justice Department will continue to work with civil rights groups to address those issues but will seek to withdraw from another important aspect of the suit. In the same decision that found the Texas law had a discriminatory impact, the appeals court reversed Ramos finding that Texas legislators had intended to harm minority voters. It ordered Ramos to reconsider the evidence of that finding. If the judge determines discriminatory intent in crafting the voter ID requirements, she could throw out the entire law. Civil rights groups will continue to press that claim. In its court filing, the Justice Department asked Ramos to permit it to withdraw its claim that Texas acted with intent, arguing that it is best to give the Texas legislature time to address the matter. With the loss of their key ally in court, civil rights groups will argue on their own in an effort to prove that Texas acted with a discriminatory purpose in passing the law. A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday. Voting advocates complained that the Trump administration was backing away from a key safeguard of voting rights. The Justice Department decision defies rationality and stands diametrically opposed to positions they have taken at every stage of this litigation, Kristen Clarke, president of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said in a statement. This reversal of position was taken despite years of work and effort that the government has invested in fighting the Texas Voter ID law, one of the most discriminatory voting restriction of its kind. Facebook

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House Intelligence Chair Devin Nunes warns against witch hunt over Trump-Russia ties By Sarah D. Wire House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) talks to reporters about his committees Russia investigation. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Devin Nunes said on Monday he has seen no evidence from the intelligence community that there was contact between Russia and the Trump campaign. I want to be very careful, we cant just go on a witch hunt against Americans because they appear in a news story, said Nunes (R-Tulare). We still dont have any evidence of them talking to Russia. He said the committee has been briefed on the highlights of what the intelligence community has found, but is still collecting evidence. The committees ranking Democrat, Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank), quickly responded, saying the committees investigation is in its infancy and its too soon to reach conclusions about the evidence. We havent obtained any of the evidence yet, so its premature for us to be saying weve reached any conclusion about the issue of collusion, Schiff said. The most that weve had are private conversations, the chair and I with intelligence officials. Thats not a substitute for an investigation. The House and Senate Select Intelligence Committees are conducting separate investigations into Russias reported attempts to influence voters in 2016 in an effort to curtail Hillary Clintons chances and boost Donald Trumps. A leaked U.S. intelligence report on the attempts did not look at whether the effort succeeded. The House committee has expanded a previous ongoing investigation of Russia cyberhacking to include a look at efforts to interfere in the 2016 election, Nunes told reporters Monday. Though it is still in its early stages  the leaders of the committee are still discussing the investigations scope  Nunes said he expects the findings to be made public. Schiff and Nunes spoke separately to reporters Monday. Schiff said the two agreed privately that they would jointly address reporters about the investigation going forward. Nunes, who served as a member of Trumps transition team, said he continues to be concerned about leaks of classified and sensitive information from the White House and intelligence communities. The leaks  one of which resulted in a report about the FBI investigating Trump campaign officials  will be part of the committees investigation. A government cant function with massive leaks at the highest level, Nunes said. Facebook

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Appeals court denies Justice Department request to put appeal of travel ban on hold By Jaweed Kaleem (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has denied the

Justice Departments request to pause proceedings in an appeal of President Trumps travel ban. The court in a filing Monday said its schedule for the governments appeal of a lower courts halt on the travel ban will proceed, with the first brief due to the appeals court on March 10. In early February, the Justice Department appealed a Seattle-based federal district judges order blocking enforcement of Trumps executive action. which established a series of immigration and refugee restrictions aimed at preventing potential terrorists from entering the country. Last week, government lawyers asked the appeals court to stop proceedings in the case because the president planned to issue a new executive order and rescind the original one. A three-judge panel of the court previously denied a request from the government to reverse a nationwide stay on the travel ban. The same panel on Monday ruled that the appeal will proceed. Trump has said he will sign a new executive order tailored to deal with court decisions that have largely gone against him. On Monday, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said he expected the order to be issued mid-week. Spicer has said Trump wants to fight for the current order while also issuing a new one, but the Justice Department has said in multiple court filings that the the current order will be undone after a new one is issued. The states of Washington and Minnesota, which brought the case in Seattle now under review, have pushed for courts to move forward on a review of the constitutional issues. Facebook

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No random ICE stops on streets of America, Homeland Security chief tells governor By Lisa Mascaro Gov holds closing media briefing on Capitol Hill to wrap up @NatlGovsAssoc Winter Meeting. pic.twitter.com/3mZMBA4S0o  Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) February 27, 2017 President Trump received some unsolicited advice at dinner with the nations governors when Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe told him he needs to do a better job explaining his policies regarding deportations. McAuliffe, a Democrat and chairman of the National Governors Assn., told the president that there has been a chilling effect going on as businesses stay away from his state and as immigrants fear being rounded up. If theyre not going to be deported, we need to hear that from the president, McAuliffe said, recounting his conversation from the governors Sunday night dinner with Trump. What I told the president is these actions are hurting us. McAuliffe, a longtime ally of Hillary Clinton, said Trump agreed in large part. McAuliffe also met privately with Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly, and said the secretary assured him during an hourlong talk that Trumps enforcement actions were only targeting criminals -- despite widespread reports of otherwise law-abiding immigrants being detained for being in the U.S. illegally. He assured me there will be no random ICE stops on the streets of the United States of America, McAuliffe said, referring to the raids being conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. If thats the case, McAuliffe said, Trumps policy does not sound much different than the operations under former President Obama, whose administration deported more immigrants than its predecessors. Obama, however, explicitly put a priority on deportations of criminals, a distinction the Trump administration has done away with as part of the presidents executive action. My advice to him was he needs to let the American public know what theyre doing, McAuliffe said. Facebook

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Trump: I havent called Russia in 10 years By Brian Bennett President Trump rejected calls for an independent investigation of his ties to Russia, telling a group of business leaders Monday that he hasnt called Russia in a decade. At the start of a White House meeting with healthcare executives, a reporter asked Trump whether a special prosecutor should be assigned to investigate allegations of Russian meddling during the election. In response, Trump mouthed the word no to the executives. As reporters were led out of the room, Trump said: I havent called Russia in 10 years. Democratic lawmakers have ramped up their calls for additional investigations into allegations that Trump allies had been in contact with Russian officials during the election and inappropriately discussed U.S. sanctions against the Moscow regime during the transition. White House officials have denied reports that Trump associates were frequently in touch with senior Russian intelligence officials during the election. U.S. intelligence agencies concluded last year that Russian leader Vladimir Putin had authorized an operation to damage Hillary Clintons campaign and tilt the 2016 election in Trumps favor. Facebook

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Trump: Nobody knew that healthcare could be so complicated By Michael A. Memoli View Twitter post President Trump promised the nations governors Monday that his yet-to-be-revealed replacement plan for the Affordable Care Act would give states greater flexibility and thanked some Republicans in the room who advised him on healthcare. Its an unbelievably complex subject, he said. Nobody knew that healthcare could be so complicated. The remark likely surprised state leaders; spending on Medicaid alone was the second-biggest driver of increased state general fund spending, according to the 2016 Fiscal Survey of States conducted by the National Assn. of State Budget Officers. And it was just eight years ago that Washington dove head-first into a raging debate over healthcare reform under President Obama, which simmered long after his signature health law was enacted. But the finer points of healthcare policy are likely new to Trump, who is immersed in discussions with Republican leaders and his senior staff on that and other subjects ahead of his high-profile address Tuesday to a joint session of Congress. Trump offered no hint as to the details. Republicans have vowed to repeal and replace Obamacare, but their effort has stalled as they debate how to do so and await word from the White House on what Trump wants to do. The president seemed keenly aware of the political ramifications of whatever steps he takes. As soon as we touch it, if we do the most minute thing, just a tiny little change, whats going to happen? Theyre going to say its the Republicans problem, Trump said after telling the governors the easiest thing for him to do would be nothing, and, in his view, watch Obamacare collapse. But we have to do whats right because Obamacare is a failed disaster. Facebook

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Trump wants to add $54 billion to defense budget while slashing domestic spending and foreign aid By Brian Bennett President Trump is proposing a massive increase in defense spending of $54 billion while cutting domestic spending and foreign aid by the same amount, the White House said Monday. Trumps spending blueprint previewed a major address that he will give Tuesday night to a joint session of Congress, laying out his vision for what he called a public safety and national security budget with a nearly 10% increase in defense spending. We never win a war. We never win. And we dont fight to win. We dont fight to win, Trump said Monday in remarks to the nations governors. So we either got to win or dont fight it at all. Trump noted that the U.S. has spent nearly $6 trillion on fighting wars since the Sept. 11 attacks but said that cutting military spending was not the answer. Instead, the increase he is proposing would be offset by cuts to unspecified domestic programs and to foreign aid, which would in turn be made up for in part by demanding that other countries pay more for security alliances that have historically been underwritten by the U.S. This budget expects the rest of the world to step up in some of the programs that this country has been so generous in funding in the past, an official from the Office of Management and Budget said, demanding anonymity to discuss the presidents spending plans. Foreign aid makes up about 1% of the budget. This budget speaks for itself, the official said. I dont think this budget has anything to do other than putting Americans first. Trumps call for deep cuts to spending at home is likely to set up major battles on Capitol Hill, where Democrats and even House Republicans will likely be reluctant to pass a spending bill that includes such major reductions in programs for their constituents. Facebook

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Trump says businesses cant borrow because of Dodd-Frank. The numbers tell another story By Jim Puzzanghera President Trump was preparing the first step in a key campaign promise  dismantling the 2010 DoddFrank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act  when he repeated a frequent criticism of the law. We expect to be cutting a lot out of Dodd-Frank because, frankly, I have so many people, friends of mine that had nice businesses, they cant borrow money, Trump told leading corporate chief executives, including Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Larry Fink of money management giant BlackRock Inc., meeting at the White House earlier this month They just cant get any money because the banks just wont let them borrow it because of the rules and regulations in Dodd-Frank, Trump said. Shortly afterward, he ordered a wholesale review of the landmark act, which was passed in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. But a main reason for dismantling Dodd-Frank often cited by Trump and critics of the law  that its slew of tougher financial regulations have significantly restricted bank lending  isnt borne out by the data. Read More Facebook

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Another Trump nominee withdraws nomination to top national security post due to business interests By W.J. Hennigan Philip M. Bilden, President Trumps pick for Navy secretary, withdrew from consideration late Sunday, becoming the second White House nominee to bail on a top Pentagon position due to problems untangling his financial investments. After an extensive review process, I have determined that I will not be able to satisfy the Office of Government Ethics requirements without undue disruption and materially adverse divestment of my familys private financial interests, Bilden said in a statement. He did not detail the issues but he said he fully supported the presidents agenda  to modernize and rebuild our Navy and Marine Corps. Bildens withdrawal comes after billionaire investor Vincent Viola dropped out from becoming Army secretary after he decided his extensive financial holdings would hamper his ability to win Senate confirmation. The White House shot down reports that surfaced two weeks ago that Bilden was considering stepping down. Just spoke with him and he is 100% commited [sic] to being the next SECNAV pending Senate confirm, White House spokesman Sean Spicer tweeted on Feb. 18. Bilden, a venture capitalist and Army veteran, was a surprise selection from Trump but had the backing of Defense Secretary James N. Mattis. This was a personal decision driven by privacy concerns and significant challenges he faced in separating himself from his business interests, Mattis said in a statement. While I am disappointed, I understand and his respect his decision, and know that he will continue to support our nation in other ways. Bilden served ten years in the U.S. Army Reserve as a military intelligence officer from 1986 to 1996. He then co-founded private equity firm HarbourVest Partners LLC and spent 25 years there, mainly in the companys Hong Kong headquarters. He also serves on the board of directors of the United States Naval Academy Foundation and the board of trustees of the Naval War College Foundation. Mattis said he intends on recommending a replacement nominee to Trump in the coming days. The withdrawal marks another setback for Trumps national security team, which has struggled to find its footing since the fledgling administration began. Earlier this month, National Security Advisor Michael Flynn was forced to resign after it became public that he held secret talks with a Russian ambassador and then misled Vice President Mike Pence about it. Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster took the job last week after Trumps first choice to replace Flynn, retired Navy Vice Adm. Robert Harward, passed on the opportunity. Facebook

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New DNC chairman Tom Perez ridicules Trump tweet over rigged vote By Laura King Former Labor Secretary Tom Perez was chosen to lead the Democratic Party over a congressman backed by the progressive wing. (Branden Camp / Associated Press) President Trump claimed Sunday that the race for Democratic National Committee chairman had been rigged -- drawing a quick riposte from Tom Perez, who narrowly won the partys leadership race. Trump insinuated that Perezs DNC victory on the second ballot at a party conference in Atlanta on Saturday was because Hillary Clinton had backed Perez, a former Labor secretary in the Obama administration who was seen as representing the partys establishment forces. Clinton did not make a formal endorsement, but Perezs rival, Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota, was backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and the partys more liberal wing. Bernies guy, like Bernie himself, never had a chance, Trump tweeted early Sunday morning. Clinton demanded Perez! Perez, appearing on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday, told host Jake Tapper that he and Ellison got a good kick out of that, adding: Donald Trump, up in the morning tweeting about us. Sanders, appearing on the same show, said Trump doesnt have a point about the DNC vote. Moments after Perez beat Ellison by 35 votes out of 435 cast, he named Ellison as the deputy chairman of the party, leading to widespread applause. Perez is the first Latino to lead the Democratic Party, and he faces the challenge of trying to rebuild a party that suffered devastating losses in the 2016 election. Republicans now control not only the White House and Congress, but 33 governorships and dozens of state legislatures. In his CNN interview, Perez sarcastically suggested that Trump should address questions about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign rather than concerning himself with the DNC leadership battle. Frankly, what we need to be looking at is whether this election was rigged by Donald Trump and his buddy Vladimir Putin, he said. Facebook

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White House again bats away call for special prosecutor on Russia By Laura King A White House spokeswoman said Sunday that it was too soon to say whether a special prosecutor should look into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign, while President Trump again inveighed against coverage of Russia-related queries as FAKE NEWS. Calls have grown louder from Democrats in Congress for U.S. Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions to recuse himself from the issue because of his role as a prominent Trump supporter during the campaign, and to appoint an independent special prosecutor to carry out a Russia probe. A few Republicans have joined in that chorus  some reluctantly. Rep. Darrell Issa of Vista, appearing on HBOs Real Time with Bill Maher, voiced support Friday for naming of a special prosecutor to probe the Russian connection, though he also said congressional intelligence committees should continue their work. He also said he considered Sessions a friend, but pointed to his role as a political appointee who had worked on the Trump campaign. Issa, who narrowly won reelection, was a vociferous critic of the Obama administration during his former tenure as head of the House Oversight Committee. In that post, he spearheaded an array of investigations on topics from Benghazi to bank bailouts. Some Republicans pushed back against the notion of Sessions needing to recuse himself. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said on NBCs Meet the Press that he had seen no credible information about contacts between the Trump campaign and Russians  and no allegations that rose to the level of criminal activity. If we get down that road, thats a decision that Attorney General Sessions can make at the time, said Cotton, who is a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russian intelligence agencies hacked Democratic Party computers and used other tactics last year to interfere with the election. The FBI is separately investigating whether anyone on Trumps campaign had improper contacts with Russian authorities during the campaign. On Sunday, White House Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said congressional investigations on Russia and the campaign should be allowed to go forward before a special prosecutor appointment was considered. I dont think were there yet, Sanders said on ABCs This Week. Lets work through this process. Echoing the previously stated White House stance, Sanders said the Trump campaign had not colluded in any Russian meddling. We had no involvement in this, she said. The president is known to keep a close eye on surrogates performances on the talk shows, and Sanders repeated a prime administration talking point: that questions about possible Trump campaign contacts with Russia amounted to Democratic excuses for losing the election. If Democrats want to continue to relive their loss every single day, by doing an investigation or review after review, thats fine by us, she said. We know why we won this race. Its because we had the better candidate with the better message. Trump himself underscored that notion with an afternoon tweet denouncing media coverage of the ongoing Russia investigations as FAKE NEWS put out by the Dems, and played up by the media, in order to mask the big election defeat and the illegal leaks! Facebook

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Whose news is fake? Heres the latest in Trumps war with the press By Kurtis Lee Every president since 1981 has attended the annual White House Correspondents Assn. dinner. That year, President Reagan missed out. The reason? He needed to recover after a would-be assassin fired a bullet into his chest a few weeks earlier. On Saturday, President Trump announced he will not be attending the annual dinner in April, long considered the premier social event of the Washington press corps and typically an evening of good-natured bantering between presidents and the Fourth Estate. Trumps announcement added to the ratcheting tensions between his administration and the media. Almost daily, in speeches or on Twitter, he calls particular news outlets fake, disgusting or dishonest  and news organizations have responded by digging in, standing united and devoting more resources to covering a president who has branded the press the enemy. Read More Facebook

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Crucial group of Americans like Trumps stands, not him, poll finds By David Lauter Trump still gets dismal ratings on temperament but is above water on economy, decision-making, promises of change. pic.twitter.com/Md0H096n9m  Carrie Dann (@CarrieNBCNews) February 26, 2017 With the public deeply split in its views of President Trump, one potentially key group stands out -- those who dislike the man, but approve of the direction in which hes moving. Thats a central finding of a new nationwide survey by NBC News and the Wall St. Journal. The new poll confirms what other major surveys have shown: Trump starts his administration with less support than any president in the seven decades of presidential polling. Asked if they approve or disapprove of the job Trump is doing, 44% approve, 48% disapprove. No previous president has begun his tenure with a net negative job approval. Trump has held onto the support of his ardent backers. At the other end of the spectrum, he gets almost no approval from Democrats. In the middle, the poll found, are many Americans -- just over a third of those polled -- who either voted for Trump with reservations, voted for a third party candidate or did not vote at all in 2016. Just over half of that group gives Trump positive marks, the poll found. Their support is enough, currently, to keep Trumps standing from collapsing, and holding them is likely key to his future. Just under one third of Americans say they like Trump and approve of his policies, the poll found. Another one in six approve of most of his policies even though they dislike him. Well over half, 59%, said they did not like him personally. On a separate question, only 43% of those surveyed have a positive view of Trump -- up from the low points of the campaign, but still far below the standing of most new presidents. By contrast, 86% agreed with one of the central lines of Trumps inaugural speech, that government insiders had reaped the rewards of government, while the people have borne the cost. On other issues, the public is more closely divided. The public splits evenly, for example, on Trumps proposed temporary ban on travel from seven mostly Muslim countries. Just over half of those surveyed, 52%, said that the problems Trump has encountered in his first month were unique to this administration and suggest real problems; 43% said they were growing pains similar to those other administrations have had. And by 51%-41%, the public thinks the press has been too hard on the new administration. The NBC/WSJ poll, run by a bipartisan team of two polling firms, was taken by phone, using cell phones and landlines, Feb. 18-22 among 1,000 American adults. It has a margin of error for the full sample of 3.1 percentage points in either direction. Facebook

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Trump appears to think Perez at head of Democratic National Committee is good news for Republicans By Evan Halper Congratulations to Thomas Perez, who has just been named Chairman of the DNC. I could not be happier for him, or for the Republican Party!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 25, 2017 The Democratic Party put its faith in its old guard Saturday to guide it out of the political wilderness, choosing as its new leader an Obama-era Cabinet secretary over the charismatic congressman backed by the progressive wing of the party. Tom Perez, a former secretary of Labor with strong ties to unions, persuaded the spirited assembly of party delegates in Atlanta that he can best help harness a grass-roots outpouring of anti-Trump protest and anger into a Democratic resurgence at the ballot box. Read More Facebook

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Trump to Washington reporters: Not going to your dinner By Kurtis Lee I will not be attending the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner this year. Please wish everyone well and have a great evening!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 25, 2017 The annual White House Correspondents Assn. dinner will be missing a key guest this year: President Trump. On Saturday, Trump tweeted he will not attend the April 29 dinner, considered the premier social event of the Washington press corps -- and typically an evening of good-natured bantering between presidents and reporters with a mix of celebrities watching. His announcement comes amid growing tensions between his administration and the media. Trump has decried stories he doesnt like as fake news, and described unnamed news groups as an enemy of the people. A day earlier, the White House barred reporters from several major news organizations, including the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, CNN and Politico, from attending an off-camera press briefing. In a sign of the growing rift, several media organizations that traditionally sponsor lavish parties around the black-tie dinner had announced they would not do so this year. At the annual dinner, the president usually delivers self-deprecating jokes and often is roasted by a high-profile comedian. The president also greets students who win journalism scholarships and awards, a major part of the evening. Trump has been a frequent guest of media organizations at the dinner in the past, but he always sat at a table in the crowded ballroom, not up at the front dias. President Obama singled Trump out during the dinner several years ago, mocking Trump for raising doubts about whether Obama was born in the United States. This year, as we do every year, we will celebrate the First Amendment and the role an independent press plays in a healthy republic, the White House Correspondents Assn. said in a statement earlier this month about the upcoming dinner. Facebook

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Former Labor Secretary Tom Perez named Democratic Party leader By Evan Halper Newly elected Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez (Branden Camp/Associated Press) The Democratic Party put its faith in its old guard Saturday to guide it out of the political wilderness, choosing as its new leader an Obama-era Cabinet secretary over the charismatic congressman backed by the progressive wing of the party. Tom Perez, a former secretary of Labor with strong ties to labor unions, persuaded the spirited assembly of party delegates in Atlanta that he can best help harness a grass-roots outpouring of anti-Trump protest and anger into a Democratic resurgence at the ballot box. We are suffering from a crisis of confidence, a crisis of relevance, Perez told delegates before they chose him in a down-to-the-wire contest with Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota, whom the Bernie Sanders wing of the party had rallied round. We need a chair who can not only take the fight to Donald Trump.  We also need a chair who can lead a turnaround and change the culture of the Democratic Party, Perez said. The ascendance of an establishment liberal is certain to renew tension between veteran party stalwarts and the unruly progressive movement aligned with Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, both of whom backed Ellison. Some Ellison supporters erupted in protest as the final vote was announced. Perez quickly sought to unite the party by naming Ellison his deputy chair, a move unanimously approved by the 435 assembled delegates, who had supported Perez 235-200. Read More Facebook

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Trump chastises media for not reporting minor dip in national debt By Del Quentin Wilber President Trump took to Twitter on Saturday morning to blast the news media for not highlighting a minor dip in the national debt. The media has not reported that the National Debt in my first month went down by $12 billion vs a $200 billion increase in Obama first mo., he tweeted at 8:19 a.m. The media has not reported that the National Debt in my first month went down by $12 billion vs a $200 billion increase in Obama first mo.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 25, 2017 Trumps tweet came shortly after Herman Cain, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, made a similar comment on Fox News. While the numbers are accurate, Trumps tweet suggests he deserves credit for something that is largely beyond his control, especially since he hasnt yet given Congress any proposals to change tax laws or the financial industry. Considering that Trump hasnt enacted any fiscal legislation, its a bit of a stretch for him to take credit for any changes in debt levels, Dan Mitchell, a libertarian economist at the Cato Institute, told the fact-checking website Politifact. President Obamas first month in office in 2009 was largely taken up with spending bills aimed at easing the massive recession that he had inherited. Trump inherited an economy with low inflation, low unemployment and a booming stock market. The national debt, which stands at just under $20 trillion, is expected to rise by more than $500 billion in the fiscal year ending in September. Facebook

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Mexico rejects U.S. plan to deport Central Americans to Mexico By Patrick J. McDonnell Mexico has informed the Trump administration that it cannot accept non-Mexican nationals whom U.S. authorities arrest along the border and seek to remove from U.S. territory, the nations internal security chief said Friday. Earlier this week, the Trump administration rolled out a broad immigration crackdown that included a proposal to send non-Mexican detainees apprehended along the U.S.-Mexico border back to Mexico while their immigration cases were pending in the United States. The vast majority of non-Mexican nationals detained along the U.S.-Mexico border are Central Americans. They often travel overland through Mexico to reach the United States. In a fact sheet released Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security said that releasing detained, third-country nationals to the foreign contiguous territory from which they arrived would save on detention and adjudication resources. The idea would be to keep them out pending their hearings on deportation, the fact sheet said. However, Mexican authorities have reacted coolly from the outset to the notion. Now, they appear to have formally nixed the idea. On Friday, Mexicos interior secretary, Miguel Angel Osorio Chong, told a radio interviewer than Mexican authorities had informed a pair of visiting U.S. Cabinet officers  Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly  that Mexico could not oblige the U.S. request. We told them that our legal framework doesnt allow this, Osorio Chong told Radio Formula, referring to the visit this week of the two Trump Cabinet officials.  We told them it is impossible. There is no way, legally, nor is there capacity. In recent years, non-Mexicans, mostly Central Americans, have become a larger proportion of illegal immigrants apprehended along the Southwest border as the relative number of Mexican nationals has declined. In fiscal year 2016, according to U.S. Border Patrol statistics, agents recorded apprehensions of almost 191,000 undocumented Mexican citizens along the Southwest frontier. In the same fiscal year, the Border Patrol said it registered 218,000 detentions of non-Mexican nationals, most of them Central Americans. Cecilia Sanchez of The Times Mexico City bureau contributed to this report. An earlier version of this blog post misspelled Miguel Angel Osorio Chongs name as Osorio Chung. Facebook

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Trump blasts FBI over Russia leaks after a brief Twitter hiatus By Kurtis Lee (Alex Wong / Getty Images ) After several days of relative silence on Twitter, President Trumps feed came alive Friday with a direct attack on the FBI. Yes, hes done this before. But recent news reports that suggest his administration pressed the FBI to quell claims that members of his campaign had contact with Russians throughout the 2016 election appear to have inspired a response. The FBI is totally unable to stop the national security leakers that have permeated our government for a long time, he tweeted. And conservative news was all over it. Here are some of todays headlines: Trump blasts FBI leakers (Fox News) Trump has assailed everyone from Democrats to intelligence officials for the leaks  which he often refers to as fake news  about his ties to Russia. Reports from several news outlets this week, citing anonymous sources, claim Trumps chief of staff, Reince Priebus, asked FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe to publicly dispute media reports that Trumps campaign advisors frequently were in touch with Russian intelligence agents during the election. While some reports made it appear Priebus had contacted McCabe, this piece disputes that. Fox News has learned that McCabe indeed had initiated the conversation, asking to speak with Priebus for a few minutes at the end of an intelligence meeting last week, their article reports. Ed Schultz at CPAC: Trump promised Americas heartland a deal (Daily Caller) He was once among the top liberal voices in the country. Now, Ed Schultz, the former MSNBC anchor, is speaking glowingly about President Trump. Between covering high-profile speeches at the Conservative Political Action Conference from Trump and his aides, the Daily Caller popped into a panel at which Schultz provided commentary. Shultz, who now works with the Russian government-funded RT television network, blasted the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, asserting that Trumps claim that it would cost U.S. jobs was a game changer in the 2016 election. Trump went into Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin and he took down the progressive firewall, because he talked to the American people about a deal, Schultz said. It was a Wall Street deal, it was not a Main Street deal, he said, referring to the TPP. Trump is about blowing up Washington as it exists (Rush Limbaugh) Remember when Trump talked about draining the swamp? Since he entered the White House, some conservatives have wondered if Trump means business. Many members of his cabinet  including Priebus and Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions  are the ultimate Washington insiders. Still, Rush Limbaugh, one of the firebrand conservatives out there, is certain the president will blow up traditional Washington. Whats Trumps No. 1 obstacle? I have concluded that the media is the No. 1 obstacle because of the success they have, he said on his radio show this week. The people in Washington, media is every bit as big a part of the establishment as anybody else is. He added: The media is creating this narrative, if you will, and this picture  this series of pictures, this overall image  that Trump is stalled, that everybodys opposing him, that his agenda is backlogged. Facebook

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After Trump calls media an enemy of the people, White House bars many news outlets from briefing By Noah Bierman Fridays White House press briefing, normally an on-camera affair open to all reporters with press credentials, was turned into an exclusive event for certain outlets hand-picked by the administration. The action came after President Trump on Friday described the media and what he terms fake news as the enemy of the people."On the list were Trump-friendly outlets such as Breitbart News, the Washington Times and OANN, a conservative television network that employs former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski as a commentator. Off the list were some of Trumps favorite targets, including the New York Times and CNN. The Los Angeles Times was also excluded. The off-camera briefing with Sean Spicer, the press secretary, was not solely for conservative outlets. Several mainstream reporters were also allowed in, including the three major broadcast networks and wire services, such as Bloomberg News. Also allowed in were pool representatives who transmit news events to a far larger group of reporters. The Associated Press and Time magazine were also invited but declined to participate in solidarity with other news organizations that were denied entry. The White House Correspondents Assn. protested, as did editors at several of the organizations that were excluded. In a statement, Times editor Davan Maharaj said that it was unfortunate that the Los Angeles Times has been excluded from a White House press briefing today. The public has a right to know, and that means being informed by a variety of news sources, not just those filtered by the White House press office in hopes of getting friendly coverage, Maharaj said. Regardless of access, The Times will continue to report on the Trump administration without fear or favor, he added. 12:30 p.m.: This post was updated with a statement from Times editor Davan Maharaj. Facebook

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Its a Russian flag! Trickster strikes CPAC before Trumps speech By Matt Pearce Crowd at CPAC waving these little pro-Trump flags that look exactly like the Russian flag. Staffers quickly come around to confiscate them. pic.twitter.com/YhPpkwFCNc  Peter Hamby (@PeterHamby) February 24, 2017 As the crowd waited to hear President Trump speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference, little red-white-and-blue flags appeared without warning, handed down the aisles by a man with a green bag, according to a witness. The flags said Trump. They also happened to be the flag of the Russian Federation. He was dressed like any one of us, said Tyler Dever, 20, a student at the University of South Florida in Tampa, who was wearing a suit. He passed them to me and was like, Pass them down, pass them down.  Dever, caught up in the moment, passed them down, before someone sitting next to him said, Oh, its a Russian flag! CPAC staff quickly recollected the flags. If it was just a red-white-and-blue flag, I would have picked it out, Dever said. He said it was his first time attending an event like CPAC and was surprised to see a provocateur in the audience, especially beyond the cordon set up by the Secret Service. Someone tried to victimize me, Dever said. You have Secret Service out here, and Id expect it to be fully screened. ... Thank God someone noticed. Facebook

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Trump still loves the USC/L.A. Times poll: What it got right and what it got wrong By David Lauter Throughout the fall campaign, then-candidate Donald Trump and his allies loved the USC/L.A. Times Daybreak poll -- the only major survey that consistently showed him winning. A couple polls got it right. I must say Los Angeles Times did a great job, shocking because, you know, they did a great job, Trump declared in his speech this morning at CPAC, the annual gathering of conservative activists. But did the poll get it right? In the simplest terms, no, and after considerble analysis, we know why. Read More Facebook

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A celebration, and wake, for a campaign legend and a Republican Party that is no more By Mark Z. Barabak (Steve Lopez/Los Angeles Times) It was a cool and rainy day when elders of the Republican tribe recently gathered to honor one of their own. The honoree, Stuart K. Spencer, was unmistakable in his white duck pants and a lime-green sport coat so bright it almost hurt to see. A reformed chain-smoker, he snapped merrily away on a wad of chewing gum. The event marked Spencers 90th birthday, but the mood beneath the surface conviviality was unsettled and gray, like the clouds fringing the mountains outside. If the occasion was intended as a personal celebration, it also had the feel of a wake for a time in politics long passed. Along with former Vice President Dick Cheney and former California Gov. Pete Wilson, veterans of the Reagan years turned out in force. It was Spencer, more than anyone, who took a political long shot and washed-up B-movie actor and helped transform him into the Reagan of legend. Read More Facebook

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CPACs reaction to President Trumps speech: Two thumbs up By Matt Pearce Supporters cheer President Trump as he speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md., on Friday. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) President Trump loves CPAC, and CPAC loves Trump. As hundreds of Conservative Political Action Conference attendees spilled out into the hallways Friday after Trumps speech to the group, they had glowing reviews of the man who has been tormenting Democrats and the media and transforming the Republican Party. It was fantastic, unbelievable, absolute truth, said Shia L. Lome, 84, a retired Air Force colonel from Deerfield Beach, Fla., appraising Trumps remarks. If he carries through [his promises], this will be the greatest country ever. Lome added that there is no question about it, Trump is his own type of Republican. Whether its conservative or whatever you want to call it, Lome said he is happy as long as [Trump] causes the Democrats heartaches. Kayne Robinson, 73, a former chairman of the Iowa Republican Party, said Trump was simply taking the party in the direction that people want it to go. I think the party is every bit as united behind him as it was behind either of the Bushes, Robinson said. Trump led a revolution in the party, very much like Reagan. ... I think Trump is doing just fine. Frank March, a 50-year-old Army retiree from Fairfax County, Va., emerged from the ballroom at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center wearing a red Make America Great Again cap, which carried Trumps jagged signature on the bill. Marchs daughter had gotten the hat signed when she previously met Trump, and he proudly showed off photos of that event. I recognize the signature! a woman exclaimed as she saw the hat. March praised Trumps follow-through and his commitment to workers as incredible. Hes bringing in new people to the party, March said. The hope is, by his follow-through, doing what he said he was going to do, then the non-Republicans who voted for Trump will stick. Helping workers will be one of the ways Trump can make that happen, he said. In politics, youre supposed to help people, March said. Workers are the people. Theyre people who earn money to take care of their families. Republicans should support those people because theyre the ones who make America run. Facebook

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Donald Trump shows up at conservatives most prominent gathering and defines a new GOP By Noah Bierman  President Trump shows up at conservatives most prominent gathering and defines a new GOP. President Trump made one of his strongest pitches Friday to unite the Republican Party and the conservative movement behind a nationalist, anti-globalist ideology that until recently would have been unthinkable for many Republicans. There is no such thing as a global anthem, a global currency or a global flag, Trump said to great applause from thousands of conservatives. Im not representing the globe. Im representing your country. He echoed ideas he has espoused in the past -- denouncing trade deals as the antithesis of economic freedom, warning that the great cities of Europe have been ruined by mass immigration, denouncing intervention in the Middle East by both parties. But while many of the words were familiar, the venue and the passion made Fridays speech remarkable. The comments came at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, just outside of Washington, D.C., the most prominent gathering of right-leaning groups and activists in the country. Such a speech would have been shocking from a conservative, much less the president, at almost any other time in the conferences history. Trump has been popular at CPAC in the past. He credits a speech there with launching his political career. But he snubbed last years event amid a heated primary in which many conservatives rejected his tone and the direction he was trying to move the GOP. I would have come last year, but I was worried that I would be at that time too controversial, Trump said in his speech, which lasted nearly an hour. Trump, the first president since Ronald Reagan to address the group during his first year in office, made clear that he is moving those once controversial ideas to the movements center. In addition to his usual critiques of the media and frequent references to his electoral success, Trump spoke directly of his ambition for reshaping the Republican Party to attract blue-collar voters, the forgotten men and women who helped propel his electoral victory. Im here today to tell you what this movement means for the future of the Republican Party and for the future of America, Trump said. The core conviction of our movement is that we are a nation that [must] put and will put its own citizens first. Later, he added that the GOP will be from now on also the party of the American worker. While Trump tried to unite conservatives, the speech made little effort to bridge the countrys larger political divide. For example, Trump dismissed people who have shown up at town halls around the country to protest reversal of Obamacare. Theyre not you, he said. Theyre the side that lost. Facebook

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Justice Department rescinds order phasing out use of private prisons By Del Quentin Wilber Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions has jettisoned an Obama administration order to phase out the use of private prisons to hold federal inmates. The new order reverses one issued by former Deputy Atty. Gen. Sally Yates in August that sought to eliminate the departments use of private for-profit prisons, which hold just over 10% of the current prison population. The Obama administration order changed long-standing policy and practice, and impaired the bureaus ability to meet the future needs of the federal correctional system, Sessions wrote Thursday to announce the reversal. Civil rights and prisoner rights groups decried the Sessions decision, saying private prisons are not as cost-effective or as safe as government-run facilities, citing numerous abuses in the past. The Bureau of Prisons houses about 21,000 of its 190,000 inmates in a dozen private prisons, including one near Bakersfield. Atty. Gen. Sessions has shown that he is not taking the mass incarceration crisis seriously, said Wade Henderson, who heads the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Continuing to rely on private prisons for federal inmates is neither humane nor budget conscious, Henderson added. We need a justice system that can work better for all people. Yates order did not affect facilities used to detain people in the country illegally. The use of private prisons is expected to surge under President Trumps promised crackdown on illegal immigration. Trump has signed an executive order calling for expansion of immigrant detention facilities and authorized the use of private contractors to construct, operate, or control facilities. Stocks in private prison companies have jumped on Wall Street since Trump won the presidential election, and they continued their rise on news of Sessions order. Facebook

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CPAC and conservative media prepare for Trump By Kurtis Lee The future path of the Republican Party is being debated in the halls of the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland this week. Will it be the party of Donald Trump, an outsider of the GOP establishment, or House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, the definition of establishment? Or, perhaps, of Richard Spencer, a white nationalist leader of the so-called alt-right movement? (Spencer was kicked out of CPAC on Thursday.) Trump is set to address the conference on Friday, and the conservative media are ready for the much-anticipated address. Tomorrow it will be TPAC when hes here, Kellyanne Conway, a senior advisor to Trump told reporters Thursday. Here are some of todays headlines: Go Big, Go Bold: Walker, at CPAC, pushes GOP to carry out agenda as party controls Congress, White House (Fox News) Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, once a Trump foe, is urging conservatives to use the November election as a mandate. Do what you said you were going to do, Walker said to attendees. In the Fox News piece, which leads its website, it notes that leaders at the conference are hoping to use it to strategize about what they can accomplish and to better articulate their values at a time when the very definition of conservatism has seemed to waver. Sweden Democrats: Trump was right (Fox News) Remember last weekend when everyone  including many Swedish politicians  were really confused about Trumps comments at a recent rally? You look at whats happening last night in Sweden, Trump, at a rally in Florida on Saturday, said about the Scandinavian country that has accepted large numbers of refugees. Sweden. They took in large numbers. Theyre having problems like they never thought possible. Actually, not much happened in Sweden on Friday night. Trump said later that he had been referring to a broadcast on Fox News on that night. Still, recent riots in the country were covered extensively by conservative media. This post notes a recent op-ed penned by Jimmie Akesson and Mattias Karlsson, both leaders of the Sweden Democrats, in the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday supporting Trumps characterization of a Muslim immigrant-led crime crisis in Sweden. In it they write, Trump did not exaggerate Swedens current problems.  If anything, he understated them. Trump Is Letting DREAMers Stay, And Rush Is Fine With That (Daily Caller) Hes an immigration hard liner, and, apparently, hes OK with Trump allowing DREAMERs to remain in the country. This piece highlights comments by Rush Limbaugh this week. A lot of people think that Trumps caving because if you allow the DREAMers to stay, were talking 750,000 DREAMers, kids, who each have two parents who could come in. Look, this is a-no-win, Limbaugh said this week. Nobodys gonna win anything by deporting a bunch of kids that we let in. Facebook

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Trump advisor Steve Bannon rails at corporatist, globalist media By Noah Bierman Steve Bannon to the #CPAC crowd: "If you think they're going to give you your country back without a fight, you're sadly mistaken" pic.twitter.com/ryw7iO0Snr  POLITICO (@politico) February 23, 2017 The two men with the most heavily dissected relationship in President Trumps White House held a rare public appearance together Thursday and agreed on one common enemy: the media. Reince Priebus, the chief of staff who is often described as embattled, said he has grown conditioned to the media counting Trump out: during the presidential campaign, the transition and the first month of the presidency. The biggest misconception is everything that youre reading, Priebus said. Steve Bannon, Trumps chief strategist, framed his complaint as an ideological war. He consistently called the media the opposition party throughout a 20-minute joint interview on stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference just outside of Washington. Its not only not going to get better, it gets worse every day, Bannon said. Theyre corporatist, globalist media that are adamantly opposed to an economic nationalist agenda like Donald Trump has. If you think theyre going to give you your country back without a fight, he added. You are sadly mistaken. Bannon, former executive chairman of the far-right Breitbart News, seldom speaks in public. His nationalist rendering of Republican ideology is often seen in contrast to Priebus, the former chairman of the GOP, who is viewed as the more mainstream conservative advocate within the White House. The two men said the tension between them portrayed in the media is inaccurate. But as they praised each other, the men made clear that Bannon sees his role as dominant in shaping Trumps policy. Bannon praised Priebus for doggedly keeping the trains running -- one of the toughest jobs Ive ever seen in my life. Bannon talked about being in the first inning of shaping a new political order and beginning the deconstruction of the administrative state. Priebus used more prosaic language and spoke of Bannon as the one who pushes Trump to maintain his bold vision. He is very dogged in making sure that every day the promises that President Trump made are the promises were working on, Priebus said of Bannon. Facebook

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In Mexico, Homeland Security chief says there will be no mass deportations of people in U.S. illegally By Patrick J. McDonnell Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly, left, and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Mexico City on Thursday. (Ronaldo Schemidt / AFP/Getty Images) Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly, on a visit to Mexico, said Thursday that there will be no mass deportations of people living in the U.S. illegally. Kelly also said U.S. military forces would not be used in deportation efforts and that any deportation cases would go through the U.S. legal system. No. Repeat, no use of military force in immigration operations, Kelly said at a news conference at the Foreign Relations Ministry in Mexico City. None. Well approach this operation systematically, in an organized way, in a results-oriented way, in an operation and and in a human dignity way. Kelly and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson are in Mexico City to discuss a wide variety of issues, including immigration and security, with Mexican government officials. Kellys remarks came the same day President Trump called recent raids in the U.S. an unprecedented enforcement effort. You see whats happening at the border. All of a sudden for the first time, were getting gang members out, he said. Were getting really bad dudes out of this country, and at a rate that nobodys ever seen before. Read More Facebook

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Mexico bracing for long battle with Trump administration, foreign minister tells lawmakers By Patrick J. McDonnell Mexico Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray (Brian Smialowski / AFP/Getty Images) Mexico is preparing for a long battle with the administration of President Trump, its foreign minister reportedly told lawmakers in private comments, adding that the country was prepared to retaliate with new tariffs if necessary. We are here preparing for a battle that is going to be long, Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray told federal deputies Wednesday, according to the newspaper La Jornada, which said it had obtained a copy of the comments. This is not going to be resolved in three days. In the reported remarks, Videgaray said Mexico was prepared to retaliate with new tariffs on U.S.-made goods should the Trump administration follow up on its threats to slap an export tax of 20% or more of goods imported from Mexico to the United States. There was no official response from the Mexican Foreign Ministry on Videgarays reported remarks. Videgaray was among the Mexican officials, including President Enrique Pena Nieto, who met this week with a pair of visiting White House Cabinet members, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly. The private remarks were apparently made on Wednesday, when the two Trump envoys were scheduled to arrive in Mexico City. Read More Facebook

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Homeland Security tried to downplay immigration raids as routine. Now Trump says theyre unprecedented By Michael A. Memoli (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) After nationwide immigration raids this month in which more than 680 people were arrested, the Department of Homeland Security issued a nothing-to-see-here statement downplaying the sweeps as strictly ordinary. ICE conducts these kind of targeted enforcement operations regularly and has for many years, the agency said last week, referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. But President Trump had a different take Thursday, labeling the raids an unprecedented enforcement effort. You see whats happening at the border. All of a sudden for the first time, were getting gang members out, he said before a roundtable on manufacturing. Were getting really bad dudes out of this country, and at a rate that nobodys ever seen before. Under President Obama, deportations peaked at 400,000 people in 2012, touching off widespread criticism from immigration advocates, which prompted Homeland Security to scale back deportations. Last year, deportations fell to 240,000 as the Obama administration focused on targets similar to what Trump described in the raids conducted under his authority: criminals, repeat immigration violators and recent arrivals. Trump also called the sweeps this month a military operation, even though no military resources were involved and the White House has pushed back aggressively on reports that the administration was considering seeking National Guard forces to assist in deportations. Homeland Security said the raids were conducted by ICE agents, U.S. marshals and state and local law enforcement agencies. What has been allowed to come into our country, when you see gang violence that youve read about like never before, and all of the things  much of that is people that are here illegally, Trump said. Theyre rough and theyre tough, but theyre not tough like our people. So were getting them out. Of the 680 arrests last week, 161 occurred in Los Angeles and surrounding counties. Three-quarters of those detained in the Los Angeles-area sweeps were from Mexico. Trump noted that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly traveled to Mexico this week on a tough trip. We have to be treated fairly by Mexico, Trump said. Facebook

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White nationalist leader Richard Spencer booted from Conservative Political Action Conference By Matt Pearce Reporters surround white supremacist Richard Spencer during the first day of the Conservative Political Action Conference on February 23, 2017. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) One of Americas most prominent white nationalists, Richard Spencer, was kicked out of the Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday after conference organizers gave him credentials to attend and then wavered on whether to let him stay. Spencer, who coined the term alternative right to describe his far-right views on separating the races, came to CPAC to attend a speech that was critical of the alt-right. CPAC organizer Matt Schlapp took pains to distance CPAC from the fringe Spencer represents. The alt-right does not have a legitimate voice in the conservative movement, said Schlapp, adding that nobody from that movement is speaking at CPAC. Read More Just talked to CPAC organizer Matt Schlapp. Said he didn't endorse Richard Spencer's ideas but won't kick him out of the conference.  Matt Pearce  (@mattdpearce) February 23, 2017 Basically their line on this is, if they actually agreed with his ideas, they'd put him on stage, but they don't, and it's a free country.  Matt Pearce  (@mattdpearce) February 23, 2017 Change of plans. Richard Spencer just got kicked out of CPAC.  Matt Pearce  (@mattdpearce) February 23, 2017 Facebook

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Obamacare 101: Are health insurance marketplaces in a death spiral? By Noam N. Levey (Don Ryan / Associated Press) Its been a rocky few months for the health insurance marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act. Even if youre not one of the roughly 11 million Americans who rely on these online markets to get your health insurance, youve probably seen the headlines about rising premiums and insurance companies pulling out of the system. Last week, national insurance giant Humana announced it would stop selling plans on the marketplace. Aetnas chief executive claimed the marketplaces are in a death spiral. Republicans say the marketplaces are Exhibit A that Obamacare is collapsing. So whats the real story? Are these things really kaput or can they be fixed? Heres a rundown of where things stand. Read More Facebook

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Trump administration wants tax reform done by August, Mnuchin says By Jim Puzzanghera The Trump administration wants to overhaul the tax code by August, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday, laying out an aggressive timetable in his first significant public comments since taking office last week. Our economic agenda, the No. 1 issue is growth, and the first most important thing that will impact growth is a tax plan, Mnuchin said in an interview with CNBC. So we are committed to pass tax reform, he said. We want to get this done by the August recess. Read More Facebook

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Loud and angry, protesters turn congressional town halls into must-see political TV By Mark Z. Barabak (Bill Pugliano / Getty Images) They came by the hundreds, in big cities and rural hamlets, to heckle, plead, badger and, in some instances, to protest the protests themselves. Congress is in recess this week, and a citizenry suddenly spurred to action used the opportunity to let their returning lawmakers know just how they feel about the tempestuous last month in Washington. Winners make policy and losers go home, a taunting Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate leader, told an invitation-only gathering in his home state of Kentucky, as about 1,000 protesters gathered outside. Not exactly. The town hall meeting, a throwback to a time of more intimate connection, has become a political organizing tool in the social media age  a piece of performance theater and a worldwide stage. Obamacare, immigration, environmental regulation, Social Security, Russian meddling in the 2016 election and Trump, Trump, Trump  all poured forth this week in the form of questions, loudly and heatedly. Read More Facebook

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Trump administration rescinds guidelines on protections for transgender students By Michael A. Memoli The Trump administration rescinded an Obama-era directive Wednesday aimed at protecting transgender students rights, questioning its legal grounding. Under the guidelines, schools had been required to treat transgender students according to their stated gender identity, and either allow access to restrooms and locker rooms for the gender they identify with or provide private facilities if requested. The Obama administration had said that students gender identities were protected under Title IX requirements, which prohibit federally funded schools from discriminating on the basis of sex. But officials in the Education and Justice departments said that their predecessors failed to make their case, citing significant litigation spurred by the policy. Read More Facebook

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Americans in Mexico protest Trumps inflammatory rhetoric during Tillerson visit By Kate Linthicum A group of Americans living in Mexico is planning a protest Thursday to send a message to visiting U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Their gripe? President Trumps inflammatory rhetoric. Thats according to a draft of a letter that several groups organizing the protest hope to deliver to Tillerson, who is in town along with Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly for talks with top Mexican officials. The letter, which will be cosigned by the Mexican chapter of Democrats Abroad, as well as other groups, complains about Trumps hostile attitude toward Mexico, which it says is engendering nationalistic sentiments in Mexico. Among Trumps hostile acts, the letter says, is Trumps vow to build a border wall and force Mexico to pay for it. The idea of building a wall ... frames Mexico and Mexicans as foreign invaders, the letter says. It also criticizes Trump for pledging to renegotiate NAFTA, saying, The U.S. and Mexico are deeply connected economies and it is in the interest of the United States to strengthen the regional production network to boost manufacturing employment in the U.S. and ensure the long-run competitiveness of manufacturing in the region. There are more than a million U.S. citizens living in Mexico, and many have been vocal since Trumps election. Last month, thousands turned out for a womens march outside the American Embassy that saw crowds chanting anti-Trump slogans. Facebook

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Mexico will never accept unilateral American immigration rules, foreign secretary says By Patrick McDonnell Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray said defending the rights of Mexican immigrants is the first point in the agenda for talks with U.S. officials. (Christian Palma / Associated Press) Mexico will reject any unilateral effort from the United States to impose immigration or other policies on the Mexican government, the countrys foreign secretary said Wednesday. I want to make clear, in the most emphatic way, that the government of Mexico and the Mexican people do not have to accept measures that, in a unilateral way, one government wants to impose on another, Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray said in public comments. That we are not going to accept. He spoke a day after the Trump administration unveiled tough new measures to enforce immigration laws and deport people who are in the country illegally  proposals that were widely portrayed in the Mexican media as a prelude to massive deportations. On Wednesday, two top Trump administration cabinet members  Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly  were arriving in Mexico for talks with that nations officials, including Videgaray. Immigration, trade and law enforcement issues were expected to be discussed at a tense moment in U.S.-Mexican relations. In his reported comments, the Mexican secretary did not single out any specific U.S. proposal as objectionable. Mexican officials have acknowledged there is little they can do to counter U.S. immigration policies. Among other things, the Trump administration has proposed sending non-Mexican citizens detained along the U.S.-Mexico border back to Mexico. Mexican officials would presumably have to sign off on such a plan. Mexico already detains and deports thousands of Central Americans annually who cross Mexican territory with the hope of entering the United States illegally via the U.S.-Mexico border. U.S. authorities have worked with their Mexican counterparts to halt the Central American influx. The Mexican foreign secretary made it clear that immigration would be at the top of the list of items to be discussed during meetings with the U.S. Cabinet secretaries. Defending the rights of Mexican immigrants is the first point in the agenda, said Videgaray. He also said Mexico could take the issue of the rights of Mexican immigrants to the United Nations and other international agencies. Facebook

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Both in power and in turmoil, conservatives head to Conservative Political Action Conference to see whats next By Matt Pearce Josh Platillero (Matt Pearce / Los Angeles Times) The eyes of men in crisp blazers darted toward passing faces and identification badges, looking for a familiar face, a famous name. As Fox News host Sean Hannity prepared to broadcast a live show from a ballroom, a brief chant burst out from the audience: U-S-A! U-S-A! Its that time of year again: Hundreds of Republicans began arriving Wednesday at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Md., just south of Washington, for the annual Conservative Political Action Conference. CPAC, as its best known, is a place for conservative political figures and activists to gather, schmooze, hammer out new ideas and audition for starring roles in the Republican Party. And this year, CPAC attendees have a lot to talk about. Their party is in control of Congress, the White House and dozens of state governments across America, and yet not at all at peace with itself. President Trump is expected to address the conference later in the week after winning on a platform of populist nationalism that some conservatives have accused of not being conservative at all. Breitbart News, the brash rising star of right-wing media, is one of the conferences top promoters, but one of its staffers, Milo Yiannopoulos, lost his speaking slot at CPAC and resigned from the news organization after video circulated showing him appearing to promote pedophilia. Some conservatives had backed Yiannopoulos and cried censorship when the provocateur offended liberals at college speaking events, but now they had become offended themselves. Still, as CPAC began on Wednesday, the mood was upbeat. This was a victorious movement, after all. Many new guests were greeted by the sight of Josh Platillero, 23, wearing a cartoonishly large stovepipe hat and a suit the colors of the American flag. I love networking, said Platillero, who recently lived in Knoxville, Tenn., before moving to the D.C. area to work with a conservative nonprofit, the Leadership Institute. Its his second year attending CPAC, and he was excited about the lineup of speakers, which include some of the White House staff. I think our new president is not perfect, but I think hes doing good things, he said. Ariel Kohane, 45, who came from the Upper West Side in Manhattan, stood in the lobby holding signs that read, Jews for Trump, in both English and Hebrew. I love the fact that I can get together with many of my fellow conservative friends and colleagues and we can all be very proud of ourselves with all our accomplishments and the fact that we get to strategize and plan ways to further expand conservatism across America and across the whole world, Kohane said. Facebook

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Pence condemns Jewish center bomb threats and visits desecrated cemetery in Missouri By Jaweed Kaleem (Michael Conroy / Associated Press) Visiting Fenton, Mo., on Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pence condemned a string of bomb threats against Jewish community centers around the nation and the desecration of a St. Louis-area Jewish cemetery over the weekend. Speaking just yesterday, President Trump called this a horrible and painful act. And so it was. That along with other recent threats to the Jewish community centers around the country, said Pence, who was visiting the headquarters of the Fabick Cat machinery company. He declared it all a sad reminder of the work that still must be done to root out hate and prejudice and evil. We condemn this vile act of vandalism and those who perpetuate it in the strongest possible terms. The vice president said it was inspiring how the people of Missouri have rallied around the Jewish community with compassion and support. Among those showing solidarity with the Jewish community is a group of Muslims who launched an online fundraising campaign to help repair the cemetery. Donors had pledged more than $90,000 by Wednesday afternoon. Pence later visited the Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery in University City, Mo., where nearly 200 tombstones had been toppled over the weekend. Facebook

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Trumps move on transgender bathroom access sparks interest By Kurtis Lee (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) For President Trump, commenting on social issues  such as same-sex marriage and abortion  has never seemed much of a priority. Indeed, throughout the campaign, Trump hardly discussed the topics. When asked about transgender bathroom access at a town hall in April 2016, Trump said people should be able to use whichever bathroom they choose. He then moved on from the question, offering little else. Now it appears his administration is set to wade into the controversy. Its a topic the conservative media loves to explore. Here are some of todays headlines: Return to normalcy: Trump readies reversal of transgender bathroom lunacy in public schools (Daily Caller) What will the Trump administration do about transgender bathroom access? The Caller highlights White House Press Secretary Sean Spicers pronouncement on the issue: This is a states rights issue and not one for the federal government, Spicer told reporters. The lunacy referred to is the federal guidance President Obama issued prior to leaving office directing schools that receive federal funding to allow transgender students to use restrooms and other facilities that match their gender identities. Several states filed suit to overturn the directive, and a federal judge issued a temporary injunction barring its enforcement, which remains in place. Several states, following the lead of North Carolina, are seeking to implement legislation that bans transgender people from using the bathrooms of the gender with which they identify. 66 percent of Trump voters change the channel when awards shows get too political (Daily Caller) When Meryl Streep criticized President Trump last month in her Golden Globes speech, he replied quickly. Meryl Streep, one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood, doesnt know me but attacked last night at the Golden Globes, Trump tweeted. Well, Trump can probably expect more barbs as actors (in overwhelmingly liberal Hollywood) take the stage at the Oscars on Sunday. Lots of Trump voters can be expected to change the channel, according to this piece, which highlights a new poll on the subject. The Hollywood Reporter says that 66% of Trump voters said they have stopped watching an awards show because a celebrity started talking about politics while accepting an award. By contrast, only 19% of Hillary Clintons supporters have done so. Trump talks tolerance, decries anti-Semitism, but media remain skeptical (Fox News) Well, Trump finally did say something to condemn the anti-Semitic vandalism and threats that have taken place since his presidential victory. Anti-Semitism is horrible, Trump said in an interview with MSNBC on Tuesday. In the Fox News piece, Howard Kurtz argues the media should give the president more credit for speaking out. I always think its unfair to blame a political leader for violence or vandalism carried out by people who support him, he writes. I felt the same way about critics who blamed Barack Obama for urban riots or shootings of police officers. Facebook

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Among Republicans, Trump is more popular than congressional leaders By David Lauter Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) walk together. (Matt Rourke / Associated Press) Amid strain between the Trump administration and the Republican-controlled Congress, the White House holds the high ground, a new survey indicates. Among Republicans, President Trump has greater popularity than the partys congressional leaders. Asked specifically who they would trust if the two sides disagreed, most Republicans chose Trump over their partys leadership. The findings, from a new survey by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center underscore Trumps continued sway with the Republican congressional majority. Although the president has historically low job approval ratings among the public at large, he remains highly popular among Republican partisans and in Republican districts. As for Democrats, theyre strongly in an oppositional mood. Asked if they were more worried that Democrats in Congress would go too far in opposing Trump or not go far enough, more than 70% of Democrats said they feared their party would not go far enough. Only 20% said they worried the party would go too far. Republicans in Congress have eyed Trump warily on several fronts. His positions on trade and entitlement reform break with years of the partys positions. His reluctance to criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin has generated tension. And the administrations lack of clarity on healthcare and tax policy have Republican leaders guessing which way to turn on major issues. But Republican partisans have fewer reservations than their elected representatives. Eighty-six percent to 13%, those who identify as Republicans or as independents who lean Republican have a favorable view of Trump, the Pew survey found. By comparison, 57% have a favorable view of Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, with 22% unfavorable and 21% having no opinion. House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin is slightly better known, with 65% of Republicans holding a favorable view, 23% an unfavorable view and 13% having no opinion. Asked who they would trust if the two sides disagreed, 52% of Republicans said they would side with Trump and 34% with the Republicans in Congress. Republicans younger than 40 were the only major exception; 52% to 36%, they said they would side with Congress. At the same time, Republican partisans now have a warmer opinion of their party leadership than they had during most of President Obamas tenure. Republicans' approval of their congressional leaders has more than doubled since 2015 https://t.co/KSo1hRMhJj pic.twitter.com/WHTHxCNEFq  Pew Research Center (@pewresearch) February 22, 2017 During the Obama years, GOP partisans tended to be frustrated that their side could not reverse the presidents initiatives, even with a majority in the House, starting in 2010, and then in the Senate for Obamas last two years. Their view of the GOP leadership has rebounded strongly since the election. Democrats view of their congressional leadership has been more stable. And both sides widely dislike the other partys leaders. Facebook

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Supreme Court rejects use of racial stereotypes in death penalty cases By David Savage The Supreme Court rejected the use of racial stereotypes in death penalty cases Wednesday, reopening the case of a black man in Texas who was sentenced to die after his jury was told African Americans are more likely than whites to commit crimes. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said this testimony had no place in a sentencing hearing and appealed to the racial stereotype that black men are prone to violence. Our laws punish people for what they do, not for who they are, the chief justice said in the courtroom. The 6-2 decision faults Texas authorities for refusing to give a new sentencing hearing to Duane Buck, a Houston man who was convicted of shooting and killing his ex-girlfriend and seriously injuring her new boyfriend in 1995. Buck was found guilty of murder, but when his jury was debating his fate, his court-appointed defense attorney put on the witness stand an expert who cited statistics showing blacks are more likely to commit future crimes than whites. After hearing this testimony, the jury decided to sentence Buck to death. Years later, Texas state attorneys set aside the death sentences for six other black defendants whose juries heard similar testimony, but they refused to reopen Bucks case. In Buck vs. Davis, the high court said that was a mistake. The jury was deciding the question of life or death, and this is no place for the introduction of a particularly noxious strain of racial prejudice, Roberts said. The court sent the case back to judges in Texas to reconsider the death sentence. Justice Clarence Thomas dissented, along with Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. Thomas said Buck was properly sentenced to die for a brutal murder, and he insisted the court should not have heard the case for procedural reasons. Having settled on a desired outcome, the court bulldozes procedural obstacles and misapplies settled law to justify it, he wrote. Facebook

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At Rep. Tony Cardenas town hall, Democrats worry about what Donald Trump may do By Kurtis Lee (Kurtis Lee/Los Angeles Times ) They arrived with soggy jackets, hats and umbrellas. The topic was supposed to be the Affordable Care Act. But many who attended Democratic Rep. Tony Cardenas town hall meeting Tuesday night in a crammed auditorium at the Cesar E. Chavez Learning Academies came with a question: What can we -- as Democrats -- do to help you? Show up and vote, said Cardenas, who represents a slice of the staunchly liberal San Fernando Valley. (Hillary Clinton defeated Donald Trump in this district by nearly 60-percentage points in the fall election.) Sign people up, get people involved, he said. At times the meeting had the feel of a therapy session for Democrats, wondering aloud how to function under a Trump administration. Where is the anger among Democrats? asked one man. I want to see more anger. Cardenas, standing at a lectern on an elevated stage, offered a stern look and nodded in agreement as rain could be heard splattering on the roof above. The complaints included Republicans efforts to repeal Obamacare and Trumps new immigration mandates. Trust me, Im pissed. Im upset, Cardenas said. But we have to act constructively. We have to be responsible. Last month, Trump signed executive orders directing the Department of Homeland Security to prioritize the removal of people in the U.S. illegally who have criminal convictions. In addition to speeding up the deportation of convicts, Trumps orders also call for quick removal of people in the country illegally who are charged with crimes and waiting for adjudication. And in recent days, a handful of people who have received protection under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) have been arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents nationwide. Cardenas said that for him, the issue is personal. His parents were immigrants from Mexico, who lived in the San Fernando Valley for decades, raising 11 children, he said. Today his district is nearly 70% Latino. Im going to fight for you, he said. Im going to fight for the people who are my immigrant father. When a young man, a DACA recipient, asked him, via Twitter, if hell be safe in the weeks ahead, Cardenas seemed at a loss. I pray that [Trump] doesnt go after you, he said. Facebook

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Killing with kindness, GOPs McClintock faces down hostile questioners as town hall goes into overti
The Newport Beach Womens Democratic Club will host its monthly meeting with a networking portion at 5:30 p.m. and guest speakers at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Newport Beach Yacht Club, 1099 Bayside Drive.

The scheduled speakers are Eric Bauman, vice chairman of the California Democratic Party, and Fran Sdao, chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Orange County.

Read the latest headlines from the Daily Pilot >>

Admission is $15 for non-members. Refreshments and a no-host bar will be available.

For more information, call (949) 423-6468 or visit nbwdc.org.
Norman Loats, a former Newport-Mesa Unified School District official who in 2009 was honored as Citizen of the Year by the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, died Friday of congestive heart failure, according to his wife, Sally.

The Corona del Mar resident was 94.

Loats served as interim superintendent when the newly established Newport-Mesa district  a product of three school systems that combined in July 1966  was interviewing for a superintendent, his family said. He later became the districts deputy superintendent.

Before that, he was assistant superintendent for instruction in the Newport Harbor Union High School District  one of the systems that merged into Newport-Mesa  starting in 1961. After four years in that role, he became superintendent of Newport Harbor Union for a short time, his family said.

What a wonderful, caring person he was  not only about me but about his children and his community, Sally Loats said.

Norman Loats spent decades raising money for the Newport-Mesa Schools Foundation.

The auditorium at Newport Harbor High School is named in his honor.

He also was involved in the Chamber of Commerce Commodores Club  a group that encourages business investment in Newport Beach  and helped found the 552 Club supporting Hoag Hospital in 1966.

Loats was a World War II veteran, serving in the Navy as a storekeeper and gunner aboard the USS Gambier Bay.

He was on the escort carrier when it sunk Oct. 25, 1944, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines, one of the largest naval battles in history.

Loats is survived by his wife; daughter Rhonda Evans; sons Jeffery Loats and Tim Loats; stepdaughter Laura Miller and stepson Rick Miller.

A memorial service is being planned.

Loats was the second former Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year to die this month. Ralph Rodheim, the 2010 honoree, died Feb. 5 at age 72 of complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrigs disease.

alexandra.chan@latimes.com

Twitter: @AlexandraChan10
Earlier this summer, I found myself at the Aria Hotel in Las Vegas among about 2,000 delegates attending the National Organization of Latino Elected Officials convention, or NOLEO.

I was escorted to a private room and hung out with a presidential candidate waiting to take the convention luncheon stage.

And it all started with Facebook, my guilty pleasure!

Noticing a posting from my friend Mike Nason, I was surprised to see hed hit the campaign trail with Republican presidential hopeful Ben Carson.

Now Ive known Nason for years. This Orange County resident is married to NBC News Orange County Bureau Chief Vikki Vargas, and Im godmother to their daughter, who graduated from college in June.

Nason has quite a history. For almost 20 years ending in the early 1990s, he was producer of the late Rev. Robert Schullers Hour of Power. He went on to serve as Schullers special assistant and later as his personal aide, traveling extensively with him.

During the 80s and 90s Nason was a well-known media consultant and public relations guy on the Southern California political scene, with his business partner Lois Lundberg and their company Nason-Lundberg and Associates. After Lundberg retired, Nason started his own media consulting company.

So how the heck did he hook up with Carson?

I was with Schuller for 42 years, and people often ask me who my top five favorite guests on the program were, Nason told me. Id always include Dr. Ben Carson, who appeared on the show about eight times.

Nason respected the retired neurosurgeon and his viewpoints. When he heard Carson was making a run for president, he offered his help.

Nason told me that what inspired him to join the campaign is Carsons articulate message that each of us is responsible for our own destiny, and that how we conduct and educate ourselves in the first 20 years is what defines our lives for the next 50 to 60 years.

So last October he met with Carson and his wife in Washington, D.C., for dinner, and in January he became the campaigns director of advancement.

What does an advance man do?

Nason and his team arrive in a city or state ahead of the candidate. They then work with local groups organizing fundraisers and personal appearances.

Nasons advancement team helps put together the events, interacts with reporters and oversees the candidates arrival and departure schedules.

The pressure is on to make sure every aspect of the campaign stop runs smoothly.

Its not unusual for Nason to be on the clock 22 hours straight. The day we spoke, hed been in five states and I dont know how many cities in the previous week alone.

At a time when Nason could be cooling his heels and enjoying the summer with his family, hes on a fast-paced schedule thats nothing short of overwhelming. But he loves it.

I admitted to Nason that I really didnt know much about Carson, but as luck would have it, the campaign would be in Las Vegas at the same time I would be there.

Nason invited me to NOLEO, where Carson would be the keynote luncheon speaker.

The Latino vote is being courted by Republicans and Democrats this election cycle, so it was no surprise Carson accepted the invitation. The next day Hillary Clinton would be making an appearance.

After arriving at the convention and asking for Nason, I was escorted into a waiting room off the main ballroom. For the next 20 minutes or so it was just Carson, Nason, me and my husband, Stan, chatting away.

I found Carson to be soft-spoken, handsome and engaging as he shared his views on problems with government, education and world affairs as well as his solutions.

He told me that running for president was a calling.

Though polling near the top when I met with him, Carson was polling at about 8% among Republicans on Wednesday compared with front-runners Donald Trump, who had 24%, and Jeb Bush, with 15%.

VIPs started meandering in for a meet-and-greet with the candidate. They included former Orange County Supervisor Gaddi Vasquez, now a vice president at Southern California Edison.

Vasquez had delivered a rousing speech earlier that day.

Quite frankly, after listening to both mens speeches, I felt that Vasquez sounded more like he was running for president than Carson.

So I asked Vasquez if hed ever venture into public office again.

Youll have to ask my wife, he joked.

Though I enjoyed my peek behind the scenes of a presidential campaign stop, I cant fathom how anyone could keep up such and exhausting schedule into 2016.

My hats off to Nason. Its going to be an exciting adventure for him, and one Im sure hell continue to share via Facebook.

BARBARA VENEZIA lives in Newport Beach. She can be reached at bvontv1@gmail.com.
1 rail worker killed, another injured while working One railway worker was killed and another injured after being struck by a cargo train in Uiwang, just southwest of Seoul, officials said Sunday. The accident occurred at 8:20 p....
The St. Valentines Day Massacre in 1929 had nothing to do with love. A prominent gangster sent machine guns instead of flowers to rival Chicago gang members in an ongoing battle over who would control the citys gambling, prostitution and bootlegging (it was Prohibition, after all).

When the smoke cleared, seven people were killed. At the time, police suspected the massacre was a failed attempt by mob kingpin Al Capone to snuff out rival George Bugs Moran.

No one was ever arrested.

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Now you can see some of the bullets, coroner reports and other artifacts from the 88-year-old bloodbath at The Mob Museum, located at 300 Stewart Ave. in Las Vegas.

In the attack, victims facing a garage wall in a Lincoln Park neighborhood were shot from behind by gang members dressed as police officers and carrying Thompson submachine guns, also known as Tommy guns.

The original wall from the garage, which was torn down in 1967, was reassembled in the museum brick by brick, some still full of bullet holes, the museums website says.

Artifacts that went on display Friday include:

bullets from the bodies of the victims and fragments found on the garage floor;

test rounds fired from the guns (to prove that they were the ones used in the attack); and

 a display case filled with other items, like coroner reports filed at the time.

After the shooting, only one of the victims, Pete Goosey Gusenberg, was still alive when real Chicago police officers arrived at the scene. A museum historian says he never told officers anything about the attack and died shortly thereafter.

The show includes a bullet recovered from Gusenbergs chest beside the report from the doctor who conducted the autopsy.

By the way, the Mob Museum marks its fifth anniversary Tuesday too. Trip Advisor ranks the site, dedicated to organized crime and law enforcement in Las Vegas, one of the top 25 museums in America.

Adult admission costs $20.95 when purchased in advance or $23.95 at the door. The museum is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Info: The Mob Museum

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Syrian military forces dropped chlorine gas in rebel-held residential areas of Aleppo at least eight times late last year, killing four children and five other civilians in a protracted battle to retake the city, Human Rights Watch said in a report released Monday.

Roughly 200 people in eastern Aleppo were injured in the attacks, in which helicopters dropped chlorine cylinders in neighborhoods where government forces planned to advance, the report said.

The pattern of the chlorine attacks shows that they were coordinated with the overall military strategy for retaking Aleppo, not the work of a few rogue elements, Ole Solvang, deputy emergencies director at Human Rights Watch, said in the report.

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It said the chlorine attacks started on Nov. 18 and continued until Dec. 9, days before the fight for Aleppo ended with a cease-fire and wide-scale evacuations of fighters and civilians.

If verified, the attacks would be a violation of the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention, an international treaty Syria signed in 2013 that bans the use of chemical weapons.

Documenting the attacks was difficult because government forces confiscated phones and laptops and hospital workers had to leave records behind during the evacuation, the report said. Its conclusions are based on video footage, photographs and interviews with nearly two dozen witnesses, including medical workers, first-responders and residents.

Witnesses said that victims suffered symptoms consistent with chlorine attacks, including trouble breathing, nausea, fainting and foaming at the mouth. Video clips published with the report show plumes of green gas billowing from the city and in a neighborhood, as well as women and children being treated with oxygen masks.

Human Rights Watch called for the United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions on senior Syrian government leaders.

Allowing the Syrian government to flaunt this prohibition with impunity runs the risk of implicitly condoning Syrian chemical attacks and undermining one of the most agreed-upon weapon bans in the world, potentially lowering the threshold for other countries to do the same, Solvang said in the report.

The government has routinely denied using chemical weapons in the civil war.

Last year, a U.N. team investigating chemical weapons concluded that Syrian government forces used chlorine gas three times in 2014 and 2015.

In 2013, Human Rights Watch accused Syrian government forces of using sarin gas in attacks on two Damascus suburbs, killing hundreds of civilians.

Syrian helicopters used in past chlorine attacks operated from the Hmeymim air base, which is controlled by Russia, a staunch ally of the Syrian government that has aided its war effort.

Russia  which has also signed the treaty  should have prevented chemical weapons from being used in their joint military offensive, the latest report said.

alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter @AleneTchek
In an interview, Paraguay's finance minister says the sovereign plans to tap the market for up to $550m in March
All material is subject to strictly enforced copyright terms & conditions and cannot be repurposed or reproduced.  19882022 Latin American Financial Publications Inc.
Microsoft's new AI engine called 'Cortana' known to pressurize users to opt for it, has received a new update. The virtual Assistant will now remind you about any promises in the past which is a bit bizarre considering personal privacy. This new functionality will be rolling out very soon to all Windows 10 devices.

The reminder suggestions will continuously pop up even while work to remind the previous promises and rather lets you kill the notification or keep snoozing it. This feature seems to be announced a year ago. The assistant that's built from machine learning will apparently scan all personal data(Only if users permit the voice assistant to access). It's pretty fair to mention that Windows 10 in general is very weak in maintaining personal privacy of a user.

The process explained on Tech Crunch explains how it's done. The reminders are sent to Microsoft's servers after the scan is complete and then reminds users if they've agreed to be reminded about it. Microsoft also mentioned that people can use email like they usually do but Cortana will look for specific details or if any deadlines are mentioned. The report also seems to suggest that the reminders generally pop up ahead of its time and will also appear in Microsoft notes.

Windows Insider preview users will be able to use the reminder options right away ahead of the public launch. Cortana, with the help of the reminder system will now learn and understand user interactive in a detailed manner to generate accurate results.

Another report from The Financial Express mentions that the feature is currently exclusive to the Windows 10 devices only(both desktop and windows phones). As of now, there's no detailed information about it's arrival to other platforms like Android and iOs but the update should be rolled out soon. Microsoft seems to have made the feature available for Outlook users only. So for those people who're not using Outlook, the situation is more or less neutral to them at the moment.
NASA has released an outline report of an initial set of objectives for a proposed mission to the surface of Jupiter's icy moon. The primary objectives for a proposed mission are to search directly evidence of life.

According to New Scientist, the main motif is to search direct evidence of life. Since 1990 Europe has been a prime target to search extraterrestrial life when the Galileo orbiter indicated that a saltwater ocean may exist beneath its icy crust.

Europe is thought to be only places where the ocean is in contact with a rocky seafloor. This thought is making Europe one of the most promising prospects in the search for life in our solar system.

The other objective of the mission is to analyze samples from Europa's surface to assess its habitability and characterizing its surface to help support future robotics exploration there. The new report has suggested," the mission would significantly make understanding if Europa has an Ocean world."

NASA has reported the team has also recommended a number of life-detecting instruments, such as a spectrometer to sift through particles from Europa's surface. The microscope is used to search for microbial cells and a vibration spectrometer to analyze the molecular composition of samples.

The new report proposes using an automated 'sky crane system similar to the one used to land the Mars Curiosity Rover in 2012. This will be the first used system since the 19th century. The new mission will be the first NASA mission since the Mars Viking Landers in late 1970 to conduct an in situ search for life beyond our planet. The outlined Lander mission is separate from the Europa flyby mission confirmed for launch in the early 2020s.

However, the spacecraft will perform a series of 45 close flybys of Europa, mapping and the characteristics of its ocean and ice shell. NASA routinely conducts these reports to weigh up the challenges value of the proposed mission.

Meanwhile, NASA discusses the report that will take place over the next couple of months in Texas and Arizona.


Verizon, one of the largest wireless providers in the United States of America has finally decided to offer unlimited data plans for their customers. Starting Monday, Company will rejoin the Unlimited Data party while facing the competition from other wireless operators like T-Mobile and Sprint.

According to USA Today, Verizon has decided to keep their customers' current plans through the wireless provider. Aside from keeping their plans, customers can also choose from an $80 monthly plan for a single line with unlimited data, texting, and call.

To avail Verizon's unlimited data plans, customers must first agree to AutoPay and paper-free billing. Families can pay $45 per line for four lines with a total of $180. The decision of Verizon to launch such offer is to keep up with the growing competition in the wireless market.

The company has been an unlimited plan holdout just like T-Moblie and Sprint that have gained ground on the company together with the top 2 providers, the AT&T with their extensive offerings. Both T-Mobile and Sprint have increased their user base with customers who often use their smartphones for video streaming and photo sharing via social media networks.

According to GYStyle Magazine, with its unlimited plans, customers can get fast LTE speeds. Furthermore, the company prioritizes the usage behind other clients in case of network congestion to ensure quality experience after the 22GB data usage on a line during the billing cycle.

"Verizon is offering something nobody else can: The unlimited plan you want on the wireless network you deserve," said Ronan Dunne, president of Verizon's wireless division.

Verizon's unlimited data plans make sense as wireless networks became better and can handle more capacity. According to Verizon, the cost of delivering a gigabyte of data had dropped from 40% to 50% due to the evolution of its network.

In Verizon's plan, five lines cost $200 each month, four lines that cost $180 with an additional unlimited line that cost $20 up to ten lines. Customers can also add a tablet to their chosen plan with a cost of $20 per month.




South Korea's leading conglomerate is now facing an arrest on the charges of bribing the president and secretive confidante. Korea's Samsung Group leader Jay Y. Lee was in the South Korea special prosecutor's office for questioning.

According to the New York Times, the investigation to President Park Geun-Hye of South Korea had a dramatic turn with words from prosecutors who are seeking the arrest of the head of Samsung who is considered as one of the largest conglomerates in the world.

South Korea's special prosecutor focuses on accusing Group leader Jay Y. Lee of his capacity as a Samsung chief of pledging 43 billion won which is equivalent to $37.31 million. The amount was used in business and organizations which are backed by President Park's friend, Choi Soon-soil as an exchange for their support for the 2015 merger of two Samsung companies.

Now, the South Korea's Supreme Prosecutor Office is the process of deciding whether to impose additional arrest warrants for the Samsung Group's officials. According to South Korea spokesman Lee Kyu-Chul, the South Korea authorities are in the process of wrapping up their investigation into a corruption scandal.

According to Android Headlines, South Korea's special prosecutor office is already considering a request for more arrest warrants for the company's executives. Aside from Group leader Jay Y. Lee, there are four more suspects who happened to be officials of Samsung Group.

The decision to arrest them will soon be decided after the interrogation. However, even if the Prosecutor office decides to request for the arrest warrants of more Samsung's officials, they might still avoid jailing Group leader Jay Y. Lee after the court ruled that there are no reasons for him to be jailed.

Samsung's Group's Vice Chairman could still face another arrest warrant if the authority can discover evidence against him. Samsung group leader Jay Y. Lee was accused of paying over $37 million in bribes to several organizations which were linked to Choi Soon-SIL who is the confidant of South Korea President Park.




Mitsubishi previews Geneva-bound Eclipse Cross

Feb 14, 2017, 4:57am ET

The Eclipse nameplate is making a comeback, but this time it\'s not on a coupe.

Mitsubishi has confirmed it's dusting off the Eclipse nameplate to use it on a brand-new crossover.

The Eclipse was once a coupe, but the Japanese brand has made it clear that it's done building sedans and coupes. The Eclipse Cross will consequently take the form of a compact crossover aimed right at the Nissan Rogue Sport that debuted last month in Detroit. It will borrow styling cues from the XR-PHEV II concept introduced at the 2015 edition of the Geneva Auto Show.

The Eclipse Cross will take Mitsubishi's design language to new heights. Moving forward, design will be a big part of the company's DNA.

"Land Rover has proved you can be both rugged and stylish, and we intend to follow that path," said an inside source in an interview with British magazine Autocar.

Technical details are vague at best. Auto Express recently reported Euro-spec variants will be available with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, or a 2.2-liter turbodiesel. A six-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive will come standard, while a CVT and Mitsubishi's S-AWC all-wheel drive system will be offered at an extra cost.

It goes without saying that the oil-burner will not be offered on this side of the pond. Seeing a six-speed stick in U.S. showrooms is unlikely at best, though we're not ruling it out entirely.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross will debut early next month at the Geneva Auto Show, and we're expecting to see the U.S.-spec model in April during the New York show. The born-again Eclipse will arrive on dealer lots in time for the 2018 model year.
Feb 14, 2017, 10:39am ET

Toyota sells 10M hybrids globally

The last million units were sold in just nine months.

Toyota is celebrating another milestone for its hybrid lineup as cumulative sales surpass 10 million units.

The milestone was reached by the end of January, just nine months after Toyota sold its nine millionth unit in late April 2016. In North America alone, Toyota sold three million hybrids and plug-in hybrids by the end of December.

"Hybrids remain an important part of our lineup of vehicles, with over 246,000 units sold last year, and we have seen continued demand with the release of the RAV4 Hybrid variant of the popular compact SUV, accounting for nearly 13 percent of its total sales volume in 2016," said Toyota's North America senior VP, Bob Carter.

The company estimates that its hybrid fleet has reduced CO2 emissions by around 77 million tons compared to traditional powertrains, while saving nearly 7.7 million gallons of gasoline.

"When we launched Prius, no one even knew what a hybrid was, but, thanks to early adopters, hybrids have ridden a wave of success into the mainstream," said Toyota co-chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada, also known as the father of the Prius.
Soon, Bethlehem Area School District teens may have to randomly submit to a breath-alcohol test before entering school dances.

Freedom High School students arrive to their 2016 prom at DeSales University. Student's at the 2017 prom may be subject to random testing to see if they've been drinking. (Lehighvalleylive.com file photo)

The school board is weighing a policy that would allow district officials to select students to test to see if they drank any alcohol before a school dance.

A final vote is scheduled for the regular board meeting Feb. 27.

"They key for suspicion-less (testing) is that it is truly random for everybody," Superintendent Joseph Roy explained.

Under the policy, ahead of a dance school district officials would randomly pull numbers to identify the students that would be tested at the door.

Officials could draw a number to decide that every 10 students would be tested or select a slew of numbers that would correspond to tickets sold ahead of the dance, officials said during a Monday night school board meeting.

At the door of the dance, officials would have a list of the selected numbers. So, when a student arrived with a ticket with a number on the list, they would be pulled out of line and taken to a private area where a trained district employee would administer a breathalyzer.

Roy explained the machine is different than the type police use. It does not determine a blood-alcohol content, just the presence of alcohol from a student speaking in front of the machine, Roy said.

Director of Student Services and Minority Affairs Vivian Robledo-Shorey said it is definitely meant to be a deterrent.

"Yes, so they don't even think about drinking," she said.

If the ticket is held by a non-district student, they too would have to submit to the test.

After implementing a similar testing policy at the high school where he was principal, Roy said all students knew they could be tested when they came to a dance.

"We had a substantial decrease in issues when we had this in place," the superintendent said.

The principals of Freedom and Liberty high schools expressed their support for the policy at a board committee meeting last month.

Roy said Monday night they want a policy in place so they can do random testing for this year's prom.

If a student is found to be drinking, their parents will be contacted and police could get involved as well, officials said.

The district still is able to test any student that shows up to a school event and appears to be intoxicated, Roy said.

Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Suspended Whitehall High School music teacher David A. "Andy" Borghesani has resigned following a school district investigation into what its attorney called allegations of "inappropriate communications."

David A. "Andy" Borghesani talks with Whitehall High School students before they take the stage April 1, 2014, for a dress rehearsal of that spring's musical, "South Pacific." His resignation was accepted Monday, Feb. 3, 2017, by the Whitehall-Coplay School Board over allegations of inappropriate communications with two students. (Chris Post file photo | Lehighvalleylive.com contributor)

The school board in the Whitehall-Coplay School District accepted the 29-year-old's resignation Monday night. It is effective Feb. 7.

A criminal investigation remains open into the allegations, Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin said after the board's 5-0 vote.

District officials learned of the allegations last October from the parents of one of the students, then learned another student claimed to have been receiving the communications as well, district solicitor Jeffrey Sultanik said.

"All we can say is it's not the kind of behavioral expectation that we would want of any professional employee in the district," Sultanik told reporters after the board meeting, clarifying later that there were no allegations Borghesani physically assaulted any student.

"There were inappropriate communications" sent electronically, the attorney said. "There were texts, there were emails, there was SnapChat."

The alleged communications were said to have occurred both during and outside school hours, Sultanik said.

The district immediately suspended Borghesani, first with pay then as of last month without pay, and he has not taught since the allegations came to light, officials said. The move to accept his resignation came after authorities failed as of last month to bring criminal charges, district officials said.

A district investigation opened in January included interviews with the two students, Sultanik said.

"We did not have all of the evidence and we were awaiting information from the district attorney's office," Sultanik said to explain the three-month gap before the district opened its investigation.

Borghesani's classes and extracurricular activities have been covered. At one point with the district, in addition to teaching music, Borghesani was director of the high school pep band and choral director, adviser of the stage design club and producer, stage director, music director, art director and rehearsal accompanist for the Zephyrs' spring musical.

He could not be reached for comment Monday because no phone number could be found for him. The district has not spoken with him but has instead dealt with counsel for the Pennsylvania State Education Association union, Sultanik said.

School board member Tina Koren said she wanted to push to terminate Borghesani rather than accept his resignation, but was swayed by Sultanik's advice that accepting a resignation would be better for the district.

"I never want to see this guy teach in any school district ever again," Koren said during Monday night's meeting.

Prior to the allegations, Superintendent Lorie Hackett said, Borghesani was well-liked and respected. It was not immediately clear how long he'd been working for the district. He is a 2006 graduate of Nazareth Area High School.

Koren commended the district administration for going outside the school community to share the allegations with a local church at which Borghesani had been teaching.

Sultanik explained that the benefits of accepting a resignation versus termination include avoiding having to pay Borghesani unemployment compensation. The attorney also referenced Pennsylvania Act 168 that requires the district to share that Borghesani resigned while under investigation, should he apply to work at another school district in the state.

The district also avoids a fight with the teachers union, he said.

"In my opinion this is the best possible result from the district's perspective and given the protections that exist under Act 168," Sultanik said.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
The FBI estimates $197 million was lost in 2015 alone to victims of romance scams and similar frauds.

It has local law enforcement and Pennsylvania State Police warning folks to remain vigilant online during Valentine's Day and the days ahead.

In what is known as the "Sweetheart Scam," the FBI says victims are contacted online by someone pretending to be interested in them. He or she may receive a phony profile or phony photo from the scammer, forming a connection.

The next thing they know, victims begin receiving roses, chocolates and gifts. But ultimately, the victim's newly-found admirer is going to ask the victim for money.

The perpetrator typically preys on the loneliness of their target to quickly build trust and will then solicit money by saying they need to purchase a passport or plane ticket, to pay off medical bills for a family member, to buy a new computer, or something similar.

Although the targets of sweetheart scams are often men and women over the age of 60, victims come from all walks of life, state police say.

"We've seen successful, educated people send their life's savings to someone they had never met in person because they thought they were in love," said Maj. David Relph, director of the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, in a news release.

"And once that money is sent, it is almost impossible to get it back. These scammers typically operate in foreign countries, making it exceedingly difficult to track them down."

State police offer the following reminders to prevent sweetheart scams:

Never wire money to someone you have not met in person.

Take it slow.

Talk to your family and friends.

Do your research

Trust your instincts.

"People fail to report these types of crimes because they are embarrassed or ashamed, but simply stopping the flow of cash isn't enough," Relph said. "Once they have gained access to personal or sensitive information, scammers have been known to continue targeting their victims through blackmail and identity theft."

Those who think they may be victim of the "Sweetheart Scam" are urged to contact their local police department.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A Perry County, Pennsylvania, man died after driving into a downed tree late Sunday night, according to a published report.

Shannon Lee Martin, 22, of Loysville, was driving at 11:43 p.m. in the 7000 block Wertzville Road in Silver Spring Township, Cumberland County, when he struck the tree and a branch broke through the windshield, pennlive.com said.

Cumberland Coroner Charley Hall told the news website that the branch hit Martin in the chest, breaking his ribs and cutting his heart. He died at West Shore Hospital.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
The PennEast Pipeline Co. has received a water permit from the state of Pennsylvania that the company announced Monday as an important regulatory milestone in building the $1 billion natural gas pipeline.

The pipeline company received a Water Quality Certificate on Friday from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, as required by section 401 of the Federal Clean Water Act, the company said.

It's commonly called a 401 Water Quality Certification, and PennEast touted it as a major prerequisite to receiving a federal license or permit for activities that involve waterways.

It validates that the company has "effective measures in place to minimize impacts on streams and other waterways during the construction, as well as long-term operation, of the PennEast Pipeline," PennEast said in a statement.

Jeff Logan, president of the Pennsylvania Chemical Industry Council, hailed the development in the PennEast announcement.

"This is great news for all those who use natural gas, especially for the region's energy-intensive chemical industry and the more than 80,000 Pennsylvania and New Jersey residents the industry employs," Logan said.

The New Jersey Conservation Foundation and ReThink Energy NJ, a PennEast opponent, said the project still faces "tremendous opposition and a long uphill battle in New Jersey."

"We are disappointed that (Pa. DEP) rushed to approve permits for PennEast despite the significant impacts the pipeline would have on our water, land and wildlife," said Tom Gilbert, campaign director of the organization.

Gilbert said the water permit does not change the fact that PennEast does not have approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and hasn't begun the process to obtain permits from the Delaware River Basin Commission and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

FERC is scheduled to issue the pipeline's environmental impact statement, or EIS, in April.

The 36-inch-diameter, 110-mile natural gas pipeline will go from Pennsylvania to New Jersey, through Hunterdon and Mercer counties before ending at a location in Hopewell Township. A connector pipeline, also 36 inches in diameter, will link it to an existing compressor in West Amwell.

PennEast maintains that the project will reduce energy costs and support thousands of jobs with clean-burning, American energy. The company hopes it will be operational in the second half 2018.

Opponents of PennEast maintain it's an environmental nightmare that will cut a scar through communities, preserved open space and farmland and destroy ecosystems.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A 24-year-old Monroe County man faces drug and firearms charges after a traffic stop on Interstate 80 turned up 404 bags of heroin and a stolen gun, according to a report.

Peter Bartalemeo Musa, 24, of Price Township, was driving a Nissan Altima west at 11:35 p.m. Friday in Pocono Township when the car was pulled over by Pennsylvania State Police, the Pocono Record reported. There were reportedly three passengers in the car, including a child.

Musa was wanted on an armed theft charge out of Mount Laurel, New Jersey, and was arrested, the newspaper reported.

He had 64 red and yellow mushrooms in his pocket, as well as $506, authorities said. In a duffel bag in the trunk he allegedly had 92 grams of individually wrapped heroin as well as a stolen .45-caliber handgun and a magazine with six rounds, the newspaper said. There also allegedly was a scale and other suspected drug paraphernaliad.

Musa was arraigned Saturday morning before District Judge Anthony D. Fluegel on charges of possession with intent to deliver drugs, receiving stolen property, possession of firearm when prohibited, 13 related offenses and two traffic violations.

He was taken to Monroe County jail in lieu of $100,000 bail, according to court records, and remained there Tuesday morning.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled 10 a.m. Feb. 21 before District Judge Thomas E. Olsen.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Seven new Gardai have been assigned to Laois but that does not mean that the county is getting seven extra police on the beat according to a senior officer.

Portlaoise-based Garda Supt Joe Prendergast told to a Laois Joint Policing Committee meeting on Monday (Feb 13), that some members of the Force will be retiring and some will be transferred. He did not give a net figure.

Laois Fianna Fail TD Deputy Sean Fleming hoped numbers would rise: "Lets hope we will get an increase in the number of Gardai in the county.

He also wondered how many Gardai and prison officers in Laois were injured in the course of duty.

People would be more supportive of the Gardai if they realized how much they put life and limb on line, he said.

Community representative Noel Dooley said Gardai were needed in Borris-in-Ossory. Since they had been removed, crime and increased over and over again, he added.

Supt Prendergast said gardai were looking at areas where they might be able to spare someone".
A team of Mountrath Community School girls who created a Junk Kouture outfit from recycled Farmers Journal newspapers, got a Valentines Day surprise today of a Silver Ticket at their school.

Paul Sheppard, Branch Manager with Bank of Ireland Mountrath, surprised Patricia Lalor, Aimee Collier and Andrea Kirwan with a precious Silver Ticket, which secures them a place in the Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture Leinster Regional Final on March 2 and 3. The students received the Silver Ticket for their entry Mother Nature., also shown is their art teacher Therese McGrath.

The girls spent countless lunch hours and weekends handmaking their creation. See today's Leinster Express for their full story.



80 Leinster regional finalists will be announced at 7pm this evening via the BOI Students facebook page, among 320 to be chosen across Ireland.

There are a record ten entries this year from Scoil Chriost Ri girls secondary school in Portlaoise.



JJ Keyes is Head of Bank of Ireland in Laois.

The calibre of entries for this years competition has been fantastic and the judging panel had a very tough job choosing the top 80 from each region. With every entry being uniquely choreographed to music, we are really excited to see the models bring their designs to life on stage at the Regional finals. We wish everyone the best of luck with the next stage of the competition and remind finalists to get innovative about how they gather support through the Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture voting app.

Now in its seventh year the all-Ireland leading fashion and art competition for secondary schools challenges students to create unique, original and innovative outfits from recycled materials and junk. Entries for 2017 made it the biggest competition to date.

The public can get involved by casting a vote for their favourite design through the Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture voting app.

Accessed through the BOIStudents Facebook page (www.facebook.com/BOIstudents), voting opens for one week before the regional competitions from Leinster. Individuals can cast a single vote every 24hours. Votes account for 10% of the final mark.



Full list of regional finalists for Bank of Ireland Junk Kouture 2017 at www.facebook.com/BOIstudents. Photo: michaelorourkephotography.ie
A doubling in drunk driving checkpoints in Laois has led to a sharp increase in the number of people caught driving over the limit.

Garda Superintent Joe Prendergast revealed this week there there were 47 drink driving offences detected in the last quarter of 2016, as compared to 36 for the last three months of 2015a 30% rise.

Theres a very good chance if you are drinking and driving you are going to be caught, he warned at the Laois Joint Policing Committee meeting in Portlaoise.

He said Gardai in Laois had manned 524 checkpoints in 2016. The number in 2015 was 276,

I continue to be amazed at drink driving offences, Cllr Paschal McEvoy told the meeting in County Hall on Monday (Feb 13).

He said the number of offenders detected in the last quarter of 2016 was 30% higher than for the same period in the previous year.

Maybe the punishment is not enough, he suggested.

The Minister for Transport Shane Ross announced in recent days that he will bring legislative proposals to Cabinet this week for all drivers convicted of drink-driving to receive a mandatory disqualification from driving.

"Drivers under 44 accounted for 70% of intoxicated drivers in 2015 with 81% of all intoxicated drivers being male. We have not solved that problem," he said.

He said data for 2015 "indicates that 60% of those driving intoxicated were over twice the legal alcohol limit, 20% were three times over the legal limit and 22% were four times over the legal limit".

"There is still an average of 152 drivers arrested under suspicion of driving under the influence every week. Clearly this is simply not acceptable," he added.

Laois was the location for one of the most tragic deaths caused by drink driving in recent years. Ciaran Treacy was aged just 5 when he was killed on April 17 2014 as a result of drink driver.

Finbarr O'Rourke, of Laurel Drive, Portlaoise, crashed head on into the car being driven by Ciaran's mum Gillian Treacy on the evening at Ballymorris in Portarlington. O'Rourke was jailed for causing Ciaran's death. He had drank nine pints of cider before the collision.

Ms Treacy, Ciaran and his seven-year-old brother Sean were returning from the children's grandparents' house at the time. Gillian was badly injured in the smash but Sean suffered no serious injuries.

The Gillian, her husband Ronan their children as well as emergency responders and local people spearheaded the Crashed Lives campaign which was launched by the Road Safety Authority for Christmas 2016.

During a debate on RTE's Claire Byrne Live programme this week night, it was argued by studio audience members that stringent penalties like an automatic ban could have a far more negative effect in rural areas than urban areas of the country.

Have you say on our poll, which asks: "Do you think drink-driving laws should be relaxed in rural areas of the country?"
A Naas student has been lobbying politicians in Europe to strengthen measures to combat money laundering.

Fionnuala Egan, the daughter of former Naas councillor Anthony Egan, met MEPs, including Fine Gael's Brian Hayes, recently in Brussels.

21 year old Fionnuala is an ambassador for the ONE Campaign, a non profit making organisation working to end extreme poverty and preventable disease, especially in Africa.

Fionnuala, from Caragh Court, has also lobbied Fianna Fail TD James Lawless.

In Brussels I was hoping to convince the MEPs to commit to making registers for all companies and trusts available to the public. this is important as it means that it will be easier to trace where money has come from and who is spending it and on what, said Fionnuala.

She is an Arts students (English and French) at Trinity College and a former pupil at St. Mary's College.

Corruption is a serious problem in developing countries from where one trillion dollars are siphoned off every year. This is less than the amount of aid going in. Making registers public means that activists, journalists and other concerned members of the public can help governments to prevent corruption.

Fionnuala was joined by other youth ambassadors from around the world and they had a productive meeting with Mr. Hayes as well as UK MEPs Anneliese Dodds and Molly Scott Cato and Romanian MEP Csaba Sogor.
Im pretty sure that British media have carried many interviews with EU citizens living and working in the UK about their thoughts about Brexit (and especially a hard, complete Brexit), and about whether they want to stay or leave now that Brexit seems inevitable.

I want to point to one case: the Dutch/Finnish modern musician Juha vant Zelfde, who from 2014 was artistic director of the multimedia cultural center Lighthouse in Brighton. Because the outlooks of him and his girlfriend point to two terrains where the Brexit votes (referendum & parliament), the reactions in British society, and the perspectives for immigrants (from the EU or elsewhere) seem not only to harm British cultural life, but also to cause recruiting problems for services like the NHS & old-age homecare (crises in the one worsen problems in the other).

My google search on him resulted in an interview in The Guardian when he started work in Brighton, and another in the Dutch sister paper De Volkskrant, 2017, when hed decided to leave the UK, instead of them both staying and working here. I didnt find British articles about him leaving; so Im telling you what he thinks now.

When he came to Brighton, both he and the Lighthouse were glad to pair up with such a prestigious partner; both use multimedia art to present an artistic, new perspective on modern society, in the tradition of Jonathan Swift, Charles Dickens (and Disraeli), et cetera. Lighthouse had just run the 2012-14 BFI Shorts-program with the British Film Institute, launching new talent via 17 BAFTA award-winning films.

Because British society is riven with traditional, historical inequalities, and all kinds of other problems, it has been (Juha says 2017) such a rich source of dystopian novels like 1984, criticizing developments. And social media have their dystopian aspects too (the Facebook editors censoring policies), running this arts centre meant exploring those aspects too. With the Brexit referendum approaching, and coming out of the 2007-16 Banking, EMU and economic crisis, the critical observer- role of arts institutes like Lighthouse was more relevant than ever, Juha said in 2014. Both arts centres and media institutions (with archives full of knowledge) together have much to contribute to the debate about whats happening.

The Brexit vote was a surprise to Juha; first he wanted to redouble his efforts to comment, but then his girlfriend (of Indian/Indonesian descent), studying to be a nurse, became worried about the increase in racist incidents right after the Brexit vote: coming to work in the over-burdened NHS in such a climate on the streets, earning too little for a living permit, didnt appeal to her. And the arts budget getting cut meant he couldnt do all he wanted. So he (and others) leave. Shame!

* Dr. Bernard Aris is a historian, a D66 parliamentary researcher and a LibDem supporting member.
So tonight was the biggest single hustings that will take place in Stoke-on-Trent Central. Hosted by Staffordshire University and The Stoke Sentinel this was 8 of the invited candidates  including the British National Party and the Monster Raving Looney. It was quite an affair.

But at one point, having stumbled previously, the UKIP candidate was challenged to name again the 6 towns of the City and he managed it just. He didnt forget Fenton (damn you Arnold Bennett), but he still called it Stoke not Stoke-upon-Trent. I suspect he doesnt know the reasoning or the difference of the Stoke-on-Trent versus Stoke-upon-Trent. And then the Labour candidate followed it up a bit later by saying he would fight for the City. I groaned as he said it. And there in a nub is the fundamental issue here.



Im sure the Labour candidate wants to fight for the City, in the way that he fights for the village of Silverdale where he lives or Newcastle-under-Lyme where he is on the Council. But repeating the mantra and by just blandly fighting for the City he perpetuates the mistake of 70 years of Labour before him.

Stoke-on-Trent is a complex places that grew up over time, is a federation and has a complex industrial heritage. In geographic terms it is a linear city, not a radial city. Yet for year, Labour nominees, unaware of the reality and the history just fight for the City because that is their short cut for not being from here or of here. The drive to push Hanley as a city centre is false, wrong and stupid. It has sought to break the other five towns and lead to years and millions of wasted pounds in marketing and false economies. Shopping centre yes, City centre no.

In fact what is available in this by-election is the chance to look again at this proud, localised, federated City and plot forwards an industrial strategy based on localism, community, ideas, heritage, entrepreneurial instinct and proud people who work hard. What I fear will happen is the blunt instrument of political ambition  fighting for the City blind to the opportunities available, blind to the uniqueness of Stoke-on-Trent and ignorant of the realities on the ground.

Instead of being depressed about these fears however, I have decided to do something about it and have taken time off to come and work for Dr Zulfiqar Ali  he is of this city, it is his home, he lives in the towns and he knows the local area. He was on the council representing Shelton, Etruria and Hanley  he understands the importance of the canals, the railways, the communities and the diversity and he will be thorough and assiduous in standing up for the residents. What he will not do is make bald statements that lack understanding, nuance or reality. That is why I am supporting him. I hope you will too.

* Ed Fordham is a councillor on Chesterfield Borough Council and runs Brockwell Books of Chesterfield, selling many thanks, not least ephemera he bought from Liber Books over the last 25 years.
If youre planning to travel to or from Italy on the 23rd February, the chances are you may need to adjust your plans. A number of airlines and airports have announced that they will go on strike across the country.

Italian flight crew from Alitalia, Merdiana, Air Italy, easyJet, Ryanair and Volotea as well as ground staff at a number of airports across Italy plan to strike on Feburary 23rd due to a reduction in salary and holiday allowance as a result of the restructuring of the airlines involved.

A number of low cost airlines including Ryanair and easyJet, as well as airports in Florence, Pisa, Bologna, Venice, Rome and Naples, will strike for four hours (either from 11:00  15:00, or from 14:00  18:00); Meridiana and Air Italy as well as airports in Milan, Linate and Turin will strike for a full 24 hours.

Our advice? Check with your airline before traveling to find out if theres any disruption to your travel plans.
THE number of patients being treated on trolleys at University Hospital Limerick has increased significantly this Tuesday.

After Mondays dramatic fall in the numbers on trolleys  16 across A&E and on wards, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation  there are 40 people on trolleys in the Limerick hospital this Tuesday, the second highest in the country.

The overcrowding figure has been consistently high at UHL and the hospital is regularly the most overcrowded nationally.

27 beds that were opened between St Johns Hospital, Ennis and Nenagh hospitals to alleviate overcrowding have now reverted back to their original use.

A state-of-the-art emergency department is expected to open this May, subject to a successful recruitment campaign and HSE funding.

It will be three times the size of the current facility, and is expected to improve the patient and staff experience at the hospital, a spokesperson for the UL Hospitals Group has said.
CHAIRPERSON of Limerick ICMSA Tom Blackburn has called on local farmers to meet at the Regional Veterinary Lab at Knockalisheen on Wednesday when a review group from the Department of Agriculture is expected at the facility.

It serves the farming community of Limerick, Clare, Kerry and North and Mid Tipperary.

Mr Blackburn said that the review group was expected to decide on a possible closure of the vet lab - one of the busiest in the State  a development that he said would be a very serious blow to one of the most intensive farming and food producing areas in Ireland.

In the event of it being closed, the Limerick ICMSA chair said that local farmers would be expected to travel to Athlone or Cork, which would represent an inexcusable degradation of a vital piece of regional agri-infrastructure at precisely the time when local farmers and the critically important food production sector needs reassurance and support.

Mr Blackburn said the idea that one of the States foremost food production areas and one of Europes most intensive dairying districts would be left without an official veterinary lab was mind-boggling and he promised that ICMSA would resist any efforts to reduce further the number of regional vet labs which now stood at a paltry six for the whole State.

He appealed for local farmers from whatever organisation to join local members of ICMSA at the Regional Veterinary Lab at Knockalisheen this Wednesday at 10am to send "an unmistakable message" that Limerick and the wider Mid-West demands that this vital support for our biggest economic activity - farming and food production  be kept.
A COUNTY Limerick man who pleaded guilty to possessing hundreds of rounds of ammunition has been jailed for three years.

Gardai found ammunition in a flat the man shared with his former partner after a tip-off from the woman following a domestic dispute.

John Costello, aged 60, of Glenashrone, Abbeyfeale pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court in December to the possession of 450 rounds of .38 special calibre ammunition and 329 rounds of 9mm calibre ammunition at the flat above the Coffee Pot, Abbeyfeale on February 21, 2016.

He also admitted to the possession of three rounds of 9mm calibre ammunition at his home address.

Imposing sentence this Tuesday, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, said that although the ammunition was not accompanied by a firearm, the court was of the view that the "total amount of ammunition must be regarded as significant".

The court has previously heard evidence from Detective Garda Michael Herlihy that in February last year Costello was in a relationship, and after a domestic dispute his partner called the gardai, telling them there was ammunition in their flat.

After finding the ammunition, the gardai obtained a search warrant and found more ammunition in Costello's apartment in Glenashrone.

Det Garda Herlihy then telephoned Costello, who later presented himself to the garda station.

During interviews he admitted he was responsible for the ammunition but did not say where or who it had come from.

The detective said gardai were satisfied his possession of the ammunition was in the context of subversive IRA activity.

Mitigating factors in sentencing, Mr Justice Hunt said, were Costello's co-operation with gardai, his early admissions and plea of guilty. He also has no previous convictions.

The judge added that there may have been evidential difficulties if the case had proceeded to trial.

Costello was sentenced to three years for the first offence and nine months, to run concurrently, for the second.

The sentences were backdated to November 3, last.
The jury in the trial of a man charged with murdering his flatmate at their home in Limerick has been told that the 56-year-olds tale of self defence is an insult to their intelligence.

Anthony Sammon SC, prosecuting, made his comments during his closing speech at the Central Criminal Court this Tuesday morning.

Arnis Labunskis, with an address at Wolfe Tone Street, Limerick City, is accused of murdering 39-year-old Dainius Burba on April 21 or April 22 2015.

The Latvian has pleaded not guilty to murdering the Lithuanian father of one, who was also his colleague.

The accused told gardai that he had come home to find his flatmate with serious injuries, but the father-of-two has since told the jury that he inflicted them.

He testified on Friday that Mr Burba called him into his darkened bedroom in the middle of the night and began swinging an object at him. He said he managed to disarm Mr Burba, but that Mr Burba continued to come at him with his fists.

He said he then began swinging the object at him until the deceased shouted stop. He said he later realised that the object involved was a wooden table leg.

Address the jury, Mr Sammon said that this new scenario did not stand up to scrutiny. I suggest that what Mr Labunskis has told you is an insult to your intelligence, he said.

He said that by not telling the gardai that everything happened in the context of this tale of self defence, the gardai were unable to carry out certain investigations.

He described his new version of events introduced on Friday as an ambush of the prosecution case.

Lawyers representing the defendant will address jury of three women and nine men this afternoon before Ms Justice Deirdre McCarthy put the jurors in charge.
MOST pupils would be scolded for distractedly doodling in class, but for four creative city students, their artistic Doodle 4 Google efforts could bring a big cash award.

The winner of Doodle 4 Google will receive a 5,000 scholarship towards their third-level studies, a Chromebook, and a 10,000 technology grant for their school.

The four city students in the top 75  out of 4,200 applicants  in the country are Siluni Sihansa of Milford Grange National School, Colaiste Nano Nagles Abbey OKeeffe and Tess Lim, and Peter Furey, representing Ardscoil Ris.

Each participant has been tasked with drawing the most creative Google logo, under the theme of If I were create anything, in bidding for the Doodle 4 Google crown.

Young Silunis submission entails G  never ending colourful bubble maker; O  dress that makes you warm when it's cold and makes you cool otherwise; O  Space helmet with TV; G  voice activated animated sticker book; L  special multicolour pencil with normal pencil and crayon modes; E  automatic jacket zipper.

Ardscoils Peter Furey demonstrates a variety of shelters to live and the silhouette of travelling people shows how homelessness and war persecution is a huge burden on our society.

Nano Nagle art teacher Sarah Nestor said it was the first time there has been two students from the same school in the same category, as Abbey and Tess compete against 13 other students.

Abbeys logo is based on her wish to create a time machine so she can go back in time and watch all the famous artists paint and learn different techniques.

While Tess, who recently moved to Limerick from Malaysia, wants to recreate the stories my grandmother told me when I was young and make them alive.

Vote online here. The deadline for voting is this February 21.
GARDAI have launched a probe after drunken students smashed up a lecture theatre in Limerick's Mary Immaculate College  with one urinating on the floor, the Limerick Leader can reveal.

Revellers at the South Circular Road College, marking its annual Raise and Give (Rag) week, entered a lecture room and damaged furniture, equipment, and the floor.

Gardai at Henry Street are studying CCTV footage in an effort to identify the three offenders, who entered the lecture theatre on the final day of Rag week last Thursday.

The incident has been condemned by students' union president James Deegan, who said a small number of students were involved.

And it is understood that MIC will now reconsider its policy of allowing a bar on campus during a week which traditionally was focused on raising money for charity.

It was a fabulous week. There was no hassle whatsoever. But on the last day, this happened, a college source said.

"It was on campus, it was less than a handful of students. But at the same time, it is damaging for us. We dont have a bar on campus. We only get permission to have one during Rag week. But that will all have to be reviewed now."

In a statement to the Limerick Leader, union president James Deegan said: It is unfortunate this incident happened during what was an otherwise trouble-free week, and the Mary Immaculate Student Union do not condone the behaviour by a small number of students which resulted in a minor amount of damage to one of the lecture theatres.

He added that the union was working with college authorities and the gardai to identify the culprits.

A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana confirmed an investigation is underway. No arrests have yet been made.

Separately, it has emerged that with the Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT)s Rag week in full swing, the Cratloe Wood Student Village has blocked its tenants from signing in overnight guests until the end of this week.

The Student Village, which houses around 500 LIT students, posted a notice on its Facebook site last Thursday ahead of the colleges Rag week.

It states there will be no sign in for students during the week itself  meaning they are not allowed guests.

One student, who did not wish to be named, said this went against the terms of his contract, which  he claimed  allows guests to stay for a short period of time.

Management at Cratloe Wood Student Village have not responded to a request for comment.
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Unusual and extreme

Some animals bend over backwards when courting their mates, like this brolga  a crane-like bird  in Queensland, Australia. (Image credit: Uwe Bergwitz/Shutterstock)

On Valentine's Day, lovers who are eager to woo their partners show their affection with traditional gifts of red roses, heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, or with romantic dinners at fancy restaurants. There's usually some effort involved, but pulling off a memorable Valentine's Day is easier  and generally safer  than some of the courtship rituals performed by other animal species.

For most animals, wooing comes with heightened personal risk. A male's showy displays, while attracting a female's attention, could also attract nearby predators, and fights between male rivals can also result in a date night with a body count. In some cases, winning a cannibalistic female's affections places the male at the top of the post-coital menu.

Many of the courting behaviors practiced by animals may seem strange to us, but as peculiar and risky as they are, they work just fine for their intended audiences. Here are a few examples of unusual and extreme courtship rituals in the animal kingdom.

Firing love darts

A Cornu aspersum snail that was hit in the head by a love-dart (arrow) so hard that the dart came out the other side of its head, next to the right eystalk. (Image credit: Monica Lodi & Joris M. Koene, Journal of Molluscan Studies (DOI: 10.1093/mollus/eyv046))

Look closely at these photos of land snail Cornu aspersum, and you'll see a small appendage close to the eyestalk. That tiny structure was propelled into the snail's head by its mate, delivering an infusion of a special mucus that prepares the snail for receiving an envelope full of sperm.

As land snails are hermaphrodites, either snail in a mating pair is capable of fertilizing the other, and both are equipped with "love darts" that they use to stab their partner  after they spend a bit of time circling around and touching each other with their muscular pseudopods.

Some snail species shoot single darts, some shoot multiple darts, and others use a single dart to repeatedly jab their mate for close to an hour, according to a 2006 study, published in the journal The American Naturalist.

Scraping and scratching

Reconstruction of theropods engaged in scrape ceremony display activity, based on trace fossil evidence from Colorado. (Image credit: Xing Lida and Yujiang Han)

Little is known about dinosaurs' mating habits, but evidence preserved in rocks in Colorado suggests that some dinosaurs practiced a ritual dance much like one performed by living birds.

Paleontologists found scrape marks  many dozens of them  in four sites that held remains of Cretaceous dinosaurs. In a 2016 study published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports (opens in new tab), researchers explained that they saw distinct similarities between these scratches in the rock, and so-called "nest scrapes" created by certain types of male birds as part of their courtship displays.

Male birds across a number of ground nesting species  including sage grouse, puffins and various shore birds  scrape the ground in front of females, as if to demonstrate how good they would be at building a nest. They make dozens or even hundreds of scratches at a time, and usually accompany scraping with strutting, puffing themselves up, and fanning their tails.

Twerk or be eaten

A black widow female dwarfs her male counterpart. Male black widows can 'twerk,' as seen in new video of the spiders' mating dance. (Image credit: Sean McCann)

Black widow (Latrodectus Hesperus) females are about twice as large as males, so the smaller suitors have to take some precautions when approaching a female's web, lest they be mistaken for prey and eaten before mating even gets underway.

Males stay safe by announcing their presence to the female with vigorous rump shaking.

As a male steps onto a female's web, he vibrates his abdomen, sending signals coursing along the silk strands. He advances, vibrates and pauses, advances, vibrates and pauses  a pattern distinctly different from the shorter, more irregular movements of trapped prey, researchers found in a study, published in the journal Frontiers in Zoology. The study authors also discovered that the vibrations that males produce are at a low amplitude, further distinguishing them from prey movements, which were more dynamic and percussive.

Injecting sex hormones

Two Siphopteron sp. 1, caught in the act. (Image credit:  Johanna Werminghausen)

Hermaphroditic sea slugs possess both male and female sex organs, and when pairs come together to mate, they stab each other between the eyes with a needle-like appendage called a penile stylet, delivering a cocktail of prostate fluid. This tactic was described as "just weird" by a researcher who co-authored a 2013 study about the odd behavior, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

Scientists are uncertain as to why exactly the slugs target this body area for stabbing, but they suspect that the hormonal injection may serve to increase the possibility of successful fertilization.

Mystery circles

These 'mystery circles' are about 7 feet wide and are made by a 5 inch fish. (Image credit: Kawase et al)

"Mystery circles" on the ocean floor near Japan that measure about 7 feet (2.1 meters) in diameter were recently found to be made by a fish only 5 inches (12.7 centimeters) in length. The intricate symmetrical patterns were first noticed by divers in 1995, and in 2013 (opens in new tab) researchers described what created them: a species of pufferfish, with mating on its mind.

Males swim along the seafloor flapping their fins to sculpt the remarkably intricate ridges and valleys  a process that take seven to nine days  and then decorate them with shell fragments and sediment. After interested females are fertilized, they lay their eggs in the nest site at the center.

Though the structures are beautiful, scientists wrote in 2013 that the lines and shapes carved by the pufferfish serve to channel sediment particles, and likely don't serve an aesthetic purpose.

Built-in glow sticks

This jumping spider has UV-reflective body parts. (Image credit: Matthew L.M. Lim and Daiqin Li)

Body parts that reflect ultraviolet light help male jumping spiders in the Cosmophasis umbratica species catch females' eyes (all eight of them). Males lure the female spiders by striking poses that display these glowing patches prominently.

However, female C. umbratica spiders have a glowing trick of their own, possessing palps  a pair of appendages near the head  that fluoresce green in ultraviolet light, which they use to attract the males.

Both male and female spiders rely on these signals to tell who's in a mating mood, scientists discovered in a 2007 study published in the journal Science. When ultraviolet light was blocked and the spiders didn't glow, they lost interest in mating, the researchers found.

Tail whipping

The male Marvelous Spatuletail (Loddigesia mirabilis) sports a four-feathered tail that's twice the length of its body. (Image credit: Greg R. Homel)

In one species of hummingbird  the marvelous spatuletail (Loddigesia mirabilis)  males attract females by whipping their lengthy tails back and forth.

And those tails are impressive, two of the four feathers measure about 6 inches (15 centimeters) in length  about twice as long as the birds' bodies  and are tipped with shiny iridescent "paddles," which the males whirl feverishly at likely mates.

Illusion bachelor pads

The geometry of the courtship site creates an illusion of uniformity: When a female bowerbird views the court from within the avenue, all of the court objects appear to be the same size. (Image credit: L.A. Kelly)

Bowerbirds are known for building elaborate structures to attract female interest, even decorating their bowers with arrays of colored objects that appear to be selected and displayed for their aesthetic appeal.

But there's more to their arrangement than meets the eye. Researchers discovered that male bowerbirds construct their bachelor pads in such a way that when the male bird stands in front of it, he appears larger and more imposing to the female viewing him from outside.

And the birds that create the most successful illusions were the most popular with the females and the most likely to mate with them, scientists wrote in a 2012 study, published in the journal Proceedings for the National Academy of Sciences.

Ultrasonic love songs

(Image credit: Colin Robert Varndell/Shutterstock)

Male mice seeking to impress a mate sing unique high-pitched songs, vocalizing in the ultrasonic range. They produce these whistling sounds  which differ greatly from normal communication  by creating a type of feedback loop of airflow in the windpipe and larynx, according to a 2016 study published in the journal Current Biology. Scientists discovered the mechanism by shooting high-speed video of the mice's larynxes as they vocalized, capturing 100,000 frames per second.

Impressive though this technique may be, female mice are picky about which songs they like; they prefer tunes that differ from those sung by their relatives, according to an earlier study published in Feb. 2014 in the journal PLOS ONE.

Invisible tap dance

A male red-cheeked cordon-bleu songbird performs his mating 'tap dance' to court the gal next to him on their perch. (Image credit: Nao Ota.)

High-speed video recently revealed a mating dance performed by a species of songbird tapping their feet too quickly for the movements to be seen with the naked eye.

Blue-capped cordon-bleu songbirds (Uraeginthus cyanocephalus)  both males and females  were known to bob their heads and sing to each other during courtship, but a 2015 study published in the journal Scientific Reports (opens in new tab) was the first to capture the rapid tapping of their toes  and the birds tapped their feet faster if they were sharing the perch with a prospective mate, the scientists discovered.
Several pyramids dot the landscape at Meroe, which became the Nubian capital about 300 B.C.

They battled the Romans, ruled Egypt as pharaohs and constructed vast fields of pyramids. They are the Nubians, and they are not a "lost civilization" but rather a people who are with us today, based in what is now Sudan and southern Egypt.

In ancient times, some of their rulers were woman who were sometimes referred to in ancient texts as "Candaces" or "Kandakes." Archaeologists have found carved images of them revealing that they sometimes liked to be depicted overweight.

The ancient Nubians were also well known for their archery skills, and the Egyptians sometimes called their land "Ta-Seti," which means "land of the bow." Nubian rulers, including the female rulers, were often buried with archery equipment, such as stone rings designed to make it easier to fire off arrows.

Today, archaeological remains of the Nubians can be found throughout Sudan and southern Egypt and date from prehistoric to modern times. There are numerous archaeological projects investigating these remains and new discoveries continue to be made.

The oasis city of Kerma, Sudan, was once a major trade center. (Image credit: hecke61/Shutterstock)

Kerma

The first hominids likely ventured into what is now Sudan and southern Egypt more than 1 million years ago. By 7,000 years ago people in the region were moving from a hunting-and-gathering lifestyle to a lifestyle based around herding domesticated animals, wrote David Edwards, a lecturer in archaeology at the University of Leicester, in his book "The Nubian Past: An Archaeology of Sudan" (Routledge, 2004). Agriculture and permanent settlements began to appear in the time afterward.

Around 4,500 years ago a large settlement grew at the site of Kerma, just north of the third cataract of the Nile River (the cataracts are shallow areas containing natural obstacles that make travelling by boat difficult). The people who lived at Kerma did not use a writing system; however, the ancient Egyptians referred to the area that they controlled as "Kush."

Kerma has been excavated by a Swiss team for more than 30 years. The team has discovered the remains of temples, cemeteries and a city wall with bastions. Their discoveries reveal that the city was a center for trade with gold, ivory and cattle among other commodities being traded by Kerma's inhabitants. The exact amount of territory that Kerma controlled is uncertain, but it appears to have encompassed part of what is now Sudan and southern Egypt.

Egyptian occupation

Around 3,500 years ago, Egypt grew increasingly powerful and envious of Kerma's resources. They launched a series of military campaigns that destroyed Kerma and led to the occupation of Nubia. The pharaohs of Egypt sent governors to administer Nubia and used a series of towns as hubs to control it.

One of these towns is now an archaeological site called "Amara West" and is being excavated by a British Museum team. The team found that some of the people at Amara West were buried with scarabs that have the name of Egyptian pharaohs inscribed on them. "Ramesses, beloved of Amun-Ra and Ra-Horakhty, born of the gods, who founded the Two Lands," reads one scarab in translation.

Independence and rule of Egypt

Egyptian power declined around 3,000 years ago with its central government falling apart. A number of factors, including attacks by a group that archaeologists sometimes call the "Sea People," played a role in this decline and government fragmentation.

As Egypt's power waned, the Nubians began to re-assert their independence. A kingdom based at a city called Napata, located near the fourth cataract of the Nile River, grew increasingly powerful. Napata's territory expanded, and during the reign of King Piye (reign ca 743712 B.C.), it expanded north of the first cataract, conquering Egypt itself.

The Nubian kings ruled Egypt as pharaohs, establishing what is sometimes called the "25th dynasty" of Egypt. The Nubian kings not only adopted Egyptian titles but also Egyptian writing and Egyptian pyramids. The Nubian pharaohs commissioned lengthy inscriptions that recorded their titles and deeds, and pyramid building took off in Nubia in a big way. Archaeologists have found fields of pyramids. In one recently uncovered cemetery, located at a site now called "Sedeinga," they found no less than 35 pyramids.

The kings of Nubia battled the ancient Assyrians. A passage in the Hebrew Bible indicates that one important battle was fought during the reign of Taharqa (reign ca. 690664 B.C.) and took place not far from Jerusalem.

The Assyrians proved to be a stubborn foe, eventually driving Taharqa from the Egyptian capital of Memphis. The Nubians lost the last of their Egyptian territories during the reign of Tanutamani (reign ca. 664653 B.C.).

Move to Meroe

After the Nubians were driven out by the Assyrians, Egypt was ruled by a succession of foreign powers including the Persians, Macedonians and Romans. There were only brief periods when Egypt was fully independent.

The Nubians had to contend with this succession of foreign powers to the north, and around 300 B.C. moved their capital south of Napata to a city called Meroe. At their new capital, the Nubians built a number of palaces, temples and pyramids. The Nubians also developed their own writing system, which today is only partially deciphered and now called "Meroitic."

Ancient texts and archaeological remains show that the Nubians also battled the Roman Empire. One famous archaeological find, made at Meroe in 1910, is a bronze head of the Roman Emperor Octavian (later called Augustus). Archaeologists presume that it was captured during a Nubian raid into Roman Egypt and was brought to Meroe as a sort of prize. Ancient records indicate that Rome and Meroe agreed to a peace treaty around 20 B.C.

The next few centuries brought a period of relative stability with the relationship between Meroe and Rome becoming mainly one of trade. Archaeological evidence indicates that Meroe declined around A.D. 300. Scholars have suggested a number of reasons for this decline, including desertification and loss of trade routes.

People in the Roman Empire converted to Christianity on a large scale during the fourth and fifth centuries A.D., and Christianity also began to make its way into Nubia. When Meroe collapsed it was a series of Christian kingdoms, including the kingdom of Makuria, which rose in its place. These new Christian kingdoms built cathedrals and supported monasteries. A number of new languages including Coptic and a language which modern-day scholars call "Old Nubian" flourished in Nubia.

Shoppers stroll through the central market in Aswan, in southern Egypt. (Image credit: Olga Vasilyeva/Shutterstock)

Ongoing history

Nubia is not a "lost civilization," and today the Nubians live on in Egypt, Sudan and other countries. The total population is uncertain.

In recent times, the Nubians have had problems with development and discrimination. The construction of the Aswan High Dam (completed in 1970) led to the flooding of areas of southern Egypt that were part of the Nubians' ancient homeland. During construction of the dam, the Nubians were removed from their villages and they have been seeking compensation ever since. They have also been seeking the right to return to villages that have not been flooded.

In Sudan, a series of dams are being planned that, if built, would flood another part of the Nubians' ancient homeland, leading to more Nubians being displaced. In addition to these planned dams, the Merowe Dam is already in operation and has displaced more than 50,000 people.

Additional resources
Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano, one of Earth's most active volcanoes, at night. A NASA-led team is studying Hawaiian volcanoes to better understand volcanic processes and hazards.

Too Hot?

Lava from Hawaii's volcano exited a tube at the sea cliff near Kalapana on July 26, 2010, and poured out into the ocean at a growing lava delta. (Image credit: T. Orr, USGS)

Valentine's Day is a hot holiday, romantically speaking. So why not take your beloved on an adventure to a sultry destination? Live Science has put together a list of seven sizzling, unconventional places for your travels and your imagination, as some trips might be challenging, downright dangerous or even impossible to take.

Kilauea, Hawaii

Kilauea, Hawaii (Image credit: USGS)

Hawaii's Kilauea volcano has erupted continuously since 1983, so it likely won't disappoint this Valentine's Day. The average temperature of its basaltic lava is 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit (1,250 degrees Celsius). The energy released for the entire eruption since 1983 could light 1.6 million 60-watt light bulbs, said Jessica Ball, a postdoctoral fellow at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) who studies volcanoes.

Your love doesn't have to be as scorching as Kilauea's, but may it serve as an inspiration to keep things cozy.

West Mata volcano

The hottest measured lava temperature on record was found at a submarine volcano called West Mata in the Pacific Ocean. (Image credit: NOAA and NSF)

The hottest measured lava temperature on record was found at a submarine volcano in the Pacific Ocean. At nearly three-fourths of a mile (1.2 kilometers) underwater, it might not seem like a conventional date spot, but the West Mata volcano is so remote  it's near Fiji, Tonga and Samoa  you and your date will be able to get privacy from prying eyes.

In November 2008, the volcano spewed boninite, a magnesium-rich lava found in subduction zones. The boninite lava reached an estimated temperature of almost 2,444 F (1,300 C), according to measurements by Jason, a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), Ball told Live Science.

Talk about too hot to handle.

Two Boats

Hydrothermal vents may be deep underwater, but they're scorching hot. (Image credit: NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program, INDEX-SATAL 2010)

Hydrothermal vents may be deep underwater, but they're scorching hot. That's because volcanic activity at mid-ocean ridges can create hot fluids within the oceanic crust, which then emanate as black smokers from the seafloor.

Two of these vents, known as Two Boats and Sisters Peak, emit water that's so hot, it's a cross between a liquid and a vapor. According to a 2008 study published in the journal Geology, it reached a stable maximum temperature of 732 F (407 C) and a maximum temperature of 835 F (464 C), making it the hottest known water on Earth, the researchers said in news release.

Water that hot could make a sizzling drink for your sweetie. Just don't burn your tongue.

Lut Desert

Dasht-e-Lut, Lut desert, hottest desert in the world, Iran (Image credit: Marcin Szymczak/Shutterstock)

Want to travel somewhere superhot that's on dry land? Check out Iran's Lut Desert. Over a period of seven years, from 2003 to 2009, the Lut Desert had the world's highest surface temperatures for five of them: in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009, according to a 2011 study in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.

The highest measurement occurred in 2005, with a temperature of 159.3 F (70.7 C), the researchers said.

Voodoo

Voodoo may not be the hottest place, but it's a bustling paradise for countless marine creatures. (Image credit: David Butterfield; NOAA; Schmidt Ocean Institute)

Voodoo may not be the hottest place, but it's a bustling paradise for countless marine creatures.

"Imagine a vast deep-sea desert, where there is not enough food or energy to survive. It's cold and inhospitable," said David Butterfield, a principal research scientist of oceanography at the Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean, a collaboration between the University of Washington and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). "In the middle of that desert, there are these amazing oases of life."

One of these oases is called Voodoo  in part because it's shaped like a doughnut from Portland, Oregon's famous Voodoo Doughnuts. But it's located far from there in the Mariana backarc, west of the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean.

"This vent spot is a hot tub orgy of hydrothermal animals stacked on top of each other  crabs, "hairy" snails (their shells feel like the pointy side of Velcro), shrimp and other smaller creatures," Butterfield said.

Waters at the vent can go up to 225 F (125 C), which is much warmer than the 35 F (1.8 C) background water, he said.

Earth's center

Earth's core. (Image credit: Vadim Sadovski/Shutterstock)

Unless you're Jules Verne, the center of the Earth is an impossible undertaking. But you can spend a second on Valentine's Day imagining how hot the 10,800 F (6,000 C) iron core is, according to a 2013 study in the journal Science. It's a nice thought, especially if you're stuck in February's typically dreary weather.

Hot mine

Close-up of a gold nugget on top of an old map of South Africa (Image credit: corlaffra/Shutterstock)

At 2.5 miles (4 km) below the ground, Mponeng is the world's deepest gold mine, journalist Matthew Hart told National Public Radio in 2013. The South African mine can reach temperatures of 140 F (77 C). To combat the heat, people blow fans over slurries of salty ice to lower the temperature to about 85 F (47 C) while mining for the precious metal, Hart said.

Granted, these conditions aren't that romantic, but they can spark a discussion about how to ethically buy gold and other precious treasures for a sweet Valentine's Day gift.
This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Live Science's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.

Having access to the internet is increasingly considered to be an emerging human right. International organizations and national governments have begun to formally recognize its importance to freedom of speech, expression and information exchange. The next step to help ensure some measure of cyber peace online may be for cybersecurity to be recognized as a human right, too.

The United Nations has taken note of the crucial role of internet connectivity in "the struggle for human rights." United Nations officials have decried the actions of governments cutting off internet access as denying their citizens' rights to free expression.

But access is not enough. Those of us who have regular internet access often suffer from cyber-fatigue: We're all simultaneously expecting our data to be hacked at any moment and feeling powerless to prevent it. Late last year, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, an online rights advocacy group, called for technology companies to "unite in defense of users," securing their systems against intrusion by hackers as well as government surveillance.

It's time to rethink how we understand the cybersecurity of digital communications. One of the U.N.'s leading champions of free expression, international law expert David Kaye, in 2015 called for "the encryption of private communications to be made a standard." These and other developments in the international and business communities are signaling what could be early phases of declaring cybersecurity to be a human right that governments, companies and individuals should work to protect.

Is internet access a right?

The idea of internet access as a human right is not without controversy. No less an authority than Vinton Cerf, a "father of the internet," has argued that technology itself is not a right, but a means through which rights can be exercised.

All the same, more and more nations have declared their citizens' right to internet access. Spain, France, Finland, Costa Rica, Estonia and Greece have codified this right in a variety of ways, including in their constitutions, laws and judicial rulings.

A former head of the U.N.'s global telecommunications governing body has argued that governments must "regard the internet as basic infrastructure  just like roads, waste and water." Global public opinion seems to overwhelmingly agree.

Cerf's argument may, in fact, strengthen the case for cybersecurity as a human right  ensuring that technology enables people to exercise their rights to privacy and free communication.

Existing human rights law

Current international human rights law includes many principles that apply to cybersecurity. For example, Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights includes protections of freedom of speech, communication and access to information. Similarly, Article 3 states "Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person." But enforcing these rights is difficult under international law. As a result, many countries ignore the rules.

There is cause for hope, though. As far back as 2011, the U.N.'s High Commission for Human Rights said that human rights are equally valid online as offline. Protecting people's privacy is no less important when handling paper documents, for instance, than when dealing with digital correspondence. The U.N.'s Human Rights Council reinforced that stance in 2012, 2014 and 2016.

In 2013, the U.N. General Assembly itself  the organization's overall governing body, comprising representatives from all member nations  voted to confirm people's "right to privacy in the digital age." Passed in the wake of revelations about U.S. electronic spying around the globe, the document further endorsed the importance of protecting privacy and freedom of expression online. And in November 2015, the G-20, a group of nations with some of the world's largest economies, similarly endorsed privacy, "including in the context of digital communications."

Putting protections in place

Simply put, the obligation to protect these rights involves developing new cybersecurity policies, such as encrypting all communications and discarding old and unneeded data, rather than keeping it around indefinitely. More firms are using the U.N.'s Guiding Principles to help inform their business decision-making to promote human rights due diligence. They are also using U.S. government recommendations, in the form of the National Institute for Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework, to help determine how best to protect their data and that of their customers.

In time, the tide will likely strengthen. Internet access will become more widely recognized as a human right  and following in its wake may well be cybersecurity. As people use online services more in their daily lives, their expectations of digital privacy and freedom of expression will lead them to demand better protections.

Governments will respond by building on the foundations of existing international law, formally extending into cyberspace the human rights to privacy, freedom of expression and improved economic well-being. Now is the time for businesses, governments and individuals to prepare for this development by incorporating cybersecurity as a fundamental ethical consideration in telecommunications, data storage, corporate social responsibility and enterprise risk management.

Scott Shackelford, Associate Professor of Business Law and Ethics, Indiana University

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
An artist's interpretation of an ancient mother <i>Dinocephalosaurus</i> swimming with an embryo developing within her.

The "birth plan" of an ancient Nessie look-alike didn't involve laying a giant egg, but rather delivering a live baby sea monster, a new study finds.

Until now, researchers had thought that the fearsome marine reptile known as Dinocephalosaurus laid eggs, just as birds and crocodiles (its distant relatives) do. But the discovery of the remains of a pregnant, 245-million-year-old Dinocephalosaurus specimen in a Chinese fossil deposit indicates that the reptile gave live birth, the researchers said.

"This is the first-ever evidence of live birth in an animal group previously thought to lay eggs exclusively," said the study's lead researcher, Jun Liu, an associate professor of paleontology at the Hefei University of Technology in China. [Image Gallery: Ancient Monsters of the Sea]

Researchers discovered the specimen of the pregnant Dinocephalosaurus in southwestern China's Luoping Biota National Geopark in 2008. During its lifetime in the middle Triassic period, the 13-foot-long (4 meters) marine reptile would have swum throughout the shallow seas of ancient southern China.

Dinocephalosaurus had a long neck and sharp teeth. "It was a fish eater, snaking its long neck from side to side to snatch its prey," Liu told Live Science. "It looks superficially like the legendary Nessie."

The star marks the spot where researchers discovered the pregnant Dinocephalosaurus remains. (Image credit: Liu, J. et al. Nature Communications. (2017).)

Ancient embryo

The researchers discovered a fossilized Dinocephalosaurus embryo in the mother's abdomen. The fetus was small  about 12 percent of its mother's body size  but large enough for scientists to discern that its anatomy (for instance, a long neck and elongated ribs) was similar to that of the adult Dinocephalosaurus, the researchers said.

Still, the researchers went to great lengths to determine that the bundle of bones was, in fact, an embryo. First, they noted that the embryo was enclosed within the mother's body, which excluded the possibility that a foreign animal fell on top of her and then fossilized. Second, the embryo's neck was pointing forward. Usually, sea creatures swallow prey headfirst; the mother even had a partially digested fish, whose head was facing backward in her abdomen, the researchers noted.

"The neck-forward position of the embryonic skeleton suggests that the included skeleton was not ingested prey, but was an embryo," the researchers wrote in the study.

Finally, the embryo was curled in a fetal position, just like other known vertebrate embryos during development, the researchers said.

Egg-laying animals typically deposit eggs holding embryos that are much less developed than the one found inside the mother Dinocephalosaurus, the research team noted. In addition, the researchers said that they did not see any evidence of an eggshell near the embryo, further supporting the idea that the Dinocephalosaurus gave live birth, they said.

A diagram of the specimen, with the hot pink area showing where the embryo's remains were discovered. (Image credit: Liu, J. et al. Nature Communications. (2017).)

Reptilian evolution

Dinocephalosaurus was an archosauromorph (Greek for "ruling lizard form"), a relative of the group that includes crocodiles, pterosaurs and dinosaurs, including birds. The new discovery pushes back evidence of reproductive biology in the Archosauromorpha group by 50 million years, Liu said.

In addition, the discovery solves a mystery about egg laying in most archosauromorphs. Previously, researchers were unsure whether archosauromorphs had genetic or developmental barriers preventing live birth, but now they know there isn't a barrier  most archosauromorphs just evolved to lay eggs, Liu said. [Photos: Ancient Pterosaur Eggs & Fossils Uncovered in China]

The finding is an "extraordinary" one, and demonstrates how "evolution never really attains the optimal solution," said Kenneth Lacovara, a professor of paleontology and the dean of the School of Earth and Environment at Rowan University in New Jersey, who was not involved in the study. "It obtains the best solution possible based on the current situation."

The finding shows that "egg laying in the group that spans crocodiles to birds is not a deficit of their nature," Lacovara told Live Science. "It appears to be a strength. The alternative was possible, but that was not selected for."

Moreover, the fossils show that "Dinocephalosaurus determined the sex of its babies genetically," Liu said. "This is a noteworthy finding given that its closest extant [living] relatives, turtles and crocodilians, determine the sex of their offspring by environmental temperatures."

Live birth (known as viviparity) has evolved independently at least 115 times in living lizards and snakes, and at least once in the common ancestor of mammals, the researchers said. However, Dinocephalosaurus is hardly the only ancient marine reptile that gave live birth; a 182-million-year-old ichthyosaur fossil shows that a mother died during a breech birth, Live Science reported previously.

The new study was published online today (Feb. 14) in the journal Nature Communications (opens in new tab).

Original article on Live Science.
More than 200 new genetic markers linked with male pattern baldness have been identified, according to a new study from the United Kingdom.

The findings greatly increase the number of known genetic markers linked with baldness in men; a previous large study identified just eight such markers.

The researchers in the new study were also able to use their set of genetic markers to predict men's chances of severe hair loss, although the scientists noted that their results apply more to large populations of people than to any given individual.

"We are still a long way from making an accurate prediction for an individual's hair-loss pattern. However, these results take us one step closer," study co-author Riccardo Marioni, of the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, said in a statement. "The findings pave the way for an improved understanding of the genetic causes of hair loss," Marioni said. [5 Myths About the Male Body]

In the study, the researchers analyzed information from more than 52,000 men ages 40 to 69 years in the United Kingdom. Of these men, about 32 percent said they had no hair loss, 23 percent said they had slight hair loss, 27 percent said they had moderate hair loss and 18 percent said they had severe hair loss

The researchers then analyzed participants' genomes, looking for genetic variations, known as single-nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs, that were linked with severe hair loss. That search revealed 287 genetic variations, located on more than 100 genes, that were linked with severe hair loss.

Many of the genetic variations were located on or near genes that have previously been linked with hair growth, hair graying or the biological structures involved in making hair, the researchers said.

Forty of the genetic variations were located on the X chromosome, which men inherit from their mothers, the researchers said. One of the genes on the X chromosome  the gene for the androgen receptor, which binds to the hormone testosterone  was strongly linked with severe hair loss. Previous studies have also pinpointed this gene as tied to male pattern baldness.

The researchers then created a formula, which resulted in a genetic "risk score," to try to predict the chances of severe hair loss in the men. Among those men with a below-average score, 39 percent had no hair loss and 14 percent had severe hair loss. In contrast, among those with a high score that put them in the top 10 percent of those in the study, 58 percent had moderate-to-severe hair loss.

The researchers noted that in the study, they did not collect information on the age at which the men started losing their hair. The scientists said they would expect to see even stronger genetic associations with hair loss if they were able to include information about which men experienced early onset hair loss.

As more information from these participants becomes available, the researchers may be able to further refine their predictions, they said.

The study was published today (Feb. 14) in the journal PLOS Genetics.

Original article on Live Science.
The Webb County Commissioners Court is now accepting applications for Court at Law II judge following the arrest and resignation of Jesus Chuy Garza.

Commissioner Jaime Canales said on Monday that this is going to be an important selection process.

I dont know if this court has ever appointed someone to such an important court, he said.

The appointee will serve through December 2018. In 2018, the office will be up for election. The winner of the election will take office January 2019.

On Jan. 30, commissioners accepted the resignation of Court at Law II Judge Jesus Chuy Garza. Garza resigned from the bench after a grand jury indicted him on an influence-peddling charge.

Minimum qualifications for the position as specified by the state are that applicants must be at least 25 years old, must be a U.S. citizen, must have lived in Webb County for at least two years and must be a licensed attorney or judge of at least four years.

Interested candidates need to fill out a questionnaire, which is available on webbcountytx.gov. Candidates may also pick up a physical copy at the countys Human Resources Department, 1110 Washington St., second floor. All questionnaires are due by 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24. They must be turned in in person to the county business office, 1000 Houston St., second floor.
Rebecca Hollidge (16) from Annaduff in Co Leitrim and has suffered very severe ill-health following the 'HPV anti-cervical vaccine Gardasil'.

The teenager now needs to travel overseas to get treatment which, hopefully, will improve her condition.

In the last three years Rebeccas health has deteriorated to the extent that she has to spend up to 22 hours a day in bed with chronic pain.

She also suffers temporary limb paralysis, heart palpitations, confusion, nausea and memory loss and has been unable to go to school since she was found collapsed in a bathroom.

She suffers from brain fog which has meant she has lost contact with most of her friends.

Rebecca cannot receive treatment in Ireland and she is not covered by any state schemes.

A Medical Fund has now been set up to raise much needed funds to help get treatments for Rebecca.

Church gate collections were held in Aughnasheelin and Ballinamore on the weekend of February 4 and 5.

Further Church gate collections will be held this coming weekend February 11 and 12 at Fearglass, Fenagh, Drumcong, Gortletteragh, Rantogue, Annaduff, Drumsna, Bornacoola, Cloonturk, Aughawillian, Coraleehan, Cloone, Aughavas, Mohill and Eslin.

Collections will take place on March 18 and 19 in Gowel, Leitrim Village and Jamestown.

A monster auction is also in the pipeline and plans are in place for this in March.

Organisers are currently asking for as much support as possible including gift donations, vouchers, and services.

Everything no matter how big or small will be very much appreciated, added a spokesperson. Dates and times will be published in the coming weeks while all donations, gifts and pledges can be made to Collette who is contactable on (085) 1715646 or (086) 1723178.

A bank account has also been established for donations.

Rebecca Hollidge Medical Fund

Sort code = 98-60-30

A/C = 12736637

IBAN = IE44 ULSB 9860 3012736637

BIC = ULSBIE2D
Foras na Gaeilge is pleased to announce a series of information nights to promote the funded schemes on offer from the north/south Irish language body. The next of these will be held in the Longford Arms on Wednesday February 15 at 7.30pm.

On the night representatives from Foras na Gaeilge will share information about the organisations work, their funded schemes and supports available. The public will have an opportunity to provide feedback regarding the promotion of the Irish language in the area and ask questions.

We have identified certain areas North and South from which the number of applications for our various funding schemes has been relatively low over the last number of years," said Foras na Gaeilge CEO, Sean O Coinn.

"We hope to reach out to local communities through these sessions and to raise awareness about the funding opportunities available to them. We provide a broad range of schemes which may be of interest locally on a number of levels and would strongly encourage people with an interest in the Irish language to attend.

Among the 2017 schemes recently launched are the Festivals Scheme, Youth Events Scheme and Summer Camp Scheme. Foras na Gaeilge also provides funding in the area of business, the arts, media and publication. Visit Foras na Gaeilges corporate website for a full list of funding schemes available.

Foras na Gaeilge was founded under the Good Friday Agreement and is responsible for:
Local News, Business & Finance, Home & Garden, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: February 14 2017

NYS Senator John E. Brooks (SD-8) announced Senate passage of legislation that will require the Department of Tax and Finance to mail out all advance payment STAR personal income tax (PIT) credit checks by September ...

The legislation also ensures that the state will reimburse the taxpayer for any penalties that they may ensue due to delayed payment of their school tax bill if they received their credit late.

Albany, NY - February 13, 2017 - Today, New York State Senator John E. Brooks (SD-8) announced Senate passage of legislation that will require the Department of Tax and Finance to mail out all advance payment STAR personal income tax (PIT) credit checks by September 15th to ensure that homeowners receive their check in time to pay their school taxes.

It is simply ridiculous and unfair to penalize taxpayers because their check from the state did not arrive in a timely manner," said Senator Brooks. "Property taxes are already too high to begin with on Long Island and across New York State. Our taxpayers deserve their money when promised, and if not, the state should take responsibility."

The legislation also ensures that the state will reimburse the taxpayer for any penalties that they may ensue due to delayed payment of their school tax bill if they received their credit late. It would also require that interest (3%) be charged for each day past September 30th , which is the most common date by which the school tax bills are due.

Senator Brooks concluded, "Cutting taxes and helping our home and business owners on Long Island is a top priority. We can't afford to miss opportunities to ease the burden for Long Islanders. I urge my colleagues in the Assembly to move forward with this legislation so that New York State can deliver for our taxpayers."
Local News, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: February 14 2017

DEC opened the 21st Basic School for Uniformed Officers, the 28-week training academy in Pulaski that will prepare the new class of recruits for careers as ECOs and Forest Rangers.

Albany, NY - February 13, 2017 - The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) opened the 21st Basic School for Uniformed Officers, the 28-week training academy in Pulaski that will prepare the new class of recruits for careers as Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) and Forest Rangers, DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today.

"The men and women who fill our ranks as ECOs and Forest Rangers are the first line of defense in protecting New York's environment and natural resources, and I applaud our newest class of recruits for venturing into such noble service to our state and its residents," Commissioner Seggos said. "Our ECOs and Forest Rangers work long and arduous hours, often deep in our most remote wildernesses, and require specialized training to get the job done. I wish our new recruits well as they embark on this important journey."

The academy began Sunday, Feb. 12, with 34 ECO and 11 Ranger candidates reporting for duty. The recruits hail from 28 counties across New York State and range in age from 22 to 44 years old.

Graduation is tentatively scheduled for August 25.

Throughout the academy, which runs during the week from Sunday evenings to Friday afternoons, recruits will log 1288 hours of training. While the first few weeks focus primarily on basic police skills such as physical training, drill and ceremony, and computer skills, recruits will later delve into intensive instruction, like firearms training, swiftwater rescues, wildland fire suppression, and emergency vehicle operation.

An ECO's job duties are centered on the 71 chapters of New York State Environmental Conservation Law and can range from investigating deer poaching to conducting surveillance on a company suspected of dumping chemical waste to checking fishing licenses on a local waterway. In 2016, ECOs responded to more than 26,400 calls and issued more than 22,150 tickets.

"Since 1880, but now more than ever, the mission of the Division of Law Enforcement is vital to the protection of New York's abundant natural resources," said Division of Law Enforcement Director Joseph Schneider. "From Montauk Point to the City of Buffalo to deep in the Adirondack wilderness, ECOs are the Thin Green Line protecting New Yorkers from environmental damage and exploitation, whether enforcing clean air and water regulations, supporting fish and wildlife laws, investigating large scale environmental crimes, or ensuring solid waste management."

Forest Rangers' duties focus on the public's use of DEC-administered state lands and forests and can span from patrolling state properties to conducting search and rescue operations to fighting forest fires.

In 2016, DEC Forest Rangers conducted 356 search and rescue missions, extinguished 185 wildfires that burned a total of 4,191 acres, and worked on cases that resulted in nearly 3,000 tickets or arrests.

"Once trained, these men and women are entrusted to protect New York State's natural resources and nearly five million acres of state and public lands," said Division of Forest Protection Director Eric Lahr. "They will develop the necessary skills to enforce various state and environmental conservation laws, conduct wilderness search and rescues for lost or injured persons, and manage wildfire incidents."

ECOs and Forest Rangers are full-fledged State Police officers and are often called upon to assist in some of New York's most important police work. These officers were among the first responders on the scene to help in the aftermath of Sept. 11, they assisted in Superstorm Sandy response, and helped in the 2015 search for two escaped felons from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora.

The first Forest Rangers, originally known as Fire Wardens, were put into service in 1885 when the New York State Legislature established the Forest Preserve of New York State.

ECOs originally called Game Protectors, were first appointed for service in 1880, when there were just eight.

"I want, as game protectors, men of courage, resolution and hardihood who can handle the rifle, axe and paddle; who can camp out in summer or winter; who can go on snowshoes, if necessary; who can go through the woods by day or by night without regard to trails." - New York Gov. Teddy Roosevelt, 1899

The recruits in this newest class were selected from an eligible list of qualifications and passing scores generated from the most recent Civil Service exam, which was given in 2013. To view job qualifications for ECOs, visit the Environmental Conservation Officer job description web page and for Forest Rangers, visit the Forest Ranger job description web page.

For an inside look into what it takes to be an ECO or a Forest Ranger, watch a 4-minute clip from last year's Basic School for Uniformed Officers available on YouTube.

Upon graduation, recruits will be assigned patrol areas, typically consisting of one or two counties. They will join the ranks of 286 ECOs and 132 Forest Rangers currently serving across the state.

Throughout the Basic School, DEC will be hosting media availability dates for a number of events. For media inquiries, contact Benning DeLaMater, public information officer, at (518) 402-8000 or email.
Local News, Business & Finance, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: February 14 2017

New York State Comptrollers office announce an audit of the Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agencys (IDA) Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement for Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream.

Valley Stream, NY - February 13, 2017 - In response to the New York State Comptrollers office announcing an audit of the Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agencys (IDA) Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement for Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, Senator Kaminsky issued the following statement:



Last October, Assemblywoman Solages and I called for an audit into the Town of Hempstead IDAs deal for Green Acres. I applaud the Comptroller for protecting taxpayers with this investigation. The lack of transparency around this agreement has caused unprecedented controversy and public outrage, and getting to the bottom of it should be our top priority.



I applaud New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli for conducting an audit of the Green Acres Mall P.I.L.O.T, stated Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages. The Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agencys minimal communications with the public was unacceptable. The communities affected by this egregious tax increase deserve transparency and accountability. While we await the findings of this audit, I urge residents within the Valley Stream Central High School District to continue calling for a repeal of the Green Acres Mall tax break.



In an October 2016 letter, Senator Kaminsky and Assemblywoman Solages wrote a letter requesting the NYS Comptrollers office review the Town of Hempstead IDAs $79 million PILOT agreement with Macerich for renovation and development of the Green Acres Mall. The lawmakers voiced the concerns of their constituents by pointing out that the IDA was not aware of the financial consequences on all school districts impacted. They also brought up the fact that no residents attended the public hearings held by the IDA, a clear indication that no one knew what the IDA was considering or its consequences.
Family & Parenting, Local News, Crime, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: February 14 2017

Senate Democratic Conference today demanded real action to raise the age of criminal responsibility for non-violent, youth offenders.

Under the Senate Democratic proposal 16- and 17-year-olds who commit non-violent crimes would be held to an age-appropriate level of responsibility which would ensure that children are not housed in the same correctional facilities as adults.

Albany, NY - February 13, 2017 - The Senate Democratic Conference today demanded real action to raise the age of criminal responsibility for non-violent, youth offenders. The Senate Democrats have led the fight to Raise The Age since 2012 when legislation was first introduced to address this crisis. Under the Senate Democratic proposal 16- and 17-year-olds who commit non-violent crimes would be held to an age-appropriate level of responsibility which would ensure that children are not housed in the same correctional facilities as adults. This version of Raise the Age is the only version that will actually move our state forward and protect our children.

Raise The Age must be more than a slogan or a way to score political points and headlines, Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said. The Senate Democrats have led the fight to Raise The Age in New York State, and Senator Velmanette Montgomery has sponsored this legislation for over 5 years. The Senate Republican-IDC Coalition need to accept the facts that incarcerating our non-violent youth with hardened, adult criminals is cruel, costly, and ineffective. The Senate Democrats will keep up the fight to Raise The Age and bring New York State in line with the rest of the nation.

Bill Sponsor, Senator Velmanette Montgomery said, Raise the Age is a vital part of the Senate Democratic Conferences vision for reforming juvenile justice in New York State. Under the leadership of Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the Senate Democrats continue to lead efforts to fundamentally change the way youth are treated in our criminal justice system. Raising the Age must be complemented with investments in alternatives to incarceration and educational and professional opportunities for our most vulnerable youth. Only then will we have a comprehensive approach that puts us on the path to ending mass incarceration and permanently ending the prison pipeline.

The Senate Democrats understand that incarcerating youth-offenders and treating them as hardened criminals will often lead to a vicious cycle in which these New Yorkers will likely never be able to become productive members of society. Youth housed in adult facilities are at considerably higher risk of being injured and/or sexually assaulted and are much more likely to commit suicide. The Senate Democratic bill to Raise The Age, would reduce recidivism and would likely save the state over $100 million per year.

Senator John E. Brooks said, Raising the Age in New York State should not be a political issue, but about doing the right thing. Aside from North Carolina, New York is the only other state still prosecuting 16-year-old children as adults. Research has proven that does not help our children nor does it help keep our communities safe. We must end the cycle and ensure that our children get the help they need to grow into contributing adults, not hardened criminals.

Senator Leroy Comrie said, Incarcerating 16 and 17-year-old nonviolent offenders with adults is a disgraceful and destructive practice that does nothing to keep our communities safe. That is why 48 states have abandoned this practice. I am proud to stand with Senator Montgomery and my colleagues in the Democratic Conference in calling for the State Senate to pass Raise the Age legislation.

Senator Martin Malave Dilan said, I cannot think of a single argument against raising the age of criminal responsibility in New York. It doesnt serve as a deterrent. It has no regard for the offense. It contradicts every principle that seeks to move our criminal justice system toward rehabilitation and away from punishment, principles that came about in the 18th century. Our best hope to correct behavior lies with our youngest offenders, and that hope is lost when we automatically sentence them to prison. It has to stop.

Senate Democratic Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris said, Forty-eight states correctly recognize that 16 and 17-year olds should not be tried as adults, but New York is not among them. This is unreasonable in a progressive state like ours that takes pride in treating its citizens fairly. Enacting critical criminal justice reforms like this will ensure greater equity for our fellow New Yorkers and should be done as quickly as possible.

Senator Brad Hoylman, Ranking Member of the State Senate Judiciary Committee, said, New Yorks age of criminal responsibility at just 16 years destroys young lives and results in vast costs to individuals, families and society, in addition to enormous human suffering. Im grateful to Senator Montgomery for championing this issue for years and join my Senate Democratic colleagues in demanding that Albany correct this egregious deficiency in New Yorks legal system.

Senator Liz Krueger said, In 2017 it is simply unconscionable that New York State continues to throw children into the same criminal justice system faced by adults. Instead of being a leader in smart, effective, and humane criminal justice policy, we are one of only two states lagging way behind on this issue. And though it is no surprise, it is a shameful fact that the vast majority of 16- and 17-year-olds arrested in this state are children of color. I stand with my Senate Democratic colleagues in calling for a comprehensive approach to raising the age of criminal responsibility, and I commend Senator Velmanette Montgomery in particular for her years of work developing the right solutions.

Senator Roxanne J. Persaud said, I am in full support of Raise the Age and any initiative that would enable young people to create positive change. If we say that we care about the next generation then we must make a distinctive commitment to ensure our policies for young people are not only transformative but sustainable. The more the public understands the rationale for Raise the Age, the more Raise the Age will be welcomed by all.

Senator Gustavo Rivera said, Our States criminal justice system should not treat children the same way as it does adults as it places these children in a precarious and unjust situation where they are more likely to experience abuse and reoffend. The Senate Democratic Conference will continue to fight to pass this common sense measure and call on Senate Republicans to work with us to finally remove our State from that shameful list of States nationwide that continues to prosecute children 16 years and older as adults.

Senator James Sanders Jr., said, While it is important to be tough on crime, it is also important to recognize that adolescents are children and they should not be prosecuted in the same way as adults or placed in prisons alongside hardened criminals. Doing so, only scars our youth, endangers their safety and increases the rate of recidivism. However, New York continues to lag behind the times when it comes to reforming this aspect of our criminal justice system. It remains the only state other than North Carolina that prosecutes all youth as adults when they reach 16 years of age. This must change. We need to Raise the Age of criminal responsibility for children in New York, but at the same time we should be teaching our young people how to make responsible choices and steer them away from negative or delinquent behavior.

Senator Daniel Squadron said, Theres a reason 48 state recognize that assuming 16 and 17 year olds are adults in the criminal justice system is wrong -- its terrible for the kids, that state, and the cause of justice. The time is long overdue for this common-sense justice reform. I thank Leader Stewart-Cousins, Senator Montgomery, and the Democratic Conference for continuing the push, as well as the Governor, Speaker Heastie and the Assembly.

Senator Toby Ann Stavisky said, New Yorkers pride themselves as innovators of progressive government. Unfortunately, our criminal justice system is stuck in the past. Nearly 28,000 16- and 17-year-olds and more than 600 children between the ages of 13 and 15 are processed in adult criminal courts, diminishing any real shot of turning their life around. These children face physical and emotional abuse in an environment that stunts their cognitive development. I find it unacceptable that New York and North Carolina stand alone as the only states that prosecute all youth as adults when they turn 16. I stand with my colleagues in the Senate asking the Republican majority to recognize what is fact: we cannot place children into the adult criminal justice system. It does not work for them and it does not work for public safety.

Hector Figueroa, President of SEIU 32BJ, said, Keeping children out of the adult criminal justice system reduces crime, protects our communities, and gives youth a chance at rehabilitation. New York State should immediately pass comprehensive legislation to raise the age of criminal responsibility and provide 16 and 17-year-olds with age-appropriate interventions that give them a real chance to improve their futures.

Jennifer March, Executive Director of the Citizens Committee of Children, said, Its time for New York to finally get smart on crime and raise the age of criminal responsibility. New York should join the 48 other states who have raised the age and ensure our system of justice holds youth accountable in an age-appropriate manner. We thank the Governor, the State Assembly and State Senate for their support to pass common sense legislation that would improve outcomes for our youth and improve public safety within our communities.

Stephen J. Acquario, Executive Director of the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC), said. Counties have supported the public policy goals of raising the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 18 for nonviolent offenses, but we have also consistently raised concerns about the costs of such actions. Previous proposals to raise the age have included 100 percent state reimbursement of all new costs associated with this policy change. The current proposal no longer provides this full state funding guarantee and also requires county taxpayers to front the bill and then seek partial state reimbursement later, a notable challenge when we are operating under a tax cap, We support state legislative efforts to ensure the state covers 100 percent of the new costs related to this policy change, while ensuring that new property tax cap pressures are not unintentionally created.

Allison Lake, Deputy Director of Westchester Childrens Association, said, As the lead agency in Westchester County for the Raise the Age NY campaign, Westchester Childrens Association (WCA) welcomes the support of the Senate Democratic Leader, State Senator, Andrea Stewart-Cousins. Treating 16 and 17 year olds as children, rather than adults, in the justice system will positively impact the lives of over 700 Westchester youth every single year. Only when the 7 Policy Principles set forth by the campaign are adopted, will real reform be achieved. These reforms will provide our countys youth with the rehabilitative, therapeutic and educational opportunities that will help them turn their lives around. With the right supports youth are less likely to recidivate, therefore making our communities safer and giving our young people the chance for a productive, engaged future.

Ron Bunce, Executive Director of the National Association of Social Workers-NYS, said, We are hopeful that change is imminent with respect to Raising the Age of criminal responsibility. It is long past the time for New York State to join with the other 48 states in the nation that recognize and support the research that demonstrates youth are not the same developmentally as adults and therefore should not be treated as such. We will continue to work with the Raise the Age NY Campaign to advocate for developmentally appropriate reforms.

Paige Pierce, CEO of Families Together in New York State, said, Weve spent years presenting the scientific and fiscal evidence, advocating for reformation of an archaic system, and sharing the dire consequences our current system exacts on youth and their families. The time has come to Raise the Age. We, the families, are urging the legislature and Governor to reach an undoubtedly life-saving consensus for our youth and we stand hopeful this will be the year.

Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO and Executive Director of FPWA, said, By raising the age of criminal responsibility in New York, we have an opportunity to help change the life trajectories of many young people. Research has demonstrated the negative impact adult incarceration has on youth, families and society as a whole. We look forward to working with the Senate Democratic Conference and all allies to ensure fairness and humanity for our youth.

Naomi Post, Executive Director of the Childrens Defense Fund - New York, said, We are encouraged by the Senates prioritizing criminal justice reform that would treat youth charged with crimes in an age appropriate manner to ensure their successful rehabilitation while enhancing public safety. With leadership from the Governor, Senate and Assembly, New York is positioned to join 48 other states in being smart on crime.

Laurie Parise, Executive Director of Youth Represent, said, Youth Represent applauds the Senate Democratic Conference for introducing a comprehensive proposal built on the pillars of science, public safety, and fairness for our youth. We urge the legislature and governor to act swiftly to pass Raise the Age and protect thousands of young New Yorkers from the lifelong harms of adult prosecution and incarceration.

Jessica Wisneski, Legislative and Campaigns Director, Citizen Action of NY, said, When we treat our children like seasoned criminals, we strip them of their right to change and grow, and we knowingly put their safety and welfare at risk. These kids deserve a second chance-their future is not etched in stone. Now is the time to put an end to a broken cycle and stand up for New Yorks kids.
Nature & Weather, Local News, National & World News, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: February 14 2017

Rep. Tom Suozzi (D - Long Island, Queens) spent the past week meeting with military officials and colleagues to tackle pressing issues facing residents of New Yorks 3rd congressional district.

Washington, DC - February 13, 2017 - Fresh off his appointment to the House Committee on Armed Services, Rep. Tom Suozzi (D - Long Island, Queens) spent the past week meeting with military officials and colleagues to tackle pressing issues facing residents of New Yorks 3rd congressional district. On Tuesday, Rep. Suozzi met with representatives from the Department of the Navy who are overseeing the cleanup of the Bethpage Plume.

People have been dealing with this problem for way too long, which is why this meeting was so important, said Rep. Suozzi. He added, Its unacceptable that for decades this toxic plume has been spreading throughout our neighborhoods and contaminating our water supply. Folks have had enough. Its time for both the Navy and Grumman to work together to fix this now. I will continue to work with local stakeholders to make sure this gets done.

Rep. Suozzi also met with Democrats on the House Veterans Affairs Committee. The focus of the meeting was about working to improve the facilities and conditions at the Northport VA Medical Center.

Ive visited the Northport VA and spoken to our brave veterans who rely on those facilities, and they deserve the best care for everything theyve sacrificed on behalf of our country, said Rep. Suozzi. He continued, Im here to get things done and make sure that patients at our local VA are always taken care of. In order for that to happen, we must ensure that our VA facilities have the right budget and the necessary tools to get the job done right.

Rep. Suozzi also attended a Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on the threats imposed by North Korea and U.S. strategy moving forward. Additionally, he was briefed by experts about ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.

These are dangerous times, and the United States must remain vigilant against the threats faced by a nuclear North Korea. Their most recent missile test is proof of that. Im committed to working with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to ensure our nations safety, said Rep. Suozzi. He continued, We also know that India and Pakistan have had a contentious relationship going back decades, so paying close attention to their interactions will be critical to keeping that part of the world stable as well.

The past two Sundays, Rep. Suozzi has spoken in front of large crowds about the need to further secure the close ties between Israel and the United States. He gave the keynote speech at the Queens Jewish Community Council. Rep. Suozzi also spoke at the Jewish Community Relations Council.

We need to do a better job as Democrats to protect our relationship with Israel, remarked Rep. Suozzi. He added, That means making sure Israel has the ability to defend themselves while also working toward a two-state solution so that everyone in the region can finally live in peace.

Rep. Suozzi is a member of the House Committee on Armed Services, where he serves on the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee and the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. He is also a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Rep. Suozzi was recently named Vice-Chair of the Congressional Problem Solvers Caucus.
Family & Parenting, Music, Movies & Entertainment, School & Education, Local News, Press Releases, Seasonal & Current Events

By Long Island News & PR Published: February 14 2017

Attention Long Island students! Can you carry a tune? Is a musical instrument your specialty? If so, get your audition DVD or YouTube video submitted now for Long Islands Got Talent 2017.

Stony Brook, NY - February 13, 2017 - Attention Long Island students! Can you carry a tune? Is a musical instrument your specialty? If so, get your audition DVD or YouTube video submitted now for Long Islands Got Talent 2017, hosted by the Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO).

Created by WMHOs Youth Corps, the event gives Long Island students the opportunity to show off their talents this spring. Its open to students 10-17 years of age in Nassau or Suffolk County who must still be in high school at the time awards are given in November 2017. Talent must be non-professional vocal or musical instrument performances. The entry deadline is March 17 and there is a $25 entry fee.

Those who are contacted after submitting their audition will be asked to perform at the first round performance on April 7 at 6:30 pm at WMHOs Educational & Cultural Center, 97P Main Street in the Stony Brook Village Center. Finalists chosen will also have the opportunity to perform at WMHOs Sunday Summer Concerts series in July and August and finals will take place on November 3, 2017 when the winners will be chosen.

For full details and Official Entry Form, call 631-751-2244 or visit www.stonybrookvillage.com

Created in 1998, the WMHO Youth Corps is a student volunteer group operating under the auspices of The Ward Melville Heritage Organization. They provide growth and leadership experiences for young people grades six to twelve through various activities and community service projects.
On Feb. 12, the newly formed Hayat Tahrir al Sham and its allies launched an offensive against Syrian regime forces in the southern city of Daraa. The assault was led by two suicide bombers who detonated their vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) in the regime-controlled neighborhood of al Manshiyeh. Daraa, which lies just several miles from Syrias border with Jordan, has long been divided between the insurgents on one side and forces loyal to Bashar al Assad on the other.

Jordan first closed the border crossing near Daraa in 2011. Two years later, in Sept. 2013, Al Nusrah Front and Free Syrian Army-branded groups jointly took control over the area. There have been periodic clashes since then, with Syrian regime forces reportedly gaining ground nearby in recent weeks.

Al Nusrah Front was the name of al Qaedas official branch in Syria until July 2016, when the organization was rebranded as Jabhat Fath al Sham (JFS). Then, in January, JFS and four other insurgent groups merged to form Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), or Assembly for the Liberation of Syria.

HTS has posted photos (seen below) on social media from the fighting in Daraa, including an image of one of its martyrs. HTS identified the suicide attackers as Abu Riyan al Muhajir, a Jordanian, and Abu Muhammad al Ansari. The use of suicide bombers is telling. Although HTS has tried to obscure the role al Qaeda plays in its operations, martyrdom attacks are one of al Qaedas signatures. Other Islamist groups allied with al Qaeda in Syria have, by and large, abstained from carrying them out.

Abu Bakr al Baghdadis Islamic State, which rivals HTS, is prolific in its use of suicide terrorists. But al Qaeda has been far more selective, only using the tactic in key operations. For example, a number of martyrs were deployed during the battle for Aleppo late last year. Their appearance in Daraa likely indicates that HTS has deemed the offensive to be especially important, for one reason or another.

The anti-Assad forces in Daraa coordinate their movements in a joint military operations room known as Al Bunyan al Marsous. (Another, unrelated coalition of forces used this same name in Sirte, Libya.)

The images released by HTS include both the groups new official logo, representing a famous mosque in Damascus, as well as the watermark used by Al Bunyan al Marsous.

According to On the Ground News (OGN), a small pro-HTS and pro-al Qaeda media outfit based in Syria, Ahrar al Sham and Jaysh al Islam are also participating in the operation. This is significant because Ahrar al Sham, al Qaedas longtime battlefield partner in Syria, had clashed with some of the constituent groups in HTS earlier this year. In addition, HTS has been critical of Jaysh al Islams participation in peace talks with the Assad regime and others in Astana, Kazakhstan. But assuming the OGN account is accurate, then they are both cooperating with HTS and other local factions in Al Bunyan al Marsous operations room.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) describes Assads opposition in the city as a mix of rebel and Islamic Factions, as well as HTS fighters. SOHR also reports that the Assad regime responded in the early hours of the fighting with more than 20 airstrikes, which were carried out by warplanes and helicopters, as well as approximately 15 ground-to-ground missile launches. Both sides have incurred casualties.

One short video clip, posted by Qasioun News Agency, purportedly shows explosives being detonated in a tunnel that was dug underneath regime forces in Daraa. A Twitter feed claiming to be affiliated with the Free Syrian Army (@FSAPlatform) has provided a number of updates from the fighting. The feed does not attempt to draw any distinction between HTS and other rebel forces in the area. Regardless, it reported that a 23mm artillery gun and a tank operated by the regime were destroyed. In addition, the insurgents reportedly killed a captain in the regimes special forces, as well as 18 regime fighters & a number of [other] officers.

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), a propaganda arm of the Assad regime, claims that the assault was quickly repelled and that both of the suicide VBIEDs were destroyed. However, other sources indicate that the battle is ongoing.

The photos below were posted by Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) from the fighting in Daraa, Syria. The HTS logo can be seen in the upper left hand corner, while the watermark for Al Bunyan al Marsous military operations room is included in the upper right hand corner. The first photo is of Abu Riyan al Muhajir. The second two images show the suicide VBIED explosions. It appears that at least one of the bombings was recorded from overhead using a small drone. The other one may have been as well.

Thomas Joscelyn is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Senior Editor for FDD's Long War Journal.

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The Jamaat-ul-Ahrar faction of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan claimed responsibility for yesterdays suicide bombing in the eastern city of Lahore which killed at least 10 people, including several police officers.

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar took credit for the attack in a statement that was sent to FDDs Long War Journal, and threatened to carry out further bombings.

In this istishhadi [martyrdom] attack our beloved brother nasarullh alias zabeehullah got martyred May Allah accept his shahada [profession of faith], said Jamaat-ul-Ahrar spokesman Asad Mansoor. Just keep in mind these attacks and blasts are just the startings [sic] of operation GHAZI and we warn all the Pakistani murtad [apostate] departments that they are are our targets.

Mansoor later released an image of the Lahore suicide bomber (right).

At least 10 people were killed and 69 more were wounded when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives outside of the Punjab Assembly building, according to Dawn. The jihadist attacked while Pakistanis were protesting a a government crackdown against the sale of illegal drugs.

The Lahore operation is the second claimed by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar under Operation Ghazi. On Feb. 10, the group said it attacked three military outposts in the Pakistani tribal agency of Mohmand. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed that it killed many soldiers in the assault, while Pakistans military said that it terrorists from Afghanistan struck an outpost but were repelled.

Based in Pakistans tribal areas, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar is a dangerous faction of the TTP which also has a presence in Punjab province. The group has claimed credit for multiple attacks inside Pakistan. In one of its most callous and deadly attacks, a Jamaat-ul-Ahrar suicide bomber detonated at the entrance of a park in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore on Easter Day in 2016. At least 72 people, mostly women and children, were killed and more than 300 were wounded in the blast. The groups spokesman explicitly stated that the target was Christians. The terrorist group has also targeted the US consulate in Peshawar and polio vaccination teams in Karachi.

In Aug. 2016, the US State Department added Jamaat-ul-Ahrar to the list of global terrorists organizations. The group has advertised its training camps, which also provide instruction for its suicide bombers.

Operation Ghazi

Operation Ghazi, which was announced by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar on Feb. 10. The operation is named after Maulana Abdul Rashid Ghazi, one of the two leaders of the Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque, before Pakistani troops raided the facility in July 2007. Ghazi and his brother, Abdul Aziz, were supporters of jihadists in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and had issued religious decrees that said Pakistani soldiers who died while fighting the Taliban were not true Muslims. Pakistani troops killed Ghazi during the raid, and captured his brother, who has since been released from custody.

In Jamaat-ul-Ahrars announcement that signaled the beginning of Operation Ghazi, the group said that it was waging war against the enemies of Islam. The list of permitted targets includes just about all areas of Pakistani society. The target list includes:

The Pakistani legislature

Military and intelligence institutions  and the institutions supporting them

The Pakistani judiciary

Interest based economic institutions, or banks

Political parties which provide strength to the anti Islamic system of government

Organizations that spread Anti Islamic ideology, vulgarity and nudity

People involved with blasphemy of the Prophet Mohammed

Media who propagate and make propagandas for the benefit of our enemies

Schools that strengthen their enemies

The jihadist group claimed that it would not attack mosques, churches and temples unless these places are used by the enemy against us. In the past, Pakistani jihadist groups have executed multiple attacks inside mosques, schools, hospitals, and other civilian and religious institutions despite claims that they would not do so.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.

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This undated photo reportedly shows Abu Omar al Turkistani in Afghanistan.

Ansar Jihad, an al Qaeda-linked jihadi outfit in Syria that draws most of its members from Central Asia, released a biography of its slain military emir (leader) last month. The emir, known as Abu Omar al Turkistani, was killed in a US drone strike in Idlib Province on Jan. 1.

Turkistanis jihadi career began in Afghanistan, according to Ansar Jihads biography. He reportedly migrated to Afghanistan from Chinas Xinjiang region sometime before the US invasion in Oct. 2001. He took part in the Battle at Tora Bora before fleeing to Pakistan. Other Uighur jihadists, some of whom were detained and held at Guantanamo, also fought at Tora Bora.

After fleeing Afghanistan, Turkistani was arrested by Pakistani intelligence and held for approximately a decade. The video biography said that after he was released from custody, he went back to Afghanistan and joined the al Qaeda-linked Islamic Jihad Union (IJU).

The IJU is a splinter of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) comprised mainly of Uzbeks. Other ethnicities and nationalities are also present within the IJUs ranks. Ansar Jihad stated that Turkistani was able to speak multiple languages  including Pashto, English, and Russian  and this allowed him to become a commander within the IJU. He retained this position until sometime in 2015, when he migrated to Syria to join the jihad there.

In Syria, he joined Ansar Jihad and became its military leader, taking part in battles in Aleppo and Latakia. While most of Ansar Jihads fighters appear to be from Central Asia, it may also contain Turkish fighters as some of its media output (including statements published on Telegram) are in Turkish. However, most of its media is in Uzbek. The organization has highlighted two training camps, including one for snipers, in its propaganda. It has also advertised its role in the fighting in Aleppo, including in the Oct. 2016 al Qaeda-led offensive named the Battle of Abu Omar Saraqib.

Turkistani was killed in what Ansar Jihad described as a bomb attack on his car on Jan. 1. The jihadist group said the attack happened in northern Hama province, but the Pentagon only described airstrikes occurring near Sarmada, Idlib on that day. The discrepancies in the locations could be due to the jihadist group trying to obscure details, as Turkistani was reportedly killed alongside a longtime al Qaeda veteran known as Abu Khattab al Qahtani.

The details posted online by jihadis indicate that the Abu Omar al Turkistani killed by a drone strike is the same one who was leading Ansar Jihad. For example, jihadis posted the same martyrdom photo (seen on the right) for each of them.

When Abu Omar al Turkistanis death was first announced, he was identified as a senior figure in the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP), al Qaedas ethnic Uighur group, as well as a high-ranking member of Jabhat Fateh al Sham (which was formerly known as Al Nusrah Front). Jabhat Fateh al Sham (JFS) is now part of the Assembly for the Liberation of Syria, or Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS). JFS and four other groups merged to form HTS in January. Turkistani reportedly played a leading role in the merger talks and may have been in line to assume a position in the newly formed entity. [See FDDs Long War Journal report, Pentagon: Airstrikes kill 20 or more al Qaeda fighters in northern Syria.]

As Turkistani was killed with two al Qaeda members, it is likely that Ansar Jihad is a sub-unit of JFS/HTS and that he was a member of al Qaeda. It is unclear what the relationship is between Ansar Jihad and the aforementioned TIP. But it is likely the two coordinate their operations based on the TIPs close relationship with HTS and the fact that there are Uighurs in both groups.

Caleb Weiss is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa.

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.
Culture / Art Republik

Think art and science do not mix? The Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart explores art through biological frameworks

Feb 14, 2017 | By Nadya Wang

Art is usually seen as a cultural construct but the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) is trying to change that stereotype. Their latest exhibition, On the Origin of Art, which runs from 5 November 2016 to 17 April 2017, proposes biological frameworks to understand and appreciate art. It is co-curated by the Mona team, with guest curators from the field of science: Steven Pinker, Canadian-American psychology professor and an experimental psychologist, cognitive scientist and linguist who wrote The Language Instinct (1994) and How the Mind Works (1997); Geoffrey Miller, American professor of psychology who wrote The Mating Mind (2000); Brian Boyd, Professor of literature at the University of Auckland, and the author of On the Origin of Stories (2009); and Mark Changizi, American evolutionary neurobiologist and cognitive scientist behind The Vision Revolution (2009). Armed with their different theories, they seek to answer the question at hand: Is art adaptive?

Mona, founded by Tasmanian native David Walsh, has always pushed for new perspectives on art. For one, it takes the position that all art is contemporary. Something from 10,000 years ago has survived and is here in the world now, and the way that we look upon it and view it has as much relevance as something being created today, says Nicole Durling, Co-Director of Exhibitions & Collections and Senior Curator at Mona.

This viewpoint has resulted in an impressive collection of artworks that is thought-provoking and entertaining, presented to the public in Monas subterranean home in Hobart, a pilgrimage for contemporary art lovers. The collection goes back to Neolithic arrow tips and spear points through to brand-new commissioned works, says Durling. It is in no way exhaustive of all types of creative human pursuits, but it is very eclectic and has in a true sense a connoisseurs collection.

On the Origin of Art is no less expansive in the timeframe of the artworks it offers, and visitors can look forward to 230 works of art, including pieces from Monas own collection, nine new commissions, as well as loans from some sixty lenders. Using these pieces, the curatorial team is examining art through the lens of science in an attempt to understand what it means to be human and, at the same time, challenge conventional concepts of art to push for new and potentially illuminating ways to think about art.

Art Republik speaks with Jane Clark, Senior Research Curator, to find out more about the exhibition.

Could you briefly introduce each of the four curatorial sections, and how you see them complementing each other for a coherent exhibition?

Whilst there are four parts to this exhibition, each conceived by a guest curator, the exhibition should be seen as a whole. Entry is through four open doorways leading into four black tunnels  so you have no idea whose exhibition you are entering until you are inside. And it doesnt matter whose door you enter first. Each section is a series of rooms that will lead you back to where you began. The exhibition makes one overarching claim: that art is at least as much a biological as it is a cultural phenomenon.

What are the sub-questions that have arisen from the central question?

Why do we make art? How does aesthetics help us to survive? What are the deep biological roots of art  both art making and art appreciation? How are these adaptive biological foundations built upon, co-opted and harnessed in human culture? Even, what is art?

What are the different arguments put forward by the guest curators?

Steven Pinker argues that art is not an evolved trait in itself, but is a side effect of our aesthetic and emotional responses to fellow humans and our habitat. Geoffrey Miller believes art is primarily mating behaviour: showing off our mate-worthy genes. Mark Changizi puts forward that stimulus artefacts including art, music and writing are shaped to fit our evolved cognition, mimicking nature so as to harness evolutionarily ancient brain mechanisms for a new purpose. And Brian Boyd beckons that art is a form of cognitive play with pattern, for learning, social cohesion and control.

Could you talk about the commissioned artworks?

The commissions range from a spectacularly enjoyable new Dots Obsession room by Yayoi Kusama, Dots Obsession  Tasmania; to an immersive room lined with gigantic images of X-rayed flowers by Aspassio Haronitaki; to an intricate woven grass collecting basket by Tasmanian Aboriginal artist Audrey Frost and traditional shell necklaces made by her sister Lola Greeno. Mat Collishaws zoetrope, The Centrifugal Soul, in Geoffrey Millers first room, is definitely a crowd-pleaser, with dancing bowerbirds, jewel-like hummingbirds and tropical flowers blooming before ones eyes. By one of the many fabulously serendipitous happenstances that make links between the four exhibition spaces, there are exquisite oil paintings of hummingbirds and orchids by the 19th-century American artist Martin Johnson Heade in Steven Pinkers section.

How did the commissions come about?

The guest curators approached their commissions differently. Brian Boyd, for example, knew from the start that he wanted a room installation by Yayoi Kusama to embody the human instinct to play with pattern. Negotiations for that took about three years. And he wanted photographs by British artist Rob Kesseler of the microscopic patterns found on pollen: Kesseler jumped at the chance to investigate Tasmanian plant species and we shipped flowers picked around Mona off to London for him to work with. Still on Boyd, my colleague Olivier Varenne showed him the work of Francois Morellet and he was very excited and by the idea of commissioning a new wallpaper on which weve hung existing borrowed paintings.

Steven Pinker saw a large photograph of X-rayed flowers by Aspassio Haronitaki which had been included in the 2009 Moscow Biennale and agreed with the artists proposal to create brand new, much larger works to fill the whole entry room of his section: visitors plunge straight into a visual overload of pleasurable aesthetics from the natural world. Haronitakis work was created in Athens but produced in Tasmania, with the artist on site for finishing touches.

My colleague Jarrod Rawlins worked especially closely with Geoffrey Miller and Mark Changizi on their commissions. Mat Collishaw responded to Millers arguments about mutual mate choice and worked on his Centrifugal Soul for about a year. Mark Changizi loved a work dealing with language by Tasmanian artist Brigita Ozolins that is already at Mona, and worked with her on the room installation GRAPHOS which demonstrates the way alphabets, at the deepest unconscious processing level of our brains, resemble the contour combinations found in our natural habitat. Olivier Varenne and Jarrod Rawlins had previously worked with UVA for a Dark Mofo festival installation and Mark Changizi was very pleased to work with the collective on an interactive electronic work that studies human movement.

How do the scientific/curatorial essays in the catalogue add to the experience of the exhibition?



The four guest curators who accepted our On the Origin of Art challenge are all internationally recognised authors in their respective fields of expertise. So the four essays in the beautiful 500-page catalogue are all beautifully, clearly, rigorously, and entertainingly written, as is the catalogue introduction by my colleague Elizabeth Pearce. Scientists have a very particular way of presenting, testing and defending ideas and we are the first art institution to our knowledge to apply a scientific methodology to our curatorial agenda.

What about the audio tours?

The audio tours, available for free on our O (essentially an iPod Touch), within the exhibition are scripted and narrated by the guest curators. Thus visitors are led in person from room to room within the narrators space, listening to an overview of the respective curators theories and reasons for the inclusion of each work. Mona has no wall labels at all. The O, our unique electronic guide, is now available as a BYO app as well as on devices lent out by the museum. Visitors can save their Mona tour, enabling them to return later to each object to listen and read and even give feedback.

What do you think visitors will take away from this exhibition?

Apart from enjoying a vast range of human artistic endeavour presented in an unusual and very visually engaging and memorable way, I think visitors will come out reflecting upon their assumptions and open to alternative ways of thinking about art. They will also, I think, be excited by a new understanding of aspects of their own human nature.

What has it been like as a curator to work on an exhibition in a scientific way?

This exhibition is practical, rather than theoretical, using real physical objects to argue real science. Personally, I have found this bio-cultural approach to art intellectually liberating: having previously found it rather daunting to engage with the art of cultures very different from my own, because of my lack of specialised knowledge, an awareness of arts universal biological foundations can make the art of all cultures much more approachable. This doesnt mean we are removing art and artefacts from their cultural context or in any way disrespecting deeply-held cultural beliefs. Cultural difference is important, but it is also important and empowering to identify the things that unite us as a species.

This article was first published in Art Republik.
Lifestyle / Alcohol

France notched up record exports of wine and spirits for a second straight year in 2016 thanks to brisk sales of Cognac but the amount of wine sold declined, industry figures showed Thursday

Feb 14, 2017 | By AFP Relaxnews

According to the French Federation of Exporters (FEVS), France can thank alcohol for the 1.2 percent increase in export revenue last year. Valued at 11.9 billion euros, a third of the amount is attributed to the sale of spirits while Cognac hit an all-time export high.

The figures showed that while the amount of wine sold declined  France fell behind Italy as the worlds biggest wine producer two years ago  the product that was sold was of higher quality than in previous years and hence sold for a higher price. Alcohol is now Frances second biggest export sector after the aerospace industry.

Cognac was the star product in 2016, showing a 5.5 percent rise in sales, with drinkers in the United States happy to pay premium prices and Chinese customers rediscovering their taste for luxury, too. Wine sales dropped 1.8 percent, continuing a downward trend in terms of volume, and in value. The post-Brexit vote drop in the value of the pound hit the important British market, with a sharp 10-percent drop in wine sales.

However, Frances main market, the United States, was strong and accounted for 2.8 billion euros of business, equivalent to one-quarter of the overall sales, mainly thanks to a euro-dollar parity that was favourable to our exports, said FEVS president Christophe Navarre.

China returned with a bang after a lean few years, with a 12.7 percent rise in sales, but French wine producers said they feared the key Chinese market was fragile. Our competitors such as Chile have agreements with China, where they no longer pay any customs taxes, while we still pay quite high taxes, said Philippe Casteja, a Saint-Emilion-based producer, who was speaking on behalf of Bordeaux wines.
Properties

Feb 14, 2017 | By Vimi Haridasan

In Issue 18, PALACE heads to Australia for a special report. The team explores the countrys property markets in its largest cities, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, while also travelling to a few lesser-known locales such as Darwin, Hobart, Fremantle and more.

PALACE Features takes us to the coolest (pun intended) locations, where they hit the slopes and view the latest trends in ski home living. The magazine looks into how architects are including more wood materials into the construction of high-rise buildings, and evaluate what USD 10 million price tag gets you in some of the worlds most sought-after locations. The team also investigates the current visa situations in Australia and Malaysia.

PALACE Residence brings us a look into a stunning Californian property that boasts fantastic coastal living and all you would expect from the West Coast Lifestyle. Iskandar Malaysia and Phuket also showcase incredible properties, with Shama Medini and Emerald City displaying some of the best condominiums in South East Asia. Bangkok, always a prominent figure in Asias property market, plays home to 98 Wireless, Sansiris latest luxury residence.

PALACE Lifestyle sees them test drive the hot new 718 from Porsche and selects the 10 rules for acquiring art for your home. They will discuss Italian wines with SSMA in Singapore and travel to Sydney to check out a beautifully restored townhouse from the private destination club, Afini.

Meanwhile, they also share a glimpse of what is in store for Issue 19 which travels to some of Asias illustrious cities. The upcoming issue will provide an insight into history, culture and unique property markets in Asia.
Laci Green Download Image: Web

YouTube activist Laci Green will discuss sexual health and the prevention of sexual violence during a presentation at Lycoming College at 7:30 p.m. on March 1 in the Keiper Recreation Center. The presentation is free and open to college students, faculty and staff with a valid student ID.

Green shares an in-depth look at our cultures attitudes and responses to sexual violence noting that one in four female students and one in six male students are sexually violated while earning their degree. The statistics for other marginalized groups are even more grim. Using pop culture examples, videos and discussion questions, she illuminates the problem and helps bring it to a halt. Her presentation is geared to a mature audience.

The Oakland, Calif.-based speaker hosts an internet sex education show called Sex Plus on YouTube that reaches 5 million young adults every month and is viewed in all 196 countries. She has worked with more than 100 universities, conferences, military groups, and government offices on sexual health and sexual violence prevention efforts. She is also the host and writer of MTV Braless and produces an educational series for Planned Parenthood.

Green graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and currently holds a certificate in rape and dating violence crisis counseling.
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.
'Valentines' day' or St Valentine day is celebrated every year on 14th February worldwide. Each year on February 14th, many people exchange cards, candy, gifts or flowers with their special 'valentine'. The date gets its name from a famous saint, but there are several stories portraying different other tales on him.

A popular one is the story of Saint Valentine Rome, who was imprisoned by the emperor for performing marriage to the soldiers. During his time in jail, valentine falls in love with the jailer's daughter and before his execution, he wrote her a letter signed 'your valentine' as a farewell.

Yes, the modern valentine's day has become a totally over- commercialised mess. But it is still an opportunity to let the romantic gesture shine. Try these romantic ideas to celebrate the special day with your 'Valentine'...

1. Buy a little gift to him/ her ( And no matter how big or small ).

2. Plan a surprise outing - starts with dinner at your partner's favourite restaurant.

3. Explore your adventurous side together.

4. Frame a picture of the two of you and show your partner.

5. Watch the sunset or sun rise together from a beach.
New Delhi: Clearing the political uncertainty in Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court on Tuesday convicted AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala in the disproportionate asset case.

Quashing the Karnataka High Court verdict of acquitting Sasikala in the case, the court upholded the trail court order. The court also directed Sasikala to surrender immediately.

The Court awarded a four year jail term to Sasikala and slapped a fine of Rs.10 Crore on her. In a huge set back for her Chief Ministerial dreams, Sasikala will be barred from contesting polls for 10 years.
Transnet National Ports Authoritys (TNPA) R1.4 billion tug building contract in Durban continues to create jobs and develop local marine capabilities, with the fifth of the authoritys nine new tugs launched this morning in Durban.

The project is now 81% complete and still on track to deliver the ninth and final tug early in 2018, on time and within budget. Five tugs are under construction at any given time at the premises of contractor, Southern African Shipyards. Four are already delivered and at work in Port Elizabeth and Saldanha.

The new tug  named UKHOZI  will serve at the Port of Richards Bay. She is Kwa-Zulu Natals first new tug among four planned for the provinces ports. Richards Bay is expecting another of these relatively small but powerful vessels used to guide visiting ships safely into port by pushing or towing them, while Durban will also receive two.

In line with maritime tradition, the duty of christening the vessel was carried out by Lady Sponsor, Sagree Chetty, TNPAs General Manager: Legal, Risk, Compliance and Regulatory.

Speaking at the ceremony, TNPA Chief Executive, Richard Vallihu, acknowledged that it was essential to have well-trained people in place to support Transnets major drive to ramp up infrastructure and efficiency at South Africas ports. Transnet has set aside a record-breaking R7,7 billon for training over the next 10 years. The port authority will contribute in excess of R56 billion of capital expenditure under Transnets rolling R300 billion-plus Market Demand Strategy, or MDS, which is now in its fifth year.

Vallihu noted the stories of three newly qualified Chief Marine Engineering Officers in the Port of Durban who were among a group of engineers who had the opportunity to hone their practical skills on-site during the construction of several of the tugs. They are now responsible for upholding the mechanical integrity of the ports fleet of tugs.

The men  Prince Zulu, Mlungisi Ngema and Ntuthuko Tshabalala  are part of an ambitious skills development programme to beef up marine resources and to support the Port of Durbans transition from a four-tug to a six-tug operation in the near future.

The sheer scale of this construction and engineering project has equipped these promising marine engineers with the technical problem-solving insight that would be hard to come by elsewhere, said Vallihu.

Prince Zulu, for example, is a young man from the landlocked village of Nongoma in Northern KZN. He is a product of the Transnet Maritime School of Excellence and gained valuable work experience over 12 months during this contract. He was able to observe and participate in the construction of at least two of the nine tugs. This exposure has helped him remain abreast of cutting-edge technology and has enabled him to tackle the many challenges entailed in overseeing the mechanical operation of these complex pieces of machinery, said Vallihu.

Vallihu again praised the work of Southern African Shipyards, which he said was playing a proactive role in helping to unlock the potential of the Ocean Economy.



According to Southern African Shipyards CEO, Prasheen Maharaj, the launch of this the fifth tug, again, within time and budget, has demonstrated clearly that South Africa has the capabilities to deliver world-class services locally.



"The concerted efforts by TNPA and other State entities to promote localisation must be commended. It is only when we boost our own economy, that will we be able to address the current scourge of unemployment our youth face. The Maritime Sector and Operation Phakisa specifically serves as a beacon of hope for millions of South Africans," he said.



Maharaj concluded that Southern African Shipyards would remain proud of this, the largest contract to be awarded to any single company by TNPA for the building of harbor craft, and looked forward to seeing the other four tugs off with equal delight.

The nine tugs are being built over three and a half years, as part of a wider fleet replacement programme that also includes new dredging vessels and new marine aviation helicopters. The programme is aimed at improving operational efficiency in the ports.

TNPAs new fleet of nine tugs are each 31 metres long with a 70 ton bollard pull. They feature the latest global technology such as Voith Schneider propulsion which makes them highly manoeuvrable.

Vallihu said UKHOZI and others in the new fleet would aid South African ports as they continued to service bigger commercial vessels more frequently.

UKHOZI was named through a competition hosted amongst TNPA employees at the Port of Richards Bay. Both Delville Robertze, 2nd Engineer, and Sinamile Zuma, Customer Relations Manager, recommended the winning name which represents the isiZulu word for eagle.

The moniker is in keeping with the ports tradition of naming its marine fleet after treasured South African birds and the powerful new UKHOZI will serve alongside older tugs in the port such as INDWE (blue crane). Robertze said he suggested UKHOZI because an eagle is able to sense danger from a distance, as tugs are required to do.
MARTINSVILLE  There were two new students walking the halls at Laurel Park Middle School on Monday.

Taking part in a global effort to see school through a students perspective, Henry County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jared Cotton and HCPS School Board Chairman Curtis Millner participated in the Shadow a Student Challenge.

While Dr. Cotton requested to shadow a pupil on his student cabinet and Millner asked to follow an eighth grader, students and their shadows were selected at random.

Monica Hatchett, HCPS director of communications and organizational learning, said the day gives county administrators an opportunity to see what a childs learning experience entails.

They have to go to class, follow the schedule and participate in all activities, Hatchett said.

The adults also have to follow the same set of rules as the students theyre shadowing. As of lunchtime at the middle school, Dr. Cotton and Millner hadnt gotten into any trouble.

Nobody has violated the dress code. Therere no tardies were aware of. Nobodys gotten a ticket yet as part of the school-wide discipline, Hatchett said. So far, nobodys gotten their phones taken away.

While Millner said he didnt notice much of a difference in his daily routine without his phone, Dr. Cotton admitted to wanting to check his device  but as of 1 p.m., he hadnt given in.

Its killing me, Dr. Cotton said. Its been tough because were attached to our phones.

However, the superintendent also felt that it was nice to put away the device and focus on other things, like partnering with his student, eighth grader Matthew Taylor, in a science experiment.

We had to see who could lift a weight of 2.5 newtons five times and who could do it the fastest, Taylor said.

While the student and shadow didnt come in first place with their time of 13.69 seconds, they both had a great time.

Its nice to do hand-on learning in the classroom, Dr. Cotton said.

Where Dr. Cotton struggled the most with not checking his phone, Millner had difficulty rolling out of bed.

Normally I get up around 9 oclock, Millner said. Today I had to get up around 7 a.m.

Throughout the day, teachers kept the chairman engaged in the learning environment, which kept his head off of his desk.

Ive seen the smart boards in operation, Millner said. I never realized you could do so much with it.

From drawing shapes to moving lines, the possibilities with the interactive board seemed limitless.

The last time I was in a classroom was in 1989, Millner said. We didnt have all that stuff.

Millner shadowed eighth grader Dylan Royal, who enjoys Civics class most of all.

I love history, Royal said. My dad got me into it.

That just so happens its my favorite, too, Millner said, speaking of the school subject.

Millner also attended English class with Royal, who took a practice test.

While the chairman did not fill out a paper of his own, he watched over Royals shoulder and said he agreed with the students answers.

LPMS Principal Jo Ellen Hylton didnt get any visits from the new students in her office, but she did check in on them from time to time.

While she initially feared a 90-minute block could be overwhelming for adults used to moving quickly throughout their daily tasks, the longer the superintendent and chairman held out, the more confident Hylton felt about their in-classroom experiences.

Dr. Cotton said this is the best day hes had all year, Hylton said.

The middle school principal plans to shadow a ninth grade student in the future.

I could help eighth graders better prepare for what theyre going to face in the future, Hylton said.

So far, 10 country administrators have signed up to shadow a student. Hatchett revealed that a presentation centered around the shadows experiences would likely be included in next months school board meeting, held at 6 p.m. on March 9.
COLLINSVILLE  A Ridgeway man recently pleaded guilty in Henry County Circuit Court to three counts of distributing meth and received sentences totaling 30 years in prison, with five years active.

In all, a total of 25 years of Michael Thomas Bryans sentences were suspended on conditions including payment of a total of $2,230 in restitution with interest to the Henry County Sheriffs Office, supervised probation and good behavior. Bryan pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing methamphetamine and amended charge of first-offense distributing meth (reduced from distributing more than 10 grams but less than 100 grams of meth).

The offenses allegedly happened on Aug. 5, Aug. 7 and Sept. 2, 2015.

HENRY COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

In another case, Russell Wayne Hundley of Collinsville pleaded no contest to robbery (on July 23, 2016) ) and received a sentence of 10 years in prison with five years suspended on conditions including five years of supervised probation. Hundley also pleaded no contest to misdemeanor brandish machete (on July 23, 2016) and received a sentence of 12 months in jail, all suspended, on conditions including five years of supervised probation.

In another case, Marsha Elaine Pennington of Stanleytown, who was charged with feloniously threaten to bomb, etc. (on June 3, 2016) , was convicted of misdemeanor disorderly conduct, sentenced to 90 days in jail, all suspended; fined $100; and ordered to be on good behavior for 12 months.

Also in Henry County Circuit Court, Susan Ella Smithers Parnell of Collinsville pleaded not guilty to a charge of shoplifting third or subsequent offense (on Jan. 21, 2016), but Judge David V. Williams found her guilty during a trial.

Parnell allegedly concealed merchandise in her purse while shopping at Dollar General near Sanville Elementary School, and after being confronted paid for only part of the merchandise, according to the prosecutions evidence and prosecution witnesses.

However, Parnell testified that she was holding some merchandise in her arms while shopping and did not conceal any Dollar General merchandise in her purse. She and her husband testified that an item of merchandise that her husband purchased the day before at a different store was in her purse when she was at Dollar General on Jan. 21, 2016.

In pronouncing judgment, Judge Williams mentioned the defendants previous multiple felony convictions and convictions for larceny-related offenses, and said he believed the testimony of a store employee and a deputy sheriff, both of whom testified for the prosecution, over Parnells testimony.

Judge Williams ordered a presentence report and set sentencing for May 10.

Also in Henry County, Robert Dale Spence Jr., 23, of Fieldale, pleaded guilty to possession of a schedule 1 or 2 controlled substance (hydromorphone), in connection with an incident Sept. 5, 2016. Williams said there was sufficient evidence to find Spence guilty but he did not enter a finding of guilty. Instead, Williams continued the case for a year; placed Spence on probation; ordered him to get a substance-abuse assessment and receive any needed treatment; ordered that he do 100 hours of community service and ordered that he be drug- and alcohol free, along with other conditions.

Judge Williams said that if Spence complies with the conditions, after a year the charge will be dismissed. If he does not comply, he will be brought back to court, found guilty and sentenced accordingly.

In another case, Judge Williams denied bail for Dahneilia Myckell Newmius of Charlotte, North Carolina, on charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, transportation of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm with meth (on May 26, 2016).

Judge Williams said Newmius allegedly possessed 2.427 pounds of methamphetamine.

In another case, James Henry Moore, 51, of Martinsville, pleaded no contest to grand larceny (on Aug. 14, 2015). Judge Williams found him guilty and sentenced him to five years in prison, all suspended on conditions including two years of supervised probation, five years of good behavior, and payment of $500 restitution with interest to the victims.

According to testimony, Moore allegedly stole a mower and two ladders from two people.

In another case, Judge Williams dismissed charges of grand larceny (on March 6, 2016) and second offense obtain money by false pretense (on April 18, 2016) against Alan Lane Kaufholz Jr. of Bassett. After hearing testimony and arguments during the trial, Williams said he couldnt say without a reasonable doubt.

The prosecution maintained that Kaufholz stole items including a television, shotgun barrels and a tool box with tools from a residence, and later pawned the television at a local pawn shop for $80.

Kaufholz denied stealing the items. He said he bought the television from a relative for $125 and pawned it several weeks later at a pawn shop when he needed money to pay a bill.
City infrastructure needs repair

I am in full agreement with Fridays editorial about city infrastructure. Concerning financing, APCO expenses do get rolled into rate increases. The citys electrical plant is used to subsidize the citys budget. Any costs associated with upgrading the electrical system cant just be charged into higher electricity costs. Any cost increase comes out of the citys budget. These upgrades are not seen as better service, but as reductions to some other services.

Hearing a transformer blow is not an unusual occurrence, even when our house doesnt lose power. Often the problem seems to be at the substation on Indian Trail. Is the system too old? I dont know. But I can tell you that a storm once knocked out one phase in part of the city. If the million dollar electron microscope at the Virginia Museum of Natural History had been online, it would have been destroyed. A high voltage condition destroyed some equipment in our church. A low power condition about a decade ago almost did the same thing.

A total of 90 percent of the citys electrical grid probably dates to 1960 (my guess). Anything you can buy today is much more sensitive to electrical distribution problems. Saddam Hussein inherited a modern power system in Iraq half a century ago and never invested a dime in it. If we hadnt invaded, their economy might have cratered anyway.

But we should not limit our attention. The taste and smell of city water varies throughout the year, but I would never describe it as good. Bottled water is not an oddity in the city. At our house, we filter all of our drinking water. As of a decade ago we still had some lead piping in the city water system. A slug of bad water might release poisonous levels of lead into the city water supply.

Some problems with the sewage system are well known. Are there others?

All of these systems are at least 50 years old. They were built in an era of low wages and non-existent environmental protections. Correcting these problems is not likely to get much cheaper in the near term.

The editorial talks about burying lines. Go look at the overhead lines over Depot Street near the Black Box Theater. We spent a lot of money on that area making it look good. We left ugly, susceptible wires up in the air. During the recent upgrades to Liberty Street, they had to dig up new asphalt to fix underground problems. Who plans these things?

What are the known problems? How do we find out the unknown problems? What are the priorities? How will we finance required maintenance and upgrades? The city council has its work cut out for it.

Vince Stone

Martinsville

Mr. Koontz needs a map

So, Mr. Glen Koontz of Berryville, of all places, says Martinsville-Henry County is not in Southwest Virginia. He, like so many people outside the area, wants to put us in Southside. Ive lived in this area nearly 60 years now and have always observed that people who live here tend to think of ourselves as part of the region to the west more so than to the east. On most regional divisions Ive seen, Franklin County is included in Southwest Virginia. Henry Countys eastern border is continuous with Franklins, so it makes no sense to jog the line to the west at Henry County. The phone company must agree because they gave us the same area code (276) as Patrick County and far Southwest Virginia.

I once read that you can tell what region people think they live in by what they name businesses and organizations. A quick survey of the Martinsville/Henry & Patrick Counties phone book gives the following:

Blue Ridge: 14

Patrick Henry: 6 (named for both the counties and the man)

Piedmont: 14

Southside: 2 (one of these is a church in Ridgeway, which may refer to the south side of the county rather than the state, so it wouldnt count)

Southern Area: 1

Southern Virginia: 2

Southwest(ern) Virginia: 2

Blue Ridge and Piedmont are the regions we most strongly identify with. The Blue Ridge Mountains are prominently visible to our west, and if we want to identify with that region, whos to say thats wrong? Certainly not someone from Berryville or Richmond or anywhere else.

The best rule to follow when deciding what region people are in or how to pronounce local names or any other issue of local importance is this: Go by what the people who actually live there say.

Gael Chaney

Henry County and Franklin County
TODAYS WORD is portmanteau (pohrt-man-toh). Example: As I ate brunch at the motel with Brangelina, I couldnt help but think of the usefulness of portmanteaus.

MONDAYS WORD was hogwash. It means meaningless or insincere talk or writing; nonsense. Example: Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane thought the Duke Boys promise to go straight was a load of hogwash.

Country breakfast

The Sanville Ruritan Club will have a country breakfast this Saturday. The menu includes sausage, bacon, eggs, apples, hashbrowns, biscuits and gravy, coffee and orange juice, at a cost of $6 per plate. Takeouts and call-ins are welcome and for more information, call (276)-340-4587.

Is snow or rain coming?

Over the weekend, we had a number of things happening in the sky. First there was the partial eclipse of the moon and then the comet passing over the sky Friday night. That would be enough, but there was also a small halo around the moon for the most part on Friday and Saturday. Why should we care? Well, according to our friends at the Natural Weather Service, that might be a hint when snow will come around. That halo is actually a set of whats called cirrostratus clouds, thin clouds made up of ice crystals. Light from the moon reflects off the crystals, giving the glowing halo. Those clouds often form three to five days ahead of warm fronts, about 70 percent of the time in fact. So if rain showers come down or snow falls in the next three days, youll know this one was accurate.

TODAY IS: National Organ Donor Day

In addition to being Valentines Day, every Feb. 14 is also National Organ Donor Day, a day to increase awareness about the lives that can be saved by becoming an organ donor. In the U.S. alone, there are more than 120,000 people waiting for a life-saving organ donation. To learn more about becoming an organ donor, visit organdonor.gov.

Ruritan meeting

The Rangeley Ruritan Club will hold their monthly meeting at 7 p.m. this Thursday, at the Ruritan building.

City offices closed

Next Monday is George Washington Day/Presidents Day and as a result, Martinsvilles municipal building will be closed, along with the administrative offices and Constitutional offices. Now, as far as police, fire, EMS, water/sewer plant operators and other essential positions, theyll still be at work. There will however be no bulk, brush or garbage pickup on Monday.

Spring Brunswick stew sale

The Ridgeway Ruritan Club will have their spring Brunswick stew sale this Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon, at a cost of $7 a quart. Pre-orders can be placed by calling (276)-956-4335 or (276)-806-6110.

TRIVIA QUESTION: If you stood in the center of Detroit, Michigan and traveled due south, what is the first foreign country you would reach?

MONDAYS TRIVIA ANSWER: Which six American flags are never raised and never lowered? The six flags placed on the moon between 1969 and 1972 by astronauts with the Apollo program.
The resounding victory of Pablo Iglesias and his list of candidates at the Podemos congress, the National Citizens' Assembly, is viewed as a great event for millions of workers and youth in Spain and, by extension, for the Spanish and European left. At the same time, it represents a defeat for the ruling class and the dark forces of reaction, who barricaded themselves behind the right-wing stance of Inigo Errejon, with the vain desire of dealing a demoralizing blow against everything that is alive and is truly progressive in the country.

Pablo Iglesias won 51% of the votes for his list and about 55% for his three documents, the political, the ethical and the organizational. If we add the 13% and 10% and 11% achieved by the Anti-capitalists current for their slate and their documents, respectively, that gives an overall support for the left of the party of 65% compared to 34% achieved by the right wing represented by the "errejonista" current.

The Podemos which emerges from this victory is one which bases itself on the aspirations of working class families and the militant youth for a future of dignity and social justice, which aims to use the institutions as a loudspeaker to denounce the false character of bourgeois democracy and subordinate parliamentary and council activity to mass mobilization. This is the only way to advance the political consciousness of millions of exploited and oppressed, the only way to wrest from passivity and uncertainty the broad and politically more backward layers that need to go through more experiences.

The positions of Errejon's wing were diametrically the opposite. They want to base the party on the petty bourgeoisie and the more backward layers of the population, and avoid pushing these layers towards a project of social transformation, to throw back the political awareness reached by the millions who have already turned their backs on the old regime, highlighting the prejudices and reactionary ideas of the most conservative layers of the population, leading the party to increasingly mimic the ideological positions of the PSOE and Ciudadanos [Citizens], thus leading it into decline. It has been precisely this policy of playing ostrich, eliminating any hint of radicalism in the past two years - a policy of half measures and half-truths elaborated by the previously dominant errejonista sector - which led to Podemos and Unidos Podemos [Podemos' alliance with United Left and other forces] to electoral stagnation on June 26 last year.

Although we do not share all the political analysis and organizational proposals of the Pablo Iglesias wing, which we have already discussed in previous analyses, we insist on what is the essential aspect for us and that was what led us to give it critical support in this Congress. By leaning on the most dynamic sector of the working class and the youth, the Pablo Iglesias wing has left the door open to being influenced by this layer, to moving in line with the development of the class struggle towards sharper, clearer positions which challenge the capitalist system openly, that same capitalist system that only offers pain, suffering, poverty and barbarism everywhere.

The hysteria of the bourgeois media

In sharp contrast to the enthusiasm of most of the members of Podemos, the bourgeois media have not been able to hide their surprise at the overwhelming victory of the Iglesias' wing. Surely, as did the Errejon wing, they thought Iglesias would win, but by a much smaller margin, with the Errejon wing coming a close second and leaving the followers of Iglesias without an absolute majority in the leadership, the National Citizens Council. They were hoping to be able to unleash a media campaign to highlight the decline of the Pablo Iglesias wing as a result of its "radicalism", to which they hoped to oppose the moderation and statesmanlike nature of the Errejon wing, seeking to expand and instigate infighting so as to demoralize the activists, supporters and voters of Unidos Podemos. However, a very different reality emerged from the Vistalegre congress.

As expected, all the front pages and analysis of the bourgeois media opened the following Monday with black ribbons of mourning, "Podemos radicalizes", "The beginning of the purge [of the Errejonistas]", "hard line imposed." A spokesman for the PSOE's Interim Leadership, which manages the party in the interests of the ruling class, also chipped in. Speaking to the Onda Cero radio channel, Mario Jimenez said, "Pabloism-Leninism has won" and insisted, in case there was any doubt, that "the PSOE wants to address itself to the moderates so they can help us push forward a moderate project in Spain".

The bourgeois media and its agents in the PSOE understand this internal debate in Podemos the same as the Marxists: what was at stake was the taming or not of Podemos by the regime and, by extension, that of Unidos Podemos. Mondays editorial in El Pais was forced to admit the bitter truth:

"That defeat is also an unmitigated defeat of the [party's] current number two and parliamentary spokesman, Inigo Errejon, who has unsuccessfully tried to convince members of the need to moderate the approach of the party and position it stably within the institutions in order to gain credibility as a government force and to broaden the electoral base of support in upcoming elections."

One of the most prominent hired pens of El Pais, Ruben Amon, put it more clearly in his analysis on Sunday. In addition to unleashing all his hatred and malevolence against Pablo Iglesias and the party ranks, he said:

"the spirit of United Left has taken hold of the essence, but it represents a huge electoral limit, the limits which Errejon aspired to overcome by normalizing institutional life and convincing his people that the future of Podemos, if any, is to the right of Podemos" [emphasis added].

The pre-congress discussion

Many people, including most of the activist base of Podemos, have struggled to get a clear idea of the character of the political differences at the top of the party, and to understand the level of tension reached in the debate between the Iglesias and Errejon wings. That has to do largely with the obtuse and convoluted structure and organizational methods of the party.

Podemos' congress procedure, very democratic in appearance, poses enormous difficulties for genuine democratic participation of the ranks. The documents for discussion should have been available at least two months in advance and at the disposal of the members, so that they would have had enough time to read them and discuss them in the local branches and in wider gatherings. But they were only published three weeks before the Congress, making it impossible for tens of thousands of people to find the time to read and discuss hundreds of pages of documents of each of the currents. To make matters worse, the members were not allowed to submit amendments to these documents. In addition, hundreds of political and organizational contributions written by members and endorsed by the branches were barely publicized, and were finally published on the website of the organization only a week before the voting, with the aggravating circumstance that the five most voted, which had the right to be presented and defended at the National Citizens' Assembly were not binding on the organization. These methods, defended by the three main currents, express their desire to control and steer the membership and thus prevent any voice which does not fit with their proposals from being heard. There is still a lot to do to make Podemos a fully democratic organization, and this demand will be posed, sooner or later, by the thousands of members.

And yet, despite everything, the bulk of the membership could sense, perhaps not the fine details, but at least the broad strokes of what was at stake in this Citizens' Assembly. The long experience of 40 years of bourgeois democracy in the country, decades of betrayals and frustration of expectations by the leadership of the PSOE and the PCE [Communist Party] and IU [United Left] have not passed in vain. There was a feeling that Inigo Errejon and his wing wanted to shift Podemos to the right and push Pablo Iglesias into a corner. Iglesias is still seen by the bulk of the ranks as the most charismatic leader in Podemos and the one who best expresses their desire to transform society.

This feeling was reinforced by the clear bias and sympathy for Errejon expressed by the bourgeois media, the same media which demonises Podemos and its leaders, and are viewed with deep suspicion and even contempt by millions of people.

National Citizens' Assembly

The crucial day of the Citizens' Assembly in Vistalegre was Saturday 11 February. Thousands of activists and supporters thronged at the gates of the compound, in the hallways and in the stands. The atmosphere was sober, attentive and tense. After the arrival of the members of the outgoing National Citizens Council (the highest leading body of Podemos) applause and cheers started. But what broke the ice and put its stamp on the congress was when Pablo Iglesias took to the stage. He was received by a torrent of applause and thousands of clenched fists following the rhythm of the shouts for "Unity, Unity".

The thunderous cry for unity was a reflection of the limited level of pre-congress debate discussed earlier. In part, it is the logical conclusion of a highly mobilized honest layer of the rank and file that could not perceive thoroughly clear political differences in the division which had taken place at the top, which was presented as a personal clash by the bourgeois media. But the almost unanimous call for unity at Visatalegre was also the expression of a healthy sense of discipline which was being demanded from the leadership in order to preserve the organization,and the efforts and expectations accumulated in three years, against our enemies.

Beyond this, Pablo Iglesias and other speakers of his current were the only ones which stressed the political differences with the Errejon wing (though without naming him). The speeches of Errejon and his supporters, as well as those of the Anti-capitalists (Miguel Urban and Teresa Rodriguez) in reality had the character of a rally. They criticized the political opponents of Podemos, but avoided any mention of the sharp political differences which have opened up inside the organization. Teresa Rodriguez (Anti-capitalists) made references to some programmatic measures proposed by her current (auditing the public debt, creating a public banking sector, defending "a new productive model"), but neither she nor Miguel Urban raised any criticism of the right-wing ideas of Errejonismo. Their speeches were eloquent and combative, but would have gone down equally well in an election campaign, and thus helped to avoid debate in a congress plagued by political differences. Comrade Errejon, meanwhile, when the moment of truth came, in front of an audience of ordinary rank and file members, lacked the courage to openly defend the positions in his political document which had led him to the clash with Pablo Iglesias.

Anti-capitalists

We regret to say that the position of the Anti-capitalists current was particularly demagogic and disingenuous, taking into account that they regard themselves as the furthest left current in the organisation. They appeared as champions of unity, in order to win easy applause from the audience, and practically reduced the Iglesias-Errejon differences to a personal fight, hiding the politically pernicious character of the positions of Errejonismo.

Our position before the Assembly was that both currents, that of Pablo Iglesias and the Anti-capitalists, should have had a joint slate - as they did in the Madrid internal elections in Podemos three months earlier - against the common adversary of the right wing so as not to split the left vote. The Anti-capitalists could have maintained their political and organizational documents if they had wished. But they dismissed the attempt to have a joint slate with Pablo Iglesias because they thought they would get greater representation in the leadership of the organization by having a separate slate - on the eve of Vistalegre they said they were hoping to get between 4 and 8 seats in the National Citizens Council - in the end they only got two.

By refusing to fight Errejonismo head on in the pre-congress period, and hinting at complicity to it on organizational issues - they said they were closer to Errejon than Iglesias on that point - voting for them was seen as a lost vote by tens of thousands of activists who feared a victory of Errejon and the defeat of Pablo Iglesias. Hence, there was a closing of the ranks around Iglesias' slate and documents to ensure the defeat of the Errejon's wing. Thus, the Anti-capitalists paid a certain price for their opportunistic attitude.

The attitude of comrade Miguel Urban after Vistalegre is to continue with this wrong position. Instead of celebrating the defeat of Errejonismo - which was determined to exclude any hint of leftism and anti-capitalism from Podemos had they won - he wants to appear as the champion of unity and defender of the presence of Errejon in the leadership of the organization at the highest level of responsibility. It is a position that we do not support because it seeks to hide and mask the deep political differences that exist within Podemos, and the class character which they express. We agree that all tendencies should have representation proportional to their support in the ranks at all levels of leadership in the organization, but we also support the idea that the positions which have won majority support are those which should determine the policy of the organization and at the same that the positions defended by each current are expressed clearly, so that the membership has all the elements at its disposal to observe, monitor and follow the debates and political positions of each one of them.

Perspectives

After receiving a serious blow, the current of Inigo Errejon, which has its main base in hundreds of public officials and full timers of the organization, many of whom lack any links with the working class or social movements, is attempting to mask its defeat under the cloak of the defense of "plurality" in the leadership of the organization. The bourgeois media is pushing in the same direction, warning against a "purge" that the new leadership is allegedly preparing against Errejon and the party apparatus on which it rests.

The current of Errejon has secured its presence in the National Citizens Council with 23 members, against 37 of Pablo Iglesias and 2 for the Anti-capitalists. It is logical and democratic that they should have proportional representation in the new party executive, which will be elected in the coming days. But it would be unacceptable that they should occupy any relevant responsibility which may be used to impede or block the new orientation of Podemos towards the working class and its presence on the streets, and towards the unity with the forces of the Left, nationally and regionally. And it is an elementary proposition, that anyone can understand, that Errejonismo must abandon the disproportionate weight in has in the apparatus of the organization, which does not correspond at all with its base of support. The new leadership must firmly ignore the thunderous cry of "purge" which the bourgeois media have launched. It must explain that it is a consequence of the democratic will of the party rank and file, emanating from the Vistalegre Assembly, and appeal to it when the ruling class counteroffensive resumes against the new leadership.

Sooner rather than later, Podemos will be met with the favorable wind of the mood in society. The overwhelming vote for Pablo Iglesias proves that there is no demoralization, nor ebb amongst the most active and aware layer of the working class and the youth. The positions arising from Vistalegre are consistent with the development that the class struggle in Spain will take in the coming months. The continuation of casualisation of labour, low wages, long working hours, the feeling of impotence in the face of the abuses of the rich and powerful, rising prices and the suffocating political environment imposed by the PP government supported by the "triple alliance" of PP-PSOE-Citizens, are all a recipe for a revival of the class struggle. In the coming months, the PSOE will come out of its interim situation by ratifying in the person of Susana Diaz the umpteenth right shift in party policy, which will assure Unidos Podemos a much broader avenue for political agitation and popular support.

What is required is to advance in terms of the program. The shameful increase in the price of electricity puts on the agenda the slogan of nationalization of the utilities. But this abuse, this arbitrariness of the powerful, and the growing social inequality that it entails, comes from all the companies that dominate the country's economy. No significant progress can be made in public services, social services, job insecurity, unemployment, wages and social expenditure without breaking the stranglehold of the property held by the parasitic oligarchy at the top. Bank bailouts and abuses with their multi-million scams also pose the need to nationalize the banks, as the only way of concentrating the country's credit in a unified public banking sector and to pool resources to fund a vast economic plan to solve the problems afflicting millions of working families.

Podemos emerges from Vistalegre much more mature and stronger, with a more aware membership ready to exercise accountability. What is required now is to go from words to deeds, to "have one foot in parliament and a thousand feet on the streets" and appearing at the head of the struggle against the 1978 regime and the capitalist system as a whole.
SPRINGFIELD -- Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, a supporter of passenger rail in his state, is now advocating for enhanced rail service from Springfield through Worcester and onto Boston.

Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy speaks at the Capitol in Hartford.

"Improved transportation connections will only strengthen our communities and increase economic growth significantly," Malloy wrote in a Jan. 30 letter to Massachusetts Gov. Charley Baker. "It is my hope that Massachusetts will consider adding this vital link for the Knowledge Corridor to Hartford, New Haven and New York City with frequent and reliable service to Boston."

Last year, a state report came out estimating that expanding rail service from Boston to Springfield and then on to New Haven or Montreal could cost as much as $600 million to $700 million, said Timothy W. Brennan, executive director of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. Half that money would go toward improving and expand the tracks from Springfield to Worcester.

"Which are in bad shape," Brennan said. "There is a challenge there in that at this point in time there is no identifiable pool of money for rail infrastructure in the U.S."

Malloy sent his letter at a pivotal time for passenger rail in Springfield and the Connecticut River valley far north into Vermont.

The project already has the backing of U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester.

Springfield's Union Station is expected to open a few months after decades of dormancy and a $96 million top-to-bottom rehabilitation.

Connecticut's New Haven-Hartford-Springfield commuter rail service is expected to begin a year from now. Connecticut's plan is add enough service headed north and south so that Springfield travelers board trains every 45 minutes during the morning and evening peak hours and approximately every 90 minutes during off-peak periods.

That works out to eight to 12 more trains a day, all connecting with Metro North train service to New York City's Grand Central Terminal. Today, Amtrak's Springfield shuttle runs four weekday round trips and five weekend round trips.

Passengers will be able to buy Metro North tickets at Springfield Union Station, according to the Springfield Redevelopment Authority.

State Sen. Eric P. Lesser, D-Longmeadow, has a bill filed in Boston that would require the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to do a feasibility study of east-west rail.

Lesser said Monday that the Malloy letter is getting attention.

"This is particularly exciting for us because it sets us up as the crossroads," Lesser said. "That was Springfield's role in New England going back to when George Washington put the armory here. Unfortunately we lost that over they years. This is a chance to get it back."

Similar language from Lesser in last year's budget was vetoed by the Baker administration.

U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., has gotten a bill through the Senate that would ease the border crossing in Essex Junction, Vermont.

Brennan said now is the time to plan a rail project. President Donald Trump's administration has big plans for infrastructure projects. That could bring the pool of money people are waiting for, Brennan said.

"That would be highway, bridges, transit and intercity rail," Brennan said. "The administration has talked about it. Those in Congress have talked about it."

Lesser said routing trains from New York to Boston through Springfield avoids a terrible bottleneck in and around Providence, Rhode Island. There is no space there to expand the track capacity and the rails are crowded.

Also, Amtrak wants to shift train traffic inland to avoid coastal storms and flooding.
bristol_theater-1024x819.jpg

North Adams.

North Adams seeks help in an alternative way to support small business: voting.

The Berkshire County community is a finalist in a small town competition and in the running to win a $500,000 prize to support locally-owned businesses in town.

North Adams is one of five finalists in the second annual Small Business Revolution competition. Other communities include: Bristol Borough, Pennsylvania; Georgetown, South Carolina; Kingsburg, California; and Red Wing, Minnesota.

"We're the only community representing Massachusetts, the only community representing New England," said Suzy Helme, the director of community events for the city.

The competition is sponsored by Deluxe Corporation. North Adams was entered by local business owners in town and chosen from the nearly 14,000 nominations as a finalist.

Helme believes North Adams - the smallest city in Massachusetts - made it to the final round in the competition thanks to the "goldilocks effect." The community has a high ratio of locally owned businesses, a thriving arts community - thanks in large part to the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, the largest museum of its kind in the country, and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts - historic places and the benefit of being surrounded by the natural beauty offered by the Berkshires. Plus, she said, the city is small enough that the half-million dollar prize can make a noticeable different for the community.

Small business owners in the winning town will receive financial support and business advice from a team of marketing experts including, Deluxe Corporation's chief brand and communications officer Amanda Brinkman and Shark Tank's Robert Herjavec.

The remaining half of the winnings will go to the municipality, to fund large-scale community projects in the community.

The winner will also be featured in an eight-episode series to be streamed on the contest website.

The contest ends Thursday and the winner is chosen by popular vote. People can vote once per day, per device, per browser. The winner will be announced on Feb. 22.
EAST LONGMEADOW Technology has skyrocketed since Hampden Engineering Corp. began in 1953.

Today, brothers Michael J. Flynn and John D. Flynn work to ensure one thing remains the same: providing high quality training equipment for trades like welding, plumbing, machining and pipefitting.

"The business has evolved as the market has evolved," says Michael Flynn, the CEO of the family-run company. "We've built things they would never have dreamed of (in 1953)."

His brother, the COO, quickly adds, "The core hasn't changed. It's training. We provide high quality training equipment."

Hampden Engineering manufactures educational training equipment at its plant in East Longmeadow.

Daniel Flynn, Walter Lunden and Vic Newton began the company in 1953, and, over the course of its history, it has grown from a small building on Maple Court to its current location at 99 Shaker Road.

Lunden and Newton retired, and the company remained a family-owned business. Daniel Flynn retired in 1983, and John M. Flynn, the father of Michael and John D. Flynn, took over leadership in sales and international sales and as president of the corporation. He continued his active participation until his death in 2012.

Hampden Engineering began with a small list of equipment for engineering and science programs, and it has grown to offer more than 3,000 products, dealing with all types of training and teaching devices at every level of education, as well as custom-designed equipment for the industry.

For more than 60 years, Hampden has built a reputation for manufacturing cutting edge engineering and technology training equipment of the highest quality for secondary, vocational technical colleges, universities, industries and the military as well as for workforce development programs throughout the world.

"With a constant eye on emerging technology, Hampden continues to be a leader in the development of teaching devices, demonstrators and simulators to meet the future demands for a technically trained work force in both the U.S. and overseas," Michael Flynn says.

Hampden's facility has more than 120,000 square feet and contains areas for metal fabrication, a machine shop, manufacturing assembly, drafting, computer design and offices.

Michael and John Flynn emphasize there is a need for skilled workers at every level, and they, too, need skilled workers for their business.

"It's not only about an airline pilot but about building the plane. Those men and women (who build the planes) are really important," John said. "That's what built us - teaching the skilled workforce."

And, Hampden Engineering hires those skilled workers, too. The company employs about 100 full- and part-time workers.

The company works with programs in electrical power, motor and controls, electronics, microcomputers, hydraulics, pneumatics, robotics, refrigeration, air conditioning, heat pumps, hydronic and solar energy.

Because of its decades-long history with schools and universities in the U.S. and abroad, Hampden Engineering has been the source for educators when they need teaching equipment on the newest technology.

"Most of our workforce comes from the local area and has gone through the vocational schools, the technical colleges and universities in the Western Massachusetts area," Michael Flynn said. Hampden has partnered through the years with vocational schools such as Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy in Springfield, Chicopee Comprehensive High School and William J. Dean Vocational Technical High School in Holyoke.

Other schools the business works with include Lincoln Technical Institute in Rhode Island, Branford Hall Career Institute, Porter and Chester Institute as well as technical colleges such as Springfield Technical Community College, Western New England University and the University of Massachusetts. "We also have partnerships with major universities throughout the world as well as consulting programs that go on," he said.

The company also has a mentoring-intern program with such schools as Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

"Massachusetts has a very dynamic vocational program, but unfortunately funding has been an issue over the years," Michael Flynn said. Legislators have been seeking to help the industry with workforce grants to educational institutions to build hands-on training programs.

"We work with our legislatures at the local, state and federal level to help ourselves as manufacturers to develop the workforce we need and to promote a technical workforce in general throughout the world with our product line," John Flynn explained. "Additionally, it helps with the needs of other manufacturers and other facilities throughout the world."

They are advocating, especially at the federal level, to insure a larger skilled labor force for the future.

"It is our biggest problem to overcome in this country. Our workforce is retiring, and young people have not increased in the workforce-vocational area," Michael Flynn said. "It is a major undertaking for the U.S. to train and retain a skilled workforce.

We have to keep pushing forth with it, and our Legislature is assisting us in that endeavor."

Hampden Engineering has 149 organization representatives s selling its products in "every country we're allowed into," Michael Flynn said. "Sales are good, and we're doing well," though he declined to release the company's latest sales figures.

"We are committed to quality," his brother added.
EAST LONGMEADOW -- Sullivan Paper's 212,000-square-foot converting plant in East Longmeadow has employees and machines making the company work and more than 1,000 solar panels on the roof giving them the electricity to do so.

At 788 kilowatts, the solar farm installed late in 2016 has more than enough juice to power the factory and will sell power back to grid if the plant doesn't need it, company executive vice president Edward Sullivan says.

A $1.8 million investment, the company expects a payback on its investment in 5.5 years, according to Sullivan. That's what happens, he says, when you're a manufacturer in Massachusetts which has the third-highest cost of electricity in the nation and there are government incentives and tax breaks on the table for those who invest in solar, incentives in part paid for by electrical customers.

"We'd been thinking about it for years," Sullivan, a former West Springfield mayor, said. "It really made sense. Granted solar is supported. But why not take advantage of all the money we are pumping into the system?"

Sullivan Paper isn't the only company that decided to finally move ahead with a solar project in 2016. Smith & Wesson, now American Outdoor Brands, built a huge solar power project on awnings over its parking lot at its factory on Roosevelt Avenue in Springfield.

In December, Chicopee officials signed a lease for with a company that will install will operate a 3-megawatt solar field on property outside Westover Air Reserve Base.

Monson officials considered a 2-megawatt solar farm proposed at 53 Wilbraham Road.

In November, the town of Goshen cut the ribbon on a new 1.1-megawatt "community solar" project on n eight acres near Route 9 leased to by Lashway Lumber.

In Holyoke in October, construction began on the $10-million, 17,028-panal Mount Tom Solar Farm at the site of the former coal-fired Mount Tom Generation Station. With 5.764 megawatts of capacity, the new Mount Tom Solar farm has the capacity to power 1,000 homes. The power will be sold to the Holyoke Gas & Electric.

In September in Westfield, New York's Con Edison Development opened its 2-megawatt, $10-million solar program on 10 acres on Russellville Road. That's enough power for 300 homes, and it's generated on land that was once a construction debris landfill. Today, the concrete and other rubble is crushed and buried under the solar panels.

Wilbraham also opened a 750-kilowatt solar field project in September. This one, too, sits on a former landfill. The project is expected to save Wilbraham nearly $2 million in electrical costs over the 20-year lifespan of the solar panels.

Hampshire College in Amherst put 15,000 solar panels on approximately 19 acres to help convert the campus to 100 percent renewable energy for electricity. It will become the first college campus to go totally renewable.

Not to be outdone, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst announced it has installed 15,000 solar panels across campus in a plan it said would cut its electric bills by $6.2 million over 20 years.

Parsons Village in Easthampton, a 38-unit affordable-housing complex, anticipates it will save $6,000 a year in electricity costs and generate thousands more in solar credits.

MassDOT has built ground-mounted solar arrays at I-90 Exit 1 in West Stockbridge and at the MassDOT Highway District 4 depot in Salisbury that the department expects to have open in the spring.

MassDOT is also building solar canopies over the parking lots at its new Materials and Research Lab in Hopkinton.

When these projects are completed, MassDOT will have 'eight solar array facilities capable of producing roughly 5.5 million megawatt hours of electricity per year, which is a reduction of nearly 2,400 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year or approximately 5.5 percent of MassDOT's overall energy demand.

Massachusetts installed about 300 megawatts of solar power generating capacity as far as records kept until the middle of December could show. The state estimates another 16 megawatts or so of projects are in the pipeline and were done by Jan. 1.

Until 2015, the state had added more solar energy capacity in each year than it had in the year previously for nine consecutive years.

Nationally, demand for solar in the U.S. is at an all-time high, according to the federal Department of Energy. The amount of solar power installed in the U.S. has increased more than 23 times over the past eight years. It went from 1.2 gigawatts in 2008 to an estimated 27.4 gigawatts at the end of 2015. That's enough energy to power the equivalent of 5.4 million average American homes. The U.S. is currently the third-largest solar market in the world and is positioned to become the second, the Department of Energy says.

"We had an incredibly busy 2016," said Scott Howe, partner and senior vice president of Select Solar in Hopkinton. "It was still a robust year for solar."

Howe's company built solar projects in 2016 at Chemmetal in Easthampton and over the past few years at Village Center in Amherst and at the Eaglebrook School in Deerfield.

He says the Massachusetts solar industry is waiting right now to see what the new solar regulations will look like.

The state is moving away from a system of energy credits created by renewable projects and auctioned to investor-owned utilities that must buy them to one where the state sets an incentive price without the use of a market like an auction. The state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs hasn't even come out with the new rules yet.

An Obama-era federal tax credit meant to encourage solar projects --$100,000 in spending on solar earns a $30,000 tax tax credit -- is extended through 2022.

"The incentives, as they were, are excellent," Howe said. "They can pay 60 percent of 70 percent of the job."

There will be less of a state incentive in the future, a decline counterbalanced by falling costs for solar farms.

Since 2010 the price is down 50 percent from $8 a watt to now $4 a watt, according to the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Equipment costs are falling. And the panels get more powerful as technology improves. Current-day solar panels generate 25 percent more energy than ones of the same size built five years ago.

An expense that is not going away in the high cost of getting a solar project is the cost of permitting and gaining approvals, Howe said. Local opposition can scuttle a project.

"But, if its installed up on a rooftop, no one can really see it," he said. "They are pretty unobtrusive on a closed landfill. We need these. We need to get away from all of our energy coming from carbon. We need to get green."

On average, local permitting and inspection processes add more than $2,500 to the total cost of a solar energy system and can take up to six months to complete, according to the federal energy agency.

Locally, Eversource, the former Western Massachusetts Electric Co., has an ambitious plan for solar in 2017, saying it hopes to identify sites for more solar projects by the end of May and start construction by the end of the year.

Eversource want to expand its solar power production from 8 megawatts to 70 megawatts with an unnamed number of new projects, according to a news release.

The company estimates it will produce solar power for about 18 cents per kilowatt-hour, compared to upwards of 50 cents per kilowatt-hour for some private projects currently operating within the commonwealth.
Reported slashed tires in East Boston

As cars compete for adequate street parking in Boston after several snow storms, David Sullivan posted a photo to the East Boston Discussion group on Facebook showing a car with slashed tires. (Courtesy David Sullivan/Facebook)

As the snowbanks grow higher, so too does the fierce competition for parking spots along crowded neighborhood streets in Boston. Drivers found slashed tires and threatening notes in East and South Boston this weekend after a second snow storm dumped close to a foot of snow on the city.

Community blog UniversalHub shared a vulgar note found on a woman's car in South Boston on Monday after she parked in a visitors' spot. The note's author threatened to slash tires if that car was ever spotted on the street again.

That threat was one woman's reality in East Boston on Sunday morning, before the last winter storm swept through the state.

East Boston resident David Sullivan and neighbors looked on from their homes on Marginal Street as a woman had to call for another rental car after finding the tires on her original rental slashed.

Sullivan said the woman lives a street over and was fairly new to the neighborhood. He said that neighbors told him the woman moved a space-saving barrel and parked her rental car there Saturday evening. When the woman and two children visited the car the next morning, someone had slashed the car's tires.

Boston Police responded to the scene at 68 Marginal Street around 11 a.m. Sunday morning. BPD Spokeswoman Maisha Miraj said officials are conducting an active and on-going investigation into the slashed tires.

After posting a photo of the vandalized car on Facebook with friends in the "East Boston Open Discussion" group, Sullivan said the post garnered a lot of attention.

"It's getting out of hand," Sullivan said in a phone interview. As a lifelong resident of Eastie, 55-year-old David Sullivan has seen the neighborhood's transformation. He lives in Jeffries Point, where two-family homes sell for close to $700,000. Sullivan said for the last 16 years he has worked just down the road at the shipyard on Marginal Street. Space-saving is nothing new in the neighborhood, he says, but only recently has the unspoken rule become a problem.

"I know why it's changed," Sullivan said. "It's 70 percent new people. And when I say new people, it's people that have moved here from Maine, Vermont, all over the place." Sullivan said new neighbors are unfamiliar with or do not believe in the "unspoken rule" of shoveling out your own space and claiming it.

Sullivan recalled the blizzard of 1978, a time when he says neighbors chipped in to help one another shovel. It was about respect, Sullivan says. But in his experiences, the time of neighborly understanding has passed.

"I am scared to death to move somebody's space saver," Sullivan said. "I've seen a whole car keyed and scratched, I've seen it all to be honest with you." The Eastie native believes the vandalism is wrong, and that a polite note is a good fix.

In places like Cambridge and South Boston, the custom has been banned altogether. Through efforts by the South End Forum, the neighborhood became the first area in Boston to officially ban the controversial practice in January 2017, according to the Boston Globe.

In recent years, some small changes have been made to keep space savers in check. The city of Boston permits space saving up to 48 hours after a snow emergency expires, though in the past this rule was not always enforced.

On the morning following last week's blizzard, Marty Walsh announced that space savers are allowed in most neighborhoods, but warned residents "be respectful."

"If we see those threatening signs, we're gonna take those space savers and throw them in the truck," Walsh told reporters at a press conference, acknowledging he made up the new rule on the spot.
General Electric is backing away from its deep desire for a helipad in Boston.



The company is in the process of moving to a location next to the Fort Point Channel, from Connecticut. When Massachusetts was attempting to woo GE away from Connecticut, the importance of a helipad frequently surfaced in discussions early on.



But the massive company, which has stated it hopes to complete the move by 2018, now says Logan International Airport is working out for them.



"We agree with the city and state that a helipad should be part of the overall transportation strategy for Boston," GE spokeswoman Sue Bishop said in a statement to the Boston Herald and Globe. "However, we have told the city and state that our experience at Logan has been positive."



State and city officials nearly a month ago announced a working group tasked with finding a location for a proposed public helipad in the city. The concept of the helipad has faced pushback from some neighbors.

General Electric executives really, really want a helipad in Boston



In announcing the working group, officials noted that the city has private heliports, but not one that is publicly owned within the city's center, and their research and outreached indicated there is interest in one from medical organizations, emergency services, law enforcement officials and private companies.



"The Commonwealth of Massachusetts continues to evaluate public feedback which has been received and will continue to work with the City of Boston to explore potential sites for a heliport," a Massachusetts Department of Transportation spokesman said in a statement on Tuesday after GE's new stance was announced.



The push for a helipad has surfaced in the 2017 race for Boston mayor. Incumbent Mayor Marty Walsh had backed GE in its quest.

How Massachusetts officials aggressively courted General Electric to move to Boston



City Councilor Tito Jackson, who has launched a campaign to unseat Walsh, referred to the incentives package used to draw GE to Boston as a "sweetheart deal" and said in a statement he is "thrilled" to hear GE is no longer pursuing a public helipad.



"Google and Microsoft greatly expanded their presence in our metro area because they appreciated Logan Airport's proximity to the center of Boston, as well as the well-trained and hard-working workforce that we have in Boston and beyond," Jackson said. "I commend GE for reaching the same conclusion."
17 universities file briefing against Trump order

Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are among 17 universities that filed an "Amicus curiae" (friend of the court) brief on Monday in support of the federal district court's review of President Donald Trump's travel ban.

The legal challenge claims each university draws "immeasurable benefit" from diversity in their respective faculties and student bodies and that Trump's order would pose a threat to their core values and international students.

Amicus curiae briefings are commonly filed when a case is under appeal and intend to present the court with important information that may be missing otherwise. The legal action is limited and participating parties are expected to serve as a "friend" to neither side of the case.

Monday's briefing was filed at a New York federal court by 17 universities:

Brown University

Carnegie Mellon University

University of Chicago

Columbia University

Cornell University

Dartmouth College

Duke University

Emory University

Harvard University

Johns Hopkins University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Northwestern University

University of Pennsylvania

Princeton University

Stanford University

Vanderbilt University

Yale University

In a joint statement, the universities wrote, "[Amici] rely on the ability to welcome international students, faculty, and scholars into their communities. The Executive Order at issue in this case threatens that ability, and creates significant hardship for amici's valued international students, faculty, and scholars."

The brief goes on to describe the numerous ways international students benefit the universities, as well as their broader positive impacts on the U.S. economy and world progress.

"In 2016, all six American winners of the Nobel Prize in economics and scientific fields were immigrants," the brief states. It highlights several immigrants from the countries included on the president's travel ban, including Maryam Mirzakhani, the first woman to win the Nobel Prize of Mathematics. Mirzakhani, the brief says, grew up in Iran before earning her Ph.D. at Harvard.

The brief also cites a study by the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers that says in the 2015-2016 academic year, international students contributed $32.8 billion to the U.S. economy and the creation of 400,000 American jobs.

Excerpts of each university's global mission statement were also included in the brief. Harvard University's global mission statement says it "is devoted to excellence in teaching, learning, and research, and to developing leaders in many disciplines who make a difference globally," while MIT says it is "committed to generating, disseminating, and preserving knowledge, and to working with others to bring this knowledge to bear on the world's greatest challenges."

A federal appeals court panel ruled last Thursday to maintain the freeze on President Trump's controversial immigration order.

Donald Trump's executive order barred U.S. border agents from removing anyone who arrived in the U.S. with a valid visa from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. It also covered anyone with an approved refugee application. Since the federal court's ruling, those refugees and immigrants originally barred by the order can now enter the country.
New Zealand seems like a great place, beaches, beautiful scenery and police officers that are always willing to help out a little critter in need.

The poor little guy had got his head stuck in a yogurt pot, when the Kiwi police men stumbled upon him and freed him from his plastic prison.

You can watch the cuteness below:

It's a helpful reminder that your Junior Infants teacher was right, don't be a litter bug.
Containers are seen at Yangshan Deep Water Port, part of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, in Shanghai, Feb 13, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

Shanghai has moved to deepen reforms by reinventing its pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) into a world-class free port, Shanghai Securities News reported on Tuesday.

Such an ambition would be accompanied by plans to further relax import cargo controls and streamline customs clearance in accordance with international practice.

"Free trade port means beyond the current model of bonded areas. It will take three to four years to re-design a comprehensive set of rules and revise related regulations," Zhu Min, deputy director of Shanghai municipal Development and Reform Commission, told the newspaper.

The free trade port will be located within the Yangshan and Pudong airport zones, which together with Waigaoqiao logistics park, Lujiazui financial area and Jinqiao technological zone, constitute the country's first pilot FTZ, a testing ground for numerous economic reforms.

The port aims to offer quality coastal services and transparent supervision that are side-by-side with the world's most advanced free trade ports, according to the newspaper.

In a proposal to the session of the CPPCC municipal committee, Fang Huaijin, vice president of the Shanghai International Port Group, said he hopes there would be tariff cuts in the FTZ.

However, Sun Yuanxin, deputy director of the Research Institute for the Shanghai FTZ at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, said the chance of a significant tariff cut is slim given the potential scale, while the free trade port will more likely try to improve trade services and provide policy support to the high-tech sector.
Community patrols talks with each other on a street in Beijing, March 8, 2011. [Photo/IC]

Anyone will be able to report illegal activity directly via a new mobile app which has the backing of the district public security bureau.

The app "Chaoyang qunzhong" targets the Beijing district Chaoyang. The name literally means "the public in Chaoyang district" and relates to a group of vigilant community members that report suspicious behavior and help police solve crimes. They've become a hot issue on Chinese social media for often getting a mention in police announcements about breaking open a case after receiving an important tip-off.

"Chaoyang qunzhong" has jokingly been referred to online as the fifth biggest intelligence in the world.

The app, which was developed by the Chaoyang public security sub-bureau, was launched in August last year and has been upgraded four times.

At present, it is still officially being tested online. Users can register for free after downloading the app and easily upload clues for cases including child abduction, alleged suspects, traffic accidents, missing people and other kinds of crimes via words and pictures.

The authority said developing this app was to expand the number of "Chaoyang qunzhong", to protect society order and public security.

The website suggests that: "One's character and wisdom will be further improved when taking responsibility becomes a habit and way of life."
The costume competition festival is a showcase of Yi traditional culture and a carnival for local people of all ages in Yongren county in Yunnan province's Chuxiong Yi autonomous prefecture. [Photo provided to China Daily]

While many single men and women in China tried to escape the blind dates their relatives set up during Spring Festival, the young people of a remote village in Southwest China's Yunnan province attended a local mass-dating event, following a tradition that dates back about 1,350 years.

Saizhuang Jie, or the "costume competition festival", is heldin Yongren county in Yunnan's Chuxiong Yi autonomous prefecture each year on the 15th day of the first lunar month. It originated in Zhiju, a small mountainous village that is home to the Yi ethnic group, and where girls learn embroidery from childhood.

The festival serves as a showcase for the beauty and talents of local women in addition to being a meeting place for young people.

On this special day, the women put on handmade costumes bearing delicate embroidery to attend an outdoor dance ceremony, described by locals as among the "oldest catwalks".

Young men also dress up and participate in the dance.

But the day isn't for the youth alone.

People of all ages can join the dancing. Parents who wish to find their children a good partner are particularly observant during the ceremony.

Li Yongfumo attended the festival with her family for the first time when she was 6.

Like many other Yi women of Zhiju, she met her husband at the event when she turned 17." He was standing outside the 'circle' watching me dance. After a while he came and took my hand," she says referring to an inner formation by the female dancers.

The 97-year-old still attends the ceremony in the company of her great-granddaughter.
A 1,000-pound chicken statue flew the coop over the weekend, and Alexander County deputies are asking for the publics help to bring it back home.

Deputies said the more than 3-foot-tall concrete chicken was stolen from a location on All Healing Springs Road about a half-mile off U.S. Highway 64/90 west of Taylorsville. The theft occurred between 8 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday, according to a press release.

The statue weighs more than 1,000 pounds, and Alexander County Chief Deputy Tod Jones said it is valued at $1,100.

The owner is Pete Gilleland, he said.

The base of the chicken was located several miles away in the 3100 block of All Healing Springs Road after it was taken, the release said.

To help egg the public into providing information about the theft, Alexander County Crime Stoppers will offer a reward for any tips that lead to an arrest. Anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity in the area is asked to call 828-632-8555. Callers can remain anonymous.
OLD FORT

A.C. "Bud" Hogan, 87, of Old Fort, went to be with the Lord Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, at McDowell Hospital with his family at his bedside.

He was born April 26, 1929, in McDowell County, to the late J.W. and Hattie Jane Reel Hogan. Bud grew up in the Bethlehem community and attended Bethlehem Baptist Church. As an adult, he was a faithful member of, and was very active in First Baptist Church of Old Fort. He was a well-known businessman in the Old Fort and McDowell communities. He started in Cohama Knitting Mill and worked his way up to become a co-owner of Arrowhead Corp. Bud was a former Mayor Pro-Tem in Old Fort and sat on many boards throughout the years. He was awarded the prestigious The Order of the Longleaf Pine by the state of North Carolina. Many people have benefitted in McDowell County from his generosity and benevolence.

In addition to his parents, Bud is also preceded in death by his daughter, Vickie Hogan; six brothers, Guy, Lester, Britt, Randy, Carroll and Bill; and three sisters, Eva Lytle, Willie Lytle and Corene Setzer. Surviving are his beloved wife of 66 years, Thurlene Murray Hogan; two sisters-in-law, Joyce Bost Hogan, of Marion and Betty Murray Miller and husband, Bill, of Ridgefield, S.C.; two brothers-in-law, Harold Murray, of Ohio and Norris Murray and wife, Martha, of Shelby; and a large number of nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, at First Baptist Church of Old Fort. A funeral service will immediately follow at 2 p.m. at the church, with the Rev. Coy Jeans officiating.

Burial will follow at Bethlehem Community Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice.

Kirksey Funeral Chapel in Old Fort has the honor of serving the Hogan family. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.kirkseyfholdfort.com.
Screenshot of a video posted on Bill Gates' Wechat account.

Fake Bill Gates accounts better watch out because the man himself has officially registered his personal public account on Wechat. In his first post on the social networking app, the American billionaire and philanthropist said hello in Chinese and said he would "share about the people I meet, books I'm reading and what I'm learning".

The 30-second video, posted on Feb 11, has already been viewed more than 100,000 times and received over 10,000 likes.

Sources close to Gates, have verfied the account which is operated by the former Microsoft founder's own team. He plans to share content including global health, energy innovation and education reform through the account.

Gates' decision to join China's content market is no doubt a blow for the many accounts purporting to spread success articles in his name. The world's richest man has long been an idol in China. His anecdotes and quotations, too numerous to distinguish what's real and fake, never lost their appeal to Chinese readers over the past two decades.

Founding software company Microsoft in 1975 and making it the most successful technology brand over the following decades, Gates frequently dominated the top spot of Forbes world's wealthiest people. After retiring from Microsoft in 2008, he focused on managing the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation co-chaired, with his wife, and announced that he would donate his $58 billion personal fortune to the foundation.

The tycoon's legendary life has won him millions of Chinese fans and anything he says is regarded as a classic, making him a valuable addition to China's rising content industry. Opening a social media account in China shows that the business mogul attaches importance to the nation's content market.

There were reports that Gates was very impressed with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's fluent Chinese while delivering a lecture at Tsinghua University and he showed great interest in learning it.

China is also one of the areas of most concern to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which has an office in Beijing.
China will harness the power of the windas well as British expertisevia a new of shore turbine initiative that will further diversify Beijing's energy matrix in its quest to decarbonize.

Of shore Chinese wind farm.

The British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai has announced plans for an Offshore Wind Huba facility in Shanghai where wind farm services and expertise is availablethat will facilitate the entry of specialist United Kingdom companies into the Chinese market.

With support from the British trade association RenewableUK and UK Department for International Trade, British companies will partner with local industry players, helping to develop turbine technology and drive down the cost of energy production.

In a statement, the British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai said the wind hub will "foster and promote bilateral trade" and create ties between British members and the wind-power industry in China.

During a 12-month period, the hub will provide a virtual presence for UK businesses, in-territory support and business development. The Chinese government has set a target of 5 gigawatts of installed of shore wind capacity by 2020, up from 1.9 gigawatts at the end of 2016.

"China has a very ambitious of shore wind program as part of its overall need to decarbonize and shift to cleaner fuels," said Maf Smith, deputy chief executive of RenewableUK.

A report released this week by the Global Wind Energy Council found China led the world in newly installed onshore and offshore wind energy capacity in 2016 with 23.3 gigawattsa 42.7 percent share of the combined capacity of the top 10 countries surveyed. China also topped the list in terms of cumulative capacity, with 16.9 gigawatts, a 34.7 percent share of the combined top 10.

"Of shore wind is a massive opportunity for both countries," Smith said. "The UK is the leading market for of shore in the world and has developed a lot of expertise in the development, construction and operation of of shore wind. A lot of that hard-fought experience is now being used globallywe're seeing other countries looking at of shore wind and developing their resources. The US is a good example, but China is by far the best."
Director of Engagement and Advice, Alex Dewdney, gives Queen Elizabeth a demonstration of how an electricity supply could be subjected to cyber attack, at official opening of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in London, Britain, February 14, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

LONDON - Britain's new National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) invited private sector companies to train and collaborate with it on cyber defence, as Queen Elizabeth formally opened its London hub on Tuesday.

The NCSC started last October and is moving into a new operations centre in Victoria, central London. The "NCSC Industry 100" initiative will look to embed people from industry to identify threats, vulnerabilities, and develop advice to combat cyber attacks.

NCSC head Ciaran Martin said Britain had been the target of 188 cyber attacks in the last three months and warned a major attack was likely in the future.

The NCSC currently expects the proposed secondment programme - which will embed 100 private sector staff by the end of financial year 2017/18 - to be funded by industry.

Private sector collaboration with the NCSC is already taking place, with aerospace major Lockheed Martin announcing it would back a work-study programme targeted at students entering college.

The NCSC is part of a 1.9 billion-pound ($2.4 billion) programme to boost Britain's cyber defences, and forms part of the intelligence and security organisation, GCHQ, the government communications headquarters.

It has delivered trial services that discover vulnerabilities in public sector websites, help government departments better manage spoofing of their email and has taken down tens of thousands of phishing sites affecting the UK.

It is currently investigating Britain's biggest cyber heist - 2.5 million pounds stolen from Tesco Bank.
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by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, February 13, 2017

With sales of carbonated soft drinks eclipsed by bottled water and other beverages, 7Up is the latest CSD brand to switch marketing gears.

7Ups new campaign is focused on encouraging consumers to use the soda as a drink mixer and to add sparkle to recipes ranging from bundt cake to marinades.

The Mix It UP a Little campaign, from Deutsch, is launching today with the first of two humorous TV spots, Yacht.

In this one, which has 15- and 30-second versions, a voiceover informs a couple about 7Ups mixing versatility, as theyre shown transported to novel scenarios  including the yacht of the rapper 2 Chainz (above).

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The second spot, Granny (below), takes three seniors from pinochle night to an underground fight club, where they encounter someone they never expected to see again. That 30-second ad is set to make its television debut on April 24.

The campaign also includes digital videos, from The Richards Group, featuring Sir Mix-a-Lot demonstrating how to make a variety of 7Up-infused cocktails and recipes. Those are being promoted on 7Ups Web site and social media channels, including YouTube.

The lemon/lime Dr Pepper Snapple Group brand, which had long targeted consumers over 35, switched in 2014 to targeting Millennials via a marketing push centered around electronic dance music.

Now, research apparently has confirmed the wisdom of returning to older consumers, and expanding an existing propensity to use 7Up as a mixer.

While other CSD brands have in recent times promoted cocktail recipes using their products as mixers, none in recent memory have explicitly used that theme as the primary focus of their ads.

"We didn't need to look far to realize that people have been using 7Up as a component of their concoctions for decades, said Kevin Brandvold, director of marketing for the brand. We wanted to acknowledge that truth and elevate all the ways in which consumers are enjoying our product.

This is a positioning no brand in the category has taken, and it's a bold one for 7Up, added Deutsch executive creative director Brett Craig.
by Sara Guaglione , February 13, 2017

O, the Oprah Magazine has partnered with cruise company Holland America Line to launch a cruise to Alaska in July 2017. This is the first time the magazine has partnered with a cruise line, and the first time Oprah has visited Alaska.

On the cover of the January 2017 issue, Oprah declared 2017 the year of your greatest adventures and grandest dreams. She made it her goal to travel to new places.

Oprah Winfrey and O, The Oprah Magazine editor-at-large Gayle King, who is co-host of CBS This Morning, will ride aboard the O, The Oprah Magazine Share the Adventure Cruise.

"We've never done anything on the water before," King told USA Today. "People will get a chance to interact with her in a way they don't normally get on land, because you're all right there."

Oprah will be aboard the cruise for two out of the seven nights of the trip.

The magazine will launch the partnership with a contest this March that will give three readers the chance to join the cruise to Alaska with Oprah and Gayle. Winners will also get a high impact unit in the April 2017 issue, with in-book, online and broadcast integrations running through 2018.

The Alaska trip will leave Seattle on July 15 on Holland America's Eurodam ship. The line will visit Alaskan ports in Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan, as well as visit Glacier Bay National Park and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Trips start at $1,999 per person.

"Offering readers a chance to experience the thrill of adventure firsthand, this partnership pairs the eye-opening wonder of travel with the soulful, inspiring content found in every issue of O, stated Jayne Jamison, SVP, publisher and chief revenue officer at O, The Oprah Magazine.

The partnership also includes four other sailings sponsored by the magazine, featuring activities developed by the magazines editors and scheduled aboard over 300 North America ships through 2018.

Activities will include meditation, tai chi, healthy cooking demonstrations and an onboard book club, all designed to bring the magazine to life.

The four sailings will take place in North America and the Caribbean, and range from 11- to 7-day trips.

Members of the SuperSoul 100, a group of "thought leaders" that range from entrepreneurs to artists who inspire Winfrey, will be on board the cruise lines to share inspirational ideas and life advice.

The Holland America line announced in 2015 that it was investing $300 million in brand enhancements, as well as a partnership with BBC Earth to host concerts, films, game shows and children's activities to share the networks natural history and wildlife content on the ships.

The cruise company also has a partnership with The New York Times, called Explorations Cafe, where guests on board Holland America Line ships can access NYTimes.com content, crossword puzzles and a selection of books.

O, The Oprah Magazine is a co-venture between Harpo Print, LLC and Hearst Magazines. The brand claims it connects with about 18 million consumers across platforms every month.
At a time when the world seems more divisive than ever, a group of individuals from agencies, advertisers, the media, government and academia will meet next month to kick off what is expected to be a series of open forums tackling transparency and trust issues in the advertising industry. In an effort to symbolize its neutrality, the first meeting will take place at the United Nations in New York City.

Dubbed the Advertising Transparency & Trust Forum, the organizers describe themselves as an ad hoc working group that is explicitly non-partisan and its only goal is to discuss the current state of trust systems in the advertising world to see if better business practices can be developed.

The forums agenda is being developed by Jerry (Yoram) Wind, a professor of marketing at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, who is well known for tackling big industry problems.

The idea is that its become apparent that the current situation with no trust has become destructive to all parties, says Andrew Susman, vice president-East Coast of Empower MediaMarketing, an independent media agency based in Cincinnati that pulled out of the American Association of Advertising Agencies last year when the ad agency trade association failed to endorse and support media-buying transparency initiatives proposed by the Association of National Advertisers.

Instead of having another ANA event or a 4As event, the idea was to have all the minds in a room at an industry-neutral event, he explains, adding that he is not acting explicitly on behalf of Empower, but as an individual interested in improving the state of the industrys trust, because, the current state is unsustainable.

Susman said the group has begun inviting a cross-section of industry executives, as well as regulators, measurement

and technology firms to participate in an open dialogue and that the goal is to identify a process that will solve the problems of the industrys trust systems.

The ANA has pledged sending representatives, as have some individual big marketers including Procter & Gamble and U.S. Cellular.

The 4As said it is still evaluating whether it will participate.

We are engaging in conversations with the Trust Forum to determine what our participation would entail, as well as how our members would be involved, 4As President-CEO Nancy Hill said in a statement, adding: Our members' voices are an important part of any discussion of trust and transparency, and we want to ensure that their input is given the appropriate weight it deserves.

Susman said the UN was chosen as the location for the first meeting because it is neutral territory, literally. While it occupies U.S. soil, the UN property technically is extraterritorial through a treaty agreement with the U.S. government.
YouTube has pulled PewDiePie from it subscription-based YouTube Red service and the Walt Disney Cos-owned Maker Studios has severed ties with the channel over anti-Semitic remarks that host Felix Kjellberg claims was a misunderstood joke and commentary.

PewDiePie is by far the most popular YouTube channel, with 52 million subscribers worldwide and Kjellberg is probably the best-known influencer on the channel.

The remarks and controversy about these vlogs shows the pitfalls advertisers face when they rely on influencers whose fame often is directly tied to their odd and sometimes raw sensibilities.

Weve decided to cancel the release of 'Scare PewDiePie Season 2'[from YouTube Red] and were removing the PewDiePie channel from Google Preferred, said a YouTube spokesperson. Google Preferred is the advertising service for engaging and top-tiered brand-safe content.

Although Felix has created a following by being provocative and irreverent, he clearly went too far in this case and the resulting videos are inappropriate, a spokesperson for Maker Studios told The Wall Street Journal.

YouTube Red considered its PewDiePie content there as a major draw for paying subscribers.

The PewDiePie videos are mainly viewed by teenage boys and young men. Ostensibly, they involve PewDiePies running commentary on egames, but over the years, episodes have evolved so that the content more often resembles the rambling discourses of FM radio shock jocks.

In January, PewDiePie claimed to be amused by on online service called Fiverr where people can consent to requests to do odd tasks for $5. He said he never believed anyone would fulfill his request to hold up a banner reading Death to all Jews -- but two South Asian men who go by the name Funny Guys did, and PewDiePie showed the result.

Several videos followed in which he tried to explain why he did it. It was not anti-Semitic, he argued, because the stunt was so stupid. But he also said that he was just the necessary part needed by news Web sites that could exploit his controversies.

The problem with all my videos lately is that they take all the stuff I say out of context because thats what going to get clicks, the Swedish-born host said. A graphic on YouTube today for that video, called In My Defense, says The Uploader has not made this video available but MediaPost detailed it earlier.

Kjellberg debuted PewDiePie in 2010. Since then, he has gathered over 14 billion views, and PewDiePie is the most viewed channel of all time. He is one of few YouTube personalities who seemed to have broken through to a wider audience via TV appearances.

On several occasions he has threatened to quit -- either in fact or in jest -- frustrated by how he felt he was being treated by YouTube. He may have sensed the direction his latest controversy was taking.

Now 2017 is the year its going to go bad for me, he says in the In My Defense video.
by Jess Nelson , February 14, 2017

Microsoft premiered two new email applications on Tuesday, launching Outlook Premium out of beta in the United States and offering a preview of a new Email Insights search tool.

Microsoft originally announced its paid email subscription service, Outlook Premium, more than a year ago and began testing the email service in 2016. This week the company removed the "preview" disclaimer, releasing the full email application to Outlook.com users in the U.S.

Outlook.com Premium grants customers a personalized domain email address, shareable with up to five people, and an inbox free of banner ads. Additional product features include calendar, contact and document sharing as well as the security and privacy features of Outlook.com. The service will eventually cost $49.95 a year, but currently costs $19.95 until the end of March.

Microsoft also previewed Email Insights, an email-based search companion for both Outlook and Gmail. Email Insights can search the inboxes of Outlook desktop applications and Gmail accounts, providing results in the Email Insights application window.

Think of someone yanking the search button from the top of Outlook and moving it to a separate spot on your taskbar, says Suresh Parthasarathy, a senior research developer on Microsoft Research Indias Applied Sciences team, in a blog post announcing Email Insights.

The tool is intended to help email users find what they need in their inbox more rapidly in order be more productive during their workday. The email search client is fitted with autocomplete and spell check, and can understand the name of the contact the user is looking for even if their name has been misspelled. Search results can be displayed in order of time or relevance, and multiple searches can be conducted at the same time by opening tabs.

The Email Insights tool was built in Microsoft Garage, a hub for Microsoft employees to work on different projects, and originally started as a hackathon project. Email Insights is available for download online.
Low back pain affects millions of people in the United States, and the condition is one of the most common reasons for people missing work. New guidelines from the American College of Physicians recommend noninvasive ways of treating nonradicular low back pain. Share on Pinterest The new treatment recommendations from the American College of Physicians include massage, acupuncture, tai chi, and yoga. The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) report that approximately 31 million U.S. individuals experience low back pain at one point during their lives. The ACA also note that low back pain is the leading cause of disability across the world, as well as one of the most popular reasons why people miss work. The condition accounts for a large proportion of all doctor visits in the U.S., and almost 25 percent of the entire adult population in the U.S. has experienced at least one day of low back pain in the past 3 months. The pain is typically characterized as acute if it lasts for under 4 weeks, subacute if it lasts between 4 and 12 weeks, and chronic if it lasts for more than 12 weeks. The American College of Physicians (ACP) have published their clinical practice guideline for treating nonradicular low back pain in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. Nonradicular pain refers to pain that does not irradiate from, and is not caused by, damage to the spinal nerve root.

An evidence-based guideline for clinical practice The guideline is based on a review of randomized controlled trials and observational studies conducted on noninvasive drug and non-drug treatments for low back pain. The health outcomes evaluated by the ACP include the reduction or complete elimination of low back pain, improvement in overall motor function and quality of life, reduction or elimination of work disability, and drug side effects. The review also looked at the number of back pain episodes and duration between episodes. The ACP have reached their conclusions through a meticulous reviewing process that consists of several stages: a systematic review of the evidence available; a deliberation based on the evidence; a summary of the recommendations; grading the quality of the evidence; and issuing the recommendations. In 1981, the ACP first established the clinical practice guidelines program, and they have been updating their guidelines ever since. The recommendations are automatically considered invalid or withdrawn if they are not updated every 5 years. The ACP last published their clinical practice guideline in 2007 . Since then, some of the evidence has changed, and the 2017 guidelines include evaluations of mindfulness-based therapies, motor control exercise (MCE), and tai chi.
Nicotine the primary compound found within tobacco smoke is known to change the grouping of some subtypes of nicotinic receptors, but the mechanisms for nicotine addiction remain unclear.

This inspired a group of University of Kentucky researchers to explore the role nicotine plays in the assembly of nicotinic receptors within the brain.

During the Biophysical Society's 61st Annual Meeting, being held Feb. 11-15, 2017, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Faruk Moonschi, a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Kentucky, will present the group's work, which centers on a fluorescence-based "single molecule" technique they developed.

"Like many people in my country, Bangladesh, my father is a heavy smoker," Moonschi said, explaining his interest in studying nicotine addiction. "Despite the fact that my mother and siblings have encouraged him to quit, he has never been able to stop smoking. I've always been interested in what led to his addiction, so I joined a research group working within the area of addiction to study the underlying mechanisms of nicotine dependency."

The group explored whether nicotine exposure increases the total number of nicotinic receptors on cell surfaces and if it changes the way the receptor is grouped. "To do this, we use custom-built microscopes to expose our samples to laser excitation while we detect the fluorescence signal given off from the labeled proteins," Moonschi said.

Generally, a ligand which can be a small molecule or peptide binds with the corresponding receptor protein on its cell surface and causes an effect. "Contrary to this general process, some researchers hypothesized that nicotine actually gets inside the cells of smokers' brains and changes the assembly of nicotinic receptors by altering the ratio of nicotinic receptor subunits and potentially altering the trafficking of some subtypes of nicotinic receptors to the cell surface," Moonschi pointed out.

So, Moonschi and colleagues developed a single molecule technique that allows them to separate freshly assembled nicotinic receptors from the endoplasmic reticulum of cells from those already assembled and transferred to the cell surface. "By doing this, we were able to show that nicotine changes the subunit ratio of nicotinic receptors in the endoplasmic reticulum. Further, we showed that one assembly is preferentially transported from the endoplasmic reticulum to the plasma membrane," he added.

These findings are an important contribution to understanding the mechanism of nicotine addiction. "Understanding how nicotine alters the assembly of receptors in the context of addiction should provide insight into therapeutic targets for smoking cessation compounds," Moonschi noted.

Next, Moonschi and colleagues will "extend their research to in vivo studies, using genetically modified mice to determine whether similar changes in stoichiometry are seen in live animals due to nicotine exposure," he said. "We'll also study how smoking cessation compounds affect the stoichiometry of nicotinic receptors."
A new study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden shows that short-course preoperative radiotherapy combined with delayed surgery reduces the adverse side-effects of rectal cancer surgery without compromising its efficacy. The results are presented in the journal The Lancet Oncology.

Rectal cancer affects some 2,000 men and women in Sweden every year. Preoperative radiotherapy was gradually introduced in the early 1990s, with a consequent improvement in prognosis for people with rectal cancer and reduction in the risk of local recurrence.

"Back then we showed that preoperative radiotherapy reduces the risk of local recurrence by over 50 per cent for patients with rectal cancer," says principal investigator Anna Martling, senior consultant surgeon and professor at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery. "Thanks to our results, radiotherapy is recommended to many rectal cancer patients."

However, radiotherapy can cause adverse reactions and the optimal radiotherapeutic method and the interval between it and the ensuing surgery have been mooted. The study now presented in The Lancet Oncology is based on the claim that the adverse effects of rectal cancer treatment can be reduced by administering more but lower doses of radiation for a longer time, or by increasing the interval between radiotherapy and surgery. These hypotheses have now been tested in a study in which rectal cancer patients were randomly assigned to three different treatment arms:

Standard therapy, i.e. short-course (5x5 Gy) radiotherapy with direct surgery within a week.

Delayed surgery with short-course (5x5 Gy) radiotherapy followed by surgery after 4-8 weeks.

Delayed surgery with long-course (25x2 Gy) radiotherapy followed by surgery after 4-8 weeks.

The results of the study show that patients with delayed surgery develop fewer complications with equally good oncological outcomes. It also showed that there is no difference between long-course and short-course radiotherapy other than that the former considerably lengthens the time for treatment.

"The results of the study will give rise to improved therapeutic strategies, fewer complications with a sustained low incidence of local recurrence, and better survival rates for rectal cancer patients," says Professor Martling. "The results can now be immediately put to clinical use to the considerable benefit of the patients."

Eighteen Swedish hospitals took part in the study, which was financed by the Swedish Research Council and the Cancer Society in Stockholm, and through the regional ALF agreement between Stockholm County Council and Karolinska Institutet. Researchers from the universities in Lund, Uppsala and Linkoping also contributed to findings.
Future Science Group has announced the publication of an article in Future Virology highlighting the clinical complications associated with antiretroviral therapy in Chinese HIV/ Tuberculosis (TB) coinfected patients.

In HIV infected individuals, coinfection with TB advances HIV to AIDS. As per the recommended guidelines by the Centre of Disease Control and Prevention, it is advised that these patients receive anti-tubercular treatment followed by timely initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy.

"Despite the availability of the National Free Antiretroviral Treatment Program in China, HIV-related opportunistic infections continue to cause mortality in Chinese HIV-infected individuals due to lack of awareness of HIV infection until opportunistic infections become the first indicator of their disease" explained the authors (Huarun-WISCO Hospital and Beijing Shijitan Hospital, China).

In this investigation, the authors set to identify the aetiology of clinical complications associated with this coinfection by retrospectively studying 180 HIV-infected patients admitted to the Beijing Ditan Hospital from January 2012 to April 2014. Amongst the most frequent complications were AIDS-defining illnesses with a prevalence of 20%.

There are hopes that these findings will help educate physicians treating patients with HIV/ Tuberculosis especially after initiating combination antiretroviral therapy.

Commissioning Editor for Future Virology, Frances Adlam commented: "This study addresses the important clinical problem of continued high mortality in HIV/TB coinfected patients and contains data especially applicable to resource limited settings."

Article: Clinical complications of antiretroviral therapy in HIV/TB patients in referral hospital, China, Ziyuan Li, Shuxu Du, Zhengyun Xiao & Jiang Xiao, Future Virology, doi: 10.2217/fvl-2016-0102, published February 2017.
A new study by researchers at King's College London has found that patients with diabetes suffering from the early stages of kidney disease have a deficiency of the protective 'anti-ageing' hormone, Klotho.

The study, published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]), suggests that Klotho may play a significant role in the development of kidney disease, which is often prevalent in patients with diabetes.

This could mean that Klotho levels have the potential to be used as a risk marker to predict kidney disease, as well as being a target for developing new treatments to prevent kidney disease in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Previous work undertaken at King's has also shown that Klotho protects the vascular system against changes associated with abnormal ageing, such as the thickening of artery walls (atherosclerosis), which characterises age related disorders such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension.

In this study, scientists tested blood and urine samples from 78 patients with type 1 diabetes of which 33 also showed signs of the early stages of diabetic kidney disease, called microalbuminuria.

They found that patients with microalbuminuria had lower levels of the circulating Klotho hormone, compared with patients without microalbuminuria. Klotho levels in patients without microalbuminuria were similar to levels found in healthy adults.

First author of the study, Dr Giuseppe Maltese, from the Cardiovascular Division at King's College London said: 'For the first time, Klotho has been linked to kidney disease in type 1 diabetes patients and this finding represents an exciting step towards developing new markers for disease and potentially new treatments.'

Senior author, Dr Janaka Karalliedde, said: 'With further research using larger cohorts of patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes we hope to expand the scope of this work to identify at an early stage patients at high risk of progression of kidney disease and cardiovascular disease.'

Dr Richard Siow, a co-author of the study, recently published research which showed the protective effects of Klotho in cardiovascular cells and said: 'This study highlights the important clinical and basic science research that is being undertaken on Klotho at King's.

'Our research will help scientists to better understand the mechanisms by which this hormone benefits healthy ageing, as well as how deficits in Klotho lead to age related diseases. We are conducting further research on the role of Klotho in ageing and longevity as part of ARK (Ageing Research at King's) research initiatives.'

Limitations of this study include its relatively small and selective sample size and the cross-sectional design, which is unable to identify a causal relationship between Klotho and development of kidney disease.

Article: Perturbations of the anti-ageing hormone Klotho in patients with type 1 diabetes and microalbuminuria, Giuseppe Maltese, Nikolaos Fountoulakis, Richard C. Siow, Luigi Gnudi, Janaka Karalliedde, Diabetologia, doi:10.1007/s00125-017-4219-1, published online 13 February 2017.
Scientists can predict in the lab whether a drug will be effective for individual colorectal tumors.

Colorectal carcinomas arise in different forms, so all treatments do not work for all patients. OncoTrack, a public-private consortium supported by the Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking, has conducted one of Europe's largest collaborative academic-industry research projects to develop and assess novel approaches for identification of new markers for colon cancer.

Scientists from the OncoTrack Consortium, including researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin and the company Alacris Theranostics, have analyzed tumor samples from patients with this type of cancer in a preclinical study. In particular, the scientists looked for biomarkers, i.e. molecules that are typical of the different tumor sub-groups and provide valuable information for diagnosis and potential treatment. Among other things, the research team discovered molecules that can predict the effectiveness of two drugs commonly used to treat this disease: Cetuximab, which inhibits the receptor for the epidermal growth factor (EGFR), and the chemotherapy drug 5FU.

Bowel cancer is the third most common form of cancer in the world and 95 percent of cases are colorectal carcinomas. At an advanced stage they are one of the most common causes of death, as only some patients respond to drug treatment. The experts do not know all the precise reasons for this, but it is clear that colorectal carcinomas are a very heterogeneous group of cancers. "Better understanding of this molecular heterogeneity and its impact on drug response is required", says Bodo Lange, CEO at Alacris Theranostics. To be able to predict a tumor's response to certain drugs more accurately, scientists require detailed information about the molecular profiles of the patients and their tumors.

Medical scientists working at the Charite University Hospital in Berlin and University Hospital Graz collected tumor samples from over 100 colorectal cancer patients at different stages of the disease for their study.

These tumors were then grown in tissue culture systems, as well as in special mouse strains, and subsequently treated with a range of medicaments. Through this, the scientists were able to better understand the relationships between the molecular pattern and the response of the tumor to drugs.

The scientists identified the genetic composition of the tumors and analyzed their so-called transcriptome, namely the set of all RNA molecules synthesized in a given tissue. Based on this analysis, they were able to produce a definite molecular fingerprint for all of the tumors. The scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics and colleagues at EPO, Berlin, and Eli Lilly, Madrid, then tested how the tumors responded to different drugs and in this way correlated the tumor fingerprints with their response to the different clinical compounds.

If a group of tumors could be successfully treated using a drug, the scientists looked for typical biomarkers for this tumor type. Up to now, doctors have decided for and against the use of a drug directed against the EGF receptor mainly based on gene mutations. However, the mutation status alone is not specific enough. The knowledge of additional biomarkers could help to improve the individual treatment of cancers.

The consortium team identified two such biomarkers, which predict whether either the EGFR inhibitors Cetuximab or the chemotherapy 5FU could trigger a successful response in colorectal cancer. "The study has revealed a number of exciting findings that have the potential to guide treatment decisions", explains Lange. The scientists now know the molecular profile of the tumors, which are more likely to be successfully treated with these drugs.

"The extensive molecular and drug sensitivity datasets generated within this study are a highly valuable resource", says Lange. "Our findings provide major new insights into the molecular landscape of colorectal cancer, including the identification of novel alterations, which can be further exploited for advancing understanding of this lethal tumor type and for personalizing therapies."

The research leading to these results has received support from the Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking under grant agreement no. 115234 (OncoTrack), resources of which are composed of financial contributions from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) and EFPIA companies' in-kind contributions (www.imi.europa.eu).
Two new studies published online by JAMA Internal Medicine take a look at different accountable care organization (ACO) payment models.

The first study by J. Michael McWilliams, M.D., Ph.D., of Harvard Medical School, Boston, and coauthors used a sample of fee-for-service Medicare claims to examine changes in postacute care spending and the use of postacute care associated with provider participation as ACOs in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. The 20 percent sample of beneficiaries included more than 8.3 million hospital admissions and more than 1.5 million stays in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs).

Excessive use of postacute SNF care is thought to be a major source of wasteful spending and a target for health care professionals who participate in new payment models, such as Medicare ACO programs.

The authors report that entrance into the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) in 2012 for ACOs was associated with a 9 percent differential reduction in postacute spending by 2014 - driven by reductions in discharges to facilities, length of facility stays and acute inpatient care. Reductions were smaller for later program entrants and similar for ACOs with and without financial ties to hospitals, according to the article.

The study's limitations include that the MSSP is a voluntary program and ACOs likely differ from providers who don't participate.

"Participation in the MSSP has been associated with significant reductions in postacute care spending without ostensible changes in quality, suggesting gains in the value of health care. Postacute care spending reductions were more consistent with efforts by clinicians working within hospitals and SNFs to influence care for ACO patients than with hospital-wide initiatives by ACOs or use of preferred SNFs. Understanding such early successes can support regulatory policy that enhances rather than inhibits the effectiveness of payment and delivery system reform," the article concludes.

A second study by K. John McConnell, Ph.D., of the Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, examined early performance in Medicaid ACOs in Oregon and Colorado.

With a $1.9 billion investment from the federal government, Oregon started to transform Medicaid in 2012 by moving enrollees into 16 Coordinated Care Organizations so care was managed within a global budget. In 2011, Colorado began its Medicaid Accountable Care Collaborative by creating seven regional care collaborative organizations that were funded to coordinate care and connect Medicaid enrollees with community services, according to the article.

The authors report standardized expenditures, which have common codes across states, for selected services decreased in both states from 2010 to 2014 with no difference between the states. The Oregon model also was associated with improvements in some utilization, access and quality measures.

The study notes important limitations, including that the analysis did not include prescription drug expenditures, which is a growing portion of Medicaid spending.

"These results should be considered in the context of overall promising trends in both states. Continued evaluation of Medicaid reforms and payment models can inform the most effective approaches to improving and sustaining the value of this growing public program," the article concludes.

Articles: Changes in Postacute Care in the Medicare Shared Savings Program , J. Michael McWilliams, MD, PhD; Lauren G. Gilstrap, MD; David G. Stevenson, PhD et al., JAMA Internal Medicine, doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.9115, published online 13 February 2017.
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- Parenting and the home environment exert a powerful influence on recovery. Children with severe TBI in optimal environments may show few effects of their injuries while children with milder injuries from disadvantaged or chaotic homes often demonstrate persistent problems.- Early family response may be particularly important for long-term outcomes suggesting that working to promote effective parenting may be an important early intervention.- Certain skills that can affect social functioning, such as speed of information processing, inhibition, and reasoning, show greater long-term effects.- Many children do very well long-term after brain injury and most do not have across the board deficits.But predictors of recovery following TBI, particularly the roles of genes and environment, are unclear. These environmental factors include family functioning, parenting practices, home environment, and socioeconomic status. Researchers at Cincinnati Children's are working to identify genes important to recovery after TBI and understand how these genes may interact with environmental factors to influence recovery.- They will be collecting salivary DNA samples from more than 330 children participating in the Approaches and Decisions in Acute Pediatric TBI Trial.- The primary outcome will be global functioning at three, six, and 12 months post injury, and secondary outcomes will include a comprehensive assessment of cognitive and behavioral functioning at 12 months post injury.- This project will provide information to inform individualized prognosis and treatment plans.Using neuroimaging and other technologies, scientists are also learning more about brain structure and connectivity related to persistent symptoms after TBI. In a not-yet-published Cincinnati Children's study, for example, researchers investigated the structural connectivity of brain networks following aerobic training. The recovery of structural connectivity they discovered suggests that aerobic training may lead to improvement in symptoms.Over the past two decades, investigators at Cincinnati Children's have conducted a series of studies to develop and test interventions to improve cognitive and behavioral outcomes following pediatric brain injury. They developed an innovative web-based program that provides family-centered training in problem-solving, communication, and self-regulation.- Across a series of randomized trials, online family problem-solving treatment has been shown to reduce behavior problems and executive dysfunction (management of cognitive processes) in older children with TBI, and over the longer-term improved everyday functioning in 12-17 year olds.- Web-based parenting skills programs targeting younger children have resulted in improved parent-child interactions and reduced behavior problems. In a computerized pilot trial of attention and memory, children had improvements in sustained attention and parent-reported executive function behaviors. These intervention studies suggest several avenues for working to improve short- and long-term recovery following TBI.Source: Eurekalert
Every year, single people on the Delhi University campus celebrate Valentines Day with a puja at the Hindu Colleges famous Virgin Tree. The students worship Damdami Mai at the puja, who is chosen by hostellers for celebrations on 14th February every year.

A post shared by disha patani (paatni) (@dishapatani) on Jan 24, 2017 at 2:18am PST

Vaibhav Singh, a second-year student and hosteller at Hindu College said, The second and third-year hostellers have chosen her. We picked her after having a meeting. Along with Disha, one name that was also considered was of Nargis Fakhri, but since most of the guys liked Disha, we have chosen her as our Damdami Mai.

He further added, Damdami Mai is usually the actress who has been popular in that particular year, and who is also voted for by the most hostellers. Like always, we will have the puja on the morning of February 14. And a fresher will perform the puja as he will be the pandit for that day. As always, condoms will be used to decorate the Virgin Tree.

A post shared by disha patani (paatni) (@dishapatani) on Jan 1, 2017 at 8:09pm PST

The students believe that participating in this puja will help them find the one within six months and will also help them lose their virginity within a year. Well, good luck to all the students, cuz theyll sure as hell need it.
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PHAM BINH MINH: Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Kotzias, dear members of the press, first of all I would like to warmly welcome the visit to Vietnam by Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias.



We have concluded, as you know, a very constructive dialogue in a friendly atmosphere and a very candid and open manner, where we talked about the issues of bilateral frameworks, and also the regional and international issues of mutual interest.



Vietnam and Greece have shared forty years of diplomatic relations. We established diplomatic relations in 1975 and we have seen very positive growth in our bilateral cooperation ever since. And we would like to especially thank the people of Greece for extending to us precious support in our past struggle for national independence and sovereignty, and also for todays development of the nation.



Vietnam and Greeces bilateral ties have been flourishing in all areas, and a good testament to that is the exchange of visits between the two countries, including the visit to Greece by former President Nguyen Minh Triet and a visit to Vietnam by the President of Greece.



I highly appreciate the visit to Vietnam by Nikos Kotzias, and this is a very good opportunity for us to reflect on the progress that we have made so far and to chart out the future direction for our bilateral cooperation.



We believe that we should further step up the exchange of visits between the two countries and step up the dialogue mechanisms, including the dialogue between the two foreign ministries, in order to implement the agreements between both sides, including the recently signed MoU.



We have agreed to further intensify the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. We noted that bilateral trade has been tripled from the level of 2010. However, it remains modest, and we need to do much further to improve the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, especially in the area of maritime economy, where both Vietnam and Greece have great interest.



With that we also agreed to step up negotiations for signing the double-taxation agreement and other agreements pertaining to the maritime economy.



And we have also agreed to further promote cooperation at the multilateral forums, including the United Nations, ASEAN-EU and ASEM, and as an active and responsible member of ASEAN, Vietnam stands ready to be the door to further promoting and facilitating cooperation between Greece and this association, as well as promoting relations with the EU and between the EU and ASEAN.



The outcome of these talks today between me and Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias will be very much conducive to elevating the outcomes of the bilateral cooperation and friendship between our two countries.



Thank you.



NIKOS KOTZIAS: Thank you Mr. Minh. Hello, Vietnam. I would like to thank you for your hospitality and the discussion we have had today.



We are respecting Vietnam and its brave history. For me it is a life dream to be here.



We grew up as schoolboys and students expressing our solidarity with the Vietnamese people.



So I am very happy being the first Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs to visit Vietnam.



And we have now the 40th anniversary of our diplomatic relations, and the 10th anniversary of opening our embassy here in Hanoi.



Well, as Vietnam is synonymous with national resistance and human dignity, it expresses the highest values of humanity, the protection of human life and of national sovereignty.



We have high respect for Vietnamese people fighting for the rights of their society, their nation.



Thats the reason we are preparing ourselves to promote the cooperation between Vietnam and Greece, in all the fields we can do it, from business and shipping to European Union. We can be the door of Vietnam to the European Union.



We have discussed cooperation between our business people, maritime cooperation, cooperation in the sectors of tourism, culture, research and between universities.



We have examined existing problems and we have discussed the way we can implement solutions. We have even discussed giving two scholarships for studies in Greece.



We will do everything we can to strengthen our friendship and the relations of our nations.



Thank you very much, again, for your warm welcome.

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HURON COUNTY  A 21-year-old Caseville man died Sunday afternoon from injuries he received in a Thursday car crash.

Huron County Sheriff Kelly Hanson received word of Shawn Babbitts death shortly after 1 p.m. Sunday from the Genessee County Medical Examiners Office.

He was loved by all his friends and family, Babbitts father, Todd Babbitt Sr., told the Tribune on Friday night.

Babbitt had been a passenger in a Thursday afternoon car crash in Chandler Township that also killed Sheila M. Iseler, 40, of Caseville, who was the lone occupant of her vehicle.

Todd Babbitt Jr., 22, of Caseville, was driving a 1995 Dodge pickup, which failed to stop at the intersection of Dunn and Maxwell roads while southbound on Maxwell Road, Hanson stated in a news release early Friday morning.

Shawn Babbitt was Todd Babbitts passenger. The two were brothers.

At that same time, Iseler was eastbound on Dunn Road when the Babbitt pickup impacted with Iselers 2003 Dodge pickup, Hanson reported.

Iseler died at the scene.

Shawn Babbitt had to be freed from his vehicle by the Winsor Township Fire Department.

The brothers were transported to Scheurer Hospital by Scheurer Ambulance service.

Shawn Babbitt was later flown to an out-of-county hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Todd Babbitt Sr. said that Shawn Babbitts organs will be donated to Gift of Life of Michigan.

Hanson also reported that since 2013, including Thursdays accident, his office has handled seven fatality accidents that have claimed 15 lives, which were the result of either failing to stop or failing to yield.

The accident remains under investigation.
PIGEON  Scheurer Hospital recently announced it will be hosting an American Red Cross Babysitters Training class on Monday.

The class is scheduled to take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday in the Wilson Education Center. Youth ages 11 to 14 will learn safety and safe play, basic care, first aid, leadership and professionalism.
UPPER THUMB  Gov. Rick Snyders proposed $56 billion budget for 2018-2019 includes increasing funds for education and for the Flint water crisis, and proposes building a new state psychiatric hospital  hopefully to replace the Caro Center about six miles outside of the city of Caro.

The Caro Center at 2000 Chambers Rd., dates back to 1914 when it was built to house epileptics, the mentally ill as well as juvenile delinquents.

The next fiscal year budget proposed last week still has to be approved by lawmakers.

The governor proposes about $110 million of the budget be for a new state hospital, but it is not a done deal, said 84th State House Rep. Dr. Edward Canfield (R-Sebewaing) noting the Caro Center needs major improvements.

The Caro Center has over 600 acres of land with 38 buildings on it, but not all of the buildings are in use.

There are 18 building that cannot be used, said Angela Minicuci, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services in Lansing. I dont know which ones.

The last major upgrade to the center was in 1979. Since then there has been a lot of changes in how (mental health) services should be delivered, and (building and health) codes have changed a lot since then also.

Both Canfield and Minicuci said the exact location of the proposed new hospital has not been determined.

Building a new facility where the Caro Center is now makes the most sense. The state owns the land. There is room, and there is trained and qualified staff in the area already, Canfield said, noting he talked to 31st District Sen. Mike Green (R-Mayville. Mike agrees if a new center is built, keeping it at Caro makes the most sense.

Green could not immediately be reached for comment.

There are five other forensic psychiatry centers in the state. Besides the Caro center, there are four for adults and one for youth.

Currently, there are 150 adults housed at Caro Center and 340 staff, Minicuci said. And, there is a waiting list for the Caro Center. For the last three years, there has been a waiting list of over 200.

However, building a new facility  wherever it is  doesnt mean it will be made bigger to include those on the waiting list.

The Caro Center also houses the criminally insane  those who are found not competent to stand trail because of mental health issues.

I have visited the Caro Center several times. It is over 100 years old and something needs to be done to make it safe for patients and staff, stated Canfield. A new facility would be the best.

Besides funding for a proposed new psychiatry center, the budget, which would start Oct. 1, also proposes funding for additional hospital staff.

The governors budget proposes $7 million to increase staffing at the state hospitals statewide. Understaffing and mandated overtime have been an issue at state hospitals across the state for the last few years. Employees have demonstrated to highlight the need for more staff.

The 600-acre plus Caro Center site has had several names over the years: Michigan Farm Colony for Epileptics, Wahjamega Farm Colony for Epileptics, Caro State Hospital for Epileptics, and Caro Regional Mental Health Center.

Canfield chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services. A position he hopes he can use to influence the new facility be built in Tuscola County.

When Tuscola County officials were contacted by the Huron Daily Tribune regarding the proposal to build a new state hospital to possibly replace the Caro Center they knew nothing about it.

I havent heard anything, said county board of commissioners Chair Thom Bardwell.

Tuscola County Controller Mike Hoagland was also surprised to hear about the proposal.

He expressed concern for the potential impact it could have on the county because the Caro Center with its 340 staff is the second largest employer in the county. The county is the largest employer.
TUSCOLA COUNTY  Two teenagers are facing charges in Tuscola County District Court in connection with an ethnic intimidation case that happened in southern Tuscola County last fall.

A single count of ethnic intimidation has been filed against Anthony Robert Ford, 17, of Allenton, and against Jacob Jonathan Peters, 17, of Brown City, for the Nov. 12, 2016, incident in Koylton Township.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of two years, said Tuscola County Prosecutor Mark Reene.

The incident happened at a home on Smith Road where a person of Mexican descent lives. When the family awoke that November morning, they found many boxes taped together blocking their driveway like a wall, and there was graffiti written on the boxes.

The wording was about Donald Trump taking back America, and it also stated, "Mexicans suck."

The victims also found a doll made of balloons hanging nearby and vulgar graffiti spray painted on their driveway, according to the police report.

"Tuscola County Sheriff's Department deputies and detectives investigated this matter thoroughly, professionally and comprehensively," said Reene. "It is important to note that both defendants did voluntarily, and on their own accord, contact the Tuscola County Sheriff's Department to provide details about their involvement, which led to this matter being solved and prevented further investigation from being necessary.

"One of the defendant's had previously been in a relationship with a member of the victim's household," Reene added.

Along with the announcement of apprehension, Reene added a note of caution.

"As in all criminal cases, the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law," he said.

Koylton Township boarders Sanilac and Lapeer counties.
To the editor:

It seems every day we turn on the television or look at articles in our papers that the press is bashing our president. The networks like NBC, ABC and CBS continue to interview or get comments from people who are against our president. Never do they cover both sides, only anti-Trump.

Maybe people should watch the FOX news network for they cover both sides of every issue. No matter what President Trump supports: pro-life, better health care, law and order, terrorists protection, energy production, regulation reform, tax reform, etc.

I dont know how President Trump did it, but he won the election by getting all the country and rural people to vote for him based on his values as stated above. He won over 90 percent of the geographical area of the United States. He didnt win the popular vote because all the large cities voted for Hillary Clinton. These people that voted for her are the ones who are rioting and demonstrating across our country. You dont see us rural people doing that. We have respect for our president and our country.

On the issue of immigrants, do you think that our forefathers demonstrated against the president before they became U.S. citizens. All of these people are spouting off about constitution rights, I think you must be a citizen before you get constitutional rights. When President Trump says these people must be extremely vetted to protect our citizens and country, whats wrong with that. Do you think these people should be allowed to be citizens when theyre fighting our system before they become citizens?

The last note on bashing, Im a U.S. Army veteran who served during the Vietnam War. When U.S. Vietnam veterans got out of the services, we were bashed by the same people from the same cities. It seems these demonstrators have been doing this for generations. Apparently they have nothing else to do. Maybe they should help some homeless veterans or help out at a soup kitchen.

Now we have a president who is trying to protect us and our values, and he is getting bashed. We the country and rural people need to continue our support for a president that we elected based on his and our values.

Jerry Fischer

Bad Axe
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...
The full Senate on Monday night voted to approve Dr. David Shulkin as the next head of the Department of Veterans Affairs, making him the only holdover from the Obama administration to hold a cabinet post under President Donald Trump.

The vote was unanimous, 100-0, for Shulkin, who had served as the under secretary for health at the VA for the past 19 months. He was to be sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence.

In brief remarks before the vote, Sen. Johnny Isakson, a Georgia Republican and chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, noted that Shulkin also was approved unanimously by the committee following his confirmation hearing.

Isakson said Shulkin is the best choice for "fixing the problem" at the VA. "We don't want to privatize the VA. We don't want to reorganize the VA. We want to make sure the VA works," he said.

In taking the oath, Shulkin becomes the ninth person -- and only non-veteran -- to lead the VA, succeeding business executive and West Point graduate Bob McDonald.

Trump considered a wide range of potential VA nominees, and invited several for interviews at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, before settling on Shulkin, 57, an internist with more than 30 years of experience at major health care systems.

During the selection process, several major veterans organizations, concerned about the credentials of the potential nominees and Trump's push for more privatization of VA care, took the unusual step of urging him to consider keeping McDonald on the job to continue reforms at the VA.

During the election campaign, Trump repeatedly called the VA a "broken system" plagued by wait times, backlogs in claims, and a bloated bureaucracy that stifles reform. He charged that undocumented immigrants are treated "better than our vets," and suggested that more privatization is the remedy.

In his Senate Veterans Affairs Committee confirmation hearing earlier this month, Shulkin said he would oppose full privatization of veterans care while seeking to expand community choice programs.

"There should be no doubt I will seek major reform and accountability, but the Department of Veterans Affairs will not be privatized under my watch," he said. "If confirmed, I intend to build a system that puts veterans first and allows them to get the best possible health care and services wherever they may be, in the VA or in the community."

Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat and the ranking member of the committee, cautioned Shulkin. "You will be fighting a war on multiple fronts" as secretary, he said.

"While trying to carry out the department's mission, you'll have to deal with a Congress that has not proven itself to be the most productive or cooperative partner," Tester said. "And you'll have to deal with a new president who has taken some public positions -- on everything from privatization to his personal opinion of the VA workforce -- that are in stark contrast to positions you have taken."

Shulkin will be taking over a $180 billion-a-year VA, with a workforce of 314,000 serving 6.5 million veterans annually at 1,700 hospitals and clinics.

Veterans groups applauded his Senate approval.

"Veterans are very fortunate to have Dr. Shulkin voluntarily stay in what has evolved into the most scrutinized and criticized position in the country -- and it should be," said VFW National Commander Brian Duffy.

"What he brings to the job is a love for veterans, for doing what's right, and for knowing what needs to be done to fix what's broken, to hold employees accountable, and to restore the faith of veterans in their VA," Duffy said.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
Reports that the Jan. 29 special operations intelligence-gathering raid in Yemen that left a Navy SEAL and 30 local civilians dead and six more troops injured was a result of hasty planning are "absolutely incorrect," the head of U.S. Special Operations Command said Tuesday.

Army Gen. Raymond Thomas briefly addressed reporters after speaking at the National Defense Industrial Association's Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict conference outside Washington, D.C. He declined to go into operational details but emphasized that such raids are common and infrequently reported.

The White House has maintained that the raid, which resulted in the first military casualty of President Donald Trump's administration, was well-planned and executed, but multiple news outlets have cited military sources complaining that the raid was hastily assembled and poorly planned.

Thomas told Military.com he does not categorize such operations as successes or failures, a hotly debated question surrounding the Yemen operation. He said discussion of the raid lacked the context of the frequency of such U.S. operations around the world.

"I don't think that there's awareness in the great American public that we're a country at war, that ISIL and al-Qaida are in countless countries," he said, using an acronym for the Islamic State. "That an operation like Yemen is what goes on any given night out there. And unfortunately it wasn't in that context."

Instead, he said the operation has only been reported and considered in terms of the death of Chief Special Warfare Operator Ryan Owens and the loss of an MV-22 Osprey that suffered a hard landing while transporting troops.

"But in context, I think America needs to know we're in a tough fight right now," Thomas said. "We're making progress, but unless we get governance on the backside of our military efforts, this is going to be a long struggle."

Thomas, who replaced Army Gen. Joseph Votel as head of SOCOM last March, repeatedly declined to comment on the workings and decision-making of the Trump administration.

But, speaking just hours after news broke late Monday night that retired Army Gen. Michael Flynn had resigned as national security adviser after 24 days in the position, he gave a nod to the tumult at the highest levels of leadership.

"Our government continues to be in unbelievable turmoil. I hope we sort it out soon, because we're a country at war," he said.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at@HopeSeck.
To date, U.S. coalition military efforts have resulted in the deaths of more than 60,000 Islamic State militants over the course of a two-year campaign, the commander of U.S. Special Operations Command said Tuesday.

That figure is 10,000 troops higher than was reported in December, when U.S. officials said 50,000 of the extremist fighters had been killed. Speaking at the National Defense Industrial Association's annual Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict conference near Washington, D.C., Army Gen. Raymond Thomas said that figure should signal to Americans how successful the fight has been.

"I'm not into morbid body counts, but that matters," Thomas said. "So when folks ask, do you need more aggressive [measures], do you need better [rules of engagement], I would tell you that we're being pretty darn prolific right now."

What makes the number of militants killed difficult to put into context is the wide variance between estimates of how many Islamic State fighters there are to begin with. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimated in 2014 that there were 100,000 ISIS fighters in Iraq and Syria, while the Pentagon announced last summer that there were only 15,000 to 20,000 militants remaining in those countries.

Thomas pointed to major military gains on ISIS strongholds, including U.S. and partners "on the verge" of toppling the capital of the group's caliphate in Raqqa, Syria, and advances in efforts to take back Mosul, Iraq. Some 1,500 ISIS fighters were killed when coalition forces claimed a recent victory in Sirte, Libya, he said.

With these gains, he said, the military has the opportunity to "reset the country's awareness for the nature of the fight."

"We're making great progress against this enemy," Thomas said. "I don't know that that resonates in [the] United States about the nature of the threat and how aggressively we're getting after it, because I think that might assuage some of the concerns about how we are able to get after an enemy, a declared enemy of the United States."

That said, discussion of whether to employ more aggressive bombing campaigns is ongoing, he said.

"There's some recommendation in the offing for the administration to consider," he said. "We'll see which consideration they opt for."

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at@HopeSeck.
Military veteran Jim Schueckler describes spending a memorable Christmas in Vietnam in 1969:

The usual carols played in the mess hall at supper and the calendar said "December 24, 1969," but it didn't feel much like Christmas Eve. We were tired from a long day of flying many missions picking up infantrymen and recon patrols from field locations.

We brought them back to the big airfield at Phan Thiet for the Christmas ceasefire. Gunship helicopters had escorted us because they were frequently needed on other days, but today not a shot had been fired in either direction. It seemed that soldiers on both sides of this war were glad to allow the ceasefire to start one day early.

It had been a hot day, and even in the evening, after the withering sun had dipped below the horizon, we sat sweltering in T-shirts in the pilots' hooch. The air was somber. The usual discussions of recent close calls and superior airmanship were subdued by the subject on everyone's mind, but nobody would talk about: the recent loss of four pilots and four crewmen.

We joked about the ceasefire and wondered how long it would last. One man predicted that the base would be hit with mortars just before midnight. It seemed that there was nothing to celebrate. One pilot tried to change the mood. "We have to do something happy! Let's sing Christmas carols!" he said, almost in anguish.

But no one started singing.

Mike Porter, my copilot, finally blurted out, "Let's take up a collection for the Project Concern hospital!" I thought back to the first time I saw that hospital at Dam Pao; I was copilot for Ted Thoman. A medic showed us a baby in desperate need of medical care, suffering from convulsions and dehydration. Flying that Huey helicopter at top speed, Ted soon had the baby girl and her parents at the hospital at Dam Pao. That "mission" made me feel good; it was the only one, so far, that was not part of making war. The memory was vivid because only hours before we had extracted a recon team under fire. The bullet holes in the aircraft had been counted, but not yet patched.

Mike shook my shoulder to wake me from my reverie. "Hey, Jim, let's ask to fly the Da Lat Macvee mission tomorrow to take money that we collect tonight." Under his crew cut blonde hair, Mike's boyish face lit up, and I had to remind myself that he was among the older Army helicopter pilots; he was 22.

Mike's excitement was contagious -- I jumped up, said, "Great idea, let's go ask!" and almost ran out the door. We stopped at the crew chiefs' hooch and asked Bascom if he would like to fly tomorrow. He and Dave quickly agreed, also wishing to escape the prevailing sadness.

Major Higginbotham, the company commander, was in the operations bunker. I explained our plan, but he answered: "We don't have the Da Lat Macvee mission. In fact, there are no missions; there's a ceasefire tomorrow . . . remember?"

It had been Mike's idea, but the prospect of not being able to make this mission was too much, so I pleaded the cause: "Please, Sir, could you call battalion and see if some other company has Da Lat Macvee?" Macvee, the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, was the U.S. Army unit of advisers to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. One or two U.S. advisers were assigned to small military compounds in almost every large village. A Macvee mission usually meant flying the province's senior adviser around to visit the villages.

Macvee missions were a respite from the tension and danger of combat assaults or recon team missions, but had their own risks of weather, wind and being without gunship escort. Flying near the beautiful city of Da Lat, up in the cool mountains, was an additional treat.

The [commanding officer] picked up the phone and then started writing on a mission sheet form. He handed it to me and said, "Da Lat Macvee helipad, oh seven thirty; We took the mission from the 92nd." He opened his wallet and handed me some money. "Here. Good luck!"

When we reached the gunship platoon hooch, three pilots looked on sadly as one man raked a pile of money across the table toward himself. We made our sales pitch about the hospital. The lucky gambler pushed the money toward us and said: "Here -- take it! I'd just lose it all back to these guys anyway. Merry Christmas!"

Similar responses began to fill our ammo can with money of all denominations as we roamed among hooches and tents, collecting money from guys whose generosity began to make me a believer in the Christmas spirit again. At one stop, a pilot gave us a gift package of cheese. Food! We could take food!

We made another pass through the company area, asking for cookies, candy and other things. As we left one hooch with our arms full, the men inside started singing, "Deck the Halls," and soon those in other buildings were competing. Christmas Eve had arrived in this tropical land of heat and snakes and death!

When we reached the mess hall, the cooks were still there, preparing for Christmas Day. The mess sergeant replied: "Do you have a truck with you? We have a surplus of food because so many guys went home early." One pilot went to get the maintenance truck while the rest of us checked dates on cans and cartons of food. Then we drove to the infantry mess hall where we accepted four cases of freeze-dried foods. The medic at the dispensary gave us bandages and dressings.

We tied down the pile of booty in the Huey. After returning the truck, the four pilots walked together back to our hooch. One looked at his watch and said, "Hey, guys! It's midnight. Merry Christmas!"

My alarm clock startled me out of a deep sleep. A check [of] my wristwatch verified the time, but something was wrong. There was no shouting, no rumble of trucks, no roar of propellers and rotors. Mornings were usually bustling with the sounds of men and machines preparing for the daily business of war, but today there were no such sounds. I thought to myself, "Is this what peace sounds like?"

In the shower building, Mike and I talked about what our families would be doing today on the other side of the world. As all short-timers do, I reminded Mike that in just two weeks, I would be going home, my year in Vietnam over. My wife promised me another Christmas celebration, with a decorated tree and wrapped presents. I would also be meeting another Mike for the first time, my son, now only a few months old.

After breakfast, the others went to the flight line while I called for a weather briefing. When I reached the helicopter, Mike was doing the preflight inspection and had just climbed up to the top of the Huey. Together, we checked the main rotor hub and the "Jesus nut" that holds the rotor on the helicopter. Everything was fine; we were ready to fly. We took off and headed for the mountains.

It always felt good to fly with this crew; we were a finely tuned team. The rugged and muscular Lee looked every bit like a cowboy from his hometown in Wyoming. He was the crew chief of this Huey and did all the daily maintenance on it; it was his "baby." With Mike as copilot and Dave as door gunner, we had taken that helicopter into and out of many difficult situations, from landing supplies on a windy mountain top to extracting recon teams from small clearings while taking enemy fire. The radio call sign of the 192nd Assault Helicopter Company was Polecat; we were Polecat Three Five Six and proud of it. This day was beginning to feel even better because we were going to use our combat skills for a mission that seemed so unrelated to war.

I climbed higher than usual in the smooth morning air. As we left the jungle plains along the coast, the green mountains of the Central Highlands rose up to meet us. On the plateau, a thick blanket of fog lay like cotton under a Christmas tree. It spilled over between the peaks in slow, misty waterfalls. In the rising sunlight, the mountain tops cast long shadows on the fog. The beauty and serenity of the scene were dazzling. Had I noticed this before? I think I had, but today the gorgeous scenery wasn't a backdrop for the unexpected horror of war.

The mess hall had been quiet. The airfield was quiet. The radios were quiet. We weren't even chattering on the intercom as we usually did. Our minds were all with different families, somewhere back home, thousands of miles away. Everything was quiet and peaceful. It felt very, very, strange. Was this the first day of a lasting peace, or just the eye in a hurricane of war?

As our main rotor slowed down after we landed at Da Lat, a gray-haired lieutenant colonel walked up to the Huey. "Merry Christmas! I'm Col. Beck. We have a busy day planned. My men are spread out all over this province, and we're going to take mail, hot turkey and pumpkin pies to every one of them!" He handed me a map that had our cross-stitched route already carefully drawn on it. His distinguished look turned to a big grin as he added, "Oh -- would you guys like to have some Donut Dollies with us today?" Four heads with flight helmets were eagerly nodding "yes" as the two young ladies got out of a jeep.

Donut Dollies were American Red Cross volunteers, college graduates in their early 20s. Although no longer distributing donuts like their namesakes of World War I, they were still in the service of helping the morale of the troops. At large bases, they managed recreation centers, but they also traveled to the smaller units in the field for short visits. For millions of GIs, they represented the girlfriend, sister or wife back home. Over the Huey's intercom, Col. Beck introduced Sue, with the short, dark hair and Ann, a brunette, the taller one.

Soon we were heading toward the mountains with a Huey full of mail, food, Christmas cargo and two American young women. For the soldiers who had been living off Vietnamese food and canned Army rations at lonely, isolated outposts, these touches of home would be a welcome surprise.

As we approached the first compound, Col. Beck, by radio, told the men on the ground that we were going to make it snow. Sue and Ann sprinkled laundry soap flakes out of the Huey as we flew directly over a small group of American and Vietnamese soldiers who must have thought we were crazy. Several of them were rubbing their eyes as we came back to land. I will never know if it was emotion or if they just had soap in their eyes.

The three Americans came over to the Huey as we shut it down. Ann gave each of them a package from the Red Cross, and Sue called out names to distribute the mail. After about 15 minutes of small talk, Col. Beck announced, "We have a lot more stops to make" and got back into the Huey. The soldiers stood there silently, staring at us as we started up, hovered and then disappeared into the sky.

At the next outpost, Col. Beck left us so he could talk privately with the local officials. The crew and I didn't mind escorting the Donut Dollies. It was easy to see how happy the soldiers were to talk with them. I wondered how Sue and Ann were feeling. Their job was to cheer up other people on what may have been their own first Christmas away from home; if they were lonely or sad, they never let it show.

Throughout the day, the same scene was replayed at other small compounds. Some soldiers talked excitedly to the girls, while others would just stand quietly and stare, almost in shock to see American women visiting them out in the boonies.

Finally, with the official Macvee work finished, we were above the hospital at Dam Pao. Mike landed us a few hundred feet from the main building. Several men and women came out, carrying folding stretchers. They first showed surprise that we were not bringing an injured new patient, and then joy when we showed them the food and medical supplies. Mike opened the ammo can full of money and said, "Merry Christmas from the Polecats and Tiger Sharks of the 192nd Assault Helicopter Company." One of the women began to cry and then hugged Mike.

A doctor asked if we would like to see the hospital. He talked as we carried the goods from the Huey to the one-floor, tin-roof hospital building. "Project Concern now has volunteer doctors and nurses from England, Australia and the USA. We provide health services to civilians and train medical assistants to do the same in their own villages. We try to demonstrate God's love, so we remain neutral. Both sides respect our work, and leave us alone."

One of the women described a recent event. Two nurses and a medical assistant student were returning from a remote clinic in the jungle when their jeep became mired in mud. Many miles from even the smallest village, they knew that they would not be able to walk to civilization before dark. A Viet Cong foot patrol came upon them, pulled the jeep out of the mud and sent them on their way.

There were homemade Christmas decorations everywhere; most made on the spot by patients or their families. Inside, the hospital was clean and neat, but stark; there were few pieces of modern equipment. The staff lived in a separate small building.

As we moved into one ward, a nurse gently lifted a very small baby from its bed, and before I could stop her, she placed him in my arms. He'd been born that morning. Although they had expected complications, the mother and baby were perfectly healthy! As I held the tiny infant, I started to tell the others that I would soon be meeting my own baby son, but the words got stuck in my throat. So I just stood there, marveling at the warmth and hope in that tiny new human being nestled peacefully in my arms. Would this child grow up in peace, or would this tiny life be snuffed out by a war that had already claimed thousands of Vietnamese and Americans? Would the deaths of my friends this past year help ensure for him a life of peace and freedom, or had they died in vain?

The staff invited us to stay for supper with them, and I could tell the invitation was sincere. However, the sun was getting low, and I didn't want to fly us home over 80 miles of mountainous jungle in the dark. I also would have felt guilty to take any food, even so graciously offered, from the most selfless people I had ever met. As we started the Huey, the doctors and nurses were about 50 feet away, still talking with Col. Beck. The colonel took something out of his wallet and gave it to one of the men with a double-hand handshake. He then quietly climbed on board.

There was no chatter on the intercom as we flew back to Da Lat. Mike landed the Huey softly. I asked him to shut down and got out quickly. Then we all stood there silently; I wanted to hug Sue and Ann, but I knew Donut Dollies were not allowed to hug. Instead, we all exchanged warm handshakes and Christmas wishes. Col. Beck thanked us for taking him to the hospital. We, the crew of Polecat 356, got back in and flew away and out of the lives of our new-found friends.

Silence also marked the flight back to Phan Thiet. I thought of my family and friends back home and couldn't wait to see them. I also thought about the good friends I would soon be leaving behind, and other good friends who would never go home to their families.

I reflected on the rare nature of the day. I would always remember Christmas Day in Vietnam as very special. Here, in the midst of war, trouble and strife, was a time of sharing, happiness, love -- and peace.

Epilogue: I attended the 1993 dedication of the Vietnam Women's Memorial to place letters of remembrance from the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association. As friendly and helpful as 24 years earlier, other Donut Dollies were eager to help me find Sue and Ann, identified from a photograph I had taken at Dam Pao in 1969. One Donut Dolly finally exclaimed: "That's my sister!" and led me to Ann, and I collected on a long-overdue hug. Sue and I talked by telephone a few days later. I felt good to learn that Christmas Day in Vietnam was also special to them.

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After one of the most tumultuous offseasons in recent history, left-hander David Rollins has cleared outright waivers, tweets Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune. Rollins will be in Major League Spring Training as a non-roster invitee, where hell compete for a spot in the Chicago bullpen.

There are players in Rollins boat every offseason  those who are seemingly deemed a fringe 40-man roster candidate by multiple clubs but bounce from team to team as those clubs make other roster maneuverings. (Casper Wells and Gonzalez Germen come to mind as a couple of names that have recently ridden the DFA carousel for much of the offseason.) Rollins, though, is among the most extreme examples of that situation, having been designated for assignment a staggering six times this winter.

At the end of the day, its a business. I get it, Rollins told ESPNs Jerry Crasnick last week after his sixth DFA. But Im still a human. I keep thinking, Teams like me enough to pick me up, but nobody wants to take a chance on me. Itll play games with your head, thats for sure. Rangers GM Jon Daniels, who has twice claimed Rollins this winter, weighed in on the matter to Crasnick as well, noting that some kind of limitation on the waiver process has at least been discussed at the annual GM meetings, though no rule has been agreed upon. Rollins agent, Jonathan Maurer, also spoke to Crasnick about the difficulties the process can place on certain players. (The entire piece is well worth a read, as its rife with quotes from multiple vantage points on the matter.)

While Rollins has yet to experience much in the way of Major League success  he has a 7.60 ERA in 34 1/3 Major League innings  hes a fairly hard-throwing left-handed reliever with a solid minor league track record. Rollins has averaged 92 mph on his fastball in the Majors, and he owns a 2.82 ERA with 7.1 K/9 against 1.2 BB/9 in 60 2/3 innings at Triple-A in his career. The former Rule 5 pick does have an 80-game PED suspension issued back in 2015 hanging over him, but that hardly seems to have curbed interest in him.

Though the offseason has undoubtedly been exhausting for Rollins, hell now at least have some peace of mind as he heads to Spring Training with the Cubs in hope of securing a spot in the big league bullpen. That looks to be an uphill battle, as the Cubs project to have Brian Duensing and one of Mike Montgomery or Brett Anderson in the bullpen. Additionally, theyve reportedly made an offer to bring Travis Wood back into the mix, and Rob Zastryzny also remains on the 40-man roster.
ANN ARBOR, MI - The Circus Bar is under new ownership.

The purchase of the four-story, 25,000-square-foot building located at 210 S. First St. was confirmed by commercial real estate firm SVN/Stewart Commercial Group, which assisted in the sale. The official closing date was Monday, Feb. 13, and a purchase price was not announced.

A statement from SVN/Stewart Commercial Group said the purchaser of the property is undisclosed.

Former owner Nick Easton told The Ann Arbor News of a potential buyer in December and also discussed his love for the building, business and why he was selling.

Easton owned the building since 1994 and started the Cavern Club in the basement in 1997. It is now split into four clubs: Circus, Gotham City, Millennium, and Cavern Club, and has drawn in a mixed crowd of students and regulars to play a game of billiards or join in a round of karaoke.

According to Easton, the building started its life as the Ann Arbor City Brewery, then a flour mill, before it was bought by the Lohr family in 1925 and became Lohr's Ann Arbor Implement Co.

He named his own old age as the primary reason for the sale and said he plans to retire to his lakeside cabin in northern Michigan.

"I'm 68 and I'm ready to retire," Easton said with a laugh. "I've been thinking about this awhile."

Dan Stewart, title managing director at SVN/Stewart Commercial Group, said the offer from the new buyer was the "best of the bunch because the intended use contemplates using the existing structure."

"A number of other offers involved a complete redevelopment of the site and that of course is a significantly more involved process," Stewart said.
EAST LANSING, MI -- The Broadway touring production of "Cabaret" is a must-see show if you love song, dance and something with a message.

This is the "definitive" version, according to Mary Gordon Murray, who plays Fraulein Schneider on the current tour, which makes a stop Feb. 21-26, 2017 at the Wharton Center in East Lansing.

Originally done in the '60s (with Hal Prince directing), "Cabaret" became a hit through film, and it was followed by an '80s version and a '90s version with a re-staging from Sam Mendes and Rob Marshall.

"They took it into more of where Weimar, Germany actually was at that point; a very decadent place, kind of coming undone, pretty amoral and loose, if you will," she said.

"That version got revived a couple years ago on Broadway, and this is the national tour of that version."

"If you've seen it, you will feel like you haven't."

This is part of Cabaret's 50th Anniversary Season.

The musical is set in 1929-1930 Berlin, as the Nazis are rising to power. It is based in nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub, and revolves around American writer Cliff Bradshaw and his relationship with 32-year-old English cabaret performer Sally Bowles.

Fraulein Schneider runs a boarding house, where the couple lives.

Written in the '60s, Murray said it's shocking "how timely it is" in 2017.

"Now... it could not be more relevant," she said. "It's shocking."

Listen to the Full Podcast. My apologies for the audio issues. But please listen.
DETROIT, MI - It's t-minus one week until one of the more highly anticipated restaurants opens in Michigan.

Shake Shack is opening its first Michigan location on Feb. 23, 2017 in the heart of Downtown Detroit at Campus Martius inside the First National Building at 660 Woodward.

Shake Shack is known for its burgers, chicken, hot dogs, crispy crinkle cut fries and fresh-made frozen custard. There's even beer and wine.

Special Detroit custards:

The Detroit location will also feature some Detroit only custard creations: Motor City Mix (vanilla custard, peanut butter sauce, Bon Bon Bon dark chocolate with Rocky's honey roasted peanuts and chocolate toffee) and the Pie Oh My (vanilla custard, Sister Pie featured pie). A remix on the fan favorite Shack Attack, Detroit edition (chocolate custard, fudge sauce, Zingerman's Black Magic Brownie and Mast Brothers Shake Shack dark chocolate chunks, topped with chocolate sprinkles) will also be available.

Beer and Wine:

Diners will be able to wash their burgers and fries down with not only Shake Shack's exclusive Brooklyn Brewery ShackMeister Ale, but also brews like Cheboygan Brewing Blood Orange Honey Wheat, Griffin Claw Brewing El Rojo Red Ale, and Short's Brewing Huma Lupa Licious India Pale Ale. Wine lovers can enjoy a glass of organic and biodynamic Shack Red(r) and Shack White wine from Napa-based Frog's Leap Winery.

Charity:

The Detroit Shack will donate 5% of sales from its Pie Oh My concrete to Gleaners Community Food Bank, a non-profit that provides local people in need with access to nutritious food.

Shack App:

The Shack App will be available for Detroiters March 1st, allowing guests to order Shake Shack from their phone. Guests can choose an available pickup time and it will be cooked-to-order and timed to their arrival.

Special t-shirt:

Shake Shack collaborated with contemporary menswear designer John Varvatos, a Detroit-native, on a limited-edition t-shirt that embodies the spirit of the city. It will be available for sale at the Downtown Detroit Shack as well as online at shakeshack.com.

Inside Shake Shack:

In keeping with Shake Shack's commitment to green architecture and eco-friendly construction, the Detroit Shack's tabletops will be made by CounterEvolution using reclaimed bowling alley lanes; chairs will be designed by Uhuru using sustainable materials; booths will be crafted by Staach using lumber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council; and artwork by Detroit-based artist Jesse Kassel will be displayed throughout the interior of the Shack, including the mural of a bird's-eye view of Detroit and its surrounding neighborhoods.

"We're thrilled to bring Shake Shack to the Motor City," said Randy Garutti, Shake Shack CEO. "The resurgence of Detroit celebrates its storied past and the bright future ahead. We're honored to play a small part and looking forward to immersing ourselves into the community and contributing to downtown Detroit's placemaking movement."
ANN ARBOR, MI - More than 4,300 animals found their forever homes in 2016, thanks to the efforts of the staff and volunteers at the Humane Society of Huron Valley.

There were 4,306 animals adopted from the Humane Society, 3100 Cherry Hill Road in Ann Arbor, last year and about 95 percent of the animals accepted by the 120-year-old nonprofit were placed into homes, according to its 2016 annual report.

The 4,306 adoptions recorded in 2016, including:

2,508 cats

1,619 dogs

50 birds

54 rabbits

Four degus (a small type of rodent native to Chile)

Four ferrets

Two bearded dragons (a type of a lizard)

Two pythons

A horse

And a chicken

2016 saw an increase of 269 adoptions from the previous year. There were 4,037 adoptions total in 2015. The previous record was 4,163 adoptions in 2014.

"A huge part of that is owed to the community for being so supportive of us," said Wendy Welch, communications director for the Humane Society. "Thanks to that support, we have grown other programs that have supported adoption."

Those programs include Play for Life, which connects to dogs in play and helps them gain social and behavior skills that promote adoption, and the Tiny Lions Lounge and Adoption Center, a spot where cats and humans can interact in a relaxed setting.

According to the Humane Society, most of the adoptive families hailed from Michigan and Ohio while others traveled from as far away as California to bring home their furry or scaly companion from the Humane Society of Huron Valley.

Some of those adoption stories are shared on a section of the Humane Society website, like the tale of the blind dog named Dixon. He was placed with one of 250 foster homes in 2016 and later found his forever home with owners who are now his eyes.

The Humane Society was also recognized by the Michigan Pet Fund Alliance for having the highest save rate among similar shelters in Michigan for the fifth consecutive year. Those awards are a result of the organization's "extraordinary" team of staff and volunteers, said Tanya Hilgendorf, HSHV's president and CEO.

"This is important to celebrate because it's great news for animals," Hilgendorf said in a statement. "Not only does adoption ensure innocent homeless animals get a second chance, but also adopting helps stem cruel puppy mills and irresponsible breeders."

Adoptions also mean more animals are able to be moved off the streets or from other organizations and placed with the Humane Society, Hilgendorf said, refreshing a cycle that saves lives.

While 2016 was a record-breaking year for the organization, there is no rest for the staff and volunteers who are already working to place even more animals into good homes in 2017.

"We hope to meet or beat that goal that we achieved last year," Welch said.

There are currently 33 dogs and 62 cats waiting to be adopted at the Humane Society.
ANN ARBOR, MI - Does Ann Arbor have the right number of fire stations? And are they in the right places?

Those are questions Fire Chief Larry Collins says the city should be asking as it plans for the future and eventually faces replacing aging stations.

Collins told the City Council during a budget work session Monday night, Feb. 13, the fire department plans to undergo a formal accreditation process later this year and there's a desire to begin implementing high-priority recommendations from a new strategic plan for the department.

Fire Chief Larry Collins gives a presentation before the Ann Arbor City Council on Feb. 13, 2017.

That includes creating a fire station master plan, examining the five existing stations and ensuring they're properly located to maximize coverage.

"So we're looking at all of our fire stations, trying to figure out where they ought to be," Collins said.

The plan recommends upgrading stations and devising a multi-year strategy for replacing or relocating stations based on a location study.

Collins said some of the city's fire stations are getting old and will need to be replaced at some point.

"We now have the technology, thanks to IT and the computer programs that are out there, to take and build a firehouse any place in the city without really building it, and then teaming that up with the computer to let it do the run like a fire apparatus would," Collins told council members. "And it can tell you how long it'll take a crew to get to a particular location."

Ann Arbor, for about 15 years now, has operated with the same five fire stations, known as Station 1 and Stations 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Station 1 is centrally located in the downtown across from city hall on Fifth Avenue. Station 3 is on the city's west side on Jackson Avenue near Veterans Memorial Park. Station 4 is on the east side on Huron Parkway.

Station 5 is on the city's north side on the University of Michigan's North Campus, and Station 6 is on the south side near Briarwood Mall.

Station 2, located near Stadium and Packard, was closed in 2003 to save money. It now houses the Fire Prevention Bureau.

The locations of Ann Arbor's five fire stations, plus Station 2 near Stadium and Packard, which closed many years ago but now houses the Fire Prevention Bureau.

At a budget retreat in December 2004, city officials also discussed closing Station 3 to save money, though it never happened.

There was more talk of closing stations about five years ago when the city's last fire chief, Chuck Hubbard, proposed a restructuring that would have taken the department from a five-station model down to a three-station model, a plan driven by staffing constraints. It died for lack of political support.

"Station 3 and Station 4, they're twins. They've been around for quite a while," Collins said Monday night. "They're just getting old is what it boils down to. So, as maintenance costs increase, as population shifts, is there a better location?"

At some point, Collins said, the city won't be able to use Stations 3 and 4 anymore.

"I'm not saying we're there," he said. "But now is the time to begin to plan, because it will take you 18 months to two years to replace a fire station."

Mayor Christopher Taylor said the locations of the city's fire stations are historical in nature.

"And it's part of the diligent work Chief Collins is doing to interrogate whether those locations are optimal for our residents and the people within our jurisdiction, so it will be an ongoing analysis and we'll see what develops," he said.

At this time, Taylor said he has no preconceived notions about if or how the city's fire stations and their locations should change. He said that's going to be driven by data and he hasn't seen any data yet. There was no data presented Monday night about the fire department's current response times for fires.

Collins said the department plans to run computer models and assemble a group with community representatives to review different station options.

New development, including a wave of new housing coming to Nixon Road, will be part of the equation, Collins said.

"It's kind of complex," he said. "It's called a standard of coverage, and there's a process you go through to do that in terms of your density, your hazards that are in the area, your response time -- all that stuff gets factored into it.

"Clearly every community evolves," Collins said. "Demographics change over time, population patterns change over time, stations get older. So it is just a smart move managerially to every so often take a look at that."

Collins also reported Monday night a new 75-foot aerial ladder truck should be in service at Station 5 off Plymouth Road in about six to eight weeks.

He said that's exciting and will help the department serve multi-story buildings in the northern/eastern part of the city.

Collins plans to have the department go through a formal accreditation review by the Center for Public Safety Excellence later this year.

His presentation Monday included a series of budget adjustments aimed at meeting a 2 percent targeted expenditure reduction. That includes $78,027 in savings from a retirement, among other measures.
ANN ARBOR, MI - An island in Lake Michigan. A series of strange disappearances. The murderous ghost of a renegade Mormon.

That's the recipe for Darrin James' first feature-length film, "Elder Island," a supernatural horror movie filmed entirely in Michigan -- in Brighton, Ferndale, Livonia and on Beaver Island.

James, a native of Birmingham, Michigan, and Eastern Michigan University alumnus, said the idea for the film, released for worldwide distribution Feb. 7, came from a trip to Beaver Island in 2011.

"I went up to Beaver Island to film a documentary, and when I got there, almost from the moment that we got off the boat and walked up the dock, we started hearing stories about Reverend Strang," James said.

"After learning about (the reverend) and his history on Beaver Island, we thought, 'Wow, that would be a really interesting basis for a movie.'"

According to the Beaver Island Historical Society, the Rev. James Jesse Strang formed a colony on the island in 1848, crowning himself king of a breakaway Mormon sect. King Strang would go on to maintain a stranglehold of Beaver Island until he was assassinated by disgruntled followers in 1856.

James said he and writer/producer Fabricio Cerioni jumped off from there for "Elder Island," bringing back the vengeful ghost of Strang to wreak havoc on his assassins' descendants and visitors to the island.

"We really liked the idea, when we started writing the script, of going back to horror films that were more story-based and less non-stop gore," James said. "Fabricio and I both grew up in the '80s horror genre -- all the Freddie films, 'Nightmare on Elm Street,' the 'Friday the 13th' films.

"There was gore, but there was a lot of story in those films. So we decided to kind of move back to the idea of letting the story carry the movie and to have some scenes where you have a little bit of gore, but more focus on the characters and their development and what happens."

James said almost everyone involved with the film is a Michigan native, estimating that the label could be applied to around 90-95 percent of the crew.

"I think we maybe had three actors that either weren't from Michigan or didn't live in Michigan (at some point)," James said, adding that "Elder Island" was one of the last projects to receive incentives from the Michigan Film Office.

One actor, Timothy Quill, who also grew up in Birmingham, Michigan, and now resides in Huntington Beach, California, said he champed at the bit to play a part in James' film.

Quill signed on without hesitation to play the sheriff of Elder Island.

"I read (the part) and I don't think he even hung up the phone before I was calling him back," Quill said. "Darrin offered me, I think ... the part of a lifetime because it was something I could really play straight up and really give my character to."

The 59-year-old actor, who said he has been around the film business for 40 years, had nothing but praise for James' directorial debut, going so far as to call it genius.

"Darrin put together a film that was genius," Quill said. "And I'm not lying. You go and check out every one of these indie horror movies, you can only get so graphic and so crazy ... but no, this was more, the best way I can put it, is Hitchcock-like.

"All of a sudden you see somebody swinging an ax or somebody performing a hideous act, and cut to the tree where you see a splatter of blood. That's genius! That's genius! It's so Hitchcock ... and I love that stuff."

Danny Hicks, a 65-year-old actor born in Farmington, Michigan, who played an islander in the film with no "redeeming qualities," said he has remained a supporter of art and film in Michigan since moving to Los Angeles in the 1980s.

"I'm just amazed at the amount of talent there is in Michigan," Hicks said. "There are so many talented people there; there was when I lived there 35 years ago and the same is true today."

James, 50 years old himself, acknowledges his directing career started rather late as far as the profession goes.

"Quite frankly, it's one of those situations where, if you want to do something, forget about age, forget about anything else," he said. "If it's something you want to do in your life, something you want to accomplish, you should go and do it, because now more than ever ... there are amazing opportunities to go and do what you want to do."

"Elder Island" was named the "Best Made In Michigan" film at the Motor City Nightmares Film Festival in Novi in September.

It is currently available on Amazon, iTunes, Vimeo, YouTube and through other various streaming services.
U-M students

Issues surrounding the challenges, policy and prevention of one of the most prevalent issues facing colleges campuses today -- sexual assault -- are the subject of a panel discussion the University of Michigan is hosting Thursday, Feb. 16.

(The Ann Arbor News file photo)

ANN ARBOR, MI - Issues surrounding the challenges, policy and prevention of sexual assault on college campuses are the subject of a panel discussion the University of Michigan is hosting Thursday, Feb. 16.

A panel of experts, executives from UM and students will discuss the significance of sexual assault survey research, the role of the UM Sexual Assault and Prevention Awareness Center, Title IX compliance policies, and student perspectives on the issue of what has been done and what still needs to be accomplished.

The panel, which takes place at 4 p.m. Thursday in Annenberg Auditorium, 1120 Weill Hall, 735 S. State St., plans to discuss how research, awareness, community action and policy intersect around the issue of campus sexual assault. The event is sponsored by UM's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.

Paula Lantz, associate dean for academic affairs at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, said she hopes the audience also will play a role in the discussion following the panel discussion.

"We hope that dialogue with the audience after the presentations will create an understanding of the successes and also the challenges that remain in addressing this serious problem," Lantz said in an email.

Panelists for the discussion include William Axinn, professor of sociology, research professor at the UM Institute for Social Research and professor at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy; Pamela Heatlie, senior associate director of the UM Office for Institutional Equity; Holly Rider-Milkovich, senior director of prevention education at EverFi, and former director of UM Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center; and Emma Zorfass, student volunteer for the UM Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center.

UM saw a drop in the number of sexual misconduct cases investigated and reported in 2015-16, according to a report issued by the university's Office for Institutional Equity in October 2016.

The total number of reports decreased about 9 percent from 172 in 2014-15 to 157 in 2015-16, the report stated, while reports of sexual assault and stalking each decreased by approximately 18 percent. Reports of sexual harassment increased by approximately 14 percent.

In total, there were 18 investigations compared to 29 investigations the previous year, according to the report, which provided case-by-case outcomes of all student sexual misconduct investigations carried out by OIE under the direction of the university's Title IX coordinator.

Within the 18 investigations, four students were found to have violated the policy during the 2016 fiscal year, the report stated. Three of the students were subject to permanent separation or expulsion from UM.

UM made several changes to its sexual misconduct policy last April that went into effect in July 2016, including expanding the definitions of unwanted conduct to include gender-based harassment, intimate violence and stalking, with a clearer picture surrounding consent.

It also made procedural changes to ensure a fair process and enhance transparency of the process for claimants, respondents and witnesses, including using an external reviewer for appeals and a three-person Sanctioning Board to determine sanctions consisting of representatives from the Office of the President, Vice President for Student Life office and a chosen representative from Central Student Government.

The event, which is free and open to the public, also is being livestreamed,


uhsouth.jpg

University Hospital South, the former C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, could become the new home to Michigan Medicine's Central Sterile Processing Department.

(Ann Arbor News file photo)

ANN ARBOR, MI - University Hospital South could become the new home of Michigan Medicine's Central Sterile Processing Department, pending the approval of a new renovation plan going before the University of Michigan Board of Regents on Thursday, Feb. 16.

Currently Michigan Medicine, formerly known as the University of Michigan Health System, has multiple sites within the medical center where scopes are reprocessed.

The proposed $5.1 million project would renovate approximately 6,300 square feet of underused space on Level 3 of University Hospital South to create space for the Central Sterile Processing Department to efficiently clean and process instruments for sterilization. The project doesn't include the sterile processing of equipment from the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.

According to the action request, the project "will create significant process efficiencies for scope sterilization leading to improved operational outcomes."

Also up for approval at the Regents' meeting is the replacement of all the existing roofing at University Hospital South.

According to the Regents' action request, the current roofing systems at the complex require frequent repair. The proposed $2.7 million project would replace the current roofing with a new fully-adhered ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) membrane roof system, replace metal flashings and remove a cooling tower that is no longer in use.

Funding for both would come from health system resources. If approved, the architectural firm of Ann Arbor Architects Collaborative would design the sterile processing project, while the architectural firm of Niagara Murano would design the roof replacement.

If approved, the sterile processing project and roof replacement would be completed in the spring and summer of 2018, respectively.

University Hospital South formerly served as the home of C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and Women's Hospital. It now houses a range of services and offices, including space on the main floor for patients with conditions affecting the nerves and brain.
AAPD_police_car_051516_RJS_01.jpg

An Ann Arbor Police Department patrol car rolls down Jefferson Street on May 15, 2016.

(Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News)

ANN ARBOR, MI - After months of investigating, Ann Arbor police believe that two of three claims of possible hate crimes in November 2016 were false reports.

The three incidents were reported on Nov. 11, Nov. 12 and Nov. 15, 2016, in downtown Ann Arbor, near the University of Michigan.

Prosecutors will review the Nov. 15 incident, in which a woman reported being slashed with something, possibly a safety pin, by an about 45-year-old white man in the 600 block of Liberty Street.

Investigators believed the incident may have been due to the safety pin she was wearing.

Safety pins worn outside clothing have been used as a form of silent protest of the vote to leave the European Union and the election of President Donald Trump in the United Kingdom and United States, respectively, as well as to show solidarity with minorities who feel threatened.

Ann Arbor police Detective Lt. Matthew Lige said after an exhaustive investigation, the inconsistencies with the reported victim's statements and lack of surveillance footage of the incident as reported led police to submit as request for criminal charges.

"Flat out, it did not happen," Lige said of the Nov. 15 report.

The woman who reported the incident - a 21-year-old Ann Arbor woman - could face a misdemeanor charge for falsely reporting a misdemeanor assault, but that will be decided after review by the county prosecutor's office.

The Washtenaw County Prosecuting Attorney's Office has declined to charge a second woman who police say falsely reported the Nov. 11 incident, in which she claimed a man threatened to set her hijab on fire.

Though two of the three November incidents have been deemed false by police, authorities believe an incident on Nov. 12 - in which a woman wearing an outfit that may have resembled garb for some Muslim women was pushed down a hill - was a true report.

The investigation has gone stale, and those with information on the incident are encouraged to contact the Ann Arbor Police Department tip line at 734-794-6939 or tips@a2gov.org.

Though Lige declined to comment further on the false report cases, he noted that Ann Arbor police, University of Michigan police and the FBI put considerable time and resources into the investigations.

"Certainly there were other investigations that were stalled because of the high-profile nature of these two - these three, rather," he said.

"These three investigations were incredibly time-consuming given the nature of the allegations and the collaboration from the local law enforcement and the federal law enforcement was very much appreciated," he said. "From an investigator's standpoint, to get to the conclusion that these never happened at all is certainly very frustrating."
The Washington Post has become the latest example in an influx of prestige publications migrating to Snapchat Discover, and will become the platform?s first editorial partner to provide multiple news updates throughout the day.





WaPo will essentially provide the closest thing to breaking news that Snapchat Discover has hosted yet, with most of its participant publications opting for once-daily or once-weekly installations of editorial content. The edition will be live in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom, and will run seven days a week.





?Snapchat is a perfectly suitable platform for breaking news, and in some ways even an optimal one,? said James McNally, director of digital strategy for TDT, New York . ?At the end of the day, Snapchat has a userbase that likely doesn't visit WaPo's website, and may not consume much news from traditional sources.





?This partnership is a great way to for Snapchat's users to get high quality news, and a way for WaPo to open a relationship with a new userbase.?





Snapchat Discover

A press release sets out the Post?s aims for the Discover endeavor: to ?focus on producing fast, visually captivating and experiential storytelling.?





And, unlike many publications on the platform that are quick to turn around news on a daily basis, WaPo?s Discover series will not focus exclusively on reportage, but will also provide analysis on the day?s events courtesy of the newspaper?s wide range of columnists and analysts.





The first installation of Wapo's Snapchat story





Some of these Washington Post journalists were among the first to look to Snapchat as a medium for campaign reportage, and also used it as a breaking news platform during the Baltimore riots in 2015.





However, brands have not been so apt to experiment with breaking news coverage on the platform since, and certainly not on Snapchat Discover, which currently pubs tend to use as a repository for distilled digital content created for other media.





The Washington Post?s introduction of breaking news coverage to Discover begs the question: Will other publications get in on the craze? And, if so, is there enough room on the platform for multiple strains of breaking news?





?There certainly is,? Mr. McNally said. ?There's no question that Snapchat's userbase is attractive to news businesses, and whether or not WaPo is successful in this effort, it's likely that other major news organizations will follow suit.?





New media

Discover is quickly becoming a significant module in many news media organizations? digital media strategies, but it is yet to be said whether the trend will stick: Although many pubs have/are developing a presence on Discover currently, time will tell whether it becomes a long term hallmark of digital media. As for right now, it seems that many publications just happen to be experimenting with the platform at the same time, which itself could catalyze the critical mass to move Discover into news legitimacy.





White House counselor Kellyanne Conway stars in WaPo's first Discover story





Audio is another area that news organizations both nascent and prestige have begun to involve themselves with at scale. Last month, burgeoning online news magazine The Intercept debuted a new podcast, ?Intercepted,? which runs once a week and reflects its parent publication?s irreverent, nonpartisan tenor ( see story ).





And the New York Times is showing no signs of slowing down in its commitment to bringing fact-based journalism to mobile with the debut of a new daily audio series, The Daily, which is supported by a subscription text service ( see story ).





?How can WaPo avoid the pitfalls of the 24 hour news cycle?? said Mr. McNally. ?The typical critique of the 24 hour news cycle is that it incentivizes overblown and hyperbolic headlines.





?The way WaPo can avoid this is to simply practice good journalism,? he said. ?The 24 hour news cycle is not the root of the problem with news ? the problem is sensational journalism that prioritizes ratings and advertising dollars over integrity and balance.





?Snapchat is a medium primed for quick, attention-grabbing stories; this in and of itself is not a problem, and any news organization that tries to shy away from that mindset is unlikely to see success on Snapchat. It's easier said than done, but the answer is that news businesses have a responsibility to maintain integrity, and viewers have a responsibility to be critical, and to consume news stories from more than one single platform or corporate entity.?
[February 14, 2017] Northern Lights Spirits to Distribute Connected Gin Bottles Featuring Thinfilm's NFC Technology

Thin Film Electronics ASA ("Thinfilm") (OSE:THIN.OL), a global leader in NFC (near field communication) mobile marketing solutions using printed electronics, today announced Northern Lights Spirits Ltd. ("NLS") as a new customer. On February 14, NLS - a Finland-based distiller of handcrafted gin and vodka - will begin distributing "smart" bottles of its premium Kalevala Gin. The bottles will feature Thinfilm's NFC SpeedTap tags, which combine with cloud-based software to enable remote tag (News - Alert) management, custom content delivery, and detailed analytics and reporting. Each SpeedTap tag is uniquely identifiable and virtually impossible to clone, and can be read with the simple tap of an NFC-enabled smartphone or device. Once tapped, tags wirelessly communicate with Thinfilm's cloud-based software platform, creating a powerful one-to-one mobile marketing platform from which brands can connect directly with consumers. As a result, marketers are able to instantly deliver authentication messages, brand stories, promotional offers, product news, and other relevant content. "We've spent years creating what we believe to be one of the finest gins in the world, and sharing that unique Kalevala story with gin enthusiasts is very important to us," said Moritz Wustenberg, Managing Director for NLS. "Thinfilm's NFC solutios now provide an effective means to do that, and we feel it will contribute significantly to consumer loyalty and the overall popularity of Kalevala Gin."



Kalevala Gin was awarded a silver medal at both the 2015 and 2016 International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC). NLS currently exports Kalevala Gin to the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Denmark, Austria, and Canada, where it is sold through a collection of regional distributors and retail outlets. "As competition continues to heat up in the craft spirit market, many forward-thinking companies are leveraging smart-packing technology to connect with consumers and create unique brand experiences," said Davor Sutija, CEO of Thinfilm. "We're excited to begin this relationship with Northern Lights Spirits, and are enthusiastic about the role our NFC Solutions can play in helping to grow the Kalevala Gin brand."

About Thin Film Electronics ASA Thinfilm is a leader in NFC smart packaging solutions using printed electronics technology. The first to commercialize printed, rewritable memory, the Company today creates printed tags, labels and systems that include memory, sensing, display, and wireless communication - all at a cost-per-function unmatched by conventional electronic technologies. Thinfilm's roadmap integrates technology from a strong and growing ecosystem of partners to bring intelligence to everyday items and effectively extend the traditional boundaries of the Internet of Things. Thin Film Electronics ASA ("Thinfilm") is a publicly listed Norwegian company with headquarters in Oslo, Norway; product development and production in Linkoping, Sweden; product development, production, and business development in San Jose, California, USA; and sales offices in the United States, Hong Kong, and Singapore. For more information, visit www.thinfilm.no. About Northern Lights Spirits Ltd. Northern Lights Spirits is a craft distillery producing gin and vodka under the Kalevala brand. Our organic spirits are produced in small batches among the pure nature of North-Karelia in easternmost Finland. The Finnish national epic, The Kalevala, is the cradle of inspiration for the creation of our Kalevala Gin and Kalevala Vodka. As in the epic, the story of our products revolves around the mystical Sampo that created happiness, wealth and wonders. For centuries, the Kitee region has been (in)famous for producing spirits and our long-term ambition is to honour the regional tradition of distilling unique products. As such, Kalevala Gin and Kalevala Vodka have been developed to delicious perfection. This information is subject of the disclosure requirements acc. to 5-12 vphl (Norwegian Securities Trading Act). View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170214005432/en/

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[February 14, 2017] United Health Foundation Announces Two New Partnerships and Nearly $2.5 Million in Funding to Support Hartford Families

To address growing teen drug use and provide integrated health care for local Connecticut families, United Health Foundation, Governor Dannel P. Malloy, The Governor's Prevention Partnership and The Village for Families & Children announced two new grant partnerships in Hartford. The $2.35 million in grants from United Health Foundation to The Governor's Prevention Partnership and to The Village for Families & Children will help each partner increase local education, outreach and engagement among Hartford teens and their families. The grants will fund separate, three-year initiatives with each partner. These partnerships are part of United Health Foundation's city-based approach to provide resources to programs that connect communities to care, support whole-person health and build healthier communities. Gov. Malloy, City of Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin and other community leaders joined executives from The Governor's Prevention Partnership, The Village, United Health Foundation and UnitedHealthcare at The Village in Hartford for the announcement. "Addiction is a disease, and together we can treat and prevent it. These programs will help further strengthen community and family connections, and help teens develop into active and engaged members of our communities," said Gov. Malloy. "I thank United Health Foundation for this investment to help improve access to care and address teenage drug use, and I applaud all the partners working to ensure our communities and families no longer struggle with the grave costs of this illness." At the end of the three-year grants, The Partnership and The Village will issue white papers with their respective results and provide details on how these initiatives may be replicated. "By working closely with these community organizations to address critical health issues, particularly increasing drug use among teenagers, we are helping build a healthier Hartford," said Martha Temple, senior vice president of Optum Behavioral Health. Partnering to Address Rising Teenage Drug Use According to the 2015 Connecticut Youth Risks Behavior survey, Hispanic children have higher substance-abuse rates. In coordination with Family Life Education (FLE), a Hartford-based nonprofit family outreach organization, the partnership will: create an awareness and outreach program for children, parents and the community focused on substance abuse among teenagers; and

introduce programs to identify and refer high-risk youth forsupport services.



In the past three years, the number of drug deaths in Connecticut increased 44 percent, according to the 2016 America's Health Rankings Annual Report. While Connecticut ranked third in overall health among all 50 states, it ranked 28th on this measure, highlighting the need for greater collaboration and increased efforts to address substance use.

Coordinating Care for Hartford Families The Village will integrate behavioral health and primary care services at two pediatric practices in East Hartford and West Hartford, which are run by the Connecticut Children's Medical Center. Working together, the team of primary care doctors, psychologists and care coordinators will: address the range of physical and social aspects of each child's health and well-being by using health screenings, increased parent education and referral processes to coordinate clinical care and connect families to needed community services, and;

intervene early to prevent serious medical and mental health issues with local children and their families. "The future of health care is in integrating primary care and behavioral health services," said Galo A. Rodriguez, MPH, president and CEO of The Village. "This funding by United Health Foundation will help us demonstrate how this type of integrated system will result in improved health outcomes for children, better quality of care, and short- and long-term cost savings." About Governor's Prevention Partnership Created in 1989, The Governor's Prevention Partnership is a not-for-profit partnership between state government and business leaders with a mission to keep Connecticut's youth, safe, successful and drug-free. Co-chaired by Governor Dannel Malloy and a local business leader, the organization focuses on positive school climate, mentoring and the prevention of underage drinking and substance abuse. The Village for Families & Children (The Village) The Village is a non-profit multi-service organization that has served the Greater Hartford area for more than 200 years. Its mission is "to build a community of strong, healthy families who protect and nurture children." To fulfill its mission, The Village provides a full range of behavioral health, early childhood and youth development, substance abuse treatment, and family support services. To learn more, visit www.thevillage.org, call 860-236-4511 or follow us at Facebook (News - Alert).com/thevillagect. About United Health Foundation Through collaboration with community partners, grants and outreach efforts, United Health Foundation works to improve our health system, build a diverse and dynamic health workforce and enhance the well-being of local communities. United Health Foundation was established by UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) in 1999 as a not-for-profit, private foundation dedicated to improving health and health care. To date, United Health Foundation has committed nearly $315 million to programs and communities around the world. We invite you to learn more at www.unitedhealthgroup.com/SocialResponsibility or follow Facebook.com/UHGGives. Click here to subscribe to Mobile Alerts for UnitedHealth Group. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170214005379/en/

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[February 14, 2017] Pratt & Whitney Expanding Business in Columbus, Georgia to Meet Increased Demand

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), announced today that it will invest approximately $386 million in its Columbus, Georgia, facility to increase the production of parts and maintenance services and to reduce costs for new and existing engine programs. The investments will go toward the purchase of automated machinery and equipment upgrades and construction of two new buildings on the property. The building construction will include a 200,000-square-foot facility to overhaul GTF engines. A 20,000-square-foot specialized manufacturing facility and related infrastructure will also be built to house a new isothermal forge press that will be used to manufacture turbine disks and compressor rotors for Pratt & Whitney engines. Other upgrades to equipment and machinery are also planned. "We're investing heavily in our Columbus facility to support the increased production and services planned for our F135 and GTF engines," said Chris Calio, president, Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines. "This investment will help ensure that we have the appropriate infrastructure, tooling and trained workforce in place to provide the best products and services to our customers worldwide. The tremendous support we receive from the community and state have contributed to our success in Georgia." "Pratt & Whitney has maintained a presence in Muscogee County since 1984 and this latest expansion speaks to Georgia's support for our robust aerospace industry," said Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal. "Georgia's pro-business structural framework and deep talent pool help to retain industry leaders such as Pratt & Whitney. By adding these new high-quality manufacturing jobs, Pratt & Whitney is making a significant investment inthe Columbus community and we look forward to strengthening this longstanding partnership as the company continues to grow."



Pratt & Whitney has also expanded its relationship with Columbus Technical College to provide new and existing employees with robust training programs. The school will offer four- to nine-week programs focused on aerospace mechanics and advanced manufacturing technologies to better support the company's growth. This is one of several skills development programs the company has in place with community colleges and technical schools throughout the U.S. "This announcement from Pratt & Whitney is the latest example of the hard work put forth every day by our economic development team locally and the professionals at the Georgia Department of Economic Development," said Brian Anderson, president & CEO of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce. "The project would not have happened without the tremendous relationships we have with the local Pratt & Whitney leadership team here in Columbus as well as those at both Pratt & Whitney and United Technologies Corporation in Connecticut."

The Columbus Engine Center maintains PW1100G-JM, V2500, PW2000, F117 and F100 engines. Columbus Forge produces compressor airfoils and nickel and titanium forgings, which are machined into critical rotating components for Pratt & Whitney's military and commercial engines. Both facilities are located on one campus about 90 miles south of Atlanta. Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units. United Technologies Corp., based in Farmington, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries. To learn more about UTC, visit its website at www.utc.com, or follow the company on Twitter: @UTC. This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning future business opportunities. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in levels of demand in the aerospace industry, in levels of air travel, and in the number of aircraft to be built; challenges in the design, development, production, support, performance and realization of anticipated benefits of advanced technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in United Technologies Corp.'s Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Note to editors: Photos and additional information on Pratt & Whitney's Columbus, Georgia facility can be found at: http://www.pw.utc.com/Press_Kits Ray Hernandez

Pratt & Whitney

Office: 860-565-2341

Mobile: 860-212-9167

[email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pratt--whitney-expanding-business-in-columbus-georgia-to-meet-increased-demand-300407197.html SOURCE Pratt & Whitney

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business Delhi Ola, Uber drivers' strike in a deadlock Mediated by the state government, the meeting between representatives of Rajdhani Tourist Driver Union and the managements of Ola and Uber saw no headway being made. However, the state has asked the companies to look into driver demands for reasonable compensation and other welfare measures.
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business L&T wants to be at the forefront of India's defence programme L&T hopes to be at forefront of Indias defence programme and expects the countrys defence sector to be a Rs 70,000 crore opportunity, Chairman AM Naik told CNBC-TV18 in an exclusive interview.
politics Sasikala expels Panneerselvam; K Palanisamy new AIADMK chief A letter was written by Sasikala to the Tamil Nadu Governor stating that Edapadi K.Palanisamy has been elected as the AIADMK's legislature party leader and he should be invited to form the government in the state.
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,
Ex-choir director in Bucks County pleads no contest to molesting two students, secretly filming another
A Morganton man will spend at least 18 years and four months in prison after pleading guilty Monday to raping his daughter.

Jerry Mathew Anjerok, 33, of 208 S. Anderson St. in Morganton, was sentenced to serve between 18 years and four months and 27 years and two months in the North Carolina Department of Corrections by Superior Court Judge W. Todd Pomeroy of Lincoln County for first-degree statutory rape of his 9-year-old daughter, said court officials.

Anjerok will also be added to the sex offenders list and once his time is complete he will be put under 30 years of satellite monitoring.

Anjeroks court-appointed attorney, Carol A. Bauer, said Anjerok originally came to the U.S. from the Marshall Islands to study in 1997. Bauer told the court her client had desired to plead almost immediately after his arrest.

The case began in June 2016 when Anjeroks wife reported bruises on her two children to authorities. The Child Advocacy Center became involved and learned of a history of abuse, including multiple rapes of the 9-year-old daughter.

The prosecution noted the plea spares the victims from having to testify against their father.
Once again the stability of top UK dividend stocks provides a relief from the chaos in the wider world. But the latest earnings season, which has just kicked off, means theres still plenty to follow for income investors.

In our list of top dividend payers in the FTSE 100, 10 companies have issued reports so far, with more to come in the following weeks. Only a couple of them mentioned dividend in their statements though: HSBC (HSBA) which reiterated its pledge to pay out 50% of earnings (and its now paying quarterly dividends), and Unilever (ULVR) maintains it interim dividend for Q3.

September 2022 Update

As has been the trend over the past year, Big Tobacco remains at the top of the list in terms of yield. The forecast dividend yield for Imperial Brands (IMB) dropped to 6.62% from last months forecasted 7.35% as its share price rose, but it remains the top payer. Meanwhile, British American Tobacco (BATS) climbs one spot with a 6.40% yield.

BT (BT.A) and GSK (GSK) are also still expected to see dividends of above 6%.

Schroders (SDR) and Lloyds (LLOY) both reported their third quarter numbers in October and remain high up on our table. Schroders saw a 2.7% drop in assets under management over the quarter though, citing a fall for its Solutions fund as a key driver. Lloyds Banking said its third quarter was robust due to income growth, but in three months to September 30, pre-tax profit slumped 26% to 1.51 billion from 2.03 billion.

HSBC managed to beat expectations, despite its profits sliding 42%, and is the only financial services company in our list with a positive return this year. But due to its investments into business transformation, and higher interest rates, it expects a dividend payout ratio of 50% for 2023 and 2024. The dividend is 9 cents, versus 18 cents last quarter.

Meanwhile, Unilever (ULVR) confirmed that it will be maintaining its 0.4268 quarterly interim dividend for Q3 this year after a strong quarter. All units bar Nutrition saw double-digit growth, and the consumer goods firm expects underlying sales growth for the year to be above 8%. The company is also in the middle of a 3 billion share buyback programme and is expected to complete a second 750 million trance in December 2022.

Another company in the middle of a share buyback scheme is WPP (WPP), which also issued its third quarter earnings. Revenue rose 10% to 3.57 billion, with like-for-like revenue up 2.7%. Last quarter, the advertising and marketing firm increased its dividend by 20%. Its 800 million share buyback scheme will complete this year.

This month weve made a slight change to our methodology. Weve discussed before the rationale for increasing the yield hurdle beyond 2%, our old target, especially given that inflation is around 10%. Interest rates are 2.25% now and the Bank of England is expected to hike rates next week to at least 3%.

So, to make it on to our monthly list, FTSE 100 companies need now to have a narrow or wide economic moat and pay a dividend and have a forward yield of 3% or more. Of the 32 stocks that make the grade on the moat and dividend criteria, 14 have a yield above 3%. This means wide moat Reckitt Benckiser (RKT), which had a 14% net revenue increase in the third quarter, makes the cut. However, narrow moat Intertek (ITRK) misses the mark with a 2.74% yield.

Other reporting companies that didnt quite measure up to the top list this month were Bunzl (BNZL), which saw quarterly sales growth, and Relx (REL), with an improved year-to-date performance.

The London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) and hotels group InterContinental (IHG) are both carrying on with their share buyback schemes. LSEG has been working on a 750 million on-market share buyback programme since August 2022 and is expecting to complete it within 12 months. IHG, which also started its programme in August, is planning to end it no later than 31 January 31, 2023.

Links Latest

Overall, UK dividends dropped 8.4% to 31.4 billion in the third quarter on the same period last year, according to Link Groups UK Dividend Monitor. The figure was skewed by the delisting of mining giant BHP, and if excluded, dividends were 1.0% higher year-on-year. Special dividends were down 43% to 3.3 billion as the mining boom tailed off. Banks and financials made the biggest contribution to growth with a near 50% increase, with NatWest (NWG) making the largest impact.

With many UK companies reporting and paying dividends in dollars, the weaker pound has played a significant role in your investment returns. For the full year, the extraordinary surge in the US dollar will add a record 5.7 billion to UK dividends, Link says, with an even bigger effect likely in Q4 than Q3. For 2022 as a whole, UK dividends are forecast to hit 97.4 billion, up 5.5% on 2021.

Volatility Hits Markets

FTSE 100 yields have generally risen across the board as share prices have dropped during the latest market turmoil and Prime Ministerial musical chairs. In October, the FTSE 100 hit nearly 7,100 points early on, before dropping down to 6,800 ahead of the sacking of chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng. As we reach the end of the month, the FTSE has slowly clambered upwards, crossing the 7,000 line upon Rishi Sunaks PM coronation before dipping below it yet again.

An analysis by EY-Parthenon released this week also found that more FTSE-listed companies issued 86 profit warnings last quarter, i.e., preparing the market that profits will be below expectations. This is the highest number for one quarter since the financial crisis. According to the FT, more than half of these warnings were caused by rising costs, while a quarter related to labour shortages.

Speaking of politics though, rather than being cut from the next tax year, dividend tax rates are staying the same at 8.75%, 33.75% and 39.35% for basic, higher and additional rate taxpayers. These were supposed to be cut under proposals outlined by Kwasi Kwarteng in his September 23 mini-Budget and since reversed. Most investors can generally shield dividends with their ISA limits, so again this change is likely to impact higher net worth individuals. People also have a 2,000 dividend allowance every year.
All this week we bring you the best income opportunities across the globe, as picked by top fund managers, professional investors and our own stock and fund analysts as part of Morningstars Guide to Finding Investment Income.

The US stock market reached a new record-high this week with the S&P 500s market value hitting $20 trillion on Monday. Rising consumer confidence levels mixed with forecast tax cuts led many stocks to trade higher and boosted various sectors over the past three months, said Dave Sekera, managing director of corporate credit ratings with Morningstar.

US stocks are trading at a 60-year valuation high versus other global benchmarks, according to Hermes Investment Management. The S&P 500 trades on a cyclically-adjusted price to earnings ratio of 26.1x, versus a STOXX 600 European index which is on 16x.

Almost every equity market in the world is trading at a substantial discount to US large cap stocks. While we tend not to make top-down market calls, it is hard to envisage a scenario where the US market can continue to extend its gains before the rest of the world begins to catch up, said Tim Crockford, European equities portfolio manager at Hermes.

While US stocks are trading above values, data from Morningstar Select showed that they are currently paying attractive yields. There are 29 stocks yield above 5% in the US, of which five are yielding at double digits, however the sustainability of these dividends are questionable.

Take Frontier Communications Corp (FTR) and Waddell & Reed Financial (WDR), two of the highest dividend paying stocks on the list as examples. Frontier currently yields at 12.8% however Morningstar equity analysts suspects the firm will have difficulty maintaining its capital structure and dividend coming forward. Waddell & Reed currently yields at 9.9% however Morningstar equity analysts believe that the dividend is ripe for a cut if the company is looking for cash to reinvest in the business.

Income investors should be wary of simply opting for the highest yielding stocks as this pay-out is often unsustainable. A stocks yield can look artificially inflated by a recent drop in the share price, and as the share price returns to par, this yield will fall. Worse, if the share price drop is significant it could signal that the company is troubled and may well cut their dividend payment altogether.

For this reason, below we have identified three income stocks that are rated three-star by Morningstar analysts, meaning they consider the stocks to be fairly valued.

Guess currently yields at 6.7%. The company designs, markets, distributes, and licenses contemporary apparel and accessories that reflect European fashion sensibilities under brands including Guess, Marciano, and G by Guess. Bridget Weishaar, Morningstars equity analyst believes there will be enough cash for the company to continue the dividend programme while the firm continues to invest in fund capital projects.

Guess has an almost debt-free balance sheet, generates solid free cash flows, and pursues investor-friendly activities, said Weishaar. She added that the dividend payout ratio was north of 90% in fiscal 2016.

In the next five years, analysts think revenue will grow an average of 3%, below their prior 4% estimate, as the store base is expected to grow 50% over the next three years but weakness in the Americas and select Asian markets persists. However pockets of improvement have appeared, including Europe retail sales, Weishaar added.

HCP is a real estate investment trust that yields at 6.1%. It has interests in over 400 senior housing facilities, 100 life science properties, 200 medical office buildings, 15 hospitals, and other healthcare properties, said Edward Mui, Morningstars equity analyst.

Over the years, HCP has benefited from industry tailwinds that have allowed this Big Three healthcare REIT to achieve 31 years of consecutive dividend per share increases, said Mui.

As a real estate investment trust, HCP is required to pay out 90% of its income as dividends to shareholders, which limits the companys ability to retain its cash flow, said Mui. However, he expects the companys overall credit to remain healthy through steady rental income growth in its existing portfolio in the near term, funding requirements for its debt maturities and development activity through a combination of new equity issuance, debt issuance, and asset dispositions.

Greenhill & Co currently yields at 6%. The company is an independent investment bank that derives the majority of its income from financial advisory. Historically, Greenhill has derived about 40% of its revenue outside North America, said Michael Wong, equity analyst with Morningstar. Wong said the company should be able to maintain its dividend, especially if it holds back on repurchasing shares.

On a cash basis after accounting for the company's equity compensation, the company should have cash flow from operations around 50% higher than the dividend, said Wong. The companys business model generates high free cash flows, and the company could always postpone the share repurchases it uses to manage its equity base, Wong added. Therefore, he views the company as having decent financial health.

Independent financial advisory firms have been gaining market share of merger and acquisition volume, so the firm may be able to grow faster than the M&A industry as a whole. A relatively high exposure to Europe could prove beneficial to the firm if the geography strengthens its economic recovery, Wong added.
Mount Pleasant, SC (29464)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies. High around 80F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low 64F. Winds light and variable.
Atlanta tops the list with strong employment growth (2.8 per cent), vacancy decline of 120 basis points and rent growth of 3.5 per cent.

Orlando and Seattle are not far behind with Las Vegas, Chicago, San Diego, Oakland (CA), Detroit, Dallas and Memphis completing the top ten.

"An excellent mix of rental housing supply and demand fundamentals, along with low levels of new construction and favorable entry prices, which mitigates risk for investors, were the factors we used to create our opportunity rankings," explains Steve Hovland, director of research for HomeUnion.

Hovland expects the market to remain strong this year as millennials living with parents are tempted to leave home by stronger job growth. Tightening supply will also make the investment rental market more attractive.
Stress represents a phenomenon talked about more and more where children are concerned. Children who are stressed and, consequently, anxious have a more difficult time exercising executive functions at home and in the classroom. They are less able to sustain their attention. They are less able to be flexible and to deal with change and transitions. They have more trouble holding things in short-term memory and storing things in long-term memory. They are more likely to be irritable, quick to anger, and unable to deal with even small problems. Simply put, stress can be debilitating for children.

In an online post by Dr. Charles Raison, CNN mental health expert, and associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Arizona, I came across information that caught my attention. Raison, reporting on a study by researchers at Washington University in St. Louis, discussed the positive effect that nurturing and caring parents, in particular mothers, can have on the growth of a relatively small but important structure in the brain.

According to Raison, the hippocampus plays a disproportionately large role in how you will be able to handle the stresses and strains of your life, and how you will remember your life when all is said and done. By using MRI technology, the Washington University researchers documented actual changes in the size of the hippocampus directly attributed to maternal behavior. In other words, they determined that nurture and care can change brains and, in turn change lives. Love, it seems, has a lot to do with it.

Definitely fascinating, the information seemed oddly intimidating at first blush. In what might be an unintended negative effect, I wondered whether or not it could serve to let the rest of us off the hook. The findings put parents back in the hot seat for fostering the long-term emotional health of their children, but I do not believe parents are singularly responsible. By making nurture and care a priority, everyone who works with children can contribute to healthy brain development and, in doing so, give children more of the tools needed to navigate an increasingly stressful world.

Admittedly, some causes of stress are easily and sadly identifiable. Persistent conflict in the home, poverty, abuse, neglect, exposure to violence, drug and alcohol use and untreated mental illness contribute to stress in the lives of children, and as a community, we need to redouble our efforts to address these issues. However, there are many other sources of stress that can erode a childs sense of well-being, so no one should be either quick to judge or quick to assume that their child or their family is immune from the potentially harmful effects of stress.

Children take their cues from us, and when we are angry, or sad, or afraid, their hearts often pound in tandem to our emotions. Concerns about crime, war, child abduction, bullying, terrorism, death and illness, both here and abroad, made their way across the landscape of social media last week. It is unsettling, to say the least.

Additional stress often results from the hurried nature of our day-to-day lives. Families seem always to be on the move, overscheduled and often tired. Children worry about how they stack up, how they fit in and who may be better, or smarter, or prettier or more popular. Stress, whatever the source, can become a spider web, sucking children in and robbing them of the ability to function.

How then can we build loving relationships with children, relationships that nurture and strengthen them, relationships that foster resilience and armor them against the potentially debilitating effects of stress? In looking for answers to this question, I came across the work of Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, author of A Parents Guide to Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Your Child Roots and Wings (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2006).

Ginsberg suggests activating the seven Cs of resilience, and his framework provides valuable insight into answering the question of how to build relationships that tap each childs inner resources. In the end, if children are to have wings, they will need to navigate the challenges of the world without us. Ginsbergs seven Cs of resilience are competence, confidence, connection, character, contribution, coping and control.

Building a sense of competence requires looking for individual strengths, avoiding comparisons with others, allowing mistakes and empowering decision-making. Building competence is not a rescue mission; instead it includes opportunity for children to handle things independently, even if they are not completely successful the first time. In turn, children gain confidence as they become more competent, especially when we promote the phenomenon by pointing honestly to specific achievements, but also to those moments colored by such qualities as fairness, persistence and kindness.

Connection, synonymous with security, can be fostered by making a home or classroom a safe place, somewhere children feel comfortable expressing emotions, a place that is calm and consistent, a place where boundaries are clear and affection genuine. It includes purposeful time for sharing and problem-solving. Likewise, development of character results when we model behavior we want to see in children, when we avoid stereotypes and prejudicial statements, when we encourage compassion and make time for spiritual development. Contribution is an extension of character, in that children need to own acts of generosity and service, to exercise their obligation to leave the world a better place by their efforts.

Coping and control represent two sides of the same coin. Mature individuals activate purposeful strategies when things begin to seem overwhelming and before they lose control. Coping strategies need to be modeled and practiced with children. Whether it means taking deep breaths, a time out, a brisk walk or making a list of those things that went well today, healthy adults find ways to change their perspective by doing something positive. When children see this connection, they begin to develop a better understanding of the relationship of choices to consequences. This understanding fosters the belief that they can navigate challenges successfully, that they can take control by making good choices.

Love, where children are concerned, means everything. Every child needs the gift of a caring adult, someone to love them unconditionally, someone more willing to model and to teach, than to punish or to dictate. We cannot escape stress, and we should not minimize the debilitating effect it can have on children. We should, however, remain hopeful and work together. By doing so, we can raise children more resilient and infinitely more capable of managing the inevitable stress that is part of life as we know it, and we can make Midland the kind of place where everyones children thrive.

Love, and its importance in the lives of children, continues to energize my life in schools. On this Valentines Day, commit to being the change in the life of one child. The power of one, multiplied by many, can make a difference.

Patricia Maurer is head of preschool and lower school at Trinity School.
As four-year college degrees grow more costly in Texas, state leaders have encouraged students to consider a cheaper solution  spending the first two years at a local community college.

But many students who have heeded that advice have hit a frustrating roadblock: When they transfer to a four-year school, their course credits dont always come along with them.

Classes taken to save cash end up being a waste of money.

The problem is vexing for state lawmakers, who say they receive calls year after year from angry students and parents. An estimated two-fifths of Texas students lose all of their credits when they transfer schools, according to one advocacy group. That helps add up to about $60 million in wasted tuition payments in the state each year.

This legislative session, lawmakers are in search of a true fix. Were going to try to do something that we havent been able to do in the last 20 years, said Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas.

Late last month, Senate Finance Committee Chairwoman Jane Nelson asked West to lead a working group on the issue. Nelson, a Republican from Flower Mound, said she and other legislators were growing impatient with the schools inability to solve the problem.

Theres no easy solution. Higher education experts and officials cast the blame up and down the community college-to-university pipeline. And in Texas, home to dozens of colleges and university systems with their own chains of command, theres no single person with the power to make a statewide fix. No state agency has the authority to enforce rules on transferability, and degree plans can differ within university departments  let alone among different schools.

We have a state in which we have a plethora of systems and colleges that are very used to operating independently, Rex Peebles, an assistant commissioner at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, told lawmakers recently. But they also have different missions and goals in mind, and their curriculum tends to reflect that.

At community colleges, the problem can lie in a lack of student advising. Many students pick their own courses  signing up for sociology to fulfill a social sciences requirement, for example, when what they really need for their chosen four-year degree is economics.

Universities, meanwhile, sometimes worry about the rigor of certain community college courses.

Some experts even question whether there are financial incentives for four-year universities to refuse credit for transfer courses. Lower-level courses  which have big class sizes and fewer costly technology needs  are lucrative for universities, said Melissa Henderson, deputy director of policy at Educate Texas, a partnership of private foundations and state government agencies that advocates for improvements to the education system. The universities would take a financial hit if fewer students needed those classes, she said.

The lack of alignment between our institutions of higher education results in increased costs and lower completion rates, she said.

For years, the coordinating board has been seeking some common ground, devising blocks of courses that community college students can take toward degrees in fields like business, engineering and computer science. If students take all of the courses in a block, those credits can be used meet the lower-level requirements for the corresponding major at a Texas university.

Right now, the coordinating board has 12 of those blocks, known as fields of study. Its goal is to come up with 25 to 30, which it says would cover about 80 percent of the states transfer students. Progress is slow, however. The board has asked lawmakers for an additional $500,000 in its next two-year budget to hasten the process. Board officials say they need the money to orchestrate public meetings to allow university officials to design the blocks. The earliest version of the Senates budget did not include those funds.

Some impatient lawmakers are wondering whether they should be focusing their energy on punishing schools where students struggle to transfer credit, rather than spending more money on new classroom options.

This isnt, in the 21st century, an unbelievable problem to solve, state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, said last month.

West said its too early to know what solutions his working group will settle on. But he said he hopes the group can put an end to the complaints.

I am tired of answering these questions from parents of Why cant this transfer and Why cant that transfer, he said. And I know I am not the only one.
The Texas Association of Realtors wants the Texas Legislature to address a hidden property tax.

A mailer the association is sending to Texans says property values seem to be increasing every year, which is good for building personal wealth. The mailer then attacks local elected officials that the mailer claims vilify increased appraisal values but dont lower tax rates to offset higher property values.

The Texas Association of Realtors wants Texans to let legislators know they are concerned about the unfair Hidden Property Tax and that higher property values should not be an automatic tax increase for property owners.

The mailer asks for Texans to send a card -- part of the mailer -- to legislators that calls for the consideration of all bills that would eliminate the Hidden Property Tax and ensure more transparency and honesty when tax rates are adopted at the local level.

In our view, the mailer attempts to call for unnecessary government, because the only thing Midlanders need to understand their tax situation is a subscription to the Reporter-Telegram -- print or our e-edition -- or have an interest in our website, mrt.com, around the time budget season is in full effect.

Newspapers remain the best way to keep up with government, certainly better than government itself. And the Reporter-Telegram has helped Midlanders understand that government entities such as the city of Midland, Midland County, the junior college district and hospital district have always been in control of the tax collections they claim from residents. They know the valuations before any rate is set. They determine their budgets. Governing boards are in total control.

It was this newspaper that said members of the community should take tax rate declines in our community with a grain of salt. It was the newspaper that has been critical of those who failed to recognize that valuations have been on the rise for the better part of two decades, leaving rates to go nowhere but down.

If you receive the mailer calling for legislators to bring more transparency to local governments tax situation and want to participate, by all means do so. But know that the information is already there for all residents of our community to see. The Reporter-Telegram will continue to have things covered come budget season for those who are actually concerned about it.






Dr. Liza Ortiz, Tuolumne County Public Health Officer View Photos

Sonora, CA  While Cupid may be busy shooting love arrows local health officials this week are advocating immunizations for adolescents to help protect them against dangerous diseases.

Tuolumne Countys Chief Health Officer Dr. Liza Ortiz says her office is joining with the public health department to promote Feb. 1218 as Preteen Vaccine Week. She states it is a prime opportunity to remind parents and guardians that preteens need immunizations against whooping cough (Tdap), meningitis, and human papillomavirus (HPV) when they are 11 to 12 years old. Under state law, incoming seventh graders must bring proof of having received the whooping cough shot before starting classes.

A booster dose of meningitis vaccine is recommended when teens are 16 years old. In addition, a yearly flu vaccine is recommended for everyone six months of age or older  not just preteens and teens, Dr. Ortiz states. She adds, If you havent done so already, now is the time to ask your doctor about the three vaccines recommended for your child at their preteen visit, plus a flu shot every year.

Dr. Ortiz points out that under the Affordable Care Act all health plans are required to cover Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended vaccines for all ages by its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) without charging a deductible or copayment. For those without that coverage, she advises contacting your health care provider or the health department for information about the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC), which provides no or low-cost vaccines. For more details click here.

Locally, immunizations are available to children eligible for the VFC program on Tuesdays from 1 to 4 p.m. at the health department (20111 Cedar Road North, Sonora). For more details, call 209 533-7401.
Microphone and US Flag View Photos

Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) delivered this weeks Democratic address and talked about immigration in the U.S.

Crowley was Tuesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words:

The past few weeks have been, perhaps, the most significant test of our lifetime.

A test of our values. A test of who we want to be as a people. And a test of our will.

In attacking our Constitution, the fundamental tenets of our democracy and who we are as a people, President Trump has dismissed everything we stand for. Everything our ancestors fought for.

In the face of uncertainty and anger, weve seen a new front emerge: people who are united behind our American principles, behind everything that is great in this country, and, perhaps most importantly, united behind each other.

United because we all know that we are a stronger country because of immigrants.

United because we know this country has long-prided itself in welcoming the stranger.

Im from Queens, New York  a community in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty and a community built by immigrants. And Im proud to represent it as the son of immigrants.

When my mother and grandparents came here from Ireland, I doubt they ever dreamed that someday  their son and grandson  would have the honor of walking the halls of Congress. Like todays immigrant families, they wanted me to have every opportunity possible.

Immigrants are some of the bravest people I know, because they choose to leave behind everything and face the unknown.

They leave behind their neighborhoods, their schools, their churches, their synagogues, and mosques. They leave behind their homes.

And they do it all because they seek the promise that the United States offers them. The promise of opportunity.

By whatever means our ancestors came here, they gave us a lasting legacy that we can all be proud of. And that we must uphold.

Theres been a lot of talk lately about what is America, and what is American.

Whats American is people welcoming refugees and families at arrival gates. Its lawyers upholding the Constitution from an airport floor and a laptop. Its young people discovering the need for civic engagement. And children learning that no matter who you are, or where you came from, or what you believe, you are welcome here.

For all his bluster, President Trump has underestimated the strength and the will of the American people. The actions hes taken have made our country less safe and have hurt our standing in the world. But theyre also not a reflection of who we are as a country.

So I promise you we will fight back  we will resist. We will resist on behalf of what is American. And we will resist on behalf of the immigrants who came here in the past, and who will come here in the future.

My fellow Americans, this is not a political fight  this is a fight for our future.

This is about our democracy. This is about our country. This is about our people  and making our voices heard.

And let me tell you: its working. And I know this is a fight we will win.

Thank you. And God bless America.

The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
Gov. Rick Scott is cross-crossing Florida to fight for the agencies he says brings jobs and tourism to the state.

Gov. Rick Scott trying to save Enterprise Florida, Visit Florida

Scott visited Flagler Beach business on Monday for roundtable

Owners of Vessel Sandwhich Co. say agencies have helped them

Scott held a roundtable meeting Monday afternoon at Vessel Sandwich Co., a Flagler Beach-based restaurant that opened more than one year ago.

Hailey Kirk and her husband didn't have a lot of business when they first opened the restaurant, but that quickly changed.

"As a small business, you just don't have an endless amount of money to spend on advertising, and so it's hard to reach people," said Hailey Kirk, co-owner of the restaurant located just a block or two from the Atlantic Ocean.

Kirk said the state's Visit Florida and Enterprise Florida agencies helped bring in customers by showcasing several of the area's businesses in a promotional video in the days and weeks after Hurricane Matthew swept past the coast.

"That video kind of sparked people ... coming out here and supporting those businesses because once you open those doors  especially for restaurants, you've got food (and) you've got employees  it's important that people still patronize you," Kirk said Monday.

The two agencies are at risk of being cut by lawmakers.

"It was really recuperating and getting that momentum back and that was still kind of difficult to do because a lot of people thought the beach was still closed and that they didn't know which businesses were open ad which were not," Kirk said, referencing the days after the storm hit.

Lawmakers said the agencies haven't been transparent, can't provide enough evidence to show they're needed and believe they are a waste of millions of taxpayers' dollars.

Scott, who sent out several tweets Monday with infographics on the two agencies, said getting rid of the agencies would be a job and tourism killer.

"Politicians in Tallahassee don't understand the value of job creation, don't understand the value of Visit Florida and Enterprise Florida," Scott said. "I'm shocked if they don't understand businesses."

Butch Lyon, a tourist, said he finds the advertising helpful.

"Whenever I get a paper or it is on the news, we watch it, we see things that we want to go see that we didn't know about," Lyon said.

According to Scott, 57,000 jobs are tied to tourism in Flagler and Volusia counties. Kirk said she's hopeful the agencies won't be cut.

"Who knows what would happen in the future with that, but I hope that for the sake of the small businesses around here that they keep it in place and know that we can kind of support each other through that," she said.

Several business tax credits and job programs could be cut if the bill passes, but it hasn't moved out of the House.
Cars travel fast on County Road 452 in Lake County.

On the side of the road near Little Horse Drive, a small memorial sits for Antwan Bailey, 31.

Antwan Bailey hit, killed Thursday night while riding bike

FHP says he was hit twice

Family wants to see changes to lines along County Road 452

Monday night as the sun sets, Antwan's family stops by to once again assess the scene.

I am still in shock over this whole situation," said Wesley Bailey Jr., Antwan's father.

Wesley, his daughter and brother all are still trying to make sense of what happened to Antwan Thursday night.

He did not deserve what happened to him," said Wesley.

At 6:40 p.m. Antwan was on his way home from work. He was walking, with his bike, northbound against traffic in the southbound lane of C.R. 452. Florida Highway Patrol says Antwan was too far into the road, and when a driver tried to pass another car going northbound, the driver hit Antwan.

"I dont understand why a person passing another car, cant see a person standing right there in front of them," said Wesley.

But even after the initial hit, Antwan was hit again by a second car driving in the southbound lane. An FHP report reads the driver of the second vehicle, Mathew Downing, pulled over after hitting Antwan, saw that he hit a person and then fled the scene. Downing was later arrested for doing so on felony charges.

Antwans family is happy Downing is being held accountable, but wanted the first driver to face charges too.

"I feel that was not right, and we want justice for him," said Wesley.

But, FHP views the fatal hit to be an accident, because cars are allowed to pass at that part of the road.

It is still under investigation, but bicyclists and pedestrians are required to be at certain locations in the roadway," said Sgt. Kim Montes, Florida Highway Patrol. "Honestly in a lot of rural locations in Lake County there arent sidewalks. So your only option is to walk next to the road. And you really should not be walking in the road."

FHP reports that fatal hit-and-run crashes are up from previous years. In fact, on average they respond to 25 to 30 hit-and-runs a day in Central Florida alone. Not all of those hit-and-runs are fatal, but the numbers are still very high.

Antwans father also wants to see a change in the lines along C.R. 452.

State roads like this, coming into a curb, there should be a double yellow line," said Wesley.

As he fights for change, he and friends will keep Antwans memorial well kept. It will serve as a reminder for drivers to be aware and remember the good person Antwan was.

Antwan was really quiet, quiet and he was the nicest person you could ever meet," said Wesley.

For those wanting to help Antwan's family, they can go to https://www.gofundme.com/antwan-bailey-jr

This Gofundme.com site is not managed by News 13. For more information on how the site works and the rules visit http://www.gofundme.com/safety.
Flagler County Sheriff's deputies released photos of a man accused of armed robbery and are asking the public's help to identify him.

Man accused of robbing McDonald's, CVS last weekend

Flagler County Sheriff's Office is asking the public to call with information

The man is accused of robbing a Palm Coast McDonald's on 6030 East State Rd., before 11 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, officials said.

It is believed this is the same individual who was armed with a knife and robbed a CVS at 2703 North Ponce De Leon St., St Augustine, around 8 pm., Sunday, Feb. 12, according to authorities.

The man is described as a white male, between 50 and 60 years old, with gray hair and a mustache.

Authorities say he wore a tan jacket with a possible striped shirt and olive green-knitted hat during the McDonald's robbery. Witnesses told officials the man fled the scene in a small, red newer sedan and going on Interstate 95.

Anyone with information about this person is urged to call Detective Annie Conrad at the sheriffs office at 386-313-4911, regarding case number 2017-12331.

Or to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at 1-888-277-8477 (TIPS) and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.


After being grounded for about 24 hours because of failed safety exams, Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas has been cleared to leave Port Canaveral.

Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas forced to dock

Coast Guard said cruise ship failed safety inspection

Ship not allowed to leave port until life vests replaced

Coast Guard seeks missing cruise ship passenger near Bahamas

The ship, which docked Monday night carrying 2,700 passengers, failed an inspection of its life-saving equipment, according to U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Ryan Dickinson. The inspection found that the equipment was not up to regulation and needs to be replaced before the ship would be allowed to sail.

The ship was cleared just before 4 p.m. Tuesday.

In a tweet, Royal Caribbean said it was an issue with the ship's life vests.

@JonGaled Hey, Jonathan. We passed our previous inspection but the U.S. Coast guard would like for us to change the jackets immediately.  Royal Caribbean (@RoyalCaribbean) February 14, 2017

Passenger Pat Roeder said the first word she and her family got from the crew that something was wrong was Monday night. Roeder arrived from St. Louis for the cruise. Since learning it was a safety issue with the life jackets, the vacation hasn't been going so well, she said.

"All we could do is sit and eat. The casino was closed, all the shops were closed. The bingo was closed, and you can't buy anything unitl you are out in international waters," she said.

Dickinson would not confirm nor deny that it was a surprise inspection but said it was an annual inspection that Royal Caribbean and the crew aboard the Majesty should have been prepared for.

Coast Guard officials also said this situation is uncommon.

Passengers Samuel and Myrna Alt said things happen, and they're just rolling with the tide.

"It's been fun. I have no complaints whatsoever," Samuel Alt said. "They are delayed. They are good people. I don't have a problem with it."

Royal Caribbean released the following statement:

Yesterday, the U.S. Coast Guard conducted a routine inspection of Majesty of the Seas. They came across some technical issues, including some outdoor lifejackets that were showing their age. We hope to have replacements join the ship today and we expect to address the other issues shortly. The ship stayed in port overnight until they arrive. Majesty of the Seas is scheduled for a four-night sailing, with port calls to CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas.

Carnival cruise ship passenger missing



Elsewhere, the Coast Guard has released the identity of a man who reportedly went overboard Monday morning from the Carnival Elation cruise ship about 15 miles southwest of Abaco, Bahamas.

A Coast Guard helicopter and airplane crew is searching for Kevin Wellons, 24, from Warner Robins, Ga. The Elation received the report of the missing passenger at about 8:30 a.m. from the Wellons' wife after they were moored in Nassau.

The Elation departed Jacksonville for Nassau.
For the past 15 years, local law enforcement agencies have been required to make annual racial profiling reports to their governing bodies. In accordance, Sheriff David Mull made his annual report to Hale County commissioners at Mondays regular session.

In an effort to save trees and time, he give each commissioner a brief summary while handing copies of the full report to the county judge, county clerk for filing purposes and the media. He summarized the report verbally by noting, The 2016 Hale County Sheriffs Office Racial Profiling Report shows that we do not currently experience a problem regarding racial profiling practices.

Once again, the department received no complaints of racial profiling. Mull attributed that in large measure to training and a high level of professionalism by members of his department, and the low number of traffic stops his deputies make.

We dont make a lot of traffic stops  unless its for something like a defective headlight or taillight, or an intoxicated driver or suspicious pedestrian, he told commissioners. Most of our arrests are for people with outstanding warrants, and a surprising number of those drive around with burn-out headlights, expiring tags are something else defective with their vehicles.

During 2016, sheriffs deputies reported 498 traffic-related contacts, with 64 percent involving Hispanics, 31 percent Caucasians and 5 percent blacks. Those contacts resulted in 36 searches involving Hispanics, 15 involving Caucasians and five involving blacks. Sixteen were consensual searches (31 Hispanics, eight Caucasians and one black) and 40 were probable cause searches related to arrests. The probable cause searches and custody arrests corresponded  eight involving Caucasians, one black and 31 Hispanic.

The departments Tier I data is within 5 percentage points of the 2010 Census for the City of Plainview, the report shows  Hispanic 64% (59.4% in the 2010 Census), White 31% (33.9%), Black 5% (5.2%), Other 0% (1.3%).

The report notes that all deputies are current on their required training and many have completed advanced training in racial profiling.

In other action Monday, commissioners:

--Approved current accounts payable, including $599,923.16 from the 2016 budget -- which includes about $282,000 transferred into the County Employee Benefits account for future health benefit costs, and $153,000 for the purchase of an excavator for the Tyke King clean-up and $324,752.96 from the 2017 budget.

--Approved the Lower Running Water Draw Site 4 Inspection Report showing all current deficiencies have been rectified.

--Tabled action on requires for the county to become dues-paying members of the Plainview Downtown Association and the Association of Rural Communities in Texas, pending consultation with County Attorney Jim Tirey.

--Took no action on a discussion item concerning converting ownership of hangers at the airport from private to public.

--Reappointed five members of the Hale County Hospital Authority Board  Donald Ebeling Jr., Danny Glenn, Dr. Bobby Hall, Jim Mock and Frances Barrera -- to new two-year terms, through March 31, 2019.

--Corrected an error on the hourly salary of Lupe Canales, a part time county court bailiff, from $18.08 to $18.45.

--Approved Brent Bass as road foreman for Precinct 1.

--Approved an interlocal agreement between the City of Plainview and Hale County authorizing joint road resurfacing projects for Andy Taylor Road, Westridge Road and Southwest Third. The countys portion of the cost for the resurfacing of Andy Taylor Road will be $10,910. Its cost to participate in the seal coating of Westridge Road and Southwest Third is $16,650. The former project will be done jointly by city and county crews while the latter will be done by a contractor as part of the citys summer seal-coating project.

--Approved the appointment of Jessie Canalez as administrator for 64th District Court Judge Rob Kinkaid, effective Feb. 1. He previously served as bailiff for that court.

--Learned that Precinct 4 Commissioner Benny Cantwell is gathering items to offer online through Lone Star Auctions. Included are two pickups, unused furniture, a paper shredder and miscellaneous articles.

--Approved Abernathy Volunteer Fire Departments 2016 run report, which showed 75 calls, including 21 inside the city limits, 37 in rural Hale County and 17 in rural Lubbock County. Commissioners authorized payment of the departments 2017 stipend of $12,500.

--Approved the Halfway Volunteer Fire Departments 2017 run report, showing 18 runs. Two were for cotton burr fires, two for cotton module fires, nine for grassfires, three for traffic mishaps and two for hay fires. Nine were mutual-aid requests. Commissioners authorized payment of the departments $12,500 stipend for 2017.
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This Valentine's Day let's recognize one of the nation's longest running romances, the Republicans' love for privatization.

For decades, the Republican Party has called for the government to transfer as many public services as possible to the private sector. A fundamental tenet of Republicanism is that government workers are incapable and nongovernment workers are efficient.

In fact, the story goes, the private sector can do the same job as a government agency for less money and still make a profit. While it works in some cases, other experiments have been unmitigated failures, which is important to consider as the new administration considers privatizing air traffic control services.

My colleague Brian Rosenthal reported on a particularly egregious case for Monday's front page. For years Republican lawmakers complained about the cost of transporting poor and disabled people to their health care appointments, alleging that drivers were defrauding the Texas agency in charge of paying the invoices. Five years ago, the legislature put private companies in charge of making sure the poor and disabled could get access to health care.

RECENT: Complicated, expensive drug market needs simplification

Lo and behold, the private firms cut the number of people served from 350,000 to 150,000, substantiated complaints doubled, administrative costs have quadrupled and the overall per-ride cost to the public has nearly tripled, according to the Legislative Budget Board.

In response, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission has renewed the contracts through 2018. In a bold attempt to cover up this disaster, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick ordered the Legislative Budget Board not to release the report, but House Speaker Joe Straus intervened to make it public.

Meanwhile, the legislature's experiment in hiring private insurance companies to handle the state's health program for the poor and disabled, Medicaid, has been a great success. The program, known as STAR, puts Medicaid recipients in a managed care program run by a private company.

Many of those companies also offer Medicare Advantage, the federal government's partial privatization of the health care program for the elderly, which also has been successful. In this case, managing Medicaid and Medicare is not that different from private insurance.

RELATED: Who is dropping out of the labor market and why?

Now comes word that the Trump administration is considering privatizing air traffic control work. The proposal comes at a particularly interesting time, when the Federal Aviation Agency is struggling to overhaul the entire system to keep up with the latest technology.

Air traffic controllers are a little worried about this proposal because it would almost certainly mean lower pay and reduced benefits. After all, that's how the private sector cuts cost when it gets government contracts. The question becomes: How much money do you think the people directing your airliner should make?

I'm not opposed to privatizing government functions where the private sector has clear advantages, but it's not a panacea. There are some government services where the profit motive should not apply, such as public safety.

We must be careful, lest our love for privatization go unrequited.
As two men drove through a residential section of San Franciscos Bayview neighborhood, an occupant of another car opened fire on them, leaving both fighting for their lives, police said Tuesday.

The victims  one 20, the other 24  were passing through the intersection of Donahue Street and Jerrold Avenue just before 9 p.m. Monday when the double-shooting happened, San Francisco Police Department officials said.
Stockton's reformed "hot felon" Jeremy Meeks, 33, made his New York Fashion Week debut Monday night almost a year after being released from prison.

Meeks was arrested in 2014, and convicted of possessing an illegal firearm in 2015. Although he was sentenced to spend 27 months in prison, he was granted early release after serving about 12 months. Upon his release, he promptly signed to White Cross Management as a model.
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There is good news for Carnival Cruise line fans who are looking for another exotic locale to visit on their next trip. The cruise line has announced they will soon be sailing to the Cuban capital of Havana after receiving approval from the federal government.

Carnival says the visits comply with U.S. Department of Treasury regulations permitting operators to transport approved travelers to Cuba to engage in activities as defined by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

CHANGING TIMES: Cuban business delegation makes rounds in Texas

"The U.S. Government has established policy guidelines that govern the travel requirements for U.S. citizens to visit Cuba. There are essentially 12 different approved ways to visit Cuba including "People to People" interactions and a variety of other options," says Terry Thornton with the cruise line.

"We expect that most of our guests visiting Cuba as part one of our new cruise options will utilize the "People to People" opportunity," Thornton added. We also had to work closely with the Cuban government to gain their approval for our cruises as well as confirmation for the berth to dock the ship in Havana. Our final approval was granted yesterday and we are very excited to be able to offer these new cruise options to our guests."

According to a Carnival release on Tuesday, Havana has been added to select Carnival Paradise voyages from Tampa beginning in June 2017. Those trips can now be booked.

The overnight visits to Havana will be featured on 12 four- and five-day cruises aboard Carnival Paradise departing from the Port of Tampa starting June 29, 2017, providing vacationers with a rare and exciting opportunity to explore this fascinating and previously off-limits destination, the release stated.

Four-day cruises depart on July 13, August 24, September 7 and 21, and October 5 and 19, 2017 with more to come in 2018. These cruises include a daytime and overnight visit to Havana. Five-day voyages will be available later in the year with stops in either Cozumel or Key West included.

FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT: I traveled to Cuba after Fidel Castro's death  and it was far different from what I expected

Carnival Corporations special Fathom brand began going to Cuba in 2016 but this a first for this Carnival brand.

As with other cruise destinations there will be excursions available for cruise guests to explore Havana and areas nearby.

The optional shore excursions will be fully compliant with the U.S. Government requirements, Thornton noted.

The Carnival Paradise typically cruises out of Tampa with destinations in the Caribbean and Panama Canal. It can hold up to 2,052 guests.

The official commencement of flights from American commercial airlines began this past fall.

According to one report the most well-off Cubans are those who work in the tourism industry  tour guides, drivers, bed-and-breakfast hosts, and restaurant and bar workers. But for the most part, despite the 17.6 percent increase in tourism from 2014 to 2015, things are more or less the same for the average Cuban. Only 25 percent of Cuban workers are in the private sector. The rest still work for the government at meager salaries of 20-40 dollars per month.

With moves like this coming from Carnival things could be changing in Cuba rather quickly.

Thornton did note that there is a marked interest from consumers in visiting Cuba now that relations between our two countries have evolved.

Attention Galveston travelers.

"We think that over time there could be opportunities to offer Cuba from a wide variety of home ports including Galveston. We currently offer a seven-day cruise from Galveston that visits Key West, Nassau and Freeport and these cruises are very popular," Thornton said.

"Cuba would be a great addition to what we offer from Galveston. This will be down the road but we will work hard to build this well beyond the twelve cruise opportunities that we have now secured."
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Albany

The reputed triggerman in the gang-linked Nov. 24 slaying of Wendell Hill Jr. in a city nightclub is risking life in prison  and threats on his life, his attorney said Tuesday.

"My understanding is there is a price on my client's head," Bryan Rounds, the attorney for Kareem Blacknall, told reporters following a court appearance.

"You might be surprised how cheap life is in some places. Unfortunately, that's the world we live in."

Blacknall, 31, of Albany, known as "Reem," rejected a plea bargain Tuesday from Albany County prosecutors requiring he spend 18 years to life in prison in Hill's killing about 2 a.m. at Rocks nightclub, 77 Central Ave.

Blacknall faces trial on charges of second-degree murder. Albany County prosecutors are expected to bring three new counts of attempted murder before a grand jury related to three other people who were shot at in the same incident.

Rounds said his client rejected the plea bargain because he is innocent.

"He feels even stronger about that and I feel even stronger about this decision today after viewing the evidence," he said.

Rounds noted police beefed up security in the courtroom of state Supreme Court Justice Thomas Breslin for the appearance. Blacknall's jail jumpsuit indicated he was a secured risk.

Authorities believe Blacknall shot Hill in revenge for an earlier incident in which Hill and others attacked Blacknall in Latham, knocked him unconscious, removed his clothes and took photos. Police have identified Hill as a member of the Young Gunnerz gang in Troy, which has been feuding with Albany gang members since 2014.

"It was a more serious event than I even realized at the time," Rounds said of his client's hospitalization after that attack.

Rounds acknowledged his client was in Rocks at the time of the shooting. "He was in the club that night because it was a club and people were dancing and drinking and there were girls there  the same reason I go to a club or anybody I know goes to a club," Rounds said. "It wasn't 'gang night' at the club. It was just club night at the club."

In 2011, Blacknall pleaded guilty to enterprise corruption in a state takedown of the Capital Region faction of the Bloods street gang. Rounds said his client is not a gang member and pleaded guilty in the case to a drug charge as an alleged gang associate.

A four-count indictment charges Blacknall with second-degree murder, which carries 25 years to life in prison, weapon possession, reckless endangerment and attempted escape.

If convicted of all charges, Blacknall could face 100 years to life in prison, Rounds said.

On Dec. 2, police arrested Blacknall at Henry Johnson Boulevard and Clinton Avenue. They said Blacknall, while handcuffed in a police car, tried to escape, opened the door with his teeth and hit his head on the pavement before an officer pulled him back into the car.

rgavin@timesunion.com  518-434-2403  @RobertGavinTU
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Metro-North last year set a record for ridership on the New Haven Line to New York City, but three branch lines  New Canaan, Danbury and Waterbury  are falling behind.

The number of passengers on the Danbury line dropped 2.4 percent last year compared to 2015, riders on the New Canaan line dropped 1.1 percent and Waterbury decreased 3 percent, figures provided by Metro-North and state officials show.

By comparison, the New Haven Line last year carried 40.5 million passengers  a 20,000 rider increase and the most ever in Metro-North history.

The shrinking branch line ridership on Tuesday drew the attention of Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, both Democrats, and Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn.

All three wrote a letter to Metro-North demanding answers.

We write today to convey our deep concern about this trend, particularly because of its cause  poor service, the federal lawmakers said. Riders are frustrated, and they want better service. Better service will increase ridership, which will increase investment, creating a virtuous cycle benefiting commut ers of all stripes.

Previously published reports said ridership decreased on all three lines, but figures provided by Metro-North and the state Department of Transportation on Tuesday contradicted those claims and showed ridership on only two of the lines had decreased  and the declines were by a smaller margin than previously reported.

The figures that (the state) DOT has are the very latest and we support them, a Metro-North spokesman said. Representatives for Metro-North and the state DOT declined comment on complaints from lawmakers and others.

More Information Riders on Metro-North's branch lines Branch 2015 2016 NEW CANAAN 1,551,410 1,533,598 % Chg Prior Year -1.7% 1.1% DANBURY 802,017 782,796 % Chg Prior Year 9.3% 2.4% WATERBURY 353,450 342,908 % Chg Prior Year 0.1% 3% Here is the number of riders on Metro-North's New Canaan, Danbury and Waterbury branch lines: YEAR 2015 2016 NEW CANAAN BRANCH 1,551,410 1,533,598 % Chg Prior Year -1.1% DANBURY BRANCH 802,017 782,796 % Chg Prior Year -2.4% WATERBURY BRANCH 343,450 342,908 % Chg Prior Year -3% See More Collapse

Metro-North carried more than 2 million riders on all three branches last year, with the New Canaan line, which is electrified and more modern, delivering 1.4 million of those trips. The other two lines operate diesel powered trains.

Antiquated trains

Jim Gildea, a Derby resident and president of the Connecticut Commuter Rail Council, said service problems and a lack of investment in new trains for the branch lines is impacting ridership.

While the (state) has invested heavily in new M8 cars for the New Haven Line commuter, they have done nothing to improve the day to day train riding experience for Danbury and Waterbury branch commuters, Gildea said. Those commuters are forced to ride antiquated cars that on the best of days struggle with working heat and air conditioning, and on the worst of days struggle with working restrooms and odors.

State lawmakers have introduced bills to electrify the Danbury and Waterbury branch lines, and add an additional line to New Milford, but those bills have so far failed to pass the General Assembly.

Jim Cameron, founder of the Commuter Action Group, said the Waterbury line has long suffered from break downs and a spotty schedule.

The Waterbury line is the Rodney Dangerfield of Metro-North ... it don't get no respect,  Cameron said. There are constant equipment breakdowns making an already spotty schedule undependable and unattractive. The train sets are old and often go without cleaning between runs.

Cameron said huge gaps in the timetable and frequent busing means many riders choose to drive Route 8 to Bridgeport to catch a train. Gas is cheap; lost time because of delays isnt, he said.

State Sen. Toni Boucher, R-Wilton, and co-chairwoman of the General Assemblys transportation committee, said part of the decline is because of population losses along the branch lines.

In many towns the homes on the market is the highest its ever been, Boucher said. Its a serious problem. People are choosing to move out because we no longer have the lowest taxes.
STAMFORD  The strong winds that ripped through the area knocked down wires near two city schools, causing one of them to run on generator power Tuesday.

A mobile generator provided electricity to Toquam Magnet Elementary School while utility workers tried to restore service to the building, which is right behind Dolan Middle School in Springdale.

Michele Kulis, special assistant to the superintendent, said the school did not close because the industrial generator, run and monitored by Eversource, provided full power to the building.

Firefighters were called about 2:30 p.m. Monday after electrical wires were brought down by a tree that fell on the left side of Dolan.

Firefighters found downed wires, a snapped telephone pole and smoke coming from the roof of the Dolan building, the Belltown Fire Department said in a news release. Fire officials said a piece of metal roof had become electrified, causing parts of the roof to burn.

The two schools were evacuated and power was shut down in both buildings.

Firefighters extinguished the roof fire, checked each classroom for any fire extensions and ventilated the smoke, according to the news release.

Belltown Fire Chief John Didelot said electricity was restored for Dolan on Monday, but Eversource had to return Tuesday to restore service at Toquam.

This incident occurred at dismissal, causing some headaches for student pickup, (but) Stamford police were on scene to help facilitate dismissal and control traffic, fire officials said in a news release. Students were quickly evacuated as soon as signs of a fire were recognized, and were in no danger at any time.

Kulis said officials were optimistic that power would be back at Toquam before students return on Wednesday.

Officials believe the last time a generator was used to fully power a city school was during a wind storm that occurred before Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

noliveira@stamfordadvocate.com, 203-964-2265, @olivnelson
Ellen Ochoa's nine-day mission aboard the space shuttle Discovery in 1993 was one for the history books.

That's because Ochoa became the first Hispanic woman to visit space during that voyage, one of many highlights from the storied career of the current director of NASA's Johnson's Space Center.

On May 19, Ochoa will be inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, along with C. Michael Foale, at the Kennedy Space Center.

"I'm honored to be recognized among generations of astronauts who were at the forefront of exploring our universe for the benefit of humankind," Ochoa said. "I hope to continue to inspire our nation's youth to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math so they, too, may reach for the stars."

Ochoa joined NASA in 1988 as a research engineer at Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California. She moved to JSC in 1990 when she was selected as an astronaut candidate. After completing astronaut training, she served on the STS-56 mission aboard Discovery in 1993, conducting atmospheric studies to better understand the effect of solar activity on the Earth's climate and environment. She has flown in space four times, including STS-66, STS-96 and STS-110, logging nearly 1,000 hours in orbit.

She is JSC's first Hispanic director, and its second female director. Her previous management roles include JSC deputy director and JSC director of flight crew operations.

And here's a fun fact: Five schools have been named after Ochoa. Two of them are in California, her home state.

Congratulations, Dr. Ochoa. You continue to make Houston proud.
Jan. 30

At 5:09 p.m., Bellaire Police Officer Guerra was dispatched to 5959 West Loop South in reference to a theft. The victim stated that one black male entered her office and took her wallet from inside her purse while she was in the restroom. The victim advised Officer Guerra the suspect exited the building and ran north.

Jan. 31

At 12:44 a.m., Officer Barrientos conducted a traffic stop for expired vehicle registration on a black 2003 Chevy Silverado in the 5600 block of IH 610 Northbound. The Silverado was occupied with a driver and a front passenger. During the traffic stop investigation, the passenger was found to be in possession of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. Ofc. Barrientos placed the driver and passenger in custody and transported them to the Bellaire jail.

At 7:53 a.m., Officer Vorhees was dispatched to a burglary of a motor vehicle at 6501 S. Rice Ave. An unknown suspect broke the passenger side front window of the victim's vehicle at the above location. The suspect stole her purse and computer laptop that was located on the passenger front seat. The suspect fled the scene in a silver Chevy Impala heading east bound on Locust St.

Feb. 1

At 12:45 a.m., officers were dispatched to a general disturbance in the 5500 block of Grand Lake Street where a male and female were fighting. The female was detained in the patrol vehicle became violent by hitting her head on the patrol car cage. The female was checked by medic 81 and transported to Ben Taub Hospital Neuropsychiatric Center.

At 3:36 p.m., an assault in progress call was reported in the 5400 block of Pocahontas Street. Officer Younger arrived at 3:38 p.m. Several individuals were detained ranging in ages from 15 to 21. The investigation found 10 suspects being issued citations for class C assault after higher charges were refused by the Harris County District Attorney's office.

At 8:51 p.m., Officer Lysack met with the reportee at 5020 Bellaire Blvd. The reportee stated he had a fuel pump serviced and the technician discovered a card skimmer inside the pump.

At 9:10 p.m., Officer Younger was dispatched to the 4600 block of Mimosa Street in regards to a family violence call. Officer Younger arrived at approximately 9:18 p.m. and made contact with the victim who advised her husband physically assaulted her. Officer Younger contacted the Harris County District Attorney's Office who advised to file a warrant on the suspect for family violence.

At 11:47 p.m., Officer Ortega while patrolling the area in the 5800 block of Bissonnet Street and observed a red Hyundai Elantra parked in front of a closed business. Officer Ortega observed the suspect exit the vehicle from passenger side and walk over to the driver side of the vehicle and appeared to be concealing objects to the rear of the vehicle. Officer Ortega located three white rectangular pills later identified as Alprazolam in an orange prescription bottle inside the suspect's purse. Officer Ortega placed the suspect into custody for possession of control substance penalty group 3 less than 28 grams.

Feb. 3

At 10:59 p.m., Officer Proctor was patrolling the 5000 block of Bellaire Boulevard in a marked police patrol vehicle and observed a white GMC traveling in front of him with a defective right brake lamp. Officer Proctor attempted to initiate a traffic stop by activating his emergency lights and sirens, but the driver refused to stop and began to evade apprehension. Officer Proctor chased the vehicle for approximately 2.1 miles when the driver stopped and fled on foot. Officer Proctor chased the driver on foot for approximately 440 yards before catching up to him and placing him under arrest for evading with a vehicle at 11:05 p.m. The vehicle was found to be stolen out of the City of Austin in Travis County.

At 4:28 p.m., Officer Liccketto was dispatched to the 5100 block of Cedar in in reference to a burglary of a motor vehicle. The owner of a vehicle left the vehicle locked at about 4:10 p.m. and found the window broken at 4:20 p.m.

Feb. 4

At 12:30 a.m., Bellaire Police were notified of a suspect that had broken into a vehicle in the 4600 block of Mimosa. Officers responded to the scene and began searching the area for the suspect. Officer Marcotte had seen the suspect prior to the incident being reported and was able to locate him again hiding inside a vehicle. The suspect was apprehended and charged with two felony counts of burglary of a motor vehicle.

At 5:15 p.m., Officer O'Sullivan observed a gray 2012 Dodge Avenger fail to use its turn signal in the 4800 block of Wedgewood. The investigation concluded with the driver being arrested for possession of marijuana.

At 2:25 p.m., Officer Manriquez was dispatched to the 5200 block of Bissonnet in regards to suspicious black males in the area. Officer Manriquez observed a black male hanging out by the front door of 5212 Bissonnet Street. Officer Manriquez made contact with suspect who stated he had no identification on his persons. Officer Manriquez requested for him to write down his name and date of birth, the suspect then fled on foot with Officer Manriquez giving chase. The suspect ran two blocks to the 5100 block of Spruce Street and entered O'Reily's Auto Parts Strore where he was placed under arrest for evading. The suspect had a black and chrome handgun while he was evading from Officer Manriquez. The handgun was recovered in the 6600 block of Fifth Street and was reported stolen out of Harris County.

Feb. 5

At 1:40 a.m., Officer C. Barber initiated a traffic stop for a non-illuminated license plate light in the 4400 block of Bellaire Boulevard. It was during nighttime hours and the light is required equipment. During the traffic investigation, the driver was determined to have no driver's license, no insurance and four warrants out of the Houston Police Department (HPD). His passenger also had no driver's license and was found to have two warrants out HPD. Both parties were placed into custody. During the inventory search about 10.7 grams of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana was found under the driver's seat. The driver was transported to the city jail and during the search, about 12 multi-colored round pills believed to be MDMA (Ecstasy) was found in the suspect's shoes, six in his right shoe and six in his left shoe. Following finding the pills in his shoe, a search was made of the patrol vehicle. Between the patrol vehicle and the jail door in the sally port, 21 additional multi-colored round pills were found. Charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS)-Felony and Possession of Marijuana (POM) - Misdemeanor were accepted.

At 3:04 a.m., Officer Bellard conducted a traffic stop on a 2004 blue Chrysler in the 7500 block of IH 610 ESR traveling northbound for displaying an expired Texas temporary tag and failing to maintain a single lane of traffic. Officer Bellard approached the vehicle and observed the odor of Marijuana emitting from the vehicle and observed the driver to have a green leafy substance on her lap. The driver was arrested for possession of marijuana and transported to the Bellaire PD.

Feb. 3

An Officer observed a vehicle in 6400 block of Buffalo Speedway traveling northbound with a defective license plate light. The officer initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle in the 3100 block of University Blvd. Upon further investigation, it was discovered the driver had multiple outstanding warrants. The driver was subsequently arrested for the warrants.

Feb. 4

An Officer observed a vehicle traveling northbound with obstructed license plates in the 5600 Block of Buffalo Speedway. The officer initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the operator of the vehicle had provided officers with false information. The operator was arrested and charged with the offense of failing to ID.

At 12:49 pm, an officer conducted a traffic stopped on a vehicle in the 5900 block of Buffalo Speedway for an expired Texas Temporary Tag. Throughout investigation, it was discovered the driver was operating the vehicle on a suspended license. Subsequently driver was taken into custody and charged with driving while license invalid.

At 11:45 PM, an officer was dispatched to the 4600 block of Spruce to meet Bellaire Police Department Officers who had a subject in custody with outstanding warrants with the City of West University Place.

Feb. 5

An officer was patrolling the 3000 block of Bissonnet and observed three suspicious persons in a vehicle. The three persons were found to be intoxicated and were taken into custody. One of the subjects was in possession of drug paraphernalia and one subject was in possession of a controlled substance.

An Officer observed a vehicle traveling southbound with defective License plate lights in the 5600 block of Buffalo Speedway. The Officer initiated a traffic stop in the 5900 block of Buffalo Speedway on the vehicle. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the driver was in possession of an illegal drug. The driver was arrested and charged with the offense of Possession of Marijuana.

Feb. 6

At 12:30 am, an officer observed a vehicle traveling southbound in the 5300 block of Buffalo Speedway with an expired registration. A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle for the violation in the 3200 block of Amherst, and upon further investigation, it was discovered that the driver was operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. The driver of the vehicle was arrested for Driving while intoxicated.

Feb. 7

At 10:38 hours, an officer was dispatched to the 5000 block of Kirby in regards to a disturbance that had already occurred. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that two subjects may have committed forgery.

Feb. 9

At 11:20 am, an officer was dispatched to a residence located in the 4100 block of Ruskin in reference to a case of Identity Theft. Upon the officer's arrival, the victim stated an unknown person(s) used her personal identifying information attempting to open two different credit cards.

An Officer was dispatch to the West U PD Lobby to meet with a resident concerning fraudulent activity on her credit report
Feb. 3

An Officer observed a vehicle in 6400 block of Buffalo Speedway traveling northbound with a defective license plate light. The officer initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle in the 3100 block of University Blvd. Upon further investigation, it was discovered the driver had multiple outstanding warrants. The driver was subsequently arrested for the warrants.

Feb. 4

An Officer observed a vehicle traveling northbound with obstructed license plates in the 5600 Block of Buffalo Speedway. The officer initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the operator of the vehicle had provided officers with false information. The operator was arrested and charged with the offense of failing to ID.

At 12:49 pm, an officer conducted a traffic stopped on a vehicle in the 5900 block of Buffalo Speedway for an expired Texas Temporary Tag. Throughout investigation, it was discovered the driver was operating the vehicle on a suspended license. Subsequently driver was taken into custody and charged with driving while license invalid.

At 11:45 PM, an officer was dispatched to the 4600 block of Spruce to meet Bellaire Police Department Officers who had a subject in custody with outstanding warrants with the City of West University Place.

Feb. 5

An officer was patrolling the 3000 block of Bissonnet and observed three suspicious persons in a vehicle. The three persons were found to be intoxicated and were taken into custody. One of the subjects was in possession of drug paraphernalia and one subject was in possession of a controlled substance.

An Officer observed a vehicle traveling southbound with defective License plate lights in the 5600 block of Buffalo Speedway. The Officer initiated a traffic stop in the 5900 block of Buffalo Speedway on the vehicle. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the driver was in possession of an illegal drug. The driver was arrested and charged with the offense of Possession of Marijuana.

Feb. 6

At 12:30 am, an officer observed a vehicle traveling southbound in the 5300 block of Buffalo Speedway with an expired registration. A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle for the violation in the 3200 block of Amherst, and upon further investigation, it was discovered that the driver was operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. The driver of the vehicle was arrested for Driving while intoxicated.

Feb. 7

At 10:38 hours, an officer was dispatched to the 5000 block of Kirby in regards to a disturbance that had already occurred. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that two subjects may have committed forgery.

Feb. 9

At 11:20 am, an officer was dispatched to a residence located in the 4100 block of Ruskin in reference to a case of Identity Theft. Upon the officer's arrival, the victim stated an unknown person(s) used her personal identifying information attempting to open two different credit cards.

An Officer was dispatch to the West U PD Lobby to meet with a resident concerning fraudulent activity on her credit report.
Boys & Girls Country is transitioning to a new executive director and the organization has broken ground on a new cottage.

Lou Palma, executive director of the nonprofit organization that has provided a home to more than 1,400 children since 1971, has announced his plans for retirement after more than eight years of leading the organization. During the transition, Palma will continue his efforts of leadership for the organization and for the organization's board of directors.

"Leading Boys and Girls Country has been the most blessed way to end my career. It is bittersweet ending anything. Most companies have a mandatory retirement age, way before my age of 69," Palma said. "I remember the day I was offered the position, the board director who presented me the opportunity, and my first day so vividly. I also know in my heart that none of this has to do with me, it's about these smart, beautiful children, an amazing dedicated staff, and a Christian mission."

The group works to fulfil their mission to change the lives of children from families in crisis by loving and nurturing them in a Christian home environment, raising them to become self-sustaining and contributing adults. The organization has a vision that every child has a place to grow up and a sense of being home.

Palma is proud to have served an organization such as Boys & Girls Country.

"The main task of any leader is to protect those they serve and to complete the organization's mission," Palma said. "Our investors, board, management team, staff, and most importantly, our children and young adults, made that happen."

The organization is licensed by the Texas as a residential home. The campus consists of a network of cottage families and as well as an extended Christian neighborhood which supports the children.

Last month the club broke ground on its second new cottage. The new project, funded by the Hamill Foundation, will be built through a collaboration with Houston HomeAid, which is the nonprofit arm of the Greater Houston Builders Association, and Lennar Homes/Village Builders. The homes will cost approximately $800,000 to build.

"The Hamill foundation will allow us to house and protect our family in a safe, efficient, loving Christian home. This will be where our kids recover, rebound, catch up, and then soar ahead," Palma said. "These homes, housing up to 12 to 15 family members, will allow us to give our kids 'best practice' family living. Our association with HomeAid of Houston cuts the building costs by about one third and the Cottage sponsors cover the rest."

HomeAid Houston, a nonprofit organization sponsored by the Greater Houston Builders Association, identifies long term, stable homeless care providers who need additional capacity and pairs them with GHBA builders, remodelers, vendors and suppliers who donate their time, materials and labor to help build hope and homes for the homeless. The building organizations is proud to collaborate with the Boys & Girl's Country on the new project that will benefit the lives of children and other community members.

"HomeAid Houston has a heart for providing dignified and beautiful housing where homeless men, women, children, and veterans can rebuild their lives, so having an opportunity for our Greater Houston Builders Association and their trades to support Boys and Girls Country is a perfect fit for us," Bette Moser said, executive director of HomeAid Houston.

Moser believes it is vital for organizations such as the Boys & Girls Country to exist in the community. She sees the importance of children having a safe and constructive place to call home. HomeAid Houston has made a long-term commitment to the Boys & Girls Country. By working with the other builders and trades of the Greater Houston Builders Association, HomeAid Houston plans to replace 11 cottages.

"We want all children, who are our most vulnerable citizens, to have a chance to grow up in a loving, constructive and encouraging environment," Moser said. "Unfortunately, not every mom or dad can provide this, and, at times, when it is necessary for children to seek an alternative, Boys and Girls Country is there."

The Boys and Girls Country implements programs to its youth through its' resources such as the College and Career program. Through the program, the organization has the ability to support high school graduates until they are independent adults. According to the club's website, there are 12 young adults in the College and Career program with an opportunity for a college degree, technical certificate, or option to enter the military or begin their first job while living in a supportive Christian environment. With the assistance of grants and scholarships, students have the opportunity to lead their lives debt-free.

Community members have various opportunities to become involved with the club. Volunteer opportunities with the organization include tutoring in the education lab or in a cottage after school, teaching a class such as piano or voice, mentoring a child, organizing donations, administrative support, operations support, or serving on a special event committee.

Palma believes the Boys & Girls Country is a unique organization that serves as a vital component for the lives of the people assisted by the organization.

"Children are placed here without regard to the parents or guardians ability to pay, [and] being a private organization, we can fully express a Christian life here. That means, living like Christ lived, loving each other and living a life of gratitude and service," Palma said. "When our children turn 18, they are urged and welcome to still call Boys and Girls Country home, just like you do for your kids."

Boys & Girls Country

18806 Roberts Road

Hockley, TX 77447

(Boys & Girls Country is close to the Cypress, Waller, and Tomball areas).

Phone: (281) 351 - 4976

Email: info@boysandgirlscountry.org
Katy Bar Association

Area attorneys are invited to the Tuesday, Feb. 28, lunch meeting of the Katy Bar Association at 11:30 a.m. at Hasta la Pasta, 1450 W. Grand Parkway South, Katy.

Andrew D. Weisblatt's topic is "Reviewing a Commercial Lease - a Practical Guide for the General Practitioner," and he will talk about routine provisions in commercial leases, sharing anecdotal stories about unusual provisions, consumer traps that landlords sometimes employ and negotiating principles that tenants should follow.
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For two years, Asmaa Basry and her family waited inside a tent for news that would free them from a life in the shadow of war. It arrived on a rainy day in 1993.

"You are clear," a United Nations official told them then. "Your visas have been granted in the U.S.A."

Basry, her husband and 5-year-old daughter, who had all escaped Iraq at the height of the Gulf War in 1991 and had since lived in a migrant camp in Saudi Arabia, had been accepted as refugees into the United States. Their chance at liberty and a peaceful life meant everything to them.

"We were lucky," said Basry, a 49-year-old now living in Katy. "There was no hope or future for peace in Iraq. I couldn't imagine living there longer. Our only hope was to come to the U.S."

About 23 years later, Basry is disheartened knowing that the same opportunity for other refugees to begin a new life in the U.S. is uncertain today.

On Jan. 27, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that barred all refugees from entering the country for 120 days while also banning Syrian refugees indefinitely and closing the borders for 90 days to citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries  Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Since the executive order, a federal judge from Seattle on Feb. 3 ordered a national halt of the ban, a ruling which was followed by a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit to not immediately reinstate the ban.

By print deadline, it was unclear whether the Trump administration would ask the full 9th Circuit or the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene, or re-write a scaled-back version of the executive order.

With Trump strongly stating that he wants the ban in place, and with the uncertainty surrounding the order, Basry wonders what the future holds and is frightened that America's refugee and immigration programs might never be the same.

"Right now, I've lost hope," said Basry, who is a Muslim. "I don't know how to describe it. There are no words."

Growing up in Basra, Iraq, Basry enjoyed a stable life where she lived in a large house and frequently socialized with family and friends.

But in the 1980s, when Iraq and Iran entered into war, her hometown became increasingly dangerous. By the early 90s Gulf War, she and her husband, named Zeki Basry, felt they had no choice but to leave.

The family eventually landed at the camp in Rafha, Saudi Arabia, where they spent two years trying to obtain visas to come to the U.S. To this day, Basry believes the visas were eventually granted because Zeki could speak English fluently and therefore did not need a translator when discussing their visa application with officials. Zeki would eventually serve as a translator for the U.S. Army from 2006-2009 during the U.S.-Iraq war.

After arriving in America, Basry and her family lived in south Texas for a short time before moving to Detroit, Michigan. They lived in Michigan for 16 years before returning to Texas, settling in the Houston area and eventually picking Katy as home mostly because of its recognized school district.

Two years ago, Zeki and Basry divorced, and Basry now lives with her four children, two who were born in the U.S. The family are all citizens. Basry works as a teaching assistant at a local Montessori school, as well as a certified nurse aide.

Since arriving in the U.S., Basry's mother, one of her two sisters and one of her three brothers have also joined the family in Houston. Basry had been attempting to bring her other sister and two other brothers here, too. The siblings are in Damascus, Syria, a country at the front lines in the war against terror.

But after Trump's executive order, Basry's hope to bring her siblings to safety has thinned considerably. She fears that no matter the outcome of the ban, the obstacles for U.S. bound refugees or immigrants will be much greater under Trump.

The Trump administration says they enacted the ban to protect Americans from potentially dangerous people coming into the borders, at least until a more rigorous vetting system is in place.

The CATO Institute, a Washington-based public policy research organization, calculated based on research that the chances of an American being killed by a foreigner are 1 in 3.64 billion per year, less than that of being struck by lightning. The institute also says zero people from the seven countries that were included in the ban have killed anyone in a terror attack on U.S. soil in the last 40 years.

With the U.S. vetting process already taking up to two years for some refugees, Basry said the U.S. government is trying to shut its borders on the world's most vulnerable people.

"Refugees are just trying to escape and be on the safe side," she said. "We have to stand up against this."

There's little Basry can do to change government policy, but she's going to try anyways.

She's leaning on her Muslim community at Katy's Muslim American Society Center, and she plans on participating in community engagement.

Eventually, she also desires to write about her experience as a Muslim refugee.

She'll also wait for the day that her siblings can have the chance at freedom in the U.S.

"I don't know how far this is going to go," Basry said. "I don't know what (Trump's) idea is. But I feel that it is a bad idea, and it's not right for human beings. I will do what I can."
The Village of Southampton, a luxury senior housing community, is projected to begin construction one block from Rice Village in late 2017.

The community is being developed by Houston-based Bridgewood Property Company.

Jim Gray, as founder and owner of Bridgewood, has focused exclusively on developing senior living communities for more than 20 years. In addition to the development, Gray's management company, Retirement Center Management, will be responsible for the operations of The Village of Southampton upon completion of construction.

The Village of Southampton will have 17 floors of apartment homes with skyline views of downtown Houston, Rice University, Herman Park and the Texas Medical Center. The state-of-the-art senior housing community is expected to be completed in 2019, bringing independent living, assisted living and memory care options to the Rice Village neighborhood.

"It's unique to have a senior's site in the densely populated urban core, particularly within a well-known area minutes from The Texas Medical Center, Rice Village, Hermann Park and religious institutions," said Gray. "When we looked at the five-mile radius around the site, it was clear that this long-established Houston submarket was very much underserved in quality senior living options."

The Village of Southampton will serve the residents of Southampton, West U, Bellaire, Rice University and Braes Heights.

Amenities will include an indoor heated pool and spa, a fitness center, a movie theater, full-service salon, outdoor terraces, secured garage parking for residents and guests, valet and concierge services, formal & private dining, Bistro and sky lounge/bar with numerous additional living areas to encourage socialization. Shuttle service to the Medical Center will also be provided.

"We are excited about our plans for The Village of Southampton and expect to receive positive response from prospective residents and adult children who live in the area and are looking for a seniors' facility in close proximity to their longstanding neighborhoods, friends and families," said Lynn Wallace, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Retirement Center Management.

The Village of Southampton, a luxury senior housing community, is projected to begin construction one block from Rice Village in late 2017.

The community is being developed by Houston-based Bridgewood Property Company.

Jim Gray, as founder and owner of Bridgewood, has focused exclusively on developing senior living communities for more than 20 years. In addition to the development, Gray's management company, Retirement Center Management, will be responsible for the operations of The Village of Southampton upon completion of construction.

The Village of Southampton will have 17 floors of apartment homes with skyline views of downtown Houston, Rice University, Herman Park and the Texas Medical Center. The senior housing community is expected to be completed in 2019, bringing independent living, assisted living and memory care options to the neighborhood.

"It's unique to have a seniors' site in the densely populated urban core, particularly within a well-known area minutes from The Texas Medical Center, Rice Village, Hermann Park and religious institutions," said Gray. "When we looked at the five-mile radius around the site, it was clear that this long-established Houston submarket was very much underserved in quality senior living options."

The Village of Southampton will serve the residents of Southampton, West U, Bellaire, Rice University and Braes Heights.

Amenities will include an indoor heated pool and spa, a fitness center, a movie theater, full-service salon, outdoor terraces, secured garage parking for residents and guests, valet and concierge services, formal & private dining, Bistro and sky lounge/bar with numerous additional living areas to encourage socialization. Shuttle service to the Medical Center will also be provided.

"We are excited about our plans for The Village of Southampton and expect to receive positive response from prospective residents and adult children who live in the area and are looking for a seniors' facility in close proximity to their longstanding neighborhoods, friends and families," said Lynn Wallace, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Retirement Center Management.
Northwest Houston school districts are opposing a state and national push towards what's been coined, "school choice." District leadership across the region fear it would divert funds away from public education in the short and long-term.

School choice advocates propose something called an Educational Savings Account - a personal fund, tied to a child and managed by the parents. Families can use this fund to cover costs associated with education however they choose to pursue it.

Funds would be diverted from public schools to fill those accounts. Currently, a portion of Texas school funding is allocated on a per-student basis. If a student chooses to withdraw from public school, that student's portion of funding would be redirected from the district and into their personal savings account.

They could then use that money to pay a portion of tuition in a private school, to buy books and curriculum for home schooling, to subscribe to online classes for virtual education, to hire a tutor or get therapy services for a special needs student.

Limited oversight would ensure the accounts were spent on education-related costs.

Opponents of school choice programs worry that public schools would lose funding, that the resultant drop in quality would prompt more students to leave, and that a further decrease in funding would follow.

"Klein ISD opposes the use of vouchers, tuition tax credits, education savings accounts (ESAs) and other programs that divert public school tax dollars away from the Texas students who attend public schools," said Judy Rimato, the district's Associate Superintendent of Communications and Planning.

"There is no benefit to public schools with a voucher or ESA program," she said. "Public dollars could be diverted to private institutions that are not held to the same accountability standards and entrance requirements."

In nearby Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, the sentiment is similar.

The district aims to support school choice that "ensures uniform standards and requirements for all school systems receiving state funds," said director for communication, Stephanie A. Migl.

She said Cy-Fair ISD will "oppose legislation that diverts funding from public schools," adding that it would not support the passage of such a bill or law.

Further north, Tomball ISD views school choice similarly.

"School choice/voucher legislation will deplete resources available to the state for public education. We continue to monitor legislative issues so we can communicate with our parents and staff as to how legislation will impact our school district," said Tomball ISD spokeswoman Staci Stanfield in an email. "For several years, public schools have faced a funding crisis. We would like to see positive legislation in support of public schools rather than a funding system that supports school vouchers."

At Magnolia ISD, superintendent Todd Stephens continues the trend of district leaders in opposition to a shift towards "school choice."

"The state currently has one system of public education that they cannot adequately fund. Any attempt to create vouchers or educational savings accounts would create a second fund the state cannot support," he said.

In Spring ISD, the approach is about focusing on the students in the district, said district spokeswoman Karen Garrison. She touches on expanded courses, programs, and offerings that the district provides to try to cater to students' interests and aspirations.

"Regardless of any public discussion or debate about school choice, in Spring ISD our focus is on what is best for the students who have been entrusted to us," Garrison said.

Rimato, like other regional education leaders, sees politics more than substance beneath the push towards "school choice."

"Vouchers and ESAs are promoted to the public as a way for students in 'failing' schools to have the opportunity to attend a high-quality school of their choice," she said. "The state, however, already has a mechanism in place for students to transfer from a 'failing' public school to another school within the school district."
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WESTPORT  Given the increase of sightings, one resulting in a dead dog, residents gathered this week to learn more about coyotes from Laura Simon, a wildlife ecologist who spent years working for the U.S. Humane Society.

At a Monday talk, Simon presented a breadth of facts about coyotes  many dispelling fearful notions of the animal  including why the mammals are so common in urban areas and what to do about them. Every year, nationwide, there are less than 10 coyote bites of humans, compared to 4.7 million dog bites, Simon said.

Westport police sent out a statement regarding the increase in sightings at the beginning of February after the killing of a pet dog by a coyote in the Coleytown area.

Ranging from 25 to 35 pounds, coyotes are the third-fastest mammal in North America and can live in a wide range of areas. Simon highlighted the intelligence and adaptability of coyotes in two arresting images: One where a coyote was riding the Seattle light rail as a means of transportation, and another from Chicago, where a coyote lay down in a stores cooler on a hot day.

He learned he could take this train from one place to another. ... I mean, that is a smart animal, Simon said about the coyote in Seattle.

Simon said coyotes are in Westport for a variety of reasons, including plenty of habitat and space, food such as mice and rats, pet food left outside, messy bird feeders and intentional feeding of coyotes.

Usually hunters of small rodents, coyotes will attack unattended pets. Smaller pets, like cats and petite dogs, are vulnerable to coyote encounters. Larger dogs are at risk for conflicts with coyotes during coyote mating season, which runs from December to March, because they are seen as a threat to their mates.

Always attend to your pets when youre outdoors. Use leashes. Keep them inside at night. Dont let the coyote come between you and your pet, Simon said.

Simon discussed hazing, a way to get coyotes out of an area effectively. According to the Humane Society, hazing is a method that uses deterrents to move an animal out of an area or discourages an undesirable behavior or activity. Examples of hazing consist of: yelling and waving ones arms, using noisemakers like whistles or bells, using projectiles like sticks and rocks and other repellents like hoses and water guns. Making oneself loud and large is crucial to deterring a coyote.
OROVILLE, Butte County  The crisis at Lake Oroville may grind on for weeks or longer  leaving the nearly 200,000 people ordered to evacuate on Sunday in nail-biting limbo as crews work to flush water out of the reservoir and shore up a badly eroded emergency spillway, officials said Monday.

State water officials have been purging nearly 100,000 cubic feet of water per second out of the reservoirs damaged but functioning primary spillway, an effort that brought the level down below the lip of the emergency spillway Sunday night, averting catastrophe.

But they are just beginning to assess the scope of the weekend damage, a first step in developing a plan to secure the reservoir and allow residents to return to their homes.

More rain is forecast to soak Lake Oroville and the surrounding mountains beginning Wednesday night, increasing the urgency of the work being done at the reservoir.

Were working very hard to deal with the challenges we have, said Bill Croyle, acting director of the California Department of Water Resources. Were focused on the whole facility. The dam itself is sound, but we have some pieces that are critical to the operation that have been impaired.

Gov. Jerry Brown said Monday evening that there might be an indication Tuesday on when evacuees can return to their towns, but added that caution was the watchword. Better safe than sorry, he said.

My message is that were doing everything we can to get this dam in shape so they can return and live safely, said the governor, who declared a state of emergency Sunday to mobilize disaster resources.

Crews noticed Sunday that the hillside under the emergency spillway  also called the auxiliary spillway  had begun rapidly deteriorating, just one day after water started cascading over its ledge for the first time since the Oroville Dam was put into operation in 1968.

That deep erosion scar carved its way back to the foot of the spillways apron, a concrete lip perched at the top of the hill, threatening the integrity of the barrier.

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea ordered an estimated 188,000 residents downstream along the Feather River to evacuate around 4:30 p.m. Sunday, when the possible breach in the spillway was detected. There was no plan for that evacuation order to be lifted, but Honea said officials were working on a repopulation plan for the residents.

When its safe, based upon the evaluation by the Department of Water Resources and the state and federal partners, then well be in a better position to decide when to lift that evacuation, he said.

The Department of Water Resources began dropping large bags of rocks Monday afternoon via helicopters onto the eroded emergency spillway to divert water coming down the earthen hillside during future heavy rains and snowmelt. State officials did not give a timeline on how long it would take to shore up the scarred hillside.

Evacuees, meanwhile, anxiously cooled their heels in evacuation centers scattered throughout the area, without any sense of when they could return home.

Jaswinder Phagura, admitted she was scared as she stayed at the Sikh Temple emergency shelter in West Sacramento with family.

How long will we be here? said the 48-year-old Live Oak resident, who fled to the shelter with her 4-year-old daughter, sister-in-law and brother-in-law. I hope when we go back that everything is OK there  pictures, our kids stuff.

We just grabbed some stuff. Its scary, she said.

At the Cal Expo fairground in Sacramento, where families poured in throughout the evening, Treena Manion pointed out that many, like her, were losing income for every day they werent able to go to work back home  and that could quickly become a hardship. Still, she could understand the caution.

Our lives are more important, and everything else can be replaced, said the 43-year-old Marysville woman, who fled with her husband, daughter and five other relatives.

Among the others getting a hasty change of scenery: 579 inmates from Butte County Jail, who were evacuated in guarded buses 150 miles south to Alameda Countys Santa Rita Jail in Dublin.

Officials tried to assure evacuees that it was better to endure the inconvenience than to risk death beneath a roiling wall of water. .

We dont want people coming back into the community, then having another incident and having to evacuate again, said Chris Orrock, spokesman for the water resources department. Our No. 1 priority is the safety of the community and our staff.

Complicating matters is a series of storms set to hit the area around Lake Oroville starting late Wednesday that will accelerate inflow into the reservoir.

The area around Lake Oroville and mountains around Lake Oroville will see 1 to 2 inches with that storm, said Tom Dang, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Sacramento.

That system will be followed by several more soaking storms through the weekend. Weekly rain totals could be as much as 8 inches in the mountains around Lake Oroville, Dang said.

Water continued to pour into Lake Oroville at 37,000 cubic feet per second on Monday while the lake level fell from 901 feet on Sunday to about 895 feet around noon Monday. Based on the current inflow and outflow, the Department of Water Resources said the reservoir is dropping at a rate of 8 feet per day.

It wasnt clear if the next series of storms  or any rains or snowmelt that may follow  could push the water back up and over the emergency spillway.

It all depends on the runoff, the weather systems and the air temperature, Croyle said. Were going to deal with it as it comes in. When or how long this take depends on the day and the watershed.

Water officials could be dealing with the spillway challenges for 10 to 15 days or longer, he said.

Chronicle staff writers Sarah Ravani and Michael Bodley contributed to this report.

Melody Gutierrez, Evan Sernoffsky and Kevin Fagan are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: mgutierrez@sfchronicle.com, esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com and @kfagan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky, @MelodyGutierrez and @KevinChron
FAIRFIELD  From as simple an act as giving a family member a long hug to taking the time to write a thank you note to a veteran or a school bus driver, several town schools are challenging students to scatter some kindness this week. A sweet treat may be in store for kids that do a dozen things to spread some smiles.

As part of Random Acts of Kindness Week  running Feb. 12-18 this year  teachers at several town elementary schools and one middle school handed out an acts of kindness BINGO-style card, challenging their students to complete 11 specific kind acts and one of their own choosing.

If a student completes the board, Fairfields Saugatuck Sweets will offer them a free soft serve ice cream cone. And for each ice cream voucher used, store owner Al DiGuido will donate $1 to Bridgeport Rescue Mission, paying the kindness forward through the poverty-fighting charity.

Among a number of school programs to celebrate kindness this week, the activity is being organized by Kindness Matters, a movement centered at North Stratfield Elementary School that is embracing a Scatter Kindness theme this year for its Random Acts of Kindness Week programming.

I hope that it reminds kids that everything that they say and do makes a difference, said Veronica Mollica, Kindness Matters founder, and North Stratfield parent. When you hurt somebody else, you hurt yourself, is at the core of the groups message, she added, along with letting kids know building someone else up is the way to make both others and themselves feel good.

McKinley, Stratfield, Jennings and Mill Hill elementary schools and Fairfield Woods Middle School will join North Stratfield with the BINGO-style activity this week. But Kindness Matters, operating at North Stratfield for about five years, helps develop a full slate of activities for students at the school annually.

More Information Schools participating in Kindness Matters BINGO-style activity Fairfield Woods Middle School Jennings Elementary School McKinley Elementary School Mill Hill Elementary School North Stratfield Elementary School Stratfield Elementary School See More Collapse

Adding additional schools to its programming is part of the organizations mission to eventually help coordinate similar events at all town public schools for Random Acts of Kindness Week.

Independent events are also running at some other public schools, and Superintendent Toni Jones said the towns PTA has worked to connect students with acts of kindness, efforts centered on giving back and gratitude and ingraining those messages in students educations.

At North Stratfield, Kindness Matters founder Veronica Mollica worked with fellow North Stratfield parents and the schools PTA to launch programming at the school several years ago, when her son was in first grade. She wanted to use proactive language centered around inclusivity and kindness to combat concerns like bullying.

Mollicas message for students goes beyond a surface-level be kind instruction. Ultimately, she hopes kids can celebrate each others differences and embrace the ways they themselves are unique.

At the deepest level my hope is for kids to feel comfortable being who they are and not feeling like they have to put on a mask or be a certain way to fit in, she said, to really own who they are and feel comfortable expressing themselves in different ways, and really pursuing things that feel good to them instead of looking outside of themselves for ways to feel normal.

North Stratfield is running events coordinated by Kindness Matters all week, among them a kindness assembly, coordinated thank you note writing for bus drivers and custodians and homemade muffins distributed to bus drivers. Because there is no school Friday, the event that usually ties up the weeks events for North Stratfield  a scavenger hunt of caring gestures  will be distributed for students to do on their own time with friends.

Celebrate your uniqueness, Mollica said of her message to kids. Youre loved and accepted exactly as you are.

lweiss@hearstmediact.com; @LauraEWeiss16
Where's Oroville Dam located?

Situated in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada, the Oroville Dam is five miles northeast of the city of Oroville in California's Butte County.

It's about 75 miles north of Sacramento and 160 miles northeast of San Francisco.

What's the purpose of Oroville Dam?

This earthen dam was built on the Feather River in 1968 to capture storm-water and snow-melt runoff from the Sierra Nevada and store it in Lake Oroville.

The dam can hold back up to 3.5 million acre-feet of water in the expansive reservoir known as Lake Oroville.

Runoff collected by the the North, Middle, and South Forks and the West Branches of the Feather River all pours into Lake Oroville.

Oroville is the tallest dam in the United States, measuring 6,920 feet across and 770 feet high  that's 44 feet taller than Hoover Dam. Lake Oroville is the second-largest man-made reservoir in California after Shasta.

Together, the dam and lake are important for the state's flood control, water use and recreation.

Regulating flows on the Feather River, the dam provides flood control for the eastern Sacramento Valley.

Lake Oroville is a key gauge of the state's water health and plays an essential role in the State Water Project, a government water-delivery system that carries storm-water runoff from the Sierra Nevada to farmers in the Central Valley and residents and businesses that run from the South Bay to Southern California.

What's more, fresh water releases from the lake control salinity intrusion into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and protect the health of fish and wildlife.

Why were 180,000 people evacuated?

A moisture-packed storm drenched Northern California early last week, and a torrent of stormwater and snow melt poured into Lake Oroville. The lake reached full capacity.

To make room in the reservoir and prevent flooding, water was released down the main spillway, a 3,000-foot-long concrete chute that dumps water into the Feather River.

A gaping hole was discovered on the main spillway on Tuesday.

Dam operators gingerly continued to release water, reducing the flow to prevent the main spillway from becoming inoperable. The hole grew into a massive crater measuring more than 300 feet wide and 500 feet long.

As more stormwater flowed down from the mountains, the reservoir continued to swell and at 8 a.m. on Saturday, it began tumbling over the emergency spillway that had never been used in the 48-year history of the dam.

While the main spillway is lined with concrete and controlled by gates, the auxiliary spillway has no gates and dumps water down an earthen hillside.

Officials noticed erosion and a hole opening below the concrete lip of the emergency spillway on Sunday.

Fearing the emergency spillway was in danger of failing and unleashing flooding on towns below, state officials ordered evacuations for at least 188,000 people.

Evacuation areas included low-lying areas of Butte County and south of the Feather River, including Yuba City and Marysville.

What does the future look like?

There's no longer an immediate threat. The lake level is dropping and by early Monday water was no longer poured over the emergency spillway. Works crews are repairing the damage by plugging the hole with rocks.

Water is continuing to be released down the damaged spillway at nearly 100,000 cubic feet per second and the reservoir is dropping at about four inches per hour.

Forecasters say up to nine inches of precipitation could fall in the region over the next seven days. Monday and Tuesday are predicted to be dry, and rain will return Wednesday.

As storms fill the lake later in the upcoming week, damaged infrastructure could create further dangers.

Officials are continuing to monitor the spillways for erosion and say it's unknown when evacuated residents can return to their homes.
Feb. 15, 1937: Fire of an undetermined origin Saturday night destroyed the Mayfield School building and contents. H.M. Flowers, principal, is planning to move out of the teacherage where classes will be held until a new school building can be constructed.

--Floyd Pannell was elected president of the Young Married Peoples Baptist Training Union of the First Baptist Church.

--Gwyn Marr and Maxine Fry of Floydada were among 25 coeds selected for the beauty pages of Texas Techs La Ventana yearbook by popular election of the study body.

Feb. 15, 1947: Hale County has collected more than $1,000 for the 1947 March of Dimes Polio Campaign, according to Jess West, campaign chairman.

--Joyce Ooley Wood, director of the 20th annual Panhandle Plains Dairy Show Pageant set for the City Auditorium in April, reports that the top prize will be $25.

--Construction has begun on the W.O. Speck Building at the corner of 10th and Broadway. It will house W.T. Cain Motor Co., Magnum and Hall Parts and Service, and a section of the Speck concerns.

Feb. 15, 1957: Club Sweetheart Inez Ferrell provided dinner music for the Plainview Lions Club dinner party.

--Dr. M.C. Schlecte is president of the Hale County Heart Association.

--Members of the Licensed Vocational Nurses Association will meet Monday with Perry Bowser giving a program on the proper care of flowers and bulb culture.

Feb. 15, 1977: James B. Oswald, general manager of the Plainview Daily Herald, has been appointed to the board of directors of Allison Communications.

--The historic Elm Tree In in Tulia burned. It had been remodeled in the 1960s and was a Texas Historic Landmark.

--Earl and Louise Hicks, owners of Hicks Art and Frame Shop, celebrated their 30th anniversary in business.
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Rooftop terraces, an infinity-edge pool with a sundeck and a spacious fitness center sound like amenities in a lux downtown loft, but they're actually just a taste of what a new student apartment complex will soon offer Trinity University Tigers.

As the name implies, City Vista at 655 E. Hildebrand Ave, boasts panoramic sights of the San Antonio skyline in addition to other luxurious features. The property is currently operating as a public apartment complex, but will become exclusive to Trinity juniors, seniors and graduate students as early as the fall 2017 semester, University Spokeswoman Sharon Jones Schweitzer said.
A former Humble ISD police officer on Friday launched a sexual discrimination suit against the district, claiming supervisors in the small department harassed her from day one, telling her she "looked gay" and making explicit comments about women's bodies.

Robin Carr is now asking for up to $1 million in a sweeping lawsuit that accuses the department of everything from fostering a hostile work environment to invasion of privacy to slander.

"It was bad over there," said Lynne Jurek, the attorney representing Carr. "There's a lot of issues with Humble ISD police department."

Humble ISD has not yet formally responded to the suit in court and district spokeswoman Jamie Mount said Monday that the district "does not comment on pending litigation or personnel matters."

For Carr, the problems allegedly started right after she began her full-time job as a probationary police officer in June 2014.

One department sergeant, the suit alleges, talked to the new hire about other women's - and even other officers' - breasts and buttocks, creating "an atmosphere where sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace is prevalent."

The problems may have extended beyond Carr's treatment, as another Humble ISD officer claimed one problem sergeant texted her nude photos, according to the suit.

During her time there, Carr struggled to complete training - a problem she says was due to a lack of certified officers able to show her the ropes.

The training officer Carr was belatedly assigned first gave her a silent treatment for days and then started asking "clearly inappropriate personal questions about Ms. Carr's sexual orientation and lifestyle," according to the suit.

Another training officer quizzed Carr about her dating life and whether she went to strip clubs - and even launched into discussions about his own sexual conquests, the suit alleges.

"She was very uncomfortable and embarrassed about it," Jurek said.

Eventually, Carr was assigned to ride with an uncertified officer and made to work nights.

Throughout her training, she was regularly ordered to drive an old patrol car with an outdated inspection sticker, no seat belt and a bad battery.

"If you want to be a man you need to learn how to jump a battery," she claims one supervisor told her.

Despite consistent complaints that her performance wasn't up to par, Carr was never formally written up - and eventually a fellow officer explained the cause for her bad treatment.

"She was informed by a co-worker that she being treated the way she was because of her sexuality," Jurek said.

In February 2015, Carr got a call from a lieutenant telling her she needed to "resign or quit."

She did - and now is asking for compensation for emotional pain, back pay, attorney's fees, inconvenience, loss of earnings and more.

Before entering her complaint in Harris County court, Carr had already filed a discrimination charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and was awarded a right to sue letter, her attorney said. She also filed a charge with the Texas Workforce Commission's Civil Rights Division, alleging violations.
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The city and Midland Chamber of Commerce took a ceremonial first step toward ushering in a new era of event-hosting in downtown Midland on Monday.

City and chamber representatives swung sledgehammers into a former Chamber of Commerce lobby wall, but while daylight neither shone through the holes nor the glass ceiling above on an especially overcast and rainy day, Brad Barnett, Midland Convention Center executive vice president of tourism and facilities, said the act casts light upon the importance of the project.

This has been Midlands meeting space, he said. A new convention center will replace the former Midland Center and chamber offices.

Barnett noted that the Llano Hotel sat on the site in the late 1800s. And were so proud that our new convention center will continue that heritage of being a place where visitors and Midlanders come in the heart of downtown to meet.

The plaques at Midland Center and Centennial Plaza will be removed by Lloyd D. Nabors Demolition and given to convention center staff. While we dont know where all the plaques will go, just be rest assured city and the Midland Chamber of Commerce are committed to preserving our history, he said, adding that the Baby Jessica mural will have a prominent spot at the new convention center on the corner of Wall and Main streets.

Mayor Jerry Morales called the event another exciting day in Midland, Texas, and downtown Midland.

We have all been looking forward to this day for what seems like years trying to find when were going to tear down big beauty here. That day has finally come, he said.

More Information - More online: A time-lapse camera will be set up at the DoubleTree hotel, which is adjacent to the convention center site. You can view the construction project's progress at midlandconventioncenter.com. - Save the date: A groundbreaking ceremony for the new convention center is slated for May 10. See More Collapse

Morales harkened back to downtowns Midland former days. We remember downtown growing up and seeing all of the five-and-dimes, the Ritz Theater, mom and dad coming down here shopping to spend their afternoons. Were looking forward to being able to bring that back again, where there will possibly be a 15-hour day at one point.

He shared a story about how his mother became sentimental about Midland Centers demolition because the memories of many events she attended are still vivid in her mind. Morales said he told her not to fret because the old memories remain in our heads and in our hearts and that the new convention center will enable new times to hold dear.

Morales said the convention center, which is slated for completion in 2019, is already booking events.

Barnett said the size increase of the venue will be dramatic: 75,000 square feet of meeting space versus 28,000 square feet at Midland Center. The convention center will be able to hold up to three events at the same time. More space means more activity and, in turn, will mean more activity for existing businesses. The mayor agreed.

As a restaurateur (and) as a caterer, I cant wait to try out the new facilities, he said, adding that the convention center is a single part of a larger movement for downtown revitalization.

Already, downtown has seen a new municipal court, high occupancy in The Lofts apartments, the construction of parking garages and existing businesses making improvements to their facilities.

Its an exciting time in downtown Midland, he said.

Like Trevor on Facebook and follow him on Twitter at @HowdyHawes.
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AUSTIN -- A Democratic lawmaker is looking to bolster the state's high school sex education requirements in hopes that Texas can lower its teen birth rates.

Rep. Mary Gonzalez, D-Clint, filed House Bill 1547 that would require sex education classes to include "medically accurate, age-appropriate" human sexuality education. The bill would allow students to be excused from the course with the written request of a parent or guardian.

"It's deeply troubling that Texas has one of the highest teen birth rates in the nation," Gonzalez said. "Our young people deserve to have correct, accurate information."

Gonzalez filed the bill in response to the Texas Freedom Network's most recent report that found that more than 80 percent of the state's public school districts are not teaching sex education or exclusively teach abstinence-only methods.

Gonzalez spoke about her bill sex education Tuesday at a press conference hosted the left-leaning education watchdog group. It released its latest report about sex education in the state, which found that the number of school districts not teaching sex education has increased from 2.3 percent in 2008 to more than 25 percent in 2016.

The report also found that another 58 percent of school districts took an abstinence-only approach to sex education last year.

"All of these findings make clear that policy makers need to create common-sense, very necessary solutions," Gonzalez said.

Currently, Texas high school students are not required to take a high school health class before graduation, but a school district may offer health as an elective. Texas law leaves it up to local school district advisory boards to determine their health education instruction, but requires the district "present abstinence from sexual activity as the preferred choice of behavior."

Texas' sex education guidelines made national news in 2015 when a high school in Crane had an outbreak of chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease. The school, which taught abstinence-only methods, attracted attention by critics who argued the curriculum does not teach students about safe sex.

David Wiley, a professor at Texas State University, authored Texas Freedom Network's 2009 report and the most recent one in 2016. Wiley said he found that school districts often are afraid to address the issue of sex education in public schools.

"Students learn pretty quickly they're not supposed to ask," he said. "We're creating generation, after generation after generation of sexually illiterate adults."

The report was based on a survey of roughly 15 percent of the state's public school districts that have high schools. Information gathered from school districts under the Texas Public Information Act found that students are taught incorrect information about abortion, abstinence-only programs are littered with misinformation and few districts address health issues relevant to LGBTQ high schoolers.

Texas Freedom Network is recommending the State Board of Education adopt new health textbooks and lawmakers restore health education as a graduation requirement for high schoolers.
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Before she was a bestselling author, Ashley Rhodes-Courter realized the importance of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) volunteers.

I grew up in foster care myself, Rhodes-Courter said. When I was a child, I had a CASA volunteer who was instrumental in getting me out of foster care. She was a shining light.

Now, Rhodes-Courter plans to share her personal story with volunteers and supporters of CASA of West Texas at an upcoming luncheon and style show.

Its really important to speak to a CASA group, Rhodes-Courter said. Theyre such thankless jobs. Theyre volunteers, so none are paid. Theyre dealing with children in foster care who can be abused, neglected or underfed.

CASA of West Texas and the Kappa Alpha Theta Midland Alumnae Chapter are hosting the guest speaker Feb. 23 at Midland Country Club.

Nationally, CASA is the official philanthropy of Kappa Alpha Theta. Elizabeth Moore, president of the Greek organizations local alumnae chapter, hopes the luncheon speaker will make an impact.

Were hoping to educate the audience about the importance of CASA, Moore said. People will realize the significance and how CASA helps people on a daily basis because theyre hearing her success story and how she was helped by CASA.

The event benefiting CASA of West Texas will recognize Sylvia Chavez, associate judge of the Child Protection Court of the Permian Basin. Chavez said shes grateful that CASA will acknowledge her work.

Want to go? Power of One Luncheon and Children's Style Show, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 23 at Midland Country Club. For information on tickets, call 683-111 4 or visit casawtx.org. See More Collapse

I appreciate that this being the first annual luncheon, they would select me, Chavez said. I feel quite humbled by the honor.

Chavez, who was appointed to her position in 2001 after working as a lawyer, has developed appreciation for CASA workers and volunteers.

I handled cases when I was in private practice and had experience working with CASA volunteers, Chavez said. Once I started this position, I had more admiration and respect for the work they do.

Kathy Harmon, volunteer recruiter and marketing specialist for CASA, said Chavez aligns with the luncheon theme: The Power of One.

One person can be such a powerful voice, Harmon said. In our case, were honoring Judge Chavez, who has been such a significant voice for children in our courts and shows how significant one person can be. It goes also with our volunteers who make a powerful difference in childrens lives.

The luncheon will include a style show featuring childrens clothing from Dillards and Kenzingtons Kloset, a childrens store in Odessa.

Rhodes-Courter will be available to sign copies of her two memoirs, Three Little Words and Three More Words. She tells her story through books and speaking engagements to give a voice to others who have been in the foster care system.

Its in part because not a lot of former foster kids do this, Rhodes-Courter said. Many end up homeless, addicted to drugs, teen parents or even dead. Ive been blessed in my life and want to encourage people to take a chance on these kids.

Harmon, who first heard Rhodes-Courter speak at a National CASA Association conference, hopes West Texans will appreciate the message. She thinks the event will highlight the need to help children locally.

We want to honor the judge and bring awareness to the community about child abuse and other challenges children face, Harmon said. With the speaker, we show the resilience children have.
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A man who was accused in 2015 of running a college-targeted prostitution ring was arrested again in connection with a similar operation involving at least one minor after employees at a Northeast Side gym recognized a missing person and called police.

Steven Charles Sumlin, 39, was apprehended Monday on warrants charging him with sexual assault of a child and continuous trafficking of a person, according to Bexar County Central Magistrate records.

Authorities were alerted to Sumlin when witnesses saw that a 17-year-old girl who accompanied him to the gym in Live Oak was featured on a missing person poster at a nearby business, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Sumlin fled when he saw police arrive, hitching a ride with an unknown person at a nearby movie theater, witnesses told police. Live Oak police pulled over the car on a traffic stop but released Sumlin after he told officers he had only dropped off the teen and knew nothing about her, the affidavit states.

The teen was detained at the Bexar County Juvenile Detention Center because of outstanding warrants. Under questioning by San Antonio police she admitted to prostitution but did not implicate Sumlin, the affidavit states.

Investigators discovered a fake ID in a wallet containing her cell phone, which had images she used to post ads for her services online, the affidavit states.

In a second interview with police, the teen said she ran away from her parents house in April and met Sumlin after answering his job posting for an escort on Craigslist. She said she was 16 when they first had sex at his house, the affidavit states.

She told investigators that Sumlin later told her about his escort agency, which employed several prostitutes with such names as Paola, Serenity, and Dirty Blonde Bunny, according to the affidavit.

Although she began working for his escort service and turned over all the money she made to him, she eventually considered Sumlin her boyfriend, the document states.

Starting in October, Sumlin would personally drive the teen to hotels where she used a fake ID to rent rooms, police said in the affidavit.

Sumlin was arrested in 2015, accused of being the head of a prostitution ring that offered a sex menu of college student prostitutes. Authorities said he forced up to 30 women into prostitution under a service called School Girls by Jazleen, police said at the time.

The SAPD's vice unit worked a six-month investigation on Sumlin with the Texas Attorney Generals office and police departments in Dallas and Austin. He is awaiting trial on those charges.

The AGs Office alerted SAPD detectives to Sumlins connection with the teen, and the detectives then opened their own investigation alongside Live Oak Police.

Sumlins bail on the latest charges totaled $150,000.

jbeltran@express-news.net

Twitter: @JBfromSA
SAN ANTONIO  A 44-year-old teacher at Reagan High School resigned Friday after an investigation began into a text message exchange with a female student, according to the district.

The male teacher, whose name will not be released by Northeast Independent School District, allegedly exchanged inappropriate text messages with a female senior, said NEISD spokeswoman Aubrey Chancellor.
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A jury Tuesday returned guilty verdicts in the emotional case of Marquita Johnson and Qwalion Busby, two Converse-area parents accused of allowing their 7-month-old baby to die in December 2015 from a massive bacterial blood infection.

The parents did not take their son, Naeem Busby, to a medical doctor during his life.

Both were convicted of serious bodily injury to a child by omission, a first degree felony, and face a possible sentence of 5 to 99 years in prison. The punishment phase of the trial was set to start Wednesday morning.

Qwalion Busby, 36, has been an oil field truck driver, while Johnson, 33, has a bachelor's degree from Tarleton State and has been a pharmacy technician and parole officer.

In closing arguments, Johnson's attorneys, Demetrio Duarte and Linda Molina, reminded jurors they never heard from a single witness who could definitively say the child's medical emergency began weeks before his death.

Naeem's auto-immune deficiency spread through his little body like wildfire, Molina said. And yet every state's witness agrees he could have been asymptomatic.  Not one state's witness could give you a timeline (for when critical symptoms emerged) and not one could assure you his life could have been saved.

When you are deciding a first degree felony, you should demand more, she said.

Prosecutors Kristina Escalona and Melissa Saenz, reciting a litany of skin, hair, weight and respiratory problems Naeem exhibited at death, said common sense would have alerted any caring parent to his medical crisis.

That baby had sepsis, Escalona told the jury. How inconsolable he must have been. How long he must have cried. No wonder he was so dehydrated.

bselcraig@express-news.net
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One person is dead after a car struck a pole during what police are investigating as a street racing accident Monday night on the West Side.

San Antonio Police Department Sgt. Anastacio Hernandez said the car was traveling northbound on West Military Drive when the vehicle spun out of control, striking a pole at the Timbercreek intersection.

RELATED: Woman, dogs escape as 'badass' firefighters extinguish blaze at East Side home

The driver was found dead in his seat when police arrived at about 8:30 p.m., Hernandez said.

The impact ejected a passenger, who was taken to University Hospital in unknown condition, he said.

Police could not release any other identifying information about the driver.

The collision took out a wooden pole and CPS had to cut power to the intersection for a short time.

Hernandez said they are now searching for a white BMW, that witnesses said was racing the car.

Passerby Daniel Adams, 31, was driving home when he saw police at the accident scene.

He said he often sees accidents at the intersection, noting he saw a pole on the other side also brought down during a wreck about a month ago.

"Especially at this intersection. Maybe it's because of the curbs or what," Adams said.
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SAN ANTONIO  City and state law enforcement assisting in a federal manhunt surrounded North Star Mall Tuesday afternoon in the search for a suspect who allegedly fired at agents and officers at a separate location.

The law enforcement presence around North Star was cleared shortly after 4 p.m., but it is unclear if authorities moved the search to another location or if a suspect was apprehended.

The suspect is also wanted in the shooting of a mail carrier in Spring Branch this weekend, according to officials.

RELATED: North Star Mall employees, shoppers describe the scene during active manhunt

Charles Gurinsky, the owner of Gurinsky's Jewelers inside North Star, said his shop wasn't placed under lockdown during the incident.

"Thank God," he said. "The worst thing you can do is tell us to close down on Valentine's Day."

An associate with JCPenny said certain entrances to the store were placed on lockdown because there was a possible active shooter situation at the mall.

Despite that possibility, mall-goers continued shopping and were free to roam about the premises at around 4 p.m.

RELATED: Mail carrier wounded in shooting north of San Antonio

An employee at a store inside the mall, who declined to be identified, told mySA.com at about 3:30 p.m. that many of the stores in the area around JCPenny had closed their doors in response to the active search, including the Apple store.

Calls and emails to North Star Mall managers and General Growth Properties Inc., the real estate investment trust that owns North Star Mall, were not immediately returned.

An assistant manager at the Spencer's in North Star, who declined to give her name, said mall security officers told them the mall's Northwest parking garage had been locked down but that stores could stay open.

Mount Sacred Heart School, located about 7 minutes south of the mall, was on lockdown and release was delayed, school officials said.

READ ALSO: S.A. law enforcement search for wrong-way driver who may have shot at trooper

Ridgeview Elementary School was placed on lockdown, but dismissal was completed, North East Independent School District Spokeswoman Aubrey Chancellor told mySA.com.

Police initially responded to the Jim's Restaurant at 8427 Broadway at about 2 p.m. Tuesday, where authorities attempted to take a man into custody in the parking lot, an officer said at the scene.

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The suspect opened fire and one bullet went through a glass pane of the restaurant, but no one was injured, officials said.

The suspect fled the scene and helicopters and other units began a search in the area.

U.S. Postal Inspector Service agents, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and SAPD officers were all involved in the manhunt.

Officials said they are searching for a suspect in the Saturday shooting of a postal carrier in Spring Branch, a community in Comal County about 30 miles north of San Antonio.

The carrier's vehicle was stolen but later recovered. The carrier was taken to a local hospital with a gunshot wound to her leg. Her name was not released.

Text "Breaking" to 48421 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com

Staff writers Josh Fechter and Madalyn Mendoza contributed to this report.

twhite@mysa.com

Twitter: @tylerlwhite
SAN ANTONIO  Police are searching for two suspects who robbed an East Side Church's Chicken Tuesday and may be connected to another robbery at the same chain last week.

Officers responded to the Church's Chicken in the 1200 block of Steves Avenue around 1 p.m.
SAN ANTONIO  A woman is in critical condition Tuesday after being shot in the mouth, possibly by her boyfriend, according to police.

The incident occurred around 10:40 p.m. Monday in the 6600 block of South Flores Street at the Capital Motel on the South Side.
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An Austin couple knew they were engaging in a "lewd act" when they were stopped by an officer over the weekend at Hippie Hollow, arrest records show.

William Hamilton, 25, and Theresa Santos, 23, were arrested Sunday and charged with public lewdness, a Class A misdemeanor, at Austin's clothing-optional Hippie Hollow Park on Lake Travis.
What do you suppose would happen if an education reform advocate who spent decades throwing bricks at the public school system from the outside suddenly became the ultimate insider: secretary of education?

Well, much to the horror of self-serving teachers unions that sprinkle money throughout the Democratic Party to protect the status quo and make sure the interests of students who attend public schools dont interfere with those of the grown-ups who work there, were about to find out.

Thats because, despite the best efforts by Senate Democrats to derail the nomination of Betsy DeVos to head the Education Department, the Michigan-based champion for school choice, charter schools and other lifeboats for students in sinking public schools was confirmed last week.

As the former chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party, DeVos is no stranger to politics. But even she must have thought the Senate proceedings were more than a little strange. In a rare move, Vice President Mike Pence had to walk into the chamber and  in his role as Senate president  cast the tie-breaking vote.

Who knew that Democratic politicians cared so much about public education in America? They dont really. If they did, they would pass legislation to improve it by raising standards, instituting merit pay for teachers and holding the line on accountability. Instead, they take their marching orders from those who want to keep a broken system just the way it is.

The casual observer of politics could be forgiven for thinking that education secretary was suddenly the most important Cabinet position in Washington.

Its not. And yet, Senate Democrats let the nominations of James Mattis (defense) and Rex Tillerson (state) cruise through, while going to the mat to stop DeVos?

This has everything to do with the fact that the Democratic Party is now a wholly owned subsidiary of teachers unions, or as it should heretofore be referred to, the root of the problem.

You had better believe that Democratic senators, who probably want to keep their cushy jobs and understand that you dont do that by angering your benefactors, stood up and took note when union leaders expressed concern about Trumps pick to lead the Education Department.

Randi Weingarten, one of the most strident of them, is president of the American Federation of Teachers. She called DeVos the most ideological, anti-public education nominee since the position of education secretary became a Cabinet post.

Seriously? When she was in the classroom, Weingarten must have taught drama.

This isnt about kids. Its about power. The teachers unions hate being challenged. Theyre ruthless and vindictive. And they dont forget a slight.

Ask Arne Duncan about that. President Barack Obamas first education secretary had been the superintendent of public schools in Chicago, and he made an enemy of the unions by demanding more accountability. And when Duncan went to Washington, they continued to harass and oppose him at every turn. They made his life miserable. And he was a Democrat.

The most popular line of attack against DeVos was that she never attended or worked in a public school. That argument would carry more weight if liberals had likewise kicked up a fuss when Obama nominated Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. Despite serving as the dean of Harvard Law School and U.S. solicitor general, Kagan had never been a judge.

Even so, given that DeVos has spent much of her life and a lot of her own money to improve education in America, she might have a thought or two about how to run a department created for that very purpose.

ruben@rubennavarrette.com
Imagine how Republicans would have reacted if Barack Obama as president had attacked a retailer for dropping his daughters product line. Or asked senators to confirm a Cabinet pick who said guns are needed in schools to defend against grizzly bears. Or tried to undermine the independence of the federal judiciary. Or equated the United States moral standing with that of Vladimir Putins Russia.

There would have been howls of outrage, of course, and multiple investigations, and even calls for impeachment. But its President Donald Trump doing all those things, so Republicans in Congress are as meek and quiet as mice.

Perhaps the most striking thing about the chaotic and exhausting first three weeks of the Trump administration is the degree to which Republicans have held together, placing loyalty above all else. The party of Lincoln has sold its soul  and like all Faustian bargains, this one will not end well.

At present, Trump looks likely to get every one of his Cabinet nominees approved. Billionaire Betsy DeVos gave the worst performance in history at her confirmation hearing, displaying a level of ignorance that was truly shocking. Only two Republican senators  Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska  had the integrity to vote against her. Vice President Pence had to break a 50-50 tie, but DeVos is now the secretary of education.

And that was the closest thing weve seen to a GOP revolt in these confirmations. Not one Republican voted against confirming former Sen. Jeff Sessions as attorney general, despite his ugly history on civil rights. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell went so far as to formally squelch Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., so she could not read aloud a letter criticizing Sessions written decades ago by the late Coretta Scott King.

Trumps pick for the Labor Department, fast-food magnate Andrew Puzder, has conflicts of interest and a nanny problem; he may face some pushback. Ben Carson has zero qualifications to lead Housing and Urban Development. But if DeVos got through, its hard to imagine who would be deemed unacceptable by the GOP majority.

Over in the House, meanwhile, all the zeal for holding the executive branch accountable has gone poof. Remember how eager House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, was to investigate every real or imagined question about the Obama administration? Remember how he went after Hillary Clinton over her emails? Suddenly  and this is rich  he declines to launch any probe that might be seen as a fishing expedition.

Trumps hotel lease for the Old Post Office Building, which makes him both landlord and tenant? Chaffetz is curious but wants to wait for an opinion by the General Services Administration, which now reports to Trump. The many potential conflicts of interest posed by Trumps worldwide business interests? Chaffetz stifles a yawn.

The GOPs lockstep unity has been impressive, and it may eventually allow the party to achieve some of its long-held policy goals.

The dawn of the Trump presidency has inspired a groundswell of progressive activism around the country. The energy generated by the massive Womens March on Washington and its satellite marches last month has been sustained. Republican members of Congress have been deluged by phone calls at their offices and confronted by protesters in their home districts.

If opposition to Trump unites and motivates Democrats the way opposition to Obama did for Republicans, GOP strategists should be very worried.

Beyond the political risk, there is the existential risk of blindly following a man who continues to demonstrate his unfitness for the presidency. Trump shows no respect for American institutions or traditions. He sees those who disagree with him as haters and dismisses inconvenient facts as fake news. He deliberately stokes fear. He bristles at constitutional checks on his power.

And to think, there once was a Republican president who summoned the better angels of our nature.

eugenerobinson@washpost.com
Solar energy is less expensive in Texas than anywhere else in the country, and prices continue to drop at a steady rate. So powering homes and businesses with pollution-free solar isnt just good for the environment  its good business.

Last months announcement by CPS Energy that it would expand its solar rebate program by $15 million was a smart business move. It also demonstrates a renewed commitment to clean, renewable energy in a city thats already paving the way for solar through revolutionary incentives and programs.

In fact, San Antonio is ranked seventh in the country for total installed solar capacity and 10th for solar capacity per capita, according to Environment Texas Shining Cities report.

Solar is providing increasing amounts of pollution-free power for homes and businesses in San Antonio and across the state. More and more residents are ready to join their ranks, and power their lives and communities with clean, renewable energy that lowers pollution and spurs local economies.

Solar is also helping create jobs. According to a new report by the Solar Foundation, Texas added 2,300 solar jobs last year, a 34 percent increase that boosted Texas to third in the nation for solar jobs.

CPS Energys solar initiatives already include innovative efforts, such as its roofless solar program, which allows homeowners to host third-party-owned solar panels that contribute power to our grid by adding capacity while cutting energy costs for residents. Another is the rent-a-roof program, in which CPS uses the roofs of San Antonio residents to implement solar where building owners may not otherwise take advantage of the suns energy.

These programs, and the recent commitment to expand the rebate program, are a big step in the right direction. But theres no reason to stop there.

As the price becomes increasingly affordable, with the cost of installation dropping by more than 60 percent over the past 10 years, solar is becoming accessible for building owners. From 2004 to 2014, the number of megawatts installed nationwide jumped from 500 to 20,000  enough to power more than 4 million homes.

And with the help of local governments, we can achieve even greater solar progress.

As CPS Energy and San Antonio make great solar strides, other cities in Texas continue to push ahead by adding new incentives and breaking down barriers to solar.

A dozen Texas counties have adopted a program known as Property Assessed Clean Energy, or PACE. The PACE program allows for energy projects like solar to be financed through property taxes. This provides solar access to all kinds of energy users, from large industrial buildings to multifamily homes, in a way thats affordable and manageable.

Nearby Travis, Hays and Nueces are among the counties that have adopted PACE and begun to reap the many benefits. Bringing PACE to Bexar County would help even more San Antonio residents go solar while continuing its rise in national ranks.

San Antonio doesnt have to settle for seventh place. We have an opportunity to become a national leader. Bexar County elected leaders should adopt PACE and give its residents more tools to expand the growth of solar power in ways that other Texans already enjoy.

In 2011, CPS Energy set a bold goal for solar, and weve already hit it. Its time for the mayor, our City Council and CPS to set a new goal: Make San Antonio No. 1 in America for solar.

Other cities across the country have already made bold commitments to solar, and San Antonio cant afford to fall behind. We must capitalize on the solar momentum already in place and, with a push from elected officials, lift San Antonio to first place.

Emily Weisfeld is a campaign organizer with Environment Texas and is running its Solar for All campaign.
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Whats the best way to make sure a message gets heard? Try to muzzle it.

Both liberals and conservatives are newly rediscovering the political power of this phenomenon, known as the Streisand Effect.

The term refers to what happens when an attempt to censor information backfires and instead unintentionally draws more attention to the censorship target. Its namesake is Barbra Streisand, who in 2003 sued a photographer for including a photograph of her Malibu home among a series of 12,000 aerial images documenting California coastal erosion. Thanks to the lawsuit, which was unsuccessful, this previously little-seen photo soon received enormous publicity and hundreds of thousands of views.

Plenty of other celebrities, companies and government agencies have come to rue the times they inadvertently publicized things they were trying to smother. Meanwhile, provocateurs and activists have learned how to weaponize the Streisand Effect, using censorship attempts to amplify their own voices.

So far this month, there have been two major  and, in different ways, instructive  examples of political speech being amplified by censorship.

Last week, during Senate debate over the confirmation of Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., as attorney general, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., began reading a 1986 letter from civil rights icon Coretta Scott King. King had opposed Sessions nomination to a federal judgeship, on grounds that he had used his position as a federal prosecutor to suppress black votes.

As she read Kings letter, Warren was stopped, scolded and formally silenced by Republican senators. The reason? She had apparently violated Senate Rule 19, which bars the impugning of motives and conduct of a colleague.

These senatorial snowflakes, it seems, were more interested in silencing speech they disliked than rebutting it.

Never mind that Rule 19 is rarely invoked, or that it seems particularly wrongheaded to shut down criticism of a senator when the subject of debate is precisely that senators character, conduct and suitability for another office. Kings once-obscure letter went viral.

She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., declared, in phrasing that seems perfectly scripted for a 2020 presidential campaign ad.

A week earlier, on the opposite coast, a completely different kind of character from the other side of the political spectrum appeared to leverage the Streisand Effect for less noble purposes.

Milo Yiannopoulos, Breitbart writer and sleazy professional troll, has built a career out of stoking Pavlovian outrage and censorship attempts from the left in order to build his audience on the right. He has mocked Jews, Muslims, African Americans, feminists, people who are overweight and the LGBT community (though he himself is gay), among others.

Clearly, the goal is to bait his intellectual opponents (not all of whom are liberal, mind you) into trying to forcibly silence him. Sometimes youre not trying to score. Sometimes youre just trying to draw a foul.

Sure enough, Yiannopouloss opponents happily obliged, with heckles, threats and sometimes even violence  such as the riots that erupted at the University of California at Berkeley this month, which led to the cancellation of his talk and his evacuation from campus.

The resulting coverage megaphoned his ugly message to a much broader audience and will help him sell more books, schedule more lucrative speaking gigs and receive more sympathetic tweets from our sitting president.

There are many compelling arguments for why protecting free speech, including speech you disagree with or even abhor, is important. Its enshrined in our Constitution; it is among the sacred liberal values we promote throughout the world; free and open dialogue helps advance scientific inquiry; etc.

But one underappreciated argument is self-interest. Forcibly silencing and thereby martyring your opponents  rather than employing counter-speech to expose them as wrong or, better yet, ridiculous  may be exactly what they want you to do.

crampell@washpost.com
The blaze that consumed a mosque in Victoria has been declared arson, a disturbing assault on a place of worship. In America, freedom of religion extends to all faiths. We are free to worship without intimidation and threat. It is, truly, a sacred tenet.

The arson is deeply unsettling, but the response to the fire has been overwhelmingly good. The community of Victoria has generally shown support for the mosque and its members, offering supplies, temporary space and other forms of assistance. Donations of more than $1.1 million have come in from across Texas and the country. It should cover the cost of rebuilding this place of worship.
President Donald Trumps disparagement of courts with which he disagrees might easily be dismissed as the usual Twitter tantrums but for the potential outcome  an erosion of the checks and balances that courts enforce.

The president has slammed a jurist who ruled against his ban on refugees from seven countries, referring to him as a so-called judge. He then set up the courts as the fall guys if and when the next terrorist attack on U.S. soil occurs. Before it even ruled Thursday against the ban, the president labeled as disgraceful the three-judge panel hearing the appeal and said judges are tainted by politics.

When he was campaigning, he infamously imposed an ethnic fitness test on a judge who was hearing the Trump University case, which has since been settled with the university paying former clients. The judge was biased, Trump said, because he is Mexican. Federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel, a Mexican-American, was born in Indiana.

The only silver lining from this rhetoric is that the presidents Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, told a senator that he found Trumps attacks on the courts disheartening and demoralizing. This is an indication that Gorsuch might actually be a Supreme Court justice who defends the judiciarys independence in the face of such attacks.

Gorsuch made these comments in a private conversation with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, who disclosed them to reporters. Trump promptly questioned Blumenthals credibility, but Gorsuchs statement was confirmed by a person in attendance tasked by the White House to shepherd the nominee through the process.

Later, the White House said Gorsuch was not talking about the president specifically but about criticism generally of the judiciary. OK, but thats not how the listeners interpreted it, and the president who nominated him is among those doing the criticizing.

By tarring the judiciary broadly as political, Trumps comments have the potential to chill the independence of federal judges. Stalwart judges will not succumb  thats why lifetime appointments are necessary  but not all judges fall into that category.

Two things have to happen here. Federal judges must stand up to the pressure. And when they do, the president must honor the authority conferred on them by the U.S. Constitution he says he reveres. Other presidents have disagreed with court rulings, but not in this fashion. Trumps words should show the nation he recognizes the vital role courts play.
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Roger Boas, a longtime San Francisco supervisor, mayoral candidate and the citys chief administrative officer, whose 25 years in public service ended in scandal, died on Friday. He was 95.

Mr. Boas was a wealthy businessman running an auto dealership when he entered politics in 1962, winning a seat on the Board of Supervisors. He served 10 years and earned a reputation as a liberal environmentalist. But arguably his biggest impact on the city came when Mayor George Moscone appointed him the citys sixth chief administrative officer in 1977.

He brought his business-minded approach to government, replacing longtime civil servants with professional managers from the private sector. He oversaw construction of massive projects, including a controversial $1 billion system to treat San Franciscos wastewater to meet the latest pollution standards.

Mr. Boas also spearheaded construction of the Moscone Convention Center at Yerba Buena Center, a project that had been delayed for years because of lawsuits, demand for more environmental studies and cost overruns. Boas encountered many of those same problems but got the project done. It opened in December 1981, and it made San Francisco a magnet for large conventions.

In 1987, after 10 years as city administrator, Mr. Boas ran for mayor, campaigning as a no-nonsense, hard-nosed businessman who is tough enough to keep this city great. He came in third in a field of 11, losing to Assemblyman Art Agnos.

Agnos recalled that he met Mr. Boas two decades earlier. The future mayor was a social worker and a volunteer for New York Sen. Robert Kennedys presidential campaign in 1968. Mr. Boas was chairman of the state Democratic Party and needed someone to drive him to a rally for Kennedy, Agnos said.

He was as gracious and thoughtful as anyone treated me in my political life. He was the same way 20 years later when I defeated him, Agnos said.

John Roger Boas was born in 1921, the only child of a Republican businessman who started one of the most successful car dealerships in California. His mother was a Roosevelt Democrat. He attended Galileo High School and Stanford University. The day after his graduation from Stanford in 1942, he enlisted in the Army.

Mr. Boas spent 3 years fighting in Europe during World War II under Gen. George Patton. He directed artillery and mortar fire and was one of the first soldiers to enter a concentration camp at the end of the war. He was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action and Bronze Star for heroism.

The war has changed me in ways that it will take the better part of my life to understand, let alone make peace with, Mr. Boas wrote in the prologue to Battle Rattle: A Last Memoir of World War II, his 2015 account of his years in the war.

A profile of Mr. Boas that ran in The Chronicle during his mayoral run described him as alternatively courtly and profane, someone who reflects both the genteel Pacific Heights society to which he was born and the rugged fellowship of the Army of General George Patton in which he served in World War II.

After the war, Mr. Boas went to work at his fathers San Francisco Pontiac dealership, Boas Motors, eventually taking over ownership of the company in 1965. By then, he had been elected to the Board of Supervisors.

In 1955, Mr. Boas hosted a civic affairs show on public television station KQED called Profile Bay Area. Capitalizing on the name recognition he earned through that program, Mr. Boas successfully ran for the board in 1961. As a supervisor, he was best known for promoting the nascent Bay Area Rapid Transit system and fighting against freeways and high-rises.

In 1963, he debuted a weekly public television program called World Press that featured discussions of national and international news. The program became nationally syndicated and was carried on 185 stations.

Mr. Boas resigned from the Board of Supervisors a few months after losing a 1969 race for Congress. He didnt return to public office until 1977, when he became city administrator.

Shortly after his unsuccessful bid for mayor in 1987, Mr. Boas was identified as a patron of a brothel that offered sex with underage girls. He pleaded guilty to seven felony charges of statutory rape of girls as young as 15 and the judge sentenced him to a year of community service and a $100,000 fine. Citing Mr. Boas good record, public embarrassment and obvious remorse, the judge ruled out a jail sentence.

I am going to be sentenced and I will pay my debt to society and I hope I am going to be able to return to society, Mr. Boas said in a statement after his sentence.

Mr. Boas later taught at the University of San Franciscos Fromm Institute of Lifelong Learning, which offers college-level classes for retirees over 50, and was also the institutes longest-serving board member.

Mr. Boas died of natural causes in his Presidio Heights home surrounded by his family, his family said in a statement.

He is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Nancy, an art historian and author; their four children, John, Christopher, Anthony and Lucy; and six grandchildren.

A private family service was held Sunday at Temple Emanuel. A public service will be held at a later date. Email rbmemorialservice@gmail.com for more information.

The family asks that contributions be made to the Fromm Institute of Lifelong Learning or the SF-Marin Food Bank.
ALLANGANALLUR, India  In the darkness just before dawn, the southern Indian town buzzed with excitement and energy as revelers began arriving for the spectacle of Jallikattu, the regions version of running with the bulls.

The deeply held religious ritual had been banned in Tamil Nadu for two years after Indias Supreme Court found it cruel. Jallikattu returned to Tamil Nadu in January after tens of thousands of people protested for weeks and forced the government to rush new legislation exempting it from animal cruelty laws.

And so the revelry returned to Alanganallur village in Madurai district, one of the main areas steeped in the tradition.

The spectators began arriving at the main arena, along with all the elements that create a carnival in small-town India  the tiny stalls selling hot tea and coffee, cold drinks and fried snacks. Policemen with sniffer dogs secured the venue. Then the trucks with the bulls arrived.

First bulls from the local temples are worshiped and decorated with flowers. They gently amble through the crowds and no one is allowed to tame them.

Then the serious bull-running begins.

By the end of the day, hundreds of bulls were let loose through the wildly excited crowds, with people trying to grab the bull by its hump and hang on to the terrified, bucking animal for at least 300 feet.

One by one the bulls are led from a pen to a corridor into the packed arena. The bull runs into the crowds as spectators cheer and commentary is broadcast.

Some bull runs are clean, others more chaotic like when a bull ran back to the pen, surprising its trainers who had to hop onto a fence.

Some bulls run fast, others defy the tamers and try to gore. The adrenaline rises and tamers argue after a failed catch or a scuffle.

If the tamers can control the angry, panicking animal, they win. If a bull cant be tamed, the prize, everything from pots and pans to flat-screen TVs and even small cars, goes to its owner.

Trainers like Santosh see the bulls they train as special animals, part of a sacred ritual that symbolizes Tamil culture and a centuries-old religious ritual performed during the four-day Pongal, or winter harvest festival.

Animal rights activists petitioned the courts for a ban because they say bulls brought to Jallikattu have chili powder rubbed into their eyes and have their tails broken as tamers try and ride them.

Bernat Armangue is an Associated Press writer.
THE Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) lobby group has said it hopes President Robert Mugabes resignation will end the brutality and hate of they suffered at the hands of the veteran leader for almost two decades.

Mugabe, 93, was last week forced to resign under pressure from military and his own ruling Zanu PF party which initiated impeachment proceedings with the backing of the opposition.

The development represented a dramatic and humiliating end to 37 years in power for the nonagenarian who was bitterly opposed to homose xuality.

Speaking in Harare at the weekend, GALZ director Chesterfield Samba, told NewZimbabwe.com that the community received Mugabes resignation with jubilation.

We are ecstatic that the face of brutality, hate and impunity has resigned, said Samba.

Mugabe, repeatedly, fuelled public prejudice against LGBTI individuals through public statements that endorsed abuse of LGBTI people in Zimbabwe.

LGBTI people were subjected to abuse and harassment on account of their real or perceived se xual orientation, gender identity and expression.

Samba said under Mugabes rule, the State had, in many cases, been an active sponsor of homo phobia by subjecting individuals suspected of being gay or lesbian to cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.

GALZ welcomes the news of Mugabes resignation with much celebration and implores the new President to uphold the rule of law, respect the constitution of Zimbabwe, allow Zimbabweans to enjoy their freedoms particularly of expression and association and to ensure that citizens do not live in fear of their leaders, said Samba.

Mugabe, to us, represented a brutal system and the real work of sanitizing this system continues.

In light of the resignation of Robert Mugabe, GALZ hopes that the new government will commit to upholding Zimbabwes constitutional obligations to protect the rights of all people, including LGBTI people.

While in power, Mugabe regularly lashed out at gays and lesbians and publicly disparaged them as worse than pigs and dogs.

Breaking News via Email
The cat and mouse running battles between the Zimbabwe Republic Police are back in Harares Central Business District, this time with the police on the offensive.

The police are being accused of arbitrarily beating up people and throwing tear smoke haphazardly. The ZRP has been alleged to have smashed a QV pharmacy & injured at least 12 people.

 ZW

Breaking News via Email
Marks will talk about attracting, training and retaining high-quality millennial talent at the Conexxus Annual Conference in April.

ALEXANDRIA, Va.  Washington Post Columnist Gene Marks will deliver the keynote address at this years Conexxus Annual Conference, taking place April 24-27 at the Loews Annapolis Hotel in Annapolis.

Marks will speak on the unique aspects of attracting and retaining millennial talenttodays largest (and growing) labor segment. Millennials represent a new set of values, needs and talents that set their generation apart from previous generations. Their mastery of technology presents huge opportunities for productivity and innovation, but only if the organization can adapt.

As a small business expert, Marks writes daily for The Washington Post, focusing on issues affecting the business community. He also writes weekly columns for Forbes, Fox Business, The Huffington Post and Entrepreneur magazine. Marks frequently appears on Fox News and CNBC discussing matters affecting the business community. He also appears quarterly on MSNBCs Your Business program. Prior to starting the Marks Group PC, he spent nine years in the entrepreneurial services arm of the international consulting firm KPMG, where he was a senior manager.

Marks joins Jeff Ma, member of the MIT Blackjack Team and data driven entrepreneur, for a rich lineup of Conexxus Annual Conference speakers and sessions. To see the full agenda or register for the meeting, go to conexxus.org/2017AnnualConference.
YORK, Pa.  Beginning this month, Rutters rolled out chef coats for all restaurant management, including restaurant managers, assistant restaurant managers, roving restaurant managers and roving store managers.

Rutters says its the first in their competitive footprint to introduce chef coats into their kitchens. For the restaurant management team, Rutters t-shirts are no longer part of the uniform. Instead, they are honored with wearing short sleeve or long sleeve chef coats.

Rutters takes pride in not only our employees, but in our food options and restaurant focus. By upgrading to chef coats, we feel it differentiates us in the convenience store industry. It shows great professionalism and makes the statement that we offer the highest quality food options to our customers. Its time to kick it up a notch! said Ryan Krebs, director of food service.

Chef coats have a great deal of significance and rich history in the restaurant industry, and Rutters has taken that meaning under profound consideration and believes their award-winning program follows suit. The Rutters chef coats are all black, feature the traditional double-breasted design and cloth buttons, and are embroidered with Rutters branding.

We have always been about fresh food, high quality and innovation. Chef coats allow management leaders in foodservice to be easily recognized by customers. This aligns with restaurant like-mindedness and the expectation of excellence that our customers will recognize, said Derek Gaskins, chief customer officer.

With roots dating back to 1747, Rutters 300-year history makes it the oldest vertically-integrated food company in the United States. The company is currently guided by the familys third generation of leadership.
Scientists to develop space-based quantum-dot spectrometer (Nanowerk News) A NASA technologist has teamed with the inventor of a new nanotechnology that could transform the way space scientists build spectrometers, the all-important device used by virtually all scientific disciplines to measure the properties of light emanating from astronomical objects, including Earth itself.

Mahmooda Sultana, a research engineer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, now is collaborating with Moungi Bawendi, a chemistry professor at the Cambridge-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT, to develop a prototype imaging spectrometer based on the emerging quantum-dot technology that Bawendi's group pioneered.

NASA's Center Innovation Fund, which supports potentially trailblazing, high-risk technologies, is funding the effort.

This illustration shows how a device prints the quantum dot filters that absorb different wavelengths of light depending on their size and composition. The emerging technology could give scientists a more flexible, cost-effective approach for developing spectrometers, a commonly used instrument. (Image: O'Reilly Science Art)

Introducing Quantum Dots

Quantum dots are a type of semiconductor nanocrystal discovered in the early 1980s. Invisible to the naked eye, the dots have proven in testing to absorb different wavelengths of light depending on their size, shape, and chemical composition. The technology is promising to applications that rely on the analysis of light, including smartphone cameras, medical devices, and environmental-testing equipment.

"This is as novel as it gets," Sultana said, referring to the technology that she believes could miniaturize and potentially revolutionize space-based spectrometers, particularly those used on uninhabited aerial vehicles and small satellites. "It really could simplify instrument integration."

Absorption spectrometers, as their name implies, measure the absorption of light as a function of frequency or wavelength due to its interaction with a sample, such as atmospheric gases.

After passing through or interacting with the sample, the light reaches the spectrometer. Traditional spectrometers use gratings, prisms, or interference filters to split the light into its component wavelengths, which their detector pixels then detect to produce spectra. The more intense the absorption in the spectra, the greater the presence of a specific chemical.

While space-based spectrometers are getting smaller due to miniaturization, they still are relatively large, Sultana said. "Higher-spectral resolution requires long optical paths for instruments that use gratings and prisms. This often results in large instruments. Whereas here, with quantum dots that act like filters that absorb different wavelengths depending on their size and shape, we can make an ultra-compact instrument. In other words, you could eliminate optical parts, like gratings, prisms, and interference filters."

Just as important, the technology allows the instrument developer to generate nearly an unlimited number of different dots. As their size decreases, the wavelength of the light that the quantum dots will absorb decreases. "This makes it possible to produce a continuously tunable, yet distinct, set of absorptive filters where each pixel is made of a quantum dot of a specific size, shape, or composition. We would have precise control over what each dot absorbs. We could literally customize the instrument to observe many different bands with high-spectral resolution."

Prototype Instrument Under Development

With her NASA technology-development support, Sultana is working to develop, qualify through thermal vacuum and vibration tests, and demonstrate a 20-by-20 quantum-dot array sensitive to visible wavelengths needed to image the sun and the aurora. However, the technology easily can be expanded to cover a broader range of wavelengths, from ultraviolet to mid-infrared, which may find many potential space applications in Earth science, heliophysics, and planetary science, she said.

Under the collaboration, Sultana is developing an instrument concept particularly for a CubeSat application and MIT doctoral student Jason Yoo is investigating techniques for synthesizing different precursor chemicals to create the dots and then printing them onto a suitable substrate. "Ultimately, we would want to print the dots directly onto the detector pixels," she said.
In pursuit of artificial intelligence with a human mind (w/video)

(Nanowerk News) I was determined to do it precisely because I was told it was impossible. So says Yasuo Kuniyoshi, professor at the University of Tokyos Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, in a quiet tone. However, the sharp glint in his eye betrays his grand ambition of developing a truly clever artificial intelligence to benefit humankind.

AI doesnt think the same way humans do

Some current forms of artificial intelligence (AI), such as speech recognition and automated driving, are just as competent as humansif not betterat carrying out their given tasks.

However, just as AI developed for speech recognition cannot play chess, and chess-playing AI cannot drive a car, existing forms of AI are incapable of any actions beyond those intended by their creators. Because AI does not think the same way humans do, it cannot adapt to conditions besides the preconceived context it was programmed for in advance.

For AI to be truly intelligent and highly adaptable, it must be able to think in the same way as humans. To achieve this goal, as Kuniyoshi explains, It is necessary to understand the nature of human intelligence and the basic principles that generate human behavior.

Human-like action is hatched from physical traits rather than sophisticated control

To investigate the principles that produce human-like action, in the 2000s, Kuniyoshi and his colleagues successfully built a robot with a musculoskeletal system resembling that of an animals that could leap onto a chair from the floor, as well as creating a humanoid robot that could stand itself up from a reclining position by swinging its legs, thereby building momentum.

Robot jumping and landing. A robot with an animal-like musculoskeletal system, and a robot that rises from a supine position: The jumping robot duplicates the natural frog-like leaping motion simply by tensing up and mustering strength through the entire body, then releasing power and relaxing during flight. The movement is achieved by relying solely on the robots physical characteristics, free of any computerized manipulation. (Video: R. Niiyama, et al. (2007) Mowgli: A Bipedal Jumping and Landing Robot with an Artificial Musculoskeletal System, IEEE Int. Conf. on Robotics & Autom., ThC5.2. / Movie by R. Niiyama & Y. Kuniyoshi.

The key point here is that the robots were able to perform these actions from start to finish without precisely controlling every step.

In analyzing how humans rise to their feet, Kuniyoshis team realized that there is much variation in motion, but at a given moment there is a very narrow gateway that the motions trajectory must cross to achieve the upright position. As long as the subject gains a knack for pinning down this gateway, it will be able to get up even if there is some deviation in the motions trajectory, before and after the gateway.

Therefore, so long as a robot also acquires the aptitude for crossing the gateway at the right moment, its every move does not have to be tightly controlled.

Based on the results of these studies, Kuniyoshi and his colleagues concluded that human behavior arises more as a result of the constraints and interactions governed by a persons physical traits and their environment than being something that is regulated by the central nervous system.

Musculoskeletal system and the environment spawn spontaneous human-like actions

Building upon his success in getting a humanoid robot to perform an action he was aiming for, Kuniyoshi has now turned his attention to how fetuses develop intelligence to explore the fundamental principles of intelligence of our species.

Robot springing up. A robot that rises from a supine position: Rising up involves crossing a gateway, that is, a point that determines success or failure at the critical moment when the soles of the feet touch the ground. Apart from clearing this gateway, the body moves naturally to rise up. (Video: Y. Kuniyoshi, et al. (2004) Embodied Basis of Invariant Features in Execution and Perception of Whole Body Dynamic Actions --- Knacks and Focuses of Roll-and-Rise Motion, Robotics & Autonom. Syst., 48(4):189-201. / Movie by Y. Ohmura, K. Terada, A. Nagakubo & Y. Kuniyoshi)

For his studies, Kuniyoshi has modeled a virtual fetus consisting of approximately 400 muscles and a skeleton, gestating in an environment resembling a womb filled with amniotic fluid to run computer simulations. This fetus does not possess innate behaviors, namely a pre-existing process that spawns specific movements. However, when vibrations sent through neural signals from the spinal cord to random muscles reached the bodys other muscles through the skeleton or feedback of pressure from the amniotic fluid and uterine wall, the muscles and corresponding spinal circuits began coordinating their movements, leading to the emergence of actions resembling those of an actual fetus in the womb (movie 4).

Motor activity of a computer-model fetus. A computer-generated model fetus with a musculoskeletal structure similar to an actual fetus, exhibits natural movements. Applying vibrations driven by neural signals from the spinal cord to random muscles results in the emergence of various movements, depending on the environment and in the absence of any control from a computer program. (Video: Ref. Y. Yamada et al. (2016) An Embodied Brain Model of the Human Foetus. Sci. Rep. 6, 27893; doi: 10.1038/srep27893. / Movie by Y. Yamada & Y. Kuniyoshi)

Recently, Kuniyoshi used a computer model of a fetus in the 32nd week of gestation with cerebral neural circuits, inside the womb of a woman, to observe how the cerebrum receives sensory information and the neural circuits learn about the body through touch and somatic sensation.

Furthermore, he compared a fetus that was raised inside the womb with one raised outside it, and found that learning occurring inside the womb led to more enhanced development of neural circuits than that occurring outside it. Kuniyoshi believes human cognition and actionsthat is, sociality and awareness of the outside worldgradually emerge from this foundation built on cognition of ones own body.

No pain, no gain

Kuniyoshi describes the ultimate aim of his research as a robot that has developed the real ability to understand correctly what people are saying, and be able to converse and interact with them naturally, just as humans do with each other, based on its own experiences and bodily sensations. The road Kuniyoshi has traveled to get where he is in his research has not been a smooth one.

As he says, Ever since I was a student, only a few others seemed to share the same research interest as mine. It was very disheartening. However, he continues, When I decided to pursue AI for my research as an undergraduate student, I read every book and paper in the library on this subject and cognitive science. When I was a graduate student, I read everything from academic papers on vision psychology to books on philosophy I could get my hands on to create a robot that could recognize and imitate human actions. People would express doubt when I gave presentations at academic conferences, saying things like, Thats a great idea, but itll never work, but I would grit my teeth and kept plugging away. It was really tough going, but in time, I realized that pursuing research that everyone says is impossible makes it more worthwhile because no one else has taken on the challenge.
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.
Joshua Roberts

Few companies attacked the financial-crisis fueled boom in distressed servicing as aggressively as Ocwen Financial Corp., and not many have survived as abrupt a reversal of fortune as the company has faced.

Now, with new leadership at the helm, Ocwen once again will serve as the poster child for the niche it occupies. That leadership team's next test: Retool an operation built for scale at a time when need for its core services are in decline. To accomplish that goal, Ocwen will need to reinvent itself from the inside out because the primary path to growth it pursued in the past  acquisition of servicing portfolios  remains closed to it for the time being.

Assuming Ocwen's leadership succeeds in the exercise they are undertaking, the company will emerge in a very different form, one that has a more diversified revenue stream and one that employs a much more diverse workforce. Evidence of the latter is already visible in the form of non-executive chair Phyllis Caldwell, who ascended from a seat on the company's board to head it a year ago, is actually the second Ocwen board member to take on the post of non-executive chair in the wake of founder Bill Erbey's forced resignation in early 2015.

Erbey's departure came amid a host of enforcement actions related to improper foreclosures and modifications, allegations of conflicts of interest involving his ownership of a group of closely related companies (of which Ocwen was one), and civil litigation alleging employment discrimination.

In addition to replacing Erbey as chairman, Ocwen added a community advisory council in 2014, and has stressed diversity in staffing. Caldwell points to the diversity push as one of her top priorities. "It's important to have a board and a workforce that reflect the diversity of the customers you serve," she said.

Caldwell, a former chief of the Treasury's Homeownership Preservation Office, is also well-versed in government and consumer relations.

Barry Zigas, director of housing policy at the Consumer Federation of America, said that during Caldwell's tenure there, she was effective at identifying and rectifying problems for consumers seeking relief through the Home Affordable Modification Program.

"In some cases servicers had to be told again what to do, or had to be disciplined in order to do it right. She did that, from my perspective, in a way that was even handed and reasonable," he said. "She also was quite insistent in making sure that consumers were treated well and tried to continuously improve what started out as a very flawed program."

Of course, Caldwell and the board will also have to execute on a strategy that opens new opportunities to the special servicer.

For Ocwen, the strategic pivot starts with a set of initiatives and investments in technology aimed at becoming more efficient, and gaining scale in other lines of business such as mortgage origination.

"On the origination front, we continue to focus on enhancing our asset-generation capability, which includes completing our build-out of our mortgage lending technology," Caldwell said.

The goal of the project is to expand Ocwen's reach until it is "a top originator."

Ocwen is also looking to alternative lending lines, such as automotive floor plan lending, she noted.

While the extension of Ocwen's reach will help, the company is still, at its core, built to serve a particular purpose. And there are some glimmers of opportunity. One comes from the pickup in securitization activity.

A number of post-crisis private-mortgage securitizers have started to experiment with new roles for special servicers, and the prospects for private mortgage securitization expansion are better than they have been in years.

Another business opportunity that exists for special servicers lies in the more active market for legacy distressed product.

"For a long time no deals were closing because very few banks could not afford to sell them [distressed loans] for what they were worth at that time, but now they can," said Steven Horne, a former special servicing executive.

"Buyers are willing to pay more and sellers are strong enough to take the write-down if they're selling at a discount."

The mortgage-backed securities market Ginnie Mae insures may provide yet another opportunity for special servicers. Former Ginnie Mae President Ted Tozer, while expressing some caveats about the liquidity demanded to operate effectively in the space, said distressed-loan investors and servicers are well equipped to handle the low credit score loans that Ginnie securitizes "because they already have this infrastructure that's high touch."

High touch also means higher cost. "The cost of compliance has been a serious drain on the company in terms of its ability to make a profit," said Richard Koch, a senior vice president at Morningstar Credit Ratings and an operational risk analyst that covers Ocwen.

But even with some unique regulatory constraints on its ability to grow its business, Ocwen was able to generate a profit in the third quarter of 2016. The company is expected to announce its fourth-quarter earnings in early March.

It accomplished this through the above-mentioned efficiency initiatives as well as the use of offshored employees and consolidation of its facilities.

Industry views appear deeply split on the question of whether the profit model in this niche has been broken by the costs of meeting customer and compliance obligations.

Mortgage and securitization investors are willing to pay more-than-adequate compensation for high-touch special servicing, according to Tim Gillis, an executive vice president at BSI Financial Services in Irving, Texas.

"They [investors] are paying a premium," said Gillis. Others are somewhat less sanguine.

"I do think there's going to be room for some niche players, some special servicer players, even though the market has improved," said Kevin Brungardt, CEO of RoundPoint Mortgage Servicing in Charlotte, N.C.

"What I don't see is the market bearing the price, or wanting to pay the price, for what it really costs a corporation to special service."

The question is critical not just for Ocwen, but nonbank specialty servicers in general.

"What they were built for is distressed servicing and there's not a whole lot of that left," said Bose George, a managing director at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods.

Fortunately for Ocwen, one of its regulatory overhangs could be lifted this year.

Restrictive agreements Ocwen has with the National Settlement Monitor, the New York Department of Financial Services and the California Department of Business Oversight are on track to end in the coming year, if the regulators determine Ocwen has sufficiently fulfilled their terms.

"These settlement arrangements are supposed to sunset a different times in 2017," said Mike Gutierrez, the head of Morningstar's operational risk assessments group.

And assuming that eventually, as it always has in the past, the mortgage cycle will once again turn, Ocwen will then be in position to capitalize on what may be a market where the competitive landscape has changed enough to benefit the special servicers still standing.

"I think it's becoming clearer in the industry that there's a differentiation between special servicers and prime servicers," said Ed Fay, CEO of special servicer Fay Servicing in Chicago.

Former Wingspan executive Horne thinks companies that include special servicing as part of their business model can and will succeed if they have the right financial partner.

There's always some level of distress in the market, and larger waves of distress will inevitably recur, he noted.

"The industry is nothing if not cyclical, and nothing that has happened in the last eight years has fundamentally changed that," Horne said. "It may take a few years for the cycle to turn, but it will."
Prime Minister Skvernelis, welcome to NATO headquarters. It has been a great pleasure to receive you here today and to address all the different ways that Lithuania is contributing to our shared security, so I really appreciate this meeting and also this opportunity to congratulate you on your appointment as Prime Minister.

Lithuania makes important contributions to NATO. Your troops serve with distinction in Afghanistan and in Kosovo. You host assets for NATOs Baltic Air Policing. And you host one of our new small headquarters.

Lithuania stands with NATO and NATO stands with Lithuania. In response to Russias aggressive actions against Ukraine, NATO is deploying four robust multinational battle groups to Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Poland. German and Belgian troops are already arriving in Lithuania. Sending a clear message: NATO Allies stand united and an attack on any of us would be met by forces from across the Alliance. We discussed the progress of the deployment and I expect all four battalions to be fully operational by June.

Our plans are defensive in nature. They are proportionate to the scale of the challenge. And they are fully in line with our international commitments.

We also agreed on the importance of NATOs two-track approach to Russia: strong defence combined with meaningful dialogue.

Finally, Prime Minister, I want to commend your government for your leadership on defence spending. And your plan to reach NATOs 2% benchmark  2% of GDP  by 2018. Fairer burden-sharing is essential to the long-term strength of our Alliance and the security of our people, and Lithuania is setting an example for other Allies to follow.

On Thursday, Lithuania will celebrate the 99th anniversary of its Act of Independence. With NATO, you will never lose that independence again.

Prime Minister, thank you for your strong support for our Alliance.

And welcome to NATO Headquarters.

OANA LUNGESCU (NATO Spokesperson): Okay, BNS.

Q: Good afternoon, [inaudible] Baltic News Service. I will switch to Lithuanian for my Prime Minister. [Interpreted]. Good afternoon Prime Minister. I have a question with regard to defence funding. Could you please confirm that the parties are going to find an agreement and to allocate 2.5 % of GDP to defence? And also speaking about the calls from the new U.S. administration to fight more efficiently with terrorism, is Lithuania going to more efficiently engage in operations in Afghanistan and Iraq?

SAULIUS SKVERNELIS (Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania): [Interpreted]. Yes I can reaffirm that 2 % is going to be reached in 2018. Then there are no discussions neither among the political parties nor the society in Lithuania, all of us agree that we have to contribute 2 % of GDP to defence. This is not a declaration, this is a decision by the government to allocate as much as is needed for the national defence. Now with regards to participation in international operations even today Lithuanian military personal takes place and participates in various operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Were going to allocate our resources including military resources in taking place in all the international missions as equal partners and there can no be any discussions, we dont have any doubts whatsoever with regards to this. We understand our contributions in defending our security and fight against terrorism.

OANA LUNGESCU: Okay. Kiev Post.

Q: Brian Bonner from the Kiev Post in Ukraine. Mr. Secretary General do you think that Russia has compromising information on President Donald Trump? If yes what can be done about it? If no how do you explain his pro-Putin positions and his continued misunderstanding of Russias war against Ukraine?

JENS STOLTENBERG (NATO Secretary General): I am absolutely certain that the United States will stay committed to NATO, to the transatlantic bond but also to the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of all European states including Ukraine. And Im looking forward to welcoming the Secretary of Defense, Secretary Mattis, here tomorrow and the reason why NATO now is increasing its military presence in the eastern part of the alliance is the aggressive actions against Ukraine by Russia, illegally annexing Crimea and destabilizing eastern Ukraine. And also, I have also seen that in the United Nations the United States has expressed strong support for Ukraine and also support for the economic sanctions. I have spoken to President Trump twice and the message has been that he is very committed to NATO, that he would like to see more defence spending but also that he is supportive of the NATO dual track approach to Russia. Meaning that as long as we are strong, as long as we invest in our defence and our deterrence we can also engage in a political dialogue with Russia. So I dont see any contradiction between being in favour of dialogue with Russia, having open channels with Russia, meeting Russians and exploring how we can avoid tensions to increase and exploring how we can strive for a more cooperative relationship and at the same time being committed to NATO and to our collective security. Thats the NATO position and thats also the position that President Trump has conveyed to me in my conversations with him.

OANA LUNGESCU: Okay. Wall Street Journal.

Q: First to the Prime Minister, do you think that Mr. Trumps promise of a more cooperative relationship with Russia could bolster security in your country or are you  do you want to hear more explanation from the United States, worried that the new attitude could embolden Russia? And to the Secretary General, to expand upon your last answer, do you anticipate discussing how to either rebalance deterrence and dialogue or how do tweak the strategy in your conversations with Mr. Mattis here this week?

SAULIUS SKVERNELIS: [Interpreted]. Yes first of all with regard to United States, we trust United States and we dont see any basis for having doubts on that. Now with regards to dialogue with Russia, yes every dialogue is needed, it improves cooperation, it encourages cooperation but again the forms of dialogues and the positions of the start of this dialogue, what conditions are there for this dialogue, if we are engaging in this dialogue on the basis of international standards, international freedoms and rights, yes then yes this dialogue is possible. But speaking about the form of this dialogue I believe that this dialogue has to be of equal partners. I hope that there would never be a case where interests of one state would be sacrificed for the benefit of other states. Lithuania has always trusted the United States and we dont have any grounds for having doubts with this long term standing cooperation and trust.

JENS STOLTENBERG: Russia is not on the agenda for this meeting but of course NATOs approach to Russia is always part of the dialogue, ongoing dialogue between NATO allies. And we always have to assess how can we find the right way to pursue this dual track approach. We are now delivering on important elements regarding the strength part of it with the enhanced forward presence and then we are constantly looking into how can we then strive for a more constructive relationship with Russia but without compromising on fundamental principles for the alliance which includes of course the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of all nations in Europe including Ukraine. And I think that for instance now we have some attention on military exercises including the ZAPAD exercise and for me that illustrates the importance of the dialogue with Russia and to keep the channels open and also try to develop the military lines of communications. To have more transparency, more predictability related to for instance military exercises like the ZAPAD exercise and one of the issues we have discussed in the NATO Russia Council is how can we improve and how can we use the council to have briefings on exercises on a reciprocal basis, for instance on exercises like ZAPAD. So exactly what Im going to discuss with Secretary Mattis is a bit too early to say but these issues, military transparency, predictability, adherence to the Vienna Document regarding observation, notification of exercises is constantly on our agenda and is part of our dual track approach to Russia.

OANA LUNGESCU: Very quick question please.

Q: Aivars Ozolins, Weekly lr Latvia. I have question to the Prime Minister dwelling on what Secretary General right now said about the ZAPAD exercises. Your countrys security department has recently warned that these exercises will be threat, major threat to your countrys security. What are the worse scenarios your and the other Baltic countries should be prepared in this case? And probably a follow up to Mr. Stoltenberg, is NATO ready to deter any provocations or whatever would come after these exercises?

SAULIUS SKVERNELIS: [Interpreted]. I believe that we dont discuss the worst case scenarios. Our presence here today and our meeting today in the NATO headquarters and actions that were taken speaking about the deployment of the Enhanced Forward Presence and cooperation within the alliance enable us to state and expect that the worst case scenario would never occur. Thats why the alliance is for, thats why we have our commitments for and Lithuania and all the Baltic states and the entire alliance is getting ready for that. So let us speak about as to how we will maintain the balance and our priority and let us not discuss the worst case scenarios. I believe that we are doing everything we can so that we prevented that.

JENS STOLTENBERG: We dont see any imminent threat against any NATO ally and NATO of course always stands ready to defend all allies against any threat. And thats the reason why we are also adapting our military posture, increasing the readiness and preparedness of our forces and also increasing the forward presence of our troops to respond to a more dangerous and demanding security environment. We have seen more military activity close to our borders and it is important to avoid incidents, accidents and again thats the reason why we are working for transparency, predictability and why we also expect Russia to adhere to the Vienna Document which is regulating how to conduct military exercises in a transparent and predictable way avoiding incidents and accidents. And all nations have the right to exercise their forces but of course this should be done in a responsible way and in full compliance with international agreements like for instance the OSCE Vienna Document which requires notification and international observation according to a specific set of requirements.

OANA LUNGESCU: Thank you very much thats all we have time for.

JENS STOLTENBERG: Thank you.
(Natural News) A controversial new biotechnology technique to produce children with three genetic parents might not actually cure the congenital diseases its designed to target, experts have warned  most recently, in a study conducted by researchers from Oregon Health and Science University and published in the journal Nature.

The technique in question, popularly known as three-person (or three-parent) in vitro fertilization (IVF), is designed to produce babies free of inherited defects in their mitochondria, the organelles that provide cells with energy. Mitochondria have their own DNA, separate from the DNA in the nucleus that is believed to control nearly all our bodily processes and traits. Because mitochondrial DNA is inherited only from the mother, three-person IVF takes the nucleus of a zygote produced via IVF and implants it into the donor egg, resulting in a cell with nuclear DNA from the two parents and mitochondrial DNA from a third person. (RELATED: Follow more news about bizarre genetics experiments at GeneticLunacy.com)

Not so separate after all

In September, U.S. scientists announced the birth of a baby produced using three-person IVF. The procedure had been performed in Mexico, because it is not legal in the United States.

In 2002, the FDA actually banned a previous incarnation of three-person IVF, called cytoplasmic transfer, due to concerns over possible side effects.

Following the September announcement, another three-person IVF child was born in China. The United Kingdom followed by formally approving the procedure and setting up a protocol by which fertility labs could apply for approval to perform it.

But unbridled enthusiasm over the technique may be premature, mitochondrial experts have warned. Thats because the separation between mitochondrial and nuclear DNA isnt as simple as it sounds. The mitochondrial genome is so stripped down that 99 percent of mitochondrial proteins are actually synthesized by the nucleus. That means that mitochondrial and nuclear DNA must work in tight coordination with each other. Swapping out mitochondria from a completely different mother might produce unforeseen health complications.

Additionally, three-person IVF cannot completely remove 100 percent of the original mitochondria. Studies suggest that around 2 percent of the original mitochondria migrate to the new cell along with the nucleus.

Original genome reasserts itself

Is that 2 percent enough to matter? The Nature study provides an overwhelming yes.

The researchers performed three-parent IVF in mice, then modified the embryos produced so that they could live indefinitely and be multiplied over and over again. The researchers found that in about 15 percent of cases, the original mothers mitochondria eventually reasserted itself and eradicated the donor mitochondria.

This process could occur at any time during fetal development, or perhaps even during the adult life of a child produced by three-parent IVF.

Other studies suggest that if the nuclear and mitochondrial DNA fail to recognize each other properly, the organism can suffer from poor health and infertility. This can occur if researchers change as little as 0.2 percent of an organisms mitochondrial DNA.

Concerns like these led a U.S. panel to recommend in early 2016 that if mitochondrial replacement therapies such as three-person IVF are approved, they only be used on male embryos. This would prevent any modified mitochondria from being passed on to future generations, and thus hopefully limit any potential side effects.

But while this policy could help contain the dangerous implications of three-person IVF, many experts say it does not go far enough to protect the babies being produced. Some studies, for example, suggest that male children are more prone to negative health outcomes as an effect of mitochondrial replacement.

The Oregon researchers are now investigating different mitochondrial lineages, to see if the side effects of three-person IVF could be minimized by using donors from within the same lineage. They are also investigating why some mitochondria seem to replicate faster than others, in the hopes of using fast-replicators as donors.

Sources for this article include:

NPR.org

NaturalNews.com
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is preparing a proposal for a new bilateral economic cooperation with U.S. President Donald Trump. The plan, which Abe is expecting to lay out when they meet this week, involves the creation of a $450-billion market through railways as well as other investments in technology, robotics and energy that could generate 700,000 jobs.

A Response to Trump's Doubt on Japan

According to Japan News, this proposal by Abe may be in response to the criticisms from Trump on some aspects of the Japanese market. This includes the car industry and the depreciation of the yen, which may led to Trump doubting the potential of the partnership between the two countries.

In turn, Abe wishes to propose a Japan-U.S. economic cooperation plan that focuses on five fields. He emphasized that this will be useful and helpful to the U.S. economy, especially now that there are rising concerns about automation replacing modern workers.

Abe said these five fields focus on the development of advanced infrastructure in the U.S. Eastern countries, including Japan, are becoming powerhouses in various technological fields. The prospect of unity between the two nations in this regard can boost the United States' place in becoming one of the global leaders in electronics.

High-Speed Railways and Modern Transportation

According to Reuters, the five fields in focus are global infrastructure, electronics and space technology, robots and artificial intelligence, as well as employment and defense cooperation. The said fields are vital in changing the technological landscape of the world, considering that there have been a lot of discoveries in recent years especially in the area of robotics and artificial intelligence.

Abe said plans on infrastructure focus on a variety of new projects. For instance, Fortune notes that there are plans for high-speed railways in Texas and California. Japan will also help replace 3,000 train cases used on subways and railways over the next decade with newer, more efficient models. Even military ventures such as newer planes and ships are being discussed in the document to be presented in Abe and Trump's meeting.

Proposal for Gas and Nuclear Power

Aside from these, the energy sector is also being considered. Japan will help in creating highly efficient power generation when it comes to gas and nuclear power.

As for technology, the partnership between the two countries would produce immense advancement. After all, Japan has the edge when it comes to robotics, while the U.S. is making huge strides in artificial intelligence.

There are currently no active responses -- positive or negative -- from the United States.
Reports about animal abuse have been removed from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) website. The move has enraged animal rights activists, saying that the removal would promote more incidence of animal maltreatment and killings.

According to reports, the move to delete their database has something to do with "privacy concern."

In the annoucement, cited by CNN, the Animal and Plant and Help Inspection Service (APHIS) said they conducted a "comprehensive review" of the information posted on their website that's available for the public.

"As a result of the comprehensive review, APHIS has implemented actions to remove certain personal information from documents it posts on APHIS' website involving the Horse Protection Act and the Animal Welfare Act," the announcement reads.



Aside from ground and online protests, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) wrote a letter addressed to the U.S. Department of Justice, reiterating the terms of a 2009 legal settlement with HSUS. The settlement states that the USDA has agreed to make some of its animal abuse records public and accessible.

The letter also states that both parties have 30 days to come up with an agreement, otherwise the court can reopen the lawsuit which was brought by HSUS in 2005, after USDA refused to release under Freedom of Information Act annual reports about animals in biomedical research labs, Science Mag reported.



Politicians have also joined the campaign to immediately restore the hidden information. In a CBS Local report, U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez spoke at the Bergen County Animal Shelter on Monday, grilling those who are involved in making the abrupt decision.



"I also want to know who was involved in making such a poor and misguided decision to give animal abusers a free pass," Menendez said.

Menendez and 17 other Democratic senators also wrote a letter to the USDA's acting deputy secretary pleading for public access.

Before the removal of the information, the website included information of establishments and owners charged with animal abuse, inspection and license information, as well as annual reports from every animal facility in the U.S.
Hundreds of ancient earthworks resembling the mysterious Stonehenge were found via drones in the Amazon.

The discovery of the more than 450 large geometrical geoglyphs is seen as a proof that hundreds of years ago, indigenous people transformed the rainforest into something different than what we know about the dense foliage today.

The researchers said prehistoric settlers in the western Brazilian Amazon performed deforestation to create the huge enclosures, which occupy approximately 13,000 square kilometers. But they also noted that the alterations did not involve clearcutting or field burning and the indigenous people changed the landscape by encouraging the growth of preferred species.

Science Alert said the clearing occurred about 2,300 and 1,400 years ago, before Europeans arrived. It was also in those years that the first earthworks are thought to have been constructed.

Through analysis of soil samples taken from the site, archaeologist Jennifer Watling from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil and her team found out that 6,000 years ago, the soil was covered with bamboo until humans moved 4,000 years ago and palm trees started to cover the land.

"Our evidence that Amazonian forests have been managed by indigenous peoples long before European Contact should not be cited as justification for the destructive, unsustainable land-use practiced today," she said in a press release.

Walting added that the discovery should emphasize the "ingenuity of the past subsitence regimes" and how this could help in finding alternative ways in sustainable land-use.

Meanwhile, the purpose of the earthworks is still not understood until today. What most experts think is that they are used as venue for rituals rather than for defense or shelter. The researchers particulary took note that the earthworks resemble the Stonehenge.

"It is interesting to note that the format of the geoglyphs, with an outer ditch and inner wall enclosure, are what classicly describe henge sites. The earliest phases at Stonehenge consisted of a similarly layed-out enclosure," Watling said.
Climate change might have been coming either way, but humans are taking the fast-track to get there. A study published in the journal The Anthropocene Review revealed that impact of humans on the environment is astronomical, driving changes in the climate at a rate 170 times faster than natural forces.

In a report penned by co-researcher Owen Gaffney in New Scientist, he explained that the Anthropocene Equation he drew up with Professor Will Steffen focused on the rate of change of Earth's life support system that included the atmosphere, oceans, forests and wetlands, waterways and ice sheets, and the fabulous diversity of life.

In the past four billion years, the primary driving forces of the Earth's system have been astronomical and geophysical, as well as internal dynamics. In the past 7,000 years, these natural forces resulted in a global temperature decrease of 0.01 degrees Celcius per century.

As human activities and greenhouse gases increased and came into play, the temperature began to tip dramatically in the opposite direction. The last 45 years have seen a global temperature increase of 1.7 degrees Celcius per century. The researchers concluded that the rate of changes can be attributed to the modern industrialized societies.

"We are not saying the astronomical forces of our solar system or geological processes have disappeared, but in terms of their impact in such a short period of time they are now negligible compared with our own influence," Steffen pointed out in a report in Phys Org.

The human factor have such a great impact on the environment that the natural forces are rendered nearly negligible.

"Crystallising this evidence in the form of a simple equation gives the current situation a clarity that the wealth of data often dilutes," Steffen added. "It also places the contemporary human impact in the context of the great forces of nature that have driven Earth system dynamics over billions of years."
It's safe to say that left-leaning California and the Trump administration are not on the best of terms.

But sometimes tragedies can make for strange bedfellows.

At a news briefing at the White House on Tuesday, press secretary Sean Spicer said the damaged Oroville Dam's emergency spillway is a "textbook example" of the nation's infrastructure that have "fallen into disrepair." And he said that President Trump believes there should be an "overhaul" of the country's crumbling dams, bridges, roads and ports. "We need to pursue a major infrastructure package in Congress," Spicer said. "We hope everyone remains safe as the evacuations continue, and we will be working alongside with FEMA and appropriate government entities to make sure we are doing everything we can to attend to this matter."

He didn't detail any specifics of what the package would entail or how much federal help might be committed.

Sean Spicer takes on the #OrovilleDam, says Trump wants to support "major infrastructure package" in Congress. https://t.co/HVsJfNU1lN pic.twitter.com/R4LphxNvQE  NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) February 14, 2017

Spicer's comments came days after the dam's emergency spillway began to give way on Sunday, prompting mass evacuations of lower lying areas. Records dating back 12 years showed that three environmental groups were concerned about the possible erosion of the spillway, but state and federal governments as well as some water agencies rejected those concerns, the Mercury News first reported.

Trump's apparent support of fixing up the nation's infrastructure also comes a day after California Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday asked the White House for federal assistance.

In a letter to the president, Brown asked for help for the three Northern California counties affected, saying aid is needed to assist the 188,000 residents of Butte, Sutter and Yuba counties who were ordered to evacuate Sunday. Those people are still not allowed in their homes.

The federal government has not yet formally answered California's request as it's currently under review at the Federal Emergency Management Agency regional office in Oakland.

[NATL-BAY]Dramatic Images Show Oroville Dam Crisis

California legislators and Trump have been opposed on many issues, most recently over the travel ban issue when the West Coast state filed a friend of the court brief against the administration.

Earlier, Brown took on Trump head-to-head during his January state-of-the-state speech. The governor delivered an aggressive defense on California's liberal policies on immigration, health care and climate change, vowing to fight the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress if they threaten to roll back state policies.

And for his part, Trump has certainly not shown much love for California. Last week, he said he would cut off federal funding to California  a threat he also made about the University of California, Berkeley after a wild protest over a canceled Breitbart editor's speech  if legislators vote to become a sanctuary state.

In an interview with Fox News interview just before the Super Bowl, Trump told O'Reilly Factor talk show host, Bill O'Reilly. "If we have to, we'll defund."

Elsewhere in the interview, Trump told O'Reilly: California is "out of control" in many ways, and voters agree "otherwise they wouldn't have voted for me."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Californias affordable housing crisis has reached an epidemic level, with rents at an all-time high and home ownership rates at their lowest since the 1940s. Still, despite the housing crunch, California has some of the countrys toughest laws requiring affordable housing. But as the NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit uncovered, those rules are rarely enforced, leaving millions of people looking for alternative ways to live.

Serial entrepreneur Cat Volz is among the Bay Area workers feeling the housing burden. Volz gave the Investigative Unit a tour of the 10' by 10' office space that she calls home.

It was like the nicest space for the cheapest, so I got it, Volz told NBC Bay Area. For the past year and a half, Volz has lived in the tiny office in the heart of Silicon Valley, paying $300 per month for rent. Volz says she knows it isn't legal, but its all she can afford.

I dont use a blanket or pillow or anything because its like contraband, Volz said pointing to the thinly carpeted office floor where she sleeps. Its safe and its mine.

A Saratoga native, Volz graduated at the top of her class from Regis University in Denver in 2012. She returned to the Bay Area and used her education to form a startup a business making perfume, as well as doing web design, marketing, and digital media. However, Volz says she quickly found herself in a catch 22, too qualified to be hired for hourly wage jobs, but not making enough money to afford steady housing. Since then, shes lived in offices, backyard sheds, and her Toyota Corolla.

LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Volz is one of millions who struggle to pay for housing in California. State data shows more than 1.5 million households pay more than 50% of their income towards rent.

San Jose's Deputy Director of code enforcement Diane Buchanan, believes the lack of affordable housing is contributing to a spike in dangerous illegal occupancies.

From 2015 to 2016 we have seen almost a doubling of the complaints that we received, Buchanan told NBC Bay Area. The city relies on complaints to direct its investigations; however Buchanan said its difficult for her office to gauge how many people live in hiding.

Last year, city inspectors responded to 45 complaints about people living in unpermitted spaces including sheds and shacks. No sanitation, no plumbing, so theyre digging holes in the backyard, Buchanan said. Other dangerous and substandard conditions include illegally converted garages without insulation, near open flames, and water heaters that can release deadly carbon monoxide gas into poorly ventilated spaces.

Buchanan maintains that safety is the number one priority for her office. This is a ticking time bomb. None of the inspectors like to see people living in these conditions and we know we have to move them out.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING: AN UNENFORCED MANDATE

California housing law requires that all cities adequately plan to meet the housing needs for residents across all income levels. However there is little recourse when cities dont.

"Theres no consequence today. We dont have any sanctions at the state level. There are no consequences. If you say youve planned on paper, then you get a free pass, we dont hold your feet to the fire, state housing director Ben Metcalf told NBC Bay Area.

Metcalf runs the Department of Housing and Community Development. The agency is in charge of making sure cities provide affordable housing by assigning each region a specific number of housing units they must build over the course of eight years  a process called the Regional Housing Need ALLOCATION.

Figures from the states housing assessment show California built an average 80,000 homes each year over the past decade. Thats far below the estimated 180,000 needed to keep housing affordable. Metcalf believes this is one of the biggest contributing factor to the lack of affordable housing.

"This is at the end of the day a solvable problem," Metcalf said. "The fact that housing is so expensive today is a consequence of decisions that have been made at the local and state level, and those decisions that have been made can get revisited. And they can get changed."

REGIONAL HOUSING NEED ALLOCATION 2007  2014

While we hold them accountable to plan for the growth, we dont hold them accountable to see the growth actually happens, Metcalf said. However his agency is now working to change that through incentives that could potentially encourage cities to approve affordable housing projects, such as linking funding for city parks to the amount of housing built in a city.

HCD is also working with the governor and lawmakers to streamline regulations. If we believe in the American dream. If we believe California should be a land of opportunity, that folks should be able to have a shot at competing. If we believe that we want the next generation to have a life thats as good as ours, then we have to facilitate that by allowing housing to be built in our communities, Metcalf said.

Meanwhile Cat Volz says shes putting her struggle in the spotlight so people can see a new side of the housing crisis.

I just like to be honest and if it helps people Im not afraid to say this is who I am and this is my life, Volz said.

According to the most recent homeless survey, on any given night some 118,000 people experience homelessness in California. But things are improving for Cat, who says she has now saved enough to sign a lease for an apartment.

If you have a tip for the Investigative Unit email Vicky Nguyenvicky@nbcbayarea.com or you can email theunit@nbcbayarea.com or call 888-996-TIPS.

Follow Vicky Nguyen on Twitter www.twitter.com/VickyNguyenTV and Facebookwww.facebook.com/VickyNguyenTV

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A panel of speakers will assemble in Richmond on Sunday to discuss the impact of President Franklin Roosevelts executive order that forced the imprisonment of more than 100,000 Japanese Americans during World War II.

The day of remembrance takes place on the 75th anniversary of Executive Order 9066, signed in 1942.

Flora Ninomiya, who as a child was required to move from her East Bay home to a work camp in Utah, will lead the event starting 2 p.m. at the Rosie The Riviter World War II Home Front. The roster of speakers also includes people who resisted the executive order, such neighbors who went to extreme lengths to protect the assets of their Japanese-American friends.

Lina Aebi Hale is scheduled to discuss her experiences at the Aebi plant nursery, where her father Frances Aebi secretly managed several nurseries for Japanese Americans who were interned. Edward Downer III will follow and discuss his fathers tenure as the President of Mechanics Bank in Richmond, where he kept safe the mortgages belonging to Japanese families.

Secret efforts like those made it possible for some Japanese-Americans to return to their homes and work in the Bay Area. Thousands of other imprisoned families were forced to relinquish property rights and suffered physically, emotionally and financially years after the camps shuttered.

A screening of documentary Blossoms and Thorns, about the order's impact in the Bay Area, will follow the panel.

City and county leaders are also paying tribute to the anniversary this week.

On Tuesday, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors approved a proclamation recognizing the significance of the 75th anniversary and issued a formal apology to Japanese-Americans who were affected.

Supervisor John Gioia, whose district encompasses Richmond, compared Roosevelts order to Trumps travel ban that blocked people from majority-Muslim countries from coming to the U.S.

The travel ban of the current presidentthere are some people who have said the precedent for this is executive order 9066, he said. So its important that we reflect back on this very unfortunate time in American history, when this country took an action that discriminated against 70,000 citizens, out of 122,000 people who were imprisoned, 70,000 were American citizens.

He continued: Sometimes history is ugly and its not always goodwe need to acknowledge that.
A man died in a hospital parking lot in San Leandro on Sunday night after an apparent road rage shooting, according to police.

Police said officers responded to the area of Marina Boulevard and Verna Court shortly before 10 p.m. on reports of gunshots.

According to police, while officers were responding to that area another call came in regarding a woman screaming for help from the Kaiser Permanente San Leandro Medical Center parking lot at 2500 Merced St.

Upon arrival at the hospital, officers discovered a shooting victim in the driver's seat of a vehicle, and a woman, who identified herself as the victim's wife, along with other family members in the vehicle.

Officers and emergency personnel attempted life-saving measures on the victim, but they were unsuccessful and he succumbed to his injuries.

Investigators found evidence of a shooting outside the Flyers gas station on the 1900 block of Marina Boulevard, which is about a half-mile north of the hospital.

Police said the evidence suggested several vehicles were in the area when the shooting occurred, and said the shooting may have stemmed from a road rage incident.

The victim's identity is not being released pending identification by the Alameda County coroner's bureau.

Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact Detective Mike Benz at 510-577-3230.
A mysterious light hovering above the Bay Area sky early Tuesday puzzled droves of perplexed witnesses.

Don't fret. The mystery behind the strange light was solved Tuesday morning.

What's the Mystery Light in the Sky?

John Daniels from the United States Navy said that two unarmed long-range ballistic missiles, which are traditionally used as defense weapons, were launched from a submarine stationed somewhere in the Pacific Ocean as part of a test procedure. One missile was launched around 3:30 a.m. followed by another test around 6:20 a.m.

The rocket-propelled missiles flew across the sky for roughly three minutes before crashing into the ocean, Daniels said. At no point did they fly over land.

Claude Remanes from San Jose said he watched one of the missiles slowly drift across the sky for one to two minutes before it vanished. Martin Slyngstad, also from San Jose, thought the missile was a shooting star. Other witnesses said they caught a glimpse of the missiles from San Mateo and near the Dumbarton Bridge.

Missile test flights are conducted on a frequent basis, and these specific tests were not launched in response to current world affairs, Daniels said.
PG&E is raising eyebrows with a call to the IRS about its fine for the fatal San Bruno pipeline explosion.

There are fears the utility is trying to pass more than $800 million of the penalty on to taxpayers.

The deadly San Bruno explosion and fire was blamed on PG&E's shoddy maintenance, flawed record keeping and lax oversight. The utility was then hit with $1.6 billion in penalties, with $850 million to be spent on improving the safety of its natural gas system.

The California Public Utilities Commission told the utility the penalty could not be deducted as a business expense. The utility is now sending a 25-page letter to the IRS asking for clarification n how the $850 million should be handled, leading State Sen. Jerry Hill to cry foul.

"Well of course they are trying to write it off," Hill said.

Hill said just the act of asking for the clarification reveals the utility's intent.

"This was supposed to cost them money. This was supposed to be a penalty for them for their egregious illegal actions and the death of eight individuals in the City of San Bruno," Hill said. "That's what this is a payment for. That's what this is a penalty for. And they're trying to get out of it is frankly what they are doing."

PG&E has not actually sent the letter to the IRS. The utility is required to send a copy first to CPUC. A PG&E spokesman said the letter speaks for itself and is simply asking the IRS for clarification as to how the $850 million should be reported.
Members of the Sikh faith are inviting the 188,000 evacuees who were forced to leave their homes because of the damaged Oroville Dam emergency spillway to come to their temples for a nice vegetarian meal and a rest on the floor of their prayer halls.

Yuba City and Sacramento  both about an hour's drive from Oroville  are central migration spots for Sikhs in California, most of whom originally hailed from Punjab, India.

Several temples in the surrounding Northern California area, including Sacramento, Roseville, Turlock and Tracy also publicly invited anyone in need to come to their houses of worship. All together, community estimates put the Sikh population at about 70,000 in the greater Sacramento area. And at the peak of the dam crisis on Sunday evening, two temples say they housed about 350 people fleeing from the possibility of a spillway break.

At its peak, a Sikh temple in Sacramento housed 250 people evacuated from #OrovilleSpillway https://t.co/qVmK9iP9aC https://t.co/zIo6hkNQMd  Lisa Fernandez (@ljfernandez) February 14, 2017

Inderjit Singh of the Gurdwara Sahib Sikh temple in West Sacramento said about 250 people, both Indian and American, came for shelter on Sunday. Many slept in the hallways and on the carpeted floor. By Tuesday morning, he said, about 150 or so remained. Members wrote Valentine's Day cards for evacuees and were passing them out. Some read, "I hope you return home safely."

In Rio Linda, about an hour's drive away from the dam, temple secretary Raj Kumar Sood said about 100 people had slept over, many in the prayer hall. Some temple leaders had offered their homes as well.

In Stockton, temple doors were also open.

Were well prepared, all gurdwaras (Sikh Temple) are indeed open, we have meals and temporary shelter for needy, the Stockton Gurdwara wrote Twitter and Facebook. Gurdwara means "door to the guru" or "House of God."

[NATL-BAY]Dramatic Images Show Oroville Dam Crisis

And in Roseville, Police Lt. Merve Screeton stopped by a gurdwara there to roll dough with a Sikh woman cooking for Oroville evacuees. His boss, Police Chief Daniel Hahn tweeted: "The Temple has stepped up 2serve those in need." Hahn said Tuesday in an interview that at one point during the day about 40 people had shown up to eat. "They're a great partner," Hahn said.

Thought it's more than a two-hour drive away from the crisis, Harsimran Singh, vice president of the Sikh temple in Turlock, said he didn't realize what a phenomenal response he'd get by just tweeting out an open invitation to shelter evacuees.

Though only a few Sikh families stopped by, his tweet has been retweeted about 2,500 times by Tuesday morning. He also called emergency service directors in Butte, Yuba and Sutter counties, offering rides and food to anyone in need.

A central tenant of Sikhism is Vand Chhakna, or share what one has with others. Sikh temples host langars, or community kitchens, to regularly feed members and anyone in need.

"It's just hardwired into us and our religion," Singh said. "Anytime someone needs help, we need to be there."
Ten alleged gang members arrested in Santa Cruz, Watsonville and Daly City on Monday have been charged with a litany of offenses, including drug trafficking and conspiracy to commit extortion by force, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

A federal grand jury indicted seven of the men for conspiring to extort drug dealers and three for conspiring to traffic methamphetamine.

The suspects are allegedly members of Santa Cruz Salvatrucha Locos 13, a subset of the Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13) gang, according to court papers filed by the government Monday.

After a five-year federal investigation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security along with police from Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Santa Clara and Daly City arrested the alleged gang members at homes in Santa Cruz County and Daly City starting around 4 a.m. Monday.

More than 200 local and federal law enforcement officers participated in the early morning arrests.

Velarmino "Meduza" Escobar Ayala, Tomas "Profugo" or "Caballo" Rivera, Ismael "Casper" Alvarenga Rivera, Willfredo "Chino" Edgardo Ayala, Jose David "Largo" Abrego Galdamez, Melvin "Sharky" Lopez and Alexander "Pocar" Martinez Flores are facing extortion charges, prosecutors said.

According to the indictment, the seven men had conspired to threaten Santa Cruz drug dealers and those close to them with violence in order to take their property. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Meanwhile, Gerber "Choco" Morales, Emilio "Diablo" Escobar Abarnga and Josue Alcedis "Penguino" Escobar Cerritos allegedly conspired to engage in drug trafficking, prosecutors said. Since March 2015, the three men conspired to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of meth.

Members of Santa Cruz's immigrant community expressed widespread alarm at the action, which involved Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, given recent ICE raids in Southern California and elsewhere around the country, according to Paul Johnston, a sociologist at the University of California at Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz police responded to the concerns by releasing a statement Monday emphasizing that the raids were part of the long-term investigation into the gang rather than any sort of immigration or deportation action.

"The Santa Cruz Police Department is extraordinarily aware of the fear that exists in our community regarding immigration raids," police said in the statement.

It continued: "This operation was not associated with enforcement of federal immigration nor deportation investigations. The City of Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz Police Department does not and will not participate in immigration enforcement or arrests. The men arrested during today's operation were all members of a violent criminal organization that has preyed upon and threatened the community."

All 10 defendants made appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins on Monday.

If convicted, the defendants accusing of conspiring to commit extortion face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Those convicted of conspiracy to possess 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it face a maximum of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine, prosecutors said.
Valentine's Day is arguably one of the biggest days of the year for the flower business, and last-minutes shoppers and busy retailers were up early to finalize the deal.

A host of people, from panicky boyfriends waiting to the last minute to small business flower shops striving to fill final orders, packed San Francisco's Flower Mart to grab colorful and blossoming bouquets.

"Almost everyone waits until the last minute," Christina Stembel, owner of Farmgirl Flowers, said "We sold out last Friday for Valentine's Day and have fielded thousands of requests since Friday."

Those requests required Stembel's emloyees to wake up before dawn and hit the ground running. Beginning at 2 a.m., Stembel and her team raced to accomplish roughly 2,000 local deliveries in San Francisco alone before the day's end.

Sean Nestleroad from Torchio Nursery, a wholesale vendor, said the past few days have been jam-packed with business as he handed his flowers over to local florists. Valentine's Day will admittedly be light for his business because the heavy-lifting was completed earlier in the week, but he said that February 14th is probably the second-busiest day for the flower industry behind Mother's Day.

"I guess everybody has a mom and not everybody has a sweetheart," he laughed.

Sergio Gallegos from Vacaville does have a sweetheart, and he visited the San Francisco Flower Mart early Tuesday to pick out a special surprise for his lady.

"Trying to get some flowers for my girl early morning before I go to work so I can surprise her in the afternoon," he said. "Trying to make a special day today."

A traditional bouquet of one dozen roses was not on Gallegos' list. He wanted to step up his game.

"I don't even know what these are, but actually they look kind of interesting and different," he chuckled as he stared at his purchase of assorted flowers. "That's what I'm going for now cause the typical roses, I gotta change it up."

As the old adage goes, it's the thought that counts.
What to Know A grandmother is being charged with giving her grandson methadone.

She now faces five charges and is being held at the Calvert County Detention Center on a no bond status.

The child is expected to make a full recovery.

A woman has been charged with child abuse after her 15-month-old grandson was hospitalized following a methadone overdose. Calvert County police said the incident happened inside the womans home.

Judith Anne Badrian Tetreault, 55, was charged with first- and second-degree child abuse, attempted poisoning, first-degree assault, neglect of a minor and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance.

According to court documents, Tetreault said the child wouldnt stop crying. Investigators said she sent a text message to her daughter, saying, Dont be mad at me, and I did not drug him.

Investigators believe she did drug the boy.

Calvert County Assistant Sheriff Dave McDowell said authorities were told by child protective services that a 1-year-old boy had been poisoned by methadone. Deputies responded and searched Tetreault's Lusby, Maryland, home.

Preliminary investigation leads us to believe that the child ingested methadone while in [Tetreault's] care, McDowell said.

The childs mother told investigators her sons sippy cup smelled funny. It was being tested in a Baltimore laboratory, and deputies said it could be an additional piece of evidence.

Donald Noland, who lives inside the home, said he was there when Tetreault was babysitting. Ive never seen her treat the baby bad, Noland said.

He said he heard the child crying but believes his friend is innocent.

I was sitting right there. She didnt give the baby no methadone, Noland said.

The good news is that the child is making and [is] expected to make a full recovery and  anytime that can happen, thats a good day, McDowell said.

The investigation is ongoing. Tetreault is expected to be back in court on March 13.
A series of airstrikes targeting ISIS commanders at a meeting in Iraq has killed scores of militants, including several senior figures, the country's military has said, NBC News reported.

The strikes, carried out Feb. 11 by an Iraqi F16, resulted in the death of 77 extremists, including 13 senior commanders, in Anbar province near the border with Syria, the Iraqi military said in a statement on Monday.

One of the airstrikes also targeted the terror group's supreme commander, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi  but officials have been unable to verify if he was at the location at the time of the attack and there was conflicting information about his status.

Two senior Iraqi military officials told NBC News that they were sure al-Baghdadi was in one of the locations that was bombed but had been unable to confirm if he escaped or had been injured or killed.
As Seen On
Former gubernatorial candidate Evan Falchuk has given up on his quest to build an independent political party in Massachusetts and has joined the Democrats.

Falchuk founded the United Independent party and garnered just over 3 percent of the vote in the 2014 election for governor. But his party failed to gain traction and members accounted for less than 1 percent of the state's registered voters in 2016, not enough to secure official party status in the 2018 state election.

Falchuk announced he's joining the Democratic Party because "it's time to pick sides."

The Newton resident says he wants to help Democrats convince voters that they represent the voice of working people in America.

Falchuk was also a leading opponent of the failed effort to bring the 2024 Olympics to Boston.
A man was violently attacked Tuesday afternoon in a popular shopping and business section of Newton, Massachusetts.

Newton Police say Chad Michael Kirby, 36, of Quincy, stabbed another man with a knife at the intersection of Watertown and Washington streets.

The victim, bleeding profusely from his head, stumbled over to the front entrance of the nearby CVS.

A store employee said someone ran inside to tell clerks to call 911, as a small crowd gathered and started tending to the mans injuries.

"It's just very bizarre for something like this to happen here," said longtime West Newton Square shopkeeper Valerie Miller, who owns nearby Artitudes. "You'd think it's safe between the police station and the police annex... it's really scary."

Police said they didn't have to look far to arrest Kirby who remained at the scene. Witnesses pointed him out when officers arrived.

Kirby is facing serious charges including assault with intent to murder.

Police said the two men did not know one another, but the reason for the crime is still unknown.

The victim is 53-years-old and is expected to be OK.

Workers at the nearby Dunkin Donuts said Kirby is a regular customer and often asks people for money or cigarettes.

Police said Kirby will be arraigned on Wednesday.
After winning three Grammy awards Sunday night, Chicago musician Chance the Rapper used the opportunity Monday to set up a meeting with Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, who he has criticized in the past.

Rauner took to Twitter Monday to congratulate the Chicago rapper on his historic Grammy haul. As an unsigned artist, Chance, whose government name is Chancellor Bennett, won three Grammys Sunday for best new artist, best rap album and best rap performance.

Congrats to @Chancetherapper for making history as an independent artist and taking home 3 grammys, the governor tweeted. IL is proud that youre one of our own.

Bennett quickly responded, requesting a sit-down with the governor.

Thank you Governor, he tweeted. I would love to have meeting with you this week if possible.

Lets set up a meeting soon, Rauner responded. Looking forward to our conversation."

Bennett has criticized Rauner in the past. In February of last year, he urged the Republican not to veto a bill that would have funded higher education for low-income students in Illinois. Over a series of tweets, Bennett pushed Rauner to engage us and explain your budgeting ideas and your plans for our higher education statewide.

The governors office said a veto would provide Rauner with the authority to fund Monetary Award Program financial aid grants for low income students at the states universities and community colleges.

Let it be known, my governor is doing everything in his power to keep MAP defunded and Close Down Chicago State, Bennett tweeted at the time.

Days later, Rauner vetoed the measure, which would have appropriated $721 million for the MAP program. He also vetoed a measure in June that would have appropriated $3.9 billion for higher education and social services, calling that plan an unfunded, empty promise."

Rauner ultimately signed off on a $600 million infusion in April of last year that funded Illinois public universities and colleges through the summer. A week later, Chicago State University announced that the school would lay off 300 employees despite receiving $20 million in funding.

The states most recent stopgap plan, signed in June, appropriated roughly $1 billion for the states higher education, including $151 million for grants for low-income students. However, MAP grant funding expired at the end of 2016, leading to uncertainty among many low-income Illinois students. MAP funding is now attached to the Illinois Senates grand compromise."
Mayor Rahm Emanuel met with Attorney General Jeff Sessions Monday in Washington, D.C. to discuss how the federal government can help address Chicagos spiking violence.

A readout from the Department of Justice said Emanuel and Sessions discussed what might be done to combat the shootings and murders in that city and bring back proactive community policing."

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Emanuel presented the attorney general with a wish-list that included federal help for police training, supervision equipment and technology to support mentoring, after-school and summer jobs programs for at-risk youth.

Additionally, the mayor reportedly renewed his push for increased federal gun prosecution in the city.

The meeting with Sessions comes on the heels of Emanuels back and forth with President Donald Trump, who nominated Sessions and has repeatedly bemoaned Chicagos gun violence since taking office last month.

Trump warned local authorities in January that he would send in the Feds if they cant get a handle on the carnage in Chicago.

Emanuel shot back earlier this month, urging Trump to just send them.

Send more FBI, DEA, ATF agents, Emanuel said during a news conference. We dont have to talk about it anymore.

Emanuel reportedly had a series of meetings Monday in Washington with members of Trumps senior staff, including his son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner and White House chief of staff Reince Priebus, White House Economic Council Director Gary Cohn and Dina Powell, senior counselor for economic initiatives.

The mayor also met Monday with officials from Amtrak, the Federal Aviation Administration and with Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer, of New York, and Elizabeth Warren, of Massachusetts, the Sun-Times reports. All of the meetings were requested by the mayor.
The online romance scam is a tried-and-true scheme in which criminals are rarely caught.

But the ringleader of an international criminal enterprise was held accountable in an Illinois courtroom in one of just a handful of romance scam prosecutions around the country.

Olayinka Ilumsa Sunmola, 33, of Nigeria was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for an international criminal enterprise he ran from 2007 to 2014. Sunmola and his associates targeted hundreds of women across the United States, developing intense online relationships and promising them true love. Instead, Sunmola bilked them for millions of dollars.

These crimes represent the most devastating crime one could ever imagine, without laying hands or eyes on another human being, said U.S. District Judge David Herndon at the Feb. 2 sentencing.

Sunmola and his underlings created fake profiles on popular online dating and social media sites to lure vulnerable, unsuspecting women. The men often stole photos of U.S. soldiers  some who had been killed in combat  to tug at their heartstrings before feigning emergency and asking to send money and electronics for their official missions.

An American soldier stationed overseas, typically his profiles would be a father with a young daughter. His wife had died in some tragic accident, said Nathan Stump, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois.

Danielle, or Jane Doe 6 as she was called at trial, was one of Sunmolas victims. Weve changed her name at her request for privacy.

It was like a dream come true, Danielle said.

Her story begins in 2008. Danielle was newly divorced and lonely. Her daughter urged her to create an online account to meet new people. Danielle met someone almost instantly.

His eyes were breathtaking, Danielle recalled.

Danielle said her mystery man was also from her community in Southern Illinois but as a member of the U.S. Army, he was stationed overseas in South Africa.

Over the next few months, the two developed a strong connection, often talking on the phone up to 30 times a day. He sent her cards, roses and chocolates. They bonded over shared tragedy. Her prince charming told her that he was recently widowed with a young daughter.

Danielle was a victim of an armed robbery and execution-style shooting, which left her partially blind and unable to drive, among other life-altering effects.

He made me feel really good, as if it didnt matter (what happened to me), said Danielle.

Danielle said she fell in love quickly. He promised her he would return home soon so the two could get married.

But after a few months into their relationship, Danielle said she noticed a change. Her love suddenly starting facing emergency after emergency overseas.

He wasnt getting money from the government. He was going to be getting kicked out of the hotel he was staying in. He was talking about not having food, Danielle said.

She ended up wiring him money  in all more than $12,000, even taking cash advances on her credit card. When she had no more money to send him, Danielle said he snapped.

He went from being a very nice guy to a very evil man.

Danielle said he had taken private photos of her through a webcam without her knowledge. He threatened to send the images to her friends and family. Danielle said this man seemed to have done his homework. He knew side streets in her neighborhood, even the name of the president at her local bank.

He told me by the time he got through with me, Id want to kill myself, Danielle said.

She admits she contemplated suicide. Danielle is not alone.

Other victims told federal investigators that they, too, thought of ending their lives due to emotional distress caused by their fake online relationships.

According to prosecutors, an Atlanta woman, a healthcare worker, told them she was so distraught that she made a mistake in administering medicine to a child undergoing surgery. The child was okay, but she lost her job.

Many women bought wedding dresses and quit jobs in preparation for marriages promised by the scammers. Once they sent money and realized it was all a ruse, several women ended up filing for bankruptcies.

It wasnt just a barbaric crime, said Stump. The defendant seemed to relish torturing his victims.

Sunmola and his associates lived a lavish lifestyle in their home country at their victims expense. The government estimates they swindled at least $1.7 million, a conservative estimate since many victims chose not to come forward.

Its a crime that comes with some embarrassment and some shame for the victims, Stump said. There are hundreds of other victims out there.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service began its investigation into Sunmola in 2012 when an Illinois woman complained she had been conned by a man online. From there, the scheme unraveled. Several federal and international agencies, including Homeland Security, Secret Service, South African Police Service, London Metropolitan Police, were involved.

Not only did he use romance scam victims to send their own money, he used them as what we call mules, said U.S. Postal Inspector Adam Latham. He had thousands of illegally obtained credit cards on computers we seizedand he would use those numbers to order merchandise.

Sunmola was indicted in November 2013 on charges of mail fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy and interstate extortion. He was arrested at Londons airport in August 2014. Sunmola plead guilty to all eight counts in March 2016 after two days of trial.

Stump said prosecutors wanted to make an example of Sunmola, referred to as boss, in his community in Nigeria to deter similar crimes. The FBI estimates it saw a dollar loss of $203 million from romance scam frauds in 2015. That same year, Illinois victims lost more than $4.6 million.

At his sentencing, Sunmola apologized to his victims and asked for forgiveness. His defense attorney said Sunmola will be appealing his 27-year sentence.

(The sentence is) going to send a very strong message. Not only to the offenders wherever they are that we mean business and you cant do this and if you do, there are serious consequences. But also to the victims that they understand that we take this seriously, said Stump.
A 15-year-old girl has been located after a statewide Amber Alert was issued in Indiana, authorities said Tuesday.

Gary police issued the alert Monday afternoon, saying Chastinea Reeves was last seen around 2 a.m. near 2027 Main St. in Gary and "was believed to be in extreme danger."

Family members told NBC 5 her mother was the victim of a "violent crime," and Chastinea had gone for help when she went missing.

Relatives said Chastinea came running into the home of a family member on Main Street with her younger sibling.

"She was hysterical," said Kelli McMillan, a relative who then called 911 to report that her sister-in-law, Chastinea's mother, was hurt.

"When I was making my phone call, Chastinea, she ran out the backdoor," McMillan said.

Gary police have not released details regarding Chastinea's return, or the crime committed against the teen's mother.

The Amber Alert was canceled and the investigation is ongoing, authorities said.

Check back for updates on this developing story.
A federal appeals court in Chicago could soon decide the fate of "Making a Murderer" subject Brendan Dassey.

Attorneys for both the state of Wisconsin and Dassey argued their positions in court Tuesday in a hearing that lasted roughly one hour.

The state argued that Dassey chose to confess to police, while Judge Ilana Rovner questioned how someone with a "dimished capacity" could rationally make choices in the face of repeated questioning by police who promised "everything would be all right."

"Do you think someone with Brendan's intellect understands that, quote, 'The truth will set you free' is an idiom, particularly when one is sitting in a police interrogation room?" Rovner said.

Attorneys claimed, however, that nothing was promised to Dassey and said he was given warnings that what he said could be used against him.

"Nothing the investigators said actually promised a specific benefit in exchange for cooperation," said Dep. Solicitor General of Wisconsin Luke Berg. "Courts consistently reject false promise theories where there hasn't been a very specific offer."

Dassey's defense attorneys said with an IQ of only 73, the then-teen was unable to distinguish the vague promises by interrogators from what might actually happen to him if he confessed.

"Sixteen-year-old, mentally limited Brendan Dassey confessed in reliance on a false promise of leniency that was unreasonably overlooked by the state courts in violation of section 22-54-D2," said Laura Mirider with the Center for Wrongful Convictions.

Dassey was sentenced to life in prison in 2007 for the murder of photographer Teresa Halbach, who was killed on Halloween 2005. Dassey told authorities he helped his uncle, Steven Avery, rape, kill and mutilate Halbach after she visited the Avery family's salvage yard in Manitowoc County.

Dassey, who turned 27 late last year, was 16 at the time. Court documents described him as a slow learner who had poor grades and has difficulty understanding language and speaking.

Avery was convicted in a separate trial and was also sentenced to life in prison. He's pursuing his own appeal.

Both Dassey and Avery's cases gained national attention after Netflix aired "Making a Murderer" in 2015. The series spawned widespread conjecture about the pair's innocence. Authorities who worked on the cases said the series was biased, but it generated a myriad of calls from the public to free both men.

Halbach's family was present in court Tuesday.

A federal judge last year overturned Dassey's conviction, ruling that investigators tricked him into confessing he helped Avery kill Halbach.

The judge held that investigators made specific promises of leniency to Dassey if he confessed to the crime and that no "fair-minded jurists could disagree." He cited one investigator's comment early in the interview with Dassey that "you don't have to worry about things," plus repeated comments like "it's OK" and that the investigators already knew what happened that night with Halbach.

In November, Judge William E. Duffin ordered that Dassey be freed from prison unless prosecutors appealed or decided to retry him. A few days later, Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel filed an emergency motion in the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, "seeking a stay of this release order." Dassey has remained in prison since.

Former special prosecutor Ken Kratz, who tried both Dassey's and Avery's initial cases, said he is "hopeful that the conviction will be upheld and the matter will finally be put to rest."

The three-judge panel said it will take the matter under advisement. A ruling is expected sometime this spring.
FRANKFURT, GERMANY--(Marketwired - Feb 14, 2017) - From May, the four airlines Thomas Cook Airlines UK, Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia, Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium and Condor will be heading to a total of 109 dream destinations with their 2017 summer flight plan, accompanying holidaymakers on their way to the nicest time of the year. Highlights of this year's summer flight plan include the Portuguese Atlantic island of Porto Santo (PXO), Comiso (CIY) on Sicily, Almeria (LEI) and Malaga (AGP) in Spain and San Diego (SAN), New Orleans (MSY) and San Francisco (SFO) in the USA. Some destinations can even be booked for April departures. You can find an overview of all the airline group's new flight connections for summer 2017 at the end of this press release.

"After the cold winter months, our customers are already looking to the future and planning their holiday. And to help them, we are offering even more destinations in our flight plan this summer," says Christoph Debus, Chief Airlines Officer of the Thomas Cook Group. "We are predominantly expanding our short haul and medium haul network in Italy, Greece and Croatia. And we are adding four new routes to North America to our flight plan."

In total, the four airlines of the Thomas Cook Group Airlines will fly from 48 airports in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Finland, Great Britain, Norway and Sweden to 109 destinations during summer 2017. This means passengers from all over Europe can start their summer holidays conveniently and without any long journeys, choosing from a wide selection of dream destinations all over the world. Long haul flights can be reached very easily using feeder flights.

The North American plan is being expanded to include San Diego, New Orleans, Pittsburgh (PIT) and San Francisco. This means that Thomas Cook Group Airlines now fly to a total of 22 North American airports, from where guests can continue on to a multitude of other destinations using partner airlines. As well as well-known tourist hotspots, there are also insider's tips such as Whitehorse in Canada and Austin in Texas. Whether you're looking for a city break to a hip metropolis, a relaxing holiday on the coast or an adventure in the endless expanses of the continent -- the diversity of Canada and the USA leaves little to be desired.

Ralf Teckentrup, Chief Commercial Officer of the Thomas Cook Group Airlines and CEO of Condor, says, "North America has so much potential and we want to make these versatile regions of the world readily accessible to our guests. As well as the almost endless possibilities for holidaymakers, Canada and the United States also has an infrastructure that makes travelling in many places very simple and safe."

Another focus of the long haul network of Thomas Cook Group Airlines is in the Caribbean and Central America. In this colourful region with its sunshine guarantee and picturesque beaches, there is a total of 14 dream destinations, such as Barbados, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

With short haul and medium haul flights, guests of the four Thomas Cook Group Airlines can take a journey of discovery to a total of 63 destinations. In summer 2017, the airlines set off with their "sunny heart" to many places which were not on the flight plan in previous years. This includes, for example, Malta, Split and Dubrovnik in Croatia, as well as Samos and Mykonos in Greece, which is tipped as a particularly popular destination in 2017.

"With the new flight plan, we are diversifying and our guests will benefit from the additional opportunities," explains Ralf Teckentrup. "We are excited about the feedback on our new routes and are convinced that they will be well received by our customers."

Low-priced flights in summer 2017, for example from Frankfurt to San Diego, are available at a one-way complete price from 349.99 EUR in Economy Class, from 499.99 EUR in Premium Class and from 999.99 EUR in Business Class. You can book them online at https://www.thomascookairlines.com/ or www.condor.com, from travel agents or by telephone.

All you need to know about the 2017 summer flight plan of the Thomas Cook Group Airlines

Total destinations 109 of which short haul and medium haul 63 of which long haul 46 New destinations compared with previous year 20 Departure airports 48 in seven countries

New flight connections of the Thomas Cook Group Airlines (summer 2016 vs. 2017)

Departure point Destination First flight Condor Frankfurt













Burgas

Dubrovnik

Larnaca

Malta

New Orleans

Paphos

Pittsburgh

Samos

San Diego

Split

Thessaloniki 24th May

29th April

3rd April

26th April

3rd May

30th March

23rd June

30th May

1st May

30th April

28th April Munich Larnaca

Las Vegas

Samos

Seattle

Volos 3rd April

3rd May

30th May

21st June

29th April Hamburg Malta 26th April Dusseldorf Larnaca

Porto Santo 3rd April

10th April Hannover Larnaca 3rd April Leipzig Burgas 22nd May Thomas Cook Airlines UK Manchester Kavala

Malaga

Mykonos

San Francisco

Split 15th May

1st April

4th May

14th May

5th May Birmingham Comiso 3rd May Gatwick Kavala 15th May Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia Stockholm Almeria 19th May Copenhagen Almeria 19th May Gothenburg Almeria 15th May

The Thomas Cook Group Airlines, as part of Thomas Cook plc, is made up of four airlines, which take their customers to the most beautiful holiday destinations in the world: Thomas Cook Airlines UK, Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium, Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia and Condor Flugdienst. The group's airlines carry 16.7 million passengers to about 100 dream destinations every year. They generate a total turnover of 2.8 billion GBP. The combined fleet comprises 95 airplanes, including 25 new Airbus A321s. Over the last few years, the Thomas Cook Group has invested 100 million GBP in the comfort and technology of its airplanes. Ultra-modern engine technology and optimised aerodynamics ensure lower kerosene consumption, fewer CO2 emissions and improved soundproofing. More than 9,000 employees work passionately on providing passengers with a perfect start to their holiday. This is confirmed by a number of awards for the four airlines.

Pictures and further information can be found at www.condor.com/newsroom

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3108735


State attorneys tried to persuade a panel of federal appellate judges that a Wisconsin inmate featured in the Netflix series "Making a Murderer" made a voluntary confession and was properly convicted.

Brendan Dassey was sentenced to life in prison in 2007 in connection with Teresa Halbach's death two years earlier. Dassey told detectives he helped his uncle, Steven Avery, rape and kill Halbach in the Avery family's Manitowoc County salvage yard. Avery was sentenced to life in prison in a separate trial.

A federal magistrate judge overturned Dassey's conviction in August, ruling investigators took advantage of the then-16-year-old Dassey's cognitive disabilities and tricked him into confessing with false promises that he would be all right. The state Department of Justice appealed.

Attorneys for both DOJ and Dassey presented oral arguments to a three-judge panel at the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago on Tuesday.

DOJ Deputy Solicitor General Luke Berg told the panel detectives never made Dassey any specific promises. Judge Ilana Rovner asked whether Dassey, whom the judge described as "extremely suggestible," wouldn't have concluded based on the questioning that he would be able to go home rather than getting arrested.

Berg insisted the investigators acted properly and didn't so much as imply promises. Judge David Hamilton seemed to dispute that, telling Berg that obviously the investigators made vague promises of leniency.

Dassey's attorney, Laura Nirider, argued the detectives made a "drumbeat of promises" before every major admission in the confession. Hamilton, though, told her he had watched the entire interrogation and didn't think Dassey's will was subverted.

The arguments lasted less than an hour. The panel has no time table for a decision and it could be months before they rule.

Dassey, now 27, and Avery have contended police framed them. They say police went after them to stop a lawsuit Avery had filed demanding millions from Manitowoc County because he spent 18 years in prison for a rape he didn't commit. Avery is pursuing his own appeal.

In November, Judge William E. Duffin ordered that Dassey be freed from prison unless prosecutors appealed or decided to retry him.

A few days later, Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel filed an emergency motion in the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals seeking a stay of the judge's ruling. The court blocked Dassey's release while considering the appeal. Dassey remains in prison pending the outcome.

In Schimel's filed brief, he urged the appeals court to reject Dassey's claim that his confession was coerced.

"Substantial police coercion" is required for any confession to be ruled involuntary, Schmel said. He added that the Wisconsin Court of Appeals was right to affirm in 2013 that Dassey's confession was voluntary.

The magistrate's ruling "ignores both the facts and the law," the attorney general said. Investigators didn't promise leniency, he said, and specifically told Dassey they couldn't make any promises.

The teenager willingly spoke with investigators and was properly informed of his rights, Schimel said. The interview took a few hours in the middle of the day, while Dassey sat on a couch and drank a soda, the investigators spoke in normal tones and did not threaten him or make false promises, he said. And Dassey confessed to most of the important details within an hour, in response to open-ended questions, he added.

"The state courts' conclusion that Dassey's confession was voluntary is not only reasonable; it is entirely correct. Accordingly, Dassey is not entitled to relief," the attorney general said.

Halbach was killed on Halloween 2005, after she visited the Avery family's salvage yard in Manitowoc County. Investigators allege Avery lured her there by asking her to take photos of a minivan.

Dassey was sentenced to life in prison in 2007. Court documents describe him as a slow learner who had poor grades and has difficulty understanding language and speaking.

Avery was convicted in a separate trial and was also sentenced to life in prison. He's pursuing his own appeal.

Their cases gained national attention after Netflix aired "Making a Murderer" in 2015. The series spawned widespread conjecture about the pair's innocence. Authorities who worked on the cases said the series was biased, but it generated a myriad of calls from the public to free both men.
A west suburban school district is mulling a partnership with a community college that would see students earning college credit for free.

Elgin Area School District U-46 could become the latest to partner with Elgin Community College and its Accelerate College program, the Daily Herald reports. The program started last fall and included 38 high school students from Algonquin-based Community District 300 in addition to St. Charles Unit District 303.

Citing officials, the paper says students who participated in the program during the fall semester saved $64,750 in tuition.

Under an Accelerate College program like District 300s, the newspaper reports, some students would be eligible for a tuition-free senior year of college. Work done by a high school student in a community college would be transferrable to public students throughout the state, the Daily Herald reports.

For a student to be eligible, they must be in their junior year, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, meet college readiness requirements -- based on ECC placement tests or cut scores on the ACT or SAT in reading, writing, and mathematics -- and have a good attendance record in high school, the newspaper reports.

Students can take English, math science, social science, behavioral science, fine arts, and humanities at Elgin Community Collegeand they must take a College 101 class, the paper reports.
You can send some love this Valentines Day to patients who need it at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago.

The annual "Handfuls of Love" valentine program allows people to send free personalized messages and cards to be given to the hospitalized children at Lurie Children's.

Each specially designed card and personalized note of encouragement will be hand-delivered to patients on Valentine's Day. [[413684963, C]]

This year, the hospital hopes to collect 10,000 Valentines to give each patient a card and decorate the walls of the hospitals Family Life Center.

How to send: Cards can be sent on the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicagos website here.
In the midst of a busy Saturday night shift, a suburban waitress was left stunned when she received a $2,500 gift from someone identified only as her guardian angel.

Imelda Murphy Sprenger said she had heard a group of regular customers requested to sit in her section that night, but the restaurant was too busy so they sat in another location.

She had planned on stopping by their table to say hello, but in the chaos that is a Saturday night shift at Nicks Pizza & Pub in Crystal Lake, she simply didnt have time.

Once Murphy Sprenger realized who the guests were, she knew she had to stop by.

At the table was the daughter of man she had known for several years, a pilot she identified only as Leo, who had frequented the restaurant with fellow pilots for years. His daughter Kim was dining with her family that night.

Years ago, the group of pilots, including Kim's father, helped Murphy Sprenger in a time of need. She had longed to go to her sisters wedding at her home in Ireland, so the group left her an envelope with $1,000 to pay for her trip.

Over the years, Murphy Sprenger had become close with Leos family. They even helped throw her an impromptu baby shower.

But on Saturday night, Murphy Sprenger could tell something was different.

[Kim] sat down and I could tell she was a little nervous, she said. I could tell that about her.

Thats when the woman handed Murphy Sprenger an envelope.

Kim gave me this envelope and Im like, Whats this? and she said, Oh, this is from your guardian angel and she goes, Im serious and she was very serious. And my legs started to wobble," Murphy Sprenger said.

Inside the envelope was a card.

I read in the letter, it was like this beautiful butterfly card, it said, Imelda, heres hoping this helps on getting you back to Ballinrobe in 2017, Murphy Sprenger recalled. And the most beguiling thing about this is no one knows where I live. And then she wrote, Cheers. That was it.

Murphy Sprenger said she only knows the person who gave her the gift was once served by her at the Crystal Lake eatery and happened to know Kim and her family.

I guess a couple of years ago, this lady was at Nicks. I took care of this lady and her family, Murphy Sprenger said. I dont know but she remembered me for some really odd reason and I stood out and I guess made an impression or whatever.

News of the gift was posted to the restaurants Facebook page by owner Nick Sarillo.

I dont even know how to explain what happened tonight with our, very special Imelda Murphy Sprenger, Sarillo wrote. She received a $2500 tip/gift from a woman who only wants to be known as her guardian Angel! Magic happens again.

Its not the first time the restaurant has made headlines thanks to generous guests.

Last June, one guest tipped a bartender at the eaterys Elgin location twice in one night, for a total of $1,500.

Try as she might, Murphy Sprenger said she hasnt been able to find out who her guardian angel is. Shes hoping to plan a trip to her hometown, where she hasnt been since that fateful five years ago for her sisters wedding, sometime this year.

Asked if Murphy Sprenger had a message to the mysterious woman, she sighed and said, Im overwhelmingly grateful.

And wish I knew who it was so I could just give her the biggest, tightest hug in the world, Murphy Sprenger said. She really is my guardian angel.
A worker was critically injured when a hole collapsed on him Monday afternoon in the Forest Glen neighborhood on the Northwest Side.

The 46-year-old man was working in a hole at Peterson and Sauganash when the hole collapsed about 1:15 p.m., Chicago Fire Department Commander Curtis Hudson said.

The water department worker was taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston in critical condition, Hudson said.

Chicago Department of Water Management spokesman Gary Litherland said he was aware of the accident, but couldnt immediately provide additional details Monday afternoon.
What to Know Etan Patz disappeared May 25, 1979, the first day he was allowed to walk the two blocks to his bus stop alone

Jurors previously deadlocked in the murder trial of Pedro Hernandez, a teenage stock clerk in Patz's neighborhood, prompting a mistrial

Detectives say Hernandez confessed to killing the boy; the defense claimed he was innocent and was coerced into making a confession

A jury has found a man guilty of felony murder and kidnapping in the death of 6-year-old Etan Patz, who became one of the country's most iconic missing children when he disappeared from his SoHo bus stop nearly 40 years ago.

Pedro Hernandez, 56, was acquitted of intentional second-degree murder in the decades-old case, meaning jurors did not believe he meant to kill the little boy, but he still faces up to life in prison.

The jury panel of eight men and six women reviewed more than 300 trial exhibits over the course of their nine days of deliberations in State Supreme Court in Manhattan before reaching their decision Tuesday.

"I've known for a long time that this man Pedro Hernandez is guilty of doing something really terrible so many years ago," the slain boy's father Stanley Patz said in a brief statement after the verdict.

Stanley Patz was seen in court hugging members of the district attorney's office as Hernandez looked on impassively. He said he was confident jurors reached the only possible verdict given the evidence presented to them.

A key issue during deliberations was the 2012 surprise confession Hernandez made as federal agents digging up a New York City basement in search of the boy's remains thrust the case back into the national spotlight, jurors said.

Attorneys for the Maple Shade, New Jersey man, had argued the confession was the false ramblings of a mentally ill man; prosecutors said it was the conscience of a killer who lured the little boy into the basement with the promise of a soda, then choked him and dumped the body.

Patz's remains have never been found.

"Deliberations were difficult but I think we had constructive conversations based in logic that were analytical and creative and adaptive and compassionate," one juror told reporters after the verdict was read.

The jury was split at times, but ultimately they had to decide if the multiple confessions Hernandez made were credible and if Hernandez's possible mental illness and low IQ equaled a coerced confession.

Juror Mike Castelon said they believed Hernadnez has an illness, but "that didn't make him delusional. We think that he could tell right from wrong, he could tell fantasy from reality."

Hernandez's attorney, Harvey Fishbein, vowed to appeal.

Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance was on a plane at the time the verdict was read, but he released a statement acknowledging the Patz family for their 37 years of courage and perserverance and said he hoped they had closure.

"The disappearance of Etan Patz haunted families in New York and across the country for nearly four decades," Vance's statement said. "Etan's legacy will endure through his family's long history of advocacy on behalf of missing children. However, it is my hope that today's verdict provides the Patz family with the closure they so desperately deserve."

Hernandez was tried once before, but the case ended in a hung jury after all but one juror voted to convict after 18 days of deliberations.

A group of the vote-to-convict jurors had been attending the retrial daily. Many of them wept as the verdict was read. The second trial lasted three months.

Hernandez worked as a clerk at the corner store near Patz's bus stop all those years ago. He knew the little boy liked to get treats there, and that he waited for the school bus in the morning without adult supervision, prosecutors said.

He was "keenly watching and admiring this beautiful friendly child," Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi said during summations.

Patz's case helped usher in an era of vigilance. The anniversary of the boy's disappearance became National Missing Children's Day. His parents helped press for new laws that established a national hotline and made it easier for law enforcement agencies to share information about missing children.

The probe had long focused on another suspect, convicted pedophile Jose Ramos. Fishbein said during his closing argument that Ramos was the real killer. Ramos has said he didn't kill the boy.
News of the apparent assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's half brother rippled across Asia on Wednesday as Malaysian investigators scoured airport surveillance video for clues about two female suspects and rival South Korea offered up a single, shaky motive: paranoia.

Kim Jong Nam, 46, was targeted Monday at the budget terminal of Kuala Lumpur International Airport, said a senior Malaysian government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the case involves sensitive diplomacy.

Kim, who died on the way to a hospital, told medical workers that he had been attacked with a chemical spray, the official said.

Malaysian officials have provided few other details about why they believe Kim died in a targeted killing. Police said an autopsy was planned to determine the cause of death.

Since taking power in late 2011, Kim Jong Un has executed or purged a slew of high-level government officials in what the South Korean government has described as a "reign of terror."

South Korea's spy service said Wednesday that North Korea had been trying for five years to kill Kim. But the National Intelligence Service did not definitively say that North Korea was behind the killing, just that it was presumed to be a North Korean operation, according to lawmakers who briefed reporters about the closed door meeting with the spy officials.

The NIS cited Kim Jong Un's alleged "paranoia" about his half brother. Still, the agency has a history of botching intelligence on North Korea and has long sought to portray the country's leaders as mentally unstable.

Multiple South Korean media reports, citing unidentified sources, said Kim Jong Nam was killed at the airport by two women believed to be North Korean agents. They fled in a taxi and were being sought by Malaysian police, the reports said.

Police were searching for clues in the closed circuit television footage from the airport, said Selangor police chief Abdul Samah Mat. The airport is in Selangor, near Kuala Lumpur.

According to the Malaysian government official, Kim Jong Nam was in a shopping concourse and had not yet gone through security for a planned flight to Macau when the incident occurred.

Kim was estranged from his half brother, the North Korean leader. Although he had been originally tipped by some outsiders as a possible successor to his late dictator father, Kim Jong Il, others thought that was unlikely because he lived outside the country, including recently in Macau, Singapore and Malaysia.

He reportedly fell further out of favor when he was caught trying to enter Japan on a false passport in 2001, saying he wanted to visit Tokyo Disneyland.

A Malaysian police statement confirmed the death of a 46-year-old North Korean man whom it identified from his travel document as Kim Chol, born in Pyongyang on June 10, 1970.

Ken Gause, who is with the CNA think tank in Washington and has studied North Korea's leadership for 30 years, said Kim Chol was a name that Kim Jong Nam had traveled under. He is believed to have been born May 10, 1971.

While the most likely explanation for the killing was that Kim Jong Un was removing a potential challenger to North Korean leadership within his own family, he could also be sending a warning to North Korean officials to demonstrate the reach of the regime. It follows the defection last year of a senior diplomat from the North Korean Embassy in London who has spoken of his despair at Kim's purges.

Mark Tokola, vice president of the Korea Economic Institute in Washington and a former deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, said it would be surprising if Kim Jong Nam was not killed on the orders of his half brother, given that North Korean agents have reportedly tried to assassinate Kim Jong Nam in the past.

"It seems probable that the motivation for the murder was a continuing sense of paranoia on the part of Kim Jong Un," Tokola wrote in a commentary Tuesday. Although there was scant evidence that Kim Jong Nam was plotting against the North Korean leader, he provided an alternative for North Koreans who would want to depose his half brother.

Among Kim Jong Un's executions and purgings, the most spectacular was the 2013 execution of his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, once considered the country's second-most powerful man, for what the North alleged was treason.

Gause said Kim Jong Nam had been forthright that he did not have political ambitions, although he was publicly critical of the North Korean regime and his half brother's legitimacy in the past.

Kim Jong Nam had been less outspoken since 2011, when North Korean assassins reportedly tried to shoot him in Macau, Gause said, though the details of the attempted killing are murky. South Korea also reportedly jailed a North Korean spy in 2012 who admitted to trying to organize a hit-and-run accident targeting Kim Jong Nam in China in 2010.

Despite the attempts on his life, Kim Jong Nam had reportedly traveled to North Korea since then, so it was assumed he was no longer under threat. Kim Jong Nam may have become more vulnerable, as his defender in the North Korean hierarchy, Kim Kyong Hui  Kim Jong Un's aunt and the wife of his executed uncle  appears to have fallen from favor or died. She has not been seen in public for more than three years, Gause said.

Kim Jong Il had at least three sons with two women, as well as a daughter by a third. Kim Jong Nam was the eldest, followed by Kim Jong Chul, who is a few years older than Kim Jong Un and is known as a playboy who reportedly attended Eric Clapton concerts in London in 2015. It's unclear what positon he has in the North Korean government.

A younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, was named a member of the Workers' Party of Korea's Central Committee during a North Korean party congress last May. She has a position in a propaganda and agitation department and is known as Kim Jong Un's gatekeeper, Gause said.
The resignation of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn elicited a simple but persistent question Tuesday from congressional Democrats: What did President Donald Trump know and when did he know it?

But many Republicans brushed past this echo of Watergate and another Republican president, Richard Nixon, to maintain that no special investigation was warranted and the existing Republican-led committees will handle the probe, mostly in private.

After Flynn stepped down late Monday following reports he misled Vice President Mike Pence about contacts with a Russian diplomat, Democrats demanded the formation of an independent, bipartisan panel to examine possible links between the Trump administration and Russia, including when the president learned Flynn had discussed U.S. sanctions with a Russian diplomat.

This latest push builds on an earlier call by Democrats for an independent inquiry into Moscow's meddling in the 2016 election to help Trump beat Democrat Hillary Clinton.

"The American people deserve to know the full extent of Russia's financial, personal and political grip on President Trump and what that means for our national security," House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement.

At issue is whether Flynn broke diplomatic protocol and potentially the law by discussing U.S. sanctions with Russia's ambassador to the U.S., Sergey Kislyak, before Trump's inauguration. The sanctions were imposed in December by former President Barack Obama after U.S. intelligence reported that Russia had interfered in the presidential election.

"Who knew about this and when? Did the president know and when did he know it? Did others at Trump transition team authorize conversations about sanctions?" asked Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., the No. 2 House Democrat. "After the White House was informed, who made the decision to allow Flynn to continue to serve despite the fact he misled the administration?"

Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said the Trump administration ought to want a "public airing" of Flynn's actions and the Russian government's attempts to influence the American political system.

"The questions are so numerous and it's really hard to get past them and begin to look infrastructure or tax reform or even confirming a Supreme Court nominee," McCaskill said.

Flynn's ouster appeared to be driven more by the idea that he had misled Pence and other officials than by the content of his discussions with the Russian.

House Speaker Paul Ryan said Flynn made the right decision to step down. But Ryan sidestepped questions about whether an inquiry is warranted.

"I'm not going to prejudge any of the circumstances surrounding this until we have all of the information," the Wisconsin Republican said.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah, the Republican chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said "the situation has taken care of itself" when asked by reporters if his panel would investigate Flynn's actions.

"Sounds like he did the right thing, he didn't want to be a distraction," Chaffetz said of Flynn. "And it was getting to be a distraction."

Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., the chairman of the House Intelligence committee, said he intended to ask the FBI how details from Flynn's conversation with Kislyak were disclosed to reporters.

"I'm just shocked that nobody's covering the real crime here," Nunes said. "You have an American citizen who had his phone call recorded and then leaked to the media."

Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., the Senate Intelligence Committee chairman, said his panel will "continue to do aggressive oversight" behind closed doors. "We don't do that in public," he said.

But Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, the Republican chairman of Foreign Relations Committee, said Congress needs to do "whatever it takes" to resolve questions about "Russia's relationship" to the 2016 presidential election.

"This is going to go on forever if we don't address it," Corker said.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he wants to know if Flynn initiated the conversations with Kislyak or if he was directed to make contact with the ambassador. He said Republicans would be "pretty upset" if after being elected former President Barack Obama had reached out to Iran or Iraq to change Bush administration policies.

"The one-president-at-a-time policy I think has served the country well," Graham said. "The idea that (Flynn) did this on his own without any direction is a good question to ask."

Republican Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Flynn's resignation "is a troubling indication of the dysfunction of the current national security apparatus.

"General Flynn's resignation also raises further questions about the Trump administration's intentions toward Vladimir Putin's Russia, including statements by the president suggesting moral equivalence between the United States and Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine, annexation of Crimea, threats to our NATO allies, and attempted interference in American elections," McCain said in a statement.
The New York Times reprimanded a reporter Monday following an allegation the reporter publicly referred to unfounded rumors about first lady Melania Trump.

The allegations were made public by model/actress Emily Ratajkowski, who said the unnamed reporter repeated unsubstantiated claims about Trump's past in her vicinity at an event Sunday night.

Sat next to a journalist from the NYT last night who told me "Melania is a hooker." Whatever your politics it's crucial to call this out for  Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) February 13, 2017

Ratajkowski added the "gender specific attacks" were "disgusting" and "sexist."

In a statement released to NBC, a Times spokesperson did not identify the reporter, but confirmed an incident occurred.

"At a party last night, a Times reporter who does not cover Washington or politics, referred to an unfounded rumor regarding Melania Trump. The comment was not intended to be public, but it was nonetheless completely inappropriate and should not have occurred. Editors have talked to the reporter in question about the lapse."

Earlier this month a Maryland judge dismissed Trump's libel lawsuit against Britain's Daily Mail newspaper over an article that contained insinuations that she had worked as an escort.

Trump refiled the lawsuit last week.
An Avon bank manager pleaded guilty to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from customer's accounts, the state attorney's office said.

Carrie Caesar, 46, of New Britain, pleaded guilty in New Haven federal court to embezzling more than $500,000 from customer accounts, Deirdre M. Daly's office released in a statement.

According to court documents, Caesar was a bank manager at Webster Bank in Avon Between 2003 and 2016, Caesar admitted to withdrawing $535,600 from customers' accounts and took "steps to conceal her misconduct," the prosecutors said.

All over Caesar's six victims were at least 79 years old or older whom she had developed a relationship with as an account manager.

Her bond was set at $150,000. She is expected to be sentenced on May 8, 2017.
A New Jersey man convicted in federal court of breaking into a Wethersfield, Connecticut warehouse and stealing more than 8,000 cartons of cigarettes worth about $500,000 has been sentenced to four years in prison.

Andrew Oreckinto, 52, of Matawan, New Jersey, in February was convicted of theft from an interstate shipment and he was sentenced Monday to four years in prison, followed by three years of supevised release.

Prosecutors said surveillance cameras recorded Oreckinto  dressed in a black hooded sweatshirt, dark pants, black gloves, black facemask and a headband light -- breaking into New Britain Candy in Wethersfield in March 2011. A glue-like substance was used to disable door locks. Wires to an outside surveillance camera and a phone line were also cut.

Authorities linked Oreckinto to the theft by analyzing his prepaid cellphone and cell tower information.

Police said he stole a white box truck from a Hartford business before the robbery. Days later, the truck was found near a commercial construction site in Stamford.

Oreckinto has been serving a five-year prison term in New Jersey for stealing $100,000 worth of copper cable and selling it for scrap.

When police searched his car after the New Jersey theft, they found a list of licensed cigarette distributors in the State of Connecticut that had been printed from the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services web site. The list, which included the New Britain Candy warehouse in Wethersfield, also contained several handwritten notations next to many of the businesses, at least three of which also have been burglarized, according to federal authorities.
State police said they found four kilos of cocaine when they stopped a driver on Interstate 84 who was not wearing a seatbelt and drove over the solid line.

A state trooper was behind the 2002 blue Dodge Durango driven by Luiz Palacios Ortiz. 43, of Mount Joy, Pennsylvania on Hamilton Avenue in Waterbury just before 7 p.m. Monday and saw Ortiz was not wearing a seatbelt, according to state police.

Connecticut state law requires drivers, passengers in the front seat and children between 4 and 16 who are traveling in the back seat to wear seatbelts.

The state trooper then followed Ortiz onto Interstate 84 East and noticed him swerve over the solid line into the right shoulder, police said, so the trooper then stopped him.

When state police checked Ortizs truck, they found a bag in the back seat that held four kilos of cocaine, police said.

Ortiz was charged with possession of a narcotic, illegal sale of drug by a non-drug-dependent person, failure to wear a seatbelt, failure to drive in a proper lane and operating a motor vehicle without a valid license.

He was held on $250,000 bond and is due in Waterbury Superior Court today.
The municipal leaders who manage the budgets of cities and towns across Connecticut are now warning of what could be much higher property taxes if Governor Dannel Malloy's proposed budget were to be enacted.

This budget that the governor has introduced would result in the largest tax increase we ever had in this community," said Ron Van Winkle, the Town Manager of West Hartford.

West Hartford is one of the roughly 130 municipalities seeing deep cuts to the amount they are sent in combined municipal aid from the State of Connecticut.

In West Hartford's case, it's a proposed reduction in state grants totaling more than $11 million. The biggest cut would be to education funding, a sore subject in West Hartford because the town already doesn't receive the amount its entitled to under state law.

We dont spend a lot of money per pupil yet we have some of the finest schools in the State of Connecticut and in America, Van Winkle said. "Moneys not the issue. A cut of this size makes us look at making very difficult decisions like eliminating jobs."

The governor had said in the weeks preceding his budget address that his administration was taking into account the totality of a given town's fiscal conditions, factoring in indebtedness, mill rate, and fund balance.

Major cities like Waterbury, Hartford, and New Haven received significant boosts in their state aid, in addition to Derby, Middletown, and Norwich.

In Simsbury, First Selectment Lisa Heavner and her director of finance have calculated that the overall cut for Simsbury amounts to more than $4 million.

That figure includes reductions in aid, and the new cost of teacher pensions, which the governor wants towns to cover one third of moving forward.

This is not necessarily a fix," Heavner, a Democrat, said. "This is just a shift in the costs to municipalities. Its a very big hit for a little town like Simsbury.

Heavner says the town's only recourse to make up for the loss of funds and new expense would be to raise property taxes, something Heavner wants to rule out.

To put it on a regressive tax like the property tax, is nonsensical to me.

Van Winkle in West Hartford has been in and around the budgeting process in Connecticut for decades. He says the budget the governor proposed is simply not a serious document.

I dont think his proposal has a snowballs chance in hell of surviving," he said.
A military judge called President Donald Trump's scathing campaign-trail criticism of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl "disturbing" on Monday and questioned whether it would make the public think the soldier can't get a fair trial for walking off his post in Afghanistan in 2009.

During a pretrial hearing, defense attorneys played part of a video exhibit in which Trump repeatedly says at campaign appearances that Bergdahl is a "traitor" who should be harshly punished. Bergdahl's lawyers argue the comments violate their client's due-process rights and that the case should be dismissed.

The judge, Army Col. Jeffery Nance, didn't immediately rule on the defense request, but called the footage of Trump condemning Bergdahl "disturbing material." A written decision was expected later.

Defense lawyers played about five minutes of the footage in which Trump repeatedly used phrases such as "no good traitor" to refer to the soldier who was held captive by the Taliban and its allies for five years.

Bergdahl sat mostly still during the video presentation, looking away at times. By the end of the footage, the muscles Bergdahl's jaw were visibly bulging as he apparently clenched his teeth.

Prosecutors say Trump's comments amounted to campaign rhetoric against actions taken by the Obama administration to bring Bergdahl home.

"These comments are clearly intended to try to attack a political opponent for political gain," said Army Maj. Justin Oshana, a prosecutor.

The Obama administration's decision in May 2014 to exchange Bergdahl for five Taliban prisoners prompted some Republicans to accuse Obama of jeopardizing the nation's safety.

Oshana said potential jurors' exposure to Trump's comments could be addressed through questioning during jury selection. He added that it would be unprecedented to dismiss the case without first trying to seat a jury.

But Nance asked, "How does that relate to overcoming the black eye to the military justice system ... the view the public might have?"

That question goes to the heart of the defense argument that Trump's comments constitute unlawful command influence by the new commander in chief. Even the appearance of such unfairness can theoretically derail a military case.

The defense's motion, filed shortly after Trump was sworn in as president, cites more than 40 instances of Trump's criticism at public appearances and media interviews through August 2016.

Eugene Fidell, Bergdahl's defense attorney, argued Monday that Trump has kept other campaign promises, so his comments about Bergdahl should be taken seriously. They played a clip of Trump promising his audience at a December 2015 campaign rally to review the case if Bergdahl got a light punishment.

Nance also took note of that statement, asking prosecutors: "You're not at all concerned about the statement he made, 'If I get in we will review his case' ... after ranting and raving about no jail time?"

A White House spokesman didn't immediately respond to a phone call and email seeking comment Monday about whether Trump plans to review Bergdahl's case.

Bergdahl is charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, the latter of which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. He has been assigned to desk duty at a Texas Army base while awaiting trial.

Bergdahl, who is from Idaho, has said he walked off his post to cause alarm and draw attention to what he saw as problems with his unit.

His trial is scheduled for April, but a delay seems likely after the judge set a new time frame for working out problems with the handover of classified information as part of the discovery process. He said he would give lawyers until the beginning of April to prepare a status report that will determine future dates in the case.
An eroded emergency spillway in Northern California prompted the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people over the weekend, a surprise development that came after days of authorities' assurances that there was no danger.

The Oroville Dam, the tallest in the nation, was not close to collapse, but its emergency spillway was in danger of caving in after a hole was discovered  the second spillway hole at the dam. The deterioration came as a surprise to Lori Spragens, executive director of the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO), because she said California is usually on top of inspecting its dams.

Unlike with U.S. bridges, there is no one place that makes information on dam safety and conditions available to the public, giving anyone concerned about the safety record of their local dam a few places to check.

Its not that easy to find out, Spragens said. Some states are good about posting [information], some arent.

In 2013, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the nation's 84,000 dams a collective grade of D, noting they average 52 years old, with more than 4,000 deficient dams.

Dams can be owned by federal, state or local governments, along with public utilities or private agents, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. While there are federal dam safety guidelines, states are responsible for monitoring their respective dams, and would be the resource to call for information on any given dam in the state.

States are not necessarily responsible for maintaining them, however. According to the ASDSO, about 64 percent of dams are privately owned. Private owners can include utility companies, farmers, mining companies and neighborhood associations.

State dam safety programs reported nearly 175 dam failures between Jan. 1, 2005, and June 2013, according to the ASDSO.

One way to track down dam information is to use the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' dam search engine. Each entry provides basic information on the dam, as well as the agency responsible for its oversight and a government representative of the dam's area.

Dams that are considered highly hazardous are monitored closely and are usually inspected about once a year, Spragens said. But sometimes, states simply dont have the funding to keep up with the demands of eroding dams.

In most states, the resources are just not there, she said.
NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters caught up with officials from the IRS to find out more about their new debt collection program and how they're going to protect taxpayers from getting scammed.

This spring, debt collectors hired by the IRS will start making collection calls to go after money on old tax debts. This could lead to confusion as the fake IRS debt collection scam call is one of the number one scams in the country. In the past, the IRS has repeatedly said they will never call you collect money. Instead, they send a letter. This change could open the door to crooks who might see this as opportunity to reach out to more people using the IRSs name. Its too early to gauge how the ongoing phone scam will impact real IRS debt collection call efforts. But people targeted by the scheme say it will be confusing.

Well I think its going to open it up to the scammers, said Dave Lillian who was recently contacted by fraudsters claiming to be IRS debt collectors. Its almost legitimate.

The collection program came about because a law called the FAST Act passed in 2015 requiring the Internal Revenue Service to use private debt collectors to go after tax money on older accounts. The money would help pay the FAST Acts $305 billion price tag to fund transportation and infrastructure.

Senator Richard Blumenthal voted for the bill, however, he has concerns about the IRS collection provision.

This provision was not considered separately it came out of the Finance Committee as part of the overall bill that provided billions of dollars to Connecticut for rebuilding our roads and bridges, said Blumenthal. This provision simply benefits a private industry at the expense of tax payers and leads to potential abuses, and that is why I opposed it and will seek to repeal it.

The IRS hired the companies CBE Group, Performant, Pioneer and Conserve to make the collection calls. However, this isnt the first time the agency has tried to use debt collectors.

In 2006 the IRS hired Pioneer, CBE Group and a company called Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson to try to collect an additional $1.4 billion in past due taxes. It fired the debt collectors in 2009 saying it wasn't cost effective to use private collectors and the work is best done by IRS employees.

We are certainly doing everything this time around to make it more efficient to make sure that tax payers are aware on their side, said Patricia J. Russomagno, IRS spokesperson. And then the private debt collectors are adhering to our tax payer bill of rights. When they call , they are doing the same thing that we would do in terms of the way they treat the taxpayer and they opportunities that they allow the taxpayer when they call and ask for payment.

However, one IRS debt collector has recently been accused of not acting in peoples best interest. Pioneer was mentioned in lawsuits filed by the Illinois Attorney General and the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau accusing the business and its parent company Navient of taking advantage of borrowers.

In a statement Navient calls the claims unsubstantiated and politically driven.

The IRS responded to us in an email saying The existence of a lawsuit or a potential lawsuit does not affect the IRSs relationship with its contractors. They also said they have requirements to prevent inappropriate activity on the part of the contractor.

Real or fake, collection calls make money. Government officials say since 2013 scammers have dialed their way to $54 million.

The IRS said you will get a letter in the mail before a debt collector calls you and they will never demand money on the spot . Remember when in doubt pick up the phone and call the IRS directly .

Consumer Finance

Illinois Attorney General

Full Navient Statement
The town council in Plainville has fired a police sergeant who is accused of stealing hundreds of prescription pain pills from the scene of a suicide last year.

Members of the town council met behind closed doors for almost an hour Monday and voted to fire Sgt. Michael Bisnov.

Six council members voted in favor of firing Bisnov while the newest member of the council abstained from voting because he started Feb. 1 and wasnt familiar with the investigation.

The call at the center into the investigation into Bisnov came on Jan. 18, 2016 when officers were asked to respond to the apartment of 54-year-old Frank Iris to check on him because no one had seen him.

Inside the home, police found Iris body and 21 bottles of prescription drugs, including pain killers, scattered nearby. Iris death was ruled a suicide.

Bisnov, who was in charge at the scene, is accused of taking 230 prescription pills from the home.

Police surveillance shows him carrying a yellow bag of prescriptions after returning from Iris' apartment and an internal affairs report says Bisnov dumped them into the stations prescription drop box. What officers say is missing from the video is the stop Bisnov made to the locker room and authorities allege thats when he took Iris medications and got rid of the rest.

Plainville Police Chief Matthew Catania recommended terminating Bisnov from the police force based on the final report of the internal affairs investigation.

Bisnov previously told investigators he didnt take the pills for his personal use and that the family had asked for his help.

He offered to take care of pills for us, Carolyn Iris said, adding that the family did not ask him to.

I didn't ask because we were all upset. I was crying, she said.

After the councils decision Monday night, the NBC Connectiut Troubleshooters spoke exclusively with Frank Iris family.

Now that its settled at least I have some closure, Franks mother, Carolyn Iris, said.

We can put this behind us because it was such a bad memory of what happened, Franks older sister, Pat Iris, said.

The NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters have repeatedly tried to talk to Bisnov but he has declined to comment.

Town Manager Robert Lee read a prepared statement after members of the council voted to terminate Bisnov.

Town council came to this conclusion after reviewing the investigative report prepared by Plainville police department, watching the state police interviews with various Plainville police officers and considering the various explanations offered by Sgt. Bisnov and his union representative, Lee said.

Moving forward, Frank Iris mother and sister are trying to focus on happier times with Frank.

He was a good person and he just hit a rough spot in life and it's what made all this so bad, Pat Iris said.

Bisnovs last day as a Plainville police officer was Monday.

He has collected more than $80,000 in salary since being placed on paid leave in January 2016, but is no longer on the payroll.
The jet stream pattern across North America is going to experience a fairly dramatic shift over the coming days and the impact will be a surge of milder than normal air across a large chunk of the country - including Connecticut. While the core of the warmth will be west of us I think we're looking at a prolonged stretch of at or above normal temperatures.

This is really being driven by a number of factors. The tropospheric "polar vortex" is strong and showing no sign of slowing down. A strong polar vortex - over the North Pole - is effectively keeping cold air bottled up over the Arctic. We call this a +AO (positive Arctic Oscillation). Additionally, a persistent trough over the western US is going to bring another round of storms to rain drenched California. This teleconnects to a strong ridge over the central and eastern half of the country - this is a -PNA (negative Pacific-North America oscillation).

Atwood Hose Fire Company

With this in mind we expect a growing trend of warmer than normal temperatures. While it's always possible to sneak in a winter storm - or even a day or two of below normal temperatures - this is a pretty powerful signature for warmth over a good chunk of the country. The warmth begins in earnest by Sunday with the European Ensembles showing a better than 50/50 shot of high temperatures over 50 degrees.

Skiers shouldn't despair, however. Conditions have been incredible of late and a few days of warmer than normal weather won't do anything other than soften up the snow. What can be disasterous for ski areas is a warm rain storm with temperatures in the 50s but we're not expecting anything close to that. A few days with highs in the 40s or even near 50 with sunshine and cool overnights will just give us a taste of beautiful spring conditions a month early.

Here's a look at the current conditions at our mountains here in Connecticut.
Colby Lewis said goodbye to the Texas Rangers and their fans.

Fox Sports' Emily Jones tweeted a statement issued by the 37-year-old Lewis Tuesday morning.

I will always be grateful for my time with the Lewises. All of them. Here's Colby's statement. pic.twitter.com/r74kKvub2l  Emily Jones (@EmilyJonesMcCoy) February 14, 2017

"Texas has turned into our second home," he said in the statement. "Rangers fans thank you as well."

Lewis signed a 1-year $6 million contract with the Rangers before the 2016 season. The free agent starting pitcher is still looking for a major-league contract as Spring Training begins.

The Rangers drafted Lewis in the first round of the 1999 MLB Draft. He was called up in 2002 and spent three seasons in Texas before missing the 2005 season due to injury.

After seasons in Detroit and Oakland, Lewis spent two years pitching for the Hiroshima Carp in the Japanese Central League before returning to Texas in 2010.

In his second stint in Texas, Lewis found a role in the Rangers' rotation. During the next six seasons, he averaged more than 150 innings pitcher per season with an ERA better than league average.

Lewis also pitched in 10 postseason games with the Rangers, posting a 3.11 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 55 innings.
After NBC 5 Investigates reported bus drivers with Dallas County Schools were racing through red lights and others were making kids late for class, administrators with the Dallas Independent School District are taking new steps to keep the beleaguered bus contractor on a short leash.

The Dallas ISD administration wants to give DCS just a one-year deal that would include only some bus routes while putting more than 150 other routes up for bidding open to other companies. District leaders hope the plan sends a message to the bus company that they expect better service.

"As stewards of the taxpayers money we feel like it's important to look at other options to make sure we are getting the best service at the best price with Dallas County," said Dallas ISD Chief of Operations Scott Layne.

Layne said if the school board approves the plan the district will open bidding next month for bus service at the district's choice and magnet schools. Meanwhile, Layne's team has negotiated a new one-year deal on the remaining bus routes managed by DCS that allow the Dallas ISD to exit the deal with only 90 days advance notice.

"We feel like it's important that we leave our options open in the event that we possibly look at another service or in the event that we are dissatisfied with their service," Layne said.

The proposed contract also includes tough, new performance measures including a $30 fine for each late bus if DCS fails to meet a 95-percent on-time target.

In a statement, DCS Superintendent Rick Sorrells said his agency is satisfied with the new deal.

"We are pleased with the terms of the agreement. Both DCS and DISD understand that changes to pick-up schedules and routes may be necessary to meet the new performance requirements. DCS is already analyzing the existing routes to determine what changes, if any, need to be made," Sorrells said.

A Dallas ISD chart NBC 5 obtained through an open records request shows DCS drivers were on time only 66 percent of the time during the last school year. This year DCS has provided a new chart showing the on-time rate is 90 percent, though Dallas ISD officials question the accuracy of that data.

Going forward, the Dallas ISD will have direct access to a DCS bus tracking system so they can verify the on-time rate independently.

"We will monitor daily, monthly, all of the on-time arrivals of all of our buses," Layne said.

DCS plans to bid on the Dallas ISD's choice and magnet school routes, so it's possible DCS could hang on to the routes. Because DCS is a government agency, subsidized by Dallas County taxpayers, it has some competitive advantage over private companies.

The Dallas ISD does not have to take the lowest bid. District officials can consider quality of service as well.
Students meet with potential employers at the Barnard College Career Fair. Photo by John Moore/Getty Images

A few weeks into the New Year and campuses everywhere are now back into full gear. As students make their way through another academic semester, many are already thinking about how theyll spend their summer.

For business school undergrads especially, the time to start planning for a summer internship is now. Make that right now! Top business schools are reporting an unprecedented shift in summer internship recruiting whereby recruiters are interviewing and making offers as early as the fall semester.

Many of the big financial firms, investments banks, tax and accounting firms actually switched their internship recruiting to late October and November of the fall semester, says Trudy Steinfeld, vice president of NYUs Wasserman Center for Career Development. A lot of those jobs are already gone and its shocking.

Barbara Hewitt, a senior associate director who manages Whartons undergrads for the University of Pennsylvanias Career Office, reaffirms this trend. After 19 years in the career services office, she says whats normally a completely crazy time (the first few days back from winter break) is, instead, Eerily quiet.

The reason: many business school students are already employed for the summer of 2017. While this trend is certainly good enough reason to put some pep in your step if you have yet to secure a summer position, Steinfeld says it isnt cause for panic.

The financial sector may be turning summer recruiting on its head, but not everyone plays that way, says Hewitt. Retail organizations, smaller accounting firms, law firms looking for paralegal interns, startups, nonprofits; a lot of them are still sticking with spring.

So if youre just getting started, here are seven things to do in order to land summer intern work.

Dont Panic

Sure, others may have their summer work plans squared away, but all is not lost. And while youll certainly have to navigate a fiercely competitive landscape, there are still opportunities that are left.

Story continues

With that being said, run  dont walk  to your schools career office. If youre not familiar with the staff and resources that are available there, its time to get acquainted. While students were away on break, a lot of the staff were working the beat, talking to employers, and uncovering opportunities that are out there for their students.

The staff is also there to help get your resume in tip top shape. Not just showcasing relevant coursework and experience, but incorporating key terms and phrases that will resonate within application tracking systems. If a students resume isnt resonating with key search terms, they wont get selected even as smart as they are, says Steinfeld.

A Moment of Reflection

Somewhere in between your sprint to the career office and when you actually start applying for positions, its a good idea to pause for reflection. It may sound melodramatic, but Barbara Hewitt at Wharton says this introspective piece is one of the first places students should start. Dedicate some research and exploration into where youd like to be, talk to your network of faculty, staff, alumni, and family to get a sense of what might be a good fit for you, she says. Then ask yourself if youve already accumulated the necessary skills. There are also practical details to consider such as where youll live and whether housing will be available and affordable for you.

Think Deadlines

If youre not one of the students who has already locked in a summer position, the clock is ticking. Organizations that are maintaining a more traditional recruiting regimen are typically somewhere in the February range for application deadlines. True, there are many that go beyond February (there are even some that go as late as May after the semester has already ended), but the point is to prepare yourself for deadlines that may be quickly approaching.

Start Applying

At most of the on-campus career services centers, youll find online job systems. For the most part, theyre nearly identical in what they offer and how they serve up job listings. This should be your first stop when youre ready to put your search plan into action. Essentially, the job postings found here are warm leads right at your fingertips. Alumni will post there and your career development staff members have been talking directly to the employers.

Next, you can widen your net by combing through industry-specific job boards such as those at the American Marketing Association or job portals that are geographically based. Aggregators such as Indeed.com also come in handy for searching industry-specific opportunities or ones that are based on location.

Network Always

While youre applying dont forget to work your network! Let those in your professional and social circles know that youre actively looking and tell them specifically what youre looking for.

Be Prepared For Anything

Its 2017 and what that means is interviewing for jobs can take on many different formats. Were living in a time where distance interviewing via video conference is a norm. Take Goldman Sachs, for instance, says Hewitt. They did no on-campus recruiting for finance this year. The students they liked got a link to do an asynchronous interview, then were called for an in-person interview in New York.

Steinfeld suggests students be prepared for any type of interview situation: in person, over Skype, seated at a table over food, anything. We see everything from pre-taped like HireVu to three different people in three different parts of the country while the student is in his or her dorm room, apartment, or in our office taking questions from all three. How do you make that good impression? You cant be in your dorm room in your pajamas.

Students should get comfortable with these new formats. Work on your self awareness and how you come across on a video screen. Also, dont forget to tidy up that dorm room if you find yourself meeting a potential employer for the first time via video conference.

Take The Limits Off

Finally, NYUs Trudy Steinfeld offers students what may be the best advice and that is to remain flexible. The real issue is theres not enough to go around if you limit yourself to just the internship title. You have to think more broadly about it.

Her advice to students is to look at, and be open to, all opportunities for summer work even if they dont have the title internship attached to them. There are a lot of summer work opportunities that dont have the title internship. Here, we define it as summer or part-time work that is career-related and builds skills and competencies on your resume. It may not be called an internship, but youre working on skill development, exposure, mentorship. Thats whats most important.

Alison Damast is an author at Poets & Quants for undergrads.

DONT MISS: BEST COMPANIES FOR A SUMMER INTERNSHIP or HOW TO LAND YOUR FIRST INTERNSHIP
Childrens Health is set to host their Will You Be My Match donor drive in two locations Tuesday.

The organization will host events from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at two locations:

Childrens Health Specialty Center

Dallas Lobby

2350 North Stemmons Freeway

Dallas Lobby 2350 North Stemmons Freeway Childrens Medical Center Plano

Hospital Concierge

7601 Preston Road

Donors must be between the ages of 18 and 44 years old. To register, all it takes is a cheek swab.

Bone marrow donors must be genetically aligned and ethnically similar to their recipients.

The Dallas Cowboys will also host their Be a Star Save a Life donor drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at The Star in Frisco.

Only 2 percent of Americans are registered donors.
A man who was arrested for robbing a bank in Tarrant County last week has been named a suspect in a 30-year-old Parker County murder case.

Grady Dedmon, 60, was arrested Friday after police said he robbed the Bank of Texas on Roberts Cutoff Road in River Oaks and waited outside for officers to arrest him.

Police investigating the 1987 murder of Wendy Robinson in Weatherford had obtained Dedmon's DNA in recent months and searched his house, but he has not been charged in Robinson's murder.

Another man who was arrested in Robinson's murder, Ricky Lee Adkins, implicated Dedmon, according to the search warrant for Dedmon's house. Adkins and Dedmon are cousins.

Adkins told investigators he witnessed Dedmon kill Robinson by hitting her on the head with a rock, court documents said.

Dedmon was being held in the Parker County Jail on federal bank robbery charges.

Texas Rangers investigating Robinson's murder are "closely monitoring" Dedmon's case and the investigation is ongoing, according to a statement from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Nine years ago, Charles Chatman became the 15th person cleared by DNA evidence in Dallas County.

He lost 27 years of his life in prison for a rape he did not commit. At age 47, Chatman was exonerated in a Dallas courtroom on Feb. 26, 2008.

Despite everything he'd lost, what pained him the most was not having the chance to be a father  or so he thought.

"What could I have been had I not spent 27 years in prison? The main concern is that I didn't have kids," Chatman said.

But one year and eight months after his release from prison, Chatman had a daughter, Eden.

Now he says her life has given his own life meaning, purpose and a forward-focus.

"We do everything together," Chatman said of his 7-year-old daughter. "We cook together. We just hang out. And we go to movies and we swim. She's teaching me how to swim."

"I love Eden, but I like Eden," he added. "I like just having her around me as much as I can."

Celebrating Love 2017

Despite the roadblocks life threw his way, Chatman feels blessed to be where he is now.

"I mean, I'm so thankful to God that I didn't have a kid before I went in, which would have made them dependent on other people when I was in, and they would have grown up not knowing me," he said.

He cherishes every moment he spends with Eden, whether its helping with homework or meeting her for lunch at school every day.

"Because I don't ever want her to think she can't come talk to me about anything," Chatman said.

Eden knows her father spent time in prison, and he has explained what happened to him in terms she can understand.

"She understands that a lady lied on me and I went to jail," Chatman said.

"She got her little baby way of talking about it. I didn't tell her that it was rape. I didn't tell her that I felt it was racist or racial," he said. "But I did tell her that I went to jail and I did tell her we live the way we live because I went to jail. She wants to know why I don't work, and stuff like that, and I tried to explain it to her at a level she can understand it."

The state of Texas paid Chatman $80,000 for every year he was wrongly imprisoned, plus a lifetime annuity. Eden says she might want to be a lawyer when she grows up.

"Because," she said, "you can help people out when they didn't do something or if they're innocent."
A Dallas high school student is working to make Bachman Lake clean and safe for those who use it.

Henry Roseman said the lake he loves is long overdue for dredging and the constantly collecting sediment has created a dangerous island of debris in the middle of the lake. We boarded a small boat with Roseman who took us to the area he is most concerned about.

It looks like just a whole bunch of sticks and dirt, but if I pull up a little closer you will see it is only a depth of about two or three inches, he said.

Roseman then exited the boat and was able to walk atop the compacted debris.

The last time, they dredged it to a minimum depth of eight feet, he said. In 2002, when they finished the project, this section right here was eight feet deep.

The Dallas Rowing Club, who uses the lake regularly, have placed buoys around the area to warn boaters and kayakers.

The first problem and the most severe and immediate problem is for boater safety, Roseman said as he maneuvered around branches and limbs in the water. As you see all these sticks and such, I just had to pull our engine up.

Roseman estimated it would take about $13 million to dredge the lake. He has made it his mission to figure out how so much sediment has found its way into Bachman Lake, but is also actively looking for an agency to step forward and take on the project.

Roseman has contacted Dallas City Council, but also the Federal Aviation Administration, who he hopes will work with Love Field on a project. With Bachman Lake so close to Love Field, he is concerned the increased number of birds on the debris island could pose a threat to safety of incoming and departing planes.

Im not an expert on aviation safety, but I did go and look at the FAA data, he said. From the 12 calendar months since the island was here, theyve had 50 percent more bird strikes than the 12 calendar months before.

While he is not sure what will be done, he is dedicated to finding a solution.

The way I see it, there are two options. Either something will happen or we will end up with Bachman Park. Theyll just scratch the 'lake' part out, he said. The way this is working now, in a couple of months, youll be able to walk straight across the lake.
Officers with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 51 people in San Antonio area last week, part of a national sweep that resulted in nearly 700 arrests.

Of the 51 arrested in San Antonio, ICE said 23 of the foreign nationals had criminal convictions. Of those 23, ICE noted one was a Mexican citizen convicted of aggravated assault who had once been removed from the United States, another was a citizen of El Salvador who pled guilty to the sexual assault of a child and a third was a citizen of Mexico who was convicted of domestic violence as a repeat offender.

ICE said the arrests came from fugitive operations teams targeting specific threats and that they do not indiscriminately conduct sweeps, checkpoints or raids.

"Reports of ICE checkpoints and sweeps are false, dangerous and irresponsible. These reports create panic and put communities and law enforcement personnel in unnecessary danger. Any groups falsely reporting such activities are doing a disservice to those they claim to support," ICE said in a statement. "These operations targeted public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and gang members, as well as individuals who have violated our nations immigration laws, including those who illegally re-entered the country after being removed and immigration fugitives ordered removed by federal immigration judges."

Officials said those arrested in San Antonio, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta and New York City posed a threat to public safety, border security or the integrity of the immigration system.

"Of those arrested, approximately 75 percent were criminal aliens, convicted of crimes including, but not limited to, homicide, aggravated sexual abuse, sexual assault of a minor, lewd and lascivious acts with a child, indecent liberties with a minor, drug trafficking, battery, assault, DUI and weapons charges," ICE said.

ICE said some of those arrested will face criminal prosecution in the United States while others will be deported.

To date, there have been no confirmed operations in North Texas.
Finding love isn't easy for many of us, even for those who seem like they have it all together.

Dave Lieber, the Watchdog reporter at The Dallas Morning News, is one of the best journalists to call for help when you feel scammed or wronged.

The superhero reporter who helps save the day really sits in a quiet corner of a storied Dallas newsroom, where he shares Texans' stories.

But he's been sitting on a heck of a story of his own: how he met his wife at a Dallas fashion show.

"She turned around, and she flashed this megawatt smile and it was blinding. I couldn't even talk, and she said, 'Here's my number if you ever feel like talking,' and I went 'Uhh,'" Lieber recalled.

He had gone through a divorce, and the New Yorker starting anew in the heart of Texas says that assignment to cover a fashion show changed his life.

He loved Karen and her two kids, but there was a problem.

NBC 5 has launched a series this week called Deep in the Heart. All week, we will explore the different ways you love.

"Why didn't you like the dog?" we asked.

"I liked the dog, the dog didn't like me. And I tried to win her over, and every time she would just go sigh," Lieber said.

But he didn't give up trying.

"I proposed to my wife in the newspaper," Lieber said. "I wrote, 'Here in Texas I found the woman of my dreams. Unfortunately she lives with the dog of my nightmares.'"

The story won over the readers of North Texas, who were all wondering by midday if Karen had said yes and how Dave was going to deal with the dog.

Lieber said he personally delivered the paper to Karen's doorstep that morning.

"I said, 'I'm here to read you my column from the paper today,' and she said, 'Are you kidding me? At 6:30 a.m.? I'm going to bed.'"

He read it anyway.

"She started crying and I saw her mouth go like this (yes) and it wasn't 'no,'" Lieber said.

Celebrating Love 2017

Years later, the kids are all grown and out of the house, and Sadie the dog has since passed away, but Lieber thinks she accepted him eventually.

"What I learned from this is the power of the story. If you have a wonderful story to tell, people will listen, will remember and will care about you," he said.
A Parker County constable was arrested Monday on a charge of continuous family violence.

Charles Hunt, 43, of Springtown, became constable in Parker Countys Precinct 1 last month.

Jail records show he was booked into the Wise County Jail by Texas Rangers and released on $15,000 bond.

An affidavit from a Texas Ranger who investigated the alleged crime said that the female victim reported he first assaulted her in 2014 by striking her in the face with his hand and that the assaults have continued.

The victim said, "these assaults have happened so frequently she cannot remember all of them," the Ranger wrote in an affidavit.

Hunt did not return a phone call to his office seeking comment.

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Authorities said two children and one adult were injured when a school bus crashed in Ellis County Tuesday morning. [[413700533,C]]

The Ennis Independent School District bus crashed in the 1000 block of Zmolek Road in Ennis at 6:38 a.m., according to Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman Lt. Lonny Haschel.

Investigators said the bus went off the north side of the road and crashed into a ditch. The bus did not tip over.

Two of the seven children on board and the bus monitor were transported to a hospital for treatment, Haschel said.

The children were transported to school on another bus.

No further details have been released.
The Johnson County Sheriffs Office is searching for Earl Dee Elliot, an 87-year-old white man diagnosed with a cognitive impairment who police believe poses a threat to his own health and safety.

Elliott is 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs about 160 pounds and has blonde hair and blue eyes. He was wearing a green jack with a green or grey shirt and black shoes.

He was last seen at about 7 a.m. Tuesday near 5512 Burleson Oaks in Burleson driving a maroon 1996 Chevrolet 1500L pickup truck with Texas license plate BV1 9568.

Anyone with information about Elliot's location is asked to contact the Johnson County Sheriff's Office at 817-556-6060.
A trial for former Maypearl Police Chief Kevin Coffey is now underway inside an Ellis County courtroom.

He's been charged with sexual assault on a child and indecency with a child in connection to an alleged relationship he had with a 14-year-old girl while he was in office.

Coffey pleaded not guilty to both counts Tuesday morning.

During opening arguments, the Ellis County District Attorney's Office accused Coffey of wearing a mask -- leading people to believe he was someone they could trust, when, in fact, the opposite was true.

Coffey's attorney stressed to the jury that he is not on trial for "being nasty" -- and that their focus should be whether prosecutors can prove each charge beyond a reasonable doubt.

Tuesday morning, jurors heard from a teenage girl who claims Coffey made uncomfortable sexual advances towards her and sent her suggestive and lewd messages via text and social media.

Because of her age and the nature of the case, NBC 5 has chosen not to identify her.

Prosecutors said it was during a Texas Ranger's investigation of her claims that they learned of a second underage girl Coffey allegedly had an inappropriate relationship with.

Both charges against Coffey stem from what that second girl revealed to investigators. Prosecutors told jurors they would hear from her later in the trial.

NBC 5 has chosen to withhold her name as well.

Coffey has been indicted on similar charges in Hill County. Charges in Johnson County are also pending.
A bitterly divided Senate on Monday confirmed Steven Mnuchin as treasury secretary despite strong objections by Democrats that the former banker ran a "foreclosure machine" when he headed OneWest Bank.

Republicans said Mnuchin's long tenure in finance makes him qualified to run the department, which will play a major role in developing economic policy under President Donald Trump.

"He has experience managing large and complicated private-sector enterprises and in negotiating difficult compromises and making tough decisions  and being accountable for those decisions," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, chairman of the Finance Committee.

Votes on President Donald Trump's Cabinet picks have exposed deep partisan divisions in the Republican-controlled Senate, with many of the nominees approved by mostly party-line votes.

The vote on Mnuchin followed the same pattern. He was confirmed by a mostly party-line vote of 53-47. Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia joined the Republicans. Mnuchin was sworn in later Monday.

The Senate also confirmed physician David Shulkin to be secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Like others in Trump's Cabinet, Mnuchin is a wealthy businessman. He is a former top executive at Goldman Sachs and served as finance chairman for Trump's presidential campaign.

As Treasury secretary, Mnuchin is expected to play a key role in Republican efforts to overhaul the nation's tax code for the first time in three decades. Trump has promised to unveil a proposal in the coming weeks.

Mnuchin will also be in charge of imposing economic sanctions on foreign governments and individuals, including Russia.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Mnuchin "is smart, he's capable, and he's got impressive private-sector experience."

Democrats complained that Mnuchin made much of his fortune by foreclosing on families during the financial crisis.

In 2009, Mnuchin assembled a group of investors to buy the failed IndyMac bank, whose collapse the year before was the second biggest bank failure of the financial crisis. He renamed it OneWest and turned it around, selling it for a handsome profit in 2014.

"Mr. Mnuchin has made his career profiting from the misfortunes of working people," said Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. "OneWest was notorious for taking an especially aggressive role in foreclosing on struggling homeowners."

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., said, "I simply cannot forgive somebody who took a look at that banking crisis and took a look at the pain that Wall Street had sent in a wave across all of America, and thought, 'Ah, there's a great new way to make money, foreclosing on people.'"

Rep. Maxine Waters of California, the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, called Mnuchin "the foreclosure king."

Mnuchin has said he had worked hard during the financial crisis to assist homeowners with refinancing so that they could remain in their homes.

He said his bank had extended more than 100,000 loan modifications to borrowers.

But several Democratic senators raised examples of residents in their states who they said were not treated fairly by OneWest, including elderly homeowners and members of the military.

Democrats also complained that Mnuchin failed to disclose nearly $100 million in assets on forms he filed with the Senate Finance Committee.

In his testimony before the committee, Mnuchin defended his actions while heading OneWest. He said he had worked hard during the financial crisis to assist homeowners with refinancing so that they could remain in their homes.

He told the committee that his bank had extended more than 100,000 loan modifications to borrowers.

Mnuchin called his failure to disclose assets an oversight. After meeting with committee staff Mnuchin amended his disclosure forms and also disclosed his position as director of Dune Capital International in the Cayman Islands, a well-known offshore tax haven.

When pressed by Democrats to explain the omissions, Mnuchin said: "I did not use a Cayman Island entity in any way to avoid taxes for myself. There was no benefit to me."

The Treasury Department is responsible for a wide range of activities, including advising the president on economic and financial issues. The department oversees the IRS, negotiates tax treaties with other countries, imposes economic sanctions against foreign governments and individuals, and targets the financial networks of terrorist groups and drug cartels.

The department also issues the bonds that finance the government's deficit spending.

Republicans and Democrats praised Shulkin, who is charged with delivering on Trump's campaign promises to fix long-standing problems at Veterans Affairs.

Shulkin, 57, a former Obama administration official, has been the VA's top health official since 2015. He secured the backing of Senate Democrats after pledging at his confirmation hearing to always protect veterans' interests, even if it meant disagreeing at times with Trump.

He has ruled out fully privatizing the agency and says wide-scale firings of VA employees are unnecessary, describing the VA workforce as "the best in health care."
Philipp Plein promised something different for his first turn at New York Fashion Week and delivered with a huge crowd packed into the monolithic main branch of the public library, live music courtesy of Nas and The Kills  and Madonna turning up last minute on his front row.

Dynamic designing duo Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia, meanwhile, performed a high-wire act, presenting not one but both of their fashion lines  Oscar de la Renta and Monse  simultaneously. Carolina Herrera called her show her "white shirt" moment, a celebration of her favorite garment. And Proenza Schouler said adieu to New York for now as it prepares to show in Paris.

Plein, reveling in his disruptor status and usually a mainstay in Milan, didn't disappoint. Social media viral sensation Jeremy Meeks, the "hot felon," was on his runway alongside rappers and an army of people dressed as Statues of Liberty entertained his guests, along with Times Square's Naked Cowboy.

The German designer promised and delivered something different, with a hashtag rallying cry of his very own launched days in advance on Instagram: "Let's Make NYFW Great Again."

Did his giant black and silver puffer coats and luxe sportwear deliver? It was a tad hard to see the clothes from the cheap seats, but Plein the businessman is making a retail push into the U.S. market, coveting consumers here as his discerning next step.

"This dream came true for me tonight," Plein said, making the unusual move of addressing the crowd before the show after Nas performed to help get everyone all warmed up. "Even my girlfriend is here and she didn't have a seat."

The point?

"It's all about having fun," the affable Plein told the horde.

And you know what? It kinda was.

Madonna was accompanied by photographer Steven Klein and joined in the crowd by Kylie Jenner, Tiffany Trump (Secret Service in tow) and Paris Hilton. The handsome, blue-eyed California con Meeks, with the teardrop tattoo on his face, was joined on the meandering runway by rapper Designer and graffiti artist Alec Monopoly, who goes anonymous by covering his face with a bandanna.

So why New York?

"I killed Milan. I did the biggest shows ever in Milan. There was nobody who could really compete with us anymore, so the next step was to come over to New York. America is one of the biggest economies in the world. We're coming to America, and the people that ask all these questions tonight, 'Who the (bleep) is Philipp Plein?' You know, I'm here to answer the question," Plein said in an interview backstage before the show. "It will take a while before they get to know us, but that's why we're here."

Meeks' searing blue eyes and perfect cheekbones lit up the runway after doing the same on the internet in 2014, after his arrest for gun possession in a gang sweep in Stockton, California. Police there posted his mugshot on Facebook and women went wild. He had a record for auto theft and has served time in both state and federal prisons, so why put him in a fashion show?

"We're all bad boys," Plein said. "I'm a bad boy."
Border Patrol agents have arrested a Guatemalan national previously convicted of felony homicide in the U.S. illegally.

Humberto Vasquez-Alonso, 56, was seen walking north from the U.S.-Mexico border fence near Calexico in an open desert area with another man, according to El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents.

When agents approached the men, they determined they were in the U.S. illegally.

Both men were arrested and taken to the El Centro station for processing.

During record checks, agents learned Vasquez-Alonso was convicted in 2003 for felony homicide and was sentenced to a 12-year prison term.

Vasquez-Alonso will be criminally prosecuted for Re-Entry After Removal as a convicted felon.
Some California middle school and high school students may get a little more sleep under a bill introduced by California Senator Anthony Portantino, D-La Canada Flintridge.

Portantino introduced SB 328 on Monday, which would require middle schools and high schools in California school districts to start school days no earlier than 8:30 a.m.

"Every year we discuss as parents, educators, and legislators, best practices and interests of the children and education? Well data is clear; starting the school day later improves the quality of education, health and welfare of our children. So lets do it," Portantino said in a statement.

[2017 UPDATED 12/19] 2017 Southern California Images in the News

In a statement Monday, Portantino referenced a policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics from 2014, in which the organization advised school districts to change start times to 8:30 in the morning or later.

The lead author of the statement, pediatrician Judith Owens, said students who get enough sleep are less likely to be overweight, suffer from depression, become involved in car accidents, and are also more likely to experience positive effects including better grades and standardized test scores.

During multiple studies at schools that delayed start times, at least nine benefits were observed, according to the American Psychological Association. Portantino said his favorite benefit was "increase in quality of student-family interaction."

Another one of the benefits observed was increased attendance at schools that made the shift.

Stemming from that observation, Portantino believes later start times will improve attendance at schools, and thus funding for those schools. If the current attendance rate were improved by one percent, the district would gain an added $40 million a year, Portantino said, citing the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Increasing attendance by 1% means $40 million more in funding. #onthemoveLAUSD  L.A. Unified (@LASchools) August 9, 2016

It is unclear how the bill could affect zero period classes, classes that meet before a school's typical start time. Portantino said they have not come to a conclusion about zero period, and said it was left out of the bill on purpose because they would like to hear from educators and school districts in the state before a decision is made.
There are a number of famous figures who rightly nab the spotlight when it comes to our major holidays, from the leprechauns of St. Patrick's Day to Santa Claus on the 25th of December to the Easter Bunny come the spring.

But few holiday-related superstars boast the will-we-see-him/will-we-not mystery that a certain wing-rocking, bow-holding, emotion-engendering figure so famously possesses.

Cupid, after all, may or may not appear, or so general legend has it, and, even if he should show, he may or may not choose to bring two lovebirds together in a swirl of sweet love.

There is one way to locate the elusive Valentine's Day icon in Southern California, however: He's currently holding court at The Getty Center, at least in the form of a celebrated sculpture by artist Edme Bouchardon.

The sizable artwork, which stands alone in its own dramatically lit nook, is on display, along with the rest of the sculpture- and drawing-filled exhibition, through Sunday, April 2.

The artist's striking Cupid has traveled a great distance, over an ocean, in fact, to instill amour in we Angelenos: "Bouchardon: Royal Artist of Enlightenment" was previously shown at Musee du Louvre in Paris in 2016.

If you and your paramour are looking for an art-lovely outing on Tuesday, Feb. 14, the Brentwood bastion of high art and gorgeous grounds is open, and free, as always, but note: Parking is $15.

There is no price, however, on a traditional and tender visit from Cupid. Legend tells us, as well as those stories of old, that he and his infatuation-encouraging ways may be visited upon us out of the seeming blue, if the time, setting, and prospects are right.

So we shall visit him, instead, because we know where he is: At the Bouchardon exhibit, at The Getty Center, and there he shall remain through the day after April Fools.

Which seems like the perfect day for Cupid to finally leave us, we oh-so-mortal fools for love.

Pictured: "Cupid Carving a Bow from Hercules Club (detail)," 1750, Edme Bouchardon, Marble. Musee du Louvre, Departement des Sculptures, Paris.
The Homeland Security Department said Monday that 680 people were arrested in roundups last week -- 161 of them in the Los Angeles area -- targeting immigrants living illegally in the United States.

The figure is far below the totals of similar raids conducted under the Obama administration.



The raids have left immigrant communities worried about stepped-up enforcement efforts and the White House taking credit for arrests. But Homeland Security described the roundups as routine.



DHS Secretary John Kelly said Immigration and Customs Enforcement targeted immigrants who are a threat to public safety, including convicted criminals and gang members. He said 75 percent of those arrested were criminals, some of whom had been convicted of homicide and aggravated sexual assault.



ICE officials said 161 people from 13 countries were arrested in the Los Angeles area, all but 10 of whom were convicted criminals. More than 100 people arrested there were from Mexico. In Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina 190 immigrants were arrested, 127 of whom were convicted criminals.



Kelly said arrests were also made by agents working in New York, Atlanta, Chicago and San Antonio.



Details of who was arrested were not made available, but the arrests and rumors about other raids sparked fear and confusion among immigrants.



Immigration advocates and the White House both suggested the arrests were President Donald Trump's first salvo in what he has promised will be a stepped up campaign to find and deport criminal immigrants and others living in the U.S. illegally.



Trump on Monday bragged that his administration was following through on his campaign pledge and targeting "the bad ones."



"I said at the beginning we are going to get the bad ones, the really bad ones, we are going to get them out," Trump said at a news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.



ICE officials and Kelly, however, have said the arrests were part of routine enforcement efforts. Similar roundups under former President Barack Obama yielded far more arrests. In March 2015, ICE said a five-day enforcement effort ended with more than 2,000 arrests.



During the Obama administration, however, ICE agents generally arrested wanted immigration fugitives and convicted criminals. Last week's arrests included immigrants whose only offense was an immigration violation.

CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS in the Los Angeles area

Domestic Violence 42

Cruelty Toward Child 2

Drug Offenses 26

Battery 2

Assault 23

Identity Theft 2

Sex Crimes 17

Counterfeiting 1

DUI 17

Robbery 1

Burglary 6

Property Damage 1

Weapons Violations 5

Prostitution 1

Vehicle Theft 4

Intimidation 1
An armed man was shot and wounded by a deputy after he was spotted in an alleged drug deal Monday outside of a Van Nuys restaurant.

The shooting occurred at around 2:45 p.m. in the 7300 block of Van Nuys Boulevard. A Transit Policing Division deputy was having lunch at a Cuban restaurant when he saw a group of four males seated on the patio, and saw at least one man using what appeared to be narcotics, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's department.

The deputy walked outside and two of the males walked away. The deputy detained the other two men and conducted a weapons pat down, according to the LASD. While the deputy was patting down the second man, the first man took out a firearm and the deputy shooting occurred.

The man was shot in the stomach and was taken to the hospital in serious condition, according to sheriff's deputies.

The deputy was not injured.

Authorities are searching for the two other men in the alleged drug deal.

A handgun believed to have belonged to the suspect was recovered, authorities said.

A stretch of Van Nuys Boulevard was shut down as authorities investigated.

Shop owners saw the impact of the shutdown on their businesses. The owner of Vegas Flowers said he was expecting a lot of customers on the day before Valentine's Day.

"There's no way to get here," Gervork Tishcayan said.
The Coast Guard is searching for a man who reportedly went overboard from the Carnival Elation cruise ship near the Bahamas Monday.

Kevin Wellons, 24, from Warner Robins, Georgia, was on the Elation when he reportedly went overboard about 15 miles southwest of Abaco, officials said.

#BreakingNews Missing from the Carnival Elation cruise ship is Kevin Wellons, 24, from Warner Robins, GA.  USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) February 14, 2017

Wellons' wife reported him missing around 8:30 a.m. Monday. He was seen going overboard from the 11th deck of the ship on the Elation's closed circuit TV, officials said.

The Elation had left Jacksonville and was heading to its first stop at Nassau. A Coast Guard helicopter and airplane are involved in the search.
A Disney World employee was arrested Monday on child pornography charges.

Lake County deputies said Alton Morgan, 57, created and downloaded child porn at his home. He is a stage tech at Disney World, according to an arrest report.

Detectives found a heap of images of child pornography when they searched Morgan's home Monday night.

Deputies also said images of a young girl being molested by Morgan were discovered in the home. According to police, the 54-year-old admitted to molesting the child, who is now in California.

The mother of the girl was also arrested by police in California. She was charged with child pornography. Detectives said Morgan had met the girl's mother online.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office said there are at least two additional victims in the case. They are asking anyone with information to come forward.

Morgan is being held with no bond.
Three people that were looking to enjoy some sun in Southwest Florida during the winter didn't get what they were looking for  and instead were at the center of a vacation rental scam

The Collier County Sheriffs Office arrested John Hayes, a realtor from Bonita Springs. According to NBC affiliate WBBH-TV, police say he got more than $20,000 dollars from the future tenants and then right before move-in day told them they could not move in.

i should have gone with my gut, said Judy Hocher, one of the victims. Too good to be true."

Realtors say its common for companies to ask for the money up front, but its a matter of doing your homework and making sure that money is going to the right place.

Some tips on how to avoid being scammed include not to be fooled by photography, be careful of the cheapest properties, and never pay with cash.

Hocher said she spoke with a lawyer about getting her money back and was told he would have to be taken to court  but fees would likely be more than what the victims were scammed out of.
Two women are on a crusade to make it safer on the highway after they were involved in a motorcycle accident in the Express Lanes of I-95.

They spoke exclusively to NBC 6 about their lawsuit against the Florida Department of Transportation and its contractors

They spoke exclusively with NBC 6 Investigator Willard Shepard who is in Miami tonight.

Cynthia Fleishmann had to get her leg amputated after the crash.

She and her friend, Catherine Perez, are calling for some real serious changes instead of minor updates to the Express Lanes.

Both women were riding their motorcycle in the Express Lanes when a Toyota Corolla cut into the Express Lanes from the general purpose lanes. The car hit their motorcycle, injuring both Fleishmann and Perez.

The women say they got a second chance at life.

Usually its a head injury. Either you die on the spot, there's a head injury or a spinal injury. There is something more than just a missing leg. That's the way I see it. We only lost a leg, said Perez.

Perezs lawsuit seeks $15,000 in damages. Attorney Mike Edison represents Perez.

It sounds like to me, a lack of engineering. It sounds like slap dash. We'll just react to what happens out there and then we'll change it, argued Edison.

The attorney said there have been more than 12,000 accidents in the Express Lanes over the last three years.

The state did not comment Monday on the legal action but did tell NBC 6 it has installed almost 17,000 new poles on the Express Lanes. Officials said the new poles are stronger and closer together.

Last week, another woman announced a lawsuit against FDOT after she was badly injured in an Express Lanes crash while 29 weeks pregnant.
Cuban-American lawmakers from Florida helped shape U.S. relations with the island for years until they found themselves on the outside during a historic thaw in relations.

But they could be getting the upper hand on Cuba policy again under President Donald Trump with a possible return to an earlier, more hard-line U.S. stance toward relations with Cuba's government.

"We have had more conversations with high-level Trump officials than we had in eight years of the Obama administration," said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, one of a handful of Republican members of Congress from Florida who long had an outsized role on U.S. foreign policy related to Cuba.

What Diaz-Balart and other Cuban-American lawmakers hope is that their renewed access to the U.S. government under Trump's leadership will help them reverse the steps taken by President Barack Obama and President Raul Castro to normalize relations between the two countries.

"Everything is going to be very different," predicted Rep. Carlos Curbelo, another Miami-area Republican who said he felt shut out under Obama.

The congressional delegation from South Florida, home to the largest number of Cuban-Americans in the nation, was long able to help craft U.S. policy toward the island. They had hoped to continue isolating the Castro government and both Democrat and Republican politicians went along, at least in part.

Diaz-Balart recalled that under President George W. Bush he and other Cuban-Americans persuaded the administration to grant travel visas and asylum to Cuban doctors working overseas, helping drive a brain drain from the island.

"When something came up, we could call and they responded to us immediately," he said.

But that changed under Obama, who Diaz-Balart said refused to meet with him as the administration used executive orders to lift some restrictions on travel, trade and investment and ended the so-called "wet-foot, dry foot" policy that allowed Cubans to stay and apply for legal residency if they reached U.S. soil.

Diaz-Balart and other Cuban-American lawmakers want U.S. policy to return to where things were before December 2014, citing what he says is the Castro government's "brutal oppression." Curbelo agrees about the return to earlier policies but does not oppose the easing of restrictions on travel that allow Cuban-Americans to more easily visit family back home.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, another Florida delegation member, declined to speak to The Associated Press but recently forwarded a letter to the Trump administration calling for a policy focused on "freedom, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights" that enforces sanctions written into U.S. law. Sen. Marco Rubio, who also declined an interview request, has criticized what he calls Obama's "failed Cuba policy," and recently said he expected Trump would reverse the previous administration's order halting the asylum program for doctors.

During the presidential campaign, Trump was critical of the opening with the Castro government and said Obama wasn't paying enough attention to human rights on the island. He promised to re-evaluate the agreements with Cuba and cancel those he doesn't believe serve U.S. interests. He named several anti-Castro Cuban-Americans to his transition team, but has not yet said publicly whether he intends to reverse specific policies of his predecessor.

Some supporters of the opening with Cuba see reason for optimism. James Williams, head of Engage Cuba, a corporate-backed bipartisan group that supports improving ties to the island, said Trump may not want to reverse what he sees as the "positive progress" of the last three years.

"We have seen more positive progress in Cuba over the last two years than the last 55 years combined," said Williams, adding that a thorough review of current policy should show the Trump administration the advantages of moving toward normalization.

Diaz-Balart and Curbelo said the meetings they and others have had with officials from the new administration, as well as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's confirmation hearings, have given them hope that Obama's executive orders restoring relations with Cuba would be reversed. "Without a doubt, the days of those orders are numbered," Diaz-Balart said.

Even though Ros-Lehtinen and Curbelo did not endorse Trump, some believe they, like Diaz-Balart and Curbelo, will have significant influence on the new administration.

"They are going to be the guides of the policy toward Cuba," said Sebastian Arcos, associate director of the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University.

Frank Mora, who was deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Western Hemisphere under Obama, agreed: "Trump is going to go back to handing the foreign policy of the U.S. toward Cuba to the Cuban-American legislators."
What to Know 2 of 3 state senators fail to show up for committee meetings they're assigned to attend, an I-Team analysis shows

The I-Team reviewed more than 200 committee meetings -- all of last year's meetings -- and found a 35 percent overall attendance rate

The State Assembly has rules requiring lawmakers to be physically present to cast committee votes, but the Senate does not

Playing hooky from school will generally get you bad grades. Skipping work might get you fired. But if you are a New York state senator, skipping your committee meetings is practically the norm.

An I-Team analysis of all of last year's committee meetings shows two out of three state senators fail to show up for the ones theyre assigned to attend.



The meetings are supposed to be opportunities for lawmakers to debate, vet and advocate for proposed legislation. But more often than not, the meetings are sparsely attended affairs held in nearly empty conference rooms with little discussion beyond opening pleasantries.



To measure committee attendance, the I-Team reviewed more than 200 committee meetings amounting to nearly two full days of video archived on the state Senate website. The overall attendance rate was 35 percent.

I think New Yorkers would be very concerned to know the state lawmakers they pay so well with such nice benefits for a part-time job arent doing their entire job, said Ken Girardin, a spokesman for the Empire Center for Public Policy, a government watchdog group.

New York state senators are paid a base salary of $79,500. They are expected to be in Albany about 60 days a year.

Unlike in the State Assembly, where rules require lawmakers be physically present to cast their committee votes, Senate rules allow members to send in vote sheets without ever showing up in person. The result is a lot of committee meetings where chairpersons simply move a list of bills forward based upon written instructions of absent members.

On one occasion last year, the Standing Committee on Rules approved 25 bills in just five minutes despite video showing fewer than half of the senators on the committee were physically present in the room.



Another time, the Standing Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks, and Recreation approved 17 bills in just five minutes. Only two of the 14 committee members were present.

Lawrence Norden, deputy director of the Brennan Center for Justice, a government watchdog, said Senate rules may actually incentivize poor committee attendance. Because it is nearly impossible for bills to get a committee vote without the blessing of Senate leadership, members of the minority party may feel as though there is little point in showing up to fight for their own bills, Norden said. Conversely, members of the party in power may have little incentive to show up, because their legislation is almost guaranteed to sail through.

There isnt an opportunity in the committees the way there is in some other states for dissension, for the ability to force a conversation or hearing if the chair or the majority leader in the Senate doesnt want it to happen. So in that sense, its rigged, Norden said.

That sense of inevitability leads to the death of thousands of bills in committee each year.

For example, last year Sen. Roxanne Persaud (D-Canarsie) proposed a bill to provide cash assistance to single mothers struggling to afford diapers. Sen. Tony Avella (IDC  Bayside), Chair of the Children and Families Committee, declined to bring the diaper bill to a vote.



Avella blamed Persaud for failing to push her own bill hard enough.

She never asked for the bill to be moved, Avella said. She never called me or filled out the form to move the bill out.

When asked why Persaud didnt push harder to move her own bill out of committee, she suggested to do so would have been pointless.

The vast majority of bills are shoved into committees by the majority and ignored, Persaud wrote in a statement to the I-Team. Clearly the Senate committee structure is broken and in need of serious reform.

Another way for Persauds diaper bill to get consideration would have been for the ranking democrat on the Children and Families Committee, Sen. Velmanette Montgomery (D- Fort Greene), to advocate for the legislation. Montgomery failed to show up at all five Children and Families Committee meetings last year. Montgomery declined to explain her absence.

In some cases, senators accept cash stipends to serve as ranking members on committees.

Of the 32 standing committees that were active last year, the I-Team found a dozen ranking members who missed three or more meetings.

Among them was Sen. Bill Perkins (D-Harlem), who accepted a $9,500 stipend to serve as the Ranking Member of the Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions Committee. Despite the bonus associated with his leadership position, video records show he failed to attend 6 of 7 Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions meetings last year. He also missed the first meeting of the committee in 2017.

Perkins, who is leaving the Senate to take a seat on the New York City Council, did not indicate where he was during those committee meetings but did say the committee meeting schedule can be challenging.

Sometimes we have conflicts in terms of our committee assignments and we make decisions as to which ones we can attend and cant attend, Perkins said.

Other truant senators offered a similar reason for missing committee meetings. Although not all committees meet regularly, senators are routinely assigned to between 6 and 12 committees at the same time.

Perkins also suggested his decision to skip out on committee meetings was also influenced by a sense that his viewpoints would make little difference in meetings where Senate leadership selects only its favored bills as agenda items.

[I]n the current power structure of the Senate, run by Republicans and the IDC, negotiations on bills do not occur in public at the committee meetings, Perkins wrote in a statement to the I-Team. [C]onstituent and district needs are more important than meetings where the result is pre-ordained.

The I-Team reached out to Sen. John Flanagan, who leads the Senate Republicans, and Sen. Jeffrey Klein, who leads the IDC, a group of breakaway Democrats who caucus with the Republicans. They have not responded to questions about committee attendance.

For more than a decade, the Brennan Center has pushed for reforms to Senate rules so that physical presence would be a prerequisite for a senator to cast a vote in committee. Norden also said the Senate should reduce the overall number of committees and adopt rules giving members more power to force votes on proposed legislation even when a given bill doesnt have enough support to advance out of committee.

I do think theres a purpose in seeing bills lose, Norden said. Often bills have a lot of popular support and if you can prevent them from ever even getting a vote, the public has no idea whos keeping something thats very popular from becoming law.
Apple Inc. AAPL has been facing tremendous challenges in Australia as the banks had been opposing to acknowledge Apple Pay, the way they accepted Android Pay.

Apples demand of 15 basis points in interchange fees had made the deal less palatable for Australian banks. Additionally, the company blocks third-party payment apps from iPhone unless they sign up for Apple Pay. Reuters observes that Apple charges card providers for transactions made using Apple Pay and does not allow companies to develop their own mobile wallets, which would allow banks to circumvent transaction fees and get customers to engage more frequently with their own apps.

Australia has a very big market for contactless payments and fees for processing such transactions are a big source of income for regional banks. Android Pay has not demanded any such charges. As a result, the banks are happy collaborating with Android Pay.

Apple Inc. Price

Apple Inc. Price | Apple Inc. Quote

Now, per media reports, recent developments imply that Australian banks after being rebuffed by the countrys anti-competition regulator, will give up on their demand for fee removal. Instead these banks will solely focus on gaining access to the U.S. tech company's contactless payment function.

Australia and New Zealand Bank had agreed to sign up for Apple Pay last year, while National Australia Bank, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, Commonwealth Bank of Australia as well as Westpac Banking Corp continued to negotiate with Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). These banks had asked for a collective negotiating power with Apple over fees and access to the contactless payments technology, which was rejected by ACCC.

Reportedly, Macquarie Group Ltd and ING Groep NV's ING Direct are likely to start offering Apple Pay from this month itself.

In Sep 2014, Apple unveiled its mobile payment solution, Apple Pay, designed on the basis of a contactless payment technology, to offer a hassle-free experience. The service has now been expanded to 13 markets like the UK, Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Japan, Russia, New Zealand and Spain. In the first quarter of 2017, Apple Pay transactions surged about 500% on a year-over-year basis.

Story continues

At present, Apple has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).Apples shares have marginally outperformed as the broader market over the past one year. Over the past one year, shares of Apple have registered growth of 20.65%, compared with the Zacks Computer Mini industrys gain of 19.58%.

A few better-ranked stocks in the wider technology space include Jabil circuit Inc JBL HealthStream, Inc. HSTM,and MeetMe, Inc. MEET. While Jabil carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), other two carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

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A man who flew into Kennedy Airport from Guyana was arrested after authorities discovered $67,000 worth of cocaine in his shoes, officials said.

Amaziah Hohenkirk of Guyana arrived at JFK on Feb. 9 from a connecting flight through Trinidad and Tobago, according to Customs and Border Protection officials.

Hohenkirk attempted to walk past the inspection checkpoint officers after his flight arrived when CBP officers stopped him, officials said. They uncovered four pairs of sneakers and two pairs of shoes in his luggage that contained a white powder that tested positive for cocaine.

Hohenkirk was arrested for importation of a controlled substance and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations.

He faces federal narcotics smuggling charges if convicted. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio touted his plans to address the city's "affordability crisis" during his annual State of the City address.

In his address Monday night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, the Democratic mayor discussed his concern that New Yorkers are afraid they can't afford to live in the city they love.

His plan includes a mansion tax on high-end real estate sales that would help pay for affordable housing for seniors and an initiative to provide free legal advice for tenants facing eviction in housing court.

Besides affordable housing, the mayor said he's working to create more good-paying jobs in the city by providing training and support.

The mayor also made room to praise his efforts to make the city safer and the schools stronger.
A pipe leak and a power outage at NYU forced an evacuation of at least two buildings on the campus Tuesday, though university officials say the problems were not related.

Video of the leak inside one of the classrooms at Bobst Library was posted to Twitter by a student and shows black gunk dripping from the ceiling.

The student named Conor told NBC 4 New York it was a disgusting scene.

"We were just sitting in class and all of a sudden there was a whirring coming from above the ceiling, and then it sounded like rain falling down," he said.

"Then this black liquid just came seeping from the ceiling and it smelled like human feces, and it was just really gross," he continued. "We all had to run out of the room, and we went to a different classroom to continue, and then the whole power went out and we all had to run out and evacuate."

"It wasn't great. It smelled horrible. And it got on some kids' desks, and it was gross so we all just wanted to leave," said Conor.

NYU spokesman Matt Nagel said the leak appeared to come from a clogged drain, but it was not a sewage drain. The liquid was stagnant water.

Meanwhile, both Bobst Library and Tisch Hall were evacuated due to a separate power outage caused by a malfunction in the electrical system that tripped a circuit breaker, Nagel said.

Students were seen waiting outside both buildings waiting to get back in, but others were pressed to finish papers.

"It's dark, no electricity, no water, no Wi-Fi. There's almost nobody here now," said Blair Li, who was on her way back home to finish her work.
What to Know Sarah Stern was last seen at her Neptune City home Dec. 2; her body has never been found

Two of Stern's longtime friends have been arrested in her death -- one accused of murder, another accused of helping him cover it up

Stern, an aspiring artist, is a graduate of Neptune High School, where she played softball and was a member of the swim team

The 19-year-old man accused of murder, conspiracy and other charges in the death of a young New Jersey woman told a friend he choked her and then watched for half an hour as she died in her home, prosecutors said at a court hearing Tuesday.



Liam McAtasney, of Neptune City, was ordered to remain behind bars as he awaits trial in the slaying of his childhood friend Sarah Stern, who was considered a missing person for months after she vanished from her home in early December.

Prosecutors say McAtasney robbed and strangled Stern, 19, at her home Dec. 2, then dumped her body off the Route 35 Bridge in Belmar with the help of an alleged accomplice who once had taken the victim to prom.



At Tuesday's court hearing, prosecutors revealed McAtasney allegedly admitted the crime to a friend, and the friend, unbeknownst to the alleged killer, had videotaped the conversation. On the recording, McAtasney is allegedly heard saying he strangled Stern with such force her body was lifted off the ground -- and then he timed how long it took her to die, prosecutors said.



Charles Moriarty, McAtasney's attorney, didn't fight the judge's decision to remand his client, but said after court the young man was innocent, according to NJ.com.



McAtasney and his suspected accomplice, 19-year-old Preston Taylor, were arrested in the case earlier this month. The two allegedly dumped Stern's body off the bridge after hiding it in the bushes behind her home for eight hours.

Prosecutors have said McAtasney was motivated by robbery in part and stole thousands of dollars from Stern. Cash was found in a safe buried at a park in Neptune. Stern's clothing was found in another safe buried on Sandy Hook.

At a court hearing last week, prosecutors said Taylor, who took Stern to junior prom, told police McAtasney had planned Stern's slaying for six months.

Meanwhile, the search for Stern's body continues. Divers and helicopter units first scoured the Shark River in early December after finding Stern's fully operational car parked on the shoulder of the southbound lanes of the bridge, the keys still in the ignition, Dec. 3.

Investigators returned there several weeks ago to continue looking, acknowledging that currents and tides may have swept her body out to the Atlantic. Monmouth Prosecutor Chris Gramiccioni said at the time, "We are hoping for a miracle." Stern's family has said they just want to bring her home.

Stern, an aspiring artist, is a graduate of Neptune High School, where she played softball and was a member of the swim team. She went to Brookdale Community College for a year, where she studied art and TV production.
UberEATS has expanded to the Main Line, six months after the food-delivery service launched in Philadelphia proper for the first time.

UberEATS made its official debut on the Philadelphia circuit back in August after months of rumors. The city was one of the first 25 cities to receive the standalone app after UberEATS launched in 2015 in Toronto, Canada.

UberEATS has been available in other areas outside of the city limits, but now Main Line residents will be able to get food delivered right to their doors from local restaurants like The Grog in Bryn Mawr, Vida Taqueria in Havertown, Ginza Japanese Restaurant in Narberth, and Saffron Indian Kitchen in Ambler, among others.

To read full article, click here.

For more business news, visit Philadelphia Business Journal.
Police are searching for a man accused of kidnapping and assaulting a woman in Wilmington, Delaware Monday night.

The woman told police she got out of her car around 8:45 p.m. at the Top of the Hill Apartments community on Prior Road when she was approached by a man armed with a gun. The gunman forced the woman into a vehicle and drove her to an ATM on Marsh Road, police said. He then demanded that she withdraw money, according to investigators.

The woman told police the man was talking to himself and he also punched her. He then took her back to the apartment complex, released her and fled the area, police said.

The woman was treated at the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and later released.

Another woman who lives in the community told NBC10 it's normally safe and quiet.

"Beautiful, quiet, friendly," said Cassanda Bradley. "I have my son running around here. He's 12. He's always running around. I never worry about him but now I guess I have to rethink things a little bit."

The only other recent reported violent crime in the area was an armed robbery about a mile away from the complex last January, according to the New Castle County Police crime map.

The suspect is described as a thin, middle-aged white man standing 5-foot-8 and wearing a ski mask. Police also say he may be driving a dark-colored SUV.

Police are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. If you have any information, please call New Castle County Police at 302-573-2800. You can also submit a tip on the New Castle County police website or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333.




In Philadelphias darkest corners, traffickers are exploiting vulnerable kids for profit.

Human trafficking is modern day slavery, said John Ducoff, executive director of Covenant House Pennsylvania, a youth homeless shelter that cares for about 50 survivors of sex trafficking each year. Criminals will always find new ways to commit old crimes.

It's nearly impossible to pinpoint how many children in Philadelphia wind up victims of sex trafficking because there is no reliable data. In addition to those who stay at Covenant House, the shelter's staff says they've met far more victims during street outreach.

You want to believe it happens somewhere else, its somebody elses kid, said Hugh Organ, Covenant House's assistant executive director and chairman of the Philadelphia Anti-Trafficking Coalition. Its a third world country problem; it doesnt happen here. But it happens here every day, and thats the scary part and the sad part that people dont want to take a look at.

Ducoff appears in a new documentary, "I Am Jane Doe," which takes a closer look at sex trafficking. Narrated by actress Jessica Chastain, the film -- which premiered on Feb. 10 -- follows mothers who have waged court battles against Backpage.com, an online classified ads service, over their daughters sexual exploitation.

We know Jane Does, and we know young girls who have had these experiences, Ducoff said.

Sex trafficking affects all parts of the country, and the figures on hidden populations could be staggering because abuse often goes unreported, experts said. In Texas alone, 79,000 children could be victims of sexual exploitation, according to a recent University of Texas study.

"Its difficult to pin down the numbers," said Melissa Torres, a research associate who co-authored the paper. "The same study should be done in other places, (because) you cant solve a problem without having measured it."

In Philadelphia, the city's proximity to highways and a major airport make it an attractive hub for traffickers. Survivors often tell Organ that they were trafficked along the I-95 corridor, from New York to Florida. Traffickers set up temporary bases at extended stay and micro-hotels near the airport, according to Christian Zajac, assistant special agent in charge at the FBIs Philadelphia Division.

You can jump on and off a plane, and the hotels right there, Organ said. The amount of trafficking that goes on at those hotels by the airport is unbelievable.

Child sex trafficking is such a problem in Philadelphia that the FBI added a second task force to handle its local caseload.

We were getting pummeled with child sex trafficking tips that were coming in, Zajac said.

In 2016, the FBI's Philadelphia and Harrisburg field offices rescued 31 minors who had been trafficked, up from 26 in 2015 and 23 in 2014.

This month, four men were arrested on minor sex trafficking charges, and during a nationwide FBI sting in October 2016, 22 more around the Philadelphia area were taken into custody over a three-day period.

But, Zajac said, Were not going to arrest our way out of this."

Survivors need access to housing, schooling and vocational training, and trafficking-related therapy during their early recovery, experts said. But Philadelphias service providers are struggling to meet the demand, according to Family Court Judge Lori Dumas, whose Working to Restore Adolescents Power (WRAP) Court connects trafficking survivors to resources in the area.

We dont get a good grade on the report card for that, Dumas said. There are more services that need to be developed and made available to these young people. We dont have enough.

How It Happens

Kathleen M. Brown, who runs a rehabilitation program, Breaking the Cycle, recalled a trafficking survivor who at 14 was abducted, chained in a basement, and gang-raped for days. Her traffickers told her it was a privilege when she was finally allowed upstairs alongside others who were being forced to sell themselves.

But Brown, who is also an associate professor of nursing at the University of Pennsylvania, said most youth sex trafficking is much subtler, and theres a formula through which traffickers find their victims.

Whether from Philadelphia or surrounding rural areas, many trafficked youths leave a hostile living environment. The young people are not involved in extracurricular activities because their parents wont invest the time, Brown said. They usually aren't doing well in school, often because family tensions make it hard to apply themselves.

There [can be] a sexual component to whatever horrible thing is going on at home, so that by the time they leave their homes, theyve already learned that their bodies do not belong to them, Brown said. This is something you give to other people, its not theirs. Theyre a little bit surprised that anyone would want it.

Runaways, particularly those who leave repeatedly or who have been on their own for a month or more, are susceptible to becoming trafficking victims.

If you dont have a place to stay, you gotta do what you gotta do, Organ said. Theres a term called survival sex -- sleeping with someone for a place to stay for the night. Thats a common thing thats done.

Traffickers identify targets at malls, online or through personal connections. They sell love, offering children who are looking for a way to escape their homes an alternative, Organ said.

Its the promise of a better life, he continued. Its the promise of a job. Its the promise of a place to stay. And by the time the kids realize what it really is, its too late. Theyre caught up. Now, they have pictures of these kids. Now, they have threats. They know where the kid lives.

Once victims are introduced to trafficking, they're taught how to behave, how to dress, and how to make themselves look older, usually by another woman. Theyre shown how to slip a condom on with their mouths and how to perform oral sex as a substitute for vaginal penetration.

As a means of control, many traffickers pretend to be their victims boyfriends.

It becomes the first person to tell this girl that he loves her, that shes beautiful, Organ said.

Especially among minors, relationships with traffickers often become violent, and victims are sometimes physically branded. One man in Philadelphia tattoos all of his girls with his name in an attempt to mark them as his, Organ said.

Theyre dehumanizing these individuals and making them property, he said. And it really gets scary. We just talked to a kid the other day. We were trying to get her to come into the shelter, and she said, I cant now, because I belong to this guy for the next 48 hours."

Some warning signs to spot victims: Minors who are traveling between states or have multiple hotel card keys in their wallets.

While some victims still walk the streets, most are being sold online. Many were listed on Backpage.com before the company shuttered its adult services section in January. The classified ads service, which had faced lawsuits over an alleged connection to child sex trafficking cases, was held in contempt by the U.S. Senate for not providing information about plans to fight trafficking on its pages.

The internet is the new street corner, Organ said. You can order up a kid no matter where you are.

According to Ducoff, traffickers are still selling their victims on Backpage, now in the dating section instead of under adult services.

Liz McDougall, general counsel for Backpage.com, said the site shut down its adult sections under "pressure and coercion" from the government. She believes that was a mistake because with ads spilling across categories and sites, it's harder for law enforcement to track sex trafficking.

"Just as we predicted, shutting down our adult section didnt make this content go away, McDougall said.

Even if Backpage were taken down completely, trafficking wouldn't disappear, Ducoff said.

Human trafficking is much more than just one website," he continued. "Its a massive industry, and its about aggressively attacking every link in the chain.

Demand for minors is high. Children are popular among men who are afraid of contracting sexually transmitted infections and who assume that kids are less likely to be diseased, according to a Congressional Research Service report released in January 2015. Researchers recommended that Congress make the legal punishment for men who target minors more severe.

In Philadelphia, experts said that child sex trafficking victims range in age from about 12 to 17. Most are inching toward adulthood, but the preteens boast the highest price tag.

If theyre able to recruit someone whos 12, or 13, or 14, those are very, very valuable, Brown said.

Once minors are indoctrinated into trafficking culture, its hard for them to get out, even after intervention, and many later return because they cant imagine other possibilities. They know how to sell themselves, but they dont have basic skills like managing money, cooking or shopping.

We dont say saved, we say recovered, Zajac said.

Addiction and Trafficking

Maria Guerrieris daughter, Lisa, was 21 when she disappeared. She came from an upper middle class family in Bucks County free of physical abuse, according to her mother. After high school, Lisa and her then-boyfriend started dabbling with heroin. She thought she could control her use, but a year later, it spiraled out of control.

One January day, Lisa left home to stay in a hotel with a friend who was also addicted. They met a man, Enoch Smith, who offered them drugs for sex. Guerrieri said she searched everywhere for her daughter, but they were only reunited after Lisa was arrested for drug possession.

Smith was sentenced to 40 to 80 years by the state, and is concurrently serving a 30-year federal prison sentence for trafficking children and distributing child pornography.

After relapsing several times, Lisa has gotten sober and works as an advocate for recovery.

Lisa's background was not typical for a trafficking victim, activists said, but her drug use was. Sometimes victims have experimented recreationally with drugs; other times, theyre already addicted when they meet their trafficker. Often, they turn to substance abuse while being trafficked to numb themselves to the sex and violence.

Internally, they know that this is not normal behavior, Dumas said. Even if they cannot articulate that, their brain is telling them that.

The addiction becomes a shackle in itself. By the time trafficked youths become reliant on drugs, theres no need for coercion by their traffickers.

I havent met anybody that didnt somehow have a connection with drugs, Brown said.

Kathleen Coll, a nun at Old St. Josephs Church of Philadelphia and executive director at Dawns Place, a haven for trafficking survivors, said that she does not accept women younger than 20 to the program.

The 18-year-olds who come are many times not ready to give up the life they have because they are addicted, in a way, to that life, she said.

Almost all of the women at her shelter are drug- or alcohol-addicted, and they sometimes willingly return to prostitution so they can afford drugs. They see their trafficker as a dealer, Coll said.

She remembered how one young woman tried to explain why she couldnt overcome her addiction.

She said, You dont realize, I have a monster inside me that must be fed, Coll recalled. So she went back to her pimp."

These Are Not Criminals, They Are Victims

Two years ago, state Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, a Republican who represents portions of Montgomery and Bucks counties, introduced legislation to protect trafficking victims under the age of 18 from criminalization. Instead of arrest and incarceration, they would be offered rehabilitation resources, including long-term housing, access to education and trauma therapy. Safe harbor laws have already been passed in 34 states to protect minors who are victims of trafficking.

Its not a voluntary activity, Greenleaf said. These are children. They cant even vote, but they can be a criminal.

His bill would have routed victims of child sex trafficking through the citys Department of Human Services rather than the criminal justice system, but it faltered over cost concerns.

Greenleaf plans to reintroduce the bill this year.

Despite the lack of safe harbor legislation, Philadelphia's police and FBI officers no longer arrest minors accused of prostitution.

These girls are victims," Zajac said. "When youre under 18, there is no such thing as consent.

Philadelphia police used to be of that mindset where even though theyre 15, 16, 17 years old, its prostitution and theyre arrested. That has changed.

What's next?

Though instances of sex trafficking continue to rise, Organ has seen improvements in how local officials are handling them. The training for law enforcement has gotten better, legislation has been introduced, and organizations around the city are providing some resources for survivors.

A few years back, [faced with] a human trafficking victim, I would have nobody to call, Organ said.

Child sex trafficking harbors unique psychological and logistical obstacles, and theyre hard to overcome. At Breaking the Cycle, Brown has a concrete definition of a success story: Theres not a guy youre dependent on, and you have a job that will take care of you. You have your children back.

The probability of her success for survivors in recovery? Shes pegged it at one in 10.

Dumas approach at the WRAP Court is more incremental, focusing on the day-to-day. The lives of the young people will be touched by trauma forever, but its getting them to the point where theyre able to lead normal lives despite the trauma, she said.

Every little step in the right direction toward normalcy or toward survivorship, she continued, thats success.
Looks like the Grammys were just an appetizer: Chance the Rapper, three-time award-winner at this years gala, is coming to San Diego!

On April 24, the Chicago born-and-raised hip-hop star will stop in at Valley View Casino Center -- and if his spirited performance at Sunday nights 59th annual Grammy Awards were any indication, were in for a real treat.

Chance, born Chancellor Johnathan Bennett -- who took home gold phonograph trophies this year for Best New Artist, Best Rap Performance, and Best Rap Album -- has been steadily on the rise since the 2012 release of his first mixtape 10 Day, and its 2013 follow-up, Acid Rap." Hes also made waves in the music industry by staying fiercely independent, refusing to sign with a major label to distribute his music. The fact that hes one of biggest stars today is a testament to his work ethic and incredible music.

His third mixtape, Coloring Book, was released in 2016 to universal critical and fan acclaim and became the first streaming-only album to ever receive a Grammy nomination (and subsequent win).

You might remember that Chance the Rapper began his Magnificent Coloring World Tour last year right here in San Diego at SDSUs Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre on Sept. 15 -- and were stoked to have him back so soon. Tickets are on sale today (Feb. 14) at 4 p.m. PST right here.

In addition to Chances April tour stop, San Diego music fans can also look forward to more big shows coming our way that were just announced: Metal legends (who also performed at the 2017 Grammys) Metallica are set to stop in town on Aug. 6 at Petco Park with Avenged Sevenfold and Gojira -- and were giving away FOUR floor tickets to one lucky winner (thats a $1,000 value!)! Enter for your chance to win now. Or if youd rather snatch up tickets when they go on sale, head here at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 17.

And if metal and/or hip-hop aint exactly your thing, another big show was announced Tuesday with a more retro-pop style: Straight No Chaser and Postmodern Jukebox are set to headline SDSUs Open Air Theatre on Aug. 13, with tickets going on sale here on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 10 a.m. PST. The two classic-meets-contemporary sensations, both of whom mash up classic pop stylings and modern pop hits in their own unique fashions are the perfect pairing and the show should be simply incredible.
It was a troubling conflict for Kenneth Malbrough.

"I am a firm believer in our police department and I believe law enforcement is necessary for our community and I want it in my community, Malbrough said.

Malbrough is a former City of San Diego employee serving with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department for 31 years. While with the department, he spent a good deal of his career on the streets of San Diego interacting with police officers at fire, disaster and rescue scenes.

But, as he told NBC 7 Investigates, he feels the San Diego Police Department, fell down on the job when it came to an important element in their effort to be connected to the communities the agency serves.

Malbrough lives and volunteers in his neighborhood of OFarrell. The neighborhood was chosen along with the neighborhoods of Encanto, Skyline and Paradise Hills, as locations for a new SDPD acoustic surveillance technology called ShotSpotter. The technology pinpoints the locations of shots fired or explosions and alerts police within 45 seconds.

According to Malbrough, he learned of the plans to activate the system seven weeks before it was installed and only learned of these installation plans after receiving an environmental review notice, required by law, which was sent to residents in his neighborhood. The document contained little information about ShotSpotter.

Searching emails and other documents obtained through the California Public Records Act (CPRA), NBC 7 Investigates has tried for months to determine exactly when the decision was made to buy the the new technology. Repeated requests for specific details on when the purchase was made, resulted in responses from the SDPD that lacked any specifics.

To learn more about the CPRA click here.

As an active community member, Malbrough said he wondered why he didn't know about the installation of the system before it was a done deal.

One of his main questions: "It (ShotSpotter) appears to collect a lot of data, which got me thinking, what do they do with the data?"

He said he wondered if the information generated by the data might affect his home's value, he also said he was concerned it might increase his insurance rates.

NBC 7 Investigates came across Malbrough's inquires to police when reviewing the documents obtained through the CPRA. His request generated a fact sheet about the system from the company that sells ShotSpotter.

After reading about how the system worked, Malbrough said, "most community members would have said, you know what, this is not a bad idea, I just have a few questions I want some assurances.

A representative with the SDPD responded to his inquiry and told him the data collected would be kept only for investigations, it would not be sold to others, including insurance companies. Malbrough said he appreciated the response to his inquiry but the way the SDPD communicated with community bothers him. It bothers me a lot," he said.

Emails obtained through the CPRA, show early on, SDPD's may have been concerned about revealing the location of the ShotSpotter sensors.

According to an email from the SDPDs Sergio Zamora, "The city engineer put a stop to the installation because they wanted ShotSpotter to open an SDGE account before moving forward. As you know if ShotSpotter were to open an account with SDGE it would reveal the sensor locations."

Malbrough, who sits on a several city and community boards, some of which are attended by police officers, said it seemed odd to him that there was never mention of the ShotSpotter program.

"Why was it so secretive? he said. Why didn't you want to have these discussions? Why not garner support from the community on this?

Click here to read Malbroughs concerns.

San Diego City Councilman, David Alvarez expressed similar concerns. He told NBC 7 Investigates, we (City Council) did not have to authorize the expenditure of the purchase of the program, so, we actually dont know anything officially. Its all from what weve been able to gather from news organizations like yours.

In an email to NBC 7 Investigates, the SDPD Lt. Scott Wahl said, "...We are excited about this new technology and we are hopeful it will help us keep our community safe. We have been open regarding the implementation of this system. Prior to it being installed, we met with City Council, various community leaders and clergy, as well as other law enforcement agencies to get their feedback on how this system works. In addition we submitted the required public record notices including an Environmental Impact Report that allows for public review and comment.

In 2015, in its assessment of the SDPD, the Police Executive Research Forum's warned, "the department had been disconnected from the neighborhoods it served." The group recommended the agency step-up its communication efforts within communities.

Following the report, in June 2016, SDPD Chief of Police Shelley Zimmerman assured a city council committee her agency had implemented changes as suggested, improving community outreach by adding nine special community relations officers and attending 1,100 community events per quarter.

Click here to read more about the improvements.

NBC 7 Investigates reached out to Councilwoman Myrtle Cole, who represents the area the equipment was installed. When asked if her office was made aware of the program and what effort was done to inform citizens about the new technology coming into the neighborhoods, Coles Chief of Staff Jimmie Slack said the police did tell the office about the program, though he didn't provide a specific date for when this occurred.

As to informing the public he said, "It is my understanding that the Police Chief and some of her officers spoke to various community members, community leaders, and community advisory board members about ShotSpotter."

According to Slack, Cole's office depended on the police to do the outreach, they didnt do any from their office.

Click here to see the full response from Coles office.

At the end of the day, public knowledge of this system (ShotSpotter) acts as a deterrent to those who might think of firing a gun in one of our neighborhoods, Wahl said. It doesn't make any sense for us to keep this technology a secret.

I think what our duty now is going forward is to make sure there is transparency and these expenditures have actually led to something tangible and positive for the community, Alvarez said.
As the Department of Homeland Security announced 680 arrests in roundups last week targeting immigrants living illegally in the United States, local immigration attorneys are uncertain about the role local law enforcement agencies will play in the enforcement of federal immigration laws.

However, in statements to NBC 7, the California Highway Patrol, the San Diego Police Department and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department have said their officers and deputies will not stop and arrest individuals based on immigration law.

Details of who was arrested in last week's federal raids were not made available, but the arrests and rumors about other raids sparked fear and confusion among immigrants.

President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order on Jan. 25 authorizing local law enforcement agencies to deport undocumented immigrants who have criminal records.

Weeks later, while addressing law enforcement chiefs and sheriffs at a national meeting, the president directed them to identify the "bad ones" to DHS for deportation.

NBC 7 asked the San Diego County Sheriff's Department if its policy regarding undocumented immigrants would change in light of the new executive order.

Being in the country without documentation is not a criminal act the sheriff's department will actively enforce, according to an official statement.

"Deputies will not stop or detain a subject to check their documentation or immigration status based on the appearance of foreign ancestry alone," the statement reads. "Whether they are a victim or a witness to a crime, we do not want our immigrant residents to be afraid to call the Sheriffs Department."

However, deputies will continue to cooperate with federal authorities and with regards to undocumented immigrants with criminal records. Read the full statement at the bottom of the article.

Maricela Amezola, an immigration rights lawyer with Amezola Legal Group, said that going forward, the situation will be "a clash of laws."

Its going to be really interesting to see how we have the federal law coming in and we have the state law saying were going to protect individuals already here, whats going to trump what, Amezola said.

On Friday, DHS Secretary John Kelly visited the San Ysidro Port of Entry and met with federal and local law enforcement officers to discuss security along the border. San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman and Sheriff Bill Gore attended the briefing.

Pool video

At one point, the new DHS Secretary said he couldn't define a sanctuary city, which the president has targeted for withdrawal of federal funding for refusing to cooperate with immigration authorities.

"I don't have a clue," Kelly told Chief Zimmerman when she asked for a definition.

The blunt-spoken, retired four-star general went on to say it was inconceivable why any jurisdiction wouldn't want criminals removed from their communities. "I'm stunned when people say, 'Well, we're not going to cooperate with you even in the event of convicted criminals," he said.

Kelly said it would be difficult to justify immigration enforcement grants to cities that refuse to cooperate.

"I promise you we'll work with you and will make no Draconian moves until I fully understand what a given locale might be doing or not doing," he told Zimmerman and other local police chiefs and sheriffs.

Both Zimmerman and Gore have said their officers and deputies would not act as federal agents when investigating crimes.

"It is important that all residents in our jurisdiction, whether here legally or not, feel safe when they report crime and that there is a clear separation between our duties and those of immigration authorities," the sheriff's department statement reads.

Esther Valdes, an attorney specializing in immigration with Valdes and Associates, says the executive order and its enforcement could lead to confusion.

Sheriffs dont know if theyre going to be sued for civil rights violations in light of the new executive order asking them to, in effect, be deputized and assist immigration officers," Valdes said. "Sheriffs dont know if they should comply, and if they comply, will they be sued?

She and Amezola differ on whether the presidential order creates a moral dilemma for law eforcement officers and agencies.

Its never a moral judgment when you put on the badge, when you put on the badge and the uniform you represent all of us, you vow to protect and serve all of us, whether documented or undocumented," Valdes said.

Through spokesperson Lt. Scott Wahl, the San Diego Police Department said its policy regarding immigration enforcement has not changed.

The SDPD "recognizes and values diversity of the community it serves. The department focuses primarily on crime prevention and enforcing local laws," Wahl said in a written statement.

"Once a suspect is arrested and booked into the San Diego County Jail, the primary responsibility for the enforcement of federal immigration laws rests with the United States Customs and Border Protection Services," the statement continued. "The San Diego Police Department does not check the immigration status of victims and witnesses of crimes to encourage all people to come forward, confident in the knowledge their report will be investigated thoroughly and professionally."

A spokesperson for the California Highway Patrol told NBC 7 Friday the agency "does not stop motorists or take enforcement actions based on someones immigration status.

Amezola said that in light of the president's executive order, she has seen humanitarian factors involved diminish.

What weve seen is that the humanitarian factor has been lifted, taken away from a lot of these agencies that they had before," she said. "Which is a contrast between the Obama administration and the new administration; the law is still the same, it hasnt changed, but there were more humanitarian factors that were allowed to weed out the good from the bad.

So what does all this mean for undocumented immigrants with and without criminal records in San Diego?

Amezola explained that when people are apprehended by immigration officials, they have rights, like asking for some type of relief in immigration court.

Other people have the ability to adjust their status and they might not even know it," said Amezola. "At this point its no longer feasible for people to stand by and wait to see what happens, they have to more proactive."

Criminal illegal aliens wreak havoc in some of our communities, we have to balance that with the need to have victims and community members cooperate with law enforcement agencies," Valdes said. "I think America functions best when we all perform jobs and our duties correctly to maintain and uphold our laws.

Both Valdes and Amezola come from immigrant families, and both are experts on the law, but in this uncertain time, they are not sure how local law enforcement will proceed.

Both attorneys have very different views on what may be ahead in enforcing the president's order.

There was some type of discretion allowed to say yes to these immigrants and no to these -- that is (now) gone, said Amezola.

Valdes said immigrants come here because we want to be safe."

"I come from an immigrant family myself, I came here when I was 5 years old, we come here because the nations we come from dont uphold the laws and we like law and order just like anybody else, she said.

Read the full statement from the SDSO:

"On January 25, 2017, President Trump signed two Executive Orders dealing with the issue of immigration enforcement. Those orders discussed a number of actions including one directing the Secretary of Homeland Security, with the consent of State or local officials, to authorize State and local law enforcement to perform the functions of immigration officers in relation to the investigation, apprehension, or detention of aliens in the United States.

"Federal immigration law governs legal and illegal immigration into the United States, including how long a person can stay, and when they must leave. Federal immigration agencies and officials have primary jurisdiction and responsibility for the enforcement of immigration laws in San Diego County.

"The Sheriffs Department has a long history of working in cooperation with Federal authorities both in our law enforcement practices and in our jails. Sheriffs Department personnel work hand in hand in Task Force settings with Federal agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol. For a number of years we have also shared information related to criminal immigrants in our jails.

"Task Force operations in San Diego combine Federal agents and local law enforcement officers in the same work space with the same mission and goals. This cooperation and coordination is a highly effective way to share resources and information which has proven to be the best way to fight gangs, drugs, violence, human trafficking, cyber-crime and a number of other sophisticated operations.

"In a similar way, agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Detention and Removal (ICE/DRO) are assigned to Sheriffs booking facilities for the purpose of conducting screenings and interviews of those suspected of violating Federal Immigration laws. These are criminal aliens who have committed serious crimes.

"When agents from ICE/DRO identify a Sheriffs inmate that they would like to deport for violations of Federal Immigration law; they notify our detentions staff. By law the Sheriffs Department cannot hold an inmate past the time that their State crime violation permits without a court order or warrant. However, we do notify ICE/DRO of release information in order for that agency to take custody of the person. That inmate is also notified of the Sheriffs intent to comply with the ICE/DRO request.

"The Sheriffs Department is not responsible nor do we have the authority or manpower to enforce immigration law. It is important that all residents in our jurisdiction, whether here legally or not, feel safe when they report crime and that there is a clear separation between our duties and those of immigration authorities. Sheriffs deputies will not stop or detain a subject to check their documentation or immigration status based on the appearance of foreign ancestry alone. Whether they are a victim or a witness to a crime, we do not want our immigrant residents to be afraid to call the Sheriffs Department.

"The Sheriffs Department will continue to cooperate and collaborate in regional task forces operations and by allowing Federal authorities into our jails as it complies with existing state and federal law. We will also continue to separate ourselves from immigration enforcement which in the larger picture helps to keep our communities safer by allowing victims and witnesses to come forward without fear of deportation.
The emergency at the Lake Oroville dam has put a renewed spotlight on infrastructure in San Diego.

Tuesday, the County of San Diego is putting an item before its board which would seek an additional $30 million annually to maintain roads. Additionally, on Monday, California Gov. Jerry Brown called for more infrastructure analysis and more funding for infrastructure.

A Country representative told NBC 7 it needs an additional $50 million dollars to make improvements.

In San Diego County alone, $69.2 million has been identified for maintenance in the next five years.

These are projects like the Woodside Avenue Flood Control Project in Lakeside. It started in the Spring of 2015 and replaced 2400 feet of undersized storm drain pipes.

The project came with a $15 million price tag. Just around the corner is a street that floods constantly: Lemon Crest Drive.

The water usually comes straight down a small creek between two homes.

It moves so quickly, one neighbor said he has seen kids come down here on inner-tubes.

For people on this street, its not so much fun. Many have sand bag walls to protect their property.

For commuters, it is not much better. Traffic backs up and commuters run the risk of stalling out in the high water.

The County said it would take $8 million dollars to fix this street and that construction is likely years from completion due to funding.
Members of the Greek Orthodox Church Folk Dance and Choral Festival (FDF) will kick off their 41st annual festival by packaging 41,000 meals to combat childhood hunger.

The event will be held on Thursday, Feb. 16, from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Volunteers ranging from seven years of age to adult will work with the Feeding Children Everywhere hunger project, a nonprofit to help package food for those in need.

The packaging is very competitive, said Director of Development and Communications Kristen Bruskas, with the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco. It is very fast paced, with motivating music. About 100 to 150 volunteers will get their gloves, hair nets and hats on to fill and weigh the packages as fast as possible within 90 minutes.

The hunger project is open to anyone who wants to volunteer, said Bruskas, but primarily for members of the Greek Orthodox Church and those attending the festival later in the week. Volunteers can sign up online.

The food, mostly grains and nonperishables, are provided by Feed Children Everywhere to be packaged and distributed locally and internationally.

It gives people a sense of the bigger picture, said Bruskas. Something bigger than individuals. Thats something we do as a church is reach out to people. Were going to this convention and before even getting to the main events were going to reach out and help others first.

As many as 1,000 to 3,000 people are expected to be in attendance for the festival, which will feature traditional Greek folk dance competitions from Feb. 17-19, Bruskas said.

It is the largest gathering of Greek Orthodox youth in the U.S., according to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco. Around 67 parishes from all over the Western U.S. will be in attendance.

The festival is geared to promote Greek heritage and culture through dance, art and music, and is open to the public.

A one-day pass is $25 and a three-day pass is $70, according to the FDF website.

The hunger project will take place in the parking structure of the Town and Country Resort, while the festival will be held within the hotels convention center, located at 500 Hotel Circle North.
Four local Red Cross volunteers are en route to Northern California to assist relief efforts near the Oroville Dam Monday.

After thousands were ordered to evacuate their homes on Sunday due to damage at the Oroville Dam, the American Red Cross of San Diego/Imperial Counties deployed a group of volunteers to help.

Red Cross officials expect the number of local volunteers headed to Northern California to increase as the situation develops.

A shelter team of five is on standby, along with a pair of volunteers who will drive the Emergency Response Vehicle to help with feeding, said Red Cross officials.

"As long as there are evacuation orders in place and local authorities need our help, the Red Cross will be there to provide a safe place to stay, food, hydration and comfort items," said Billy Earley, Regional Chief Executive Officer for the San Diego/Imperial Counties region, in a statement.

Red Cross officials say they have already opened a shelter to support evacuees in Northern California near the Oroville dam, and they plan to open additional shelters as needed.

"This is a time for neighbors and communities to come together and support one another. We are one Red Cross and are proud to help our sister region, and fellow Californians, throughout this disaster response," said Earley.

Anyone can download the Red Cross Emergency App to access safety information on their mobile device, including emergency weather alerts, preparedness information and shelter locations, according to the Red Cross.
The 1997 death of a teenager, originally ruled as an accident, was recently changed to a homicide investigation after decades of urging by his mother.

Curtis Williamson, 16, got in an altercation with a group of people and ran into the water in Mission Bay to get away from them on March 26, 1997.

His family said the teenager feared for his life and tried to hold on to a buoy, but it wasn't enough. His body was found in the water the next day.

"It's very tragic. I mean, you have to think 20 years, so you're missing Christmas, weddings, family events," said his cousin, Detoisha Williamson.

Williamson's death was ruled an accident, but his mother was not satisfied. She fought for two decades to have it overturned and an investigation into who may be to blame for his death.

On Feb. 1, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office along with San Diego Police looked at the case again and determined the case to be a homicide.

"We haven't forgotten. We just want justice for our family," Detoisha said.

Anyone with information on the identity or location of the suspect is asked to call the Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $1,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to an arrest in this case.

Williamson's mother has started an online petition in an effort to get laws changed to help parents receive humane treatment, justice and closure when their childs death is being investigated.
The San Diego City Council voted 8-1 Tuesday to file a brief in support of the state of Washington in its lawsuit over President Donald Trump's recent executive order on immigration.

Councilman Scott Sherman cast the dissenting vote.

San Diego's leaders considered a suggestion that they join the amicus curiae brief in State of Washington vs. Donald Trump.

A letter signed by 30 local organizations and individuals urged councilmembers to support the suit.

"Many of our nations big-city mayors are speaking out against this executive order. Mayors in Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle, among others, have issued statements and joined protests to denounce the order and to support immigrants and refugees," the letter reads.

The president's executive order temporarily suspended the nation's refugee program and immigration from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Sudan and Yemen. The action sparked protests at airports around the country including San Diego International Airport and launched a legal challenge.

On Thursday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled against reinstating the executive order.

The justices said the argument that the ban targets Muslims raised "serious allegations" and presented "significant constitutional questions," and they agreed that courts could consider statements by Trump and his advisers about wishing to enact such a ban.

President Trump immediately vowed to challenge the appeals court decision in court but since then, some legal analysts have said the Republican administration may consider rescinding the order and rewriting it.

No other information was available.
Lovebirds, this ones for you: the county of San Diego is offered walk-in services on Tuesday  Valentines Day  for couples looking to tie the knot.

The county of San Diego issued marriage licenses and conducted wedding ceremonies at Waterfront Park in downtown San Diego  no appointment necessary. Couples were also able to renew their vows.

The County Administration Center, located at 1600 Pacific Highway, was the only county office offering walk-in wedding services on the holiday. Walk-ins visited Suite 273 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; couples with Feb. 14 appointments for marriage licenses and ceremonies said "I Do" between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

These days in San Diego County, a marriage license costs $70 while a wedding ceremony performed by county staffers costs an additional $88. But, what some couples may find priceless, is the special Feb. 14 date, which may make it easier to remember that anniversary year after year.

San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/Clerk Ernie Dronenburg Jr. said his office performs over 13,000 weddings annually in San Diego and Valentine's Day is certainly a great day to get married.

"You wont forget the day! Its a perfect day, its a wonderful day," Dronenburg told NBC 7. "My staff is here to help you  and we will get you married by the end of the day."

Among the wedding ceremonies performed Tuesday by the county's downtown office was a Spanish-language union for one couple. The happy pair smiled and hugged family and friends after saying their vows.

In this raw video, a couple weds on Valentine's Day 2017 in a Spanish-language ceremony at the county's downtown site.

Couple Kevin Schwartz and Matteo Paccini also said "I do." The grooms beamed after being pronounced husband and husband.

[Were] overjoyed  just so happy. This is the beginning of our lives  and I love him, so much, said Schwartz.

The couple, who have been together for more than two years, said they had planned to get married on Valentine's Day in San Diego all along -- so their anniversary date will always be remembered.

We wanted to do something special here, so we picked Valentines Day  also, so that he cant forget it, said Paccini, teasing his groom.

Paccini is from Italy and the pair said they have a bigger wedding ceremony planned there this September.

They said they were thrilled for a lifetime of love.

He completes me, said Schwartz. Hes my better half and he makes me a better person. Hes my sunshine.

We make each a better version of what we are right now, Paccini agreed.

At other county offices  San Marcos, El Cajon and Chula Vista  appointments were required for Valentines Day marriage services.

In the end, 73 marriage licenses were issued at the downtown San Diego office and 68 wedding ceremonies were performed on Valentine's Day.

Countywide, 117 couples were issued marriage licenses and 108 wedding ceremonies were performed.

[NATL]14 Top Romance Movies for Valentine's Day
A crackdown across the U.S. on illegal immigration has sparked mixed reactions from the local community.

More than 600 people were arrested across the nation, as U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has targeted scores of undocumented immigrants. President Donald Trump has called last week's ICE operations a 'crackdown.'

However, the newly appointed Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said these type of operations have been going on for years and are routine.

Although it's not yet clear if ICE will implement a strong crackdown in San Diego County, it's already having an impact on locals. The possibility of increased deportations raises strong opinions.

"I don't think it's right at all, and I wish that families would be able to stay together, but there isn't really much we can do about it," Martiza Vasquez, a San Diego resident, told NBC 7.

Another resident, who supports ICE's immigration enforcement, held a very different view.

People are here illegally, and if they are committing a crime, then they have every right to deport them, Linda Moore said.

During last week's raids, 680 people were arrested in operations that took place in five major cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, San Antonio, Atlanta and New York. Most of those arrested had a criminal record, according to Security Secretary Kelly.

Under President Obama's administration there were more than 200,000 removals of undocumented immigrants in 2016, according to ICE's webpage. In those cases, 58 percent of those deported had criminal records.
The San Diego Unified School District has decided not to vote on a resolution that would have extended an invitation to newly confirmed U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.

The resolution would have invited DeVos to come to the district on a "fact-finding mission to learn what the school district is doing to create quality public schools in every neighborhood, so that she can collect the data needed that will allow her to base her decisions on what is best for students rather than on any political ideology."

In a statement, Board President Richard Barrera said he initially co-sponsored a resolution inviting DeVos to visit, with Trustee John Lee Evans.

In an interview with NBC 7, Barrerra said by inviting DeVos to San Diego, DeVos could see how a community comes together to produce great outcomes for kids.

To clarify: Our school board is not inviting Secretary of Education Betsy #DeVos to visit SDUSD.  San Diego Unified (@sdschools) February 13, 2017

The resolution faced firm pushback from educators, parents and other stakeholders.

The leadership of the San Diego Education Association objected to the resolution.

In a statement, they wrote, in part: SDEA's 7,000 members believe San Diego Unified School Districts time and energy is better spent ensuring educators, students, and parents that it will stand with us in continuing to improve public education, while opposing any efforts to dismantle public education or divide our communities.

In an interview with NBC 7, Union President Lindsay Burningham said that"Betsy DeVos has spent her life trying to dismantle education in Michigan, one visit to an amazing district like San Diego Unified is not going to change who she is or what she's planning to do. Also, we have a lot more things we need to focus on in San Diego, referring to the budget deficit.

Now is not the time and place to invite DeVos, Burningham added.

Barrera says more than just the teacher's union objected. Parents and community partners were also concerned.

Some of the biggest objections came from people concerned about what he says is the fear among students regarding the president's stance on immigration.

Given the polarizing nature of the nomination and confirmation vote, Barrera said, a visit would be the wrong time to have that discussion. Barrera withdrew his support for the resolution, effectively killing the measure.

"Now is the time for those of us who believe in public education to stand together and confront the threat clearly posed by the DeVos ideology," Barrera said in a statement.

He added that it was not the board's intention to exclude anyone from the conversation by moving so quickly.
Jacob Bernstein, son of famed Washington Post reporter Carl Bernstein, stepped forward Tuesday and said he was the New York Times writer who was reprimanded for spreading unfounded rumors about first lady Melania Trump.

This is a four part tweet. 1. I want to take ownership of a mistake I made.  Jacob Bernstein (@BernsteinJacob) February 14, 2017

The allegations were made public by model/actress Emily Ratajkowski, who took to social media to blast Bernstein for the comments.

Sat next to a journalist from the NYT last night who told me "Melania is a hooker." Whatever your politics it's crucial to call this out for  Emily Ratajkowski (@emrata) February 13, 2017

In response to the uproar, Melania Trump tagged Ratajkowski in a tweet in which she applauded all women "who speak up."

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Without naming Bernstein, a New York Times spokesman confirmed to NBC the incident occurred and that the reporter involved had been reprimanded.

"At a party last night, a Times reporter who does not cover Washington or politics, referred to an unfounded rumor regarding Melania Trump. The comment was not intended to be public, but it was nonetheless completely inappropriate and should not have occurred. Editors have talked to the reporter in question about the lapse."

Earlier this month a Maryland judge dismissed Trump's libel lawsuit against Britain's Daily Mail newspaper over an article that contained insinuations that she had worked as an escort.

Trump refiled the lawsuit last week.

[NATL] Melania Trump Statue Unveiled in Her Native Slovenia
The mobile lounge shuttles at Dulles International Airport have been involved in at least 16 collisions or mishaps since 2007, including two in the past year, a News4 I-Team investigation revealed.

Though many of the incidents were considered minor, one of the accidents was fatal and others caused injuries. Collectively, these incidents have raised questions about the safety of the mobile lounge system.

The mobile lounge vehicles are shuttles which carry passengers to areas of the airport which offer international flights or sections that are difficult to access via the airports train system. Many of the lounge vehicles were built and first deployed when the airport first opened in the 1960s.

The most recent mobile lounge mishap injured two passengers in October. A mobile lounge operator backed his vehicle into a construction pit. According to a police report, 29 passengers were aboard and two were transported to Reston Hospital Center with injuries. One of those passengers, Barbara Callahan, of Strasburg, Virginia, said she suffered a head injury in the accident, when she was flung into a poll inside the lounge.

All I can remember is that there was a lurch forward, Callahan said. I flew forward and hit a pole.

It felt like a car hitting you from behind, she said.

The mobile lounge operator was disciplined for his role in the accident, an airport official said.

There was a breakdown in his driving behavior, the official said. I would classify it as a loss of situational awareness.

In April, two mobile lounges collided, according to a police report obtained by the I-Team under the Freedom of Information Act. There were no injuries in the mishap, which happened late in the afternoon. One lounge operator turned the vehicle from a parking spot and struck another lounge, according to the police report.

Mishaps are rare and not indicative of any safety problems with the system, airport managers said. The mobile lounges will continue to be used through the foreseeable future, said Christopher Browne, who served as airport director through early 2017.

We are always looking to make things safer, Browne said. They are extremely safe. Theyre the safest vehicles operating on the airfield today.

Browne confirmed the two mishaps in 2016 occurred within six months of each other. Regarding those mishaps, Browne said, It's obviously an issue of concern that we have looked at very closely. I don't believe there's a theme or a thread that connects those two. We're looking at it as closely as we possibly can."

Most of the recent mishaps were minor, Browne said.

Some were lounges backing into a bollard, he said. There was damage to the vehicle, certainly of no risk to passengers and others involved.

Relatives of a baggage handler killed in a mobile lounge accident in 2012 said the recent mishaps indicate there are safety risks with the mobile lounge system. In the 2012 crash, a mobile lounge collided into a baggage cart driven by Jared Dodson of Loudoun County, Virginia. The collision tossed Dodson from his cart. According to a police report, the operator of the mobile lounge failed to realize he has driving directly into the path that the (luggage) tug was traveling.

His mother said Dodson had expressed concern about the safety of working near the mobile lounges prior to the fatal accident.

I think its fair to say he never knew what hit him, Dodsons father said. How could the (mobile lounge operator) not see a tug carrying four carts of luggage?

I think the mobile lounges are unsafe. Theyre antiquated, JC Dodson said. New technologies that are available today are not being considered.

An investigation of the deadly crash determined the driver of the mobile lounge was not at fault, Browne said.

In a series of court filings, attorneys for the Dodson family said the driver failed to make a proper 90-degree turn in the mobile lounge while turning near Dodsons baggage cart.

The Dodson family sued the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority for civil damages. They settled for $2 million, according to court filings reviewed by the I-Team.

The court filings also reveal disputes between the Dodson family and the airport about potential safety risks in the mobile lounges. The lawsuit alleged visibility, including the view of the speedometer, is poor inside the drivers cab of the mobile lounges.

The familys lawsuit also said the airports decision to remove side windshield wipers from all of the mobile lounges risks creating visibility problems during rain. In a deposition conducted by attorneys in the civil lawsuit, the manager of the mobile lounge said the wipers were removed because they often broke off the vehicles when they docked at pickup locations.

The visibility of the speedometer is not a risk, because the lounges are not able to reach excessive levels of speed, Browne said. The speed limit for lounges is 20 mph.

The airport has issued violations against lounge operators for not following safety rules, Browne said.

In a statement to police in 2012, the operator of the mobile lounge involved in the fatal crash with Dodson said, Im sure darkness contributed to the accident. He also said, Smaller vehicles dont always see us, or sometimes they dont pay attention to us.

The airport added new exterior lighting to the lounges after the fatal accident in 2012, Browne said.

The strobe lights on the lounges help other people see the mobile lounges, but they dont stop a driver from driving over somebody on the flight line, Dodsons father told the I-Team.

The airport should also consider banning mobile lounge operators from carrying cellphones, to ensure none is operating a lounge while texting or making calls, Dodsons parents said.

Though the airport prohibits the use of phones by operators while inside the vehicles, it does not ban operators from carrying their phones while on duty. The lounges are not equipped with cockpit cameras to monitor operators and their cellphone usage, Dodsons family said.

The airports ban on cellphone use by mobile operators is an effective deterrent against driver distraction, Browne said.

Callahan, the Virginia woman injured in the October, said she is surprised the airport continues to use the vehicles.

I always thought there were better ways of doing things, she said.

The lounge shuttles are crucial for airport operations, particularly in ferrying passengers to international flights, Browne said. International passengers must be kept secure and separated from other airport travelers until they are formally cleared through customs. The mobile lounges allow the airport to do so, Browne said.

Reported by Scott MacFarlane, produced by Rick Yarborough and Ashley Brown, and shot and edited by Jeff Piper.
A United States district judge has ruled President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration violates the Constitution and has granted a preliminary injunction against the order, according to court documents.

In the document, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema said there is evidence that the presidents travel ban violates the First and Fifth Amendments and would cause "irreparable injury" to Virginia residents, Virginia institutions and persons connected to those persons and institutions.

In her conclusions after the oral arguments, she wrote, "Maximum power does not mean absolute power. Every presidental action must still comply with the limits set by Congress' delegation of power and the constraints of the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights."

Brinkema based her decision on several incidents, including the president calling for a "Muslim ban" during the campaign and his statements of helping persecuted Christians, making them a priority for help. She also pointed to evidence the president did not consult with experts on immigration.

"To the contrary, there is evidence that the president's senior national security officials were taken by surprise," she wrote, adding the people involved in crafting the order was not privy to any national security information while developing the policy.

She agreed with the state's contention that it would suffer irreparable harm if the executive order were to stand. She wrote the likelihood of an Establishment Clause violation and the restraint on liberty imposed by the ban on students and faculty of the Commonweath's universities were sufficient to establish harm by the executive order.

"Enjoining unconstitutional action by the Executive Branch is always in the public's interest," Brinkema wrote.

The judge did limit the scope of the injunction to just Virginia, pointing out there is a nationwide temporary restraining order being sought in Washington state that would provide the broader protection being sought by the state.

Attorney General Mark Herring praised the ruling, calling the president's order "unlawful, unconstitutional, and un-American."

"We presented a mountain of evidence showing this was the 'Muslim ban' that President Trump promised as a candidate, while his administration failed to refute one shred of our evidence or provide any of its own to support its claims," Herring said in a statement. "The overwhelming evidence shows that this ban was conceived in religious bigotry and is actually making Americans and our armed forces less safe at home and abroad. This preliminary injunction will protect Virginians while our case is pending, and the opinion explaining it lays out in stunning detail the extent to which the Court finds this order to likely violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution."

A federal appeals court in California has already upheld a national temporary restraining order stopping the government from implementing the ban, which is directed at seven Muslim-majority countries. But the preliminary injunction issued by Brinkema is a more permanent type of injunction than the temporary restraining order issued in the Washington state case.
A 17-year-old girl is missing from her home in Fairfax County, Virginia, and police believe she is in danger following the killing of another teen girl.

Venus Romero Iraheta has been missing from her home in the Alexandria section of the county for nearly a month and is believed to be under the control of gang members, police said.

Two other teen girls who police say had contact with gang members have recently been found in Fairfax County. One teen returned home safe; the other was found dead.

Iraheta knew the teen who was found dead, 2nd Lt. Brian Gaydos said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

"Multiple overlapping investigations" are underway, he said.

Information on other cases informed the search for Iraheta.

"Due to recent developments in several current/ongoing investigations, detectives now believe Venus might be endangered," a statement issued by police earlier Tuesday said.

Iraheta left home with a black-and-red backpack full of clothes on Jan. 15, police said. She was last seen in Fairfax, Virginia.

"Venus was involved with known gang members, and threats had reportedly been made against her and her family," police said Tuesday afternoon in a statement. "It is believed gang members coerced her into leaving again and that she is now back under their control."

Fairfax County Police Department

The teen, who attended Annandale High School, previously was reported missing Jan. 9 and had returned home safe by Jan. 13, police said.

Romero Iraheta stands 5-foot-1, weighs 115 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. She has tattoos on her left wrist and on her back. She was wearing a flowered shirt and green pants when she was last seen.

Anyone with information on Romero Iraheta's whereabouts is asked to call 911 immediately, or Fairfax County police, at 703-691-2131.

Two other teen girls who police say had contact with gang members have recently been found in the area.

Lizzy Colindres, 16, left home in Springfield with her infant son because she feared the baby's father, who had gang ties, police said. She returned home safe on Saturday after nearly a month.

Damaris A. Reyes Rivas, 15, was reported missing from her home in Gaithersburg, Maryland. There were fears for Reyes Rivas' safety because she had contact with gang members. Police found her body in an industrial park in Springfield on Saturday.

Stay with News4 for more details on this developing story.
Police believe that human remains recently found near an industrial park in Fairfax County, Virginia, are those of a 15-year-old girl who went missing from Montgomery County, Maryland, two months earlier.

Alexandra Reyes of Gaithersburg was reported missing Dec. 10.

On Saturday, more than 30 miles south, Fairfax County police found a body they believe was hers. A medical examiner ruled the death a homicide and determined the victim suffered trauma to the upper body.

Police said Reyes knew people with gang affiliations. A 17-year-old girl she knew is missing and believed to be in danger.

Reyes' devastated mother spoke about her daughter on Tuesday at her home.

"My daughter was a good person -- not because she was my daughter, but because she was truly good, sweet. She got along with everybody," her mother said in Spanish, asking that News4 withhold her name for her safety.

Reyes' mother said her daughter told her that MS-13 gang members began to threaten her at school. In late November, just after Alexandra turned 15, she left home. She stayed in touch with her mom and eventually returned home.

Then, on Dec. 10, she left again.

She told me, 'No, Mom, I want to see you, but I can't return,'" the teen's mother recalled. "'Why?' I asked her. "No, Mom, I can't tell you.'"

She heard from her daughter for the last time on Jan 6.

Reyes never returned home.

The body was found on the 7100 block of Wimsatt Road in Springfield as police searched for a missing juvenile.

The investigation by police in Fairfax and Montgomery counties is ongoing. Five people are in police custody. Police did not confirm whether they believe suspects have ties to MS-13. Police said they do not believe there is any threat to public safety.

Two other teen girls who police say had contact with gang members have recently gone missing in Fairfax County. One teen returned home safe; the other is still missing.

"Multiple overlapping investigations" are underway, 2nd Lt. Brian Gaydos said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

Lizzy Colindres, 16, and her 5-month-old baby, Aiden, returned home to Springfield after they were missing for nearly a month. Police said they believed the teen mom and infant were in danger. They were seeking the child's father, who police said had gang ties.

Venus Romero Iraheta has been missing for nearly a month, police said Tuesday. She left home after receiving threats from gang members, according to police. Iraheta knew Reyes, police said.

Reyes' body was found not far from the neighborhood where Colindres lives.

Reyes mother cried on Tuesday as she spoke about her daughter.

"She was a little girl. Barely 15," she said.

Anyone with information on Reyes' case is asked to call Fairfax County police at 703-691-2131, reach Crime Solvers online here or text a tip to CRIMES (274637). Any texted tips should contain "TIP187" in addition to the message.

Stay with NBC4 and NBCWashington.com for details on this developing story.
What to Know Miaquita Gray was shot and killed Feb. 4 in the parking lot of a Beer 4 U store in Charles County, Maryland.

Homicide suspect Anthony Dangelo Wilkins has been found.

Police are still looking for suspect Charles Leon Thompson.

A suspect involved in a shooting Feb. 4 in Charles County, Maryland, has been located.

Anthony Dangelo Wilkins, 33, was wanted after he pulled a gun in a parking lot firing multiple rounds, killing Miaquita Gray and wounding another man, police said.

According to police, Wilkins was found after he was involved in a shooting with Virginia State Police Sunday. Wilkins was taken to a hospital where authorities confirmed his identity.

The second suspect in Gray's death, 33-year-old Charles Leon Thompson Jr., has not been found. Thompson is 5-feet-6-inches tall, 190 pounds and has tattoos on his arms and neck. A cash reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of Thompson.

Miaquita Gray, 26, of Lexington Park, Maryland, was shot and killed last week after she left a Beer 4 U store, located in the 2100 block of Crain Highway in Waldorf, Maryland. Police said Gray was with a man, 24, who had been assaulted by two suspects inside the bar.

Investigators said Gray and the man were leaving through the parking lot, where Wilkins and Thompson were. Wilkins pulled a gun and fired multiple rounds, hitting Gray one time and injuring the man in the leg, police said.

Police do not believe Gray was the intended target. Both suspects fled the scene. Police are unsure what prompted the original assault and subsequent shooting.

Police are asking that anyone with information call Detective B. Buchanan at (301) 609-6477.
Drivers in Frederick, Maryland, were told to expect major delays after a tractor-trailer accident Tuesday morning.

The crash happened in the northbound lanes of Route 15 near 7th Street. Just one northbound lane of Route 15 is open, and 7th Street is closed in both directions at the Route 15 ramps, Frederick Police said on Twitter.

Drivers were told to avoid Route 15 at 7th Street, Route 40, Jefferson Street and Rosemont Avenue.

Market and East streets are also experiencing heavy traffic, Frederick Police said.

Authorities have not yet provided further details of the crash.

Maryland State Police are investigating.
A lawsuit by Washington state and Minnesota challenging President Donald Trump's travel ban will proceed as an appellate court considers a preliminary injunction in the case, a federal judge ruled Monday in Seattle.

The Justice Department had wanted to put the case on hold while the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decides whether a larger, 11-judge panel will review a government request to allow the ban.

But U.S. District Judge James Robart, who previously issued a temporary restraining order halting the ban, said the lawsuit can go forward. The states said that process wouldn't interfere with review by appellate courts.

Robart directed both sides to prepare for their arguments on whether Trump's travel ban should be permanently blocked.

A three-judge federal appeals court panel last week refused to toss out the injunction and reinstate the travel ban. The panel unanimously rejected the administration's claim of presidential authority in the matter.

Washington and Minnesota argued that formal evidence gathering should begin immediately in the case.

"Given the gravity of the states' constitutional allegations, defendants' stated national security concerns and the public interests at stake, the states respectfully submit that discovery should proceed without delay," the state lawyers said in a legal brief.

Michelle Bennett, a Justice Department lawyer, told Robart there was no basis for speeding up the process, arguing the states are not being harmed because there's a temporary injunction in place.

She asked Robart to stick with a previous schedule that gives the government until April 3 to file a response to the states' complaint. Robart said he was "surprised" by that statement, since the president had said he wants to "see you in court."

After the 9th Circuit panel ruled against the Justice Department, Trump sent out a tweet saying, "SEE YOU IN COURT, THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE!"

Robart said there is a "very sensitive time issue" in the case and he wasn't prepared to slow it down.

Also Monday, a federal judge in Virginia granted a preliminary injunction against the travel ban, saying there is evidence it would cause irreparable injury to Virginia residents and institutions.

Last week, the three-judge appellate panel sided with Washington and Minnesota, which say the ban illegally targets Muslims. Justice Department lawyers say it is intended to prevent terrorism and can't be second-guessed by courts.

Trump's ban temporarily suspended the nation's refugee program and immigration from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Sudan and Yemen  nations that have sparked terrorism concerns.

In deciding whether to put Trump's order on hold, the three-judge panel said the administration presented no evidence that any foreigner from the seven countries was responsible for a terrorist attack in the U.S.

Trump's initial executive order sparked protests nationwide and confusion at airports as some travelers were detained.
FT. LAUDERDALE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / February 14, 2017 / BoardroomPR, one of Florida's largest public relations and integrated marketing agencies, announced today that Kelsey Dean has been promoted to Senior Account Executive.

Dean previously served as Account Executive after joining the firm as an Account Coordinator in 2013. A skilled publicist and South Florida native, she focuses her practice on the real estate industry. Internally, she is Co-Chair of the firm's Real Estate Practice Group, a team consisting of the company's publicists who focus heavily on the specific industry.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) - Greater Ft. Lauderdale Chapter as the Secretary and is Chair of its New PRos group, which she established to provide support, networking, and professional development events for newcomers to the public relations and communications industry. Dean is also an active member of the Board of the University of Florida's Broward alumni association, the Broward County Gator Club, where she serves as Vice President of Communications and Vice President of Events. She is also a member of Leadership Broward Class XXXV, which concludes June 2017.

Dean earned a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from the University of Florida, with an additional concentration in business administration.

About BoardroomPR:

BoardroomPR is among the largest PR and integrated marketing agencies in Florida, specializing in media relations, online marketing, branding, public affairs, and crisis communications. The firm has offices in Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando, and Miami. The recipe for much of Boardroom's success has come from its experienced staff's opportunistic approach, energy, and uncanny ability to convert a client's vision into a workable plan that gets them where they want to go. BoardroomPR crafts public relations campaigns that bridge new and traditional media to generate newspaper, magazine, trade journal, radio, television coverage, and online media through its customized game plans designed to accomplish client objectives. Online services include website and blog development and marketing, social media management, Search Engine Marketing (SEM), and Search Engine Optimization (SEO). For more information, visit www.boardroompr.com.

SOURCE: BoardroomPR
Two New Hampshire women have been charged with exploiting at least a dozen women through a sex trafficking operation that masqueraded as an online "escort" service in at least three states, according to Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey.

Sonya Palic, 46, of Manchester, and Charlotte Napolitano, 45, of Derry, were arrested on Feb. 8 and charged with trafficking in persons for sexual servitude and money laundering, among other charges.

Healey's office was alerted to the case in September of 2016 by police in Waltham, and investigators with the AG's office discovered that Palic and Napolitano allegedly ran the operation from their New Hampshire homes.

The operation allegedly offered "escort" services in Massachusetts, New York and New Hampshire through a now-defunct site, chloescompanions.com.

Between 12 and 15 women were trafficked through the site, which would set up meetings with men at hotels to provide sexual services for cash, and a large portion of which would go to Palic and Napolitano to continue the business, investigators said.

Palic was arraigned on Feb. 8 in Concord District Court. She pleaded not guilty and bail was set at $100,000 cash. She is due back in court on March 20 for a probable cause hearing.

Napolitano was arraigned Monday in Concord District Court. She pleaded not guilty and bail was set at $75,000 cash. Napolitano is due back in Concord District Court on March 8 for a probable cause hearing.

Both Napolitano and Palic were ordered to also stay away from their alleged victims, customers and each other in addition to surrendering their passports.

The investigation is still ongoing.
Officials are looking for three men following the homicide of a man found dead in the snow in Lynn, Massachusetts, Monday morning.

According to the Essex County District Attorneys Office, police officers responded to a 911 call around 4 a.m. near 10 Surfside Rd., but did not find anything out of the ordinary.

Around 5 a.m., police received another call from an area resident who found the body while snowblowing.

Police say 38-year-old Carlos Aponte was found dead from visible injuries to his upper chest and lower neck. It has been determined the injury was a gunshot wound.

Surveillance video shows three men leaving the victim's apartment complex just hours before the disturbing discovery.

Neighbors, who live at the same building as Aponte, said he had been living in Lynn for four months. They said he left behind two children in Lynn and one in the Dominican Republic.

No other details were immediately available.
Police are looking to identify the man caught on surveillance in two separate robberies in Cambridge.

The first incident happened on Friday evening when a 66-year-old woman called police to report that she was robbed by a man on School Street. The victim said she was approached by a man who said he needed money and motioned as if he had a gun.

After looking through the victim's bag and only seeing an ATM card, the man allegedly walked her to a nearby bank on Massachusetts Avenue where he made her withdraw $100. He then walked her to the Central Square T Station where the victim got on a train and later contacted police.

About 8 hours later on Saturday, a loss prevention manager at a Cambridge department store contacted police to report that their stores glass panel doors were forced in and that cash registers were pried open. The suspect had allegedly fled the store with cash.

In both cases, the suspect caught on surveillance is described as a bearded, heavy set man who was wearing a dark hooded jacket with dark pants. Police believe the suspect is the same man.

Anyone with any information on either of the incidents is urged to contact Cambridge Police at 617-349-3370.
Authorities in Massachusetts are looking for two men accused of starting a house fire while they were manufacturing MDMA, commonly known as Ecstacy.

North Reading police say they will charge Lowell Navarro, 26, and Jacob Stanish, 31, both North Reading residents, with unlawful manufacturing of a Class B controlled substance and conspiracy to violate drug laws.

Firefighters and police officers responded to the fire at 6 Travelled Way on Feb. 7, when officers at the scene noticed a strange odor and thick, black smoke coming from the house, which police say isn't normal in a typical house fire.

Officers quickly called in haz-mat and a specialized DEA team to the scene, and after the fire was put out, investigators found a hidden room with drug manufacturing equipment, according to police.

"This was an extremely dangerous situation, in which a drug lab was operating in a residential neighborhood with houses stacked closely to one another," North Reading Police Chief Michael Murphy said in a statement.

No one was injured in the fire, and the cause of the fire is still being investigated.

Anyone with information on Navarro's or Stanish's whereabouts is asked to call police.
Police say they're looking for a masked suspect who stole narcotics from a Rochester, New Hampshire pharmacy while donning camouflage clothing.

Police say witnesses reported seeing the suspect enter the Care Pharmacy alone on Monday night and sprint toward the back of the store.

Police say the suspect then took off on foot with an undisclosed amount of narcotics. He did not show a weapon and no one was hurt.

A police dog tracked the suspect in the area but couldn't find him. The suspect may have fled in a car.

Police are urging anyone with information to come forward. Rochester Crime Line is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest.
A Massachusetts man is facing charges for allegedly exposing himself at an MBTA stop.

Transit police said an officer responded to the Ashmont Station in Dorchester on Sunday at 4:09 p.m. for a report of a disorderly man. Upon arrival, an MBTA employee pointed out 29-year-old Cambridge resident John Gearty, who police say was acting loud and belligerent.

When the transit officer approached Gearty, police said he began to yell obscenities and further create a disturbance. He also allegedly made homophobic slurs directed towards the MBTA employee.

While the transit officer began to remove Gearty, police said he dropped his pants and underwear and began to gyrate his body  fully in view of MBTA patrons.

Gearty was taken into custody and is now facing charges of disorderly conduct and indecent exposure.
Police in Massachusetts are looking for a teenager accused of shooting a man in Randolph last week.

Romaine Sanchez, a 19-year-old Brockton resident, is accused of shooting a 32-year-old man in the face and neck on Feb. 7. The victim was hospitalized with serious injuries, but he is expected to recover.

Sanchez is considered armed and dangerous. According to Randolph police, he was last seen in an older Mitsubishi Gallant with a temporary rear driver's side tire. He was a passenger in that car.

Additionally, police believe Sanchez was involved in a violent assault earlier on the day of the shooting. Between 2 and 3 a.m., he is accused of getting in a fight with a different man over a piece of stolen property. Sanchez allegedly pulled a handgun and threatened to shoot the man before pistol-whipping him and fleeing.

Charges against Sanchez include armed assault with intent to murder, threatening to kill, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, carrying a firearm without a license and firing a gun in a building.

Anyone with information on Sanchez's whereabouts is asked to call (781) 963-1212.
The more than 10 inches of snow that fell Sunday night into Monday morning in the area of Burlington, Vermont, certainly made a lot of work for a lot of people -- namely plow operators and homeowners who had to clear driveways and vehicles.

But for the Hoffmanns from Brazil, visiting Vermont as a family for the first time, it was all play.

"It's fun," beamed 8-year-old Hugo Hoffman as he prepared to try sledding.

The accumulations of powder were so deep at their friends' house that the family's first sledding runs were pretty tough, until some of the snow became packed down.

"It's the first time we're seeing snow," laughed mom Marta Hoffman. "And we love it because in Brazil, it's so different. There, it is too hot, and we are freezing here!"

Of course, Vermont's ski areas were thrilled with this snowfall, especially because it came so close to school vacations and the key Presidents' Day weekend.

However, it wasn't smooth sailing for all resorts. Several announced on social media accounts that they had to temporarily close lifts because of high winds.
St Peter Mancroft Church Norwich Presents The Leaves of the Trees an installation by sculptor Peter Walker which provides a memorial for those who died of Covid-19

St Peter Mancroft Church Norwich Presents The Leaves of the Trees an installation by sculptor Peter Walker which provides a memorial for those who died of Covid-19

Community Chaplaincy Norfolk begins a new chapter Community Chaplaincy Norfolk (CCN) celebrated the beginning of a new chapter this week, as the new chair of trustees Chris Tomlinson led his first annual meeting. Read more

Lowestoft Christians launch on-line bible helps app The Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth branch of Good News for Everyone (GNFE), formerly the Gideons, have introduced a new mobile phone app called On-line Bible Helps. Read more

Addicts' rehabilitation centre plan for Drayton Hall Christian addiction charity Teen Challenge London is planning to turn Drayton Hall near Norwich into its headquarters and a rehabilitation centre for men, after it was gifted the freehold of the hall by its owner, the Lind Trust. Read more

The power of positive protest Philip Young encourages us to take a stand for what we believe, and has just written to Therese Coffey regarding climate change and the forthcoming COP 27. He explains why we should be prepared to protest. Read more

Norwich church celebrates with cribs and trees Rosebery Road Methodist Church in Norwich will be holding its annual Cribs and Trees Festival in December. Read more

Transforming Norwich lunch offers ministry tips Ex-Brighton vicar, Rev Phil Moon, will offer tips on how to keep going in ministry to the Transforming Norwich leaders lunch on Wednesday November 16. Read more

Quiet Waters in Bungay offers healing retreat Quiet Waters Christian Retreat in Bungay is holding a gentle day retreat exploring healing in the Kingdom of God. Read more

Latest Norfolk Christian community events Events of interest to the Norwich and Norfolk Christian community happening over the next few weeks are listed. Read more

Norfolk ministry coaching duo are guest speakers Former church leaders and now freelance ministry coaches, Jonathan and Paige Squirrell, are the guest speakers at the next dinner of Norwich FGB on Monday, November 21. Read more

Bringing light to Halloween Anna Price encourages Christians to engage positively with Halloween rather than hide away, on what many see as the darkest night of the year. Read more

First service takes place at Norwich church site SOUL Church hosted around 400 people for a special service on the site of their new building on Heartsease Lane. Read more

Dereham draws up list of warm places for winter As rising energy prices make it harder to heat homes, churches in Dereham are leading the way in creating warm spaces where people can go. Read more

South Norfolk church scoops national award A medieval Anglican church in a tiny hamlet in South Norfolk has won a national award and a 10,000 boost. Read more

Dereham churches help people to help themselves A group of churches in Dereham have launched an ambitious project which aims to meet needs in the town, including the provision of food and skills training. Read more

Halloween light in Gorleston church On Halloween this year, St Mary Magdalene Church in Gorleston will be preparing to welcome around 200 families to experience their Light on a Dark Night event. Read more

An opportunity for Norwich to pray for the nation Rev Nigel Fox, who has served as a Methodist Minister for 15 years in Norwich, shares an open invitation to pray for the nation at a crucial moment. Read more

Norwich church seeks musicians Kingdom Ambassadors International Church is appealing for instrumentlists, keyboardists and guitarists to be part of their worship experience. Read more
The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, known as KAUST, is a fascinating place. A literal and figurative oasis about an hour north of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, KAUST is a tier-one research university with a mission to inspire discoveries that address global challenges and to serve as a beacon of knowledge that bridges people and cultures for the betterment of humanity.

Last week, KAUST brought together nearly 100 leaders from industry, government, education and other research institutions to help it craft its forward-looking IT strategy. But more than just helping craft their strategy, this summit proved to be a model for executing a digital transformation.

A modern incarnation of the Medici Effect

Author Frans Johansson coined the term The Medici Effect in his 2004 book of the same name. The term describes the innovation that occurs when people of different cultures, backgrounds, disciplines and perspectives come together and interact.

The term references Johanssons belief that the Medici family of Florence effectively, but unknowingly, kicked off the Renaissance by bringing together the greatest artists of the time and allowing them to interact and feed off of one anothers work. As I walked around KAUST, I could not help but feel that I was witnessing a similar effect.

Within its tightly controlled compound, more than 7,000 people from almost 100 countries interact on a daily basis. It seemed only natural, therefore, that the IT organization would use this same model of international collaboration and interaction to define its IT strategy.

The history of KAUST is one of collaboration and working with thought leaders from around the world, said John Larson, KAUSTs CIO and organizer of the event. Crowdsourcing the IT strategy, therefore, is both intellectually stimulating [for the IT team] and rewarding for the university.

Diversity sets the stage for digital transformation

While the objective of the event was to help define and refine KAUSTs IT strategy, the process they used to do so also set the stage for the cultural transformation that is at the core of any digital transformation effort.

The first step to designing a digital transformation strategy is to create thought diversity, said Munir Bhimani, program leader for Cyber Security Response Services with GE Digital and a summit attendee. The more diverse input you get, the better strategy youll get.

The most remarkable part of the event was watching the KAUST IT staff lead a series of highly interactive tabletop discussions with CIOs, CTOs and industry leaders from around the world. As they collectively shared ideas, explored and challenged KAUSTs existing strategy and debated industry trends, you could watch the perspectives of both the invited dignitaries and the KAUST staff shift and grow.

Bringing together a diverse group of people of different backgrounds with diverse experiences and knowledge, we were able to look at where new ideas and emerging technologies are intersecting and may change the path of the future of IT, said Raed Al-Rabeh, manager of Saudi Aramcos Exploration and Petroleum Engineering Computer Center Operations. We wouldnt have the opportunity to do this without this kind of event.

A cultural and personal transformation challenge

According to a recent MIT Sloan Management Review study, the three most important employee skills needed in the digital workplace (during and after a digital transformation) are a change-oriented mindset, digital and technology literacy, and strategic thinking. Moreover, the same study showed that those organizations further along on their transformational journey were five times more likely to have provided their teams the opportunities to develop these skills.

The message from both this study and my personal observations studying organizations executing digital transformations is clear: Digital transformation is powered, first and foremost, by the transformation of your culture and the skills of your team.

As any business or IT leader knows, however, the cultural and personal transformation are the hardest parts of a digital transformation journey. Its also critical to recognize that its not about IT, but rather a transformational journey that transcends the organizationand this is where the KAUST event is most instructive.

A model for digital transformation

KAUSTs summit brought together a diverse set of IT executives from both higher education and industry, along with top university researchers, technology vendors and industry thought leaders from all over the world. They also included almost their entire IT organization as participants and extended an open invitation to the whole KAUST community of researchers, faculty, students and administrators to join in. Even though the objective was to build out their IT strategy, this wasnt just a summit of IT folks.

The result was stunning. Throughout the summit, a diverse cross section of senior leaders from technology vendors (including Cray, Microsoft, HPE and Intel), university researchers and administrators, and IT executives from leading organizations from around the world mingled freely with KAUSTs IT and university community. In both structured sessions and during casual conversations, they explored the implications of technology trends and how KAUST could best leverage technology to support its mission as a world-leading research institution.

It was the Medici Effect in actionand it will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on both KAUSTs IT staff and the entire organization as they continue on their transformational journey.

But perhaps more important, its a model for every organization struggling to break through organizational inertia and cultural stagnation as they seek to transform. While you may not be able to replicate KAUSTs global reach, every organization can replicate this process.

Within every community there is a broad range of technology vendors, business leaders and IT executives who will welcome the opportunity to participate in your own digital strategy summityou just need to ask them. The result will be just as powerful for your organization: changed mindsets and new perspectives, fresh ideas, and innovative strategies and a re-invigorated team ready to lead your organization into the digital future.

Disclosure: KAUST paid a speaking fee and covered my travel expenses for this event, a standard industry practice. As of the time of writing, none of the other organizations mentioned in this article are Intellyx customers.
Bolstered by a new Goldman Sachs research note that put a target price of $150 on AAPL, shares of the Cupertio, California-based company opened strong Monday and closed at $133.29. In turn, shares of Apple reached a new all-time closing high Monday, besting the previous high of $132.54, which the company hit back in May of 2015.

The Goldman Sachs research note aside, investors seem to be unusually optimistic about Apple's future prospects primarily due to the impending iPhone 8, which already has all the trappings of huge record-breaking release. Based on recent reports, it appears the iPhone 8 will eliminate the iPhone's traditional top and bottom bezels and will instead feature a completely edgeless OLED display. Additionally, there are rumors that the iPhone 8 will introduce some new augmented reality features while delivering a huge leap forward in battery life.

All that said, it's perhaps not too surprising that Apple will reportedly price its flagship iPhone 8 model at $1,000.
It all started with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Prior to VoIP, the PBX was totally independent with its own server connected to proprietary endpoints (telephones) over a proprietary network. VoIP enabled telephony to co-mingle with other servers, networks and endpoints.

Telephony grabbed hold of the concept of unified communications (UC) and made PBX a legacy term. A single UC client could support voice, voicemail and instant messaging (IM). UC APIs offered communications capabilities to other applications.

While the UC industry has done a great deal with multi-modal communications, it has not been successful at unifying communications. In many ways, we are more connected and converse more than ever before, but most of these conversations occur outside of the UC suite.

Email is the big one. Email still technically works, but it was never designed for todays workload. Last in, first out just isnt practical with todays volume of messages. The Radicati Group recently reported that 132 billion emails are expected to be sent and received daily by the end of 2017.

Another culprit is messaging. First, it was consumer apps such as Skype, Hangouts and Facebook. Then came enterprise apps such as Slack and HipChat, which were created specifically for business. These applications are better suited for the way communications styles and preferences have changed.

We used to go to meetings and become otherwise unavailable by leaving our desks and phones behind, knowing our calls would go to voicemail. Today, we take our phones with us. We are always connected, so our calls follow and interrupt us. Its too easy for messages to get lost in email and voicemail, so messaging provides an interesting alternative. Simply put, it can be more urgent than email without being as intrusive as calling.

Messaging apps, though islands themselves, also work across organizational boundaries. The instant messaging applications associated with UC clients are mostly limited to internal colleagues. Internal-only workplace communications systems simply dont make a lot of sense anymore.

While UC APIs have enabled other applications for communications, these new messaging apps use APIs the other way: to bring content from other apps into the centralized workstream. They effectively become a workplace portal, which is why I call them workstream messaging applications. Other popular names for this emerging category include team chat and workstream collaboration.

Just dont call them unified communications apps. They shun that title as much as the UC industry shunned PBX. Oddly enough, however, thats exactly what they do best. In addition to providing visibility across multiple applications, workstream messaging applications also offer a unified portal to people (directories and contacts), content (shared documents) and communications (asynchronous and real time).

3 workstream messaging categories

Quite a few workstream messaging applications are playing a form of feature Leapfrog. I put these apps into three broad categories. The first being startups. Here, Slack gets most of the attention because it was the first to really build traction in workstream messaging. The big question is whether Slack will continue to grow and become the next Facebook or inspire larger competitors and become the next Netscape.

The second category includes well-known, established firms such as Facebook and IBM that see a new opportunity. One colloquial way to describe workstream messaging is indeed Facebook for work, and thats the logic of Workplace by Facebook. In addition to a low price per user, Workplace offers reduced training, since the app is so like its consumer service. IBM Workspace uses Watson AI to automate tasks and determine context.

The third category includes the UC companies that were mostly asleep at the switch but are suddenly engaged. This includes companies such as Cisco, Microsoft, Unify, RingCentral and many others that have created, built or acquired workstream messaging applications. The advantage they bring to the table is extensive experience with real-time communications, including telephony.

Real-time communications, plus real-time telephony

Now that theres a clear shift in preferences and behaviors toward messaging, the UC companies are scrambling to adapt. That may seem like a big task, but at the same time, the messaging companies are pushing to figure out real-time telephony. That includes telephones, conferencing, contact centers and decades of interfaces.

These workstream messaging applications effectively capture (and preserve) conversations across multiple modalities, including voice. Telephony may not be sexy, but it remains important and complex. If anyone is going to figure out UC 2.0, the UC vendors have a significant advantage.

Microsoft has developed Teams as a Slack-like workstream messaging application. It is included at no additional cost with its enterprise Office 365 subscriptions. It already supports video and will likely integrate or merge with Skype for Business for telephony. Office 365 subscriptions dwarf Slack subscriptions. Other services included in Office 365 are Office, email, Skype for Business and OneDrive.

Cisco developed Spark for messaging and has already integrated it with Cisco UC solutions. Cisco is also leveraging its expertise in conferencing by integrating WebEx and its telepresence solutions into Spark. WebEx subscriptions dwarf Slack subscriptions, plus Cisco recently launched Spark Board for meeting rooms. Spark Board is the first hardware device exclusively made for workstream messaging.

I cant list them all here, but the story has a clear pattern. UC companies with rich, real-time solutions are nailing messaging. Unify, the first of the UC companies to launch a workstream messaging app (Circuit), integrates with its UC solutions as well as third-party UC platforms via a SIP connector. RingCentral, a pure-cloud service, bundles its Office service with its workstream messaging app (Glip).

All of these apps share common elements, such as persistent messaging, strong APIs, shared content, and search and discovery. The UC offers also include integrated telephony, conferencing services, telephones and contact centers.

A key value to workstream messaging is indeed unified communications, or perhaps more precisely, unified conversations. Messaging is newly preferred, but existing modalities are not going away. The solutions that dont support voice today will likely do so in the future one way or another, so its worth adding telephony into the evaluation criteria.
Amazon today announced Chime, a unified communications as a service (UCaaS) offering hosted in Amazon Web Services cloud.

Amazon is entering a crowded market of UC solutions, some of which are already cloud-based and others that run on customer premises. Nevertheless, analysts who track Amazon say the company has an opportunity here.

Chime uses a mobile or desktop application that is available across iOS, Android and Windows environments. It uses noise-cancelling wideband audio, which Amazon says allows it to deliver high quality audio and video experiences. When a meeting starts, Chime calls all the participants, who can join by clicking a button; there is no PIN required. Chime shows a visual roster of all attendees, which Amazon says eliminates the who just joined questions that can occur on conference calls. Any user has the ability to mute a noisy participant. Advanced editions of Chime allow IT to centrally manage users and settings, including integrating it with existing corporate directories.

Chimes pay-as-you-go licensing model is based on how much it is used in an organization. Many other UCaaS offerings require licensing contracts and seats. A Basic edition of Chime is free and allows users to attend meetings and make video and voice calls. A Plus edition is $2.50 per user per month and adds some user management features, such as linking Chime to an Active Directory and retaining up to 1GB of message history per user. A Pro Plan allows screen sharing for up to 100 users and includes unlimited Voice over IP (VoIP) for $15 per user per month. There is also a rate per minute for conference call dial ins, which in the U.S. is $0.003 or $0.012 for toll-free.

Anyone can download and use Chime, but Amazon partners Level 3 and Vonage will offer supported versions of it when it is generally released in the second quarter. In a press release announcing Chime, Amazon cited the retailer Brooks Brothers which deployed the offering in a pilot before its release. Internal adoption reached 90% of the companys corporate staff without any formal rollout or training, IT director Phillip Miller said.

+MORE AT NETWORK WORLD: | University attacked by its own vending machines, smart light bulbs & 5,000 IoT devices +

The UC market is fragmented into two major buckets: on-premises platforms, which have been the traditional deployment method and remain the most common. Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM), Avaya Aura platform and the Mitel MiCollab are some of the big vendors.

In recent years with the advent of cloud computing, the UCaaS market has evolved. Vendors like Cisco with WebEx, GoTo Meeting, Intercall and PGI offer cloud and application-based platforms in which organizations dont have to install hardware and software packages to run UC systems.

Its a market thats continually in transition, says Bern Elliot, distinguished analyst at Gartner who tracks the UC industry. Gartner estimates the cloud-based UC market was $12 billion in 2016, growing at 15% to $22 billion in 2020.

But Elliot says Amazons entrance into the UCaaS market should also be viewed in a larger context. In the broader cloud market, two of Amazons biggest competitors are Microsoft and Google, both of whom have strong offerings across not only infrastructure as a service, but enterprise applications as well. Microsoft has Office 365 and Google has its G Suite of work apps. In the UC space, Microsoft has Skype for Business and Google has Hangouts. Amazon before Chime did not have a competing UC offering.

Chime is the latest in a series of enterprise applications offerings rolled out by Amazon in recent years. Amazon WorkDocs is a file storing and sharing service (competitive with Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive). WorkSpaces is a virtual desktop offering, and WorkMail is an email and calendaring application.

Amazon is slowly amassing a digital workplace portfolio, Elliot says, adding that Amazons enterprise application offerings arent nearly as well known or established as Microsoft or Googles, yet.

If you take the long view, which Amazon certainly does, they want to position themselves as a broader enterprise partner and be able to talk to customers not only about their infrastructure, but applications too, Elliot explains. Microsoft and Google can have those conversations, and Amazon would like to be able to too.
San Francisco -- IBMs Watson supercomputer can now consult with the companys security information and event management (SIEM) platform to deliver well researched responses to security events and do so much faster than a person.

Called IBM Q Radar with Watson, the new offering is the introduction of IBMs push for a cognitive security operations center (SOC) that will be built around Watson contributing to decisions made in tandem with other security products from the vendor. IBM announced the service at the RSA Conference 2017.

In the case of Q Radar, when the SIEM catches a security event, human security analysts can choose to enlist Watsons help analyzing the event to determine whether it fits into a known pattern of threat and put it a broader context, IBM says.

To do this, Watson has been fed relevant security research that is continually being updated as analysts publish more blogs and research. Thats more information than a human analyst could hope to keep up with, IBM says. The advantage is that Watson doesnt forget any of what it has learned and it can sift through its knowledge faster than a person, IBM says. How fast? It can come up with an analysis in 15 minutes that might take a person a week.

In its investigations, Watson can interact with Q Radar to zero in on the scope of attacks. For example, Watson might find that a security event includes indicators of an attack and compromise that add up to a possible advanced persistent threat from the cyber attack group known under the names CozyDuke, CozyBear, CozyCar or Office Monkeys. Watson can review other data gathered by Q Radar to determine whether there are additional indicators of compromise that point to a broader attack from the group that goes beyond the initial incident being investigated, IBM says.

The company says that the more Watson reads, the more it builds out an understanding of threat intelligence that it can apply to particular events. Underlying its analysis are probability ratings, weighting of incidents and algorithms to sort it all out.

Human analysts can drill down on incidents Watson has researched via descriptions of the threats written in natural language.

Customers have Q Radar on premises and the platform consults with Watson in the cloud.

The service isnt a replacement for human analysts, but rather a tool for them to work more efficiently and thoroughly, IBM says.

+ MORE FROM RSA: See all the stories from the conference +

Current customers of Q Radar can get the Watson integration as an add-on application, as can new customers.

In addition to Q Radar with Watson, IBM plans to add other tools to its Cognitive SOC including IBM BigFix Detect, which makes for quicker detection of endpoint threats and reduces the time to response. This can tie in to IBMs incident response platform, Resilient, to jump start and orchestrate remediation of incidents. It also includes IBMs threat intelligence sharing X-Force Exchange and its threat-hunting platform, i2.
No Microsoft patches today, but have you looked at your Office 365 Secure Score? It is one step Microsoft has taken to help customer mitigate risks. And at RSA, the company called on tech companies to be a neutral Digital Switzerland and to be committed to 100 percent defense and zero percent offense.

No patches on February Patch Tuesday

Microsoft opted not to release patches on Valentines Day, which should have been Patch Tuesday.

The delay was announced by MSRC:

Our top priority is to provide the best possible experience for customers in maintaining and protecting their systems. This month, we discovered a last minute issue that could impact some customers and was not resolved in time for our planned updates today. After considering all options, we made the decision to delay this months updates. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by this change to the existing plan.

Office 365 Secure Score

So, lets move on to something else today related to Microsoft and security: Office 365 Secure Score.

The Office 365 Secure Score API has been available to preview since August, but last Friday, Microsoft released it to all commercial customers.

Microsoft identified 77 different factors, security configurations and behaviors, that customers can do to mitigate risks to their Office 365 data and then assigned specific points to specific controls. The higher the points, the more effective that control is meant to be for that risk. A customers score is based upon the extent to which your service has adopted the recommended controls.

As opposed to assigning critical, moderate or low severity, Microsoft considers Secure Score to be a non-reactive way to evaluate your risk and make incremental changes over time that add up to a very effective risk mitigation plan.

On Feb. 10, Microsoft explained why the company thinks it is important to collect Secure Score data. The four possible business scenarios driving consumption of the Secure Score through an API are:

Monitor and report on your secure score in downstream reporting tools. Track your security configuration baseline. Integrate the data into compliance or cybersecurity insurance applications. Integrate Secure Score data into your SIEM or CASB to drive a hybrid or multi-cloud framework for security analytics.

There are a number of steps, or prerequisites, outlined by Microsoft in order to take advantage of Secure Score. After fulfilling those setup steps, you can access the data if this is something youd like to try.

Microsoft called for Digital Geneva Convention, for tech companies to be like a neutral Digital Switzerland

Instead of listing those out, lets look at some of the comments made by Microsoft President and Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith during the opening keynote at the RSA conference.

He called for governments to protect civilians on the internet and to assemble a Digital Geneva Convention.

Smith wrote in a blog post:

Just as the Fourth Geneva Convention has long protected civilians in times of war, we now need a Digital Geneva Convention that will commit governments to protecting civilians from nation-state attacks in times of peace. And just as the Fourth Geneva Convention recognized that the protection of civilians required the active involvement of the Red Cross, protection against nation-state cyberattacks requires the active assistance of technology companies. The tech sector plays a unique role as the internets first responders, and we therefore should commit ourselves to collective action that will make the internet a safer place, affirming a role as a neutral Digital Switzerland that assists customers everywhere and retains the worlds trust.

Microsoft called for tech companies to protect customers, not to help attack them. When it comes to the cyber world, citizens need to able to rely on tech companies like Microsoft to be committed to 100 percent defense and zero percent offense.

Even in a world of growing nationalism, when it comes to cybersecurity the global tech sector needs to operate as a neutral Digital Switzerland, Smith wrote. We will assist and protect customers everywhere. We will not aid in attacking customers anywhere. We need to retain the worlds trust. And every government regardless of its policies or politics needs a national and global IT infrastructure that it can trust.
Firm's fleet become carbon neutral and supports Uganda project

Underlining its strong environmental credentials, Beenham-based Grundon Waste Management has been awarded CarbonNeutral certification for its entire road-going fleet throughout 2017.

It means every mile travelled by its vehicles on waste collection rounds, or when staff visit customers in company cars, is officially carbon neutral and generates zero emissions.

The move builds on the success of an initial three-year carbon offsetting programme, which has seen the company support a community reforestation project in rural Uganda.

The certification has been awarded by Natural Capital Partners, in line with the requirements of The CarbonNeutral Protocol  the global standard for carbon neutral programmes.

Not only does this boost the companys own environmental goals, it also helps customers to minimise their own carbon footprint.

Neil Grundon, deputy chairman, said: We know that vehicle emissions are a major source of greenhouse gases and, with an extensive road-going fleet, its very important to us to consider how we can make a difference.

By investing in the CarbonNeutral programme, taking measures such as purchasing environmentally-friendly vehicles and improving driver training, we are very pleased to have achieved our own target of zero emissions.

And, thanks to positive feedback from our customers, we also know that our commitment is helping them to meet their environmental goals, which is equally important.

Finally, of course, hearing about the fantastic work which has been achieved in Uganda thanks to our support, makes it all worthwhile.

Since the programme began in 2014, the Grundon vehicle fleet has travelled an estimated 21,500,000 miles  equivalent to travelling from the UK to Uganda more than 5,300 times.

Emissions from these journeys would be equivalent to those produced from powering more than 15,000 UK homes for a year.

The CarbonNeutral certification programme, which involves Grundon purchasing high-quality carbon credits in order to offset its vehicle emissions, is focused on encouraging smallholder farmers to plant trees and share best practice.

Thanks to Grundons support over the last three years, more than 1,180 farmers have joined the community reforestation project and well over a million trees have been planted.

Benefits for local communities include education on improved farming techniques and alternative crops and products, improving food security, helping to empower women and raise awareness of health and hygiene issues.

To find out more about how Grundons CarbonNeutral certification and the companys range of waste management services, please visit www.grundon.com
oroville dam crisis damaged california AP_17042837915702

Dams can be amazing sources of renewable, carbon-free energy. Just build a sturdy wall, let a reservoir naturally fill up with water, and allow gravity to drive electric generators and power nearby towns and cities.

The US gets about 6% of its energy this way.

But as this week's Oroville, California dam crisis illustrates, hydroelectric energy technology comes with a major yet infrequent risk: Catastrophic collapse and flooding.

According to a March 2011 data analysis by reporter Phil McKenna at New Scientist, dams may be among the riskier power sources in the world. The magazine compiled data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the International Energy Agency, and other sources.

The analysis calculated the immediate and later deaths that occurred for every 10 terrawatt-hours (TWh) of power generated globally  as a point of contrast, the world makes about 20,000 TWh of electrical power a year.

The data give a range of deaths for each type of power, but the ranking consistently places hydroelectric power as more deadly than nuclear energy and natural gas:

Nuclear  0.2 to 1.2 deaths per 10 TWh (least deadly)

Natural gas  0.3-1.6 deaths per 10 TWh

Hydroelectric  1.0-1.6 deaths per 10 TWh

Coal  2.8 to 32.7 deaths per 10 TWh (most deadly)

fukushima nuclear energy protestors GettyImages 141083757

Even accounting for nuclear disasters like Chernobyl, which, on the very high end of generous estimates, caused perhaps 9,000 cancer deaths, nuclear power is one of the safest ways to generate electricity (contrary to popular belief).

Coal appears to be the most deadly because of the deaths it causes via air pollution.

Harvard University risk analyst James Hammitt tells Business Insider these deaths are "highly predictable," in part because medical studies have strongly linked airborne pollution to mortality.

Story continues

"We have tens of thousands of deaths a year caused by air pollution, and that's not unusual," Hammitt says. "But it is unusual to have deaths from hydroelectric power on any given year," due to the rarity of dam collapses without any warning.

But there's a catch.

When you include the deaths caused by the tragic 1975 collapse of China's enormous Banqiao Dam, hydroelectric can be considered one of the riskiest power sources.

banqiao dam google maps

From 1951 to 1952, China built the giant hydroelectric dam on the Ruhe River with help from the Soviet Union. But in early August 1975, a unusually wet typhoon moved into the area and broke records for rainfall, filling up the Banqiao Reservoir and pushing the limits that engineers designed for the dam.

On August 8, 1975, the dam collapsed and sent a wall of water nearly 20 feet (6 meters) high and 7.5 miles wide (12 kilometers) downriver, according to a summary of a chapter in the book "The River Dragon Has Come!" by investigative journalist Dai Qing.

The torrent wrecked other dams along the river and killed an estimated 85,000 people. When accounting for later deaths caused by flood-related disease and famine, however, the toll may actually be closer to 220,000 to 230,000 people.

This devastating outlier pushes the statistical risk of dams dozens of times higher, to 54.7 deaths per 10 TWh  about 46 times more risk than nuclear power. Business Insider contacted the National Hydropower Association for comment on the risk that hydroelectric dams pose in the US, but we did not immediately receive a response.

California Department Water Resources Oroville Dam Spillway

The Chinese rebuilt the Banqiao Dam in 1993 and incorporated the lessons learned from the tragedy.

While it remains to be seen whether the Oroville Dam will actually collapse  it was stabilizing at the time this story was published  one crucial difference between the two events is that authorities were able to urge more than 180,000 people in that region of California to evacuate immediately.

"That makes this much less threatening than something like an earthquake, when you can't do anything to evacuate ahead of time and it just happens," Hammitt says.

NOW WATCH: Countries around the world are pouring billions of dollars into France's revolutionary nuclear fusion reactor





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Robert Neill was a 'monster' and Kennet School 'kept things to themselves'

THE schoolboy raped by predatory paedophile Robert Alan Neill has spoken publicly for the first time.

Now a grown man, the former pupil of Kennet School, Thatcham, branded Neill a monster and repeated accusations of failings in transparency.

Last week it was revealed that a Serious Case Review into child sex abuse in Thatcham found that predators like Neill went undetected because opportunities to catch them were missed.

The victim, who is entitled to lifelong anonymity, tells this week's Newbury Weekly News: Kennet School is a good school, but they kept things to themselves...they didnt open up their investigation to anyone else.

Neill, then aged 63, was jailed for 21 years in March, 2016, after being convicted of 10 counts of sexual offences, including raping a boy under 16, between 1988 and 2003.

The victim said he believed Neill had abused even more children and added: Im sure there are others who havent come forward. The mans a monster."

For the full interview, see this week's NWN.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU : Following reports in a section of the media that he had withdrawn the issues raised about the functioning of Infosys board, co-founder N R Narayana Murthy on Monday denied these reports.

Murthy clarified to the media that he had not gone back on the issues he had raised. The board has to address the issues properly with transparency and accountability, he said.



Ive not withdrawn my concerns. They have to be addressed properly by the board and full transparency should be displayed and people responsible for it should become accountable, Murthy said. He reiterated that he had no problem with the board members personally but was merely questioning some of the decisions taken by them.



They are people of high integrity, but even good people sometimes make mistakes. Good leadership demands that they listen to all shareholders concerned, re-evaluate their decisions, and take corrective action. I hope they take it soon and improve governance for a better future for the company, he added.



Meanwhile, in officially released statements, Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka said he has a heartfelt relationship with Murthy. I have a very deep heartfelt relationship with Murthy and I took this job because of that relationship and respect.

He knows, and I would like to assure every single shareholder, that corporate governance and values were, are and will be the core foundation of this company. I will not let that standard slip even an iota under my watch.



R Seshasayee, chairman of Infosys, added, I would like to thank Murthy for his kind comments. His inputs are always taken with respect. The founders had expressed their dissatisfaction with Seshasayees performance and wanted him to step down from the post.

BENGALURU : Following reports in a section of the media that he had withdrawn the issues raised about the functioning of Infosys board, co-founder N R Narayana Murthy on Monday denied these reports. Murthy clarified to the media that he had not gone back on the issues he had raised. The board has to address the issues properly with transparency and accountability, he said. Ive not withdrawn my concerns. They have to be addressed properly by the board and full transparency should be displayed and people responsible for it should become accountable, Murthy said. He reiterated that he had no problem with the board members personally but was merely questioning some of the decisions taken by them. They are people of high integrity, but even good people sometimes make mistakes. Good leadership demands that they listen to all shareholders concerned, re-evaluate their decisions, and take corrective action. I hope they take it soon and improve governance for a better future for the company, he added. Meanwhile, in officially released statements, Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka said he has a heartfelt relationship with Murthy. I have a very deep heartfelt relationship with Murthy and I took this job because of that relationship and respect. He knows, and I would like to assure every single shareholder, that corporate governance and values were, are and will be the core foundation of this company. I will not let that standard slip even an iota under my watch. R Seshasayee, chairman of Infosys, added, I would like to thank Murthy for his kind comments. His inputs are always taken with respect. The founders had expressed their dissatisfaction with Seshasayees performance and wanted him to step down from the post.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU : In the wake of concerns being raised by Infosys co-founders about corporate governance lapses in the company, the firms CEO Vishal Sikka on Monday spoke about his heartfelt, warm relationship with company co-founder N R Narayana Murthy.



The problems arose as a rift between the founders and the management at Infosys came to the fore last week. The founders were unhappy about some decisions taken by the Infosys board in the past ten months. They had flagged governance lapses and huge severance payments being made to Vishal Sikka, whose compensation is $11 million and other former executives such as Rajiv Bansal and David Kennedy.Speaking at Kotaks Chasing Growth conference in Mumbai, he accused the media of creating a very distracting drama.

It takes away our attention but underneath that, there is a very strong fabric that this company is based on. And it is a real privilege for me to be its leader, he added

My relationship with the founders? It is wonderful. I meet Mr Murthy quite frequently... I have always had a heartfelt warm relationship with Mr Murthy, I probably meet him five or six times a year, he said. The other day he was telling me about the Paris Metro and how he worked on the Paris Metro in the 1970s before he started Infosys. And, it had this whole idea about automation and autonomous driving, he added. However, he said he had not met the other founders of late.



Sikka said that Murthy is an incredible man and they usually spoke about subjects such as quantum physics and technology whenever they met.



Apart from Murthy, some former senior executives, too, had raised concerns about the huge cash pile of $5.25 billion that Infosys has. About this issue, Sikka said that the board would consider capital allocation from time to time and report something when it is time for it.



The unofficial answer is, you look at the circumstances over the next 4-5 years, what you need the capital for and then decide. In our case, it is the strategic growth initiatives, capital for building infrastructure and then acquisitions, he said. Based on how that mix changes over the next five years, one takes a decision on how the cash is utilised, he added.



Murthy had said last week, The issue is not with CEO Vishal Sikka but the quality of governance at the Board. It has slipped. Infosys has denied any governance lapses and said it has made full disclosures on all developments.

BENGALURU : In the wake of concerns being raised by Infosys co-founders about corporate governance lapses in the company, the firms CEO Vishal Sikka on Monday spoke about his heartfelt, warm relationship with company co-founder N R Narayana Murthy. The problems arose as a rift between the founders and the management at Infosys came to the fore last week. The founders were unhappy about some decisions taken by the Infosys board in the past ten months. They had flagged governance lapses and huge severance payments being made to Vishal Sikka, whose compensation is $11 million and other former executives such as Rajiv Bansal and David Kennedy.Speaking at Kotaks Chasing Growth conference in Mumbai, he accused the media of creating a very distracting drama. It takes away our attention but underneath that, there is a very strong fabric that this company is based on. And it is a real privilege for me to be its leader, he added My relationship with the founders? It is wonderful. I meet Mr Murthy quite frequently... I have always had a heartfelt warm relationship with Mr Murthy, I probably meet him five or six times a year, he said. The other day he was telling me about the Paris Metro and how he worked on the Paris Metro in the 1970s before he started Infosys. And, it had this whole idea about automation and autonomous driving, he added. However, he said he had not met the other founders of late. Sikka said that Murthy is an incredible man and they usually spoke about subjects such as quantum physics and technology whenever they met. Apart from Murthy, some former senior executives, too, had raised concerns about the huge cash pile of $5.25 billion that Infosys has. About this issue, Sikka said that the board would consider capital allocation from time to time and report something when it is time for it. The unofficial answer is, you look at the circumstances over the next 4-5 years, what you need the capital for and then decide. In our case, it is the strategic growth initiatives, capital for building infrastructure and then acquisitions, he said. Based on how that mix changes over the next five years, one takes a decision on how the cash is utilised, he added. Murthy had said last week, The issue is not with CEO Vishal Sikka but the quality of governance at the Board. It has slipped. Infosys has denied any governance lapses and said it has made full disclosures on all developments.
By AFP

MUMBAI: India's largest carmaker Tata Motors Tuesday reported a 96 percent fall in quarterly profits, due to a cash ban which hit domestic business and weak sales at its luxury Jaguar Land Rover unit.

Consolidated net profit for the three months ending December fell to 1.12 billion rupees ($16.73 million) from 29.53 billion rupees a year earlier, the Mumbai-based company said.

Revenue fell 4.3 percent to 685.41 billion rupees.

The company's commercial vehicles business saw a "demand shrinkage" owing to the Indian government's shock move in November to withdraw high-value banknotes from circulation, it said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's demonetisation drive removed around 86 percent of India's cash at a stroke, triggering massive queues outside banks and a cash shortage that has hit businesses across the country.

"The segment witnessed major pressure with a fall of nine percent year-on-year" in sales, the company said.

Its Jaguar Land Rover business saw "lower wholesale volumes and relatively weaker product mix... and overall higher marketing expenses," the company said in its statement.

Shares in Tata Motors, part of the sprawling tea-to-steel conglomerate, fell 7.3 percent on the Bombay Stock Exchange on Tuesday.

MUMBAI: India's largest carmaker Tata Motors Tuesday reported a 96 percent fall in quarterly profits, due to a cash ban which hit domestic business and weak sales at its luxury Jaguar Land Rover unit. Consolidated net profit for the three months ending December fell to 1.12 billion rupees ($16.73 million) from 29.53 billion rupees a year earlier, the Mumbai-based company said. Revenue fell 4.3 percent to 685.41 billion rupees. The company's commercial vehicles business saw a "demand shrinkage" owing to the Indian government's shock move in November to withdraw high-value banknotes from circulation, it said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's demonetisation drive removed around 86 percent of India's cash at a stroke, triggering massive queues outside banks and a cash shortage that has hit businesses across the country. "The segment witnessed major pressure with a fall of nine percent year-on-year" in sales, the company said. Its Jaguar Land Rover business saw "lower wholesale volumes and relatively weaker product mix... and overall higher marketing expenses," the company said in its statement. Shares in Tata Motors, part of the sprawling tea-to-steel conglomerate, fell 7.3 percent on the Bombay Stock Exchange on Tuesday.
BENGALURU: Bengaluru City police have made elaborate security arrangements around Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in the city, following the conviction for VK Sasikala and two others.

Senior police officials along with Karnataka State Reserve Police and City Armed Reserve personnel have been deployed near the Central Prison. At the same time, policemen were deployed in large numbers at Hosur check post, near Tamil Nadu border. According to police sources, the measure is to prevent the flow Sasikala supporters into the city.

It can be recalled that former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalitha was imprisoned at Parappana Agrahara for 21 days from September to October of 2014.

BENGALURU: Bengaluru City police have made elaborate security arrangements around Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in the city, following the conviction for VK Sasikala and two others. Senior police officials along with Karnataka State Reserve Police and City Armed Reserve personnel have been deployed near the Central Prison. At the same time, policemen were deployed in large numbers at Hosur check post, near Tamil Nadu border. According to police sources, the measure is to prevent the flow Sasikala supporters into the city. It can be recalled that former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalitha was imprisoned at Parappana Agrahara for 21 days from September to October of 2014.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: Cab services in the city are likely to be affected on Wednesday as a section of drivers attached to app-based aggregators Ola and Uber have threatened to go on a strike. Uber, TaxiForSure and Ola (UTO) Drivers and Owners Association decided to go on a strike against the cut in incentives and reduced income.

Autorickshaw and taxi drivers unions backed by CITU and AITUC will stage a protest at the transport commissioners office in Shanthi Nagar against the hike in various vehicle fees, like licence fees.

Tanveer Pasha, president of the Uber, TaxiForSure and Ola (UTO) Drivers and Owners Association, said that a majority of app-based cab and airport taxi drivers unions, autorickshaw unions will join in the one-day strike.

The government is turning a blind eye to the violations by cab operators. They have not taken action against ride-sharing services despite several petitions, he said. He said most drivers attached to app-based aggregators have been suffering because their income has gone down despite working long hours.

However, autorickshaw and traditional taxi drivers, whose businesses were affected after the entry of app-based aggregators are unlikely to take part in the strike. Rudramurthy, Auto Rickshaw Drivers Union office-bearer said, We will join the protest in front of transport department against the steep fee hike on learners fee, renewal fee etc. But we will continue to ply in the city.

Radhakrishna Holla, general secretary, Bengaluru Tourist Taxi Operators Association (BTTOA), said, We support the protest but we wont be participating in the strike because of the ongoing air show at Yelahanka.



Transport Department has called a meeting with representatives of Ola and Uber with their protesting drivers on Wednesday. Sources said the department is unlikely to take action for operating ride-sharing services despite the opposition from drivers.

While Transport Departments 15-day deadline to stop ride-sharing services will expire on Friday, transport officials say they will take action based on the response from the Centre.

We have sought a clarification from the Centre whether to allow share services but there has been no response so far, said H G Kumar, additional commissioner of Transport Department.

The department is under pressure to several citizens, including state IT minister Priyank Kharge, opposed the departments move to ban share services. Ubers online petition supporting share services received more than 30,000 signatures. Kumar said most demands raised by drivers comes under the purview of Labour Department.

Drivers will have to approach Labour Department to address such issues, he said. Kumar says the Transport Department wants representatives of Ola and Uber to resolve the issues amicably.

BENGALURU: Cab services in the city are likely to be affected on Wednesday as a section of drivers attached to app-based aggregators Ola and Uber have threatened to go on a strike. Uber, TaxiForSure and Ola (UTO) Drivers and Owners Association decided to go on a strike against the cut in incentives and reduced income. Autorickshaw and taxi drivers unions backed by CITU and AITUC will stage a protest at the transport commissioners office in Shanthi Nagar against the hike in various vehicle fees, like licence fees. Tanveer Pasha, president of the Uber, TaxiForSure and Ola (UTO) Drivers and Owners Association, said that a majority of app-based cab and airport taxi drivers unions, autorickshaw unions will join in the one-day strike. The government is turning a blind eye to the violations by cab operators. They have not taken action against ride-sharing services despite several petitions, he said. He said most drivers attached to app-based aggregators have been suffering because their income has gone down despite working long hours. However, autorickshaw and traditional taxi drivers, whose businesses were affected after the entry of app-based aggregators are unlikely to take part in the strike. Rudramurthy, Auto Rickshaw Drivers Union office-bearer said, We will join the protest in front of transport department against the steep fee hike on learners fee, renewal fee etc. But we will continue to ply in the city. Radhakrishna Holla, general secretary, Bengaluru Tourist Taxi Operators Association (BTTOA), said, We support the protest but we wont be participating in the strike because of the ongoing air show at Yelahanka. Transport Department has called a meeting with representatives of Ola and Uber with their protesting drivers on Wednesday. Sources said the department is unlikely to take action for operating ride-sharing services despite the opposition from drivers. While Transport Departments 15-day deadline to stop ride-sharing services will expire on Friday, transport officials say they will take action based on the response from the Centre. We have sought a clarification from the Centre whether to allow share services but there has been no response so far, said H G Kumar, additional commissioner of Transport Department. The department is under pressure to several citizens, including state IT minister Priyank Kharge, opposed the departments move to ban share services. Ubers online petition supporting share services received more than 30,000 signatures. Kumar said most demands raised by drivers comes under the purview of Labour Department. Drivers will have to approach Labour Department to address such issues, he said. Kumar says the Transport Department wants representatives of Ola and Uber to resolve the issues amicably.
Jaideep Sen By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The prayers of tabla player Sandeep Das followers were answered on Sunday, as he picked up a Grammy Award for Best World Music Album, with the celebrated cellist Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble for the project, The Music of Strangers.

In the following media interactions, however, Das went on record criticising a lack of support in India for classical music, addressing what he called, a dying heritage. Currently based in Boston, Das has been a Grammy nominee on two earlier occasions, while Yo-Yo Mas band beat Anoushka Shankars Land of Gold for the award this year.



Durga Jasraj, daughter of Pandit Jasraj, and co-founder of the Indian Music Academy, heaped praises on Das for his efforts. He played a lot with Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt (the Grammy-winning Hindustani instrumentalist) and he also played for me, recalled Jasraj. This is no mean feat, and he is now in a position to help others come up in the field, she said.



As for Das tirade, Jasraj observed that the laments have long fallen on deaf ears. Who in this world really has any support, we really have to work hard, she said. That said, Jasraj noted the lack of professionalism among music organisers.

Its not the job of a musician to be a producer, she noted. More and more musicians today are becoming event managers, and theyre doing a hopelessly shoddy job. As for clients and brands talking about donations, it is a sad state of affairs, she added.



If you have to criticise, then you can do so like anybody else. Please, let us look at the positives. There is a lot of scopes, and a lot of opportunities for us to explore, Jasraj added.

Success stories are always very few, Durga Jasraj said. Its always a pyramid in every sector. Why are we expecting every musician to be a great success? Lets not pay attention to the sad stories. Das has won in a completely no-support situation, and it is a great reason to celebrate Indian music, she said.



Novelist, essayist and musician Amit Chaudhuri, who performed at the recent Kala Ghoda Festival in Mumbai, admitted that he was not familiar with Das. Yet, Chaudhuri said he accepts Das stand. I completely agree, he said.

Indian classical music doesnt get support either from patrons or listeners. Any great period in the arts depends not just on the artists or performers, but the willingness and openness of patrons and listeners, he explained. If now doesnt seem like a good time for classical music  and it is never to do with a dearth of talent  its because of the lack of curiosity and interest, he said. The organisers of festivals are particularly lazy or uninterested in exploring new talent, which is their duty, he added.



As for the matter of a rise in popularity for fusion music, such projects are not to be seen as side projects, added Chaudhuri. Theres a reason you do fusion music because something in your cultural makeup compels you to enter these experiments, to take a risk, and do bring different elements together. Fusion music can never be done with the ulterior purpose of say, popularising a genre of music, in this case, Indian classical, he offered. You do it because youre aesthetically drawn to the form. It is a very serious activity.



For Anuradha Pal, Indias leading woman tabla player, and a longtime friend of Das, the news of the Grammy was one entirely for celebration. He is senior to me, and I have known him since he was a student of Kishan Maharaj (the late tabla player of the Benares Gharana of Hindustani classical music), she said.



The win is fabulous, as this is all about the power of Indian music and culture, which is so strong that it can connect with such internationally acclaimed musicians like Yo-Yo Ma, said Pal, whose own project, Music for Wellness, works actively with the government to promote Indian music among children. The government definitely should do more to promote classical traditions, not just in music, but also in dance, she urged. There is so much that can and should be done to promote our culture.

This is the best music in the world  its versatile, and works with every other kind of music, she affirmed.



Ultimately, Bollywood does inevitably generate a lot more interest, admitted Pal, agreeing with Das plea. No matter how much we do, its only a drop compared to the limitless possibilities. We should market Indian music to the world, and have more festivals, she urged. While the government has upped requirements for corporate social responsibility among corporates, preserving Indian classical traditions must gain more importance, she insisted.



The meditative, spiritual, uplifting quality of our music is its biggest strength, added Pal. The win should make us happy and proud, it is a huge achievement, and it is so much more for Indian music to achieve in the world.

CHENNAI: The prayers of tabla player Sandeep Das followers were answered on Sunday, as he picked up a Grammy Award for Best World Music Album, with the celebrated cellist Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble for the project, The Music of Strangers. In the following media interactions, however, Das went on record criticising a lack of support in India for classical music, addressing what he called, a dying heritage. Currently based in Boston, Das has been a Grammy nominee on two earlier occasions, while Yo-Yo Mas band beat Anoushka Shankars Land of Gold for the award this year. Durga Jasraj, daughter of Pandit Jasraj, and co-founder of the Indian Music Academy, heaped praises on Das for his efforts. He played a lot with Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt (the Grammy-winning Hindustani instrumentalist) and he also played for me, recalled Jasraj. This is no mean feat, and he is now in a position to help others come up in the field, she said. As for Das tirade, Jasraj observed that the laments have long fallen on deaf ears. Who in this world really has any support, we really have to work hard, she said. That said, Jasraj noted the lack of professionalism among music organisers. Its not the job of a musician to be a producer, she noted. More and more musicians today are becoming event managers, and theyre doing a hopelessly shoddy job. As for clients and brands talking about donations, it is a sad state of affairs, she added. If you have to criticise, then you can do so like anybody else. Please, let us look at the positives. There is a lot of scopes, and a lot of opportunities for us to explore, Jasraj added. Success stories are always very few, Durga Jasraj said. Its always a pyramid in every sector. Why are we expecting every musician to be a great success? Lets not pay attention to the sad stories. Das has won in a completely no-support situation, and it is a great reason to celebrate Indian music, she said. Novelist, essayist and musician Amit Chaudhuri, who performed at the recent Kala Ghoda Festival in Mumbai, admitted that he was not familiar with Das. Yet, Chaudhuri said he accepts Das stand. I completely agree, he said. Indian classical music doesnt get support either from patrons or listeners. Any great period in the arts depends not just on the artists or performers, but the willingness and openness of patrons and listeners, he explained. If now doesnt seem like a good time for classical music  and it is never to do with a dearth of talent  its because of the lack of curiosity and interest, he said. The organisers of festivals are particularly lazy or uninterested in exploring new talent, which is their duty, he added. As for the matter of a rise in popularity for fusion music, such projects are not to be seen as side projects, added Chaudhuri. Theres a reason you do fusion music because something in your cultural makeup compels you to enter these experiments, to take a risk, and do bring different elements together. Fusion music can never be done with the ulterior purpose of say, popularising a genre of music, in this case, Indian classical, he offered. You do it because youre aesthetically drawn to the form. It is a very serious activity. For Anuradha Pal, Indias leading woman tabla player, and a longtime friend of Das, the news of the Grammy was one entirely for celebration. He is senior to me, and I have known him since he was a student of Kishan Maharaj (the late tabla player of the Benares Gharana of Hindustani classical music), she said. The win is fabulous, as this is all about the power of Indian music and culture, which is so strong that it can connect with such internationally acclaimed musicians like Yo-Yo Ma, said Pal, whose own project, Music for Wellness, works actively with the government to promote Indian music among children. The government definitely should do more to promote classical traditions, not just in music, but also in dance, she urged. There is so much that can and should be done to promote our culture. This is the best music in the world  its versatile, and works with every other kind of music, she affirmed. Ultimately, Bollywood does inevitably generate a lot more interest, admitted Pal, agreeing with Das plea. No matter how much we do, its only a drop compared to the limitless possibilities. We should market Indian music to the world, and have more festivals, she urged. While the government has upped requirements for corporate social responsibility among corporates, preserving Indian classical traditions must gain more importance, she insisted. The meditative, spiritual, uplifting quality of our music is its biggest strength, added Pal. The win should make us happy and proud, it is a huge achievement, and it is so much more for Indian music to achieve in the world.
By Express News Service

KOCHI: Putting an end to speculation about who will play the lead role in Aami, the biopic on iconic Kerala writer Kamala Das alias Kamala Surayya alias Madhavikutty, the films director Kamal has announced that Manju Warrier will replace Bollywood actress Vidya Balan in the credits.

Vidya Balan stepped out aside from the project, triggering a controversy.

Filmmaker Kamal, who was caught in a National Anthem row during the recent International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), said Manju Warrier was chosen because she has some character resemblance and some physical similarities with Kamala Das.

"I expect Manju Warrier will easily get under the skin of the character," Kamal told reporters here.



Kamal denied that the controversies related to IFFK had a part in Vidya Balans decision to quit the Aami project. "She had informed me about her decision even before IFFK. I learnt later that she told the media that she opted out of Aami due to a few changes in the script. But the script has not changed so far," the director said.

Shooting of the movie was scheduled to commence by November last year but was stalled after Vidya Balan walked out. Kamal said Vidyas act was highly 'unethical' and 'unprofessional'. He said he was still not sure why the Mumbai actress decided to leave.



According to Kamal, he discussed the script with Vidya Balan for nearly one year. "I met her in Mumbai and arranged a person to read the script to her and make her thorough with the language. She said it was an excellent script. A photo shoot was conducted and costumes were designed as per the character's requirement. Even the cast was decided. However, five days before the commencement of the shoot in Ottapalam, she said she was quitting the film", Kamal said.

She sent an SMS to kamal saying she could not absorb the character.



Kamal doubts that the controversial life of Kamala Das, who converted to Islam in the last years of her life, would have worried Vidya. "Recently, she faced some setbacks in Bollywood. A film in South India during this period may affect her future prospects. This may be a reason for her sudden decision," he said.

"I don't think Manju would quit due to any external threats," the director said.

Aami would be Kamal's third film with Manju Warrier who made a comeback to Mollywood in 2014 after a 14-year hiatus following her marriage to actor Dileep who incidentally started his career in films with Kamal.

The shooting of Aami is scheduled to be held at Ottappalam, Ernakulam, Mumbai and Kolkata and will be completed in three months. Aami is expected to be an Onam

KOCHI: Putting an end to speculation about who will play the lead role in Aami, the biopic on iconic Kerala writer Kamala Das alias Kamala Surayya alias Madhavikutty, the films director Kamal has announced that Manju Warrier will replace Bollywood actress Vidya Balan in the credits. Vidya Balan stepped out aside from the project, triggering a controversy. Filmmaker Kamal, who was caught in a National Anthem row during the recent International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), said Manju Warrier was chosen because she has some character resemblance and some physical similarities with Kamala Das. "I expect Manju Warrier will easily get under the skin of the character," Kamal told reporters here. Kamal denied that the controversies related to IFFK had a part in Vidya Balans decision to quit the Aami project. "She had informed me about her decision even before IFFK. I learnt later that she told the media that she opted out of Aami due to a few changes in the script. But the script has not changed so far," the director said. Shooting of the movie was scheduled to commence by November last year but was stalled after Vidya Balan walked out. Kamal said Vidyas act was highly 'unethical' and 'unprofessional'. He said he was still not sure why the Mumbai actress decided to leave. According to Kamal, he discussed the script with Vidya Balan for nearly one year. "I met her in Mumbai and arranged a person to read the script to her and make her thorough with the language. She said it was an excellent script. A photo shoot was conducted and costumes were designed as per the character's requirement. Even the cast was decided. However, five days before the commencement of the shoot in Ottapalam, she said she was quitting the film", Kamal said. She sent an SMS to kamal saying she could not absorb the character. Kamal doubts that the controversial life of Kamala Das, who converted to Islam in the last years of her life, would have worried Vidya. "Recently, she faced some setbacks in Bollywood. A film in South India during this period may affect her future prospects. This may be a reason for her sudden decision," he said. "I don't think Manju would quit due to any external threats," the director said. Aami would be Kamal's third film with Manju Warrier who made a comeback to Mollywood in 2014 after a 14-year hiatus following her marriage to actor Dileep who incidentally started his career in films with Kamal. The shooting of Aami is scheduled to be held at Ottappalam, Ernakulam, Mumbai and Kolkata and will be completed in three months. Aami is expected to be an Onam
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday sought an inquiry over the alleged breach of security of EVMs at strong rooms in Punjab, where polling was held recently. A delegation led by Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia submitted a memorandum alleging that there are multiple instances of breach in EVMs safety in the state.

"We have submitted a memorandum to the Chief Election Commissioner where we have pointed out that there have been security breaches in strong rooms where the EVMs are kept. We also mentioned that the May 2015 notification of the EC, which lists out instructions regarding the storage, physical verification and movements of EVMs is not being complied with," Sisodia said.

Sisodia alleged that the returning officer, along with a few other officials entered the strong rooms on the pretext of procuring certain documents and later it was found that they were moving steel boxes in which the EVMs were kept. We have demanded an enquiry into the matter, he said.

AAP leader Raghav Chadha alleged that in some districts EVMs are kept in schools where there is regular movement of teachers.

The lackadaisical approach with which the returning officers in Punjab are following the instructions of the EC requires urgent attention, said the letter submitted by the AAP leaders.

As per the May 2015 notification, there has to be uninterrupted power supply to strongrooms and EVM warehouses so that the CCTV cameras are operational 24x7 and any movement can be capturedBut there have been instances of no electricity for three hours in some places which is a violation of the rules and needs to be looked at," Chadha said.

NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday sought an inquiry over the alleged breach of security of EVMs at strong rooms in Punjab, where polling was held recently. A delegation led by Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia submitted a memorandum alleging that there are multiple instances of breach in EVMs safety in the state. "We have submitted a memorandum to the Chief Election Commissioner where we have pointed out that there have been security breaches in strong rooms where the EVMs are kept. We also mentioned that the May 2015 notification of the EC, which lists out instructions regarding the storage, physical verification and movements of EVMs is not being complied with," Sisodia said. Sisodia alleged that the returning officer, along with a few other officials entered the strong rooms on the pretext of procuring certain documents and later it was found that they were moving steel boxes in which the EVMs were kept. We have demanded an enquiry into the matter, he said. AAP leader Raghav Chadha alleged that in some districts EVMs are kept in schools where there is regular movement of teachers. The lackadaisical approach with which the returning officers in Punjab are following the instructions of the EC requires urgent attention, said the letter submitted by the AAP leaders. As per the May 2015 notification, there has to be uninterrupted power supply to strongrooms and EVM warehouses so that the CCTV cameras are operational 24x7 and any movement can be capturedBut there have been instances of no electricity for three hours in some places which is a violation of the rules and needs to be looked at," Chadha said.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Tuesday rejected the claims of Irom Sharmila's that she was offered over Rs 36 crore by the party to contest against the incumbent chief minister Ibobi Singh. The BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav dismissed the allegation, saying that the claims are "malicious and an absolute lie".

The BJP leader asserted that the partys whole budget for the Manipur Assembly elections is not even the amount states in Sharmilas claims. "The amount of Rs 36 crore is not even our election budget for the state," added Madhav.

The BJP leader, who is in-charge for the North-east, claimed that the people in Manipur would vote out the Ibobi led Congress government. Congress is not in contention in 20 of the 60 seats in Manipur, said Madhav, while adding that the incumbent chief minister had been abetting the road blockade.

Claiming that the more than three months-long blockade would not harm the prospects of the BJP in the state, Madhav said that the people have seen through the design of the chief minister in prolonging the stir. He added that the BJPs main rival in the poll-bound state is the NPF and other local outfits and not the Congress. The Congress is in fight in only 40 seats in the valley. The BJP's main challengers in the

20 hill seats are NPF and other local parties, said Madhav, who added that the Central government has taken a number of steps to find a solution to the blockade, including 40 additional companies of central forces in addition to near 45 companies already present. The Centre airlifted things like petrol and cooking gas cylinders to alleviate the pain of the people in the state. The chief minister has a vested interest to prolong the blockade, added Madhav.

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Tuesday rejected the claims of Irom Sharmila's that she was offered over Rs 36 crore by the party to contest against the incumbent chief minister Ibobi Singh. The BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav dismissed the allegation, saying that the claims are "malicious and an absolute lie". The BJP leader asserted that the partys whole budget for the Manipur Assembly elections is not even the amount states in Sharmilas claims. "The amount of Rs 36 crore is not even our election budget for the state," added Madhav. The BJP leader, who is in-charge for the North-east, claimed that the people in Manipur would vote out the Ibobi led Congress government. Congress is not in contention in 20 of the 60 seats in Manipur, said Madhav, while adding that the incumbent chief minister had been abetting the road blockade. Claiming that the more than three months-long blockade would not harm the prospects of the BJP in the state, Madhav said that the people have seen through the design of the chief minister in prolonging the stir. He added that the BJPs main rival in the poll-bound state is the NPF and other local outfits and not the Congress. The Congress is in fight in only 40 seats in the valley. The BJP's main challengers in the 20 hill seats are NPF and other local parties, said Madhav, who added that the Central government has taken a number of steps to find a solution to the blockade, including 40 additional companies of central forces in addition to near 45 companies already present. The Centre airlifted things like petrol and cooking gas cylinders to alleviate the pain of the people in the state. The chief minister has a vested interest to prolong the blockade, added Madhav.
Kiran Parashar K M By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: The first version of the Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&CS) was inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) on the inaugural day of Aero India-2017, Bengalurus air show, here on Tuesday.

The AEW&CS, popularly known as AWACS, has been developed by the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) in Bengaluru. The AEW&CS system was handed over to the IAF in the presence of defence minister Manohar Parrikar today during Aero India-2017.

The AEW&CS is capable of detecting and tracking, identifying and classifying threats, guidance and interception control, display of the air situation picture and multi-sensor data integration.

According to the Defence Ministry, AEW&CS is a system populated with state-of-the-art Active Electronically Scanned Radar, Secondary Surveillance Radar, Electronic and Communication Counter Measures, LOS (Line of Sight) and beyond LOS data link. Apart from it, it has a voice communication system and a self-protection suite and has an air-to-air refuelling capability to enhance surveillance time.

The aircraft has undergone all weather and environmental trials and has been accepted by the IAF for induction, a statement by the defence ministry said.

The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) stated that it is a Rs 2400 crore project. The indigenous AEW&CS was developed by the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) in Bengaluru and integrated into a Brazilian-made Embraer-145 aircraft.

A DRDO official said, "In March 2016, the Defence Acquisition Council cleared the building of 2 AWACS-India. The IAF previously said that it requires at least 8 AWACS. Another AWACS will be inducted in three or four months."

BENGALURU: The first version of the Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&CS) was inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) on the inaugural day of Aero India-2017, Bengalurus air show, here on Tuesday. The AEW&CS, popularly known as AWACS, has been developed by the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) in Bengaluru. The AEW&CS system was handed over to the IAF in the presence of defence minister Manohar Parrikar today during Aero India-2017. The AEW&CS is capable of detecting and tracking, identifying and classifying threats, guidance and interception control, display of the air situation picture and multi-sensor data integration. According to the Defence Ministry, AEW&CS is a system populated with state-of-the-art Active Electronically Scanned Radar, Secondary Surveillance Radar, Electronic and Communication Counter Measures, LOS (Line of Sight) and beyond LOS data link. Apart from it, it has a voice communication system and a self-protection suite and has an air-to-air refuelling capability to enhance surveillance time. The aircraft has undergone all weather and environmental trials and has been accepted by the IAF for induction, a statement by the defence ministry said. The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) stated that it is a Rs 2400 crore project. The indigenous AEW&CS was developed by the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) in Bengaluru and integrated into a Brazilian-made Embraer-145 aircraft. A DRDO official said, "In March 2016, the Defence Acquisition Council cleared the building of 2 AWACS-India. The IAF previously said that it requires at least 8 AWACS. Another AWACS will be inducted in three or four months."
Fayaz Wani By

Express News Service

SRI NAGAR: Four Army men, including a Major, and an equal number of militants were on Tuesday killed while at least 11 other security personnel and a civilian were injured in two separate encounters in Kashmir.



An officer said the police, the CRPF and the Army launched a combined combing and search operation in Parray Mohalla in Hajin area of North Kashmirs Bandipora district, acting on information about the presence of militants, in the wee hours.



The militants hiding in a house fired towards the security personnel using automatic weapons before the forces could launch an assault on the house.



In the initial militant firing, five Army men including an officer, Major Thapa, sustained injuries. He and other injured soldiers are undergoing treatment at a hospital. In the gunfight that ensued for over three hours, three more Army men, CRPF commandant Chetan Kumar Cheetah, and four policemen sustained injuries.



A Lashkar militant was killed in the gunfight, the police officer said. He added that three of the injured Army men, identified as Dharmender Kumar of Nainital, Uttarakhand, rifleman Ravi Kumar of Samba, J&K, and gunner Ashutosh Kumar of Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, later succumbed to injuries in the military hospital.



The identity of the slain Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant is being ascertained, the officer added. Sources said two militants may have escaped from the area during the gunfight. According to a source, the CRPF commandant, who received multiple bullet injuries, has been flown to Delhi for specialised treatment. An Army official said security forces suffered casualties as they tried to avoid collateral damage.



After the encounter started, people in the area took to the streets and clashed with the security personnel, who lobbed tear smoke shells and resorted to baton charge to disperse the agitating people. A youth sustained injuries in the melee. Six people also sustained injuries in security forces action on protestors during clashes at Saderkoot area of Bandipora. A youth, who had sustained pellet injuries on the face, was referred to Srinagar hospital for specialised treatment.



Meanwhile, the police, Army and paramilitary forces launched a joint combing and search operation at Khan Mohalla in Hanjan Kralgund of Handwara in North Kashmirs Kupwara district. Major S Dahiya was injured in the encounter and later succumbed to his injuries. During the operation, militants fired on the search party.

The troops fired in retaliation and in the gunfight, three militants were killed, said defence spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia.



On Monday, four militants, two Army men and a civilian were killed during a gunfight in Kulgam area. Another civilian was killed when security forces fired at protestors during clashes near the encounter site.

SRI NAGAR: Four Army men, including a Major, and an equal number of militants were on Tuesday killed while at least 11 other security personnel and a civilian were injured in two separate encounters in Kashmir. An officer said the police, the CRPF and the Army launched a combined combing and search operation in Parray Mohalla in Hajin area of North Kashmirs Bandipora district, acting on information about the presence of militants, in the wee hours. The militants hiding in a house fired towards the security personnel using automatic weapons before the forces could launch an assault on the house. In the initial militant firing, five Army men including an officer, Major Thapa, sustained injuries. He and other injured soldiers are undergoing treatment at a hospital. In the gunfight that ensued for over three hours, three more Army men, CRPF commandant Chetan Kumar Cheetah, and four policemen sustained injuries. A Lashkar militant was killed in the gunfight, the police officer said. He added that three of the injured Army men, identified as Dharmender Kumar of Nainital, Uttarakhand, rifleman Ravi Kumar of Samba, J&K, and gunner Ashutosh Kumar of Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, later succumbed to injuries in the military hospital. The identity of the slain Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant is being ascertained, the officer added. Sources said two militants may have escaped from the area during the gunfight. According to a source, the CRPF commandant, who received multiple bullet injuries, has been flown to Delhi for specialised treatment. An Army official said security forces suffered casualties as they tried to avoid collateral damage. After the encounter started, people in the area took to the streets and clashed with the security personnel, who lobbed tear smoke shells and resorted to baton charge to disperse the agitating people. A youth sustained injuries in the melee. Six people also sustained injuries in security forces action on protestors during clashes at Saderkoot area of Bandipora. A youth, who had sustained pellet injuries on the face, was referred to Srinagar hospital for specialised treatment. Meanwhile, the police, Army and paramilitary forces launched a joint combing and search operation at Khan Mohalla in Hanjan Kralgund of Handwara in North Kashmirs Kupwara district. Major S Dahiya was injured in the encounter and later succumbed to his injuries. During the operation, militants fired on the search party. The troops fired in retaliation and in the gunfight, three militants were killed, said defence spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia. On Monday, four militants, two Army men and a civilian were killed during a gunfight in Kulgam area. Another civilian was killed when security forces fired at protestors during clashes near the encounter site.
By PTI

MUMBAI: Kicking off his party's campaign barely a week before February 21 civic elections, MNS chief Raj Thackeray today accused his estranged cousin Uddhav of wanting to usurp Mumbai Mayor's official residence "in the guise of a memorial" for the late Bal Thackeray.

"Balasaheb's name is being bandied about (by Shiv Sena) merely to usurp the Mayor's bungalow (near Shivaji Park ground) in Mumbai," Raj said here this evening, addressing a campaign rally, his first for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls.

Raj cited son Amit's illness for joining the campaign late. He attacked BJP and Shiv Sena over what he called the two parties' "cock fight" ahead of the polls and said the voters should not fall prey to their advertising gimmick. "Sena and BJP are ruling the city for 25 years now.

Have you ever asked where is the money gone? No. Only I will be subjected to criticism. I will be asked about the works done in Nashik. I will be asked about my blueprint of development. But when I deliver on promises, no one is interested to see it," he said.

Raj enumerated works done by MNS-ruled Nashik Municipal Corporation and asked voters to give him a chance to replicate the `Nashik model' in Mumbai.

"When Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation, he had said the new year would see new India. I am searching for that new India since January.

The move which was welcome by everyone initially, is now turning out be making no difference to poor, middle-class and upper middle class.

The only difference is people now stand in queues outside banks," he said. "Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had promised Rs 6,500 crore to Kalyan-Dombivli municipal corporation. Those voters have not got even Rs six till now," he said.

MUMBAI: Kicking off his party's campaign barely a week before February 21 civic elections, MNS chief Raj Thackeray today accused his estranged cousin Uddhav of wanting to usurp Mumbai Mayor's official residence "in the guise of a memorial" for the late Bal Thackeray. "Balasaheb's name is being bandied about (by Shiv Sena) merely to usurp the Mayor's bungalow (near Shivaji Park ground) in Mumbai," Raj said here this evening, addressing a campaign rally, his first for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls. Raj cited son Amit's illness for joining the campaign late. He attacked BJP and Shiv Sena over what he called the two parties' "cock fight" ahead of the polls and said the voters should not fall prey to their advertising gimmick. "Sena and BJP are ruling the city for 25 years now. Have you ever asked where is the money gone? No. Only I will be subjected to criticism. I will be asked about the works done in Nashik. I will be asked about my blueprint of development. But when I deliver on promises, no one is interested to see it," he said. Raj enumerated works done by MNS-ruled Nashik Municipal Corporation and asked voters to give him a chance to replicate the `Nashik model' in Mumbai. "When Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation, he had said the new year would see new India. I am searching for that new India since January. The move which was welcome by everyone initially, is now turning out be making no difference to poor, middle-class and upper middle class. The only difference is people now stand in queues outside banks," he said. "Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had promised Rs 6,500 crore to Kalyan-Dombivli municipal corporation. Those voters have not got even Rs six till now," he said.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday drew attention of the visiting British parliamentarians to growing radicalization, extremism and terrorism by urging them to raise a collective voice against these global problems. Prime ministers appealed to British lawamakers came after last month, UK Parliament had discussed a resolution on Kashmir. India has been maintaining that cross-border terrorism, emanating from Pakistan and territories held by it, is blocking any resolution of the Kashmir issue and holding up talks between the two countries.

While hosting an eight-member delegation of British MPs, Prime Minister Modi said that the relations between India and UK have strong bipartisan support in both countries, and called for enhanced interactions between the Parliamentarians of both countries.

Hosting an eight-member delegation of British Parliamentarians here, he described India and UK as natural partners in the global fight against terrorism.

A PMO statement issued after the talk, PM urged the visiting Parliamentarians to "continue to raise their collective voice against terrorism, extremism and radicalization."

The Prime Minister's emphasis on terrorism during his interaction with British MPs assumes significance as the UK Parliament had discussed on January 20 a resolution on Kashmir in the context of "escalation of violence and breaches of international human rights".

While Prime minister fondly recalled his visit to UK in November 2015 during interaction, he also welcomed the celebration of 2017 as the India-UK Year of Culture.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday drew attention of the visiting British parliamentarians to growing radicalization, extremism and terrorism by urging them to raise a collective voice against these global problems. Prime ministers appealed to British lawamakers came after last month, UK Parliament had discussed a resolution on Kashmir. India has been maintaining that cross-border terrorism, emanating from Pakistan and territories held by it, is blocking any resolution of the Kashmir issue and holding up talks between the two countries. While hosting an eight-member delegation of British MPs, Prime Minister Modi said that the relations between India and UK have strong bipartisan support in both countries, and called for enhanced interactions between the Parliamentarians of both countries. Hosting an eight-member delegation of British Parliamentarians here, he described India and UK as natural partners in the global fight against terrorism. A PMO statement issued after the talk, PM urged the visiting Parliamentarians to "continue to raise their collective voice against terrorism, extremism and radicalization." The Prime Minister's emphasis on terrorism during his interaction with British MPs assumes significance as the UK Parliament had discussed on January 20 a resolution on Kashmir in the context of "escalation of violence and breaches of international human rights". While Prime minister fondly recalled his visit to UK in November 2015 during interaction, he also welcomed the celebration of 2017 as the India-UK Year of Culture.
Anand ST Das By

Express News Service

PATNA: Bihars Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) government of three parties - JD(U), RJD and Congress - had long moments of unease on Tuesday as some leaders of RJD pitched for deputy chief minister Tejaswi Yadav as the successor to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

JD(U) leaders were peeved by the impassioned call made by an RJD legislator for Tejaswi to be made chief minister after Kumar and the way the statement was publicly supported by several RJD leaders. As JD(U) leaders slammed such statements, the inner contradictions between the two major constituents of the one-year-old alliance came to the fore once again.

Tejaswi Yadav, the 27-year-old younger son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, is a first-time MLA who was anointed deputy chief minister in November 2015 after RJD won the largest number of seats in the Assembly polls. He has no previous experience in politics just like his elder brother Tej Pratap Yadav, who was anointed health minister in the government led by JD(U) stalwart Nitish Kumar.

In Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav, a young leader, has been ruling successfully as chief minister for five years. The time has come now for a young leader, Tejaswi Yadav, to be made chief minister of Bihar, said Surendra Yadav, the MLA from Belaganj, in Gaya on Monday. The deputy chief minister, who was in Gaya to address a gathering, however, sought to belittle this demand as an individual opinion and stressed that he was still learning the ropes of politics.

It is still unclear why Surendra Yadav, a long-time Lalu loyalist, made the statement, but sources in RJD said this is a part of the partys long-term strategy to pave the way for Tejaswi for 2019 in the event of Nitish Kumar becoming prime minister as the choice of a non-BJP grand alliance of parties. However, sources in RJD also said that a section of the party feels it is now the right time to elevate Tejaswi Yadav as the CM because Nitish Kumar has lost much of his shine in the past one year.

This is not a good indication for the alliance, which came to power as the people of Bihar voted for it with Nitish Kumar as the chief ministerial candidate. Such statements must stop immediately, said JD(U) spokesperson and MLC Sanjay Singh.

Has any JD(U) leader so far spoken anything about Lalu Prasad Yadav? RJD leaders are making irresponsible statements, and we are watching their words, said Niraj Kumar, another JD(U) spokesperson and MLC.

Earlier, Bhagalpur MP and RJD youth wing national president Shailesh Kumar alias Bulo Mandal had spoken for Tejashwi being elevated as chief minister.

PATNA: Bihars Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) government of three parties - JD(U), RJD and Congress - had long moments of unease on Tuesday as some leaders of RJD pitched for deputy chief minister Tejaswi Yadav as the successor to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. JD(U) leaders were peeved by the impassioned call made by an RJD legislator for Tejaswi to be made chief minister after Kumar and the way the statement was publicly supported by several RJD leaders. As JD(U) leaders slammed such statements, the inner contradictions between the two major constituents of the one-year-old alliance came to the fore once again. Tejaswi Yadav, the 27-year-old younger son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, is a first-time MLA who was anointed deputy chief minister in November 2015 after RJD won the largest number of seats in the Assembly polls. He has no previous experience in politics just like his elder brother Tej Pratap Yadav, who was anointed health minister in the government led by JD(U) stalwart Nitish Kumar. In Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav, a young leader, has been ruling successfully as chief minister for five years. The time has come now for a young leader, Tejaswi Yadav, to be made chief minister of Bihar, said Surendra Yadav, the MLA from Belaganj, in Gaya on Monday. The deputy chief minister, who was in Gaya to address a gathering, however, sought to belittle this demand as an individual opinion and stressed that he was still learning the ropes of politics. It is still unclear why Surendra Yadav, a long-time Lalu loyalist, made the statement, but sources in RJD said this is a part of the partys long-term strategy to pave the way for Tejaswi for 2019 in the event of Nitish Kumar becoming prime minister as the choice of a non-BJP grand alliance of parties. However, sources in RJD also said that a section of the party feels it is now the right time to elevate Tejaswi Yadav as the CM because Nitish Kumar has lost much of his shine in the past one year. This is not a good indication for the alliance, which came to power as the people of Bihar voted for it with Nitish Kumar as the chief ministerial candidate. Such statements must stop immediately, said JD(U) spokesperson and MLC Sanjay Singh. Has any JD(U) leader so far spoken anything about Lalu Prasad Yadav? RJD leaders are making irresponsible statements, and we are watching their words, said Niraj Kumar, another JD(U) spokesperson and MLC. Earlier, Bhagalpur MP and RJD youth wing national president Shailesh Kumar alias Bulo Mandal had spoken for Tejashwi being elevated as chief minister.
The British troops in Singapore surrendered unconditionally to the Japanese forces on February 15, 1942, seven days after the Nippon troops first stormed the island

Worst disaster in British history

The capitulation came only two weeks after the Japanese onslaught on the Malay Peninsula forced the British troops to withdraw to the island, the BBC reported. UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill described the fall of Singapore as the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history

32,000

Indian soldiers, 16,000 British troops and 14,000 Australian soldiers were captured by the Japanese. The high number of prisoners was not surprising as the troops had been ordered to defend Singapore until the last moment

Nazi delusions

Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler believed "the seizure of Singapore" would mean a decisive success for the Axis powers. The capture of Singapore would solve all the other Asiatic questions, and would enable Japan to avoid war with US if she so wished, German Grand Admiral Erich Raeder said in March 1941

A treaty Japan honoured to the last

The Nazis were then planning to attack the USSR. So, when Japan signed the SovietJapanese Neutrality Pact in April 1941, Hitler was pleased because Japan was now restrained from taking action against Vladivostok and should be induced to attack Singapore instead

Hitler was confident Germany could destroy Russia during the summer. He did not want Japan to share in this mighty feat. But before the summer of 1941 was out, the Nazis would be begging the Japanese to attack not Singapore or Manila but Vladivostok. But it was one treaty which Japan honoured to the very last

The British troops in Singapore surrendered unconditionally to the Japanese forces on February 15, 1942, seven days after the Nippon troops first stormed the island Worst disaster in British history The capitulation came only two weeks after the Japanese onslaught on the Malay Peninsula forced the British troops to withdraw to the island, the BBC reported. UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill described the fall of Singapore as the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history 32,000 Indian soldiers, 16,000 British troops and 14,000 Australian soldiers were captured by the Japanese. The high number of prisoners was not surprising as the troops had been ordered to defend Singapore until the last moment Nazi delusions Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler believed "the seizure of Singapore" would mean a decisive success for the Axis powers. The capture of Singapore would solve all the other Asiatic questions, and would enable Japan to avoid war with US if she so wished, German Grand Admiral Erich Raeder said in March 1941 A treaty Japan honoured to the last The Nazis were then planning to attack the USSR. So, when Japan signed the SovietJapanese Neutrality Pact in April 1941, Hitler was pleased because Japan was now restrained from taking action against Vladivostok and should be induced to attack Singapore instead Hitler was confident Germany could destroy Russia during the summer. He did not want Japan to share in this mighty feat. But before the summer of 1941 was out, the Nazis would be begging the Japanese to attack not Singapore or Manila but Vladivostok. But it was one treaty which Japan honoured to the very last
By Express News Service

KANNUR: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed hope that Kannur will not witness any more violence in the name of politics after an all-party meeting chaired by him on Tuesday in an effort to put an end to the raging political violence in the district.

All the leaders who participated in the meeting unanimously spoke for a violence-free-Kannur. All the parties have reached a consensus and have extended their support in peacekeeping. The opinion in the meeting was that most of the violent activities in the district were not with the support of any partys leadership. There seems to section of people undertaking this violence without the knowledge of their party leaderships. Both the party and public should isolate such people from the society, said the CM.

District collector Mir Mohammad Ali, district police chief Siva Vikram G and senior leaders from both the parties including minister Kadannappali Ramachandran, P K Sreemathi MP, CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, BJP state president P K Krishnadas and RSS Prantha Karya Vahak P Gopalan Kutty also attended the meeting.

At least now the chief minister has come forward for peace talks. BJP will be always in the forefront with the government to ensure peace in the district and our party is committed to it. We have also demanded the chief minister that the police should act independently, without bias to any political party, said Krishnadas.

Political parties should also abstain from violence against religious centres, houses and other properties, Pinarayi Vijayan added.

KANNUR: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed hope that Kannur will not witness any more violence in the name of politics after an all-party meeting chaired by him on Tuesday in an effort to put an end to the raging political violence in the district. All the leaders who participated in the meeting unanimously spoke for a violence-free-Kannur. All the parties have reached a consensus and have extended their support in peacekeeping. The opinion in the meeting was that most of the violent activities in the district were not with the support of any partys leadership. There seems to section of people undertaking this violence without the knowledge of their party leaderships. Both the party and public should isolate such people from the society, said the CM. District collector Mir Mohammad Ali, district police chief Siva Vikram G and senior leaders from both the parties including minister Kadannappali Ramachandran, P K Sreemathi MP, CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, BJP state president P K Krishnadas and RSS Prantha Karya Vahak P Gopalan Kutty also attended the meeting. At least now the chief minister has come forward for peace talks. BJP will be always in the forefront with the government to ensure peace in the district and our party is committed to it. We have also demanded the chief minister that the police should act independently, without bias to any political party, said Krishnadas. Political parties should also abstain from violence against religious centres, houses and other properties, Pinarayi Vijayan added.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: DMK chief M Karunanidhis wife Rajathiammal was allegedly threatened by a suspected burglar, wielding a toy gun, at her CIT Colony residence on Monday.

Rajathiammal

At around 5 pm, the intruder was seen coming out of the library on the second floor of the two-storeyed house. On seeing Rajathiammal, the man threatened her at gunpoint, demanding cash and jewellery, said a senior police officer.

On the pretext of fetching valuables, Rajathiammal managed to inform the police. Subsequently, the security officer rushed to the house and nabbed the man.

According to police, the 30-year-old suspect, Rajendra Prasath, of Triplicane, had no previous criminal record and was later handed over to the Mylapore police.

CHENNAI: DMK chief M Karunanidhis wife Rajathiammal was allegedly threatened by a suspected burglar, wielding a toy gun, at her CIT Colony residence on Monday. RajathiammalAt around 5 pm, the intruder was seen coming out of the library on the second floor of the two-storeyed house. On seeing Rajathiammal, the man threatened her at gunpoint, demanding cash and jewellery, said a senior police officer. On the pretext of fetching valuables, Rajathiammal managed to inform the police. Subsequently, the security officer rushed to the house and nabbed the man. According to police, the 30-year-old suspect, Rajendra Prasath, of Triplicane, had no previous criminal record and was later handed over to the Mylapore police.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Bringing an end to the two-decades-long legal drama, and adding yet another twist to the ongoing tussle for power in Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court on Tuesday morning upheld the conviction of AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala in the disproportionate assets case in which she was co-accused along with the late J Jayalalithaa.

The immediate import of this verdict is that it disqualifies Sasikala from fighting elections under the Representation of the People Act for six years. Therefore she cannot become chief minister, not only now, but not until six years after her release, which is four years from now. That is, Sasikala is effectively out of electoral politics of 10 eyars.

Delivering the judgment on an appeal filed by the Karnataka government against the acquittal of Jayalalithaa, Sasikala, her sister-in-law J Ilavarasi and nephew VN Sudhakaran, the Supreme Court bench upheld the trial courts verdict that had awarded four years imprisonment and Rs 10 crore fine for the last three.

For Jayalalithaa, now deceased accused number 1, the fine was Rs 100 crore. The verdict, delivered separately by the two judges on the bench, Justices P C Ghose and Amitava Roy, came along with

some strong remarks about rising corruption in India. Sasikala and her relatives will have to surrender before the court in the next four weeks.

This snuffs Sasikalas unrelenting campaign to become chief minister of Tamil Nadu replacing O Panneerselvam, who has since rebelled against her. Now she has to find an alternative, which, however, is easier said than done.

But for his rebellion, Panneerselvam would have been an easy alternative due to his Jayas choice image, and the softer nature of his politics. The other proxies who might be on Sasikala at this turn of events do not have similar acceptability.

And then there is the caste equation of Thevars, Gounders and the rest in the AIADMK. Any alternative face will likely lead to more MLAs switching over to Panneerselvam camp. After holding on steadfastly for a week since his revolt, Panneerselvam has received a massive shot in the arm with this verdict. There are only 9 MLAs with him so far, but the numbers are expected to swell after the conviction of Sasikala by the Supreme Court.

Sasikala is now holed up with her MLAs at a resort called Golden Bay outside Chennai. Amid allegations that many of the AIADMK MLAs are being confired against their wish, a large posse of policemen, headed by senior officials, was deployed at the resort late Monday night.

This neutralised the muscle power that the AIADMK party leadership had massed outside the premises. After forming a ring outside the Golden Bay Resort, the police personnel have just begun moving into the premises. It is likely that the MLAs who were allegedly detained there will now come out.

As per the advice was given by Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi, Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao could call for a floor-test in the coming few days.



CHENNAI: Bringing an end to the two-decades-long legal drama, and adding yet another twist to the ongoing tussle for power in Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court on Tuesday morning upheld the conviction of AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala in the disproportionate assets case in which she was co-accused along with the late J Jayalalithaa. The immediate import of this verdict is that it disqualifies Sasikala from fighting elections under the Representation of the People Act for six years. Therefore she cannot become chief minister, not only now, but not until six years after her release, which is four years from now. That is, Sasikala is effectively out of electoral politics of 10 eyars. Delivering the judgment on an appeal filed by the Karnataka government against the acquittal of Jayalalithaa, Sasikala, her sister-in-law J Ilavarasi and nephew VN Sudhakaran, the Supreme Court bench upheld the trial courts verdict that had awarded four years imprisonment and Rs 10 crore fine for the last three. For Jayalalithaa, now deceased accused number 1, the fine was Rs 100 crore. The verdict, delivered separately by the two judges on the bench, Justices P C Ghose and Amitava Roy, came along with some strong remarks about rising corruption in India. Sasikala and her relatives will have to surrender before the court in the next four weeks. This snuffs Sasikalas unrelenting campaign to become chief minister of Tamil Nadu replacing O Panneerselvam, who has since rebelled against her. Now she has to find an alternative, which, however, is easier said than done. But for his rebellion, Panneerselvam would have been an easy alternative due to his Jayas choice image, and the softer nature of his politics. The other proxies who might be on Sasikala at this turn of events do not have similar acceptability. And then there is the caste equation of Thevars, Gounders and the rest in the AIADMK. Any alternative face will likely lead to more MLAs switching over to Panneerselvam camp. After holding on steadfastly for a week since his revolt, Panneerselvam has received a massive shot in the arm with this verdict. There are only 9 MLAs with him so far, but the numbers are expected to swell after the conviction of Sasikala by the Supreme Court. Sasikala is now holed up with her MLAs at a resort called Golden Bay outside Chennai. Amid allegations that many of the AIADMK MLAs are being confired against their wish, a large posse of policemen, headed by senior officials, was deployed at the resort late Monday night. This neutralised the muscle power that the AIADMK party leadership had massed outside the premises. After forming a ring outside the Golden Bay Resort, the police personnel have just begun moving into the premises. It is likely that the MLAs who were allegedly detained there will now come out. As per the advice was given by Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi, Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao could call for a floor-test in the coming few days.
By PTI

COIMBATORE: The conviction of V K Sasikala in a disproportionate assets case is a fitting reply to those who blamed the Governor for the delay in inviting her to take over as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, state BJP today said.

"Jayalalithaa was heading a corruption-free government in her initial days but friendship (with Sasikala) got her involved in corrupt practices, the result of which was this conviction," party's state unit president Tamilisai Soundararajan told reporters at the airport here.

The verdict would now lead to cleansing of Tamil Nadu politics and also entry of corruption-free persons to govern the state, she said.

She said graft was not an issue for those like Dravidar Kazhagam leader K Veeramani, TNCC president Thirunavaukkarasar and VCK president Tol Tirumavalavan, who blamed the Governor for the delay in inviting Sasikala to take over as chief minister and also alleged that BJP was behind it.

However, BJP was not interested in "entering through the back door" and people had realised that the party wanted a corruption-free government to be installed in Tamil Nadu, she said.

"This (not inviting Sasikala) could be the first step towards installing a corruption-free and stable government in Tamil Nadu. The MLAs should not bow to coercion and compulsion and should now concentrate on the welfare of people and the state," she said.

To a question on Edapadi Palanisamy's election as AIADMK legislature party leader after Sasikala's conviction, she said the MLAs being held "hostage" in a resort should now be given the chance to prove their majority.

"Why should they (MLAs) stay in a resort when they have their own houses in their constituency and Chennai can be reached in a shortest possible time as it is not America or Russia?" she quipped.

Tamilisai said she was here to pay homage to those killed on this day in the 1998 serial bomb blasts.

COIMBATORE: The conviction of V K Sasikala in a disproportionate assets case is a fitting reply to those who blamed the Governor for the delay in inviting her to take over as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, state BJP today said. "Jayalalithaa was heading a corruption-free government in her initial days but friendship (with Sasikala) got her involved in corrupt practices, the result of which was this conviction," party's state unit president Tamilisai Soundararajan told reporters at the airport here. The verdict would now lead to cleansing of Tamil Nadu politics and also entry of corruption-free persons to govern the state, she said. She said graft was not an issue for those like Dravidar Kazhagam leader K Veeramani, TNCC president Thirunavaukkarasar and VCK president Tol Tirumavalavan, who blamed the Governor for the delay in inviting Sasikala to take over as chief minister and also alleged that BJP was behind it. However, BJP was not interested in "entering through the back door" and people had realised that the party wanted a corruption-free government to be installed in Tamil Nadu, she said. "This (not inviting Sasikala) could be the first step towards installing a corruption-free and stable government in Tamil Nadu. The MLAs should not bow to coercion and compulsion and should now concentrate on the welfare of people and the state," she said. To a question on Edapadi Palanisamy's election as AIADMK legislature party leader after Sasikala's conviction, she said the MLAs being held "hostage" in a resort should now be given the chance to prove their majority. "Why should they (MLAs) stay in a resort when they have their own houses in their constituency and Chennai can be reached in a shortest possible time as it is not America or Russia?" she quipped. Tamilisai said she was here to pay homage to those killed on this day in the 1998 serial bomb blasts.
By AFP

CAIRO: Egypt's army on Tuesday announced the release of 13 Egyptians kidnapped in eastern Libya, which has been plagued by chaos and security problems since 2011.

Army spokesman Colonel Tamer al-Rifai said in a statement the 13 "were abducted by an armed criminal group in the Ajdabiya region".

The statement said their liberation had been made possible by "coordination with the general command of the Libyan army", without elaborating.

The Libyan National Army is loyal to Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the strongman in eastern Libya and a rival of Fayez al-Sarraj, leader of the Tripoli-based and internationally recognised national unity government.

Libya has been mired in political and security problems since the 2011 revolution that overthrew longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi, with rival militias jockeying for power.

In February 2015, the Islamic State group released video footage it said showed the beheading of 21 Coptic Christians, most of them Egyptian, who had been abducted in Libya.

In the wake of the atrocity, Egypt staged air raids against IS positions in retaliation and thousands of poor migrant Egyptian workers in Libya returned home.

CAIRO: Egypt's army on Tuesday announced the release of 13 Egyptians kidnapped in eastern Libya, which has been plagued by chaos and security problems since 2011. Army spokesman Colonel Tamer al-Rifai said in a statement the 13 "were abducted by an armed criminal group in the Ajdabiya region". The statement said their liberation had been made possible by "coordination with the general command of the Libyan army", without elaborating. The Libyan National Army is loyal to Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the strongman in eastern Libya and a rival of Fayez al-Sarraj, leader of the Tripoli-based and internationally recognised national unity government. Libya has been mired in political and security problems since the 2011 revolution that overthrew longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi, with rival militias jockeying for power. In February 2015, the Islamic State group released video footage it said showed the beheading of 21 Coptic Christians, most of them Egyptian, who had been abducted in Libya. In the wake of the atrocity, Egypt staged air raids against IS positions in retaliation and thousands of poor migrant Egyptian workers in Libya returned home.
By PTI

WASHINGTON: The Trump Administration needs to convince China to ask Pakistan to take "good-faith measures" to address India's concerns on cross-border terrorism which is a key trigger of Indo-Pak military escalation, a top American think-tank said in a new report.



US Institute of Peace in the report warned that any terrorist activity coming from across the border might escalate into a major war, which could be disastrous for the region.



"Washington needs to convince Beijing to urge Pakistan to take good-faith measures addressing India's concerns on cross-border terrorism, which is a key trigger of military escalation. Beijing could in turn prod Islamabad to prosecute terrorists involved in attacks on India as a first step," USIP said.



"Meanwhile, the Indian government should abandon its current policy of seeking to internationally isolate Pakistan. These moves by both countries could create an opening for resuming talks and politically settling the Kashmir issue," it said.



The report said that China's relations with Pakistan have deepened particularly after China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) agreement and Beijing has greater influence over Islamabads policies than Washington does.



"The US should regularly underscore the urgency of the Kashmir situation to Chinese counterparts at the highest levels and make a forceful argument that a South Asian war would directly threaten China," it stressed, adding that China's policy on the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan has a significant impact on regional stabilisation and crisis management efforts in South Asia.



"Beijing also plays an important third-party role in helping deescalate hostilities between the two countries," it noted.



Since the 1980s, China's policy on Kashmir has shifted from a strong pro-Pakistani stance to a more balanced one between Pakistan and India, the report said.



"Chinese diplomatic support for internationalising the Kashmir issue in the United Nations has diminished over time, though Beijing also has blocked UN action against Pakistan-linked terror groups," USIP said.



The report said that during crises, Chinese concerns about preventing war between India and Pakistan "outweighed political considerations to defend Pakistan", and Beijing worked closely with Washington to mitigate regional tensions.



It said China's "protection" of Pakistan-based militant groups that have launched terrorist attacks in India from international criticism and punitive actions undermines its claims of neutrality.



China has blocked action in the UN sanctions committee over Pakistan's release of Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi and extended its technical hold on a ban on Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar for his involvement in the Pathankot attack on an Indian air force station.



"China also prevented India from naming Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) declaration of October 2016 that condemned terrorism in all its forms. Over the years, China has refused to support the Indian proposal to issue a joint declaration against terrorism, which Beijing views as an Indian strategic design to internationally isolate Pakistan," the report said.



USIP said China has the potential to play a greater role in stabilising the region, but thus far has been relegated to occasional crisis manager and has not proactively called for resolution of Kashmir issue.



"Although Beijing prefers that a war not break out, it also benefits from some level of Indo-Pakistani tension, which splits Indias strategic attention on China," the report said.



WASHINGTON: The Trump Administration needs to convince China to ask Pakistan to take "good-faith measures" to address India's concerns on cross-border terrorism which is a key trigger of Indo-Pak military escalation, a top American think-tank said in a new report. US Institute of Peace in the report warned that any terrorist activity coming from across the border might escalate into a major war, which could be disastrous for the region. "Washington needs to convince Beijing to urge Pakistan to take good-faith measures addressing India's concerns on cross-border terrorism, which is a key trigger of military escalation. Beijing could in turn prod Islamabad to prosecute terrorists involved in attacks on India as a first step," USIP said. "Meanwhile, the Indian government should abandon its current policy of seeking to internationally isolate Pakistan. These moves by both countries could create an opening for resuming talks and politically settling the Kashmir issue," it said. The report said that China's relations with Pakistan have deepened particularly after China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) agreement and Beijing has greater influence over Islamabads policies than Washington does. "The US should regularly underscore the urgency of the Kashmir situation to Chinese counterparts at the highest levels and make a forceful argument that a South Asian war would directly threaten China," it stressed, adding that China's policy on the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan has a significant impact on regional stabilisation and crisis management efforts in South Asia. "Beijing also plays an important third-party role in helping deescalate hostilities between the two countries," it noted. Since the 1980s, China's policy on Kashmir has shifted from a strong pro-Pakistani stance to a more balanced one between Pakistan and India, the report said. "Chinese diplomatic support for internationalising the Kashmir issue in the United Nations has diminished over time, though Beijing also has blocked UN action against Pakistan-linked terror groups," USIP said. The report said that during crises, Chinese concerns about preventing war between India and Pakistan "outweighed political considerations to defend Pakistan", and Beijing worked closely with Washington to mitigate regional tensions. It said China's "protection" of Pakistan-based militant groups that have launched terrorist attacks in India from international criticism and punitive actions undermines its claims of neutrality. China has blocked action in the UN sanctions committee over Pakistan's release of Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi and extended its technical hold on a ban on Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar for his involvement in the Pathankot attack on an Indian air force station. "China also prevented India from naming Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) declaration of October 2016 that condemned terrorism in all its forms. Over the years, China has refused to support the Indian proposal to issue a joint declaration against terrorism, which Beijing views as an Indian strategic design to internationally isolate Pakistan," the report said. USIP said China has the potential to play a greater role in stabilising the region, but thus far has been relegated to occasional crisis manager and has not proactively called for resolution of Kashmir issue. "Although Beijing prefers that a war not break out, it also benefits from some level of Indo-Pakistani tension, which splits Indias strategic attention on China," the report said.
By PTI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan today summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner and condemned alleged "unprovoked" ceasefire violation by Indian troops on the Line of Control that killed three Pakistani soldiers.

Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria claimed India resorted to firing yesterday in Thub area (Bhimber Sector), killing three soldiers. "The Director General (South Asia & SAARC), Dr. Mohammad Faisal, summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner, J P Singh, today and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violation by the Indian occupation forces," Zakaria said.

He said that the deliberate targeting of civilians and soldiers is indeed condemnable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws. The Director General urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding; investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC, he said.

Singh was summoned to the Foreign Office for the second time in last seven days. On February 8, Singh was summoned to the Foreign Office where the Director General condemned alleged "unprovoked" firing by Indian troops on the LoC.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan today summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner and condemned alleged "unprovoked" ceasefire violation by Indian troops on the Line of Control that killed three Pakistani soldiers. Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria claimed India resorted to firing yesterday in Thub area (Bhimber Sector), killing three soldiers. "The Director General (South Asia & SAARC), Dr. Mohammad Faisal, summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner, J P Singh, today and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violation by the Indian occupation forces," Zakaria said. He said that the deliberate targeting of civilians and soldiers is indeed condemnable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws. The Director General urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding; investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC, he said. Singh was summoned to the Foreign Office for the second time in last seven days. On February 8, Singh was summoned to the Foreign Office where the Director General condemned alleged "unprovoked" firing by Indian troops on the LoC.
By AFP

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau failed to paper over differences on the treatment of refugees during a joint public appearance Monday, but appeared to tone down harsh trade rhetoric.

The two leaders avoided directly criticizing each other after a meeting in the White House, but made it clear they did not see eye-to-eye on Trump's efforts to ban refugees and travelers from seven majority-Muslim nations.

Trump defended his controversial immigration decree as "common sense" and demurred when asked if Canada's open door policies posed a threat for the United States.

"You can never be totally confident," Trump said when asked about America's northern border, before vaunting his Department of Homeland Security's migrant round-ups.

Recent days have seen the arrest of hundreds of undocumented migrants across the United States.

"We're actually taking people that are criminals -- very, very hardened criminals in some cases, with a tremendous track record of abuse and problems, and we are getting them out," Trump said.

Civil rights group say migrants with no criminal record are also being caught in the dragnet.

Trudeau said that "Canada has always understood that keeping Canadians safe is one of the fundamental responsibilities of any government."

"At the same time, we continue to pursue our policies of openness towards refugees without compromising security."

The gulf between the two neighbors was always going to be difficult span: Trump has painted Syrian refugees as terrorists-in-waiting, while Trudeau has traveled to Toronto's Pearson International airport to greet them.

Trade 'tweak'

After striking up a much-flaunted "bromance" with president Barack Obama, Canada's youthful liberal leader was in Washington to woo a septuagenarian Republican, with whom he shares little in common.

Trudeau is the third foreign leader received by the Republican mogul since he took office on January 20, following meetings with Britain's Theresa May and Japan's Shinzo Abe.

Trudeau visit got off to an awkward start, when he arrived at the White House early and his limousine was forced to wait on the driveway for around five minutes before Trump came out.

The two men then greeted each other with a handshake and headed into the Oval Office.

While there was little common ground on migration, Trudeau and Trump did appear to narrow the gap on trade.

Trump had vowed to put "America first" and rip up the North America Free Trade Agreement, but significantly toned down that rhetoric after meeting Trudeau.

Trump called for trade to be "reciprocal," but said he wanted to only "tweak" rather than gut the terms of trade.

"America is deeply fortunate to have a neighbor like Canada," Trump said, hailing the opportunity to "build even more bridges" of commerce.

"We understand that both of our countries are stronger when we join forces in matters of international commerce," Trump said.

The economic ties between America and its northern neighbor -- who share the world's longest common border -- run deep.

Three-quarters of Canada's exports go to the US, and Canada is the top destination for exports for many US states.

Trudeau, a fervent supporter of free trade, emphasized the importance of NAFTA and issued a subtle warning about the risks of protectionism for the US states.

"Make no mistake, at the end of the day, Canada and the US will always remain each other's most essential partner," Trudeau said.

"As we know, 35 US states list Canada as their largest export market, and our economies benefit from the over $2 billion in two-way trade that takes place every single day.

"Millions of good, middle class jobs on both sides of the border depend on this crucial partnership."

Trump had not been specific on how he wants NAFTA talks to develop, but has repeatedly trashed the 23-year-old pact, calling it a "catastrophe" for American jobs and threatening to slap tariffs on imports from Mexico.

Polar opposites

Trump and Trudeau are a study in contrasts: their path to power, their political stripes, their style -- they could not be more different.

Manhattan property mogul Trump won the White House in a shock November election victory over Hillary Clinton after painting a dark picture of a country in turmoil and vowing to put "America first."

Trudeau, the son of a well-liked prime minister, came to power promising to "provide a positive and good government for Canadians" and enhance the country's image abroad.

Family connections were deployed by both sides on Monday, with Ivanka Trump sitting in on the two leaders' meeting with female business leaders and Trudeau gifting Trump a photo of his father and the now US president together.

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau failed to paper over differences on the treatment of refugees during a joint public appearance Monday, but appeared to tone down harsh trade rhetoric. The two leaders avoided directly criticizing each other after a meeting in the White House, but made it clear they did not see eye-to-eye on Trump's efforts to ban refugees and travelers from seven majority-Muslim nations. Trump defended his controversial immigration decree as "common sense" and demurred when asked if Canada's open door policies posed a threat for the United States. "You can never be totally confident," Trump said when asked about America's northern border, before vaunting his Department of Homeland Security's migrant round-ups. Recent days have seen the arrest of hundreds of undocumented migrants across the United States. "We're actually taking people that are criminals -- very, very hardened criminals in some cases, with a tremendous track record of abuse and problems, and we are getting them out," Trump said. Civil rights group say migrants with no criminal record are also being caught in the dragnet. Trudeau said that "Canada has always understood that keeping Canadians safe is one of the fundamental responsibilities of any government." "At the same time, we continue to pursue our policies of openness towards refugees without compromising security." The gulf between the two neighbors was always going to be difficult span: Trump has painted Syrian refugees as terrorists-in-waiting, while Trudeau has traveled to Toronto's Pearson International airport to greet them. Trade 'tweak' After striking up a much-flaunted "bromance" with president Barack Obama, Canada's youthful liberal leader was in Washington to woo a septuagenarian Republican, with whom he shares little in common. Trudeau is the third foreign leader received by the Republican mogul since he took office on January 20, following meetings with Britain's Theresa May and Japan's Shinzo Abe. Trudeau visit got off to an awkward start, when he arrived at the White House early and his limousine was forced to wait on the driveway for around five minutes before Trump came out. The two men then greeted each other with a handshake and headed into the Oval Office. While there was little common ground on migration, Trudeau and Trump did appear to narrow the gap on trade. Trump had vowed to put "America first" and rip up the North America Free Trade Agreement, but significantly toned down that rhetoric after meeting Trudeau. Trump called for trade to be "reciprocal," but said he wanted to only "tweak" rather than gut the terms of trade. "America is deeply fortunate to have a neighbor like Canada," Trump said, hailing the opportunity to "build even more bridges" of commerce. "We understand that both of our countries are stronger when we join forces in matters of international commerce," Trump said. The economic ties between America and its northern neighbor -- who share the world's longest common border -- run deep. Three-quarters of Canada's exports go to the US, and Canada is the top destination for exports for many US states. Trudeau, a fervent supporter of free trade, emphasized the importance of NAFTA and issued a subtle warning about the risks of protectionism for the US states. "Make no mistake, at the end of the day, Canada and the US will always remain each other's most essential partner," Trudeau said. "As we know, 35 US states list Canada as their largest export market, and our economies benefit from the over $2 billion in two-way trade that takes place every single day. "Millions of good, middle class jobs on both sides of the border depend on this crucial partnership." Trump had not been specific on how he wants NAFTA talks to develop, but has repeatedly trashed the 23-year-old pact, calling it a "catastrophe" for American jobs and threatening to slap tariffs on imports from Mexico. Polar opposites Trump and Trudeau are a study in contrasts: their path to power, their political stripes, their style -- they could not be more different. Manhattan property mogul Trump won the White House in a shock November election victory over Hillary Clinton after painting a dark picture of a country in turmoil and vowing to put "America first." Trudeau, the son of a well-liked prime minister, came to power promising to "provide a positive and good government for Canadians" and enhance the country's image abroad. Family connections were deployed by both sides on Monday, with Ivanka Trump sitting in on the two leaders' meeting with female business leaders and Trudeau gifting Trump a photo of his father and the now US president together.
Who are Newport's top taxpayers? Take a look at the top 50.
Columnist

Tom Kacich is a columnist and the author of Tom's Mailbag at The News-Gazette. His column appears Sundays. His email is tkacich@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@tkacich).
Reporter/Columnist

Julie Wurth is a reporter covering the University of Illinois at The News-Gazette. Her email is jwurth@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@jawurth).
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The head quarters of Germany's Deutsche Bank are photographed early evening in Frankfurt, Germany, January 31, 2017. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. judge has rejected Deutsche Bank AG's bid to dismiss a lawsuit claiming it delayed foreign exchange trades to get a "last look" at how prices were moving, enabling the German bank to extract more profit at customers' expense.

In a decision made public on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Lorna Schofield in Manhattan said investors led by Axiom Investment Advisors LLC may pursue breach of contract claims over trades on Deutsche Bank's "Autobahn" platform and on multi-dealer electronic communications networks, or ECNs.

The decision came almost a year after Barclays Plc agreed to pay $50 million to settle a similar lawsuit by Axiom over the British bank's own trading platform.

Both banks are among many that have been sued or accused by regulators of rigging prices within the roughly $5.3-trillion-a-day foreign exchange market.

Deutsche Bank spokesman Troy Gravitt declined to comment.

Axiom alleged that starting in 2003, Deutsche Bank arranged for algorithms used by Autobahn and other ECNs to delay trade processing by at least several tenths of a second.

The New York-based firm said this enabled Deutsche Bank to reject trades whose terms it disliked, or to change the prices, costing investors millions of dollars.

In her decision, Schofield said Autobahn's terms of service were ambiguous as to whether a binding agreement to trade arose when a customer's trade instruction was executed, permitting Deutsche Bank a last look, or received from the matching algorithm, not permitting a last look.

She also said the service agreements for other ECNs could not be considered in deciding the motion to dismiss because they were made between Deutsche Bank and the ECN operators, and there was no evidence that Axiom agreed to their terms.

The judge also said Axiom can pursue an unjust enrichment claim, but dismissed claims under New York consumer protection laws because currency trading was "not consumer-oriented conduct."

Story continues

George Zelcs, a lawyer for Axiom, in an email said the decision allows his client to keep pursuing "last look" claims on behalf of other investors, ahead of a possible trial.

The case is Axiom Investment Advisors LLC v. Deutsche Bank AG, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 15-09945.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Bernard Orr)
Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) has shot into prominence as an unexpected but powerful sensitizing agent. In fact, the American Contact Dermatitis Society conferred the dubious distinction of Contact Allergen of the Year-2011 on DMF.

What is DMF?

DMF is a fine white crystalline powder, which is used extensively in the Asian leather furniture industry to prevent mold growth in finished leather products, including couches, recliners, sofas, and shoes.

The antifungal chemical is packaged in sachets, resembling the silica gel sachets put into electronic items and other moisture-sensitive products, including leather. However, silica gel does not adequately prevent fungal growth in larger leather items, especially during transport between varying climatic zones with different humidity levels. The moisture build up inside the closed container can be significant in humid locations. For this reason, DMF is used instead to protect such pieces. It evaporates and, thereby, prevents mold proliferation.

The DMF sachets are packed into the furniture in several ways. They may be fastened to the frame of the piece, or tucked under the leather upholstery. For smaller items, such as leather shoes, the sachets are put into the packaging.

DMF allergy

DMF evaporates over time, and the vapor condenses and settles on the leather covering. It is this which is responsible for the allergic symptoms in hypersensitive individuals. These are typical of classic allergic contact dermatitis. The skin becomes red and swollen, with itching and scaling. The rash is papulovesicular and confined to the sites of exposure where the patients skin comes in contact with the seat or couch i.e., the back of the legs and buttocks, and the back. If the patient was reclining, the back of the arms may also be affected. This type of localization has led to its being called sofa dermatitis. The rash may be triggered by concentrations as low as below 1 ppm.

The chemical permeates fabric and clothing, which is why skin covered by clothes is also affected. The longer the person is exposed to it, and the more repeated such exposure is, the worse will be the symptoms. Thus severe cases may present as impetigo, a bacterial folliculitis, or mycosis fungoides. In such patients, hospitalization is required.

DMF can also cause eczema of the foot following exposure to DMF in shoes. If high concentrations are present, irritant contact dermatitis may occur instead. This may take the form of a rash with sharp edges, and which arises acutely following the use of a new pair of shoes, and which is limited to the area of contact with the shoe leather.

Other items which have been associated with DMF allergy or contact irritation include helmets.

Diagnostic testing

The classic patch test is used to diagnose DMF allergy, using concentrations of 0.001 to 0.1% dimethyl fumarate in petrolatum or aqueous solution. Some researchers use an upper limit of 0.003-0.005% to prevent irritation.

References

Further Reading
Pregnancy is a desirable and anticipated outcome of marriage in most young women. However, it is also a time when many fears and anxieties crop up, and this is especially true in the third trimester. One of these fears is regarding their death from complications of childbirth. However, women usually draw strength from social or family support, or spiritual resources, which help them to proceed cheerfully despite these worries.

When this specific anxiety or fear of death during childbirth leads a woman to avoid pregnancy and delivery even before she has any experience of the same, it is termed tokophobia. This phobic state may affect women from any age between childhood and old age. Knauer first described this condition in 1897.

While up to four of every five pregnant women report that they have some fear of pregnancy and delivery, only about 6% have the disabling fear which is termed tokophobia. Non-pregnant women, in contrast, describe themselves as extremely fearful of pregnancy (so much so that they seek to avoid or postpone getting pregnant, or terminate pregnancy) in 13% of cases. The fear of pregnancy may start in early adulthood or even in adolescence. As a result of this emotional state, affected women typically show extreme care in the use of contraceptive methods, usually adopting more than one, to avoid pregnancy, even though they have normal sexual relations.

Male tokophobia

It is interesting to know that up to 13% of expectant fathers also show tokophobia. Such men may contribute to raising doubt in the minds of their partners as to their capacity to go through labor and delivery successfully. This kind of fearful anticipation and hypervigilant attitude may reduce the womans self-confidence. The male partner may be driven by fear of childbirth to discourage their partners from attending childbirth classes. They are highly reluctant to envisage normal childbirth, and are often strongly in favor of a Cesarean section.

Types

Both primary and secondary tokophobia have been described. Primary tokophobia is defined as the abnormal fear of pregnancy in a woman who has never become pregnant. In contrast, secondary tokophobia is, more often, secondary to a previous traumatic childbirth experience.

Both are more common in nulliparous women (pregnant women who have never borne children) than in multiparous women (who have already borne one or more children). It is also more intense in this category of women.

Causes

Tokophobia may result from a neurohormonal imbalance in the woman, resulting in trait anxiety. In such a condition, anxiety becomes unregulated.

Other mechanisms responsible for Tokophobia include:

Fear resulting from hearing stories of difficult deliveries from friends or colleagues, or other social contacts

Fears of not receiving good medical care, which includes adequate pain control, having control over medical decisions relating to ones case, and being able to trust the medical team in charge of ones care

Psychosocial factors including relative youth, poor education, or low socioeconomic background

Psychological factors such as low self-esteem, increased sensitivity to pain, and evocation of childhood traumas during the pain of childbirth, or the presence of psychiatric disorders such as depression or anxiety

Outcome

In most cases of tokophobia, the woman avoids getting pregnant. The fear of experiencing labor pains in a nulliparous woman may drive her to undergo an abortion. Many other first-time mothers request an elective Cesarean section if they continue the pregnancy to term. In some cases, the woman prefers to look into adoption instead of risking becoming pregnant, a condition known as voluntary childlessness.

Secondary tokophobia may occur after a woman suffers some trauma during the course of a previous delivery, but not always. In many cases, it follows a delivery which was normal from a medical point of view. It may also have its onset after a stillbirth, or a miscarriage, or a termination of pregnancy. Some women with prenatal depression may also develop a morbid fear of pregnancy.

Management

Support from the womans spouse, family, or close friends can reduce the level of prenatal stress and thus prevent severe tokophobia. Even women who have already developed this phobia may be able to overcome their desire for a Cesarean section instead of a normal delivery if they are supported both medically and psychologically.

Providing education for the parents prior to pregnancy and delivery, and doing appropriate tests to reassure the mother that the pregnancy is progressing normally, are also useful in preventing or treating tokophobia.

Psychotherapy

Several forms of psychotherapy including talk therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) have been found to be successful in managing tokophobia. CBT takes a shorter time, does not probe deep into the past, and aims to change one single behavior as a result of changing a single thought pattern.

Medication

Antidepressants are sometimes used if the tokophobia is due to or is contributed to by psychological disturbances such as prenatal anxiety or depression.

Audit and modification of labor and delivery programs

The mothers fears should be acknowledged and she should be cared for during both pregnancy and labor, so as to ensure that the process is as secure as possible, preventing future fear of childbirth.

References

Further Reading
A study in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology finds that simple glucose supplementation reduces length of induced labor. The study (currently available online as an Article in Press, in advance of the May issue of the Journal), was initally presented two weeks ago at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting. The study, "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," was conducted by researchers with the Universite de Sherbrooke in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. 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.
People with hemophilia require regular infusions of clotting factor to prevent them from experiencing uncontrolled bleeding. But a significant fraction develop antibodies against the clotting factor, essentially experiencing an allergic reaction to the very treatment that can prolong their lives.

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and University of Florida have worked to develop a therapy to prevent these antibodies from developing, using a protein drug produced in plant cells to teach the body to tolerate rather than block the clotting factor.

Successful results from a new study of the treatment in dogs give hope for an eventual human treatment.

Henry Daniell a professor in Penn Dental Medicine's Department of Biochemistry and director of translational research, was the senior author on the study, collaborating on the work with his former advisee, Roland W. Herzog, a professor at the University of Florida and lead author on the paper. The work was published in the journal Molecular Therapy.

"The results were quite dramatic," Daniell said. "We corrected blood clotting time in each of the dogs and were able to suppress antibody formation as well. All signs point to this material being ready for the clinic."

The study made use of Daniell's patented plant-based drug-production platform, in which genetic modifications enable the growth of plants that have specified human proteins in their leaves. In the case of hemophilia, the researchers' aim was to prevent individuals with hemophilia from developing antibodies that would cause a rejection of life-saving clotting-factor infusions.

The researchers had the idea that ingesting a material containing the clotting factor, such as the transformed plant leaves, could promote oral tolerance to the factor protein, just as children fed peanuts early in life are less likely to develop an allergic reaction.

This technique had shown promise in previous experiments, in which the researchers demonstrated that feeding hemophilia A plant material containing the clotting factor VIII to mice greatly reduced the formation of inhibitors against that factor.

In the new work, the team focused on hemophilia B, a rarer form of disease in which patients have deficiencies in clotting factor IX. The researchers produced lettuce that had been modified to produce a fusion protein containing human clotting factor IX and the cholera non-toxin B subunit. The latter component helps the fused protein cross the intestinal lining as the lettuce cells are digested by gut microbes while the plant cell walls protect the clotting factor from digestion in the stomach. The lettuce plants were grown in a hydroponic facility.

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Because the researchers also wanted to ensure that the therapy would work in an animal model closer to humans, they pursued their trials in dogs with hemophilia B.

The researchers began with a pilot study of two dogs, headed by co-author Timothy Nichols of the University of North Carolina. Twice a week for 10 months, the dogs consumed the freeze-dried lettuce material, which was spiked with bacon flavor and sprinkled on their food.

Observing no negative effects of the treatment, the team went on to a more robust study, including four dogs that were fed the lettuce material and four others that served as controls. The four dogs in the experimental group were fed the lettuce material for four weeks. At that point, they also began receiving weekly injections of factor IX, which continued for eight weeks. The control dogs only received the injections.

All four of the dogs in the control group developed significant levels of antibodies aginst factor IX, and two had visible anaphylactic reactions that required the administration of antihistamine. In contrast, three of the four dogs in the experimental group had only minimal levels of one type of antibody, IgG2, and no detectable levels of IgG1 or IgE. The fourth dog in the experimental group had only a partial response to the treatment, which the researchers believe to be due to a pre-existing antibody to human factor IX.

Overall, levels of IgG2 were 32 times lower in the treated dogs than in the controls.

In addition, the dogs showed no negative side effects from the treatment, and blood samples taken throughout the experiment revealed no signs of toxicity from the treatment.

Daniell said the results are encouraging.

"Looking at the dogs that were fed the lettuce materials, you can see it's quite effective," he said. "They either developed no antibodies to factor IX, or their antibodies went up just a little bit and then came down."

Though rarer than hemophilia A, more patients with hemophilia B develop antibodies against their treatment, thus making the need for a tolerance treatment all the more urgent.

The next steps for the research team include additional toxicology and pharmacokinetics studies before applying for an Investigational New Drug application with the FDA, a step they hope to take before the end of the year. A National Institutes of Health grant called Science Moving Towards Research Translation and Therapy and which uses the acronym SMARTT, is supporting IND-enabling studies. SMARTT's mission is to accelerate the progress of therapies that have shown promise in animal models to the stage of pursuing clinical trials in humans.
A pivotal registration trial to evaluate in-home use of the Medtronic MiniMed(r) 670G hybrid closed-loop insulin delivery system over 3 months showed a significant reduction in HbA1c levels for both adolescents and adults with type 1 diabetes. None of the participants experienced a severe hypoglycemic or diabetic ketoacidosis event, demonstrating the safety of system, as reported in an article published in Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics (DTT), a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the DTT website .

The article entitled "Glucose Outcomes with the In-home Use of a Hybrid Closed-loop Insulin Delivery System in Adolescents and Adults with Type 1 Diabetes," is coauthored by Satish Garg, MD, University of Colorado Denver (Aurora) and DTT Editor-in-Chief, and a team of researchers from Yale University (New Haven, CT), Stanford University (CA), Atlanta Diabetes Associates (GA), AMCR Institute (Escondido, CA), Rainier Clinical Research Center (Renton, WA), Sheba Medical Center (Tel Hashomer, Israel), University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA), International Diabetes Center (Minneapolis, MN), and Medtronic (Northridge, CA).

The researchers reported a significant decrease in the time participants spent in hypoglycemia and, similarly, a significant increase in the proportion of sensor glucose readings that were in the target range (71-180 mg/dL) during the study period for both adults and adolescents. Adult subjects used the system with Auto Mode (hybrid closed-loop) enabled for a median 88% of the time (>21 hrs/day). The MiniMed(r) 670G hybrid closed-loop system automatically increases, decreases, and suspends insulin delivery in response to continuous glucose monitoring.
The most common genetic cause of the brain diseases frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a mutation in the C9orf72 gene. Researchers from VIB and UAntwerp, headed by Prof. Christine Van Broeckhoven, have demonstrated that if an affected parent passes on this mutation, the children will be affected at a younger age (than the parent). There are no indications that the disease progresses more quickly. These results are published today in the international scientific journal JAMA Neurology.

Prof. Christine Van Broeckhoven (VIB-UAntwerp): "This research is based on our team's previous results, which showed that the same C9orf72 mutation leads to both FTD and ALS. As this mutation occurs in a substantial group of ALS and FTD patients, it is important to extract as much knowledge about this mutation and the disease process as possible."

Brain diseases associated with neurodegeneration

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are two brain diseases associated with neurodegeneration, the abnormally rapid death of brain cells. In FTD, the frontal lobes and temporal lobes are affected first, causing changes in the patient's behavior and personality, or problems with language. Loss of memory functions occurs only later on in the disease. After Alzheimer's disease, FTD is the most common form of dementia in young patients. A fraction of the FTD patients show symptoms consistent with ALS, a disease in which the nerve cells that control the muscles, in the brain and spinal cord, are affected. This causes ALS patients to progressively lose muscle mass, resulting in loss of strength in the limbs and problems with speaking, swallowing, and breathing. ALS is more common without FTD symptoms.

A common hereditary factor

Previous research by Prof. Van Broeckhoven's group demonstrated a genetic link between FTD and ALS, namely a mutation in the same gene C9orf72.

Prof. Christine Van Broeckhoven (VIB-UAntwerp): "The C9orf72 mutation is the most frequent mutation in FTD and ALS. In the Belgian population, 37% of patients with ALS and 25% of patients with FTD can be explained by the presence of this C9orf72 mutation. The C9orf72 mutation is present in 88% of patients with FTD plus ALS." These results dating from 2012 were published in The Lancet Neurology (Gijselinck et al.). The mutation in C9orf72 consists of a repetition of a short DNA sequence GGGGCC which can expand in patients up to several thousands of repetitions. It is not yet known why some patients get FTD and others ALS.

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The length of the C9orf72 repeat is determinative for the age of onset of the disease

The age at first presentation of disease symptoms ranges in patients from 29 to 82 years, even in patients from the same family. Until recently, there was no explanation for this high variability. VIB-UAntwerp's researchers demonstrated in 2016 that the age of onset is determined by the number of GGGGCC repeats: the more repetitions, the earlier the age of onset. In C9orf72 families in which the affected parent had a late age of onset and their affected children an earlier age of onset, the researchers provided evidence that the GGGGCC repeat in the C9orf72 gene expanded from a short sequence of repeats (less than 200 repeats) to a long one (more than a thousand) (Gijselinck et al. Molecular Psychiatry 2016).

Dr. Sara Van Mossevelde (VIB-UAntwerp): "In a new clinical study in 36 C9orf72 families, we analyzed the age of onset of the patients in 2 to 4 generations. We found that there was a significant difference in the ages of onset between successive generations. In most families, the children were affected by the disease at a younger age, but there were no indications that the disease was progressing more quickly. We also found that in families with both FTD and ALS patients, if the parent had FTD the child was more likely to have FTD, and a similar principle applied to ALS."
Once they can synthesise molecules of active natural substances, scientists will be able to harness natures medicine cabinet for the drugs of the future. By testing newly developed synthesising processes and catalysts, a project funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF managed to produce the promising natural substance Brefeldin A faster and in larger quantities.

Brefeldin A is a natural substance with promising potential as a candidate for cancer therapy and other medical uses. It is now built from scratch step by step at the laboratory Quelle: pixabay.com

In its day, penicillin was discovered by accident. Many people know the story of Alexander Fleming who returned to his lab in London after a holiday and found mould on a culture plate with a bacteria culture that had not grown. Further tests revealed that the mould killed gram-positive bacteria but was well tolerated by human beings. It took years until Flemings colleagues were able to use penicillin as a lifesaving antibiotic. Today, scientists screen natures medicine cabinet very systematically and test the effect of natural substances. In order to do that, they need significantly more than just a drop of plant sap or fungal secretion. The Austrian Science Fund FWF awarded an Erwin-Schrodinger grant to Michael Fuchs, a university assistant at the University of Graz, so he could spend 18 months doing research at the German Max-Planck-Institut fur Kohlenforschung.

The protein trap grown by a fungus

Like penicillin, Brefeldin A is derived from an unremarkable fungal mould (Penicillium brefeldianum). This natural substance breaks the protein transport chains in eukaryotic cells. As a consequence, the cellular protein factory (Golgi apparatus) disintegrates and the cell dies. Brefeldin A has been shown to inhibit the uncontrolled growth of a multitude of human cancer cell lines. The first attempt to use the substance in clinical trials failed, however, because the molecule degrades and is excreted very quickly, Michael Fuchs says in explaining the status quo. The potent substance can be extracted by fermenting the fungus or it can be built from scratch step by step in the laboratory. Previously used routes of synthesis never produced a yield of more than 15 milligrams.

New process yields more of the substance faster

To remedy that situation, this basic research project focused on a faster synthesis of larger amounts of the substance and on the experimental testing of newly developed synthetical methods and catalysts with the help of the complex target molecule. One crucial aspect was the precise construction of a trans-configured double bond. The beneficial effect of a compound is determined by the exact spatial orientation of the chemical groups forming it. Scientists distinguish cis and trans orientations. At best, one of the two may be ineffective; at worst it may be harmful.

The construction process at the lab consists of 16 successive steps, with each step adding new elements to the growing molecule. The reactions are initiated with catalysts and fed with substrates. In the last but one step we identified an unexpected side product which reduces the amount of end product gained, notes Michael Fuchs. Nevertheless, the new method still resulted in an output of ca. 500 milligrams of Brefeldin A, representing a 30-fold amount of what had been obtained previously.

The chemist conducted further experiments which enabled him to stop the process at the desired stage and take a closer look at the intermediate product. The gained insight allows further improvement of the catalyst in order to have the reaction run to completion. Once the building plan is known exactly, the next step can be to produce derivatives by introducing small chemical modifications. Derivatives of natural substances are an established way of remedying shortcomings  such as (too) fast degradation. Back in Graz, Michael Fuchs is currently working on synthesising natural substances by means of ecologically harmless bio-catalytic processes.
pewdiepie

Disney has dropped PewDiePie, the worlds highest-earning YouTube star, after a series of videos that featured anti-Semitic messages, according to The Wall Street Journal.

PewDiePie, a 27 year old from Sweden named Felix Kjellberg, whose foul-mouthed gaming videos have netted him 53 million subscribers, made $15 million in 2016, according to Forbes. Some of that was a result of a joint venture with Maker Studios, the multi-channel network Disney bought for $675 million in 2014. That joint venture is finished in the wake of these videos, Disney confirmed to Business Insider.

Although Felix has created a following by being provocative and irreverent, he clearly went too far in this case and the resulting videos are inappropriate," a spokeswoman for Maker Studios told Business Insider. "Maker Studios has made the decision to end our affiliation with him going forward.

According to a Wall Street Journal review of Kjellbergs channel, he posted nine videos since August that include anti-Semitic jokes or Nazi imagery.

One such video from January 11, since taken down, featured Kjellberg hiring two men to make a sign that read Death to All Jews, using the freelancer website Fiverr. Kjellberg later said that video was a joke that had gone too far, and YouTube pulled ads from the video. (YouTube hasnt pulled ads from any of Kjellbergs other videos, nor taken any of the videos down, though Kjellberg has himself.)

The situation is further complicated for YouTube, since beyond Kjellberg being its biggest star, he also has a show on YouTubes $9.99-a-month premium service, YouTube Red, called Scare PewDiePie.

Update: YouTube has killed the second season of "Scare PewDiePie," and removed Kjellberg from its preferred advertising program, which gets popular YouTube stars better ad deals. "Weve decided to cancel the release of Scare PewDiePie Season 2 and were removing the PewDiePie channel from Google Preferred," a YouTube spokesperson said in a statement.

Story continues

PewDiePie has not responded to a request for comment.

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The number of older Americans who take three or more medicines that affect their brains has more than doubled in just a decade, a new study finds.

The sharpest rise occurred in seniors living in rural areas, where the rate of doctor visits by seniors taking combinations of such drugs - opioids, antidepressants, tranquilizers and antipsychotics - more than tripled.

This "polypharmacy" of drugs that act on the central nervous system is concerning, the researchers say, because of the special risks to older adults that come with combining multiple such medications. Falls - and the injuries that can result from them - are the chief concern, along with problems with driving, memory and thinking.

Combining opioid painkillers with certain other brain-affecting drugs such as benzodiazepine tranquilizers is of particular concern, recently receiving the strongest possible warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration due to an increased risk of death from combined use.

Publishing in JAMA Internal Medicine, the team from the University of Michigan and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System reports findings from their analysis of data collected from a representative sample of doctors' offices between 2004 and 2013 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While only 0.6 percent of doctor visits by people over the age of 65 involved three or more CNS-affecting drugs in 2004, the number had risen to 1.4 percent in 2013. If that percentage is applied to the entire U.S. senior population, that means 3.68 million doctor visits a year involve seniors taking three or more CNS drugs.

"The rise we saw in these data may reflect the increased willingness of seniors to seek help and accept medication for mental health conditions - but it's also concerning because of the risks of combining these medications," says Donovan Maust, M.D., M.S., the study's lead author and a geriatric psychiatrist at Michigan Medicine, the U-M academic medical center.

Also concerning: nearly half of seniors taking these drug combinations did not appear to have a formal diagnosis of a mental health condition, insomnia or pain condition - the three chief types of issues they're usually prescribed for.

"We hope that the newer prescribing guidelines for older adults encourage providers and patients to reconsider the potential risks and benefits from these combinations," he says.

In 2015, the American Geriatrics Society updated its guideline for the use of prescription drugs in older people, called the 2015 Beers Criteria.

Some of the CNS medication groups have been on the Beers Criteria since it was first published in 1997, but this update is the first to raise concern about CNS polypharmacy as potentially inappropriate.

Other work on CNS drugs alone or in combination

Maust, who is an assistant professor of psychiatry at the U-M Medical School, also recently published two other papers on the use of CNS drugs in older people with colleagues from U-M and VAAHS.

In the December issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, they reported that 5.6 percent of doctor visits by people aged 65 or older included a prescription for a benzodiazepine tranquilizer in 2010.

More than a quarter of those visits also included a prescription for an antidepressant, and 10 percent included a prescription for an opioid drug. Only 16 percent of those who were continuing to receive a benzodiazepine prescription had a diagnosis of a mental health condition. Almost none were referred to psychotherapy.

The data for this study came from the same source as the JAMA Internal Medicine study, the CDC's National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, though it focused on the years 2007 through 2010.

"Prescribing of benzodiazepines to older adults continues despite decades of evidence showing safety concerns, effective alternative treatments, and effective methods for tapering even chronic users," says Maust.

Meanwhile, in a paper published online-first in Psychiatric Services in January, they report that more than half of 231 older patients who had been prescribed an antidepressant for depression by their primary care doctor for depression (as opposed to off-label use for sleep, for example) did not actually meet the criteria for Major Depressive Disorder.

The patients were participating in a randomized controlled trial aimed at improving depression outcomes and are not considered a representative sample of older Americans, but Maust and his colleagues note that their findings could indicate an over-prescribing trend.
Just when it would have started to seem that the City needs an update, Honda Cars India have launched the facelifted version of their popular sedan City at a starting price tag of Rs 8.49 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).When it comes to owning a sedan in India in less than 15 lakh rupees then the first car that comes to mind has to be the Honda City, which has also been the cash cow for the Japanese automaker in the country. Off late, many automakers have tried to get a share of the huge sales that Honda City gathers with their own offerings like the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz and the Skoda Rapid.The new Honda City comes with a host of new features. The most visible update has to be the new front fascia that now looks sharper and sportier than before. At the front, the City gets tweaked headlamp cluster which now includes LED daytime running lights (DRLs), which is complimented by the new grille and bumper design. The side profile of the car remains largely similar to the previous generation City except that now it has new 16-inch diamond cut alloy wheels. At the back, Honda has updated the tail lamps as they are now LEDs and there is also a small spoiler at the back with LED stop light, giving the car a sportier stance.The car will be available in five variant options - S, SV, V, VX and the ZX. The VX and ZX are the top-end variants. The price of each variant is as follows: New Honda City Facelift Variants and Prices.(Image: Manav Sinha/ News18 Auto)On the inside, the biggest addition has to be the new 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that comes with phone link feature. The top trims will get leather upholstery and there is also the addition of an electronically retractable sunroof.On the safety front, the new Honda City gets dual airbags as standard across all variants and goes up to six airbags inside the cabin in the top-end offering.Under the hood, the car continues to be powered by the tried and tested 1.5-litre iVTEC petrol engine that comes with an option of a 5-speed manual transmission or a CVT gearbox, and the 1.5-litre iDTEC diesel engine that comes mated to a 6-speed manual transmission system.At the end of the day, Honda has given the City the list of features and updates that the car required to hold its ground in a segment that has been dominated by it for years. It is now in line with the design approach of the Civic and the Honda Accord which was launched recently in India. Interestingly, Skoda had also given a facelift to the Rapid recently and Maruti Suzuki is set to come out with an updated Ciaz this year itself. What remains to be seen is whether the Honda City continues to be the market leader in its segment by the end of this year or not.


J&K: Encounter over in #Bandipora, 3 Army personnel lost their lives; 1 LeT terrorist killed. Arms & ammunition recovered pic.twitter.com/mspEFunWfJ

 ANI (@ANI_news) February 14, 2017

Three soldiers and a top militant were killed and 10 others including an Army major and a CRPF commandant were injured in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district on Tuesday morning.Police said two cops including an officer were also injured in stone-pelting that occurred around the same time the encounter was going on.police sources said that few militants broke through the security cordon in the chaos that followed the stone pelting in which a civilian was injured.The militant killed in the gunbattle is a top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander. He was operating in North Kashmir since last one year and was wanted in many subversive activities, police said.Giving details of the operation, police said it was conducted at 5.30 in the morning in Parray Mohalla of Hajin, by contingents of Army, police and paramilitary after information about militant in the area.As the forces began tightening the cordon, they came under gunfire leaving many army jawans injured. In the initial burst of gunfire, 6 Army personnel sustained injuries and were shifted to 92 Base Hospital BB Cant, Srinagar for treatment where one Sepoy Ravi Kumar of 13 RR succumbed to his injuries. Two others succumbed to their wounds later. Police said one civilian, Hilal Ahmad Parray. was also injured. His condition is stated to be stable. The operation was on when last reports came in.
New Delhi: The Environment Ministry is likely to issue a show cause notice to the Kamarajar Port (Ennore port) in Chennai for 'mishandling' the oil spill following a collision between two ships last month.



Ministry sources said that the clearing of the oil is at an "advance" stage and a team of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) also visited the port for monitoring the situation.



"It is very likely that a show cause notice will be issued to them, asking as to why they should not be penalised for mishandling the situation," a source said.



On January 28, two shipping vessels had collided outside the Kamarajar Port at Ennore, resulting in rupture of a ship and oil spill. With the incident raising environmental concerns, the Centre had recently said a total of 65 tonnes of sludge has been removed so far and over 90 per cent of the work completed.



Another Environment Ministry official said that the CPCB team has also completed its visit to the port for monitoring the situation.



"The team has issued directions under the Water Act and Environment Protection Act. Clearing (of the sludge) is at an advance stage," the official added.



The mishap had occurred at around 4 AM on January 28 when M T BW Maple, with a flag of Isle of Man, was leaving the port after emptying Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and M T Dawn Kanchipuram, loaded with petroleum oil lubricant (POL) was on its way to the berth at the Kamarajar Port at Ennore.



The sea water had blackened and some turtles were found dead near the north Chennai shoreline following the incident.



The government had said that all measures were being taken to manage the situation created by the oil spill even as a probe is underway to ascertain its causes and contributory factors.
Mumbai: A Congress corporator was shot dead outside his residence late on Tuesday.



Manoj Mhatre from Bhiwandi succumbed to multiple bullet injuries.



Police said the murder was planned and the assailants were waiting for Mhatre outside his residence.



Manoj Mhatre, leader of Congress party in the Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation in the powerloom town was attacked with sharp weapons by the assailants and then

fired at from point blank range, said police.



DCP Bhiwandi Zone-II Manoj Patil said, Mhatre was the resident of Kalwa of Bhiwandi taluka. Due to personal enmity he shifted to Oswal Wadi in the town.



After the attack the assailants fled in a four-wheeler without number plate, said the police.



He was rushed to Jupiter Hospital at Thane where doctors declared him brought dead.



The motive behind the killing is still not known, the police said, adding, earlier too there was an attempt on his life.



Senior police officers rushed to the spot and a manhunt has been launched to nab the killers, police said.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has delivered its verdict in a 21-year-old disproportionate assets corruption case involving AIADMK leader VK Sasikala on Tuesday. The apex court's verdict brings end the chief ministerial ambitions of Jayalalithaa's closest aide.



On June 7, 2016, the Supreme Court had reserved its judgment on the appeal by Karnataka government challenging the high courts order of acquittal for Jayalalithaa, Sasikala Natarajan, Ilavarasi and VN Sudhakaran.



Following is the chronology of events in the disproportionate assets (DA) case involving late J Jayalalithaa, V K Sasikala and others.



* 1996: Subramanian Swamy, then Janata Party chief, files a case against Jayalalithaa alleging that during her tenure as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister from 1991 to 1996, she amassed properties worth Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate to her known sources of income.



* Dec 7, 1996: Jayalalithaa arrested. Many allegations follow, including accumulation of disproportionate assets.



* 1997: Prosecution launched in sessions court in Chennai against Jayalalithaa and three others for having assets 'disproportionate' to their known income.



* Jun 4, 1997: They are charge-sheeted for offences under sections 120-B IPC, 13(2) read with 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.



* Oct 1: Madras High Court dismisses 3 petitions by Jayalalithaa including one challenging the sanction granted by then Governor M Fathima Beevi for prosecuting her. Trial progresses. By August 2000, 250 prosecution witnesses examined and only 10 more remained.



In the May 2001 Assembly elections, AIADMK secures absolute majority and Jayalalithaa becomes CM. Her appointment is challenged due to her conviction in October, 2000 in the TANSI (Tamil Nadu Small Industries Corporation) case. The Supreme Court nullifies the appointment.



* September 21, 2001: Jayalalithaa ceases to be CM. After her conviction is set aside, Jayalalithaa is elected to the Assembly in a bypoll from Andipatti constituency on February 21, 2002, and again sworn in as CM.



* 2003: DMK general secretary K Anbazhagan approaches SC for transferring the trial to Karnataka on the ground that a fair trial was not possible in Tamil Nadu with Jayalalithaa as CM.



* November 18, 2003: SC transfers the case to Bengaluru.



* February 19, 2005: The Karnataka government appoints B V Acharya, a former Advocate General, as Special Public Prosecutor to conduct the prosecution.





* October/November 2011: Jayalalithaa deposes in the Special Court and answers 1,339 questions.



* August 12, 2012: Acharya expresses his inability to continue as SPP. Karnataka government accepts his resignation in January, 2013 and discharges him from the case.



* February 2, 2013: Karnataka government appoints G Bhavani Singh as SPP.



* August 26, 2013: Karnataka government issues a notification withdrawing the appointment of Bhavani Singh as SPP without assigning any reason and without consulting the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court.



* September 30, 2013: SC quashes the notification withdrawing appointment of Bhavani Singh as SPP.



*December 12, 2013: Special Court allows a plea by DMK General Secretary K Anbazhagan and directs physical production of valuables and other assets seized from Jayalalithaa in 1997 and deposited in an RBI treasury in Chennai.



*February 28, 2014: Special Court dismisses plea by SPP seeking a direction to produce before it the seized silver articles belonging to her. Judge says SPP had filed it only with the purpose of delaying the proceedings.



*March 14/15, 2014: Special Court imposes a cost of one-day salary on SPP Bhavani Singh for not resuming final arguments citing ill-health.



*March 18, 2014: Singh moves Karnataka HC challenging the special court order imposing cost.



*March 21, 2014: HC rejects his petition saying the order of the special court imposing cost was right.



*August 28, 2014: Special Court reserves judgment for September 20 and directs all the four accused, including Jayalalithaa, to appear before it on that date.



*September 16, 2014: Special Court defers by a week to September 27 the pronouncement of its verdict.



*September 27, 2014: Special Court convicts Jayalalithaa and three others including aide Sasikala. Awards four years' prison term to Jayalalithaa, slaps Rs 100 crore fine.



*September 29, 2014: Jayalalithaa moves Karnataka HC challenging conviction, seeks bail.



*October 7, 2014: High Court denies bail, citing 'no grounds,' to do so.



*October 9, 2014: Jayalalithaa moves SC seeking bail.



*October 17, 2014: SC grants bail to Jayalalithaa.



*October 18, 2014: After 21 days in prison, Jayalalithaa released from prison on bail. SC says it will ask Karnataka High Court to complete hearing on appeal in three months.



*December 18, 2014: SC extends Jayalalithaa's bail by four months. A bench headed by CJI H L Dattu orders that her appeal challenging conviction in Karnataka HC be conducted on a day-to-day basis by a Special Bench.



*February 26, 2015: DMK General Secretary K Anbazhagan moves SC seeking stay of the case against Jayalalithaa questioning impartiality of SPP Bhawani Singh.



*March 9, 2015: SC issues notice to Jayalalithaa and others on plea by Anbazhagan seeking removal of prosecutor.



*March 11, 2015: Karnataka HC reserves order on appeal by Jayalalithaa and three others including confidante Sasikala in disproportionate assets (DA) case.



*April 1, 2015: Jaya defends Singh's continuance.



*April 15, 2015: SC gives split verdict on plea seeking removal of Bhawani Singh in Jayalalithaa's DA case before Karnataka HC, refers the matter to a larger bench.



*April 27, 2015: SC rejects Bhawani Singh's appointment as "bad in law", says case does not warrant de novo (fresh) hearing of appeals. Allows Anbazhagan and Karnataka to file written submissions in HC.



*April 27, 2015: Anbazhagan files written submission with Karnataka HC seeking confirming Jayalalithaa's sentence.



*April 28, 2015: B V Acharya appointed new SPP, files written submission before Karnataka HC praying for dismissal of Jayalalithaa's appeal.



*May 8, 2015: Karnataka High Court notification says Special Vacation Bench of Justice CR Kumaraswamy will pronounce verdict on Jayalalithaa's appeal on May 11, 2015.



*May 11, 2015: Karnataka HC acquits Jayalalithaa and three others.



*June 23, 2015: Karnataka Govt moves SC against Jayalalithaa's acquittal in DA case.



*July 27, 2015: SC issues notice to Jayalalithaa on appeal challenging her acquittal.



*Feb 23, 2016: SC commences final hearing on the appeals against Jayalalithaa's acquittal.



*June 7, 2016: SC reserves verdict on appeals in DA case against Jayalalithaa.



*Dec 5, 2016: Jayalalithaa dies after prolonged illness in Chennai.



(With PTI inputs)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has won the vote of confidence, minutes after DMK Working President MK Stalin told media that his party members were beaten up and forcefully evicted from the house. Palaniswami garnered 122 yes votes, while members voted against him. Earlier, while showing his torn shirt, Stalin told media,We repeatedly appealed to the speaker for a secret ballot, but he refused to address our plea. We are heading to the Governors office to intimate him of all the events.

As it happened.

Read all the Latest News , Breaking News , watch Top Videos and Live TV here.
New Delhi: Chinnamma VK Sasikala has been convicted by the Supreme Court and is staring at four years in Jail and 10 years out of politics. But just what is the DA case that has altered the course of Tamil Nadu politics?



What does DA stand for?

DA stands for disproportionate assets and it refers to a case filed over two decades ago. It refers to the fact that Jayalalithaa during her tenure as Tamil Nadu CM amassed property disproportionate to her known sources of income.



What is the quantum of disproportionate assets?

The chargesheet filed in 1997 alleged that Jayalalithaas assets rose from Rs 2.01 crore in 1991 to Rs 66.65 crore in 1996, while her declared source of income was Rs 1 per month during that period.



Who filed the case?

Subramanian Swamy, then head of the Janata Party, was one of the petitioners in the case.



What are the main charges in the chargesheet?

The chargesheet was filed under the Prevention of Corruption Act and mentioned Jayalalithaa, Sasikala, her nephew Sudhakaran and sister-in-law Ilavarasi. It said that they had opened shell companies under bogus names and Sasikala and her family members operated these companies. The allegation is that money was routed into these shell companies and then laundered via various means.

The chargesheet also mentions the lavish 1995 wedding of Sudhakaran, who was Jayalalithaas foster son, and the purchase of properties valued at crores of rupees by Jayalalithaa.



Why was the case transferred to Karnataka?

In 2001 Jayalalithaa became chief minister of Tamil Nadu again. The DMK approached the Supreme Court in 2003 asking for the case to be transferred to Karnataka for a fair trial. The SC obliged and transferred the case to Bangalore the same year.

In 2011 Jayalalithaa deposed before the special court and answered 1,339 questions.



Wait, I remember that the court convicted Jayalalithaa. What was that about?

In 2014 the special court convicted Jayalalithaa and three others including Sasikala to four years' imprisonment and slapped a 100 crore rupee fine. Jayalalithaa moved the Karnataka High Court for bail, which it denied. Then she moved the Supreme Court, which granted bail. But Jayalalithaa spent 21 days in prison.



So did the Court acquit Jayalalithaa and the others?

The Karnataka High Court in 2015 acquitted Jayalalithaa and the others. But this verdict was challenged in the Supreme Court.



So what happens now to Sasikala?

Sasikala has to surrender to the Karnataka police. She can file a review petition in the Supreme Court challenging the conviction. If the SC delivers a favourable verdict she could probably get back into Tamil Nadu politics. Till then she will be in jail.

Previous cases suggest that the chances of review petitions in corruption cases succeeding are very slim.






Gurugram: Four more persons were arrested on Tuesday in connection with the heist of 33 kg gold and Rs 7 lakh cash at a branch of Mannappuram Gold Loan Finance Ltd, police said.



"The Special investigation team (SIT) apprehended the accused identified as Ashad, Danish, Wasif and Mohammad Sahi--all natives of Uttar Pradesh," Gurgaon Police Commissioner Sandeep Khairwar said.



The police had on Saturday arrested the kingpin of the gang from Gujarat as well as his four other group members from Farukhnagar area here after raiding their hideouts.



In a daring heist, seven robbers posing as customers entered the Mannappuram Gold Loan Finance Ltd last week. They later attacked the guards and decamped with 33 kg gold and Rs 7 lakh cash.



Police added that the act was recorded in the CCTV cameras installed in the company and helped in identifying the culprits.
AMSTERDAM, Feb 14 (Reuters) - The Greek debt situation is not an "acute crisis", Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem said on Tuesday, with the next loan instalment not needed by Athens until the summer.

Dijsselbloem said a review of the Greek debt situation would not be completed before European Union finance ministers meet next week.

(Reporting by Toby Sterling; editing by Andrew Roche)
Islamabad: Pakistan on Tuesday summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner (DHC) to register protest over the death of three soldiers on the Line of control (LoC) in Bhimer Sector on Monday.



According to sources, India's DHC repudiated Pakistani allegations saying that ceasefire was first violated by Pakistani soldiers and the Indian soldiers were just responding to firing.



Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria, however, claimed India resorted to firing on Monday in Thub area (Bhimber Sector), killing three soldiers.



"The Director General (South Asia & SAARC), Dr. Mohammad Faisal, summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner, J P Singh, today and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violation by the Indian occupation forces," Zakaria said.



He said that the deliberate targeting of civilians and soldiers is indeed condemnable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws.



The Director General urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding; investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC, he said.



Singh was summoned to the Foreign Office for the second time in last seven days.



On February 8, Singh was summoned to the Foreign Office where the Director General condemned alleged "unprovoked" firing by Indian troops on the LoC.



(With inputs from PTI)
New Delhi: The pronouncement of the much-awaited verdict in the apex court on Tuesday, which decided the fate of AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala in the disproportionate assests case, was completed in about eight minutes.



The two judges, Justices P C Ghose and Amitava Roy, reached the dias at 10.32 am in Court Number 6, which was jam-packed with a large number of advocates and mediapersons.



After the seal of the voluminous judgment was opened by the court staff, the two judges held discussion for a few moments.



Amid pin-drop silence, Justice Ghose, before pronouncing the judgment, said "You can understand (that it is) too much of a fatty judgment. We have taken the burden on us."



Immediately thereafter, Justice Ghose began reading the operative part of the judgment. It was over by 10.40 am.



No sooner had Justice Ghose finished with reading the judgment, the silence of the courtroom turned into hustle and bustle with scribes and some advocates rushing out to give out

the deliberation of the courtroom drama.



Amidst this scenario, Justice Roy said he was making a supplementary judgment in concurrence with Justice Ghose.



"We have expressed deep concern about escalating menace of corruption in the society," Justice Roy said.
New Delhi: Chinnamma Sasikala is not the first to have her political hopes dashed by the courts, and she wont be the last. Others who have had to step down because of court convictions include former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad, Gujarat minister Maya Kodnani and political nomad Navjot Singh Sidhu.



Lalu Prasad (convicted for corruption): The veteran Bihar politician is no stranger to corruption cases. He was accused in the fodder scam and a disproportionate assets case. In 1996, Yadavs name surfaced in the Rs 450-crore fodder scam. In 1997, the CBI filed a chargesheet and made Yadav an accused in the case. He promptly installed his wife Rabri Devi as the Chief Minister.



In 2013, a CBI court in Ranchi convicted Lalu in the fodder scam. Immediately after the verdict was pronounced, he was arrested and taken to Birsa Munda jail in Ranchi. He was also disqualified as a Member of Parliament and became ineligible to contest elections for six years under the Representation of Peoples Act.



Maya Kodnani (convicted for murder): Maya Kodnani was the Minister for Women and Child Development in Gujarat, but resigned in 2009 due to her impending arrest as an accused in the Naroda Patiya massacre during the 2002 Gujarat riots.



Kodnani was convicted of orchestrating the Naroda Gam and Naroda Patiya massacres on February 28 2002, in which 97 Muslims were killed. Kodnani ignored notices for deposition by the Special Investigation Team, which declared her an absconder. She obtained anticipatory bail from a Sessions Court, which was revoked by the Gujarat High Court in 2009, leading to her arrest. She was convicted of murder and conspiracy to commit murder and sentenced to 28 years in prison.



Navjot Sidhu (convicted for culpable homicide): In 1991, Sidhu was accused of assaulting Praveen Shah and causing his death after a road rage incident. Sidhu was arrested by the Punjab Police and spent several days in a Patiala jail. Sidhu claimed in court that he was innocent.



In December 2006, Sidhu was found guilty and sentenced to a three-year prison term for culpable homicide. Following the sentencing, Sidhu resigned as a Member of Parliament and in January 2007 appealed to the Supreme Court. The apex court stayed his conviction and sentence, allowing him to contest and win the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat in February 2007.



According to the law, politicians who are convicted and get bail are not eligible to contest elections. It is only when the court sets aside the conviction that one can contest elections and hold political office.


The Supreme Court will on Tuesday pronounce the verdict on the 18-year-old disproportionate assets case that had haunted the late J Jayalalithaa for a good part of her political career. The former Tamil Nadu chief minister is no more, but in the dock, is the future Tamil Nadu CM VK Sasikala who is ready with her band of MLAs to swear-in as the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. News18 puts together the other legal challenges facing her and possible outcomes of the verdict which is expected any moment from now.



BV Acharya, who was a senior counsel and former advocate general of Karnataka during this case, had told News18.com, When there is only one accused, then in the event of the persons death the judgment is usually abated. But in this case, there were more than one accused and even if Jayalalithaas name would be struck off, Sasikala and others are still very much in the case and could be convicted again.

He maintains that the order of Jayalalithaas acquittal by the Karnataka High Court was wrong and was without any merit. The error was apparent when even hen the lawyers of the accused only commented on the conclusive paragraph of the judgment without delving into the reasoning given by the judges, Acharya said.



Acharya said that if the apex court rules in favour of the prosecution, then not only could Sasikala and others land in jail paying a fine, but there would also be an order of confiscation of properties by the government.



Since the SC has hinted towards the pronouncement of the verdict within a week, it would probably be announced after February 9 the day when Sasikala is officially expected to take over as the Chief Minister. In an event of her being convicted of the offences, then as mandated by a 2013 SC verdict on Representation of the People Act that prevents member of the state legislative assemblies and members of parliament from holding the posts after conviction, Sasikala would have to step down as the Chief Minister.



Apart from this DA case, what are the other cases against soon to be Tamil Nadu CM VN Sasikala?



There were 3 cases filed by the Enforcement Directorate in 1995 & 1996 where she has been charged with violating Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA). The cases were related to payments made to foreign firms in US & Singapore dollars for hiring uplink facilities for JJ TV, the predecessor to Jaya TV. On Feb 1 this year the Madras HC refused to discharge her in these cases.

Another case relating to acquiring illegal foreign exchange through an acquaintance in Malaysia is also pending against her. Sasikala along with her sister-in-law J. Ilavarasi allegedly used the money to purchase the Kodanad Tea Estate in the Nilgiris. In May 2015, Egmore court had discharged her from the case but Madras HC directed her to face trial following criminal revision petition filed by the Enforcement Directorate.



With a two-judge bench deciding the fate of Sasikala and her close aides, is there a possibility of a split verdict?





A two-judge bench is a case which is being decided by two judges. In the SC, apart from a two-judge bench, the rest of the benches are generally composed of odd number of judges. Now there have been instances when the two judges have penned down separate judgments which do not give a similar verdict, where one judge finds the accused guilty and the other finds him innocent. This situation is known as delivering a hung verdict. In such a case the matter is further referred to a three-judge bench. This involves a fresh round of hearings and submission of evidences. In this case, Sasikala could be sworn in as the Chief Minister immediately as the outcome will at least take another year. In this case, the hearing started on Feb 23, 2016 and ended on June, 2016, and the verdict was reserved for another eight months.

But Article 164(4) of the Indian Constitution has to be used to usher her into power. This is a provision which reads as, A Minister who for any period of six consecutive months is not a member of the Legislature of the State shall at the expiration of that period cease to be a Minister. This gives Sasikala a time period of six months to become a member of the legislature of the state. But there exists a SC judgment known as the BK Kapoor case which allows a non-elected member over any other leader only in case of political exigencies or in certain exigencies like the need for an expert to be brought in.



Can the matter be referred back to the Karnataka High Court for consideration?





Yes, there is a possibility. To understand whether the matter stands a chance to be referred back to Karnataka High Court has to be on the basis on evidence. During the hearing in this case, the SC had asked the Karnataka government an important question that whether it could prove that the money circulated among the co-accused was of Jayalalithaa. During this juncture, Jayalalithaas lawyer, had submitted that just because the co-accused lived with her it cannot be presumed that their (Sasikala) assets were out of Jayas wealth. The bench had also remarked, Disproportionate assets is not a crime. It is only a crime if it is proved that the source of the money is illegal.

The finest argument which could save the day for Sasikala would be that assessment of the assets individually for the co-accused was not a point of consideration for the lower court which held them guilty of the offence. Question also arises as to whether Karnataka government had been able to submit evidences showcasing exactly the amount of wealth earned by Sasikala apart from being linked to that of Jayalalithaa. This would then involve the process of determining whether the wealth earned is legal or not.

The recent discharge of the Maran brothers in the Aircel-Maxis case also shows judicial tendency in this regard. It was this question which helped them get discharged where the court said, perception or suspicion are not enough for criminal prosecution.



What are the other possible outcomes?



There are two other possible outcomes which is like black and white. If the bench upholds the High Court verdict, then the order of acquittal gains the seal of the Apex court resulting in disqualification for Sasikala. This also clears her much-tainted image which could have been a hindrance in her being sworn in as the CM. Now the deck would be cleared.

But if the bench upholds the trial court verdict which found them guilty. The court will also then have to accept that High court verdict had erred mathematically while calculating the sum of the disproportionate asset. This results in Sasikalas CM dream falling apart like a pack of cards. Sasikala stands convicted again and disqualified for 10 years. The court could also take over the properties in question and hear legal claims to such properties and grant them compensation in lieu of such properties.


Ghaziabad: The Editor of the online edition of Dainik Jagran newspaper was arrested on Tuesday for publishing an exit poll ahead of the second phase of Uttar Pradesh polls. A court gave him bail.



Police said Sashank Shekhar Tripathi was taken into custody from his residence at Sahibabad in Ghaziabad. He was produced before a court which granted him bail.



The police said Tripathi published an exit poll on the website on February 13. The second phase of the staggered assembly election in Uttar Pradesh is due on Wednesday.



The Chief Election Officer ordered the District Election Officer to file a FIR and arrest the Editor.



The complaint stated that the publication of the exit poll was aimed at confusing voters. It was a violation of the model code of conduct.



"We arrested Tripathi," police officer Hemant Rai said.



He said two other accused -- the Managing Editor and Managing Director of RDI, a company which conducted the opinion poll -- were yet to be caught.



"Raids are being conducted for the two persons," Rai said.
The suicide of PhD scholar Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad Central University (HCU) on January 17, 2016 sparked nationwide outrage and protests. Over a year after the scholars death, old wounds were reopened on Tuesday when the Guntur district magistrate held in athat Vemula had falsely claimed that he was a Dalit. Raja Vemula, the brother of the deceased PhD scholar, spoke toin an exclusive interview about the report and said it was prepared under 'undue pressure' from the central government. The family is now preparing to take the battle to the court.Yes. I can state that categorically.Honestly, we were expecting this report. The BJP is playing out a conspiracy against us. All departments have surrendered to the BJP. We will give our reply to this report and we are preparing for a legal battle. We will take our fight to the judiciary. What is odd is that the same Collector in June last year had said that Rohith was, in fact, a Dalit. So why the U-turn? Now BJP is saying that he was not a Dalit but Bandaru Dattatreya in his letter to Smriti Irani had referred to Rohith as a casteist extremist.This is being done to safeguard the BJP. They know that if the truth comes out, BJP leaders will go to jail. From Bandaru Dattatreya to Smriti Irani to (HCU vice-chancellor) Appa Rao, they were all involved in pushing Rohith to suicide.Yes. It is an open secret that the Centre has been applying pressure on the local administration for a while now.Of course she is being targeted. The fact that a common Dalit woman has decided to take on the might of the Sangh Parivar has not gone down well with them. They are trying to punish her for questioning the establishment. I can only say that I am proud of my mother.The biggest achievement has been that the anti-Manuwaadi forces in the country finally united and saw the BJP and the RSS as fascist organisations. This is particularly true of Dalits and minorities. You can even say that after Rohiths death, there was an awakening among Dalits and minorities.For the RSS, anybody who questions the government is anti-national. They said Rohith was anti-national, they said I was anti-national and even said my mother was anti-national. Anybody killed by the RSS is an anti-national. I only want to request them to give us an ID card that says I am anti-national.That is because they are systemically targeting universities. And they are targeting universities because they produce the decision-makers of the future. The RSS is trying to control the education system by dismantling social structures within them. And they are doing this through the hands of the ABVP, their student wing. Slowly, we are seeing that they are trying to saffronise textbooks as well.Of course! Najeeb and Rohith were both at loggerheads with the ABVP. Just hours after a fight with some ABVP activists, Najeeb goes missing. He has been missing for the last four months. The disappearance of Najeeb is an alarming and urgent matter. We stand with his family and friends in their fight for answers. I think the government wont reveal any answers till the elections in UP are over.Oh, come on! This is very ironic. If Mr. Modi was really a follower of Baba Saheb, he would at least react when stories of oppression against Dalits pour in from all parts of the country. He would ensure justice for Najeeb, justice for Rohith and justice for the victims of the Una flogging incident. He is only invoking Baba Sahebs name because he treats Dalits like a vote bank.
Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court on Monday imposed a ban on Valentine's Day celebrations across Pakistan.



The order came during the hearing of a petition arguing that the day was not part of Islamic tradition and should be banned, the Dawn reported.



According to the court order, Valentine's Day-related festivities have been banned in public places.



The electronic and print media have also been told not to give coverage to any promotion of the day.



Last year, President Mamnoon Hussain urged Pakistanis not to celebrate Valentine's Day.
The day of love, hearts, mush and everything perfect is here. Over the years, Valentine's Day has become a synonym for showing your love to your significant other and a major role has been played by our films. From red heart balloons to red satin dresses and cheesy dialogues, romantic films have become a must to complete the Valentine's Day celebration.While Love Actually, Notting Hill, Pretty Woman, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge are favourites to watch on the 'Love-Day', thanks to their fairy tale endings, let's take a route less common. On this Valentine's Day, News18 brings to you a list of films that portrayed romance in not-so-perfect way, because love in every form deserves to be celebrated.No better movie to begin the list than La La Land. One of the best movies made in recent times, this Oscar-nominated film of 2016, showed the real-life struggles in the most magical way possible. Two dreamers, Mia and Sebastian decide to follow their aspirations and end up separately in life, telling us that all those who love each other and be with each other through the perils of a struggling life, might not end up together to taste the success in later part of the life.An all-time favourite of one-sided Romeos and Juliets, 500 Days of Summer perfectly summarises the emotion of one -sided love with lots of satire and humour (unlike KJo's ADHM). The film tells the story of Tom who falls hopelessly in love with Summer, who treats their relationship like a fling. Unlike other romances where Summer might have realised her 'eternal love' for Tom who is obsessing over her, 500 Days focuses on the real aspect of love where one might not fall in love as passionately as the other. In the end, Tom too ends up moving on, keeping it real and not-so -mushy.Another film with not-so-perfect ending is Michel Gondry's classic love-story Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind. Joel and Clementine decide to erase each other from their minds after their messy breakup but end up finding each other at every turn. The film played on the theme of true love but the way both of them deal with their frequent break-ups and patch up is way too real. This film is a bible for all those couples who have a long history of break ups and patch upa, maybe, like Joel and Clementine they should take a break too, with all the good and bad memories etched in their minds and leave it to live to bring them together.The classic love series- Before Sunrise- Before Sunset and Before Midnight- is one of the most real love stories ever made. Keeping even the time-zone real every film was released after a gap of nine years with the same cast. Depicting the meaning and understanding of love in three different stages of life, before series give an insight into the deepest, more complex aspect of love. Jesse and Celine are two completely different individuals with different lives in different continents and different approach towards love. Their conversation is real yet idealist in nature and that is the beauty of this series. While you might not find an Ethan Hawke lookalike in a train to spend the rest of your life understanding love, the Before series captures love at its real-best without any 'sparkle'.There's a reason this Michael Curtiz's masterpiece is regarded as a classic. The romantic-drama starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman as Rick and Ilsa, was a tale of heartbreak and deciding what's right. Although the film was patronising in many ways but considering the times of 1940's, it explained that true love is in doing the right thing for the person without keeping yourself first. The way Rick does the right thing for Ilsa and the entire anti-Nazi operation shows why he's a good man at heart. Casablanca captures the feeling of sacrifice, something which not all romantic-drama showcase fearing a heartbreaking ending.At one point or another, we all have best friends stories that force us to love. Be it Rachel and Ross from Friends or Rahul and Anjali from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. While Bollywood is still a long shot away from understanding the concept of 'friendzone' in a good way, Julia Robert's My Best Friend's Wedding captured the feeling of a best friend's possessiveness and the confusing aspect of love accurately. Julianne Potter and Michael O'Neal are best friends who dated in college and have an agreement to marry each other if they don't meet anyone till 28. Days before her 28th birthday Julianne learns that Micheal is getting married and her fight to get the attention of his best friend begins. While many may confuse the ending with sacrificing love, it is actually her own selfish ego that Julianne lets go in the end to become a better and more mature person.Probably the only Bollywood film in the list, Ek Main Aur Ek Tu handles the concept of romance very tactically. The romantic-comedy is a story of a happy-go lucky Raina and a perfectionist Rahul. Rahul falls in love with Raina's way of living and handling life, and after a night of drinking, both end up marrying each other. In the process of getting annulled, Rahul falls in love with Raina while she continues to see him as her friend. The film touches upon the delicate line between friendship and the understanding of love for the opposite sex. Instead of following the typical route of friendship turning into love and happily ever after, the film ends with Raina and Rahul maintaining their friendship and staying happy in their respective lives. Perhaps this is the closest a Bollywood rom-com has got to depicting new age love stories.While the world idealizes a happy ending in every romance, life always has other plans and it feels good when filmmakers find time and make films on the real, not-so-perfect edges of love. This Valentine's Day let's embrace the real-life love situations depicted on reel.
Lucknow: 'Double the speed to triple the economy'. One of the most preferred quote by UP CM Akhilesh Yadav. One he had quoted on several occasions in his speeches. However in the Poll seasons it's the speed of Heinous crimes in the state, which is now threatening the SP-congress alliance of losing its control and crashing on the electoral Highway.



From Murder of a trader in Meerut to Sensational charges against a SP MLA of plotting murder of a gangrape victim in Sultanpur, law and order has yet again become a big issue in the poll bound Uttar Pradesh.



The Akhilesh led Samajwadi party government was further embarrassed with 'Shrawan Sahu Murder case' in Lucknow. Sahu an elderly man in his late fifties was shot dead by 2 men allegedly on behalf of some suspended cops and a hardened criminal presently lodged in Lucknow Jail. Sahu was the prime witness in murder case of his son and the jailed criminal and cops were prime accused in that murder.



Similarly, many other cases of Heinous crimes like murder of a youth from majority community allegedly by assailants belonging to a different community in Bijnor on 12th of February, alleged rape and murder of a 7-year-old minor girl and death of a 50-year-old women in a scuffle with chain snatchers in state capital Lucknow had suddenly brought attention back on issue of law and order collapse in Uttar Pradesh.



The biggest setback to Akhilesh Yadav's clean image has however come from charges of involvement of his party MLA Arun Verma in an alleged murder of a 22-year-old gangrape victim in Sultanpur. Arun Verma is also a SP candidate in this election. Considered close to Akhilesh, the later had started his electoral campaign from Verma's constituency in Sultanpur. This despite the fact that Verma's seat goes to poll only in 5th Phase.



The victim had earlier accused the SP MLA of rape in 2013. However, the police in its investigation had given Verma a clean chit. But now the rape victim's murder and charges of conspiracy against the SP MLA has threatened to adversely impact the SP-congress poll prospects.



Political opponents have been quick to shift focus on alleged lawlessness in the state. So while it was BJP President Amit Shah in Lucknow on Sunday, it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lakhimpur on Monday who lashed out against UP CM over 'GundaRaj and Jungleraj' under his rule.



Prime Minister said' Akhilesh ji, Aapki Sarkar main Aaye din Rape, loot, Hatya jaise Vardat hoti hai. Phir bhi aap kehte hain Kaam Bolta hai. Aapka Kaam nahin, Paap Bolta hai''( Akhilesh ji every day there are rapes, Murder and loots taking place under your rule. You claim that work speaks for you. No it's not the work that speaks but it's your sins that speak''



BSP president Mayawati too has been making 'restoring law and order' as her top electoral promise. Yesterday while Campaigning in Etawah, the very heartland of SP Politics she offered people a promise ' if you all, the common man and woman, the good people want to walk on streets with head held high, without fear of goon,then vote for BSP' .



The sudden increase in serious crimes has also left Congress party in a fix. A senior leader not ready to be quoted expresses this dilemma. He says 'For years we fought against the SP government on issues of law and order. Our slogan was 27 saal UP Behal. This included 5 years of Akhilesh rule as well. Now as an alliance partner we have been compelled to defend the government and its tainted leaders'. ' Decisions out of larger political compulsions are not often easy to defend', he added.
: Newly elected AIADMK legislature party leader Edappadi K Palaniswami staked claim to the chief ministership of Tamil Nadu in a 10-minute meeting with Governor Vidyasagar Rao on Tuesday evening.In his brief meeting with the Governor, Palaniswami presented a list of MLAs supporting his claim. Some senior leaders and ministers also accompanied Palaniswami, who greeted the Governor with a bouquet.The meeting came hours after the party named him as the CM pick following VK Sasikala's conviction by the Supreme Court in a disproportionate assets case.The faction, which is fighting 'caretaker' CM O Panneerselvam for control of the government, has claimed the support of 119 party MLAs, who have been put up at a luxury resort near Chennai for the past few days.Sasikala was on February 5 elected the AIADMK Legislature Party Leader but Chief Minister O Panneerselvam had raised a banner of revolt two days later saying he was forced to step down.Last week, the Governor had met Panneerselvam and Sasikala, with the latter then staking claim to form the government.Earlier in the day, the apex court upheld a Bengaluru lower court order convicting Sasikala, besides two of her relatives, in the Rs 66-crore disproportionate assets case in which the late chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was also an accused.
In western UPs Rampur constituency, which goes to polls on Wednesday, nothing defines the political agenda for other political party candidates than 'Paris-like development of Rampur' by its chief designer and key contestant, Azam Khan.Perhaps in an attempt to overshadow the legacy of Rampur's Nawabs, the senior Samajwadi Party minister has flooded the area with swanky malls, lofty city gates and grand Baroque-styled buildings.Bapu Mall(Image: Eram Agha/News18.com)His university has replicas of Parliament and Hyderabads famous Falaknuma Palace.Mohammad Ali Jauhar University (Image: Eram Agha/News18.com)Speaking to News 18 about what Rampur wants, Mahmood Ali, brother of the BSP candidate from Rampur Dr Tanveer Ahmad Khan, claimed, 'Freedom from Azam Khan.'The primary political question in the constituency, Khan said, was whether someone was for or against Azam Khan and his model of development.Just look at the work he has done in the city. So many important factories and institutes could have been set up here. But hes just put up useless buildings across the place. Nothing constructive. In five years, Rampur only lost.Gandhi Samadhi with the Babe Nijaat(Image: Eram Agha/News18.com)There is lot of talk about demonetisation, Dalit-Muslim unity in UP. But here nobody really cares about this. We consolidate behind him or oppose his work.In another part of the constituency, BJP candidate Shiv Bahadur Saxena and his supporters are pinning hope on Hindu and secular Muslim votes to end the political ambitions of the SP heavyweight in this Assembly polls.Calculations are weighing in favour of the BJP, said the BJP supporter, adding, especially after the delimitation in 2007 when 70 villages, in which majority of voters were Hindus, were merged into the Rampur assembly seat.Saxena has been elected twice from the nearby Swar Tanda Assembly seat, where Muslims are in majority.Earlier, there were only 30% Hindus in Rampur and with delimitation in 2007, the percentage has increased to 47%. This will be an important factor after the 2014 elections when Narendra Modi wave formed the BJP-led government at the Centre, said Akash Saxena, a BJP supporter.In a roadshow organised for Akhilesh Yadav in Rampur, a former MLA of Samajwadi Party, Afroz Ali Khan, reminds the crowd that 40 years ago, Azam Khan was a humble man beating the odds on his scooter. He had resolved to make Rampur like Paris. Forty years on, we can see the beautiful face of this city, this is all because of his effort.Azam Khan, the man himself has no qualms about crediting the overnight infrastructural boom in Rampur to a one man show. He claims not to have spent a single penny in purchasing even a car for myself but I have made Rampur a city that will set an example for other cities, he said.Khan doesnt believe the elections, in which not just BSP and the BJP but even RLD is creating a lot of noise, are crucial for him or his party.What is this talk about the elections being crucial? We will win all five constituencies in this area, he told News 18, asserting his invincibility in the seat from where he has contested eight times and lost only once.Talking about the political debut of his son, Khan says, I was told by my party people to give Abdullah (his son making his debut from Suar Tanda) an easier seat. But I can never do such a thing. I want to make him a fighter.On the question of BSP giving tickets to 99 Muslims candidates, Khan sarcastically remarked, Is not up to the mark. Mayawati should have given 403 tickets to Muslims. Why only 99?Akhilesh Yadav in his last roadshow at Rampur claimed, We will get all 403 seats in Uttar Pradesh, but Rampur is different. I dont worry much about Rampur because I know Azam is there.Rampur will go to polls on Wednesday. On March 11, the verdict will be out on the Azam Khan model of development.
: The gathering looked joyous and colourful, but amidst the celebrations of the One Billion Rising event in one district of Bundelkhand in Uttar Pradesh, sat hundreds of angry adivasi women.While the region goes to polls in barely 10 days, billboards and flags deck Bundelkhand's Lalitpur town in the colours and promises of various parties, the Saharia adivasi villages, said these women, still struggled for basics of survival  food, water, land  and are afraid their votes will be coerced.Valentine's Day in Panari village of Bundelkhand's Lalitpur district was marked by the local chapter of One Billion Rising, the global movement to end violence against women, awarding adivasi women who had worked in their villages against violence against women, alcoholism, purdah, for the rights of widows.Saharia women of all ages, from villages over 15 km away, gathered in the grounds of the Pahalvan Gurudeen Mahila Mahavidyalay, and were handed out shiny plaques for their leadership in their communities. However, as the afternoon drew to a close, despite the help given by the numerous NGOs with representatives clustered on the stage handing out awards, the women had to go back to homes where, they say, there is no water, no work, no roads and very little fertile land.Saharia women of all ages, from villages over 15 km away, gathered in the grounds of the Pahalvan Gurudeen Mahila Mahavidyalay."We want someone who can look after the poor," said Sonam from Bamhori Kalan village, 12 km from Lalitpur town, clutching her maroon and gold plaque. Someone who will give us water, land and fields to work in."But we don't want to vote because of dabaaw (pressure)," she added as the rest of the women nod. There is worry that they'll have to vote for whoever bribes their husbands most successfully. Sheila from Budwad Gaon explains: "Where my husband goes I will go, jahan deep wahan jyoti." She, like the rest, is concerned that whoever gets the most alcohol to her husband might win those votes.Who can look after the poor, however, the women give no hint. In the middle of the award ceremony, they all stood up to pledge to vote, and to get others to vote, but are keeping their cards close to their chest on who they prefer. One of the few men in the gathering, Sitaram, a fellow villager from Budwad, who now works with the NGO Sai Jyoti to make adivasi villages aware of their rights, piped up saying most of them will vote NOTA. The woman, however, remained quiet on the matter."Only the Brahmins, the Thakurs and the Lodhis (a landowning caste) get ration and food from anganwadis for pregnant women," Sonam said. "We have holes dug up for toilets but no actual latrines, paths have been dug up but no roads."The Adivasi Women said they want someone who can look after the poor.The stories seem to be of much futile digging, for absent toilets, roads, for wells and ponds under MGNREGA so badly designed they hold no water. There is no water to be had near their homes. Whichever the village, saharia women have to walk about 2 km every day to fetch water, on paths cannot cross that of the dominant castes."Our pradhan is a Lodhi. We asked him for work under MGNREGA, but he said there are no funds, work can only happen after elections," said Sandhya from Naya Gaon, roughly 16 km away from Lalitpur town. Many have repeatedly turned to the central jobs scheme for sustenance. However, Sheila who did 10 days of labour four years ago is yet to receive payment.Lachchi from Kapasi gaon worked for one and half months some two years ago and has not got the money. The pradhan told her, she said, that the money had been paid to her account, but the bank denied receiving any.In a country being relentlessly pushed to embracing digital and cashless transactions, saharia women are extremely unhappy with the way their local banks work. Since most village women are illiterate, they told News18, banks don't entertain most saharia villagers without self-styled agent, whether to withdraw the NREGA payment or the state pension. However, these agents, take bulk of the money and leave a few hundred with them.With no available work, very little tillable land and thekedars [contractors] who treat them like bonded labour, many villagers have fanned out to Delhi, Agra, Indore, Bhopal for jobs. In Lalitpur, meanwhile, the refrain for adivasis is jal, jameen, kheti, even though they're tight-lipped on their best bet.
Chennai: As the word from New Delhi trickled in that Chinnamma VK Sasikala is out of the picture in Tamil Nadus electoral scene for a good 10 years, the motley crowd hanging outside caretaker chief minister O Panneerselvams residence at Chennais Greenways Road erupted in joy.



The customary song and dance followed, and in a matter of minutes OPS Anna  as he has been referred to by his loyalists  got a new title in grand Tamil style: Singha Thaliavan or The Lion King.



For a man who until the other day was disparagingly referred to as the UPS  the standby power source when the mains go off, a reference to his stints as caretaker CM when J Jayalalithaa went to jail, and when she was hospitalised later  thats literally a lion leap.



The crowd suddenly couldnt have enough of the mild-mannered man.



Dumtha Lakadi Dummava, OPS-na Summava? (And what did you think, OPS is a pushover?)



Kaanume kaanume Sasikalaave Kaanume (Did you see, did you see, did you see Sasikala anywhere?)



Nethi Varaykum Ayamma, Neeyellan CM-aa? (Until yesterday you were house maid, now you want to be CM?)



Slogans were being instantly invented, and OPS seemed to have conjured every virtue overnight.



As things stand, the OPS camp has only around 10 MLAs and 12 MPs, but that trickle could soon be a torrent as the Sasikala camp struggles to emerge from the shock of the SC verdict. Already, there are unconfirmed reports from Chennai that 50 MLAs have reached out to OPS camp.



His skills will now be tested at the floor of the Tamil Nadu Assembly where he will need support of the 118 of the 135 AIADMK legislators (one vacant after Jayalalithaas death) to win the trust vote in the 235-member Assembly.



So is OPS capable of that? Well, if his past is anything to go by, he is a master in the art of lying low and leaping in the dark.



From his humble beginnings as a tea seller in hometown Periyankulam to the next claimant at Fort St George  the seat of power in Tamil Nadu  Panneerselvam has ducked every adversity with patience, and waited for fortune to come his way.



There were many who predicted his immediate fall when he was appointed the caretaker CM as Jayalalithaa went to jail in the DA case. Its tough to be a CM and do your work, without someone in the party snitching to Amma that OPS is coming on his own, they said. But OPS survived, dashing between Bengaluru and Chennai, to get Ammas stamp on all his decisions.



And when she finally exited the picture, he continued with his game of obedience as Sasikala took over the party. While Team Sasikala was plotting her elevation as the next chief minister, she having already been elevated as the new AIADMK General Secretary, a sudden crisis erupted in the heart of Chennai. Thousands gathered in Marina Beach demanding an overturn of the ban on the bull-taming sport of Jallikattu.



OPS a man whose luck never seems to run out  earned some praises on the way he handled the Marina uprising. For one, the expectations were not much. But he ensured New Delhi lets him issue an ordinance to make it legal once again, and when the Marina crowd refused to disperse, he managed to carry through a police action without any massive damages.



All the while Panneerselvam has been quietly building up his image among people and AIADMK cadre even when Jayalalithaa was alive. Under him, bureaucrats and officials were said to be more approachable as opposed to what was seen as an opaque administration system. His decision to stay back in Delhi after the initial response from the Prime Ministers Office that it could do little towards ensuring Jallikattu is allowed proved, say analysts, his mettle.



On Tuesday, as his coronation as a full CM seemed almost certain, a new huge poster came up at his residence. It showed OPS at the MGR Memorial, with both MG Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa blessing him from above.



His cadre expected him to make a bombastic statement and boost the morale of the party. But all that OPS would do is to appeal to all MLAs to take an appropriate decision and stay united. Our man, of course, doesnt believe in grandstanding. In one line, that explains his success in the treacherous politics of Tamil Nadu.
New Delhi: Soon after the verdict in the DA case which sentenced Sasikala for four years and asked her to surrender immediately, she expelled O Panneerselvam from primary membership of AIADMK.



Edappadi Palaniswami was named the elected leader of the legislature party.



A letter was written by Sasikala to the Tamil Nadu Governor stating that Edappadi Palaniswami has been elected as the AIADMK's legislature party leader and he should be invited to form the government in the state.



The conviction effectively means she will be debarred from contesting elections for 10 years  six years after having served a jail term for four years.



The SC in effect has upheld in toto a trial court verdict that convicted all the accused, which, however, was overturned by the Karnataka High Court later.



All eyes are now on the Governor who is expected to announce his decision soon.
New Delhi: Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday alleged that two Union ministers had engineered the revolt within AIADMK by caretaker Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.



Speaking to CNN-News18 hours after the Supreme Court convicted VK Sasikala in a corruption case filed by Swamy in 1996, the parliamentarian said: I will take names at the appropriate time Two ministers in the central government engineered the Tamil Nadu crisis



Swamy also criticised Governor Vidyasagar Rao, who holds additional charge of Tamil Nadu, saying he failed to perform his duty. The Governor did not perform his duty He probably got the wrong advice The Governor has to take a wise decision now, he said.



If Panneerselvam cannot manage to show his numbers to the Governor by 6pm, Palaniswami should be given the powers. Panneerselvam did not submit a list of MLAs backing him to the Governor, but Sasikala did How can Panneerselvams resignation be withdrawn? he asked.



Earlier in the day, Swamy welcomed the Supreme Court verdict. I was expecting the conviction. I don't think she can escape the four year sentence, Swamy had said.



The real issue that the SC has finally established is that Sasikala and Jayalalithaa engaged in corruption at the highest level and that must be punished.






: Polling will be held on Wednesday in 67 Assembly constituencies of western Uttar Pradesh in the second of seven phases and in 69 Assembly seats in Uttarakhand.The ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pardesh had in 2012 won 34 of these seats spread across 11 districts. It has tied-up with Congress this time in the contest against BJP and BSP.720 candidates are in the fray in this phase in UP with a maximum of 22 from Barhapur (Bijnor) and a minimum of four nominees from Dhanaura (Amroha). 2.28 crore people are eligible to vote, including over 1.04 crore women.14,771 polling centres and 23,693 polling stations have been set up in the districts of Saharanpur, Bijnor, Moradabad, Sambhal, Rampur, Bareilly, Amroha, Pilibhit, Kheri, Shahjahanpur and Badaun and elaborate security arrangements made to ensure free amd fair polling, election officials said.Prominent contestants include controversial SP minister Azam Khan and his son Abdullah Azam, who are contesting from Rampur and Swar seats respectively, Saif Ali Naqvi, son of former Congress MP Zafar Ali Naqvi, former central minister Jitin Prasada from Tilhar (Shahjahanpur), BJP Legislature Party leader Suresh Kumar Khanna from Shahjahanpur city and state minister Mehboob Ali from Amroha.BSP had bagged 18 seats last time, BJP 10, Congress three and others two.Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah led the party campaign, intensifying their attack on Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his ally Congress. BJP is hoping to replicate its 2014 general election performance when it swept the politically crucial state.The SP-Congress alliance's charge was spearheaded by Akhilesh and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.BSP supremo Mayawati reached out to minority voters and said she will prove pollsters wrong as she did in 2012, when they had predicted her defeat.In the hill state of Uttarakhand, around 74.20 lakh voters will decide the fate of 628 candidates as 69 out of 70 assembly constituencies spread over 13 districts go to polls. Polling in Karnaprayag seat has been put off to March 9 following the death of BSP candidate Kuldeep Singh Kanwasi in a road accident on Sunday.Congress and BJP are locked in a straight contest in most of the seats but the presence of about a dozen rebel candidates in the fray as independents and the saffron party fielding former Congressmen may upset the calculations. Rahul held two public meetings in Rishikesh and Someshwar besides a 75-km roadshow in Haridwar district which has the maximum number of 11 constituencies in Uttarakhand.Chief Minister Harish Rawat has gone all out to woo voters by holding several public meetings and roadshows on daily basis in perhaps the most crucial election of his career.A total of 30,000 security personnel including 105 companies of central armed police force, 25 companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary, Uttarakhand police and the homeguards have been deployed. For the first time voter verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines will be used in these elections in Uttarakhand.The BJP has been attacking the ruling parties in both the states over corruption. Modi raised the issue of demonetisation and surgical strikes repeatedly at his rallies. Congress and Samajwadi Party have in turn accused Modi of failing to deliver on his promises and causing suffering to the common man with note ban.With western Uttar Pradesh having vast tracts of agricultural land, Modi played the pro-poor and pro-farmers card and reiterated BJP's promise of waiving loans of small and marginal farmers and paying the dues of sugarcane growers within 14 days of coming to power.Interestingly, political bigwigs, including SP patron Mulayam Singh Yadav and Congress president Sonia Gandhi were conspicuous by their absence from the campaign trail in the first two phases of polling.At her rallies, Mayawati went all out against the SP, alleging that the Akhilesh government had let loose a "reign of terror" in Uttar Pradesh with hooligans committing "utmost atrocities" against women.The BSP supremo also accused the Modi government of "interfering" with the personal law of Muslims and ending reservations for backward communities in jobs and promised to extend quota benefits to the poor among the upper castes.Her refrain was that if Muslims wanted to defeat the BJP, they should not waste their votes by backing the SP-Congress alliance.The Election Commission has barred political parties and candidates from publishing advertisements in newspapers on Tuesday and Wednesday without its approval.The EC has asked them to get the advertisements pre-certified from the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee at the state and district levels before their publication.The poll body said the decision has been taken in view of past instances of advertisements of offending and misleading nature in print media on such occasions which vitiate the elections.The first phase of UP polls in 73 assembly seats in UP witnessed 64.22 per cent turnout on February 11. The other five phases will be held on February 19, 23 and 27 and on March 4 and 8.Manipur will vote on March 4 and 8. Goa and Punjab have voted on February 4.Counting of votes in all the states will be taken up on March 11, culminating the exercise.
Addressing a rally in Kanpur, BSP chief Mayawati slammed BJP saying the saffron party has lost its sleep after reports of BSPs success in first phase of UP polls. She also said that BSP will not ally with BJP to form government in UP.

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With Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017 barely a few weeks away, and much-awaited flagship phones being leaked, Huawei released a 20-second teaser on YouTube confirming its next flagship - the Huawei P10 at the Barcelona event.Also, according to a report , Huawei CEO Richard Ru had posted on Weibo that the Huawei Watch 2 will also be going on stage along with the P10.Read more: Apple iPhone 7, 7 Plus Matte Black Coating Chipping Off? Huawei's 20-second teaser hints at a dual-camera design with the line: "Change the way the world sees you", which is divided by two eyes. This is the same metaphor that the company had used to tease Huawei's P9 dual camera feature.Watch it here.Moreover, the upper side shows Huaweis logo and on the lower side, there is Barcelona 26.02.17, which confirms that this teaser is intended for the upcoming Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona.The Huawei P10 is likely to come in blue and green colour variants, which was suggested by Huawei's Twitter post.Also read: Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 vs Huawei Honor 6X: Which One to Look Out For Towards the end of the teaser, we can see the background change to a bright green as the lower sign changes to Huawei P10.Don't miss: Huawei P9 Review: All the Camera Phone You'll Ever Need As far as the specifications of the P10 are concerned, there hasn't been much talks about it; a homegrown Kirin 960 processor, could perhaps be paired with 6GB of RAM. Moreover, in a first, Huawei is expected to leap to a QHD resolution screen for the base (non-Pro/Plus) model.
Mata Bhagwanti Chadha Niketan on its 18th annual day launched Vaakya, a picture based app for speech impaired; and an e-commerce portal that sells hand-made products made by special children of MBCN under the Swayam programme.Mata Bhagwanti Chadha Niketan works under the aegis of The Ponty Chadha Foundation that works towards the social and economic development of the society.Mobile based application, VAAKYA, is helpful for persons who are speech impaired, affected by autism, cerebral palsy and various other mental and physical conditions.It is an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tool and can also be used during rehabilitation. Some of its key differentiators are:- No language barrier: The app creates a combination of custom images and phrases, which can be related to an individual user in order to effectively communicate.- Diverse and Flexible: It does not rely on internet connectivity and utilises the phone's own memory only.- Easy Usage: Multiple User Accounts can be created by adding multiple students/patients to the application with unique actions and speech specific to an individual user. The speech associated with actions can be recorded and played back in any language providing greater flexibility.- It is available on Google Play Store for free of cost from Feb 16, 2017.The school has also integrated an e-commerce portal with its website (www.mbcnschool.org). This portal allows customers to buy hand-made products made by the special children of the school under the vocational training programme Swayam.The handmade products are wedding gifts, packaging items, office stationery, paper bags and other gift products which from now will be available online for sale.Product details like price, size and other specifications have been mentioned along with customers review. The prospective buyers can log on to the schools website and buy the products using the simple user interface.The vocational training programme Swayam provides a sense of self-worth and economic independence. The students get a stipend for the hours they spend on their skill as an encouragement for their hard work and give them a sense of economic independence. These initiatives would give an impetus to our on-going efforts in bringing vital changes to the lives of hundreds of children, said Vandana Sharma, Director, Mata Bhagwanti Chadha Niketan.
Dhaka: Bangladesh police on Tuesday shot dead a militant commander of a banned Isamist outfit and a close aide of one of the masterminds of the deadly Dhaka cafe attack in which 22 people, including an Indian girl, were killed.



Abu Musa alias Abu Jar was killed in a "gunfight" with police which acting on a tip-off raided a house in the northern city of Bogra.



"The other militants fled the scene leaving wounded Jar at the scene while doctors declared him dead as we took him to the (nearby) hospital," Zaman said.



"Abu Jar was a close aide of neo-JMB leader Jahangir Alam alias Rajib Gandhi, one of the masterminds of deadly Dhaka cafe attack who was arrested last month," Bogra's district police chief Asaduz Zaman told reporters.



Zaman said the 32-year-old Jar was the northwestern commander of the neo-JMB (Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh). Polce said Jar was involved in the murders of a Muslim and a Christian businessman. However, both the murders were claimed by ISIS.



Twenty two people, including an Indian, were killed when militant stormed the upscale Holey Artisan Bakery and Kitchen restaurant in Dhaka's diplomatic zone on July 1 last year. ISIS had claimed responsibility for the cafe attack. But police believe that New-JMB, which is close to the ISIS, was involved in organising the attack.



The country's security forces have launched a crackdown against militants following the attack, killing around 50 extremists.




* Peugeot owner in talks to acquire GM's European business

* Combination would be second largest in European car market

* Opel business has struggled for profitability (Recasts throughout, adding context on GM strategy, comments from French, German governments)

By Pamela Barbaglia and Edward Taylor

LONDON/FRANKFURT, Feb 14 (Reuters) - In a move that could shake up the global auto industry, General Motors Co and French automaker PSA Group said on Tuesday they are in talks that could result in PSA buying GM's European auto operations.

For PSA, owner of the Peugeot, Citroen and DS brands, acquiring GM's Opel and Vauxhall brands would give it a 16.3 percent share of the European passenger car market, vaulting it into second place in the region, ahead of French rival Renault SA and behind Germany's Volkswagen AG.

Any deal would have to overcome financial, industrial and political obstacles. Germany's industrial union IG Metall on Tuesday fired a warning shot, saying that if the companies were discussing the sale of Opel without the union's involvement, that would be an "an unprecedented breach of all German and European co-determination rights." German Economy Minister Brigitte Zypries said it was totally unacceptable that talks took place on French carmaker PSA Group buying GM's European Opel unit without consulting German works councils or local government.

The French government, which owns 14 percent of PSA, could support a deal that would help PSA reach "critical mass," an economy ministry source told Reuters. The government will "give special attention to the impact in terms of jobs and the industrial impact of these initiatives," the source said. France is in the midst of a heated national election campaign.

A spokesman for the Peugeot family, which holds a matching stake in the carmaker, was not immediately available.

It was not clear what price GM might want for the loss-making European business, or what structure a deal could take.

Story continues

Both companies cautioned in statements that no deal is certain, but investors cheered the disclosure, sending shares in PSA, owner of the Peugeot and Citroen brands, up 3.7 percent and boosting GM shares by 3.5 percent in early New York trading.

Shares in Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV rose 3.9 percent as investors speculated that one consolidation play could lead to another. Fiat Chrysler Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne has campaigned for more than a year for GM to combine with his company.

BARRA'S GM STRATEGY: SMALLER, MORE PROFITABLE

For GM, selling Opel would be the most dramatic demonstration yet of Chief Executive Mary Barra's strategy of putting profitability and returns on invested capital ahead of market share.

Since taking over as GM's CEO in January 2014, Barra has signed off on decisions to quit markets, including Russia and Indonesia, where GM lost money, pull the Chevrolet brand out of Europe, and slash sales to rental car fleets that long propped up U.S. market share with little or no profit.

GM's global market share slipped by 0.3 percentage points last year. Selling Opel and Vauxhall, which added almost 1 million cars to its sales, could mean abandoning the global volume race in which it is currently ranked third behind Volkswagen and Toyota Motor Corp, with just over 10 million vehicles delivered last year.

In 2015, Barra and GM's board quelled an attempt by an investor group to install representatives on the automaker's board by agreeing to return more cash to shareholders, and to target 20 percent or better returns on invested capital. GM executives said that measure drives them to put more money into high profit markets, such as trucks and SUVs in the United States, or growth opportunities such as developing autonomous cars for ride services, and less in low-earning businesses.

In 2016, GM said its return on capital was 28.9 percent.

Despite delivering robust profits and promising $9 billion in share buybacks between 2015 and 2017, GM shares are still trading below the $41 a share level they reached in December 2013, just before Barra took over as CEO.

EUROPE IS A DRAG

GM Europe has been a drag on the automaker's global profitability since 1999, the last year Opel and Vauxhall recorded a net profit. GM restructured its European operations over the past six years, shutting Opel factories in Belgium and Germany and withdrawing the Saab and Chevrolet brands from sale. Still, GM Europe failed to break even in 2016, as Barra had once promised it would, and the company said last week it did not expect profits in the operation until 2018.

Going forward, GM faces the prospect of heavy investments to comply with European government and consumer demands for cleaner diesel vehicles, and to catch up with a rapid shift toward sport utility vehicles.

GM had previously discussed a sale of its European auto business to Canadian parts maker Magna in the aftermath of the financial crisis, when GM was heading toward a U.S. government-led bankruptcy. But GM pulled the plug on the tentative deal in 2009.

GM and PSA have already shared production of commercial vans and developed common vehicle platforms, a relic of their last attempt to forge a broader alliance, which was unwound in 2013 with the sale of the U.S. carmaker's stake in PSA.

Selling Opel would free up GM to invest more to develop vehicles for the North American and Chinese markets, where it makes nearly all of its automotive profits, as well as to expand new businesses.

It remains unclear how PSA would cut costs in a combined group. France's PSA has 10 factories in Europe and General Motors has 11 plants.

Under Chief Executive Carlos Tavares, PSA has rebounded from a 2013-14 brush with bankruptcy to reach record levels of earnings, posting a 6.8 percent automotive operating margin in the first half of last year.

(Additional reporting by Gilles Guillaume and Laurence Frost in Paris and Joe White in Detroit; Writing by Laurence Frost; Editing by Keith Weir and Tom Brown)
Seoul/Kuala Lumpur: The estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has been killed in Malaysia, a South Korean government source told Reuters on Tuesday.



Kim Jong-Nam, the older half-brother of the North Korean leader, was known to be based mostly outside of his home country.



Police in Malaysia told Reuters on Tuesday an unidentified North Korean man had died en route to hospital from Kuala Lumpur airport on Monday. Abdul Aziz Ali, police chief for the Sepang district, said the man's identity had not been verified.



An employee in the emergency ward of Putrajaya hospital said a deceased Korean there was born in 1970 and surnamed Kim.



South Korea's TV Chosun, a cable television network, said that Kim was poisoned at Kuala Lumpur airport by two women believed to be North Korean operatives, who were at large, citing multiple South Korean government sources.



The South Korean government source who spoke to Reuters did not immediately provide further details.



South Korea's foreign ministry said it could not confirm the reports, and the country's intelligence agency could not immediately be reached for comment.



In 2001, Kim Jong Nam was caught at an airport in Japan traveling on a fake passport, saying he had wanted visit Tokyo Disneyland.




Washington: The United States blacklisted Venezuela's Vice President Tareck El Aissami for drug trafficking, the first crackdown by the Trump administration against a top official in President Nicolas Maduro's government for money laundering and the drug trade.



The US Department of Treasury said it designated El Aissami for sanctions under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. His associate, Samark Jose Lopez Bello, was targeted for providing material assistance and financial support for El Aissami's activities, Treasury said in a statement.



Treasury also targeted 13 companies owned or controlled by Lopez Bello or other parties that comprise an international network spanning the British Virgin Islands, Panama, Britain, the United States and Venezuela.



"El Aissami facilitated shipments of narcotics from Venezuela, to include control over planes that leave from a Venezuelan airbase, as well as control of drug routes through the ports of Venezuela," a senior US administration official told a conference call with reporters.



The Treasury Department said El Aissami oversaw or partially owned narcotics shipments of more than 1,000 kg from Venezuela on multiple occasions, including shipments to Mexico and the United States.



Another US administration official estimated the value of property blocked in Miami was worth "tens of millions of dollars." Another official suggested the value of the property seized was not commensurate with the salary of a public official.



US officials called Lopez Bello a "key frontman" used by El Aissami to handle financial matters and purchase assets.



The Venezuelan government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Maduro frequently accuses US officials of trying to smear his administration.



US officials denied that Monday's designations had anything to do with El Aissami's prominent political role. He is a former minister of interior and of justice.



"The designation is a result of a years long investigation of narcotics trafficking by OFAC. The designation is not aimed at Venezuela or any specific sectors of the Venezuelan economy," the senior official said.



As a result of these actions, Americans are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions or otherwise dealing with individuals and entities, and any assets they have under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen.



Decision Praised by Lawmakers



The move is a departure from the so-called "soft landing" approach taken by former president Barack Obama's White House, which at times had clashed with efforts by the US Justice Department and Drug Enforcement Agency, working with informants in Venezuela to nab influential government officials for money laundering and drug trafficking.



Since 2015, the Obama administration had sought to use behind-the-scenes diplomacy to ease acrimony with Caracas and the fallout of a string of US drug indictments against Venezuelan officials, such as Nestor Reverol, the head of Venezuela's National Guard.



Senior administration officials declined to say whether President Donald Trump had personally signed off on the sanctions or whether he was involved in the decision.



Typical drug trafficking designations would not normally rise to the level of the president for approval, but the blacklisting of a top government official of another country is far more sensitive than typical designations.



The sanctions are the first test of how the rocky relationship between the ideological foes evolves under Trump. The unpopular Venezuelan president has so far treaded carefully with Trump.



While he blasted the Republican as a "thief" and "bandit" during the US election campaign, Maduro later cooled his rhetoric and said Trump deserved to be given a chance and in any case "won't be worse than Obama".



El Aissami, whom local media report is of Syrian and Lebanese extraction, grew up poor in the Andean state of Merida and went on to study law and criminology. He has been both a lawmaker and a state governor for the ruling Socialist Party before being tapped vice-president last month.



Venezuelan opposition groups have long accused El Aissami of repressing dissent, participating in drug trafficking rings, and supporting Middle East groups such as Hezbollah.



Thirty-four Republican and Democratic members of the US Senate and House of Representatives sent a letter to Trump on Feb. 8 urging him to act against Venezuelan officials.



Their letter referred to El Aissami, noting that his recent appointment as executive vice president put him in line to become Venezuela's next leader. That, they said, "is extremely troubling given his alleged ties to drug trafficking and terrorist organizations."



In a joint statement Republican Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat, called Monday's move "long overdue" and praised the Trump administration for "acting quickly and decisively" against the Maduro government.



Republican Senator Marco Rubio said in a statement he hoped Monday's designations were "only the beginning" of a move to pressure the Venezuelan government to stop illicit activities and free political prisoners amid its crackdown on the opposition.
Centra plans to spend about $4 million to renovate Bedford Memorial Hospitals emergency department. Although the plans are not finalized, Centra expects to begin work in June 2017, according to Centra spokeswoman Diane Ludwig.

Speaking at a Bedford Hospice House fundraiser last week, Centra CEO E.W. Tibbs said Centra has been investing steadily in the hospital since taking full ownership in July 2014.

From 2001 to June 31, 2014, Centra and Carilion Clinic ran the hospital as part of a 50-50 partnership. On July 1, 2014, Centra paid Carilion about $12 million and took full ownership.

In 2014, officials said Centra would expand and update the hospitals emergency room, make more space available for physicians to practice, implement cosmetic changes and infrastructural upgrades, install advanced medical equipment, make changes to long-term care and improve Oakwood Manor, the 111-bed health and rehabilitation center attached to the hospital.

At the same time, Centra publicly committed to making an estimated $11 million to $12 million in capital investments in the hospital over the next five years.

That was followed by an announcement in May 2016 that Centra would reopen the Bedford Hospice House, an investment Centra said would cost $300,000 year-over-year  possibly up to $500,000 year-over-year  to maintain.

As of today, Bedford Hospice House is up and running, and the entire in-patient side of the hospital has been refurbished to make it supportive of a healing environment, Tibbs said, adding new CT scanners and imaging equipment have been installed.

One of the next things youre going to hear about is a brand new emergency room, Tibbs said at a Thursday morning Bedford Hospice House fundraiser last week. Weve been working on that for some time.

Its gonna be fantastic. Ive seen the drawings; weve approved the capital for it, about $4 million, which is small compared to what weve invested already, he said.

Bedford Memorial Hospital CEO Patti Jurkus said Thursday Centra was still too early in the planning process to provide specifics about what might be included in the new emergency department.

Bedford Town Manager Charles Kolakowski said he greatly appreciates the investment.

Improvement and expansion of services for the community  is something we are certainly encouraged by, and we are very happy to see the continued expansion of services, Kolakowski said.

Bedfords Jim Hueber echoed that sentiment Thursday at the Bedford Hospice House breakfast, where more than two dozen residents were on hand to hear Tibbs announcement.

Id like to thank Centra for coming up and taking Bedford Hospital back; youve made a great improvement in it, and I can vouch for it, Hueber said.

Much progress also has been been made behind the scenes.

One of the challenges that was going on with the hospital about three years ago was that we had a little bit of financial trouble, Tibbs said. Frankly we were losing about a quarter million dollars a month. Most folks didnt know that.

The hospital now is self-sustaining. It doesnt make a lot of money, nor does it need to. Thats not its purpose. Its purpose is to care for and love our community, but its self-sustaining.  Its self-sustaining mostly because the community is coming back to it.

Tibbs said the inpatient census has more than doubled and continues to grow, although he did not provide specific numbers.

In an email, Ludwig said the census growth took place between 2014 and 2016.

Tibbs said Centra also has added 1,300 jobs across its service area in the past 42 months and now employs about 7,500.

Those jobs on average make $50,000 a year, and more than 90 percent of them have full benefits, Tibbs said.

 Staff writer Rachael Smith contributed.
RICHMOND  The Broadband Deployment Act passed the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee even slimmer Monday, continuing a trend for the bill gradually trimmed over the past month following complaints from municipal governments and authorities.

Local governments challenged the act early on, saying it would halt municipal broadband projects, although its champion Del. Kathy Byron, R-Bedford County, said it was designed to target high-speed internet infrastructure investments to areas that need coverage most.

On Monday, Byron dropped language opponents of the maligned HB 2108 have said would have forced them to give up proprietary information.

Good things came out of it because it certainly generated a very much needed public discussion on the policies surrounding how we get wired in Virginia, Byron said.  Its amazing how many areas are still unserved. Theres an awful lot of projects going on right now that people are not aware of.

The Broadband Advisory Council, which advises the state on broadband policy, will hold public hearings statewide in the next year regarding access issues and solutions, Byron said. As council chairwoman, she hopes to start near her district, possibly in the Smith Mountain Lake area.

Sen. Frank Wagner, R-Virginia Beach, the Senate Commerce and Labor chairman, came out early against the act and voted against it Monday. A candidate for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, Wagner said Virginia should be encouraging internet access by any provider.

I know this bill now in its current form, it doesnt impact anything, really; it just provides more information to folks, Wagner said.

Sen. Steve Newman, R-Bedford County, a member of the committee, called it an informational bill in the hearing.

What started as changes and additions over 15 pages of code last month was cut down to only a few additions on a single page.

The bill adds language to Virginias Wireless Services Authorities Act requiring broadband authorities to maintain records  subject to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act  showing the authority complies with the wireless act regarding rates, fees and charges.

The act already requires public hearings and notice requirements when local service authorities fix rates, fees or charges.

You can have two lawyers in a room, and theyre going to disagree on something, Byron said.  It all deals with information regarding the taxpayers money that is invested in authorities, assuring that enough money is there to pay back the debt and be able to keep up the network to the standards that are set for it.

Under the original bill, localities wanting to develop or expand a high-speed internet project would have had to ask existing telecommunications companies to consider providing the service. If no company took up the project, then the locality could move forward. The original bill would have granted review authority over municipal broadband projects to the Broadband Advisory Council, over which Byron sits as chairwoman.

After hearing concerns from local governments, such as the Roanoke Valley Broadband Authority, the town of Appomattox and Nelson County, Byron cut those provisions out of the bill, leaving only a provision she said is meant to add transparency for taxpayer dollars.

We worked very hard to remove all negative impacts to municipal broadband authorities from this bill. We are grateful to Delegate Byron and the senate committee for removing the last of the negative impacts, said Robert Catron, an Alcalde & Fay, Virginia LLC lobbyist representing Roanokes authority, in an emailed statement Monday.
Two Virginia members of Congress and one from New York are seeking answers about the January death of a 60-year-old man from Chesapeake who, according to his family's lawyer, was fatally shot by a neighborhood security guard while playing Pokemon Go.

Jiansheng Chen, 60, was sitting in his minivan in a parking lot in Chesapeake the night of Jan. 26 when he was fatally shot by a security guard, according to media reports about the case.

Police have said Chen, who was Chinese and spoke little English, argued with a security guard before the guard fired the fatal shots. A lawyer representing the security guard says the guard acted in self-defense.

Police continue to investigate the case. The guard has not been identified publicly.

The Virginian-Pilot reported Monday that more than 5,000 people have signed petitions urging the filing of charges against the security guard.

"We are deeply saddened over the death of Jiansheng Chen," Reps. A. Donald McEachin, D-4th, Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, D-3rd, and Grace Meng, a New York Democrat, said in a statement Tuesday.

"We are also concerned about the manner and circumstances in which he lost his life. Many questions remain and need to be answered, and we call on local authorities to conduct their investigation thoroughly and expeditiously.

"We must know how a game of Pokemon Go turned into a fatal shooting."

The three representatives said they hope Congress "will act in a bipartisan manner to ensure law enforcement personnel receive high-quality, evidence-based training in non-lethal de-escalation tactics."
Sherry Ann Austin, 46, of Lynchburg, died peacefully on Sunday, February 12, 2017, surrounded by her family and special friends. Born on June 24, 1970, in Lynchburg, Sherry was preceded in death by her father, William Byrd Austin, Sr. and is survived by her mother, Helen Austin Dooley, of Lynchburg. She is also survived by her sister, Vickie Willis and her husband, Mike, both of Lynchburg; her brother, William Byrd Austin, Jr. and his wife, Julie of Appomattox; and her many loving nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from12 until 1 p.m. on Wednesday, February 15, 2017, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, 31 Kingston Road, Evington, with a celebration of life following at 1 p.m., with Pastor Brian Warren officiating. Interment will follow in Spring Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Centra Hospice, 2097 Langhorne Road, Lynchburg, VA 24501. Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family. To send condolences please visit tharpfuneralhome.com.
Chris urmson google car

Google's parent company, Alphabet, lost some of its leading self-driving-car experts because they were offered large payouts based on the valuation of the company's self-driving-car division, according to a new Bloomberg report.

The large payouts gave the employees little incentive to stay at the company, and some left to begin their own self-driving-car startups and initiatives. Essentially, the staff members were paid so much that they quit, the Bloomberg report says.

To be clear, it's likely the large payouts weren't the only factor that caused the employees to quit, but it appears to be a significant reason.

A spokesperson for Waymo, the self-driving-car company that launched under Alphabet, declined to comment on the report.

It's unclear how much the payouts were or who received them, but the division has lost several key employees over the last year or so, including Chris Urmson, the former head of the division, and Bryan Salesky, who started a company called Argo AI that received a $1 billion investment from Ford last week.

Waymo was spun out of the Alphabet X subsidiary, which focuses on ambitious "moonshot" projects, in December. Waymo's goal is to partner with third-party car manufacturers to add self-driving capabilities to vehicles. It already has a partnership with Chrysler and is said to be in talks with Honda. There's also a possibility Waymo could offer a self-driving ride-hailing service that competes with Uber.

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ROWLEY WASNT WRONG

He said before a packed congregation at the St Martin de Porres RC Church in Gonzales, Belmont at the funeral for Jamilia De Revenaux, who was murdered two Sundays ago at MovieTowne, Port-of-Spain.

Her throat was slit.

A man De Revenaux knew, has since been detained by police.

During his inaugural Conversations with the Prime Minister series in Maloney last week Monday, Rowley told women at the event, Im not in your bedroom. I am not in your choice of men. You have a responsibility to determine who you associate with and to know when to get out and the State will try to help. The comments were deemed by several feminist groups as insensitive with one group saying Rowley demonstrated a terrible lack of judgement and faulty reasoning.

Sisters, the Prime Minister was not wrong, so let us look out for ourselves, Fr Harvey declared.

It is not easy, the priest continued.

People may laugh at you because you do not have a man. Dont let it bother you. He said Jamilia used to tell him she knew her responsibility as a parent was to bring up her daughters in the right way and to make the right choices. All I can do is applaud her for that, Harvey said.

She was right. It is my hope all of you who have daughters will make sure they understand the choices they make. On the Prime Ministers comments, Fr Harvey said, All he was saying is women need to watch out for themselves and be careful when they choose. Some people took it as an insult and even as a challenge.

What I have discovered not only about this situation but others as well, is it is not simply about one woman and one man. It is a little more than that.

And if the Prime Minister made a mistake by not mentioning men at the same time, that is his problem...not mine. But we better understand it is both men and women who carry a responsibility for the future of our society. Harvey pointed out there is need to train and educate men on how to deal with their feelings.

At the service, which saw a heavy police presence, Fr Harvey was the lone speaker as one of Jamilias closest friends Porsche Lewis became overwhelmed and could not continue with her tribute.

All Lewis was able to say was that De Revenaux meant a lot to her and welcomed her into her home whenever she needed to talk.

Addressing women in the congregation, Fr Harvey said, As women you have to learn how to choose to some extent.

You wont know a man just because you meet up with him.

You have to give it some time.

We cannot carry down the Prime Minister and say what he is talking is rubbish. While people are fighting whether the Prime Minister is right or wrong, criminals are getting away. Turning to the men, Fr Harvey said, Brothers, we are not off the hook. A woman is not a thing. Women are human beings....

bone of your bone, flesh of your flesh. That is what God says to us. She must be treated as a person. She will tell you things sometimes to get you vex and as a person she has choices to make. We as men have to respect these choices. When we get vex, we have to know how to control it. The priest said society is as strong as its weakest link, noting there are some weak links running around and pulling society apart.

Following the service, Jamilias body was escorted by police to the Tunapuna Cemetery for interment.
(Adds Commission clarification on Greek primary surplus forecast)

BRUSSELS, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Greece will meet its primary surplus target of 3.5 percent of gross domestic product next year in line with its bailout commitments, the European Commission forecast on Monday.

The size of next year's primary surplus - the budget balance before debt-servicing costs - is in contention between euro zone governments and the International Monetary Fund, which believes the surplus will be only 1.5 percent.

A further disagreement between the two lenders to Greece is over what surplus Athens will be able to maintain in the years after 2018. The higher the surplus and the longer it is kept the less is the need for any further debt relief to Greece.

The IMF insists Greek debt, which the Commission forecast on Monday would fall to 177.2 percent of GDP this year from 179.7 percent in 2016 and then decline again to 170.6 percent in 2018, is unsustainably high and that Greece must get debt relief.

Germany and several other euro zone countries say that if Greece does all the agreed reforms then debt relief will not be necessary.

In a table of predictions of the primary balance for all 28 countries of the European Union calculated under a system used by the European statistics office, the Commission forecast Greece would have a primary surplus of 3.7 percent in 2018.

This would be better than the 3.5 percent primary surplus agreed under the bailout.

But a Commission spokeswoman said that forecast was calculated slightly differently than the primary surplus for the purposes of the bailout, which excludes transfers of profits made by national central banks on Greek bond portfolios back to Athens.

The bailout primary surplus calculations also exclude the sale of non-financial assets such as land, buildings, leases, concessions or licenses that are treated as sales of non-financial assets and recorded as one-off transaction.

"Greece is forecast to meet its primary surplus programme target in 2017 and 2018," European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici told a news conference.

Story continues

The Commission forecast that Greek investment would triple to 12 percent of GDP this year and rise further to 14.2 percent of GDP next year as the economy expands 2.7 percent in 2017 and 3.1 percent in 2018 after years of recession.

It also forecast Greek unemployment would fall to 22 percent of the workforce this year from 23.4 percent last year and decline further to 20.3 percent in 2018.

(Reporting By Jan Strupczewski; editing by Philip Blenkinsop/Jeremy Gaunt)
OWTU in talks with PM

The proposal followed a meeting between the OWTUs central executive led by president general Ancel Roget and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair.

The meeting focused on the restructuring of Petrotrin and lasted for approximately one and a half hours. It came almost a month after strike action was averted at Petrotrin.

The OWTU called off the strike after Petrotrin offered a five percent interim wage increase for the period 2011  2014, half of what was demanded by the union.

In a media release, the union noted that on December 29, it submitted a detailed proposal outlining the need for urgent restructuring of Petrotrin and that yesterdays meeting was the, first of a number of meetings to come, to deal with the issue. At todays (yesterday) meeting, the Prime Minister proposed that a seven member Committee be established to deal with and make recommendations for the best option for restructuring of Petrotrin going forward. This Committee will determine the best model for the eventual restructuring of the state-owned oil company, the OWTU release stated.

The OWTU was invited to submit two members to sit on the proposed restructuring committee, the union stated. Efforts to contact Roget for a comment yesterday were unsuccessful.

Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young and Minister of Planning and Development Camille Robinson-Regis were present at the meeting yesterday.
Sinanan says new legislation coming for MV Authority

Sinanan revealed this at the opening of the new Licensing Headquarters in Frederick Settlement, Caroni .

Sinanan explained, This new entity will guide the administration of driving license issue, vehicle registration and certification .

It will strengthen the administrative, institutional and legal arrangements through which Motor Vehicle and driving licences will be managed in Trinidad and Tobago. At the same time, it will ensure that the best practices of public accountability are kept when collecting revenue and enforcing all applicable laws... Until then, the opening of the new Licensing Headquarters brings to four the number of full service access centres in Trinidad and Tobago .

The other three are located in Port-of- Spain, Tobago and San Fernando .

Sinanan said, additionally, that the people in any organisation help the organisation to accomplish its vision .

Therefore, he continued, with the new building, the morale of the employees will improve, which will result in more productivity .

Notably, he pointed out that the ministry is currently experiencing a thirty-three per cent staff shortage in the Licensing Division and will undertake to increase its human resources inclusive of Tobago .

In fact...I am again pleased to say that as recent as last week, Tobago has two additional officers and a further complement will be added soon. Sinanan also took the opportunity to caution drivers to drive safely during the Carnival season. He said that the ministry has embarked upon a special initiative to encourage safe driving, which will include the propagating of safe driving messages via various media from this week into the Carnival season.
Here Are the Most Overrated

Tourist Spots in the US
Some say don't judge a book by its cover, but a Virginia attorney's office will be judging the progress of a group of teenagers by their book reports. The five teens pleaded guilty to vandalizing the Ashburn Colored School, a historic black schoolhouse, by spray-painting it with swastikas and "white power" graffiti, and so the Loudon County Attorney's Office administered a punishment more educational than punitive: The kids have to write book reports and go on field trips, MPR News reports. And they can't read just any books, but those "chosen based on their literary significance and/or their subject matter content surrounding race, religion and discrimination," per an attorney's office release.

Among those tomes (from which each student will have to write one report a month for the next year): Elie Wiesel's Holocaust memoir Night, The Color Purple by Alice Walker, and The Banality of Evil by Hannah Arendt. The teenswhom the New York Times IDs as all being 16 or 17, with two of them being white and three being minoritiesare also required to visit DC's Holocaust Museum and the Japanese-American internment camps exhibit at the Smithsonians Museum of American History. They also have to write a paper on swastikas and white power messages and how these affect African-Americans. "It occurred to me that the way these kids are going to learn about this stuff is if they read about it," the attorney who came up with the idea tells the Times. Maybe, she adds, if they digest the material, "they will stand up for people who are being oppressed." (No Trump book reports, though.)
Britain's Queen Elizabeth looks up on Centre Court at the 2010 Wimbledon tennis championships in London,

The UK was hit by 188 serious cyberattacks in the last three months, or two serious attacks a day, the director of a new cybersecurity center, Ciaran Martin, told the Sunday Times (paywall) two days ago. These attacks included attempts by Russian hackers, working for their government, to extract defense and foreign policy secrets from the government, Martin said.

Such attacks are the impetus for the cybersecurity center, which Queen Elizabeth II officially opened todaypart of a plan to spend 1.9 billion by 2020 to boost the British governments online abilities, as security officials report increased cyber-aggression. The National Cyber Security Center, in Londons Victoria district, is run by the British intelligence agency GCHQ.

WATCH: The Queen arrives to open the @ncsc with the Duke of Edinburgh, she's told "it's a lot warmer inside!" pic.twitter.com/OTeZBhJOng  Emily Nash (@emynash) February 14, 2017

The daily barrage of attacks are taking place as Russias online aggression has undergone a step change in the last two years, Martin says. In this increasingly bleak online landscape, politicians are taking the opportunity to announce victories and new programs. Chancellor of the exchequer Phillip Hammond today also announced a plan for the private sector to embed 100 workers in the new center to develop solutions to attacks. The companies are expected to pay for these placements.

Hammond previously told the Sunday Telegraph (paywall) that the new center had successfully blocked 34,550 potential attacks on government departments in six months, or 200 incidents a day. This was a reference to an automated anti-phishing solution deployed for the center by the British firm Netcraft, which hunts for phishing sites and has them taken down or blocked.

The volume of attacks on the UK are small compared to the US. The US reported 77,000 cyberattacks in 2015, a 10% increase from a year earlier. An earlier US government survey found 2,267 incidents over fiscal year 2014 that affected high-impact systems at federal agencies. In Europe, German intelligence joins British officials in their assessment that Russian hacking poses a new and serious threat.

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A young couple eloped in Afghanistan and was later killed by an angry mob, the New York Times reports. The woman was said to have been married to someone else against her will, and eloped with her lover. Police caught the couple Saturday and held them on suspicion of adultery, and the mob descended on the police station within hours, eventually dragging the couple away and killing them as well as injuring three police officers, one seriously, in the process. The 250- to 300-person mob was said to have been made up mostly of the woman's legal husband's family, but it also reportedly included her own brothers and cousins. Witnesses say her brothers were the ones to shoot her, while her husband was the one to kill her lover. (Read more Afghanistan stories.)
In what Jezebel calls "one of the clearest looks weve gotten at [Chelsea] Mannings life inside ... prison," Manning has penned an open letter, published in the Guardian, to the fellow prisoners "who have kept me alive for the past six years." Manning, whose sentence was commuted by Barack Obama before he left office, says that she will never forget her fellow prisoners, who taught her "how to keep going," "how to feel," "how to chill out," and "how to be compassionate," among other things. She says that "when the prison tried to break one of us, we all stood up."

"We were friends in a way few will ever understand. There was no room to be superficial. Instead, we bared it all. We could hide from our families and from the world outside, but we could never hide from each other," she writes. "We argued, we bickered and we fought with each other. Sometimes, over absolutely nothing. But, we were always a family. We were always united." She says that the most important thing her fellow prisoners taught her was "how to write and how to speak in my own voice," when she used to know how to write only in memos. Click for the full letter. (Read more Chelsea Manning stories.)
President Donald Trump is "evaluating the situation" regarding his embattled national security adviser Michael Flynn's conversations with Russia's ambassador to the US, the White House said Monday, deepening the uncertainty surrounding Flynn's future in the new administration. Flynn apologized privately for the controversy to Vice President Mike Pence, according to a White House official. Pence, relying on information from Flynn, publicly vouched that the retired Army lieutenant general did not discuss US sanctions against Russia in calls late last year. Flynn has since told the White House that sanctions may have come up. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Trump was consulting with Pence about his conversations with the national security adviser.

Asked whether the president had been aware that Flynn might discuss sanctions with the Russian envoy, Spicer said, "no, absolutely not," the AP reports. Trump, who comments on a steady stream of issues on his Twitter feed, has been conspicuously silent about the matter since the Washington Post reported last week that Flynn had discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy. A US official told the AP that Flynn was in frequent contact with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak on the day the Obama administration slapped sanctions on Russia for election-related hacking, as well as at other times during the transition. Earlier Monday, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said Trump had "full confidence" in Flynn. (Read more Michael Flynn stories.)
Fast-food executive Andrew Puzder's chances of becoming the next labor secretary appear to be in real jeopardy, and one reason is a tape of an Oprah Winfrey show from the 1990s. Senators have viewed the episode, called "High-Class Battered Women," in which Puzder's ex-wife appears in disguise and accuses him of physical abuse, reports Politico. His ex, Lisa Fierstein, later rescinded the allegations as part of a child-custody agreement, per a previous story in Politico. More recently, she wrote a letter to the Senate HELP Committee saying she regrets appearing on the show. "I was hesitant, but encouraged by friends and became caught up in the notion of a free trip to Chicago and being a champion of women and womens issues." Winfrey's network turned over the tape to the Senate.

"I have gone to review the Oprah show for an hour on which his former wife appeared and I'm reviewing the other information that has come to light," says GOP Sen. Susan Collins, per CNN. "I'm sure all of this will be explored fully." The network reports that Collins and three other Republican senatorsLisa Murkowski of Alaska, Tim Scott of South Carolina, and Johnny Isakson of Georgiawere withholding support for Puzder, raising the prospect that he will be the first nominee of President Trump to fail to gain confirmation. The Washington Post reports that the abuse allegations as well as the racy ads he uses to sell burgers at Hardee's and Carl's Jr. might be enough to doom him. He also has faced criticism over the hiring of an undocumented worker for his home. Republicans would need to get two of the four Republican senators against him to change their minds in order to confirm. (Read more Oprah Winfrey stories.)
If you're tempted to pop a painkiller every time you feel a twinge coursing down your back, there's a new set of guidelines you may want to peruse first. Per NBC News and CBS News, prescription meds for lower back pain should be your go-to only when you've gone to every other option before them, according to the American College of Physicians' update. The guidelines, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine journal, instead advise to first try exercise, massages, heat therapy, acupunctureeven something called "spinal manipulation," which is controlled force applied to a joint in the spine by an experienced health care professional. Even more holistic approaches (including yoga, tai chi, and meditation) are encouraged over opioids for long-term aches.

Dr. Steven Atlas, who wrote an accompanying editorial for the new guidelines, says they "may be a shot across the bow to insurers" to provide more coverage for these "alternative" treatments, per CBS. Not that the group is averse to all medications: It says anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen and naproxen can provide relief, though acetaminophen hasn't been shown to be terribly effective. The main goal is to keep people away from drugs that can get them hooked. "Opioids should be considered only if no other treatments work and only if there are more benefits than risks for an individual patient," the journal writeup notes. As for those with acute back pain (defined as lasting four weeks or less, without pain shooting through the leg), a spine researcher tells the New York Times that patients can often just wait it out with no physician intervention at all. (Read more back pain stories.)
Referring to the first lady as a prostitute is not OK, a New York Times reporter was told by the paper after being called out by supermodel Emily Ratajkowski. She tweeted Monday that she'd been told "Melania is a hooker" by the reporter at a New York Fashion Week event Sunday night, and that she does not agree with "slut-shaming" in any form, USA Today reports. "At a party last night, a Times reporter who does not cover Washington or politics referred to an unfounded rumor regarding Melania Trump," the Times said in a statement. "The comment was not intended to be public, but it was nonetheless completely inappropriate and should not have occurred. Editors have talked to the reporter in question about the lapse."

"I don't care about her nudes or sexual history and no one should," said Ratajkowski, who didn't name the reporter. The Hollywood Reporter notes that Melania Trump tagged Ratajkowski in a tweet Monday, only her fifth as first lady, saying: "Applause to all women around the world who speak up, stand up and support other women!" The first lady is suing the Daily Mail over a story alleging that she worked as an escort. The lawsuit argues that the unfounded story cost her "multi-million dollar business relationships" during a "multi-year term." (Read more Melania Trump stories.)
Michael Flynn stepped down Monday night after just 24 days as President Trump's national security adviserand it's surprising he lasted that long, sources tell the Washington Post. The sources say officials, including former acting attorney general Sally Yates, notified the Trump team late last month that Flynn had misled Mike Pence and others about his pre-inauguration talks with the Russian ambassador to the US and warned that he could be vulnerable to blackmail. The sources say FBI agents uncovered evidence of "highly significant" and "potentially illegal" communication on sanctions following an investigation launched after Vladimir Putin's surprise decision not to retaliate for US sanctions. In other coverage:

Flynn was fiercely defended Tuesday by lawmakersin Moscow. Konstantin Kosachev, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, said getting rid of Flynn over Russia contacts was "not just paranoia but something even worse," the AP reports. He said Trump had either been "driven into a corner" or was running an administration riddled with "Russophobia."

Leonid Slutsky, Kosachev's counterpart in the lower chamber, claimed Flynn had been forced to resign as part of a campaign to damage US-Russia ties, reports Reuters.

The New York Times has a detailed timeline of Flynn's troubled tenure as national security adviser, which was by far the shortest since the position was created in 1953.

Politico reports on Flynn's final days in the White House. Sources say aides urged Trump to fire Flynn when it became clear that he had lied to Pence about his contacts with the ambassador, though Trump was struggling with the decision because he highly valued Flynn for his loyalty.

The ranking Democrats on the House Judicial and Oversight committees have called for a full investigation, saying they were "shocked and dismayed" to discover the White House learned weeks ago that "General Flynn had provided false information to the public about his communications with the Russian government, but that the Trump Administration apparently did nothing about it," the Hill reports. They said Congress "needs to know who else within the White House is a current and ongoing risk to our national security."

CNN profiles the three men seen as most likely to replace Flynn. They are retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, who's now acting national security adviser, retired Gen. David Petraeus, and former Vice Adm. Bob Harward.

Flynn's resignation letter can be seen in full here. He apologizes for "inadvertently" providing Pence and others with "incomplete information," thanks Trump for his loyalty, and predicts that his team will "go down in history as one of the greatest presidencies."

(Read more Michael Flynn stories.)
Michael Flynn has stepped down as national security adviser less than a month into the Trump administration. Flynn abruptly resigned Monday night after coming under increasing pressure over his conversations with Russia's ambassador to the US while Trump was president-elect, CNN reports. "I inadvertently briefed the Vice President-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador. I have sincerely apologized to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology," Flynn said in his resignation letter, adding that he has performed his duties "with the utmost of integrity and honesty" in his White House role and during his 33 years in the military.

Sources tell the New York Times that Pence told others in the White House that he believed Flynn had been lying when he said he hadn't discussed sanctions with the Russian ambassador in a conversation that would have broken the law as well as protocol. The Washington Post reports that President Trump accepted Flynn's resignation and appointed retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg as acting national security adviser. An insider tells the Post that Flynn's resignation after 24 days in the job was his own decision, and that Trump had been planning to wait at least a few days before deciding whether to fire him. "I think Flynn just figured, if its imminent to the boss, then lets make it immediate," the source says. (Read more Michael Flynn stories.)
Helicopters dropped giant rock-filled sandbags into place Monday to shore up a California reservoir that had threatened to breach its banks and unleash a 30-foot wall of water, but officials said an evacuation order covering around 188,000 people would stay in place until they are sure it's safe to return home, the AP reports. It is possible that the crisis could continue for weeks, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. Officials defended their decision to issue the hasty order to abandon homes downstream from the nation's tallest dam, about 150 miles northeast of San Francisco. They said it was necessary for public safety after engineers spotted a hole in an emergency spillway, which they feared could have failed within an hour.

The water level of the massive reservoir known as Lake Oroville dropped Monday, slightly easing fears of a catastrophic collapse. But with more storms on the horizon, crews raced to fortify heavily eroded soils where water flowed over the edge of the reservoir and carved huge channels in the earth as it gushed toward the Feather River. The acting head of the state's Department of Water Resources said he did not know if anything had gone wrong and was unaware of a 2005 report that recommended reinforcing the earthen emergency spillway with concrete for just such an event. The spillway had never been used in the dam's nearly 50 years of operation. "This was a new, never-having-happened-before event," Bill Croyle said. (Read more Oroville Dam stories.)
The chairman of Japanese electronics and energy giant Toshiba resigned Tuesday after the company logged such massive lossesa projected $6.3 billionin its nuclear business that it must sell its lucrative computer-chip business to avoid going belly-up. Well, maybe $6.3 billion. Reuters reports that a day of "delays and confusion" preceded the announcement, with the company missing its scheduled earnings release due to unpreparedness and a lack of certainty around its US nuclear unit, Westinghouse. The numbers that were ultimately released are unaudited and may change "by a wide margin," the AP reports. In the meantime, Chairman Shigenori Shiga will step down from the board but stay on as an exec. He is quitting over huge losses from the acquisition of CB&I Stone & Webster by Westinghouse.

Toshiba said its net worth was in the negative, at minus $1.7 billion at the end of last year, but the company hopes to fix that by the end of March. President Satoshi Tsunakawa said the company also was looking for potential partners to acquire a stake in Westinghouse. As for what has gone so wrong since Toshiba bought Westinghouse for $5.4 billion in 2006, Bloomberg reports you have to travel to the "swamp country of Louisiana." Its deep dive looks at the starring role the Baton Rouge-based Shaw Group has played in "the complex tale of blown deadlines and budgets at four nuclear reactor projects in Georgia and South Carolina" being run by Westinghouse. Shaw was hired to handle the construction, though it didn't have a nuclear background. In the case of the South Carolina locations, things are three years behind schedule, though 25 million man-hours have gone into them. More here. (Read more Toshiba stories.)
It sounds like an odd espionage thriller, but it's all too true in the Republic of Georgia: Police busted a priest traveling with cyanide and say he meant to kill a high-ranking member of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Father Georgi Mamaladze, who runs the church's property department, was arrested Friday as he was attempting to fly to Berlin with the cyanide in his suitcase, reports the BBC. Police say they were tipped off by an individual whom Mamaladze had asked for the chemical. Authorities haven't identified his alleged target, but Mamaladze was on his way to meet with the church's longtime leader, Patriarch Ilia II, reports the Guardian.

The 84-year-old patriarch, head of the church since 1977, was in Germany awaiting gallbladder surgery at the time of Mamaladze's arrest, reports Christian Today. The surgery went off without a hitch on Monday. A Georgian government official wouldn't comment on whether Ilia was the target but said his "security and health are protected absolutely," per the AP. Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said "a crime against our country, a perfidious attack on our church, has been prevented." Mamaladze has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder. Authorities did not speculate about a motive. (Read more attempted murder stories.)
Kim Jong Un's half-brother has died in Malaysia in what South Korean government officials claim was an assassination. Police official Fadzil Ahmat tells Reuters that Kim Jong Namthe son of Kim Jong Il and actress Song Hye Rimbecame dizzy and "felt like someone grabbed or held his face from behind" while at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Monday. He had been waiting for a flight to Macau but instead died en route to a hospital. A cause of death has not been established and "so far there are no suspects," Ahmat says. However, South Korean government sources tell local media that two women thought to be North Korean agents poisoned Kim using a needle before escaping in a taxi. South Korea's foreign ministry says it can't confirm that report.

The AP has a slightly different take via an unnamed senior Malaysian official who says Kim was attacked with a chemical spray. Kiman "overweight and careless playboy, but also a smart and open-minded man," per CNNwas once considered his father's heir before he fell out of favor. He didn't attend his father's funeral and later told a Japanese newspaper that he "insisted on reform and market-opening and was eventually viewed with suspicion," per USA Today. Speculation from Mark Tokola, vice president at the Korea Economic Institute in Washington: "It seems probable that the motivation for the murder was a continuing sense of paranoia on the part of Kim Jong Un." Kim Jong Nam, who spent much of his time in China, had also spoken out against his family and was said to have been close to his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, who was executed in 2013. (Read more Kim Jong Un stories.)
The New Jersey 19-year-old accused of murdering a childhood friend confessed to planning the robbery that led to Sarah Stern's murder for weeks, police say. Police say Liam McAtasney also admitted, while talking with a friend who secretly recorded the conversation, that he strangled 19-year-old Sarah Stern during the planned robbery and watched her die for 30 minutes. "He knew exactly how long it was because he chose to time it," said a prosecutor, per NJ.com. The revelations came during a hearing Tuesday at which McAtasney was ordered held without bail as he awaits trial, the Asbury Park Press reports. During the same conversation, McAtasney also said he and a friend dumped Stern's body in the Shark River. That friend, Preston Taylor, another childhood friend of Stern's who once took her to junior prom, is facing charges including disturbing human remains.

McAtasney's attorney downplayed the recorded conversation as "locker-room talk," and says that his client has "indicated to me that whatever was said, he had nothing to do with this. He wouldn't hurt anyone, and he didn't hurt her." The lawyer adds that what McAtasney says in the recording is nearly identical to what Taylor told police, which makes him think the teens made the story up: "Both boys seem to be talking about something that didn't happen. They're talking about something that was scripted." He says Stern, whose car was found abandoned in December but whose body has not been found, could still be alive, but also adds that neighbors say she seemed suicidal on the day prosecutors believe she was murdered. She was reportedly giving away things that had belonged to her mom, who died several years ago. She "had some problems," he said. (Read more murder stories.)
Following a longer-than-usual delay, the White House will be back open for tours next month. First lady Melania Trump announced Tuesday that the tours will resume on March 7, per ABC 7. White House tours are typically halted when a new president takes office, but a seven-week interruption is out of the ordinary, reports the Washington Post. In a letter sent to the White House on Monday, about two dozen members of Congress sounded a little agitated that they haven't been able to arrange tours for constituents. "Previous administrations have been quick to reopen the White House doors to the public, even doing so the day after the Inauguration," they wrote. The message was apparently received.

I am excited to reopen the White House to the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come each year, said a statement from the first lady, who has remained in New York while son Barron finishes the school year. The White House is a remarkable and historic site and we are excited to share its beauty and history. The news should please GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley, who sent out a snarky tweet about the delay. (Read more White House stories.)
An augmented reality startup is being sued for sex discrimination by the very female executive it hired to make it less of a "boy's club," the Guardian reports. When Tannen Campbell was hired by Magic Leap in 2015, the Florida company had no women in leadership roles and its only idea to make its product female-friendly was to release a pink version, according to Forbes. The lawsuit filed by Campbell following her firing in December describes a "macho bullying atmosphere," Business Insider reports. That allegedly includes tolerating sexist and offensive behavior, such as telling new hires to stay away from "Orientals, Old People, and Ovaries" and having the only female character in a centerpiece app "on her knees grovelling at the heroes."

Furthermore, Campbell alleges her efforts to change the culture at Magic Leap were consistently thwarted. The lawsuit states Campbell was asked to put together a presentation on the lack of gender diversity at the company, but it took seven months for Magic Leap's chief executive to show up for the presentation, and he left in the middle of it. Campbell says she and other female employees were ignored when giving input on the design of the product and its marketing. The lawsuit, which also alleges a hostile work environment and retaliation, claims the sexist culture at Magic Leap created a "dysfunctional" workplace and is part of the reason the company has yet to actually release a product despite being valued at billions of dollars. (Read more sex discrimination stories.)
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Lucknow/Dehradun:

Campaigning drew to a close this evening in 67 constituencies of Uttar Pradesh for the second phase of elections as well as in 69 seats in Uttarakhand for the polls on February 15.

The high-voltage campaigning saw the top brass of the main parties in fray addressing a slew of rallies, roadshows and public meetings in both the states.

Also Read | Elections 2017: Blocked by criminal cases, politicians handover baton of UP politics to wives

Uttar Pradesh is witnessing a triangular contest among Samajwadi Party, Congress and BSP while the fight in Uttarakhand is an interesting one as about a dozen rebel candidates in fray as Independents may upset the calculations of Congress and BJP which have been traditionally the two main contenders for power in the state.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah championed the cause of the saffron party during the campaigning in Uttar Pradesh, the SP-Congress alliances charge was spearheaded by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, besides other leaders of the respective parties.

Also Read: Indo-Nepal border to remain closed during UP, Uttarakhand polls

BSP supremo Mayawati wooed the voters addressing one rally after another all by herself, with senior party leader S C Misra chipping in at certain places.

The 67 constituencies in the state are spread across 11 districtsSaharanpur, Bijnor, Moradabad, Sambhal, Rampur, Bareilly, Amroha, Pilibhit, Kheri, Shahjahanpur and Badaun.

Of the seats at stake, ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) had won 34 in 2012, followed by BSP 18, BJP 10, Congress 3 and others 2.

In Uttarakhand, Modi and Shah held about half a dozen rallies, while Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari and Arun Jaitley sought support for their party candidates through public meetings.

In their rallies in neighbouring UP, both Modi and Shah slammed the Congress and SP, saying Rahul ran a campaign against the SP government and wondered what change of heart made them embrace each other now.

Akhilesh and Rahul harped on demonetisation, alleging that Modis note ban decision had caused immense hardship to those living in the rural areas.

Also Read | UP Elections 2017: 107 with criminal cases, 256 crorepatis in phase 2

Keeping in mind that western Uttar Pradesh had vast tracts of agricultural land, Modi played the pro-poor and pro-farmers card and reiterated BJPs promise of waiving loans of small and marginal farmers and paying the dues of sugarcane growers within 14 days of coming to power.

Interestingly, political bigwigs, including SP patron Mulayam Singh Yadav and Congress president Sonia Gandhi were conspicuous by their absence from the campaign trail in the first two phases of polling.

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New Delhi:

Thousands of commuters heading towards Noida through the Kalindi Kunj route had a harrowing time on Tuesday afternoon after the stretch witnessed a heavy traffic jam for several hours when a truck broke down midway at the Yamuna barrage.A

Several commuters travelling in buses and auto rickshaws resorted to walking the stretch after waiting for an hour.A

The cascading effect of the jam was witnessed from the Sarita Vihar underpass when the traffic movement obstructed due to 'bottle neck' at the Kalindi bridge.

"Traffic is heavy in the carriageway from Kalindi Kunj towards Noida due to breakdown of a truck near Kalindi Kunj .Kindly avoid the stretch," traffic police said in a tweet.

Look into this heavy traffic jam from jasola/Sarita Vihar to Kalindi Kunj to Noida @dtptraffic #jasola #saritavihar pic.twitter.com/ovpTJMIo4j a VIPIN SETIA (@VIPINSETIA) February 14, 2017

Avoid #Kalindikunj today if you are going to Delhi from Noida...wasted 2 hours and finally had to return!! a Manish Chauhan (@ManishK_Chauhan) February 14, 2017
Kalyani (WB):

In a close shave 11 patients were evacuated from ICU at state-run Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Nadia district on Monday night after smoke was billowing out of the ICU for heart patients.

A top hospital official said no sooner than the black smoke was detected around 9:10 pm, the patients were swiftly taken to the nearby ward from the ICU with full medical support and hospital staff broke open the ceiling to detect the source.

A fire tender also rushed to the hospital, which is under Kalyani Medical College, and dismantled the ceiling to nip the smoke. The smoke could have been caused by the AC, the official said adding the 11 patients were okay.

Kalyani Medical College Superintendent Dr Subikash Biswas said the cause of the smoke was being investigated but the response was timely and prompt.

Municipalty Chairman and police officers were now at the spot.There had been at least seven incidents of fire in government-run hospitals in West Bengal in 2016 alone, including one in the super-speciality SSKM in November 22.
New Delhi:

Actress Priyanka Chopra has all the reasons to bee happy as her first Marathi production 'Ventilator' has won best screenplay award at the 15th Pune International Film Festival (PIFF).

The movie produced by her production house Purple Pebble Pictures, had released in November last year and won the award at the on-going festival.

Director Rajesh Mapuskar, who had also worked on the screenplay of the movie, received the award for the fun family fiesta film.

"I am overwhelmed to receive my first award at Pune International Film Festival and that too for writing. I am happy international jury has appreciated and honoured our screenplay. It's a proud moment for the team," Mapuskar said in a statement.

Producer and Priyanka's mother Madhu Chopra said she is honoured with the appreciation for their maiden Marathi project.

"It means a lot to me because the subject of the movie is very close to my heart and it was something which we all Priyanka and Rajesh truly believed in. The movie has been selected for New York Film Festival too," she said.

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New Delhi:

Bollywood actor Sidharth Malhotra, whose love life has always been the talk of the town, has revealed his special plans for this Valentine's day saying he would be dating his work.

The handsome actor has been linked up with Alia Bhatt since the two had made their debut together in 2012.

Though, the rumoured couple had always maintained their 'just friends' stance, reports of their love affair have been rife.

Talking about his Valentine's day celebrations, Sidharth stated that is going to be a busy day for him as he will be occupied with his professional commitments.

In fact, Sid is so involved with his work that he nearly forgot that Valentine's day is here.

Also Read | Valentine's Day special: 5 Bollywood songs to express your love to your special one

"My plans for Valentine's Day is only working, nothing else," Malhotra was quoted saying.

The 'Ek Villain' actor is busy with his upcoming movie 'Reload' opposite Jacqueline Fernandez. Interestingly, this is the first time Sidharth will be sharing the screen space with the Sri Lankan beauty.

We have finished shooting that. We had loads of fun making it. I am pretty excited for the film. It is too soon to talk about it but it is an action, fun film," he added

Helmed by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D K, 'Reload' is expected to release in August this year.

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New Delhi:

Lt Governor Anil Baijal has cleared another proposal by the Delhi government to increase the monthly pensions of widows, senior citizens and the disabled by Rs 1,000 each.

The Lt Governor has cleared the proposal of increasing pensions of senior citizens, widows and disabled persons, an official said.

The Delhi Cabinet had approved the governments proposal for the same last month.

Currently, 4.52 lakh people are covered under the scheme while the upper limit allowed is 5.3 lakhs.

The disability pension has been raised from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500 while the pension for widows and destitute women has been raised from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500.

While the disability pension was last revised in 2012, pension of senior citizens were earlier revised in 2011 and 2008.

Baijal had recently okayed the AAP governments ambitious proposal of setting up mohalla clinics on premises of government schools in the national capital.

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Jaipur:

Suspected ISIS supporter Mohammad Iqbal, who was arrested by Rajasthan police, had allegedly mobilised funds from India and China for the brutal terrorist organisation, police said on Tuesday.

Iqbal alias Travel Haq had allegedly transferred money from China and through hawala from India to Dubai, Additional Director General of Anti-Terrorist Squad Umesh Mishra told reporters at Jaipur. Iqbal allegedly used to transfer funds to IS operative Jameel Ahmed who was arrested by the ATS from Sikar in November 2016, Mishra said.

His name cropped up during the interrogation of Jameel following which he was arrested by Tamil Nadu police earlier in February. Jameel and Iqbal were in touch on social networking sites. Iqbal used to transfer funds to Jameel who was based in Dubai.

From Dubai, he further transferred the money to the IS in countries like Turkey, Lebanon Mishra claimed. The accounts of his social networking sites and his foreign visits are being probed to ascertain further details, the police official said.

Iqbal was brought to Jaipur from Chennai on production warrant on Sunday and was placed under arrest yesterday. He was produced before a local court where the magistrate remanded him to police custody for four days till February 18.

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New Delhi :

Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir have gunned down a militant during an encounter between with terrorists in Hajin area of Bandipora district. Unfortunately, the army also lost 3 brave security personnel during the gun-battle.

The encounter which started early in the morning around 7 am is the second such clash after four days when four militants and two army personnel were killed in a similar encounter in the Kulgam district of south Kashmir.

According to a report from ANI, Security forces had fired tear smoke shells and several live rounds to disperse the protesters but in vain, the official said. The officials said 19 people were injured in the security forces' action. One of the four who suffered bullet injuries succumbed.

Also read: One killed, eighteen injured as people clash with security forces after Kulgam encounter

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Parray Mohalla in Hajin area of the district this morning following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of militants in the area, the official said.

He said while the forces were conducting the search operation, the hiding militants fired upon them, triggering an encounter.

The firing was going on when last reports came in, the official said, adding that further details were awaited.

The search operations was still in progress as security forces suspect that some militants might have managed to escape to nearby areas, the official added.

Two army personnel injured during encounter b/w forces and terrorists in Hajin area of Bandipora district in J&K pic.twitter.com/yPYsLgKEBk

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* Flynn submits resignation

* Says "inadvertently" briefed Pence

* Retired General Kellogg acting national security adviser (Recasts lead, adds reaction, context)

By Steve Holland and John Walcott

WASHINGTON, Feb 13 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's national security adviser, Michael Flynn, resigned late on Monday after revelations that he had discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to the United States before Trump took office and misled Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations.

Flynn's resignation came hours after it was reported that the Justice Department had warned the White House weeks ago that Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail for contacts with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak before Trump took power on Jan. 20.

Flynn's departure was a sobering development in Trump's young presidency, a 24-day period during which his White House has been repeatedly distracted by miscues and internal dramas.

The departure could slow Trump's bid to warm up relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Flynn submitted his resignation hours after Trump, through a spokesman, pointedly declined to publicly back Flynn, saying he was reviewing the situation and talking to Pence.

Flynn had promised Pence he had not discussed U.S. sanctions with the Russians, but transcripts of intercepted communications, described by U.S. officials, showed that the subject had come up in conversations between him and the Russian ambassador.

Such contacts could potentially be in violation of a law banning private citizens from engaging in foreign policy, known as the Logan Act.

Pence had defended Flynn in television interviews and was described by administration officials as upset about being misled.

"Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the vice president-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador. I have sincerely apologized to the president and the vice president, and they have accepted my apology," Flynn said in his resignation letter.

Story continues

Retired General Keith Kellogg, who has been chief of staff of the White House National Security Council, was named the acting national security adviser while Trump determines who should fill the position.

Kellogg, retired General David Petraeus, a former CIA director, and Robert Harward, a former deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, are under consideration for the position, a White House official said. Harward was described by officials as the leading candidate.

A U.S. official confirmed a Washington Post report that Sally Yates, the then-acting U.S. attorney general, told the White House late last month that she believed Flynn had misled them about the nature of his communications with the Russian ambassador.

She said Flynn might have put himself in a compromising position, possibly leaving himself vulnerable to blackmail, the official said. Yates was later fired for opposing Trump's temporary entry ban for people from seven mostly Muslim nations.

CHANGE LESS LIKELY?

A U.S. official, describing the intercepted communications, said Flynn did not make any promises about lifting the sanctions.

But he did indicate that sanctions imposed by President Barack Obama on Russia for its Ukraine incursion "would not necessarily carry over to an administration seeking to improve relations between the U.S. and Russia," the official said.

Flynn, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general, was an early supporter of Trump and shares his interest in shaking up the establishment in Washington. He frequently raised eyebrows among Washington's foreign policy establishment for trying to persuade Trump to warm up U.S. relations with Russia.

A U.S. official said Flynn's departure, coupled with Russia's aggression in Ukraine and Syria and Republican congressional opposition to removing sanctions on Russia, removes Trump's most ardent advocate of taking a softer line toward Putin.

Flynn's leaving "may make a significant course change less likely, at least any time soon," the official said.

Another official said Flynn's departure may strengthen the hands of some cabinet secretaries, including Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

However, the second official said, Flynn's exit could also reinforce the power of presidential aides Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller, whom he described as already having the president's ear.

Congressional Democrats expressed alarm at the developments surrounding Flynn and called for a classified briefing by administration officials to explain what had happened.

"We are communicating this request to the Department of Justice and FBI this evening," said Democratic representatives John Conyers of Michigan and Elijah Cummings of Maryland.

U.S. Representative Adam Schiff of California, ranking Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said Flynn's departure does not end the questions over his contacts with the Russians.

"The Trump administration has yet to be forthcoming about who was aware of Flynn's conversations with the ambassador and whether he was acting on the instructions of the president or any other officials, or with their knowledge," Schiff said.

The committee's chairman, Republican Devin Nunes, thanked Flynn for his service.

"Washington D.C. can be a rough town for honorable people, and Flynn - who has always been a soldier, not a politician -deserves America's gratitude and respect," he said.

(Additional reporting by Emily Stephenson; Editing by Peter Cooney, Robert Birsel)
New Delhi:

The high-pitched drama for Tamil Nadu chief ministership intensified on Tuesday as Supreme Court sentenced the ruling party AIADMKs first choice Sasikala to four-year of imprisonment in 20-year-old disproportionate assets case, clearing the path for O Panneerselvam to assume office.



But the OPS vs Chinnamma saga did not end there. At one hand Sasikala has refused to let the power go and has appointed a proxy for the chief ministership in her absence, Panneerselvam has trained all guns to stop that from happening.



Panneerselvam made a fervent appeal to people to go with a conscience to continue Amma Jayalalithaas legacy, while Chinnamma expelled him and 10 other senior leaders, who supported him, from the party.

Her loyalist Edappady K Palaniswami was elected the Legislature Party Leader.

As it happened:

#11:35PM

Have only one wish that you (AIADMK workers) work for ppl's welfare; You must continue with your work sans fear; Please don't cry: Sasikala

#11:15PM

Will make sure that the path left behind (by Amma) will be followed by the right people: Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar



#11:10PM

Sasikala reaches Poes Garden

#10:30PM

Sasikala heading to the place she deserves to be: Deepa Jayalalithaa's Neice addressing media

#10:20PM



#WATCH: #VKSasikala breaks down while addressing MLAs at Kuvathur Golden Bay resort; says, "no force can separate me from AIADMK." pic.twitter.com/EZFaP7CzcV  ANI (@ANI_news) February 14, 2017

- I feel so satisfied that despite facing troubles, MLAs are supporting me: Sasikala

- Im sure well get the invitation as soon as possible as we remained quiet: Sasikala

- Case (DA) was filed by DMK, Ill handle this; You (MLAs) have to remain resolute and make sure ppl question DMKs existence: Sasikala



- Sasikala breaks down while speaking; says "no force can separate me from AIADMK; no matter where I'll be, I'll always think about party."



#10:00PM

Yes, it is: Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar on being asked if this is her official entry into politics



Late Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar & #Panneerselvam pay tributes to Jayalalithaa at Chennai's Marina Beach pic.twitter.com/sp2ldHffGg  ANI (@ANI_news) February 14, 2017

#9:40PM

VK Sasikala leaves Kuvathur's Golden Bay resort

#9:25PM

O Panneerselvam reaches Jayalalithaa's memorial at Chennai's Marina Beach



#9:00PM

Not held against our wishes, we are here as a united family: Thaniyarasu, Tamil Nadu Kongu Ilaignar Peravai at Kuvathur resort

#7:24PM

-More than 1000 police deployed Kuvathoor and near the resort

-After 144 was imposed Police were given direction to evacuate MLAs from Kuvathur

-MLA protested and said it was a private property and 144 wouldn't apply in the resort area

-Police evacuated party cadres from the resort

-Now the power has been cut off in Kuvathoor resort and now it is running on generator

#7:00PM

Chennai: Supporters including transgenders felicitate O Panneerselvam at his residence after SC's DA case verdict that convicted VK Sasikala



6:45Pm

AIADMK MP and O Panneerselvam supporter V Maitreyan to meet Governor in Raj Bhavan at 7 PM.

#5:45PM

Edapadi K Palanisamy is not a fit person to hold the post; he's fit for nothing: S. Semmalai, AIADMK MLA and supporter of O Panneerselvam



We went to the resort but we were prevented from entering: S. Semmalai, AIADMK MLA and supporter of O Panneerselvam



#5:40PM

Edappadi K Palanisamy and 11 senior ministers leave Raj Bhavan after meeting Guv to stake claim to form govt

Know all about Sasikala's proxy for CM chair Palanisamy

#5:07PM

Chennai (TN): AIADMK Legislature party leader Edapadi K Palanisamy reaches Raj Bhavan to meet Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao.

#5:00PM

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao to meet AIADMK Legislature party leader Edapadi K Palanisamy; Security outside Guv's residence.

For minute by minute coverage of Sasikala DA case verdict drama till 5:00PM click here

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Bengaluru:

As the indigenously developed Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&CS) Netra was inducted into the Air Force on Tuesday, a group of women scientists were smiling from ear to ear as their hard work of more than a decade was finally seeing the light of the day.



The AEWS&CS was developed by the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), a laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) headed by woman scientist J Manjula.



Netra has the capability to detect hostile missiles and jets at land, sea and air within the range of 200 kms. It is mounted on a Brazilian Embraer-145 jet.



The system has much more capabilities than what Pakistan currently has, it is also relatively cheaper, said DRDO chairman S Christopher.



Interestingly, a chunk of the work related to the project was done by women scientists. This was acknowledged by Air Force chief B S Dhanoa during the induction ceremony at the Yelahanka air base here.



The Netra project is headed by Rajlaxmi who has been working with the DRDO for the last 28 years. She was a part of the project since its inception in 2004.



Another senior scientist Manisha Sharma worked on the system integration and communication, while scientist Bhagyalaxmi looked after computer mission of the project.



It is only in DRDO you can find women scientists heading laboratories in such large numbers, Manjula said.



At least two DRDO labs are headed by women.

Another system similar to Netra will be inducted into the Air Force in coming months.

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New Delhi:

The ongoing political turmoil in Tamil Nadu threw up another name for the post of chief minister on Tuesday when the Supreme Court convicted AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala in a disproportionate assets case.

With this, the bitter power struggle between caretaker CM O Panneerselvam and Sasikala took another turn when AIADMK MLAs from her camp elected Palanisamy as the new legislature party leader, a move that can result in his elevation as the chief minister.

Sasikala sent a letter to the Tamil Nadu governor stating that Palaniswami has been elected as the AIADMK's legislature party leader and he should be invited to form the government in the state.

Live | Sasikala convicted in DA case: Battle turns bitter as Panneerselvam's supporter terms Palanisamy 'fit for nothing'

From an ordinary party member to the leader of AIADMK legislature party, Edappadi K Palaniswami has come a long way.

Here are the highlights of Palanisamy political career:

# Palanisamy is currently the state minister for ports and highways. He belongs to the influential Gounder community

# He was an unwavering loyalist of late Jayalalithaa, and chose to side with VK Sasikala after O Panneerselvam revolted against the interim general secretary

Read | Sasikalas proxy Palanisamy stakes claim to form government in Tamil Nadu

# Palaniswami, a Sasikala loyalist, had publically asked her to become chief minister after Jayalalithaa's demise

# He is a three-time MLA from Edappadi in the Kongu region of Tamil Nadu

# A Science graduate, he swore allegiance to Jayalalithaa when AIADMK split into two factions, one led by her and the other by party founder MG Ramachandran's wife Janaki, after MGR's death in 1987.

# In 1989, 1991, 2011 and 2016 assembly polls, Palanisamy won from Edappadi constituency. When AIADMK was routed in the 1996 assembly polls, he too lost from Edapadi. Similarly, he was defeated in the 2001, 2006 assembly polls and the 1999 and 2004 parliamentary polls.

# His clout in AIADMK saw a dramatic rise when it won 10 of 11 assembly segments in Salem district in the 2016 polls. Acknowledging his contributions, he was given the key portfolio of public works, besides highways and minor ports, which he had already been holding.

# Palanisamy has held various party posts including propaganda secretary, organisation secretary, and disciplinary committee member. Currently, he is the party headquarters secretary and Salem Rural District party secretary.

With inputs from PTI

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New Delhi:

AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala, who was convicted by Supreme Court in a DA case on Tuesday, removed caretaker Chief Minister O Panneerselvam from primary membership of the party.



Sasikala appointed Edapadi K Palanisamy as the legislature leader and he is likely to meet Tamil Nadu Governor Vidyasagar Rao to stake claim to form government in Tamil Nadu.



Live Coverage: Click here for all Live Updates from Tamil Nadu post Sasikala's conviction in DA case



The political equations are changing fast in the state as Panneerselvam, chosen by Jayalalithaa as her proxy to take over as chief minister twice in the past, will have to fight another political battle against Palanisamy who has been elected as Sasikala's 'proxy' to become the legislature party leader.



Panneerselvam had earlier been appointed the chief minister of Tamil Nadu when Jayalalithaa was convicted in the same disproportionate assets corruption case by a Bangalore Special Court.



That was the second time Panneerselvam stepped into the shoes of Jayalalithaa since 2001, the year he made his debut in the Assembly.



He was chosen by 'Amma' in 2001 as her replacement for the CMs chair when she had to step down because of the TANSI land scam conviction.



Panneerselvam had to make way for his mentor Jayalalithaa a second time in May 2015, when she was acquitted by the Karnataka High Court in the disproportionate assets case.

Also Read | OPS destiny's favourite child in Tamil Nadu! How things unfolded in favour of Panneerselvam in political battle against Sasikala





SC verdict will keep Sasikala away from active politics for 10 years



AIADMK chief VK Sasikala's hope of becoming chief minister of Tamil Nadu was on Tuesday dealt a body blow with the Supreme Court upholding her conviction in a corruption case, a verdict that bars her from contesting polls for nearly 10 years.



A close aide of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa, 60-year-old Sasikala, who is locked in a bitter struggle for power in the ruling AIADMK with acting Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, was ordered to surrender forthwith and serve the remaining part of her four-year jail term. The AIADMK general secretary has already served almost six months in jail.



In a keenly awaited verdict in the 19-year-old disproportionate assets case that also involved Jayalalithaa which will have a direct bearing on the political uncertainty that has gripped the state for the last 10 days, the court restored in toto the judgement and the findings of the trial court in Bengaluru which held all the accused including Sasikala's two relatives, VN Sudhakaran and Elavarasi guilty.



The two-judge bench comprising Justices PC Ghose and Amitava Roy directed Sasikala and the two relatives to surrender forthwith to the trial court in Bengaluru and serve the remaining part of four-year jail term.



The verdict disqualifies Sasikala from becoming a legislator and consequentially she can't be chief minister either for six years from the date of release of prison under the Representation of the People Act.





Verdict delivered in 8 minutes



The pronouncement of the much-awaited verdict in the apex court was completed in about just eight minutes.



The two judges, Justices PC Ghose and Amitava Roy, reached the dias at 10.32am in Court Number 6, which was jam-packed with a large number of advocates and mediapersons.



After the seal of the voluminous judgement was opened by the court staff, the two judges held discussion for a few moments.



Amid pin-drop silence, Justice Ghose, before pronouncing the judgement, said "You can understand (that it is) too much of a fatty judgement. We have taken the burden on us."



The bench read the operative portion of the voluminous judgement saying that "according to the materials and evidence place on record, we set aside the judgement and the order of the high court and affirm in toto the judgement and order the trial court convicting the accused persons."



The bench said since Jayalalithaa has expired, the proceeding against her is abated. She died on December 5.



"Nevertheless, we reiterate that having regard to the facts, the charge framed against them by the trial court is restored," the bench said.

"Since the charges framed by the trial court have been restored against all of them they will surrender forthwith before the trial court and serve the remaining part of the sentence," it said.



Immediately thereafter, Justice Ghose began reading the operative part of the judgement. It was over by 10.40am.



No sooner had Justice Ghose finished with reading the judgement, the silence of the courtroom turned into hustle and bustle with scribes and some advocates rushing out to give out the deliberation of the courtroom drama.



Amidst this scenario, Justice Roy said he was making a supplementary judgement in concurrence with Justice Ghose. "We have expressed deep concern about escalating menace of corruption in the society," Justice Roy said.



The trial court had sentenced Sasikala and her two relatives to four years imprisonment with a fine of Rs 10 crore each. Jayalalithaa was sentenced to four years with a fine of Rs 100 crore.

Also Read | Sasikala convicted by SC in DA case: Here's who said what



AIADMK defends Sasikala



Minutes after the Supreme Court verdict, the AIADMK appeared to defend her, saying she had always carried the burden of the late Jayalalithaa.



"Whenever there had been burden for Amma (Jayalalithaa) she (Sasikala) had taken it on her. She is doing the same now also.

#Chinnamma," the party's official Twitter handle, @AIADMKOfficial said.



The verdict came even as Panneerselvam won more support from party MPs and MLAs.

Full Coverage: AIADMK crisis in Tamil Nadu





What is the case



On June 7 2015, the apex court had reserved its verdict in the case after hearing detailed arguments from all the parties including the Karnataka government.



On July 27, 2015, the apex court had issued notices on Karnataka government's appeal seeking stay of the high court judgement to Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and her relatives.



The Karnataka HC had on May 11, 2015 ruled that Jayalalithaa's conviction by special court suffered from infirmity and was not sustainable in law, clearing decks for her return as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.



The special court had in 2014 held Jayalalithaa guilty of corruption and sentenced her to four years imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 100 crore.



Jayalalithaa and three others were accused of allegedly amassing disproportionate asserts to the tune of Rs 66.65 crore during her first term as Chief Minister from 1991 to 1996.



Also Read | OPS vs Chinnamma: MLAs traumatised emotionally and mentally, says escaped AIADMK legislator Saravanan



(With inputs from PTI)

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Chennai:

Newly elected AIADMK Legislature Party Leader Edappadi K Palanisamy on Tuesday met governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao and staked claim to form the government.



In his brief meeting with the Governor, Palanisamy presented a list of MLAs supporting his claim.



Some senior leaders and ministers also accompanied Palanisamy, according to sources.



Palaniswami greeted the governor with a bouquet.



He was elected AIADMK Legislature Party leader replacing VK Sasikala shortly after the Supreme Court convicted her in the disproportionate assets case.



Last week, the Governor had met Panneerselvam and later Sasikala, who had staked claim to form the government.



It was not known how many MLAs attended the legislature party meeting chaired by Sasikala earlier in the day.



The Madras High Court was on Monday informed by the state public prosecutor that 119 AIADMK MLAs were staying in the resort, near here, on their own volition.

To read live updates on the Tamil Nadu govt high voltage drama, click here

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New Delhi:

The Supreme Court has convicted V K Sasikala in the disproportionate assets case on . Sasikala has been sentenced to four years of imprisonment by the apex court. Now she cannot contest elections for six years.

The apex court, however, abated the appeal proceedings against late Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa owing to her death on December 5 last year.

The Supreme Court verdict which decided the future of AIADMK supremo VK Sasikala was pronounced at 10:30 am Tuesday. The AIADMK interim general secretary has been convicted in the DA case and will serve three and a half years of her remaining sentence.

ALSO READ | OPS vs Chinnamma: MLAs traumatised emotionally and mentally, says escaped AIADMK legislator Saravanan



The Supreme Court verdict on the DA case has led to growing support for O Panneerselvam as another MLA ditches Sasikala's camp just before the verdict was announced on Tuesday

MLA S Semmalai swore allegiance to O Panneerselvam on Tuesday morning. The Mettur MLA's announcement comes minutes before the SC is expected to deliver its verdict on the DA case, involving Sasikala. OPS now has the support of 9 MLAs and 11 MPs. In a dramatic escape on Monday, an AIADMK MLA jumped a wall of the Golden Bay Resort, where several legislators supporting party General Secretary VK Sasikala were holed up, to join the camp of Acting Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. Live l Sasikala convicted in DA case; SC slaps Rs 10 cr penalty and asks her to surrender immediately This incident occurred on the same day that the Tamil Nadu Police submitted a report to the Madras High Court, saying that legislators supporting Sasikala were not being held captive at a beach resort near Chennai. READ FULL STORY: TAMIL NADU CRISIS

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New Delhi:

Twitter is buzzing with latest updates from India and around the world. Keep abreast of all the latest updates and information.

#11:50 PM

Top Dutch court upholds acquittal for 'Mein Kampf' seller: AFP



#11:23 PM

Will make sure that the path left behind (by Amma) will be followed by the right people: Deepa Jayakumar: ANI

#11:21 PM

Chennai (TN): VK Sasikala reaches #PoesGarden; greets her supporters

#11:17 PM

Encounter underway between CISF and Maoists in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh

#10:39 PM

Actor Shahrukh Khan booked for allegedly rioting, damaging railway property during Raees film promotion at Kota station: GRP official: PTI

#10:34 PM

Im sure well get the invitation as soon as possible as we remained quiet: VK Sasikala: ANI

#10:28 PM

I feel so satisfied that despite facing troubles, MLAs are supporting me: VK Sasikala: ANI

Also Read: Live | TN drama continues: Satisfied with MLAs' support, confident will get invitation soon, says Sasikala

#10:23 PM

Gambia welcomes British FM for first time since independence as the country considers rejoining the #Commonwealth: AFP

#10:23 PM

Cyber Crime Police, CCS, DD, Hyd City apprehended a person fr cheating many ppl all over India with fake website similar to Govt website: ANI

#10:14 PM

36 bombs found in Ludhiana's Harnampura village (Punjab); Army has been informed: SI Dalbir Singh: ANI

#9:53 PM

Motihari case: NIA Spl Court Patna issues production warrant for accused Gajendra Sharma, who surrendered in court of SDJM Raxaul on Feb 13: ANI

#9:52 PM

Motihari case: NIA special Court Patna sends accused Rakesh Yadav to 4-day police remand: ANI

#9:49 PM

J&K: Major S Dhaiya, who was leading the op wherein 3 terrorists were killed at Handwara's Hajan, succumbed to injuries sustained in the op: ANI

#9:48 PM

VK Sasikala leaves Kuvathur's Golden Bay resort

#9:47 PM

If we can distinguish ourselves frm basic problem that Trump is attacking, we'll be differently perceived, that's the challenge before us-Jaishankar: ANI

#9:45 PM

We're not part of offshoring, our issue today is outsourcing; Outsourcing helps you be competitive, offshoring damage your tax base-Jaishankar: ANI

#9:43 PM

O Panneerselvam reaches Jayalalithaa's memorial at Chennai's Marina Beach

#9:38 PM

On job side, we need to differentiate our services & trade with the US from their problem of offshoring: Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar: ANI

#9:21 PM

Around 35 per cent posts of teachers lying vacant in 23 IITs across the country, RTI reply claims: PTI

#9:20 PM

Cultural nationalism based on religious majoritarianism being espoused by a section which is in contrast to liberal values: Hamid Ansari:PTI

#9:20 PM

Railways set to provide space for app-based cab services at about 500 major stations, eyeing an annual profit of Rs 300 crores: PTI

#9:19 PM

4 militants, 3 soldiers killed; 9 security personnel and a civilian injured in two separate encounters in Kashmir: Officials: PTI

#9:18 PM

Cong asks BJP to stop fishing in troubled waters in TN, demands Guv to convene Special Assembly Session to find who has majority

#9:17 PM

CIC orders Home Ministry to answer whether INA soldiers who sided with Subhas Chandra Bose are freedom fighters or army deserters: PTI

#9:17 PM

Strike in Delhi-NCR by thousands of Ola and Uber drivers demanding better pay enters 5th day: PTI

#9:16 PM

Environment Ministry likely to issue a show cause notice to #KamarajarPort (Ennore port) in Chennai for "mishandling" #oilspill: PTI

#9:14 PM

Not held against our wishes, we are here as united family: Thaniyarasu Tamil Nadu Kongu Ilaignar Peravai Kuvathur resort

#8:45 PM

WB CM Mamata Banerjee announces carving out of new district of Kalimpong out of Darjeeling: PTI

#8:44 PM

Sania Mirza may not appear in person before competent authority in alleged non-payment/evasion of Service Tax as she is travelling: PTI

#8:17 PM

Militant commander linked to deadly Dhaka cafe attack shot dead in Bangladesh: PTI

#8:11 PM

Pakistan declares 31 educational institutions as 'sensitive' in restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province: PTI

#8:10 PM

Uttarakhand: Congress' Lalkuwa candidate Harish Chandra Durgapal's son Pankaj attacked; in critical condition: ANI

#8:03 PM

Chhattisgarh-Angry farmers threw vegetables on road in Durg after authorities failed to act on warnings abt mill waste harming their produce

#8:02 PM

AIADMK's V Maitreyan and PH Pandian leave after meeting Tamil Nadu Governor at Raj Bhavan: ANI

#7:56 PM

250 crorepati candidates in the fray in 3rd phase of #UPpolls on Sunday, 110 contestants have criminal cases against them: Report: PTI

#7:56 PM

Vikas Yadav, one of Nitish Katara's killers, serving 25-yr jail term without remission, withdraws plea seeking 2 months parole: PTI

#7:55 PM

31-year-old Polish woman alleges her Indian boyfriend raped her repeatedly on the pretext of marriage: PTI

#7:54 PM

DGP and Chennai's police commissioner #SGeorge meeting #TNGovernor at Raj Bhavan, on law and order situation of the state: ANI

#7:41 PM

India and China account for more than half of the world's premature deaths due to air pollution: Report: PTI

#7:41 PM

Polling to take place on February 15 in 67 Assembly seats of #westernUP in the 2nd of 7 phases and in 69 Assembly seats in Uttarakhand

#7:39 PM

Ban on telecast of Indian shows by pvt TV channels lifted by #Pak court, 5 months after Pak's regulatory body had put a bar: PTI

#7:39 PM

Decision on many big ticket projects like procuring fighter jet planes, self-propelled guns likely to be taken in 2017: @manoharparrikar:PTI

#7:38 PM

Indigenously developed Airborne Early Warning & Control System mounted on a Brazilian #Embraer-145 jet inducted into #IAF: PTI

#7:35 PM

Well appoint Buli Basumatary as archery coach next week; Later, will give short-term training in Punjab-Pallab Lochan Das, Assam Sports Min

#7:34 PM

Umar Faruq was arrested while he was on way to hand over samples of Fake Indian Currency Notes of Rs 2,000 to another FICN racketeer: ANI

#7:32 PM

West Bengal: Absconding accused #UmarFaruq wanted for his involvement in a FICN Case has been arrested by NIA from Golapganj market area: ANI

#7:31 PM

Ive been selling oranges since 3yrs now; Have won many medals; I applied for job in Assam police but didnt get it: Archer Buli Basumatary: ANI

#7:30 PM

3 militants killed in Handwara encounter, one security personnel injured. Search operation continues: ANI

#7:30 PM

Chirang (Assam): Buli Basumatary, once a national-level gold medallist archer, is now living life as a street vendor: ANI

#7:29 PM

Chetan Cheeta evacuated from Srinagar to AIIMS Trauma Centre, Delhi for further treatment: ANI

#7:28 PM

Bandipora Encounter: Chetan Cheeta, Commandant 45 BN, CRPF airlifted to Delhi. Condition is stable but critical, next 48 hours crucial: ANI

#7:23 PM

Delhi police arrests a sharp shooter of Naveen Khati gang carrying reward of Rs 50,000 on his head; recovers 2 pistols and 9 cartridges: ANI

#7:22 PM

Venezuelan Vice President calls US sanctions an 'attack': AFP

#6:40 PM

AIADMK MP and O Panneerselvam supporter V Maitreyan to meet Governor in Raj Bhavan at 7 PM

#6:33 PM

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg says increased defence spending is top priority after Trump calls: AFP

#6:29 PM

Bajrang Dal activists thrash couples in Bihar's Muzaffarpur in a protest against Valentine's Day: ANI

#6:28 PM

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar says state government mulling to organise Surajkund Mela twice a year: PTI

#6:27 PM

Alpine skiing: France wins world team event: AFP

#6:07 PM

J&K: Gunshots heard in Khan mohalla in Handwara. Security forces have sealed the area: ANI

#6:03 PM

Before elections he called NCP 'Naturally Corrupt Party', later on he said tht he enterd politics holding Sharad Pawar's finger: Uddhav Thackeray: ANI

#6:00 PM

PM Modi and Sharad Pawar are two sides of the same coin: Uddhav Thackeray: ANI

#5:48 PM

HAL, Russian defence firms finalise JV documents for productn of lightweight multi-role #Kamov 226T choppers in India: Russian official:PTI

#5:47 PM

Edapadi K.Palanisamy is not a fit person to hold the post; he's fit for nothing: S. Semmalai, AIADMK MLA and supporter of #OPanneerselvam: ANI

#5:46 PM

India hopes to make history by launching a record 104 satellites from a single rocket: PTI

#5:45 PM

We went to the resort but we were prevented from entering: S Semmalai, AIADMK MLA and supporter of O Panneerselvam

#5:44 PM

Girls will be provided free education till Class XII once BJP forms govt in state: HM Rajnath Singh: ANI

#5:41 PM

Chhattisgarh: Car catches fire near toll plaza in Rajnandgaon; Police at the spot: ANI

#5:40 PM

Loan is a big issue, farmers' loans will be waived off in #UP in 3-4 months after we form govt.: HM Rajnath Singh: ANI



#5:32 PM

When 15-20 people of a family are part of government, then why is their region not developed? HM Rajnath Singh: PTI

#5:29 PM

Half-brother of North Korean leader Kim assassinated in Malaysia: AFP

#5:28 PM

Turkey-backed Syrian rebels and Syria regime 'agree security line' in Al-Bab: AFP

#5:27 PM

No one can say that any BJP CM is involved in corruption: HM Rajnath Singh: PTI

#5:25 PM

President Pranab Mukherjee congratulates Indian cricket team for winning T-20 Blind World Cup; calls their victory source of inspiration: PTI

#5:24 PM

At least seven policemen, including DSP R V Asari, injured in stone pelting as cops try to stop farmers' rally near Sanand town in Gujarat: PTI

#5:21 PM

India witnessed 406 incidents of bombings in 2016, the highest in the world, ahead of even war-torn Iraq and Afghanistan, report: PTI

#5:19 PM

Coldest February night in #Leh since 2013 on Monday; mercury recorded at a low of minus 16.3 deg C: PTI

#5:19 PM

Will deal with only legal aspects of TripleTalaq, 'nikah halala' and polygamy among Muslims, says SC: PTI

#5:18 PM

Winning in India will go down as the best time of life for Australian cricket team, says captain Steve Smith: PTI

#5:16 PM

'Time for govt to let go of last vestige of media monopoly,' say Community Radio forums, over Centre's objection to them broadcasting news: PTI

#5:16 PM

VRS request of Rajendra Kumar, facing CBI probe on corruption charges, rejected by Home Ministry: PTI

#5:15 PM

One dead, several injured in Luxembourg train crash: police: AFP

#5:14 PM

AIADMK Legislature party leader Edapadi K.Palanisamy reaches Raj Bhavan to meet TN Governor C Vidyasagar Rao

#5:12 PM

Centre gives sanction to CBI for prosecution of Rajendra Kumar, ex-Principal Secretary of CM Arvind Kejriwal, in a graft case: PTI

#5:07 PM

Bhopal ISI espionage case: Accused mastermind Balram, Manish, Mohit & Dhruv sent to police remand till Feb 18; Manoj & Sandeep sent to jail: ANI

#5:05 PM

CBI registers a graft case against North Eastern Railway official Alok Singh for allegedly demanding Rs 20 lakh from an advertiser: ANI

#5:04 PM

Agra (UP): Hindu Jagran Manch stages protest against celebrating Valentine's Day: ANI

#5:03 PM

Chennai: TN Governor C Vidyasagar Rao to meet AIADMK Legislature party leader Edapadi K.Palanisamy;Security outside Guv's residence

#5:02 PM

Rajkot (Gujarat): A live bomb concealed in a box found at Khodiyarpara area, bomb squad successfully defused it, investigation underway:ANI

#4:59 PM

Notice served to Vemula family,informing report findings;response sought as to why certificate should not be cancelled:Guntur collector-ANI

#4:58 PM

Andhra: Guntur collector review report concludes that #RohithVemula was not Dalit,certificate obtained by fraudulent means tob cancelled:ANI

#04:33 PM

PM Narendra Modi hosts delegation of British MPs, pitches for collective voice against terrorism, extremism and radicalisation - PTI

#04:23 PM

Good verdict; SasikalaNatarajan and her family don't deserve to lead the people of TN: Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar - ANI

#04:18 PM

Poonch (J&K): Hideout in Chajla forest of Mendhar busted in a joint operation by Army and Police, arms and ammunition recovered - ANI

#04:17 PM

O Panneerselvam's supporters celebrate after SC's DA case verdict that convicted VK Sasikala; raise slogans agnst VK Sasikala - ANI

#04:13 PM

Himachal Pradesh: Kullu district police arrests a Nigerian drug smuggler from Delhi with 1.55 kg heroin worth Rs 4 crore - ANI

#04:10 PM

Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao gives appointment to AIADMK Legislature party leader Edapadi K.Palanisamy at 5:30 pm today - ANI

#02:39 PM

Bihar Topper Scam: Patna HC grants conditional bail to mastermind Bachcha Rai. Rai to get bail if not convicted by lower court within 1 month - ANI

#02:37 PM

Leaders including Minister K Pandiarajan, PH Pandian, N Vishvananthan and senior leader C Ponnaiyan expelled by VK Sasikala: AIADMK - ANI

#02:30 PM

Sasikala expels scores of "rebels", including Minister K Pandiarajan and senior leader C Ponnaiyan. - PTI

#02:26 PM

Centre has no role to play, Guv will take decision based on situation: Union Min Venkaiah Naidu on SC's judgement on VK Sasikala - ANI

#02:23 PM

We should manufacture but we don't.Many countries do not manufacture aircraft. HAL makes Dornier so not that no work has been done: Def Min - ANI

#02:20 PM

My preparedness is an independent exercise and not an offensive one. Neighbours should not worry about what I do: Manohar Parrikar - ANI

#02:16 PM

If security interest of India is questioned by anyone, we will take every action: Manohar Parrikar on deploying Brahmos on India-China Border

#02:11 PM

We wish to have a good relationship with Pakistan and China both. I don't want to doubt anyone, but we are prepared: Manohar Parrikar - ANI

#02:06 PM

There will be differences on issues of FDI, but we will keep national security in concern: Manohar Parrikar on RSS stand on FDI in Defence - ANI

#02:00 PM

Info that #Panneerselvam with police is coming at resort, this could create law and order problems: A. Navaneethakrishnan, AIADMK MP - ANI

#01:58 PM

Toshiba chairman quits as company warns of huge losses - AFP

#01:56 PM

We will file the review petition, a new legislative party leader has been elected. #Panneerselvam no longer party member: M Thambidurai, AIADMK - ANI



#01:54 PM

We are ready to sit in opposition but will not form a government with the help of BJP. No question to go with SP, Congress: BSP chief Mayawati - ANI

#01:51 PM

BJP is spreading rumours through social media that BJP & BSP are going to form government together: BSP chief Mayawati at a rally in Kanpur - ANI

#01:34 PM

Instead of voicing mann ki baat, talk about the work you have done: Akhilesh Yadav at a rally in Farrukhabad

#01:31 PM

We have sent a letter to Governor and are awaiting his reply: Edapadi K.Palanisamy

#01:25 PM

Letter signed by MLAs supporting Edapadi K. Palanisamy as the AIADMK's legislature party leader sent to Governor: AIADMK

#01:18 PM

Team: Virat (Capt), Vijay, Rahul, Pujara, Rahane, Saha (wk), Ashwin, Jadeja, Ishant, Bhuvi, Umesh, Karun, Jayant, Kuldeep, Mukund & Pandya - ANI

#01:18 PM

Indian team for the first two Test matches against Australia announced - ANI

#01:11 PM

All MLAs have elected me as the legislature party leader, soon will meet Governor with support letter of MLAs:Edapadi K.Palanisamy - ANI

#01:10 PM

Demonetisation part of government's programme to clean up both economic and political systems: FM Arun Jaitley - PTI

#01:10 PM

Demonetisation has nothing to do with Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections: FM Arun Jaitley - PTI

#01:03 PM

It's a matter of human rights, so we would deal with it properly: SC during hearing of Triple Talaq case - ANI

#01:00 PM

Request Governor to take steps to establish stable management in the state: MK Stalin, DMK on #VKSasikala conviction - ANI

#12:59 PM

After 21 years justice has been done. This would be example to politicians to live corruption-free: MK Stalin, DMK on #VKSasikala conviction - ANI

#12:50 PM

Panneerselvam urges #AIADMK MLAs to sink differences, work together to keep party united and continue Amma's rule. - ANI

#12:48 PM

Without any other party's support our own govt will continue: O Panneerselvam - ANI

#12:46 PM

Panneerselvam expelled from #AIADMK: Jaya TV.

#12:45 PM

The legislature party leader is Edapadi K.Palanisamy. O Panneerselvam removed from primary membership of the party: AIADMK - ANI

#12:44 PM

I thank lakhs and lakhs of people for continuing to support us. Good governance of Amma will continue: O Panneerselvam - ANI

#12:43 PM

Triple Talaq case: SC says it would not hear Uniform Civil Code issue while hearing the Triple Talaq case, as it is a separate issue. - ANI

#12:43 PM



Sasikala loyalist, Minister Edappady K Palaniswamy elected AIADMK Legislature Party Leader: JAYA TV - ANI



#12:43 PM



Engine maker Rolls-Royce logs record 4.0bn annual loss - AFP



#12:41 PM

She(Sasikala) can file a review petition but chances of that review petition succeeding are slim: Soli Sorabjee, former Attorney General - ANI

#12:40 PM

Trends for the first phase (local body polls) are enthusiastic, indicates public uproar against Orissa govt: Union min Dharmendra Pradhan - ANI

#12:39 PM

Unfinished task left over by Hon. Amma must be fulfilled, therefore I urge AIADMK MLAs and ministers to resume their work: O Panneerselvam - ANI

#12:16 PM

SC clarifies that people are not obliged to stand up when the National Anthem is played as and in part of a film or documentary - ANI

#12:14 PM

WPI inflation for the month of January at 5.25 percent. December WPI was at 3.39 percent - ANI

#12:03 PM

VK Sasikala to appoint one of her loyalists as leader of the Legislative party of AIADMK, a meeting in resort is already underway: Sources - ANI

#11:59 AM

An Army Havildar posted in Territorial Army HQ at Shershah road allegedly shot himself dead with his service rifle. - ANI

#11:57 AM

Governor whose role has been circumspect must call special assembly session&both AIADMK factions for way forward: RS Surjewala on VK Sasikala

#11:49 AM

O Panneerselvam 's supporters celebrate VK Sasikala 's conviction - ANI

#11:49 AM

Nursery admission case: HC stays Delhi government's notification of Jan 7. Nullifies neighbourhood criteria - ANI

#11:42 AM

BSF detects a tunnel at International Border in Ramgarh Sector of Samba in J&K - ANI

#11:16 AM

This is a great success for Tamil Nadu people. It is a victory of truth and judicial system: Tamilan Prasanna, DMK on VK Sasikala conviction - ANI

#11:06 AM

I was expecting the conviction. I don't think she can escape the 4 years sentence: Subramanian Swamy on SC's verdict on VK Sasikala DA case - ANI

#11:01 AM

SC orders VK Sasikala to serve rest of her jail sentence of three years and six months as she has already served almost six months in jail - ANI

#11:00 AM

All the convicted persons have to serve the remaining part of the sentence. - PTI

#10:58 AM

Sasikala to surrender herself forthwith. - PTI

#10:57 AM

Justice has been done.Judgement shows how strong & independent is our judiciary: Formr Advocate General BV Acharya on VK Sasikala conviction - ANI

#10:55 AM

SC restores in toto the conviction and sentence awarded by the trial court in Bengaluru to all the accused. - PTI



#10:47 AM

SC, however, abates the appeal proceedings against J Jayalalithaa owing to her death on December 5 last. - PTI

#10:45 AM

AIADMK General Secretary Sasikala Natrajan will have to surrender herself to jail for undergoing remaining jail term. - PTI

#10:45 AM

Supreme Court sets aside Karnataka HC's order and convicts VK Sasikala for 4 years in disproportionate assets case against her. - ANI

#10:42 AM

Pakistan has to shut down its terrorism factory, the key issue in India-Pak relations: Foreign Secy Subrahmanyam Jaishankar - ANI

#10:40 AM

Three soldiers killed in #encounter in #Bandipora in north #Kashmir. - PTI

#10:37 AM

Supreme Court convicts #VKSasikala in disproportionate assets case. - ANI

#10:28 AM

Mettur legislator Semmalai joins CM #Panneerselvam's camp. - PTI



#10:11 AM

Western countries may not be open about Pakistan and terrorism problem but they have concerns: Jaishankar. - PYI

#10:09 AM

Don't demonise Donald Trump, analyse Trump. He represents a thought process. It's not a momentary expression: Jaishankar. - PTI

#10:09 AM

Govt will implement Supreme Court's verdict; it is the discretion of Governor to call VK Sasikala or not: MoS (Law & Justice) P P Choudhary - ANI

#10:08 AM



On China, we need to invest more to manage the relationship better: Foreign Secretary Jaishankar. - PTI



#09:56 AM

In his resignation from post of US NSA Michael Flynn says he sincerely apologised to President & Vice President & they accepted his apology - ANI

#09:52 AM

Clear that there are disproportionate assets, question is how much?: Subramanian Swamy on SC to deliver judgement in VK Sasikala DA case - ANI

#09:51 AM

Due to fast paced events inadvertently briefed VP elect&others with incomplete info of calls with Russian Amb.: Michael Flynn in resignation - ANI

#09:40 AM

U.S. National Security Adviser Michael Flynn resigns over contacts with Russia, reports New York Times

#09:35 AM

Uttarakhand: BJP leader Harak Singh Rawat attacked in Kotdwar, allegedly by Congress workers - ANI

#08:23 AM

3 dead and 7 critical after consuming illicit liquor last night, in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra - ANI

#08:15 AM

Last night, an ambulance rammed into a parked truck in Sant Kabir Nagar, UP leading to the death of 8 people. - ANI

#07:57 AM

Federal judge issues preliminary injunction barring Trump travel ban from being implemented in Virginia. - AP

#07:46 AM

Kovathur, TN: Security deployed outside Golden Bay Resort as a precaution in wake of today's judgement in DA case against VK Sasikala - ANI

#07:25 AM

Two army personnel injured during encounter b/w forces and terrorists in Hajin area of Bandipora district in J&K

#07:20 AM

Encounter underway between security forces and terrorists in Hajin area of Bandipora district in J&K.

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New Delhi:

As the political turmoil in Tamil Nadu intensifies, now all eyes are set on governor Vidyasagar Rao, who will take a call on the next chief minister of the state. With the pronouncement of the much-awaited verdict by Supreme Court in AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala's disproportionate assets case, legal expert believes that now its the endgame of Sasikalas ambition and now the ball is in the Governor Vidyasagar Rao's court.



A division bench of Justice P C Ghose and Justice Amitava Roy, reached the dias at 10.32 am in Court Number 6, which was jam- packed with a large number of advocates and mediapersons and declared the verdict in less than 8 minutes, convicting the close aide of Amma- in DA case.



Supreme Court senior advocate Mahalakshmi Pavani while talking to News Nation tries to explain the various legal aspects in the case.



What option now awaits for Sasikala?



The only option left with Sasikala is to file a review petition. But there is a very bleak chance that she could get any respite in the DA case as a division bench of Justice P C Ghose and Justice Amitava Roy delivered the verdict in less than 8 minutes and there is no scope of any error in the verdict. So we can call its the endgame of Sasikalas political ambition at least for 10 years.



After the verdict, Sasikala expeled Panneerselvam from partys membership, with this are the doors closed for Panneerselvam too?



After the verdict, she has no right to sack Panneerselvam and it can be revoked by MLAs.



Who can become Tamil Nadus next Chief Minister?



With the apex court verdict, now all eyes are on Governor Vidyasagar Rao. Now the governor has two options as it happened in 1998 when UP governor had ordered a composite floor test in the UP assembly to determine who enjoyed majority - Kalyan Singh or Jagdambika Pal.



The governor can summon a special session of the assembly "possibly within a week" and conduct a composite floor test to determine who enjoys the confidence of the House  Sasikalas loyalist Palanisamy or Pannerselvam.



Also, the governor can ask all the MLAs to elect its party leader by mutual consent.

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Beijing:

China has plans to launch its first cargo spacecraft named the Tianzhou-1 in April, reports said on Tuesday. Chinas supplies for its experimental space laboratory will be carried out using the cargo spacecraft.



The Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft will be blasted off using the Long March-7 Y2 carrier rocket, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft, which was earlier kept in Tianjin, is currently at the Wenchang Space Launch Centre in south Chinas Hainan Province. Its assembly and testing will now take place, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

Tianzhou-1 consists of a cargo capsule and a propellant capsule and is the first cargo spacecraft independently developed by China. The take-off weight of the cargo spacecraft is about 13 tonnes, up to six tonnes of which is payload, the report said.

The Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft can remain in space on its own for as long as three months and has an ability to dock with the Tiangong-2 space lab. It is also capable of refuelling it and can carry out experiments and tests.

The Long March-7 Y2 carrier rocket will arrive at the launch centre in March, the CMSA said.

With the launch of Tianzhou-1, China will be able to build a space station by 2020 because cargo spacecrafts need to ship necessities to astronauts aboard the station.

As part of its efforts to expand its ambitious space programme, China will conduct a record number of 30 space launch missions this year.



The record-breaking number of space launches will start with Long March-5 and Long March-7 rockets, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation had said earlier.

In August 2015, China had successfully launched the worlds first quantum satellites which boasts of hack-proof ultra-high security features to prevent wiretapping and intercepts.

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Chennai:

It is indeed a proud and historic moment for India as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched the record 104 satellites from Sriharikota.



ISRO had commenced the 28-hour countdown for the single mission launch on Tuesday. With this launch, India is all set to script history by becoming the first country to launch more than 100 satellites at one go.



ISRO said that the Mission Readiness Review committee and Launch Authorisation Board gave its go ahead for the launch following which countdown for the launch of PSLV-C37/Cartosat2 Series satellite mission kicked off at 5:28 am.



The filling of the propellant for the rocket was also commenced by the scientists, it said. The 104 satellites will be carried by ISRO's workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C37, which will be going on its 39th mission.

Also Read: Indian Space Research Organisation's next big mission is to Venus and Mars: ISRO chairman

This launch is significant for India because if it turns out to be successful, it will be a record-breaking feat for the country. Also, ISRO is making second successful attempt after the launch of 23 satellites in one go in June 2015.PSLV will first launch the 714 kg CARTOSAT-2 Series satellite for earth observation, which will be followed by the injection of 103 co-passenger satellites, together weighing about 664 kg at lift-off into polar Sun Synchronous Orbit, about 520 km from Earth.The XL Variant, the most powerful rocket, which was used in the ambitious Chandrayaan and during the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) has been used by ISRO scientists this time too.While 96 co-passenger satellites belong to USA, five from International customers of ISRO  Israel, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, respectively.Two other Indian nano satellites, together weighing about 1,378 kg, will also be carried by the rocked. Antrix Corporation Ltd (ANTRIX) the commercial arm of the ISRO has made arrangements for the nano-satellites belonging to international customers.Cartosat-2 Series, which is the primary satellite, will be similar to the earlier four satellites in Cartosat-2 Series. Cartosat-2 Series has a mission life of five years.It will provide remote sensing services after coming into operation. Images sent by it will be useful for coastal land use and regulation, road network monitoring, distribution of water and creation of land use maps, among others.The two Indian Nano-satellites INS-1A and INS-1B were developed as co-passenger satellites to accompany bigger satellites on PSLV.The primary objective of INS (ISRO Nano Satellite) is to provide an opportunity for ISRO technology demonstration payloads, provide a standard bus for launch on demand services.INS-1A carries Surface Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function Radiometer and INS-1B caries Earth Exosphere Lyman Alpha Analyser as payloads.ISRO will launch all the 104 satellites at one go on Wednesday, February 15 from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.The satellites will be blasted off at 9:28 hours IST from SDSC SHAR Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

How to watch live:

The launch of PSLV-C37/Cartosat-2 Series along with 103 co-passenger satellite can be witnessed live from Sriharikota on Feb 15,2017, beginning at 9:00 hrs a.m (India time).



The launch will be telecasted live on Doordarshan and webcast on ISRO's website from 09:00 hrs onwards.



Some facts about ISRO's mega-launch:



1. ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C37) will carry 103 satellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on February 15.



2. 100 out of the total 103 satellites are foreign, including the US and Germany, while 3 belong to India.



3. S Somnath, Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre of ISRO, says the space agency is making a century by launching more than 100 satellites at one go.



4. Earlier, ISRO had plans to launch 83 satellites in the last week of January out of which 80 were foreign ones. But later, 20 more satellites belonging to foreign countries were added due to which the launch was postponed.



5. The 100 satellites will be micro-small satellites and will be launched using a PSLV-C37. The weight of the payload will be 1350 kgs, of which 500-600 kgs will be the satellite's weight.



Previous record holders:



ISRO had launched record 20 satellites under single mission in 2016. Russia holds a record of launching highest number of satellites at 37, followed by the US space agency NASA, which has launched 29.



Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet project:



Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet South Asian satellite project will be launched in March this year. The South Asian satellite will be a part of GSAT-9, which will be launched in March this year.



The communication satellite was scheduled to be launched in December 2016, but was slightly delayed as some other satellites are to be launched before that.



Sources said talks with Afghanistan to have the country on-board for the project is in its final stages.



Envisaged as a gift to its neighbours, the project, earlier known as SAARC satellite, faced stiff resistance from Pakistan. The neighbouring country wanted it to be launched under the aegis of the South Asian regional forum. It later backed out of the project.



Apart from India, the satellite will benefit Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.

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London:

An Indian-origin surgeon has been banned from practising medicine after a UK medical tribunal found him guilty of abusing his professional position by writing a love letter to a female patient.

Dr Sachiendra Amaragiri was struck off from the UK's medical practitioners' register recently after a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) hearing was told that the 59-year-old was infatuated with a woman he treated for a stomach complaint, known only as Patient A.

"You twanged some distant cord which had laid dormant in me for so many years. When you stepped into my clinic for the first time, I was suddenly stunned and taken aback by your presence," the doctor wrote.

The patient called the police after receiving the letter and said she was very distressed, according to a report in Chronicle Live.

"I thought to myself, he knows my address, he knows where I live, he has my phone numbers," she told the tribunal hearing.

The tribunal heard that Amaragiri was aware that he had overstepped the mark in his behaviour and even went as far as to say in his letter: "By writing this letter, I strongly feel I am taking advantage of the information I have about you and I am sure you will feel that I have dipped below your expectation and belief in me as a doctor."

Amaragiri, who was not present the MPTS hearing, has insisted he had not taken advantage of Patient A and described his letter to her, which also invited her out for a coffee, as a "moment of madness".

In letters to the UK's General Medical Council (GMC), he said: "I was never physically attracted to her, it was a moment of emotional awareness. Not only is this extremely disturbing but distasteful to read. I never had or have any intention of causing any hurt in any manner. I did invite her for a social drink and I acknowledge this was a mistake."

"I reassure you I've not taken advantage of my position as Patient A's surgeon. My letter can be interpreted in many ways, yes I did confess I did have feelings but these were pure from my heart. I sincerely regret this event happened and it's sad that my letter has been interpreted so cheaply."

The doctor has since apologised to the patient and his colleagues at the Russells Hall Hospital at Dudley in the West Midlands region of England, where he worked as a consultant. He has said he intends to appeal the tribunal's decision to suspend his medical registration.

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Seoul:

The half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has been assassinated in Malaysia, a South Korean news agency reported on Tuesday.



Yonhap news agency quoted a Seoul government source as saying Kim Jong-Nam was killed on Monday but giving no further details.

Officials in Seoul were not immediately available for comment.

The 45-year-old was poisoned by two unidentified female agents using poisoned needles at an airport in Kuala Lumpur, according to South Korean broadcaster TV Chosun.



The report, citing what it called multiple government sources, said the two women hailed a cab and fled immediately afterwards.



In Malaysia, the police chief in charge of Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Assistant Commissioner Abdul Aziz Ali, told AFP a Korean in his forties was found sick at the airport on Monday.



Airport authorities rushed him to the hospital and he died on the way, the police chief said.



We do not have any other details of this Korean man. We do not know his identity, Abdul said.



Kim Jong-Nam was once considered heir apparent but fell out of favour with his father Kim Jong-Il following a botched attempt in 2001 to enter Japan on a forged passport and visit Disneyland.



He has since lived in virtual exile, mainly in the Chinese territory of Macau.



Kim Jong-Un took over as North Korean leader when his father died in December 2011.



Kim Jong-Nam, known as an advocate of reform in the North, once told a Japanese newspaper that he opposed his countrys dynastic power transfers.



If confirmed, Kims case would be the highest-profile death under the Kim Jong-Un regime since the execution of the leaders uncle Jang Song-Thaek in December 2013.

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United Nations:

With human rights groups raising alarm over mass forced returns of Afghan refugees from Pakistan, the UN has voiced concern over the negative rhetoric against Afghan population and said Pakistan must uphold its obligations under international laws.

"The ongoing negative rhetoric, stigmatism, and labelling of the Afghan population in Pakistan and how this is adversely increasing their vulnerability, safety, and security in Pakistan is of concern," UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters on Monday.

Haq was responding to a question about criticism of the UN system for not calling the return of Afghan refugees from Pakistan refoulement.

He said the UN believes that Pakistan and Afghanistan should work together to finalise a mechanism for documenting undocumented Afghans living in Pakistan.He also stressed that Pakistan should uphold its obligations under international law.

"Returnees should be provided with detailed information on the situation in their place of origin to allow them to take into account their current situation in regards to security, governance, and livelihoods and to make a fully informed choice.

"And we believe that Pakistan must uphold their obligations under international laws, including the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, which was signed in 2016," he said.

Earlier, rights group Human Rights Watch had said in a report that Pakistani authorities have carried out a "campaign of abuses and threats" to drive out nearly 600,000 Afghans since July 2016.

The returnees include 365,000 registered refugees, making it the world?s largest mass forced return of refugees in recent years.

They now face spiralling armed conflict, violence, destitution, and displacement in Afghanistan.

The 76-page report titled "Pakistan Coercion, UN Complicity: The Mass Forced Return of Afghan Refugees," documents Pakistan?s abuses and is also critical of the role of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in promoting the exodus.

Through enhancing its "voluntary repatriation" programme and failing to publicly call for an end to coercive practices, the UN agency has become complicit in Pakistan's mass refugee abuse, it said.

The UN and international donors should press Pakistan to end the abuses, protect the remaining 1.1 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan, and allow refugees among the other estimated 750,000 unregistered Afghans there to seek protection, Human Rights Watch said.

The group said Pakistan's coercion of hundreds of thousands of registered Afghan refugees into returning to Afghanistan violates the international legal prohibition against refoulement ? not to forcibly return anyone to a place where they would face a real risk of persecution, torture or other ill-treatment, or a threat to life.

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Washington :

President Donald Trumps embattled national security advisor Michael Flynn on Tuesday resigned, amid allegations that he discussed US sanctions against Russia with its envoy before Trumps inauguration.

Flynns resignation came after reports that the Justice Department warned the Trump administration last month that he misled administration officials regarding his communications with the Russian ambassador to the US and was potentially vulnerable to blackmail by the Russians.

Flynn, one of the early backers of Trump during his presidential run, remained in the top position of National Security Advisor for just three weeks.

Flynn has been replaced by Lt General (rtd) Joseph Keith Kellogg as acting National Security Advisor, the White House announced.

Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general, in his resignation letter released by the White House, apologised to President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for briefing them with incomplete information on his talks with the Russian Ambassador before the swearing in.

In the course of my duties as the incoming National Security Advisor, I held numerous phone calls with foreign counterparts, ministers, and ambassadors. These calls were to facilitate a smooth transition and begin to build the necessary relationships between the President, his advisors and foreign leaders. Such calls are standard practice in any transition of this magnitude, Flynn wrote in the resignation letter.

Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador. I have sincerely apologised to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology, Flynn said.

Flynn said he knows with the strong leadership of President Donald Trump and Vice President Pence and the superb team they are assembling, this team will go down in history as one of the greatest presidencies in US history.

I firmly believe the American people will be well served as they all work together to help Make America Great Again, he said.

Flynns replacement General Kellogg is a decorated veteran of the US Army, having served from 1967 to 2003, including two tours during the Vietnam War, where he earned the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with device, and the Air Medal with device.

He served as the Commander of the 82nd Airborne Division from 1997 to 1998.

Prior to his retirement, General Kellogg was Director of the Command, Control, Communications, and Computers Directorate under the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the Justice Department warned the Trump administration last month that intercepts contradicted Flynns denials that he had discussed sanctions with a Russian ambassador.

The message was meant both to advise the administration of the apparent contradiction and to let them know that the discrepancy could, in theory, be used as blackmail by Russia against Flynn someday, according to this person, the daily said.

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New Delhi:

As people across the globe celebrate Valentines Day, yet another ISIS beheading image surfaced on the interet and this time its not any human head but a teddy bear.

The latest one comes from an ISIS prayer leader, who chopped the head of a teddy bear, while warning followers of the repercussions.

According to a report by Iran Front Page, an Iranian daily, a picture of ISIS man beheading a red teddy bear with a sharp knife in a mosque in Mosul, northern Iraq, threatening that it would be the fate of people who celebrate the sin day.

Protests against Valentines Day are no new in India too, many outfits like Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena have earlier raised slogans against the westinasation of countrys culture.

In a government order, BJP government at Chattisgarh has earlier announced aid that it will celebrate February 14 as Parents Day in schools in order to teach Bharatiya sanskriti to students and asked students to worship their parents.

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A GREAT-GRANDMOTHER who braved the elements to collect more than 1,000 signatures objecting to the possible closure of Wycombe Hospital's Accident & Emergency department, handed her petition to the authorities this week.

Janet Riley, 60, from Havenfield Road, Booker, was shocked when she read the news that as part of an acute services review health authority officials were discussing the possibility of closing the A&E ward at Wycombe, which would force patients to travel an extra 16 miles to Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

Mrs Riley said: "There are old people. There are children. We all rely on that A & E and I felt very strongly about it."

Mrs Riley spent two days in Wycombe collecting signatures from people objecting to any possible closure.

She said: "I got 1,002 after two days which is not a long time. If we would have kept it going for a long time we would have got lots more. The people I spoke to are really quite proud of their hospital and don't want to lose the service."

With the backing of Wycombe district councillors Ted Collins and Chauhdry Shafique, Mrs Riley presented her petition to Dr Jeremy Rose, chairman of Wycombe Primary Care Group (PCG), on Tuesday, who will forward it to Buckinghamshire Health Authority.

Jayne Stone, chief executive of Wycombe PCG, said: "Any major change to services has to be part of a consultation. The CHC (Community Health Council) has the right to ask for a review by the secretary of state.

"After April 2002 local authorities then have the statutory authority that the CHC does. The local authority can ask for a review by the secretary of state. Buckinghamshire County Council and Wycombe District Council will both have scrutiny committees for health."
Over the weekend a top aide to President Trump boasted about the speed with which the new administration is moving to enact its agenda. The President of the United States has accomplished more in just a few weeks than many Presidents do in an entire administration, said Senior Policy Adviser Stephen Miller.

While theres no disputing the fact that Trump and his team have been extremely active in the first few weeks of his term, the new administration is also threatening to set another speed record: shortest time to a major staff shake-up.

Related: National Insecurity: Intel Officials Increasingly Worried About Trump

While rumors of staff infighting and potential dismissals and resignations are the standard stuff of reporting on any White House, the sheer bulk of stories about very senior figures in the executive mansion who find themselves in doubt about their future is stunning, coming as they do less than a month into the new administration.

Its generally assumed that the man standing on the thinnest of the thin ice is retired three-star Army General Michael Flynn, who now serves as Trumps National Security Adviser. Flynn has been accused, by sources in the Intelligence Community, of discussing the lifting of Obama administration sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador before Trump officially took office.

Flynn later denied that he had done so, expressing his innocence directly to Vice President Mike Pence who then went on television to defend him. Later, further leaks from intelligence operatives with access to intercepts of the calls claimed that Flynn had misled both the vice president and the public.

Lying to the vice president would likely be a fireable offense in any other White House, and Flynns status within Trumps remains unclear. Miller, in television appearances over the weekend, declined to offer even the standard claim that Flynn enjoys the presidents full confidence, which assertion, by itself, usually signals that someone is in trouble.

Story continues

Related: This Is What Undiluted Trumpism Tastes Like

The result is a National Security Council operating in crisis mode, with career staff unsure not just of the new administrations priorities, but about whether or not they will have the same boss when they wake up each morning.

Flynn, however, is far from the only high-visibility staffer who might be in trouble. From his first moments behind the podium in the White House briefing room, Press Secretary Sean Spicer has been the target of ridicule in the media and reported criticism from within the Oval Office.

Over the weekend, Washingtonian magazine reported that former Navy SEAL and early Trump supporter Carl Higbie was being considered a replacement for Spicer, which Higbie appeared to confirm. Trump has reportedly been unhappy with some elements of Spicers job performance and with mockery he has become, particularly on Saturday Night Live, where actress Melissa McCarthy has been lampooning him as a rage-driven fabulist.

Possibly the most surprising person that Trump is said to be considering for replacement is White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus. There wasnt much discussion about it until last weekend when Newsmax CEO and Trump friend Chris Ruddy had drinks with the president, then promptly went on CNN to rip into Priebus for weakness and poor communications.

Related: Trump the Populist Is Trying to Hobble a Champion of the Little Guy

Ruddy, in an interview with The Washington Post, repeated his criticism, saying, Its my view that Reince is the problem. I think on paper Reince looked good as the chief of staff  and Donald trusted him  but its pretty clear the guy is in way over his head. Hes not knowledgeable of how federal agencies work, how the communications operations work. He botched this whole immigration rollout. This shouldve been a win for Donald, not two or three weeks of negative publicity.

His statements earned Ruddy a couple of calls from the White House, as he reported on Twitter Sunday. Reince just briefed me on new WH plans. Impressive! CNN today my personal view. Told him I have 'open mind' based on his results, he tweeted. Later, he noted that Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner had also reached out to him. Jared Kushner tells me COS Reince is doing amazing job.

Nevertheless, his statements, and his relationship with Trump, naturally led to speculation that the former chair of the Republican National Committee might not be long for the chief of staff job. Mike Allen, of Axios, reported that there is speculation Trump might smooth Priebuss exit by offering him a cabinet position.

Related: Another Strike Against National Security Adviser Michael Flynn

Trump has been publicly silent about the future of all three of the men, and at this point, it is unclear what constitutes a firing offense in his White House. Known to prize loyalty, Trump has received plenty of it from all three men who have taken plenty of slings and arrows on his behalf over the past year.

But loyalty to Trump is no golden ticket. Just ask Corey Lewandowski, the dedicated former Trump campaign manager who was ousted in the midst of the primary season and was not pulled into the administration after the election.

Trump has demonstrated that hes happy to cut someone loose if he decides their liabilities outweigh their benefits. At the moment, though, the balance sheet for Flynn, Spicer and Priebus is stored in his head.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
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A Malloy administrations proposal to discontinue the state share of funding for resident state troopers has left town officials fuming.

The state pays 15 percent of the costs of a towns first two resident troopers, a significant cut from the 30 percent it paid as recently as 2011. By eliminating the remaining 15 percent, town officials said, the state is making them foot the bill for its own mismanagement of taxpayers money.

Northwest small towns are gonna take another hit, said First Selectman Mark Lyon, of Washington, which stands to lose $20,000 a year. (The state) is sticking it to small towns and public safety. Well have to raise taxes or cut services.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy proposes charging towns $750 a year for each constable they employ. Constables are essentially police officers and have the authority to make arrests.

The administration says the changes will generate another $1.5 million in general fund revenue each year.

Resident state trooper salaries range from $134,000 to $205,000 annually depending on their rank, said Sgt. Eric Haglund, state trooper spokesperson.

Town officials argue the cut is doubly unfair because while resident troopers work out of small towns, theyre responsible for dealing with accidents on state roads and other state police work.

More Information Resident state troopers by town: Washington: 1 Sherman: 1 Bridgewater: 1* Roxbury: 1* Kent: 1 New Fairfield: 7 Southbury: 1 See More Collapse

I dont see what were gaining by this, said Roxbury First Selectman Barbara Henry. The burden will just fall to state police if we cut the troopers.

Roxbury shares the cost of a resident trooper with neighboring Bridgewater, a cost the towns will now have to bear without state help. Roxbury would have to send another $3,000 to the state annually for its constables.

If small towns like Roxbury have to do without troopers to save money, or share one with other towns, Henry said, service will plummet.

In New Fairfield, which has a hybrid police department of seven resident state troopers and six local police officers, First Selectman Susan Chapman echoed Lyons complaint, saying the state is unfairly pushing its fiscal woes on small towns.

Even if the town and school don't increase their budgets for the upcoming year, the town will have to raise taxes 9 percent to make up for state cuts, she said.

Nothing about Malloys plan surprises me, Chapman said. Hes just pushing off the states financial mismanagement onto the small towns.

blytton@hearstmediact.com; 203-731-3411; @bglytton
DANBURY - A foundation that puts schoolkids in contact with Nobel Peace Prize-winners for a weekend conference of workshops and inspirational talks is coming to Western Connecticut State University for the first time.

Headlining the Peace Jam conference on Feb. 25 and 26 at WCSUs midtown campus is womens rights advocate Leymah Gbowee, whose nonviolent movement of Christians and Muslims helped end the civil war in her native Liberia.

Gbowee, who won the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, will kick off the Peace Jam weekend in Danbury with a Feb. 24 speech at WCSUs 750-seat Ives Concert Hall.

She is very down-to-earth, and you feel the power of her conviction when she speaks, said Graves Kiely, a Weston business consultant and organizer of the Peace Jam conference. When she realized there was no white knight that was going to come save the people of Liberia, she realized, I have to do it, and that is the message she carries with her.

The weekend conference will bring scores of local students from middle and high schools to study the life of Gbowee through workshops, service projects and visits with the Nobel Prize laureate herself. The students will work under the guidance of Western undergraduates and Peace Jam staff.

We like the idea of connecting middle- and high-school students with college students on our campus, said university spokesman Paul Steinmetz. And of course bringing Nobel Peace laureates to campus benefits the community with exposure to speakers and leaders who are world figures.

Among the specific themes of the Peace Jam weekend are team-building, service projects and youth leadership.

The Peace Jam conference, which has previously been held at the University of Connecticut and in Hartford, is being brought to Danbury to expose students from western Connecticut to the Peace Jam curriculum.

The education value is incredible, because you are studying history from a part of the world you dont come from, but you are also studying current history, said Kiely, who became a New England Peace Jam coordinator eight years ago when he was looking for a way to give back to the community. [Gbowee] not only helped to kick out a dictator, but she helped installed the first female president in the history of the continent in Liberia - and that fact is not going to be lost on anyone after the election we just had here, and everything that is going on with the womens march.

Local Peace Jam coordinator Barry Felson of Guilford agreed.

Its not every day a group of students get to spend a weekend with a Nobel Peace laureate, Felson said.

The last time an international visitor caused this much stir at Western was in 2012, when the Dalai Lama spoke to a crowd of 3,500 about forgiveness and compassion.

General admission tickets for Gbowees 6:30 p.m. speech on Feb. 24 are $15 and are available at the www.wcsu.edu/peacejam.

rryser@newstimes.com; 203-731-3342
Outsourcing is one of the top trends in business today, a near-necessity in the age of a globalized, increasingly networked world. Often, outsourcing done right can be the difference between profit and loss, a critical factor that can make (or break) your business.

To that end, entrepreneurs seeking to maximize efficiency and offshore effectively shouldnt just stay with stalwarts like India and China. Instead, they should look further afield to other emerging markets, destinations with a booming economy, a large population, and a hunger to prosper and consume.

Common characteristics of emerging markets

Before we take a deeper look at emerging economies, its important to understand some key criteria that give emerging markets such vibrancy and energy. These factors include a large, young population to fill out the ranks of the nations workforce, a fledgling middle class that will provide the foundation for future consumption, a large domestic market, reasonably strong government institutions, and a middling level of infrastructure (enough for basic operations to keep the economy running, but with opportunities to build more).

The last two factors are a little harder to pin down. While institutions do need to be strong enough to carry out routine duties like enforcing laws or collecting taxes, legal institutions and norms cannot always predict economic success. In some business environments, bribes can be an advantage, while in other nations, compliance regulations can add to the cost of doing business.

As for infrastructure, emerging markets do need some basics such as roads, airports, and harbors to begin their economic expansion. However, opportunities to build new infrastructure can further fuel economic growth and development. For instance, from 2011 to 2013, China alone consumed more concrete than the United States did during the 20th century, as part of its quest to build not just new malls and apartment buildings, but also roads, airports, dams, and subways.

With these factors in mind, lets take a look at three prosperous emerging markets that you should consider moving your business process operations (BPOs) to.

The Philippines

Though this island nation has been making headlines lately for its colorful, populist leader Rodrigo Duterte, its economy has thrived. In Q3 2016, the Philippines won the distinction of being the fastest growing economy in Asia, its GDP expanding by an impressive 7.1%, beating out regional rivals like Vietnam and India.

Much of this growth is due to rapid expansion in two sectors: industries, which grew by 8.6%, and services, which grew by 6.9%. Within the services sector, information technology (IT) and business process management (BPM) were the the leading areas, forecasted to grow at 30% in this decade alone. This category includes key outsourcing mainstays like call centers, technical support, and even coding and technical design.

The stunning success of the Philippines BPO sector rests on two important factors: first, a highly literate, young population that speaks American-accented English (a legacy of the nations history as a former American colony), and second, the creation of special economic zones (SEZ) with incentives for BPO firms. In fact, there are signs that the Philippines is fast beating out India, long a powerhouse for BPO activity: in 2012, the Philippine BPO sector employed 400,000 call center workers, about 12% more than India.

Its true that the nation still faces a number of social and political problems, such as wealth inequality and corruption. Still, all things considered, the Philippines is on the rise, a healthy and growing economy in the process of shaking off its tumultuous past and emerging into the 21st century.

Vietnam

Though it hasnt been as celebrated as the Philippines, the Vietnamese economy has posted a stunning 6% growth rate, along with a GDP increase of 6.4% in Q3 2016 alone. Key factors for this strong performance include generous foreign direct investment, a high volume of exports, a resilient agriculture sector, and most of all, a powerful manufacturing sector, which grew 11% from January through September 2016 alone.

Because of its young population and relatively lower salaries, Vietnam has slowly gained a reputation as the new manufacturing superpower, becoming the largest Southeast Asian exporter to the United States in 2014. Much of this is due to demographics: while other ASEAN nations have an elderly population of about 10%, Vietnams elderly only comprise 6% of the population. In fact, 40% of Vietnamese are aged 15-49, providing a huge workforce for factories.

Thats not to say that there may not be difficulties in Vietnams future: for instance, while the nation strongly supported the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which would allow its textile factories and other manufacturers to capitalize on free trade and looser import protocols, the TPP does not look likely to pass, especially given strong opposition from President-elect Trump.

Yet even without the TPP, Vietnams economy is still strong. For one, foreign direct investment (FDI) from other Asian nations, particularly South Korea, hit nearly $15 billion in 2016. Tech giant Samsung employs nearly 110,000 Vietnamese alone, while rival LG has just opened a $1.5 billion factory in the country.

Clearly, whatever trade agreements are passed (or vetoed), Vietnams economy will still remain a manufacturing powerhouse, as it can always rely on regional trade to make up any shortfalls.

Rwanda

Though it is mainly known in the West for the disastrous genocide of 1994, Rwanda today is a far cry from the war-torn nation struggling to heal the deep rifts between its Tutsi and Hutu populations. In fact, Rwanda is the fifth-fastest growing economy in Africa, though much of this expansion has been due to small-scale, local businesses and subsistence farmers.

While the nations growth is impressive, averaging 7-8% from 2001 through 2015, Rwanda is still beset by a number of issues, namely a lack of infrastructure and a heavy reliance on foreign aid. Theres also the matter of South Africa and Kenya, traditionally the two other African economic powerhouses, particularly where it concerns tech.

But dont be fooled. Kigali, Rwandas capital and largest city, is on track to become Africas startup hub, thanks to government incentives and construction projects. Perhaps the most notable undertaking is the Kigali Innovation City, a massive tech complex that will be home to incubators as well as the local branch of Carnegie Mellon University.

The proof is in the profits: Rwandan incubators, most notably the collaborative, innovative kLab, have fostered a slew of successful startups, the best-known of which is Torque, a SaaS platform that counts Heineken as among its clients. Further, Rwandas tech sector has drawn investment from IBM, Microsoft, and Intel.

Additionally, the Rwandan government is not sitting idle; its funded the construction of a $95 million, 1,380 mile fiber-optic cable network and hosted entrepreneur challenges like the Rwanda Startup Cup. As TechCrunch notes, Rwandas approach recalls the Singapore model: central government intervention and the creation of economic incentives to spur development and innovation.

After all, Rwandan President Paul Kagame is a fervent admirer of the late Lee Kuan Yew, Singapores premier and a pioneer of a particular, peculiarly successful mix of soft autocracy and economic prosperity. While only time will tell whether Kagame will succeed in his endeavors, for now, the economic picture is quite promising.

Emerging Markets Beyond the Headlines

Take a glance at the news today, and its easy to focus only on the BRICS nations. However, entrepreneurs, CEOs, and COOs seeking inexpensive, quality manufacturing and BPOs should look beyond the BRICS nations, and instead turn to the emerging powerhouses listed above.

As in the case of China or India, early adoption and expansion can mean the difference between successful, profitable outsourcing and coming late into an already-developed, increasingly expensive market.

Related:

Entrepreneur's Guide to Outsourcing, Part 1: Emerging Markets

Meet the Coolest Mathematician of India

How 2 Young Restaurateurs Broke Through a Crowded Industry



Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
GABORONE, Botswana, Feb. 14, 2017 /CNW/ - The Botswana Chamber of Mines (BCM) today announced that it will adopt the Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) initiative, a corporate social responsibility program developed by the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) to improve environmental and social practices in the mining industry.

This is first time that TSM has been adopted by a mining association in Africa, and the third to do so outside of Canada. FinnMin, the Finnish Mining Association, adopted TSM in November 2015 and the Camara Argentina de Empresarios Mineros (CAEM), the Argentinean Chamber of Mining Entrepreneurs, adopted the initiative in October 2016.

MAC and its members launched TSM in 2004. Implementation of the program is mandatory for all MAC members' Canadian operations, but many voluntarily apply it to their international sites. MAC freely shares TSM with other countries seeking tools to improve the environmental and social performance of their mining industries, including engagement with civil society and enhanced transparency and accountability.

TSM requires mining companies to annually assess their facilities' performance across six important areas, including tailings management, community outreach, safety and health, biodiversity conservation, crisis management, and energy use and greenhouse gas emissions management. The results are freely available to the public and are externally-verified every three years to ensure what has been reported is accurate. While BCM will tailor its performance areas so that they reflect the unique aspects of its domestic mining sector, they will be at a similar level to those of Canada's.

To ensure TSM reflects the expectations of civil society and industry stakeholders, it was designed and continues to be shaped by an independent, multi-interest advisory panel. As part of its implementation, BCM will implement a similar advisory body to provide this valuable oversight function.

QUOTES

"Botswana Chamber of Mines members subscribe to the principles of responsible mining and extraction of minerals from the earth. The adoption of TSM will enable the industry to demonstrate adherence to sound and sustainable minerals development practices and strive towards continual improvement," said Charles Siwawa, CEO, BCM.

"With Botswana's adoption of Towards Sustainable Mining, the program is now in four countries on four continents, clearly establishing TSM as an emerging global standard. It is our privilege to share our tools and expertise in sustainable and responsible mining practices with a country that is making important strides in sustainable mining development," said Pierre Gratton, President and CEO, MAC.

"Canada is very pleased that the Mining Association of Canada and the Botswana Chamber of Mines are working together on the Towards Sustainable Mining initiative. This initiative reflects Canada's strong relationship with Botswana and our commitment to support the sustainable development of Botswana's mining sector," said His Excellency Kumar Gupta, Ambassador of Canada to Zimbabwe, Botswana and Angola.

ABOUT BCM

Botswana Chamber of Mines is an organisation that represents the interest of the mining industry in Botswana. Its membership is widespread to include mining as well as minerals exploration companies together with mining contracting and large suppliers.

ABOUT MAC

The Mining Association of Canada is the national organization for the Canadian mining industry. Its members account for most of Canada's production of base and precious metals, uranium, diamonds, metallurgical coal and mined oil sands, and are actively engaged in mineral exploration, mining, smelting, refining and semi-fabrication. Please visit www.mining.ca.

ABOUT TSM

The Towards Sustainable Mining initiative is a sustainability standard developed by the Mining Association of Canada. Mining companies are expected to report regularly on the implementation of each protocol. In addition, their activities will be evaluated by an external auditor every three years. Please visit: www.mining.ca/tsm.

SOURCE Mining Association of Canada (MAC)

For further information: Jessica Draker, The Mining Association of Canada, (613) 233-9392 x225 or [email protected]; Charles Siwawa, Botswana Chamber of Mines, +267 3914686 or [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.mining.ca


TORONTO, Feb. 13, 2017 /CNW/ - IAMGOLD Corporation ("IAMGOLD" or the "Company") today provided an update from its initial exploration program at the Saramacca project located 25 kilometres southwest of its Rosebel Gold Mine ("RGM'), in Suriname. The company is reporting final assay results from the 2016 drilling program comprising approximately 14,600 metres from 67 diamond drill holes and 4,500 metres from 37 reverse circulation ("RC") drill holes.

The assay results are provided in Table 1 and 2 below and include the following highlights:

(A drill hole plan map is attached to this news release.)

 SMDD16-002: 22.5 metres grading 2.79 g/t Au

13.5 metres grading 3.24 g/t Au

17.7 metres grading 2.51 g/t Au

18.0 metres grading 5.35 g/t Au



 SMDD16-012: 78.0 metres grading 3.98 g/t Au



 SMDD16-017: 24.0 metres grading 4.78 g/t Au

12.0 metres grading 2.75 g/t Au



 SMDD16-042: 55.5 metres grading 1.99 g/t Au

13.5 metres grading 2.80 g/t Au

46.5 metres grading 5.22 g/t Au



 SMDD16-053: 101.0 metres grading 4.31 g/t Au





"The potential of the Saramacca property and the neighbouring Sarafina property will leverage off of our existing infrastructure and represent an excellent brownfield opportunity with greenfield excitement," said Steve Letwin, President and Chief Executive Officer for IAMGOLD. "I'm very proud of what the Rosebel team has done to reinvent their mine through cost reductions and performance improvements. Their hard work has extended the mine life well beyond our previous expectations and has given them the time to acquire access to and explore the potential of properties such as Saramacca. The encouraging results from the 2016 drill program at Saramacca indicate that this property has the potential to be transformative for the future of Rosebel and very beneficial to all our stakeholders, including our partner the Government of Suriname, just as we envisaged when we bought this property."

Craig MacDougall, Senior Vice President, Exploration for IAMGOLD, stated: "First I want to recognize the efforts of our exploration team to advance the Saramacca project so quickly since its acquisition. The assay results from the 2016 drilling program are encouraging and appear to confirm the presence of significant mineralization. It is particularly pleasing to note the amount of mineralized intersections in 'soft' saprolite extending to depths of up to 100 metres. With continued success, we expect our 2017 infill drilling program to ultimately lead to the estimation of an initial resource for this project, which would mark a significant milestone for our exploration program at Rosebel."

2016 Exploration Program

The Saramacca project is strategically located approximately 25 kilometers southwest of the Rosebel Gold Mine milling facility. Mineralization is hosted in the Paramaka Formation within the lower part of the Marowijne Greenstone Belt, which is dominated by metamorphosed dacite, rhyolite, basalt and andesite lithologies in the project area. These are traversed by the regional, northwest trending Saramacca shear zone, an important deformation zone for the localization of gold mineralization.

The 2016 drilling program was designed to duplicate a number of historic mineralized drilling intersections obtained by previous explorers as well as test the full strike and width of the interpreted mineralized footprint on a nominal 100 x 50 metre drill hole spacing. Duplicate holes successfully confirmed previous exploration results. As well, many holes intersected mineralization hosted in soft saprolite to depths from surface ranging between 50 to 100 metres. The program has confirmed the presence of multiple mineralized structures within an approximately 2 kilometres long and 600 metres wide corridor. Mineralization remains open along strike and at depth.

Three mineralization types are recognized from the drilling to date: breccia hosted mineralization characterized by jigsaw, crackle and matrix supported breccias; shear hosted mineralization characterized by well-developed pyritic disseminations and stringers; and irregular pyrite-quartz-carbonate veins which locally carry high gold grades.

Next Steps

The 2017 exploration program has commenced, with 2 diamond drill rigs currently operating. A phase I drilling program comprised of approximately 15,000 metres of diamond drilling will focus on completing a 50 x 50 metre infill drilling pattern to further define and confirm continuity of the key mineralized structures. Results will be incorporated into a deposit model to support an initial NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate expected for completion by the third quarter 2017.

In addition, geological mapping and geophysical surveys will commence along the Saramacca structural corridor to define further targets for drill testing.

About the Saramacca Project

The Saramacca property has been explored since the 1990's principally by Golden Star and later as a joint venture between Golden Star Resources Ltd. ("Golden Star") and Newmont Mining Corporation. Much of that work focused on the discovery and delineation of Anomaly M, which was the subject of successive auger and diamond drilling programs with over 50 diamond drill holes and over 200 auger holes completed in the anomaly area. Evaluation of this work suggests an exploration target potential of between 8 and 40 million tonnes grading between 1.0 and 1.8 g/t Au for potentially 0.5 to 1.4 million contained ounces of gold. The potential quantity and grade are conceptual in nature and insufficient exploration work has been completed to date to define a mineral resource. The property will require significant future exploration to advance to a resource stage and there can be no certainty that the exploration target will result in a mineral resource being defined.

On August 30, 2016, the Company signed a letter of intent with the Government of Suriname to acquire rights to the Saramacca property, with the intent of defining a National Instrument 43-101 compliant mineral resource within 24 months. The terms of the letter included an initial payment of $0.2 million, which enabled immediate access to the property for Rosebel's exploration team to conduct due diligence, as well as access to the data from previous exploration activity at the Saramacca property. On September 30, 2016, having been satisfied with the results of the due diligence, the Company ratified the letter of intent to acquire the Saramacca property and subsequently paid $10 million in cash and agreed to issue 3.125 million IAMGOLD common shares to the Government of Suriname in three approximately equal annual instalments on each successive anniversary of the date the right of exploration was transferred to Rosebel (December 14, 2016). In addition, the agreement provides for a potential upward adjustment to the purchase price based on the contained gold ounces identified by Rosebel in National Instrument 43-101 measured and indicated resource categories , within a certain Whittle shell over the first 24 months, to a maximum of $10 million.

The Saramacca project falls within the "UJV" area as defined in an Agreement with the Government of Suriname announced on April 15, 2013. The Agreement establishes a joint venture growth vehicle under which Rosebel would hold a 70% participating interest and the Government will acquire a 30% participating interest on a fully-paid basis.

Qualified Persons and Technical Information

The drilling results contained in this news release have been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

The "Qualified Person" responsible for the supervision of the preparation, verification and review of the technical information in this release is Ian Stockton, MAusIMM, MAIG, Exploration Manager for IAMGOLD in Suriname. He is considered a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 with respect to the technical information being reported on. The technical information has been included herein with the consent and prior review of the above noted Qualified Person.

The information in this news release was reviewed and approved by Craig MacDougall, P.Geo., Senior Vice President, Exploration for IAMGOLD. Mr. MacDougall is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

The sampling of, and assay data from, drill core is monitored through the implementation of a quality assurance - quality control (QA-QC) program designed to follow industry best practice. Drill core (HQ and NQ size) samples are selected by the IAMGOLD geologists and sawn in half with a diamond saw at the Rosebel mine site. Half of the core is retained at the site for reference purposes. Sample intervals may vary from half a metre to one and a half metres in length depending on the geological observations.

Reverse circulation samples (RC) are passed through a rotary splitter and collected in 1 metre intervals and combined to form 2 metre assay intervals, (except wet samples which are sampled without the splitter) for submission of a 4 - 5 kilogram sample to the assay lab. The 1 metre samples are maintained for future reference and a reference sample is collected and stored in a chip tray. QA-QC is carried out as per above.

Samples are transported in sealed bags to FILAB in Paramaribo, Suriname, a representative lab of ALS. FILAB is an ISO 9001 (2008) and ISO/IEC 170250 accredited laboratory. Samples are weighed and coarse crushed to <2.5 mm, and 350-450grams is Pulverized to 85% passing<100 m. Samples are analyzed for gold using standard fire assay technique with a 50 gram charge and an Atomic Absorption (AA) finish. Multi-element analysis (40 elements) using ICPAES multi-acid digest is also undertaken. IAMGOLD inserts blanks and certified reference standard in the sample sequence for quality control. Samples representative of the various lithologies are collected from each drill hole and measured for bulk density at the site RGM laboratory.

Forward Looking Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding expected, estimated or planned gold production, cash costs, margin expansion, capital expenditures and exploration expenditures and statements regarding the estimation of mineral resources, exploration results, potential mineralization, potential mineral resources and mineral reserves) are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "will", "should", "continue", "expect", "estimate", "believe", "plan" or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict, that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, without limitation, failure to meet expected, estimated or planned gold production, cash costs, margin expansion, capital expenditures and exploration expenditures and failure to establish estimated mineral resources, the possibility that future exploration results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, changes in world gold markets and other risks disclosed in IAMGOLD's most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information Form on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities. Any forward-looking statement 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 statement.

About IAMGOLD

IAMGOLD (www.iamgold.com) is a mid-tier mining company with four operating gold mines on three continents. A solid base of strategic assets in North and South America and West Africa is complemented by development and exploration projects and continued assessment of accretive acquisition opportunities. IAMGOLD is in a strong financial position with extensive management and operational expertise.

Please note:

This entire news release may be accessed via fax, e-mail, IAMGOLD's website at www.iamgold.com and through CNW Group's website at www.newswire.ca . All material information on IAMGOLD can be found at www.sedar.com or at www.sec.gov.

Si vous desirez obtenir la version francaise de ce communique, veuillez consulter le http://www.iamgold.com/French/accueil/default.aspx.

Table 1  Diamond drill hole assays

HOLE-ID Local UTM grid End of Hole (m) Az Dip From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Easting Northing Elevation



SMDD16-001 31845 64556 704 73 215 -45 0.0 10.5 10.5 2.76 SMDD16-002 32058 64365 733 300 215 -50 3.0 25.5 22.5 2.79 76.5 90.0 13.5 3.24 96.0 106.5 10.5 1.23 177.0 194.7 17.7 2.51 208.5 226.5 18.0 5.35 232.5 243.0 10.5 1.06 SMDD16-003 32127 64279 737 153 215 -50 88.5 117.5 29.0 2.35 SMDD16-004 32068 64202 777 179 215 -50 No significant results SMDD16-005 31991 64425 736 120 214 -51 42.0 52.5 10.5 2.20 SMDD16-006 32114 64262 743 126 215 -45 43.5 50.0 6.5 0.42 SMDD16-007 32058 64182 787 158 215 -45 1.2 9.0 7.8 0.95 SMDD16-008 31852 64607 695 185 215 -50 0.8 21.0 20.3 1.53 157.5 167.6 10.1 6.50 SMDD16-009 32184 64242 741 197 215 -53 84.0 96.9 12.9 2.59 157.5 163.0 5.5 1.27 SMDD16-010 32245 64075 798 213 215 -50 93.0 99.0 6.0 0.76 159.0 168.0 9.0 2.61 SMDD16-011 32002 64297 745 180 215 -50 3.0 11.5 8.5 5.35 31.5 64.5 33.0 2.22 76.5 94.5 18.0 5.44 SMDD16-012 31911 64503 723 162 215 -50 0.0 18.0 18.0 0.49

34.5 112.5 78.0 3.98 SMDD16-013 32578 63584 899 102 215 -50 0.0 21.0 21.0 3.19

30.0 54.0 24.0 0.85 SMDD16-014 31978 64251 766 132 215 -50 No significant results SMDD16-015 32579 63651 886 239 215 -50 3.0 9.0 6.0 0.54 109.5 120.0 10.5 0.63 136.5 148.5 12.0 2.94 191.2 204.0 12.8 1.60 SMDD16-016 32739 63380 893 171 212 -52 0.0 7.3 7.3 2.48 120.0 139.5 19.5 3.12 SMDD16-017 32781 63273 913 221 215 -50 25.5 49.5 24.0 4.78 57.0 69.0 12.0 2.75 76.5 84.0 7.5 0.41 90.0 96.0 6.0 0.76 103.5 121.5 18.0 1.51 SMDD16-018 32023 64655 688 180 215 -50 No significant results SMDD16-019 32524 63669 869 181 215 -50 52.5 64.0 11.5 1.69 115.5 133.5 18.0 6.14 SMDD16-020 31977 64596 704 216 215 -50 193.2 198.5 5.3 3.36 SMDD16-021 32347 63877 853 178 215 -45 18.0 27.0 9.0 1.70 SMDD16-022 32953 63343 883 107 215 -50 23.3 31.5 8.2 1.14 SMDD16-023 32290 63994 821 140 35 -55 64.5 82.5 18.0 1.87 SMDD16-024 32897 63306 893 200 215 -50 No significant results SMDD16-025 32146 64150 788 302 215 -50 No significant results SMDD16-026 31951 64550 713 279 215 -50 57.0 66.0 9.0 0.95 81.0 93.0 12.0 0.85 183.0 192.0 9.0 2.09 213.0 221.0 8.0 0.78 SMDD16-027 32980 63251 894 195 215 -50 49.5 61.7 12.2 4.52 117.0 136.5 19.5 1.00 SMDD16-028 32245 64112 787 235 215 -50 120.0 126.0 6.0 0.66 198.0 207.0 9.0 1.46 SMDD16-029 32972 63401 865 204 215 -50 No significant results SMDD16-030 32308 64179 746 128 215 -51 No significant results SMDD16-031 31962 64408 742 182 215 -50 0.0 12.3 12.3 2.07 27.0 34.5 7.5 0.90 SMDD16-032 32845 63223 908 257 215 -50 10.5 37.5 27.0 1.74 132.0 141.0 9.0 2.94 162.0 168.0 6.0 3.55 SMDD16-033 32177 64181 768 278 215 -47 46.7 55.5 8.8 5.95 69.5 80.0 10.5 0.74 SMDD16-034 32117 64094 818 370 215 -47 1.5 17.0 15.5 3.16 SMDD16-035 32004 64464 726 278 215 -50 No significant results SMDD16-036 32960 63210 897 171 215 -50 No significant results SMDD16-037 32195 64042 818 231 215 -50 78.0 85.5 7.5 3.58 SMDD16-038 32240 64274 722 336 215 -50 18.0 27.0 9.0 3.41 36.0 43.5 7.5 0.84 220.5 228.0 7.5 1.99 SMDD16-039 32911 63154 900 321 215 -50 167.3 180.0 12.7 3.63 246.0 262.5 16.5 0.48 SMDD16-040 32342 63912 847 189 215 -50 132.0 139.5 7.5 2.78 SMDD16-041 31817 64529 707 144 215 -50 0.0 19.5 19.5 1.15 SMDD16-042 32079 64397 731 395 215 -52 0.0 55.5 55.5 1.99 197.0 210.5 13.5 2.80 216.5 263.0 46.5 5.22 SMDD16-043 31881 64631 691 267 215 -50 1.5 13.5 12.0 1.27 SMDD16-044 32449 63890 843 131 215 -50 No significant results SMDD16-045 32734 63238 917 155 215 -50 1.5 18.0 16.5 2.76 SMDD16-046 31890 64469 729 152 215 -50 No significant results SMDD16-047 32411 63988 804 347 215 -50 130.5 138.0 7.5 8.05 SMDD16-048 32369 63951 824 267 215 -50 No significant results SMDD16-049 31929 64361 752 173 215 -50 No significant results SMDD16-050 32308 64032 807 320 215 -50 No significant results SMDD16-051 32053 64534 711 375 215 -50 295.5 306.0 10.5 1.38 344.0 357.5 13.5 0.63 SMDD16-052 32732 63241 917 192 215 -50 9.0 19.5 10.5 1.41 SMDD16-053 32338 64062 800 176 215 -50 10.5 111.5 101.0 4.31 SMDD16-054 32399 63806 870 186 215 -50 50.0 61.5 11.5 2.21 72.0 94.5 22.5 6.08 SMDD16-055 32353 64075 792 322 215 -50 141.3 154.5 13.2 2.82 173.8 181.3 7.5 3.17 SMDD16-056 32804 63338 903 295 215 -50 0.0 34.5 34.5 0.85 151.5 175.5 24.0 4.51 SMDD16-057 32129 64469 723 154 215 -50 No significant results SMDD16-058 32371 63764 884 164 215 -50 No significant results SMDD16-059 31652 64671 645 215 215 -50 No significant results SMDD16-060 32149 64326 721 348 35 -51 1.5 24.0 22.5 0.57 123.0 132.5 9.5 1.34 138.5 144.5 6.0 0.52 193.5 199.3 5.8 0.76 SMDD16-061 32349 63546 900 351 215 -50 250.5 256.5 6.0 0.50 SMDD16-062 31697 64716 662 326 215 -50 33.0 40.5 7.5 0.46 SMDD16-063 32622 63438 901 225 215 -50 No significant results SMDD16-064 31723 64756 656 239 215 -50 112.5 123.5 11.0 7.76 SMDD16-065 32095 64231 760 246 215 -50 No significant results SMDD16-066 31762 64811 645 239 215 -50 No significant results SMDD16-067 32552 63496 898 155 215 -50 No significant results

Notes:

1. Drill hole intercepts are calculated using a 0.50 g/t Au assay cut-off and 5m minimum length

2. Assays are reported uncut

3. True widths are unknown at this stage

Table 2  Reverse circulation (RC) drill hole assays

HOLE-ID Local UTM grid End of Hole (m) Az Dip From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Easting Northing Elevation SMRC16-001 32210 64420 715 102 215 -50 26.00 30.00 4.00 1.45 SMRC16-002 32295 64326 710 66 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-003 32341 64253 721 130 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-004 32058 64025 853 130 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-005 31998 64099 828 120 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-006 32236 63931 849 120 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-007 32469 63563 869 120 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-008 32553 63494 898 148 215 -50 100.00 128.00 28.00 9.60 SMRC16-009 32568 63369 916 120 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-010 32638 63292 917 32 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-011 32650 63288 916 120 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-012 33056 63364 869 150 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-013 33010 63438 858 102 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-014 32875 63455 869 130 215 -50 - 10.00 10.00 2.65 108.00 112.00 4.00 5.05 SMRC16-015 32917 63511 856 120 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-016 32813 63546 861 120 215 -50 18.00 28.00 10.00 2.67 SMRC16-017 32849 63582 853 108 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-018 32733 63589 877 150 215 -50 - 8.00 8.00 1.21 SMRC16-019 32663 63672 877 120 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-020 32774 63637 864 150 215 -50 42.00 50.00 8.00 2.26 84.00 92.00 8.00 1.63 SMRC16-021 32703 63726 862 120 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-022 32591 63729 863 132 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-023 32642 63779 850 130 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-024 32532 63827 862 120 215 -49 No significant results SMRC16-025 32579 63890 847 120 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-026 32479 63929 830 120 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-027 32523 63968 825 120 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-028 32472 64081 783 130 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-029 32456 64028 800 132 215 -50 30.00 34.00 4.00 2.69 SMRC16-030 32439 64192 747 130 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-031 32387 64148 756 130 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-032 31976 65125 566 120 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-033 31961 65069 568 120 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-034 31888 64998 595 130 215 -50 2.00 6.00 4.00 0.61 SMRC16-035 31852 64929 619 130 215 -50 No significant results SMRC16-036 32056 64702 674 150 215 -50 - 8.00 8.00 0.95 SMRC16-037 31908 64671 673 114 215 -50 108.00 112.00 4.00 1.02

Notes:

1. Drill hole intercepts are calculated using a 0.50 g/t Au assay cut-off and 4m minimum length

2. Assays are reported uncut

3. True widths are unknown at this stage

SOURCE IAMGOLD Corporation

For further information: Bob Tait, VP Investor Relations, IAMGOLD Corporation, Tel: (416) 360-4743 Mobile: (647) 403-5520; Laura Young, Director, Investor Relations, IAMGOLD Corporation, Tel: (416) 933-4952 Mobile: (416) 670-3815; Shae Frosst, Investor Relations Associate, IAMGOLD Corporation, Tel: (416) 933-4738 Mobile: (647) 967-9942, Toll-free: 1-888-464-9999 [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.iamgold.com


TORONTO, Feb. 14, 2017 /CNW/ - This Valentine's Day, students, staff and faculty will be joining forces to call on the Ontario government and local campus administrations to show workers some love. The events are part of a provincial outreach blitz taking place on more than 10 post-secondary campuses across Ontario.

"Whether it's students working in low-wage, precarious employment, contract faculty or food services workers standing up for decent wages and working conditions, we all have a stake in changing the laws that protect workers," says Alia Karim, a Fight for $15 and Fairness campaigner at York University. "All workers deserve at least $15 an hour, paid sick days, fair scheduling, respect at work and so much more."

Gayle McFadden, Ontario National Executive Representative for the Canadian Federation of Students says: "Too many students are forced to work part-time in low wage jobs with few benefits while continuing to study full-time. Wages are simply too low for students to earn enough money to offset rising tuition fees. We need this provincial government to improve wages and working conditions in 2017  students don't have time to wait until after the next election for decent work and wages."

"We should expect our public institutions to be leaders in providing decent work," says Janice Folk-Dawson, a maintenance worker at the University of Guelph and chairperson of CUPE Ontario's University Workers' Coordinating Committee. "Unfortunately, by contracting out decent, unionized jobs to third party service providers who pay substandard wages, campus administrations are quite consciously creating more precarious employment. Cleaners and food services workers are particularly vulnerable to this kind of cheap labour strategy."

"Some administrations are paying so little to these third party service providers that the contracted companies cannot pay decent wages even if they wanted to," says Mina Rajabi, president of the York University Graduate Students' Association, who has been supporting campus food service workers (members of Unite Here Local 75) who are bargaining with Aramark for decent wages and working conditions. "These food service workers, many of whom are women, workers of colour or newcomers, earn on average less than $12.50 per hour. It's scandalous. And it explains why so many are joining forces to demand the York administration intervene to ensure these workers have decent wages."

Meanwhile, contract faculty continue to face job insecurity, inadequate wages and all too often lack access to benefits. "Working contract to contract, and being paid less than your colleagues for the same work, is inequitable and it can be demoralizing," says Fran Cachon, a contract faculty member at the University of Windsor and chair of OCUFA's (Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations) Contract Faculty and Faculty Complement Committee. "The working conditions of professors are the learning conditions for students. When we invest in workplace fairness, we invest in high-quality university education."

For more information contact the following:

KINGSTON

Queen's University

10:00 am - 12:00 pm, Mackintosh-Corey Hall, 68 University Avenue

For media inquiries, contact Lesley Jamieson, cell: 613-292-6484

OTTAWA

Carleton University

10:00 am - 12:00 pm, 1125 Colonel By Drive (2nd floor of the Loeb Building)

For media inquiries, contact Sam Jraiw, cell: 613-700-6987



WATERLOO

Wilfrid Laurier University

10:00 am - 1:00 pm, 75 University Avenue West (concourse)

For media inquiries, contact Kimberly Ellis-Hale, cell: 519-574-0402

NORTH BAY

Nipissing University

10:00 am - 3:00 pm, 100 College Drive (outside the campus shop)

For media inquiries, contact Sam DeFranco, cell: 647-926-7473

BRANTFORD

Wilfrid Laurier University

10:00 am - 5:00 pm, RCW Lobby, 73 George Street

For media inquiries, contact Edward Sauve, cell: 519-992-3481



ST. CATHARINES

Brock University

10:00 am- 4:00 pm, Mackenzie-Chown A.

For media inquiries, contact Simon Black, cell: 416-894-1662

HAMILTON

McMaster University

10:30 am - 4:00 pm, Mills Library Lobby, 1280 Main Street West

For media inquiries, contact Melissa Anne Cameron, cell: 705-716-3376



TORONTO

York University

11:00 am - 1:00 pm, Central Square

For media inquiries, contact David Bush, cell: 647-571-4172



University of Toronto

11:00 am - 2:00 pm, Faculty of Arts & Sciences, 100 St George Street

For media inquiries, contact Jared Ong, cell: 647-273-5285



Ryerson University

12:00 pm - 3:00 pm, Bridge between POD and Library Building

For media inquiries, contact Chrissy Lynn Trudel, 705-988-3180

SOURCE FIGHT FOR $15 & FAIRNESS
VAL-D'OR, QC, Feb. 13, 2017 /CNW/ - Orbit Garant Drilling Inc. (TSX: OGD) ("Orbit Garant" or the "Company") today announced its financial results for the three and six-month periods ended December 31, 2016. All dollar amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated. Percentage calculations are based on numbers in the financial statements and may not correspond to rounded figures presented in this news release.

Summary

($ amounts in millions,

except per share amounts) Three months

ended

Dec. 31, 2016 Three months

ended

Dec. 31, 2015 Six months

ended

Dec. 31, 2016 Six months

ended

Dec. 31, 2015 Revenue $27.4 $21.7 $57.9 $46.0 Gross Profit (loss) $1.5 $1.3 $4.4 $4.6 Gross Margin (%) 5.5 5.7 7.6 10.0 Adjusted Gross Margin (%) 13.6 15.5 15.8 19.0 EBITDA2 $0.0 $0.3 $2.4 $2.9 Net earnings (loss) $(1.9) $(1.8) $(2.1) $(2.0) Net earnings (loss) per share - Basic and diluted $(0.05) $(0.05) $(0.06) $(0.06) Total metres drilled 285,583 244,664 603,965 504,126

 In accordance with IFRS, reported gross profit and margin include certain depreciation expenses. For comparative purposes, adjusted gross margin is also shown excluding these depreciation expenses.

2 EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.

"Our continued growth in revenue and metres drilled reflects the growing demand we are experiencing for our drilling services both in Canada and internationally, particularly in Chile. Our margins and profitability continue to reflect lower pricing on existing contracts in Canada and higher mobilization and start-up costs as we ramp up our operations to meet increased demand. With drill utilization rates now improving, we expect to see a positive impact from pricing improvements on newer contracts in the second half of fiscal 2017," said Eric Alexandre, President and CEO of Orbit Garant.

"We are encouraged by the recent positive signs in the mining industry. Gold and base metals prices are up from a year ago and a greater number of mining companies, including junior exploration and intermediate companies, were able to raise capital in 2016, positioning them to increase their exploration and development programs in 2017," continued Mr. Alexandre. "Looking ahead, we believe that these developments could continue to have a positive impact on our operations in Canada and abroad. With our sound balance sheet, expanded international market presence, our focus on technological innovation and a comprehensive service offering, we believe we are well positioned to capitalize on industry growth opportunities."

Second Quarter Results

For the three months ended December 31, 2016 ("Q2 FY2017") revenue totaled $27.4 million, an increase of 26.3% from the three-month period ended December 31, 2015 ("Q2 FY2016"). Drilling Canada revenue was $20.0 million, down slightly from $20.2 million in Q2 FY2016, as the increase in metres drilled in the quarter was offset by lower pricing on existing contracts in Canada. International revenue was $7.4 million, up from $1.5 million in Q2 FY2016, resulting from continued revenue growth in Chile due to the Company's acquisition of Chile-based Captagua Ingenieria S.A. ("OG Chile") late in the second quarter last year, and to a lesser extent, new project revenues in Ghana and Kazakhstan.

Orbit Garant's fleet drilled a total of 285,583 metres in Q2 FY2017, a 16.7% increase from Q2 FY2016. Consolidated average revenue per metre drilled was $95.81, up from $84.70 in Q2 FY2016. The increase in consolidated average revenue per metre drilled is attributable to an increase in international drilling activity, including a high proportion of higher margin specialized drilling activity in Chile.

Gross profit for Q2 FY2017 increased to $1.5 million, from $1.3 million in Q2 FY2016. Adjusted gross margin, excluding depreciation expenses of $2.2 million, was 13.6% in Q2 FY2017, compared to 15.5% in Q2 FY2016. The decrease in adjusted gross margin was primarily attributable to lower pricing on existing contracts in Canada, and higher project mobilization and start-up costs.

General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $4.0 million (14.5% of revenue) in Q2 FY2017, compared to $3.5 million (16.2% of revenue) in Q2 FY2016. Increased G&A expenses are primarily attributable to the expansion of Chilean operations and other international operations. Decreased G&A expenses as a percentage of revenue reflect the Company's financial discipline in growing its business.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA")1 was nominal in Q2 FY2017, compared to $0.3 million in Q2 FY2016.

The Company's net loss for Q2 FY2017 was $1.9 million, or $0.05 per share, compared to a net loss of $1.8 million, or $0.05 per share, in Q2 FY2016.

During Q2 FY2017, the Company generated $2.9 million from financing activities, compared to $2.0 million in Q2 FY2016. The Company repaid a net amount of $0.4 million on its secured, three-year revolving credit facility (the "Credit Facility") with National Bank of Canada Inc. (the "Lender") as at December 31, 2016, compared to a draw of $2.0 million in Q2 FY2016. As at December 31, 2016, the Company had $8.7 million drawn under the Credit Facility, compared to $7.4 million as at June 30, 2016, with the full amount re-classified from long-term debt to current debt, as the Credit Facility matures on December 19, 2017. Accordingly, working capital declined to $36.4 million from $42.9 million as at June 30, 2016. The Company is currently in discussions with the Lender to renew and extend the Credit Facility, at which point the debt would again be classified as long-term. In December 2016, the Company entered into a credit facility with Export Development Canada in the amount of $2.5 million. The purpose of the loan was to assist in financing capital expenditure requirements for the Company's international operations. As at December 31, 2016, there were 35,101,419 common shares of Orbit Garant issued and outstanding.

Orbit Garant's unaudited consolidated financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for the three and six-month periods ended December 31, 2016 are available via the Company's website at www.orbitgarant.com or SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Conference call

Eric Alexandre, President and CEO, and Alain Laplante, Vice President and CFO, will host a conference call for analysts and investors on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The dial-in numbers for the conference call are 647-427-7450 or 1-888-231-8191. A live webcast of the call will be available on Orbit Garant's website at: http://www.orbitgarant.com/en/sites/fog/investors.aspx. The webcast will be archived following conclusion of the call.

To access a replay of the conference call dial 416-849-0833 or 1-855-859-2056, passcode: 62198808. The replay will be available until February 21, 2017.

About Orbit Garant

Headquartered in Val-d'Or, Quebec, Orbit Garant is one of the largest Canadian-based mineral drilling companies, providing both underground and surface drilling services in Canada and internationally through its 221 drill rigs and more than 900 employees. Orbit Garant provides services to major, intermediate and junior mining companies, through each stage of mining exploration, development and production. The Company also provides geotechnical drilling services to mining or mineral exploration companies, engineering and environmental consultant firms, and government agencies. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.orbitgarant.com.

(1) Management believes that EBITDA is a useful supplemental measure of operating performance before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. However, EBITDA is not a recognized earnings measure under IFRS and does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. Investors are cautioned that EBITDA should not be construed as an alternative to net income or loss (which is determined in accordance with IFRS) as an indicator of the performance of the Company or as a measure of liquidity and cash flows. The Company's method of calculating EBITDA may differ materially from the methods used by other public companies and, accordingly, may not be comparable to similarly named measures used by other public companies.

Forward-looking information

This news release may contain forward-looking statements (within the meaning of applicable securities laws) relating to business of Orbit Garant Drilling Inc. (the "Company") and the environment in which it operates. Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "plan", "will", "may" and other similar expressions. These statements are based on the Company's expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. They are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict. These risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company's regulatory filings available at www.sedar.com. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Readers, therefore, should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, a forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any such statement or to reflect new information or the occurrence of future events or circumstances.

SOURCE Orbit Garant Drilling Inc.

For further information: Alain Laplante, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, (819) 824-2707 ext. 122; Bruce Wigle, Investor Relations, (647) 496-7856
LONDON, ON, Feb. 13, 2017 /CNW/ - The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, will present Veterans at London's Parkwood Institute with hand-crafted valentines bearing messages of thanks and admiration. The unique and special cards were created by students, organizations and individuals from across Canada as part of the Valentines for Vets program.

The Minister will also make an announcement about increasing access to long term care for Veterans.

Location: Parkwood Institute

550 Wellington Road

London, Ontario



Date: Tuesday, February 14, 2017



Time: 10:00 a.m. (EST)

SOURCE Veterans Affairs Canada

For further information: Media inquiries: Media Relations, Veterans Affairs Canada, 613-992-7468, [email protected]; Sarah McMaster, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs, 613-996-4649

Related Links

www.veterans.gc.ca


By Stephen Eisenhammer and Brad Haynes SAO PAULO (Reuters) - On a Thursday night last September, Uber driver Osvaldo Luis Modolo Filho accepted a ride request from a teenage couple on the eastern edge of Sao Paulo, to be paid in cash. A few blocks from their destination, the passengers  who hailed the ride on the Uber app with a false name  drew two blue-handled kitchen knives. They repeatedly stabbed the 52-year-old driver and drove away with his black SUV as he lay bleeding in the road. Two of his fatal wounds were so deep police would first mistake them for bullet holes. Police later found the car, arrested the couple and accused them of murder in the service of car theft. They are awaiting sentencing and lawyers for both have vowed to appeal. Uber said Modolo Filho was its first driver to be murdered in Brazil. He would not be the last. Police have confirmed six murders since his death, with local press reporting more than a dozen. A Reuters analysis of crime data obtained by public information request from Sao Paulos state security secretariat showed a spike in robberies involving Uber drivers since July, when the company started accepting cash payments in the city, raising questions inside the company as to why it did not act faster to address the problem. Traditionally, Uber has charged rides to credit cards registered by users, offering an easy way to verify passengers and track them down if needed. It changed that policy across Brazil last year, allowing customers to pay with cash to turbo-charge growth in a crucial new market. Demand took off, but so did crime. In Sao Paulo, robberies involving Uber drivers rose ten-fold, the data shows. Attacks rose from an average of 13 per month in the first seven months of 2016, reflecting some degree of danger even before the cash option took effect, to 141 per month in the rest of the year, the data shows. [http://tmsnrt.rs/2lFkxZT] Assaults involving regular taxi drivers in the city rose by just a third in the same period, according to crime data obtained by a separate freedom of information request filed with same security officials, as a deep economic downturn lifted all robberies in the city about six percent. The crime data obtained by Reuters covers Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 2016 and shows all incidents of robberies involving taxi and Uber drivers. It contains some margin for error as it potentially includes attacks on passengers. Police told Reuters the number of attacks on Uber drivers could be much higher given it is a new service and many incidents were likely registered in the system without mentioning the app by name. Drivers and police told Reuters the cash policy has provided easy targets for criminals, allowing them to open accounts under fake names, without credit cards to verify, and lure drivers into ambushes. Presented with the findings, Uber declined to give monthly details of ride growth in Sao Paulo but acknowledged it has seen an increase in "safety incidents" without saying by how much. Uber said it was not clear if rising crime was due to the cash policy or the surge in business, which was boosted by the cash option. Uber added its Sao Paulo operations grew by 15 times over the course of 2016. The company said it is now taking steps to make cash rides safer, such as verifying users with a commonly used social security number. Getting cash payments right in Brazil is a crucial test for Uber as it pushes beyond developed markets, seeking faster growth in poorer countries, where credit cards are less common and public safety more precarious. Drivers around the country have staged protests threatening to quit if Uber does not reduce the risk of crime, while taxi drivers and elected officials have pounced on isolated incidents as evidence of a need for more restrictive legislation. So far, Uber's business in Brazil is booming. At least 30 percent of its rides in the country are now paid in cash and the rate is far higher in poor areas where credit cards are less common, according to two company sources. In Sao Paulo, cash accounts for most trips in outer boroughs, and the sources said it helped the city overtake New York and Tokyo in recent months to become Uber's biggest market by rides. But a dozen current and former managers and drivers criticized how Uber introduced cash in Brazil, saying the San Francisco-based tech giant overlooked high levels of violent crime as it rushed to grow in an unfamiliar market. Senior executives now admit publicly that the company was slow to introduce simple fixes once the dangers in Brazil were clear. SLOW TO RESPOND As recently as October, Uber denied there was a problem with cash payments in Brazil. Andrew Macdonald, general manager for the region, said that the company had studied if cash endangered drivers and found it did not. "If they're worried, it's a bit emotional," he said in an interview with Bloomberg at the time. One source involved in the cash roll out at Uber told Reuters the internal study was conducted too soon after cash was introduced, undermining its conclusions. "With the numbers that cash was bringing in, no one wanted to see that there might be a problem," the person said, asking not to be named given the sensitivity of the matter. Macdonald acknowledged to Reuters on Friday his statement was "a mistake" and said Uber had been working on ways to improve safety around cash payments since fall last year. He declined to explain what had changed since the initial internal study. He added the violence "weighs pretty heavily" on him and other senior management, and that the company was rolling out new features to protect drivers. The requirement for new cash users to register with a social security number known as a CPF went live across Brazil on Monday, six days after Reuters sent detailed questions about attacks on drivers and Uber's slow response. Macdonald said he was confident the new feature would help to reduce security issues and he wished the change had come faster. "It would have been ideal for us to have gotten the CPF verification out sooner, and so we absolutely own that," Macdonald said. Macdonald added Uber was also looking at giving drivers the chance to opt out of accepting cash, which the company is piloting in some cities in Brazil and Chile, along with an algorithm blocking new cash users if they show odd behaviour such as cancelling several rides. "This has been a priority for us since the end of last year," Macdonald said, adding it was a concern for Uber globally as it pushes into poorer regions to fuel growth. "It's not easy, because of course you really believe that it's important to serve all neighbourhoods in a city, but not all neighbourhoods are made equal in terms of crime." INDIAN SUCCESS Uber first started accepting cash in India in May 2015. The move was a success and the company decided last year to roll out cash across Asia and Latin America as Uber raced to make the most of a first-mover advantage. Just 20 percent of payments in Brazil are made digitally, compared to nearly half in the United States, creating huge potential for cash services. Uber presents itself to customers as cheaper and safer than traditional taxis because the app tracks a users location in real time, regardless of whether the payment is by credit card. Still, one source, speaking anonymously to avoid retaliation, said he was directly involved in raising concerns to headquarters about the decision to accept cash in Brazil. Before bringing cash payments to Brazil, Macdonald said Uber had already tested them in nearly 100 cities globally without seeing a spike in crime and had no reason to believe Latin America's largest country would be any different. Now, he says Brazil, whose murder rate is nearly 10 times that of India, is "somewhat of a unique challenge. Regular taxi drivers have long had to deal with Brazils unsafe streets, but protect themselves by sticking to safer neighbourhoods and declining rides to dangerous areas. By contrast, the Uber app globally does not inform drivers of the destination of a ride before they accept it and drivers can be banned from the app if they refuse to take passengers where they want to go. That gave little choice to driver Modolo Filho in September, when he saw his teenage passengers wanted a ride to the far side of Heliopolis, a mix of housing projects and bare brick construction that is Brazil's most populous slum. The day after Modolo Filho's death, Uber drivers took to the streets of Sao Paulo to protest his murder and the cash policy they said cost him his life, calling publicly for the app to verify users by CPF, as retailers and restaurants do routinely in Brazil. On Monday, five months later, Uber introduced the feature. (Reporting by Stephen Eisenhammer and Brad Haynes; Additional reporting by Heather Somerville in San Francisco; editing by Dan Flynn and Edward Tobin)
25 year term

Rehova is a high grade past producing copper mine

approximately 84% of pre-mining historic mineralization is reported to be intact

exploration upside with deposits largely untested as to gold, silver, zinc content

TXX: TSX-V

VANCOUVER, Feb. 14, 2017 /CNW/ - Tirex Resources Ltd. ("Tirex") is pleased to report that the mining license application for the Rehova mining property ("Rehova") in Albania had been approved by the Ministry of Energy and Industry. The mining license is valid for 25 years and can be extended for another 10 years.

Tirex acquired the rights to Rehova after it won the bidding process held by the government of Albania in 2015. The processing of the mining license application stalled when a private company questioned the legality of the government's action to nullify the exploration license it had on Rehova for failure on its part to meet work the obligations on the property several years prior to the bidding of Rehova in 2015.

This issue has now been settled by the Albanian courts which led to the recent approval of the license.

Spiro Kletas, Tirex Chief Executive Officer, states, "After a very long and difficult time period for Tirex, today represents the start of a new era for the company. With the news on licensing at Rehova and a healthy macro environment for copper, there is much to look forward to for Tirex and our shareholders."

Rehova is located 114 kms straight distance southeast of Tirana or 200 kms by road and is on the electrical power grid. The mining property contains four historical VMS deposits. These are surrounded by exploration areas of interest that have not yet been systematically tested using modern exploration techniques and technology. The four known deposits called Bregu i Geshtenjes ("B&G"), Rehova-Kanisqel, Ciflig and Dushku i Trashe comprise the Rehova Copper Mine, a historically producing mining operation which was formerly operated by the Albanian state copper enterprise. These deposits are relatively close to each other (200m-500m apart) which made ore delivery to a single processing facility possible.

Prior to the start of production in 1980 the Albanian Geological Survey ("AGS") had defined combined mineralization in the four deposits of 3.43 million tons grading 2.17% copper* and by the time operations stopped in 1990 had 2.87 million tons grading 2.14% copper* remaining. The majority of the remaining mineralization consisting of 2.09 million tons grading 2.15% copper* were from B&G, which was not mined and has exploration potential beyond the historic drilling. Underground development workings had been started at B&G as the deposit was being prepared for mining when the state run mining enterprise shut down its mining operations country-wide at the time of the collapse of communism.

Ciflig and Dushku i Trashe were mined by underground method while Rehova-Kanisqel was mined by open pit and to a limited extent by underground. The materials mined were sent to a processing plant nearby with an annual capacity of 60,000 tons. It should be noted that the largest deposit, B&G has not been mined.

Tirex will be evaluating underground development and mining opportunities at the B&G, Ciflig and Dushku i Trashe deposits while evaluating open pit mining at the near surface Rehova-Kanisqel deposit. On a conceptual basis for potential future mine planning, the possibility to open pit mine at Rehova-Kanisqel may provide a targeted accelerated path to production while the larger deposit, B&G, is being developed.

*The tonnage and grade estimates stated above are historic in nature and were obtained from information provided by the Albanian government. The AGS historical calculations classify the estimates in a combination of C1 & C2 categories, being based on the Russian deposit reporting system and are roughly equivalent to the NI 43-101 inferred and indicated categories. These historical estimates are not compliant with NI 43-101 and should not be relied upon. No qualified person has done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources; and Tirex is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources. Tirex is including the historical estimates for information purposes only, and offers no assurances as to the reliability of the estimates. Tirex will need to undertake a comprehensive review of available data, including planned drilling by Tirex to verify the historic estimates and classify them as current resources.

Tirex also plans to study the economics of developing the Rehova property as a stand-alone mining and processing operation. Most historic facilities such as the processing plant equipment and mining equipment have been removed from the site but in addition to the underground development that exists, infrastructure such as good roads, mill foundations, tailings area and electrical power lines are still in place.

Tirex President, Fred Tejada, P.Geo, states "The approval of the license will finally allow Tirex to move ahead with its plans on Rehova which has been on hold while the court case was being heard. With this license we can begin work on Rehova and update our plans on our Mirdita assets in northern Albania which has also been put on hold as we wait for the resolution on Rehova."

Fred Tejada, P.Geo., a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.

On Behalf of Tirex Resources Ltd.

Spiro Kletas

CEO and Director

Forward-Looking Statements. This Tirex News Release may contain certain "forward-looking" statements and information relating to Tirex. Such statements include but are not limited to statements about the Award, the production arrangements and the timing of the mine development, mill construction and ore production. Often forward-looking statements or information include words such as "plans", expects", "intends", "anticipates", "estimates" "forecasts", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or will be taken occur or be achieved. Although forward-looking statements and information contained in this release are based on the beliefs of Tirex management, which we consider to be reasonable, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Tirex management, there is no assurance that the forward-looking statement or information will prove to be accurate. The assumptions made include assumptions about Tirex's ability to move forward with the licensing. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this release are subject to current risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitations, obtaining all necessary approvals, feasibility of mine and plant development, exploration and development risks, expenditure and financing requirements, title matters, operating hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices, and one-time events as well as risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in our quarterly and annual and interim management's discussion and analysis. Should any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or change, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and forward-looking statements and information may vary materially from those described herein. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information contained in this release. We undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. All resource estimates quoted in this news release are historical, uncategorized and not NI 43-101 compliant and should not be relied upon. Tirex has not verified these historical resources and has not reviewed the assumptions, parameters and methods used to prepare the historical resource estimate. No Qualified Person has done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current and Tirex is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources or reserves but considers them as historically relevant and material information. A feasibility study has not been completed and there is no certainty the proposed operation will be economically viable or will commence.

"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 news release."

SOURCE Tirex Resources Ltd.

For further information: 488-1090 West Georgia St., Tel: 604-687-7160, Vancouver B.C., Canada V6E3V7, www.tirexresources.com, [email protected]
The Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed March 6 for further hearing in a suit filed by former first lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan, to de...

The Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed March 6 for further hearing in a suit filed by former first lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan, to de-freeze her $15.5 million domiciled with Skye Bank. The fundamental rights enforcement suit was filed against the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) by Mrs. Jonathan. The money was frozen by the bank on the directive of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The respondents in the suite are the EFCC, Skye Bank, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Warampo-Owei Dudafa and four companies.The companies are Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd., Transocean Property and Investment Company Ltd., and Globus Integrated Service Ltd. At the resumed hearing, counsel representing the companies, Mr Jeff Kadiri, told the court that he had just been briefed and would need time to file the necessary processes. In a response, counsel to Patience, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), informed the court that he had served his processes on all parties in the matter and was prepared to proceed with the case. He was, however, not opposed to Kadiris request for adjournment. In the absence of opposition by lawyers to the other respondents, the judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, adjourned further hearing in the matter to March 6.The four companies which the EFCC claimed were used by Dudafa to launder the $15.5 million had pleaded guilty in a criminal case before Justice Babs Kuewumi of the same court. The sum involved in the criminal case was the same money the former first lady had claimed belonged to her as the sole signatory to the accounts of the companies. She, however, denied ownership of the companies. Patience in her suit was urging the court to issue an order discharging the freezing order. She equally sought for an order restraining the EFCC and its agent from further placing a freezing order on the said accounts.In an affidavit deposed to by a lawyer, Sammie Somiari, it was averred that on March 22, 2010, Mrs Jonathan had opened five different accounts with the Skye Bank, with the aid of two officials of the bank, Damola Bolodeoku and Dipo Oshodi. It was further averred that the account mandate forms were duly completed and signed by her. According to the deponent, Patience subsequently discovered that apart from one of the accounts that bore her name, the other four accounts were opened in the name of four companies belonging to Dudafa.He also averred that she also observed that the ATM cards of the said accounts were issued in the names of the companies, adding that she complained to Dudafa who promised to effect the necessary changes. He said Dipo Oshodi also promised to effect the necessary changes. Somiari averred further that Patience was neither a director, shareholder nor a participant in these companies, but the funds in the said accounts were solely owned and operated by her. According to the deponent, the Skye Bank official, (Oshodi), did not carry out the instructions of the plaintiff to change the name of the said accounts to her name, despite repeated request. He averred that notwithstanding the refusal of the bank to effect the necessary changes, she had been using the said ATM cards without any interference.The deponent averred that sometimes in July 2016, Jonathan discovered that the ATM cards were not functioning, and immediately contacted the bank which informed her that a No debit/freezing order had been placed on the accounts. He averred that on further inquiry, the bank informed her that the accounts were frozen on the directives of the EFCC as a result of an ongoing investigation in relation to Dudafa. Patience contended that she was neither arrested nor invited by EFCC prior to the freezing order placed on the accounts and as such the action was unlawful and illegal. She then sought the courts order directing the unfreezing of her accounts forthwith.Patience also sought an order restraining the EFCC from taking further steps in relation to the said account pending the determination of the suit.
Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari will on February 28 in Abuja host a meeting of first ladies of West African nations.

Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari will on February 28 in Abuja host a meeting of first ladies of West African nations.This was contained in a statement issued by the Director of Information in the Office of the Wife of the President, Suleiman Haruna, on Monday.Haruna said the meeting would adopt a strategy for providing adequate social and economic support to refugee women and children in the Lake Chad Basin.He said it was disclosed yesterday at the technical session convened to marshal the strategy in Sokoto that the meeting would attract the first ladies of Niger, Cameroon, Chad, Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali as well as development, voluntary and civil society organisations.He listed areas of interest as including establishment of a coordinating mechanism in the region, distribution of relief materials, provision of psycho-social support to the victims as well as empowerment of women and girls.Haruna added that the meeting would also focus on the issue of advocacy to expose the full magnitude of the humanitarian crisis in the region.
A blizzard of reports over the weekend about borderline panic among career national security officials over the Trump administrations haphazard approach to dealing with intelligence reports and the Presidents seemingly off-the-cuff approach to foreign policy left the impression of a White House practically adrift in the currents of world affairs.

The position of President Trumps national security adviser, Michael Flynn, continues to be in doubt after revelations that he appears to have misled other members of the administration, chief among them vice president Mike Pence, about his discussions with Russian officials prior to the inauguration. Flynn, according to intelligence officials who spoke to the Washington Post, explicitly discussed the possibility of lifting sanctions imposed on Russia by the Obama administration, a grave breach of protocol and possibly a violation of federal law.

Related: Another Strike Against National Security Adviser Michael Flynn

Stephen Miller, the senior White House official dispatched to the Sunday talk shows, refused to discuss Flynn at all beyond praising his former service as an Army General. He left the impression that Flynns position in the White House is tenuous at best.

Uncertainty at the top has career officials on the National Security Council in a state of constant worry, The New York Times reported on Sunday, and the overtly political behavior of some new Trump-appointed staff has further shaken the traditionally nonpartisan body. Flynns deputy, former Fox News pundit K.T. McFarland, who once served as an NSC staffer, has reportedly used Trumps Make America Great Again slogan in NSC meetings, and appointees are said to be carrying mugs with that logo into meetings with foreign officials.

Trump himself continued to raise concerns about how seriously he takes national security issues over the weekend. On Saturday, North Korea took the provocative step of launching a ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan. The president, who was dining with the Japanese Prime Minister at his private club Mar-a-Lago when news of the launch broke, took a phone call from his national security staff in a crowded dining room while club members snapped cellphone pictures.

Story continues

In an interview with Politico, Sen. Bob Corker, the Tennessee Republican who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, described the new administration as a wrecking ball that is determined to just destroy everything in its approach to foreign policy.

Related: Trumps Tough Stance on Iran: Nothing to Gain, a Lot to Lose

Corker revealed that when he was being interviewed by Trump and White House Strategist Steve Bannon as a potential Secretary of State nominee, he found himself disagreeing with the incoming administration on virtually everything: in almost every case but maybe one.

Moving forward, he said, The challenge is going to be so you want to do deals, deals, deals. Or you want to disrupt this and this and this. Youve got to decide toward what end.

The most disturbing story to emerge over the weekend was also the least verifiable. In his column at the Observer, John Schindler, a former National Security Agency employee who now works as a consultant, claimed that high-ranking officials in the intelligence community have informed him that they are now withholding intelligence from the Trump administration out of concern that the administration cannot be trusted to safeguard it.

A senior National Security Agency official explained that NSA was systematically holding back some of the good stuff from the White House, in an unprecedented move. For decades, NSA has prepared special reports for the presidents eyes only, containing enormously sensitive intelligence. In the last three weeks, however, NSA has ceased doing this, fearing Trump and his staff cannot keep their best SIGINT secrets.

Related: Looks Like Mexico Will Get a Much Bigger-than-Expected Bill for Trumps Wall

Another official, Schindler said, told him that the Intelligence Community now believes that Russia has penetrated the White House.

Whats going on was explained lucidly by a senior Pentagon intelligence official, who stated that since January 20, weve assumed that the Kremlin has ears inside the SITROOM, meaning the White House Situation Room, the 5,500 square-foot conference room in the West Wing where the president and his top staffers get intelligence briefings. Theres not much the Russians dont know at this point, the official added in wry frustration.

Schindlers sources are not named, and there is no evidence for the claim that sensitive information is being withheld from the White House beyond their anonymous statements to him.

But given the antagonistic relationship the president has created between himself and the Intelligence Community, Schindlers reporting is at least plausible, which by itself should be enough to scare anybody.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
Amina Mohammed, outgoing minister of environment, says the development of Nigeria and Africa, will be her priority when she assumes office...

Amina Mohammed, outgoing minister of environment, says the development of Nigeria and Africa, will be her priority when she assumes office as deputy secretary-general of the United Nations (UN).Antonio Guterres, UN secretary-general, appointed Mohammed in December.Speaking at a dinner which the ministry of foreign affairs organised in her honour, Mohammed pledged not to let her nation down.She said her appointment was a great honour and a huge task, adding that her experience in the national assembly  referring to her screening  has prepared her for the global task.The minister, who said she had spent four years in the UN, expressed satisfaction with the opportunity given to shape lives around the globe.She added that Guterres appointed her because of her moral imperative to encourage others.Thanking President Muhammadu Buhari for giving her the opportunity to serve, Mohammed said being a made in Nigeria product, bred in Nigeria, and panel beaten in Nigeria had prepared her for the UN job.Geoffrey Onyeama, foreign affairs minister, described Mohammed as a source of pride and respect for the nation.He said her appointment had brought blessing to Nigeria.We are confident that her appointment was a win-win to Nigeria and the UN, he said.To have her in the UN will make the implementation of the Sustainable l Development Goals (SGDs) achievable for Nigeria and the world.Nasir el-Rufai, Kaduna state governor, who spoke on behalf of the 36 governors, described Mohammeds elevation to the covetous position in the UN, was a master stroke by the world body.Mohammeds appointment is something that we are very proud of and thank Mr President for giving her the opportunity to serve, he said.The minister has always distinguished herself; this is just the beginning; perhaps she may be the next African UN gecretary-general.
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State is believed to be closest of Nigerian governors to President Mohammadu Buhari.





Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State is believed to be closest of Nigerian governors to President Mohammadu Buhari. On Monday, he admitted he visited President Muhammadu Buhari in the United Kingdom, UK, but, said he wont disclose any details about the Presidents health.Addressing journalists during an event at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, the state capital, the governor maintained that the President is well and okay.Amosun said: Yes it is true I visited our president in London and he is doing fine. If you ask me pointedly whether I saw him or not, yes I did and that is the only thing that I can say. And of course you can see he is very well, he is okay. So I dont know what else you want me to say.On the actual state of the Presidents health when he visited, Amosun declined comment, saying that is the work of the Presidents spokesperson.I am not one of the spokespersons of Mr. President; so it will be out of place for me to talk on that. But then, they are doing their job and youve listened to all that they have said, Amosun said.
Despite recording the biggest increase in output among its peers in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Nigeria has again...

Despite recording the biggest increase in output among its peers in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Nigeria has again lost its Africas top oil producer status to Angola after it regained it in November last year.For nine months in 2016, Nigeria lagged behind its southern African counterpart in oil production on the back of the resurgence of militant attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta.OPEC, in its Monthly Oil Market Report for February 2017, which was released on Monday, put crude oil production from Nigeria at 1.604 million barrels per day in January, up from 1.37 million bpd in the previous month, based on direct communication.Production from Angola stood at 1.615 million bpd in January, down from the 1.639 million bpd it closed at last year.Nigerias output had increased to 1.782 million bpd in November from 1.39 million bpd, compared to Angolas 1.688 million bpd, OPECs December report showed.OPEC, which uses secondary sources to monitor its oil output, but also publishes a table of figures submitted by its member countries, said the groups total production in January averaged 32.14 million bpd, showing a decrease of 890,000 bpd over the previous month.Crude oil output decreased the most in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, while production in Nigeria, Libya and Iran increased, the 13-member oil cartel said.Nigeria had in March 2016 lost the top spot to Angola when the countrys production dropped to 1.677 million barrels per day, compared to Angolas 1.782 million bpd.According to the report, oil output in Africa is estimated to decline by 20,000 bpd in 2016, remaining unchanged from last months report to average 2.11 million bpd.It said, Most African countries saw an oil production decline or stagnant output year-on-year in 2016 except Congo, which had growth from its new Moho Marine Nord project. In 2017, oil production will continue to grow by 30,000 bpd in Congo as well as in South Africa, Ghana and Chad.Declines are seen coming from Sudan, South Sudan and Equatorial Guinea. For the region, growth is expected at 70,000 bpd, to average 2.18 million bpd.
The Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, said on Monday that at least 54,000 women had become widows due to the activities of the Boko ...

The Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, said on Monday that at least 54,000 women had become widows due to the activities of the Boko Haram sect between 2011 and February 2017.He added that the terrorists destroyed 5,335 classrooms in 541 schools.Shettima said this while delivering a speech at the 2017 Murtala Muhammed Memorial Lecture, an annual event held in commemoration of the third Nigerian head of state who was assassinated on February 13, 1976.While delivering the keynote address titled, Managing the Boko Haram Crisis in Borno State: Experiences and Lessons for a Multi-party, Multi-ethnic and Multi-religious Nigeria, the governor opined that the cure for religious extremism remains quality education.He said, In Borno, there are currently 54,000 widows, adding that the political class needs to step up its humanitarian efforts.The governor added, Virtually all our schools are being rebuilt in Borno. As I said earlier, a total number of 5,335 classrooms in 503 primary schools and 38 high schools and two tertiary institutions were destroyed in the state.Shettima urged the western world to assist Nigeria in the fight against terrorism and the rehabilitation of victims, adding that the Syrian refugee crisis will be nothing compared to Nigerias if the nations crisis is not well handled.He added, Believe me, unless we wear our thinking caps as leaders, the future is very bleak. We either take advantage of the demography and its dividends or reap demographic disaster. As I said in Washington, Syria has a population of less than 30 million people. I think it is in the interest of the Western world to see that Nigeria works. Just two million Syrians knocking on the door of Europe and the Europeans have become agitated. What do you say of about 30 million English-speaking Africans knocking on the door of Europe?And in Nigeria, South is the Atlantic Ocean; up North is the Sahara desert. We can eat up the food reserves in Niger, Mauritania and all the countries in the Sahel within a week. The other side is Togo which is not bigger than Ogun State.Also speaking, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo urged political and religious leaders not to encourage violence but peace.Osinbajo noted that great leaders like the late Nelson Mandela of South Africa; Martin Luther King junior in the United States are remembered for promoting peace even in the face of persecution.Acknowledging the guests for their solidarity to one of Nigerias heroes past, the Chief Executive Officer of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation and daughter of the late head of state, Aisha Oyebode, praised the President Muhammadu Buhari administration for its achievements in the fight against terrorism.She added, For those that knew my father intimately while he was alive, you would agree that beyond the mien of the no-nonsense general, he was generous and kind-hearted. He was more at home in the company of the masses, and understood the pains and suffering of the downtrodden, and used all the power and resources he had to fight for the weak and the oppressed within and outside Nigeria. General Murtala Muhammed truly had empathy, which is why 41 years on, his sacrifice and legacy as a man of the people, is still very worthy of commemoration.We, at the MMF, believe that our theme for this year  Humanitarian Crisis and Response in a Plural State: What Role for Leadership?  is a fitting tribute to General Muhammeds legacy.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has approved 20 to 50 per cent fare increase for BRT, LAGBUS and other franchise buses, with ef...

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has approved 20 to 50 per cent fare increase for BRT, LAGBUS and other franchise buses, with effect from March 1, 2017.At a news conference on Monday at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, Abiodun Dabiri, said the increase was necessitated by the economic downturn in the country which had affected the transport sector drastically.He said, As a result of the economic downturn, public transport has been severely impacted as all related costs have escalated beyond any financial projection.Although the government is focused on a strategic reform of the public transport operations to create a world-class public transport that is modern, cost-effective and safe, the government has to consider the request of the operators for an upward review of bus fares due to the current prices for some of these schemes, which have stayed constant for more than six years.The current financial crunch has seen average cost of operations increase to about 110 per cent. With the cost of fuelling going up by 71 per cent, oil prices up by 64 per cent, tyre by 90 per cent, continued operations are threatened.In order to avert a collapse of the scheme, which currently serves over 500,000 commuters daily, the Lagos State Government has to consider the request of the operators for an upward review of bus fares. Consequently, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has approved a fare increase for the operators effective from Wednesday, March 1, 2017. The average increase approved ranges from 20 per cent to 50 per cent on different routes.Dabiri explained that in approving the fare increase, government weighed the justification of the operators for the increase vis-a-vis the effect on the commuters.He noted that the government recognised the financial difficulties currently endured by Lagosians and assured public transport users of governments commitment to protecting them from arbitrary increase.The fare increase differs in various routes. For instance, a ride on BRT from Ikorodu to CMS, which cost N195 is now N300, while a trip from Ikorodu to Mile 12, which used to cost N75 has moved to N100.Transport from Ikotun to Iyana Ipaja, which cost N50, has moved up to N100 while Ikotun to Ikeja has moved up from N100 to N200. Igando to Maryland is now N150 from the former N100, while the fare from Dopemu to Ikeja/Maryland has moved up from N150 to N200, among others.
Buharis media adviser, Femi Adesina disclosed on Monday night during a live political programme on Channels TV that Mr president may spe...

Buharis media adviser, Femi Adesina disclosed on Monday night during a live political programme on Channels TV that Mr president may speak to Nigerians soon by phone.Adesina said: Yes, he (Buhari) said maybe, he will speak to Nigerians by phone, and I also say maybe.That issue of his coming back is already in the public domain in the letter that was transmitted to the National Assembly. He said as soon as he has an all-clear on his health, hell be back. I think that issue has been settledI communicate what has been told to me. Unless I receive a definite communication that says the president will be back on this date. Then, I can say. Otherwise, Ill just be making a guess, if I say anything that has not been said to me. Dont forget that Im a spokesman. I speak for somebody. I communicate what has been transmitted to me.Remember Trump said America will be number one, America will be number two, and America will be number three. So anything that is in the interest of American that the previous government did. Im sure this Trump administration will continue. We know that governance is a continuum. I dont think one government will come in and obliterate all the positive things that have been done by the previous administration as long as it is positive; and, in the interest of the country.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, Youths Renaissance has advised US President, Donald Trump to ignore accusations that President Muhamma...

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Youths Renaissance has advised US President, Donald Trump to ignore accusations that President Muhammadu Buhari is a killer of Christians.A statement by Collins Edwin, APC Youths Renaissance criticised the reaction of former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, to the phone conversation between Buhari and Trump.APC said his allegation that President Buhari is a killer of Christians and supporter of herdsmen which he calledFulani-Terrorists was unfortunate.We are using this medium to tell President Trump and the world that President Buhari is neither a killer of Christians nor supporter of herdsmen, but a lover of Christians and Muslims alike, the statement reads.He is as defender of all Nigerians and their territory as seen in the decimation of Boko Haram terrorists and the rescuing of 24 Chibok girls which President Trump testified during their phone conversation.It is however incongruous that while Nigerians are looking up to new level of bilateral relationships between Nigeria and the United States under President Trump, inglorious elements like Fani-Kayode are busy fanning their familiar embers of discord and acrimony.If we may ask, when did Fani-Kayode started recognising his Christian beliefs and has suddenly become a midnight Christian activist when hisalleged financial scams on whose account he is being tried in our courts have denied millions of Christians their daily bread and access to better life?To Fani-Kayode and other leeches who allegedly plundered our patrimonial wealth but are busy trying to create escape routes by whipping up religious and ethnic sentiments so that the country would be enmeshed in crisis, we say to them sorry, because Nigerians cannot be hoodwinked.
The National Union of Road Transport Workers, Lagos Chapter, on Tuesday advised its members not to panic over the proposed ban on operatio...

The National Union of Road Transport Workers, Lagos Chapter, on Tuesday advised its members not to panic over the proposed ban on operations of yellow commercial buses.The state Chairman of the union, Mr. Tajudeen Agbede, on Tuesday said that the union was discussing the proposed ban with the government, adding that the union was ready to cooperate with the state government on its mega city project.Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had on February 6 announced a plan to stop operations of yellow commercial buses popularly known as danfo for a more efficient, well-structured and world-class mass transport system.Ambode said that the well-structured transport system would ease movement within the state and make Lagos cleaner without burdening the people in terms of taxes.He said, We are still discussing with the government on the proposed ban on yellow buses, but we believe it is going to yield a positive result.The union is ready to comply with the conditions of making the state a mega city.We are ready to change the colour of our buses and also comply with the directive to follow the service lanes.According to him, the union members are also ready to refurbish their vehicles to attain mega city standards.
Some hoodlums, led by an ex-militant leader, Tuesday, harassed and wounded protesters from different parts of Niger Delta region, who stor...

Some hoodlums, led by an ex-militant leader, Tuesday, harassed and wounded protesters from different parts of Niger Delta region, who stormed Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, to protest the controversial allocation by the state government of 1,200 hectares of land to Fulani herdsmen for cattle grazing.Though the state governor, Hon Seriake Dickson, had defended the allocation, Niger Delta campaigner, Ms AnnKio Briggs, who got to Tombia Junction, the take-off point of the protest in Yenagoa before 9.00 am, was addressing the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in the area and his men on the purpose of the protest, when thugs, who seemed to have official backing, pounced on her and others.National presidents of Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, IPDI, National Security Watch Organization of Nigeria, NSWON, Messrs. Austin Ozobo and Dickson Bekederemo, Comrade Harrison Kpikpi, Ojugo Christy, Preye Dressman and other leaders, who were at the venue, were also assaulted by the thugs in the presence of security agents.It was learned that policemen and other security agencies, which were also there to abort the protest, fired teargas and shot indiscriminately into the air, forcing the protesters, who were not prepared to confront security agents, to vote with their legs.Briggs, who spoke to Vanguard about one hour, 30 minutes after she was whisked away from the attackers, said: It was quite a violent scene, I was addressing the Divisional Police Officer and some of his men the purpose of our protest, which is strictly on the allocation of 1,200 hectares of land to herdsmen when the thugs, who were lurking around pounced on us.The police know them; they ripped my identity card from my body, forcefully took my phone and manhandled me, they attacked and wounded many of us, the security agents were there watching and did nothing. They only chose to fire teargas and shot indiscriminately into the air, she said.When Vanguard visited the area, battle-ready security operatives, backed by seven patrol vans and a military armoured personnel carrier, were sighted at the Edepie roundabout, also known as Tombia roundabout.An eyewitness said: What happened is a slap on our democracy; people have the right to protest so long as they are peaceful in their conduct. The protesters were peaceful in their conduct and do not deserve what happened. It is a shame that the security men could not stop those hurling dangerous objects on the gathering.The Ijaw People Development Initiative, IPDI, in a statement, by Austion Ozobo, said: It was sad and disgusting when thugs, police, army and Civil Defence Corps manhandled protesters, who assembled at Tombia Junction to express their disapproval over the allocation of 1,200 hectares of land to marauding herdsmen on February 14 in Bayelsa. The thugs assaulted Annkio Briggs, Barr Dickson Bekederemo, Comrade Harison Kpikpi, Ojugo Christy, Preye Dressman and others.This was followed by continued shooting of over 100 gun shots and canisters of teargas by police officers to disrupt and dislodge the protesters. The military stationed two armoured tanks at the Tonbia junction, the police and Civil Defence Corps equally drafted over 20 patrol vans to intimidate and beat up protesters in Bayelsa, as if they are fighting war.We are disappointed at Governor Seriake Dicksons cruel action against fellow Ijaw people. This cannot happen in the north and southwest, Hausa man or Yoruba cannot do this to their people.It is about a peaceful protest and the people do not deserve this kind of unholy treatment, the group said. The group stated: The right to protest is a civil right of Nigeria citizens. Dickson action is in human and repressive. Seeing what herdsmen are up to, no reasonable persons would welcome them to their domain.It is a pity that Dickson is fighting to protect animal rights, instead of human rights. It is a pity that animal life has more value to Dickson than the rights and safety of Bayelsans.
Since the commencement of the Treasury Single Account in September 2015, over 20,000 accounts with Deposit Money Banks belonging to Minist...

Since the commencement of the Treasury Single Account in September 2015, over 20,000 accounts with Deposit Money Banks belonging to Ministries, Departments and Agencies have been closed with a total sum of N5.24tn moved into the TSA.The Accountant General of the Federation, Ali Ahmed Idris, gave the figures on Tuesday in Abuja, while speaking at the opening session of a two day retreat on TSA.The event which was attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal among other top government officials had as its theme, One year anniversary of Treasury Single Account: Benefits, challenges and way forward.The TSA is a platform which was used by the government to unify all its accounts by ensuring that all monies belonging to the federal government are kept with the Central Bank of Nigeria.The initiative which took off fully in September 2015 had been complied with by over 900 agencies of government.Since the commencement of the TSA, there had been series of job losses in banks owing to decline in deposits.But the Accountant-General while speaking at the event described the implementation of the TSA as one of the success stories in the management of public finances.For instance, he explained that through the policy, the government has been able to block leakages and abuse which had characterised the public sector before its commencement in October 2015.Apart from blocking leakages, Idris said the TSA initiative has assisted the government to overcome the burden of indiscriminate borrowings by MDAs thus saving government a lot of bank charges associated with these borrowings.For instance, he noted that prior to the full commencement of the TSA, the government was incurring about N4.7bn monthly on bank charges, adding that this has been eliminated through the TSA initiative.He said, The TSA journey started way back in April 2012. That journey could not see the light of the day as no significant gains were recorded largely due to the lack of political will.However, the issuance of TSA circular in August, 2015, coupled with the political will and enforcement, enabled us to achieve considerable progress on the TSA implementation.As at the 10th of February,2017, the total inflow of funds through the mop-up and direct debits by the Central Bank of Nigeria amounted to N5.24trn.We have successfully eliminated multiple banking arrangements, resulting into consolidation of over 20,000 bank accounts, which were spread over Deposit Money Banks across the country.This has further brought about transparency and effective tracking of government revenues.
oroville dam

Authorities ordered the evacuation of nearly 200,000 residents in several northern California towns Sunday evening, as a rapidly eroding section of a dam appeared on the verge of collapse.

"Immediate evacuation from the low levels of Oroville and areas downstream is ordered," the Butte County Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook.

"Operation of the auxiliary spillway," the sheriff's office said, had led "to severe erosion that could lead to a failure of the structure. Failure of the auxiliary spillway structure will result in an uncontrolled release of flood waters from Lake Oroville."

The evacuation warning was "NOT a drill," the sheriff's office added.

Anticipating the failure of the dam's auxiliary spillway, officials in Oroville frantically attempted to drain water from the main spillway, at a clip of 100,000 cubic feet a second, according to The Sacramento Bee. Helicopters dropped sand and rocks into a sinkhole in the spillway to stem the erosion.

"It's uncontrolled. It's uncontrolled," Department of Water Resources spokesman Chris Orrock said when asked how much water could be released should the spillway fail.

Later Sunday evening, officials said the threat of collapse from erosion had diminished, according to The Sacramento Bee. Water levels fell to a point at which little or no water flowed out of the emergency spillway, which Orrock said was the main factor in its erosion.

An evacuation center was set up in Chico, a nearby town north of Oroville, the sheriff's office said on Twitter. Traffic heading out of Oroville appeared to slow to a crawl as thousands of residents attempted to flee. Residents of seven towns in neighboring Yuba and Sutter counties were also instructed to evacuate.

The number of residents ordered to evacuate totaled 188,000, according to AFP.

Story continues

oroville dam

Unexpected erosion this week resulted in a massive sinkhole forming in the dam's main spillway, a mile-long concrete gutter that controls the flow of water. Officials initially shut off the flow of water down the spillway, but heavy rainfall on Saturday caused the dam to overflow for the first time in its 49-year history, according to the Associated Press.

The overflow triggered the first use of the dam's emergency spillway, which itself began showing signs of damage, causing officials to issue the evacuation warnings.

The deterioration was severe and rapid. Just four hours before the evacuation warnings, around midday Sunday, another Department of Water Resources spokesman had said he didn't anticipate the failure of the spillways. The dam itself is structurally sound, the spokesman had added.

At 770 feet, Oroville Dam is the tallest dam in the US. It could take up to $200 million to repair the damaged spillway, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Pic of Oroville Dam. Main dam at right (not damaged), main spillway in center (damaged), emergency spillway at left (imminent collapse) pic.twitter.com/CycNz2Aaix  David Cole (@DavidColeAIA) February 13, 2017

JUST IN: Authorities order residents in low-lying areas of Oroville, Calif., to evacuate as dam is predicted to fail https://t.co/2x3ZloKOqw pic.twitter.com/UVXxgiHMWj  ABC News (@ABC) February 13, 2017

Portion of the structure that could potentially fail is the Emergency Spillway at Oroville Dam. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/ZMacKuDCdP  David Biggar (@DavidNBCLA) February 13, 2017

This story is developing.

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The Presidency has said that Nigerian should be ready to see President Muhammadu Buhari as soon as possible.

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Kim Jong-nam, half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been killed in Malaysia.





Kim Jong-nam, half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been killed in Malaysia.Independent UK reports that Kim Jong-nam was killed at Kuala Lumpur airport after being attacked by two women with "poisoned needles." The two women, believed to be North Korean agents, escaped in a taxi and remain at large.Kim Jong Nam and Kim Jong Un are both sons of former leader Kim Jong Il, who died in late 2011, but they had different mothers.
Tonto Dikeh gave the confirmation while replying to an open letter written to her by a fan. See open letter and Tonto's reply.





Open letter by Maskot:





I have been a long time passionate fan of you  Mrs Tonto Dikeh Churchill or do I remove the surname? Your movies from your early days of breaking into the Nollywood industry arrested attention anytime, as the toast of most industry movie directors for scripts. As one of your fans, it bleeds my heart to hear of the unpleasant stories coming from your home especially as you used your fans influence based to react at any latest provocation as if you are lead actress in a home movie.





My dearest Tonto Dikeh, we your fans are instrumental to your fame. Your marriage breakup is the prayers of some of your colleagues and those your actions have offended directly or indirectly. I expected that any challenge in your home should be kept private and away from social media. I want to believe that God blessed you with a loving husband who seem to give all you want but though, there is saying that he who wears the shoe knows where it pinches. Truly, your fans in Rivers state are proud of your height in the industry but we plead that you let sleeping dog lie.





The accusation and counter- accusations of smoking while breastfeeding, negative reactions of destroying properties and alleged infidelity from your husband  Olakunle Churchill can not be confirmed by the public. We draw our conclusion from the buzzes on social media. Beware of those you draw close as your friend especially in relation to your marriage except we will eventually write a movie script about your home, marriage and social media influence and sell to major directors like Chico Ejiro, Teco Benson, Tchidi Chikere etc with a caption  Last Celebrity Marriage 





Its sad to think that the supposed settled marriage crisis in your union still persist indirectly as feelers have it that you choose to subject your husband to emotional torture by taking the child  King Andrea away from him because of his affection for the little boy. My prayer is that you dont take your beloved son to another controversial Marijuana smokers home as attacked. My sister, which I choose to call you, please the drama upon drama in your home if true can be attributed to you going back to your old life of smoking. When you got married, we your fans were happy that you finally settled down inspite of our supposed believe of your reckless movie life but alas, its truly a reflection of your life in marriage even when we thought motherhood has changed you. Advising you to borrow a leaf from some notable scandal free celebrity actresses would not have been good considering your status, but am forced to tell you to screen into their marital life.





My beloved super actress, the tag  controversial actress which you got stuck with you since your early days of smoking in movies, close intimacy in acting and bad girl disposition do not make us believe is your true reflection but a conscious impressive interpretation of your roles. For the sake of your son  King Andrea and the love show from your husband as posted by you each time on social media, just put your home together- indeed, its your responsibility. We are happy the family crisis is been silent and we strongly believe there is peace at home now. Besides your peace at home, the gist of you breaking things in your mother-in-laws house and pushing her down in attempt to calm you down is not only disgusting but embarrassingly misleading if we truly have to believe that. 





Well, I do not know much about your husband maybe because he is not a showbiz person but perhaps a philanthropist. But I think we might not judge him from social media stories. With time his true identity will be known, not only then we can write to him too. value what you have which you made us believe he is your lovely Mr X, your irreplaceable Hero and your protective superman.





Mama King, he that has ear let him hear, for the voices of the fans are the voices of fame or destruction.





I rest my case.





See Tonto's response:





Dear concerned fan, Good day.





How are you and your family? My regards, love and greetings to them.





Now to address a little bit of your letter, firstly I say I do appreciate your concern. Then I move on to say thank you. When a woman leaves her husband, she takes her child because absolutely nothing else matters to her but the child. This is what I did and I happily give all access for his father to see him.





Now my question to you is that did your source also tell you that he has never called for once to ask how his son is doing? I will admit, I personally blocked his access to me for the sake of my emotional stability. But nonetheless he has the nannys no, my assistants contact,my part time helps number, and many other mediums of reaching the son your source claims I took away. He could use all possible mediums wisely if he wished to.





Secondly I will let you go on the ill talk on smoking as I would love to believe you were just sent and ignored my drug test result or you never even saw it in the first place..





As an acclaimed concerned fan I expect you to pray and not to indirectly throw concerned shades.





What goes on in my marriage and home is my personal life, im grateful for all the years of support you all have been giving me but when it comes to the matters of the heart have enough respect to let us go thru our moments alone.. Like I said earlier your prayers for wisdom on both parties would be more appreciated. No one knows what goes on behind close doorsI chose to make you believe and see what I wanted you all to see in order to protect even those that did not deserve protection.





My dear friend thats called marriage!!! God bless you immensely for even thinking about my family, God has never failed, God never sleeps nor slumbers, He is a just God. He never brings us this far to leave us, We will be Ok.. Once again thank you so much my concerned friend and have a blessed day!!!
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The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says that treasury looters are the greatest assaults to the collective human rights of Nigerians.The minister stated this on Monday in Abuja at the inauguration of Human Rights Radio founded by the Managing Director of Premier Broadcasting Ltd. and anchor of Embelembe radio programme, Ahmed Isa.He said, The greatest assaults to our collective human rights are those people who have stolen our money.They are those people who have pocketed the money meant for roads, water, power and medical care.Those are the people who have assaulted our collective human rights, who have reduced the average Nigerians to nothingness and humiliated this country.The minister said that the Federal Governments unwavering anti-corruption fight is therefore geared towards the protection of the collective human rights of Nigerians.He, therefore, called on all Nigerians to support the anti-corruption war for the country to attain its developmental goals.Mohammed specifically urged Nigerians to assist the government in its whistle blowing policy by exposing treasury looters and rights violators.He said, The whistle blowing policy is a very simple policy through which we encourage Nigerians who have any information about the violation of our rights, commission of a crime, fraud or corruption or any Nigerian who knows where certain money is being held or kept to anonymously contact us.We will protect his or her identity and if the information leads to the recovery of money, he or she will be entitled to 2.5 per cent or 5 per cent of the money recovered.We have three channels of passing the information which could be through dedicated SMS, a portal and an e-mail address and all of them are secured.The minister said that within two months of declaration of the policy of whistle blowers, the government has been able to recover $160m and N8bn.He said the $9.7m kept in an uncompleted house in Kaduna by a former Group Managing Director of NNPC was recovered through the policy.He said, Somebody gave us the information, we went there and saw the money loaded in fridges and boxes and the owners has admitted that the money belong to him.He said the money was given to him by friends after he retired and we want those friends to come forward.He added that $136m, N7 bn and another N1m were respectively recovered from banks also as a result of cooperation of whistle blowers.He said, I want to put on record that the fellow through whom we recovered N1bn in an account told us he does not want any commission from government because that is his contribution to the country.But, I can assure you that we are not going to renege on our promise to the appropriate commission to anyone who give us information that leads to recovery of money through this policy.Mohammed noted that the challenge facing the nations economy was as a result of the alleged looting by the previous administration.He said government would remain determined and focused to end the difficult times the people were passing through.The minister commended Isa for his initiative and perseverance in establishing the first ever Human Right Radio, adding that the station would complement government`s efforts in protecting peoples rights.The Chairman of the event and the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, said that the judiciary would partner with the radio station in enhancing the peoples rights.Onnoghen, who was represented by the Chief Judge of FCT, Justice Ishaq Bello, commended the founder of the radio for his vision, perseverance and commitment to the cause of the poor in the society.Earlier, in an address of welcome, Isa said the inauguration of the station was a dream come true and he would continue to use the platform to support humanity.He said the station which would be committed to human rights in contents, is a trail blazer being the first of its kind in the entire globe.(NAN)
The fiery Catholic Priest and Director, Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka has dedicated his recent court victory against Uni...

The fiery Catholic Priest and Director, Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka has dedicated his recent court victory against Union Bank Plc to God.He described the legal victory as divine and miraculous.An Enugu State High Court had while delivering judgment between the cleric and the Union Bank in suit No E/56/10, awarded the sum of N5.5 billion in Mbakas favour.Reacting to the verdict through a statement jointly signed by his media aide, Barr. Ike Maximus Ugwuoke and one of his counsels, Barr F. C Okeke, Mbaka urged the bank to speedy action in paying the judgment debt.His statement read: With boundless joy, we glorify the name of God for the miraculous legal victory He granted to Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria over the case filed against the Spiritual Director of the Ministry, Rev Fr Ejike Camilus Mbaka and two others by Union Bank of Nigeria plc.The case filed in suit no E/56/10 has been pending before the Enugu State High Court for about seven years until judgment was delivered therein on Thursday the 9th of February 2017 by Hon Justice A.R. Ozoemena of the Enugu State High Court who presided over the case. The erudite judgment of the Honourable Court declined virtually all the contumacious claims of the Bank against our Spiritual Director declaring them as fraudulent but went ahead to order the Bank in his counter claim against the Bank to pay him the sum of N5.5billion Naira for damages and inconveniences.It is noteworthy to observe the fact that the Honourable Court in the said judgment considered among other things the fact that Union Bank had defended our Spiritual Director in a separate earlier suit filed against the Bank by a Chinese Company at the Lagos State High Court in suit No LD/1313/10 wherein in the Banks counter affidavit, the Bank had deposed that Rev Fr Mbaka is not indebted to the Chinese Company. One cant help wondering as pointed out by the Honourable Court that the same Bank who had defended the cause of our Spiritual Director should do 360 degrees somersault to make the same demand from our spiritual Director.We join all the less privileged , the orphans, the widows and indeed all worshipers of the ministry under the flock of our Spiritual Director to urge the Bank not to hesitate in complying with the Court Judgment especially now that the ministry has enormous charitable works and projects that are financial- demanding.We assert that this judgment has once more reaffirmed and reassured our confidence in the Court as the last hope of a common man. The Court judgment is indeed another demonstration of the victorious hand of God upon the Ministry and our Spiritual Director much as it renews and rekindles our faith and trust in God that with Him indeed, all things are possible and one with Him is majority.We express our sincere gratitude to all the worshipers of the ministry all over the world who stood in solidarity, steadfastness, prayers and fasting for the Ministry and the Spiritual Director right from the days of the Banks cheap blackmail against the ministry to this movement of divine exoneration. Their good works were never in vain as it all culminated to this legal victory and divine vindication we celebrate today.
* North Korean envoy delivers maiden speech to U.N. arms forum

* Rejects Security Council move, says missile tests self-defence

* Says divided Korean peninsula is "world's biggest hotspot"

* U.S. envoy calls for "international collective action" (Updates with U.S. speech)

By Stephanie Nebehay

GENEVA, Feb 14 (Reuters) - North Korea said on Tuesday its missile launches were "self-defence measures", rejecting U.N. Security Council criticism of its weekend test, but the United States demanded international action against Pyongyang's weapons programmes.

North Korea's ballistic missile firing on Sunday was its first direct challenge to the international community since U.S. President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20.

The missile had a range of more than 2,000 kms (1,240 miles), according to South Korea's intelligence agency. It reached an altitude of about 550 km and flew about 500 km towards Japan before splashing into the sea east of the Korean peninsula.

The U.N. Security Council on Monday denounced the launch, urging members to "redouble efforts" to enforce sanctions against the reclusive state, but gave no indications of any action it might take.

Han Tae Song, the new Ambassador of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the United Nations in Geneva, addressed the U.N.-backed Conference on Disarmament a day after taking up his post.

"The various test fires conducted by DPRK for building up self-defence capabilities are, with no exception, self-defence measures to protect national sovereignty and the safety of the people against direct threats by hostile forces," Han told the 61-member-state forum.

"My delegation strongly rejects the latest statement of the U.N. Security Council and all U.N. resolutions against my country."

U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood said: "All efforts to advance North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile capabilities must cease," adding: "If ever there were a situation that called for international collective action to ensure our mutual security, it is this."

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RESTRAINT

China, North Korea's main ally, said the missile launch violated Security Council resolutions but called on all parties to "exercise restraint". The way to defuse the situation was through dialogue, China said, calling for a return to talks.

U.S., Japanese and South Korean military officials held a teleconference on Monday in which they condemned the launch as "a clear violation" of multiple Security Council resolutions. The United States "reaffirmed its iron-clad security commitments" to South Korea and Japan, the Pentagon said.

Han said the divided Korean peninsula "remains the world's biggest hotspot with a constant danger of war". He condemned joint military exercises carried out annually by South Korea and the United States, as well as what he called "nuclear threats" and blackmail towards his country.

"It is the legitimate self-defence right of the sovereign state to possess strong deterrence to cope with such threat by hostile forces aimed at overthrowing the state and the socialist system," he said.

South Korea's Ambassador Choi Kyong-lim said the test showed "the unreasonable nature of the DPRK and their fanatical obsession with the pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles". Japan's disarmament Ambassador Nobushige Takamizawa urged Pyongyang not to take further "provocative actions" that undermine peace and security in the region.

(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
Residents of Rosettenvile, South of Johannesburg, South Africa have expressed displeasure over the acts of immigrants living in the countr...

Residents of Rosettenvile, South of Johannesburg, South Africa have expressed displeasure over the acts of immigrants living in the country. Last few days, at least 15 houses belonging or rented by immigrants, especially Nigerians, have been burnt by the angry residents.They are furious that Nigerians give their children drugs and turn them into prostitutes. They say they didn't want to burn the houses but wanted them to live their country.The houses were razed after the police started shooting at the protesting residents. The community got angry and started burning the houses.They ask: How can a 9-year old child be a prostitute?They say when the children go to school, they are scared because they don't know if the child would come back. They explained they don't have enough money to hire buses to bring the child to the front of their gates.They reported the case, but their was no action, that is why they resorted to what they did.
Acting-President, Yemi Osinbajo, has said the federal government has plans to engage youths of the Niger  Delta region who are involved i...

Acting-President, Yemi Osinbajo, has said the federal government has plans to engage youths of the Niger  Delta region who are involved in illegal refining of crude oil by employing them in the modular refineries the government will establish in the region.He also debunked rumours that the amnesty programme of the federal government has been scraped adding that more resources has been earmarked for the sustenance of the programme in the 2017 budget.Osinbajo disclosed these during a special engagement on Niger-Delta matters held in Port-Harcourt on Tuesday.He said: We have talked about those young men and women who are involved in illegal refining of crude oilOur approach to that is that we must engage them by establishing modular refineries.so that they can participate in legal refining not illegal refining. And we are committed to making sure that young men and women of the Niger-Delta region are properly engaged.Well look at the amnesty issues, well make sure that amnesty continues. Some people have been trying to suggest that we have remove the amnesty programme. Thats not true. We have made more provision for amnesty than has ever been made.We have made more provision for social intervention. Rivers state has the second largest number of unemployed young graduates who have been employed by the federal government under our N-Power scheme.
The Nigeria police on Monday again invited the publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, to a meeting on Thursday with the Deputy Comm...

The Nigeria police on Monday again invited the publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, to a meeting on Thursday with the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigations Department(SCID) in Lagos.The invitation, which came in the form of a text message, did not disclose the purpose of the meeting. It merely invited Mr. Sowore and his colleagues to meet with the police authorities for an interview at 10a.m at the SCID headquarters in the Yaba area of Lagos.Mr. Sowore was on January 9 physically assaulted in Lagos by one Lekan Fatodu over a report by SaharaReporters detailing how Mr. Fatodu was allegedly used as a front by former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode to corner public funds through the office of the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.When Mr. Sowore was brought before Fatai Owoseni, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, the police claimed a petition alleging criminal libel had been submitted by Mr. Fatodu against Mr. Sowore.The following day when Mr. Sowore arrived at the SCID, the police were more interested in mediation, asking Mr. Sowore to meet Mr. Fatodu to resolve their differences.Mr. Sowore refused, saying the police had been dishonest in the handling of the case.His attorney, Femi Falana, on January 12 issued a statement saying the allegations of threat to life, criminal libel and extortion stated in Mr. Fatodus petition were false.A few days after Mr. Sowores release, a strange dimension to the matter arose when a lawyer, Ugochukwu Osuagwu, issued a statement claiming that Mr. Sowore had been barred from leaving Nigeria over Mr. Fatodus petition.Mr. Osuagwu is the same lawyer who, in January, addressed a petition to the police on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Yusuf Buratai, which led to the arrest of two Premium Times journalists a few days after Mr. Sowore was attacked and arrested in Lagos.The continued police harassment of Mr. Sowore and other journalists has attracted condemnation by press freedom bodies across the globe.Mr. Sowore told our reporters he plans to honour the invitation of the police on Thursday, an event which coincides with his birthday.
The Presidency has alerted Nigerians on the possible return of President Muhammadu Buhari from London any moment from today as he is no lo...

The Presidency has alerted Nigerians on the possible return of President Muhammadu Buhari from London any moment from today as he is no longer enjoying his stay outside the country.President Buhari, who proceeded on vacation to UK on Jan. 19 for a routine medical check had indicated in a letter to the Senate, transmitted another letter to the Senate, on Feb. 5, requesting extension of time to complete the medical check-up.The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Malam Garba Shehu, in an interview with the Channels Television in Abuja on Tuesday, said that the president would be returning to Nigeria soonest as he was no longer `comfortable with the extended vacation in London.He said, As a matter of fact, we should be getting ready to see the president in fresh and that will be soon as possible.The President (himself) is looking to being home to be with his people.I dont think he is enjoying any longer with an extended vacation outside the country.On the presidents telephone conversation with President Trump, Shehu described as undiplomatic the request being made in some quarters for the release of the audio containing the conversation.According to him, releasing an audio containing telephone conversation between two presidents is highly unethical and against modern day civilization.He said, No, I dont think so; I dont think it is permitted in international diplomacy. I think if we had recorded Mr Trump in this conversation it would have offended our diplomatic relations.I think the Americans themselves would not have recorded this conversation of president to president.On the presidents test results being expected from his doctors, the presidential aide said he had no information on whether the president had collected the results or not.He said, No, we have no information on that (test results). If he had received them, he would have been on the plane back home.Shehu, who noted that there was no enough time for the two presidents to discuss other continental and international, however, expressed optimism that the conversation would boost the bilateral relations between Nigeria and the U.S.He said, Well, there wasnt enough time to talk about everything. I think the point at what will follow is in the invitation that President Trump has extended to our president (Buhari) to come over.That is the kind of opportunity that was presented to Nigeria put all the issues on the desk.As for their immigration policy, I think our president has been clear about one thing- the choices made by the Americans as to who to lead them in this case, Mr Trump, is entirely their own choice.We have no business interfering with their domestic affairs.As to the countries that have barred, it has been clearly specified and Nigeria did not feature in the list.Buhari had on Monday in London spoke with Trump by telephone at the request of the American President.According to the presidents Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the conversation was cordial and Buhari congratulated Trump on his election as President of the United States and on his cabinet.Adesina said the two leaders discussed ways to improve cooperation in the fight against terrorism through provision of necessary equipment.According to him, Trump encourages Buhari to keep up the good work he is doing, and also commends him for the efforts he has made in rescuing 24 of the Chibok Girls and the strides being taken by the Nigerian military.Trump assured the Nigerian president of the U.S readiness to cut a new deal in helping Nigeria in terms of military weapons to combat terrorism.Trump also invited Buhari to Washington at a mutually convenient date, the statement concluded.The American President has since been putting calls to other world leaders to inform them of his action plans towards the eradication of terrorism in America.Nigerians have, however, been reacting to the statement with diverse views.
Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), says it is crazy for anyone to insinuate that he did not visit Preside...

Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), says it is crazy for anyone to insinuate that he did not visit President Muhammadu Buhari in London, United Kingdom.The former Lagos state governor had last week visited the President in the company of Bisi Akande, chairman, APC board of trustees.Reacting to reports that he didnt travel to London, Tinubu said no one in their right senses would peddle such falseness when there were pictures to prove that he visited Buhari.A statement was released to this effect by his media aide, Tunde Rahman.Tinubu was quoted as saying that, The report about the so-called denial of the visit is the handiwork of mischief- makers. I felt we should not dignify that with a response.That report beggars belief. Asiwaju Tinubu and Baba Akande were in London. The reason they travelled to the United Kingdom was to see President Buhari.And they visited him last Thursday and held discussions with him at the Abuja House in London. After the visit, the President, as a mark of respect, saw off his guests to the door.Pictures were taken during and after the visit and released to the media by the Presidency. These pictures were international headlines. How can anybody in his or her right senses be saying there was no such visit? Its simply crazy! I cant just get it.
An unexploded bomb dating back to World War II has been found near Frankfurt airport, the police said.

An unexploded bomb dating back to World War II has been found near Frankfurt airport, the police said.It said that it was set for a controlled detonation later on Monday, according to German police officials in the city of Darmstadt.The bomb weighs around 250 kg and was discovered at 1:30 p.m. in a field in the vicinity of the town of Kelsterbach.Officials are planning to defuse the bomb at around 11 pm, and have blocked a highway and a train line for that purpose.People traveling by car have been told to circumvent the area, as traffic is likely to be heavily disrupted.Certain buildings belonging to the airport will be affected as well, but Frankfurt airports management company Fraport said that it was unlikely that air traffic would be affected. It is a standard practice for air traffic to stop at Frankfurt airport at 11 p.m.An area of around 700 metres around where the bomb was found has been cordoned off for safety reasons by the police.An industrial complex, a hotel as well as building housing refugees are within the vicinity of the bomb, according to police.
Nigeria will soon have weapons from the United States to fight terrorism.

Nigeria will soon have weapons from the United States to fight terrorism.President Donald Trump promised yesterday to cut a new deal to sell more weapons to Nigeria.He made the promise during a telephone conversation with President Muhammadu Buhari. It was the first official conversation between Trump and an African leader since he took office last month.The Obama administration refused to sell weapons to Nigeria because of alleged human rights abuses.In 2014, the United States blocked the sale by Israelis of American-made Cobra attack helicopters to Nigeria.There are also Congressional restrictions on United States arms sales to countries where the military has a poor human rights record. But last year, there were preliminary signs that the United States might be loosening its policy. The sale of U.S. attack aircraft to Nigeria was discussed between the two countries.According to presidential spokesman Femi Adesina, the two presidents discussed ways to improve cooperation in the fight against terrorism through provision of necessary equipment.President Trump assured the Nigerian president of United States willingness to cut a new deal in helping Nigeria in terms of military weapons to combat terrorism.The conversation was cordial and President Buhari congratulated Trump on his election as President of the United States, and on his cabinet.The two leaders discussed ways to improve cooperation in the fight against terrorism through provision of necessary equipment.President Trump encouraged President Buhari to keep up the good work he is doing, and also commended him for the efforts made in rescuing 24 of the Chibok girls and the strides being taken by the Nigerian military.President Trump assured the Nigerian President of U.S. readiness to cut a new deal in helping Nigeria in terms of military weapons to combat terrorism.President Trump also invited President Buhari to Washington at a mutually convenient date.President Buhari received President Trumps call in London where he has been vacationing and undergoing medical tests.Broader U.S. military cooperation would be a victory for Buhari, who took office in 2015, pledging to crack down on corruption that has undermined the armed forces.Under Buhari, the army has recaptured the territory initially lost to Boko Haram, but the group still often stages suicide attacks.Shortly after speaking to Buhari, Mr. Trump spoke by telephone to South African President Jacob Zuma. A statement by Mr. Zumas office said they discussed trade and security issues, including the quest for peace and stability on the African continent.A statement by President Zumas office on the call said: A strong commitment to bilateral relations between the US and South Africa and security matters in Africa were the main focus of the much-hyped telephone call between US President Donald Trump and President Jacob Zuma on Monday afternoon.The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening already strong bilateral relations.There are six hundred US companies in South Africa and strong trade relations between the two countries, the Presidency said.Zuma also congratulated Trump on his election as the USAs 45th president.The two also discussed the need to work together on multilateral issues as well, especially the quest for peace and stability on the African continent.Mr. Trump has said little about his Africa policy. But from questions given by his staff to the U.S. State Department, it is clear that Mr. Trump has little interest in U.S. foreign aid to Africa. Instead, he sees Africa through the lens of security issues, especially the fight against Islamist radical groups, such as Boko Haram.
Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, is set to drop Petr Cech for their Champions League knockout tie at Bayern Munich on Wednesday night.Instead, the Frenchman will keep faith with second-choice David Ospina.Ospina has started every game for the Gunners in Europe this season, after he held talks with Wenger over his future last summer. The Colombian was promised that he there would be rotation between Premier League and Champions League fixtures.Although it would represent a small gamble, as Arsenal seek to qualify for the quarter-finals, many observers have argued that Cech has not been at his best this season.Ospina is also expected to start next Monday against Sutton United in the FA Cup fifth round.Wenger will however not have easy choices in midfield, with Granit Xhaka now available for selection.There are rumours that the 67-year-old may also drop Mesut Ozil and go with Xhaka, Francis Coquelin and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the middle.
The Presidency has said that it will be undiplomatic to release President Muhammadu Buhari's telephone conversation with President D...

The Presidency has said that it will be undiplomatic to release President Muhammadu Buhari's telephone conversation with President Donald Trump of United States as requested by some quarters.The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu said releasing an audio containing telephone conversation between two presidents is highly unethical and against modern day civilisation.He said, No, I dont think so; I dont think it is permitted in international diplomacy. I think if we had recorded Mr Trump in this conversation it would have offended our diplomatic relations.I think the Americans themselves would not have recorded this conversation of president to president.Shehu, who noted that there was no enough time for the two presidents to discuss other continental and international, however, expressed optimism that the conversation would boost the bilateral relations between Nigeria and the U.S.He said, Well, there wasnt enough time to talk about everything. I think the point at what will follow is in the invitation that President Trump has extended to our president (Buhari) to come over.That is the kind of opportunity that was presented to Nigeria put all the issues on the desk.
Offers to buy former Six Flags in New Orleans East up for consideration
CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Feb 14, 2017) - Pennine Petroleum Corporation (TSX VENTURE:PNN) (the "Corporation" or "Pennine") is pleased to announce that it has signed a Production Sharing Agreement ("PSA") with Albpetrol Sh.A ("Albpetrol") for the exploration and development of the Velca Block in Albania.

The finalized PSA contains a license agreement signed by Pennine, Albania's Ministry of Energy and Industry, and Albpetrol, the country's state-owned energy firm, for a six(6)-year exploratory lease-convertible to a 25-year production lease, upon discovery of oil and/or natural gas accumulations.

"This is a very exciting day for Pennine. Albania has a long history of oil and gas development dating back nearly a century, and Pennine is excited to bring its expertise to this region" says Chief Executive Officer N. Desmond Smith.

"Albania has mature energy infrastructure, established legislation and regulations, and a recent history of significant foreign investment for the development of its energy sector," adds Mr. Smith. "We look forward to working in the Republic of Albania, providing value to Pennine shareholders, and bringing prosperity to the people of Albania."

Pennine intends to initiate a Technical Report in the next 60 days, and with existing data, identify potential drilling targets within the Velca Block.

Pennine is currently working with industry experts from Albpetrol and the Ministry of Energy and Industry in an advisory committee, with Pennine acting as operator.

"Our understanding and experience with Albania has enabled us to develop a partnership with the Albanian government and Albpetrol through a new production sharing agreement. We believe this agreement provides a balanced risk-and-reward contract for the exploration and development of the Velca Block-and, we hope, many other opportunities in Albania," says Pennine chairman Richard Wadsworth, who led Bankers Petroleum Ltd. in re-developing the Patos Marinza oilfield as its president from 2004 through 2008.

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"We look forward to a seamless integration of Pennine into Albania's oil and gas exploration and development landscape."

The PSA consists of an Exploration Phase and a Drilling Phase. Under the Exploration Phase, Pennine and Albpetrol will conduct an examination of all currently existing geological, geophysical and well data on the Velca Block, and conduct any processing or re-processing of data to select drilling targets. The Drilling Phase will consist of a commitment to drill a minimum of two (2) wells, to a minimum depth of 2,500 metres.

Pennine will recover all exploration and development costs from 90% of the net operating revenue, after the state's 10% royalty tax, then subject to an R-factor revenue sharing with Albpetrol, ranging from 2% to 15% of net operating revenue, depending on the multiple of cost recovery to the project. After payout of all costs, the interest in the revenue stream is shared, with 50% earmarked for the Albania Ministry of Energy and Industry and 50% for the participants of the PSA (a 100% working interest before payout and a 50% working interest after payout).

Main terms and conditions of the Velca Block PSA were signed in February 2016. Pennine and Albpetrol agreed in April 2016 to the terms of the PSA and submitted the document to Albania's Ministry of Energy and Industry for approval. Pennine reviewed the License Agreement, an integral component of the PSA, in December 2016.

In connection with this transaction, Pennine will pay a finder's fee to an arm's-length entity through the issuance of up to 7,000,000 common shares subject to TSX Venture Exchange policy.

About Pennine Petroleum Corporation: Pennine Petroleum Corporation is an emerging oil and gas exploration and development company (www.penninecorp.com) currently active in Albania and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

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.
Remember 'hot felon'? From on the lam to on the catwalk
'To Kill a Mockingbird' returns to the big screen, plus more local movie events
Louisiana state Sen. Troy Brown, D-Geismar, says he won't resign despite two convictions related to domestic violence. (Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office)
PARIS, Feb 13 (Reuters) - France's PSA Group is pushing ahead with an Iranian plant investment and production ramp-up in the face of a hardened U.S. stance against Tehran under President Donald Trump that could play to the carmaker's advantage, a senior executive said.

The group's Peugeot brand is about to begin production with local partner Iran Khodro, while PSA is also preparing to invest more than 100 million euros ($106 million) in a new Citroen plant with partner SAIPA, PSA Middle East chief Jean-Christophe Quemard told a press call on Monday.

Peugeot returned to Iran last year after an international deal to lift sanctions in return for curbs on Tehran's nuclear activities, and has reclaimed its place as the country's top-selling car brand with a 32 percent market share last year, according to IHS Automotive data.

The carmaker inked a 400 million euro ($424 million) Peugeot production agreement last June and a 300 million deal for Citroen four months later.

The renewed pressure from Washington will probably extend PSA's lead as rivals hold back from re-entering Iran, Quemard told the press call from a Tehran automotive conference.

"This is our opportunity to accelerate," he said. "It will become even harder for American companies to operate, that's for sure. We've opened up a lead and we plan to hold on to it."

Within two weeks of his inauguration, Trump responded to an Iranian missile test with fresh U.S. sanctions, warning that Tehran was "playing with fire".

General Motors and other American-owned brands last had a significant Iranian presence before the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution. Other western and Japanese carmakers that had avoided Iran under recent sanctions are now eyeing its potential. IHS expects the market to grow 8 percent to 1.35 million vehicles this year and to 1.8 million by 2024.

German brands may be treading carefully because - unlike French rivals - Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW have extensive U.S. sales and production.

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Daimler and VW's Scania have unveiled Iranian deals in trucks and buses but have been slower to commit to new car production investments.

Mansour Moazami, Iran's deputy industry minister, told the Tehran conference that VW may soon finalise a production deal with an Iranian company. VW had no immediate comment when contacted by Reuters.

Renault, PSA's larger domestic rival, is also adding production and new models with Iranian partners and may overtake Peugeot's sales by 2019 thanks to its low-cost vehicle architectures, IHS predicts. ($1 = 0.9433 euros) (Reporting by Laurence Frost and Gilles Guillaume; Additional reporting by Andreas Cremer in Berlin and Bozorgmehr Sharafedin in Beirut; Editing by David Holmes)
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.
The Council Bluffs City Council on Monday evening gave the green light to a project laying the groundwork for a future Missouri Riverfront road, with one council member urging to stop the effort, citing cost factors.

On a 4-1 vote, the council approved going forward on an agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation concerning the reconstruction of the Union Pacific Railroad bridge over Interstate 29. Iowa DOT must lengthen that bridge to allow room for a wider I-29 as part of the overall interstate rebuilding project around the city.

Mondays council action calls for IDOT to lengthen that bridge even further to make way for a proposed two-lane riverfront road that would initially connect Ninth Avenue to Nebraska Avenue. The road could eventually extend further south to Veterans Memorial Highway.

The cost for the extended bridge work is estimated at less than $3 million, and IDOT has agreed to a five-year repayment plan by the city for that work, which the department would pay up-front. Since the department has to move quickly on this project, an official agreement will come later, the city said.

Greg Reeder, director of the citys Public Works Department, said the bridge extension for the proposed road would be about 45 feet in length.

I think its imperative we take this offer, said Councilwoman Sharon White.

Councilman Nate Watson said such a road would attract new development.

We would do well to invest in our future, he said.

Bob Mundt, president and CEO of the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce, said a riverfront road has been discussed as far back as the early 1990s.

This doesnt come along in a hundred years, Mundt told the council members. Now we have an opportunity, an opportunity in the future.

Councilman Al Ringgenberg, who voted in opposition, said the road isnt a bad idea, but there are no specific details about it in the citys future plans or what this formal agreement with IDOT would entail.

We dont have anything down in our strategic planning documents about this road, he said. And were obligating $3 million without any details.

The city is also committed to a number of expensive projects, he added.

Councilman Roger Sandau also agreed its a high cost, but added the city could explore grants or other alternative funds.
More than 100 people rallied Monday night at Bayliss Park in Council Bluffs against proposed changes to collective bargaining that could affect public employee union rights.

Glenn Hurst of Minden organized the rally in conjunction with the political organization Indivisible Iowa to bring together those in the community that wanted to speak out against the controversial bill in the Iowa Legislature.

I value the public workers in my life and the effects they have on my family, Hurst said after the rally.

Reporter @ksidzyik is on the scene at Bayliss Park in Council Bluffs where a rally about #IALegis collective bargaining is underway #SWIowa pic.twitter.com/O352cXoBR1  Daily Nonpareil (@nonpareilonline) February 14, 2017

Under the proposed bill, public employees who are not engaged in public safety work would only be able to bargain on wages. The bill also would require unions to manually collect dues from members instead of automatic paycheck deductions.

The current law, which began in 1974, requires benefits such as health insurance, vacation time and seniority perks  as well as work conditions such as hours, overtime pay and evaluation procedures  to be negotiated collectively.

In addition, many of those items that currently must be bargained for would be explicitly banned from future negotiations, including insurance and seniority benefits and evaluation procedures.

Republicans in the Legislature support the new bill, while Democrats overwhelmingly oppose it. Republicans, however, have control of both chambers of the legislative branch as well as the governors office.

"Stay positive. They want to divide and conquer and we cannot allow that. Stay focused. Stay united." - Pat Shipley, @IowaSEA pic.twitter.com/eljH5Nhndb  Nonpareil Education (@swiaed) February 14, 2017

Kindergarten teacher LoriAnn Brougham  who teaches at Kreft Primary School in the Lewis Central Community School District and also serves as the president of the Lewis Central Education Association  said she opposes the proposed legislation.

I feel like, as a leader, its my responsibility to make sure Im leading my people, Brougham said. Our younger teachers, and theres lots of young teachers in the profession right now, I dont think they understand the impact this might have on us, so as a leader and an experienced teacher, its my responsibility to help educate them and become educated myself.

The bill already saw some organized opposition Saturday when hundreds of people jammed Wilson Middle School for a regularly scheduled legislative coffee.

Lawmakers both for and against the bill gave their views along with feedback from the crowd.

We feel this is a fair bill, said Greg Forristall, a Republican House member who represents eastern Council Bluffs.

This is the most mean-spirited legislation Ive ever seen, said Charles McConkey, a Democratic House member who represents Carter Lake and western Council Bluffs.

More than 1,000 educators Monday also gathered at the state Capitol in Des Moines for a legislative hearing about the bill that would dramatically change Iowas collective bargaining law.

The bill was first unveiled last week and is expected to quickly come up for a vote in the House and Senate.

 Reporter Tim Rowher and the AP contributed to this report.
MALVERN  Malvern Manor sells frights and fun as a supposed hotbed for paranormal activity in Mills County  but not everyone is happy with the portrayal of the buildings history.

Located just off Main Street in a Mills County town experiencing a rebirth through business development, recreation and the arts, Malvern Manor offers a chance for the bold to experience encounters with shadow figures, voices, chills and other things that go bump in the night.

Its interesting  as far as experiences go, it runs the gamut, co-owner and operator Josh Heard said of brushes with the extrasensory. Its a very interesting place.

Heard considers it a happy little accident that he found the home, a 10,000-square-foot building with a sprawling layout that was initially a hotel and became a group home for those with intellectual disabilities and mental illnesses.

While filming a documentary on the paranormal at Classic Cafe in Malvern, Heard met Quincy Hunt, then-owner of the manor building. Hunt let Heards team inside.

I experienced more in two hours there than I had in a year and a half of investigating, Heard said. After two hours there, I was hooked.

From there Heard, a Randolph native who lives in Malvern, convinced Hunt to open the building to the public for investigations and tours. In the summer of 2015, Hunt broke the news to Heard that he was moving and needed to sell the building. If Heard couldnt figure out a way to purchase the property, the tours were going to end.

Kurt Fricke operates Helping Hands for Senior Plans in Omaha with his wife, Carol. Kurt Fricke caught Heard talking about Malvern Manor on the radio, so he took the family to check it out and experienced all manner of activity: moans, screams, the eerie feeling of getting watched.

I always watched this stuff on TV, Fricke said. I thought Ah, its TV. Its baloney. But after the first time at Malvern Manor, I was, like, Oh, my gosh, this stuff is real.

Fricke said he experienced moans, screams, footsteps and flashlights turning on and off unprovoked while there.

The second time Fricke went to Malvern Manor, Heard told them the property was being sold and the tours might end. Fricke, with no previous experience in owning a haunted house, asked how much the building was going for.

I know this stuff is legit, Fricke said during a tour of the manor.

Heard joined Kurt and Carol Fricke, their son Josh and niece Jenna, along with Allison Carranza, in purchasing the building for $75,000 in May 2016.

Malvern Manor offers walkthrough tours year-round, which consist of a 30-minute guided tour of the building, discussing the history and paranormal activity. Visitors are then allowed to roam the building and hopefully experience something for themselves, Heard said.

Overnight stays allow for amateur and professional investigators to scour the manor from 4 p.m. until noon the following day. Heard said he and others have experienced disembodied voices, shadow figures and odd noises that cant be explained away.

Theres a lot of cat and mouse  youll hear something, go after it, then hear something in the opposite direction. This will go on and on, he said. Theres also physical object manipulation  we have wheelchairs that will move on their own. A few of the resident spirits like to play with balls there, roll back and forth.

One ghost who supposedly lives in the home is Inez Gibson, a 12-year-old girl found dead in a closet hanging from a jump rope in 1901. On the tour, Fricke pointed out what they call Inezs room, where theyve heard her name on recordings.

My daughter asked the ghost how old she was, Fricke said. She said, 12.

Another ghost is Gracie, a supposed schizophrenic about whom the owners didnt have much information. But they noted voices in the room have said the name Grace or Gracie often. A wheelchair and bed, with the mattress leaning against the wall, sit in the room. Fricke played a recording taken in Gracies room that features background noise before a womans voice is heard saying Hello.

Fricke explained that they leave the Malvern Manor setting like they found it, save for occasionally placing trigger objects to help inspire the undead to make their presence known.

Josh Bellows of Council Bluffs said hes been curious about ghosts and the paranormal since a sighting when he was 10. During a stay in February 2016, he and a friend investigated for three hours without much success.

Later in the night, I went exploring on my own. Well, scared the (crap) outta me, he said in a Facebook message. I went upstairs alone with a flashlight. I started walking down one of the corridors, the one with the attic stairs at the end of it.

Bellows said he made it about two rooms into the house  about 20 feet  and then stopped to make observations.

I shined the light up and down the hall and into a couple rooms, not seeing anything but definitely hearing creaks and things like that, he said. The feeling is what got to me. It felt bad. Like I had no reason to be there. I looked again down the hall and told myself to keep going. I couldnt. Physically and mentally, could not move.

He continued: I told myself, This is what youre here for, go! Still couldnt move. It was awesome and unsettling. I probably stood still for 1-2 minutes.

Bellows said the feeling in the manor was intense the whole time I was there.

Malvern Manor was the subject of the Feb. 10 episode of TLCs Paranormal Lockdown, a series in which ghost-hunting hosts Nick Groff and Katrina Weidman stay in various haunts for 72 hours and try to commune with the metaphysical.

In looking for the malevolent entities of the mysterious Malvern Manor, Groff and Weidman took a small crew and nifty collection of equipment  night vision lenses, vibration sensors, audio recording devices and various other gadgets and gizmos  to Malvern, a town of about 1,100.

Malvern Manor was built as the Cottage Hotel in the 1880s and was the towns first hotel during a boom time when the Wabash train line was bustling.

Malvern was growing a lot back then and the Cottage Hotel  it became a place to go, a destination for some, Heard said.

The hotel went through a handful of owners and, eventually, was converted to a nursing home. In 1959, Geraldine and Hap Reid purchased the facility and operated it as the Nishna Cottage nursing home until 1976, when state inspectors decided that the halls were not wide enough to roll a bed down, therefore making it ineligible to house such a business.

The nursing home patients were moved to another facility in Malvern, and the Nishna Cottage became a residential care facility. Clients suffered from multiple personality, schizophrenia, alcoholism, drug addiction and other ailments.

The Reids owned the building until early 2005, according to Denise OBanion of Glenwood, whose husband, Louis, was the grandson of the Reids.

Grandma was booted out; she financially lost the building in 2005, OBanion said. They shut down months later because the new owner wouldnt fix the fire code violations.

OBanion said shes frustrated with Heard and the manor because Reids name has been used in promotional material that mentioned neglect and abuse of clients at Nishna Cottage.

The only owner they mention are the Reids, OBanion said. Theyre trying to profit off the mentally ill that were treated pretty well.

Heard said that the abuse claims came after the Reids lost the building.

They were hearing that I was claiming abuse took place from their grandmother  which is not the case, Heard said. The main claims of abuse came after she had retired.

A request by The Nonpareil for information on any reports of abuse with the Iowa Department of Human Services is pending.

OBanion said she wants to protect Geraldine Reids legacy.

We just want to tell our story on Grandma. And what a nice person she was, she said. Portraying it as paranormal, as a family we dont care about that.

In a 2003 Nonpareil story about Nishna Cottage, Geraldine Reid said, This is where my heart is. At the time, there were about 20 residents who called the cottage home, each either with a disability or a mental illness as a result of previous substance abuse.

The residents and Reid were known throughout a supportive Malvern community.

We always go over to the (Glenwood) amphitheater in the summer. We take a bus over there, and they just get such a kick out it seeing the shows there, Reid said in 2003. We all go to the dining room and eat together, we have activities, we have church, together. This is a family.

Heard said information on the Malvern Manor website has been updated in regard to mentions of the Reids and any abuse.

All of that information has been improved, he said. We dont want that around.

OBanion and a group of family members took a tour of the home recently and met with Heard.

Were not trying to run their familys name in the mud at all. We dont want to sensationalize anything, Heard said. I wanted to make it ultimately clear that thats the last thing on my mind. I dont like stepping on toes  I just dont.

OBanion also takes issue with the characterization of Inez Gibsons death. She pointed to a contemporary account of the incident in the Malvern Leader, which noted a three-person panel and two doctors concluded it was an accident. The newspaper noted Gibson was known to sometimes dangle the jump rope around herself. A folding chair, closed and laying on the floor, was found beneath her.

OBanion also said her research shows the death didnt happen at the manor.

Im upset about distorting the Malvern history, OBanion said. Theyre lying about how they came up with their paranormal people.

About Gibsons death, Heard said thats a heck of an accident to have happen to someone.

Were not sure if happened (at the manor) or near where it happened, he continued. What we do know  the reason we have that name, that was a name we kept getting on (recordings). It sounded like a little girl saying her name when asked. It was very interesting. We dont have a clue where she died or why she would be there. From what we can see, she is very, very active in our building.

OBanion said shes unaware of a Grace or Gracie that was a schizophrenic there during the Reids ownership. OBanion said shes continuing to research the history of the area and the building but is glad references to Geraldine Reid have been removed from the Malvern Manor website.

About the Paranormal Lockdown episode, she said the family is grateful they did not mention Grandma or the clients she cared for.

We did not think it was very convincing, she said of the show. But everyone believes things differently.

Count Heard and the Frickes among the believers.

Asked why the location is a wellspring for preternatural activity, Heard noted many of the people that stayed in the building when it was operational didnt have stability in their lives.

As far as stability, the house was on the one thing that was constant, that was the thing that was home, he said. The people there became more than staff, they were family. It was like a family there. I think that has a lot to do with it, why they might be sticking around.

 Micah Mertes of the BH News Service contributed to this story, which contains Nonpareil archive material.
Rep. Steve King has again introduced a bill in Congress that would require all official functions of the United States to be conducted in English.

Previous efforts by King, a Republican who represents the northernmost counties of our distribution area in Congress, have failed to gain traction. Theres a reason for that.

This legislation is an answer searching for a problem. Congress conducts its business in English, and our nations founding documents are written in English. Federal and state departments sometimes produce literature in Spanish or other languages to reach the people isolated by language, many of whom are older or poorer.

Yes, the United States has no official language. But English is clearly its de facto tongue, as we have yet to see an example of the federal government operating in a way that would discriminate against English speakers.

America has risen to superpower status because we have successfully assimilated multitudes through English, King said in a statement released Monday morning. Today, only Leftists oppose Official English. Its time to make English the Official Language of the United States.

No, its not just those so-called leftists; government needs to be accessible to all citizens, regardless of what language they speak. And lets face it: The U.S. government is never going to provide information in a language its English-speaking majority couldnt understand.

The lions share of immigrants, refugees and other foreign nationals in the United States know or learn English out of necessity before or when they arrive. Requiring the federal government to conduct its business in the lingua franca wont drive these people to speak a language nearly all know or will learn.

Rather, it will only help to marginalize people already on the fringes of American society.

King is right in that many nations have an official language. What his statement failed to note is that many countries have decided to meet their citizens where they are rather than to exclude them. Canada, Belgium and Switzerland provide easy examples of working together with people of different ethnic backgrounds instead of against them.

But Kings bill offers little, if any, benefit to anyone. English speakers would go on as they always have, while the sliver of the overall population who doesnt speak English would struggle to understand the essential functions of the government.

The congressman introduced this bill under the guise of using language as a uniting force. However, it would have the exact opposite effect.
Gun bills could make Iowa less safe if passed

The Iowa Legislature is in session, working on many interesting bills.

or instance, there is SF 25  stand your ground bill. SJR2 allows people to carry guns without permits. SF 108 eliminates federal prohibitions on machine guns and sawed-off shotguns. SF 145 eliminates requirements for annual permits; it would accept permits from other states, including those with limited, if any, background checks.

So what will happen if these bills become laws? With lots of people running around with different guns, good people with guns and bad people with guns would be indistinguishable. The result could be horrible.

Imagine: I am a good person with a gun. I am in a shopping mall. Suddenly, shots are fired. People panic. My choice is obvious: I need to find the bad person with a gun.

I carry my sawed-off gun. I see a person with a machine gun. I yell: Freeze! He turns toward me, gun in hand. I dont know him. I dont have time to ask what kind of person is he. So, I stand my ground and shoot him.

What if I know him, and I know that he is a good person? Good persons have been known to turn bad. People who used to be good carry out most mass killings in the U.S. So, I stand my ground and shoot him.

But what if I actually know that he is a good person? He doesnt know me. What he sees is a person with a gun. I could yell that its OK; I am a good person. But why should he believe me? So he will try to stand his ground and shoot me. Therefore, I have no choice: I have to stand my ground and shoot him.

Chances are that there will be more than two people with guns in that place. So, we can safely multiply the number of people in this scenario by, say, 20  which means that many good people will shoot other good people. And the bad person can sit back and enjoy the show.

To those who think that this scenario is improbable and otherwise crazy, I have a question: Why? With lots of people carrying guns distinguishing a good person from a bad person would be impossible. Therefore, the aforementioned bills threaten to transform public places in Iowa into free-fire zones.

Jozef Figa, Cedar Rapids

Board member, Iowans for Gun Safety

One Earth, one chance

Theres only one thing I have to say to my fellow citizens: one Earth, one chance. Thats all we get, folks.

I read our president approved that coal companies and coal-burning power plans can dump coal slough into our waterways. I wonder what other unhealthy chemicals hes planning on approving next for dumping into our waterways.

Mike Messerly, Council Bluffs

Remembering the Khojaly Massacre

Feb. 26 marks the 25th anniversary of the heinous war crime against humanity perpetrated by the Armenian armed forces in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.

On Feb. 25-26, 1992, Armenian armed forces, and several Armenian paramilitary detachments, with the support of the 366th motorized rifle regiment of the Russian army, stormed the besieged town of Khojaly and cleansed it from its Azerbaijani population.

By the morning hours of Feb. 26, 613 bodies of Azerbajiani and Ahiska Turks lay dead; among them were 106 women, 83 children, 79 elderly. Many more went missing and fell into captivity, never to be heard from again.

Several countries, as well as more than two dozen U.S. states, including Nebraska and Minnesota, have passed legislative resolutions and issued gubernatorial proclamations commemorating the Khojaly Massacre in 2010-2016. Many members of U.S. Congress have submitted statements for the Congressional Record in the past decade.

Please join my family and me in commemorating the Khojaly Massacre and condemning the perpetrators of this war crime. The U.S. government must stand with its ally Azerbaijan and exert pressure on the Kremlins proxy Armenia to force it to comply with international law and withdraw from occupied Azerbaijani territories.

Nijat Worley, Omaha


Russia has issued a serious challenge to the US by deploying nuclear-capable cruise missiles that could pose a threat to western Europe, The New York Times reports.

Jeffrey Lewis, the founding publisher of Arms Control Wonk, told Business Insider in an interview that the missiles were likely 9M729s, a ground-based adaptation of Russia's Kalibr missiles that famously debuted by striking targets in Syria, nearly 1,000 miles away, from the Caspian Sea.

The missiles violate the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty, or INF, because they have a range of 620 to 3,420 miles and fire from ground-based launchers, enabling Russia to hit European capitals from its homeland.

"We knew it was coming for a long time," Lewis said of the missiles. Russia "started testing in 2008. In 2011, the Obama administration decided it was a compliance problem."

The treaty between the US and Russia represents one of the few successful arms-control achievements in the two superpowers' fraught relationship. In the 1980s, Russia began developing nuclear missiles of an intermediate range that could strike targets in western Europe.

By 2014, President Barack Obama concluded that Russia had violated the INF. Lewis said that last year at an INF special verification meeting, the US confronted Russia with evidence of its violation, to which the Russians responded with "capricious arguments" that the US had also violated the treaty.

"None of the Russian accusations amount to the US, in secret, deploying a large number of missiles that violate the treaty," Lewis said. "The US does not have ground-launched intermediate-range forces anywhere."

Despite the fact that both the US and Russia have intercontinental ballistic missiles that can travel around the world, intermediate-range missiles pose significant and destabilizing risks.

"With ICBMs, you can do things to reduce the range, but they're not optimal," Lewis said. "There's a reason militaries want optimized range."

Story continues

Russian kalibr cruise missiles

In response to Russia building missiles that seem custom-made to strike NATO capitals like Paris or London, the US and NATO pursued a two-track approach, with each developing intermediate-range arms to target Moscow from western Europe and pushing for arms-control agreements with Russia.

"US cruise missiles and ballistic missiles that could reach Moscow in minutes terrified the Russians," Lewis said.

Eventually, Russia and the US agreed to stop developing and deploying intermediate-range weapons to halt the nuclear militarization of Europe. By May 1991, almost 2,700 weapons had been dismantled.

But now the US faces a "compliance nightmare," according to Lewis, because the missiles that violate the INF belong to a family of missiles made by Russia, some of which do not violate the treaty.

"You're not going to be able to shut down their production facilities, because you'd have to shut down all of their facilities," said Lewis. And if Russia is deploying the missiles with battalions that have other missiles, then the other missiles become violations by extension.

LRASM long range anti ship missile f 18 us navy

Without the INF, the US could consider placing nuclear weapons across Europe to counter Moscow's nuclear threat.

Lewis said the US needs to revisit the two-track solution to countering Russia, but with conventional, not nuclear, arms. The US should "start a lot of programs to scare the hell out of the Russians" while also pushing for treaty compliance, he said.

"We need to remind Russians why they wanted this treaty in the first place," said Lewis.

"We wanted the treaty because we didn't want" the Russian intermediate-range missile systems, he added. "But can you imagine the horrifying things we can put in Poland?"

NOW WATCH: 'That makes no sense!': Matt Lauer grills Kellyanne Conway over the timing of Michael Flynns resignation





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SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 13, 2017 / San Diego SEO is a newly formed digital marketing agency in San Diego, CA. They have only recently announced that they are open to serve the public, but have already attracted a wealth of customers, thanks to their unique approach. The world of SEO is incredibly competitive, and this SEO company has clearly been able to find a niche within this market.

Richard Lively from San Diego SEO says, "SEO is everywhere nowadays, and I faced some tremendous opposition when I said I would start an SEO company. After all, there is already a substantial number of such companies, not just in San Diego, but also online. However, I felt that there were certain elements missing in the services provided by the existing companies, even though they refer to themselves as 'full service,' and that was what I wanted to target. I am very happy to see that my company has already started to get noticed, and I particularly want to thank those customers who have already placed their faith in me."

What makes this SEO company different is the approach that they take in providing their services. When looking at San Diego SEO on Yelp, it quickly becomes obvious that they are already gathering as much attention as long established companies, which is a testament to their unique approach. As with other SEO companies, their aim is to get their clients' website to the top search results in Google. The way Lively aims to do this, however, is through online reputation management, conversion rate optimization, and guaranteed rankings. In addition to this, they offer local SEO, map search optimization, link building and content, paid search advertising, custom website design, and business strategy.

"To demonstrate what we are doing, we have recently listed San Diego SEO on Google Maps," adds Richard Lively. "This is an integral part of local SEO, and something that we include as standard in all work that we do with our clients. We encourage everyone to contact us if they truly want to dominate the internet through our unique approach to search engine optimization."

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SOURCE: San Diego SEO
Stuart Simpson, executive director of finance, facilities and operations for North Platte Public Schools continued to break down the elements of the districts budget during Monday nights school board meeting.

The budget is a living, breathing document, Simpson said, and the board follows an extensive process to bring it to life.

Every month, the finance committee discusses a different aspect of the budget, and every month, Simpson presents a piece to the board during the meeting. The idea is that by explaining the budget piece by piece, it will be easier to

understand.

In February, the committee discussed estimated state aid, building budgets, legislation that could impact state aid and the proposed budget document. Simpson discussed the general funds revenue sources, including state aid, at the board

meeting.

LB 119 was passed today, Simpson said. That postpones our state aid being issued until June 1. The district will have to work with estimates until then.

Legislative Bill 119 was introduced by state Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte. It delays the deadline for certifying state aid to schools to give the Legislature flexibility as it seeks to balance the state budget.

The North Platte districts proposed budget for 2017-18 is currently $57,305,380, a $296,828 increase over 2016-17. According to preliminary budget documents, the cash reserves will be at 25 percent and the teaching and learning, or curriculum, budget is improved.

The proposed curriculum budget for 2017-18 is $1.22 million, up from $1.18 million in 2016-17. The curriculum budget makes up 2.7 percent of the general fund budget.

Simpson said that he felt the need to reiterate how important curriculum is. He said its like research and development for a business, and if the district doesnt commit to that, then it isnt committing to the students.

Simpson said that because of last years budget discussions, the district would like to hold the budget hearing separately from the boards vote.

That will allow more time ... to hear patron concerns and have dialogue with them, Simpson said.

A public hearing is set for Aug. 7 at 4 p.m.

The board also discussed selling land near Buffalo Elementary School. The land was purchased by the district in the 1970s when the city was expanding, Simpson said.

Obviously the expansion ... hasnt taken that direction at this time, Simpson said.

The district was recently approached by Habitat for Humanity about the land, which Simpson said hasnt been used by the district in many years.

A recent appraisal valued the land at $25,200. If it was sold, the funds would be put into the building fund for future

projects.

My only concern to start was if we ever had to expand Buffalo, said Skip Altig, board secretary.

Altig said he drove by the property and noted that there was a road in between Buffalo School and the land. He added that if Buffalo would need to be expanded, theres plenty of room on the current campus to build without compromising playground space.

[Selling] it puts houses on the valuation and students in the classroom, possibly, Simpson said.

Simpson said he felt it would be best to sell the property to Habitat for Humanity, but the board wont vote on it until next month.

We wanted to at least inform the community of what was going on first, Simpson said.
EAST CHICAGO  St. Catherine Hospital's new leader said he plans to help the facility innovate as the way hospitals are paid continues to evolve.

Leo Correa took over as CEO of the hospital Monday, succeeding longtime chief executive JoAnn Birdzell. She announced her retirement last May after 19 years in the role.

Correa most recently served as associate vice president of clinical affairs at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, where he worked for 12 years. He had previously been an executive at Northwestern University and University of Chicago Medicine.

"I'm proud to leverage what JoAnn Birdzell has built over many, many years and continue to leverage those programs, infusing them with whatever resources they need to be strong pillars of the community while looking for other opportunities to grow," Correa said.

Don Fesko, CEO of Community Healthcare System, which operates St. Catherine, said Correa was chosen because of his significant experience in "clinical operations, service line development, physician partnerships, patient safety and strategic planning."

At Rush, Correa was part of a Medicare-spearheaded initiative to improve the quality and contain the costs of cancer care. He also partnered with a physician group in the western suburbs to provide academic medical care outside of the city. He hopes to bring that same level of innovation to St. Catherine.

"We want people to seek care in their backyard," he said. "We don't want them to think they have to go outside of the Region for the best care possible."

He said he also plans to help the hospital adjust to the changing health care landscape, namely the transition from a fee-for-service to pay-for-performance model, despite the uncertainty in the nation's capital.

"Health care has been evolving," he said. "I think there's a big, big question mark with the new administration. We need to be really poised and focused on the future."

Correa earned his master's in business administration with a concentration in health services from Keller Graduate School of Management at DeVry University. He received a bachelor's in finance from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Correa is familiar with the Region, having grown up on the South Side of Chicago and lived in Dyer for about the past dozen years.
GARY  Gary/Chicago International Airport officials and consultants described the early phases of their master planning process to an often skeptical crowd at a Monday workshop at the airport terminal.

About 80 residents attended the workshop on the first update to the airport's plan since 2001.

"We have a lot of good things going," Airport Authority Chairman Stephen Mays said, "a lot we expect to do."

The master plan will include a description of the airport's existing facilities and their conditions; a projection of future aviation activity; future facility needs and alternatives for meeting them, based on the demand projection; an implementation plan; and an airport layout plan, required by the Federal Aviation Administration for federal funding for projects.

In July, the Gary Airport Authority hired national transportation planning firm Jacobsen/Daniels to lead the effort.

The firm has collected details of the airport's facilities and has begun preparing the projection of future activity, project manager Jim Wilson said. The forecast will include a "base forecast" and a "high forecast."

"We don't have crystal balls, we can't guarantee there will be a certain level of business," Wilson said.

A preliminary base forecast predicts only a slight rise over the approximately 25,000 annual takeoffs and landings the airport now supports; the high forecast suggests activity doubling to around 50,000.

Both forecasts assume passenger service returns to the airport.

"We have assumed we'd get some passenger service consistent with the service you've had here in the past," Wilson said.

The base forecast rises gradually to nearly 30,000 passengers annually by 2035; the high forecast goes to about 400,000 enplanements per year.

"What that equates to is about six flights a day," Wilson said of the high forecast. "We tried to bracket a range we think we could work within."

The master plan will include recommendations for dealing with various levels of business. Demand will govern infrastructure and facility projects undertaken, Wilson said. High passenger service might require terminal or gate expansion; high general aviation might require more hangar space.

Some audience members were there to protest the use of the airport by the federal government's Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"It looks like the future of the airport has very little passenger service," Ruth Needleman said. "Things like deportations do not help attract people to the airport."

She said the possibility of increasing deportations causes greater concern. "I'm wondering how the future and vision of the airport is impacted by deportation flights out of the airport."

Others expressed frustration with what they see as the slow pace of airport growth, despite recent gains with the 2015 completion of an extended runway.

"You're speaking to all the things the master planning process will address," airport Executive Director Dan Vicari said.

The master plan update is expected to be completed at the end of the first quarter of 2018. Two more public workshops will be held this year.
MICHIGAN CITY  The state of Indiana expects $39 million to be available soon to both public and private entities for reducing emissions in diesel-burning vehicles.

The funds are part of a $2.7 billion settlement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Volkswagen over the car company's emissions cheating scandal, which involved about 590,000 vehicles that violated the federal Clean Air Act.

All 50 states along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and federally recognized tribes will share in the $2.7 billion funding pie, a senior environmental manager with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management told the annual meeting of a clean air group Tuesday.

''What is Indiana going to do with their funds? That is the question,'' said Shawn Seals, as he took the podium as a featured speaker at the yearly meeting for South Shore Clean Cities, at Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City.

Volkswagen diesel-powered vehicles from 2009 to 2016 were equipped with computer software designed to cheat on federal emissions tests, leaving regulators and unwitting buyers to think they complied with applicable U.S. laws.

Seals said the process of collecting the funds due states will soon begin, with governors having 60 days to submit a list of beneficiaries once the clock start's ticking on applying for the funds. States will have another 90 days after that to submit mitigation plans, he said.

Some classes of local freight trucks, school shuttle and transit buses, locomotives, lake vessels, forklifts and cargo handling equipment at ports are among eligible beneficiaries. Seals said recipients of the money can either replace diesel engines with cleaner burning ones or install emissions control technology on their vehicles.

''If it's diesel powered, it's going to be eligible,'' Seals said.

Close to 300 people attended the event where Fair Oaks Farms was the recipient of the Business of the Year award for reducing greenhouse gas emissions at its farm and large agri-tourism operation near DeMotte.
HOBART  Schools and local businesses are creating unique partnerships across the state in providing real-life work experiences for students, and the one between St. Mary Medical Center and the School City of Hobart have just earned a new award from the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.

The inaugural School Counseling-Business Partnership of the Year award was presented to Hobart High School and St. Mary Medical Center at a luncheon ceremony Feb. 9 in Indianapolis during National School Counseling Week.

The recognition, developed by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce Foundation, was designed to highlight innovative approaches to college and career readiness.

In a press release, the Indiana Chamber said many factors led to its selecting the Hobart-St. Mary alliance.

Among them: the hospitals sponsorship of Hobarts Promise Indiana 529 college savings program; the establishment of a health care clinic in the schools to meet the needs of both students and their families; and St. Marys providing a wide range of work-based learning experiences and credential opportunities for high school students.

Indiana Chamber Foundation Executive Director Christy Huston said the medical center provides more than 50 students each year with the screening tests required to take part in the Emergency Medical Services program.

"It hosts approximately 30 students a year in a variety of internship and other learning opportunities," Huston said.

We also found that through the dedication and leadership of CEO Janice Ryba, they go the extra mile. To accommodate one students interest in health care administration, a St. Marys Medical Center team member changed his hours of work to ensure that a student was able to participate in meetings and experiences, she said.

Additionally, the award provides a $1,000 scholarship to a Hobart senior. Rachael Gayton, who will be attending Ball State University in the fall, was selected by the school to receive the scholarship.

Gayton is in her fourth year of the schools biomedical sciences program and interning at St. Marys in the pediatric unit. She said her interaction with nurses and their willingness to share their experiences have solidified her plans to become a nurse practitioner.

Nominations from throughout Indiana were submitted for the chamber award. Danielle Adams, Hobart High School director of guidance, nominated the winning partnership.

"Our Work-Based Learning program at Hobart High School is extremely beneficial, as students are able to go out into the community to get first-hand experience in the jobs that they are interested in," Adams said.

"Even if students decide the career is not for them, at least they learned that while in high school and not in the middle of their post-secondary career. We highly recommend this program for all students."

Adams said the school is proud of the relationship it has with St. Marys Medical Center and congratulates Gayton on her award. "Her hard work has paid off and she will benefit financially as a result of her participation in the Work-Based Learning program," Adams said.

From the EMT emergency room situations to pediatrics, students are interning in healthcare fields they aspire to be in some day, Hobart schools Superintendent Peggy Buffington said.

"The employability skills that are warranted in these internships are fantastic real-life experiences for the students. The dividends are a win win for everyone. These students will perhaps come back to St. Marys some day for a job where it all started," Buffington said.

"We are grateful to the level of support provided by Janice Ryba, CEO and the St. Marys Team. They are truly a role model for other employers to follow."
GARY  A teenage girl who police considered in extreme danger when she went missing early Monday was found safely Tuesday afternoon, but police are saying little else publicly about the ongoing investigation into her disappearance.

"We will not be releasing much information at this point, just that she has been recovered, the Amber alert will be canceled, and the investigation is still ongoing," Lt. Dawn Westerfield said during a Tuesday afternoon news conference at the Gary Police Department.

Fifteen-year-old Chastinea Reeves had last been seen about 2 a.m. Monday in the area of 2027 Maine St. in Gary, police said, which was about the same time a woman was found dead in a homicide.

Reeves was found shortly before 2:30 p.m. Tuesday within the city of Gary, police said. Westerfield declined to offer further details about where the teen was found, if Reeves was with anyone, or if police have anyone in custody.

Police found Jamie M. Garnett, 34, dead at her residence at about 2:10 a.m. Monday in the 4400 block of West 23rd Place in Gary. The death was ruled a homicide.

Westerfield fielded questions from reporters Tuesday, but declined to release additional details. She also would not confirm whether the cases were related.

"The integrity of both cases must be kept," Westerfield said.

Asked if neighbors should be concerned about their safety, Westerfield said she believes there is no cause "for any widespread panic."

An Amber alert issued Monday for the missing teen said Reeves might be in extreme danger. Under Indiana law, police can decide to request an Amber alert if a child is younger than 18 and believed to be abducted or in danger of serious bodily harm or death. The alert was cancelled at 3:31 p.m., shortly after the news conference concluded.

Westerfield said she was not aware of what information may have led police to Reeves.

Westerfield a day earlier during a Monday news conference made a plea for Reeves to contact police.

"Chastinea, please call the police," she said. "We just need to make sure you're OK. Go somewhere where you're safe and please contact any police department via 911. We need to make sure you're safe."

An autopsy on Garnett was completed Monday, said Scott Sefton, Lake County coroner's office chief deputy. As of Tuesday morning, the coroner's office was not disclosing what Garnett's injuries were because of an ongoing investigation, he said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Kristopher Adams, of the Lake County/Gary Metro Homicide Unit, at 219-755-3855, central dispatch at 219-660-0000 or 911.
CROWN POINT  Lake County Councilman Jamal Washington had domestic violence shoved in his face Tuesday.

Washington resigned as council vice president under pressure from his fellow council members, although he remains a member of the seven-member fiscal body.

Later in Tuesday's meeting, the County Council adopted a resolution in support of domestic violence victims. Washington seconded the resolution.

He pleaded guilty Dec. 8 to misdemeanor battery of his wife. He admitted pushing and hurting her during an argument in late 2015.

He remains on probation under a plea agreement that led to the dismissal of felony strangulation charges against him that would have forced him to leave all public office, if convicted.

A divided council named him vice president Jan. 10, a largely ceremonial post for which he lobbied.

Washington announced Jan. 27 he would vacate the vice presidency  shortly after Councilwoman Christine Cid, D-East Chicago, to withdrew her previous support of Washington for vice president.

Washington said Tuesday he didn't want the controversy over his vice presidency to become "a side show."

The council unanimously voted to name Councilman David Hamm, D-Hammond, vice president. Hamm had served last year as vice president.

Council members also voted Tuesday to preserve their hiring freeze. They overrode a veto by the Lake County Board of Commissioners, which complained last month the freeze created needless paperwork for other officeholders.

The freeze requires county government officeholders to get the council's permission to fill job vacancies. Bilski said the delay creates savings because the county isn't paying a salary for several weeks between the old employee's departure and the new employee's arrival.

Bilski said the savings are needed, because the state Legislature is threatening to deny county government between $1.5 million and $2.5 million in casino tax revenues it now receives.

The council also voted to establish a policy to encourage minority and women's businesses.

Council members Cid and Washington read into the record a lengthy ordinance encouraging county government to solicit work from vendors who have met state and local certification as minority and women's businesses.
INDIANAPOLIS  A proposal stripping local governments of their authority to regulate short-term home rentals was approved, 53-40, Tuesday by the Republican-controlled Indiana House.

House Bill 1133, sponsored by state Rep. Matt Lehman, R-Berne, would invalidate all local ordinances barring homeowners from renting their dwellings through Airbnb and similar online services, as well as strike down existing bans on short-term rentals in lakefront communities like Long Beach.

Lehman admitted his legislation, which last week failed to garner enough votes to pass the House, may not be perfect.

But he asked his colleagues to nevertheless advance it to the Republican-controlled Senate so he could keep working on it.

House Democratic Leader Scott Pelath, D-Michigan City, led the opposition by pointing out that local governments aren't rushing to ban their residents from renting their homes through Airbnb.

He said Lehman's proposal is "looking to solve a problem that doesn't exist."




Starbucks is about to begin serving ice cream at more than 100 stores across the US.

This week, the coffee chain will begin serving the Roastery Affogato menu at 10 upscale Reserve bar locations in Los Angeles, Boston, and Washington, DC.

Affogatos, an Italian treat, are created by pouring a shot of espresso on top of a scoop of ice cream. At Reserve bar locations, the menu will range from the Classic Affogato for $6 to the $8.50 Cold Brew Malt, made with small-lot cold brew, vanilla ice cream, and chocolate bitters.

Starbucks is additionally testing a slightly less expensive affogato menu at 100 traditional Starbucks locations in Orange County, California. These locations will serve similar treats, but won't use small-lot brews, meaning the most expensive item is the $6.40 cold brew malt made with Starbucks' Narino 70 cold brew and chocolate bitters.

The affogatos draw their inspiration from Starbucks' Seattle Roastery, which added an affogato to the menu last June. Since then, Starbucks says that the affogato became a top five menu item at the Roastery, even in the winter.

Variations on the Roastery's classic affogato include a cold brew ice cream float and the Shakerato Affogato, which is made with icy shaken espresso and finished with vanilla syrup and a mint sprig. Last year, the upscale affogato and its variants seemed too complex to be served at most Starbucks locations.

Affogato

Instead, last summer, Starbucks rolled out three Affogato-style Frappuccino flavors, vanilla bean, caramel, and mocha. Now, the coffee giant is pushing the limits on how far it can take Roastery-style beverages.

With CEO Howard Schultz stepping down to focus on Starbucks' premium Roastery efforts, one of the coffee giant's biggest challenges is figuring out how to take inspiration from the Willy Wonka-esque coffee roastery and apply its learnings to menus at Starbucks around the world.

Story continues

The affogato fits into this plan perfectly, pairing a flavor customers across the US already enjoy (ice cream), with the legitimacy of a classic Italian dessert.

NOW WATCH: The CEO of Dippin' Dots just responded to 5 years of angry tweets from Trump's press secretary





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INDIANAPOLIS  State lawmakers are refining a plan to encourage transit-oriented development along the existing South Shore Line and proposed West Lake extension using tax revenues that would be generated over time near the commuter rail stations.

In coming days, the House Ways and Means Committee is expected to vote on a revised version of House Bill 1144, sponsored by state Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville, that deploys common financing tools in a manner unique for Indiana.

His plan calls for the creation of at least eight Transit Development Districts  TDDs for short  of less than 1 square mile centered on the rail stations in Hammond, East Chicago, Gary, Miller and Portage, along with the proposed stops in Hammond, Munster and Dyer.

The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority would manage development of the TDDs, subject to local planning and zoning ordinances, and sell bonds to encourage speedy construction of rail-adjacent residential, retail and commercial properties.

Growth in local property and income tax revenues within the TDDs would be used to repay the transit-oriented development debt.

The RDA's planning consultant, Indianapolis-based Policy Analytics Inc., estimates the local tax revenue growth would total $456.2 million over a 20-year period.

Growth in state sales and income tax revenue within the TDDs  estimated to total $179.8 million over 20 years  also would be captured.

That money would go toward repaying the expected $12 million a year the state will finance on behalf of the RDA to double-track the existing South Shore line between Gary and Michigan City, and for its share of West Lake extension costs.

Region cities and counties separately are contributing about $18 million a year, mostly in local income tax revenue, for those projects.

"It is a rather complicated funding mechanism," Slager admitted. "The goal ... is to ensure that we get some uniform and appropriate development along all of these lines, east-west as well as north-south, and provide the anticipated increment that the strategic plan suggests."

His revised proposal also opens the door for LaPorte County to join the RDA, without payment of past dues, to continue the transit-oriented development into Michigan City.

"This project is hands-down the largest economic development project that's going to happen in the state in the near future," Slager said. "It's critical to our region, to our connectivity to Chicago: not to export jobs, but to import residents."

Ways and Means committee members seemed to respond favorably to Slager's proposal. Several indicated to him after his presentation that they are likely to support it when it comes up for a vote.

Slager's plan also was endorsed by Heather Ennis, of the Northwest Indiana Forum, a Region economic development organization, and Dewey Pearman, of the Construction Advancement Foundation of Northwest Indiana, which represents some 20,000 Region workers.

"We're not just building a train station in a parking lot," Pearman said.

"What we're looking at is an investment that will grow the economy in very significant ways through very substantial commercial and residential development."

Should Slager's proposal win committee approval, it still must pass the full House and Senate to advance to the governor's desk.
VALPARAISO  A proposed resolution aimed at making residents from the Middle East feel more inclusive in the community was released to the public prematurely, City Council member Deb Porter, D-at-large said.

Porter referred to a Sunday story in the Times of Northwest Indiana about the proposed resolution.

She said the resolution, which she had penned and clearly marked as a draft, had been sent internally to city officials only.

"It was very premature to be released to the press. It put us all in an awkward position," Porter said.

Porter asked fellow council members and Mayor Jon Costas their thoughts at the City Council meeting on Monday night.

"It's a question asked all the time. It's not usually expected or done. It (the leak) didn't come from the mayor's office," Costas said.

Porter said she was contacted by reporter Bob Kasarda and that she asked him who had released the information to him.

"The reporter said he couldn't disclose his source," Porter said.

Porter said she is still working on the draft of the resolution and hopes to have it in final form and presented to the council Feb. 27.

The city already has a human rights ordinance on the books, Porter said, but this one takes a more general stand.

"This is a whole new reality," Porter said.

Those living in Valparaiso from the Middle East should be able to go home to visit a sick or dying family member without fearing whether they will be able to return to their classes, jobs or businesses, Porter said.

Porter said part of her rewrite is to make the proposed resolution more inclusive to cover people from countries beyond the Middle East.

City Councilman Matt Murphy, R-3rd, said he believes the issue is already addressed by the existing human rights ordinance.

He was particularly concerned with a line in the draft version of the resolution that reads, "We will embrace the diversity in our community and resist efforts to deport, detain or dehumanize those who are targeted for their diversity."

"That statement appears to suggest that the city is not going to, at a minimum, cooperate with the federal government," Murphy said. "Are they advocating violating federal law?"

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Jan. 27 banning travel from seven predominantly Muslim countries  Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen  for 90 days and suspended the admissions of refugees for 120 days.

That ban has been suspended by two separate court actions.

In other business, the council:

Approved a $325,000 capital equipment fund, the bulk of which will be spent on the lease purchase of squad cars, trucks and other equipment, officials said.

Approved a draft School Board appointment schedule setting the timeline for the selection of interviews and public meetings.

City Councilman Robert Cotton, D-2nd, suggested there be more defined criteria for the candidates for the council members when making their selections.

Those interested in applying to become the City Council's appointment to the Valparaiso Community School Board must apply with resume and supporting documents by 4 p.m. May 24 at the clerk-treasurer's office at City Hall.
VALPARAISO  A march to affirm Valparaiso as a welcoming city is scheduled to step off at 10:30 a.m. Saturday from the entrance of Valparaiso University at University Drive and LaPorte Avenue.

"We will gather in solidarity to support our immigrant and refugee brothers and sisters whose entry to and continued residency in this nation are threatened by the recent executive orders that ban immigration from seven countries and eliminate DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) immigrant protection," according to organizers.

The march to City Hall is being hosted by a variety of local groups interested in the issue.

Several speakers are planned through noon once the march arrives at City Hall.

"This march isn't about shouting out against our president, nor is it about shouting out against the two executive orders that will inevitably have such a negative impact on our community," according to organizers. "The one single purpose of this march is to reaffirm our city as a welcoming city, not only in word but also in deed."
CROWN POINT  About 20 people turned out for a public hearing earlier this week on the 125th Avenue and Grant Street intersection improvement project.

The proposed project begins about 650 feet east of Main Street to Grant Street, continuing on Grant from 125th Avenue north to 124th Place. The need for the project is a result of congestion at the intersection during peak periods due to high traffic volumes during the arrival and departure time for Crown Point High School students.

It will also address the lack of pedestrian sidewalks along 125th Avenue and reduce the high volume of traffic accidents on that roadway.

The project will consist of one 12-foot travel lane in each direction on 125th Avenue as well as a 12-foot two-way left turn lane along the center of the road.

A six-foot wide concrete sidewalk will be placed adjacent to the curb along both sides of the roadway. Concrete curb and gutter will be placed outside of the travel lanes throughout the project limits and an enclosed storm sewer will be added along 125th Avenue due to the added sidewalk, curb and gutter.

Along Grant Street will be the addition of a 12-foot wide right turn lane for southbound traffic onto westbound 125th Avenue and include a two-foot wide shoulder. Sidewalks will not be constructed along Grant Street as part of the project.

Construction of the $2 million project is scheduled to begin in spring of 2019.

It is anticipated that 125th Avenue will be closed during construction. Traffic will be detoured by use of South Main Street which travels from Grant Street to 125th Avenue and be less than a mile in length.

Traffic is expected to be maintained along Grant Street one lane in each direction during construction.

Only two people elected to make a public comment, including Jeff Ban, of DVG Inc., the project engineers for the new Southlake YMCA expansion project, which is just down the street from the proposed road improvements.

Ban asked representatives of American Structure Point, the designers of the roadway project, to work with his team because of the impact the YMCA expansion will have on that corridor which will mean more traffic.

Judy Walker lives nearby the project and said she is concerned about drainage issues and wants to know how planners will address natural springs in the area.

Residents who would like to comment on the project can email bhope@structurepoint.com. Comments can also be mailed to Briana Hope at American Structurepoint, Inc., 7260 Shadeland Station, Indianapolis, IN 46256.

All comments submitted will become part of the transcript and be addressed in subsequent project documentation, along with the verbal comments presented at the public hearing.

Comments should be sent by Feb. 28.

A draft environmental document is available for public review and inspection at the following locations:

Crown Point Community Library, 122 N. Main St.

City of Crown Point, Engineering Office, 705 Industrial Blvd.
HAMMOND  An alleged member of the Latin King street gang pleaded guilty to a racketeering charge Monday.

Nicholas "Cali" Baez, of Hammond, pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity. Sentencing is scheduled for June 1.

The maximum penalty for the charge is life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The plea agreement, however, calls for Baez not to receive a sentence of more than 30 years. If the court rejects this provision of the plea agreement, Baez has the opportunity to withdraw his guilty plea.

According to the U.S. attorney's office in Hammond, Baez also agreed he was responsible for the death of 26-year-old Hammond resident Raudel Contreras Jr., which occurred at the now-shuttered Estrella's Bar in August 2014.

Baez also agreed to cooperate with the U.S. attorney's office in other proceedings.

According to the indictment in the case, Baez went to the bar with the intention of burning it down. The Latin Kings were allegedly angry the bar owner had days before allowed members of the Latin Dragons, a rival gang, to patronize the establishment.

When it appeared the bar was too busy that night, Baez instead opened fire at the business in the 4700 block of Hohman Avenue, according to the indictment. Contreras was wounded in the shooting and later died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois. He was the only person hit by the gunfire.

According to court records, Baez and another Latin King were instructed to burn the bar down that day. After going to the bar, they returned to an SUV and told another Latin King that the bar was too busy. The person inside the SUV then allegedly handed them a gun and told them to "do something."

According to the indictment, Baez tied a shirt around his face, ran toward the front door and fired five shots into the business.
GARY  Northwest Indiana shares a lot with Cook County in terms of challenges and assets, Toni Preckwinkle, president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, told guests at Mondays Gary Chamber of Commerce meeting.

When Preckwinkle took office in December 2010, Cook County had an operating deficit of $487 million. Since then the commission staff has cleared more than $1.6 billion in deficits, she said.

Eighty-seven percent of Cook Countys budget goes for public health and public safety, said Preckwinkle about an area that includes Chicago, 130 other cities and villages and some unincorporated areas. Reforms in both areas have topped her agenda, she said.

In 2012, a Medicaid waiver available under the Affordable Care Act allowed Cook County to launch CountyCare. This managed care program with more than 130 community partners provides health care for 140,000 residents who were previously un-served or underserved, she said.

Operating Cook County Jail, the United States largest single campus correctional facility, is extraordinarily expensive, Preckwinkle said. It costs us $162 per day to keep a person in jail.

Jail tends to be where people await trial, rather than serve sentences, she said.

Of the 10,000 in jail (when public safety reforms began) only 7 percent were serving a sentence. Seventy percent were awaiting trial for non-violent crimes like drug use, shoplifting, prostitution, crimes that feed their drug habits, Preckwinkle said.

Since the reform began in 2013, the Cook County Jail population now averages less than 7,200, she said.

Economic development is the third leg of stool, Preckwinkle said, pointing to the creation of the Council of Economic Advisors and a Bureau of Economic Development for Northeast Illinois seven-county area.

The focus of these efforts has been on metal fabricating; exporting opportunities for small- and medium-size businesses and on foreign direct investment that can boost business growth and job expansion, she said.

I suspect these industries and these policy areas are close to home for many of you here today, Preckwinkle said.

The Greater Calumet Region for decades was the heartland of American industry. It produced steel and fabricated metals for the world, she said. It provided good-paying jobs for generations of families.

However, manufacturing has been devastated over the last 40 years on both sides of the state line. Job losses are due as much to technological changes as the export of jobs to the south and overseas, she said.

Communities like Harvey and Chicago Heights that were once industrial powerhouses are now hollowed-out shells of their former selves, Preckwinkle said. We are working to reverse this downhill slide in challenged areas of Cook County.
Shadi Martini, a Syrian businessman forced to flee his homeland, will provide an update on the current situation in Syria and the ongoing refugee crisis in Northwest Indiana on Wednesday and Thursday.

Martini will speak at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Indiana University Northwest's Bergland Auditorium in Gary and at Valparaiso Universitys Chapel of the Resurrection at 7 p.m. On Thursday, he will appear at noon at Purdue University Northwest's Alumni Hall in Hammond and at 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 121 W. Ninth Street, Michigan City.

Martini, born and raised in Aleppo, has since become an American citizen. His visit is sponsored by the Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees and facilitated by its local affiliate, Concerned Citizens for Syrian Refugees of Michigan City.

The general public is invited; admission is free.
GARY  Police are searching for a teen missing since early Monday who they say may be in extreme danger.

Chastinea Reeves, 15, went missing at 2 a.m., Gary police said. She was last seen in the area of 2027 Maine St. in Gary wearing a gray shirt and light-colored jeans. She is described as 5 feet, 2 inches and 130 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Reeves went to that address to seek assistance after her mother was the victim of a crime, Lt. Dawn Westerfield said at a Monday evening press briefing.

The address was believed to be a friend's house, Westerfield said.

Westerfield said she was not at liberty to discuss the details of the crime involving Chastinea's mother or her identity.

Around the same time the teen went missing, Jamie M. Garnett, 34, was found dead at her residence in the 4400 block of West 23rd Street in Gary. The death was ruled a homicide.

As of Monday night, police wouldn't confirm the two incidents were related.

Westerfield said it's not known whether the teen is on foot, in a car or alone, though Chastinea is not with a parent.

"There are just too many unknowns," Westerfield said. "She's young. It's very cold outside. We don't believe she has any means to care for herself at this time. And she's not with anyone she should be with."

Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Kristopher Adams at 219-755-3855, central dispatch at 219-660-0000 or 911.

"Chastinea, please call the police," Westerfield said at the briefing. "We just need to make sure you're OK. Go somewhere where you're safe and please contact any police department via 911. We need to make sure you're safe."
The New York Historical Society displays exhibits by students with serious disabilities as part of an effort to give children with special needs more exposure to mainstream opportunities. Our education reporter, Lindsey Christ, has more.

For his social studies project, Anthony researched people with disabilities in Eypgt.

He was upset to learn children with special needs there usually do not attend regular schools.

"They can't go to schools."

That is a policy New York City has tried to abolish. Now almost all special education students are integrated into mainstream classes, with aides and extra teachers.

The exception  24,000 kids with the most complicated disabilities. They still attend special schools, in what is called District 75. Monday, those schools held their first-ever social studies fair, at the New York Historical Society.

"They're no different than anyone else and I think often, we have watered down curriculum for them," said schools Chancellor Carmen Farina. "What I've been very clear about since I've been chancellor is that they get the same curriculum as everyone else, with a little adaptation."

Two hundred and fifty students traveled to the fair, from all five boroughs.

"We can share our project with other people so they can learn about  stuff!"

The students are being taught under a social studies curriculum for all elementary and middle school children introduced last fall.

It stresses group work and project-based learning, both well suited for special education students. There is also a focus on social justice.

"Students I just met with are talking about the Syrian refugees and why it's a crisis and what we can do about it," Chancellor Farina said.

In fact, many of the projects displayed here focus on injustice or discrimination.

[[SOT, Tanzania Lewis, 8th grade student, PS 811 in Brooklyn]]

"The Native American children were taken away from their families," said eighth-grade student Tanzania Lewis.

Students learned that even our first president was an underdog.

"George Washington, he and his troops weren't like well-trained," seventh-grade student Shanay McFarlane. "He didn't have like money to buy like actual guns."

The Chancellor was impressed, and so was an advocate who often criticizes the city for not adequately serving students with special needs.

"We worry that they aren't getting access to the curriculum and to all of the academic content but they clearly are based on all of the projects that I've seen today," said Maggie Moroff, with Advocates for Children of New York.
NEW YORK - A Manhattan jury has found a former bodega worker guilty of felony murder and kidnapping in the 1979 death of six-year-old Etan Patz, in a case that has cast a shadow over the city for nearly 40 years.

Pedro Hernandez, 56, was found guilty on felony murder and kidnapping counts, but not guilty on first count intentional murder.

This was Hernandez' second trial, after his first trial ended in a hung jury two years ago.

"The disappearance of Etan Patz haunted families in New York and across the country for nearly four decades." Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr. said in a statement. "Bringing closure on Etan's disappearance to the Patz family has also been among my highest priorities since I took office as District Attorney."

Shortly after the jury was dismissed, Etan's father, Stan Patz, told reporters the closure provided by the verdict has been a long time coming.

"I am truly relieved and I tell you its about time, it really is. Its about time," Patz said.

Prosecutors say Hernandez confessed several times to killing Patz and that he had told many people over the past few decades that he had killed someone.

However, his defense contended that Hernandez has a low I.Q. and suffers from a mental illness that leaves him susceptible to flights of fancy. They also argued that his taped confessions were coerced.

Harvey Fishbein, Hernandez' attorney, said that he hoped for an appeal.

"We do not believe this will resolve the story of what happened to Etan back in 1979," Fishbein said. "I know this is an emotionally driven case. Certainly, we feel for the parents. I think the emotions were hard to overcome for anyone who touched this case. We are just hopeful that an appellate court  coldly looking at the legal rulings and the testimony  will send this case back to be heard again."

Patz disappeared on the morning of May 25, 1979, while walking to his school bus stop in SoHo, in what became perhaps the most infamous missing-child case in New York City history. The disappearance made parents across the nation more aware of the potential dangers facing their children, and is credited with launching the use of milk cartons to display information about missing kids.

Hernandez worked at a bodega located on Etan's route and has said that he lured the child into the store's basement with the promise of soda. He was arrested in 2012, after a family member told police Hernandez spoke of having killed a child in New York in the late 1970s.

But Hernandez' first trial, in 2015, ended in a mistrial when the jury wasn't unanimously convinced of the veracity of Hernandez' confessions.

Previously investigators thought that convicted pedophile Jose Ramos might be Patz' killer after it was discovered in 1982 that Ramos had a relationship with a woman who frequently walked Etan home from school. Ramos was found responsible for Patz' death in a 2004 civil trial, but that ruling was reversed by a Manhattan supreme court judge last year.

Patz' body has never been found.

A sentencing date for Hernandez has been set for February 28.
We're learning more about a wave of deportation arrests in the city. Homeland Security officials are providing details about some of the undocumented immigrants who have been arrested, saying most are criminals. But advocates are raising doubts whether most of those arrested pose any real threat as Queens Reporter Ruschell Boone reports.

As they go about their lives, many immigrants in the city are in a panic, following enforcement operations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. Christian Bolanos, from Peru, is one of them.

"It's just a lot of terror and fear," Bolanos said. "Like everybody is just scared to go out and even like go to work and stuff.

ICE said Monday that 680 undocumented immigrants have been arrested in five states this week  41 of them in the city. The agency revealed that 38 of those 41 people had criminal convictions, including a gang member from El Salvador, and a Jamaican national and a Mexican convicted of sexually assaulting minors. But immigration advocates are skeptical of all the enforcement activity.

"You for example just shared 3 cases out of 41," said Natalia Aristizabal, lead organizer for Make the Road New York. "What were the cases for the rest of those families?"

Homeland Security insists the arrests are part of the routine, targeted enforcement normally conducted by ICE agents focusing on criminals. But the operation follows an executive order signed by President Trump that suggests nearly all undocumented immigrants can be prioritized for deportation. Monday Trump said he's just doing what he said he would.

"If people have not committed big offenses they are actually able to go back to their families after doing whatever time they have to do," Aristizabal said.

Senator Chuck Schumer tweeted he's: "troubled by lack of transparency and due process violations in ICE enforcement actions."

Ice says reports of sweeps and checkpoints are false, dangerous and irresponsible, and that they create panic and put communities and law enforcement in unnecessary danger. Advocates say talk of a checkpoint on Roosevelt Avenue in Corona were completely untrue.

Many advocates are asking people to stop spreading false information because that is helping to cause panic here.

Christian Bolanos was happy to hear there were not any sweeps, but he is still uneasy about his future and the future of some of his family and friends.
Environmental activists and local government officials warned more than a decade ago about the risk of catastrophic flooding below a major Northern California dam  the very scenario that threatened to unfold over the weekend, prompting evacuation orders for nearly 200,000 people.

State and federal regulators dismissed those fears at the time, saying they were confident the hillside that helps hold back hundreds of billions of gallons of water was stable and did not need to be reinforced with concrete.

That decision has come under scrutiny now that the hillside  or emergency spillway, as officials call it  has been put to its first test in the Oroville Dams nearly 50-year history.

Over the weekend, water from the storm-swollen lake behind the dam spilled down the unpaved slope for 38 hours, eroding it enough that authorities feared a huge breach could open and send a 30-foot-high surge of water down the Feather River below, devastating thousands of homes.

The danger eased Monday as the water level behind the dam dropped, but more rain was in the forecast, and residents as far as several dozen miles downriver in Yuba City were advised to stay out of their homes because of flood danger.

At 770-feet, Oroville Dam is the nations tallest. It stands about 70 miles north of Sacramento in the foothills of the northern Sierra Nevada.

In 2005, at the start of the dams still-unfinished relicensing process, environmental groups asked federal regulators to require that the California Department of Water Resources armor the hillside  or reinforce it, typically with concrete or boulders  to prevent potentially catastrophic erosion from water escaping when the reservoir was cresting over full capacity.

The groups said rocks and other debris could be swept into the river, damaging highway bridges and power plants downstream. In a worst case, they warned, a major breach would unleash floods that could take lives and destroy property.

Also in 2005, officials with Sutter County, which the Feather River runs through several dozen miles downstream of the dam, asked federal regulators to investigate the adequacy and structural integrity of the hillside and how it would hold during extreme flood releases.

I think that the warning that was given should have been taken with the utmost seriousness, said Bob Wright, an attorney at Friends of the River, which raised the issue along with the Sierra Club and South Yuba River Citizens League.

Bill Croyle, acting head of the Department of Water Resources, refused to comment on the 2005 concerns, saying he was not familiar with them and would need to research the matter.

Speaking late Monday at the states emergency-operations center in Sacramento, Gov. Jerry Brown also said he had not known of the warnings about the emergency spillway, and said public officials depend on the recommendations of their engineers. They tell us what we need and we do it, Brown said.

But we live in a world of risk, Brown added. Stuff happens and we respond.

Last week, officials tried to relieve pressure on the dam by releasing a torrent of water through an adjacent, concrete-lined primary channel designed to handle heavy flows. When the deluge gouged out hundreds of feet of the concrete bottom, dam managers eased off those controlled releases. Water then began spilling down the hillside.

Back when environmentalists and local officials were raising their concerns, the water resources department dismissed the need to fortify the hillside, insisting it would not be in danger if water cascaded down it.

The hillside was designed to handle the probable maximum flood, and annual dam inspections include a review of the spillways structural integrity, according to a May 2006 filing by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and other water agencies in the state that could have been in line to help pay for the upgrades to the dam. The cost of reinforcing the hillside was not immediately clear.

In the filing, the water agencies told federal regulators that environmentalists and local officials did not show that the emergency spillway posed a public risk.

As part of the relicensing application, state water resources department officials wrote in a final environmental impact report dated June 2008 that no significant concerns about the hillsides stability had been raised in any government or independent review.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the agency that oversees the dams relicensing and received the request for armoring, agreed that paving was not needed. An agency spokeswoman said the original, 50-year license for the dam expired in January 2007, but it has been automatically renewed each year pending a full renewal

We have just, in December 2016, received all the necessary permits and other documents we need before issuing a final decision on the application, spokeswoman Mary ODriscoll said. She would not answer other questions about the relicensing application.

In a July 2006 memo to managers, first reported by The Mercury-News, a senior civil engineer with the agencys San Francisco office wrote that the agency determined dam safety would not be compromised in the rare event of an emergency spillway discharge.

Engineer John Onderdonk also wrote that, it is acceptable for the emergency spillway to sustain significant damage.

Knickmeyer reported from Sonoma and Pritchard reported from Los Angeles. Contributing were John Flesher in Traverse City, Mich.; Matthew Daly in Washington; and Angel Kastanis and John Antczak in Los Angeles.
OROVILLE, Calif.  Authorities lifted an evacuation order Tuesday for nearly 200,000 California residents who live below the nations tallest dam after declaring that the risk of catastrophic collapse of a damaged spillway had been significantly reduced.

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said residents can return home immediately. State water officials said they have drained enough of the lake behind Oroville Dam so that its earthen emergency spillway will not be needed to handle runoff from an approaching storm.

But, the sheriff said, the region would remain under an evacuation warning, meaning that residents need to be ready to flee again if conditions worsen.

Residents returning home have to be vigilant, and there is the prospect that we will issue another evacuation order  if the situation changes, Honea said.

Crews also dropped giant sandbags, cement blocks and boulders on damaged areas Tuesday.

Officials had ordered residents to flee to higher ground Sunday after fearing a never-before-used emergency spillway was close to failing and sending a 30-foot wall of water into communities downstream.

Over the weekend, the swollen lake spilled down the unpaved emergency spillway for nearly 40 hours, leaving it badly eroded. The problem occurred six days after engineers discovered a growing hole in the dams main, concrete spillway.

Officials defended the decision to suddenly call for mass evacuations Sunday, just a few hours after saying the situation was stable, forcing families to rush to pack up and get out.

There was a lot of traffic. It was chaos, said Robert Brabant, an Oroville resident who evacuated with his wife, son, dogs and cats. It was a lot of accidents. It was like people werent paying attention to other people.

Gov. Jerry Brown said Monday that he sent a letter to the White House requesting direct federal assistance in the emergency, though some federal agencies have been helping already.
SANTA ANA  Orange County officials asked a federal court Monday to refrain from ruling on a demand from the ACLU to remove fences around part of a homeless encampment along the Santa Ana River.

The ACLUs temporary restraining order request should not be considered until the Board of Supervisors discusses the matter in a closed session set for today, county attorneys said in court documents.

A temporary restraining order  is extraordinary equitable relief that should not be granted unless plaintiff can establish  that he is likely to succeed on the merits, the attorneys said.

The ACLU alleged in a federal lawsuit, which includes the restraining order request, there arent adequate open gates and that residents are trapped within the confines of the 6-foot chain-link fences. The fences are part of a project to stockpile boulders and materials for flood control. The ACLU says the fencing has imprisoned 75 to 100 people.

Days before, county officials posted notices that people living along the riverbed would have to clear the area for maintenance and that access in and out would be blocked. The fences surround the area between the Chapman and Orangewood bridges.

However, in court documents, Artemio Jaime, an infrastructure manager for the Public Works Department, disputed that homeless people have been trapped. Once the (homeless) communities established themselves inside the  property, they continually cut holes in chain link fences and cut locks off gates, he said. In some instances, they even use their own locks to lock gates open, rather than shut.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7767 sschwebke@scng.com Twitter: @thechalkoutline
WASHINGTON  The acting attorney general informed the Trump White House late last month that she believed Michael Flynn had misled senior administration officials about the nature of his communications with the Russian ambassador to the United States, and warned that the national security adviser was potentially vulnerable to Russian blackmail, current and former U.S. officials said.

The message, delivered by Sally Q. Yates and a senior career national security official to the White House counsel, was prompted by concerns that Flynn, when asked about his calls and texts with the Russian diplomat, had told Vice President-elect Mike Pence and others that he had not discussed the Obama administration sanctions on Russia for its interference in the 2016 election, the officials said. It is unclear what the White House counsel, Donald McGahn, did with the information.

In the waning days of the Obama administration, James R. Clapper Jr., who was the director of national intelligence, and John Brennan, the CIA director at the time, shared Yates concerns and concurred with her recommendation to inform the Trump White House. They feared that Flynn had put himself in a compromising position and thought that Pence had a right to know that he had been misled, according to one of the officials, who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.

A senior Trump administration official said that the White House was aware of the matter, adding that weve been working on this for weeks.

The current and former officials said that although they believed that Pence was misled about the contents of Flynns communications with the Russian ambassador, they couldnt rule out that Flynn was acting with the knowledge of others in the transition.

The FBI, Yates, Clapper and Brennan declined to comment on the matter. The White House said in a statement Monday that Trump was evaluating the situation regarding Flynn.

In a Feb. 8 interview with The Washington Post, Flynn categorically denied discussing sanctions with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, repeating public assertions made in January by top Trump officials. One day after the interview, Flynn revised his account, telling The Post through a spokesman that he couldnt be certain that the topic never came up.

Two officials said a main topic of the relevant call was the sanctions. Officials also said there was no evidence that Russia had attempted to exploit the discrepancy between public statements by Trump officials and what Flynn had discussed.

Flynn told The Post earlier this month that he first met Kislyak in 2013, when Flynn was director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and made a trip to Moscow.

U.S. intelligence reports during the 2016 presidential campaign showed that Kislyak was in touch with Flynn, officials said. Communications between the two continued after Trumps victory on Nov. 8, according to officials with access to intelligence reports on the matter.

Kislyak, in a brief interview with The Post, confirmed having contacts with Flynn before and after the election, but he declined to say what was discussed.

For Yates and other officials, concerns about the communications peaked in the days after the Obama administration on Dec. 29 announced measures to punish Russia for what it said was the Kremlins interference in the election to help Trump.

After the sanctions were rolled out, the Obama administration braced itself for the Russian retaliation. To the surprise of many U.S. officials, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Dec. 30 that there would be no response. Trump praised the decision on Twitter.

Intelligence analysts began to search for clues that could help explain Putins move. The search turned up Kislyaks communications, which the FBI routinely monitors, and the phone call in question with Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general with years of intelligence experience.

From that call and subsequent intercepts, FBI agents wrote a secret report summarizing Flynns discussions with Kislyak.

Yates, then the deputy attorney general, considered Flynns comments in the intercepted call to be highly significant and potentially illegal, according to an official familiar with her thinking.

Yates and other intelligence officials suspected that Flynn could be in violation of an obscure U.S. statute known as the Logan Act, which bars U.S. citizens from interfering in diplomatic disputes with another country.

At the same time, Yates and other law enforcement officials knew there was little chance of bringing against Flynn a case related to the Logan Act, a statute that has never been used in a prosecution. In addition to the legal and political hurdles, Yates and other officials were aware of an FBI investigation looking at possible contacts between Trump associates and Russia, which now included the Flynn-Kislyak communications.

Word of the calls leaked out on Jan. 12 in an op-ed by Post columnist David Ignatius. What did Flynn say, and did it undercut U.S. sanctions? Ignatius wrote, citing the Logan Act.

The next day, a Trump transition official told The Post, I can tell you that during his call, sanctions were not discussed whatsoever.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer, in a conference call with reporters on Jan. 13, said that the conversation between Flynn and Kislyak had centered on the logistics of a post-inauguration call between Trump and Putin. That was it, plain and simple, Spicer added.

On Jan. 15, Pence was asked about the phone call during an appearance on CBS Face the Nation. Citing a conversation he had with Flynn, Pence said the incoming national security adviser and Kislyak did not discuss anything having to do with the United States decision to expel diplomats or impose censure against Russia.

Before the Pence statement on Jan. 15, top Justice Department and intelligence officials had discussed whether the incoming Trump White House should be notified about the contents of the Flynn-Kislyak communications.

Pences statement on CBS made the issue more urgent, current and former officials said, because U.S. intelligence agencies had reason to believe that Russia was aware that Flynn and Kislyak had discussed sanctions in their December call, contrary to public statements.

The internal debate over how to handle the intelligence on Flynn and Kislyak came to a head on Jan. 19, Obamas last full day in office.

Yates, Clapper and Brennan argued for briefing the incoming administration so the new president could decide how to deal with the matter. The officials discussed options, including telling Pence, the incoming White House counsel, the incoming chief of staff or Trump himself.

FBI Director James B. Comey initially opposed notification, citing concerns that it could complicate the agencys investigation.

Clapper and Brennan left their positions when Trump was sworn in, but Yates stayed on as acting attorney general until Jan. 30, when Trump fired her for refusing to defend his executive order temporarily barring refugees and people from seven majority-Muslim countries  an action that had been challenged in court.

A turning point came after Jan. 23, when Spicer, in his first official press briefing, again was asked about Flynns communications with Kislyak. Spicer said that he had talked to Flynn about the issue again last night. There was just one call, Spicer said. And it covered four subjects: a plane crash that claimed the lives of a Russian military choir; Christmas greetings; Russian-led talks over the Syrian civil war; and the logistics of setting up a call between Putin and Trump. Spicer said that was the extent of the conversation.

Yates again raised the issue with Comey, who now backed away from his opposition to informing the White House. Yates and the senior career national security official spoke to McGahn, the White House counsel, who didnt respond to a request for comment.

Trump has declined to publicly back his national security adviser since the news broke.

On Monday afternoon, Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the president, said Trump had full confidence in Flynn. Minutes later, however, Spicer delivered a contradictory statement to reporters.

The president is evaluating the situation, Spicers statement read. Hes speaking to Vice President Pence relative to the conversation the vice president had with Gen. Flynn and also speaking to various other people about what he considers the single most important subject there is: Our national security.

Karen DeYoung and Greg Miller contributed to this report.

flynn
SANTA ANA  The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating an incident at John Wayne Airport reportedly involving actor Harrison Ford who may have landed a single-engine Aviat Husky on a taxiway instead of a runway.

Air traffic controllers cleared a pilot of a Husky to land Monday afternoon on Runway 20L at John Wayne, said Ian Gregor, a FAA spokesman.

The pilot correctly read back the clearance, he said. The pilot then landed on a taxiway that runs parallel to the runway, overflying a Boeing 737 that was holding short of the runway.

Gregor declined to identify the Huskys pilot. However, NBC News has reported, and Register sources have independently confirmed, that Ford was flying the plane.

Fords representatives could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

NBC reported that Ford, 74, was captured on an air traffic control recording asking, Was that airliner meant to be underneath me?

Air traffic controllers then informed the pilot that he had landed on a taxiway rather than the runway.

Landing on a taxiway is a violation of FAA safety rules.

Any pilot who violates FAA regulations can face penalties ranging from a warning letter to a license suspension or revocation, Gregor said.

Ford has been involved in a couple of close calls while flying. In 2015 he crash-landed a World War II-era airplane on a Santa Monica golf course after the engine failed, suffering a broken arm and minor head injuries.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7767 sschwebke@scng.com Twitter: @thechalkoutline
SANTA ANA  Detectives were investigating another possibly gang-related shooting death in the city.

At about 10:40 p.m. Sunday, police received several calls of a shooting in an alley behind the 600 block of East Pine Street.

When officers arrived they found a man who had been shot. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics about 15 minutes later, Santa Ana police said Monday.

Investigators were trying to find witnesses.

Earlier Sunday, in the afternoon, police were called about a man who was fatally shot near Flower and Cubbon streets. Police said that death was also gang-related.

Authorities have not yet released the names of either victim.

The department offers a reward for information leading to the arrest of gang homicide suspects. The reward can range from $100 to $50,000 and applies only to gang-related homicides in the city. Anyone with information about a homicide is asked to call 714-245-8648.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7865 or afausto@scng.com
NEW YORK  Pedro Hernandez, a former stock clerk in a Manhattan bodega who confessed to luring 6-year-old Etan Patz into the stores basement and attacking him, was found guilty Tuesday of murder and kidnapping, a long-awaited step toward solving the nearly 40-year mystery that bedeviled investigators and forever changed the way parents watched over their children.

A jury in state Supreme Court found Hernandez guilty on the ninth day of deliberations and two lengthy trials that brought new attention to Etans disappearance on May 25, 1979, as he walked to his school bus stop alone for the first time.

At the time, the case shook New York City, as photographs of Etan, with his sandy hair and smirk of a smile, were printed on missing posters plastered around the city and splashed on the front pages of newspapers, on television newscasts and even  for the first time  on milk cartons. The alarm caused by his disappearance reverberated around the country, embodying the worst fears of parents and helping to change the way authorities tracked child abductions.

But decades of looking into various suspects and fruitless searches failed to yield answers for Etans parents, Stanley and Julie Patz, who have remained in their loft on Prince Street as SoHo evolved into a place far different than the semi-industrial area it had been when Etan was a child. Investigators were led to Hernandez, who lived in a small New Jersey town outside Philadelphia, only after his brother-in-law called detectives in 2012 to share his suspicion that he could be responsible.

The outcome was a victory for the Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., who decided to prosecute Hernandez a second time; a previous trial ended in 2015 with the jury deadlocked after 18 days of deliberation. A lone juror declined to convict, saying he had been persuaded by the defenses arguments about Hernandezs mental health issues and the possibility of another suspect.

Etans remains have never been found, and prosecutors did not have any scientific evidence from crime scenes to corroborate their arguments. But the prosecution team, led by two veteran assistant district attorneys, Joan Illuzzi and Joel J. Seidemann, zeroed in on Hernandezs own words to build their case, pulling from the detailed confessions he had given to authorities around the time of his arrest and to mental health experts during evaluations of him.

In the various interviews recorded on video, which prosecutors repeatedly played for jurors during the four-month trial, Hernandez described encountering a boy on the sidewalk outside the bodega and asking him if he wanted a soda. He told investigators that he led him down the steps into the basement, and then, he started choking the boy as his own legs quivered. He said he put the boy into a plastic bag and the bag into a box, which he left with garbage nearby. But, he said, he believed the child was still alive.

He also signed one of the missing posters, confirming for investigators that Etan was the boy he attacked.

I just couldnt let go, Hernandez said in one of the interviews. I felt like something just took over me.

He did not offer a motive, claiming he had not sexually abused Etan or any other child. But in her closing arguments, Illuzzi argued otherwise, calling it the likely reason for the attack.

Hernandezs lawyers tried to undermine their own clients credibility, saying that he was the only witness against himself and that he was an unreliable one.

They described Hernandez as having a low IQ and a personality disorder that made it difficult for him to distinguish between reality and fantasy. The defense contended that Hernandezs confessions reflected a fiction he had concocted. They also argued that he was susceptible to pressure from detectives during an hourslong interrogation where, at one point, he had curled on the floor into the fetal position and repeatedly asked to go home.

Prosecutors sought to portray Hernandez as mercurial and controlling yet also deeply religious and desperate to unburden himself of the guilt he carried for attacking Etan. To support that argument, the prosecution called to testify different people to whom Hernandez had made admissions over the years, telling them, with some varying details, that he had killed a child in New York City.

A member of a church group testified that Hernandez fell to his knees in tears, saying he had attacked a child. His former wife, with whom he has had an acrimonious relationship, recalled on the witness stand him pulling her aside before they married and telling her he had killed a muchacho, which she had inferred to be a teenage boy. She also testified that, after they had married, she found an image of Etan, taken from one of the missing posters, in a box of his in a closet.

The first witness called to testify by prosecutors at the start of the trial in October was Etans mother, Julie Patz. She recounted a hectic morning and what turned out to be her final moments with her son. It was the Friday before Memorial Day weekend; she was busy tending to her other children, and Etan sprung out of bed.

He had been pushing to be more independent, she said, and he pleaded with her to let him walk the nearly two blocks to the bus stop on his own. She reluctantly agreed and walked him outside. He set off wearing his Eastern Airlines cap and carrying a $1 bill given to him by a neighborhood handyman on a visit to his workshop. His plan was to stop in the bodega for a soda along the way. That afternoon, when Etan did not return home, Julie Patz testified, she called around and learned that he had never made it to school or boarded his bus.

At the time, Hernandez was an 18-year-old high school dropout who had recently come to the city from Camden, New Jersey. Prosecutors said that soon after Etan disappeared, possibly within days, Hernandez returned to New Jersey, later taking a job at a dress factory.

His lawyers depicted Hernandez as struggling with a mental illness that loosened his grip on reality. They said that he had schizotypal personality disorder, a condition marked by symptoms that include severe social anxiety, paranoia and unusual beliefs. His youngest daughter, Becky, testified that he discussed the hallucinations he had of demons and an angelic woman in white. She also described how he would cover windows and cracks in the walls out of fear of being watched and would water a dead tree branch thinking it would grow.

The defense suggested that another man, a convicted pedophile, could have been the culprit. The man, Jose Ramos, had a relationship with a woman who had been hired to walk Etan home from school, and was, for years, considered a suspect by investigators. The defense contended that Ramos, who is in prison, had the motive and the opportunity to have been responsible.

Prosecutors have dismissed the theory of Ramos involvement, saying that it was not supported by the evidence. The prosecution also countered that Hernandez was feigning symptoms of his mental illness. They argued that he was savvy enough to negotiate a divorce from his former wife on his own and obtain disability benefits.

Illuzzi described Hernandez as a predator, whose reserved demeanor in the courtroom bellied his cunning. In her closing arguments, she said that before he struck, Hernandez had been keenly watching and admiring this friendly, beautiful child.
Last weeks Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation that netted 161 arrests in six Southern California counties was part of a nationwide series of targeted enforcement operations that netted hundreds more detentions across the country, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security chief said in a statement Monday.

ICE officers in the areas of Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, San Antonio and New York City arrested more than 680 people who pose a threat to public safety, border security or the integrity of our nations immigration system, DHS Secretary John F. Kelly said.

About 75 percent of those arrested in the multi-day operations were criminal aliens convicted of crimes that include homicide, sexual abuse, sexual assault of a minor, drug trafficking, assault, DUI and weapons charges, he said.

ICE conducts these kind of targeted enforcement operations regularly and has for many years, Kelly said. The focus of these enforcement operations is consistent with the routine, targeted arrests carried out by ICEs Fugitive Operations teams on a daily basis.

He said President Donald Trumps focus has been on removing aliens who have violated our immigration laws, with a specific focus on those who pose a threat to public safety, have been charged with criminal offenses, have committed immigration violations or have been deported and re-entered the country illegally.

RELATED: ICE calls surge of SoCal immigrant arrests routine but some fear its the new normal

Trump has repeatedly vowed to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. An executive order he signed days after assuming office suggests that nearly all undocumented immigrants could be prioritized for deportation. That order, along with news of such arrests, has helped to spark fear and concern among many Latino and other immigrants who fear they or their loves ones could be deported.

Meanwhile, nearly a quarter of the individuals arrested by ICE agents last week in six Southern California counties have been deported back to their country, authorities said Monday.

Thirty-seven of the 161 individuals arrested in last weeks ICE operation targeting criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants, and immigration fugitives in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties have already been repatriated, according to ICE officials.

These 37 people were Mexican nationals who had outstanding orders of deportation or who had returned to the U.S. illegally after being deported, making them subject to immediate removal, officials said.

In Orange County, activists were still trying to determine Monday who had been affected by the sweeps, and to quell some of the panic that ICEs enforcement actions have created among undocumented immigrants and their families.

Were seeing the effect that this is having on the community, said Hairo Cortes, program coordinator at Orange County Immigrant Youth United. People really are frightened. They are a lot more cautious with law enforcement. Theres a heightened sense of danger.

Cortes added that, since last week, rumors of ICE patrols have been circulating on social media, although the reports have turned out to be false.

People are confusing other law enforcement with ICE, he said. They are more alert and its not always a good thing. People are becoming paranoid.

People arrested who have not previously been through removal proceedings will be scheduled for a future hearing before an immigration judge, according to ICE officials.

Of the total, 94 percent (151 people) had prior criminal convictions, according to a statement on Monday. Of the 10 non-criminals taken into custody, half had final orders of removal or had been previously deported, ICE officials had said previously.

The arrests in Southern California, according to the federal agency, included:

 A previously deported aggravated felon from Honduras with prior convictions for drug trafficking, spousal battery, and petty theft.

 A Mexican national with a final order of removal with prior convictions for drug trafficking, a weapons violation, and spousal battery

 An Australian national with a conviction for lewd and lascivious acts with a child

Last weeks enforcement operations were conducted in accordance with routine, daily targeted operations conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) fugitive operations teams every day to arrest criminal aliens and other individuals who are in violation of our nations immigration laws, ICE said in its L.A. statement.

The federal agency added that it does not conduct sweeps, checkpoints or raids that target aliens indiscriminately.

Contact the writer: Staff writer Grace Wyler contributed to this report
MATTER OF MARRIAGE

Valentines Day is coming, and love may be in the air. But marriage? The data say maybe not.

To see how California compares to other states for marriage and divorce rate the CDC has a table you can click to see here.

CALIFORNIANS ARE LESS LIKELY TO MARRY YOUNG A geographical map made by The New York Times showing where people are more likely to be married by age 26 based on data compiled by The Equality of Opportunity Project funded by Harvard and Stanford universities.



Married couples are on decline in the state More than 70 percent of Californians were married in the 1950s. The rate began to decline rapidly in the 1960s.










Construction has been completed on the now up and running Homewood Suites by Hilton Irvine/John Wayne Airport.

The project was Irvine-based R.D. Olson Constructions first partnership with hotel management and development company DKN Hotels, also based in Irvine.

When presented with the opportunity to partner on a project in our own backyard, we gladly accepted the job, said Bill Wilhelm, president of R.D. Olson Construction in a statement. Our deep-rooted experience in hospitality made this a perfect new endeavor with DKN Hotels, and we enjoyed working with them to deliver a top-notch product for our community.

The Homewood Suites is a 161-room, four-story hotel. It has a business center, 1,500 square feet of meeting space and a food market.

R.D. Olson Construction also recently finished work on the Country Inns & Suites by Carlson, a 174-room hotel in the Anaheim Resort District and a 200-room Residence Inn by Marriott hotel in Wailea, Maui, Hawaii.

The company also is working on Lido House Hotel in Newport Beach, the Irvine Spectrum Marriott and the Residence Inn by Marriott Santa Barbara/Goleta.

Eleven hotels are scheduled to open this year, according to Irvine-based Atlas Hospitality Group.

Contact the writer: hmadans@ocregister.com or Twitter: @HannahMadans
In principle, the president of the United States speaks for the whole nation, especially on foreign affairs. But in this era of deep political divisions, it may be rare that most Americans think a president is talking their language.

That could be even more true at a time when some protesters and social media users and celebrities go so far as at to declare that Trump is not my president.

Who speaks for you in todays politics?

Thats our Question of the Week for readers.

Is President Trump the political figure who says the things you want to hear, who talks the most sense, who has the best ideas?

Or, as other elected officials and thought leaders have gained prominence in the heated discussion of the new president, has someone else stepped up to give voice to what youre thinking?

Is it one of the other officials of the Trump administration, one of the Republicans in Congress who stand with Trump against his critics, or one of the several Republicans who criticize Trump?

Is it one of those Trump critics? Here in California, were especially aware of Trump critics because we have so many Democratic officeholders. Gov. Jerry Brown and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti are among those vowing to fight Trump over policy differences. Representatives Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, through frequent appearances on television, and Ted Lieu, D-Torrance, via anti-Trump blasts on Twitter, are becoming nationally known.

Do celebrities, like those at last weekends Grammy Awards, represent your views? Is it their place to use their star power to influence politics? Does any celebrity speak for you about news events?

In the increasingly fragmented news media, is there a commentator or columnist with whom you usually agree?

Is it easier or harder now to find a political figure or other opinion leader who shares your views? Do you find that listening to others views makes it easier or harder to make up your own mind?

Email your thoughts to letters@ocregister.com. Please include your full name and city or community of residence. Provide a daytime phone number. Or, if you prefer, share your views in the comments section that accompanies this article online.

Well publish as many responses as possible.
IRVINE  Police were asking for the publics help identifying three men seen on surveillance video stealing high-end sunglasses, laptops and virtual-reality equipment over the weekend  with investigators estimating the losses at about $500,000.

A high-end sunglasses company was burglarized around 7 a.m. Saturday, said Kim Mohr, a department spokeswoman.

The suspects drove a white van into the roll-up door and used a crowbar to force entry into the warehouse, she said. The suspects stole approximately $400,000 worth of merchandise.

On Sunday, a gaming company that makes laptops, headsets and virtual reality equipment was hit around 7 a.m.

Again, the suspects were in a white van and used a crowbar to enter the business, she said. The loss was estimated at up to $100,000.

In both cases, the three men and the vans license-plate number were captured by surveillance systems, Mohr said.

Police provided descriptions of the suspects clothing:

 One suspects gray hooded sweatshirt had California printed across the chest. He had yellow gloves, red or maroon pants and red or maroon shoes with white laces.

 Another suspect had a gray and black hooded sweatshirt with dark pants, black shoes with while laces, and black gloves.

 The thirds hooded shirt had a tan horizontal pattern across the chest; he also wore red gloves and jeans.

Investigators have determined the van was stolen from an Irvine business prior to the burglaries, Mohr said. It was still missing on Tuesday; the license-plate number is 46712W1.

Anyone with a tip can contact Detective Matt Ricci at 949-724-7189 or at mricci@cityofirvine.org. Anonymous tips can be made to the Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-847-6227.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7802, jsudock@scng.com or via Twitter @jsudock
After scoring three Grammy awards on Sunday night including best new artist, best rap album for Coloring Book and best rap performance with No Problem, hip-hop star Chance the Rapper announced his first headlining tour.

The 38-date jaunt, which includes numerous festival appearances, will conclude at the Hollywood Bowl (2301 N. Highland Ave.) in Los Angeles on Oct. 3. Tickets are $35-$125 and go on sale at 4 p.m. Tuesday at 800-745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com.

Barry Manilow

The pop music icon announced that hed perform a special three-city concert residency which includes New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. The show, which will feature his greatest hits along with songs from his forthcoming album This Is My Town: Songs of New York, due out April 21 will come to the Forum (3900 W. Manchester Blvd.) in Inglewood on May 14 (Mothers Day). Tickets are $39.75-$499.75 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at Ticketmaster.com.

Lady Gaga

Due to the popular demand of her previously announced performance date on Aug. 8, pop star Lady Gaga has added a second show for her Joanne World Tour at the Forum in Inglewood on Aug. 9. Tickets are $51-$281 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at 800-745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com.

Queen + Adam Lambert

Another date has been added to the Queen + Adam Lambert tour as well at the Hollywood Bowl on June 27. With tickets selling quick for the previously announced June 26 date, the performers added the second show to their North American tour, which features Queens Brian May and Roger Taylor performing with Adam Lambert as they run through all of Queens biggest hits. Tickets are $39-$250 and go on sale at noon on Friday at 800-745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com.

Contact the writer: 714-796-3570 or kfadroski@ocregister.com
US Vice President Mike Pence is expected to meet Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel at a Munich security conference (AFP Photo/MANDEL NGAN)

Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump's most senior representatives will descend on Europe this week to convince allies that his putting America first does not mean they will be left behind.

Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary James Mattis will find an international community still on edge after Trump's election win.

Trump is staying in Washington to host Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and to hire a new national security adviser after Michael Flynn's embarrassing early resignation.

But the president's key lieutenants are not unknown quantities abroad and may receive a warmer welcome than would their boss.

Retired Marine general Mattis, who will attend a NATO defense ministers' meeting in Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday, once served in the alliance and has fought alongside its troops.

Tillerson, the former chief executive of oil giant ExxonMobil, has criss-crossed the world for decades seeking energy deals, and has been honored as a "Friend of Russia" by the Kremlin.

He will encounter Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, China's Wang Yi and dozens of other new colleagues from the world's great powers at Thursday's G20 ministerial talks in Bonn.

Former Indiana governor Mike Pence, Trump's vice president, is less experienced on the international stage, although he did serve on the House Foreign Affairs committee in Congress.

But he will have one of the most crucial tasks of all, as he is expected to meet Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel at a Munich security conference before flying on to Brussels.

Merkel's Germany was former president Barack Obama's closest partner in Europe but Trump has dismayed EU capitals by aligning himself with Britain's decision to quit the EU.

And, with the Netherlands, France and Germany facing national elections, EU leaders are concerned that both the White House and the Kremlin will encourage populist nationalist forces.

Story continues

Trump's support for Brexit has raised fears in Europe that he may, wittingly or not, collaborate with Moscow to speed the disintegration of an already fragile continental union.

- 'Obsolete' alliance? -

For almost seven decades the NATO alliance has been the bedrock of European security, a shield first against the Soviet bloc then a forum for western defense cooperation.

European powers, particularly former Soviet satellites on the alliance's eastern flank, see it as the key bulwark against Russia's renewed efforts to establish a zone of influence.

But Trump the former candidate made it clear that he has no sentimental attachment to NATO, arguing that European members don't pay their way and dubbing the alliance "obsolete."

Since his election, Trump has both tempered his criticism and appointed in Mattis a strong supporter of allied cooperation -- but his warning has also borne fruit.

On Tuesday, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg confirmed that the allies' top priority is to increase their defense spending, effectively lessening the burden on the United States.

"Regardless of language, the most important thing is that we increase defense spending and that is exactly what we are doing," Stoltenberg told reporters.

Washington has long insisted that NATO members should spend two percent of their GDP on defense, a goal that few meet.

Stoltenberg said that in two calls with Trump, the new president "strongly expressed his strong commitment to NATO ... but in both calls he underlined fair burden sharing."

"Those that spend less than the two percent have to meet the two percent target and I agree with him," he added.

In a military career which culminated with him in command of all US forces in the Middle East, Mattis once worked to modernize NATO as Supreme Allied Commander of Transformation.

And, to the relief of Washington's allies, in his confirmation hearing last month before assuming the civilian defense secretary role, he renewed his commitment to the body.

"If we did not have NATO today, we would need to create it," he told US senators.

- Russian detente? -

The nomination of Mattis went some way towards reassuring nervous allies that Trump was not about to abandon them in favor of a new alliance with Vladimir Putin's Russia.

But European capitals remain nervous about the bombastic US leader's repeated calls for a new relationship with the Kremlin, focused on battling "radical Islamic terrorism."

Russia has annexed Ukraine's Crimea region, controls chunks of Georgia, supports pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine and has launched large military exercises on NATO's border.

NATO is the first line of defense for nervous eastern allies like Poland and the Baltic states and yet Trump continues to court Putin and is reportedly considering dropping sanctions.

Above all, the uncertainty is unnerving, with allies wondering who is calling the shots in a turbulent White House overseen by Trump's nationalist provocateur strategy chief Steve Bannon.

Wolfgang Ischinger, chairman of the Munich Security Conference and a former German ambassador to Washington, said he hoped his forum and the G20 would lend "clarity" to US policy.

"I think in particular of this phrase of Trump's that he trusts Mrs Merkel as much as he does Mr Putin. That scares me," he told reporters.

"This idea forming in Trump's head that suggests the United States can be equidistant between the EU and Russia is horrible. In my view it's the limit of absurdity."

The chief cheerleader of a Kremlin detente in the White House was national security adviser Mike Flynn, who resigned on Monday amid controversy over calls to the Russian ambassador.

European leaders will hope that -- with Flynn gone -- Trump and Bannon will allow the other US big guns -- Pence, Tillerson and Mattis -- to repair the unity of the West.
Do you Know an internet hero? Its time to get those creative juices flowing as the eir Junior Spider Awards 2017 are now open for entry. The 2017 eir Junior Spider Awards is searching for the next Mark Zuckerberg and is open for entries from students and young adults across Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The awards programme, now in its eighth year, aims to capture the digital talent of students aged between four and 19 years of age and highlight how young Irish people embrace the internet in their daily lives. Similar to previous years, the awards are divided into three main categories, The Mega Spiders aimed at ages 4-12 years, the Giga Spiders aimed at ages 13-15 years and the Tera Spiders aimed at ages 16-19 years. Each award category has a Grand Prix Award.

Commenting on eirs involvement in the Awards, Jon Florsheim, Chief Commercial Officer at eir said: The eir Junior Spider Awards continue to be a really exciting initiative that celebrate the most creative young minds and their individual pursuits throughout the year. The awards highlight how students embrace digital technology, while publicly marking the many innovative ways the youth of Ireland progress and adapt to the ever-changing digital landscape. Every year, we at eir are blown away by the sophistication and skills these students possess and we are very much looking forward to seeing the next generation coming through this years awards.

The Mega Spiders have three award categories that participants can enter which are: Best Individual Project, Best Group Project and Creative Web Coding.

The six Giga Spiders categories are: Best Individual Project, Best Group Project, Creative Web Coding, Best Concept, Suiomh Is Fearr and Best Web Design.

The nine Tera Spiders categories include Best Individual Project, Best Group Project, Creative Web Coding, Best Transition Year Project, Best Digital Game, Best Mobile App, Suiomh Is Fearr, Best Web Design and Best Concept

Commenting on the event this year, Minister for Education and Skills, Mr. Richard Bruton TD said, For the generation of children recently born, creative thinking and problem-solving skills will be absolutely key to how they develop in reaching and achieving their potential. In particular, their ability to think critically and develop solutions in the digital world will be vital for their prospects in life. I am determined that we should continually improve the education system in this area. Our ambition in the Action Plan for Education is to make Irelands education and training system the best in Europe within a decade. Our future economic success depends to a great extent on our ability to be among the world leaders in technology. The eir Junior Spider Awards have made a huge contribution in recognising the outstanding achievements of many young people and celebrated the successes of the Irish internet and digital media.

For more information and further details on how to enter the 2017 eir Junior Spider Awards log onto www.juniorspiders.ie. The closing date for entries is March 8, 2017.

The eir Junior Spider Awards are supported by eir StudyHub; a free online exam support tool for eir broadband customers with over 500 hours of audio and video tutorials from expert teachers, perfect for students preparing for their Junior and Leaving Cert exams. To see all of the benefits of eir Study Hub, you can visit their website at www.eir.ie/studyhub/

The eir Junior Spider Awards are also supported by Foras na Gaeilge and CoderDojo. All of last year's shortlisted winners from the eir Junior Spiders have also been invited to The Dublin Tech Summit which takes place this week at the Convention Centre in Dublin.
Staff at the Tesco store in Tullamore are among the employees from the supermarket chain on strike across the country today. The employees took to the picket lines first thing this morning and their union, Mandate, the workers have been "left with no option" but to take strike action.

Staff at stores in Baggot Street, Ballyfermot Road and Finglas in Dublin, as well as stores in Tralee, Longford, Navan and Bray also mounted pickets at 7am this morning.

The strikes are in response to Tesco wanting to move 250 staff who were recruited before 1996 onto less favourable contracts in line with their newer employees. Mandate insists that this change would hit workers in terms of both pay and conditions, with cuts of up to 15%.

However, Tesco once again urged the union to accept the Labour Court recommendation to resolve the dispute. The Labour Court made a series of recommendations, including the protection of the rate of pay is protected, and also that Sunday shifts continue to be voluntary options for staff.

Workers rejected the recommendation and have said they will not return until a resolution is found.

Tesco have maintained that all stores will remain open today and have called the strike action "unjustified."
With the countrys 30,000 sheep farmers preparing to lamb down 2.5 million ewes over the coming three months, IFA National Sheep Chairman John Lynskey issued a stark warning to all dog owners that they are fully responsible for ensuring that their pets are under control at all times in order to reduce the number of sheep attacked on Irish farms. He said this is a very busy and anxious time for sheep farmers There is clear evidence that sheep flocks are more vulnerable to dog attacks at this time of year.

"They are liable for any losses as a result of dog attacks, with serious financial and legal consequences," he stated. "Farmers have a right to protect their sheep flock and can shoot a dog worrying, or about to worry their flock," he added.

Statistics collated by the IFA indicate that the problem of dog attacks on sheep may be in the order of 300 to 400 attacks per annum, with 3,000 to 4,000 sheep injured and killed. Data on dog attacks gathered by the IFA shows an average of 11 sheep killed or injured per attack. Just before Christmas, there was a case of an Offaly farmer in the Fivealley area who had witnessed his flock attacked for the 5th time in one year.

John Lynskey said marauding dogs can inflict horrendous damage on a sheep flock. "A number of dog attacks have been highlighted in recent weeks across the country, where major financial losses have been incurred. In the last week there was a very severe case in County Tipperary and a wild dog in County Wexford, which is still on the loose, has inflicted serious damage on a number of sheep flocks."

He continued: "Unfortunately, I am taking calls on a frequent basis from sheep farmers around the country who have suffered attacks. There are far too many dog owners not taking the responsibility that goes with owning a pet. Dog owners have an obligation to have their dog under control at all times."

IFA has a protocol to help farmers who encounter a dog attack on their sheep flock. It is an easy-to-follow, 10-point Plan of Action covering what a farmer should do following a dog attack or sheep kill.

"Based on the feedback IFA gets from farmers who have had to deal with a dog attack on their flock, one of the biggest problems is the lack of information on what they should do, who they should contact and where can they get help."

The protocol can be downloaded or viewed on the IFA website at www.ifa.ie.
A farmers organisation has organised a public meeting to debate new pipeline that will bring water from the Shannon to Dublin. The meeting takes place on Friday 10 February 2017. The meeting will take place in Ballyeighan Hall, on the Roscrea Road, outside Birr, Co Offaly and will commence at 8pm.

The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association meeting will address The Preferred Scheme for a New Water Supply for the Eastern & Midland Region. The ICSA says all those affected by the proposed water pipeline are invited to attend the meeting, which will take the form of an open discussion; Pipe Dream or Nightmare?

ICSA Tipperary chairman Tom Egan said: There is a lack of clarity on a whole range of issues concerning the proposed pipeline and local landowners still have many reservations about the project. All local TDs from across the region have been invited to attend on the night so landowners will have an opportunity to raise their concerns and seek answers to the questions they may have. I look forward to an informative evening and a lively debate on the issue.

Affected farmers and members of the general public have until have until Tuesday February 14, 2017 to lodge their concerns with Irish Water.

ICSA president Patrick Kent pledged that the association would stand with local landowners in their fight against being pushed into something they did not want. There are too many unanswered questions and farmers have many concerns about long-term devaluation of their farms and damage to productivity, he stated.
Following last week's recommendation by Minister for Transport Shane Ross that penalties should be more severe for motorists who are caught drink-driving, we want to know if you think such laws should be slightly more relaxed in rural areas like Co. Offaly. Under a new Bill to be brought to cabinet by Minister Ross this week, drivers who are caught with any level of alcohol in their system whilst behind the wheel will face a mandatory driving disqualification.

In announcing the new Bill, the Minister said the increase in road fatalities in 2016 to 188 was "deeply disappointing" and that alcohol was a major factor in road deaths. He stated his intention to replace current penalties for drink driving with an automatic disqualification.

Minister Ross said that the fact 152 drivers are arrested each week over suspicion of driving under the influence is "simply not acceptable." An Garda Siochanas recent drink driving campaign, which ran from December 1, 2016 to January 8, 2017, resulted in 961 arrests for drink driving, a 35% increase on the same period last year. "Driving under the influence of alcohol therefore continues to be a major problem and the highest risk group identified are young male drivers," he added.

However, during a debate on RTE's Claire Byrne Live programme last night, it was argued by studio audience members that stringent penalties like an automatic ban could have a far more negative effect in rural areas than urban areas of the country. Michael Healy-Rae spoke about the need to tackle a culture of drinking that leads to pubs being the centre of rural life, where they become the only place to go for many people in the evenings.

Speaking to the media last week, Healy-Rae said he has "reservations" about automatic bans for drink-drivers. "Im not saying that Im against it," he said, "we will have to debate it." Some members of the audience at the Claire Byrne Show argued that any new laws should be relaxed in rural areas where older and more isolated people depend on their cars, while another suggested more community initiatives like communal transport options could ensure there are fewer instances of drink-driving in rural Ireland.

Have you say on our poll, which asks, "Do you think drink-driving laws should be relaxed in rural areas of the country?"
(Adds comment from North Korean ambassador, paragraphs 12, 13)

By Ned Parker and Ju-min Park

UNITED NATIONS/SEOUL, Feb 14 (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council denounced North Korea's weekend missile launch, urging members to "redouble efforts" to enforce sanctions against the reclusive state, but gave no indications of any action it might take.

Pyongyang's test of the intermediate-range ballistic missile on Sunday was its first direct challenge to the international community since U.S. President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20.

At a news conference on Monday, Trump said: "Obviously North Korea is a big, big problem and we will deal with that very strongly."

Trump did not speak of any planned response but Washington's U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley said in a statement: "It is time to hold North Korea accountable - not with our words, but with our actions."

She issued the statement after an emergency Security Council meeting on Monday that was called by the United States, Japan and South Korea to discuss the North's missile launch.

U.S., Japanese and South Korean military officials held a teleconference on Monday in which they condemned the launch as "a clear violation" of multiple Security Council resolutions. The United States "reaffirmed its ironclad security commitments" to South Korea and Japan, the Pentagon said.

A South Korean official said the United States has planned to deploy "strategic assets" in upcoming annual military exercises with South Korea because of the increased threat from the North. The exercises usually start in March.

The official did not say what assets might be used. In the past, these have included B-2 bombers, F-22 stealth fighter jets and nuclear-powered submarines.

In Beijing, China's Foreign Ministry said it hoped that under present circumstance all countries could maintain restraint and not do anything to escalate the situation.

"We urge all sides to adopt a responsible attitude and make their own efforts to jointly promote the appropriate resolution of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue," ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a daily news briefing.

Story continues

China is North Korea's main ally and trading partner but is irritated by its repeated aggressive actions, although it rejects suggestions from the United States and others that it could be doing more to rein in its neighbour.

North Korea rejected the U.N. Security Council's statement and said its missile development was for self-defence.

"The various test fires conducted by DPRK for building up self-defence capabilities are, with no exception, self-defence measures to protect national sovereignty and the safety of the people against direct threats by hostile forces," Han Tae Song, the new ambassador of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the United Nations in Geneva, told a conference.

ICBM TEST

South Korea's intelligence agency estimates the solid-fuel missile launched by North Korea on Sunday has a range of more than 2,000 km (1,240 miles), according to a lawmaker briefed by the agency. That would bring large parts of China, Taiwan, Japan and Russia within range.

The North has tested missiles with a range of over 3,000 km (2,000 miles) in the past, but has said it is on the verge of testing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which could eventually threaten the continental United States, which is about 9,000 km (5,500 miles) from North Korea.

"We are keeping an eye out, thinking data and technology from the latest test can be applied (to an ICBM)," South Korean Defence Minister Han Min-koo told lawmakers on Tuesday.

He added it was his belief that the new administration in the United States was still formulating a North Korea policy.

North and South Korea are technically still at war because their 1950-1953 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. The North regularly threatens to destroy the South and the South's main ally, the United States.

The Security Council did not specify what steps might be taken beyond the U.N.-sponsored sanctions regime imposed on North Korea since 2006 over its nuclear and ballistic missile tests.

"The members of the Security Council deplore all the Democratic People's Republic of Korea ballistic missile activities, including these launches," the council said in a statement that also referred to North Korea's missile launch on Oct. 19.

The council "called upon all member states to redouble their efforts to implement fully the measures imposed on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea by the Security Council."

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday that he expected the Trump administration would adopt a harder line on North Korea.

"I believe that the stance of the United States towards North Korea will become much tougher, that is clear," Abe said on an NHK public broadcasting news program after returning from meetings with Trump in the United States.

North Korea has said any sanctions against its missile or nuclear programs are a violation of its sovereignty and right to self-defence.

(Additional reporting by Idrees Ali and Emily Stephenson in Washington, Elaine Lies in Tokyo and Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
nikki haley

In addition to all 15 council members condemning North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch, UN ambassador Nikki Haley also delivered a decisive statement.

"We call on all members of the Security Council to use every available resource to make it clear to the North Korean regime  and its enablers  that these launches are unacceptable," her statement read.

"It is time to hold North Korea accountable  not with our words, but with our actions."

Earlier, US President Donald Trump pledged to deal with Pyongyang "very strongly."

North Korea has repeatedly flouted six Security Council resolutions demanding an end to its nuclear and ballistic missile activities and has continued to launch missiles, escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula and in the region.

The missile test, conducted early Sunday, is seen as an implicit challenge to Trump, who has vowed a tough line on North Korea but has yet to release a strategy for dealing with a country whose nuclear ambitions have bedeviled US leaders for decades.

"North Korea is a big, big problem and we will deal with that very strongly," Trump said at a joint news conference Monday with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the launch "a further troubling violation of Security Council resolutions" and urged North Korea to comply with its international obligations, UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said.

"The secretary-general appeals to the international community to continue to address this situation in a united manner," Haq said.

South Korea condemned what it called "serious military and security threats" and predicted more such tests. Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, who is also the acting president, said his country would punish North Korea for the missile launch.

The United States, Japan and South Korea requested the urgent Security Council meeting.

Pukguksong-2 north korea missile

Story continues

In previous Security Council actions on North Korea, the United States and China, a neighbor and ally of Pyongyang, have been the key negotiators.

After previous ballistic missile tests, the Security Council has issued a strong condemnation, called for redoubled efforts to fully implement sanctions, and reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in northeast Asia.

Britain ambassador Rycroft called the latest test "another flagrant violation" of council resolutions. "There should be a statement unifying the Security Council and setting out clearly the seriousness of the violation," he said.

North Korea already has a variety of land-based missiles that can hit South Korea and Japan, including US military bases in those countries. It has also successfully tested a submarine-launched missile and development of such missiles would add a weapon that is harder to detect before launch.

"These are serious military and security threats," Jeong Joon-hee, spokesman at South Korea's Ministry of Unification, told reporters. "Pyongyang has no intention of backing away from its goal to become a country with nuclear weapons."

kim jong un

North Korea's Central News Agency said the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, was at the launch site to observe Sunday's test and expressed pleasure at the North's expansion of its strategic strike capabilities.

The report early Monday also said Kim gave the order to fire the "Pukguksong-2," which the agency said was a "Korean style new type strategic weapon system."

It is believed to have flown about 500 kilometers (310 miles) before splashing down into the ocean in international waters.

The report said the test proved "the reliability and security" of a new mobile launching system, the solid fuel that was used, and the guidance and control features of the ballistic missile. Solid fuel can give missiles longer range and make detecting them before launch more difficult because they can be readied faster than liquid fuel missiles.

It added that Kim "expressed great satisfaction over the possession of another powerful nuclear attack means."

Reports of the launch came as Trump was hosting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who called it "absolutely intolerable."

China, facing criticism that it is not doing enough to pressure North Korea to drop its nuclear program, said Monday that the root cause of North Korean missile launches is friction with the United States and South Korea. Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China opposed the launch.

NOW WATCH: El Chapo's been extradited to the US  here's a look at his dangerous life





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UPDATE: An alum and adviser of the Creighton fraternity Phi Kappa Psi said Tuesday morning that the fraternity will release a detailed statement as early as Tuesday afternoon giving its account of the events leading up to slashing in a Creighton dorm room.

Bryan Mick, an Omaha attorney, said fraternity members have been "stonewalled" in their attempts to meet with Creighton officials and offer their account of what occurred Friday night into Saturday morning.

"We have been attempting to schedule a meeting with Creighton officials, but have been unsuccessful in doing so," Mick said.

Christopher Wheeler, 19, has been charged with second-degree assault and use of a weapon to commit a felony. He is accused of using a pocket knife to slash the neck of a fellow student in a Creighton dorm room.

Wheeler's attorney, Matthew Burns, said in court Monday that before the cutting, Wheeler may have been forced to take or unknowingly took drugs as part of a hazing incident because he had performed poorly on a fraternity test.

Burns said Tuesday that Wheeler doesn't remember anything from that night, noting that he based the account he presented in court from people who were with Wheeler.

"Our investigator called a number of people, and they all said the same thing," Burns said. The drugs were "either forced upon him or he did it unknowingly."

Burns said he hadn't talked to the witnesses himself. "All their stories were substantially similar," he said.

Wheeler was a new member of the fraternity, a Phi Kappa Psi spokesman said.

Mick has said on Facebook and Twitter that Wheeler's account is false.

"No hallucinogens in PKP house," he tweeted. "Eating garbage from Wheeler atty. Phi Psi statement soon."

Creighton officials announced the fraternity's suspension Monday afternoon. Creighton spokesman Jim Berscheidt declined Tuesday to give the reasoning behind the decision to suspend the fraternity.

"We're not going to be able to share anything," he said. "This is an ongoing investigation and we won't comment any further."

He said he doesn't know when the investigation would be finished and couldn't say whether officials would release their findings upon the conclusion.

Creighton student charged in assault was babbling before slashing incident, friend says

Less than an hour before authorities believe he slashed a fellow students neck, Christopher Wheeler was lying on the floor of a Creighton University dorm room, babbling, a friend said.

Wheeler, known as Duke, is a friendly, nice guy, said the friend, Brittany Harner. But the 19-year-olds behavior around midnight Friday was out of character and so unnerved Harner, she said, she decided to go back to her own dorm room, where she locked the door.

It just didnt make sense. (He) sounded really aggressive, Harner, 19, said Monday. I knew at that point it wasnt Duke.

Wheeler has been charged with second-degree assault and use of a weapon to commit a felony. He is reported to have cut 18-year-old Teresa Spagna with a pocketknife while in a dorm room about 1 a.m. Saturday.

Wheelers attorney said in a court appearance Monday that his client acted erratically that night because he was forced to take or unknowingly took hallucinogenic drugs by members of the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi.

Thats hazing, said Matthew Burns, the attorney for Wheeler.

The university also is investigating the incident.

Wheeler no longer is enrolled and is banned from campus, Creighton officials said at a Monday afternoon press conference.

The Creighton chapter of Phi Kappa Psi has been suspended, university officials also said.

While out on bail, Wheeler will live with his parents, Susie and Sean Wheeler of Olathe, Kansas, under an agreement OKd by prosecutors.

Prosecutor Eric Fabian said in court Monday that Christopher Wheeler entered a dorm room in Gallagher Hall on the Creighton campus early Saturday.

He asked for Dana, Fabian said, but the woman there, Spagna, said he had the wrong room.

Wheeler sat down on the bed and told Spagna, Sorry for bothering you, Fabian said.

As Wheeler went toward the door to leave, Fabian said, he swung around and cut Spagna in the neck with a pocketknife.

Spagna was treated at Creighton University Medical Center and released Saturday. Attempts to contact her Monday were unsuccessful.

The two didnt know each other, Wheelers friends have said.

On Monday, Douglas County Judge Sheryl Lohaus set bail at $100,000, and Wheeler was released on 10 percent of that, or $10,000.

Sean Wheeler said his son carries a knife that he says hes going to use if anybody needs saving.

Christopher Wheeler fled and was arrested by Omaha police on another floor in the dormitory.

Wheeler was unable to provide officers with enough information about himself for them to ascertain his identity, according to a police report.

Police found a fake Illinois drivers license in Wheelers wallet, according to the report. Wheeler told officers he used the ID to buy alcohol, because he is under 21.

Susie Wheeler said she received a call from her son in jail about 4:45 a.m. Saturday.

Her son had no recollection of the slashing that occurred about four hours earlier.

I was completely taken off guard, Susie Wheeler said. He wouldnt hurt a fly.

She said her son was a Phi Kappa Psi pledge and had done poorly on a fraternity exam.

Wheeler was not tested for drugs when he was booked in jail, his attorney said. However, the family was to have him tested upon release from jail.

Its unclear what, if any, drug Wheeler may have ingested, but Burns said he believes it was a hallucinogen  possibly LSD or marijuana laced with PCP.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said hes unaware of any criminal complaints against the fraternity. Authorities are still investigating the claims of drug use.

Somebody being under the influence isnt a defense in and of itself, Kleine said. Certainly its frightening any time you have something like this happen in a school atmosphere.

More than 25 students attended Wheelers court appearance Monday afternoon as a sign of support. Many cried during the hearing.

Hes a gentle giant, said Matt Canfield, 18, a friend of Wheelers since elementary school. Whatever happened is completely out of his character.

Creighton officials announced Wheelers banning and the frats suspension at a press conference Monday afternoon.

I would like to emphasize that this was an isolated attack and there is no ongoing threat to the campus community, Berscheidt said.

Creighton spokesman Jim Berscheidt said another student reported that Wheeler knocked him down in a dorm elevator before the knife incident. That student suffered minor injuries and was treated at Creighton University Medical Center and released.

Harner said she was in the elevator during that altercation. It occurred roughly 15 minutes after she had left Wheeler lying on the dorm floor. She and a group of friends had gone back to take Wheeler to another friends room. In the elevator, he shoved a member of the group. After the doors opened, Wheeler ran off.

He was clearly scared and was not in his right mind, she said. An attempt by The World-Herald to reach that student was unsuccessful.

About 1 a.m.  Harner didnt know if it was before or after the slashing  Wheeler met up with the group and they talked with him. But, still paranoid, he again ran off.

Wheeler could be allowed to return to campus, based on the outcome of the investigation.

That is definitely something that we will be looking into, said Tanya Winegard, the vice provost for student life.

Phi Kappa Psis suspension means that the chapter cannot take part in intramural contests or conduct initiation activities, and members cannot wear their letters on campus until further notice.

Asked if there was a fraternity event leading up to this, Winegard would not go into detail.

Thats what our investigation is looking into right now. And some of the fact-finding we have been able to do has led us to the decision we made today, she said. This action was taken ... for safety reasons as to what resulted on Friday night and our investigation into that situation.

She did say that the frat hadnt been suspended in the nearly two decades she had been at Creighton.

Garret Walton, the marketing communications manager of Phi Kappa Psi, said the national fraternity sends thoughts and prayers to Spagna and her family.

The suspect Christopher Wheeler was a new member of Phi Kappa Psi. Phi Kappa Psi is cooperating with the ongoing investigation, Walton wrote in a statement.

Collin Gill, the president of the Creighton's Phi Kappa Psi chapter, referred questions to Walton.

Christopher Wheeler told his father that he remembers very little, other than entering a room and seeing people who were not who they claimed to be. He got scared and hid.

Sean Wheeler said his son told him he has never tried drugs.

Hes an Eagle Scout, Wheeler said. I mean, hes a good kid, a really good kid.

Christopher Wheeler is the oldest of six children and was a pre-med major at Creighton, his attorney said.

His father expressed distress over the injured woman. That poor girl, he said.

The thing hes going to be most disappointed in is he cant talk to Teresa. Hes mentioned, like, six times how sorry he is. He just wants to tell her. Its really eating at him.
An Omaha teen has admitted that she threw her newborn out a second-floor window, killing the child.

Antonia Lopez, 16, admitted the crime after her case was transferred to juvenile court.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said his office agreed to move the case from district court  where he originally charged her as an adult  to juvenile court after weighing Lopezs lack of criminal record, her mental state and her actions.

Its a horrible case  terrible, Kleine said of Lopezs actions. To me, after we looked into it, the way things happened, it didnt seem to be anything you would label as an adult-specific act.

It wasnt a planned-out, thought-out process. It was more of a panicked reaction.

Lopez gave birth in the early morning hours of Sept. 30 at her apartment at 2567 Izard Court. After throwing the baby out the window, police have said, Lopez told her mother what she had done.

Her mother found the baby, and distraught and frantic, called 911 at 4:12 a.m. to report the babys death.

The baby and Lopez were taken to Creighton University Medical Center, where the baby was pronounced dead upon arrival.

The baby was about 14 inches long and weighed 2 pounds. An autopsy later determined that Lopez had been pregnant for 25 to 28 weeks  about the seventh month of gestation.

Lopez told a police detective that she didnt know she was pregnant and woke up in pain. She said she laid a towel on the floor of her bedroom because she thought she was having her period.

She then got in front of a mirror and began to push. Lopez told police she saw a sac emerging from her vagina and pierced it with a nail clipper tool. She saw feet. The baby came out.

Lopez panicked at that point and threw the baby out the window from her room, Omaha Police Officer Chad Kavars, who interviewed Lopez, has said.

Lopezs boyfriend disputed Lopezs assertion that she didnt know she was pregnant.

The couple started dating in January 2016 and had sex in February, the boyfriend told police. Kavars said the boyfriend also told him that he had urged Lopez to tell her mother about the pregnancy and seek a doctor for the unborn baby, but she didnt.

In the early morning hours when she was in labor, Lopez sent her boyfriend several text messages and one photo through Snapchat.

12:56 a.m.: Babe Im having contractions in my lower abs every couple seconds. It hurts so much.

1:01 a.m.: I am in so much pain.

1:02 a.m.: I want it to stop.

2:23 a.m.: It was a girl by the way.

She later asked for help to hide the baby.

Kleine said the case is heartbreaking. Had Lopez remained in district court, she would have faced 20 years to life in prison.

The best course is to get Lopez treatment and try to rehabilitate her, Kleine said.

A judge will decide what to do with Lopez at a March 24 hearing. She could be placed on probation or sent to a group home or detention facility.

The juvenile court retains jurisdiction over her until she turns 19.

She obviously has some issues that need to be dealt with, Kleine said. She needs help.
Omaha police were called to the Islamic Center of Omaha on Tuesday to investigate what initially were described as suspicious packages.

About 9:30 a.m., officers responded to the Islamic Center at 3511 N. 73rd St. after a man entered the building and left on foot, leaving two suitcases behind. The police bomb squad and the FBI were called to assist.

During the investigation, police said, the owner of the suitcases returned to claim them. They had been searched and no explosive items were found.

Streets in the area were blocked off for about three hours.

The center has been vandalized four times in the past two years, including during an incident in which someone threw a large rock through a glass door.
LINCOLN  A new state group was launched Tuesday to push for more state investment in programs to improve public education and advance economic development.

The Nebraska Education Collaboration includes several education and child advocacy groups.

Ann Hunter-Pirtle, with Stand for Schools, said the group supports policies that will offer the most bang for the buck in terms of outcomes for our children and economic growth.

Members highlighted four policy areas during a news conference call.

Jeff Cole with Beyond School Bells talked about the benefits of expanded learning opportunity programs, which include before- and after-school programs and summer programs.

He said studies show that students who regularly participate in such programs improve their school attendance, behavior and academic achievement.

We think expanded learning opportunities represent the best of Nebraska because they are partnerships between community groups and schools, Cole said.

He said Legislative Bill 246, introduced by State Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln, would allow school districts to exceed their budget limits to fund expanded learning programs.

Other speakers Tuesday were: Sarah Ann Kotchian, with the Holland Childrens Movement, who called for more schools to adopt full-day kindergarten; Julia Tse, with Voices for Children in Nebraska, who talked about expanding the reach of school breakfast and summer lunch programs; and Rich Katt, director of Nebraska Career Education within the State Department of Education who highlighted the importance of career education for Nebraska students and businesses.

Collaboration members include the Nebraska Department of Education, Nebraska Council of School Administrators, Nebraska Association of School Boards, Nebraska State Education Association, STANCE, Greater Nebraska Schools Association, Nebraska Rural and Community Schools Association, Educational Service Units Coordinating Council, First Five Nebraska, Voices for Children in Nebraska, Beyond School Bells and Stand for Schools.
LINCOLN  A member of the Nebraska Public Service Commission was scrutinized Monday for her handling of political robocall scripts.

In one case, Commissioner Crystal Rhoades forwarded scripts filed by a number of Republican candidates, including then-State Sen. Nicole Fox, to the political campaign team for Tony Vargas, a Democrat.

Weak attacks. People will hang up, Rhoades wrote in the email to a member of Vargas staff, plus Vargas wife and Rhoades husband.

In another, she sent a script filed by a member of John Synowieckis campaign staff to her personal email account. Though both Vargas and Synowiecki are Democrats, the Douglas County Democrats ahead of the November election excluded Synowiecki from a flier alerting voters of the names of Democrats running for office.

Rhoades is chairwoman of the Douglas County Democratic Party.

Vargas defeated Fox in the May primary, and defeated Synowiecki in the general election. Vargas represents downtown and parts of South Omaha in the Nebraska Legislature.

Rhoades said she disclosed the scripts by request because they are public records. And she said she forwards emails to her personal account because of problems accessing her state account, among other reasons.

The emails were revealed by Rod Edwards, a campaign consultant and manager who has worked to elect a number of Republicans, during a public hearing on Legislative Bill 654, sponsored by Sen. John Murante of Gretna.

Robocall scripts must be filed with the Public Service Commission within 24 hours of placing a call.

Under Murantes bill, regulating robocalls would be handled by the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission. The accountability commission also would regulate whether calls have the proper disclaimer about whos behind them.

Murante, a Republican in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, said the bill isnt targeted at Rhoades or anyone else. He said he believes political activity should not be regulated by officials elected by partisan ticket.

Public Service Commission members run by political party affiliation, while the accountability commission has eight appointed members. No more than four can be from the same political party. One must be an independent.

Rhoades said she forwarded the scripts to those who ask for them because they are public records once she receives them.

Sometimes vendors file the scripts before the robocalls are aired. Once the scripts are filed, they become public record, and must be distributed by law if requested, she said.

They have been disclosed to both Democrats and Republicans without regard to party at all, Rhoades said.

Public Service Commission Chairman Tim Schram, a Republican, said he refers such requests to staff.

Sen. Curt Friesen of Henderson, who chairs the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee, said hes troubled scripts are distributed before airing. He said the Public Service Commission should handle complaints about robocalls in a neutral capacity, noting he believes that Murantes proposal has merit.

The bill heard no proponents or opponents. A number of people voiced concerns as neutral testimony.

Jack Gould of the government watchdog group Common Cause Nebraska said Murante should have disclosed a conflict of interest, saying its best that officials declare their connections to companies that may benefit from legislation.

Murante is listed as a state director for a political consulting firm that does robocalls on his latest statement of financial interest, on which officials are required to file their sources of income of more than $1,000.

Murante said Victory Enterprises would not gain financially through his bill, and discouraged filing conflict of interest statements when a conflict doesnt exist, saying it dilutes the purpose.

He said hes working on an amendment to make sure the bill would have no cost, while maintaining his view that all political activity should be regulated by the accountability commission.

The committee took no action on the bill.
LINCOLN  Defenders of Nebraska public schools came out swinging Monday against the idea of using state dollars to pay private school tuition.

Legislative Bill 608 would create a voucher-like system for students living in the attendance areas of low-performing schools.

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha, who introduced the bill, said it would offer low-income students the same kind of school choices now available to those who are better off.

But a parade of teachers, would-be teachers, parents, school board members and others said the measure would hurt Nebraskas public schools and may not help students.

Public education is the backbone of a healthy community, said Michele Tilley, a Lincoln business owner. I am adamantly against having my tax dollars used for a private school.

Linehan said the bill expands on the school choice that Nebraska already provides through option enrollment.

That program allows students to opt out of their home school district and into another public school district if there is space available.

But Linehan said many schools, especially in growing urban districts, cant take as many students as there are who want to opt in. That leaves students trapped, unless their families can afford to send them to a private or parochial school.

LB 608 would offer a way out for students who live in the attendance area of one of the 87 schools identified by state education officials as low-performing.

We know that no resource is more precious to the future than a childs mind, Linehan said.

Cameron Gales of Omaha spoke for the bill. He and his wife decided to send their two children to St. Bernard School because they were unhappy with Omaha Public Schools.

His children cant wait while OPS takes the steps needed to improve the quality of its education, Gales said.

I want my children to have solid education, he said. We can no longer fail students by not allowing them to choose.

Jim Bender, president of School Choice Wisconsin, said LB 608 is similar to that states school choice programs. He said those programs are growing as more parents seek school options.

Wisconsin requires that publicly funded students in parochial schools be able to opt out of religious requirements. The state also requires more reporting on the publicly funded student test scores than the private schools normally provide.

Bender, in response to a question from the committee, noted that the states public school funding has suffered in recent years, though not as a result of the school choice programs. He said the funding cuts, along with curtailing collective bargaining rights for teachers, were done in response to a state budget deficit.

But opponents said LB 608 would take money away from Nebraskas public schools. Although public schools also would have fewer students to educate, opponents questioned whether school expenses would drop in proportion.

Amy Shane, superintendent at ONeill Public Schools, said her district would have limited ability to reduce staff, which could mean the district would have to draw more from property taxes.

She also raised concerns that the bill could divide the community by pitting the private St. Marys in ONeill against the public school. The two now cooperate on a number of programs.

As introduced, LB 608 would take funding from the public school district to pay for tuition, books and other costs for students who go to a private or parochial school.

The funding would be equal to 75 percent of the per-student funding in the public school district. The other 25 percent would go into a local property tax relief fund.

Legislative fiscal staff estimated that the payments could total $23 million, assuming that 10 percent of students in the low-performing schools decided to take advantage of the program.

At the hearing, Linehan offered an amendment under which the state rather than individual school districts would pick up the cost for the students attending private schools.

If the private education costs less than the option enrollment amount, she said, she intends for the rest of the money to go into the states Property Tax Credit Fund.

No cost estimate for the proposed amendment was available.

Kathy Danek, a Lincoln Public Schools board member, raised questions about how many students would be covered by the bill.

It would make public funding available for any student living in a low-performing public school area, no matter the students income level or whether the student had previously been attending a private school.

She and other opponents also questioned the constitutionality of the measure, noting that the Nebraska Constitution specifies that public funds cannot be appropriated to any nonpublic school.

But Michael McHale, general counsel with the Nebraska Catholic Conference, said that the proposal would pass muster because the money would not go directly to the private school but would be provided as a scholarship for the student.

Courts in other states have ruled that such arrangement are constitutional.
LINCOLN  Lawmakers on Tuesday agreed to extend temporary legislative rules after a compromise on permanent rules crumbled.

The Legislature voted 33-8 to extend the temporary rules through Thursday. Had senators not adopted the proposal by Speaker of the Legislature Jim Scheer of Norfolk, the temporary rules would have expired Tuesday.

Earlier Tuesday, it appeared a compromise had been reached. Lawmakers for weeks have debated the filibuster rules.

Under the current rules, ending a filibuster requires 33 votes, or a two-thirds majority of the full 49 senators.

Cloture motions are filed when a supporter of a proposal wants to end a filibuster. Cloture forces an immediate vote on a bills advancement. If not met, a bill effectively dies.

The compromise would have put pressure on senators to cast a vote as it required two-thirds of senators present and voting to end a filibuster. In effect, the number of votes needed to invoke cloture would have changed depending on the number of senators in their seats and voting.

The current rules allow 17 senators, either by voting against a cloture motion or not voting, to block legislation.

Under the proposal brought by State Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon, 25 votes would have been required to invoke cloture once the number of senators present and voting was 38 or fewer.

Scheer said the deal was reached among a group of six lawmakers: Sens. Adam Morfeld, Kate Bolz and Mike Hilgers of Lincoln, Burke Harr of Omaha, Jim Smith of Papillion and John Murante of Gretna.

Morfeld said the idea came from research about how other states use cloture motions. He said he believed the filibuster rule should remain as is, but he wanted to work toward common ground.

Harr said the proposal brought by Brewer wasnt what he had agreed to. He disputed the math used in the proposal to calculate two-thirds of senators present and voting.

Others, including Sens. Paul Schumacher of Columbus and Bob Krist of Omaha, argued the body shouldnt change the filibuster rule. Schumacher said he hadnt heard a compelling argument to change it and called the latest proposal subject to much maneuvering and trickery.

Six people out of 49 does not a compromise make, he said at one point.

Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha said that no rule change should be so complex that it requires a chart.

Some senators argue a change is necessary to curb the record number of filibusters used last year. Others say a change would embolden the bodys majority and take away minority rights.

The Legislature has 32 Republicans, 15 Democrats, one Libertarian and one independent.

Debate on the rules will resume Wednesday.
A 9-month-old girl was critically injured in a two-vehicle collision Monday night at 72nd Street and Redick Avenue, police said.

Four others also were injured when a car collided nearly head on with a Nebraska Humane Society van about 9 p.m.

The baby, who will be 10 months old on Thursday, was identified as Hayela Jeter of Omaha. She suffered a head injury was taken by ambulance to the Nebraska Medical Center, said Omaha police Sgt. Chuck Casey, an accident investigator.

Paramedics had to resuscitate the girl, performing CPR en route to the hospital, police said.

She was listed in good condition Tuesday.

Police identified the others injured in the crash, all Omahans, and transported by ambulance with injuries that were not considered life-threatening: Brejhan Sieling, 25, to Immanuel Medical Center with an arm injury; Sonja Rowland, 30, to Immanuel with complaints of general pain; Cynthia Johnson, 44, to the Nebraska Medical Center for a knee injury; Alexus Russell, 21, to Nebraska Medical Center for complaints of general pain; Ethel Sims, 14, to Nebraska Medical Center for a lower leg injury; and Aleyah Jeter, 2, who went to the Nebraska Medical Center without any specific reported injuries.

The car, a maroon 2004 Buick LeSabre, driven by Johnson, had been traveling north on 72nd and was attempting to turn left into a shopping complex when it collided with the southbound Humane Society van, driven by Sieling. Rowland was a passenger in the van. The others were passengers in the LeSabre.

No animals were known to be in the Humane Society van. Police were investigating.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump on Tuesday blamed "illegal leaks" for the downfall of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who resigned late Monday amid reports of potentially illegal interactions with the Russian ambassador to the United States before Trump was sworn in as president.

In a tweet, Trump expressed frustration with what he views as a culture of leaks in the nation's capital. "The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington?" he wrote. "Will these leaks be happening as I deal on N. Korea etc?"

The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington? Will these leaks be happening as I deal on N.Korea etc?  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 14, 2017

Flynn had originally denied  including to Vice President Mike Pence  having privately discussed U.S. sanctions against Moscow with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the transition period. Pence, based on Flynn's assurances, then publicly defended him. But amid reporting that Flynn had discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy, the national security adviser backtracked on Thursday, saying he could not be sure the topic had not come up.

In his resignation letter Monday, Flynn said that he had apologized to both Trump and Pence and that he "inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador."

The president's tweet echoed the messaging of some conservatives close to the White House, who focused heavily on how the call between Flynn and the Russian official was intercepted and how that intelligence then leaked to the media.

"I think this really was the death by a thousand leaks," Laura Ingraham, a conservative news commentator, said on Fox News. "The leaks that were coming out of this administration and the transition  before the administration  were at a level that I don't remember seeing for quite some time."

Not long before Trump tweeted, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, was on Fox and said that "somebody in the nebulous intelligence community" would have had access to the information about Flynn's calls.

"Who tapped the phones? Who is listening to it? Who leaked it? I think those are legitimate questions to ask," Johnson said Tuesday morning.

The senator said he did not know whether those who leaked the information about Flynn broke the law, but he added: "Leaks of this nature are incredibly damaging to America, to our national security, and we need to look into it."
WASHINGTON (AP)  The storm over national security adviser Michael Flynn's contacts with Russia made his situation "unsustainable," prompting Flynn to resign less than a month into the new Trump administration, a top White House official said Tuesday.

Flynn's ouster appeared to be driven more by the idea that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials than by the content of his discussions with Russia's ambassador to the U.S. Still, the matter deepened questions about President Donald Trump's friendly posture toward Russia.

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway told NBC's "Today" show that Flynn "knew he'd become a lightning rod" and made the decision to resign. Conway's comments came one day after she said the president had "full confidence" in Flynn.

Flynn's resignation  which one White House official said was offered at the request of the president  came after reports that the Justice Department had alerted the White House weeks ago that there were contradictions between Trump officials' public accounting of the Russia contacts and what intelligence officials knew to be true based on routine recordings of communications with foreign officials who are in the U.S.

The revelations were another destabilizing blow to an administration that has already suffered a major legal defeat on immigration, botched the implementation of a signature policy and stumbled through a string of embarrassing public relations missteps.

White House officials haven't said when Trump was told of the Justice Department warning or why Flynn had been allowed to stay on the job with access to a full range of intelligence materials.

Pence and others, apparently relying on information from Flynn, had said the national security adviser did not discuss U.S. economic sanctions against Russia with the Russian envoy during the American presidential transition. Flynn later told officials the sanctions may have been discussed, the latest change in his account of his pre-inauguration discussions with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

Such conversations would breach diplomatic protocol and possibly violate the Logan Act, a law aimed at keeping private citizens from conducting U.S. diplomacy. The Justice Department had warned the White House late last month that Flynn could be at risk for blackmail because of contradictions between his public depictions of the calls and what intelligence officials.

Asked whether the president had been aware that Flynn might have planned to discuss sanctions with the Russian envoy, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said, "No, absolutely not."

House Speaker Paul Ryan said Trump made the right decision in asking Flynn to step down.

"You cannot have the national security adviser misleading the vice president and others," Ryan said.

Trump, who has been conspicuously quiet about Flynn's standing for several days, took to Twitter Tuesday morning and said the "real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington?" He ignored questions about Flynn from reporters during an education event at the White House Tuesday morning.

Trump named retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg as the acting national security adviser. Kellogg had previously been appointed the National Security Council chief of staff and advised Trump during the campaign. Trump is also considering former CIA Director David Petraeus and Vice Admiral Robert Harward, a U.S. Navy SEAL, for the post, according to a senior administration official.

A separate administration official said Flynn's deputy, K.T. McFarland, a former Fox News analyst, was expected to stay at the White House.

A U.S. official told The Associated Press that Flynn was in frequent contact with Kislyak on the day the Obama administration slapped sanctions on Russia for election-related hacking, as well as at other times during the transition.

The officials and two people with knowledge of the situation confirmed the Justice Department warnings on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

The Washington Post was the first to report the communication between former acting attorney general Sally Yates, a holdover from the Obama administration, and the Trump White House. The Post also first reported last week that Flynn had indeed spoken about sanctions with the Russian ambassador.

Trump never voiced public support for Flynn after that initial report but continued to keep his national security adviser close. Flynn was part of Trump's daily briefing Monday and sat in on his calls with foreign leaders, as well as his discussions with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The Kremlin had confirmed that Flynn was in contact with Kislyak but denied that they talked about lifting sanctions. On Tuesday, Russian lawmakers mounted a fierce defense of Flynn.

Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the foreign affairs committee at the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, said in a post on Facebook that firing a national security adviser for his contacts with Russia is "not just paranoia but something even worse." Kosachev also expressed frustration at the Trump administration:

"Either Trump hasn't found the necessary independence and he's been driven into a corner... or russophobia has permeated the new administration from top to bottom," he said.

Kosachev's counterpart at the lower chamber of the Russian parliament, Alexei Pushkov, tweeted shortly after the announcement that "it was not Flynn who was targeted but relations with Russia."

California Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Flynn's resignation "does not end questions over his contacts with the Russians." He said the White House has yet to be forthcoming about whether Flynn was acting at the behest of the president or others.
After 32 years in the Senate, Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has earned a reputation as a wily legislative wizard and a cynical genius at outwitting Democrats.

So when McConnell invoked a little-used Senate rule to silence Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren as she read a letter from Coretta Scott King denouncing President Trumps nominee for attorney general, Congress-watchers figured there had to be a clever strategy behind the move.

Sure, millions of people watched a video of Warren reading the letter just outside the Senate chamber. Sure, he turned her into a liberal folk hero. But maybe McConnell was trying to make Warren a front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, figuring shed be a weak candidate. Maybe he hoped to make her the face of the Democratic Party in the 2018 congressional election, to frighten Midwestern moderates.

Nope. Sometimes a blunder is just a blunder.

The reasons for McConnells crackdown against Warren were pretty simple.

First, McConnell loathes her. He doesnt like her politics; he doesnt like her manner.

More pointedly, McConnell thinks Warren has been stepping outside the blurry boundaries of Senate courtesy for a while. She has been warned multiple times, not just today, McConnell spokesman Don Stewart told NBC News.

Warren has attacked McConnell himself, accusing him of bullying the Senate in his role as majority leader.

Her tough speech Wednesday reviving charges of bigotry against then-still-Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) was a last straw, aides said. As unlikely as it sounds when applied to McConnell, his move against Warren was a crime of passion.

There may also have been a practical reason McConnell told Warren to shut up and sit down: It was a gesture of loyalty toward Sessions  and not merely because Sessions, as a senator, had been a reliable conservative vote. McConnell and Trump have had an arms length relationship until now; the Senate leader has publicly (if gently) criticized the president several times. Sessions, the new attorney general and a close Trump advisor, will be one of McConnells main conduits to the White House.

Still, theres no question that the decision to silence Warren backfired  badly. The furor gained the Massachusetts senator far more attention than her otherwise routine speech would have if it hadnt been interrupted.

She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted, McConnell said, inadvertently launching a meme that could become Warrens next campaign slogan.

The result: The majority leader turned the confirmation vote on Sessions, a loss for the Democrats, into a vehicle they could use to rally their partisan base. Male Democrats took the floor to read Kings letter into the record. When McConnell didnt object, they said that was proof of his sexism.

Strange as it may seem, McConnells late-night error is likely to have long-term consequences, as well. One, a dent in the majority leaders reputation as a strategist, which was already a little tattered.

Hes made mistakes before. In 2012, leading a GOP minority, he demanded an up-or-down vote on a debt ceiling bill in an attempt to divide Democrats  but when the Democrats outfoxed him by hanging together, he blocked his own proposal with an embarrassing filibuster.

In his first weeks as majority leader in 2014, he promised to open the process to amendments from both sides  only to abandon the pledge when it became troublesome in practice.

In 2015, he bungled a renewal of the anti-terrorist Patriot Act when he didnt realize that a member of his own party, Rand Paul, was determined to block the bill.

McConnells Senate, in short, hasnt been as orderly and productive as he wanted.

More important, the episode showed Democrats that their quickest path to heroism, at least among their supporters and donors, is relentless resistance to Trump and McConnell.

They were headed in that direction already, thanks to the grassroots protests that erupted when some of them (including Warren) voted to confirm one or two Cabinet nominees.

A Politico/Morning Consult poll showed that most Democrats want members of Congress to stick to their principles, even if that means blocking all legislation and nominees.

Thats a problem for McConnell. For his Senate to look like a success, he needs to pass a tax reform bill, a replacement for President Obamas health care law, and a series of spending bills. If he keeps the rule requiring 60 votes for major legislation to advance, hell need some Democratic votes. His collision with Warren, even though she represents the progressive edge of her own party, made that harder.

Instead, Democrats are now more likely to exploit the tools Senate rules give them to obstruct legislation, demand amendments and force Republicans to vote on measures that will embarrass them or divide them from Trump.

McConnell will label them obstructionists, but the Democrats know that obstructionism works  that when Congress is gridlocked, most voters will blame the party in the White House.

Where did they learn that? From McConnell, of course. That was the strategy he used to frustrate Obama. Now he must watch, and fume, as his opponents turn it against him.
Do courts have legal grounds to intervene when a president issues an executive order relating to immigration?

Under what circumstances do states have the legal standing to sue once an administration issues such an order?

How about a presidential candidates rhetoric on the campaign stump  are such public statements legally relevant for a court to consider when its asked to decide a case involving an administrations actions?

Those are among the significant questions that arise from the legal debate over President Donald Trumps executive order barring refugees and visitors from seven Muslim-majority nations.

Courts so far have dealt only with preliminary matters. If the case does proceed to examining the legal merits, it would provide a chance to clarify significant legal questions such as those above.

Responsibly written judicial findings, addressing key legal questions, could benefit the public, the courts and the Trump administration itself.

Deciding whether campaign rhetoric is legally relevant is one of the central decisions in this particular case, for example. The focus is on campaign mention of a Muslim ban.

Some legal analysts say court precedent means campaign language has no bearing in court cases involving presidential actions. Others disagree.

Debate also extends to when state governments have legal standing to file suit on immigration- related executive actions, and to how far a presidents plenary power  the authority to act on immigration issues without judicial review  extends.

Last week a temporary restraining order against the executive order was left in place by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in San Francisco. A federal judge in Seattle issued the restraining order after the State of Washington sued, claiming harm to its businesses and universities.

Presidents unquestionably have robust powers when it comes to setting immigration policy. It would be incorrect, though, to say that such authority can never be subject to judicial review.

A group of conservative-leaning states filed suit against the Obama administration several years ago over one of its controversial executive orders on immigration. That action served a constructive purpose by subjecting the administrations action to proper legal scrutiny.

In one of the current cases, the appeals court said the Trump administration in court did an inadequate job providing evidence to justify removing the Seattle judges temporary restraining order.

One option is that the administration can provide classified information to the court. Courts regularly receive classified information under seal and maintain its confidentiality, David Rose, who has taught law at Georgetown and Temple Universities, wrote in the Washington Post last week. Regulations and rules have long been in place for that.

The Trump administration has said it will issue a revamped executive order on the immigration issue this week. Legal analysts agree that the administration could reduce the opportunity for court challenges if it states formally in a new executive order that green card holders  immigrants with permanent legal residency status  are exempt from the current action.

Whats needed for the long term, though, is greater clarity by the courts on precisely how far a presidents powers extend in carrying out immigration policy.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump's embattled national security adviser Michael Flynn resigned late Monday night, following reports that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russia. His departure upends Trump's senior team after less than one month in office.

In a resignation letter, Flynn said he gave Vice President Mike Pence and others "incomplete information" about his calls with Russia's ambassador to the U.S. The vice president, apparently relying on information from Flynn, initially said the national security adviser had not discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy, though Flynn later conceded the issue may have come up.

Trump named retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg as the acting national security adviser. Kellogg had previously been appointed the National Security Council chief of staff and advised Trump during the campaign. Trump is also considering former CIA Director David Petraeus and Vice Admiral Robert Harward, a U.S. Navy SEAL, for the post, according to a senior administration official.

The Trump team's account of Flynn's discussions with the Russian envoy changed repeatedly over several weeks, including the number of contacts, the dates of those contacts and ultimately, the content of the conversations.

Late last month, the Justice Department warned the White House that Flynn could be in a compromised position as a result of the contradictions between the public depictions of the calls and what intelligence officials knew to be true based on recordings of the conversations, which were picked up as part of routine monitoring of foreign officials communications in the U.S.

A U.S. official told The Associated Press that Flynn was in frequent contact with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak on the day the Obama administration slapped sanctions on Russia for election-related hacking, as well as at other times during the transition.

An administration official and two people with knowledge of the situation confirmed the Justice Department warnings on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. It was unclear when Trump and Pence learned about the Justice Department outreach.

The Washington Post was the first to report the communication between former acting attorney general Sally Yates, a holdover from the Obama administration, and the Trump White House. The Post also first reported last week that Flynn had indeed spoken about sanctions with the Russian ambassador.

Trump never voiced public support for Flynn after that initial report, but continued to keep his national security adviser close. Flynn spent the weekend at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate and was in the president's daily briefing and calls with foreign leaders Monday. He sat in the front row of Trump's news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Monday afternoon.

White House officials sent contradictory messages about Flynn's status throughout the day. Counselor Kellyanne Conway said Trump had "full confidence" in Flynn, while spokesman Sean Spicer said the president was "evaluating the situation" and consulting with Pence about his conversations with the national security adviser.

Asked whether the president had been aware that Flynn might have planned to discuss sanctions with the Russian envoy, Spicer said, "No, absolutely not."

Flynn's discussions with the Russian raised questions about whether he offered assurances about the incoming administration's new approach. Such conversations would breach diplomatic protocol and possibly violate the Logan Act, a law aimed at keeping citizens from conducting diplomacy.

Administration officials said misleading Pence was ultimately Flynn's downfall, though they insisted he resigned and was not fired by Trump.

Flynn was spotted near the Oval Office just after 10 p.m. Monday. As uncertainty about his future swirled, several of the president's top advisers, including chief of staff Reince Priebus and counsel Don McGahn, ducked in and out of late-night meetings in the West Wing.

California Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Flynn's resignation "does not end questions over his contacts with the Russians." He said the White House has yet to be forthcoming about whether Flynn was acting at the behest of the president or others.

Flynn's resignation comes as Trump and his top advisers seek to steady the White House after a rocky start. The president, who seeks input from a wide range of business associates, friends and colleagues, has been asking people their opinions on his senior team, including Spicer and chief of staff Reince Priebus.

Advisers have privately conceded that the White House spit out too many disparate messages in the first few weeks, though they also note that the president's own tweets sometimes muddy the day's plans before most of the White House staff has arrived for work.

Trump voiced support for Priebus Monday, saying the chief of staff was doing, "not a good job, a great job." But he did not make a similar show of support for his national security adviser.

Over the weekend, Trump told associates he was troubled by Flynn's situation, but did not say whether he planned to ask him to step down, according to a person who spoke with him recently. Flynn was a loyal Trump supporter during the campaign, but he was viewed skeptically by some in the administration's national security circles, in part because of his ties to Russia.

In 2015, Flynn was paid to attend a gala dinner for Russia Today, a Kremlin-backed television station, and sat next to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the event.

Flynn apologized to Pence about the matter on Friday, according to an administration official. The official said Pence was relying on information from Flynn when he went on television and denied that sanctions were discussed with Kislyak.

Kellogg takes the helm of the National Security Council at a time when the young administration is grappling with a series of national security challenges, including North Korea's reported ballistic missile launch. The president, who was joined at his Mar-a-Lago estate by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over the weekend, voiced solidarity with Japan.

The White House is also dealing with fallout from the rocky rollout of Trump's immigration executive order, which has been blocked by the courts. The order was intended to suspend the nation's refugee program and bar citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.
The only good news is that there are millions of Americans who agree with The Frau about the way things are going and are doing everything they can to act against what is happening. The Frau is part of several grassroots groups at the moment and is excited by the energy that is gathering against the horror. In the end, The Frau has to believe that the millions of well-meaning Americans will triumph. The ones who believe in immigration, in diversity, in equal rights, and in the constitution that promises to uphold them all.
Aero India 2017: Parrikar pushes for defence manufacturing

India

oi-Anusha

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday inaugurated the Aero India 2017 in Bengaluru. Calling it one of the best aero shows in Asia, Parrikar said that it has time and again proved to be a brilliant business, investment and display hub national as well as international firms. "We encourage Indian companies in defence manufacturing but we would also like to encourage foreign companies. The government is working on ways to increase private player participation in defence manufacturing," he said.

Focus will be on start-ups, he said while maintaining that there will be focus on time-bound delivery of projects. "The government will encourage manufacturing, design as well as innovation in the field of defense manufacturing. Conditions have never been better than now for defence manufacturing in India and I hope it will make way for better technical enhancement," he said.

Acknowledging the contribution of foreign companies Parrikar said that measured are already being made to ensure ease of business and encourage defence investment.

While Siddaramaiah, the chief minister of the host state gave the inaugural session a miss, Karnataka Minister for Higher Education and Tourism R V Deshpande spoke on his behalf. The ongoing assembly session was cited as reason for the CM to miss the event.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 14, 2017, 10:15 [IST]
Are BJP, BSP coming together to form an alliance in UP?

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Lucknow, Feb 14: Lately, rumour mills are abuzz that the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party will join hands as post-election partners to form the next government in Uttar Pradesh.

Many reports indicate that BJP president Amit Shah has gone 'soft' in his attack against BSP supremo Mayawati. Insiders say that if the BJP fall short of few seats to form the government in UP, then it might form an alliance with the BSP.

However, on Tuesday BSP chief Mayawati has denied joining hands with any political party to form the government in the state. In fact, Mayawati said the BJP was spreading rumour regarding the alliance.

"The BJP is spreading rumours through social media that the party and the BSP are going to form the government together," BSP chief Mayawati said at a rally in Kanpur.

"We are ready to sit in the opposition, but will not form government with the help of the BJP," said the Dalit leader.

The BSP party leaders say that they also have no plans to join hands with the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance to form the next government in the state.

"No question to go with the SP-Congress alliance too," added Mayawati.

The UP assembly elections 2017 is an elaborate affair. The polling in the state started on February 11. The state will go to elections in seven phases. The remaining six polling dates are February 15, February 19, February 23, February 27, March 4 and March 8. The counting of votes in the state Vidhan Sabha, consisting of 403 assembly seats, will take place on March 11.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 14, 2017, 15:58 [IST]
HAL's Light Utility Helicopter

The HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) single-engine light helicopter exclusively built for the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force to replace the aging fleet of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters. LUH uses one 1,272 kW HAL/Turbomeca Shakti 1U turboshaft engine and has a maximum cruise speed on 220 km/h.

Pic courtesy: Anusha Ravi

C-130J Super Hercules

The Lockheed Martin's C-130J Super Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. The Hercules family has the longest continuous production run of any military aircraft in history. During more than 60 years of service, the family has participated in several military, civilian, and humanitarian aid operations.

Pic courtesy- Twitter@SpokespersonMoD

LCA Tejas at Aero India 2017

The HAL Tejas is single-seat, single-jet engine, multi-role light fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian Air Force and Navy.

General characteristics of Tejas:

Length: 13.20 m

Wingspan: 8.20 m

Height: 4.40 m

Wing area: 38.4 m;

Pic courtesy: PTI

Sukhoi Su-30MKI at Yelahanka

The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a twinjet multirole air fighter developed by Russia's Sukhoi and built under licence by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force. The Su-30MKI is expected to form the backbone of the Indian Air Force's fighter fleet to 2020 and beyond.

The aircraft is tailor-made for Indian specifications and integrates Indian systems and avionics as well as French and Israeli sub-systems.

Pic courtesy: Anusha Ravi

HAL's Rudra being prepared for air show

Indian air force personnel put covers on a Rudra light combat helicopter on the day before Aero India 2017 on Monday.

Image courtesy: PTI

F-16 fighter at airshow

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics.

Pic courtesy: Anusha Ravi
UGC-NET 2022 results to be declared today; check steps to download scorecard

'Severe' yet again: Delhi air continues to remain toxic with AQI at 431

Anand Mahindra's tweet about UPI at country's 'last tea shop' is every Indian's emotion

Manish Sisodiya claims his PA 'arrested' by ED after conducting raids

Delhi: Army jawan shoots himself

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, Feb 14: An army jawan shot himself dead at the India Gate in the national capital on Tuesday, apparently due to domestic reasons, police said.

34-years-old Suneel Patole, who hailed from Nashik district in Maharshtra, shot himself with his service AK-47 rifle. He was rushed to a nearby Armed Force Clinic, where he was declared dead.

"He has left a suicide note in Marathi, citing domestic issues as the reason behind the suicide," a senior police officer said.

According to reports, Patole was posted as coy quartermaster, 116TA para, Territorial Army Headquarters at Shershah Road, near High court.

IANS

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 14, 2017, 13:36 [IST]
Don't stand up if National Anthem is played as part of a film or documentary: SC

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Feb 14: The Supreme Court on Tuesday clarified that people are not obliged to stand up when the National Anthem is played as and in part of a film or documentary.

The SC had on Friday refused to give an urgent hearing on a plea seeking direction for framing of a policy to promote and propagate the national anthem, national flag and national song.

A bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar declined the prayer for urgent hearing. Advocate Ashwini Upadhaya, who mentioned the matter before the bench, urged that the plea be tagged with the matter pending with the apex court and scheduled for hearing on February 14.

The apex court had on November 30 last year ordered cinema halls across the nation to mandatorily play the National Anthem before screening of a movie and the audience must stand and show respect. A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Amitava Roy had observed that the "time has come when citizens must realise they live in a nation and are duty-bound to show respect to National Anthem which is a symbol of constitutional patriotism and inherent national quality."

It had said that "love and respect for the motherland is reflected when one shows respect to the National Anthem as well as to the National Flag".

The court had barred printing of the anthem or part of it on any object and displaying it in such a manner at places which may be "disgraceful to its status and tantamount to disrespect". It had also barred playing or displaying an "abridged version" of the anthem.

PTI
Expecting Sasikala's conviction; cant escape 4-year jail term, says Subramanian Swamy

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

New Delhi, Feb 14: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy, who has been closely following all the political and legal battles of Sasikala Natarajan, said he was expecting her conviction in the disproportionate assets case on Tuesday.

The controversial political veteran added the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam interim general secretary can't escape the four years jail term.

"I was expecting the conviction. I don't think she can escape the four years sentence," Swamy told ANI, after the Supreme Court pronounced its verdict in the much-awaited DA case.

In a major setback for Sasikala, who was aspiring to be the Tamil Nadu chief minister, the SC on Tuesday restored her conviction in a disproportionate assets case.

A division bench of Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Amitava Roy set aside a Karnataka High Court order staying the conviction of Sasikala and three by a trial court.

The court directed Sasikala and the others to 'immediately' surrender before the trial court and ordered them to serve the remaining portion of their jail term.

Justice Roy, in a concurring judgment, expressed deep concern over the 'escalating menace of corruption in society'.

Earlier, the BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member Swamy on Monday wondered why TN Governor Vidyasagar Rao was not inviting Sasikala to form the next government.

"Sasikala has given a list of 139 MLAs to the governor all with their signatures. She has even offered to present them in person. Whereas (caretaker chief minister) O Panneerselvam has not even presented a single paper," Swamy told the media.

"Sasikala has the majority. She has no disqualifications as given under Article 191 of the Constitution, so I can't understand what is the governor waiting for," said Swamy clarifying that opinions were his personal.

OneIndia News
For man who convicted Jaya, it was business as usual

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The much-hyped 21-year-old disproportionate assets case more famously known as Jayalalithaa DA case was finally decided on Tuesday by the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, for Justice Michael D'Cunha it was business as usual. Justice Cunha who is a judge at the Karnataka high court spent the day disposing off criminal petitions at Court Hall 29. It was Justice D'Cunha who had first passed the order convicting Jayalalithaa and three others in the disproportionate assets case.

D'Cunha had one of the most difficult tasks ahead of him when he appointed to her the case in the trial court. The case had already been delayed several times after the case was first filed in 1996. After the special court was set up in Bengaluru following a Supreme Court order, there were four judges who heard the case before D'Cunha did. The first judge was A S Pachapure, following, but he was elevated to the high court.

Following this, A T Munoli took over as and after he retired, B M Mallikarjunaiah was appointed as the judge. After his retirement in August 2012, M S Balakrishna took over the case, who retired in September 2013; following which, D' Cunnha was appointed as the special court judge.

D'Cunha, in the legal fraternity was considered to a no-nonsense judge. On the first day of him sitting he gave a clear indication that he meant business and would let the trial get delayed at any cost. There were various attempts made to delay the case, but D'Cunha ensured that the trial was on track.

He was particularly tough on the day he was delivering the verdict when the accused tried seeking an adjournment. D'Cunha had said that there has already been too much delay and during this period Jayalalithaa had already become CM twice.

The proceedings were to commence at 11 am. Just a while before the proceedings the court officer was seen instructing all the AIDMK supporters-cum-lawyers to remain seated. They were told that inside the court, the judge is above all and at no cost should any of them stand up when Jayalalithaa enters into the court hall. "All of you shall stand up only when the judge enters into the court," they were told.

[Jaya DA case: Read the FULL judgement]

However, the AIDMK men had a better way to outsmart the instructions given by the court officer. They decided not to sit down. They continued to stand until she entered into the court.

When Jayalalithaa entered the court sharp at 11 am, there was an air of confidence around her and no signs of nervousness. At some level she felt that she would be acquitted, which her lawyers had obviousty been telling her all along. She greeted her lawyers and even the co-accused barring Sudhakaran, before she sat down.

However, the confidence was short-lived. The judge wanted to waste no time in reading out the judgment in full. He came to the point immediately and read out the operative portion of the verdict.

The judge said by around 11.10 am that the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that offences of corruption had been committed by Jayalalithaa, Sasikala Natrajan, Ilavarasi and Sudhakaran.

Jayalalithaa looked shocked. All the beaming confidence 10 minutes before the pronouncement of the verdict had vanished. She just continued to stare blankly. After a while, she just continued to stare at Sasikala, and did not utter a word.

When she came back at 1 pm, the court asked her why she should not be given a harsh sentence. She gave a lot of explanations about the time that had gone by and also spoke about the various welfare schemes that she had implemented.

She also told the court that the state's administration is very important. However the court was not impressed, and in fact, the judge felt that she was not being remorseful and continued to defend herself despite the conviction.

OneIndia News
NPF, an ally of BJP: Will Manipur CM be able to lift economic blockade?

How economic blockade has turned elections colourless in Manipur

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Imphal, Feb 14: It's a lacklustre election season in Manipur. Unlike in other poll-bound states--Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand--election campaign in the northeastern state has so far been muted.

Reason: the state is reeling under an economic blockade. Because of the ongoing economic blockade, candidates, cutting across party lines, have kept their campaign measures low key. As the state is experiencing severe fuel crisis, most of the candidates are seen doing door-to-door campaign.

"There is no petrol/diesel to refuel our vehicles. Moreover, prices of fuels have become exorbitant. Thus, we have decided to visit voters directly in their houses," a Congress worker told a local journalist.

Many in Manipur are not in favour of the elections being conducted when the state is facing a crisis. However, voters have no other option, but to exercise their democratic rights during the election days. Similarly, many candidates have been vocal about the impediments they have been facing due to the economic blockade.

On Tuesday, Manipur entered the 105th day of the economic blockade. Since November 1, the United Naga Council-- an umbrella organisation of Naga civil society organisations-- has imposed a blockade on NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur) and NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam) highways that serve as lifelines for the landlocked Manipur.

There is nothing new about economic blockades imposed in Manipur, several times a year, by various political and rebel groups every year. During these economic blockades, the vehicular movements in the two National Highways--NH-2 and NH-202--connecting the state with the rest of the country--come to a standstill.

Polling for the 60 seats Manipur Assembly will be hosted in two phases on March 4 and March 8. Results will be declared on March 11. In the last assembly polls, the Congress won 42 seats and Okram Ibobi Singh was re-elected as the chief minister of the state.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 14, 2017, 11:01 [IST]
FM Nirmala Sitharaman hints at possibility of Centre considering restoration of state status to J&K

J&K encounter: 1 terrorist killed, three jawans martyred

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Srinagar, Feb 14: According to media reports three soldiers lost their lives on Tuesday morning after several rounds of firing were exchanged between security forces and terrorists in Hajin area of Bandipora district in Jammu and Kashmir. The reports add that one terrorist was also killed in the gunbattle and four were believed to be holed up. The encounter is still underway.

Two army personnel injured during encounter b/w forces and terrorists in Hajin area of Bandipora district in J&K pic.twitter.com/yPYsLgKEBk  ANI (@ANI_news) February 14, 2017

According to IANS, security forces were fired at when they launched the operation in Parraypora village after a tip-off about holed-up militants.

Some media reports suggest that one terrorist was also killed in the encounter. However, nothing has been officially confirmed until now.

The firing was still on when last reports came in, a police officer told PTI.

On Sunday, two jawans were martyred and four Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were shot down during an encounter in south Kashmir's Kulgam area.

OneIndia News
Jaya DA case: Here are the 4 possible orders the SC can pass today

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, Feb 14: It is almost certain that a division bench of the Supreme Court will deliver two separate verdicts in the Jayalalithaa disproportionate assets case on Tuesday. The list of business in the Supreme Court's cause list mentions the names of both Justices Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Amitava Roy. This makes it clear that both would deliver separate judgments.

A timeline of the Jayalalithaa DA case: 1996 to 2016

Delivering two separate judgments throws up a lot of possibilities. If the judges deliver a split verdict then the matter would be referred to a three judge bench which would have to hear arguments once again before delivering the verdict. This would be the final judgment. Let us examine the possibilities.

Before that let us take a quick recap of how the case stands. The trial court in Bengaluru had convicted Jayalalithaa, Sasikala Natarajan, Ilavarasi and Sudhakaran. The court had slapped a Rs 100 crore fine and sentenced all four to 4 years in jail. The Karnataka high court, however, reversed that order while acquitting all four. Karnataka filed an appeal in the Supreme Court challenging the acquittal. The order was reversed in June 2016 and will be pronounced at 10.30 am on Tuesday.

Here are the possibilities

If the judges differ in their verdict, then the matter is referred to the Chief Justice of India who in turn would constitute a three judge bench to decide on the case.

When the matter is referred to the third judge, the order of acquittal passed by the high court would be in force. This would mean Sasikala can ascend to the seat of the chief minister of Tamil Nadu.

If both judges agree on the conviction, but differ on the sentence, then Sasikala would stand disqualified to occupy the CMs chair. Only the quantum of the sentence would be decided by a three judge bench. An order of conviction would disqualify Sasikala from contesting an election within six months of her swearing in which is a pre-requisite under the Representation of People's Act.

There is also every chance the Supreme Court can refer the matter back to the Karnataka high court for fresh consideration since Jayalalithaa, who was the main accused in the case, is no more.

OneIndia News
Jayalalithaa's niece announces official entry into politics, joins OPS

India

oi-Anusha

Chennai, Fe 14: Deepa Jayaram, late Jayalalithaa's niece announced her official entry into politics on Tuesday. Deepa who arrived at Jayalalithaa memorial to meet Panneerselvam spoke to the media confirming her entry into political fray. Asked if this was her official entry into politics, she replied in the positive.

Panneerselvam arrived at the memorial impromptu on Tuesday creating curiosity. Deepa who has been vocal about her support to Panneerselvam did the expected when she extended her support to Panneerselvam at Jayalalithaa memorial. Her move comes on a day the supreme court inducted Jayalalithaa, Sasikala, Ilavarasi and Sudhakaran in a disproportionate assets case.

From the time of Jayalalithaa's death, Deepa had maintained that her entry into politics for confirmed but she would wait for the right time to announce the same. She also claimed that she would make the announcement on Jayalalithaa's birthday but the current political scenario in Tamil Nadu seems to have changed her stance.

It may be noted that while Deepa has chosen to join Panneerselvam, her brother and Jayalalithaa's nephew Deepak continues to be part of the Sasikala camp. He was even present during a meet at a resort where it was decided that Panneerselvam will be ousted from the party.

OneIndia News
Panneerselvam EXPELLED from AIADMK; Edappadi new party chief

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam has been expelled from the primary membership of the party, while senior leader and minister Edappadi Palaniswamy has been elected as the new leader of the AIADMK legislature party. The decision to appoint Palaniswamy comes in the wake of Sasikala being convicted by the Supreme Court in the disproportionate assets case.

Meanwhile, all the MLAs who supported Panneerselvam have been sacked as well.

[Sasikala convicted, ordered to be taken into custody]

Following the conviction, Sasikala held a meeting of her party legislators at the Golden Bay Resort near Chennai. It was decided to appoint Palaniswamy as the new chief as Saskilala will have to go to jail and serve four years. At the meeting, that was attended by many including family members of Sasikala, it was also decided to sack OPS from the party's primary membership.

OneIndia News
Parrikar makes his message to Pak clear during address at Aero India

India

oi-Anusha

By Anusha Ravi

Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday said that India will protect its security interests if any threats by neighbouring countries are perceived. In a loud and clear message to China as well as Pakistan, he said that keeping calm did not mean lack of preparedness.

"Keeping calm doesn't necessarily mean you are unprepared. I am glad that Gen Bajwa has kept his forces calm but it doesn't mean I am not prepared. My preparedness is an individual exercise and not an offensive one," he said responding to a question on Pakistan forces' relatively calm since General Qamar Bajwa took over as the army chief.

He refused to divulge much on questions on Chinese military placing their strategic bombers near Indian borders.

"I do not have the liberty to answer all questions but you should know that if the security interests of the country are threatened, measures will be taken to protect it," he said.

The 'Make In India' push

Parrikar hailed the government's Make in India initiative and its contribution in indigenous defense production.

"The HAL has put up a spectacular display with indigenous aircraft like Rudra, Druv, light combat helicopters and Light Utility Helicopters. The production was stuck for almost 2 years but they have come a long way in maintaining timeline. It may be noted that the basic trainer aircraft were manufactured in just 15 months," he said.

Taking a dig at the previous government, he said that the emphasis was never laid on India manufacturing earlier and that it was the Make in India push that has led to enhancement of the sector.

He said that the Make in India initiative had opened up venues for largescale outsourcing, adding that increasing production of indigenous products can boost the sector.

"We have a huge market, since the requirement in aeronautical sector will be enhanced in the coming years. We would require about 1,000 aircraft for civil aviation alone. The requirement for helicopters in defence could be 800-1,000 and fighters around 600-800. We would need 5000 engines for helicopters alone," he said.

Difference of opinion on FDI

Foreign investment in defence sector has remained a controversial issue. When asked about the difference of opinion between the BJP and the RSS over FDI in defense, Parrikar said that no move that would compromise the interest of the nation would be taken.

"Concerns will be considered and decision will be made on a case by case basis. Move that would compromise the interest of the nation will not be taken. In case of Indian firms producing products, FDI will not be applied but in cases where we lack the expertise, foreign firms will be invited," he said.

OneIndia News
Why is the DMK continuing to oppose the imposition of Hindi? - 50 years of struggle and the truth!

Police force Sasikala supporters to vacate from resort

India

oi-Anusha

Even as Chief of Tamil Nadu police and Commissione of police Chennai arrived at the Raj Bhavan to meet with Governor Vidyasagar Rao, police deployed at the resort asked AIADMK cadre to vacate the place.

Police allegedly forces the resoer owner to ask the AIADMK MLAs and cadres to vacate the resort where they have been herded for about a week now.

Sasikala Natarajan who visited the resort on Monday decided to stay put with her supporters. Heavy police deployment at the resort after section 144 was imposed on Tuesday stopped large groups from entering the resort.

Police even stopped supporters of Panneerselvam at a distance from the resort where MLAs and other party members are lodged. The media was not allowed inside the resort unlike on Monday. Reports from the resort suggest that video journalists of television news channels were allowed entry into the resort while reporters wet asked to stay outside.

Police sources claimed that while some MLAs want to come out of the resort others are claiming to stay there willingly. "We have not been held against our wishes. We are here as a united family," said Thaniyarasu, an AIADMK MLA.

OneIndia News
Sasikalas conviction: Triumph against corruption; reinforces belief in judiciary

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Chennai/New Delhi, Feb 14: It took Indian judiciary almost two decades to convict Sasikala Natarajan and three of her accomplices, including Late Jayalalithaa, in the disproportionate assets case. Finally, on Tuesday, when the Supreme Court gave its judgement on the much-awaited case the nation heaved a sigh of relief.

"Justice has been delivered," is what most were heard saying, especially on various social media platforms.

"Justice has been done. The judgement shows how strong and independent is our judiciary," former advocate general BV Acharya told ANI. "This is a great success for the people of Tamil Nadu. It is a victory of truth and judicial system," added Tamilan Prasanna, a leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

At the heart of the judgement is the apex court's verdict against rising corruption in the country. Justice Amitava Roy, one of the two judges who gave the verdict, in a concurring judgement, expressed deep concern over the 'escalating menace of corruption in society'. "We have expressed deep concern about escalating menace of corruption in society," Justice Roy said.

The SC on Tuesday restored Sasikala's conviction in the disproportionate assets case. A division bench of Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Roy set aside a Karnataka High Court order staying the conviction of Sasikala and three by a trial court.

The court directed Sasikala and the others to 'immediately' surrender before the trial court and ordered them to serve the remaining portion of their jail term. Amid pin-drop silence, Justice Ghose, before pronouncing the judgment, said "You can understand (that it is) too much of a fatty judgment. We have taken the burden on us."

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 14, 2017, 14:28 [IST]
Sasikala speaks to cadres after conviction, appeals for unity

India

oi-Anusha

Chennai, Feb 14: In her first address to party cadres including MLAs, after the Supreme Court convicted her in a disproportionate assets case, Sasikala Natrajan appealed for unity. Breaking down while making her statement, she blamed Karunanidhi for the case filed against her and Jayalalithaa and called today's verdict a result of a case filed by AIADMK's 'enemy' Karunanidhi.

"I am overwhelmed that despite facing troubles, MLAs are supporting me. I am sure that we will be invited to form the government soon. You have to remain resolute and make sure that DMK becomes a non-entity in Tamil Nadu. People should question if DMK ever existed," she said addressing the cadres.

Speaking of being jailed, Sasikala broke down and said that no matter the imprisonment, her work for the party will continue. " Today's verdict is the result of Karunanidhi's case against us. I will face this. No jail can separate me from AIADMK and Wherever I am, I will always think about the party. I am only glad that Amma did not live to face this situation," she said.

While the AIADMK stated that a review petition will be filed against the SC verdict, sources suggest that Sasikala Natrajan will surrender before a court in Bengaluru as soon as the order copy is handed over.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 14, 2017, 22:37 [IST]
Why is the DMK continuing to oppose the imposition of Hindi? - 50 years of struggle and the truth!

Tamil Nadu: Heavy rains in several parts of Tamil Nadu in next 2 days

SC convicts Sasikala: Supporters of Panneerselvam celebrate; burst firecrackers

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Chennai, Feb 14: If on one hand supporters of Sasikala Natarajan have gone into a huddle to discuss their next course of action, fans of O Panneerselvam are celebrating after the Supreme Court convicted Sasikala in the disproportionate assets case on Tuesday.

According to media reports, supporters of caretaker Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu broke into song and dance outside his residence in Chennai to welcome the conviction of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam interim general secretary.

The supporters of Panneerselvam were seen bursting firecrackers outside his residence.

After her conviction, Sasikala is likely to spend around four-year jail term. In that case, she can't hold any public office. Experts say the conviction of Sasikala clears Panneerselvam's way to become the next CM of the state.

Till Monday, both Panneerselvam and Sasikala were staking their claim to the CM's post. While a majority of the AIADMK legislators were backing Sasikala, after the apex court's verdict there is a tremendous possibility that members of team Sasikala will soon join hands with team Panneerselvam.

The SC on Tuesday restored Sasikala's conviction in a disproportionate assets case. A division bench of Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Amitava Roy set aside a Karnataka High Court order staying the conviction of Sasikala and three by a trial court.

The court directed Sasikala and the others to 'immediately' surrender before the trial court and ordered them to serve the remaining portion of their jail term. Justice Roy, in a concurring judgment, expressed deep concern over the 'escalating menace of corruption in society'.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 14, 2017, 13:00 [IST]
Why is the DMK continuing to oppose the imposition of Hindi? - 50 years of struggle and the truth!

Tamil Nadu: Heavy rains in several parts of Tamil Nadu in next 2 days

Stalin hails Sasikala verdict as 'historic'

India

oi-PTI

Chennai, Feb 14: DMK working president M K Stalin on Tuesday described the disproportionate assets case judgment convicting Sasikala Natarajan as 'historic' and called on Governor Vidyasagar Rao to take steps for forming a stable government in Tamil Nadu.

"Justice done after a long time, after about two decades. It is a historic judgment," Stalin said, adding that the verdict showed how politicians should conduct themselves in public life.

"The judgment shows that one cannot escape. In public life probity is very important. For all politicians, this will be a lesson," he said.

Following the verdict, Governor Vidyasagar Rao should take steps to form a stable government, he told reporters.

Asked on the stand that his party will take in the assembly in the event of a floor test, he merely said, "DMK's stand will be beneficial to the country."

In a major setback for Sasikala, who was aspiring to be the Tamil Nadu chief minister, the SC on Tuesday restored her conviction in a disproportionate assets case.

A division bench of Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Amitava Roy set aside a Karnataka High Court order staying the conviction of Sasikala and three by a trial court.

The court directed Sasikala and the others to 'immediately' surrender before the trial court and ordered them to serve the remaining portion of their jail term.

Justice Roy, in a concurring judgment, expressed deep concern over the 'escalating menace of corruption in society'.

PTI

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 14, 2017, 12:51 [IST]
'Suspected Pak spy had been passing info to ISI for 3 years'

India

oi-PTI

Jodhpur, Feb 14: Suspected Pakistan spy Haji Khan had been passing on defence-related information to the ISI and two other agencies for the past three years, his interrogators on Tuesday said.

According to intelligence sources, Khan, who was caught in a joint operation of Army Intelligence and the CID from Kishangarh on Saturday, has also visited Pakistan by Thar Express five times in these three years.

"Khan's wife has been living in Pakistan's Rahimyarkhan and in return of providing important strategic information to the ISI and other agencies, her account was credited with Rs. 15 lakh during this period," a source said.

He told the agencies his brother Jumme Khan, who also lives in Rahimyarkhan, had been caught by the ISI and in return of his release, the ISI forced him to make the defence-related information available to it.

According to the sources, for the past three years of his activity, Khan has shared various information pertaining to border activities of the army, air force and the BSF in Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Barmer's Utarlai air base and Gandhinagar.

Khan had been using four SIM cards from Pakistan to pass on the information to his handlers there but during apprehension by the intelligence agencies, he managed to erase all the data from his cell phone, which the agencies have been trying to recover, they said.

PTI
What happens to Jaya's 10,500 sarees, 750 pairs of slippers now?

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The Supreme Court on Tuesday held that the trial court was right in convicting former Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa, AIADMK interim general secretary Sasikala and two others in the disproportionate assets case. The case against Jayalalithaa was abated since she is deceased.

[Sasikala convicted, ordered to be taken into custody]

However, with the court holding that a case of disproportionate assets had been made out, the assets seized in connection with the case will have to be auctioned off in order to recover the Rs 100 crore fine which had been imposed by the Supreme Court. When the case was transferred to Bengaluru, the seized materials too were brought to the city. The seized items will be sent back to Tamil Nadu which in turn in would have to auction the same to recover the fine amount.

[OPS sacked from AIADMK, Edapaddi Palaniswamy is new chief]

Under the custody of the court in Bengaluru are 750 pairs of slippers belonging to Jayalalithaa. It is locked in a room at the city civil court which is guarded by four policemen at all times. Among the other items in the room 10,500 sarees, of which 750 are of silk and gold. The gold is valued at Rs 3.5 crore and Jayalalithaa in her affidavit had said that the same has been seized by the court.

In 1997, when Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption had raided her residence, they had found several articles. There were around 500 wine goblets, several anklets, a gold belt, diamonds to the tune of Rs 1 crore, a silver sword among other things.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 14, 2017, 12:57 [IST]
Donald Trump defends crackdown on criminals

International

oi-PTI

Washington, Feb 14: US President Donald Trump has defended the ongoing crackdown on criminals under which over 680 people have been arrested, saying it is part of an effort to stop "wrong people" from entering America and to keep the country safe and secure. Trump said he was keeping his campaign promise and the Americans were happy with the drive.

"We have really done a great job. We're actually taking people that are criminals, very, very hardened criminals in some cases with a tremendous track record of abuse and problems and we're getting them out and that's what I said I would do," Trump told reporters at a joint news conference with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

He said his administration will "vigorously" pursue the policy to keep America safe from problems other countries are grappling with. "We want to have a big, beautiful open door and we want people to come in - come in our country. But we cannot let the wrong people in and I will not allow that to happen during this administration. And people, citizens of our country want that and that's their attitude too," he said on Monday.

"We are getting such praise for our stance and it's a stance of common sense. Maybe a certain toughness but it's really more than toughness, it's a stance of common sense and we are going to pursue it vigorously and we don't want to have our country have the kinds of problems that you're witnessing taking place not only here but all over the world," he said.

"We won't stand for it. We won't put up with it. We're just not going to let it happen. We're going to give ourselves every bit of chance so that things go well for the United States, and they will go well," Trump said. US Secretary of Homeland Security Gen (rtd) John Kelly said that Immigration and Customs enforcement (ICE) officers in the Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, San Antonio and New York City had arrested more than 680 posed a threat to public safety, border security or the nation's immigration system.

"Of those arrested, approximately 75 per cent were criminal aliens, convicted of crimes including, but not limited to, homicide, aggravated sexual abuse, sexual assault of a minor, lewd and lascivious acts with a child, indecent liberties with a minor, drug trafficking, battery, assault, DUI and weapons charges," he said.

ICE conducts these kind of targeted enforcement operations regularly as it has for many years. The focus of these operations is consistent, targeted arrests carried out by ICE's Fugitive Operations teams on a daily basis, he said. Kelly said the ICE operation launched last week targeted public safety threats such as convicted criminal aliens and gang members, as well as individuals who have violated nation's immigration laws, including those who illegally re-entered the country after being removed and immigration fugitives ordered removed by federal immigration judges.

"Trump has been clear in affirming the critical mission of DHS in protecting the nation and directed our department to focus on removing illegal aliens who have violated our immigration laws, with a specific focus on those who pose a threat to public safety, have been charged with criminal offences, have committed immigration violations or have been deported and re-entered the country illegally," he said.

PTI
India welcomes Donald Trump favouring merit-based immigration system

International

oi-PTI

Washington, Feb 14: President Donald Trump favours a merit-based immigration system that will benefit US economy and create jobs, the White House has said, in views that would be welcomed by Indian IT professionals and entrepreneurs.

"The President has made clear he believes that (there) should be a merit-based system where individuals coming into the country bring the kinds of benefits economically that will grow our economy and help lift up wages for everybody," White House senior policy advisor Stephen Miller told NBC News. Indian IT professionals and entrepreneurs in America are known for not only enriching the US economy but also creating jobs.

However, Miller also insisted that any legal immigration system should not displace American workers and there should be no abuse of "fraud" -- the two main allegations against the H-1B visa system, which has been under constant attack by American lawmakers, union leaders and top officials of the Trump Administration. "We'll have a lawful immigration system. And we'll enrich and benefit our country," he said in response to a question. Miller said he believes the US should have a programme in which American workers are given jobs first.

"The President campaigned on this. It's an issue where the labour unions agree with us. It's an issue where many Democrat members of Congress agree with us," he said. "If you have an open job in this country, a US citizen or existing legal permanent resident ought to have the ability to make the first application for that job," he added.

"The problem is and the way the media covers this issue, present company excluded, is they don't spend enough time talking about the well-being of the 300 million people here today. US citizens and legal permanent residents, many of whom are living in poverty, many of whom haven't seen wage growth in 20, 30 years. And it's time we talked about them, their needs, their families and their concerns," he asserted. Without giving a time-line, Miller said the White House would soon be rolling out immigration reforms.

"I'll be able to announce very clearly when we do that what those do. Where we're focused right now is two things, protecting the security of our country through interior enforcement and through screening of entrance. And additionally, by ensuring that before a job is given to a foreign national, that job is offered first to an American worker, either a legal permanent resident or a US citizen," he asserted.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 14, 2017, 15:42 [IST]
Michael Flynn resigns as national security adviser US

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Washington, Feb 14: Michael Flynn resigned as national security adviser of US. In his resignation from post of US NSA Michael Flynn said he sincerely apologised to President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Spence and he added that they had accepted his apology.

Michael Flynn's position as US President Donald Trumps national security adviser had appeared to be "fluid", after the White House said that the president was "evaluating the situation", the media reported.

Reports had surfaced that the Justice Department warned the Trump administration last month that Flynn misled administration officials regarding his communications with the Russian ambassador to the US, Sergey Kislyak, and was potentially vulnerable to blackmail by the Russians, a person familiar with the matter told CNN.

A White House official also confirmed the Justice Department warning. The concern was raised after Flynn claimed that he did not discuss with the Russian ambassador the sanctions being imposed by the former President Barack Obama's administration in retaliation for Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election.

However, at the time, Flynn was not yet in government. The message was delivered by then-Acting Attorney General Sally Yates. Other top intelligence officials, including James Clapper and John Brennan, were in agreement the White House should be alerted about the concerns.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer issued a statement on Monday saying President Trump was "evaluating the situation" around Flynn, who is in hot water after possibly misleading Vice President Mike Pence. "He's (Trump) speaking to the Vice President relative to the conversation the vice president had with General Flynn, and also speaking to various other people about what he considers the single most important subject there is: our national security."

The noncommittal statement came shortly after Kellyanne Conway, the counsellor to the President, said that Trump has "full confidence" in Flynn. "General Flynn does enjoy the full confidence of the President," Conway told MSNBC News.

She later declined to detail how much the President knew about the issue and when he knew it, deeming those conversation private. Many inside the Trump administration are concerned with the fact that the national security adviser could have misled senior members of the White House, including Pence, who went on television and denied that Flynn spoke about sanctions with Kislyak.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has called the reports "proof he should not be entrusted with our national security", The Hill magazine reported. Democrats are now demanding that the administration release the transcripts of the calls, arguing that Flynn violated an obscure and likely unenforceable 1799 law prohibiting private citizens from engaging in foreign policy.

The White House confirmed on Monday that Flynn had apologised to Pence. But the decision of whether to demand the resignation of a national security adviser ultimately rests with the President, the White House added.

IANS
Valentines Day is a day rich with history, and one that can be traced back to ancient Rome where Lupercalia, a fertility festival, was celebrated in mid-February. Fast-forward to 200-300 A.D., when at least two Christian clerics known as Valentine are martyred, and in the late 400s, Pope Gelasius declares February 14 a day for honoring Saint Valentine. It wasnt until the 1300s, however, that St. Valentines Day became associated with love and romance.

By the 1600s, Europe embraced the tradition of exchanging valentines, and it wasnt until the 1840s that the first mass-produced valentines were sold. But that begs the question: How did chocolate become linked to the love holiday?

While there is no definitive answer, as the relationship evolved over many centuries, chocolate was first connected to romance from another ancient civilization: the Aztecs. Emperor Montezuma believed the sweet stuff was an aphrodisiac, and he thought it made him extra virile in the bedroom. Both the Aztecs and the Mayans utilized chocolate in their wedding ceremonies. Even Casanova, historys most famous lover, employed chocolate when engaging in the art of seduction.

By 1868, the first Valentines Day box of chocolates was introduced, establishing an iconic romantic tradition. Read on for more facts about loves favorite candy:

The first bar of chocolate appeared in 1847. Thanks to Bristol company Fry & Son, the first ever chocolate bar was made from a mixture of cocoa powder and sugar, with some melted cocoa butter that had been extracted from the cacao beans.

58 million pounds of chocolate are bought during Valentines Day week. However, this isnt the biggest holiday for chocolate sales. While Easter beats Valentines Day, Halloween tops both: over 90 million pounds of chocolate candy are bought during the October holiday.

The biggest days for chocolate sales during Valentines week are February 13 and February 15. Thank goodness for procrastinators and bargain shoppers, I guess.

Story continues

Switzerland is the country that eats the most chocolate. About 22 pounds of chocolate are eaten per person every year.

Chocolate grows the best within 20 degrees of the equator. 75% of cacao plants actually grow within 8 degrees of the midline, and most grow in West Africa.

There is no chocolate in white chocolate. According to Bon Appetit, white chocolate is made with a blend of sugar, cocoa butter, milk products, vanilla, and a fatty substance called lecithin. Technically, white chocolate is not a chocolateand it doesn't really taste like onebecause it doesn't contain chocolate solids.

Dark chocolate is considered healthier than milk chocolate. It is lower in sugar and higher in iron and fiber, and contains heart-protecting antioxidants. Stick to high cacao percentages (70% and above).

Chocolate brings in around $110 billion a year. This makes the industrys value larger than the GDP of over 130 countries on the planet.

Our go-to chocolate candies are owned by the Big Four: Mars, Mondelez MDLZ, Nestle NSRGY, and Hersheys HSY.

The most valuable chocolate bar in the world is worth $687. Its an over 100-year old Cadburys chocolate bar that traveled with Captain Robert Scotts first Discovery expedition (1901-1904) to the Antarctic. It was sold at Christies in September of 2001.

Data for this list was compiled from here, here, here, here, and here.

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Shinzo Abe calls Trump good listener, friendly and open

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Tokyo, Feb 14: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe believes that US President Donald Trump is a "good listener", as well as "friendly and open", the media reported.

"President Trump is surprisingly a good listener though it may seem that he isn't. He's also very frank and open. But he's very committed to his campaign pledges," Abe told public broadcaster NHK in an interview on Monday.

During the interview, Abe spoke of his meetings in the US over the weekend with Trump, in which they discussed security issues such as Washington's stance over the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, a point of conflict and contention between Tokyo and Beijing.

Trump had previously suggested that Japan should pay more to maintain a US military presence in Japan. But Abe said the US President did not mention the issue during their meeting.

"Defence Secretary Mattis visited Japan and said the Japanese and American cost-sharing model is an example for other nations to follow. I think that settled the issue. We were wondering whether President Trump would mention the matter, but he didn't. Rather, he thanked Japan for the warm hospitality extended to the US Marine Corps," the Prime Minister said.

He also discussed the North Korea's latest missile test on Sunday, while he was still with President Trump at his resort in Florida.

"President (Barack) Obama was very cautious about using military force against North Korea, calling his stance 'strategic patience'. I believe the Trump Administration is aiming to review the stance and seek a diplomatic solution, putting all options on the table," Abe said. The premier also believes that the Trump administration will renew its stance towards China and Russia.

"I think the US government is in the process of establishing its foreign policy against China. Right before our summit, President Trump talked for one hour over the phone with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The timing was very good for me. President Trump and I were able to discuss how to deal with China, taking into consideration what the leaders of the US and China talked about and various other factors."

"I have also insisted that dialogue between the US and Russia is essential for resolving the issues of Syria, the Middle East, Iran and Ukraine." President Trump plans to hold a close dialogue with Russia," Abe concluded.

IANS

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 14, 2017, 15:49 [IST]
Talented, driven and great potential: President Putin is all praise for India and Indians

Top American think tank says Beijing should prod Pak to check terrorism

International

oi-PTI

Washington, Feb 14: The Trump administration needs to convince China to ask Pakistan to take 'good-faith measures' to address India's concerns on cross-border terrorism which is a key trigger of Indo-Pak military escalation, a top American think-tank said in a new report.

US Institute of peace, in the report, warned that any terrorist activity coming from across the border might escalate into a major war, which could be disastrous for the region.

"Washington needs to convince Beijing to urge Pakistan to take good-faith measures addressing India's concerns on cross-border terrorism, which is a key trigger of military escalation. Beijing could in turn prod Islamabad to prosecute terrorists involved in attacks on India as a first step," USIP said.

"Meanwhile, the Indian government should abandon its current policy of seeking to internationally isolate Pakistan. These moves by both countries could create an opening for resuming talks and politically settling the Kashmir issue," it said.

The report said that China's relations with Pakistan have deepened particularly after China Pakistan Economic Corridor agreement and Beijing has greater influence over Islamabad's policies than Washington does.

"The US should regularly underscore the urgency of the Kashmir situation to Chinese counterparts at the highest levels and make a forceful argument that a South Asian war would directly threaten China," it stressed, adding that China's policy on the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan has a significant impact on regional stabilisation and crisis management efforts in South Asia.

"Beijing also plays an important third-party role in helping deescalate hostilities between the two countries," it noted.

Since the 1980s, China's policy on Kashmir has shifted from a strong pro-Pakistani stance to a more balanced one between Pakistan and India, the report said.

"Chinese diplomatic support for internationalising the Kashmir issue in the United Nations has diminished over time, though Beijing also has blocked UN action against Pakistan-linked terror groups," USIP said.

The report said that during crises, Chinese concerns about preventing war between India and Pakistan 'outweighed political considerations to defend Pakistan', and Beijing worked closely with Washington to mitigate regional tensions.

It said China's 'protection' of Pakistan-based militant groups that have launched terrorist attacks in India from international criticism and punitive actions undermines its claims of neutrality. China has blocked action in the UN sanctions committee over Pakistan's release of Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi and extended its technical hold on a ban on Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar for his involvement in the Pathankot attack on an Indian air force station.

"China also prevented India from naming Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba in the BRICS declaration of October 2016 that condemned terrorism in all its forms. Over the years, China has refused to support the Indian proposal to issue a joint declaration against terrorism, which Beijing views as an Indian strategic design to internationally isolate Pakistan," the report said.

USIP said China has the potential to play a greater role in stabilising the region, but thus far has been relegated to occasional crisis manager and has not proactively called for resolution of Kashmir issue.

"Although Beijing prefers that a war not break out, it also benefits from some level of Indo-Pakistani tension, which splits India's strategic attention on China," the report said.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 14, 2017, 13:14 [IST]
UK: Petition to cancel Trump's visit rejected

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

London, Feb 14: The British government has officially rejected a petition calling for US President Donald Trump's state visit to the UK to be cancelled.

Nearly two million people signed the petition on the official Parliament website, with the number still rising.

In a written response, the foreign office said that it did not agree with the request and would extend 'the full courtesy of a state visit' to the controversial US President, the Independent reported on Tuesday.

The government's statement said that it "recognises the strong views expressed by the many signatories of this petition, but does not support this petition."

The statement added that the invitation, which Prime Minister Theresa May extended to President Trump during her visit to Washington in January, "reflects the importance of the relationship between the United States of America and the United Kingdom".

However, the petition will still be debated by MPs in Westminster Hall.

Downing Street on Monday refused to rule out moving the state visit to Birmingham in the hope of avoiding protests. House of Commons Leader David Lidington had earlier said discussions about the visit's many 'variables' were 'still ongoing'.

Activists from the Stop Trump coalition, which includes MPs from several parties, trade unions and campaigners have pledged to hold the largest anti-racism demonstration in British history no matter where the state visit is held.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called for the state visit to be cancelled until Trump's 'Muslim ban' policy was lifted, while House of Commons Speaker John Bercow said he will bar Trump from addressing the House.

The rejected petition's text said that Trump 'should not be invited to make an official state visit because it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen'.

It continued: "Donald Trump's well documented misogyny and vulgarity disqualifies him from being received by Her Majesty the Queen or the Prince of Wales. Therefore, during the term of his presidency Donald Trump should not be invited to the United Kingdom for an official State Visit".

The Prime Minister invited Trump to come to Britain while on her visit to Washington DC in January. She was the first world leader to officially meet Trump after his inauguration.

IANS
Ukraine grain deal: UN says shipments are still going out

UNSC condemns North Koreas missile test

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New York, Feb 14: The UN Security Council unanimously condemned North Korea's latest missile test, while the US pushed for the response to include actions, and "not just words", the media reported.

Pyongyang's first military challenge since Donald Trump's arrival in the White House came on Sunday, when North Korean leader Kim Jong-un personally supervised the launch of a medium-range ballistic missile that landed in the Sea of Japan, Efe news reported.

On Monday, the Security Council held an urgent meeting to analyse the evidence and released a statement condemning the action.

In the statement, similar to earlier occasions, the highest decision-making body of the UN threatened to impose new "significant measures" against the North Korean regime, which would add to the harsh sanctions already in force.

In a communique by all 15 members, the Council declared that the North Korean missile launch was a "serious violation" of the country's international obligations and urged the regime to stop such actions.

However, no member state wanted to speak of possible concrete actions, while many insist on the importance of full implementation of existing punishments.

The new US administration, which is facing a North Korean missile launch for the first time, called on the Council "to use every available resource to make it clear to the North Korean regime - and its enablers - that these launches are unacceptable."

"It is time to hold North Korea accountable - not with our words, but with our actions," US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said in a statement.

Japan, which together with the US and South Korea requested an urgent meeting, was very satisfied with that clear message and suggested that it does not seek a new resolution against Pyongyang, but rather a way to strengthen the implementation of the current measures.

China, which in recent years has distanced itself from the North Korean regime as a result of its continuing weapons tests, also condemned Sunday's test.

At the same time, China also called upon all countries involved - in reference to the US, Japan and South Korea and their usual military manoeuvres in the region - to refrain from actions that might aggravate the situation.

The statement agreed by the Council stresses that Sunday's test contributes to the development of systems capable of transporting nuclear weapons.

The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, also condemned the missile launch, which made it clear that this constitutes a new violation of existing UN Security Council resolutions.

Guterres has urged Pyongyang to change course and take the path of denuclearisation in order to comply fully with its international obligations.

IANS

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 14, 2017, 14:16 [IST]
US- 680 immigrants detained last week

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Washington, Feb 14: US immigration agents detained 680 immigrants last week in the first round of raids during the Donald Trump presidency, the government announced on Monday, adding that the operations targeted individuals who represented "a threat to public safety".

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly announced the number of detainees in a press release and noted that "approximately 75 per cent were criminal aliens", EFE news reported. Those criminals were "convicted of crimes including, but not limited to, homicide, aggravated sexual abuse, sexual assault of a minor, lewd and lascivious acts with a child, indecent liberties with a minor, drug trafficking, battery, assault, DUI and weapons charges," Kelly said.

"These operations targeted public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and gang members," he said. Agents also seek to detain "individuals who have violated our nation's immigration laws, including those who illegally re-entered the country after being removed and immigration fugitives ordered removed by federal immigration judges," the head of the Department of Homeland Security said.

The more than 680 people detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) posed a "threat to public safety, border security or the integrity of our nation's immigration system," Kelly said. He added that ICE, an agency that forms part of his department, has been carrying out raids like these regularly for many years.

He added that Trump has instructed his agencies to "to focus on removing illegal aliens who have violated our immigration laws, with a specific focus on those who pose a threat to public safety." "These professionals put their lives on the line to protect our communities and country," Kelly said about the ICE agents.

The Secretary did not specify how many of the detained immigrants have been deported nor whether they face trial in the United States for their crimes. According to figures released on Monday by ICE, 235 of the detainees are in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Kansas and Missouri, and of those, 163 had previous criminal convictions.

Another 190 were detained in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, while 161 were arrested in Los Angeles and 28 more in the area of San Antonio, Texas, ICE said. Immigrant defence groups have complained that the number of immigrants rounded up in the raids are being boosted by including undocumented arrivals who have committed no serious infractions.

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Story first published: Tuesday, February 14, 2017, 13:28 [IST]
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Donald Trump Michael Flynn

President Donald Trump has known "for weeks" that Michael Flynn discussed US sanctions on Russia during his calls with Russia's ambassador to the US, a senior White House official told The Washington Post on Monday.

"We've been working on this for weeks," a senior Trump administration official told The Post when asked whether the White House was aware of reports that Flynn had discussed the sanctions.

The White House was apparently briefed by Sally Yates, then the acting attorney general, on January 23 about content of Flynn's calls with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak that Yates considered "highly significant" and "potentially illegal."

The Post said intelligence officials began looking into potential contact between Trump's transition team and Russian officials in December when Russian President Vladimir Putin decided not to retaliate against sanctions introduced by the Obama administration. Officials discovered that Flynn called Kislyak the day President Barack Obama imposed the new penalties and gave him "the impression that the sanctions would be revisited at a later time."

The Post report said FBI Director James Comey wanted to wait to brief the new administration on the calls until after the investigation into Flynn and his contact with Russian officials was completed but changed his mind on January 15, after he saw Vice President Mike Pence defend Flynn in an interview with CBS. Pence wrongly claimed in the interview that sanctions had not been discussed during calls between Flynn and Kislyak.

Flynn resigned Monday night, saying in his resignation letter that "because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the vice president-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador."

"In the end, it was misleading the vice president that made the situation unsustainable," Kellyanne Conway, the senior counselor to Trump, told NBC on Tuesday morning. She had said Monday afternoon that Flynn still enjoyed the "full confidence" of the president before the White House subsequently walked back on that statement.

Story continues

Indeed, Pence was reportedly "incensed" at Flynn for misleading him about the calls. But he was also apparently briefed by Yates about those calls just over a week after he went on CBS.

Yates, backed by the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, reportedly went as far as to warn the White House that Flynn could be blackmailed by the Kremlin, which knew about the secret conversations.

The pressure did not start building on Flynn to resign, however, until last Thursday, when The Washington Post and The New York Times reported, citing nearly two dozen current and former officials, that Flynn had discussed sensitive national security information with Kislyak while Flynn was still a private citizen.

When asked about those reports the next day, Trump replied that he was "not aware" of them and that he would "look into" it.

"Here's what's bothering me," Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House intelligence committee, tweeted on Tuesday. "Flynn's lie about Russia didn't bring him down. Exposure of lie did. [White House] knew weeks ago & did nothing. Why?"

When asked that same question by ABC's George Stephanopoulos on Tuesday morning, Conway replied that Stephanopoulos was "presuming all of the information" in the Washington Post article was "completely factual."

"I don't know all the details," Conway added. "I'm not here to say who knew what when."

Conway had said Monday afternoon that Flynn still enjoyed the "full confidence" of the president. The White House then walked that statement back, saying that Trump was "still evaluating" the situation."

NOW WATCH: 'It's a lie': Jake Tapper calls out Trump during a fiery interview with Kellyanne Conway





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whole foods

Whole Foods was a pioneer in organic food in the US decades before such food was popular, betting on the idea that people would pay a premium for the label.

The idea paid off: Sales of organic food more than tripled from 2005 to 2015, to $43.3 billion from $13.8 billion, according to the Organic Trade Association.

Whole Foods' business should be booming as a result.

But customers are abandoning the supermarket chain, as retailers including Kroger and Walmart ramp up their organic food offerings to meet growing demand.

"The more conventional mainstream supermarkets have upped their game," Whole Foods CEO John Mackey said on a call with analysts on Wednesday. "We're going to do the best job that we can to keep our core customers from migrating back over to those guys."

Whole Foods' longtime dream  that organic food would eventually appeal to everyone  has become its worst nightmare.

The company's same-store sales have declined in each of the past six quarters.

The chain saw a 2.4% decline in that metric during its most recent quarter, with transactions  which is used to measure traffic  falling by 3.9%.

Whole Foods

Whole Foods is now battling a wide range of competitors including specialty grocers like Sprouts Farmers Market as well as traditional grocers like Kroger, big-box retailers like Walmart and Target, and discount grocers like Aldi.

"We were ignored for most of our history. Nobody paid any attention to us," Mackey said on the call with analysts. "But we continued to expand and grow and we got more and more successful, and then the conventional supermarkets ... began to pay more attention."

Traditional grocers have been offering "good enough" alternatives to Whole Foods, and the company has watched its sales decline as a result  particularly on the weekends, he said.

"Many of our stores where people used to drive long distances on the weekends and do big shops, we're seeing a little bit of a decline on that," Mackey said.

Story continues

Kroger started expanding its private-label Simple Truth organic food brand several years ago, and it now devotes multiple aisles in its stores to organic and natural foods.

Walmart also now devotes a section of its fresh-produce department to featuring organic and locally sourced products.

It has been rapidly growing its Neighborhood Markets stores, as well, which are much smaller than its Supercenters and focus solely on groceries and pharmacy.

Walmart Neighborhood Market

The German chain Aldi, which is even cheaper than Walmart, invested heavily in organic food last year by expanding organic food brands, removing some artificial ingredients from its products, and adding more gluten-free items.

This year, Aldi is spending $1.6 billion to redesign 1,300 of its US stores to feature softer lighting and bigger produce sections.

The new stores look a lot like Whole Foods' new chain of stores, called 365 by Whole Foods Market, which the company launched last year to better compete with the increasingly crowded market for low-cost organic goods.

The stores are cheaper to build than Whole Foods' traditional stores, so it has more flexibility in pricing.

Aldi

NOW WATCH: Heres why malls across the US are dying





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The North American Free Trade Agreement could use an update, but withdrawing the United States from the 1994 accord could dismantle key supply chains and threaten millions of U.S. jobs, former U.S. Trade Representative Carla Hills said Monday.

"It would be the gravest mistake you could make, economically, for our nation," Hills, who served as trade representative under President George H. W. Bush, told CNBC's " Squawk on the Street ."

On Monday, President Donald Trump will meet with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The two will reportedly discuss economic ties, jobs and women in the workforce.

"Canada is our largest export destination, and Mexico is our second largest. And I think the prime minister does not want that to be destroyed," Hills said.

Trump's stated mission for NAFTA is to renegotiate the agreement, and if renegotiation fails, then remove the United States altogether.

But the trade relationship between the United States, Mexico and Canada is highly interdependent, and withdrawing from it could stifle competition and hit nearly 5 million U.S. workers whose jobs rely on NAFTA, Hills said.

"There are a lot of things we could do to make ourselves more competitive, but let's not tear down the structure that has given so much to each of us," Hills contended.

"What [Trump] ought to do is use it as a useful foundation and build upon it with the changes that have occurred in the last 23 years" like the emergence of smartphones, she said.

Hills, who also served as secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Gerald Ford, argued that disrupting the supply chains that exist across the North American continent will hinder the United States' competitiveness in global trade.

"Our most efficient supply chains are in North America," Hills said. "You ask the state of Washington, 'What do you import?' And they say airplane parts. 'What do you export?' Airplanes."



Story continues

"If we were to cut off our supply chains for imports, we would be far less competitive in terms of our exports," she said.

Neither Robert Lighthizer, known China hawk and Trump's pick to be his U.S. trade representative, nor Wilbur Ross , the billionaire Trump tapped to be secretary of Commerce, have been confirmed.

If approved, the two are expected to spearhead negotiations for "free and fair" deals with the United States' trading partners.





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VIGE 2017 Opens Up a Whole New World

Published February 14, 2017 by Lee R

With avid punting and gambling sometimes taken for granted, Central Europe needs a conference too!

Viennas iGaming event Vienna International Gaming Expo 2017 VIGE is getting more intriguing by the day.

The Event

Taking place between the 20th and 22nd of March 2017 at the Austria Vienna Center, VIGE 2017 offers attendees exposure to fresh industry information at the specialised seminars within the Expo, giving exhibitors the opportunity to highlight their brands for visiting delegates as they network with leading and newcomer company representatives scheduled to attend.

Representation

Over 110 companies, 350 delegates and 15 exhibitors have already opted for the first annual VIGE, with registration from over 35 countries already in, including Armenia, Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, England, Ethiopia, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Malta, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Republic of Kosovo, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine.

Speaker of Note

The latest fascinating twist welcomes central European gaming expert and Arendts Anwaelte founder Martin Arendts to provide a regulatory development update regarding Europes largest potential market of Germany. The Arendts presentation will take place at 11:15 AM during the Conversation 2: Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary panel scheduled for the first half of Day 1(20.03.2017).

About Martin

Arendts is a polished conference speaker and frequent contributor to a variety of national and international legal publications including Internet Gambling Report, World Online Gambling Law Report, European Gaming Lawyer, Zeitschrift fur Wett- und Glucksspielrecht/European Journal of Gambling Law, MultiMedia und Recht (MMR), Gewerbearchiv, Casino & Gaming International and ISA Casinos.

Status Matter

VIGE 2017 is hosting a select group of attendees in possession of Power Delegate Status, with seminars limited to 250 delegates with registered Power Delegates eligible for special rates on Early Bird passes until 10.03.2017.

Free Zone

The conference will be free to attendees who register online prior to the event. Registration for delegate status gains access to the exhibition floor where delegates can discuss deals, pick up gaming related publications and network with fellow peers.

Upgrade Possible

Without access to the specialty seminars delivering updates about timely themes such as the European gaming markets, Responsible Gambling, Innovations and other undisclosed insider insights, Free Expo Visitors can upgrade their delegate status anytime during the registration period or at the event registration desk.

Telegram Casinos - The Future?

Also confirmed for ViGE 2017 is Slotegrator's Development Manager, Vadim Potapenko, who'll speak about the exciting innovation from his company - Telegram casinos.

Outlook

The inaugural VIGE is a true opportunity to get in on the ground floor of certain expansion and thriving markets in Central Europe.
"The Bermuda Monetary Authority figures reaffirm Bermuda's status as global leader in the captive insurance market, with more overall captives registered than any other jurisdiction," said Ross Webber, CEO of the Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA).

"It's important to note that Bermuda held its number-one position atop captive domiciles despite challenging market conditions that have reduced the year-over-year global total of captives registered," Webber added. "The market has seen numerous mergers, acquisitions and consolidations, in which corporations have taken cost-cutting steps to integrate multiple captives into single vehicles-a trend affecting all markets."

Jereme Ramsay, Business Development Manager at BDA, noted Bermuda continues to positively differentiate itself from other captive domiciles in terms of the quality of both the companies it attracts, and the business they write.

"Bermuda captives wrote $55.3 billion at latest count, which more than quadruples posted premiums in the closest competing domiciles," said Ramsay. "Additionally, we are seeing increasing interest from emerging markets such as Central and South America, where, not coincidentally, the BDA has been focusing business development efforts over the past year. Following targeted trips to Mexico and Chile led by the BDA, a new captive from Mexico and the first ever captive from Chile incorporated on the island.

"We're finding captives are also becoming popular as wealth preservation vehicles for HNWIs and family offices from this region."

Ramsay said the BDA would continue to lead aggressive business development efforts overseas, particularly in Latin America, Canada, and relevant regions across the United States, where the majority of Bermuda captive formations originated.

"We'll continue to educate corporate markets about what sets Bermuda apart-its premier regulatory reputation, for example, and its commercial re/insurance sector that offers captive owners and operators access to open-market underwriting capacity," Ramsay said. "It is these advantages that make Bermuda such a highly attractive one-stop-shop."

In this Opalesque.TV intervie, Joe Taussig discussed why every asset manager should care about captive insurance:

Article source - Opalesque is not responsible for the content of external internet sites


Donald Trump's muslim ban

(Image by YouTube, Channel: Vox) Details DMCA









Well, yes, despite the protestations of the Trumpites to the contrary, the Ban was intended to be a Muslim Ban. Giuliani gave it away when he said that of course Christians from the Seven Countries would be exempted. Trump's xenophobic, Islamophobic base knows exactly at whom it was aimed. And so, do the far-Right acolytes like Frank Gaffney, who have their own followings. Trump wanted to make sure that they would be on board with him, about the Ban as well as other policy initiatives. And of course, the Ban had nothing to do with "security."

I, as well as numerous others, have said that Trump is a fascist, of the 21st century variety to be sure. Here is my current definition of the term, in the Trumpian context:

A politico-economic system in which the Executive Branch of the Government: regards the Constitution as in place only on paper; disregards the Judiciary as a co-equal branch of government and accepts the Legislative Branch as a co-equal only when Executive Branch policies are supported by it; demonizes and then criminalizes all political, religious, and ideological opposition to its policies and programs; redefines the words "truth," "science," "data," "fact," and "reality" through the use of the Big Lie technique; regularly uses the Doctrine of White Supremacy/racism, xenophobia in general and Islamophobia in particular, and homophobia, to achieve political ends; suppresses the free vote by challenging the legitimacy of the electoral system; casts "the media" as a principal enemy, with the aim of suppressing dissent and promoting distrust in it and its reporting; all in service of creating and maintaining the control of State Power by the economically dominant sector of the capitalist ruling class: manufacturing, fossil fuels, agriculture/food, pharma/health services, retail, transportation, and banking/investment/financial services.

And so, the Ban can be seen very much in the light of this Administration very much intending to move along the road to the eventual institution of fascism.

First, if a fascist party has control of the Executive Branch of government and effective control of the Legislative branch, it has only two major checks on its authority and its forward movement to take control of the government as a whole, with authoritarian rule: The Judiciary and the independent media.

Stephen "non-reviewable" Miller, is a 31-32-year-old far right-winger has been on the anti-immigrant kick since his college days. His previous experience in government has been as a political flack for the likes of Michele Bachmann and Jeff Sessions. He became a front man for Trump during the campaign. These were apparently his principal qualifications for becoming a senior (sic) advisor in the White House. He was apparently the primary author of the Ban. It is too early to say whether or not he actually had in mind the possibility/probability that the Ban would meet with strong resistance in the Federal courts, and was salivating at the possibility of such a confrontation. But whether he, and Steve Bannon, set the case up precisely to get the judicial response that they did, it plays right into their hands: "We know what's best for the country, particularly when it comes to 'security,' and no court should stand in our way." Now that one has a clear 20th century fascist ring to it. They also had to know that the mainstream media would react the way that it did: with general condemnation. Furthering that confrontation that Bannon announced several weeks ago as well: all the better to serve the drive for fascism.

Then, what do fascist regimes, or regimes that want to become fascist and implement an authoritarian mode of government with Executive Branch dominance, need, at large in the population? They need a designated enemy and they need to cultivate fear. Well this one is perfectly designed to achieve those ends. Again, it is a Muslim Ban, regardless of what the Trumpites say publicly (and even regardless of what revised language that might put into the current Ban or might put into a substitute). The objective here is clearly to intensify Islamophobia at home. One can only wonder. Is a domestic Muslim Registry, which Trump did talk about for a bit on the campaign trail (here comes the yellow crescent), what is really on their agenda? "You know, it's the Muslims, both at home and abroad who are the cause of all of our troubles. Any of them might be, might become, or might harbor, a terrorist. We've got to know who and where they are." What an irony it would be if the U.S. Muslims became Trump's Jews.

And then, the cultivation and maintenance of fear. No fascist regime has ever gotten into power and remained there without it. There has not been a foreign "terrorist" attack in the United States since 9/11 (and of course the actual origins of that one are entirely uncertain ). There have been plenty of domestic ones. And of course, some of them were perpetrated by Muslims, except that they just happened to be U.S. citizens. It's the "foreign-born terrorists" about whom the fear must be generated (and who knows when the next false-flag attack might occur). (And of course domestic hate groups, of which there are hundreds , many of them potentially violent, cannot be a target. Why many of them support the Trump Agenda.) The Ban serves achieving that end perfectly.

And so, there are two ways that the Ban can be seen: either as a direct move towards fascism now or as a clear indication that making that move sometime in the not-too-distant future is exactly what the Trump-Pence Administration is in the midst of planning to do. Take your pick.

P.S.: Is an Emergency Powers Act next on the agenda, especially if there should just happen to be a "foreign terrorist attack"? After all, the Enabling Act, which gave Hitler his dictatorial powers, followed the Berlin Reichstag Fire, which indeed was a false flag attack.
Reprinted from theintercept.com

LEADING CIVIL RIGHTS groups who for many years have been heavily bankrolled by the telecom industry are signaling their support for Donald Trump's promised rollback of the Obama administration's net neutrality rules, which prevent internet service providers from prioritizing some content providers over others.

The Obama administration's Federal Communications Commission established net neutrality by reclassifying high-speed internet as a regulated phone-like telecommunications service, as opposed to a mostly unregulated information service. The re-classification was cheered by advocates for a free and open internet.

But now Trump's new FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, a former Verizon attorney, is pushing to repeal the net neutrality reform by rolling back that re-classification -- and he's getting help not only from a legion of telecom lobbyists, but from civil rights groups.

In a little-noticed joint letter released last week, the NAACP, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, OCA (formerly known as the Organization for Chinese Americans), the National Urban League, and other civil rights organizations sharply criticized the "jurisdictional and classification problems that plagued the last FCC" -- a reference to the legal mechanism used by the Obama administration to accomplish net neutrality.

Instead of classifying broadband as a public utility, the letter states, open internet rules should be written by statute. What does that mean? It means the Republican-led Congress should take control of the process -- the precise approach that is favored by industry.

None of the civil rights groups that signed the joint letter responded to a request for comment.

It's not the first time civil rights group have engaged in lobbying debates seemingly unrelated to their core missions, but in favor of their corporate donors. At a time when OCA received major funding from Southwest Airlines, the group filed a regulatory letter on behalf of the airline in support of Southwest's bid to open flights at Houston airport. The NAACP, after receiving financial backing from Wal-Mart, helped the retail chain during its contentious bid to open stores in New York City.

Telecom issues, however, are a particular specialty. Last week's letter was organized by the Multicultural Media, Telecom & Internet Council (MMTC), a group funded by the telecom industry that has previously encouraged civil rights groups to oppose net neutrality. MMTC in previous years reported receiving about a third of its budget from industry-sponsored events; its annual summit, which was held last week, was made possible by $100,000 sponsorships from Comcast and AT&T, as well as a $75,000 sponsorships from Charter Communications and Verizon.

read the rest of the article at theintercept.com
"He's the most sanctimonious student I think I ever encountered," said John Burness, Duke's former senior vice president of public affairs and government relations. "He seemed to be absolutely sure of his own views and the correctness of them, and seemed to assume that if you were in disagreement with him, there was something malevolent or stupid about your thinking. Incredibly intolerant."- Duke University Vice President on President Donald Trump's top policy advisor Stephen Miller. [New York Daily News February 13, 2017]

In other words the young man, now 31 years old, is a pompous jackass whose arrogance may portend a looming embarrassing disaster for the Trump Administration. And don't take my words for it. MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, host of the "Morning Joe" TV program recently blasted Miller as a "very young person in the White House on a power trip thinking that you can just write executive orders and tell all of your Cabinet agencies to go to hell."

Ah, yes, this guy who believes that Donald Trump is a resurrected reincarnation clone of Julius Caesar and Caligula, the new overlord of the American people and the world, only claim to fame is that he is a rabid, right wing blowhard, who wormed his way into Donald Trump's inner circle and toadied up to the mercurial United States President. As Trump's key policy advisor, bereft of any policy crafting experience or understanding of United States constitutional law, international diplomacy norms or relations between people, Miller is a square peg in round hole. A person breadth-takingly unqualified for this important position.

But he's loyal to Trump and is obviously prepared and well suited to be the president's mouthpiece as recent events proved so conclusively. On a recent Sunday edition of Face the Nation Stephen Miller got to loudly, and in a military-style voice, tell America and the world that, "the powers of the president to protect our country are very substantial and will not be questioned." Looking at Miller I immediately experienced mixed feelings of anger that "we the people" should be "talked down" to so bluntly, and a pang of genuine sorrow for so misguided and delusional a young man while still being surprised at his condescending tone and arrogance. The man's a supercilious jerk I concluded.

I quickly regained my composure and realized with some degree of alarm that Miller is just one of many of President Trump's White House staffers who lack both experience and education in quite a number of areas. From his education secretary who hates public education to his EPA pick who once wanted to abolish this department or could not remember that he wanted to kill it. Indeed, the most educated secretary in the Trump Cabinet is a man knows how to perform brain surgery. Incredibly, he's now the Secretary of Housing.

So understanding a young man at the very height of his short career in politics we might want to be charitable to both his ignorance and arrogance. But the danger here is that he's promoting President Trump's adversarial and troubling relationship with the United States Constitution and with the notion of truth telling itself. Miller's grandiloquent and pompous statement about Trump's powers is not only misleading but runs counter to the constitution and is patently untrue. It's a categorical lie, plain and simple.

But let me digress here a bit. Imagine, if you will, that someone in President Barack Obama's Administration would go on national television and ascribe to the former president the dictatorial powers that Miller gave to Trump, and the Republican outrage would have been swift and loud. Infact, Republicans and their supporters demonstrated all over the place when they were told that Obamacare was too much big government and that a government mandated insurance marketplace was way too much power for the federal government.

Yet there was hardly a whisper for a guy giving near monarchial powers to the President of the United States in DIRECT violation of the United States Constitution. And the same media has been almost apolegetic about a president who turned his dinner table in Florida into a Situation Room to discuss North Korea's rocket launch and its implications for United States and allied national security. Could you imagine the uproar had President Obama done that?

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By Dave Lindorff



NSC chief Michael Flynn was brought down by a monster he helped create

(Image by ThisCantBeHappening!) Details DMCA



There's a delicious irony in the downfall of Michael Flynn, President Trump's National Security Advisor, who resigned his post just 24 days after his appointment.

A retired three-star Lt. General, Flynn had previously been director of the Defense Intelligence Agency during the Obama administration. In that role since 2012, he was a key player in the leadership of the sprawling $50-billion US intelligence apparatus that has increasingly been spying not just on Americans but on US allies and, to the extent possible, on the entire world. Flynn, as DIA director, was the top guy in charge of the so-called "Five Eyes" group of intelligence agencies-- all English-speaking nations including the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada -- which has coordinated spying on citizens of those nations as well as on the citizens and leaders of such supposed NATO allies as Germany, France, Italy, Spain etc.

Knowing all this, it's simply astounding to learn that Flynn himself was using apparently un-encripted email, phones and texting to communicate with, of all people, the Russian Ambassador to the US, discussing such issues as potentially lifting sanctions imposed on Russia by the sitting president of the United States, Barack Obama.

His political implosion is doubly ironic because Flynn was one of those who was loudly condemning Trump's presidential opponent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, for her use of a private server for her official State Department business, and for her general lax security standards (he actually led a "Lock her up!" chant at one Trump rally!). Because clearly Flynn was not using secure communications in his own conversations with the Russian ambassador -- communications that are now widely circulating in complete transcript form courtesy of US spy agencies like the National Security Agency.

Talk about someone being hoist upon his own petard!

You'd think that seeing the kind of trouble the NSA's "collect it all" motto can wreak even for the powerful and seemingly invincible, Washington's elite might rethink what the NSA is doing?

But nah, I wouldn't count on that happening. There's more likely to be a lot of schadenfreude among those, both Democrats and traditional Cold War Republicans, who want to see Trump and his band of bozos go down, but hubristic to a fault, they're not going to go so far as to think, "Hey, this could as easily happen to me!"

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Subway & Bus to Marine Terminal Rd, LaGuardia Airport

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His first order of business is to revitalize the American economy through supply economics by combining lower taxes and deregulation. He also wants to re-industrialize it, and protect it from competition on world markets which he regards as unfair. He plans to spend one trillion dollars on infrastructure renovation and intends to do away with Obamacare which he views as an inappropriate answer to a real problem despite the fact it provided medical coverage to over 30 million Americans. On the political front, he wants to give the power back to the people in the spirit of Abraham Lincoln, his illustrious predecessor. On the geopolitical front, he is repudiating the neoconservatives' hegemonic policy of the last twenty-five years in favor of bilateral accords which he believes he can negotiate on a one-to-one basis, all to the advantage of the US. On the cultural front, he reaffirms the identity of the American people and promotes a return to traditional values. It's a fourfold revolution he is offering the American people. What do you make of it?

His economic growth objective (4% per annum) is too ambitious considering the political agenda. It can only be reached over time. The mid-term elections often bring surprises. The Republican Party could lose control of Congress if impatient voters express their dissatisfaction in November 2018. His administration would then be faced with a deadlock.

To re-industrial the economy, Trump will have to resort to high tariffs which he has said he will do. But, they will bring down the Americans' buying power and set in motion an economic war. His negotiating skills he boosts about will be put to the test when negotiating with the United States' trading partners. The Chinese economy is very much dependent on the American economy. However, the Chinese won't be fleeced. The same is true of Russians. There is an obvious and reciprocal advantage for the two countries to trade. But, the Russians will enter into an agreement only if it is equitable, not one-sided. If Trump cancels NAFTA (the trade agreement linking the United States, Canada and Mexico) as he said he would, he will induce a flow of Mexican immigrants into the United States, therefore worsening a problem he wants to eliminate.

In foreign policy matters, incoherence seems to prevail. Trump cannot be Russia's ally against ISIS and "tear up" the nuclear agreement with Iran which is allied to Russia. He wants to have good relations with Vladimir Putin, however his Defense Secretary, general James Mattis, regards Russia as the United States' main threat. On the cultural front, he will face strong opposition in the states of New York and California, if he repeals the 1973 Supreme Court's decision Wade vs Roe.

Trump is partially correct. The United States is experiencing a relative decline. The neoconservatives' hegemonic policy turned out to be very costly with disastrous human consequences. Donald Trump is right to drop it. He is right again when focusing on the American people's well-being. But, he cannot ignore that his decisions have an impact on the rest of the world. The United States remains the most powerful country in the world, economically, politically and militarily. Whatever they do, the world is impacted. He must also ask himself how pertinent some of his policies are. Imposing custom duties as he said he would may start a trade war similar to the one the world has known in the 1930s which was an indirect cause of World War II. In social matters, he is attempting to turn the clock back. But, people demand more, not less, from their government as their nations' wealth rises.

Considering his administration's diversity, his program's incoherencies and the street opposition, Donald Trump cannot keep his current policies without risking a severe crisis or falling into authoritarianism.

(Article changed on February 14, 2017 at 17:05)
This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here.

In April 2016, with Donald Trump showing remarkable staying power in the presidential campaign, I started thinking about the slogan adorning his product line, the one that he had tried to trademark as early as November 2012 (only days after Mitt Romney lost the presidency), the one that became a crucial punch line at his rallies (along with, of course, the Wall and who would pay for it), and that now is at the heart of his presidency: "Make America Great Again." I wrote then: "With that 'again,' Donald Trump crossed a line in American politics that... represented a kind of psychological taboo for politicians of any stripe, of either party, including presidents and potential candidates for that position." Until Trump, in this tarnished, already aging "new" century of ours, politicians all had to swear fealty to this country as the greatest, most exceptional, most indispensable nation ever and to its fighting forces as the "finest" in history. If there were mantras for the post-9/11 years, those were them, until Donald Trump chucked them all out the nearest window, making himself (though few noted it) the first declinist candidate in -- why not stick with hyperbole since it's The Donald! -- our history.

Now, let me quote myself one more time. In October 2016, as the election campaign ground toward its end, I wrote that "a significant part of the white working class," feeling backed against some wall, seemed ready to send a "literal loose cannon" into the White House. I suspected that they were willing "to take a chance on the roof collapsing, even if it collapses on them." And I concluded: "The Donald represents, as a friend of mine likes to say, the suicide bomber in us all. And voting for him, among other things, will be an act of nihilism, a mood that fits well with imperial decline."

Of course, the candidate who pounded the declinist key all those months has occupied the Oval Office and, three and a half weeks in, it's already clear enough that the situation has "this can't end well" written all over it. Of course, as with all great imperial powers, this, too, must end. In a sense, you could even say that the U.S. has been on the decline since it emerged from World War II wealthy beyond compare and untouched in a world largely in rubble. Or you could say that, of the two great superpowers of the Cold War, the Soviet Union imploded in 1991 in what seemed like seconds, while the United States, so much wealthier and more powerful, began edging toward the exit ramp wreathed in a sense of triumphalism and proudly proclaiming itself the "sole superpower" of planet Earth.

Now, it looks like a man has been elevated to the White House who truly is a suicide bomber. The question isn't whether he'll explode; it's just who, what, or how much he'll take down with him in the process. So call this officially the American age of decline and check out TomDispatchregular Michael Klare, who has been watching the initial moments of the Trump era closely, and offers his own unique perspective on what an "America First" president actually has to offer, geopolitically speaking. Tom

America Third

Donald Trump Is Giving the Phrase "Multipolar World" New Meaning

By Michael T. Klare If there's a single consistent aspect to Donald Trump's strategic vision, it's this: U.S. foreign policy should always be governed by the simple principle of "America First," with this country's vital interests placed above those of all others. "We will always put America's interests first," he declared in his victory speech in the early hours of November 9th. "From this day forward, it's going to be only America first, America first," he insisted in his Inaugural Address on January 20th. Since then, however, everything he's done in the international arena has, intentionally or not, placed America's interests behind those of its arch-rivals, China and Russia. So to be accurate, his guiding policy formula should really be relabeled America Third. Given 19 months of bravado public rhetoric, there was no way to imagine a Trumpian presidency that would favor America's leading competitors. Throughout the campaign, he castigated China for its "predatory" trade practices, insisting that it had exploited America's weak enforcement policies to eviscerate our economy and kill millions of jobs. "The money they've drained out of the United States has rebuilt China," he told reporters from the New York Times in no uncertain terms last March. While he expressed admiration for the strong leadership of Russian President Vladimir Putin, he decried that country's buildup of advanced nuclear weapons. "They have gone wild with their nuclear program," he stated during the second presidential debate. "Not good!" Judging by such comments, you might imagine that Donald Trump would have entered the Oval Office with a strategic blueprint for curbing the geopolitical sway of America's two principal potential great power rivals. Presumably, this would have entailed a radical transformation of the strategy devised by the Obama administration for this purpose -- a two-pronged effort that involved the reinforcement of NATO forces in Eastern Europe and the "rebalancing" of U.S. military assets to the Asia-Pacific region. Obama's strategy also envisioned the use of economic pacts -- the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) -- to buttress those military measures. But Trump had made known his disdain for NATO and the TPP, so it was reasonable to assume that he would arrive in Washington with an alternative plan to ensure America's primacy on the global strategic chessboard. As President Trump has made clear in recent weeks, however, his primary strategic priorities do not include the advancement of America's status in the race for global strategic preeminence. Instead, as indicated by the outline of his "America First Foreign Policy" posted on the White House website, his top objectives are the extermination of what he calls "radical Islamic terrorism" and the enhancement of America's overseas trade balance. Just how vital these objectives may be in the larger scheme of things has been the subject of considerable debate, but few have noted that Trump has completely abandoned any notion that the U.S. is engaged in a global struggle for power and wealth with two potentially fierce competitors, each possessing its own plan for achieving "greatness." And it's not just that Trump seems to have abandoned the larger geopolitical playing field to America's principal rivals. He appears to be doing everything in his power to facilitate their advance at the expense of the United States. In just the first few weeks of his presidency, he has already taken numerous steps that have put the wind in both China's and Russia's sails, while leaving the U.S. adrift. Trump's China-First Foreign Policy In his approach to China, Donald Trump has been almost exclusively focused on the issue of trade, claiming that his primary goal is to combat the unfair practices that have allowed the Chinese to get rich at America's expense. It's hardly surprising, then, that his nominee as U.S. trade representative, Robert Lighthizer, is an outspoken critic of that country's trade behavior. "It seems clear that the U.S. manufacturing crisis is related to our trade with China," he told Congress in 2010. But while trade may be an important part of the U.S.-China relationship, Trump's single-minded fixation on the issue leaves aside far more crucial political, economic, diplomatic, and military aspects of the Sino-American competition for world power and influence. By largely ignoring them, in just weeks in the Oval Office, President Trump has already enabled China to gain ground on many fronts. This was evident in January at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. While no senior representative of the soon-to-be installed Trump administration even put in an appearance, China was represented by no less than President Xi Jinping himself, a first appearance for a Chinese head of state. In a major address, denouncing (no names mentioned) those who seek to turn away from globalization, Xi portrayed China as the world's new exemplar of free trade and internationalism. "Say no to protectionism," he insisted. "It is like locking yourself in a dark room. Wind and rain are kept out, but so are light and air." For many of the 1,250 CEOs, celebrities, and government officials in the audience, his appearance and remarks represented an almost mind-boggling shift in the global balance of political influence, as Washington ceded the pivotal position it had long occupied on the world stage. Six days later, on his first weekday in office, President Trump appeared to confirm the Chinese leader's derisory comments by announcing his intent to withdraw from negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, thereby abandoning U.S. leadership in efforts to vastly augment trade in the Asia-Pacific region. From Trump's perspective, the 12-nation trade deal (which included Australia, Malaysia, Japan, and Vietnam, while carefully excluding China) would harm American workers and manufacturers by facilitating exports to this country by the other participants (a view shared by some on the left). At the same time, however, many in Washington saw it as bolstering American efforts to limit Beijing's influence by increasing trade among the prospective TPP member states at China's expense. Now, China has an unparalleled opportunity to reorganize and potentially reorient trade in the Asian region in its direction. "There's no doubt that this action will be seen as a huge, huge win for China," said Michael Froman, the trade representative who negotiated the TPP under President Obama. "For the Trump administration, after all this talk about being tough on China, for their first action to basically hand the keys to China and say we're withdrawing from our leadership position in this region is geo-strategically damaging."

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Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121

"In his new book, Bottom-Up, Rob Kall's exploration of top-down and bottom-up forces in our culture, our brains, and our planet provides a deep insight into the challenges we face. He offers pathways we can use to create the changes we need to break free of the war economy and build local peace economies."



Jodie Evans, cofounder of Code Pink and Chair of the Women's Media Center
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From The Nation

Impeachment is not a legal mechanism, it's a political act. The founders intentionally employed the catch-all phrase "high crimes and misdemeanors" to give guardians of the American experiment leeway for holding presidents, vice presidents, cabinet members and other errant officials to account. An impeached official is not charged by a prosecutor and tried in the courts; nor is he or she jailed or fined if found guilty. An impeached official is charged by the House of Representatives, tried by the Senate, and removed from office if convicted.

That is a sufficient remedy, as the point of impeachment is to protect the republic, to preserve the rule of law, to maintain proper checks and balances and to respect the US Constitution.

Congressman Mark Pocan, D-Wisconsin, has been explaining this essential premise of the American experiment as he has begun talking in recent days about impeachment. Pocan has spoken, as members of Congress should, with an eye toward "keeping every option open to try to get this administration to function like any other administration in the past -- Democrat or Republican. Clearly," the congressman says, "one of those remedies is the power of impeachment."

The Trump White House is rattled by any criticism, any expression of dissent. So it should come as no surprise that Trump aides have attacked the very mention of "impeachment" as "extreme rhetoric from a completely out-of-touch party." But there is nothing extreme about noting that impeachment was fashioned as a tool for holding members of the executive branch to account.

Using a map of the Middle East to illustrate "another round of questions about President Trump's potential conflicts of interest over his business holdings," Pocan pointed to the countries that were targeted by Trump's executive order restricting travel from predominantly Muslim countries. "These seven countries do have at least one thing in common," he noted. "According to Bloomberg News, the Trump Organization does not have business or pursued business deals in any of them."

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Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams, the top prosecutor with a tarnished reputation for turning a blind-eye to following ethics rules, has clearly seen the proverbial handwriting on the wall.

Williams, a few days ago, announced that he would not seek reelection to a third term. That surprise announcement evidenced belated recognition by Williams that his quest for reelection would be an uphill struggle if not an impossible mission thanks to fallout from his many ethical failings and questionable practices, as well as ongoing criminal investigations into his finances by the FBI and IRS.

That DA career-ending announcement by Williams came weeks after Philadelphia's Ethics Board slapped this once promising and popular politician with a $62,000 fine for his failure to file mandatory financial disclosure forms for five years. His fine -- the largest ever levied by Philadelphia's Ethics Board -- faulted Williams for not reporting over $160,000 in gifts that included fancy vacations and expensive jewelry, including from attorneys with clients prosecuted by Williams' office.

Williams claimed, improbably, that he merely forgot to file the mandatory disclosure forms from 2010 to 2015.

But that claim fails the laugh test because Williams once served as Philadelphia's Inspector General, the post tasked with ethics rule enforcement. During his announcement about withdrawing from reelection, Williams apologized for the embarrassment and shame he brought on the District Attorneys Office.

Williams' re-election prospects were already in doubt due to erosions of support among his core constituency in the black community and his calculated ultimately unsuccessful effort to cultivate support from Philadelphia's police union. That labor organization, the Fraternal Order of Police, has a history of reflexively backing police brutality and misconduct that primarily impacts blacks in the so-called City of Brotherly Love.

In recent weeks the FOP launched attacks on Williams arising in part from his decisions not to prosecute civilians who had questionable confrontations with police officers. Those FOP attacks included an anti-Williams billboard on the major interstate highway that runs through the center of Philadelphia.



Williams and Philly FOP prez in better times.

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Meanwhile, Philadelphia's NAACP branch recently blasted Williams for failing to prosecute three white men involved in a fatal building collapse while gaining the convictions of two poor black men connected with that incident. A civil trial jury in that building collapse recently found that the men Williams refused to prosecute were most responsible for that fatal incident. That jury verdict produced a settlement providing nearly a quarter of a billion dollars in damages to victims of that collapse.

Williams was already under fire in Philadelphia's black community for his prosecution of five black state representatives for their failure to report gifts on financial disclosure forms --- the same failure that Williams committed which led to his record-setting Ethics Board fine.

The total value of all 'gifts' received by those five legislators was less than half of the value of just one gift Williams received in 2013: $45,000 worth of roofing repairs on his home.

Autopsies of Williams' fall from grace in Philadelphia's news media fail to note a failing that produced international condemnation of this top prosecutor: his repeated, gratuitous assaults on imprisoned Philadelphia journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal, a Philadelphia journalist widely considered to be an American political prisoner because of how politically corrupted his trial and appeals process has been.

One such assault came in early 2014 when DA Williams, a Democratic, aligned himself with Tea Party Republican Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Pat Toomey to help torpedo President Obama's nomination of a respected lawyer to head the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Justice Department.

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We must respect the Rule of Law! We must bring back respect for the Rule of Law. Mr. Sessions, both the president's lawyer and the US Attorney General has initiated a low rumbling chant that I expect his crowds to wave and chant in unison"make America great again.

A question we might ask is, when did America stop being great? And why have our politicians and MSM hid our loss of shine for, how long? It seems conspiratorial that we should be so unaware that we are no longer great. Are we even good?

It is a fact that after the Declaration of Independence was signed and the US formed in 1783, America was already flawed. Yes, it is a fact. Its baked-in iniquities flourished to mete out death to individuals despite their native birth in or allegiance to this Great America "regrettably" were unprotected by the "bold" experiment of the new America. Surely we can forgive those oversights or miss-sights. II imagine that is easier for those with power -- to forgive themselves, than those without power to accept great and noble words and gestures without corresponding deeds.

While we have had amendments to rectify some sins, generation after generation persist in making America great -- not for everyone, but only for some. Why is that? Where do these "great Americans" learn such behavior?

So when I hear someone such as Mr. Jeffrey Beauregard Sessions casually throw about the phrase, "Rule of Law", I am nearly overcome by the indignity of the utterance. There he sits, comfortable in the knowledge of the tools at his disposal, except they shall never be disposed, rather they should always be available to him and others like him to probe, prod, sneak, pry, steal and kill others in their drive to let the people know who is the boss of them, who is in control, especially the poor and those for whom the rule of law applies. Mr. Sessions is not a friend of freedom and liberty. He is not an advocate for democracy and justice and upholding civil and human rights. Especially insofar as the US has for nearly 70 years refused to sign the UN Resolution on Human Rights. You'd think that someone would have noticed that small oversight while talking about making America great again. Great for whom? If we want to exercise human rights in the US through legal means we must use international organizations to do so. Good luck with that. As Justice Scalia might say, "we don't need no stinking examples of jurisprudence from other countries to make the United States Supreme Court better. Hopefully he is having a very heated discussion about that wherever he is. Make America great again indeed!

Many poor Americans know the history of the Department of Justice, its division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation with its steady drip, drip and stripping down of fourth amendment protection by a terror stricken "Supreme" court. Are we to believe that the FBI is anything but a tool of the ruling elites? Are we to believe that it is on the side of the people, that it is our protector against powerful elements that are beyond individual people's ability to combat? Yes, that is what we are supposed to believe. That they are also our friends?

They are not.

They have not been for a long time"and that blip with Robert Kennedy is just a drop of justice for Americans in an ocean of blood thirsty unjust elites.

How does one counter the power of the state as a tool of the elites? They can shutdown protests and the people's ability to organize; they can turn on and off your devices and even listen to you even after you have turned them off. Hell they can even remotely launch a 747, fly it cross country and slam it into your backyard barbeque grill just to be an ass. Yes they can. Recently some tools figured out how to use a super fast camera to photograph vibrations on plant leaves and reconstruct those vibrations into theconversations of those in the room"why? Our postal service mail with its return addresses along with the addressee are photocopied and retained. Tons of electrons have been "hoovered up" (as the British sometimes say about their own NSA, the GSHQ) is awaiting a challenge yet to reach the Supreme Court about the legality of such collection and storage, and in the meanwhile, there it is, being used and distributed with very little oversight from NSA to FBI down to your friendly Po Po. And if SCOTUS conservative men ever grow a pair, do you think this tool of the elites will throw away this information and pretend that it has been destroyed? All the multi-billionaires of the world will have copies of it.

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From Counterpunch



CIA honors Saudi Crown Prince for efforts against terrorism

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On Friday, the Director of the CIA, Mike Pompeo, used his first trip abroad to present Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef with the CIA's highest award for fighting terrorism, the George Tenet Medal. Although the ceremony wasn't covered by any of the major media, it was picked up on various blogsites where the news was greeted with predictable howls of outrage. Not surprisingly, most American's still see Saudi Arabia as the epicenter of global terrorism, a point which was underlined in a recent article at The Atlantic titled "Where America's Terrorists Actually Come From." Here's an excerpt:

"...after sifting through databases, media reports, court documents, and other sources, Alex Nowrasteh, an immigration expert at the libertarian Cato Institute, has arrived at a striking finding: Nationals of the seven countries singled out by Trump have killed zero people in terrorist attacks on U.S. soil between 1975 and 2015. "Zero... "Nowrasteh has listed foreign-born individuals who committed or were convicted of attempting to commit a terrorist attack on U.S. soil by their country of origin and the number of people they killed... the countries at the top of the list, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, are not included in Trump's ban... "The 9/11 attacks were carried out by 19 men -- from Saudi Arabia (15), the United Arab Emirates (2), Egypt (1), and Lebanon (1). The incident remains influential in how Americans think about the nature of terrorism." ("Where America's Terrorists Actually Come From," The Atlantic)

While it's true that 9-11 has shaped the way that Americans think about terrorism, it's also true that most people are unaware of the deeper operational relationship between the CIA and the Saudis that dates back to the funding of the Mujahidin in Afghanistan in the 1970's. This is where bin Laden and al Qaida first burst onto the scene, which is to say, that the sketchy CIA-Saudi connection created the seedbed for the War on Terror. Unfortunately, even now-- 16 years after the attacks of 9-11 -- the relationship between the notorious intel agency and its Middle East allies remains as foggy as ever. As a result, the Saudis are typically fingered as the main source of the problem while the CIA's role is conveniently swept under the rug. For example, take a look at this clip from an article in the Independent:

"Saudi Arabia is the single biggest contributor to the funding of Islamic extremism and is unwilling to cut off the money supply, according to a leaked note from Hillary Clinton. "The US Secretary of State says in a secret memorandum that donors in the kingdom still 'constitute the most significant source of funding to Sunni terrorist groups worldwide' and that 'it has been an ongoing challenge to persuade Saudi officials to treat terrorist financing emanating from Saudi Arabia as a strategic priority...' "Saudi Arabia is accused, along with Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, of failing to prevent some of its richest citizens financing the insurgency against Nato troops in Afghanistan. Fund-raisers from the Taliban regularly travel to UAE to take advantage of its weak borders and financial regulation to launder money. "However, it is Saudi Arabia that receives the harshest assessment. The country from which Osama bin Laden and most of the 9/11 terrorists originated, according to Mrs Clinton, 'a critical financial support base for al-Qa'ida, the Taliban, Lashkar-e-Toiba and other terrorist groups, including Hamas, which probably raise millions of dollars annually from Saudi sources, often during the Haj and Ramadan.'" ("Saudi Arabia is 'biggest funder' of terrorists," Independent)

Then there's this gem from ex-Vice President Joe Biden:

"Biden said that 'our biggest problem is our allies' who are engaged in a proxy Sunni-Shiite war against Syrian President Bashar Assad. He specifically named Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. "'What did they do? They poured hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of tons of weapons into anyone who would fight against Assad -- except that the people who were being supplied were (Jabhat) Al-Nusra and al-Qaeda and the extremist elements of jihadis coming from other parts of the world,' Mr Biden said." ("Joe Biden forced to apologize to UAE and Turkey over Syria remarks," Telegraph)

The evidence against Saudi Arabia is overwhelming and damning, and that's what makes Pompeo's performance in Riyadh so confusing. Why is the head of the CIA bestowing an award on a man who could undoubtedly identify some of the world's biggest terrorist donors, unless, of course, the CIA derives some benefit from the arrangement?

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Global Pneumatic Tools Market 2016: Growth, Size, Share, Demand & Forecast to 2021

Pneumatic Tools

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MRS Research Group added new research report on Global Pneumatic Tools Market 2016 includes Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Demand, Supply, Application, Segmentation, Opportunity, Market Development, production, capacity utilization, supply, Analysis and Forecast by 2021The Global Pneumatic Tools Industry 2016-2021 Market Research Report' is analytical reports based on a current situation and trends of the global as well as Chinese market. It is in-depth study of the comprehensive content which compiles statistics for the key elements of subject. The repot ensure the quality of the content and guideline which needed. It includes basic information of the company profile, products, generated revenue and future treads and various other vital data.Complete Report With TOC Available @It keeps the main focus on the priority need of the individualand provides a brief report on the annual basis. The global Pneumatic Tools market report will provide significant and reliable information on the market clearly in structured format. The report will offers you a key manufacturer of the products, applications, DROS and others.Our experts team takes out key information from the various sources which include primary and secondary sources and help to provides related information of the client interest. Report will easily mold information as per client requirement which covers forecast and analysis of Pneumatic Tools market on global and regional level.We generate reports on market variations across verticals like energy, chemicals, technology, food, electronics and others. It consists of a highly detailed analysis of the subject.Access Free Sample Report @We use numerous tools and techniques to collect information on various parameters. The report includes key competitors in global Pneumatic Tools market. Our experts team provides forward-looking insight on market growth. It will clear you with the suitable schematics diagrams, statistical analysis and related deep insight. It will also cover value chain analysis, market attractiveness, supply-demand & Chinese import export and 2011-2016 revenue for each company.It includes proper segmentation at the micro and macro level, dominant, largest and leading segment in the market. Moreover, includes future projects in the market with most reliable information indispensable for marketplace.Table of Content On Pneumatic Tools Market (Index) :Chapter One Introduction of Industry1.1 Brief Introduction of Industry1.2 Development of Industry1.3 Status of IndustryChapter Two Manufacturing Technology of Industry2.1 Development of Manufacturing Technology2.2 Analysis of Manufacturing Technology2.3 Trends of Manufacturing TechnologyMRS Research Group is the worlds giant collection of the Market research Reports. Where we specialized in global publisher, tailor made reports and specialists consulting. Global Publisher provides in-depth analysis of global and Chinese market. Tailor-made reports represent methodologies deliverable to proper insight of the client. While, expertise research specialist helps to provide strategic solution in specialists consulting. It consists of head such as, latest report, category, niche market and news. Reports published on the million of category like chemical, machinery and equipment, consumer goods, manufacturing and construction etc. Latest national, international, business News published under news portal.Contact UsJoel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free : +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@mrsresearchgroup.comWebsite:
Global Textile Machinery Market 2016 by Supply, Cost, share, Forecast and consumption to 2021

Textile Machinery

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MRS Research Group added new research report on Global Textile Machinery Market 2016 includes Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Demand, Supply, Application, Segmentation, Opportunity, Market Development, production, capacity utilization, supply, Analysis and Forecast by 2021The Global Textile Machinery Industry 2016-2021 Market Research Report' is analytical reports based on a current situation and trends of the global as well as Chinese market. It is in-depth study of the comprehensive content which compiles statistics for the key elements of subject. The repot ensure the quality of the content and guideline which needed. It includes basic information of the company profile, products, generated revenue and future treads and various other vital data.Complete Report With TOC Available @It keeps the main focus on the priority need of the individualand provides a brief report on the annual basis. The global Textile Machinery market report will provide significant and reliable information on the market clearly in structured format. The report will offers you a key manufacturer of the products, applications, DROS and others.Our experts team takes out key information from the various sources which include primary and secondary sources and help to provides related information of the client interest. Report will easily mold information as per client requirement which covers forecast and analysis of Textile Machinery market on global and regional level.We generate reports on market variations across verticals like energy, chemicals, technology, food, electronics and others. It consists of a highly detailed analysis of the subject.Access Free Sample Report @We use numerous tools and techniques to collect information on various parameters. The report includes key competitors in global Textile Machinery market. Our experts team provides forward-looking insight on market growth. It will clear you with the suitable schematics diagrams, statistical analysis and related deep insight. It will also cover value chain analysis, market attractiveness, supply-demand & Chinese import export and 2011-2016 revenue for each company.It includes proper segmentation at the micro and macro level, dominant, largest and leading segment in the market. Moreover, includes future projects in the market with most reliable information indispensable for marketplace.MRS Research Group is the worlds giant collection of the Market research Reports. Where we specialized in global publisher, tailor made reports and specialists consulting. Global Publisher provides in-depth analysis of global and Chinese market. Tailor-made reports represent methodologies deliverable to proper insight of the client. While, expertise research specialist helps to provide strategic solution in specialists consulting. It consists of head such as, latest report, category, niche market and news. Reports published on the million of category like chemical, machinery and equipment, consumer goods, manufacturing and construction etc. Latest national, international, business News published under news portal.Contact UsJoel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free : +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@mrsresearchgroup.com
Worldwide Veterinary Hematology Analyzers Market by Type & Application 2016 - 2023

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A new research report by Transparency market Research (TMR) states that the global market for veterinary hematology analyzers is likely to witness tremendous growth over the next few years. The research study, titled Veterinary Hematology Analyzers Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 20152023, further states that the continual launch of advanced veterinary hematology analyzers is likely to boost this market significantly in the coming years.Furthermore, the increasing incidence of animal-borne diseases are anticipated to fuel the demand for veterinary hematology analyzers across the world. Apart from this, the rising awareness pertaining to animal health, growing interest of people towards pet adoption is also projected to drive this market worldwide. However, the economic downturn all over the world and the high cost of these analyzers may restrict this market from growing steadily in the near future, states the report.Request a PDF Brochure with Report Analysis:In this research report, the global market for veterinary hematology analyzers has been analyzed on three fronts: The technology, end user, and the geographical spread of this market. Based on the technology, the market has been classified into point of care (PoC) veterinary hematology analyzers, fully automated veterinary hematology analyzers, and semi-automated veterinary hematology analyzers. By end user, the market has been categorized into research institutes, veterinary hospitals, and veterinary testing laboratories.On the basis of geography, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World have been identified as the central segments of the worldwide market for veterinary hematology analyzers. North America, among these, has acquired the leading position in this market on account of the technological advancements and the presence of established participants in a large number. In addition to this, the rising trend of pet adoption, augmenting the usage of veterinary hematology analyzers, is likely to stimulate this market further in the forthcoming years.Apart from this, Europe, which held the second position in this market in 2014, is also projected to gain considerable momentum over the forthcoming years, thanks to the launch of technologically advanced hematology analyzers, notes the market study.The research report also assesses the competitive landscape of the global market for veterinary hematology analyzers by reviewing the company profiles of leading players and studying their historical performance as well as future prospects in a bid to determine the current hierarchy in this market. The key players operating in this market are Beckman Coulter Inc., Abaxis Inc., HemoCue AB, Heska Corp., IDEXX Laboratories Inc., Analytical Technologies Ltd., Beckman Coulter, and HORIBA ABX Inc., reports the market study.Browse Full Research Report on Veterinary Hematology Analyzers Market:About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Browse market research blog:
Worldwide Legionella Testing Market by Type & Application 2016 - 2023

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it has been reported that around 8,000 to 18,000 people are suffering with Legionnaires disease in the United States each year. Among these, in adults, approximately 2 to 15% of patients with community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization and Legionellosis is considered to be the second most common cause of pneumonia that require Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission. The mortality rate associated with Legionella infection patients is about 5 to 80% and it depends on certain risk factors. These risk factors are associated with the high mortality rate include age, belated antimicrobial therapy for infection and predisposing underlying conditions such as diabetes mellitus, chronic lung disease and immunodeficiency. For the patients with Legionella disease, effective antimicrobial therapy is considered as the standard initial empirical treatment therapy for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and for specific patients with nosocomial pneumonia.Request a PDF Brochure with Report Analysis:The global market for Legionella testing is expected to record significant growth rate in the near future. The growth would be observed due to advancement in immunodiagnostic technologies and automation. Additionally, growth in this industry would be fuelled by entry of new market players, growing awareness about the disease and outbreaks of the infection in the developing countries. For an instance, according to the National Health Service (NHS), it was estimated that approximately 10 to 15% of people with Legionella infection would die due to severe complications such as lungs failure, kidneys failure or septic shock. Hence, increasing prevalence of the infection would increase the demand for Legionella testing.The Legionella is a rod shaped and gram-negative bacteria that can cause pneumonia (Legionnaires disease) or flu like illness (Pontiac fever). The disease caused by Legionella bacteria is termed as Legionellosis. A Legionella bacterium is a fastidious microorganism and it require special growth requirements for its survival, which include Iron presence, temperature above 68 F, L cysteine and biofilm. However, it can survive at minimal dissolved oxygen levels unlike other microorganisms and is resistant to chlorine disinfection. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately about 40 different species of Legionella are present and 18 of those are infectious. Among all these species, Legionella pneumophilia bacterium can causes most of the diseases. Initially patients infected show symptoms such as headache, muscle pain, chills and high fever. Later, with the disease progression the patients show symptoms of shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, severe cough and mental changes. The infections caused by Legionella bacterium are categorized in to four types like subclinical infection (infection with no disease), pneumonia (Legionnaires disease), extra pulmonary disease and non-pneumonic disease (Pontiac fever).Macrolides, quinolones, ketolides, tetracyclines and rifampin are various antibiotics used for the treatment of Legionella infection. Among these, Azithromycin is the drug of choice for treating this infection in children and for adults, certain flouroquinolones like levofloxacin and moxifloxacin are considered as the most efficient drugs. There are various diagnostic tests are available commercially in the market for the detection of Legionella bacterium in the body, which include blood tests, chest X-ray, sputum or lung tissue test and urine antigen tests.Geographically, North America accounts for the largest share of the Legionella tests market followed by the European region. The dominance of North America in this market is majorly seen due to rising number of patients suffering from Legionella infections and presence of large number of market players in this region. European Legionella tests market follows the North America market due to extensive promotion and funding for healthcare facilities by the European government such as Germany and the U.K.Some of the major players operating in this market includes Abbott Laboratories, Becton Dickinson, Life Technology, Novartis Diagnostics, Bio-Rad, Beckman Coulter and Roche Diagnostics.Browse Full Research Report on Legionella Testing Market:About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Browse market research blog:
Polyester Adhesives Market Market Sizing with Competitive Landscape by 2021

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Any substance applied to the surfaces of materials that binds them together is known as an adhesive. Polyester adhesives are synthetic adhesives based on saturated or unsaturated polymers. These adhesives are referred to as multi-component adhesives, which mean they harden by mixing two or more components which chemically react. The components of polyester adhesives include solvents (acetone or a mixture of acetone and alcohol), hardening initiators (organic peroxides or hydroperoxides), hardening catalysts (tertiary amines or cobalt salts), and extenders (cement or silica). All the components of polyester adhesives are mixed just before use. Without the use of extenders, the adhesives are slightly colored or are colorless liquid compositions and have a working life ranging from several minutes or several hours. Polyester adhesives ensure high adhesion strength to plastics and other materials like metals, rubber, wood, silica and organic glass. The adhesive bonds are resistant to water, gasoline and mold as well as to weak acids and salt solutions.A sample of this report is available upon request @The application of polyester adhesives widely lie in the manufacture of optical products, furniture and also used widely in the construction business. A polyester product called as polyester hot-melt adhesive films are designed to show excellent adhesion to a variety of fabrics and plastics. They are heat resistant, show high bond strength and exhibit excellent chemical resistance. These films have a stiff hand and are typically not suited for application where elasticity is required. Due to its excellent adhesion, great wash resistance and fast set times they are widely used adhesives. Polyester adhesive tapes find their use in splicing- treated paper to low profile decorative trim.The market demand for polyester products is high due to its application particularly in the construction and furniture line. The construction industry is growing globally especially in developing countries like India and China where the construction market is huge. They make use of polyester adhesives largely. The market for this product is growing and is expected to rise further in the next few years. Every household all over the world requires furniture and hence there is continuous demand for this product in the market and since it does not cause any significant harm to the environment, there are no extreme stringent policies for its use. Other end users for this product include the textile, footwear, autoomobile and product assembly sectors. Owing to the growth of these industries the market for polyester adhesives is not foreseen to go down any time in the next few years. A few companies have registered patents relating to the methods used to manufacture these products.The main market segments for this product include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and rest of the world (RoW). Asia Pacific has the biggest market demand for polyester adhesives due to the growth in the textile and construction industries. The U.S. is one of the biggest suppliers of raw materials that are required for the production of polyester adhesives. Europe also has high market demand for this product, as it is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world. Polyester coatings do not particularly cause environmental problems and hence the European and American governments do not have extreme stringent policies against its use. The RoW segment, which is still developing in the construction field, also has a big market for polyester adhesives.Request to view Table of content @Some of the main companies profiled for this product include Dow Chemical Company, ABP International, EY Technologies (division of Pascale Industries Ltd.), Rayven, Axson Technologies, and Evonik Industries among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Polyvinyl Acetate Adhesives Market Will Continue to Grow by 2021

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Polyvinyl acetate is a rubber synthetic polymer, or plastic. It belongs to polyvinyl ester family and is categorized as a thermoplastic, meaning it melts at high temperatures and is elastic and flexible at room temperature. Polyvinyl acetate is a vinyl polymer and is prepared by polymerization of vinyl acetate monomer.A sample of this report is available upon request @Polyvinyl acetate adhesive is glue containing this compound and is used in the form of emulsions. Polyvinyl acetate emulsions exhibit superior compatibility with modifying resins and can be used for broad range of applications through formulation. In addition to compatibility, molecular weight (grade), the amount and type of protective colloid used to produce the emulsion affect adhesive properties. Variations in type and quantity of protective colloid used in producing the polyvinyl acetate emulsion have a major impact on the performance of the adhesive film. Polyvinyl acetate adhesive can vary in moisture sensitivity by changing the content and type of the protective colloid. Polyvinyl acetate based adhesives have superior strength and offer good adhesion to a variety of surfaces. They are non toxic, do not pose health risks and are environmentally friendly. Polyvinyl acetate adhesive is a component of a widely used glue types, commonly referred to as white glue, wood glue, school glue, carpenters glue, Elmer's glue or PVA glue. Polyvinyl acetate glues are easy to use, since they can be cleaned up with water, do not give off any hazardous fumes and are safe to handle without gloves or other skin protection equipment, but they do not hold up well in moist conditions.Many common types of glue, including standard school glue, contain polyvinyl acetate. Polyvinyl acetate adhesive glues are very easy to use and economical. Yellow carpenter's glue, used for woodworking and other construction projects, is also polyvinyl acetate adhesive. Polyvinyl acetate adhesive works best on porous materials, such as wood, paper, and cardboard, and is also recommended when gluing vinyl and leather. Many polyvinyl acetate glues are white, and they are used for a wide variety of purposes, such as making collages, paper crafts, and paper packaging. These adhesives are acid-free, which makes them especially suited to projects like bookbinding, where an acidic adhesive would degrade the paper quality.The continuous use of polyvinyl acetate as an ingredient for common glue and other commercial glues will be a driving factor for polyvinyl acetate adhesive industry.The growing consumption of polyvinyl acetate adhesives in emerging economies and of lack of environmental friendly alternatives are other instrumental factors for the growth of this industry. However, polyvinyl acetate adhesives are not effective on any surface that is non-porous. In addition, they are mostly effectively near room temperature and cannot be used for outdoor winter tasks which could hamper the growth of this market.Asia Pacific leads the world in consumption of polyvinyl acetate adhesives followed by Europe and North America. China is the dominant market in Asia Pacific followed by Taiwan, Mexico, Japan, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Republic of Korea. Over the next few years Asia Pacific will increase its grips over the polyvinyl acetate adhesives market and would remain the world leader.Request to view Table of content @Some of the key players in this market are H.B.Fuller (U.S), Henkel AG (Germany), Hindustan Adhesives Limited (India), 3M Company (U.S.), Ashland Specialty Chemical Company (U.S.), BASF (Germany), and The Dow Chemical Company (U.S.) among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Global Butyl Acetate Market to Register a Healthy Growth By 2021

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Butyl acetate, also known as butyl ethanoate is an organic compound which is majorly used as a solvent for manufacturing lacquers and other products. It is a flammable colorless liquid which is found in various types of fruits. Butyl acetate is commonly used as a synthetic fruit flavoring in certain food products such as cheese, ice creams, candies and baked goods. It is primarily manufactured by the Fischer esterifaction of acetic acid and butanol isomer in the presence of catalytic sulfuric acid. Butyl acetate also serves as a raw material in certain coating, cosmetic and adhesive industries. Various isomers of butyl acetate are produced in the industry such as sec-butyl acetate, tert-butyl acetate and isobutyl acetate.A sample of this report is available upon request @The global market for butyl acetate has witnessed a significant growth over the past few years, primarily driven by the growing demand in the Asia Pacific region. Production facilities of the compound are primarily concentrated in North America and Europe, which also serve as the major exporting regions. Developed regions such as the Middle East is anticipated to gain significant share in the butyl acetate industry on account of increasing efforts by their governments to attract various petrochemical and chemical companies.Asia Pacific was the largest consumer for butyl acetate consuming a substantial share of the market over the past few years. The market for butyl acetate in emerging economies such as China has been well-established on account of increasing use of automotive paints and coatings. China also serves as a prominent importer for butyl acetate; hence, the market dynamics in the country are strongly dependent on the exporting regions. European market for butyl acetate is anticipated to witness a slow growth rate as various manufacturers are shifting their focus from Europe to Asia Pacific on account of the wide production-demand gap in the latter region. However, demand for butyl acetate from regions in rest of the world (ROW) is expected to rise significantly, primarily driven by huge investments in Saudi Arabia for establishing butyl acetate manufacturing facilities. The Saudi Arabian government has successfully designed its policies for the purpose of attracting certain large scale chemical companies in the country. In addition, easy availability of raw materials for petrochemicals and strategic location of the country have attracted various companies towards establishing their production units in the country.Increased use of water-based coatings and automotive paints is expected to be the major driving factor for the growth of butyl acetate market over the next few years. Moreover, growing demand for butyl acetate in cosmetic products and adhesives is also expected to contribute towards the growth of the market. However, increasing health concerns regarding the hazardous use of butyl acetate is expected to hamper the growth of the market. Over exposure to butyl acetate causes irritation to human body. Hence, various health organizations have been involved in continuously monitoring the exposure levels. Increasing R&D activities towards developing innovative products such as tert-butyl acetate as a substitute to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are expected to provide new opportunities for the growth of the market.Request to view Table of content @Alfa Aesar GMBHh & CO KG, BASF SE, China National Petroleum Corporation, Eastman Chemical Company, Ineos Oxide Ltd, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Sasol Limited, and The Dow Chemical Company are some of the key manufacturers of butyl acetate dominating the market.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Global Cyber Security Market will increase by 9.5% Annually till 2021

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According to the report, published by Zion Market Research, global demand for cyber security market was valued at USD 105.45 billion in 2015, is expected to reach USD 181.77 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 9.5% between 2016 and 2021.Cyber security is associated with information technology security, which focuses on protecting computers and confidential data stored in it from cyber criminals. Cyber security market offers several advantages including enhanced security of cyberspaces, expanded digital safeguard and quicker reaction time to national crises. These advantages of cyber security market automatically enhance the value of service given to the market end-users.Request Sample copy of Research Report @The cyber security market is one of the highest growing markets in the information technology domain and it yields large economic opportunities. Growing risks such as computer hacking, software piracy and virus deployment are increasing the demand for cyber securities services. The governments of various countries are increasing their investment in cyber security owing to development in computer interconnectivity and remarkable growth in computing power of government networks.The major drivers of this market include stringent government regulation on data privacy and increasing cyber threats. Lack of awareness and availability of pirated security software are expected to hamper the cyber security market in the forecast period. There is a significant increase in the cyber security market due to development in cyber solution and services and it offers various options to safeguard data. Providing cyber security solution to ever increasing government IT domain becomes an expensive challenge for the government authorities.The cyber security market is segmented based on security types, solution, and vertical and by regions. On the basic of security types market is divided into network security, cloud security, wireless security and others. Cyber solution segment includes identity and access management (IAM), encryption, risk and compliance management, data loss prevention, antivirus and antimalware, firewall and others. By vertical, a market is segmented into aerospace, government, financial services, telecommunication, healthcare, and others.Browse detail report with in-depth TOC @In 2015, North America dominated the cyber security market owing to the increasing cyber crime and strict government rules against it. Asia Pacific is a fastest growing regional market for cyber security market due to increasing number of internet users in China and India.Some of the key players involved in global cyber security market include Symantec, IBM, McAfee, Northrop Grumman, and Booz Allen Hamilton, CSC among others.The report segments the global cyber security market as:Cyber Security Market: Security Type AnalysisNetwork SecurityCloud SecurityWireless SecurityOthersCyber Security Market: Solution Segment AnalysisIdentity And Access Management (IAM)EncryptionRisk And Compliance ManagementData Loss PreventionAntivirus And AntimalwareFirewall AndOthersCyber Security Market: Vertical Segment AnalysisAerospaceGovernmentFinancial ServicesTelecommunicationHealthcareOthersCyber Security Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaFor More Inquiry contact our sales Team @ sales@zionmarketresearch.comAbout UsZion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristically, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, a company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the clients needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us.Contact US:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite:
Market Intelligence Report Energy Harvesting, 2014-2020

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Energy harvesting, one of the most promising technologies to address the energy crises without altering the existing energy sources, is foreseen to witness staggering demand and innovation in the near future. The process of energy harvesting harnesses the power of ambient energy to use later in varied applications. With growing use of ambient energy and advent of the energy harvesting technology, the energy harvesting market is currently heading at a considerable pace globally.FMI extensive research indicates that the global energy harvesting market is anticipated to gain momentum and grow at a double-digit CAGR by 2020 end. A number of newly innovated efficient energy applications and widespread acceptance of renewable energy sources are expected to play a vital role in the growth of the global energy harvesting market during the forecast period 2014-2020.Key Drivers: Energy Harvesting MarketDuring the past decade, there has been growing demand for safe, power efficient, and enduring systems, which require minimum or no maintenance. This is a major driver of market growth, expected to continue pushing the demand for devices based on the energy harvesting technology. Growing applications of the energy harvesting technology in building and home automation is another key driver to the market growth.Request Free Report Sample@Moreover, industrial WSN demand energy harvesting on a large scale, which is expected to continue during the forecast period as well. The green energy trend is effectively governing the market, while favourable initiatives by various governments are also boosting the market on a global level.Abundance of renewable energy sources, including tidal, wind, and ocean energy provide a dependable platform for the innovation of energy harvesting applications. This is also an influential factor contributing to the growth of market.Key Restraints to Market GrowthThe technology based on energy harvesting is typically used off-grid or on-demand. However, both of these usage patterns possess some technological complexities, which may restrict the widespread demand for energy harvesting devices in the market. Another deterring factor includes inadequate awareness among consumers about the availability and usage of the devices based on harvested energy.Moreover, relatively higher initial costs associated with these devices are expected to curtail the growth of the market globally. The energy harvesting technology generates lower current, which makes it incompatible for the application in all types of energy domains.Global Energy Harvesting Market: SegmentationFMIs research on the global energy harvesting market provides a six-year forecast, segmenting the market on the basis of different energy sources/fields, applications, and geography.On the basis of different energy sources/fields, the energy harvesting market is segmented into radiation (solar, electromagnetic, and light), mechanical (fluid, elastic, kinetic, and potential), chemical (battery, fuel cells, and phase change), nuclear, magnetic, electric, thermal, and gravitational. Among these, electric and magnetic fields form the most common source for harvesting energy.Based on the application, the energy harvesting market is segmented as wireless sensor network (WSN), consumer electronics, industrial, building, bicycle dynamo, military and aerospace, automotive, healthcare, and others (research, animals, and farming). Among these, consumer electronics, including mobile phones, wrist watches, calculators, and piezoelectric gas lighters cover the maximum share of the global energy harvesting market, followed by military and aerospace-based applications. However, building and home automation is the fastest growing application segment in the energy harvesting sector. Energy harvesting is also an integral part in a wireless sensor network (WSN) these days.According to the geography, the energy harvesting market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Japan, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. Among these, Americas are projected to remain the dominating markets in 2016, with a significant market share. However, Europe will be the fastest growing market, owing to burgeoning promotion and investments by The European Commission in R&D of energy harvesting and storage devices. North America and Asia Pacific will also account for remarkable market shares by 2020 end. In North America, the U.S. will dominate, whereas in APAC, Japan will reportedly contribute the largest share to the total energy harvesting market revenues.Notable Market TrendsBuilding and infrastructure, automation of lighting, security, and electronics at homes, and WSNs for bridges include some of the most sought after applications of energy harvesting since the past few years.The use of mmWave (millimetre wave) for 5G cellular networks has been a popular trend of wireless energy harvesting.The market is expected to gain traction from growing application of energy harvesting in wearable devices and mobile phones.Energy harvesting is estimated to find increasing applications in automobile industry in the near future.The advent of nanotechnology has offered ample of growth opportunities to the energy harvesting market. Since nanotechnology helps manufacturing of compact-sized devices, the emergence of portable devices based on energy harvesting technology is the most likely occurrence in the market.Request For TOC@Key Players: Global Energy Harvesting MarketSome of the prominent players competing in the industry include ABB Limited, Arveni, Enocean, Fujitsu, Cypress Semiconductor Corp., Green Peak Technologies, Honeywell International, Inc., Levant Power Corporation, Marlow Industries, Inc., Microchip Technology, Inc., MicroGen Systems, Maxim Integrated, G24 Innovations Limited, Texas Instruments Inc., and STMicroelectronics.Other notable players include Silicon Laboratories, Inc., Siemens AG, Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Mide Technology Corporation, Laird Plc., Lord Microstrain, EnOcean GmbH, Cymbet Corporation, POWERleap, Inc., Schneider Electric, Linear Technology, Microstrain, and Micropelt.Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Global Flexible Electronics Market sales is growing at 21% CAGR till 2021

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According to the report, published by Zion Market Research, global demand for flexible electronics market was valued at USD 5.13 billion in 2015 and is expected to generate revenue of USD 16.50 billion by end of 2021, growing at a CAGR of slightly above 21% between 2016 and 2021.Flexible electronics is a segment of electronics in which circuits are built on the substrate such as plastic & metal that can be folded, twisted, wrapped, or even move without affecting its function.North America is by far the largest in the global flexible electronics market and is set to continue to dominate the world marketplace over the forecast period. Flexible electronics market is mainly driven by the rising use of consumer electronic devices, growing demand from the automotive industry, rising technological advances, and growing market penetration in developing countries. Furthermore, the popularity of a few key players with competencies, process technologies, equipment and intellectual property related to flexible electronics technology are expected to flourish the market in the years to come. U.S. dominated the flexible electronics market in North America.Request Sample copy of Research Report @North America was followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific in 2015. Europe is expected to show moderate growth during the forecast period due to technological advancement, rising consumer goods industry and expertise compared to developing regions. The considerable economic growth of countries such Belgium, the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, and Finland drives the consumer electronics market and is likely to remain a determinant factor for the flexible electronics markets growth in the next few years.Asia Pacific is one of the fastest growing regional markets for flexible electronics due to rising demand for compact and light-weight electronic devices. Government organization provides funding supports several research projects in this field. . Asia Pacific is expected to have significant growth during the years to come owing to strong demand for e-books, smartphones, smart watches, and e-papers in the region. Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan are well positioned to enter the field of flexible electronics and to dominate some of the rising profitable applications.Middle East & Africa is expected to show the moderate growth in the next few years. The electrical and electronics market accounted for USD 30 billion in 2014 in the Middle East and Africa. Saudi Arabia is predicted to remain the leading and fastest-growing market in the region. This shows high growth prospects for the flexible electronics industry in this region.Browse detail report with in-depth TOC @Some of the key players in the flexible electronic market include Samsung, Pragmatic Printing Ltd., PARC, Thinfilm Electronics ASA, Solar Frontier K.K., LG Corporation, 3M, Multi-Fineline Electronix, Inc. and Cymbet Corporation, Inc., among others.This report segments the global flexible electronic market as follows:Global Flexible Electronic Market: Component Segment AnalysisDisplayBatterySensorsMemoryGlobal Flexible Electronic Market: Application Segment AnalysisAutomotiveConsumer electronicsHealthcareIndustrialGlobal Flexible Electronic Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaS.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaFor More Inquiry contact our sales Team @ sales@zionmarketresearch.comAbout UsZion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristically, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, a company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the clients needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us.Contact US:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite:
Emission Control Catalyst Market Poised for Steady Growth in the Future

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Emission control and reduction are among the priorities of all the commercial, industrial, and government sector companies. Growing concerns towards mitigation of the ill effects of carbon emissions or pollution are leading to manufacturing and process industries adopting new methods, technologies, materials, and processes. Emission control catalysts are used in catalytic convertors to lessen harmful emissions to the environment. A catalytic convertor houses a typical honeycomb structure coated with emission control catalysts such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium. Emission control catalysts can be segmented on the basis of their application as mobile and stationary.Mobile applications include automotives. These catalysts are also called automotive catalysts. Stationary applications include thermal or conventional power plants, and other industries.Request Free Report Sample@Mobile application presently is the largest segment for emission control catalysts due to the increasing demand for light and heavy commercial vehicles across the globe. Catalytic convertors are mostly used in the automotive industry while stationary emission control systems utilise selective catalytic reduction, catalytic incineration, filters, and catalytic oxidation. Passenger vehicles and cargo trucks are the main source of vehicle pollution followed by two and three wheeler vehicles. Emission control catalysts or convertors are now increasingly being used for NOx reduction from power plants, reduction of sulphur, and removal of toxins from exhaust smoke.Europe is the most lucrative emission control catalyst market. The heavy presence of automobiles manufacturers, power sector companies, and industrialisation across various geographical locations in Europe are the major driving factors for the emission control catalyst market. Europe witnessed 8.8% growth in commercial vehicle registrations. This prominent market was the global leader in FY 2013, and is expected to continue its growth trajectory in the future. Supportive government regulations to curb the ill effects of pollution offer a smooth roadmap for emission control catalyst enterprises to penetrate in European market. Industrial pollution in Europe is the next major setback for the government, as it costs them billions of dollars. Germany, Poland, UK, and Italy possess major refineries and heavy power segments which contribute major damage to the European nations. In such a scenario, the European market is in need of effective solutions that possess the capability to curb the pollution. Therefore, Europe is seen as the most lucrative market for business enterprises operating in the emission control catalyst market.Other prominent markets are North America followed by MENA and APAC region. North America contributes a major share to global pollution. USA is the leading market as the highest contributor to air pollution in North America region. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Texas are the states reporting the highest air pollution levels in USA. Many prominent locations in USA are witnessing ozone depletion which is a major cause of concern for government officials. As such, this situation makes emission control catalysts an urgent need in these pollution chronic regions. MENA is the next potential region for the emission control catalyst market. Presence of mining industries and oil borne locations are the major driving factors in MENA region. India, China and Singapore are the prominent destinations for emission control segment. Development in the automobile sector, oil refineries and maritime transportation are the main driving factors in APAC.Request For TOC@Increasing automotive fleet and stringent environmental regulations on the international platform are the prime driving factors for growth in emission control catalyst consumption. The global emission control catalyst market is expected to grow between 7% and 9% CAGR over the next five years. Though the market seems promising for business enterprises operating in emission control catalysts, the emergence of battery-powered vehicles could be a major setback to this flourishing industry. Some of the major players include Johnson Matthey, BASF, Umicore, Faurecia, Nett Technologies, and others. Companies are investing in R&D to offer first class products to different end use industry verticals. Acquisitions and mergers are the strategies adopted by key market players to strengthen their position on the global market platform.Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
$26.50 Bn expected for Global Business Intelligence Market at 8.4% CAGR by 2021

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According to the report, published by Zion Market Research,the global business intelligence market accounted USD 16.33 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach USD 26.50 billion by 2021, growing at a CAGR of around 8.4% between 2016 and 2021.Business intelligence helps users with meaningful insights and helps them to make better decisions which will provide them an edge over their competitors. From an IT perspective, BI is an umbrella term that covers architecture, applications and databases. BI means a wide category of technologies that enable business users to gather, store, access and analyze data to make improved decisions. It allows data driven insights to analyze business performance. In general, the major features of BI solution available in the market includes Decision support systems, Querying and Reporting, Data mining, Online Analytical Processing (OLAP), forecasting and statistical analysis. Business Intelligence systems and tools play a major role in the strategic planning process of various organizations. At present organizations have to collect and deal with huge volumes of data from their operations. The data from various sources has to be consolidated, stored and abstracted for future references and strategic planning of business processes. BI tools and systems help organizations to tackle these challenges.Request Sample copy of Research Report @North America is the largest region for Business Intelligence market. It accounted for around 56% of the market share globally in 2015. The growth in big data analytics and easy to operate features are some of the major factors for growth of the market in this region. The increasing growth in big data ecosystem requires a new way of storing & analyzing data for fast retrieval and analysis. Cloud analytics are mature, stable, reliable and scalable in memory analytical solutions. It is accelerating business intelligence (BI) tools, & other parts of BI environment, to cater to various business requirements. Cloud analytics is delivered all the way through the internet which in turn makes deployment time shorter, cost effective, and is easily installed in any organization.Asia Pacific is expected to grow with the growing CAGR in the coming years. Australia will remain the region's one of the largest BI platform software market in the next few years. Growth in Australia's BI platform software market is accelerated by maintenance and new license revenue, with maximum clients in Australia looking at vendor consolidation as part of overall BI competency. As a developed market, Australia will maintain a more steady revenue stream from existing maintenance revenue, despite fears like economic downturn due to China and euro zone crisis. Apart from this the emerging economies in Asia Pacific is also showing healthy signs of Business Intelligence technology adoption.China will remain the second-largest BI software market in Asia Pacific. Most often, Business Intelligence solutions in China are used tactically in departmental deployments as a reporting tool, rather than as strategic platform to build analytic capabilities to support decision making. Chinese organizations have relatively low level maturity of the demand of IT & analytic professionals which in turn creates extra challenges for BI technology implementation in China.Browse detail report with in-depth TOC @The European Business Intelligence market is expected to grow in the coming years. The drivers of European market include utility improvement in multiple domains, stable growth in big data, and effortless installment. However, the market in the European region is anticipated to grow at sustainable rate in the forecast period due to lack of knowledge of regulations.Latin America is estimated to grow in the forecast period. Technological advancements, growing social media analysis for brand building, and the hunt of having competitive advantage are some of the key factors that are fueling the growth of the BI market in Latin America.Middle East and Africa are growing gradually in the Business Intelligence market. There were a number of reasons slowing the market growth in 2013. The Middle East and Africa grew slightly faster than the worldwide growth rate of 8 % Confusion still holds around how to best influence analytics on large data. Much big data investment happened outside traditional BI in infrastructure, experimental silos, and services. Growth in IT budgets is flat & IT traditional BI tools are over bought.Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, Microstrategy, GoodData, Targit, SAS, SAP, and Tableau Software are some of the top vendors in the business intelligence market.Business Intelligence Market: Technology Segment Analysis Mobile BI Cloud BI Social BIBusiness Intelligence Market: Deployment Segment Analysis Cloud BI On-Premises BIBusiness Intelligence Market: Region Segment Analysis North Americao U.S. Europeo UKo Franceo Germany Asia Pacifico Chinao Japano India Latin Americao Brazil Middle East & AfricaFor More Inquiry contact our sales Team @ sales@zionmarketresearch.comAbout UsZion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristically, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, a company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the clients needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us.Contact US:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Motor Grader Market 2017- Caterpillar, Shantui, VOLVO, Komatsu, John Deere

http://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/22988/request-sample

https://goo.gl/274yjW

www.fiormarkets.com

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"Global Motor Grader Market" incorporates an analytical study of the Motor Grader market, encompassing an in-depth estimation of the market's condition around the globe. This study gives an extensive elaboration on the strategies and analytical methods related to research that have been administered in the formation of this report. It is an inside-out market investigation with inputs from industry leaders. It deploys the SWOT analysis tool as well as Porters five forces analysis to examine market information regarding Motor Grader. Also, this report constitutes a broad study of the applications scope and end users of Motor Grader around the world.Download Sample Report @The report is segregated into various parts relevant to distinctive parts of the Motor Grader market. This market research report determines the present situation and the development possibilities of the Motor Grader market worldwide in the forecast horizon. Besides, the examination and forecast of the Motor Grader market has been done on the basis of volume and in order to quantify the market size, the report contemplates the revenue generated by the Motor Grader market in globe. The key players segmentation, on the premise of geography, is additionally given in this report.The market research report highlights the major business drivers that have stimulated the Motor Grader market worldwide. An outline of the difficulties confronted alongside the buying criteria in the Motor Grader market is additionally being presented through this report. The developing patterns in the Motor Grader market and the several business opportunities alongside limitations confronted by the key players have been presented via this study.Access Full Report @Moreover, the essential strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors and the present trends in the Motor Grader market have been elaborated upon in great detail by means of this report. The report additionally provides monetary examination and strategic activities of the Motor Grader market in the world.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 Manager2566, Lincoln StreetPrinceton,New Jersey 08540USAPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
Styrenic Polymers Market: Consumer Goods Industry to Boost Demand, predicts -MRFR

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1021

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/styrenic-polymers-market

Key Findings The global styrenic polymers consumption is estimated to grow at a CAGR over 4.8% during 2016 to 2021 In 2012, global styrenic polymers market was dominated by Asia-Pacific, with a share of 53.2% of the global consumption Europe accounted for 21.1% of the total styrenic polymers consumption in 2012 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR over 2.5% during 2016 to 2021. North America styrene polymer market is expected to have an above average growth rateAsk for your specific company profile and country level customization on reportRequest a Sample Report @Market HighlightsStyrenic polymers are produced through the polymerization of styrene monomers and other chemical compounds such as acrylonitrile, butadiene, etc. Production of styrene-based derivatives is the growing trend in the market due to increasing applications in building and construction, packaging, appliances, and automotive industry. The global Styrenic Polymer Market has been driven by factors such as growth in end-use industries, High growth in wind energy applications of UPR, Asia-Pacific to drive styrenic polymers demand, Increased SBR demand due to tire labeling regulations and few others. On the other hand, Increasing environmental and health concerns due to usage of styrene and Acceptance of other resins as substitute to UPR are hindering the global growth of Styrenic polymers market.The Key Players of Global Styrenic Polymer Market Alpek Sab De Cv Asahi Kasei Corporation Ashland BASF Bayer Material Science CCP Composites ENI S.P.A Ineos Group Ag Lanxess Ag Nova Chemicals CorporationSegmentationAs per MRFR analysis, the global styrenic polymers market is segmented into polymer types which include Polystyrene, Expanded Polystyrene, Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, Styrene Butadiene Rubber and Unsaturated polyester resin.Regional Analysis of Styrenic Polymers MarketAsia-Pacific is the largest Styrenic Polymers Market due to the rapid development of infrastructure and also due to the presence of fastest growing economies such as China and India. Europe has considerable regulations which constrict the usage of polymers based on the products impact on environment.Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 85 market data tables and figures spread in 130 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on Global Styrenic Polymers Market - Forecast to 2021"Brief TOC of Global Styrenic Polymers Market1 Executive Summary2 Scope of the Report2.1 Market Definition2.2 Scope of the Study2.3 Markets Structure3 Market Research Methodology3.1 Research Process3.2 Secondary Research3.3 Primary Research3.4 Forecast Model4 Market Landscape5 Industry Overview of Global Styrenic Polymers Market5.1 Introduction5.2 Growth Drivers5.3 Impact analysis5.4 Market ChallengesContinued.Browse full Styrenic Polymers Market Report @Study Objectives of Styrenic Polymers Market To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 5 years of the various segments and sub-segments of the Global Styrenic Polymers Market To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth To analyse the global styrenic polymers market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, Porters five force analysis etc. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW) To provide country-level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective To provide country-level analysis of the market for segment by polymers types and regions To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analysing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the marketAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact:Akash AnandMarket Research FutureMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Global Furniture Market 2017 By Region - USA, Japan, EU, China, South East, Asia

Wood Furniture

https://goo.gl/3p6kvp

http://www.bigmarketresearch.com/world-wood-furniture-research-report-2021covering-usa-eu-china-south-east-asia-japan-and-etc-market

https://goo.gl/L1tgJb

http://www.bigmarketresearch.com

A market report titled, Wood Furniture was recently added by Global Info Research. The report offers an in-depth study of the Wood Furniture market and includes resourceful insights such as size, share and growth of the Wood Furniture industry. The current trends, opportunities and developments in the Wood Furniture market are intricately highlighted in the presented study. The scope and the feasibility of the upcoming projects and technological advancements in the Wood Furniture market are examined in the presented report. The factors that influence growth of the Wood Furniture market are listed down along with factors that hinder industry growth. The current status of the market is accurately included in the report. The opportunities and challenges in the Wood Furniture industry are analyzed and included in the report.Do Inquiry About Report @Scope of Wood Furniture Market:The report takes a closer look into Wood Furniture Market, specifically in USA, Japan, Europe and Asia-Pacific, China, Europe and Africa. The report segments the market based on regions, manufacturers, type and application.Global Wood Furniture Market: Product Segment Analysis SolidWood Furniture Wood-basedpanelsfurniture MiscellaneousfurnitureGlobal Wood Furniture Market: Application Segment Analysis Homefurniture Officefurniture OthersBrowse Complete Report @Global Wood Furniture Market: Regional Segment Analysis USA Europe Japan China India South East AsiaThe players mentioned in our report Bernhardt Dyrlund HOOS Leggett & Platt IPE-Cavalli Flexsteel Industries Driade Tropitone Furniture Skram Furniture Zhufeng Furniture Huafeng Furniture Knoll Huahe LANDBOND International Flou Butlerwoodcrafters Anrei Shuangye Minotti Misura Emme NATUZZI YihuaTimber HuafengFurniture QUANU Markor SamsonHolding HolikeAsk For Discount @ Qumei Kanwai A-Zenith Suofeiya Huahe LANDBONDInternational Shuangye ZhufengFurniture Royal NATUZZI Guangming FlouAbout US:With the arsenal of different search reports, we help you here to look and buy research reports that will be helpful to you and your organization. Our research reports have the capability and authenticity to support your organization for growth and consistency.Contact US:Dhananjay Potle5933 NE Win Sivers Drive,#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesDirect :+ 1-503-894-6022Toll Free : + 1-800-910-6452Email: help@bigmarketresearch.comWeb:
Turkey Automotive Plastic Compounding Market To Be Driven By Rising Use Of Thermosets And Thermoplastics In Automotive Component Manufacturing Till 2025: Grand View Research, Inc.

http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/turkey-automotive-plastic-compounding-market?utm_source=referral&utm_campaign=Snehali_feb&utm_medium=press%20release

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Turkey automotive plastic compounding market is expected to reach USD 390.8 million by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Growing environmental concerns & stringent pollution control norms have compelled automotive OEMs to control emissions by utilizing innovative lightweight materials.The countrys automotive production increased from 1.17 million units to 1.35 million units between 2014-15, thereby generating significant demand for compounds. Numerous companies and compounders across Europe have expanded their production capacities recently in order to meet burgeoning demand from automotive and other consumers.Exclusive partnerships between OEMs and compounders is crucial for the industry to evolve in terms of supply chain efficiencies. Automakers are also attempting to accommodate increasing geriatric driver population by including safety features in reduced package space, and enhancing safety belt designs using plastics.Polyamide (PA) compounds, particularly PA6 and PA66, which accounted for nearly 10% consumption, are extensively being used in automotive applications that include radiator tanks, engine covers, pedal boxes and various other components. To meet growing demand for PA, Epsan has increased its capacity in the country by nearly 45%.Browse full research report on Turkey Automotive Plastic Compounding Market:(Further key findings from the report suggest: Turkey automotive plastic compounding market was estimated at 102.39 kilo tons in 2015 and is projected to reach 183.80 tons by 2025 Polypropylene compounds dominated overall consumption and accounted for 32% of the volume in 2015. These polymers are utilized in a wide range of components that include bumper fascia, interior trims, fenders, seating, door trims, boot liners and instrument panels. Polyethylene (PE) is expected to emerge as another fast growing product with 6.1% CAGR from 2016 to 2025. The plastic is most widely utilized to manufacture the exterior body and other electrical insulation components owing to low density, good toughness and chemical resistance Polyurethane (PUR), which is widely processed into flexible & rigid foams for seating, housing, interiors, and panels, is expected to occupy over 15% of overall volume by 2025. Under the hood components is anticipated to grow at a steady CAGR of 5.3% from 2016 to 2025. Polymer usage is expected to increase under the hood automakers rush to build small, fuel-efficient engines. Major companies operating in the industry include LyondellBasell Industries N.V., Elastron, Maskom Masterbatch & Compound Technologies, Tisan, Epsan Plastik and PolyOne Corporation, Kingfa, Ravago, Polytek, Interplast, SABIC, and Emas Plastik among othersGrand View Research has segmented the Turkey automotive plastic compounding market on the basis product and region:Product Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025) Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Polypropylene (PP) Polyurethane (PU) Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Polyethylene (PE) Polycarbonate (PC) Polyamide (PA) Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE) OthersApplication Outlook (Volume, Kilo Tons; Revenue, USD Million; 2014 - 2025) Instrument Panels Powertrain Door Systems Interior Components Exterior Fascia Under the Hood Components OthersFor more information:About Grand View ResearchGrand 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.Press ContactSherry James - Corporate Relations Specialist28 2nd Street, Suite 3036San Francisco, CA 94105United StatesPhone: 1-415-349-0058Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com
Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS) Therapeutics Market is Expected to Gain Popularity Across the Globe

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/13732

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/13732

Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS) exceptional autoimmune syndrome involving improper transmission at neuromuscular junction with the key clinical symptom of muscle weakness. Weakness in muscles in LEMS is caused due to autoantibodies to voltage gated calcium channels resulting in reduction of acetylcholine released from terminals of the nerve. The necessary knowledge of elusive clinical features and laboratory oddities makes the early identification of LEMS possible. Early detection of LEMS is principally significant due to its strong correlation with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Even though LEMS can arise at any point in the path of SCLC, it serves as a marker for early detection of the disease, and thus permits better opportunity for treatment of such malignancy. Patients with LEMS should be examined and then treated by both a neurologist and if appropriate, an oncologist. In case of the diagnosis the principal concern must be appropriate treatment of malignancy. Treatment of LEMS includes immunosuppressant agents, but success of the treatment depends on toxicity and trouble involved in administering the therapy.A Sample of this Report is Available Upon Request @Treatment of LEMS involves various approaches that include reducing the amount of antibodies so as to improve the muscle function, increasing the acetylcholine quantity received by the muscles, increasing the overall acetylcholine released in the body and other mechanism which are not approved in all the regions. The therapy involving reduction in the amount of antibodies comprises of corticosteroids, cyclosporine, azathioprine, monoclonal antibodies and many more. The therapy involving the amount of acetylcholine reception by the muscles comprises of Cholinesterase inhibitors. The therapy involving the increased amount of acetylcholine production in the body comprises of aminopyridines. There is a drug which treats the disorder but those are not approved in all the regions. This category includes amifampridine which is approved only in European countries.The Global Lambert Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS) Therapeutics market can be segmented by Treatment type, Disease Type, Distribution Channel and Region.Based on Treatment Type the global lambert eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) therapeutics market can be segmented intoTherapy reducing the number of antibodiesDrugsIntravenous immunoglobulinCorticosteroidsCyclosporineAzathioprineMonoclonal AntibodiesFiltration processPlasmapheresisTherapy for increasing the acetylcholine quantity received by musclesCholinesterase inhibitorsTherapy for increasing the amount of acetylcholine releaseAminopyridinesOthersAmifampridineBased on Disease Type the global lambert eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) therapeutics market can be segmented intoIdiopathicParaneoplasticBased on Distribution Channel the global lambert eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) therapeutics market can be segmented intoHospital PharmaciesRetail PharmaciesE-commerceDrug StoresBased on the Regions the global lambert eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) therapeutics market can be segmented intoNorth AmericaLatin AmericaEuropeAsia PacificMiddle East and AfricaGeographically, the North America are anticipated to be most lucrative market during the forecast period, mainly owing to high prevalence of the disease and better reimbursement policies. Moreover the existence of several drug manufacturers and growing amount of clinical research is anticipated to promote rapid market growth in this region. Asia Pacific region is anticipated to observe high market development followed by North America and Europe mostly owing to patient population and better and affordable therapy options by the companies operating in this market. The large patient pool and refining distribution channel in the region is also likely to lift the LEMS market. Latin America and Middle East and Africa are anticipated to follow owing to growing government expenditure on the healthcare.Request to View Tables of Content @Some of the major players in the global LEMS therapeutic market are Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Merck & Co., Inc., Sanofi S.A., Allergan, Plc, Novartis International AG, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Biomarin Pharmaceutical Inc.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated re-search, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Con-sumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs en-gagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Growth Psoriatic Arthritis Therapeutics Market : 2024

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/13729

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/13729

Psoriatic Arthritis is a diseased condition which is prevalent in 25% of the psoriasis patient involving inflammatory arthopathy. It is associated with stiffness in the joints, swelling and joint tenderness including the surrounding ligaments and tendons. This is due to the degeneration of the cartilages present in the joints. One of the peculiar characteristic symptom of twisted small joints like fingers. Patients already affected by psoriasis have symptoms like redness of skin, rashes and scaling of the skin especially near joints like elbow, knee, back, scalp and buttocks. Psoriasis can affect people from all age group but psoriatic arthritis is more likely in adults. The rate at which it affects both women and men is same and it occurs between the ages of 30 to 50 years. In cases of psoriatic arthritis, arthritis is induced disease due to increase in the activity of the immune system. Many a times psoriatic arthritis is misdiagnosed as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or gout. There are several types of psoriatic arthritis that includes asymmetric psoriatic arthritis, symmetric psoriatic arthritis, distal interphalangeal predominant (DIP) psoriatic arthritis, spondylitis and arthritis mutilans. The exact etiology of psoriatic arthritis is unknown, but it is believed to be hereditary in nature. One in three patient of psoriasis is affected with psoriatic arthritis. People with psoriatic arthritis are more likely to be prone for high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol and diabetes. The disease can be ruled out with blood test and other imaging techniques like Magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound scan and x-ray of back, hand feet. Treatment of psoriatic arthritis involves use of biologic drugs, enzyme inhibitors, disease modifying rheumatoid arthritis drugs and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The current research trend depicts that more emphasis is given on enzyme inhibitors as TNF alpha is one of the enzyme showing promising results in arthritis. Several drugs are into clinical testing which depicts the possibility of discovering new molecules with maximum activity and minimum side effects.A Sample of this Report is Available Upon Request @The global Psoriatic arthritis therapeutics market is segmented on basis of drug type, disease type and geography:Segment by DrugNonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)Disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD)Biologic drugEnzyme inhibitorSegment by Disease TypeAsymmetric Psoriatic ArthritisSymmetric Psoriatic ArthritisDistal Interphalangeal Predominant (Dip) Psoriatic ArthritisSpondylitisArthritis MutilansThe global psoriatic arthritis therapeutics market is segmented, by drug type and disease type and by region. Based on the drug type the global Psoriatic arthritis therapeutics market is segmented into biologic drugs, enzyme inhibitors, disease modifying antirheumatoid arthritis drugs and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The By Disease type the global psoriatic arthritis therapeutics is segmented into asymmetric psoriatic arthritis, symmetric psoriatic arthritis, distal interphalangeal predominant (DIP) psoriatic arthritis, spondylitis and arthritis mutilans.On the basis of regional presence, global Psoriatic arthritis therapeutics market is segmented into five broad regions viz. North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. North America is leading the global Psoriatic arthritis therapeutics market due to increased awareness and growing prevalence of psoriatic arthritis. Europe market is also projected to experience growth in the near future. Asia Pacific market is estimated to grow at faster growth rate during the forecast period, owing to factors such as increasing prevalence in the temperate zones in the region, improving reimbursement policies and growing healthcare expenditure. The regions like Latin America and MEA growing at a slower pace owing to lack of awareness.Request to View Tables of Content @Some of the major players in global Psoriatic arthritis therapeutics market are Pfizer, Bayer AG, Novartis International AG, Abbott Laboratories, Sanofi S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Janssen Biotech, Inc., Amgen Inc., UCB, Inc., AbbVie Inc. and many others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated re-search, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Con-sumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs en-gagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Market Expected to Be Biggest Emerging Market By 2021

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/6062

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/6062

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/

In computing terminology, virtual desktop is a term used for the interfaces for users. A virtual desktop is a desktop provided to an individual in a virtualized environment. Here the users desktop environment is expanded beyond the physical limits of desktops display area using the virtual desktop software. Various approaches such as switchable virtual desktops and size expansion of existing desktop are used for obtaining virtual desktops. The virtualized desktop offered using virtual desktop infrastructure is stored on a centralized server situated remotely rather than locally on the users system. Desktop virtualization software differentiates the software from the physical machine and presents it as an isolated operating system for users. Virtual desktop infrastructure is a concept where a desktop operating system is hosted within a virtual machine running on a remote server. Virtual desktop infrastructure is a deviation of client-server networking model also referred to as server based computing. In the last few years, some large organizations have turned to virtual desktop infrastructure as an alternative to the traditional server based computing model. This technology is replacing traditional server-client based computing models which were used by Microsoft Terminal and Citrix services.A sample of this report is available upon request @Enterprises are looking for solution which can provide more efficient and easier access to business data over their networks. Demand for accessing interfaces from remote locations is one of the major driving factors for global virtual desktop infrastructure market. Furthermore, the global virtual desktop infrastructure market is also witnessing the increasing acceptance of virtual desktop infrastructure applications and solutions using cloud technology. Factors such as increasing complexity of the network infrastructure and huge capital required for the setup of network infrastructure are leading to increased demand for cloud computing services. Along with it, the increasing adoption of handheld devices for enterprise computing and growing data bandwidth support from communication service providers are driving the demand for cloud based services and applications. With the use of cloud based virtual desktop infrastructure applications and enterprise data can be accessed irrespective of users location. As the internet costs are decreasing gradually and internet is emerging as a promising medium for enterprises for accessing data and applications, virtual desktop infrastructure services are provided over the internet. However, virtual desktop infrastructure market needs huge capital investment and this factor is posing a challenge for the growth of this market. Restructuring and redesigning of the enterprise infrastructure to match the demands of virtualization platform involves most of the capital cost.Virtual desktop infrastructure market is segmented on the basis of type of technology and geography. On the basis of technology the market is segmented into switchable virtual desktops and screen size expansion technology. In switchable virtual desktop method the user is offered with multiple virtual copies of their desktops which can be switched as per their need. Further, in screen size expansion technology size of virtual screen is expanded beyond the size of physical viewing device.Request to view Table of content @Citrix Systems, Inc., Microsoft Corp., Desktone Inc., LG CNS, Moka5 Inc., Oracle Corporation, Quest Software Inc., Red Hat, Inc., SK Telecom Co. Ltd., VMware, Inc., Korea Telecom Corp., and Unidesk Corporation are some of the major players in virtual desktop infrastructure market.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesTel: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:media@persistencemarketresearch.com
GMP Cell Banking Service Market Estimated to Grow Strongly by 2024

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/13735

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/13735

GMP Cell Banking is an important component in the production of well-characterized biopharmaceutical products. A qualifies cell bank provides the opportunity to detect and identify possible contaminating agents such as viruses and mycoplasma before their use in a large scale. A cell bank ensures uniform population of cells preserved for better health to ensure better products. Cells preserved in banks are then used as a start material for each manufacturing. The importance of GMP cell banking ensure the integrity of cells and is maintained with sufficient supply of material to the cell for the better life of byproduct. Cells stored in GMP Cell banking is used for meeting manufacturing needs for the production of cell in recombinant biopharmaceuticals and vaccine production. In any GMP cell banking service, a proper cell-bank testing plan is necessary to certify purity and safety of a resulting biopharmaceutical product. All type of cell bank service requires expertise, constant monitoring, optimal equipment, appropriate quality control, proper environment, close communication and continuous troubleshoot. Cell banking service requires characterizes the cell line and require an array of tests to be performed in different scenarios. The various type of testing is performed to find the adventitious agents testing to identify and genetic stability testing. It is required to know what the best time to perform these tests is and how these tests impact the project outcome. The sudden increase in demand for ready-to-use cells is increasing the demand for GMP cell banking service. Services provided by GMP cell banking service provided includes: maintaining the master cell line for years, maintaining working cell line with the low passage, identity confirmation by fingerprinting, purity testing for mycoplasma, viruses and fungi detection, and stability testing for expression constructs and viral vectors.A Sample of this Report is Available Upon Request @The cell banking service process includes both GMP production and Non-GMP production master cell bank. The type of GMP cell banking includes the type of services such as working cell bank (ECB), end-of-production (EOP) and research and development (R&D) cell banks. GMP cell banking service market is an emerging field. There are various tests and procedures to be followed by the service providers to a high-quality service. Many biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical companies are very active in the field of GMP cell banking service. The ongoing worldwide research is expected to fuel the GMP cell banking service market. Within the diagnostic segment of the GMP cell banking service, most of the focus has been on the detection of contaminations and maintaining the health of cells. Most of the activity and interest of the companies is focused on the therapeutic research of the GMP cell banking service field.The global market for GMP cell banking service market is expected to be driven by the advancement in technology of molecular and genetic studies. The key drivers of the market are the increasing cases prevalence of cancer, infectious disease and other diseases creating focus towards the requirement of more research for drug discovery. Moreover, the increasing research activities for drug development, growing research on cancer and increasing collaboration between research organizations, pharmaceutical, and biopharmaceuticals companies is also acting as a fuel to the GMP cell banking service market and is expected to drive the market within the forecast period of 2016-2026. However, the high cost of the procedures and the lack of fund can be the restraint for the growth of this market.The number of companies developing methods to detect and modifying DNA for diagnosis and therapeutic purposes has significantly changed in recent years. The increasing investment by the pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies towards research and development is expected to drive the market. Based on the product working cell bank (ECB), master cell bank (MCB), end-of-production (EOP), virus bank and research and development (R&D) cell banks.By end user, the global GMP Cell Banking Service market has been segmented into academic research institutes, biotechnology companies, biopharmaceutical companies, pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations and contract manufacturing organizations. GMP cell banking service procedures are useful in many research oriented areas such as developmental biology, oncology, drug discovery and others.By regional presence, GMP cell banking service market is segmented into five key regions viz. North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. North America will continue to dominate the GMP cell banking service market for due to high availability of funding for research and better economic conditions. Europe is expected to hold second largest market share in global GMP cell banking service market. The growing government initiatives to support research activities and increasing number of biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies in APAC are also driving the market for GMP cell banking service in APAC.To View TOC of this Report is Available Upon Request @Some of the major players in global GMP cell banking service market include Virusure, Syngene, Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC., WuXi AppTec, Zelle Biotechnology Private Limited, Microbiology Quality & Associates, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., IHC World, LLC., Paragon Bioservices, Inc., Austrianova, VertMarkets, Inc. and others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated re-search, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Con-sumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs en-gagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Standard Based Communication Servers Market Explores New Growth Opportunities By 2021

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Standard based communications servers are open computing systems that function as a carrier-grade universal platform for an extensive assortment of communications applications. These servers enable the equipment providers customize the system architecture as per the requirement by adding potential value to it. Irrespective of the differentiated features and specification, the standard based communications servers offer attributes such as open platform, carrier grade and flexible. The standard based communications are designed in accordance with the industry standards and provide interoperability with the architecture. Moreover, standard based communications servers offer carrier grade attributes as they provide extended lifecycle support, high availability, and longevity of supply. Additionally, these servers are upgradable without any disruption and offer high speed for real time communication applications to ensure high quality of service.A sample of this report is available upon request @The standard based communication servers offer an introductory platform for building a network infrastructure using the several equipment for applications such as IPTV, wireless broadband and other IP multimedia subsystems. These servers are based on managed industry standards such as Advanced Telecommunication Computing Architecture (ATCA), Advanced Mezzanine Card, Micro Telecommunication Computing Architecture, High Platform Interface (HPI), Carrier Grade Linux and Application Interface Specification (AIS). The Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture (ATCA) refers to string of specifications by Peripheral Component Interconnect Industrial Computers Manufacturers Group (PICMG), which is developed to meet essential necessities for carrier grade equipment. In addition to these standards, the standard based communication server is governed by different industry associations and vendor alliance programs. The industry associations include SCOPE Alliance and Communication Platforms Trade Associations. The vendor alliance programs include Intel Communications Alliance, Motorola Communications Server Alliance and Mobicents Open Source Communications Community.ATCA integrates the latest interconnect technologies, manageability and serviceability, improved reliability and next generation processors. The specifications provided by PICMG for Advanced Mezzanine Card (AMC) identify the base-level necessities for a variety of mezzanine cards that are optimized for ATCA Carriers. AMC enhances ATCAs flexibility by widening bandwidth and provides multi-protocol interface to individual servers. MicroTCA specification is basically a framework for directly combining AMC modules, instead of using an ATCA. Moreover, MicroTCA is designed for smaller equipment for application running on low entry cost, small physical size and high scalability. This framework is primarily used for Wi-Fi, wireless base stations, VoIP access gateways and WiMAX radios.Carrier Grade Linux is basically an enhanced version of Linux that is used by the communication servers to offer high security, high availability, scalability and easy maintenance. HPI and AIS are defined by Service Availability Forum (SA Forum) for telecommunication platform to maintain the availability of communication services. The HPI specifies the interface used between the middleware and the primary hardware and the operating system. The AIS specifies the interface between the application and middleware. Moreover, AIS enables applications to run over a variety of computing modules and provides easy migration between the platforms.The standard based communications servers market is primarily driven by the rising demand for high speed and compatible servers across the communication industry. The progressive and vigorous communication server ecosystem consists of several hardware and software providers, server vendors, standard bodies, vendor alliance programs, industry associations and the end-users.A TOC of this report is available upon request @Leading players in standard based communication servers market are NEC Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, AltiGen Communications, Inc., Emerson Network Power, Barrcuda Networks, Inc., Fenestrae B.V., Estech Systems, Inc., B Labs, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Siemens Enterprise Communication GmbH, Cisco Systems Inc., Sun Microsystems, Avaya, Inc. and IBM Corporation.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesTel: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:media@persistencemarketresearch.com
Ammonium Sulfamate Market 2017 - Innophos, Inc, Advan-Synth, Tianjin Kwangfu Technology Development, Tangshan Sanding Chemical

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A market study based on the "Ammonium Sulfamate Market" across the globe, recently added to the repository of Market Research, is titled Global Ammonium Sulfamate Market 2017. The research report analyses the historical as well as present performance of the worldwide Ammonium Sulfamate industry, and makes predictions on the future status of Ammonium Sulfamate market on the basis of this analysis.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here :Top Manufacturers Analysis Of This ReportInnophos, IncAdvan-SynthTianjin Kwangfu Technology DevelopmentTangshan Sanding ChemicalThe report studies the industry for Ammonium Sulfamate across the globe taking the existing industry chain, the import and export statistics in Ammonium Sulfamate market & dynamics of demand and supply of Ammonium Sulfamate into consideration. The 'Ammonium Sulfamate' research study covers each and every aspect of the Ammonium Sulfamate market globally, which starts from the definition of the Ammonium Sulfamate industry and develops towards Ammonium Sulfamate market segmentations. Further, every segment of the Ammonium Sulfamate market is classified and analyzed on the basis of product types, application, and the end-use industries of the Ammonium Sulfamate market. The geographical segmentation of the Ammonium Sulfamate industry has also been covered at length in this report.The competitive landscape of the worldwide market for Ammonium Sulfamate is determined by evaluating the various industry participants, production capacity, Ammonium Sulfamate market's production chain, and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Ammonium Sulfamate market worldwide.Enquire Here :The global Ammonium Sulfamate market 2017 is also analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Ammonium Sulfamate production volume, data regarding demand and Ammonium Sulfamate supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, and market attractiveness analysis has been used in the research to present a comprehensive study of the industry for Ammonium Sulfamate across the globe.About UsApexResearch 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 UsFrank ValadezBusiness Development Executive| sales@apexresearch.biz
Caprolactum Market 2017 - BASF SE, Lanxess AG, Capro Corp, China National Petroleum Corp, DOMO Caproleuna GmbH, Honeywell Chemical Intermediate, Juhua Group Corp

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A market study based on the "Caprolactum Market" across the globe, recently added to the repository of Market Research, is titled Global Caprolactum Market 2017. The research report analyses the historical as well as present performance of the worldwide Caprolactum industry, and makes predictions on the future status of Caprolactum market on the basis of this analysis.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here :Top Manufacturers Analysis Of This ReportBASF SECapro CorpChina National Petroleum CorpDOMO Caproleuna GmbHHoneywell Chemical IntermediateJuhua Group CorpLanxess AGMarubeni CorpThe report studies the industry for Caprolactum across the globe taking the existing industry chain, the import and export statistics in Caprolactum market & dynamics of demand and supply of Caprolactum into consideration. The 'Caprolactum' research study covers each and every aspect of the Caprolactum market globally, which starts from the definition of the Caprolactum industry and develops towards Caprolactum market segmentations. Further, every segment of the Caprolactum market is classified and analyzed on the basis of product types, application, and the end-use industries of the Caprolactum market. The geographical segmentation of the Caprolactum industry has also been covered at length in this report.The competitive landscape of the worldwide market for Caprolactum is determined by evaluating the various industry participants, production capacity, Caprolactum market's production chain, and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Caprolactum market worldwide.Enquire Here :The global Caprolactum market 2017 is also analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Caprolactum production volume, data regarding demand and Caprolactum supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, and market attractiveness analysis has been used in the research to present a comprehensive study of the industry for Caprolactum across the globe.About UsApexResearch 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 UsFrank ValadezBusiness Development Executive| sales@apexresearch.biz
Global Wood Furniture Market 2017 By Region - USA, Japan, EU, China, South East, Asia

Wood Furniture

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A market report titled, 'Wood Furniture? was recently added by Global Info Research. The report offers an in-depth study of the Wood Furniture market and includes resourceful insights such as size, share and growth of the Wood Furniture industry. The current trends, opportunities and developments in the Wood Furniture market are intricately highlighted in the presented study. The scope and the feasibility of the upcoming projects and technological advancements in the Wood Furniture market are examined in the presented report. The factors that influence growth of the Wood Furniture market are listed down along with factors that hinder industry growth. The current status of the market is accurately included in the report. The opportunities and challenges in the Wood Furniture industry are analyzed and included in the report.Do Inquiry About Report @Scope of Wood Furniture Market:The report takes a closer look into Wood Furniture Market, specifically in USA, Japan, Europe and Asia-Pacific, China, Europe and Africa. The report segments the market based on regions, manufacturers, type and application.Global Wood Furniture Market: Product Segment Analysis? SolidWood Furniture? Wood-basedpanelsfurniture? MiscellaneousfurnitureGlobal Wood Furniture Market: Application Segment Analysis? Homefurniture? Officefurniture? OthersBrowse Complete Report @Global Wood Furniture Market: Regional Segment Analysis? USA? Europe? Japan? China? India? South East AsiaThe players mentioned in our report? Bernhardt? Dyrlund? HOO'S? Leggett & Platt? IPE-Cavalli? Flexsteel Industries? Driade? Tropitone Furniture? Skram Furniture? Zhufeng Furniture? Huafeng Furniture? Knoll? Huahe? LANDBOND International? Flou? Butlerwoodcrafters? Anrei? Shuangye? Minotti? Misura Emme? NATUZZI? YihuaTimber? HuafengFurniture? QUANU? Markor? SamsonHolding? HolikeAsk For Discount @? Qumei? Kanwai? A-Zenith? Suofeiya? Huahe? LANDBONDInternational? Shuangye? ZhufengFurniture? Royal? NATUZZI? Guangming? FlouAbout US:With the arsenal of different search reports, we help you here to look and buy research reports that will be helpful to you and your organization. Our research reports have the capability and authenticity to support your organization for growth and consistency.Contact US:Dhananjay Potle5933 NE Win Sivers Drive,#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesDirect :+ 1-503-894-6022Toll Free : + 1-800-910-6452Email: help@bigmarketresearch.comWeb:
Immunoassay Instruments Market Analysis by Application, Revenue and Trend 2017-2021

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Immunoassay instruments market is broadly segmented into chemiluminescence analyzers, enzyme immunoassay analyzers, immunofluorescence assay analyzers, colorimeters, radioimmunoassay analyzer and others. Adoption of chemiluminescence in immunoassay arena is increasing rapidly. Higher sensitivity and accuracy as compared to ELISA are major reasons driving the increased adaption. However, higher installed base and loyalty with ELISA has been a major restraint. Immunofluorescence is less frequently used with application in infectious disease diagnosis and cancer diagnosis.Immunoassays are performed at regular basis at hospitals and diagnostic centers for routine disease diagnosis. Rapid and accurate disease diagnosis has enabled hospitals in reducing patient mortality and morbidity, and also in reducing hospital stay. Immunoassays also contribute immensely to pharmaceutical and biotechnological research. Immunoassay instruments market is largely driven by developments in biotechnology and efficient amalgamation with electronic systems. Currently available immunoassay instruments in the market are compact and automated devices with ability to analyze multiple parameters. Increased sensitivity, multiplexing and expanding scope in varied diagnostic areas are other factors driving market growth. Cost of reagents and kits required to perform tests has also witnessed price reduction. Thus proving investment in immunoassay instruments a feasible long term approach for hospitals.Sample Report@Immunoassay instruments are widely applied in varied disease areas such as diabetes, thyroid, fertility, blood disorder, autoimmune, cardiac, infection, and cancer. Increasing understanding about disease progression, discovery of novel biomarkers involved in critical diseases such as cancer, cardiac disorders, neurological disorders and others has helped in introduction of newer products in the market.Prevalence of chronic diseases is increasing globally, demanding rapid and preventive measures to curb the crisis. According to World Health Organization (WHO) over 422 million individuals were recorded having diabetes in 2014 globally. An article published by CNN in 2016 mentions that U.S., U.K., Canada and South Korea recorded lowest rate of hypertension globally; while Australia, China, Russia and China were among the top countries with high hypertension prevalence. The data also stated that over 400 million hypertension patients were found in India and China alone. Hypertension is expected to cause over 7.5 million mortalities globally which accounts for 12.8% of the total mortalities. Cancer is also among the leading causes of deaths globally with approximately 14 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer related deaths recorded in 2012 by the World Health Organization (WHO).Click For TOC@Larger installed base of immunoassay instruments in North America and Europe has left lesser scope for expansion as compared to other regions with developing healthcare sector such as Asia Pacific, and Latin America. Low income countries are still reluctant to invest in purchase of new devices as smaller volume of tests would not justify the investment.Key players in the market include Abbott Laboratories, bioMerieux, DiaSorin S.p.A, Siemens Healthcare, Perkin Elmer, Roche Diagnostics, and Thermo Fisher Scientific.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:
Mammography Devices Market Value Share, Analysis and Segments 2017-2021

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Mammography devices market is currently experiencing an increased demand due to wide spread awareness and participation of not-for-profit organizations in subsidized and free breast cancer screening drives. The growth is also supported by new technology and digitization devices which are less expensive as compared to older analogue devices. Rising prevalence of breast cancer and increased diagnosis rate due to increased awareness are other factors driving the global mammography devices market growth. Advent of 3D mammography or digital tomosynthesis has made breast cancer screening more detailed and accurate. An article published in Digital Trends states that 3D mammography can detect 40% more breast cancers as compared to 2D, and also records false positive tests rate by over 15%. However 3D mammography machines priced at about twice the cost of 2D devices. Hence the devices are currently limited to large hospitals and few diagnostic centers.Statistics published by the Breastcancer.org (U.S.) states that breast cancer incidence rate have started declining in the U.S. since 2000. In spite of this, the organization expects over 255,180 new cases of invasive breast cancer to be diagnosed among U.S. women in 2017. U.K. recorded more than 55,000 new cancer cases in 2014. Breast cancer prevalence studies in India indicate that the breast cancer incidence rate has increased dramatically from 7% in 1990 to 16% in 2015 among age group 30 to 40 years. China has also recorded high prevalence of breast cancer with over 200,000 new breast cancer cases diagnosed in 2015, which accounted for 12% of the global breast cancer cases. Australia also estimated more than 16,000 new cases in 2016; 150 in male and more than 15,500 in females. Such wide spread prevalence and increasing patient population has been driving the global mammography devices market.Report Sample@Although hospitals and diagnostic centers are major customers of mammography units, not-for-profit organizations are also engaged in providing mobile mammography services. Mammography devices are installed in trucks, and are deployed to various geographical areas for conducting screening programs. This has been an attractive means for charity, awareness and community funding. Mobile mammography has also reached developing and under-developed economies where majority of the cases remain undiagnosed, or are diagnosed in later stages. The global mammography devices market is minimally impacted by the sale of refurbished devices in the market. The trend for such refurbished devices has increased in the recent past due to increasing financial pressures on hospital management due to economic instabilities, and rising healthcare costs. However this impact would be offset by new technology low cost devices that are expected to replace old devices.Some of the leading players in the global mammography devices market include Allengers Medical Systems Limited, AMICO JSC, Angell technology, BMI Biomedical International, Carestream Health, EcoRay, Fujifilm Holdings Corporation, GE Healthcare, General Medical Italia, Genoray, Hologic, Landwind Medical, Neusoft Medical Systems, Panacea Medical Technologies, Philips Healthcare, Seeuco Electronics Technology, Siemens Healthcare, Villa Sistemi Medicali.Click For TOC@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:
Multi-Layer Ceramic Capacitor Market - Increasing Popularity Of Smart Televisions Is Expected To Strongly Augment The Growth

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Ceramic capacitors are fixed value capacitors wherein the ceramic material acts as the dielectric. A type of ceramic capacitors is the multi-layer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) that consists of alternate layers of ceramic and metal for making a multi-layer chip. One of the key trends influencing the multi-layer ceramic capacitors market is the miniaturization of electronic devices. The growing popularity of new designs of MLCCs with higher capacitances, improved bypassing, filtering and decoupling capabilities is positively influencing the growth of the global market.Multi-layer ceramic capacitors are being increasingly used for EMI suppression and in various applications including AC-AC and DC-DC convertors. Further, the technological improved MLCCs are being used in LED lighting. Ceramic capacitors were initially not preferred by LED designers due to flickering light and acoustic noise but with technological advancements, the key players in the MLCC market are offering multi-layer ceramic capacitors with DC smoothing and acoustic noise reduction of LED applications.LED lighting is gaining popularity globally owing to the increasing need for power conversion, advanced lighting features and efficient lighting, which is in turn directly fueling the growth of the global multi-layer ceramic capacitors market.Over the past decade, the revenue generation of multi-layer ceramic capacitors has surpassed the other primary capacitor dielectrics owing to the rapid technological breakthroughs in electrostatic capacitors. One of the major factors that is driving the growth of the multi-layer ceramic capacitors market is the increasing demand of these capacitors in the electronics market. This increasing demand can be attributed to the continuous increase in the deployment of high specification gadgets. Growing demand for tablets and smartphones coupled with the cost efficiency associated with MLCCs is strongly boosting the growth of the global market. Further, increasing popularity of smart televisions is also expected to strongly augment the growth of the market in the coming years as MLCCs are being increasingly integrated in the modern LCD and LED televisions. However, ceramic has some inherent drawbacks and is highly prone to physical damage such as getting cracked and this is posing to be a challenge for the market growth. The longevity of multi-layer ceramic capacitors can shorten, unless they are handled with utmost care.PDF Sample For Latest Innovations And Advancements @The global multi-layer ceramic capacitor market can be segmented on the basis of rated voltage into 4 volts, 16 volts, 25 volts,, 50 volts, 100 volts and above 100 volts. The rated voltage of MLCCs can vary between 4 volts to 10 kilovolts. On the basis of application, the global market can be bifurcated into consumer electronics and others. Some of key applications of multi-layer ceramic capacitors in consumer electronics include tablets, mobile phones, notebooks, PCs, video cameras, DVDs and hard discs among others. However the demand for MLCCs is not restricted to only consumer electronics and is also being observed in medical facilities, data processing, telecommunications, industrial and military applications that require high reliability. In addition, the market can be geographically classified broadly into four regions, namely: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World. The MLCC market is witnessing steady growth in Asia Pacific owing to the adoption of improved technology and development initiatives that are driving production activities in this region. The major countries contributing to the growth of the market include China, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan.The major players in the multi-layer ceramic capacitor market include Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (Japan), Vishay Intertechnology (U.S.), Johanson Dielectrics (U.S.), TDK Corp (Japan), KEMET (U.S.), Yageo Corp (Taiwan), Taiyo Yuden Co. Ltd. (Japan), Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co. Ltd. (South Korea), AFM Microelectronics Inc. (U.S.), Cornell Dubilier Electronics (U.S.), AVX Corporation (U.S.) and Future Electronics (Canada). among others.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.Transparency Market Research90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Dot Matrix Display Market - With Rising Technological Advancement Market Is Anticipated To Witness Positive Growth

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Dot-matrix display is primarily a display device which helps in displaying information on clocks, machines, railway departure indicators and many other devices which generally require a simple display device with limited resolution. A 2-dimensional patterned array is known as a dot matrix, which is primarily used to show symbols, numerical, images and characters. Almost every sort of advanced technology primarily applies the dot matrices for display of data or information which includes televisions, printers, clocks, smartphones and computers. Furthermore, it is also used in textiles with knitting, weaving and sewing. The market is segmented into by size which includes 12816 (Two lined), 12832 (Four lined), 12864 (Eight lined) among others. The market has been bifurcated into by application which includes smartphones, computers, televisions, medical monitors, printers, and clocks among others. The market by geography has been segmented into, Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa and South America.With rising research activities in the field of dot  matrix display devices, the application of dot-matrix displays are growing in the medical devices, consumer electronics application segments.The display primarily comprises of a dot matrix of mechanical indicators or lights sorted in a rectangular configuration (mostly rectangular but other different shapes are also possible) such that by switching on or off selected lights, graphics or texts can be displayed. Moreover, a dot matrix controller primarily transforms instructions from a particular processor into definite signals which generally turns off or on lights in the matrix so that the desired display is generated. Display devices are electrically operated and have developed from electromechanical systems primarily for text display. Furthermore, primarily all sort of electronic devices are capable of full-motion 3D color graphic displays. With rising technological advancement, the market for dot  matrix display is anticipated to witness positive growth over the forecast period from 2016  2024. Furthermore, With the advent of microelectronic and microprocessors devices, many more individual pixels (picture elements) could be combine into one display device, allowing video and graphic displays.PDF Sample For Latest Innovations And Advancements @Seven-segment indicator or seven-segment display (SSD) is generally a form of electronic display device which primarily helps in displaying decimal numerals. This is an easy alternative option to the complicated dot matrix displays. This display technology is primarily used in electronics meters, calculators, digital clocks and monitors among others. Rising demand for advance gadgets and latest devices is fueling the market for dot-matrix displays globally. Major global companies are focusing on new technology development through research for better display quality and market penetration. With the growing demand for high definition smartphones, calculators and monitors, the application of dot-matrix displays is on high rise. Furthermore, rising demand for high definition televisions with latest display technology is also contributing in the positive growth of this market and is expected to fuel its demand in near future.North America and Asia Pacific is leading the market for dot-matrix display Market globally. Rising demand for smartphones, laptops, computes, calculators, tablets, digital clocks and other smart electronic devices in economies such the U.S., Germany, U.K. Japan, China, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, U.A.E and India are expected to witness positive growth over the forecast period from 2016 to 2024. With growing advancement in the consumer electronics, industrial, commercial and medical field, the application of dot-matrix display is rising rapidly.Company acquisition, merger, strategic business alliances and partnership agreements are some of the major business strategies apart from research and development is adopted by the companies operating in this industry in order to strengthen its presence globally. Avago Technologies (The U.S.), Halma Plc (U.K.), Ligitek (Taiwan), Cree, Inc. (The U.S.), OSRAM (Germany), Digi-Key Corporation (The U.S.) among others are some of the prime players operating in the dot-matrix display market globally.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.Transparency Market Research90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
China Cordless Phone Market Continues to Remain Sustained in Coming Years, Forecasted up to 2021

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Albany, New York, February 14, 2017: A new forecast study report focusing on the market of cordless phones has been recently added to the massive database of Market Research Hub (MRH). This study majorly focuses on the Chinese market, and is titled as China Cordless Phone Market 2017 which provides a comprehensive analysis of the market, along with the foremost details including production, price, revenue, and market share as well as growth rate. This 114 pages research study also outlines details of the leading manufacturers operating in the market.Request for Sample Report:Initially, the report provides the cordless phone industry overview in China to understand the market outlook and its scope in the coming years. A cordless telephone is basically a combination of telephone and radio transmitter/receiver. It offers convenience to individuals, as they are not restricted to remain in one place when receiving or making calls. Also, allows individuals to operate cordless phones within the restricted mobility available in the house or building.It is well known that the telecommunication sector has gone through various milestones through the period, in terms of its inventions and their usage. One of the most useful and popular invention Cordless phones has become demandable among consumers owing to its various characteristic. Furthermore, the report studies that the market for cordless phones has declined over the years because of low-cost cell phones availability in the market. However, many people purchase cordless phones because they provide an extension to the existing landlines. Moving further in the next section of the report, market segmentation is represented. It is precisely segmented in China based on regions, types and applications. On the basis of types, it is categorized into:AnalogDECT and other digital technologyOn the other hand, some of the applications where cordless phones are very much in use are homes, offices and public offices. One of the leading countries that sell cordless phones is China. The market is also boosted with Chinese and Japanese cordless phones that are relatively cheaper because of illegal dumping of goods by such countries. In addition, manufacturing costs in these areas are much lower than in others.Browse Full Report with TOC:At present, cordless phones look like modern mobile phones in their structure and many other aspects. The life of the battery has also become better with the advent of technology and continuous effort of the leading vendors. Some of the key players operating in China have been listed below:UnidenPanasonicTCLGigasetMotorolaPhilipsNECVtechAT&TClarityVivoGEAbout 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.Contact Us90 State StreetAlbany, NY 12207United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (US-Canada)Tel : +1-518-621-2074Email : press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite :Follow us on LinkedIn:
Thermal Energy Storage Market to Reach US$ 1800.0 Million Globally by 2021

Thermal Energy Storage Market

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New York, February 14: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Thermal Energy Storage Market by Technology (Sensible Heat, Latent Heat, and Thermochemical) for Commercial and Industrial, Utilities, and Residential End Use Applications - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2014  2020The thermal energy storage market is expected to exceed more than US$ 1750.0 Million by 2020 growing at a CAGR of more than 16% by 2020.Browse Full Report:Thermal energy storage technology is used for storage and transferring energy such as heat energy, energy from cold or ice water or air. This is very different technology need in many areas. In this it stores or collect the thermal energy for later use in many areas such as in town, district or at multi user building or individual building. Thermal energy storage technologies help to decrease utilization of energy and raise energy supply by proficiently utilizing re-new able energy sources. Many of renewable energy sources will not exist all over day, so that time thermal energy storage technology will be the best solution for use. Thermal energy storage technologies are also used for moving peak energy which is used into off peak hours.The major driving factors of thermal energy storage market are as follows:Development in variable energy sources drives acceptance of thermal energy storage technologiesDeferral of distribution and transmission rise through the use of thermal energy storage technologiesIncreasing need for access to reliable, efficient, cost competitive electricity propels increase in the marketThe restraints factors of thermal energy storage market are as follows:High grid interconnection barriers and investment slow down development of the marketDownload Free Sample Report:The thermal energy storage market is segmented on the lines of its technology, end user and type. Under technology segmentation it covers sensible heat, latent heat and thermo chemical storage. The thermal energy storage market is segmented on the lines of its end user like commercial, industrial and residential end user. Based on type segmentation it covers heat storage and solar power. The thermal energy storage market is geographic segmentation covers various regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. Each geography market is further segmented to provide market revenue for select countries such as the U.S., Canada, U.K. Germany, China, Japan, India, Brazil, and GCC countries.This report provides:1) An overview of the global market for thermal energy storage and related technologies.2) Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2013, estimates for 2014 and 2015, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2020.3) Identifications of new market opportunities and targeted promotional plans for thermal energy storage4) Discussion of research and development, and the demand for new products and new applications.5) Comprehensive company profiles of major players in the industry.REPORT SCOPE:The scope of the report includes a detailed study of global and regional markets for various types of coatings with the reasons given for variations in the growth of the industry in certain regions.The report covers detailed competitive outlook including the market share and company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include CALMAC, EVAPCO, Inc., Chicago Bridge & Iron Company (CB&I), and Goss Engineering, Inc. ,Abengoa Solar, S.A., Baltimore Aircoil Company, BrightSource Energy, Inc., Burns & McDonnell, Caldwell Energy, FAFCO Thermal Storage Systems, Ice Lings, Steffes Corporation, and TAS Energy.. Company profile includes assign such as company summary, financial summary,business strategy and planning, SWOT analysis and current developments.The Top Companies Report is intended to provide our buyers with a snapshot of the industrys most influential players.The Thermal Energy Storage Market has been segmented as below:By Technology AnalysisSensible HeatLatent HeatThermo chemical StorageBy End-user AnalysisCommercialIndustrialResidentialBy Type AnalysisHeat StorageSolar powerBy Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificRest of the WorldAbout MarketResearchEngine.comMarket Research Engine is a global market research and consulting organization. We provide market intelligence in emerging, niche technologies and markets. Our market analysis powered by rigorous methodology and quality metrics provide information and forecasts across emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models. Our deep focus on industry verticals and country reports help our clients to identify opportunities and develop business strategies.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research EngineContact Person: John BayEmail: john@marketresearchengine.comPhone: +1-855-984-1862, +91-860-565-7204Country: United StatesWebsite:Address: 3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8942, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, United States
Concrete Admixtures Industry 2017 Industry Analysis and Market studies Research 2025

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Global Concrete Admixtures Market: OverviewAdmixtures constitute those form of ingredients in a concrete mixture which are added during or immediately before the mixing procedure. They are, however, not to be confused with other ingredients such as water, Portland cement, or the aggregate. Plain concrete mixes fall short of providing the characteristics that can be easily obtained from concrete admixtures. While concrete admixtures are added to concrete at the time of batching or mixing, the dosages are normally less than 5.0% by the mass of the cement used.Request a Brochure of the Report @On the basis of function, concrete admixtures can see a classification by air entraining admixtures, water reducing admixtures, plasticizers, accelerating admixtures, retarding admixtures, retarding admixtures, hydration-control admixtures, corrosion inhibitors, shrinkage reducers, alkali-silica reactivity inhibitors, and coloring admixtures.Global Concrete Admixtures Market: Driving FactorsConcrete admixtures have gained prominence in concrete construction activities as they allow cost reduction. Apart from enhancing the quality of concrete, they help in its maintenance during important stages such as mixing, transporting, placing, and curing and also in adverse weather conditions. Besides this, they find important usage in building and construction activities as well, which is one of the colossal markets on the globe with regard to revenue generation.Various application segments such as highways, houses, bridges, sidewalks, and skyscrapers are expected to significantly add to the rise in the consumption of concrete and consequently, concrete admixtures. Likewise, there is a growing demand from a variety of end users which is equally contributing to the growth. Plasticizers, especially super-plasticizers, are envisaged to lead the international concrete admixtures market among the other segments in the category.While the mature markets in developed regions could affect the growth of the global concrete admixtures market, new avenues are expected to open in developing markets with the inflating demand for ready-mix concrete (RMC).Global Concrete Admixtures Market: Geographical AnalysisOwing to the growth in residential complexes, corporate offices, and architectural designs, Asia Pacific had majorly contributed to the global concrete admixtures market in the recent past. The rising urbanization in Asia Pacific countries and elevating strength of the world population are currently driving the global building and construction market and will continue to drive as projected. Emerging economies such as India and China are contributing to the growth of the market in the Asia Pacific region on the back of changing lifestyles and swelling urbanization.Read Complete Report @South Africa followed by Europe also held an impressive consumption rate. However, North America has witnessed a stable advancement in the global concrete admixtures market. This trend is envisioned to continue until the end of the forecast period.Global Concrete Admixtures Market: Key VendorsAmong others, Ashland Inc., BASF, CICO Technologies Ltd., The Dow Chemical Company, Fosroc, Sika AG, LanYa Concrete Admixtures Co. Ltd., CHRYSO, and W.R. Grace & Co. are the crucial global players in the concrete admixtures market. The report presented here studies each company to provide a comprehensive analysis of their critical marketing strategies and future plans. The competitive landscape illustrated by the analysts will help the report buyers to gain a competitive edge in the global market.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact :Rohit BhiseyHead - Internet MarketingTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Global Incident Response System Market Size, Status And Forecast 2022Geospatial Technologies, Backup and Disaster Recovery Solutions, Threat Management Systems, Surveillance Systems

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Production, means the output of Incident Response SystemRevenue, means the sales value of Incident Response SystemThis report studies the global Incident Response System market, analyzes and researches the Incident Response System development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeAmazon.comCiscoESRIHoneywellIBMLockheed MartinRockwell CollinsAcronisAsigraFujitsuNasuniNetAppDFLabsHexaditeFireEyeHPVeritas TechnologiesCommvaultMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaMarket segment by Type, Incident Response System can be split intoGeospatial TechnologiesBackup and Disaster Recovery SolutionsThreat Management SystemsSurveillance SystemsMarket segment by Application, Incident Response System can be split intoApplication 1Application 2Download Sample Copy Of This Report:Table of ContentsGlobal Incident Response System Market Size, Status and Forecast 20221 Industry Overview of Incident Response System1.1 Incident Response System Market Overview1.1.1 Incident Response System Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Incident Response System Market Size and Analysis by Regions1.2.1 United States1.2.2 EU1.2.3 Japan1.2.4 China1.2.5 India1.2.6 Southeast Asia1.3 Incident Response System Market by Type1.3.1 Geospatial Technologies1.3.2 Backup and Disaster Recovery Solutions1.3.3 Threat Management Systems1.3.4 Surveillance Systems1.4 Incident Response System Market by End Users/Application1.4.1 Application 11.4.2 Application 22 Global Incident Response System Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Incident Response System Market Size (Value) by Players (2015-2016)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Amazon.com3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Incident Response System Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.1.5 Recent Developments3.2 Cisco3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Incident Response System Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.2.5 Recent Developments3.3 ESRI3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Incident Response System Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.3.5 Recent Developments3.4 Honeywell3.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.4.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.4.4 Incident Response System Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.4.5 Recent Developments3.5 IBM3.5.1 Company Profile3.5.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.5.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.5.4 Incident Response System Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.5.5 Recent Developments3.6 Lockheed Martin3.6.1 Company Profile3.6.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.6.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.6.4 Incident Response System Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.6.5 Recent Developments3.7 Rockwell Collins3.7.1 Company Profile3.7.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.7.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.7.4 Incident Response System Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.7.5 Recent Developments3.8 Acronis3.8.1 Company Profile3.8.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.8.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.8.4 Incident Response System Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.8.5 Recent Developments3.9 Asigra3.9.1 Company Profile3.9.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.9.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.9.4 Incident Response System Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.9.5 Recent Developments3.10 Fujitsu3.10.1 Company Profile3.10.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.10.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.10.4 Incident Response System Revenue (Value) (2012-2017)3.10.5 Recent Developments3.11 Nasuni3.12 NetApp3.13 DFLabs3.14 Hexadite3.15 FireEye3.16 HP3.17 Veritas Technologies3.18 Commvault4 Global Incident Response System Market Size by Type and Application (2012-2017)4.1 Global Incident Response System Market Size by Type (2012-2017)4.2 Global Incident Response System Market Size by Application (2012-2017)4.3 Potential Application of Incident Response System in Future4.4 Top Consumer/End Users of Incident Response System5 United States Incident Response System Development Status and Outlook5.1 United States Incident Response System Market Size (2012-2017)5.2 United States Incident Response System Market Size and Market Share by Players (2015-2016)6 EU Incident Response System Development Status and Outlook6.1 EU Incident Response System Market Size (2012-2017)6.2 EU Incident Response System Market Size and Market Share by Players (2015-2016)7 Japan Incident Response System Development Status and Outlook7.1 Japan Incident Response System Market Size (2012-2017)7.2 Japan Incident Response System Market Size and Market Share by Players (2015-2016)MarketResearchReports.biz supports your business intelligence needs with over 100,000 market research reports, company profiles, data books, and regional market data sheets in its repository. Our document database is updated by the hour, which means that you always have access to fresh data spanning over 300 industries and their sub-segments.State Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948(USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Worldwide Multiple Reaction Monitoring Assay Market Trends & Industry Forecast by 2016 - 2024

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Global Multiple Reaction Monitoring Assay Market: OverviewThe report serves as an ideal tool for both new and established players in the multiple reaction monitoring assay market, offering some of the best expansion strategies. The latest and most trusted business intelligence tools, such as the Porters Five Forces analysis model, have been employed to give readers a 360-degree overview of the multiple reaction monitoring assay market and the various macro and micro trends impacting its trajectory. Apart from statistical and qualitative insights, the report also includes recommendations from industry experts.Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) is an extremely selective and sensitive method of analyzing small molecules. This targeted method is used for the quantitation of peptides or protein fragments in complex biological samples. The MRM platform technology enables targeted filtering of specific proteins instead of going through massive amounts of data resulting from nontargeted studies. This powerful method for the quantitative measurement of target proteins has emerged as a principal tool in research methodologies today.Multiple reaction monitoring assays can be of various types: Human discovery assay, custom multiple reaction monitoring assays, human cancer multiple reaction monitoring assays, and human cardiovascular multiple reaction monitoring assays. These are used in diagnostic centers, hospital centers, and research institutes for quality control and biomarker assessment. Geographically, the worldwide market for multiple reaction monitoring assays covers four key segments: Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, and Rest of the World.Download PDF brochure for this Report:Global Multiple Reaction Monitoring Assay Market: Key Trends and OpportunitiesMultiple reaction monitoring has been used for several years now for the detection of peptides and proteins in clinical samples. Multiple reaction monitoring offers a host of benefits to researchers, including better sensitivity, improved speed of detection, greater selectivity, higher specificity, and the ability to adjust or calibrate the instrument to detect a specific protein of interest. These advantages have significantly boosted the global multiple reaction monitoring assay market. In addition, the surge in R&D in the field of biologics has contributed significantly to the worldwide multiple reaction monitoring assay market. The rising use of multiple reaction monitoring assays in research institutes, diagnostic centers, and hospitals has also driven the global market.Global Multiple Reaction Monitoring Assay Market: Region-wise Outlook and Competitive Landscape AssessmentGlobally, North America and Europe led the multiple reaction monitoring assay market. Countries in North America and those in Western Europe, such as Germany, France, Italy, and the U.K., have been contributing majorly to the multiple reaction monitoring assay market thanks to the increasing number of biology research institutes in the regions and the higher number of installed systems.The most well-known companies in the global multiple reaction monitoring assay market include MRM Proteomics, Sigma Aldrich, and Thermo Fisher Scientific. These players, along with other prominent players, have been carefully examined in the research report based on key parameters such as company overview, recent developments, product portfolio, R&D, business strategies, and financial standing. The report also employs a SWOT analysis to determine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the leading players.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.Browse Full Research Report on Multiple Reaction Monitoring Assay Market:About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Browse market research blog:
Diphenyl Sulfone Market Deep Research Study with Forecast by 2025

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Diphenyl Sulfone Market: General OutlineDiphenyl sulfone is a twelve carbon organic compound of sulfur with two benzene rings. The chemical is available as a white solid soluble in most organic solvents, and is insoluble in water. Diphenyl sulfone is manufactured commercially by a sulfonation of benzene, through a reaction between sulfuric acid and oleum. Diphenyl sulfone is also produced through a reaction between benzene and benzenesulfonyl chloride. Typically, these processes include the formation of an intermediate, benzenesulfonic acid.Request a Brochure of the Report @Diphenyl sulfone is a toxic inorganic chemical, and due to its sulfur content, it may cause irritation and/or burns to skin and eyes, and can be fatal if inhaled. Diphenyl sulfone is also considered hazardous, as it releases toxic and irritating sulfur dioxide gas, when burned. The chemical is required to be disposed of properly, as it is may cause harm the aquatic ecosystem.Diphenyl Sulfone Market: Application InsightsDiphenyl sulfone is primarily used in the chemical industry as a high temperature organic solvent. Diphenyl sulfone is used in processing of rigid thermoset polymers such as PEEK, as these polymers dissolve only in hot organic solvents. Diphenyl sulfone is also used as an intermediate raw material for the production of various phenyl chemicals such as dichloride diphenyl sulfone and bisphenol S among others.Diphenyl sulfone is also used in paper manufacture and pharmaceutical applications. The diphenyl sulfone market is driven by its demand in polymer processing applications, pharmaceutical applications, and paper and pulp applications. However, the rising awareness about the harmful effects of sulfur dioxide gas, and its hazardous nature, might hamper the market growth over the forecast period. New polymer applications are expected to bring prospective opportunities for future market growth of diphenyl sulfone as an intermediate raw material for the manufacturing of chemicals.Another use of diphenyl sulfone is for deriving a wide variety of sulfone monomers. These monomers are used to develop high performance sulfone polymers that are categorized by their high temperature sustenance, and clear transparency. These derived sulfone polymers are employed as replacements or substitutes for metallic materials and glass, and can find its application in the medical industry, aerospace industry, consumer products manufacture, and automotive industry.Diphenyl Sulfone Market: Segment AnalysisIn terms of geography, Asia Pacific is the largest consumer of diphenyl sulfone in paper and pulp industry. Major industrial economies including China, India, Japan and South Korea are the key consumers of diphenyl sulfone for application in polymer manufacture and processing, paper and pulp and chemical industries.Read Complete Report @With the rise in disposable income and purchase power parity, two of the most populated countries of Asia, China and India are growing at an exponential rate. This, in turn, supports the demand growth for end use application products of diphenyl sulphone. North America is another major consumer of diphenyl sulfone, especially in the polymer processing and pharmaceutical applications. In Rest of the World, Brazil, South Africa, Argentina, and Venezuela contribute to the demand for the market. Owing to stringent regulations against hazardous chemicals, Europe is projected to witness comparatively slower growth than other regions.Diphenyl Sulfone Market: Key Market PlayersSome of the market players of Diphenyl Sulfone are: Merck Millipore, Solvay, Calabrian, Indspec Chemical, Arichem LLC, Olympic Chemical, Vertellus Specialties Inc. and Southern ionics, among many others.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact :Rohit BhiseyHead - Internet MarketingTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Fixed Capacitor Market - Revolution In Storage Technology With The Introduction Of Newer Market Segments

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A capacitor, also known as a permittor or condenser is an electrical component with a passive two-terminal and is used to store electrical energy or charge in an electrical field. All fixed capacitors contain electrical conductors which are separated by an insulating layer, known as dielectric. Small capacitors are used in electronic devices to enhance signals between amplifier stages as part of power supply systems or as particles of turned circuits and electric filters. Larger capacitors are used to store electric energy of electric motors, strobe lights or for power correction in AC power distribution systems. Different types of fixed capacitor includes, paper capacitor which includes paper sheet capacitor and metalized paper capacitor, plastic film capacitor which includes film-foil capacitors and metalized film capacitors, ceramic capacitor which includes ceramic disc capacitor, ceramic tubular capacitor and multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC), mica capacitor which includes stacked mica capacitor and silvered mica capacitor, electrolytic capacitor which includes aluminum electrolytic capacitor, tantalum electrolytic capacitor and niobium electrolytic capacitor and supercapacitors which includes double layer capacitors, pseudo - capacitors and hybrid capacitors. Ceramic capacitors hold the largest market share among all the types owing to increased demand from its application areas such as tone compensation, lighting ballasts, resonant circuit, volume control RF bypass, and antenna coupling among others. It is expected to have a steady growth rate owing to increased demand in developing countries such as Thailand, India and China among others. It is closely followed by electrolytic capacitors which hold the second largest position in the global market share.PDF Sample For Latest Innovations And Advancements @Major drivers driving the global fixed capacitors are increased demand by application areas such as high current applications for paper capacitors, A/D converters and motor run for plastic film capacitors, resonant circuit and antenna coupling for ceramic capacitors, Laser and RADAR for mica capacitors, filters and time constant circuits for electrolytic capacitors among others. Revolution in storage technology with the introduction of newer market segments such as smart grids and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) among others is also acting as a major driver in the global fixed capacitor market. In addition, supportive government regulations, low transmission losses and need for improved stability and larger demand by niche end user segment is driving the global fixed capacitor market in a positive way. Lack of standardization and high infrastructure cost are the major factors that are restraining market growth. Rapid growth of automation and infrastructure industries is a major opportunity of the global fixed capacitor market.Geographically, the global fixed capacitor market is divided into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa and Latin America. Europe is the largest market of the overall fixed capacitor market. Asia Pacific and Middle East are the fastest growing markets owing to rapid industrialization and growth of end user segments. Countries such as India, Japan and China are the fastest growing countries as they are major developing countries with high growth and industrialization in these countries. The use of fixed capacitor is rapidly growing in renewable energy sector and is thus a great opportunity for these fast developing countries.Major players of the global fixed capacitor market include Toshiba (Tokyo, Japan), ABB Ltd. (Zurich, Switzerland), Epcos AG (Munich, Germany), Alstom SA (Saint-Quain, France), Siemens Energy (Erlangen, Germany), Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (Kyoto Prefecture, Japan), Advanced Capacitor Technologies, Inc. (Tokyo, Japan), Axion Power International, Inc. (Pennsylvania, U.S), EEStor Corporation (Toronto, Canada), FastCAP Systems, Inc. (Massachusetts, U.S), Graphene Energy, Inc. (Texas, U.S), Capxon International Electronic Co., Ltd. (Wanchai, Hong Kong), Kemet Corporation (South Carolina, U.S), Maxwell Technologies, Inc. (California, U.S) and Nesscap Energy, Inc. (Toronto, Canada) among others.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.Transparency Market Research90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Patient Handling Equipment Market: Increase in reimbursement for mobility and assistive devices by both private and government insurance players are likely to provide growth opportunities in market

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Awareness about mobility aids is constantly increasing and several government organizations are known to offer subsidies, grants, and funding, while various public and private insurance players are provide insurance coverage. Increase in reimbursement for mobility and assistive devices by both private and government insurance players are likely to provide growth opportunities in the patient handling equipment market. Organizations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American Nurse Association (ANA) recommend that manual lifting of patients must be minimized and eliminated. For instance, a study conducted by OSHA in 2013 concluded that musculoskeletal disorders such as strains and sprains were one of the leading causes of injury to health care workers while manually moving, shifting, and lifting patients. These developments would drive the demand for these globally.The research report on patient handling equipment market includes in-depth analysis of the product types, end-user, and geography. Base on product type, the market has been segmented into lifting slings, wheelchair, medical beds, ambulatory aids, shower, bath and toileting equipment, and others. In terms of end-user, the market has been divided into hospitals, home health care, nursing homes, assisted living facility, and others. The scope of this study analyzes each segment in terms of revenue (US$ Mn) and covers exhaustive information on the global volume trends of product equipment.Read Full Report:In 2015, medical beds product segment accounted for a lions share in the global patient handling equipment market. The hospital end user segment accounted for the largest market share compared to other end user segments in 2015. This end user segment is expected to maintain its dominance in the market; however, other end users such as rehabilitation centers, trauma centers are expected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period from 2016 to 2024. The global patient handling equipment market was analyzed across four geographies: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World.The key market players in this market have launched new products with technologically advanced and ergonomical design features in this market. In May 2015, Getinge Group introduced new Citadel Patient Care System, which is a medical bed with therapeutic mattresses for provision of improved care and support while handling high dependency patients. Technological advancements such as introduction of automated patient lifting and transfer techniques also act as a potential driver of the patient handling equipment market. These innovative products would sharply reduce the average time and number of caregivers that are deployed per patient in a health care setting. Therefore, advancements in assistive technology and improved product design coupled with government subventions are expected to contribute to market growth in the near future.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Geographically, Europe was the largest market for patient handling equipment in terms of revenue in 2015. The patient handling equipment market in Asia Pacific is anticipated to expand at the fastest growth rate during the forecast period from 2016 to 2024. Other emerging markets in rest of the world such as Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa are also expected to witness a steady growth during the forecast period. Increasing patient base, medical tourism, and rising income levels are also expected to propel the market. Highly priced equipments have a minuscule consumer base in under- developed and developing regions due to the high cost of technologically advanced equipment which are unaffordable for small and medium size healthcare settings. In addition, apart from these factors the lower labor cost of caregivers in developing economies could further restrain the market growth in emerging economies.Key players profiled in this report include Bayer AG, Continental Manufacturing Chemist, Inc., Elanco Animal Health, Inc., Indian Immunologicals Ltd., M.B.D. Marketing (S) Pte Ltd., Merck Animal Health, Merial, Nicosia International, Vallee S.A., and Zoetis, Inc.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Embedded System Market - North America is expected to generate a revenue of US$89.87 bn by 2021

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Global Embedded System Market: SnapshotThe applications of embedded systems have increased drastically over the past years, especially in the automotive industry. Multi-core technologies are being appreciated and are now in great demand across various industry verticals. Embedded graphics systems have now become a mainstay in consumer electronics, which is another industry growing at an exceptional rate.Healthcare, defense, aerospace, and telecommunications are other industries where the use of embedded systems is bringing about a sea of changes for the better. Embedded systems are also finding a wide range of use in the current high demand concept of smart electronics and connected devices. The cumulative growth in demand for embedded systems through all these application industries is expected to be a high impact driver for its global market and all its players.Get More Information :There is, however, a major constraint on the production of embedded system, and that is the set of complications that arise on real time embedded systems implementations. Real time applications impose a very high strain on embedded systems that are already restricted by regulatory concerns over cooling, weight, power, size, and reliability. This can be mitigated to a large degree through the implementation of modern low-energy consumption embedded systems and low performance controller applications.The revenue generated in the global market for embedded systems is, as a result, expected to progress at a strong CAGR of 6.4% from 2015 to 2021. This market is expected to reach US$233.19 bn by the end of 2021.North Americas Lead over Embedded Systems to PrevailBy the end of 2021, the demand for embedded systems in North America is expected to generate a revenue of US$89.87 bn, which will be the leading share at the time. The demand for embedded systems in this region has always been very high due to a head start this region gained from early penetration in the U.S. This region has housed a great number of the key players currently functioning in the global market, including Intel Corporation, Texas Instruments, and Freescale Semiconductor. The high level of research and development efforts taken by these companies has increased the self-reliance of the embedded systems market in North America and eventually had a positive impact on the global market as well.Asia Pacific held the second place in the top revenue generating regions for embedded systems players in 2014 and is expected to retain its position till 2021. China, Taiwan, South Korea  to name a few  are well on their way towards large scale implementation of modern embedded systems in automotive and consumer electronics industries. The region is expected to see a boom in the demand for embedded systems in the healthcare sector over the coming years.Auto Sector to Remain High-value Industry for Embedded SystemsThe demand for embedded systems in the automotive industry is expected to take up 18.3% of the market value by 2021. This will be a leading share, similar to this industrys share in market value in 2014. Automobiles are one of the more perfect application fields for embedded systems due to the small size of these systems. They can easily fit into various components in a car, which has led to car makers evolving their designs and concepts around the use of embedded systems and other electronics.The true value of embedded systems has only been realized by industries over the past few decades. The increase in mobility that embedded systems provide in the industries of automotive, defense and aerospace, and consumer electronics is quite massive and it does not seem to be diminishing any time soon. Embedded systems have come a long way from their use in business-critical and safety-critical applications and are now being used in products that are designed around them.The top providers of embedded systems across the globe include Renesas Electronics Corporation, Freescale Semiconductor, Samsung Electronics Corporation, Atmel Corporation, Infineon Technologies, STMicroelectronics, Fujitsu, Microchip Technologies, and Texas Instruments.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:
The Tuscan language school Puccini is encouraging cognitive learning processes

Italian courses at the sea, Centro Culturale Giacomo Puccini

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(Viareggio) What ensures that a language holiday is effective? Definitely the most important factor is, that the individual student is in the focus of all learning activities. For a successful and satisfying language holiday it is absolutely necessary, that the wishes, interests and needs of the participants are considered. Teenagers and adults are travelling to a unknown country to learn its language and culture and therefore it is important, that the language school takes care of the personal interests of the students, that the teachers are highly qualified and are enthusiastic, which ensures that the lessons are practically oriented and that the students like to learn and take part in the life style of the new country from the moment of their arrival. Only in this way a foreign language can be learnt with joy and enthusiasm, two important factors for fast and effective learning progress.The Italian language school Centro Puccini has already implemented this knowledge many years ago and is, due its long term experience in the sector, able to offer highly qualified Italian tuition for language students from all over the world.For a good learning progress it is important that the classrooms are adapted in a motivating way, but also that tuition is diverse, interesting and challenging with a lot of interaction; considering only grammatical aspects of a language are generally not a good way for fast progress; it is much better to implement the learning of grammatical structures in a linguistic context, adapted to the level of the class, but taking care that the lessons always remain new and interesting.Founded in 1988, Centro Puccini has years of experience in teaching the Italian language in Italy. The school is recognized by the Italian Ministry of Education, member of ASILS (Association of language schools for teaching Italian as a foreign language) and AIL. From April to October, the school organizes Italian language and culture courses in Viareggio, a lovely beach town, just a 15-minute train ride from Pisa.Centro Culturale Giacomo Puccini srlVia Vespucci 173Viareggio (LU)TuscanyItalyTel.: ++39-0584-430253Fax: ++39-0584-961275info@centropuccini.itContact person: Giovanni Poggi
Smart Healthcare Products Market: Epic Systems Corporation, Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc., eClinicalWorks

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New York, February 14: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Smart Healthcare Products Market By Product Type (Electronic health record, Smart RFID cabinets, Smart pills, Smart Syringes) and By Industry Verticals (Inventory management, Monitoring management, Health data storage and exchange)  Global Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2022The smart healthcare products market is expected to exceed more than US$ 57 billion by 2023 growing at a CAGR of more than 8% in the given forecast period.Browse Full Report:Smart system includes various functions such as controlling, actuation and sensing. These are used to analyze and describe a situation and take any decision based on the present data in adaptive manner or predictive manner so that it performs smart action. Smart system also depends upon network capabilities, energy efficiency and closed loop control. In the healthcare division smart healthcare system tools guide to enhance treatment, diagnostic tools and quality of life for patients. At the same time it is also reducing the costs of community healthcare organization. Cochlear implants, artificial pancreas and artificial organs are smart miniaturized devices which having key development in the smart health care system. There are various smart healthcare products available in the market such as Withings aura, AMI bolt, Wello iPhone case, HAPIfork, wireless smart gluco monitoring system, sound hawk, iBGStar blood glucose meter and more.The smart healthcare products market is segmented on the lines of its product segment, industry vertical and regional. Based on product segmentation the smart healthcare product covers electronic health record, smart RFID cabinets, smart pills and smart syringes. The smart healthcare products market is segmented on the lines of its industry vertical like inventory management, monitoring management and health data storage and exchange. The smart healthcare products market is geographic segmentation covers various regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. Each geography market is further segmented to provide market revenue for select countries such as the U.S., Canada, U.K. Germany, China, Japan, India, Brazil, and GCC countries.Download Free Sample Report:This report provides:1) An overview of the global market for smart healthcare products and related technologies.2) Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2013, estimates for 2014 and 2015, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2022.3) Identifications of new market opportunities and targeted promotional plans for smart healthcare products.4) Discussion of research and development, and the demand for new products and new applications.5) Comprehensive company profiles of major players in the industry.REPORT SCOPE:The scope of the report includes a detailed study of global and regional markets for various types of coatings with the reasons given for variations in the growth of the industry in certain regions.The report covers detailed competitive outlook including the market share and company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include Epic Systems Corporation, Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc., eClinicalWorks, CapsoVision, Inc. Medtronic, Olympus Corporation, Becton Dickinson and Company, Terumo Corporation, Stanley Healthcare, and TAGSYS. Company profile includes assign such as company summary, financial summary, business strategy and planning, SWOT analysis and current developments.The Top Companies Report is intended to provide our buyers with a snapshot of the industrys most influential players.The Smart Healthcare Products Market has been segmented as below:By Product TypeElectronic health recordSmart RFID cabinetsSmart pillsSmart SyringesBy Industry VerticalInventory managementMonitoring managementHealth data storage and exchangeBy Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificRest of the WorldAbout MarketResearchEngine.comMarket Research Engine is a global market research and consulting organization. We provide market intelligence in emerging, niche technologies and markets. Our market analysis powered by rigorous methodology and quality metrics provide information and forecasts across emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models. Our deep focus on industry verticals and country reports help our clients to identify opportunities and develop business strategies.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research EngineContact Person: John BayEmail: john@marketresearchengine.comPhone: +1-855-984-1862, +91-860-565-7204Country: United StatesWebsite:Address: 3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8942, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, United States
Recruitment Process Outsourcing Market Size, Share, Trends, Analysis and Forecasts To 2021

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Market Research analysts forecast the global recruitment process outsourcing market to grow at a CAGR of 17.66% during the period 2017-2021.The following companies as the key players in the global recruitment process outsourcing market: ADP, IBM, ManpowerGroup, and Randstad Sourceright.Other Prominent Vendors in the market are: Accenture, Alexander Mann Solutions, Allegis Global Solutions, Futurestep, Hays, Hudson, Infosys, KellyOCG, and Pontoon Solutions.Download Sample Report @Commenting on the report, an analyst team said: One trend in market is advent of artificial intelligence in recruitment processes. Application of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to recruitment process helps recruiter to identify best candidates. AI tools, with application tracking systems, help the organizations to simplify the recruitment process. AI researchers are continuously developing innovative tools that can streamline the end-to-end recruitment process. Start-up firms are mainly developing AI solutions for the recruitment process. For instance, Connectifier Search, a product developed by start-up firm Connectifier, uses machine learning AI technology to identify the best suitable candidates from online sources. Connectifier was acquired by LinkedIn in February. This acquisition clearly indicates that recruitment firms are heading toward the next-generation technologies to smoothen the recruitment process.According to the report, one driver in market is increased usage of neo-sourcing. Many companies are trying to integrate business with technology solutions to reduce costs and improve productivity and innovation. The integration of IT outsourcing and BPO, termed as neo-sourcing, is an evolution of BPO models offered by outsourcing companies. Neo-sourcing is the combined management of back-office operations and technology for process reengineering, which would result in business transformation and optimization. Benefits of this technology include process optimization, cost reduction, access to the best global practices, improved productivity, increased employee morale, and reduced cycle time.Further, the report states that one challenge in market is high attrition rate in BPO industry. The high attrition rate is one of the major challenges for both BPO and RPO markets. BPOs incur high costs in training their employees, and the high attrition rates make maximum ROI difficult. Work pressure, monotonous work, other career opportunities, and organizational culture are the top reasons behind the increased attrition rate in the BPO industry. Different industry verticals like the BFSI, healthcare, and telecom need to retain their talent to deliver high-quality BPO services in the healthcare sector with minimum possible errors. The attrition rates in BPO firms incur cost to organizations that can be saved through standard HR policies. The attrition rate in the BPO industry varies with industry verticals. In 2016, the attrition rate in the Indian BPO industry was between 28% and 45%.The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to a SWOT analysis of the key vendors.About Recruitment Process OutsourcingRPO is a sub-segment of the human resource outsourcing (HRO) market, in which recruitment processes are outsourced to external or third-party service providers. External service providers manage end-to-end or partial recruitment process of HR department. Many vendors in the market also provide RPO consulting services along with outsourcing services.Complete Report Details @Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global recruitment process outsourcing market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated by the RPO solution and service vendors.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEAGlobal Recruitment Process Outsourcing Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendorsADPIBMManpowerGroupRandstad SourcerightOther prominent vendorsAccentureAlexander Mann SolutionsAllegis Global SolutionsFuturestepHaysHudsonInfosysKellyOCGPontoon SolutionsMarket driverEmergence of nearshore outsourcing destinations.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeConcerns regarding security and quality of service.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendRise of multi-country and centralized outsourcing models.For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?You can request one free hour of our analysts time when you purchase this market report. Details are provided within the report.....ContinuedDiscount On This Report @For more information, please visitMarket Reports Center is an e-commerce platform obliging the needs of knowledge workers, experts, professionals who are subject to market research information for their work, or to make strategic business decisions. Market Reports Centers team consistently works to update and extend our existing repository of market research reports by partnering with new publishers and adding their studies to our websiteSam Collins303, Astral Court,Aundh, Pune,MH - 411045, Indiainfo@marketreportscenter.com
Meat and Poultry Processing Equipment Market Size, Share, Trends, Analysis and Forecasts To 2021

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Market Research analysts forecast the global meat and poultry processing equipment market to grow at a CAGR of 6.24% during the period 2017-2021.The following companies as the key players in the Global Meat and Poultry Processing Equipment Market: JBT, Marel, Tetra Laval International, and Key Technology.Other Prominent Vendors in the market are: Bettcher Industries, GEA Group, TOMRA, Weber, BAADER Food Processing Machinery, Bayle, Prime Equipment Group, CG Manufacturing and Distribution, and Brower Equipment.Download Sample Report @Commenting on the report, an analyst team said: One trend in market is rise in private-label processed meat products. Private-label processed meat and poultry products are gaining popularity among consumers as they are affordable and ready-to-cook, which also resemble entree. Private-label products are available at premium claims with unique flavoring. Private-label meat products are being stocked in retail stores and are available at lower prices compared with branded products, which are also appealing to consumers. Over the years, there has been a constant increase in the demand for private-labeled meat products, especially in developed economies such as the US and Europe.According to the report, one driver in market is rise in demand for pork in China. The worlds largest consumer and producer of pork is China. The country has become the leading importer of pork and is expected to account for more than a quarter of the global pork trade market in 2017. Europe is the largest exporter of pork to China and accounts for more than 72% of the Chinese pork import market. Low prices, abundant exportable supplies, and favorable exchange rate have led European countries to expand their shipment of pork to China. Even though the US accounts for only 18% of the China's pork import market, it is expected to remain as an important market for US shipment due to growing demand for pork. The shipment of pork from the US accounted for only 5.9% in January 2015, which increased to 13.2% in August 2015 due to a rapid decline in the production of domestic pork.Further, the report states that one challenge in market is health risks associated with consumption of processed meat. Due to health risks associated with processed meat, consumers in the US are reducing the consumption of such food products. Excessive consumption of processed meat may lead to increased risk of premature deaths. It was observed that individuals consuming processed meat were at a 72% increased risk of acquiring a heart disease than consumers of non-processed meat. Also, the risk of dying from cancer was 11% higher. A study conducted by the American Institute of Cancer in 2007 stated that 50 g of processed meat consumed daily increased the risk of colorectal cancer by 21%. A study published in the Journal of Diabetology highlighted the increased risk of the intake of processed meat leading to type 2 diabetes at 41%.The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to a SWOT analysis of the key vendors.About Meat and Poultry Processing EquipmentMeat and poultry processing equipment is used by manufacturers of meat and poultry products for processing meat using techniques such as blending, homogenization, pasteurization, and filling. Processing of food helps in removal of toxins and preservation. Processed food offers advantages such as enhanced taste, low risk of contamination, enhanced shelf life, and a high degree of portability.Complete Report Details @Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global meat and poultry processing equipment market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report discusses the market drivers, trends, and challenges faced by the market and their impact on the future market scenarios.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:APACEuropeNorth AmericaROWGlobal Meat And Poultry Processing Equipment Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendorsJBTMarelTetra Laval InternationalKey TechnologyOther prominent vendorsBettcher IndustriesGEA GroupTOMRAWeberBAADER Food Processing MachineryBaylePrime Equipment GroupCG Manufacturing and DistributionBrower EquipmentMarket driverGreater emphasis on processed meat and poultry products.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeHealth risks associated with consumption of processed meat.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendRise of private-label processed meat products.For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?You can request one free hour of our analysts time when you purchase this market report. Details are provided within the report.....ContinuedDiscount On This Report @For more information, please visitMarket Reports Center is an e-commerce platform obliging the needs of knowledge workers, experts, professionals who are subject to market research information for their work, or to make strategic business decisions. Market Reports Centers team consistently works to update and extend our existing repository of market research reports by partnering with new publishers and adding their studies to our websiteSam Collins303, Astral Court,Aundh, Pune,MH - 411045, Indiainfo@marketreportscenter.com
IT Robotic Automation Market to Reach US$ 13.0 Billion Globally By 2022 New York, February 14: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Global IT Robotic Automation Market (RPA Tools and RPA Services) - By Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016  2022



The IT robotic automation market is expected to exceed more than US$ 13.0 billion by 2022 Growing at a healthy CAGR of more than 60.0% in the given forecast period 2016 to 2022.



Browse Full Report: https://www.marketresearchengine.com/reportdetails/global-it-robotic-automation-market



Robotic process automation is new technology which uses the application software. Handles repeatable tasks and having machine learning and artificial intelligence facility. This software is used for businesses that have complex and many different systems which require interact collectively gracefully. The technology is projected to decrease the requirement for individuals to achieve workflow, high-volume IT support, back office processes and remote infrastructure. When robotic process automation software has trained realize and understand particular procedure then automatically it manipulate data, process transaction, communicate with other device and activate response.



The major driving factors of IT robotic automation market are as follows:



Growing acceptance in finance & accounting division to slash cost

In IT acting it have an alternative to offshore outsourcing

Improved efficiency and cost benefits

Capability to control other application software without integration



The restraints factors of IT robotic automation market are as follows:



 Security concern of the technology above improved access to an person

 Public proposition to release people from their responsibility



Download Free Sample Report: https://www.marketresearchengine.com/requestsample/global-it-robotic-automation-market



The IT robotic automation market is segmented on the lines of its type, service and tools. Under type segmentation it covers tools and services. The service segment for IT robotic automation includes professional, consulting, integration and development, application management, infrastructure management, BPO, application management, infrastructure management and training. The IT robotic automation market is segmented on the lines of its tools like model-based application tools and process-based application tools. The IT robotic automation market is geographic segmentation covers various regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. Each geography market is further segmented to provide market revenue for select countries such as the U.S., Canada, U.K. Germany, China, Japan, India, Brazil, and GCC countries.



This report provides:



1) An overview of the global market for IT robotic automation and related technologies.



2) Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2013, estimates for 2014 and 2015, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2022.



3) Identifications of new market opportunities and targeted promotional plans for IT robotic automation



4) Discussion of research and development, and the demand for new products and new applications.



5) Comprehensive company profiles of major players in the industry.



REPORT SCOPE:



The scope of the report includes a detailed study of global and regional markets for various types of coatings with the reasons given for variations in the growth of the industry in certain regions.



The report covers detailed competitive outlook including the market share and company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include Blue Prism, IPSoft, Inc., Be Informed B.V., Appian Corporation, and Automation Anywhere Inc. whereas RPA service providers include Sutherland Global Services, Tata Consultancy Services, Accenture plc, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Infosys Limited, and Hewlett Packard Company. Company profile includes assign such as company summary, financial summary, business strategy and planning, SWOT analysis and current developments.



The Top Companies Report is intended to provide our buyers with a snapshot of the industrys most influential players.



The IT robotic automation Market has been segmented as below:



By Type Analysis



Tools

Services



By Service Analysis

Professional

Consulting

Integration and Development

Application Management

Infrastructure Management

BPO

Application Management

Infrastructure Management

Training



By Tools Analysis



Model-based Application Tools

Process-based Application Tools



By Regional Analysis



North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

Rest of the World



About MarketResearchEngine.com



Market 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 Contact



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Healthcare BI Platform Market: SAP SE, Oracle Corporation, Microsoft Corporation

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New York, February 14: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Healthcare BI Platform Market (By Function - Clinical Analytics, Financial Analytics, Operational Analytics, and Others; By Deployment Type - On-premise and Cloud; By Model Type -Self-service BI and Corporate BI) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth Trends, and Forecast 2015 - 2023The healthcare BI platform market is expected to exceed more than USD$3.9 Billion by 2023 growing at a CAGR of more than 11% in the given forecast period 2015 to 2023.You Can Browse Full Report Here:Business intelligence consists of different tools and techniques which gain and transform the row information into useful and valuable data for business purpose. It provides present, past and future view of business processes. In health care the meaning of executive performance is varying as rapidly as the requirement for it is increasing. Healthcare BI contains business oriented actions includes decision support and reporting all technical data warehouse content. Healthcare associations such as HMOs, clinics and hospital gather and study patients sensitive data and patients financial data. Healthcare BI industry provide security model so that only authorized peoples are see the patients private data and no lack of clinical, financial and operational data in healthcare. These organizations contains digitizing medical data for over many years and can search, access and use all type of public and government sector data.The major driving factors of healthcare BI platform market are as follows: Increasing requirement for reduction in healthcare costs Centralized healthcare permission increase the Uptake of BI Solutions increasing in data availability Requirement to develop healthcare result and improve patient fulfillmentThe restraints factors of healthcare BI platform market are as follows: Need of resources with cross functional ability Healthcare BI platform system complexityDownload Free Sample Report:The healthcare BI platform market is segmented on the lines of its product, deployment and model. The healthcare BI platform market is segmented on the lines of its product like clinical analytics, financial analytics and operational analytics. Under deployment segmentation it covers on-premise and cloud deployment. The healthcare BI platform market is segmented on the lines of its model like self-service and corporate model. The healthcare BI platform market is geographic segmentation covers various regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. Each geography market is further segmented to provide market revenue for select countries such as the U.S., Canada, U.K. Germany, China, Japan, India, Brazil, and GCC countries.This report provides:1) An overview of the global market for healthcare BI platform and related technologies.2) Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2013, estimates for 2014 and 2015, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2020.3) Identifications of new market opportunities and targeted promotional plans for healthcare BI platform.4) Discussion of research and development, and the demand for new products and new applications.5) Comprehensive company profiles of major players in the industry.REPORT SCOPE:The scope of the report includes a detailed study of global and regional markets for various types of coatings with the reasons given for variations in the growth of the industry in certain regions.The report covers detailed competitive outlook including the market share and company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include SAP SE, Oracle Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, SAS Institute, Inc., IBM Corporation, OpenText Corporation, and Information Builders .Company profile includes assign such as company summary, financial summary, business strategy and planning, SWOT analysis and current developments.The Top Companies Report is intended to provide our buyers with a snapshot of the industrys most influential players.The Healthcare BI platform Market has been segmented as below:by Product Segment AnalysisGlobal Healthcare BI Platform Market, by Function Clinical Analytics Financial Analytics Operational Analytics Others (Regulatory Reporting, etc.)by Deployment Analysis On-premise Cloudby Model Analysis Self-service Corporateby Regional Analysis North America Europe Asia-Pacific Rest of the WorldAbout MarketResearchEngine.comMarket Research Engine is a global market research and consulting organization. We provide market intelligence in emerging, niche technologies and markets. Our market analysis powered by rigorous methodology and quality metrics provide information and forecasts across emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models. Our deep focus on industry verticals and country reports help our clients to identify opportunities and develop business strategies.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research EngineContact Person: John BayEmail: john@marketresearchengine.comPhone: +1-855-984-1862, +91-860-565-7204Country: United StatesWebsite:Address: 3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8942, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, United States
BioMEMS Market Global Analysis & 2017-2021 Forecast Report

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This market analysis includes a detailed segmentation of the Global BioMEMS Market by development trend and by application.The report covers the present year 2017 scenario and the growth prospects of the Global BioMEMS Market for 2017-2021.The report Global BioMEMS Market 2017-2021 has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market. The report also covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years.The BioMEMS Market By Geography North America Asia-Pacific EuropeRequest a sample of Global BioMEMS Market Research Report @The Global BioMEMS Market research report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Global BioMEMS Market key players are: Company A Company B Company C Company DBrowse the full Global BioMEMS Market Research Report @The report provides an extensive analysis of current and future market status of the world BioMEMS Market.Some of the points from table of content:Industry Overview Definition Classification Share Analysis Application AnalysisMarket Analysis Product Development History Process Development History Competitive Landscape AnalysisIndustry Development Trend Capacity Production Overview Production Market Share Analysis Demand OverviewMarket Status and Forecast Supply Demand and Shortage Import Export Consumption Cost Price Production Value Gross MarginReasons for Buying this Global BioMEMS Market Research Report This report helps to analyzed the world's main region market conditions It provides product manufacturing processes It provides industry policies and plans It provides overview of product specification It provides cost structures & so on.The Report Contains: 163 Pages.Price of the report: 2850$ (single user license)Check discount @About Us:Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Contact Us:Hector CostelloSenior Manager  Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas - 75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +912064101019Follow Us on LinkedIn:Follow us on Twitter:Follow us on G+ :
Telemonitoring System Market - Philips, Honeywell, Bosch, Cardiocom, SHL Telemedicine and Tunstall

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The Market Research report "Global Telemonitoring System Market 2016" by QY Research Group is a market-oriented, technical, and commercial research analysis of the Telemonitoring System market. The analysis is completed using a wide range of secondary sources, databases and directories in order to identify and assemble market data. Primary sources included for the analysis include preferred suppliers, industry experts from core and associated industries, manufacturers, service providers, distributors, and organizations allied to the entire segments of the industry supply chain.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The research report analyzes, tracks, and presents the Global market size of the major players in every region around the world. Furthermore, the report provides data of the leading market players in the Telemonitoring System market.Major Manufacturers:PhilipsHoneywellBoschCardiocomSHL TelemedicineTunstallTo estimate the overall market size of Telemonitoring System, its application, and regionsin terms of value and volumethe bottom-up approach is followed. On the other hand, to corroborate the overall market sizeagain in terms of value and volumethe top-down approach is followed. Following the method of data triangulation and data validation via primaries, the precise values of the parent market and individual market in terms of size are calculated and established in the report.This market research report provides the client with comprehensive market analysis of the Telemonitoring System market over the forecast period. In addition, it also furnishes a general idea of the challenges, drivers, and restraints that have direct or indirect impact on the industry. It further highlights the market, the industry, and latest technology trends currently existing in the Telemonitoring System market. All this precise, accurate and comprehensive data will help the clients to make appropriate and practical decisions so as to gain maximum profit in the Global market.Overall, the report is a one-stop destination and a valuation report to grab all the necessary information regarding the Global Telemonitoring System market.Browse Complete Report with TOC @About Us:QYResearch Group is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. QYResearch Group also carries the capability to assist you with your customized market research requirements including in-depth market surveys, primary interviews, competitive landscaping, and company profiles. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics. QYResearch Group is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air.Contact US:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442,United StatesTel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No. 1-855-465-4651Email: sales (@) qyresearchgroup (dot) com
Intubation Cannulae Market Type, Growth, Demand, Price and Revenue 2017 - 2022

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Global Intubation Cannulae Industry 2021 Market Research Report analyzed the current state in the definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The report also focuses on the development trends as well as history, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions etc in the international markets.Global Intubation Cannulae Industry 2021 Market Research Report is a professionally prepared report comprising of in-depth information as well as knowledge which is helpful to the new entrants and the established players. Key statistics on the state of the industry and the complete demand analysis of the industry is showcased in the report.Download Sample Report @The development policies, plans as well as the bill of materials, cost structures are well studied and explained within the report for a better understanding. It also includes the study of the sales, import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins. Also, the complete analysis of the prices, revenue share, growth rate etc.Through combining the well-integrated data with the deep analytical skills valid findings are detected. It gives out a strong prediction about the growth of the Intubation Cannulae industry in the future years to come. Furthermore, each and every important variable which is responsible for shaping the Global Intubation Cannulae Industry in the incorporated during the preparation process of the report.The report begins with the industry overview furnishing the details about the specifications, classification, applications, industry chain structure as well as gives out the policy analysis of the industry. It moves further on towards determining the manufacturing cost structure analysis, technical data as well as the manufacturing plant analysis. A lot of insightful predictions about the production, export/import, and consumption is provided in the report.Complete Report Details @Future Development Trends in the Global Intubation Cannulae Company through the market share, SWOT analysis, revenue, gross margin is indicated through the report. Apart from it the report also provides great prospects of the new projects investments, SWOT analysis of the new projects, details about the key consumers with the complete contact details for the new entrants to engage in better opportunities.The competitive landscape of the market state showcases the study of the most renowned players in the China markets in the field of Global Intubation Cannulae industry. A detailed and thorough analysis of the company profiles, production as well as consumption, traders, marketing distributors along with the impact is covered throughout the report. The overall research conclusions with the investment avenues are prevalent in the report. Through the report, the new entrants are able to get the complete overview of the current state of the Global Intubation Cannulae which will be beneficial for them.....ContinuedDiscount On This Report @For more information, please visitMarket Reports Center is an e-commerce platform obliging the needs of knowledge workers, experts, professionals who are subject to market research information for their work, or to make strategic business decisions. Market Reports Centers team consistently works to update and extend our existing repository of market research reports by partnering with new publishers and adding their studies to our websiteSam Collins303, Astral Court,Aundh, Pune,MH - 411045, Indiainfo@marketreportscenter.com
Global Aircraft Autopilot System Market 2017 : Garmin, Airware, MicroPilot, Trimble Navigation, Genesys Aerosystems

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A market study based on the "Aircraft Autopilot System Market" across the globe, recently added to the repository of Market Research, is titled Global Aircraft Autopilot System Market 2017. The research report analyses the historical as well as present performance of the worldwide Aircraft Autopilot System industry, and makes predictions on the future status of Aircraft Autopilot System market on the basis of this analysis.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here :Top Manufacturers Analysis Of This ReportGenesys AerosystemsHoneywell InternationalLockheed MartinRockwell CollinsGarminAirwareCloud Cap TechnologyMicroPilotTrimble NavigationThe report studies the industry for Aircraft Autopilot System across the globe taking the existing industry chain, the import and export statistics in Aircraft Autopilot System market & dynamics of demand and supply of Aircraft Autopilot System into consideration. The 'Aircraft Autopilot System' research study covers each and every aspect of the Aircraft Autopilot System market globally, which starts from the definition of the Aircraft Autopilot System industry and develops towards Aircraft Autopilot System market segmentations. Further, every segment of the Aircraft Autopilot System market is classified and analyzed on the basis of product types, application, and the end-use industries of the Aircraft Autopilot System market. The geographical segmentation of the Aircraft Autopilot System industry has also been covered at length in this report.The competitive landscape of the worldwide market for Aircraft Autopilot System is determined by evaluating the various industry participants, production capacity, Aircraft Autopilot System market's production chain, and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Aircraft Autopilot System market worldwide.Enquire Here :The global Aircraft Autopilot System market 2017 is also analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Aircraft Autopilot System production volume, data regarding demand and Aircraft Autopilot System supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, and market attractiveness analysis has been used in the research to present a comprehensive study of the industry for Aircraft Autopilot System across the globe.About Us :Worldwide Industry are a trusted brand in the research industry with capability of commissioning complex projects within a short span of time with high level of accuracy. At Worldwide Industry, we believe in building long term relations with our clients. Our services cover a broad spectrum of industries including Energy, Chemicals and Materials, Automotive and Aerospace.Contact Us :Worldwide IndustryUnited States
Worldwide Nerve Monitoring Devices Market Trends & Industry Forecast by 2016 - 2024

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Global Nerve Monitoring Devices MarketNerve monitoring devices are various implements used to supervise the function of the nervous system during surgeries. Since neural function is absolutely vital and the risk of inadvertent damage to nerves during several surgeries is moderately high, nerve monitoring devices have gained widespread acceptance in recent years. Nerve monitoring devices monitor the integrity and ensure the continued function of a few key areas, in order to avoid irreparable nerve damage.The global nerve monitoring devices market is propelled by the increasing number of neural surgeries and the increasing geriatric population, among other factors. The report presents the expected qualitative and quantitative impact of the driving and restraining factors influencing the global nerve monitoring devices in the 20162024 forecast period, in addition to data on the competitive and commercial dynamics of the nerve monitoring devices industry.Download PDF brochure for this Report:Global Nerve Monitoring Devices Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe major driver of the nerve monitoring devices market is, naturally, the increased number of neural surgeries performed around the world. Due to advancements in our knowledge about the nervous system, increasingly complex neural surgeries can now be performed with near-absolute safety. This has led to a consequent rise in the demand for nerve monitoring devices.The rising geriatric population around the world is also a significant factor propelling the global nerve monitoring devices market. The elderly are more prone to nervous diseases than their younger counterparts, and the former are also more likely to require surgical interventions than the latter. Both these factors lead increased demand for nerve monitoring devices, since they are used in both neural and other surgeries that present a risk of nerve damage.Apart from these, the major driving factor propelling the global nerve monitoring devices market is increasing awareness among the global population. The broadening population pool of patients who can afford advanced medical treatments is also boosting the global nerve monitoring devices market.Global Nerve Monitoring Devices Market: Geographical OverviewThe global nerve monitoring devices market is led by North America. The increasing demand for neural surgeries in the region, the high purchasing power of patients in the region, and the firm establishment of major medical research avenues have been the primary drivers for the North America nerve monitoring devices market. The high geriatric population of the region has also helped the expansion of the nerve monitoring devices market.Europe was the second-largest market for nerve monitoring devices in 2015. Several governments in Europe have proactively encouraged medical research, which has boosted the neural surgery sector. The Europe and North America markets for nerve monitoring devices are also helped immensely by the heavy public health-care expenditure, as well as the presence of sufficient reimbursement schemes.In the coming years, though, the increasingly urbanized Asia Pacific market for nerve monitoring devices is expected to emerge as a major regional player in the global market. As health-care infrastructure spreads across developing economies such as China, India, and Japan, advanced medical procedures and devices will become easily available, driving the market for implements such as nerve monitoring devices.Major players operating in the global nerve monitoring devices market include Medtronic, Nihon Kohden Corporation, Inomed, Dr. Langer Medical GmbH, EMS Biomedical, and Natus Medical Incorporated.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.Browse Full Research Report on Nerve Monitoring Devices Market:About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Browse market research blog:
Appropriate Solvent For Ultrasonic Cleaning Equipment Market During The Forecast Period 2017 - 2019

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ResearchMoz presents this most up-to-date research on "Appropriate Solvent For Ultrasonic Cleaning Equipment Market During The Forecast Period 2017 - 2019".The ultrasonic cleaning equipment came into market in the year 1950 and it was started being used an economical home appliance in the year 1970. An ultrasonic cleaning equipment is a device that uses ultrasound in the range of 20 to 400 KHz. It cleans the delicate items using an appropriate solvent for cleaning delicate items. Sometimes the ultrasound are used along with water for cleaning the items but the use of appropriate soiling and solvent enhances the effect. Time taken to clean one item is usually in the range of three to six minutes but if the item is very delicate and needs special care then it might take more than 20 minutes.The cleaning solvent is chosen depending upon the contamination on the object to be cleaned. The ultrasonic is done using cavitation bubbles that are induced with high frequency sound waves. The bubbles agitate the solvent to apply high pressure on the contaminations. This action is also used to penetrate the cracks, blind holes and recesses on the object. The ultrasonic transducers use piezoelectric materials such as lead zirconate and barium titanate.This research report analyzes this market depending on its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeRest of the WorldTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @This report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsThis report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Reasons for Buying this ReportThis report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt provides a technological growth map over time to understand the industry growth rateIt provides a seven-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to growIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureMake an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Bottled Water Market to exceed $280.0 Bn by 2020

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Zion Research has published a new report titled Bottled Water (Still, Carbonated, Flavored and Functional Bottled Water) Market: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, and Forecast, 2014 - 2020. According to the report, the global bottled water market was valued at approximately USD 170.0 billion in 2014 and is expected to reach approximately USD 280.0 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of around 8.5% between 2015 and 2020. In terms of volume, global bottled water market stood at around 290.0 billion liters in 2014.Request Sample Report:Water is an incredibly important aspect of daily lives. Bottled water is a necessary and reliable way to deliver safe drinking water. There are various types of bottled water such as spring water, purified water, mineral water, ground water and others. Bottled water is packaged in plastic or glass bottles. Bottled water can be carbonated or not. Bottled water offers good taste, quality, and convenienceThe global bottled water market is mainly driven by increased health awareness and changing consumer life style. The bottled water market is expected to witness rapid growth fueled by strong demand for clean, flavored and hygienic drinking water. Other important factors driving the bottled water market are advancement in user friendly packaging. Strong growth of tourism industry and portability of hygienic bottled water is also expected to trigger demand of bottled water. However, stringent regulations regarding packaging of water and bottled water standards is expected to hamper the growth of the market to some extent. Moreover, easy availability of tap water and rising concerns with regarding increasing plastic waste is expected to present challenge for industry participants.Browse the full "Bottled water (Still, Carbonated, Flavored and Functional Bottled Water) Market: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Segment, Trends and Forecast, 2014  2020" report atStill, carbonated, flavored and functional bottled water are the key product segments of the bottled water market. The still bottled water product segment held the largest share in the global bottled water market and accounted over 60% share in overall consumption in 2014. However, still bottled water segment is expected to exhibit moderate growth during the forecast period. Carbonated was the second largest segment of the bottled water market in 2014. Carbonated bottled water is expected to witness slight decline in its market share in the years to come. Flavored and functional water segment are also expected to witness rapid growth during the forecast period. Rapid growth of bottled water market can be attributed to rising concern regarding health & wellness.Asia Pacific was the leading regional market for bottled water, with over 30% share of total consumption in 2014. Huge population, strong economical growth, increasing disposable income, coupled with changing lifestyle has been resulted into strong growth of bottled water market in Asia Pacific region. Asia Pacific is expected to remain major regional market for bottled water during the next five years. North America and Europe are expected grow at a moderate pace forecast period. However, North America and Europe are expected to experience decline its market share during the forecast period. Latin America and Middle East are also expected to witness robust growth of bottled water market in the years to come.Do Inquiry before buying:Some of the key players in the global bottled water market include Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Inc., Nestle Waters, Ajegroup SA, Groupe Danone, CG Roxane, LLC, Fonti Di Vinadio S.P.A., LLC, Icelandic Water Holdings ehf., Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd, HassiaWaters International GmbH & Co. KG, Grupo Vichy Catalan and Hangzhou Wahaha Group Co., Ltd.This report segments the global bottled water market as follows:Global Bottled Water Market: Product Segment AnalysisStillCarbonatedFlavoredFunctionalGlobal Bottled Water Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeGermanyFranceUKAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaAbout UsZion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the clients needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us.tact 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:
Olive Oil in Food and Beverages Market demand will increase by 2014-2020

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Global Olive Oil in Food and Beverages Market: OverviewOlive oil refers to the oil obtained from the fruit of olive trees. Olive oil has been used worldwide for thousands of years and now it has gain popularity in food and beverages, due to its many proven health benefits and culinary usefulness. Olive oil used to cure many diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimers, cancer etc. The global market for olive oil will grow at a moderate due to the expansion of its end-use segments. ] Food industry, the pharmaceutical industry and beauty care and cosmetics industry are the key end-users of olive oil.Request Sample Report @Global Olive Oil in Food and Beverages Market: Growth FactorsThe overall demand of olive oil in food and beverages industry is expected to grow at a rapid rate, due to its growing food and beverages market worldwide. Olive oil offers high nutritional value to the food items. Growing consumption of olive oil in the Asia Pacific and North America is expected to fuel market growth in the next few years. The growing demand from industries such as confectionery, prepared food and bakery helps to drive the olive oil in food and beverages market. However, some issues like limited production environment are expected to hamper the market growth.Global Olive Oil in Food and Beverages Market: SegmentationThe report segments the olive oil in food and beverages market on the basis of product type and geography. Major product segments covered in this report includes virgin olive oil, refined olive oil, and extra virgin olive oil.Global Olive Oil in Food and Beverages Market: Regional AnalysisOn the basis of the geography, the olive oil market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East and Africa with its further bifurcation into major countries including U.S., Germany, France, UK, China, Japan, India, and Brazil. Europe was the leading region for olive oil market followed by North America and Asia-Pacific.In order to give the users of this report a comprehensive view on the olive oil in food and beverages market. The report includes detailed competitive scenario and product portfolio of key vendors. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of porters five forces model for the olive oil in food and beverages market has also been included. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein product type segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness.Browse the full report @Global Olive Oil in Food and Beverages Market: Competitive PlayersThe report provides comprehensive competitive analysis and profiles of prominent market players, such as Borges, Salov, Deoleo, Pompeian, Colavita, Sovena Group, and Ybarra.The report segments the global olive oil in food and beverages market into:Global Olive Oil in Food and Beverages Market: Product Segment AnalysisVirgin Olive OilRefined Olive OilExtra Virgin Olive OilGlobal Olive Oil in Food and Beverages Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilThe Middle East & AfricaFor More Inquiry contact our sales Team @ sales@syndicatemarketresearch.comAbout Us:Syndicate Market Research provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Syndicate Market Research cover more than 30 industries including energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with the one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Contact Us:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8138Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@syndicatemarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Concrete Repair Mortars Market continuous to increase by 2024

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Global Concrete Repair Mortars Market: OverviewConcrete repair mortar is a matter used for the protecting and repairing of concrete made structures. It offers protection against chemical anchoring, cracking, and corrosion. The concrete repair mortar maintains the moisture content and reestablishment of concrete structures by profiling them again. These mortars provide features such as high tensile strength, low cracking and shrinkage tendencies, high bond strength, impermeability, and high density to the structures. This mortar has various applications in the industries such as building, road, infrastructure, and marine structures. The rising demand for the repair mortar in the concrete industry fuels the global concrete repair mortar market.Request Free Sample Report @Global Concrete Repair Mortars Market: Growth FactorsThe increasing demand for the reestablishment of old infrastructures and alternative material for cement is the main factor that fuels the growth of the concrete repair mortars. The old infrastructures reparation and restoration of the old deteriorated buildings also drives the global market growth. The lifetime durability and dimensional compatibility with the existing concrete are the problems restraining the global market. Therefore, concrete repair geopolymer mortar has been developed to overcome this problem. The eco-friendly nature, high tensile strength, low cost, durability and so on boost the global concrete repair mortar market. The increased spending on the repairing and the high public and private partnership in the transport infrastructure has fueled the global market. The increasing job opportunities along with low-cost labor are expected to fuel the growth of the global market.Global Concrete Repair Mortars Market: SegmentationThe global concrete repair mortars market is divided based on the end-use industry, type, application method, and region. The type segment is further divided into epoxy-based mortar and polymer-modified cementitious mortar. The end-use industry segment is bifurcated into utility industries, marine structure, building and car park, and road and infrastructure. The application method segment is categorized into pouring, spraying, and manual method. The regional segmentation includes North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. The polymer-modified cementitious mortar segment witnessed huge demand in developed as well developing regions.Request Report TOC (Table of Contents) @Global Concrete Repair Mortars Market: Regional AnalysisAsia Pacific is the region currently with the largest market for global concrete repair mortars. The increasing demand for the construction industry in China and India fuels the concrete repair market in those regions. The rising expenditure on repairing and maintenance drive the global market in Australia, US, Germany, and Japan. However, due to the slowdown in the revenue restrains the growth in the European and North American global concrete repair mortar market.Global Concrete Repair Mortars Market: Competitive PlayersThe major players in the global concrete repair market include Fosroc International Ltd., Sika AG, Mapei S.p.A., Saint Gobain Weber S.A., Pidilite Industries Ltd., BASF SE, Flexcrete Technologies Ltd., Adhesives Technology Corporation, The Euclid Chemical Company, and Remmers Baustofftechnik GmbH. The major companies adopt strategies such as agreement, contracts, and partnerships signing in order to further their growth in the market globally.Browse detail report @Global Concrete Repair Mortars Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaWhat Report ProvidesFull in-depth analysis of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsSegmentation details of the marketFormer, on-going, and projected market analysis in terms of volume and valueAssessment of niche industry developmentsMarket share analysisKey strategies of major playersEmerging segments and regional marketsTestimonials to companies in order to fortify their foothold in the market.For More Inquiry contact our sales Team @ sales@zionmarketresearch.comAbout UsZion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristically, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, a company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the clients needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us.Contact US:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Telehealth Market: Emerging Trends, Growth Drivers, Future Outlook and Opportunities 2016-2020

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ResearchMoz added Latest Research Report titled " Global Telehealth Market: Trends and Opportunities (2016-2020) " to it's Large Report database.Scope of the ReportThe report titled Global Telehealth Market: Trends and Opportunities (2016-2020) provides an in-depth analysis of global telehealth market focusing on important market aspects. It also accesses the key opportunities and underlying trends in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry in the forecasted period (2016-20). Further, key telehealth services providers such as Teladoc Inc, MDLIVE Inc and American Well are profiled in the report will their detailed market strategies.Geographical CoverageNorth America (The US)Europe (The UK)Company CoverageTeladoc IncMDLIVE IncAmerican WellRequest for Sample PDF of Premium Research Report with TOC:Executive SummaryTelehealth is a broader term which inculcates the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health etc. Telehealth is a subset of Digital Healthcare. It includes many medical subspecialties, such as Telecardiology, Teledermatology, Teleneurology, Telepathology, Telepsychiatry, Teleradiology, Telesurgery/Remote Surgery and Teletrauma. Specialties such as Telepediatrics and Telepsychiatry are practiced by using live videoconferencing systems.Globally, telehealth market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World (Middle East & Africa, and Latin America) region. The North American market commands the largest share of the global market, followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific. Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region in this market. Detailed analysis with focus on key dynamics of North American and European markets is provided in the report.Read All Healthcare Market Research Reports @Table of Content1. Executive Summary2. Market Background2.1 Digital Health Industry3. Telehealth3.1 Evolution of Telehealth3.2 Major forms of Telehealth4. Global Telehealth Market Analysis4.1 Global Telehealth Market Sizing: Actual & Forecasted4.1.1 Market Size by Value4.1.2 Market Size by Volume4.1.3 Market Share by Healthcare Conditions4.1.4 Market Share by Competitors5. North America Telehealth Market5.1 North America Telehealth Market Analysis5.2 The US Telehealth Market5.2.1 The US Telehealth Market Analysis5.2.2The US Telehealth Market Key Dynamics6. Europe Telehealth Market6.1 Europe Telehealth Market Regional Analysis6.2 Europe Telehealth Market Dynamics6.3 The UK Telehealth Market6.3.1 Market Sizing Actual & Forecasted6.3.2 Key Trends in the UK Telehealth MarketAbout ResearchMozResearchMoz is the world's fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMoz's service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Contact Us:Mr. Nachiket Ghumare90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074 / Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:Follow me on Blogger at:
Forecast report for Global Blowing Agents Market by 2016-2024

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Blowing Agents Market: OverviewThe blowing agents are used as additives in the polymeric foam industry. To lend some of the desired properties for the production process, the polymeric foam is used. The demand for the blowing agents is growing owing to the increase in the industrialization, which in turn has the requirement of more and more blowing agents. These agents are used to induce a specific cellular structure for the materials of foam. It helps to increase the thermal and acoustic abilities, reduction of density and improves the toughness of the original material. The widely used blowing agent is the chlorofluoro carbon.Request Free Sample Report @Blowing Agents Market: SegmentationThe blowing agents market is globally segmented into its type, foam, chemistry, foaming agent process and region. On the basis of product type, the global market is categorized into HC, HCFC, HFC and others. Based on the type of foam, the global blowing agents market is segregated into polyurethane foams, phenolic foams, polystyrene foams and polyolefin foams. On the basis of the chemistry, the global market is divided into chemical blowing agents and physical blowing agents. Based on the foaming agent process, the global blowing agents market is classified into endo/exothermic blend chemical foaming agents, exothermic chemical foaming agents and endothermic chemical foaming agents. Regionally, the global market is diversified into Asia Pacific, Western Europe, South America, Central and Eastern Europe, North America and the Middle East and Africa.Blowing Agents Market: Growth FactorsThe major reason for the global blowing agents market growth is the increasing demand for the polymeric foams, especially for the polyurethane foams. It is due to the rapid up gradation in the end-user companies such as infrastructure and appliances. These agents are mainly used in the polymer industry as adhesives to inherit specific foam properties such as acoustics and shock absorbency, permeability and elasticity, weight reduction and heat and electric insulation. The polyurethane foam market holds the major share in the global blowing agents market owing to the increase in applications such as automobiles, chemicals, and infrastructure. Butanes and pentanes, types of hydrocarbon, have mainly dominated the global market. The factor that is hampering the global market growth is the strict regulations in terms of the harmful chemicals used in the blowing agents. However, there have been researching and developments in the production of the environment-friendly bio-based products.Request Report TOC (Table of Contents) @Blowing Agents Market: Regional AnalysisThe region that is driving the global market of blowing agents is the Asia Pacific region. It is one of the well-consumed regions in the global market. China is one of the top blowing agent's consumer in the Asia Pacific region. The other Asian countries that are contributing to the global market are India and South Korea mainly owing to the reason of increased industrial production levels. The developed regions such as North America and Europe are contributing their share towards the global market growth of the blowing agents. These regions are also taking initiatives to utilize the environment-friendly blowing agents.Blowing Agents Market: Competitive PlayersThe major market players in the blowing agents market include DuPont, Arkema S.A., Foam Supplies, Inc., AkzoNobel NV, KibbeChem, Inc., RIT Chem Co, Inc., Solvay S.A. Honeywell International Limited, Eiwa Chemical and Americhem.Browse detail report @Blowing Agents Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and Africa.What Reports ProvidesFull in-depth analysis of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsSegmentation details of the marketFormer, on-going, and projected market analysis in terms of volume and valueAssessment of niche industry developmentsMarket share analysisKey strategies of major playersEmerging segments and regional marketsTestimonials to companies in order to fortify their foothold in the market.For More Inquiry contact our sales Team @ sales@zionmarketresearch.comAbout UsZion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristically, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, a company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the clients needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us.Contact US:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite:
Wood Pellets Market to Cross US$ 20 Billion Globally by 2023

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New York, February 14: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Wood Pellets Market, by Application (Power Plants and Heating) - Global Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2023The wood pellets market is expected to exceed more than US$ 20.0 Billion by 2023 growing at a CAGR of more than 14% in the given forecast period 2016 to 2023.Browse Full Report here:Wood pellets are a form of biomass fuel produced from wood waste products, sawdust, industrial byproducts and forestry wastes. The virgin trees are specially grown for producing pellets. The shape of wood pellets is cylindrical in shape and having diameter between 6-12m.m and length is 1-3c.m. After manufacturing of wood pellets it should be used as fuel for commercial building, homes or in power plants. Wood pellets are dry, easy to store and hydraulic rate of wood pellets is stable as compare to other biomass fuel. It has high energy density so it can be transported long distance at once. Wood pellets is burnt it generates very small amount of carbon dioxide that is CO2 so this fuel broadly standardized as more eco friendly fuels.The major driving factors of wood pellets market are as follows:Government rules and contractFinancial inducement by centralized agenciesLong term supplyLow price of wood pelletsThe restraints factors of wood pellets market are as follows:Flue Gas Release during Storage of Wood PelletsDownload Free Sample Report:The wood pellets market is segmented on the lines of its application and regional. Under application segmentation wood pellets market covers power plants and heating. The wood pellet market is geographic segmentation covers various regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. Each geography market is further segmented to provide market revenue for select countries such as the U.S., Canada, U.K. Germany, China, Japan, India, Brazil, and GCC countries.This report provides:1) An overview of the global market for wood pellets and related technologies.2) Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2013, estimates for 2014 and 2015, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2023.3) Identifications of new market opportunities and targeted promotional plans for wood pellets4) Discussion of research and development, and the demand for new products and new applications.5) Comprehensive company profiles of major players in the industry.REPORT SCOPE:The scope of the report includes a detailed study of global and regional markets for various types of coatings with the reasons given for variations in the growth of the industry in certain regions.The report covers detailed competitive outlook including the market share and company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include Andritz AG, Drax Group plc, Enito Singpellet Pte Ltd, Enviva LP, F.E. Wood & Sons, German Pellets GmbH, Georgia Biomass, LLC, Allance Pellet Machinery, The Westervelt Company, Pinnacle Renewable Energy Group, Rentech, Inc., Energex, and Wood Pellet Energy (UK) LTD.. Company profile includes assign such as company summary, financial summary,business strategy and planning, SWOT analysis and current developments.The Top Companies Report is intended to provide our buyers with a snapshot of the industrys most influential players.The Wood Pellets Market has been segmented as below:By Application AnalysisPower PlantsHeatingBy Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificRest of the WorldAbout MarketResearchEngine.comMarket Research Engine is a global market research and consulting organization. We provide market intelligence in emerging, niche technologies and markets. Our market analysis powered by rigorous methodology and quality metrics provide information and forecasts across emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models. Our deep focus on industry verticals and country reports help our clients to identify opportunities and develop business strategies.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research EngineContact Person: John BayEmail: john@marketresearchengine.comPhone: +1-855-984-1862, +91-860-565-7204Country: United StatesWebsite:Address: 3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8942, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, United States
Base Oil Market Worth US$ 41 Billion Globally by 2021

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Florida, February 14: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Base Oil Market by Product (Group I, Group II, III, IV, V) and by Application (Industrial Oils, Process Oils, Automotive Oils, Metalworking Fluids, Hydraulic Oils etc.)  Global Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecast 2016  2021.The base oil market is expected to exceed more than USD 41 billion by 2021; Growing at a CAGR of about 1.0% between 2015 and 2021.Browse Full Report:Base oil is used for creating many products such as metal processing fluids, motor oils and greases. The very essential part of base oil is viscosity, because different products need different property and composition in the oil. Base oil is created from chemical synthesis process or from crude oil by applying heat, when heating process is going hydrocarbons are separated which are heavy or light in weight. Petrol and other fuels are made from light hydrocarbon and base oil is produced from heavy one. It is suitable for making gear oil, premium engine oil and hydraulic oilThe major driving factors of base oilmarket are as follows:Development in automotive business will raised requirement for finished lubricants.Fast industrialization in rising economies drives the requirement for lubricants with different end user segmentation.Stringent secretion principals resulting in modifying in lubricant formulation system.The restraining factors of base oilmarket are as follows:Reducing crude oil values affects the base oil revenues.Gradual move to weight and sour crude oil through refiners will harmfully forces base oil production.Download Free Sample Report:The base oil market is segmented on the lines of its product, application and geography. Under product segmentation the base oil market covers Group I, Group II, Group III, Group IV and Group V. The base oil market is segmented on the lines of its application like industrial oil, hydraulic oil, grease, automotive oil and metalworking fluids. The base oil market is geographic segmentation covers various regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. Each geography market is further segmented to provide market revenue for select countries such as the U.S., Canada, U.K. Germany, China, Japan, India, Brazil, and GCC countries.This report provides:1) An overview of the global market for base oil and related technologies.2) Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2013, estimates for 2014 and 2015, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2020.3) Identifications of new market opportunities and targeted promotional plans for base oil market.4) Discussion of research and development, and the demand for new products and new applications.5) Comprehensive company profiles of major players in the industry.REPORT SCOPE:The scope of the report includes a detailed study of global and regional markets for various types of base oil with the reasons given for variations in the growth of the industry in certain regions.The report covers detailed competitive outlook including the market share and company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include Exxon Mobile Corporation, Royal Dutch Shell plc, SK Lubricants Co. Ltd., and Chevron Corporation. Other market players profiled in this research report include British Petroleum plc, Sinopec Group, GS Caltex Corporation, MOGoil GmbH, PetroChina Company Limited, Phillips 66 Company, and S-Oil Corporation. Company profile includes assign such as company summary, financial summary, business strategy and planning, SWOT analysis and current developments.The Top Companies Report is intended to provide our buyers with a snapshot of the industrys most influential players.The Base Oil Market has been segmented as below:By Product Segment AnalysisGroup IGroup IIGroup IIIGroup IVGroup VBy Application AnalysisAutomotive OilIndustrial OilMetalworking FluidsHydraulic OilGreasesOthersBy Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificRest of the WorldAbout MarketResearchEngine.comMarket Research Engine is a global market research and consulting organization. We provide market intelligence in emerging, niche technologies and markets. Our market analysis powered by rigorous methodology and quality metrics provide information and forecasts across emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models. Our deep focus on industry verticals and country reports help our clients to identify opportunities and develop business strategies.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research EngineContact Person: John BayEmail: john@marketresearchengine.comPhone: +1-855-984-1862, +91-860-565-7204Website:Address: 3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8942, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, United States
Gesture Recognition And Touch-Less Sensing Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends And Forecast 2013-2019

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ResearchMoz added Latest Research Report titled " Gesture Recognition And Touch-Less Sensing Market - Global Industry Analysis, Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends And Forecast, 2013 - 2019 " to it's Large Report database.Gesture Recognition and Touch-Less Sensing Technologies facilitate users interaction with devices in order to perform a certain task without the need of touching it and through recognition of gestures. Gesture recognition has brought about a revolutionary change in which man interacts with machines and has seen increased research and development activities in recent years. In the recent years, increased accuracy of the system owing to technological advancements has been driving the growth of gesture recognition and touch-less sensing market. These technologies if implemented offer higher ease of use and more hygiene and thus are expected to see increasing demand in coming future. The touch-less sensing application segments include touch-less biometric and touch-less sanitary equipment. The rising demand for gesture recognition technologies in smartphones represents an attractive opportunity in this market. Touch-less sensing faces challenges in terms of cost of the products, sensor size, and power requirements. Various touch-less sensing technologies include infrared sensors and capacitive sensors. The touch-less sensing sanitary equipments include touch-less faucets, dispensers, trashcans, flushes, and hand dryers among others. The touch-less biometrics market includes touch-less fingerprint recognition, iris recognition, face recognition system and voice recognition. The application sectors for these technologies include transportation, automotive, government, finance and banking, consumer electronics, and healthcare among others.Request for Sample PDF of Premium Research Report with TOC:Some of the key players in this market include CogniVue Corporation, Cognitec Systems GmbH, Cross Match Technologies, Inc., Espros Photonics AG, eyeSight Technologies, Elliptic Labs, Inc., Gestsure Technologies Ltd., Microchip Technology, Inc., Irisguard, Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Omek Interactive, Ltd., Movea SA, Qualcomm, Inc., Thalmic Labs Inc. and XYZ Interactive Technologies, Inc., among others.This research report analyzes this market depending on its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeRest of the WorldRead All ICT Market Research Reports @This report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsThis report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Reasons for Buying this ReportThis report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt provides a technological growth map over time to understand the industry growth rateIt provides a seven-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to growIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureIt provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitorsIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segmentsIt provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major market segmentsAbout ResearchMozResearchMoz is the world's fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMoz's service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Contact Us:Mr. Nachiket Ghumare90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074 / Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn at:Follow me on Blogger at:
Torque Sensor Market demand will increase by 2016-2024

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Torque Sensor Market: OverviewThe torque transducers or sensors are used to measure the torque of the systems that are rotating like for example electric motors, gear box, craft shifts and others. An important parameter in all the machines and engines is torque, which requires constant monitoring and measurement. The torque sensor market is growing owing to growing applications of torque sensors in the automotive sector. The market has a great opportunity to grow owing to the development in the non-contact and wireless sensors.Request Free Sample Report @Torque Sensor Market: SegmentationThe global torque sensor market is globally segmented into product type, mechanical configuration, application and region. Based on the product type, the global market is segregated into reaction/static torque sensors, rotary torque sensors, magnetoelastic torque sensors, optical torque sensors, surface acoustic wave torque sensors and others. On the basis of the mechanical configuration, the global market is categorized into flange style and shaft style. The various applications where the global market are used include automotive and transportation, medical and healthcare, aerospace and defense, oil and gas and others. Region wise, the torque sensor market is diversified into Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and the Rest of the World.Torque Sensor Market: Growth FactorsThe global torque sensor market is expected to witness a tremendous growth owing to the factors such as increase in the applications of the torque sensors, high demand for the torque sensors in the automotive segment and rising demand for the torque measurement technology are triggering the market growth. The trends that are growing along with growth of the global market are growing adoption of the quality standard specifications, rise in the non-contact and the wireless sensors and the strict regulations in the machine safety in the developed regions.Request Report TOC (Table of Contents) @Torque Sensor Market: Regional AnalysisThe global torque sensor market is dominated by the Asia Pacific region. However, the Middle East and Africa region is showing a tremendous market growth. The developing regions are showing a huge growth in the market owing to the rapid growth in the automotive and transportation market. Various automotive systems make use of the torque sensors hence driving the global market. North America and Europe are giving their ample share in the torque sensor market.Torque Sensor Market: Competitive PlayersThe major market players in the torque sensor market includeHoneywell International Inc., Datum Electronics Ltd., Crane Electronics Ltd., ABB, FUTEK Advanced Sensor Technology, Crane Electronics, HBM Test and Measurement, Kistler Instrumente Ag, PCB Piezotronics Inc., ATI Industrial Automation, Interface Advanced Force Measurement, Kistler Holding and Sensor Technology.Browse detail report @Torque Sensor Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and Africa.What Reports ProvidesFull in-depth analysis of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsSegmentation details of the marketFormer, on-going, and projected market analysis in terms of volume and valueAssessment of niche industry developmentsMarket share analysisKey strategies of major playersEmerging segments and regional marketsTestimonials to companies in order to fortify their foothold in the marketFor More Inquiry contact our sales Team @ sales@zionmarketresearch.comAbout UsZion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristically, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, a company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the clients needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us.Contact US:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite:
Dental Consumables Market: 3M Health Care, Danaher Corporation, DENTSPLY International, Inc.

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New York, February 14: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Global Dental Consumables Market by Product Types, Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2015  2023The dental consumables market is expected to exceed more than US$ 27 billion by 2023.Browse Full Report:Dental consumables are various product used on patients for treating dental harms, in treatment of allied gingival tissues and for tooth restoration. A dental consumable product includes small equipment and dental sundried used in dental workplace for treating patients. Dental products may include topical fluoride, tooth whiteners, restorative materials, impression materials and dental sealant. Dental consumable products contain many products such as orthodontics wires, bridges, crowns and other biomaterials. Due to rising consciousness of dental health among various region the dental consumables industry is expanding in recent year.The major driving factors of dental consumables market are as follows:Growth in dental tourismExpansion in dental implant techniquesRequire for painless procedures and aging trends globallyThe restraining factors of dental consumables market are as follows:Sensitivity related to dental implantNeed of proper reimbursement strategyDownload Free Sample Report:The dental consumables market is segmented on the lines of its product and geographical region. Under product segmentation it covers dental biomaterials, dental implants, dental crown and bridges, endodontics, orthodontics and periodontics. The dental implant is further segmented into titanium dental implants and zirconium dental implants. Based on dental crown and bridge segmentation it covers ceramic, conventional ceramic and ceramic fused to metal. Under dental biomaterials it covers tissue regenerative, bone grafts and dental membranes. The dental consumables market is segmented on the lines of its orthodontics like anchorage appliances, ligatures, brackets and archwire. Under endodontics segmentation it covers endodontic files, obturation and endodontic sealers. Based on periodontics segmentation it covers power driver dental scalling periodontic device, dental sutures, locally applied therapeutic products, dental anesthetics and dental hemostats. The dental consumables market is geographic segmentation covers various regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. Each geography market is further segmented to provide market revenue for select countries such as the U.S., Canada, U.K. Germany, China, Japan, India, Brazil, and GCC countries.This report provides:1) An overview of the global market for dental consumables and related technologies.2) Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2013, estimates for 2014 and 2015, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2020.3) Identifications of new market opportunities and targeted promotional plans for dental consumables4) Discussion of research and development, and the demand for new products and new applications.5) Comprehensive company profiles of major players in the industry.REPORT SCOPE:The scope of the report includes a detailed study of global and regional markets for various types of coatings with the reasons given for variations in the growth of the industry in certain regions.The report covers detailed competitive outlook including the market share and company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include 3M Health Care, Danaher Corporation, DENTSPLY International, Inc., Henry Schein, Inc., Institut Straumann AG, Ivoclar Vivadent AG, Nobel Biocare Holdings AG, Patterson Companies, Inc., Septodont, Ultradent Products, Inc. and Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.. Company profile includes assign such as company summary, financial summary,business strategy and planning, SWOT analysis and current developments.The Top Companies Report is intended to provide our buyers with a snapshot of the industrys most influential players.The Dental Consumables Market has been segmented as below:By Product Segment AnalysisDental implantsTitanium Dental ImplantsZirconium Dental ImplantsDental Crowns and BridgesCeramicConventional CeramicCeramic fused to MetalDental BiomaterialsTissue RegenerativeBone GraftsDental MembranesOrthodonticsAnchorage AppliancesLigaturesBracketsArchwireEndodonticsEndodontic FilesObturationEndodontic SealersPeriodonticsPower-Driven Dental Scaling Periodontic DevicesDental SuturesLocally Applied Therapeutic ProductsDental AnestheticsDental HemostatsBy Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificRest of the WorldAbout MarketResearchEngine.comMarket Research Engine is a global market research and consulting organization. We provide market intelligence in emerging, niche technologies and markets. Our market analysis powered by rigorous methodology and quality metrics provide information and forecasts across emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models. Our deep focus on industry verticals and country reports help our clients to identify opportunities and develop business strategies.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research EngineContact Person: John BayEmail: john@marketresearchengine.comPhone: +1-855-984-1862, +91-860-565-7204Country: United StatesWebsite:Address: 3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8942, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, United State
Near Field Communication Market Worth US$ 21 Billion Globally by 2021

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New York, February 14: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Near Field Communication (NFC) Market by Device Types (Smartphone, Tablets, PCs & Laptops), by Product Types (Non-auxiliary Products, Auxiliary Products) and by Applications (Mobile/Contactless payment, Healthcare) - Global Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2021The Near Field Communication (NFC) market is expected to cross USD 21.00 Billion by 2021.Browse Full Report:NFC  Near Field Communication Market is based on wireless interface which enables all communication devices and electronic gadgets to get connected with each other by establishing radio connectivity under proximity. This technology is mainly used for smartphones, laptops and tablets for Short range of data exchange. The near field communication market is expected to grow at a very fast space in the forecast period.The major driving factors of Near Field communication Market are as follows: Convenient transfer and security of data Increasing penetration of smartphones Contactless paymentsThe restraining factors of Near Field communication Market are as follows: High costs of installations Security concernsDownload Free Sample Report:The Near Field communication Market is segmented based on Product type as Non Auxillary Products as  NFC Tags, NFC Readers, NFC Chips; Auxillary Products as  NFC enabled mobile sim, others (NFC cover). The Near Field communication Market is segmented based on Devices as smartphones & tablets, PCs & Laptops, Others (Infotainment and Stereo Headphone). The Near Field communication market is segmented based on application as Mobile/ Contactless payment, Information sharing, user authentication & access control, Monitoring Healthcare systems & others.The Near Field Communication Market geographic segmentation covers various regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. Each geography market is further segmented to provide market revenue for select countries such as the U.S., Canada, U.K. Germany, China, Japan, India, Brazil, and GCC countries.This report provides:1) An overview of the global Near Field communication Market and related technologies.2) Analyses of global market trends and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2020.3) Identifications of new market opportunities and targeted promotional plans for Near Field Communication Market.4) Discussion of research and development, and the demand for new products and new applications.5) Comprehensive company profiles of major players in the industry.REPORT SCOPE:The scope of the report includes a detailed study of global and regional markets for various types of Near Field communication Market with the reasons given for variations in the growth of the industry in certain regions.The report covers detailed competitive outlook including the market share and company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include NXP Semiconductors (Netherland), Broadcom Corporation (U.S.), STMicroelectronics NV (Switzerland), MediaTek, Inc. (Taiwan), Renesas Electronics Corporation (Japan), Gemalto NV (Netherlands), and Texas Instruments (U.S.)are provided in the report. Company profile includes assign such as company summary, financial summary, business strategy and planning, SWOT analysis and current developments.The Top Companies Report is intended to provide our buyers with a snapshot of the industrys most influential players.The Market Segmentation of Near Field communication is as follows:MARKET BY PRODUCT TYPE Non-auxiliary productso NFC Tagso NFC Readerso NFC Chip Auxiliary productso NFC enabled Mobile simo Others (NFC cover)MARKET BY DEVICES Smartphone & Tablets PCs & Laptops Others (Infotainment and Stereo Headphone)MARKET BY APPLICATION Mobile/Contactless Payment Information Sharing User Authentication & Access Control Monitoring Healthcare system OthersBY GEOGRAPHY North America Asia Pacific Europe Latin America and Africa Middle EastAbout 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
Calcium Carbonate Market: Excalibar Minerals, Great Lakes Calcium Corp., Imerys

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New York, February 14: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Calcium Carbonate Market (GCC and PCC) for Paper, Plastic, Building & Construction and Other Applications - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2021.As per this exploration report, the worldwide calcium carbonate market remained at US$15.6 Billion in 2012. Growing at a CAGR of 7.0% from the 2013-2019 period, the overall business sector is prone to reach US$25 Billion before the end of the estimate period.Browse Full Report here:Calcium carbonate that is CaCO3 is chemical component found in nature as aragonite and calcite, in pearls, plant ashes, chalk, marble, shells of marine organisms, bones and eggs. Calcium carbonate particularly used for making Portland cement, lime and gastric antacid. It is energetic element in agricultural lime which is created by combine reaction of calcium ions in hard water with carbonate ions. Calcium carbonate is used in paints and coating application and in cement for constructing and building industry. It also used in pharmaceutical and medical industry as a calcium supplement. Calcium carbonate is found all over the world.How Big is the Calcium Carbonate Market?The calcium carbonate market is expected to exceed more than US$ 28.5 Billion by 2021; Growing at a CAGR of more than 7.0% in the given forecast period.The major driving factors of calcium carbonate market are as follows:Growing demand from plastic divisionRising paper industry marketIncreasing demand from construction industry and building industryThe restraining factors of calcium carbonate market are as follows:Undesirable effects of extreme utilization of calcium carbonatesDownload Free Sample Report:The calcium carbonate market is segmented on the lines of its product, application and geography. Under application segmentation it covers building and construction, plastic, paper, agriculture and pharmaceutical. The calcium carbonate market is segmented on the lines of its product like precipitated calcium carbonate and ground calcium carbonate. The calcium carbonate market is geographic segmentation covers various regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. Each geography market is further segmented to provide market revenue for select countries such as the U.S., Canada, U.K. Germany, China, Japan, India, Brazil, and GCC countries.This report provides:1) An overview of the global market for calcium carbonate and related technologies.2) Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2013, estimates for 2014 and 2015, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2021.3) Identifications of new market opportunities and targeted promotional plans for calcium carbonate4) Discussion of research and development, and the demand for new products and new applications.5) Comprehensive company profiles of major players in the industry.REPORT SCOPE:The scope of the report includes a detailed study of global and regional markets for various types of coatings with the reasons given for variations in the growth of the industry in certain regions.The report covers detailed competitive outlook including the market share and company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include Excalibar Minerals, Great Lakes Calcium Corp., Imerys, Huber Engineered Materials, Minerals Technologies Inc., Maruo Calcium Co. Ltd., Mississippi Lime Co., Omya Ag, Okutama Kogyo Co.Ltd., Schaefer Kalk GMBH & Co. KG, Solvay S.A., and Shiraishi Kogyo Kaisha Ltd.. Company profile includes assign such as company summary, financial summary,business strategy and planning, SWOT analysis and current developments.The Top Companies Report is intended to provide our buyers with a snapshot of the industrys most influential players.The Calcium Carbonate Market has been segmented as below:By Product Segment AnalysisGround Calcium Carbonate (GCC)Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC)By Application AnalysisPaperPlasticBuilding & ConstructionOthers (Pharmaceutical, agriculture, etc.)By Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificRest of the WorldAbout MarketResearchEngine.comMarket Research Engine is a global market research and consulting organization. We provide market intelligence in emerging, niche technologies and markets. Our market analysis powered by rigorous methodology and quality metrics provide information and forecasts across emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models. Our deep focus on industry verticals and country reports help our clients to identify opportunities and develop business strategies.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research EngineContact Person: John BayEmail: john@marketresearchengine.comPhone: +1-855-984-1862, +91-860-565-7204Website:Address: 3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8942, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, United States
On the safe side - PoINT Storage Manager Version 6.0 with retention management meets archiving standards

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Siegen, Germany. PoINT Software & Systems GmbH has released version 6.0 of its data and storage management software. The new release focuses in particular on retention management functions which allow users to securely store and manage their data. The PoINT Storage Manager therefore helps users to implement all aspects of compliance guidelines.PoINT Storage Manager allows users to make use of their storage systems within a tiered storage architecture, saving resources. Inactive data are rule-based moved from expensive primary storage to more cost-effective secondary storage within a lower tier. Thanks to the retention management features added in version 6.0, in combination with WORM functionality, the software meets all compliance standards for archiving. The archiving rules are configured within a storage vault, where users can define retention periods for specific folders or subjects. This provides them with the flexibility needed to meet the needs and specifications of individual workflows. Once the retention period expires  at the end of the files life cycle, in other words  the file can be marked by an administrator for deletion.In addition to the softwares retention management functions, Version 6.0 of PoINT Storage Manager allows IT administrators to mark and delete archived data with previously deleted links (so-called stubs) in performance tier. This can be done rule-based at pre-defined intervals. The functionality for versioning of archived data has also been expanded, allowing users to specify how many versions of an archived file should be saved.About PoINTPoINT Software & Systems GmbH is specialized in the development of software products and systems solutions for storage and management of data using all available mass storage technologies like optical, hard disk, tape, cloud and object store. Close collaboration with leading hardware manufacturers enables an early support of innovative storage technologies. Besides these complete solutions PoINT also offers its know-how as Toolkits, which can be easily integrated in other applications by a programming interface. Furthermore PoINT projects entire storage solutions and provides consultancy with its long-term and versatile experience.PoINT products are distributed by our partners in more than 25 countries worldwide and have been installed successfully in more than 2 million installations. PoINT customers range from end users expecting a compact and secure solution to large corporations, which meet with our solutions their complex demands by providing the necessary reliability and perfection.Your contacts:Sebastian KleeManager MarketingPoINT Software & Systems GmbHEiserfelder Str. 316, 57080 Siegentel.: +49 271 3841-155fax: +49 271 3841-151marcom@point.de
Wave and Tidal Energy Market to reach US$ 11.3 Bn : 2024

Global Wave and Tidal Energy Market

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Transparency Market Research has released a new market report titled, Wave and Tidal Energy Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2016-2024. According to the report, the global wave and tidal energy market was valued at US$ 497.7 Mn in 2014 and is anticipated to reach US$ 11345.0 Mn in 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 23.2% from 2016 to 2024.Download the Exclusive Report Sample Here :When harnessed effectively, ocean could prove to be one of the largest reserves of clean and sustainable energy. Wave and tidal energy are the two major forms of harnessing ocean energy. These have significantly different market dynamics. Tidal energy can be broadly segmented into tidal stream and tidal range energy. Tidal range power plants entail construction of tidal barrages. This is a mature form of energy generation technology. Commissioned in 2011, the Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Station with 254 MW capacity in South Korea replaced Frances Rance Tidal Power Station as the largest tidal power plant in the world. Tidal stream power plants are a relatively new technology with ample scope for development. Wave energy is a relatively new concept. The two sectors are likely to experience significant market growth in terms of installed capacity and investments in the near future.Currently, over 200 companies operate in the wave and tidal energy sector. Most of these players are extensively involved in the business of development of energy converter technology. Wave and tidal stream technologies have significant potential of reaping benefits of economies of scale. Large-scale commercial array deployments of wave and tidal power plants are projected to be followed by massive cost reductions. Strong development of the offshore wind energy sector in several countries can contribute significantly to cost reduction potential of wave and tidal energy. The path from prototype testing and project demonstration to large-scale commercial project construction is a long one. Constant financial and policy support from local governments is imperative for technology developers for brisk commercialization of their energy converter devices. Currently, the industry structure is fragmented. It is difficult to ascertain if the industry would consolidate in the near future. However, establishment of special purpose project companies and strategic alliances would be imperative for small technology developers to invest in projects across the world.Major developments in wave and tidal stream plants are expected to take place in Europe. On the other hand, South Korea is estimated to grow the fastest in terms of tidal barrage operations. Wave energy development in Asia Pacific would be concentrated in Australia. Currently, only tidal barrages are capable of generating returns on investments through the sale of electricity. Tidal stream and wave power plants are still not capable of generating power at grid parity levels. Commercialization of technology is the need of the hour for this sector. Otherwise, it would be difficult for project developers to sign long-term power sale contracts. Reduction in costs would become a necessity as the sector shifts from grant financing to private equity and debt financing.Key players in the global wave and tidal energy market include Pelamis Wave Power Ltd., Carnegie Wave Energy Ltd., Ocean Power Technologies, Inc., Ocean Renewable Power Company LLC, Tenax Energy, AquaGen Technologies, Atlantis Resources Ltd., S.D.E. Energy Ltd. (WERPO Wave Energy), Marine Current Turbines Ltd., and Aquamarine Power Ltd. The report provides an overview of these companies, followed by their financial revenues (on availability), business strategies, SWOT analysis, and recent developments. The global wave and tidal energy market has been segmented as follows:Wave and Tidal Energy Market: Type analysisWave energyTidal energyWave and Tidal Energy Market: Geography analysisNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaMexicoEuropeU.K.ScotlandFranceNorwayRussiaOthersAsia PacificSouth KoreaAustraliaChinaOthersRest of the WorldSouth AfricaGhanaOthersAbout 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.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog :
Global Real Time Clock Market by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2021

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ReportsWorldwide has announced the addition of a new report title Global Real Time Clock Market by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2021 to its growing collection of premium market research reports.A real-time clock (RTC) is a computer clock (most often in the form of an integrated circuit) that keeps track of the current time.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Real Time Clock 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 covers AMS Texas Instruments EPSON Abracon Microchip Technology NXP Seiko Instruments STMicroelectronics Intersil Maxim Cymbet NJR Pericom IDTMarket 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, Middle East and AfricaMarket Segment by Type, covers I2C SPI OthersMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into Consumer Goods Industrial utilizations OthersThere are 13 Chapters to deeply display the global Real Time Clock market.Chapter 1, to describe Real Time Clock Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Real Time Clock, with sales, revenue, and price of Real Time Clock, 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 global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Real Time Clock, for each region, from 2011 to 2016;Chapter 5, 6, 7 and 8, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 9 and 10, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2011 to 2016;Chapter 11, Real Time Clock market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2016 to 2021;Chapter 12 and 13, to describe Real Time Clock sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, appendix 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
Airport Kiosks Market - Witness Lucrative Opportunities in Europe & Asia Pacific

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The demand for efficiently managing airline activities has spurred the installation of airport kiosks worldwide. The growing inclination toward self-service solutions to help passengers avoid delays is leading to a conspicuous increase in the installed base of airport kiosks worldwide.Airport kiosks are inbuilt with high-tech features that perform crucial tasks for airline passengers thus enabling them avoid standing in long queues. Kiosks provide effective solutions to expedite passenger activities such as check-in, passenger clearance, and baggage clearance.Despite witnessing promising opportunities, the advent of mobile technologies providing similar convenience to airline passengers will limit the sales of airport kiosks to an extent.Nevertheless, as per Transparency Market Research (TMR) the market is expected to gain momentum in the near future with the rising privatization of airports.Spurred by these factors, the global airport kiosks market is expected to report a CAGR of 16.1% between 2015 and 2022.TMR forecasts the market to reach US$815.1 mn by the end of 2022. The global airport kiosks market stood at US$248.7 mn in 2014.Rising Demand from Common-use Self-services Segment to Fuel Installation of Check-in KiosksAmong the various application segments, common-use self-service (CUSS) held the largest share in the global airport kiosks market. This rising installation of check-in kiosks across airports is aided by the increasing demand from the common-use-self-service segment.Request A Sample Of This Report:These kiosks provide check-in services to airline commuters in the absence of ground staff. CUSS kiosks also guide them through the process of purchasing goods or services. According to TMR, the CUSS segment is expected to rise at a CAGR of 16.5% from 2015 to 2022.The automated passport control (APC) segment is also exhibiting remarkable growth due to the surging demand for border management solutions. Once installed, these kiosks allow the entry of only authorized passengers into the passport control area.The rising incidence of terror attacks has been boosting the deployment of APC kiosks in airports around the world. Currently, North America is exhibiting rising deployment of APC kiosks across its airports. Besides this, TMR expects the baggage check-in segment to demonstrate considerable growth through the course of the forecast period.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:
Vision Disorders Market Share, Size, Growth & Forecast 2024 Illuminated by New Report

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Although there are significant progress in preventing and curing visual impairment in many countries since last twenty years, according to World Health Organization (WHO) around 285 million (In the year 2013) people are still visually impaired across the world. It is a matter of great concern. The reasons may be varied. However, we cannot deny the fact that there is still a lot to be done to save the people from going blind.Any disturbance in the normal sense of vision can be termed as vision disorders. Myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, presbyopia, conjunctivitis, cataract, corneal abrasion, entropion and glaucoma are some of the vision disorders, affecting majority of the population across the world. Improper nutrition, various infections, traumatic eye injury, insertion of foreign objects and growing age are major causes for majority of the vision disorders.Vision disorders: Control and preventionAccording WHO, 80 percent of visually impaired people can be cured by using simple eye examinations like abnormality in a frequency of blinking, size of pupil and color of the eye. The disorders can be confirmed by suitable clinical and retinal tests such as corneal topography, keratometry, pachymetry, fluorescein angiography, Indocyanine Green study (ICG) dye test and other related tests. However, ignorance and negligence are leading severe eye complications or permanent vision loss.The report published by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), revealed that approximately 14 million Americans above age of twelve are affected by various vision disorders in 2004. All these reports are alarming towards the need of immediate treatment for vision disorders across the world. This precisely a reason that the market for visual disorders may continue to grow in future.Browse full report on Vision Disorders Market -There are many companies which are involved in extensive research and development activities associated with these disorders such as United States based National Eye Institute working on clinical trials for nutritional supplements for age related cataract. Alcon Research is working on small incision cataract surgery. AqueSys, Inc. evaluating safety of AqueSys XEN 45 glaucoma implant in refractory glaucoma. Apart from this, University of Pennsylvania in collaboration with local NGOs is working on ancillary therapy of different eye infections.In case of region wise achievements in fighting against the visual disorders, Brazil has been providing eye care service through the national social security system since last decade. While, Morocco has launched a public effort to control glaucoma, China has invested over 100 million dollars in cataract surgeries since 2009. Oman has completely integrated eye care service provision in the primary health care framework over the last decade and India since 1995 has made available funds for eye care service provision for the poorest at district level.To reduce the burden of chronic eye diseases WHO is also coordinating a global research efforts to map services and policies for controlling diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, age related macular degeneration and refractive errors. To support comprehensive eye care systems, WHO continues to provide epidemiologic and public health technical support to its member states.Vision Disorders Market SegmentationComing towards market point of view, the market for vision disorders can be segmented according to different perspectives such as regional geography and types of disorder. It can be segmented in four regions namely North American, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World. Out of all these segments North America region have highest contribution in terms of value because of large number of population within the reach of treatment, high awareness and better reimbursement policies.Followed by this Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World respectively are major segments of the market. The market can also be segmented among disorders such as cataract, glaucoma, eye infections and refractive errors. Along with this, the market for visual disorders can be categorized into drugs and devices available for the treatment.Currently various established pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are catering the needs of visual disorders by providing drugs and lenses. Pfizer, Alcon, Novartis, Johnson & Johnson, Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. and GlaxoSmithKline are leading contributors in drug therapy, while Novartis and Bausch & Lomb are major players in lenses.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.Request for 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:
Robotic Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Market Share, Size, Growth & Forecast 2024 Illuminated by New Report

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The robotic rehabilitation and assistive technologies market accounts for rehabilitation robots and assistive technology robots. A robot is a mechanical and virtual intelligent agent that is guided by a computer program. A robot is an electromechanical machine which performs a task automatically or guided by a remote control. Robotics is the branch of technology which deals with the design, construction, operation and application of robots, while the field of research devoted to extending rehabilitation through the implementation of robotic devices is called Rehabilitation Robotics. A rehabilitation robot guides movement of a disabled person or elderly person with the intention of improving sensorimotor functions like arm, hand, leg and ankle. An assistive robot performs a task for the benefit of an elderly person or a patient with disability. These robotic devices are helpful for millions of people who desire to conquer the disability.Robotic Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Market SegmentationThe global market for robotic rehabilitation and assistive technologies, on the basis of product type, has been segmented into assistive robots, prosthetics, orthotics, therapeutic robots and exoskeleton robotic systems. The global market for robotic rehabilitation and assistive technologies is also segmented as fixed base robots and mobile robots. Fixed based robots can be placed nearby a patient for medication, feeding and other tasks. Mobile robots can be used for mobility support and for fetching or carrying. During the forecast period from 2016 to 2024, worldwide market is poised to achieve significant growth as a result of growing application of robotic devices across the rehabilitation centers and healthcare facilities offering rehabilitation to patients suffering from physical disabilities such as spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, rheumatoid arthritis and stroke.Browse full report on Robotic Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Market -Robotic Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Market DriversWorldwide increasing elderly population along with growing prevalence of conditions such as spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, rheumatoid arthritis, dementia and other age-related disabilities are playing a key role in driving the global market for robotic rehabilitation and assistive technologies. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 200,000 people are living with spinal cord injury in the U.S. and the annual incidence has been estimated at 15 to 40 new cases per million population, nearly 12,000 to 20,000 new cases in a year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated in November 2013 that approximately 52.5 million U.S. adults suffer from arthritis, nearly 23% of the total adult population. According to a U.S. based website called MyChild at CerebralPalsy.org, around 764,000 children and adults have cerebral palsy in the U.S. Of which, nearly 500,000 are aged below 18 years. Globally, the prevalence of dementia was estimated around 35.6 million in 2010 that is expected to reach approximately 65.7 million by 2030 and nearly 115.4 million in 2050. More than 50% of all people with dementia lived in developing and poor economy countries in 2010 which is expected to exceed 60% by the end of 2030. Such high prevalence of conditions is expected to drive the demand for rehabilitation robots and assistive robots across rehabilitation centers, hospitals and other healthcare centers. High cost of robotic devices is one of the major factors that is restraining the market growth, especially in countries with low and medium economy.In terms of geography, the global robotic rehabilitation and assistive technologies market has been categorized into four major regions, namely, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW). North America and Europe represented the first and second largest markets for robotic rehabilitation and assistive technologies in 2013. It was mainly due to well established healthcare infrastructure of these regions.Robotic Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Market Key PlayersIntuitive Surgical Inc., Accuray, Inc., Mazor Robotics Ltd. and Health Robotics S.R.L. are some major players of this market.Request for 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:
Smart Parking Systems Market - Highly Flexible, Scalable, & Efficient way for Buildings & Locations of all Sizes & Types

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The staggering amount of vehicles coming on to roads around the world calls for advanced methods for parking. Traffic and parking problems are on the rise and people are finding lesser space for either. This is creating a high level of discomfort, fuel wastage, and high levels of emissions.Urban and city parking has therefore become a major concern for both developed and emerging nations, forming the primary driver leading most entities towards seeking smart parking system solutions.Smart parking systems provide a highly flexible, scalable, and efficient way for buildings and locations of all sizes and types, thus ensuring a smoother flow of traffic and a considerable drop in emissions.The latter forms a high concern issue as the growing emission levels are creating multiple complications in climate change and human health. The leading employers of smart parking systems in most countries are their municipalities.Their interest and involvement allows for the development of better smart parking systems through an upwards scaling of parking fees that can directly be used for advancing smart parking technologies.The global market revenue for smart parking systems is therefore expected to show an exceptionally positive CAGR of 20.2% from 2015 to 2022. This revenue is expected to be valued at US$59.7 mn by the end of 2016 and reach US$177.1 mn by 2022.North America Shows High Demand for Smart Parking SystemsNorth America is expected to generate a revenue of US$34.6 mn for the global market for smart parking systems by 2022, due to the presence of dense traffic in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and others.These cities are also showing a higher level of awareness towards modern solutions for traffic control and parking, thereby becoming an optimized region for the large-scale adoption of smart parking systems.Request A Sample Of This Report:Various smart parking systems have already been implemented in North America, such as the SFpark program implemented in San Francisco. Areas in the city equipped with SFpark systems have sped up parking of vehicle by five minutes on average when compared to conventional parking methods.Programs such as these are proof that the smart parking systems can bring about a successful change in traffic and parking conditions across the world.Off-street Parking Demand SoarsIn terms of the site of parking, the smart parking systems can be classified into off-street and on-street parking solutions. At the moment, off-street smart parking systems are in high demand due to the ease with which they can be implemented and fine-tuned.Additionally, they can be privately owned, while almost all on-street parking spaces are owned by the government. Therefore, while the need for smart parking systems is extremely high in both sites, it is being implemented on a larger scale in off-street sites.Most off-street parking areas are made of commercial parking lots and garages. On the other hand, on-street smart parking systems have to prepare for permit timers, passenger zones, loading zones, bus and truck zones, and street cleaning vehicles.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:
Pain Management Devices Market: Emergence of Advanced Technologies and Global Industry Analysis 2023!!

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The dynamic nature of the global market for pain management devices has set in motion strong competition between players. The top three participants, namely Medtronic Plc, St. Jude Medical Inc., and Boston Scientific Corp. collectively accounted for more than 72% of the overall market in 2014, reports Transparency Market Research (TMR) in a new study.These companies boast of superior distribution channels and ample supply capabilities that ensure easy availability of their products, validating their lead in this market. However, a large number of medical device manufacturers are looking to venture into the pain management sector, which is projected to intensify the competition and change the current dynamics in the coming years.Growing Prevalence of Chronic Medical Conditions Boosts Demand for Pain Management DevicesThe growing prevalence of chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, osteo and rheumatoid arthritis, and spinal problems, have increased the incidence of chronic pain in individuals. Various studies suggest more than 20% of the adult population suffers from chronic pain and nearly 10% of the global population gets diagnosed with chronic pain every year.Around half of the cancer patients, globally, experience severe pain at the time of diagnosis and almost 75% complain of a gradual increase in pain as the disease progresses. Chronic pain has also been experienced after the occurrence of the primary disease in nearly 70% of patients suffering from spinal cord injuries, 28% of multiple sclerosis patients, and 8% of stroke patients. These factors result in a rising need for pain management and, thereby, pain management devices across the world.The global geriatric population, which requires continuous medical intervention and care, represents a significant portion of patients with chronic illnesses. The increase in this population is also fueling the demand for pain management devices worldwide considerably. However, the increasing concerns regarding the risk associated with the implantation of pain management devices are holding people back from adopting them, limiting their growth to some extent.Moving forward, the unmet medical needs, together with the escalating disposable income of people in emerging economies, are likely to provide lucrative opportunities to pain management device manufacturers in the coming years.Demand for Pain Management Devices to Register Rapid Rise in Asia PacificAccording to TMR, the global opportunity in pain management devices is projected to register a healthy rise from US$3.2 bn in 2014 to US$6.3 bn by 2023, expanding at a CAGR of 7.60% during the period from 2015 to 2023. Currently, neurostimulation devices have emerged as the most demanded pain management devices across the world.North America led the demand for pain management devices in 2014 with a share of nearly 50%. Europe closely followed North America with a share of around 22%. Asia Pacific, however, is expected to report the fastest growth at a CAGR of 10.0% over the forecast period. These pain management devices have found maximum application in neuropathic pain and musculoskeletal pain.The study presented here is based on a report by Transparency Market Research (TMR) titled Pain Management Devices Market  Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015  2023.Key Takeaways:Top three participants collectively accounted for over 72% of the market in 2014Increasing concerns over risks associated with implantation of pain management devices hinder their adoptionGlobal opportunity in pain management devices is likely to reach US$6.3 bn by 2023The global pain management devices market has been segmented as follows:By Product TypeElectrical Stimulation DevicesTranscutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) DevicesNeuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES/EMS) DevicesOther Electrical Stimulation Devices (Electrotherapy Devices, Combination Devices, TNS, TMS, etc.)Radiofrequency Ablation DevicesAnalgesic Infusion PumpsIntrathecal Infusion PumpsExternal Infusion PumpsNeurostimulation DevicesSpinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) DevicesDeep Brain Stimulation DevicesVagus Nerve Stimulation DevicesSacral Nerve Stimulation DevicesBy ApplicationElectrical Stimulation DevicesNeuropathic PainCancer PainFacial & Migraine PainMusculoskeletal PainTraumaNeurostimulation DevicesNeuropathic PainCancer PainFacial & Migraine PainMusculoskeletal PainAnalgesic Infusion PumpsNeuropathic PainCancer PainTraumaMusculoskeletal PainRadiofrequency Ablation DevicesNeuropathic PainCancer PainMusculoskeletal PainBy RegionNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeGermanyU.K.Rest of EuropeAsia Pacific (APAC)ChinaJapanAustraliaRest of Asia PacificLatin AmericaBrazilRest of Latin AmericaMiddle East & North Africa (MENA)EgyptSaudi ArabiaRest of MENARest of the World (RoW)Download 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:
Transcriptomics Technologies Market: Future Demand and Growth Analysis

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Transparency Market Research, a global market intelligence consultancy, has published a market study on the global transcriptomics technologies market for the 2013-2019 period. According to this report, the global transcriptomics technologies market will rise at a CAGR of 15.90% from 2013 to 2019 to reach a valuation of US$4.6 bn by the end of the forecast period. The markets valuation in 2012 was US$1.65 bn. The report is titled Transcriptomics Technologies Market  Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013  2019.Browse the full Transcriptomics Technologies Market (Microarrays, PCR, Gene Regulation and Next Generation Sequencing)  Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013  2019 report atThe report says that the global transcriptomics technologies market will witness substantial growth in the coming years due to several reasons. Transcriptomics research involves studying the structure and function of RNA present in a cell.Presently, transcriptome analysis of several organisms is assisted using next-generation sequencing platforms in the preliminary phase followed by polymerase chain reactions, gene regulation technologies, and microarrays in the latter part. The coalition of these technologies is used for drug discovery, clinical diagnosis of diseases, medical research, and others. With the ever-increasing demand for targeted therapeutics and continual improvement of healthcare infrastructure, the commercial usage of transcriptomics technologies holds promise. Transcriptomics research allows the development of newer therapeutics and diagnostics and further advancement of the existing line of treatment for medical conditions.The report says that in the transcriptomics technologies market, the key application segments undergo consistent development in order to offer added value to users. For instance, the utilization of transcriptomics technologies has benefitted the pharmaceutical and biotechnology fields; other fields are also deriving the advantages of this technology for mutual benefits of both the technology and the application field. Laboratories attempting to use biomarkers and newer gene sequencing methods is an example of this.The need for the development of adequate equipment in healthcare organizations and laboratories, the growing awareness about transcriptomics technologies globally, and increased participation of government bodies in transcriptomics research are some other factors driving this global market.However, growth of the transcriptomics technologies market is hampered due to certain factors cited in this report. These include the unavailability of advanced equipment needed for biological computation, unavailability of services essential to analyzing complex information, and an overall deficit of technicians that have expertise in the subject.The report divides the global transcriptomics technologies market into the regional segments of North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World. Among the regional segments, Asia Pacific will exhibit a substantial uptake of these technologies and the fastest growth rate in the transcriptomics technologies market during the forecast period. Ongoing infrastructural development for improved healthcare and increased acceptance of novel biotechnology research are the reasons for this.In 2012, North America led the global transcriptomics technologies market, contributing more than 35% of the revenue in the global market. The presence of advanced healthcare infrastructure, which includes well-equipped research facilities, increased awareness of biotechnology research, and the high number of initiatives taken by governments to promote research activities are the reasons for the dominant position of North America in this market.The report mentions the top players that operate in the global transcriptomics market. These are Life Technologies Corporation, F-Hoffmann La Roche Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Illumina Inc., Agilent Technologies, and Affymetrix Inc.Key segments of the Global Transcriptomics Technologies MarketTranscriptomics Technologies Market, by TechnologyMicroarraysPolymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)Gene Regulation TechnologiesNext Generation Sequencing (NGS)Transcriptomics Technologies Market, by ApplicationClinical DiagnosticsDrug Discovery and ResearchBioinformaticsComparative Transcriptomics StudiesTranscriptomics Technologies Market, by GeographyNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificRest of the World (RoW)Download 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:
Global Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) Devices Batteries Market: Future Demand and Growth Analysis

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Transparency Market Research states that the competitive landscape in the global cardiac rhythm management devices batteries market is mildly fragmented. The leading players such as Medtronic, Boston Scientific Corporation, St. Jude Medical, Inc., Greatbatch, Inc. (Integer), and EaglePicher Technologies, LLC are focusing on developing unmatched quality of batteries through state-of-art technological development. Furthermore, companies are also expected to strengthen their position across the globe through geographical expansion. In the coming years, these players are expected to increase their investments to develop products that are aimed toward increasing streamlining clinical workflow, therapy efficacy, and improving quality of life, states the lead author of this research report.According to the research report, the global CRM devices batteries market is expected to worth US$518.4 mn by the end of 2024 as compared to US$397.3 mn in 2015. During the forecast years of 2016 and 2024, the global market is estimated to progress at a CAGR of 3.0%.High Prevalence of Chronic Conditions across Asia Pacific Boosts Regional DemandThe various products available in the global CRM devices batteries market are implantable cardiac pacemakers (ICPs), implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICDs), and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices (CRT-Ds). Of these, the CRT-Ds are expected to show the maximum growth in the forecast period as the segment surges at a CAGR of 4.1%. The ability of these devices to manage heart failure cases and reduce the number of risks associated with irregular heartbeats are expected to boost their demand in the forecast period. Analysts projected that ICD will also be a lucrative segment for the global market in the coming years.In terms geography, the global CRM devices batteries market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. Of these, North America is the most attractive market for CRM batteries as the region is slated to acquire a share of 38.2% by the end of 2024. Analysts estimate that Asia Pacific is also expected to gain a significant share in the overall market due to high prevalence of health conditions such as high cholesterol, diabetes, and hypertension that have spiked the number of cardiovascular disease cases in recent years.Aging Population Triggers Demand for CRM Devices Batteries for Disease ManagementThe demand for CRM devices batteries has grown to a significantly in the past few decades as power sources have graduated from nickel-cadmium batteries to lithium ones. These sophisticated batteries are capable of powering complicated pacing devices such as CRT devices and ICDs. These batteries are known to be light weight, highly predictable and reliable, high energy density, small in size, and come with a long service life. Owing to these regions, several CRM devices manufacturers are using them in ICD, CRT devices, and pacemakers. The demand for CRM devices batteries is also being fueled by the increasing need for data logging, biventricular pacing, and telemetry.Product Recalls Lead to Declining Sales of CRM Devices BatteriesThe report indicates that growing pool of geriatrics is also likely to boost the demand for ICD, CRT devices, and pacemakers, which, in turn, is expected to reflect positively on the sales of CRM devices batteries. These devices will be extensively used for managing diseases such as bradycardia, tachycardia, and congestive heart failure amongst the ageing population.Though the batteries have gained popularity and demand over the past few years, the growing number of product recalls have resulted in decline of sales of these devices. Failure of device batteries have been the predominant reason for recalls in recent past. The market is also likely to suffer due to the changes in purchasing patterns. These are attributable to the declining reimbursements, lower patient volumes, and a significant drop in capital expenditure since the economic recession of 2008.This review is based on Transparency Market Researchs report, titled Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) Devices Batteries Market  Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2016  2024.The cardiac rhythm management devices batteries market has been segmented as follows:Global Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) Devices Batteries Market, by Product TypeImplantable cardiac pacemakers (ICPs)Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICDs)Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Devices (CRT-Ds)Global Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) Devices Batteries Market, by Power SourcesLithium-iodine cells (Li/I2)Lithium-silver vanadium oxide cell (Li/SVO)Lithium-carbon mono-fluoride cells (Li/CFx)Lithium-manganese dioxide cells (Li/MnO2)Global Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) Devices Batteries Market, by GeographyNorth AmericaEuropeAsia PacificLatin AmericaMEA (Middle East & Africa)Download Free 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:
Demand for Mobile Crushers and Screeners Market to Remain High in Asia Pacific : 2023

Global Mobile Crushers and Screeners Market

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Crowded with a large number of equally-placed participants, the mobile crushers and screeners market demonstrates a highly fragmented structure, finds a study by Transparency Market Research (TMR). The presence of companies, such as Metso Corp., Hartl Property Holding GmbH, Sandvik AB, Atlas Copco Group, and Anaconda Equipment International Ltd., with diverse product offerings and strong brand identification has intensified the degree of competition within the market.Download the Exclusive Report Sample Here :To sustain the competition, participants are increasingly adopting product differentiation strategies. Low-cost leadership is also expected to emerge as one of the preferred strategies among mobile crushers and screeners manufacturers looking to gain a strong foothold in this market.Rise of Construction Industry to Fuel Demand for Mobile Crushers and ScreenersInfrastructural developments, stimulated by the rapid urbanization across the world, have fueled the demand for mobile crushers and screeners. Thanks to the growing populace, the need for residential as well as commercial spaces is witnessing an exponential rise, leading to a surge in construction activities, worldwide. Specifically, in developing nations, governments are investing a huge amount of money to enhance infrastructure by constructing roads, airports, ports, and railway tracks.The development of urban infrastructures, such as housing, sanitation and water supply, road transport systems, and mass rail transit systems, has also gained significant attention in these economies. With this rise in building activities, the demand for components and equipment required for construction is increasing at a remarkable pace. Mobile crushers and screeners, being essential parts of construction activities, are also witnessing strong demand due to this.Declining Economy in Developed Countries to Hamper Markets GrowthOn the other hand, the global construction industry is likely to experience a slowdown due to declining economic condition in developed regions such as the European Union and the U.S. over the next few years. Owing to this, the application of mobile crushers and screeners is expected to get affected to some extent, hampering the markets growth. Apart from this, the absence of adequate infrastructures in emerging economies in Asia Pacific and Latin America is also projected to impact negatively on this market in the coming years.Global Opportunity in Mobile Crushers and Screeners to Expand at 2.72% CAGR between 2015 and 2023According to TMRs estimations, mobile crushers and screeners held an opportunity worth US$2.08 bn in 2014, worldwide. Expanding at a CAGR of 2.72% between 2015 and 2023, this opportunity is likely to increase to US$2.6 bn by the end of the forecast period. Asia Pacific reports a huge and escalating demand for mobile crushers and screeners, thanks to the increasing investment infrastructural development in Asian countries, specifically in Japan, China, and India.In 2014, the region emerged as the key consumer of mobile crushers and screeners with a share of nearly 44%. Analysts expect it to remain in the leading position with an increase of approximately 2% in its market share by the end of 2023.Mobile crushers experience a higher demand than mobile screeners in 2014. The trend is expected to remain the same over the forecast period.The study presented here is based on a report by Transparency Market Research (TMR) titled Mobile Crushers and Screeners Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth Trends, and Forecast 2015 - 2023.Key Takeaways:The presence of companies with a strong brand differentiation has intensified the degree of competitionThe development of urban infrastructure in Asia Pacific demands increased number of mobile crushers and screenersGlobal opportunity in mobile crushers and screeners to reach US$2.6 bn by 2023The global mobile crushers and screeners market has been segmented as follows:By ProductMobile CrushersMobile ScreenersBy RegionAsia PacificNorth AmericaEuropeRest of the WorldAbout UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog :
Increasing Industrialization to Boost Asia Pacific Gas Meters Market : 2024

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Most of the companies in the global market for gas meters operate at regional level. Led by Elster Group GmbH, Itron Inc., and Dandong Dongfa Co. Ltd., this market demonstrates a highly competitive nature, states a new study by Transparency Market Research (TMR). In 2015, these three companies collectively accounted for 33.4% of the overall market.Download the Exclusive Report Sample Here :These gas meters manufacturers are striving to improve in regional and the global markets and are aggressively focusing on product innovation. Analysts at TMR expect the degree of competition within this market to remain high over the next few years.According to the research report, the global market for gas meters presented an opportunity worth US$2.3 bn in 2015. Increasing at a CAGR of 8.10% during the period from 2016 to 2024, the market is likely to reach a value of US$4.7 bn by the end of the forecast period. The demand for diaphragm gas meters is higher than other products and is expected to remain so over the years to come, states the market study.Increasing Industrialization to Boost Asia Pacific Gas Meters MarketThe report also presents a regional analysis of the worldwide market for gas meters. As per the report, Latin America, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa are the prime regional markets for gas meters across the world. Among these, Asia Pacific has acquired the leading position in the overall market and is expected to remain dominant throughout the forecast period, thanks to the increasing industrialization in this region. China, Japan, Australia, India, and the ASEAN countries have surfaced as the leading domestic markets for gas meters in Asia Pacific. The rising consumption of natural gas in Asia Pacific is projected to propel this regional market substantially in the years to come.Europe is also expected to witness healthy growth in the demand for gas meters over the next few years on account of the rising enforcement of stringent regulations regarding the usage of smart meters and the increasing uptake of natural gas as primary fuel. The U.K., France, Germany, Italy, and Russia are expected to lead the Europe market for gas meters, states the report.Increasing Enforcement of Favorable Regulations to Propel Global Gas Meters MarketThe growing usage of natural gas as a primary energy source is the key factor behind the growth of the global gas meters market, states the author of this report. With natural gas replacing crude oil in a number of applications, its consumption across the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors has increased tremendously, which is reflecting on the growth of this market greatly.On the flip side, the incompetence of gas meters in managing large data volumes generated from smart gas meters, high initial and switching costs, and the rising uptake of hybrid metering systems may restrict the rise of this market to some extent over the forthcoming years. However, the rising enforcement of favorable regulations and laws regarding adoption of smart meters is anticipated to boost this market considerably in the years to come, notes the study.The study presented here is based on a report by Transparency Market Research (TMR) titled Gas Meters Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024.The global gas meters market has been segmented as follows:Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaThe U.S.CanadaEuropeThe U.K.GermanyFranceRussiaRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaIndiaJapanASEANRest of Asia PacificMiddle East & AfricaGCCSouth AfricaRest of Middle East & AfricaLatin AmericaBrazilMexicoRest of Latin AmericaGlobal Gas Meters Market: By Product TypeDiaphragm gas metersRotary Gas MetersTurbine Gas MetersUltrasonic Gas MetersOther Types Gas MetersGlobal Gas Meters Market: By Application TypeResidentialCommercialIndustrialAbout 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.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog :
Cyberattack

Microsoft is calling for governments to come together and outline a set of new rules for behavior in cyberspace to protect civilians on the internet, akin to the protections for civilians in times of war outlined by the Geneva Conventions.

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SEATTLE -- Microsoft is calling for a digital Geneva Convention to outline protections for civilians and companies from government-sponsored cyberattacks.

In comments Tuesday at the RSA security industry conference in San Francisco, Microsoft President and Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith said the rising trend of government entities wielding the internet as a weapon is worrying.

Cyberattacks -- from profit-seeking theft of credit-card data to state-sponsored attacks aimed at influencing national politics -- are a growing concern for technology companies and their customers.

"We suddenly find ourselves living in a world where nothing seems off-limits to nation-state attacks," he said.

Warfare in cyberspace, Smith said, often targets noncombatants, aiming at data centers, laptops, and software owned by companies and civilians.

Smith cited the high-profile hack of Sony, said to be perpetrated by North Korea, as well as attacks last year aimed at "the democratic process itself," a reference to hacking in the U.S. presidential election.

He called for governments to come together and outline a set of new rules for behavior in cyberspace to protect civilians on the internet, akin to the protections for civilians in times of war outlined by the Geneva Conventions.

A new international regulatory regime, Smith said, should include an independent organization that can investigate and share evidence that attributes nation-state attacks to specific countries, playing a role similar to that of the International Atomic Energy Agency in nuclear nonproliferation.

That organization, Smith said, should investigate and share publicly the evidence that ties specific nations to attacks.

Microsoft, based outside Seattle, itself has been reluctant at times to identify the source of state-sponsored attacks on its own services.

When Microsoft disclosed a hacking campaign aimed at its Windows operating system last year, the company named the group of hackers, but stopped short of laying out the widely held view in the security industry that Russian-linked groups were behind the attacks.

Companies, Smith said, should remain neutral, and commit to not aiding governments or other actors in cyberattacks.

"This is not the world that the internet's inventors envisioned 25 years ago," Smith said. "But it's the world that we inhabit today."

- The Seattle Times
The Vancouver Police Department identified the officer who shot and killed a suspect Friday.



Officer Ed Letarte, 53, remains on an administrative leave while the investigation continues. The man Letarte shot was suspected of stealing a car before crashing it and fleeing into an apartment where children were.



The suspect, who has not been identified, was armed inside the apartment near Northeast 66th Avenue, police and witnesses have said.



Letarte began working for the Police Department in September 1998 and is assigned to patrol duties in the city's West Precinct. He worked as a domestic violence detective from January 2011 through January 2015. Letarte, who worked for the Honolulu Police Department from July 1991 to September 1998, has been a member of the Southwest Washington Regional SWAT team since December 2005.



Police did not release any other information about the officer or the shooting.



Officials have previously said that officers responded to reports of a stolen car about 6:30 a.m. The car was stolen near the 5800 block of Northeast 41st Circle in the Walnut Grove area, according to The Columbian.



The suspect crashed the stolen car into a bus in the parking lot of the Vancouver Pointe Senior Village retirement community on 66th Avenue, spokeswoman Kim Kapp said. The crash pushed the bus into the building kitchen and ruptured a gas line, Pamella Winter, who lives across the street, said Friday.



The man then ran into the lobby of the retirement community before fleeing into a neighboring apartment complex and into a second-floor home, where a man and his four children were.



Pursuing officers entered the apartment and encountered the suspect, resulting in his shooting. No one else was injured, Kapp said.

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Elliott State Forest won't be put up for sale

A view of the Elliott State Forest.

(Tony Andersen/Oregon Dept. of Foresty)

The Elliott State Forest took another big step toward being sold Tuesday.

Gov. Kate Brown had made a last-minute proposal to maintain public ownership of the 82,500-acre forest in the Coast Range northeast of Coos Bay. But Oregon's newly elected treasurer and secretary of state broke their silence about the forest's future, opposing Brown at a meeting of the three-member State Land Board.

State Treasurer Tobias Read, a Democrat, and Secretary of State Dennis Richardson, a Republican, both supported the ongoing effort to privatize the land and sell it to a logging company, which bid in conjunction with several Native American tribes and The Conservation Fund.

If a sale agreement is finalized, Oregonians will get $221 million in return and an assurance that half of their forest will be kept open to public access.

Tobias Read

Read said the proposal to sell the land to Lone Rock Timber Management wasn't perfect, but was the state's best option.

"I can't simply cast it aside," Read said. "I think it is the best and most realistic proposal we have in front of us."

The statement from Read sent a Tuesday meeting of the three state leaders into chaos. The governor called a five-minute recess that dragged on 10 minutes, then 20, then 30. Brown, Read and Richardson, who comprise the State Land Board and have the authority to sell the land, shuffled behind closed doors to talk with attorneys and advisers.

More than 40 minutes later, the state's top three elected leaders resumed the public meeting, with Read proposing amendments to the current plan to sell the land - including an option to buy back $25 million of the acreage for use as a possible state park. He also added a requirement to log the land under restrictive Forest Stewardship Council standards.

Richardson said he thought the sale was a bad deal, the price too low. But the state has an obligation to make good on its commitments, he said.

"It's not Champoeg. It's not Yellowstone. It's not Yosemite," he said, noting that the land was held in trust to fund education. Oregon is constitutionally required to make money off the Elliott.

All three land board members received campaign contributions from the group bidding on the forest. Richardson's election campaign received $11,000 from Lone Rock and a $10,000 donation in December, after he won, from the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, a partner in the consortium that would buy it. Read got $3,000 from Lone Rock and its CEO. Brown has gotten $5,000 from Lone Rock and $60,000 from the Cow Creek Band.

The Elliott's sale is driven by the complicated way that Oregon manages some public land. The Elliott is held in trust by Oregon's Common School Fund, which has used revenue from logging the land to pay for public education. That revenue plunged in 2012 amid environmental lawsuits and the land's management began to cost the state.

The plan to sell the forest was set in motion months ago. But with newly elected leaders (Richardson and Read) in office, Brown had made a pitch to halt the sale.

The governor had called for a $100 million bond payment to the state's Common School Fund, which holds the land in trust. That payment would be used to withdraw the forest's steep slopes, old growth stands and riparian areas from the school fund trust. The state would've drafted a blueprint, segregating logging land from valuable habitat.

"It is clear to me that it is in the best interest of Oregonians to ensure public ownership of the Elliott State Forest," Brown told the assembled crowd in Salem. "The importance of state-owned lands has increased as the future of federal public lands has come into question."

Across the West, Republican lawmakers have targeted public land sales as a way to reduce what they see as overreaching federal control. What's remarkable about the Elliott sale is that it was a Democrat, Read, who cast the deciding vote to allow the state to sell the land for nearly $140 million less than the state believed it was worth.

Immediately after the vote Tuesday, a clearly angry Brown directed the state lands director, Jim Paul, to present a public ownership option in April. Richardson made a motion attempting to override her; Read did not second it.

The mixed signals from Read, the new state treasurer, left observers stymied and drew an immediate outcry from environmental groups who said they were shocked by the Democrat's support of privatizing public land.

"Today's vote underscores that when it comes to timber interests and public lands, Oregon Democrats are willing to look the other way," said Sean Stevens, executive director of Oregon Wild. He said his organization "will be working diligently to remind Oregonians of Treasurer Tobias Read's vote to sell off the Elliott State Forest."

Jim Green, executive director of the Oregon School Boards Association, applauded the decision. "Treasurer Read's action in making sure the sale of the Elliott can move forward is encouraging, and we greatly appreciate his efforts," Green said.

The forest's fate is not yet sealed. Senate President Peter Courtney told the lawmakers he was willing to help keep the land publicly owned.

The land board meets again in April to consider the Elliott's fate.

-- Rob Davis

rdavis@oregonian.com

503.294.7657

@robwdavis
Rare tour of Bull Run watershed inspires people who want to know more about Portland's drinking water

Portland's drinking water comes mostly from two reservoirs in the Bull Run watershed near Mount Hood, tapping streams that run through more than 100-square-miles of thick forest. The city also ships Bull Run water to suburbs from Gresham to Beaverton. The gauge measures water levels. Jamie Francis | The Oregonian/OregonLive

The Portland Water Bureau has temporarily stopped delivering Bull Run water to Portland water users after finding the cryptosporidium parasite six times in tests of drinking water from the Bull Run watershed since Jan. 1.

The bureau will instead deliver 100 percent groundwater from the Columbia South Shore Well Field, a decision city officials said is "not required." It could take as many as two weeks for the groundwater to make its way to homes and businesses.

Water officials said they decided to switch water sources "out of an abundance of caution." They don't know when the bureau will start delivering Bull Run drinking water again or what conditions would make them comfortable doing so, Water Bureau director Michael Stuhr said. Stuhr said they will continue monitoring the Bull Run water and will test whether the cryptosporidium found is harmful to humans.

"The recent detections do not pose an increased health risk," Stuhr said in a statement. "After a series of very low level detections, we are proactively activating our secondary source while we collect more data."

The Portland water bureau has detected the cryptosporidium pathogen in drinking water from Bull Run at least six times this year, raising the risk that the city could have to build a treatment plant that could cost tens of millions of dollars.

The bureau increased its weekly testing of drinking water on Jan. 8 after it detected the parasite for the first time in five years. The bureau detected the microorganism five more times within the next five weeks. Water officials noted that this many positive tests in such a short window was the most they'd seen in more than a decade. They will continue increased monitoring for one year.

Multnomah County Health Officer Paul Lewis said in an interview that it's unlikely the cryptosporidium found is harmful to humans because it likely originates from the scat of animals living near Bull Run. Humans are prohibited from accessing the protected watershed, and animal-borne pathogens do not often affect humans, he said.

Still, people with compromised immune systems should talk to their doctors about alternative drinking water options, Lewis said.

"This is a cautious approach," Lewis said. "We don't really know if anyone is going to have a problem with cryptosporidium."

Unlike most cities, Portland does not treat its water for cryptosporidium. The Oregon Health Authority gave the city an exemption in 2012 from federal treatment rules, allowing the city to instead monitor for the parasite through regular testing.

The state could revoke Portland's exemption, called a variance, if the water bureau finds more than one oocyst - a hard, microscopic structure found in feces - per 13,300 liters of water in one year. This could force the bureau to build an ultraviolet treatment plant, expected to cost at least $89 million, according to water bureau planning documents, or a filtration system that could cost around $300 million.

Stuhr said in a statement that the water bureau is still in compliance with the variance.

Switching to delivering only groundwater could prove costly to the bureau. The water bureau often supplements its Bull Run drinking water with groundwater. Drawing on both sources is more economical, bureau spokeswoman Jaymee Cuti wrote in an email. The pump system required to deliver groundwater is more expensive than using gravity to draw water from Bull Run.

Update: This story has been updated to reflect when the water bureau increased its monitoring for cryptosporidium. Water officials increased their testing Jan. 8.

--Jessica Floum

503-221-8306
Sunday, Feb. 19, marks the 75th anniversary of Executive Order 9066, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, which resulted in the forced internment of hundreds of thousands of Americans of Japanese descent, including about 4,000 from Oregon, during World War II. Here are local events commemorating the anniversary.

Day of Remembrance gathering: Local Japanese Americans will host a peaceful gathering to remember the signing of Executive Order 9066 and to share family stories. All are invited; signs are welcome. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 19, Japanese American Historical Plaza, Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Free.

Film screenings: Reed College American Studies program presents two films by Steven Okazaki: "Unfinished Business: The Japanese-American Internment Cases," 1985 Academy Award nominee for Best Feature Documentary, and "Days of Waiting," 1990 Academy Award winner for Best Short Documentary, both documenting experiences of Japanese American internment. 7 p.m. Feb. 20, Reed College, Performing Arts Building, Room 320, 3203 S.E. Woodstock Boulevard. Free.

PCC commemoration: Portland Community College will mark the 75th anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which sent more than 120,000 Japanese-Americans to internment camps during World War II, with a day of remembrance. The event will include a panel discussion of the events that fueled the decision; testimonials from community members affected by the order; a proclamation about a "preferred future" for the community at large; and a display of historical photos, texts and artifacts, which will remain on display through Feb. 27. 2-4 p.m. Feb. 21, PCC Southeast Campus, Community Hall, 2305 S.E. 82nd Ave. Free.

Concert of Remembrance: The Oregon Historical Society presents a concert in collaboration with Cascadia Composers and the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center. Along with premieres honoring the occasion by Cascadia composers Daniel Brugh, Ted Clifford, Denis Floyd, Janet Mittelstaedt and Greg A. Steinke, the program will feature photographs by New Mexico photographer (and camp documenter) Joan Myers, poetry/recitation by former Oregon Poet Laureate Lawson Fusao Inada, and a video by the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center. 2-3:30 p.m. March 12, Oregon Historical Society, 1200 S.W. Park Ave. Free.

"Yellow Terror": Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center hosts a special exhibit, "Yellow Terror: The Collections and Paintings of Roger Shimomura." Shimomura is a Pop artist, Seattle native and former internee who explores the role of media and pop culture in what he calls "sociopolitical issues of ethnicity." The center's permanent exhibit on the lives of Japanese Americans in Oregon includes a section on internment. Special exhibit runs through July 16; viewing hours, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, noon-3 p.m. Sunday, Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center, 121 N.W. Second Ave. $3-$5.
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There are no limits to Yuki Takahashis dreams, and he is prepared to go beyond the horizon to achieve them.

Takahashi, a science technician in Antarctica, has traveled across the globe, including a brief stay in Midland, working a variety of jobs. His resume is impressive: he is a graduate of California Institute of Technology, received a masters in physics and astronomy from the University of Glasgow and earned his Ph.D. in experimental astrophysics from University of California, Berkeley. Yet he has not forgotten where he comes from.

My dad was studying organic chemistry when I was born in Illinois (organic in Japanese is Yuki) and biological chemistry in Michigan (where my sister, Seika was born; biological chemistry in Japanese is Seikagaku), Takahashi said via an email interview.

Eventually, his family moved back to Japan. When Takahashi was about 9 years old, he started to get interested in astronomy and cosmology after reading books on the subject from the library. He recalls saving his pocket money to buy Stephen Hawkings A Brief History of Time. At the age of 12, Takahashi and his family moved to Midland, where his father worked for The Dow Chemical Co. The next two years provided Takahashi the opportunity to further study the stars.

As a U.S. geography class assignment at Jefferson Intermediate School, I planned a road trip to visit the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. and Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and my family actually took this road trip the following summer! That allowed me to see actual spacecraft and rockets firsthand. I also did a report on the International Space Station. In Japan, its hard to imagine being able to pursue a particular topic of your choice like that in school.

Back in Japan, Takahashi realized that an American education would help him pursue his desired career in astronomy. He asked his parents if he could return to Midland to complete the rest of high school and they agreed.

I chose Midland because I was at least already familiar with the town so that Im not alone in a completely foreign place. I also thought Midland was a safe and friendly place.

For the first year, Takahashi stayed with the Bennett family, attending Midland High School. The Bennetts were very welcoming, having been active in People to People  an international student ambassador program  and they helped Takahashi feel at home.

There were some language barrier at first, but I think we got around it through smiles. I think we learned that Im actually no different from a boy in America, Takahashi said.

Takahashi traveled back to Japan for the summer. Unfortunately, he was not able to continue staying with the Bennetts due to health complications experienced by Mrs. Bennetts Grandpa, who lived with them. Takahashi then sent a letter to the Midland Daily News in hopes of finding a second host family. Larry Bajor saw the article and invited him to stay with him, his wife, Yvonne and three children.

I was pretty comfortable with English by then, but liked to listen to rap music without any idea what the songs were saying. I realized much later that Yvonne and Larry were very polite with me about that, especially with 3-year-old Jonathan and 11-year-old Beth in the house! Takahashi stated.

He spent the last year of high school with the Chapins, since the Bajors moved to Ohio. Takahashi has kept in contact with all three families since then, visiting them when he was in town for his 10-year high school reunion.

Takahashi went on to be a team scientist for Universities Space Research Association (USRA), an avionics engineer for Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), a satellite communications engineer in Antarctica and held several technician positions in Chile, Greenland and Midway Atoll, to name a few. Along the way, he discovered the beauty of Earth; some of his favorite memories include spending a winter in Antarctica with penguins and seals, hitchhiking in the Argentinian Patagonia desert, living with a nomadic family in Mongolia and watching the auroras in Greenland. All in all, he has visited about 50 countries.

All of the projects Ive taken part in are related in that it allowed me to explore this world full of variety, he said. The most important lesson Ive learned is that its great that Im fortunate enough to have had the freedom to pursue my interests, but its really important to investigate the consequences of our daily actions/habits to make sure we are not suppressing anyone elses freedom.

Takahashi is currently working on a five-year contract in Antarctica, supporting a variety of projects, including monitoring seismometers and microphones to enforce the nuclear weapon test ban treaty. Once he finishes his work in the Antarctic, he hopes to focus on advocating for better treatment of animals at factory farms. From there, he plans on continuing to explore the world and discovering its wonders.

I still have the dream of being able to look back at the Earth from outer space and sharing with everyone the preciousness of each living being on this planet.
The Mid-Michigan Section of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers is hosting a seminar on the Michigan Department of Transportation Toward Zero Deaths program. The program, scheduled for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Grand Traverse Pie Company, 2600 N. Saginaw Road, will be presented by Kim Zimmer of MDOT.

Toward Zero Deaths is a state safety campaign based on the national strategy on highway safety intended to influence driver behavior and improve safety. With more than 35,000 fatalities occurring on U.S. highways each year, roadway safety remains one of the most challenging issues facing Michigan and the nation. Zimmer will present MDOT Bay Regions safety efforts to move Michigan Toward Zero Deaths.
BLOOMINGTON  A dormant Norfolk Southern rail line could become the first recreational trail from the Twin Cities to several nearby communities.

The railroad plans to abandon 30 miles of former track between Bloomington and Mansfield this year, clearing the way for a variety of possible uses, including a trail, said McLean County Administrator Bill Wasson.

That could be water mains, sewer mains, utility corridors, fiber optics for broadband or telecommunications, or future uses that we havent thought of yet, he said. The big benefit is a continuous corridor for public infrastructure.

The line hasn't been used since at least 2003, Wasson said.

Mansfield is located off of Interstate 74 in northern Piatt County, about 20 miles west of Champaign.

If the property were turned into a trail, it would be the first from Bloomington to Downs, LeRoy, Farmer City and Mansfield, Wasson said.

This would absolutely provide us with the opportunity to reach different communities with recreational trail access  in a very similar fashion to the developments weve seen along Route 66, he said.

Municipalities and the state are developing a continuous trail more than 20 miles long from north of Lexington to Funks Grove. Old Route 66 stretches about 50 miles across the county, and officials envision a Historic Route 66 Bike Trail running 370 miles from Chicago to the state line.

A typical railroad abandonment can take six months, but three or four is a more realistic expectation for this one, said Lawada Poarch, abandonments coordinator for Norfolk Southern.

The process includes notifying local communities, which happened Jan. 6; conducting an environmental and historical report; publishing legal notifications; and negotiating with municipalities for the land.

This one has gotten a lot of interest ... from a history that the rail line was going to be abandoned in 2004, and then they decided not to do it for business reasons, Poarch said. Were definitely going to do it this time.
BLOOMINGTON  Cases of influenza and other respiratory illnesses have risen dramatically in the past few days, leading to increased absences at schools, staffing adjustments at urgent care centers and pleas from medical professionals for people to stay home if they are sick.

"In the past three to four days, it's been unbelievable the amount of positive flu cases we've had," said Donna Yoder, a nurse at Advocate Medical Group Immediate Care in Bloomington.

Yoder, a nurse for 40 years, added, "This is one of the busiest years (for flu) I can remember. I'm not sure why."

Dr. Roberto Cipolla, lead physician for OSF PromptCare locations in Bloomington-Normal, said "all our (PromptCare) sites have been extremely busy for the last couple weeks."

But Cipolla said, "It's rather typical for this time of year. February through mid-March is when flu season here reaches its peak."

Each PromptCare site in Bloomington-Normal has been averaging 70 to 80 patients each weekday and 90 to 100 patients each Saturday and Sunday, Cipolla said Monday.

Eighty to 90 percent of those patients have respiratory illnesses  such as flu, bronchitis, sinusitis, pneumonia and strep throat  with 30 to 40 percent of those patients also having diagnosed flu or flu-like symptoms that haven't been verified as flu through testing, he said.

"We schedule more people (staff) during the weekend when we know the volumes are higher," he said.

Flu cases began increasing at Immediate Care at the start of February but have spiked in the past few days, Yoder said.

"We're seeing 50 patients a day (at Immediate Care in Bloomington), with one quarter to one half having flu symptoms," Yoder said. The rest have strep throat or gastroenteritis (norovirus), whose symptoms are diarrhea and vomiting.

"We've added a physician assistant to help with the (increased) demand," she said.

"I think everyone is seeing an elevation of kids being sent home, but it's not out of the ordinary for February," said Susy Marcum, curriculum chair for school nurses for Unit 5 and also school nurse at Fairview and Grove elementary schools.

"There are pockets of kids getting sick as this runs through families," Marcum said. "The high schools are being hit hard and some elementary schools are hit hard."

Some children have flu or flu-like illnesses, meaning they have flu symptoms, but flu hasn't been verified by testing. Some have norovirus symptoms (diarrhea and vomiting) along with the flu.

Other students just have norovirus and some have strep, Marcum said.

Some people getting flu have had the flu vaccine; some have not, Yoder said. Those who haven't had the vaccine generally get sicker, she said.

"We want people to take the flu seriously," Cipolla said. While most people with flu are sick for a week, influenza can lead to pneumonia and be life-threatening for the young, people with compromised immune systems and the elderly.

"We do understand that it's difficult for parents to take off work," Marcum said. "But we need to partner together to break this cycle of influenza, strep and norovirus."

Adults should stay home from work and children should stay home from school if they have had a fever of 100 degrees or more, diarrhea or vomiting within the previous 24 hours, Marcum said. People also should stay home if they have uncontrolled coughing or any other symptoms that would make it difficult for them to concentrate at work or school and would mean that they would be passing germs to others.

Don't return to work or school until you are free of fever, diarrhea or vomiting for at least 24 hours without the use of medicine and are able to concentrate again, Marcum said.
EUREKA  A third-grade class at Davenport Elementary School has some new friends in, of all places, Zambia, Africa.

Melodie Minger and other teachers at Davenport have been emphasizing the catch phrase, Its Cool To Be Kind. The project was born when Fiona Rocke, a student in Mingers classroom, connected that motto with personal experiences in her own extended family.

"We wanted to come up with something that created a little more excitement at our school," said Fiona, whose cousins and their parents are missionaries at Lifesong Orphanage in Zambia, Africa. They were in the United States from September to January.

Lifesong provides Christian education, daily meals, life skills, discipleship for vulnerable children and sustainable business for their caregivers.

Lifesong Farms-Zambia, with the support of Plant Sciences Inc., has been growing strawberries and selling them to local grocers since 2010.

Fiona invited the Erik Wiegand family to speak to her classmates about their time in Zambia. Fiona and friend, Lucy Grimm, asked Minger if the class could collect items and send gift bags to the children at Lifesong.

I think the most moving and meaningful part of this project was that it was student-initiated and student-led, said Minger. Theyre the ones who came to me.

The girls made a flyer to send home with their classmates asking for help.

The kids really jumped on board, Minger said. The parents were very generous. Everybody went over the top.

Each member of the class wrote a letter to a particular student at the orphanage in Zambia.

The third-graders packed and personally labeled bags for each student in what would be the equivalent of third grade at Lifesong. The bags were packed into bigger boxes and taken to Africa by Fionas cousins, the Wiegands.

"We felt really good about ourselves because we felt we were doing something good to make someone else's day," Fiona said.

Fionas mother, Maribeth Rocke, said it is in Fionas nature to be good to others.

She always wants to help people, she said. She is just a very loving little girl.

When the gift bags finally reached their destination, Maribeth received word the children were surprised and happy to receive them.

It especially touched their teacher because her husband had just passed away, Maribeth said.

Lifesong workers took photos and sent them to Minger, who hopes to keep the connection going, possibly by exchanging letters or Skype-ing with the class.

But until the next contact, Minger is happy with the way it all turned out.

Everyone was really sweet about helping, she said. It was really neat to pair these third graders up with each other completely on the other side of the world. We had a lot of fun doing it.
From 2010-2015 McLean Countys population grew by 6,318 people and the number employed decreased by 2,675. The brick and mortar stores are being battered by rapidly growing internet sales, as the closing of Macys and other stores in Eastland Mall demonstrate. While Bloomington and Normal tout their support of economic development, both recently raised sales tax 1 percent and various local taxing bodies continue to raise property taxes. These trends cannot be sustained.

Worse yet, both municipalities have begun to compete for the same businesses by giving precious tax dollars collected from established businesses and citizens to attract new businesses or to entice businesses to move across Division Street. Subsidizing some businesses with tax dollars from other businesses and residents adds nothing to economic development, to public infrastructure or amenities that make the community an attractive place to live and work. Additionally, unfair competitive advantage is given to the subsidized business. Lower tax rates contribute to economic development.

Illinois has more taxing bodies than any other state, contributing to Illinois unsustainable heavy tax burden on residents and businesses. Combining the two school districts, the two libraries and building one new fire station, not two, to serve the northeast subdivisions reduces duplicative overhead greatly reducing the cost to provide of public services. Now is the time to break old paradigms and boldly embrace change leading to lower tax rates that would support improved community infrastructure and amenities.

Ron Ulmer, Normal
For more than a decade, the U.S. government has been able to keep America's homeland safe from overseas terrorists without a single draconian travel ban. So why would President Trump start off by banning people from nations with a collective history of zero terrorists coming to the U.S.? Why provoke actual terrorists? Alienate allies? Blame the judiciary? He is just stirring up fear domestically and rage internationally.

He knows this. He is many things, but he is not stupid. So it is hard to arrive at another conclusion than this: Donald Trump wants a terrorist attack on U.S. soil.

He is setting everyone up perfectly to blame others if there's an attack, and he's doing everything he can to induce one. The fear and chaos it would cause would allow him to claim emergency powers and achieve his lifelong fantasy of becoming a Totalitarian.

I realize this is a strong accusation, but I stand by it. Every single thing he has done corroborates this motive. I hope this assertion forever remains a hypothetical, so that I never can be proved right.

I implore every American to scrupulously examine his foreign policy moves through this lens.

R. Philip Grizzard, Normal
Smurfit Kappa Expands its Bag-in-Box Business in Europe with Acquisition of Litbag

Smurfit Kappa said that Litbag has specific expertise in multi-layer EVOH barrier films which offer the advantage of extended product shelf life.

Feb. 14, 2017 - Smurfit Kappa announces an agreement to purchase the company Litbag, in order to reinforce its position in Southern Europe.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

According to Smurfit Kappa, Litbag has specific expertise in multi-layer EVOH barrier films which offer the advantage of extended product shelf life. Today it is one of the leaders in the Portuguese wine market exporting to several countries including Spain and France.

The Bag-in-Box business continues to show significant potential for our Group. We are excited to develop our global footprint further and we see great opportunities for our Bag-in-Box business on a world-wide scale in the years ahead, said Roberto Villaquiran, CEO Smurfit Kappa Europe.

Smurfit Kappa is one of the leading producers of paper-based packaging. To learn more, please visit: www.smurfitkappa.com.

SOURCE: Smurfit Kappa
Brazilian model Valentina Sampaio will be featured on Vogue Paris's March issue, making her the title's first transgender cover star. The historic occasion is marked not just by Sampaio's presence--the issue will focus on changing standards of beauty, as noted by the cover line "Transgender Beauty: How they're shaking up the world."

Courtesy Vogue Paris

According to editor-in-chief Emmanuelle Alt the plan was always to feature a transgender model. She settled on Sampaio after browsing through her Instagram. Making this cover even more of a statement, March issues for fashion mags are the second-most important issue of the year (behind the huge September bibles).

"We are living in a world at the moment, what is happening right now, we are stepping back," Alt told American Vogue in an interview about the issue. "Instead of being in a constant evolution, which is what should happen, human rights . . . they're not going in a good direction. This cover is about the importance of those rights, and that we still need to make progress on an awful lot of stuff."

This is not Sampaio's first cover (nor, given how glam she looks in Mert and Marcus's shots, will it be her last). Last fall she graced on the cover of Elle Brazil's November mag.









[h/t Jezebel]

Splash photo via Vogue Paris
In today's news of why Trump's United States is significantly worse off, women-who-has-lived-more-lives-than-any-human-in-history Lindsay Lohan is "scared" to come back into our outstretched arms because of America's attitude towards Muslims.

Lohan, who has been living in Greece for quite some time, revealed in a Daily Mail Facebook Live video that she is in the process of converting to Islam after spending time with Syrian refugees in Turkey.

President Trump's recent executive order banning citizens of Muslim-majority countries from travelling to the United States has also left Lohan uneasy about returning home, given her "personal beliefs."

"I think it would be a positive thing for America to show their care and support," Lohan explained, "and for [Trump] to experience what it's life for these people  experience how giving Turkey has been to the refugees and how many they welcomed in."

Although Lohan has not yet fully converted, the star says she has "studied the Quran for quite some time."

"It's a process to convert to anything. I respect all religions...it's a beautiful religion and I am a very spiritual person  it's something I've been studying. You can't just convert overnight to a religion."

Trump is currently looking for alternative channels through which he can enforce his order after a Federal appeals court put a temporary halt on the ban coming into effect.

[h/t Page Six]

Image via Matteo Pradoni/BFA.com












I CAN'T. Do you want to know how much I can't? Drake thinking only he could talk someone off a bridge, can't. Drake's offer being rejected, can't. I can't, I won't, I just cannot.

As Manchester Evening News reports, police blocked off roads around the Mancunian Way bridge after a suicidal man crossed the bridge barrier. Drake, caught up in the traffic on the way home from a show, sent a pal off his tour bus to ask police if they might require Drizzy's help in talking the man down.

Inspector Phil Spurgeon said of the incident: "One officer was approached by a male from a tour van caught up in the traffic congestion, claiming to be part of Drake's entourage.

"He offered for Drake to speak to the male on the bridge, if that would help. The offer was declined with thanks."

The man was safely brought down from the ledge and taken to hospital for assessment. The Manchester Evening News rounded their report with this cheery, but incomprehensible sentence:

Just named the world's biggest selling recording artist, Drake has drawn Manchester's great and good to his performances at the arena.

Can't.







[h/t Manchester Evening News]

Image via Madison McGaw/BFA.com
A mom, who was attending a parenting seminar at the All Saints' College performing arts theater in Bull Creek, Perth, got humiliated when she was asked to do her breastfeeding somewhere else. Renae Rutherford was feeding her weeks-old son while listening to the seminar hosted by Maggie Dent, a parenting expert, when she was asked to leave.

Dent's team, including her husband, noticed Rutherford as she had been crying while feeding her son in the building foyer instead. Dent's husband apologized and promised to investigate the incident. A member of the organizing team, however, rudely lectured her on the hygienic issue of breastfeeding inside the theater.

"To be asked to leave a venue that was hosting a parenting seminar came out of left field," Rutherford said."I'm pretty resilient, but I burst into tears and felt embarrassed and humiliated," she added.

School officials already apologized to Rutherford on Facebook even as they claimed it was not the school's policy to ban breastfeeding inside the campus, according to Perth Now. They also promised to look into the incident.

Society has remained uncomfortable with mothers breastfeeding their kids in public, as per CNN. A mom breastfeeding her baby at the Anthropologie store in Beverly Hills was outraged when she was led to the bathroom. Her social media rant resulted to the staging of protests at the store of over 100 women.

First-time mothers breastfeed in places where they are comfortable but get used to doing it in public later on, according to NHS. A Start4Life survey revealed that public breastfeeding has the support of up to 72 percent of the respondents. People may find it disturbing at first, but they will get used to breastfeeding in public.

Mothers have the right to breastfeed even in a public place, so no one has the right to ask her to leave the place solely for that reason. Most malls have areas designated for breastfeeding so moms might want to get to know these places too for their own comfort. Other moms might find baby slings useful if they don't want to reveal too much while breastfeeding.
A Canada public school board has decided Monday to cancel its students' trip to the United States following President Donald Trump's travel ban. School officials deemed this was necessary to ensure the safety of the students, especially since some carry dual passports. The places the students planned to visit might also have political rallies and protests nearby.

USA Today reported Clara Howitt, the school district's superintendent, told school administrators that there will be no U.S. trips for now. Some courts in America might have temporarily halted Trump's travel ban targeting specific Muslim countries, but the Canadian school board won't take any risks.

"It's just right now the uncertainty of whether all of our students would be able to cross," Howitt said. "We are just demonstrating due diligence at this period of uncertainty," she added.

Greater Essex County District School Board spokesperson Scott Scantlebury acknowledged that they have students with dual passports or foreigners who could potentially delay immigration proceedings or be asked to go back to Canada. "We are waiting to get clarity before continuing these trips to Detroit," he told CNN.

The students were supposed to visit the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills, Michigan and the Detroit Opera House. There was also a trip planned for an April music festival in Washington, D.C.

Windor Star reports some students expressed their disappointment because they prepared and worked hard to be able to join the trip. At the borders, Canadians remain vigilant and its own immigration has been taking note of any incidents where some citizens have not been given permission to enter the U.S.

NPR reports the school board's decision will be re-evaluated by February's end. At which point, officials hope they will be able to have a better grasp of the situation in the U.S.
A Tennessee lawmaker has proposed a bill that will repeal the statute concerning children born via artificial insemination. Republican Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver's bill supposedly wants these kids to be considered illegitimate. The lawmaker, however, issued a clarification to her proposal following strong opposition from the public.

The Tennessean reported Weaver's proposal has received a backlash as some have deemed this an attack on same-sex parents or those who have enlisted surrogates for their babies. Some called out the bill as discriminatory and will hurt not just same-sex couples but also families with heterosexual parents who might need to go through the process of establishing paternity in court.

Under HB 1406, Weaver proposed to "repeal a statute that deems a child born to a married woman as a result of artificial insemination, with the consent of the married woman's husband, to be the legitimate child of the husband and wife." The bill was introduced in the House last Feb. 9.

Weaver, however, turned to Facebook to clarify her stand. "HB 1406 does not apply to same-sex marriages at all," the representative wrote. Weaver said that her proposal is to repeal a previous statute TCA 68-3-306 in the 2010 Tennessee Code that conflicted with another statute, TCA 36-2-304.

The representative said her aim is to repeal conflicting laws. "[It] does not have the government inquiring into the means by which the couples child came into existence or whose sperm, the husband's or a donor's, was used," Weaver stressed on her Facebook post.

In 2016, Weaver and her Republican allies intervened in a divorce concerning same-sex parents and the custody of their child who was conceived through artificial insemination. The GOP lawmakers asserted the lesbian partner, who legally married the child's mother in Washington, D.C. in 2014, should not be considered the legitimate parent as the law only protected "husbands," according to Knoxville News Sentinel. At that time of their marriage, Tennessee did not yet recognize same-sex marriage.
A mother has filed a lawsuit against a New Jersey hospital for a baby swapping mistake. Melissa Richman, 29, breastfed the wrong newborn at the maternity ward for almost 20 minutes after a nurse gave her a different child.

It would have been Richman's first feeding time with her baby. The mistake, however, robbed the mother of the chance to provide her newborn with colostrum, which was supposed to boost the infant with antibodies. So, she's seeking damages against The Valley Hospital via the lawsuit, according to Working Mother.

CBS New York reported Richman gave birth to baby Scarlet in September through C-section and was then ushered to breastfeed her newborn. The nurse, however, returned to her after 20 minutes of feeding. The nurse told the new mom there had been a mistake with the babies and she was handed Scarlet this time around.

"They immediately put her right on me, and they didn't clean me off so I started worrying about the saliva and stuff from the other baby," Richman said. The hospital also made the mother undergo some tests to rule out any infection. The mother's 87-page medical file on her labor, delivery and postpartum care, however, did not include the baby swapping breastfeeding mistake, NBC New York reports.

Worse, when Scarlet was breastfeeding, the baby became "frustrated and upset" because Richman's milk was already depleted by the first baby. The family also did not have any idea whose baby was it that Richman fed or if that baby's parents were aware of what happened.

"It should be inconceivable that something like this could happen," Richman's husband David told the media. The whole experience has made the Richmans feel horrible.

The family wants the hospital to be liable for the mistake. The Valley Hospital, however, has not made any comment on the lawsuit as of press time.
North Dakota legislators are deliberating on a recently passed bill on shared parenting. Introduced by Rep. Tom Kading and endorsed by six representatives, the proposal seeks to amend the state's Measure 6 under the North Dakota Parental Rights Initiative, which covers equal parenting rights and responsibilities.

House Bill No. 1392 seeks to give divorced parents 50-50 custody rights over their children and matters or decisions concerning the kids. Currently, the law automatically grants mothers the sole custody of the children but the father is accorded visitation rights. The exemption of such a directive is recognized in joint custody agreements and other arrangements made by the divorced parents.

The proposed bill, however, has a precedent. Inforum cites that it looks like House Bill No. 1392 is a rehash of Measure 6.

North Dakota voters, however, rejected Measure 6 in 2014 with a voting margin of 62 percent versus 38 percent. Analysts and observers noted that Measure 6 failed to gather votes because it was about the best interest of the parents and not the children, and only lawyers would benefit.

Kading, however, disagrees that the new shared parenting bill is still Measure 6. Before passing his proposal, Kading and his team apparently looked into several studies on single parenting. They also talked with experts regarding the pros and cons of Measure 6, Valley News Live reports.

"We really strived to make this bill different than Measure 6 and tried to address the problems in Measure 6," the representative said, citing that the proposal is to help give the children of divorced parents a solid influence from both moms and dads. Kading is confident that House Bill No. 1392 will succeed in the legislature.

Family lawyer Jason McLean disagrees with the representative. He testified in the House's hearing regarding the bill in last Tuesday's deliberation.

"The heartbeat of this bill is exactly the same as the heartbeat of Measure 6," Mclean told Inforum. "The effects of this bill on North Dakota families could be catastrophic."
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In January we posted a report titled "Korea's Special Counsel Recommends Arresting Samsung's Vice Chairman, the Court will Decide on Wednesday." But the special counsel's request was denied by the court days later for lack of evidence. After meeting with the Special Counsel again in round two yesterday, the Special Counsel has decided to once again request the Court issue an arrest warrant against Samsung's Heir.

According to a new Korean report today, "The special counsel team probing the latest bribery scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her confidante Choi Soon-sil requested a Seoul court to issue an arrest warrant against Samsung Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong for bribery charges.

Lee has been accused of having ordered his aides to give a combined 43 billion won (US$37 million) to shady businesses and organizations run by Choi in return for favors in the pending leadership transfer at the nation's largest conglomerate.

The prosecutors also asked the court to detain one of Lee's top aides Park Sang-jin, who is deemed to have played a key role in providng financial support for Choi.

The court is slated to hold a reviewing session of the arrest request for Lee and Park of Samsung on Friday.

After being quizzed for nearly 15 hours on Feb. 13 by the prosecutors for his alleged involvement in the bribery scandal, the Samsung Electronics vice chairman went right back to office after midnight to discuss with his top aides how to respond to an arrest warrant likely to be sought for him this week.

The latest questioning session, which came after the previous one on Jan. 12, ended at 1 a.m. on Feb. 14

Exerting unusual influence over government agencies and state-run organizations, Choi had allegedly helped Samsung complete a controversial merger of two subsidiaries -- Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries -- in 2015 that would raise Lee's stake in Samsung Electronics, the group's crown jewel, and further strengthen his control across Samsung affiliates.

Choi allegedly pressured the nation's antitrust watchdog Fair Trade Commission to give the conglomerate favors in the sale process of C&T shares held by Samsung SDI, a battery business arm of the conglomerate, in 2015.

Overturning its initial decision to require SDI to sell 10 million shares in C&T to solve the conglomerate's contentious cross-shareholding structure, the FTC allowed the battery firm to sell half of the shares, presumably, aimed at cushioning the impact of the stake sale for Samsung.





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At the top of the month Patently Apple posted a report titled "The Indian Government of Karnataka Officially Welcomed Apple's Proposed Manufacturing Operations in their City." The Government of Karnataka today officially welcomed Apple's proposal to commence initial manufacturing operations in their city. Apple's intentions to manufacture in Bengaluru will foster a cutting edge technology ecosystem and supply chain development in the state, which are critical for India to compete globally," an official release signed by Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge said.

Today a new Indian report has surfaced stating that Karnataka's Industry and Infrastructure Minister Raghunath Vishwanth Deshpande is now urging the Center to process Apple's requests faster so that Bengaluru will be able to get Apple's plant via Wistron up and running at the earliest.

The Minister said on Monday at the 'Make in India' conference, organized by the State Government, the he wished to welcome Apple to Bengaluru and publicly called on the Government of India hurry up and Assist Apple as soon as possible, in reference to incentives and consessions and relaxation of clauses like the waiver of local sourcing.

While the Government of India is unlikely to blindly oblige such demonstrative demands, the public request goes to show us the fever pitch enthusiasm that there is to get the Apple iPhone plant up and running in the city of Bengaluru, the capital of the Indian State of Karnataka. Bengaluru has a population of 4 million.





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Ezra Reads the Law to the People (Neh. 8:1-12), by Gustave Dore (1832-1883) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]

***

This is from my 2002 book, More Biblical Evidence for Catholicism: the entirety of Chapter Nine (same title): pages 77-88 (I discarded some capitalizations used in the original, added capital letters in the sequential indented lists, and added some bolding of Scripture passages).

***

A Baptist man whom I met on the Internet, wrote a thought-provoking and well-researched essay, seeking to establish an analogy between the faith and religious authority structure amongst the Jews, as evidenced in the Old Testament, and the Protestant principle of sola Scriptura (Bible Alone as the final authority in Christianity).

I disagree with his assessment of the exclusive and final status of the written word of God over against the patriarchal, prophetic, and priestly proclamations of it, and its oral, traditional (and talmudic) aspects. I contend that he reached his conclusions with far too little and insubstantial evidence, whether biblical or historical.

There are many highly relevant factors which prove, in my opinion, that the Old Testament analogy is much more in line with both the early Church and present-day Catholicism (which developed from that early Church) and its notions of Church authority and tradition, than with the Protestant sola Scriptura rule of faith. I shall summarize these, each in turn:

1) THE JEWISH LAW, OR TORAH, WAS NOT EXCLUSIVELY WRITTEN DOWN

*

According to the reputable Protestant reference, Eerdmans Bible Dictionary [edited by Allen C. Myers, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1987 (from Bijbelse Encyclopedie, ed. W. H. Gispen, Kampen, Netherlands, 1975), 1014], oral communication and traditions in ancient Middle Eastern societies were much more common and standard than in our own time. The oral Torah was regarded as equal in authority to the written Hebrew Scriptures, and was believed to have been given to Moses on Mt. Sinai.

This vast collection of oral teaching was in due course codified in the Mishnah. Further interpretation of this text led to the Palestinian and Babylonian Talmuds. Halakhah, or legal teaching, is predominant in the Talmud (as in the written Torah). The task of the rabbis was to interpret the law of Moses, and to apply broad ordinances to individual cases.

The better (more biblically oriented) strains of Jewish tradition perfectly understood that the Law dealt with the heart, not just outward and/or ritualistic conformity. Jesus introduced nothing radically new in this respect, contrary to the jaded views of Judaism held by many Christians of all types. Jeremiah talked explicitly about the New Covenant.

It seems fairly certain from Holy Scripture itself that various writings and oral traditions were compiled and canonized at a later date (the time of Ezra and Nehemiah) and put into the form with which we are familiar (just as the New Testament itself was). I dont think this implies either a denial of Mosaic authorship or of biblical infallibility.

Whether or not the Pentateuch was not codified until a later date is a different proposition from the question of Mosaic authorship. If later compilation was the case (as many conservative biblical scholars believe, I think), this no more means that such a process is illegitimate or untrustworthy than the late canonization of the New Testament brings into question Pauline authorship of his epistles. It is all merely development, not change in essence.

All these facts being true, and agreed upon by Protestant and Catholic biblical and historical scholars, it is hardly possible to make an analogy between the ancient Jewish authority structure and Protestantism.

The oral tradition was central from the beginning, and flourished even more after the canon of the Old Testament was finalized. At that point, the (mostly oral) methods and traditions which later crystallized into the written Talmud, intensified and continued on unabated for another six or so centuries. And then after that Judaism continued to discuss and comment on the Talmud itself, to this day. So the analogy is much more to Catholicism:

A) Oral law in Judaism corresponds to oral tradition in the New Testament (e.g., 2 Timothy 1:13-14; 2:2) and Catholic tradition. B) In its interpretive and developmental aspects, Jewish oral law is similar to Catholic development of dogma and historical growth of conciliar and magisterial understanding of Christian teaching. C) The Jews believed that the oral Torah went back to Moses on Mt. Sinai and ultimately to God, and was received simultaneously with the written Torah. Likewise, Catholics believe that Catholic tradition was received simultaneously from the apostles  who received it from Jesus  with the gospel, which itself was eventually formulated into the New Testament.The analogy to sola Scriptura, then, is impossible to maintain, since the Jews accepted the oral Torah as equally authoritative, the Canon of the Old Testament was only gradually formed (even the Pentateuch alone was authoritatively collected 500 years after David!), and authoritative and binding talmudic speculation and interpretation flourished even after the Old Testament had been completed and organized.

We believe that the authoritative Church is placed by God in the position as arbiter of doctrinal disputes and guardian of the apostolic deposit. Just as it verified the New Testament canon, so it acknowledges apostolic traditions and distinguishes them from corrupt, merely human ones.

Several tenets of Jewish religious belief developed subsequent to the finalization of the Old Testament canon, such as eschatology and angelology in particular  adopted virtually wholesale by the early Christians. The Sadducees were the Sola Scripturists (and liberals) of that time.

2) JEWISH ORAL TRADITION WAS ACCEPTED BY JESUS AND THE APOSTLES

*

A) Matthew 2:23: the reference to . . . He shall be called a Nazarene  cannot be found in the Old Testament, yet it was passed down by the prophets. Thus, a prophecy, which is considered to be Gods Word was passed down orally, rather than through Scripture.

B) Matthew 23:2-3: Jesus teaches that the scribes and Pharisees have a legitimate, binding authority, based on Moses seat, which phrase (or idea) cannot be found anywhere in the Old Testament. It is found in the (originally oral) Mishna, where a sort of teaching succession from Moses on down is taught. Thus, apostolic succession, whereby the Catholic Church, in its priests and bishops and popes, claims to be merely the custodian of an inherited apostolic tradition, is also prefigured by Jewish oral tradition, as approved (at least partially) by Jesus Himself.

C) In 1 Corinthians 10:4, St. Paul refers to a rock which followed the Jews through the Sinai wilderness. The Old Testament says nothing about such miraculous movement, in the related passages about Moses striking the rock to produce water (Exodus 17:1-7; Numbers 20:2-13). Rabbinic tradition, however, does.

D) 1 Peter 3:19: St. Peter, in describing Christs journey to Sheol / Hades (he went and preached to the spirits in prison . . . ), draws directly from the Jewish apocalyptic book 1 Enoch (12-16).

E) Jude 9: about a dispute between Michael the archangel and Satan over Moses body, cannot be paralleled in the Old Testament, and appears to be a recounting of an oral Jewish tradition.

F) Jude 14-15 directly quotes from 1 Enoch 1:9, even saying that Enoch prophesied.

G) 2 Timothy 3:8: Jannes and Jambres cannot be found in the related Old Testament passage (Exodus 7:8 ff.).

Since Jesus and the apostles acknowledge authoritative Jewish oral tradition (even in so doing raising some of it literally to the level of written revelation), we are hardly at liberty to assert that it is altogether illegitimate. That being the case, the alleged analogy of the Old Testament to sola Scriptura is again found wanting and massively incoherent.

Jesus attacked corrupt traditions only, not tradition per se, and not all oral tradition. The simple fact that there exists such an entity as legitimate oral tradition, supports the Catholic both/and view by analogy, whereas in a strict sola Scriptura viewpoint, this would be inadmissible, it seems to me. It is obvious that there can be false oral traditions just as there are false written traditions which some heretics elevated to Scripture (e.g., the Gospel of Thomas).

This is precisely why we need the Church as guardian and custodian of all these traditions, and to determine (by the guidance of the Holy Spirit) which are apostolic and which not, just as the Church placed its authoritative approval on the New Testament canon. Holy Scripture is absolutely central and primary in the Catholic viewpoint, just as in Protestantism. No legitimate oral tradition can ever contradict Scripture, just as no true fact of science can ever contradict it.

Jesus is clear to distinguish what is called the tradition of the elders (Mark 7:3, 5) from the legitimate tradition, by saying:

Mark 7:8 (RSV) You leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men. (cf. 7:9)

I would argue that neither commandment nor tradition per se are restricted to the written [medium]. Jesus contrasts human tradition with the word of God in 7:13, but that word of God is not only not restricted to the written Bible, but even identical to divine tradition, once one does some straightforward comparative exegesis.

Protestants wish to make a dichotomy, based on this passage, between oral and written tradition, whereas Jesus, I think, is clearly contrasting human (false) tradition and divine tradition, whether oral or written. I think the notion that any of this proves sola Scriptura is eisegesis at best and special pleading at worst.

There were also many false books parading as Scripture in the early Christian period. If falsity alongside truth is a disproof of that truth (and its medium), then the Protestant Scripture Alone view is just as fatally flawed as the Catholic view. Protestants needed the authoritative Church to proclaim the canon of the New Testament, just as we need it to determine true apostolic tradition.

3) JEWISH ECCLESIOLOGY INCLUDED AUTHORITATIVE INTERPRETATION

*

The Jews did not have a me, the Bible, and the Holy Ghost mindset. Protestants have, of course, teachers, commentators, and interpreters of the Bible (and excellent ones at that  often surpassing Catholics in many respects). They are, however, strictly optional and non-binding when it comes down to the individual and his choice of what he chooses to believe. This is the Protestant notion of private judgment and the nearly absolute primacy of individual conscience (Luthers plowboy).

In Catholicism, on the other hand, there is a parameter where doctrinal speculation must end: the magisterium, dogmas, papal and conciliar pronouncements, catechisms  in a word (well, two words): Catholic tradition. Some things are considered to be settled issues. Others are still undergoing development.

All binding dogmas are believed to be derived from Jesus and the apostles. Now, who did the Jews resemble more closely in this regard? Did they need authoritative interpretation of their Torah, and eventually, the Old Testament as a whole? The Old Testament itself has much to tell us (RSV):

A) Exodus 18:20: Moses was to teach the Jews the statutes and the decisions  not just read it to them. Since he was the Lawgiver and author of the Torah, it stands to reason that his interpretation and teaching would be of a highly authoritative nature.

B) Leviticus 10:11: Aaron, Moses brother, is also commanded by God to teach.

C) Deuteronomy 17:8-13: The Levitical priests had binding authority in legal matters (derived from the Torah itself). They interpreted the biblical injunctions (17:11). The penalty for disobedience was death (17:12), since the offender didnt obey the priest who stands to minister there before the LORD your God. Cf. Deuteronomy 19:16-17; 2 Chronicles 19:8-10.

D) Deuteronomy 24:8: Levitical priests had the final say and authority (in this instance, in the case of leprosy). This was a matter of Jewish law.

E) Deuteronomy 33:10: Levite priests are to teach Israel the ordinances and law. (cf. 2 Chronicles 15:3; Malachi 2:6-8  the latter calls them messenger of the LORD of hosts).

F) Ezra 7:6, 10: Ezra, a priest and scribe, studied the Jewish law and taught it to Israel, and his authority was binding, under pain of imprisonment, banishment, loss of goods, and even death (7:25-26).

G) Nehemiah 8:1-8: Ezra reads the law of Moses to the people in Jerusalem (8:3). In 8:7 we find thirteen Levites who assisted Ezra, and who helped the people to understand the law. Much earlier, in King Jehoshaphats reign, we find Levites exercising the same function (2 Chronicles 17:8-9). There is no sola Scriptura, with its associated idea perspicuity (evident clearness in the main) here. In Nehemiah 8:8: . . . they read from the book, from the law of God, clearly [footnote, or with interpretation], and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

So the people did indeed understand the law (8:12), but not without much assistance  not merely upon hearing. Likewise, the Bible is not altogether clear in and of itself, but requires the aid of teachers who are more familiar with biblical styles and Hebrew idiom, background, context, exegesis and cross-reference, hermeneutical principles, original languages, etc.

H) I think all Christians agree that prophets, too, exercised a high degree of authority, so I need not establish that.The Catholic Church continues to offer authoritative teaching and a way to decide doctrinal and ecclesiastical disputes, and believes that its popes and priests have the power to bind and loose, just as the New Testament describes. Protestantism has no such system.

The Old Testament and Jewish history attest to a fact which Catholics constantly assert, over against sola Scriptura and Protestantism: that Holy Scripture requires an authoritative interpreter, a Church, and a binding tradition, as passed down from Jesus and the apostles.

4) PROPHETS SPOKEN WORDS CONSTITUTED THE WORD OF GOD

*

Protestant arguments in favor of sola Scriptura frequently contain the gratuitous assumption that word of the Lord, word of God, etc. is always or usually a reference to the written word (i.e., Holy Scripture). This simply is not the case. In fact, the exact opposite is true, as a good concordance (word) will quickly confirm. In the very verse my Baptist correspondent was trying to use as an example of the written word (Daniel 9:6), one can readily observe this. It reads: We have not listened to thy servants the prophets, who spoke in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.

It seems to me that the most straightforward primary meaning of this passage is as a reference to oral proclamation. The Old Testament Church and its Torah perpetuated itself  roughly up to the time of Ezra (5th century B.C.) primarily by oral and liturgical (Temple, priestly) tradition. Just as in Catholicism, Scripture for the Jews (to the extent that it was recognized as such  which was a process) was central but not the be-all and end-all of faith, or the sole rule of faith for atomistic individuals.

Like any other book, it needed (and needs) an interpreter, and when differences of interpretation arise, there is the need of a binding authority to settle the matter, so that chaos and relativism may not reign amongst Gods covenant people.

A prophets inspired utterance was indeed the word of the Lord, but it obviously was not written as it was spoken! Most if not all prophecy was first oral proclamation, but it was just as binding and inspired as oral revelation, as it was in later written form (i.e., those prophecies which were finally recorded  surely there were more). In this sense truly inspired prophecies are precisely analogous to the proclamation of the gospel, or kerygma, by the apostles.

Both the gospel and virtually the entire New Testament (excepting perhaps Revelation) began as oral preaching (notably, Jesus Himself wrote nothing), and was increasingly recognized by the early Church as inspired and hence Scripture. But it was just as binding before it was finally proclaimed Scripture in 397 A.D. It didnt become Scripture because the Church said so; rather, the Church authoritatively proclaimed, in effect, that these particular books are inherently Scripture and divinely inspired.

Sola Scriptura couldnt possibly be the formal authoritative model for Jews often without a written Scripture, nor for the early Church up to 397 AD! This is obviously the Catholic model of authority. Just as the Catholic Church verified the extent of New Testament Scripture, so it has the burden of orthodox interpretation of that Scripture, in order to maintain true apostolic doctrine. Sola Scriptura is historically (and logically and biblically) self-defeating.

Like its Jewish predecessor, this state of affairs (the process of canonization) is not sola Scriptura: it is tradition and binding Church authority which has the prerogative of determining the parameters of what is of its own essence Scripture.

The Church doesnt create Scripture (which is God-breathed), but merely recognizes it. It has to recognize it. That is the whole point. It is practically necessary. Tradition and binding Church authority also claim possession of the apostolic deposit and final say as to what are true Christian doctrines, and which are to be rejected as false.

When Peter interpreted Old Testament Scripture messianically and Christianly, in the Upper Room (as recorded in Acts 2), his word was just as authoritative and inspired as when it was set down in writing later. Throughout the book of Acts we see St. Peter and St. Paul exercising apostolic authority and preaching, not handing out Bibles.

Prophets were the Old Testament equivalent of apostles. Apostles passed on their office and authority (albeit in less spectacular and inspired form, no doubt) to bishops. And so the early Church had the notion of apostolic succession and apostolic tradition, which was the bottom line in doctrinal disputes  not simple recourse to Holy Scripture, as if there were no differences of opinion on it, and as if it were perspicuous.

Virtually all the heretics of the early Church period based themselves on Scripture Alone, but a skewed interpretation of the Scripture (and tradition). This was particularly true, I believe, of the Marcionites, Arians, and Nestorians.

5) PHARISEES, SADDUCEES AND THE NATURE OF TRUE JEWISH TRADITION

*

Many people do not realize that Christianity was derived in many ways from the Pharisaical tradition of Judaism. It was really the only viable option in the Judaism of that era. Since Jesus often excoriated the Pharisees for hypocrisy and excessive legalism, some assume that He was condemning the whole ball of wax. But this is throwing the baby out with the bath water. Likewise, the Apostle Paul, when referring to his pharisaical background doesnt condemn Pharisaism per se.

The Sadducees, on the other hand, were much more heretical. They rejected the future resurrection and the soul, the afterlife, rewards and retribution, demons and angels, and predestinarianism. Christian Pharisees are referred to in Acts 15:5 and Philippians 3:5, but never Christian Sadducees. The Sadducees following was found mainly in the upper classes, and was almost non-existent among the common people.

The Sadducees also rejected all oral Torah,  the traditional interpretation of the written that was of central importance in rabbinic Judaism. So we can summarize as follows:
During confirmation hearings, DeVos didnt know the difference between proficiency testing and growth testing. This matters because of schools like my daughters. Her school doesnt have the test scores of schools on the other side of town, and it never will, but this isnt the fault of the teachersits demographics. A school with a high rate of homelessness, a large number of English language learners, and high levels of poverty isnt going to make the same scores as a school filled with children from high-income, college-educated families.

DeVos has a long history of influence in Michigans educational system. Per Michigan law, any school whose test scores rank in the lowest 5% statewide for three years in a row can be shuttered by the state. (Note how far this is from local control.) The problem with this should be obvious to anyone familiar with how percentages worksomeone has to be in the bottom 5%. Even if every child in the state makes three grades worth of progress in one school year, the same number of schools will be in the bottom 5% as before.

Thirty-eight Michigan schools are slated for possible closure at the end of this school year based on the above 5% rule. I just looked up the demographics for every single one of these schools. On average, these schools are 91% black and 4% white. Four schools are 100% black. Thirteen schools are 99% black. No school on the list is more than 35% white; only five schools are more than 6% white (seventeen schools are 0% white, and 10 are 1% white). On average, 83% of students at these schools qualify for free or reduced school lunch. The lowest number of children enrolled in free or reduced school lunch programs is 68%; in seven schools, more than 90% of the students are enrolled in these programs.

In contrast, a full 73% of school-age children in Michigan are white. Statewide, only 46% of schoolchildren qualify for free or reduced school lunches.

If these scores are reflective of teacher quality and administrative management, and not students economic disadvantages, why arent there any non-poor, white schools on this list? If these scores are reflective of students economic disadvantages and not of teacher quality or administrative management, why are we closing these schools? And if it is about school quality, if non-poor, white schools are able to attract more qualified teachers and administrators, why close these schools rather than providing them with better funding so that they can attract similarly qualified staff?

Nothing about this makes sense. It reads as though these children are being punished for being poor and black. Sure, the ostensive goal is for quality charter schools to replaced these schools once theyre closed, but the results are in and charter schools havent been able to improve these students scoresand charters schools close more frequently than public schools (upending communities), and new school maps often leave school deserts, swaths of cities without reasonable access to schools.

As the state moves forward with its closure plansincluding 25 schools in Detroitparents are getting antsy.

None of the 25 schools in the city that could shut down at the end of this school year have nearby schools that are doing much better academically, a Free Press review of academic data shows. . . . Michele Phillips, whose three children attend Fisher Upper Magnet School, said she cant afford to pay for public transportation to send her children to a Detroit school located a few miles away, much less one much farther away. How am I going to get there? said Phillips, who doesnt have a car and whose children now walk five blocks to school.

I get antsy myself when I think about the possibility of my daughters school being closed. Theres talk of a school closure in our district to fix budget problems, and my daughters elementary school, when judged by test scores alone, is at the bottom. Whats hard to wrap my head around is this: I know the schools administration and teachers, and they are no less dedicated or qualified than those at high performing schools across town, in areas with greater white college educated non-poor homogeny. I know the children, and they dont love their school any less either.

You know what is different, though? The parents on the other side of town have larger incomes and bigger platforms and the clout to make sure their schools dont get closed. On this end of town, we are at a disadvantage on all of those fronts. Even our PTA is limited in what it can do by a lack of access to the sort of funds available to PTAs in richer neighborhoods. And there it is againparents in wealthy, white neighborhoods have more access to social and financial capital to protect their schools from closure than do parents in more diverse, poorer neighborhoods.

Inequalities abound.

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Patna: After clearly slamming demonetization during his highly-publicized appearance in New Delhi along with former Finance Minister P Chidambaram and media celebrity Barkha Dutt a few days ago, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said that his statements were twisted by the reporters as he had not made any U-turn on the issue as reported in both print and digital media.

"I never said what the media is saying. It is their interpretation of what I said. I have made my stand clear on this issue over and over again including during the birth anniversary celebration of Karpoori Thakur. My statements in Delhi were misinterpreted by the media and as such, I never made an U-turn on demonetization," Kumar insisted.

The Chief Minister, who was speaking at his weekly 'Jan Samvad' meeting at the Secretariat  a new avatar of the old 'Janata Durbar' - said that all he wanted to know was how the demonetization helped the nation since it was rolled out nearly three months ago.

"Until there is a deliberate move to ban acquisition of properties under fictitious names, no amount of efforts to cut down black money in the country would work," he said.

Kumar, however, failed to explain why he was being praised by Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders for 'changing his mind'.

The Chief Minister also lamented the degradation in political discourse saying politicians should mind their language to maintain the dignity of the office.

"People should use dignified language. Unfortunately, unparliamentary words were used against me as well in the past but I just ignore them," he said.

Reacting strongly on the Chief Minister's insinuation that only his opponents were in the habit of using 'undignified' language, a supporter of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi asked Kumar if he had given the same lecture to his ally and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tej Pratap Yadav who had recently suggested that the son of Modi may have been impotent which is why he was still a bachelor.

"We don't need a lecture on dignity from someone whose entire government is dependent on the support of Lalu, Rabri, and their two sons who have a long history of using dirty words to describe their opponents. It would be nice for a change for Nitish Kumar to look within his own coalition before sermonizing others on what constitutes decent language and what does not," said a party member.
Rohtas: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, with his two-month long 'Nishchay Yatra' finally ending with his speech in Patna earlier this month, wasted no time in leaving the state capital as he arrived in Rohtas district on Tuesday to review works going on in the Durgawati Reservoir project and the proposed Indrapuri Reservoir project.

Accompanied by the Water Resources Minister Lallan Singh, Energy Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav and a host of top bureaucrats, Kumar arrived by a helicopter at the Indrapuri Reservoir site at Nauhatta in Rohtas district.

Water Resources Principal Secretary Arun Kumar Singh, during his presentation before the Chief Minister, said that the proposed reservoir will be spread in an area of 55,636 square kilometers that would also have a modern hydro-electric power plant capable of producing 395W of energy.

Once in operation, the reservoir would be able to irrigate over 8 lakh hectares of land in the region, Singh said.

Kumar then flew to the Durgawati location at Badalgarh where officials got him up to speed on the progress.

Not happy with the progress, the Chief Minister directed the authorities to find solutions for a host of technical snags that had contributed towards delay in the project.

"It does not look like the water from the canal would be able to reach the farmers," he, an engineering graduate from the erstwhile Patna Engineering College, said while suggesting raising the height of the fall to cater to a large section of the farming land in the area.
Patna: Still reeling from the cheating controversy along with several other scandals that has given a black eye to the state in terms of its failing education system, Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) began its 10+2 exams on Tuesday amidst tight security arrangement with senior police officials personally making rounds at various test centers to ensure exams were being conducted in a lawful manner.

With the ghost of last year's 'ToppersGate' scam involving top government officials and college principals still looming in the minds of many people, the exams began on a peaceful note at more than 1200 centers across the state with over 12 lakh students appearing in it.

Like previous years, officials were quick to point out measures taken to reduce cheating in the exams like installation of video cameras in all rooms at all test centers and presence of armed security officials to deal with any kind of situation along with the imposition of Section 144 near the test centers. Though this has not deterred the more 'innovative' cheaters in the past, authorities are hopeful of being able to conduct the tests in a free and fair environment.

BSEB Chairperson Anand Kishore was personally seen conducting spot checks at many test centers as he expressed his hope to salvage the reputation of education in Bihar by punishing the guilty to the maximum as allowed under the current legal system. At least 220 students were reported to be expelled on the first day for cheating in the exams, officials said.

As reported, earlier test papers were leaked for the Bihar Staff Service Commission (BSSC) tests leading to the arrest of over two dozen people including BSSC secretary Parmeshwar Ram.

Meanwhile, authorities were investigating the news of test papers being leaked for Biology exam though some were quick to dismiss it as 'fake report'.

As reported, 12,61,793 students were said to be appearing in the plus two exams across Bihar. Out of this, 7,04,868 were said to be boys and 5,56,925 girls.

The exams end on February 25.
Iran should not put all eggs in one basket: University of Tehran Professor

02/14/17

By Mehdi Sepahvand, Katya Bohdan & Ali Kushki (source: Tehran Times)



Iran should not put all its eggs in one basket and it is necessary to establish "good ties" with all countries, says Davoud Hermidas Bavand, a politics professor at the University of Tehran.



Davoud Hermidas Bavand, Politics professor at the University of Tehran



For example, Bavand says, Iran "ought to have good relations with Russia" but it is not in interest of Iran to adopt a "strategic relationship with Russia".



The professor believes that Russia "utilizes Iran for the realization of its political objectives."



Below is the first part of the Tehran Times' interview with Bavand.



Q: Iran has been hailing its ties with Russia as strategic. How strategic do you think these relations are?



A: We should have good relationship with all countries. There's no doubt about that. But I do not take the current relations with Russia as strategic. We are neighbors with Russia, so we should have good relationship with Russia. But at the same time we have to bear in mind that Russia uses and utilizes Iran, primarily as a means for realization of its political objectives. For instance, with regard to nuclear technology, we adopted a sort of Ost-Politics Cooperation with Russia, China and India, but we all witnessed in the International Atomic Energy Agency that Russia and China supported the resolution of the Council and supported wholeheartedly the resolution of the Security Council. And even if you do remember, the last two resolutions, the resolutions of the Security Council were unconfined to the nuclear deal.



It was expanded to the missile situation and even defensive situation. And also declaration of the activities of Iran in Air Force and some other areas in the high seas. With regard to North Korea, China opposed any investigation and observation in the high seas. But contrariwise, neither Russia nor China supported the concentration.



"Approaching the EU is a good choice for Iran. We are doing that and we ought to do that."So, I do not believe that we genuinely have strategic relationship. Russia most often utilizes Iran as a means to its ends. With regard to the Caspian Sea situation, Russia adopted a totally different approach vis-a-vis Iran and I do not believe we have to put all of our eggs in one basket. We ought to have good relations with Russia, but I do not believe it is in interest of Iran to adopt strategic relationship with Russia.



In regards to Russia, we do have, inevitably, certain relations, because Russia is a neighboring state, at least through the Caspian Sea. After the Islamic Revolution our defense necessities turned toward Russia, so in that sense we do have some relations with Russia. Russia is very selective. We do have certain amount of economic relations with Russia. Russia might make certain statements in favor of Iran, but beyond statements, in the area of action, it adopts a very conservative position.



Q: Iran has been trying to approach the EU. But last year the German minister of economy while visiting Iran said his country, and maybe Europe in general, would establish stronger ties with Iran if Iran softens its stance on Israel. How large do you think Israel looms in Iran's foreign relations?



A: Approaching the EU is a good choice for Iran. We are doing that and we ought to do that. We ought to believe that there is matter of certainty and matter of degree. The EU have extensive relations with the U.S. So they ought to observe the views of the U.S. I do believe we ought to support the Palestinian issue in all international forums and international conventions wherever and whenever it is. We used to support it even before the Islamic revolution... we have suffered a very strong damage to our foreign policy (for supporting Palestinians). We have paid and continue to pay. We ought to support the Palestinian question at every international forum. ...bearing in mind at the same time (some countries within) the Arab union never appreciate Iran's approach. As far as Hamas is concerned, at the beginning of the Arab Spring it shifted toward Saudi Arabia and Turkey, but then when it could not get anywhere, it shifted back to Iran. So it is trying to move toward the realization of its own objectives and interests and is not subject to Iran's will and wish.
Iran, Luxemburg stress observance of nuclear deal

02/14/17

Source: Press TV

Iran and Luxembourg have laid emphasis on the need for all the parties to a multilateral nuclear deal between Iran and six other countries to comply with their contractual obligations. President Hassan Rouhani of Iran and Luxembourg's visiting Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn stressed the importance of continued commitment to the deal on the part of the relevant parties during a meeting in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Tuesday.



Iran's President Rouhani with Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn

(photo by Islamic Republic News Agency)

Luxembourg's top diplomat is in the Iranian capital at the head of a high-ranking political delegation.



Rouhani said the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as the agreement is officially known, was an accord devised and signed based on the "win-win" approach.



"Today, all should try to sustain this agreement," the Iranian president said, adding that the Islamic Republic will keep honoring its commitments as per the deal as long as the other parties keep honoring theirs.

Asselborn said his country supported the agreement as did the rest of the European Union (EU)'s members.



"In a multilateral agreement, all should act on their obligations. Peace does not come about in the absence of multilateralism and a lack of care for multilateral agreements," he said.



The JCPOA was reached between Iran on the one side, and the US, the UK, France, Germany, China, and Russia on the other. The administration of US President Donald Trump, which took over on January 20 this year, has threatened to unilaterally scrap it but faces pressure from the rest of the parties, which say the deal must stand.



(photo by Islamic Republic News Agency)



During the meeting with Asselborn, President Rouhani also said that consultation and cooperation between Iran and Europe can help better deal with such problems as terrorism and extremism that are faced by all countries.



The Islamic Republic can also serve as both an energy source for Europe and a means of connecting it to the Indian Ocean and East Asia, Rouhani noted.



Asselborn stressed Iran's importance for the EU and the country's "important and influential role in resolving regional issues."



Both sides also stressed their respective countries' willingness to expand bilateral ties.



Back in October last year, Luxembourg's Economy Minister Etienne Schneider visited Iran and held talks with his Iranian counterpart Ali Tayyeb-Nia on the further expansion of economic cooperation between the two countries in the near future.



Also on Tuesday, Asselborn and Tayyeb-Nia signed an agreement on encouraging mutual investments. The deal provides legal guarantees for the countries' businessmen.



The European official also announced the finalization of an agreement on cooperation between the two sides' Central Banks.
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UPDATE (Wednesday, Feb. 15): City attorney: Riverside pot business the first to be forced closed

After months of legal battling, Riverside city officials shut down a medical marijuana dispensary that had been operating illegally in the Magnolia Center neighborhood.

Riverside police, fire and code enforcement officials shut down the Re-up dispensary on Central Avenue between San Diego and Riverside avenues Thursday, according to a city news release. Officials said it was operating in violation of zoning laws. Riverside residents voted in 2015 to ban medical marijuana dispensaries.

Riverside Ward 3 Councilman Mike Soubirous said 10 to 12 medical marijuana dispensaries could be operating illegally in the city. The legal process to shut them down could take months to a year, he said. Court records show that city attorneys filed for a permanent injunction against Re-up in September.

Undercover police had purchased marijuana from the dispensary, according to the release, which also said the business violated codes related to the ability to enter and exit the facility.

The city had issued cease and desist letters to the dispensary and later red-tagged it, making it illegal to enter the building, and disconnected its utilities, the release said.

The dispensarys operators started using a generator for power, the release said.

Soubirous said neighbors had been complaining about the dispensary for months, then complained further about the generator.

During the operation Thursday, the dispensarys operators were removed from the building and it was boarded up. Court records show the dispensarys owners filed a lawsuit against the city the day before the raid seeking declaratory and injunctive relief.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9284 or atadayon@scng.com Twitter: @PE_alitadayon
A university protest turns violent over a controversial speaker. Cities refuse to cooperate with immigration officials. Lawmakers vow to declare all of California a sanctuary state.

President Donald Trumps response? Pull the plug on coveted federal dollars to California.

Can the president deliver on those threats? No, but Congress can, experts say.

Right now Trump is threatening things that he doesnt have the power to do, said Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of UC Irvines law school and an expert on constitutional law.

That authority generally lies with Congress, he said, who could bestow such power on Trump. But it hasnt done that yet, Chemerinsky said. And Trump cant do that by executive order.

Yet. The stakes, meanwhile, are pretty big.

California, and its cities and counties, receive billions in federal dollars to help pay for everything from health care to education to law enforcement to transportation.

Sacramento, for example, is preparing to spend more than $284 billion in the fiscal year that begins July 1 for all programs, according to the state Department of Finance. Of that amount, $105 billion  37 percent  is projected to be federal dollars. The rest is to come from state income, sales, corporate and other taxes, and from various fees.

At the same time, the Legislative Analysts Office estimates that California cities, counties and special districts collectively receive $8 billion-plus a year from the federal government.

Weaponizing money

Republican politicians warn that Democrats defying Trump are playing with fire. California Republican Party Chairman Jim Brulte, an influential former state lawmaker from Rancho Cucamonga, is among them.

The Democrat leaders are setting California up to be the martyr for the liberal elite, Brulte said in an email. Their proposal to make California a sanctuary state poses a serious risk to billions of much needed federal dollars, all the while ignoring the majority of Californians who havent shown support for sanctuary cities.

Democrats say the president is playing with peoples lives.

President Trumps threat to weaponize federal funding is not only unconstitutional but emblematic of the cruelty he seeks to impose on our most vulnerable communities, state Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, said in a written statement.

Rhetoric aside, public officials say they are concerned.

I do think the threat is real, former Assemblyman Mike Gatto, D-Los Angeles, said by phone.

The federal budget is so vast and so incredibly complicated that Id be shocked if there wasnt some way to have an impact on a state this size, Gatto said.

Applying pressure

Chemerinsky said a sequence of steps would have to happen before a threat could be carried out.

First, Chemerinsky said, conditions for withholding cash would have to be clearly spelled out in a new federal law. He said conditions would need to be consistent with the purpose of the federal program associated with the specific line of funding involved.

At the same time, such a law could not be seen as coercing states.

The federal government cant punish states for doing things it doesnt like, said Adam Winkler, a UCLA law professor who specializes in American constitutional law. But it can say that, Hey, were giving you money and we want you to use that money in a certain way.

For example, the federal government was on solid legal ground when, in the 1980s, it established a national minimum drinking age of 21 and threatened to withhold funds to states that didnt raise theirs, Winkler said. Theres a relationship, he said. Youre talking about highway safety.

On the other hand, Winkler said, the federal government could not deny Californians Social Security benefits. Theres no connection between that and, say, sanctuary cities, he said.

Losing out

Connections aside, there currently are no laws, Chemerinsky said, that authorize Trump to withhold specific dollars. No law, for example, says federal money can be withheld from a university if a protest gets out of hand and results in cancellation of a campus speech.

But he said Congress could try to pass a law to enable such a process. And Congress could enact legislation to withhold law enforcement money from sanctuary communities who refuse to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, Chemerinsky said.

He said its unlikely Congress could withhold education funding. A landmark 1982 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Plyler v. Doe, held that states cant deny public education to students on account of immigration status.

There are practical limits to what Trump can do, too, suggested Christopher Thornberg, a Los Angeles economist who serves as director of UC Riversides Center for Economic Forecasting and Development.

He can say whatever what he wants, Thornberg said. Whether he can get Congress to go along  is a completely separate question.

Yes, California is a blue state with a lot of Democrats.

But dont forget that Kevin McCarthy lives in California, Thornberg said of the House Republican leader. Hes a pretty high-ranking member of Congress. Hes not going to be too happy to see his constituents lose out on money.

Federal money in some local grants is for law enforcement, and experts said it might be vulnerable. San Bernardino, which has not declared itself a sanctuary city and is unlikely to be affected, offers an example.

Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said his department has more than 220 sworn officers, and 11 of them  roughly 5 percent  are funded by federal dollars.

No doubt it would be concerning to lose that funding and those officers, Burguan said.

But, he said, None of this is the end of the world.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9699ddowney@scng.comTwitter: PE_DavidDowney
An injured hiker was hoisted to rescue Monday morning, Feb. 13, after spending the night on Mount San Jacinto.

The hiker, who was alone, contacted the Riverside County Sheriffs Department about 10 p.m. Sunday to report that he got hurt on the Skyline Trail at the 8,000-foot level and was unable to come down on his own, said Sheriffs Department spokesman Deputy Mike Vasquez.

Vasquez said the hiker was not prepared to spend the night on the mountain.

Deputies used a helicopter to locate the hiker about 9 a.m. Monday. With the help of Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit volunteers, deputies hoisted the hiker to safety and got him off the mountain.

The hikers injuries were not life threatening, Vasquez said. The extent of the hikers injuries werent known to Vasquez immediately after the rescue.

The Sheriffs Department requests that people dont hike alone.
UPDATE (Wednesday, Feb. 15): Heres what Inland Democrats want to know about immigration arrests

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation that resulted in 161 arrests in six Southern California counties last week was part of a series of targeted enforcement operations that netted hundreds more potentially deportable immigrants across the nation, a top security chief said Monday.

ICE officers in the areas of Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, San Antonio and New York City arrested more than 680 people who pose a threat to public safety, border security or the integrity of our nations immigration system, said U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly in a written statement.

About 75 percent of those arrested in the multi-day operations were criminal aliens, who were convicted of crimes that include homicide, sexual abuse, sexual assault of a minor, drug trafficking, assault, driving under the influence and weapons charges, among others, he said.

ICE conducts these kind of targeted enforcement operations regularly and has for many years, Kelly said. The focus of these enforcement operations is consistent with the routine, targeted arrests carried out by ICEs Fugitive Operations teams on a daily basis.

Trump has repeatedly vowed to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. An executive order he signed days after assuming office suggests that nearly all undocumented immigrants could be prioritized for deportation. That order, along with news of last weeks ICE raids, has helped to spark fear among many Latino and other immigrants who are concerned that they or their loved ones could be detained or deported.

Angelica Salas, the executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, said there are likely many people arrested in the raids who committed non-violent crimes years ago, already paid their time in jail and have reestablished their lives. Now ICE is revisiting their situation after in many cases, the agency had previously processed them and it was determined they would not be deported.

Now, the additional cost is deportation and separation from their families, she said. I think its punishment beyond the crime that was committed.

Meanwhile, more details emerged Monday about the 161 individuals arrested in last weeks L.A.-area ICE operation conducted in the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara and Ventura.

Of the total arrested, 94 percent (151 people) had prior criminal convictions, according to an ICE statement Monday. Of the 10 non-criminals taken into custody, half had final orders of removal or had been previously deported, ICE officials had said previously.

About half (81) had final removal orders issued by an immigration judge at the time of their arrest or had been previously deported and illegally returned to the U.S., according to ICE officials.

The vast majority of those arrested in the Southern California operation were nationals from Mexico (121) but also included those from El Salvador (16), Guatemala (11), China (2), Nicaragua (2), Jamaica (2) as well as one each from Honduras, Belize, Philippines, Australia, Brazil, Israel and South Korea, according to ICE.

L.A. County saw the highest number of arrests during the five-day targeted operation with 95, followed by Orange County with 35, then San Bernardino County with 13, and Riverside County with 7, according to an ICE fact sheet released Monday. Ventura County saw 6 arrests while Santa Barbara County had 5.

Virginia Kice, ICEs Western regional spokeswoman, said those taken into custody were believed to be potentially deportable by the agency. They can include the undocumented, those who may have been in the country legally at one point but their status has lapsed, and green card holders who have significant criminal convictions that would render them deportable, she said. The ultimate responsibility for removal rests with the nations immigration courts. However, if someone has already been deported or has a final order of removal from an immigration court, we can remove them fairly expediently, she said.

At least 42 of the total had domestic violence convictions, 26 had drug offenses, 23 had assault convictions, 17 had sex crimes convictions and 17 had DUI convictions  though those with multiple prior convictions were categorized based on their most serious conviction. Burglary, weapons violations, vehicle theft and cruelty toward child were also among the convictions listed.

ICE officials said the raids were conducted in accordance with routine, daily targeted operations conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) fugitive operations teams every day to arrest criminal aliens and other individuals who are in violation of our nations immigration laws.

In addition, 37 of the 161 individuals (23 percent) arrested in last weeks ICE operation have already been repatriated, according to ICE officials. Those arrested who have not previously been through removal proceedings will be scheduled for a future hearing before an immigration judge.

In Orange County, activists were still trying to determine Monday who had been affected by the sweeps, and to quell some of the panic that ICEs enforcement actions have created among undocumented immigrants and their families.

Were seeing the effect that this is having on the community  people really are frightened, they are a lot more cautious with law enforcement, said Hairo Cortes, program coordinator at Orange County Immigrant Youth United. Theres a heightened sense of danger.

Cortes added that, since last week, rumors of ICE patrols have been circulating on social media, although in most cases the reports have turned out to be false.

Benjamin Wood, an immigrant rights organizer with the Pomona Economic Opportunity Center said that the initial panic has subsided somewhat since reports of ICE raids began circulating last week. Statements from the Department of Homeland Security, he said, have provided some clarity about who immigration agents are targeting with enforcement operations.

It does seem like these werent arbitrary stops, Wood said. But, he added, the less details there are, the greater potential there is for people to use their imagination to fill those gaps.

Staff writer Grace Wyler contributed to this report.

Contact the writer: bgazzar@scng.com@bgazzar on Twitter
Enrique Marquez Jr. will admit in court this week that he illegally purchased the rifles used in the deadly San Bernardino terrorist siege for friend Syed Rizwan Farook and that he helped Farook form plans for attacks on the 91 Freeway and Riverside City College that were later scuttled, the U.S. Attorneys Office said Tuesday, Feb. 14.

Marquez, a 25-year-old Riverside resident, has agreed to a deal that could imprison him for the statutory maximum sentence of 25 years to life in federal prison and a $500,000 fine, a news release said.

Marquez is scheduled to plead guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Riverside to conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and making a false statement in connection with the acquisition of firearms.

He originally pleaded not guilty to additional charges involving to a fake-marriage scheme that was designed to help a Russian citizen related to Farook remain in the U.S. after long overstaying her visa. Those charges will be dropped at sentencing, according to the plea deal.

Marquezs trial had been set for Sept. 26.

Marquez has not been charged with directly participating in the Dec. 2, 2015, San Bernardino attack, and federal authorities say Marquez had no advanced knowledge of the shooting.

That morning, Farook, 28, and wife Tashfeen Malik, 29, opened fire in a conference room at the Inland Regional Center, where Farooks San Bernardino County Division of Environmental Health Services co-workers were enjoying a holiday party.

The couple killed 14 people and wounded 22 others. Police killed them in a gunbattle hours later.

The material support to terrorists involved the purchase of weapons and explosives for planned attacks in 2011 and 2012 that went unused until the San Bernardino attack.

Over 2011 and 2012, Marquez purchased a Smith and Wesson M&P-15 Sport rifle and a DPMS model A-15 rifle for Farook, according to the Department of Justices affidavit written in support of the criminal complaint against Marquez. Each rifle cost approximately $750.

According to the affidavit, Marquez told investigators that he agreed to purchase the weapons because his appearance was Caucasian, while Farook looked Middle-Eastern. Farook was born in Illinois. Marquez is a U.S. citizen.

Marquez also purchased explosive material ultimately used to construct a pipe bomb found at the IRC.

The day after the San Bernardino attack, Marquez called 911 and told the operator, My neighbor. He did the San Bernardino shooting.  The (expletive) used my gun in the shooting, according to a transcript of the call contained in the FBI affidavit.

Marquez then checked himself into a mental health facility. The FBI eventually arrested Marquez and questioned him for 10 days, during which, the affidavit said, Marquez admitted his role in the Riverside plots.

NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBORS

Marquez met Farook when Marquezs family moved in next door in Riverside in 2005. Both attended La Sierra High, a few years apart.

The two shared interests in cars and guns.

Marquez had worked since 2012 as a doorman at Morgans Tavern in Riverside, getting around by bicycle, but his California security guard license expired in 2014.

Marquez worked as a guard at the Wal-Mart on McKinley Avenue in Corona for about two months, until about the time of the attack.

Riverside musician Crystal Carrera in 2015 said she knew Marquez from Morgans, where she once worked security. On nights when she performed, Marquez would fill in for her at the door and took over the job when she left.

Carrera was shocked to see his picture on TV.

I thought it was a joke, she said. I keep trying to wrap my mind around it.

Marquez was into punk music. When he started going to the bar, he hung out with whoever was there, but he started getting into the bands and becoming part of the Inland music scene, Carrera said.

Tavern owner Jerry Morgan in 2015 called Marquez a cheery, efficient, easygoing doorman who was honest and never caused problems.

Marquez struck Morgan as the sort of kid who didnt belong anywhere, and the owner said he tried to make him feel welcome. When Morgan and his wife learned of alleged involvement in a terrorist plot, he balked.

 Enrique?  Morgan recalls telling her.  That guy couldnt fight his way out of a paper bag.'

After Morgan learned of Marquezs plea Tuesday, he said Marquez should get 10 years in prison, but not 25 to life, especially after Marquez called 911 and confessed to buying the guns.

Morgan believes Marquez was a follower who just went along with Farook.

Marquez was stupid, Morgan said.

The kid was not a professional terrorist or jihadist. Hes just a dummy who got hooked up in a lot of (trouble) that he had no business being hooked up in, said Morgan. He fooled me. If you was to sit in my bar and look at 20 of my customers, he would be the last one youd think would be capable of this.

SHOCKING REVELATION

Marquezs and Farooks former neighbor, Jared Rork, reacted with horror Tuesday after learning for the first time that the pair had conspired in 2011 and 2012 to attack Riverside City College and the 91 freeway.

Oh my God. Thats insane, said Rork, who attended RCC, like Marquez and possibly Farook, who was registered there as a student for years, according to a U.S Attorneys Office affidavit.

Rork, 36, said he still considers the college home.

To attack that many innocent people and try to destroy something that does good for so many  he needs to serve his time, Rork said. Thats just insanity to hurt that many people.

Rork was their neighbor on Tomlinson Avenue in Riverside. Marquez and Farook lived next door to each other for years. They went to the same Riverside high school, until Marquez transferred to a continuation high school, and worked on cars together in their driveways.

Rork often saw them working late at night in Marquezs garage. On Tuesday, he remembered telling his wife, long before the Dec. 2 attack, about seeing the flickering light of welding torches inside the garage and wondering if Marquez and Farook were making bombs.

At the time, his wife said he was being prejudiced. After the shooting in San Bernardino, Rork told a police officer what hed seen.

STUDENT BECOMES TEACHER

Marquez was raised a Catholic, but Farook soon converted him to Islam, according to the affidavit. Several years later, Marquez began listening to lectures from a terrorist, Anwar al-Awlaki.

In 2011, the affidavit said, Farook provided more radical Islamic material to Marquez. The pair began planning attacks on Riverside City College and on motorists on the 91 freeway, the affidavit said.

And as part of those plans, the affidavit said Marquez told federal investigators, Marquez was now teaching Farook: In this case, how to build bombs and detonate them by using the filament from a Christmas light bulb to create a spark.

The plans were halted in 2012 when FBI agents coincidentally arrested a group of Inland men who planned to join Al-Qaida overseas and attack American service personnel there, according to an FBI affidavit filed in federal court.

Staff Writer Suzanne Hurt contributed to this report.

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Just in time for Valentines Day, a bill reintroduced in the U.S. Senate Monday, Feb. 13, would show some love to local endangered species, restoring mining-degraded habitat in the Upper Santa Ana River Wash in Redlands.

The bill proposes a land swap that would move mining operations to protect plants and animals where the wash joins Mill Creek.

Those include three endangered species  the San Bernardino kangaroo rat, slender-horned spineflower and Santa Ana woolly-star; the threatened California gnatcatcher; and the cactus wren.

On Monday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, reintroduced the Santa Ana Wash Plan Land Exchange Act, a month after similar legislation was introduced in the House by Reps. Paul Cook, R-Yucca Valley, and Pete Aguilar, D-Redlands.

If passed, the legislation would direct the Bureau of Land Management to trade 327 acres of federal land degraded by mining operations with about 310 acres of pristine land owned by the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District.

The district, which partnered on a wash habitat-conservation plan with the Upper Santa Ana River Wash Plan Task Force, would work to restore the land as habitat for the animal and plant species.

The plan also allows 15 miles of trails to be developed and supports recharging local groundwater aquifers.

According to H.R. 497, the conservation district may exchange another 59 acres and/or the Bureau of Land Management another 90 acres if needed to equalize fair market values of the land.

Such a trade would concentrate mining operations by two companies that excavate natural materials used to make concrete and cement into one area, said Feinstein spokesman Adam Russell.

The move also would help solidify a patchwork of 1,347 acres of open space the water conservation district would manage in the wash planning area.

The planning area totals about 4,500 acres owned by the BLM or conservation district from the mouth of the Santa Ana River Canyon in the San Bernardino Mountains to Alabama Street in Redlands, where it intersects with the wash.

Identical legislation known as the Santa Ana River Wash Plan Land Exchange Act was introduced in the Senate and U.S. House of Representatives in 2016 and 2015 respectively, but the measures failed to make it out of committees.

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Contact the writer: 951-368-9444 or shurt@scng.com
President Donald Trumps embattled national security adviser Michael Flynn resigned late Monday night, following reports that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russia. His departure upends Trumps senior team after less than one month in office.

In a resignation letter, Flynn said he held numerous calls with the Russian ambassador to the U.S. during the transition and gave incomplete information about those discussions to Vice President Mike Pence. The vice president, apparently relying on information from Flynn, initially said the national security adviser had not discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy, though Flynn later conceded the issue may have come up.

Trump named retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg as the acting national security adviser. Kellogg had previously been appointed the National Security Council chief of staff and advised Trump on national security issues during the campaign.

The Justice Department warned the Trump administration weeks ago that contradictions between the public depictions and the actual details of the calls could leave Flynn in a compromised position, an administration official and two other people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press Monday night.

One person with knowledge of the situation said the Justice Department alerted the White House that there was a discrepancy between what officials were saying publicly about the contacts and the facts of what had occurred. Pence  apparently relying on information from Flynn  initially said sanctions were not discussed in the calls, though Flynn has now told White House officials that the topic may have come up.

A second official said the Justice Department was concerned Flynn could be in a compromised position as a result.

The White House has been aware of the Justice Department warnings for weeks, an administration official said, though it was unclear whether Trump and Pence had been alerted.

The people insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The Washington Post was the first to report the communication between the Justice Department, including former acting attorney general Sally Yates, and the Trump administration.

Flynn apologized to Pence last week, following a Washington Post report asserting that the national security adviser has indeed discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Trump was consulting with Pence on Monday about his conversations with the national security adviser. Asked whether the president had been aware that Flynn might discuss sanctions with the Russian envoy, Spicer said, No, absolutely not.

Trump, who comments on a steady stream of issues on his Twitter feed, has been conspicuously silent about the matter since The Washington Post reported last week that Flynn had discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy. A U.S. official told The Associated Press that Flynn was in frequent contact with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak on the day the Obama administration slapped sanctions on Russia for election-related hacking, as well as at other times during the transition.

Flynns discussions with the Russian raised questions about whether Flynn offered assurances about the incoming administrations new approach. Such conversations would breach diplomatic protocol and possibly violate the Logan Act, a law aimed at keeping citizens from conducting diplomacy.

Earlier Monday, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said Trump had full confidence in Flynn, though her assertions were not backed up by other senior Trump aides. Spicer would say only that Flynn was continuing to carry out his daily functions.

Flynn was spotted near the Oval Office just after 10 p.m. Monday. Amid the uncertainty over Flynns future, several of the presidents top advisers, including chief of staff Reince Priebus and counsel Don McGahn, ducked in and out of late-night meetings in the West Wing.

Several House Democrats called on Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, to launch an investigation into Flynns ties to Russia. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi called for Flynn to be fired, saying he cannot be trusted not to put Putin before America.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said that if Pence were misled, I cant imagine he would have trust in Gen. Flynn going forward. She said it would also be troubling if Flynn had been negotiating with a foreign government before taking office.

Its illegal for private citizens to conduct U.S. diplomacy. Flynns conversations also raise questions about Trumps friendly posture toward Russia after U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Moscow hacked Democratic emails during the election.

The controversy comes as Trump and his top advisers seek to steady the White House after a rocky start. The president, who seeks input from a wide range of business associates, friends and colleagues, has been asking people their opinions on his senior team, including Spicer and Priebus.

Advisers have privately conceded that the White House spit out too many disparate messages in the first few weeks, though they also note that the presidents own tweets sometimes muddy the days plans before most of the White House staff has arrived for work.

Trump voiced support for Priebus Monday, saying the chief of staff was doing, not a good job, a great job. But he did not make a similar show of support for his national security adviser.

Flynn sat in the front row of Trumps news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier Monday. The president did not receive a question about Flynns future from the two reporters who were called upon, and he ignored journalists shouted follow-up inquiries as he left the room.

Over the weekend, Trump told associates he was troubled by the situation, but did not say whether he planned to ask Flynn to step down, according to a person who spoke with him recently. Flynn was a loyal Trump supporter during the campaign, but he is viewed skeptically by some in the administrations national security circles, in part because of his ties to Russia.

In 2015, Flynn was paid to attend a gala dinner for Russia Today, a Kremlin-backed television station, and sat next to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the event.

Flynn spoke with the vice president about the matter twice on Friday, according to an administration official. The official said Pence was relying on information from Flynn when he went on television and denied that sanctions were discussed with Kislyak.

The administration officials and those who spoke with the president recently were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and insisted on anonymity.

The controversy surrounding Flynn comes as the young administration grapples with a series of national security challenges, including North Koreas reported ballistic missile launch. The president, who was joined at his Mar-a-Lago estate by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over the weekend, voiced solidarity with Japan.

The White House is also dealing with fallout from the rocky rollout of Trumps immigration executive order, which has been blocked by the courts. The order was intended to suspend the nations refugee program and bar citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.
With just 21 days to the commencement of the year-long Ghana 60 Years On anniversary celebrations, the planning committee has since received just a single donation of GH300,000 from Unibank.



So far, we have only one contribution from Unibank, Chairman of the Planning Committee, Mr Ken Amankwah, revealed at a press briefing at the Flagstaff House in Accra on Monday.



I want to reinforce our appeal again to corporate Ghana, particularly private enterprises, to be generous to be able to see our programme through, he said.



The chairman in his engagement with the media explained that although some corporate entities have made pledges to support the celebrations, they are yet to redeem their pledges.



The President, Nana Akufo-Addo, constituted a 30-member committee to plan a modest 60th Independence celebration under the Theme, Mobilising For Ghanas Future with a proposed budget of GH20,0000 to be sourced from corporate and private entities.



Anniversary budget is for a years activities



Outlining activities for the celebrations, the chairman emphasised that contrary to concerns by some section of the public that the proposed budget would be expended on a one-off event; the amount would cover the year-long activities to be replicated in all regions of the country.



Mr Lord Commey, a member of the committee responding to a question on public criticism of the relevance of expending such amount for the celebrations when they could be used for other socially useful ends, such the budget is a complete departure from events of such nature in the past.



Ghana @ 50 cost 75 million dollars



He argued that the budget amount for this year long programme is far less that the amount used by the previous government for similar celebration with activities lasting just some few days.



We dont want to sound political in trying to respond to some of the political talk outside there, 10 years ago, what I know about $75 million was spent on [email protected] 50.



March past alone at Ghana @59 cost GH4million



He added that available records indicate that the 59th anniversary celebrations budget of the march past alone at the independence square was close to GH4 million.



He argued further that 10 years on the Nana Addo government is spending just $4million on a year-long program which is indicative of the governments commitment to modest expenditure.



I am sure that at the end of this whole exercise, Ghanaians would be very proud of it, he assured.



A line up activities for the first phase of the celebrations would include the launch of Jubilee Tech Start-Up challenge aimed at unveiling innovation that would boost governance, business, health and education, among others.



Other programmes would include a documentary recounting the struggle to independence, a national flag draping campaign, a national festival on culture, among many others.



Logo not plagiarised



The communications unit of the committee debunked assertions by sections of the public that the logo for the anniversary was plagiarised.



The logo has since its unveiling has attracted many comments, especially on social media platforms with many suggesting that the design was plagiarized.



But the committee says it settled on the logo after soliciting for a number of artworks from various designers.



We ensured that we saw the process with which they were going through in designing their logos, Jefferson Sackey of the communication working group of the committee said.



He noted that checks done by the committee has not found the logo to belong to any other entity.





Source: The Finder









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

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Ghanas participation in this years pilgrimage to the Holy land of Mecca in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has started on a bumpy note with both vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the National Chief Imam; Shiekh Dr Osman Nuhu Sharabutu reported seething with anger over neglect.



Information filtering into the office of The aL-hAJJ indicates that vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is not a happy man as a result of President Akufo-Addo denying him the honor to reconstitute the recently announced 14 Member Hajj Board; charged to oversee this years Hajj operations.



The National Chief Imam, who is the spiritual Head of Muslims in Ghana, is also reported alarmed by the decision to constitute the Hajj Board without consulting him.



Describing the 14-member committee as too partisan, spokesperson of the Chief Imam, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, told Citi Fm, that the Chief Imam was not consulted before the announcement of the newly constituted Board.



It appears to me that the Board has been rashly been composed without taking time to study the structure and the outcome of the work of the previous committee so we can learn the lessons from there, he noted.



Meanwhile, sources at the Flag Staff House have also told The aL-hAJJ that being a Muslim, Doctor (Dr Bawumia) was of the view Hajj operations which include the appointment of members of the Board will come under his purview, but he was disappointed when the president himself performed that duty.



Though the vice president was reported consulted on the appointment of members of the Hajj board, a source added that persons he (Dr Bawumia) had promised key roles in the Hajj operations were not considered. Dr Bawumia had his own people he had penciled to manage Hajj even before we won the electionthis was because he thought he will superintend over all Muslim affairs.



We know that under late Prof Mills, Mahama as vice-president was allowed, in consultation with the National Chief Imam, to oversee Hajj operations because he is a Northerner. So being a Muslim, it would have been fair that Dr Bawumia was given the opportunity to choose people he thinks could manage the Hajj very well, but unfortunately the president thought otherwise, another source added.

Apparently, former Greater Accra regional minister, Sheikh I C Quaye, a close confidant of President Akufo Adddo; had to up-his lobbying skills in order to go pass NPP NASARA Coordinator, Kamal-Deen Abdulai and two other Bawumia loyalists to snatch the Hajj Chairmanship Job.



Though all those who missed out on the Hajj Chairman post have subsequently been made members of the Hajj board to oversee the annual holy journey to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, reports indicate that all was not well with the boards composition and functions.



President Akufo-Addo last week named Sheikh I.C Quaye and 13 others to oversee this years Hajj operations. A statement issued by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, named Sheikh I C Quaye as Chairman of the board who will be supported by 10 others.



The statement also named Dr Seidu Zakaria as Head of Medical Team, Abdulai Rahman Alhassan Gomda as Head of Communications and Dr Sani Abdulai as Head of IT.



In a related development, some regional Chief Imams have also reacted to the names of members of the Board, saying there was no consultation to include regional representatives.

Ashanti Regional Chief Imam, Sheikh Abdul Mumin Harun, is demanding that the Board be dissolved and reconstituted to include regional representatives.



It will allow for all the regional Imams to be informed. We dont want some people to blame government and say that the government doesnt like Muslims and that is why some people couldnt perform Hajj, he stated.



Members of the newly constituted Board, who have commenced work even before the official announcement, sources say, have been picking on each other. So far their working relationship has been anything but cordial. Almost all of them had intentions of becoming Hajj board chairpersons and though they missed out, they still see themselves as such. If nothing is done about it, it may affect the smooth running of this years hajj, a source close to the newly constituted Hajj board disclosed to The aL-hAJJ.



Another disturbing development that is most likely to impede smooth operations of Hajj, according to the source, is the elbowing amongst the Hajj Board members. All members believe they are at par since they were all appointed by the President and therefore are answerable to him rather than the Hajj Board Chairman.



The source further explained that conventionally, the President only appoints the Hajj Board Chairman in the consultation with the National Chief Imam and he in turn appoints members of the Board he thinks he can work with. But presently, the president appointed all members of the Board, and some of these members were persons who were lobbying for the Hajj Chairman post.



This, according to the source, if not checked, could create a situation where aggrieved members of the Board could sabotage the Hajj Chairman to ensure he fails.



In the case of those who have been appointed to Head the specialized teams, previously; it was done by the Hajj Board Chairman in consultations with others but this time round the president directly or personally appointed these persons. These are some of the things creating problems at the initial stage of this years Hajj organization and I fear it may degenerate very soon. Already some members of the Board who should have been part of the delegation to the recent Hajj conference who were dropped allegedly on the instructions of the Chairman are reported harboring anger.



Prior to the official announcement of members of the board, Sheikh I C Quaye and the Minister of Inner Cities and Zongo Development, Abubakar Saddiq Boniface were engaged in cold war over whether the Hajj board will operate under the newly created ministry.



The new Hajj Board Chairman recently flared up when The aL-hAJJ sort his views on suggestions that the newly created Inner Cities and Zongo Development Ministry will superintend the activities of the Hajj Committee.



That is stupid Tell the man going round saying this thing that he is stupidfoolish. The Hajj Committee is under the office of the President not the Inner Cities and Zongo Development Ministry. How can the Hajj Committee be under the Zongo Development Ministry? Whoever is going round saying this thing is stupid. Tell the person I said he is stupid, Sheikh I C Quaye fumed.



He angrily said Alhaji Boniface Abubakar Saddique cannot go round saying the Hajj Committee is under his ministry. Hajj Committee can never be under that ministryHajj Committee is directly under the office of the president. Nonsense! How can he go round saying this thing?



This was after the Inner Cities and Zongo Development Minister had said on an Accra based radio station, Marhaba Fm that part of his ministrys job will be to supervise the activities of the Hajj Committee, adding that; the Hajj Committee will be an agency under his Ministry.



Meanwhile, sources at the presidency have told this paper that Shiekh IC Quaye has managed to convince the President to give clear instructions to Boniface that Hajj Board is not an agency under his ministry. The Board will report directly to the president so its an agency under the presidency.



But with the concerns being raised by the National Chief Imam and leaders of the Muslim community, President Akufo-Addo and the NPP government may have to find ways to win the trust and confidence of all stakeholders or risk marring this years Hajj.







Source: The Al-Hajj









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

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The President of the National House of Chiefs of Togo and Paramount Chief of Notsie, Togbe Agorkoli IV, on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 paid a historic visit to the seat of government, the first time a Chief from Togo has paid a courtesy call on the President of the Republic.



Togbe Agorkoli IV, who was accompanied by the President of Ghanas House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV, and 9 other Paramount Chiefs from Togo and the Volta Region, noted that his visit to President Akufo-Addo was to extend fraternal greetings from the people of Notsie, the ancestral home of Ewes, and the people of Togo, to Ghanaians.



He noted that the decision by President Akufo-Addo to accept his request for a meeting is indicative of the respect Ghanas President has for the institution of Chieftaincy.



As Chiefs, Togbe Agorkoli indicated that their responsibility is to adhere to the vision of their respective Heads of State, and, thus, admonished all Ghanaian traditional rulers to extend their full support and co-operation to the government of President Akufo-Addo so development, progress and prosperity can be extended to all parts of the country.



Togbe Agorkoli IV also used the opportunity of his visit to invite the President to the well-known September 9, 2017 festival of the people of Notsie.



Togbe Afede XIV, the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, who also addressed the meeting, indicated that one of the reasons for the courtesy call on President Akufo-Addo by Togbe Agorkoli is because he was inspired by your pledge and commitment to the Ghanaian people to be a Father for all.



He added that the boldness of vision already espoused by President Akufo-Addo is one which will ensure that all ethnic and religious groupings are united with the common goal of developing the country.



President Akufo-Addo, taking his turn to address the delegation, thanked Togbe Agorkoli for the courtesy of his visit, and reciprocated the goodwill messages extended to him by the King of Notsie.













President Akufo-Addo assured that a solid relationship between Ghana and Togo is one he will seek to advance over the course of his tenure of office, revealing that in the just ended 28th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, he, together with His Excellency President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo, agreed to meet on a regular basis to discuss issues pertaining to the advancement of the two countries.



The President further stressed that the relations existing between political and traditional rulers are essential for the well-being of the citizenry, and indicated that his government will do all within its power to ensure relations between these vital bodies remain cordial for the forward movement of the country.



He also assured that unless something dramatic happens, I, together with Togbe Afede and the Chiefs from the Volta Region, am going to be in Notsie for the celebration of the festival on September 9.





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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

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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.
Mr Vincent Kwasi Fekpe, Volta Regional Blood Donor Organiser has advised young people, especially men against sexual activities within 24 hours after donating blood.



He said donating blood reduces the energy level of the individual and makes sexual activities unsafe for men within the period.



Mr Fekpe gave the advice at the sixth MTN Blood Donation exercise in the Volta Regional capital, Ho, to mark this years Valentine Day events. He said ladies and women have no restriction because, they only receive but our guys and men must not try it. You may collapse and be brought back to the hospital.

Hundreds of young people, mainly Senior High School students donated blood to stock the Volta Regional Hospital Blood Bank during the exercise.



Mr Raymond Tibson, MTN Sales Manager in charge of the Volta Region told the Ghana News Agency that the annual event was to contribute to saving lives. He said the target was to collect 2017 pints of blood nationwide through the 12 MTN blood donation centres across the country on Valentine Day. Mr Tibson said since 2012, MTN collected 3,715 pints of blood nationwide and expressed gratitude to the donors.





Source: GNA









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

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The British High Commission in Accra has announced that Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson will visit Ghana on Wednesday 15 February 2017.



As part of his trip, he is expected to hold bilateral talks with President Nana Akufo-Addo on key opportunities and challenges facing Ghana.



He is also expected to tour award-winning Blue Skies Ghana Limited, meet business leaders and young entrepreneurs supported by the Department for International Developments ENGINE-Ghana project, and meet with Rising Black Stars, highlighting both countries extensive cultural ties.



Mr Johnson will also visit The Gambia within the same week. This trip to the tiny West African nation is the first recorded visit  by a Foreign Secretary.



In The Gambia, in addition to meeting with President Adama Barrow, he will visit the UK-funded Medical Research Council and speak to Chevening scholars and employees and employers in the tourism industry  a huge employer in the country.



Ahead of the visit, the Foreign Secretary said: Im delighted to be the first Foreign Secretary to visit Gambia this week and delighted to have a chance to meet the newly-elected President Barrow and President Akufo-Addo of Ghana. Their elections highlight the continuing strengthening of democracy in West Africa.



I am also very pleased that Gambia wants to rejoin the Commonwealth and we will ensure this happens in the coming months. The strength of our partnerships shows that Global Britain is growing in influence and activity around the world.



Meanwhile, outgoing British High Commissioner to Ghana, Jon Benjamin, has confirmed the visit via a tweet.

Source: classfmonline.com









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

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The Minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa believes the leadership of Parliament should investigate the confusion that rocked Ghanas delegation to the ECOWAS parliament in Abuja, Nigeria recently.



The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament initially refused to swear in the Ghanaian delegation, because of some confusion over the membership of the delegation, when the House reopened for business last Friday.



Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Ablakwa said his preliminary investigations point to some confusion on the part of the Majority side.



Mr. Ablakwa explained that, the Majority could have avoided the embarrassing situation if it had worked out details internally as he noted that, per the formula we agreed, the Majority side had to send five members, and we [the Minority] send three members because we had eight seats to occupy on the ECOWAS parliament.



These are matters that the Majority side should have addressed internally. They should have sorted matters internally just as the minority side did before going out of our jurisdiction so that it does not appear that we went out there to wash our dirty linen in public and to give Ghana a bad name.



At this point, it is important to learn lessons. That is why I intend to raise the matter when the Foreign Affairs committee meets and I am hoping that colleagues on the committee will ask that leadership of the house looks into this matter with the view of preventing a recurrence, the MP said.



Privileges Committee should investigate matter



The Director of the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Rashid Dramani, went a step further and said the Privileges Committee of Parliament was the appropriate body to look into the matter.



Also speaking on Eyewitness News, he described the process of constituting a delegation as quite straight-forward and said, Parliament needs to look seriously into this matter because our country is better than this.



I dont know what happened and how you have a delegation constituted by our Parliament that goes to the ECOWAS parliament and there is confusion about the representation of some of the members. It beats my mind.



He continued that, the Privileges Committee is where this matter belongs to because if it is something that is bringing an embarrassment to our country and to our Parliament, I think that is the appropriate quarters where this matter can be looked into.



Background



The confusion was sparked by the refusal of the MP for Suhum, Fred Opare Ansah to step down as a Member of the delegation, after he had served notice to continue as a member because he was still a member of Parliament in Ghana.



The Suhum MP had been a member of the ECOWAS Parliament until the Majority Leadership reconstituted the Ghanaian delegation with O.B Amoah, MP for Akwapim South; Ama Pomaah Boateng Andoh MP for Juaben; Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Effutu MP; Kwabena Appiah-Pinkra MP for Akrofuom; MP for Anlo, Clement Kofi Humado; Mahama Ayariga, the Bawku Central MP and Sampson Ahi, MP for Bodi.



Ghana has eight seats in the ECOWAS Parliament, but by Mr. Opare Ansahs refusal to step down, the Ghanaian delegation jumped to nine.



Mr. Afenyo-Markin later withdrew from the delegation to the ECOWAS.

Source: citifmonline.com









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

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Never underestimate a publics ability to get incredibly shitty when money-chasing property developers start circling a beloved pub.

Back in October, the Corkman Irish Pub, a hugely beloved local watering hole in the inner-Melbourne suburb of Carlton, was illegally torn down by rogue developers who were hell bent on erecting a 12-storey apartment tower on the site, despite the teeny little fact that they did not have permission to tear down the 159-year-old building.

A building which also had a heritage listing overlay protecting it.

The demolition crews moved in quickly late one Saturday last October and flattened the building, which had been partially destroyed by fire. Despite stop-work orders being issued by council officials, work crews tore the rest of the building down the following day.

To make matters even worse, rubble from the building  which absolutely contained quite decent amounts of asbestos  was then summarily dumped on a site also owned by the idiot developers in Cairnlea.

The response from planning officials, the city council, and state government was swift: Massive fines, and an order to rebuild the pub as close to original heritage overlay on the site.

Youd think thatd be the end of it, right? You fucked up. You got smacked down by the authorities. Congratulations, you now own a pub.

Unfortunately this the property development game, and when big heaps of money are potentially involved, the rules tend to bend at will.

Stefce Kutlesovski and Raman Shaqiri, who bought the building in 2015 for $4.76million and co-own the demolition company that callously ripped it down, have filed a statement of grounds with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal fighting the reconstruction order made by the Andrews State Government; an order that the pair initially agreed to comply with in writing.

When the decision to force a rebuild was handed down, Kutlesovski and Shaqiri stated that they would rebuild the building at our expense. We will willingly enter into the appropriate enforceable undertaking.

But now that appropriate enforceable undertaking is suddenly vague, imprecise and incapable of being complied with, and the order to rebuild is oppressive, according to documents filed with VCAT by lawyers representing the pair.

The documents challenge the reconstruction order issued by Planning Minister Richard Wynne, and the ruling by Wynne that prevents anything but a two-storey Victorian-style building being constructed on the site for the next two years.

Further still, the documents question the heritage value of the  and again I stress here, ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY NINE YEAR OLD building  claiming that any heritage value attributed to the old building did not merit its reconstruction.

A spokesman for Wynne asserted that the Government fully expects the reconstruction order to be carried out, despite this legal filing.

The minister expects the developers to follow through on their undertaking.

Representatives for the developers have declined comment. The case is expected to be heard next month.

In the meantime, heres a bloody red-hot idea: If youre keen to build giant dumb-ass apartment complexes, MAYBE FIND SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN A BUSY, POPULAR, GOOD LOCAL PUB TO BUILD THEM ON YOU RANK DICKHEADS.

Pubs are good. Leave pubs alone.

Source: The Age.

Photo: Melbourne Heritage Action/Instagram.
Being on tour cant be easy.

I mean, I wouldnt know, because music is one of those cool person things, but it seems like with all the plane trips, hotel rooms, setting up equipment and, yknow, playing of the music, youre bound to screw something up eventually.

Sometimes that mistake is confusing one of Australias major cities for another one of Australias major cities, on account of how you couldnt immediately see any landmarks from inside the stadium.

Playing at the MCG tonight, rock legends Guns N Roses mistakenly introduced themselves to Sydney.





And while this was rightly greeted with a chorus of boos and (presumably but as-yet-unverified) hisses, most punters found it pretty hilarious, soon got over it, and enjoyed what actually looked like a pretty rad show.

Not a brilliant start to #gnrmelbourne. Sydney!!! Crowd boos. Making up for it though. Slash goes off already! @gunsnroses pic.twitter.com/qUTy2K8lLM  Cathy Anderson (@MsCathyAnderson) February 14, 2017

Axl just called Melbourne, Sydney. Great start ??  BRIGGS AKA BIG SIGH (@BriggsGE) February 14, 2017

#gunsnroses after mixing up sydney and melbourne, I look forward to axel foley singing welcome to Beverley hills cop  Globaldrinking (@globaldrinking) February 14, 2017

Still, you ever confuse this beautiful, happy city with Australias most stressful dump again and we will have words, childhood icons.

Goodnight Melton! There will be no encore! pic.twitter.com/cqIlWHV8cN  BRIGGS AKA BIG SIGH (@BriggsGE) February 14, 2017

Source: Twitter.

Photo: Fox.
In terms of their personal and professional politics, US President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could not be more different.

However, since a shit-tonne of Canadas exports go to the US  these two blokes need to get the fuck along. So, Trudeau went to the White House and met with El Trumpo.

All of the photos look very civil and friendly, so it seems as though all is well. Well, sort of.

Everyone knows that Trumps fave power move (is it still a power move if everyone knows it, though?) is the whiplash-inducing handshake, where he randomly and violently pulls the arm of his handshakee as if he wants to rip their arm off. Apparently he reckons its some weird alpha masculinity thing, that he believes asserts dominance.

He basically caused nerve damage in the arm of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe recently, with this monstrously inappropriate move:

#DonaldTrumps awkward handshake with Japans Prime Minister #ShinzoAbe was PAINFUL to watch! (sound on for full enjoyment!) pic.twitter.com/gRzbvOMwwq  I Doubt It Podcast (@IDoubtItPodcast) February 10, 2017

But hell no  Justin Trudeau wasnt putting up with that shit.

The bloke had very clearly prepared for Trumps move when he rocked up to the White House. He VERY firmly held Trumps hand, and held it close to his body for leverage, then placed his other hand on Trumps shoulder, essentially making it completely impossible for him to pull him at all.

Watch it:

[National Geographic voiceover] Watch closely as Trudeau wards off the arm yank with a dominant shoulder grab. pic.twitter.com/9LftqCNTHG  shauna (@goldengateblond) February 13, 2017

However, all people can focus on is this second handshake later in the day; a camera captured the exact moment that Trudeau looked down at Trumps hand, and seemingly thinks (we can only assume):

Fuck, not this shit again.

People have already begun the inevitable memes:

Trumps first meeting with Justin Trudeau went about how youd expect. pic.twitter.com/C1VUaMbMgp  Comedy Central (@ComedyCentral) February 13, 2017

Trudeau contemplating whether to shake hands with Trump and become a meme or not pic.twitter.com/XBK7sAFkKH  Kabir Taneja (@KabirTaneja) February 13, 2017

Trump: Put er there Justin.

Trudeau: Id prefer not to.

Trump: Cmon

Trudeau: Shinzo told me itd be a bad idea. #TrudeauTrump pic.twitter.com/JznGbaWdh4  Drew Gibson (@SuppressThis) February 13, 2017

Trump: Gimme 5

Trudeau: Theres no way thats 5. Its 2.5. At a push. pic.twitter.com/dZIbV5ixMO  Richard Littler (@richard_littler) February 13, 2017

Cmon dude, dont leave me hangin!

No. I know where that hand has been! pic.twitter.com/vgbKFAeb3G  Daniel Brant (@Driver_270) February 13, 2017

Special guest at the Trudeau/Trump meeting. pic.twitter.com/d6uGn3o1U1  Dana DiTomaso (@danaditomaso) February 13, 2017

Interesting choice of official gift. pic.twitter.com/K7R0cQ88fc  Norm Kelly (@norm) February 13, 2017

My people said youd like this. pic.twitter.com/7kNAUsZlPV  Lauren Strapagiel (@laurenstrapa) February 13, 2017

Justin Trudeau is all of us. pic.twitter.com/su2ixX6DDe  shauna (@goldengateblond) February 13, 2017

seeing Trudeau go from being full of love to full of disappointment is heartbreaking pic.twitter.com/gNduUEwsqd  thomas a moore (@Thomas_A_Moore) February 13, 2017

Justin Trudeau is looking at Trumps hand like he just read the Russian Dossier pic.twitter.com/XGpGF7O7LG  Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) February 13, 2017

Trump: Look at the size of that. Just look!

Trudeau: Im seeing it.

Trump: Are you seeing this?

Trudeau: I am in fact seeing it.#leadership pic.twitter.com/YS35sItFY2  Henry Tudor (@KngHnryVIII) February 13, 2017

*record scratch*

*freeze frame*

TRUDEAU: yup, thats me, youe pro-

TRUMP: personally I dont feel theyre that small #TrudeauMeetsTrump pic.twitter.com/jXOFm5Jbiz  Andy Cole (@AndyCole84) February 13, 2017

You know that feeling when you just literally cannot figure out whether to laugh or cry? That. Thats what hes feeling.

Source: Twitter.

Photo: Pool / Getty.
Kim Jong-Nam, the son of Kim Jong-Il and the half-brother of current leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-Un, has died in Malaysia.

According to some reports, Jong-Nam became quite ill at Kuala Lumpur Airport on Monday. Police reportedly describe the incident as a sudden death, and are currently awaiting the results of a post-mortem.

Other reports say that he was attacked in the departures lounge of the airport, and died en route to the hospital.

His head was wrapped in cloth believed to contain some kind of a liquid, state police chief Abdul Samah said.

Samah also said that an unidentified woman was standing near Jong-Nam at the time of the attack, who hasnt been seen since.

The estranged son of the former leader of North Korea was allegedly travelling with a passport under the name Kim Chol.

Jong-Nam is one of the most well-known members of the most powerful family in North Korea  but the relationship turned very sour in the early 2000s.

He fell from the good graces of his family and was consequently overlooked for future succession in 2001, when he was found trying to sneak into Japan with a Dominican Republic passport  when caught, he stated that he just wanted to go to Tokyo Disneyland.

Since, his whereabouts have been largely unconfirmed, but its thought he spent time in both Macau and China. He was noticeably absent from his father Kim Jong-Ils funeral in 2011, which fuelled rumours that he had been banished from North Korea. In the past, he has publicly spoken out about, and criticised, his familys dynastic control and policies.

His half-brother Jong-Un took power after their fathers death, and in 2015, mended the formerly-burned family bridge and gave Jong-Nam a job working in the Japanese affairs department of the North Korean ministry.

Theres been no major news since about Jong-Nam, until today.

According to some sources, the US government believes reports that he got sick are false, and that Jong-Nam was murdered. While a post-mortem has not yet been released, sources believe that Jong-Nam was assassinated by North Korean agents.

Well update this story as more information arises.

Source: CNN / Wall Street Journal.

Photo: Yamaguchi Haruyoshi / Getty.
Hooh boy. President Trumps National Security Advisor Michael Flynn has resigned amid controversy around his communication with Russia.

His continued employment had come under scrutiny since last Friday, when reports emerged that the Department of Justice had warned the White House last month that Flynn could be open to blackmail, after he misled administration officials about his communications with the Russian ambassador before Trump was sworn in.

Flynn initially denied discussing sanctions with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak, and Vice-President Pence publicly denied the allegations on his behalf.

In his resignation letter, obtained by CNN, he now blames his mistake on the fast pace of events.

Unfortunately, because of the fast pace of events, I inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian Ambassador. I have sincerely apologised to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology.

Literally hours earlier, key Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway appeared on MSNBC to assure the American public that Flynn had the full confidence of Trump.

Wow heres the video of Conway saying Flynn has full confidence of Trump. pic.twitter.com/gU4NsXgmKR  Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 13, 2017

His resignation came about 11pm Monday night, state-side.

The key communication in question refers to a phone call made after the Obama administration expelled 35 Russian diplomats following allegations of Russian meddling in the US election.

The following day, Vladimir Putin announced he would not be retaliating, leading then-elect President Trump to tweet this:

Great move on delay (by V. Putin)  I always knew he was very smart!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2016

Democrats are now calling for answers. with Adam Schiff, ranking member of the House permanent select committee on intelligence, telling The Guardian that Flynns departure does not end questions over his contacts with the Russians, which have been alleged to have begun well before December 29. These alleged contacts and any others the Trump campaign may have had with the Kremlin are the subject of the House intelligence committees ongoing investigation.



Flynn lasted less than a month in his role, which is the shortest holder of the office in history.

Lt. General Joseph Keith Kellog has been announced as the acting national security advisor.

Photo: Getty / Tim Williams.
In this, the 2017th year of our lord and saviour Beyonce, internet virality by means of being made into a meme can be a double-edged sword (so like most swords I guess, or maybe the second edge is down where you put your hands? IDK, metaphors are weird).

Careers can be launched, amplified or, more often than not, torpedoed into smithereens all due to a well-spun meme, but whats it like when youve been an established music artist for the better part of a decade and an eight-year-old song of yours enters the meme-o-sphere for, ostensibly, no fucking reason whatsoever?

This is a particularly modern conundrum currently being faced by L.A. via Sydney producer duo Bag Raiders, whose 2009 dancefloor filler Shooting Stars has felt the boon of internet attention in the past few weeks, featuring in an inscrutable, yet inarguably hilarious new meme.

Taking a break from making tunes in their L.A. studio, Bag Raiders Chris Stacey spoke to P.TV about the moment they first noticed shit was going down online:



We had seen a couple of videos I guess, but not a lot at first. There were a couple of times people had made videos that we saw but its only really lately people started tagging us in things and we discovered it all. Past two weeks is when its been really massive.

At first we were like, ok this is funny I guess, but I didnt really get it so I thought alright whatever. Once I started seeing a common theme though, such as the big guy jumping off the bridge into the river, that was the first one of the more recent stuff that really got me. So good! That and the Lady Gaga one is so funny.



In proper Aussie fashion, Chris says the pair have been taking it all in stride and trying not to scrutinise the whole thing, although as with any solid meme, its almost impossible to truly understand what the actual fuck is the main theme of the whole thing. Is it simply just pairing the songs drop with people flying through technicolour space?:



Yeh that seems to be the thread. People falling and then flying off into weird stock footage of space and oh man its so weird. And the thing with the underwater and the fish tanks and Spongebob keeps popping up? Man I dont know. Even just explaining what a meme is like So theres this whole thing on this thing that didnt really exist five years ago, but imagine it like people inventing their own postcards. Imagine if people just printed out their own postcards but they did it a rate of like a million a day.

Whilst he admits that being the internets new toy has boosted Shooting Stars up a few spots on Spotify and the like, the guys are just chuffed that new people are discovering a song which holds a special place in not only Bag Raiders history, but the hearts and minds of many Aussies who, possibly like this writer, remember it as the soundtrack to a pleasurably misspent youth.

The internet is a weird and wonderful place and you cant try to control it. Its pretty cool that people who have never heard the song are now going whats this song?. Like someone commented after the Lady Gaga video saying what is this music, this is better than anything Ive heard lately so thats nice that people that probably would never have discovered us otherwise have now.



Lots of people tell us that that song has a special place for them and that kind of thing. Its really quite nice when people come up and say me and my girlfriend fell in love to that song. So [there are] others are that maybe have forgotten about it are now remembering it. Its all just totally weird and very of this time.

As for the future of the Shooting Stars meme, Chris reckons the boys will leave it to the meme lords to look after, with no plans of incorporating it into their show or the like:



Well let it have its space on the internet, yeah. I dont know about like, suspending ourselves from bungee cords and like having some crazy projections haha I dont know about that.



At least well always have the memes. *kisses laptop screen*

Photo: Facebook / Bag Raiders.
FILE - In this Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014, file photo, a pedestrian walks past a sign for Aetna Inc., at the company headquarters in Hartford, Conn. Aetna and Humana are calling off a $34 billion deal to combine the two major health insurers after a federal judge, citing antitrust concerns, shot down the deal. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)
This aerial photo shows a site where the final phase of the Dakota Access Pipeline will take place with boring equipment routing the pipeline underground and across Lake Oahe to connect with the existing pipeline in Emmons County, Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, in Cannon Ball, N.D. It is the last big section of the $3.8 billion pipeline, which would carry oil from North Dakota to Illinois. A federal judge on Monday refused to stop construction on the last stretch of the pipeline, which is progressing much faster than expected. (Tom Stromme/The Bismarck Tribune via AP)
Cam Battley, Executive Vice President of Aurora is pictured at his companies penthouse office in downtown Vancouver, B.C., Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. A task force appointed by the federal government recommended it require plain packaging and a limit to advertising similar to the restrictions on tobacco. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
FILE- In this Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, file photo, National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway take their seats before the start of a joint news conference with President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Flynn resigned as Trump's national security adviser Monday. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
Harbor Springs women reflect on Ukraine war after time with refugees

Julie Bacon and Sujo Offield of Harbor Springs went to Poland in March to help refugees fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.
Adult Game Night,

Feb. 17

Join the fun at the next Adult Game Night on Friday, February 17, 7:00-9:00 pm, in the Plattsmouth Public Library auditorium. Adult Game Nights, usually held on the third Friday of each month, are great gathering times for friends who want to play card games or board games. You may bring your own games or play one of the library's board games, including Yahtzee and Rummikub. If you'd like, bring a snack to share; coffee will be provided. No registration is required.

Register Now for

Everything Chocolate, Feb. 18

Chocolate and fun will be the main ingredients at the sixth annual Everything Chocolate event in the Plattsmouth Library auditorium on Saturday, February 18, at 7:00 pm! The evening will be full of chocolate treats, including chocolate fondue, games, and door prizes.

You can register for the chocolate competition. Enter your favorite chocolate appetizer or dessert; no alcoholic beverages accepted. Judges will be Chef Corey Hall from Hy-Vee, Kim Kathol from Main Street Jewelers, and Glenda Linder from Linder Tire & Auto. The entries will be judged based on taste, presentation, and originality. After the judging, attendees will be able to sample the entries.

Chocolate treats may also be brought to share without being entered in the competition. Call the library (402-296-4154 Ext.24) to register as seating is limited!

Job Fair, Feb. 23

Plattsmouth Library is hosting its second job fair 3-6 p.m. Thursday, Feb.23. The jobs are for adults and teens and include those in healthcare occupations, lifeguards, fitness instructors, groundskeepers, office workers and others. Employers who will be on hand include Hy-Vee, city of Plattsmouth, Plattsmouth Care and Rehab, SERVPRO of Sarpy County, Gifford Farm Education Center and Plattsmouth Volunteer Fire Department. Positions may be full-time or part-time. Stop in 3-6 p.m. to fill out applications and talk to the employers. Bring your resume if you have one.

Employers who would like to participate are encouraged to call Karen Mier, Library Director, at 402-296-4154 Ext. 23. Each employer will be provided with table space and chairs.

Papier Mache Bird Houses

at Fun-tastic Friday, Feb. 24

Craft a bird house that all the neighborhood birds will love to use at the Fun-tastic Friday 1:30 p.m. Feb. 24, in the Plattsmouth Library auditorium. Debi Baumert from Colour Art Studios will guide you through the process of adding just the right touches to make your bird house.

With Waterford at Woodbridge's sponsorship, the cost to make a bird house is only $5. Call the library at 402-296-4154 Ext. 24 for reservations so enough supplies will be made available. The program is for adults only. Light snacks and drinks will be served.
Gov. Christie is headed to the White House today for a Valentine's Day lunch.

"We could wind up having a completely social lunch and that would not shock me," said Christie, who reminded listeners about his longtime friendship with the New York developer.

Asked about talk that he might  again  be in line for a White House job, Christie said he believed that will not happen. He said he made it clear early on that he would consider certain jobs, and "I think that time has run out."

The Trump administration's rocky start on a number of fronts has spurred speculation that the president is considering an early staff shake-up, setting the stage for Christie to take on a role in the White House.

But Christie did leave open the possibility of helping the Trump administration work on immigration policies, sanctuary cities, and enforcement.

In his own state, the governor said he would veto legislation proposed by Democrats that would provide grants to New Jersey cities if they lose federal funding over their sanctuary-city status.

The opioid epidemic is another issue in which Christie could play a role. A source told NJ.com that the governor's actions on the topic  which he made a focus of his State of the State address last month  have been of interest to the White House. Kellyanne Conway, the South Jersey native and presidential adviser whose portfolio includes the opioid crisis, has reportedly spoken to Christie about the topic.

There was some lighthearted banter on the radio show when it was noted that Trump had invited Christie to bring his wife, Mary Pat, to the White House lunch.

"What could be more romantic?" Christie said.
LINCOLN -- U.S. Department of Agriculture has established a soil health initiative in Nebraska. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is leading a state-wide effort to enhance the adoption of soil health management systems through the Soil Health Demonstration Farms Initiative.

The 2017 initiative sign up will continue to establish demonstration farms across the state to showcase soil health practices and related cropping system comparisons. Landowners interested in applying for funding to establish a soil health demonstration farm should submit their application to NRCS by March 17, 2017.

According to NRCS, the purpose of this initiative is to demonstrate soil health management systems applicable to various regions of Nebraska. The goal is to establish demonstration farms in each identified region (see map).

Producers approved under this initiative will be conducting strip trials of various cover crops, crop rotations, and/or management techniques. Producers will receive funding assistance to demonstrate soil health management by planting cover crops and conducting these comparisons.

NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) will be used to fund this initiative. Producers selected will receive this EQIP funding for 5 years.

For more information on the Soil Health Demonstration Farms Initiative, visit NRCS at the USDA Service Center or www.ne.nrcs.usda.gov.
Property taxes are without a doubt the number one topic I hear about as I travel the state. No matter where you go, Nebraskans feel the impact of the high property taxes that have earned our state the unpleasant distinction of ranking 5th highest in the nation according to USA Today. Nebraskas number one industry, agriculture, has been hardest hit by property taxes with a 137 percent increase between 2003 and 2013. Last week I shared with you the details of my plan to cut income taxes, and this week Im sharing my plans for property tax reform for agricultural land.

In my first two years as Governor, I have made property taxes my number one focus. Working with the Legislature in 2015, we increased the property tax credit relief fund by over 45 percent, and returned over $400 million in direct property tax relief. In 2016, we added an additional $40 million over two years directly targeted at ag property taxpayers, and provided incentives for responsible budgeting by our school districts. In recent months, the Revenue Department issued guidance on how to identify property sales that distort market information used for tax purposes.

We didnt get into this high property tax situation overnight, and its going to take several additional steps to get out of it. During this legislative session, Im working with Ag Committee Chairwoman Lydia Brasch on LB338, the Agricultural Valuation Fairness Act. This proposal is long-term, structural reform of our method for assessing property value for ag land. The Agricultural Valuation Fairness Act would move assessments for ag land from a market-based system to an income-potential approach, helping valuations to better reflect the income of Nebraskas ag producers. Income potential is a much fairer measure, and will slow the growth of ag land valuation increases. If this system were in place for 2017, it would have reduced ag land valuations by about $2.2 billion.

The income-potential valuation system is one Nebraskans have suggested to me during my travels across the state. In conversations about property taxes, many people have noted how similar ag states have benefited from an income-potential valuation system. Ag states with this system include North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. This system is much fairer, more standard, and will help make us more competitive. Thats why this concept is supported by many ag groups including Nebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska Cattlemen, Nebraska Pork Producers, and the Nebraska Corn Growers.

Long-term, structural ag property valuation reform is not only important to Nebraskas farm and ranch families, but also to Main Street. In fact, one in four Nebraska jobs is tied to agriculture. Current, commodity prices have contributed to a downturn in state revenues and the need to bring our state budget back into balance. When agriculture is strong, Nebraska is strong.

Addressing high property taxes has to be a partnership between state and local governments. While state government may set the framework for how property taxes are collected, local government makes the spending decisions that impact taxes. Only local governments like schools, cities, and counties have the authority to levy property taxes. When the ag values increased, some local governments did not lower the local levies which caused increases in taxes. It is important that local governments do not see sharp increases in valuation as an opportunity to spend more. It is critical that you, the taxpayer, engage local government boards and officials and support their efforts to control spending and provide tax relief to help alleviate our high tax burden.

If we are going to get major, structural reform of ag property taxes done this session, urban and rural senators will have to come together on an overall tax reform package. That is why I have offered both income and property tax reform proposals this year. If you want to see the Legislature take action on tax reform, I encourage you to contact your state senator. You can find all of their information at www.NebraskaLegislature.gov. As always, you are welcome to contact my office on any matter by emailing pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov or by calling 402-471-2244.
American Red Cross blood drives will take place on Thursday in North Bend, Mead and Wahoo.

The North Bend blood drive will be held from noon to 6 p.m. at North Bend City Auditorium. Mead Public Schools will host a blood drive from noon to 4 p.m.

In Wahoo, the blood drive will be from noon to 6 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 504 W. Eighth St. It will continue from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday.

Blood donations are urgently needed now and throughout the winter to maintain a sufficient blood supply for patients in need. To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767.
DVO Mob n Mojave Bootleg Canyon Words and Photography // Philip Beckmann The Bootleg shuttles ran constantly during daylight hours all weekend. Beats riding to the top!

The locals have an unfair advantage at Bootleg Canyon. With its steep pitches and a surface of red rocks sharpened to a fine edge, it takes special skills, daring and fortitude to be able to navigate the barely discernible lines and death defying drops at Bootleg. It also helps to have cloven hooves with toes that can spread apart, with soft inner pads that provide traction and hard outer hooves featuring a special claw-like toenail that can grip even the slightest changes in a rock's face. Bighorn sheep rule the hills around Boulder City, and have done so for centuries. Experience counts in large amounts.Much of the same could be said of the mountain bikers that populate this Southern Nevada area. Except for the cloven hooves part. You have to be brave, skilled and experienced to be successful at Bootleg Canyon. Just ask the hundreds of riders who gathered here for the 2017 DVO Mob n Mojave, the second round of this year's Winter Gravity Series. Athletes from around the West took part in Super D and Dual Slalom events on Saturday, then charged the Downhill on Sunday. A generous cash purse for the Pros and tables full of swag for all awaited the best of the best. The weekend was generally cool and partly cloudy, with some sprinkles on Saturday and a biting wind on Sunday.This event was made possible by the support of companies such as DVO Suspension, MJT Designs, Box Components, ProMax, KHS Bicycles, ONZA, Smanya, HT Components, Novatec, Canfield Bros, Deity, Gravity Cartel, IXS, Spank, Trucker Co, SDR Clothing Co, ODI Grips, All Mountain Cyclery, GT Bicycles, Whiteface Mountain Bike Park, Connex Chains, Laketown Bikes, Kore North Bikes, Kali Protectives, Lectric-Cycles, Smartmotion, Erad, Flitelinez.Full race results can be found at downhillmike.com/2017-mob-n-moja.html The Chainless race did not take place at this event.
Dego Ride Malaysias First Bike Taxi Is Illegal

When I travel to Thailand, one of my preferred ride is their bike taxis when I travel solo. It is the cheapest and fastest way to travel around especially in Bangkok. However, it is not as safe as the normal taxis or Grab or Uber. It is heavily dependent on the bikers riding skills and behaviour. Thus, it is more fatal if accidents involving bikes so you have to understand the risks before hailing a bike taxi. Bike taxis are popular in Thailand and Indonesia and now it is available in Malaysia and it is called Dego Ride.

Dego Ride is probably Malaysias first bike taxi system but it is illegal. According to the news report from The Star, Dego Ride didnt apply any license at all. Thus, if there is an accident your insurance coverage might not compensate as it is illegal but they claim they have insurance coverage up to RM 500 only.

Lets look at Dego Ride based on the details on their website.

So far Dego Ride is covering Klang Valley only. The steps on hailing a taxi bike seems simple. Hop on!

STEP 1: Fill in your request details (Name, Pickup & Drop off points, Ride Tracker)

STEP 2: Take note of how much the Ride costs when you submit your booking

STEP 3: Receive an SMS notification with Rider details and Estimated Time of Arrival

The ride charges are RM 2.50 for the first 3 km and 60 sen per additional km. They will provide clean helmet with new hair net.

On top of being a bike taxi, they also do delivery services as well.

The concept of Dego Ride is not too bad but they do need apply proper license to make it legal. For more info, you can visit their website at https://dego.my/

Wilson Ng A Father and traveler who enjoys to eat, shop, travel and taking pictures with Samsung S22 Ultra and Sony ZV-1. Im a full time blogger, youtuber and father for two. I used to travel around 17 International trips per year but now staying at home. Remember to follow us at www.instagram.com/placesandfoods and www.youtube.com/placesandfoods. For advertisements or features, contact me at [email protected] See author's posts
After You Dessert Cafe in Terminal 21 Bangkok

Do you know that After You Dessert Cafe is in Terminal 21 Shopping Mall in Bangkok? If you are one of the dozens who is queuing up for After You Dessert Cafe in Central World or Siam Paragon, just head on to Terminal 21 as there are not many people know about this new outlet yet!

When I went to After You Dessert Cafe in December last year with AroiMakMak, we were surprised to see that there is no queue at all! They are located on the first floor and just one level up from the entrance from BTS Station. This outlet has been around since last year but it is not as popular as other outlets as no one noticed it. Thats why we blogged about this so you can visit this outlet.

After You Dessert Cafe is local owned dessert cafe popular for its version of Shibuya honey toast. They are very popular among the locals and tourists and recently they announced that they will go for IPO. Yes, a dessert cafe will go for IPO in Thailand.

We ordered two desserts to share. Their famous kakigori (ice shaving) and their Shibuya honey toast.

This is my first time having their version of kakigori and it is simply gorgeous. The texture of the ice shaving is like so thin like cotton. The success of After You Dessert Cafe goes down with their flavours of their food. It is appealing to locals and tourists. For their Cha Yen (Thai Milk Tea) kakigori, the taste is just right and it is not too sweet. This is very addictive and I will order it again on my next visit to After You Dessert Cafe.

We ordered their new charcoal Shibuya Honey Toast (not sure it is still around). The texture of the charcoal toast is slightly tougher than the usual toast. We still prefer the original toast and the ice creams are always good as usual.

The success of After You Dessert Cafe goes down to their food presentation, food quality, consistency in taste and also the taste of the food. They got the perfect taste on their food so customers will keep on coming back. Thus, we will be looking forward to revisit After You Dessert Cafe again in Bangkok. Maybe they should expand to Malaysia and Singapore one day?

For more info, you can visit their website at https://www.afteryoudessertcafe.com

Opening Hours: 11 am until 12 am (midnight)

After You Dessert Cafe in Terminal 21 Address:

1st Floor, Terminal 21

Bangkok

Phone: +62 271 29266

Wilson Ng A Father and traveler who enjoys to eat, shop, travel and taking pictures with Samsung S22 Ultra and Sony ZV-1. Im a full time blogger, youtuber and father for two. I used to travel around 17 International trips per year but now staying at home. Remember to follow us at www.instagram.com/placesandfoods and www.youtube.com/placesandfoods. For advertisements or features, contact me at [email protected] See author's posts
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The Trump administration failed miserably at its first emergency national security incident test when it conducted a full on Situation Room type strategy session on a Mar-a-Lago patio, in front of paying club member diners.

Speaking for a nation, an on-fire Nancy Pelosi demanded Mike Flynn be fired after Donald Trumps National Security Adviser allowed Mar-a-Lago to be turned into an non-secure, open air situation room which Pelosi referred to as dinner theater.

I want to be very clear: President Trump must fire National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. #FireFlynn https://t.co/iHZH1Pfkcz  Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) February 13, 2017

There's no excuse for letting an international crisis play out in front of a bunch of country club members like dinner theater. #FireFlynn  Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) February 13, 2017

There's no excuse for letting an international crisis play out in front of a bunch of country club members like dinner theater. #FireFlynn  Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) February 13, 2017

Michael Flynn has proven he cannot be trusted to serve Americas best interests and national security instead of Russias. #FireFlynn  Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) February 13, 2017

These are not the actions of a man who can be trusted with the security of our nation. General Flynn must go. #FireFlynn  Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) February 13, 2017

After North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile during President Trumps dinner, CNN reported that

As Mar-a-Lagos wealthy members looked on from their tables, and with a keyboard player crooning in the background, Trump and Abes evening meal quickly morphed into a strategy session, the decision-making on full view to fellow diners, who described it in detail to CNN, Kevin Liptak of CNN reported.

Trumps National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and chief strategist Steve Bannon left their seats to huddle closer to Trump as documents were produced and phone calls were placed to officials in Washington and Tokyo.

Did they even lock down the area? No. According to CNNs report, not only were their wives left at the table during this meeting, but advisers, translators, and waiters came and went as Trump and his team continued their strategy session.

Wealthy, paying members of the club reportedly view their membership dues as a chance to get face time with the new President, which is a much worse version of what Trump tried to pin on Hillary Clinton and her actual charity foundation. But that sort of goes without saying at this point, as amid the wild incompetence of an administration that already blew the Yemen raid and cost a Navy SEAL his life, staggering hypocrisy tends to go by the wayside.

This is sort of the reality TV version of a national security meeting. It takes place in full view of a paying audience, its not secure, its lit with candles and cell phone flashlights.

Trump seems confused about Flynns complete lack of fitness for the job, but if he had done a two second google search, he would have known that Flynn is not considered to be stable. Couple this with Flynns Russia betrayal, and he should have been fired on Friday.

But perhaps the President cant fire Flynn. And that opens up a whole new can of worms.
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*The following is an opinion column by R Muse*

The only good thing about pathological liars is that regardless what they say, one can rest assured that they are lying; no matter how serious the subject of their mendacity or how high the probability their lie will be exposed. Throughout the presidential campaign, no matter how many demands from a wide range of interested parties for Donald Trump to release his tax returns, Trump lied and said that it was impossible because the Internal Revenue Service prohibited him from doing so; some mendacious nonsense about an audit.

As expected, when the IRS completed its audit, Trump still wouldnt release his taxes because he claimed that he is the president and nobody cares about seeing them or what he is almost certainly hiding.

Obviously, with several petitions floating around, and hundreds-of-thousands of comments on the White House website demanding to see Trumps tax returns, it did not go unnoticed that Trump has no intention of ever releasing anything for scrutiny. It seemed that there was no recourse for relief until a Democratic House Representative decided to invoke an obscure 1924 tax code law to force the issue and get Trumps dirty laundry and gross conflicts of interest out in the open; hopefully to kick the bloviate out of the White House.

New Jersey Representative Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and hopes Republicans will acquiesce to his appeal to use a 1924 tax law allowing Congress to examine any Americans tax returns for the purpose of determining whether conflicts of interest exist.

Mr. Pascrell sent a letter to Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX), asking him to order the Treasury Department to provide ten years worth of Trumps tax returns to the committee. After the committee is finished reviewing the documents, they can be released to the full House and by extension the American public. In his letter to the committee chairman, Representative Pascrell said foreign governments are paying rents, licensing fees, and issuing permits for Trump Organization projects, all of which could be used to influence the president.

Representative Pascrell is not going to go away quietly, and he shouldnt. He did say, If I get a no answer on this, Ill be very honest with you: If these guys think Im walking away from this, theyre absolutely nuts. The calls were getting, the calls other congressmen are getting, its unbelievable, we never expected this. Maybe that is true, but Pascrell and other congress-people certainly should have expected a flood of calls.

Mr. Pascrell is right, of course, that they have been getting calls about the Trump. Trump and his staff are liars when they say the people could not care less about Trumps corruption; an overwhelming majority of the people demand that Trumps tax returns are released.

According to a Washington PostABC poll, and a separate Pew Research poll, at least two-thirds of the population want Trump to make his tax returns available for public review. Of course there is no legal requirement for presidents to release their tax returns, but every president since Richard Nixon has done so voluntarily; Nixon eventually released his under pressure from the same congressional mechanism using the 1924 tax code law that Mr. Pascrell is seeking relief from.

It will be curious to watch Republicans justify refusing to use the 1924 tax code law, especially when the GOP-dominated Ways and Means Committee made use of the law barely two years ago when a Democrat was in the White House. Republicans had no issue releasing confidential tax information to the public during its 2015 investigation into the Daryl Issa-created phony scandal involving the Internal Revenue Services handling of applications for nonprofit status. The Republicans only had access to that confidential tax information after they ordered the Treasury Department to hand over tax documents; precisely what Pascrell is asking of Republicans now when it really matters.

Mr. Pascrell said, This isnt for the Democrats or the Republicans, and its not to embarrass anybody. This is to make sure the American people know the facts, and if there are conflicts, they need to be resolved.

It is those pesky facts and certainty of conflicts that are the force behind Trumps refusal to release his returns and why he unilaterally declared the issue moot and settled with his election victory; or as his daughters clothing line spokeswoman Kellyanne Conway said, Hes not going to release his tax returns. We litigated this all through the election.

Actually, nothing was litigated; Donald Trump lied and said he was barred from releasing his returns while under an audit, something the IRS debunked. Now his lie has been exposed as a certified whopper when even after the IRS audit was officially over, Trump said he wasnt releasing anything because according to his lie, The only one that cares about my tax returns are the reporters, okay? Theyre the only ones. I won; I mean, I became president. No, I dont think they care at all. I think you care.

Remember, prior to the election about 60 percent of the people wanted to see the returns and were bothered that Trump refused to be transparent, and that percentage has only grown since then; Trump is a liar and he will have to be forced, by Republicans, to hand over the documents.

It is a sad fact of life that Republicans have nothing to gain by ordering Trump (he oversees the IRS) to expose his corruption and conflicts of interests. As terrified as he is of being caught for conflict of interest, it is the corruption, hidden offshore accounts, and connections to Russia that he does not want the people to see. Trump is not going to release his tax documents and Republicans will not force his hand because they are as corrupt as he is. Besides, they have no desire to anger their rubber-stamp in the Oval Office while they still have a government to destroy, jobs to kill, and Americans to harm.

**The above article contains a report and commentary by R Muse**
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The controversy surrounding top Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn reached a boiling point on Monday as a new report from the Washington Post shows that the White House was warned by the Obama administration about Flynns ties to Russia late last month.

According to the Post, Sally Yates, who most recently served as acting Attorney General before being fired by Trump, told the new administration that Flynn was potentially vulnerable to Russian blackmail.

More from the report:

In the waning days of the Obama administration, James R. Clapper Jr., who was the director of national intelligence, and John Brennan, the CIA director at the time, shared Yatess concerns and concurred with her recommendation to inform the Trump White House. They feared that Flynn had put himself in a compromising position and thought that Pence had a right to know that he had been misled, according to one of the officials, who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.

According to the Washington Post, its unclear what the White House counsel, Donald McGahn, did with the information.

The Post report comes shortly after Democrats in the House Oversight Committee, in a letter to Chairman Jason Chaffetz, demanded an immediate investigation into Flynns connections to Russia.

In the letter, Democrats slammed the Republicans partisan stonewalling and urged the chairman to conduct a robust and bipartisan investigation into Flynn.

Part of the letter sent to Chaffetz by Democrats on the committee:

Controversy has been swirling in full force around Flynn in recent days after it was revealed that, prior to Trump being sworn in, he made a pledge to Russia that the sanctions imposed on them by the Obama administration would be lifted.

Flynn reportedly assured the Russian ambassador to the US that sanctions placed on the country by President Obama would be eased once President Trump took office, the New York Post reported. Compounding the situation, Vice President Mike Pence repeated Flynns claim in media interviews.

Top Republicans, including Rep. Chaffetz, recently joined Democrats last week to condemn Kellyanne Conway and encourage the U.S. Ethics Office to penalize her after she promoted Ivanka Trumps clothing line live on national television. When it comes to Flynn, however, Chaffetz has been reluctant to act, even though his actions are more damning than Conways.

As the calls for Flynn to be investigated, or even be fired, grow louder and more bipartisan, Chaffetz may find himself with no choice.

One Republican congressman, Mike Coffman of Colorado, said in a statement released Monday night that Flynn should step down immediately if he misled the president on his ties to Russia.

Statement via Coffmans Twitter:

Its unclear whether the president even cares Flynn had been in communication with the Russians prior to Trump taking office. After all, Trump himself has been stubbornly reluctant to say anything critical about Russia, while eagerly lashing out at U.S. allies. He also has been anything but transparent when it comes to his own ties to Moscow.

In any other White House, having such ties to Russia, as Flynn does, would likely lead to an immediate firing. In an administration led by Trump  who was essentially put in the White House by Russia  all bets are off.
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Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, says there will be no investigation of Michael Flynn, that there is no need to investigate Flynn. According to Chaffetz, talking to reporters,

I think that situation has taken care of itself. I know that the Intel committee is looking into the hacking issue.

I think he did the right thing stepping down.

Chaffetz who, like Trump, is more interested in leaks, went on to explain that,

It really is the purview of the Intel Committee. They really are the only ones that can look at that type of information, particularly when youre talking about interactions with a nation-state like that. Its not something the Oversight Committee can actually look at because sources and methods are the exclusive purview of the Intel Committee.

Certainly, Chaffetz was well aware that House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-CA) has no intention of investigating Flynn, because executive privilege. Music to Donald Trumps ears. What Nunes had to say was a far less critical I want to hear from the FBI as to how this got out.

Thats not helpful, of course, but its typical of a notable lack of enthusiasm among many Republicans to pursue a real scandal with the same vigor they once supported the fake Clinton Benghazi scandal.

Intel Committee Vice Chair Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) said in a statement today that the need for an investigation is more urgent than ever:

My statement on Gen. Flynn's resignation: pic.twitter.com/26C5BZqhjX  Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) February 14, 2017

Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) released the following statement today regarding the resignation of Michael Flynn as National Security Advisor:

Michael Flynns resignation is only a chapter in this story, not the end. His ties with Russia remain an ongoing concern. He cannot be a sacrificial lamb for an administration that has already displayed a troubling closeness with the Kremlin. We must continue the investigation into Flynns communications with the Russian ambassador. The safety and security of Americans depends on it.

Warner and Thompson are not alone. Democratic Sen. John Tester has said that Flynns resignation may be the tip of the iceberg. If so, this is certainly something we must know and it isnt as though Trump is going to volunteer the information after weeks of pretending Flynn was innocent, even after being informed otherwise by acting Attorney General Sally Yates.

You know, before Trump accused her of betrayal.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) called for an investigation to determine who else on Trumps team might have had contact with Vladimir Putin and Reps. John Conyers Jr. (D-MI) and Elijah Cummings (D-MD) want a classified briefing on Flynn. In a joint statement, the two Democrats said,

Now, we in Congress need to know who authorized his actions, permitted them, and continued to let him have access to our most sensitive national security information despite knowing these risks. We need to know who else within the White House is a current and ongoing risk to our national security.

Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) also called for an investigation, tweeting,

The only thing Flynn's resignation proves is the need for an independent investigation of the Trump camp's dealings with Russia. Now.  Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) February 14, 2017

While Republicans are generally not eager to investigate Trump, Sen. John Thune did express concern and said the White House had serious questions to answer in the wake of Flynns resignation. He did not explain how he hoped to obtain those answers without an investigation, however. Somewhat unrealistically, Thune claimed the White House should address any questions we have, something that will clearly not happen without an investigation.

And while falling short of calling for an investigation, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee John McCain said today that General Flynns resignation is a troubling indication of the dysfunction of the current national security apparatus and raises further questions about the Trump administrations intentions toward Vladimir Putins Russia.

However, Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told KTRS radio:

I think everybody needs that investigation to happen. And the Senate Intelligence Committee, again that I serve on, has been given the principle responsibility to look into this, and I think that we should look into it exhaustively so that at the end of this process, nobody wonders whether there was a stone left unturned, and shouldnt reach conclusions before you have the information that you need to have to make those conclusions.

Huffington Posts Sam Stein makes the point that The GOPers calling for Flynn investigation are mostly in the Senate and not up for re-election and cites these important dates: Graham, 2020, McCain, 2022, and Blunt, 2022.

Time will tell what investigations, if any, are forthcoming. It is enough to know now that Republicans have revealed that they really didnt care about Hillary Clintons emails or even Benghazi. It is all politics, as the complete indiffernce shown by many of them to Flynns very real treason demonstrates.
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This morning we talked about the likelihood that Donald Trump would escape investigation by jettisoning troubled National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

According to CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, you can rest easy because that wont be happening. Cuomo told Republican Rep. Chris Collins there is zero chance that we are going to move on from the Flynn scandal.

Appearing on CNNs New Day, Collins said, General Flynn did what he thought was in the best interest of the country. I certainly respect that and I think its just time to move on.

But Cuomo was having none of that:

Congressman, there is zero chance that we are going to move on until answers to the questions that present themselves at least get notice from the White House.

Watch courtesy of CNN:

Anchor @ChrisCuomo to Republican @RepChrisCollins: "There is zero chance we are going to move on" on Flynn scandalhttps://t.co/mO4hu1iaoh  New Day (@NewDay) February 14, 2017

This wasnt to Collins liking. Collins just wanted to move on and not live in the past. You know, like they did for four years after the Benghazi attack talking about something they made up in the first place. Now that we have a real scandal, committed by a Republican, they dont want to talk about it.

Cuomo wasnt through with Collins. Asked by Cuomo if he seriously thought nobody knew what Flynn was up to, Collins claimed, I dont believe anyone knew what Gen. Flynn was doing.

Watch courtesy of CNN:

Rep. Chris Collins defends the Trump administration: "I don't believe anyone knew what Gen. Flynn was doing" https://t.co/b8G4SHAF7w  New Day (@NewDay) February 14, 2017

Willing to challenge the most gullible listener, Collins asserted,

To be honest I just live in a world where I always move forward. In a busy world. You dont dwell on the past.

But Cuomo wasnt letting him off the hook, telling Collins You cannot say that you just want to move on, and brought up the very relevant example of Hillary Clinton:

If we were talking about President Hillary Clinton and you found out her council knew weeks ago that this man was playing with the Russians about sanctions and you just want to move on?

Unbelievably, that is exactly what Collins claimed, that he lives in a guess what now what world.

Guess what? Hes resigned. Now what? We have a lot of issues to deal with. Thats how I live my life. I dont dwell in the past.

It is interesting, to say the least, how little respect they had for any decisions made by President Obama and Hillary Clinton when they did what they thought was in the best interest of the country. Republicans like Collins had no respect at all then and the last thing they wanted to do was move on.

There is every reason to find out if, as Sen. John Thune said this morning, there are more serious questions to be answered by the Trump White House. Sen. John Tester may or may not be right when he says that Flynn is just the tip of the iceberg.

We will never know unless the press does its job and demands the answers. The press unrelenting pressure on Flynn and the extent of his contacts with Vladimir Putin were instrumental in cracking Trumps resolve to stand by Flynn.

The so-called Benghazi scandal has now come back to haunt Republicans, and as of right now, Republicans hopes that this will all just go away as though it never happened, appear to be nil.
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Former Independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin warned today that Jason Chaffetz, who earlier rejected calls for an investigation into Michael Flynns Russian connections, is shirking his duties.

Chaffetz, as reported earlier, would prefer to investigate White House leaks. To this, McMullin said,

The WH ignored DOJ warnings and clearly has troubling ties to Moscow. Jason Chaffetz & Congressional Republicans are shirking their duties. https://t.co/WZ7SNVCqMp  Evan McMullin (@Evan_McMullin) February 14, 2017

As McMullin then proceeded to point out in another tweet,

Flynn is the third Trump team member to resign over Russia-related issues. This pattern betrays a serious problem & Trump is at its center.  Evan McMullin (@Evan_McMullin) February 14, 2017

McMullin had earlier repeated the point raised this morning by CNNs Chris Cuomo that,

Wonder if Ryan would just accept explanation of #flynnresignation from WH if was dem controlled? Where is curiosity abt nat sec issues? https://t.co/P0h751a4mV  Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) February 14, 2017

According to McMullin,

If the WH were under Dem control, Congressional Republicans would certainly investigate this with urgency. They should do their jobs. https://t.co/qhXQRYnwEz  Evan McMullin (@Evan_McMullin) February 14, 2017

Of course, Republicans, by and large, do not want to do their jobs now any more than they wanted to do them when Obama was president. Shirking has gone from being a protest to habit.

Evan McMullin is right, of course, that Chaffetz and his fellow Republicans are shirking their duties, but they have shirked their duties for eight years without consequence.
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In a statement today, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee John McCain, said that General Flynns resignation raises further questions about the Trump administrations intentions toward Vladimir Putins Russia.

In a brief interview with ABC News McCain repeated this assertion, saying that there are many questions to be answered and that the Trump administration is in significant disarray as far as national security is concerned.

Watch courtesy of ABC News:

.@SenJohnMcCain tells @ABC the Trump admin "is in significant disarray as far as national security is concerned." https://t.co/qdZJiCzvGS pic.twitter.com/Jm9jW12I9p  ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) February 14, 2017

Read his full statement below:

I thank General Flynn for his many years of distinguished service to our country, especially his invaluable contributions in the fight against terrorism. I wish him the very best in his future endeavors.

At the same time, General Flynns resignation is a troubling indication of the dysfunction of the current national security apparatus. As our nation confronts the most complex and diverse array of global challenges since the end of World War II, it is imperative that the President select a new National Security Advisor who is empowered by clear lines of authority and responsibility and possesses the skills and experience necessary to organize the national security system across our government.

General Flynns resignation also raises further questions about the Trump administrations intentions toward Vladimir Putins Russia, including statements by the President suggesting moral equivalence between the United States and Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine, annexation of Crimea, threats to our NATO allies, and attempted interference in American elections. American policy toward Russia must be made clear and unequivocal: we will honor our commitments to our NATO allies, we will maintain and enhance our deterrent posture in Europe, we will hold Russian violators of human rights accountable for their actions, and we will maintain sanctions on Russia so long as it continues to violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

As Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I look forward to working with the Presidents administration, especially Secretary Mattis, to defend the nation and support our military service members.

Of course, all sorts of questions have already been raised about Donald Trumps relationship with Vladimir Putin, and as McCain says here, Flynns resignation has done nothing to quell those concerns. Rather, as CNNs Chris Cuomo said this morning to McCains fellow Republican Rep. Chris Collins, the press has no intention of moving on from the Flynn Scandal.

The press is not going to let it go, and that means Congress will find it very difficult to let it go, whatever Republicans like Chris Collins want now that it is a Republican and not a Democrat in the news. Republicans did everything they could to perpetuate the fake Benghazi scandal and many of them are as eager to dismiss the Flynn Scandal. John McCain has just shown that some Republicans, at least, are not willing to so easily let matters be.
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Discussing the resignation of Mike Flynn on the Today Show, Matt Lauer blasted Kellyanne Conway for her steadfast denial of reality as she pretended that President Trump had only recently found out that his National Security adviser had been compromised by the Russians.

Conways insistence on lying finally drove Lauer to drop a bombshell question, the question that could bring the entire Trump administration down. Lauer said, Youre starting to make me think that perhaps General Kelly wasnt freelancing  Im sorry, General Flynn. In fact he may have been making that call on behalf of the administration, or the incoming administration.

Watch the Tuesday show here:

Conway suggested that Flynn had President Trumps full confidence, and they only became concerned when they found out Flynn lied to the Vice President, misleading the Vice President was the key here.

But Lauer wasnt having any of that, because they found out a month ago.

Lauer pushed back forcefully, pointing out that the White House knew about Flynns Russia calls during the transition, But the White House knew about that last month, when the Justice Department warned the White House that Flynn had not been completely honest!

Youre saying that was the straw that broke the camels back, Lauer said of reports that Flynn misled Vice President Pence about his contacts with the Russian ambassador, including five calls made on December 29, the day President Obama issued tougher sanctions on Russia for their interference in the U.S. election.

But the White House knew about that last month, when the Justice Department warned the White House that Flynn had not been completely honest, Lauer blasted, referring to the fact that the Obama administration warned the incoming Trump team that Trumps pick as National Security adviser, Mike Flynn, could easily be bribed by the Russians.

Well thats one characterization, Conway replied, pulling the alternative facts card.

Bizarrely, Conway used the fact that Flynn was still working in his position as a rebuttal to the correction of her inaccurate timeline of events. But the fact is General Flynn continued in that position.

Yes, and that is the problem. Anyone?

That was a road too far for Lauer, who shut that down right away, Kellyanne, that makes no sense! Last month, the Justice Department warned the White House that General Flynn misled them. And that as a result he was vulnerable to blackmail. And at that moment he still had the complete trust of the president?

To this harsh, stark, and very troubling reality, Conway offered no rebuttal. Instead she opted for the grand pivot, the Were moving on pivot, with a cherry on top, The President is moving forward.

Then, Lauer went in for the kill. Youre starting to make me think that perhaps General Kelly wasnt freelancing  Im sorry, General Flynn, in fact he may have been making that call, that in fact he may have been making that call on behalf of the administration, or the incoming administration. Would that be accurate?

Kellyanne doubled down with her talking point that made no sense, No, that would be a mistake to conclude that. In the end, it was misleading the Vice President that made the situation unsustainable.

Lauer hung on to the bone,  Which the White House knew about last month, and yet yesterday you went on the air and said General Flynn had the full confidence of the President.

Conway tried to lay alternative haze over this by praising Trump for being loyal.

Lauer pointed out that Trump left Flynn in a position of great sensitivity. To this, Conway repeated her claim that it was the lie which caused this fallout, but of course they knew about the lie before Trump even took office.

The fact of the matter is we dont even know that Vice President Pence did not know about the Russian connections. The Washington Post reported that while officials believe that Pence was misled, they couldnt rule out that Flynn was acting with the knowledge of others in the transition.

And that phrase is the bombshell, as Lauer pointed out. It looks a lot like Flynn had the blessings of people in the administration to promise Russia that Trump would take care of the sanctions imposed by Obama. If this is the case, its not just Flynn that will be going down.

For at least a month, the Trump team sat on this bomb, covering it up, lying to the press and public. No alternative facts can save them this time.

The American public who might not pay close attention to the news but watch morning shows like the Today Show just got a huge dose of Trump Russia scandal, courtesy of Matt Lauer. This is not good news for Trump.

Image: Kellyanne Conway, screengrab via NBCs Today Show
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Sean Spicer said today in a Press Conference that the White House counsel had briefed Donald Trump immediately after being notified by DOJ about Flynns call but on Friday, Trump claimed he hadnt seen anything on it.

Here is video proof:

Trump saysabout 16 hrs after WaPo broke the Flynn-Russia newshe hasn't seen anything about it: "What report is that? I haven't seen that." pic.twitter.com/phoqXxebqU  Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 11, 2017

Leaving The Plum Lines Greg Sargent to ask,

Spicer just confirmed that Trump was "informed" of DOJ warning that Flynn might be vulnerable to Russian blackmail. When?  Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) February 14, 2017

Allegedly, if Spicer is to be believed, Trump was answering a question specifically about a Washington Post story, rather than about Flynn generally.

The fact is, almost three weeks passed before Trump took action and it beggars belief that this is in any way justified by any of the lies Spicer told today.

Spicer claimed that talking about a 17-day delay assumes a lot of things that arent true, but what it actually involves are Kellyanne Conways alternative facts and a suspension of reality. What to the rest of us seems an obvious attempt to ignore the problem until it went away, Spicer claims was a deliberative process and review.

Watch the press conference, courtesy of the White House (Spicer appears at the 45:30 mark):

Spicer called the Flynn situation an eroding issue and explained that the White House had been reviewing and evaluating this issue with respect to general Flynn daily for a few weeks trying to ascertain the truth and that Flynns resignation came down in the end to an evolving and eroding level of trust, not a violation of the law.

Spicer stressed repeatedly that Flynn, by illegally talking to Vladimir Putin about President Obamas sanctions, somehow did not do anything wrong. He did not explain how this alchemy works, but said that when Trump heard the information he instinctively thought General Flynn did not do anything wrong and the White House counsels review corroborated that.

Meaning there are some very seriously broken moral compasses in the White House if they are present at all. As Newsweeks Kurt Eichenwald parsed it,

Trump KNEW? He frigging KNEW before the inauguration that Flynn had discussed sanctions and lied to Pence? Thats what Spicer says. He knew.  Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) February 14, 2017

It became so difficult to maintain a coherent tale that Spicer was reduced, under questions from the press corps, to cite Fox News pundits in Trumps defense. Because, who you gonna call?

Unbelievably, Spicer asserted that Trump has been incredibly tough on Russia. Twitter is already going to work on Spicer over this claim and he will not live it down anytime soon.

This was another lackluster performance by Sean Spicer, forced to the stage to lie outrageously on behalf of his boss. It did nothing to answer any cogent questions about who knew what about Flynn and Russia and instead served as a futile attempt to deflect questions the press fully intends to pursue in the days to come.
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During his daily briefing with reporters, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer called Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Joe Trudeau in what is the Trump White Houses latest insult to a US ally.

Video:

Oh boy. Spicer says Trump had a productive meeting with Canadian PM "Joe" Trudeau. pic.twitter.com/0SHj0yY1iY  Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 14, 2017

While everyone makes mistakes, the Trump administration has shown itself to be the most non-detail oriented occupants of the White House in decades. This White Hoise appears to be the embodiment of President Trumps fact-free Twitter account.

On Monday during a joint press conference with PM Trudeau, Trump humiliated himself by claiming that the northern border is not secure and then bragging inaccurately about the size of his Electoral College victory.

With calls growing for a full Congressional investigation into the Trump/Russia scandal, this White House should be trying to project competence and stability. Instead, the press secretary cant get the name right of one of Americas most steadfast allies.

Getting the name of the leader of Canada wrong is a national embarrassment, but it has become par for the course for Donald Trump and his team of incompetents.
Activism. Civil rights. Racism. Politics. Labor.

While Martin Luther King, Jr. was leading the charge for social change on the East coast, another revolution was underway out west. Though many know who Cesar Chavez was, fewer know of Dolores Huerta, an equally important figure in the labor rights and immigrant rights movement that began in California in the 1960s. That's what the documentary Dolores, which premiered in New York February 12 at Athena Film Festival (after its world premiere at Sundance last month), sought to change.

Peter Bratt's documentary tells the story of Dolores and her cause, an often grisly one, in an engaging and exciting spiritnot unlike the feeling of civic action itself, fighting the good fight against seemingly unsurmountable odds. The tone is set immediately, as the opening sequence intercuts soundbites about Huerta with lively music and clips of dancing. Despite heavy subject matter, the film isn't out to beat its viewers over the head with information or to depress themit's a celebration of Dolores' accomplishments and her drive. Interviewees range from Dolores' children to figures like Gloria Steinem, sprinkling footage of Huerta being praised by politicians of decades ago and of late for her work.

This is important, and well-deserved. The conditions Huerta was organizing to fight against were gruesome: in the 1960s, undocumented immigrants were easy targets for labor exploitation, underpaid for arduous, long hours working for the agriculture industry. (Sound familiar?) What's worse, the gratuitous use of dangerous pesticides had led to cancer clusters in children whose mothers worked in agriculture and were constantly exposed to the chemicals. Birth defects and stillbirths were rampant. And the connection to current events, the fact that so many of these issues are still not resolved, makes this an important time for this story to be told.

Still, the film manages to cover this awful truth, sparing no detail or image, without detracting from the celebration of Huerta's well-earned legacy. The history is told chronologically, weaving in national figures and events such as the death of Robert F. Kennedy, who had vocally supported Huerta and the National Farm Workers Association before his assassination in 1968. Such historical background helps contextualize the narrative for those who may be less clued in to the history of the labor rights movement. And the overall high-spirited tone of the documentary is appropriate, especially considering the focus of the festival, "a celebration of women and leadership." Huerta may be comfortable behind the scenes, putting her work before her name, but it's easy for women to go unsung while men become legends. Huerta deserves to be remembered, and the cheering audience that gathered with her to see this filma room that included women of all ages, including Gloria Steinem and Dolores herselfensures that she will.
Leanne Marshall's Fall/Winter 2017 collection, which debuted February 12 at Skylight Clarkson Square, made Old Hollywood glamour and ethereal beauty new again through expert draping and modern cuts. Cream and champagne tones were offset by reds and blacks, providing balance to even the most angelic, floating gowns.

By Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for New York Fashion Week: The Shows

by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for New York Fashion Week: The Shows

Chiffon and charmeuse were instrumental in creating the dreamlike shape and motion of the gowns, proving a dress need not be a ball gown to exude all the elegance of a modern princess. Draped accents on some silk dresses amplified the silver screen siren aesthetic, while separates defined a new kind of formalwear. One particular ensemble consisted of a scarlet silk top with angular shoulder cutouts, worn with a cream-colored tiered lace skirt; other two-piece styles included shiny black silk wool off-shoulder jackets worn over full cream colored chiffon dresses.

by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for New York Fashion Week: The Shows

by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for New York Fashion Week: The Shows

Models wore hair in intricate waves at the crown with straightened ponytails, and makeup was almost of another, more undone sort of look: smudged smoky black shadow and true red lips. While each dress alone was truly fare for dreams, the final looka strong choice in blackelicited gasps. A strapless black down in organza and silk wool, with intricate beading and floral organza details on the entirety of the skirt, was paired with matching beaded gloves. It's little mystery why Marshall brought this model back out for her bow: the unforgettable black gown was truly her piece de resistance.
Nearly 13 percent of registered voters in South Carolina have already cast ballots for the 2022 general election after the state opened up no excuse early voting to all for the first time. More than 438,000 votes were in as of the end of Thursday, which was the 10th day of early voting, according to statistics from the South Carolina Election Commission. Read more13% in SC have already cast ballots with new early voting
Pizza has been a constant in Brian Kesslers life, from the time he got a job in a pizzeria as a teenager until the day he met his wife in a pizza joint. Read moreIggy's Pizza Shop is now open in Mount Pleasant
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies. High near 80F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low 64F. Winds light and variable.
Workers maneuver a 30,000-pound panel into place at one of the two new reactors being built at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station in Jenkinsville. File
The massive amount is unusual for a local school board race  and thousands more than any of the other 31 candidates have managed to raise. Read moreA CCSD board candidate has raised almost $100K in campaign funds
As Laffittes case has moved toward trial, it has helped shed new light on Alex Murdaughs alleged financial crimes. His trial is poised to unpack them in the finest detail yet. Read moreEx-SC banker Russell Laffitte set to face trial in first Murdaugh case to be heard by jury
S.C. Education Superintendent Molly Spearman wasnt dreaming up hypothetical problems when she went to the Statehouse in 2019 to ask for authority to remove school boards in districts the state has to take over. Read moreScoppe: Allendale interventions show SC school takeovers work  while they last
The oft-told story of a frog perishing in a pot as the water slowly warms and then cooks him is not actually based in fact; the metaphor persists because it describes something that is true: We are less aware of change that occurs gradually than when it happens all at once. Read moreEditorial: Referendums based on slow evolution: Berkeley, Dorchester aren't so rural anymore
South Carolinas Republican senators have now spoken on the floor trying to muster support for the GOPs budget and tax-cut plan. Read moreSouth Carolina's Graham, Scott make last-minute speeches in support of tax cut
Election Day is 12 days away. But in courtrooms across the country, efforts to sow doubt over the outcome have already begun. More than 100 lawsuits have been filed this year around the Nov. 8 elections. The legal challenges, largely by Republicans, target rules for mail-in voting, early voting, voter access, voting machines, voting registration, the counting of mismarked absentee ballots and access for partisan poll watchers. Read moreElection Day is Nov. 8, but legal challenges have already begun
RED WING  After a public hearing that lasted roughly three hours  with scores of people testifying three minutes at a time  the Goodhue County Planning Advisory Commission voted unanimously Monday night to recommend the Circle K Family Farm hog facility to the county board of commissioners.

"We have reviewed it for compliance with the county feedlot regulations," said county Planning Supervisor Michael Wozniak. "The conclusion we reached is it's in conformance."

That was not the view of Kristi Rosenquist, who lives near the proposed facility that would house 4,700 hogs for finishing and an underground, concrete manure pit with a maximum capacity of 3.1 million gallons of liquid manure.

Rosenquist took to the microphone multiple times during the public hearing to argue that the application to the county for the facility was incomplete. "This lame excuse that the site plan was a document here and a document here and a document there, I still have no idea what the site plan is," she said. "I don't even know if they know what they approved."

From here, the Goodhue County Board of Commissioners will make the final determination on the conditional use permit. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Commissioner John Linc Stine signed off on the finding of facts in the environmental review on Jan. 20, and the MPCA issued a feedlot permit on Jan. 24.

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The fight over the facility, located about 5 miles outside Zumbrota, will continue for opponents, she said. Other chief concerns were whether the county had a manure application plan on file, and that the odor offset modeling had been flawed.

"They need to list all sources of odor," Rosenquist said. For example, she said, the compost pit for animal carcasses, which was not included in the air odor modeling, would put the facility out of compliance with the county's odor regulations.

The crowd of more than 100 people that filled the Goodhue County board room seemed fairly evenly split between those supporting the project and those opposed to it.

"We heard a lot of stories about terrible, terrible things," said county resident Dan O'Brien. "People turning blue, fish dying. That's just hearsay.

"How many times have Kohlnhofers been cited (for violations)?" he said, referring to the family that is behind the proposed hog facility as well as several other hog operations in Minnesota. "As far as I know, they've never been cited."

A few dozen people spoke up against the facility outright or at least to ask commissioners to table the decision until some of that information could be gathered.

But county Land Use Management Director Lisa Hanni said the information in the application was complete. "Our review, we feel, the submittals do conform with the CUP application process," she said.

For example, several documents together painted the whole picture of the site plan, Wozniak said. That is a common occurrence when piecing together a complex conditional use permit. Furthermore, the application conforms to all setbacks and other county regulations. And, if the application meets the county's standards, the committee must recommend approval unless some negative impact can be clearly shown.

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That is exactly what the opponents tried to do Monday, as more than half the opposition speakers came prepared with additional documentation to pass out among the PAC members for their consideration.

"The massive amount of data they are spitting at you, it's just to bury you," said Yon Kohlnhofer, who, along with his brother Mike Kohlnhofer, is listed as the applicant for the project. "It's just a tactic."

Kohlnhofer said he was not surprised at the tactic designed to stall the process, though he does see it as something new. "It's not part and parcel of doing business," he said. "This is new to us, but it's a new world in terms of people voicing their opinion and rhetoric."

With just the county commissioners left in the approval process, Rosenquist said she wondered if the board would care about what she sees as incomplete or incorrect information concerning the facility. Still, she planned to fight on against the hog farm.

"I don't believe they have another public hearing, so that would indicate to me we have no way of putting information in front of (the board of commissioners)," she said. "Except perhaps individually between now and then."
If rumors of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents visiting two Rochester big-box stores and Broadway businesses are true, Police Chief Roger Peterson said his department has no evidence of the visits.

Rochester Police Policy Oversight Commission member Rebeca Sedarski asked Peterson about the reports Monday morning and repeated the question during the commission's meeting Monday evening.

"I called to see if the Rochester Police Department was contacted by ICE," she said.

Peterson said his department was not contacted but he called the agency after hearing the rumors.

"The last enforcement action they took in Rochester was last fall," he said, relating the conversation from earlier Monday.

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He also noted the federal agents won't contact the Rochester Police Department for help unless a warrant or court order is involved, which typically means someone is being sought because of criminal activity beyond illegal immigration.

He noted immigration enforcement is considered a civil matter in the law books, meaning police officers are typically not involved unless another offense is cited.

"We don't assist with any civil enforcement of immigration law," he said, noting the decision isn't about ideology, but is the result of following existing laws.

Peterson added that the police department doesn't have a cooperating agreement with ICE and has not pursued one.

Sedarski pointed out that concerns still exist.

"There is a lot of fear," she said, citing reports that parents were keeping children out of school based on fears that families could be separated.

The same fear, she said, can lead people to not report crimes because they are worried about being detained by local law enforcement officials.

Peterson said that is a real concern for his department because it affects officers' ability to provide for the safety of all Rochester residents.

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"I think there is a lot of work to do to address those issues on a community level," he said.
AUSTIN  Hunched over a piece of paper, 4-year-old Owen Humphress wrestled with an age-old question  what is love?

Marker in hand, Owen set to work detailing an answer to his preschool teacher's question.

"My dog," Owen proclaimed, showing off his drawing of the family pet.

Owen is one of 98 students attending preschool classes run by Austin Public Schools. The district is one of 74 statewide to receive a state grant to help with the cost of pre-kindergarten for 4-year-olds. Austin received nearly $284,000 to cover the cost of 50 students. That, combined with pre-K scholarships for low-income students, enabled Austin Public Schools to offer free pre-K. Parents who were not eligible for scholarships were no longer faced with paying $150 per month for the half-day program and $250 for the full-day option.

"It was like Christmas in August when we were able to tell them no tuition this year. We had parents hug us and cry. They were so excited, " said Amy Baskin, director of Austin Public Schools' Community Education.

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Deeper needs

While Austin Public Schools had plenty to celebrate this school year, other districts weren't so lucky. A total of 109 districts applied for some of the $25 million in voluntary pre-K funding and were turned down. Unsuccessful school districts included Kenyon-Wanamingo, Kingsland, LeRoy-Ostrander, Red Wing, Rochester, Triton, Wabasha-Kellogg and Winona.

DFL Gov. Mark Dayton is pushing to triple the amount of dollars for voluntary pre-K funding in the next two-year budget to $75 million. In the past, his efforts to boost funding for district-run pre-K programs have run into opposition from Republicans who favor increasing money for scholarships that can be used for public and private schools and are targeted toward low-income students. Dayton said recently he wants to see both approaches funded.

"Hopefully we can avoid the kind of fights in the Legislature that really adversely affect everybody's chances to get the support they need," Dayton said.

His proposed budget keeps early learning scholarship funding flat at $59 million per year. It would, however, make the scholarships available to children ages zero to five instead of being limited to 3- and 4-year-olds.

But Republican lawmakers are wary about dumping a lot of money into the voluntary pre-K program. Senate E-12 Finance Committee Chairwoman Carla Nelson, R-Rochester, said she agrees with the governor that more dollars need to be invested in pre-K. Nonetheless, she prefers doing that via scholarships that help the neediest children.

"Early learning scholarships target resources, empower parents, and include all high-quality preschool  whether it be a district-led, center based, in-home, or nonprofit. Targeting our resources for early learning makes more funds available to put on the (school funding) formula, which is what school districts across the state are asking for," Nelson said.

269 applicants

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While lawmakers hash out how best to fund pre-K education, school districts are already looking ahead to next year's funding. A total of 269 school districts have applied for voluntary pre-K dollars for the 2017-2018 school year, according to Minnesota Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius.

Rochester Public Schools is among the districts angling for dollars next year. Amy Eich, director of the district's Community Education program, said there is a tremendous need for additional preschool dollars. There are more than 400 students in the district who are eligible for pre-K scholarship dollars based on receiving free- and reduced-price lunches, but there is no more funding available.

Eich said making sure students have access to a high-quality preschool education is critical.

"The gap that we see in schools begins very, every early in life. So by the time children are 5 years old, there can sometimes be a huge gap in vocabulary and life experience. What our preschools can do is level that playing field for all kids so they are not starting kindergarten way behind their peers and having to catch up before they've even begun," Eich said.

The district is asking the state for enough money to pay for 174 student spots. Of those spots, 160 would be in the district-run preschool program, 10 at Bethany Lutheran School and four at Listos Preschool and Childcare.

Language leveler

In Austin, pre-K classes have been shown to help students be ready for kindergarten. That is particularly true of students who arrive at school not knowing how to speak English. There are more than 40 different languages spoken by students in the school system.

"If we can immerse these kids, they are just like sponges and a lot of them don't need English language services when they get into kindergarten and beyond," she said.

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Rep. Duane Sauke, DFL-Rochester, said he favors the governor's approach of boosting voluntary pre-K funding. He is not a big fan of scholarships, which he said are more likely to be directed to resources that fit individuals' preferences.

He added that the governor "is really trying to push the walls back so that we collectively start being able to do the things that really matter."
Paul speculated last night that Lt. General Michael Flynns days as President Trumps National Security Adviser might be numbered and that the number might be low. It turned out that the number was zero. General Flynn submitted his resignation late yesterday after meeting with Trump chief of staff Reince Priebus.

The Washington Post has been out front of this story. The Posts Greg Miller and Phil Rucker report on Flynns departure here.

President Trump has appointed General Keith Kellogg to serve as interim National Security Adviser pending appointment of a successor to General Flynn. Politico profiles General Kellogg here.

According to both the Post and Politico reports, Vice Admiral Robert Harward is the favorite to be succeed Kellogg as the permanent National Security Adviser. Having served as the former Deputy Commander of the U.S. Central Commend directly under General Mattis, Harward is said to be a protege of the Defense Secretary.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer said today that President Trump is still evaluating the situation regarding Michael Flynn, his national security adviser. This statement suggests that Flynn is in hot water with Trump.

Flynns problem arises from allegations that he communicated with Russian officials about sanctions before Trump took office. In response to these allegations, Flynn may have been less than fully candid with Vice President Pence when he described his conduct, perhaps causing Pence to mislead the public about the matter. Indeed, Flynn reportedly has apologized to Pence, which suggests that he did the vice president a disservice.

I think the analysis of his controversy is straightforward: (1) the conversation between Flynn and Russians, if it occurred, is not a big deal; (2) being less than fully truthful with Mike Pence would be a serious matter.

Lets start with the alleged conversation with the Russians. The claim is that after the election, Flynn talked to Russias ambassador about sanctions, perhaps suggesting that they might be lifted if relations improve.

Flynns enemies argue that such a conversation would violate the Logan Act. It forbids U.S. citizens from communicating with foreign governments with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States.

Depending on what Flynn said to the ambassador, if he said anything, it can be argued that his communication was intended to influence Russias response to sanctions then-President Obama had just slapped on and/or to undermine these sanctions. In context, though, this argument seems like a stretch. Russia knew that Obama was on his way out. It also knew that Trump had promised a fresh look at American policy towards Russia.

Thus, I agree with David Goldman that even if reports of the conversation are true, Trump need not remove Flynn over it. (Goldman, by the way, sees the attack on Flynn as part of a CIA vendetta against the retired general).

Misleading Mike Pence, if thats what Flynn did, is another matter. Obviously, the president and the vice president should be able to count on the national security adviser for honest reports about his conversations with foreign ambassadors (and about all other matters). If Flynn was not honest, thats a problem.

In that event, Trump presumably will evaluate how materially Flynn may have misled Pence and whether he did so intentionally. He might also weigh Flynns value to the administration as compared to possible successors, and the political ramifications of sacking Flynn at this juncture (though I hope this consideration is peripheral at best).

Trump probably has a sense already of Flynns value. In the end, that sense  whatever it is  may well decide his fate.

UPDATE: The Washington Post reports that Sally Yates, then the acting attorney general, told the White House late last month that Flynn was potentially vulnerable to Russian blackmail because he had misled senior administration officials about the nature of his communications with the Russian ambassador to the United States. Readers probably recall that President Trump had to fire Yates because she refused to carry out his executive order.

According to the Post, James Clapper, then the director of national intelligence, and John Brennan, then the CIA director, shared Yatess concerns and concurred with her recommendation to inform the Trump White House about the alleged prospect of blackmail. If I recall correctly, Clapper and Brennan are the same luminaries who thought reports about Trump being subject to blackmail over golden showers in a Moscow hotel needed to be shared.

The prospect of Flynn being blackmailed by the Russians over this business seems far-fetched, if less so than the water sports story. I cant help but suspect that the concern was animated by hostility towards Flynn and, quite possibly, Trump.

This is not to excuse Flynn for misleading Pence and others, if thats what happened. Blackmail or no blackmail, if the misleading was material and intentional, it would be solid grounds for getting a new national security adviser.

Indeed, Flynns days may well be numbered, and the number may well be low. Politico reports that Jared Kushner is involved in a search for candidates to replace Michael Flynn, with David Petraeus in the picture. Like Flynn, Petraeus hasnt always been a model of discretion.

ONE MORE THING: Its clear from the Posts report that Sally Yates and the others discovered that the Russians conceivably could blackmail Flynn by listening to a recording of the Russian ambassadors phone call with Flynn. Thats how they learned Russia could show Flynn might have misled Pence about what was said during the call.

Thus, the Post has reported that the U.S. is tapping the Russian ambassadors phone. Now, maybe the Russians already know, or assume, this. On the other hand, it may be that the Post has harmed U.S. intelligence gathering capability by running its breathless blackmail story.
Democrats hotly deny there is any vote fraud taking place in American elections. Funny that only Democrats seem sensitive about this charge. The asymmetry of outrage suggests something, I think. Once upon a time, Chicago Democrats justified their shenanigans by charging that downstate Illinois Republicans stole votes, too. And maybe they did.

Consider this note from our friend Roger Beckett, executive director of the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University in Ohio:

I received the letter below from the Department of Elections in the State of Delaware. After a couple phone calls to them, I learned that someone registered me to vote (with my correct Date of Birth and Social Security number) on July 12, 2016 in Wilmington, Delaware. As a Democrat. I have never registered to vote in Delaware. I have only ever registered to vote where I live, in Ohio. I checked my credit report, and this is not full-fledged identity theft. It appears to be just some new-fangled election fraud.
Of course noncitizens never vote, a faithful reader sarcastically writes. Our reader practices immigration law and directs us to the Seventh Circuit opinion in Fitzpatrick v. Sessions, hot off the press yesterday in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. The Seventh Circuit opinion briefly summarizes the factual background:

Margarita Del Pilar Fitzpatrick, a citizen of Peru, had lived in the United States for three years when she applied for a drivers license in Illinois. She contends that when filling out the forms at the Department of Motor Vehicles she displayed her green card and her Pe ruvian passportbut she admits that she also checked a box claiming to be a citizen of the United States. The form sternly warns aliens not to check that box, and Fitzpatrick does not contend that she has any difficulty understanding written English. (She came to the United States in 2002 to study English in college, and after earning a certificate as a medical translator she spent some time working as an interpreter be fore training as a nurse.) As required by the motor voter law, 52 U.S.C.  2050306, the form also contained a checkbox that would lead to registration as a voter. Fitzpatrick main tains that the desk clerk asked whether she wanted to register, and when she inquired Am I supposed to? he replied: Its up to you. She checked that box, was duly registered, and in 2006 twice voted in elections for federal officials. Aliens are forbidden to vote in federal elections. 18 U.S.C.  611. Another statute, 8 U.S.C.  1227(a)(6), provides for the removal of aliens who vote in violation of either state or fed eral law. After discovering that Fitzpatrick had voted in a federal election, the Department of Homeland Security initiated removal proceedings. An Immigration Judge and then the Board of Immigration Appeals (initially and when denying reconsideration) decided that she must indeed leave the United States, even though she has led a productive and otherwise unblemished life in this country, is married to a U.S. citizen, and has three U.S. citizen children. Her children were born in Peru and naturalized after arrival. Her own 2007 application for citizenship is what brought her 2006 voting to light, when response to questions asked of all applicants she honestly described her voting history. Fitzpatrick acknowledges that she voted in apparent violation of 611, which does not require proof that the alien knew that only citizens can vote in federal elections. [Citation omitted.] Nonetheless, she contends, she did not actually violate  611

The final paragraph of the Seventh Circuit opinion notes the courts possible disagreement with the upshot of the courts decision:

The panel inquired at oral argument whether Fitzpatrick is the kind of person the Attorney General and the Department of Homeland Security want removed from the United States. The answer was yesthat consideration had been given to exercising prosecutorial discretion in Fitzpatricks favor, but that the possibility had been resolved adversely to her. That decision is entrusted to executive officials, leaving us no option other than to deny the petitions for review of the [Board of Immigration Appeals] decisions.

Our reader comments: The arguments made by the plaintiff give insight into the kind of crazy things that have worked in the past. The opinion is short and pointed. I encourage interested readers to check out the whole thing.

Our reader adds this postscript:

The naturalization application (Form N-400) has two questions related to voting and I wonder if President Trump could order DHS to publish how many naturalization applications have been filed where the answer to those questions was YES  one question relates to registering to vote while the other relates to actually voting. Of course this is not the whole universe of people who are non-citizens who voted as it would be limited to those non-citizens who later apply for naturalization (US citizenship) and are truthful but the data would give some insight as to how much it is occurring. I believe that under prior Administrations the policy was to use favorable discretion and forgive this

The appeal in the Seventh Circuit was argued on January 17, in the closing days of the Obama administration. Although the Seventh Circuit decision was released yesterday, the proceedings predate the new administration. Im thinking that this Seventh Circuit decision wont get much coverage in the news  Reuters covers it here  although it is both newsworthy and interesting.

The Reuters story is written entirely from the perspective of Ms. Fitzpatrick. The Reuters story is nevertheless itself of interest. The story indicates that Ms. Fitzpatricks immigration attorney said he has seen dozens, perhaps hundreds, of cases over the years in which an immigrant voted without realizing it was illegal. Quotable quote: Theres no fraud. It arises out of confusion.
What is the most important trait in a U.S. president? Regard for the Constitution, I believe.

Whats second? Probably the ability to distinguish between friendly countries and leaders and unfriendly countries and leaders, and to conduct foreign policy accordingly.

The distinguishing part isnt always easy. Every president is likely to make a mistake or two. The second part  conducting foreign policy accordingly  shouldnt be too difficult.

President Reagan was excellent in these departments, though he did go astray with the Iran-Contra deal. Most importantly, he sized up the Soviet Union and its leader correctly and, by doing so, helped bring the evil empire down.

President Obama was awful. Right out the gate he displayed his chilliness towards Great Britain, was downright hostile to Israel for eight years, found his best Middle East friend in Turkeys abominable Erdogan, and made the conciliation of Iran his prime foreign policy objective in the belief that the mullahs would not only moderate but help us bring stability to the Middle East if only we were nicer to them.

How is President Trump doing so far? Its too early to say. However, he does seem to be getting some of the basics right.

Trump understands that Great Britain is our best and most important friend in Europe. He understands that Israel is our best and most important friend in the Middle East. He understands that Japan is our best and most important friend in Asia.

And so far, he is acting accordingly. His meetings with Prime Minister May and Prime Minister Abe appear to have gone quite well. He and Prime Minister Netanyahu also seem to be off to a good start and will meet soon.

I want to focus on Trumps meetings with Abe. Even the New York Times acknowledges that they were a success. Only the Japanese Communist party seems displeased. Thats a good sign.

Andrew Yeo writing in the Washington Post goes further than the Times. He suggests that Trump and Abe may have launched a new chapter in U.S.-Japan relations.

For any U.S. president, personal rapport is likely to factor into our relations with other countries. Yeo tells us that Trump and Abe have quickly developed a good personal rapport. He adds:

The U.S.-Japan alliance flourished during the Koizumi-Bush years, attested by Japans expansion of its military role in support for U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Abe-Trump relationship may replicate this positive dynamic at the personal and diplomatic level.

Yeo notes that Abe is a good friend to have. He is right. Abe is in his second stint as prime minister and is the longest serving PM in more than a decade.

He is well-respected in Asia and on the world stage. According to Michael Auslin of AEI, in his excellent new book The End of the Asian Century:

Abe [has] adopted a policy that in essence offered Japan as a democratic, liberal partner for Asian nations growing wary of Chinas increasing power and influence. Though often couched in security terms, Abes vision as he has developed it over the years is a political one, contrasting destabilizing authoritarianism with cooperative liberalism.

Auslin adds that Abe hasnt been able to overturn Chinas predominance, in part because Japan no longer has the regions largest or fastest growing economy and, to a lesser extent, because of hostility towards Japan over its war time atrocities 75 years ago.

Even so, Prime Minister Abe strikes me as just the kind of leader with whom the American president should be developing a strong personal rapport. And if the U.S.-Japan alliance becomes stronger, Abe may find himself better positioned to accomplish his foreign policy goals in Asia.

So far, so good.
The new management of Arik Airlines has appointed international audit firm, KPMG, to undertake a forensic audit of the finances of the airline.

Part of KPMGs mandate is to ascertain the true status of the airlines finances.

A statement released by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, Monday, said the review will among other objectives cover the position of the companys asset and liabilities; their utilisation; recording and utilisation of loans; and propriety of third party transactions.

Other objectives of the audit exercise, according to the statement, include looking into fraud controls over Procure to Pay (PtP); agents, business partners, and financial reporting; and Arik Airlines financial position as at January 31, 2017.

The report is expected to be delivered within 12 weeks.

We have hired KPMG to look into the financials of Arik with a tooth comb and advise us with verifiable facts on what went wrong with the airline, the statement said.

We need to do that because the outcome will help us plug the loopholes and stabilise the airline.

The statement noted that the overall purpose was to identify what went wrong with Arik, Nigerias largest airline, to enable the new management bring it back to full operations.

AMCON had on February 9 taken over the airlines operations following complaints of huge indebtedness to various creditors and the frequent interruptions in its operations.

The organisation on Sunday announced that the airline was in a huge mess and was poorly managed

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The federal government has no plans to increase taxes, rather to get tax avoiders to do the needful, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udo Udoma, said on Monday.

Reacting to a comment by Ben Murray-Bruce, a senator, at the public hearing of the Joint session of the National Assembly on the 2017 Budget, the minister said government was only working to increase its internally generated revenue by broadening its tax base.

A view has been expressed that we should not increase taxes; that we should broaden our tax collection instead. That is precisely what is in the budget, Mr. Udoma said.

Mr. Murray-Bruce had insinuated the federal government was about to increase taxes, an action he said would worsen the poor economic fortunes of Nigerians and businesses.

The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, had recently said that the government would increase tax on luxury items, like champagne, yachts and other luxury items from its current five per cent.

But, Mr. Udoma clarified that there was no plan to increase neither the value added tax, VAT, nor companys income tax, CIT.

There is no increase at all in taxes. But people who are not paying taxes must be made to pay. So, the idea is to increase revenue by broadening the tax base, not by increasing taxes, Mr. Udoma said.

His spokesperson, Akpandem James, told PREMIUM TIMES that did not rule out tax raise on luxury items as announced the finance minister.

Since the government presented the 2017 budget proposal, some experts on the economy have continued to advocate the need for government to spend its way out of the current recession.

They have also called for increased partnership with the private sector to speed up growth, plan for sustainable development, work with the state governments for integrated development, involve relevant experts, while consulting widely in planning, monitoring and evaluation projects, among others.

However, the Minister said at the session, attended by civil society groups and private sector players, that government had taken time to capture virtually all shades of opinions on the 2017 budget.

Public resources, he pointed out, cannot be enough to drive the development process, saying the 2017 Budget was directed at mobilising private sector resources, by using public-private partnership for projects.

For instance, in housing, although government is putting about N100 billion, another N900 billion is expected from the private sector. For the export processing zone, while government is putting N50 billion, a huge injection of funds from the private sector is also expected.

So, the 2017 budget is aimed at achieving economic growth, economic diversification, improved competitiveness, an improved ease of doing business, to create more jobs and social inclusion, improved governance and security.

He said the spending was targeted at quick transformation on infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, solid minerals, and services.

On partnership with state governments, the Minister said the federal government consulted with the state governors and Commissioners of Planning in all the states.

We are determined to a more diversified growth, not depending just on crude oil. We want to stimulate the manufacturing sector, stimulate agriculture, to have a coherent, cohesive plan, Mr. Udoma said.

The Minister of State, Zainab Ahmed, said the government was determined to ensure Nigerians experienced inclusive growth this time around with the social intervention programme.

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The mayor of a city on Indonesias Sulawesi Island on Tuesday raided convenience stores selling condoms on the eve of Valentines Day.

According to local media the mayor of Makassar, Mohammad Pomanto, complained during snap inspections of minimarts that stores were selling condoms like they were candy.

Valentines Day is a day of love but it doesnt mean people can do anything in the name of love.

Its not about Valentines Day but its about moral degradation, he said, adding that stores that sold condoms freely to unmarried teenagers would have their permits revoked.

In 2016, the mayor issued a circular requiring stores in the largest city in eastern Indonesia to sell condoms only to married people.

Indonesia is the worlds largest Muslim-majority country where conservative views about sex prevail.

(dpa/NAN)

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The Thai government on Tuesday handed out magical vitamins to couples registering their marriages in a bid to boost the birth rate, while granting marriage certificates made from gold to a lucky few.

The public health ministry was handing out 600 packages of iron and folic acid supplements, dubbed magical vitamins by the authorities, to couples registering their marriages in Bangrak district in Bangkok.

Women planning to get pregnant should consume iron and folic acid at least once a week for 12 weeks, Vachira Pengjan, director-general of the health department, said.

According to Vachira, Thai women have been getting married less often and at a later age over the last few decades, causing the population growth rate to slump from 2.7 per cent in 1970 to 0.4 per cent 2015.

The supplements have also been distributed in hospitals across the country, the health department said, with a total of 6 million pills given out.

Thousands of Thais get hitched on Valentines Day each year at a government office in Bangrak district.

Report says the district is popular for weddings as its name incorporates the word rak, which means love in Thai.

Also in Bangrak district, Bangkok City Hall gave away marriage certificates made from gold, each worth 20,000 baht (572 dollars), to 10 lucky couples drawn at random.

Families are a very important part of society, Peerapong Saicheu, deputy governor of Bangkok said.

Among other Valentines Day initiatives to promote marriage this year are wedding ceremonies on hot-air-balloon rides in Chiang Rai province and scuba-diving weddings in Trang province.

(dpa/NAN)

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Malaysian police confirm that North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns estranged half brother Kim Jong Nam has died.

Kim Jong-nam died en route to hospital from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, police tell Malaysian media.

South Korean media reports said Kim was poisoned by two female North Korean operatives at the airport.

Media reports said Kim has never met his half brother, North Koreas leader, and was attacked by two unidentified women with poisoned needles. (dpa/NAN)

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Members of Congress on Tuesday voiced support for the removal of White House National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn, who quit after admitting that he had made misleading statements about contacts with Russia.

The resignation came just 25 days after President Donald Trump took office.

Mr. Flynn reportedly discussed lifting sanctions on Moscow with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak on December 29 same day former President Barack Obama announced the measures in response to Russia-linked hacking against the Democratic Party.

Mr. Flynn, a retired U.S. Army general, said that he inadvertently gave then vice president-elect Mike Pence and others incomplete information about those talks.

President Trump was right to accept that resignation, John Thune, a Republican senator from South Dakota said.

Now its important to go about the business of securing the nation, it was clear that Michael Flynn was active in a way that was not appropriate, he said.

Congressman Adam Schiff of California, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, called for an independent commission to probe connections between Mr. Trumps presidential campaign and Moscow, including Mr. Flynns activities.

The bigger question here is, was this later contact of Flynn part of a long series of contacts.

I think were gonna need to bring General Flynn as well as others before the Intelligence Committee, Mr. Schiff said.

He urged Speaker Paul Ryan, the Republican leader of the House of Representatives, to join bipartisan calls for an investigation.

(dpa/NAN)

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Two multinational oil firms have challenged the propriety of the Nigerian government withdrawing a major oil block from them.

Shell and Eni, through their Nigerian subsidiaries, asked a Federal High Court to reverse an order that revoked the award of OPL 245 to them.

Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court had on January 26 granted an interim order directing the return of the block  Nigerias richest, estimated to contain over 9 billion barrels of crude  to the Nigerian government,

The order was sought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which said it was investigating the corruption surrounding the block.

The EFCC has in a separate case charged two former Nigerian ministers, Mohammed Adoke and Dan Etete, as well as businessman Abubakar Aliyu to court for their roles in the $1.1 billion scandal, money paid by Shell and Eni to control the block. The commission is also expected to file charges against the oil majors soon; although they are already facing similar indictments in Italy, and investigations in the U.S., Netherlands, and UK.

The hearing on the application by the oil majors was stalled on Tuesday on the request of the EFCC who sought time to respond to the applications.

At the opening of session on the matter, the counsel representing the EFCC, J. A. Ojogbame prayed the court for an adjournment to allow him file his reply to the applications.

He explained that he has had some predicaments which prevented him from being able to respond to the application.

The counsel representing Shell, O. Ajayi, objected to the application for adjournment, saying that the EFCC had obtained an order ex-parte, which allowed the commission to have control over the OPL 245.

Mr. Ajayi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said the EFCC had in its motion ex-parte, regarded the Malabu oil scam as an urgent matter requiring prompt attention. He, therefore, questioned the failure of the commission to respond to the applications almost two weeks after receiving the motion from the applicants.

After hearing the arguments, Justice Tsoho adjourned the hearing till February 27.

The EFCC had in December filled a nine-count charge of fraud against former petroleum minister Dan Etete, former Attorney General Bello Adoke, controversial businessman Aliyu Abubakar and some local firms.

The charge against Mr Etete is that he fraudulently received a total of $801 million from the Nigerian government, part of the money paid by the oil giants.

The two charges filed against Mr. Adoke were that he aided the transfer of the money to Mr. Etete and conspired with him to commit money laundering offences.

Mr. Aliyu was accused of receiving a total of $478.6 million fraudulently from the transaction.

The $1.1 billion 2011 deal

After several political and judicial intrigues that ensured OPL 245 changed hands several times between Malabu, Shell, and the Nigerian government, Goodluck Jonathan emerged Nigerias president in 2010. On the prompting of his attorney general, Mohammed Adoke, one of Mr. Jonathans first directive upon assuming office was that the oil block be given to Malabu.

Persons close to Mr. Jonathan told PREMIUM TIMES the former president took the decision because of his closeness to Mr. Etete who had helped him during his tenure as petroleum minister and because of the perception among persons from the oil producing Niger Delta that OPL 245 was one of the few oil blocks awarded to someone from the region.

By 2010, Mr. Etete had schemed out other owners of Malabu including by fraudulently altering Corporate Affairs Corporation, CAC, documents, investigations revealed.

The CAC recently said its official in charge of the Malabu documents was brutally murdered.

Despite Mr. Jonathans directive that Malabu be given OPL 245, the company really did not exist and had no staff or technical competence to manage the block. Based on advice from desperate businessmen including an Israeli, Ednan Agaev, Mr. Etete decided to cash in on the block. Through various middlemen, the former minister approached oil giants, Shell and ENI, to buy the block. Knowing Mr. Etetes history including the fact that he had been convicted in France for money laundering, the oil firms would not do a direct deal.

For the transaction to continue, a legally recognised mediator would have to be found.

That mediator turned out to be the Nigerian government, represented by Mr. Adoke.

The agreements that were sealed led to Shell and ENI paying the $1.1 billion into a Nigerian government account in JP Morgan Chase in London. The money was to then be transferred to Malabu accounts controlled by Mr. Etete.

Although Shell and ENI have repeatedly claimed they did not know the money was going to end up with Malabu, investigations in Nigeria and Italy as well as leaked documents revealed that claim to be false. Mr. Adoke himself would later admit that he, on behalf of the federal government, only acted as a mediator for two willing parties  Malabu and the oil majors. Mr. Adoke was, however, aware of the various fraudulent manipulations of Malabu by Mr. Etete when he authorised the transaction, multiple sources have told PREMIUM TIMES.

THE TRANSFERS TO FRAUDULENT FIRMS

To ensure no one stopped the shady transfer of the $1.1 billion to Mr. Etete, the money had to be quickly transferred. More so, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was set to assume office as Nigerias Finance Minister and the officials involved were not sure she would play ball.

On August 16, 2011, a day before Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala was to assume office, Mr. Adoke and the then Minister of State for Finance, Yerima Ngama, authorised the transfer of the money to Malabu accounts in Nigeria controlled by Mr. Adoke. However, all the $1.1 billion could not be transferred. Emeka Obi, a man who claimed he helped broker the deal between Malabu and the oil majors filed a suit in the UK, that ensured $215 million was frozen of the money. The remaining $801 million was subsequently transferred to Mr. Etete: $400 million was transferred to a Bank PHB account while $401 million was transferred to a First Bank account.

Immediately Mr. Etete received the money, curious transfers began. PREMIUM TIMES investigations, now confirmed by the EFCC, reveal that shady companies linked to Abubakar Aliyu received about $479 million dollars from Mr. Etete. Our investigations later showed that most of the companies were non-existent and used fake addresses in their registration documents.

The companies  Rocky Top Resource Ltd, Imperial Union Ltd, Novel Properties & Dev. Co. Ltd, A-Group Construction Ltd, and Megatech Engineering Ltd  were all charged in the suit filed by the EFCC.

While Mr. Etete later admitted that only $250 million of the money paid into his account was his, Mr. Aliyu is believed to have acted as a front for officials of the Goodluck Jonathan administration including Mr. Adoke.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday in Akure arraigned the Vice Chancellor Of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, Gregory Daramola, over allegations of fraud to the tune of N24 million.

The Vice Chancellor was arraigned along with the schools bursar, Ayodeji Oresegun, for offences of misappropriation of public funds, misuse of office, and obtaining money under false pretense among others.

While Mr. Daramola is facing a nine-count charge, his co-accused is facing a two-count charge of mishandling unpaid funds and fixing funds without due process.

According to the charges, the vice chancellor and the bursar conspired on or about 21 January, 2015 with intent to defraud to wit illegally place on fixed deposit the money of the Federal University of Technology Akure in a WEMA bank account No 1300002035.

They were also accused of abuse of office.

That you Prof. Adebiyi G. Daramola on or about 2nd September, 2016 at Akure within the Akure judicial division of this honourable court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of Twenty four Million Two Hundred and Twenty Three Thousand four Hundred and Eighty four naira (24, 223,484.00) from the Federal University of Technology Akure when you falsely represented that the said sum of money was for your Biennial family vacation overseas for the years 2015 and 2016 which representation you knew to be false, the charge read in part.

The accused persons, who were represented by Adebayo Adenipekun, and O. Theophilus, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges levelled against them.

Messrs. Adenipekun and Theophilus prayed the court to admit their clients to bail on most liberal terms saying that their offenses were bailable.

They argued that the accused VC and bursar had already been enjoying their administrative bail by the EFCC.

In his own submission, the prosecution counsel, Ben Ubi, objected to their bail application on the ground that an application seeking for bail must place material facts before the court.

Mr. Ubi however asked for short adjournment date from the court to enable him study the grounds for the bail application.

But in his ruling, the presiding judge, Bola Ademola, granted them bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties each who must be public servants, resident within the court jurisdiction with three years tax clearance and two sized passport photographs each.

Justice Ademola thereafter adjourned the case till 20, 21, 22 March, 2017 for mention.

FUTA had been embroiled in a crisis since last year when members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities accused the Vice Chancellor over corruption.

They also filed the petition to the EFCC which resulted in the investigation of the Vice Chancellor, leading to the arraignment on Tuesday.

While reacting to the outcome of the ruling of the judge, the Universitys Joint Action Committee Chairman, Dele Durojaye, expressed satisfaction with the arraignment, noting that it was in line with the anti-corruption crusade of President Muhammadu Buhari.

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The punishment meted by the Nigerian Army on two errant soldiers is inadequate and should have been more stringent, a state governor has said.

The Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has demanded the immediate sack and prosecution of the two soldiers who assaulted a physically-challenged man, Chijioke Oratu.

The governor donated N500,000 to the victim to aid his recovery and rehabilitation and promised to empower him by setting up a business for him.

Chijioke Oratu, crippled in both legs, was viciously beaten and kicked by two armed soldiers after being dragged off his wheel chair, as shocked onlookers stood by helplessly.

The video of the attack, apparently captured by a bystander, went viral on social media, sparking outrage.

The Nigerian Army announced on Friday that the assailants had been identified and arrested.

Spokesperson Sani Usman, a Brigadier General, said in a statement the culprits, Bature Samuel and Abdulazeez Usman, who were both corporals, had been demoted to privates and imprisoned for 21 days with hard labour.

They are to also forfeit their pay for the 21 days.

But Mr. Umahi, who received the victim at the executive chambers of the government house at Abakaliki on Tuesday, said the punishment was not commiserate with the soldiers offence.

The governor said the state government will write a petition to army authorities demanding the immediate sack and prosecution of the two soldiers.

Let me highly commend the Chief of Staff and the GOC of 82 Division for their quick and humanly intervention. In our society we have different sectors of our engagement, the judges or lawyers are not the most important, neither are the doctors, police, soldiers or politicians, he said.

The combination of all will make the society that is progressive. And I believe in a society where the right of one stops the right of the other begins. I commend the governor of Anambra state who reacted immediately and sought to rehabilitate this young man before we came in and took over.

We commend the Chief of Army Staff on the disciplinary actions taken on those men but we believe that 21 days imprisonment is not enough, they didnt behave like human beings and to be demoted is not enough.

I suggest to them that those soldiers should be sacked and not demoted. We shall write a petition which I will personally submit to the Chief of Army staff demanding the sack and prosecution of the soldiers who attacked him.

The governor also directed his Senior Special Adviser on Welfare and Religious matters to liaise with the victim and his family on the best way to resettle him.

The governor also announced the release of relief funds and packages worth over N30 million to the people of Azuoffia-Edda community who were allegedly attacked by neighbouring communities in Cross River State.

He also directed the provision of mosquito nets to the victims and digging of two boreholes at their refugee camp located at Azuoffia-Edda primary school.

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A court has ordered that the $9.8 million and 74,000 pounds recovered from a house belonging to Andrew Yakubu be forfeited to the Nigerian government.

The anti-graft agency, EFCC, last Friday announced it recovered the money (about N3 billion in total) from a Kaduna home of the former head of the state oil firm, NNPC.

Mr. Yakubu, who reportedly admitted owning the money has since been arrested and is in custody of the EFCC.

The Federal High Court in Kano presided over by Justice Zainab Abubakar ordered the forfeiture on Tuesday.

The order was sequel to an ex parte application by the EFCC seeking an interim forfeiture of the recovered money to the Federal Government.

The application was moved by Salihu Sani, counsel for the applicant.

In her ruling, Justice Zainab held That the sum of $9,772,000 (Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand United States Dollars) and 74,000 (Seventy Four Thousand Pound Sterling) which are now in the custody of the applicant (EFCC) are in the interim forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the EFCC announced the recovery of the money.

The huge cash was hidden in a fire proof safe, the commission had said.

The spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement that the surprise raid of the facility was sequel to an intelligence which the commission received about suspected proceeds of crime believed to be hidden in the slums of Sabon Tasha area of Kaduna.

On arrival at the facility, the caretaker of the house, one Bitrus Yakubu, a younger brother to Andrew Yakubu, disclosed that both the house and the safe where the money was found belong to his brother, Andrew Yakubu.

When the safe was opened it was discovered that it contained the sum of $9,772,800 and another sum of 74,000.

On February 8, Mr. Yakubu reported to the Commissions Zonal office in Kano and made statement wherein he admitted ownership of the recovered money, claiming it was gift from unnamed persons, Mr. Uwujaren said.

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Arik Air has suspended its international flight operations to the London and Johannesburg routes.

The spokesman of the Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON, Jude Nwauzor, made the announcement in a statement issued on Tuesday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that AMCON had on February 9 taken over the airline following its huge indebtedness to the company and other creditors, both local and foreign.

Mr. Nwauzor said the suspension would enable Arik Air to find permanent solution to problems facing its passengers and carry out a thorough assessment of its situation.

He said :The strategic business decision is meant to realign our operations and refocus on satisfying our domestic and West Africa and other international passengers.

It will also present Arik with excellent opportunity to engage and discuss with creditors who have become restive since the intervention and have also understandably exhausted their patience due to non-payment of accumulated debt and non-performance on services and contracts.

Mr. Nwauzor said consequent upon this, arrangements were being made to refund all international passengers of the airline that were affected by this decision.

To our international creditors, Arik is most grateful for your patience and understanding.

We reassure them that all pending issues with the airline will be duly addressed as a matter of priority as we plan to engage them in this regard, he added.

According to him, the international route is very critical for the strategic turn around, growth strategy and stability of the airline.

Mr. Nwauzor said the airline intends to revisit the routes immediately it addresses all the problems inherited, which was affecting and creating more dissatisfied passenger base.

We appeal to all passengers to kindly bear with us as the decision is to ensure that the airline adheres strictly to international aviation best practices, he said.

(NAN)

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Hearing in the suit filed by Lagos lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, against the Acting EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, suffered a temporary setback on Monday at a Federal High Court as the judge trying the case was absent.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the case could not proceed as scheduled because of Justice Mojisola Olatoreguns absence.

He was said to be attending a workshop in neighbouring Togo.

The court, however, fixed February 20 for continuation of trial.

In the suit filed on January 16, Mr. Adegboruwa wants the court to direct the Senate not to entertain any further request for the confirmation of Mr. Magu as chairman and restrain him from parading himself as the commissions boss.

Joined in the suit are the Senate, the Attorney General of the Federation, the EFCC and Mr. Magu.

In a 39-paragraph affidavit, Mr. Adegboruwa pointed out that Mr. Magu, who was appointed on November 9, 2015, had functioned in acting capacity beyond the six months allowed by law.

Mr. Adegboruwa contended that since the Senate had refused to confirm Mr. Magu as the chairman of the anti-graft agency, he should cease to function in that capacity.

He cited Section 2(3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act which makes confirmation by the Senate a condition precedent to the appointment of the chairman.

He argued that since the section was activated by forwarding Magus name to the Senate, he could not defy the decision of the lawmakers, who rejected him.

Notwithstanding the clear decision of the Senate not to confirm Magu, he has continued to parade himself as EFCC Chairman.

He also met with representatives of the United States Embassy on Jan. 6, 2017, clearly defying the decision of the Senate.

Mr. Adegboruwa is, therefore, asking the court to restrain EFCC and other authorities from recognising, treating or in any other manner, dealing with Mr. Magu as the Chairman of EFCC, either in acting or substantive capacity.

He also seeks a declaration that given his conduct in office so far, he is not a fit and proper person to function in the office of chairman and that the court should give an order directing Mr. Magu to vacate office immediately.

In addition, the lawyer wants the court to declare null and void all actions taken by the EFCC during Mr. Magus tenure. (NAN)

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Abductors of a former state director at the State Security Service have freed him, PREMIUM TIMES learnt Tuesday.

Mike Ejiofor was kidnapped on Sunday night in Kogi State.

He was released on Monday night after his relatives paid N15 million ransom to his kidnappers, his associate said.

The source, who did not want to be named, also told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Ejiofor, who now works as a private security consultant, was seized by suspected herdsmen.

We have been able to confirm that he was kidnapped by herdsmen, a source said. We paid them N15 million and hes now back to Abuja.

Mr. Ejiofor has been the chairman of Apex Safety and Security Consultants in Abuja since retiring from service years ago.

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The Nigeria police on Monday again invited the publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, to a meeting on Thursday with the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigations Department(SCID) in Lagos.

The invitation, which came in the form of a text message, did not disclose the purpose of the meeting. It merely invited Mr. Sowore and his colleagues to meet with the police authorities for an interview at 10a.m at the SCID headquarters in the Yaba area of Lagos.

Mr. Sowore was on January 9 physically assaulted in Lagos by one Lekan Fatodu over a report by SaharaReporters detailing how Mr. Fatodu was allegedly used as a front by former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode to corner public funds through the office of the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

When Mr. Sowore was brought before Fatai Owoseni, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, the police claimed a petition alleging criminal libel had been submitted by Mr. Fatodu against Mr. Sowore.

The following day when Mr. Sowore arrived at the SCID, the police were more interested in mediation, asking Mr. Sowore to meet Mr. Fatodu to resolve their differences.

Mr. Sowore refused, saying the police had been dishonest in the handling of the case.

His attorney, Femi Falana, on January 12 issued a statement saying the allegations of threat to life, criminal libel and extortion stated in Mr. Fatodus petition were false.

A few days after Mr. Sowores release, a strange dimension to the matter arose when a lawyer, Ugochukwu Osuagwu, issued a statement claiming that Mr. Sowore had been barred from leaving Nigeria over Mr. Fatodus petition.

Mr. Osuagwu is the same lawyer who, in January, addressed a petition to the police on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Yusuf Buratai, which led to the arrest of two Premium Times journalists a few days after Mr. Sowore was attacked and arrested in Lagos.

The continued police harassment of Mr. Sowore and other journalists has attracted condemnation by press freedom bodies across the globe.

Mr. Sowore told our reporters he plans to honour the invitation of the police on Thursday, an event which coincides with his birthday.

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The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Tuesday inaugurated a committee to monitor governments response to Nigerias lingering economic crisis.

Mr. Dogara said the Ad-Hoc Tactical Committee on Economic Recession was the outcome of a January 26 resolution of the House on the need to address the crisis that has left many Nigerians groaning for several months.

The Speaker said the committee will include six professionals who will interface with government agencies, labour unions and civic groups in the course of their activities.

The committee members who have vast experience in economics and sundry issues will help in crafting enduring legislative tools to be deployed in helping policy makers and implementors adhere to timelines in their drive to exit recession and return Nigeria to sustainable economic growth and prosperity, Mr. Dogara said in a prepared speech while inaugurating the panel in the House Tuesday morning.

Nigerias economy slipped into recession after contracting for two consecutive quarters in 2016.

Mr. Dogara opened the parliament in 2017 promising to take no prisoners in pulling the economic out of recession.

My honourable colleagues, the economy must be our central focus in 2017, Mr. Dogara said. Measures to exit Nigeria out of recession must be the critical aspect of our legislative activities.

Mr. Dogara and his colleagues in the National Assembly have been criticised for earmarking humongous salaries and allowances to themselves despite the countrys ailing economy.

Towards the end of last year, the members began taking delivery of Peugeot 508 saloon cars at N10 million per unit, a spending spree that drew criticism of insensitivity from the public.

But Mr. Dogara said the parliament will display more transparency, accountabilit

y and discipline in passing the 2017 budget, hinting at a possible breakaway from the controversy that marred the 2016 budget.

Full list of the committee members is expected to be released soon.

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Amending the principal laws establishing the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority, NEPZA, and Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority, OGFZA, to remove the flaws will benefit all Nigerians, managing director of OGFZA, Okon Umana, has said.

Speaking in Onne, Rivers State, during an interactive forum with editors on Friday, Mr. Umana said the contention over the ongoing attempt by the National Assembly to amend their foundation Acts were not necessary.

Mr. Umana said the attempt by the lawmakers has come at the right time when the federal government was focused on diversifying the economy.

Apart from deepening specialization and efficiency in the oil and gas sector, he said the amendments would strongly encourage investment in the non-oil sector.

l expect that when the amendments are passed, they would remove all imperfections in the two laws, thereby putting both OGFZA and NEPZA on the right path to fulfilling their mandates for the good of the economy and overall benefit of Nigerians, Mr. Umana said.

With oil and gas as the mainstay of the countrys economy, he said Nigeria had realised the need for a specialised free zone specifically for the industry to provide a base to support operators.

The bill to effect the amendments, which has already passed first and second readings in the National Assembly, is facing serious resistance from some persons who appear threatened by prospects of an independent entity to regulate operation of a free zone for oil and gas sector.

However, Mr. Umana, who was appointed late last year to spearhead the management of the agency, wondered what the real motive of those opposing the review of the legal franework was.

What is the interest of those trying to stop the review of a law that is not perfect and has been in operation for over 20 years and is overdue for a review?

If they support the review of the law establishing a sister agency to remove inherent flaws, why are they opposed to OGFZA also doing so to strengthen its mandate? he asked.

The managng director used the occasion to present OGFZAs recently unveiled three-year strategic roadmap aimed at growing investment in the oil and gas free zones by 50 per cent.

He said the roadmap, which spells out the goals, vision and values that would drive its operations, highlights how its mandate would be realised as the premier government agency for the promotion of investment in the nations oil and gas free zones.

One of the ways to attract more investments in the free zones in the country, he pointed out, included to create more access to OGFZA through its repackaged website and bi-weekly newsletter to enhance interaction with existing and prospective investors.

With the oil and gas free zones already a success story, with more than $20 billion worth of investments attracted to the country since inception, and more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs created, Mr. Umana said plans were on to establish more of such zones.

Apart from the Warri oil and gas free zone, we are working to establish three free zones in Ibaka, Ibeno and Ikot Abasi in Akwa Ibom State. We are also looking at a location in Delta state for another free zone.

We are determined to ensure that Nigeria benefits maximally from all the oil and gas free zones in the country. We have already taken steps to provide the right foundation to ensure effective and efficient service delivery to our clients in line with global best practice, he said.

On the revenue side, the OGFZA boss said between January 2010 and December 2015, the Nigeria Customs Service generated about N143.2 billion from the oil and gas free zones alone, while the Nigerian Ports Authority raked in $2.1 billion and N19.3 billion.

The drive for new investments in the zones, he explained, would be facilitated by a corporate culture of integrity, respect for investors, due process, transparency, accountability and passion for customer-centric engagement with investors.

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Barely a week after Nigerians held anti-government protests in major cities across the country, a coalition of Buhari Support Groups held a rally of their own on Tuesday in Abuja in support of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The coalition, Truth and Justice Movement of Nigeria, held the rally under the banner: I Support President Buhari.

It said other legs of the rally would be held in Kano, Lagos and Kaduna on Wednesday and Thursday.

One of the conveners of the rally, Moses Abdullahi, had disclosed in Abuja on Sunday that the march would hold in Abuja on Tuesday, in Kaduna and Kano on Wednesday, and the grand finale in Lagos on Thursday.

In Abuja, members of civil society and political groups gathered under the coalition at the Unity Fountain to trumpet the achievements of President Buhari.

The participants were mostly women and youth and marched across some major streets in the Federal Capital Territory, under the watch of the police.

They said they were out to pass a vote of confidence on the Buhari-led administration.

Convener of the groups, Johnson Ondoma, who spoke during the rally said the march is to demonstrate to President Buhari that he has the support of the people having fulfilled his promises to reinvent Nigeria, and having defeated terrorism and corruption in the country.

The rally is important because as commoners, we express ourselves through public actions and not politicians and contractors who prefer to discuss governance in the state houses and lobbies of hotels, Mr. Ondoma said.

He said despite repeated attempts to portray the Buhari administration as not performing, Nigerians are aware that the administration in the last two years has achieved far better than its predecessor in areas of anti-corruption, infrastructure and security.

Citing the $1 billion EuroBond which was oversubscribed as the beginning of good things to come, Mr. Ondoma said individuals who are sincere would acknowledge the investment in infrastructure that is now bringing improvement to roads and other critical national asset.

Unlike in the past when the money for these road contacts were usually shared and made to circulate round, the funds released are now actually going into getting the jobs done.

If people are not getting slush funds passed down to them, it means they have to review their personal economic activities within the reality of an anti-corruption era.

There have also been several social security programmes being implemented by the government to ensure that economically disadvantaged people are not left to weather the difficulties they are facing alone. This has never happened before and it is something we should be objective enough to commend, he said.

He also said President Buharis anti-corruption fight has exposed big thieves among the populace.

Recall that after President Muhammadu Buhari extended his vacation, thousands of Nigerians gathered on the streets of Lagos and Abuja in a protest tagged #IstandWithNigeria.

The protest against the federal government on February 6 was announced by music star 2baba Idibia who later withdrew after expressing security concerns.

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The trial of Nicholas Ashinze and some security consultants for their alleged roles in a N1.5 billion fraud charge suffered a setback on Tuesday.

The charges were brought against them by the Economic and Financial Commission, EFCC, and is part of the larger #Dasukigate, corruption charges relating to the former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court in Abuja rejected some bank documents sought to be tendered by the EFCC to establish its case against the five defendants.

The judge refused to admit the bank statement, account opening mandate, and the certificate of clearance sought to be tendered by government on the ground that they were not brought to court by the appropriate person known to law.

Justice Kolawole said that an EFCC operative, Hassan Seidu, who sought to tender the documents that were mainly computer generated ones was not the appropriate and proper person known to law to tender such documents.

The court held that the prosecution erred in law by refusing to invite the markers of the documents who are officials of Heritage and Enterprise Banks Plc to come to court to tender the documents.

Mr. Kolawole said that in line with the provisions of the Evidence Act, the EFCC operative cannot be cross examined on the documents he did not make; as anything said by him will amount to hearsay which cannot be given any probate value by the court.

The court held that apart from mere receiving the documents from the two banks, the witness had not established his knowledge of the document or that he participated in their making.

Justice Kolawole therefore held that EFCC operative was not a competent witness to testify on the document in line with the provisions of Section 84 of the Evidence Act and therefore rejected the documents.

The EFCC lawyer, Ofem Uket, after the ruling, sought an adjournment of the trial.

The request was granted by Justice Kolawole who adjourned the matter till March 7, April 13, and May 4 for continuation of trial.

The EFCC, had arraigned the quartet of Mr. Ashinze, a colonel and former aide in the Office of National Security Adviser; an Austrian and security consultant, Wolfgang Reinl; a retired military intelligent officer, Sagir Mohammed; and a legal practitioner, Edidiong Idiong, before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a 13-count charge of corruption and money laundering to the tune of N1.5 billion.

The defendants, however, denied the charges preferred against them.

The defendants were arraigned alongside five companies accused of allegedly diverting huge sums from the office of the former NSA. The companies are Geonel Integrated Services Limited, Unity Continental Nigeria Limited, Helpline Organization, Vibrant Resource Limited and Sologic Integrated Services Limited.

The defendants had been granted bail at the last hearing in November 2016.

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The former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday, said any decision on the restructuring of the country would be taken by the people and not by the politicians alone.

Mr. Abubakar made this remark in Minna after his visit to former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida, who recently came back from a medical vacation in Germany.

The issue of restructuring the country is left to Nigerians to decide whether they want it or not, he said.

On economic recession, the former vice president said he had been advising the Federal Government positively on how to tackle the problem, even outside the media.

I have been in the corridors of power before, so it is not easy. Using the media always to advise government is a disservice.

I know I have been making positive contributions to the government aside the media to enable us come out of recession, he said.

He said he was at the residence of Mr. Babangida to know how the former president was faring after his medical trip abroad.

I am here to visit my brother to see how he is doing after his recent medical vacation abroad, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr. Abubakar was in company with Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger and some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. (NAN)

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Some 1.7 million candidates are expected to sit for the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), Ishaq Oloyede, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, has said.

Mr. Oloyede made the disclosure while fielding questions from journalists at the Information and Communication Technology Retreat on Tuesday in Abeokuta, Ogun.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the retreat was attended by civil society groups, students and other officials in the education sector.

The registrar said the board was also planning to increase its Computer Based Testing (CBT) Centres in order to the make examination exercise seamless.

We are expecting 1.7 million candidates to sit for JAMB this year and we want to make sure we satisfy them within a week or thereabout, he said.

NAN reports that 1,561,443 candidates sat for the UTME in 2016.

Mr. Oloyede said although he could not guarantee a hitch-free examination, the innovations being put in place will send some illegal operators, who are defrauding candidates in the past, out of business.

He said the board would not be deterred in its mission to serve its candidates better this year.

Frankly, I cannot promise a hitch-free examination because we are testing certain things.

We are changing certain things; we want to question the status quo and we expect a fight back by interests that will be trampled upon, the registrar said.

He explained that the board would be as sincere as possible.

We are going to be as flexible as humanly possible; we are not promising hitch free examination, he said.

Mr. Oloyede noted that the board had envisaged that there would be hitches, but that these would not be insurmountable.

According to him, rather than promising hitch-free examination, the board promises a direction that all will be pleased with.

He said that the major objective of the retreat was for stakeholders to critique the boards processes, because we will not want to continue in the wrong direction.

Mr. Oloyede said the board was planning to create new ICT facilities, and that prospective candidates, scholars, institutions and civil society groups were brought together to critique it.

This is to enable us harvest good ideas that can improve what we are doing, he said.

He said the CBT had come to stay, adding that four African countries had indicated interest to understudy the process in Nigeria.

Mr. Oloyede also said that JAMB would soon begin the sale of forms for the 2017 UTME, adding that the board was also working on the possibility of conducting a mock examination. (NAN)

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described as his saddest the day he appeared before the military tribunal that tried him for alleged complicity in a coup against late former military dictator, Sani Abacha.

Mr. Obasanjo disclosed on Tuesday this while leading a morning devotion to mark Valentines Day at his Presidential Hilltop residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

My saddest day was when I sat in front of a military panel set up by late former Head of State, Sani Abacha to try me over a phantom coup, and sentenced to death and later commuted to 30 years imprisonment, he said.

Mr. Obasanjo was tried by the tribunal in 1996 alongside his former deputy when he was head of state, Shehu Yaradua. Mr. Yaradua later died in 1997 while serving his prison sentence.

Mr. Obasanjo was released from prison after Mr. Abacha died mysteriously in 1998. A year later, he was elected President when Nigeria returned to democracy and became the first person to lead the country twice.

Mr. Obasanjo, who read from the Bible book of Isaiah 45:1-4, recalled that, following the jail term slammed on him, he had asked himself if he deserved the treatment meted to him, but that he left everything in the hand of God.

God has always been giving me immense favour beyond my own expectations and what I deserve from Him. And I used to tell people that God has been partial to me from childhood, he told his guests on Tuesday.

He said following pressure from international community leaders which included former American president, Jimmy Carter, the Abacha regime reduced his sentence to 15 years. He said had Mr. Abacha lived, he (Obasanjo) would have spent a minimum of 10 years in prison.

Mr. Obasanjo said the death of Mr. Abacha saw him spend only three years in prison, pointing out that as part of the partiality of God to him, he came out from prisons to meet an agitation for him to contest for president, adding, but the rest is history.

I was born in a village and anybody born in that village would have concluded that the popularity of those born there would not go beyond the next village. My parents were complete illiterates, he said.

The former president said, there would always be trouble and problems in life, but that if one is prayerful and close to God, they would overcome.

He recalled that he had strayed into the army, from which he retired as a general and head of state on October 1, 1979.

He said he had experienced tribulations in his life but that God has been on his side throughout.

He then prayed for longevity for all his guests.

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NAHCONThe National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has advised state pilgrims welfare boards to negotiate favourable accommodation deals with Saudi Arabian service providers to ensure reduction of the hajj fair.

The Executive Chairman of the Commission, Abdullahi Muhammad, gave the advice while presenting Operation Licenses to the pilgrims welfare boards of Adamawa, Niger, Anambra, Nasarawa, Zamfara, Yobe and Taraba states on Tuesday in Abuja.

Mr. Muhammad said the aim of granting license to the state pilgrims boards was to uplift and protect their autonomy in order to achieve greater performance.

He said the license would help the states to aspire and attain professionalism in hajj management which would further guarantee better service delivery.

He said that it was the responsibility of all Hajj stakeholders to ensure reduction in capital flight (movement of money from Nigeria to other countries), saying,  one of the strategies of achieving that goal is to ensure favourable negotiations with service providers.

We will be assisting the country as well as the Muslims if we can negotiate the accommodation deal to the lowest rate possible so that the cost of hajj can be brought down to the barest minimum, the chairman said.

He said that the commission had demonstrated its commitment by bringing down the cost of accommodation in Medina through direct negotiation with house owners and landlords.

Responding, the representative of the chairmen and secretaries of state pilgrims welfare boards, Zikirrullah Hassan, commended NAHCON for the laudable innovation which he described as salutary.

Mr. Hassan, who is also the Chairman of Osun State Pilgrims Welfare Board, said the licensing was a manifestation of NAHCONs determination to take Hajj management to greater heights.

 Honestly, NAHCONs step is salutary, it is a progressive step toward achieving our mandate, Mr. Hassan said.

(NAN)

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Others include Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd, Transocean Property and Investment Company Ltd and Globus Integrated Service Ltd.

On Monday, Ifedayo Adedipe, counsel to Mrs. Jonathan, said he had served his application to all the parties in the matter and he is ready to proceed.

The counsel to the EFCC, Anana Nkeruwem, also said the agency was ready for the case.

But Jeff Kadiri, counsel to the fourth, fifth, and sixth defendants who was holding brief for lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, pleaded for an adjournment as he was just briefed on the matter.

We have just been briefed on this matter and I am holding the brief for Chief Mike Ozekhome and we would be craving the indulgence of the court to enable us file the necessary process, said Mr. Kadiri.

Justice Idris, who confirmed that counsel to the 4th, 5th and 6th respondents were first served the application in 2016 and later served on February 1, queried the delay and asked why Mr. Jeff needed more time to go through the matter.

In his response, Mr. Kadiri said, I am not in the position to know that fact my lord, like I said earlier, I am holding the brief for Chief Mike Ozokheme who said whether the court could grant us the 16th of March.

Outside the court room, the women continued their chants.

After Mrs. Jonathan filed the suit last year, the women had maintained a constant appearance at the court premises on every hearing date of the case.

Mrs. Onyejere said the former first lady is the only ex-presidents wife who stood by Nigerian women as well as touched their lives.

I want to ask, why freezing this womans account, this woman has been an independent woman and was part of the women who sponsored her husband during the governorship race, to tell you shes solid and independent.

Why are they harassing her, going to her house with masks, is she a criminal, going to her mothers house and they are going about saying they wont touch the husband. When you touch a mans wife, havent you touched the man? When you touch the child, havent you touched the man?

This is the time for stakeholders in the country to speak up. The likes of General Abdusalam Abubakar, General Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, they should speak up now, this is the time.

Mrs. Onyejere denied claims that she had collected N40 million from the former first lady to mobilise the women.

I am sponsoring this myself, who can pay me? She asked.

Who can pay these women here? Among them are doctors, lawyers and other professionals from various tribes and walks of life; how much can you pay each of them? Patience may be in Germany I dont know but I sponsor these buses that bring us here everyday. So the answer is no, nobody pays me.
A retired air commodore, Umar Mohammed, on Tuesday asked the Federal High Court, Abuja, to grant him permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.

Mohammed, a former member, presidential team investigating the arms deal, is standing trial over allegations of money laundering, possession of fire arms and violation of the provisions of the Official Secret Act.

At the resumed trial on Tuesday, counsel to Mr. Mohammed, Hassan Liman, told the court that he had an application on behalf of his client seeking the courts permission to travel.

The case has been set for trial today, however, we have filed an application this morning on behalf of the defendant to seek the leave of the court to enable him attend to an urgent medical treatment.

Mr. Liman told the court that Mohammed was suffering the consequences of a plane crash he had while still in service as an officer.

According to him, the permission to travel for medical treatment was by no means a ploy to truncate the trial but only to ensure that he was fit to attend to his trial.

He prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable the prosecution go through the application.

Prosecuting counsel, Shuaibu Labaran, told the court that even though he conceded to the application for adjournment, he wanted it on the courts record that he came prepared for commencement of trial.

The prosecution came prepared to go on with the matter but we are confronted with the application filed by the learned SAN for the defendant.

We have all our witnesses in court to prove our case and so we are more than ready to proceed with the trial.

Justice John Tsoho adjourned the matter till February16 to hear the application.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the State Security Service arraigned Mr. Mohammed in July 2016 over allegations bordering on of money laundering. He was accused of laundering about $1.3 million (about N400million).

He was admitted to bail in the sum of N100 million and two sureties in the sum of N50 million each.

(NAN)

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A former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, and a former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have met in Minna, the Niger State capital, Tuesday.

Paul Ibe, Mr. Abubakars spokesman, said his principal paid a courtesy call on Mr. Babangida to check on his health.

Mr. Babangida returned to Nigeria penultimate Sunday after seven weeks on medical vacation in Switzerland.

Mr. Abubakar had to pay him a visit to check on him and see how his recovery had been, Mr. Ibeh said.

Dont forget, he visited the families of Abdulkadir Kure when he died a few weeks back, Mr. Ibe said. But IBB was not around then so he had to return to Minna now that the former leader is back from medical trip.

Mr. Kure was a former governor of Niger State who died on January 8 at 60.

Mr. Ibe said Nigerians should not read any further meanings to the courtesy call.

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A defence witness, Olasunkanmi Adefowope, has admitted before an Ikeja High Court that he was paid to testify in the trial of Okey Nwosu, a former Managing Director of the defunct FinBank Plc.

Mr. Adefowope, who boasts 25 years experience as a stockbroker, said this while being cross-examined by Rotimi Jacobs, the lead prosecutor for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

I met the defendants three days ago in their lawyers office, I did not know them when they were directors of FinBank Plc. I am not here by order of court.

The lawyers paid for my appearance and I was told to shed some light on the activities of the capital market.

The lawyers did not tell me anything about the charges that the defendants are facing, he told the court.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Mr. Nwosu and three former directors of the bank  Dayo Famoroti, Danjuma Ocholi and Agnes Ebubedike  are facing a 26-count charge bordering on N10.9 billion fraud preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The anti-graft agency is prosecuting the defendants for alleged unjust enrichment by using N10.9 billion belonging to the bank to purchase shares for themselves and companies linked to them.

The defence opened their case during Tuesdays proceedings after a three-and-a-half year legal battle up to the Supreme Court challenging the jurisdiction of the High Court to hear the case.

The Apex Court had in a judgment on July 17, 2016, ordered Mr. Nwosu and his co-defendants to go back to the High Court to face trial.

Mr. Adefowope added: I have never worked in a bank but I only worked for a subsidiary of a bank.

As a guideline for stock broking, we practice what is called Know Your Customer (KYC) and this is to ensure that money that is intended to be used to purchase of shares is not obtained through fraud.

As part of the process of KYC, we have to go to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and documents at CAC will reveal the directors of the company as well as those who registered the company.

In instances where I have noticed suspicious share activities, I report such to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and not to the EFCC.

Another witness, Bede Alugbue, the former Head of Human Resources of FinBank Plc, also told the court about the various share incentives that were offered staff by the bank.

Led in evidence by N.K Oragbwu, a member of Mr. Nwosus defence team, he said: There was the Staff Share Trust Scheme which was an incentive given to staff where they became part owners of the bank through the purchase of shares.

The money for loan for the shares was deducted from their salaries, we believed that if the staff were part-owners of the bank, they would put in their best, resulting in a winwin situation.

There was a board approval for these loans which I was aware of by virtue of my position as the head of human resources at the bank.

The Board Share Incentive Scheme started in 2008, the same time the staff scheme took off and members of the board approved it.

Mr. Alugbue, while being cross-examined by Mr. Jacobs, had vehemently denied having a close relationship with Mr. Nwosu in spite of the EFCC prosecutors insistence.

I was not very close to the first defendant when we were working in the bank, I have not even seen him in five years neither have I spoken to him since we worked at FinBank from 2006 to 2009.

I do not know the nature of the charges that Mr. Nwosu is facing in court, one of the lawyers called me and told me that my name came up during a discussion.

The lawyer asked me to come and give evidence, I was not served an order of the court, he said.

Mr. Alugbue also denied knowledge of six companies allegedly linked to the defendants in the alleged fraud.

Lawyer to Mr. Ocholi (the third defendant),Lanre Ogunlesi, while cross-examining Mr. Alugbue claimed that he had paid back the loans he took to buy bank shares.

The third defendant, Mr Danjuma Ocholi, paid all executive loans he took to buy shares before he left the bank.

The proof of which is in a signed letter from the bank dated March 11, 2014 which was signed by one Felicia Okozuwa.

Mr. Alugbue, however, denied any knowledge of the letter, saying :I do not know how the letter was obtained, I cannot verify if Felicia signed the letter because I am not a signature expert.

Lead defence counsel to Mr. Nwosu, Anthony Idigbe, complained to the court the difficulty they were facing obtaining relevant documents for the trial.

He told the court:My Lord, the first defendant has not had access to documents even with subpoenas issued by the court.

The bank is stating that they need two months for the documents to be ready, we are praying for an adjournment till March 29 for the documents to be made available for us to proceed.

In her ruling, Justice Lateefa Okunnu ordered the bank to produce the documents before March 12.

The First City Monument Bank (FCMB) is to produce the documents well before March 12.

In view of this, proceedings cannot continue on February 15 and February 16.

She adjourned continuation of trial to March 29.

(NAN)

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An Abuja High Court has ordered a former governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame, to begin his defence on March 8, after dismissing his application for a no-case submission.

Mr. Nyame, who served as governor between 1999 and 2007, is facing a 41-count charge of criminal misappropriation of N1.64bn state funds.

He had made the application for a no-case submission on January 18.

His counsel, Charles Edosomwan, SAN, had urged the court to hold that the testimony of prosecution witnesses have been so damaged and cant be relied on, and that the crucial elements are missing in this case.

At the resumed sitting on Tuesday, the trial judge, Justice Adebukola Banjoko, citing sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, noted that it was in order for a defendant to apply to the court for a no-case submission, but the court shall have discretion whether essential elements of the offence have been proven or not.

In relation to this court, having had a close look at the evidence and exhibits, I hold that this case requires him to provide information and give explanation with regards to evidence presented by the prosecution, and so he is ordered to enter into his defence in the interest of justice, the judge held.

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The Nasarawa State Government has said that no fewer than eight people have so far died following the recent outbreak of Lassa fever in the state.

Ibrahim Adamu, the Director of Public Health in the states Ministry of Health, made this disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Lafia.

Of the 11 confirmed cases recorded since the index case in November 2016, eight have died while three others are responding to treatment at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH) in Lafia.

The three survivors in DASH are recovering very fast, two of them will be completing their treatment today  Tuesday to be discharged while the other will complete his treatment by the weekend.

Mr. Adamu also said that the number of people, who had contact with the patients and were being monitored, had risen to 82 from 66.

All those identified contacts now under surveillance, have been placed on oral drugs and we monitor their temperature twice daily, he added.

He said the state government had shown commitment towards fighting the outbreak by providing the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and drugs for the treatment of the disease.

According to him, the insinuation that health personnel are complaining of not having access to PPE is not true as the state government has provided adequate PPEs to the hospitals.

He explained that the PPE was meant to be given only to the health personnel giving service to the affected patients.

There is a lot of anxiety for the disease, which makes everybody in any hospital where there is a confirmed case to want to wear the PPE.

However, there is also a clear method of the transmission of the disease that people should be aware of and when the need to wear the PPE arises, he said.

Mr. Adamu said that in order to allay the fear on the spread of the disease at the hospital, some wards at DASH had been designated as isolation centres for the Lassa fever patients.

He added that the State Government had also approved the creation of a disease isolation centre along Shinge road in Lafia.

Mr. Adamu said that fund was appropriated for the project in the 2017 budget and it had been defended by the ministry before the State House of Assembly.

(NAN)

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The Federal Government has awarded contract worth over N1.3 billion for the rehabilitation of some roads in Kano and Katsina states.

Mohammed Sani, the Zonal Director of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Tuesday in Kano.

Mr. Sani said five roads would be rehabilitated in Kano State at the cost of over N720 million, while in Katsina State, three contracts had been awarded at the cost of over N600 million.

He said in Kano State, contract had been awarded for the rehabilitation of Kano-Gwarzo-Dayi, Tiga-Doguwa, Karaye-Rogo, Lajawa-Gamarya-Masuba and Kwanar Maroko-Maroko roads.

In Katsina State, we have three awards which include Daura township road and two roads along Kano-Katsina road.

All the awards are captured in the 2016 budget and their completion period is six months, the zonal director said.

On Kano-Gwarzo-Dayi road, Mr. Sani said the contractor had promised to mobilise to site soon because he had already signed the agreement.

The contract was awarded in November 2016, but the work could not start due to lack of agreement. But now that the agreement has been signed, work will soon start, he said.

According to him, the contract for the rehabilitation of Kano-Gwarzo-Dayi road was awarded at the cost of N184 million and completion period is six months.

(NAN)

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The Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA, and Trustees of Stefanos Foundation have withdrawn a suit filed before a Katsina High Court against conversion of a teenage girl, Habiba Ishaku, to Islam.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the girl had eloped, embraced Islam and married one Jamilu Lawal in Wawar-kaza village of Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The girl had also written a letter to the court to disassociate herself from the suit purportedly instituted on her behalf and put her age at 18 years.

Respondents in the case were the Katsina State Government, Katsina Emirate Council and Jamilu Lawal.

During the proceedings on Tuesday, the court informed the counsel about a letter sent by the counsel to the plaintiff, Bawa Yakubu, urging the court to discontinue with the suit.

In the letter, Mr. Yakubu told the court that the decision was necessitated by the amicable settlement between the parties involved facilitated by Governor Aminu Masari.

He, therefore, urged the court to strike out the case.

In his submission, the counsel to the state government and the emirate council, Abu Umar, urged the court to ask the parties involved to honour the resolution and dismiss the case.

Bako Nasir, counsel to Habibas husband, Jamilu Lawal, said that Habiba was at liberty to convert to Islam from Christianity at her will.

He urged the court to issue a protective order that would prevent the police from arresting, harassing and intimidating his client in connection with the matter.

Mr. Nasir also urged the court to prevent the applicant from further reopening the case as par as the matter was concerned.

The judge, Baraka Wali, adjourned the sitting to February 17 for ruling on the letter.

(NAN)

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The Edo Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Benin on Tuesday decried the failure of Onyinye Anunonye, counsel to the Independent National electoral commission, INEC, to call witnesses in its defence in a petition before it.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Osagie Ize-Iyamu, its candidate in the September 28 governorship election, are challenging the declaration by INEC of Godwin Obaseki as winner of the election.

The petitioners had named the INEC, Mr. Obaseki and the APC as first, second and third respondents respectively in the petition.

INEC had declared Mr. Obaseki winner of the Edo governorship election after he polled 319,483 votes to defeat Mr. Ize-Iyamu, his closest rival, who scored 250,000 votes

The petitioners are alleging that the said election was fraught with electoral fraud in some units and wards in the 18 local government areas of the state.

They are asking the tribunal to declare Mr. Ize-Iyamu winner from the valid votes cast.

The petitioners closed their case on Friday after calling 91 witnesses and tendered used ballot papers, results and voter register before the Justice Ahmed Badamasi-led three member election petition tribunal.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Mr. Anunonye informed the tribunal that he could not open his defence, saying he had no witnesses to call in the case.

Shortly after announcing his appearance, Mr. Anunonye said  I know the tribunal adjourned till today for us to open our defence. Unfortunately, we have challenges.

The first is the scheduling of time of the senior counsel in the case for the first respondent which makes it impossible for any of them to be here today.

And the second and the most important, is the challenge of logistics which has made it impossible for any of our witnesses to be in court.

He explained that many of the witnesses were former NYSC members who had passed out and who resided outside Benin, adding we have sent them text massages.

But we have not been able to meet with them to interact and streamline our witnesses to be called in other to present a defence for the respondent.

While we are conceding three days to enable us whittle down our witnesses, I apply that the tribunal adjourn to Friday when we will open our defence.

It should consider the days as part of our 10-day statutorily allotted time for the respondent, he said.

Mr. Anunonyes application, however, drew the ire of the tribunal chairman, Justice Badamasi, who asked him why didnt you prepare before today, knowing that the petitioners closed their case on Friday?

But Ken Mozia and Rickey Tarfa, counsel to Mr. Obaseki and the APC respectively, did not oppose Mr. Anunonyes request for adjournment.

They argued that since he was utilising the statutory allotted time, he should be allowed time to deal with the identified challenges in the defence of his case.

But Adebanjo Adelodun, the petitioners counsel, opposed the application for adjournment, saying that although adjournment was at the discretion of the tribunal, it depended on the credible and factual evidence presented before it.

In this instance, the respondent has not presented any cogent and credible reason for the tribunal to grant an adjournment, aside the nebulous word ` logistics.

My Lords, the respondents is aware that we closed our case on Friday and was sufficiently informed by the tribunal that it would open its defence today.

We are here today and prepared and INEC is chickening out. We apply that the tribunal forces INEC to open its defence today as we are eager to get done with this petition, he said.

Mr. Adelodun argued that INEC has several of its members of staff in Benin and who also functioned as electoral officers, it can invite them as witnesses.

Ruling, Mr. Badamasi, however, said that taking into consideration that the first respondent had a 10-day period to present its defence and since the days being sought for adjournment, are within the allotted time, the application is granted.

Mr. Badamasi thereafter adjourned sitting till Friday for INEC to open its defence.

(NAN)

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Acting President Yemi Osinbajo says the Federal Government plans to establish modular refineries to engage youth involved in illegal oil refining in the Niger Delta.

This, according to Mr. Osinbajo will discourage illegal refining in the region.

The acting President made this known at a stakeholders meeting with members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Rivers State chapter in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

He said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government was sincerely committed to ensuring that young men and women in the region were properly engaged.

Mr. Osinbajo said the Federal Government will continue with the amnesty programme in spite of suggestions to end it, adding that more commitment had been made toward the programme than ever before.

The acting President also said that the level of work done by the Federal Government on the East/West Road in the last 18 months was much more than work done in six years.

He said that the Lagos/Calabar Rail Line through Port Harcourt was a critical infrastructural project for government.

At the moment, we have already set aside our own part of the counterpart fund. We are waiting for a facility from China to commence the project.

Im sure you know how hard we fought when there were some issues over it in the National Assembly. We fought hard to include the project in the budget and it is included, he said.

Mr. Osinbajo said that in spite of the economic challenges and lean funds, the government had been able to assist states with funds to pay salaries because of prudent management of resources.

He urged members of the APC and leaders of the Niger Delta not to use violence as a solution to issues.

(NAN)

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The Cross River Police Command has arrested a man, Anyanime Festus, 33, for killing his twin children, Emediong Festus and Mfoniso Festus, both 11 years old for allegedly being witches.

Presenting the suspects to journalists in Calabar on Tuesday, the Acting Commissioner of Police in the state, Hafiz Inuwa, alleged that the suspect killed his twins for confessing to being witches.

Mr. Inuwa said the incident happened on January 11, 2017 in Uyanga community in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state.

He said the matter was reported to the police by David Innocent and Joseph Orok from the same area.

The incident happened on January 11, 2017 in Uyanga community in Akamkpa Local Government Area following a report to the police by one David Innocent and Joseph Orok.

They reported that the two female identical twins were found lying along Uyanga bush track in Akamkpa.

According to them, one of the twins was found dead while the other was lying down and was unable to speak.

Much later, the other twin that was lying down was able to speak and she gave her name as Emediong Festus and that of her twin sister as Mfoniso Festus, both 11 years.

That on Jan. 10, 2017, their father told them he was taking them to their mother, and on getting to a bush track, he gave them malt drink suspected to be mixed with poisonous substances.

Shortly after they drank the malt, her sister died and their father abandoned them there, he said.

The commissioner further said that the other twin later died in the hospital, adding that both corpses were now deposited at the General Hospital, Akamkpa, for autopsy.

The suspect, who is a taxi driver, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that since the incident happened, he had not been himself.

Festus, who said he regretted his action, blamed the incident on the devil.

I poisoned them through the malt I gave them to drink. I did it because they confessed to being witches, he said. (NAN)

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With 10 days left to the end of the Olusegun Mimiko administration, issues of unpaid salaries and allowances have continued to arise within the government.

Workers across all agencies are being owed seven months salary arrears, including sundry allowances.

But the Ondo State has blamed the situation on the paucity of funds.

Members of the National Association of Government and General Medical and Dental Practitioners and Dental Association, Ondo State, had last week embarked on an indefinite strike, following five months unpaid salaries.

They had shunned all appeals to return to work, vowing to stay at home until something was done about their salaries.

The recent crisis within the House of Assembly has been linked to issues of hardship among lawmakers arising from lack of salaries and allowances for the lawmakers.

Members of the former seventh Assembly in Ondo State on Monday cried out to the state government to demand their furniture and severance allowances.

They alleged that Governor Olusegun Mimiko recently approved N3.6 billion to pay entitlements of other political appointees and failed to include them.

The former lawmakers led by Tunji Dairo (Ondo North), Kunle Olujuyigbe (Ondo Central) and Gbenga Edema (Ondo South), explained that the Revenue Allocation and Fiscal Mobilisation Commission(RAFMC) Act stipulated that public officers who have served two years and above are qualified to be paid immediately after leaving office.

They alleged that they were being punished because majority of them rejected the 2014 budget.

They urged well-meaning indigenes to intervene and urge Mr. Mimiko to pay them before he leaves office on February 23.

A worker with the Ondo State civil service, who gave his name as Olufemi, told PREMIUM TIMES that the last salary paid to workers was that of July 2016, and that was collected in December, just before the Christmas.

He said the workers had learnt to wait patiently, hoping that the incoming government would better their lot.

Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, said the governor cannot manufacture money to pay the ex-lawmakers or other public servants who are owed several months of salaries.

He said the political office holders who would be leaving office in a few days needed to receive their furniture and severance allowances, since they were being owed seven months salaries.

According to him, the ex -lawmakers were not in the situation that the present crop of political office holders are in, seeing they had not been paid salaries.

The situation that is affecting civil servants, is affecting all across board, including the executive and the legislature, he said.

Even commissioners have not received their salaries, but people think that once you are in office you have your bank account loaded with money, that it not true.

He said they receive their salaries from the revenues from the federation account.

Even the NYSC members in my office came to complain that the last time they received their allowee was in November last year, Mr. Akinmade said.

The money paid as furniture allowance to political office holders, is supposed to have been paid few months into their appointment into office, but now they are collecting it few days to the end of their tenure in office.

Mr. Akinmade said the former legislators should wait for the incoming government to pay their allowances as the current government did not have the wherewithal to do so.

Incoming governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has as his campaign focus, the payment of salaries to workers.

He promised to use innovative ways to raise enough resources to solve the problem of workers welfare, raising hopes among workers that the days ahead may be brighter.

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An Oyo State High Court sitting Ibadan on Tuesday declared the proxy service on the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Saliu Adetunji, by the claimant to the throne as invalid.

Adebayo Oyediji of Seriki Chieftaincy line is challenging the installation of Mr. Adetunji as the Olubadan of Ibadanland by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State.

Justice Moshood Abass made the declaration when the claimants counsel, Abideen Adeniran, informed the court that Mr. Adetunji was not served court summon personally but through Ajao Iliasu, Secretary to Olubadan-in-Council.

Mr. Abass said that an order of substituted service must first of all be obtained from the court before the court summon could be served on any other person aside from the Olubadan.

The judge said that the court summon served on Olubadan through the Secretary to Olubadan-In-Council was invalid.

The claimant counsel, then prayed the court for a date to file a motion for substituted service.

Mr. Abass adjourned the case till February 22 for hearing of the motion for substituted service, adding that hearing notices be served on the respondents.

It would be recalled that Mr. Oyediji claimed that there was a subsisting court ruling restraining the occupation of any vacant position of high chiefs and that of Olubadan.

He claimed that it was the turn of the Seriki line to produce the next Olubadan after the death of late Samuel Lana, against the appointment of Mr. Adetunji by Governor Ajimobi.

The claimant is challenging the consistent occupation of the Olubadan throne by the Olubadan chieftaincy line and Balogun chieftaincy lines.

Also joined as respondents in the suit were the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and the Oyo State government.

(NAN)

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Atlantic County

THATS AMORE THIRD THURSDAY: 6 to 10 p.m. Feb. 16; part of Hammontons Third Thursday events; art, music, writing, and photography; opening reception for RAW 2017 photography exhibit; light refreshments; Kramer Hall, 30 Front St., Hammonton, free. 609-652-4593 or Stockton.edu/Hammonton.

RAW 2017: JURIED PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION: exhibited through May 1; 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 16 opening reception, refreshments, meet the artists, free; showcases the work of 20 talented photographers selected by jury from throughout the state of New Jersey; The Noyes Gallery at Stocktons Kramer Hall, 30 Front St., Hammonton. 609-626-3420 or NoyesMuseum.org.

RED IN MULTIMEDIA: through Feb. 17; Local Artists exhibiting at Nashville North Studios are showing works in which the color red plays a significant role; Nashville North Studios, Suite 8, Linwood Greene, 210 New Road, Linwood. 609-504-5044.

MUTE THINGS EXHIBIT: noon to 7:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. Sundays, through March 22; closed March 11 through 19; 2:30 p.m. March 2 gallery talk; features Philadelphia artists Rebecca Saylor Sack and Cindy Stockton Moore; Art Gallery, Stockton University, Jimmie Leeds Road, Galloway Township, free. 609-652-4566 or Stockton.edu/ArtGallery.

FROM THE PAGE  BOOK ART: exhibited through March 11; varied styles of book illustrations including wood engravings, paintings, and drawings by award winning and emerging artists; Art Gallery, Spangler Library, Atlantic Cape Community College, 5100 Black Horse Pike, Mays Landing. 609-625-1111 or Atlantic.edu/ArtGal.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GLYNNIS REED: exhibited through April 2; That Shadow My Likeness; artist Glynnis Reed presents women in harmony with and in contrast to the natural landscape; 1 to 2:30 p.m. March 26 panel discussion; The Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University, 2200 Fairmount Avenue, Atlantic City. 609-626-3420 or ArtsGarageAC.com.

Cape May County

LEARNING WATERCOLOR TECHNIQUES: 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 22; learn the art of watercolor painting; call for materials list; taught by Susan Irland; Upper Cape Library, 2050 Tuckahoe Road, Petersburg, class size limited, registration required. CMCLibrary.org.

LEARNING TO SEE: A DRAWING WORKSHOP: 1 to 4 p.m. Thursdays, Feb. 16 through March 23; call for supplies list; Public Library, 9516 Second Ave., Stone Harbor. CMCLibrary.org.

ART PARTY CLASSES: two-hour lessons, led by Juliana Jost, create your own reproduction; 6 to 8 p.m. Fridays adult classes, $35; 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays Mommy & Me and Daddy & Me classes, $40; 106 S. Decatur St., Cape May. 609-364-5304.

SNEAK PEAK SERIES: 4 to 7 p.m. Feb. 21; hosted by Dompierre LLC; presentation from representatives of Thibaut, renowned for exceptional and unique designs; light refreshments; Dompierre Interior Design Showroom, 17 Roosevelt Blvd., Marmora, pre-register. DompierreLLC.com.

Ocean County

AMERICAN REVOLUTION EXHIBIT: exhibited through February; exhibition of local works depicting scenes surrounding the American Revolution in New Jersey; refreshments; Ocean County Library, 217 Central Ave., Surf City. 609-494-5079.

GETTING DIRTY IN THE CERAMICS STUDIO: 7 to 9 p.m. first Friday of each month, BYOB, instructor Kerith Creo walks participants through a few introductory projects, LBI Foundation of the Arts and Sciences, 120 Long Beach Blvd., Loveladies, $45. 609-494-1241.

View complete listings at AtTheShoreOnline.com

Items for Artsy Attractions should be sent two weeks in advance to pdollak@pressofac.com or mailed to Pamela Dollak, The Press of Atlantic City, 1000 W. Washington Ave., Pleasantville, N.J. 08232.
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP  Parents said Wednesday that they were upset because there was no district-wide notification after a student brought a knife and "kill list" to the Dr. Joyanne D. Miller School.

"School is supposed to be a safe environment for these kids," said Mandy Angelo, a township resident whose 10-year-old daughter attends the same school.

Angelo wasn't aware of the Feb. 8 incident at the school until she saw the story on social media.

"I feel like this is a huge issue and that all parents with kids in the school should have been notified of what happened," Angelo said .

Somers Point schools to search lockers, desks after knife incidents SOMERS POINT  The school district will begin random locker and desk checks for weapons afte

Janet Mangano, of Egg Harbor Township, has a son in fifth grade whose name was on the alleged kill list.

Mangano said only parents who were involved were notified of the incident by a Thursday call from the vice principal.

If this happened in another class, Id want to know, Mangano said.

The elementary school student, age 11, is under investigation after he brought the steak knife to school in his backpack. No one was hurt, and the student was suspended.

High school suspensions over rap-themed video prompt walkout in Egg Harbor Township Video prompts suspensions, walkout

Interim Superintendent Fred Nickles did not return a telephone call fom The Press of Atlantic City.

However, Nickles told The Current newspaper this week that the school was notified Thursday by a parent whose child came home Wednesday and told them about it.

ACLU concerned about EHTHS video punishment A New Jersey American Civil Liberties Union representative said the group is aware of the co

This student had indicated to different students that he had the steak knife. He also had a list of certain individuals that he was going to take some type of action against, Nickles told The Current.

Mangano said her son has not returned to school since Thursday. Hes scared, she said.

Egg Harbor Township police were notified and are also investigating.

"Lately it seems as though when incidents like this happen, we're the last to know and we're left in the dark." said Kimberly Hughes-Sherr, who also has a 10-year-old child who attends the Miller School.

Hughes-Sherr said as of Wednesday afternoon the school has not sent a notification to parents.

"I grew up in the township and believe that to stay in touch with our schools and our children, we need to know what is going on, whether it be good or bad," Hughes-Sherr said.

This is the third reported incident of a knife in a local school in the last month.

Last week, the Somers Point School District announced it would institute random searches of student lockers after knives were brought to a school dance and other incidents.

On Feb. 7, a Hamilton Township elementary student was injured when another student brought a knife on a school bus.

The issue did not come up at the Egg Harbor Township school board meeting Tuesday night.
Almost 268,000 low-income children in New Jersey got free or reduced-price breakfast in the last school year, a 6 percent increase from the year before, according to a national report.

But breakfast is still not readily available to every child eligible to receive it.

The annual School Breakfast Scorecard, released Tuesday by the Food Research and Action Center, shows New Jersey improved its national ranking from 23rd in 2014-15 to 19th in 2015-16.

Statewide, almost 59 percent of students eligible for free or reduced-fee lunch got breakfast last year, up from 55 percent the year before. The top ranked state, West Virginia, fed breakfast to 85 percent of eligible children.

The improvement shows efforts by a coalition of state groups to improve school breakfast participation have paid off. The state ranked 50th in the 2002 scorecard.

Adele LaTourette, director of the N.J. Anti-Hunger Coalition, said while great leaps have been made in large districts with large numbers of eligible students, the goal now is to reach smaller districts and high schools, which face more challenges.

We do continue to improve, but at a slower pace, LaTourette said.

According to the report, 2,104 of 2,629 schools participated in the school breakfast program last year, still ranking the state 50th in that category.

The coalition has had great success with breakfast after the bell programs, which incorporate breakfast into the school day as part of homeroom or morning announcements.

The state Senate on Monday approved establishing a revolving fund in the Department of Agriculture to allocate federal and state funds to increase participation in breakfast after the bell programs through small grants. No set dollar amount was allocated.

Grab and go kiosks have worked with older students, as have second chance breakfasts a little later in the morning for students who must arrive at school very early.

Atlantic City was cited by the state Department of Agriculture last year for its high school breakfast program, which delivers food to classrooms.

But, LaTourette said, success means finding what works for each district and school. She said while schools with at least 20 percent of children in the federal free lunch program must also provide breakfast to low-income children, how that program functions will vary.

School districts are reimbursed by the federal government for the free and reduced-fee meals, but when only a small number of children participate, it can be difficult for a district to break even on the cost.

In 2015-16 districts received $1.66 for every free breakfast served, $1.33 for every reduced-fee breakfast and 29 cents for every paid breakfast. Severe need districts with at least 40 percent of students eligible for the subsidized meals got $1.99 for every free meal and $1.69 for every reduced-fee meal.

Districts also can charge other students, but most still eat breakfast at home. The report shows only about 50,000 students, or 16 percent of all participating children, paid for breakfast last year.

Its not as easy to offer breakfast when you have fewer eligible children, LaTourette said. But we are saying to districts, Lets work together to find ways to reach more kids.
Marvel Studios is gleefully tipping its hand early for its next Avengers films  with the clear aim to pull us into its larger, big-stakes game.

Shooting began last month in Atlanta for Avengers: Infinity War (due out in the summer of 2018), to be immediately followed by production of the follow-up 2019 Avengers sequel.

Over the weekend, Marvel released an Infinity War featurette, and star Robert Downey Jr. took to Facebook Live to answer questions with co-stars Tom Holland and Chris Pratt  thus providing physical evidence that Spider-Man and Star-Lord are indeed set to appear in Joe and Anthony Russos new film.

Here are the aspects of Infinity War that now intrigue us most:

1. The Avengers filmmakers were smart to wait on the Guardians.

Marvel Studios didnt jump the gun on having the Guardians of the Galaxy interact with one of the Avengers in the first Guardians film. That sage decision enhances the must-see factor of Infinity War, especially given the recent buzz about how well Guardians: Vol. 2 has been testing (according to the Hollywood Reporter). Given that the Guardians Gamora is no fan of her step-dad Thanos, it makes sense that the Guardians and the Avengers will come together to battle Thanos over the Infinity Stones. (Perhaps half-earthling Star-Lord even wants to warn his birth-planet of the threat of Thanos coming.)

2. Likewise, youve got to appreciate the gradual progression toward Thanos.

It has been such a slow  and deftly executed  build to Thanos, as Marvel has made us wait to earn his appearance. Thanos has been watching from afar as the Infinity Stones have been gathered throughout the connected Marvel Studios movies  but weve had just several minutes tops of total Thanos time. After Thanos appeared at the end of the first Avengers movie, many fans presumed that he would be the villain in the next Avengers movie. Now, we get confirmation: at last, an entire Thanos film.

3. Spider-Mans continued presence in the Marvel universe is most welcome.

Tom Hollands Spider-Man is especially intriguing now because when this Marvel Studios-connected movie adventure began with Iron-Man nearly a decade ago, who would have predicted that the web-head would be a part of the big battle with Thanos in an Avengers movie? Marvel and Sony have moved quickly since reaching a deal to share the character  not only to shoot a new Spider-Man movie, but also to include him in Avengers.

4. Infinity War may be long, even for an Avengers movie.

This film may surpass 2 hours  simply because so many well-known characters are in it. (For comparisons sake, the first Avengers films each ran about 2:22.) Where is Spider-Man going to fit into things  and will the Avengers let him tag along against such a powerful foe? Spider-Man, Iron-Man, Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon  thats a lot of laughs to balance out the pending doom of the Infinity Gauntlet.
Tom Flynn is confident he wouldnt give up this life  his sobriety  for anything in the world.

In a cliche sense, I want to be better than I was yesterday and continue to grow myself. The last 10 years  at least  were robbed, he said. Im just learning how to get my feet on the ground and keep them there.

On a recent morning, Flynn and friend Will Boothby, who formed the band Gutter Drunk, are tucked away at Ventnor Coffee, where the pair occasionally play.

Tattoos spread from Boothbys hands, which clutches a cup of coffee, up to his neck. Flynn, who will undoubtedly be busy later that night at work as an EMT, has his Rottweiler puppy, Brody, in tow.

Flynn, 25, and Boothby, 27, have been friends for nearly their entire lives, growing up next door to one another in Margate. For the past 15 years, theyve been playing music together.

Punk's not dead in Atlantic City Depending on who you ask, Atlantic Citys punk scene is either coming back or on the decline

But how long had they been using?

Boothby let out a dry laugh.

Since we were 12, at least, said Boothby. (Flynn) wasnt ever early for anything, but he would wake up super early to meet me at the bus stop before school and get high on the corner.

Boothby and Flynn laugh about the old memories. Their friendship has endured its share of trials, often marred by their addiction to drugs and alcohol.

But the two have always considered each other brothers.

Now both sober, their band has not only steadily gained popularity in the local music community, its become an avenue for them to discuss addiction.

Their song Dirty Heroin, written by Boothby, touches on his time as an addict. A Facebook video from almost a year ago of the pair singing the tune in the woods has generated almost 4,000 views.

That was me reflecting on Get me out of here, said Boothby. I guess I was trying to say, Why? Why did I do that? What is it? And how the hell can I get away from it?

Their 12 original tracks, which are listed on SoundCloud, range from fast punk on Scumbag Dereliction and Pool Scum! to a more acoustic, folksy sound on In the Pines.

Boothby writes the majority of their songs, but Flynn said all of their lyrics are true or something that happened to them. Even the bands name  Gutter Drunk  came when Boothby was reflecting on his days of drinking and sleeping under the stairs of Tropicana Atlantic City.

During those years, Flynn and Boothby said, being an addict was a full-time job. Their creativity as musicians often took the back seat.

Flynn said that despite the fact that the two had been playing music together for a long time, they were always too strung out to do anything about it.

The way I drank, I was brain-dead, he said. I couldnt even play guitar when I was drinking.

Boothby, who typically plays the drums, said he began writing music and playing guitar as he got clean.

When we first got sober, we would camp every night. Its like, we didnt care if it was 15 or 16 degrees and we were out in the woods, said Flynn, who plays the banjo. Just trying to get another day sober, really. We had nothing to do except play music.

The pair moved in together, working on staying clean, and would head out every night to camp. After tossing up a tarp and starting a big fire, the friends would jam.

With only a few months clean under their belt, music kept them busy. Going out into the woods was a release, though Flynn said friends jokingly asked why they paid rent if they were just going to sleep in the woods every night.

You could scream out there and just jam and really let it go, Boothby said.

Gutter Drunk has grown to include drummer Jim Chivalette, who is also the vocalist and guitarist for punk band No Comply, and stand-up bassist/Atlantic City High School student Brad Jones. The band often plays gigs at venues such as The Boneyard on Virginia Avenue.

Boothby and Flynn know better than to linger around a bar. The only time they step in one, they said, is to a play a show.

Flynn said he now goes in there with a purpose, but he doesnt want to live in a bubble just because hes sober. Flynn also still plays in his familys Irish band, The Flynns.

I look at the drunkest guy and think, I was way worse than that, said Flynn with a laugh. Its good to remember that.

Boothby, a tattoo artist, said hes finding joy again in the hobbies he loved before addiction, such as surfing and skateboarding. He spends more time working with his father at his workshop, too.

The two hope to get into a studio to record a full album and even go on tour. Nailing down their sound is hard, say the pair, though they describe it as falling somewhere between punk, folk and bushwhacking music.

Its Gutter Drunk, said Boothby. Its rock n roll.
An anonymous admirer in Cape May, a perplexed widow and her two curious daughters is the unlikely start of a mystery turned romance in "The Girl in His Dreams."

While the plot sounds like the stuff of fantasies, for Cumberland County author Terri Ely, some of the novel is based on a true story.

The whole story begins with, actually my mother, but Rosemarie in the book, said Ely, who will be signing her book on Sunday at the Cape May Chili and Chowder Cook Off.

Ely changed the character names of their real-life counterparts, but the story  in real life and in the novel  launched when her 82-year-old mother started receiving anonymous birthday cards without a postmark.

The first letter, which arrived on her birthday, simply had I love you, in shorthand.

The elderly Haddonfield widow recognized the short-hand, having taken a business class in Philadelphia as a young girl. Yet, she couldnt make out who the card was from and considered that it might be a joke

The following year, she received another anonymous, printed letter that said, Happy Birthday Kid, I can call you kid because Im nine days older than you. The third letter blew everything sky-wide, said Ely, as the letter was postmarked from Cape May. The final letter explained that the mysterious admirer had loved her mother since 1926.

That part is absolutely true," said Ely. My sister and I are both romantics so we really got caught up in it."

Ely and her sister spent a year trying to find the mystery man and when they did, he explained how he fell in love with their mother when he was a teenager, attending business school.

Now a widower himself, the man had never spoken to Ely's mother when they were in school together.

For a while, after they graduated, he still thought of her for a few years and then lost track of her and went on with his life," she said, noting that the man, who is called 'Charles' in the book, went on to marry and have his own family, as did her mother.

After losing his own wife Ely said on a "whim" he must have decided to contact her mother thinking he had nothing to lose.

The book takes readers through scenes of Cape May, the discovery of the mysterious widower and author of the birthday cards, 'Charles,' and an unlikely romance that ensues.

Other parts of the book draw on real-life events and also include other grand, romantic gestures by the sentimental 'Charles.'

In real life, Ely kept notes of the unfolding events. When her mother died at 95, Ely started to work on the novel. The book took her 10 years to write and the ending may be surprising to readers.

Its a feel-good book," she said "Today when were all wired up with all these crazy things happening. Its out of the norm and the fact that its based on a true story just makes it fun, and enjoyable.
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A U.S. Coast Guard investigation into the July death of a 21-year-old recruit at the training center in Cape May concluded he died of a heat-related illness made worse by an existing medical condition.

Aaron Redd, of Stafford, Virginia, collapsed during a 1.5-mile timed run that was part of his recruitment companys fitness assessment and died five days later at Cape Regional Medical Center in Middle Township.

The Coast Guard on Tuesday released the results of a report commissioned in the aftermath of Redds death.

The medical condition, which was not disclosed, is not disqualifying for military service, the Coast Guard said in a statement. In addition, the board that investigated the incident found the Coast Guard followed established policy in its response.

Since Redds death, the Coast Guard said it has enhanced its safety practices and procedures at the training center in Cape May.

Any loss of life is a cause for reflection, so we want to do whatever we can to increase the level of safety at our training facilities, said Rear Adm. David G. Throop, commander of the Coast Guards Force Readiness Command.

The training center is the Coast Guards fifth-largest base and the military branchs only facility that trains recruits.

Families trust us with the care of their loved ones while they are here, and we owe it to them to ensure we are providing the safest training environment possible, said Capt. Owen Gibbons, commanding officer of the training center.

Redd was an organ donor whose heart helped save another person through the Gift of Life Foundation, his mother, Eileen Redd, told The Press of Atlantic City last year.

He wanted to save lives, and now his incredibly strong, beautiful heart continues to beat on, the family wrote in his obituary.

Redd graduated from high school in 2014 and attended West Virginia University before enlisting in the Coast Guard last year.
The Cumberland County Prosecutors Office should identify the police officer who shot and killed Bridgeton resident Darryl Fuqua on Friday, community activist Walter Hudson said Monday.

In a letter to county Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae and Bridgeton Mayor Albert Kelly, Hudson said authorities have not been forthcoming with information to Fuquas family and with the Bridgeton community.He said family and friends of Fuquas mother, Gwen Benson, contacted his organization, the National Awareness Alliance, which organized several protests after Bridgeton police fatally shot Jerame Reid in December 2014.

Fuqua, who is black, was shot multiple times about 4 p.m. Friday on the 200 block of South Avenue.

Man shot, killed by Bridgeton police identified BRIDGETON  The Cumberland County Prosecutors Office identified the person shot by city pol

I understand people have concerns, rightfully so, Kelly said Monday. But Im going to follow, and the Prosecutors Office is going to follow, the guidelines set forth by the attorney general. Im sure theyll release the name of the officer at the appropriate time.

Webb-McRae has not said what prompted the shooting, except that it followed an apparent foot chase. At least one officer is believed to have shot at Fuqua, she said.

Webb-McRae did not say whether Fuqua shot at police. A gun was recovered where Fuqua was taken into custody, she said.

Police Chief Michael Gaimari identified the officer who allegedly shot Fuqua only as a five-year veteran of the Police Department who is assigned to the departments Criminal Investigation Bureau. The officer is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, he said.

Gaimari said the officer was one of three taken to Inspira Health Center Bridgeton for observation and treatment of undisclosed injuries after the shooting. They were released late Friday, he said.

Kelly said he contacted clergy and community leaders, asking them to work with residents to ensure the investigation proceeds without incident.

Some Bridgeton residents were still shaken Monday by the news of the shooting.

Prosecutor's office investigating after man fatally shot by Bridgeton police BRIDGETON  The Cumberland County Prosecutors Office is investigating the death of a man wh

Its happening, and its going to keep happening, Roberto Rodriguez, 24, said of violence and drug issues in the area. If you look at (the police) a certain way, theyre going to harass you.

Rodriguez, of Maple Drive, said he used to talk to Fuqua occasionally when he lived on the street with his mother. He said Fuqua was laid-back and didnt look for trouble.

He said Fuqua and his mother recently moved from their Maple Drive home.
WASHINGTON  The Latest on developments in President Donald Trump's administration (all times EST):

11:04 p.m.

National security adviser Michael Flynn has resigned after reports he misled Trump administration officials about his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the U.S.

Flynn's departure less than one month into the Trump administration marks an extraordinarily early shakeup in the president's senior team of advisers. Flynn was a loyal Trump supporter throughout the campaign, but his ties to Russia caused concern among other senior aides.

Flynn initially told Trump advisers that he did not discuss sanctions with the Russian envoy during the transition. Vice President Mike Pence, apparently relying on information from Flynn, publicly vouched for the national security adviser.

Flynn later told White House officials that he may have discussed sanctions with the ambassador.

___

How Lego movies helped Steve Mnuchin become a big-time Hollywood producer Before President Donald Trumps pick for treasury secretary began amassing a swath of Hollyw

9:05 p.m.

Two people familiar with the situation say the Justice Department warned the Trump administration about Michael Flynn's contacts with Russia.

One of the people says the Justice Department told the administration there was a discrepancy between what the White House was saying publicly about Flynn's contacts and the facts of what occurred.

The person says the Justice Department was concerned that Flynn could be in a compromised position.

A Trump administration official says the White House has been aware of the Justice Department warning for "weeks." That official would not say if the president had been briefed on the matter.

The two people were not authorized to discuss the matter by name and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Washington Post first reported the communications with the Justice Department.

 By Eric Tucker and Julie Pace

___

6:45 p.m.

A White House spokesman says no classified material was discussed publicly at the Mar-a-Lago resort over the weekend.

Sean Spicer says President DonaldTrump was briefed in a classified room after North Korea's latest missile test Saturday. Trump drew scrutiny after social media posts appeared to show Trump conducting national security business in an area accessible to the public.

Spicer says Trump was briefed before and after dinner Saturday. But he says that during dinner Trump and U.S. and Japanese officials were discussing plans for a press conference later that night.

Spicer says the activity at dinner was "literally a discussion of logistics."

___

5:15 p.m.

The White House says President Donald Trump is "evaluating the situation" involving his national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Trump spokesman Sean Spicer says the president is speaking with Vice President Mike Pence and others about the matter.

Pence publicly vouched that Flynn did not discuss sanctions with Russia's ambassador to the U.S. before the inauguration. But Flynn has since told the White House sanctions may have come up.

Trump has said nothing publicly about Flynn since the Washington Post reported last week that Flynn did discuss sanctions with the Russian official.

___

4:20 p.m.

White House national security adviser Michael Flynn has apologized to Vice President Mike Pence for the controversy surrounding his discussions with the Russian ambassador to the U.S., an administration official says.

Pence said in televised interviews that Flynn had not discussed sanctions during his pre-inauguration calls with the Russian envoy. Flynn has since told the White House that sanctions may have come up.

Administration officials have said Pence was relying on information from Flynn.

The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and insisted on anonymity.
"Gen. Flynn has said up to this point that he had not said anything like that to the Russian ambassador. I think now he's saying that he doesn't remember whether he did or not," Christie said on CNN. "So, that's a conversation he is going to need to have with the president and the vice president to clear that up, so that the White House can make sure that they are completely accurate about what went on."
When businesses close down or move out of New Jersey, lots of people naturally wonder why.

So now, the state may start asking why, officially and automatically.

The state Senate unanimously approved a bill this week requiring the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to ask any company thats shutting down or moving out why theyre doing so. The bill now goes to the state Assembly, where its assigned to the Labor Committee.

CRDA spending in North Jersey topped $201 million Yogi Berra immortalized the phrase it aint over till its over, but it was an Atlantic Ci

The proposed law says the state would have to create a survey to ask exiting companies about the states taxes and fees, the cost of living or cost of conducting business; labor costs; labor laws and regulations, and a long list of related items.

The New Jersey Business and Industry Association supports the move.

Developing this level of data on why businesses leave New Jersey will help focus on what we can do to make New Jersey more attractive before businesses decide to leave, Mike Wallace, the NJBIAs director of Employment, Labor and Federal Affairs, said in a statement. If employers are confident about the direction New Jerseys business climate is headed, they will be much more likely to create jobs and invest in their operations.
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.




"As a specialist in beverage crates and pallets, we increased our capacity in anticipation of expected customer and market growth. This is why we are investing in the newest generation of injection moulding machines. The investments will allow us to grow even further in other products for markets such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agriculture, etc.," explains Paul Baeyens, Managing Director of Plastics' Injection Moulding business segment.

"We are committed to giving our customers the best possible service, and in order to do so, it is crucial that we are equipped with the right capacity and the latest technology. Our strength is being able to quickly adapt to our customers' requirements, for both large and small projects," concluded Mr. Baeyens.

The investments in Bilzen give the plant a completely new dynamic. The facility is now equipped with the newest generation of injection moulding machines which are 40% more energy-efficient and the very best IML (In mould labelling) robots that the market offers. The implementation of a new internal raw materials supply system and a new plant layout, ensure an optimum production flow. This investment has also created eight new jobs.

Over the past 50 years, DS Smith has continued to invest in the Injection Moulding business segment as it evolves into a global market player as a provider of plastics beverage crates and pallets. DS Smith Plastics' Injection Moulding plants are strategically located in Belgium, Poland, Spain and Croatia servicing customers in Europe, Africa, Asia, North America and South America. Customer-specific solutions are also provided through a network of strategic partners around the world.

About DS Smith:

DS Smith, Plastics Division is part of DS Smith Plc. a  5/ 4 billion plastics and packaging multinational with operations in 36 countries, employing 26,000 people. DS Smith, Plastics Division operates from 28 sites in 14 countries. The Plastics Division businesses are focused on three main areas: Flexible packaging and dispensing solutions, rigid packaging and foam products.

For more information about DS Smith, Plastics Division visit www.dssmith.com/plastics/

For information regarding, DS Smith Plastics, Bilzen, Belgium contact tinne.de.pooter@dssmith.com

For information regarding, DS Smith, Plastics Division contact marianne.abreu@dssmith.com

Photo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/467241/DS_Smith_Plastics_Bilzen_Belgium.jpg

Related Links

http://www.dssmith.com



SOURCE DS Smith, Plastics Division
HAMBURG, Germany, February 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Euler Hermes Rating is requesting comment from market participants on its proposed methodology for rating non-financial Small and Medium Enterprises and Mid-Caps (SMEs) in Germany. For SMEs, the proposed methodology will replace the Issuer Rating Methodology currently in use to rate corporate debt issuers.

In the proposed methodology, Euler Hermes Rating introduces a scorecard that describes the analytical considerations for rating SMEs. The scorecard clearly outlines the weights assigned to those analytical considerations and provides guidance on how Euler Hermes Rating will score the various elements. Euler Hermes Rating also describes how factor scores will map to the scorecard outcome.

Euler Hermes Rating expects that the methodology, if implemented as proposed, will result in few changes to SMEs' issuer-level ratings. Upon publication of the final SME Rating Methodology, Euler Hermes Rating will review all ratings assigned to this group of corporates and, where relevant, will notify market participants of any resulting rating actions.

This methodology is based on the analysis of the German SME market and a comprehensive experience of assessing the risk of SMEs in Germany. Quantitative elements of this methodology are built on data and statistics of approximately 37,000 companies with financials over the 2002-16 period and revenues typically between 10 million and 500 million.

Key elements:

The analysis includes a dedicated scorecard for non-financial SMEs in Germany .



. The scorecard consists of three fundamental factors (sector profile, business profile, financial profile) and four notching adjustments (liquidity, debt structure, strategic and operational management, governance and financial policy).



Other rating considerations are taken into account for the final rating, such as legal structure and external influence, reporting and transparency, event risk and limiting factors.

Feedback

The proposed SME Rating Methodology is available at http://www.ehrg.de/request-for-comments.

As part of a continuing and open dialogue with issuers, investors and other interested parties, we invite market participants to comment on this methodology by March 14th, 2017 by submitting their comments to rfc@eulerhermes-rating.com.

This proposed methodology was developed with Moody's Investors Service (MIS) as part of its previously announced collaboration with Euler Hermes to provide credit ratings for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Europe.

About Euler Hermes Rating

Euler Hermes Rating GmbH (Euler Hermes Rating) was founded in 2001 as an independent European rating agency of the Euler Hermes and Allianz Group focusing on issuer and issue ratings. Euler Hermes Rating is registered as a credit rating agency (CRA) in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 of the European Parliament and Council (as amended) and is considered as an external credit assessment institution (ECAI) by the European Banking Authority (EBA). Euler Hermes Rating is a subsidiary of Euler Hermes (ELE:PA), the world leader in trade credit insurance.

Press/Euler Hermes Rating GmbH:

Ralf Garrn - ralf.garrn@eulerhermes-rating.com

Friedensallee 254

22763 Hamburg

Tel.: +49-40-8834-640

Fax: +49-040-8834-6413

http://www.eulerhermes-rating.com





SOURCE Euler Hermes Rating GmbH
- EY receives distinction from The Hedge Fund Journal for the second consecutive year

- Recognized for superior experience and breadth of offerings

- Noted for excellence in the European service provider community

LONDON, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- EY was named Leading Global Provider of Services to Hedge Funds by The Hedge Fund Journal Awards 2017. EY received this recognition for its superior experience and breadth of offerings to managers operating in the hedge fund space.

The Hedge Fund Journal Awards recognize excellence in the European service provider community over the previous 12 months, celebrating organizations that pioneer innovation and growth in the hedge fund industry. This marks the second consecutive year in which EY has earned the prestigious title of Leading Global Provider of Services to Hedge Funds.

Michael Serota, EY Global Leader of Hedge Fund Services, says:

"EY is honored to receive this recognition, that we believe further underscores our commitment to providing exceptional service offerings to surpass client expectations. We are delighted that EY's global dedication to help organizations facilitate growth in the evolving hedge fund industry has been recognized once again."

Zeynep Meric-Smith, Ernst & Young LLP UK Business Development Leader for Hedge Funds & Alternatives, says:

"Despite a challenging year for hedge funds, EY has remained steadfast to growing and innovating in response to investors' needs. This award reflects upon the dedication and hard work we bring to our clients in this sector, and demonstrates our commitment to an industry that has for the first time surpassed US$3t in global assets under management."

In addition to providing core audit and tax services, EY Financial Service Organization offers a wide range of professional services that can help clients manage risk and improve their organizations' growth, tax efficiency and compliance.

More information on the awards, including the full list of winners in all categories, can be found at The Hedge Fund Journal Awards website.

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 in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

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.

This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global EY organization that also does not provide any services to clients.

How EY's Global Wealth & Asset Management Sector can help your business

The global wealth and asset management sector has rebounded from the global financial crisis to face a rapidly evolving regulatory environment and changing client base. Organizations are keenly focused on efficiently adapting to change, managing complex risks and growth in an increasingly crowded field. EY's Global Wealth & Asset Management Sector brings together a worldwide team of professionals to help you succeed  a team with deep experience in providing assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The Sector team works to anticipate market trends, identify their implications and develop points of view on relevant sector issues. Working together, we can help you meet your goals and compete more effectively.

Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/128250/ernst___young_better_working_world_logo.jpg

Related Links

http://www.ey.com



SOURCE EY
Himoinsa has beaten the odds and grown in the stagnant genset market by presenting world-class service along with its high-quality products. It continues to purchase and open new subsidiaries in countries where demand for gensets is high and will continue to grow. On the back of these efforts, it posted a year-on-year growth rate of 15% in 2015 in a market that is witnessing low single digit growth. It is currently one of the top 5 companies in the European diesel genset market with a share of 8%.

Himoinsa serves a diverse client base by tailoring its solutions to the needs of each industry, including telecommunications, data centres, hospitals, and shopping malls. Compared to its competitors, who have standard product processes, Himoinsa is able to undertake special projects that require significant changes to the end product.

"Custom projects are the company's USP, as it has strong engineering capability as well as manufacturing flexibility," said Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Manoj Shankar. "Being a vertically integrated company that manufactures all genset components in-house, Himoinsa not only boasts high-quality products but also the shortest delivery times in the market."

Apart from expanding its brand within Europe, Himoinsa has set up 11 subsidiaries in the UK, South Africa, Singapore, Dubai, Poland, Germany, Portugal, Angola, Argentina, Panama, and the Dominican Republic. Its strategy of tapping into new and upcoming distribution channels such as rental companies and engineering companies has proved hugely successful.

"By growing organically with new sales offices, opening distribution centres and investing in distribution companies in emerging regions, the company is creating a stable growth network," noted Manoj. "Currently, there are more than 130 Himoinsa dealers across five continents providing direct market support. This regional presence increases the company's visibility, brand value, and customer confidence, all of which contribute to revenue growth."

Himoinsa strives to offer its customers a best-in-class sales and service experience through its distribution network. Furthermore, its engineering team supports the sales and distribution teams to understand the client and project requirements right at the start of the project.

Himoinsa has proved to be an exciting company to partner with due to its inspirational zeal for growth. Its brand loyalty and competitiveness has helped it carve out a unique, sustainable position in the genset market, making it eminently worthy of Frost & Sullivan's honour.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan bestows this award upon the company that demonstrates excellence in growth and customer value. It recognises the superiority of the product/service as well as the overall customer, purchase, ownership, and service experience offered, which has resulted in the recipient company seeing above-market growth and greater share of the wallet. The award lauds the growth, diversification, and sustainability strategies of the company.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Himoinsa

Himoinsa is a global corporation that designs, manufactures and distributes power generation equipment worldwide. The company adds incomparable application and engineering know-how, excellent design and service capabilities, delivering value beyond the equipment it produces.

The product range the brand offers includes diesel and gas generator sets, control panels and paralleling systems for standby emergency power, prime power, peak power and distributed power. It also develops hybrid power gensets for the telecom sector and manufactures lighting towers for the rental and construction markets.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector, and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Chiara Carella

P: +44 (0) 207.343.8314

F: 210.348.1003

E: chiara.carella@frost.com

Logo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/466689/Himoinsa_Award.pdf

Related Links

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SOURCE Frost & Sullivan
LONDON, February 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The global rum market will decline over the next five years according to joint research from just-drinks and The IWSR featuring the latest full-year data available.

The Global Rum Insights report has forecast a compound annual drop of 0.5% between 2016 and 2021, representing a decline of almost 3.7m cases, with rum's top three markets - India, the US and the Philippines - all expected to record falls. The predicted five-year dip follows a decline of 0.8% in 2015 to 141.8m nine-litre cases, with nine of the top 20 markets and four of the top five registering declines.

Between 2010 and 2015, the sector registered a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.6%.

The report notes that, while only two of rum's ten largest markets - Cuba and the Dominican Republic - are set to grow over the coming five years, the heaviest declines will be seen in high-volume, low-value markets.

Germany is predicted to be flat to 2021, and only "small declines" are forecast for France, Spain and the UK. On the other hand, India will see a fall of more than 2m cases, while volumes in the Philippines are forecast to decline by 3.8m cases.

Some of rum's other significant markets are expected to enjoy better fortunes, notably Brazil and Venezuela. Meanwhile, Peru, Australia and Jamaica, are all expected to grow strongly over the next few years.

"Taken all together, these trends reflect a growing diversity among rum's global markets," the report states. "While high-volume (but usually low-value) countries such as India and the Philippines are set to decline, a basket of much smaller but more promising destinations are on the increase."

While overall category volumes are on the decline, the report notes that the super- and ultra-premium rum categories are "still expanding at a healthy rate". Nevertheless, in premiumisation terms rum continues to underperform compared to rival spirits categories, such as Scotch whisky and Cognac, with the super- and ultra-premium price segments accounting for less than 0.5% of sales.

Global Rum Insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends, published in August 2016, can be purchased via the just-drinks research store.

About just-drinks.com

just-drinks.com is the online news, insight and research portal for the global drinks industry. Our editorial team includes contributors from around the world, while our commentators comprise experts in their respective fields of beer, bottled water, soft drinks, spirits (both brown and white) and wine. Under the direction of managing editor Olly Wehring, we offer an impartial voice and are driven by our passion for the drinks industry.

About The IWSR

The IWSR is the leading source of data and analysis on the alcoholic beverage market. The IWSR's database, essential to the industry, quantifies the global market of wine, spirits, beer and RTDs by volume and value, and provides insight into short- and long-term trends. IWSR statistics are used by all of the largest multinational wine and spirits companies, as well as many more local companies. The IWSR's unique methodology allows them to get closer to what is actually consumed and better understand how markets work. The IWSR conducts face-to- face interviews with 1,500 companies in 118 countries each year, with further input from 350 companies. The IWSR tracks overall consumption and trends at brand, quality and category level.

For further information and images please contact James Lawley, Public Relations at Aroq Limited on +44(0)1527-573-606, email james.lawley@aroq.com

SOURCE just-drinks and The IWSR
In 2017, Indonesia's food and beverage industry is forecast to grow 8.5 percent year-on-year (y/y) to IDR 1,400 trillion (approx. USD $105.2 billion). Concurrently, direct investment is expected to reach around IDR 63 trillion (approx. USD $4.7 billion). Among others, Japanese and South Korean companies stand out as being particularly eager to actively engage in this industry Indonesia. Indeed considering the country's 255 million population and its recovering purchasing power, the food and beverage sector is an attractive option for investors.

On this note, Adhi Lukman, General Chairman of the Indonesian Food and Beverage Association (GAPMMI), said that Indonesia's F&B trade balance showed a USD $767 million deficit in the first 11 months of 2016, rising sharply from the USD $276 million deficit in full-year 2015. In fact, besides finished products, 90% of the ingredients used in this industry are still imported, thus providing an immense opportunity for international and local companies alike.

At the same time, Indonesian consumers are also changing their habits. In a global survey by Nielsen, it emerged that 76% of global consumers were willing to spend more for food products that promote health benefits. In Asia that percentage stood at 81%.

That is why a trade event like Hi SEA, the only trade exhibition dedicated to the health ingredients industry in the region, held at Jakarta International Expo during March 22-24, 2017, is key to the progress of the market.

Supported by renowned associations such as the Indonesian Pharmaceutical Association, Indonesian Food & Beverage Association -- GAPMMI, the Indonesian Functional Food and Nutraceutical Association and IUFoST, Hi SEA provides a trusted meeting point and a solid conference for all food professionals in the region to build on.

Alongside the show, a cutting edge, focused conference is held, tackling both the perspective of local ASEAN companies expanding their business worldwide and international companies willing to break into the south East Asian health food markets. Sign up here and come join the industry on March 22nd!

Ivan Ferrari

Phone Number: +62 21 2930 5959

Email: ivan.ferrari@ubm.com

SOURCE Hi SEA
NEW YORK, February 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Favorable government initiatives coupled with increasing automobile sales, expanding vehicle fleet and growing exports to drive India automotive bearings market through 2021

According to a recently released TechSci Research report, "India Automotive Bearings Market, By Type, By Vehicle Type, Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2011 - 2021", the automotive bearings market in India is anticipated to cross $2.3 Billion by 2021, on account of strong domestic automobile demand, rapidly expanding automobile fleet, favorable government policies coupled with planned capacity expansions by major automobile OEMs. Further, the launch of Automotive Mission Plan, 2016-2026, is expected to result in a robust increase in production of automobiles in the country, thereby expected to boost the demand for automotive bearings in India over the next five years.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140117/663730 )



Browse 40 market data Tables and 66 Figures spread through 146 Pages and an in-depth TOC on

"India Automotive Bearings Market"

https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/india-automotive-bearings-market-by-type-deep-grove-ball-bearing-angular-tapered-roller-bearing-spherical-roller-bearing-etc-by-vehicle-type-2w-pc-otr-lcv-3w-m-hcv-competition-forecast-opportunities/911.html

According to the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) in the country's automotive sector increased from USD1.52 billion in FY2013-14 to USD2.73 billion in FY2014-15, exhibiting a Y-o-Y of around 80%. Increase in FDIs in automobile sector is poised to drive vehicle sales and production in the country over the next five years, thereby positively influencing India automotive bearings market during 2016-2021.

Download Sample Report

@ https://www.techsciresearch.com/sample-report.aspx?cid=911

Customers can also request for 10% free customization on this report.

"During 2011 - 2015, two-wheeler segment dominated the country's automotive bearings market, followed by passenger car segment. Two-Wheeler segment is expected to maintain its dominance in India automotive bearings market as well, on account of increasing production as well as sales of two-wheelers in the country. Deep grove ball bearing angular is the most preferred type of automotive bearings in India. Some of the major companies operating in India automotive bearings market are SKF India Ltd., NBC Bearings, FAG Bearings India Limited, Timken India Limited, ABC Bearings Limited and Tata Bearings, among others." said Mr. Karan Chechi, Research Director with TechSci Research, a research based global management consulting firm.

"India Automotive Bearings Market, By Type, By Vehicle Type, Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2011 - 2021" has analyzed the potential of India automotive bearings market, and provides statistics and information on market sizes, shares and trends. The report will suffice in providing intending clients with cutting-edge market intelligence and help them in taking sound investment decisions. Besides, the report also identifies and analyzes emerging trends along with essential drivers and key challenges faced by the industry.

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Global Commercial Drone Market By Drone Type (Rotary Blade Drone, Fix Wing Drone, Hybrid Drone & Nano Drone), By Application (Mapping, Surveying & Photography, Precision Agriculture, etc.), By Region, Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2015 - 2021

https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/global-commercial-drone-market-by-drone-type-rotary-blade-drone-fix-wing-drone-hybrid-drone-nano-drone-by-application-mapping-surveying-photography-precision-agriculture-etc-by-region-competition-forecast-opportunities-2015-2021/666.html.

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India Automotive Components Market By Vehicle Type (PC, LCV, M & HCV, 2W, 3W & OTR), By Demand Category (OEM vs Replacement), By Component Type (Engine Parts, Body & Chassis, Suspension & Brakes, etc.), Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011 - 2021

https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/india-automotive-components-market-by-vehicle-type-pc-lcv-m-hcv-2w-3w-otr-by-demand-category-oem-vs-replacement-by-component-type-engine-parts-body-chassis-suspension-brakes-etc-competition-forecast-and-opportunities-2011-2021/749.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.

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SOURCE TechSci Research
SEATTLE, February 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

- First Detailed Results from SWORD Clinical Trial Program Show Investigational Two-drug Combination as Effective as Three- or Four-drug Regimens as Maintenance Therapy in Patients who have Already Achieved Viral Suppression

Janssen Sciences Ireland UC (Janssen) announced positive results from the full data read out for two Phase III studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of switching virologically suppressed patients from a three- or four-drug antiretroviral regimen to the two-drug regimen of dolutegravir (ViiV Healthcare) and rilpivirine (Janssen). Full results were presented at the annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Seattle, WA.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160223/336306LOGO )

If approved, this treatment could be the first two-drug regimen for HIV and could offer those living with HIV who are virally suppressed the option to switch to a regimen which does not include a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI).

The dolutegravir and rilpivirine regimen achieved non-inferior viral suppression (HIV-1 RNA <50 c/mL) at 48 weeks compared with a three- or four-drug regimen in both pooled and individual analyses of the SWORD 1 and SWORD 2 studies (current antiretroviral therapy (CAR) 485/511 (95%), dolutegravir + rilpivirine 486/513 (95%) (adjusted difference -0.2%, (95% CI: [3.0%, 2.5%]), pooled analysis). Virologic suppression rates were similar between treatment arms. The median duration of antiretroviral treatment was just over four years at the time of entry into the studies. The most commonly reported (>5%) adverse events in the dolutegravir and rilpivirine arm were nasopharyngitis, headache, diarrhea and upper respiratory tract infection. For the CAR arm, the most commonly reported adverse events were nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, back pain, headache and diarrhea. The studies are ongoing for 148 weeks.

"The SWORD Phase III results represent an important step forward in our efforts to deliver a two-drug regimen that may help simplify dosing regimens and reduce pill burden for people living with HIV," says Lawrence M. Blatt, Global R&D Head, Infectious Diseases & Vaccines, Janssen. "As HIV is increasingly treated as a life-long condition, we remain committed to ongoing research and development of further medicines to treat HIV more simply and to help all those living with HIV to achieve an undetectable viral load and have an improved quality of life."

Virologic failure rates were <1% in the DTG+RPV arm and 1% in the three- or four- antiretroviral-drug arm. No integrase strand inhibitor (INSTI) resistance-associated mutations were reported. Protocol-defined virologic failure with a non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) resistance-associated mutation (RAMs; K101K/E) was reported in only one patient in the DTG+RPV arm in the context of documented non-adherence, but with no impact on regimen efficacy as the subject re-suppressed on dolutegravir and rilpivirine prior to withdrawal from the study.

The overall rate of serious adverse events was comparable between treatment groups (DTG+RPV: 27, CAR: 21). As would be expected when switching from a stable regimen to a new regimen (in most cases containing two new drugs), more adverse events were reported and led to withdrawal from the study in the DTG+RPV arm (DTG+RPV: 21, CAR: 3).

The safety profiles for dolutegravir and rilpivirine in these studies were consistent with the product labelling for each medicine.

About the SWORD Phase III Program for dolutegravir (Tivicay) and rilpivirine (Edurant)

The Phase III program evaluates the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of switching to dolutegravir plus rilpivirine from current integrase inhibitor-, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-, or boosted protease inhibitor-based antiretroviral regimen in HIV-1-infected adults who are virologically suppressed with a three- or four-drug regimen. In the clinical trials, dolutegravir and rilpivirine are provided as individual tablets. SWORD-1 (NCT02429791) and SWORD-2 (NCT02422797) are replicate 148-week, randomized, open-label, non-inferiority studies to assess the antiviral activity and safety of a two-drug, daily oral regimen of dolutegravir plus rilpivirine compared with current antiretroviral therapy.

The primary endpoint is proportion of patients with plasma HIV-1 RNA <50 copies per milliliter (c/mL) at Week 48. Key secondary endpoints include evaluation of the development of viral resistance, measurements of safety and tolerability, and changes in renal, bone and cardiovascular biomarkers. The study also includes exploratory measures to assess change in health-related quality of life, willingness to switch, and adherence to treatment regimens.

For more information on the trials please visit: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov

EDURANT (Rilpivirine)

EDURANT (rilpivirine) is a prescription HIV medicine that is used with other antiretroviral medicines to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) in patients:

Who have never taken HIV medicines before, and

taken HIV medicines before, Who have an amount of HIV in their blood (called "viral load") that is no more than 100,000 copies/mL. Your healthcare professional will measure your viral load.

EDURANT should be taken in combination with other HIV medicines. Your healthcare professional will work with you to find the right combination of HIV medicines.

It is important that you remain under the care of your healthcare professional during treatment with EDURANT.

EDURANT is not recommended for patients less than 12 years of age.

EDURANT does not cure HIV infection or AIDS. You should remain on your HIV medications without stopping to ensure that you control your HIV infection and decrease the risk of HIV-related illnesses. Ask your healthcare professional about how to prevent passing HIV to other people.

Please read Important Safety Information below, and talk to your healthcare professional to learn if EDURANT is right for you.

Important Safety Information

Can EDURANT be taken with other medicines?

EDURANT may affect the way other medicines work and other medicines may affect how EDURANT works and may cause serious side effects. If you take certain medicines with EDURANT, the amount of EDURANT in your body may be too low and it may not work to help control your HIV infection, and the HIV virus in your body may become resistant to EDURANT or other HIV medicines that are like it. To help get the right amount of medicine in your body, you should always take EDURANT with a meal. A protein drink alone does not replace a meal.

Do not take EDURANT if:

Your HIV infection has been previously treated with HIV medicines

You are taking any of the following medicines: Anti-seizure medicines: carbamazepine (Carbatrol  , Equetro  , Tegretol  , Tegretol-XR  , Teril  , Epitol  ), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal  ), phenobarbital (Luminal  ), phenytoin (Dilantin  , Dilantin-125  , Phenytek  ). Anti-tuberculosis (anti-TB) medicines: rifampin (Rifater  , Rifamate  , Rimactane  , Rifadin  ), rifapentine (Priftin  )Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) medicine for certain stomach or intestinal problems: esomeprazole (Nexium  , Vimovo  ), lansoprazole (Prevacid  ), omeprazole (Prilosec  , Zegerid  ), pantoprazole sodium (Protonix  ), rabeprazole (Aciphex  ). More than 1 dose of the steroid medicine dexamethasone or dexamethasone sodium phosphate. St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum).

Especially tell your doctor if you take: Rifabutin (Mycobutin  ), a medicine to treat some bacterial infections). Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the right amount of EDURANT  you should take if you also take rifabutin. Medicines used to treat HIV. An antacid medicine that contains aluminum, magnesium hydroxide, or calcium carbonate. Take antacids at least 2 hours before or at least 4 hours after you take EDURANT  . Medicines to block acid in your stomach, including cimetidine (Tagamet  ), famotidine (Pepcid  ), nizatidine (Axid  ), or ranitidine hydrochloride (Zantac  ). Take these medicines at least 12 hours before or at least 4 hours after you take EDURANT  . Any of these medicines (if taken by mouth or injection): clarithromycin (Biaxin  ), erythromycin (E-Mycin  , Eryc  , Ery-Tab  , PCE  , Pediazole  , Ilosone  ), fluconazole (Diflucan  ), itraconazole (Sporanox  ), ketoconazole (Nizoral  ), methadone (Dolophine  ), posaconazole (Noxafil  ), telithromycin (Ketek  ), voriconazole (Vfend  ).



This is not a complete list of medicines. Before starting EDURANT, be sure to tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you are taking or plan to take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Before taking EDURANT, also tell your healthcare professional if you have had or currently have liver problems (including hepatitis B or C), have ever had a mental health problem, are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. It is not known if EDURANT will harm your unborn baby.

You and your healthcare professional will need to decide if taking EDURANT is right for you.

Do not breastfeed if you are taking EDURANT. You should not breastfeed if you have HIV because of the chance of passing HIV to your baby.

What are the possible side effects of EDURANT? EDURANT can cause serious side effects including:

Severe skin rash and allergic reactions. Call your doctor right away if you get a rash. Stop taking EDURANT  and seek medical help right away if you get a rash with any of the following symptoms: severe allergic reaction causing swelling of the face, eyes, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat (which may lead to difficulty swallowing or breathing); mouth sores or blisters on your body; inflamed eye (conjunctivitis); fever; dark urine; or pain on the right side of the stomach area (abdominal pain).

and seek medical help right away if you get a rash with any of the following symptoms: severe allergic reaction causing swelling of the face, eyes, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat (which may lead to difficulty swallowing or breathing); mouth sores or blisters on your body; inflamed eye (conjunctivitis); fever; dark urine; or pain on the right side of the stomach area (abdominal pain). Depression or mood changes. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms: feeling sad or hopeless, feeling anxious or restless, have thoughts of hurting yourself (suicide), or have tried to hurt yourself.

Liver problems. People with a history of hepatitis B or C virus infection or who have certain liver function test changes may have an increased risk of developing new or worsening liver problems during treatment. Liver problems were also reported during treatment in some people without a history of liver disease. Your healthcare professional may need to do tests to check liver function before and during treatment.

Changes in body shape or body fat have been seen in some patients taking HIV medicines. The exact cause and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known.

Changes in your immune system (immune reconstitution syndrome).

Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections. Tell your healthcare professional right away if you start having any new symptoms of infection.

Other common side effects of EDURANT include depression, headache, trouble sleeping (insomnia), and rash.

This is not a complete list of all side effects. If you experience these or other symptoms, contact your healthcare professional right away. Do not stop taking EDURANT or any other medications without first talking to your healthcare professional.

You are encouraged to report side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to Janssen Products, LP at 1-800-JANSSEN (1-800-526-7736).

Please see full Product Information for more details.

TIVICAY (dolutegravir) tablets

Professional Indication(s) and Important Safety Information

Indications and Usage

TIVICAY is a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults and pediatric patients weighing at least 30 kg.

Limitations of Use:

Use of TIVICAY in INSTI-experienced patients should be guided by the number and type of baseline INSTI substitutions. The efficacy of TIVICAY 50 mg twice daily is reduced in patients with an INSTI-resistance Q148 substitution plus 2 or more additional INSTI-resistance substitutions including T66A, L74I/M, E138A/K/T, G140S/A/C, Y143R/C/H, E157Q, G163S/E/K/Q, or G193E/R

Important Safety Information

Contraindications:

TIVICAY is contraindicated in patients:

with previous hypersensitivity reaction to dolutegravir

receiving dofetilide (antiarrhythmic)

Hypersensitivity Reactions:

Hypersensitivity reactions have been reported and were characterized by rash, constitutional findings, and sometimes organ dysfunction, including liver injury. The events were reported in <1% of subjects receiving TIVICAY  in Phase 3 clinical trials.

in Phase 3 clinical trials. Discontinue TIVICAY and other suspect agents immediately if signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity reactions develop, as a delay in stopping treatment may result in a life-threatening reaction. Monitor clinical status, including liver aminotransferases, and initiate appropriate therapy if hypersensitivity reaction is suspected.

Effects on Serum Liver Biochemistries in Patients with Hepatitis B or C Co-infection:

Patients with underlying hepatitis B or C may be at increased risk for worsening or development of transaminase elevations with use of TIVICAY  . In some cases the elevations in transaminases were consistent with immune reconstitution syndrome or hepatitis B reactivation, particularly in the setting where anti-hepatitis therapy was withdrawn.

. In some cases the elevations in transaminases were consistent with immune reconstitution syndrome or hepatitis B reactivation, particularly in the setting where anti-hepatitis therapy was withdrawn. Appropriate laboratory testing prior to initiating therapy and monitoring for hepatotoxicity during therapy with TIVICAY are recommended in patients with underlying hepatic disease such as hepatitis B or C.

Fat Redistribution or accumulation has been observed in patients receiving antiretroviral therapy.

Immune Reconstitution Syndrome, including the occurrence of autoimmune disorders with variable time to onset, has been reported.

Adverse Reactions: The most commonly reported (2%) adverse reactions of moderate to severe intensity in treatment-naive adult subjects in any one trial receiving TIVICAY in a combination regimen were insomnia (3%), fatigue (2%), and headache (2%).

Drug Interactions:

Coadministration of TIVICAY  with certain inducers of UGT1A and/or CYP3A may reduce plasma concentrations of dolutegravir and require dose adjustments of TIVICAY  .

with certain inducers of UGT1A and/or CYP3A may reduce plasma concentrations of dolutegravir and require dose adjustments of TIVICAY . Administer TIVICAY  2 hours before or 6 hours after taking polyvalent cation-containing antacids or laxatives, sucralfate, oral supplements containing iron or calcium, or buffered medications. Alternatively, TIVICAY  and supplements containing calcium or iron can be taken with food

2 hours before or 6 hours after taking polyvalent cation-containing antacids or laxatives, sucralfate, oral supplements containing iron or calcium, or buffered medications. Alternatively, TIVICAY and supplements containing calcium or iron can be taken with food Consult the full Prescribing Information for TIVICAY for more information on potentially significant drug interactions, including clinical comments

Pregnancy: TIVICAY should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk. An Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry has been established.

Nursing Mothers: Breastfeeding is not recommended due to the potential for HIV transmission and the potential for adverse reactions in nursing infants.

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding development of treatment and prevention options for HIV. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Janssen Sciences Ireland UC, any of the other Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product development, including uncertainty of clinical success and obtaining regulatory approvals; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, including in Exhibit 99 thereto, and the company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at http://www.sec.gov, http://www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies or Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments.

SOURCE Janssen Sciences Ireland UC
NEW YORK, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Global disputes and investigations firm Kobre & Kim bolsters its international insolvency capabilities with the addition of bankruptcy lawyer D. Farrington Yates in New York. Mr. Yates was co-chair of the U.S. restructuring, insolvency and bankruptcy practice at Dentons.

Mr. Yates joins the firm's Bankruptcy & Debtor-Creditor Disputes team, bringing his extensive knowledge of cross-border, corporate insolvency actions. His practice focuses on guiding non-U.S. clients through high-value U.S. Chapter 11 proceedings and representing non-U.S. insolvencies in pursuing recoveries in the U.S. through Chapter 15 proceedings.

Co-founder Michael Kim noted that Mr. Yates will reinforce the firm's strength in multijurisdictional insolvency disputes: "One of our firm's core strengths is handling matters relating to fraud and asset recovery. Many of these matters involve international insolvency issues, and Farrington's addition is a key part of our strategy to expand our team working in this complex area."

The firm's Bankruptcy & Debtor-Creditor Disputes group currently serves as special litigation counsel and international asset recovery counsel in insolvencies originating from various jurisdictions, including Brazil, Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Delaware, New York and Spain. The team's representations include clawback actions, priority contests, intercreditor disputes, and investigating and recovering assets of insolvent entities, often in simultaneous legal proceedings in multiple countries.

"I have built my practice as an adviser to entities worldwide involved in complex and contested cross-border insolvency proceedings," Mr. Yates said. "I am excited to join a unique firm that offers integrated investigation and insolvency disputes capabilities in key jurisdictions throughout the world."

About Kobre & Kim

Kobre & Kim is a conflict-free global law firm focused exclusively on disputes and investigations. The ability to litigate against virtually anyone or any financial institution ideally positions Kobre & Kim to aggressively pursue insolvency disputes through litigation. The firm also acts as special litigation counsel with other law firms to help them enhance their existing client relationships.

The firm leverages the skill and experience of English solicitors and barristers (including three English Queen's Counsel), Hong Kong solicitors, offshore lawyers and U.S. trial lawyers (including more than a dozen former U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission lawyers) in an integrated advocacy team. The firm litigates and arbitrates in the world's leading jurisdictions for complex insolvency, financial and commercial disputes, as well as in matters relating to government enforcement, regulatory investigations, judgment enforcement and intellectual property litigation.

For more information visit: www.kobrekim.com.

Related Links

http://www.kobrekim.com



SOURCE Kobre & Kim
LONDON, February 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

- Research Indicates Men Are More Likely To Confide In Bosses About Affairs Of The Heart And Be More Accepting Of Workplace Romances Than Women -

8.85m million employees in the UK have had a relationship with a colleague at some point in their career

A third of managers believe employees should tell their managers if they have broken up with a significant other

Cubical courtships end in tears for 4 million workers leaving jobs because of failed office romances

Younger bosses (aged under 45) see the value in emotional intelligence at work, especially when dealing with personal issues, versus older bosses aged over 45

Men are likely to be more open with their emotions, confide in their bosses about affairs of the heart and be more accepting of workplace romances than women, according to the latest study on emotional intelligence and office relationships by employee engagement firm Perkbox.

The research, involving 1,050 UK managers and employees*, showed that 60% of men would feel comfortable confiding in their bosses on personal issues such as the break-up of a relationship with a partner or spouse, if they felt that it would interfere with them doing their job properly. Only half of women said the same.

Age appears to influence an employee's ability to confide in their boss: nearly 50% of those who admitted it would be difficult were aged between 35 and 54. Only 22% of 55-64 year olds and a quarter of 18-34 year olds felt the same - indicating that both Millennials and Baby Boomers are more amenable to opening up emotionally to their managers if needed.

A third of UK bosses meanwhile believed it was important for employees to inform them if they are going through emotional trouble, such as the breakdown of a relationship. However, the vast majority of managers (46%) believed that employees should keep such things to themselves - both male bosses (48%) and older bosses aged 55-64 (54%) felt this especially, versus 43% of female bosses and bosses aged 34 and under.

Overall, only 45% of employees stated that their employer had been supportive when they confided in their boss about their emotional difficulties. The North East (31%) and Scotland (36%) had the most supportive bosses while bosses in London (21%) and the South West (16%) were least supportive of their employees.



Cubical courtships are a frisky business when things turn sour

With UK employees clocking in more hours at the office than ever before, the workplace has become a common environment for love to blossom. Overall, a third of employees have had a relationship with a colleague at some point in their career - equating to some 8.85 million of the 26.8 million employees in the UK** - 17% of these workplace couplings have resulted in marriages or civil partnerships.

However, cubical courtships ended in tears for 1 in 7 workers who have had to leave their jobs largely because of a failed romance with a colleague, representing 5% of all employees - or 4 million workers. More men (20%) than women (12%) resigned because of this, while the vast majority of workers aged over 35-54 stuck it out.

Men appear to be more accepting of workplace relationships than women by 9 percentage points, with 67% believing that they are not a problem as long as these do not interfere with work; 27% of men believe that love affairs between colleagues are no one else's business other than that of the two people involved.

Overall, managers are quite accepting of office romances with 62% having no problems with such unions provided that this did not impact on an employee's job. In fact, older bosses aged 45 and above were noticeably more accepting of this (51%) than bosses aged 35 and under (45%).



That said, a quarter of workplaces confirmed that they had policies in place which discourage romantic relationships at work; 7% of which are reflected in employment contracts, while 18% have an unspoken rule against workplace romances.



Affairs of the heart at work require emotional intelligence



The phenomenon of "emotional intelligence" describes an ability to recognise and understand emotions and its impact on behaviour. It may dictate how effectively and respectfully a manager treats his or her employees, and how an employee may communicate with his or her colleagues - particularly within stressful situations, from managing deadline pressures to dealing with workplace conflict and personal trauma.

The study found that 70% of employees believed emotional intelligence to be very important in their job role; a greater proportion of women (75%) valued the trait more than men (64%). The perceived importance of emotional intelligence appears to increase with age too, with 45% of 18-24 years understanding its value against 70% of 25-43 year olds, 72% of 35-44 year olds and 74% of 45-54 year olds.

Meanwhile, a greater proportion of employees (81%) said it was even more important for bosses to possess and exercise emotional intelligence. The most cited reasons included the belief that it "made bosses fairer and more empathetic" (54%); "it made employees feel that the company cared about their wellbeing"; and that it "improved teamwork and morale" (48%).

However, over a quarter of UK bosses (28%)viewed emotional intelligence as unimportant, with 44% maintaining that: "employees should be professional and do their job regardless of their emotions and private lives".

Chieu Cao, Co-founder at Perkbox, said: "Today's office is a theatre in which many of our everyday human dramas unfold - love, hate, friendships and conflict are all inevitably played out in the realms of our 9-5 job. Having the emotional intelligence to navigate these challenges productively is absolutely vital in ensuring employees effectively self-regulate their emotions in the workplace and understand the impact it might have on other colleagues. It also ensures that managers remain professional and empathetic in dealing with their employees' emotional well being."

Chieu Cao added: "It's encouraging to see that men are becoming more open with their emotions and are confiding more in their bosses when it comes to affairs of the heart, as it goes against the very stereotypical codes of behaviour dictating how a man should emotionally conduct themselves professionally. By contrast, women's reluctance to open up emotionally at work serves to highlight the continuing challenges they face in business - to rebuke the gender-based conventional codes that posit them 'too emotional' and instead to be more poker faced and composed in the face of difficulty, lest the act of displaying or confiding in harms their career prospects. It's also quite concerning how half of UK bosses in our research see emotional intelligence as unimportant and that less than half have proven to be unsupportive of their employees during times of emotional strife.

"Effective employee engagement must absolutely include processes for managing emotional wellness. Neglecting to do so can have numerous implications on the physical wellness of the employee and therefore the ability to do the job at hand, to the personal resentment harboured at management for lack of support and imparting good old-fashioned human empathy. The sooner bosses are able to get to grips with this - the most critical of all so-called 'soft skills' - using engagement tools and through training, the more adept they will be at creating the kind of inspirational work environment that employs the most successful and productive of teams."

- ENDS -

* Research of 1,050 UK managers and employees conducted in January 2017

**UK employment figures taken from latest ONS's UK labour market report

NOTES TO EDITORS

ABOUT PERKBOX

Perkbox is a cloud-based employee perks and engagement platform for business of all sizes, giving employers and employees a range of great perks, social reward and recognition tools and health and wellness platforms that help employers promote the financial, emotional and physical wellbeing of their team.

Perkbox was set up with the belief that the best companies to work for look after their teams and value their staff. The most successful businesses are comprised of people who are engaged, satisfied and loyal. Providing perks and engagement tools helps build stronger teams and incentivises workers to aspire to greatness.

Until recently, only large corporations could afford to pay for employee perks. Perkbox's easy and wholly customised offering allows SMEs to reward and incentivise their growing team with perks that help build a happy work culture with an investment in line with their budgets.

For more information on pricing and packages available, contact:

help@perkbox.co.uk, tel: +44-(20)-8396-6812

For more information about Perkbox, or for interviews with Perkbox founders Saurav Chopra and Chieu Cao, contact:

Andrea San Pedro, PR Director, tel: +44-(0)-7891-625928, email: andrea@perkbox.co.uk

SOURCE Perkbox
DUBLIN, Feb 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "2017 Mexico Manufacturers Database" directory to their offering.

The "Made In Mexico" database contains information on companies selected from the manufacturing section of SIC Categories 20 through 39. The database is delivered either as a Tab Delimited or CSV file (customer's choice) which can be opened in the most common software programs such as ACT, Goldmine, MS Acess, Excel or Filemaker.

Every record in this database has the following fields of information: Industry Sector, Major SIC Category, Sub SIC Category, Product/Services Description, Company Name, Address, City, Colonia, State, Zip and Telephone. Also included when available are: Fax, Web Url, Email, Contact Name, Contact Title, Total Revenue USD, Number of Employees, Years in Business, Longitude and Latitude Geo Coordinates. See above latest data statistics for more details.

Report Statistics

- Number of total companies: 304,342

- Number of addresses:304,342

- Number of telephones: 304,342

- Number of total emails: 62,174

- Number of total key contacts: 45,431

- Number of total web sites: 41,823

2017 Latest Mexico Database Statistics

Previous Month Number of Records 1,604,374

Number of New Records Added 1,520

Number Of Deleted Records 376

Number Of Changed Records (Typos, Address, Name, SIC Category, Web, Email, etc.) 12,468

Total Number of Records 1,605,518

Total Company Colonia/Neighborhood 1,523,607

Total Company City 1,605,518

Total Company State 1,605,518

Total Company Zip 1,587,029

Total Company Phone 1,605,518

Total Company Fax (in Mexico many main phones are also fax line) 191,267

Total Company Web 212,027

Total Company Email 250,713

Total Company Contacts 110,778

Total Company Contact Titles 110,778

Total Company Annual Sales 595,117

Total Company Employees 604,908

Total Company Years In Business 390,811

Total Geo Coded Data 1,552,426

For more information about this directory visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/9vmr27/2017_mexico

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Related Links

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SOURCE Research and Markets
Microsoft Dynamics  International User Conference to be held 4-6 April, Amsterdam.

TAMPA, Florida, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Dynamic Communities, the supporting organization behind the official user groups for Microsoft Dynamics AX (AXUG), Dynamics CRM (CRMUG), Dynamics NAV (NAVUG), and Microsoft Power BI (PBIUG) products, announces Microsoft executives to keynote Summit EMEA, held 4-6 April 2017 at the RAI in Amsterdam. Microsoft, the charter sponsor for Summit EMEA 2017, is a key proponent of this event and heavily integrated in the programming being offered to attendees.

The Summit EMEA 2017 Microsoft executive keynote and general session presenters include:

Summit EMEA Keynote Speaker: James Phillips , Corporate Vice President of Engineering , will share Microsoft's strategy for digital transformation and show Microsoft Dynamics 365, the next generation of intelligent business applications that enables organizations to grow, evolve and transform. Learn more.

AXUG Summit EMEA General Session Speakers: Sri Srinivasan , General Manager for Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Operations in the Cloud and Enterprise Group , Mike Ehrenberg , Microsoft Technical Fellow and Kees Hertogh , Senior Director of Product Marketing will feature the latest updates of Dynamics 365 for Operations. Attendees will have the opportunity to see firsthand the latest updates, roadmap and future of the new Intelligent business application "Dynamics 365 for Operations." Learn more.

CRMUG Summit EMEA General Session Speakers: Jujhar Sing , Corporate Vice President of Engineering, CRM and Angela Bandlow , Senior Director of Product Marketing will kick off the event to welcome attendees to CRMUG Summit EMEA and will feature the latest Dynamics 365 news, product strategy, and roadmap update from Microsoft executives. Learn more.

NAVUG Summit EMEA General Session Speakers: Jannik Bausager, NAV Principal Group Program Manager and Gordan Macdonald , Director of Dynamics Product Marketing will discuss their commitment to SMBs, top capabilities in Dynamics NAV 2017 and the product roadmap to help support the ambition of attendees' growing business. Learn more.

PBIUG Summit EMEA General Session Speaker: Kamal Hathi , General Manager of Engineering will assist attendees in learning about how Power BI and Dynamics 365 work together, the latest Power BI updates and what is driving our user-led innovation. Learn more.



In addition to the Microsoft keynote and general session involvement, Microsoft personnel will be leading 25+ sessions dedicated to recently unveiled Microsoft Dynamics 365. Dynamics 365 will empower business users with built-in insights and intelligence within the business applications they're working in. Attendees will have direct access to Microsoft personnel, product insights, practical answers to Dynamics questions, and peer to peer expertise that will provide gains in product knowledge and streamline business operations.

"We are excited to be part of Summit EMEA 2017, the premier conference for European-based Microsoft Dynamics users," said Chris Rothwell, Microsoft UK Dynamics Business Lead. "The knowledge sharing opportunity at the event is phenomenal, with access to other users, product experts as well as Microsoft engineering and product managers."

Click here to learn more about Summit EMEA keynote speakers and join us at the largest gathering of Dynamics users in Europe, 4-6 April in Amsterdam by registering today: www.summitemea.com/pricing.

Dynamic Communities is the business management organization that supports technology-centric user groups and associations  providing necessary resources and business operations such as staff, systems and event production. Dynamic Communities is independent from Microsoft; however, the two organizations maintain an intentional close working relationship so that our members can provide a collective voice to Microsoft on user concerns, needs, and requests.

Logo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/467535/Summit_EMEA_2017_Logo.jpg

Related Links

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SOURCE Dynamic Communities
As a state senator in the Nebraska Unicameral, I developed innovative approaches to solving funding challenges for our states surface transportation needs.

One of these proposals aimed to give local communities more control over the highway construction process. My legislation, which was later signed into law, tasked the Nebraska Department of Roads with developing the Federal Funds Purchase Program. In exchange for giving up a portion of federal transportation dollars, Nebraska counties and towns can now receive funds with more reasonable regulatory requirements.

Because of this program, transportation projects, like the longstanding bridge replacement in Buffalo County and a major arterial street in South Sioux City, are up and running.

Another initiative I championed at the state level was the Build Nebraska Act. It directed a fraction of each cent of sales tax revenue toward maintaining Nebraskas roads and highways. Because of it, more than $1 billion will be available to meet Nebraskas infrastructure needs over the next 17 years.

I am now bringing these ideas to the U.S. Senate. Called the Build USA Infrastructure Act, my legislation is modeled on Nebraskas successful laws, and it offers real solutions to our national transportation challenges.

Those challenges are significant.

According to the March 2016 estimates by the Congressional Budget Office, by the year 2026, the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) will face a cumulative shortfall of approximately $107 billion. The HTF allocates federal transportation dollars on an annual basis to states to help pay for vital infrastructure projects. States and communities across our country depend on certainty in this crucial funding for highway, road, and bridge infrastructure projects.

My Build USA Infrastructure Act would directly address the near-term solvency of the HTF. Specifically, it would divert $21.4 billion annually in revenues collected by the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) on freight and passengers into the HTF. The agency only uses a portion of this revenue for operations, so allocating it to transportation would not affect the CBPs operating budget. These diversions would take place for five years following the expiration of the latest long-term highway bill.

To help states get projects up and running at a faster pace, the act also establishes voluntary state remittance agreements with the Federal Highway Administration. As part of these agreements, states may choose to return some of their allocated federal highway dollars for greater control over certain design, permitting, and construction aspects of federal regulatory approval for highway projects.

Bottom line: the Build USA Infrastructure Act will address the near-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund without raising taxes on Americans. It will also give states greater flexibility in meeting transportation needs.

In the Senate, I serve as the chairman of the Surface Transportation Subcommittee on the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. I am also a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee. At a recent EPW committee hearing, I highlighted the Build USA Infrastructure Act and invited feedback from state transportation leaders. Like its Nebraska namesake, this bill earned positive reviews for bringing certainty into questions about funding and offering greater flexibility to states in initiating critical transportation projects.

Few Americans understand the value of surface transportation better than Nebraskans. We rely on our roads and highways to connect families, bring goods and services to market, and feed a hungry world. We carry on this important work across more than 97,000 miles of public roads.

Nebraska acted prudentially to care for its roads and surface transportation infrastructure. I am excited to bring that same idea to Americans nationwide. I look forward to working with the White House and my colleagues in Congress to do just that.

Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.
Appointment Affirms Move Towards a Unified Newsweek Brand Across the Globe

NEW YORK, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- IBT Media, the global digital media company and owner of Newsweek and International Business Times (the "Company"), today announced that Newsweek has appointed Matt McAllester, current Editor, Newsweek International, as Global Editor in Chief, Newsweek, effective today. The move will help Newsweek accelerate its vision to bring a more consistent and unique global perspective to its readership around the world. As part of the transition, Jim Impoco, Editor in Chief, Newsweek will step down. McAllester plans to relocate to New York this spring, and Newsweek International will be actively seeking a new London-based editor.

"On behalf of everyone at IBT Media and the entire staff of Newsweek, I would like to congratulate Matt on his new role," said Dev Pragad, Chief Executive Officer of IBT Media. "Matt has overseen the revitalization of our Newsweek International property, and I am confident that his extensive experience as an international journalist will help Newsweek realize its editorial promise as a leading global source of news, information and culture for consumers and businesses around the world.

I would also like to extend my deepest thanks to Jim on behalf of our entire organization for his years of remarkable stewardship of Newsweek in the U.S. Jim literally brought this iconic brand back to life and in many ways it is better than it has ever been. His commitment to the highest standards of journalism, his sharp eye for great narrative stories and his knack for hiring fantastic writers have made him a legend in the news business. He leaves an inspiring legacy at Newsweek that we will work hard to maintain."

Newsweek plans to increase its coverage of East Asia, India, developing parts of Africa and Europe, and will likely add to its editorial team in both the U.K. and the U.S.

"I'm very excitedand honoredto take on this new role," said McAllester. "My priority will be to continue the superb work of Jim and the Newsweek staff in New York, London and elsewhere. Newsweek is as editorially strong as it has ever been. We have so many opportunities to build on that success and help Newsweek's extraordinary reporting, analysis and storytelling reach an ever-growing global audience."

Today's announcement follows a number of recent steps the Company has taken to invest in Newsweek and its other world-class properties and to find new ways to reach consumers and businesses on multiple platforms.

Pragad added, "We have made terrific progress over the past several months putting our business on a stable financial footing, improving our content offerings and expanding the ways in which we deliver our world-class content to consumers and businesses. The joining of our Newsweek editorial teams, the recent launch of Newsweek Events and the appointment of Alan Press as President, IBT Media, are all important steps to help us achieve our potential as a unified, global digital media organization."

About IBT Media

IBT Media is a fast-growing digital media company headquartered in New York City. It was founded in 2006 with the launch of the International Business Times, a digital news publication that today reaches an average of 57+ million readers each month via eight separate editions, in four languages. Market-specific editions are now available in the U.S., the UK, Australia, China, India, Italy, Japan & Singapore. Today, IBT Media owns and operates a total of 14 digital properties including the International Business Times, Design & Trend, Fashion Times, iDigital Times, Latin Times, Medical Daily & the iconic Newsweek brand which it bought in 2013 as a digital-only property before enhancing the offering with the reintroduction of the print edition. Newsweek now publishes a U.S. and International edition weekly in English. The international edition - branded as Newsweek International -serves the Europe, Middle-East, Africa and Asia-Pacific regions while language-specific editions are available in Japan, Korea, Latin America, Pakistan, Poland and Serbia. A separate English-language edition is also published for the Middle East. The print edition of Newsweek is now available in 68 territories while round-the-clock- coverage on the latest breaking world news can be found at newsweek.com.

Contact:

Mark Lappin

T: +44 (0)20 3040 6989

M: +44 (0) 7823 770 922

m.lappin@newsweek.com

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com.

Related Links

http://newsweek.com



SOURCE IBT Media
Results from Mount Sinai, Washington University, and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories to be presented at AGBT

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Swift Biosciences today announced the commercial release of its Accel-NGS XL Library Prep Kit, the fastest sequencing solution for whole genome sequencing on Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) platforms. This library preparation kit, specially optimized for PacBio's Single Molecule, Real-Time (SMRT) sequencing technology, provides significantly longer sequencing reads with a simple, single-tube workflow utilizing lower sample inputs. Swift Biosciences is now accepting orders for the Accel-NGS XL kitsold exclusively by Swift.

"With its easy four-hour workflow and longer read lengths, the Accel-NGS XL kit substantially improves whole genome sequencing applications, such as de novo assembly and haplotype sequencing, on any genome including microbial, plant, animal, and human," said Haley Fiske, Chief Commercial Officer of Swift Biosciences. "These quality and workflow improvements help PacBio users generate more meaningful results from every run with twice the productivity."

Swift Biosciences and several scientific collaborators presented two posters at the AGBT 2017 General Meeting showcasing sequencing data generated with this new chemistry. The first poster, entitled "A Method to Improve Read Length of SMRT Sequencing," displayed results, generated in collaboration with Mount Sinai and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories, from diverse genomes including plant, bacterial and human reference DNA. The supporting data produced average reads up to 20Kb, with 50% less sample input and no adapter dimer artifacts. In the second poster, entitled "Improved Library Construction Methods for the Pacific Biosciences Sequencing Platform Using Swift Accel-NGS XL Library Prep Kit for PacBio Applied to Challenging BAC Clones for Human Genome Reference Improvement," Robert Fulton, Director of Project Development and Management at McDonnell Genome Institute of Washington University, presented results from human BAC clone sequencing, demonstrating higher library yields with longer sequencing reads.

"Swift Biosciences is the first company to offer library preparation solutions on all three major sequencing platforms, including Pacific Biosystems, Illumina, and Ion Torrent," stated Timothy Harkins, Ph.D., President and CEO of Swift Biosciences. "We are strategically focused on expanding the NGS market by simplifying complex workflows through our innovative library technologies and bringing new applications to each of the NGS platforms. Our libraries provide the highest quality data in the most challenging of applications. Swift is 'The NGS library company.'"

Visit https://swiftbiosci.com/products/accelxl to learn more.





SOURCE Swift Biosciences
LONDON, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University has appointed three new deans responsible for managing the University's research, graduate studies, learning and teaching and international affairs.

Professor Eng Gee Lim from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering has been appointed as dean for research and graduate studies, supporting the operational delivery of the academic strategy as it relates to research matters. He will lead and implement strategies on research management, income, performance and output, and will help drive initiatives in research-led teaching.

Professor Lim received his PhD degree the area of electronic engineering in 2002 from the University of Northumbia in the United Kingdom. He joined XJTLU in 2007. Having published in more than 100 refereed international journals and conference papers, his research interests include antennas, RF/microwave engineering and wireless communication networks for smart and green cities, amongst other areas.

Dr Chee Seong Chin, head of the Department of Civil Engineering, has been appointed as dean of learning and teaching, supporting the University in the operational delivery of its academic strategy and the ongoing co-ordination of learning and teaching.

Dr Chin received his PhD degree in civil engineering in 2006 from Swansea University, UK, and has more than 11 years' experience working in international higher education institutions. He joined XJTLU in 2012 and is the founding director of the Institute for Sustainable Materials and Environment.

His primary research interests are materials and structural behaviour of fibre-reinforced cementitious composites, and sustainable construction and building materials.

Dr Stuart Perrin, the outgoing dean for learning and teaching as well as outgoing director of the XJTLU Language Centre, has been appointed as the University's first dean for international affairs. In this role, drawing on his experience in academia, recruitment and marketing, Dr Perrin will be looking at steps XJTLU needs to take to become a 'truly international university' and will be developing a number of initiatives and policies in this respect across all areas of the university.

Prior to working at XJTLU, Dr Perrin worked at Queen Mary University of London, as well as other London educational institutions, including private educational providers.

Founded in 2006, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University is the largest international joint venture university in China, a partnership between Xi'an Jiaotong University and the University of Liverpool. Our vision is to become a research-led international university in China and a Chinese university recognised internationally for its unique features.

Related Links

http://www.xjtlu.edu.cn/en



SOURCE Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
PORTLAND, Oregon, February 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Research Beam has added a report, titled, "2017 Top 5 Forklift Trucks Manufacturers in North America Europe Asia-Pacific South America Middle East and Africa." The report offers an extensive analysis of manufacturers, regions, detailed segmentation, and market competition. In addition, insights on manufacturing cost analysis, marketing strategy, industrial chain structure, and branding & pricing strategy are provided. Detailed analysis of current market status and growth opportunities is offered for the historic period, 2012-2017 and the forecast period, 2017-2022. The report is a valuable source of guidance for market players, new entrants, and investors to gain thorough understanding of market scenario and take further steps.

Enquire About Report @ https://goo.gl/UiAvXO

The report offers a market overview on the forklift trucks market based on product overview and development scope. Detailed segmentation of the industry is provided based on type, application, and geography. Electric motor rider trucks, electric motor narrow aisle trucks, electric motor hand or hand-rider trucks, internal combustion engine trucks (cushion tires), and internal combustion engine trucks (pneumatic tires) are types analyzed in the study. A figure offers insights on sales market share for 2015 and tables enlists major manufacturers of each type. Factories, warehouses, stations, ports, airports, and distribution centers are analyzed in the research. Insights on consumption market share based on application for 2015 are presented in a table.

The report offers an extensive analysis of manufacturers based on sales, revenue, and market share. Insights on sales, sales market share, revenue, and revenue market share for 2015 and 2016 are provided with the help of tables. Figures offer sales market share and revenue market share for 2015 and 2016. Average price of products offered by manufacturers for 2015 and 2016 are enlisted in a tabular format. Furthermore, manufacturing base distribution, sales area, and product types are highlighted using a table. Competitive situation and trends are outlined in terms of market concentration rate, market share of top three & top five players, and strategies adopted by them. Key manufacturers analyzed in the study are Toyota, Kion, Jungheinrich, Hyster-Yale, Crown, Mitsubishi Nichiyu, UniCarriers, Anhui Heli, Hangcha, Komatsu, Clark, Doosan, Hyundai, and others.

Summary of the Forklift Trucks Market Report can be accessed on the website at: https://goo.gl/AfQiBP

Detailed segmentation of the forklift trucks market is provided in the report and each segment is analyzed based on sales, revenue, and market share. Insights on sales, revenue, and market share for each region and type are offered for the historic period and the forecast period in a tabular format. In addition, price trend of each type is outlined for the historic period and the forecast period using tables. Sales and market share based on application are offered for the historic as well as forecast period using a tabular representation.

Regional analysis of the top five manufacturers is offered based on sales, revenue, and market share for 2015 and 2016. In addition, sales, revenue, sales market share, and revenue market share for top five manufacturers based on regions are offered for the historic period. Tables provide insights on import and export for the historic period. North America, Europe, South America, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa are regions analyzed in the study. Current market status and growth prospects of aforementioned regions are outlined for the period, 2012-2022.

The study provides insights on manufacturing cost analysis of the forklift trucks industry based on key raw material analysis, proportion of manufacturing cost structure, and manufacturing process analysis. Industrial chain structure is analyzed based on sourcing strategy, downstream buyers, and raw material sources for top manufacturers in 2015. Marketing strategy analysis is provided based on market positioning, marketing channel, pricing & branding strategy, and list of distributors. Market effect factors analysis is explored based on technological progress, consumer needs, and economic environmental changes. Research finding and conclusions are mentioned at the end of the research.

Related Market Reports Below:

Global Electric Forklift Truck Market Outlook 2016-2021

Gens report, Global Electric Forklift Truck Market Outlook 2016-2021 provides detailed market and segment level data on the Global and Chinese consumption of Electric Forklift Truck. https://goo.gl/KQKB8h

Global Forklift Truck Market Outlook 2016-2021

Gens report, Global Forklift Truck Market Outlook 2016-2021 provides detailed market and segment level data on the Global and Chinese consumption of Forklift Truck.

https://goo.gl/x8DFyd

United States Forklift Trucks Industry 2016 Deep Market Research Report

The United States Forklift Trucks Industry 2016 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Forklift Trucks industry.

https://goo.gl/2674OR

Global Forklift Trucks Market 2014-2018

Global Forklift Truck market will grow at a CAGR of 6.98 percent over the period 2013-2018.

https://goo.gl/XjkfXl

Global (USA and Europe) Forklift Trucks Industry 2016 Deep Market Research Report

The Global (USA and Europe) Forklift Trucks Industry 2016 Deep Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Forklift Trucks market.

https://goo.gl/gKmHyg

Global Forklift Trucks Industry 2016 Deep Market Research Report

A forklift truck, also known as fork truck, lift truck, or forklift, is widely used to lift and move materials within a warehouse or for loading and unloading trucks.

https://goo.gl/jlFu82

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SOURCE Research Beam
ALBANY, New York, February 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Transparency Market Research has published a new report titled "Ultra-low Alpha Metals (ULA tin, ULA tin alloys, ULA lead alloys and ULA lead-free alloys) Market for Aviation, Automotive, Electronics, Medical, Telecommunication and Other End-user Industries - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2016-2024." According to the report, the global ultra-low alpha metal market was valued at US$ 2.53 Mn in 2015 and is anticipated to reach US$ 4.72 Mn by 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 7.30 % between 2016 and 2024.

Ultra-low alpha metals possess the alpha emission rate of 0.002 cph/cm2 (the unit cph/cm2 stands for counts per hour per centimeter square) or less. Alpha emission of a material can be defined as transformation or decaying of one atom into another with mass number reduced by four and atomic number reduced by two. The rate of alpha emission determines the grade of the metal as low alpha (<0.02 cph/cm2), ultra-low alpha (<0.002 cph/cm2), or super ultra-low alpha (<0.001 cph/cm2).

The ultra-low alpha metals products are segmented as follows: ULA tin, ULA tin alloys, ULA lead alloys and ULA lead-free alloys. ULA tin consists of tin alloys with the proportion of tin (Sn) being 99% or greater. ULA tin alloys consists of tin alloys with the proportion of tin (Sn) being less than or equal to 95% and other constituent metals being silver (Ag) and copper (Cu). ULA lead alloys consists of alloys with varying compositions of lead (Pb) and tin (Sn). ULA lead-free alloys consists of those alloys that do not contain lead (Pb) at all or contain lead in a very low proportion (0.1%).

Download Industry Research Report Brochure for more Professional and Technical Insights: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=19562

The usage of certain hazardous substances in electric and electronic equipment is restricted by Restriction on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive. In soldering applications, there is exponentially increasing use of alternate alloys over those containing lead. In soldering applications, it has been observed that, even with their comparatively expensive prices, alloys containing silver are preferred by numerous manufacturers. This is because they provide better process results. These are some of the factors boosting the use of lead-free alloys in soldering applications.

Ultra-low alpha metals are mainly utilized in soldering fabrication in the flip chip technology sector (such as copper pillar solder caps and solder microspheres requiring in 3-D wafer-level chip packages and advanced flip chip). They are also used in plating, bumping, PCBs, semiconductor packaging, and circuit boards. These components are required in different industries including electronics, medical, aviation, automotive, and telecommunication.

Primary consumers of ultra-low alpha metals are those that provide assembly applications that require soldering. Demand for ULA metals is common in end-user industry applications where consistent quality of solders is required for zero defect wave soldering. Hence, the demand (i.e. ULA metal required in an application) is determined by consumer requirements. This may act as a restraint for the overall market, since the consumption of ultra-low alpha metals is directly proportional to the consumer demand.

Major players in the ultra-low alpha metal market include Indium Corporation, Honeywell International Inc., Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, Pure Technologies, and Alpha Assembly Solutions.

Browse Research PR: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/ultra-low-alpha-metals-market.htm

The global ultra-low alpha metal market has been segmented as follows:

Ultra-low Alpha Metal Market - Product Analysis

ULA Tin

ULA Tin Alloys

ULA Lead Alloys

ULA Lead-free Alloys

Ultra-low Alpha Metal Market - End-user Industry Analysis

Aviation

Automotive

Electronics

Medical

Telecommunication

Others

Ultra-low Alpha Metal Market - Regional Analysis

North America

U.S.

Rest of North America

Latin America

Brazil

Rest of Latin America

Europe

Germany

France

U.K.

Spain

Italy

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

ASEAN

Rest of Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa

GCC

South Africa

Rest of Middle East & Africa

Browse Other Related Market Research Reports:

Silicon Metal Market: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/silicon-metal-market.html

Metal Coatings Market: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/metal-coatings-market.html

About TMR

Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The company's exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.

TMR's data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.



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Blog: http://www.tmrblog.com/

SOURCE Transparency Market Research
"We've noticed that the quality of our PPE cleaning at our firehouse is remarkably better with the Xeros machines than any of our current commercial washing machines. On top of that, we can now clean up to 18 pieces of outer or inner linings in the Xeros machines, whereas before we could only wash up to 4 pieces of either at a time. This has made washing our PPE after calls much more convenient and efficient for our crews," said Lieutenant Stephen Horvath of Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue, VA.

The Xeros polymer beads replace water as the primary cleaning agent, drastically reducing the amount of water needed, while providing a visibly cleaner result. The beads remain in the machine and can be used for hundreds of washes. At the end of their useful life, the beads are removed and recycled. The molecular structure of the beads attract soil from the gear, producing cleaner results. The Xeros system uses a detergent package that is compliant with the pH requirements of NFPA 1851 and developed to work with low water levels and wash temperatures at or below 105 F as required.

Xeros offers Sbeadycare a fully integrated, all-inclusive program that provides a stress-free solution to firefighter's laundry operation with options that include NFPA and OSHA compliant training, polymer cleaning technology, service and support, and maintenance.

"Xeros has built a strong reputation to create fanatical customers who experience real value and benefits from using our polymer cleaning technology. We are excited to introduce our offering into the fire industry add and are confident that the results experienced through affirmation partners will be realized by all who adopt our system," said Joe Bazzinotti, Global Commercial Laundry President, at Xeros.

For More Information

Click here to learn more about the Xeros Laundry Solution for Firefighter PPE.

Click here to download a brochure.

Click here to download a case study demonstrating Xeros' effectiveness cleaning PPE.

About Xeros

Xeros is changing the way textiles are cleaned. Using patented technology, the Xeros System for commercial cleaning uses up to 80% less water, 50% less energy, and approximately 50% less detergent, and delivers superior cleaning results compared to conventional washing. Xeros is headquartered in the UK with offices in the US and China. For additional information, please visit www.xeroscleaning.com.

The Xeros Logo, Xeros and Xeros Sbeadycare are trademarks of the Xeros group of companies.

Media contacts:

Neal Stein

Red Javelin Communications

+1-321-473-7407

neal@redjavelin.com

Related Links

http://www.xeroscleaning.com



SOURCE Xeros
LONDON, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

"The global 1,6-Hexanediol market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.44% between 2016 and 2021"

The global 1,6-Hexanediol market is expected to reach USD 1,042.1 million by 2021, at a CAGR of 7.44% between 2016 and 2021. The demand for 1,6-Hexanediol has improved in recent years due to its increased consumption in the Asia-Pacific region. In addition, the increasing use of 1,6-Hexanediol in varied applications, such as coatings, PU, acrylates, and polyester resins, among others, has further contributed to the growth of this market. The newer, high-growth applications of 1,6-Hexanediol include alkyd resins, epoxy resins, thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers, PU dispersions, polycarbonate diols, and wood & coil coatings. For instance, there is a sharp rise in demand for polycarbonate diol-based polyurethanes that are increasingly favored as new high-performance materials for automotive interior and electronic materials applications.

"The polyurethanes application segment accounted for the largest share of the global 1,6-Hexanediol market"

The polyurethanes segment is the largest application segment of the global 1,6-Hexanediol market, in terms of value and volume. A principal factor for growth of polyurethanes is the demand for its sub-applications or derivatives, such as thermoplastic polyurethanes elastomers, coatings, and foams, across varied regions. The Asia-Pacific region with the rising demand for polyurethanes further propels the growth of the global 1,6-Hexanediol market. In addition, emerging countries in the Asia-Pacific region, such as China, Korea, India, and Vietnam have witnessed an increase in polyurethane production. Thus, increasing demand for polyurethanes across varied industry verticals has contributed to the growth of the polyurethanes segment.

"The coatings application segment accounted for the second-largest share of the global 1,6-Hexanediol market"

The construction industry is anticipated to witness significant growth in the next five years, owing to huge investments in new infrastructure developments, new housing projects, and renovation/repaint of residential and commercial buildings in the U.S., China, India, and Brazil. The demand for coatings in the Asia-Pacific region has increased significantly, and this trend is expected to continue in the near future. The coatings industry is moving towards consolidation as top coating players are acquiring other local and foreign players. Carlyle Group acquired DuPont to form Axalta, the decorative coatings business of Sherwin Williams being acquired by Berger Paints (India), and PPG's acquisition of AkzoNobel are examples of significant acquisitions that took place in the global 1,6-Hexanediol market.

Breakup of primary interviews:

- By Company Type - Tier 1  58%, Tier 2  33%, and Tier 3  9%

- By Designation  C-level  50%, D-level  33%, and Others  17%

- By Region - North America  33%, Europe  30%, Asia-Pacific  16%, South America -14%, and Middle East & Africa-7%

Key companies profiled in this report include BASF SE (Germany), Fushun Tianfu Chemicals Co., Ltd. (China), Lanxess Aktiengesellschaft (Germany), Lishui Nanming (China), Perstorp AB (Sweden), Ube Industries, Inc., (Japan), and Shandong Yuanli Science and Technology Co., Ltd. (China).

Research Coverage

This report covers a detailed segmentation of the global 1,6-Hexanediol market based on application and region. With respect to application, the market has been segmented into polyurethanes, coatings, acrylates, adhesives, polyester resins, and plasticizers. On the basis of region, the market has been segmented into Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America, South America, and Middle East & Africa.

Reasons to buy the report

From an insight perspective, this research report has focused on various levels of analysesindustry analysis (industry trends), market share analysis of top 1,6-Hexanediol players, value chain analysis, and company profiles, which together comprise and discuss the basic views on the competitive landscape; emerging and high-growth segments of the global 1,6-Hexanediol market; high-growth regions; and market drivers, restraints, and opportunities.

The report provides insights on the following pointers:

- Market Penetration: Comprehensive information on 1,6-Hexanediol offered by top players in the global 1,6-Hexanediol market

- Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on upcoming technologies, research & development activities, and new product launches in the global 1,6-Hexanediol market

- Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative emerging markets  the report analyzes the markets for 1,6-Hexanediol across varied regions

- Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the global 1,6-Hexanediol market

- Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of leading players in the global 1,6-Hexanediol market

Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4690346/

About Reportbuyer

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

http://www.reportbuyer.com

For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 208 816 85 48 Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

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DUBLIN, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of SNS Research's new report "The Mobile Phone Insurance Ecosystem: 2016 - 2030 - Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies & Forecasts" to their offering.

This report estimates that the global mobile phone insurance market is expected to account for nearly $20 Billion in revenue by the end of 2016. The market is further expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 12% over the next four years, eventually accounting for over $30 Billion in revenue by the end of 2020.

Given the increasing prevalence of expensive household goods, cars and consumer electronics, insurance has become an unavoidable and often necessary cost in modern life. Mobile phones, and smartphones in particular are no exception to this trend.

Most major wireless carriers, insurance specialists, device OEMs, retailers and even banks now offer insurance plans that cover theft, loss, malfunctions and damage of mobile phones. Many policies now also integrate enhanced technical support and additional protection features such as data backup facilities, allowing users to securely backup their phone data online.

The ""Mobile Phone Insurance Ecosystem: 2016 - 2030 - Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies & Forecasts"" report presents an in-depth assessment of the mobile phone insurance ecosystem including market drivers, challenges, opportunities, value chain, future roadmap, case studies, ecosystem player profiles and strategies. The report also presents market size forecasts from 2016 through to 2030. The forecasts are segmented for 5 regional and 25 country level markets.

The report comes with an associated Excel datasheet suite covering quantitative data from all numeric forecasts presented in the report.

Key Questions Answered



- How big is the mobile phone insurance opportunity?



- What trends, challenges and barriers are influencing its growth?



- How is the ecosystem evolving by region?



- What will the market size be in 2020 and at what rate will it grow?



- Which countries will see the highest percentage of growth?



- Who are the key market players and what are their strategies?



- What risks are typically covered in mobile phone insurance offerings?



- How can insurance plans help wireless carriers in reducing churn?



- What strategies should wireless carriers, device OEMs and insurance providers adopt to remain competitive?

Key Findings

- The report estimates that the global mobile phone insurance market is expected to account for nearly $20 Billion in revenue by the end of 2016.



- The market is further expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 12% over the next four years, eventually accounting for over $30 Billion in revenue by the end of 2020.



- In an effort to boost the uptake of mobile phone insurance, wireless carriers and insurance providers have extensively enhanced their insurance offerings with the addition of location tracking, data protection/recovery features and integrated technical support.



- The success of mobile phone insurance plans has driven several wireless carriers, such as NTT DoCoMo and Orange, to invest in the sales of other insurance products through mobile phones and their retail outlets.



- New insurance models are also beginning to emerge, such as London-based So-Sure's social insurance for mobile phones, which allows customers to get up to 80% of their money back, if they and their friends don't claim.



- Device OEMs are beginning to invest in tailored plans to suit the specific requirements of certain regional markets. A good example is Xiaomi's Mi Protect plan in India, which covers accidental and liquid damage, for as little as $7 per year.

The report covers the following topics:

- Mobile phone insurance ecosystem



- Market drivers and barriers



- Insurance policy structure, distribution channels and key trends



- Case studies of mobile phone insurance initiatives



- Industry roadmap and value chain



- Profiles and strategies of over 40 leading ecosystem players



- Strategic recommendations for ecosystem players



- Market analysis and forecasts from 2016 till 2030

Companies Mentioned

- A Wireless



- AIG (American International Group)



- AT&T



- AT&T Mobility



- AXA



- Allianz Insurance



- Allianz SE Group



- AmTrust International Underwriters



- America Movil



- Aon



- Appalachian Wireless



- Apple



- Assurant



- Asurion



- Aviva



- BT Group



- Barclays



- Best Buy



- Bouygues Telecom



- Brightstar Corporation



- CWS (Connected World Services Distributions)



- Cellebrite



- Chubb



- DT (Deutsche Telekom)



- Diamond Wireless



- Dixons Carphone



- EE



- eSecuritel



- Fonesure



- Fortegra



- Geek Squad



- GoCare



- Groupama



- HSBC



- Hollard Group



- Inhance Technology



- iQmetrix



- Liberty Mutual Insurance Group



- Lifestyle Services Group



- Lookout



- MTN



- Markerstudy



- Microsoft



- Mobi PCS



- Mobile Rhino (Stuckey & Company)



- NIA (New India Assurance)



- NQ Mobile



- NTT DoCoMo



- Nippon Life Insurance



- Nokia



- Optus



- Orange



- Pier Insurance Managed Services



- ProtectCELL



- SFR



- SPB



- Safeware



- Salt Mobile



- Samsung Electronics



- Singtel Group



- So-Sure



- SoftBank Corporation



- Spark New Zealand



- Sprint Corporation



- SquareTrade



- Sun Corporation



- Supercover Insurance



- Swisscom



- T-Mobile USA



- Telefonica Group



- Telefonica Insurance



- Telstra



- Tokio Marine



- V-Key Solutions



- Verizon Communications



- Verizon Wireless



- Vodacom



- Vodafone Group



For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/qsdrhr/the_mobile_phone





Media Contact:

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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SOURCE Research and Markets

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Model Engine Transmission Drivetrain MSRP Blue 1.6L GDI 4-Cylinder 6-Speed EcoShift Dual Clutch Transmission w/ SHIFTRONIC FWD $22,200 SEL 1.6L GDI 4-Cylinder 6-Speed EcoShift Dual Clutch Transmission w/ SHIFTRONIC FWD $23,950 Limited 1.6L GDI 4-Cylinder 6-Speed EcoShift Dual Clutch Transmission w/ SHIFTRONIC FWD $27,500 Freight Charges for the 2017MY Ioniq Hybrid are $835.

2017 HYUNDAI IONIQ ELECTRIC PRICING

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"Ioniq will attract an entirely new group of eco- and efficiency-oriented buyers in the U.S. market," said Mike O'Brien, vice president of Corporate and Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. "With outstanding powertrain flexibility, design, connectivity, and advanced technologies, Ioniq meets the needs of a large and growing group of buyers needing a highly efficient, enjoyable to drive and low-emissions vehicle without compromise to their daily lifestyles."

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle limited warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance. Hyundai Blue Link Connected Care provides owners of Hyundai models equipped with the Blue Link telematics system with proactive safety and car care services complimentary for one year with enrollment. These services include Automatic Collision Notification, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Vehicle Diagnostic Alert, Monthly Vehicle Health Report and in-vehicle service scheduling.

For more details on Hyundai Assurance, please visit www.HyundaiAssurance.com

Please visit our media website at www.hyundainews.com and our blog at www.hyundailikesunday.com

Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook

SOURCE Hyundai Motor America

Related Links

http://www.hyundainews.com


NEW YORK, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Acker Merrall has again quickly asserted itself as the #1 Wine Auction House in the World in 2017, continuing a decade-long trend. February 11th's auction achieved an estimated $3.75M of sales amongst a packed room at Marea in New York City, bringing Acker's Worldwide total to over $10 million during the first six weeks of 2017. While two live auctions are scheduled for March in New York and Hong Kong, all eyes will be on New York on April 6th and 8th when the Legendary Collection of Wolfgang Grunewald will be offered for sale.

Lot 479: The Auction's Top Lot, six magnums of 2005 Rousseau Chambertin plus a jeroboam sold separately of 2006 Rousseau Chambertin, two of the day's highly sought after Rousseau Lots & Lot 751: one bottle 1992 Sine Qua Non Black & Blue sold for USD $3,705, the first vintage of SQN

Rousseau and Sine Qua Non starred in this past weekend's sale. Demand for case lots from 2005 and 2006 Rousseau took four of the Top 10 positions, all selling far above their high estimates. A rare six magnum original case of 2005 Rousseau Chambertin was the day's Top Lot selling for $43,225 followed by two twelve bottle cases of 2005 Rousseau Chambertin which were bought for $37,050 each. Also selling significantly over its high estimates was a case lot of magnums of 2006 Rousseau Chambertin at $19,760, as did two twelve bottle case lots of 2005 Rousseau Gevrey Chambertin Clos St. Jacques at $11,115, and a jeroboam of 2006 Rousseau Chambertin at $7,410. Iconic Sine Qua Non (SQN) lots were also one of the auction's stars as collectors sought rare bottles of SQN in perfect condition. The first vintage of 1992 SQN Red Black & Blue was bought for $3,705, a bottle of 2002 SQN Syrah Heels Over Head sold for $2,964, a bottle of 1995 SQN The Bride achieved $2,470, a single bottle of 1996 SQN Pinot Noir Left Field went for $2,470, and three bottles of 2002 SQN Heart Chorea Syrah fetched $4,323. Sine Qua Non remains a star for collectors around the world as Saturday in NYC proved once again.

"2017 has come out with its guns blazing! This was a big sale with a lot of diversity, and there was demand in every nook and crannie, as to which the highlights will attest," said Acker Merrall & Condit Companies' Chairman John Kapon. "Both New York and Hong Kong have started the year with incredible auctions, but none will be more incredible than the Legendary Collection of Wolfgang Grunewald on April 6th and 8th in New York City. But first things first, we have two auctions in March that will continue to provide collectors with the world's finest selection of fine and rare wines on a monthly basis!"

For more information about Acker Merrall's upcoming auctions, visit www.ackerwines.com.

SOURCE Acker Merrall

Related Links

http://www.ackerwines.com


NORTHVALE, N.J., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 24, 2016, ADM Tronics Unlimited, Inc. (OTCQB: ADMT) issued an announcement which contained the following:

"Although increasing revenues and profits will always be Job #1, enhancing shareholder value has now become a top priority for the company and we are preparing to launch the following initiatives:

1st: To make a commitment to communicate more frequently with our shareholders, and the investing public, in general.



2nd: To design a more vibrant and informative website to better reflect the company's position within our industry.



3rd: To pursue avenues for greater exposure of our company and its future prospects to the investing public.

We thank our shareholders for your continued loyalty and support. We believe this should be a very exciting period for our company and our shareholders."

As hoped, the company is achieving the desired result, with the response greater than the company had anticipated. ADMT is receiving inquiries from shareholders, investors, stock brokerage firms, analysts and the medical device industry, in general. These inquiries have generated interest in the company 's stock and new business opportunities, especially for our proprietary products. Therefore, management has determined it would be in the best interest of the Company, and its investors, to have an investor relations unit to field the various inquiries regarding all aspects of the Company's progress.

Effective March 1, 2017, the investors relations unit will be in place and the Company has appointed Mr. Rafael Santiago to head up the unit. In the 10 years Mr. Santiago has been in the financial services industry, he has held various positions with firms such as Lighthouse Financial and Morgan Stanley. After graduating high school, Mr. Santiago joined the US army. After three years he enlisted in the US Marine Corps, where he earned his bachelors degree in education and was trained in logistics for combat in desert and sub-zero environments. After spending five years teaching, Mr. Santiago retired from the Marines with honors, having achieved the rank of Captain.

The responsibilities of the new ADMT IR unit will be to interact with ADMT shareholders, potential investors and analysts, disseminating requested information to them on a timely basis. IR will also secure opportunities for the company to present at both investor and medical, conferences and trade shows. Additionally, the IR unit will utilize all forms of media to make the public aware of ADMT and its leading edge suite of products.

Andre' DiMino, CEO of ADMT stated, "This is an important next step in our commitment to give our Company, and its future prospects, greater visibility in the investment world. And, I am pleased to have Mr. Santiago, someone who has served our country, as part of our new IR team."

Additional information is available at the Company's website - admtronics.com as well as concepttoquantity.com.

About ADMT

ADMT is a diversified, technology-based developer and manufacturer of innovative technologies and products. Its core competency is its ability to conceptualize a technology, bring it through development, into manufacturing and commercialization, all in-house. ADMT has three Business Segments: Proprietary Electronic Medical Devices; Design, Engineering, Regulatory and Manufacturing Services; and, Eco-Friendly, Safe, Water-Based Formulations. The Company's headquarters, laboratories, medical device and manufacturing operations are located in Northvale, New Jersey. ADMT's multi-disciplinary team of engineers, researchers and technologists utilize advanced technology infrastructure, such as 3-D solid prototyping, precision instrumentation and specialized software and peripherals for the research, development and commercialization of diversified technologies.

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release are "forward looking" statements (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Although ADMT believes the expectations reflected in such forward looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that its expectations will be realized. Forward looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. Factors that could contribute to such differences include those described from time to time in ADMT's filings with the SEC, news releases and other communications.

SOURCE ADM Tronics Unlimited, Inc.

Related Links

http://admtronics.com


"AFSP Idaho has worked hard to build collaborative relationships with our suicide prevention partners and our legislators. By working together in Idaho, we can save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide," said Carmen Stanger , chairperson of the AFSP Idaho chapter .

The proposed mandatory suicide reporting requirement is aimed to increase the amount and accuracy of data as it relates to suicide in Idaho. Currently, there are no mandatory laws regarding data collection, and data collection laws and reporting practices are not consistent  making for incomplete data sets. In order to assess the true numbers, and methods used there needs to be a thorough reporting system built into the state regulations.

This is the second time AFSP is hosting a State Capitol Day in Idaho. Ms. Stanger is part of a national movement of AFSP volunteer advocates who will be visiting 35 state capitols across the United States in spring 2017 to bring best practices in suicide prevention to state legislators. The event in Boise is part of a larger advocacy day organized by the Idaho Suicide Prevention Coalition.

Suicide in Idaho

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people aged 10-44 in Idaho, and the fourth leading cause of death for people aged 45-54. On average one person dies by suicide every 32 hours in the state.

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


"In Tennessee, we lose nearly 1,000 lives each year to suicide, as many or more as we lose in motor vehicle accidents. I am an advocate for suicide prevention and awareness to honor my brother, who was one of those suicide losses in 2012. In order to help prevent suicide deaths, mental health professionals must be prepared to assess and treat suicidal individuals," said Shannon Hall , who is the chair of the AFSP Middle TN Chapter , and a resident of Franklin, Tennessee.

The Kenneth and Madge Tullis, MD, Suicide Prevention Training Act would require certain mental health professionals to choose from a model list of evidence-based training programs and would be able to count the hours spent in the training toward meeting applicable continuing education requirements for their profession. With the right tools, mental health professionals can better recognize the warning signs for suicide and take the appropriate steps to protect patients who may be at risk.

Unfortunately, the majority of mental health professionals are unprepared to assess and treat suicidal individuals. Only 50 percent of psychologists, 25 percent of social workers, and 6 percent of counselors have training in suicide risk assessment. If we want to prevent this serious loss of life, we need our healthcare professionals to be trained specifically in suicide prevention.

This is the fourth time AFSP is hosting a State Capitol Day in Tennessee. Ms. Hall is part of a larger national movement of AFSP volunteer advocates who will be visiting 35 state capitols across the United States in spring 2017 to bring best practices in suicide prevention to state legislators. The event in Nashville is part of an advocacy day co-organized by the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network.

Suicide in Tennessee

Suicide is the third leading cause of death for people aged 15-24 in Tennessee, and the fourth leading cause of death for people aged 35-54. More than twice as many people die by suicide in Tennessee annually than by homicide. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death overall in Tennessee.

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, 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


"My mom died by suicide 18 years ago, and it was not until I became active in AFSP that I found my voice for suicide awareness and prevention. It is through AFSP that I am able to join with others to advocate for the people of Texas," said Amy Grosso , Ph.D., Board Member for the AFSP Central Texas chapter.

Advocates are encouraging their legislative leaders to amend subchapter A, chapter 434, of the Government Code to add a Veteran Suicide Prevention Action Plan. To protect our veterans we need the Texas Veterans Commission, in collaboration with the US Department of Veterans Affairs, and other organizations, to develop a comprehensive action plan to increase access to and availability of professional veteran health services to prevent veteran suicides.

Connecting suicidal individuals with quality health care is a vital component in preventing suicide deaths. However, many health professionals are unprepared to assess, treat, and manage suicidal behavior as this is not a routine part of their training or continuing education. This is especially alarming when we know that primary care professionals prescribe more psychotropic medications than any other type of provider (65 percent prescribed by GPs, OB/GYNs, pediatricians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners vs. 35 percent by psychiatrists, addiction specialists, psychologists, and all other specialties). Six states currently require this training via statute (Kentucky, New Hampshire, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Washington).

This is the second time AFSP is hosting a State Capitol Day in Texas. Ms. Grosso is part of a larger national movement of AFSP volunteer advocates who will be visiting 35 state capitols across the United States in spring 2017 to bring best practices in suicide prevention to state legislators.

Suicide in Texas

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 15-34 in Texas. On average one person dies by suicide every three hours in the state. More than twice as many people die by suicide in Texas annual than by homicide; the total deaths to suicide reflect a total of 72,622 years of potential life lost before age 65.

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, 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


WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Federation of Government Employees National President J. David Cox Sr. today issued the following statement:

"AFGE strongly opposes legislation introduced by Congressmen Steve King of Iowa and Joe Wilson of South Carolina that would weaken the ability of workers across the country to bargain collectively for better wages and working conditions.

"These union-busting bills claim that they give workers the "right to work" but that label hides their real purpose, which is to destroy labor unions. In states where these noxious laws are in place unions barely exist. Wages are lower, benefits are sparse or non-existent, workplaces are more dangerous, and workers are expected to suffer in silence. The King-Wilson bill  H.R.785  would extend these terrible terms of employment to workers nationwide.

"Union contracts benefit everyone in the workplace, but there's no such thing as a free lunch. Enforcing the contract requires resources, so it's only fair that all employees contribute to uphold standards. A national so-called "right-to-work" law benefits only the corporations and CEOs who profit by shortchanging the working people and should be rejected by anyone who cares about the working class."

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 700,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia.

For the latest AFGE news and information, visit the AFGE Media Center. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

SOURCE American Federation of Government Employees

Related Links

http://www.afge.org


KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- IsItUp.com, a mobile and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) fixed asset management platform announced today that it has been appointed by AirAsia Berhad to optimise the management and life cycle of their fixed assets across all its operations.

Tony Fernandes AirAsia & Andrew Diamond IsItUp.com

Based in both Malaysia and Singapore, IsItUp.com is a platform that enables companies to easily track and manage company assets in a cost-effective and decentralised way across thousands of users and tens of thousands of assets. The service essentially offers corporations a two-pronged approach to fixed asset management: firstly, via its cloud platform and secondly, through the value added service of assisting companies to organise their fixed assets data with advanced tracking technology. It is a relevant tool for a variety of businesses and industries, no matter how big the company may be that have fixed assets such as furniture, laptops, to big corporations who own everything from transportation vehicles to machinery.

AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes said, "IsItUp.com was chosen due to its commitment to delivering a solution that will maximise value and cost savings, as well as provide transparency through real-time tracking. As an innovative company AirAsia is always looking at new ways to create efficiency and maximise value. Once fully implemented, IsItUp.com will provide a solution designed to work for an enterprise that covers multiple countries, many locations and is always on-the-go," he said.

AirAsia CFO How Kim Lian added, "AirAsia continually looks to enhance its processes, so that we can maximise the value of our assets  particularly finding innovative ways in tracking a company's assets with diversely located operations. IsItUp.com listened to our needs and brought technology to deliver a solution and approach that meets what we require. We look forward to rolling out the platform across the company," he said.

Andrew Diamond, CEO of IsItUp.com said, "Having been through a thorough Proof-of-Concept, we are excited to have been awarded this contract. As a company focused on bringing together value and innovation, working with AirAsia is an affirmation of the value-add that our platform and services brings to the enterprise customer."

Thus far, IsItUp's platform and services have attracted the attention of several big enterprises (such as AirAsia) throughout Asia, although initially, the business was targeted more towards SMEs. However, because of the platform's capability to handle and organise substantial amounts of fixed asset data, larger enterprises with multiple offices or branches through the region have started to take notice.

About the AirAsia Group



AirAsia, the leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia, services the most extensive network with over 100 destinations. Within 15 years of operations, AirAsia has carried more than 330 million guests and grown its fleet from just two aircraft to over 170. The airline is proud to be a truly Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) airline with established operations based in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, India and Japan, servicing a network stretching across all Asean countries and beyond. AirAsia has been named World's Best Low Cost Airline by Skytrax for seven consecutive years from 2009 to 2015. AirAsia is the first airline globally to collaborate with INTERPOL to implement the I-Checkit system to screen the passports of all prospective passengers against information contained in the world police body's Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) database.

About IsItUp Dotcom Pte. Ltd.

IsItUp.com was developed to provide enterprises with a complete, simple, unified mobile and cloud-based asset management solution. Scalable, innovative, and cost-effective, this platform ensures businesses can increase productivity and revenue growth while managing essential assets. Beside its powerful mobile and cloud management solution, IsItUp.com also offers onsite onboarding services, including tagging and uploading all asset information to their platform. In addition to these services, IsItUp.com provides QR code asset tags to clients as well as network scanning capabilities. Businesses simply scan an asset's QR code and the relevant information will be available at their fingertips through the IsItUp app, which is available on Google Play and the Apple App Store.

IsItUp.com is backed by Gobi Partners, 500 Startups and 8Capita

For media inquiries, please contact:

IsItUp.com

G U Renukanand

[email protected]

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE IsItUp Dotcom Pte Ltd
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today ACA announced changes to its baseline approach to transitioning from citizenship-based taxation of Americans abroad to residency-based taxation, first published on December 5, 2016. At the same time, it released a description of its baseline approach and it posted a side-by-side comparison of its baseline approach with the recently published Republicans Overseas' Proposed Territorial Tax System.

https://www.americansabroad.org/media/files/page/276db253/Residency-Based_Taxation_ACA_Descr_and_Side-By-Side_Comparison_170207.pdf

"The two important changes are we have added a 'Same Country' exemption to the FATCA rules to give relief to Americans abroad who are being locked-out from foreign banking services and we have proposed that individuals that report foreign bank and custodial accounts on their FBARs should not have to repeat this on their Forms 8938. There is no good reason to require people to report the same information twice," said Marylouise Serrato, Executive Director, American Citizens Abroad, Inc. "These are recommendations supported by other overseas organizations and by the National Taxpayer Advocate."

The baseline or "vanilla" approach to RBT is intended to lay out the essential elements of residency-based taxation, allowing everyone to examine and contribute their thoughts as to the optimal proposal. ACA is soliciting everyone's questions and comments.

"We think legislation transitioning from citizenship-based taxation to residency-based taxation is eminently 'doable'", said Serrato. "We are going to get detailed revenue estimates. If this tax reform for Americans abroad can be made revenue neutral and can avoid opening loopholes, Congress and the Administration will embrace it."

ACA, with the help of other groups, is preparing revenue estimates and working on useful amendments to the details of a baseline approach. It will then be up to Congress and Treasury Department to say "yea" or "nay". Funds are being raised to pay for the best-quality estimates. http://acaglobalfoundation.org/donate.

SOURCE American Citizens Abroad (ACA, Inc.)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Hiring Our Heroes  Washington, D.C., Hiring Fair and Networking Forum

WHO: More than 50 national and local employers with open positions will meet with veterans, servicemembers and their spouses who are seeking employment.

WHEN: Friday, February 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST. Workshops begin at 9:30 a.m. networking lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. Career Fair is from 1 p.m.  4 p.m.

WHERE: The Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave., NW Washington, DC 20009

JOB SEEKERS: Interested job seekers should register online at www.hiringourheroes.org. Veterans must provide proof of service.

MEDIA MEMBERS: Credentialed members of the media are invited to attend. To register, media should email Brooke Prouty at [email protected].

With a current membership of 2.2 million wartime veterans, The American Legion, www.legion.org, was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 13,000 posts across the nation.

American Legion media contacts: Henry Howard, 317-630-1289, 765-491-3545 (cell), [email protected] .

SOURCE The American Legion

Related Links

http://www.legion.org


LONDON, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Americas coating additives market is expected to reach USD 2.35 billion by 2024, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The American architectural industry has witnessed significant growth in the past few years and is expected to continue in the near future. The automobile industry is also anticipated to join the league with comparatively less influence on product demand over the next eight years. Industries including the oil and gas, marine, industrial processing, and wood & furniture in the region are also expected to add to the market value in the near future.

Waterborne additives had the highest market penetration while accounting for over 49% of the total demand in 2015. Increasing infrastructure spending, particularly in the residential & commercial sectors is anticipated to steer product demand over the next few years. The favorable regulatory scenario in the region coupled with shifting consumer preference towards low-VOC content in paints and coatings may be attributed to the high growth in the segment.

Further key findings from the report suggest:

The Americas coating additives market demand was 348.6 kilo tons in 2015 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 3.8% from 2016 to 2024 to reach a net volume exceeding 480 kilo tons by 2024

Waterborne flow additives are expected to account for over 17% of the regional revenue by 2024. Growing demand for easy flow and leveling over wooden and plastic surfaces is anticipated to drive the segment growth over the next eight years.

Solventborne defoaming agents demand in Brazil is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of over 3% over the forecast period. Increasing demand for deaerating automotive, industrial, wood, and furniture coatings is expected steer product demand over the next few years.

Matting agents demand in Canada was 1.46 kilo tons in 2015. Surging demand for gloss effect and enhanced durability of decorative applications is expected to enhance product consumption in the region.

Product demand for architecture segment in Mexico is expected to generate revenue exceeding USD 80 million by 2024. Collaborations with various designers from Brazil, Italy, and the UK for developing creative infrastructure models for residential and commercial sectors, which in turn, is anticipated to drive market growth in the region.

The Americas coating additives market comprises a large number of integrated companies having immense experience in the industry and large client base globally. Some of the leading players include AkzoNobel NV, Ashland, Elementis Plc, The Lubrizol Corporation, The Eastman Chemical Company, and BYK-Chemie GmbH.

Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4230394/

About ReportbuyerReportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishershttp://www.reportbuyer.com

For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

Related Links

http://www.reportbuyer.com


SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consumers are just beginning to discover that Anthem eliminated coverage for out-of-network doctors now that the Affordable Care Act "Open Enrollment Period" to secure health coverage for 2017 ended on January 31.

"Anthem broke the law and its promises to consumers in violation of healthcare regulations by eliminating coverage for doctors not participating in Anthem's limited network," said Ben Powell, staff attorney for Consumer Watchdog. "This change leaves customers potentially facing thousands of dollars or more in unexpected medical bills."

Attorneys for Shernoff Bidart Echeverria, LLP and Consumer Watchdog filed a class action lawsuit on October 31, 2016 against Anthem Blue Cross in violation of healthcare regulations by converting Preferred Provider Organization" or "PPO" plans, which offer out-of-network benefits, into "Exclusive Provider Organization" or "EPO" plans, which provide no out-of-network benefits.

Click here to download the lawsuit: http://tinyurl.com/hlsf4zk

Many specialists treating chronic diseases and other physicians do not participate in or have been excluded from Anthem's network. Under the new change implemented by Anthem, Anthem will not pay for services provided by so-called "out-of-network" physicians. As paying full cost of out-of-network care is untenable for all but the wealthiest, consumers likely face loss of access to these physicians altogether, a prospect particularly harmful for those in the midst of treatment.

Consumer Watchdog noted that under the so-called "guaranteed issue" provision of the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare), consumers with pre-existing medical conditions can no longer be barred from accessing health insurance. However, by eliminating PPO plans and cutting-off access to out-of-network doctors, a benefit especially important to patients with medical problems, Anthem is in violation of healthcare regulations by discriminating against sicker patients, among other violations.

Consumer Watchdog is a nonpartisan consumer advocacy organization with offices in Washington, D.C. and Santa Monica, CA. Find us on the web at: http://www.ConsumerWatchdog.org

Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP leads the nation in protecting policyholders from insurance company abuse. The firm has been protecting the rights of insurance consumers, both individuals and businesses, for over 35 years after having set the legal precedent requiring insurance companies to act in good faith. For more information, go to http://www.shernoff.com.

SOURCE Consumer Watchdog

Related Links

http://www.consumerwatchdog.org


NEW YORK, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Antigua and Barbuda is celebrating Valentine's Day by launching the world's first tourism social media channel dedicated to romance on Facebook. Known for being one of the most romantic destinations in the world, and holding the record for most weddings per capita, Antigua and Barbuda has launched the Facebook 'Antigua Barbuda Romance' channel. This new interactive platform provides visitors the best information and tools for those planning their perfect romantic trip.

The Honorable Asot A. Michael, Minister of Tourism, Economic Development, Investment and Energy stated, "Introducing a ground-breaking new platform dedicated to romance is just another example of why Antigua and Barbuda is awarded time and again for being the most romantic Caribbean islands. This new initiative cements our position as the leading Caribbean weddings and honeymoon destination and I applaud all of our industry partners for helping us to attain this distinction and recognition in such an integral market. Ultimately, love improves lives, and we look forward to helping couples do just that with the new platform."

Research shows love and healthy relationships have been proven to improve people's lives. Benefits range from happiness and improved mental well-being to bolstering immune levels, to improving heart health and helping people to live longer.

The first interactive digital platform dedicated to romance by a destination, Antigua Barbuda Romance features include: logistics on how to plan the perfect destination wedding, honeymoon tips, favorite activities, top restaurants, and popular beaches. Resources include listings for local romance vendors including wedding planners, photographers and island guides. The platform is manned by romance experts who provide advice and feedback on planning the perfect trip with daily posts to inspire and engage followers.

CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, Colin C. James explains, "This interactive new platform allows us to gain valuable customer insights, while increasing our brand awareness and customer loyalty. Our goal is to provide exceptional experiences for all visitors each and every time, and we believe that this tool is another way to provide a richer customer and visitor experience. I look forward to additional relationship building with our visitors, and helping them reap the benefits of romance as only the Caribbean can do."

As part of the launch, the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority is running a global month-long sweepstakes for one lucky couple from around the world to win a romantic 3-night all-inclusive getaway to Antigua.

To find out more, visit the new 'Antigua Barbuda Romance' platform at www.facebook.com/AntiguaBarbudaRomance

ABOUT ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

Antigua (pronounced An-tee'ga) and Barbuda (Bar-byew'da) is located in the heart of the Caribbean Sea. Voted the World Travel Awards 2015 and 2016 Caribbean's Most Romantic Destination, the twin-island paradise offers visitors two uniquely distinct experiences, ideal temperatures year-round, a rich history, vibrant culture, exhilarating excursions, award-winning resorts, mouth-watering cuisine and 365 stunning pink and white-sand beaches - one for every day of the year. The largest of the Leeward Islands, Antigua comprises 108-square miles with rich history and spectacular topography that provides a variety of popular sightseeing opportunities. Nelson's Dockyard, the only remaining example of a Georgian fort a listed UNESCO World Heritage site, is perhaps the most renowned landmark. Antigua's tourism events calendar includes the prestigious Antigua Sailing Week, Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, and the annual Antigua Carnival; known as the Caribbean's Greatest Summer Festival. Barbuda, Antigua's smaller sister island, is the ultimate celebrity hideaway. The island lies 27 miles north-east of Antigua and is just a 15-minute plane ride away. Barbuda is known for its untouched 17 mile stretch of pink sand beach and as the home of the largest Frigate Bird Sanctuary in the Western Hemisphere. Find information on Antigua & Barbuda at: www.visitantiguabarbuda.us or follow us on Twitter. http://twitter.com/antiguabarbuda Facebook www.facebook.com/antiguabarbuda; and www.facebook.com/antiguabarbudaromance Instagram: www.instagram.com/AntiguaandBarbuda

SOURCE Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority

Related Links

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LONDON, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Aseptic packaging was introduced in the 1940s. The process was subsequently improvised to suit the needs of end-user industries. Aseptic packaging primarily includes paperboard, aluminum, polypropylene, calcium carbonate (by few manufacturers), borosilicate glass (for pharmaceutical packaging), and ethylene vinyl alcohol. The packages primarily consist of six to seven layers of the materials mentioned above. They are arranged in orderly fashion. Currently, food, beverages, and dairy are the key industries that employ aseptic packaging; however, the pharmaceutical industry leads the end-user segment. The aseptic packaging market is primarily dominated by Asia Pacific; it is followed by Europe and North America, due to the high growth of downstream industries in these regions.



This report analyzes and forecasts the market for aseptic packaging at the global and regional level. The market has been forecast based on revenue (US$ Mn) from 2016 to 2024, considering 2015 as the base year. The study includes drivers and restraints of the global aseptic packaging market. It also covers impact of these drivers and restraints on demand for aseptic packaging during the forecast period. The report also highlights opportunities in the aseptic packaging market at the global and regional level.



The report includes detailed value chain analysis, which provides a comprehensive view of the global aseptic packaging market. Porter's Five Forces model for the aseptic packaging market has also been included to help understand the competitive landscape in the market. The study encompasses market attractiveness analysis, wherein end-user industries are benchmarked based on their market revenue, growth rate, and general attractiveness.



The study provides a decisive view of the global aseptic packaging market by segmenting it in terms of products such as carton; bags & pouches; bottles; vials; prefilled syringes & ampoules, and others. These segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends. Regional segmentation includes current and forecast demand for aseptic packaging in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. The report also covers demand for individual products and end-user industries in all regions.



The report provides the estimated market size of aseptic packaging for 2016 and forecast for the next eight years. The global market size of aseptic packaging has been provided in terms of revenue. Market revenue has been defined in US$ Mn. Market numbers have been estimated based on key products and end-user industries of aseptic packaging. Market size and forecast for products and end-user industries have been provided in terms of global, regional, and country level markets.



In order to compile the research report, we conducted in-depth interviews and discussions with a number of key industry participants and opinion leaders. Primary research represents the bulk of research efforts, supplemented by extensive secondary research. We reviewed key players' product literature, annual reports, press releases, and relevant documents for competitive analysis and market understanding. Secondary research includes a search of recent trade, technical writing, Internet sources, and statistical data from government websites, trade associations, and agencies. This has proven to be the most reliable, effective, and successful approach for obtaining precise market data, capturing industry participants' insights, and recognizing business opportunities.



Secondary research sources that are typically referred to include, but are not limited to company websites, annual reports, financial reports, broker reports, investor presentations, SEC filings, Plastemart magazine, TPE magazine, internal and external proprietary databases, and relevant patent and regulatory databases such as ICIS, Hoover's, oneSOURCE, Factiva and Bloomberg, national government documents, statistical databases, trade journals, market reports, news articles, press releases, and webcasts specific to companies operating in the market.



We conduct primary interviews on an ongoing basis with industry participants and commentators to validate data and analysis. These help validate and strengthen secondary research findings. These also help develop the analysis team's expertise and market understanding.



The report comprises profiles of major companies operating in the global aseptic packaging market. Key players in the aseptic packaging market include Tetra Pak, Sealed Air Corporation, Greatview Aseptic Packaging Co., Ltd., ELOPAK Group, Ecolean AB, Molopak, Schott AG, IPI, SIG Combibloc Group AG, and Dizaynpak Baski Ve Ambalaj Teknolojileri A.S. Market players have been profiled in terms of attributes such as company overview, financial overview, business strategies, and recent developments.



The report segments the global aseptic packaging market as follows:



Aseptic Packaging Market - Product Analysis



Bottles (Glass, Plastic)

Cartons

Vials, Prefilled Syringes & Ampoules

Bags & Pouches

Others (Cups)



Aseptic Packaging Market - End-user Analysis



Food

Dairy

Beverages

Pharmaceutical

Others (Personal Care, etc.)



Aseptic Packaging Market - Regional Analysis



North America

U.S.

Mexico

Canada

Europe

France

U.K.

Spain

Germany

Italy

Russia

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

ASEAN

India

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil

Argentina

Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa (MEA)

GCC

South Africa

Rest of MEA

Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4201038/



About Reportbuyer

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

http://www.reportbuyer.com



For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

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NEW HAVEN, Conn., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The ASSA ABLOY Integris Door was named a 2016 GOOD DESIGN award winner from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, in the Building Materials category. Integris is a moisture-resistant flush door designed for interior or exterior applications in wet or humid areas, including: indoor swimming pools, spas, showers, and restrooms; medical rehab facilities; and hotels or multi-family residences with individual exterior entrances.

"We're proud to have Integris recognized for the unique opening solution it provides," said Jan McKenzie, director of national accounts, ASSA ABLOY. "This award underscores the value of moisture-resistant doors for buildings in the hospitality and healthcare markets. With Integris, building owners get a dependable door that withstands the conditions of damp areas while extending the natural beauty of wood throughout a facility."

Integris doors provide a wood option for some of the industry's most difficult applications previously limited to hollow metal, fiberglass or aluminum. They are manufactured in the U.S.A utilizing water-resistant stile, rail, and core materials, finished with high pressure decorative laminate skins and matching edge bands in many color options.

Several thousand entries were submitted from leading manufacturers and design firms from around the world. Over 900 product designs and graphics from more than 40 countries were selected to receive a GOOD DESIGN award, grouped into approximately 30 categories. Integris was the only door to be selected as part of the Building Materials category.

GOOD DESIGN award recipients were selected based on design and innovation, sustainability, creativity, branding, ecologically responsible design, human factors, materials, technology, graphic arts, packaging, and/or universal design. The official GOOD DESIGN award ceremony was held January 27, 2017, in New York City.

Complete details on the Integris can be found at www.assaabloywooddoors.com.

About ASSA ABLOY

ASSA ABLOY is the global leader in door opening solutions, dedicated to satisfying end-user needs for security, safety and convenience. www.assaabloydss.com

About GOOD DESIGN

GOOD DESIGN is the world's most prestigious, recognized, and oldest Design Awards program organized annually by The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design in cooperation with the European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies. More info: https://chi-athenaeum.org/about-good-design.html.

SOURCE ASSA ABLOY

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AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Austin Foam Plastics, Inc. (AFP, Inc.) - Since its inception in 1978 in Austin Texas AFP has been a leader in providing Engineered Packaging and prides itself on its loyalty to its customers, suppliers, and employees. Upon the untimely death of Tim O'Hearn in 2013, the majority ownership of AFP transferred to his three daughters and they are committed to continue his legacy.

On February 8, 2017, AFP received national certification as a Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Women's Business Council Southwest (WBCS), the regional certifying affiliate of the Women's Business Enterprise Council (WBENC). WBENC's national standard of certification is designed to confirm the business is at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by a woman or women. By including women-owned businesses among their vendors, corporations and government agencies demonstrate their commitment to fostering diversity and the continued development of their supplier diversity programs.

April O'Hearn Abello, CEO of Austin Foam Plastics since 2015 sums up the new certification with this statement: "AFP is proud to become part of the WBENC community and join thousands of successful business leaders who share WBENC's vision to foster diversity in the world of commerce. I strongly believe that WBENC will allow AFP to share our own experiences and learn from others as we continue to strive to be a leader in the engineered packaging space and in the community."

About Austin Foam Plastics, Inc.

AFP designs, produces, manufactures and sources protective packaging for product manufacturers in retail and direct shipping environments. AFP has five facilities across the United States; Austin TX (HQ), Dallas (Carrollton) TX, El Paso TX, Columbus OH and Nashville (La Vergne) TN and a global presence in Asia and Mexico. To learn more, please visit www.a-f-p.com.

About WBENC

The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned, controlled, and operated by women in the United States. To learn more please visit http://www.wbenc.org/

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Gwendolyn Pyle at 512-251-6300 or email at [email protected].

Media Contact: Gwendolyn Pyle

Telephone: 512-251-6300

Cell: 512-644-7515

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.a-f-p.com

SOURCE Austin Foam Plastics
The customer-focused comparison app for buying and financing vehicles provides users with up to four tailored offers within a few minutes. AutoGravity features multiple vehicle brands and models, and enables various financial services providers and automotive manufacturers the opportunity to offer vehicle financing and leasing via smartphone.

"With our investment in AutoGravity, we are now taking the strategic step of preparing the conventional financing and leasing business for digital sales channels," said Bodo Uebber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Financing & Controlling and Daimler Financial Services. "We believe AutoGravity and its technology have the potential to revolutionize the sector for online financing while, at the same time, offering a digital platform for other financial services providers and automotive manufacturers."

Over 150,000 downloads since launch

AutoGravity initially piloted its digital financing platform in the state of California in mid-2016 in conjunction with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC. Since that time, additional finance providers have been integrated into the platform. Plus, AutoGravity has extended its offering to include leases and used-car financing.

"In AutoGravity, we see a new star rising in the digital world. Customers are able to find the best financing deal for their vehicle in real time. The comparison app acts as a digital interface between the customer, dealerships and various financial service providers," explains Klaus Entenmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler Financial Services AG.

Using a smartphone, customers are able to browse and select vehicles from different manufacturers and then choose one of up to four finance offers. AutoGravity meets customer requirements in the swiftly growing online automotive market for fair, transparent and customized offers, which can be obtained quickly and easily via smartphone. The platform is available in the Unites States through iOS, Android and Web applications. AutoGravity's apps have surpassed 150,000 downloads since the launch of its pilot.

Pioneering digital mobility and financing services

The investment in AutoGravity underlines Daimler Financial Services' pioneering role in the digital financing and mobility services sector. The launch of car2go in 2008 marked the beginning of present competition in car sharing. The mytaxi app is currently Europe's number one e-hailing company with more than six million subscribers in nine countries. By announcing the acquisition of electronic payment provider PayCash last month and investing in AutoGravity in the U.S., the company now strategically adds digital services to its financing portfolio.

"After being in the auto financing business for more than 50 years, our goal is to continue offering customers a suite of digital tools for a more innovative financing and mobility experience," said Entenmann.

In the U.S., the AutoGravity financing app is already working with other banks, manufacturers, and dealerships. Consideration is also being given to rolling out AutoGravity in other markets.

Record year in 2016

Daimler Financial Services concluded 2016 with 1.6 million new financing and leasing contracts worth a total of 61.8 billion. The total value of all new contracts rose by 7% compared to the previous year. The sales and leasing activities at Daimler Financial Services supported approximately half of all new-vehicle sales by our automotive divisions. More than 4.3 million financed or leased vehicles were booked, resulting in a 14% increase in contract volume totaling 132.6 billion. The acquisition of Athlon Car Lease International accounted for 3.7 billion of the increase in contract volume. Adjusted for Athlon and exchange-rate effects, the increase amounted to 10%. EBIT rose to a new high of 1.739 billion, compared to 1.619 billion in 2015.

More information about Daimler is available online at: www.media.daimler.com and www.daimler-financialservices.com

Daimler at a glance

Daimler AG is one of the world's most successful automotive companies. With its divisions Mercedes-Benz Cars, Daimler Trucks, Mercedes-Benz Vans, Daimler Buses and Daimler Financial Services, the vehicle manufacturer is one of the biggest providers of premium cars and the world's biggest manufacturer of commercial vehicles with a global reach. Daimler Financial Services offers financing, leasing, fleet management, insurance, financial investments, credit cards, and innovative mobility services. The company's founders, Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz, made history with their invention of the automobile in 1886. As an automotive pioneer, Daimler continues to shape the future of mobility. The company's focus is on innovative and green technologies and safe and superior vehicles that captivate and inspire customers. Daimler invests systematically in the development of alternative powertrains  ranging from hybrid vehicles to all-electric vehicles powered by a battery or a fuel cell  with the goal of making emission-free driving possible in the long term. In addition, the company is fully committed to accident-free driving, intelligent networking, and autonomous driving. This is because Daimler considers it as a challenge and an obligation to meet its responsibility towards society and the environment.

Daimler sells its vehicles and services in almost every country in the world and has production facilities in Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Africa. Its brand portfolio includes the world's most valuable premium automotive brand, Mercedes-Benz, as well as Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach and Mercedes me; the brands smart, Freightliner, Western Star, BharatBenz, FUSO, Setra, and Thomas Built Buses; and the Daimler Financial Services brands: Mercedes-Benz Bank, Mercedes-Benz Financial, Daimler Truck Financial, moovel, car2go and mytaxi. The company is listed on the stock exchanges of Frankfurt and Stuttgart (stock exchange symbol DAI). In 2015, the Group sold 2.9 million vehicles with a workforce of 284,015 employees. Its revenue totaled 149.5 billion, and EBIT amounted to 13.2 billion.

AutoGravity at a glance

AutoGravity is a FinTech pioneer on a mission to transform car financing by harnessing the power of the smartphone. AutoGravity partners with the world's leading banks and financial services companies to give consumers direct control over how they finance their cars. Available as a native iOS, Android and web app, AutoGravity offers a secure and convenient platform that empowers customers with multiple finance offers within its network of trusted car dealerships. Based in Irvine, California, AutoGravity was founded in 2015 by an international team of digital natives and industry veterans. For more information on AutoGravity, please visit www.autogravity.com and follow @AutoGravityHQ on Twitter.

SOURCE Daimler Financial Services

Related Links

http://www.daimler-financialservices.com


WELLESLEY, Mass., Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Babson College Professor Heidi Neck has co-authored the latest in entrepreneurship education books rooted in Babson methodology -- Entrepreneurship: The Practice and Mindset.

The book, written in collaboration with Christopher Neck, an award-winning professor at Arizona State University, and Emma Murray, business writer and entrepreneur, "catapults students beyond the classroom by helping them develop an entrepreneurial mindset so they can create opportunities and take action in uncertain environments."

Based on Babson's own entrepreneurship education, this new text emphasizes practice and learning through Entrepreneurial Thought & Action(r).

From Sage Publishing: "Students learn entrepreneurship by taking small actions and interacting with stakeholders in order to get feedback, experiment, and move ideas forward. Students walk away from this text with the entrepreneurial mindset, skillset, and toolset that can be applied to startups as well as organizations of all kinds. Whether students have backgrounds in business, liberal arts, engineering, or the sciences, this text will take them on a transformative journey."

Key Features:

Activities to motivate students to take entrepreneurial action outside of the classroom.

Experiential learning activities to provide students with hands-on opportunities for practice.

A chapter entitled, 'Learning from Failure' to help students anticipate setbacks, develop grit, and understand the value of experimentation and iteration.

In-depth coverage of design thinking, business model canvas, bootstrapping, and crowdfunding.

A pitch deck template to help students create a unique and memorable way to present their business idea to investors.

Heidi Neck is also the lead author of Teaching Entrepreneurship: A Practice-Based Approach--a best-selling book written to help educators teach entrepreneurship in more experiential and engaging ways.

Last year, Neck was named President-Elect of the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship(r) (USASBE) and just recently assumed her Presidency as the 34th person to hold the position.

Heidi Neck

Heidi Neck, Ph.D., is a Babson College Professor and the Jeffry A. Timmons Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies. She has taught entrepreneurship at the undergraduate, MBA and executive levels. She is Faculty Director of The Babson Collaborative, a global institutional membership organization for colleges and universities seeking to increase their capability and capacity in entrepreneurship education. Additionally, Neck is Faculty Director of Babson's Symposia for Entrepreneurship Educators (SEE)--programs designed to further develop faculty from around the world in the of art and craft of teaching entrepreneurship and building entrepreneurship programs. Through her leadership, she has directly trained over 2,000 educators around the world.

An award-winning teacher, Neck has been recognized for teaching excellence at Babson for undergraduate, graduate, and executive education. She has also been recognized by international organizations, the Academy of Management and USASBE, for excellence in pedagogy and course design. For pushing the frontiers of entrepreneurship education in higher education, The Schulze Foundation and the Entrepreneur and Innovation Exchange (EIX) awarded her "Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year" 2016.

Her research interests include entrepreneurship education, entrepreneurship inside organizations, and creative thinking. In addition to authoring of Teaching Entrepreneurship: A Practice-Based Approach (Elgar Publishing)--a book written to help educators teach entrepreneurship in more experiential and engaging ways--she has published 40+ book chapters, research monographs, and refereed articles in such journals as Journal of Small Business Management, Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, and International Journal of Entrepreneurship Education. She is on the editorial board of the Academy of Management Learning & Education journal and is a Forbes blogger on entrepreneurship content.

Neck speaks and teaches internationally on cultivating the entrepreneurial mindset and espousing the positive force of entrepreneurship as a societal change agent. She consults and trains organizations of all sizes on building entrepreneurial capacity. She is the co-founder of VentureBlocks, an entrepreneurship education technology company and co-owner of FlowDog, a canine aquatic fitness and rehabilitation center located just outside of Boston. Heidi earned her Ph.D. in Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She holds a B.S. in Marketing from Louisiana State University and an MBA from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

About Babson College

Babson College is the educator, convener, and thought leader for Entrepreneurship of All Kinds(r). The top-ranked college for entrepreneurship education, Babson is a dynamic living and learning laboratory where students, faculty, and staff work together to address the real-world problems of business and society. We prepare the entrepreneurial leaders our world needs most: those with strong functional knowledge and the skills and vision to navigate change, accommodate ambiguity, surmount complexity, and motivate teams in a common purpose to make a difference in the world, and have an impact on organizations of all sizes and types. As we have for nearly a half-century, Babson continues to advance Entrepreneurial Thought & Action(r) as the most positive force on the planet for generating sustainable economic and social value. Visit www.babson.edu

CONTACT: Michael Chmura, 781-239-4549, [email protected]

This news release was issued on behalf of Newswise(TM). For more information, visit http://www.newswise.com.

SOURCE Babson College

Related Links

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IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Banc of California, Inc. (NYSE: BANC), today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per depository share on the Company's 8.00% Series C Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock. The dividend will be payable on March 15, 2017 to holders of record as of March 1, 2017. The Series C depositary shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the "BANC PRC" symbol.

The Board of Directors also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.460938 per depository share on the Company's 7.375% Series D Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock. The dividend will be payable on March 15, 2017 to holders of record as of March 1, 2017. The Series D depositary shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the "BANC PRD" symbol.

The Board of Directors also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.4375 per depository share on the Company's 7.00% Series E Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock. The dividend will be payable on March 15, 2017 to holders of record as of March 1, 2017. The Series E depositary shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the "BANC PRE" symbol.

About Banc of California, Inc.

Banc of California, Inc. (NYSE: BANC) provides comprehensive banking services to California's diverse businesses, entrepreneurs and communities. Banc of California operates over 100 offices in California and the West. The Company was recently recognized by Forbes for the second straight year as one of the 100 Best Banks in America for 2017.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "Safe-Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are necessarily subject to risk and uncertainty and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to various factors, including those set forth from time to time in the documents filed or furnished by Banc of California, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and Banc of California, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update any such statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date on which the forward-looking statement is made.

Investor Relations Inquiries: Media Inquiries: Banc of California, Inc. Abernathy MacGregor Timothy Sedabres, (855) 361-2262 Ian Campbell / Joe Hixson / Kristin Cole (213) 630-6550 [email protected] / [email protected] / [email protected]

SOURCE Banc of California, Inc.

Related Links

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy is proud to announce the creation of Voices for Literacy. This newly formed collaborative brings together a coalition of five organizations that are committed to expanding opportunities for children and adults to improve their lives through literacy.

Voices for Literacy launches today with five initial founding partner organizations: the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, the Coalition on Adult Basic Education, Digital Promise, Pi Beta Phi, and Reading is Fundamental. The goal of the collaborative is to maximize the expertise and resources of the partner organizations to amplify the national conversation on literacy. The group is committed to taking meaningful action to support and improve literacy rates in the United States, ensuring that everyone has an opportunity for education, no matter their age.

"We're proud to stand with these partnersand with others who will join us as we move forwardto speak out for literacy for all," said Liza McFadden, president and CEO of the Barbara Bush Foundation. "We believe that bringing together these organizations, which are already doing amazing work in their own rights, to speak as a unified voice will help further the conversation on literacy and effect real change."

Today, Voices for Literacy launches its first in a series of three digital social campaigns designed to identify those interested in literacy by having them "raise their hand," educate the public about the issues of low literacy and activate around literacy. The initial outreach effort, the "Leave Your Mark for Literacy" campaign, encourages people nationwide to show their support for literacy by placing a virtual bookmark on an interactive map. To participate, or to learn more about Voices for Literacy, visit www.voicesforliteracy.org.

About the Founding Partners:

The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy is a public charity and the nation's leading advocate for family literacy, working to foster the opportunity for every man, woman and child to secure a better life through literacy. Learn more at www.BarbaraBush.org.

The Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE) is a nationwide organization comprised of educators, administrators, mentors and guides working to improve educational outcomes for adults and build opportunities. Learn more at www.coabe.org.

Digital Promise is a nonprofit organization committed to accelerating innovation in education to improve opportunities to learn. Learn more at www.digitalpromise.org.

Pi Beta Phi's commitment to literacy dates back more than 100 years to the founding of a Settlement School in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and its tradition of supporting children and families through literacy service continues today through its Read > Lead > Achieve reading initiatives. Learn more at www.pibetaphi.org.

Reading is Fundamental (RIF) is committed to a literate America by inspiring a passion for reading among all children, providing quality content to create impact, and engaging communities in the solution to give every child the fundamentals for success. As the nation's largest nonprofit organization for children's literacy, RIF has provided more than 412 million books to 40 million RIF kids, inspiring generations to read, learn and grow. Learn more at www.rif.org.

Media Contact:

Lauren Sproull

Phone: 850.562.5300

Email: [email protected]

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy

Related Links

http://barbarabush.org


RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BB&T Capital Markets today announced the addition of three senior bankers to its investment banking team. David Keys joins as managing director and head of the newly formed Healthcare Group, Dave Endom joins as vice president in the Healthcare Group, and Tim Lufkin joins as a managing director in the Financial Sponsors Group.

Keys spent a majority of his 20-year career in financial services, including 15 years in investment banking and merger and acquisitions, working on transactions that generated more than $2.5 billion in enterprise value. Prior to joining BB&T Capital Markets, he launched the Healthcare Group at Matrix Capital Markets, a Richmond-based boutique investment bank. Other positions include partner at Creswell Partners, where his partners and he established a national forensic drug-testing company through acquisition and organic growth. Earlier in his career, he was an investment banker at Harris Williams & Co. and Piper Jaffray. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Keys is based in Richmond, Va.

Endom has more than 15 years of investment banking and finance experience in several industries completing a broad range of transaction types including sell-side mergers and acquisitions, minority investments, debt financings and secondary offerings. Prior to joining BB&T Capital Markets, he helped Keys launch a Healthcare Group at Matrix Capital Markets. His prior experience includes serving as director of financial planning for KIPP DC, where he closed on more than $160 million in real estate debt financing and the acquisition of more than 410,000 square feet of educational facilities. Earlier in his career, he was an investment banker at Harris Williams & Co. and consultant at Arthur Andersen. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Richmond and an MBA from the University of Virginia. Endom is based in Richmond, Va.

"With outstanding reputations and a proven record of success, David Keys and Dave Endom are a perfect fit for BB&T Capital Markets both strategically and culturally," said Bruce M. Kelleher Jr., head of BB&T Capital Markets' Investment Banking.

Keys said, "Dave Endom and I are excited to join BB&T Capital Markets. We've quickly developed an active referral relationship with the firm and discovered we have a similar approach to serving clients, many of whom involve the same private equity groups we engaged in former roles. Joining BB&T Capital Markets feels like a natural fit."

Lufkin brings more than 20 years of investment banking and sponsor coverage experience to BB&T Capital Markets, where he will help serve and grow relationships with private equity clients. Prior to joining BB&T Capital Markets, he was a managing director at American Capital Ltd. in the firm's Sponsor Finance Group. Other positions include serving as a managing director at Morgan Joseph TriArtisan LLC in New York where he originated and executed middle market M&A deals for private equity backed companies. He was also a managing director at FBR Capital Markets, where he specialized in sell-side and buy-side M&A transactions. Lufkin concluded his Wall Street career with Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities, providing 10 years of financial advice for both public and private middle market companies. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a bachelor's degree in corporate finance. Lufkin is based in New York.

"The record growth in our sell-side M&A advisory business during the past five years is largely due to the deep relationships our bankers have built with leading middle market private equity groups, and the coordination and collaboration between our industry coverage bankers and our Financial Sponsors Group," Kelleher said. "I am confident the wealth of deal experience and long-standing private equity relationships Tim brings to our firm will serve as a catalyst for continued growth in our M&A business. We are very pleased to have him as part of our team."

Lufkin added, "BB&T Capital Markets has been one of the leaders in middle market M&A serving the private equity sponsor community for the past five years. I look forward to working with Bruce Kelleher and the firm's industry-leading, sector-focused bankers to deliver the strength of BB&T's platform to my private equity clients."

About BB&T Capital Markets

BB&T Capital Markets offers a full spectrum of capital and advisory solutions including equity and debt underwriting, merger and acquisition advisory and corporate banking to middle market companies, municipalities and private equity firms nationwide. BB&T Capital Markets is a division of BB&T Securities LLC, a wholly owned, nonbank subsidiary of BB&T Corporation, and member FINRA/SIPC. More information is available at BBTCapitalMarkets.com and LinkedIn.

About BB&T

BB&T is one of the largest financial services holding companies in the U.S. with $219.3 billion in assets and market capitalization of $38.1 billion as of Dec. 31, 2016. Based in Winston-Salem, N.C., the company operates 2,196 financial centers in 15 states and Washington, D.C., and offers a full range of consumer and commercial banking, securities brokerage, asset management, mortgage and insurance products and services. A Fortune 500 company, BB&T is consistently recognized for outstanding client satisfaction by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Greenwich Associates and others. BB&T also has been named one of the World's Strongest Banks by Bloomberg Markets Magazine, one of the top three in the U.S. and in the top 15 globally. More information about BB&T and its full line of products and services is available at BBT.com.

SOURCE BB&T Capital Markets

Related Links

http://www.bbtcapitalmarkets.com


SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Built.io  a technology provider with digital solutions that enable organizations to quickly create, connect and scale applications across mobile, web and IoT  today announced the Built.io Community and the Internet of API (IoA) Awards. In a nod to its innovative culture, Built.io believes that the Community and the IoA Awards will help foster the same forward-thinking environment its own developers used to create the company's award-winning tools.

The Community will consist of technical and semi-technical users who understand the power of automation and integration. Community members will benefit from networking with like-minded integration experts and citizen integrators who care about automation, bots, the Internet of Things (IoT), headless Content Management Systems (CMS), Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS), DevOps and more. Built.io also plans to leverage the expertise of its community's power users, or those who are experienced users of Built.io products, to help make them even better.

Members will benefit from using Built.io's suite of integration products  Built.io Flow Enterprise and Built.io Flow Express  to solve their problems. In addition, the first 100 users to sign up for the community will acquire "VIP" status, making them eligible for upgraded trials with 3x credits for Built.io Flow Enterprise and 3x workflows for Built.io Flow Express.

The IoA Awards will be an integration challenge co-sponsored and co-judged with featured partners. The quarterly award offers a $5,000 cash prize for the best integration submitted by a developer using Built.io Flow and is exclusively available to community members.

Built.io Community members will not only have access to contests like the IoA Awards, but will also benefit from:

Being featured on Built.io's blog and partner sites

Suggesting and upvoting new service integrations

Getting first access to services in beta

Connecting and network with fellow integrators

Fast-tracking additions to the Built.io Flow integration library

"At our core, all of our technology and the Built.io platform were designed and built from the ground up for developers by developers," said Nishant Patel, CTO of Built.io. "The Built.io Community expands the purview of who can participate as a developer and provides a dedicated space to create and collaborate. Our goal is to encourage a new and broader audience to innovate around APIs, recognizing both the traditional developers who code and the makers who don't."

Be sure to check out Built.io at booth B219 at DeveloperWeek in San Francisco Feb.13-15, 2017. For more information and to sign up for the community, visit www.built.io/community. For more information on the IoA Awards, visit www.InternetofAPIs.org.

About Built.io

Built.io  an official 2016 Gartner Cool Vendor  provides a digital business platform to help organizations accelerate their digital transformation. Built.io is trusted by Fortune 500 companies, game-changing startups and governments around the world to provide a new generation of digital experiences, powered by its three products: Built.io Flow, the award-winning integration Platform-as-a-Service (iPaaS), unifies disparate IT systems and connects anything with a digital heartbeat and an API to unlock efficiencies and boost innovation. Built.io Backend, the leading enterprise mobile Backend-as-a-Service (MBaaS), advances mobile and IoT application development. Built.io Contentstack, the pioneering headless Content Management System (CMS) delivers content across all channels. Combined, Built.io's unique technology portfolio enables organizations to create, integrate, scale and manage applications and related content across mobile, web and IoT. Learn more at www.built.io and follow us @Builtio.

Press Contact

Katelyn Davis

SHIFT Communications

[email protected]

+1 415-591-8465

SOURCE Built.io

Related Links

https://www.built.io


BELLEVUE, Wash., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Washington State House Judiciary Committee is meeting Thursday in Olympia for an executive session during which they will vote on two gun control measures, HB 1387 and HB 1122, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said.

"We are urging every gun owner in the state to contact committee members," said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. "House Bill 1387 requires licensing and registration of so-called 'assault weapons' and 'large capacity' ammunition magazines. The other bill, HB 1122, is a vaguely written attempt to micro-manage every gun owner in the state with a storage mandate that could criminalize anyone who does not comply."

During testimony earlier this month, gun owners, collectors and retired law enforcement opposed the measures.

"HB 1387 is especially alarming because we've seen the same strategy before, in California, where an entire class of firearms has been gradually and increasingly restricted," Gottlieb said. "The bill turns a right into a government-regulated privilege."

Here's what HB 1387 says:

(1)(a) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a person shall not possess, manufacture, transport, purchase, acquire, transfer, deliver, import, sell, or offer to sell an assault weapon or large capacity magazine without being in possession of an assault weapon license issued pursuant to section 3 of this act.

(b) The assault weapon license must list each assault weapon or large capacity magazine currently in the license holder's possession. A listed assault weapon must include the make, model, and manufacturer's number. A listed large capacity magazine must include a description including the make, caliber, and capacity of the magazine.

CCRKBA encourages gun owners, especially the more than 100,000 people who could be directly affected by the licensing scheme, to contact the House Judiciary Committee members. Also, call the in-state toll-free Legislative Hotline at 800-562-6000 and leave a message for the committee, and your individual district representatives.

With more than 650,000 members and supporters nationwide, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (www.ccrkba.org) is one of the nation's premier gun rights organizations. As a non-profit organization, the Citizens Committee is dedicated to preserving firearms freedoms through active lobbying of elected officials and facilitating grass-roots organization of gun rights activists in local communities throughout the United States.

SOURCE Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms

Related Links

http://www.ccrkba.org


JOPLIN, Mo., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CFI, a North American full-truckload carrier, announced the appointment of Bill Carter to the newly created position of vice president, logistics and Shepard Dunn as vice president, sales. Both will report to CFI President Tim Staroba.

Carter, most recently the president and chief operating officer of Hill Brothers Logistics, brings his 30 years of transportation experience to the CFI family. Previously, Carter was a force behind the extraordinary growth in freight management and logistics business for Werner, CRST, BirdDog and Hill Brothers Logistics. Carter started with the company this month.

"The time is right to build on our existing logistics capabilities in Mexico to expand across North America," Staroba said. "Bill has the requisite expertise and CFI has the necessary assets and business elements to create a more robust portfolio of logistics services."

Dunn, former president and chief executive officer with Best Way Express, Inc., has an understanding of operations, safety, maintenance and finance and more than 20 years' experience in the transportation industry. In addition to his leadership role at Best Way Express, Dunn was the chairman of the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) from 2014 to 2015. Dunn will strategically lead CFI sales while partnering with Pete Montano, who has taken on the additional role of national accounts leader. Dunn joins the company in March.

"Combining Dunn's vision with Montano's experience, CFI is enhancing the customer experience to provide the best service in the industry," added Staroba.

Joining industry position under TFI International, Inc., with the addition of Carter and Dunn, CFI is poised for growth in sales and new valued-added services of logistics, brokerage and freight management.

ABOUT TFI INTERNATIONAL

TFI International Inc. is a North American leader in the transportation and logistics industry, operating across the United States, Canada and Mexico through its subsidiaries. TFI International creates value for shareholders by identifying strategic acquisitions and managing a growing network of wholly owned operating subsidiaries. Under the TFI International umbrella, companies benefit from financial and operational resources to build their businesses and increase their efficiency. TFI International companies service the following segments:

package and courier

less-than-truckload

truckload

logistics

TFI International Inc. is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: TFII) and the OTCQX marketplace in the U.S. (OTCQX: TFIFF). For more information, visit http://www.tfiintl.com.

ABOUT CFI

CFI is a leading provider of time-definite 53-foot dry-van truckload transportation services in North America. Headquartered in Joplin, Missouri, CFI has a fleet of 2,400 company tractors and 8,000 trailers in addition to an independent contractor fleet. CFI provides solo, team and dedicated trucking operations with consistent quality service. Visit CFI on the web at CFIdrive.com or call (417) 623-5229.

SOURCE CFI

Related Links

http://cfidrive.com


LONDON, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Medical robotics can be used in surgery, rescue, transport, care, rehabilitation, dispensing and so on for the sick and wounded. Especially, surgical, rehabilitation and dispensing robots are the R & D priorities for China.

The overall development of Chinese medical robotics, in particular surgical robots, is relatively backward. In recent years, China has been dependent on Da Vinci products imported from the United States-based Intuitive Surgical. As of the end of December 2015, more than 40 Chinese hospitals had installed over 50 surgical robots for fulfilling 11,445 cases of surgery in 2015 and 22,917 cases over the years cumulatively. According to diseases, Da Vinci surgical system finds main application in urology and general surgical disciplines (hepatobiliary, pancreatic, gastrointestinal, colorectal and thyroid surgery, etc.) in China, and have implemented 9,313 and 7,220 cases so far respectively, occupying 40.6% and 31.5% of the total separately.

However, Chinese surgical robots have also made some progress with the support of the national policies and subsidies.

In July 2016, CFDA received Beijing TINAVI's registration application for its third-generation "Tianji" orthopedic surgery robot, which is expected to be formally commercialized at the end of 2016 or in early 2017. At present, TINAVI's orthopedic surgery robots have been applied to more than 10 hospitals such as Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, and have completed beyond 2,000 cases cumulatively.

In addition, Tianjin University has put its minimally invasive surgical robot system "Smart S" into clinical application and prototyped three models of "Smart S2" which are expected to be mass-produced at the end of 2016 or in 2017. Neurosurgical robot Remebot, the 6th-generation product co-developed by Navy General Hospital and Beihang University (Remebot responsible for industrialization) came out and was specially accepted for approval by CFDA in 2015 and is expected to be granted approval certificate at the end of 2016. Moreover, Remebot has started CE certification. The Laboratory of Robotics and System of Harbin Institute of Technology (affiliated companies: Boshi Automation and Harbin Sizherui Intelligent Medical Equipment Co., Ltd.) is expected to apply for product registration for its minimally invasive celiac surgical robot system at the end of 2017. Jinshan Science & Technology announced in Sept 2016 that the "minimally invasive thoracic & celiac surgical robot" co-developed with Tianjin University, Suzhou University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Chongqing University, and Southwest Hospital will go into clinical stage soon.

Due to low technical barriers and good market prospects, many Chinese enterprises have gotten involved in rehabilitation robot and dispensing robot fields and aggressive industrialization of these products. The enterprises focusing on rehabilitation robot include Jimho Robot (Shanghai), SIASUN Robot & Automation, Jinming Machinery, Truking Technology, and Midea Group and the ones on dispensing robot are Weibond Technology, Shenzhen Sanggu Medical Robot, and Wuxi Angel Medical Robot. However, it should be noted that these companies generally lack core technologies with less intelligent robots and need to spend large sums of money on R&D in the future.

China Medical Robotics Industry Report 2016-2020 highlights the following:

Operating environment for medical robotics in China (international markets, domestic policies, etc.);Medical robot industry in China (status quo, competitive landscape, market segments (rehabilitation robot, surgical robot, dispensing robot), etc.);6 overseas and 18 Chinese medical robot enterprises (operation, medical robot business, development prospects, etc.)

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

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For more information:

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Email: [email protected]

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Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

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LEMONT, Ill., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The CITGO Lemont Refinery and Joliet Junior College (JJC) recently announced a new scholarship for STEM students through the establishment of a $250,000 endowment with the Joliet Junior College (JJC) Foundation.

"During 2016 we began discussions with Will County Executive Larry Walsh, Sr. on how CITGO could make a positive impact in Will County by investing in the next generation of leaders in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). We concluded that a scholarship endowment would serve as the best conduit for workforce development and job opportunities for the residents of Will County," said Jim Cristman, vice president and general manager of the CITGO Lemont Refinery.

The CITGO Scholarship will be awarded annually to a JJC student(s) in one of the following majors: Process Control Instrumentation, Operations Engineering Technology, Industrial Maintenance Technology, Electrical/Electronic Automated Systems, Process Operations Technology or the dual credit high school program  Advanced Integrated Manufacturing. Applicants can be either part or full time students, but must demonstrate a financial need and exhibit community involvement through volunteer activities. The scholarship is non-renewable, and the number awarded per academic year will be determined by the JJC Foundation based on accrued interest from the endowment.

The 2017 recipients of CITGO Scholarship are Matthew Lane and Kayla Storme. Lane is currently pursuing two Associates degrees  one in Industrial Maintenance Technology and the other in Electrical/Electronics Automated Systems. Storme is majoring in Operations Engineering with the end goal of a career in chemical engineering. The students will receive their $5,000 scholarship and be recognized by CITGO, the JJC Foundation, and Executive Walsh during a presentation at the college on Wednesday, February 15 at 4:30 p.m.

According to Walsh, JJC, the nation's first public community college, offers a wide variety of opportunities with regard to STEM education because employment forecasts predict significant growth in technology occupations.

"CITGO has been an excellent community partner for many years. Through this generous scholarship, students will be able to further their education in various areas of technology. I congratulate Kayla and Matthew as the first recipients, and wish them much luck in their future studies and careers," said Walsh.

This endowment is part of the CITGO STEM Talent Pipeline program, which partners with educational organizations near the company's operational areas to increase access to educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math. The program promotes the importance of STEM education in the socioeconomic development of our communities and highlights the numerous pathways to rewarding careers, including those in the energy industry. It provides grants to schools and educational organizations to support programs that increase student interest, retention and graduation rates  particularly at the high school and post-secondary levels  and those that prepare students for STEM technical and university level curriculum. The program also provides scholarships for students pursuing higher degrees in STEM fields. In 2016, the CITGO STEM Talent Pipeline benefited 3,000 students and 300 educators across the CITGO operational footprint, strengthening the communities where the company has a presence.

About the CITGO Lemont Refinery

For over 90 years, CITGO Lemont Refinery has employed more than 750 Chicago area residents on a full-time and contract basis in support of the local economy. In addition to producing high quality fuels for a large portion of the network of nearly 5,500 locally-owned CITGO stations across the country, Lemont Refinery employees also make a major positive impact on the community. Each year, more than 2,500 volunteer hours and thousands of dollars are given in support of community programs such as Muscular Dystrophy Association, United Way and a variety of environmental and preservation programs. Operations at the Lemont Refinery began in 1925 with a major expansion, doubling the facility, in 1933. Over the years, new units were added to meet the demand for a better quality of gas for automobiles, aviation fuel for WWII, and the production of asphalt. Petroleos de Venezuela, PDVSA, acquired 100% ownership of the refinery in 1997 and began operations as CITGO Lemont Refinery. For more information, visit www.citgorefining.com/Lemont.

About CITGO

CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by CITGO Holding, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more information, visit www.CITGO.com.

SOURCE CITGO Petroleum Corporation

Related Links

http://www.citgo.com


HOUSTON, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Clearinghouse Securities and OFSCap LLC today announced their combination to form Entoro Group, and their acquisition of the OfferBoard funding platform from US Platform Development Group. The OfferBoard acquisition will enhance Entoro's distribution of energy related investment banking offerings and financial products to the family office, small institutional and international investor communities.

Entoro is a global investment banking and financial services firm with a proven track record in mid-market energy and infrastructure investment banking, including platform-based distribution. Entoro combines Clearinghouse Securities' transaction history of more than $10 billion in successful oil and gas transactions, OfferBoard's technology and platform finance expertise, and OFSCap's boutique energy investment and merchant banking experience, which includes over $2 billion in historical transactions.

Entoro will focus on the distribution of direct investment opportunities to family offices and small institutions.

"Our primary goal is to offer the best transactions with better distribution," said James C. Row, Entoro Group Managing Partner. "Entoro and OfferBoard are a perfect match: Entoro and our collaboration partners will continue to source quality energy transactions, and OfferBoard will become the premier distribution and execution platform for direct investment opportunities of $2 to 200 million. Our combined team is at the forefront of the convergence of energy, finance and new distribution technologies."

This combination of Entoro's energy expertise and transaction experience with OfferBoard's collaborative platform allows investment bankers, deal originators, and project companies to leverage their networks with those of Entoro and OfferBoard to close deals faster, with less friction, clear compliance and greater access to traditional and new sources of capital.

"I am excited about the opportunities for platform finance in the oil and gas middle-market, especially for small institutional investors and family offices," said Chris Tyrrell, founder of OfferBoard and an internationally-recognized expert in platform finance. "Entoro is uniquely positioned to offer investors differentiated products and scalable distribution."

About Entoro Group

Entoro Group is a global investment banking and financial services firm that focuses on mid-market energy and infrastructure investment banking. Entoro was formed by the merger of Clearinghouse Capital and Clearinghouse Securities and OFSCap. The Entoro Group of companies includes Entoro Capital (Energy and Infrastructure Investment Banking), Entoro Securities (FINRA licensed Broker/Dealer  formerly The Oil & Gas Asset Clearinghouse II), and Entoro International (Advisory and Merchant Banking). Entoro brings together investment banking professionals with energy industry expertise to provide financial and strategic solutions to a global clientele. Entoro's team is comprised of proven executives with over $100 billion in transactional experience. www.entorogroup.com

About OfferBoard

OfferBoard is an equity funding platform created in 2013 to provide a platform for private companies raising $2-50MM in capital and facilitating mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. Since launching at TechCrunch Disrupt in May 2014, the OfferBoard team has successfully executed over $150MM in transactions for clients in a variety of industries, including energy, healthcare, and technology. OfferBoard was designed for, and is compliant with, Title II of the JOBS Act of 2012. The OfferBoard team has created a number of proprietary analytical tools, including the Fundability Score, to better enhance the interaction between offering parties and investors. OfferBoard's founders include former executives from Second Market, Goldman Sachs and LendingClub. www.offerboard.com

Contact:

John Ambler

+1.817.965.2992

[email protected]

SOURCE Entoro Group

Related Links

http://www.entorogroup.com


LONDON, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The global clinical microbiology market was valued at USD 8.4 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach a value of USD 16.1 billion by 2024. Key factors driving the market growth include constant introduction of advanced products coupled with increasing demand in pharmaceutical, and clinical applications for investigation and diagnosis of various infectious diseases.



The market is rapidly growing due to the increasing adoption of automated and advanced technologies for laboratory instruments and analyzers in developed countries. Growing geriatric population and thereby rising prevalence of infectious diseases is one of the major factors boosting the adoption of clinical microbiology in healthcare sector for disease diagnosis and monitoring. In addition, industry is gaining high momentum with launch of innovative products such as MALDI Biotyper, GeneXpert and Myla IT performance management solutions. Moreover, with the U.S. FDA approving the Xpert Carba-R, commercialization of clinical microbiology devices is expected to increase significantly over the next few years.



In North America, the government authorities and private companies have significantly contributed toward technology development, research funding, and commercialization of clinical microbiology associated devices.

Further Key Findings from the Study Suggest:



Rapid adoption of technology and automation of laboratory work flow, laboratory instrument segement is expected to be the fastest growing segment with CAGR of 8.6% over the forecast period.



Reagents is the largest segment with market share of 34.7% in 2015. Repeat purchase of reagents contribute to its growth thus it is the largest growing segment in market.



In 2015, North America dominated the global market with largest revenue share of 41.0%. The continuous research on infectious disease treatment, and subsequent grant from government healthcare agencies are contributing to the development of a strong ecosystem for the expansion of clinical microbiology in the region.



Asia Pacific is expected to emerge as the fastest growing region during the forecast period. The growing geriatric population in India, China and Japan leading to increase in the prevalence of re-emerging infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, cholera and typhoid in this region are expected to promote the utilization of clinical application of microbiology in healthcare.

The clinical microbiology Industry is presently dominated by a few key participants such as bioMerieux S.A., Cepheid Inc., Danaher Corporation and Bruker Corporation. Some of the prominent players operating in the market include but are not limited to Becton Dickinson & Company, Hologic Inc., Roche Diagnostics and Alere Inc. Introduction of automated systems and innovative designs, is expected to intensify the competition by changing the market dynamics over the forecast period.

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About Reportbuyer

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

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For more information:

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Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

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ATLANTA, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Core Security, a leader in Vulnerability, Access Risk Management and Network Detection and Response, today announced that it has been named a finalist for Best Vulnerability Management Solution for the 2017 SC Awards. The Best Vulnerability Management Solution category considers products that perform network/device vulnerability assessment and/or penetration testing. Finalists are recognized for outstanding leadership and providing superior security products to the cybersecurity industry.

"We are very pleased that Core Vulnerability Insight has been recognized as one of the industry's leading vulnerability management solutions," said David Earhart, CEO, Core Security. "We provide organizations with the vulnerability management tools they need to not only detect and deter the serious threats that compromise critical assets and weaken their operations, but also obtain a holistic view of their security posture."

Core Vulnerability Insight enhances an organization's vulnerability management process and protects critical business assets by prioritizing and validating vulnerabilities. Massive amounts of vulnerabilities are generated as a result of both network and web scanning activities at medium and large organizations, making the need for vulnerability intelligence solutions essential.

"Ransomware, nation-state cyber attacks, IoT vulnerabilities, data privacy issues and more are dominating the headlines right now and it's critical that we amplify the importance of these problems and highlight the actions organizations can take to safeguard their organizations and their critical data assets," said Illena Armstrong, VP, editorial, SC Media. "As bad actors are constantly changing strategy, so too are the men, women and companies endeavoring to stop them in their tracks. These finalists have shown that they are the best at what they do."

For more information about SC Awards U.S., visit: https://www.scmagazine.com/awards/.

About Core Security Corporation

Core Security provides market-leading, threat-aware, identity, access and vulnerability management solutions that provide actionable intelligence and context needed to manage security risks across the enterprise. Solutions include multi-factor authentication, provisioning, Identity Governance and Administration (IGA), Identity and Access Intelligence (IAI), and Vulnerability Management (VM). The combination of these solutions provides context and shared intelligence through analytics, giving customers a more comprehensive view of their security posture so they can make better security remediation decisions and maintain compliance.

Core Security is headquartered in the USA with offices and operations in South America, Europe, Middle East and Asia. To learn more, contact Core Security at (678) 304-4500 or [email protected].

Media Contact

Kari Walker

ZAG Communications for Core Security

+1.703.928.9996

[email protected]

SOURCE Core Security

Related Links

https://www.coresecurity.com


"We look forward to concluding more Core Wireless patent license agreements in 2017," said Boris Teksler, Manager of Core Wireless and President and CEO of Conversant. "Core Wireless always prefers negotiating with willing licensees towards fair agreements without the need to litigate. But for companies who are not willing to engage in the FRAND licensing process, Core Wireless stands ready to enforce our patent rights when required. In fact, this latest agreement follows our successes in the United States courts in 2016, where three separate juries found Core Wireless patents valid and infringed by handsets and tablets that are compliant with wireless communications standards. In one case the Court later awarded enhanced damages against a resistant defendant, recognizing the importance of engaging in serious, good-faith license negotiations and being willing to take a FRAND license where appropriate. These results show both the value of the Core Wireless portfolio and the necessity of good-faith participation in SEP license negotiations."

About Core Wireless

Core Wireless Licensing S.a.r.l. is an intellectual property management company focused on licensing a major portfolio of about 1,000 wireless patents and patent applications that cover technologies used in a wide range of mobile communications devices and services. Core Wireless is a subsidiary of Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc. For more information, please visit http://www.core-wireless.com/.

About Conversant

Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc. is a global intellectual property management company known for its principled approach to patent licensing. With a portfolio of thousands of patents and patent applications under management, Conversant has special expertise in semiconductors and communications technology. For more information, please visit www.conversantip.com.

SOURCE Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc

Related Links

Www.conversantip.com


Reporting directly to Brooks will be Tommy Browning, Vice-President Sales and Marketing, Merchandise and Bulk and Jonathan Wahba, Vice-President Sales and Marketing, Intermodal and Grain.

Browning started his rail career with Illinois Central in 1989 and has held a number of senior marketing and operations-related roles in his nearly three decades in the industry. Since joining CP in 2013, Browning has played an integral role in enhancing CP's merchandise and bulk portfolios while building relationships with key customers.

Wahba, who was most recently the Chief Operating Officer at Kriska Transportation Group, has also held leadership positions at Schneider National, CN and Midland Transport. His extensive experience in the transportation industry, from trucking to rail, will support CP's strong intermodal business. His appointment is effective immediately.

"Better service, more in-depth analysis through Trip Planning and the most disciplined operating team in North America, combined with a strong sales and marketing team positions us well for the future," said Brooks. "Jonathan and Tommy have proven track records in this business and I look forward to working closely with them and the rest of the team as we continue to deliver for our customers."

In the role of CMO, Brooks will be responsible for CP's business units and lead a group of highly capable sales and marketing professionals across North America. In addition, Brooks will be responsible for strengthening partnerships with existing customers, generating new opportunities for growth, enhancing the value of the company's service offerings and developing strategies to optimize CP's book of business.

With more than 20 years in the railroading business, Brooks brings a breadth of experience to the CMO role that will be pivotal to CP's continued and future success. Brooks began his railroading career with Union Pacific and later helped start I&M Rail Link, LLC, which was purchased by the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad (DM&E) in 2002. Brooks was Vice-President of Marketing at the DM&E prior to it being acquired by CP in 2007.

During Brooks' sales and marketing career he has held senior responsibilities in all lines of business, including coal, chemicals, merchandise products, grain and intermodal.

"Over the last four years, we have made operational improvements that have benefited our customers," said Brooks. "This is an exciting time to be leading this important function within the company, selling the value of our service."

About Canadian Pacific

Canadian Pacific (TSX:CP)(NYSE:CP) is a transcontinental railway in Canada and the United States with direct links to eight major ports, including Vancouver and Montreal, providing North American customers a competitive rail service with access to key markets in every corner of the globe. CP is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit cpr.ca to see the rail advantages of CP.

SOURCE Canadian Pacific

Related Links

http://www.cpr.ca


LONDON, February 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Whether you're celebrating your very first Valentine's Day together or your 50th, staying in on this romantic date is definitely the new going out.

There's no need to put yourself through the stress of trying to book a restaurant that will be crammed to the rafters with other couples, with the waiting staff rushing you through your meal to accommodate the next round, and where the price of a drink is guaranteed to be as sky high as one of Cupid's arrows. Much better to avoid all the hassle of planning an itinerary and booking a table that's too close to a draughty door, by celebrating St. Valentine's Day in the comfort of your own home - with thebar.com.

Scented candles, music that you actually like, dishes that come with second helpings and a great selection of drinks - now that's the perfect recipe for a relaxed and intimate evening. They do say that home is where the heart is, and your own place is definitely where you are most comfortable. Where else can you kick off your shoes and talk at whatever volume you like?

While any would-be-chefs can show off their culinary prowess in the kitchen, adding cocktails to the mix will take your Valentine's meal to the next level. How special is that? Your own personal bar tender can be at your beck and call. You could start with the tried and tested - the classic French 75 -with rose champagne or sparkling wine and gin. Then mix up two blush-hued Cosmopolitans straight out of Sex and the City - because there's nothing like a glinting cocktail shaker and an array of exotic ingredients to add theatre to the proceedings.

You don't have to be an experienced mixologist to present your guest of honour with some of these seriously quaffable cocktails. The drinks experts at thebar.com have an array of cocktails that look as pretty as they are delicious, with simple step-by-step instructions showing you how to make them. Finish with a Baileys Chocolatini for the ultimate indulgence. And remember that the non-alcoholic Southern Passion is a great mocktail alternative with juicy tropical fruit bursting from the glass. This is definitely one drinks menu to keep the home fires burning.

For more cocktails inspiration head to thebar.com. With hundreds of recipes to choose from, there's something to suit everyone's tastes. Search by ingredient or spirits for recommendations for the perfect celebration cocktail.

Notes to editors

Enjoy drinks sensibly. Visit https://uk.thebar.com/cocktail-recipes

About thebar.com

Thebar.com is a cocktail recipe site owned by Diageo, providing recipes and ingredient lists for over 400 cocktails. These mixed drinks are based on brands owned by Diageo, including Smirnoff, Gordon's, Johnnie Walker and Captain Morgan. Notably, thebar.com has won prestigious DMAs, Drums and DADI awards for 2015 and 2016.

About Diageo

Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JB, Windsor and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at http://www.diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com

For recipe requests or expert tips contact Thebar.com TMW Unlimited: [email protected] +44(0)-20-7349-4000

SOURCE Diageo
Company Announces They Will Not Be Taking Orders for Popular Collectible Puzzle Erasers at NYTF

MONTREAL, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - CroJack Capital Inc. (www.crojack.com), a multifaceted company that focuses on wholesale distribution and the investment in and cultivation of dynamic entrepreneurial businesses, is sorry to announce that they will not be taking orders during New York Toy Fair for the latest collectible craze, IWAKO's imaginative and unique collectible puzzle erasers.

IWAKO's extensive line will make its official North American debut at Toy Fair in New York, February 18-21, 2017, booth #4513. Attendees are encouraged to stop by the booth and see what the frenzy is all about, but are warned that during the show there will be "No IWAKO For You." Due to an overwhelming demand, CroJack will not be writing orders for the coveted collectibles, but instead the IWAKO team will be at the show taking inquiries from customers and then allocating product after NYTF.



"We're probably the only company in history to go to Toy Fair planning to NOT write orders. To be fair to our specialty customers, we've decided to allocate product to retailers that sign up at the show, on a first-come first-serve basis," said Dan Wise, Founder and CEO of CroJack. "The brand currently has a cult-following in Asia and the UK, and IWAKO has been trickling product into the U.S. and Canada on a limited basis. CroJack will work towards ultimately making IWAKO available to all retailers throughout North, Central and South America."

IWAKO has been a well-loved Japanese brand since 1987. For 30 years IWAKO has worked to constantly develop and innovate their manufacturing and design processes in Japan, making them a global collectible phenomenon. CroJack will head distribution of IWAKO throughout the Americas and plans on explosive growth throughout their distribution network.



For IWAKO sales inquiries please contact Scott Jackson [email protected].

To book New York Toy Fair appointments for IWAKO please contact Alexandre Ouellette [email protected].

To join the collecting craze, visit the official IWAKO Facebook page @IWAKOofficial.

About CroJack Capital Inc.

CroJack Group of Companies, located in Canada, the US, and Barbados, is a wholesale distributor focused on children's products, predominantly in the toy industry. The company represents and distributes innovative products and continues to seek industry leading product lines for global distribution. CroJack is also an investor in early stage entrepreneurial businesses including RealEats.com and WheelsUp.

About IWAKO

Founded in 1968 with its sights set on creating the highest-quality, shaped stationery products, IWAKO has since established itself as the global leader in collectible, specialty erasers and accessories in the stationery category. Based in Japan, the renowned eraser manufacturer devotes ceaseless efforts and passion to create each product. IWAKO gives shape to imaginative and fun-loving ideas, and creates products that make people happy.

SOURCE CroJack Capital Inc.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cryptsoft today announced the release of its Key Management Interoperability Protocol (KMIP) C Server Integration Module for Intel Software Guard Extensions (Intel SGX) at the RSA Conference 2017.

With this latest KMIP C Server Integration Module, Cryptsoft covers the full range of hardware security protection options for our customers' cryptographic keys, from traditional incumbent HSMs, to modern challengers' rich-featured HSMs, to fully leveraging native security capabilities found in the latest modern CPU chip sets.

"Cryptsoft is continuing to meet market demand by expanding our industry-leading range of KMIP Server software development kits (SDKs) to include support for the Intel SGX technology making secure on-chip key management available on Intel SGX capable CPUs," said Greg Scott, CEO at Cryptsoft. "Intel SGX provides an exciting new range of additional security capabilities which we are bringing to our customers in Cryptsoft's industry-leading, open standards based, key management SDKs."

"Cryptsoft provides a large range of protection options for the key store within our KMIP Server SDKs including both local and remote encryption with a range of hardware security modules (HSMs). This additional integration module for the Cryptsoft KMIP C Server SDK allows for support of on-chip hardware security protection using the Intel SGX technology," said Tim Hudson, CTO at Cryptsoft. "Intel SGX is now available on a much wider range of Intel processors and is now a viable alternative for what was previously required a specialised hardware security device. Cryptsoft continually evaluates new technology to provide additional functionality for our OEM customers delivering on our commitment to open standards and interoperable, verifiable secure applications for the modern enterprise."

Cryptsoft is demonstrating the new Intel SGX HSM module at booth 3130 in the Moscone North exhibition hall at the RSA Conference.

More information:

Cryptsoft Key Management Interoperability Protocol (KMIP) Products

About Cryptsoft Pty Ltd:

Cryptsoft is a privately-held Australian company with 21 years' experience in the cryptographic and security markets. Cryptsoft's Key Management Interoperability Protocol (KMIP) and PKCS#11 software development kits (SDKs) for Server and Client empower vendors to provide the secure, simplified, and vendor-agnostic interoperable enterprise key management solutions the global market is demanding. Cryptsoft is an OASIS Foundational Sponsor, SNIA and SSIF Voting Member. https://www.cryptsoft.com/

PRLog ID: www.prlog.org/12619833

SOURCE Cryptsoft

Related Links

http://www.cryptsoft.com


LONDON, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Data center infrastructure management (DCIM) is a suite of solutions allowing efficient monitoring and management of a datacenter in terms of the optimization of data center space, power consumption, and cooling. The demand for DCIM is expected to increase in the coming years owing to the growing awareness of energy efficiency and the impact of government regulations in respective regions.The growing number of data centers in the North American and European regions is expected to increase the adoption of DCIM solutions in these markets.

This research report provides an in-depth analysis of the global DCIM market based on solutions, components,industry verticals,and geography. The global DCIM market is categorized based on solution types into IT asset management, facility management &consulting, and other services. Furthermore, the report provides complete insights into different DCIM components through component segmentation, which includes IT asset, DCIM software, power, cooling, and others. The industry verticalsfor the globalDCIM market are banking, financial services &insurance (BFSI), information technology, telecom, healthcare, retail, and others. The report analyzes each of these segments for the various geographies considered under the scope of the study.



Based on geographical regions, the report segments the global DCIM market into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East &Africa (MEA), and South America, which are analyzed in terms of revenue generation. North America is further segmented into the U.S. and Canada, while Europe is divided into the U.K. and Germany. Asia Pacific is subdivided into China and India. Also, MEA is further segmented into South Africa and the UAE, while South America is subdivided into Brazil and Argentina. The report further provides a cross-segmentation analysis of the segmentation as per the countries.

The report also provides an analysis ofthe factors that drive and restrain the growth of the DCIMmarket. It discusses the prevailing market trends, prospective growth opportunities, and major strategies increasing the popularity of the global DCIM market. It provides market estimates and forecasts for all the segments in terms of revenue.Also provided in the report is the market share of key players by IT asset management, facility management, pure player and overall DCIM market. The report also provides industry evolution, data center overview, service agreement analysis, value chain analysis, and Porter's Five ForcesAnalysis for the global DCIM market.



Major business strategies adopted by key players, their SWOT analysis, and competition matrix have also been identified in the research report. The key market players profiled in this study include Emerson Network Power, Inc., Schneider Electric SE, Eaton Corp. PLC, IBM Corp., CA Technologies, Inc., Siemens AG, ABB Ltd., FNT GmbH, Johnson Controls, Inc., Nlyte Software, Inc., Sunbird Software, Inc. (Raritan, Inc.), Panduit Corp., Commscope, Inc., Altron a.s.,Cormant, Inc., and Rackwise, Inc.



Global DCIM Market



By Solution



IT Asset Management

Facility Management

Consulting and Other Services



By Component



IT Asset

DCIM Software

Power

Cooling

Others



By Industry Vertical



Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI)

Information Technology

Telecom

Health Care

Retail

Others

By Geography



North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East and Africa

South America

Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4201043/



About Reportbuyer

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

http://www.reportbuyer.com



For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

Related Links

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Scott Hardy has had a distinguished career spanning four decades in information technology, business strategy, leadership, and executive management. Over the span of his career, he has worked with a diverse set of clients and partners across a wide array of industries including transportation, government, telecommunications, and financial services among others. Prior to his arrival at DDS, he spent 30 years with IBM, where he held several senior executive positions within sales, services and consulting, marketing, and headquarters functions in Canada and the United States. In his last position at IBM, he was Vice President, Western Canada, where he was responsible for customer relationships, sales, and delivery for clients based in western Canada. Mr. Hardy also had a successful business consulting practice and began his career at RBC Royal Bank in their investment banking and IT organizations.

"Scott is a natural leader with boundless energy and has infused a fresh perspective and enthusiasm into the company," said Vari Ghai. "In a short period of time, he has had a remarkable impact on resetting the course of our business and it has become clear that there is no better leader to advance the company through the historic shifts now happening in the transportation industry."

"I am truly honoured to become the next CEO of DDS," said Scott Hardy. "DDS is a great company with an extraordinarily talented team. Our current business is strong and we are well-positioned to capitalize on the significant growth opportunities our market presents. We're driven by our success and I'm confident in our capacity to win."

About DDS Wireless International Inc.

Founded in 1987, DDS Wireless International Inc. (www.ddswireless.com) is a diversified global provider of mobile solutions for a variety of fleet management applications. DDS produces enterprise and cloud-based platforms, payment solutions, and mobile applications for consumers. DDS uses state of the art technologies to provide real-time dispatching, vehicle location and tracking, and routing and scheduling optimization. DDS serves a worldwide customer base through offices in United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, and Singapore.

SOURCE DDS Wireless International Inc.

Related Links

http://www.ddswireless.com


DHAKA, Bangladesh, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- An international apparel summit is all set to take place in Dhaka with the objective of opening dialogue on framing strategies to secure a more sustainable apparel supply chain from local and global perspectives. The event styled "Dhaka Apparel Summit 2017" will be held on 25 February 2017 at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Honorable Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the daylong event organized by Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) in collaboration with Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE).

Organized by Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) in collaboration with Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE)

The Dhaka Apparel Summit is a prime event on textile and apparel industry in Bangladesh that brings together some of the world's leading experts in their respective fields to share their experiences and visionary thoughts on issues pertaining to the apparel industry and ways in which the business can realize sustainable growth well into the 21st Century. The main focus will be on the apparel industry of Bangladesh, on its recent transformation and suggestions to chalk out sustainable development. As Bangladesh is a part of global apparel supply chain, the global important apparel issues will also be discussed in the summit.

The Summit will hold three panel discussion sessions, offering a more open and inter-active environment, and allowing full audience participation and the opportunity for a valid exchange of ideas. The seminars will be attended by representatives of the Government, international organizations, economists, brand representatives, development organizations, employers, workers' representatives, civil society members, academics, and media from home and abroad.

Apart from local experts, some international experts will also take part in the lively panel discussion on different topics in the seminars:

H. E. Pierre Mayaudon, Ambassador & the Head of Delegation, Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh

H. E. Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat, U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh

Christopher Woodruff , Professor of Development Economics University of Oxford

, Professor of Development Economics Tim Worstall , Senior Fellow Adam Smith Institute

, Senior Fellow Adam Smith Institute Martin Rama , Chief Economist, South Asia Region, World Bank

, Chief Economist, South Asia Region, World Bank Helena Helmersson , Managing Director, H&M Group, Hong Kong

, Managing Director, H&M Group, Thomas Klausen , CEO, Dansk Fashion & Textile

, CEO, Dansk Fashion & Textile Dr. Jochen Frank Weikert , Head of Promotion of Social and Environmental Standards in the Industry (PSES) GIZ, Bangladesh

, Head of Promotion of Social and Environmental Standards in the Industry (PSES) GIZ, Srinivasa B Reddy, Country Director, ILO, Bangladesh

Peter McAllister , Executive Director, Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI)

, Executive Director, Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Jill Tucker , Head of Supply Chain Innovation & Transformation, C&A Foundation

, Head of Supply Chain Innovation & Transformation, C&A Foundation Gilbert F. Houngbo , Deputy Director-General of the ILO

Their discussion will shed light on different timely issues, including Bangladesh RMG industry which is at the dawn of a new era in its development, with strides being taken towards achieving sustainable targets. The summit will offer a forum to express and discuss views with a broad spectrum of proposals to further improve the industry's sustainable credentials. It also aims to bring about various methods to achieve these goals.

Session Agenda for Dhaka Apparel Summit 2017

10.30 am  1.00 pm

Inaugural ceremony to be attended by the chief guest Honourable Prime Minister Government of people's Republic of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina

2.00 pm  3.30 pm

Session-1: Business Policy & Environment: Towards a Better Bangladesh

In recent years, the economic growth in Bangladesh has exceeded expectations. In fiscal year 2015-16 the GDP growth reached 7.11%. The government is making efforts to pursue ambitious investment target to raise the GDP growth to 8% by 2021. Several projections and assessments by global financial institutes tell Bangladesh to become a manufacturing hub if the country can improve its trade competitiveness. This session will discuss about business climate in the country and policies required to support its growth potentials. The discussions will explore the priorities to move toward industry led economic growth, particularly in the area of conducive business environment and predictable policies as well as meeting growing infrastructure needs.

3.45 pm  5.15 pm

Session-2: Collaborative and Responsible Sourcing For Sustainable Growth

In the global supply chain, all need a mutually beneficial, predictable and responsible business practices and actions by all stakeholders to ensure sustainability. This requires closer cooperation. Agenda 2030 for global sustainable development speaks of inclusive development and resilient industrialization. These issues are also in focus in various global forums, e.g. UN, OECD and G7. The other side of the coin is that fierce competition among the buyers and suppliers not necessarily is healthy and sustainable for all stakeholders in the supply chain. This session will discuss the importance of stakeholders' collaboration and economics of sustainability for meaningful persuasion of sustainability agenda within the apparel supply chain.

5.30 pm  7.00 pm

Session-3: Bangladesh Apparel Industry: Transformation and the Road Ahead

Bangladesh's apparel industry has taken great strides against many internal and external challenges. In the recent years, the industry has been making tangible progress in occupational health and safety as well as structural integrity and harmonious industrial relations. There remains more to be done. The panelists in this session will share their perspectives on transformation, challenges faced and the road ahead. The session will also highlight the importance of modernization and resilience of the industry and moving up the ladder of responsible value chain for creating better opportunities for all.

7.05 pm  7.15 pm

Closing remarks

Brief info:

Event: Dhaka Apparel Summit 2017

Date: 25 February 2017; 10.00 am  7.15 pm

Venue: Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka / Bangladesh

For more info please visit:www.dhakaapparelsummit.com

Click here for downloading the press material from dropbox: http://bit.ly/DhakaApparelSummit_2017

Contact:

Gunhild Knierim

Fon: +49 (0) 89/23 09 91-33

E-Mail:[email protected]

Heinrike Helm

Fon: +49 (0) 89/23 09 91-15

E-Mail: [email protected]

Greenside PR

Braintown GmbH

Sandstrasse 33

D-80335 Munchen

Germany

Fon: +49 (0) 89/23 09 91-10

Fax: +49 (0) 89/23 09 91-99

www.greenside-story.de

Related Files

BROCHURE_WEB_16P.compressed.pdf

Press Release_Dhaka Apparel Summit_Feb17_ENG.pdf

Related Images

image1.jpg

image2.jpg

image3.jpg

image4.jpg

Related Links

Website of the Dhaka Apparel Summit 2017 - Information and Registration

Registration form for the Dhala Apparel Summit 2017

Related Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxKl_8B3gyQ

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association
FLINT, Mich., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc. (NYSE: DPLO), the nation's largest independent specialty pharmacy, today announced the appointment of Ben Wolin as independent Lead Director, effective immediately. Mr. Wolin, a member of the Company's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and its Audit Committee, was appointed to the newly created position by the Company's independent directors.

Phil Hagerman, chairman and CEO of Diplomat, commented, "The appointment of a lead director is a continuation of Diplomat's growing corporate governance practices. Ben possesses the extensive healthcare experience and broad perspective critical to oversee the efficient running of Diplomat's governance structure while upholding the interests of our shareholders." "I am honored to be appointed by the Company's independent directors to this new position," said Mr. Wolin. "I understand the important role that a lead director can play in ensuring that a board appropriately monitors the management team while providing strong independent leadership and strategic guidance. I look forward to continuing to work with the Board to further enhance value for all Diplomat shareholders."

About Ben Wolin

Ben Wolin has been a member of Diplomat's Board since October 2015. Mr. Wolin served as the co-founder, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Everyday Health, Inc. (NYSE: EVDY), a leading provider of digital health and wellness solutions, from January 2002 until its sale in December 2016. From September 1999 until December 2001, Mr. Wolin served as Vice President of Production and Technology for Beliefnet, Inc., an online provider of religious and spiritual information. Previously, Mr. Wolin served as Web Producer for Tribune Interactive, Inc., a multimedia corporation, and held several consulting positions with interactive companies.

About Diplomat

Diplomat (NYSE: DPLO) serves patients and physicians in all 50 states. Headquartered in Flint, Michigan, the company focuses on medication management programs for people with complex chronic diseases. Diplomat opened its doors in 1975 as a neighborhood pharmacy with one essential tenet: "Take good care of patients and the rest falls into place." Today, that tradition continuesalways focused on improving patient care and clinical adherence. For more information, visit diplomat.is.

Investor Contact:

Bob East, Westwicke Partners

443-213-0500 | [email protected]

SOURCE Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.diplomat.is


RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion is investing more than $800 million in solar power in Virginia, with much of it being built at little or no cost to most customers. Additional solar projects are now in the planning stages.

Powhattan Solar, 71,820 panels (17MW)

"Our company has made a major commitment to develop significant blocks of solar generation to meet customers' energy needs going forward," said Paul Koonce, CEO of Power Generation at Dominion Energy. "Our goal is to have a balanced generating portfolio that is highly reliable, cost effective and environmentally responsible. The cost of energy powered by the sun is coming down and we are working hard to develop projects in new and economical ways for our customers."

Some 398 megawatts of solar generation have either been completed or are under development throughout much of Virginia  enough to power 100,000 homes. Most of the development and construction costs will be borne by specific contractual customers such as large business and government.

In February 2015, Dominion committed to developing 400 megawatts of large-scale solar generation facilities in Virginia and placing them in service by 2020. Additionally, legislation passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 2015 found that development by Virginia utilities of up to 500 megawatts of solar projects in the state was "in the public interest."

"We are well ahead of schedule on the solar expansion and what we have added so far will have a very minimal impact on the price of electricity for the 2.5 million regulated customers we serve in Virginia," Koonce said.

The Corporate Clean Energy Procurement Index, in partnership with the Retail Industry Leaders Association and the Information Technology Council, recently ranked Virginia among the top 20 states for solar power and in the top three for utility clean energy purchasing options.

More than 80 percent of the cost of the facilities is being covered by large business and government customers, including the Commonwealth of Virginia and the University of Virginia, who signed long-term contracts with Dominion to develop the generation.

In addition to building larger solar-powered units, Dominion's Solar Partnership Program has placed company-owned solar panels on leased rooftops and grounds of government and business properties throughout its Virginia service area. Ten of these facilities have been installed at sites including Canon in Gloucester, Old Dominion University in Norfolk and Capital One in Chester.

The Commonwealth's commitment to 500 megawatts of large-scale solar development by 2020 was included in Senate Bill 1349, passed by the General Assembly in February 2015. SB 1349 froze the company's base rates  making up about 60 percent of the typical residential bill  at 2015 levels for five years. This helped provide price stability for customers as the company deals with complex federal air quality regulations, including those limiting power station carbon dioxide emissions.

The bill also directed utilities to provide more assistance to low income, elderly and disabled customers. In response, Dominion dramatically expanded EnergyShare, the company's energy assistance program for customers in need. The company committed $57 million in additional funding for EnergyShare over five years. More than 20,000 families and individuals have received assistance since the expanded program began in September 2015.

Dominion (NYSE: D), is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 26,400 megawatts of generation, 14,600 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline, and 6,600 miles of electric transmission lines. Dominion operates one of the nation's largest natural gas storage systems with 1 trillion cubic feet of storage capacity and serves more than 6 million utility and retail energy customers. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's website at www.dom.com.

SOURCE Dominion

Related Links

http://www.dom.com


LONDON, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Egypt was an exporter of LNG till 2014. However, natural gas production in Egypt declined over the past few years, and at the same time demand for LNG increased continuously due to rising demand from power and industrial sectors in the country. Thus, from being an exporter of LNG, Egypt currently imports LNG to address domestic demand. Moreover, Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company secured a long-term contract from Gazprom and Sonatrach to supply 15 BCM of LNG to Egypt by 2020. Also, severalcompanies operating in Egypt LNG market are increasing focus on using Floating Storage and Regasification Units (FSRU) for faster commissioning of LNG and to also reduce cost of importing LNG. Furthermore, in order to reduce natural gas demand-supply gap in the country, imports and domestic production of LNG in Egypt is forecast to rise through 2025.

According to "Egypt LNG Market Demand & Supply Analysis, By Region, By Application, By LNG Terminal, Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011-2025", LNG market in Egypt projected to surpass 4.5 MMT by 2025. In 2015, Egypt recorded highest imports of LNG in Middle East & Africa. The country majorly imports LNG from Qatar, Algeria, Australia and Equatorial Guinea. Moreover, increasing demand for LNG from various end use sectors and decreasing LNG prices in comparison to other alternative fuels are anticipated to drive LNG market in Egypt during 2016-2025. "Egypt LNG Market Demand & Supply Analysis, By Region, By Application, By LNG Terminal, Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011-2025" discusses the following aspects of LNG market in the Egypt:



- Egypt LNG Demand & Supply Analysis

- Egypt LNG Potential Demand & Supply Gap

- Regional Market Analysis (Greater Cairo Region, Alexandria Region, Suez Canal Region, Delta Region, Asyut Region, North Upper Region and South Upper Region)

- LNG Pricing Analysis



Why You Should Buy This Report?



- To gain an in-depth understanding of Egypt LNG market

- To identify on-going trends and anticipated growth within next ten years

- To help align market-centric strategies for LNG terminal operators, aggregators, suppliers, marketers and consultants

- To obtain research based business decisions and add weight to presentations and marketing material

- To gain competitive knowledge of leading market players

- To avail 10% customization in the report without any extra charges and get research data or trends added in the report as per the buyer's specific needs



Report Methodology



The information contained in this report is based upon both primary and secondary research. Primary research includes interaction with LNG terminal operators, aggregators, distributors and industry experts in Egypt. Secondary research includes an exhaustive search of relevant publications such as company annual reports, financial reports and proprietary databases.

Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4683632/



About Reportbuyer

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

http://www.reportbuyer.com



For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

Related Links

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CHICAGO, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Elite Invest, LLC (www.eliteinvest.com), a leader in the restoration, rental and sales of single and multi-family dwellings in Chicago, announced a new initiative to provide quality, affordable home ownership on the city's South Side.

In the span of 7-years, Elite Invest has emerged as a leading developer in Chicago, specializing in restoring distressed housing, and providing quality, affordable homes to the community.

"We look forward to working with community groups and the City of Chicago to assure that our homes match the needs of the neighborhood," said Alex Al-Sabah, Co-Founder of Elite Invest. "For years, we have provided high quality rental homes with luxury condo-style features at an affordable price on the South Side. We are now applying our skills in rehabilitation and restoration to single family homes, to improve communities and create beautiful neighborhoods where the dream of home ownership can be attained."

The company plans on investing and rehabilitating homes in South Shore, Woodlawn, Auburn Gresham, Chatham, Greater Grand Crossing and Chicago Lawn.

"These communities are part of Chicago's heritage, but unfortunately, many suffer from neglect," Al-Sabah commented. "It takes private capital and initiative to work with city and community leaders to transform these neighborhoods, and it starts with affordable, high quality housing."

Elite Invest stimulates the local economy by creating hundreds of construction and tradesmen jobs, and significantly improves neighborhoods often ignored by other developers. The company's mission is to provide local residents high quality, affordable home rentals and ownership.

For information on Elite Invest, call 312-690-7711, or visit: www.eliteinvest.com

About Elite Invest:

Elite Invest rehabilitates and revitalizes urban neighborhoods. The company brings investment dollars into select communities and purchases distressed assets, then rehabilitates, rents, manages, or sells the properties. In the process, the company improves communities, creates jobs, and provides innovatively designed, affordable housing.

The company also provides turn-key passive real estate investment opportunities for qualified investors worldwide, who want to capitalize on the immense growth potential in the Chicago and Southern California markets.

Elite Invest, LLC currently manages over 400 buildings, with more than 1,000 apartments and over $100M of residential real estate assets in its portfolio.

Connect:

Website: www.eliteinvest.com

Facebook: facebook.com/EliteInvestLLC

Twitter: @EliteInvestChi

Media Inquiries:

The Innovation Agency

www.inov8.us

hello(@)inov8.us

SOURCE Elite Invest

Related Links

http://www.eliteinvest.com


SAO JOSE DOS CAMPOS, Brazil, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Widere, the largest regional airline in Scandinavia, will be the first airline in the world to receive the brand-new E190-E2 jet, the first member of the E-Jets E2, the second generation of the E-Jets family of commercial aircraft. As the launch operator of the model, Widere will receive their first aircraft in the first half of 2018.

Widere has a contract with Embraer for up to 15 E2 family jets consisting of three firm orders for the E190-E2 and purchase rights for 12 further E2 family aircraft. The order has a potential list price value of up to USD 873 million, with all orders being exercised.

"The market is keen to know the identity of the E190-E2 launch operator, and we're pleased to end that suspense on this Valentine's Day - Widere is the 'perfect match'. The airline has a special place in our hearts; Widere are proven pioneers in their field who have achieved major success and still remain hugely ambitious, similar in many ways to the path taken by Embraer", said John Slattery, President & CEO, Embraer Commercial Aviation. "The E2 program remains on target with technical specification guidance, on time and on budget. Our team remains focused on a successful delivery to Widere in the first half of next year."

Widere is configuring the E190-E2s in a comfortable single-class layout with 114 seats. With the Norway's airline order, the E-Jets E2 backlog has 275 firm orders plus Letters of Intent, options and purchase rights covering another 415 aircraft giving a total of 690 commitments from airlines and leasing companies.

Stein Nilsen, Chief Executive Officer of Widere, said, "We are very proud we will be the first airline in the world to operate the E190-E2. Knowing the hard-work Embraer is doing in the certification campaign, especially in terms of maturity, we have every confidence in a smooth entry into service. The E190-E2 will be a big leap in Widere's history, and our planning for the first deliveries is now well underway."

Embraer is the world's leading manufacturer of commercial jets with up to 130+ seats. The Company has 100 customers from all over the world operating the ERJ and the E-Jet families of aircraft. For the E-Jets program alone, Embraer has logged more than 1,700 orders and over 1,300 deliveries, redefining the traditional concept of regional aircraft by operating across a range of business applications.

Follow us on Twitter: @Embraer

Contact:

Headquarters (Brazil)

Saulo Passos

[email protected]

Cell: +55 11 94254 4017

Tel.: +55 11 3040 1799



North America

Alyssa Ten Eyck

[email protected]

Cell: +1 954 383 0460

Tel.: +1 954 359 3847



Europe, Middle East and Africa

Guy Douglas

[email protected]

Cel.: +31 (0)657120121

Tel.: +31 (0)202158109



China

Mirage Zhong

[email protected]

Cell: +86 185 1378 5180

Tel.: +86 10 6598 9988



Asia Pacific

Nilma Missir-Boissac

[email protected]

Cell: +65 9012 8428

Tel.: +65 6305 9955



SOURCE Embraer S.A.

Related Links

http://www.embraer.com


DENVER, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ENAVATE, a leading Microsoft Dynamics 365 provider, announced on February 1st it will operate under one brand, ENAVATE, bringing the North American and European teams together under one unified name. In December 2014, ENAVATE acquired MBS Dev and Celenia Software, then developed a dual brand strategy and became ENAVATE and Celenia. Today, the companies are successfully integrated as one, and it is time to look ahead to the future as one brand, one company, one ENAVATE!

"The transition to conducting business under one brand, ENAVATE, is another step towards achieving Vision 2020," said Thomas Ajspur, ENAVATE Chief Executive Officer. "We are in a position to better leverage our global resources and service the Distribution industry and Microsoft Dynamics 365 partners." Ralph Sasson, Chief Operations Officer, Sakar stated, "We have experienced the superior value ENAVATE brings to our organization through the local presence in North America while simultaneously being able to leverage off-shore resources that provide us high quality skillsets at competitive rates."

"We are pleased to see ENAVATE'S commitment to Microsoft and look forward to continuing our work with them to provide our customers with Microsoft's robust cloud platform and Dynamics 365 Business Applications," said Tony de Freitas, Senior Director, Dynamics Channel Strategy and Programs, Microsoft Corp.

About ENAVATE

ENAVATE, a 2016 Microsoft President's Club winner, provides business consulting and industry-focused enterprise software solutions based on the Microsoft Dynamics 365, AX and CRM platforms, with a full range of services including professional services, maintenance and support. Through ENAVATE's global services, the company also provides consulting and software development services to Microsoft Dynamics enterprise clients, ISVs and VARs worldwide.

Kelly Charlton

Enavate

[email protected]

+1 720 399 1657

SOURCE ENAVATE

Related Links

http://www.enavate.com/


SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Enlitic, a medical deep learning company and MIT Technology Review's #14 "Smartest Company" for 2016 is excited to announce its deep learning medical natural language processing (NLP) solution, part of Enlitic's medical deep learning imaging diagnostic platform.

Enlitic Medical NLP provides meaningful comprehension of medical texts and images, enabling organizations to operationalize and commercialize their data assets. By ingesting and organizing vast quantities of data, Enlitic Medical NLP delivers relevant ancillary information and insights in response to queries, with human-level accuracy at super-human speeds. Applications include mining of historical pharmaceutical data for research, healthcare workflow optimization, drug discovery assistance, clinical study optimizations, and medical coding efficiencies.

"Healthcare organizations  hospital networks and clinics, insurers, and pharmaceutical researchers  collect vast amounts of unstructured data. Leveraging that data to create linkages will deliver immediate insights and drive efficiencies in everything from billing and coding to diagnostics and research," said Kevin Lyman, Senior Data Scientist and Engineer at Enlitic. "By rapidly reading and understanding millions of unstructured medical reports and other data, Enlitic Medical NLP can draw attention to other relevant information  such as clinical trials and results, patient histories and other medical insights."

Enlitic will be meeting with partners and stakeholders at the Healthcare Information and Management System Society's Annual Meeting HIMSS 2017 in Orlando February 19 -23 to demonstrate our Medical NLP capabilities. HIMSS 2017 will bring together over 40,000 medical-IT professionals, clinicians and executives from around the world, "providing an excellent opportunity for Enlitic to connect with partners and assist organizations as they plan for the imminent transition into medical deep learning," said Sally Daub, Executive Board Member of Enlitic.

About Enlitic

Enlitic Inc., is a medical deep learning company dedicated to revolutionizing diagnostic healthcare. Enlitic's artificial intelligence algorithms were engineered from the ground up by a multidisciplinary, international team of renowned data scientists, machine learning practitioners, and medical experts. Named one of the "50 Smartest Companies in 2016" by MIT Tech Review, Enlitic is headquartered in San Francisco.

SOURCE Enlitic
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Ensono, a leading hybrid IT solutions provider based in the U.S., is now certified to the EU-US Privacy Shield Framework. This accomplishment strengthens Ensono's global data protection program, demonstrating its commitment to safeguarding sensitive information and assuring conformity with international standards on data protection.

The U.S. Department of Commerce approved Ensono's certification to the EU-US Privacy Shield Framework, adding Ensono to a list of about 1,500 Privacy Shield certified organizations. The Framework, which was designed and approved by both the European Commission and the United States, provides organizations on both sides of the Atlantic a mechanism to comply with EU data protection requirements when transferring personal data from the European Union to the United States.

"Ensono's Privacy Shield certification reflects its unwavering delivery of its commitment to clients and stakeholders across the globe," said Jeff VonDeylen, CEO of Ensono. "This recognition aligns with our organizational values and enhances our global data protection standards, which are imperative to our long-term growth and success."

The Privacy Shield Framework offers a set of robust and enforceable protections for personal data. The Framework provides transparency around participating companies' use of personal data and increases cooperation with EU data protection authorities (DPAs) to collectively safeguard the privacy rights of EU individuals.

"Ensono's adoption of the EU-US Privacy Shield principles provides further assurance to our European clients and global partners of our dedication to regulatory compliance and safeguarding sensitive information," said Ensono Chief Legal Officer Peter Bazil. "This will remain an important priority and focus for the company as it grows and evolves over time."

For more information about Ensono, please visit https://www.ensono.com.

About Ensono

Ensono collaborates with clients to deliver progressive IT solutions to help them operate their infrastructure for today and optimize it for tomorrow. We specialize in supporting mission-critical workloads for the world's most successful companies. Ensono works across all platforms  mainframe to cloud, and everything in between. We are ranked by InformationWeek 500 for our technology innovation and by the Uptime Institute for 100% availability. Ensono has over 700 associates and is headquartered in greater Chicago, Ill. Visit us at www.ensono.com.

Media Contact

Beth Burghgraef

312-648- 6017

[email protected]

SOURCE Ensono

Related Links

https://www.ensono.com


MILWAUKEE, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- EnSync, Inc. (NYSE MKT: ESNC), dba EnSync Energy Systems, a leading developer of innovative distributed energy resource (DER) systems and internet of energy (IOE) control platforms for the utility, commercial, industrial and multi-tenant building markets, today announced results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2017, ended December 31, 2016.

Recent Highlights

Revenue during the second quarter of fiscal 2017 increased to $1.7 million compared to $0.4 million in the year ago period, driven by the sale of two power purchase agreements (PPAs) to investors in November 2016 ;

compared to in the year ago period, driven by the sale of two power purchase agreements (PPAs) to investors in ; Fulfilled an initial purchase order for a Matrix Energy Management system from a major global energy management solutions provider;

Recognized final installment from Lotte Chemical R&D agreement during the quarter, bringing total payments under that contract to $5,425,000 ;

; Closed a PPA with Oceanic Time Warner Cable in Hawaii . The EnSync Energy solar plus storage system will be installed at an office and operations center on the Island of Hawaii , and will shift energy from daytime to nighttime hours, in addition to providing resiliency;

. The EnSync Energy solar plus storage system will be installed at an office and operations center on the Island of , and will shift energy from daytime to nighttime hours, in addition to providing resiliency; Closed on EnSync Energy's first residential market penetration, for a multiple structure decentralized installation in Hawaii . This installation will be covered under a single PPA;

. This installation will be covered under a single PPA; Announced the commencement of a project with ENMAX Energy Corporation at the District Energy Centre site in Calgary, Alberta , to integrate solar and energy storage with a combined heat and power system using EnSync's patented Matrix technology;

, to integrate solar and energy storage with a combined heat and power system using EnSync's patented Matrix technology; Expanded sales presence in North America with the appointment of 20-year sustainable energy veteran, David Eisenbud , as Managing Director of Sales for the Eastern United States and Canada ;

with the appointment of 20-year sustainable energy veteran, , as Managing Director of Sales for the and ; Showcased the company's Matrix technology at DistribuTECH, a leading annual electric power transmission and distribution conference & exhibition event that addresses technologies used to move electricity from the power plant through the transmission and distribution systems to the meter and inside the home;

The Company's second tranche of PPAs now consists of six projects, totaling approximately $6.3 million estimated value at time of sale; and

estimated value at time of sale; and Cash balance at the end of December 2016 was $17.6 million compared to $17.2 million at the end of the prior fiscal year.

Management Discussion

"During the second quarter, we successfully completed the sale of the remaining two PPAs from our first tranche," commented Brad Hansen, President and Chief Executive Officer of EnSync Energy Systems. "These sales culminate the highly unique endeavor EnSync embarked on to become the first company in the industry to successfully sell PPA agreements for PV plus storage for the commercial and industrial (C and I) market in a behind the grid setting. This highly differentiated business model is made possible by industry leading technologies, including EnSync's patented Matrix Energy Management System that allows optimum simultaneous management of multiple sources of electricity, while also providing the seamless communication and control required for the utility to enable real-time supply response from the distributed energy resources."

Mr. Hansen continued, "While we continue to focus our efforts in the execution of our PPA strategy in Hawaii, we are simultaneously focused on expanding into other regions, including California, the eastern United States and Canada. We believe there is a tremendous opportunity to develop solutions for commercial, industrial, government and selective utility clients seeking fully-integrated products and services associated with DERs and advanced IOE grid-interactive communications and controls in these regions. We recently hired 20-year industry veteran, David Eisenbud, to lead our expansion efforts in the Eastern U.S. and Canada which we believe will be a key contributor to our growth in the coming years."

Mr. Hansen concluded, "We are very pleased with our progress during the second quarter, and with our ongoing market penetration for Matrix and our PPA business model. We continue to close commercial PPAs and contracts, including with some of the top companies operating in North America and Hawaii such as Time Warner Cable, and have successfully signed our first multi-structure residential solar plus storage system contract. We also remain focused on releasing products that will radically lower the cost per function of our distributed energy resource systems. When combining our differentiation in business model and intellectual property, we're poised to lead the high growth DERs market in the coming years."

Second Quarter Financial Results

Total revenue for the second quarter which ended December 31, 2016 was $1.7 million compared to $0.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2016. Revenue growth in the quarter was primarily driven by the sale of the last two Tranche 1 power purchase agreements (PPAs) to two different investors in November 2016, as well as product sales of $239,000 to Lotte, and others. We also recognized the final installment of $175,000 under our research and development contract with Lotte.

Fiscal 2017 revenues of $9.4 million through the second quarter establishes record fiscal year revenues with two quarters remaining. For the remainder of the fiscal year, we are continuing to target the contracting of enough PPA projects to fill two additional tranches.

Total cost of products sold during the second quarter was $1.7 million. As previously discussed, the Company incurred certain non-recurring and start-up costs associated with the initial sale of its PPA projects.

Engineering and development costs were $1.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2017, compared to $2.0 million in the year ago period and in line with the prior period level of $1.0 million. Selling, General and Administrative costs totaled $3.0 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2017, compared to $2.3 million during the second quarter of fiscal 2016. The Company intends to hold at or below these levels going forward.

Net loss attributable to common shareholders was $(4.4) million, or $(0.09) per basic and diluted share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2017, compared to $(4.5) million, or $(0.10) per basic and diluted share, in the year ago second quarter.

Cash balance at December 31, 2016 was $17.6 million dollars compared to $17.2 million at June 30, 2016.

Backlog for PPA projects, components and systems at the end of fiscal Q2 2017 stood at approximately $6.3 million as of this announcement.

Conference Call Information

Date: Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Time: 4:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. CT)

Domestic participant dial in #: (877) 870-4263 or (412) 317-0790

Conference code #: 10101055

Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization.

Interested parties can also listen to a live internet webcast available in the investor section of the Company's website at www.ensync.com.

A teleconference replay of the call will be available at (877) 344-7529 or (412) 317-0088, confirmation code 10101055, through February 21, 2017. A webcast replay will be available in the investor section of the Company's website at www.ensync.com for 90 days.

About EnSync Energy Systems

EnSync, Inc. (NYSE MKT: ESNC), dba EnSync Energy Systems, is creating the future of electricity with innovative distributed energy resource (DER) systems and internet of energy (IOE) control platforms. EnSync Energy ensures the most cost-effective and resilient electricity, delivered from an electrical infrastructure that prioritizes the use of all available resources, such as renewables, energy storage and the utility grid. As project developer, EnSync Energy's distinctive engagement methodology encompasses load analysis, system design consulting, and technical and financial modeling to ensure energy systems are sized and optimized to meet our customers' objectives for value and performance. Proprietary direct current (DC) power control hardware, energy management software, and extensive experience with numerous energy storage technologies uniquely positions EnSync Energy to deliver fully integrated systems that provide for efficient design, procurement, commissioning, and ongoing operation. EnSync Energy's IOE control platform adapts easily to ever-changing generation and load variables, as well as changes in utility prices and programs, ensuring the means to make or save money behind-the-meter, while concurrently providing utilities the opportunity to use DERs for an array of grid enhancing services. In addition to direct system sales, EnSync Energy includes power purchase agreements (PPAs) in its portfolio of offerings, which enables electricity savings for customers and provides a stable financial yield for investors. EnSync Energy is a global corporation, with joint venture Meineng Energy in AnHui, China, and energy project development subsidiary Holu Energy in Hawaii. For more information, visit: www.ensync.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the "safe harbor" created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as "believe," "expect," "may," "will," "should," "could," "seek," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "anticipate" or other comparable terms. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release regarding our strategies, prospects, financial condition, operations, costs, plans and objectives are forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding our supply agreement with SPI Solar, Inc., expected future operating results, expectations concerning our PPA strategy, the anticipated results of our product development efforts and other expectations regarding our business strategy. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors and in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our subsequently filed Quarterly Report(s) on Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Investor Relations Contact:

Lytham Partners, LLC

Robert Blum, Joseph Diaz, or Joe Dorame

(602) 889-9700

EnSync Media Contact:

Michelle Montague

(262) 735-5676

EnSync, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

















Three months ended December 31,

Six months ended December 31,

2016

2015

2016

2015 Revenues













Product sales $ 1,561,569

$ 335,694

$ 9,218,130

$ 486,230 Engineering and development 175,000

46,567

175,000

169,007 Total revenues 1,736,569

382,261

9,393,130

655,237















Costs and expenses













Cost of product sales 1,731,558

323,289

9,497,701

304,608 Cost of engineering and development -

82,020

937,725

136,167 Advanced engineering and development 1,077,140

2,015,364

2,078,468

3,691,652 Selling, general, and administrative 3,035,704

2,287,978

5,588,155

4,514,952 Depreciation and amortization 201,712

181,066

356,069

359,656 Total costs and expenses 6,046,114

4,889,717

18,458,118

9,007,035















Loss from operations (4,309,545)

(4,507,456)

(9,064,988)

(8,351,798)















Other income (expense)













Equity in gain (loss) of investee company (25,387)

(20,889)

(1,732)

(68,597) Interest income 11,269

14,094

22,627

18,710 Interest expense (13,107)

(12,517)

(26,104)

(27,647) Other income -

-

8,432

76,437 Total other income (expense) (27,225)

(19,312)

3,223

(1,097)















Loss before expense (benefit) for income taxes (4,336,770)

(4,526,768)

(9,061,765)

(8,352,895)















Expense (benefit) for income taxes -

(640)

-

(640) Net loss (4,336,770)

(4,526,128)

(9,061,765)

(8,352,255) Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest 60,065

80,424

142,338

149,141 Net loss attributable to EnSync, Inc. (4,276,705)

(4,445,704)

(8,919,427)

(8,203,114) Preferred stock dividend (77,331)

(70,058)

(152,776)

(146,580) Net loss attributable to common shareholders $ (4,354,036)

$ (4,515,762)

$ (9,072,203)

$ (8,349,694)















Net loss per share













Basic and diluted $ (0.09)

$ (0.10)

$ (0.19)

$ (0.18)















Weighted average shares - basic and diluted 47,849,343

47,348,603

47,801,474

46,673,751































See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

EnSync, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets



(Unaudited)





December 31, 2016

June 30, 2016 Assets





Current assets:





Cash and cash equivalents $ 17,566,271

$ 17,189,089 Accounts receivable, net 372,843

172,633 Inventories, net 1,839,077

1,869,942 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 250,017

600,591 Customer intangible assets 8,249

76,293 Note receivable 177,189

171,140 Deferred PPA project costs -

5,690,307 Deferred customer project costs 164,507

419,765 Project assets 11,175

1,190,853 Total current assets 20,389,328

27,380,613 Long-term assets:





Property, plant and equipment, net 3,610,693

3,889,106 Investment in investee company 2,163,894

2,165,626 Goodwill 809,363

809,363 Right of use assets-operating leases 103,833

27,264 Total assets $ 27,077,111

$ 34,271,972







Liabilities and Equity





Current liabilities:





Current maturities of long-term debt $ 336,837

$ 332,707 Accounts payable 569,338

569,226 Accrued expenses 771,081

501,031 Customer deposits 211,159

201,352 Accrued compensation and benefits 272,137

257,087 Total current liabilities 2,160,552

1,861,403 Long-term liabilities:





Long-term debt, net of current maturities 888,507

1,057,720 Deferred revenue 13,712,638

13,290,000 Other long-term liabilities 217,364

25,789 Total liabilities 16,979,061

16,234,912







Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)













Equity





Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock ($0.01 par value,





$1,000 face value) 3,000 shares authorized and issued, 2,300 shares outstanding, preference in liquidation of $5,470,576 and $5,317,800 as of December 31, 2016 and June 30, 2016, respectively 23

23 Series C convertible preferred stock ($0.01 par value, $1,000 face value),





28,048 shares authorized, issued, and outstanding, preference in liquidation of$4,627,474and $12,719,260 as of December 31, 2016 and June 30, 2016, respectively 280

280 Common stock ($0.01 par value); 300,000,000 authorized,





48,010,347 and 47,752,821 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2016 and June 30, 2016, respectively 1,188,418

1,185,843 Additional paid-in capital 138,706,163

137,585,233 Accumulated deficit (129,469,535)

(120,550,108) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (1,586,333)

(1,585,583) Total EnSync, Inc. equity 8,839,016

16,635,688 Noncontrolling interest 1,259,034

1,401,372 Total equity 10,098,050

18,037,060 Total liabilities and equity $ 27,077,111

$ 34,271,972















See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

EnSync, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

Six months ended December 31,

2016

2015 Cash flows from operating activities





Net loss $ (9,061,765)

$ (8,352,255) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:





Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 290,132

345,209 Amortization of customer intangible assets 68,044

14,447 Stock-based compensation, net 1,055,105

463,539 Equity in (gain) loss of investee company 1,732

68,597 Provision for inventory reserve 181,197

- Gain on sale of property and equipment (8,432)

- Interest accreted on note receivable (6,049)

(6,049) Gain on bargain purchase -

(76,437) Changes in assets and liabilities





Accounts receivable (203,639)

27,385 Inventories (150,332)

(1,475,481) Prepaids and other current assets 350,392

(154,961) Deferred PPA project costs 5,690,307

(159,978) Deferred customer project costs 255,258

- Project assets 1,179,678

(5,603,034) Accounts payable 112

354,301 Accrued expenses 246,610

(731,570) Customer deposits 9,807

(112,358) Accrued compensation and benefits 15,050

37,737 Deferred revenue 422,638

13,290,000 Other long-term liabilities 137,983

- Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 473,828

(2,070,908) Cash flows from investing activities





Cash paid for business combination -

(225,829) Change in restricted cash -

(30) Expenditures for property and equipment (9,149)

(10,416) Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 9,754

- Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 605

(236,275) Cash flows from financing activities





Payment of financing costs -

(261,982) Repayments of long-term debt (165,083)

(161,012) Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock -

13,300,000 Proceeds from issuance of common stock -

6,800,000 Proceeds from the exercise of stock options 68,400

- Contributions of capital from noncontrolling interest -

45,000 Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (96,683)

19,722,006 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (568)

(1,155) Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 377,182

17,413,668 Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period 17,189,089

10,757,461







Cash and cash equivalents - end of period $ 17,566,271

$ 28,171,129















Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:





Cash paid for interest $ 26,332

$ 27,795 Supplemental noncash information:





Right of use asset obtained in exchange for new finance lease $ 13,521

$ - Right of use asset obtained in exchange for new operating lease 102,943

41,316 Asset retirement obligation 19,222

-







See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

SOURCE EnSync, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.ensync.com


IRVING, Texas, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Exeter Finance Corp., a specialty auto finance company in Irving, Texas, announced today the appointment of company veteran Brad Nall to Chief Financial Officer, effective February 1, 2017.

Nall joined Exeter Finance Corp. in July 2012 and has over 25 years of experience in the consumer finance industry. He has held numerous senior roles during his career within budgeting and strategic planning, financial reporting, project management, business development, mergers and acquisitions, whole loan sales and structured finance. Nall also has a strong background in the areas of operations, risk management, credit and pricing, accounting, control and compliance. Prior to Exeter, he spent 12 years at Citi's auto finance and personal loan businesses in various finance roles. Nall received his bachelor's degree in finance from Southern Illinois University in 1988.

"I am pleased and honored to serve in this role for Exeter Finance," said Nall. "During my tenure here, I have seen the company grow and thrive beyond expectations. I look forward to contributing to the continued growth of the organization as well as serving our dealers and customers in the most effective manner possible."

"Brad's extensive financial experience, industry knowledge and exhaustive commitment to our company's success will be invaluable as we continue to execute our business plan and strategic initiatives," said Exeter CEO Jason Grubb.

ABOUT EXETER FINANCE

Exeter Finance Corp. is a specialty auto finance company based in Irving, Texas. Exeter partners with franchised auto dealers throughout the country to make car ownership a reality for consumers. Building personal relationships and providing the highest level of service to dealers and customers have been keys to the company's success since its founding in 2006. Please visit www.exeterfinance.com to learn more.

SOURCE Exeter Finance Corp.

Related Links

http://www.exeterfinance.com


BOYNTON BEACH, Fla., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled yesterday in favor of Exacta Systems in the patent infringement lawsuit originally filed by RaceTech. RaceTech filed the lawsuit in 2015, alleging that Exacta had violated three separate patents relating to RaceTech's Instant Racing product. After AmTote purchased RaceTech and its now invalidated patents in 2016, AmTote continued pursuing the three patent infringement claims against Exacta.

The Court of Appeals unanimously upheld the decision of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, which dismissed all three RaceTech patent claims in an opinion issued last year. Barring a successful appeal to the United States Supreme Court, yesterday's decision will put an end to all patent related litigation between the parties.

"We are extremely grateful that the Court of Appeals unanimously upheld the decision of the U.S. District Court to dismiss all of the patent infringement claims brought by AmTote and RaceTech," commented Exacta President Jeremy Stein. "Exacta remains focused on creating and expanding our innovative Historic Horse Racing system and games while continuing to fight and win the numerous frivolous lawsuits filed by our competitors."

For more information about the company and the Exacta historic horse racing system, visit www.exactasystems.com or the Exacta Systems Facebook page.

SOURCE Exacta Systems

Related Links

http://www.exactasystems.com


SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

HIGHLIGHTS:

FICO has received the Silver award for Best in Cybersecurity & Fraud Prevention from Fintech Finance magazine

from magazine The award recognizes FICO's work in fraud prevention as well as cybersecurity

These are the first Fintech Finance awards

Silicon Valley analytic software firm FICO has received the Silver award for Best in Cybersecurity & Fraud Prevention from Fintech Finance magazine. The award recognizes FICO's pioneering work with the FICO Falcon Fraud platform and its cybersecurity solutions.

More information: http://www.fico.com/en/fraud-security/enterprise-fraud-and-security-solutions

"FICO is a clear leader in the fraud arena with its Falcon platform, which is used across jurisdictions to combat fraud through event processing, monitoring, rules and case management for transactions," said Ali Paterson, senior editor at Fintech Finance. "They have also developed an impressive set of cybersecurity solutions that feature self-calibrating analytics, providing real-time detection of emerging threats. The company has been fighting fraud longer than its competition, and has continued to lead with analytic innovations and their application to new problems."

FICO offers FICO Falcon Cybersecurity Analytics for threat detection based on groundbreaking User and Entity Behavior Analytics, as well as the FICO Enterprise Security Score, which applies machine learning to objectively assess the security risks of an organization. These solutions complement the FICO Falcon Platform, the world's leading solution for enterprise fraud protection, which protects more than 2.6 billion payment cards worldwide. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Falcon, which was the first commercial anti-fraud solution to employ artificial intelligence and machine learning.

"FICO has invested heavily in analytics for fighting financial crime for nearly three decades," said Doug Clare, vice president of cybersecurity solutions at FICO. "The strength of our portfolio, and the level of invention in our products, is unmatched. We are proud to get this award from Fintech Finance, recognizing our efforts to protect not just banks but all kinds of businesses and their customers."

About FICO

FICO (NYSE: FICO) powers decisions that help people and businesses around the world prosper. Founded in 1956 and based in Silicon Valley, the company is a pioneer in the use of predictive analytics and data science to improve operational decisions. FICO holds more than 170 US and foreign patents on technologies that increase profitability, customer satisfaction and growth for businesses in financial services, telecommunications, health care, retail and many other industries. Using FICO solutions, businesses in more than 100 countries do everything from protecting 2.6 billion payment cards from fraud, to helping people get credit, to ensuring that millions of airplanes and rental cars are in the right place at the right time.

Learn more at www.fico.com.

Join the conversation at https://twitter.com/fico & http://www.fico.com/en/blogs/

FICO and Falcon are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fair Isaac Corporation in the US and other countries.

SOURCE FICO

Related Links

http://www.fico.com


TUCSON, Ariz., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- GainClients, Inc. (OTC: GCLT) ("GainClients" or the "Company") announced that it has signed a major service agreement (the "Agreement") with the nation's largest title company, Fidelity National Title ("Fidelity"). The Agreement, signed with Fidelity's Foreclosure Division, allows Fidelity to use the Company's GCard service to (i) reduce costs through process efficiencies, (ii) expand upon its large existing network of real estate professionals and (iii) improve revenues by providing value-added services and solutions to its clients. This is a major breakthrough for GainClients, as the GCard provides a platform for additional services and future growth within the nation's largest title insurance company.

The GCard service helps Fidelity expand its already enormous network of real estate professionals; namely real estate agents and loan originators and their clients. The GCard service also bundles many aspects of a real estate transaction within the same GCard platform to make the process more efficient.

Fidelity's Foreclosure Division began using the service in the Seattle, WA area earlier this year. As the service increases returns for Fidelity, it plans to expand usage on a national level and generate increased revenue for both companies.

GainClients expects this Agreement will be the first of several agreements to be signed with several other divisions of the Fidelity umbrella  each of which will bring additional revenue streams. GainClients continues to demonstrate, through pilots and live testing, the incredible success rate its revolutionary service can offer the real estate and mortgage industries. Thus, each additional agreement becomes not only a new revenue stream, but a new advertising and marketing demonstration of the product.

During a three month pilot program, the use of the GainClients service improved Fidelity's ability to convert 5% more title policies. The GainClients offering is a one-of-a-kind, revolutionary and transformational technology that has the proven ability to drastically change the way the industry finds, retains and markets to their new and previously-held clients.

"We have been working with Fidelity for many months and are very proud to have taken this first step in the provision of our services to the largest title company in the U.S. By establishing our GainClients platform within Fidelity, we expect to improve their business as we grow ours by expanding our service offering. This is the continuation of a very important and rewarding relationship for us," stated Ray Desmond, president and CEO of GainClients.

About Fidelity National Title Group

Fidelity National Title Group is a member of the Fidelity National Financial family of companies and the nation's largest group of title companies and title insurance underwriters - Chicago Title Insurance Company, Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company, Fidelity National Title Insurance Company, Alamo Title Insurance, Lawyers Title, and Ticor Title - that collectively issue more title insurance policies than any other title company in the United States. Visit http://www.fntg.com to learn more.

About GainClients, Inc.

GainClients products, the GCard, the Daily Opportunity Service and GCHomesearch consist of bespoke data and marketing services designed specifically for the real estate industry. GainClients' products and services offer mortgage and title organizations customized, real-time access to new home listings of prior, and new, customers. The company's clients include real estate related organizations such as banks, credit unions, real estate and lender brokerages, title/escrow and insurance companies and individual real estate, mortgage, and title and escrow professionals. These organizations and professionals have no other options for obtaining real-time home listing alerts. Learn more at http://www.gainclients.com/index.html.

Contact:

GainClients, Inc.

520-202-5273

[email protected]

SOURCE GainClients, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.gainclients.com


DALLAS, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A Technical Assistance Advisement (TAA) was issued by the Florida Department of Revenue ("the Department") clarifying the requirements for a nonresident reinsurer to establish nexus with the state for purposes of corporate income tax.1 It was determined that the taxpayer at issue, Company X, was not registered to do business in Florida, had no property or employees in the state, and had only reinsured some Florida risks of its related entities. These affiliate insurance companies, the Ceding Companies, are not domiciled in Florida but operate there as well as in many other states.

Florida Rule 12C-1.011, lists many activities that would be considered "doing business" in the state, including the following:

The entering into contracts of reinsurance when such contracts of reinsurance are placed with an approved insurer by a ceding insurer domiciled or commercially domiciled in Florida as defined in Chapter 624, F.S., or by either an artificial entity domiciled or resident in Florida or a political subdivision of Florida where either the artificial entity or the political subdivision is engaged in self insurance.

Company X is not an approved reinsurer and is not registered with the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. The Ceding Companies are not domiciled or commercially domiciled in Florida. As such, the conclusion was that Company X does not have nexus under this rule.

In reaching this conclusion, the Department also considered whether the presence of the Ceding Companies in Florida constituted a "regional home office." With no definition in the statutes, the Department considered the intent of the law and the common definition of the terms. As less than 5% of the Ceding Companies' underwriters are located in Florida and all activities are approved by the home office, the Florida location could not be considered a regional home office. Therefore, Company X does not have nexus in Florida for purposes of corporate income tax.

This interpretation of nexus-generating activities for reinsurers warrants a re-evaluation of the nexus status of reinsurers' Florida risks.

1 Technical Assistance Advisement No. 17C1-001, Florida, (Jan. 13, 2017).

About Ryan

Ryan is an award-winning global tax services firm, with the largest indirect and property tax practices in North America and the seventh largest corporate tax practice in the United States. With global headquarters in Dallas, Texas, the Firm provides a comprehensive range of state, local, federal, and international tax advisory and consulting services on a multi-jurisdictional basis, including audit defense, tax recovery, credits and incentives, tax process improvement and automation, tax appeals, tax compliance, and strategic planning. Ryan is a five-time recipient of the International Service Excellence Award from the Customer Service Institute of America (CSIA) for its commitment to world-class client service. Empowered by the dynamic myRyan work environment, which is widely recognized as the most innovative in the tax services industry, Ryan's multi-disciplinary team of more than 2,100 professionals and associates serves over 12,000 clients in more than 40 countries, including many of the world's most prominent Global 5000 companies. More information about Ryan can be found at ryan.com.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mark Nachbar

Principal

Ryan

630.515.0477

[email protected]

Mary Bernard

Director

Ryan

401.272.3363

[email protected]

SOURCE Ryan

Related Links

http://www.ryan.com


PARSIPPANY, N.J., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- To provide individuals thinking about or going through a divorce with practical information and answers to their questions, Weinberger Law Group invites the public to attend Divorce 101, a FREE one-night learning event about the divorce process in New Jersey, taking place Thursday, February 16, 2017. Divorce 101 seminars will be hosted by each of the family law firm's five locations: Parsippany, Hackensack, Bedminster, Freehold, and Mount Laurel. The free event includes a presentation and talk, Q&A session, and the opportunity to speak privately with an attorney.

Divorce 101: Weinberger Law Group explains the NJ Divorce Process in Free Event

"You might be in the beginning stages of divorce, or have just been served with divorce papers, or are mid-divorce. We understand the concerns and fears that are keeping you up at night. You want to know. . . how do I safeguard my children, my privacy, and my assets? How can I protect myself? Our Divorce 101 event is designed to give you answers, and the tips and insider secrets you need to gain clarity, take control, and start moving forward with confidence," explains Bari Z. Weinberger, family law expert and founder of Weinberger Law Group.

Free private family law attorney consultations begin at 6 pm (spots are limited and pre-registration is required). At 7 pm, refreshments will served, and at 7:30 pm, attorneys from each local office will lead a discussion that gives participants the inside track on divorce in New Jersey, including:

How do I start my divorce in New Jersey ?

? What are the grounds for divorce?

How do I make sure I am choosing the best lawyer for me?

What to do if your spouse serves you divorce papers

How to safeguard your privacy in your divorce

Do I have to go to court?

How can I keep my divorce low conflict?

How do we decide about child custody and assets?

How can I safeguard my future, and that of my children?

Can I change the divorce settlement after the divorce?

and more.

Following the talk, attorneys will take audience questions. Spots are limited, so register today at the office of your choice:

As our special gift, attendees will receive a complimentary copy of one of Bari Z. Weinberger's books on divorce at the event. Participants can choose either A Guide to Uncontested Divorce in New Jersey or A Guide to Contested Divorce in New Jersey (each with a retail value of $19.95).

Who Should Attend Divorce 101?

Anyone considering divorce.

Anyone starting a divorce.

Anyone served with divorce papers.

Anyone whose spouse is planning on filing for divorce.

Anyone in the middle of their divorce and who wants more information.

Anyone trying to understand their options if it comes to divorce at some point in the future.

Scheduling a Free Consultation

Beginning at 6 pm, each office has limited availability for free confidential attorney consultations, prior to the presentation. Please schedule by filling out the bottom of the RSVP form, and -please note: a member of the consult team will need to confirm your details and perform a conflict check prior to the consultation, so please leave your phone number. If requesting a free consultation, a ticket for both the consultation AND the presentation will be required. Free consultations can be scheduled at other times that are convenient for participants.

For more information about the Divorce 101 presentation, or meeting with an attorney, please contact Weinberger Law Group by calling 888-888-0919, or emailing [email protected].

Contact:

Bari Z. Weinberger

+1 888 888 0919

[email protected]

SOURCE Weinberger Law Group
TUSCALOOSA, Ala., Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Trucker Buddy International today announced that Rita Woodley and her class from Cotton Belt Elementary School in York, South Carolina have nominated their industry pen pal Gary Killian for the Outstanding Trucker Buddy award.

Killian, who drives for Cargo Transporters, based in Claremont, North Carolina, has volunteered to be a Trucker Buddy for the past two school years.

"He has sent us numerous letters that include personal experiences, miles he has traveled, advice for students, pictures and postcards," Woodley said. "He writes to us almost weekly about his different adventures."

Trucker Buddy International, an independent, non-profit 501(c) (3) organization, will announce the Outstanding Trucker Buddy awards on March 24, 2017 at the Mid America Truck Show as well as on FaceBook and Twitter. The award is sponsored by Meritor, Inc., Freightliner, Detroit, and Progressive Insurance.

Trucker Buddy introduces the trucking industry to schoolchildren and educators, helping them see the world through the eyes of a professional truck driver. Trucker Buddies mentor schoolchildren through pen pal relationships between professional screened truck drivers and students in grades K-8, who are supervised by their teachers.

The organization and one of its key corporate sponsors, Meritor, Inc., a Troy, Michigan-based global supplier of drivetrain, mobility, braking and aftermarket solutions for commercial vehicle and industrial markets, believe the Trucker Buddy program makes an important impact on communities.

"The program teaches children the benefits of the industry, and truckers encourage them to excel in school," said Randy Schwartzenburg, executive director, Trucker Buddy. "The association of Ms. Woodley's classroom and Gary Killian was made possible due to the efforts of Meritor, which has a plant in the area and asked the school to be part of our program."

Krista Sohm, vice president, Marketing & Communications for Meritor, added: "Trucker Buddies like Gary Killian who haul goods and materials nationwide make a daily impact not only on our economy, but also in classrooms across the United States. They become teaching aides who reinforce each participating school's curriculum in a variety of subjects."

After an extensive screening process, the professional truck drivers are matched with a class and are directed by a teacher. Drivers share news about their travels with their assigned class while students write letters and send pictures to their classroom driver. Students' skills in reading, writing, geography, mathematics, social studies and history are enhanced and learning is made fun.

"Gary uses a variety of sentence structures and writes in a great voice with lots of good details," Woodley said. "Gary's weekly letters keep the students engaged. They're motivated to write and beg for me to let them send a note back to him."

Since 1992, Trucker Buddy International has helped educate more than 1 million schoolchildren and introduced them to the caring, compassionate men and women who are professional truck drivers, according to Schwartzenburg. He credits the program's ongoing success to driver volunteers, participating teachers and the contributions of sponsors. There is no cost to the drivers or teachers to participate in the program.

The Trucker Buddy program is funded entirely by sponsorships and donations. To donate, click here.

SOURCE Trucker Buddy International

Related Links

http://www.truckerbuddy.org


DUBLIN, Feb 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Polyols (Sugar Alcohols) - A Global Market Overview" report to their offering.

This global report analyzes polyols comprising sorbitol, xylitol, mannitol, maltitol, erythritol, isomalt and lactitol. The study also explores the key end-use applications of polyols including Confectionary, Food & Beverages, Personal Care and Others (Pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals).

The global markets for the above-mentioned polyol types and end-use applications are analyzed in terms of both volume in metric tons and value in USD for the 2014-2022 analysis period. Sorbitol market estimated in this report does not include sorbitol used as an intermediate in manufacturing Vitamin C.

Polyols are increasingly used in food and pharmaceutical applications due to their excellent functional properties and health benefits. The demand for low calorie foods containing polyols is expected to grow further, driven by increasing consumer awareness of diabetes, as well as weight management. Sugar-free confectionery, chewing gum and low-caloric diabetic foods are major application areas driving growth in the global polyols market.

Global volume consumption of Polyol Sweeteners or Sugar Alcohols is forecast to be 1.6 million metric tons in 2017 and is projected to reach 1.9 million metric tons by 2022 at a CAGR of 3.4% between the two years. The report exclusively analyzes the end-use application sectors of each polyol type for all major regions and countries for the analysis period while discussing the overall applications of polyols.

Asia-Pacific is the leading global volume consumer of Polyols, forecast to be 899.5 thousand metric tons (55.8% share) in 2017, which is expected to post a 2017-2022 CAGR of 3.8% and reach a projected 1.1 million metric tons by 2022. In terms of value, too, Asia-Pacific dominates the global market for Polyols with a share of about 47%.

This global polyols market report includes 952 charts (includes a data table and graphical representation for each chart), supported with meaningful and easy to understand graphical presentation, of market numbers. This report profiles 15 global players and 44 overall major players across the globe. The research also provides the listing of the companies engaged in manufacturing and supply of polyols. The global list of companies covers the address, contact numbers and the website addresses of 101 companies.

Key Topics Covered:

Part A: Global Market Perspective

1. Introduction

2. Key Market Trends

3. Regulatory Landscape

4. Key Global Players

5. Key Business And Product Trends

6. Global Market Overview

Part B: Regional Market Perspective

1. North America

2. Europe

3. Asia-Pacific

4. Rest Of World

Part C: Guide to the Industry

1. Americas

2. Europe

3. Asia-Pacific

Part D: Annexure

1. Research Methodology

2. Feedback

Companies Mentioned

- Archer Daniels Midland Company

- B Food Science Co., Ltd.

- BENEO GmbH

- Baolingbao Biology Co. Ltd (China)

- CSPC Shengxue Glucose Co., Ltd. (China)

- Cargill, Inc

- DFI Corporation (United States)

- DHW Deutsche Hydrierwerke GmbH (Germany)

- Dupont Nutrition & Health (Danisco)

- Ecogreen Oleochemicals (Singapore) Pte., Ltd.

- Guangxi Khalista (Liuzhou) Chemical Industries Ltd. (China)

- Gulshan Polyols Limited (India)

- Hebei Huaxu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (China)

- Ingredion Incorporated

- Jungbunzlauer Suisse AG

- Kasyap Sweetners Ltd. (India)

- Luzhou Bio-Chem Technology Co., Ltd (China)

- MC-Towa International Sweeteners Co., Ltd. (Thailand)

- Maize Products Ltd. (India)

- Mitsubishi Shoji Foodtech Co., Ltd.

- Mitsubishi-Kagaku Foods Corporation

- Novagreen Inc. (Canada)

- O'Laughlin Industries Co., Ltd. (Hong Kong)

- PT. Sorini Towa Berlian Corporindo (Indonesia)

- Pyure Brands LLC (United States)

- Roquette Freres S.A.

- S2G Biochem, Inc (Canada)

- Shandong (Binzhou) Sanyuan Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (China)

- Shandong Bailong Chuangyuan Bio-Tech Co., Ltd. (China)

- Shouguang Tianwei Chemicals Co., Ltd (China)

- Sukhjit Starch & Chemicals Ltd.

- Tereos Starch & Sweeteners s.a.s. (Tereos Syral)

- Thomson Biotech (Xiamen) Co., Ltd. (China)

- Xylitol Canada, Inc. (Canada)

- Zuchem Inc. (United States)

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/blvlkw/polyols_sugar

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


DUBLIN, Feb 14, 2017 Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Remote Patient Monitoring Devices Market (2016-2022)" report to their offering.

Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Device also known as homecare Telehealth, is a technological device that are used for continually monitoring heart activity, blood pressure, pulse rate, body temperature and other patient related activities. These devices are also useful in inspecting the chronic diseases. The health professionals can examine their patients from the remote locations is one of the major breakthroughs in terms of healthcare advancements. To perform a routine test patient can use the mobile medical devices and can easily send the test data to their respective healthcare surgeon with the help of smartphones or computers.

Reduction in the cost of the hospitals stays, overcrowding in the diagnostic centres, and increase in the patient care are some of the key drivers of the Remote patient control market. However, shortage of skilled professionals, lack of reimbursement guidelines and issues in device function can hamper the growth of the market. The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center says those who spend more time using remote monitoring had higher survival, those who did not use remote monitoring device; it clearly indicates that increased use of remote patient monitoring device could improve patient outcomes.

Companies Mentioned

Abbott Laboratories

Medtronic Plc

Roche Diagnostics

Siemens Healthcare (Siemens AG)

Omron Corporation

Honeywell International, Inc.

Lifewatch

Nihon Kohden Corporation

Philips Group

Key Topics Covered:

1. Market Scope & Methodology

2. Executive Summary

3. Market Overview

4. Global Remote Patient Monitoring Devices Market by Product

5. Global Remote Patient Monitoring Devices Market by Indications

6. Global Remote Patient Monitoring Devices Market by End User

7. Global Remote Patient Monitoring Devices Market by Region

8. Company Profiles

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/5vmxsm/global_remote

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


LONDON, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- This research study analyzes the market for gravure printing ink in terms of revenue (US$ Mn) and volume (Kilo Tons). The gravure printing ink market has been segmented on the basis of product, end use applications, and geography. The geographical segmentation includes regions, which are further divided into 20 countries-in the global gravure printing ink market. The report features a detailed regional segmentation with market growth forecasts for the years 2016?2024. 2015 has been considered as the base year and 2016 the estimated year, while all forecasts have been given for the period from 2016 to 2024. Market data for all the segments has been provided at the regional and country-specific levels from 2016 to 2024.

The report provides a broad competitive analysis of companies engaged in the development of gravure printing ink technologies for the gravure printing ink business. The report also includes key market dynamics such as the drivers, restraints, and opportunities affecting the global gravure printing ink market. These are analyzed in detail and illustrated in the report with the help of supporting graphs and tables. The report also provides a comprehensive analysis of the market with the help of the Porter's Five Forces Analysis model, which helps in understanding the factors that affect the structure and profitability of the global gravure printing ink market. These are the bargaining power of buyers, the bargaining power of suppliers, the threat of new entrants, the threat of substitutes, and the degree of competition.

The high-level analysis in the report provides detailed insights into the gravure printing ink business globally. There are currently numerous drivers for the market. The most prominent drivers include rapid growth in the packaging industry, increasing GDP in several countries, and rising demand for water-based gravure inks. Market attractiveness analysis was carried out for the gravure printing ink market on the basis of product type, application, region, and country. Market attractiveness was estimated on the basis of common parameters that directly impact the market.

On the basis of product type, the market has been segmented into solvent-based gravure printing inks and water-based gravure printing inks. By application, the gravure printing ink market has been segmented by various end-use applications, including food packaging, wallpapers, wrapping paper, furniture laminates, greeting cards, magazines, newspaper, and other applications.

In terms of geography, the market has been segmented into five regions: North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. China is expected to remain the dominant market for gravure printing ink, with demand reaching 190.7 kilo tons by 2024. A zero tax agreement between ASEAN and China has created a stable position for ASEAN, which is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.2% between 2016 and 2024.

India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Favorable government regulations and the emergence of medium and small enterprises in India have contributed significantly to the gravure printing ink market.

Key players in the gravure printing ink market are Tokyo Printing Ink Mfg. Co. Ltd., Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals Mfg. Co., Ltd., Sun Chemical Corporation, Flint Group, Toyo Ink SC Holdings Co., Ltd., Lawter Inc. , Yansefu Inks and Coatings Pvt. Ltd., Siegwerk Druckfarben AG & Co. KGaA, Sakata INX Corporation, Huber Group, Zeller+Gmelin GmbH & Co. KG, ALTANA AG, Wikoff Color Corporation, SICPA Holding SA, Fujifilm Sericol India Private Limited, Royal Dutch Printing Ink Factories Van Son and T&K Toka Co., Ltd. The report provides an overview of these companies, followed by their financial details, business strategies, and recent developments.

Gravure Printing Market: By Product

Solvent-based Gravure Printing Inks

Water-based Gravure Printing Inks

Gravure printing ink Market: By Application

Food Packaging

Wallpapers

Wrapping Paper

Furniture Laminates

Greeting Cards

Magazines

Newspaper

Other

Gravure printing ink Market: By Region

North America

The U.S.

Canada

Europe

The U.K.

France

Germany

Spain

Italy

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

ASEAN

Rest of Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa

GCC

Egypt

South Africa

Rest of Middle East and Africa

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Rest of Latin America

Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4268674/

About ReportbuyerReportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishershttp://www.reportbuyer.com

For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

Related Links

http://www.reportbuyer.com


SAN FRANCISCO and TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- GuardiCore, a leader in internal data center security and breach detection, today announced that it was named a Leader in Deception Based Security Solutions in the 5th annual 2017 Cyber Defense Magazine Infosec Awards. GuardiCore is an innovator in internal data center and cloud security focused on delivering more accurate and effective ways to stop advanced threats through real-time breach detection and response. Cyber Defense Magazine is the industry's leading electronic information security magazine and media partner of the RSA Conference 2017.

The Cyber Defense Magazine Infosec Awards are judged by leading independent information security experts over a course of many months of review. "Cyber Defense Magazine is pleased to announce that GuardiCore has been selected as The Leader in Deception Based Security Solutions for the 2017 CDM InfoSec Awards," said Pierluigi Paganini, Editor in Chief, Cyber Defense Magazine.

GuardiCore uses multiple detection methods including dynamic, distributed deception, analysis of policy-based traffic flows, and reputation analysis of domain names, IP address and file hashes to detect breaches inside the data center faster, reduce dwell time and block lateral movements. GuardiCore's unique, multi-method breach detection  based on patented dynamic deception, policy-based detection and reputation analysis  quickly identifies, investigates and thwarts confirmed attacks with pinpoint accuracy. Automatic incident analysis provides security teams with real-time information and comprehensive intelligence about attack methods so they can quickly prioritize security response actions which would otherwise involve hours of human analysis using traditional tools and techniques.

"Newer techniques are required to provide effective security in sophisticated data center environments such as the kind of deception technology developed by GuardiCore," said Pavel Gurvich, CEO and co-founder, GuardiCore. "This award is a further validation of GuardiCore's founding vision that security for the data center must keep up with the rate of constant change while also closing the gap between traditional security technology and a sophisticated threat actor's ingenuity. We are grateful to Cyber Defense Magazine for this acknowledgment of our disruptive technology and recognition of our tireless efforts to give today's data center driven businesses more accurate and effective ways to stop advanced threats through real-time breach detection and response."

About Cyber Defense Magazine

Cyber Defense Magazine is the premier source of IT security information. We are managed and published by and for ethical, honest, passionate information security professionals. Our mission is to share cutting edge knowledge, real world stories and awards on the best ideas, products and services in the information technology industry. We deliver electronic magazines every month online for free and limited print editions exclusively for the RSA Conferences and our paid subscribers. Learn more about us at http://www.cyberdefensemagazine.com

About GuardiCore

GuardiCore is an innovator in internal data center security focused on delivering more accurate and effective ways to stop advanced threats through real-time breach detection and response. Developed by the top cyber security experts in their field, GuardiCore is changing the way organizations are fighting cyber attacks in their data centers. For more information, visit www.guardicore.com.

CONTACT:

Cinthia Portugal

Guyer Group

[email protected]

206.619.8183

SOURCE GuardiCore

Related Links

https://www.guardicore.com


Elliott previously worked for Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, most recently as vice president and chief operations officer at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital. She was responsible for the strategic growth and development of key women's, pediatric, and neonatal service lines, as well as the growth and operational responsibilities for the perioperative services, pediatric imaging and procedure suite, child life services, and The Fetal Center.

"We are dedicated to providing the finest care available to our customers, and the women's and children's service lines are a very important part of that," said Villarreal. "We wanted to make sure that the person we hired for this newly-created position had a solid background in working with these populations, and we are fortunate that Holly has agreed to join us."

With two children of her own, she is passionate about serving women and children within the healthcare community while providing the highest standards of care and utilizing innovative approaches. Elliott holds a bachelor's degree in biology from Baylor University and a master's degree in healthcare administration from Trinity University. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

About HCA Gulf Coast

HCA Gulf Coast Division is a comprehensive network of hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, emergency centers, and diagnostic imaging facilities. It offers a complete continuum of specialized health programs and services that meet the needs of Greater Houston and South Texas' residents and businesses. HCA affiliated facilities in the Gulf Coast Division include: 13 hospitals, 8 ambulatory centers, 6 off-campus emergency centers, and a regional transfer center that provides one-phone-call access and support for patient transfers into and out of the HCA Gulf Coast Division Affiliated Hospitals, as well as access to ground and air transportation within a 150-mile radius. Visit our website at www.HCAGulfCoast.com.

About The Woman's Hospital of Texas

The Woman's Hospital of Texas opened in 1976 and is celebrating its 40th year as the state's premier facility dedicated to the health and well-being of women and newborns. Our founders chose to name the hospital "Woman's"  not "Women's"  as a way to honor each patient as an individual and as a daily reminder that the care we give is always personalized and patient focused. Our attention to every detail of the patient experience makes us the top choice for women throughout the greater Houston area and beyond. Our physicians and nurses delivered more than 11,000 babies in 2016  more than any other hospital in the State of Texas. In addition, with the recent addition of our Pediatric Center, our hospital now offers its high-quality care to children and teenagers. Located near the Texas Medical Center in the heart of Houston, The Woman's Hospital of Texas has 397 licensed beds, including a 124-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). With more than 650 board-certified physicians, The Woman's Hospital of Texas offers expertise and outstanding care in breast health, imaging, gynecology, obstetrics, high-risk pregnancy, neonatology and minimally-invasive surgery.

In our "40 Years of Caring," we have consistently raised the standards for women's healthcare in Houston and the State of Texas. We were the first hospital in Houston to earn the Baby-Friendly Hospital distinction from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nation's Children Fund (UNICEF.) We also were the first hospital in Texas to be named a National Association for Continence Center of Excellence for Continence Care in Women  one of only six in the nation. The Woman's Hospital of Texas is accredited by The Joint Commission and recognized by the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists as a Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology. Visit our website at womanshospital.com.

Debra Burbridge

Vice President of Marketing

HCA Gulf Coast Division

713-852-1506 (office)

281-851-6275 (cell)

[email protected]



Kim Mathes

Marketing Director

HCA Gulf Coast Division

713-852-1528 (office)

831-294-1064 (cell)

[email protected]



SOURCE HCA Gulf Coast Division

Related Links

http://www.HCAGulfCoast.com


In 2017 , Indonesia's food and beverage industry is forecast to grow 8.5 percent year-on-year (y/y) to IDR 1,400 trillion (approx. USD $105.2 billion). Concurrently, direct investment is expected to reach around IDR 63 trillion (approx. USD $4.7 billion). Among others, Japanese and South Korean companies stand out as being particularly eager to actively engage in this industry Indonesia. Indeed considering the country's 255 million population and its recovering purchasing power , the food and beverage sector is an attractive option for investors.

On this note, Adhi Lukman, General Chairman of the Indonesian Food and Beverage Association (GAPMMI), said that Indonesia's F&B trade balance showed a USD $767 million deficit in the first 11 months of 2016, rising sharply from the USD $276 million deficit in full-year 2015. In fact, besides finished products, 90% of the ingredients used in this industry are still imported, thus providing an immense opportunity for international and local companies alike.

At the same time, Indonesian consumers are also changing their habits. In a global survey by Nielsen, it emerged that 76% of global consumers were willing to spend more for food products that promote health benefits. In Asia that percentage stood at 81%.

That is why a trade event like Hi SEA, the only trade exhibition dedicated to the health ingredients industry in the region, held at Jakarta International Expo during March 22-24, 2017, is key to the progress of the market.

Supported by renowned associations such as the Indonesian Pharmaceutical Association, Indonesian Food & Beverage Association -- GAPMMI, the Indonesian Functional Food and Nutraceutical Association and IUFoST, Hi SEA provides a trusted meeting point and a solid conference for all food professionals in the region to build on.

Alongside the show, a cutting edge, focused conference is held, tackling both the perspective of local ASEAN companies expanding their business worldwide and international companies willing to break into the south East Asian health food markets. Sign up here and come join the industry on March 22nd!

Ivan Ferrari

Phone Number: +62 21 2930 5959

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Hi SEA
Join job fair on Feb. 16, 2017 or apply online

CHARLOTTETOWN, Prince Edward Island, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- HGS Canada (a subsidiary of Hinduja Global Solutions Limited (HGS), a company listed in India) announced it will hire 170 positions in its Charlottetown customer experience contact centre in March to support a new media and communications client. The company is hosting a job fair on Thursday, February 16, 2017 at the Red Shores Racetrack & Casino, 21 Exhibition Drive, Charlottetown. HGS will begin interviewing candidates to fill 170 positions scheduled to start in the next few weeks at its 81 Hillstrom Avenue contact centre.

HGS is hiring these new roles to meet increasing client demands as part of HGS's overall growth in Canada for 2017. HGS previously announced the availability of 1,225 new positions across the country. Read the full press release here:

http://www.teamhgs.com/newsroom/press-release/hgs-hire-1225-positions-canada-2017.

"HGS Canada is experiencing tremendous growth thanks to the continuous trust of our clients and their increasing needs for our service," said Ross Duff, Senior Vice President Operations for HGS Canada. "We look forward to partnering with a skilled and talented workforce in Charlottetown and will continue to demonstrate our commitment to this community and to the province as a whole."

HGS is recruiting permanent, full-time inbound customer service agents, team leaders, and administrative roles. These positions are ideal for applicants who enjoy problem solving and helping people within a customer service environment. Previous customer service experience and basic computer skills are an asset. Applicants interested in a career with HGS can apply directly at the job fair between 10 am7 pm, where a team of recruiters will be on hand to assist with the application process and answer any questions. Former HGS employees are welcomed and encouraged to apply. Applications are also being accepted online at www.JoinHGS.com.

HGS is committed to career path development and regularly promotes successful team members to management positions. In fact, over 90 percent of HGS Canada management positions are promoted from within. HGS provides a competitive compensation and benefits package, including dental, medical, and vision insurance, paid training; and bonus & incentive opportunities.

About Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS)

HGS is a leader in optimizing the customer experience and helping our clients to become more competitive. HGS provides a full suite of business process management (BPM) services from traditional voice contact center services and transformational DigiCX services that are unifying customer engagement to platform-based, back-office services and digital marketing solutions. By applying analytics, automation, and interaction expertise to deliver innovation and thought leadership, HGS increases revenue, improves operating efficiency, and helps retain valuable customers. HGS expertise spans the telecommunications and media, healthcare, insurance, banking, consumer electronics and technology, retail, and consumer packaged goods industries, as well as the public sector. HGS operates on a global landscape with around 44,000 employees in 66 worldwide locations delivering localized solutions. For the year ended 31st March 2016, HGS had revenues of US$ 507 million. HGS, part of the multi-billion dollar Hinduja Group, has more than four decades of experience working with some of the world's most recognized brands.

SOURCE Hinduja Global Solutions Limited (HGS)

Related Links

http://www.joinhgs.com


HOUSTON, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) and Seeq, today announced they will collaborate as part of the Honeywell Connected Plant initiative to help process manufacturers leverage data and insights in their operations. This joint development agreement will help customers minimize unplanned shutdowns, maximize output, minimize safety risk and optimize supply chain strategies.

"Honeywell's deep domain knowledge and capabilities in process optimization, data consolidation, storage and asset monitoring combined with Seeq's technology help us to identify and solve previously unsolvable problems," said Shree Dandekar, senior vice president and general manager, Honeywell Connected Plant. "Our goal is to create an effective solution that securely captures, aggregates and analyzes data, and then leverages a vast ecosystem to provide a higher level outcome for our customers. This ecosystem includes leading equipment vendors, process licensors, OEMs and other industry experts."

"We see this collaboration between Honeywell and Seeq as beneficial to continuously improving how we serve our customers with the latest advanced software and analytics," said Steve Sliwa, CEO and co-founder, Seeq Corporation. "Honeywell provides key infrastructure to collect and securely store data, while we embed decades of domain knowledge into advanced analytics for more business value, faster. This collaboration will help us provide our customers with new insight through transformative capabilities that lead to more rapid decision-making and process optimization."

Seeq is the latest company to join Honeywell's Connected Plant program, which uses the power of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to help improve the safety, efficiency and reliability of operations across a single plant or several plants across an enterprise. Honeywell has recently announced agreements with Flowserve, Aereon and several other industrial leaders. For customers who use Honeywell UOP process technology, the company offers Connected Performance Services, which leverages UOP's process and service expertise into the Connected Plant cloud platform.

Multiple industry analysts have recognized Seeq as a leading innovator in the advanced analytics market. The company's approach to empowering front-line engineers  the employees with the expertise and experience  to find insights in production data sets it apart from data-scientist focus of many modern analytics offerings.

"This collaboration between Seeq and Honeywell should make it easier for both firms to help their mutual customers gain new and valuable insights from their data," said Janice Abel, Principal Consultant, ARC Advisory Group. "By providing actionable information, these insights could enable industrial organizations to make better decisions, faster; enabling them to optimize their business and production processes."

Founded in 2013, Seeq is a privately held company that publishes Seeq, an application for engineers and operations analysts to rapidly find insights in process manufacturing data. Seeq is currently being used in the Oil & Gas, pharmaceutical, specialty chemical, utility, renewal energy and many other vertical industries to improve production outcomes. Seeq is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with employees across the United States and sales representation in Canada, Europe, and South America. For more information visit Seeq online at www.seeq.com.

Honeywell Process Solutions (www.honeywellprocess.com) is a pioneer in automation control, instrumentation and services for the oil and gas; refining; pulp and paper; industrial power generation; chemicals and petrochemicals; biofuels; life sciences; and metals, minerals and mining industries. Process Solutions is part of Honeywell's Performance Materials and Technologies strategic business group, which also includes Honeywell UOP (www.uop.com), a leading international supplier and licensor of process technology, catalysts, adsorbents, equipment, and consulting services to the petroleum refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries.

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes, and industry; turbochargers; and performance materials. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom.

SOURCE Honeywell

Related Links

http://www.honeywell.com


Fifty-nine percent of divorcees surveyed say that finances played at least "somewhat" of a role in their divorces (20 percent believe it played a "big" role). Also, 36 percent say their spouse's credit score was a source of stress in the marriage. Unfortunately, many consumers are not aware there are many resources available that can help them better manage their finances together such as Experian's education blog .

"It's important for couples to discuss finances before saying 'I do,' and to communicate frequently. Couples should also make sure they agree when it comes to financial practices such as budgeting and how to utilize credit throughout the marriage," says Rod Griffin, director of Public Education. "Individually, each partner should make sure to be engaged with the household finances so they can protect themselves and their assets if the relationship ends."

Those surveyed also regret not learning more about their future spouse's financial habits, prior to walking down the aisle. A majority of both women and men  71 percent and 60 percent, respectively said their former spouse's spending habits were different than what they anticipated before they married.

Furthermore, couples' finances are often negatively impacted by divorce, with the average financial loss reaching nearly $20,000 (in cash and assets). Furthermore, 44 percent of survey respondents say their former spouse ruined their credit. As a result, for many respondents (39 percent), the financial loss of a divorce has them going so far as to say they'll never marry again. Those that may consider tying the knot again at a later date say good credit is an important quality for a potential spouse (73 percent).

Other key survey findings

59% of respondents regret not being more financially independent in their marriage.

54% say their former spouse spent too much money, and that was the financial issue that played a role in their divorce.

53% say they were not financially compatible with their former spouse.

50% say their former spouse ran up credit card debt on joint accounts.

49% say their credit got worse during their marriage.

Tips for managing the financial fallout post-divorce

Emma Johnson from Wealthy Single Mommy:

"Separate your finances from your soon-to-be ex-spouse ASAP. This is a time when you need more credit than ever, to rent or buy a new home, get a new car, set up utilities, and finance divorce lawyers. Identity theft is incredibly common during a breakup, as is plummeting credit scores due to confusion and conflict over who is responsible for which accounts. Protect yourself - it is very common for divorcing partners to rack up debt on accounts with both parties names attached."

Diana Shepherd from Divorce Magazine:

"Creating a budget will eliminate the guesswork about what you can and can't afford both during and after your divorce. You need to determine what your current living expenses are and how you'll pay for them; potential sources of income include your own earnings and spousal and/or child support. In addition to regular living expenses, you need to budget for professional help from a divorce lawyer, mediator, financial professional, etc. If your income from all sources won't be enough to cover your living expenses and divorce-related costs, you need to take a hard look at your expenses and see where you can trim them."

Mandy Walker from Since My Divorce:

"Get your credit report. This is the best way of knowing what credit accounts are open in your name and whether they are held by just yourself or jointly with another person. Use the report to help you complete the financial disclosures required as part of the legal process. It's critical that these disclosures be as accurate as possible. You can also use the report to guide you through discussions with your soon to be ex about how any debit balances will be handled and whether the account will be closed or kept open."

Before finding the perfect mate, make sure as an individual you have a good relationship with your finances. Take our interactive quiz to find out if you and your money are in wedded bliss or headed towards financial frustration.

For more information on budgeting, as well as how debt can affect credit scores, visit the Experian Credit Education blog. Consider enrolling in a credit monitoring service such as Experian CreditWorksSM, which can help you better track and manage your credit report and credit score.

About the survey

The online survey was conducted by Edelman Intelligence on Experian's behalf from Nov. 2 to Nov. 15, 2016, among 500 adults who have gotten divorced within the past five years, are 18 years of age or older, and reside in the United States. This online survey is not based on a probability sample; therefore, no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact [email protected].

About Experian

Experian is the world's leading global information services company. During life's big moments  from buying a home or a car to sending a child to college to growing a business by connecting with new customers  we empower consumers and our clients to manage their data with confidence. We help individuals to take financial control and access financial services, businesses to make smarter decisions and thrive, lenders to lend more responsibly, and organizations to prevent identity fraud and crime.

We have 17,000 people operating across 37 countries, and every day we're investing in new technologies, talented people and innovation to help all our clients maximize every opportunity. Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. Learn more at http://www.experianplc.com or visit our global content hub at https://www.experian.com/blogs/news for the latest news and insights from the company.

Experian and the Experian marks used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Experian

Related Links

http://www.experianplc.com


SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Hippo, a company that provides smart home insurance for the modern household, and Elafris, a supplier of the first artificial intelligence powered virtual agent platform for the Insurance industry, announced today that they have signed a technology partnership agreement that will allow Hippo to create its own virtual agent chatbot infrastructure. This technology will help Hippo to grow the company's customer base and scale up its sales and marketing operation.

Virtual Insurance Agent Virtual Insurance Agent

The insurance industry is long overdue for innovation. Home insurance still can't be easily purchased online, is unnecessarily complicated and far behind in using technology to improve efficiency and service. Hippo is revolutionizing home insurance by making it fast and simple to purchase online, offering more transparent coverage that is suited to modern lifestyles while charging lower prices by going direct to consumers and removing expensive commissioned agents. "The new age of technology requires a new approach to providing insurance to an increasingly connected and demanding customer base. Our virtual agent technology allows insurance providers to radically transform the way they acquire new customers, boost their customer reach and engagement, increase conversion rate and customer satisfaction, and ultimately grow their business faster and more efficiently. We are looking forward to working with Hippo as they move to revolutionize the home insurance industry."  said Jake Diner, founder and CEO of Elafris.

"We're excited to partner with Elafris to leverage their unique platform to provide an intelligent virtual agent chatbot for our customers," said Aviad Pinkovezky, Head of Product at Hippo. "Today's customers expect on-demand, personalized service in every interaction, from purchase to claims to support questions. Using Elafris' technology to deliver instant quotes over the Facebook Messenger platform will enable us to provide best-in-class service to our customers however they wish to interact."

Elafris is pioneering the integration of Artificial Intelligence into messenger platforms, precisely tailored for the insurance industry. Founded by FinTech & IT veterans, the company helps clients engage better with the growing digital and mobile customer segments. Today, Elafris' AI platform is used by a number of major national insurance companies.

About Elafris

Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Elafris, Inc. is the developer of the first Artificial Intelligence messaging platform specifically tailored for the banking and insurance industries. The company's AI messaging platform leverages Neural Networks and Machine Learning technologies to create virtual insurance agents that completely eliminate waiting times and response lag for insurance customers, whenever they need to communicate with their provider, file a claim or buy an add-on product. To learn more, visit the Elafris website at www.elafris.com.

About Hippo:

Hippo is home insurance for the modern household. Founded in 2015 by Assaf Wand and Eyal Navon, Hippo is a first-of-its kind, entirely online home insurance product designed around the needs of the modern household. Hippo is headquartered in Mountain View, CA. For more information, visit: www.myhippo.com

Contact:

Sam Goodman

Corporate Communications Department

Elafris, Inc.

310-404-1957

[email protected]

SOURCE Elafris

Related Links

http://www.elafris.com


CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The iSolved Network hosted its second annual President's Club event in West Palm Beach, Florida for the elite individual sales performers and high-performing Certified Network Partners. The event included nearly 200 participants and took place at the Four Seasons Palm Beach Resort & Spa.

President's Club honors those who have contributed to the impressive growth of iSolved as a best-in-class human capital management (HCM) solution for the small-to-midsize employer. iSolved has quickly grown to be the leader in the HCM market, with over 35,000 employers and 2 million employees committed to the technology platform.

The President's Club event took place on February 6-8, 2017. The grand finale of the event was the Sparta Shield Awards Ceremony, where iSolved recognized top-performing partners, elite payroll service bureaus that provide iSolved to their clients, along with individual top sales performers for their achievements during 2016. Among the partner awards given at the event was the ultimate partner achievement, Partner of the Year award, which was awarded to AmCheck, a Certified Network Partner with locations across the U.S.

"The success that we have achieved with partnering with iSolved has been tremendous and we are thankful for the relationship," stated Dean Lucente, president and founder of AmCheck.

"Recognizing this important group of impressive performers is very important to us," said Dave Dawson, CEO of the iSolved Network. "Their efforts are crucial to the continued success and growth of iSolved. We look forward to this event to congratulate those honored, but also as an opportunity to continue to build the iSolved Network community, share best practices, and inspire sales activities going forward."

About iSolved Network

The iSolved Network is an ecosystem for elite, high-growth payroll service providers who use the cloud-based iSolved human capital management technology to deliver a complete set of workforce solutions to small and medium-sized businesses. Launched in the summer of 2014, the iSolved Network has experienced rapid growth and now has nearly one million employees committed to the technology. The iSolved solution delivers a comprehensive approach to workforce management, offering payroll, human resources, time and labor tracking, as well as benefit enrollment from within the same solution. For more information on the iSolved Network, or to locate a Certified Network Partner in your region, visit www.isolvednetwork.com.

About iSolved

iSolved is an industry-leading human capital management technology company that brings together the key workforce functions in one robust, easy-to-use platform, iSolved. Payroll, HR, Time & Attendance, Onboarding, ACA Compliance, and Benefits Enrollment are all delivered from a single application, in the cloud, specifically built for the small to mid-sized employer. It has achieved rapid market share, with more than 2 million employees and growing. iSolved also includes innovative features and options to boost employee engagement and improve productivity, including its mobile app, iSolved Go, and its NXG line of time clocks. iSolved is delivered through elite, regional payroll providers who provide customers with the white-glove service they need in today's regulatory environment. This unique approach gives small-to-midsize employers access to a cutting-edge HCM solution, while retaining the local service relationship they prefer. For more information, visit www.isolvedhcm.com.

SOURCE iSolved Network

Related Links

http://www.isolvednetwork.com


Author Joseph Ganci grew up with Jewish heritage on Long Island in the 1960s and was full of energy. "I think that I would single-mindedly pursue anything. I believe combat in Vietnam was my hour of reckoning; it troubled me deeply," he says with a wry smile. "For a while, in the 1980s, I recklessly pursued alcohol and drugs. I had almost abandoned all hope of outwitting my addictions until 'coming to Christ' in 1997."

"I followed two paths to keep myself on the straight and narrow," Ganci continued. "One was blogging about my daily struggles to overcome addiction on RumRadio.org. The second was searching God's holy words and discovering my ultimate purpose in life."

Since retiring from his business career, Joseph Ganci has spent ten years studying sacred text. "It is fascinating to see the maps and artifacts from times past; to hear the Hebrew language and to talk with Jewish rabbis asking the why's of their historical culture. Many of the items in this book relate to my 'a-ha' moments during that incredible journey."

"I have been clean for 20 years; I thank the Lord every day for His grace," Joseph Ganci says. "I'm a 'nobody,' just like Gideon was a 'nobody' on the day before an angel blessed him. I believe that the novel, Gideon: The Sound and the Glory, was also inspired by a host of heavenly messengers."

A reader's review: "Once the storyline got going, it was hard to put down, even to eat or sleep," says long-time author R.Dale Jeffery. "It was much like a Harry Potter novel in that regard. At the end of this book, the first thing I wanted to do was to pick it back up and read it again."

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4LNPMU

https://vimeo.com/199888821

SOURCE Joseph Ganci
NEW YORK, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- IMF Bentham Limited (ASX: IMF), the parent company of U.S.-based Bentham IMF (Bentham), has raised a USD $200 million litigation finance funding vehicle together with funds managed and advised by a large U.S. hedge fund (collectively, The Funds). The Funds will invest up to USD $150 million and IMF will invest up to USD $50 million.

The funding vehicle, Bentham IMF 1 LLC (Bentham IMF Funding Vehicle), is IMF's first investment vehicle. IMF will direct all U.S. opportunities to the Bentham IMF Funding Vehicle for three years or such shorter period required to deploy the committed capital. By leveraging its investments in the U.S., IMF is aiming to generate a return from the capital it invests in the Bentham IMF Funding Vehicle that is far superior to the return it would expect to achieve by investing the same amount directly into litigation funding assets.

"Bentham has established an impressive track record within the United States over the past six years," said Andrew Saker, IMF's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. "The company has become widely regarded as one of the leading litigation finance firms in the country. This fund affords us additional capital to maintain that position while meeting the demand we expect to see in the market in the next three years," he said. "It will also enable us to scale up our U.S. operations accordingly, with the launch of one new office this quarter and another on the horizon," he added.

Bentham has, since its establishment approximately six years ago, concluded 14 of the 45 investments it has made in the U.S., and achieved an average internal rate of return (IRR) of 83%, a multiple on invested capital (MOIC) of 1.18x, a success rate of 64% and an investment period of 1.4 years. IMF has commenced and completed 187 matters since inception in 2001, which includes the above US matters, that has produced a MOIC of 1.55x, a success rate of 90% and an average investment period of 2.4 years. Over the past 5 years to 31 December 2016, IMF has achieved an average IRR of 59%, MOIC of 1.5x, and an average investment period of 3.2 years.

"This capital raise underscores investor confidence in litigation finance and Bentham's position as one of the top companies in the industry," said Charlie Gollow, Bentham's U.S. Chief Executive. "It will allow us to increase the average size of our investments."

Additional benefits IMF expects from the funding vehicle include diversification of risk via a larger investment portfolio; satisfaction of capital requirements without recourse to debt or an equity capital raising in IMF; and freeing up capital that would otherwise be used for investments in the U.S. for redeployment to jurisdictions including Australia, Asia, and potentially any future re-entry by IMF into Europe.

IMF sees the Bentham IMF Funding Vehicle to be a significant opportunity and a major enhancement to IMF's capital management. The company intends to explore opportunities to structure its capital management in similar ways for other jurisdictions, including the possible launch of a funding vehicle focused on non-U.S. investments in the next 12 months.

ABOUT BENTHAM IMF

Bentham IMF is the U.S. arm of publicly listed IMF Bentham Limited (ASX: IMF), one of the leading litigation funding companies in the world, with a portfolio that has a total claim size value of AUD $3.2 billion. Together, the companies have nine offices throughout the U.S., Australia and Canada and provide funding to clients in jurisdictions including the U.S., Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore. They have reviewed thousands of commercial cases in the past 16 years, funding to completion more than 187 cases and generating over AUD $2 billion in recoveries. They have achieved a 90% success rate, with clients utilizing their funding retaining an average of 63% of all case proceeds.

Contact:

Allan Ripp | 212-262-7477 | [email protected]

Gretchen Lyn Koehler, Chief Marketing Officer | 212-488-5331 | [email protected]

SOURCE Bentham IMF

Related Links

http://www.benthamimf.com


LONDON, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The leak detection market for oil and gas was valued at 2.10 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach USD 3.38 billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 6.9% between 2016 and 2022. The growth of this market can be attributed to the increasing incidents of leakages in the oil and gas pipelines and storage tanks at production facilities, development and expansion of existing pipelines and construction of new pipelines, and stringent government regulations pertaining to the implementation of leak detection systems.

"Market for E-RTTM technology to grow at a high rate during the forecast period"

The market for the E-RTTM technology is expected to grow at a high rate between 2016 and 2022. This technology provides accurate data on the location of a leakage in a pipeline. The advantages of this technology include its ability to detect small leaks, identify the size of the leakages accurately, and model all dynamic fluid characteristics (flow, pressure, temperature). Moreover, the time it takes to detect of leakages is negligible.

"Acoustic/ultrasonic expected to dominate the leak detection market between 2016 and 2022"

The demand for the acoustic/ultrasonic technology is high because it is cost-effective. The acoustic/ultrasonic technology-based leak detection systems are widely used in single-phase and multi-phase flow pipelines, owing to their advantages such as quick leak detection capabilities, suitable for leak detection in large pipelines, and require simplified sensor and software set up with minimal calibration.

"Leak detection market for oil and gas in APAC to grow at a high rate during the forecast period"

The leak detection market for oil and gas in APAC is expected to grow at a highest rate between 2016 and 2022. Factors such as increased oil and gas consumption in APAC and rising oil and gas pipeline construction activities in the developing countries such as China and India, among others, are propelling the growth of the leak detection market for oil and gas in this region.

China will lead to an increase in the demand for leak detection equipment as the exploration and production of oil & gas is increasing in this country

Break-up of the profiles of primary participants for the report has been given below:

- By Company Type: Tier 1  31%, Tier 2  53%, and Tier 3  16%

- By Designation: CLevel Executives  37%, Directors 42%, Others  21%

- By Region: North America - 40%, Europe  30%, APAC  19% and RoW (South and Central America, the Middle East, and Africa)  11%

The major players operating in the leak detection market for oil and gas include Honeywell International Inc. (U.S.), PSI AG (Germany), Siemens AG (Germany), FLIR Systems Inc. (the U.S.), and KROHNE Messtechnik (Germany), Schneider Electric SE. (France), Synodon Inc. (Canada), Atmos International (U.K.), Clampon AS (Norway), TTK-Leak Detection Systems (France), Pentair PLC (U.K.), Pure Technologies Ltd. (Canada), Perma-Pipe Inc. (U.S.), Sensit Technologies LLC (U.S.), and Bridger Photonic Inc. (U.S.).

Research Coverage:

The report defines, describes, and forecasts the leak detection market for oil and gas on the basis of technology for oil and condensate, technology for natural gas, and geography. It provides detailed information regarding the major factors influencing the growth of the leak detection market for oil and gas (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and industry-specific challenges). It also analyzes the competitive developments such as joint ventures, collaborations, agreements, contracts, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, new product launches carried out by the key players to grow in the market.

Reasons to Buy the Report:

- The illustrative segmentation, analysis, and forecast pertaining to the leak detection market for oil and gas based on technology for oil and condensate, technology for natural gas, and geography have been conducted to provide an overall view of the leak detection market for oil and gas.- The Porter's five forces framework has been utilized, along with the value chain analysis, to provide an in-depth insight into the leak detection market for oil and gas.- The major drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges for the leak detection market for oil and gas have been detailed in this report.- The report includes a detailed competitive landscape, along with the key players in the market and their revenues.

Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/3363502/

About ReportbuyerReportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishershttp://www.reportbuyer.com

For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

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SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Logtrust (www.logtrust.com), the Real-time Big Data-in-Motion as-a-Service firm for Fast Data, Big Data analytics, announced today its Real-time Integrated Threat Analytics Solution Program. The program enables companies to build solutions that analyze the historical behavior of systems and attackers in order to detect, understand and eliminate potential threats in real-time--even those that are coming from multiple sources, across multiple devices. Logtrust will be promoting solution partners at industry events throughout 2017.

Reiterating the point Pedro Castillo, CEO of Logtrust, recently made in his InsideBIGDATA article Westworld's Big Data Lesson: "Under the barrage of constant cyber-attacks, organizations are blindsided by misleading indicators and often can't determine why and when a security-related event has occurred. The number of moving pieces that cyber security teams have to monitor, correlate and analyze is prohibitive, leaving companies exposed." According to Logtrust, the 'moving pieces' of real-time threat analytics, which are now integrated into their new solution, include:

Discovering the relationships between bad actors, their methods and their targets

Understanding the evolution of attack patterns over time

Detecting deviations on data being streamed in real-time that may indicate threats

Castillo continues: "Simply collecting and organizing this information remains a challenge, much less using it to predict and counter upcoming threats. Our Real-time Integrated Threat Analytics Solution integrates all of these capabilities and delivers them through a user-friendly platform."

Analyze the past to understand and counter threats in the present

To recognize and counter potential threats in real-time, organizations must be able to analyze historical data and immediately compare it to streaming data. Logtrust's Real-time Integrated Threat Analytics Solution makes this easy, bringing real-time big data analytics to security with:

Real-time Low Code, No Code Advanced Search and Analytics : Continuously ingest multiple log formats, conduct searches and queries on live and historical data via simple point-and-click, and initiate complex event processing--all without complicated coding.

: Continuously ingest multiple log formats, conduct searches and queries on live and historical data via simple point-and-click, and initiate complex event processing--all without complicated coding. Storage of Historical Network Sessions and Events : Achieve ultra-fast historical analysis, selectively slice/dice and replay network sessions/events, and visualize the data through force-directed graphs and Sankey diagrams.

: Achieve ultra-fast historical analysis, selectively slice/dice and replay network sessions/events, and visualize the data through force-directed graphs and Sankey diagrams. Real-time Network Topology Event Analysis : Uncover live communications occurring with adversaries; hunt for dynamic event data changes in topology; search for both passive and active new event data changes.

: Uncover live communications occurring with adversaries; hunt for dynamic event data changes in topology; search for both passive and active new event data changes. Network Packet Analysis : Conduct real-time monitoring on all ports, protocols, perimeters and internal traffic; detect volume changes for high-value asset data traffic that indicate suspicious activity.

: Conduct real-time monitoring on all ports, protocols, perimeters and internal traffic; detect volume changes for high-value asset data traffic that indicate suspicious activity. Statistical Pattern Learning and Active Defense: Conduct advanced statistical operations over time-sliced windows, uncover seasonality in data with Holt-Winter bands, and set up real-time alerting to counter threats based on your findings.

Through its partnership with Panda Security, Logtrust's solution also enables key capabilities of the Panda Adaptive Defense next-generation endpoint protection solution, such as the recording, visualization, analysis and reporting of endpoint and user events in real-time, for any period of time, such as in-depth executable activity, real-time vulnerability reporting, access to data and more.

See Real-time Threat Analytics in Action at RSA 2017

Visit us at booth #S2706 at the RSA Conference, February 13-17, San Francisco Moscone Center, and meet with our threat and security experts who'll demo how Panda Security, GoNet, and ElevenPaths "Analyze the Past to Understand the Present" using Logtrust's Real-time Integrated Threat Analytics Solution.

About Logtrust

Logtrust is a Real-Time Big Data-in-Motion platform offering Fast Data, Big Data analytics through a solution that enables real-time analytics for operations, fraud, security, marketing, IoT and other aspects of business. Recognized as a Gartner Cool Vendor 2016, Logtrust is intuitive, interactive, and collaborative, with no coding required, guided widgets, and out-of-the-box advanced interactive contextual dashboards. The platform provides a completely real-time experience, with new events always available for query and visualization, and pre-built queries always updated with the most recent events. The highly customizable solution works non-intrusively with your system, with agentless collectors and forwarders, platform remote APIs to check health, and all capabilities callable via REST APIs. Service is always on with cross-cloud region disaster recovery, and data is always hot and unmodified (to meet data reliability and integrity compliance requirements). Logtrust is located at the epicenter of Silicon Valley in Sunnyvale, CA, and further serves its global clients through offices in New York and Madrid. Visit www.logtrust.com for more information.

Contact Info:

Leah Walling Michael Burke Global Marketing Director, Logtrust MSR Communications +1 650 477-5242 +1 415 989-9000 [email protected] [email protected]

Logtrust is a trademarks of Logtrust, Inc., in the United States, Spain, and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE Logtrust

Related Links

http://www.logtrust.com


ATLANTA, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Fuel and insurance are included

No application or membership fees

Mobile app to locate, reserve and unlock vehicles

ANNOUNCING

Maven, General Motors' personal mobility brand, is expanding its offerings in Atlanta from the Lyft Express Drive program to now include Maven City car sharing.

In 11 months, Maven has launched three products and has grown to 17 cities in the U.S. and Canada: Ann Arbor, Michigan; Atlanta; Baltimore; Boston; Chicago; Denver; Detroit; Los Angeles; Jersey City, New Jersey; Nashville, Tennessee; New York City; Orlando, Florida; Phoenix; San Diego; San Francisco; Washington, D.C.; and Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

More than 20,000 members have joined Maven and have traveled 57 million miles to connect to the people, places and experiences that matter most to them.



EXPANDING

Atlanta loves cars, and Maven provides vehicles to fit the needs of every resident. From hybrid electrics to sedans and SUVs, Maven offers a smarter way to drive.

Hourly rates start as low as $8 plus tax including gas and insurance, making Maven the perfect option for date night, trips with friends or a job interview. Unlike other local car-sharing services, Maven has no membership or application fees. New cars packed with technology, features and amenities make the user experience seamless and fully connected.

Here is a look at the newest Maven offering in Atlanta:

Maven City: The Maven City car-sharing program is now in operation and registered members can use the Maven app to reserve one of 50 vehicles at more than 20 locations throughout the city. The initial offering will focus on areas such as Ponce City Market, Midtown, West Midtown, Downtown, Old Fourth Ward, Virginia-Highland, East Atlanta Village and Inman Park.

Maven City members can choose a vehicle from a diverse fleet mix, that includes Chevrolet Cruze and Cruze Hatchback, Malibu, Tahoe and Volt; GMC Acadia and Yukon; and Cadillac ATS and Escalade.

INNOVATING

Maven is testing future shared mobility services at GM campus car-sharing locations. Campus car-sharing services are currently operating at GM do Brasil headquarters in Sao Cataeno do Sul and at GM Australia/Holden headquarters.

There are now more than 100 global Maven team members as the brand continues to attract top talent from the car-sharing, ridesharing and connected car industries, as well as some of the best minds from within GM. The Maven team already has filed seven patent applications to help make car sharing more intelligent.



BY THE NUMBERS

Maven has more than 20,000 members who have made more than 23,000 reservations.

Maven and Express Drive members have logged more than 61 million miles.

The average Maven City trip is 121 miles and lasts more than 13 hours.

Maven City's most popular vehicles are the Chevrolet Tahoe and Volt.

QUOTES

"With cars right around the corner in Atlanta's most walkable neighborhoods, there is now a Maven vehicle to meet the many different lifestyle needs of people living in the city," said Julia Steyn, vice president, General Motors Urban Mobility and Maven. "Atlanta's commitment to urban mobility solutions makes it a great choice as the next Maven City car-sharing market."



BACKGROUND

Maven is car sharing, refined. A fully connected fleet of General Motors vehicles featuring the newest cars with the latest technology allows users to personalize the entire experience. Customers bring their digital lives into the vehicles through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, including contacts, favorites and maps.

Maven advisor support is available through OnStar for questions, roadside assistance and emergency response, providing peace of mind for the journey. SiriusXM Satellite Radio and 4G LTE wireless connectivity allow for a more engaged experience.

Pricing is simple and transparent, and includes insurance and fuel. A gas card is provided, and users are asked to return the vehicle with at least one-quarter tank of fuel to avoid an additional charge.

Learn more about Maven at www.Maven.com

Connect with us:

Facebook: @driveMaven

Instagram: @drivemaven

Twitter: @DriveMaven

SOURCE Maven

Related Links

http://www.Maven.com


NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- mHealth and Home Monitoring is the eighth consecutive report from Berg Insight that gives first-hand insights into the adoption of wireless solutions for health monitoring.



This strategic research report from Berg Insight provides you with 280 pages of unique business intelligence including 5-year industry forecasts and expert commentary on which to base your business decisions.



This report will allow you to:

- Profit from 40 new executive interviews with market leading companies.

- Learn about key home health monitoring devices and services.

- Study the strategies of 124 key players in the mHealth ecosystem.

- Understand the dynamics of the health monitoring market in Europe and North America.

- Comprehend how wireless technology can become seamlessly integrated with medical devices.

- Evaluate the business opportunities in the emerging mHealth segment.

- Predict future market and technology developments.



7.1 million patients worldwide are remotely monitored

The number of remotely monitored patients grew by 44 percent to 7.1 million in 2016 as the market entered a growth phase fuelled by rising market acceptance in several key verticals. This number includes all patients enrolled in mHealth care programs in which connected medical devices are used as a part of the care regimen. Connected medical devices used for various forms of personal health tracking are not included in this figure. Berg Insight estimates that the number of remotely monitored patients will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 47.9 percent to reach 50.2 million by 2021.



Cellular connectivity has already replaced PSTN as the de-facto standard communication technology for most types of connected home medical monitoring devices and will account for 25.2 million connections in 2021. Using patients' own mobile devices as health hubs is now becoming a viable alternative for remote patient monitoring. BYOD connectivity will be preferred by select patient groups and will be used for the remote monitoring of 22.9 million patients in 2021.



Berg Insight estimates that revenues for remote patient monitoring (RPM) solutions reached  7.5 billion in 2016, including revenues from medical monitoring devices, mHealth connectivity solutions, care delivery platforms and mHealth care programs. RPM revenues are expected to grow at a CAGR of 33.8 percent between 2016 and 2021 to reach  32.4 billion at the end of the forecast period. Connected medical devices accounted for 67.5 percent of total RPM revenues in 2016.



However, revenues for mHealth connectivity solutions, care delivery platforms and mHealth care programs are growing at a faster rate and will account for 51.3 percent of total revenues in 2021, up from just 32.5 percent in 2016. There is a strong trend towards incorporating more connectivity in medical devices and pharmaceuticals in order to enable new services and value propositions. Implantable cardiac rhythm management (CRM) has traditionally been the largest market segment, led by companies such as Medtronic, Biotronik and St Jude Medical (now Abbott) that included connectivity in CRM solutions more than a decade ago.



However, the sleep therapy segment is growing at the fastest rate and surpassed CRM in 2016. The number of remotely monitored sleep therapy patients grew by 70 percent in 2016, with market growth mainly driven by the vendor ResMed that has made connected healthcare a cornerstone of its strategy. Berg Insight predicts that three of the fastest growing market segments in the next five years will be glucose monitoring, air flow monitoring and connected pharmaceuticals. Today, the leading connected healthcare players in these segments include forward-thinking incumbents as wel as innovative new entrants such as AstraZeneca, Dexcom, Merck Group, Novartis, Propeller Health, Proteus Digital Health, Roche, Sanofi, Voluntis and WellDoc.

This report answers the following questions:

- Which medical conditions offer the best potential for wireless health monitoring solutions?

- Who are the leading providers of connected medical devices?

- What are the mHealth strategies of medical device vendors and pharmaceutical companies?

- Which are the general technology trends for home health monitoring equipment?

- What initiatives have been taken by the leading players in the telecom and IT industries?

- How can connectivity redefine the use cases of medical devices and the value propositions to patients and other stakeholders?

- What are the market shares of the top 5 integrated telehealth solution vendors?

- Why are smartphone applications so significant for the mHealth market?

- How can healthcare providers and payers benefit from mHealth solutions?

Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p0356852-summary/view-report.html



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



http://www.reportlinker.com

__________________________

Contact Clare: [email protected]

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Intl: +1 339-368-6001

SOURCE Reportlinker

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LONDON, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Report Details

Visiongain assesses that the global Military Augmented Reality market will reach $1,311.3m in 2016 with significant prospects for growth. It is therefore critical that your strategic plans are timely and your forecasting plans are in place to take advantage of the business opportunities presented in this brand new study.



Visiongain's report will ensure that you keep informed and ahead of your competitors. Gain that competitive advantage.



The report will answer questions such as:

- What are the prospects for the overall Military Augmented Reality market?

- How profitable is the Military Augmented Reality market?

- Who are the key players within the Military Augmented Reality market?

- What are the drivers and restraints underpinning the Military Augmented Reality market?



5. Reasons why you must order and read this report today:



1) The report provides market share, ranking and profiles of the leading companies operating within the Military Augmented Reality market

- Elbit Systems Ltd.

- Rockwell Collins

- Thales Group

- BAE Systems plc

- BANC3 Inc.

- Applied Research Associates (ARA)

- Osterhout Design Group

- Vuzix Corporation

- Six15 Technologies



2) The study reveals where and how companies are investing in the Military Augmented Reality market. We show you the prospects for the following national markets

- Australia

- Canada

- France

- Israel

- Italy

- Japan

- Russia

- South Korea

- United Kingdom

- United States

- Rest of the World



3) The analysis is also underpinned by 2 exclusive interviews with leading experts

- Jim Donnelly, Vice President of Business Development at Six15 Technologies

- Barry Po, Senior Director Product and Business Development at NGRAIN



4) Our overview also forecasts and analyses these submarkets from 2016-2026

- The Global MAR for Dismounted Soldiers Submarket

- The Global MAR for Land Vehicles Submarket

- The Global MAR for Naval Vehicles Submarket

- The Global MAR for Aerial Vehicles Submarket



5) See details of over 75 contracts relating to military augmented reality systems for each region and for each company



How will you benefit from this report?

- This report you will keep your Military Augmented Reality market knowledge base up to speed. Don't get left behind.

- This report will allow you to reinforce strategic decision decision-making based upon definitive and reliable market data.

- You will learn how to exploit new Military Augmented Reality technological trends.

- You will be able to realise your company's full potential within the Military Augmented Reality market.

- You will better understand the competitive landscape and identify potential new business opportunities & partnerships.



Competitive advantage

This independent 246 page report guarantees you will remain better informed than your competitors. With 211 tables and figures examining the Military Augmented Reality market space, the report gives you an immediate, one-stop breakdown of your market. PLUS national market forecasts, as well as analysis, from 2016-2026 keeping your knowledge that one step ahead of your rivals.



Who should read this report?

- Anyone within the Military Augmented Reality Equipment value chain.

- Augmented Reality Engineer

- Augmented Reality Consultant

- Head of Optic Research.

- Vice President Optic Systems

- Vice President EO/IR Systems

- Project Manager

- R&D Manager

- Chief Technologist

- Solutions Architect

- Technical Support Officer;

- Threat Systems Analyst

- Systems Engineering Consultant

- Security Architect;

- CEO's

- COO's

- CIO's

- Business development managers

- Marketing managers

- Technologists

- Suppliers

- Investors

- Banks

- Government agencies

- Contractors



Don't miss out

This report is essential reading for you or anyone in the Military Augmented Reality sector. Purchasing this report today will help you to recognise those important market opportunities and understand the possibilities there. Order the Military Augmented Reality (MAR) Technologies Market Report 2016-2026: Forecasts For Dismounted Soldiers, Land Vehicles, Naval Vehicles, Aerial Vehicles PLUS Analysis of Helmet Mounted Display Systems (HMD, HMDS, HMSD, HMCS, HWD, HECAD, HDTS), Heads-Up Display (HUD), Driver Vision Enhancement (DVE), Smart Glasses, Goggles & Screens, See Through Waveguide (STWG) Optics, & Computer Generated Data Enhancing the Soldier, Commander & Pilot Experience With Mixed & Augmented Reality (AR) now. We look forward to receiving your order.

Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4031807/



About Reportbuyer

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

http://www.reportbuyer.com

For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

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NEW YORK, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The risks of not improving children's access to dental care are clear.

"Left untreated, tooth decay or early childhood caries (ECC) lead to consequences that can set young children on a trajectory of academic failure, chronic disease and social isolation." - Children Now/UCLA Report

"The burden of oral diseases constitutes a major challenge because of the social and economic costs it imposes on society. In children, untreated disease can lead to impaired growth, altered speech, missed school days, difficulty in learning and lowered self-esteem."  Jayanth Kumar, DDS, California State Dental Director

Tooth decay is by far the most common childhood disease. And it's preventable.

How can more children have access to early preventive dental screenings, and improved chances for better oral and overall health?

Brant Herman, CEO and co-founder of dental telehealth startup MouthWatch offers teledentistry and their recently launched turnkey teledentistry platform, TeleDent as part of the solution.

"For National Children's Dental Health Month, we'd like to invite children's health advocates and decision-makers in public health and oral health programs to discover hands-on how teledentistry with TeleDent can expand the reach of preventive screenings for children, in areas where access to care is limited, with tools that are simple to use and transformatively cost-effective."

Underscoring this sense of momentum behind teledentistry, a new study from an oral health research center at State University of New York, Albany saw positive impact from teledentistry across 6 case studies. The Executive Summary highlights:

"The use of teledentistry as a means to improve access to oral health services in areas with inadequate availability of general and specialty dental care is emerging as a practical solution, especially for treatment planning and specialty consultations. A review of the scientific literature on teledentistry found it to be a promising and effective strategy for increasing access to services in both rural and urban areas."

MouthWatch will be attending the Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting this February 23-25 at Booth #4137 where they will be showcasing TeleDent. They also offer free consultations on particular use cases and demos of the software through an online signup form.

Contact:

Brant Herman

917.533.3462

[email protected]

SOURCE MouthWatch, LLC

Related Links

http://www.mymouthwatch.com


WALLOPS ISLAND, Va., Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For a third consecutive year, NASA is returning to Wanaka, New Zealand, to launch a long-duration, heavy-lift super pressure balloon (SPB) into one of the most dynamic and severe flight regimes inside the Earth's atmosphere.

After launch, planned for the late March/early April timeframe, the 18.8-million-cubic-foot (532,000 cubic-meter) SPB will ascend to an altitude of 110,000 feet (33.5 km) where the stratospheric winds will propel it at speeds up to and exceeding 100 knots through the heating and cooling of the day-night cycle on a weeks-long journey around the southern hemisphere.

"We are excited to return to Wanaka, which has served as an ideal location for launching our SPB test flights," said Debbie Fairbrother, NASA's Balloon Program Office chief. "With 32 days of flight in 2015 and 46 days in 2016, we hope to build on the successes and lessons learned of our past campaigns as we seek even longer duration flights at mid-latitudes."

Members of NASA's Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (CSBF) team are set to arrive in Wanaka in early February 2017 to begin launch preparations. "For some of the crew this is their third visit; we're excited to once again be part of the Wanaka community," said Fairbrother. "We appreciate the opportunity to work with Airways New Zealand, the Queenstown Lakes District Council, and the Wanaka Airport team to ensure yet another successful launch from Wanaka."

While the ongoing testing and development of the SPB is the primary focus of this year's mission, the NASA Scientific Balloon Team is flying the University of Chicago's Extreme Universe Space Observatory (EUSO-SPB) payload as a mission of opportunity. The EUSO-SPB team's arrival in Wanaka will coincide with the CSBF team arrival.

EUSO-SPB is a high-energy cosmic ray particle astrophysics payload that will test a fluorescence detector and its supporting technologies under the severe operating conditions of the stratosphere. This suborbital flight is a precursor for a mission being planned to launch the EUSO telescope to and install it on the International Space Station (ISS).

"Along with providing a low-cost alternative for certain types of science payloads that otherwise would need to launch into orbit around the Earth, NASA's scientific balloons also support technology demonstrations, like EUSO-SPB, as a means to validate the technologies in an environment similar to space," said Fairbrother.

New to the 2017 campaign will be the much-anticipated construction of a dedicated balloon launch pad on the northeast side of the Wanaka Airport. This new pad, a 600-metre in diameter large gravel semi-circle, will enable NASA's balloon launch operations to run seamlessly alongside other airport operations and tenants on launch day. NASA will still operate out of a leased hangar onsite.

NASA's SPB is a large structure, about the size of the Forsyth-Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand, when fully inflated. The balloon is made from polyethylene film, which is similar in appearance and thickness to the type used for sandwich bags, but stronger and more durable.

As a pressurized flight vehicle, the SPB is designed to float at a constant density altitude despite the heating and cooling of the day-night cycle. This pressurization, coupled with the stratospheric conditions in the southern hemisphere, enable long-duration flights. The science and engineering communities have previously identified long-duration balloon flights at constant altitudes as playing an important role in providing inexpensive access to the near-space environment for science and technology. The current record for a NASA super pressure balloon flight is 54 days.

NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia manages the agency's scientific balloon flight program with 10 to 15 flights each year from launch sites worldwide. Orbital ATK, which operates NASA's Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility, provides mission planning, engineering services and field operations for NASA's scientific balloon program. The CSBF team has launched more than 1,700 scientific balloons in over 35 years of operation.

For more information on NASA's Scientific Balloon Program, visit: www.nasa.gov/scientificballoons.

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


CHICAGO, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The RE/MAX Northern Illinois real estate network will celebrate its 40th anniversary on Feb. 17 in the Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier with a gala dinner for 800 guests, its annual awards presentation and a spectacular fireworks show.

There's a great deal to celebrate since the first RE/MAX office in Illinois opened its doors in Elmhurst in 1977. At the time, RE/MAX represented the newest wave of change in the real estate brokerage industry. By 1989, RE/MAX had grown to lead the Chicago area in closed real estate transactions, a position it has held continuously since then  a period of 29 years.

In 2016, the network closed over 41,000 transactions with a total value of $9.2 billion.

"What really makes that so remarkable is that our industry has changed dramatically over the course of the last 40 years and especially the last 20 years as so much of the home buying process has moved online and our industry grappled with the housing market downturn that began in 2008," noted Jack Kreider, executive vice president and regional director of the RE/MAX Northern Illinois network.

Despite those challenges, RE/MAX Northern Illinois now consists of 105 offices that are home to nearly 2,300 brokers and hundreds of support staff.

"Our network is large in size, but what we're proudest of is the remarkable productivity of our brokers," said Kreider. "Last year, our brokers closed an average of 18 transactions each and earned an average of $102,000 in commissions, making them the most productive brokers of any major brand in this market."

RE/MAX Northern Illinois has also been recognized by its peers for its innovative approach to doing business, a prime example being its leadership in integrating online technology into the property search and sale process.

Its mobile real estate app, available for download at www.illinoisproperty.com, provides comprehensive information about residential and commercial property for sale in the region. It offers users an impressive array of tools that can make a property search easier, faster and more effective.

"We are continually looking for new ways to give our brokers the best set of tools in the industry to maximize their productivity," explained Kreider. "Just a few weeks ago we reached agreement with Circlepix.com to give our brokers access to an outstanding suite of marketing tools that integrate seamlessly with our existing technology."

The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, headquartered in Elgin, Ill., is part of RE/MAX, a global real estate organization with 110,000+ sales associates in 100+ nations. RE/MAX Northern Illinois covers the northern third of Illinois from the metro Chicago area to Moline and Rock Island.

CONTACT: Stephen Johnson

RE/MAX Northern Illinois

[email protected]

847-428-4200

SOURCE RE/MAX Northern Illinois

Related Links

http://www.illinoisproperty.com


OAKLAND, Calif., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Continuing Education of the Bar - California (CEB), the leading source for legal education and research solutions for California lawyers, has just published a new book, Real Property Ownership and Taxation. This book is a primer on aspects of California law dealing with ownership, transfer, and taxation of commercial and residential real property. It is intended as a desk reference for any attorney dealing with real estate issues.

It is important for attorneys handling these matters to provide accurate answers quickly to their clients. Clients want attorneys they can be confident will protect what they have built and who will protect them and their loved ones from complicated tax matters.

This book provides answers to many questions commonly asked by real estate attorneys who handle the following topics: holding and choosing title, bankruptcy, and the probate and income tax effects of owning and transferring real property.

In particular, it covers issues that many real estate attorneys are not always familiar with: property taxes and assessments, income taxation of property sales and transfers, homesteads, and the impact of death on ownership. It also provides detailed coverage of forms of ownership; estate planning considerations of ownership, including estate and gift tax issues; escrow and recordation; title insurance; property insurance basics; and lis pendens. Jeff Joy, Robert Miller, Brenna Moorhead, Laura Lowe, JoAnne L. Dunec, Mark E. Hellenkamp, Scott M. Koppel, Timothy R. Sullivan, Barron L. Weinstein, Kathy Freeman, Matthew A. Mandel, Reed Schreiter, Greg Nerland, Nancy Goldstein, Monique Jewett-Brewster, Anne Bruner Nash, and Agnieszka Adams are all contributing authors.

Companion Judicial Council forms, attorney-drafted forms, and several checklists are available on disk. They save attorneys and their staff dozens of hours of work.

The book can be purchased from CEB by calling 1-800-232-3444 or by going to ceb.com. CEB is a self-supporting program of the University of California that is cosponsored by the State Bar of California.

SOURCE Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB)

Related Links

https://ceb.com


SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- NextFlex, America's Flexible Hybrid Electronics (FHE) Manufacturing Institute, today announced a group of four projects selected from the more than 131 submitted in response to the institute's first two project calls issued in August 2015 and May 2016. The value of the four contracts is $8.6 million, $5.6 million of which is being cost-shared by the recipients. Further project awards in other categories will be announced soon.

The projects focus on two key, and growing, application areas for FHE: human monitoring systems and asset monitoring systems. Both areas aid in tracking and optimizing the performance of people and high-value materials and products, and showcase the technology's capability to enhance our lives. The recipients of the project awards are University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Massachusetts Lowell, American Semiconductor, Inc., and Binghamton University  three of which are NextFlex founding members.

"Reviewing and selecting the projects to be awarded development agreements has been a task, both challenging from the caliber of submissions, yet exhilarating," said Dr. Malcolm Thompson, executive director of NextFlex. "The amount of creativity and dedication to furthering the commercialization of FHE in these project proposals is exciting, as it shows that we have hit on a technology, application, and supply-chain target that resonates with many organizations, and has real potential for breathing new life into U.S. manufacturing."

NextFlex was formed to develop the United States' manufacturing ecosystem for FHE, with corporate, university and government members collaborating to commercialize FHE-based products. Projects submitted for funding consideration must be deemed by the review panel to have viable potential for advancing these goals. FHE combines the power of silicon ICs with new materials to create smart, lightweight, low-cost, conformable products that solve everyday problems in unique ways.

The UMass Amherst project seeks to establish a pathway to integration and manufacture for a conformal, wearable human performance monitoring (HPM) sensor platform. To this end, the project entails development of a demonstrator personal area sensor network that can monitor pulse oximetry, pulse/heart rate and temperature, with wireless reporting capability. By leveraging a wide range of resources, the project aims to reduce or eliminate key manufacturing gaps and address technical challenges, with a particular emphasis on scalable roll-to-roll (R2R) and print processes for system integration. Other possible considerations to optimize the platform will include energy harvesting storage and wireless communication options.

Focused on asset monitoring, the UMass Lowell project will create scaled processes for dielectric substrates and conductive patterning in order to advance the manufacturability of printed radio-frequency (RF) electronics essential to wireless monitoring and communications. A leader in plastics engineering, UMass Lowell will team with Raytheon Corp. to accelerate adoption of multi-functional substrates that are compatible with a broad range of inks and printing processes. The project will leverage advanced RF component and manufacturing technologies to develop two manufacturing processes  one to scale creation of these substrates, and one to scale printing on them. Once fully characterized, these multi-functional substrates will be integrated into conformal antennas and tunable conformal-frequency selective surfaces as initial demonstration vehicles.

American Semiconductor will develop and deliver low-profile, physically flexible Smart-Tags that can automatically log and wirelessly transmit environmental data using an industry-standard RFID protocol. Environmental exposure history, especially temperature, is crucial for assessing and maintaining viability of pharmaceuticals, life science materials, industrial supplies, food and other perishables during shipment and storage. The low-cost FHE system will include a flexible antenna, battery, complex IC and wireless communications. Partner Boise State University will provide workforce development, education and training for FHE design and manufacture. The Smart-Tags and a reader infrastructure will be installed at NextFlex to encourage incorporation of FHE into future products.

For its project focused on wearable performance monitors, Binghamton University is again partnering with General Electric, as well as DuPont and Georgia Tech (all NextFlex members), to develop an infrastructure for testing and understanding the physics of failure in state-of-the-art wearable human health/performance monitoring devices. The project will take into account a variety of use conditions  in particular, those associated with military applications. The proposed failure analysis facilities and infrastructure will be suitable for assessment of diverse wearable systems, ranging from commercial off-the-shelf devices (such as heart rate monitor straps), to novel, stretchable devices that can be embedded in clothing/fabric or be used as tattoos, to devices that incorporate flexible microfluidics for body fluid analysis (e.g., sweat electrolytes or proteins). The findings will help enable development of robust, low-cost, high-performance wireless sensor systems.

About NextFlex

NextFlex, America's Flexible Hybrid Electronics Manufacturing Institute, is a leading force in the Manufacturing USA network of Institutes. Formed through a cooperative agreement between the US Department of Defense (DoD) and FlexTech Alliance, NextFlex is a consortium of companies, academic institutions, non-profits and state, local and federal governments with a shared goal of advancing U.S. manufacturing of FHE. Since its formation in 2015, NextFlex's elite team of thought leaders, educators, problem solvers, and manufacturers have come together to collectively facilitate innovation, narrow the manufacturing workforce gap, and promote sustainable manufacturing ecosystems. For more information, visit www.nextflex.us and follow NextFlex on LinkedIn and Twitter.

SOURCE NextFlex

Related Links

http://www.nextflex.us


ATLANTA, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The North Highland Holding Company, Inc., parent company of management consulting firm North Highland, announced today the addition of two new members to its Board of Directors. The new board members are Anne Game, currently Managing Director and Atlanta Market Lead at North Highland, and William Douglas, previously Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc.

"We're thrilled to welcome Anne and Bill to the board. Their experience, expertise, reputation and passion for North Highland make them very well suited to these roles. We know that both will be excellent contributors to the board's work on behalf of the firm," said Rear Admiral Marsha Evans, non-Executive Chairman of the Board.

With more than 30 years in the consulting industry, Game has been with North Highland for more than a decade. As Managing Director, she's led the growth of several key accounts for the firm, both in Atlanta and globally. Among other responsibilities, Game serves as executive sponsor for several firm-wide initiatives, including inclusion and diversity, executive leadership development and account management; she previously led the Chicago office.

Douglas is a 30-year veteran of the Coca-Cola system with extensive international experience. He joined Coca-Cola Enterprises in July 2004, serving as the CFO from 2005 to 2013. As Executive Vice President and CFO, Douglas oversaw the 2010 transformation of CCE into a European operating company, enabling a return of nearly $7 billion in cash to shareowners in the following years. Beginning in 2013, Douglas served as head of CCE's Supply Chain team, before retiring in 2015.

Game and Douglas are replacing current board members Dave Peterson and Frank Mueller, who are both retiring from the board. Peterson is one of the founders of North Highland, serving as CEO until 2005, and then non-Executive Chairman of the board until 2012. Most recently, he served on the Audit & Finance Committee and the Nominating & Governance Committee.

"It goes without saying that North Highland would not be here today if it weren't for Dave. Words cannot express our gratitude to him and all he has done for the firm during the past 25 years. While I know he's looking forward to devoting time to his passions outside of North Highland, he'll always be a part of our family, and part of the heart and soul of who we are," said North Highland CEO Dan Reardon.

Mueller served on the North Highland Board of Directors for 10 years and most recently was Chair of the Compensation Committee and part of the Audit & Finance Committee.

"In his more than 10 years of service on our board, Frank has been a strong voice of reason, a strategic advisor, and a champion of growth," said Reardon. "We sincerely thank him for his dedication to North Highland. Both Dave and Frank will be missed, but their presence will continue to be felt long into the future."

About North Highland

North Highland is a global management consulting firm known for helping clients solve their most complex challenges related to customer experience, performance improvement, technology and digital, and transformation. We add value and support our clients across the full spectrum of consulting, from strategy through delivery. We bring the big ideas, then we make them real. North Highland is an employee-owned firm, headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., with more than 3,000 consultants worldwide and 60+ offices around the globe. The firm is a member of Cordence Worldwide (www.cordenceworldwide.com), a global management consulting alliance. For more information, visit northhighland.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Media Contact:

Jennifer Marsh

404-975-6335

[email protected]

SOURCE North Highland

Related Links

http://www.northhighland.com


VANCOUVER, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (TSX: NDM; NYSE MKT: NAK) ("Northern Dynasty" or the "Company") has been made aware of a short and distort campaign by Kerrisdale Capital which has recently published a negative opinion piece the central theme of which is that Northern Dynasty's massive copper/gold project in Alaska is uneconomic. Northern Dynasty will be responding with a preliminary rebuttal which will appear on its website by the end of the week. The rebuttal will expose the many inaccuracies and outright misstatements in the Kerrisdale report. Northern Dynasty's Pebble Project is indisputably one of the world's largest undeveloped copper/gold deposits with a potential mine life which is measured in decades. Kerrisdale cites no technical or scientific studies whatsoever and relies on many unnamed persons who were purported to have been involved with the project several years ago. Investors should not rely on the Kerrisdale report and should await the Company's detailed response now in progress.

About Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd.

Northern Dynasty is a mineral exploration and development company based in Vancouver, Canada. Northern Dynasty's principal asset is the Pebble Project in southwest Alaska, USA, an initiative to develop one of the world's most important mineral resources.

Ronald W. Thiessen

President & CEO

Forward Looking Information and other Cautionary Factors

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively referred to as "forward-looking information"). The use of any of the words "expect", "plan", "update" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. These statements include expectations about the nature of the Kerrisdale rebuttal, the size, nature and/or economics of the Pebble Project, the success of the Company's multi-dimensional strategy to address the pre-emptive action of the EPA, the ability of the Company to proceed with permit applications for the development of the Pebble Project and the ability of the Company to obtain the necessary federal and state permits for the development of the Pebble Project. Though the Company believes the expectations expressed in its forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are subject to future events and third party discretion such as regulatory approval. For more information on the Company, and the risks and uncertainties connected with its business, Investors should review the Company's home jurisdiction filings at www.sedar.com and its filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.

SOURCE Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd.

Related Links

www.northerndynastyminerals.com


CHICAGO, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A Valentine's Day philanthropic gift of $2.5 million will support the expansion of the renowned Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute with a new hub at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield and clinical care services at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva and Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital in DeKalb.

"This expansion is a unique opportunity to offer the highest level of academic medicine and research in a community hospital setting," said Patrick McCarthy, MD, executive director of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute and chief of cardiac surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. "Developing true connections across the entire Northwestern Medicine health system to share talent and knowledge will ensure we are providing exceptional and all-encompassing cardiovascular care to all Northwestern Medicine patients."

The $2.5 million donation is composed of many unrestricted gifts to the Northwestern Memorial Foundation from donors in the community to Central DuPage and Delnor hospitals over many years.

"Philanthropy has always played a significant role in our community hospitals. Our foundation is proud this investment will expand our health system's nationally-ranked cardiology program to now include the western suburbs," said Dee Manire, vice chair, Northwestern Memorial Foundation Board of Directors. "Our investment will improve the health of our loved ones, friends and neighbors throughout the communities we serve."

The Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute was established on Valentine's Day 2005 under the leadership of Dr. McCarthy with a generous gift by Chicago real estate developer and philanthropist Neil Bluhm. Since then, Northwestern Memorial Hospital's cardiology and heart surgery program has gone from unranked to 6th nationally as rated by U.S. News and World Report. Northwestern Memorial is also currently ranked first in the country for heart failure survival and second for heart attack and stroke survival in Medicare patients, the triple threat of cardiovascular disease.

"Creating this institute was the best investment I've ever made," said Bluhm. "It is exciting to expand the geographical reach of the program to offer more patients access to leading-edge cardiac care, complex heart procedures and clinical trials close to home."

In preparation for the expansion, the Central DuPage and Delnor teams have been training under the guidance of the experienced Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute team to bring cutting-edge cardiovascular procedures to the western suburbs. Recent 'firsts' at Central DuPage include Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), Intuity sutureless aortic valve replacement, CardioMEMS for heart failure and cryoablation for heart rhythm disorders.

"Our community hospitals are enthusiastic about the opportunity to join one of the top cardiovascular programs in the country and become a destination for patients seeking superior cardiovascular care who wish to have their care closer to where they live and work," said Michael Vivoda, senior vice president of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare and president of Northwestern Medicine West Region.

Six niche centers within the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute will be developed in the western suburbs with a focus on coronary disease, heart failure, heart rhythm disorders, heart valve disease, preventative cardiology and vascular disease. The expansion will also streamline and enhance coordination for west suburban patients who may require heart transplantation or other cutting edge treatment at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

In the past 12 years, following the development of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, the number of cardiology patient visits have tripled and Northwestern Memorial Hospital is now the leading center for cardiac surgery volume in the state. The astounding growth and development would not have been possible without the generous support of many philanthropic donors.

"There are so many families each year who endure the shock, trauma and fear that comes from a sudden heart attack. We feel truly blessed that when we were faced with that life changing experience, we could rely on the world-class care of Northwestern's Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute," said Oscar Munoz, chief executive officer of United Airlines, who was treated for a heart attack and then subsequently received a heart transplant in 2016 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Separate from the Valentine's Day announcement of $2.5 million from various donors, Mr. and Mrs. Munoz recently provided a generous gift to support the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute's Center for Heart Failure in honor of the patient care team who saved his life.

"We are committed to ensuring that more families have access to such life-saving treatment. I am here today thanks to the incomparable talent and dedication of the physicians, nurses and staff, who worked as a team to restore me to total health. My wife, Cathy, and I are grateful to be able to provide a gift that will help advance the field of cardiovascular medicine," said Munoz.

For more information about Northwestern Medicine, visit news.nm.org/about-northwestern-medicine.html.

Contact: Kim Waterman

[email protected]

630.315.8090 (office)

630.220.4083 (cell)

SOURCE Northwestern Medicine

Related Links

http://nm.org


SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Sanford Heisler, LLP, along with co-counsel from Kastner Kim LLP, filed a class action complaint in U.S. District Court in San Francisco against Redwood City-based Oracle, alleging that the Silicon Valley giant has stiffed its sales employees of millions in earned commission wages by retroactively changing commission contracts. The complaint alleges that Oracle retroactively increases quotas or decreases commission rates on past sales in order to pay sales employees less than what their existing compensation plans require. The lawsuit, Johnson v. Oracle America, Inc., seeks unpaid commission wages and waiting time penalties and requests an injunction and other relief on behalf of a class of California sales employees.

The class alleges that Oracle "re-plans" employees to reduce commissions earned on completed sales going back to any time of Oracle's choosing. When it "re-plans" employees after commission wages have already been paid, according to the complaint, Oracle claws back prior payments by withholding newly earned commissions until the employees have paid the company back. The complaint also describes Oracle's retroactive re-plans as a willful and systematic scheme designed to align commissions with financial forecasts and bottom line goals.

By reducing and withholding commissions in such fashion, according to the complaint, Oracle's commission policies and practices violate numerous California Labor Code requirements and have resulted in damages of over $150 million to California employees over a four-year period.

David Sanford, chairman of Sanford Heisler and counsel for Plaintiff and the class, noted, "Oracle proudly touts itself as 'treating each employee fairly and with dignity.' We look forward to having a California jury determine whether Oracle lives up to its ideals, or, in fact, betrays them."

Plaintiff Marcella Johnson claims she was a typical sales employee subjected to a retroactive re-plan that reduced her commission payments. Oracle demanded that Johnson pay back a substantial amount of her earned commissions that had been paid before the re-plan. "The lawsuit we have filed today contends that Oracle has essentially confiscated significant amounts of commission dollars from its salesforce by retroactively changing the terms of commission contracts at will. We believe such a practice is grossly unfair and violates California law," said Daniel Qualls of Kastner Kim, one of the lawyers representing the Plaintiff.

"California law does not allow a company to point to fine print that supposedly allows it to reduce commissions after the fact," said Xinying Valerian, Senior Litigation Counsel at Sanford Heisler. "We think all employers should honor the commission formulas that they have provided sales employees and be held accountable for paying employees the commission they have earned."

About Sanford Heisler, LLP

Sanford Heisler, LLP is a public interest class-action litigation law firm with offices in New York, Washington, D.C, San Francisco and San Diego. Our attorneys have graduated from the nation's top law schools, clerked for judges throughout the United States, and amassed extensive experience litigating cases that have earned over one billion dollars for our clients.

The Firm specializes in civil rights and general public interest cases, representing plaintiffs with employment discrimination, labor and wage violations, predatory lending, whistleblower, consumer fraud, and other claims. Along with a focus on class actions, the firm also represents individuals and has achieved particular success in the representation of executives in employment disputes. For more information go to http://www.sanfordheisler.com/ or call 202 499-5200 or email [email protected]. For the latest news visit our newsroom or follow us on Twitter at @sanfordheisler

For more information contact: Jamie Moss, newsPRos, 201 493 1027; [email protected] or Madelaine Strauss, [email protected]

SOURCE Sanford Heisler, LLP

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https://sanfordheisler.com


NEW YORK, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Members of the Orthodox Jewish community, organized by the Central Rabbinical Congress of the USA and Canada, plan to protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The demonstration will be held on Pennsylvania Ave, in front of The White House, Washington, D.C. Wednesday February 15 at 2:00 PM.

Under a 2014 law, the Israeli government has been forcing Orthodox Jewish young men to serve in its army. Those who refuse, due to their religious convictions, as well as those who protest against the law, are incarcerated for weeks and sometimes months Currently Rabbi Binumin Friedman, a father of seven, is held in prison for protesting against the draft. Authorities say they will hold him until his trial ends. No one can tell how long that will be  possibly more than a year.

"Netanyahu and his state don't represent Jews or Judaism," said Rabbi Shaye Weiss "This draft issue once again proves that their intention is to uproot religious Judaism."

Very few countries in the world draft their citizens even in peacetime. Even those that do, grant exemptions in reasonable circumstances  certainly for religious convictions.

Furthermore, the current Israeli policy of oppressing peaceful protestors against conscription violates the most fundamental right accorded to each human being on the earth: the freedom of expression, the freedom of assembly and the freedom of religion

"Only the Israeli government breaks into people's homes in the middle of the night, drags them out and throws them in jail for a year and a half, just because they don't want to be influenced by the irreligious and immoral environment of the Israeli army. Furthermore, the very act of serving in the Israeli army is forbidden by Torah. According to Jewish law, Jews are not allowed to wage wars against other nations or to create a Jewish sovereign state of any kind before the messiah comes".

CONTACT: Issac Greenfield, 347-385-1405, [email protected]

SOURCE Central Rabbinical Congress
LONDON, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Benelux and Scandinavia's largest online travel agency, Otravo, has seen an extraordinary 40 percent growth, which it attributes to Sabre's industry leading online travel and web-services technology. Otravo has used the global technology provider's suite of travel shopping and booking technologies for many years to power all of Otravo's corporate and leisure travel brands.

With a goal to providing a seamless customer experience across all its sites, Otravo partnered with Sabre to develop new capabilities for dynamic packaging of travel products, identify new customer segments, strengthen metasearch reach, and improve personalization by delivering highly customized travel arrangements. Since working with Sabre, Otravo's bookings have grown by 30 percent each year, its customer satisfaction has risen 20 percent, and turnover has increased significantly. "Since we've converted to Sabre, we're booking more complex and expensive dynamic packages and tours, we're able to show more flight details and seating options, and we're connected to the metasite channel now. These upgrades have helped us grow our turnover by 40 percent each year," says Otravo CEO Raymond Vrijenhoek.

With approximately 100,000 unique website visitors per day, Otravo is one of Europe's largest and fastest-growing online travel agencies. Among the group's brands are Vliegtickets.nl and WTC.nl in the Netherlands, Vliegtickets.be in Belgium, Flygstolen in Sweden as well as Tripmonster in Norway and Denmark. Guided by Raymond Vrijenhoek and a dedicated team, Otravo is committed to delivering the fastest, easiest and most comprehensive online travel product in its markets. "The user experience sits at the center of everything we do," says Vrijenhoek. "We are constantly focusing on customer needs and looking for ways to innovate so that our customers can get exactly what they want."

Antonella Vecchio, vice president Online and Land & Sea, Sabre Travel Network said: "We are consistently impressed with Otravo's innovation leadership and the team's dedication to delivering a perfect customer experience. Travelers are changing  their behaviors and expectations are shaped by advances in technology and consumer adoption. They expect consumer-grade technology options as well as a consistent, seamless user experience from their travel provider and we are proud that our technology is helping such a forward-thinking player like Otravo deliver this."

Aside from its commitment to providing a superior customer experience, Otravo is a thoroughly innovative, forward-thinking travel company in other areas as well. Alongside its more leisure-oriented websites, the group offers a separate business travel department to book online or with the help of a business travel specialist. This allows Otravo to increase their customer base by servicing their clients both in their private and professional life while taking advantage of market dynamics where business travel is emerging as a lifestyle perk rather than a work necessity. According to a recent study by hospitality group BridgeStreet, the majority of business travelers are mixing business and leisure when they are traveling, thus contributing to the growing "bleisure" segment.

Otravo is also combining deep expertise in the online travel sector with a state-of-the-art offline experience in its WTC.nl flagship store in the center of Amsterdam. While consumers increasingly plan, research and book holidays and business travel with a degree of online involvement, an offline option is appreciated by many customers as an alternative for personal advice and inspiration. In Europe, where consumers have embraced online booking the most, 48 percent of all travel revenue is still predicted to be booked offline through 2017. With its diverse portfolio, Otravo is well positioned to take advantage of the complex dynamics in a changing marketplace.

Sabre's travel marketplace plays an important role in facilitating the marketing and sale of airfares, hotel rooms, rental cars, rail tickets and other types of travel, to more than 475,000 travel agents and thousands of corporations who use it to shop, book and manage travel. It is one of the world's largest marketplaces, processing over $120 billion in estimated travel spend.

Take a look at the case study for more information on how Otravo embarked on a journey for innovation and new growth with Sabre.

To learn more about market and consumer dynamics and how travel business can win online, download our latest whitepaper The Connected Traveler.

About Sabre Corporation

Sabre Corporation is the leading technology provider to the global travel industry. Sabre's software, data, mobile and distribution solutions are used by hundreds of airlines and thousands of hotel properties to manage critical operations, including passenger and guest reservations, revenue management, flight, network and crew management. Sabre also operates a leading global travel marketplace, which processes more than $120 billion of estimated travel spend annually by connecting travel buyers and suppliers. Headquartered in Southlake, Texas, USA, Sabre serves customers in more than 160 countries around the world.

About Otravo

Vliegtickets.nl was founded is 1987 and part of travel organization Otravo since 2014, together with WTC.nl. and Vliegtickets.be. Schipholtickets.nl was acquired in January and Flygstolen in July of last year.

With the different brands in the Benelux and in Scandinavia (Tripmonster in Denmark and Norway and Flygstolen in Sweden) Otravo is market leader in online travel in these countries.

SABR-F

SOURCE Sabre Corporation
WEST ORANGE, N.J., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- PEF Services, a leading fund administrator for Alternative Investment Managers, provided insights on the handling of fee and expense allocations to an audience of women executives in Private Equity Finance and Fund Operations in Chicago on February 8, 2017.

PEF Services presented results and commentary on the recent 2016 PFM Fees and Expenses Benchmarking Survey which examined fee and expense practices among U.S. fund managers. The survey, directed to alternative fund managers, addressed questions regarding various fees and expenses, comparing and reviewing practices across the industry.

The PEF Services event featured an interactive presentation and discussion led by Anne Anquillare, PEF Services CEO and President. Anne was joined by speakers Karina Stahl, Managing Director, Finance & Operations for Monroe Capital, and Hank Boggio, Chief Revenue Officer for PEF Services.

The discussion centered around how financial executives approach fee and expense allocations, including the transparency, compliance and the general understanding of standard procedures, the use of ILPA best practice reporting templates, LP event budgets, technology costs and problem areas such as management fee offsets, fees charged to portfolio companies, and allocations across funds.

"The expense allocation policy is more principles-based than rules-based," said Anne Anquillare, Chief Executive Officer and President of PEF Services. "Once implemented, it can streamline how a company handles new expenses, helps avoid unnecessary legal costs and internal distractions so CFOs can efficiently balance their primary fiduciary responsibility to their investors." To learn more, visit www.pefservices.com/the-proactive-approach.

Consistent with the PFM Benchmarking survey results, this group confirmed the challenges inherent in the support for standardization of ILPA best practice templates. The ILPA templates are considered laborious with few tangible benefits, so alternatives are adopted.

"General Partners are receiving an increased number of custom templates from their Limited Partners, with the majority asking for very similar information," commented Karina Stahl, Managing Director, Finance & Operations, Monroe Capital. "More and more, GPs are choosing to respond with substance, timeliness and efficiency of reporting over form."

Regarding fee and expense allocations which are not addressed in the PPM, LPA or policy documents, it was noted that decisions made by the management team or CFO alone creates a lot of risk for second guessing and non-disclosure issues.

"The push towards standardization of fee disclosures with the release of the latest guidelines serves to elevate the level of trust between GPs and LPs," remarked Hank Boggio, Chief Revenue Officer for PEF Services. "The appropriate guidance here is to collaborate with your investors to ensure that you are providing the information they need in a format they can use."

About PEF Services LLC

PEF Services provides high-value, high-touch Fund Administration solutions supported by senior professionals with extensive experience in alternative investments. PEF has a 15-year track record of delivering cost-effective solutions to Funds and General Partnerships, including Buyout, Venture, Real Estate, Special Purpose Vehicles, Mezzanine, Credit, SBIC, and Fund of Funds. The firm's LP Administration Solutions Group (LPAS) focuses solely on meeting the unique administration and data needs of limited partners investing in illiquid alternative assets. In partnering with PEF, firms increase operational efficiency, reduce and control operating costs, improve focus on core capabilities, and gain access to experts in private capital back office operations. For more information please visit www.pefservices.com.

Press Contact

Laura Hills

VP, Marketing

PEF Services

212.203.4685 x180

[email protected]

SOURCE PEF Services

Related Links

http://www.pefservices.com


HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- State General Services Secretary Curt Topper today announced that the department has submitted the "Department of General Services Annex Disposition Report" to the Pennsylvania General Assembly for review, comment and approval.

In January of 2016, DGS contracted with Lancaster County-based RGS Associates, Inc. The two-year, $258,900.00 contract was for services including, but not limited to, the development of a formalized report containing recommendations for future use of the DGS Annex and encompassing the research and engagements described; property appraisals, environmental site assessments, zoning & planning, financial analysis, stakeholder input, public meetings and marketing of the property.

"When we sought out the services of a land planning consultant, our primary goals were to make sure that this process was transparent, thorough, inclusive of all interested parties and to present a set of recommendations that would enable us to make the best decision on how to move forward with the future of this property," Topper said.

"This report is the culmination of hundreds of hours of stakeholder engagement, property analysis and due diligence in order to develop the most effective plan to market this property for sale. The Department of General Services fully supports the top recommendation to sell all four parcels together in order to put fort the most appealing opportunity for potential developers and enable them to develop the property in a way that will be most beneficial to the community.

"We look forward to working with the Pennsylvania General Assembly to get the DGS Annex off of the commonwealth's inventory and back onto the local tax rolls where it can contribute to the economy. In addition, the sale would free up the $5 million in annual carrying costs associated with the DGS Annex and allow those taxpayer dollars to be put to better use elsewhere in state government."

The DGS Annex property, formerly known as the Harrisburg State Hospital, was opened in 1851 and operated as the state hospital until 2006. The total acreage that would be available for sale is 295 acres, which includes 140-acres where the former state hospital campus is housed. The property is still in use by state agencies with approximately 800 employees still onsite. In early 2016, more than 850 employees were moved into the former Verizon Tower in Strawberry Square in downtown Harrisburg.

"Our intention is to take the remaining workforce that is using the DGS Annex and to reduce our physical footprint by moving them into more modern and efficient workspace," Topper said. "Current space management evaluations from the DGS Bureau of Real Estate show that we can significantly reduce the 1 million square feet in space we are currently maintaining, down to approximately 150,000 square feet."

DGS will work with the Pennsylvania General Assembly to move the DGS Annex property as expeditiously as possible.

Interested parties can review the Department of General Services Annex Disposition Report online.

MEDIA CONTACT: Troy Thompson, DGS, 717-787-3197



SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of General Services

Related Links

http://www.state.pa.us


SAINT LOUIS PARK, Minn., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- MP2 Enterprises, a Pizza Hut franchisee with 19 locations, today announced a partnership with Delaget, LLC, the only data analytics and business process outsourcing experts focused on the QSR industry.

MP2 will be utilizing several Delaget solutions, including:

Delaget Guard , a loss prevention tool that scrutinizes restaurant data to help operators quickly and easily identify suspected employee theft, track suspicious employee behavior patterns, and take action with and train employees.

, a loss prevention tool that scrutinizes restaurant data to help operators quickly and easily identify suspected employee theft, track suspicious employee behavior patterns, and take action with and train employees. Delaget Stats , a comprehensive reporting service that allows restaurant operators to quickly view, analyze, and react to performance metrics such as product mix, average ticket, and speed of service.

, a comprehensive reporting service that allows restaurant operators to quickly view, analyze, and react to performance metrics such as product mix, average ticket, and speed of service. Delaget Books, a time-saving restaurant payroll and accounting service that streamlines restaurant processes to improve profitability.

"Initially, we were only searching for an outsourced payroll and accounting solution. But when we discovered Delaget also had reporting and loss prevention capabilities, it made sense from a financial and business perspective to partner with one vendor and have Delaget be our one stop shop for payroll, cash verification, restaurant reporting, and loss prevention services," said Bryant Peterson, Co-Owner of MP2.

"Delaget's offerings will help us run our operation more effectively and efficiently. We will be able to focus more of our energy on growing the business. And it will allow us to do what we're good at  making and serving pizzas," he added.

"Our solutions are purpose-built to support restaurant franchisees like MP2. By outsourcing payroll and using software to identify loss and increase operational efficiencies, the team at MP2 can spend less time pulling and analyzing reports and more time on what's most important to them helping guests in their restaurants. We're proud to partner with MP2 for their payroll, reporting, and loss prevention needs," said Jason Tober, CEO of Delaget.

About MP2 Enterprises

Founded in 2006, MP2 Enterprises is a Pizza Hut franchisee with 19 locations in Arizona, Utah, and Nevada. MP2 Enterprises is headquartered in Washington, Utah. Pizza Hut, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., delivers more pizza, pasta, and wings than any other restaurant in the world. What started out small has become the biggest pizza restaurant in the world and today operates more than 16,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries serving innovative pizzas, traditional pizzas like the signature Pan Pizza, and much more.

About Delaget, LLC

For more than 15 years, Delaget has helped multi-unit operators run smarter, more profitable restaurants by serving up actionable guidance each day to increase profits and reduce loss. The company's advanced loss prevention, unit-level analytics, and enterprise reporting services, along with expert payroll and accounting support, empowers those in the restaurant business to improve the guest experience, optimize operations and to take control of their margins and maximize profits. Clients include Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Hard Rock Cafe, IHOP, KFC, Panda Express, Hardee's, Sonic, and more.

Media information:

Joe Cudzilo, Delaget Marketing Manager

[email protected], 763-489-3068

SOURCE Delaget, LLC

Related Links

http://www.delaget.com


ATLANTA, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- PPD Holdings Investment Group has taken advantage of the recent boom in the multifamily industry, closing sales on numerous properties located across the Southeast, with those transactions totaling more than $361 million.

They're looking to parlay that success into more investments in 2017 and beyond.

"We were able to sell these properties at top market," PPD Holdings founder Pablo Diego said.

PPD Holdings sold apartment home communities located in Greater Atlanta, Nashville, Tennessee, and Raleigh, North Carolina.

Those properties include:

One Metrocenter: 320 units ( Nashville, Tennessee )

) Circa & Ecco 400: 608 units ( Sandy Springs, Georgia )

) The Crest at Laurelwood: 272 units ( Woodstock, Georgia )

) Wesley Pond : 246 units ( Douglasville, Georgia )

: 246 units ( ) Wesley Park : 370 units ( Norcross, Georgia )

: 370 units ( ) Wesley at Windward: 294 units ( Alpharetta, Georgia )

) The Crest at Brier Creek: 291 units ( Raleigh, North Carolina )

) West End Village : 244 units ( Nashville, Tennessee )

In addition to the current units under the PPD Holdings portfolio, over the next 18 months it plans to invest in an additional 1,200 units in properties located in the Greater Atlanta area and in Southwest Florida.

PPD Holdings is also pursuing opportunities in the Southeast, particularly in Raleigh, North Carolina and in Nashville, Tennessee.

About PPD Holdings, LLLP

PPD Holdings is an investment company based in Atlanta that specializes in multifamily real estate and service-related industries across the Southeast. With over 30 years of experience, PPD Holdings has invested in assets worth more than $1 billion since its founding in the early 1990s. For more information, visit www.ppdholdings.com

For more information, contact:

Adam Krohn

[email protected]

SOURCE PPD Holdings Investment Group

Related Links

http://www.ppdholdings.com


EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), announced today that it will invest approximately $386 million in its Columbus, Georgia, facility to increase the production of parts and maintenance services and to reduce costs for new and existing engine programs. The investments will go toward the purchase of automated machinery and equipment upgrades and construction of two new buildings on the property.

The building construction will include a 200,000-square-foot facility to overhaul GTF engines. A 20,000-square-foot specialized manufacturing facility and related infrastructure will also be built to house a new isothermal forge press that will be used to manufacture turbine disks and compressor rotors for Pratt & Whitney engines. Other upgrades to equipment and machinery are also planned.

"We're investing heavily in our Columbus facility to support the increased production and services planned for our F135 and GTF engines," said Chris Calio, president, Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines. "This investment will help ensure that we have the appropriate infrastructure, tooling and trained workforce in place to provide the best products and services to our customers worldwide. The tremendous support we receive from the community and state have contributed to our success in Georgia."

"Pratt & Whitney has maintained a presence in Muscogee County since 1984 and this latest expansion speaks to Georgia's support for our robust aerospace industry," said Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal. "Georgia's pro-business structural framework and deep talent pool help to retain industry leaders such as Pratt & Whitney. By adding these new high-quality manufacturing jobs, Pratt & Whitney is making a significant investment in the Columbus community and we look forward to strengthening this longstanding partnership as the company continues to grow."

Pratt & Whitney has also expanded its relationship with Columbus Technical College to provide new and existing employees with robust training programs. The school will offer four- to nine-week programs focused on aerospace mechanics and advanced manufacturing technologies to better support the company's growth. This is one of several skills development programs the company has in place with community colleges and technical schools throughout the U.S.

"This announcement from Pratt & Whitney is the latest example of the hard work put forth every day by our economic development team locally and the professionals at the Georgia Department of Economic Development," said Brian Anderson, president & CEO of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce. "The project would not have happened without the tremendous relationships we have with the local Pratt & Whitney leadership team here in Columbus as well as those at both Pratt & Whitney and United Technologies Corporation in Connecticut."

The Columbus Engine Center maintains PW1100G-JM, V2500, PW2000, F117 and F100 engines. Columbus Forge produces compressor airfoils and nickel and titanium forgings, which are machined into critical rotating components for Pratt & Whitney's military and commercial engines. Both facilities are located on one campus about 90 miles south of Atlanta.

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units. United Technologies Corp., based in Farmington, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries. To learn more about UTC, visit its website at www.utc.com, or follow the company on Twitter: @UTC.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning future business opportunities. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in levels of demand in the aerospace industry, in levels of air travel, and in the number of aircraft to be built; challenges in the design, development, production, support, performance and realization of anticipated benefits of advanced technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in United Technologies Corp.'s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Note to editors: Photos and additional information on Pratt & Whitney's Columbus, Georgia facility can be found at: http://www.pw.utc.com/Press_Kits

Ray Hernandez

Pratt & Whitney

Office: 860-565-2341

Mobile: 860-212-9167

[email protected]

SOURCE Pratt & Whitney

Related Links

http://www.pratt-whitney.com


LONDON, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading multimedia publisher The Moodie Davitt Report is proud to announce the launch of PretAirporter.com, a new consumer website for the travel shopping channel.

PretAirporter.com is the go-to site for the latest airport and travel shopping news on fashion, accessories, beauty, drinks and travel-exclusive products.

Moodie International

The website showcases and reviews the latest products and trends available to travel shoppers as well as exploring airport special offers, experiences and shops.

PretAirporter.com also features contributions from guest international bloggers, including Singapore-based beauty blogger and winner of Most Popular Beauty Blog for the Singapore Blog Awards 2015 Cheryl Chio and Co-Founder of popular fashion blog Cool Ur Style, Elena Galifa.

Competition time: Chance to win US$1 million plus more!

PretAirporter.com already has the backing of major industry partners, including leading travel retailer Dubai Duty Free and Japanese beauty house Shiseido. In association with Dubai Duty Free's famous prize draw, PretAirporter is offering readers the chance to win US$1 million via subscription to the PretAirporter.com e-Newsletter.

Just enter your e-mail address before midnight GMT on 28 February 2017 in the pop-up Dubai Duty Free banner on the home page or in the PretAirporter side bar for a chance to win a ticket to be entered into Dubai Duty Free's Millennium Millionaire draw.

PretAirporter will be working with Dubai Duty Free on a series of other reader promotions and competitions with some fantastic prizes in the coming weeks.

Readers also have the chance to get their hands on an airport-exclusive gift package from Shiseido via a Valentine's Day social media competition. For a chance to win, readers should post a picture of their favourite airport purchase to Instagram, Twitter or Facebook and use the hash tag #ilovepretairporter.

The competition will end at midnight GMT on 24 February 2017 and the winner will be revealed on 2 March.

The PretAirporter team

The PretAirporter team is led by The Moodie Davitt Report Brands Editor Helen Pawson, with regular contributions from the publication's Ben Sillitoe and Clare Austin. The Moodie Davitt Report Chief Creative Officer Matt Willey takes charge of all things digital.

For regular news and updates, visit PretAirporter.com to sign up to the PretAirporter weekly e-Newsletter.

"The launch of PretAirporter is a key and logical development for us," said The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie. "The tremendous development of digital & social media in recent years has put the consumer at the heart of  and often in control of  the conversation with brands and retailers. We want to be part of that conversation too, both shaping it and reporting it.

Given our strong leadership in the B2B sector of travel and airport shopping, it is a natural evolution to move into the B2C  and C2B  sphere. We know the stakeholders better than anyone and plan to provide airports, retailers, brands and consumers with an exciting platform that showcases latest products, channel exclusives and of course promotional campaigns.

Travel retail is one of the key distribution channels for most international fashion, luxury, beauty and upscale spirits brands. Yet until now it has lacked a strong consumer voice. We believe PretAirporter.com will change that in an exciting, innovative and multi-national way."

PretAirporter Editor Helen Pawson commented, "The launch of PretAirporter.com marks an exciting time for The Moodie Davitt Report as the company makes its first major foray into consumer publishing. I am looking forward to driving this project, which has huge potential, and working alongside our talented in-house team as well as some outstanding international bloggers and key opinion leaders."

Follow PretAirporter on Twitter and Instagram (@pretairporter) or 'like' the Facebook page.

About The Moodie Davitt Report

The Moodie Davitt Report, formerly The Moodie Report, is the world's leading B2B multimedia publishing company for the global travel retail industry. Launched in 2002 by Martin Moodie, The Moodie Davitt Report's portfolio includes a website (www.moodiedavittreport.com), an e-Newsletter, e-Zine and Print Edition. The website regularly attracts over 300,000 page views a month.

Contacts

Helen Pawson, Editor: [email protected]; +44 (0)208 231 7210

Matt Willey, Chief Creative Officer: [email protected]; +44 (0)208 231 7201

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SOURCE The Moodie Davitt Report

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MARSHFIELD, Wis., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- PreventionGenetics has launched newly expanded PGxome, whole exome sequencing tests. In addition to affordable diagnostic whole exome testing, PGxome Health Screen is now available for individuals seeking carrier status, enhancing preconception and prenatal carrier screening options. The test is also offered to healthy people seeking susceptibility information for adult onset conditions.

"PreventionGenetics is a thought leader in genetic testing. Our suite of PGxome tests provides options for a variety of patients, including those in the reproductive arena," said James Weber, PhD, Founder and President of PreventionGenetics. "With the cost of sequencing continuing to decline, patients and providers now have access to more complete genetic testing, with the same high quality they have come to expect from us. Rather than settling for tests that analyze limited conditions and genetic variants, they now have options for full gene sequencing of essentially all clinically relevant genes."

PGxome Health Screen is intended for healthy patients who want to learn their carrier status for recessive disorders and/or their susceptibility to adult onset conditions. Unlike common carrier screening tests, we sequence the full gene rather than limiting analysis to common disease causing variants within each gene. PreventionGenetics identifies and interprets all sequence variants (differences between the patient's sequence and the reference sequence) but only reports Pathogenic and Likely Pathogenic variants, meaning they are expected, with a high degree of certainty, to be disease causing.

What sets PreventionGenetics' PGxome tests apart is distributed variant interpretation. "Clinically relevant genes and their variants are interpreted by MD and PhD Geneticists who have specialization and expertise in specific disease categories," said Weber. "Our specialty-focused approach harnesses the collective knowledge and experience of many Geneticists in collaboration, and through the power of many, we are able to accurately interpret the patient's results."

Pharmacogenomic testing will soon be added to PreventionGenetics' PGxome test menu.

About PreventionGenetics:

Founded in 2004, PreventionGenetics is a CAP, CLIA and ISO 15189-accredited clinical DNA testing laboratory, providing testing for thousands of genetic conditions. PreventionGenetics has the largest DNA test menu in America which includes single gene or panel testing for all clinically relevant genes.

PreventionGenetics also offers DNA Banking (PGDNABank), a long-term storage of a person's DNA. DNA Banking is available direct-to-consumer. We invite you to visit our DNA Banking website, PGDNABank.com.

Contact: Marsha Bushman, MBA

Business Development Officer

PreventionGenetics, LLC

P: 715.387.0484 Ext. 282

[email protected]

www.preventiongenetics.com

SOURCE PreventionGenetics

Related Links

http://preventiongenetics.com


AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Epicor Software Corporation, a global provider of industry-specific enterprise software to promote business growth, today announced Pro X Home Center will leverage various award-winning solutions from the Epicor retail software product suite to improve inventory management, gain access to in-depth business analytics, streamline employee scheduling, and expand the company's online store.

"We are moving to the Epicor Eagle N Series solution because it will help deliver the results we need to support the company, make proactive decisions, and grow," said Jeff Brubaker, owner, Pro X Home Center.

Based in Bonners Ferry, Idaho since 2004, Pro X Home Center is an independently-owned member of Do it Best, stocked with products tailored for the surrounding community and an online catalog that features over 67,000 items available for purchase.

Identifying the need for a technology partner that could sustain aggressive growth of the business, Pro X Home Center will launch the Epicor Eagle N Series retail business management solution across its business. "Our business growth has shot through the roof over the last few years, which has been very exciting," said Jeff Brubaker, owner, Pro X Home Center. "This growth has put us in a position for expansion, but in order to attain that expansion we needed a retail business management solution that could help get our business in order. Our previous point of sale (POS) system was holding us back, as it was not providing us with the information we required, specifically around inventory management and analytics. We are moving to the Epicor Eagle N Series solution because it will help deliver the results we need to support the companyincluding real-time data in our current location, which will be crucial for expansion into other areasto make proactive decisions, and grow."

Improved Staffing Decisions to Boost Bottom Line

Pro X Home Center has also selected the Epicor Scheduling+ solution to better equip the business with appropriate staffing levels. "We decided to add the Epicor Scheduling+ tool for a couple of reasons," said Susan Shope, general ledger manager, Pro X Home Center. "First, we were finding problems with our current timekeeping program. The information was not being transported correctly from the time clock device to the software management piece. In our old system, we were doing manual adjustments at the end of the month to add payroll into the system, so we were unable to tell how wages were affecting our bottom line, except at month end. Second, we liked the fact that it would be easy to see the sales volume in comparison to the labor force. We hope by using Epicor Scheduling+ software we will be able to more accurately predict the busy times, not only selling, but also other factors like stocking and inventory, and be better prepared with personnel."

Readily Available Co-Op Data

The longstanding relationship between Epicor and Do it Best Corp. gives hardware, lumber, and building materials members that use the Eagle N Series solution seamless access to the cooperative information they need. "We are located in the heart of a competitive home improvement and building materials environment, but we distinguish ourselves by selling higher-end products and tailoring our service offerings. Do it Best does a superb job of having a variety of products available for us, which in turn gives our customers better business outcomes. Because of the easy access to the Do it Best catalog and vendor information within Eagle N Series software, we will no longer need to go back and forth between various programs. All the information we need will be available at the click of a button in one system," said Brubaker.

Online Store to Improve Customer and Vendor Engagement

With a successful and expanding online store, Pro X Home Center will also deploy the Epicor iNet eBusiness Suite. "Epicor iNet eBusiness Suite software was selected for future expansion we hope to make. We understand that many people do not use brick and mortar stores as much, and we want to capture a part of the population we may be missing. By allowing our customers to view not only everything we stock, but also items that we can special order, we will improve customer engagement and meet all of our customers known and unknown needs, wants, and wishes," said Shope.

"As we implement Epicor iNet, our contractor customers will certainly appreciate the online access to account information," said Brubaker. "With e-statements, e-invoices, and e-purchase orders, we will be able to easily and automatically email invoices, statements, and purchase orders to our vendors. I have no doubt this will save us time and money, as well as increase customer satisfaction since they will have quick access to the information they need."

"Epicor Eagle N Series offers the industry-specific functionality our customers need to successfully and efficiently run a retail operation," said Doug Smith, director, product marketing, retail and distribution, Epicor Software. "By partnering with Epicor, Pro X Home Center will be able to take advantage of key technologies for vital business visibility, improvements, and growth. We are excited to welcome Pro X Home Center into the Epicor retail family."

About Epicor Eagle N Series

Epicor Eagle N Series software is a fully integrated retail business management system, with built-in best practices, designed for small to mid-sized businesses. Thousands of retail customers rely on the Epicor Eagle N Series solution to operate more efficiently and grow revenue and profits. Visit the Epicor Eagle N Series solution hub to learn more.

About Epicor Scheduling+

Epicor Scheduling+ is a robust, cloud-based workforce management solution that provides intelligent scheduling, task management, and time and attendance tools based on historical and real-time point of sale (POS) data. The Epicor Scheduling+ application, easily integrated with the leading Epicor Eagle retail business management system, is an innovative solution designed to help retailers effectively manage labor costs, save time and money, and improve overall operational efficiencies. Visit the Epicor workforce management solution hub to learn more.

About Epicor Software Corporation

Epicor Software Corporation drives business growth. We provide flexible, industry-specific software designed around the needs of our manufacturing, distribution, retail, and service industry customers. More than 40 years of experience with our customers' unique business processes and operational requirements are built into every solutionin the cloud or on premises. With this deep understanding of your industry, Epicor solutions manage complexity, increase efficiency, and free up resources so you can focus on growth. For more information, connect with Epicor or visit www.epicor.com.

Epicor, Eagle N Series, Epicor Scheduling+, iNet eBusiness Suite, and the Epicor logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Epicor Software Corporation, registered in the United States and other countries. Other trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners. The product and service offerings depicted in this document are produced by Epicor Software Corporation.

Contact: Lindsay Ortega

Senior Specialist, Public Relations

Epicor Software Corporation

+1 952 417 5022

[email protected]

SOURCE Epicor Software Corporation

Related Links

http://www.epicor.com


SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ProTrials Research, Inc., a leader in the clinical research organization (CRO) industry, announced today the expansion of their suite of services to include data management. In response to the evolving needs of their clients, ProTrials has broadened their offering, adding both data management services and a variety of electronic data capture (EDC) platforms, which allow for a customized approach to meet individual client needs.

"At ProTrials, we are committed to advancing the quality of clinical trials," said Jodi Andrews, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of ProTrials. "We are pleased to work toward a full service offering by providing our clients with data management and EDC services, both of which support our efforts toward providing full service capabilities to our clients."

Launched in 1996 by industry veterans Jodi Andrews and Inger Arum, ProTrials is a multi-million dollar global organization dedicated to improving the quality of clinical research. With a 90 percent repeat customer base, ProTrials maintains a reputation for excellence as a quality-focused CRO. Over the last two decades, their growth and ability to successfully manage clinical trials of any size and scale have earned them attention from national and local media sources such as Inc. magazine and the Silicon Valley Business Journal, to accolades from industry experts at CenterWatch.

"Our global team of clinical research professionals has sustained a reputation for consistently delivering high-quality results," said Inger Arum, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of ProTrials. "By diversifying and expanding our services, we aim to continue to exceed our clients' expectations, while also delivering on our pledge to approach and manage each clinical trial with considerable care, professionalism and expertise."

ProTrials will be exhibiting at the Outsourcing in Clinical Trials, West Coast (OCT) conference in Burlingame, CA, February 22-23, 2017. Members of the leadership team will be available to discuss the company's capabilities across the clinical trials spectrum, as well as their expertise in multiple therapeutic areas including oncology, ophthalmology, and infectious disease. To learn more about the conference, please visit www.arena-international.com/octwestcoast.

Please visit www.protrials.com to learn more about the suite of clinical research services offered by ProTrials, and join the conversation on Facebook or LinkedIn.

About ProTrials Research, Inc.

Founded in 1996, ProTrials Research, Inc. is a clinical research organization (CRO) headquartered in San Jose, CA, with clinical operations personnel located throughout North America and worldwide. The company works with clients in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, providing high quality study management, site monitoring, project management and associated clinical operations services. ProTrials Global Limited, the company's UK-based subsidiary, supports European-based clinical activities. ProTrials also has international partners that offer local support in countries throughout Asia, Latin America and Australia. For more information or to discuss your clinical research needs, please visit www.protrials.com or call 650.864.9195.

Press Contact: Wendy Powers

ProTrials Research, Inc.

650.864.9195

[email protected]

SOURCE ProTrials Research, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.protrials.com


DENVER, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- More home shoppers searched on remax.com in 2016 than any other national real estate franchise website, according to recent data provided by Hitwise. The website had more than 77 million visits last year, more than the next two competitors combined and nearly double the number of annual visits of its closest competitor.

The total number of visits to remax.com in 2016 was up 28 percent from the previous year, while three of the four next ranking franchise sites experienced a decrease in annual visits. In 2015, the RE/MAX site had just under 20 million more visits than its closest competitor. It is a testament to incredible brand power of RE/MAX, the quality of RE/MAX agents, and ever-increasing consumer engagement with the network's flagship website.

Total number of annual visits according to Hitwise:

remax.com 77,463,705 (2016) 62,132,115 (2015)

century21.com 39,006,189 (2016) 42,457,848 (2015)

kw.com 36,219,042 (2016) 31,567,836 (2015)

coldwellbanker.com 20,328,480 (2016) 20,618,581 (2015)

weichert.com 18,236,506 (2016) 20,452,820 (2015)

"Remax.com continues to dominate its national franchise competitors in the number of annual visits from home shoppers," said Adam Contos, Chief Operating Officer of RE/MAX, LLC. "RE/MAX regularly enhances the customer experience on remax.com and expand valuable tools for our agents. Our site gives consumers the most accurate and timely data available and is one of many reasons why remax.com is the online leader."

RE/MAX, LLC unveiled bold enhancements to its website in early 2016. Already the most visited real estate franchise online, the global real estate leader looked to improve the consumer experience. The new remax.com enhances the mobile experience by offering a modern responsive design and personalized features such as places, mapping, sharing, social and alerts.

Remax.com features a streamlined look - designed to easily guide consumers through the home-searching process. Edge-to-edge content, large gallery images and map-based search functions all provide users with a more personalized experience. Visitors can also search using a completely customizable My RE/MAX account, which allows them to save favorite properties, share homes on social media, connect with a local agent, request a showing and even find properties based on commute time or other subjective criteria. Listing videos were also introduced with the new website rollout. Remax.com visitors are now able to explore over 90,000 listings through custom videos powered by VScreen.

Remax.com also serves as a gateway to other company websites. Whether visitors are searching for high-end luxury properties, commercial investments or a new home in dozens of countries and territories around the globe, they are able to access them all  via The RE/MAX Collection, RE/MAX Commercial and RE/MAX global listings  conveniently from remax.com.

Remax.com connects consumers with RE/MAX agents and adds to the more than 15 million free referral leads generated since 2006.

About the RE/MAX Network:

RE/MAX was founded in 1973 by Dave and Gail Liniger, with an innovative, entrepreneurial culture affording its agents and franchisees the flexibility to operate their businesses with great independence. Over 110,000 agents provide RE/MAX a global reach of more than 100 countries and territories. Nobody sells more real estate than RE/MAX when measured by residential transaction sides. RE/MAX, LLC, one of the world's leading franchisors of real estate brokerage services, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of RMCO, LLC, which is controlled and managed by RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RMAX). With a passion for the communities in which its agents live and work, RE/MAX is proud to have raised more than $150 million for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and other charities. For more information about RE/MAX, to search home listings or find an agent in your community, please visit www.remax.com. For the latest news about RE/MAX, please visit www.remax.com/newsroom.

SOURCE RE/MAX, LLC

Related Links

http://www.remax.com


SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- RSA Conference -- RSA, a Dell Technologies business, unveiled a centralized platform that is designed to enhance fraud detection and investigation across digital environments in the latest release in the RSA Fraud & Risk Intelligence Suite. The new platform is engineered to enable organizations to leverage additional insights from internal and external sources as well as other anti-fraud tools to better protect their customers from targeted cybercrime attacks.

"Fraudsters are opportunistic; they aren't picky as to which channels they use to steal from organizations and their customers. In whichever channel an organization has weak controls is where you'll find the bad guys, and they are getting better at finding those weaknesses which is why losses from account takeovers are up over 60% since last year," said Al Pascual, Research Director and Head of Fraud & Security, Javelin Strategy & Research. "Organizations need to implement smarter controls across channels. That means leveraging holistic intelligence and solutions that are designed to work effectively in each channel in which they do business."

RSA's Business-Driven Security solutions help customers comprehensively and rapidly link security incidents with business context to respond effectively and protect what matters most. The RSA Fraud & Risk Intelligence platform is built to address many of the challenges facing organizations as they transform their digital strategy. As consumers transact in new ways and across new channels, better capabilities for security and fraud management that do not add friction to the user experience are required.

The platform gives organizations the ability to help balance security and convenience while improving fraud detection and investigation. Key benefits are designed to include:

Centralized fraud management: Organizations can gain better visibility across web and mobile sessions and enable faster investigation of fraud incidents by leveraging input from other anti-fraud tools.

Organizations can gain better visibility across web and mobile sessions and enable faster investigation of fraud incidents by leveraging input from other anti-fraud tools. Enhanced fraud detection: Organizations can correlate internal and external information sources into risk assessments to enhance fraud detection while minimizing interruptions to consumers while transacting.

Organizations can correlate internal and external information sources into risk assessments to enhance fraud detection while minimizing interruptions to consumers while transacting. Improved experience for mobile users: Organizations can optimize how they secure their customers in the mobile channel and protect high-risk mobile transactions with a range of step-up authentication options including fingerprint or eye biometrics and transaction signing.

The enhancements extend the RSA Fraud & Risk Intelligence Suite's visibility into fraud events across channels, starting with mobile and web, while assessing and planning to expand into other channels. Enabling insights from other anti-fraud tools, the RSA Fraud and Risk Intelligence Suite is engineered to allow organizations to leverage existing investments to make better risk decisions and improve how they respond to the most sophisticated fraud attacks.

"Organizations are interacting more directly with customers across multiple-digital channel platforms, and the way they protect customers must change too. Customer experience is key, but consumers also expect to feel secure whether they are making an online purchase, transferring money, or checking their healthcare records," said Shai Cohen, general manager, RSA Fraud & Risk Intelligence Suite. "As fraud threats increase in both frequency and impact, organizations need better visibility and control over their anti-fraud initiatives. The enhancements announced today provide the most comprehensive level of fraud management in the industry."

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

ABOUT RSA

RSA offers business-driven security solutions that uniquely link business context with security incidents to help organizations manage risk and protect what matters most. RSA solutions are designed to effectively detect and respond to advanced attacks; manage user identities and access; and, reduce business risk, fraud, and cybercrime. RSA protects millions of users around the world and helps more than 90% of the Fortune 500 companies thrive in an uncertain, high risk world. For more information, go to rsa.com.

RSA, Dell, Business Driven Security, and other trademarks are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks may be the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE RSA

Related Links

http://www.rsa.com


LA JOLLA, Calif., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Salk Professor Tony Hunter, who holds an American Cancer Society Professorship, has been awarded $500,000 as part of the $1 million Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences' inaugural Sjoberg Prize for Cancer Research for "groundbreaking studies of cellular processes that have led to the development of new and effective cancer drugs." The prize ceremony will be held in Stockholm during the Academy's annual meeting on March 31, 2017, in the presence of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen of Sweden.

"Tony is an internationally recognized leader in the field of cancer research," says Salk President Elizabeth Blackburn. "He has made enormous contributions to our understanding of cancer's basic biology and his research has led to life-saving therapies. We are delighted that his pioneering accomplishments are being honored with this important new award."

Hunter studied how normal cells become tumor cells, demonstrating that a special process was necessary: tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins. His discovery led to the development of a new type of cancer pharmaceutical, tyrosine kinase inhibitors. These have revolutionized the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia and also are of great benefit in several other forms of cancer.

"It is a great honor to have been selected as an inaugural recipient of the Sjoberg Prize," says Hunter. "I have been fortunate to work in an inspiring and collaborative scientific community both at Salk and around the world, with excellent mentors, colleagues and students, all of whom contributed greatly to the breakthrough for which I am being honored."

Hunter, who holds the Renato Dulbecco Chair in Salk's Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory, is also the recipient of the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge award in biomedicine, the Royal Medal in the Biological Sciences of the Royal Society, the Wolf Prize in Medicine and the Gairdner International Award, among other prestigious honors. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Born in 1943 in Ashford, Kent, in the United Kingdom, Hunter is also a fellow of the Royal Society of London.

The Sjoberg Prize is awarded by the Sjoberg Foundation, which was established in 2016 with a donation by the late Swedish businessman Bengt Sjoberg. Hunter shares the honor with immunologist James Allison of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

SOURCE Salk Institute for Biological Studies

Related Links

http://www.salk.edu


"By implementing some of the most diverse habitat seeding specifications in the country, Pheasants Forever is accomplishing its mission for conserving quality upland habitat with the most positive impacts for monarchs, pollinators and upland game birds," stated Pete Berthelsen, director of habitat partnerships for Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever and one of the country's leading pollinator experts. "We're on track to help deliver the goals set forth by the National Pollinator Action Plan, including establishing over one billion milkweed stems by the year 2020; the most vital plant species in the lifecycle of the monarch butterfly."

The conservation organization's mission is focused on creating high quality habitat for pheasants and quail. It's that very same habitat, filled with diverse grasses and forbs (flowering plants), that is critical to a wide array of wildlife species and insects. As a natural extension of creating the highest quality habitat for all wildlife, the organization has made a point of including milkweed in their seed mixes. These habitat projects also perfectly overlap the footprint for recovering the country's most critical monarch breeding areas of the Midwest, Great Plains, and Great Lakes.

Last year alone, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever planted over 326 million milkweed seeds to enhance the overall quality of upland habitat in the United States while providing a critical resource for monarchs, honey bees, and other wildlife. This number is expected to grow exponentially in the coming year. Additionally, the conservation group has now entered into an innovative partnership  the Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund  that will be a frontrunner for national efforts to restore forage and breeding habitat for the iconic butterfly within its primary migration corridor.

The plight of the monarch and solutions to combat its dwindling populations will be points of emphasis at the upcoming "Bees, Butterflies, Birds & You" Pollinator Symposium held next week in Minneapolis, Minnesota as part of the organization's National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic. Eight of the nation's top pollinator experts will highlight new programs, strategies and research being used to restore monarchs and other pollinators to their once stable populations. The Pollinator Symposium convenes on February 17th at 12:30 p.m. in room 211 (2nd level) of the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Media Opportunity

For media inquiries regarding Pheasants Forever's national leadership role for restoring pollinator habitat or to obtain credentials for the upcoming "Bees, Butterflies, Birds & You" Pollinator Symposium, please contact Pete Berthelsen at (308) 390-0848 or [email protected].

About Pheasants Forever



Pheasants Forever, including its quail conservation division, Quail Forever, is the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 145,000 members and 720 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Chapters are empowered to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds are spent. Since creation in 1982, Pheasants Forever has spent $708 million on 517,000 habitat projects benefiting 15.8 million acres nationwide.

SOURCE Pheasants Forever, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.pheasantsforever.org


SEATTLE, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- On February 8, 2017, Security Properties purchased Beaumont Grand, a 267-unit, Class B multifamily property located in Lakewood, WA for $35,200,000.

Beaumont Grand - Lakewood, WA Beaumont Grand - Lakewood, WA

The property was originally developed in 1995 and consists of 23 two and three story residential buildings spread out over more than 11 acres. Geographically, the city of Lakewood is situated just 9 miles south of Tacoma and less than two miles east of the Puget Sound. The property's strategic location also affords residents convenient access to two of the area's largest employers. Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the largest military base on the west coast, is located ~15 minutes south and supports a total of 66,000 jobs. Additionally, the 800-bed Western State Hospital employs roughly 2,100 and is located less than one mile west of the property.

Lakewood is a submarket that has strong job drivers, but very limited supply. Since 2002 only two properties, totaling 306 units, have been built in the area with no planned future apartment developments. This, combined with the significant rent growth currently being experienced in Seattle's first ring, is pushing people out of the core into markets like Lakewood where the rents are much more affordable.

One of the property's most unique features is its large units. At an average of 939 square feet, Beaumont's floor plans are by far the largest in its competitive set. Additionally, Beaumont Grand is one of only two gated communities in the area creating a higher-end feel.

Beaumont Grand represents a value-add investment with moderate interior and exterior renovation characteristics. Security Properties plans to renovate all units. The new spec will include black appliances, cabinet doors with modern pulls, upgraded lighting, paint and baseboard along with flooring.

In order to effectively reposition the asset, the current business plan also includes capital focused on the modernization of resident common areas and amenity spaces. Additional major projects include a roof replacement and full exterior paint.

According to Davis Vaughn, Director at Security Properties, the acquisition was made because, "this was a basis buy for us in a submarket with zero supply. We believe in JBLM long term and like opportunities where we can come in significantly below replacement cost. With a low basis and value-add upside, we expect this acquisition to outperform the overall market and create value for our investors."

The property will be managed by Security Properties-affiliate Madrona Ridge Residential.

About Security Properties

Security Properties is a national real estate investment, development, and operating company headquartered in Seattle, Washington. For more than 45 years, Security Properties has provided quality housing to its residents as well as excellent financial performance for its investors. Since its founding, Security Properties has acquired or developed over 66,500 residential units at a cost of over $3.35 billion. Security Properties maintains a focused multi-family strategy supported by integrated teams of professional acquisition, development, construction, investment, and property management specialists. For more information, visit www.securityproperties.com

About Madrona Ridge Residential

Madrona Ridge Residential is the affiliated property management firm of Security Properties, created to increase the value of its real estate holdings by more closely managing its assets. Operating throughout the Western U.S., Madrona Ridge Residential is committed to delivering exceptional service to its apartment communities and residents. Services include property, construction and compliance management services that create positive living environments for residents and build value for clients.

News media contact:

Ed McGovern, 206.628.8019

[email protected]

SOURCE Security Properties

Related Links

http://securityproperties.com


SAN DIEGO, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE) plans to announce its fourth-quarter 2016 earnings at 8:30 a.m. EST, Feb. 28.

Sempra Energy executives will conduct a conference call at 12 p.m. EST, Feb. 28.

Investors, media, analysts and the general public may listen to a live webcast of the conference call at the company's website, www.sempra.com, by clicking on the appropriate audio link. For those unable to obtain access to the live webcast, the teleconference will be available on replay a few hours after its conclusion by dialing (888) 203-1112 and entering passcode 5358106.

Briefing materials will be posted on the company's website by 8:30 a.m. EST, Feb. 28.

Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2015 revenues of more than $10 billion. The Sempra Energy companies' 17,000 employees serve more than 32 million consumers worldwide.

[SRE-F]

SOURCE Sempra Energy

Related Links

http://www.sempra.com


NEW YORK, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Levi & Korsinsky announces it has commenced an investigation of Earthstone Energy, Inc. (NYSE MKT: ESTE) concerning possible breaches of fiduciary duty by the board of directors of the company. To obtain additional information, go to: http://zlk.9nl.com/earthstone-energy-este or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 363-7500, toll-free: (877) 363-5972.

Levi & Korsinsky is a national firm with offices in New York, New Jersey, California, Connecticut and Washington D.C. The firm's attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities and shareholder lawsuits. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Levi & Korsinsky, LLP

Eduard Korsinsky, Esq.

30 Broad Street - 24th Floor

New York, NY 10004

Tel: (212) 363-7500

Toll Free: (877) 363-5972

Fax: (212) 363-7171

www.zlk.com

SOURCE Levi & Korsinsky, LLP

Related Links

http://www.zlk.com


NEW YORK, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Toshiba Corporation ("Toshiba" or the "Company") (OTCMKT: TOSYY). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 9980.

The investigation concerns whether Toshiba and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here to join a class action]

On February 14, 2017, Toshiba reported a projected $6.3 billion loss by the Company's nuclear power unit and announced its intent to sell all or part of its controlling stake in Westinghouse Electric Company. Concurrently, Toshiba announced the resignation of the Company's chairman, Shigenori Shiga.

On this news, Toshiba shares have fallen as much as $0.47, or 3.84%, to a low of $11.78 during intraday trading on February 14, 2017.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Florida, and Los Angeles, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP

Related Links

http://www.pomerantzlaw.com


ALTOONA, Pa., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Sheetz, one of America's fastest-growing family-owned and operated convenience retailers for more than 60 years, today announced the upcoming opening of its new store located in Harmar Township, PA, in Allegheny County. The opening is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 16, at the store, located at 2871 Freeport Road. Sheetz currently operates 544 store locations across Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Maryland.

All Sheetz locations are open 24/7 and 365 days per year. The Harmar Township store will offer around 30 full and part-time job opportunities. This new location will welcome customers by offering free self-serve coffee for a limited time and will continue to offer Sheetz's award-winning MTO menu on their unique touch-screen order terminals where you will be able to order any of Sheetz's customized specialty drink or food items, 24/7, 365 days a year. The grand opening festivities for the store will begin at 11 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony where a member of the Sheetz family will officially unlock the doors and throw away the key.

Sheetz is committed to supporting all the local communities that each store serves. During the store's grand-opening ceremony, Sheetz will donate $2,500 to Special Olympics of Pennsylvania. As a proud supporter of Special Olympics for over 20 years Sheetz extends its support through financial contributions, product donations and event volunteers.

About Sheetz, Inc.

Established in 1952 in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Sheetz, Inc. is one of America's fastest-growing family-owned and operated convenience store chains, with more than $6.9 billion in revenue and more than 17,500 employees. The company operates over 540 store locations throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and North Carolina. Sheetz provides an award-winning menu of MTO sandwiches and salads, which are ordered through unique touch-screen order point terminals. All Sheetz convenience stores are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, Top 12 Best Places to Work for Women and Top 35 Best Workplaces for Millennials, Sheetz is committed to offering employees sustainable careers built on an inspiring culture and community engagement. For more information, visit www.sheetz.com or follow us on Twitter (@sheetz), Facebook (www.facebook.com/sheetz) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/sheetz).

SOURCE Sheetz, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.sheetz.com


SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Sorenson Capital today announced that it has promoted Peter Sturgeon to managing director. In his new role, Sturgeon will be leading Sorenson Capital's investment efforts in Arizona.

As managing director, Sturgeon will continue to grow investment opportunities in Arizona and in the key industries of interest to Sorenson Capital where he has strong experience, including energy and software. He will also continue to serve on the board of directors of several of the companies Sorenson Capital has invested in.

Sturgeon first joined Sorenson Capital in 2006 as an associate, working on investments in oil and gas, technology, consumer goods, and aerospace before leaving to pursue his MBA at Stanford University in 2008. Prior to his joining Sorenson Capital, Sturgeon was an associate at Boston Consulting Group, where he worked as a strategy consultant focused on energy and transportation companies.

Sturgeon returned to Sorenson Capital in 2010, and has been an integral team member on investments in the energy industry with NCS Energy Services and DEPCOM Power; the aerospace industry with Custom Control Concepts; and software industry with Experticity, among others. Seeing the potential for new investments in the region, he relocated to Arizona to further Sorenson Capital's efforts in the state.

"Since Peter first joined us, we've seen his passion for nurturing companies and instinctively tapping into new industries for investments," said Ron Mika, co-founder and managing partner of Sorenson Capital. "As managing director, Peter is solidifying our presence as a prominent private equity firm in Arizona."

Sorenson Capital has invested in multiple industries in Arizona, including aerospace, manufacturing, and energy. Most recently, Sturgeon led the firm's investment in clean energy company DEPCOM Power.

About Sorenson Capital

Sorenson Capital (www.sorensoncapital.com) is a private equity firm that makes small to middle-market buyout and growth equity investments. Sorenson Capital has more than $1 billion in capital under management and typically makes investments of $10 to $40 million in companies with unique strategic positions. Sorenson Capital is managed and controlled by West Rim Capital and is based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Media Contact

Roger Johnson

Method Communications

[email protected]

801-461-9781

SOURCE Sorenson Capital

Related Links

http://www.sorensoncapital.com


COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP) and Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association (SWAPA) announced that representatives from both pilot unions met with Trump administration officials today to discuss former President Obama's decision to grant Norwegian Air International's (NAI) application for a foreign air carrier permit. The meeting with members of President Trump's domestic policy team took place earlier this morning.

"The Trump Administration's willingness to discuss this matter is a critical step in the right direction for aviation and pilot labor," NJASAP President Pedro Leroux said. "The move is consistent with President Trump's pro-American worker narrative, and we are heartened by his interest in this issue  one that we view as posing a definitive threat to the future of the aviation industry."

Late last month, more than 140 pilots, flight attendants, and mechanics staged the #MakeItRight Support Rally outside the White House, calling on administration officials to reverse the Obama Administration decision they characterized as an anti-worker move that threatens not only the aviation industry, but also the safety of the flying public.

"Simply put, this egregious trade deal is very bad for middle-class U.S. workers, and President Trump has obviously recognized the importance of moving intentionally on a matter that puts one of America's most vital industries at risk," SWAPA President Jon Weaks said. "We are incredibly encouraged, and both the NetJets and Southwest pilot unions are very pleased that our efforts have helped to advance this issue to the highest levels of the administration."

Invigorated by this latest development, the NJASAP and SWAPA memberships will continue to encourage President Trump to #DenyNAI through social media and other outreach efforts. "We were very encouraged by the Trump administration's willingness to meet," Leroux said, "but to save tens of thousands of American jobs from foreign interests, decisive action on this matter is a must."

About SWAPA Located in Dallas, Texas, the Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association (SWAPA) is a non-profit employee organization representing the more than 8,500 pilots of Southwest Airlines. SWAPA works to provide a secure and rewarding career for Southwest pilots and their families through negotiating contracts, defending contractual rights and actively promoting professionalism and safety. For more information on the Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association, visit www.swapa.org.

About NJASAP Established in 2008 as an independent labor advocate, NJASAP represents the professional interests of the 2,700-plus pilots who fly in the service of NetJets Aviation, Inc. For more information, visit our web site, www.njasap.com, Facebook page, www.facebook.com/njasap, or Twitter feed, @njasap.

SOURCE NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP); Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA)

Related Links

http://www.njasap.com


From the Denver Museum of Nature and Science , to the Alaska SeaLife Center , to the National Building Museum in Washington, DC , FieldTripZoom works with partners around the world to create meaningful learning opportunities that reach past geographic constrictions and uses technology that already exists in most classrooms. Real-time educational programs delivered by experts provide students with unique learning experiences aligning to national and state curriculum standards.

Programs will cover STEM, History, Career and College Readiness, Art, Music, and Literature. New Mexico teachers can go to http://www.fieldtripzoom.com and use their school email address to register without payment.

"We want every young New Mexican to have the opportunity to 'visit' Spaceport America, either physically or virtually and leave inspired because it is a national treasure playing a historic role in the future of space travel, exploration and commercialization," said Daniel Hicks, Chief Executive Officer Spaceport America. "For the remainder of this academic year, Spaceport America has sponsored a free FieldTripZoom Zone Season Pass for every K-12 classroom in the New Mexico Public and Private School Systems. This equates to approximately 165 programs offered to a variety of different grade levels through the end of the 2016-2017 New Mexico academic school year."

Spaceport America crew members from all departments help to prepare the content, lead the live virtual field trips, stream the launches live and join in for question and answer sessions direct from Spaceport America's vertical launch area or mission control. Virtual field trips entitled "What is Spaceport America?" are held on a monthly basis making it easy for teachers to program into their curriculum. And in honor of Space Week, on May 5, 2017, classrooms across the US can join the Spaceport America crew for BLAST OFF at Spaceport America from behind the scenes of a real rocket launch!

"We are excited to bring awe-inspiring content from the iconic Spaceport America in New Mexico to students throughout the world as well as hosting special programs for New Mexico K-12 public and private school students. And we are grateful to Spaceport America for sponsoring access to all our content partner programs for these same students for the remainder of this school year." said Doug Ashton, Co-founder FieldTripZoom.

Getting started:

New Mexico educators can easily book access to live streaming of content across a wide range of subjects and sign up for a free season pass by registering at: http://www.fieldtripzoom.com

If you are private school, please have your administrator contact FieldTripZoom at [email protected] for your free registration information. For additional information, or if you are having any problems registering, contact [email protected] or call 800-825-3127.

The What is Spaceport America? live stream virtual field trip to Spaceport America in New Mexico will be also available to all New Mexico schools as part of the free season pass.

Click here to view Spaceport America Program Listings (to book an event, you must register on the FieldTripZoom site): http://www.fieldtripzoom.com/zone-webinar-catalog

Spaceport America will be live streaming on the following dates so sign up now:

February 28: 3:10 EST, 1:10 PM MST

March 10: 1:10 PM EST, 11:10 AM MST

March 10: 3:10 PM EST, 1:10 PM MST

April 11: 11:10 AM EST, 9:10 AM MST

April 11: 2:10 PM EST, 12:10 PM MST

May 10: 12:10 PM EST, 10:10 AM MST

May 10: 2:10 PM EST, 12:10 PM MST

May 5: 11:10 AM EST, 9:10 AM MST

May 5: 2:10 PM EST, 12:10 PM MST

About FieldTripZoom

Based in Charleston, South Carolina, FieldTripZoom's educational content platform facilitates live and interactive experiences between leading educational content providers and K-12 classrooms. The company's content partners include leading museums, zoos, aquariums, science centers, art and history organizations, authors and other sources of unique subject-matter expertise. FieldTripZoom was a 2016 Technology Innovation Award Winner from the National School Board Association and was named a Top 10 2017 Educational Media Website Award Winner from HomeschoolBase.com. Visit http://www.fieldtripzoom.com for more information.

Twitter: @fieldtripzoom

Facebook: @fieldtripzoom

Instagram: @fieldtripzoom

About Spaceport America

Spaceport America is the first purpose-built commercial spaceport in the world. The FAA-licensed launch complex, situated on 18,000 acres adjacent to the U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range in southern New Mexico, boasts 6,000 square miles of restricted airspace, low population density, a 12,000-foot spaceway, and 340+ days of sunshine and low humidity. Some of the most respected companies in the commercial space industry are customers at Spaceport America: Virgin Galactic, SpaceX, UP Aerospace and EXOS. Visit http://spaceportamerica.com and http://gatewaytospace.com for more information.

Twitter: @Spaceport_STEM

Facebook: @SpaceportAmeicaSTEM

Instagram: @SpaceportAmericaSTEM

SOURCE Spaceport America

Related Links

http://www.spaceportamerica.com


NEW YORK, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Spring Power and Gas, a retail energy provider of electricity and gas supply services for Maryland and New Jersey, today announced the launch of their Green-e Certification for Zero Gas and Wind REC products. The Zero Gas program is Green-e Climate certified and the Wind REC product is Green-e Energy certified. Both programs are available to new Spring Power and Gas customers starting February 14, 2017.

Green-e is a trusted global leader in renewable energy certificate (REC) and carbon offset certification. Green-e certification helps consumers and businesses make educated choices to reduce their environmental impact from electricity and natural gas consumption. In addition to third-party verification, Green-e provides marketing oversight and consumer protection assurances.

Spring Power & Gas's Zero Gas product is the first Green-e Climate certified carbon offset natural gas program for residential customers in Maryland and New Jersey. Zero Gas matches 100% of a customer's natural gas usage with Green-e Climate certified carbon offsets to offset the carbon emissions caused by a customer's gas usage.

Spring Power & Gas's Wind REC product allows customers to use renewable energy by purchasing Green-e Energy certified renewable energy certificates. Through the Spring Green program, customers receive wind RECs matched 100% with their electricity from Spring Power & Gas. Since inception, Spring Power & Gas has offered the matched product; however Green-e certification will provide greater transparency and validation for customers.

"With these new Green-e certified programs, Spring Power and Gas is providing its customers options to reduce the environmental impact of their home energy use, from home heating to electricity," said Jennifer Martin, executive director of Center for Resource Solutions, which administers Green-e. "We are excited to welcome them into the Green-e program and look forward to helping them provide high quality, low impact energy options for their customers."

Green-e certification is more than just high-quality RECs and verified offsets, it ensures that all communication is clear and precise, mandates annual product communication to all customers on the source of RECs and carbon offsets, and audits to ensure that purchased RECs and carbon offsets are retired properly. Green-e Energy is the only certification of its kind in the U.S. and certifies renewable energy certificates that meet the highest standards in North America.

"Spring Power & Gas has always offered gas and electricity matched to a customer's energy usage and we are excited to be working with Green-e on verifying these products. The new products are reviewed and approved using the highest possible standards because we want our customers to feel confident in their energy choices," said Richard Booth, President of Retail Operations, Spring Power & Gas.

Spring Power and Gas understands investing in a sustainable future is one of the most important decisions a customer can make and has carefully designed both plans for the environmentally conscious person interested in a sustainable energy solution.

About Spring Power and Gas

Spring Power & Gas is an energy retailer dedicated to providing innovative energy solutions for your electricity and natural gas supply. We focus on environmentally conscious products backed by a friendly and efficient service. As a company, we pride ourselves on transparency and our customer service team is always happy to help with any questions about the energy industry or our services.

About Green-e

Green-e is the nation's leading independent consumer protection program for the sale of renewable energy, renewable energy certificates, and greenhouse gas reductions in the retail market.

Related Files

Spring Green-e Press Release.docx

Related Images

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Related Links

Spring Power and Gas Enrollment

Spring Power and Gas Plans

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE Spring Power and Gas
NEWBURY, England, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Demand for commercial real estate in major cities such as London and Sydney continues to outstrip supply, leading to acute shortages of stock and corresponding rises in rents and prices. In consequence, it is now far more likely for a commercial real estate agent to source listings to meet client requirements by collaborating with external parties who have available properties to lease or buy. But in fast-moving markets, keeping up-to-date with availability of external stock poses a major challenge.

New proptech software from Adept Business Systems offers a timely solution to that challenge. With the release of Surga Central 3.5  Adept's cloud platform for commercial real estate  agents can quickly search property listings that involve third parties and communicate with those parties to determine what is still available. This saves time and improves customer service by eliminating listings that are no longer available.

"Our customers see the external search and availability feature as a great initiative that will help them to keep their property databases more relevant," said Gary Clark, UK Director of Adept Business Systems. "As commercial real estate markets have tightened, quality listings are moving very quickly and hence it's vital for agents to maintain stock lists that are up-to-date and reliable," he added.

Simultaneously released in the UK and Australia, Surga Central is used by leading agencies to market, sell and lease commercial property. Australian customers include Civium Commercial, CI Australia, Gross Waddell, Blue Commercial and Leedwell Property. In the UK, customers include London Office Search, Houston Lawrence, Ayers & Cruiks, Goodsir Commercial and Vokins.

More Information

Gary Clark, UK Director

Phone: +44 1635 760720

Email: [email protected]

Related Links

Surga Central - International site

Surga Central - UK site

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com.

SOURCE Adept Business Systems

Related Links

http://www.surgacentral.com


ANN ARBOR, Mich., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Swift Biosciences today announced the commercial release of its Accel-NGS XL Library Prep Kit, the fastest sequencing solution for whole genome sequencing on Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) platforms. This library preparation kit, specially optimized for PacBio's Single Molecule, Real-Time (SMRT) sequencing technology, provides significantly longer sequencing reads with a simple, single-tube workflow utilizing lower sample inputs. Swift Biosciences is now accepting orders for the Accel-NGS XL kitsold exclusively by Swift.

"With its easy four-hour workflow and longer read lengths, the Accel-NGS XL kit substantially improves whole genome sequencing applications, such as de novo assembly and haplotype sequencing, on any genome including microbial, plant, animal, and human," said Haley Fiske, Chief Commercial Officer of Swift Biosciences. "These quality and workflow improvements help PacBio users generate more meaningful results from every run with twice the productivity."

Swift Biosciences and several scientific collaborators presented two posters at the AGBT 2017 General Meeting showcasing sequencing data generated with this new chemistry. The first poster, entitled "A Method to Improve Read Length of SMRT Sequencing," displayed results, generated in collaboration with Mount Sinai and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories, from diverse genomes including plant, bacterial and human reference DNA. The supporting data produced average reads up to 20Kb, with 50% less sample input and no adapter dimer artifacts. In the second poster, entitled "Improved Library Construction Methods for the Pacific Biosciences Sequencing Platform Using Swift Accel-NGS XL Library Prep Kit for PacBio Applied to Challenging BAC Clones for Human Genome Reference Improvement," Robert Fulton, Director of Project Development and Management at McDonnell Genome Institute of Washington University, presented results from human BAC clone sequencing, demonstrating higher library yields with longer sequencing reads.

"Swift Biosciences is the first company to offer library preparation solutions on all three major sequencing platforms, including Pacific Biosystems, Illumina, and Ion Torrent," stated Timothy Harkins, Ph.D., President and CEO of Swift Biosciences. "We are strategically focused on expanding the NGS market by simplifying complex workflows through our innovative library technologies and bringing new applications to each of the NGS platforms. Our libraries provide the highest quality data in the most challenging of applications. Swift is 'The NGS library company.'"

Visit https://swiftbiosci.com/products/accelxl to learn more.

SOURCE Swift Biosciences
NEW YORK and SAN FRANCISCO and LUXEMBOURG, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Talkwalker, a leading company in social media analytics and social listening, has opened a new office in San Francisco. Talkwalker had already shown exponential growth in Europe when it landed in New York City in 2015, positioning itself firmly in the US market. The new office opening in San Francisco is geared towards further accelerating growth in the United States.

Following its recent funding of $5.4 million, Talkwalker will further strengthen its technological leadership in social analytics by spearheading development of its existing artificial intelligence capabilities. Already included are deep visual insights based on its proprietary image recognition capability, predictive news discovery, business impact metrics for identifying correlations between social and digital KPIs and its social virality map.

Since opening its New York office, Talkwalker has signed several globally recognized customers including Peppercomm, a strategic communications and marketing firm. The agency uses Talkwalker's image recognition technology and Edward Moed, Co-founder and CEO stated, "It's a must that our clients have a 360 view of what's being communicated about their brands. With Talkwalker's innovative analytics features, my teams can now harness the clearest pictures possible of our clients' online footprint."

As part of its expansion, the US team also recently welcomed two senior new hires: Cara Buscaglia, previously Insights Director of Market Intelligence at Ebiquity, joins as Head of Solutions, and Quinn Duffy, previously Head of Growth and Developer relations at Kit, joins Talkwalker as Partner Manager for Social Networks.

Why San Francisco? CEO Americas Todd Grossman explains, "San Francisco is a core market for our expansion in the US, opening up significant potential to service leading brands, agencies and partners in an innovative and exploding business environment. San Francisco's talented community is a perfect fit for Talkwalker."

Todd continued, "Market research company MarketsandMarkets estimates that the social media listening market will grow from $1.6B in 2015 to $5.4B by 2020. Our significantly increasing customer base in the States proves this and opening our second office in San Francisco means we'll be able to continue providing the expert customer service and support that we pride ourselves on."

The San Francisco office will be led by John Zhao in the role of Head of Sales  West Coast. He has proven experience of building highly successful sales teams, scaling revenue from start-up to several million dollars. He brings a wealth of leadership and operational management know-how and is already working on recruiting his new team.

John has vast experience in sales, PR and marketing, along with analytics and measurement solutions. He said, "I'm delighted to join Talkwalker and to have the opportunity to work with such a passionate and expert team. The Talkwalker tool is incredibly powerful and I fully intend to use my knowledge of key markets in the US to continue the growth and success of Talkwalker."

Over the last four years, Talkwalker has year-on-year doubled in size and revenue, today employing over 120 employees and set to double by the end of 2017. Talkwalker has 700+ clients worldwide and includes notable brands such as Microsoft, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Benetton and PwC, along with global agencies like Edelman, Ogilvy, Publicis and Peppercomm. The company's social media analytics platform has been adopted by industries across the board including financial, pharmaceuticals, luxury goods, FMCG, telecoms, hospitality and retail. The new office opening in San Francisco provides the facilities needed to address the increasing customer demand for the Talkwalker platform from anywhere in the US.

About Talkwalker

Talkwalker (www.talkwalker.com) is one of the world's leading social data intelligence companies. Its cutting-edge technology provides actionable social media insights through real-time social listening and advanced social media analytics. Talkwalker helps marketers to prove the value of their social efforts and enhances the speed and accuracy of business decision-making.

Talkwalker's state of the art social media analytics platform monitors and analyzes online conversations on social networks, news websites, blogs, forums and more, in over 187 languages. Its 1500 servers process 500 million posts from 150 million websites every day. Talkwalker's unique social intelligence software was selected to become a Twitter Official Partner in 2014.

The Talkwalker platform is used by over 700 clients around the world, including Microsoft, HPE, Benetton, and communications specialists such as Peppercomm, Publicis, Ogilvy, and Weber Shandwick.

John Zhao, Talkwalker Head of Sales  West Coast

John is a highly-qualified professional, most recently holding the position of Head of Sales at AirPR where he rapidly increased the Annual Recurring Revenue. Previously, he held the role of Director of Sales at BrightEdge and Boost Media, the leading Creative Optimization Platform. John has a proven track record of building and leading sales teams, and creating significant sales growth within technology firms.

Contact: Jeffrey Durosko

P: 412.635.7229

E: [email protected]

SOURCE Talkwalker

Related Links

http://talkwalker.com

















RESTON, Va., Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Litchfield (Minn.) High School Chapter of FCCLA won a $3,500 prize for their school by placing first in the Safe Rides-Save Lives PSA Contest, a national competition developed by the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) and sponsored by The National Road Safety Foundation.

The contest empowers youth by having them create public service announcement messages that will have an impact on teen roadway safety, particularly as it relates to the number of passengers in a vehicle. With traffic crashes as the leading cause of death for young people in the United States, FCCLA and The National Road Safety Foundation agree about the importance of youth leaders reaching out to their peers and their communities to address this safety concern.

The winning PSA by the Litchfield High School FCCLA chapter opens with a teen writing an apology to her parents. We hear her explaining how they always warned her about distracted driving, but how she never thought she would be the distraction. She says she and her friends thought it would make sense to carpool, but there were more passengers than seat belts, and the noise and laughter caused the driver to be distracted. As she apologizes for causing her parents pain, we see teens leaving memorial notes on the girl's locker in school.

"We are thrilled to have partnered with The National Road Safety Foundation in offering this contest to our teen members. There are many misconceptions teens have as to the seriousness of limiting the number of passengers in a vehicle and these influential years are an ideal time to establish traffic safety habits to last a lifetime," said Sandy Spavone, executive director of FCCLA.

"This PSA sends an impactful message to their peers to practice safe driving habits, including limiting passengers in their vehicle," said Michelle Anderson of The National Road Safety Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes safe driving behavior. "Statistics show that the risk of a crash increases for teens with each additional passenger in the car, and this PSA helps drive that important message home."

The winning PSA was selected from a pool of 56 applicants from around the nation. In addition to a cash prize of $3,500, the winners will have their PSA featured at the FCCLA National Leadership Conference in Nashville this July, where more than 8,000 youth and adults will be in attendance.

About FCCLA

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), is a dynamic and effective national student organization that helps young men and women become leaders and address important personal, family, work, and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences education. FCCLA has more than 160,000 members and more than 5,400 chapters from 48 state associations, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

The National Road Safety Foundation, Inc. (NRSF) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to reducing deaths and injuries on our nation's roads by promoting safe driving awareness and lifelong education. NRSF produces FREE traffic safety programs on distracted driving, speed and aggression, impaired driving, drowsy driving, driving skills, pedestrian safety and other safety issues. NRSF sponsors contests to engage teens in promoting safe driving to their peers and in their communities. For information or to download free programs, visit www.nrsf.org or www.teenlane.org

Contact: Ashley Pournaras

Phone: 703-716-1311

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE National Road Safety Foundation

Related Links

http://www.nrsf.org


WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Wednesday, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins will host a special program with Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, North Carolina Lt. Governor Dan Forest, and others to talk about what states are doing to protect the safety and privacy of women and children, and to defend the freedom to believe. Guests include victims and experts.

Across the country radical LGBT activists are threatening religious freedom and violating the safety and privacy of women and children by forcing potentially dangerous policies on schools, businesses, and other public places, and punishing those who refuse to go along. In the wake of this attack on privacy and freedom, Family Research Council is hosting this special program to answer the following questions:

How can churches help protect their community and be a voice for the vulnerable?

What can state legislators do to push back against local ordinances and federal mandates forcing women and girls to share showers, restrooms, and locker rooms with men?

What can parents and voters do to help?

WHO:

Tony Perkins, President, Family Research Council

Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor of Texas

Dan Forest, Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina

Kaeley Triller Haver, Washington state YMCA employee and sex-abuse survivor fired for refusing to support a gender identity-based bathroom policy

Mitch Kokai, analyst and former news reporter (11 years) covering North Carolina state government

Cathy Ruse, Senior Fellow, Legal Studies, Family Research Council

Quena Gonzalez, Director, State & Local Affairs, Family Research Council

WHAT: Privacy & Freedom: Good for Business

WATCH ONLINE: www.frc.org/goodforbusiness or https://www.facebook.com/familyresearchcouncil

WHEN: Wednesday, February 15, 2017 at 1:00 PM Eastern

SOURCE Family Research Council

Related Links

http://www.frc.org


"Each year, Moving Day grants support life-enhancing local programs that have a true impact on the communities we serve," said Kayln Henkel, Senior Director, National Signature Events, National Parkinson Foundation. "From Boston to Los Angeles, thousands of our supporters share a common goalto help us beat Parkinson's."

Through monies raised by Moving Day, a grassroots and fundraising awareness walk, the foundation invests in local Parkinson's programs for health, wellness and education programs. Moving Day also supports national efforts by investing in the Center of Excellence network that delivers expert care to more than 100,000 Parkinson's patients worldwide; by funding cutting-edge research like the Parkinson's Outcomes Project, aimed at better treatment and care; by providing free patient resources for patients and their families, such as a toll-free Helpline (1-800-4PD-INFO) and the life-saving Aware in Care hospital kit.

"Thanks to the Parkinson's Foundation and Moving Day San Francisco, Stanford's Neuroscience Supportive Care Program will be able to expand our supportive services to the Bay Area's Parkinson Community," said TC Cowles, RN, from Stanford Health Care, a Moving Day grant recipient. "The Supportive Care Program offers free classes, exercise programs and support groups to people impacted by neurological diseases. This grant allows us to create innovative, specialized exercise classes and to develop a community speaker series to enrich the lives of people with Parkinson's and get them moving."

The 2017 community grant offerings focus on:

Addressing unmet needs in the Parkinson's community: services for underserved populations, support for clinical trial recruitment for under-represented populations and other unmet needs such as financial barriers to care;

Expanding a successful program into a new geography;

Developing a new program for people with Parkinson's.

Community grants from funds raised in the spring walk season fund local services in each of the following cities:

Washington, D.C.

Within Our Reach Parkinson's education program at University of Maryland School of Medicine

Sibley's Exercise and Education Program for People with Parkinson's offered by the Sibley Memorial Hospital-Johns Hopkins network

San Francisco/Silicon Valley, CA

Rock Steady Boxing classes at Dynamic Mixed Martial Arts and Fitness

Parkinson's Women Support group sessions

Stanford Health Care's Neuroscience Supportive Care Program

Series of Parkinson's Disease Exercise Classes taught by Physical Therapist Lisa Oei

PWR! Moves Classes at the Gunilda Rianda Senior Center Association

Delivery of Psychiatric Care to Patients with Parkinson's Disease Using Telemedicine at The Regents of University of California, San Francisco

of Dance Moves ME! program expansion

Tampa, FL

Florida Ear Nose Throat and Allergy's SET for Parkinson's: Increasing Awareness of Communication Disorders, a functional communication treatment and education program

Rock Steady Boxing Tampa Bay at Bodyssey Performance + Recovery

Caregivers Support Group, Aging Grace and Brain Dancing at the South Shore Coalition for Mental Health and Aging

Moving Day, A Walk for Parkinson's, has raised $13.7 million dollars since it began in 2011 and is taking place in cities across the United States. In 2017, new walk locations have been added in Nashville, TN; Louisville, KY; Milwaukee, WI, and Broward county, FL. Moving Day is made possible, in part, through the generous support of our National Partners: ORIG3N, UCB, Right at Home and Lundbeck.

For more information on 2017 Moving Day walks, visit www.npfmovingday.org.

About the Parkinson's Foundation

The Parkinson's Foundation is working toward a world without Parkinson's disease. Formed by the merger of National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) and the Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF) in August 2016, the mission of the Parkinson's Foundation is to invest in promising scientific research that will end Parkinson's disease and improve the lives of people with Parkinson's, and their families, through improved treatments, support and the best care. For more information, visit www.parkinson.org or www.pdf.org, or call (800) 4PD-INFO (473-4636) or (800) 457-6676.

About Parkinson's Disease (PD)

Affecting an estimated one million Americans and ten million worldwide, PD is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's and is the 14th leading cause of death in the United States. It is associated with a progressive loss of motor control (e.g., shaking or tremor at rest and lack of facial expression) as well as non-motor symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety). There is no cure for PD and 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States alone.

NPF Media Contact:

Leilani Pearl

[email protected]

305-537-9907

SOURCE National Parkinson Foundation

Related Links

http://www.parkinson.org


PERRYVILLE, Ark., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A new player has arrived in the world of online mattress stores called The RiteBed. The RiteBed launched its online store of luxury foam and hybrid mattresses today. In their announcement, The RiteBed says a great night's sleep is now affordable. Their team spent nearly 2 years in research and development to deliver the most complete American-made quick order and setup mattress, shipped "Rite" to your door.

The RiteBed(TM) offers free shipping and a 120 night sleep trial with a 100% moneyback guarantee.

The RiteBed offers free shipping and a 120 Night Sleep Trial with a 100% moneyback guarantee and eliminates the hassle of visiting a mattress or furniture store," claims The RiteBed CEO Brad Jordan. The RiteBed is available online, offering its customers a completely fluid buying experience. The mattress is compressed, boxed and shipped, arriving at a customer's door within 2-5 business days. Jordan says, "The RiteBed delivers more technology than any other mattress-in-a-box for under $1000.00."

"Americans spend countless hours and billions of dollars a year seeking solutions to better sleep in retail stores," Jordan continued. "Americans can quit spending all that time and money searching for what might be the wrong bed." Jordan explained that The RiteBed represents almost 2 years of meticulous research and development with attention to comfort, quality and design. "We're excited about delivering an affordable, easy to purchase mattress that's comfortable and can help people improve their overall quality of life."

The RiteBed mattress is currently available in two product lines. The first is an all foam mattress and the second is a hybrid mattress utilizing a pocketed spring. All standard mattress sizes including The RitePillow and The RiteMattress Protector are all available for purchase starting today at http://theritebed.com.

About The RiteBed

The RiteBed delivers comfort and quality as an affordable alternative to high-pressure salesman who care more about their pocket book than how well you sleep. The RiteBed offers 100 percent American-made mattresses delivered directly to your door with more technology than any other mattress-in-a-box. Built to deliver deep undisturbed sleep, the 11 inch all foam mattress features RiteConform Memory Foam for proper spinal alignment and pressure relief while RiteSupport Gel-infused Latex cools, cradles and supports your body.

At 12 inches, The RiteBed Hybrid also features the RiteCoil, the Combi-Zone encased coil, which provides strategically placed comfort zones for superior hip, back and shoulder support. All of The RiteBed mattresses feature the RiteTouch Cozy Cover which quickly wicks moisture away from your body, along with the RiteFlow Spacer Panel that utilizes 3D fabric technology to create a side border up to 10 times more breathable so you sleep cool and dry. The RiteBed ships free straight to a customer's door within 2-5 business days. The RiteBed also offers a 10 year warranty and amazing 120 night, risk-free in-home trial, backed by a 100% moneyback guarantee. For more information, visit www.theritebed.com.

Media Contact

Brad Jordan

Phone: 844-748-3233

Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE The RiteBed(TM)

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"Darnell Holguin & Ryan Wainwright's winning cocktails are the perfect representation of the BACARDI spirit and truly embodied what a timeless classic rum cocktail should be," said Ian McLaren, Director of Trade Advocacy for BACARDI. "As one of the most highly regarded competitions in the industry, The Legacy Cocktail Competition not only features the best of the best bartending talent, but serves to help foster career growth amongst the participants and help them make their stamp in cocktail history. We are thrilled to welcome both Darnell Holguin & Ryan Wainwright into the BACARDI family and wish them the best of luck in the global finals."

Sponsored by BACARDl, The USBG Legacy Cocktail Competition showcases the best drink innovations in the cocktail industry, providing a platform for bartenders from across the country to share their original creations and become a part of Legacy history. Participants are tasked with creating the next generation of classic rum cocktails that will stand the test of time, using BACARDl Superior, BACARDl Gold or BACARDl 8 rums. Each cocktail is judged on its balance, flavor, quality of ingredients and aesthetic appeal, as well as its enduring popularity and the bartender's story behind them.

It Was All A Dream by Darnell Holguin

1.5 parts BACARDl 8

2 parts Orange Juice

1.5 parts House-made Passion Fruit Condensed Milk

1.3 parts Averna

0.25 parts Allspice Dram

Garnish: Mint Spring

Playa Fortuna by Ryan Wainwright:

1.5 parts BACARDl Superior

0.75 parts Lime Juice

0.75 parts Coconut Syrup

0.25 parts Falernum

4 drops Hydrated Cream of Tartar

Garnish: Edible Marigold Flower

This year's USBG National Legacy Cocktail Competition was judged by a well-rounded panel of industry professionals, experts and mentors including: Dickie Cullimore, BACARDI's Global Brand Ambassador, Tom Walker, The 2014 Legacy Global Winner and Pamela Wiznitzer, President of the United States Bartenders' Guild.

"The USBG Legacy Cocktail Competition has become one of the most important competitions for bartenders year after year," says Pamela Wiznitzer, President of the United States Bartenders' Guild. "The level of commitment, passion and ability to put yourself on stage and tell your story to the world demonstrates just how talented and how dedicated members of this industry are. We are really proud of our partnership with BACARDI and have no doubt this competition will just continue to get better and better, year after year."

The 2017 BACARDI Legacy Global Cocktail Competition will hold its Grand Finale in Berlin on Tuesday, May 23 where a panel of modern day legends in the hospitality industry will help decide who takes home the coveted Global title. Both Darnell Holguin & Ryan Wainwright will represent the U.S proudly on their path to take home the ultimate trophy and capture their place in cocktail history.

LIVE PASSIONATELY. DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

2017. BACARDI, ITS TRADE DRESS AND THE BAT DEVICE ARE TRADEMARKS OF BACARDl & COMPANY LIMITED. BACARDl U.S.A., INC., CORAL GABLES, FL. RUM - 40% ALC. BY VOL.

About BACARDI rum - The world's favorite and most awarded rum

In 1862, Bacardi revolutionized the spirits industry when founder Don Facundo Bacardi Masso began producing his remarkable light-bodied, smooth rum. The unique taste of BACARDI inspired cocktail pioneers to invent some of the world's most famous drink recipes including the Mojito, the Daiquiri, the Cuba Libre, the Pina Colada, and the El Presidente. BACARDI rums have won more than 550 awards for quality and taste making BACARDI the world's most awarded rum. Today, BACARDI is produced mainly in Puerto Rico, following the production legacy set forth by Don Facundo Bacardi Masso  crafted in a five-step distillation process, mellowed in American white oak barrels, and filtered five times for unparalleled quality and smoothness. http://www.Bacardi.com

The BACARDI brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.

www.bacardi.com

ENJOY RESPONSIBLY

BACARDl AND THE BAT DEVICE ARE TRADEMARKS OF BACARDl & COMPANY LIMITED.

SOURCE The United States Bartenders' Guild
25 year term

Rehova is a high grade past producing copper mine

approximately 84% of pre-mining historic mineralization is reported to be intact

exploration upside with deposits largely untested as to gold, silver, zinc content

TXX: TSX-V

VANCOUVER, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Tirex Resources Ltd. ("Tirex") is pleased to report that the mining license application for the Rehova mining property ("Rehova") in Albania had been approved by the Ministry of Energy and Industry. The mining license is valid for 25 years and can be extended for another 10 years.

Tirex acquired the rights to Rehova after it won the bidding process held by the government of Albania in 2015. The processing of the mining license application stalled when a private company questioned the legality of the government's action to nullify the exploration license it had on Rehova for failure on its part to meet work the obligations on the property several years prior to the bidding of Rehova in 2015.

This issue has now been settled by the Albanian courts which led to the recent approval of the license.

Spiro Kletas, Tirex Chief Executive Officer, states, "After a very long and difficult time period for Tirex, today represents the start of a new era for the company. With the news on licensing at Rehova and a healthy macro environment for copper, there is much to look forward to for Tirex and our shareholders."

Rehova is located 114 kms straight distance southeast of Tirana or 200 kms by road and is on the electrical power grid. The mining property contains four historical VMS deposits. These are surrounded by exploration areas of interest that have not yet been systematically tested using modern exploration techniques and technology. The four known deposits called Bregu i Geshtenjes ("B&G"), Rehova-Kanisqel, Ciflig and Dushku i Trashe comprise the Rehova Copper Mine, a historically producing mining operation which was formerly operated by the Albanian state copper enterprise. These deposits are relatively close to each other (200m-500m apart) which made ore delivery to a single processing facility possible.

Prior to the start of production in 1980 the Albanian Geological Survey ("AGS") had defined combined mineralization in the four deposits of 3.43 million tons grading 2.17% copper* and by the time operations stopped in 1990 had 2.87 million tons grading 2.14% copper* remaining. The majority of the remaining mineralization consisting of 2.09 million tons grading 2.15% copper* were from B&G, which was not mined and has exploration potential beyond the historic drilling. Underground development workings had been started at B&G as the deposit was being prepared for mining when the state run mining enterprise shut down its mining operations country-wide at the time of the collapse of communism.

Ciflig and Dushku i Trashe were mined by underground method while Rehova-Kanisqel was mined by open pit and to a limited extent by underground. The materials mined were sent to a processing plant nearby with an annual capacity of 60,000 tons. It should be noted that the largest deposit, B&G has not been mined.

Tirex will be evaluating underground development and mining opportunities at the B&G, Ciflig and Dushku i Trashe deposits while evaluating open pit mining at the near surface Rehova-Kanisqel deposit. On a conceptual basis for potential future mine planning, the possibility to open pit mine at Rehova-Kanisqel may provide a targeted accelerated path to production while the larger deposit, B&G, is being developed.

*The tonnage and grade estimates stated above are historic in nature and were obtained from information provided by the Albanian government. The AGS historical calculations classify the estimates in a combination of C1 & C2 categories, being based on the Russian deposit reporting system and are roughly equivalent to the NI 43-101 inferred and indicated categories. These historical estimates are not compliant with NI 43-101 and should not be relied upon. No qualified person has done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources; and Tirex is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources. Tirex is including the historical estimates for information purposes only, and offers no assurances as to the reliability of the estimates. Tirex will need to undertake a comprehensive review of available data, including planned drilling by Tirex to verify the historic estimates and classify them as current resources.

Tirex also plans to study the economics of developing the Rehova property as a stand-alone mining and processing operation. Most historic facilities such as the processing plant equipment and mining equipment have been removed from the site but in addition to the underground development that exists, infrastructure such as good roads, mill foundations, tailings area and electrical power lines are still in place.

Tirex President, Fred Tejada, P.Geo, states "The approval of the license will finally allow Tirex to move ahead with its plans on Rehova which has been on hold while the court case was being heard. With this license we can begin work on Rehova and update our plans on our Mirdita assets in northern Albania which has also been put on hold as we wait for the resolution on Rehova."

Fred Tejada, P.Geo., a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.

On Behalf of Tirex Resources Ltd.

Spiro Kletas

CEO and Director

Forward-Looking Statements. This Tirex News Release may contain certain "forward-looking" statements and information relating to Tirex. Such statements include but are not limited to statements about the Award, the production arrangements and the timing of the mine development, mill construction and ore production. Often forward-looking statements or information include words such as "plans", expects", "intends", "anticipates", "estimates" "forecasts", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or will be taken occur or be achieved. Although forward-looking statements and information contained in this release are based on the beliefs of Tirex management, which we consider to be reasonable, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Tirex management, there is no assurance that the forward-looking statement or information will prove to be accurate. The assumptions made include assumptions about Tirex's ability to move forward with the licensing. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this release are subject to current risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitations, obtaining all necessary approvals, feasibility of mine and plant development, exploration and development risks, expenditure and financing requirements, title matters, operating hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices, and one-time events as well as risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in our quarterly and annual and interim management's discussion and analysis. Should any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or change, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and forward-looking statements and information may vary materially from those described herein. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information contained in this release. We undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. All resource estimates quoted in this news release are historical, uncategorized and not NI 43-101 compliant and should not be relied upon. Tirex has not verified these historical resources and has not reviewed the assumptions, parameters and methods used to prepare the historical resource estimate. No Qualified Person has done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current and Tirex is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources or reserves but considers them as historically relevant and material information. A feasibility study has not been completed and there is no certainty the proposed operation will be economically viable or will commence.

"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 news release."

SOURCE Tirex Resources Ltd.
DALLAS, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Unified Women's Healthcare of Texas grew to over 150 Ob-Gyn providers in 2016. As the independent practice of medicine becomes more challenging, physicians from across Texas have decided to partner with the nation's largest single-specialty Ob-Gyn group.

As market forces and industry consolidation changes healthcare, physicians are considering how to remain independent and still have a relevant voice in forming policy. UWH's message resonates with most Ob-Gyn's who got into medicine to serve the needs of women and children and now feel as if personalized care is disappearing.

UWH provides an alternative model by which Ob-Gyns can remain in private practice, rather than joining a hospital system or a multi-specialty group that isn't focused on their specific needs. This singular vision has allowed UWH to spread rapidly throughout Texas and the country.

"UWH doctors are able to focus on the patient and driving value while UWH's management partner assists with the business aspects of the practice. Quality, efficiency and the patient's overall experience improves," said Steven A. Suba, M.D., President of Unified Women's Healthcare of Texas.

"In joining the group, physicians gain the expertise of skilled professionals who give the doctors the tools and support they need to enjoy their daily work, while being part of something bigger," said Adam Jay, VP of Practice Development & Marketing. "We make running a successful medical practice easier, providing services and technology on a scale no single women's health practice can do alone."

"I'm thrilled to lead a group where our partners can concentrate on patient care excellence while highly trained experts handle accounting, billing and collections, e-health records, human resources, group purchasing and contracting. Now over 1,100 providers, including over 150 in Texas, have joined their colleagues to our mutual advantage," added Dr. Suba.

To learn more about Unified Women's Healthcare, providers should email: [email protected] or call (866) 208-3862.

About Unified Women's Healthcare, PL

Unified Women's Healthcare is a single specialty Ob-Gyn practice model, formed by Ob-Gyns to address their specific needs. The group has spread from Florida to Georgia, North Carolina, Washington and Texas to meet the needs of doctors and the patients they serve. The company is focused on maintaining the private practice of medicine and providing the best quality women's healthcare.

SOURCE Unified Womens Healthcare
WALNUT, Calif., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- VIASPACE Inc. (OTC: VSPC) announced that Clean Energy Solutions (CES) has retained VIASPACE as its agriculture feedstock resource and engineering expert for renewable energy projects being pursued in Hawaii.

Clean Energy Solutions, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, develops renewable, clean energy projects including biogas and electricity. CES has extensive experience in project development and management, engineering and construction of power plants.

In Hawaii, CES is working with Hawaii Gas, the state's only franchised gas utility, to assess the use of the VIASPACE Giant King Grass to produce biogas. Giant King Grass grows especially well in Hawaii and can produce some of the highest yields per acre of any energy crop. Perennial grasses like Giant King Grass also demonstrate favorable greenhouse gas system emissions, which reduces the net amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Biogas produced from Giant King Grass can be upgraded to pipeline quality methane, which is known as renewable natural gas (RNG). RNG can then be used directly by gas utility customers, by the electric utility or independent power producers for electricity generation and by the transportation industry for fleet or passenger vehicles.

Hawaii Gas is an indirect subsidiary of Macquarie Infrastructure Corporation, a $6.8 billion New York Stock Exchange listed corporation that owns, operates and invests in a portfolio of infrastructure businesses in the United States. Hawaii Gas supplies the island of Oahu with synthetic natural gas, and also provides propane to customers on the islands of Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and Hawaii.

VIASPACE Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Carl Kukkonen, stated, "There are 17,000 anaerobic digesters operating in Europe alone. We are well acquainted with biogas in Europe. This is a mature and reliable technology, with many potential suppliers of all components. The high yield of Giant King Grass makes it the most cost-effective energy crop to provide a secure source of feedstock for the digester. VIASPACE has provided system designs and preliminary cost estimates for CES. We have also traveled to Hawaii with CES to evaluate potential plantation sites. The Giant King Grass will be provided from the VIASPACE nursery in Hawaii. Giant King Grass, a natural non-genetically modified grass approved by the USDA, was successfully imported into Hawaii after meeting strict import requirements including 12 months of quarantine by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture."

Mr. McCabe Cox, Chief Operating Officer of Clean Energy Solutions, said, "VIASPACE has provided timely support for our Hawaii projects -- for both agriculture and design and engineering of the biogas facility. We work well with VIASPACE. They have incorporated some advanced technology from CES partners that make the projects even more attractive."

Cox continued, "Giant King Grass, when cut every two months, is excellent feed for dairy cows and beef cattle which can contribute to Hawaii's food sustainability. In the future, Giant King Grass could be used to produce liquid transportation fuels for Hawaii as well. CES is developing other renewable energy projects in addition to Hawaii, and we plan to work with VIASPACE on these as well."

About VIASPACE Inc.

VIASPACE grows renewable Giant King Grass as a low-carbon fuel for clean electricity generation; for environmentally friendly energy pellets; and as a feedstock for bio-methane production and for green cellulosic biofuels, biochemicals and biomaterials. Giant King Grass is a proprietary, high yield, dedicated biomass energy crop. Giant King Grass when it is cut frequently at 4 to 5 feet tall is also excellent animal feed. The USDA granted approval for planting Giant King Grass throughout the US and cooperates in exporting by performing the required inspections and issuing the phytosanitary certificate needed for import into foreign countries. Giant King Grass is being grown in California, Hawaii, St. Croix Virgin Islands, Nicaragua, South Africa, China, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines and Guyana. For more information, please go to www.VIASPACE.com or contact Dr. Jan Vandersande, Director of Communications, at 800-517-8050 or [email protected]

About Clean Energy Solutions

CES is a development company which specializes in all aspects of energy projects. Members of CES have a combined work experience of over 110 years and have been involved in over $20 billion worth of energy development projects as a combined group. Members of the CES team are known as some of the best experts in their related fields and have impressive track records in developing energy resources. CES development work includes environmental permitting, civil engineering, project management, power purchase agreements and project finance. Further information is available on the CES website at http://www.cespacific.com/.

Safe Harbor Statement

Information in this news release includes forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation, risks outlined in our periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and other factors over which VIASPACE has little or no control.

SOURCE VIASPACE Inc.

Related Links

http://www.viaspace.com


ST. LOUIS, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Government affairs consulting firm Vriens & Partners and global strategic communications firm FleishmanHillard today announced an affiliate partnership that leverages the considerable strategic consulting expertise of both agencies in Asia.

From its regional headquarters in Hong Kong, FleishmanHillard provides communications counsel to many of the world's largest enterprises with interests in Asia Pacific. Vriens & Partners, headquartered in Singapore, specialises in government affairs, public policy and political risk analysis for clients across its Southeast Asia network.

The newly formalized partnership combines FleishmanHillard's regional integrated communications solutions with Vriens' team of local policy experts to provide a single robust resource for companies seeking to navigate Asia's diverse market complexities.

"Given the issues-rich nature of this region, strategic consulting on high-stakes issues is one of the largest and fastest-growing areas of our business in Asia," said Lynne Anne Davis, FleishmanHillard's Asia Pacific president and senior partner. "Cooperation between our firms leverages FleishmanHillard's global public affairs heft with Vriens & Partners' in-depth specialist knowledge of policymaking in Southeast Asia. It's an unbeatable combination for clients seeking the highest-quality counsel on a broad range of situations that have bearing on their market potential and license to operate."

Vriens & Partners Managing Partner Hans Vriens said, "We are excited to officially extend a track record of compatible cooperation that began with FleishmanHillard a couple years ago. Both of our firms recognize the ramping demand for broad, deep expertise in markets and on issues critical to clients in Asia. This partnership expands our capabilities to offer our clients integrated communications and government affairs solutions throughout Southeast Asia and beyond."

The partnership will focus on generating new business opportunities and expanding the agencies' capabilities and expertise. This includes developing regional policy and regulatory monitoring services, and providing Vriens with access to FleishmanHillard's global network of public affairs experts outside of Asia.

"We have great personal respect for the team at Vriens and look forward to actively collaborating with them in the markets where we currently operate, as well as in Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos," added Davis.

About FleishmanHillard

FleishmanHillard specializes in public relations, reputation management, public affairs, brand marketing, digital strategy, social engagement and content strategy. FleishmanHillard was named PRWeek's 2014 Global Agency of the Year and 2014 Asia Pacific Network of the Year, "Standout Agency" on Advertising Age's 2013 A-List; NAFE's "Top 50 Companies for Executive Women" for 2010-2016; and among PRWeek's 2013 "Best Places to Work." The firm's award-winning work is widely heralded, including at the Cannes International Festival of Creativity. FleishmanHillard is part of Omnicom Public Relations Group, and has more than 85 offices in 30 countries, plus affiliates in 43 countries. Visit us at www.fleishmanhillard.com.

About Omnicom Public Relations Group

Omnicom Public Relations Group is a global collective of three of the top global public relations agencies worldwide and specialist agencies in areas including public affairs, marketing to women, fashion, global health strategy and corporate social responsibility. It encompasses more than 6,000 public relations professionals in more than 330 offices worldwide who provide their expertise to companies, government agencies, NGOs and nonprofits across a wide range of industries. Omnicom Public Relations Group is part of the DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. that includes more than 200 companies in a wide range of marketing disciplines including advertising, public relations, healthcare, customer relationship management, events, promotional marketing, branding and research.

About Vriens & Partners

Vriens & Partners is a Southeast Asia's premier corporate advisory firm headquartered in Singapore specializing in government affairs, public policy, and political risk analysis. Vriens & Partners' clients are leading multinationals, business associations, and non-governmental organizations. Its team is composed of Asia experts with extensive experience providing counsel to companies and organizations. Beyond Singapore, Vriens & Partners has offices in Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Hanoi, Manila, Yangon and Phnom Penh. We also have teams in Laos, Brunei, Hong Kong and Timor Leste. Visit us at www.vrienspartners.com.

SOURCE FleishmanHillard

Related Links

http://www.fleishmanhillard.com


As CEO, Freischlag will oversee the full scope of Wake Forest Baptist's academic health system, which includes Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest Baptist Health, Wake Forest Innovations, Wake Forest Innovation Quarter, and a network of hospitals, physician practices and medical/surgical services. The CEO reports to the medical center's board of directors.

Freischlag, 62, comes to Winston-Salem from Sacramento, California where she is currently Vice Chancellor for Human Health Sciences and Dean of the School of Medicine at the University of California Davis (UC Davis). In this role, Freischlag directs UC Davis' academic, research and clinical programs, which include a 627-bed acute care hospital, a 1,000 physician private practice group, a school of nursing and a staff of 10,000 employees.

Nathan Hatch, Ph.D., president of Wake Forest University, who co-chaired the CEO search with Wake Forest Baptist board member Art Gibel, said Freischlag possesses the full range of academic medical experience and clinical expertise to take Wake Forest Baptist to the next level. "Julie has devoted her career to improving the health of her patients, which coincides with our mission. In addition to her superb professional abilities, Julie is well known and widely respected within the field as a collaborator, a mentor and a strong community leader. We are very fortunate that she has chosen to join us."

Steve Robertson, chairman of Wake Forest Baptist's board of directors, added his praise for the many accomplishments led by McConnell during his tenure as CEO. "We are also very grateful to John for his vision and leadership of Wake Forest Baptist over these past eight plus years. As the first ever CEO of the integrated medical center, John has been a trail blazer and made it ready for this smooth transition to Julie as our next CEO."

As a vascular surgeon with 30 years of experience at top academic medical centers, Freischlag is nationally recognized as a leader in the advancement of medical education and training, the expansion of research opportunities and the improvement in patient and family-centered care.

Freischlag is also a member of the National Academy of Medicine, considered the highest recognition of professional achievement and commitment to volunteer service in medicine, as determined by her peers through election.

Prior to her career at UC Davis, Freischlag served as the first female chair of the department of surgery and surgeon-in-chief at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions and earlier as professor and chief of vascular surgery at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).

She received an undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Illinois, her medical degree from Rush University Medical College in Chicago and completed a surgical residency and vascular fellowship at UCLA.

Freischlag has served in multiple national leadership roles, including immediate past president of the Society for Vascular Surgery Foundation, past chair of the Board of Regents of the American College of Surgeons, past president of the Society for Vascular Surgery and past president of the Association of VA Surgeons and the Society of Surgical Chairs.

Freischlag and her husband Phil Roethle (pronounced RAYT-lee), a retired financial executive, will relocate soon to the Winston-Salem area. Their family includes Matthew and wife Michelle, Paul and wife Gretchen, Taylor, a senior at the University of Maryland, and two grandchildren, Zoe and Milo.

Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center (www.wakehealth.edu) is a nationally prominent academic medical center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with an integrated enterprise incorporating hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centers and other primary and specialty care facilities that serve the residents of 24 counties in northwest North Carolina and southwest Virginia. The Medical Center's divisions are Wake Forest Baptist Health, a regional clinical system that includes Brenner Children's Hospital and more than 150 locations, 900 physicians and 1,000 acute care beds; Wake Forest School of Medicine, a recognized leader in cutting-edge research and experiential medical education; and Wake Forest Innovations, which commercializes the discoveries and research capabilities of the Medical Center and operates Wake Forest Innovation Quarter, an urban district devoted to driving regional economic growth and building vibrant community. Wake Forest Baptist clinical, research and educational programs are annually ranked among the best in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

SOURCE Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center

Related Links

http://www.wakehealth.edu


Amid strong skepticism, some Afghan experts see U.S. President Donald Trumps affability toward Russian President Vladimir Putin as an opportunity to gain Moscows support for Afghan stability.

Over the past several months, senior U.S. and Afghan officials have accused Moscow of supporting Afghanistans Taliban militants and lending credibility to their cause, which aims to overthrow the Western-backed Afghan government.

While Trump has criticized many regional and global powers for acting against U.S. interests, he has largely refrained from criticizing Russia and instead says he hopes to find common ground with Moscow in defeating radical Islamist terrorist groups.

Ali Amiri, a political science professor at a Kabul University, sees hopeful prospects for cooperation between Washington and Moscow.

"If President Trump follows up on his campaign rhetoric, he might be able to find common ground with Russia on Afghanistan, he told RFE/RLs Gandhara website. Russia's strategic interests, especially security of its southern borders and Central Asia, should serve as a detriment against engaging in a dangerous game with extremist groups in Afghanistan.

Afghan lawmaker Nazir Ahmadzai, however, sees little chance for Trumps success.

Russia is now directly interfering in Afghanistan. The FSB (Federal Security Service) recently approached people living in areas along Afghanistans border with Central Asia. They were offered money, he said. I dont think Trump will be able to easily convince Putin to stop this, because Russia opposes the security agreement between us and the U.S.

It was not possible to verify Ahmadzais claims, but Moscow now openly opposes a long-term U.S. military presence in Afghanistan.

Zamir Kabulov, Putin's special envoy to Afghanistan, was recently vocal about challenging Kabuls strategic cooperation with Washington.

Why does the United States want land bases in Afghanistan? he asked in a December interview with Turkeys Anadolu news agency. In Turkey, they have only one base. [But] in Afghanistan, they have the right to use nine big military bases plus almost 10 more. Why? If we did something like that in Mexico, would it not be disturbing for America?

General John Nicholson, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said Russia is legitimizing the Taliban in Afghanistan.

"The Russian involvement this year has become more difficult. First, they have begun to publicly legitimize the Taliban. This narrative that they promote is that the Taliban are fighting Islamic State (IS) and the Afghan government is not fighting Islamic State, and that therefore there can be a spillover of this group into a region, he told the Senate Armed Service Committee on February 9.

This is a false narrative. The Afghan government, along with the U.S. counterterrorism forces, are successfully fighting against Islamic State in Afghanistan, Nicholson added.

Moscow, meanwhile, is also pushing to assume a leading role in finding its own version of a solution to the Afghan security situation, which Nicholson characterized as a stalemate.

Speaking in Moscow on February 7, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said his country would host a conference on Afghanistan on February 15. Representatives from Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Iran, and India are invited to participate.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his visiting Afghan counterpart, Salahuddin Rabbani, Lavrov said "the Taliban must be included in a constructive dialogue."

Shafiq Hamdam, a former Afghan adviser to NATO, said Russia's support for the Taliban is not helping regional stability.

"Soon the Trump administration will realize the importance of curbing Russian momentum in Afghanistan and globally, he said. It is not difficult to stop Russia's influence in Afghanistan. Because Russia has adopted a wrong policy of supporting extremist Taliban, who are directly linked to global terrorism."

Ahmad Idrees Rahmani, a policy analyst at Rand Corporation, said all eyes will be on what will transpire during the first meeting between Trump and Putin. The two are expected to meet in July.

He said the U.S. administration is exploring ways to get along with Russia in many conflicts across the Middle East and Asia.

If they get along, we will have a few years of relatively low tensions in Afghanistan, he said. But if they fail to get along, we will have more situations here in Afghanistan that might look like a repetition of history.

as/fg
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Worldreader today announced plans to expand its successful Read to Kids Program to serve Syrian refugee and host communities in Jordan. The program supports parents and caregivers to become their children's first teachers, enabling and encouraging them to read to their young children using their mobile phones.

The Read to Kids mobile reading program in India cultivated more than 60,000 readers over nine months through generous support from Pearson. Worldreader is now committing to expanding into Jordan to help Syrian and Jordanian children become lifelong readers. The organization will work with Arabic publishers and partners to digitize and disseminate high quality Arabic children's reading books to 50,000 households across the country. The program will also work with educators and publishers to curate a psychosocial collection of books and activities that encourages stories and reading as a safe way to explore emotions and generate healing.

"Encouraging parents to get engaged in their children's learning through reading books has been outlined as a key priority of Jordan in 2016. The research is clear on the importance of reading for brain development and long-term success in children's lives. We are pleased to work with Worldreader be able to offer this innovative program to the people of Jordan as well as the Syrian nationals who have sought refuge within our country" said His Excellency Dr. Omar Razzaz, Jordan's Minister of Education.

Parents and caregivers will be able to access this program from an internet browser on their mobile phone or download the Read to Kids app from the Google Play Store. The books are curated to match children's interests and developmental readiness from birth through age twelve.

Worldreader plans to launch Read to Kids Jordan in late 2017. The program will be made possible through a $1 million grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), with additional support from Jordanian social and education entities. The organization is seeking additional funding and support from organizations wishing to help promote reading and education to refugees in Jordan.

"Worldreader is an exemplary organization providing critical literary resources to enhance children's learning and educational development," said Andreas Dracopoulos, Co-President of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. "SNF is proud to partner with Worldreader on Read to Kids Jordan, a critical initiative that aims to support early literacy programs for 50,000 Syrian and Jordanian children, and as a Foundation to continue to respond to the devastating crisis and its impact on refugee and host community children."

"At a time when world leaders are closing their doors to refugees, conflict-affected families need every tool to ensure bright futures for their children," said David Risher, CEO and Co-founder of Worldreader. "We have seen firsthand the impact that digital reading has on children and families in India and we are proud to bring this same opportunity to all children in Jordanincluding those who have been affected by the worst humanitarian crisis of our timethrough the Read to Kids program. Every child should be able to benefit from the magic of reading."

About Worldreader

Worldreader is a global nonprofit that believes everyone can be a reader. The nonprofit provides children, students, and their families free access to its vast digital library via e- readers and mobile phones. Since 2010, over 5 million people across 52 countries have read from a digital library of over 40,000 local and international e-books on Worldreader platforms. Worldreader works with device manufacturers, local and international publishers, government agencies, education officials, and local communities to support readers everywhere. To read free books on your mobile phone, visit read.worldreader.org. For more information on Worldreader, please visit www.worldreader.org.

About the Stavros Niarchos Foundation

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (www.SNF.org) is one of the world's leading private international philanthropic organizations, making grants in the areas of arts and culture, education, health and sports, and social welfare. The Foundation funds organizations and projects that are expected to achieve a broad, lasting and positive impact for society at large, focusing on vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly, and also exhibit strong leadership and sound management. The Foundation also seeks actively to support projects that facilitate the formation of public-private partnerships as an effective means for serving public welfare. In 2012, the Foundation, in addition to its standard grant-making activities, embarked on three major grant initiatives totaling $378mil (300 mil) aiming to provide relief support against the severe effects of the deepening socioeconomic crisis in Greece, and to help address the critical issue of youth unemployment. Since 1996, the SNF has made grant commitments of $1.9 billion / 1.6 billion, through 3,685 grants to nonprofit organizations in 111 nations around the world. 2016 marked the twentieth year of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation's global philanthropic activity.

The Foundation's largest single gift is the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), in Athens. The project's total budget of $867mil (630mil) includes two grants of $6 mil (5mil) each to the National Library of Greece and the Greek National Opera respectively, aiming to support the organizations' transition to their new facilities. The project, designed by the architectural firm Renzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW), includes the new facilities of the National Library of Greece, and of the Greek National Opera, as well as the Stavros Niarchos Park. The SNFCC is a testament and a commitment to the country's future. It is also an engine of short- to mid-term economic stimulus.

SOURCE Worldreader

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CHICAGO, Feb. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- It's a dark day when America's greatness is called into question, let alone forgotten. We've sent a man to the moon, led the world's best innovations, influenced whole genres of music, and the list goes on. So instead of succumbing to the fire and brimstone talk about how our country needs to be saved or made great again, why not recognize the incredible successes by participating in the RISE Movement's Love Letters to America campaign this Valentine's Day.

Please visit www.loveyouamerica.com and write a brief letter detailing what you love most about the USA. Letters can be signed or anonymous and will be delivered to Congress on Friday, February 17th to remind embattled members remember what they are fighting for during these next four years.

"This is a very tough time and I see a lot of people upset at our countryand themselvesright now," explains Genevieve Thiers, co-founder of RISE. "We've got leadership that does not reflect the majority of voters, and who is presenting a view of the country thatregardless of current challenges--most of us don't share. Let's show some love for America."

"I'm sending one because it helps me stay positive around the current situation," states Dan Ratner, CTO for RISE. "It's a way to express how appreciative we are for our country, and to continue to use our voices and stand up for what's right."

Love Letters to America is only up this week, so write your letter now! Next week, RISE will provide video of the letters being delivered. To see RISE bulletins and watch letters being made, sign up at www.risemvmt.org as a volunteer today.

Company Description:

Headquartered in Chicago, RISE has over 10,000 supporters worldwide. RISE is a movement dedicated to getting non-voters back to the polls. Politics has become very removed from the everyday American. Our goal is to use a galvanized base to engage those who don't feel like they have a voice. Our RISE Report is providing education on what happened in the last election; our RISE Dashboard is coordinating those that want to act; and our RISE Groups are allowing engaged voters on the ground to reach out to others and help their voices be heard. Please join us today, and help the voices of every American RISE.

SOURCE RISE Movement

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NEW YORK, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Xanthus Communications has announced the addition of the 7Sisters Project to its client list. Manhattanville College has invited the 7Sisters Project to hold a live summit on their campus on March 2. 7SISTERS [email protected] is an unscripted, talk-show-style summit for college-age girls to have honest conversations about what it means to be a woman in the current social and political climate.

In recent years, there's been a lot of talk about women's issues, gender equality, and female empowerment, but the 7Sisters Summit actually gives girls and young women a live forum where they can speak up and be heard!

7Sisters is a global media platform that has staged preliminary live summits in the New York City metro area. The 7Sisters Project works with colleges and universities to host female empowerment summits. The summits support, inspire and empower college-age girls to share their stories. Panels of young women discuss the heated topics of today: race, relationships, gender, culture, media and politics. The entire audience has the opportunity to speak and be heard. Filmed in television studios and on college campuses, the summits are edgy talk shows that probe the heart of the most pressing social issues impacting young women today.

Marilyn Fezza, together with her daughter Marissa, founded the 7Sisters Project in 2010 as a social enterprise. 7Sisters uses every facet of the media from blogging and videos to live conversations in a talk show format to get young women talking to one another and to remove the boundaries of ethnicity, color, race, religion and economics.

"Women make up half of the global population but make up a relatively small percentage of its leadership. We are missing a huge percentage of the world's brainpower by not empowering girls. Now, more than ever, is the time to move forward," says Marilyn Fezza, founder of the 7Sisters Project.

The 7SISTERS Project and New York Women in Film & Television present 7SISTERS [email protected] on Thursday, March 2nd from 4-8 PM at the Berman Center Theatre in Purchase, New York, will be streamed online. Check out http://the7sisters.com/ Facebook: 7SistersProject Twitter: @7SistersProj

About Xanthus Communications LLC and PR for People

Founded by Patricia Vaccarino in 2003, Xanthus Communications is a national PR firm offering the full range of traditional public relations services as well as low-cost PR tools and services through its internet company PR for People.

SOURCE Xanthus Communications LLC

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SAN MATEO, Calif., Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Xignite, the leading provider of market data cloud solutions for financial institutions and financial technology companies, announced today that former Microsoft executive Mark Rowe has joined the company as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Reporting to Xignite CEO and Founder, Stephane Dubois, Rowe will oversee the global finance, operations and human resources functions. Rowe joins Xignite at an important time as the company is preparing for rapid growth and international expansion, following a $20.5 million Series C funding round last year.

"I am thrilled to welcome Mark to Xignite as Chief Financial Officer," said Stephane Dubois, Xignite CEO and Founder. "Mark brings proven SaaS finance and operating expertise from highly successful companies like Amazon and Microsoft and will play a critical role in helping us execute our strategic vision for Xignite's growth. We look forward to his contributions to our continued success."

Prior to joining Xignite, Rowe was Interim CFO and Vice President, Finance and Operations at 3D Robotics, North America's largest provider of enterprise drones and SaaS services. At 3D Robotics his financial expertise enabled the Company to raise $40M in venture backed funding, grow bookings by 299% year over year and implement significant improvements to financial and operational processes and systems. Previously Rowe spent over ten years at Microsoft in various senior finance leadership roles. Most recently he was Senior Director, Finance Business Intelligence, where he defined the strategy for the Microsoft's revenue and business intelligence reporting system. He was instrumental in creating the financial infrastructure for Microsoft's SaaS /Cloud Services business models, Office 365 and Azure Cloud Services. Prior to Microsoft, Rowe was CFO at Myrio Corporation, a Washington-based startup and Corporate Controller at Amazon.com. He holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts in Accounting from Brigham Young University.

About Xignite

Named one of the ten coolest brands in banking, Xignite, Inc. empowers innovation across financial services. Xignite provides cloud-based real-time and reference market data to financial services and fintech companies for easy integration with websites, apps, and software. The Xignite Market Data Cloud platform, hosted by AWS, allows companies to simplify infrastructure, scale quickly, and innovate faster. Xignite's clients include more than 1,000 financial services, media and software companies including BMO, BlackRock, Charles Schwab, and TIAA, as well as leading fintech disruptors such as Betterment, FutureAdvisor, Motif Investing, Personal Capital, Robinhood, SoFi, StockTwits, Wealthfront and Yodlee. Visit http://www.xignite.com or follow on Twitter @xignite.

Media Contact

Xignite

Kerry Langstaff

+1 650-242-4466

[email protected]

SOURCE Xignite, Inc.

Related Links

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DES MOINES  Iowa lawmakers heard from a handful of speakers who urged them to approve sweeping changes to Iowas collective bargaining law to give local elected officials the ability to create what one called a culture of excellence and innovation.

However, the great majority of the 37 speakers were against the changes that likely will be debated in both the Iowa House and Senate this week and told lawmakers to stop swift boating the public by suggesting the legislation is either reform or innovation.

At issue are identical 68-page bills in the Senate and House  House File 291 and Senate File 213  that majority Republicans say tweak a 16-page, 43-year-old law that would limit the subjects that non-public safety workers can bring to the bargaining table, changes arbitration rules, alters how unions are certified and eliminates the longtime practice of gathering dues through payroll deductions. It also treats public safety employees differently than other public employees. Those not involved in public safety would be able to bargain only for base wages. Under current law, the can bargain for insurance, hours, vacations, holidays, overtime compensation, and health and safety matters.

Iowa bargaining overhaul limits raises Much of the focus of the proposed overhaul of Iowa's collective bargaining law has been on h

Before the hearing, Democratic legislators called on majority Republicans to slow down and listen to Iowans who flooded legislative forums over the weekend to voice their opposition to the collective bargaining changes.

Iowans are angry. Iowans are confused. Iowans are concerned, said House Minority Leader Mark Smith, D-Marshalltown.

Union members who spoke at the two-hour public hearing were angry and concerned, but there seemed to be little confusion about their opposition to the proposed changes.

The proposals represent a direct attack on public employees, Jon Thomas, a police officer and member of Teamsters Local 238, told members of the House Labor Committee.

He also called it politically misdirected. Thomas said that he and many other law enforcement officers have conservative values and vote Republican, but didnt vote Republican to get stabbed in the back.

Waterloo manager: Bargaining bill could impact public transportation WATERLOO -- The collective bargaining reform bill working its way through the Iowa Legislatu

Every legislator who supports this bill should expect to be challenged by a public employee in 2018 because those who vote for the legislation are representing the special interests who funded your last campaign, not your constituents.

Pete Clancy, a Cedar Rapids high school teacher, called HF 291 an attack on women because the majority of teachers are women. By denying teachers the ability to bargain for anything other than base wages would take the professional status away from hardworking woman and men.

Opposition to the bills reflects scare tactics from organizations trying to protect their turf, Drew Klein of Americans for Prosperity said. States with limited or no public employee collective bargaining still have schools, law enforcement and emergency services, he said.

Not only will Iowa survive, but thrive under the proposed changes, Klein said. Its not the unions that make Iowa a great place to live  reform will be great for Iowa.

Nicole Crain of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, said she wanted public employees to know that the private sector values them.

The work you do does not go unnoticed, she said, and argued that by removing the current legal barriers of collective bargaining public employees will have the opportunity to excel and be rewarded accordingly.

For many of those who spoke, it was not where they preferred to spend their evening.

Im more comfortable saving lives than testifying, said Lynnette Halstead of Marion, a registered nurse at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and member of SEIU 199.

Many of her co-workers and union sisters and brothers feel the system is rigged against the,

That brought a lot of people out to the polls, Halstead said. No matter who they voted for, they didnt vote for this.

Only a fraction of the 1,000-plus people who signed up to speak had the opportunity during the hearing. That didnt stop them from voicing their opposition as the Statehouse labor gathering turned into an hours-long rally, joined by several Democratic lawmakers who pledged to resist the bills, which likely will be debated in both the House and Senate this week.

Union members filled the Capitol rotunda, both the first floor and second, chanting Kill the bill and Vote it down, and displaying their pro-union posters from about 5 p.m. throughout the hearing.

Democrats accused the GOP of "railroading" the bills that were introduced just one week ago.

However, House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, R-Clear Lake, said her party has used the normal process for handling legislation.

So the bill was introduced, subcommittee, committee, public hearing and then we'll have a full debate on the bill, she said. In addition to the action in the House, the Senate had a two-hour subcommittee meeting to hear from the public.

The Speakers office has indicated debate may continue to Friday. Democratic leaders said they intend to discuss each of its 67 sections in detail.

When the hearing closed at 8 p.m., opponents of the bills clapped, stomped and chanted kill the bill for nearly 10 minutes, and heckled members of Americans for Prosperity as they left a meeting at the Capitol.
WATERLOO  Waterloo police are investigating an overnight shooting that sent one woman to the hospital.

Officers were called to the 800 block of Kern Street around 11 p.m. Monday and found a woman had been shot in the leg in a drive-by shooting.

Tonya Jean Taylor, 50, suffered non-life threatening wounds, and paramedics with Waterloo Fire Rescue took her to an area hospital for treatment.

No arrests have been made in the case.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Waterloo Police Department at 291-4340 ext. 7 or Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers at 855-300-TIPS (8477).

Jeff Reinitz writes for the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, another Lee Enterprises newspaper. Reach him at jeff.reinitz@wcfcourier.com.
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
Wellington, Feb 9 : The New Zealand navy has launched a research buoy in the sub-Antarctic Southern Ocean to help a study on how ships can navigate mammoth waves known as the "liquid Himalayas", the media reported.

The moored wave buoy was launched about 10 km south of the remote Campbell Island, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) said on Thursday.

Offshore patrol vessel HMNZS Otago launched the buoy while on a resupply mission to the island, home of six species of albatross and the world's rarest duck.

The buoy was part of a collaborative project between the Defence Technology Agency, which is a business unit of the NZDF, and a private meteorology and oceanography consultancy.

DTA researcher Sally Garrett said the it would be used to gather data like wave height and wave direction over the next six months.

"Southern Ocean waves are described by sailors as 'liquid Himalayas' and remain largely unstudied, including our ability to forecast them," Garrett said in a statement.

"The wave buoy will characterize what waves are present, and this information will help us assess how well our forecasting models are predicting these waves."

Commodore Jim Gilmour, the Maritime Component Commander, said the data gathered by the buoy would be transmitted back to New Zealand and studied, and would be used to help design the navy's third offshore patrol vessel.

"The data will be useful because waves affect all facets of operation in the Southern Ocean and Ross Sea, from the design of ships to day-to-day planning," Gilmour added.
Surat, Feb 9 : Gujarat Patidar leader Hardik Patel on Thursday reiterated that he had not joined any political party and would prefer to remain the face of the Patel community's agitation for reservation in government jobs and educational institutions under the OBC quota.

He said this referring to the news reports quoting Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai that Patel would be the face of Shiv Sena campaign in Gujarat assembly elections to be held later this year.

"I had gone to visit 'Matoshree' (residence of the Thackerays) in response to the invitation I was extended. I am too young to contest elections and, in any case, my only aim is to get benefit of reservation for my community," Hardik, 23, told reporters here.

He clarified he has no plans to join the Shiv Sena.

He was in Surat to mark attendance at the Crime Branch in keeping with his bail conditions in the sedition cases against him.

Patel was also in town to meet the injured member of his Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) Vijay Mangukia, who was beaten up for throwing ink at newly appointed Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Manch (BJYM) leader Rutvij Patel recently.

Rutvij Patel was holding a road show in Surat about 10 days ago as a show of strength when he was showered with eggs, tomatoes, water pouches, itching powder and ink by unidentified miscreants.

Mangukia, who allegedly threw ink at him, was caught by BJYM workers and reportedly thrashed by them.

The PAAS had threatened to lay a siege to the police station on Thursday to exert pressure on the local police to arrest the NJP youth wing volunteers. The police said two persons have already been arrested in the case.
Hyderabad, Feb 10 : The body of a 35-year-old NRI, who was murdered and buried by his two cousins over extramarital affairs, has been found here, police said on Friday.

The body of Syed Imran (35), customer service officer in National Bank of Abu Dhabi who was missing since February 4, was exhumed from an under-construction house of the accused in Bandlaguda area on Thursday.

Deputy Commissioner of Police V. Satyanarayana late Thursday announced the arrest of Saif Bin Sabit Baa Abood and his friend Hashim Ali were arrested.

Police solved the murder case following a missing complaint lodged by Syeda Afshan, Imran's mother.

Imran, who had come home on holidays last month, went missing on February 4.

Preliminary investigations revealed that he was last seen with a woman on his motorcycle in Falaknuma.

Further investigations led to the arrest of Saif, who confessed to committing the crime along with his elder brother Saeed Bin Sabit Baa Abood, an army man in Qatar.

Imran, who is already married and has a child, had extramarital affairs with Saeed's wife Fatima and sister.

Saeed, who had also come home on holidays, learnt about this and hatched a plan with his brother to kill Imran. As per their plan, Fatima brought Imran to a rented house in Jamal Banda.

Saeed and Saif threw chilli powder in his eyes and slit his throat.

Police said after committing the crime, Saeed returned to Qatar. Search is on for Fatima, who is absconding.
Mumbai, Feb 11 : In a sharp reaction to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's warning to Congressmen that he had prepared dossiers on them, Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday warned that even he had Modi's "horoscope".

"Everybody who is born has a 'janam patrika' (horoscope). The PM must not forget this. Even we have his 'janam kundli'. Have they forgotten how he survived after the Godhra communal carnage? It was because my late father, Bal Thackeray stood solidly behind him," he said.

Interacting with a select group of senior media persons at his residence 'Matoshri' here, Thackeray spoke on a wide range of issues, including relations with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its ally in both Maharashtra and the centre, though he unilaterally snapped ties on January 26.

Criticising Modi, Thackeray said that "never before has any Indian Prime Minster stooped to such levels" in politics.

"All he does is mock and ridicule leaders of other parties but now people are tired of this. During the 2014 Maharashtra assembly elections, he addressed 27 rallies in this state. So I demanded he should come here even for the BMC elections," he said.

Alleging that they (BJP leaders) are "liars, who are not interesting in anything but grabbing power", Thackeray said this was the reason he decided to break the alliance with the BJP for the civic polls and would henceforth fight all elections independently.

Asked how the Shiv Sena continued with the ruling alliance in centre and Maharashtra, he countered: "Have they asked us to get out? If they don't like us, they can leave. But they are stuck. We will decide our future course after the civic elections here."

He recalled how, with the blessings of people like his late father Bal Thackeray and late BJP leaders Pramod Mahajan and Gopinath Munde, the alliance between the two parties was finalized and it grew from strength to strength.

"At that time, my father decided that to prevent a split in the Hindu votes, the BJP would concentrate at the central level and Shiv Sena at the state level. It worked fine. But, now, the BJP wants to grab everything - the centre, state, civic bodiesa and all else," he said.

Looking back at the past few years, it would have been much better if the Shiv Sena had gone alone, as it would have emerged into a major national political force in the past 25 years, he said.

Touching on allegations by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on transparency in administration and a corruption-free government, Thackeray sarcastically said first he should look within and at his own partymen.

"All the ministers facing allegations of corruption in Maharashtra belong to the BJP. Not a single Shiv Sena minister is facing similar charges of graft," he said.

On the issue of transparency, he said the Union government has declared last week that the administration of BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation is the country's most transparent, adding the Sena already has "complete transparency" in the civic body where all major decisions of the Standing Committee are taken in the presence of officials, opposition leaders and even media.

"We are talking of such high levels of transparency. Why can't the BJP do the same at the state or centre? The Leaders of Opposition enjoy a cabinet status, so they should be invited to cabinet meetings along with the media," Thackeray said.

"When everything was done so transparently, with the media witness to the decisions, how can the BJP accuse Shiv Sena of corruption or malpractice?" he asked.

Asked whether the war with BJP has entered a new dimension with his party praising the Congress, Thackeray said the good work they did cannot be ignored.

"There's no question of praising the Congress. I was only appreciating the good work they have done all these years. Indira Gandhi had the guts to break Pakistan, for instance... What has the BJP done, except the 'surgical strike' on the borders," he said.

Asked to list the achievements of the Modi government in the past 33 months, Thackeray smiled smugly: "They have survived for so long on lies... That's an achievement ! And they will continue doing so for the remaining 27 months."

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in)
Tripoli, Feb 12 : Palestinian diplomat Salam Fayyad has been appointed as the new UN special envoy to Libya and the Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya.

The appointment was announced on Saturday by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

The US, however, objected to the choice of Fayyad, saying the US was "disappointed to see a letter indicating the intention to appoint the former Palestinian Authority Prime Minister to lead the UN Mission in Libya", Xinhua news agency reported.

"For too long the UN has been unfairly biased in favour of the Palestinian Authority to the detriment of our allies in Israel," US envoy to the UN Nikki Haley said.

The US objection was condemned by the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, with its member Hanan Ashrawi saying the objection was "unconscionable".

"We hope that saner voices will prevail and the US will take back this irrational and discriminatory decision immediately and not deprive the UN of such a highly qualified individual," Ashrawi said in a statement.

Fayyad, 64, was the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority from 2007 to 2013. He is also a former Finance Minister.

Fayyad replaced German diplomat Martin Kobler, who has served in the post since November 2015.

Kobler sponsored peace dialogue sessions between Libya's political rivals for over a year in order to end the state of political division in the country.

Eventually, a peace agreement was signed by the rivals and a new government of national accord was appointed. However, the country still suffers political crisis despite the signed agreement.
Srinagar, Feb 12 : Two soldiers, four militants and two civilians were killed in a gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district on Sunday, police said. The incident triggered clashes between civilians and security forces, leaving around two dozen people injured.

The fighting erupted after the security personnel surrounded Frisal village in the district following a tip that militants were hiding in a house, police said.

"When the militants were challenged, they fired at the forces, triggering the gunfight," said a police officer.

The dead included two soldiers from Rashtriya Rifles who were injured in the gunfight and later succumbed to their injuries.

Three civilians and three soldiers were injured in the fighting.

While a civilian, identified as Ashaq Rishi, died earlier on Sunday, another injured civilian, identified as Mushtaq Ahmad, 22, succumbed in hospital taking the death toll in this gunfight to eight.

As news of the civilian deaths spread, angry villagers poured out of their homes and stoned the security forces, who fired in the air and used tear smoke in an attempt to disperse them.

Reports said around two dozen people, including protestors as well as security personnel, were injured in these clashes.

The militants' bodies were recovered from the site of the gun battle.

Police said the operation had now ended.
Tokyo, Feb 13 : Japan on Monday urged China to put pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear and missile programmes.

On Sunday, North Korea launched a mid-range ballistic missile that flew for about 500 km before falling into the Sea of Japan, Efe news reported.

Japan has requested China, being a UN Security Council member, to act in a constructive and responsible manner and control the provocative actions of North Korea, said Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.

Suga added that Beijing's role is very crucial in dealing with Pyongyang, as China accounts for around 90 per cent of North Korea's foreign trade.

His statement comes after Japan, South Korea and the US called for an urgent Security Council meeting, following North Korea's latest missile test, to discuss toughening of sanctions against Pyongyang.

The UN Security Council last year approved two sanctions on North Korea after it detonated two atomic bombs within a period of eight months and launched more than 20 ballistic missiles, including a space rocket, considered by the international community as a disguised long-range missile test.

The missile launch carried out by Pyongyang on Sunday is the first since October last year and is also the regime's first since Donald Trump became US President.
Dubai, Feb 13 : United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Monday said he was disappointed that the US opposed his appointment of former Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad as UN envoy to mediate in the conflict in Libya.

Fayyad is "the right person for the right job at the right moment", Xinhua news agency quoted Guterres as saying at the fifth World Government Summit.

Last Saturday, US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley blocked Fayyad's appointment, saying Washington was "disappointed to see a letter indicating the intention to appoint the former Palestinian Authority Prime Minister to lead the UN Mission in Libya".

The US is a veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council.

"For too long the UN has been unfairly biased in favour of the Palestinian Authority to the detriment of our allies in Israel," Haley said.

Fayyad, 64, was appointed to replace German diplomat Martin Kobler, who has been serving as the UN special envoy to Libya and the head of the UN Support Mission in Libya since November 2015.

Guterres said Fayyad was the "right person... recognised everywhere".

"He has the competence. Objecting the envoy is a loss for Libya, the Libyan people," the UN chief said, adding that containing the conflict in Libya is "in everybody's interest."

Guterres, who became UN Secretary General on January 1, arrived here on Monday after visiting Turkey and Saudi Arabia, the first two stops of his Middle East tour, which will also take him to Oman, Qatar and Egypt.
McINTIRE | Officials on Monday continued to investigate a crash that severely injured a carriage driver near McIntire and sent six of his family members to a local hospital.

The carriage driven by Ura Petersheim, 47, was hit from behind by a 2009 Hyundai about 9:40 p.m. Sunday on County Road A-23, or 470th Street, according to the Mitchell County Sheriff's Office.

The crash was about 2 miles west of McIntire, a city in northeastern Mitchell County just south of the Iowa-Minnesota border .

Petersheim was flown by helicopter to Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota in what sheriff's deputies described as critical condition.

A hospital spokeswoman said Monday that she had no information about his condition.

Six of Petersheim's passengers, all family members, were taken by ambulance to Mitchell County Regional Hospital in Osage, said Mitchell County Sheriff Greg Beaver.

Their names and conditions were not available as of Monday afternoon.

As of Monday, the crash was still under investigation. No citations had been issued.

Investigators planned to interview Petersheim, his passengers and the 34-year-old driver of the Hyundai, Marshall Peters, of Toeterville, in the coming days, Beaver said.

The Iowa State Patrol, Stacyville firefighters, Riceville Ambulance, Mitchell County EMS, St. Ansgar First Responders and the Howard County Sheriff's Office provided assistance.

Some first-responders were at the scene until after midnight.
Kohima, Feb 13 : Normal life came to a standstill in Nagaland as the indefinite shutdown called by tribal Naga organisations got underway on Monday to force Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang to resign.

The tribal groups, under the banner of Nagaland Tribes Action Committee (NTAC) and Joint Coordination Committee (JCC), have intensified their agitation after Zeliang refused to accede to their demand and step down and their three-day ultimatum in this regard ended on February 10.

Nagaland has been in turmoil since last month after the Naga People's Front (NPF)-led state government decided to hold local body elections in 12 towns across the state.

Three people have died and many injured following clashes between the police and the public who were opposing the conduct of the civic elections, where provisions have been made for reservation of seats for women.

Nagaland has never elected a woman legislator since it gained statehood in 1963. The lone woman MP from the state was Rano M. Shaiza, who got elected in 1977.

"We will continue with our shutdown till the Chief Minister resigns," NTAC Convenor K.T. Vielie told IANS.

The state secretariat, state and central government offices, banks, educational institutions, shops, businesses remained closed, and there was no movement of public and private transport.

The National Highway-2 connecting Dimapur, the main commercial town of Nagaland with poll-bound state of Manipur, was also affected.

Volunteers were seen picketing the road to prevent traffic movement and the government employees from attending their official duties, even as security forces were seen patrolling the roads to thwart from any untoward incident.

"There has been no untoward incident during the shutdown hours (from 6.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.) as people refrained themselves from venturing into the streets," Nagaland Police chief L.L. Doungel told IANS.

"Security forces were deployed along the National Highway-2 to ensure that there is a smooth movement of vehicles to Manipur. However, there were no movements of vehicles," the police official said.

Doungel said the police were taking all precautions to ensure that there is no further breakdown of law and order.

Zeliang, who termed the demand for his resignation as "unreasonable" and "unconstitutional", in his radio talk on Monday said that the government was open for dialogue and more consultations.

"The tribal organisations should come forward for interactions and sharing of views and opinions without any bias or hesitation," he said, while appealing to all sections of the society to nurture and preserve the good image of the tribal organisations.

"What has happened is a great shock to not only the Nagas but also to people all over the world. We cannot allow such a situation to prevail. It is only leading to chaos. We should resolve the present situation through mature appreciation and dialogue. Let us put our heads together to build the Nagaland of our dreams instead of mindless confrontation and more violence," Zeliang said.

On the Urban Local Bodies elections, the Chief Minister said that his government has given in to their demands, namely the postponement of the civic polls and declaration of those elections held on February 1 as null and void.

Zeliang also appealed to the agitating groups to lift the shutdown to enable the students to appear their crucial examinations and to let the tens of thousands of government employees whose family members rely on their salaries for livelihood attend offices to work and draw their salaries, and at the same time, to allow the business community to carry out their normal trade to sustain themselves.
Lahore, Feb 13 : At least 16 persons were killed and over 50 others, including media persons, were injured in a strong explosion near the Punjab provincial assembly here on Monday.

The explosion took place at Charing Cross, Mall Road, in Lahore when a large group of chemists and pharmaceutical manufacturers was protesting in front of the assembly complex. There was a significant presence of law enforcers in the area due to the protest.

Deputy Inspector General (Traffic) Lahore Capt (retd) Ahmad Mobin and Senior Superintendent of Police Zahid Mehmood were among the dead, and reports said more casualties were expected among law enforcement personnel who were present at the spot.

Hours earlier, Traffic Police chief had been seen on television mediating with protesters who had gathered at the site.

Capt. Mobin was talking to protesters to call off the protest and clear the area.

Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, confirming the blast, said the police failed to maintain a high-level security due to massive presence of protesters.

"It is premature to say anything about the nature of the blast and the exact number of injured people," he added.

Rescue services, including ambulances and fire tenders, have rushed the spot and are shifting the injured to Mayo Hospital and Ganga Ram Hospital.

No group has claimed the responsibility for the attack yet.

Lahore was the site of an Easter Day bombing last year that killed more than 70 persons gathered in a public park.
Washington, Feb 14 : US immigration agents detained 680 immigrants last week in the first round of raids during the Donald Trump presidency, the government announced on Monday, adding that the operations targeted individuals who represented "a threat to public safety".

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly announced the number of detainees in a press release and noted that "approximately 75 per cent were criminal aliens", EFE news reported.

Those criminals were "convicted of crimes including, but not limited to, homicide, aggravated sexual abuse, sexual assault of a minor, lewd and lascivious acts with a child, indecent liberties with a minor, drug trafficking, battery, assault, DUI and weapons charges," Kelly said.

"These operations targeted public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and gang members," he said.

Agents also seek to detain "individuals who have violated our nation's immigration laws, including those who illegally re-entered the country after being removed and immigration fugitives ordered removed by federal immigration judges," the head of the Department of Homeland Security said.

The more than 680 people detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) posed a "threat to public safety, border security or the integrity of our nation's immigration system," Kelly said.

He added that ICE, an agency that forms part of his department, has been carrying out raids like these regularly for many years.

He added that Trump has instructed his agencies to "to focus on removing illegal aliens who have violated our immigration laws, with a specific focus on those who pose a threat to public safety."

"These professionals put their lives on the line to protect our communities and country," Kelly said about the ICE agents.

The Secretary did not specify how many of the detained immigrants have been deported nor whether they face trial in the United States for their crimes.

According to figures released on Monday by ICE, 235 of the detainees are in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Kansas and Missouri, and of those, 163 had previous criminal convictions.

Another 190 were detained in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, while 161 were arrested in Los Angeles and 28 more in the area of San Antonio, Texas, ICE said.

Immigrant defence groups have complained that the number of immigrants rounded up in the raids are being boosted by including undocumented arrivals who have committed no serious infractions.
East Jerusalem, Feb 14 : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met former Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and voiced his support for his appointment as a UN envoy to Libya.

The United States on Friday blocked Fayyad's appointment to lead the UN political mission in Libya, saying it was acting to support its ally Israel, who objected to the appointment, haaretz.com reported.

Abbas' office said on Tuesday that two had met in the morning and spoke about Israel's attempts to block the appointment. Fayyad's nomination for the post, Abbas said, proved that the UN holds him to be a diplomat of international standing whose experience can help peace and global stability.

On Saturday it emerged that Knesset Member Tzipi Livni was offered a senior position at the UN as well, a day after US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley vetoed Fayyad's appointment.

Netanyahu confirmed on Sunday that he opposed Fayyad's appointment and said at a cabinet meeting that he was briefed on the impending appointment several days ago.

"I said that the time has come for parity in the attitude toward Israel, and that the Palestinian side can't be given freebies all the time," he said. "The time has come for the Israeli side to get status and appointments if [Fayyad] is tapped" for the position of special UN envoy to Libya.
Washington, Feb 14 : White House national security adviser Michael Flynn resigned on Monday night after it was revealed that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence about his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the US, the media reported.

"I inadvertently briefed the Vice President-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador. I have sincerely apologised to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology," Flynn wrote according to a copy of his resignation letter obtained by CNN.

"I am tendering my resignation, honoured to have served our nation and the American people in such a distinguished way," he wrote. "I know with the strong leadership of President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence and the superb team they are assembling, this team will go down in history as one of the greatest presidencies in US history."

The move comes less than a month into the job, making him one of the shortest-serving senior presidential advisers in modern history.

General Keith Kellogg will be the interim national security adviser, sources told CNN.

He most recently served as National Security Council chief of staff.

A senior administration official said Kellogg, retired General David Petraeus and former Vice Admiral Bob Harward are possible replacements for Flynn.

Flynn stepped down after days of reports that he had spoken to the ambassador in December about American sanctions against Russia, weeks before Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20.

He previously had denied that he had any substantive conversations with Ambassador Sergey I. Kislyak, and Pence repeated that claim in television earlier this month.

But earlier on Monday, a former administration official said the Justice Department last month warned the White House that Flynn had not been fully forthright about his conversations with the ambassador, the New York Times reported.

As a result, the Justice Department feared that Flynn could be vulnerable to blackmail by Moscow.

Officials said Pence has told others in the White House that he believed that Flynn lied to him by saying he had not discussed the topic of sanctions on a call with the Russian ambassador in late December.

Even the mere discussion of policy - and the apparent attempt to assuage the concerns of an American adversary before Trump took office - represents a remarkable breach of protocol, the daily said.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been examining Flynn's phone calls as he has come under growing questions about his interactions with Russian officials and his management of the National Security Council.

Earlier on Monday, Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, told reporters that "the president is evaluating the situation."

Spicer said Trump would be talking to Pence and others about Flynn's future.

In a sign of the internal confusion over Flynn's status, the statement from Spicer came shortly after the president's counsellor, Kellyanne Conway, said in an interview on MSNBC that Flynn had the "full confidence of the President".

The White House confirmed on Monday that Flynn had apologised to Pence.
Tokyo, Feb 14 : Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe believes that US President Donald Trump is a "good listener", as well as "friendly and open", the media reported.

"President Trump is surprisingly a good listener though it may seem that he isn't. He's also very frank and open. But he's very committed to his campaign pledges," Abe told public broadcaster NHK in an interview on Monday.

During the interview, Abe spoke of his meetings in the US over the weekend with Trump, in which they discussed security issues such as Washington's stance over the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, a point of conflict and contention between Tokyo and Beijing.

Trump had previously suggested that Japan should pay more to maintain a US military presence in Japan.

But Abe said the US President did not mention the issue during their meeting.

"Defence Secretary Mattis visited Japan and said the Japanese and American cost-sharing model is an example for other nations to follow. I think that settled the issue. We were wondering whether President Trump would mention the matter, but he didn't. Rather, he thanked Japan for the warm hospitality extended to the US Marine Corps," the Prime Minister said.

He also discussed the North Korea's latest missile test on Sunday, while he was still with President Trump at his resort in Florida.

"President (Barack) Obama was very cautious about using military force against North Korea, calling his stance 'strategic patience'. I believe the Trump Administration is aiming to review the stance and seek a diplomatic solution, putting all options on the table," Abe said.

The premier also believes that the Trump administration will renew its stance towards China and Russia.

"I think the US government is in the process of establishing its foreign policy against China. Right before our summit, President Trump talked for one hour over the phone with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The timing was very good for me. President Trump and I were able to discuss how to deal with China, taking into consideration what the leaders of the US and China talked about and various other factors."

"I have also insisted that dialogue between the US and Russia is essential for resolving the issues of Syria, the Middle East, Iran and Ukraine."

President Trump plans to hold a close dialogue with Russia," Abe concluded.
Wellington, Feb 14 : A 7.8 magnitude quake that hit New Zealand's South Island last year has made navigation for ships unsafe, Civil Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee said on Tuesday.

The quake, which killed two people in the tourist town of Kaikoura on November 14, had raised the seabed and made nautical maps obsolete, Xinhua news agency quoted Brownlee as saying.

"With actual depths now significantly less than charted depths, nautical charts are no longer accurate and safe navigation in the region has become an issue," said Brownlee.

"The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has sent eight hydrographers to Kaikoura to survey the area's sea floor and map the shifts caused by the earthquake," he said.

The results of the hydrographic survey would be to update the nautical chart of the Kaikoura Peninsula.

Landslips caused by the quake wiped out road and rail links to Kaikoura, stranding hundreds of tourists and leaving the town accessible only by sea and helicopters.

The NZDF mobilised 815 personnel, 11 aircraft and four ships to support the relief and evacuation operations.

Brownlee said the government was aiming to restore full road access by the end of this year.

Ministry of Civil Defence national recovery manager Dave Brash said excavators were on site and work had started on clearing the slips from the road.

Some rail links were open, but more than 700 sites needed work and seismic activity was continuing, Brash said.

"At the same time, diggers have removed more than 5,000 cubic metres of material from the Kaikoura harbour to deepen the channel," he said.
Chennai, Feb 14 : Following is the timeline in the case of disproportionate assets in which AIADMK General Secretary V.K. Sasikala and two of her relatives were on Tuesday convicted.

June 1996: Subramaniam Swamy complains to Tamil Nadu Governor against J. Jayalalithaa for amassing assets disproportionate to known sources of income.

June 1996: DMK government registers FIR against Jayalalithaa.

December 1996: Jayalalithaa arrested.

June 1997: Chargesheet filed against Jayalalithaa, Sasikala, Illavarasi and Sudhakaran under Prevention of Corruption Act.

October 1997: Madras High Court dismisses Jayalalithaaa's petition challenging the permission by Governor to prosecute her.

May 2001: AIADMK wins assembly polls. Jayalalithaa is Chief Minister.

September 2001: Supreme Court unseats Jayalalithaa for her conviction in Tansi land deal case.

February 2002: After her conviction is set aside, Jayalalithha becomes Chief Minister again. Wins assembly bypoll from Andipatti.

February 2003: Three public prosecutors resign as senior counsel, several prosecution witnesses turn hostile.

November 2003: Disproportionate assets case transferred to Bengaluru by Supreme Court on petition filed by DMK leader K. Anbazhagan on the grounds that fair trial was not possible in Tamil Nadu.

February 2005: Karnataka names B.V. Acharya as Special Public Prosecutor.

October/November 2011: Jayalalithaa answers 1,399 questions in Special Court.

August 2012: Acharya resigns as Special Public Prosecutor.

February 2013: G. Bhavani Singh appointed Special Public Prosecutor.

August 2013: Appointment of Bhavani Singh withdrawn by Karnataka government.

Septmber 2013: Supreme Court dismisses order withdrawing appointment of Bhavani Singh.

March 2014: Bhavani Singh fined for delaying final arguments.

August 2014: Special Court reserves judgement in case for September 20.

September 2014: Special Court convicts Jayalalithaa and three others with jail term of four years. Jayalalithaa fined Rs 100 crore and others Rs 10 crore each.

October 2014: Jayalalithaa gets bail.

December 2014: Supreme Court grants bail to Jayalalithaa.

January 2015: Special Bench formed under Justice C.R. Kumaraswamy to hear appeal filed by Jayalalithaa and others in Karnataka.

May 2015: Karnataka High Court acquits Jayalalithaa and three others.

June 2015: Karnataka government appeals in Supreme Court against ruling.

January 2016: Karnataka submits arithmetical errors in Karnataka High Court's judgement.

February 2016: Supreme Court starts hearing the case.

June 2016: Apex court reserves judgement.

December 2016: Jayalalithaa dies.

February 2017: Supreme Court upholds trial court's order convicting late Jayalalithhaa, Sasikala, Illavarasi and Sudhakarran.
Islamabad, Feb 14 : Islamabad has expressed disappointment at certain remarks made recently during deliberations in the US Senate about the presence of terrorists in Pakistan.

Some lawmakers and Commander of US forces in Afghanistan General John Nicholson said at last week's Congressional hearing that the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network still have safe haven in Pakistan.

Nicholson had also pushed the Donald Trump administration to conduct a "holistic review" of relationship with Pakistan.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry on Monday said it was upset at the allegations of terrorist centres on Pakistani soil.

"We are disappointed with some of the assertions and insinuations made in recent discussions about terrorist safe havens in Pakistan that we feel are not in sync with the current situation on the ground," Foreign Ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaria said in response to the discussions in the US on Afghanistan and Pakistan-US relations.

Zakaria, in a statement, said the discussions spoke of multiplicity of factors and singling out Pakistan and pinning the entire blame on the country for the situation in Afghanistan was "neither fair nor accurate".

He said Pakistan has been successful in eliminating the command and control structure of terrorist outfits operating across the Pakistan-Afghan border.

"Terrorist groups attacking Pakistan have safe havens in Afghanistan. The recent elimination of terrorists in Afghanistan involved in a number of heinous acts of terror in Pakistan clearly demonstrates the existence of safe havens in Afghanistan for elements attacking Pakistan," he said.

The spokesman said the nexus between Islamic State militant group and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan is a source of deep concern for Islamabad.

"We need to prevent the emergence of new and more virulent entities committed to spreading chaos and insecurity in the region. This calls for closer cooperation based on confidence and trust. Pointing fingers and throwing blame at others would be unhelpful and counter-productive," he said.
New Delhi, Feb 14 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday said that neither the party nor the central government has any role to play in the Tamil Nadu political situation, and termed the opposition's allegations as "baseless".

Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu and senior BJP functionary Ram Madhav denied that the BJP or the Centre had any role in the Tamil Nadu situation.

"We have no role to play in Tamil Nadu. The BJP has no interests there," Naidu said.

Party General Secretary Ram Madhav reiterated the same thing.

"To say that the BJP or the government of India has a hand in it (Tamil Nadu political situation) is totally false and baseless," Madhav said.

The opposition has been accusing the central government of interfering in the politics of Tamil Nadu by not letting Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao take a concrete decision in the matter.

Madhav said it was not proper to raise fingers on the Governor's conduct who would take a decision only after thoroughly considering the matter at hand.
Doug Rozendaal has been flying airplanes for more than four decades, but when he took off from Mason City Airport on Friday it was a first for
Islamabad, Feb 14 : Pakistan on Tuesday summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner here to protest "unprovoked ceasefire violation" by Indian security forces along the Line of Control (LoC) that killed three of its soldiers.

"The Director General (SA & SAARC), Mohammad Faisal, summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner J.P. Singh and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violation, on February 13, 2017, by the Indian forces on the LoC (in Thub area (Bhimber Sector)," a Foreign Office statement said.

The Foreign Office urged New Delhi to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding besides initiating a probe into the recent incidents of ceasefire violation by the Indian forces, the statement said.
Bengaluru, Feb 14 : Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday said the "America First" call of US President Donald Trump is not a concern for India or the Make in India programme.

Asked if Trump's America First would come in the way of Make in India and stop US firms from participating in the programme, Parrikar said: "You should have put this question to Boeing, they are there at the exhibition... Boeing, Lockheed Martin, etc."

"What I will say is what I want... I want you to Make in India. If someone wants to shift production to some other place, it is his choice. I am not concerned," Parrikar said at a press conference on the sidelines of "Aero India 2017".

He also said that he has so far just heard of it, and there is no official communication from the US government.

"As far as we are concerned, there is so far no issue, there is no letter. I am only hearing about it," he said.

Explaining it further, the minister said: "An OEM (original equipment manufacturer) helping a strategic partner will need their government's approval. If they are proposing something, their government will give them in-principle approval, so that they can quote."

Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said that Boeing is already manufacturing beams in Nagpur, and the HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd) is making doors for Airbus.

"Aviation manufacturing is going to a lot of countries, so it is better to ask the companies what their stand is," Raju said.

Parrikar supplemented it by saying: "India is already part of a global supply chain."
Seoul, Feb 14 : North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's half-brother has been killed in Malaysia, a government source said on Tuesday, sparking speculation over whether North Korea was behind a high-profile assassination.

Kim Jong-nam was assassinated on Monday in Malaysia, Yonhap news agency quoted the source as saying, without revealing any further details.

South Korea's cable TV broadcaster TV Chosun reported that Kim was killed at an airport in Malaysia after being attacked by two unidentified women with "poisoned needles".

The suspects fled the scene and Malaysian police suspected North Korea was behind the killing. Repeated calls to South Korea's spy agency seeking comment went unanswered.

The assassination came as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been trying to consolidate his grip on power that he inherited upon the death of his father and long-time leader Kim Jong-il in 2011 amid growing international pressure over North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes.

Kim Jong-nam -- the eldest son of late leader Kim Jong-il -- had voiced opposition to his father's power succession to Kim Jong-un. He was born from his father's non-marital relationship with Sung Hae-rim, a South Korean-born actress who died in Moscow.

Kim Jong-nam had lived abroad for years after apparently falling out of favour with his father for attempting to enter Japan on a fake passport in 2001.

Kim's case would mark the most high-profile death under the Kim Jong-un regime since the execution of Jang Song-thaek in December 2013, the once-powerful uncle of the current leader.
Kannur (Kerala), Feb 14 : Kannur district, considered Kerala's most volatile due to the violent rivalry between the CPI-M and the BJP/RSS, can be brought back to normalcy, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday.

"Even though previous peace talks have not earned the desired results, normalcy can return to Kannur... when the peace talks between the top leaders, percolate to the grass roots in the parties," Vijayan told reporters here on Tuesday soon after taking part in a peace meeting.

Top leaders of his Communist Party of India-Marxist, the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh and as well as from other parties participated in the meeting to diffuse the political tension lurking in this district, where, over the years, the rival parties have lost a good number of their cadres and supporters on account of the violence.

Vijayan, who himself hails from Kannur district, and represents Dharmadom assembly constituency which saw four people getting killed in political clashes between these two parties after he assumed office in May last year.

Former state BJP president P.K. Krishnadas told reporters after the meeting that his party will fully cooperate with all efforts which will bring peace in the district.

While both the CPI-M and the BJP has always blamed one another, the Congress blames both these parties for the situation in Kannur district.

"The only way for violence to end in Kannur is both these parties should jointly decide to lay down arms. The issue surfaces when people in this district change from BJP to CPI-M and vice versa, for their own existence. We welcome all efforts by the government, but mere sitting round the table and discussions won't help... instead the desire for peace should come from the heart of hearts of these parties," Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala told media persons in the state capital.

State Congress president V.M. Sudheeran said that the need of the hour is police should be given a free hand to deal with the situation.

"What we have seen over the years are the real culprits who do the crimes are shielded and instead others are fielded as the culprits. This has to end once and for all," he said, according to a press release.
New Delhi, Feb 14 : Five luxury aficionados, including fashion designer Ashish N Soni, interior designer Sussanne Khan and Fashion Design Council of India President Sunil Shethi, have collaborated as 'alchemists' for a whisky brand for a special expression of craftsmanship.

Apart from the three names, entrepreneur Kalyani Chawla and fashion and luxury writer Vinod Nair are on board for the Chivas 18 Alchemy, which has brought together the five virtuosos -- each with their own set of skills and penchant for all things fine -- to present a blend of experiences that please the five senses.

Soni, who will decode the sense of smell, said in a statement: "This is a never seen before collaboration that will conjure a unique sensorial journey through a brilliant deconstruction of the five senses in the most exceptional manner. This is going to be an experiential treat."

The inspiration behind this is the multi-layered scotch Chivas 18.

"Our Alchemists are eminent personalities who have excelled in their craft and have a flair for everything luxurious and definitive. The platform aims to bring alive the exceptional and bespoke experiences of Chivas 18 that exemplify exclusivity and handcrafted luxury," said Raja Banerji, Assistant Vice President at Pernod Ricard India.
New Delhi, Feb 14 : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought response from the Delhi government on a plea filed by a boy suffering from mild autism who requested to be allowed admission in nursery class under Children With Special Needs (CWSN) category.

Justice V.K. Rao asked the Delhi government to file a reply on the plea of Parth Bhatia, aged four years and 10 months, who is suffering from mild autism. The court listed the mater for February 28.

The court was hearing an application filed by Bhatia's parents who challenged a January 9 circular claiming that it has arbitrarily clubbed CWSN with other Economically Weaker Sections and Disadvantaged Group category.

The application filed by advocate, R.K. Kapoor, has sought the court's direction to grant separate quota for CWSN students in admission, out of 25 per cent reserved for EWS/DG category in private unaided recognised schools.

The counsel told the court that the petitioner's fundamental constitutional and other civil rights are being violated.

"It is urged that, statutorily, quota for CWSN stands inbuilt within the 25 per cent quota earmarked for children belonging to EWS and DG, which is violative of article of the Constitution. There should be a separate quota for CWSN," the petitioner said in his plea.

The counsel added that disabled persons require special attention in order to cross the barriers that they face.

"This categorization of children with disability, thus, stands distinct from others mentioned in the broader category of 'disadvantaged group'," the plea said.
Washington, Feb 14 : A US-born NASA scientist of Indian-origin was detained by US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officials and was not permitted to enter the country unless he unlocked his PIN-protected work phone.

Sidd Bikkannavar, who works in NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), was detained on January 30, upon returning to the US from Santiago, Chile, a US media network, the Verge, reported.

Bikkannavar said he was pressured to give the CBP agents his phone and access PIN. Since the phone was issued by NASA, it may have contained sensitive material that wasn't supposed to be shared. Bikkannavar's phone was returned to him after it was searched by CBP, but he doesn't know exactly what information officials might have taken from the device.

Bikkannavar is a natural-born US citizen enrolled in CBP's Global Entry programme, which allowed participants who have undergone a background check to speed up their entry into the US.

He had not visited any of the countries mentioned in Donald Trump's Muslim travel ban, but Bikkannavar told the Verge that agents may have become suspicious about his family name, which is southern Indian.

The JPL scientist returned to the US four days after the signing of a sweeping and controversial executive order on travel into the country. The travel ban caused chaos at airports across the US, as people with visas and green cards found themselves detained, or facing deportation.

Within days of its signing, the travel order was stayed, but not before more than 60,000 visas were revoked, according to the US State Department.

"Sorry for my absence. On my way back home to the US last weekend, I was detained by Homeland Security and held with others who were stranded under the Muslim ban," he wrote on Facebook.

"CBP officers seized my phone and wouldn't release me until I gave them my access PIN for them to copy the data. I initially refused since it's a JPL-issued phone and I must protect access."

He added: "Just to be clear -- I'm a US-born citizen and NASA engineer, traveliing with a valid US-visa."

Bikkannavar said he was eventually released. His employers gave him a new phone.

According to the Verge, Bikkannavar was yet to receive an explanation for why he was stopped at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

He had travelled to South America for personal reasons, pursuing his hobby of racing solar-powered cars. He had recently joined a Chilean team.

"It was not that they were concerned with me bringing something dangerous in, because they didn't even touch the bags," he said.

"They had no way of knowing I could have had something in there. You can say, 'Okay well maybe it's about making sure I'm not a dangerous person', but they have all the information to verify that."

Earlier this week, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said in a statement that people visiting the US may be asked to give up passwords to their social media accounts.

"We want to get on their social media, with passwords: What do you do, what do you say," Kelly told the House Homeland Security Committee. "If they don't want to cooperate, then you don't come in."
Bengaluru, Feb 14 : With Make in India as its focus, and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar wooing global aerospace firms to make their products in India, Aero India 2017 kicked off here on Tuesday, with a flypast of the indigenous-built LCA Tejas, Light Combat Helicopter, and first ever public display of the Light Utility Helicopter.

Parrikar, in his inaugural address, invited aerospace firms to make their products in India, which had opened up the defence sector for foreign direct investment, partnerships, collaborations and joint ventures.

"We have an ecosystem for defence manufacturing, with ease of doing business for global firms, a liberalised investment policy and norms to set up production units, joint ventures and research facilities across the country," he said as he inaugurated the 11th edition of the five-day biennial expo here.

Asked if new US President Donald Trump's 'America First' may have any affect on the 'Make in India' and stop US firms from participating in the programme, Parrikar said it was not his concern.

"You should have put this question to Boeing, they are there at the exhibition... Boeing, Lockheed Martin, etc.

"What I will say is what I want... I want you to Make in India. If someone wants to shift production to some other place, it is his choice. I am not concerned," Parrikar said at a press conference on the sidelines of "Aero India 2017".

This edition of Aero India, for the first time, combined the defence and civil aviation segments into a holistic event with the co-involvement of the Defence and Civil Aviation Ministries in the event.

Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajpathi Raju was also present at the inaugural event.

Raju, speaking at the occasion, highlighted that India was the fastest growing aviation sector in passenger terms in the world and held tremendous potential to graduate from the present position of being ninth in the world to being the third largest by 2022.

Among the highlights on the opening day was handing over of the Indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&C) christened 'Netra' to the Indian Air Force, making India the fourth nation to have developed the technology on its own, after US, Russia and Israel.

Parrikar also unveiled the full scale mock-up of Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) Pavilion.

A colourful flypast showcased India's increasing capability in manufacturing aircraft, with first ever public display of Light Utility Helicopter LUH.

The Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) meanwhile left the spectators enthralled, with its manoeuvres, taking a steep rise, and even flying backwards.

India is one of the few countries to have developed a combat helicopter.

The air Show witnessed a fly past by the Make in India formation consisting of HTT-40, Hawk-i, Dornier-228, Su-30MKI and the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft.

This was followed by the fighters tearing through the skies displaying a host of aerobatic manoeuvres - the Su 30 MKIA followed by Sweden's SAAB Gripen, Tejas LCA, the American F-16 Falcon and the French Rafale.

The Yakovlev aerobatic team, the Skycats, the Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team and the Sarang helicopter display team also presented a scintillating performance.
Srinagar, Feb 14 : Three soldiers and four militants were killed in the Kashmir valley on Tuesday in gunfights -- the third in less than 48 hours, officials said.

Three militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in north Kashmir's Kupwara district, defence spokesman Col. Rajesh Kalia told IANS.

Three weapons were recovered after the shootout, in which an army soldier sustained injuries, Kalia said.

Earlier in the day, three soldiers and a militant were killed and eight others injured in a gunfight between the security forces and militants in Bandipora district.

The incident took place when security forces launched a search operation in Parraypora village after receiving information about holed-up militants.

Eight people, including seven security men and a civilian, were injured during the gunfight in the village located in Hajin area.

The gunfight has ended, police said. The slain militants identity was being established.

The three soldiers killed in the gunfight belonged to the 13 Rashtriya Rifles.

The Kupwara gunfight was the third in less than 48 hours. On February 12 two soldiers, four militants and two civilians were killed in a gunfight in southern Kulgam district.

The incident triggered clashes between civilians and security forces, leaving around two dozen people injured.
New Delhi, Feb 14 : The Congress on Tuesday accused Union Minister H.N. Ananth Kumar and former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa of "corruption by misusing power to collect money" and demanded action against the two leaders.

"The country never saw such a glaring incident where a senior member of the cabinet admitted to collection of money and sharing booty at the highest level. The onus lies on taking action and sacking both Ananth Kumar and Yeddyurappa at the doorsteps of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah," Congress leader Randeep Surjewala told a press conference here.

Surjewala released a video clip of a purported conversation between Ananth Kumar and Yeddyurappa -- both senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders -- regarding collection and payment of money by them and a diary seized by the Enforcement Directorate containing sensitive information against certain Congress leaders.

"The incident has exposed corruption of the BJP leaders. The video of the shameful and sinful conversation dated February 12 between these leaders took place during a Bengaluru meeting of the BJP. It reveals blatant misuse of political power and public office," Surjewala told the media here.

When asked, Surjewala denied possibility of the conversation between Ananth Kumar and Yeddyurappa being about political funding.

Surjewala said that no one -- from Amit Shah to Ananth Kumar -- has either denied the video or given defence even after 24 hours it surfaced.

"Based on the contents of the video, let the people of India see, judge and decide. They not only indulge in corruption but also make others indulge. To top of it, they brazenly speak about it publicly and get caught on video," Surjewala said.

"The 125 crore Indians want to know where that money came from and how it was used. Both leaders agreed (in video) that they accepted the money. Is it not corruption? PM Modi talks about fighting black money. Is it not a case fit for invoking the Prevention of Corruption Act?"

Surjewala said the central government was misusing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Income Tax Department against political rivals in anticipation of defeat in the assembly elections in the five states.

Pointing to the purported comment in the video 'lighting a small spark to spread a wild fire', Surjewala wondered: "If the BJP leadership is hatching a conspiracy to usurp power by any means and continue it up till the election?"
CORWITH | A Corwith man accused of confining and beating a woman last year was sentenced Tuesday to up to 10 years in prison for third-degree kidnapping.

Randy Lee Dann, 45, could be facing more prison time due to recently-filed federal drug charges.

Dann was to go to trial April 4 in Hancock County District Court on a charge of first-degree kidnapping.

Corwith man charged with felony kidnapping, domestic abuse CORWITH  A Corwith man has been charged with felony first-degree kidnapping for allegedly b

If convicted on that charge he would have faced a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Dann entered an Alford plea Monday to a reduced charge of third-degree kidnapping. In an Alford plea a defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges the state likely can prove guilt.

A $1,000 fine was suspended.

Dann bound a woman with zip ties and assaulted her throughout the evening of Oct. 10 and into the morning of Oct. 11 at their home in Corwith, according to a statement from Sheriff Scott Dodd.

The woman reported Dann kneed her back and groin and struck her in the head, according to the criminal complaint.

Dann told officers the only contact he had with the woman on the date in question was when he was trying to hold her down while she was having a seizure.

Officers found zip ties cut into small pieces in the garbage during a search warrant of the residence.

Dann was indicted in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa in January on charges of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

From around 2015 to 2016 he conspired with others to distribute 500 grams or more of a substance containing 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine, according to the indictment.

Dann also possessed with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture containing 5 grams or more of pure meth, the indictment states.

Dann has not yet entered a plea on those charges.
Hyderabad, Feb 14 : The Tourism Ministry has sanctioned about Rs 100 crore to develop a heritage circuit in Hyderabad under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.

The ministry sanctioned Rs 99.42 crore for the current fiscal to develop the heritage circuit that includes Qutb Shahi Heritage Park, Paigah Tombs, Hayat Bakshi Begum Mosque and Raymond's Tomb.

This was revealed by Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation (TSTDC) Managing Director Christina Z. Chongthu after meeting ministry Secretary Vinod Zutshi in Delhi on Tuesday.

The Ministry launched the Swadesh Darshan scheme in 2015 to develop theme-based tourist circuits across the country.

According to TSTDC, Rs 82.43 crore will be spent on development of the Qutb Shahi Heritage Park, Rs 4.10 crore on Paigah Tombs, Rs 2.18 crore on Hayat Bakshi Begum Mosque and Rs 4.20 crore on Raymond's Tomb.
New Delhi, Feb 14 : A carpenter killed his wife following a heated argument over his affair with another woman, kept the body in the house for over two days and later chopped it into pieces to hide the crime.

The incident came to light on Tuesday morning when Subodh Kumar's neighbours enquired about the putrid smell emanating from his rented flat in east Delhi's Mandawali area and then informed police.

"We arrested Kumar from his flat and recovered his wife's semi-decomposed decapitated body and head from a box from there," a police officer said.

Kumar, the father of two daughters, told the investigators that he killed his wife Manisha, 35, on Saturday night by slitting her throat with a knife.

"Initial investigation revealed that Kumar and his wife used to fight regularly over his affair with another woman in the area. He had planned the crime a week ago and sent his two daughters to their maternal uncle's home in Uttar Pradesh," the officer added.

Kumar also purchased a cutter and a large bag to dispose of the body. He had shifted to this flat six months before.
New Delhi, Feb 14 : State-run natural gas importer Petronet LNG Ltd (PLL) on Tuesday said it has purchased 26 per cent stake in the shipping consortium that has built the ships that transport its liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports.

"We have now decided to take 26 per cent equity in India LNG Transport Company (No 4) Private Limited," Petronet Director (Finance) R.K. Garg said here.

Singapore-based India LNG Transport Co (No 4) had won the contract from Petronet to build and operate a 173,000 cubic meter-capacity LNG ship 'Prachi', which has delivered its first cargo from Australia to Petronet's Dahej terminal in Gujarat.

State-run Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) and NYK Line of Japan hold 26 per cent stake each in India LNG Transport Co (No 4), while 22 per cent each is held by Mitsui OSK Line and K Line.

"It is less than Rs 100 crore," Garg said, referring to the consideration paid for the stake, and added that agreements for Petronet taking over the equity had been executed and the money paid.

The consortium had won the tender by quoting the lowest charter hire price of a little over $78,000 per day for 19 years for transporting LNG from Australia.

While, Prachi is the fourth LNG vessel to be hired by Petronet, the earlier three - 'Disha' 'Rahi' and 'Aseem'- are all deployed for carrying LNG from Qatar.

"We did not take any equity in first two vessels but exercised our right and took 3 per cent in the third," Garg said.

He also said that all four LNG ships will be managed by SCI.
New Delhi, Feb 14 : The Congress on Tuesday accused the BJP-led central government of fishing in troubled waters in Tamil Nadu and demanded the state assembly's special session to test the strength of rival factions within the ruling AIADMK.

The Bharatiya Janata Party termed the Congress allegations "baseless", saying neither the party nor the central government had any role to play in the politically volatile situation in Tamil Nadu.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao should take a concrete decision in the matter.

"The BJP and the Narendra Modi government should now stop fishing in troubled waters. They and the Governor should not stand in the way of democracy but permit the will of the majority to prevail," Surjewala told reporters here.

Surjewala spoke after the Supreme Court restored the conviction and four-year jail term for AIADMK General Secretary V.K. Sasikala and two others in a disproportionate assets case, also involving late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.

Sasikala and caretaker Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam head rival factions of AIADMK contending for power in the southern state.

With Sasikala out of contention to be the Chief Minister, her faction elected Public Works Minister Edapadi K. Palanisamy as leadedr of the legislature party.

"Irrespective of ideological differences, whosoever has the public mandate must be permitted to rule the state," the Congress leader said.

"The Governor's role, which has been circumspect in this entire episode, must now become clear and the rule of law and Constitution must prevail. For this, it is essential that the clarity on the formation of government comes as soon as possible," he said.

Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu denied that the BJP or the Centre had any role in the Tamil Nadu situation.

"We have no role to play in Tamil Nadu. The BJP has no interests there," Naidu told reporters.

Party General Secretary Ram Madhav also said that the allegations on BJP hand were baseless.

"To say that the BJP or the government of India has a hand in it (Tamil Nadu political situation) is totally false and baseless," Madhav said.

Madhav said it was not proper to raise fingers at the Governor's conduct.

Speaking in Agartala, BJP General Secretary P. Muralidhar Rao said the party was ready to help a pro-people and pro-development AIADMK government led by an honest and clean leader to come to power in Tamil Nadu.

He termed the Supreme Court verdict in a disproportionate assets case as "historic".

"This is a good opportunity for AIADMK members to introspect and choose an honest and clean leader who will work with a vision for all-round development of Tamil Nadu," said Rao, who is in charge of party affairs in the southern state.

The Supreme Court restored conviction of Sasikala, a long-time confidante of Jayalalithaa and her two relatives -- Elavarasi, the widow of Sasikala's elder brother, and V.N. Sudhakaran, a nephew who at one point of time was also former Chief Minister's foster son.

Justices Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Amitava Roy set aside a Karnataka High Court order acquitting the three and Jayalalithaa, who died on December 5.
Mumbai, Feb 14 : Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has said he has no enmity with Prime Minister Narendra Modi but he has the right to speak his mind.

"I had good relations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. There is no personal enmity, but when you find that his policy is causing damage to the country, then one has to oppose... PM Modi is not my enemy, but I have the right to say what is good and what is bad," Thackeray said in an interview with India TV on Tuesday.

Notably, Shiv Sena is an ally in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre.

Hitting out at the central government's demonetisation move, he said: "Did affluent people die because of 'notebandi'? I didn't notice a single rich man standing in queues. Nearly 200 people lost their lives while standing in the queues. One of them was a jawan of BSF."

"In their manifesto, they (BJP) had promised to bring back black money stashed in Swiss banks and put it in people's accounts. Demonetisation could be the Prime Minister's own decision but how many people were rendered jobless, how many people died? Unemployment has increased, who is responsible for that?" he said.

The Shiv Sena chief took a jibe at Prime Minister Modi, saying he didn't care "how many inches wide his chest is" the Prime Minister should have "a heart inside his chest".

Speaking on the ongoing Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Thackeray said Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav should be "given another chance" to become the Chief Minister.

"He (Akhilesh) is doing good work and he should get another chance. He is a young man, and if provided he doesn't make any mistake, he should get a chance," Thackeray said.

Asked whether his party was moving out of alliance with the BJP in Maharashtra, Thackeray quipped: "They (BJP) can also take the decision (to break the alliance), why should I take? Could they have formed the government without our support?"

The Shiv Sena chief also questioned Prime Minister Modi's closeness to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar by saying: "During the elections, PM Modi used to level charges of corruption against chacha-bhatija (Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar). But now he visits Sharad Pawar at his residence and says he is my Guru."

"Isn't it a duplicitous policy? This could also be the reason for breaking the alliance. I am ready. I did not agree to the alliance only for gaining something," he said.
New Delhi, Feb. : New Delhi, Feb. Feb 14 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it would not get into the issue of Uniform Civil Code but described the triple talaq as a serious issue of human rights.

The court said that it would examine the legal aspect of the 'triple talaq', 'nikaah halaal' and polygamy amongst the Muslims.

Saying that it would examine whether triple talaq was a valid way of divorce, a bench of Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, Justice N.V.Ramana and Justice D.Y.Chandrachud asked the senior counsel appearing for both the sides to frame question that would be addressed in the course of weeklong hearing commencing on May 11.

However, the court made it clear that the question whether divorce under Muslim Personal Law needs to be supervised by either courts or by a court-supervised institutional arbitration came under the legislative domain.

Directing the next hearing on February 16 for the framing of issues, the bench asked the senior counsel appearing for those opposed to triple talaq and those opposing any interference in it, to sit together and frame tentative issues for the consideration by the court.

The court also made that all the petitioner will have to give names of the three lawyers each who would be addressing the court from both the sides.

The Union government has already told the top court that 'triple talaq', 'nikaah halaal' and polygamy as practised by the Muslims in India were not "integral to the practices of Islam or essential religious practices".

"The fact that Muslim countries where Islam is the state religion have undergone extensive reforms goes to establish that the practise in question cannot be regarded as integral to the practices of Islam or essential religious practices," it had told the top court earlier in its affidavit.

The government had cited the instances of changes in marriage laws in Iran, Egypt, Indonesia, Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

However, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) had earlier told the top court that the practice of triple talaq and polygamy were a social need and a blessing and not a curse for women.
Chennai, Feb 14 : A large police posse was on Tuesday deployed near the beach resort where legislators supporting AIADMK General Secretary V.K. Sasikala are housed, following the Supreme Court judgement in the disproportionate assets case.

Police have asked the private security guards posted at the resort in Kuvathoor, around 90 km from here, to vacate the place. The guards had blocked the road that leads to the resort.

The police also clamped orders prohibiting gathering of any four or more persons in Kuvathoor.

According to an AIADMK leader, the legislators may be asked to vacate the resort by the police.

Tamil Nadu's acting Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam has been saying that he would enjoy the support of majority of legislators if only they are not held in captivity at the resort. This charge has been denied by Sasikala and her supporters.

Sasikala, who came to the resort on Monday evening, stayed overnight and is present there.

The apex court on Tuesday quashed the Karnataka High Court verdict acquitting Sasikala in the disproportionate assets case and asked her to surrender herself forthwith.
New Delhi, Feb 14 : McGraw Hill Education India on Tuesday launched the first edition of the "Ancient and Medieval India" book to cater to the needs of civil services aspirants.

The book has been authored by Poonam Lal Dahiya, a commissioned Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, and contains a "thorough analysis of the current syllabus" and questions from previous years.

Present at the launch, Rajiv Mehrishi, Union Home Secretary, praised the book and wished all the civil services aspirants success in exams.

"The book covers all aspects of ancient and medieval history in India in a detailed format and can be used as a one-stop solution to prepare for the exams in the subject.

"The book is very well compiled and should provide the required guidance to the civil services aspirants," a statement issued by the publication quoted Mehrishi as saying.

Also speaking at the launch, Tanmoy Roychowdhury, General Manager, Test Preparation, McGraw Hill Education India, said: "This book covers the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) syllabus related to the ancient and medieval history of India in detail.

"The comprehensive content was developed after in-depth research of the current syllabus and is structured in a student-friendly format."

The author of the book also expressed her satisfaction upon seeing her work materialised and hoped that it will hold the students in good stead during exams.

"It is extremely satisfying to see one's efforts take shape like this and make a contribution in others' lives. It was an enriching and fulfilling experience to work on the book, and I am happy to have played my part," Dahiya said.
Bengaluru, Feb 14 : European defence and technology major Thales and missile systems manufacturing public enterprise Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) on Tuesday signed an MoU to assess opportunity for transfer of technology of the STARStreak missiles, an official said.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in presence of the UK government representatives, which has extended its support to this venture, at the Aero India 2017 here.

Alex Cresswell, Executive Vice President for Land and Air Systems at Thales, said: "We are proud to join hands with Bharat Dynamics Ltd for the strategic transfer of technology of our flagship STARStreak missile from the UK. Also, we are thankful to the government of the UK for their strong support to this initiative."

"Sharing technology has been one of the key ingredients of Thales' strategy for India. We would continue to work in this direction and realise our objective to make in India and export from India through such endeavours," he added.

V Udaya Bhaskar, the BDL Chairman and Managing Director, said: "BDL is very much pleased to partner with Thales for obtaining transfer of technology for STARStreak missiles. BDL is strongly looking forward to business opportunities outside India to supply the latest defence equipment."

"Through this MoU, Thales and BDL seek to jointly offer a 'Make in India' solution to help service growing international demand for this product," an official statement said.

The STARStreak missile operates at a speed in excess of Mach 3 to defeat fast-moving threats and it can be used in a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPADS) role. It has the capability to defeat any air target, even armoured helicopters, as the last line of defence.

Thales equipment will constitute 25 per cent of the value of the $8.9-billion deal for 36 Rafale combat jets that India and France signed last year. The company is also involved in the more than Rs 10,000 crore-worth Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 upgrade programme.

Thales has been operational in India since 1953 and has over 300 employees working with its wholly-owned Indian subsidiary, Thales India Pvt Ltd, based in New Delhi.
Lucknow, Feb 14 : Two professors from IIM Lucknow, Bharat Bhasker and Shailendra Singh have been appointed as Directors of IIM Raipur and IIM Ranchi respectively, a statement from the premier institute said on Tuesday.

The Appointments Cabinet Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved names of directors for 10 IIMs - at Bengaluru, Bodh Gaya, Sirmaur, Visakhapatnam, Tiruchirappalli, Nagpur, Sambalpur, Raipur, Rohtak and Ranchi, it said.

Bhasker is from the IT and Systems department at IIM Lucknow and his areas of expertise include Data Management, Network Security and Software Engineering. He was also the acting Director at IIM Lucknow in 2015.

Shailendra Singh is a Ph.D from IIT Kanpur and is currently posted at the Human Resource Management department at IIM Lucknow. He is also involved in consulting work in the field of Education Management.

IIM Lucknow Director Prof. Ajit Prasad said: "IIM Lucknow is immensely proud of the fact that two of its faculty have been given the huge opportunities to lead institutes of national importance. As one of its core functions and as a prideful tradition, IIM Lucknow has been at the forefront of, contributing significantly to, mentoring up and coming IIMs."
CLEAR LAKE | A downtown Clear Lake boutique forced to move because of a business expansion will close at the end of February.

Twyla Tindall, of Lyla's Boutique, said she and co-owner Lisa Barillas were forced to quit the business when they could not find another spot on Main Avenue to relocate.

Owners of the 314 Main Ave. boutique and a neighboring business, J Avenue, were both seeking to relocate due to a planned expansion of Clear Lake Bank & Trust.

The plan to move Lyla's into the former Thrifty White Pharamacy, 407 Main Ave., fell apart earlier this month.

"There just is nowhere else to relocate and in order for us to make a go of a business in a seasonal resort town where you only have three months to make your living, you absolutely have to be on Main Street," Tindall said. "And there's nothing here so we are just forced to close."

J Avenue closed in December.

Tindall says Lyla's will maintain regular hours through the end of the month.

"We're liquidating right now until the end of February," Tindall said. "So even our racks and hangars, body forms, mirrors  everything  has to be cleared out by the end of the month."

Preliminary plans for the bank expansion, which is for corporate offices, required tearing down buildings housing Lyla's and J Avenue.

The bank is the landlord for the two businesses.
Ahmedabad, Feb 14 : The industrial cluster around Tata Motors' Nano plant witnessed a major clash on Tuesday when a rally of farmers protesting against allocation of water to industries from a Narmada dam canal was dispersed by police using force.

Police cane-charged the farmers and burst some 40 teargas shells to disperse the rally as well as roughed up some media persons covering the event following pelting of stones by a section of participants in the rally. At least seven men in uniform sustained injuries in the stone pelting.

The incident occurred near Sanand on the outskirts of Ahmedabad when some 5,000 farmers from 38 villages in Viramgam, Bavla and Sanand talukas, under the banner of Khedut Adhikar Manch, took out the procession and headed state capital Gandhinagar to present a memorandum to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani demanding water for irrigation.

They pointed out that while the industrial cluster around Sanand, including Tata Motors' Nano plant and units of other automobile giants, had been allowed to draw water from the Narmada canal, no irrigation facility had been provided to the agricultural fields close to the Narmada canal that takes water to the Saurashtra region.

Police claimed that farmers were denied permission for the rally and were first politely informed. "But when they did not budge, we had to use force to disperse them," Ahmedabad Rural District Superintendent of Police R.V. Asari said.

According to him, seven policemen, including him, sustained injuries in stone pelting by the farmers.

"Police had denied them permission and so when the rally reached Sanand, we tried to convince their leaders not to go ahead. Even as talks were on, some persons started pelting stones. Several of my men, including me, were injured and we had to resort to mild lathicharge and fire teargas shells to disperse the mob," Asari said.

Some media persons covering the event were beaten up by cops and camera chips and other photography equipment of two local television news channels were snatched the police. About 50 farmers were also arrested on charges of attacking government officials on duty.

The lathicharge on unarmed farmers and media persons was widely condemned by the Congress and other political parties.

State Congress President Bharatsinh Solanki said the issue would be taken up in the assembly beginning its budget session from February 20.

"The BJP is not accustomed to face any opposition. Instead of giving justice to the farmers, they ordered lathicharge on them. I condemn the action," Leader of the Opposition in state assembly Shankersinh Vaghela said.

"It is unfortunate that the farmers were beaten up for raising a legitimate demand. Such atrocities prove that this government is anti-farmer. It is their known method of remaining in power by terrorising people and suppressing every voice of dissent," Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) convenor Hardik Patel asserted.

Other Backward Classes Manch Convenor Alpesh Thakore said the OBCs would not allow the BJP leaders to move freely in Ahmedabad district if they continue with their high-handed attitude instead of meeting legitimate demand of the farmers.

The Manch, with the support of PAAS, has given a call for "Sanand Bandh" on Wednesday to protest against the police action on farmers.
Skyland Camp For Girls celebrates its centennial season. Were simply thrilled that Wendy has joined us to help usher Skyland into its second century of operation. She has tremendous alignment with Skylands mission, and a passion for youth development, girls leadership and outdoor education.

Skyland Camp for Girls officially announced the appointment of its new camp director, Wendy Burns. The private girls camp, established in 1917 in Clyde, North Carolina, welcomed the new director to take the helm at the turn of the camps centennial season.

I am excited about this summer, Ms. Burns said. Getting to meet girls and staff, having the opportunity to be a part of the 100th celebration, and helping to guide Skyland into its next hundred years.

"We performed a diligent search in 2016 to find someone with deep experience in girls residential camping, as well as someone who would understand and embrace Skyland's unique culture and rich history," said Sherry Brown, co-owner and Executive Director. "This was particularly important given the expected 2017 departure of Madi Weisberg, a much loved and highly-valued member of Skyland's leadership team who has moved to Montana to explore new adventures."

Over nine months, the staff researched, vetted, interviewed and met with several outstanding candidates. The official candidate search concluded in December and was followed by an onboarding session for Ms. Burns.

Skyland Camp has the unique position of being recognized as a fourth-generation family-owned camp and has had just three primary directors in its lifetime, all descendants of the original director and founder, Susan Courtney Harris. Ms. Burns will join the year-round leadership team--Sherry Brown, Mike Brown, Kay Anderson, and Bunny Brown--to help enrich and optimize the summer camp experience for campers and staff.

"Wendy will be a beautiful addition to the Skyland team," says Kay Anderson, Senior Director. "We're simply thrilled that she has joined us to help usher Skyland into its second century of operation. She has tremendous alignment with Skyland's mission, and a passion for youth development, girls' leadership and outdoor education. Her breadth and depth of experience are impressive, but even more so is her love of the camp world and the power that it has in shaping girls, families and future generations."

Wendy Burns shares Skylands commitment to empowering girls as confident, curious, creative individuals who are connected to themselves and to the world, Anderson explains.

Before joining Skyland Camp, Wendy Burns served as the Director of Outdoor Programming and Property for the Carolinas Peak to Piedmont Girl Scouts. Over two years, she helped to increase camp attendance and improve programming for their Scouts. She also served as the VP of Membership and Resident Director for the Girl Scout Council of Vermont, helping to increase membership over 3 years from 65% to 98%, which remained at 98% for the next three years. She was also instrumental in revising the 6-week program into a 9-week program for the Council. Prior to serving on the Council, Ms. Burns held the position of middle school counselor at Stowe Middle School in Vermont.

When asked about her vision for Skyland Camp, Ms. Burns replied, In the world of tech and speed that we're in now, there are so many choices that girls and young women are inundated with. They become so busy. I think sometimes these girls are at risk of getting lost. Camp gives them the opportunity to slow down, take a breath and get out of the tech and busy-ness. They can get in touch with who they are and who they can be. This opens them to more opportunities and lets them connect better and more with the people around themother campers and the staff.

Skyland Camp gives girls the time to reflect on who they want to be, she explained, not who they're expected to be.

Ms. Burns holds a Bachelors degree in Liberal Studies and a Masters of Education degree in School Counseling from Vermont College. She is a licensed school counselor and certified with the Red Cross. She served as an American Camp Association (ACA) Standards Review Board Member for two and a half years.

This month, Ms. Burns will be recognized by the ACA as a Pioneer of Camping at their national awards ceremony in New Mexico, receiving merit for her 30+ years of service as a member and lead visitor.

Skyland builds legacies, one girl a time, Ms. Burns said.

For more information, visit skylandcamp.com.
The Go Mini's of Dayton team. Go Minis of Columbus, Ohio has done so well that Byers Car Rentals, LLC did not want to miss out on the opportunity to expand into a new territory. This is a testament to the Go Minis franchising opportunity and how well it can work.

Go Minis announced today the signing of a new franchise agreement with Byers Car Rentals, LLC to open a second Go Minis location in Ohio. A leader in the moving and portable storage industry, Go Minis has expanded their network to include 79 franchise locations with their newest location being Go Minis of Dayton.

This will be a multi-unit operation as Byers Car Rentals, LLC also owns and operates Go Minis of Columbus.

Go Minis of Columbus, Ohio has done so well that Byers Car Rentals, LLC did not want to miss out on the opportunity to expand into a new territory. This is a testament to the Go Minis franchising opportunity and how well it can work, says Franchise Development Director, Valerie Sanchez.

Staying true to their slogan Conveniencein the Form of a Container, Go Minis prides itself on exceptional customer service and providing superior containers. They offer 12, 16 and 20 ft. containers with padded wheels. Go Minis has established itself as a leader in the $40 billion dollar industry that includes moving, self-storage and truck rentals.

Go Minis has franchise opportunities available in multiple states. For more information about Go Minis and the opportunity to open a franchise, please visit http://GoMinisFranchise.com/.

About Go Minis

Founded in 2002, Go Minis has become one of the fastest growing portable storage and moving companies in North America with 166 locations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In 2012, Go Minis converted into a franchise model and now has 79 franchise locations within the United States. Go Minis was recognized by Franchise Business Review as a Top Franchise in 2017. Entrepreneur Magazine also ranked Go Minis 16th on their list of 2017's Top New Franchises. Go Mini's is an active member of the International Franchising Association where members strive to continually improve their business through networking, partnerships and shared advice. Go Minis offers local and long distance moving services and temporary storage solutions. For more information about Go Minis, visit http://www.GoMinis.com. For more information about franchise opportunities with Go Minis, visit http://www.GoMinisFranchise.com.
Dr. Kiecolt-Glasers study is evidence of the way in which the microbiome impacts many aspects of human life. We are eager to learn more about the impact of the stress on gut bacteria, and the resulting effect of this on physical health.

The scientific review committee of microbial genomics leader, uBiome, has selected a study led by Dr. Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, of The Ohio State University, to receive one of the companys ongoing series of Microbiome Impact Awards. Dr. Kiecolt-Glaser is the Director of The Ohio State Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research.

Her study will explore the connection between marital stress and depression and the composition of the gut microbiome. A total of 500 healthy married couples (1,000 individuals in total) will have their gut microbiomes analyzed, and will complete a questionnaire designed to rate their levels of stress and/or depression. Past studies with mice have shown that the microbiome of animals change considerably when stress is experienced, but this study of humans, specifically focusing on marital stress, is a novel investigation on potential gut-brain connections. Stress can lead to inflammation, which, in turn, may be associated with conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other diseases associated with aging.

Dr. Kiecolt-Glasers innovative study will discover potential links between emotional responses and gut microbiota. It will also help to explain what role relationships have on stress levels that may lead to potential health risks.

uBiomes Microbiome Impact Award will fund the detailed analyses of the microbiomes of the studys 1,000 participants, using precision sequencing. The microbiome is the collective term for the ecosystem of many trillions of microorganisms that live both in and on the human body. Many of them play important parts in the support of life. Some bacteria, for example, enable the digestion of foods that the body itself cannot process. Other bacteria allow vitamins to be synthesized.

Dr. Kiecolt-Glaser is a clinical psychologist working in the field of psychoneuroimmunology, who has authored more than 250 articles, chapters, and books, the majority of which have been in collaboration with Dr. Ronald Glaser. Their studies have demonstrated important health consequences of stress, including slower wound healing and impaired vaccine responses. They have also shown that chronic stress substantially accelerates inflammation, and personal relationships can influence immune and endocrine function as well as health. In addition to her position as Director of The Ohio State Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, Dr. Kiecolt-Glaser holds the titles of Distinguished University Professor and the S. Robert Davis Chair in The Ohio State College of Medicine.

Dr. Kiecolt-Glaser is an elected member of the Institute of Medicine (now known as the National Academy of Medicine) and a Fellow in both the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Psychological Association. She has served on the editorial boards of eleven journals, and she received the Award for Outstanding Contributions to Health Psychology twice. The Institute for Scientific Information rates her in the top half of the top one percent of the worlds most highly cited publishing researchers.

Dr. Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, Director of The Ohio State Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, comments: In our prior marital studies, we have shown that marital discord promotes inflammation. Our research has shown that chronically abrasive marital relationships heighten production of epinephrine and norepinephrine -- stress hormones that stimulate the growth of many enteric bacteria -- and heighten inflammation. Recently, we found that men and women whose marital discussions were more hostile and who also had a mood disorder history had lower resting energy expenditure, higher insulin, and higher peak triglyceride responses than other participants following high-fat meals. The welcome support of uBiome will enable us, for the first time, to explore these effects across a relatively large sample of married couples.

Dr. Jessica Richman, co-founder and CEO of uBiome, says: Dr. Kiecolt-Glasers study is evidence of the way in which the microbiome impacts many aspects of human life. We are eager to learn more about the impact of the stress on gut bacteria, and the resulting effect of this on physical health.

Dr. Zachary Apte, co-founder and CTO of uBiome, and Adjunct Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco, adds: Were excited to support such a study, spanning psychology, microbiology, and genomics and to learn more about the impact of mental health on the microbiome.

Founded in 2012, uBiome is the worlds leading microbial genomics company. uBiome is funded by Y Combinator, Andreessen Horowitz, 8VC, and other leading investors.

uBiomes mission is to explore important research questions about the microbiome and to develop accurate and reliable clinical tests based on the microbiome.

Contact:

Julie Taylor

julie(at)ubiome(dot)com

Ph: +1 (415) 212-9214
Students read at least 20 minutes per day as they compete in the Learning Ally Great Reading Games. Their Superbowl comes March 2 - Read Across America Day. Im pulling for all the Learning Ally Great Reading Games readers, who are gaining so much from this contest. You guys are heroes. Keep reading and keep being champions." -- Malcolm Mitchell.

Malcolm Mitchell, wide receiver for the NFL's Super Bowl 51 Champion New England Patriots, is giving a boost to more than 10,000 students with dyslexia and blindness/visual impairment, as they compete in nonprofit Learning Allys Third Annual national reading contest, The Great Reading Games.

Mitchell, fresh off of his teams historic overtime win  and biggest Super Bowl comeback in history - is now helping call plays for Learning Ally- providing support, encouragement and motivation to students in over 1,200 schools during the Great Reading Games  which are designed specifically for students who read differently and would not traditionally have a chance to participate in reading contests. During this event, the gap in reading recognition for these students shrinks, as they become the champions winning prizes and awards for their schools.

The students, now being cheered on by Super Bowl Champion Mitchell, are marching down the field towards their own Super Bowl  Read Across America Day, the birthday of Dr. Seuss on March 2. The students will also be joined that day by I Survived author, Lauren Tarshis for a national webinar, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney, who will be judging the Great Reading Games social media contest.

A childrens book author himself, Mitchell is no stranger to the cause of literacy in schools. He runs his very own literacy initiative called Read with Malcolm, which champions reading among students of all backgrounds. Now, with Learning Ally  he is championing the 8.5 million students with reading differences like dyslexia and blindness/visual impairment. Students enrolled in Learning Ally read using the organizations audiobook technology program, which includes an online library of 82,000 human-narrated textbooks and literature titles accessible via personal computers, smartphones, Chromebooks, and Apple or Android tablets.

One example of such an audiobook is Mitchells own book, called The Magicians Hat, for which he won Georgia Childrens Author of the Year in 2016 and which he personally recorded at Learning Allys studio in Athens, GA. For me, to be able to record an audiobook that will hopefully encourage kids to read is something I will forever cherish, says Mitchell. The printed edition of Mitchells book is also available in the Magic Shop at http://www.ReadWithMalcolm.com.

Mitchell was one of the University of Georgias all-time leading wide receivers, and was drafted by the Patriots in 2016. Now he has capped off his rookie year with a Super Bowl ring. Wow, this has been a great year, he says. I have played alongside and against many tough competitors; and now Im pulling for all the Learning Ally Great Reading Games readers who are gaining so much from this contest. You guys are heroes. Keep reading and keep being champions.

Learning Ally programs like the Great Reading Games are able to reach thousands of students, thanks to the generous support of donors, volunteers and members. To learn more about getting involved with Learning Ally, visit LearningAlly.org/Get-Involved.

About Learning Ally

Founded in 1948, Learning Ally supports K-12, college and graduate students, veterans and lifelong learners  all of whom read and learn differently due to dyslexia, blindness or visual impairment, and other disabilities. Through its extensive community events and support programs, Learning Ally enables parents, teachers and communities to help students thrive and succeed. The organization hosts live and virtual events for families and teachers; provides instructive webinars led by experts as well as peer-to-peer sessions led by students; and professional development workshops for educators. Learning Allys collection of over 80,000 human-narrated audio textbooks and literature titles can be downloaded by students using their smartphones and tablets, and is the largest of its kind in the world. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, Learning Ally is partially funded by grants from state and local education programs, and the generous contributions of individuals, foundations and corporations. For more information, visit http://LearningAlly.org.

About Read With Malcolm

Read with Malcolm is a youth literacy initiative founded by former University of Georgia wide-receiver and current New England Patriots rookie, Malcolm Mitchell. The organizations goals are twofold: 1) to introduce book ownership to students in households where reading is not a priority and 2) to improve literacy in schools with below grade-level reading skills. In 2015, Read with Malcolm launched Share the Magic Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, to promote the long-term benefits of being an active reader to students served by Title I schools and underserved communities. In its first year, Malcolm Mitchells book, The Magicians Hat, has been distributed to more than 18,000 students in schools, childrens hospitals and community service organizations. To help us continue to inspire young readers, please visit http://www.readwithmalcolm.com for more information about Malcolms youth literacy programs.
CHARLES CITY | The Floyd County Board of Supervisors is asking Gov. Terry Branstad and the Iowa Legislature to make changes in the state's master matrix that is used to regulate concentrated animal feeding operations.

Supervisors took the action at their meeting Tuesday.

Supervisor Mark Kuhn of Charles City, who helped develop the matrix when he was in the state Legislature, introduced the resolution seeking the changes.

Environmental groups such as Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI) have lobbied for tougher standards and for local control of animal confinement policies.

Last year, Cerro Gordo County supervisors denied a request for a proposed hog confinement operation because they thought it was too close to residences and a wildlife area.

State panel denies Cerro Gordo County appeal against Ventura hog confinement DES MOINES  Members of the state Environmental Commission voted 8-0 Tuesday to deny an appe

But the Iowa Department of Natural Resources rejected the county's recommendation because the proposed operation met the requirements of the state matrix.

Also last year, a proposed Prestage Farms hog processing plant in Mason City was voted down by the City Council in a 3-3 vote in part because of citizens' concerns about the environmental impact.

The company then received approval to build the plant in Wright County.

Floyd County is the third county in which supervisors have formally called for changes in the state matrix, joining both Allamakee and Winneshiek counties.

Last year, Webster and Pocahontas county officials wrote letters to legislators and the DNR calling for a moratorium on factory farms and changes to the master matrix. In addition, Johnson County officials also called for more local control.

CCI members and concerned residents are hopeful actions by boards of supervisors will help pressure legislators to change the matrix.
Astound Commerce, a leading global digital commerce agency, has released the 20th Annual Mystery Shopping Study, which recognizes seven retailers who excel in customer service through an assessment of must-have website features and behavior based on engagement with available touchpoints.

Winning merchants scored highest in four critical areas, including visibility, overall customer service, speed of delivery and efficiency of checkout. The results indicate an investment in customer service will reap rewards for retailers through elevated shopper satisfaction giving a boost to the bottom line.

Conducted in Q4 of 2016 by the e-tailing group, an Astound Commerce company, the survey analyzed 100 of the top retailers customer service experiences, and eliminated retailers that failed to offer seven must have features on their website. Retailers that ranked in the top seven had a combination of efficient and streamlined logistics, responsive and helpful customer service capabilities, and an efficient and effective digital experience. The top performers include (in alphabetical order):



B&H

Gap

L.L. Bean

Lancome

Moosejaw

The Home Depot

Zappos

Service is the quickest route to retention. Shoppers expect efficiencies, accessible information, competency and timely information that allows for quick decision-making, avoiding any obstacles along the customer journey, said Lauren Freedman, SVP of Digital Strategy at Astound Commerce. In todays challenging retail environment where short term thinking often prevails, we hope retailers remain vigilant in their customer service investment and execution.

The study also ranked retailers on their customer service and help destinations. The top six retailers in this area ranked highly for their ability to provide easily accessible information, links to customer service from the home page, visually effective and in-depth information and the use of icons and personnel imagery to brand this location online. The six retailers that received perfect scores for their help or designated customer service section include:

Apple

B&H

Crutchfield

DICKS Sporting Goods

Office Depot

Tory Burch

Customer Service Response Rates Shift from 2015

While the retailers surveyed have invested in live chat capabilities along with improving traditional customer service options such as email and call centers, responsiveness to customer service queries in several categories declined when compared to 2015. Call center response time increased from 5.8 minutes in 2015 to 6.8 minutes in 2016, and live chat response time increase from 10.2 minutes in 2015 to 12 minutes in 2016.

However, email response time declined by over six hours compared to 2015 (20 hours 17 minutes in 2016 compared to 26 hours 30 minutes in 2015). When measuring response rates for customer service queries via email, five retailers posted response times of less than 30 minutes. Amazon responded in just six minutes. Here are the top five retailers by email response time:

Amazon - Six minutes

Uniqlo - 12 minutes

Steve Madden - 17 minutes

Staples - 18 minutes

Oriental Trading - 25 minutes

Excellent customer service comes in a variety of forms, from proactively communicating with the customer about their order status, to timely responses to inquiries, to speedy delivery and simple returns, said Igor Gorin, CEO of Astound Commerce. Not only does our research show which retailers are excelling and which are lagging behind, but it also provides insights on key trends for retailers who are considering new investments in customer service capabilities. At the top of every retailers list should be providing an informative, accessible and reliable experience. Doing so will elevate customer satisfaction and bolster the retailers bottom line.

To view more of the results of the customer service study and the Astound 100, click here.

About Astound Commerce

Astound Commerce is an award-winning global digital commerce agency combining strategy, technology, insight and a proven methodology to deliver exceptional omnichannel experiences. Through a forward-looking, goal-oriented approach to digital solutions, Astound Commerce helps elevate online and mobile experiences and effectively transform businesses for global brands such as Adidas, LOreal, Under Armour, Jimmy Choo and Timbuk2. Based in San Francisco, the passionate team of more than 600 dedicated, diverse industry and technology experts has 15 years of ecommerce experience and more than 1,000 implementations under their belt to address the complex challenges, advancing technologies and indigenous marketing needs facing international markets. To learn more, visit astoundcommerce.com.
We are delighted to build synergy between Global Imaging's expertise in curating and servicing the best solutions in the industry, and the cutting-edge 3D technology that the Massivit 1800 represents.

Global Imaging and Massivit 3D are pleased to announce that they have signed a distribution agreement enabling Global Imaging to sell and support Massivit 3Ds wide-format 3D printing solution. This includes the Massivit 1800 3D Printer and the Dimengel print material, to all printing segments in the US and Canada

The Massivit 1800 3D Printer, with its unique GDP: Gel Dispensing Technology, creates three dimensional objects nearly 6x5x4 in size. Print Service Providers (PSPs), as well as commercial printers looking to expand their business opportunities and increase profitability are expected to leverage this technology on a path toward completely new offerings with life-size 3D applications. With the Massivit 3D printing solution, PSPs can create stunning displays and branding elements for retailers, brands, exhibitions, events and much more. PSPs can add another dimension to their businesses by adopting this innovative technology.

Global Imaging is highly respected for the quality of the devices it distributes. We are delighted to build synergy between its expertise in curating and servicing the best solutions in the industry, and the cutting-edge 3D technology that the Massivit 1800 represents, said Avner Israeli, CEO of Massivit 3D. We are confident they will develop a strong presence in the US for Massivit 3D, and a profitable and exciting future for print service providers ready to make the leap to 3D.

Greg Lamb, President and CEO of Global Imaging, said, This exciting innovation from Massivit 3D is a prime example of what we strive to bring to our clients: a curated portfolio of cutting-edge, pioneering solutions that help them stay ahead of the curve in differentiating their offerings. We always seek out devices that are unique enough to transform our partners business and profitability  and the 1800 from Massivit is poised to do just that.

The printer is available for demonstration at Global Imagings Workflow Studio in Louisville, Colorado.

About Massivit 3D

Massivit 3D Printing Technologies Ltd. is a leading provider of large format 3D printing solutions. It was established by a group of experienced industry veterans from leading digital printing companies, who decided to make a statement in the global 3D printing industry. The Massivit system, the largest, fastest and most advanced large format 3D printing solution, is based on a proprietary GDP (Gel Dispensing Printing) technology  a solution that is expected to disrupt a variety of markets worldwide in the use of large 3D objects.

About Global Imaging

Global Imaging has been the leading integrator of wide and grand format printing systems and supplies since 1995. Through its comprehensive portfolio of brands, it provides a complete array of products, services and the technical expertise needed for strategic business solutions and profitability in the wide and grand format printing industry. These brands include Global Garage, Parts Depot, Panoply Finance and PrinterEvolution. Globals 6500 sq. ft. Workflow Studio is the only demonstration area in the country that emulates an entire grand format production facility with the most current and cutting edge products available.
For Miracle Method, the nations largest professional bathroom and kitchen refinishing franchise, steady growth is the norm. By offering a superior service at an incredibly affordable price, consumers consistently rely on the brand to make their damaged or outdated surfaces and fixtures look brand new. However, in 2016, Miracle Method took its growth to the next level.

Miracle Method experienced record breaking growth throughout 2016the brand opened 10 new territories over the course of the year. Its also on pace to see 2016s year-to-date revenues cross the $60 million mark, which is up 12 percent from the year before. That impressive success led to the brand being recognized as one of the top 100 franchises for 2017 by Franchise Gator, and one of the top 500 franchise opportunities by Entrepreneur. It earned the 85th spot on Franchise Gators list and ranked 394th on Entrepreneurs, showing that its franchise system is making positive changes that will fuel the brands growth in the new year. And for Miracle Methods franchisees, that upward momentum is evident even in their daily operations.

Gabriel Gilliam, the Miracle Method franchisee behind the brands location in Salt Lake City, Utah, said, Since opening up our doors for business, we have seen an incredibly high demand for our refinishing services. But its not coming as a surprisewe offer high quality services that save our customers both time and money, especially compared to replacement. With just a little over three months in the refinishing business under our belts, we have already started to develop strong commercial leads from local colleges and universities. We couldnt be more excited about the positive results that weve experienced so far, and were looking forward to whats next.

That trend of franchisees consistently building relationships with new commercial clients isnt expected to end any time soon. Last summer alone, Miracle Method completed projects on more than 60 college campuses. And right now, 42 percent of the brands total revenue comes from commercial accounts. Thats a big leap from just five years ago when that number was hovering between 17 and 20 percent.

In refinishing bathtubs, countertops, tile, showers and other surfaces, the opportunity for growth and scalability that Miracle Method provides has given us an incredible amount of flexibility. said Doug Ledgerwood, Miracle Methods franchisee in Little Rock, Arkansas. Were excited to continue to push ourselves outside of our comfort zones and drive our business forward as we move into 2017.

In the new year, Miracle Method is expected to continue expanding its reach in key target markets across the country. In the first quarter of 2017, franchisees are already prepared to open their doors for business in New York, Florida and a few other prime locations. The brand is also actively looking to grow in target development states including Nevada, Florida, Louisiana, California, Michigan, Nebraska, Iowa, Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois and New York as well as international markets like Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Winnipeg.

Backed by its professional solutions that can transform the entire look of any kitchen or bathroom for about 75 percent less than the cost of replacement, Miracle Method is perfectly positioned for continued growth in 2017. The brand is looking to add 25 new franchise locations to its network next year.

Demand for our services is at an all-time high. Our current franchisees are even traveling to other cities to fill the voids in our coverage, said John Tubiolo, Vice President of Franchise Sales and Development for Miracle Method. That just goes to show that the list of markets that could support and benefit from Miracle Methods refinishing services is unlimited. The opportunities for both our existing and future franchises are endless, and we look forward to helping each of our owners grow their businesses over the course of the next year.

ABOUT MIRACLE METHOD

Miracle Method is the largest bath and kitchen refinishing company in the US. Powered by a rapidly growing community of 140+ franchise territories, the company specializes in repairing and restoring all types of tubs, ceramic tile and countertops, helping homeowners save thousands of dollars in replacement costs. All Miracle Method franchisees live in the markets they serve, working as independent small business owners who deliver quality work and superior service. For help with bathtub, countertop and ceramic tile refinishing projects, contact your local Miracle Method franchisee. To learn more about the company or explore franchise opportunities, please visit http://www.miraclemethod.com.
"Fairmount" For a limited time Cliff Ross is offering the entire set of fonts for free.

Philadelphia and Easton based advertising agency, Cliff Ross is capitalizing on the importance of fonts in our day to day lives in two ways  offering custom designed fonts for neighborhoods in Philadelphia and launching a custom font design service for businesses. In business since 2010, Cliff Ross is a strong team of creative mavericks. The agency's main office is located in historic downtown Easton. The Art Museum area in Philadelphia was the perfect spot to open a second studio in 2015. "The move definitely galvanized the idea to design fonts for Philly neighborhoods," says Cliff. "The city is so rich in both history and flavor that inspiration came easily."

The Cliff Ross design team created 10 initial fonts to represent various neighborhoods in Philadelphia. The typefaces are as diverse as the city itself. Brewerytown, North Philly and Center City have an industrial edge. Rittenhouse and Old City have a sophisticated feel, and Main Line exudes the class and stately nature of homes in the wealthy area. Fairmount, Fishtown, West Philly and Manayunk each have their own unique, quirky appeal. For a limited time Cliff Ross is offering the entire set of fonts for free. Simply visit http://www.phillyfonts.com to download your True Type or Open Type set.

The venture was a collaboration between Cliff Ross and his lead designer Kristina Arsi. They merged their skill sets to create each unique typeface. The letterforms were initially developed by hand sketching and then comparing their designs. They continued to refine by hand until the design elements came together. "Starting by hand was essential. That is the basis of letterforms in history," Kristina explains. The process then goes digital by way of scanning and tightening up the design. Kristina handled much of the technical aspect of the process of creating the digital characters and actual font files.

The ultimate goal of this endeavor was to refine the design process and sharpen their skills in order to launch their custom font design service. While always looking for an edge to provide their clients, Cliff Ross determined custom fonts would be a strong way to buttress a business' brand. A business would benefit from having their own font in numerous ways. All their print and web materials would look consistent and unique. Since a font is virtually impossible to pirate, no one outside of the business would be able to utilize it. By distributing the font to employees to use, all projects and correspondence would have a uniform look. "Every business is looking for an advantage over the competition and this is the perfect way to do it," adds Cliff. "The font can be used on everything from a company's website to their business cards."

The custom font services have various design packages available to businesses. From a basic display font (upper case letters only) to a compete font set including numbers and symbols. Emoji design is also available. These can be given to customers to use while they communicate electronically, thus building the businesses brand in a fun way. Each custom font goes through an essential process of editing and fine-tuning. The result is a finished product that is creative, strong and effective. One can find all the details on getting custom font designed for their business at http://www.CliffRossFonts.com.

In addition to offering font design services, Cliff Ross is a full service ad agency and design studio. They work with clients in Philadelphia, The Lehigh Valley and The Poconos, specializing in graphic design, branding, advertising, web development, search engine optimization, social media and copy writing. Full-scale printing and signage services are also provided out of both offices. Stay tuned for more themed font projects from Cliff Ross to come in the near future, along with other custom design projects that are currently in the works.
Vitrium releases new document security and DRM platform, Vitrium Security. We will be working closely with our customers and partners to ensure we build a product that meets their needs for content protection today and in the future.

Vitrium Systems Inc., a global developer of document security and digital rights management (DRM) software, has relaunched its flagship solution ProtectedPDF as Vitrium Security. The newly released solution brings Vitrium customers improved technology as well as a wholly revamped user interface, with new branding, improved workflows, and faster processing speeds for document protection and user authentication.

Customers on ProtectedPDFs version 6 cloud-hosted solution were seamlessly upgraded to Vitrium Security, gaining immediate access to the new interface to manage files, users and reports, and taking advantage of the improved processing power. Large enterprises or companies that have integrated Vitriums encryption and DRM technology with their own systems were offered new installers and an upgrade path to the latest version. These large organizations can now take advantage of the improved technology and numerous other features added to the software over the past year  extensive analytical reports, protection of Office files, expanded DRM policies, and much more.

For enterprise users of Vitrium Security, improvements in the new version also included advances of the integration capabilities of the software. Enterprises and larger publishers of digital documents now have access to improved APIs for easy integration with their existing document management and end-user credential systems. Vitriums RESTful APIs are designed and structured to be used by customers technical and IT teams. These in-house teams are familiar with their companys processes and workflows and can implement Vitriums technology as they see fit. Companies can also leverage Vitriums experienced Professional Services team to assist with the integration work and support them during this process.

The rebrand and product changes are an indicator of the direction our company is heading, as it follows last years release where we incorporated our DRM technology with Microsoft Office and Outlook, expanding our reach beyond securing PDF documents only, states Susan Daly, CEO of Vitrium. We have plans this year to further expand our content security platform with the addition of new file formats including video and images, along with other developments. We will be working closely with our customers and partners to ensure we build a product that meets their needs for content protection today and in the future.

About Vitrium

Vitrium provides document security solutions to empower businesses that create, publish, or distribute proprietary or confidential content. Vitriums enterprise document security and digital rights management (DRM) software allows clients to protect, control, and analyze exactly how their content is used by their audience. Vitrium protected documents have been published and distributed by thousands of companies and accessed by over a million users worldwide. For more information or to try Vitrium Security, visit http://www.vitrium.com.
Lone Star Handicap Vans, LLC has big news for the conversion van industry that won't appear on the floor of this years NMEDA event. Patented advances in Promaster conversion cuts for personal and commercial use, expanded selections of new and pre-owned Caravan and Town & Country models and the appointment of new marketing and sales management personnel are among the many major moves the firm has recently made.

Recently appointed VP of Marketing and Sales, Wayne Taylor explains, "While we regret not being able to attend this years event, we're excited about new patented design developments and enhanced safety features we're integrating into our entire line-up. A choice in floor cuts, roof heights, wheelbase widths, auto/manual toggle switch power ramps and more are among the many features that won't be seen on the show floor at NMEDA this year. However, they're ready to be seen on our website or by contacting a Lone Star Dealer."

Taylor points to Lone Stars industry best 7-year/70,000-mile warranty on all vehicles, new or pre-owned, as proof of the companys commitment to quality and customer. The new marketing and sales head takes particular pride in the firms extra-mile commitment to safety. Lone Star vehicles performed better in all crash tests than any other vehicle ever tested, original or converted. Ours is the only company to pass all tests using a single vehicle," Taylor said.

Lone Star Handicap Vans, LLC has been owned and operated by Bill and Norma Neidehofer for over ten years, since the firms inception. Lone Star recently underwent a 65,000ft manufacturing expansion and has instituted new patented design approaches to go along with an already patented lower-floor design on their Promaster models offering extra protection against gas leaks and added seat system safety. In addition, their custom side entry design has no effect on the original computer module. Something no other manufacturer in America can claim.

Taylor added, The opportunity to spearhead a company making a total mobility commitment to the handicapped and physically disabled in so many meaningful ways is the reason I chose to get into this business in the first place. After years of developing successful sales and marketing programs for MCI Worldcom, Qwest, Global Crossing and FR Conversions I feel like Ive finally found my home in Tyler, Texas.

Joining Taylor, also from FR Conversions, is National Sales Manager Israel Santiago. A former sergeant in the U.S. Army, after his honorable discharge Santiago pursued career opportunities combining his Level-3 B2B from FIAT Industrial (CNH) and Ford Sales Executive Certification with proven revenue driven field service techniques. Israel attended Case University and has earned a Business Management degree from Central Texas College. Hes achieved Level-5 Sales/Customer Service Training Certification from Ford Motors and Case New Holland alike.

For more information about Lone Star vehicles, the company or how to become a part of its expanding national dealer network contact Israel Santiago (941) 504- 1359 IS(at)LSHVans(dot)com
Networks are complex and dynamic, making it challenging for IT and security professionals to secure and protect against cyberattacks. To be proactive, engineers must gain and maintain visibility in every aspect of their network.

Today at the RSA Conference, APCON, a leading provider of intelligent network monitoring and security solutions, announced the expansion of its IntellaStore family with the product launch of IntellaStore II+. An all-in-one visibility solution, the IntellaStore II+ captures traffic and runs applications to diagnose and identify potential security threats.

This new addition to APCONs network visibility solutions offers a faster performing Intel Xeon class server processor along with increased memory capacity and speed, providing complete visibility and increasing the range of security coverage.

Networks are complex and dynamic, making it challenging for IT and security professionals to secure and protect against cyberattacks. To be proactive, engineers must gain and maintain visibility in every aspect of their network, said Richard Rauch, president and CEO of APCON. Our IntellaStore ll+ provides visibility into networks so these professionals can detect vulnerability threats, avoid network latency and decrease response time.

The IntellaStore II+ is preloaded with Wireshark, nTop and a 60-day trial version of LANGuardian. In addition to performance and analyzer applications, IntellaStore II+s certified applications include many best-of-breed security applications from partner companies like Tenable, ExtraHop, and Riverbed to enable real-time threat detection and analysis of network traffic.

APCONs IntellaStore II+ offers 12 ports with 1G/10G and 2 ports with 40G Ethernet. All ports include filtering for any-to-any and multicast aggregations. Ten of the 1G/10G ports also include APCONs advanced multi-function features such as deduplication, load balancing, protocol stripping, time stamping and packet slicing for data privacy.

In addition to the IntellaStore ll+, APCON is also showcasing a suite of network visibility solutions at RSA including the HyperEngine Packet Processor blade. Any media representative who wants to schedule a product demonstration may contact the APCON public relations team at 503-682-4050.

About APCON

For more than 20 years, APCON has consistently delivered smart, stable and scalable technology solutions that provide an unparalleled level of confidence to service providers and businesses seeking total data center visibility and security. Its customers range from midsize companies to Fortune 1000 enterprises in more than 40 countries. APCON assures superior network monitoring while supporting traffic analysis and streamlined network management and security. For more information, visit http://www.apcon.com or follow us on Twitter @apcon.

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A unanimous jury awarded a husband and wife $1.6 million in a verdict against two Las Cruces Police Department officers Friday in Beck v. Baker et al, CIV 14-0067 KG/WPL, U.S. Federal Court, District of New Mexico, Las Cruces (Source: McGraw & Strickland, LLC, Special Interrogatories answered by the Jury on 2/10/17 and Special Verdict Form entered by the Jury on 2/10/17).

On the evening of January 5, 2013, court documents based on eye-witness testimony show that a neighbor dispute over barking dogs resulted in a woman, Jillian Beck, suffering a broken nose and a fractured wrist - at the hands of Las Cruces Police Officer Isaiah Baker. The jury answered Special Interrogatories during their deliberations. The jury unanimously found that Officer Baker acted intentionally when he slammed Jillian Beck's face into the rocks, and that he intentionally banged her head against the car door. The jury also specifically found that Andrew Beck did not disobey a lawful order when he stepped towards his wife. Court records show that her husband, Andrew Beck, an active-duty Air Force member then based at White Sands Missile Range, attempted to help his wife who was bleeding on the ground.

According to multiple witnesses who testified during the jury trial, when Officer Baker lifted Mrs. Beck up off the ground, she was bleeding heavily from her face. During her interrogation at Las Cruces Police Department, which was videotaped, Mrs. Beck can be seen blotting her bloody face with tissues. This video was admitted as evidence at the trial and shown to the jury.

Mr. Beck testified on Tuesday via live feed from an Air Force Base in Qatar that he thought his wife was "choking on her own blood" as she lay face down on the ground with Officer Bakers knee in her back. Court records show that when Mr. Beck stepped towards his wife, he was detained by Las Cruces Police Officer Joseph Campa.

The jury heard evidence of a belt tape audio recording, which was played to the jury and admitted as evidence, that Officer Baker could be heard on the audio saying, "She got thrown" and she got a "face full of rocks." When presented with his statements during his cross examination, court records show that Officer Baker admitted making these statements.

Mrs. Beck was arrested and charged with Battery on a Peace Officer, Resisting, Evading and Obstructing an Officer and Disorderly Conduct. Mr. Beck was charged with Resisting, Evading and Obstructing an Officer for stepping towards his bleeding wife on the ground.

The jury found that Officer Baker had used unreasonably excessive force in violation of Mrs. Beck's 4th Amendment right and committed a battery in violation of New Mexico State law.

The jury also found that Officer Campa had unlawfully seized and arrested Mr. Beck in violation of the 4th Amendment. The jury awarded $100,000 in compensatory damages to Mr. Beck, and $500,000 to Mrs. Beck. The jury also awarded $1,000,000 in punitive damages based on Officer Baker's willful, malicious, wanton and reckless conduct.

"The jury sent a clear message that this type of behavior towards civilians will not be tolerated in our community," said Margaret Strickland, Mr. and Mrs. Beck's attorney. The Becks' attorneys argued to the jury that the "blue wall of silence" had shielded the officers' misconduct and subsequent cover-up for four years.

Attorneys Margaret Strickland and Mollie McGraw with the law firm of McGraw & Strickland, LLC represented Jillian Beck and Andrew Beck in the civil rights case.
Photo of creators of ORI INU: In Search Of Self In an era where society seems to be telling us that black lives don't matter, this film is encouraging youth of the African diaspora to define their own identity for themselves and to go after their individual purpose and truth

Tackling wide-ranging issues of racial and religious persecution, NYC based brother and sister director/producer team Chelsea and Emann Odufu debut ORI INU: In Search of Self  an Afro-futuristic coming-of-age story of a young immigrant woman who must choose between conforming her identity and spirituality to the cultural norms of America or revisiting her roots in the Afro-Brazilian religion known as Candomble. Sharing an unfamiliar cultural narrative, this original entry into this years Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) and Hollywood Black Film Festival (HBFF) stars Tony Award-winning actress Tonya Pinkins (All My Children) and features performances by the Grammy nominated group Les Nubians. ORI INU will be screening at the PAFF on 2/17 at 1 pm and also on 2/18 at 12:45 pm at the Rave Cinemas in Baldwin Hills. It will also be screening at the HBFF on 2/24 at 10 pm at the AMC Theater in Marina Del Ray.

Though the film revolves around a young woman torn between the practice of Candomble and Christianity, the story is a universal one of self-enlightenment, told through an unconventional lens. With rich color and Afro-futuristic imagery, ORI INU addresses inter-generational conflicts, religion, and the trauma of finding ones true self. While portraying the protagonists journey, the film engages audiences with a powerful message reflecting how self-examination and knowledge of self can create a brighter future  not just for people of African descent  but for all peoples.

It is our hope that the film will serve as a tool to connect cultures and have people see the similarities between differing religions and backgrounds, while showing the divinity of Black and Brown people that is far too often underrepresented in modern day media, said the films Director and Co-creator, Chelsea Odufu. So much of our identity is defined for us by media, and one of the messages here is that you should look within yourself to be free, said Chelsea.

Emann Odufu, Producer and Co-writer of ORI INU describes the film as being a product of its time. "In an era where society seems to be telling us that black lives don't matter, this film is encouraging youth of the african diaspora to define their own identity for themselves and to go after their individual purpose and truth," said Emann.

The Odufu siblings are Guyanese / Nigerian / American creatives and art activists born in Newark, New Jersey. They aim to create media that interrogate the idea of identity and the complexities of what it means to be a Black American or immigrant within the modern context of our society. The 23-year-old Chelsea is recent graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, and the film began as an idea for her thesis project. Over the past year they have done workshops and speaking engagements at institutions around the country, including Yale, Dartmouth, Vassar, NYU, Columbia, Wesleyan, and the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Art to name a few. These speaking engagements revolved around their film ORI INU and its ability to spark conversations about the representation of Blacks in the media, Afro-futurism, the stigma of African spirituality and other topics such as female empowerment and the quest to find ones path in life. Press coverage about ORI INU thus far has included NBC News, The Huffington Post, Atlanta Black Star and other news outlets. For additional information, please contact Emann Odufu at oriinufilm(at)gmail(dot)com.

ORI INU Online Press Kit

ORI INU Instagram
Corra Group provides employment screening and due diligence background checks to companies in the automation and robotics industry," said Corra Group Co-Founder, Gordon Basichis.

Corra Group attended the recent ATX Automation Technology Show, in Anaheim, California. The show is billed as North Americas largest automation technology event and a cant miss experience. On display are over 20,000 products in automation and robotics.

Corra Group is headquartered in El Segundo, California, one of the central business centers for defense, aerospace, and advanced technology, said Corra Group Co-Founder, Gordon Basichis. Our neighbors consist of largely innovative industries that have immediate and ancillary relationships to the emerging world of automation and robotics.

The ATX Automation Technology Show offers insight and an invaluable learning experience into the innovations and players that comprise this very exciting industry. As a company that provides both employment screening and due diligence background checks to these corporate entities, both nationally and globally, we find it essential to understand what our clients will be needing presently and in the future. Plus, it is just so exciting to learn about the advanced technology that will change the way the world will do business in the future.

Basichis pointed out that Corra Group is already servicing companies with a variety of background checks in this industry, to vet new hires and to assure compliance for government contracts and any stipulated partnerships where specific employment screening is mandated. He noted that the advancements in the industry will necessitate an increase in both domestic and international background checks.

It was announced at the show that more than 300 thousand robots were sold around the world, in 2016, said Basichis. It was a record years. It was said that in five years, projections in sales are five to ten times that volume.

With that kind of growth and the acceleration of sales in the automation and robotic industry, Corra Group will be capable of handling both the employment screening and due diligence background checks as these companies undergo the inevitable period of mergers and acquisitions, said Basichis. This is the future, and there is nothing like the present to get a jump start on the services that will be needed.

BACKGROUND: Corra operates as Corra Group and Corra Global Research and specializes in employment screening and corporate research and due diligence. It is one of the few companies that will answer the phone. You can review the website at http://www.corragroup.com.
MASON CITY | A Mason City man who fled police in a stolen tow truck has been ordered to spend up to two years in prison.

Andrew Meyer, 29, had his probation revoked Monday on March 2015 misdemeanor convictions of operating a motor vehicle without the owner's consent and driving while barred.

Mason City man accused of fleeing police in tow truck MASON CITY | A Mason City man who fled police in a stolen tow truck faces criminal charges, 

He received a suspended prison sentence and probation on those charges. An eluding charge was dismissed as part of a plea bargain.

A probation violation report was filed in January of this year.

Meyer took a flatbed wrecker owned by Katz Towing from the parking lot of Kum and Go, 418 S. Federal Ave. on Feb. 7, 2015, according to a statement from Mason City police.

The vehicle had been left running.

A witness followed the truck and relayed its location to a police dispatcher. The witness lost the truck but officers spotted it and gave chase, the statement said.

Police say Meyer refused to stop for officers. Instead, he drove the truck back to the same gas station that he stole it from, where officers arrested him.

 Mary Pieper
We are excited to further expand the availability of our cutting-edge line of hospitality phones through EarthBend, and look forward to driving sales of these solutions with their network of resellers.

EarthBend, a premier value-added distributor of business telecommunications and IT solutions, today announced it has expanded its distribution portfolio to include hospitality phones from AEI Communications. The addition includes AEIs complete line of IP and analog hospitality phones.

The addition of AEIs hotel phone solutions to EarthBends line card bolsters the range of hospitality technology options available to our channel partners and their customers, said Ryan Donovan, EarthBend's General Manager and VP of Sales and Service. AEIs feature-rich hotel phones, combined with the EarthBend teams extensive expertise in the hospitality industry, will serve to drive revenue growth for our partner network in this key vertical market.

AEIs extensive line of IP and analog phones, designed specifically for the hospitality industry, are compatible with existing analog and IP hotel communications infrastructures and all popular PBX systems, providing organizations with an easy migration path from analog to IP technology. AEI's phone families feature unified designs, enabling hotels to mix analog and IP phones with the same family look, to help ease the transition.

Unique and exclusive features of the AEI phones include:



Front desk or technician notification when a cordless handset is missing or not working

Line appearance indication with Bridge Line Appearance and Busy Lamp Field, to simplify call handling and management

Only one IP license required for up to 15 extensions on suite phones, creating licensing cost savings

Capability of conferencing IP extensions in a room

Emergency message broadcasting, enabling delivery of urgent communications, such as Fire, please leave room immediately

Intercom communication directly with a room to address emergency issues

Text messaging from admin directly to a single room or to multiple rooms

Link Layer Discovery Protocol for ease of installation

802.1x port-based access control for intrusion protection

Automatic provisioning via MAC address or room number for streamlined deployment

Dedicated AEI monitoring software that installs, monitors and maintains with live reporting

In addition to this readily available functionality, AEI offers feature customization to accommodate the unique business requirements of hospitality organizations.

EarthBend is well-regarded for its proven expertise within the telecom space, and has demonstrated a strong focus on making best-in-class hospitality technology solutions available to its channel partners, said Mario Jauregui, AEI Communications President and Chief Technology Officer. We are excited to further expand the availability of our cutting-edge line of hospitality phones through EarthBend, and look forward to driving sales of these solutions with their network of resellers."

The AEI hospitality phones are now available from EarthBend Distribution, and interested resellers may email distributionsales(at)earthbend(dot)com or call 605-789-5700 for more information.

About EarthBend Distribution:

EarthBend has been distributing telephony peripherals and IT solutions to an extensive network of channel partners since 1993. As a value-added distributor, EarthBend delivers a broad portfolio of technology solutions from industry-leading vendors, nationally competitive pricing, and friendly, reliable pre- and post-sales support from its expert staff. EarthBend believes its team members make the difference in delivering the right solutions to resellers and their customers, and emphasizes a human touch in every interaction to drive best-in-class partner satisfaction and ongoing business value. For more information, please visit http://www.earthbenddistribution.com.

About AEI Communications:

AEI Communications Corp. is a California-based company, created to fulfill the global demand for technologically advanced analog and IP telephony solutions. AEI is a technology and service oriented company, dedicated to incorporating the latest and best technological advances into its families of products. AEI phones feature unified designs, and are compatible with existing analog and IP hotel communications infrastructures and all the popular PBX systems, offering an easy migrating path from analog to IP technology. AEI designs and manufactures its telephones in its own facilities, ensuring control over the complete process, from design conception to production and every step in between. AEI has the two largest hospitality installations of IP telephones in the world, at the Sands in Singapore, and at the Aria MGM in Las Vegas. For more information, please visit http://www.aeicommunications.com.
With Ampsy on our team, we can extend what were doing onsite by listeningand respondingto consumers in real-time.

Ampsy and RedPeg Marketing today announced a strategic partnership which unites the two companies in delivering best-in-class social geofencing and analytics technology to the experiential marketing industry.

Ampsy is a worldwide leader in the delivery of social geofencing and analytics technology to brands, agencies, venues, and teams. Through a proprietary geo-fencing engine, Ampsy aggregates and then analyzes social content shared anywhere in the world in real-time, giving its clients deep insights into the content and people driving the social conversation around their brands at specific events and locations.

Were thrilled to partner with the team at RedPeg. RedPeg is a pioneer in the experiential marketing industry and works with some of the most forward-thinking brands in the world, said Jeremy Gocke, Ampsys founder and CEO. Its refreshing to work with a partner who understands the changing landscape of experiential and the need for real-time engagement and analytics at the hyperlocal level.

According to the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), annual spend on brand activation marketing will grow from $600 billion in 2016 to $720 billion by 2020. Experiential marketing represents approximately 12% of that total figure and is expected to grow from $65 billion to $86 billion by 2020.

RedPeg Marketing was founded 21 years ago on the principle of connecting brands and their target consumers with the right people, at the right place and at the right time. When people touch, hear, see and taste brands in new ways they are transformed from consumers to evangelists, carrying with them the brand story, essence and excitement.

We believe experiences are the most powerful way consumers can interact with brands. With Ampsy on our team, we can extend what were doing onsite by listeningand respondingto consumers in real-time. Were just scratching the surface on the potential of this new partnership, said John Piester, President of RedPeg Marketing.

Under terms of the partnership, Ampsy will provide RedPeg and its clients detailed analytics on fans who share social content in-and-around events and experiential activations of RedPeg clients. Nearly 80% of social content shared at events is missing a hashtag or handle, historically making it impossible to capture and analyze that content. Ampsys ability to capture content using geo-coordinates enables its clients to surface and understand content and influencers in real-time at their events or locations, solving a major leakage issue for brands, venues and teams.

Ampsy and RedPeg will continue to roll out the integrated technology and service throughout 2017 to major brands in retail, beverage, and lifestyle.

About Ampsy

Ampsy is a worldwide leader in the delivery of social geofencing and analytics technology to brands, agencies, venues, and teams. Jimmy Kimmel Live, American Idols Tour, Britney Spears, Red Bull, W Hotels, Maria Sharapova, and AC/DC are among Ampsys many past and present clients. Ampsy is based in Scottsdale, AZ with a satellite office in Los Angeles. Ampsy is backed by prominent investors including Exponential Partners, Scout Ventures, Hivers & Strivers, former Amazon CIO Rick Dalzell, and several other angels.

About RedPeg Marketing

RedPeg Marketing is reinventing the way brands connect with their consumers, creating experiences that inspire extraordinary moments. RedPegs campaigns bring brand ideas to life, emphasizing the power of interactivity and delivering palpable excitement to every event. Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, the agency activates at over 1,500 events each year for clients like GEICO, Enterprise, TD Bank, Jagermeister, Loot Crate and Francis Ford Coppola Winery.

Ampsy Contact:

Michael Falato

michael(at)ampsy(dot)com

512.522.4710

RedPeg Marketing Contact:

Matt Sincaglia

msincaglia(at)redpeg(dot)com

703.519.7325
Mark Colonnese, with Cassie and Teasel If it came to a choice, many of us would save our dog or cat even if it meant putting ourselves at risk. Yet only 1% of US pets are insured.

Anglo-American pet insurance technology specialist Aquarium Software says being treated like a dog when it comes to medical care may be no bad thing. New research suggests intriguing synergy between human and pet health care markets, and as improbable as it may seem, Aquarium says this correlation presents real opportunities for insurers.

Spending on human healthcare in the US grew 50 per cent between 1996 and 2012 and over the same period, pet care perhaps surprisingly grew by a similar margin. However, while Americans spent $15bn on pet health in 2015, an incredible $3.2tn was spent on human health. Both markets have seen increases in medical personnel and a growth in end of life spending; the question is this: if the rate of growth is the same, why is there such a gap in actual spend, between pet and human health?

Perhaps its not fair to suggest a true like for like comparison, however the fact remains that 90 percent of Americans now have health insurance, compared to 1 per cent of pets. Aquarium sees a great opportunity for this emotional attachment to pets to translate into a wider take up of pet insurance, especially in the USA.

The unifying factor in both human and pet insurance markets is emotion, said Aquarium Softwares VP Sales and Marketing, Mark Colonnese. If it came to a choice, many of us would save our dog or cat even if it meant putting ourselves at risk. Yet only 1% of US pets are insured. From a business perspective, this means those who have pulled out of the market may be mistaken. Maybe they were looking purely at the short-term numbers and overlooking the huge potential for long-term emotional engagement with pet owners. Pet insurance is absolutely here to stay, for those in the market that get this.

Reports playing down the pet insurance market have implied policies are expensive and people will not pay. This has led to some players in the UK, US and Asia pulling out of the market and corresponding expert puzzlement as pet insurers defy predictions and are still reaping the rewards, with total premium volume up 17 per cent in the last two years alone.

Emotional attachment to pets if anything gets stronger rather than weaker, says Colonnese, which may explain why in America, pet insurance is one of the fastest growing employee benefits. Delta Airlines; Hewlett-Packard; Microsoft; UPS; and Xerox - among others - all now offer it. Our own YouGov research here in the UK seems to confirm this as sound business logic; 70% of dog owners (and 58% of all pet owners) would rather spend time with their pet than meet new friends. Thats either a scary thought or an enormous marketing opportunity, whichever way you look at it, Mark concluded.

Aquarium Softwares specialist pet insurance solution spanning premiums rating, policy admin, billing and claims has been implemented by a number of insurers around the globe. For further information contact Aquarium Software on +44 (0)161 927 5620 or visit http://www.aquarium-software.com
Gene Yu will be a tremendous resource for us as we grow our capabilities, noted Lawrence Ng. His background and real world experience with cyber security issues adds a new dimension to our mission of helping to protect children from online threats.

KidGuard, which recently introduced new cell phone monitoring software that gives parents the ability to access their childs digital interactions, had added Gene Yu to its Advisory Board. Yu, CEO and co-founder of BlackPanda, will help to expand KidGuards technology services, utilizing his expertise to protect children from kidnapping, aid in kidnap response and recovery as well as prevention.

His company BlackPanda provides comprehensive security solutions to clients around the world operating in challenging environments. They combine International military special operations experience, methodology and advanced cybersecurity technology with capable and trusted local partners to protect clients investments.

"KidGuard is tackling the tough issues of cyber bullying, sexual predators and abduction, said Yu. I am pleased to join this ambitious team and contribute my expertise to their efforts. By collaborating with law enforcement, parents and non-profits, we can make a stand against these threats to our childrens safety and security.

During his time in the U.S. Army Special Forces as well as his private security experience, Yu has participated in critical kidnap and hostage rescue missions of key officials and family members in the Middle East. He has served in Iraq, the DMZ zone of Korea, Philippines, and several other classified locations.

Yu is most recognized for the daring rescue of a family friend Chang An-Wei, or Evelyn Chang, from Abu Sayyaf, an ISIS related terrorist group. During the 28-day ordeal, Evelyn Chang was kidnapped from a Malaysian resort after her husband was shot and killed, and then sold to various subgroups of the terrorist organization. By utilizing hard-to-access data and his contacts in Southeast Asia, Yu was able to locate Chang and bring her back to her family.

Gene Yu will be a tremendous resource for us as we grow our capabilities, noted Lawrence Ng, founder of KidGuard. His background and real world experience with cyber security issues adds a new dimension to our mission of helping to protect children from online threats.

KidGuard has published a free how-to guide to help parents balance their childrens need for privacy with appropriate parental controls. How To Monitor The Text Messages Of Your Child - Like A CIA Agent--is a definitive guide for everything from parental knowledge to technical support.

The free online guide is available here. https://www.kidguard.com/spy-on-text-messages/

Paperback versions are also available on Amazon.com for $14.99.

https://www.amazon.com/Monitor-Text-Messages-Child-Agent/dp/1542470692

About KidGuard.com

KidGuard is new cell phone monitoring software that gives parents the ability to access their childs digital interactions, including text messaging, social media interaction and location. These capabilities equip parents with the right tools to protect their children from cyber bullying, sexual predators and other threats to their well-being. KidGuard, founded by Lawrence Ng, a successful serial entrepreneur with deep technology experience, is a portfolio company of OnRamp Fund, a global incubator that invests in startups. For more information, contact us at 888.481.0881 or go to: http://kidguard.com

Media contact:

Corinne Forti

805 368 8665

Corinne(at)lngmgmt(dot)com

Non-Profit contact:

Jessica Connors

Jessica(at)kidguard(dot)com
It's American Heart Month, and Centric Bank and the American Heart Association (AHA) invite the community to sit on their Red Couch and Share Your Why. Women are encouraged to sit on the couch and offer testimonials about why theyre inspired to live a healthy life, as well as share personal stories about how heart disease and stroke has touched their life. Past News Releases RSS Centric Bank Recognized as a Top...

Centric Bank Market Leader Michele...

Centric Financial Corporation...

Its American Heart Month, and Centric Bank and the American Heart Association (AHA) Central PA invite the community to sit on the Red Couch and Share Your Why. The two organizations launched The Red Couch Series as a powerful storytelling campaign to increase awareness and prevention of heart disease in women.

We are inundated with health data every day, and sometimes we can become numb to the staggering reality that heart disease is the #1 killer of women in the U.S. Prevention begins with awareness and knowledge, and this campaign turns stats into stories with the #CentricRedCouch, says Centric Bank President & CEO Patricia A. (Patti) Husic, chair of AHA Go Red for Women 2017. We can read that 1 in 3 women will die from heart disease, but when we hear the stories of our friends and family members who are affectedall of a sudden it becomes real. I am convinced that we can win the war on heart disease and stroke!

The signature Centric Red Couch is traveling to locations throughout central Pennsylvania. Women are sharing testimonials about why theyre inspired to live healthy lives, how heart disease and stroke have touched them, and ways they are putting their heart health first. These stories are collected and shared on social media using the hashtag #CentricRedCouch.

Husic started the Red Couch campaign to encourage women to have a conversation with their doctors and each other about signs and symptoms of heart disease. Heart disease and stroke kill approximately 1 woman every 80 seconds. Thats a grim statistic we hope to change by raising awareness about the warning signs of heart attack and stroke," says Husic.

The Centric Red Couch began its journey in December 2016 at the Centric Bank Financial Center on Linglestown Road in Dauphin County. It then traveled to Rhoads & Sinon Law Firm in Harrisburg for the kick-off of the New Year. Throughout February, the #CentricRedCouch will be located at the Derry Township Centric Bank Financial Center in Hershey, Pa.

SHARE YOUR WHY

Do you have a personal story about how heart disease and stroke have touched you? What inspires you to live a healthy life?  asks Husic. Our signature red couch is in its third month of a yearlong journey. Where will it turn up next? The top stories will be shared at the 2017 Go Red for Women Luncheon on Thursday, May 18, at the West Shore Country Club in Camp Hill.

One outcome from the #CentricRedCouch stories is the realization that heart disease does not discriminate. Young, old, male, femaleits an equal opportunity killer. I wanted to highlight how important it is for all women, particularly young women, to be aware of and informed about their heart health. While I lead a healthy lifestyle, I have hereditary risks when it comes to heart health, says Amanda J. Lavis, Esq., Rhoads & Sinon. My dads heart attack and quadruple bypass at age 50 had a significant impact on our family. Im grateful that my involvement with Go Red and AHA has enabled me to have continued conversations with my family and friends about this important issue. Im thrilled that Rhoads & Sinon supports Go Red and continues to be a tremendous champion of womens health among our employees and in our community.

To bring the Red Couch to your organization, or for more information about the 2017 Capital Region Go Red for Women Luncheon, visit capitalregionpagored.heart.org, or call 717-730-1782.

ABOUT CENTRIC BANK

A three-time Best Places to Work and Top 50 Fastest-Growing Companies for four years, Centric Bank is headquartered in south central Pennsylvania with assets of $482 million and remains the leader in organic loan growth in central Pennsylvania. A locally owned, locally loaned community bank, Centric Bank provides highly competitive and pro-growth financial services to businesses, professionals, individuals, families, and the health care and agricultural industries. With a Five-Star Bauer Financial Rating, Centric Bank, named a Top 100 SBA Lender in the United States, also ranked #1 in approved SBA 7(a) loans in the Eastern District as of December 31, 2016. The bank is also a Top 20 Lender for SBA Loans in the Philadelphia Region.

The year 2016 was a milestone for Patti Husic and Centric Bank. In October, Centric Bank was named a Top Team in American Bankers 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking, an exclamation point to Husics intentional advancement of high-achieving women. Husic herself ascended to #17 in the Most Powerful Women in Banking, a recognition that has brought national attention to the banks organic lending successes and Husics commitment to Be the Difference Maker for the men and women on Main Street.

Founded in 2007, Pennsylvania-based Centric Bank has financial centers located in Harrisburg, Hershey, Mechanicsburg, and Camp Hill, and loan production offices in Lancaster and suburban Philadelphia. To learn more about Centric Bank, call 717.657.7727 or visit CentricBank.com. Connect with them on Twitter at @CentricBank and Facebook at Centric Bank.

Centric Financial Corporation is traded over the counter (OTC-Pink) with the ticker symbol CFCX.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

The American Heart Association is the nations oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. Founded by six cardiologists in 1924, our organization now includes more than 22.5 million volunteers and supporters. We fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide critical tools and information to save and improve lives. Our nationwide organization includes 156 local offices and more than 3,000 employees. We moved our national headquarters from New York to Dallas in 1975 to be more centrally located. The American Stroke Association was created as a division in 1997 to bring together the organizations stroke-related activities.

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Europe has demonstrated that they're ahead in InsurTech, and Connected Car Insurance Europe is a must-attend event to connect with like-minded companies and individuals

Dan brings an American flavour to an already prestigious speaker line-up composed of the biggest European insurance carriers. He will be joining the likes of Aviva, Generali, insurethebox, AIG, Zurich, Direct Line Group, RSA, and MAPFRE to deliver their insights on the future of the connected motor insurance space.

Dan Preston, CEO at Metromile states: Metromile is excited to share our journey in creating the 1st pay-per-mile business model in the U.S. and our view of how the future of the connected car ecosystem will lead to new innovation benefitting both consumers and insurers. Europe has demonstrated that they're ahead in InsurTech, and Connected Car Insurance Europe is a must-attend event to connect with like-minded companies and individuals.

Connected Car Insurance Europe is the leading convergence of the connected motor insurance executives looking to be at the forefront of the impact of vehicle connectivity on traditional insurance models. This year the agenda tackles how to usher in a new era of mobility insurance products powered by usage based insurance data.

Sample of Connected Car Insurance Europe 2017 Speakers:



Dan Preston, CEO, Metromile

Paul Heybourne, Head of Innovation & Business Development, Aviva Group

Steve Hales, Head of Connected Insurance, Generali

Michael Brockman, CEO, Insure the Box

Dan Freedman, Head of Motor Development, Direct Line Group

Simon Gallimore, Senior Manager Complex Claims, AIG

Andy Price, Practice Leader, EMA  Motor Fleet, Zurich

Kenny Leitch, Global Head of Telematics, RSA

Sergio Gomez Recio, Corporate Deputy Director of innovation, Mapfre

Luigi Barcarolo, Group Head of Connected Insurance Products Roll Out, Generali

Iwan Parry, Head of Insurance, Transport Research Laboratory

Manjit Rana, CEO & Founder, Ingenin

Matteo Carbone, Founder, Connected Insurance Observatory

A comprehensive overview of the event can be found here: http://www.tu-auto.com/connectedcar-insurance-eu/

About TU-Automotive:

TU-Automotive is a world leader in providing events and business intelligence to the automotive technology community, covering telematics, mobility, autonomous vehicles and legal & insurance. You can sign up to receive free weekly updates, including exclusive industry analysis, interviews and insights at: http://www.tu-auto.com

Contact:

Thomas Wilson

Project Director | TU-Automotive

Office: +44 (0)207 55 19842

Email:thomas(at)tu-auto(dot)com
Carnegie Mellon is at the forefront of creating a transformative and collaborative research environment that is open to the free exchange of ideas, where research, creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship flourish.

Digital Science, a technology company serving the needs of scientific and research communities, today announced Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) as a key customer and development partner. By implementing a suite of products from the Digital Science portfolio, Carnegie Mellon will unveil a solution to capture, analyze and showcase its leading research. Using continuous, automated capture of data from multiple internal and external sources, including publication and associated citation and altmetrics data, grant data, and research data, Carnegie Mellon will be able to provide its faculty, funders and decision-makers with an accurate, timely and holistic picture of the institutions research.

With the goal of championing new forms of scholarly communication, Carnegie Mellon is creating a number of research platforms that will work together to enable innovation and provide opportunities for interactive research among the university's researchers. As part of this effort, the university is building out an ecosystem of support, processes and tools that underpin the full research lifecycle from ideation to dissemination.

Carnegie Mellon plans to roll out a suite of tools from Digital Science to its academic community over the coming months. These tools offer a multitude of benefits including:



Symplectic Elements  Will become the definitive source of research information for CMU and will be used by faculty, librarians and research managers alike to help showcase both the output and impact of CMU research, enabling a unique insight into where its research is strongest.

Figshare for Institutions  Will provide an institutional data repository offering a robust and reliable place to curate research data; promote an open culture of sharing; and ensure compliance with open data mandates from funders.

Altmetric Explorer for Institutions  Will enable CMU to monitor and report on the attention that its research and clinical trials are garnering from wide-ranging audiences, including practitioners, policy makers and the general public, across sources such as the mainstream media, blogs, social networks, Wikipedia and other community forums.

Dimensions  Will give CMUs administrators and faculty access to the worlds leading grants database powered by UberResearch, enabling automatic links between publications and grants in Symplectic Elements, as well as helping CMU to track research trends and identify people and research groups of interest with whom to collaborate around the globe.

The library is at the heart of the work of the institution and must provide a reimagined intellectual commons for a campus community, said Keith Webster, Dean of University Libraries, Carnegie Mellon. With this partnership, we have the opportunity to position ourselves as a world leader in the development of the scholarly ecosystem. Digital Science is central in allowing us to build the best research information system that exists today and we look forward to sharing our experience and expertise with the global academic community.

Carnegie Mellon is at the forefront of creating a transformative and collaborative research environment that is open to the free exchange of ideas, where research, creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship flourish, said Daniel Hook, CEO Digital Science. We are very proud indeed to be working with the team at CMU to support their researchers to spend more time on discovery and collaboration. We also look forward to working with them as a development partner to continue to drive this innovation.

*About Digital Science*

Digital Science is a technology company serving the needs of scientific and research communities at key points along the full cycle of research. It invests in and incubates research software companies that simplify the research cycle, making more time for discovery. Its portfolio companies include a host of leading brands including Altmetric, BioRAFT, Figshare, IFI CLAIMS Patent Services, Labguru, Overleaf, Peerwith, ReadCube, Symplectic, UberResearch, TetraScience and Transcriptic. It is operated by global media company, the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. Visit http://www.digital-science.com and follow @digitalsci on Twitter.

*About Altmetric*

Altmetric was founded in 2011 and has made it a mission to track and analyze a world beyond scholarly citations around scholarly literature. Altmetric tracks what people are saying about research outputs online and works with some of the biggest publishers, funders, and institutions around the world to deliver this data in an accessible and reliable format. Visit http://www.altmetric.com for more information and follow @altmetric on Twitter.

*About UberResearch*

UberResearch, the company behind Dimensions, is a leading provider of software solutions focused on helping funding organizations, non-profits, and governmental institutions make more informed decisions about science funding. The company's cloud-based platform provides better views of an organization's grant data, peer organisation activities, and the data of the funding community at large. The software functions span search and duplication detection to robust tools for reviewer identification and portfolio analysis. For more information, visit: http://www.uberresearch.com and follow @uberresearch on Twitter.

*About Figshare*

Figshare is a web-based platform to help academic institutions manage, disseminate and measure the public attention of all their research outputs. The light-touch and user-friendly approach focuses on four key areas: research data management, reporting and statistics, research data dissemination and administrative control. Figshare works with institutions in North America and internationally to help them meet key funder recommendations and to provide world-leading tools to support an open culture of data sharing and collaboration. For more information, visit http://figshare.com and follow @figshare on Twitter.

*About Symplectic*

Symplectic is a leading developer of Research Information Management systems. Founded in 2003, Symplectics flagship product Elements is used by over 300,000 researchers, repository managers and librarians at over 80 of the worlds top institutions including the University of Oxford, University of Melbourne, and Duke University. For more information, visit http://www.symplectic.info and follow @symplectic on Twitter.

*About Carnegie Mellon University*

Carnegie Mellon is a private, internationally ranked research university with programs in areas ranging from science, technology and business, to public policy, the humanities and the arts. More than 13,000 students in the university's seven schools and colleges benefit from a small student-to-faculty ratio and an education characterized by its focus on creating and implementing solutions for real problems, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. Carnegie Mellon's main campus in the United States is in Pittsburgh, Pa. It has campuses in California's Silicon Valley and Qatar, and programs in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and Mexico.
Novant Health - Huntersville We chose Voalte as our clinical communication provider of choice based on the companys comprehensive solutions and proven track record in the marketplace.

Voalte, the leader in healthcare communication technology and No. 1 Secure Communications Platform as ranked by KLAS, today announced an enterprise-wide agreement to deploy Voalte Platform for care team collaboration at Novant Health. The four-state integrated network of physician clinics, outpatient centers and hospitals launched the multi-phase project with Apple iPhones running Voalte Platform at Novant Health Matthews Medical Center, followed by Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center, both in North Carolina. Novant Health will ultimately standardize communication across 14 hospitals in four states, with a total of approximately 2,600 beds.

We chose Voalte as our clinical communication provider of choice based on the companys comprehensive solutions and proven track record in the marketplace, said James Kluttz, Senior Director and Chief Technology Officer at Novant Health. Standardizing communication across the Novant Health system is integral to our mission of bringing together world-class technology and clinicians to deliver safe, high-quality care and improve outcomes for the more than 4 million patients we serve annually.

The Voalte Platform implementation includes Voalte One for nurses at the point of care, Voalte Me for physicians and others using personal smartphones outside the hospital, and Voalte Messenger for unit coordinators and other desk-based staff. Voalte Platform replaces older methods of communication, decreases the use of overhead paging, and integrates with Novant Healths PBX phone systems to bring communication together on one powerful smartphone.

Novant Health also plans to run Epic Rover on the Voalte smartphones, giving caregivers a mobile application that links barcode scanning workflows, such as medication administration and specimen collection, directly with the electronic medical record.

We are looking forward to helping Novant Healths caregivers continue to deliver a remarkable experience to the patients they serve in North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia, said Adam McMullin, Voalte Chairman and CEO. With one comprehensive care team communication solution connecting the entire health system and providing instant access to patient information, physicians, nurses and staff can focus more on patient care, patient safety and improving outcomes.

About Novant Health

Novant Health is a four-state integrated network of physician clinics, outpatient centers and hospitals that delivers a seamless and convenient healthcare experience to our communities. The Novant Health network consists of more than 1,200 physicians and 25,000 team members who make healthcare remarkable at nearly 500 locations, including 14 medical centers and hundreds of outpatient facilities and physician clinics. Headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Novant Health is committed to serving more than 4 million patients annually. In 2014, Novant Health provided more than $639 million in community benefit, including charity care and services. Novant Health is ranked as one of the nations top 20 integrated delivery networks by IMS Health.

For more information, please visit NovantHealth.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

About Voalte

Voalte develops smartphone solutions that simplify caregiver communication. Ranked number-one and named 2017 Category Leader in the Best in KLAS: Software & Services report for the Secure Communications Platform segment, Voalte is the only company to offer a comprehensive Mobile Communication Strategy that enables care teams inside and outside the hospital to access and exchange information securely. Voalte customers benefit from a solid smartphone infrastructure that supports their existing systems and expands to accommodate future technologies. Founded in 2008, Voalte is a privately held company based in Sarasota, Florida. Voalte solutions are now available to more than 132,000 caregivers throughout the United States. For more information, visit voalte.com or follow @Voalte on Twitter.

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GiftBot uses AI and NLP With the Swych GiftBot service, users can initiate e-gifts quickly and easily to anyone using a smartphone, desktop or tablet, from within their favorite chat, messaging or virtual assistant application.

Swych, Inc., creator of the revolutionary digital gifting platform, announced today the beta release of its new bot technology for person-to-person gifting. Winner of the Most Innovative Startup at the FinovateFall 2016 event, Swych is a mobile first, highly secure, context aware digital gifting platform with advanced analytics. Adding another worlds first to its portfolio, Swych GiftBot technology uses artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) to bring gifting to popular messaging and virtual assistant apps.

The paradigm for consumer interaction with brands is at the cusp of a revolution where technologies like artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality are gearing up to overtake traditional web- and app-based commerce. We are proud to be the first mobile gifting service to bring machine learning, AI and advanced data analytics into the fast growing digital gifting space, said Deepak Jain, Swych chief executive officer and co-founder.

Swychs GiftBot uses strong user authentication along with an open and extensible artificial intelligence layer that enables a rich and dynamic user experience to send digital gifts to anyone in your social network. With the Swych GiftBot service, users can initiate e-gifts quickly and easily to anyone using a smartphone, desktop or tablet, from within their favorite chat, messaging or virtual assistant application. The GiftBot identifies a recipient from just a first name, automatically picking up the mobile phone number or email address for instant delivery. GiftBot then makes recommendations for the gift and allows personalization via a greeting, all from within that Facebook or Skype conversation where the idea of gift giving is top of mind, seamlessly aligning timing and intent. For enhanced security, users receive a confirmation within the Swych app to authorize and pay for the gift after the GiftBot has finished creating it from the conversation.

Gifts sent through the Swych GiftBot function exactly like gifts sent directly from the Swych mobile app: all gifts received in Swych put the recipients in charge. Receiving a digital gift inside Swych is delightful, since any gift received can be swyched for any of more than one hundred retailers available within the app, ensuring a perfect gift experience every time. Each gift is accompanied by a personalized message or a picture from the sender, and the recipient can say thanks with a click.

Robert P. Sabella, chief revenue officer and co-founder for Swych, added, Most mobile usage studies show that consumers prefer to interact with friends, family and colleagues predominantly in social media apps such as Facebook Messenger, Skype, Snapchat, Instagram, Slack or WhatsApp. The use of virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa and Google Home is also growing at a very fast clip. Swychs GiftBot platform opens the door for our gifting brand partners to take advantage of this trend and connect to their consumers in an entirely new way.

Swych has designed the GiftBot platform to be white label ready for financial institutions, enterprises and retailers. Todays public beta release presents an avenue for the platform to interact with consumers to enhance its machine learning and brand recommendation engines, as well as and discover more ways in which a gift can be sent. Beta testing is open on both iOS and Android platforms for users of Facebook Messenger, Skype and Siri. You can learn more about GiftBot and the beta release at http://www.goswych.com/giftbot.

To learn more about the Swych mobile platform, or to download the latest app, visit http://goswych.com/download/.

Give, Get, Swych.

ABOUT SWYCH:

Swychs patent-pending mobile gifting platform enables users to send swychable gifts from their mobile device that can be instantly redeemed for electronic gift cards from more than 100 popular brands. Swych users can instantly buy, send, re-gift, upload, swych and redeem gift cards conveniently from their mobile device. Swych is a private company funded by seasoned angel investors from the banking, financial services, payments, gifting, telecom and enterprise computing spaces. Swych is headquartered in Plano, Texas, with offices in San Francisco, California.

Swych was formed in 2015 by serial entrepreneurs Deepak Jain and Robert P. Sabella. Product Development and Operations are headed by Anu Shultes who is a well-known and highly respected gift card industry expert. Marketing is headed by Stephanie Barrueto and Product Engineering by Linda Yang.

For more information please visit http://www.goswych.com.

To download the award winning Swych app, click here.

Follow us on Twitter @GoSwych, like us on Facebook at fb.com/goswych and follow us on Instagram at instagram.com/goswych.

Siri, Skype and Messenger are trademarks for Apple, Microsoft and Facebook respectively. In order to use the Swych GiftBot on Siri, users must have iOS 10.0 or above.
We are excited to have Tyndall in this new role. His deep experience and knowledge will add value to the Alliance and to its customers.

Tompkins International is pleased to announce that Gene Tyndall, currently Executive Vice President, Chief Solutions and Business and Development Officer, is appointed President, MonarchFx, the Division of Tompkins International that provides eFulfillment services to sellers of products online.

MonarchFx is a special alliance of logistics services providers, the leading supply chain technology, and transportation service providers, that provides sellers one-stop eFulfillment with reasonable pricing and high levels of service. Jim Tompkins, Chairman and CEO, MonarchFx, states, We are excited to have Tyndall in this new role. His deep experience and knowledge will add value to the Alliance and to its customers.

Tyndall is a highly respected supply chain consultant, industry veteran, and thought leader. Prior to joining Tompkins International, he was President of Ryder Global Supply Chain Solutions, Global Leader and Senior Partner of the Ernst & Young Supply Chain Management Consulting Practice, and a United States Navy Officer. He has over 30 years experience with over a hundred multinational corporations and domestic companies, in strategy development, new process design, technology, and leading practices. Many of the best practices in place today across all industries are due to his thought leadership and leadership.

Tyndall has co-authored several books and written numerous articles on supply chain management, as well as being quoted by business and public media. His book, Supercharging Supply Chains: New Ways to Increase Value Through Global Operational Excellence, is recognized as a leading guide for managers seeking to achieve higher levels of performance and thus stronger stakeholder value.

Tyndall holds graduate degrees from The George Washington University and his bachelors from the University of Maryland. He is also a graduate of the Institute for Advanced International Management in Switzerland and has attended advanced management programs at Harvard University, Stanford University, and the University of Miami. He was elected to the Global Logistics Hall of Fame and has been honored as Innovator of the Year by Information Management.

MonarchFx is honored to have Tyndall as its President.
Innovation is at the core of the convenience services industry today, taking unattended retail to dynamic new levels, said Roni Moore, NAMA Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations.

If you're pressed for time this Valentine's Day, a vending machine or kiosk may be just the place to find a timely gift for your special someone.

Innovation is at the core of the convenience services industry today, taking unattended retail to dynamic new levels, said Roni Moore, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the National Automatic Merchandising Association. From gourmet food and beverages to used cars to the newest high-tech toys, theres something for everyone in todays vend machines.

Heres a Top Ten List:

1. Car  In Atlanta, Nashville, Houston or Austin? Pick up your Valentines new ride at Carvana, a car vending machine.

2. Champagne  Pop some bubbly to celebrate your love! Find mini bottles in a Moet & Chandon vending machine at the Mandarin Oriental in Las Vegas.

3. Cupcakes  If it's sweets for the sweet, Sprinkles Cupcakes sends up delectable cupcakes at Cupcake ATMs in Beverly Hills, Chicago, New York and other cities around the country. Sweeten up your Valentine with fun flavors ranging from chocolate marshmallow to lemon coconut to triple cinnamon, and even score a treat for your beloved canine as well!

4. Flowers  Traveling by air and need flowers for your love on the run? Stop by one of the many 24-Hour Flower kiosks in airports across the country for a fresh bouquet of this Valentines Day staple.

5. Get Glam  Ladies on the fly can purchase travel-friendly makeup and skincare products at Benefit Cosmetics Glam Up & Away beauty kiosks in airports across the country.

6. Gourmet Delights  Planning a romantic dinner at home? Beverly Hills Caviar offers Beluga caviar, salmon caviar and more, ready to go with Mother of Pearl flatware at machines in Beverly Hills, California.

7. Locally Made  Support community culture and gift your Valentine a piece of art, jewelry or apparel produced and designed by local artists located in a SouveNEAR vending machine in airports in Kansas City, Oakland and San Francisco.

8. Make Memories  Capture magical moments with your love and share them with friends and family via social media with Snapchat Spectacles, found in pop-up vending machines around the country.

9. Original Art  Impress your love with an original artwork from one of 100 Art-o-mat vending machines around the country. These vintage cigarette machines-turned-art galleries carry works from around 400 artists, including painted wood blocks, watercolors, mini sculptures, jewelry and more.

10. Sole Support - After dancing the night away in heels, emergency flats are the key to happy feet. Find shoes that roll to fit in your purse from the Flat Out of Heels vending machines in Miami to keep the party going in comfort and style.

Founded in 1936, NAMA is the association representing the $25 billion U.S. convenience services industry. With more than 1,000 member companies  including many of the worlds most recognized brands  NAMA provides advocacy, education and research for its membership. Follow NAMA on Twitter (@namavending) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/namanow).
Military Spouse of the Year Program Celebrates 10 Years For this past decade, the Military Spouse of the Year Award has given a powerful voice to military spouses and appropriately recognized them for the incredible support they bring to our nations defense establishment.

The names of individual Base winners were announced today for the 2017 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year award presented by Military Spouse Magazine. Winners were selected from a group of more than 400 nominees after one week of online national voting. Americans are invited to learn more about each of these accomplished Base Spouses of the Year at msoy.militaryspouse.com.

In 2013, Military Spouse Magazine expanded the Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year program by introducing the military installation award. Since then, nominations have been accepted at the Base (Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy), District (Coast Guard), and State (National Guard) level. Voters then elect a Base-level winner at each of these installations. Base Spouses of the Year represent the best advocates for his or her base, and are key to spearheading grassroots communication and driving change within their local military community.

Armed Forces Insurance is delighted to be the title sponsor for this outstanding program, one that adds deserved recognition to the valuable assistance that military spouses provide to our nation's Armed Forces, commented Garry L. Parks, Lieutenant General, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.), Chairman, Armed Forces Insurance. For this past decade, the Military Spouse of the Year Award has given a powerful voice to military spouses and appropriately recognized them for the incredible support they bring to our nations defense establishment.

The Top 18 Base-level winners will be announced on February 15, followed by a national online vote of more than 200 base-level representatives in late February to determine each Branch of Service 2017 Armed Forces Insurance Branch Spouse of the Year.

The overall 2017 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year will be revealed at a VIP event in Washington, DC on May 12 attended by Base- and Branch-level winners, military officials and leaders in the spouse community. For additional information on the Military Spouse of the Year Program visit msoy.militaryspouse.com.

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About Military Spouse Magazine:

Military Spouse is the leading destination for the nation's 1.1 million military spouses, who contribute to their communities, the military and each other every day. A division of Victory Media, Military Spouse provides online and print resources for military families on PCS, careers, education opportunities and family life. Follow us at militaryspouse.com, or on Facebook and Twitter.

Founded in 2001, Victory Media is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) that connects the military community to civilian employment, entrepreneurial and education opportunities through its G.I. Jobs, Military Spouse, Vetrepreneur, STEM JobsSM and Military Friendly brands. Learn more at http://www.victorymedia.com.

About Armed Forces Insurance:

Armed Forces Insurance (AFI) is the insurance company of choice for current and retired members of the uniformed services, their children, and Department of Defense civilians. Founded in 1887 by military leaders with a single mission: to protect the property of those who protect our nation, providing premium quality, competitively priced property and casualty insurance to military professionals throughout the Armed Forces. We know our members have unique circumstances and insurance needs, and we offer a level of personalized service that is unequaled in the industry-because Our Mission is YOU - and your peace of mind. The company also furthers our strong commitment to give back to military and local communities through important programs and sponsorships including the Great American Patriot Award at the Armed Forces Bowl, the Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year Award, the Vetrepreneur of the Year Award, and the Military Warriors Support Foundation. In early 2015, AFI established the Armed Forces Insurance Foundation to assist in educating the military community on a wide array of key personal financial topics to help them succeed. For more information, visit the website at http://www.afi.org or call 1-800-495-8234, and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For more information or to arrange interviews, contact:

Suzanne Trevino or Brian OMalley, Gordon C. James PR, at 602-274-1988.
Freedom Alliance Logo This is a wonderful opportunity and Im so thankful for it, said Haney. This home helps ease financial stress so I can focus on healing and my plans for the future.

U.S. Bank, in conjunction with Freedom Alliance, is presenting the keys to a newly-renovated, mortgage-free home to medically retired Army Sgt. 1st Class William Joe Haney on Friday, Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. Located at 6811 Rolling Boulder St., this is the ninth home donated across the country through the partnership between U.S. Bank and Freedom Alliance, a charitable organization which provides help and support to injured service members and military families.

This is a wonderful opportunity and Im so thankful for it, said Haney. This home helps ease financial stress so I can focus on healing and my plans for the future.

Haney joined the U.S. Army in February 2004 at the age of 17 with the sole intention to serve and protect his country. He was deployed three times to Iraq and once to Afghanistan, spending a total of 49 months in those countries. His time in combat zones includes tours with the CFSOCC (Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command), as well as a reconnaissance platoon, in which he focused on long-range surveillance. The 30-year-old has earned multiple awards throughout his years of service, including a Bronze Star, an Army Commendation Medal with Valor and a seventh-place finish in the 2014 U.S. Army Best Ranger Competition.

Haney medically retired from the Army in March 2016. He suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS), severe migraines, back issues and other combat-related injuries. He is currently enrolled in the University of Washington where he is studying biology. He plans to become a physician assistant (PA) or attend medical school after graduation so he can help other veterans and their families. He also enjoys hunting and other outdoor activities in his free time.

This renovated three-bedroom, two-bath house will allow Haney to spend more quality time with his 7-year-old daughter Makenzee, whom he co-parents with her mother. It is donated by U.S. Banks Housing Opportunities after Military Engagement (H.O.M.E.) program, in conjunction with Freedom Alliances Heroes to Homeowners program. Chronos Solutions, a real estate services provider, also contributed to the cost of the repairs made to the home.

Several U.S. Bank officials as well as representatives from Freedom Alliance will be present to welcome Haney to his new home, including:



Thomas Kilgannon, president of Freedom Alliance

Clark Wood, Las Vegas market president, U.S. Bank

David Little, executive vice president of Mortgage Servicing, U.S. Bank

Erick Kidd, regional instore manager and Proud to Serve member, U.S. Bank

U.S. Bank is extremely proud to partner with Freedom Alliance to present this home to Sgt. Haney, a veteran who valiantly served our country, said Clark Wood, Las Vegas market president of U.S. Bank. This home for Joe and Makenzee is just a small gesture of our thanks and yet an important step to making their dreams become possible."

In addition to partnering with military service organizations such as Freedom Alliance, U.S. Bank supports veterans and military family members through Proud to Serve, an employee-led business resource group. Through Proud to Serve, each new hire is personally welcomed by leaders who are also veterans. Employees are also encouraged to use internal social networking forums to connect, network and share stories. U.S. Bank hired more than 500 veterans in 2016 and currently employs approximately 2,000 veterans. Learn more online.

It is an honor to provide this home to Sgt. Haney, who bravely and selflessly served our nation with integrity for more than a decade, said President of Freedom Alliance, Tom Kilgannon. Stable housing has proven to be an integral part of a successful transition from military to civilian life.

About Freedom Alliance

Freedom Alliance is a charitable organization which provides help and support to wounded troops and military families. Freedom Alliance has awarded more than $11 million in college scholarships to the children of military heroes killed or disabled in military service and spent millions more helping injured veterans and military families with outdoor recreational therapy trips, Heroes Vacations, care packages for deployed troops, mortgage-free homes, all-terrain wheel chairs and much more. You can learn more about Freedom Alliance at FreedomAlliance.org and Facebook.com/FreedomAlliance.

About U.S. Bank

Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp, with $446 billion in assets as of December 31, 2016, is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association, the fifth largest commercial bank in the United States. The Company operates 3,106 banking offices in 25 states and 4,842 ATMs and provides a comprehensive line of banking, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions. Visit U.S. Bancorp on the web at http://www.usbank.com.

Contact:

Sam Black, U.S. Bank Corporate Communications, 612.303.9203, Samuel.Black@usbank.com

Althea Paul, Freedom Alliance, 813.321.3310, AltheaP(at)ConsultVistra(dot)com
On Thursday, February 23rd, Faith in Americaa monthly series of public discussions presented and hosted by Union Theological Seminary in the City of New Yorkwelcomes Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) for a lecture and panel discussion titled, Religion & Faith in the Time of Trump.

This compelling and timely program will explore how civil liberties advocates and the broader faith community are aligning their values in opposition to a Trump Administration that seeks to demonize immigrants and refugees, and calls for massive deportations and bans based on religion. Mr. Romero will be joined by a distinguished cross-section of the Union community, including:

 Rev. Dr. Serene Jones, President, Union Theological Seminary

 Dr. Gary Dorrien, Reinhold Niebuhr Professor of Social Ethics, Union Theological Seminary & Professor of Religion, Columbia University

 Dr. Jerusha T. Lamptey, Assistant Professor of Islam and Ministry & Islam, Social Justice & Interreligious Engagement Program Advisor, Union Theological Seminary

 Wesley Morris, Community Organizer and Master of Divinity Candidate, Union Theological Seminary

In December 2015, when then Republican Presidential front-runner Donald J. Trump stated that the United States should close its borders to all MuslimsProtestant clergy, prominent evangelicals, and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishopsall lambasted him. Thirteen months later, Mr. Trump is President, and his immoral calls to ban Muslims may indeed become law. The terrible fallout from the recent Executive Order banning travelers, immigrants, and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries has been heartbreaking and chaoticand immediately felt by refugees of all religious backgrounds.

Under the leadership of Mr. Romero, the ACLU and other partner organizations are leading an aggressive legal challenge to the ban, charging it violates the Constitution. Identifying specific countries with Muslim majorities and carving out exceptions for minority religions flies in the face of the constitutional principle that bans the government from either favoring or discriminating against particular religions, said Mr. Romero in a statement earlier this year. Any effort to discriminate against Muslims and favor other religions runs afoul of the First Amendment.

Together, Mr. Romero and the evenings panelists will address how Union and the broader faith community can align with, bolster and amplify the work of secular groups like the ACLU, not only on matters related to compassionate immigration policies, but on criminal, environmental and economic justice reform.

Faith in America events are free and open to the public. Union Theological Seminary will stream the February

23rd event live (https://utsnyc.edu/faith-in-america-live-stream), and the series will be archived on Unions YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/unionseminary).

For more information or to RSVP, please visit http://www.utsnyc.edu/FaithInAmerica.

About Union Theological Seminary

Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York is a seminary and a graduate school of theology established in 1836 by founders deeply impressed by the claims of the world upon the church. Union prepares women and men for committed lives of service to the church, academy and society. A Union education develops practices of mind and body that foster intellectual and academic excellence, social justice, and compassionate wisdom. Grounded in the Christian tradition and responsive to the needs of Gods creation, Unions graduates make a difference wherever they serve.

Union believes that a new interreligious spirituality of radical openness and love is the worlds best hope for peace, justice, and the care of Gods creation. Empowered by groundbreaking inquiry aligned with practical realism and a bias for action, Union is charting a profound new course for enduring social change. Union graduates make a difference wherever they serve, practicing their vocations with courage and perseverance, and speaking clearly and acting boldly on behalf of social justice in all its forms.

About Anthony D. Romero

Anthony D. Romero is the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, the nation's premier defender of liberty and individual freedom. An attorney with a history of public-interest activism, Mr. Romero has led the ACLU in landmark lawsuits challenging Arizonas anti-immigrant law that invites law enforcement to engage in racial profiling; in its high-profile litigation and lobbying efforts to win the freedom to marry for same-sex couples; and in its nationwide Campaign for Smart Justice, which aims to achieve a 50% reduction in the number of Americans behind bars.

In 2007, Mr. Romero and co-author and NPR correspondent, Dina Temple-Raston, published, In Defense of Our America: The Fight for Civil Liberties in the Age of Terror, a book that takes a critical look at civil liberties in this country at a time when constitutional freedoms are in peril.

Born in New York City to parents who hailed from Puerto Rico, Mr. Romero was the first in his family to graduate from high school. He is a graduate of Stanford University Law School and Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy and International Affairs.

###

CONTACT:

Ian Rees

ianatgzandassociates.com | 215.869.9064

Kate Sann

kateatgzandassociates.com | 518.331.8671
"The role of doulas is to walk alongside the dying."

Juliette Fowler Communities to host End of Life Doula Training in March by the International End of Life Doula Association. (INELDA) Texas is one of the leading geographical areas interested in a new way of caring the dying and bringing this emerging field to the community. By request the International End of Life Doula Association is conducting its training in March. As an adjunct to hospice services this non-medical support offers deeper meaning and greater comfort to the dying.

The International End of Life Doula Association continues to receive daily inquires from families and hospices seeking this service. Based on this emergent movement, and demand, the number of end of life doula trainings scheduled by INELDA has doubled for 2017. The organization is offering twelve training, one per month during the year. This number has doubled from 2016, based on the success of past trainings.

INELDA has received numerous requests for program development within hospices. The success of several ongoing programs is prompting the demand. Hospice clients are requesting this service, both privately and within facilities.

In 2016 INELDA developed the first program at a hospital in the United States and anticipates the medical community to address this success. With the conversation emerging within the medical community regarding Palliative Care at the end of life. Recent books, such as Being Mortal, by Atul Gawande has garnered attention within the medical field.

The International End of Life Association is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization created to develop end of life doula programs in hospices, hospitals and within home care organizations. They are also the leading educators of individual end of life doulas and have a certification program which is setting the standard for excellence.
I am delighted that Vizor has been awarded this prestigious technology award. Conor Crowley, Vizor

Vizor, the global leader in regulatory technology, today announced the Company has won the Central Banking 2017 Technology Provider of the Year  Supervision award.

The annual Central Banking awards recognise excellence in serving the central banking community and are judged by a distinguished panel comprised of former senior central bankers from all over the world, as well as the Central Banking Editorial Team and Editorial Advisory Board.

The judges were impressed with Vizors strong client feedback as well as how Vizor Software has transitioned itself from a niche consultancy to technology provider of choice for Central Banks and official institutions in 30 countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.- Christopher Jeffery, Chairman of the Central Banking Awards Committee and Editor-in-Chief of Central Banking

The Technology Provider of the Year  Supervision award is judged on system suitability, implementation, customisation calibration, and after sales, and is awarded to the provider who has made a substantial improvement in the operations of central banks.

I am delighted that Vizor has been awarded this prestigious technology award, commented Conor Crowley, Joint CEO of Vizor Software. I believe this perfectly reflects Vizors position as the trusted global leader and software vendor of choice for the worlds leading central banks and financial regulators, and I am proud that Vizor Software underpins the critical supervisory functions of these institutions.

The award will be officially presented to Vizor Software at the annual Central Banking Awards Gala being held March 23rd in London at The Waldorf Hilton.

About Vizor Software

Vizor Software has been the standard for financial regulatory technology since 2000. Leading the way in regulatory supervision software, Vizor Software is trusted by Central Banks and Financial Regulators from around the globe for the collection, validation and analysis of highly complex data from Financial Institutions. Serving the needs of financial regulators in more than 30 countries, Vizor is a trusted partner of large consulting firms and leading XBRL toolset providers. Employing a collaborative, agile approach to implementing regulatory solutions, Vizor simplifies and strengthens financial regulation systems. You can learn more and visit Vizor at http://www.vizorsoftware.com or by following Vizor on Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and Pinterest.
Infinity Rehab continues its long-standing tradition of providing quality education opportunities for its clinicians and non-affiliated therapists through the contract therapy companys unique brand of Continuing Education Symposiums.

Therapists play a very important role in helping patients achieve rehabilitation goals after suffering an illness or injury, says Tim Esau, PT, MSPT, Director of Compliance. The Symposiums are a great way for therapists to stay on top of new approaches to treating patients and advancements in their respective disciplines.

Infinity Rehab Continuing Education Symposiums serve as a place for therapists from around the country to earn the Contact Hours necessary to maintain their licensure and interact with like-minded professionals. Industry vendors are also on-hand to talk with attendees about the latest in rehabilitation technology and treatments.

Courses available at the 2017 Mountain Symposium include therapy's role in heart failure management, leadership for front-line clinicians, and improving mobility through specificity and intensity  among others. For a full list of available courses and to register, please visit https://www.infinityrehab.com/symposium.

It is our mission to enhance the life of every person we serve, says Derek Fenwick, PT, MBA, GCS, Director of Professional Development. Infinity Rehab symposiums are our way of applying that mission to our clinicians and therapists not affiliated with infinity Rehab. As we advance our practice knowledge, we become even better equipped to help the individuals we serve regain their independence and comfort.

Mountain Continuing Education Symposium

April 22, 2017

Hyatt Regency

Aurora, CO

About Infinity Rehab

Established in 1999, Infinity Rehab is a leading provider of clinically intensive, comprehensive physical, occupational and speech therapy in sub-acute and long-term care environments. The company was founded and is led by a team of therapists. Infinity Rehab is a member of the Avamere Family of Companies and has operations in 13 states.
The abuse in this case was a "pervasive, manipulative violence that left few physical scars, but which was nonetheless severely damaging."

McLaughlin & Stern is pleased to announce an important victory in New York Federal Court in a case involving the application of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Hague Convention). In Davies v. Davies (16 CV 6542) a young mother, a U.S. citizen, escaped back to the U.S. with her child after suffering years of abuse by her husband in a foreign country. On Jan. 25, after a nine-day trial, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York declined to send the child and the mother back to the abusive husband. Based on the extensive evidence of psychological abuse presented at trial, the Court concluded that sending the child back would expose the child to "grave risk of psychological harm."

This decision recognizes what has long been known to psychologists and psychiatrists  that psychological abuse is every bit as dangerous and damaging as physical abuse, not only to the abused spouses but also to their children. As the Court aptly concluded, the abuse in this case was a "pervasive, manipulative violence that left few physical scars, but which was nonetheless severely damaging to the wife, and runs an almost certain risk of continuing to negatively affect [the child]." This is an important development for women and children who are victims of domestic violence.

The McLaughlin & Stern team was headed by the lead trial lawyer partner Valentina Shaknes, assisted by associate Justine Stringer, with contributions from partners Peter Alkalay and Linda Rosenthal, and associate Carly Krasner.

McLaughlin & Stern, LLP, established in 1898, is one of New Yorks most distinguished law firms. The firm provides a diverse range of sophisticated legal services to businesses and individuals and has particular expertise in corporate, securities, mergers and acquisitions, hedge funds, corporate finance, litigation and alternative dispute resolution, employment law, trusts and estates, real estate, intellectual property, bankruptcy and reorganization, tax, family and matrimonial law, health care law, art law, environmental law, maritime law, international law, and other private client matters.
On Friday, February 10, 2017 the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Dr. Paul Tartell and his practice, Paul B. Tartell, M.D., P.L., entered into a settlement agreement with the federal government wherein they must pay a total of $750,000 to resolve disputed claims related to billing for surgeries that allegedly either werent necessary or provided. Per the report, Case 1:14-cv-23954-CMA, the whistleblower, a former patient of Dr. Tartell, will receive $135,000 of the settlement money.

In the initial report, the DOJ mentioned that Tartell's company, Paul B. Tartell, M.D., P.L. was doing business as South Florida Sinus and Allergy Center, which was incorrect. As a result, the Director of the Center, Lee M. Mandel, M.D., F.A.C.S., who is the President of the Florida Society of Otolaryngology, has been responding to media reports and inquiries inaccurately associating Dr. Tartell, his practice, and the settlement with the South Florida Sinus and Allergy Center.

Dr. Mandel stresses that neither he nor South Florida Sinus and Allergy Center was under investigation for any of the fraudulent activity related to the settlement.

This morning, the DOJ corrected the report on its website removing the association between Dr. Tartell and the South Florida Sinus and Allergy Center.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/plantation-physician-and-physician-practice-pay-750000-resolve-false-claims-act

Additionally, upon learning of the erroneous nature of the DOJ report this Saturday, the South Florida Sun Sentinel updated its story indicating Dr. Tartells lack of association with Dr. Mandels current practice. Dr. Mandel is very grateful for the Sun Sentinels quick and professional response .

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-sb-plantation-doctor-settles-20170210-story.html
HAMPTON | More than 200 people attended a meeting Monday in Hampton evening to question local law enforcement officials about a decision to revoke Franklin Countys sanctuary policy for undocumented immigrants.

The North Iowa county has a large Latino population.

Franklin County Sheriff Linn Larson, who was elected in November, made that change on Jan. 23  three weeks after he was sworn into office and two days before President Donald Trump signed an executive order to defund sanctuary jurisdictions that refuse to comply with federal immigration law.

Larson said he changed the sanctuary policy because it forced him to pick and choose who I would work with as far as other law enforcement agencies, and as sheriff, I dont have the right to make that determination.

Robert Schaefer, the police chief in Hampton, said nothing will change for undocumented residents unless they commit a serious crime.

However, those at the meeting, which included many local immigrants, had lots of questions. They wanted to know if undocumented immigrants could face deportation if they are picked up for not having a valid Iowa drivers license or if they report a crime. Those in the audience also expressed concerns about racial profiling.

Some asked their questions in English, while others did so in Spanish. Questions in Spanish were translated by an interpreter.

Gunda Brost, an immigration lawyer from Cedar Rapids, said most undocumented immigrants are not a safety threat.

Brost said she knows people are being deported for driving without a valid license.

She also said Trumps executive order regarding sanctuary municipalities is likely to be overturned in court.

We are living in an atmosphere of trust and fear, Brost said. Communities need to decide which said they are on.

Larson was chief deputy under former Franklin County Sheriff Larry Richtsmeier, who did not seek re-election in November.

In 2014 the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa sent letters to sheriffs in all of Iowa's 99 counties telling them they were not required to honor Immigration and Customs Enforcement retainers without a warrant and they could be held liable if sued for violating the U.S. Constitution.

The letters were sent after the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia ruled that ICE cannot force local authorities to hold people without a warrant.

Shortly afterwards 23 Iowa sheriffs  including Richtsmeier  said they would not honor ICE detainer requests without a judges order.

Franklin County was the only North Iowa county on that sanctuary list.

Larson said his new policy simply states the Sheriffs Office will work with any law enforcement agencies that request assistance, noting this includes ICE.

He said if someone without legal status is stopped for a traffic violation, such as running a stop sign, he or she will be issued a citation and will have the option of seeing a judge or paying the fine, just like anyone else.

However, if an individual arrested on a criminal charge such as assault or theft and booked into the county jail is also suspected of being in the country illegally, local authorities will contact ICE to see if his or her status should be investigated, Larson said.

ICE then has 48 hours to decide if a federal warrant should be issued or if the individual should be released, according to Larson. The detainee remains in local custody while immigration officials make that decision, but he or she is under the authority of ICE, not local officials, he said.

Larson noted the Franklin County Jail can only hold people for 24 hours, and if people need to be held longer they are transported to the Hardin County Jail.

When asked about those charged during a traffic stop with not having a valid drivers license, which undocumented residents in Iowa are unable to obtain, Larson said it is not his intention to change the way tickets are handled.

However, he said any law enforcement officer in Iowa has the right to transport someone to jail for no drivers license rather than just issue a citation.

We call that officer discretion, Larson said.

Schaefer said he realizes most undocumented immigrants just want to be able to get to work and get their children to school, but We are supposed to uphold the laws.

Larson assured those in the audience that local officers will not walk down the street looking for people to identify as possibly being in the country illegally.

He also said individuals who report crimes will not be questioned about their legal status.

However, when asked if detainees undocumented family members who are not charged with local crimes could also be under risk of deportation, he said he couldnt answer for ICE.

Larson offered a similar answer when asked if those detained for 48 hours will have access to an attorney, but also said, that would seem like a right a person should have.

Sister Carmen Hernandez, director of the La Luz Hispana community center in Hampton, helped organize Mondays meeting.

I hope we can continue the conversation, she said.

Hernandez stressed the need for unity and encouraged those in the audience not to give up hope.

You make Hampton great, she said.
Six Waterford seniors named National Merit Finalists.

Six Waterford School seniors have been named as Finalists in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program. Lucas Briggs, Talbot Child, Sophia Gauthier, Randy Quarles, David Shen, and Alyssa Varghese are among one percent of high school students in the United States to be awarded this honor.

This year, 15,000 finalists were named in the National Merit Scholarship Programs 61st competition. A total of 1.5 million high school juniors initially entered the competition by taking the 2015 Preliminary SAT (PSAT) test.

To become a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program, students submitted detailed scholarship applications that included information about their academic records, co-curricular activities, leadership abilities, honors, awards and employment.

In March, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) will notify the 7,400 finalists selected to receive Merit Scholarship awards, worth $32 million.

The Waterford School

The Waterford School is a top college prep, liberal arts private school enrolling preschool and kindergarten, elementary, middle school and high school students from Salt Lake City, Holladay, Sandy, Draper, Park City, Utah County and throughout the Wasatch front.
Applied Predictive Technologies (APT) today announced that Plenus, a restaurant and bento box chain with a nationwide network of over 2,900 locations in Japan and 170 locations abroad, has signed an agreement to license APTs Test & Learn software. In addition to operating Hotto Motto, the leading home replacement meal brand in terms of sales and market share, Plenus also operates Yayoi Ken, a Japanese teishoku restaurant. Plenus will leverage APTs software to measure and improve key initiatives across pricing, marketing, the menu, and capital expenditures. Plenus has already utilized APTs software to further refine initiatives surrounding new menu item introductions and promotions, in addition to strategies on pricing.

Plenus Branding Director, Hideki Miyanaga, said of the relationship, As customer preferences diversify, it is vital for restaurants to evolve as well to accommodate these preferences. Restaurants are increasingly accelerating their level of innovation in areas such as menu items, in-restaurant experience, and sales and promotions. Using APTs software, we can identify the incremental profit impact of new initiatives while reducing the risks associated with new challenges. For example, we determined that the introduction of a new menu item caused an unexpected impact on sales of existing items. This helped us make more informed decisions regarding our menu offerings. When restaurants implement new initiatives, customers often react in ways that go beyond the intention of the company. APT helped us understand the mechanism behind such actions, enabling us to better meet the needs of our customers.

APT SVP Naohiko Oikawa also commented on the relationship, While some have argued that scientific decision-making based on experimentation hinders creativity, we believe the opposite is true. By embedding experimentation within decision-making, companies can not only maximize profits, but also encourage a culture of testing and fundamentally boost creativity within the organization. We are thrilled to be working with Plenus and look forward to helping them accelerate the speed of their decision-making processes and grow their business.

To learn more about APTs software, please visit http://www.predictivetechnologies.com.

About Plenus

Plenus entered the food business in 1980 and currently operates the Hotto Motto and Yayoi-ken brands with a nationwide network of over 2,900 stores in Japan. Hotto Motto is currently the leading home replacement meal brand in terms of both sales and market share. The Yayoi ken brand is actively expanding overseas and currently has franchises in Thailand, Singapore, Australia, Taiwan and USA. Since its founding in 1980, Plenus has maintained the customer first credo, and has taken it upon itself to think from the customers point of view and respect the customers feelings in operating its business of offering freshly prepared, enjoyable food. Through food, Plenus will bring greater satisfaction to people throughout Japan and the world.

About APT

APT, a Mastercard Company, is a leading cloud-based analytics software company that enables organizations to rapidly and precisely measure cause-and-effect relationships between business initiatives and outcomes to generate economic value. Our intuitive and proprietary Test & Learn software utilizes sophisticated algorithms to analyze large amounts of data, enabling business leaders to conduct experiments and allowing them to make optimal decisions and implement business initiatives at scale. APT also offers products that support decision-making for specific business needs including transaction analysis, space planning, promotion design, category management and location selection. APT has offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, London, Bentonville, Taipei, Tokyo, Sydney, Chicago, and New York. Visit http://www.predictivetechnologies.com to learn more.
Ellevate Network women in Orange County are networking to make a difference. We are thrilled to be launching an Ellevate chapter in Orange County. There is a vibrant community of incredibly accomplished women in business in the area, and were committed to providing them a platform to network with and learn from one another.

Ellevate Network, the nations leading network for professional women, is launching an Orange County chapter on February 15th in Costa Mesa, California.

With more than 40 chapters globally, Ellevate Network provides ambitious professional women with opportunities to connect with one another locally in order to expand their network and develop their skills to be successful at work. The launch of the Orange County chapter will mark the addition of the fourth chapter of Ellevate Network in California (including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego).

Judith Lukomski, OC Ellevate Chapter Co-President and Founder of Transitions Today Performance Consulting, said of the chapter launch: "California ranks as the 8th largest economy in the world in part because of the significant contribution of women in the workplace. Women are claiming leadership roles, starting businesses, and creating non-profits at a record pace. Ellevate affords OC professional women a unique opportunity to connect locally, nationally and globally, to learn from and invest in one another."

Chapter Co-President, employment law attorney Susan Arduengo of Friedman Stroffe & Gerard, P.C. added: Orange County is a growing hub for global, national, and regional business. We are thrilled to provide Orange County businesswomen with the platform to connect with like- minded women across many industries in this community.

The launch event will be held at Avenue of the Arts Hotel in Costa Mesa, California, and will feature a fireside chat with former Mayor of Newport Beach Diane Dixon and Ellevate Network President Kristy Wallace on The Importance of Womens Leadership and Connection.

Diane Dixon is the former Mayor of Newport Beach. Diane enjoyed a 30-year career as a senior executive in a Fortune 500 public company where she managed the intersection of business and government. She has been committed to community leadership for nearly four decades serving on the boards of the United Way, YMCA, public television, USC Board of Councilors and Alumni Association, and more.

Ellevate Network President Kristy Wallace said, We are thrilled to be launching an Ellevate chapter in Orange County. There is a vibrant community of incredibly accomplished women in business in the area, and were committed to providing them a platform to network with and learn from one another. Were looking forward to great things to come in the area!

There will be light refreshments and door prizes from local businesses like Avenue of the Arts Hotel (One Night Stay and Breakfast for Two), Kendra Scott, SoulCycle Newport Beach, DVF, Leatherby's Cafe Rouge of Patina Restaurant Group, Twenty Eight Restaurant, Mastro's, Spa Gregorie's, Cucina Enoteca, RA Yoga, Zinque, SEVEN Haircare, Sushi Roku, Purre Barre, Saint Marc, Skin Laundry, CorePower Yoga at the event, as well as the opportunity to meet high achieving professional Orange County women and share a glass of wine. Attendees will have the chance to learn more about Ellevate Network membership and discuss important tips for personal and professional success.

About Ellevate Network: Ellevate Network is a global professional women's network committed to elevating each other through education, inspiration, and opportunity. Our mission is to close the gender achievement gap in business by providing women with a community to lean on and learn from.

Details of the event: Wednesday, February 15th, 5:45pm to 8:00pm $35 for members, $45 for non-members at Avenue of the Arts Hotel. Register here.
Conversica, the leader in artificial intelligence-powered business conversations, announced today that its flagship product, the Conversica AI Sales Assistant, has won the annual Awards.AI Global Achievement Award for Artificial Intelligence, recognized as Best AI in the Enterprise.

The Conversica AI Sales Assistant was honored for leveraging AI to revolutionize the sales process. The Conversica platform has powered millions of human-like conversations on behalf of tens of thousands of sales representatives worldwide, doing so with a 95 percent autonomous message handling rate.

Conversica is honored to be recognized by Awards.AI and the AI community, said Werner Koepf, SVP of Engineering at Conversica. At Conversica we apply best-of-breed natural language processing and natural language generation to solve real-world lead generation and nurturing challenges. Its an innovative solution to a real business problem, and, as a result, we are enjoying unparalleled success and recognition.

In addition to its flagship AI Sales Assistant, Conversica has developed AI-powered assistants that automate other important business conversations, including customer service management and customer success management.

Awards.AI, the first and biggest global annual achievement awards for artificial intelligence, celebrates the various achievements of the AI community in developing new algorithms, products and services across different categories and industries.

Other awards and honors recently received by Conversica include the AWA Award for Excellence in Fixed Operations Process by PCG Consulting, the Inc. 5000 List of Americas Fastest Growing Private Companies, and the CRM Excellence Award from CUSTOMER Magazine.

About Conversica

Conversica is the leader in AI-powered business conversations and the only provider of AI-driven lead engagement software for marketing and sales organizations. The flagship Conversica AI Sales Assistant helps companies find and secure customers more quickly and efficiently by automatically contacting, engaging, qualifying and following up with leads via natural, two-way email conversations. Conversica is used by more than 16,000 salespeople worldwide to optimize sales team productivity. Recognized by Gartner as a Cool Vendor, Conversica is a portfolio company of Providence Strategic Growth, Kennet Partners and Toba Capital and is headquartered in Foster City, Calif.

To learn more, visit conversica.com and follow the company on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

About Awards.AI

Awards.AI is the first and biggest global annual achievement awards for artificial intelligence. Our focus is to support the AI community by recognizing the hard work and dedication of those working in the field. This year we have awarded across 17 categories, highlighting achievements in a number of industries and ranging from start-ups to established companies and individuals.

Founded in 2015, Awards.AI is part of the Informed.AI Media Group, which runs a number of community websites supporting the area of Artificial Intelligence. Our manifesto is to help support those interested to learn more about the field of AI, from students to academic researchers and everyone in-between. Other websites in our network include homeAI.info, Events.AI and Neurons.AI.

Contact:

Sara Black

Bospar

(213) 618-1501

sara(at)bospar(dot)com

###
BigID Inc. has today announced the general availability and pricing plans of its enterprise privacy management platform. Founded in early 2016, the company has sparked much interest in their innovative and up-to-the-minute approach of critical data management issues. The companys technology seeks to help enterprises better protect the privacy of their customers' personal data through the application of machine learning and identity intelligence to data privacy. With the success of its early access beta program, their pioneer data privacy solution will now be more widely available.

New privacy regulations like the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) are confronting enterprises with potential fines reaching 4% of their global revenue for not meeting specific requirements around customer and employee data rights. BigID is the first ground up data intelligence platform that provides the centralized view into personal and private data distributed across data repositories required in order to meet EU GDPR requirements such as data subject rights, automating simplifying Privacy Impact Assessments, ensuring prompt and accurate breach response and tracking privacy requirements around consent, residency, X-border flows and retention. Using BigID enterprises can satisfy GDPR and similar regulations while also enhancing personal data breach prevention, detection, defense and response. This release comes at a particularly pivotal point as 2016 saw a record number of personal record data breaches.

It has become increasingly difficult for companies to stay ahead of data breaches. As a reaction to this, many countries have introduced new regulations that place an unprecedented level of accountability on enterprises for the personal data they collect with penalties that can reach 10% of overall global revenue, said Dimitri Sirota CEO and Co-Founder of BigID. Our platform provides a data-centered solution that helps companies meet new data protection and privacy challenges.

The company will be demonstrating its personal data protection and privacy solution at the Early Stage Expo at the RSA Conference (intercontinental Hotel) Feb. 14-16, Booth #16. For more information contact info(at)bigid(dot)com or visit bigid.com.

About BigID Inc.

BigID aims to transform how enterprise protect and manage the privacy of personal data. Organizations are facing record breaches of personal information and proliferating global privacy regulations with fines reaching 4% of annual revenue. Today enterprises lack dedicated purpose built technology to help them track and govern their customer data. By bringing data science to data privacy, BigID aims to give enterprises the software to safeguard and steward the most important asset organizations manage: their customer data. BigID has offices in the US and Israel and is founded by security industry veterans spanning the identity, data security, big data and governance markets. To learn more visit bigid.com or @bigidsecure.
BEST IN KLAS Software & Services 2017 January 2017  KLAS Enterprises LLC. All Rights Reserved

The 2017 Best in KLAS: Software and Services report, published January 31, 2017, ranks healthcare vendors and their solutions on customer satisfaction based on thousands of interviews with the healthcare professionals who use them. In this years report, INFINITT PACS ranked #1 in PACS (Community Hospital) category, #2 in PACS (Imaging Centers/Ambulatory) category and #3 in PACS (Large Hospital/IDN) category. INFINITT PACS has been a category leader in the annual KLAS report eight times in since 2009.

It is no accident that INFINITT consistently ranks at the top of the charts, said David Smarro, INFINITT North America President and CEO.

INFINITT develops its software in-house, retaining the highest level of expertise with each product it brings to market. This allows INFINITT to respond quickly to customer requests and fosters a commitment to customers that you seldom see when a company acquires someone elses technology.

As a 2017 Category Leader, INFINITT PACS had an overall performance score of 92.7 out of 100.

About KLAS

KLAS is a research firm on a global mission to improve healthcare delivery by enabling providers to be heard and counted. Working with thousands of healthcare professionals and clinicians, KLAS gathers data on software, services and medical equipment to deliver timely reports, trends and statistical overviews. The research directly represents the provider voice and acts as a catalyst for improving vendor performance. To learn more about KLAS and our reports, visit http://www.KLASresearch.com.

About INFINITT North America

INFINITT North America is a wholly-owned subsidiary of INFINITT Healthcare, a global company with more than 4500 PACS installations worldwide. INFINITT's enterprise imaging solutions include RIS, PACS, Cardiology Suite, Mammography PACS, Dental PACS and 3D/Advanced Visualization software, all operating on a unified platform. INFINITT PACS has been a category leader in Best in KLAS Awards: Software and Services eight times since 2009: 2009-2012 in the Community Hospital category, 2013 in the Ambulatory category, 2015/2016 in both Community and Ambulatory categories, and in the Community Hospital category again in 2017. For more information, call 877-387-6960 or visit http://www.infinittna.com.

2017 Best in KLAS : Software and Services 2017 KLAS Enterprises, LLC. All rights reserved.
Drs. Marianne Urbanski and Gregory Toback, New London, CT Periodontists, Celebrate American Heart Month

In honor of American Heart Month, Drs. Gregory Toback and Marianne Urbanski are helping their patients understand the relationship between periodontal disease, heart disease and other systemic health problems. Research shows that people with untreated gum disease are at greater risk for developing or exacerbating heart conditions. Fortunately, Drs. Toback and Urbanski, who are respected periodontists in New London, CT, are now accepting new patients for the LANAP protocol, a leading form of laser periodontal disease treatment.

Although further research into the link between periodontal disease and heart disease is needed, current findings suggest that the chronic inflammation resulting from periodontal disease can put victims at risk for various serious health problems. In addition to heart disease, these conditions include stroke and diabetes.

Studies have also shown that gum disease can have adverse effects on existing conditions, including worsening heart disease and making it more difficult for diabetics to manage their blood sugar. Many Americans may be at risk for these complications. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states, over 47 percent of U.S. adults over the age of 30, or more than 64 million Americans, suffer from periodontal disease.

To help address this risk, Drs. Toback and Urbanski, who specialize in periodontal procedures, are making the LANAP protocol available to more patients. This procedure, which uses a dental laser rather than traditional surgical tools, removes diseased gum tissue without incisions or sutures. Due to the minimally invasive nature of this technique, the risk of complications that require further care from a periodontist in New London, CT, is very low. With this procedure and appropriate follow-up care, the doctors can stop the progression of periodontal disease and help patients avoid related complications.

For further information about the LANAP protocol and its benefits, patients can visit the website of Shoreline Periodontics at http://www.shorelineperio.com. New patients who are ready to schedule consultations about gum disease treatment with a periodontist in New London, CT, are also welcome to directly call the office at 860-443-2428.

About the Practice

Shoreline Periodontics is a periodontal practice offering personalized dental care for patients since 1998 and is located in New London, CT and Westerly, RI. Leading periodontist, Dr. Gregory A. Toback, received his B.A. from St. Johns University and his Doctorate of Dental Medicine from the University of Connecticut. He also received advanced training in periodontics and dental implants at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Dr. Toback focuses on minimally invasive surgeries, offering the LANAP protocol and belongs to a small group of dental professionals currently providing the Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique for treatment of gum recession. Dr. Marianne Urbanski has been voted one of Connecticuts top dentists for more than seven years by Connecticut Magazine. Dr. Urbanski graduated cum laude from the College of Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts where she earned a Bachelors degree in Biology. She also received her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree and her Masters of Dental Science degree from the University of Connecticut Dental School. Dr. Urbanski prides herself on offering caring, professional care to each patient. To learn more about Shoreline Periodontics and their dental services visit their website at http://www.shorelineperio.com or call 860-443-2428 for the New London, CT location, or 401-596-0000 for the Westerly, RI office.
Akonni Biosystems, a molecular diagnostics (MDx) company that develops, manufactures, and intends to market integrated MDx systems, announced today the appointments of key members to its leadership team. Michael Murphy, M.Sc. joined as Vice President, Regulatory Affairs; Sandra Foster, Ph.D. as Director of Quality Assurance and Michael Reinemann, MPH as Director of Business Development. The new additions to Akonnis leadership team fill critical gaps needed to ensure Akonnis successful commercialization of its robust product lines. These experienced individuals further strengthen Akonnis leadership team as the company prepares for its first FDA submission for a pharmacogenomic test on the Akonni TruDiagnosis system.

Michael Murphy is an industry pioneer and thought-leader in the field of Pharmacogenomics, with more than 33 years of scientific and business experience. He is a serial entrepreneur in the personalized medicine space and in 1997 was founder of Intek Labs, the first international Pharmacogenomics company. Following the acquisition of Intek Labs by PPD, Inc., Mr. Murphy was the co-founder, President and CEO of Gentris Corporation. Gentris was acquired by Cancer Genetics Inc. in 2015 while Mr. Murphy served on the Board of Directors at Gentris. In 2007, Gentris spun off its diagnostic group and Mr. Murphy served as the President and CEO of ParagonDx, one of the first companies to win FDA clearance of a Rapid Genotyping Kit for patients taking the anticoagulant, Warfarin. He has also held Executive Vice President management positions with PPGx and Clingenix. Prior to joining Akonni, Mr. Murphy served for 7 years as President of Conatus Consulting, a regulatory consulting practice based in Raleigh, NC. Mr. Murphy is a frequent lecturer and author on Pharmacogenomic topics, and currently sits on the editorial review board of the journal, Pharmacogenomics. He has been responsible for over 15 successful 510(k) submissions, FDA audits and inspections. He brings the expertise in FDA regulations and Quality Management Systems for medical devices that Akonni needs to advance its commercialization and registration efforts.

Sandra Foster brings a unique blend of scientific knowledge and quality experience. She began her scientific career as a Medical Technologist (MT, ASCP), working in hospital laboratories. From the clinical lab she transitioned to research before going to graduate school. She earned a Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, followed by a post-doctoral fellowship at Duke University. Dr. Foster spent 12 years in clinical-phase biotechnology companies in roles of increasing responsibility from pre-clinical research and product design and development, to directing the manufacture of clinical trial materials and leading Quality Assurance and Regulatory Compliance. She designed ISO 14644-compliant clean room facilities for the manufacture of cellular therapy products for clinical trials, and implemented quality systems to support those activities. She designed, wrote and implemented process validations, operator qualifications, aseptic process simulations, comparability protocols, and authored multiple CMC sections for INDs. Immediately prior to joining Akonni, Dr. Foster owned her own consulting company, Triangle GxP Solutions, LLC as well as worked collaboratively with Mr. Murphy at Conatus. Client projects included translating R&D protocols into cGMP compliant SOPs, implementing quality systems, conducting client staff training, BLA, and pre-approval inspection (PAI) readiness. In her role as Director of Quality Assurance for Akonni, she leads design control efforts for product development, manages Device History Files, and prepares Akonnis first audit for ISO 13485 Certification and FDA submission.

Michael Reinemann has an exceptional track record of developing and implementing strategic, data-driven marketing and sales initiatives for diagnostic products resulting in strong double-digit growth and increased market share. Mr. Reinemann brings a diverse background, with experience in both technical and business roles. While earning his Masters in Public Health at Columbia University in New York and working at the Mailman School of Public Healths Center for Infection and Immunity, Mr. Reinemann worked on pioneering research projects in immunotherapy and pathogen discovery, and implemented cutting-edge technologies for highly multiplexed analysis and next-generation sequencing. Prior to joining Akonni in June of 2016, Mr. Reinemann served in various Commercial Operations roles at Qiagen. During his time at Qiagen, Mr. Reinemann led marketing and sales efforts that accelerated the growth of what has become the companys single biggest revenue-contributing product. As Regional Marketing Manager of North America, Mr. Reinemanns achievements included year-over-year growth of 55%, and the introduction of innovative co-marketing initiatives with strategic accounts, resulting in customer-specific growth of 75%. As Senior Global Product Manager, Mr. Reinemann managed a $150M product line with an annual growth rate of 25%, leading cross-functional project teams on commercial efforts as well as product development and product launches. His international business experience positions Akonni for success as the company navigates late-stage product development, registration, and commercialization of its technologies.

We are very excited to announce these essential additions to Akonnis leadership team, said Charles Daitch, Ph.D., President and CEO of Akonni Biosystems. Each of these talented individuals bring valuable experience, demonstrated core competencies and dynamic industry insights from successful careers in clinical diagnostics. Our ability to hire people of this caliber speaks to the competitiveness of our product lines and their readiness to move expeditiously through the regulatory process. We are confident that we have the expertise needed to achieve our first FDA clearance and successful commercial launch of our TruDiagnosis platform.

Akonni is aggressively pursuing regulatory clearance of two product platforms  the TruDx2000 platform and the TruTip Automated Workstation. TruDx2000 is Akonnis modular version of the TruDiagnosis system, consisting of TruArray three-dimensional (3D) gel-drop microarray diagnostic test devices and the TruDx Imager, complete with custom software for data analysis and reporting; the TruDx2000 can be bundled with or without the TruTip sample prep workstation depending on the needs of each clinical lab. The TruArray microfluidic device incorporates new, proprietary on-chip PCR technology, resulting in a much more user-friendly workflow, multiplexed detection, and a closed-amplicon system that virtually eliminates the risk of PCR contamination. The proprietary 3D gel-drop microarray nano-test-tubes can be tailored to detect genetic, protein or metabolite markers, providing the potential for access to a much broader range of diagnostic information from a single platform. The TruTip Automated Workstation is a small, affordable, fully-automated benchtop instrument. TruTip is a revolutionary technology that simplifies sample preparation by combining the complex protocols of DNA or RNA purification into just a few easy steps. The TruTip Automated Workstation is Akonnis new nucleic acid purification instrument, which, in addition to blood and saliva, can homogenize and purify difficult samples such as sputum, stool and tissue.

For more information visit: http://www.akonni.com

About Akonni Biosystems

Akonni Biosystems was founded in 2003 and has been issued 17 US and 24 International patents primarily covering sample preparation, microfluidic devices, bioinstrumentation, and integrated systems. Product development has been supported by a series of government grants and contracts from NIH, CDC, DOE, DOD, NIJ, and NSF. The company significantly advanced the original technology by improving the systems capabilities from sample preparation to test result. Commercial products in Akonnis near-term pipeline include rapid sample preparation technologies for nucleic acid extraction and multiplex panel assays for detecting clinically relevant genotypes for pharmacogenomics, human chronic diseases, and genotypes for infectious diseases such as multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB), upper respiratory infections, viral encephalitis, and hospital-acquired infections (MRSA).
B2BGateway, a global EDI solution provider, and Skubana, an up and coming eCommerce ERP provider, today announced a partnership to provide cloud-based, fully-integrated EDI solutions to Skubana users.

As a global organization, founded in 1999, with offices in North America, Europe, Australia and China, B2BGateway supports all internationally recognized EDI standards and protocols that may be required by the Skubana user, including but not limited to ANSI X12, EDIFACT, Tradacoms, XML, sFTP, VAN and AS2. By fully integrating with Skubana through cloud based technology, B2BGateway is able to remove the need for the Skubana user to re-key data. This, in turn, leads to greater accuracy, increased labor efficiencies and it expedites the order-to-payment cash cycle from customers.

Skubana, founded by Chad Rubin, manages all back-end e-commerce operations in one place, including order processing, shipping, inventory management, fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), vendor management and cross channel analytics. It is truly everything a seller would need to build a successful and profitable business, no matter if you're selling on one channel or several. No longer will you be consumed with chasing after errors and overselling/underselling.

B2BGateway is excited to partner with Skubana, states Louisa Gooding, Director of Sales & Strategic Relationships at B2BGateway, By using B2BGateways EDI solutions the Skubana user will be able to integrate seamlessly with all parties in their supply chain, be it the online marketplaces (Amazon, eBay), third party logistics (3PLs), manufacturers and traditional box store retailers (Walmart, Toys R Us, Target.). Our full integration removes the need for the Skubana user to re-key data which leads to greater accuracy and faster payment from customers.

Our integration with B2BGateway has been something weve been looking forward to doing for a long time. Weve been able to connect with other companies the usual way, API, FTP, etc. but now that we have been able to partner with B2BGateway we can now use cloud based EDI to integrate with tons of other softwares and companies" added Chad Rubin, CEO of Skubana. "We feel this is going to help us bring Skubana to the next level for our customers and allow us to provide a better product. Traditionally a lot of digitally native brands were B2C but a lot of them have started making BIG moves to B2B and EDI helps us support this transition in the industry.

About Skubana: Skubana provides a unified solution to control the entire e-commerce operation lifecycle without the need to glue together multiple software platforms. For further information please visit http://www.skubana.com

About B2BGateway: B2BGateway is a world leader in the provision of cloud-based, fully-integrated EDI and automated supply chain solutions. Headquartered in Boston, MA with additional offices in Europe, Australia and China, B2BGateway offers clients 24/7 customer support with each client having their own designated setup team. B2BGateways EDI solutions are simple to use, competitively priced, highly effective and can increase profitability by reducing the costs associated with manual data entry errors. For further information please visit http://www.B2BGateway.Net or call + 1 401 491 9595.
Cardplatforms We did an exhaustive search for a partner that could deliver a solution that met our high standards and those of our clients. Cardplatforms was the clear choice.

Cardplatforms, a rapidly growing provider of payroll and corporate prepaid card solutions, announced that it has added LawCash, a pioneer of the legal funding industry, and Esquire Payment Solutions, to its roster of clients. This multiyear contract makes Cardplatforms the exclusive program manager of all branded prepaid debit card programs as well as the provider of other payment options for LawCash and Esquire Payment Solutions.

When LawCash opened its doors almost two decades ago, it helped start a new industry. Now they are the nations premier pre-settlement funding company. LawCash and Esquire Payment Solutions selected Cardplatforms to provide a more convenient and safer way for plaintiffs to receive pre-settlement advances, Social Security disability payments and litigation settlement awards. For attorneys, the program will give them a flexible set of tools, accessible through a secure online portal, to seamlessly administer settlement funding to their clients. Administrators for class action and mass tort settlements will also be able to use industry leading payments technology to efficiently disburse payments to large groups of plaintiffs.

LawCash and Esquire Payment Solutions are innovators and we are excited to partner with them, said Jeff Foster, CEO, Cardplatforms. There are billions of dollars in legal settlements awarded each year in the US. Today, administering those funds can be complicated and cumbersome for both attorneys and their clients  who are often in desperate need of the money to pay bills or get overdue medical care. This program will streamline that process and make it safer, faster and more convenient for all parties involved.

Nothing is more important after a legal settlement than getting the plaintiff paid quickly and easily, commented Dennis Shields, CEO, LawCash. We did an exhaustive search for a partner that could deliver a solution that met our high standards and those of our clients. Cardplatforms was the clear choice. The expertise of their team and quality of their technology platform will allow us to provide our clients with the best possible card program.

About Cardplatforms

Cardplatforms is a South Florida-based company, founded in 2010 by payment technology, marketing, and banking executives. Cardplatforms issues Mastercard, Visa and Discover prepaid cards in the US, primarily for payroll, corporate expenditures and incentives. The company provides virtual banking to all of its cardholders, vertically integrated support solutions, employer and corporate portals and comprehensive reporting and reconciliation tools to its customers. The company maintains offices in Boca Raton, FL and Salt Lake City, UT. Learn more at cardplatforms.com.
NASHUA  Anna Marvin, 94, of Nashua, died Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, at the New Hampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

A funeral Mass will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Nashua with Father Gary Mayer celebrating the Mass.

Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Charles City.

Visitation will be held from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at Hauser Funeral Home with a Rosary beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Visitation will continue one hour prior to the funeral Mass at the church on Thursday.

Hauser Funeral Home in Charles City is in charge of local arrangements.
Chaffin Luhana Joins AAJ's Leaders Forum

Chaffin Luhana LLP, a national plaintiffs-only law firm, is pleased to announce that it has joined the American Association for Justices (AAJs) Leaders Forum, and will now be taking part in the non-profit groups activities to promote safety and corporate accountability.

Leaders Forum firms make a difference in their communities by holding powerful corporations responsible for protecting public safety, and by increasing awareness of important issues such as medical negligence and dangerous and deadly products. Chaffin Luhanas mission to Do Good by Doing Right fits well with AAJs work to support individuals and their families, and to ensure that every person has access to justice.

AAJ established the Leaders Forum over ten years ago to help spread the message of fairness for injured persons and to increase efforts to safeguard victims rights. Eric Chaffin, founding member and managing partner of the Chaffin Luhana law firm, expressed his eagerness to join with other forum members to advocate for important issues affecting the firms clients.

By becoming members of AAJs Leaders Forum, he said, well be in a better position to expand our reach when it comes to protecting individual rights. AAJ advocates on certain issues before Congress and federal agencies, taking family concerns all the way to the top where laws can be changed and corporations held accountable. Were looking forward to doing our part in helping to reach these goals, and to capitalizing on the additional educational and networking opportunities the forum provides for our firm, and by extension, our clients.

AAJs values are aligned with Chaffin Luhanas core values to stand up against corporate greed on behalf of everyday people to make sure their voices are heard and their injustices are addressed, said Partner Roopal Luhana.

AAJ started out as the National Association of Claimants Compensation Attorneys (NACCA) back in the 1950s, when their main goal was to secure strong representation for victims of industrial accidents. They emerged as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA) in 1977, and expanded their work to protect the right to trial by jury.

In 2006, they changed their name again to the American Association for Justice, and today stand as a robust international coalition of attorneys, law professors, paralegals, and law students seeking to strengthen the civil justice system.

The move is a timely one by the Chaffin Luhana firm, as corporate cover-ups that put public safety at risk are ongoing. Just recently, air bag manufacturer Takata pled guilty to wire fraud and agreed to a $1 billion settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over their defective air bags (United States of America v. Takata Corporation Case No. 16-20810). Emails exchanged between members of management revealed efforts within the company to manipulate air bag test data to hide evidence of problems. As a result, three former Takata employees have been indicted for wire fraud and conspiracy. Takata air bags have been linked to over 16 deaths and nearly 200 injuries worldwide.

Theyre actually going out and covering up to auto manufacturers as well as to safety administrators whats going on with the testing of these products, Chaffin recently told CBS News on KDKA, Pittsburgh. Thats one of the most reprehensible parts of this that the Justice Department is going after.

Chaffin Luhana can now be found on AAJs Leaders Forum Directory, at https://directory.justice.org.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

About Chaffin Luhana:

Chaffin Luhana LLP has a long and successful history of protecting the rights of those affected by the serious side effects of pharmaceutical drugs and medical products. Partners Eric Chaffin and Roopal Luhana represent high-profile cases in federal and state courts across the country, and provide new online resource centers for clients and the public.

To date, Mr. Chaffin and Ms. Luhana have been involved in recovering over $1 billion for their clients during the course of their careers, and the firm itself has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for individually injured plaintiffs. Though unable to guarantee results, the firm has a distinguished track record of success and is highly committed to each case.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury that may be related to a medication or medical device, contact Chaffin Luhana LLP for a free and confidential case review at 1-888-480-1123, or visit their website at http://www.chaffinluhana.com.
"Combine these improvements with the fact that we can offer Workers Compensation coverage, and we are now one of the few nonprofit programs available that offer all coverage lines," says Riley Binford, Executive Vice President of Charity First.

Property and casualty program manager Charity First Insurance Services, Inc. is transitioning its nonprofit and social service business to Nova Casualty Company, an AM Bests A XV rated specialty program carrier and a member of AIX Group.

This move is very exciting. It comes as part of Charity Firsts commitment to continuous improvement, and it brings a number of benefits to the program we offer independent agents and brokers and ultimately the insured, says Riley Binford, Executive Vice President of Charity First.

The move will enable Charity First to offer higher umbrella and sexual abuse limits of insurance. With increased umbrella and sexual abuse capacity, we are now able to look at accounts we were never able to compete on before, says Binford. In addition, weve improved our property and GL forms. We feel we have one of the best products available for agents and brokers to offer nonprofits. Combine these improvements with the fact that we can offer Workers Compensation coverage, and we are now one of the few nonprofit programs available that offer all coverage lines."

Additional benefits include a streamlined underwriting process, as well as highly competitive pricing. The program can accommodate risks on a countrywide basis.

Most insureds can expect to see an improvement over their existing coverages, adds Robert Schultz, President of AIX Group. The transition will significantly expand our ability to provide coverage and capacity in the nonprofit and social service sectors.

About Charity First Insurance Services, Inc.

Charity First is a program manager in the property and casualty insurance industry, offering insurance programs to independent agents and brokers. Its focus is serving the unique needs of its agency partners, nonprofit organizations, religious institutions, and for-profit companies that provide social services and programs. For more information, please visit CharityFirst.com.
Attorney Lance R. Fryrear Since we are a small firm, I have had the wonderful opportunity to work closely with a boss who truly values his role as mentor. He has worked with me to provide fantastic experiences so I have been able to grow as an attorney. Past News Releases RSS Law Office of Lance R. Fryrear...

Law Office of Lance R. Fryrear...

Attorney Lance R. Fryrear...

Lance R. Fryrear, founder of the Law Office of Lance R. Fryrear, is proud to announce the criminal defense law firm has a new addition: associate attorney Britt Birkenbuel. I chose to work for Lance because I know the kind of hard work he puts in for his clients, said Birkenbuel. He goes above and beyond to find the best outcome possible. Hes an excellent advocate for his clients. Lance is also a great mentor and encourages me to think outside the box and push myself to learn and grow for the benefit of myself and for our clients.

In addition to Birkenbuel joining the firm, associate attorney Prairie Cloutier is celebrating her fifth anniversary with the Law Office of Lance R. Fryrear. She was originally hired to help manage Fryrears busy caseload, and today does a lot more in-depth work on cases and handles many of the Department of Licensing hearings.

I love working with Lance, said Cloutier. He has a different background than I do (he was a prosecutor), so I have learned a lot about how prosecutors think. Since we are a small firm, I have had the wonderful opportunity to work closely with a boss who truly values his role as mentor. He has worked with me to provide fantastic experiences so I have been able to grow as an attorney.

About Lance R. Fryrear, Law Office of Lance R. Fryrear

Lance R. Fryrear is a criminal defense attorney serving the criminally accused in the Seattle metro area. He has obtained positive results for 3,000-plus defense clients over the past fifteen years. Mr. Fryrear is a member of the Federal Bar Association, Washington State Bar Association, Snohomish County Bar Association and National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys. For more information, please call (425) 224-7075, or visit http://www.washingtoncriminaldefensefirm.com. The law office is located at 19401 40th Ave. W., Suite 340, Lynnwood, WA 98036.

About the NALA

The NALA offers small and medium-sized businesses effective ways to reach customers through new media. As a single-agency source, the NALA helps businesses flourish in their local community. The NALAs mission is to promote a business relevant and newsworthy events and achievements, both online and through traditional media. For media inquiries, please call 805.650.6121, ext. 361.
Traveler on Discover Corps volunteer tour to Cuba Politics aside, it is our mission to promote cross cultural understanding. We believe it makes the world a safer place.

San Diego-based tour company, Discover Corps, will launch four new tours to Cuba this coming weekend at the Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show. Discover Corps, known for its international volunteer vacations and cultural travel packages, has seen a spike in the number of bookings to Cuba. Because of this, they are launching four new legal trips to Cuba focusing on arts, culture, nature, and volunteering.

New Legal Cuba Small Group Tours



Havana Weekend Getaway - four day overview of culture and life in Havana.

Building Bridges  eight day family-friendly volunteer vacation promoting community development in Havana.

Celebration of Arts & Culture  eight day cultural immersion visiting Havana, Trinidad, and Cienfuegos.

Preserving Natures Wonders - weeklong exploration of Vinales Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and other natural wonders.

Cloud of Political Uncertainty

All trips qualify as people-to-people programs, and are therefore permitted under current State Department regulations. However during the recent Presidential campaign then-candidate Donald Trump said that he would reverse Obamas policy unless Cuba meets our demands. Vice President Pence has gone even further: Let me make you a promise, he said to a crowd in Miami before the election, when Donald Trump is president of the United States, we will repeal Obamas executive orders on Cuba.

Nevertheless, Discover Corps intends to proceed regardless of the looming specter that legal travel will shut down.

We believe that authentic interaction between the Cuban people and American travelers will build bridges of understanding between our nations  and this is fundamentally a good thing. Our travelers tell us that our trips helped them gain deeper insight into Cuba than what they have ever seen on television, said Discover Corps Founder, Andrew Motiwalla. We guarantee to all of our clients that in the event the Trump Administration ends legal travel to Cuba, we will refund 100% of all monies paid.

The Nations Largest Travel Show

Discover Corps selected The Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show to unveil their new trips because it is the largest travel show in the United States. The show is on February 18th and 19th and features celebrity travel industry speakers such as Andrew Zimmern, Rick Steves, Pauline Frommer, and Peter Greenberg. Discover Corps will be raffling off one free roundtrip air ticket from Los Angeles to Havana.

About Discover Corps

Discover Corps is a socially conscious travel company that specializes in cultural immersion and volunteer vacations. In addition to tours to Cuba, family travel is one of the company's fastest-growing segments. The company operates programs in 16 countries throughout Africa, Asia, Australia, and Latin America.
"We believe our company size makes us unique. We are large enough to take care of a large commercial property damage issue, but not so large that we would turn away smaller projects." Catherine Gibson, Business Development Manager.

VanDam & Krusinga Building & Restoration this year celebrates 55 years in business serving Grand Rapids and the surrounding region. The company was opened in 1962 by two local tradesmen who realized the need for a structural restoration service following natural or manmade disasters. It has since grown to provide reliable evaluation and repair estimates to insurance adjusters so owners can quickly rebuild.

The company today makes use of its 55 years of experience taking care of clients homes and businesses after a property damage event. They can provide nearly all building trade services including demolition, debris removal, electrical, plumbing, roofing and carpentry, among others. Attaining a prompt return to normalcy following a disaster is a company hallmark.

"We love serving the west Michigan area as there is a real need for a restoration business that can handle all aspects of a property damage," said Catherine Gibson, the companys business development manager. "We handle all parts of the claim from restoration and remodeling to emergency and mitigation services, she continued. We believe our company size makes us unique. We are large enough to take care of a large commercial property damage issue, but not so large that we would turn away smaller projects."

Once a damaged structure is deemed safe to enter by fire, police or other municipal authorities, VanDam and Krusinga specialists begin to stabilize it. The company safely removes water, smoke, odor and stains. The process then advances to structural drying, boarding windows and doors, repairing or covering damaged roofs, electrical repair and restoring heating systems. Following stabilization, a detailed restoration estimate is prepared and submitted to insurance providers.

The company is located at 1925 Century Ave. SW, Grand Rapids, Mich., 49503. Their telephone number is 616-217-2517. You can visit them online at http://www.vk1call.com.

Bringing 55 years of experience to Grand Rapids and the surrounding western Michigan area, VanDam & Krusinga is the region's building and restoration specialist. The firm handles many types of structural damage, natural or manmade, including complete stabilization, insurance submission and restoration and repair services. The companys accumulated knowledge of complex insurance requirements and their wide array of contractor services makes them ideal for returning damaged structures back to normal following a disaster.
Kelly Benish joins Navads as VP of Business Development in the US Our growth strategy demands the immediate development of our sales and operations teams. I am delighted to have Kelly aboard. Her experience in building relationships across brands and publishers is a tremendous asset as we build our US presence.

Navads, a leading provider of location content to the databases that power the navigation and mapping industry, today announced local search executive Kelly Benish has joined its US sales operation as Vice President of Business Development.

Benishs appointment for the US market is the latest in a series of recent hires by Navads covering other key growth markets, including Italy, Spain, France, Benelux and the Nordics. This international expansion is in support of Navads mission to be the global preferred supplier of location content for enterprise brands and media agencies that feed the mapping industry.

Our growth strategy demands the immediate development of our sales and operations teams, said Lex ten Veen, CEO, Navads. I am delighted to have Kelly aboard. Her experience in building relationships across brands, publishers and platforms is a tremendous asset as we build our US presence and continue our global expansion.

Navads aims to grow its US sales operation through channel partners and major global and national brands like McDonalds, BP and Shell. Additionally, Benish will work with Navads US-based Chief Strategy Officer Gideon Rubin to develop more agency and reseller relationships.

I could not be more excited or passionate about the opportunity to grow with Navads, said Benish. I look forward to introducing Navads to the US market and its endless possibilities for growth.

Benish brings more than eight years of experience working directly with franchises, enterprises, brands, newspapers, broadcasters, platforms and Yellow Pages publishers. Her experience in the startup world includes training publisher salesforces, channel partner development, franchise and national sales, executive consulting around digital agency deployment and product development.

About Navads

Navads is the leading provider of location content to the mapping databases that power the navigation and mapping industry. Through strategic relationships with the principal map development companies, including TomTom, Apple, and HERE, Navads offers a single-source service to ensure that location content is pushed directly into the core mapping databases of named map providers. With extensive experience in the location marketing arena, Navads helps customers achieve optimal visibility in mainstream navigation devices, today and in the future. Founded in 2006, Navads services many of the Fortune 500 corporations and four out of five global fuel retail organizations. Visit http://www.Navads.eu/ for more information.
For men and women recovering from a divorce, Valentines Day can be either an exciting time to spark a new relationship or a time of sadness and hesitation. It may be 10, 20, or 30 years since a divorced person has dated, which can make the transition quite confusing. Is it the right time to start dating again? For those who are gun-shy after a failed marriage, how can one avoid making the same relationship mistakes in the future? What about introducing a new partner to the kids? Divorce Magazines bloggers and writers provide useful relationship and dating advice to those who are either considering or have already dipped their toes in the dating pool.

To Date or Not to Date After Divorce: That Is the Question

Not sure whether to start dating again? In 5 Signs You Might Not Be Ready to Date Again, Jamie Daniel  a licensed marriage and family therapist practicing in Westlake Village, California  outlines the signs to look out for to make the decision easier. It comes as a surprise when you finally understand that you feel so much better when choosing healthy distractions, rather than to put yourself in a situation you're not ready for, says Daniel, who also outlines steps someone can take to ensure a healthy transition into a new relationship.

Tips to Follow When Deciding to Date Again

For those who have decided its time to move forward and try out dating, Dr. Tarra Bates-Duford  a forensic psychologist, certified relationship expert, and marriage, couples and family therapist  provides tips for ensuring positive outcomes. Dating after a breakup or divorce can be a difficult decision to make, a decision that should not be entered into lightly, Bates-Duford explains in her blog post, titled Dating After Divorce: 14 Helpful Tips to Live By.

Those who are not comfortable with themselves and their direction in life will find it extremely difficult, or almost impossible, to find happiness with someone else.

Visit DivorceMag.com for more relationship-related blogs and articles just like these:



5 Post-Divorce Dating Tips for Dads

Ready to Date Again? Dont Dismiss These 4 Types of Men

Remarriage After a Divorce: 12 Things to Keep in Mind

When Marriage Arrives at Your Door the Second Time

Dating After Divorce: How the Rules Have Changed

_______________________________________________________________________________

Divorce Magazine and DivorceMagazine.com have been providing individuals and families who are going through the transition of separation and divorce with information, support, and guidance since 1996. The magazine and website both offer practical help and information  from child support to visitation, mediation to litigation, divorce recovery to dating after divorce. The online directory of divorce professionals and geo-targeted FAQs can assist separated individuals to find local help and advice. The magazine and website are owned by Divorce Marketing Group, which also publishes Family Lawyer Magazine and FamilyLawyerMagazine.com, DivorcedMoms.com, as well as a number of other divorce-related publications and websites.
Shweiki Media Printing Company is excited to present the second installment of a webinar series with Andy Crestodina from Orbit Media, a Chicago-based web design and development team. Crestodina - an expert in the field of non-paid content promotion strategies and online marketing - is also the founder of Content Jam, Chicagos largest content marketing conference, and the author of Content Chemistry.

In this interview, Crestodina dives into non-paid content promotion strategies and expands on those strategies and ideas from the first installment of this series.

Creating the Island Community

Crestodina uses his island analogy to help people understand the purpose of non-paid content promotion. He talks about how those living on an island stay within their groups, but they build a community and are active with one another.

He compares this island to Slack boards and LinkedIn groups because these work like private island communities.

In his example, he talks about how he is publishing a new piece of research, and it consists of a survey of thousands of bloggers. He wants people to cover the research study, so when he goes to work, he posts a little snippet on Slack and starts receiving direct messages. He then replies with more of the research. Now, he has a half dozen websites already willing to promote that content  and all it took was a Slack message.

Slack, a free messaging platform, allows teams to communicate with one another, but there are also boards that work like communities. They include groups of successful content marketers and promotion groups as well. Crestodina mentions a few of the boards he is a member of, including Growth Chat, Growth Slack, and Boost Chat.

To find these boards and groups, he recommends doing a Google search or making a board and sharing it.

Two Ways to Make a Marketer More Effective

Crestodina shares his insight on how to be more efficient as a marketer with two methods:

1. Delegation

He also discusses the idea of delegation. Using a Trello board and Slack to piece out tasks to team members. Boards with cards can boost productivity and keep everyone on track. He also talks about using virtual assistants (VA) to do research, rewrite headlines, and add images to posts to save on time.

2. Automation

He points out how numerous tools help a person save hours per month because these tools automate the process. For example, he uses Edgar. While it costs a monthly fee, Edgar lets him upload his content quickly and saves the hassle of rotating content like Buffer requires.

Growing the List is Key

One of the biggest takeaway points from the interview with Crestodina is that he highly recommends working on the island culture. That means adding connections, committing to professional relationships, and building on the sources of traffic already at a marketers disposal. Also, diversifying sources is an excellent way to ensure that content is picked up and shared on multiple sites.

He also emphasized the importance of cultivating email subscription relationships. While Facebook and social media followers are important, he made it clear that one subscriber is more valuable to him than 25 Facebook likes.

The webinar is available now on Shweiki's YouTube channel and on shweiki.com. To watch the webinar now, click here!

Shweiki Medias mission has always been to help publishers improve by providing the most profitable, hassle-free printing experience possible. This includes guaranteeing the highest quality product, exceptional customer service, world-class communication, an on-time guarantee, and no surprises whether printing magazines, postcards, flyers or anything else.

As a printer and publisher, Shweiki Media also believes that this hassle-free experience includes making their clients better. Utilizing relationships with industry experts, Shweiki Media strives to educate clients and help them thrive in the exciting world of publishingwhile having lots of fun along the way!

For more great info from and about Shweiki Media, please check out our blog at shweiki.com/blog (and sign up for our FREE weekly expert webinars!), and subscribe to our Youtube Channel at youtube.com/shweikimedia. You can also follow us @ShweikiMedia and like us at Facebook.com/shweikimedia
LAKE MILLS  Christopher Willis Nyguard, 49, of Lake Mills, died Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017, in rural Lake Mills.

A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at Salem Lutheran Church in Lake Mills with Pastor Joel Guttormson and Pastor Christopher Martin officiating.

Burial will take place in Rose Hill Cemetery, Thompson, Iowa.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at Salem Lutheran Church, Lake Mills, and will continue one hour prior to the service on Wednesday.

Mittelstadt Funeral Home in Lake Mills is assisting the family.
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In the 1990s, when the streets of New Orleans were plagued with murders, the artist and gallery owner Jonathan Ferrara opened an exhibition using reclaimed guns in order to bring the conversation around gun violence into the world of art. Two decades later, with gun violence still a national problem, Ferrara revisited the project. The product became a new exhibition called Guns In the Hands of Artists, which is now accompanied by a book of the same name, published by Ink Shares, with contributions from public figures and writers including writer Richard Ford, rapper Lupe Fiasco, Senator Tim Kaine, and former congresswoman Gabby Giffords. Ferrara spoke with PW about the exhibition and book, gun violence in America, and owning a weapon to turn into art.

How did you first come up with the idea for this book?

The book is really an extension of an exhibition I curated that had its roots in the mid-1990s in New Orleans, when our murder rate was approaching 400 a year. I first mounted this exhibition, in collaboration with artist Brian Borrello, to take the conversation about the issue of guns and gun violence in America out of the highly politicized realm of the dialogue surrounding it and move it into the realm of art. The exhibition took guns off the streets via a gun buyback, and then I distributed the decommissioned weapons to artists across the city to use as raw materials in making artworks that address the issue of guns and gun violence in America. I was 28 at the time, and the exhibition kind of came and went. But for the next 15 years, as gun violence and mass shootings like Columbine, Sandy Hook, and Orlando took place, I asked myself what I could do and how, as an artist, gallery owner, and curator, I could address this issue. So I decided to revisit this project at a much higher level, with museum-quality artists from around the country. Artists who truly capture the diversity of American lifemen and women, black and whitebecause gun violence affects everyone and is so pervasive that now no person is immune. In 2012, I worked with the City of New Orleansthe mayor's office, the city council, and the New Orleans Police Departmentto secure 186 firearms from their gun buy back program: 160 handguns and 26 long barreled and sawed-off shotguns. Those weapons were decommissioned by NOPD and the ATF, which I then distributed to painters, sculptors, photographers, and video artists to use in making artworks to address the issue of guns and gun violence. When youre standing in a gallery surrounded by artwork thats made for guns, its very disarming. The book is a different sort of intimate experience, where its just you and the pages of the book. Its designed to make people think and consider, through the lens of art, whats happening in an America that belongs to guns.

How did you attract the artists, authors, and public figures included in this book, such as Tim Kaine and Richard Ford? How involved were you in the process of working with them?

I wanted to document this exhibition, and in working with Ink Shares, we decided to expand it beyond just the documenting of the exhibition by including writing. Ive done a lot of work at the Aspen Institute for the last five years, a lot of it around this issue of gun violence, so when Walter Isaacson was in New Orleans, he saw the exhibition and offered to write the introduction. From there, all the other people started to come in line over a year's time. It took me two years to produce the book because I wanted to have multiple perspectivesfrom Walter Isaacson to Sen. Tim Kaine to Richard Ford to Lupe Fiasco to Harry Sheareron their perspectives on gun violence in America, because it is a multifaceted crisis that were facing. A lot of it came from my own personal network and reaching out. I met Rep. Gabby Giffords, for example, through an art collector who saw the show. Several of these contributors are gun owners: Richard Ford, John Barry. But whats important is that I did not have to rope anyone into writing for the book, as everyone involved is deeply passionate about this issue and wants to make America a safer place. All I had to do was get these insanely busy and high-level folks to commit to the writing and then follow up continuously to make sure they delivered in a timely fashionthat's one reason the book took almost two years to complete.

As a curator of the exhibition and the artworks and as an artist myself, I dont ever want someone to tell me what to do artistically, so I didnt tell any of the artists what to do with their guns. They were all challenged to use guns as the raw material in their artwork as they saw fit. The exact same premise is what I operated under with regard to the contributors to the book. I did not tell them or ask them anything but: Here are images, heres information. Then they wrote what they were going to write. I wanted their perspectives unfettered by what I had to say or by my opinions. It was a very curatorial project. My goal with the contributors was the same as with the artists: Let them do whatever their creative minds want.

Why did you choose to publish the book with Ink Shares? What were they like to work with?

I came to Ink Shares through my book agent, Matthew Guma of the Guma Agency. He recommended I look at Ink Shares. One reason was the model under which they operate, which is crowdfundingits like Random House meets Kickstarter. This book might not have seen the light of day if it had gone to a traditional publisherthey may have changed or rearranged the content. One of the most appealing aspects of InkShares was the creative control I had over the book, from the interior layout and to the books overall design. I worked hand in hand for three months with Girl Friday Productions in Seattle to layout the structure of the book, the flow of the images, and the essays to emphasize a clear thought line and flow. Having that level of input helped make sure that I met the vision I had for the book. As an artist and creative person, that was obviously very important to me. And I believe it shows in the finished product, a truly beautiful and powerful object.

Are you a gun owner?

I am not a gun owner but I was a gun owner. On the back cover of the book is a work of art that shows a Mossberg 500-gauge shotgun inserted into a Colorado River rock, like King Arthurs sword in the stone. That piece is my piece, which I created for this exhibition. In order to create it, I needed to acquire that firearm. So I went on www.armslist.com, saw this gun, emailed the person, and he said, "OK, Ill meet you at your gallery." He walks in two days later and his son is holding a duffle bag over his shoulder. I give him $300, and his son pulls out the shotgun and gives it to me. I say, "Is that it?" He goes, "Yeah." In Louisiana, all personal sales are private. No receipt, no documentation, no nothing. We had a conversation about the Second Amendment for the next 15 minutes, then the son reaches into the bag and pulls out a sack of shells. Im in my studio, fully loaded, and nobody knows anything.

It would have been artistic heresy for me to insert this shotgun into the rock without me shooting it, so I went to the range, got a five-minute lesson, and proceeded to shoot the shells. I can tell you, it was an adrenaline rush. I understood the power of the machine. But it was also very scary to me because of that power.
Childrens book buyer Lisa Nehs is weathering the winter in good spirits at Books & Company in Ocononowoc, a small city in southeastern Wisconsin. She spoke with PW about some of the titles she and her colleagues are eagerly selling this season.

One picture book that Im super excited about, and I hope wont be overlooked in other stores, is Henry & Leo by Pamela Zagarenski, which came out last fall. Its about a boy who becomes separated from his best friend, a stuffed toy who is very, very real to him. It is a wonderful story about imagination and what it means to be loved. And the art is absolutely beautiful. I used this for one of my story times and it was very well received.

Another picture book that stands out is If I Had a Little Dream by Nina Laden, which has extraordinary art by Melissa Castrillon. Its a book about using your imagination, dreaming, and looking at the wonders of the world through the eyes of a child. Its a really gorgeous and sweet book, and a great gift buy for parents and grandparents.

Another new book were selling well is Salina Yoons My Kite Is Stuck! and Other Stories, the second book in a series of early readers. We also loved the first book, Duck, Duck, Porcupine!, published last May. In our store, were all devastated that Mo Willemss Elephant & Piggie series is finished, and I feel like these books have that same sort of appeal. They feature three wonderful characters: kind Porcupine, bossy Big Duck, and Little Duck, who doesnt speak, but has the best facial expressions. These stories are just right for emergent readers, and make great read-alouds.

A fabulous middle-grade book that we sold a lot of over Christmas, and that is still selling well, is Impyrium by Henry H. Neff. Its the first book in a series, and one I really feel people need to know about. I have an advisory board of middle graders and teens who read ARCs and send me reviews. One girl wrote that this was her second favorite book ever, after the Harry Potter series. The author does a great job of world building and introduces strong male and female characters. Its a big book but a very fast read, and we recommend it to fantasy readers.

Another favorite middle-grade novel that two advisory board readers absolutely loved, and that were handselling, is The Silver Gate by Kristin Bailey, a fantasy set in medieval times. Its the story of a brother and sister who go into hiding in the woods, since people think shes a changeling who will bring bad luck, and he wants to protect her. Its a wonderful story that is very well told.

A middle-grade novel thats brand new in paperback that were enjoying selling, but Im afraid is a bit under the radar for a lot of people, is Aimee Carters Simon Thorn and the Wolf 's Den, which is about a boy who discovers he can talk to animals. The second book in the series, Simon Thorn and the Vipers Pit, came out in hardcover this month. One of my advisory board members, a boy whos 14, highly recommended these books, and I handsell them to kids who are Harry Potter and Percy Jackson fans. The series has a very strong boy character, which is always great to find.

One of my favorite new YA books is Caraval by Stephanie Garber, which is a wonderful fantasy about two sisters who live with their abusive father on a tiny island and are drawn into a legendary, mysterious, once-a-year interactive performance. Ive already sold quite a few copies of this, even though it just came out. The main characters are 18, and I think this will appeal to adult fantasy readers as well as teens.

And one other YA novel that I really enjoyed, and am selling well, is Ashley Elstons This Is Our Story, a realistic novel about five boys at a prestigious school who go hunting. One of them is shot and killed, but no one will own up to it, and a girl who works for the man investigating the murder becomes very involved. Its not easy to find a book that truly surprises me, but this one surprised me twice. Its a great mystery and definitely a page-turnerI tell customers that they wont be able to stop once they start reading it.
The second U.S. Publishing Mission to Cuba ended its second visit to the country and the Havana Book Fair, on a note of optimism over future relations between Cuba and American book professionals as well as an acknowledgment of political realities under a new U.S. administration.

In opening remarks to Imagine II, the day-long conference on the Cuban and American publishing markets organized by Publishers Weekly, Combined Book Exhibit, and PubMatch, Juan Rodriquez Cabrera, president of the Cuban Book Institute, was by turns optimistic and realistic. He cited the the mystery and the fraternity of the culture of the book and the power of exchanging works hand to hand.

But he also noted that the Cuban and American people face the same problems over the last 55 years from the economic blockade. Cabrera noted efforts by PW and others involved in the the 2016 U.S. Publishing Mission to Cuba, working for an end to the American embargo against books, calling it a sign of solidarity with Cuban publishers.

The conference brought together about 30 American book publishers and professionals for a day of panels, programming and networking held in conjunction with nearly 50 Cuba book publishers and government book administrators. Held off the grounds of the Havana Book Fair at the Hotel Melia Habana, the conference once again offered a range of discussion about the business of publishing in the U.S. and, in afternoon sessions, the intricacies of Cuban publishing.

The morning session offered panels on copyright and acquisition, distribution and the state of digital publishing in the U.S. In the afternoon the Cuban Book Institut offered a succession of panels moderated by Alberto Edel Morales Fuentes, v-p of the Institute. The panels on Cuban publishing examined book rights, book distribution, promotion and educational publishing.

The panel on book rights featured Yamila Cohen Valdes, director of the Latin American Literary Agency, which represents all Cuban authors, focused on the intricacies of getting published and paid in Cuba. The Book Institute reviews manuscripts submitted to be published and decides which of the 180 or so Cuban publishers are best suited to publish the book. Contracts offer writers a flat fee (there was some suggestion from the audience that it was about $200 but Cuban officials said it varied) and the publisher holds the rights for five years.

It is not clear if royalties are paid, though Valdes said, that depends on the contract. Cuban officials defended the flat payment, which they said was not an advance, as a protection of the author emphasizing that the author is paid prior to the book going on the market, regardless of sales. Nevertheless, all discussions of the future of book rights in Cuba must take the economic blockade into account. We have economic limitations, Valdes said.

Cuba published about 700 new titles in 2016 and distributed more than 3 million copies of the books, according to Book Institute president Cabrera during an interview with PW held during a break in the afternoon conference. Cuban book distribution is also overseen by the Book Institute.

In the panel on book promotion (and later during an interview), Cabrara highlighted the Havana Book Fair as combination book festival and giant marketing and promotional event. The fair hosts publishers from 46 countries and a guest nation, which this year was Canada.

The show opens in Havana for about 10 days before moving to each of Cubas 16 provinces over the next two months and ending in April. After the show leaves Cuba, it sheds the international books and authors and becomes more of a domestic cultural fair, focused on books and authors, but also included musical performances, art exhibitions, and cooking.

It is the largest cultural event in Cuba and takes place everywhere in the country, Cabrera said. The HBF is state subsidized, there is an admission of about 40 cents (in American money), and the city of Havana organizes a network of buses to deliver tens of thousands of people to the fair during its run at the La Cabana fortress. Over the course of its three-month run, the fair is said to attract more than 3 million people.

Once again acknowledging the political conflicts between the U.S. and Cuba, the conference closed on a note of optimism by Cabrera. Sitting alongside PW executive v-p and publisher Cevin Bryerman, he thanked the U.S. publishing mission for working to overcome obstacles and make this meeting possible. This meeting among friends and professionals helps us learn and identify fruitful pathways that will help us get rid of the obstacles to our relationship. We recognize the limitations and the realities we face, but the spirit at the heart of this event will keep us moving forward to our goals, for authors in the U.S. and in Cuba.

Correction: an earlier version of this story gave an incorrect location for the Hotel Melia Habana.
DAVENPORT  Officials with Swiss Valley Farms and Prairie Farms Dairy last week announced that members of both cooperatives have approved the proposed merger, which now is expected to close March 31.

We had a great business relationship with Swiss Valley for many years and are pleased to have reached this important milestone," said Prairie Farms CEO Ed Mullins.

"Much has changed since our cooperative was founded in 1938, and the merger reflects our purpose, which is to generate sales and profit for our cooperative members, he said. "Consumption of fluid milk, our core product, has been declining for years while cheese consumption has increased nearly 150 percent since 1975.

"The complementary nature of Swiss Valleys product line will help counter this major shift," Mr. Mullins said. "At the same time, Swiss Valley is looking to grow their export business, and with the merger, they will gain access to many Prairie Farms products, such as extended shelf life milk and cream."

The combined company will operate under the name of Prairie Farms Dairy Inc., with both organizations retaining their brand names. The company will be directed by Mr. Mullins, and Chris Hoeger, former CEO of Swiss Valley, will become president of the newly formed Prairie Farms Cheese Division.

The terms of the merger agreement have not been disclosed. Under the agreement, Prairie Farms will merge the assets of Swiss Valley Farms  plants in Luana, Iowa; Shullsburg, Wis.; Mindoro, Wis.; Rochester, Minn.; and Faribault, Minn.  into Prairie Farms Dairy Inc.

Based in Davenport, Swiss Valley Farms has more than 400 dairy producer members in Iowa, northern Illinois, Wisconsin and southern Minnesota. It has five cheese production facilities, operates two subsidiary companies and, in a joint venture with Emmi-Roth, co-operates White Hill Cheese Co. LLC, in Shullsburg, Wis.

Based in Carlinville, Prairie Farms has more than 600 farm families, 5,700 employees, 35 manufacturing plants, 100 distribution facilities and annual sales topping $3 billion.
ROCK ISLAND  For 39 years, Rita Toalson has highlighted the accomplishments of her employer, Royal Neighbors of America.

That limelight shone in her direction when Royal Neighbors named the managing editor Royal Neighbors' 2016 Employee of the Year.

As managing editor for Royal Neighbors, Ms. Toalson is responsible for corporate and member communications. She has led several strategic projects, including the acceptance of Royal Neighbors items into the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History and the International Quilt Study Center & Museum in Lincoln, Neb.

"Rita was the first Royal Neighbors person I talked to after I was hired," said Cynthia Tidwell, President/CEO of Royal Neighbors, one of the largest woman-led life insurers in the U.S.

"In the many years I have known her, she has shown she is often the first to arrive to work, the first to offer creative solutions and the first to offer a helping hand," Ms. Tidwell said.

People are nominated for the Employee of the Year program by coworkers, with the winner determined by a panel of outside judges. As part of her award, Ms. Toalson will be invited to attend Royal Neighbors' agent recognition trip in June in Punta Mita, Mexico.
Kevin and Karen Urick are touring the Quad-Cities one meal at a time for the column Dinner for Two. The Geneseo couple love everything about food. They grow food, travel the world for food, enjoy eating all styles of food and look forward to sharing their passion with readers! The column will appear periodically in the Your Food section. If you know of a place you want them to review, email them at quadcitiesrestaurants@gmail.com.

 Moes Burgers and Brews, 1524 4th Ave., Rock Island, IL 61201, 309-732-1885

Too cold outside to fire up the grill? In the mood for a hamburger? Head to Moes and let them do the cooking for you. If you are looking for new ways to enjoy the All-American standard this place is a good choice. With 21 different burgers on their menu there is something for every taste.

The inspiration for Moes began with the city of Rock Island. The hard working owner, Mark Mueller, got his start in the restaurant business as a caterer. Since 1992, he has owned At Your Service Catering. His successful business continues to cater many functions around the Quad-Cities area, including the Quad City Symphony, on the night we visited. Rock Island needed his previous space for a development project and offered to buy him out; he wanted a restaurant kitchen he could use for his catering business, and Moes was the solution -- opening on March 16, 2015. Marks nickname since childhood always has been Moe, and it was a natural choice for the restaurant name. As a past President of the Mississippi Valley Restaurant Association he believes in the old adage to eat local.

The menu includes many options in addition to burgers. The Notable Selections part of the menu varies from the standard bratwurst to fish tacos and a braised short rib dinner among its selections. The salad section has four dinner sized salads to choose from with the chopped salad featuring blue cheese, bacon and pasta in bed of lettuce being one of the most popular.

However, in the mood for a burger, a salad was not the option we were looking for. While deciding among the many burger choices we were tempted by the jalapeno shrimp boat appetizer, suggested by our waitress, Amanda, for $8.00. Five jumbo shrimp are placed in a half of hollowed out jalapeno, wrapped in bacon, grilled and served with a sweet chili sauce. The spiciness of the pepper, combined with the shrimp and sweet sauce, had us yearning for summer and trying them on the home grill. A fan of scotch eggs, something you do not see on too many bar menus in this area, they are on our short list to try the next time. The large portion of beer battered onion rings on the table next over appeared to be a customer favorite.

It took awhile to decide on the burger. Step one is to choose the type of protein. Their beef burgers are a blend of USDA Choice ground brisket and ground chuck from a local supplier. You also can choose from shrimp, salmon, tuna, turkey or lamb with a variety of suggested toppings, or choose your own.

All of the burgers are available as just a sandwich or as a basket. The baskets included a choice of two sides. You can choose from housemade chips, cole slaw, baked beans or apple sauce; substitute the two side choice for an order of natural cut fries or a tossed salad or add them for a little extra.

Now the hard part  which burger to have? It is February, cold outside and nothing hits home like beef. We will save the other options for a later date. Feeling the need for protein, we decided to double it in the double the protein category of the menu. If you are going to have a beef burger why not add ham, pulled pork, pastrami or short ribs? We opted for the belly burger, a favorite of the owner. It starts with a basic burger, then is topped with seared pork belly and caramelized onions for $10.50 as a basket.

Channeling our inner blue cheese love, next up was the blue cheese stuffed burger. The menu recommended sauteed mushrooms and bacon, but since we doubled down on the first round we did not want to chance our odds, and chose to have it covered in sauteed onions and a bourbon BBQ glaze. We had the chips as an appetizer and wisely chose to have just the sandwich for $7.99.

Needing something to wash all of this down, there is a full bar with eight beers on tap. Both of us enjoyed a Two Hearted Ale from Bells, a great Michigan brewery.

Moes is located on 4th Avenue, just west of downtown Rock Island. Parking is on the street, with plenty of spaces up front and around the corner on 16th. This place has been several restaurants during the years, but Moes is here to stay. They are open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. To 10 p.m. Check out their Facebook page for daily specials. As Mark says, if you cook it, own it and he certainly does.

He said: There is a burger here for every taste; from American, to European to Asian. I opted for the Belly Burger. After all, why settle for bacon when you can have pork belly?

She said: I enjoyed reading the menu and discovering all of the ways to have a burger. My favorite was the blue cheese burger with caramelized onions. A great combination.
A Moline man trying to reduce his 45-year prison sentence has been appointed a new attorney.

In 2006, Cory C. Gregory, 29, pleaded guilty in Rock Island County Circuit Court to first degree murder and concealing a homicidal death in connection with the 2005 slaying of 16-year-old Adrianne Reynolds, of East Moline, according to court records.

Prosecutors say Mr. Gregory, then 17, and Sarah A. Kolb, then 16, of Milan, strangled Ms. Reynolds outside a Moline Taco Bell.

In July 2016, Mr. Gregory requested a hearing to challenge his sentence. He has filed several hand-written petitions seeking post-conviction relief, the first which was denied in February 2011. He has cited the 2012 Supreme Court case of Miller v. Alabama in which the court ruled mandatory life sentences without the possibility of parole were unconstitutional for juvenile offenders.

At the time of his sentencing, Miller v. Alabama "was not yet the law of the land," Mr. Gregory wrote. He claimed his 45-year sentence amounted to life in prison and was excessive under the 8th Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

His earliest parole opportunity, he wrote, would be around his 60th birthday and, if released, he would have little understanding of how to live without a job or income outside prison walls.

Currently serving his sentence at Stateville Correctional Center, Mr. Gregory has asked that an attorney be appointed to represent him during the post-conviction process. Rock Island attorney Herb Schultz initially was appointed to represent Mr. Gregory. Last month, he asked to withdraw as counsel, with the court now appointing Moline attorney Nate Nieman to represent Mr. Gregory.
MORRISON  A Geneseo man arrested in connection with an Erie kidnapping made his initial court appearance on Monday afternoon.

Chad C. Schipper, 40, of Geneseo, on Monday was charged with home invasion, aggravated kidnapping/ransom, aggravated kidnapping/concealed identity and aggravated kidnapping with a firearm. Whiteside County Associate Judge Michael R. Albert set a preliminary hearing on the charges for 1 p.m. Feb. 27 before 14th Judicial Circuit Judge Stanley B. Steines.

On Thursday, Mr. Schipper was arrested in connection to an abduction case involving Constance and Larry VanOosten, of Erie, the day before. According to the Whiteside County Sheriff's Office, police pursued Mr. Schipper in a high speed car chase that ended with a crash on Illinois 84 in Port Byron.

Following the accident, Mr. Schipper was taken to a hospital for nonlife-threatening injuries. He was released from the hospital on Sunday and taken to the Whiteside County Jail where his bond has been set at $1 million.
A faded temporary license plate on a vehicle in a Jan. 18 traffic stop in Galva resulted in a stolen vehicle charge.

At a preliminary hearing Monday, Judge Terry Patton found probable cause to advance charges against Virgil W. McGlothlin, 33, of Galva.

Galva Police Chief Kraig Townsend testified he ran the license plate on the Dodge Ram flatbed pickup Mr. McGlothlin was driving and found the plate was registered to a 2001 Chevrolet Impala. A check of the truck's vehicle identification number indicated it had been reported stolen from Springfield, Mo.

Mr. McGlothlin offered a statement that he bought the pickup around Thanksgiving in a deal arranged by a lifelong friend in Pekin who allegedly was holding the title while he paid the remaining $3,000.

The truck's owner in Missouri, however, told Galva Police that the vehicle disappeared when he had stopped on his way to work and left it running. Chief Townsend said the owner reported a guy wearing a hoodie jumped out of a black SUV parked next to the truck and sped away with it.

Chief Townsend said the owner could not recognize the man. Video of the same vehicle in a Wal-Mart parking lot was grainy and only revealed the driver was male, Chief Townsend said.

Mr. McGlothlin is out on $2,500 bond posted Jan. 25. A March 16 pretrial hearing has been set.
A stolen-vehicle pursuit and crash led to three arrests Friday night in Whiteside County.

At around 9:15 p.m., deputies attempted a traffic stop on I-88 on a vehicle reported stolen in Chicago, according to a Whiteside County Sheriff's Office news release.

After a short pursuit, the vehicle crashed in a ditch on Illinois Route 78 north of Wayne Road near Lyndon. Deputies apprehended the car's occupants after a foot chase.

The occupants, and the offenses with which they were charged include:

 Hakeem S. Campbell, 18, of Chicago: unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle, criminal trespass to a vehicle, resisting/obstructing a peace officer, unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver, unlawful possession of cannabis, speeding 120/70 MPH, speeding 120/55 MPH, reckless driving and two counts of aggravated fleeing to elude.

 Jabaree X. White, 18, of Chicago: unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle, criminal trespass to a vehicle, resisting/obstructing a peace officer, unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver and unlawful possession of cannabis.

 Johnathan K. Kelly, 20, of Chicago: unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle, criminal trespass to a vehicle and resisting/obstructing a peace officer.

All three were transported to the Whiteside County Jail, the release said. Morrison police, Prophetstown police, Tampico police, Erie police, Illinois State Police, Carroll County Sheriffs Office and Hunters Towing assisted on the scene.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP)  Authorities in Springfield say a 3-year-old child has died from smoke inhalation in an apartment building fire.

Springfield Fire Chief Barry Helmerichs says firefighters were called around 5 a.m. Monday and the mother of the child and two of her other children, ages 2 and 5, were outside. They were hospitalized for injuries that weren't considered life threatening.

The (Springfield) State Journal-Register reports the family lived on the bottom floor of the 12-unit building. WTAX radio in Springfield reports that the Sangamon County coroner's office has identified the victim as Hailey Campbell.

The fire was contained to the living room and extinguished and other residents were allowed back into the building.

Helmerichs says investigators have ruled out foul play, but are still determining the cause of the fire.
BETTENDORF  Kristine Stone has announced she will leave her position as city attorney for Bettendorf this summer for a new job with the Ahlers & Cooney law firm in Des Moines.

Ms. Stone has served as Bettendorfs city attorney since 2013. Before then she was assistant city attorney for Ames, Iowa; deputy public defender in Ada County and a staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Story County in Boise, Idaho. The Iowa State University graduate received her law degree from Drake University.

"I would like to thank the mayor and council for giving me the opportunity to serve as Bettendorfs city attorney for the past four years," Ms. Stone said on Monday. "It has been a pleasure to serve the citizens, officials and staff members of this great community.

Stone will remain in her Bettendorf position until June 9. Bettendorf City Administrator Decker Ploehn said it had been an "honor and pleasure" to work with Ms. Stone.

"I think I can speak for the city council and staff when I say we are sad to see Kristine leave, but happy for her because this is a wonderful opportunity for both Kristine and her family.
ROCK ISLAND  Potential taxicab drivers and employees at area liquor establishments will be required to submit fingerprints and pay a fee to the Rock Island Police Department under a new security policy passed on Monday by the city council.

The council approved a motion requiring the submission of fingerprints and a nonrefundable processing fee to the police department for criminal history inquiries of new bar owners and managers, cab drivers and itinerant merchants.

The police department already is directed by city ordinance to conduct background investigations related to certain licensing and permitting requirements.

Those background investigations do not use fingerprints or state and national data bases. The revised ordinance now gives the city the ability to do, according to police Chief Jeff VenHuizen.

Under the revised ordinance, an interagency agreement will be entered into between the city and the Illinois State Police.

The chief said officers normally use the Illinois Law Enforcement Agency Data System (LEADS), a statewide system providing information and services to law enforcement agencies, when making a stop.

According to Chief VenHuizen, it is a violation of LEADS to utilize that same information to conduct background checks for licensing or permitting, which he said limits the city's ability to conduct more complete applicant investigations.

Currently, he said background checks for licenses and permits are conducted through the city's own record's management systems and publicly available records.

"Say you're arrested in California, we're not going to know that," Chief VenHuizen said.

With the intergovernmental agreement, that changes.

"You have to separate the two," Chief VenHuizen explained. "If I'm a police officer on the street and I stop you and want to know if you're arrested for anything, I can submit your name to LEADS for checking.

"That's what it's there for. But, to do this for city business, licensing and permitting, it's a violation. That's why we have to have a separate agreement with the State of Illinois."

The agreement with the state police allows the city to conduct and obtain criminal history through fingerprint-based background checks. The city pays the state police a fee for the services, and the city passes that fee on to the applicants.

The fee was not disclosed Monday, although interim city manager Randy Tweet said the fee is small.

Mr. Tweet said the fingerprint process should be an easier way for police to do the necessary background checks.

"No one has the same fingerprint," Mr. Tweet said. "It's a lot quicker and a lot more accurate."
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump was told in late January that his top national security aide had misled his vice president, three weeks before Trump ousted adviser Michael Flynn amid a swirling public controversy over Flynn's contacts with a Russian official, a White House spokesman said Tuesday.

Press secretary Sean Spicer said Flynn's firing on Monday was prompted by a gradual "erosion of that trust" and not any concern about the legality of the retired general's calls with the Russian ambassador to the U.S. Spicer said the president withheld judgment on Flynn until after the White House counsel's office conducted a review of the legal issues raised by the calls.

Flynn's ouster appeared to be driven more by the idea that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials than by the content of his discussions with the Russian. Still, the matter deepened questions about Trump's friendly posture toward Russia.

"This was an act of trust  whether or not he misled the vice president was the issue and that was ultimately what led to the president asking for and accepting the resignation of Gen. Flynn," Spicer said.

Flynn's resignation came after reports that the Justice Department had alerted the White House weeks ago that there were contradictions between Trump officials' public accounting of the Russia contacts and what intelligence officials knew to be true based on routine recordings of communications with foreign officials who are in the U.S.

Spicer said White House counsel's office reviewed the situation after it was flagged by the Department of Justice, and along with the president, the counsel determined that it did not pose a legal problem.

The revelations were another destabilizing blow to an administration that has already suffered a major legal defeat on immigration, botched the implementation of a signature policy and stumbled through a string of embarrassing public relations missteps.

White House officials haven't said when Trump was told of the Justice Department warning or why Flynn had been allowed to stay on the job with access to a full range of intelligence materials.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a longtime Russia critic, said Congress needs to know what Flynn discussed with the ambassador and why.

"The idea that he did this on his own without any direction is a good question to ask," Graham added.

Pence and others, apparently relying on information from Flynn, had said the national security adviser did not discuss U.S. economic sanctions against Russia with the Russian envoy during the American presidential transition. Flynn later told officials the sanctions may have been discussed, the latest change in his account of his pre-inauguration discussions with Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.

Such conversations would breach diplomatic protocol and possibly violate the Logan Act, a law aimed at keeping private citizens from conducting U.S. diplomacy. The Justice Department had warned the White House late last month that Flynn could be at risk for blackmail because of contradictions between his public depictions of the calls and what intelligence officials.

House Speaker Paul Ryan said Trump made the right decision in asking Flynn to step down.

"You cannot have the national security adviser misleading the vice president and others," Ryan said.

Trump, who had been conspicuously quiet about Flynn's standing for several days, took to Twitter Tuesday morning and said the "real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington?" He ignored questions about Flynn from reporters during an education event at the White House Tuesday morning.

Trump named retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg as the acting national security adviser. Kellogg had previously been appointed the National Security Council chief of staff and advised Trump during the campaign. Trump is also considering former CIA Director David Petraeus and Vice Admiral Robert Harward, a U.S. Navy SEAL, for the post, according to a senior administration official.

Kellogg convened a brief meeting of the National Security Council staff Tuesday morning and urged them to continue with business as usual. Staffers have been told that Flynn's deputy, K.T. McFarland, a former Fox News analyst, is expected to stay at the White House.

A U.S. official told The Associated Press that Flynn was in frequent contact with Kislyak on the day the Obama administration slapped sanctions on Russia for election-related hacking, as well as at other times during the transition.

The officials and two people with knowledge of the situation confirmed the Justice Department warnings on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

The Washington Post was the first to report the communication between former acting attorney general Sally Yates, a holdover from the Obama administration, and the Trump White House. The Post also first reported last week that Flynn had indeed spoken about sanctions with the Russian ambassador.

Trump never voiced public support for Flynn after that initial report but continued to keep his national security adviser close. Flynn was part of Trump's daily briefing Monday and sat in on his calls with foreign leaders, as well as his discussions with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The Kremlin had confirmed that Flynn was in contact with Kislyak but denied that they talked about lifting sanctions. On Tuesday, Russian lawmakers mounted a fierce defense of Flynn.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The resignation of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn elicited a simple but persistent question Tuesday from congressional Democrats: What did President Donald Trump know and when did he know it?

But many Republicans brushed past this echo of Watergate and another Republican president, Richard Nixon, to maintain that no special investigation was warranted and the existing Republican-led committees will handle the probe, mostly in private.

After Flynn stepped down late Monday following reports he misled Vice President Mike Pence about contacts with a Russian diplomat, Democrats demanded the formation of an independent, bipartisan panel to examine possible links between the Trump administration and Russia, including when the president learned Flynn had discussed U.S. sanctions with a Russian diplomat.

This latest push builds on an earlier call by Democrats for an independent inquiry into Moscow's meddling in the 2016 election to help Trump beat Democrat Hillary Clinton.

"The American people deserve to know the full extent of Russia's financial, personal and political grip on President Trump and what that means for our national security," House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement.

At issue is whether Flynn broke diplomatic protocol and potentially the law by discussing U.S. sanctions with Russia's ambassador to the U.S., Sergey Kislyak, before Trump's inauguration. The sanctions were imposed in December by former President Barack Obama after U.S. intelligence reported that Russia had interfered in the presidential election.

"Who knew about this and when? Did the president know and when did he know it? Did others at Trump transition team authorize conversations about sanctions?" asked Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., the No. 2 House Democrat. "After the White House was informed, who made the decision to allow Flynn to continue to serve despite the fact he misled the administration?"

Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said the Trump administration ought to want a "public airing" of Flynn's actions and the Russian government's attempts to influence the American political system.

"The questions are so numerous and it's really hard to get past them and begin to look infrastructure or tax reform or even confirming a Supreme Court nominee," McCaskill said.

House Speaker Paul Ryan said Flynn made the right decision to step down. But Ryan sidestepped questions about whether an inquiry is warranted.

"I'm not going to prejudge any of the circumstances surrounding this until we have all of the information," the Wisconsin Republican said.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah, the Republican chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said "the situation has taken care of itself" when asked by reporters if his panel would investigate Flynn's actions.

"Sounds like he did the right thing, he didn't want to be a distraction," Chaffetz said of Flynn. "And it was getting to be a distraction."

Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., the chairman of the House Intelligence committee, said he intended to ask the FBI how details from Flynn's conversation with Kislyak were disclosed to reporters.

"I'm just shocked that nobody's covering the real crime here," Nunes said. "You have an American citizen who had his phone call recorded and then leaked to the media."

Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., the Senate Intelligence Committee chairman, said his panel will "continue to do aggressive oversight" behind closed doors. "We don't do that in public," he said.

But Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, the Republican chairman of Foreign Relations Committee, said Congress needs to do "whatever it takes" to resolve questions about "Russia's relationship" to the 2016 presidential election.

"This is going to go on forever if we don't address it," Corker said.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he wants to know if Flynn initiated the conversations with Kislyak or if he was directed to make contact with the ambassador. He said Republicans would be "pretty upset" if after being elected former President Barack Obama had reached out to Iran or Iraq to change Bush administration policies.

"The one-president-at-a-time policy I think has served the country well," Graham said. "The idea that (Flynn) did this on his own without any direction is a good question to ask."

Republican Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Flynn's resignation "is a troubling indication of the dysfunction of the current national security apparatus."

"General Flynn's resignation also raises further questions about the Trump administration's intentions toward Vladimir Putin's Russia, including statements by the president suggesting moral equivalence between the United States and Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine, annexation of Crimea, threats to our NATO allies, and attempted interference in American elections," McCain said in a statement.
I read with interest (not "great interest" though) the Jan. 27 commentary regarding Don Wooten's pro-left information (Wooten wrong about how history will view Obama).

Unfortunately, it's nothing to laugh out loud about. President Obama's first move once in office was to prepare himself for four years of disrespect, noncooperation and disruption of any positive presidential agenda.

Members from the other side of the aisle dedicated all their time and four years of energy in efforts to make sure President Obama was not re-elected and eight years wasting their time and our money undermining his every move.

On the White House, I suggest researching available records, reading "The Invisibles" by J.J. Holland or "History of Slave Laborers in Construction of the U.S. Capital" by William Allen. Slaves were involved in all aspects of the White House construction, including skilled areas of carpentry, masonry, rafting and painting. Skilled slaves trained in the art of bricklaying as well as brickmakers included women.

For those so long in denial, we are seeing long overdue information and recognition.

It's time for history to recognize contributions of all people who make up this great nation, for example, as in "Hidden Figures." Contributions from all ethnic groups are woven throughout our history. Eventually they will come out, exciting and informative.

Our nation has failed to heal because of embarrassment, guilt and denial on the part of many as to the horrible treatment of Native Americans, people of color and other ethnic groups during our early history. Unfortunately, much of it continues today.

Eudell Watts III,

Rock Island
A recent letter writer quoted President Roosevelt, Americanism is not and never was a matter of race or ancestry.

This letter was about immigration. Unfortunately, FDRs actions put a lie to those words.

Ask the 110,000 Japanese, 62 percent citizens, who were interned during WWII. Ask the thousands of Jewish refugees who were turned away at our borders; the more than 900 aboard the St. Louis are but one example.

These folks were cited as security risks during the same type of hysteria that grips the U.S. today.

If you doubt me, Google Roosevelt anti-Semitism and read the many articles on the subject.

With regard to race, you only had to look south to see how the Democrats handled blacks.

While he gave a great speech, FDR's actions spoke louder. Let us not make him the Saint of Immigration.

Ed Nord,

Moline
Hitler, Mussolini, Putin, Trump. Most are too young to know the first two names except through history. But Putin's inhumane attack on Ukraine is a current reminder of power gone amuck. Why would we think Mr. Trump, an active supporter of Putin, instigator of an insurrection, more Mafia than the Mafia, would be any different.
Imagine how Republicans would have reacted if former president Obama had attacked a retailer for dropping his daughter's product line. Or asked senators to confirm a Cabinet pick who said guns are needed in schools to defend against grizzly bears. Or tried to undermine the independence of the federal judiciary. Or equated the United States' moral standing with that of Vladimir Putin's Russia.

There would have been howls of outrage, of course, and multiple investigations, and even calls for impeachment. But it's President Trump doing all those things, so Republicans in Congress are as meek and quiet as mice.

Perhaps the most striking thing about the chaotic and exhausting first three weeks of the Trump administration is the degree to which Republicans have held together, placing loyalty above all else. The party of Lincoln has sold its soul  and like all Faustian bargains, this one will not end well.

At present, Trump looks likely to get every one of his Cabinet nominees approved. Billionaire Betsy DeVos gave the worst performance in memory, surely one of the worst in history, at her confirmation hearing, displaying a level of ignorance that was truly shocking. Only two Republican senators  Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska  had the integrity to vote against her. Vice President Pence had to break a 50-50 tie, but DeVos is now the secretary of education.

And that was the closest thing we've seen to a GOP revolt in these confirmations. Not one Republican voted against confirming former Sen. Jeff Sessions as attorney general, despite his ugly history on civil rights. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell went so far as to formally squelch Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., so she could not read aloud a letter criticizing Sessions written decades ago by the late Coretta Scott King.

Trump's pick for the Labor Department, fast-food magnate Andrew Puzder, has conflicts of interest and a nanny problem; he may face some pushback. Ben Carson has zero qualifications to lead Housing and Urban Development. But if DeVos got through, it's hard to imagine who would be deemed unacceptable by the GOP majority.

Over in the House, meanwhile, all the zeal for holding the executive branch accountable has gone poof. Remember how eager House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, was to investigate every real or imagined question about the Obama administration? Remember how he went after Hillary Clinton over her emails? Suddenly  and this is rich  he declines to launch any probe that might be seen as a "fishing expedition."

Trump's attack on a private company, Nordstrom Inc., for no longer carrying his daughter Ivanka's line of merchandise? "Not a big deal," Chaffetz said. Trump's hotel lease for the Old Post Office Building, which makes him both landlord and tenant? Chaffetz is "curious" but wants to wait for an opinion by the General Services Administration, which now reports to Trump. The many potential conflicts of interest posed by Trump's worldwide business interests? Chaffetz stifles a yawn.

And only a few Republicans, including Sen. John McCain, have shown any interest in investigating the biggest question hanging over the Trump administration: What role did Russia play in the election? This abdication of duty is cynicism of the highest order, or perhaps I should say the lowest.

The GOP's lockstep unity has been impressive, and it may eventually allow the party to achieve some of its long-held policy goals: cutting taxes, eliminating regulations, repealing the Affordable Care Act. But there are enormous risks.

The dawn of the Trump presidency has inspired a groundswell of progressive activism around the country. The energy generated by the massive Women's March on Washington and its satellite marches last month has been sustained. Republican members of Congress have been deluged by phone calls at their offices and confronted by protesters in their home districts. "The women are in my grill no matter where I go," Rep. Dave Brat, R-Va., complained.

If opposition to Trump unites and motivates Democrats the way opposition to Obama did for Republicans, GOP strategists should be very worried.

Beyond the political risk, there is the existential risk of blindly following a man who continues to demonstrate his unfitness for the presidency. Trump shows no respect for American institutions or traditions. He sees those who disagree with him as "haters" and dismisses inconvenient facts as "fake news." He deliberately stokes fear. He bristles at constitutional checks on his power.

And to think, there once was a Republican president who summoned "the better angels of our nature."
WASHINGTON  Stupid but legal. Such is the Trump administration's travel ban for people from seven Muslim countries. Of course, as with almost everything in American life, what should be a policy or even a moral issue becomes a legal one. The judicial challenge should have been given short shrift, since the presidential grant of authority to exclude the entry of aliens is extremely wide and statutorily clear. The judge who issued the temporary restraining order never even made a case for its illegality.

But even if the immigration ban is ultimately vindicated in the courts, that doesn't change the fact that it makes for lousy policy. It began life as a barstool eruption after the San Bernardino massacre when Donald Trump proposed a total ban on Muslims entering the country "until our country's representatives can figure out what the hell is going on."

Rudy Giuliani says he was tasked with cleaning up this idea. Hence the executive order suspending entry of citizens from the seven countries while the vetting process is reviewed and tightened.

The core idea makes sense. These are failed, essentially ungovernable states (except for Iran) where reliable data is hard to find. But the moratorium was unnecessary and damaging. Its only purpose was to fulfill an ill-considered campaign promise.

It caused enormous disruption without making us any safer. What was the emergency that compelled us to turn away people already in the air with already approved visas for entry to the U.S.?

President Trump said he didn't want to give any warning. Otherwise, he tweeted, "the 'bad' would rush into our country. ... A lot of bad 'dudes' out there!"

Rush? Not a single American has ever been killed in a terror attack in this country by a citizen from the notorious seven. The killers have come from precisely those countries not listed  Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Lebanon, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan (the Tsarnaev brothers). The notion that we had to act immediately because hordes of jihadists in these seven countries were about to board airplanes to blow up Americans is absurd.

Vetting standards could easily have been revised and tightened without the moratorium and its attendant disruptions, stupidities, random cruelties and well-deserved bad press.

The moratorium turned into a distillation of the worst aspects of our current airport-security system, which everyone knows to be 95 percent pantomime. The pat-down of the 80-year-old grandmother does nothing to make us safer. Its purpose is to give the illusion of doing something. Similarly, during the brief Trump moratorium, a cavalcade of innocent and indeed sympathetic characters  graduate students, separated family members, returning doctors and scientists  were denied entry. You saw this and said to yourself: We are protecting ourselves from THESE?

If anything, the spectacle served to undermine Trump's case for extreme vigilance and wariness of foreigners entering the United States. There is already empirical evidence. A Nov. 23 Quinnipiac poll found a 6-point majority in favor of "suspending immigration from 'terror prone' regions"; a Feb. 7 poll found a 6-point majority AGAINST. The same poll found a whopping 44-point majority opposed to "suspending all immigration of Syrian refugees to the U.S. indefinitely."

Then there is the opportunity cost of the whole debacle. It risks alienating the leaders of even nonaffected Muslim countries  the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation expressed "grave concern"  which may deter us from taking far more real and effective anti-terror measures. The administration was intent on declaring the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization, a concrete measure that would hamper the operations of a global Islamist force. In the current atmosphere, however, that declaration is reportedly being delayed and rethought.

Add to that the costs of the ill-prepared, unvetted, sloppy rollout. Consider the discordant, hostile message sent to loyal law-abiding Muslim-Americans by the initial denial of entry to green card holders. And the ripple effect of the initial denial of entry to those Iraqis who risked everything to help us in our war effort. In future conflicts, this will inevitably weigh upon local Muslims deciding whether to join and help our side. Actions have consequences.

In the end, what was meant to be a piece of promise-keeping, tough-on-terror symbolism has become an oxygen-consuming distraction. This is a young administration with a transformative agenda to enact. At a time when it should be pushing and promoting deregulation, tax reform and health care transformation, it has steered itself into a pointless cul-de-sac  where even winning is losing.
It should be obvious to even the casual observer that the new American president has something up his sleeve regarding how he engages with the Russian president. Part of that engagement clearly involves curious responses to those who would make observations abut the Russian leaders various sins.

In a presidency as volatile as Donald Trumps, this will tend to drive people batty, generating much comment which is, as usual, projected through the lens of what everyone thinks of Trump in the first place. His detractors will wail that he is propping up an evil tyrant in Vladimir Putin; his supporters will insist that there is a method to what others see as madness.

So what might that method be?

The way to understand Trump is to recognize his main motivating forces. One is a key reason he won: his drive to make decisions based on American interests first, rather than the global dalliances that have distracted us for years. The other is his well-established desire to be viewed as a success.

There would be no greater foreign policy success for Trump than the measurable suppression of ISIS as a threat, across the Middle East, Europe, and its tentacles that have reached into America. In a classic case of the-enemy-of-my-enemy-is-my-friend, he makes frequent mention of Putin as a potential ally in the fight against global jihad.

Is this realistic? The answer lies in an even deeper unknown: the level of interest Putin has in partnering with America to deflect ISISs bloody advances.

Russia has been a target of terrorism and will likely face further threats. But that doesnt make Putins motives pure. His fingerprints may be on the 1999 Moscow bombings just before the Chechen war, attributed by some to the KGBs successor agency, the FSB, led at the time by Putin. As recently as the last few years, Russian-led forces have been blamed for targeted political terror attacks in various Russian cities.

This is not a good guy. And his terrorism radar may be frustratingly selective. While it was encouraging after the 2015 Paris attacks for Russia to join a U.N. Security Council resolution backing all necessary measures against ISIS, its dark collaborations with Iran and Syria make Russia a reliable facilitator of arms to Hamas and Hezbollah.

So it becomes equally useful to discern what is the advantage to Putin of partnering with Trump: The goals are a mirror image: The Russian president wants to be able to claim his share of credit for declawing ISIS, and he wants to bolster his popularity by scoring points for keeping his own citizens safe. Those instincts could prove useful.

But as Trump plots a cooperative path that could yield real progress in stifling ISIS with Russian help, he should keep his eyes wide open that one convenient partnership, even one as ambitious and vital as this, does not mean the Russian regime deserves broad praise.

Trump will pursue Russian help to fight global jihad, as well he should. He knows that Putin, who can match him ego for ego, could balk at joining the effort if he hears Trump taking the bait as people goad the U.S. president to savage his Russian counterpart.

Trump being Trump, that means we will get occasional confounding moments like the Were so innocent? retort to Bill OReillys accurate claim of Putin as a killer.

This does not in any way mean Trump morally equates American actions to Putins sinister exploits; it simply means he will say what is necessary to keep the Russian president on the hook for a partnership that could help achieve the most important foreign policy goal of our time.

Imagine Trump calling Putin all of the nasty names people seem to want him to use, and which Putin surely deserves. Then imagine the Russian leader storming away from a potentially vital role in joining us to beat ISIS.

Would everybody be happy then?
G'day! It's Murray here. I've put together a little quiz to test your musical knowledge. Think you can score top marks in Murray's Magic Music Quiz? Give it a go now!
The original purchase contract included a requirement for authorisation of the trains for operation in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic by 2019. The German tests are the first step towards achieving this.

Testing on the DB Networks high-speed line between Nuremburg and Ingolstadt has been underway since late January. Tests are being carried out by DB Systemtechnik on behalf of Alstom and are expected to continue until June.

Alstom has confirmed to IRJ that similar tests in the Czech Republic and Austria will take place later this year, although exact timing will depend on when PKP IC is able to release a train.

PKP IC has operated the ED250 fleet as Express InterCity Premium (EIP) trains on services between the north and south of Poland via Warsaw connecting Gdansk and Gdynia with Krakow, Katowice, Bielsko-Biala, Wroclaw and Rzeszow since December 2014.

In spring 2016, EIP services were extended to include other destinations including Jelenia Gora and Kolobrzeg on the Baltic coast.

A PKP IC spokesman told IRJ that the future use of the Pendolino fleet on international routes to Germany, Czech Republic and Austria will depend on the ongoing approval process and while PKP IC is considering using Pendolinos for such services its too early to say on which routes they will operate or exactly when they might be introduced.
In 2015 GWR placed a 361m order through leasing company Eversholt Rail for 22 five-car and seven nine-car trains. An option for seven additional nine-car sets was subsequently exercised in August 2016. The trains will be introduced on services from London Paddington to Exeter, Plymouth and Penzance from December 2018.

The class 802s are a variant of the class 800 trains currently being built for GWR under the Intercity Express Programme (IEP), but will feature 700kW engines (compared with 560kW for the class 800) and long-range fuel tanks for extended running in diesel mode.

Last year Hitachi awarded Rolls Royce a contract to supply 136 MTU Series 1600 powerpacks for the GWR class 802 fleet. The Series 1600 uses MTUs 12V 1600 R80L 12-cylinder diesel engine, which is equipped with a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) unit ensures to meet EU Stage IIIB emissions standards.

Two five-car trains and one nine-car will be delivered via the port of Southampton in the summer for testing on the coastal section of the Great Western Main Line between Exeter and Newton Abbot. Hitachi Rail Italys new depot at Stoke Gifford near Bristol will maintain the trains during the test programme.

The first of the Italian-built trains is due to arrive in Britain at the end of the year. All 93 class 800 and 802 trains for GWR are due to enter service by the end of 2019.
This is Jim Blaze, rail economist and teachersometimes a reporter; always one who questions. Im concerned about how the Big 7 railroads are going to address their next five to ten years of market position, taking the wealth they created, and turning it into an upgraded business model. Which one so far has laid out the best disruptive plan? Which one is struggling? And which one might simply be cashing out?

For most organizations, value-creating growth is the fundamental strategic challenge, for senior officers as well as the board of directors. In order to succeed, companies must be good at developing new, potentially disruptive businesses.

That is the essential conclusion about the dynamics of core business shifts as described in part by Clay Christensen and Michael Raynor in their book, The Innovators Solution: Creating and Sustaining Successful Growth (Harvard Business School Press, 2003). I stumbled upon this while doing teaching research. Here is the business theory as I understand how it might apply to the largest North American railroads.

Despite a slowdown in growth and margin erosion in rail freights aging core business, railroad management continues to focus on developing it at the expense of launching new growth businesses. In the process, management tries to swap asset ownership and downsize the asset scale. Nearly $3 of assets per annual dollar of revenue gets cut back toward the $2 range. That is often the only clear execution strategy. Its financial, not marketing.

Eventually, investments in the railroad network core stop producing the previous growth in ton-miles and unit volume that investors have come to expectwhich is why they bought and held the stock. To revitalize the stock price, management often announces a targeted growth rate that may be beyond what the core business can deliver, thus introducing a larger growth gapand uncertainty.

Confronted with this gap and uncertainty, the railroad internally limits funding to projects that promise very large, very rapid growth. Often in real terms, my experience was that this seldom amounts to much more than about 15% of the marketing wish list.

The almost-200-year-old rail freight business has a culture of risk aversion. Decisions are nowhere near as easy as taking business away from horse-drawn wagons in the early 19th century. The effect internally is that the railroads often reject or stretch out riskier projects that might generate payback through new long-term services and customer-growth businesses.

Internally, rail managers often respond with overly optimistic projections to gain funding for initiatives. The one-million-trucks-diverted marketing theme for intermodal growth has been well-used since about 1988, as double-stack technology took holdalmost an annual recital of market growth potential, never really challenged as to the numerical goal, and aways seemingly taken for granted.

Now the theme is somewhere between another million to as high as between 7 and 11 million, depending upon what expert is talking. Are the boards and shareholders really convinced? How much time and patience do they have? Taking a logical 6 to 9 million intermodal diversions from the universe believed available might take five to eight years, maybe longer. No one seems to know or say.

What is the investment amount? Its not going to be free.

Meeting a planned timetable for intermodal diversion is going to require more platform cars, more higher-speed rather than drag-freight locomotives, and more intermodal/logistics parks and terminals (or bigger terminals, like near Atlanta). Its also going to require completion of links like CSXs Washington-Baltimore-Philadelphia I-95 corridor. That link is likely to take about eight years or more to finance and build.

Meanwhile, a tough decision needs to be made as to how to exit or sell off the lower-performing former core that requires switching, added boxcar acquisition, and a more-direct, less-transactional sales approach. This business model change has been discussed aggressively for about two yearswith no sign, yet, of executing the change toward more short line efficiency management and operations roles, or possibly the creation of more Conrail Shared Assets-type business models in selected old-core business regions.

LOOKING FORWARD

As revenue increases fall short and operating ratio targets remain elusive, the market typically loses stock price confidenceand a new CEO is brought in to shore it up. Its happened before. It will happen again. Hunter Harrison isnt the only example. Stan Crane arrived at Conrail in 1981, and we grew traffic volume. He didnt just cut costs, though he was good at that as well.

Meanwhile, policy writers and regulators remain somewhat paralyzed, because they dont have a plan or are not in charge of shareholder assets. They can enable radical change or block it. Which will they do? Whats your level of confidence in what they will do? No one seems to know just yet.

The immediate risks as executives change chairs is that upon seeing that the new growth business pipeline is virtually empty, the incoming CEO often tries to quickly stem losses by approving only expenditures that bolster the mature core, and by cutting more costs, possibly creating a three- to four-year shareholder windfall. But will the culture and the company grow and survive? There is a level of long-term risk there.

SHORT-TERM CHANGES

Assets are sold. Thats relatively simple to execute. Cash flow is diverted from growth and R&D to dividends and stock buyback. Both acts are a dilution of cash that might otherwise go toward building the new core.

Short-run actions can often create a financial/accounting illusion as if everything is okay. Why? How?

Heres why. The bulk of the typical companys share price reflects expectations for the growth of current business. If companies meet those expectations, shareholders will earn only a normal return. But to deliver superior long-term returnsthat is, to grow the share price faster than competitors share pricesmanagement must either repeatedly exceed market expectations for its current business or develop new value-creating business, or strike out costs and balance sheet items.

Current 2017-toward-2020 growth expectations are look for leaders who dont dwell on the markets near-term expectations. Long-term investors dont want to wait for the core to deteriorate further before they invest in new growth opportunities.

One or more railroads must eventually emerge as the first to move in a market and erect formidable barriers to entry through network scale or other favorable economics, in significant rail corridors where they have a competitive advantage. CNs Prince Rupert corridor might be the best modern example.

Long-term investors want a railroad company that during tough times in the past has shown customers and investors that they become better and faster than their competitors at seizing opportunities to achieve a competitive advantage for both volume and top-line growth.

Being led by sharp cost-cutters in a declining-share and declining-volume market may be great for short-term current investorsuntil their market hits a critical step-function drop, leaving the most recent investors and debt financiers in a tough bind. That so often has been the economic cycle of railroading these past nearly 200 years.

Which railroad companies give the highest level of confidence that they are in it for long-term growth, something in the take-15%-market-share range? Which ones suggest another outcome with a much lower level of confidence at high top-line volume growth, more than just leveraging revenue rates up?

Since freight railroads form connected networks, does this mean that about four to six out of the Big 7 should execute together, to create network mass for new core growth? Or could as few as two seize market growth by somehow merging (uniting) to pull it off, with a critical-mass size?
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will withhold 5% of federal funds to the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia until a new Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) State Safety Oversight Program (SSOP) is in place.

FTA notified the transit systems in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia that, effective immediately, the transit formula funds from Fiscal Year 2017 will be held until an SSOP is certified for WMATA rail operations. The funds will be withheld until the jurisdictions pass identical legislation and meet related requirements in order for FTA to certify a new SSOP for WMATA Metrorail and can be restored once the jurisdictions establish a federally compliant, FTA-certified SSOP.

The governors of Maryland, Virginia and the mayor of the District of Columbia have been informed of FTAs decision. The funding freeze affects eight FTA fund recipients that allocate the funding to transit agencies in their respective areas. FTA says that under the current continuing budget resolution through April 28, 2017, this amounts to approximately $8.9 million, in total, for the two states and the district. Based on a full-year appropriation, the total amount that may be withheld in Fiscal Year 2017 is estimated at approximately $15 million.

In order for FTA to certify an SSOP for WMATA rail, the jurisdictions must still take several key actions, including:

 Passage of identical legislation by the Maryland and Virginia state legislatures and the District of Columbia and signed by the state governors and district mayor.

 Submission of a certification application and documentation to FTA showing that the State Safety Oversight Agency (SSOA) has independence from the rail transit system it oversees; enforcement and investigation authority; adequate staffing and training; FTA grant recipient status; and has met general program requirements.

 Participation in a transitional hand-off period whereby FTA officials work side-by-side with new SSOA officials to ensure they are capable of conducting all oversight responsibilities required by Federal law.

 Verifying with FTA that the new SSOAs enforcement and oversight capabilities, as well as their inspection, investigation and audit activities are adequate and meet all statutory requirements.

By law, states have the primary responsibility for overseeing the safe operation of their rail transit systems, not only for riders but for transit operators and workers, said FTA Executive Director Matthew Welbes. FTA has been providing oversight for WMATA Metrorail since October 2015, but the role is temporary. We will continue to direct safety oversight of Metrorail only until the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia step up and establish an FTA-certified State Safety Oversight Program.
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SWEDEN: Innofreight has handed over the first of 144 wagons which are being supplied under the Austrian companys largest order to date. These are to be used from July on a 10-year timber haulage contract awarded to Hector Rail by forest products company SCA Skog, which will be the first ...
Cisneros Media and Cox Communications have reached an agreement to launch Venevision across the cable platform.





Venevision will be part of Coxs Hispanic-targeted Latino Pack, representing an important step in the channels expansion into the US.To have our channel launched by one of the most important cable companies in the United States is a great milestone for Cisneros Media. Cox Communications is a great business partner, and we are thrilled to have our leading brand, Venevision, as part of its Hispanic package, stated Jonathan Blum, president of Cisneros Media The Venevision channel will comprise 100% Spanish-language original programming produced at Cisneros Media studios in Latin America and the United States.Venevision will also feature Cisneross telenovelas, from the most recent titles such as Entre Tu Amor y Mi Amor to modern classics like Eva Luna.We will work closely with Cox Communications to ensure a diversity of programmes that best suit their Hispanic subscribers. The channel will showcase our top-rated programmes, which are widely recognised by the US Hispanic audiences, as well shows directly from our TV network in Venezuela, said Marcello Coltro , executive VP, content distribution, Cisneros Media Distribution.
ECHR prohibits Russia from deporting Syrian citizen for visa violation

MOSCOW, February 14 (RAPSI)  The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Tuesday announced its ruling prohibiting Russian authorities from deporting Syrian citizen back to his home country and ruled to compensate him with 7,500 in moral damages.

Syrian citizen, only known as S.K., came to Russia in October of 2011 on a temporary business visa. Later, he married a woman and in 2013 he became a father. In February 2015, a Russian court found him guilty of staying in the country beyond the expiry of his visa. He was ordered to pay a fine and to be deported from Russia.

The Supreme Court of Dagestan upheld that ruling and S.K. filed a motion for temporary asylum in Russia, referring to ongoing armed conflict in Syria. In June 2015, his motion was dismissed by local migration authority. This decision was later upheld by the Basmanny District Court of Moscow in December 2015.

ECHR registered the appeal filed by S.K. in October of 2015. The Applicant argued that the situation in Syria presented serious risks for his health and life and as such his potential deportation would violate Articles 2 (right to life), Article 3 (prohibition of torture) of the European Convention of Human Rights. He also argued that some of his rights were already violated, notably violated Article 5 (right to liberty and security) because he was put in detention center, Article 8 (right to respect for private and family life) and Article 13 (right to an effective remedy).

The court ruled that Russian authorities violated Articles 5 and 13 of the Convention and that Articles 2 and 3 are also going to be violated if S.K. is going to be deported. ECHR ruled Russia to pay him 1,500 in respect of legal costs and expenses.

In turn, Russian government argued that the applicant was responsible for the situation. Notably, the applicant took no measures to legalize his stay in Russia by means of applying for a new visa or obtaining a temporary residence permit before he was put in detention. Government notes that S.K. was free to use legal assistance to prolong his stay in Russia or leave it for some other country, yet chose not to do so despite being aware of his visa expiration.
Vancouver long has sought a share of Silicon Valley's magic. With President Trump moving to curb immigration and the U.S. tech industry in open revolt, the friendly, functional Canadian city may finally get its wish. Tech companies that keep satellite offices in Vancouver, just a two-hour flight from San Francisco, are exploring whether to move more jobs over the border. Immigration lawyers are reporting a steep uptick in inquiries. And a start-up is offering to smooth the way, for $6,000 a person, for foreign-born tech workers worried their U.S. visas may disappear.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn., Feb. 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Delek US Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:DK) today announced that Uzi Yemin, Chairman, President and CEO, and other members of management will participate in the Credit Suisse Energy Summit in Vail, Colorado on Wednesday, February 15, 2017.

A copy of Delek US latest investor presentation will be provided at the conference. An electronic copy of this presentation is currently available in the Investors section of the Delek US website at http://www.DelekUS.com.

About Delek US Holdings, Inc.

Delek US Holdings, Inc. is a diversified downstream energy company with assets in petroleum refining and logistics. The refining segment consists of refineries operated in Tyler, Texas and El Dorado, Arkansas with a combined nameplate production capacity of 155,000 barrels per day. Delek US Holdings, Inc. and its affiliates also own approximately 62 percent (including the 2 percent general partner interest) of Delek Logistics Partners, LP. Delek Logistics Partners, LP (NYSE:DKL) is a growth-oriented master limited partnership focused on owning and operating midstream energy infrastructure assets. Delek US Holdings, Inc. currently owns approximately 47 percent of the outstanding common stock of Alon USA Energy, Inc. (NYSE:ALJ).
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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.
NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against USANA Health Sciences, Inc. (USANA or the Company) (NYSE:USNA) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, District of Utah, is on behalf of a class consisting of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired USANA securities, seeking to recover compensable damages caused by defendants violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.



If you are a shareholder who purchased USANA securities between March 14, 2014 and February 7, 2017, both dates inclusive, you have until April 14, 2017 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll free, ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased.

[Click here to join this class action]

USANA Health Sciences, Inc. develops, manufactures, and sells science-based nutritional and personal care products primarily to reduce the risk of chronic degenerative disease.

On August 16, 2010, USANA announced that it had acquired BabyCare Ltd. (BabyCare), a China-based manufacturing company that develops and sells nutritional products primarily for infants. Over the next six years, USANA steadily expanded BabyCares market presence in China. In February 2013, the Company announced that it had received official government approval from the Ministry of Commerce Peoples Republic of China (MOFCOM) for direct selling activities in the provinces of Jiangsu and Shaanxi, and the municipality of Tianjin. In May 2016, USANA announced MOFCOM approval for direct selling activities in the provinces of Liaoning, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, and Guangdong, as well as the municipalities of Dalian, Qingdao, and Shenzhen.

The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Companys business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the Companys BabyCare subsidiary had engaged in improper reimbursement practices in China; (ii) these practices constituted violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA); (iii) as such, the Companys China revenues were in part the product of unlawful conduct and unlikely to be sustainable; (iv) the foregoing conduct, when it became known, was likely to subject the Company to significant regulatory scrutiny; and (v) as a result of the foregoing, USANAs public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On February 7, 2017, post-market, USANA disclosed that [t]he Company is voluntarily conducting an internal investigation of its China operations, BabyCare Ltd. . . . focus[ing] on the compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act . . . and certain conduct and policies at BabyCare, including BabyCares expense reimbursement policies. USANA advised investors that the Company had retained outside counsel to conduct the investigation and had notified both the SEC and the U.S. Department of Justice of the investigation.

On this news, USANAs share price fell $7.25, or 11.57%, to close at $55.40 on February 8, 2017.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Florida, and Los Angeles, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com.
'The time has come to incorporate Indian sociology into economic policy.'

'The first step in that direction would be to listen to economists trained in India and not just the US and the UK, argues T C A Srinivasa-Raghavan.

IMAGE: Dr Arvind Panagariya, the Columbia University economist who is now vice-chairman, Niti Aayog, second from right, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Sikkim after they presented their interim report on digital payments, January 24, 2017. Photograph: PTI.

In a recent column I wrote that 'the success of Western economics is rooted in their societies. Our borrowed economics has failed because it is not rooted in India.'

I had also written that the time had come for Indian economists to read what their now-forgotten pre-Independence predecessors had written.

The main body of their work has been compiled by J Krishnamurti, a former Delhi School of Economics professor of economic history.

Predictably, some people asked what precisely is meant by 'rooted' in India.

"Do you mean to say," one of them asked with some acerbity, "Indians respond differently to economic incentives and disincentives?"

The answer, alas, is yes, but not in quite the way it would be understood.

As individuals they may respond exactly like people elsewhere in the world. But as a society we tend to respond differently.

This is what demonetisation has shown.

There was a huge difference between the way individuals responded, with their usual low cunning and the way society has responded, with patience and dignity in the face of great hardship.

This suggests that there is a cultural dimension of behaviour at work which cannot be disregarded by focusing on the individual dimension alone, which is what Western economics does.

Indian economics has to factor this in.

Those who remember P T Bauer's work in the 1950s will recall his theory about West Africans. He said due to cultural factors the natives responded very differently to economic incentives. He was derided by the liberals of that era, but he was absolutely right.

To the extent that cultures are conditioned by religion -- or dharma in the Indian context -- India's economists, many of whom are contemptuous of anything non-Western, need to understand the different aspects of it.

They cannot simply put in place an imported set of incentives based largely on Protestant values -- hard work and greed -- and blame everyone except themselves for it when they don't work.

One useful place for them to begin would be to study what is called the fallacy of composition in logic, which says that what is true of the parts is not true of the whole.

IMAGE: Reserve Bank of India Governor Dr Urjit Patel, centre, was educated at the London School of Economics (BA), Oxford University (MPhil) and Yale (PhD). He worked at the International Monetary Fund between 1991 and 1995 before coming to the RBI on deputation for two years.

Dr Viral Acharya, the RBI's newest deputy governor, second from right, was educated at IIT-Bombay (BTech) and the Stern College of Business, New York University (PhD), where he taught till he moved to the RBI.

Indians? Chee!

The British from the very start thought Indians were not quite up to it and from the middle of the 1870s sought to create the brown Englishman.

Their success in creating an intellectual legacy through these brown sahebs still haunts us. Only the accent has changed to the American.

As late as the 1930s, Sir John Grigg, ICS, finance member of the Viceroy's Council and the supreme boss of the Reserve Bank of India, would go about saying that Indian economists were not good enough.

Why? Because their frames of reference were not the same as that of the imperial government.

During the Great Depression, only India did not take protectionist measures. This led to a lot of criticism from India's economists. Sir John responded with contempt.

At one level, these frames of reference referred to imperial versus nationalist objectives. But at another more fundamental level, they were about societal responses to economic problems and policies.

The Indian understanding of these was at variance with the Western one.

We are different

If, as Western economics says, individuals seek to maximise their individual utilities -- Adam Smith -- and thus maximise social utility, why have Indians not done so for 70 years?

Why has individual utility been made subordinate to social utility?

Only Indian sociologists can tell us. Explanations by Western economists fail to do so.

For example, the core value of Western economics is acquisitiveness.

Is this the core value of Indians also?

If not, what is it and how does it affect economic behaviour?

The propensity to cheat -- contextual morality which in economics comes as the non-contribution theorem -- is also a strong Indian characteristic.

It's because of this that so few Indians pay income tax. So how should tax policy be designed?

Western moral theories assume a strong sense of community that translate into strongly inelastic assumptions.

But Indians, like the sauce, are different.

IMAGE: Dr Arvind Subramanian, chief economic advisor to the finance ministry, left, was educated at St Stephen's College, Delhi (BA), IIM-A (MBA) and Oxcord (MPhil and DPhil). He has taught at Harvard and Johns Hopkins.

Think Indian

I don't have the answers to these questions. But I do know one thing: The time has come to incorporate Indian sociology into economic policy.

The first step in that direction would be to listen to economists trained in India and not just the US and the UK.

The beginning must come from the government, especially the finance ministry.

That way lies ignominy, as so many have found to their detriment.

More FASCINATING features in the RELATED LINKS below.
I have no hesitation to say that the cultural milieu is different, said chairman R Seshasayee in a rare media interaction.

Image: Infosys founders, from left, Nandan Nilekani and Kris Gopalakrishnan look on as N R Narayanmurthy speaks at the farewell event of Krish Gopalakrishna at the Infosys headquarters in October 2014. Photograph: Shailendra Bhojak/PTI Photograph.

Infosys chairman R Seshasayee admitted cultural differences with its founders that has led to a public spat and assured that stakeholders would be consulted, even as he maintained that the board would assert its independence in taking final decisions.

Seshasayee, who has been called to account for governance lapses by founder N R Narayana Murthy, would not quit the company as he was elected by shareholders and the board, while pointing that Infosys would continue with the tradition of maintaining gold standard in corporate governance set by the founders.

Shareholders and the board have asked me to do a job. As long as they dont ask me... I will do my job, Seshasayee told a rare board-convened media interaction in Mumbai on Monday.

He maintained it was not a battle with the founders but an engagement with those who have nothing other than the best interests of the company in mind.

Seshasayee and Chief Executive Officer Vishal Sikka said they were engaged with founders as the company transforms into a services and software company, received their inputs to improve governance, while admitting that lapses were corrected by bringing in processes.

I have no hesitation to say that the cultural milieu is different, said Seshasayee, while clarifying the issues raised on Sikkas salary compensation and former chief financial officer Rajiv Bansals severance pay were handled with full transparency.

Murthy first raised concerns over corporate governance in May 2016 and since then has been engaging with the board for clarity, which he maintained till Monday morning has not been addressed.

No, I have not withdrawn my concern. They have to be addressed properly by the board and full transparency should be given and people responsible for it should become accountable, said Murthy in a statement, after Bloomberg quoted him saying, Let me stop. I have made my point, indicating truce.

Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, who has maintained silence on the developments at the company, declined to comment late on Monday evening.

The board is putting up a brave face. It has accepted lapses and says it has taken corrective action, said Shriram Subramanian, managing director of InGovern Services, a proxy advisory company.

For now, Narayana Murthy should stop dwelling on past issues. The company, hopefully, has learnt it is under intense scrutiny and be more transparent in future.

Since last week, the board has taken pains to explain corrective actions have been taken in bringing in rules on severance pay, put in processes in disclosure on Sikkas expenses that henceforth would be approved by the audit committee headed by Roopa Kudva, an independent director and managing director of Omidyar Networks.

KEY TAKEAWAYS  Infosys chairman R Seshasayee admits cultural differences with founders

 Admits compensation to Rajiv Bansal was subjective; says streamlined process for all senior management employees

 Vishal Sikka pay is as per global benchmark, worked for 3 months. Compensation has high variable linked to 2020 $20-billion target

 Board will engage with founders, take inputs and act independently in the interest of all shareholders

 All expenses of Sikka has to be approved by audit committee

 Governance going forward, to consult all stakeholders

It also clarified that Bansal certified the acquisition of Panaya, an Israeli software company and the severance pay for former chief compliance officer David Kennedy were as per contract.

Focusing on the past without focusing on the value is a disservice. If you expect the CEO to contact customers, it is important that we have the equation with cost and value, said Seshasayee, on Sikkas use of a chartered jet to meet clients.

He also pointed that the office in Palo Alto, Silicon Valleys high street was a front office for demonstrating the technology work of Infosys than being a development centre.

Former Infosys board member T V Mohandas Pai demanded that the company make public the exit contract and severance pay details with Bansal and pointed that the board had skirted issues on the values of the company.

Sikka, who claimed it was a heartfelt relationship with Murthy and founders, said the focus was on companys second phase of growth journey to transform into a services and software company.

Earlier on Monday, Sikka presented his achievements over the past two-and-a-half years, saying the company would achieve revenue of $10 billion by March, according to its forecast, against $8.5 billion when he took over, dropped attrition to below 15% from 24.2% and employee morale up.

He admitted the consulting business had failed and would focus on the next journey of making Infosys services and a software company.
Tie-up with MBDA will have Indian partner as majority shareholder; first product likely in 2 years.

The governments military indigenisation plan has spawned another tie-up.

Engineering and construction major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) announced a joint venture (JV) with Frances MBDA, a global leader in missile systems.

L&T said it was targeting Rs 10,000 crore in annual business from the defence segment by 2021.

It will hold 51 per cent of the equity in L&T MBDA Missile System Ltd, a company to be incorporated later this year.

The JV would focus on orders under the Buy Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured (IDDM) category, Buy Indian and Buy & Make Indian categories of defence procurement.

According to A M Naik, group executive chairman of L&T, the JV would be able to manufacture its first product in two years, though he did not give the investment size. Around 500 people are likely to be employed by the new company.

The government had decided not to import any missile system, creating business opportunities for domestic companies. The Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) issued in March 2016 set the ground for a new procurement regime, with emphasis on the Make in India initiative in the sector.

The 2.9-billion MBDA (the worlds biggest exporter of missile systems) is jointly owned by the Airbus group, BAE Systems and Leonardo. The first two have 37.5 per cent each and Leonardo owns 25 per cent.

MBDA has been present in India for about 60 years. It and L&T have been in a partnership for about six years, on the offset programme in the sector.

To begin with, the JV would aim to develop and supply fifth-generation anti-tank guided missiles, missiles for coastal batteries and high-speed target drones.

According to the two companies, the decision to formalise the partnership was after extensive evaluation and identifying of synergy.

They've partnered on co-development and production of major sub-systems involving complex technologies and sophisticated weapon systems, such as MICA missile launchers and airframe segments.

Jayant D Patil, head of defence and aerospace at L&T Heavy Engineering, says the JV will not be looking at exports.

L&T has hitherto been involved in manufacturing of a range of launch systems, fire control systems and airframes/sub-systems for indigenous weapon programmes like missiles, rockets and torpedoes.

This was done as a development partner and production agency for the government's Defence Research and Development Organisation and the defence ministrys public sector undertakings.

Patil said a location for the venture had not been finalised. We are looking at two locations. It is under consideration that two of our existing factories could be used, with the possibility of a new factory. It is all subject to volumes. L&T has nine defence manufacturing units.

Naik said L&T would be targeting Rs10,000 crore in annual business from the defence sector by 2021. The company has seen its export volumes in the segment rising to Rs1,500 crore from Rs100-150 crore. He said they would also be bidding for the Future Infantry Combat Vehicle programme of the army.

Image used for representational purposes.
Since the note ban was announced, auction houses, galleries and art fairs are witnessing lukewarm sales -- even with masters like Souza, Raza and Padamsee. Ritika Kochhar reports.

IMAGE: At this year's India Art Fair in New Delhi. Art observers felt a muted reaction here, just as they did at the three art auctions held since November 2016, when the government demonetised high-value notes in a bid to flush out black money. Photograph: Courtesy India Art Fair/Facebook.com.



The India Art Fair, held every winter in Delhi, has set the standards for the South Asian art world as collectors gather from India and abroad and galleries and artists display their finest and most creative works.

This year, it has a new investor as well. MCH Group of Switzerland that owns the powerful Art Basel franchise bought a majority stake (60.3 per cent) in September.

MCH's first action was to overhaul the fair's website and develop an app through which viewers could download images of the artworks they like. Its entry has perhaps led to galleries from West Asia and Europe showing up this year.

Yet, there are few lavish spectacles like the works of Rina Banerjee, Alberto Echegaray Guevara or Wim Delvoye inside or graffiti artist Daku's works outside the Fair tents, although there are a couple of fantastic works by Sudarshan Shetty and Mithu Sen.

At least one gallery has a sign saying "stopped at customs" on the plinths reserved for works by a Bangladeshi artist and though Subodh Gupta stopped by and bought a work by Youdhisthir Maharjan, a Nepalese artist, within the first few hours, most galleries are guarded when asked about sales, but insist there have been serious queries.

This muted reaction was also felt at the three art auctions held since November 2016, when the government demonetised high-value notes in a bid to flush out black money.

Christie's' auction in December 2015 had raised Rs 97.7 crore, the highest for any auction held in India, and an untitled work by V S Gaitonde fetched a record Rs 29.3 crore.

Yet, in December 2016, Christie's' two-part auction raised a total of Rs 72.17 crore.

Similarly, Delhi Art Gallery's auction in December had mixed results when it sold only 45 of the 70 lots on offer, totalling Rs 12.99 crore (without buyers' premium).

Saffronart's online auction on modern and contemporary South Asian Art in the end of November sold three-fourths of the 105 lots and raised Rs 14.46 crore.

Many of the works, even by masters like Souza, Raza and Padamsee, sold at close to the lower end of their estimated prices.

IMAGE: A Tyeb Mehta on auction. "Contemporary art doesn't sell that well from galleries as it does from auctions. People will pay Rs 20 crore in an auction for a Tyeb Mehta, but not from a gallery," says Renu Modi of Gallery Espace. Photograph: Shailesh Andrade/Reuters .



A main reason for this muted response could be the demonetisation that happened in early November. This lends credence to the charge that stashes of unaccounted cash had found their way into the art market. Hearsay has it that future works of mid-career artists have been bought during this period, with cash given upfront.

Gallery owners, auction houses and art investment firms see demonetisation as a way to clean up the Augean Stables.

Arvind Vijaymohan, the founder of Artery India, an art market intelligence firm, is optimistic about the effects of demonetisation on the credibility of the art world. "Sure, sellers are feeling the pinch and holding on to their artworks. But at some level, it's been a cataclysmic change."

According to Vijaymohan, auctions have brought transparency into the market. "Contemporary art doesn't sell that well from galleries as it does from auctions. People will pay Rs 20 crore in an auction for a Tyeb Mehta, but not from a gallery," Renu Modi of Gallery Espace says.

Tunty Chauhan from Gallery Threshold feels buyer will soon shrug off the demonetisation blues.

"There's been hesitation to spend money so far. In retrospect, I think it's been the best thing to happen to art overall. There's now transparency for the customer and an artists' works can't be sold for different prices," she says.

According to Chauhan, the focus will now shift to the primary markets. "The value of an artist's works will be decided by the customer and this will help make the artist confident of the pricing."

This will possibly be helped by the fact that the Budget banned all cash dealings above Rs 3 lakh.

IMAGE: At the Kochi-Muziris Art Biennale in 2015, artist Lavanya Mani used the Indian textile technique of Kalamkari to create Travellers Tales -- Blueprints. A move to tribal and folk art could be the next big thing. Photograph: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com.



Most galleries have decided to wait and watch how the sentiment unfolds.

"There is caution in how the galleries are handling exhibitions," says a source. "Most galleries aren't exhibiting their major artists right now".

The galleries at the India Art Fair, too, have played it safe, except for DAG, which has, as usual showcased the best of premodern art.

The masters are conspicuously absent as well.

Lavish events, organised by the National Gallery of Modern Art, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art and Gujral Foundation, too have taken some sheen off the fair.

In a way, this is a pity, because there's been steady focus on creating an interest in Indian art internationally over the past few years with the Kochi Biennale as well as KNMA and Gujral Foundation taking Indian art to international exhibitions. This has broadened the market, especially for the Indian masters.

Neha Kirpal, the founder of the India Art Fair, however, states that the sales have been good as usual.

Another side effect of the dampening of sentiment could be the shift in the kind of art people are collecting.

Modi of Gallery Espace is starting a new division dedicated to folk and tribal art forms called Aadi by Espace, and it has showcased puppets from Karnataka at the Art Fair.

"Honestly, when I was setting up Aadi, I never thought of demonetisation. It was about wanting to bridge the gap between contemporary and vernacular arts, and explaining the link of living tradition to contemporary art," she says.

The India Art Fair has introduced a new curated space called the Vernacular in Flux that shows traditional Gond, Madhubani and Mysore paintings.

Saffronart too is looking at this area very keenly.

Last year, it led the market with a Folk and Tribal Art sale and collected Rs 1.72 crore. The sale, which included folk antiquities as well as modern folk masters such as Jangarh Singh Shyam and Jivya Soma Mahse, seems to have created the confidence that there is a demand for vernacular arts.

That's why Saffronart returned with its second edition in April 2016 with a rare collection of Mithila and Gond paintings.

StoryLTD, Saffronart's online sales domain that offers low-priced art and collectables, held two no reserve Folk and Tribal Art Auctions in September and November as well as an auction of old books, maps and photographs in December. It raised Rs 15.54 lakh in September and Rs 8.25 lakh in November.

There is confidence all around that the budget end of the market is moving at a brisk pace. A move to tribal and folk art could be the next big thing.
'The setback for Trump carries a message not only for him, but for the far right in general,' says Amulya Ganguli.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump with US supreme court justices at his inauguration ceremony, January 20, 2017. Photograph: Rick Wilking/Reuters

The new buzzword may well be 'it's politics, stupid' in line with the similar campaign rhetoric of the then soon to be United States president Bill Clinton in 1992.

Then, the focus was on the economy.

Now, as US President Donald Trump has responded to the judicial rejection of his travel ban orders on seven Muslim countries by describing the judges as being 'so political', it is obvious that a new criterion has come into play.

His ire has been provoked by the difference in the perception of the judges and of his own.

While the former have taken their stand against the travel ban on the basis of the law, which upholds a non-discriminatory approach motivated by an inclusive, compassionate outlook, the US president is driven by an antagonistic sectarianism, which is typical of the philosophy of the far right.

The pro-white, pro-Christian, anti-immigrant stance of this group is central not only to the Alt-Right parties of Europe, such as Marine Le Pen's National Party in France, Geert Wilders' Party for Freedom in The Netherlands or Norbert Hofer's Austrian Freedom Party, but also the modified Republican Party under Trump in the US.

While the European far right is yet to face any judicial challenge, Trump has had the first taste of how his views may appear to a non-partisan person.

Till now, the rightists have tended to scoff at the gentle and kindly Left Liberals whose patriotism was in doubt because of their partiality towards civil liberties rather than on what the rightists perceive as the national interest.

It is not only among the far right in the US and Europe that such views prevail, but also in India where the BJP asserted that whoever did not chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' did not deserve to live in the country.

One reason for the brashness of the rightists is the one-sided rants in support of their partisan views by their sympathisers on social media.

These diatribes have led to much of the mainstream media being characterised by the vituperative term, presstitutes, coined by the saffron brotherhood.

Trump, too, has been excoriating the media for purveying 'fake' news.

Even the judiciary has come under attack in India with saffron netizens blaming the judges for pronouncing against jallikattu, the bull-taming sport in Tamil Nadu, for inflicting pain on the animals; the use of firecrackers during Diwali for causing pollution; and reducing the height of human 'pyramids' during the Dahi Handi festival on the occasion of Janmastami, Lord Krishna's birthday, in Maharashtra to prevent accidents.

It is now the same in the US with Trump detecting a political bias in the verdicts against the travel ban.

However, if 'The Donald,' as his second wife used to call him, has desisted from taking his case for saving the nation from terrorists to the supreme court, considering a new immigration ban instead, the reason perhaps is that he is unwilling to widen the area of confrontation with his perceived and imaginary adversaries.

He is also probably scared that if the supreme court sides with the lower courts on the issue, then that will be the end of the road for him on travel bans.

It is one thing to take on The New York Times and quite another to engage in a running battle with the judiciary, especially when some of the judges who ruled against the ban were appointed by Republican presidents.

IMAGE: Immigration attorneys listen to the court hearing on immigration ban at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, February 7, 2017. Photograph: Kamil Krzaczynski/Reuters

The setback for Trump carries a message not only for him, but for the far right in general.

If the judiciary is seen to be in tune with the mainstream media's refusal to accept the far right's antipathy towards people because of their ethnicity or colour or creed, then the current ascendancy of the Alt-Right will be stymied.

For the judiciary will have endorsed, like the 'media workers' -- another term used by the saffron lobby for presstitutes -- the old-fashioned concept of a secular and humane polity that shuns prejudice and ensures that there is a fair law for everyone.

As a result, the far right with its agenda of fomenting hate against the perceived outsider will have to retreat to the margins of society where they were confined to earlier -- till the discontents of globalisation in the 'advanced' countries caused by open borders and technological innovations enabled them to rear their heads.

If Trump stumbles, then the Le Pens and Geert Wilders will also falter, ensuring the retreat of the 'meaner, harsher' world, which was feared by Barack Obama, as good sense and the virtues of decency return to the international scene.

Amulya Ganguli is a writer on current affairs.

MUST READ: On the frontline of the battle for immigrant rights
China has said it will develop floating nuclear power plants on a priority basis in the South China Sea as it seeks to beef up electricity supply to the islands in the disputed maritime region.

China will prioritise the development of a floating nuclear power platform in the coming five years, in an effort to provide stable power to offshore projects and promote ocean gas exploitation, Wang Yiren, vice director of the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence.

Wang told Science and Technology Daily that Chinese authorities have already carried out research on relevant core technologies as well as the standardisation of maritime nuclear power plants.

The development of the facility is a crucial part of the countrys five-year economic development plan, running through 2020, state-run Peoples Daily Online reported on Tuesday.

An article published on its official WeChat account in July the China National Nuclear Corporation said China is expected to build 20 floating nuclear power stations in the future, which will significantly beef up the power and water supplies on the South China Sea islands, another official daily Global Times reported.

Sun Qin, former chairman of the National Nuclear Corporation, said in March 2016 that the facility is scheduled to be put into operation in 2019.

"Floating power stations are less susceptible to natural disasters. In an emergency, the station could pump seawater into a boat to prevent core melting. Besides, the platform is small and can be dragged to a suitable place for maintenance," reported in February, quoting an expert.

China currently has 23 nuclear power generating units in operation and 27 under construction, about one-third of the world's unfinished nuclear units.

The construction of new plants resumed after the Chinese government which put the brakes on nuclear power plant approvals following the Fukushima accident in Japan in 2011 permitted resumption after a safety review.

The floating nuclear power plants were aimed at improving power supply to the island areas in the South China Sea, despite the maritime dispute.

China claims all most all of the SCS. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the islands.

Last year, an international tribunal quashed Chinas claims over the area, a verdict Beijing rejected questioning the legality of the tribunal.

Justifying the setting of floating nuclear plants, Wang said diesel generator is currently the main power source for Chinas offshore operation and the daily lives of residents on the Nansha and XishaIslands, the Chinese names for Spratly and Paracel islands in the SCS.

He also played down concerns over nuclear plants in the high seas and coastal areas in the aftermath of the Japans Fukushima power plant.

Floating power stations will aim to promote the exploitation of oil and gas resources and provide safe and efficient power supply to remote islands in the South China Sea, Wang said.

Wang said there are around 400 nuclear power stations in the world, most of which are located inland and therefore not usually affected by tsunamis, typhoons or other extreme coastal weather phenomena, he said.

"If it is safe to build nuclear power plants in coastal areas, it is also not a problem to build them inland," Wang was quoted as saying by Global Times in an interview to China National Radio.

Nuclear power development is one of the best ways to reduce emissions of carbon-dioxide and major pollutants, he said, adding that China has an urgent need for inland nuclear power plants to meet power demand and ensure stable electrical supply.

According to the plan, China's nuclear power capacity would reach 58 million kilowatts by 2020. The total capacity of the plants currently under construction will be 30 million kilowatts.

Wang said the third-generation nuclear power technology has greatly promoted the safety of the reactors.

Three inland nuclear reactors with an investment of over 10 billion yuan (Rs 9,740 crore) have already obtained approval from the National Development and Reform Commission.

"Technology is not a problem. The difficulty lies in letting the public accept the plan," an employee from the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) told the Global Times.

The population density in the three sites is much higher than in European countries while the atmospheric dispersion conditions for possible radioactive emissions is not as ideal as the United States.

Representative image. Photograph: US Navy/Handout via Reuters
An Indian-origin Muslim National Aeronautics and Space Administration scientist has said he was detained and forced to unlock his PIN-protected work phone at the United States border by custom officials.

Sidd Bikkannavar, 35, said in a post on social media that US Customs and Border Protection officers wanted his cell phone and password -- before they would let him through at Houstons George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

On my way home to the US last weekend, I was detained by Homeland Security and held with others who were stranded under the Muslim ban, Bikkannavar wrote in a Facebook post.

I initially refused, since its a (NASA)-issued phone and I must protect access, Bikkannavar wrote.

Bikkannavar, born in Pasadena, designs technology for space telescopes like the enormous James Webb telescope thats set to be launched into orbit in 2018.

Just to be clear -- I'm a US-born citizen and NASA engineer, travelling with a valid US passport. Once they took both my phone and the access PIN, they returned me to the holding area with cots and other sleeping detainees until they finished copying my data, he wrote.

Bikkannavar spent a few weeks away pursuing his hobby of racing solar-powered cars.

As a member of a Chilean team, he visited Patagonia in early January under the Obama administration.

He returned after Trump took office and issued the executive order on travel into the United States.

Nothing about Bikkannavar should have caused concern for CBP -- hes a natural-born US citizen, enrolled in a programme that allows individuals whove already passed background checks to quickly enter the country.

In addition, he has never visited the countries on the immigration ban, and hes 10-year employee of a major US federal agency.

I dont know what to think about this. I was caught a little off guard by the whole thing, Bikkannavar told media in Houston in a phone call. Bikkannavar detailed his experience on Facebook, explaining his absence to friends and co-workers.

The episode, aside from the profiling it ostensibly involved, also put him in a fix with his employers, because he was required to protect access to the phone.

Im back home, and JPL has been running forensics on the phone to determine what CBP/homeland security might have taken, or whether they installed anything on the device, Bikkannavar explained in the post, adding that he has also been working with JPL legal counsel and the lab has issued him a new phone and new phone number.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations filed numerous complaints in January against CBP for demanding that Muslim-American citizens give up their social media information when they return home from overseas.

Earlier this week, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly issued a statement in response, telling the House Homeland Security Committee, "We want to get on their social media, with passwords: What do you do, what do you say? If they dont want to cooperate then you dont come in."

Photograph: Sidd Bikkannavar/Facebook
English French

PRESS RELEASE

14 February 2017

2016 annual results

Revised 2016 targets reached

Good performance of operational activities

Performance plan consistent with announced trajectory

2017 targets confirmed

EBITDA: 16.4 billion, -4.8% organic variation

Net income excluding non-recurring items: 4.1 billion, compared to 4.8 billion in 2015, -15.3%

Net income - Group share: 2.9 billion, 2.4x compared to 2015

Nuclear output:

France: 384TWh, -7.9% due primarily to additional controls resulting in outages or the extension of certain planned outages

United Kingdom: 65.1TWh, a record level since 2003, +4.5TWh compared to 2015

Renewable energies: Commissioning of 1.2GW of gross wind and solar power capacity by EDF Energies Nouvelles. 1.8GW of capacity under construction

Performance plan

Continuation of Opex reductions : -0.3 billion compared to 2015

Rapid progress of the disposals plan: 6.7 billion in disposals signed or realised, 67% of the objective

Debt

Stabilised net financial debt: 37.4 billion

Net financial debt/EBITDA: 2.3x, in line with the target of below 2.5x

Proposed dividend for 2016: 2.1 billion, with an option of payment in new shares, with a payout ratio of 60%

2017 targets

Nuclear output: 390 - 400TWh

EBITDA : 13.7 to 14.3 billion

Net financial debt/EBITDA : at or below 2.5x

Payout ratio of Net income excluding non-recurring items: 55% to 65%

2018 targets

Continuation of the Opex plan with a savings of 0.7 billion compared to 2015

EBITDA : at or above 15.2 billion

Net investment excluding Linky , new developments and disposals: ~10.5bn

Cash flow 7, : at or above 0

Net financial debt/EBITDA 7 , 9 : at or below 2.5x

Payout ratio of Net income excluding non-recurring items5: 50%

EDF's Board of Directors meeting on 13 February 2017, under the chairmanship of Jean-Bernard Levy, approved the consolidated financial statements for the year ended.

Jean-Bernard Levy, EDF's Chairman and CEO, stated:

"The 2016 financial results show that EDF's fundamentals are robust. The Group's transformation is well under way, thanks to the commitment and remarkable effort of its employees. The CAP 2030 strategy is advancing at a steady pace and the performance plan is progressing according to the announced trajectory, a sure sign that the company is moving forward. We will continue this momentum in 2017 by launching new offers and innovative services for our customers, by developing low carbon projects and by exporting our expertise into targeted markets outside of Europe."

Change in EDF group's annual results

In millions of euros 2015 2016 Change vs. 2015

(%) Organic growth

(%) Sales 75,006 71,203 -5.1 -3.2 EBITDA 17,601 16,414 -6.7 -4.8 EBIT 4,280 7,514 +75.6 +76.6 Net income - Group share 1,187 2,851 +140.2 Earnings per share 0.32 1.15 Net income excluding non-recurring items 4,822 4,085 -15.3

Change in EDF group's EBITDA

In millions of euros 2015 2016 Organic growth (%) France - Generation and supply activities 6,936 6,156 -11.2 France - Regulated activities 4,719 5,102 +8.1 United Kingdom 2,242 1,713 -12.3 Italy 1,345 641 -50.6 Other International 609 711 +21.2 Other activities 1,750 2,091 +22.0 Total Group 17,601 16,414 -4.8

The performance plan, together with the sound management of the industrial base and commercial performance, made it possible, in an unfavourable market environment, to partially offset the increased competition and the reduced availability of the nuclear power plants in France due to additional tests. The Group's EBITDA amounted to 16.4 billion, down by 6.7% compared to 2015. Excluding the foreign exchange effects (-0.3 billion), resulting mainly from the depreciation of the pound sterling against the euro, and excluding consolidation scope effects, EBITDA was down by 4.8% in organic terms. This change also reflects the positive impact of the 2014 tariff adjustment and the strong performance of regulated activities.

As part of its performance plan, which provides for a reduction in operational expenditures of at least 1 billion in 2019 compared to 2015, EDF group has reduced its operational expenditures by 1.3%, or about 0.3 billion compared to 2015. In France, EBITDA of Generation and supply activities amounted to 6.2 billion, an organic decline of 11.2%, due mainly to a drop in nuclear generation compared to 2015 and a negative evolution in market conditions.

The France - Regulated activities segment recorded an EBITDA of 5.1 billion, an organic increase of 8.1%, mainly due to the combined effects of a positive weather impact and lower costs of covering network losses.

In the United Kingdom, EBITDA was down by 12.3% in organic terms compared to 2015. The excellent performance of nuclear generation and the continuation of the cost savings plan partially offset the highly negative impact of falling prices and increased competition.

In Italy, EBITDA recorded a 50.6% drop in organic terms, mainly due to unfavourable market conditions in 2016 and the positive outcome of the arbitration on the Libyan gas contract in 2015, which had no equivalent in 2016.

In the Other activities segment, EBITDA was up by 22.0% in organic terms, in particular due to the growth of the activities of EDF Trading, whose EBITDA was up 56.8% in organic terms, and of EDF Energies Nouvelles, whose EBITDA benefitted from the net capacities installed in 2015 and the success of the development model through asset rotation.

EBITDA for Other International increased by 21.2% in organic terms, supported by all countries.

Operating performance:

Nuclear generation in France affected by additional controls

Excellent nuclear performance in the United Kingdom

In France, nuclear output amounted to 384TWh, a decrease of 32.8TWh compared to 2015. 2016 was marked by the implementation of additional controls, in particular on the steam generators, leading to the extension or scheduling of additional planned outages for several reactors. The analyses and tests carried out on the steam generators potentially affected by the carbon segregation issue led the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) to grant approval to restart 17 out of the 18 reactors concerned, confirming the ability of these reactors to operate safely. The Civaux 1 reactor is currently undergoing controls.

At the same time, the operational performance of the nuclear fleet remains solid, with the lowest volume of unplanned outages ever reached, increasingly positive safety results and a historically low number of automatic reactor stoppages.

Nuclear generation was supplemented by the output from the thermal power plants, which amounted to 11.9TWh, up 5.1TWh due to higher demand, in particular for gas-fired plants.

Finally, hydropower output amounted to 42.4TWh in 2016, up 3.5TWh due to more favourable hydro conditions than in 2015.

In total, the output of the France - Generation and supply activities segment amounted to 438.3TWh, down by 24.2TWh compared to 2015.

After the end of the Yellow and Green tariffs, and in an increasingly competitive environment, more than 75% of customers in this segment chose EDF in 2016.

Commercial development has led to an increase of 10.5% in the number of gas customer accounts compared to 2015.

In the United Kingdom, nuclear output was at its highest level ever, reaching 65.1TWh, up by 4.5TWh compared to 2015, thanks to excellent operational performance. Nuclear generation in 2016 benefitted from the very high level of fleet availability and a historically-low rate of unplanned outages.

EDF Energies Nouvelles output reached 11.3TWh, an increase of 9%. This growth was driven by the commissioning of 1.2GW in gross capacity in wind power and in North America. The portfolio of projects under construction amounts to 1.8GW of nuclear provisions at 31/12/2016, of which approximately 50% is located in new geographical areas (India, Brazil, Chile, China).

In energy services, heating network activities have developed significantly, and the share of renewable energies in the energy mix has risen sharply.

Net income

The Group's share of net income amounted to 2.9 billion in 2016, an increase of 1.7 billion compared to 2015, due to lower impairment losses in 2016 compared to 2015 and to the positive effect of the extension to 50 years of the accounting depreciation period of the PWR 900MW series in France.

The financial result corresponds to an expense of 3.3 billion in 2016, up 0.7 billion compared to 2015, due mainly to an increase in the unwinding costs of nuclear provisions attributable in particular to the significant drop in the discount rate of nuclear provisions from 4.5% to 4.2%.

The Group's net income excluding non-recurring items stood at 4.1 billion for 2016, down by 15.3% from 2015.

Performance plan consistent with announced trajectory

EDF confirms the continuation of its efforts to reduce operational expenditures with a decrease of 0.3 billion in 2016 compared to 2015. This trajectory supports the objective of the performance plan to reduce operational expenditures by 0.7 billion in 2018 compared to 2015, and by 1 billion in 2019 compared to 2015. All segments contribute to this financial result, with, in particular, a decrease of 1.0% of OPEX in the France - Generation and supply activities segment, thanks to an adjustment of the sales and administrative costs to the competitive environment and to an optimisation of the thermal fleet costs. The France - Regulated activities segment is also continuing its efforts to optimise costs. The UK recorded a reduction of 3.6%, and Italy 4.7%.

The optimisation plans have had a positive impact of 0.7 billion on the working-capital requirement in 2016.

The disposal plan has led to around 6.7 billion in disposals that were signed or closed in 2016, as part of the 10 billion disposal plan over the 2015-2020 period.

Net investments amounted to 11.7 billion in 2016 compared to 12.7 billion in 2015, a decrease of 1.0 billion

(-8.0%). Net investments excluding Linky, new developments and assets disposals went down by 0.6 billion to 11.8 billion in 2016 compared to 12.4 billion in 2015. These developments, in line with the trajectory to achieve net investments excluding Linky and asset disposals of approximately 10.5 billion in 2018, are primarily attributable to the decrease in international net investments (-0.7 billion, -28.5%), due to rationalisation of investments mainly in the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland and China.

Proposed dividend for 2016: distribution of 2,102 million, corresponding to a payout ratio of 60%, with option of payment in new shares

Terms of settlement of the dividend balance for 2016

On 13 February 2017, EDF's Board of Directors scheduled the Combined General Meeting of Shareholders for 18 May 2017 and decided to propose to the Shareholders' Meeting, in accordance with Article L. 232-18 of the French Commercial Code and Article 25 of the Company's articles of association, to offer each shareholder to opt for a payment in new Company shares of the dividend balance to be distributed for the fiscal year closing 31 December 2016. If the option is exercised, the new shares will be issued at a price equal to 90% of the average opening price of EDF's shares on the Euronext Paris market during the twenty trading days preceding the day of the Shareholders' Meeting, less the amount of the remaining balance of the dividend to be distributed for 2016, rounded to the nearest euro cent.

The terms of settlement of the dividend balance for 2016, which will be submitted to the shareholders for approval were set as follows:

ex-dividend date (ordinary and loyalty) on 6 June 2017

exercise period for payment in new shares from 6 June to 20 June 2017 inclusive

payment of dividend balance and settlement of shares on 30 June 2017

The dividend balance to be distributed for 2016 amounts to 1,096 million.

The dividend per share, the balance per share and the balance per share for loyalty shares, taking into account the interim dividend of 0.50 per share paid on 31 October 2016, will be announced by the company at the launch of the capital increase, which should occur, subject to market conditions, before the end of the first quarter 2017.

Stable net financial debt

31/12/2015 31/12/2016 Net financial debt (in billions of euros) 37.4 37.4 Net financial debt/EBITDA 2.1x 2.3x

Net financial debt amounted to 37.4 billion on 31 December 2016, stable compared to 31 December 2015. The ratio of net financial debt/EBITDA was 2.3x, in line with the objective of being less than 2.5x.

Operating cash flow amounted to 13.1 billion, down by 3.3%. This change resulted primarily from a drop in EBITDA by 1.2 billion, which was partially offset by a decrease in income taxes paid and a decrease in net financial expenses disbursed.

In addition, the change in the working-capital requirement of -1.9 billion in 2016 compared to +0.1 billion in 2015 is largely cyclical in nature. This change is primarily attributable in France to the effect of the adjustment of the 2014 regulated sales tariffs (-0.9 billion) and a more severe climate effect in 2016, triggering an increase in receivables (-0.9 billion).

Thanks to management efforts and despite the difficult environment, Group cash flow totalled -1.6 billion, against -2.1 billion in 2015.

The foreign exchange effect had a positive impact of 1.1 billion on the Group's net financial debt on 31 December 2016, mainly due to the significant depreciation of the pound sterling against the euro.

EDF also continued its active financing policy with a series of senior bond issues in October 2016 in US Dollar, Euro and Swiss Franc, raising a total of 3 billion through a "Formosa Bond" in two tranches of $2,655 billion and a "Samurai Bond" in January 2017 for approximately 1.1 billion.

Among these issues, three green bonds were issued: one tranche of 1.75 billion (10-year maturity) and two samurai tranches (12 and 15-year maturities) for a total of 26 billion, or the equivalent to 0.2 billion. These issues will allow the Group to continue its investments in the development of renewable energies carried out by EDF Energies Nouvelles, as well as the modernisation and development of existing hydropower plants in mainland France.

On 31 December 2016 the average maturity of the Group's debt stood at 13.4 years for an average coupon of 2.7%, compared to 2.9% on 31 December 2015.

Due to the decrease in the real discount rate on 31 December, the allocations to provisions must be offset by allocations to dedicated assets in accordance with the decree of 24 March 2015 in the amount of 1,095 million. EDF will proceed within 30 days of the closing of the financial statements to the allocation of that amount to dedicated assets, in compliance with the letter of 10 February 2017 sent by the Ministers of Economy and Finance, and Environment, Energy and Sea.

In the same letter dated 10 February 2017, the minister for the Economy and Finance and the minister for the Environment, Energy and the Sea announced their decision to change the calculation formula for the regulatory limit on discount rates with effect from 2017. This decision will be set out in an amendment to the ministerial order of 21 March 2007, itself modified by the order of 24 March 2015. This amendment comes after joint work by the nuclear operators and public authorities to establish a formula for a maximum discount rate, taking into account the long time horizons of nuclear liabilities and prudential objectives for secure financing of long-term nuclear expenses.

Under the new formula, the regulatory limit will gradually migrate from its level at 31 December 2016 (4.3%) until by 2026 it is equal to the average constant 30-year rate (TEC 30 years) over the four most recent years, plus 100 base points.

Considering past and anticipated changes in rates, the new formula, which will progressively incorporate the move from the regulatory 4.3% to a four-year average including a 100 base point spread, should mean that future years see smoother changes in the regulatory limit than under the previous formula.

Outlook

2017 targets

2017 will be marked by the effects of lower market prices in France and in the UK compared to 2016 and ARENH volumes subscribed at the end of 2016. Moreover, nuclear generation in France will be influenced by the outages of the Bugey 5, Fessenheim 2, Gravelines 5 and Paluel 2 reactors and by a volume of planned outages linked to the continuation of the "Grand Carenage" industrial programme.

In this context, the Group has set the following targets for 2017:

Nuclear output : 390 - 400TWh

EBITDA : 13.7 to 14.3 billion

Net financial debt/EBITDA : at or below 2.5x

Payout ratio of Net income excluding non-recurring items: 55% to 65%

2018 targets

In 2018, EDF will benefit from additional savings arising from the performance plan, the gradual normalisation of the level of nuclear generation in France and the development of the Group's service activities. Changing market conditions in France and the UK should have a positive effect.

The Group has set the following targets for 2018:

Opex : - 0.7 billion compared to 2015

EBITDA : at or above 15.2 billion

Net investment excluding Linky, new developments and disposals: around 10.5 billion

Cash flow 21 , : at or above 0

Net financial debt/EBITDA 21 , 22 : at or below 2.5x

Payout ratio of Net income excluding non-recurring items19: 50%

Beyond 2018

Reduction in operational expenditures 20 : at or above 1 billion in 2019 vs. 2015

Asset disposals in 2015-2020: At least 10 billion

Payout ratio of Net income excluding non-recurring items19: 45% to 50%

Main Group results by segment

France - Generation and Supply Activities:

positive effects of the Group performance plan and the tariff adjustment,

lower nuclear generation and difficult market conditions

In millions of euros 2015 2016 Organic variation (%) Sales 37,327 35,191 -5.7 Opex 9,837 9,591 -1.0 EBITDA 6,936 6,156 -11.2

Sales in the Generation and supply activities segment amounted to 35.2 billion, down 5.7 % in organic terms.

EBITDA was down 11.2% organically to 6.2 billion in an unfavourable market environment.

It was affected by the decline in nuclear output by 32.8TWh compared to 2015, mainly attributable to outages and the extension of outages related to additional tests, for an estimated 1.3 billion.

Net sales on the markets had a negative impact estimated at almost 0.5 billion, partly due to purchases made necessary in the second half of the year by the unavailability of the nuclear fleet.

The impact of the changing market conditions with the end of the Yellow and Green regulated sales tariffs, declining market prices and the highly competitive environment is estimated at -1.2 billion.

EBITDA benefited from the positive weather effect, a leap year and tariff increases for a total of about 0.3 billion. This change reflects the adjustment of the regulated tariffs for the period between 1 August 2014 and 31 July 2015, following the French State Council's decision on 15 June 2016, in the amount of 0.9 billion.

As part of the EDF group's performance plan, Opex24 declined 1.0% thanks to operational performance gains in all entities, including an adaptation of the commercial and administrative costs to a competitive environment and the optimising of thermal fleet costs.

France - Regulated activities: favourable weather and market conditions

In millions of euros 2015 2016 Organic variation (%) Sales 15,418 15,728 +2.0 Opex 4,950 4,951 -0.4 EBITDA 4,719 5,102 +8.1

Sales from regulated activities amounted to 15.7 billion, up 2.0% in organic terms. EBITDA rose by 8.1% organically, attributable to a positive weather effect (+5.6TWh), a leap year (+1.2TWh) and lower costs of covering network losses due to lower market prices. In addition, cost optimisation actions are continuing.

United Kingdom: excellent nuclear performance and control of Opex,

which only partially offset the difficult market conditions

In millions of euros 2015 2016 Organic variation (%) Sales 25 11,622 9,267 -9.0 Opex 2,492 2,024 -3.6 26 EBITDA 2,242 1,713 -12.3

In the United Kingdom, sales amounted to 9.3 billion, an organic decline of 9.0% compared to 2015. EBITDA amounted to 1.7 billion, an organic decline of 12.3%, excluding the negative foreign exchange effect of 0.3 billion attributable to the depreciation of the pound sterling in particular following the Brexit referendum.

This change is the result of an increase in nuclear generation, reaching a record level of 65.1TWh (+4.5TWh), thanks to excellent operating performance, which partially offset the very negative impact of lower realised nuclear prices.

Despite the highly competitive environment, the average number of residential customer accounts remained stable compared to 2015, at 5.2 million.

Furthermore, EBITDA was supported by the organic 3.6% drop in Opex26, thanks to EDF Energy's cost control plan.

Italy: Opex control mitigates difficult market conditions

and the 2015 positive impact from gas contract arbitration

In millions of euros 2015 2016 Organic variation (%) Sales 11,694 11,125 -4.5 Opex 939 896 -4.7 EBITDA 1,345 641 -50.6

In Italy, sales amounted to 11.1 billion, down 4.5% in organic terms compared to 2015.

EBITDA decreased in organic terms by 50.6% mainly due to the positive effect of the Libyan gas contract arbitration in 2015, without equivalent in 2016.

In Electricity activities, EBITDA was hurt globally by the adverse trend in average sales prices. Exceptionally strong hydrological conditions in 2015 resulted in a negative change in 2016.

EBITDA for Hydrocarbons activities was down due to the positive impact in 2015 of the arbitration of the Libyan gas contract, and the continued drop in Brent prices, which negatively affected the exploration & production activities.

This drop was partially offset by the positive effect of higher gas volumes sold, as well as by the restoring of gas sales margins in 2016. This was the result of the renegotiations of the Libyan gas contract (end of 2015), and the Qatari gas contract with Rasgas (June 2016), which incorporates a revision of the price formula.

Moreover, the continuation of the cost reduction plan led to a 4.7% cut in Opex28.

Other activities: very strong operating performance

In millions of euros 2015 2016 Organic variation (%) Sales 7,288 7,734 +4.5 EBITDA 1,750 2,091 +22.0

Sales in Other activities amounted to 7.7 billion, up 4.5% in organic terms over 2015. EBITDA rose by 22% organically.

EDF Energies Nouvelles contributed 0.9 billion to the Group's EBITDA, an organic increase of 6.1% compared to 2015. This growth is attributable to the continued growth of generation and to the success of the asset rotation development model in Europe (wind farm disposals in Greece and Portugal) and in the United States.

Dalkia's EBITDA amounted to 0.3 billion, corresponding to organic growth of 18 million. This trend reflects both the positive impact of commercial development and the implementation of performance plans, despite the negative impact of lower gas prices.

EDF Trading's contribution to the Group's EBITDA amounted to 0.7 billion in 2016, an organic increase of 0.3 billion (+56.8%) compared to 2015. This change is attributable to high volatility in European energy markets, particularly during the second half of the year, and to the good performance of the trading activities in LNG.

Other International: strong performance in all regions

In millions of euros 2015 2016 Organic variation (%) Sales 5,827 5,286 -6.8 EBITDA 609 711 +21.2

Sales in the Other International segment amounted to 5.3 billion, down 6.8% in organic terms compared to last year. EBITDA was up 21.2% in organic terms.

In Belgium, EBITDA rose organically by 46.4%, thanks to the growth of wind power generation (+19% of installed capacity to 301MW), the strong performance of nuclear generation following the restart of the Doel 3 and Tihange 2 reactors, and good thermal performance due to improved clean spark spreads and the continued high level of activity in system services.

In Poland, EBITDA amounted to 0.3 billion, up 19.1% organically compared to 2015 thanks to the good performance of EDF Polska. This performance reflects the increase in electricity and heat generation due to improved asset availability, for which the modernisation works are nearing completion, a positive weather effect and connections of new customers. Poland's EBITDA also benefitted from higher heat tariffs and the positive effect of fuel prices.

Brazil participated in the segment's EBITDA growth with an organic increase of +87 million, attributable to the positive effect of the annual tariff review of EDF Norte Fluminense's power purchase agreement (PPA), the positive price effect on gas purchases, system services and the positive volume effect on maintenance and export.

In Asia, EBITDA was down following the end of the Figlec concession in China since September 2015.

Main events

since the 2016 third quarter press release

Board of Directors' meeting held on 13 February 2017

During its meeting held on 13 February 2017, the Board of Directors of EDF decided to carry out a capital increase with preferential subscription rights to existing shareholders for a total amount, including issue premium, of approximately 4 billion euros, as announced on 22 April 2016.

EDF intends to launch this capital increase before the end of the first quarter of 2017, subject to market conditions and after having received the visa from the French Autorite des marches financiers (the "AMF") on the prospectus. This transaction will be executed, after a new deliberation of the Board of Directors, in accordance with the delegation of authority which has been granted to it by the second resolution adopted at the extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the company held on 26 July 2016.

The French State, EDF's largest shareholder, has committed to subscribe for new shares in an amount of 3 billion euros out of the total amount of approximately 4 billion euros.

The nuclear industry and the Group's industrial development

EDF and AREVA sign binding agreements for the sale of AREVA NP's activities

EDF announced that, following the memorandum of understanding signed on 28 July 2016, AREVA and EDF have signed on 15 November the contract setting the terms of the sale of an interest conferring exclusive control by EDF of an entity ("NEW NP"), a 100% subsidiary of AREVA NP.

First LNG delivery to the Dunkirk LNG terminal following its commercial commissioning

On 23 January 2017, EDF announced that RasGas Company Limited delivered its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo to the Dunkerque LNG Regasification Terminal, France, under the Sales and Purchase Agreement signed between Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company(3) and EDF in June, 2016. This followed the successful commencement of commercial operations of the Dunkirk LNG terminal on 1 January 2017.

Compensation protocol for the closure of the Fessenheim nuclear plant

At a meeting held on 24 January 2017, EDF's Board of Directors examined the terms of the protocol negotiated between the company and the French State in order to set the terms governing compensation for the damage suffered by the company as the result of the closure of the Fessenheim nuclear power plant, in application of the law on energy transition of 17 August 2015. This law sets a ceiling of 63.2GW for installed nuclear electricity generation capacity in France. This means that the commissioning of the Flamanville 3 EPR is conditional upon the shutdown, on the same date, of an equivalent generation capacity. The Board of Directors was informed of the unanimously negative opinion submitted by the EDF Works Council on 10 January 2017.

The Board approved the terms of the protocol and authorised the CEO to sign it on behalf of EDF in due course. The protocol provides for the following compensation for EDF:

a fixed initial portion covering the anticipated costs associated with the closure (costs of staff retraining, decommissioning, the INB tax and "post-operation" costs). This fixed portion is currently estimated at approximately 490 million, 20% of which would be paid in 2019 and 80% in 2021; a further, variable portion giving rise, where applicable, to subsequent payments reflecting EDF's shortfall up to 2041. In addition, the closure of the Fessenheim plant requires a decree revoking the licence to operate the power plant, to be issued at the request of the company and which, in application of the law, will take effect at the same time as the commissioning of the Flamanville 3 EPR, scheduled for late 2018.

In the corporate interests of EDF, and in order to comply with the statutory ceiling of 63.2 GW, the Board has made the submission of this request for revocation subject to the entry into effect of the permissions necessary to proceed with the construction of Flamanville 3 and the continued operation of Paluel 2, which is currently shut down, and also confirmation from the European Commission that the protocol complies with State aid regulations.

The Board has decided that the submission of this application for revocation will give rise to further deliberation on its part to establish that these conditions are met.

The duration of the operational outage of Paluel 2 was extended for two years by an order published on 4 February 2017 in the Journal Officiel.

Significant progress in the disposal plan

RTE: EDF, Caisse des Depots and CNP Assurances sign a binding agreement for a long-term partnership

EDF, Caisse des Depots and CNP Assurances sign a binding agreement for the acquisition by Caisse des Depots and CNP Assurances of a 49.9% stake in Reseau de Transport d'Electricite (RTE). The final agreed value was set at 8.2 billion for 100% of RTE equity. EDF will potentially benefit from a value complement of up to 100 million.

JERA Trading and EDF Trading announced that they had signed agreements for the acquisition by JERA Trading of EDF Trading's coal and freight activities

EDF Trading will hold 33% of JERA Trading shares. The sale should be completed at the end of the first half of 2017

EDF and ENKSZ complete the sale of 100% of EDF DEMASZ Zrt.

EDF and ENKSZ ("Elso Nemzeti Kozmuszolgaltato Zrt.") have completed the transaction for the sale of the whole of EDF stake in EDF DEMASZ Zrt, its Hungarian subsidiary. This announcement follows the receipt of both the approval by the Hungarian regulator of the energy sector and the authorization by the French Ministry of Economy. The transaction values the 100% stake of EDF in EDF DEMASZ Zrt at approximately 400 million euros, and is a new step forward in the execution of EDF's disposal plan for the 2015-2020 period.

Acquisition of a portfolio of c. 130 office real estate and business assets by Tikehau IM from EDF group property investment company SOFILO

Tikehau IM acquired from the EDF group property investment company SOFILO a portfolio of c. 130 office real estate and business assets. The portfolio owns assets located in Ile-de-France and others regions, covering floor space of approximately 300,000 square meters.

Memorandum of understanding relating to the disposal of EDF Polska

A memorandum of understanding was signed in January 2017 between EDF and a consortium of Polish utilities made up of PGE, Enea, Energa and PGNiG The purpose of this memorandum is to frame discussions about the sale of EDF Polska.

The development of renewable energies

EDF Energies Nouvelles continues its expansion in wind and solar energy in North America

On 11 January 2017, EDF Energies Nouvelles announced the commissioning of four wind farms in the United States with installed capacity totalling over 708 MW.

Moreover, the Group has also accelerated its solar energy expansion drive in 2016 with notably a new 150 MWac project in the United States.

This contributes to the EDF Group's CAP 2030 strategy, which aims at doubling its renewable energy capacity by 2030.

The EDF Group steps up its growth within the Chilean renewable energy sector

EDF announced the inauguration of the Bolero solar plant, the most powerful of the Group's commissioned solar facilities, the start of construction of the Santiago Solar plant (capacity of 115 MWc), and the start on the new Cabo Leones 1 wind farm, one of the most powerful in the country.

Off Grid Electric and EDF team up in offering a new off-grid solar power solution for rural areas in West Africa

Off Grid Electric, a leading distributed solar company in Africa, and EDF, a global leader in low-carbon energies, today announced a partnership to supply competitive off-grid solar energy in Africa.

EDF innovates to support the energy transition in Guyana

EDF welcomed the launch of a 100% renewable smart-grid project, combining two complementary energies: hydropower and biomass. In parallel, EDF is developing, at the request of the West Guyana Community of Communes, an innovative program for the electrification of the isolated towns in Guyana's interior.

Financial structure

Samurai senior bond issuance of 137bn

EDF (AA JCR / A- S&P / A3 Moody's / A- Fitch) successfully raised JPY137 billion, i.e. around EUR1.1 billion, through a senior bond issuance in 4 tranches on the Japanese market ("Samurai bonds"). The 20-year bond represents the longest maturity ever issued on the Samurai market. With the issuance of two green tranches totaling JPY26 billion dedicated to the financing of its renewable investments, EDF opens the Samurai Green market and continues to participate actively in the development of Green Bonds as financing instruments of the energy transition.

Partial disposal without recourse of the CSPE receivable

EDF announced the disposal on 22 December of a share (26.40%) of the receivable of the Public Service Costs for Energy (CSPE) it held with the French state under the deficit of the CSPE compensation until 31 December 2015, as announced on 8 November 8 2016. The receivable has been assigned to an investors pool composed of a banking institution and a dedicated FCT (Fond Commun de Titrisation - French securitized mutual fund). Proceeds from this disposal (without recourse) amount to 1.5 billion.

APPENDICES

Consolidated income statements





(in millions of Euros) 2016 2015 Sales 71,203 75,006 Fuel and energy purchases (36,050) (38,775) Other external expenses (8,902) (9,526) Personnel expenses (12,543) (12,529) Taxes other than income taxes (3,656) (3,641) Other operating income and expenses 6,362 7,066 Operating profit before depreciation and amortisation 16,414 17,601 Net changes in fair value on Energy and Commodity derivatives, excluding trading activities (262) 175 Net depreciation and amortisation (7,966) (9,009) Net increases in provisions for renewal of property, plant and equipment operated under concessions (41) (102) (Impairment)/reversals (639) (3,500) Other income and expenses 8 (885) Operating profit 7,514 4,280 Cost of gross financial indebtedness (1,827) (1,994) Discount effect (3,417) (2,812) Other financial income and expenses 1,911 2,218 Financial result (3,333) (2,588) Income before taxes of consolidated companies 4,181 1,692 Income taxes (1,388) (483) Share in net income of associates and joint ventures 218 192 GROUP NET INCOME 3,011 1,401 EDF net income 2,851 1,187 Net income attributable to non-controlling interests 160 214 Earnings per share (EDF share) in Euros: Earnings per share 1.15 0.32 Diluted earnings per share 1.15 0.32

Consolidated balance sheets

ASSETS

(in millions of Euros) 31/12/2016 31/12/2015 Goodwill 8,923 10,236 Other intangible assets 7,450 8,889 Property, plant and equipment operated under French public electricity distribution concessions 53,064 51,600 Property, plant and equipment operated under concessions for other activities 7,616 7,645 Property, plant and equipment used in generation and other tangible assets owned by the Group 70,573 71,069 Investments in associates and joint ventures 8,645 11,525 Non-current financial assets 35,129 35,238 Other non-current receivables 2,268 1,830 Deferred tax assets 1,641 2,713 Non-current assets 195,309 200,745 Inventories 14,101 14,714 Trade receivables 23,296 22,259 Current financial assets 29,986 27,019 Current tax assets 183 1,215 Other current receivables 10,652 8,807 Cash and cash equivalents 2,893 4,182 Current assets 81,111 78,196 Assets classified as held for sale 5,220 - TOTAL ASSETS 281,640 278,941



Consolidated balance sheets

Liabilities

(in millions of Euros) 31/12/2016 31/12/2015 Capital 1,055 960 EDF net income and consolidated reserves 33,383 33,789 Equity (EDF share) 34,438 34,749 Equity (non-controlling interests) 6,924 5,491 Total equity 41,362 40,240 Provisions related to nuclear generation - back-end of the nuclear cycle, plant decommissioning and last cores 44,843 44,825 Provisions for decommissioning of non-nuclear facilities 1,506 1,447 Provisions for employee benefits 21,234 21,511 Other provisions 2,155 2,190 Non-current provisions 69,738 69,973 Special French public electricity distribution concession liabilities 45,692 45,082 Non-current financial liabilities 54,276 54,159 Other non-current liabilities 4,810 5,126 Deferred tax liabilities 2,272 4,122 Non-current liabilities 176,788 178,462 Current provisions 5,228 5,354 Trade payables 13,031 13,284 Current financial liabilities 18,289 17,473 Current tax liabilities 419 506 Other current liabilities 24,414 23,622 Current liabilities 61,381 60,239 Liabilities related to assets classified as held for sale 2,109 - TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES 281,640 278,941

Consolidated cash flow stements

(in millions of Euros) 2016 2015 Operating activities: Income before taxes of consolidated companies 4,181 1,692 Impairment/(reversals) 639 3,500 Accumulated depreciation and amortisation, provisions and changes in fair value 9,814 11,392 Financial income and expenses 948 951 Dividends received from associates and joint ventures 330 322 Capital gains/losses (877) (1,593) Change in working capital (1,935) 132 Net cash flow from operations 13,100 16,396 Net financial expenses disbursed (1,137) (1,252) Income taxes paid (838) (1,508) European Commission decision of 22 July 2015 - (906) Net cash flow from operating activities 11,125 12,730



Investing activities: Acquisitions of equity investments, net of cash acquired (127) (162) Disposals of equity investments, net of cash transferred 372 748 Investments in intangible assets and property, plant and equipment (14,397) (14,789) Net proceeds from sale of intangible assets and property, plant and equipment 508 964 Changes in financial assets (2,913) (5,600) Net cash flow used in investing activities (16,557) (18,839)



Financing activities: Transactions with non-controlling interests 1,368 64 Dividends paid by parent company (165) (1,420) Dividends paid to non-controlling interests (289) (326) Purchases/sales of treasury shares (2) (14) Cash flows with shareholders 912 (1,696) Issuance of borrowings 9,424 9,422 Repayment of borrowings (6,176) (2,336) Payments to bearers of perpetual subordinated bonds (582) (591) Funding contributions received for assets operated under concessions 143 152 Investment subsidies 417 623 Other cash flows from financing activities 3,226 7,270 Net cash flow from financing activities 4,138 5,574 Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (1,294) (535) CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - OPENING BALANCE 4,182 4,701 Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (1,294) (535) Effect of currency fluctuations 102 (36) Financial income on cash and cash equivalents 20 13 Effect of reclassifications (117) 39 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - CLOSING BALANCE 2,893 4,182

A key player in energy transition, the EDF Group is an integrated electricity company, active in all areas of the business: generation, transmission, distribution, energy supply and trading, energy services. A global leader in low-carbon energies, the Group has developed adiversified generation mix based on nuclear power, hydropower, new renewable energies and thermal energy. The Group is involved in supplying energy and services to approximately 36.7 million customers, 26.2 million of which are in France. The Group generated consolidated sales of 71 billion in 2016. EDF is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.

Disclaimer

This presentation does not constitute an offer to sell securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction.

No reliance should be placed on the accuracy, completeness or correctness of the information or opinions containedin this presentation, and none of EDF representatives shall bear any liability for any loss arising from any use of this presentation or its contents.

The present document may contain forward-looking statements and targets concerning the Group's strategy, financial position or results. EDF considers that these forward-looking statements and targets are based on reasonable assumptions as of the present document publication, which can be however inaccurate and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. There is no assurance that expected events will occur and that expected results will actually be achieved. Important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Group to differ materially from those contemplated in this document include in particular the successful implementation of EDF strategic, financial and operational initiatives based on its current business model as an integrated operator, changes in the competitive and regulatory framework of the energy markets, as well as risk and uncertainties relating to the Group's activities, its international scope, the climatic environment, the volatility of raw materials prices and currency exchange rates, technological changes, and changes in the economy.

Detailed information regarding these uncertainties and potential risks are available in the reference document (Document de reference) of EDF filed with the Autorite des marches financiers on 29 April 2016 and in the EDF EMTN base prospectus dated 14 September 2016 as supplemented first on 3 October 2016, second on 14 November 2016 and third on 10 January 2017, which are available on the AMF's website at www.amf-france.org and on EDF's website at www.edf.com.

EDF does not undertake nor does it have any obligation to update forward-looking information contained in this presentation to reflect any unexpected events or circumstances arising after the date of this presentation.

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From an ordinary party member to the leader of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam legislature party, and now the next chief minister of Tamil Nadu, Edappadi K Palaniswami has come a long way.

Amid the bitter turf war between AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala and former chief minister O Panneerselvam, the 63-year-old loyalist of late J Jayalalithaa was elected leader of AIADMK legislature party after Sasikala was convicted and sent to jail by the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

"He was an unwavering loyalist of late Jayalalithaa, and chose to side with V K Sasikala after O Panneerselvam revolted against the interim general secretary," a close aide of Palaniswami told PTI.

Born into an agriculture family, Palaniswami began his political career in the AIADMK in 1974 as an ordinary party member.

A native of Nedungulam village in Salem district, he later became a local level party secretary for Siluvampalayam in Edappadi Panchayat Union in Salem.

A Science graduate, Palaniswami swore allegiance to Jayalalithaa when the AIADMK split into two factions, one led by her and the other by party founder M G Ramachandran's wife Janaki, after MGR's death in 1987.

In 1985, even before the demise of MGR, Palaniswami's followers say he had put up a separate party flag mast 'honouring' Puratchi Thalaivi Amma across Edappadi region.

In 1990, when Jayalalithaa unified the AIADMK, he was elevated as Salem North District joint secretary.

In 1989, 1991, 2011 and 2016 assembly polls, he won from Edappadi constituency. When the AIADMK was routed in the 1996 assembly polls, he too lost from Edappadi.

Similarly, he was defeated in the 2001, 2006 assembly polls and the 1999 and 2004 parliamentary polls. In 1998, he went to Lok Sabha by winning the Tiruchengode Lok Sabha seat.

A grass-roots level leader, Palaniswami's growth in the party in a career spanning over 40 years has been steady.

His clout in the AIADMK saw a dramatic rise when it won 10 of 11 assembly segments in Salem district in the 2016 polls.

Acknowledging his contributions, he was given the key portfolio of public works, besides highways and minor ports, which he had already been holding.

Since 2011, Palaniswami is the minister for highways and minor ports and he was among the senior ministers who had proximity to Jayalalithaa.

He has held various party posts including propaganda secretary, organisation secretary, and disciplinary committee member.

He also holds the posts of party headquarters secretary and Salem Rural District party secretary.

IMAGE: New Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisami meets Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao at Raj Bhavan in Chennai. Photograph: PTI Photo
Edappady K Palaniswami, a loyalist of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary V Sasikala, was on Tuesday elected the Legislature Party Leader, taking over the post from her after she was convicted by the Supreme Court.

The move was apparently aimed at projecting Palaniswami as the next chief minister since her conviction will prevent her from holding the executive post.

Earlier, Sasikala sacked rebel leader O Panneerselvam, the Tamil Nadu caretaker chief minister, from the partys primary membership, the latest in a series of tit-for-tat moves that the two factions have been making.

I have sent a letter to Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao staking claim to form government. After governor invites me, I will give him the official paper of my election signed by the legislators, said Palaniswami.

Later, he met the governor and staked claim to form the government.

In his brief meeting with the Governor, Palaniswami presented a list of MLAs supporting his claim.

Some senior leaders and ministers also accompanied Palaniswami, according to sources.

His election came at an emergency meeting called by Sasikala at a resort here within hours of the Supreme Court upholding a Bengaluru trial court order convicting her in the disproportionate assets case, crushing her hopes of becoming the chief minister.

Palaniswami, a known Sasikala loyalist and a five-time MLA, is the partys strongman from Salem district and currently holds the portfolios of highways, public works and minor ports.

He was minister in the previous Cabinet that was led by the late chief minister Jayalalithaa also and continued with the same portfolios.

He was retained in 2016, both by Jayalalithaa and later by her successor Panneerselvam, who has since revolted against Sasikala for allegedly forcing him to step down from chief ministership.

Minutes after the apex court delivered the verdict, Sasikala went into a huddle with her MLAs to decide on the next steps.

Security has been strengthened across the state. Police presence has been stepped up at the resort where MLAs supporting her are housed since the past few days. Sasikala herself stayed overnight at the resort.

The expectation is that Sasikala will leave for Bengaluru to surrender in the trial court as per the apex court order.

The apex court on Tuesday quashed the Karnataka high court verdict that had acquitted Sasikala in the disproportionate assets case and asked her to surrender herself.

Sasikala was elected AIADMK Legislature Party Leader on February 5, paving the way for her becoming chief minister. Two days later, Pannerselvam rebelled against her.

Sasikala on Tuesday sacked Panneerselvam, who has been continuing as caretaker chief minister, from the AIADMKs primary membership.

Photograph: PTI Photo
The apex court convicted the close aide of Jayalalithaa in the disproportionate assets case, dashing any hopes she had to become CM.

IMAGE: VK Sasikala broke down when she heard that the apex court had convicted her in the DA case. Photograph: PTI Photo

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief V K Sasikala was on Tuesday convicted in a corruption case by Supreme Court which dashed her ambition to become the Tamil Nadu chief minister, as the verdict holding her guilty of entering into a conspiracy with late AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa would bar her from electoral politics for the next decade.

The apex court judgement, delivered at a time when the state is witnessing a bitter power struggle in the aftermath of Jayalalithaa's demise, set aside the Karnataka high court order acquitting all the four accused and "restored in toto" the trial court's decision in the 19-year-old disproportionate assets case.

Sasikala, 60, will now have to serve a jail term of around three-and-half years out of four years awarded by the trial court as she has already undergone almost six months in prison.

The special trial court had found disproportionate assets worth Rs 53.60 crore, which Jayalalithaa and the three others could not account for. The Central Bureau of Investigation had alleged that the unaccounted wealth was in the tune of Rs 66.65 crore.

The top court directed Sasikala and her two relatives -- V N Sudhakaran, Jayalalithaa's foster son, and Elavarasi, widow of Sasikala's elder brother -- to "forthwith surrender" before the Bengaluru's trial court which will "take immediate steps" to ensure that all the three "serve out the remainder of sentence awarded to them and take further steps in compliance of this judgement, in accordance with law."

Sasikala, the close aid and shadow of Jayalalithaa for almost three decades, was locked in a power struggle for the top post with acting Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who was sacked from AIADMK's primary membership.

She had been in the jail in 1996 when the case was registered and later in 2014 after the Special trial court convicted and awarded a four-year sentence with a fine of Rs 10 crore. Jayalalithaa was then awarded four-year jail term, besides a fine of Rs 100 crore.

The apex court, which abated the proceedings against Jayalalithaa who breathed her last on December 5 last year, held that the criminal conspiracy was hatched at her Poes Garden residence in Chennai.

"The joint residence of all the accused persons also could not be ignored as a factor contributing to the charge of conspiracy and abetment when assessed together with the attendant facts and circumstances reinforcing the said imputations," a bench comprising Justices P C Ghose and Amitava Roy said.

IMAGE: O Panneerselvam supporters celebrate following the SC's verdict. Photograph: ANI/Twitter

"After analysing the facts and circumstances of this case and after taking into consideration all the evidence placed before us and the arguments put forward by all the parties, we are of the unhesitant opinion that the impugned judgement and order rendered by the high court is untenable and is thus set aside," the bench said in its 570-page judgement.

The main judgement was authored by Justice Ghose, but Justice Roy who chose to supplement the concurrent findings, said the case demonstrated a deep-rooted conspiracy to amass vast assets through shell entities and deceive the process of law.

The bench, which heard the arguments between February 23 to June 7 last year, held that the judgement of the high court was "untenable" as it had wrongly calculated the disproportionate assets of the accused persons who were operating 34 companies during the "check-in" period, starting July 1991 till April 1996 when Jayalalithaa was the chief minister.

"The attendant facts and circumstances encountered, demonstrate a deep-rooted conspiratorial design to amass vast assets without any compunction and hold the same through shell entities to cover up the sinister trail of such illicit acquisitions and deceive and delude process of law. Novelty in the outrages and the magnitude of the nefarious gains as demonstrated by the revelations in the case, are startling.

"A growing impression in contemporary existence seems to acknowledge the all-pervading pestilent presence of corruption almost in every walk of life, as if to rest reconciled to the octopoid stranglehold of this malaise with helpless awe.

"The common day experiences indeed do introduce one with unfailing regularity, the variegated cancerous concoctions of corruption with fearless impunity gnawing into the frame and fabric of nation's essentia," Justice Roy said.

The apex court said it considered the facts of the case and, "in our opinion, the percentage of disproportionate assets as 8.12 per cent as computed by the high court is based on completely wrong reading of the evidence on record compounded by incorrect arithmetical calculations."

"Furthermore, the reasoning given by the trial court in respect of criminal conspiracy and abetment, after scrutinising the evidence of this case, is correct in the face of the overwhelming evidence indicating the circumstances of active abetment and conspiracy by accused (Sasikala and her two relatives) in the commission of the above offences under Section 13(1)(e) of the 1988 Act (Prevention of Corruption)," it said.

The bench noted the cirumstances which were evident to establish that the trial court's verdict and its findings were correct.

The bench held that Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and the other two convicts had entered into a conspiracy and the late chief minister, who was a public servant at the relevant time, had come to possess assets disproportionate to the known sources of her income during the check period.

"We have analysed the evidence adduced by the parties and we come to the conclusion that A1 to A4 (all the accused) have entered into a conspiracy and in furtherance of the same, A1 (Jayalalithaa) who was a public servant at the relevant time had come into possession of assets disproportionate to the known sources of her income during the check period and had got the same dispersed in the names of A2 to A4 and the firms and companies involved to hold these on her behalf with a masked front," the bench said.

"Furthermore, the charge of abetment laid against A2 to A4 (Sasikala and two others) in the commission of the offence by A1 (Jayalalithaa) also stands proved," it said.

The apex court held that though proceedings against Jayalalithaa has been abated due to her death, other accused were liable to be convicted and serve the remaining jail term.

"Therefore, we hold that as the sole public servant has died being A1 (Jayalalithaa) in this matter, in our opinion, though the appeals against her have abated, even then A2 to A4 are liable to be convicted and sentenced in the manner as has been held by the trial judge," it said.

Referring to a judgement, the apex court said the trial court was justified in holding that even private individuals could be prosecuted for abetment for their roles in colluding with a public servant in an assets case.

"Furthermore, the reasoning given by the trial court in respect of criminal conspiracy and abetment, after scrutinising the evidence of this case, is correct in the face of the overwhelming evidence indicating the circumstances of active abetment and conspiracy by A2 to A4 in the commission of the above offences under section 13(1)(e) of the 1988 Act," the bench said.

The court referred to various circumstances to uphold the findings arrived at by trial court in convicting the accused.

"A1 (Jayalalithaa) had executed a General Power of Attorney in favour of A2 (Sasikala) in respect of Jaya Publications...

"The circumstance of executing the power of attorney in favour of A2 indicates that with a view to keep herself secured from legal complications, A1 executed the said power of attorney knowing fully well that under the said powers, A2 would be dealing with her funds credited to her account in Jaya Publications," it noted.

The apex court said that setting up of various firms during the check period was another circumstance establishing the conspiracy between the parties.

"It has come in evidence that 10 firms were constituted on a single day.

IMAGE: OPS supporters celebrated by bursting firecrackers and soon after the verdict, the #TNsaved began to trend on Twitter. Photograph: ANI/Twitter

"In addition, A2 and A3 started independent concerns and apart from buying properties, no other business activity was undertaken by them. The circumstances proved in evidence undoubtedly establish that these firms are nothing but extentions of Namadhu MGR and Jaya Publications and they owed their existence to the benevolence of A1 and A2."

The bench observed that these firms were operating from the residence of Jayalalithaa and "it cannot be accepted that she was unaware of the same even though she feigned ignorance about the activities carried on by A2 to A4. They were residing with A1 without any blood relation between them".

"Although A2 to A4 claims to have independent sources of income but the fact of constitution of firms and acquisition of large tracts of land out of the funds provided by A1 indicate that all the accused congregated in the house of A1, neither for social living, nor A1 allowed them free accommodation out of humanitarian concern, rather the facts and circumstances proved in evidence undoubtedly point out that A2 to A4 were accommodated in the house of A1 pursuant to the criminal conspiracy hatched by them to hold the assets of A1," it said.

The bench said in view of the reasoning recorded in the judgement, "we set aside the judgment and order of the high court and affirm and restore the judgment of the Trial Court in toto against A2 to A4".

Though the proceedings against Jayalalithaa has been abated, the bench said, "Nevertheless, to reiterate, having regard to the fact that the charge framed against Sasikala and her two relatives is proved, the conviction and sentence recorded against them by the Trial Court is restored in full including the consequential directions".

The apex court said the "documents reveal that before the income tax authorities, the representative of A1 himself had put forth an argument that Rs one crore was advanced by A1 to Sasi Enterprises towards share capital and further it was submitted that on the security of the said amount, loan was borrowed by A1, and thus she cannot claim non-involvement with the firms".

The bench held that flow of money from one account to the other proved that there "existed active conspiracy to launder the ill-gotten wealth" of Jayalalithaa for purchasing properties in the names of the firms.

"The conspiracy among the accused persons is also proved by the evidence of Sub-Registrar, North Beach, Sub-Registrar office-PW.159 and the evidence of PW.71 Radha Krishnan, Horticultural officer," it noted.

The pronouncement of the verdict was completed in about eight minutes. Justice Ghose, before pronouncing the judgement, said "You can understand (that it is) too much of a fatty judgement. We have taken the burden on us."

Senior AIADMK MP Thambidurai, a Sasikala loyalist, said they will appeal against the verdict.

-- Read the SC judgment in full HERE
Describing North Korea as a big problem, United States President Donald Trump on Monday vowed to deal with it very strongly, after the reclusive country carried out yet another ballistic missile test.

Not only internationally but when you come right here, we have -- obviously, North Korea is a big, big problem, and we will deal with that very strongly, Trump told reporters during a joint news conference with the visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Trump was responding to a question on greatest national security threat based on the intelligence briefings that he has been receiving for about a month now after he was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on January 20.

Many, many problems, Trump said in response to a question.

When I was campaigning, I said it's not a good situation. Now that I see it including with our intelligence briefings, we have problems that a lot of people have no idea how bad they are, how serious they are, said the US President.

We have problems all over the Middle East, we have problems just about every corner of the globe no matter where you look, Trump said.

Trump said people have no idea about the nature and intensity of the challenge both domestically and globally, which ranges from Middle East to terrorism.

The US President said he had a great meeting this weekend with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan and got to know each other very, very well, extended weekend, really.

We were with each other for long periods of time and our staffs and representatives, he said.

Trudeau said Canada and the US have been neighbours a long time and Canadians and Americans have stood together, worked together, at home and around the world.

Weve fought and died together in battlefields in World War I and World War II, in Korea, in Afghanistan. But there have been times where we have differed in our approaches, and thats always been done firmly and respectfully, he said.

The last thing Canadians expect is for me to come down and lecture another country on how they choose to govern themselves. My role, our responsibility, is to continue to govern in such a way that reflects Canadians' approach and be a positive example in the world, Trudeau said in response to a question.

Earlier, Trump thanked Canadas contribution to the counter-Islamic State effort. "Now we continue to work in common and in common cause against terrorism and work in common cooperation toward reciprocal trade and shared growth," Trump said.

Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
In the 2012 election, the BJP's performance was the poorest in Purvanchal, winning only 12 of the region's 112 seats.

Will 2017 be different?

Will the party ride on Varanasi MP Narendra Modi's charisma?

Shreya Jai reports.

The massive saand (bull) of Banaras (also known as Varanasi) is, by and large, a placid animal.

However, if roused, it can run at full tilt, half-crazed, and has been known to gore and trample people to death.

It likes to saunter through the narrow alleys of the old city and can cause a pedestrian traffic jam because of the healthy respect it elicits on account of its size.

The bull can still be spotted. Steaming mounds of turd on the streets and the propensity of people to direct red streams of paan juice in the nearest corner is quintessential Banaras.

Banaras can be swachh, it can be modernised, but paan and the bull continue to rule.

This city elected Narendra Modi as its MP, helping to make him prime minister of India. Loyalty to Modi remains, but faith in governance seems to be faltering.

Amid the statements hailing Modi as agent of change, there is an undercurrent of despair.

The city is an important pitstop on the route to making headlines. Central ministers and agencies are queuing to give a 'facelift to the heritage town' of India.

This spills over to the neighbouring areas of Ghazipur, Rohania, etc.

There is a visible conflict, as the Samajwadi Party-ruled state government has its own projects and schemes in politically significant and diverse Purvanchal.

Posh areas such as Kabirnagar and Bhelupur have witnessed visible change.

Power cables have gone underground, the streets are clean and the walls are painted with beautiful scriptures featuring Lord Shiva (Vishvanath or Bhole Baba in these parts, is the singular deity).

"We are making this city look like an urban heritage town. Every street and lane should tell the tale of Kashi and the reforms which have been taken up," said a senior executive with a central government department in Varanasi.

The development and modernisation of Varanasi might be on apace but like elsewhere in India, one hand of the government frequently doesn't know what the other is doing, leading to turmoil and double payment for the same job.

Roads lie dug -- the guy laying underground electricity cables finished his job and left, but it had to be re-dug because the gas pipeline had to be laid.

"All those working here are only trying to earn brownie points. At an engineering level, the work is good, but it is all going on in silos. While the central government might blame the state for lack of coordination, they (the latter) are the ones actually pro-active. There is lack of coordination between the central departments as well," said a senior official with one of the state departments.

Yogeshwar Ram Mishra, the new district magistrate, is confident a turnaround of Varanasi will happen in 18 months.

"Change will happen in this city, definitely will. Come, visit again in a year, you will see," he says.

"Jo log Kashi ko jaante hain, uski aatma ko samajhte hain, wahi badlaav laa sakte hain (Only those who know Kashi, its soul, are the ones who will bring change in this city)," an SP supporter says.

Local party workers believe the state government has been proactive and inclusive to all the Centre's schemes and plans.

"BJP is losing ground here, however loudly they claim that they are leading. The city, the whole area stands still. Painting karne se kya hoga? Structure flawed hai. Shivala jaiye, Kazzakpura jaiye, dekhiye haalat. Kuch nahi kiya hum logon ke liye (What change can you bring by painting over? The basic structure is flawed. Go to Kazzakpura and Shivala, see the conditions in which we live. No work has been done for us)," says a silk trader.

Shivala is where the Muslim weavers are and Kazzakpura is a Muslim populated area. The silk trader is Muslim.

"Darr toh aa he jaata hai BJP ke aane se. Par ye dhandha rok denge, ye nahi socha thha (Fear obviously sets in when the BJP comes to power. But we never thought they would put an end to our business)," says Abdul, one of the handloom owners in Shivala.

Demonetisation has hit them badly. Orders stand cancelled; there is no cash to pay the workers.

The Muslim populace is confident that this is the last nail for BJP in the region.

"Demonetisation has paralysed the ones who were doing cash politics in this state. This is their nervousness talking. People know the crackdown on black money is a master stroke by Modiji and it will show results in February (during the assembly election)," says a key BJP party member in the city.

He concedes teething troubles, but dismisses these as implementation issues, which would be resolved in time.

The real tale of Kashi is in its crammed lanes.

This is where the beauty of Kashi lies -- it houses weavers, traders, pandits, butchers, opium sellers, UPSC aspirants, voters....

Kashi is representative of Purvanchal or eastern Uttar Pradesh, which branches out and converges back on the ghats of Banaras.

A mix of Brahmins, Muslim labour (mostly involved in handicrafts) and businessmen from across castes -- Bhoomihar, Gupta, Kushwaha, OBCs, with an emerging Patel community -- inhabit the narrow lanes.

The cash economy in the small towns is suffering, as most traders or the people they deal with, don't have bank accounts.

"More than that, cash in hand is the moving cash, a legitimate guarantee for traders, hoarders and wholesale businessman. It is not black money. It is how we keep our small business oiled and moving. Is sarkar ko kaun samjhaaye (Who'll make this government understand)?" asks a wholesale silk saree trader, standing in the middle of a room where a cancelled order of 25,000 items is stacked against the walls.

He refused to share his name, lest his caste overshadows his views.

A senior BJP worker, requesting strict anonymity, said:"A strict step has been taken by the PM. Delhi wale mantri aur Mumbai wale santri situation control nahi kar paaye. (People with no idea of the ground reality are handling the situation)." He requested that not even the city he belongs to be mentioned.

Poorvanchal -- the belt of eastern UP that spills onto Bihar -- comprises, among others, the districts of Ghazipur, Mirzapur, Ballia, Basti and Gorakhpur.

It contributes 117 seats out of 403 in the state assembly and therefore wields clout.

In 2012, the BJP's performance was the poorest in this region, getting only 12 of the 112 seats.

Four MPs from Poorvanchal have been given a place in Modi's ministry -- Anupriya Patel from Mirzapur, Mahendranath from Chandauli, Manoj Sinha from Ghazipur (all ministers of state) and Kalraj Mishra from Deoria (a Cabinet minister).

IMAGE: Voters wait to cast their ballots in Varanasi in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. Photograph: PTI
When Subir Roy met Ruchira Gupta at The Telegraph 35 years ago, she was not quite 20 and not a graduate.

Today she is the indomitable founder of Apne Aap, which has touched the lives of over 21,000 women who were victims of sex trafficking.

IMAGE: Ruchira Gupta, right, with actress Demi Moore at the Clinton Global Citizen Awards in New York City in 2009. Gupta was one of the Clinton Global Initiative awardees that evening. Photograph: Bobby Bank/Getty Images

There was something special about The Telegraph, founded by M J Akbar in 1982 in Calcutta, as it was then called.

It provided a springboard for a set of remarkable young people from which they could discover their talents and go forward to win the world.

I have talked about some of them. Time now to apologise and seek to correct the gender gap by celebrating Ruchira Gupta and all that she has done, most notably by founding and taking forward Apne Aap.

Ruchira started it 15 years ago (in 2002) to stand by trafficked girls and women and bring some hope into their lives.

To date, its work has touched the lives of over 21,000 women, over a thousand young girls are able to go to school and over 3,000 women have been helped to exit prostitution -- today's version of slavery or bonded labour.

A person finds it next to impossible to get out of its clutches until she is a depreciated commodity without any exploitable value and often thrown out.

During this work and that as a journalist, Ruchira has won several awards, the latest, news of which has just come in, being designated a Knight of the National Order of Merit by the president of France.

How did the girl, who joined The Telegraph 35 years ago when she was not even 20 and in her second year in college (the new paper broke conventions and took in bright young people, so what if they were not yet graduates) and whom we seniors called 'Kiddy', get here?

As a journalist and documentary filmmaker she came to focus on women's rights, caste conflict and minority issues.

Two milestones shaped her focus in life -- the need to 'speak up'.

One was the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, which she went to cover, report from the trenches, so to speak.

There she was personally attacked by the kar sewaks. What was worse was the 'hatred' she faced for speaking up against this.

The second was when she got to making the documentary film The Selling of Innocents on sex trafficking in Nepal and India and thereby immersed herself in the issue.

This documentary won her an Emmy under the category 'news and documentary' in 1997.

Ruchira is clear that she must stand up for truth and against its silencing.

Being born into a prosperous Marwari family helped her in two ways.

One, they could back her up. But perhaps more important, her Gandhian parents gave her a home where standing up for truth was a cornerstone of belief.

Apne Aap seeks to empower 'prostituted' women (not prostitutes) in four ways -- by working on their right to legal protection, education, a dignified livelihood and safe and independent housing.

On the last, Ruchira recalls how she was amazed when a woman told her what she wanted most was 'a room of one's own', exactly the title of the celebrated Virginia Woolf novel.

How far has Apne Aap succeeded in delivering what it believes in?

Mudar Patherya, who is active with the forum Kolkata Gives, which brings well-run and deserving NGOs and philanthropists face to face, rates Apne Aap very high.

Also, the fact that it has been around for 15 years now speaks for its durability.

In fact, Apne Aap is in a different league from most of the other NGOs with Kolkata roots. It has a New York presence through Apne Aap Worldwide (Ruchira works closely with the UN in her advocacy role) and also a local presence in India, like running a residential school in Forbesganj.

Ruchira's upper class background helps. She, and through her, Apne Aap has visibility among the city's rich and also credibility.

IMAGE: From left, French lawmaker Catherine Coutelle, Delhi Commission for Women Chairperson Swati Maliwal, Ruchira Gupta and Hollywood actress Ashley Judd celebrate Gupta receiving the Knight of the National Order of Merit from the French president. Photograph: Kind courtesy @Ruchiragupta/Twitter.com



Where does Apne Aap go from here?

It will continue its work through international networking for a world in which no woman is bought or sold.

How borderless the world actually is was explained to Ruchira by a Soviet astronaut who said when he looked down upon the earth from up there in space it was all one.

The aim is to literally walk round the world in support of the idea of making the last person first -- the last person is the last girl -- and to illustrate how trafficking takes place across borders.

Also, there is a oneness among the victims, their lot is the same everywhere.

The last person is the last girl who is female, poor, a teenager, low caste in India, black in the US, indigenous in Canada, refugee or religious minority in Europe and ethnic minority in Africa.

The moral sustenance will come from the legacy of three great souls -- Gandhi's antyodaya, which focuses on the least of us; Ambedkar's antaj, which sought to create self-esteem among untouchables; and John Ruskin's idea of 'unto the last', which sought to share fully with the last among us.

The various strands that come together in Apne Aap were all there at a recent fundraising meeting in a posh neighbourhood of Kolkata organised by Kolkata Gives.

Ashley Judd, the Hollywood actress who came to express her solidarity, was the global connection.

Ruchira, representing what Apne Aap stands for, gave a forceful speech.

And uniquely, there was a young girl whose mother had been prostituted and whom Apne Aap helped go to school and beyond. She was now reading at St Xavier's College and was up on the stage to read out a poem of hers.

I sat bemused at the thought of how indomitable a spirit Kiddy had turned out to be, not the least because she had somewhere in between conquered cancer.

MUST READ: The slavery we live with
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Norwegian Finans Holding ASA - Private Placement fully subscribed and Mandatory Notification of Trades

Reference is made to the announcement published by Norwegian Finans Holding ASA ("NFH", or the "Company") on 13 February 2017 at 16:55 CET (the "Launch Announcement") regarding the contemplated private placement (the "Private Placement").

The Board of Directors (the "Board") of the Company is pleased to announce that NFH has successfully resolved and completed the Private Placement with the support of existing investors, raising approximately NOK 500 million in gross proceeds through the subscription and allocation of 6 514 658 new shares (the "New Shares") at a subscription price of NOK 76.75 per share (the "Subscription Price"), which corresponds with the quoted share price at close of market on 13 February 2017. The Private Placement was significantly oversubscribed.

Issuance and delivery of the New Shares is subject to approval of the corresponding share capital increase by the Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway (the "FSA"). Subject to approval by the FSA of the capital increase related to the New Shares, the due date for payment for allocated New Shares is expected to be on or about 17 February 2017. The New Shares will be registered with the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises and the VPS following approval by the FSA and receipt of payment for all the New Shares. Following issuance of the New Shares, the issued and outstanding share capital of the Company will be NOK 186 618 704 distributed on 186 618 704 shares each having a par value of NOK 1.00.

As explained in the Launch Announcement, the Board will derogate from the existing shareholders' pre-emptive rights to subscribe the New Shares. The Board is of the opinion that the decision complies with applicable equal treatment obligations. This is in particular due to the fact that (i) the decision gives the Company access to the new capital at low risk and in time to comply with the increased core Tier 1 capital requirement under pillar 2 expected to be communicated by the FSA at the earliest in Q2'17 while at the same time allowing for continued growth; (ii) the costs of raising the new capital are low due to no discount and that fees for subscription guarantees have been avoided; (iii) existing shareholders who were not given an opportunity to participate in the private placement will receive subscription rights in a subsequent offering in the Company following completion of the Private Placement, see below.

The Subscription Price has been set through an open book-building process. Directors and Officers of NFH have participated in the Private Placement.

Subject to receipt by the Company of the approximately NOK 500 million proceeds under the Private Placement and approval of the corresponding share capital increase by the FSA, the Board will carry out a subsequent repair offering (the "Subsequent Offering") with gross proceeds of up to NOK 100 million directed towards shareholders in the Company as of 13 February 2017, as registered in the VPS on 15 February 2017, who were not given an opportunity to participate in the Private Placement. The Subsequent Offering will only be directed toward such persons who are not resident in a jurisdiction where such offering would be unlawful or, for jurisdictions other than Norway, would require any prospectus, filing, registration or similar action. Such shareholders will be granted non-tradable subscription rights to subscribe for, and, upon subscription, be allocated new shares. One subscription right will entitle the holder to subscribe for one share in the Subsequent Offering. Oversubscription for the relevant shareholders will be allowed. Subscription without subscription rights will not be allowed. The subscription price in such Subsequent Offering will be NOK 76.75 per share, equal to the Subscription Price in the Private Placement.

The following will apply for the Subsequent Offering:

Date of announcement of the Subsequent Offering: 13 February 2017

Last day including right: 13 February April 2017

Ex. date: 14 February 2017 (the Company will issue a separate announcement regarding the ex. date)

Record date: 15 February 2017

Date of approval: The Subsequent Offering is subject to approval of the corresponding share capital increase by the FSA

Maximum number of new shares: 1 302 931

Subscription price: NOK 76.75

Maximum gross proceeds: NOK 99 999 954.25

The net proceeds from the Private Placement and the Subsequent Offering will be used to increase the core Tier 1 capital to comply with the increased capital requirement expected from the FSA and for further growth.

The following members of the Company's management and board, on behalf of themselves or affiliated companies, have been allocated New Shares in the Private Placement, each such share allocated at the Subscription Price:

Pal Svenkerud, acting CEO: 42 001 New Shares. After the transaction, Pal Svenkerud owns 1 203 163 shares in the Company.

Tore Andresen, COO: 37 914 New Shares. After the transaction, Tore Andresen owns 1 086 086 shares in the Company.

Fredrik Mundal, CMO: 3 257 New Shares. After the transaction, Fredrik Mundal owns 3 257 shares in the Company.

Tore Widding, CRO: 17 506 New Shares. After the transaction, Tore Widding owns 501 480 shares in the Company.

Merete Gillund, CIO: 17 807 New Shares. After the transaction, Merete Gillund owns 510 111 shares in the Company.

Brede Huser, board member: 11 600 New Shares. After the transaction, Brede Huser owns 158 724 shares in the Company.

Norwegian Air Shuttle AS: 1 302 931 New Shares. After the transaction, Norwegian Air Shuttle AS owns 37 323 739 shares in the Company.

Green 91 AS, a company wholly owned by Lars Ola Kjos, board member of Bank Norwegian AS: 443 223 New Shares. After the transaction, Green 91 AS owns 11 815 127 shares in the Company.

Brumm AS, a company wholly owned by Bjrn H. Kise, Chairman of the Board: 305 635 New Shares. After the transaction, Brumm AS owns 7 987 078 shares in the Company.

Sneisungen AS, a company owned 51 % by Bjrn H. Kise, Chairman of the Board: 175 801 New Shares. After the transaction, Sneisungen AS owns 4 594 162 shares in the Company.

Arctic Securities AS acted as Manager and Advokatfirmaet Simonsen Vogt Wiig AS acted as NFH's legal counsel in the Private Placement.

For further information, please contact acting CEO, Pal Svenkerud: phone: + 47 93403904

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

Disclaimer

The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any New Shares in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful or where this would require registration, publication of a prospectus or similar action.

There will be no public offer of the New Shares in the United States. The New Shares have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or under the securities law of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and may not be reoffered, resold, pledged or otherwise transferred, directly or indirectly, except (a) outside the United States in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S, as applicable or (b) pursuant to Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act by executing and delivering a separate U.S. investor representation letter to the Manager. A person in the United States or who is a "U.S. Person" (within the meaning of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act), may not apply for New Shares or otherwise take steps in order to subscribe or purchase New Shares unless the subscriber has confirmed to the Manager that it is a "qualified institutional buyer" ("QIB") as defined in Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act and if resident in California, an "institutional investor" as defined in Rule 260.102.10 under the California Corporate Securities Law of 1968, as amended, in each case acquiring the New Shares for investments purposes for its own account or for one or more accounts of another/other QIB(s), where it has investment discretion over such accounts in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements under the U.S. Securities Act by executing and delivering a U.S. investor representation letter to the Manager. The New Shares are "restricted securities" within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the U.S. Securities Act and may not be deposited into any unrestricted depositary receipt facility in the United States, unless at the time of deposit the New Shares are no longer "restricted securities".



New Shares will only be offered in the United Kingdom (a) to persons who have professional experience, knowledge and expertise in matters relating to investments and are "investment professionals" for the purposes of article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (all such persons being referred to as "relevant persons") and (b) only in circumstances where, in accordance with section 86(1)(c) and (d) of the Financial and Services Markets Act 2000 ("FSMA"), the requirement to provide an approved prospectus in accordance with the requirement under section 85 FSMA does not apply as the minimum denomination of and subscription for the New Shares exceeds EUR 100,000 or an equivalent amount. Any application or subscription for the New Shares is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons and each UK applicant warrants that it is a relevant person.

The offering of New Shares is not being made into Canada, Australia or Japan.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and may be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intends," "estimate," "will," "may," "continue," "should" and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions. Although NFH believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important factors which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond its control. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in this release by such forward-looking statements.

The information, opinions and forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as at its date, and are subject to change without notice. Norwegian Finans Holding AS disclaims any obligation to update and revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
BELMONT, N.C., Feb. 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, has been named the first recipient of the Benedict Leadership Award. The Award, given by the Benedict Leadership Institute at Belmont Abbey College, will be presented in a public ceremony at Belmont Abbey College on March 24.

The Institute selected Anderson above all for his leadership in aiding and advocating for persecuted Christians in the Middle East. As Supreme Knight, Anderson has repeatedly called for the protection of Christians facing genocide in Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere, and has raised more than $11 million for humanitarian relief of Christian refugees.

"While your life displays numerous reasons for being worthy of the Benedict Leadership Award, the Board wished to honor and highlight your leadership in one area in particular: Your resolute defense of persecuted Christians," wrote Executive Director Conor Gallagher in his selection letter to Anderson. "This is an area of great concern to the Board, and it is our hope that your Award will bring attention and relief to persecuted Christians and move the public to act more decisively in their behalf."

The Benedict Leadership Institute was founded in 2016 to develop and inspire Catholic leaders to transform society in light of their faith. The Benedict Leadership Award is a key activity of the Institute. The Institute will confer the Award annually beginning in 2017, recognizing outstanding men and women whose achievements reflect the heroic leadership of St. Benedict.

Recipients deliver a public address in their area of leadership, and are presented with a $10,000 cash award.

Belmont Abbey College, home of the Benedict Leadership Institute, is a Catholic college located near Charlotte, NC. Founded in 1876 by Benedictine monks, it is recognized by the Cardinal Newman Society as one of America's top Catholic colleges.

For more information on the Benedict Leadership Institute please visit: http://benedictleadershipinstitute.org.

For media inquiries regarding the Benedict Leadership Institute, please contact Katie DeMoss at katied@SaintBenedictPress.com or (704) 340-0461.

For media inquiries regarding Belmont Abbey College, please contact Rolando N. Rivas at RolandoRivas@bac.edu or (704) 461-6561.
FALLS CHURCH, Va., Feb. 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) will participate in the Barclays Industrial Select Conference 2017 on Wednesday, Feb. 22. Ken Bedingfield, corporate vice president and chief financial officer, and Steve Movius, corporate vice president and treasurer, will present beginning at 9:45 a.m. Eastern time. The presentation will be webcast live at www.northropgrumman.com.



Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, strike, and logistics and modernization to customers worldwide. Please visit news.northropgrumman.com and follow us on Twitter, @NGCNews, for more information.

Note: Statements to be made at the conference, including in the presentation and in any accompanying materials, other than statements of historical fact, may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as anticipate, expect, intend, plan, believe, estimate, guidance, and similar expressions generally identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date when made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date of the subject presentation, except as required by applicable law. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and inherently involve a wide range of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. A discussion of these risks and uncertainties is contained in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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.
Israel/OPT: Trump must oppose all Israeli settlements in meeting with Netanyahu

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 14 February 2017 Reference MDE 15/5693/2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Israel/OPT: Trump must oppose all Israeli settlements in meeting with Netanyahu, 14 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58a30bf24.html [accessed 6 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.

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are due to meet in Washington D.C. on Wednesday 15 February. Amnesty International calls on President Donald Trump to make it clear in this meeting that he opposes all Israeli settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).

There are approximately 621,000 settlers currently living in the occupied West Bank, including 200,000 in East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law.(1) The inauguration of President Trump appears to have emboldened the Israeli authorities in their construction of settlements on occupied Palestinian land. Since 20 January this year 6,219 illegal settlement homes have been authorized in the occupied West Bank, including 719 in East Jerusalem. Israel's policy of settling of civilians in occupied territory violates international humanitarian law and amounts to a war crime.

Last week, the Israeli Knesset passed a law allowing government seizure of private Palestinian land on which settlements have been established. In effect the law undermines the ability of Palestinian land owners to lay claim to their land if Israeli settlers are living on it, despite the fact that the settlers' presence in occupied territory is illegal under international law. The organization Peace Now has estimated that the law will retroactively legalize 53 settlements and outposts - allowing for the expropriation of approximately 8,000 dunams (80 hectares) of private Palestinian land.(2) The law also risks galvanising further takeover of private Palestinian land by providing a basis for retroactive legalization of land grabs. Last Wednesday a coalition of 17 local Palestinian councils and three human rights organizations petitioned the Israeli High Court to void the law.(3)

This takes place in the face of a December 2016 UN Security Council resolution - the first of its kind in almost 40 years - calling on Israel to cease settlement construction.(4) Amnesty International calls on President Trump to fulfil the United States' obligations under international law not to recognize an illegal situation, such as that of the settlements, and to actively cooperate to bring it to an end.

Human rights violations related to settlement construction and expansion have been a defining feature of the 50-year-old Israeli occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. These violations have included arbitrary movement restrictions, demolitions, forcible transfer of Palestinian communities, restricted access to natural resources for Palestinians, and unchecked violent attacks by settlers against Palestinians and their property.

Movement Restrictions

Israel imposes movement restrictions on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including checkpoints, road blocks, settler-only roads and impediments created by the fence/wall. Israel also imposes severe limitations on Palestinian access to East Jerusalem, which has been illegally annexed by Israel.

Movement restrictions in the occupied West Bank are imposed primarily to protect settlements and their residents, improve connectivity between settlements and Israel itself and to create space for further settlement construction and expansion.(5)

In effect this means that Israel has restricted the movement of approximately 2.9 million Palestinians in order to ensure safety and freedom of movement for approximately 421,000 settlers in the occupied West Bank, whose presence in the OPT

violates international law.

These arbitrary and discriminatory restrictions amount to a form of collective punishment and severely limit Palestinians' ability to work, to access healthcare, education and family members. The construction of the fence/wall inside the OPT - on the Palestinian side of the internationally recognized 1967 border - has served in effect to illegally annex Palestinian land to Israel, allowing residents of the illegal settlements built on that land to live as if part of Israel. This has cut Palestinian communities in half, in some cases dividing families from land on which they depend for their livelihood and in other cases preventing Palestinians from travelling to jobs in East Jerusalem and Israel. Restrictions on the movement of persons and goods across the OPT have crippled the Palestinian economy, with unemployment standing at 27 per cent in 2016, compared to 12 per cent in 1999.(6)

While Israel evacuated and dismantled its settlements in Gaza in 2005, the coastal enclave remains occupied by Israel, which maintains effective control over the territory. This year will mark the 10 year anniversary of Israel's land, sea and air blockade, which severely limits the import and export of fuel, food, building materials and other essential goods into Gaza and the ability of its residents to travel, amounting to collective punishment.

Demolitions and forcible transfer

Under the Oslo Accords of 1995 the occupied West Bank was divided into areas A, B and C. Although this division was envisaged as being a temporary measure preceding the full transfer of authority to the Palestinians, it continues today. Area A constitutes roughly eight per cent of the occupied West Bank - including most of the Palestinian cities - and is under the civil and security control of the Palestinian authorities. Area B constitutes approximately 22 per cent of the occupied West Bank; here Israel controls security matters and the Palestinians control civil matters. Area C, which is home to approximately 300,000 Palestinians covers more than 60 per cent of the occupied West Bank and is under full Israeli civil and security control, enabling the Israeli authorities to impose planning and building policies that severely restrict the ability of Palestinian communities to build homes and vital infrastructure. Permits for Palestinian buildings in Area C are almost always denied by the Israeli Civil Administration, forcing Palestinian families to build without the necessary permits. Consequently, many Palestinians face the threat of home demolitions and displacement. There are currently 11,000 outstanding demolition orders in Area C, affecting 17,000 Palestinian-owed structures.(7)

Israel also severely restricts Palestinian construction in East Jerusalem. Only 13 percent of East Jerusalem is zoned by Israel for Palestinian construction, and building permits are very rarely issued to Palestinians. As a result, 90,000 Palestinians are at risk of being displaced from their homes.(8) This makes way for the continued construction and expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, which currently cover 35 percent of East Jerusalem.(9)

Both forcible transfer and extensive destruction or appropriation of property, if carried out unlawfully and wantonly, are grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and amount to war crimes.

Access to natural resources denied

Confiscation, seizure and appropriation of land for settlements, bypass roads and related infrastructure has a devastating impact on Palestinians' rights to adequate standard of living and right to work. Land and resources lost to settlements can no longer be exploited by the Palestinian population to generate work and income. Area C - which Palestinians have severely limited access to - contains most of the natural resources necessary to develop and sustain a fully functioning Palestinian economy, including fertile land, stone quarries, water resources and access to the mineral rich Dead Sea. In addition to the roughly 6,000 hectares of land taken by Israeli settlements for residential dwellings, approximately 9,300 hectares of agricultural land in the occupied West Bank is cultivated by settlers. Settlers also

administer around 20 industrial zones, covering approximately 1,365 hectares.(10)

Palestinians' limited access to natural resources can be further illustrated by the inequitable distribution of water in the OPT. Israel violates Palestinians' right to water, controlling and restricting Palestinian access to water to a level that neither meets the Palestinian population's needs nor constitutes a fair distribution of shared water resources.(11) Swimming pools, well-watered lawns and large irrigated farms in Israeli settlements in the OPT stand in stark contrast next to Palestinian villages whose inhabitants struggle even to meet their essential domestic water needs, let alone the level necessary to sustain agricultural endeavours.

Discriminatory access to water also impacts on Palestinians' right to the highest attainable standard of health. Many Palestinian communities survive on barely 20 litres of water per capita a day - the minimum amount recommended by the World Health Organization.(12) As well as violating numerous human rights, the exploitation of natural resources in the OPT for the benefit of the settlementpopulation violates Israel's obligation under international humanitarian law to administer the occupied territory in the interests of the occupied population.

Settler Violence

Both Palestinians and Israeli civilians in the OPT fall victim to acts of violence. However, Palestinian attempts to report acts of violence to the Israeli authorities are often met with disinterest. According to the Israeli human rights organization Yesh Din, in 2015, 85 percent of investigations into "ideologically motivated" offences against Palestinians were closed due to police failures, while only 7.3 percent of complaints of this nature led to an indictment.(13)

By contrast, when Palestinians are suspected of perpetrating acts of violence against settlers, Israeli forces often launch large-scale arrest and detention campaigns, including curfews on Palestinian towns and villages. Unlike Israeli suspects, who are tried in civil courts, Palestinians suspected of violence are tried by the Israeli military court system, in the absence of basic fair trial guarantees, including minimum standards of independence, clear evidentiary or procedural rules, the presumption of innocence or the duty to hear witnesses or examine all material evidence.(14)

Settlers have attacked both Palestinian civilians and their property. The climate of impunity enjoyed by settlers who commit acts of violence has cultivated a climate of fear among Palestinian communities living and working on land in close proximity to the settlements.(15)

1 - The Times of Israel, Settler group says 421,000 Israelis now living in West Bank, 9 February 2017, available: http://www.timesofisrael.com/settler-group-says-421000-israelis-now-living-in-west-bank/

2 - Peace Now, "Legalization Law Will Stain Israel's Law Books", 29 January 2017, available at: http://peacenow.org.il/en/legalization_law; See also Haaretz, "Explained: Israel's New Palestinian Land-grab Law and Why It Matters", 7 February 2017, available at: http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.770102.

3 - Haaretz, Palestinians Petition Israeli High Court in First Legal Challenge to Land-grab Law, 8 February 2017, available at: http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.770490.

4 - United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 (2016), S/RES/2334, 23 December 2016, available at: http://www.un.org/webcast/pdfs/SRES2334-2016.pdf.

5 - Amnesty International, "Israeli authorities must end collective punishment of Palestinians in Hebron, protect human rights defenders in the city", (MDE 15/3529/2016), 25 February 2016, available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde15/3529/2016/en/.

6 - United Nations General Assembly, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, (A/71/554), 19 October 2016, Para. 43(b), available at: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/PS/A_71_554_en.pdf.

7 - UN OCHA OPT, Official data on demolition orders in Area C, available at: http://data.ochaopt.org/demolitions.aspx.

8 - UN OCHA OPT, East Jerusalem, Key humanitarian concerns, August 2014, available at: http://www.ochaopt.org/content/eastjerusalem-key-humanitarian-concerns-august-2014.

9 - UN OCHA OPT, East Jerusalem, Key humanitarian concerns, August 2014, available at: http://www.ochaopt.org/content/eastjerusalem-key-humanitarian-concerns-august-2014.

10 - Human Rights Watch, Occupation Inc., How Settlement Businesses Contribute to Israel's Violations of Palestinian Rights, January 2016, available at: https://www.hrw.org/report/2016/01/19/occupation-inc/how-settlement-businesses-contribute-israelsviolations-palestinian.

11 - See Amnesty International, Troubled waters: Palestinians denied fair access to water, October 2009, (Index: MDE 15/027/2009), available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/MDE15/027/2009/en/.

12 - See Amnesty International, Troubled waters: Palestinians denied fair access to water, October 2009, (Index: MDE 15/027/2009), available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/MDE15/027/2009/en/.

13 - Yesh Din - Volunteers for Human Rights, available at: http://www.yesh-din.org/en/category/settler-violence/.

14 - Human Rights Council, Report of the independent international fact finding mission to investigate the implications of the Israeli settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, A/HRC/22/63, para. 47, available at: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/RegularSession/Session22/A-HRC-22-63_en.pdf.

15 - Human Rights Council, Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the Occupied Syrian Golan, Report of the Secretary-General, A/HRC/31/43, 20 January 2016, para. 37.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Syria: Coordinated Chemical Attacks on Aleppo

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 13 February 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Syria: Coordinated Chemical Attacks on Aleppo, 13 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58a310254.html [accessed 6 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.

Syrian government forces conducted coordinated chemical attacks in opposition-controlled parts of Aleppo during the final month of the battle for the city, Human Rights Watch said today.

Through phone and in-person interviews with witnesses and analysis of video footage, photographs, and posts on social media, Human Rights Watch documented government helicopters dropping chlorine in residential areas on at least eight occasions between November 17 and December 13, 2016. The attacks, some of which included multiple munitions, killed at least nine civilians, including four children, and injured around 200.

The attacks took place in areas where government forces planned to advance, starting in the east and moving westwards as the frontlines moved, Human Rights Watch said.

The 192 state parties of the Chemical Weapons Convention should take steps to address Syria's continued violation of the treaty's most basic prohibitions and ensure compliance in order to bolster the customary international norm against chemical warfare, Human Rights Watch said.

Syrian government helicopters have dropped chlorine on opposition-controlled territory at least since April 2014. Chlorine has many civilian uses, but the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention, which Syria joined in October 2013, bans the use of the toxic properties of any chemical as a weapon. Human Rights Watch has also documented that Syrian government forces used sarin in attacks in August 2013, and that the Islamic State (also known as ISIS) has used mustard agent as recently as August 2016.

The most recent chlorine attacks took place during a final push by Syrian government forces and its allies to wrest control of eastern Aleppo from armed opposition groups. After a period of relative calm, Syrian government forces and its allies resumed military operations in Aleppo on November 17, starting with intensive aerial bombardment. The battle continued until December 13, when the parties agreed to a ceasefire and many of the fighters and civilians in eastern Aleppo were evacuated.

The actual number of chemical attacks in Aleppo between November 17 and December 13 could be higher than the eight documented in this report, Human Rights Watch said. On social media, journalists, first responders, medical personnel, and others reported at least 12 attacks in the period. Human Rights Watch included in this report only attacks it has corroborated through both real-time reporting on social media and interviews with at least one witness.

Identifying with certainty the chemical used in the attacks without laboratory testing is difficult, but the odor, signs, and symptoms that victims and medical personnel reported indicate that government forces used chlorine. Local residents who were close to the impact site and medical personnel reported a strong odor of chlorine, similar to that of bleach-based household cleansers, near the impact sites.

"Those affected had trouble breathing, they were coughing hard, they were nauseated, some people fainted, some had foam coming from their mouth," a first responder for several attacks said. "The chemicals would affect children most severelythey inhale these smells and they end up suffocating."

Describing the smell as a stronger version of the cleaning detergent, one local resident said:

The smell isn't something you can handle. The moment you're exposed to it, your throat burns, it's like a fire rod going in. It won't let you swallow or breathe. Your neck starts boiling. You feel nauseated. Your eyes burn and you are not able to control the tears. Eventually, you are not able to breathe. It's not like having your nose and mouth blocked, rather, your body won't let the air in anymore.

High level of exposure to chlorine can lead to suffocation, as the chemical injuries produced from the dissolution of chlorine in the mucous membranes of the pulmonary airways result in severe buildup of fluid in the lungs. Children and older people are particularly susceptible to the effects of chlorine gas.

Witnesses also said that they observed a yellow or yellow-green smoke near the impact site of at least four attacks. In two attacks, journalists nearby captured the smoke on video. Chlorine is yellowish-green in its gaseous form.

Since chlorine is heavier than air, it sinks, making basements where people sheltered against attacks with explosive weapons potential death traps. One journalist, who decided to leave his neighborhood after a chlorine attack, said: "We got used to bombing and shelling. But with chlorine there is no way to protect yourself. It will suffocate you."

For five of the chemical attacks, Human Rights Watch reviewed photographs or video footage of remnants of the chemical-filled improvised munitions posted online or shared directly with Human Rights Watch. Witnesses sometimes referred to the munitions as barrels or bombs. In all five incidents, the footage shows the same type of yellow gas cylinder. A label still visible on the remnant from one attack shows a warning that the cylinder contained gas.

Opposition-affiliated groups, first responders, activists, and journalists reported that government forces conducted chemical attacks in other locations in Syria in the same period as well.

While there is no evidence that Russia, the only other party that conducted airstrikes on eastern Aleppo during this period, was directly involved in the chemical attacks, Russian aircraft played a crucial role in the military offensive against opposition fighters in eastern Aleppo. As a military ally of Damascus, it benefitted from the use of chemical weapons by Syrian forces.

Furthermore, the UN-appointed Joint Investigative Mechanism found that helicopters that had previously dropped chlorine were operating from the Hmeymim airbase, which is under Russian control. Given this and other reports about past repeated use of chlorine as a weapon, Russian military authorities should have taken steps to ensure that such weapons were not used in their joint military offensive, Human Rights Watch said.

The UN Security Council, including Russia, has condemned the use of any toxic chemical, such as chlorine, as a weapon in Syria and stressed that those who use such weapons must be held accountable. On August 7, 2015, the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2235, establishing the investigation to "identify to the greatest extent feasible individuals, entities, groups, or governments who were perpetrators, organizers, sponsors or otherwise involved in the use of chemicals as weapons." At the time, Russia said the investigation would close the gap in identifying those responsible for the use of chlorine as a weapon in Syria. The United States emphasized that "[p]ointing the finger matters."

On December 21, 2016, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution establishing a mechanism to assist in the investigation of serious crimes committed in Syria since 2011. The General Assembly requested the UN system as a whole to fully cooperate and to promptly respond to any request for information.

Peace talks between Syria's warring parties are scheduled to resume in Geneva on February 20.

"History shows that peace deals without any form of accountability for past abuses are often fragile," Solvang said. "Accountability for the chemical attacks in Syria would be a good place to start."

The Chemical Weapons Convention prohibits the use of the toxic properties of common chemicals such as chlorine to kill or injure. Among other obligations, each member state agrees never to "assist, encourage or induce, in any way, anyone to engage in any activity prohibited to a State Party under this Convention." The laws of war applicable in Syria prohibit the use of chemical weapons. The use of prohibited weapons with criminal intent, deliberately or recklessly, is a war crime. With 192 members, the Chemical Weapons Convention is one of the most universal international treaties on weapons. Only four UN member states are not party to the convention: Egypt; Israel, which has signed by not ratified the convention; North Korea; and South Sudan.

Chlorine Attacks in Syria

Human Rights Watch published reports on the Syrian government's use of chlorine in May 2014, April 2015, June 2015, and September 2016.

The Joint Investigative Mechanism between the UN and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) concluded, in a report published on October 21, 2016, that Syrian government forces had used chlorine as a weapon in three incidents in 2014-2015. The investigation determined that helicopters from Syria's 63rd helicopter brigade, operating from Hama and Hmeymim airbases, carried out the attacks. The investigation also found the Islamic State (ISIS) responsible for using sulfur mustard, a type of blister agent.

November-December Chemical Attacks on Aleppo

Human Rights Watch interviewed in person or by phone 22 people with direct knowledge of chemical attacks in eastern Aleppo between November 17 and December 13, 2016. The witnesses were first responders, medical personnel, or people who lived in the affected neighborhoods. Human Rights Watch compared these witness accounts with photographs, video footage, and real-time information posted on social media. Several organizations such as the Syria Civil Defense, the Syrian Institute for Justice and Accountability, and the Syrian American Medical Society helped identify key witnesses. The open source investigative group Bellingcat first compiled and analyzed many of the videos and photographs from chemical attacks and their immediate aftermath.

The intensive bombardment toward the end of the battle for Aleppo made thorough documentation of these attacks difficult. Some witnesses struggled to remember the dates and distinguish between the various attacks. First responders and medical personnel told Human Rights Watch that Syrian government forces confiscated phones and laptops with key information during the evacuation and that hospital staff had to leave records behind when they evacuated hospitals. The table below is a summary of the information currently available. The evidence for each attack is presented and analyzed in the subsequent sections of this report.

Date/time District Civilian casualties Evidence November 18, morning Masaken Hanano/Ard al-Hamra More than a dozen injured Yellow cylinder, odor, symptoms, yellow-green smoke. November 20, early morning al-Sakhour 6 killed (incl. 4 children), 25 injured Yellow cylinder, odor, symptoms. November 20, afternoon Tariq al-Bab At least 1 injured Yellow cylinder, odor, symptoms, yellow-green smoke. November 22, afternoon Karm al-Qaterji, Daheert Awwad, Karm al-Jazmati Possibly 15 injured Yellow-green smoke, odor. November 23, Evening Karm al-Jazmati 1 killed, 10-13 injured Odor, symptoms November 28, afternoon Karm al-Qaterji, Qadi Askar More than 40 injured Yellow cylinder, yellow-green smoke, odor, symptoms December 8, afternoon al-Fardous, al-Maghayer, Kallaseh 2 killed, more than 70 injured Yellow cylinder, yellow-green smoke, odor, symptoms. December 9, evening Kallaseh At least 50 injured Odor, symptoms, possibly yellow cylinder.

November 18: Masaken Hanano

In the morning on November 18, the Aleppo Media Center, a network of local journalists who documented the conflict in opposition-held Aleppo, and Thiqa Agency reported that a chlorine attack had struck Masaken Hanano and Ard al-Hamra.

Abu Taim al-Halabi, a cameraman for the Aleppo Media Center, told Human Rights Watch by phone that three helicopters were flying in the air above Masaken Hanano, where he lived, at about 8 or 9 a.m. on November 18. Al-Halabi saw in the distance two of the helicopters dropping four objects, but there was no explosion, leading al-Halabi to believe that they were munitions filled with chlorine.

About five minutes later, the third helicopter dropped an object that landed much closer to al-Halabi, on the border between Masaken Hanano and Ard al-Hamra. "After a few minutes I noticed the smell of chlorine so I ran home to warn my family to stay inside and breathe through a wet cloth," he said.

About one hour after the attack, al-Halabi said, he went to the impact site with his camera:

The barrel had fallen in the middle of the street. There was still a very strong smell so it was difficult to stand close to it. It became difficult to breathe, my eyes started tearing up and nose started running. The effects were even worse for the children.

Alaa Abu Ali, a staff member at Syria Charity, a Paris-based aid organization, gave a similar account by phone. He said that from his home on the morning of November 18 he saw helicopters drop five objects, none of which exploded. He believed four landed in Masaken Hanano and one in neighboring Sheikh Najar, which was on the front line. He said he went to the impact site of the one that landed on the border between Masaken Hanano and Ard al-Hamra.

Abu Ali gave video interviews at the site to Al-Jisr News, Smart News Agency, and the Aleppo Media Center. Syria Charity later posted a photograph of Abu Ali with an oxygen mask.

Abu Ali and a Syria Civil Defense staff member cited by Smart News Agency said that 12 people were injured in the attack. They did not report any fatalities. Al-Halabi said that about 20 people were injured, including an old woman and five children.

Al-Halabi and Abu Ali said that some of the injured were taken to hospitals in the nearby Sha'ar neighborhood. Al-Halabi said he transported three civilians to the Daqaq hospital in Sha'ar. Abu Ali said that he took a woman and a child to the same hospital.

Syria Charity posted on its Facebook page a video from the Children's Hospital, also in Sha'ar, showing a boy wearing an oxygen mask. The boy, between coughs, says that an aircraft dropped a bomb near him in Ard al-Hamra, that there was yellow smoke, and that somebody took him to the hospital. Orient News posted a video of what appears to be the same boy. The same video also shows medical staff examining and giving oxygen to another child and a man.

Mojahed Abu Joud, a staff member of the Aleppo Media Center, said that he saw about 30 civilians in al-Sakhour hospital who had been injured in the attack on Masaken Hanano. He said that the people were pale, coughed, and at least one person had foam coming from their mouth.

Al-Halabi filmed and took photographs of the remnants of the munition at the site between Masaken Hanano and Ard al-Hamra. The video shows a piece of a yellow cylinder standing on end next to crater in the street. One end of the cylinder has been spilt open and strips of the cylinder have been bent outward, indicating that an explosive inside of it detonated and burst cylinder outwards, releasing its content.

November 20: al-Sakhour

In the early morning on November 20, the Aleppo Media Center, Shahba News Agency, and Halab Today TV reported that a chlorine attack had struck al-Sakhour.

Abu Mohammed, an employee at the Ikhlas Medical Center, told Human Rights Watch that at least two munitions fell in al-Sakhour shortly after midnight on November 20. One fell 75 meters from his house, he said, and another about 200-300 meters away. He put a wet cloth over his mouth and went out to check the neighborhood.

In one house, he saw five dead civilians, a mother, father and three children. Their faces were blue. Another 25 people were injured, Abu Mohammed said. One 22-year-old girl started vomiting. Abu Mohammed took them to a nearby house and gave them oxygen, he said.

Mahmoud, a perfume seller who lived in al-Sakhour, said that he heard a bomb fall on the night of November 19-20. He went to the impact site the next morning because he had friends in the area. He said: "When I got close it became difficult to breathe, it felt like I had fire in my nose and throat. The bomb had hit a house near a vegetable market. The smell was like the liquid we use when we clean the house."

Friends in the area told him that the attack had killed six members of the same family. Reuters, citing two medics in Aleppo, identified them as members of the Baytounji family. Human Rights Watch has not been able to independently verify the names.

A graphic video posted on Facebook by a member of Shahba Press Agency on November 20 shows four lifeless children lying next to each other. They do not appear to have any external wounds. The description says that an aerial attack with chlorine gas killed six people in al-Sakhour. Another graphic video posted by the Aleppo Media Center and archived by the Syrian Archive shows the bodies of the four children on the back of a pick-up truck together with the body of a man.

The Local Coordination Committees in Syria reported on November 20 that helicopters had dropped two bombs with chlorine gas on al-Sakhour, leading to the death of six civilians from one family.

Thiqa News Agency, Syria Civil Defense, and Aleppo Media Center posted video footage and photographs from what they said was the site of a chlorine attack in al-Sakhour on November 20. The video footage and photographs show the same rubble of a house and remnants of a yellow cylinder amid the rubble.

November 20: Tariq al-Bab

In the afternoon on November 20, the Aleppo Media Center and Shahba News Agency reported that a chlorine attack had struck Tariq al-Bab.

Ismail Abdallah, a member of the Syria Civil Defense, told Human Rights Watch that he was sheltering in a basement in Tariq al-Bab because of ongoing airstrikes when he heard a loud noise. He rushed out and saw that a yellow gas cylinder had hit the street nearby. Abdallah described a very strong odor near the impact site and yellowish smoke. "Close to the site I started getting a headache, my eyes teared up, it became difficult to breathe," he said.

Mahmoud was with a friend who lived near the impact site, about 500 meters away. He said: "About an hour after the attack we tried to go there to pick up some of my friend's belongings, but couldn't get closer than 100 meters. It smelled like the same gas as in al-Sakhour [earlier in the day]. We had to turn back." Mahmoud said that by the time of the attack there were very few civilians left in the district. Abdallah said that the Syria Civil Defense took at least one old woman to the hospital.

Othman Khodr, a lawyer for the Syrian Institute for Justice and Accountability gave Human Rights Watch a similar account and said that the attack happened about 3:30 p.m.

The Aleppo Media Center published a video on its YouTube channel showing a yellow cylinder that had split open. The Syrian Institute for Justice and Accountability published photographs and a video showing the same remnant. A partly visible label on the cylinder includes some letters, which the Syrian Institute for Justice identified as standing for a producer of chlorine gas.

Based on the Syrian Institute for Justice video, Bellingcat concluded that the video had been filmed in the street separating the districts of Daheert Awwad and Tariq al-Bab.

November 22: Karm al-Qaterji, Daheert Awwad, Karm al-Jazmati

In the afternoon on November 22, the Aleppo Media Center and Shahba News Agency reported that a chlorine attack had struck Karm al-Qaterji. Thiqa News reported that an attack had also struck Daheert Awwad.

Mojahed Abu Joud, a staff member of Aleppo Media Center, said that he and a colleague saw a helicopter drop three objects on Daheert Awwad and one on Karm al-Jazmati between 4:30 and 5 p.m. on November 22. There was no explosion, but they filmed yellow-green smoke rising from the place where the object landed. Abu Joud said that they tried to reach the impact site, but the odor was too strong.

Abu Ali, the Syria Charity worker, said that several days after the Hanano attack, just before the sunset prayer at 4:32 p.m., he and Abu Taim al-Halabi from the Aleppo Media Center saw helicopters drop two objects on the al-Qaterji district, two on the Karm al-Myasser district, and two more, though he did not remember where they landed. They went to al-Qaterji, but couldn't get close to the impact site because the smell was so strong. "It was the same smell as in Hanano," he said. Al-Halabi confirmed the account. The time and location of Abu Ali's and al-Halabi's observations indicate that they witnessed the same attacks as Abu Joud and his colleague.

Othman Khodr, the Syrian Institute for Justice lawyer, also said that he saw three helicopters drop two munitions each in the course of one hour in late November, in the area where Karm al-Myasser, Karm al-Qaterji, Karm al-Jazmati and Daheert Awwad meet.

In a daily report, Syria Civil Defense reported that chlorine attacks in Karm al-Qaterji and Daheert Awwad about 8 a.m. on November 22 injured 15 civilians. There are no other reports of chemical attacks in the morning on November 22, so the report might refer to the afternoon attacks.

November 23: Karm al-Jazmati

In the evening on November 23, Shahba News Agency and Halab Today TV reported that a chlorine attack had struck Karm al-Jazmati.

Mojahed Abu Joud, a member of the Aleppo Media Center, said that he went to the site of the attack in Karm al-Jazmati the following day. There was still a very strong odor of chlorine in the area, he said. The munition had penetrated the roof of a house. Neighbors said that a woman had been in the house during the attack, but that nobody had been able to enter because of the gas. "The smell was still so strong that it felt like a fire in my throat when I got close," Abu Joud said. "It felt like I would cough up my lungs. At one point, somebody opened the door to the house while I was interviewing a girl out in the street. The smell was so strong that we had to stop the interview to move further away."

Othman Khodr, the Syrian Institute for Justice lawyer, said that he also went to the site. The cylinder was stuck in the roof, he said, but still leaking gas. He saw four or five dead pigeons in a nest nearby. When he came down from the roof, he said, he inhaled some of the gas. "It had a terrible, suffocating small. It doesn't let you breathe. It was painful. I was coughing and breathing nonstop." Khodr said he and a journalist went to a nearby hospital where they were treated with oxygen.

Syria Civil Defense reported that an attack with poisonous gas at about 10 p.m. on November 23 injured 10 people in Karm al-Jazmati and neighboring Ard al-Hamra. Orient News reported that 13 people were injured in the two districts and posted two photos, each of two young children receiving oxygen in what looks like a medical facility.

In a video interview, a local resident said that the attack had killed their 55-year-old neighbor, a woman. The Violations Documentation Center also recorded that toxic gas had killed an unidentified woman in Aleppo on November 23. Syria Civil Defense reported the following day that toxic gases had killed one woman in Aleppo. The woman may have been killed in the November 23 attack, since there were no reported chemical attacks on November 24.

November 28: Karm al-Qaterji, Qadi Askar

In the early afternoon on November 28, the Aleppo Media Center and Shahba News Agency reported that chlorine attacks had struck Karm al-Qaterji and Qadi Askar. Thiqa Agency and Halab Today TV reported the attack on Karm al-Qaterji. The Local Coordination Committees in Syria reported the attack on Qadi Askar.

Firas Badawi, a photographer with the Aleppo Media Center who used to live in Karm al-Qaterji, said that they ran to seek shelter when they saw a helicopter in the afternoon on November 28. There was a sound of something crashing into the ground, he said, but no explosion. When they emerged from their shelter they saw that the munition had hit a playground in a public park. Badawi said:

There was smoke all over the place. It was yellowish, slightly greenish, moving around with the wind. The smell was incredibly strong. We rescued 11 or 12 people who had sought shelter in surrounding buildings, fearing an explosive barrel attack. Most had lost consciousness and there was foam coming from their mouths. We thought they had died. Others couldn't breathe and were screaming from pain in the chest, coughing and burning in the eyes.

Badawi said that another 11 people were injured even further away when a strong wind blew the gas towards the south. Badawi also said that two people died in the attack, but Human Rights Watch has not been able to independently verify this.

Badawi shared with Human Rights Watch photographs and video footage showing an impact crater and a deformed, yellow gas cylinder in what appears to be a playground for children.

Omar Arnaout, a photographer, said that he saw a helicopter drop an object near a cemetery in Qadi Askar at about 3 p.m. on November 28:

Suddenly, yellow smoke started spreading followed by the smell of chlorine a few minutes later. It's the smell of the liquid that we use to clean toilet, but more intense, much more intense. People were unable to breathe, they are coughing. Some children were throwing up. The smell was everywhere.

Arnaout said that about 20 civilians were injured in the attack and taken to hospitals for treatment.

December 8: al-Maghayer, al-Fardous, Kallaseh

Between 4 and 5 p.m. on December 8, the Aleppo Media Center and Shahba News Agency reported that chlorine attacks had struck Kallaseh and Bustan al-Qasr. Human Rights Watch believes that these reports refer to possibly three chlorine munitions that struck al-Maghayer neighborhood in the Bab al-Maqam district, al-Fardous, and Kallaseh.

Abu Nadim al-Khattat, who lives in al-Maghayer, said that one attack struck the street outside his home around 4 p.m. on December 8. About 15 minutes later, a second struck close to al-Hayat medical clinic in Kallaseh, where he was located at the time. He said that dozens of people, including his mother-in-law, her daughters, and their husbands, had gathered in the area, trying to leave the city:

When the barrels fell, everybody went inside to hide, fearing that they would be hit by shrapnel. But the barrel didn't explode. The chlorine gas leaked out and spread everywhere, seeping into places where people were hiding. They inhaled the gas and started experiencing shortness of breath, foam was coming out of their mouth, some experienced dizziness, headaches, they felt weary and drowsy, they were drained of energy.

Al-Khattat said that around 50 people were injured, including 20 children. Abu Rajab, the former administrator of al-Sakhour hospital, confirmed that a chlorine attack struck about 100 meters from the al-Hayat clinic on December 8, saying that more than 70 people were brought there for treatment. "We could even sense a faint smell of chlorine from the clinic," he said.

Al-Khattat said that the attack killed two people: Ammar Shohaiber, around 40, and Mohammad Abrach, around 50:

Ammar's house was very close to the impact site and it was full of chlorine gas. We gave him first aid and he seemed to get better, but at night his conditions worsened. By the time we took him to the Bustan al-Qasr clinic he was barely alive and eventually passed away.

Abrach seemed better at first, but his condition also worsened, al-Khattat said: "We took him to the al-Quds hospital, but it was so crowded they could barely help him. He died as well."

Dr. Salim Abu al-Nasser, a dentist working in the Bustan al-Qasr Medical Center, said that the center had received two civilians in the evening of December 8 who had been injured in a chlorine attack. He said he saw the body of one patient, a man he estimated to be in his sixties, lying lifeless in the corridor, apparently dead. The second patient was transferred to al-Quds hospital, he said, where he also died.

The Violations Documentation Center, the Aleppo Media Center, and Shahba News Agency reported that toxic gas killed two civilians in Aleppo on December 8, a man and a woman. The reports likely refer to the deaths of Shohaiber and Abrach.

Hazem, an employee at the al-Quds hospital, said that he also witnessed a chlorine attack that day near the vegetable market in al-Fardous. "We thought the bomb had failed to explode, but then we saw yellow smoke coming from the area. There was a strong smell of chlorine."

On the Ground News, an activist news organization, published a video showing a yellow-green gas spreading along the ground, saying that it had been filmed in al-Fardous. Hazem confirmed that the video was from the same attack he saw and provided the map coordinates of the impact site.

In the early evening on December 8, a member of the Aleppo Media Center posted a photo of a yellow cylinder that he says hit eastern Aleppo. Human Rights Watch has not been able to establish the exact location where the remnant was found.

December 9: Kallaseh

Shortly after midnight on December 10, the Aleppo Media Center, Shahba News Agency, Thiqa Agency, and Halab Today TV reported that a chlorine attack had struck Kallaseh.

Abu Rajab, the former administrator at al-Sakhour hospital, said that he heard a thump near the entrance of the al-Hayat clinic in Kallaseh at about 8 p.m. on December 9. Soon, he said, a very strong smell started spreading in the clinic. "It quickly became very bad," he said. "It felt like I had a fire in my chest, my eyes became red. I couldn't breathe properly. It smelled like chlorine."

About 30 medical staff and patients were in the clinic at the time of the attack, he said. All of them were injured, five of them seriously, he said. They covered their faces with wet cloth and moved to the upper floors. Abu Rajab said that some of the injured were sent to the Bustan al-Qasr Medical Center and the al-Quds hospital.

Abu Muatassim, another doctor working in the al-Hayat clinic, gave a similar account, but saying that the attack was around 6 p.m. and that 50 civilians were injured, including people who had been outside the clinic.

Abu al-Nasser at the Bustan al-Qasr Medical Center said that he heard about the attack on the hospital's walkie-talkie. Injured patients started arriving shortly thereafter. He said that the center treated about 40 civilians for difficulty breathing and shock. "Many of them were shaking," he said. The medical center published four videos of patients receiving treatment on its Facebook page. Abu al-Nasser showed Human Rights Watch a photograph of a boy being giving oxygen and another photograph of two small children, saying all three had been injured by the gas.

Abdallah Mahmoud, an administrator working in the al-Quds hospital, said that the hospital treated 47 injured civilians. Their symptoms included red eyes, difficulty speaking and breathing, and coughing.

On December 10, the Smart News Agency published on its YouTube channel a video showing a yellow gas cylinder that had been split open, saying that bombs containing toxic gases had killed five civilians and injured others on December 10, in Bustan al-Qasr, al-Fardous, and Kallaseh districts, which border each other. Human Rights Watch has not been able to independently verify any deaths or injuries from chlorine attacks on December 10.

Abu Rajab shared three photographs with Human Rights Watch showing the same remnant and the crater where it landed. Human Rights Watch has not been able to determine whether the remnants stem from the December 9 Kallaseh attack or separate attacks on December 10.

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
North Korea: End Rampant Forced Child Labor

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 13 February 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, North Korea: End Rampant Forced Child Labor, 13 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58a3125d4.html [accessed 6 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 North Korean government should immediately stop exploiting school children by forcing them to work, Human Rights Watch said today, releasing its submission to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. The submission details forced labor including farming, rock breaking, scrap-metal collecting, and other strenuous labor, as well as discrimination and other abuses faced by North Korean children.

North Koreans who recently escaped to South Korea or keep contacts in the North told Human Rights Watch that the ruling Workers' Party of Korea and the Ministry of Education obtain payments and benefits of child labor from grade schools, vocational schools, colleges, universities, and national youth and children's leagues. School administrators force children to work to meet those demands, as well as to maintain and manage schools, and earn profits.

"North Korea's common use of forced labor is bad enough, but it's wholly inexcusable when children are exploited," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director. "In destroying the lives of children, the ruling Kim family shows just how low it's prepared to go to sustain political and economic power. For many children, forced labor is sadly a normal hazard in everyday life."

North Korea stated in a May 2016 report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child, which monitors state compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, that it abolished child labor 70 years ago. But North Koreans who spoke to Human Rights Watch detailed how the government ordered and received forced labor from children through activities or campaigns by the "socialist loyalty" movement, or from authorities requiring "patriotic labor."

Human Rights Watch interviewed 14 North Koreans, including several children, who left North Korea after 2013 or who have ongoing contacts in the country. Although the number of interviewees was not large enough to reach conclusions on overall conditions inside the country, the interviews provide a consistent picture of personal experiences. The interviewees provided disturbing accounts of requests for unpaid forced labor from children, physical punishments, and discrimination against children on political grounds.

Former teachers and students confirmed that the school systems also discriminate on the basis of songbun, a sociopolitical classification that distinguishes citizens on their personal performance and perceived loyalty to the ruling party and government. This classification affects access to food, basic services like health care and education, and jobs.

A former secondary school teacher from North Hamgyong province said that schools only focused on providing a serious education to students from families with good songbun, and such students were not forced to perform any labor. These students were typically those with money to afford private lessons, and were invariably the ones selected to attend regional competitions and national school events. Students said that the rest of the students were not allowed to ask any questions, and were compelled to memorize propagandistic teachings about the lives and accomplishments of the current Kim dynasty.

The 2014 UN Commission of Inquiry on the situation of human rights in North Korea found that the gravity, scale, and nature of violations revealed a state "without parallel in the contemporary world." The commission's report documented abuses including murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, and rape and other sexual violence, constituting crimes against humanity. The commission found that school children were indoctrinated to worship the Kim family and to incite discrimination, hostility, hate, racism, and violence, all contrary to educational goals found in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The UN Human Rights Council and General Assembly also endorsed the commission's report and condemned North Korea's horrific rights record. In December 2016, the Security Council discussed human rights violations in North Korea for the third year in a row.

"By discriminating on the basis of loyalty to Kim Jong-un, North Korean schools cheat millions of children out of an education," Robertson said. "North Korean children have nowhere to turn but the UN and foreign governments, who need to speak out now on the destruction of children's lives, and put human rights at the center of their dealings with North Korea."

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
Oman: Activist's Family Barred from Traveling Abroad

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 14 February 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Oman: Activist's Family Barred from Traveling Abroad, 14 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58a313224.html [accessed 6 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.

Omani authorities have barred the family of Mohammed al-Fazari, a human rights defender and blogger, from traveling outside the country, Human Rights Watch said today.

On January 30, 2017, the Omani authorities stopped al-Fazari's wife, his 3-year-old daughter, and his 1-year-old son at the Oman-United Arab Emirates border and confiscated their passports, a source close to the case told Human Rights Watch. The authorities told al-Fazari's family that they would be required to report to the Omani Police's Special Division in the capital, Muscat, before they would be allowed to travel.

"Imposing an arbitrary travel ban against an activist's family suggests an intent to intimidate activists and to silence dissent," said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "Oman should stop targeting activists for their peaceful activism, but instead it appears to be extending the harassment to their families."

Human Rights Watch has documented a pattern of harassment against al-Fazari, the founder and editor-in-chief of Mowatin magazine, a publication that is critical of the country's leader, Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said. Authorities had previously arrested al-Fazari during a June 2012 round-up of bloggers and activists, holding him in solitary confinement and trying him on charges of "gathering with the intent of rioting" and "insulting the Sultan." He was freed in March 2013 following a royal pardon.

Authorities arrested al-Fazari again on August 30, 2014, held him incommunicado for six days, and then released him without charges. On December 22, 2014, authorities stopped a-Farazi at the Muscat airport and confiscated his passport and identity card.

On July 17, 2015, al-Fazari left the country, despite a travel ban that the Omani authorities had imposed on him, and sought asylum in the United Kingdom. On July 22, 2015, police arrested his brother, Mahmoud Al-Fazari, detained him for three weeks, and then released him without charge.

The Arab Charter on Human Rights, which Oman has ratified, guarantees the right to freedom of movement. Article 27 of the charter states that, "no citizen shall be arbitrarily or unlawfully prevented from leaving any Arab country, including his own." Given that the travel ban against al-Fazari's family appears to have stemmed from al-Fazari's peaceful activism, the travel ban violates their right to free movement, and Omani authorities should lift it immediately, Human Rights Watch said.

Since the 2011 popular uprisings in Oman and the Arab region, Human Rights Watch has documented a pattern in which Omani security forces harass and prosecute activists and critics on vague charges such as "insulting the Sultan" and "undermining the prestige of the state." Authorities restrict online criticism and other digital content using article 61 of the 2002 Telecommunications Act, which penalizes "any person who sends, by means of telecommunications system, a message that violates public order or public morals."

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
Russia: Government vs. Rights Groups

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 14 February 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Russia: Government vs. Rights Groups, 14 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58a314984.html [accessed 6 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

For the past four years, the Kremlin has sought to stigmatize criticism or alternative views of government policy as disloyal, foreign-sponsored, or even traitorous. It is part of a sweeping crackdown to silence critical voices that has included new legal restrictions on the internet, on freedom of expression, on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, and on other fundamental freedoms.

Association of NGOs in Defense of Voters' Rights "Golos" (Moscow)  June 5, 2014 Regional Public Association in Defense of Democratic Rights and Freedoms "Golos" (Moscow)  June 5, 2014 Center for Social Policy and Gender Studies (Saratov)  June 5, 2014 (the organization was shut down  May 22, 2015) Women of Don (Rostov region)  June 5, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  February 29, 2016) Kostroma Center for Support of Public Initiatives (Kostroma)  June 5, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  June 19, 2015) Interregional Human Rights Association "Agora" (Kazan)  July 21, 2014 (the organization was shut down  December 29, 2016) Regional public organization "Ecozaschita!  Womens' Council" (Kaliningrad)  July 21, 2014 Public Verdict Foundation (Moscow)  July 21, 2014 Human Rights Center "Memorial" (Moscow)  July 21, 2014 Lawyers for Constitutional Rights and Freedoms / JURIX (Moscow)  July 21, 2014 (the organization was shut down  May 26, 2015) Soldiers' Mothers (Saint Petersburg)  August 28, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  October 23, 2015) Freedom of Information Foundation / Institute for Information Freedom Development  August 28, 2014 PIR Center  September 3, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  February 24, 2016) Association "Partnership for Development" (Saratov)  October 2, 2014 (the organization was shut down  November 6, 2015) "News Agency MEMO.RU" (Moscow)  November 20, 2014 Regional Press Institute (St. Petersburg)  November 20, 2014 Moscow School of Civic Education  December 9, 2014 Rakurs, Arkhangelsk regional non-governmental LGBT organization  December 15, 2014 All-Russian movement "For Human Rights"  December 22, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  December 30, 2015) Human Rights Center (Kaliningrad)  December 25, 2014 Krasnodar Regional Social Organization of University Alumni  December 25, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  April 22, 2016) Regional social organization "Public Commission for Academic Sakharov's Heritage Preservation"  December 25, 2014 Resource Human Rights Center (St. Petersburg)  December 30, 2014 (the organization was shut down  November 3, 2015) Regional Public Organization "Man and the Law" (Republic of Mari El)  December 30, 2014 Center for Social Development "Vozrozhdeniye" (Pskov)  December 30, 2014 (the organization was shut down  January 31, 2017) Public Human Rights Organization "Civil Control" (St. Petersburg)  December 30, 2014 The League of Women Voters (St. Petersburg)  December 30, 2014 (the organization was shut down  May 22, 2015) Free Press Support Foundation  December 30, 2014 Interregional Non-Governmental Organization "The Committee Against Torture"  January 16, 2015 (the organization was shut down  September 13, 2016) Educational Center "Memorial" (Sverdlov region)  January 16, 2015 Autonomous non-profit human rights organization "Youth Center for Consulting and Training"  January 20, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  July 22, 2015) "Information Bureau of the Nordic Council of Ministers in St. Petersburg"  January 20, 2015 Jewish regional branch of the Russian public organization "Municipal Academy" January 26, 2015 (the organization was shut down  May 22, 2015) The noncommercial partnership "Press Development Institute - Siberia"  January 30, 2015 Center for social, psychological and legal help to victims of discrimination and homophobia "Maximum" (Murmansk)  February 4, 2015 (the organization was shut down  October 28, 2015) Interregional public fund for civil society development "Golos-Povolzhye" (Samara)  February 6, 2015 Interregional charity organization "Siberian Environmental Center" (Novosibirsk)  February 12, 2015 Center for Civic Analysis and Independent Research / GRANI (Perm)  February 13, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  June 19, 2015) Municipal public organization "Samara Center for Gender Studies" (Samara)  February 16, 2015 Regional Fund "Center for Defense of Mass Media Rights" (Voronezh)  February 26, 2015 Regional Charitable Social Foundation "For nature" (Chelyabinsk)  March 6, 2015 Regional Ecological Social Movement "For nature" (Chelyabinsk)  March 6, 2015 Humanist Youth Movement (Murmansk)  March 13, 2015 (the organization was shut down  August 25, 2015) Regional Social Organization for Contribution to Harmonization of Interethnic Relations "Azerbaijan"  March 13, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  July 22, 2016) Regional Social Environmental Organization "Bellona-Murmansk"  March 19, 2015 (the organization was shut down  October 16, 2015) "Educational Center for Environment and Security" (Samara)  March 20, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  October 8, 2015) Foundation "Migration XXI Century"  March 27, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  November 25, 2016) Eco-logika (Rostov)  April 3, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  March 30, 2016) Transparency International Russia - April 7, 2015 Social Environmental Organization "Planeta Nadezhd"  April 15, 2015 Foundation for Consumers' Rights Defense (Novosibirsk)  April 17, 2015 (the organization was shut down  May 12, 2016) Civic Assistance Committee  April 20, 2015 Foundation 19/29 - Foundation for Support of Investigative Journalism  April 24, 2015 Commemorative Centre of History of Political Repressions "Perm - 36"  April 29, 2015 (the organization was shut down  August 18, 2016) Women's League (Kaliningrad )  April 29, 2015 (the organization was shut down  December 16, 2015) Legal Expert Partnership "Soyuz "  May 7, 2015 (the organization was shut down  25 August 2015) Center for Development of Non-Commerical Organizations  May 13, 2015 Club of Accountants and Auditors of Non-Commercial Organizations  May 13, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  March 30, 2016) Informational Bureau of the Council of Ministers of Northern Countries (Kaliningrad)  May 13, 2015 Sutyajnik (Yekaterinburg)  May 15, 2015 Human Rights Academy (Yekaterinburg)  May 15, 2015 Ecological Center "Dront" (Nizhny Novgorod)  May 22, 2015 The non-profit organization "Liberal Mission" Scientific Foundation of Theoretical and Applied Research  May 25, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  September 11, 2015) The non-profit Dynasty Foundation  May 25, 2015 Union of Employers (Tula region)  May 28, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  December 13, 2016) Youth organization "Nuori Karjala/Young Karelia"  June 19, 2015 (the organization was shut down  March 25, 2016) Siberian Center for Support of Social Initiatives  June 19, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  September 21, 2016) Interregional Social Foundation for Peace in the South and in the Northern Caucasus  June 19, 2015 Informational Center "Free Inform"  June 22, 2015 (the organization was shut down  June 21, 2016) Center for Independent Sociological Studies (St. Petersburg)  June 22, 2015 Regional Organization for Population and Development  June 23, 2015 Geblerov Ecological Societ (Barnaul)  June 23, 2015 Association "Legal Basis" (Yekaterinburg)  July 3, 2015 Interregional Non-governmental Organization "Northern Environmental Coalition" (Petrozavodsk)  July 8, 2015 (the organization was shut down  December 1, 2015) Komi Human Rights Commission "Memorial" (Syktyvkar)  July 21, 2015 Altai Regional Public Fund for 21st Century Altai (Barnaul)  July 22, 2015 (the organization was shut down  March 28, 2016) Interregional Public Foundation for Civil Society Development "GOLOS-Ural" (Chelyabinsk region)  July 22, 2015 SREDA Foundation  July 28, 2015 Non-governmental environmental organization "Green World" (Nizhny Novgorod)  July 29, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  October 28, 2016) Civic Action Foundation (Perm)  August 5, 2015 Alliance of Funds of Local Communities of the Perm territory  August 11, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  October 26, 2016) Kabardino-Balkaria Human Rights Center  regional branch of the "For Human Rights" All-Russian movement (Nalchik)  August 18, 2015 (the organization was shut down  November 6, 2015) The Human Rights Center of the Chechen Republic (Grozny)  August 21, 2015 Interregional Social Ecological Foundation "ISAR-Siberia" (Novosibirsk)  August 26, 2015 Perm Regional Human Rights Center (Perm)  September 3, 2015 Siberia's lifeline (Novosibirsk)  September 3, 2015 Golos Foundation in Support of Democracy  September 4, 2015 (the organization was shut down  June 21, 2016) Jewish Cultural Center "Hesed-Teshuva" (Ryazan)  September 11, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  December 13, 2016) Sakhalin Environment Watch (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk)  September 18, 2015 Yasavey Manzara Information and Research Center (Naryan-Mar)  September 23, 2015 (the organization was shut down  June 15, 2016) Consumer Rights and Environment Protection Association "Princip" (Moscow region)  October 5, 2015 Far East Center for the Development of Civil Initiatives and Social Partnership (Vladivostok) October 13, 2015 Russian Research Center for Human Rights  October 20, 2015 Women of the Don (Rostov region)  October 27, 2015 Friends of the Siberian Forests (Krasnoyarsk)  October 28, 2015 (the organization was shut down  December 6, 2016) Photography Club "Sobytiye" (Omsk)  October 28, 2015 (the organization was shut down  December 16, 2015) Research and Information Center "Memorial" (St. Petersburg)  November 6, 2015 Baikal Environmental Wave (Irkutsk)  November 10, 2015 (the organization was shut down  August 1, 2016) Glasnost Defense Foundation  November 19, 2015 Human Rights Institute  November 20, 2015 Center for Support of Indigenous Peoples of the North  November 27, 2015 Green World (Leningrad region)  December 2, 2015 Mashr (Republic of Ingushetia)  December 8, 2015 Woman's World (Kaliningrad)  December 11, 2015 Panorama Information and Research Center (Moscow)  December 18, 2015 Dauria Ecological Center (Chita)  December 30, 2015 (the organization was shut down  September 1, 2016) Yekaterinburg Memorial Society (Yekaterinburg)  December 30, 2015 Bureau of Public Investigations (Nizhny Novgorod)  January 14, 2016 Committee for the Prevention of Torture (Orenburg)  January 14, 2016 Institute of Forecasting and Resolving of Political Conflicts (Nizhny Novgorod)  January 22, 2016 Ryazan Historical, Educational and Human Rights Center "Memorial" (Ryazan)  February 1, 2016 Society of Assistance to Social Protection of Citizens "Peterburgskaya EGIDA" (Saint Petersburg)  February 2, 2016 (the organization was shut down  April 26, 2016) Center for Health and Social Support "SIBALT" (Omsk)  February 15, 2016 Chelyabinsk Regional Organ of Public Independent Action "Ural Human Rights Group" (Chelyabinsk)  February 15, 2016 Women of Eurasia (Chelyabinsk)  February 15, 2016 Ural Democratic Foundation (Chelyabinsk)  February 15, 2016 Legal and Social Support Charitable Foundation "Sphere" (Saint Petersburg)  March 1, 2016 Centre for Civic Education and Human Rights (Perm)  March 3, 2016 The International Development Fund for Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East of the Russian Federation "Batani" (Moscow)  March 11, 2016 Center for Social and Labor Rights (Moscow)  March 21, 2016 Arkhar (Gorno-Altaysk)  April 5, 2016 (the organization was shut down  October 6, 2016) Publishing House "Valentin Manuylov"  April 15, 2016 Tengri School of Soul ecology (Altay) - May 17, 2016 Hanse Buero / Information Bureau of Schleswig-Holstein in Kaliningrad (Kaliningrad) - May 24, 2016 (the organization was shut down  December 30, 2016) Krasnoyarsk Regional Public Organization Agency of public initiatives (Krasnoyarsk) - May 27, 2016 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  September 21, 2016) Saratov Regional Public Organization "Socium" (Engels) - May 30, 2016 Perm regional non-governmental organization "Perm Civil Chamber" (Perm) - June 9, 2016 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  September 21, 2016) Regional non-governmental organization Integration center "Migration and Law" (Moscow) - June 16, 2016 Non-Profit Partnership "ESVERO" (Moscow) - June 22, 2016 Andrey Rylkov Foundation for Health and Social Justice (Moscow) - June 29, 2016 Altai regional sport and patriotic youth public organization "Arctica" (Biysk) - July 6, 2016 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  February 8, 2017) Autonomous non-governmental organization "Free Word" (Pskov) - July 13, 2016 The Institute of Economic Analysis (Moscow) - July 22, 2016 Penza regional youth civic organization for prevention of negative phenomena among youth "Panacea" (Kuznetsk) - August 15, 2016 (the organization was shut down  December 8, 2016) Samara regional, civic organization "American alumni club" (Samara) - August 26, 2016 Autonomous non-for-profit organization "Publishing house 'Park Gagarina'" (Samara) - August 31, 2016 Levada Analytical Center (Moscow) - September 5, 2016 Environmental Watch on North Caucasus (Maikop) - September 13, 2016 Autonomous non-for-profit human rights organization "Draftee's school" (Chelyabinsk) - September 21, 2016 Foundation for support of civil freedoms "Legal mission" (Chelyabinsk) - September 21, 2016 International Historical, Educational, Human Rights And Charitable Society Memorial (Moscow) - October 4, 2016 Sverdlovsk regional non-profit foundation "Health Era" (Ekaterinburg) - October 11, 2016 Chapaevsk non-profit organization "Chapaevsk city medical personnel association" (Chapaevsk) - October 21, 2016 Regional charity foundation "Samarskaya gubernia" (Samara) - November 2, 2016 Non-profit partnership "Internet Community" (Samara) - December 13, 2016 Autonomous non-profit organization for social support "Project April" (Tolyatti) - December 19, 2016 ANNA Centre for the prevention of violence (Moscow) - December 26, 2016 Southern Human Rights Centre (Sochi) - December 26, 2016 Sverdlovsk branch of the International Historical, Educational, Human Rights And Charitable Society Memorial (Ekaterinburg) - December 29, 2016 SOVA Center for Information and Analysis (Moscow) - December 30, 2016 Sverdlovsk civic organization for assistance to legal migration "Nelegalov.Net [No Illegals]" (Ekaterinburg) - January 10, 2017 Environmental human rights center Bellona (Saint Petersburg) - January 16, 2017 Youth civic organization "Pro-movement" (Altay region) - January 25, 2017 Kaliningrad regional civic organization "Society for German culture and Russian Germans Eintracht - Soglasie" (Kaliningrad) - January 31, 2017

And the four NGOs which registered voluntarily:

Non-commercial Partnership "Supporting Competition in the CIS Countries"  June 27, 2013 "The Union of Young Political Scientists", KarachayCherkess Republican Youth Social Organization  December 15, 2014 Regional Social Movement "Novgorod Women's Parliament" (Veliky Novgorod)  March 6, 2015 Center of Independent Researchers of the Altai Republic  June 10, 2015

Leader of at least 1 NGO faces criminal charges personally:

Women of Don (Rostov region) - criminal proceeding is in process. Chair Valentina Cherevatenko faces up to two years in prison for "malicious evasion of the duty to file the documents required for inclusion in the register of nonprofit organizations performing the functions of a foreign agent."

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
Civilians in Syria's 'Four Towns' need support as humanitarian catastrophe looms  UN relief official

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 13 February 2017 Cite as UN News Service, Civilians in Syria's 'Four Towns' need support as humanitarian catastrophe looms  UN relief official, 13 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58a3151c40e.html [accessed 6 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.

13 February 2017 - A senior United Nations relief official has today called on all parties to come to an agreement and allow immediate and unfettered humanitarian access to more than 60,000 civilians trapped in four Syrian towns of Al-Zabadani, Al-Fu'ah, Kafraya and Madaya.

These four locations were referred to specifically in the so-called 'Four Towns' Agreement to facilitate humanitarian access to the people in need. However, these places have remained inaccessible for humanitarian workers since November last year.

"The unfair and totally unjustified besiegement is compounded by the tit-for-tat arrangement between the Four Towns, which makes humanitarian access prone to painstaking negotiations that are not based on humanitarian principles," Ali Al-Za'tari, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, said in a news release.

Mr. Al-Za'tari stressed that the situation is a looming humanitarian catastrophe and called on all those directly involved forces and all parties which have influence on them to convince them to allow urgent humanitarian assistance, including medical evacuations, to take place without delay.

"This has prevented medical cases from receiving proper treatment and evacuation. People are in need, and they cannot wait any longer. We need to act now," he underlined.

Recalling that the principle of free access to people in need must be implemented the news release noted that civilians trapped in the four towns continue to suffer a cycle of daily violence and deprivation, where malnutrition and lack of proper medical care prevail.

The moral and ethical accountability befalls all those who hinder this access, the release read, adding that the UN and humanitarian partners stand ready to provide humanitarian assistance to the Four Towns as soon as negotiations with the parties to the conflict come to conclusion.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco is pleased to announce the appointment of Iosefa Alofaituli to its Affordable Housing Advisory Council (AHAC) and the reappointment of three current AHAC members. The 15-member AHAC provides the Bank with expert guidance on affordable housing and economic development issues and helps shape its community grant and credit programs.



A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/baff1827-e06b-4ef3-929f-d87945ac165d

Iosefa Alofaituli is the Regional Director of Opportunity Fund in Los Angeles, helping to lead the organizations development, branding, and expansion efforts in Southern California. Opportunity Fund is the leading nonprofit microfinance lender in the state, connecting underserved entrepreneurs to working capital. Prior to working at Opportunity Fund, Mr. Alofaituli launched and led an innovative place-based nonprofit organization, Oak View Renewal Partnership, focused on a specific low-income Latino community in Huntington Beach, California.

Reappointed AHAC members are:

Current AHAC Vice Chair Laura Archuleta is President of Jamboree Housing Corporation. Under her leadership over the past 17 years, Jamboree Housing Corporation has grown from a small, Irvine-based local housing developer with 750 units to the fifth largest nonprofit developer in California, with 8,300 homes in more than 88 communities. Since joining Jamboree, she and her management team have grown the companys asset portfolio to a market value of nearly $1.1 billion, directly benefiting more than 18,500 Californians.

Dora Leong Gallo is Chief Executive Officer of A Community of Friends (ACOF) in Los Angeles, a position she has held since joining ACOF in 2003. The mission of ACOF, a nonprofit affordable housing developer, is to end homelessness through the provision of quality permanent supportive housing for people with mental illness. Established in 1988, ACOF has completed over 1,800 units in 45 apartment buildings throughout Los Angeles and Orange County, with four projects currently under construction. As CEO, she is responsible for conceptualizing and implementing the organizations strategic priorities. Ms. Gallo is actively engaged in public policy and advocacy work, and currently serves on the boards of three nonprofit organizations, including the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

Carol Ornelas is Chief Executive Officer of Visionary Home Builders of California (VHB) in Stockton, California. Under her direction, VHB has built and rehabilitated more than 1,200 units of rental housing and more than 700 homes for first-time homebuyers in the Central Valley. VHB is responsible for bringing $700 million in grants and private funding to develop affordable housing in the San Joaquin Valley. The first female developer in the Central Valley, Ms. Ornelas has been recognized as a national leader in the nonprofit housing development community, with a focus on building and creating partnerships within the communities she serves and collaborating with city, state, and national officials to provide quality affordable housing.

Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco

The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco delivers low-cost funding and other services that help member financial institutions make home mortgages to people of all income levels and provide credit that supports neighborhoods and communities. The Bank also funds community programs that help members create affordable housing and promote community economic development. The Banks members are headquartered in Arizona, California, and Nevada and include commercial banks, credit unions, industrial loan companies, savings institutions, insurance companies, and community development financial institutions.
Turkey: PEN International, ARTICLE 19 and RSF join forces to monitor landmark hearings this week

Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 14 February 2017 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, Turkey: PEN International, ARTICLE 19 and RSF join forces to monitor landmark hearings this week, 14 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58a315af4.html [accessed 6 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.

Ahead of a number of landmark verdicts and hearings in criminal cases against journalists in Turkey this week, international free expression organisations PEN International, ARTICLE 19 and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) are urging the Turkish judiciary to uphold international fair trial and freedom of expression standards. The judicial proceedings come at a time of profound repression of freedom of the media with 150 journalists in prison and deep concerns about the quality of justice journalists can expect to face.

"We are deeply concerned by the lack of due process in many cases against writers in Turkey under the State of Emergency where many defendants are currently being held in prolonged pre-charge detention, have yet to see the evidence against them, have extremely curtailed access to their lawyers," said Sarah Clarke of PEN International. "We urge the Turkish judiciary to uphold the fair trial standards guaranteed by Turkey's Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights to which Turkey is a party", she added.

The three international free expression organisations will jointly monitor three hearings over two days this week.

Ozgur Gundem Solidarity Case

On Tuesday 14 February the verdicts in the cases of 22 of the journalists who had been participating in a solidarity action with the daily newspaper Ozgur Gundem are likely to be announced including Inan Kzlkaya, Hasan Cemal, Kumru Baser, Nadire Mater, Can Dundar and Necmiye Alpay.

Oda TV Case

On Wednesday 15 February hearings in the cases of Oda TV trial, dating as far back as 2011 including prominent journalists, Ahmet Sk, Nedim Sener, Soner Yalcn, Bars Pehlivan and Bars Terkoglu will take place.

Taraf Case

Also on 15 February, the third hearing in the trial of journalists and editors affiliated with the Taraf newspaper will take place, including Ahmet Altan, Mehmet Baransu, Yasemin Congar, Yldray Ogur and Tuncay Opcin.

"These three cases represent a wide spectrum of different viewpoints in Turkey; but what unites them is the violation of their right to freedom of expression," said Katie Morris, Head of Europe and Central Asia Programme at ARTICLE 19. "The Turkish authorities are pursuing politically-motivated charges to prevent the media holding them to account and it is crucial that we stand together in opposing this attack on human rights," she added.

"These three cases exemplify the systematic abuse of terrorism and anti-State charges against critical journalists, said Erol Onderoglu, RSF Turkey representative. Although this practice has been widespread for decades in Turkey, never has it been so oppressive as today, under the state of emergency. We urge once again the authorities to put Turkish legislation in line with its obligations under the European Covenant on Human Rights and the International Pact on Civil and Political Rights."
Afghanistan: Conservative Traditions Limiting Progress

Publisher Institute for War and Peace Reporting Author Mosa Khan Zabuli Publication Date 6 February 2017 Citation / Document Symbol ARR 566 Cite as Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Afghanistan: Conservative Traditions Limiting Progress, 6 February 2017, ARR 566, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58a3163a4.html [accessed 6 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.

Conservative traditions are holding back progress in Afghanistan's southeastern province of Zabul, according to speakers at an IWPR-organised debate.

The event, held in the provincial capital of Qalat city on January 23, 2017, heard that human rights and gender equality were particularly affected by such practices.

Tribal leader Abdul Wali Wali said, "Many time-worn cultural traditions are common in Zabul province; for example, the payment of high dowries, child marriages, not taking women in labour to hospital to give birth and other similar problems."

"Due to the old, unpleasant traditions, people in Zabul face poverty and other difficulties," he continued. "Adhering to these customs mean that people don't obey and respect the laws of the country, and instead do whatever they want."

Mohammad Hakim, head of legal affairs at Zabul police headquarters, said a lack of education was mostly to blame.

"Due to the high rate of illiteracy, old and detested traditions still dominate and serve to distract government attention. The state is busy solving these individual issues rather than working on the wider problems people face."

The effect on gender rights was particularly grievous, he added.

"Many women are deprived of education in Zabul province, so they fall victim to these abhorrent customs," Hakim continued.

Local activist Zarmina Pathan agreed, adding, "The main reason behind the illiteracy and poverty of Zabul people are these long-standing, horrible traditions."

Social development was nearly impossible under these conditions, she continued.

"Due to a lack of education and public awareness, these traditions still dictate life in Zabul province. That means women are stuck at home and have to remain there."

She added, "It doesn't mean that a woman is immoral if she leaves her house. It means that she is lifting herself out of poverty by finding work and earning money to support her children."

As for child marriage, domestic abuse and other rights violations, Pathan continued, "Violence against women is unacceptable. Islam and our rich culture do not permit us to use violent against others, especially against women."

Mohammad Naeem Storai, broadcasting manager of Zabul Melli Radio TV, said that local people needed to take responsibility for driving change themselves.

"When we complain about the activities of our government, we should also look at our own actions; to what extent are we obeying and respecting the law of the land, and what are we doing to benefit our country? We are living in a land where no one respects regulations and our people think they are above the law, and this causes more and more problems."

Storai added, "If Afghans start respecting each other's rights, then it will be easy to eradicate old traditions and it will prepare the ground for starting afresh."

This report was produced under IWPR's Promoting Human Rights and Good Governance in Afghanistan initiative, funded by the European Union Delegation to Afghanistan.

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Afghan Midwives Make Their Mark

Publisher Institute for War and Peace Reporting Author Arezo Mohammadi Publication Date 9 February 2017 Citation / Document Symbol ARR 566 Cite as Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Afghan Midwives Make Their Mark, 9 February 2017, ARR 566, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58a316764.html [accessed 6 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.

Fatemeh, a 34 year-old mother-of-three, has bitter memories of her first two deliveries. Both were home births with no formal medical assistance.

"I suffered so much during these two deliveries and I nearly died," the Baghlan resident told IWPR.

The birth of her son a year ago was very different. Taken to the local hospital, she was under the care of trained midwives and delivered her baby safely.

"The midwives at the clinic are competent and hard-working, and they serve the residents of the whole district," Fatemeh said, noting that maternal mortality in her area had fallen since the service was introduced.

"Before these young midwives, large number of mothers died each year in childbirth whereas now, most mothers can hope to survive."

Women in the northern province of Baghlan say that successful training schemes and the efforts of international NGOs have boosted the numbers of female doctors and midwives in their local area.

The situation has improved significantly from that in the immediate aftermath of the Taleban era, when a nationwide survey found that 1,600 per 100,000 women died each year due to pregnancy or childbirth-related issues. According to the UN, this has now fallen to 400 per 100,000 women. Afghanistan's health ministry has put the figure slightly lower, at 327 deaths per 100,000 births.

This is still one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with major factors a lack of access to primary health care and conservative traditions that lead to phenomena such as child marriage and make it hard for women to see a male doctor.

Most rural areas have few trained midwives and women have to rely on traditional birth attendants with little medical knowledge.

However, healthcare professionals in Baghlan say that locally, progress is encouraging.

"Large changes may now be seen in the medical arena in Baghlan province, comparing to 15 years ago," said Baghlan hospital administrator Abdul Halim Ghafari. "After the fall of the Taleban, there were only two or three midwives whereas now, fortunately, there are more than 100 midwives, nurses, and doctors, with the result that maternal mortality has decreased by half."

He said that the province currently had three public hospitals and 52 clinics where women and girls could access obstetric and gynecological services. There were also more than ten private healthcare facilities in Baghlan.

Experts say that a long-term strategy of training midwives and establishing provincial midwifery schools is paying off.

In 2002, there were fewer than 500 midwives across Afghanistan. Ten years later, the number had risen to nearly 5,000.

This emphasis on training female practitioners is particularly important in a traditional society like Afghanistan where there is a taboo on women seeing male doctors.

Sharifeh Behzad is the owner and director of the private Maryam hospital in Baghlan's Pul-e-Khumri city.

"In the past, most women arrived here in a really bad condition," said the 41-year-old, a midwife for more than 20 years. "When the husbands were asked why they had not come earlier, their excuse was the absence of female doctors in the region and [the fear] of being criticised and mocked for taking their wives to male doctors. We were really shocked.

"However, fortunately, governmental and foreign institutes recently set up some clinics in most of the cities and districts with female staff, which has alleviated women's suffering," she said, adding that the state should continue its efforts in this field.

Access to training resources has also improved. The Hakim Sanaei private university, established six years ago in Baghlan province, provides medical courses for both male and female students.

Its head, Khairuddin Fayez, said that trainees were guaranteed hands-on experience at a local public hospital.

"The study of medicine is pointless without practical experience, so we supply these opportunities for our students," he said, noting that hundreds of their graduates were working in the sector across Baghlan province.

Halim Ghafari, a hospital supervisor in Baghlan Province, agreed that student midwives were benefiting from the opportunity to gain practical experience working side by side with fully-trained practitioners in hospitals.

"Today, over 100 female doctors, nurses, and midwives are working across the 14 districts of Baghlan province and people are very happy," he continued.

Another organisation, the Baghlan Health Community Institute, is affiliated to the Agha Khan Foundation and has provided free medical training in Baghlan since 2003.

A large number of women study midwifery and nursing there, including many from more outlying districts who return to work in their local area after graduation.

Shah Baig Talebi, director of human resources at the Agha Khan Foundation in Baghlan, said that free clinics had already been built in the Dandaghori Andarab and Doshi districts.

"Tens of midwives, mainly from the districts of Baghlan province, graduate each year from this institution and return to their native districts after graduation to deliver services," he said, adding that others went on to further study at university.

"All education fees are paid by the Agha Khan Foundation and practical courses are available at both private and public hospitals in Baghlan province," Talebi said.

Nasrin Ghafari, a 20 year-old resident of Andarab district, is a recent graduate of the institute.

"They provide all educational facilities here," she said. "I would have never ever dreamed of fulfilling my wishes; I really appreciate the institute's authorities helping me realise my dreams."

Her fellow graduate, Naeimeh Nazari, a 26 year-old midwife from Baghlan's Doshi district, qualified three years ago.

"I am really honoured to be able to serve and help the public," she said, adding, "People are satisfied; the clinics are equipped with all facilities, even for difficult operations. Previously, it was foreign doctors who were working here, but now all our doctors are Afghans."

Although there is still a long way to go to provide mothers-to-be with adequate healthcare, the improvements made so far have made a real difference to local people's lives.

Davoud Khan is a 40 year-old resident of the village of Chaghmaq Sheikh in Doshi district.

He wept as he recalled how his first wife and their newborn son had died due to the lack of any local medical facilities.

"Eight years ago I lost my wife and baby boy in childbirth as there was no clinic nearby and no passable route to take my wife to Pul-e-Khumri," he said, adding, "Now, thank God for the clinic in Doshi where, last year, my new wife gave birth to a girl.

"Kind young women work there," Khan continued. "We are so grateful and thank these life-saving angels on behalf of our wives."

This report was produced under IWPR's Promoting Human Rights and Good Governance in Afghanistan initiative, funded by the European Union Delegation to Afghanistan.

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Finding Schools for Afghan Returnees

Publisher Institute for War and Peace Reporting Author Fahimullah Publication Date 10 February 2017 Citation / Document Symbol ARR 566 Cite as Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Finding Schools for Afghan Returnees, 10 February 2017, ARR 566, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58a316df4.html [accessed 6 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.

When Qareeb-ul-Rahman returned to Afghanistan after years living in the Akora Khatak area of Pakistan, his primary concern was how his six children would be able to continue their education.

Like many other recent returnees from Pakistan, he settled in Jalalabad, the provincial capital of the neighbouring province of Nangarhar.

"When I returned, I faced many problems and thought life would be difficult and my children would be deprived of education," he told IWPR.

But to ul-Rahman's surprise, he soon found school places for his children.

"Now life is good," he continued, "After returning to Afghanistan my four daughters and two sons started going to school and now they are studying happily."

Pakistan hosts some three million Afghan refugees, of whom nearly half are undocumented. Some have been living there for decades.

Last year, Islamabad announced that that all registered Afghan refugees would have to leave, despite UN warnings that this policy might have severe consequences.

According to the UNHCR and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) more than 600,000 Afghan refugees left Pakistan last year. The initial deadline of March 15, 2017, has been extended to the end of the year, but hundreds of people are still passing through the Torkham border crossing every day on their way back to eastern Afghanistan.

The influx of refugees returning from Pakistan has put intense pressure on services in Nangarhar, already subject to ongoing insurgent attacks, with Islamic State-affiliated groups believed to be operating in the province.

Ghulam Haidar Faqirzai, director of the repatriation and refugees department in Nangarhar, estimated that a good three-quarters of all the returnees had settled there and acknowledged that this presented a serious challenge.

Faqirzai said that their aim was to begin delivering aid as soon as the returnees crossed the border.

"The refugee families are helped by being given foodstuffs [and other basic goods] at the Torkham crossing and each family member is allocated 300-450 dollars in cash," he said, adding, "We have started building a town in Nangarhar for those families who have returned from Pakistan and when it's complete about 30,000 families will settle there."

Mohammad Asif Shenwari, the spokesman of Nangarhar's education department, said that they were also trying to ensure that returning families knew what services were available.

"Nangarhar's department of education is distributing information brochures to the refugee families travelling on the Torkham highway [the route from Pakistan] and other main arteries so that the families are properly informed and encouraged to send their children to schools."

He added, "We also included the contact numbers of education department officials so that the refugee families who have returned to Afghanistan can directly contact them if they encounter any problems."

With around 900 schools across the province, he said they had prepared capacity to absorb 32,000 children returning from Pakistan. New facilities were being set up wherever necessary.

"You can't find any child who has been deprived of education," he said, adding, "We have even built a school in an area where only ten refugee families have settled."

Nangarhar social activist Sharifullah Hayat told IWPR that he was pleased with the progress so far to address numerous concerns about the logistics of absorbing so many returnees, particularly when it came to child welfare.

"The return of so many Afghan refugees at once raises worries about the condition of their children," he said, adding, "We have had many meeting with Nangarhar's department of education to prepare the ground for refugees' children to study. That's why thousands of these children have began able to start going to school."

More needed to be done, he continued.

"There are some problems in the more remote areas and districts," Hayat said. "For example, schools are very far away from where people live, but education department officials have promised me that they will solve this problem."

Educationalists also noted that it was crucial for the children are treated with sensitivity so as to help ease the transition to living and studying in Afghanistan.

"I am happy that I am teaching kids who have returned from other countries to Afghanistan," said Amanullah, a teacher at the Tajrabawi high school in Jalalabad city. "I try to encourage students who have returned from Pakistan. I'm very pleased with these children, especially about the fact that they are now studying in their own country."

Children also say that they feel a new sense of belonging since their return, even though many have spent their whole lives in Pakistan.

"I am very happy that I can study in my native language Pashto," said Lutfullah, a pupil at the Mohmmadi Sahibaza high school in Nangarhar's Behsud district. "We studied in Urdu at school in Pakistan, but here our lessons are in our own language which we understand much better."

Sahil, 13, is in 5th grade at Lalma high school in Chaparhar district and says that his own transition has been smooth.

"When we came back to Afghanistan, my father got me admitted to school just 20 days after our return," he said. "I am so happy about going to school every day in my own country."

This report was produced under IWPR's Promoting Human Rights and Good Governance in Afghanistan initiative, funded by the European Union Delegation to Afghanistan.

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Depression Rampant Among Afghan Women

Publisher Institute for War and Peace Reporting Author Sudabah Ehrari Publication Date 12 February 2017 Citation / Document Symbol ARR 567 Cite as Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Depression Rampant Among Afghan Women, 12 February 2017, ARR 567, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58a317714.html [accessed 6 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 razor scars on 18-year-old Leila's hands and neck bear witness to her past attempts at suicide. The Herat teenager told IWPR that she had become deeply depressed after her marriage to a 45-year-old man.

"I married a much older man because of my parents," she said. "Later, I realised that this was not what I wanted. I was controlled and banned from going anywhere, and his interference in every little detail of my life became unbearable. I was so aggravated that I decided to end my life by taking poison, but survived. Later, I tried again to commit suicide with a razor, but again I was rescued."

Leila subsequently sought treatment for her mental health problems.

"Now, I feel better following medication and a long series of consultations," she said.

Mental health issues are rampant across Afghanistan, fed by the legacy of more than three decades of conflict. Psychologists note that women bear the brunt of the problem.

Experts in the northern province of Herat say that rates of depression are rising among women, fuelled by factors including gender violence, poverty and associated social problems.

Local mental health practitioners estimate that they have dealt with 20 per cent more referrals this year than last year.

Abd Al Rahman Hamraz, an official with the Herat department of public health, told IWPR, "Our statistics show that rates of depression have risen, with more referrals to mental health services."

Wahid Nourzad, head of mental health services in Herat Regional Hospital, said that this reflected a growing awareness of the problem among women.

"I estimate that this same high rate of depression was also true in the past, except it wasn't reflect by statistics due to a lack of awareness and fewer mental health clinics."

Herat psychologist Mahdi Hossaini said that the condition could be categorised as minor, mild, and major depression.

He said that symptoms included "aches and pains, feelings of sadness, reduced energy, fatigue, helplessness and crying, guilt, anger, and [social] withdrawal".

Treatment involved a combination of counseling and medication, he added.

Nourzad said that the treatment offered in state-run clinics was tailored to the severity of the individual's symptoms.

"Those presenting with mild depression are treated with four to five consultation,, whereas patients with symptoms of major depression are hospitalised for a six-month period where they receive medication as well as counseling," he said.

Mohammad Asef Kabir, head of Herat's public health department, said that psychotherapy and medication were available at all the province's health centres.

In addition, he continued, "There are ten clinics dedicated to patients suffering minor [mental health issues] and one, located in the Herat Regional Hospital, for severely ill individuals."

Kabir added that these clinics also raised public awareness of mental disorders and how to prevent them.

Zahra, 38, who has a long history of depression, spoke to IWPR while an in-patient at Herat Regional Hospital.

"I've been suffering from this illness for 15 years, trying different medications in several places like Iran and Pakistan; however, all treatment ultimately failed although sometimes I feel better. Recently, losing my sister intensified my depression. I frequently struggle with headaches, I always quarrel about nothing with my family. This is my third day of hospitalisation."

IMPACT OF GENDER VIOLENCE

Public health minister Firoozuddin Firooz announced on World Mental Health Day last year that 72 per cent of Afghan women had experienced depression.

He said that war, poverty and displacement and lack of resources were the main causes of mental health issues in Afghanistan. Psychological services were available at some 1,500 health centres around the country, he continued, with 300 dedicated mental health clinics. The government planned to create another 200 specialist centres, he said.

But others say that the impact of Afghanistan's conservative traditions and associated gender inequality are central to the issue of women's mental health. Little progress was possible with a fundamental change in attitudes.

Fatemah Bagheri, director of women's affairs at the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), said, "Almost all women's rights organisations as well as [the AIHRC] are concerned about the large number of women experiencing mental health problems."

Madinah, who was diagnosed with depression more than a year ago, attributes her illness to the effects of poverty and her father's drug addiction.

"My only wish was to go to school, but I was beaten and deprived of education because of my father's addiction," she said. "I was in a constant state of distress, so I went to a psychologist and was told that I was suffering from depression."

Mahboobeh Jamshidi, head of the department of women's affairs in Herat, noted that the overwhelming majority of women who experienced domestic violence developed mental illness.

She said that her department had recently established a psychological consulting centre for women, but lamented the lack of a wider strategic plan to address mental health issues among women.

"The initial treatment for a depressed woman is counseling, which is inefficient because medication, which is usually tried last, is more effective," she said.

Hossniyah Nikzad, dirrector of the Afghan Women's Network, agreed that discrimination both at home and in the wider society was the major cause of depression among women.

"The state must create a system under the auspices of the department of education, the department of information and culture and the department of haj [and religious affairs], to closely cooperate to reduce violence, since women's depression is associated with increased violence," she said. "If people are more are aware of the rules and regulations [governing gender discrimination], then violence and depression will be reduced."

But with the proper treatment, some women say that they have been given new hope for the future. Leila, the 18 year-old with a history of suicide attempts, now works at a mental health centre which she said has helped her address her own trauma.

"I asked to work here since I understand what happened to these women and the pain that they went through," she said. "I intend to help these women recover."

This report was produced under IWPR's Promoting Human Rights and Good Governance in Afghanistan initiative, funded by the European Union Delegation to Afghanistan.

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Afghanistan: Nangarhar's Sole Female Lawyer

Publisher Institute for War and Peace Reporting Author Zahir Tarakai Publication Date 14 February 2017 Citation / Document Symbol ARR 567 Cite as Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Afghanistan: Nangarhar's Sole Female Lawyer, 14 February 2017, ARR 567, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58a317c54.html [accessed 6 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.

Out of hundreds of female law graduates in Nangarhar province only one has been able to find a job as a state lawyer, IWPR has found.

Shekeba Danish is the only female lawyer employed by the Nangarhar attorney's office, although bureaucratic problems meant that she has actually been registered as a government employee in Paktia.

"The posts which were supposed to be filled by women are held by men and there are no more jobs available for women," she told IWPR. "Female lawyers need to be appointed to the attorney's office."

Other female graduates complain that despite completing the four years of a law degree they have been forced to remain at home, find jobs as teachers or undertake menial work.

"It is impossible for us to find jobs in our own field in the legal department in Nangarhar province," said Wahidae, a Nangarhar university graduate. "I tried very hard, but I couldn't find a job. I am so disappointed."

She continued, "Women are not treated fairly in Nangarhar province. There is discrimination against us. There should be jobs set aside for women, or they should recruited according to their talent and competency."

Law graduate Nasrin now teaches at a school.

"Eight of us girls graduated together from university, but none of us were able find a job in the attorney's office," she said.

"We didn't study for four years to become schoolteachers. We want to work in our own specialised field," Nasrin continued, adding that female lawyers were essential for women were to be able to access justice.

Conservative Afghan traditions mean that it is often hard for women to communicate with male legal representatives, especially when it came to sensitive issues such as gender violence.

"We want to defend the rights of female criminal suspects because these women can't explain their problems to male attorneys and prosecutors," she continued. "In fact, these women are [often] innocent, but they are jailed and handed heavy prison sentences."

Danish also raised this issue, arguing that employees of offices dealing with issues such as domestic violence should be female. Currently, all those dealing with these issues in the provincial prosecutor's office were men.

Wahidullah Wahid, the head of the department dealing with gender violence at Nangarhar's appellate prosecution office, agreed.

"The presence of female attorneys will help our work and make it more transparent," he told IWPR.

"Female defendants and convicted criminals can explain themselves better and feel more comfortable giving information to female lawyers, but it's difficult for them to communicate in the same way with male attorneys."

Legal expert Safiullah Tarakai also emphasised the importance of employing female lawyers.

"The role of female attorneys is vital," Tarakai continued. "Male lawyers find it hard to investigate cases related to women. In addition, due to cultural restrictions, male attorneys can't always collect that much information when investigating cases involving women, so they have to make decisions on the basis of very little data. This problem would be solved if we had female lawyers."

The director of Nangarhar's prosecutor's appeals office, Mohammad Wali Hashimi, acknowledged there was a serious shortfall.

"There are some cases which can only be tackled by female attorneys and the outcome of these cases is more transparent when female attorneys investigate them," he said.

Asked why there was only one female lawyer employed by the state in the province, Hashimi replied, "Hiring people is not in our remit and all staff are appointed by central government."

Jamshed Rasooli, the spokesman of Kabul's Attorney General's Office in Kabul, also accepted there were problems with the recruitment of female lawyers in Nangarhar province.

Rasooli said that another plan was to roll out exams targeted specifically at female law students to recruit them into state positions.

"We don't deny that these problems exist. In the past we had no female lawyers at all," he said, noting that following Danish's appointment, the province did at least now have one female lawyer. "We want to appoint more in the future because we need female lawyers and we accept this is a problem."

Experts say that other issues needed to be addressed to help women access jobs in the state's legal system. There needed to be better facilities for women in government offices, and more support regarding travel, especially when lawyers were sent to the districts to gather information.

Syed Shafiqullah Mushfiq, head of the lawyers' union in Nangarhar province, said that only a quarter of female lawyers were even licensed.

"The others are jobless or work in other fields," he told IWPR, highlighting two main problems.

"The conditions [of employment] are not suitable for women and, on the other hand, the government hasn't focused enough attention on the recruitment process for women."

Anisa Imrani, director of Nangarhar's department of women's affairs, said that another issue was that female lawyers preferred not to work for the low salaries paid in governmental positions.

"If female attorneys come to the department of women's affairs, we will strongly defend their rights and also help them finding jobs," she said, adding that women in this position had yet to approach them.

Observers say they fear that the lack of job opportunities will deter families from supporting female members pursuing professional studies.

Nangarhar resident Karimullah (not his real name) said, "Under very difficult conditions, I facilitated my daughter's education. She graduated from the faculty of law, but is now at home and has to do sewing and knitting."

"My daughter tried very hard to find a job, but she couldn't find a job in her chosen field," he explained. "When she grew tired of searching, she started teaching at a private school and taught for six months. But after that, she stopped working and trying to find a job for herself. It was the most disappointing moment of her life."

He added, "When I see her near a knitting machine, I become sad, but what can we do?"

Karimullah continued, "This problem will have a negative effect on those girls who are busy studying. When even educated women still face an uncertain future, families will never let their daughters study and may marry them off at a young age, which will surely affect their careers."

"If female graduates girls don't get jobs related to their own fields, it will discourage their families and this will negatively affect the educational process and metal stability of these girls," concluded Sheba, a social activist.

She added that the situation in the legal sector reflected a wider bias in state institutions.

"Women are treated unfairly across Nangarhar province. If you look at all the government offices, you will find out that presence of women in these offices is almost zero. We have so many female attorneys, but only one has an official job. How is this fair?"

This report was produced under IWPR's Promoting Human Rights and Good Governance in Afghanistan initiative, funded by the European Union Delegation to Afghanistan.

Copyright notice:  Institute for War & Peace Reporting
Afghanistan: Allegations of Widespread Abuse in Boys' Schools

Publisher Institute for War and Peace Reporting Author Mohammad Asef Ghazniwal Publication Date 12 February 2017 Citation / Document Symbol ARR 567 Cite as Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Afghanistan: Allegations of Widespread Abuse in Boys' Schools, 12 February 2017, ARR 567, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58a318034.html [accessed 6 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.

Hamidullah, now 13, has changed school four times and spent two whole years out of education due to repeated sexual abuse from his teachers.

He had many traumatic memories, he told IWPR, recalling how at one school, his maths teacher would squeeze his cheeks and arms and ask, "Would you do a favour for me if I help you [in class]?"

"I had no idea what he was begging for," Hamidullah said. "My friends told he meant he wanted me to do sexual things. I was so embarrassed and felt under so much pressure that I developed mental problems."

The teacher continued to harass Hamidullah to the extent that eventually he was forced to change school.

The boy said that he now realized his experience was not uncommon, adding, "Students are sexually exploited at schools across Ghazni province, but they are too ashamed to tell anyone."

IWPR has discovered an alarming rate of alleged abuse by teachers in conversations with more than 50 students across the southeastern province.

Education officials and the police say that they are aware of the problem, but say that legal action cannot be taken unless the families concerned press charges.

As in other societies, sexual abuse of children is a highly sensitive issue in Afghanistan. Most cases are never reported because of concerns about shame and honour, and because people have little faith in the judicial services. Since the justice system is not set up to cope, adult assailants often go unpunished.

Aslami, the head of the Sayed Ahmad Makei high school, said that he had repeatedly encountered the phenomenon over years of teaching in different schools across Ghazni.

"I know of several teachers who made unethical requests of their students," he continued, adding that the issue was a problem throughout the school system and even at university.

Students risked failing their classes if they refused their teacher's demands, Aslami said.

"So far, there have been no such complaints at the school that I'm in charge of, but this may be down to the fact that people are too ashamed to come forward," he concluded.

That was the experience of Mohammad, another Ghazni student, who said he had faced such frequent sexual harassment from his teachers that he had been forced to change schools.

He recalled one incident in the eighth grade where a teacher had asked him for sex. In shock, Mohammad Jawid said that he had left the school in tears.

"I hadn't imagine that an educator who I saw as a spiritual father figure would have made such demands," he said, adding that he had many peers who had simply left school altogether to avoid such abuse.

The prospect of telling the head teacher was too shameful, he continued, meaning that most pupils in this situation preferred to stay quiet. This in turn meant that the abusers felt encouraged to make whatever demands they wanted of their charges.

Mohammadullah Sarir, an activist and a member of the Paiywand Social Institute, said that the problem was widespread in Ghazni.

"I am aware of such incidents," he said, adding that he had heard reports of adolescent boys being abused and raped by their own teachers. "Many families have been forced to change their children's schools or even taken them out of education entirely."

Hassan Reza Yousefi, the secretary of the provincial council who also heads the education committee, agreed that the issue was very difficult to address without legal action.

Yousefi said that "sexual harassment, in addition to security threats and economic difficulties" had significantly reduced the number of children accessing education in both the capital and the districts.

In one instance, he continued, "I recall a young man claiming that he failed his exams because he had refused his teacher's [sexual] demands."

Zubair, a 16 year-old schoolboy, said that this was a tactic abusers frequently employed.

"There was one teacher who put pressure on the prettier boys at exam time, and would pass these students provided that they submitted to certain acts," he said.

Another student, Qurban, recalled the fate that befell a classmate of his.

"One school teacher made sexual demands of him in return for awarding him good marks. He was then called to the teacher's private office and raped."

LACK OF LEGAL ACTION

Although officials acknowledge the problem, little action has been taken.

Mohammad Abed Abed, the director of Ghazni's education department, agreed that sexual harassment and abuse was a problem at schools in the region, fuelled by Afghanistan's history of war, poverty, and widespread illiteracy.

Abed said that his department was committed to addressing allegations of abuse and said that they had investigated one case of sexual harassment at a school in the province in 2015. But rather than legal action, there was an agreement for the teacher concerned to be exiled to a remote part of the province.

Mohammad Aziz Azimi, the spokesman of the Ghazni governor, also said that the problem needed to be tackled, but added that the only recent incident he was aware of had been that of a mullah teaching boys at a mosque.

The case was referred to the attorney general's office but the student had in the end refused to give evidence and asked for the case to be closed, Abed noted.

Niyaz Mohamamd Nikyad, Ghazni's chief prosecutor, said that this sequence of events was typical.

"Unfortunately, children are victimised through such abuse but legal action is rarely taken against those responsible as people are reluctant to go public," he concluded.

Ghazni police chief Aminullah Amirkhail confirmed that there had been instances of sexual abuse reported at boys' schools in the province. The police were prepared to make arrests if the families or students decided to press charges, he said.

Provincial council director Khaleghdad Akbari said that the media needed to help raise awareness of the problem. In addition, resources were also spread too thin.

"On one hand, the lack of security [in Ghazni] as well as all the criminal cases have kept police busy with other issues, and on the other, a lack of action from the judiciary has made people distrust the system."

Azimi said that a cross-institutional approach needed to be adopted.

"It is necessary to discuss this issue with the education authorities," he said. "The residents of Ghazni shouldn't have to suffer such problems."

This report was produced under IWPR's Promoting Human Rights and Good Governance in Afghanistan initiative, funded by the European Union Delegation to Afghanistan.

Copyright notice:  Institute for War & Peace Reporting
Bringing Water Back to Kafr Nabl

Publisher Institute for War and Peace Reporting Publication Date 6 February 2017 Cite as Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Bringing Water Back to Kafr Nabl, 6 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58a3189d4.html [accessed 6 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.

Locals in Kafr Nabel have high hopes of a revived water pumping scheme which aims to solve ongoing shortages in many liberated areas.

A project to solve this crisis was first launched in June 2014 by the Union of Revolutionary Bureaus in the western countryside of Maarrat al-Nu'man.

It drilled five wells, equipped two of them with machinery and linked them to the main network providing water to Kafr Nabl and its surroundings.

After completing the project in 2015, the Union of Revolutionary Bureaus handed it over to the local council in Kafranbel.

But the water only flowed for a short time before funding ran out.

Osama al-Ahmad, a member of the board of directors of the Union of Revolutionary Bureaus, said, "We prepared infrastructure for a pumping station, consisting of two equipped wells out of five wells we had drilled, in addition to two submersibles, two pumps and a large water tank with a capacity of 300 cubic metres. We linked these to the main water network of Kafr Nabl in 2015 and we pumped water for two months. But after delivering the project to the local council, the latter wasn't able to run the project for more than 10 days because of a lack of capacity."

Kafr Nabl resident Hussain, 33, said, "Water costs became a burden, especially now that the owners of private wells are selling water at high prices, with the cost of a single tank 1,800 Syrian pounds, and each family needs nearly eight tanks per month, which costs approximately 15,000 Syrian pounds and this sum is too large amidst our squeezed living conditions."

But last August, the Humanitarian Relief Organization took over the scheme in coordination with the local council and work resumed. The plan is for water to be pumped to all parts of the city and neighbouring areas.

Hussain said that he was already feeling the benefits, adding, "The water project is important and fulfills an essential need. Now, I can get close to one tank each week, which is the equivalent of half of my monthly water needs."

Ibrahim Shannan, 35, is the manager of water projects at the Humanitarian Relief Organisation.

"The Kafr Nabl water station provides water to Kafr Nabl and the villages of Bureij, Jidar, Maarrat Mukhis and Basqala. The local council approached us to be the entity authorised to re-pump water and to complete the processing of the remaining wells."

He continued, "We had a contract with the local council for the entire year, so there will be two months of processing, five months of operational value and five months of monitoring and evaluation. Then, the project will be delivered to the local council to follow up and ensure the continuity of service."

Shannan explained that they had assessed the water share of each household to be 33 litres per day.

"We provided all the necessary chlorine, diesel and filters for the continuation of the project in the following months. Following that, a private collection system will be adopted after agreeing upon it with the local council and training the staff."

Mustafa Sheikh, 46, head of Kafr Nabl's local council, said, "The water project was first implemented by the Union of Revolutionary Bureaus which continued supporting it for two months after its completion. The organisation provided us with diesel during this period. But after the contract ended and the project was delivered, we couldn't run it for more than ten days, due to lack of funds."

The scheme was only able to continue thanks to the Humanitarian Relief Organisation, he explained.

"It processed the remaining wells and provided two giant generators and operational support for five months, for eight hours a day with a possibility of increasing the number of pumping hours to 12 hours," Sheikh continued, but noted that the long-term future of the project was still not secure.

Nisreen al-Ahmad, 33, is from Kafr Nabl in the Idlib countryside. The mother-of-two had to give up studying Arabic literature during her third year of college due to security conditions.

Copyright notice:  Institute for War & Peace Reporting
Afghanistan: Taliban Divisions a Boon for Islamic State

Publisher Institute for War and Peace Reporting Publication Date 13 February 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 3 Cite as Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Afghanistan: Taliban Divisions a Boon for Islamic State, 13 February 2017, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 3, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58a31acc4.html [accessed 6 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

Gunmen in Afghanistan's Jowzjan Province killed six aid workers with the International Committee of the Red Cross on February 8. Two other members of the eight-person team  which consisted of five Red Cross staff and three drivers  were reported missing following the attack (1TV, February 8). The Taliban denied any responsibility for the incident, and local officials have attributed it instead to fighters with Islamic State (IS) (Channel NewsAsia, February 8).

The IS presence in Afghanistan has been concentrated in Nangarhar Province, but several IS factions are thought to be active in Jowzjan, in northern Afghanistan. They emerged early last year, and their activities have since steadily increased, with Afghan authorities arresting Mullah Baz Mohammad, described as IS' "shadow governor" of Jowzjan, who had apparently travelled to the province from Nangarhar in order to bolster recruitment (Tolo, August 17, 2016; 1TV, August 17, 2016).

In December, Afghan security forces killed a senior IS commander in Jowzjan following an attack on a checkpoint (Afghanistan Times, December 4, 2016). Later that month, following a clash with police, IS fighters raided a village in Darzab district, killing three people and taking two children captive (Pajhwok, December 27, 2016).

While IS in Afghanistan remains less of a threat than the Taliban, the group has been able to take advantage of a growing disarray among the Taliban leadership to extend its operations.

Following the death of the divisive Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour in a drone strike in Pakistan in May, the Taliban appointed Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada as its new leader (see Militant Leadership Monitor, November 1, 2016, Gandhara, May 25, 2016). Haibatullah, a conservative cleric rather than a political actor, was intended to appeal to competing factions within the Taliban and dispel the suspicion among many of the rank and file that the insurgency had become corrupt and lost its way. He has so far struggled to do this.

Instead, he has fallen increasingly under the influence of Sirajuddin Haqqani and the Haqqani network (see Terrorism Monitor, September 30, 2016). Meanwhile, the faction belonging to former-leader Mansour  now led by the Taliban governor of Helmand, Mullah Mohammed Rahim  has grown to become the most powerful within the group, in large part as a result of its access to the lucrative opium trade.

These divisions could be exploited by international actors as an opportunity to re-start peace talks with the group, which fell apart in 2015. Pakistan, eager to maintain its influence on the process, has in recent months put pressure on the Taliban to do just that (Pajhwok, November 2, 2016).

Diplomats and politicians, however, will need to move quickly. The Taliban's divisions are also an opportunity for IS, which recruits from a growing pool of disaffected Taliban members, to make gains.

Copyright notice:  Institute for War & Peace Reporting
Philippines: Communist Rebels Step Up Attacks as Ceasefire Ends

Publisher Institute for War and Peace Reporting Publication Date 13 February 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 3 Cite as Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Philippines: Communist Rebels Step Up Attacks as Ceasefire Ends, 13 February 2017, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 3, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58a31b2d4.html [accessed 6 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

A six-month ceasefire in the Philippines between the government and communist rebels recently broke down, putting in jeopardy talks aimed at bringing an end to the long-running insurgency and raising fears of increased guerrilla attacks in the Philippines countryside.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) announced an end to its unilateral ceasefire with the government on February 1, claiming the government had used the deal to encroach on its territory and had failed to make good on promises to release jailed rebels (Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 2). Two days later, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared an end to the government's own ceasefire (Manila Times, February 3). Clashes between the military and the CPP's armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA), ensued (Philippines Daily Inquirer, February 6).

The government has since amped up the rhetoric, with Duterte branding the NPA "terrorists" (Manila Times, February 7). Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana compared the NPA to Abu Sayyaf and warned of "all-out war" (Manila Times, February 8).

The conflict between the government and the communists has dragged on for decades. The NPA, established in March 1969, was initially formed by a band of poorly armed former rebels in villages in central Luzon. The area's struggling peasant farmers were receptive to the communists' message, and the movement expanded rapidly to set up numerous local cadres throughout the island. From there, it spread to the provinces.

The NPA's political philosophy has developed little in the subsequent decades, and its numbers have long since declined. Defense Secretary Lorenzana put NPA membership at about 5,000 in a recent media briefing  more than the army's official estimate of 3,700 members, but far from its Cold War peak of nearly 25,000 (Philippine Star, February 7).

While the NPA may offer little politically these days, it can still cause mayhem in the rural areas in which it operates  largely Luzon in the north and Mindanao in the south. Guerrillas abducted four people in Maco in Compostela Valley province on February 5, according to the military (Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 10). Fighters also abducted three people, one of them a police officer, and set fire to construction vehicles in Bukidnon province on February 9 (Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 10). A day earlier, fighters killed a soldier in Cagayan province.

Ceasefires between the NPA and the government have been made and broken since the 1980s and there are still prospects for talks. Before the ceasefire broke down, negotiations between the two sides, which may still go ahead, were due to take place in Norway in April. In the meantime, however, the Philippines is likely to see a stepped-up hit-and-run campaign carried out by the NPA.

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Tampa, FL, Feb. 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- assessURhealth brings its mental and behavioral health screening tool to the exhibit floor for the 2017 HIMSS Conference & Exhibition at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. from Feb. 1923, 2017. Featured will be coffee & cocktail talks with the 18th US Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Benjamin, and interactive product demonstrations.

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40,000 healthcare industry professionals are expected at the conference, working to improve health through technology such as assessURhealth. We know the HIMSS Annual Conference is where the brightest minds in health and IT meet, and our exhibit floor offers the latest technologies and education sessions to help generate new ideas during the conference, said Karen Malone, vice president, meeting services, HIMSS North America. The exhibit floor is open February 20-22, 2017.

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Senegal Boosts Security Measures to Combat AQIM Threat

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 13 February 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 3 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Senegal Boosts Security Measures to Combat AQIM Threat, 13 February 2017, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 3, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58a31c444.html [accessed 6 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

A series of large-scale attacks by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) over the last few years, targeting mainly tourists in West African countries with a French or international presence, has raised the question of when and where the next AQIM attack will take place.

In March 2016, the group launched a spectacular assault in Cote d'Ivoire's beach-resort town of Grand Bassam, just outside the economic capital, Abidjan (Koaci, March 14, 2016). Four months earlier, in November 2015, a siege attack on a hotel in Bamako, Mali left more than 20 people dead (Jeune Afrique, November 20, 2015). Soon after, another attack on a hotel and cafe in neighboring Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, claimed a further 20 lives (Le Faso, January 16, 2016).

Many analysts thought Senegal the likely next target. Dakar, the capital, with its sizeable expatriate population and array of French business interests, was considered to be particularly high on AQIM's target-list. Saly, the Senegalese beach resort, and Saint-Louis, a world-heritage site in the country's north, were also among potential targets.

So far, however, Senegal has managed to evade an AQIM attack, but there remain serious vulnerabilities that the militants could still exploit.

Heightened Security Measures

Since the Burkina Faso attack, Senegal has bolstered security around major towns and critical infrastructure (RFI, January 25, 2016). The number of security personnel operating in Dakar has increased over the last year, and their presence is more visible. [1] Heightened security is particularly apparent at the hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners, as well as at seaports and airports. The government itself has provided additional armed police for major tourist attractions in Dakar, including Sea Plaza and the Radisson Blu hotel. There has also been an increase in the number of security checks carried out on vehicles, in an effort to prevent would-be-militants travelling into Senegal from neighboring countries carrying weapons in their cars. [2]

Perhaps in a bid to demonstrate the thoroughness of their attempts, security checks in and around Dakar involve drivers and passengers getting out of their vehicle while the police carry out a search. This may be a response to some local media reports about the Grand Bassam attack, which said the gunmen who carried out the attack had remained undetected by border security despite using the same car to travel to Burkina Faso and Mali (20 Minutes, May 27, 2016).

Intelligence cooperation has also been a major feature of the preparation for a potential terrorist attack, with government officials stating they prioritize this over the augmentation of physical defenses.

This is reasonable, given the nature of many of the AQIM attacks so far. Hit-and-run style assaults are difficult to prevent solely with physical security as they require personnel to be located in every possible target location at all times. Advanced intelligence techniques, however, may be able to prevent these assaults before they reach the final implementation stage.

Dakar has an intelligence-sharing agreement with the United States and France, as well as other countries in the region. Senegalese Foreign Minister Mankeur Ndiaye has also signed a defense partnership that would allow the U.S. military to use Senegal as a staging ground in the case of a humanitarian or security problem (dakar.usembassy.gov, May 2, 2016).

Meanwhile, security officials have taken steps to use Senegal's own population more effectively to collect intelligence (Agence de Presse Senegalaise, March 31, 2016). Foreign ministry officials say a substantial effort is under way to increase awareness among the population of the threat posed by AQIM fighters, and to encourage them to report suspicious behavior.

Limited Effect

These moves have, thus far, effectively counteracted the potential for a Grand Bassam, Ouagadougou or Bamako-style attack. Despite the very public security efforts, however, there are some apparent limitations.

Security checks in Dakar and other cities in Senegal, including the popular tourist destination of Saint-Louis, are haphazard. Even taking into consideration the authorities' expressed preference for intelligence over increased "boots on the ground," there are no inspections before entering most restaurants, bars, beaches or hotels, meaning access to these areas continues to be unrestricted for potential AQIM militants.

This is an oversight given the potential for lone-wolf, AQIM-inspired attacks taking place in Senegal. Such an assault would, as is invariably the case, be extremely difficult for intelligence officials to pick up on, and requires strong physical security measures if it is to be prevented. Lone-wolf attacks have become much more common in recent years, with a number of IS-inspired incidents taking place around the world, such as the Ohio State University attack in November 2016, and the attack in Berlin in December 2016, which saw a Tunisian individual with links to IS hijack a truck and drive it into a Christmas market (Deutsche Welle, December 28, 2016; CNN, November 28, 2016).

Such an attack would require a degree of domestic radicalization. Senegal's Sufi sects have been an effective bulwark against radicalization for many years, with the majority of the population belonging to one of the four main "brotherhoods" and carefully following the teaching of the Marabout (sect leader) (Timbuktu Institute, October 2016). The close ties between members has acted as a useful check on those who may have otherwise strayed toward radicalization, but there are indications that these bonds are loosening (Timbuktu Institute, October 2016).

A growing sense of disenchantment among segments of the population  those with limited access to economic and educational opportunities offered by the government  boosts concerns of radicalization in Senegal. According to World Bank figures from 2010, 47 percent of Senegal's population lives below the poverty line, though this figure is falling (World Bank Data, July 2010). This sense of disenfranchisement due to limited opportunity may inspire some Senegalese, particularly those living in the impoverished suburbs of Dakar, to turn toward radical Islamic groups like AQIM.

To a limited degree this has already happened, with a number of extremist imams arrested in early 2016 and reports emerging that between 10 and 30 Senegalese citizens have left the country to fight for Islamic State in Libya (Koaci, 26 January, 2016; Timbuktu Institute, October 2016)

The prevalence of drug smuggling in the region, closely connected to Islamic extremist networks, exacerbates the growing problem of domestic radicalization. Drug trafficking networks from Guinea Bissau, Mali and Mauritania all use Senegal as a transit country (UNODC, October 27, 2011). The large sums of money to be gained from this enterprise provides an additional pull factor to would-be militants in Senegal. The presence of smuggling networks and porous borders also heightens the possibility that fighters already using well-established smuggling routes could gain easy access into Senegal.

Watching and Waiting

The last major AQIM attack on tourists or expatriates in West Africa occurred in Cote d'Ivoire in March 2016. Nearly a year later, it might be argued that if AQIM were indeed planning an operation similar to the Cote d'Ivoire attack, they would have already made their move. The sudden increase in security throughout the region, particularly in the aftermath of the Grand Bassam assault, has likely made launching another attack more difficult. Alternatively, AQIM may simply be waiting for a lull before carrying out further violence on vulnerable tourist infrastructure in West Africa.

Senegal has undertaken some valuable measures to insure itself against an AQIM attack, but the country's position in a "bad neighborhood" with lax border security and a growing level of domestic radicalization suggests it may not be able to avoid an assault forever.

NOTES

[1] This article was informed by discussions the author had with Senegalese officials in Dakar between August and October 2016.

[2] Author interview with Miriam Frost, security analyst with Save the Children, Dakar (September 20, 2016)

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
The 'Khasavyurt Group': A New Watershed of Islamic State Activity in Dagestan

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 13 February 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 3 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, The 'Khasavyurt Group': A New Watershed of Islamic State Activity in Dagestan, 13 February 2017, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 3, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58a31ccb4.html [accessed 6 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 discovery of what appears to be a sizeable Islamic State (IS) cell in the Russian city of Khasavyurt, located in the North Caucasian republic of Dagestan, has sparked numerous violent confrontations as long-simmering tensions between Russian authorities and adherents of Salafism in the region erupt once again into open hostilities.

While the extent of the previously unknown group is still to be fully determined, its discovery has put the city of Khasavyurt at the heart of an Islamist insurgency and could mark the most acute IS penetration of the Caucasus region to date.

The Khasavyurt Group

On December 29, 2016, sources within the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) announced that seven IS fighters had been detained at an unspecified location in Dagestan (Ren TV, December 29, 2016). The militants were allegedly planning a series of Bataclan-style attacks in Moscow, in which armed suicide bombers would have opened fire on public gatherings during New Years celebrations before detonating their suicide belts. The detainees, all natives of the Khasavyurt region, had allegedly received training in Syria before returning home. The FSB claimed the attacks had been planned on the orders of IS leaders in Syria, seeking to exact revenge for Russia's participation in the conflict there (RBC, December 29, 2016).

An FSB statement described the detained militants as part of the "Khasavyurt Group," a previously unknown extremist cell in the western Dagestani city of Khasavyurt (Ren TV, January 1, 2017). The FSB says the group is linked to IS, but until the arrests in December had remained unknown to the authorities and had not appeared on any government watch lists (Caucasian Knot, December 30, 2016).

In the evening on December 29, another three militants in Khasavyurt were killed in a shootout with police (Caucasian Knot, December 30, 2016). Further fighting broke out in the village of Yamansu, 15 kilometers (km) southwest of Khasavyurt, on January 1. In that encounter, police shot dead two more insurgents also said to be part of the Khasavyurt Group, which at that point police estimated had only about ten members remaining (Caucasian Knot, January 1; RBC, December 29, 2016).

Violent incidents continued to unfold in Khasavyurt and across the region throughout January. Security forces shot dead two more Khasavyurt Group members on the outskirts of Kizlyar, 60 km north of Khasavyurt, on January 21 (Caucasian Knot, January 21). Another three militants were killed in Khasavyurt itself in a security operation on January 29 (Caucasian Knot, January 29).

The total number of militants killed and detained in Khasavyurt since December 29 suggests a group of unusual size and ambition for the region.

Numbers from media reports of security operations indicate a total of seven militants detained and 10 others killed in battles with police. It is likely not all of these fighters are necessarily members of the Khasavyurt Group, as there is some incentive for local security forces to inflate their successes and embellish the figures. Even by conservative estimates, however, the group appears to have at least initially consisted of more than 20 individuals. That would make it one of the larger militant cells in the North Caucasus in recent years. The group's plans to conduct attacks in Moscow and speculative links to a large training camp discovered in the forests southeast of Khasavyurt suggest it could be even larger (Caucasian Knot, November 30, 2016).

Local Tensions Inflamed

Prior to the events of the past year, Khasavyurt itself was not considered particularly vulnerable to Salafist militancy.

Despite regular clashes throughout the region between militants and security services, Khasavyurt remained largely untouched by the violence there. In August and September 1999, the city's hinterland was notably the location at which local Dagestani militants aided federal security forces in repulsing an incursion by Chechen rebels commanded by Shamil Basayev (Moscow Defense Brief, 2001). The establishment of the Khasavyurt Group, however, represents the natural evolution of the ongoing battle between local political authorities and Salafist Islamists in Dagestan.

Tensions have been building for years as the influx of hardline Islamist thought has, in some areas, displaced traditional Sufism. In Khasavyurt itself, those tensions manifested most clearly in early 2016, when local authorities attempted to close the Severnaya and Vostochnaya mosques, the two largest Salafist mosques in the city.

Authorities claimed the attempted closure of the Severnaya mosque was due to its reputation as a recruiting ground for IS. Growing protests on the matter culminated in a march on January 31, 2016 that drew thousands of civilian demonstrators, primarily young men, onto the streets. One participant claimed that IS elements had tried to convince protesters to take up arms and "declare jihad on the authorities" (Meduza, February 24, 2016).

While the mosques were eventually allowed to remain open, the atmosphere in the city is one of suspicion. The authorities regard large segments of the local populace as potential militants under the sway of Salafist imams, while the strength of the protests indicated the necessary civilian support mechanisms for an insurgency  sympathetic elements of the population willing to aid potential militants  already exists.

Authorities in Dagestan maintain a list of "Wahhabists"  civilians they deem to be budding terrorists (Human Rights Watch, June 2015). The list includes 100,000 individuals (out of a population of three million), each of whom can expect persistent harassment from security forces. That kind of treatment may be counter-productive, as noted by the assistant imam at the Vostochnaya mosque, Murad Dibirov. He invoked the volatile "Caucasian temperament" and spoke of the pride a young person might have upon seeing his countryman, having joined the jihad in Syria, "on a tank with a machine gun, having found total freedom" (Meduza, February 24, 2016).

Islamic State in the Caucasus

The events in Khasavyurt mark one incidence of a growing IS presence in the Northeast Caucasus.

In Ingushetia in October, following a shootout with security forces, authorities killed an IS emissary sent from Syria to establish a new IS cell there (NTV, October 10, 2016). Chechnya has also seen a spate of militant activity in recent months, including a shootout in the capital Grozny that marked the worst fighting in the city in two years. In December, five militants infiltrated the city and opened fire on police along the main boulevard, in an attack later claimed by IS (RBC, December 20, 2016). Following the attack, in mid-January, Chechnya saw the largest counterterrorism operation in the Republic in years, as authorities searched for militants in several districts south and east of Grozny (Kavkaz.Realii, January 11).

The degree to which IS is really involved in the creation and direction of terror cells in the Caucasus is likely limited. While it has largely displaced the Caucasus Emirate, the traditional vehicle for insurgent activities in the region, IS probably serves more as a brand, one to which local militants can declare affiliation, rather than a true franchise operating with a hierarchical chain of command. This is borne out by local experts, who point to the shootout with supposed IS-linked militants in Grozny in December and note that a true IS-organized cell would likely have been provided with better weaponry (OnKavkaz, December 19, 2016).

Prospects for Future Conflict

Insurgent activity in Dagestan is once again on the rise. Officials in Makhachkala, Dagestan's capital, recently estimated there are 1,200 Dagestanis fighting for IS in Syria, while deaths from the conflict in Dagestan rose 33 percent in 2016 (Caucasian Knot, January 31). January alone has seen Dagestan mount five counterterrorism operations, several of them aimed at countering the Khasavyurt Group.

With the Caucasus Emirate now nearly defunct, local security forces have noted militants adopting a compartmentalized structure (Life News, 9 January, 2017). Individual cells often contain as few as two or three militants. In that respect, the Khasavyurt Group's size sets it apart from other militant organizations in the region, but the degree of IS control is still yet to be determined.

The discovery of the group has put Khasavyurt city at the center of an Islamist extremist insurgency in Dagestan. While the cell has been weakened, it will likely resurface in the weeks and months to come.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Seven stranded Pakistanis repatriated from Yemen

Publisher International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Publication Date 11 February 2017 Cite as International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Seven stranded Pakistanis repatriated from Yemen, 11 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58a324ca4.html [accessed 6 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.

Seven Pakistanis who were stranded in Yemen for more than a decade were repatriated and reunited with their families in Pakistan. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated their return at the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Pakistan. The process of bringing them back to Pakistan was initiated by the Embassy of Pakistan in Sanaa. After the closure of the Embassy, owing to the security situation there, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continued making efforts for their expeditious and safe repatriation, in coordination with the Embassy of Yemen in Islamabad.

"We just cannot find words to express our joy and emotions on this occasion. I feared for his life as we were hearing worrying news coming from Yemen", said Asghar Ali, the brother of one of the repatriated Pakistanis. Similar joyous remarks were uttered by Miran Baloch, after reuniting with his uncle. "I thank God that my uncle is finally back after so many years. This is a time for happiness and not to remember the agony of all those years. I will not let him go away again". With the support from the ICRC, the families were able to travel to Islamabad to welcome their loved ones at the airport. They will also be assisted to travel back to their respective homes in Pakistan.

The seven Pakistani fishermen who crossed international waters were released from Sanaa Central Prison, where the ICRC first visited them in April 2016, as part of its routine detention visits in Yemen. "The ICRC shares this moment of joy with the families who met their loved ones after more than 10 years. We also thank the authorities in Sana'a and the Government of Pakistan for their support in making this reunion possible", said Reto Stocker, head of ICRC delegation in Pakistan.

The ICRC strives to connect people who have lost their contacts to their loved ones during disasters, migration or violence, and where possible help them reunite with their families.
Enhanced Structure Positions the Company for Growth by Elevating Focus on Consumers, Customers, Technology and Sustainability

Leaders to Report Directly to President and CEO Tom Hayes

SPRINGDALE, Ark., Feb. 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- After the most successful quarter in company history, Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN) continues to shape a bright future as one of the worlds largest food companies. Today, the company unveiled a proven, new enterprise leadership team to propel the company forward and accelerate growth. The talented new team brings together deep and diverse experience, and establishes leading capabilities for Tyson Foods along the entire food value chain, from agriculture to dining culture.

Tyson Foods new senior leadership team will increase focus on consumers, customers, technology and sustainability. Clear priority and accountability in these four areas, coupled with a structure designed for collaboration and agile decision-making, position the company for continued success in a changing market.

Members of the new leadership team, who will report to President and CEO Tom Hayes, include:

Sally Grimes, President, North American Retail

Andy Callahan, President, North American Foodservice & International

Noel White, Chief Operations Officer

Monica McGurk, Chief Growth Officer

Dennis Leatherby, Chief Financial Officer

OPEN, Chief Sustainability Officer

Scott Rouse, Chief Customer Officer

David Van Bebber, General Counsel

Devin Graham [Interim], Chief Technology Officer

Mary Oleksiuk, Chief Human Resources Officer

In connection with these appointments, Tyson Foods announced the departure of Donnie King, President North American Operations; Sara Lilygren, Executive Vice President Corporate Affairs; and Gary Cooper, Chief Information Officer. These departures will be effective over a period of months to allow sufficient time for a seamless transition.

Todays announcement underscores our commitment to having the best possible management team in place, which will be crucial to achieving our objectives and continued excellence, said Hayes. On behalf of the Board and management, I would like to thank Donnie, Sara and Gary for their hard work and meaningful contributions to Tyson Foods. As a result of their efforts, we are well positioned to execute against our priorities and realize long-term value for our stakeholders. We wish them well.

Hayes added, These important changes better align our management structure to our purpose and strategy. This new structure and will facilitate efficiency and growth, as well as lay the foundation for strong leadership and management continuity. Im deeply proud that we were able to fill most of these roles from within, tapping the abundance of talent and dedication we have here at Tyson Foods.

About Tyson Foods, Inc.

Tyson Foods, Inc., with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is one of the world's largest food companies with leading brands such as Tyson, Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, Sara Lee, Ball Park, Wright, Aidells and State Fair. Its a recognized market leader in chicken, beef and pork as well as prepared foods, including bacon, breakfast sausage, turkey, lunchmeat, hot dogs, pizza crusts and toppings, tortillas and desserts. The company supplies retail and foodservice customers throughout the United States and approximately 115 countries. Tyson Foods was founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson, whose family has continued to lead the business with his son, Don Tyson, guiding the company for many years and grandson, John H. Tyson, serving as the current chairman of the board of directors. At October 1, 2016, the company had approximately 114,000 Team Members employed at more than 400 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Through its Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson Foods strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and Team Members. The company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.
A look back on all of our reporting of the Delphi murders since 2017
ROCHESTER, N.Y., Feb. 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Broadstone Net Lease, Inc. (BNL), a private real estate investment trust (REIT) managed by Broadstone Real Estate, LLC (Broadstone), today announced that it has received commitments to purchase an aggregate principal amount of $150.0 million of senior unsecured notes (Notes) to be issued by BNLs operating company, Broadstone Net Lease, LLC, and guaranteed by BNL. The Notes will be privately placed to a number of insurance companies active in the private placement market. The initial offering was for $100 million and the company elected to upsize the offering based upon strong market demand.



The Notes will be issued at par, will bear interest at a rate of 4.84% per annum (priced at 240 basis points above the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield at the time of pricing), and will have a 10-year maturity. The Notes will also be guaranteed by each of BNLs subsidiaries that guarantee its bank credit facilities. Nine life insurance companies comprise the lender group that will purchase the notes.

Broadstone Net Lease, LLC obtained an investment grade credit rating of Baa3 (with stable outlook) from Moodys Investors Service effective April 2016, resulting in greater optionality in the REITs pursuit of debt financing. Numerous deep banking relationships currently provide BNL with access to over $980 million worth of unsecured debt capital via three syndicated facilities. The addition of the Notes to BNLs capital stack serves to diversify BNLs exposure to any one lender, and helps lengthen out the REITs debt maturity schedule.

The level of support from investors to provide BNL with long-term debt capital is gratifying, said Chris Czarnecki, CEO of Broadstone and BNL. Our team was delighted that the offering was more than five times oversubscribed and we plan to be a regular issuer in this market. Such support re-affirms our strategy of building shareholder value over the long-term with a conservative balance sheet and a strong commitment to maintaining our investment grade credit rating.

The closing and issuance of the Notes is anticipated to occur in April, 2017 and is subject to customary closing conditions, execution of a definitive note purchase agreement, the form of which has been previously agreed, and the absence of a material adverse change prior to closing.

J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC served as BNLs joint lead placement agents.

About Broadstone Net Lease:

Broadstone Net Lease, Inc. (BNL) invests in freestanding, single-tenant, triple-net leased commercial properties located throughout the United States, primarily via sale & leaseback, lease assumption, and UPREIT transactions. UPREIT transactions, (where UPREIT stands for Umbrella Partnership REIT), provide a tax deferred exit strategy for owners of real estate who might otherwise recognize a significant taxable gain in a cash sale of a highly appreciated property with a low tax basis. With a diversified portfolio of 419 medical, industrial and retail properties in 37 states, the REIT targets individual or portfolio acquisitions within the $10 to $200+ million range.

There are currently more than 2,000 shareholders in BNL, which is externally managed by Broadstone Real Estate, LLC. BNL remains open for new investment by accredited investors on a monthly basis, with a minimum direct investment of $500,000. Shares are offered directly by BNL via private placement. Please see certain important disclosures regarding BNL at broadstone.com/disclosures.

Accredited investors are invited to download an investor kit: broadstone.com/dpp
Cambodia's ruling Cambodian Peoples Party is pushing ahead with its attempt to rein in other political parties ahead of elections this year despite concerns from the European Unions ambassador to Phnom Penh.

The EU believes that it is in the interests of Cambodia, and in the interests of long-term stability in the country, for there to be elections that command the confidence of the voters, and allow the people of Cambodia to choose whom they wish to represent them at commune and national level, EU Ambassador to Cambodia George Edgar said Tuesday in response to questions from RFA's Khmer Service.

In that context, we look to the authorities to ensure a political environment in which opposition parties and civil society can all function freely, Edgar added.

Edgars statement comes as the Cambodian National Assembly is poised to revamp the nations law on political parties just before commune elections later this year and national elections in 2018.

According to local media reports, changes to the law would ban anyone convicted of a crime from standing as a candidate in elections, prohibit demonstrations after elections, and allow for the dissolution of political parties that act illegally, in an effort to prevent insurrections.

The change was spurred by Prime Minister Hun Sen, who is head of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and has governed Cambodia for more than three decades.

Hun Sen has said he is seeking to ban politicians who have committed crimes from serving as party leaders or deputy leaders.

The threat of the changes has already led Hun Sens chief rival to resign as head of the main opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP).

Sam Rainsy announced his resignation as CNRP president on Saturday, saying he didnt want to see the opposition destabilized.

Cambodian courts are notorious for their lack of independence and have been criticized by activists in Cambodia and international observers as doing Hun Sens bidding in handing out questionable rulings on his opponents.

Opposition politicians often find themselves before the courts on various charges, and Sam Rainsy is no exception as he has been on the losing end of several court cases brought by Hun Sen or other CPP members.

Sam Rainsy has been living in France since 2015 to avoid arrest in a defamation case brought by former Foreign Minister Hor Namhong in 2008. In October, Hun Sen ordered police, immigration, and aviation authorities to "use all ways and means" to prevent the opposition leader from returning to the country.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday Sam Rainsy that he doesnt have any plans to nominate his wife or his children to replace him in the CNRP.

In the post, Sam Rainsy said a Phnom Penh Post story citing a letter to acting CNRP chief Kem Sokha suggesting that his wife Tioulong Saumura become the partys leader was fake.

In contrast to Sam Rainsys rejection of nepotism accusations, Hun Sen has installed family members in important positions.

His second son, Hun Manith, was appointed as deputy head of the CPPs internal monitoring committee, the Phnom Penh Post reported, quoting a statement signed by the prime minister last week.

Hun Manith is a general in the Cambodian armed forces and heads the Defense Ministrys intelligence department. The monitoring committee is a powerful body within the CPP as it has the power to discipline members who are determined to have done wrong, and to fire them.

Reported by San Sel for RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Sarada Taing. Written in English by Brooks Boliek.
A court in Hong Kong on Tuesday found seven police officers guilty of assaulting pro-democracy politician Ken Tsang during the 2014 Occupy Central pro-democracy movement.



Chief Inspector Wong Cho-shing, Senior Inspector Lau Cheuk-ngai, Detective Sergeant Pak Wing-bun, police constable Lau Hing-pui, and detective constables Wong Wai-ho, Chan Siu-tan and Kwan Ka-ho were convicted by the city's District Court of kicking, punching, and stepping on Tsang after he was arrested and handcuffed during clashes in October 2014.



While the seven were found guilty of common assault and causing actual bodily harm, they were acquitted of the more serious charge of causing grievous bodily harm.



Judge David Dufton said the officers dumped Tsang on the ground and set about kicking and stamping on him, leaving him with injuries to his face, neck, chest, and back.



Unbeknown to the officers, the assault, which took place in a dark corner on the evening of Oct. 15, was filmed by journalists covering the protests and later broadcast on the evening news.



The footage showed a man believed to be Tsang being beaten and kicked by a group of police officers during an operation to clear a main road of protesters in a violent crackdown on the movement.



The group will be sentenced this Friday, and their defense team is pushing for a suspended jail term rather than the maximum sentence of three years' imprisonment.



Initial euphoria among the officers' supporters when the more serious charge was dismissed quickly turned to silence when the guilty verdict was read out, government broadcaster RTHK reported.



Detective Constable Chan Siu-tan was also found guilty of an additional charge of common assault, for slapping Tsang twice at Central Police Station.



Dufton found that video of the assault "accurately depicted" what took place.



A dark corner



The activist was arrested by uniformed police, handcuffed with zip ties, and handed over to the officers, who then took him to a dark corner rather than to the buses waiting for arrested suspects, he said.



He said Chief Inspector Wong Cho-shing and Senior Inspector Lau Cheuk-ngai didn't join in with the beating, but instead had "encouraged and supported it."



The more serious charge was dismissed because Tsang's injuries didn't amount to "grievous bodily harm," Dufton told the court.



Dufton told the court: "If a police officer stands by and watches his colleague beat up a suspected person, his failure to intervene is evidence of encouragement to carry out the assault."



He said police officers have a duty to prevent crimes from being committed and to "keep the peace."



The defense team said that the officers had been under unusual pressure during the 79-day civil disobedience campaign for fully democratic election, and had been forced to work unusually long hours enduring verbal and physical abuse.



Tsang declined to comment ahead of Friday's hearing, saying that there are a number of factors that could influence the sentencing.



Intent to harm



Barrister Randy Shek told RFA that the officers no longer face possible life sentences, the maximum available for the more serious charges.



"For that, the prosecution would need to show that there was deliberate intent to cause serious injury," Shek said.



"But for the current charge, it is enough to show that there was intention to cause some kind of harm, and that actual bodily harm resulted."



Tsang was himself found guilty of assaulting the police officers and resisting arrest after he poured an unidentified liquid on them. He later showed journalists his own injuries.



The officers were charged only after Tsang's lawyers applied for a judicial review in the face of long delays.



All seven denied one count of causing Tsang grievous bodily harm with intent, while one of them also pleaded not guilty to an additional charge of common assault, local media reported.



"I will be putting in every effort to collate my evidence," Tsang told reporters on Thursday. "I am the main witness in this case, and I will be working with the court to provide and gather the evidence."



Public anger



Public anger soared in the wake of the clashes that marked the start of the Occupy Central, or Umbrella Movement, bringing hundreds of thousands of people onto the city's streets at its height, many of them calling for fully democratic elections.



Dozens of protesters holding the iconic yellow umbrella that came to symbolize the calls for universal suffrage gathered outside the Kowloon court on Thursday, chanted slogans saying Tsang's prosecution was politically motivated.



Hong Kong was promised a "high degree of autonomy" under the terms of its 1997 return to Chinese rule, within the "one country, two systems" framework agreed between British and Chinese officials and enshrined in its miniconstitution, the Basic Law.



In June 2014, an unofficial referendum saw 400,000 people vote in favor of universal suffrage and public nominations, in spite of a central government white paper spelling out that the city's autonomy was still subject to the will of Beijing, and didn't constitute full autonomy or decentralized power.



The Occupy movement was sparked by an Aug. 31, 2014 electoral reform plan outlined by China's parliament, the National People's Congress (NPC), that would allow all of Hong Kong's five million eligible voters to cast a ballot in the 2017 race for the next chief executive, but would have limited the slate to candidates approved by Beijing.



It was rejected by pan-democratic lawmakers and Occupy Central protesters as "fake universal suffrage."



Hong Kong lawmakers dealt a death blow to Beijing's electoral reform package on June 18, in a humiliating defeat for Hong Kong's chief executive Leung Chun-ying and for Chinese officials.



Reported by Lam Kwok-lap for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
A rights activist detained after sporting a satirical T-shirt calling Chinese President Xi Jinping "Xitler" will face trial on subversion charges, as the government told his out-of-town defense team they were barred from representing him.



Ethnic Korean Quan Ping, whose name is also spelled in its Korean form, Kwon Pyong, is being held in a police-run detention center in the northeastern province of Jilin after his initial "disappearance" on Sept. 30 last year.



His case was recently transferred to the Yanbian municipal prosecutor's office, paving the way for Kwon's trial at the Yanbian Intermediate People's Court on , his attorney Zhang Lei told RFA.



Kwon faces charges of "incitement to subvert the state power," with the indictment against him focusing mainly on posts he made to Facebook and Twitter, Zhang said.



But the authorities have refused repeated requests from his defense team to meet with their client, saying they must provide a letter of introduction from the justice bureau in the city where their law firms are based.



"It looks as if the Yanbian Intermediate People's Court plans to go ahead with the trial after stripping us of our status as his defense attorneys," Zhang said.



"We told them that to require this is against the law and is far from being a reasonable demand, because we're not the employees of the justice bureau ... so there is no requirement for them to write a letter of introduction for us," he said.



"As things stand at the moment, I really don't think they'll be allowing us to attend court for the trial."

Pressure to drop case

Another of Kwon's attorneys, Liang Xiaojun, said he had already been approached by justice bureau officials from Beijing, who had tried to persuade him to withdraw from the case of his own accord.



"I just got back from the justice bureau, who wanted to talk to me about this case, because they had received a report about it from [Yanbian]," Liang said.



"They told me that they hoped I wouldn't get involved in this case, which was 'complicated'," he said.



Yanbian authorities are claiming that the extended requirements for defense lawyers to be accepted by the court only apply in cases where there are "national security concerns," like subversion cases, Liang said.



"They say we must have a letter of introduction, but there's no way [the justice bureau] will issue one for us," he said.



An employee who answered the phone at the Yanbian Intermediate People's Court declined to comment when contacted by RFA on .



"You need to contact the education and propaganda department. I'm not authorized to give out updates on cases," the employee said.

Freedom of expression?



Repeated calls to the education and propaganda department rang unanswered during office hours on .



Zhang Lei said he had already filed a complaint with the Yanbian prosecutor's office over the court's additional "requirement."



He said he will also appeal to the Jilin High People's Court and provincial-level prosecution authorities.



An online activist surnamed Jiang in the eastern province of Jiangsu said he believes Kwon Pyong is innocent.



"[What he did] falls within the parameters of freedom of expression," Jiang said. "The incitement charge simply doesn't stand up."



"This has nothing at all to do with the government."



Reported by Xin Lin for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Ng Yik-tung and Sing Man for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Thousands of Chinese residents protest against a plan to build an aluminum plant near their home in Daqing, northeastern China's Heilongjiang province, Feb. 14, 2017.

Thousands of people took to the streets of northeastern China's Heilongjiang province on Tuesday in protest over plans to build an aluminum plant near their home, protesters told RFA.

The protesters marched through the streets of the oil city of Daqing, in what local residents was a third day of demonstrations against feared environmental pollution from a 46 billion yuan (U.S. $6.7

billion) plant proposed by aluminum producer Zhongwang Holdings.

Zhongwang and the Daqing government agreed to cooperate on the plant in 2011 amid promises of more than 30,000 jobs.

But protesters chanted "Boycott Zhongwang! No to pollution!" while footage of the protests seen by RFA showed a banner printed with the slogan: "We love our country and love Daqing, but say no to polluting our home!"

Footage showed a large crowd of people in a square and streets near the municipal government offices in Daqing, with ranks of uniformed and plainclothes police standing guard nearby.

A government official was also seen addressing the crowd with a megaphone: "We take your wishes and your concerns about the environment very seriously," the unnamed official said. "We fully support and understand them."

"But you can rest assured that we will take full responsibility for any pollution," he said. "We are now in the assessment stage of this project, so please can you all just wait for the results."

But local people told RFA they had little trust in the government's promises.

"Why would we trust them? They had already told us the project was halted, but then people went and filmed it, and the construction trucks are still heading to the site," one protester said.

"The government is saying they will do an impact assessment, but in reality they have already approved the project, so what's the point of the impact assessment? They are just lying," the protester said.

"This plant will cause pollution, I'm 100 percent sure of that, and everyone here knows it too; we're not stupid," he said.

The protester said two existing chemical plants in the city pass their environmental inspections every year, but continue to pollute the environment.

"Why should we lay our lives on the line just to solve unemployment? he asked. Have you any idea of the cancer rates in Daqingeveryone here does."

Close to universities

The planned plant will be located just a few kilometers from two universities, sources said.

"[We think] that there will be serious pollution [from this plant], and it's too close to the urban areas for a start," one Daqing resident said. "It will harm the local ecosystems, environment, drinking water and people's health."

"That's the only reason we feel this way; personally, I don't think this is a suitable project for our city," the resident said.

The protests swelled suddenly on Tuesday, he added.

"According to my knowledge, the protests have been going on for about three days now," the resident said. "There weren't so many people in the past couple of days; today was the biggest number."

Repeated calls to the main listed number of the Daqing municipal government resulted in a fax tone during office hours on Tuesday.

Protesters said the demonstrations will likely continue until there is clear evidence that the project has been halted.

The Daqing city government warned in a statement Monday that any "illegal gatherings, defamation, starting rumors and disturbing social order would be dealt with according to law."

More than three decades of breakneck economic growth have left China with a seriously degraded environment, causing a fast-maturing environmental movement to emerge among the region's middle classes and farming communities alike.

Last October, thousands of residents took to the streets in the northern Chinese city of Xian over a waste incinerator plant planned for their neighborhood.

The protests, which activists said involved some 10,000 people in the city's Gaoling district, went on for four days over the location of the planned plant near a river used to supply the neighborhood with drinking water.

Last May, authorities in the eastern province of Shandong said they had halted plans to build a PX petrochemical plant off the coast of Longkou city following days of street protests by local people.

In the latest in a wave of environmental protests by local residents against petrochemical plants, especially paraxylene (PX) facilities, the Longkou government called off preliminary studies for the siting of the plant on man-made islands off the nearby coastline.

Reported by Yang Fan for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
A man watches a television news report in Seoul, South Korea, about the suspected assassination in Malaysia of Kim Jong-Nam, the estranged elder half brother of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un, Feb. 14, 2017.

Updated at 2:30 p.m. ET on 2017-02-14

South Korean media reported Tuesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns estranged half-brother has been assassinated in Malaysia by government agents from North Korea, but police in Kuala Lumpur could not immediately confirm the reports.

Kim Jong Nam has been murdered in Malaysia, a South Korean government source was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying. South Koreas TV Chosun, a cable television network, reported that Kim had been poisoned with a needle by two women believed to be North Korean operatives.

Kim had been planning to travel to Macau on Monday when he fell ill at the low-cost terminal of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA2), reports said.

Malaysian police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said in a statement that a North Korean man identified as Kim Chol who sought initial medical assistance at the KLIA2 airport customer service counter, had died en route to hospital on Monday.

Investigation is in progress and a postmortem examination request has been made to ascertain the cause of death, he said.

The Korean was holding a passport with the number 836410070 and born on June 10, 1970, Khalid said.

Police officials could not immediately explain the difference in the names of the deceased and that of the half-brother of the North Korean leader but have not dismissed the news reports of his death.

Kim Jong Nam is in his mid-40s, according to reports. It is not immediately known whether the dead man was using an alias.

South Koreas foreign ministry said it could not confirm the reports, and the countrys intelligence agency could not immediately be reached for comment.

Malaysia is among a small list of countries with close relations with the hard line regime in Pyongyang under global sanctions over its illegal nuclear weapons drives and ballistic missile launches, the latest of which took place at the weekend and was condemned on Monday by the UN Security Council.

South Koreas national news agency Yonhap quoted a source as saying agents of the Norths spy agency, the Reconnaissance General Bureau, carried out the assassination on Monday by taking advantage of a security loophole between Jong Nam's bodyguards and Malaysian police at the airport, Agence France-Presse said.

Malaysian newspaper Berita Harian, citing Selangor police chief Abdul Samah Mat, said a woman who appeared to be Korean threw a cloth over the victims head at the airport.

CCTV footage being examined

Based on initial investigations, we have a woman who appears to be Korean approaching the victim before suddenly covering his head, Mat told Berita Harian on Monday night.

At this moment, police are examining the CCTV footage to get a clear picture of the suspect before she acted, he said.

The suspect and another woman fled from the scene, Mat said.

At this moment we cannot give any clear motive including whether this case is linked to conflicts inside or outside of North Korea, he said.

Our focus is to identify the suspect involved and to hunt down this suspect for further measures in accordance with the laws of this country.

The exact cause of death had not been identified because a postmortem examination was not yet complete, he said.

The incident happened at 8 a.m. Monday when the victim was in the departure hall of KLIA2, and planning to board a flight to Macau after arriving in Malaysia on Feb. 6, Berita Harian reported.

In Washington, a State Department spokesperson told RFA's Korean Service "we are aware of reports. We refer you to the Malaysian authorities."

Kim Jong Nam and Kim Jong Un are both sons of former leader Kim Jong Il, who died in late 2011, but they had different mothers. Kim Jong Nam was often seen in Macau and was known to spend much of his time outside of North Korea.



Kim Jong Nam made international headlines in 2001, when he was caught at an airport in Japan traveling on a fake passport from the Dominican Republic, telling authorities he had wanted to visit Tokyo Disneyland.

The Wall Street Journal, in a report on Kim's death from Seoul, said the killing eliminating a reform-minded member of North Koreas ruling dynasty who was once considered next in line to rule the isolated country."

Kim Kwang In, a North Korea expert and director of the Coalition for the Modernization of Korea, told RFA there would be some logic to eliminating Kim Jong Nam from the point of view of Kim Jong Un, who took power when his father died in 2011.

Should the Kim Jong Un regime collapse it is Kim Jong Nam who could replace Kim Jong Un. From that respect, it is possible that Kim Jong Un orchestrated his half-brothers assassination.\

Reported by RFA's Korean Service and by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.
Sirinya Sitthichai, secretary general of Thailands anti-drug agency, points to Uzman Salamang and Xaysana Keopipha on the organizational chart of a multi-national drug cartel, Feb. 10, 2017.

Updated at 12:06 a.m. ET on 2017-02-14

The Bangkok arrest of an alleged Laotian kingpin of a major Southeast Asian drug trafficking ring helped expose links between narcotics smuggling operations on both sides of the Thailand-Malaysia border and an insurgency in the Thai Deep South, officials said.

Following the Jan. 19 arrest of Xaysana Keopimpha  a Lao dubbed as the ASEAN drug lord in news reports  and the subsequent arrests of about a dozen alleged drug traffickers with the aid of Malaysia, Thai officials said that some of the suspects were possibly helping finance southern insurgents directly or indirectly.

The deputy defense minister who is in charge of the Thai juntas efforts to solve the decades-old separatist conflict in the Deep South said insurgents and drug traders may have converged.

Officials involved see it is possible that the insurgents benefit from such illegal activities, therefore we need to focus on this issue as it is vital, Gen. Udomdej Sitabutr told BenarNews on Friday at a military base in Pattani, one of the provinces in the troubled far southern region.

It is possible for drugs cartels to make money and provide insurgents with funds and materials to conduct attacks.

Drugs are an integral part of the troubles in the region, and local gang leaders and even some local politicians provide insurgents with funds and sanctuary, said Lt. Gen. Nanthadej Meksawat, a security expert and retired Thai army officer who spent several years in military intelligence in the Deep South.

Given its proximity to the Malaysian border, the restive region is awash in criminal activity and drug-smuggling, apart from the insurgency, local sources said.

According to a senior military official stationed in the region, around one-fifth of the nearly 7,000 people who have been killed in violence in the Deep South since 2004 were victims of drug-smuggling activity.

The situation in Deep South will ease when authorities cut the flow of money to insurgents, Nanthadej said.

If the government can solve drugs problem, it half succeeds in solving Deep South troubles, simply because the insurgents would not be well-financed by drugs traders, he told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service, in a phone interview.

Mr. X

Officers arrested Xaysana, a 41-year-old nicknamed Mr. X and described in reports as the head of a drug cartel trafficking yaba, caffeine-laced meth tablets produced in Myanmar, throughout the Mekong region, at Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

Xaysana was elusive. But thanks to Lao officials who gave us information about him, we could nab him ... we tried to follow him for five years, Lt. Gen. Sommai Kongvisaisuk, who heads the Thai polices Narcotics Suppression Bureau, told reporters the day after the Laotian was caught.

Meanwhile, separate raids in northeastern Thailand on Jan. 19 led to arrests of two Thai men and a Thai woman, resulting in the confiscation of more than 100 million baht (U.S. $2.86 million) in assets.

In Malaysia, the director of the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department, Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff, said anti-drug officers arrested five suspected drugs dealers last week in Kuala Lumpur and Kelantan  a state that lies across the border from the Deep South.

[F]ive men  four locals and one Thai citizen involved in trafficking psychotropic pills  have been arrested. No drugs were confiscated, Mohd Shariff said in a statement.

Sommai, the Thai counter-narcotics chief, said he learned from a Malaysian counterpart on Feb. 6 that one of the suspects was Kamarudin Bin Awang, whom he described as a trade partner of Xaysana.

Sommai said the suspect is also known as Sinudeng Ma and is a son-in-law of Maniring Jako. Maniring allegedly traffics drugs from northern and northeastern Thailand to Malaysia, according to the Thai criminal database.

Sirinya said a drug dealer from the Deep South, Uzman Salamang, was among the syndicates leaders.

This man [Uzman] was wanted so he became inactive and Xaysana took his role ... Kamarudins arrest is an extension of the operation, Sirinya Sitthichai, the director of the Thai Office of Narcotics Control Board, told reporters on Friday while pointing to an organizational chart of the transnational cartel.

Thai authorities placed a bounty of 2 million baht (U.S. $57,000) on Uzmans head and he fled to Laos in 2012, Sirinya said. Convictions on charges of trafficking in drugs such as heroin, methamphetamine or crystal meth could lead to death sentences.

Sommai linked Uzman with Xaysana.

Xaysana connects with Uzman, a key drugs dealer in the Deep South who escaped to Laos. Uzman uses Xaysanas last name, having face job. Laos is trying to identify him, Sommai told Thai Rath TV.

Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.

An earlier version misquoted Sirinya Sitthichai as referring to Kamarudin Bin Awang as a wanted man who became inactive. Sirinya was referring to Uzman Salamang.
Volunteers unload boxes of relief supplies from the Malaysian ship Nautica Aliya, to be delivered to Rohingya refugees, in Chittagong port, Feb. 14, 2017.

Bangladesh authorities Tuesday welcomed a Malaysian ship bringing humanitarian aid for thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees as it offloaded food, medicine and other supplies at the port of Chittagong.

Authorities allowed 25 volunteers to leave the ship Nautica Aliya so they could distribute the aid to the refugees from Myanmar in Coxs Bazar, a district in southeastern Bangladesh. The districts administration hired 150 trucks to transport the aid to refugee camps scattered across Coxs Bazar, a drive of several hours from Chittagong.

We have the relief materials. These will be distributed among the Rohingya refugees in Teknaf and Ukhia, Ali Hossain, the deputy commissioner of Coxs Bazar, told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.



Teknaf and Ukhia are sub-districts in Coxs Bazar that house several camps housing registered and unregistered Rohingya refugees.

We have information that the ship carried 1,472 tons of relief materials, which will be distributed to more than 15,000 Rohingyas, a high-ranking Bangladesh Navy official told BenarNews on condition of anonymity.

Khurshed Alam, Bangladeshs foreign secretary for maritime affairs, told BenarNews the ship arrived in Chittagong port around 11:30 a.m., and a handover ceremony took place about two hours later.

Abdul Aziz Mohd Abdul Rahim, a representative of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and a member of parliament who traveled with the ship, called for a long-standing solution to the Rohingya crisis as he handed over the cargo, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

At least 66,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh since early October, amid reports that Myanmar security forces have targeted people from the minority community in killings, rapes and other abuses  allegations that the Myanmar government has denied.

Thirty million Malaysians are with you (Rohingya), Rahim said.

The IOM (International Organization for Migration) is in charge of the relief materials while the Red Crescent Society has been helping the distribution of the materials, Alam said, adding district administrators would facilitate the distribution.

He said 25 volunteers were issued visas to distribute the materials to the Rohingya, pointing out that not all of the 183 volunteers were interested in undertaking a trip of six to seven hours to reach the camps. Thirty-four volunteers were scheduled to fly out of Bangladesh Tuesday night while the others were to leave with the ship.

The volunteers include doctors from Malaysia, Turkey, Indonesia, China, the United States, France, Thailand and the Palestinian territories.

Awaken international community

We hope our humanitarian efforts will pave the way to resolve the Rohingya issue and awaken the international community, Malaysian volunteer Azmi, who uses one name, told AFP.

Bangladesh is home to an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 Rohingya, including the tens of thousands who crossed the border in the past few months, following the killings of nine Myanmar border guards in October. A Rohingya man, one of 14 people charged in the attacks on the border guards, was sentenced to death on Friday in Myanmar.

The Nautica Aliya entered Bangladeshi waters after sailing from a port serving Yangon, Myanmar, where it delivered 500 tons of relief supplies including rice, instant noodles, potable water and hygiene kits destined from Rohingya in Rakhine. In Myanmar, 30 people were allowed to disembark at Yangon port for a handover ceremony on Thursday.

This is positive development that a foreign country sent relief materials for the Rohingya, Asif Muneir, an independent consultant on migration and refugee issues, told BenarNews. But this is the responsibility of the government and the IOM to ensure that the relief materials reach the needy and the right people.

Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.
Myanmar Vice President Myint Swe (front, 2nd from L), who chairs an investigation commission looking into violence in western Myanmar's Rakhine state, arrives in Sittwe to join other commission members on a fact-finding mission, Feb. 14, 2017.

A national-level commission investigating accusations of abuse of Rohingya Muslims during a security crackdown in Myanmars Rakhine state has received information contrary to accounts of the violence detailed in a report by the United Nations, a member of the commission said Tuesday.

The 13-member government-appointed commission began its current six-day fact-finding mission to the northern part of Rakhine state on Feb. 10 to look into a reports of security forces killing, raping, and committing other abuses against Rohingya who live in townships now under lockdown.

A 43-page report issued on Feb. 3 by the U.N.s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) that the abuses committed by soldiers and police after coordinated attacks on three border guard posts in early October indicated the very likely commission of crimes against humanity.

Saw Thalay Saw, a commission member and lawmaker from Shwegyin in Bago region, said the group has visited 17 villages in Maungdaw township over the past three days.

We questioned villagers and investigated the differences between the U.N. report and the situation on the ground, she told RFAs Myanmar Service.

Most villages that the U.N. report mentioned are Muslim villages, she said. Female commission members questioned Muslim women, and we questioned Muslim community leaders.

The U.N. report said more than 10 women were stripped naked and raped in Laungto village in Maungdaw township, but villagers told the commission during the groups investigation that no such cases had occurred there and that police only performed body searches of women, Saw Thalay Saw said.

She pointed out that the U.N. report also said that a fisherman found the body of his younger sister, who was raped and killed, in Kyeinchaung village, but when the commission members visited the place and questioned Muslim residents about the incident, they said no such incident had occurred.

We also met the doctor of a small local hospital and asked him about it, but he said no one was sent to the hospital in that condition, she said.

Because our commission was formed by the president, our responsibility is to submit what we found during this trip, Saw Thalay Saw said.

After Vice President Myint Swe, chief of the commission, arrived in the region on Tuesday, the group inspect the jail in Buithidaung township, one of the areas that has been under lockdown, she said.

He said prisoners at the facility which holds nearly 1,300 inmates, should be allowed to meet with their families, be given regular medical care, and have faster access to the court system for judging their cases, the Myanmar News Agency reported.

No evidence to take action

The commission has been investigating reports of murder, torture, arson, and rape in northern Rakhine state since December and has made two other trips to the areas affected by violence.

In January, the commission issued an interim report, saying it had found no cases of genocide or religious persecution of Rohingya Muslims living in the region in the wake of deadly border guard attacks last October and a subsequent security lockdown.

It also said its interviews of local residents about rape allegations by Rohingya women and girls who fled to Bangladesh had yielded insufficient evidence to take legal action, and that its investigations into accusations of arson, torture, and illegal arrests were ongoing.

Myanmar security forces targeted the Rohingya after it was determined that Rohingya militants were responsible for the attacks on the border guard posts during which nine policemen were killed.

The U.N. has estimated that more than 1,000 Rohingya have been killed during the security operations, and more than 69,000 have fled to neighboring Bangladesh where they are living in refugee camps.

Myanmars de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel laureate, has come under international criticism from rights groups and other Nobel Peace Prize winners for perceived inaction on the plight of the Rohingya.

However, under a constitution written by the long-ruling military regime that ceded power to her National League for Democracy (NLD) party in 2016, Aung San Suu Kyi has no control over the military or security forces accused of the atrocities, and independent media access to the conflict zone in Rakhine has been strictly limited.



Reported by Wai Mar Tun for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Myanmar gem merchants inspect jadestone on sale at the mid-year Jade and Gems Emporium in Naypyidaw, Nov. 20, 2016.

Police in Myanmars Hpakant mining region in Kachin state have arrested and charged 20 people for smuggling jadestone loaded in nine trucks and driven to Mongnyin region, a police official said on Tuesday.

The 20 people were charged under Article 42 of the countrys Gemstone Law, which pertains to illegally possessing and transporting raw gemstones and carries a punishment of one to seven years imprisonment and an unspecified fine.

They transported pieces of jade hidden under the floor of the trucks, Colonel Myo Thura Naung, deputy police chief of Kachin state, told RFAs Myanmar Service.

The people who were transporting them were charged, he said. We still dont know how many tons of jade they were carrying.

Additional pieces of jade were seized by the Mongnyin region military, said Kachin state attorney general De Sin Ram.

In October 2016, authorities in Kachin state seized 40 tons of raw jadestone that were being illegally transported from the town of Waingmaw in Kachin state to China.

Hpakant, which lies about 400 miles (640 kilometers) north of Myanmars capital Naypyidaw, is the center of the countrys jade mining industry and produces some of the highest-quality jade in the world.

Much of the gem is exported or smuggled to neighboring China, where demand for the precious stone is high.



Reported by Kyaw Myo Min for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Tibetan activists and support groups around the world are set to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1913 Tibetan Proclamation of Independence from China on Wednesday, with Beijing denouncing the celebrations as a farce.



Tibets 13th Dalai Lama proclaimed Tibetan independence on Feb. 13, 1913 following a period of domination by Chinas Qing (Manchu) dynasty and initiated a period of almost four decades of self-rule that ended when Chinese troops marched into the Himalayan region in 1949.



To mark the anniversary, Students for a Free Tibet (SFT), the Tibetan Youth Congress, the U.S. Tibetan Committee, Tibet House, and Chushi Gangdruk will hold protests on Wednesday in front of the Chinese Mission to the United Nations at St. Vartans Park in New York.



Activities will include a performance by a Tibetan community dance troupe, a Tibetan flag-raising ceremony, and the unveiling of a 12-foot long copy of the 1913 Proclamation Scroll



Messages of support from lawmakers of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate from New York will also be read, and participants will march to the United Nations.



Independence day



Every country has an independence or national day regardless of its current political status and Tibet is no exception, Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) said in a statement announcing the events planned to mark the proclamations anniversary.



At this time, when nearly 100 Tibetans have self-immolated to protest Chinese rule, a global commemoration of this historic occasion will help to renew our spirits, reaffirm our vision, and strengthen our struggle, SFT said.



China calls the 1913 declaration a fabrication and Tibetan independence a myth, according to state media.



Such fanfare is just a farce, Chinas official Xinhua news agency said this week.



The Dalai Lama declared in his 1913 statement, written after Tibetan forces drove troops of the then-collapsing Qing dynasty out of Tibet, that though not prosperous or technically advanced, Tibet is an independent nation living in peace and in accordance with religion.



To become capable of defending our country, we are currently increasing our efforts both in civilian and military areas, said the Dalai Lamas declaration, translated by Berlin, Germany-based Tibetan scholar Tsewang Norbu and published by the web site of the Tibetan Political Review.



The Chinese intention of colonizing Tibet  has faded like a rainbow in the sky, according to a separate translation of the same document, prepared for Students for a Free Tibet.



Chinese claims



But Xinhua noted that all Chinese governments following the Qing collapse have asserted their claim to Tibet, which China considers a part of its national territory.



At the time that the Dalai Lama declared Tibet was independent of China, there was indeed no Qing or Chinese authority in Tibet, said Indiana University Tibet scholar Elliot Sperling.



The declaration and a treaty signed afterward between Tibet and Mongolia, also formerly under Qing control, "were valid reflections and valid responses to that fact.



Chinas Qing rulers had exercised political control over Tibet, but this ended with the collapse of the Qing, Sperling said.



In a "Middle Way" policy approach to the problems of Tibet, Tibets present 14th Dalai Lama and Tibets government in exile, based in India, have accepted Tibets present status as a part of China while regularly urging greater cultural, religious, and political freedoms for the Tibetan people.



Tibetans need to have a broader perspective in the current struggle for Tibetan freedom, and not be bogged down by Tibet-centric perspectives alone, noted Bhuchung Tsering, vice president of the Washington-based International Campaign for Tibet.



A broader challenge



Tibets status as a part of China is not unchallenged, though, Sperling said.



The broader challenge has a strong historical legacy behind it, going back to the 13th Dalai Lama.



Speaking in an interview, SFT executive director Tenzin Dorjee called the Dalai Lamas 1913 declaration a reminder of Tibets historical past as an independent nation, which China tries to negate and distort.

After the Manchu dynasty collapsed, Tibetans expelled [China's] remaining troops and reestablished sovereignty over their country in 1913.



Since then, Tibet resumed its status as an independent countryrunning its own administration, army, taxation, currency, and legal and postal systemsuntil Chinas invasion in 1949, Dorjee said.



Negotiations between Beijing and envoys of the current Dalai Lama over issues related to Tibet stalled in January 2010.



Reported by Richard Finney.
In scenes reminiscent of Chinas Cultural Revolution, ethnic Uyghurs in the countrys Xinjiang region are being called to meetings to confess their crimes, with punishment threatened for those whose misdeeds come to light in other ways, RFAs Uyghur Service has learned.



The meetings, conducted as part of a campaign called Revealing Errors, are being held in Xinjiangs Aksu (in Chinese, Akesu) prefecture to uncover behavior considered politically destabilizing in the restive, mostly-Muslim region in Chinas far northwest, sources say.



Village residents from 18-65 years of age are being brought to their village office every day to admit to their mistakes or to point out mistakes they have seen others make, according to a letter from an Aksu resident received by RFA.



Residents are called to a podium one by one to confess these errors after they have listed them on a 39-question form, the letter says, adding, They are also told they will face legal consequences if they attempt to cover up their own or anyone elses anti-state activities.



Speaking to RFA on condition of anonymity, a police officer in Aksus Shayar county said, The central question asked at these meetings is, Have you ever watched, saved, or forwarded harmful religious or separatist postings or [media] clips, or have you ever seen anyone else do this?



Uyghurs are also asked if they have ever made politically harmful statements in public or in smaller gatherings of family, neighbors, or friends, or if they have heard anyone else do so, the officer said.



'A big mistake'



At a public sentencing held at Bostan village in Askus Kuchar county on Jan. 31, five of seven defendants were released on parole because of their good attitude in cooperating with authorities, Kurban Memet, a Uyghur police officer from Kuchars Uzun township, told RFA.



But the other two were arrested and handcuffed in front of everyone because they had not fully revealed their mistakes, Memet said.



They have now been transferred to judicial authorities, Memet said.



I was in shock when I heard the verdict against the two, said Niyaz Ghopur, a local farmer. They really made a big mistake.



They had watched video clips posted by an overseas separatist group, and they were supposed to reveal this at the meeting, even if they had opened the separatists website by accident.



I think they could get as much as seven years for this crime, Ghopur said.



Rush to confess



Frightened by the sentencing at Bostan, which was attended by over 1,000 people from Uzun townships villages, residents were rushing to confess their crimes before a Feb. 10 deadline, Kurban Memet told RFA last week.



Some farmers dont know which videos or film clips could be considered harmful, Memet said.



We just tell them not to be late in revealing their problems, that they will be in much greater danger if they try to hide things, he said.



Reported and translated by Shohret Hoshur for RFAs Uyghur Service. Written in English by Richard Finney.




A protestor who was allegedly beaten by authorities as they were marching to protest Hanois handling of the Formosa steel plant toxic waste spill that poisoned much of the central coast last year, Feb. 14, 2017.

Vietnamese authorities appear to be systematically cracking down on activists, as environmentalists and others have been attacked by security forces and thugs associated with local police over the past week, RFAs Vietnamese Service has learned.

The attacks do not seem to be linked to any one group as they have targeted environmentalists and religious activists.

On Tuesday, police reportedly arrested and beat several demonstrators as about 500 people were marching to protest Hanois handling of the Formosa steel plant toxic waste spill that poisoned much of the central coast last year.

The protest march leader, Catholic priest Nguyen Dinh Thuc, told RFA on Tuesday that police and security forces beat him, but that he was rescued by protestors who wanted to deliver a petition to Ky Anh district authorities demanding adequate compensation for the losses caused by the spill.

Catholic marchers came to me when they saw that I was beaten, he told RFA. The police arrested some. They towed my vehicle and other peoples too. I was rescued by the petitioners.

His beating was not the only one over the past week, as environmental activist Nguyen Thi Thai Lai was beaten by four thugs outside a restaurant in Nha Trang City on Feb. 12.

Im still hurt, she told RFA. They beat my face. They kicked me. Im still in pain.

She said she was forcibly taken to the police station where she was interrogated about her protests against China and the Formosa steel plant.

They make it more difficult for the people who come to see me at home, she said.

They were waiting for her

After Saturdays incident, Thai Lai told RFA that she reported the attack to the local police in the Van Thanh commune in Nha Trang city where she saw her attackers loitering around the police station as if they were waiting for her.

In June, the Taiwan-owned Formosa Plastics Group acknowledged it was responsible for the release of toxic chemicals from its massive steel plant located at the deep-water port in Ha Tinh provinces Ky Anh district.

The April spill killed an estimated 115 tons of fish and left fishermen and tourism industry workers jobless in four central provinces. Vietnam's government said in a report to the National Assembly in July that the disaster had harmed the livelihoods of more than 200,000 people, including 41,000 fishermen.

The company pledged $500 million to clean up and compensate people affected by the spill, but the government has faced protests over the amount of the settlement and the slow pace of payouts.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had ordered compensation for the affected people by the end of 2016, but many have yet to receive any money.

Vietnams one-party communist state closely controls and monitors the Catholic community, the second largest religious group in the country after the Buddhists. Vietnamese Catholics have also been at the forefront of Formosa protests.

While the Formosa spill has sparked rare public demonstrations in Vietnam and resulted in retaliation, the attacks over the past week have not been confined to environmentalists and Catholics.

Religious leaders targeted

Also on Feb 13, some of the leaders of the Inter-Religious Council of Vietnam were attacked on their way from Saigon to the countryside to visit other religious leaders on the occasion of Tet.

Tet marks the Lunar New Year in Vietnam and is the countrys most important celebration, but the council members spent some of the holiday in the local police station.

Buddhist monk Thich Khong Tanh told RFA that he went to visit religious leaders of Hoa Hao and Cao Dai, but was repeatedly harassed by authorities.

We were stopped at Vinh Long, he said. They then took us to the police station and kept us there for several hours. Uniformed police and local security people surrounded us, and they kept our two drivers and then took us to the station. At about 8:30 at night they escorted us back to Saigon.

A Cao Dai representative in the interfaith council who spoke on condition of anonymity told RFA that two followers of that monotheistic religion officially established in Vietnam in 1926 were also attacked.

Cao Dai follower Chau Van Gon was beaten by plainclothes police, the representative said. He lost two teeth and they took away three million dong (U.S. $132). They wanted to take away his iPhone but he threw it into to the river.

The representative told RFA that Cao Dai follower Van Tac Rang was also beaten and robbed.

They took his watch and phone, the representative said. At the station, police told them that they would not be beaten at the station, but they would not guarantee his safety outside the station. After he left the Dong Thanh village office, one group of plainclothes police attacked him and took away his belongings.

Activist Pham Ba Hai told RFA that police told him to stay at his home in Saigon.

City police and local police came to see me and told me not to leave the house, he said. All activists in Vietnam are targets of a crackdown from the government.

Pham Ba Hai told RFA that the authorities often hire thugs or plainclothes police to beat and harass activists when they lack evidence to arrest them.

When they dont have enough evidence to imprison activists, they use thugs, he said. They let local thugs or plainclothes police attack activists.

Prisoner of conscience health issues

While the beatings, house arrests, and other harassment is bad, prison can be even worse, according to the wife of Lutheran pastor and prisoner of conscience Nguyen Cong Chinh.

On Feb. 10 I visited him in Xuan Loc prison in Dong Nai province, Tran Thi Hong told RFA. He has been segregated, and his hands and legs are swollen and his diseases have gotten worse.

Chinh, who is also an activist, was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2012 for "undermining unity" by maintaining ties with dissident groups and distributing material deemed to have slandered government authorities.

I can only see him every two months, and each time I see him his health gets worse, his wife told RFA. He has high blood pressure, sinusitis, and arthritis, and they dont give him medicine at Xuan Loc prison.

Reported by Gwen Ha for RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Viet Ha. Written in English by Brooks Boliek.
A journalism watchdog group has called on Kazakhstan to release an independent journalist and outspoken government critic who was imprisoned last week on allegations of money laundering.

"Kazakhstans authorities have systematically cleansed the country's news media of dissenting voices, and the arrest of Zhanbolat Mamay is one more step in that direction" Nina Ognianova, a Central Asian coordinator for the Committee To Protect Journalists, said on February 13.

"Kazkhstan should release the editor without delay and cease harassing him for his work," she said.

Mamay, who has written about official corruption and other sensitive issues, was arrested for a period of two months on February 11. He stands accused of illegally receiving funds from opposition leader and former head of BTA Bank Mukhtar Ablyazov, who faces similar charges in absentia from exile in France, according to the Kazakh government and media reports.

If found guilty, Mamay faces up to seven years in prison.

Mamay has denied the charges and called the case "politically motivated" and "an attempt to close the newspaper," one of the last independent media outlets in Kazakhstan.

Ablyazov also called the charges "absurd," saying he has never met Mamay.

Mamay told RFE/RL's Kazakh Service before his arrest that he was being followed.


Well, here we go again.

The campaign of French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron has accused Russia of "hundreds, if not thousands of hacking attacks" against it.

The campaign has also denounced what it called Moscow's attempts to smear Macron with fake news.

Hmm. Seems we've seen this movie before.

Now why the Kremlin would target Macron is, of course, pretty damn obvious.

Unlike Moscow's Euroskeptic darling, National Front leader Marine Le Pen, Macron supports a strong and united Europe.

And Macron also takes a much sterner line on Russia than another Kremlin favorite, conservative candidate Francois Fillon -- who has called for lifting sanctions.

France is the next big showdown in the new Cold War of ideas between Western liberalism and Moscow-backed illiberalism.

And since Macron has become the French standard-bearer for liberalism -- and since his candidacy is on the rise -- he is going to be in the Kremlin's crosshairs.

But while we may have seen this movie before, it doesn't necessarily mean the ending will be the same.

Because this time around -- in the French presidential elections this spring and in the German parliamentary elections in the fall -- everybody is on to Moscow's game of using Western democracy as a weapon against Western democracy.

Moscow is not only seeking to upend the post-Cold War international order.

It's not just seeking to divide and weaken the European Union, NATO, and the transatlantic bond.

Ultimately, with its attacks on Western liberalism, the Kremlin is mounting an asymmetrical assault on the Enlightenment itself.

And it is eyeing France -- and later Germany -- as the next key battles in that war.

Keep telling me what you think on The Power Vertical's Twitter feed and on our Facebook page.
French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron's party chief said Macron is being targeted by Russian media and Internet attacks with the goal of helping the election campaigns of his pro-Moscow rivals.

The charges by Richard Ferrand, secretary-general of Macron's En Marche party, on February 13 marked the first direct accusation from a French political party that forces in Russia were trying to influence the outcome of the May election.

Ferrand, who said Moscow looked favorably on the policies of far-right leader Marine Le Pen and center-right candidate Francois Fillon, urged the government to take steps to ensure there was no "foreign meddling" in the election.

Drawing a parallel with the U.S. presidential election in which U.S. intelligence agencies saw the hand of the Kremlin last year, he said: "The Americans saw it, but it came too late."

Ferrand told France 2 television that Russian media like RT and Sputnik are targeting him because he is in favor of the European Union. They have published "fake news" stories saying Macron is a puppet of U.S. elites, for example, he said.

Macron, an independent centrist, has been tipped to win the May 7 second-round against Le Pen, who is anti-EU and supports Russian policy on Ukraine.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters


Russian and Ukrainian forces exchanged heavy artillery fire in multiple locations, officials in both countries said, as Russian-appointed officials continued evacuating people from the west bank of the Dnieper River amid a mounting Ukrainian counteroffensive.

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.

Ukraine's national grid operator, meanwhile, said on November 5 that it would increase rolling blackouts in Kyiv and seven other regions as the countrys national grid remained severely damaged by weeks of Russian air strikes.

Electricity consumption is rising across Ukraine as the weather turns colder, and energy providers have raced to do repairs, ordering planned power cuts to avoid overloads.

Ukraines General Staff said that its troops thwarted Russian attacks a day earlier in the eastern Luhansk and Donetsk regions. The military also claimed that Ukrainian air defenses shot down multiple Russian and Iranian drones and two Kalibr cruise missiles. The claim could not be immediately verified.

The head of the Vynnytsya region, Serhiy Borzov, said the central region was hit overnight by Russian kamikaze drones.

Russian troops have been actively using Iranian drones in recent weeks to attack critical civilian and infrastructure objectives.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the fiercest fighting over the last week had taken place around Bakhmut and Soledar in Donetsk and that Ukrainian forces are holding their positions there and elsewhere.

He also spoke of "good gains" in the south, praising infantry and artillery brigades for destroying enemy equipment, Russian manpower.

The claims of battlefield success could not be independently verified.

Ukrainian forces have been mounting a slow, incremental counteroffensive in the southern Kherson region for weeks now, moving closer to directly threatening the Dnieper River port of Kherson, which was captured early after Russias February invasion.

In response, Russian authorities have been evacuating civilians and military troops to the opposite bank of the Dnieper.

Kirill Stremousov, deputy head of the Russia-installed administration in the Kherson region, announced a 24-hour curfew on November 4, saying it was necessary to defend it from an expected Ukrainian attack.

The Russian military said "more than 5,000 civilians" were being evacuated daily to the east bank of the river. And Russian President Vladimir Putin on November 4 called for civilians to be moved out from Kherson.

Those who live in Kherson must now be removed from the zone of the most dangerous hostilities, Putin said in remarks broadcast on state television. The civilian population should not suffer from shelling, from the offensive, counteroffensive, and other measures related to military operations.

Russias Defense Ministry said on November 5 that troops had repelled Ukrainian attacks in in the Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kherson regions. In the Kherson region, which the Kremlin last month declared had been annexed, authorities reported the heaviest artillery fire in days.

Ukrainian officials have likened the departures of Kherson residents to Soviet-style deportations, though its unclear to what extent the departures are forced or voluntary. Russian officials said people were being moved to safety from the path of the Ukrainian advance.

Ukraines counteroffensives in Kherson and the northern Kharkiv region have been powered in large part by powerful Western weaponry. On November 4, the U.S. Defense Department announced another $400 million shipment of weapons and other equipment, including refurbished tanks, surface-to-air missiles, new coastal defense boats, and other items.

The announcement came around the same time that the U.S. national-security adviser, Jake Sullivan, made an unannounced visit to Kyiv to meet with top Ukrainian officials.

At a news conference later, Sullivan sought again to calm Ukrainian jitters about whether U.S. weapons would continue after the upcoming midterm U.S. congressional elections.

Polls show that Republicans are poised to take control of one, or possibly both, chambers of Congress, and a small but vocal number of Republicans have voiced misgivings about the amount and duration of U.S. aid for Ukraine.

There will be no wavering, Sullivan said at a news conference. Im confident U.S. support for Ukraine will be unwavering and unflinching.

Asked about the prospect of peace talks with Russia, Sullivan repeated what U.S. officials have said in the past: "Nothing is discussed about Ukraine without Ukraine."

"For me, the main question about these negotiations is what a just peace looks like and how it can be achieved, Sullivan said. If you look at Russian accusations, Russian actions, in particular regarding the annexation of [Ukrainian] territories, it does not really encourage negotiations.

With reporting by RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service, Reuters, dpa, and AP
Police in Kyrgyzstan have detained eight alleged members of a banned Islamic group.

Interior Ministry officials said on February 14 that the men were detained in the southern district of Kara-Suu on suspicion of being members of Hizb ut-Tahrir.

According to the ministry, police found books and video materials that featured "possible extremist content" in the homes of some of the suspects.

Kyrgyz authorities contend that Hizb ut-Tahrir plays a role in efforts by Al-Qaeda and Islamic State (IS) militants to radicalize the country's youth and recruit them to fight in Syria and Iraq.

Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is banned across former Soviet Central Asia and in Russia, says it is a peaceful group.

The stated goal of the international pan-Islamic political organization is to unite Muslim countries in a global caliphate ruled by Shari'a law.


CHISINAU -- Moldova's pro-Russian President Igor Dodon has told RFE/RL he thinks the planned opening of a permanent NATO liaison office in Moldova would amount to a provocation.

Moldova's pro-Western government signed an agreement with NATO on the opening of the civilian-staffed liaison bureau in November, before Dodon assumed office.

Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip has urged his Foreign Ministry to accelerate the opening of a NATO liaison office in Chisinau, and the ministry has said it hopes to do so in April.

But in an interview in Chisinau on February 14, Dodon told RFE/RL that he wanted Moldova to remain neutral rather than joining any military alliance.

He said Moldova and NATO had been collaborating well so far.

But when asked about plans for the liaison office, he said: "What do we need a NATO office for? A NATO office in Chisinau, in a neutral country, is a provocation."

"I do not want this. I want neither NATO nor this Russia-led [military] alliance as far as armed forces are concerned," Dodon said in an apparent reference to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a military organization grouping Russia and five other former Soviet republics -- Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

The Moldovan presidency is a largely symbolic position, but Dodon's position has been strengthened by the fact that he was elected in a direct popular vote -- the first president of the country to win office through such an election since 1997.

On February 7, Dodon said after talks in Brussels with NATO Deputy Secretary-General Rose Gottemoeller that the Moldovan people did not "welcome" the opening of a NATO liaison office -- despite the request for the office made by the center-right-controlled parliament and government.

The Moldovan government is made up of officials from pro-Western parties while Dodon previously headed the pro-Russian Socialist Party, which wants closer ties with Moscow rather than closer integration with European institutions.

Dodon said he had recommended to Moldova's current parliament and government that they "not rush it."

"If they do rush it, the next parliament and government will cancel this agreement, NATO will close down the office and will run away from Moldova. Why do we need such a thing," he told RFE/RL.

Dodon also had argued in Brussels that the NATO liaison bureau would "create impediments in regard to negotiations in the Transdniester issue."

Transdniester, a Russian-speaking region in Moldova's east, declared independence from Chisinau in 1990 amid concerns among separatists there of a possible unification of Romania and majority Romanian-speaking Moldova.

A war broke out between Moldova and Transdniester in 1992, which resulted in hundreds of deaths.

Russian troops quelled the fighting, but the conflict remains unresolved, and some 1,200 Russian soldiers are still deployed in Transdniester.

Russia says those troops act as peacekeepers, despite repeated calls for their withdrawal by both Chisinau and the international community.

Asked by RFE/RL to explain his stance on Transdniester, Dodon said he wanted "very much" to see Russian troops leave Transdniester.

"I am quite optimistic about resolving this problem, maybe by the end of my term, maybe even earlier," he said without elaborating.

Dodon's first visit abroad as president was to Moscow, followed by a trip to Brussels.

He told RFE/RL that he planned to continue visiting former Soviet republics as well as some European Union member countries.

"I believe I will visit CIS members Azerbaijan and Belarus, and probably Armenia, EU member Hungary, and [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan will probably come to Moldova in May."

An official visit to Moldova by Erdogan has so far not been confirmed by Turkey.

Written by Eugen Tomiuc based on an interview conducted by RFE/RL's Moldovan Service
Montenegro's prime minister, Dusko Markovic, has told Russia and its allies within Montenegro to stop destabilizing the country as part of their opposition to Podgorica's NATO membership bid.

Speaking on February 14, Markovic said that those warning of unrest "in Montenegro or outside of it should keep their hands off Montenegro."

His remarks came after pro-Russian parties denounced a call by Montenegro's special prosecutor for parliament to lift the immunity of two senior opposition leaders.

The pro-Kremlin opposition Democratic Front leaders, Andrija Mandic and Milan Knezevic, were allegedly involved in a pro-Russian plot in October 2016 to kill the then-prime minister and take over power to prevent Montenegro from joining NATO.

Prosecutor Milivoje Katnic wants their immunity lifted so they can be detained and put on trial for criminal conspiracy and inciting "acts against constitutional order and the security of Montenegro."

Parliament is due to vote on their immunity on February 15. Pro-Russian opposition parties have called for demonstrations outside of the national assembly in Podgorica during the February 15 vote.

Mandic and Knezevic have dismissed the plot allegations as "fiction."

Mandic has made several recent visits to Moscow, where he received support from the Kremlin for his anti-NATO position.

He has warned of civil war in Montenegro over the issue of NATO membership.

But Markovic's government remains committed to forging ties with the West.

Montenegro in October arrested about 20 people -- including two Russian citizens -- in connection with the alleged coup plot.

Most of the others arrested in October are pro-Russian Serbian nationals.

The Kremlin has denied involvement, but has actively supported local groups that oppose Montenegro becoming a NATO member.

NATO Awaits Approval, Including U.S.

Twenty-four of NATO's 28 members have approved Montenegrin membership, which was endorsed by NATO leaders at a Warsaw summit in July 2016.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on February 14, a day before a two-day meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, that he couldn't say exactly when the remaining four NATO members will ratify the accession protocol for Montenegro, but added that "we are on a good track to have the membership of Montenegro relatively soon."

The United States is one of the four countries yet to formally approve Podgorica's NATO bid.

But Stoltenberg said on February 14 that "there has been no sign that the U.S. administration is not supporting the ratification."

"It has a strong bipartisan support in the Senate and the [Senate] Foreign Relations Committee has supported it, so I think it is also on a good track in the U.S.," Stoltenberg said.

However, U.S. President Donald Trump's description of NATO as an "obsolete" organization and his calls for improved relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin have worried many in Montenegro that Trump may try to block Podgorica's membership bid.

With reporting by AP and AFP
A court in Moscow has sentenced three men from Russia's volatile North Caucasus region to prison on terrorism charges.

The Moscow Regional Military Court on February 14 found Mokhmad Mezhidov, Elmar Ashayev, and Aslan Baisultanov guilty of having links with the extremist group Islamic State (IS) in Syria and plotting a terrorist attack in Moscow.

The three were sentenced to prison terms ranging from three to 14 years.

Also on February 14, a court in the southern city of Krasnodar sentenced three young men from the North Caucasus province of Daghestan to prison terms ranging from six to 22 months after finding them guilty of planning to join IS in Syria.

Russian officials have said that at least 5,000 Russian citizens and nationals of other former Soviet republics have traveled to Syria and Iraq to join IS.

Based on reporting by Rapsinews.ru, TASS, and Interfax


Pakistan is forcing hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees back to their homeland, which is still wracked by violence and poverty, a human rights group has said.

"The exodus amounts to the world's largest unlawful mass forced return of refugees in recent times," a Human Rights Watch report said on February 13.

Pakistan cited security concerns for seeking to send Afghan refugees back to their homeland, particularly after several brutal attacks by militants in Pakistan's northwest, which the government linked to insurgents hiding in neighboring Afghanistan.

When their numbers peaked in the 1980s, Pakistan sheltered an estimated 5 million Afghan refugees as Afghan guerrilla fighters battled invading Russian troops.

Today there are still 1.3 million registered Afghan refugees living there, making Pakistan host of the world's largest long-term refugee population.

Last year, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani told refugees in Pakistan to come home, promising them shelter and opportunities.

About 380,000 registered Afghan refugees returned to their homeland along with an estimated 250,000 unregistered refugees.

Pakistan said refugees who returned did so voluntarily and it extended the deadline for refugees to return to the end of this year. But Human Rights Watch said it should be extended through 2019.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters


Russia has denied carrying out media and Internet attacks against French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on February 14 that any such accusations against Russian authorities are "simply absurd."

Opinion polls show Macron running second to far-right leader Marine Le Pen, but indicate he has a good chance of beating her in a potential May 7 runoff between the two top candidates.

Le Pen is a critic of the European Union and supports Russian policy on Ukraine.

Richard Ferrand, the secretary-general of Macron's party, said on February 12 that state-backed Russian media such as RT and Sputnik are targeting Macron with "fake news" because of his pro-EU stance.

Ferrand said that Moscow favors the policies of Le Pen and center-right candidate Francois Fillon. He has urged the French government to take steps to ensure there was no "foreign meddling" in the election on April 23.

"We didn't have and do not have any intention of interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, or in their electoral processes in particular," Peskov told reporters in a daily conference call.

U.S. intelligence agencies in a report released last month said Russia orchestrated a hacking and propaganda campaign to meddle in the November 2016 presidential election with the aim of undermining the U.S. electoral system, discrediting Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton, and helping her rival, Donald Trump, who won the election.

Based on reporting by Reuters, TASS, and Interfax
Officially, the Kremlin has said the resignation of U.S. national security adviser Michael Flynn over allegations of improper contacts with Russia's ambassador to the United States is an "internal matter" for Washington.

Unofficially, however, leading Kremlin-connected politicians and analysts have been nearly unanimous in attributing the resignation to nefarious efforts by U.S. "hawks" to derail a possible improvement in U.S.-Russian relations. They attribute the efforts variously to the "mainstream media," the Democrats stung by freshly inaugurated President Donald Trump and his Republican Party's electoral victories, the U.S. intelligence community, and Republicans they label as "Russophobes."

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on February 14 that "we are not going to comment on this in any way.... It is not our business." The Foreign Ministry issued a similar statement.

But top figures in Russia's foreign-policy establishment outside the executive branch were actively commenting on the development, nearly unanimously arguing that the pressure on Flynn was really aimed at preventing warmer relations between Moscow and Washington.

Federation Council member Aleksei Pushkov, who was formerly the chairman of the State Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee, posted on Twitter a photograph of the front page of the New York Daily Mail with the blaring headline: Russian For The Exit. He said it was a telling example of the "aggressive campaign by U.S. mainstream media" targeting "not Flynn, but relations with Russia."

Pushkov's successor heading the lower house's Foreign Affairs Committee, Leonid Slutsky, told Interfax the same thing.

"A pretext was selected -- [Flynn's] contacts with the Russian ambassador, although this is a normal diplomatic practice," Slutsky said. "In these circumstances, one comes to the conclusion that the target was Russia-American relations and undermining confidence in the American administration."

Sergei Kislitsyn, a specialist in North American affairs with the Russian Academy of Sciences, also said contacts such as those between Flynn and Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak were "normal." "If Flynn had been speaking with the British ambassador or the French, or whomever, there would not be so much attention," he said.

Flynn, Kislitsyn said, "is just a victim of a struggle going on between Trump's supporters and his opponents." In general, he said, "anti-Russian rhetoric" is "a major problem" in the United States and will hamper any efforts to improve bilateral relations.

Federation Council member Konstantin Kosachyov, chairman of the upper house's International Relations Committee, charged that in the United States "even a willingness to engage in dialogue with Russians is seen by the hawks in Washington as a thought crime (in the words of the immortal George Orwell)."

The pressure against Flynn, Kosachyov said, "is more than just paranoia, but something immeasurably worse."

Flynn's willingness to engage in dialogue with Moscow, Kosachyov said, "is definitely better than whatever is being pushed about Russia by [Republican Senator John] McCain and Republicans like him."

McCain has been vocal in his warnings that Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted and staunch in his public defense of Russian neighbors like Georgia and Ukraine, each of which has territory outside its control due to Russian military invasion.

Vladimir Batyuk, an expert with the Institute of the United States and Canada, described the Flynn incident as "a very serious blow to Moscow's trust in the new [U.S.] administration."

"When Kislyak was communicating with Flynn, he was absolutely convinced he was communicating with a representative of Trump," Batyuk said. "Now it turns out that this was not the case." He argued that the loss of trust "will have negative consequences for the future of the Russian-American dialogue."

The WikiLeaks website, which has been accused of being a tool of alleged Russian efforts to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election in favor of Trump, tweeted an argument similar to that put forward by the Russian experts, saying Flynn resigned because of a "destabilization campaign by US spies, Democrats, press."

The popular daily Moskovsky Komsomolets said the key issue in Flynn's downfall was not his conversations with Kislyak but his participation in a gala celebration of Russian state broadcaster RT's 10th anniversary in Moscow in 2015, sitting at the same table with Putin.

"It is hard not to remember the famous words of [18th-century] French Foreign Minister Talleyrand, who said of a similar situation in his day: 'It was worse than a crime. It was a mistake.'"

Relations between Washington and Moscow have been particularly strained since Russia's 2014 seizure of Ukraine's Crimea region and its alleged active political and military support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Moscow was also irked after Washington adopted individual sanctions targeting Russian officials believed to have been involved in human rights abuses, the so-called Magnitsky List -- named after whistle-blowing Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who died in police custody.

Trump campaigned on pledges to try to improve bilateral relations and work with Moscow to combat the threat from "radical Islamic terrorism."
Russia's embassy in Ankara has expressed anger about the awarding of the prestigious World Press Photo Award to a photographer who shot an image of an off-duty Turkish policeman assassinating Russia's envoy to Turkey.

Russia's embassy on February 14 said the decision by the jury was "demoralizing" and showed "complete degradation of ethics and moral values."

In a statement posted to its official Facebook page, the Russian Embassy also suggested that the photograph by Associated Press photographer Burhan Ozbilici was unacceptable "propaganda of the horror of terror."

Ozbilici's image was part of a series titled An Assassination In Turkey that also won the Spot News -- Stories category.

The pictures were taken shortly before and after police officer Mevlut Mert Altintas drew a handgun and shot Ambassador Andrei Karlov dead at a photo exhibition in Ankara on December 19.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP, TASS, and Interfax
Human rights workers say a Russian LGBT activist and an associate have returned to Russia after they were detained by Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Two representatives of the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) told RFE/RL on February 14 that transgender activist Seroye Fioletovoye (Gray Purple) and musician Viktoria Miroshnichenko had crossed into Russia territory following their disappearance two weeks ago.

HRW's Tanya Lokshina said the two had been detained in a separatist-controlled area of Ukraine's Donetsk region.

Fioletovoye, who was born Oleg Vasliyev and also goes by the name Maria Shtern, had reportedly planned to stage a protest in support of LGBT rights.

Lokshina and a Kyiv-based rights activist, Tanya Cooper, said they confirmed the two were in Russia's southern Rostov region on February 14.

Both HRW and Amnesty International had urged separatist leaders to release the two, who were missing after traveling to eastern Ukraine on January 31.

The Russia-backed separatists have been accused by rights groups and Western governments of illegal detentions and abuses, including torture.

Fioletovoye is a former member of the Russian art group Voina, which drew international attention with its daring antigovernment stunts and spawned the dissident art collective Pussy Riot.
ON MY MIND

Given everything else that's going on, Belarus may look like a sideshow. But it's not.

When Western military planners look at scenarios for how a conflict between Russia and NATO would shape up, Belarus is widely assumed to not only to be in Moscow's camp, but its territory is looked at as a virtual extension of Russia's.

This is why the Suwalki Gap, a roughly 100-kilometer stretch of the Polish-Lithuanian border wedged between Belarus and Russia's Kaliningrad region, is such a problem.

If Russia captured the gap in a conflict it would cut the Baltics off from the rest of the alliance. Belarus also looms large in Russia's deployment of its Area Access/Area Denial capabilities.

But Alyaksandr Lukashenka's statements that he would not allow Belarusian territory to be used to attack a third country and his stubborn refusal to allow a new Russian air base on Belarusian soil appear to challenge the assumption that for military purposes, Belarusian territory is an extension of Russia -- at least for now.

A recent war-game simulation hosted by the Potomac Foundation and the Casimir Pulaski Foundation (written up in a piece by Arseni Sivitski that is featured below), illustrates Belarus's rising geopolitical importance.

In the simulation, a conflict between NATO and Russia is preceded by a Moscow-backed coup in Belarus that overthrows Lukashenka and replaces him with a more pliant figure.

With NATO troops now in Poland and the Baltics, with Russia feeling emboldened in its neighborhood, and with massive military exercises planned near Russia's Western borders later this year, the high-stakes dance between Lukashenka and Moscow merits watching.

IN THE NEWS

The White House has announced that national security adviser Michael Flynn has resigned amid reports he misled top officials from President Donald Trump's team about his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the United States.

French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron's campaign says he is being targeted by Russian media and Internet attacks with the goal of helping the election campaigns of his pro-Moscow rivals.

Japanese officials have said they lodged a protest with Russia over Moscow's decision to give names to five formerly unnamed islands of a disputed chain known as the Southern Kuriles in Russia.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has stressed that Moscow is hoping for closer cooperation with the United States on Syria.

Locals in St Petersburg who oppose a government plan to hand control of the iconic St. Isaac's Cathedral over to the Russian Orthodox Church have vowed to continue mass protests and other actions.

International rights groups have urged separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine to disclose the location and ensure the safety of a Russian LGBT activist and a fellow performance artist who went missing there two weeks ago.

A Belarusian official says an order requiring Ukrainian author Serhiy Zhadan to leave the country and barring him from entry was rescinded after high-level officials intervened.

The European Parliament has endorsed new rules governing the suspension of visa-free regimes with countries outside the European Union, a key step toward visa-free travel for Georgians and Ukrainians to the Schengen zone.

WHAT I'M READING

Why Belarus Is Important

Belarus was a key factor in a recent war game that simulated a Russian attack on Poland and the Baltic states, Arseni Sivitski, director of the Minsk-based Center for Strategic and Foreign Policy Studies, writes.Two think tanks, the Potomac Foundation and the Casimir Pulaski Foundation, hosted the war game, which included defense experts and representatives from various Western governments and NATO.

"In the Baltic wargaming simulation scenario, the conflict between Russia and NATO begins with Belarus, with Belarusian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka refusing to establish a large-scale permanent military presence of Russian troops on the territory of Belarus," Savitsky writes.

"Therefore the Kremlin decides to launch a coup, overthrowing Lukashenka and replacing him with a fully controlled and loyal secret service general. The new leader of Belarus then officially invites Russian troops into Belarus. After this the Kremlin begins to generate hybrid threats to the Baltic countries and Poland."

The Kremlin's Alternative Histories

In Bloomberg, political analyst Marc Champion looks back at the Kremlin's history of promoting "altered facts."

"Warning: the Kremlin is trying to split the West by spreading altered facts, conducting blackmail and setting up front organizations, the U.S. State Department said -- in 1981," Champion writes.

The Lives Of Others

Shaun Walker has a feature in The Guardian profiling Jack Barsky, an east German man who worked for decades as a KGB "illegal" in the United States.

"Barskys story is a timely reminder of the immense resources the Russians were willing to expend during the cold war in their bid to embed agents in enemy territory. Hacking was not an option, and casual travel between Moscow and the west was much harder," Walker writes.

Soros On The Russian Threat To Europe

George Soros has a piece in The Guardian arguing that Russia is a greater threat to Europe than ISIS.

"The most effective way Putins regime can avoid collapse is by causing the EU to collapse sooner. An EU that is coming apart at the seams will not be able to maintain the sanctions it imposed on Russia following its incursion into Ukraine," Soros writes.

Dealing With Putin's Revanchism

Brian Michael Jenkins, a senior adviser to the president of the RAND Corporation and the author of the book A Revanchist Russia And An Uncertain West, has a piece in The National Interest on how the West should deal with the Putin regime.



Russia, Syria, And ISIS

Foreign Policy asks: Why are Russian engineers working at an ISIS-controlled gas plant in Syria?

The NATO Of The Mind

In his column for Bloomberg, political commentator Leonid Bershidsky looks at how the "NATO of the mind" limits Putin's sphere of influence.

Second Thoughts In The Kremlin

Ivan Krastev and Stephen Holmes have a piece in Foreign Policy suggesting that the Kremlin might be having second thoughts about Trump.

Putin's Munich Speech

Moscow-based foreign affairs analyst Vladimir Frolov has a piece in Republic.ru looking back at Putin's Munich speech ten years ago.


Former Russian State Duma Deputy Denis Voronenkov, who defected to Ukraine last year, has called Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region " a mistake."

In an interview with the Ukraine-based Censor.net online news portal, Voronenkov compared the present-day Russia with Nazi Germany -- saying that Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) controls everything in the country, including the State Duma.

Voronenkov also said he had testified against former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who was toppled by violent pro-European protests in Kyiv in February 2014.

"Yanukovych is a puppet. He resigned himself and his request [for the Kremlin] to send Russian troops [to Ukraine] was unlawful," Voronenkov said.

He also said that Russia had gone "crazy on its pseudo-patriotic madness."

"Crimea has united Russia around the idea to steal something from a neighbor," Voronenkov said.

Voronenkov and his wife, Maria Maksakova, who is also a former Russian lawmaker, left Russia for Ukraine in October 2016 after the Russian Prosecutor-General's Office refused to launch a probe against his alleged involvement in an illegal property seizure in Moscow. The probe was recommended by the federal Investigative Committee.

Voronenkov says he obtained Ukrainian citizenship in December.

Based on reporting by Censor.net
The White House said U.S. President Donald Trump is "evaluating the situation" regarding his embattled national security adviser Michael Flynn's conversations with Russia's ambassador to Washington, signalling an uncertain future for Flynn.

White House officials said on February 13 that Flynn has apologized privately for the controversy to Vice President Mike Pence, who had publicly vouched for Flynn and said he did not discuss U.S. sanctions against Russia in multiple calls late last year with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak.

Flynn later conceded that sanctions may have come up in the phone conversations, but he couldn't remember.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Trump was consulting with Pence and other White House officials about Flynn.

"The president is evaluating the situation" and is focusing on "what he considers the single most important subject there is -- our national security," Spicer said.

There was nothing wrong with Flynn contacting other governments per se, Spicer said.

"I think general Flynn both during the transition and after, just as part of the job of national security advisor, is to speak with counterparts," said Spicer.

But the White House was quick to distance Trump from the possibility that Flynn discussed sanctions with Kislyak -- a move that might have violated U.S. law against private citizens conducting foreign policy.

Asked if the president was aware that Flynn might have discussed sanctions with the Russian ambassador, Spicer said: "No, absolutely not. No way."

The Washington Post reported last week that Flynn discussed sanctions with the Russian envoy. The Associated Press reported that Flynn was in frequent contact with Kislyak on December 29, the same day the Obama White House imposed a new round of sanctions on Russia for allegedly hacking the U.S. presidential election.

Despite these revelations, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said earlier on February 13 that Trump had "full confidence" in Flynn.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who was involved in organizing Trump's transition effort, said Flynn likely is having to explain his conflicting statements about his conversations with Kislyak to both Trump and Pence.

"General Flynn has said up to this point that he had not said anything like that to the Russian ambassador. I think now he's saying that he doesn't remember whether he did or not," Christie told CNN. "So, that's a conversation he is going to need to have with the president and the vice president to clear that up, so that the White House can make sure that they are completely accurate about what went on."

Several House Democrats last week called on the House Oversight Committee Chairman to launch an investigation into Flynn's ties to Russia. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and many other Democrats also have demanded that Flynn be fired, saying he "cannot be trusted not to put [Russian President Vladimir] Putin before America."

Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer told reporters he wants an independent investigation of Flynn's discussions with Kislyak.

"His security clearance ought to be withdrawn until that independent investigation is completed. And if he has violated any law or ethical precept, he ought to be fired," Schumer said.

Some Republicans in Congress have also raised questions. Senator Susan Collins said that if Flynn misled Pence, "I can't imagine he would have trust in General Flynn going forward." She said it would also be "troubling" if Flynn had been negotiating with a foreign government before taking office.

Besides being illegal to conduct U.S. diplomacy before taking office, Flynn's repeated conversations with Moscow's ambassador also have renewed questions about Trump's friendly posture toward Russia at a time when U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia hacked and released Democratic e-mails with an eye toward helping Trump get elected.

Flynn on February 13 was present at a brief Trump news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, but Trump declined to answer questions about Flynn that were shouted as the heads of state left the room.

Trump is reported to be troubled about the allegations involving Flynn, who was a loyal Trump supporter during the campaign. Flynn is among the most pro-Russia of Trump's national security aides and he also advocates a tougher approach to Iran.

In 2015, Flynn attended a gala dinner for Russia Today, a Kremlin-backed television station, and sat next to Putin during the event.

The Kremlin, for its part, has insisted repeatedly that there was no discussion of sanctions during multiple conversations between Flynn and Kislyak.

With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters


ROANOKE  Former Roanoke newscaster Chris Hurst plans to run for the House of Delegates against Del. Joseph R. Yost, R-Giles.

Hurst, whose girlfriend, fellow reporter Alison Parker, was killed during an on-air shooting in 2015, resigned as an anchor at WDBJ-TV on Friday. On Saturday, he said he had moved from Roanoke to Blacksburg, where he was going to file paperwork to seek the Democratic nomination in the 12th House District.

He also said he was leaving Roanoke because he needs a change of scenery nearly 18 months after Parker and cameraman Adam Ward were killed during a live broadcast at Smith Mountain Lake on Aug. 26, 2015. Hurst and Parker had dated for nine months, and Hurst has said they had wanted to get married.

Ill be able to develop some different routines that (are) not a constant reminder of some of the emotional pain that I have been having to face over the past year and a half, Hurst said. But I am really excited to be a part of that community and run for the House of Delegates as a Democrat for this Novembers election.

Yost, a three-term Republican, welcomed Hurst to the race.

This will certainly be one of the biggest House races this year, and maybe even bigger than the governors race, Yost said in an interview. He said earlier last week that he plans to run for re-election. On Tuesday, Democrat Andrew Schultz also filed to run in the 12th House District.

Hurst, 28, had worked at WDBJ for nearly seven years before deciding to mount a campaign for public office. Born and raised near Philadelphia, Hurst has not held office before, and he knows that, because of the national attention that WDBJ and he received after the 2015 shooting, guns will be an issue in the race.

He said that even though reducing gun violence will be a prominent part of his campaign, anybody who sees me as a single-issue candidate because my girlfriend was killed with a gun needs to look at my body of work over the past seven years here and see how many different topics Ive covered and have been curious and interested in.

Hurst, who joined the station as a reporter in 2010 and became evening anchor in 2011, covered crime and courts, with special assignments on mental health and opioid abuse.

He said he wants to make sure that Virginia Tech, which he described as a massive economic driver, continues to have the resources to create high-tech innovations and green jobs. He also wants Tech to attract the best and brightest from around the world to Blacksburg and provide incentives to keep students in the New River Valley after they graduate. Improving funding for rural schools is also a priority, he said.

Protecting the environment will be another priority, said Hurst, who said he fears there will be continued rollbacks of some needed regulations to make sure our waterways and our property (dont) become polluted.

In addition to policy issues, he said he was inspired to run because of the apathy and indifference he sees from some people in power.

I really believe that the best representative for that region is going to be somebody who not only personally knows the people he or she will represent but then will also be a loud fighter for them, too, he said. As corny as it sounds, I believe public service can make a difference in peoples lives.

Returning to the topic of guns, Hurst said he is a gun owner who wants a healthy discussion of where we are with firearms, and trying to reduce gun violence is the only thing that I am interested in doing.  This is not about trying to change anybodys way of life, but we can do more and do better to reduce gun suicides and gun homicides.

Specifically, he said he wants to find ways to remove guns from people under emergency protective orders until we can get them necessary help. And thats something that in Virginia we dont have any mechanism for.

Hurst said he supports universal background checks for gun owners and wants to give law enforcement the tools to remove dangerous firearms from dangerous situations  rather than just prevent their sale or transfer. At the same time, he said, people think that Im going to try to take everybodys guns away and thats the last thing I want to do.

He added: People have been raised on hunting; theyve been raised on going to the range with their father and mother and learning how to shoot; my brother taught me how to shoot. I just want to make sure that law enforcement knows who the most dangerous people in our communities are.

Yost, too, has been affected by gun violence. His friend Jarrett Lane, a Giles County native, was killed in the Virginia Tech shootings on April 16, 2007. Yost has not focused on gun control issues in the General Assembly, but he has worked for mental health reform, which stems from his graduate school research and a stint as a jail diversion coordinator. The National Rifle Association endorsed Yost in 2015, as it did other local Republicans and also Democratic state Sen. John Edwards.

The 12th House District covers Radford, Giles County and parts of Montgomery and Pulaski counties. With its even split of Republican and Democratic voters, it is one of the more contentious districts in the state.
NEW ORLEANS  If you are innocent, three decades in prison is a long time to think about the people who put you there.

Keith Allen Harward had a lot bottled up, and he let it loose Monday at the largest annual gathering of its kind in the world, the 69th annual meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Im not here to make any friends, began Harward, who was sent behind bars for rape and murder largely on the erroneous testimony of two forensic dentists, known as forensic odontologists.

At a conference workshop Monday with a number of forensic dentists listening, Harward, his voice rising, said, This stuff is all crap. Its bogus. This bite mark stuff is bogus. Why even continue with it? It just doesnt make sense.

Thirty-four years thinking, Wow, what just happened? he said of his convictions.

Youre taking peoples lives in your hands and guessing, Well, I say it is so, so its got to be. Theres no Gods in here. So why do it?

He said the only motives he could think of were money and ego.

The workshop, Taking a Bite Out of Crime and Other Hairy Situations, concerned shortcomings in forensic bite mark and hair analysis exposed by DNA exonerations and outside studies in recent years.

Exonerated by DNA last year, Harward was wrongly linked by bite marks to a savage 1982 rape and murder in Newport News and might have perished in the electric chair had his distraught mother not begged jurors to spare his life.

The former U.S. Navy sailors parents died while he was behind bars. He was imprisoned in large part as a result of testimony by the two forensic dentists who said that his teeth matched bite marks on a rape victim left by an assailant who had just beat her sleeping husband to death with a crowbar.

No fewer than six dentists, among them leading figures in the field of forensic odontology, were involved in Harwards case .

Since Harwards 1983 and 1986 trials, bite mark evidence has been questioned and undermined by numerous studies, and erroneous bite mark analyses have played a part in at least 28 wrongful convictions and arrests across the country.

Chris Fabricant, one of Harwards lawyers with the Innocence Project, also spoke at the workshop and outlined Harwards case. We know from our experience that any conviction that rests on bite mark evidence is inherently unreliable. Its just reality.

For purposes of our discussion here today I just want you to accept that theres no science there.

Last year the Presidents Council of Advisors on Science and Technology found, Bite mark analysis does not meet the scientific standards for foundational validity, and is far from meeting such standards.

To the contrary, available scientific evidence strongly suggests that examiners cannot consistently agree on whether an injury is a human bite mark ... with reasonable accuracy.

Fabricant said bite mark evidence is especially pernicious because it makes the accused look like an animal.

A prosecutor can say,  That animal bit that poor victim and science and science says so. 

At least four other dentists were involved at one time or another during the case, and none of them disputed the conclusions of the two dentists who testified.

Fabricant said Harwards is the only case the Innocence Project knows of where the defense was unable to get an expert to testify on his behalf, which is unusual given that the technique is inherently subjective.

And unlike in other cases, there was no question that they were actually human bite marks because the victim testified that she was bitten by the assailant, noted Fabricant.

The American Board of Forensic Odontology has changed its standards and no longer sanctions specific biter identifications.

Instead, forensic odontologists decide if comparisons either exclude or cannot exclude someone as the biter, or that there was insufficient information.

But until there is a scientific basis established for bite mark analysis, the Innocence Project and other critics, such as Harward, are fighting to keep such analysis entirely out of criminal trials  something no court in the country has thus far done.

The American Board of Forensic Odontology and many prosecutors believe that is throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Forensic dentists still can provide accurate evidence provided it is placed in proper context, they contend.

Fabricant counters that Harwards case, in which a Navy dentist initially excluded Harward and then later changed his mind, proves experts no more can reliably exclude anyone on the basis of bite marks than they can identify someone.

Another workshop speaker, Anthony R. Cardoza, a dentist who does forensic consulting, also pointed out that excluding someone can be as dangerous as including them  if the pool of suspects is small, such as a family, it raises more suspicion about those who are not excluded.

Jurors at Harwards trials were briefed on the international renown of one of the experts, Lowell Levine. Among other things, Levine helped convict serial killer Ted Bundy and identify the remains of Joseph Mengele, the notorious Nazi doctor and longtime fugitive.

In 1976, Levine was a founding member of the American Board of Forensic Odontology and later served a term as president of the 6,700-member American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Levine testified that Harwards teeth and the bite marks on the rape victim matched to a reasonable scientific certainty.

He added, Its a practical impossibility that someone else would have all these characteristics in combination, he said.

The other forensic dentist who testified against Harward concluded they matched to a reasonable medical certainty.

Levine, who is registered to attend the conference but who was not at Mondays workshop, has not returned requests for comment from the Richmond Times-Dispatch. A top official with the American Board of Forensic Odontology did not return a request for comment last week.

Fabricant said Levine was so convincing that even Harwards brother  who knew he was innocent  had some doubts. Its such powerful evidence, Fabricant said.

Harward said Monday that after listening to Levines background at his trial, The jury was just slobbering, they were gone. (He) was like the Wizard of Oz. He levitated.

Harward  who has acquired a tan, about 30 additional pounds and a beard since he was released from the Nottoway Correctional Center last April 8 and now lives in Greensboro, N.C.  said he read in a news account that Levine said such conclusions were accepted at the time.

He asked those attending the workshop how many of them have supported slavery or the Holocaust. They were accepted at the time, he said.

For him (Levine) to say a thing like that  you all should be ashamed to be part of what hes a part of. You should be, because its just not right.

Consider this: I had two people in the state of Virginia trying to murder me. Two of em. They knew from the outset that my case was a capital case, he said.

Harward met a number of odontologists and said, Ive come to find that theres some good people out there, but there are still people who are on the fence about whether to completely eliminate forensic bite mark analysis until more is known.

Why even give it a shot? Why even discuss it any more? Just do away with it, he said. You need to stop this. And if youre not part of it, stop the others that are.

Several speakers at the conference alluded to contention within the American Board of Forensic Odontology about the future of bite mark analysis  odontologists also identify human remains via teeth and dental records, a pursuit that is not controversial.

Harward said, Theres a lot of infighting amongst yall people right now. And whats the question? Just stop it. Just dont do it anymore. Then theres no chance of making any mistakes.

This is a warning  if I find out anybodys testifying in bite mark evidence cases I will come to the courtroom, I will contact the media, I will stand on the street corner in a Statue of Liberty outfit with a big sign saying This is Crap.

You can understand the media would love to talk to me about something like this, and he promised to speak to every camera on hand wherever bite mark evidence is being used in a trial in any fashion whatsoever.

Because I dont care. Whats the worst that can happen to me? Like I said, it already has.
A Marine stationed at Fort Lee dodged a felony record and jail time after a judge convicted him of a lesser offense in the assault of an Uber driver who nearly passed out on Interstate 95 after the Marine put him in a chokehold while the car was traveling 65 mph.

Chesterfield County Circuit Judge T.J. Hauler convicted Maxwell Sweeney, 23, of misdemeanor assault and misdemeanor vandalism and imposed a 12-month suspended jail sentence on each count for the April 24 attack. The judge also ordered Sweeney to pay $2,246 in restitution to the driver, Rene Ernesto Sanchez Espinozo, a former police officer and bodyguard from El Salvador who suffered symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the assault.

Sweeney had pleaded no contest in September to felony unlawful wounding and misdemeanor vandalism, and Hauler provisionally accepted Sweeneys pleas and found the evidence sufficient for a conviction. But his attorney asked Hauler to withhold a finding of guilt until Sweeneys sentencing hearing last week.

After listening to defense arguments on Wednesday, Hauler found Sweeney guilty of the lesser count after learning the Marine Corps had expelled Sweeney with an Other than Honorable Discharge, which the judge likened to a felony conviction, said Chesterfield prosecutor Juan Vega.

Vega had recommended that Sweeney be convicted of felony unlawful wounding and misdemeanor vandalism and serve two months in jail.

The Other Than Honorable Discharge is the Marines most severe classification of administrative discharge, which is given to Marines who violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice by committing such offenses as security violations, domestic- or duty-related violence, and theft. Civilian convictions with confinement also warrant a similar discharge. Marines can request it in lieu of a court-martial at the discretion of their commanding officer.

Sweeney originally was charged with the more serious offense of injuring a person through strangulation. But in an agreement between the prosecution and defense, he pleaded no contest to unlawful wounding on Sept. 14.

According to evidence, Sweeney and a friend, both of whom were with a Marine attachment at Fort Lee, had been drinking in a bar in Richmond and Espinozo had been hired by a third party to pick them up and take them to Petersburg.

But during the drive, Sweeney and his friend asked to be taken to a different location. When Espinozo notified Uber, an online signal was sent to a woman who was paying for the fare, and she declined to accept the charges for the new destination.

Espinozo then advised Sweeney and his friend that he would have to pull over so that a new transaction could be initiated, and that would require payment from them.

Thats when Sweeney, in the rear seat, moved forward through the center console and placed Espinozo in a chokehold. After the victim managed to stop the car, Sweeney jumped out and ran into the woods. Espinozo also ran from the car, but his other passenger, who was not involved in the assault, stayed close by.

Sweeney passed out in a wooded area and was arrested the next morning after he awoke and interstate travelers called police about a man attempting to wave down cars for a ride.

Sweeney had been drinking for much of the day on April 24 and told a state trooper after his arrest that he could not recall anything after about 3:30 p.m. that day.

The attack was the second on a local Uber driver during a six-month span.

In August, a former Old Dominion University student living in Chesterfield was convicted of abducting and carjacking a female Uber driver after she picked him up from the Midlothian Walmart on Oct. 25, 2015. Kefha S. Nyaanga, 22, forced the victim into the trunk of her car before driving her to several bank ATMs to obtain cash.
A Prince Edward County teen has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the December 2015 death of a Powhatan County man who was en route to buy Christmas gifts for his grandchildren when his car was struck by a stolen SUV that was fleeing police.

In an agreement between the prosecution and defense, Andre T. Eanes, now 19, also pleaded guilty in Powhatan Circuit Court to eluding police and unauthorized use of a vehicle in a series of crimes that began in Prince Edward, passed through Cumberland County and ended in Powhatan when Eanes plowed into Thomas R. Rutledge Jr.s car, killing him.

Eanes was originally charged with felony murder and grand theft auto.

Rutledge, 73, and his wife, Shannon G. Rutledge, 60, were on their way to buy Christmas presents for his grandchildren at Walmart when the crash occurred as Eanes was being pursued by police on U.S. 60.

Powhatan Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Robert Cerullo will ask a judge to impose a 10-year prison term when Eanes is sentenced April 27.

According to a summary of evidence, Eanes was a student at the Prince Edward Career & Technical Education Center when he decided to go for a joy ride in his buddys Chevrolet Tahoe, which was parked in the school lot with the keys in the ignition, Cerullo said.

He drove the vehicle from Prince Edward into neighboring Cumberland and, as he traveled east on U.S. 60, a state trooper clocked him traveling 79 mph in a 35-mph zone through the Cumberland Courthouse area.

When the trooper activated his emergency lights and siren, Eanes drove away, and a pursuit was initiated with Eanes driving in excess of 100 mph and swerving recklessly around cars, Cerullo said.

As the pursuit continued, state police notified the Powhatan Sheriffs Office, and deputies stopped traffic at the intersection of U.S. 60 and U.S. 522 to allow the pursuit to pass through. Powhatan deputies also deployed a tire-deflation device at the intersection.

As Eanes approached in the Tahoe, he made an abrupt lane change to the right and struck the Rutledges small car.

Moments before the crash, the Rutledges were traveling east on U.S. 60 and approaching the 522 intersection when they saw the deputies blue lights and stopped in the turn lane on the right side, Cerullo said.

They were confused and unsure what to do, the prosecutor said. Within seconds, they were struck from behind by the suspects vehicle. The damage was horrific.

Mrs. Rutledge was hospitalized with injuries but survived. Her husband died at a local hospital from internal bleeding, Cerullo said.

In an interview a day after the crash, Kim Pologruto, one of Rutledges daughters, described her father as a strong, resilient man who had survived colon and pancreatic cancer as well as triple-bypass heart surgery. He left behind two adult daughters and six grandchildren, ages 2 through 16.

Eanes was initially declared incompetent to stand trial after officials at the Piedmont Regional Jail, where he was held, observed the teen talking to himself when he was alone in his cell, Cerullo said.

A judge sent him to Central State Hospital to be evaluated on a motion from the defense, and doctors advised he was mentally incompetent but could likely be restored with medication. The teens mental health improved after treatment, and he was declared competent to stand trial.

He didnt have any psychiatric problems that I know of before this accident, the prosecutor said.

The defense plans to have a psychiatrist testify about Eanes mental health at the teens sentencing hearing in April, the prosecutor said.
Richmond Councilman Parker C. Agelasto isnt aware of anyone currently mining natural gas from oil shale within the city limits. But he said he wants to keep it that way.

Agelasto introduced legislation this week that would ban hydraulic fracturing  a controversial process through which pressurized liquid is pushed into wells to free natural gas  in Richmond.

He said he introduced the legislation after learning that fracking is allowed by right in certain industrial districts. The citys zoning director was not available for comment Tuesday.

While most of us think its unlikely to happen in the city of Richmond, its a permitted land use and it could occur without the requirement of going before the council or even notifying neighbors, Agelasto said.

The problem that I have learned in four years on council is that if you dont say no then its automatically permitted and you cant stop it from happening.
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The high of 82 degrees on Sunday didnt just break a record for the date, it was nearly Richmonds warmest winter temperature reading in 120 years of observations.

The May-like warmth beat the previous record high of 74 from Feb. 12, 1999, by the unusually large margin of 8 degrees.

The last time there was a warmer February day at Richmond International Airport, it was the recently established Byrd Field. The thermometer there peaked at 83 on Feb. 25, 1930, and Feb. 11, 1932. Those are also the all-time warmest readings for Richmond during climatological winter, the months of December, January and February.

The thermometer only creeps above the 80-degree mark during winter with a frequency of once or twice per decade. Prior to Sunday, the most recent instance was a high of 81 on Feb. 24, 2012.

February temperatures do vary, but highs usually stay in a range of 30s to 60s. Based on those statistics, a high of 19 degrees would be just as rare as low 80s this time of year.

The air mass in place on Sunday was unusually warm to begin with, setting new records in many cities across the South.

The cold front and its clouds and rain held off until late in the day and allowed sunshine and a southwest breeze to heat the area to its full potential.

Dry, cool Valentines Day

Valentines Day plans suffered from bitter cold and an approaching snowstorm last year, but the forecast is seasonable and quiet for Tuesday.

Expect temperatures in the 40s for the evening hours with a partly cloudy sky. A chance for light rain showers will hold off until late overnight and Wednesday morning.

Increasing cloud cover could interfere with a particularly bright pass by the International Space Station on Tuesday evening.

If skies are clear, the station will be visible in the northwest sky at 7:15 p.m., cross nearly overhead, then vanish over the southeastern sky by 7:19 p.m.
The dry wind gusts of late winter and early spring make this the most dangerous season of the year for wildfires in Virginia.

Most of the states wildfires happen during February, March and April because weather conditions are primed to make wildfires spread more rapidly, according to Fred Turck, prevention program manager at the Virginia Department of Forestry.

This relatively dry winter and the increasing development in wooded areas could make even more homes vulnerable this year.

Were starting to have fires spread, and its something we need to be aware of, Turck said.

A statewide ban on open outdoor burning between midnight and 4 p.m. is in effect from today until April 30.

Burning is allowed between 4 p.m. and midnight under the state law, but counties and cities may have additional restrictions. Local officials can implement burn bans if conditions worsen.

Violators of the statewide burning law could be fined up to $500, along with the costs of fighting a fire and any property damage it causes.

Backyard burns are the leading cause of wildfires in the state. Even a fire that seems to be put out could send embers into nearby leaves and grass when wind gusts pick back up.

The severity of a fire season is determined by long-term weather patterns, such as drought, along with short-term weather conditions such as wind and low humidity.

On most fair-weather days, the relative humidity of the air is lowest during the daytime and afternoon hours, and higher during the evening and overnight.

Wind speeds usually decrease during the evening hours, but there can be exceptions, like the strong gusts that blew through the area on Sunday night.

This winter has brought above-average rainfall to southwest Virginia and helped ease that areas severe drought. But abnormally dry conditions persist in parts of Southwest Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley, northern Piedmont and Washington suburbs.

Though the Richmond area is not in a drought, precipitation has been lower than normal over the past 90 days.

One snowstorm or soaking rain can make people forget that the vegetation is dormant and dry this time of year.

Even though weve gotten a little bit of rain, a little bit of snow, they think the moment at hand seems like its wet, said Turck. A little bit of wind on a day with low or moderate humidity and were right back in it.

The National Weather Service will consult with the Department of Forestry and other agencies to issue a red flag warning when vegetation is particularly dry, and winds are expected to be stronger than 20 mph with a relative humidity lower than 30 percent.

Fires broke out all across the state in February 2011, including one that burned about 900 acres in Louisa County and destroyed two homes.

Last April, a fire burned more than 10,000 acres in Shenandoah National Park and forced the closure of Skyline Drive.

The fire risk can change with the weather, and also with the local landscape. Homes and subdivisions surrounded by forests can be at a higher risk of being affected by fires, even in suburban areas far away from national forests.

The SouthWRAP website  a project by state forestry agencies in the Southern U.S.  features an interactive map to show wildfire vulnerability on a neighborhood scale. Click and find out what the fire risk is around your house, said Turck. It also gives you tips on how you can mitigate that.

The Virginia Department of Forestry website also has resources on how to make a property more resilient to the threat of wildfires.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
"My Own Dear Amelia: How can I express the pleasure it affords me to receive a letter written by hand of her I love. . . .

"Men and women talk of love, can anyone describe it? Can any one give the reason why one person loves another to the exclusion of every one else. . . . I know many ladies, who are amiable kind, talented and refined, all that a man can wish, and yet I cannot love them or do not love them as I love you, and they may be like you, but to me they are different. . . . So I say reason or no reason, some undefinable force attracts me to you, and I have no means of resisting it and would not if I had.

"Affectionately LEW."

"LEW" was Lewis Douglass, the eldest son of abolitionist Frederick Douglass, and he was writing to his beloved H. Amelia Loguen on June 16, 1862, from Rochester, N.Y.

Try finding this kind of heartfelt affection on a Match.com profile.

But once upon a time, before the age of tweets and Tinder, lovers took ink to paper to express their devotion to one another. So for this Valentine's Day, The Washington Post asked curators at the Library of Congress to select some of their favorite love letters.

Adrienne Cannon, African American history and culture specialist for the library's manuscript division, focused on letters written by Lewis Douglass to Helen Amelia Loguen.

"The letters present a beautiful black love story, preserved for posterity," Cannon said. "Lewis Douglass' singular love and devotion for Amelia Loguen inspired him to poetry, helped sustain him through war, and culminated in an enduring marriage."

They would marry after Douglass was honorably discharged from the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry following the Civil War. (His was the regiment depicted in the movie "Glory.")

Curator Sahr Conway-Lanz, a manuscript historian, chose letters written by President Woodrow Wilson to the widow Edith Bolling Galt. Wilson had fallen in love with Galt a year after the death of his wife, Ellen Axon Wilson, in 1914. Conway-Lanz said the two kept their romance a secret until they were ready to make their engagement public.

"This was clearly tough on both of them," he said. That longing is clear in a July 18, 1915, letter.

"My precious sweetheart: There are so many things I want to say first - but I can't decide where to begin - but as a preliminary I will ease my heart by saying that which is dearest in all the world - and it is - I love you - love you - love you."

One of Wilson's advisers, Conway said, wrote: "It seems the president is wholly absorbed in this love affair and is neglecting practically everything else."

The couple married Dec. 18, 1915.

Curator Julie Miller, an early American history specialist, picked a now-famous letter by Thomas Jefferson to Maria Cosway, written Oct. 12, 1786, while Jefferson was U.S. ambassador to France. Jefferson was a widower; Cosway was married. But that did not halt the future president.

"He clearly fell in love with her," Miller said.

The 12-page letter is structured as a dialogue between his head and his heart. It is the ambivalence in the correspondence that intrigued Miller.

"Seated by my fire side, solitary and sad, the following dialogue took place between my Head and my Heart.

"Head. Well, friend, you seem to be in a pretty trim.

"Heart. I am indeed the most wretched of all earthly beings. Overwhelmed with grief, every fibre of my frame distended beyond its natural powers to bear, I would willingly meet whatever catastrophe should leave me no more to feel or to fear."

Curator Michelle A. Krowl, a specialist in the Civil War and Reconstruction, selected a letter written by Ulysses S. Grant to Julia Dent. Grant met Dent when he traveled with his former West Point roommate Frederick Dent to St. Louis. "He was quickly besotted" with Dent's sister Julia, and they became engaged on May 22, 1844, Krowl said. "But Grant's military career and her father's condition that they wait to marry until Grant's professional life was more stable postponed their marriage."

In a letter dated Jan. 2, 1846, from Corpus Christi, Texas, Grant, who was growing impatient with their delayed engagement, begs Dent to speak with her father.

"You know Julia what I think we would be justifiable in doing if his consent is still withheld and I hope you think nearly with me. . . . You alone Julia have it in your power to decide whether despite ev[e]rything we carry our engagement into effect. You have only to decide for me to act. If you will set a tim[e] when I must be in Missouri I will be there no matter if my Reg.t is still in Texas. The matter is one of importance enough to procure a leave of absence, and besides for the love I bear my dear Julia I would not value my commission to[o] highly to resign it. My happiness would be complete if a return mail should bring me a letter setting the time not - far distant - when I might 'clasp that little hand and call of mine.'

"Your Devoted Lover, Ulysses"

Krowl said Grant's letters clearly reveal "the depth of his love for Julia and how central she had become to his life."

Love letters written by famed Hollywood director Rouben Mamoulian to his wife, Azadia, were written from the perspective of his pet cats.

"Rouben and Acadia never had children," said senior archive specialist Laura J. Kells. "Their cats were their children. . . . When he died there were 40 cats in his Beverly Hills home. He died flea-ridden."

"We are all independent and free, With each other we never agree, But for once, on this day, all as one we can say: "Will you pet us and feed us? Always love us and need us? Or, in short rain or shine, Be our sweet Valentine?!"

He signed the Feb. 14, 1973, letter "Little Pretty, Naba, Mata Hari, Tigress, Abigayil, Zorro and Chunky."

During the Civil War, Walt Whitman moved to Washington, where he met Peter Doyle, a former Confederate soldier. Whitman's letters, including those to Doyle, ware recently were put online by the Library of Congress.

"They met one stormy night in 1865 when Whitman was the last passenger on Doyle's car," according to the Library Congress exhibit. "To Pete, the poet looked 'like an old sea-captain.' We were familiar at once. I put my hand on his knee - we understood from that time on we were the biggest sort of friends."

"They said it was love at first sight," said Barbara Bair, literature and cultural specialist.

They took long walks. Whitman read Shakespeare to him. Doyle read limericks. In love letters, Whitman referred to Doyle as comrade, son and darling.

Their relationship changed, Bair said, when Whitman suffered a nearly fatal stroke while working late in the Treasury building. He moved to Camden, N.J., to live with his brother and recuperate.

In a letter dated June 20, 1877, Whitman wrote:

"Dear, dear boy Pete I'm stopping here now for a week or two in the house I believe I have mentioned to you before, and where I wanted you to come and see me and still want you if you have a chance. But I spend most of my time down at an old farm down in New Jersey where I have a fine secluded wood and Creek and springs, where I pass my time alone, and yet not lonesome at all (often think of you Pete and put my arm around you and hug you up close, and give you a good buss often.)

"Your Old Walt."

The profound portrayal of "longing" caused by the distance between the two lovers makes the letter compelling, Bair said.

Janice E. Ruth, assistant chief in the manuscript division, chose love letters between abolitionist and women's rights advocate Lucy Stone and Henry Blackwell.

Stone initially had no intention of marrying Blackwell, Ruth said, but Blackwell was persistent.

"They decided to use their wedding ceremony as a vehicle for focusing on laws discriminatory to women. Stone kept her maiden name, and they eliminated the marriage vow 'to obey,' and circulated a written protest against the 19th century marriage laws which denied women all legal standing," Ruth said.

In a letter dated Feb. 19, 1855, Stone wrote:

"I received your two letters dearest Harry - the one from Ann Arbor and the other from Battle Creek, on my return from Shalamazoo (where I wrote you last.) A fervent 'thank God,' escaped my lips as I read your deliverance from the railroad disaster. Never until then had I known how dear or how necessary you are to me. But when I reflected how barren life would be to me if you had been killed, how much of its sunshine, and its power of use, would have gone more than ever before, I felt how much I need you."

Washington Post News Service (DC)
One night in the summer of 2016, a man whose property borders Grayson Highlands State Park saw a flash of light at a nearby power pole. He watched his lights flicker and dim, but the power never went out.

The next morning, he found an explanation for the momentary electrical malfunction in his back yard: A large black bear with scorched hair was lying dead at the base of the pole, Appalachian Power spokeswoman Teresa Hamilton Hall said.

He started connecting the dots and thought, Oh, thats what happened,  Hall said.

Its unclear what electrocuted the bear. Department of Game and Inland Fisheries officials told the homeowner that the bear might have come in contact with something on the pole, though an Appalachian employee couldnt determine what exactly the bear touched, Hall said. None of the equipment on the pole was damaged.

That bear was one of two found dead after interacting with Appalachian equipment, to Halls knowledge. The other was found in 2015, after a customer lost power to a cabin he owns in Meadows of Dan in Patrick County.

But in remote areas of Southwest Virginia  like Whitetop Mountain and Glade Spring in Washington County  workers have been finding bears handiwork for years. In those regions, employees have found gnawed and clawed-up power poles, some damaged so severely that the poles are nearly in two by the time theyre discovered.

Appalachian power spent $9.34 million, or $2,750 per pole, to replace 3,400 damaged poles throughout its coverage area in 2016. The company doesnt currently track poles damaged by bears, so its unclear how much of that replacement cost can be attributed to ursine wildlife. Employees have taken pictures of equipment damaged in both Virginia and West Virginia, but no damaged poles have been reported in the Roanoke or New River valleys yet.

Last summer, the company announced a new initiative to inspect and maintain the 600,000 power poles in its service area over the next 10 years. In addition to helping the company better maintain its electrical equipment, it could also help explain unexpected power outages in areas where bear populations are growing, Hall said.

So many times when we have power outages, its a squirrel, or its a hawk, or its a black snake, she said. But with more bears in urban areas, it could one day be, Oh, its a bear. 

Jaime Sajecki, head of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Black Bear Project, said she hears about bears being electrocuted only occasionally.

Its unclear why the bears might choose to climb the poles, some of which rise 35 feet in the air. But Sajecki said the bears could be attempting to reach the poles transformers, tricked by their instincts into thinking the equipments buzzing indicates insects.

That might have been what led a 100-pound cub to scale a power pole near the Meadows of Dan cabin in October 2015, Appalachian line crew supervisor Steven Montgomery said. In that case, the bears curiosity not only led to its death, but also shorted out the transformer.

The dead cub was still on top of the pole when the cabin owner called the company to report that his power was out. Since the owner lives in West Virginia and only returns to the cabin for deer hunting season, its unclear how long the bear had been dead, Montgomery said.

If you have a transformer on your pole, if you put your ear to it, you hear it humming, Montgomery said. The transformer makes the pole vibrate some, so the bear thinks that the pole is more like a tree and has bugs in it.

Sajecki said its far more common for electrical workers to find scratches and bite marks on poles, as they provide bears with a way to mark their territory and send messages to other bears.

When youre a bear, the higher you make the mark on a tree or a pole or whatever, that shows other bears that youre that big, Sajecki said. Theres bears that overlap home ranges, so theyre constantly leaving messages on whos there, whos dominant. Theyre a really good way to broadcast your message.

In the past, Sajecki said shes told power companies to use heavy-duty plastic  the kind used to line dump trucks  or metal flashing to keep bears away from the poles. Thats what the Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro uses to provide an extra barrier between the centers bears and the electrical fence surrounding the area, she said.

Some companies have also had luck with leaving a damaged pole standing and putting the new one next to it. Bears will usually continue to use the old pole as their scratching post, Sajecki said.

Then the new pole they can wrap something around it so they cant climb it or bite it, she said.

Appalachian Power senior utility forester Kevin Sigmon said the utility has found its own method for protecting poles from bear damage: drain pipe. The company fits corrugated plastic piping, cut in a spiral, around the pole and then fits the spiral pieces together to make a solid covering.

The company first used drain piping as a bear guard about six years ago, when Sigmon and other employees found about two dozen damaged power poles between Konnarock and Skulls Gap in Smyth County.

In that case, the poles were in an area that could only be reached on foot. Rather than drag heavy pipes through miles of forest, Appalachian hired a company to airlift the pipes to the site where they would need to be installed.

After a couple of years, distribution system supervisor Tony Miller said some employees were sent to check the bear guards.

Sure enough, they had been scratched a little bit, and there was some mud on them, but they werent broken or damaged enough that they got to the poles, Miller said.

That was one of the first times the company has found a batch of damaged poles clumped together, Sigmon said. And although the bear guards worked, it wouldnt be cost effective to put similar protections on every pole. Sigmon said hes hoping that the new inspection initiative will give the company more insight into where bear guard installations would be most effective.

[The bears will] hit a pole over here and nothing else, and then miles away theyll hit another pole, Sigmon said. You cant put bear guards on every pole. That would be a little overkill and very expensive. Its just in this area where we saw lots of damage on a lot of poles we realized there was something special happening.
RICHMOND  A federal judge in Alexandria on Monday night granted Virginias request for a temporary restraining order, further halting President Donald Trumps executive order on refugees and immigration.

U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema found that Virginia is likely to prevail on the merits of its claim that the presidents Jan. 27 order violates the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which forbids the establishment of religion by the government.

Maximum power does not mean absolute power, Brinkema wrote of the presidents claim of statutory authority for the order under federal law.

Every presidential action must still comply with the limits set by Congress delegation of power and the constraints of the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.

Brinkemas opinion  the nations first preliminary injunction against the presidents action  comes four days after a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling enjoining enforcement of the executive order.

In light of the temporary restraining order in the case pending in the state of Washington and in the 9th Circuit, Brinkemas injunction is narrowly tailored and addresses only Virginias harms, according to the office of Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring.

Brinkema concludes her 22-page opinion by holding that the unrefuted evidence that Virginia presented establishes that there is a likelihood the commonwealth will prevail on the merits of its establishment claim, that Virginians will suffer irreparable injury if the enforcement of the executive order is not enjoined, that the Trump administration will not suffer harm from the injunction and that enjoining unconstitutional action by the Executive Branch is always in the publics interest.

A week into his presidency, Trump signed the executive order, which suspended the U.S. refugee program for four months and suspended for 90 days all immigration into the United States by people from seven majority Muslim countries  Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Yemen and Somalia.

The order did not list lawful permanent residents among those excluded from the order. But Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly clarified on Jan. 29 that citizens of the seven countries who hold green cards would not be stopped from re-entering the U.S.

Brinkema wrote in her opinion that Virginia has produced evidence that the presidents executive order has been disruptive to the operation of its public colleges and universities, affecting international travel of at least 350 students attending Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Tech, George Mason University, the University of Virginia and the College of William and Mary combined.

The judge concluded that the presidents past statements about immigration by Muslims to the United States were relevant, including his Dec. 7, 2015, call for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our countrys representatives can figure out what is going on.

As to the relevance of the presidents past statements, Brinkema wrote: A person is not made brand new simply by taking the oath of office.

Brinkema noted that the Muslim ban was a centerpiece of the presidents claim for months, and the news release calling for it was still available on his website as of the day this Memorandum Opinion is being entered.
RICHMOND  A Virginia House of Delegates subcommittee Tuesday dealt the finishing blow to redistricting reform efforts for the 2017 legislative session after sparring between the two lawmakers who spearheaded the last redrawing of legislative lines in 2011.

Three anti-gerrymandering measures that passed the Senate with bipartisan support, two of them sponsored by Republicans, died in 5-2 party-line votes in a Republican-controlled subcommittee dealing with elections.

The bills were all aimed at creating what supporters said would be a fairer, more competitive electoral process with a map that doesnt favor a particular party or protect incumbents.

The House had already killed redistricting proposals from its own members, which left the Senate measures as the only vehicles for reform this year with a new round of redistricting  the drawing of Virginias legislative and congressional boundaries  coming after the 2020 U.S. census.

Though House Republicans killed redistricting bills silently earlier in the session  including one by Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke  they offered a more forceful response at Tuesdays 7 a.m. committee meeting, which was packed with redistricting reform advocates.

When Sens. Jill Holtzman Vogel, R-Fauquier, and Janet Howell, D-Fairfax, stood to explain their proposal to set new redistricting criteria in the state constitution, a prominent Republican delegate asked Howell why she didnt use the same apolitical criteria in 2011 when she led redistricting of the Senate, which at the time had a Democratic majority.

You had control over that when you were there, said Del. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk. You could have done exactly what you wanted.

There is no way in a political system that we could possibly have allowed the House to do a totally political redistricting and leave the Senate unilaterally disarmed, Howell replied. Were not going to do that. Thats the argument for why we need it in the constitution.

Republicans now hold majorities in both the House and the Senate, despite holding no executive offices. The GOP has not won a statewide election since 2009.

Jones asked Howell how Senate Democrats would have been unilaterally disarmed by a fair process?

It was spoken that the House was going to do a totally political redistricting, Howell said. And you did.

Thats not true, Jones replied. We had bipartisan support.

Several reform advocates and civic groups spoke in favor of the proposals, portraying them as good-government fixes that would refresh the democratic process at a time of rising citizen activism and flagging faith in politics.

The people are watching now. Theyre watching more closely than they have in the past, said Sen. Emmet Hanger, R-Augusta, whose proposal for an appointed redistricting commission was also rejected by the subcommittee.

Though the previous failed effort to get redistricting reform on the House election committees agenda this month ended with yelling from the audience, the reaction Tuesday was more muted. The crowd voiced audible disappointment as each proposal failed, but the boos were more subdued than shouted.

Del. Mark Sickles, D-Fairfax, requested separate votes on the proposals immediately after the meeting began, potentially warding off a repeat of an earlier House action to kill all its redistricting proposals in one vote.

A lot of people think is the most important thing happening in government and the biggest problem we have in the United States and Virginia, Sickles said.

Del. Mark Cole, R-Spotsylvania, disagreed with the notion that gerrymandering breeds political polarization. He attributed the divide to the stark political differences between urban and rural areas

I challenge you to draw a competitive district in Arlington. You cant do it, Cole said. In most of rural Virginia, you cant draw a competitive district.

To change the state constitution before the 2021 redistricting, reforms would need to gain initial approval by 2019 because constitutional amendments require passage in two successive General Assembly sessions before going to voters on the ballot.

Advocates say reform could be achieved without a constitutional amendment, which could allow them to pursue legislation in 2020.
NEW ORLEANS  If you are innocent, three decades in prison is a long time to think about the people who put you there.

Keith Allen Harward had a lot bottled up, and he let it loose Monday at the largest annual gathering of its kind in the world, the 69th annual meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Im not here to make any friends, began Harward, who was sent behind bars for rape and murder largely on the erroneous testimony of two forensic dentists, known as forensic odontologists.

At a conference workshop Monday with a number of forensic dentists listening, Harward, his voice rising, said, This stuff is all crap. Its bogus. This bite mark stuff is bogus. Why even continue with it? It just doesnt make sense.

Thirty-four years thinking, Wow, what just happened?  he said of his convictions.

Youre taking peoples lives in your hands and guessing, Well, I say it is so, so its got to be. Theres no Gods in here. So why do it?

He said the only motives he could think of were money and ego.

The workshop, Taking a Bite Out of Crime and Other Hairy Situations, concerned shortcomings in forensic bite mark and hair analysis exposed by DNA exonerations and outside studies in recent years.

Exonerated by DNA last year, Harward was wrongly linked by bite marks to a 1982 rape and murder in Newport News and might have perished in the electric chair had his distraught mother not begged jurors to spare his life.

The former U.S. Navy sailors parents died while he was behind bars (hed been arrested at their Floyd County home in 1983).

He was imprisoned in large part as a result of testimony by the two forensic dentists who said that his teeth matched bite marks on a rape victim left by an assailant who had just beat her sleeping husband to death with a crowbar.

No fewer than six dentists, among them leading figures in the field of forensic odontology, were involved in Harwards case.

***

Since Harwards 1983 and 1986 trials, bite mark evidence has been questioned and undermined by numerous studies, and erroneous bite mark analyses have played a part in at least 28 wrongful convictions and arrests across the country.

Chris Fabricant, one of Harwards lawyers with the Innocence Project, also spoke at the workshop and outlined Harwards case.

We know from our experience that any conviction that rests on bite mark evidence is inherently unreliable. Its just reality.

For purposes of our discussion here today I just want you to accept that theres no science there.

Harward release raises doubts about bitemarks as evidence RICHMOND  A young father of three was beaten in his bed with a crowbar, his wife thrown to 

Last year the Presidents Council of Advisors on Science and Technology found, Bite mark analysis does not meet the scientific standards for foundational validity, and is far from meeting such standards.

To the contrary, available scientific evidence strongly suggests that examiners cannot consistently agree on whether an injury is a human bite mark ... with reasonable accuracy.

Fabricant said bite mark evidence is especially pernicious because it makes the accused look like an animal.

A prosecutor can say,  That animal bit that poor victim and science and science says so. 

At least four other dentists were involved at one time or another during the case, and none of them disputed the conclusions of the two dentists who testified.

Fabricant said Harwards is the only case the Innocence Project knows of where the defense was unable to get an expert to testify on his behalf, which is unusual given that the technique is inherently subjective.

And unlike in other cases, there was no question that they were actually human bite marks because the victim testified that she was bitten by the assailant, Fabricant noted.

The American Board of Forensic Odontology has changed its standards and no longer sanctions specific biter identifications.

Instead, forensic odontologists decide if comparisons either exclude or cannot exclude someone as the biter, or that there was insufficient information.

But until there is a scientific basis established for bite mark analysis, the Innocence Project and other critics, such as Harward, are fighting to keep such analysis entirely out of criminal trials  something no court in the country has thus far done.

The American Board of Forensic Odontology and many prosecutors believe that is throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Forensic dentists still can provide accurate evidence provided it is placed in proper context, they contend.

Fabricant counters that Harwards case, in which a Navy dentist initially excluded Harward and then later changed his mind, proves experts no more can reliably exclude anyone on the basis of bite marks than they can identify someone.

Another workshop speaker, Anthony Cardoza, a dentist who does forensic consulting, also pointed out that excluding someone can be as dangerous as including them  if the pool of suspects is small, such as a family, it raises more suspicion about those who are not excluded.

Jurors at Harwards trials were briefed on the international renown of one of the experts, Lowell Levine. Among other things, Levine helped convict serial killer Ted Bundy and identify the remains of Joseph Mengele, the notorious Nazi doctor and longtime fugitive.

In 1976, Levine was a founding member of the American Board of Forensic Odontology and later served a term as president of the 6,700-member American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Levine testified that Harwards teeth and the bite marks on the rape victim matched to a reasonable scientific certainty.

He added, Its a practical impossibility that someone else would have all these characteristics in combination.

The other forensic dentist who testified against Harward concluded they matched to a reasonable medical certainty.

Levine, who is registered to attend the conference but who was not at Mondays workshop, has not returned requests for comment from the Richmond Times-Dispatch. A top official with the American Board of Forensic Odontology did not return a request for comment last week.

Fabricant said Levine was so convincing that even Harwards brother  who knew he was innocent  had some doubts.

Its such powerful evidence, Fabricant said.

Harward said Monday that after listening to Levines background at his trial, The jury was just slobbering, they were gone. [He] was like the Wizard of Oz. He levitated.

Harward  who has acquired a tan, about 30 additional pounds and a beard since he was released from the Nottoway Correctional Center last April 8 and now lives in Greensboro, N.C.  said he read in a news account that Levine said such conclusions were accepted at the time.

He asked those attending the workshop how many of them have supported slavery or the Holocaust. They were accepted at the time, he said.

For him [Levine] to say a thing like that  you all should be ashamed to be part of what hes a part of. You should be, because its just not right.

Consider this: I had two people in the state of Virginia trying to murder me. Two of em. They knew from the outset that my case was a capital case, he said.

***

Harward met a number of odontologists at the event.

Ive come to find that theres some good people out there, but there are still people who are on the fence about whether to completely eliminate forensic bite mark analysis until more is known.

Why even give it a shot? Why even discuss it anymore? Just do away with it, he said. You need to stop this. And if youre not part of it, stop the others that are.

Several speakers at the conference alluded to contention within the American Board of Forensic Odontology about the future of bite mark analysis  odontologists also identify human remains via teeth and dental records, a pursuit that is not controversial.

Harward said, Theres a lot of infighting amongst yall people right now. And whats the question? Just stop it. Just dont do it anymore. Then theres no chance of making any mistakes.

This is a warning  if I find out anybodys testifying in bite mark evidence cases I will come to the courtroom, I will contact the media, I will stand on the street corner in a Statue of Liberty outfit with a big sign saying This is Crap.  You can understand the media would love to talk to me about something like this.

He promised to speak to every camera on hand wherever bite mark evidence is being used in a trial in any fashion.

Because I dont care. Whats the worst that can happen to me? Like I said, it already has.
To her friends, Martha McKenna is Baltimores ambassador, but Democrats have chosen her to be a critical part of holding their Senate majority.

The 37-year-old Democratic operative was born in Chicago, but there is no question that Charm City is home. Its where McKenna grew up, got her start in politics and notched her most significant win. But her broader campaign experience on races at all levels, at EMILYs List and at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, made her the first woman to head a Senate committees independent expenditure arm.

Its not the first time she didnt fit the mold.

They were looking for a white, preppy guy to run my campaign, former Kentucky state Rep. Eleanor Jordan remembered. Instead, they found a young woman in jeans and taking meticulous notes steering the ship of the Democrats Congressional campaign a dozen years ago.

But, at first, even Jordan wasnt sure what to make of McKenna.
AngloGold Ashanti mulls 30% reduction of carbon emissions by 2030 AngloGold Ashanti has come up with a new carbon emissions reduction target which seeks to achieve a 30% absolute reduction in its Scope 1 and Scope 2 Greenhouse Gas emissions by 2030, as compared to 2021. This will be achieved through a combination...

Lucara Q3 revenue, output drop Lucara Diamond, which wholly owns the Karowe mine in Botswana, realised $49.9 million in revenues in the third quarter of 2022 compared to $72.7 million in the comparative quarter. The revenue includes $46.5 million from the sale of 99,301 carats and...

Gemfields to auction 187,775-carat cluster of emeralds Gemfields is set to auction a 187,775-carat cluster of emeralds discovered at its 75%-owned Kagem mine in Zambia in March 2020. Viewing of the Kafubu Cluster commenced on 31 October and bidding will close on 17 November.

Tiffany jewellery pieces to highlight Jewels & Jadeite auction in Hong Kong Jewellery pieces by Tiffany & Co, including those by renowned designer Jean Schlumberger, are among the highlights of Bonhams Jewels and Jadeite auction in Hong Kong on November 26, 2022.
Firestone Diamonds said it raked in $8.14 million from the first sale of diamonds recovered from its Liqhobong Diamond Mine in Lesotho.

It said all 75,936 carats offered for sale were sold at an average price of $107 per carat.

The carats sold were recovered from the predominantly lower quality ore areas and were not necessarily representative of the run of mine ore.

Prices were strong in the better quality diamonds, with the prices for the smaller stones being reflective of the current weaker market conditions but pleasingly we sold all of the stones offered for sale, said company chief executive Stuart Brown.

To have recovered some exceptional white and fancy coloured stones at this early stage is extremely pleasing and we believe that the Liqhobong orebody will, over time, prove to be an exciting one.

Firestone's first sale of diamonds saw over 90 companies viewing the goods and more than 38 companies being successful.

The best stone, a 37 carat type IIa internally flawless white stone, was sold for more than $1.0 million.

A number of yellow and fancy yellow stones included in the sale also achieved competitive prices, with interest being exceptionally strong in these categories, said Brown.

Frestone said the second sale was expected end of the first quarter of 2017.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished




The Sixth International Diamond Week in Israel (IDWI) opened yesterday to a packed trading hall at the Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE), with the participation of some 400 buyers from 30 countries, and over 200 diamond companies exhibiting from Israel and abroad, says a 'release' from the IDE.The festive opening ceremony included speeches by Israel Minister of Tourism Yariv Levin, ALROSA President Andrey Zharkov, IDE President Yoram Dvash, Israel Diamond Institute Chairman Shmuel Schnitzer, Diamond Dealers Club Reuven Kaufman and other diamond leaders.IDE President Yoram Dvash said, I am pleased to see the huge turnout of friends and colleagues from Israel and abroad. We are here to do what we love  to buy and sell diamonds. And thats what we hope to do as much as possible during this week.After surprising the audience by opening his remarks in Hebrew, ALROSA President Andrey Zharkov said that ALROSA would be holding an auction during IDWI of large, high quality rough and polished stones that are specially geared to the Israeli market.Later in the day, Zharkov held a talk before leading Israeli diamond companies. Expressing ALROSA's commitment to strengthening ties with the Israeli diamond industry, he cited the importance of the 2015 MOU between ALROSA and IDE to share information and cooperate on issues of mutual interest and adding that Israel is one of ALROSAs three main markets as a major buyer of high quality, large diamonds.
Italian Exhibition Group Spa (IEG), the company generated by a merger between Rimini Fiera and Fiera di Vicenza, and Arezzo Fiere e Congressi Srl have signed a strategic agreement creating a single organization for shows involving the gold and jewellery industry, IEG press-service reported.

The agreement generates a trade show platform that represents the entire Italian gold and jewellery industry with the aim of developing and internationally promoting one of Made in Italy's top quality sectors.

Establishing one single Interlocutor for institutions, associations, companies and traders will lead to a more effective development of a national and international promotion and communication strategy for the entire Italian gold and jewellery sector, directing and using resources and investments to the best possible advantage.

Therefore, 2017 will see Italian Exhibition Group managing the organization of five Shows: VICENZAORO January (which took place January 20-25), OROAREZZO (May 6-9), VICENZAORO September (September 23-27), Gold Italy (October 21-23), VOD - The Dubai International Jewellery Show (November 15-18). Corrado Facco, Managing Director of Italian Exhbition Group stressed: Italian Exhibition Group will be managing an overall of four events in Italy, one in Dubai, an official presence in the United States and a series of other strategic operations in Asia."

The agreement also foresees that Italian Exhibition Group shall manage the organization of the Arezzo gold and jewellery trade shows already in 2017.

Ivan Scalfarotto, Undersecretary for the Ministry of Economic Development, said: This agreement is a decisive step for the development of a segment that is worth over six billion in exports. We allocated almost nine million Euros to the gold and jewellery industry last year, providing support to our companies' participation at foreign trade shows and strengthening the biggest events in Italy. For 2017, we will be firmly continuing our efforts. After the plan aimed at the U.S. market, which began in 2016, we will be placing particular focus on Asia and the Middle East."

The Italian gold and jewellery industry is a European leader due to the quality of its production, design and technological innovation. It includes about 10,000 companies employing 40,000 workers. In 2015 it generated a turnover in excess of 7 billion euros, exports of 6.5 billion euros and a 4.2 billion euro positive trade balance. Despite the negative climate in global demand for gold for jewellery demand, in the first 10 months of 2016, Italian exports reached 4.8 billion euros.



Alex Shishlo, Editor of the Rough&Polished European Bureau in Brussels




De Beers' International Institute of Diamond Grading & Research (IIDGR) has established its first retail partnership in Asia for its generic polished diamond grading services, says a press note from the De Beers Group.

IIDGRs partnership with Soo Kee Group in Singapore formally launches in February under the retailers bridal specialist brand, Love & Co. for its proprietary Lovemarque diamond collection. Soo Kee Group will become the first Singaporean retailer to offer bespoke IIDGR grading reports, providing its consumers with the confidence of a grading report backed by more than 100 years of De Beers diamond experience.

IIDGR initially launched its generic grading services in early 2016, with a focus on reliability, integrity, consistency and repeatability. The grading services employ De Beers industry-leading proprietary technology as well as highly skilled and experienced gemology experts, Jonathan Kendall, President of IIDGR, said in a statement. Weve seen a significant uplift in demand for our grading services in many markets, especially in the Far East  alongside the Soo Kee Group partnership, we have plans to expand the grading service elsewhere in Asia," Kendall said. "However, we see this as just the start. Increasing numbers of retailers are expressing their desire to use our diamond grading reports as they understand the importance of integrity in their offer to consumers  and with its use of leading De Beers technology, IIDGR is perfectly placed to provide this.

IIDGR issues diamond grading reports and diamond identification reports for any unset, natural, untreated diamonds weighing a minimum of 0.10ct. The Institute grades every clarity and all colors including fancy colors.



Aruna Gaitonde, Editor-in-Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished




North Arrow Minerals Inc. announced that results that have been received from 111 till samples collected from the Mel Project in August 2016 retuned highly anomalous samples.

The 2016 sample program evaluated an area extending 2 km from at least two - three KIM trains defined by previous sampling programs.

Several samples have returned anomalous results, including one highly anomalous sample that has returned in excess of 1,200 KIMs per 20kg of till, an order of magnitude more KIMs than the most anomalous of previous samples collected from the project, suggesting very close proximity to a kimberlite source.

Ken Armstrong, President and CEO of North Arrow, stated "The collection of so many barren samples in 2016 represents the desired result for this program...We look forward to conducting detailed prospecting and geophysical surveys of these targets in 2017 and receiving the required land use permits to conduct an exploration drill program at Mel."



Theodor Lisovoy, Rough&Polished, Moscow




Editors Pick

Duke Energy Corp. reported on Friday that profit for the third quarter edged up from last year, driven by strong volumes in Electric Utilities and Infrastructure. Adjusted earnings per share missed analysts' expectations, while quarterly revenues topped it. The company also slashed it adjusted earnings outlook for the full-year 2022.

French Financial services major Societe Generale reported Friday weak profit in its third quarter, despite higher revenues amid increasingly complex geopolitical and economic environment. In Paris, the shares were gaining around 5 percent. Frederic Oudea, the Chief Executive Officer, said, "The third quarter is marked by increasing revenues, continued control of operating expenses..."

Health and hygiene products maker Reckitt is recalling its certain AirWick Fresh New Day aerosol air fresheners due to injury and laceration risks, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said. The recall involves about 67,000 units of aerosol air fresheners in Fresh Linen and Fresh Water scents.
Flowers Foods, Inc. (FLO), producer of Nature's Own, Wonder, Tastykake, Dave's Killer Bread, and other bakery foods, announced that, for 52-week fiscal 2017, the company expects: sales in the range of $3.927 billion to $4.006 billion, representing growth of approximately 0.0% to 2.0%; and adjusted EPS in the range of $0.85 to $0.95, excluding a gain on the sale of the Cedar Rapids, Iowa mix plant of approximately $0.09 to $0.10 per share, and costs associated with Project Centennial of approximately $0.07 to $0.09 per share.

During fiscal 2017, the company will be transitioning to a more effective operating model. The company said the costs associated with these efforts are anticipated to be weighted to the first half of 2017, while the majority of savings are expected to be realized in fiscal 2018.

Allen Shiver, Flowers Foods president and CEO. "With Project Centennial we are taking decisive action to pivot towards the consumer and remove complexity and costs from our . In fiscal 2017, we are moving forward with urgency to reinvigorate our core business, reduce costs, and build capabilities to efficiently grow our brands."

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Amid reports he misled Vice President Mike Pence and others about his contacts with Russian officials, embattled National Security Advisor Michael Flynn has resigned.

In his letter of resignation, Flynn said he had inadvertently briefed the vice president-elect and others with incomplete information regarding his phone calls with the Russian ambassador before the Trump administration assumed power.

"I have sincerely apologized to the President and the Vice President, and they have accepted my apology," Flynn wrote.

He is the first top official to quit the Trump administration, which has been in power for less than a month.

"In the course of my duties as the incoming National Security Advisor, I held numerous phone calls with foreign counterparts, ministers, and ambassadors," Flynn said.

"These calls were to facilitate a smooth transition and begin to build the necessary relationships between the President, his advisors and foreign leaders," he added. "Such calls are standard practice in any transition of this magnitude."

The White House said the President accepted Flynn's resignation and appointed Lt. General Joseph Keith Kellogg, Jr. as Acting National Security Advisor.

Earlier this month, Flynn announced that the United States has put Iran "on notice" for test-firing a ballistic missile and carrying out a deadly attack on a Saudi warship in the Red Sea.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Political News
The US Government has blacklisted Venezuela's Vice President Tareck El Aissami as a major drug trafficker, and imposed sanctions on the hardline veteran politician.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said it designated El Aissami as a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker pursuant to the Kingpin Act for playing a significant role in international narcotics trafficking.

El Aissami's primary frontman, Venezuelan national Samark Jose Lopez Bello, was also designated for providing material assistance, financial support, or goods or services in support of the international narcotics trafficking activities of, and acting for or on behalf of, El Aissami. OFAC further designated or identified as blocked property 13 companies owned or controlled by Lopez Bello or other designated parties that comprise an international network spanning the British Virgin Islands, Panama, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Venezuela.

"OFAC's action today is the culmination of a multi-year investigation under the Kingpin Act to target significant narcotics traffickers in Venezuela and demonstrates that power and influence do not protect those who engage in these illicit activities," said John E. Smith, Acting Director of OFAC.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Political News
Crude oil futures were higher Tuesday ahead of U.S. inventory data.

The American Petroleum Institute will release industry figures this afternoon, while the EIA offers government data tomorrow morning.

Inventories have been surging of late, and are expected to rise further.

U.S. oil production is projected to rise by 80,000 barrels a day in March at 4.873 million barrels per day, the EIA said yesterday.

Domestic drilling has preserved a global supply glut keeping oil below $55 a barrel.

March WTI oil gained 27 cents, or 0.5%, to settle at $53.20/bbl today.

Earlier this week, an IEA report said OPEC acheived "record compliance" of 90 percent with an output cut deal struck late last year.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market Analysis
Australia will on Wednesday see February results for the consumer confidence index from Westpac Bank, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity.

In January, the index added 0.1 percent on month to a score of 97.4.

Australia also will see January figures for new motor vehicle sales; in December, sales added 0.3 percent on month and 0.2 percent on year.

South Korea will release January figures for unemployment, with the jobless rate expected to hold steady at 3.4 percent.

Singapore will see December data for retail sales; in November, sales added 0.5 percent on month and 1.1 percent on year.

Indonesia will provide January numbers for imports, exports and trade balance, as well as Q4 figures for current account.

In December, imports were worth $12.78 billion and exports were at $13.77 billion for a trade surplus of $992 million. The current account deficit in the third quarter was $4.49 billion.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
Estimados amigos,

Les doy cordialmente la bienvenida a este Blog informativo con articulos, analisis y comentarios de publicaciones especializadas y especialmente seleccionadas, principalmente sobre temas economicos, financieros y politicos de actualidad, que esperamos y deseamos, sean de su maximo interes, utilidad y conveniencia.

Pensamos que solo comprendiendo cabalmente el presente, es que podemos proyectarnos acertadamente hacia el futuro.

Las convicciones son mas peligrosos enemigos de la verdad que las mentiras.

There are decades when nothing happens and there are weeks when decades happen.

You only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out.

No soy alguien que sabe, sino alguien que busca.

Only Gold is money. Everything else is debt.

Las grandes almas tienen voluntades; las debiles tan solo deseos.

Quien no lo ha dado todo no ha dado nada.

History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.

If you know the other and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share.This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.
Last year, there were several reports that sought to examine the circumstances around and reasons why men casually hog space in public settings (particularly on the subway). But these were far from the first studies of the manspreading phenomenonthe most exhaustive one may have come in the 1970s, long before anyone had even coined the term "manspread."

As Pacific Standard Magazine uncovered, German feminist photographer Marianne Wex published Lets Take Back Our Space: Female and Male Body Language as a Result of Patriarchal Structures in 1979, which examines the body language of men and women through the prism of gender and the subconscious to understand the unequal treatment of women. The book is organized around nearly 5,000 photos, which includes advertisements, reportage, fashion magazines, studio portraits, the history of art, and photos that Wex herself took of people between 1972 and 1977.

As David Campany explained, Wex proposed that "our smallest, most unconscious gestures speak volumes about the power relations of gender in daily life." He added that though the project cannot be considered a scientific study, it is instead "an intervention, and its claims to authority come less from the presentation of facts than from the flashes of recognition we may have in response to what she presents. Decades on, its impossible not to see aspects of ourselves and of present society in these images."

Randomly, you can peruse the entire book on YouTube below.

You can also revisit our own confrontations with manspreaders below.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested a total of 41 people in the New York City metropolitan area during the first full week in February, according to a press release Monday afternoon. Of that total, 38 people had prior criminal convictions. Three did not have criminal records.

The confirmation comes on the heels of an ICE memo leaked over the weekend that confirmed roughly 40 arrests in the NYC area. Today's extended press release does not confirm what neighborhoods the raids took place in, nor does it detail the criminal convictions of all of the individuals arrested.

Instead, ICE highlights three cases: a citizen of El Salvador with an assault conviction who, according to ICE, confirmed membership in the MS-13 gang; a Jamaican citizen convicted of first degree sexual assault of a minor under the age of 11; and a Mexican citizen with the same sexual assault conviction.

ICE also confirmed operations across the country last week, in the Los Angeles area, Atlanta, Chicago, and San Antonio, in addition to New York. In total the agency said "more than 680" arrests were made. Of that total, "approximately 75 percent" had criminal convictions.

By that calculation, roughly 170 individuals did not have criminal convictions.

"ICE officers frequently encounter additional suspects [during an operation] who may be in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws," the agency stated in today's release. "Those persons will be evaluated on a case by case basis and, when appropriate, arrested by ICE."

Immigration advocates and attorneys had hoped that ICE would provide more specifics on the convictions of those arrested in New York. President Obama, who deported a record 400,000 people-plus annually early in his presidency, later narrowed ICE's focus to convicted felonsindividuals with charges similar to those outlined in today's release. But President Trump has indicated that his focus will be broader, including anyone who has committed an immigration violationthose who are undocumented, have an open deportation order, or returned to the country after being deported.

"President Trump has been clear in affirming the critical mission of DHS in protecting the nation and directed our Department to focus on removing illegal aliens who have violated our immigration laws, with a specific focus on those who pose a threat to public safety, have been charged with criminal offenses, have committed immigration violations or have been deported and re-entered the country illegally," said Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly in a statement Monday.

"The question is, who are they counting as criminals?" Camille Mackler, director of legal initiatives at the New York Immigration Coalition, told Gothamist. "This is just putting a very false and derogatory face of immigrants in general, because they are saying that these are all criminals, but they've defined criminal so broadly that... if you actually look at them, they aren't all people who everyday Americans would consider a threat."

Historically, "The most deportable immigrants are the ones with aggregated felonies, and then the violent or sexual aggregated felonies," said Michael Musa-Obregon, an immigrant defense attorney based in New York. "Then you have the majority of people that are still deportable, for convictions such as shoplifting, minor domestic violence as opposed to major, or fraudulent documentation, like false green cards and drivers licenses."

"Trump's stated policy is that he's going to pursue people with even minor offenses aggressively," Musa-Obregon added.

ICE has said in recent days that last week's activity was routine. According to the agency, ICE arrested 1,660 people across the country in August 2013, 1,517 of whom had criminal convictions. On the local level, ICE made 16 arrests in Milwaukee in January; 74 arrests in Michigan and Ohio in December; and more than 100 in the Los Angeles area last July. An operation last August in the New York City area resulted in 58 arrests.

(For the sake of further comparison, we asked ICE for the arrest numbers for the same period of time last year, and will update if we get them.)

But advocates in New York have countered that they are troubled by the pace and scale of recent ICE operations.

"There were no concerted raids under the Obama administration for low-level criminal offenders, or for people with deportation orders, in the last three or four years. We hadn't heard of them," Musa-Obregon said. "It was a dormant situation that all of a sudden woke up."
After celebrating the most romantic week which started on 7 February, it is time for love birds to go on a date on Valentine's Day, February 14.

Everyone wants to make their Valentine's Day a memorable one. Valentine's Day is a special day for those who believes in true love.



It is the day to celebrate affection and love towards our loved ones.



On this love day, people also send Valentine's Day SMS messages to their loved ones. Here we bring for you some Happy Valentine's Day 2017 SMS messages for your lover's



Adam and Eve started love;

Romeo and Juliet introduced it;

Devdas and Paro suffered due to it;

Laila and Majnu died for it;

So my dear friend, please beware of it as February 14 is here.

Happy Valentine's day 2017!



If we date and you become my Valentine:

You can have my phone password;

Read my sms and emails and answer my phone;

Get on my FB and Twitter and see my Whatapp!

You see, I'll have nothing to hide except for you from the world!

Happy Valentine's day sweetheart!



You are the sun in my day,

The wind in my sky,

The waves in my ocean,

And the beat in my heart.



The Things I Feel I Can Not Express,

So I Will Write Them To You In This Sweet Text.

You Are Dear And You Are Mine

You Are What Makes Me Shine.

I Love You And Happy Valentines Day.



Remember me like

pressed flower in ur Notebook

It may not b having any fragrance,

but will remind u of my existence

4ever in ur life..



Let the world stop turning,

Let the sun stop burning,

Let them tell me loves not worth going through.

If it all falls apart,

I will know deep in my heart,

The only dream that mattered had come true

In this life I was loved by you.

Happy Valentines Day 2017



A candle may melt

and its fire may die,

but the love you have given me

will always stay as a flame in my heart.

Miss You My Valentine



Hold my hands when I reached for you,

Hug me when I hold out my arms,

Kiss me when I go for your lips,

Love me when I capture your heart.



I may be away

but Im sure..

Even when we re

Far apart

Distance can never change

The love I have for you

In my heart

Thinking of you, Happy Valentine Day



You are so beautiful, youre so fine

I wish so dearly that you would be mine

Today and always you are in my heart

So please make me happy be my valentine

Forever and always we will never be apart.



On this Valentines Day share world as:

Sun is for you n light is for me.

Sea is for you n waves are for me.

Sky is for you n stars are for me.

Everything is for you n you are for me.



When everything around u goes wrong

When sadness fills your heart

When tears flow in your eyes

Always remember 3 things in life-

1. Im with you

2. Still with you

3. Will always with you



Remember me like

pressed flower in ur Notebook

It may not b having any fragrance,

but will remind u of my existence

4ever in ur life..



Love puts the fun in together, the sad in apart, and the joy in a heart.



Come live in my heart and pay no rent.



Love does not dominate; it cultivates.



I have learned not to worry about love; but to honor its coming with all my heart.



The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.



Here are some Valentine's Day messages in Hindi



Log Kehte Firte Hai Jise Hum Pyaar Karte Hai

Wo Ek Chand Ka Tukda Hai,

Par Unhe Kyaa Pata Jise Mai Pyaar Karta Houn

Chand Uska Ek Tukda Hai.

I Love You And Happy Valentines



Na kabhi muskurahat tere hothon se duur ho..

Teri har khwahish haqiqat ko manzoor ho..

Ho jaye jo tu mujhse khafa..

Khuda na kare mujhse kabhi aisa kasoor ho..



Kitna bhi chaho na bhol paoge

Hum se jitna dur jao nazdik pao ge

Humein mita sakte ho to mita do

yaadein meri, magar..

kya sapno se juda kar pao ge humein.



Pani main pathar mat pheko

Koi pani pita hai

Pani main pathar mat pheko

Koi pani pita hai

Apne chehre par muskuhart sajaye rakha karo

Koi isi muskan ke liye koi jita hai



Mohabbat K Raste Me Har Waqt Dard Mile Ga.

Meri Mano Dost,

To Isi Raste Par Medical Store Khol

Lo Mast Chale Ga :-)

Happy Valentine Day
The AIADMK faction led by acting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O.Panneerselvam erupted in joy on Tuesday after the Supreme Court restored the conviction of party General Secretary V.K. Sasikala and two of her relatives in a disproportionate assets case.

Opposition parties like DMK and Congress have termed the apex court's decision as historical.



"Justice has prevailed. We are happy," former AIADMK MP K.C. Palaniswamy told media.



According to AIADMK's Palaniswamy, the legislators supporting Sasikala will now shift their loyalty to Panneerselvam.



"If she has a plan B-projecting somebody else for the post of Chief Minister, she - will not succeed," Palaniswamy said.



Speaking to reporters here, DMK Working President M.K. Stalin said: "Justice has been restored. Now the Tamil Nadu Governor should take steps to have a stable government in the state."



"It is a historical judgement. Justice has been delivered against corruption after 20 years of struggle," Tamil Nadu Congress spokesperson Gopanna told media.



Exuding happiness at the judgement, DMK's former MP Thamarai Selvan told media: "The judgement was expected as the Karnataka High Court justice Kumaraswamy's decision acquitting late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and others was riddled with holes and inconsistencies."



A Supreme Court division bench on Tuesday set aside a Karnataka High Court order staying Sasikala's conviction by a trial court.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened at the beach resort near here where AIADMK legislators supporting Sasikala are being housed for the past several days.



The AIADMK party in an attempt to ring fence Sasikala tweeted: "Whenever Amma (Jayalalithaa) faced trouble, Sasikala took it upon herself. She is doing it again now. Justice will prevail."
US President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday announced the creation of a bilateral committee that will deal with the challenges posed to women in the workplace and how to increase their participation in the economy.

The two leaders participated at a White House round table with business executives and entrepreneurs within the framework of Trudeau's official visit to Washington, EFE news reported.

"In order to create economic growth and well-paying jobs we must assure the economy is a place where women can work and thrive," said Trump in brief remarks at the beginning of the round table.

Trump said that it is necessary for the US to adopt policies to keep women in the workforce, make it easier for them to both hold a job and deal with family issues and increase their access to capital.

Meanwhile, Trudeau emphasised the need to break down the "significant barriers" that continue to exist for women in the workplace and create more pathways to success.

Seated at the side of the Canadian premier was Ivanka Trump, the President's daughter who during the election campaign helped her father promote a tax plan to provide childcare and more affordable daycare centres.

Ivanka, who has a very close relationship with her father, still does not have an official title or duties within the new government.

The White House said that the bilateral Council for the Advancement of Women Business Leaders-Female Entrepreneurs is a sign of both Trump and Trudeau's commitment to eliminating barriers to the economic participation of women.

After becoming Canada's Prime Minister in November 2015, Trudeau fulfilled one of his campaign promises and named an equal number of women and men to his cabinet.

Trump, on the other hand, has selected very few women or minorities for his cabinet posts.

This was the first bilateral meeting between the two leaders since Trump became President on January 20.

Trump is expected to discuss with Trudeau his aim to renegotiate at the earliest opportunity the North American Free Trade Agreement signed by the US, Canada and Mexico more than 20 years ago.

In Canada, both conservatives and liberals feel that NAFTA, implemented in 1994, has been a key element in their country's economic well-being by enhancing trade between Ottawa and Washington to the point where they are now the world's two top trade partners.

Meanwhile, Trudeau wants to avoid conflictual issues, including immigration or the taking in of refugees in his meeting with Trump, so that the pair may establish a good relationship as quickly as possible.

After a private luncheon, Trump and Trudeau are scheduled to hold a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House.


Recap: Rally falls short for Kansas State, falls to Texas at home

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Dear Editor,

Re: Who is more dangerous? Christians or Muslims?

This is a true account. The year was 1995, in Melbourne Australia, I had an encounter with several Muslims brethren, I was also invited inside a Mosque, didnt have to wash my feet because I did not have intercourse the night before, I was told.

I was permitted to enter and joined in an intellectual discussion with the brothers upstairs, also was offered food.

The hospitality shared was a rewarding experience for me.

However, the Muslims I met and spoke with outside the Mosque had another side to tell. Still in Melbourne, I spoke with a few brothers who shared with me that their belief was absolute, nothing should defy the Quran and if god would ask them to shoot anyone at a shopping centre they would do it without hesitation because it was the will of god and the world was wicked and it deserved punishment.

I was also told if a Muslim would to convert to another religion, they would be executed together with the people who converted them.

Now, this was 1995 before words like terrorism swept across the globe gave form to what it is today. The thought process has been nursing and nourished in the minds of many for years.

These thoughts grew up and have transformed into devastating realities and any person with a sound mind could see how it gets ugly because if you ask me humanity is at stake if a belief that can violate your freedom to think independently and taken your ability to choose away from you may reflect differently if your eyes where opened.

Things will be dictated to you, you will cease to exist. And if you cease to exist in this life, you will cease to exist anywhere else even the next life when and where ever that may be.

These are some verses from the Quran. You can see anyone could easily interpret these verses differently. You can tell by just looking at how many Christian sects were born from a one set of scripture, the Holy Bible.

A group of Islamic extremists can easily be persuaded by a set of verses, claimed to gain virgins in heaven, can be called to arms to fight to serve an independent selfish objective. Whose selfish objectives, it can be anyones, not just Muslims, it could be some rich scumbag who lives somewhere playing games with peoples lives. But you can tell how some dedicated people would fight blind for their religion. Perhaps, that is why it is dangerous.

O You who believe! Enter absolutely into peace (Islam). Do not follow in the footsteps of satan. He is an outright enemy to you. (Holy Quran: 2, 208)

God does not love corruption. (Surat al-Baqara, 205)

Quran (2:191-193) - And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. And Al-Fitnah [disbelief or unrest] is worse than killing... but if they desist, then lo! Allah is forgiving and merciful. And fight them until there is no more Fitnah [disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah] and worship is for Allah alone.

But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against Az-Zalimun(the polytheists, and wrong-doers, etc.) (Translation is from the Noble Quran) The verse prior to this (190) refers to fighting for the cause of Allah those who fight you leading some to claim that the entire passage refers to a defensive war in which Muslims are defending their homes and families.

The historical context of this passage is not defensive warfare, however, since Muhammad and his Muslims had just relocated to Medina and were not under attack by their Meccan adversaries. In fact, the verses urge offensive warfare, in that Muslims are to drive Meccans out of their own city (which they later did).

Verse 190 thus means to fight those who offer resistance to Allahs rule (ie. Muslim conquest). The use of the word persecution by some Muslim translators is disingenuous - the actual Arabic words for persecution (idtihad) - and oppression (a variation of z-l-m) do not appear in the verse. The word used instead, fitna, can mean disbelief, or the disorder that results from unbelief or temptation.

This is certainly what is meant in this context since the violence is explicitly commissioned until religion is for Allah - ie. unbelievers desist in their unbelief.

Christianity, even though sometimes have different interpretation of scripture and teachings are all together in the use of the New testament not solely on the Old Testament because there is a lot of killing in the Old Testament.

But the New Testament is where Jesus teaches about the two great commandments in heaven where every law should lie; one is Love God and the other is Love thy neighbour as thyself. When your belief is founded on LOVE and FORGIVENESS and FAITH, you have tolerance in your heart.

Muslim people are just like us, different in fundamental beliefs that govern all that we do but just the same people with the probably same aspiration and goal for a better future of their children.

Samoans did not need to bible to teach them of Alofa, Faaaloalo, ma le usitai that was why it was so easy for us to accept the teachings of the bible. Perhaps our people were blessed. What is missing in a life of any Muslim is our faasamoa and a copy of the New Testament where LOVE, understanding and forgiveness are the core values and beliefs.

Muslims believe Jesus as a prophet but do not heed His teachings perhaps it is time for our Muslim brothers to teach Christ-like Love together with their faith they should prosper in their land.

T. Ale Mativa
Dear Editor,

Re: Lawyer queries Chief Justices church links

This is called tactics. Any good attorney will use the Conflict Of Interest as an appeal. She has every right to address this for future litigation by others too. Judges are fallible just like a common man.

They will make judgement based on the law or the Constitution, but the church may influence him/her to make decision based on some part of the law, and not the full intent of the law.

Our country and cultural is based on our belief in church. With that strong belief, we intent to use our personal belief towards the church as a whole, and not the individual who is seeking justice.

Based on the narrative of this case, the elders overstepped their role by making a decision based on allegations. They quickly tried to protect the church by crucifying one of its prominent members, who by all account refused to enslave members of the church by setting up a retirement pension for all the faifeaus.

I applaud this man for trying to limit the reach of the church by demanding families to give more to the church instead of providing for their families.

I have faith in the judge but, he and the court must be challenged when church matters are involved. I believe this case is beyond the individual.

I believe this case will limit the reach of the church to enslave our people. Each pastors are given the highest monetary support of any Samoan customary honor. Villages/Communities provide so much for the pastor and his/her family.

Based on our cultural, even after serving the church, they are still being cared for by the church. His title and service will never be diminished and therefore a pension plan is not necessary. His children will become the sole beneficiary of this pension plan.

We all know that if theres a person of interest that created this chaos, she would be found by now.

Samoan communities across the world are pretty good at gossiping. Someone would know the whereabouts of this so-called mystery woman by now.

T. Leone
Dear Editor,

I just wanted to get my point of view across to anyone in Samoa who really cares.

At the moment I am in Australia - but I have been to Samoa over 100 times since 1973 since my wife is a Samoan.

We have quite a few children and grandchildren and we often discuss the cost of airfares to Samoa from Australia and New Zealand. They all say that it cheaper to fly to Bali or Fiji or Vanuatu than Samoa.

When I ask travel agents about this, they all say that that they do not promote Samoa much.

I wonder if it is because flights to Samoa are nearly always full and that Samoans will pay anything to get there?

Also the hotels are so expensive compared to other places.

I suppose this has all been said before and that no one in government or the Samoan tourist industry really cares. Thanks for reading this.

Kind regards.

Ian Peterson.
Our latest installment of Quick Bites brings us to a new Danny Meyer joint.

THE VIBE

The re-opening of Danny Meyer's beloved Union Square Cafe, just a few blocks up and over from its location of 30 years, has definitely been a glittering highlight of this winter restaurant season. If, that is, you feel comfortable dropping $27 for a plate of pappardelle. But now there's good news in Meyerland for those of us of more modest means: the recent unveiling of Daily Provisions, a coffee- doughnut- sandwich-shop located right next door to (and sharing the kitchen with) the new mothership.

Daily Provisions serves breakfast and lunch for now, but it also stays open late enoughuntil 6 p.m.to make for a viable early supper option as well. This is a counter service restaurant, with a few cushy stools at the small bar and by the front window overlooking East 19th Street. Two tall marble peninsulas jut out from the blue walls, providing a comfortable perch at which to stand and snack.

This being a Danny Meyer joint, it's worth stating that the service here is a little all over the place. Nothing that would give you pause at your average neighborhood spota mischarge here, a forgotten order there, a strangely aggressive food runnerbut since Meyer's empire and considerable fortune has been built upon a foundation of impeccable hospitality, these slip-ups stood out.

THE BITES

The core of the Daily Provisions "Day" menu is a quintet of sandwiches, and all three that I ate last week were terrific. Possibly the best is the Roast Beef, with its juicy stack of rare meat topped with crisp fried onions, pickled beets, a slice of smooth, salty muenster, and enough creamy horseradish sauce to get your attention. That seeded roll is lovely, too.

Or maybe the Grilled Cheese was my favorite? This is a greasy, oozy delight, the well-buttered wheat bread barely containing the blobs of melted Swiss and thick, smoky slabs of fatty bacon.

If you'd rather lunch on something with at least the appearance of being "light," the Rotisserie Chicken sandwich combines white and dark meat, slices of green tomato for some bite, bits of that same slab bacon, and a sharp dijonnaise. The promised avocado didn't make an appearance however, and the wan leaf of iceberg was a poor substitute. Still a pretty great sandwich though.

I tried one of the three sides on offer, a crunchy and addictive Brussels Sprouts slaw tossed with chewy guanciale and a bit of pecorino, but the already-dishearteningly small cup was only about two-thirds full, making it a borderline insult at $7 a serving.

The pastries were hit or miss. I liked the custardy insides of the Maple Cruller (which comes shaped like a standard donut), but both Oatmeal-Raisin cookies I bought, each from a different batch, were distressingly undercooked, the oats too difficult to chew in one, the center completely raw in the other.

A better dessert bet is the Blondie, which had a nice butterscotch flavor with chunks of white chocolate upping the sweetness level. Note that, without warning, it does come in cookie format, albeit one that is cooked all the way through.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Samoa National Provident Fund (S.N.P.F.), Faumuina Esther Poutoa, has denied any wrongdoing in the transfer of two prime land properties owned by the Fund at the Vaitele industrial area.

She has also reassured that the S.N.P.F Board takes extreme care to address issues of conflict of interest (C.O.I.) with such transactions as per N.P.F. Act 1972.

Faumuina made the point in a written response to questions from the Samoa Observer.

Two weeks ago, a member of the public identified as King W raised the concerns in a letter titled Alleged conflict of interest or nepotism?

He questioned the decision by S.N.P.F. to authorise the transfer of such properties to a member of the Board.

I am thankful that the Prime Minister in one of his press programmes emphasized the need for people holding government positions, whether C.E.Os in Ministries, Corporations or Directors in Government Public Enterprises, to either declare their interest or stay out of holding such positions, when it comes to decision making where public assets, are tendered for lease or sale, King W. wrote.

At the same time, the concerned public enterprise should ensure that such asset is advertised publicly. What amuses me is the latest transfer of two prime land properties owned by N.P.F. in the Vaitele Industrial Area. The first one is a block of land behind the Yazaki buildings, which has now been fenced off.

The second area is another block of land behind the defunct Desico Warehouse, which I believe has also been transferred to the same people.

I would like to ask these questions for the Management and Board of N.P.F., to explain for the sake of all contributors who own N.P.F.:

Did you advertise these lands publicly or not? Are these lands been sold or leased? How did you end up giving all these prime lands to one family/Contributor? How did you know that no one else is interested in these lands? Why is this one family/Company being enriched through ownership of public assets owned by N.P.F. contributors? Is the new owner of these lands, still sitting in as Director of N.P.F. Board?

In response, Faumuina wrote:

We wish to respond to some of the queries raised relative to the N.P.F properties in question.

1. These properties at Vaitele are N.P.F. properties leased to two different entities in the private sector.

2. The Samoa National Provident Fund (S.N.P.F.) is a body corporate and owner of real and personal property amongst other things. S.N.P.F. has various duties relating to its assets and it already has policies and procedures in place for dealing with such properties including its leases. The procedure regarding lands that have been identified to be leased is that these lands are advertised publicly; once the bids are received they will be reviewed by S.N.P.Fs properties division for a decision and subsequently awarded to the winning bidder.

The decision to award which could be made by the Board or Management is based on criteria which include the current financial position of the bidder, the ability to service the lease and the bid price.

Certain properties are not part of the lands put aside for leases as they are either part of land already leased or any other reason. If there is a request to lease such land by any member of the public, Management has the discretion to make a decision regarding such request on a case by case.

The same process applies which is a review by the Properties division of the request. This review is also based on the current financial position of the bidder, the ability to service the lease and the bid price. The ultimate goal for S.N.P.F. is to ensure that its assets with a potential to earn money for its members are fully utilised whenever the opportunity arises.

3.With regards to the raised concern about a conflict of interest (C.O.I) with these leases, section 9 (1) of the NPF Act 1972 addresses this and it states that a director who has either a direct or indirect interest in a matter being considered or about to be considered by the board, shall disclose that interest at the meeting of the board and then subsequently leave the meeting for such matter to be discussed. NPF has complied and has ensured that directors do declare a direct or indirect COI and are not present at the meeting when such matters are discussed.

Kind regards,

Faumuina Esther Poutoa

S.N.P.F. C.E.O.
An irate businesswoman has accused the Police of being irresponsible.

Moe Lei Sams outburst follows an incident where she contacted the Police for help in terms of street vendors in front of her store only to be told they couldnt act as there was no law to stop the vendors.

This morning, kids were selling stuff on the street without going to school, she said.

So I rang the police because I was so frustrated. I rang the police and she said to me for your information madam, there is no rule or law to stop the kids from selling stuff.

Ms. Lei Sam said when she heard that, she was angry. She screamed at the person on the other end of the line, saying they are suppose to help when people need help.

I dont need an answer like this. Where do we go for help? Moe asked.

She said she will put me through someone else but no one answered the phone.

She went on expressing her frustrations.

What if I ring the police for example and said, oh theres a child here injured. They had a fight here in the front of my shop. Are they going to say theres no law? No rules?

As far as Im concerned, this is suppose to be their job.

Moe went on to say that despite the fact she has her own children and grand children, she shows her concerns because she loves these kids.

They should be in school instead but there should be a rule to go with it.

We try everything with people that want to help out with the vendors but nobody seems to care.

Samoa is supposed to be a Christian country.

I am concerned a lot about the children. This is our future,the children.

Moe said this isnt her first time se has appeared on the Samoa Observer because of the same issue.

Last year, they came and picked up a lot of women from in front of Marias Pharmacy with the children that are selling stuff and they stopped by and said you have to come with us, this is the Police.

And I said what for?

Youve done your job, what else do you want?

She said she still went with the police and these parents were told that the next time they catch their kids not going to school, they will get fined $1,000.

Now there are kids everywhere and nobody dared to do anything about it.

What happened to that fine now? Nothing. Its just full of talk.

Im facing this problem again and again. Beginning of the year and Ive had enough.

And what got me angry this morning was because I rang the police and she could at least say they will try but instead she said, for your information madam, there are no such rules.

Moe said she didnt know who else to turn to.

I cant turn to a TV; youre the only one that can voice this concern. Nobody cares.

As far as Im concerned, this is what happens in this little Samoa. Nobody cares.

It was not possible to get a comment from the Police yesterday.
The woman accused of running an alleged immigration scam that has cost a Fagamalo couple close to $20,000 has asked the Supreme Court to allow her time to find a lawyer.

The request from Alakoni Tevaga of Taufusi was made before the Chief Justice, His Honour Patu Tiavasue Falefatu Sapolu when she appeared for mention on Monday.

When the matter was called, Tevaga asked the Court that she wanted a lawyer to represent her.

His Honour Patu then adjourned the matter to give her the chance to find a lawyer.

This matter will be adjourned to the 27th of February at 10 in the morning to give you the chance to find a lawyer, Chief Justice Patu said.

Last month a couple from Fagamalo, Savaii has warned the public against Ms. Tevaga.

The couple, who spoke to the Sunday Samoan on the condition of anonymity, said they dont want anyone else to fall in the same trap they did.

They claim to have been hoodwinked of close to $20,000 in fees for a trip to Australia that has yet to happen.

Tevaga strongly denied the allegation.
The Museum of Samoa is expanding its walls by creating a mobile phone app and on online site to expand on the history and culture sites of Apia.

It is a natural project for the Museum, which is mandated to increase public understanding of Samoas unique and interesting history and culture.

Titled Smart Management of Heritage Sites in Apia the Malamalama Trail, the launch will be held today at 11 at the M.E.S.C Aute Conference room.

This will be accompanied by a photo exhibition donated by the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand and a presentation of the app content.

The app is an answer to the researchers of the museum collection, students here and afar, tourists, and the general publics interest. It will continue to develop in content but we celebrate its inclusion in the museum collection by sharing it with you now.

The Museum of Samoas App project, is funded by a Tourism Development Initiative Grant. This is developed between Scope Global and Pacific Islands Trade and Invest, as part of their Strategic Alliance, to help support tourism initiatives.
The owner of Princessa Shop, Zhu Jian Chen, has been asked to pay $1,000 by the Supreme Court for assaulting and causing bodily harm to another Chinese businessman and his mother.

The sentence was handed down by Justice Tafaoimalo Leilani Tuala-Warren yesterday.

Chen was convicted of causing bodily harm and assault. He was asked to $1,000 by the end of yesterday or he would be jailed for six months.

Chen, 22, and married with two children, was represented by Teo Richard Faaiuaso.

He was found guilty of beating up Wilson Fang and his mother, the owner of the Country Shop. The defendant was angry as he had lost customers after the victims tipped bus drivers to take passengers to their shop.

Police said the defendant and a few others had met at the victims' residence where the fight took place after they had attended celebrations marking the Chinese New Year at the Chinese Ambassador's residence.

During Teos submission, he told the Court his client had made phone calls several times to the victim to reconcile however the victim never showed up.

Justice Tafaoimalo said she was concerned about the lack of remorse by the accused and that he shouldve made the effort to reconcile with the victim.

The attack has had a major impact on the life of the victim, the Court heard.

He continues to feel sorry for his elderly parents and the impact that this has had on them, said Justice Tafaoimalo.

He also says the Chinese community now frowns at him for reporting the matter to the police. This has affected his business relationship with other Chinese people.

Both he and his mother said there has been no reconciliation made by the accused.

"Wilsons mother said she will never forgive the accused for what he had done.

Justice Tafaoimalo went on to say that that aggravating factor for the matter is that there are two victims of the offending and it involves violence.

Wilson suffered physical injuries as a result of your actions, she told the accused.

Not only did the accused physically abuse Wilson but he drove his car towards him.

I find the other aggravating factor that the other victim is an elderly woman.

She wasnt able to stand against you according to her age and this goes against our cultural of respecting our elders.

The prosecution does not recommend a sentence but does stress the impact that has affected on the victims. I am concerned about the lack of remorse and he shouldve made the effort to reconcile with the victim.
Baby Azariah Malala Semikueva Sua is desperate need of help.

The five-month-old son of Reverend Semikueva and Florence Sua from Vaovai Falealili, Faletagaloa Safune and Saleimoa suffers from hepatomegaly (enlarged livers).

His parents have been informed that the only option for him is to have a liver transplant.

However, Azariahs parents have been told that the estimated cost to have a liver transplant is NZ$300,000 (T$510,000).

For this reason Mr. and Mrs. Sua have turned to the Samoa Observer Newspaper to reach out to anyone who can help their baby.

Our son was born on the 18 of February 2016, said Mr. Sua.

Three weeks after he was born, we saw that he had jaundiced resulting in him having yellowish skin and eyes.

So we took him to the hospital. But we were told that it was just normal for newborns to have that, and that it will fade away once he grows up.

But after two months, Azariahs skin was still yellowish.

So they took him to the hospital again.

However, they were told not to worry and that the condition was normal.

But in December, we thought we would go and take Azariah again as we were prepared to go to New Zealand to spend the holiday there.

However, we got the same reply again. They told us that it was normal and that I had nothing to worry about.

So we prepared for our trip to New Zealand happily.

Conversely, what appears to be a nightmare for the couple and their families started when they were in New Zealand.

We went to Auckland first before going down to our families in Christchurch, said Mr. Sua.

When we got to Christchurch, we saw that he had caught the flu. So we took him to the nearby hospital for a checkup.

However, they transferred us to the public hospital in Christchurch because he was having hard time breathing.

When we went there, baby was admitted and we stayed there for four nights.

Baby Azariah had a liver biopsy there.

The doctors informed us that Azariahs livers were enlarged and that it has failed. So the only choice for us is to have a liver transplant.

Said Mr. Sua the news really surprised them and they were devastated. They didnt know what to do.

They were in a foreign country and they needed to do something as their sons life is at risk.

What made it worse was when they saw that their bill went up to $NZD$10,000.

We didnt know what to do. We wanted to stay in New Zealand and have my son treated, but there was no support for us and my son was not a citizen.

The doctors and the hospital made contacts with the hospital and the health service here in Samoa and the respond that we got was that, there is no policy in the National Health service to provide assistance for anyone to have a liver transplant.

So we had no choice but come to Samoa.

We knew it was hopeless coming here to Samoa as we cant have it treated here, but we also knew it was hopeless staying in New Zealand because we didnt have anything to support us.

So they returned to Samoa in the beginning of the year, and they have been seeking help to assist their child.

We already went to the Minister of Health, and we also talked to Leituala Dr. Ben Matalavea. And we are still waiting for a respond from the government whether they approve or not.

But they told us that the estimate costs of the whole process and liver transplant is NZD$300,000 or more.

That is a lot of money.

We have been informed that this is the first time for such case to happen in Samoa so it is very costly.

On top of that, the couple is still trying to paying off their NZD$10,000 bill from the hospital.

We have also contacted the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa for help, but they also have never had a case like this before, where they sponsor someone to have a liver transplant.

However, although it seems like there is no hope for Baby Azariah, his father is still holding on to his faith.

I am praying and hoping for the best, he said.

We are hoping to get a positive answer from the government. If not, then we will wait for a miracle from God.

Baby Azariahs parents are seeking help from anyone who knows what can be done to help Azariah. They would also appreciate anyone who is willing to lend a hand in helping their baby.

Semikueva and Florence Sua can be contacted through- +6857586757 and +6857659827.
**** Not much food in this one; but it has some of my favorite sights/stops from this trip! Our last full day in Edinburgh would be a busy one. There were ...

3 hours ago
Mortuary owner Robert Zakar says the city of El Cajon needs a crematorium, and he is going to appeal the Planning Commissions rejection of his proposal to build one on North Marshall Avenue.

Zakar owns East County Mortuary & Cremation Service, at 374 N. Magnolia Ave. Although part of the name of that business is cremation, there is no on-site crematorium.

Zakar is proposing to convert an existing empty industrial building in the manufacturing zone into a crematorium.

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Last week, the Planning Commission agreed with a city staff recommendation and voted 3-1 last week to deny Zakar a conditional use permit.

Zakar said he was surprised by the citys findings, as staff had backed the plan all the way for many months.

He said he will appeal to the City Council.

I want to partner with the city just like any other business, said Zakar, president of the San Diego County Funeral Directors Association.

I thought I was going to get their blessing to move forward, he said. If I hadnt been told I was going about it the right way, I wouldnt have gone ahead and bought the building.

Zakar said he had looked at several sites in zones recommended by the city before finding the vacant property in the 1100 block of N. Marshall Ave. The building was once home to Walter Anderson Plumbing, which moved and is now known as Anderson Plumbing, Heating and Air.

The property cost Zakar $1.9 million and is currently in escrow, but the sale is contingent upon the city approval of the business.

Zakar said he disputes a city staff finding that there is no need for cremation services within the city limits.

He told the commission there has been an increase countywide for cremation services. Interest is on the rise for a variety of reasons, he said, including lower cost.

While casket-centered burials can cost up to $15,000, cremation funerals typically cost $700, he said.

Zakar shared a report by Funeral Convergence, a group that keeps track of mortuary statistics. Of 4,000 funerals conducted in East County in 2015, nearly 2,600 of those were by cremation.

There are five crematoriums in San Diego County, compared to 27 crematoriums in Los Angeles County, 13 in Orange County, 15 in Riverside County and 11 in San Bernardino County.

The closest one available to Zakars clients is in Vista. He said family and friends of a deceased person will often make the trip nearly an hours drive north to witness the cremation.

The warehouse Zakar is buying is near several other businesses including a welding supply company, a plumbing supply company, a Helix Water District maintenance facility, El Cajons public works yard and the citys animal shelter.

City staff reported several concerns:

A crematorium could hinder an existing employment center, which staff said also means it would not be in alignment with the citys General Plan.

The site is on a major street in a highly visible and developed industrial area and may present what it called psychological distress to surrounding businesses. It made reference to possible emotional impacts on visitors to the animal shelter.

Odors, smoke and particulate matter that could result if there was a failure of a machine on the premises.

In April 2011, the San Diego Air Pollution Control Board closed a Neptune Society of San Diego crematorium in unincorporated El Cajon because of aging equipment causing health hazards. Neptune has since sent bodies off site for cremation services, Zakar said

Planning Commissioner Paul Circo cast the lone vote against the permit denial. He said cremation services were needed in the city and later noted it would bring in needed sales tax revenue.

Circo said he disagreed most with the psychological distress finding. He said he thought most people assumed that cremations happen on site at many mortuaries throughout El Cajon, and all across the county. He said people drive by funeral parlors every day without emotional issues.

Mike Burwell, vice president at American Crematory Equipment Company, explained that even in a worst-case scenario, the crematoriums are made to shut down, not emit any odor or remains into the air.

He said his company, which started in 1974, has manufactured thousands of crematoriums across the globe  and as close as UC San Diego  without problem. The crematorium on the university campus is for those who donate their bodies to UCSD for research.

Several local Trauma Intervention Program volunteers, the owner of a private crematorium in National City and former Sen. Wadie Deddeh told the commission that East County residents would benefit from having another option for burial arrangements.

They spoke about Zakars calm manner and patience in helping grief-stricken people reach important final decisions for their loved ones.

I never thought that at age 96, I would be here to talk about death, Deddeh said. I respectfully ask you to do what Robert Zakar asked.
To celebrate its farm-to-table roots, Mendocino Farms is hosting a cow-themed design contest this month that will award $1,000 to a La Jolla grade school.

For its Paint Me Mendo contest, Mendocino Farms in La Jolla gave five elementary schools a plastic cow that students were encouraged to hand paint and decorate. On Feb. 4, the cows were unveiled at a community event and now the public is invited to vote for their favorite cow either in the store at 8795 Villa La Jolla Drive, or through Likes on Mendocino Farms Instagram account.

The contest will conclude on Friday, Feb. 17, and the winning school will receive a $1,000 donation for its arts program. Participating schools are La Jolla Elementary, Doyle Elementary, Bird Rock Elementary, Torrey Pines Elementary and Spreckels Elementary. Results will be announced on the Mendocino Farms blog.

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Mendocino Farms is a a farm-to-table sandwich shop company that opened its 15th (and first San Diego County) location in December in La Jolla. Founded by the husband-and-wife team of Mario Del Pero and Ellen Chen, the company serves a chef-driven menu of artisan sandwiches and salads featuring many ingredients sourced directly from family-run farms in California. The owners now live in the L.A. area, but have roots in San Diego. Chen attended UC San Diego and the couple was engaged at Del Mars Dog Beach.

pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com
Moda Health, a small Oregon health insurer, just won a $214-million judgment against the federal government. Normally that wouldnt be worth reporting, except that in awarding Moda the money, the federal judge in the case dismantled the most cynical attack on the Affordable Care Act that congressional Republicans had devised.

The issue was the Affordable Care Acts risk corridor program, which was devised to shelter insurers from unexpected losses in covering Affordable Care Act customers from 2014 through 2016. To encourage insurers to enter an entirely novel market, the program aimed to balance risks by taking funds from insurers that turned out to be unexpectedly profitable and use the money to cushion others losses. The model was provisionally written into Medicares prescription drug program, Part D, which went into effect in 2006 and worked well to attract insurers.

To say ... The joke is on you. You shouldnt have trusted us, is hardly worthy of our great Government.  U.S. Judge Thomas C. Wheeler

Initially, economists expected the Affordable Care Act version to be in the black overall  the Congressional Budget Office forecast that the government would collect $16 billion from successful insurers and pay out only $8 billion to struggling companies over the programs three years. But if it turned out that there wasnt enough, the Department of Health and Human Services was authorized to pay out funds from general government revenues.

Although Medicare Part D had been a Republican program, this time around the GOP railed against the same risk corridor arrangement as a bailout of insurers. They inserted a provision in a 2014 spending bill forbidding Health and Human Services from using any money other than what came from profitable insurers. As it happened, the program ran deeply in the red. The accumulated losses for 2014 and 2015 alone are up to $8.3 billion; some estimates place the total owed over the three years at nearly $15 billion.

Because its hamstrung to pay the full claims, Health and Human Services has paid out only 12.6% of all claims for 2014, and nothing so far for 2015 or 2016. Modas lawsuit claimed that its due $214 million. It argued that the government essentially promised that the money would be paid, and that promise cant be nullified just because Congress decided to tamper with where the money came from.

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Judge Thomas C. Wheeler of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims agreed with Moda on every point. There is no genuine dispute that the Government is liable to Moda, he ruled in a decision issued Thursday. The Government made a promise in the risk corridor program that it has yet to fulfill. He directed the government to fulfill that promise. After all, to say to [Moda], The joke is on you. You shouldnt have trusted us, is hardly worthy of our great Government.

Wheeler also told the government where to find the money: in its Judgment Fund, which pays plaintiffs who win claims against the government in his court.

A ruling like Wheelers was long expected by many legal experts. As Nicholas Bagley of the University of Michigan observed following the ruling: It was only a matter of time before a court entered a money judgment against the United States. Two other lawsuits are pending in the Court of Federal Claims. One brought initially by two Oregon health insurance co-ops has been certified as a class action. Another, brought by the Illinois insurer Land of Lincoln, was dismissed in November, but is already under appeal.

That said, even if the insurers eventually get paid, the GOP attack on the risk corridor program, and by extension on the Affordable Care Act in general, did a lot of damage. In a survey for the New England Journal of Medicine in November, Bagley wrote that the GOP measure hit particularly hard at new co-op health plans, which were thinly capitalized but supported by Affordable Care Act loans. Deprived of full risk-corridor payments, by the end of summer 2016, just seven of 23 co-ops were still in business. As the co-ops collapsed, almost a million people were forced to look elsewhere for coverage. That contributed to a sharp reduction in competition on the [Obamacare] exchanges.

That underscores the cynicism of the Republican attack. GOP politicians such as House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) talk continually about a lack of competition on the Affordable Care Act exchanges as though thats a structural flaw in Obamacare. They dont admit that much of that lack of competition is their own handiwork.

One remarkable feature of this attack is that, even though it helped destroy some low-income insurers and harmed their customers, Republicans in Congress jostled with each other to take credit for it.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R- Fla.) made his championing of the provision a linchpin of his presidential campaign, claiming that his role in the measure saved billions for the American taxpayer. His bragging ticked off the GOP politicos who actually had sneaked the measure into law. Among them was a certain Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), then the ranking Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, who, as Donald Trumps newly-minted attorney general, now will have to decide whether to appeal Wheelers ruling to a higher court. When Sessions issued a statement listing the measures supporters, the Washington Post reported, he pointedly left Rubio out.

The risk corridor claimants arent out of the woods yet. The Moda judgment could be appealed. Moreover, although Judge Wheeler noted that payment from the Judgment Fund is a path Congress has left open, Congress also could block that path, simply by enacting a law barring it as a source of risk corridor claims, even with a court order. That measure would have to be signed by President Trump, but as Bagley commented, Trump hasnt been above stiffing partners in his own business ventures. Why would he stop now?

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.

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Its 3 p.m. and your head feels stuffed with cotton. Youve been at work all day and your eyelids are heavy. You cant concentrate. Your only wish is to crawl over to the sunny spot on the office floor and be a cat for 30 minutes.

Dr. Sara Mednick says people should listen to their inner feline.

A 20-minute nap or an hour-long nap can save your life, she says.

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Mednick has studied napping since 2001 and is the author of Take a Nap! Change Your Life, published in 2006. She is a sleep researcher and assistant professor of psychology at UC Riverside, where her lab work focuses on the benefits of napping for improved memory and functioning. Previously, she was at UC San Diego.

To Mednick, naps are natural and beneficial and should be encouraged by companies when employees feel the urge to crash. She says naps are more effective than extra cups of coffee to improve production and performance. Thats one of her themes in corporate presentations.

I dont try to tell anyone what to do, but I definitely try to give them some ammunition for saying there is a way out of the continuous caffeine cycle where you just drink caffeine all day and then you dont sleep well at night and then you need more caffeine the next day, she says. And, showing also that caffeine doesnt always show the kind of cognitive benefits that people think (it does). Weve actually shown it can decrease cognitive benefits compared to napping.

Employee napping has been embraced by high-profile companies such as Google, Uber, Zappos and PricewaterhouseCoopers. All allow employees to blend naps into their schedules. Some provide quiet rooms and sleeping pods.

The National Sleep Foundation has said a nap can restore alertness, enhance performance and reduce mistakes and accidents. It also cites a NASA study that found a 40-minute nap greatly improved the performance and alertness of military pilots and astronauts.

Theres still a stigma attached to napping, however. In our go-go, produce-more-with-less culture, napping can be perceived as slacking. Mednick, however, says thats changing. With one in three American adults not getting enough sleep (at least seven hours per day), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are plenty of glassy-eyed co-workers, friends and family in need of a nap. Mednick calls them The Walking Tired.

I think more and more people are realizing that they shouldnt feel so bad about it and they should engage in the habit, says Mednick.

Pros and cons

Lack of sleep can cause a number of problems, says Dr. Atul Malhotra, the director of sleep medicine and division chief for pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine for UC San Diego Health.

Malhotra says most people need seven to nine hours of sleep per day (24-hour period), and if they come up short, it can result in neurocognitive deficits (memory, concentration, creativity, attention) and cardiometabolic risks (heart disease, weight gain, diabetes).

Thats why its important for those who dont get enough sleep at night to try to make up for it during the day. As long as a person gets into that seven- to nine-hour daily range  even if its a combination of night and day sleep  they should be fine, he says.

About a third of Americans take naps, according to the National Sleep Foundation. But Malhotra says adult napping isnt a one-size-fits-all issue.

If somebody asks me as a sleep expert should you go to bed to nap, my answer is it depends, he says. If youre napping because youre not sleeping enough at night, then I recommend you sleep more at night. Are you napping because you cant breathe at night? Then I recommend you see a doctor and get your sleep apnea treated.

Are you napping because you like to and theres nothing else wrong? Then thats your lifestyle and your preference, and thats fine. Are you napping because you have insomnia? Then I really recommend you avoid naps, because if you cant sleep at night, then a nap during the day can make it worse.

Malhotra also says naps are helpful to bank sleep before having to stay up late. But he says naps arent for everyone, including those with insomnia and sleep inertia.

(They) fall asleep and then it takes them longer to wake up and theyre just not ... theyre groggy and it takes them a while. If youre one of those and you know you have to drive somewhere at 3 p.m., best not to take a nap and wake up at 2:50 p.m. and then be groggy and get into a car. Those people have sleep inertia.

Mednick, in fact, says there are nappers (those who can easily fall asleep during the day and get benefits) and non-nappers (those who have trouble getting to sleep and have a hard time coming out of deeper sleep.). Its not known why some people are nappers, but she believes its likely genetic.

She says nappers  about 50 percent of the population  can get benefits from a quick afternoon nap, even if theyve had seven to nine hours of sleep the night before.

It helps them and they really love it, she says. Theyre the type of people that go do exercise because they feel good about it. They take a nap because they feel good about it.

At her lab at UC Riverside, often sleep-deprived students go through various tests to study the impacts of naps. Those who reach pre-REM (rapid-eye movement) levels of slow-wave sleep  and are awakened for tests  experience benefits to memory. Nappers often have the ability to wake easily from a short rest before reaching the deeper REM level.

Its for these people who can easily slip into and out of sleep that afternoon catnaps are a gift. So when the sun comes streaming in at 3 p.m., its only natural they want to curl up somewhere quiet.

The late-afternoon lull for our bodies is a real thing, and Mednick calls it a midday dip in which body temperatures and cognition decrease.

This is a prime opportunity and historically has always been a time when people slept more, she says. So the argument that people should just sleep more (at night) and they dont need daytime sleep, it doesnt really go with history. Historically, people have napped.

Williams is a San Diego freelance writer.
Two luxury properties in Coronado linked to the former Mexican teachers union leader, Elba Esther Gordillo, are back on the market  one for rent, the other for sale.

Both properties were the focus of much attention in Mexico when Gordillo was arrested nearly four years ago on charges of embezzling more than $160 million in funds from Mexicos National Education Workers Union.

Once one of Mexicos most powerful political figures, Gordillo has spent much of the time following her arrest behind bars as she fights the charges. Though she remains under arrest, she has been allowed out since November as she undergoes medical treatment at clinics and private hospitals in Mexico City. She turned 72 last week.

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The former head of Mexicos National Education Workers Union, Elba Esther Gordillo, in a 2013 court appearance in Mexico City. (STR / AFP/Getty Images)

On Monday morning, a Realtors sign was planted outside the two properties on a quiet cul-de-sac of Coronado Cays. The seven-bedroom house at 23 Green Turtle Road, valued at more than $5 million, is listed as a $12,000-a-month rental property.

There is no current listing to sell the property, which for years served as Gordillos quiet getaway. As of summer 2016, at least three people were connected to the address: Rene Ricardo Fujiwara, a former Mexican federal legislator who is Gordillos grandson; Zoila Estela Armendariz, Gordillos late mother; and Francisco J. Yanez.

Across the way, the unfinished home at 1 Green Turtle Road is listed for $3.85 million after a previous pending sale on Jan. 30 failed to close escrow. It was put on the market Jan. 23 for $3.8 million and, unusual for real estate listings, the price was raised to $3.85 million later that day.

The listing describes the home as a rare opportunity for investors, builders and dreamers alike.

Both properties were paid for with cash, and their deeds show the same Mexican company as the owner, Comercializadora TTS de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. At the time of Gordillos arrest in 2013, Mexican authorities said records showed that the owner of the company was Gordillos mother, who had been dead since 2009.

sandra.dibble@sduniontribune.com

@sandradibble
What started as a normal morning visit to a coffee shop turned into the honor of a lifetime as a 91-year-old Marine Corps veteran was awarded a Purple Heart  72 years after being wounded.

Samuel Lee Anderson was a 19-year-old corporal when he fought in the World War II Battle of Iwo Jima. After 21 days of intense fighting, a landmine blast set off by a nearby soldier knocked him unconscious.

Although he cant recall how long he was out, Anderson said he remembers being happy to finally take a shower when he got to the hospital.

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All of a sudden, I was on a stretcher, he said. I ended up in Guam at an Army hospital  hadnt had my shoes or anything off in 21 days, so I smelled.

Eventually, he settled down, started a family and worked as a plumber.

Todd Anderson, a retired Glendale police lieutenant, said his fathers time in Iwo Jima never came up during family dinners.

Then two years ago, he and his brothers decided to take a look at their fathers service record.

What we found out clearly on his [discharge form], right out the gate, was that he was wounded, Todd Anderson said. Down below it, in remarks, it said no record of award of Purple Heart.

He got in touch with Marine Lt. Col. Aaron Doty and set the ball rolling to honor his father, who lives in Woodland Hills.

Last Thursday, Lee Anderson walked into Henris restaurant in Canoga Park to have breakfast with his friends as part of his daily routine. What wasnt part of the routine was the procession of family and friends who streamed into the dining room at the end of his meal  all there to see him finally receive a Purple Heart.

The group included his sons and his wife, as well as several Marines in their dress blues and officers from the Glendale Police Department.

Doty was on hand for the medal pinning, saying it was something that shouldve been done a long time ago.

Its my great honor to finally put this together and hang this medal on this mans chest who earned it back in 1945, he said. As a brother, as another Marine, this is an absolute honor and this is what Marines do  love our own ferociously to the death. We take care of each other.

Lee Anderson said he was grateful to everyone who attended the ceremony and that it was overwhelming. He was also surprised that the medal didnt arrive by mail.

I never thought theyd ever have a big ceremony like this, he said. Its a great thing that my boys did for me, and I love them for it.

andy.nguyen@latimes.com

Nguyen writes for Times Community News.
The man who purchased two rifles used in the 2015 San Bernardino terror attacks will plead guilty to federal terrorism charges this week, ending a series of criminal court cases that followed one of the deadliest terror attacks committed on U.S. soil since Sept. 11, 2001.

Enrique Marquez Jr., a close friend of gunman Syed Rizwan Farook, will enter pleas resolving the two most serious charges he faced, conspiring to provide material support to terrorists and making false statements in connection with the purchase of a firearm, according to a 23-page plea agreement made public Tuesday.

For the record: San Bernardino terror plea: An article about a plea deal for Enrique Marquez Jr. in the Feb. 15 A-Section incorrectly said federal prosecutors would seek some leniency for Marquez. The agreement would not change the amount of time he serves in prison. The article also said the Orlando nightclub shooting occurred seven months after the San Bernardino attack; it was six months later.

Described by friends as a shy cycling enthusiast who once dreamed of joining the military, Marquez, 25, emerged as a central figure in the sprawling investigation of the Dec. 2, 2015, attack at the Inland Regional Center. Marquez placed a 911 call hours after the shooting, admitting that Farook used a gun that he had purchased, and later checked himself into a hospital before repeatedly speaking to investigators.

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The end of the criminal cases does little to resolve some of the insoluble questions that continue to frustrate investigators about whether Farook or his wife, Tashfeen Malik, received aid or conspired with foreign terror networks while plotting the shootings.

Despite the yearlong inquiry, which saw the government contract a third party to hack into Farooks work-issued iPhone and dredge a lake in search of the couples personal hard drive, investigators were unable to recover the hard drive or account for an 18-minute gap in a timeline of Farook and Maliks movements after the shootings. Some fear the couple could have contacted co-conspirators during that period.

Marquez was the only person formally charged in connection with the shootings. Farook and Malik died in a gun battle with police hours after the assault, which left 14 dead and 22 wounded. At the time, the death toll was the highest in a terrorist attack in the U.S. since Sept. 11, though the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., claimed 49 lives just seven months later.

One of the survivors of the San Bernardino attack, Hal Houser, said Tuesday that he considered Marquez a side figure in the shootings, and still wonders why us? when thinking back on the hail of gunfire that left his friends and co-workers diving for cover that day.

Marquez never engendered my deepest animus, Houser said. He is just the only face I can tack to the dartboard.

Marquez was not accused of taking part in the shootings and told federal investigators he did not have any prior knowledge of the attacks, according to the plea agreement.

In exchange for the guilty pleas, prosecutors will request that the judge grant Marquez some leniency when deciding his punishment. The combined maximum sentence allowed for the two charges is 25 years in prison. The government will also dismiss two fraud charges against Marquez that stemmed from his bogus marriage to a Russian woman, whose sister is married to Syed Raheel Farook, the shooters older brother.

Marquez met Syed Rizwan Farook in 2005 after moving next door to him in Riverside. The pair became friends, but their relationship took a dark turn in 2010, prosecutors said. Even as Marquez told friends he hoped to enlist in the U.S. Navy, prosecutors said, he and Farook had begun attending a mosque together and were secretly amassing weapons, discussing radical Islam and plotting attacks.

According to court records, Marquez and Farook had planned to launch an assault on the 91 Freeway in Corona and at Riverside City College in 2011 and 2012, but both plots were aborted, according to the plea agreement. The charges in the agreement accuse Marquez of conspiring to take part in those aborted attacks, not the shootings at the Inland Regional Center.

According to court records, Marquez and Farook decided to target the college first because both had been enrolled there as students and were familiar with the campus, the agreement said. They drew up plans to hurl pipe bombs onto a cafeteria from the floor above and identified the escape route they would use to carry out more attacks elsewhere on the school grounds, Marquez admitted in the plea agreement.

After attacking the school, the agreement said, Marquez and Farook planned to lay siege to a stretch of the 91 Freeway, which has no exits from which motorists could escape. Marquez acknowledged the plan called for him to hike up into the hills overlooking the freeway and fire on people as Farook threw pipe bombs from the side of the road and then shot people at close range.

Marquez also agreed that he lied when he bought two rifles in late 2011 and early 2012 and claimed in required federal paperwork that the weapons were for himself. In reality, the rifles were for Farook, who had given money to Marquez for the purchases, the plea agreement said.

The men believed Marquez could buy the rifles more easily than Rizwan and would receive less scrutiny than Rizwan, prosecutors wrote in the plea deal.

The agreement also detailed discussions the men had about making improvised explosive devices for their planned attacks. Marquez acknowledged consulting Inspire, an online English-language magazine published by Al Qaeda, for guidance on how to build the bombs. He and Farook spoke about using radio- and remote-controlled devices to detonate the bombs, and Marquez purchased Christmas tree lights that could be used to ignite explosives.

Not long after the shootings sparked a desperate hunt for the shooters, Marquez posted a cryptic apology on his personal Facebook page before going to an emergency room and then being sent to a mental health institution.

Im. Very sorry sguys (sic), Marquezs post read. It was a pleasure.

He was approached by the FBI a short time later. Marquez waived his right to an attorney and voluntarily spoke with federal agents in the weeks after the shootings.

Those who knew Marquez said he had a guarded personality, rarely speaking of friends or his marriage, but he could become goofy and affable at times.

He has a really nice smile. Hes really welcoming, said Viviana Ramirez, Marquezs friend who spoke to The Times in 2015. Hell play around if he feels very welcome with you.

But he was also saddened by the state of his marriage to Mariya Chernykh, which was later revealed during the terror investigation to be a sham. Chernykh, her sister and Farooks older brother all pleaded guilty to marriage fraud charges this year.

Marquezs court-appointed attorneys did not return calls for comment.

U.S. Atty. Eileen M. Decker said that although Marquez had only been charged in the aborted 2011 and 2012 plots, his actions helped set in motion the bloodshed that came to San Bernardino years later.

This defendant collaborated with and purchased weapons for a man who carried out the devastating Dec. 2, 2015, terrorist attack that took the lives of 14 innocent people, wounded nearly two dozen, and impacted our entire nation, she said in a statement.

Houser said he hoped Marquezs plea deal would allow those who lost loved ones in the attacks some respite from the constant coverage of the shootings.

My friends who were trapped in the room as the shooting took place faced ungodly terror, he said. To have to relive that every time this story breaks? Unimaginable.

paloma.esquivel@latimes.com

Twitter: @palomaesquivel

joel.rubin@latimes.com

Twitter: @joelrubin

james.queally@latimes.com

Twitter: @JamesQueallyLAT

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UPDATES:

8:15 p.m.: This story was updated with additional background about the case and some rewriting.

4:50 p.m.: This story was updated with additional information from the plea agreement and quotes from a survivor.

3:50 p.m.: This story was updated with additional background about Marquez and the 2015 attacks.

This article was originally published at 2:50 p.m.
New Age pioneer Deepak Chopra can add one more to his string of diverse accomplishments. He played a keynote role in an album awarded two Grammys on Sunday.

The Ted Nash Big Bands Presidential Suite: Eight Variations on Freedom won best album by a large jazz ensemble. Plus, composer Ted Nash was given a best instrumental composition Grammy for one of its movements, Spoken at Midnight, involving Chopra, who has a home in La Jolla.

The suite highlights addresses by eight leaders, including John F. Kennedy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Nelson Mandela and Jawaharlal Nehru. Chopra recited Nehrus Spoken at Midnight piece, while other segments were voiced by Joe Lieberman, Sam Waterston, Andrew Young, Glenn Close and others.

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Nash said the compositions melodies and notes were derived from transcribing the pitches and intonations of the actual speeches and putting them in a big band context.

Chopra, a physician, author and spiritualist, last March was named a full professor at UC San Diegos Department of Family Medicine. He continues his work at The Chopra Center in La Costa, which he founded in 1996 to focus on mind, body and spiritual well-being.

Unfortunately, though, Chopra wasnt able to attend the Grammys. He is currently on tour promoting his latest book, written with Menas Kafatos, You are the Universe.

Affairs of the heart: Its a perfect topic for Valentines Day. Womens hearts will be the focus of four female cardiologists, thanks to the new Scripps Womens Heart Center.

Drs. Christina Adams, Elizabeth Kaback, Namee Kim and Poulina Uddin will treat womens hearts exclusively at the new La Jolla medical facility at Scripps Memorial Hospitals La Jolla location.

Research shows women with heart disease are less likely than men to be accurately diagnosed and treated, so the center is focused on erasing those differences, noted a statement from Adams.

They also will concentrate on estrogen imbalances, pregnancy, autoimmune conditions, migraine headaches and how these factor into the health of womens hearts.

Circle of life: After a romance in the 1950s, Richard Herrman and Joann Richards went their separate ways in 1955. She stayed in Michigan while he eventually settled in San Diego in the 1960s.

Flash forward to a Central MIchigan College fraternity reunion party awhile back. Herrman, now 87, asked if anyone had stayed in touch with Joann and knew of her whereabouts. Luckily for him, someone had. So, after more than 60 years, the former couple, both widowed, reconnected on the phone and eventually had a rendezvous in Hawaii.

Now Richards, 83, is coming to Rancho Santa Fe to celebrate Valentines Day with her former sweetheart. We have this great friendship, says Herrman.

Jo Dee Jacob, in 2014 when she was CEO of Girl Scouts San Diego, introducing the top cookie-seller Roni Nelson, 13, at the Operation Thin Mint send-off. (John Gibbins/UT San Diego/Zuma Press)

History repeats? Jo Dee Jacob, the recently retired leader of Girl Scouts San Diego, just received a National Freedoms Foundation Award for community service.

But the stage was set early in her life. Seems she won a Freedoms Foundation essay contest award while attending primary school in New London, Conn.

diane.bell@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1518

Twitter: @dianebellSD

Facebook: dianebell.news
A 70-year-old woman is suing the San Diego County Sheriffs Department, claiming she was knocked down by a deputy trying to enter her home without permission and later had a stroke that left her partially paralyzed.

In her case in federal court for the Southern District of California, Rose Ebersole also says that the department is interfering with her ability to obtain records about the incident.

San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore and an unnamed deputy are also named as defendants in the case.

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Ebersole says she had lived on her own until that November 2015 run-in, but now resides in a hospital.

Her attorney, Andre Verdun, did not respond to a request for additional information, and the Sheriffs Department referred questions to county counsel, which through a spokesman, did not respond to a list of questions from the Union-Tribune about the lawsuit.

County supervisors are scheduled meet with attorneys in closed session on Tuesday to discuss the case.

According to the lawsuit, firefighters were sent to Ebersoles San Diego home after they received a report of excessive smoke coming from her fireplace. When they arrived, Ebersole told them that there was no emergency and that she was burning a plastic blind in her fireplace as a fire-starter.

Firefighters wanted to inspect her home, but Ebersole told them that they could not enter. They then called the Sheriffs Department for help, but Ebersole forbid a deputy from entering her home as well. The deputy tried to enter her home anyway, but Ebersole tried to block him, according to the suit.

In response to Plaintiffs non-violent, non-threatening attempt to block access into her home, the unknown San Diego Sheriff Officer grabbed Plaintiff and slammed her face-down on the ground, and handcuffed her, the lawsuit said.

Ebersole was hurt and later had a stroke that left her paralyzed on one side of her body, the lawsuit said. Court documents did not say how long after the incident she had the stroke.

She has been confined to a hospital receiving care ever since the incident took place, it says.

In January 2016, Ebersole and her attorney tried to obtain Sheriffs Department records about the incident, but her request was denied, according to the lawsuit.

Plaintiff has a right to the police report concerning her detention and interaction with the unknown sheriff officer and it is alleged, on information and belief, that the denial of her request for the police report is intended to interfere with her ability to bring a civil claim against the officer, the lawsuit says.

Its unclear if there was any sort of detention beyond the use of handcuffs on Ebersole, and a search of online court records does not show any criminal charges against her.

Ebersole is suing for an unspecified amount of general and special damages, as well as attorneys fees, expenses, and costs of the lawsuit.

Twitter: @jptstewart

joshua.stewart@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1841
The sister of Alfred Olango, an unarmed black man who was killed last year during an encounter with El Cajon police, has sued the city claiming she suffered serious emotional distress from witnessing the shooting.

Lucy Olango called 911 three times on Sept. 27, seeking help for her brother, who she said wasnt acting like himself that day. Others who called 911 reported seeing a man acting erratically and walking into traffic.

Two officers approached Alfred Olango, a 38-year-old Ugandan refugee, in a parking lot behind a taco shop on Broadway near Mollison Avenue. One of the officers had his gun drawn and the other drew his Taser.

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Officer Richard Gonsalves fatally shot Olango after he took what authorities described as a shooting stance with a shiny object in his hand. It turned out to be a vaping device.

Lucy Olangos lawsuit, filed this month in San Diego Superior Court, accuses the El Cajon Police Department and Gonsalves of negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Her attorneys contend Gonsalves knew when he was dispatched to the scene that he was not investigating a crime and that Alfred Olango had not threatened anyone with harm. Instead of waiting for a psychiatric response team to arrive, the officer aggressively confronted, chased and cornered Alfred, the suit said.

The lawsuit also notes that before the shooting, Gonsalves was demoted after a fellow officer sued him for sexual harassment. Attorney Dan Gilleon represents the female officer in that case as well as Lucy Olango.

A Police Department spokesman declined Monday to comment on the lawsuit, saying it is city policy not to discuss pending litigation.

In January, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis concluded the shooting was justified and Gonsalves would not face criminal charges. She said an investigation showed the officer was in reasonable fear for his life based on Olangos actions.

The sisters lawsuit is the latest legal action filed in response to the shooting. In January, Alfred Olangos father filed a civil-rights suit in San Diego federal court alleging excessive, deadly force against his son. In November, Olangos wife and two daughters filed a claim against the Police Department accusing the city of negligence and excessive force. A claim is a precursor to a lawsuit in state or federal court.

dana.littlefield@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @danalittlefield
SAN FRANCISCO  Cyber experts at this weeks RSA security conference are warning consumers to take steps to prevent hackers from stealing their W-2 forms and other sensitive tax documents.

The warning follows several incidents in which hackers sent company officials what appeared to be legitimate requests for copies of their workers W-2s. Renovate America, a solar financing company in Rancho Bernardo, inadvertently gave a hacker sensitive tax information for about 800 current and former employees.

Such phishing attacks are increasing  and can be avoided, said Kevin OBrien, chief executive of GreatHorn, a Boston-based security company.

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OBrien discussed the problem and what to do about it during an interview with The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Q: Traditionally, Americans have received their W-2 forms via snail mail. Do they also have the option to get them electronically? How are hackers getting involved in this aspect of our lives?

A: Most companies today have digitized their tax forms. Organizations, for the sake of efficiency, often default to sending electronic copies of W2s, even when they also send paper copies in the mail.

Whats more concerning here is that these documents are almost always stored in digital form by the companies themselves. That makes these files a ripe target for attackers, because there are multiple people who can access, share and ultimately breach employee data over any number of channels because of this electronic storage.

Q: Is this emerging as a significant problem?

A:The Internal Revenue Service published a warning last year on this, and re-flagged it as being more sophisticated earlier this month. The W-2 scam is a highly effective way that ordinary Americans are seeing their most sensitive data lost to attackers.

If you read the IRS advice, its largely about what to do when a business user recognizes one of these attacks. Sadly, relying on folks who are just doing their jobs  and who are likely under pressure as tax season rolls around  to somehow identify sophisticated spoofing attacks and then flag them is a fools errand.

The reality is that even with strong, foundational security in place, nearly 1 percent of all emails that get around existing security tools businesses invest in have indicators of fraud within them. That sounds small until you realize that by the end of this year, over 132 billion emails will be sent every single day. Thats a lot of malicious messages that could trick someone into giving up your familys most private data.

The key problem here is cognitive load, which refers to the total amount of mental energy that someone can expend. If you take the typical HR or finance professional, heads-down on getting all of the end-of-year financial data required assembled prior to sending out staff W2s, youll see that they have a very high overall mental load going on.

Theres a limit to how much anyone can hold in working memory at any given time, which is why even with training on these types of threats, attackers who understand social engineering and psychology can still trick companies into giving up W2s and other sensitive data.

Q: What is the most common mistake people make that exposes their information to hackers?

A: The most common mistake we see is in thinking along the lines of, Oh, we can just tell people to be careful!

The challenge is that many people underestimate cyber criminals. These arent kids living in their parents basements any longer. While there was a time when that may have been a (semi-) accurate portrayal of the state of cyber crimes, todays hackers are most commonly either career cyber criminals backed by international crime syndicates or foreign nation states and military groups.

So long as we think of cyber crime as being somehow less of a threat than it is, well make poor decisions about how to respond.

Q: What are best ways to prevent hackers from getting peoples tax details?

A:There are steps that can be taken to minimize the kinds of threats described above  simple things like automatic warnings that flag that a message is a fraud, for example.  The essential step here is in being willing to spend the time, money and effort to go beyond simple feel-good actions and dedicate risk-appropriate resources to solving this problem.

W-2 scams can be stopped. It requires dedicated technology and a keen understanding of just how hard it is to rely on intuition when it comes to spotting and safeguarding threats to sensitive data  relying on old-school network-based tools to scan email or worse yet, training programs that are proven time and again to be ineffective.

As private citizens, we need to learn to demand that our employers take appropriate measures to safeguard this information. Ask your company how its responding to the IRS warnings; dont accept brush-off answers or the fallacious it wont happen to us reasoning that so many organizations fall victim to.

Statistically, 91 percent of all data breaches begin with a simple phishing attack. If your company cant point to specific and measured defenses against these types of threats, your tax information has a bright target painted on it for cyber criminals.

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Twitter: @grobbins

gary.robbins@sduniontribune.com
The dismissal of an employee who accused the San Ysidro School District of wrongful termination in 2016 has raised questions about how his settlement was handled by trustees.

Jose Enrique Gonzalez served as the districts coordinator of program development and school services from October 2015 until he was let go in January 2016.

The agreement that paid Gonzalez $113,400 in severance is signed by him and Marcos Diaz, who was board president at the time. It is dated Jan. 15, 2016.

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According to documents provided by the district, Gonzales filed a claim against the district in March 2016, two months after the settlement, and the board rejected the claim on April 14, 2016.

At last weeks board meeting, it was disclosed that trustees had also unanimously approved a settlement with Gonzalez in a closed session of the April 14, 2016 meeting. That had never been reported as required by law.

District officials say the omission was an oversight.

Arturo Sanchez-Macias, the districts chief business officer, said both the claim and the settlement were presented for trustee consideration during the April 14 closed session.

A claim filed against a public agency like a school district is typically a precursor to a lawsuit.

In response to a public records request by the San Diego Union-Tribune, asking for the claim and settlement agreement, the district turned over a letter dated March 2 from Gomez Trial Attorneys and said it was the claim. The letter, however, was initial correspondence from the law firm and it made no mention of wrongful termination or demand for monetary damages.

On Thursday, Sanchez-Macias said the claim could not be found at the district office. But the next day, he turned over a claim dated March 23 that he said had been delivered to the office the day before by a board member.

The district has not said which board member had the claim and why it wasnt in the districts possession. They also say the Jan. 15 date on the settlement agreement is incorrect.

The district did not immediately respond to an email questioning the discrepancies.

An article published last week by the weekly newspaper La Prensa accuses Superintendent Julio Fonseca of firing Gonzalez because he spoke out about an alleged romantic relationship between the superintendent and a woman he hired.

Fonseca denied the allegations and said the story was designed to distract attention away from the districts unfinished solar energy project.

The owner of La Prensa, Art Castanares, is also the owner of Manzana Energy, which is the solar firm doing the work for the district.

Castanares stands by the La Prensa story and says he is running both his businesses responsibly. He said the district is scrambling to cover up mishandling the claim and settlement.

He also said the districts assertion that he dropped out of sight and was not available to answer questions about the solar project from mid-December to the end of January is not true.

I was in the district office Jan. 6 for an hour and a half talking to Mr. Macias, Castanares said. We talked about the schedule, we talked about the changes, we talked about the payments. How can they say they havent heard from me since December?

Follow me on Twitter: @HuardSDUT
Hearts get pumping on Valentines Day, so it pays to make sure theyre in good shape.

Thats the goal of the sixth-annual Love Your Heart event which is offering free blood pressure screenings at 170 locations in San Diego County  and even a few south of the border  on Feb. 14.

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Heart disease kills about 4,500 San Diegans every year, and many heart attacks and other types of ticker trouble are preventable if symptoms such as high blood pressure are detected early enough to take action.

Toward that end, the county has put together a map, available at arcg.is/2l8SoOb, that shows every location where the free screenings will be offered. Residents can also dial 2-1-1 to get help over the phone.

Locations range from North County Health Services in Oceanside to the C.S.U. Rosarito clinic in Rosarito, Mexico, and from the Ocean Beach lifeguard tower east to the Jacumba Library.

There are signs that the program is working. This year the county is featuring the story of Gabe Gutierrez who, despite being a vegetarian who exercised regularly, learned he had abnormally-high blood pressure when he attended the inaugural Love Your Heart event in 2012.

After discovering his genetic predisposition to hypertension, doctors put him on blood-pressure-lowering medication, decreasing his risk of having a heart attack.

I could have died, Gutierrez, 32, said in a county statement.

The risk is much higher for those who are a bit more senior. According to county health data, the vast majority of deaths from coronary heart disease occur among those age 65 and older. Men tend to be at higher risk than women and African Americans suffer at a higher rate than the population as a whole.

The program has grown so big that it has started winning awards. Last year, according to county records, the program conducted 31,695 blood pressure screenings at 152 sites.

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paul.sisson@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1850

Twitter: @paulsisson
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The city of San Diego hopes to open a center that will temporary house hundreds of homeless people while helping each one find permanent housing within the next couple of years.

This is a huge priority for obvious reasons, Mayor Kevin Faulconer said Monday after the city announced it was seeking proposals on where to put a homeless intake center and how to run it.

The city plans to spend $12.5 million in Community Development Block Grant funding for the center. The money cannot be used to buy land or build something new, but can be used to rehabilitate a structure.

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Faulconer said the request for ideas is open-ended by design and does not include such details as the number of beds at the center, although he anticipates it will be a few hundred.

We want to make sure they have an opportunity to give us their best thoughts, Faulconer said. Really, this is about tapping into the experience and knowledge of our providers with a single goal: to help support our overall ecosystem.

Ideas will be accepted through April 14, when an evaluation period will begin.

Mondays announcement was for a Request for Statement of Qualification, a method of seeking services that doesnt focus on cost, but rather on the qualification of the potential providers.

The next step will be for qualified respondents to participate in a Request for Proposal, a competition process leading to the project itself.

The support service assessment center would be up and running within 24 months of awarding a contract, according to the request issued Monday.

While the city hopes the center will get people off the street in the long term, Faulconer said plans are in the work to also provide more emergency shelter beds to house people in the interim.

No details about that have been released yet, but Faulconer said a plan will be announced in the next few months.

Data havent been released yet from a countywide count of homeless people last month, but a count from January 2016 found about 5,000 homeless people in the city, with 2,750 of those living unsheltered on the street, in cars or other places. About 1,000 are estimated to live in downtown alone.

Faulconer referenced a plan to create a centralized input center at his annual State of the City address in January. Each person entering the center would be assessed and given personal attention for the long-term solution that would work best for them, he said Monday.

The proposal states the center would be opened year-round and 24 hours a day, and each client would have access to job training, mental and physical health support and treatment, substance abuse recovery, parenting support and tools for setting up a balanced and sustainable independent life.

The center also will have a kitchen that can serve two meals a day, storage lockers or bins, accommodations for pets and other support services.

The request also states the city is seeking a building that is not city-owned and not in use. It also does not want existing buildings that have residential tenants who would be displaced or buildings with a landmark or historic designation that would add to the cost of renovations.

The Alpha Project, which offers housing and various services for homeless people, is likely to submit a proposal to run the center. The nonprofit has pushing for a new shelter in the city and already has a site in mind: a 7.2-acre lot on 20th and B streets.

Alpha Project President and CEO Bob McElroy said he was reading the proposal enthusiastically until he got to the part about no city-owned sites. The property he is considering is a city yard with old warehouses he believes can be rehabilitated.

McElroy said he plans to submit a proposal anyway.

Noting that there has been talk of re-opening the old city library to use as a shelter, McElroy said the request may preclude that idea because it stated the city is not seeking buildings with environmental issues, and the library has asbestos that would have to be removed.

Homeless advocate Michael McConnell also studied the request Monday and wasnt sure what to think of it.

When I read it, it just sounded like another transitional housing facility, he said.

gary.warth@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @GaryWarthUT

760-529-4939
The number of refugees resettling in San Diego County did not slow down in January  365 arrived last month, the same as Decembers new arrivals total, according to data from the county Health and Human Services Agency.

The new arrivals bring the total number of refugees resettled in the county since October to 1,552. San Diegos January total was higher than the previous two Januaries. In January 2016, 226 refugees came to the county, and 168 arrived in January 2015.

President Donald Trumps executive order temporarily blocking refugee arrivals for 120 days was signed at the end of January, so it wouldnt have affected the months numbers by much.

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More than 60 percent of the countys January arrivals were originally from countries whose citizens were explicitly banned from coming to the United States in that executive order. The largest group, at 160 refugees, came from Iraq.

Just over 40 refugees were Syrian, 18 were Somali and 15 were Iranian.

After the executive order, flights were cancelled for refugees who were slated to come to San Diego. Since a Seattle judge issued a temporary restraining order on Trumps ban, some of those flights have been rebooked, and refugees have been arriving in the past week, according to Laurel Dalsted of the International Rescue Committee in San Diego. She knew of families from Afghanistan and Syria resettled by her organization, but she wasnt sure how many.

Jewish Family Service, another of the four resettlement agencies in the county, received a family from Afghanistan on Jan. 31, according to Etleva Bejko, director of refugee and immigration services. She said the familys flight was rescheduled from the day before because of the confusion the first weekend after the order was signed.

They were relieved to actually make it here, Bejko said.

The organization received an Iraqi family on Feb. 9 and expects two more Iraqi arrivals this week, Bejko said.

With the ultimate fate of the executive order still pending in court, refugee flights are scheduled through Feb. 17, Dalsted said.

The International Rescue Committee has seen a large increase in volunteers since the executive order was signed, Dalsted said, even though the number of volunteers already increased since the election.

People want to know what they can do, Dalsted said, noting that the weekly volunteer orientations are already full for next week. That has never happened before, she said.

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kate.morrissey@sduniontribune.com, @bgirledukate
The San Diego City Council voted Tuesday to join the legal battle against President Donald Trumps executive order prohibiting refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S.

The order was blocked temporarily last week by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. San Diego was approached by the city of Chicago to join an amicus curiae brief in support of the State of Washington v. Donald J. Trump, et al, San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott announced after the court ruling.

Elliott brought the matter to the council, which voted 8-1 in closed session Tuesday to sign on to the brief.

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Scott Sherman, one of four Republicans on the council, was the lone no vote.

Mayor Kevin Faulconer, also a Republican, did not have a vote in the decision, but issued a measured statement in support of the council action.

Americans deserve an immigration policy that keeps us safe without needlessly separating families and shutting our doors on innocent people seeking the American Dream, he said. Legal immigration contributes greatly to San Diegos economy and culture, and our region has taken in more refugees than any other in California. This executive order has a direct effect on San Diegans, and I believe it is appropriate in this case for our city to weigh in.

The closed-session vote was prefaced by a morning of testimony from a broad section of the community who asked council members to join the brief. Dozens spoke in support of joining, and two spoke against it. Many rallied outside City Hall in favor of the brief.

There was no public discussion among council members after the vote was announced, but council members David Alvarez, Chris Ward  both Democrats  and Sherman issued statements.

Im proud that San Diego is joining the State of Washington in the effort to strike down the Executive Order issued by President Trump that restricts immigration and admission of refugees into the United States, Alvarez said. This short-sighted action taken by the president is un-American. It has torn families apart and is detrimental to our economy.

Shermans Communication Director Jeff Powell said the councilman opposed using city resources on an unclear national issue rather than focusing on local municipal issues.

The Council member was asked to sign on to a legal opinion that no one has seen or read, the statement said. In addition, the executive order in question is currently not in effect due to a judicial ruling. It is unacceptable to expend valuable and limited resources in the City Attorneys office on an order that could be rescinded at any moment.

During a public comment session before the vote was announced, attorney Hud Collins spoke in favor of the ban.

Since when can anybody be in this city whos illegal? he said. I dont understand it. Have the citizens of this city gone nuts? 

One audience member told Collins to sit down and others booed, prompting Council President Myrtle Cole to warn the crowd to be respectful.

Before you make any decision on the amicus curiae brief, let the city debate about it, Collins continued. I assure you our citizens would be for our president and his actions.

Bob Kuczewski spoke against the city joining the brief on legal grounds and read a passage from the Immigration and Nationality Act citing the presidents authority to suspend any class of aliens deemed detrimental to the interests of the United States,

Thats the law, he said. If you want to change the law, you can follow (former City Councilman Scott) Peters and go to Washington. Hes been there a number of years, and I havent seen him propose to change this law.

Audience members again booed, prompting another reprimand from Cole.

The rudeness of this group speaks for itself, Kuczewski said.

In his statement, Councilman Ward called the action a bold vote and commended his colleagues.

Ive been overwhelmed in recent months as tens of thousands of San Diegans have mobilized themselves in defense of each other and the values of respect and inclusiveness that define our city, he said. Ive been proud to stand with them in those efforts and today, Im proud that their City Council has said loud and clear that we will continue to fight for you.

What impact that action may have is uncertain. The Trump administration may decide not to appeal the court ruling that has put his executive order on hold. Administration officials have suggested he might sign a revised order to enact the travel ban in a different way.

Among those who spoke publicly for joining the brief was Taha Hassane, imam of the Islamic Center of San Diego.

There comes a time when silence is betrayal, He said, quoting the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is imperative that San Diego not remain silent.

Hassane presented a letter in support of joining the brief signed by about 30 organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego and Imperial Counties, the Council on Islamic Relations, Jewish Family Service, the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council and the New Americans Museum.

The executive order that established these policies violates fundamental principals of human rights and bedrock tenants of constitutional law, and it betrays our values as a nation of immigrants and San Diegans, he said.

Others in favor of joining the fight against the ban included a Syrian refugee who said the councils vote would send a message that he is part of the community, and the son of Afghanistan refugees who got choked up when speaking about how his family was brought in by Ronald Reagan.

Referring to Trumps call for extreme vetting of refugees, Shawn VanDiver, co-founder and co-director of the Truman National Security Project San Diego Chapter, said the process already is extreme and takes two or three years.

The bottom line is that refugees are the most well-vetted group of individuals entering our country, and they also happen to be predominantly women and children, he said. Banning groups from coming into the United States is as ineffective at making us safer as it is offensive to our values.

The presidents executive order seeks to stop the immigration of people from seven countries for 90 days  Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen  freeze the refugee program for 120 days, and indefinitely halt immigration of all Syrian refugees.

San Diego, being on the border with Mexico and with a large immigrant population, is in a potentially precarious position with the Trump administration.

Some conservative organizations have called San Diego a sanctuary city, a term for local agencies that do not cooperate with immigration authorities. San Diego officials reject that label, contending its law enforcement officers and agents work with federal officials to the extent allowed by state law. Trump has threatened to cut off federal funding to sanctuary cities, though its unclear how thats defined.

On Friday, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly visited the San Diego-Tijuana border area and met with local law enforcement officials. When he was asked by San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman what was the definition of a sanctuary city, Kelly replied I have no clue.

Further, the presidents push to crackdown on illegal immigration and ramp up deportations of unauthorized people living here could have a significant impact across the region.

And Trumps threat to revamp the North American Free Trade Agreement or place a 20 percent import tax on goods coming across the border from Mexico would upset a long, symbiotic economic relationship between San Diego and northern Baja.
A convicted killer who had been deported was arrested by Border Patrol agents near the Calexico border Sunday, federal authorities said.

Border Patrol agents approached two men after spotting them walking north from the Mexico border fence near Calexico in a deserted area, Customs and Border Protection officials said. Agents determined the men were illegally in the United States, and arrested them.

A records check revealed one of the men, Humberto Vasquez-Alonso, 56, was convicted of murder in 2003 and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Vasquez-Alonso, a native of Guatemala, later was deported.

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This arrest of a convicted felon demonstrates the importance of the mission of the Border Patrol, Assistant Chief Patrol Agent David Kim said in a statement.

No information was released about the second man who was taken into custody.

Breaking News

Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com

Phone: (619) 293-1876

Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez
While President Trumps daily activities continue to consume much of the nations attention, Congress has quietly launched a legislating spree at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue.

The House and Senate are churning out a steady stream of bills  not the big-ticket items Trump promised on the campaign trail, but a hand-picked collection of discrete measures aimed at dismantling the regulatory agenda that President Obama put in place during his waning days in office.

Many of the proposals come from a wish list compiled by the powerful Koch brothers network, designed to loosen federal rules on the energy industry, Wall Street and other businesses aligned to the industrialists.

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Other groups have also weighed in. A top priority of the National Rifle Assn., for example, would halt a rule requiring background checks for gun buyers who have a mental health condition for which they receive Social Security disability benefits. It was initially drafted in the aftermath of the 2007 Virginia Tech mass shooting and finalized late last year.

Because Republicans now control Congress and the White House, the measures have a good chance of becoming law. Congress is using special rules that require just a simple majority vote for fast-track passage.

Already, two measures have cleared both chambers on largely party-line votes. One rolls back mountaintop coal mining regulations that would have updated 30-year-old rules on downstream pollution. Another halts a previous bipartisan effort that sought to stem overseas corruption by requiring U.S. companies to disclose payments to foreign governments.

More House-passed bills are likely to clear the Senate this week, and Trump is expected to soon have his first bill signing at the White House.

Republicans say their bill-passing flurry will kick-start the economy by undoing cumbersome rules Obama put in without congressional approval.

With President Trumps signature, every one of these regulations will be overturned, said Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), the majority leader, announcing the agenda. Thats how to protect American workers and businesses, defend the Constitution, and turn words into actions.

But Democrats and advocacy groups warn the new measures will wipe out important safeguards.

We put in a lot of work to make sure there were protections for streams and communities, and [now] we dont get those protections, said Erin Savage, a program manager at Appalachian Voices, an environmental advocacy organization that had been working on the stream protection regulations for a decade.

Theyve said, This is a job-killing rule and were going to bring back coal by killing this rule, she said. But the coal industry, especially in Central Appalachia, has been on decline.... You cant change market demand with a stream rule.

What has been striking about the legislative activity is not necessarily the content of the measures, which largely match GOP goals for less government intervention in business and industry, but the speed at which the bills are being approved in Congress.

Thats in large part thanks to the assistance of the Koch network.

Andy Koenig, a vice president at Freedom Partners, a Koch-backed business advocacy organization, said that many lawmakers thought that because Obama had done so much with a pen and a phone, President Trump could walk in with an eraser and get it done on Day One.

But he and other seasoned operatives knew it would be more complicated. We realized there was a need on Capitol Hill, he said.

As Trumps transition team began to take shape, Freedom Partners and Americans for Prosperity, another Koch-aligned group, got to work late last year on an early agenda  its Roadmap to Repeal  for Congress.

The Koch network sent advisors to Capitol Hill to meet with Republican leaders and help prioritize the agenda with rank-and-file lawmakers. Activists from the networks state chapters  many who knocked on doors to help get out the November vote  showed up in lawmakers offices to urge support.

They focused Republicans on a little-known procedural tool  the Congressional Review Act  that allows Congress to disapprove of new regulations within a short time frame after the rules are issued.

The tactic had been attempted by the GOP-led Congress before, but Obama was able to veto the resolutions. Only once, during the George W. Bush administration, had a disapproval resolution been signed into law. Now with Trump in the White House, Republicans have an opening.

The process must happen quickly, within 60 legislative days of new rules being issued or from the start of the new Congress. If they wait longer than that, legislation to overturn the regulations would be subject to filibuster by Senate Democrats.

Another House-passed measure sent to the Senate would halt new regulations on flares used to burn off methane gas. It is backed by the oil industry.

The American Petroleum Institute welcomed the rollback of the methane rule, calling the Obama-era regulation a step backward for energy policy that would impede oil and natural gas production on federal land.

Dozens more are in the queue. This week, the House is scheduled to vote to undo regulations that eased drug testing requirements for recipients of unemployment benefits and ensured federal funds were not blocked for family planning clinics.

GOP lawmakers have been quick to sign on as bill sponsors.

The hunger among Republicans in Congress to push back is very real, said Chrissy Harbin, vice president at Americans for Prosperity. They are jumping at the chance to move forward with resolutions of disapproval.

But not all of the measures may make it to Trumps desk.

The effort to roll back gun background checks has hit resistance in the Senate after advocates of the restrictions began flooding senators offices with phone calls and emails.

Donald Trumps victory was not, in fact, anything close to a mandate for an agenda for the corporate gun lobby, said Dan Gross, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. This is not going to be the cakewalk that they thought it was going to be.

But the NRA lobby, too, is not about to give up.

The first pro-gun act of the Trump-era Congress is on the verge of success, the NRA lobby wrote to supporters, but it needs your help to get over the line.

lisa.mascaro@latimes.com

@LisaMascaro
The city of San Diego has agreed to pay $15,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a homeless man who accused police of harassment and improper arrests.

Zack Green, who has lived on the streets in and around Pacific Beach for decades, will get $7,500 and his lawyers will collect $7,500 in legal fees and other costs. The initial complaint sought $1 million in damages.

Green accepted the settlement last month, and the agreement was approved by the judge and posted online Monday.

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The client thought $7,500 was adequate for his time in jail, said Edward A. Rose Jr., one of Greens lawyers. Its what he said was acceptable to him.

Green, who could not be reached for comment Monday, sued the city of San Diego and police Officer Colin Governski last year. He said he was wrongly targeted and jailed without facing criminal charges.

They are just shaking me down, Green told The San Diego Union-Tribune in September, when he filed the federal lawsuit. You get in their crosshairs, they come after you kind of strong.

Gerry Braun, a spokesman for the City Attorneys Office, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Previously, city lawyers said the lawsuit was without merit and asked a judge to throw out the case.

Among other allegations, Green said Governski arrested him for violating a court order he did not violate. Specifically, Green said he was riding his bicycle past the Pacific Beach branch library  but never stopped. He was taken into custody under a prior court order prohibiting him from being on the library property.

Green spent three days in custody but was not charged with a crime. When he was released from jail, police did not return his cell phone or his dentures, the lawsuit said.

The original complaint accused San Diego police of arresting and locking up homeless people under an agreement with the City Attorneys Office that the suspects would not be formally charged.

Green said he and others were jailed multiple times for up to three days without being brought before a judge. City officials denied the allegations.

Watchdog Videos On Now Sexual misconduct accusers worry deputy is being protected 6:16 On Now City funded $2-million waterfront bathroom 1:26 On Now Public water district charges customer for legal work, response to records request On Now Video: Tiny homes won't be reused amid housing, homeless crisis On Now Attorney General seeks documentation for Miss Middle East On Now Rep. Hunter probe covers possible fraud On Now Video: SDG&E delaying solar credit for some low-income housing tenants On Now Video: Former San Diego Junior Theatre teacher sentenced for sex with teen girl 0:24 On Now Video: Shelter volunteers believe they were fired for finding a dog a home 0:49 On Now McKamey Manor is leaving San Diego 3:35

jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1708 @sdutMcDonald
View the Video Transitional kindergarten, for some

For the parent of a young child, it was like winning a small-scale lottery.

Lauren Gibson of Chula Vista was thrilled to learn her son, Jake, would qualify for a new state program called transitional kindergarten  an extra year of public school offered at no charge to families whose 4-year-olds happen to have birthdays between Sept. 2 and Dec. 2.

It gives him the opportunity to socialize and grow, said Gibson, who otherwise would have to spend $500 a month on preschool. I just think its a wonderful opportunity for him. And its free!

Families of the other three-fourths of children  who arent so lucky as to be born in the birthday window  are starting to realize they are left out of a 14th year of free public education. And they are wondering why.

Taxpayers should not be funding 14 years of education for some students and 13 years of education for others, said Roseann Marttila, a retired Poway teacher and grandmother of Emily, who will turn 5 next February. It makes no sense at all.

How should the state handle transitional kindergarten? Not needed 33% (168) Offer it to all 4-year-olds 54% (275) Give a full year to children born between Sept. 2 and Dec. 2 but no one else 12% (63) 506 total votes.

Emilys mother, Laura Schoenhaus, pays some $800 a month for her daughters private preschool, where she will go for another 17 months until shes old enough for the kindergarten.

Theyre basically getting free preschool, said Schoenhaus. Thats why its frustrating: Im going to pay for both my daughters preschool for an additional year, and Im going to pay for your kids preschool with my taxes.

Transitional kindergarten is the peculiar outgrowth of a state effort to keep 4-year-olds out of regular kindergarten. Children who turned 5 by Dec. 2 used to be allowed in kindergarten, but have been phased out over several years.

To soften the blow for families whose children would once have been allowed in kindergarten, the state created a new grade level  transitional kindergarten  only for children born in the fall. This school year marks the final rollout of the program, which must be offered at all public school districts.

State education officials could not say how much the program costs, although educating the students in question was projected to cost about $675 million a year statewide.

Many of the students would have gone to kindergarten anyway, but there are added costs in training, curriculum and facilities. Also, there will be added costs  13 years down the road  when they stay in school one year longer than they would have.

The California Department of Education could not provide an estimate of how many students are enrolled in the new grade level. San Diego Unified School District says it has 2,026 students in the optional program, known as TK.

View the photo gallery: Transitional kindergarten 2015

A Sacramento problem

Transitional kindergarten solved a very Sacramento problem that stood in the way of passing legislation to change the states Dec. 2 kindergarten cut-off date  one of the latest in the nation  to Sept. 1, said Joe Simitian, the former Democratic state senator from Palo Alto who wrote the bill.

The new cut-off date was intended to make sure every child turned 5 before entering kindergarten. It was expected to eliminate the perceived developmental and social disadvantage for the 4-year-olds who were starting school with more mature classmates.

Simitian said he had teachers telling him things such as, Its hard for Johnny to work on his number skills when he is still trying to learn not to lick the floor. Literally.

Switching to the earlier cut-off date meant an estimated 115,000 fall babies would have to wait a year longer, according to Assembly staff reports in August 2010. It would also displace 3,500 teachers.

Shrinking the states kindergarten classes was expected to save an estimated $700 million.

Using the savings to fund transitional kindergarten for only the displaced fall babies created a way for those children to start public school on the timeline their parents anticipated without immediately adding new costs to the state, Simitian said.

It also removed a serious political threat to the bills chances of passing into law.

We wanted to reinvest in the youngsters who are now going to be deprived of a year of kindergarten, said Simitian. That would then have the political benefit of eliminating opposition from all folks who felt they were being denied a right they had been guaranteed by law for the last 50 years.

The nonpartisan Legislative Analysts Office had fundamental policy concerns with the design of the TK program, according to a 2012 analysis.

While receiving an additional year of public school likely would benefit many 4-year olds born between September and December, the LAO questions why these children are more deserving of this benefit than children born in the other nine months of the year, the analysis said. This preferential treatment is particularly questionable since the eligibility date change will render children born between September and December the oldest of their kindergarten cohorts, arguably an advantage over their peers.

Providing an additional year of education to children based on birthdays instead of need means middle-class children who already benefit from well-educated parents and high-quality schools will get the boost, despite their relative lack of need, according to the LAO analysis.

The LAO does not believe offering a 14th year of public education to a limited pool of children  and dedicating resources to develop new curricula and train teachers  at the expense of funding existing K-12 services makes sense, the analysis said. The program is both costly and poorly designed and does not target the children most in need of a school readiness program.

Rockstar teachers

Certainly, the children in transitional kindergarten at Jefferson Elementary School in Carlsbad are getting an excellent start on their education. The principal, Chad Lund, said he thinks its a better education than the children could get in many private preschools.

In private preschools, you can have teachers who arent credentialed, Lund said. Our TK teachers are credentialed, experienced, bilingual, and highly educated.

Laurel Ferreira, a transitional kindergarten teacher the U-T observed recently at Jefferson, holds a masters degree and teaches a college course at California State University, San Marcos.

Ferreira led the class in a Spanish-language song and danced along with the children, then did vocabulary and numbers flashcards with them. She did all this while catching and correcting children speaking out of turn or wiggling around when they should be sitting still.

We have some rockstar teachers, said Kimberly Ann Huesing, director of elementary education at Carlsbad Unified School District.

Student Ivy Jaramillo, 5, was writing sentences Thursday morning. Ivy said she enjoys learning to read and spell, and she likes transitional kindergarten overall. Still, she said, preschool is more fun than this because we get to play more.

Some school districts, including Poway, have expanded transitional kindergarten eligibility to give access to more children than state law requires.

An effort to extend eligibility for transitional kindergarten to all 4-year-olds failed last year. Senate leader Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, tried to get $1 billion for the expansion, which failed in favor of an expansion of state-subsidized preschool, starting with 11,500 more spots for low-income children.

Preparing the oldest

If transitional kindergarten is going to remain available to only a quarter of children, the state should make sure its giving the extra instruction to the children who need it most, some parents say.

The program was designed to give the youngest students in kindergarten two years to prepare for first grade. The idea was to make sure the youngest students were as socially, developmentally, and academically prepared to learn as their older classmates.

Giving the extra time to fall babies made sense when they were eligible to enter school at 4 years old, Marttila said. But now that they must wait an extra year under the new Sept. 1 cut-off date, the fall babies will be almost 6 years old  older than many of their classmates.

Giving extra preparation to children who already have the age advantage over their peers is upside down, said Schoenhaus, Emilys mom.

She is going to enter kindergarten with kids that are three to six months older, who got to go to transitional kindergarten, Schoenhaus said. And so shes going to be expected to go in with kids that are more mature, more ready socially, more ready academically, and shes younger than them and now expected to be on par with them in kindergarten.

Kevin Hamilton of San Diego, said he saw first-hand the difference in skills between the children who had the benefit of transitional kindergarten and their classmates who did not. Hamilton volunteers at Poway schools, where his oldest son, Emerson, 6, is finishing up kindergarten.

He says the kindergarteners read books ranked by difficulty, with level one being the easiest and level 16 being the most advanced. He says some students are reading at level 5 or below, but he almost never sees children who went to transitional kindergarten reading at less than level 10.

Emerson was born in November and went to transitional kindergarten, Hamilton said.

I dont understand the rationale behind it, how they could do this, Hamilton said, adding, Im so happy that it happened to my son.

Simitian said there are strong arguments to be made for which group of children should be the beneficiaries of the transitional kindergarten program, but ultimately, its a good thing when any child has access to high-quality early education.

This isnt about a competition between or among another group of kids; this is about making sure every kid who starts kindergarten is ready to learn and be a success, Simitian said. Perhaps I was unrealistic in my expectation, but in my view, the conversation shouldnt be about some kids getting a benefit while others dont. It should be about making sure 125,000 kids are going to get to kindergarten prepared to learn and succeed.
The end of the latest in a series of storms to hammer Northern California has at least temporarily eased the crisis conditions at the Oroville Dam, 150 miles northeast of San Francisco, but the situation became dire quickly this weekend. Late Sunday afternoon, fears that Lake Oroville  the states second-largest reservoir  would overflow and send billions of gallons of water down the dams damaged spillway were so strong that authorities ordered the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people in neighboring towns.

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An unlined emergency spillway that had never been used since construction of the 770-foot-tall dam was completed in 1968 was rushed into service after the main spillway was found to be gouged in recent days by a hole that has grown to be an estimated 45 feet deep and more than 200 feet across. The dam itself is in strong shape, but spillway repairs are expected to cost $100 million to $200 million. The sudden erosion amounts to a wake-up call for state officials to upgrade their maintenance efforts at Oroville Dam, the tallest in the United States, and the nine other large reservoirs built in California from 1927 to 1979.

A 50-year-old person isnt as robust as a 16-year-old, Bob Bea, a professor emeritus of civil engineering at UC Berkeley, told the Bay Area News Group. And neither is a 50-year-old dam. Most of our infrastructure dates back to this time period. Its now in its old age  the geriatrics phase  and we are still using a reactive approach to manage these systems. We wait until we have a big problem. It is much more cost-effective and safe to be proactive than waiting to fix something after an infrastructure disaster.

A spokesman for Gov. Jerry Brown says public safety, sound engineering and smart water management will continue to guide decision-making. With a deep snowpack and more wet weather ahead, Brown and his administration must seize this opportunity to check all the states reservoirs.

Twitter: @sdutIdeas

Facebook: UTOpinion

UPDATES:

An earlier version of this editorial incorrectly said the emergency spillway had a hole in it. That gouge was actually in the main spillway. The Union-Tribune regrets the error.
National Security Adviser Michael Flynn resigned late Monday in the wake of growing calls for his ouster from the White House days after an explosive Washington Post report said he misled the administration about his contact with Russias ambassador to discuss U.S. sanctions prior to the inauguration.

Flynn, a retired general tapped to advise President Donald Trump on national security issues, announced his resignation later in the day.

Earlier on Monday the White House offered mixed messages on his fate. On one hand, adviser Kellyanne Conway told MSBNC that Flynn enjoys the full confidence of President Trump; on the other, press secretary Sean Spicer said the president was evaluating the situation.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi , D-San Francisco, became the latest lawmaker to call on President Donald Trump to fire Flynn over the findings in the Washington Post report.

In a statement, she described Flynn as someone who cannot be trusted not to put [Russian president Vladimir] Putin before America.

Last week, The Washington Post reported that Flynn had a series of private contacts with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and that the two discussed the U.S. sanctions on Russia. Flynn denied the accusations, and Vice President Mike Pence came out in his defense.

They did not discuss anything having to do with the United States decision to expel diplomats or impose censure against Russia, Pence told CBS News.

Since then, others Democratic lawmakers have called for Flynn to go or to be investigated.

Rep. Eliot Engel , D-New York, a ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said Flynns actions were unacceptable and deeply troubling and that Trump must relieve General Flynn immediately.

Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Los Angeles, and Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, say that Flynn recklessly violated the sacred principle that America only has one president at a time and that he may have violated federal law by collaborating with foreign officials while still a private citizen.

Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, also said in a tweet that Flynn should resign or be fired.

Rep. Adam Schiff made a similar call in a statement saying Flynns actions raises serious questions of legality and fitness for office and that he should no longer serve in the Administration.

While some have demanded drastic consequences for Flynn, others have taken a more measured approach.

Sen. Ed Markey , D-Massachusetts, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called for Flynn to be investigated.

Rep. Eric Swalwell , D-Dublin, said Flynns access to classified information should be revoked.

Republicans have yet to offer any public remarks about the report or Flynns future in the Trump administration.

The president himself avoided questions about Flynn during a press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during his visit to the White House on Monday.

When will Trump address the issue and what will he say?

Have some thoughts to share?

Join me in a conversation: Shoot me a private email with your thoughts or ideas on a different approach to this story. As always, you can also send us a tweet.

Email: luis.gomez@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @RunGomez
The resignation of retired Gen. Michael Flynn as national security adviser to President Donald Trump came late Monday amid calls for his dismissal for mischaracterizing conversations he had with Russias ambassador to the U.S. in December, prior to Trump taking office.

Last week, The Washington Post built on earlier stories about Flynn speaking privately with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak by reporting specifically that the two discussed the U.S. sanctions on Russia. They were ordered in December by President Obama for Russias interference with the U.S. presidential election. Flynn denied the accusation and misled Vice President Mike Pence about those conversations.

They did not discuss anything having to do with the United States decision to expel diplomats or impose censure against Russia, Pence told CBS News, which later turned out to be untrue.

The heat on the former Defense Intelligence Agency director began to build Friday with Democratic lawmakers calling for Flynn to leave his post or to be investigated. And on Monday, he did so.

Flynns resignation doesnt close the door to questions for the Trump White House, however. His departure leaves more questions than answers for the three-week-old administration.

What did Flynn say to Russias ambassador?

Contact between Flynn and Kislyak began before the Nov. 8 election and continued in December when the two discussed the U.S. sanctions against Russia, the Post reported.

The Post quoted sources saying that Flynn left Kislyak with the impression that the sanctions would be revisited at a later time.

Who knew the extent of those conversations?

Flynns communication with Kislyak was intercepted by U.S. intelligence and other agencies that routinely monitor contact between diplomats, the Post reported. But that information didnt surface until late January, when acting Attorney General Sally Yates (who was later fired by Trump for opposing his executive order on immigration and refugees) alerted the White House about Flynns contact with Russia and his potential vulnerability to Russian blackmail.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the matter, but officials told the Post that it did not find evidence that Flynn made promises to Russia regarding the sanctions.

What exactly did President Trump and Vice President Pence know?

What the president and vice president knew remain key questions.

Before the November election, Trump made it no secret that he admired Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and flatly said it was in Americas best interest to get along with Russia. Trumps various public statements and questions about his potential business deals in Russia raised suspicions about his agenda with Putin.

Word that Flynn communicated with the Russian ambassador first leaked in a Washington Post column by David Ignatius published on Jan. 12. With days to go until the inauguration, the transition team told the Post that sanctions were not discussed.

Pences remarks on Jan. 15 denying that sanctions were discussed prompted the Department of Justice to inform the incoming administration about its investigation, the Post reported.

Until Monday, the administration continued to deflect questions about Flynns contact with Russias ambassador. One day after the latest Washington Post report surfaced  and after the Department of Justice informed the White House  Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he had not seen the report.

And a few hours before Flynns resignation, White House adviser Kellyanne Conway dodged questions about the controversy and said that Flynn had the full confidence of the president.

Who will take Flynn's place as national security adviser?

FILE - In this Nov. 15, 2016, file photo, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg speaks to reporters at Trump Tower in New York. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg has stepped in as the interim national security adviser as the administration looks for a permanent replacement.

Kellogg, 72, is a decorated veteran who served during the Vietnam War. He also served as the chief of staff for the 82nd Airborne Division during the first Iraq war in 1991.

After retiring, he served as the chief operations officer for the U.S. Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq under President George W. Bush during the second Iraq war.

Will Flynn testify before Congress?

Some Republicans in Congress are now joining Democrats in calling for an investigation or investigations into Flynn.

John Cornyn, R-Texas, the second-ranking Republican in the Senate , said the Senate and House intelligence committees need to launch probes but declined to say exactly what needs to be investigated.

Asked whether Flynn would be called to testify, Cornyn told the Dallas Morning News that it would certainly be an option.

What would a congressional investigation into connections between Trump and Russia find?

Among the areas that an investigation could explore is whether Flynn indeed promised Russia that Trump would overturn sanctions imposed by the Obama administration or whether Flynn purposely broke any laws.

It could also examine the nature of the contacts between the Trump campaign and Russias government before his election. Such contacts are supposed to taboo. Some historians think Republican presidential candidate Richard Nixons efforts in 1968 to sabotage peace talks in the Vietnam War to help his candidacy was a crime worse than the Watergate scandal that forced him from office.

Could Flynn face prosecution?

Yates, before she was fired from her post as acting attorney general, suggested at one point that Flynn could face prosecution of the Logan Act, a 1799 law that prohibits American civilians from engaging in diplomatic negations with other countries.

What are Republicans saying about Flynns resignation?

More Republicans are speaking up about Flynns communication with Russia and his subsequent resignation. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, said the accusations would be part of a congressional investigation into Russias interference with the U.S. elections.

Sen. John McCain , R-Arizona, said Flynns resignation is a troubling indication of the dysfunction of the current national security apparatus.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, said it was right for Trump to ask for Flynns resignation.

Who is leaking this information to the media?

Trump declined to comment on Flynns resignation, but Tuesday morning he tweeted a question that is also worth exploring: Who is leaking information to the media?

The rocky relationship between the Trump administration and the media has inspired efforts by many news organizations to persuade whistleblowers to share information that would normally not be disclosed. Some of them, including ProPublica and The Intercept, have published guides on how to leak information to its journalists.

Its unclear who leaked the series of allegations about Flynn. The original leak about his contacts with the Russian ambassador in the Jan. 12 Washington Post cited a senior government official. But the leakers were applauded by the Columbia Journalism Review in a recent story titled Flynn resignation shows leaks under Trump are working. Keep em coming.

Have some thoughts to share?

Join me in a conversation: Shoot me a private email with your thoughts or ideas on a different approach to this story. As always, you can also send us a tweet.

Email: luis.gomez@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @RunGomez
The Oroville reservoir spill forced nearly 200,000 people to evacuate and Gov. Jerry Brown to issue a state of emergency, and officials are hurrying to make repairs before the next storms. Water overwhelming a failing retaining wall at the massive dam has raised questions and calls for action about California infrastructure.

News reports are everywhere. By now, youve heard about it, but have you seen it?

The video and photographs are wild.

Its a complicated scenario that can best be described in images. So heres a look at the situation from those watching it unfold in person.

The dangerous area can be seen to the left of the dam in the graphic below. After so much rain and snow in recent weeks, water began flowing from Lake Oroville into a spillway created for the very purpose of relieving pressure on the dam. Then the spillway was found to be damaged.

Officials tried to slow the flow of water there and it began spilling down the emergency spillway (to the left), which, after erosion, was at risk of collapsing.

Heres a look at the water going down the established spillway earlier in the week.

Now heres a look at the emergency spillway.

Crews worked Sunday and Monday to fix the damaged area of the original spillway.

Its a race against the clock as more rain is expected Wednesday and into the weekend. The evacuation order remained in place Monday evening.

As crews worked to shore up the emergency section, water was re-routed back into the original damaged spillway in an effort to drain the dam as much as possible before the storms arrived.

For the latest news on the dam, visit the Los Angeles Times for live updates.

Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @abbyhamblin

ALSO

Oroville Dam evacuations, damage by the numbers
UPDATE: National Security Advisor Michael Flynn resigned Monday night.

Joining other Democrats, Rep. Scott Peters is calling for National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to be held accountable if he discussed sanctions relief with Russia before Donald Trump became president.

Peters said in a statement that if Flynn discussed with Russian officials eliminating sanctions, he needs to explain who he was representing and why he had such talks  and then Trump should fire him.

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All of us as public servants pledge loyalty to American interests ahead of our own, Peters said. We need to make sure the President and his cabinet put service before self and dont use their positions of trust to line their own pockets or advance their own agendas. And to do that, we have to know more about the administrations relationship with Russia.

Peters, D-San Diego, is the latest to call for increased scrutiny of Flynns interactions with Russia and possible termination.

Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway told MSNBC that Flynn has the presidents full confidence. But administration spokesman Sean Spicer said the president was evaluating the situation.

Peters follows at least five other House members including Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco who have said Flynn should be fired, or resign, be suspended, be denied access to government secrets, or otherwise leave office.

Twitter: @jptstewart

joshua.stewart@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1841
El Cajon Assistant City Manager Majed Al-Ghafry, who came to the United States from Syria to attend college when he was 17, is leaving his post to take a similar job in Dallas.

Al-Ghafry, 53, has been with the city for nearly four years after a short stint as the Director of Public Works in San Antonio, Texas. He started his civic career in 1990 in Chula Vista, where he still lives with his wife and four children.

Al-Ghafry will go from a city of nearly 100,000 people to a city of nearly 1 million. He called the opportunity to be part of a very large city intriguing.

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His salary in El Cajon is $210,500, not including benefits. He said his salary in Dallas has not yet been determined.

Im excited, part of me is, about the next thing Im going to, about Dallas and what I need to do there, Al-Ghafry said.

His last day in El Cajon will be Feb. 28 and he starts his job in Dallas on March 6. He will work under new Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax, who started Feb. 1 after a five-year stint as City Manager in Tacoma, Wash.

Majed will be a tremendous asset to our organization, Broadnax said. He brings a solid and impeccable operational background in delivering public transportation, development services and street improvement solutions.

Were excited to have him come on board and play a vital role in shaping Dallass future as it continues to grow and provide sustainable services to its citizens.

Al-Ghafry said he would miss the professional relationships he developed in El Cajon but that he wont miss the friendships he made, because I wont lose those.

He has overseen many capital projects and renovations, including the new animal shelter to open this year, several park improvements, renovation of the Ronald Reagan Community Center and the $15 million sewer project.

El Cajon City Manager Doug Williford said Al-Ghafry joined the city as it was re-organizing and upgrading its Public Works and Community Development departments.

I handed Majed a very difficult task  not only operating as our Assistant City Manager, but also appointing him jointly as both public works director and community development director, Williford said.

Al-Ghafry praised the leadership in El Cajon and said the city was on the cusp of great things.

Im very happy with what weve accomplished so far in El Cajon, he said, and I know they will continue with moving the city forward.
Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/13/2017 -- A new forecast study report focusing on the market of cordless phones has been recently added to the massive database of Market Research Hub (MRH). This study majorly focuses on the Chinese market, and is titled as 'China Cordless Phone Market 2017' which provides a comprehensive analysis of the market, along with the foremost details including production, price, revenue, and market share as well as growth rate. This 114 pages research study also outlines details of the leading manufacturers operating in the market.



Request for Sample Report: http://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=948116



Initially, the report provides the cordless phone industry overview in China to understand the market outlook and its scope in the coming years. A cordless telephone is basically a combination of telephone and radio transmitter/receiver. It offers convenience to individuals, as they are not restricted to remain in one place when receiving or making calls. Also, allows individuals to operate cordless phones within the restricted mobility available in the house or building.



It is well known that the telecommunication sector has gone through various milestones through the period, in terms of its inventions and their usage. One of the most useful and popular invention 'Cordless phones' has become demandable among consumers owing to its various characteristic. Furthermore, the report studies that the market for cordless phones has declined over the years because of low-cost cell phones availability in the market. However, many people purchase cordless phones because they provide an extension to the existing landlines.



Browse Full Report with TOC: http://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/china-cordless-phone-market-research-report-2017-report.html



Moving further in the next section of the report, market segmentation is represented. It is precisely segmented in China based on regions, types and applications. On the basis of types, it is categorized into:



Analog

DECT and other digital technology



On the other hand, some of the applications where cordless phones are very much in use are homes, offices and public offices. One of the leading countries that sell cordless phones is China. The market is also boosted with Chinese and Japanese cordless phones that are relatively cheaper because of illegal dumping of goods by such countries. In addition, manufacturing costs in these areas are much lower than in others.



Related Reports:



Cordless Sander Market Trends in China-http://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/cordless-sander-market-trends-in-china-report.html



Cordless Grinder Market Trends in China- http://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/cordless-grinder-market-trends-in-china-report.html



At present, cordless phones look like modern mobile phones in their structure and many other aspects. The life of the battery has also become better with the advent of technology and continuous effort of the leading vendors. Some of the key players operating in China have been listed below:



Uniden

Panasonic

TCL

Gigaset

Motorola

Philips

NEC

Vtech

AT&

Clarity

Vivo

GE



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Seattle, WA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/14/2017 -- The report "Cholesterol Screening/ Cholesterol Lab Testing Services Market by Type of Customer (Physician/Provider, Hospital, Employer, Health Plan, MCO, Government, ACO, IDN, Patient), Geography (North America, Europe) & Qualitative Assessment - Forecasts to 2021", The global cholesterol testing services market is expected to reach USD 17.57 Billion by 2021 from an estimated value of USD 11.96 Billion in 2016, growing at a CAGR of 8% during the forecast period.



Browse 33 market data tables and 21 figures spread through 139 pages and in-depth TOC on "Cholesterol Screening/ Cholesterol Lab Testing Services Market"



http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/cholesterol-testing-services-market-180941049.html



Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report.



Factors such as increasing incidence of cardiovascular diseases and obesity, physician preference of laboratory testing rather self-testing, growing awareness and adoption of preventive healthcare, government initiatives to improve the quality of testing, and rapid growth in the geriatric population are propelling the growth of this market.



Moreover, emerging economies offer significant growth opportunities for players operating in the cholesterol testing services market. On the other hand, rapidly growing home/self-testing and emergence of noninvasive cholesterol testing methods are the major factors that may limit growth of the market to a certain extent.



Download The PDF Brochure@

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=180941049



The cholesterol testing services market is segmented on the basis of type of customer and region. Based on type of customer, the market is segmented into physicians/providers and hospitals; employers, health plans, and Managed Care Organizations (MCOs); government agencies, Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), and Integrated Delivery Networks (IDNs); and patients.



The patient-driven cholesterol testing segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, mainly due to increasing awareness and adoption of preventive healthcare, availability of lab test services for patients without any physician intervention thus reducing the waiting time to get appointment from physicians, and online access to reports and readings through smartphones.



Talk To Our Research Experts@

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalyst.asp?id=180941049



Based on region, the cholesterol testing services market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia, and the Rest of the World (RoW). In 2016, North America is expected to dominate the market, followed by Europe.



However, the cholesterol testing services market in the Asian region is expected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period mainly due to large population in the region, increased prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, increasing awareness in masses for preventive healthcare, and large number of testing facilities available in the Asian region.



About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets is the largest market research firm worldwide in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model  GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors.



M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical infographics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers.



We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository.



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Seattle, WA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/13/2017 -- The report "Drill Pipe Market by Application (Onshore and Offshore), by Grade (American Petroleum Institute (API) Grade and Premium Grade), and by Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa) - Global Trends & Forecast to 2020'' defines and segments the drill pipe market with analysis and forecast of the global E&P revenue and applications. It also identifies driving and restraining factors for the drill pipe market, with an analysis of trends, opportunities, burning issues, and winning imperatives.



Browse 81 market data tables and 43 figures spread through 144 pages and in-depth TOC on "Drill Pipe Market by Application (Onshore and Offshore), by Grade (American Petroleum Institute (API) Grade and Premium Grade), and by Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa) - Global Trends & Forecast to 2020"



Get Sample Pages of this Report @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsample.asp?id=220790381



Early buyers will receive 10% customization on reports.



Global drill pipe market is expected to cross USD 1.13 Billion by 2020. The growth of the energy demand coupled with the declining production in onshore fields will drive the demand for new drilling particularly in the offshore region. Apart from this, latest advances in the drilling technologies such as horizontal drilling and pad drilling has increased the drilling efficiency and reduced the drilling rig downtime which has facilitated faster drilling operations. This will create more demand for drilling equipment including drill pipe during the forecast period.



Although, the market size of API grade drill pipe is large, the growth in the premium grade drill pipe segment is higher. This is due to the increase in exploration activity in deepwater and ultra deepwater regions mainly in regions such as Europe and Africa where recent oil & gas discoveries have occurred in the offshore regions. Premium grade drill pipe is ideally suited for the purpose of deepwater exploration as it can withstand high pressure as well as high temperature conditions.



Onshore applications occupy the larger market size but the offshore regions show higher growth rate due to the increase in offshore drilling activity in regions such as Africa and the Middle East. Meanwhile, the development of unconventional reserves such as shale reserves, coal bed methane, and tar sands will drive the onshore drill pipe market.



Drill pipe market is driven by the increasing global petroleum consumption which grew from 91.28 Million barrels per day in 2013 to reach 92.45 Million barrels per day in 2014. Moreover, the declining production from onshore fields along with the discoveries of large petroleum reserves in offshore regions is expected to drive the future growth of drill pipe market.



The report covers major market players such as National Oilwell Varco (U.S.), Hilong Group (China), Vallourec S.A. (France), Tenaris S.A. (Luxembourg) among others. These companies together occupy more than three fourths of the drill pipe market.



Speak To Analyst @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalyst.asp?id=220790381



About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets is world's No. 2 firm in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model  GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors.



M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical infographics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers.



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Philadelphia, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/14/2017 -- Any patient searching for a dentist office specializing in cosmetic dentistry near Center City Philadelphia, can count on receiving the advice and treatment they need at Center City Emergency Dentist (CCED). Although most dentistry related complications cause pain and discomfort, cosmetic issues, on the other hand, make individuals feel insecure and embarrassed about their appearances. When a patient's self-confidence has been sabotaged because of a flawed smile, it's not uncommon for them to be nervous or even reluctant about interacting in a social setting. It's true that nobody should ever fear what others might think about them. However, by undergoing a simple procedure, patients can once again feel confident about the way they look.



From lumineers, veneers, invisalign, teeth whitening and bridges to botox, bite reclamation and restorative dentistry, they do it all. With advances in modern dentistry, the dentists at CCED can enhance the appearance of any patient's smile through painless, affordable treatments. While some patients see cosmetic dentists in Philadelphia to feel more confident about the way they look in a professional setting, for instance, others are determined to correct damage, so they can smile as proudly as they had before an accident occurred. In any case, prospective patients can trust that the dentists at CCED have the ability to correct misshapen, misaligned, crooked, cracked or chipped teeth. Even if a patient simply wants to eliminate stains for a brighter, whiter smile, they can do that, too.



The professionals at CCED want every patient to smile with confidence in 2017. Don't wait longer to show off a great smile. Schedule an appointment by visiting their website or by calling 215-315-7691 today.



About Center City Emergency Dentists

Center City Emergency Dentists is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based dental facility providing both routine and emergency dental treatments for their clientele throughout Philadelphia. They are highly recommended by the hospitals at Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania, as well as many other prominent healthcare organizations.



To learn more visit http://www.centercityemergencydentists.com/
A recent study has stated that natural forces and causes are nothing compared to what the people are doing to planet Earth. Climate change is in its fastest because of human beings and their activities.

For the first billion years that the planet Earth existed, it was because of the natural causes and astronomical factors that change it. However, The Guardian has reported that in the past years, the human beings and their toxic activities are what causing the change that is happening. The humans are causing climate change and it is 170 times faster than ever.

According to New York Post, Professor Will Steffen has developed an equation that can calculate human activity that causes the climate change. He, with his co-researcher Owen Gaffney of the Stockholm Resilience Centre, came up with the "Anthropocene Equation". Steffen is a climate change expert and researcher at the Australian National University. His paper about the equation was published in the journal "The Anthropocene Review".

The Australian National University has explained that human beings and their activities have led to the increase of greenhouse gas emissions during the past 45 years. They further explained that the evidence is the temperature rising to 1.7 degree Celsius per century. Climate change is happening not only because of human activities but the natural forces and other astronomical happenings are nothing compared to it.

The professor with his co-researcher has created the equation by "homing in on the rate of change of Earth's life support system." They included everything in the environment like the atmosphere, oceans, forests, wetlands, waterways and ice sheets.

When they measured the environment and other specifications, they found out that the atmosphere is definitely in its highest state in the last 66 million years. According to the researcher, many other factors have led to their conclusion, like the loss of biodiversity and the industrialization of societies.

On the other hand, the professors said that there is still a big chance for everything to change. Climate change can still be stopped and it is the human beings who can do it.
Two Tennessee lawmakers have passed the Artificial Insemination Parenting Bill. The bill is now criticized by homosexuals because it will prevent them from becoming the legal parents of their child.

The Artificial Insemination Parenting Bill would greatly affect homosexual parents. It would stop one parent from becoming the legal parent because only one parent would be recognized by the law. Moreover, it might even prohibit both parents of a child if they are not part of the artificial insemination.

The LGBT community has warned the lawmakers about the bill. According to ABC, it might hinder same-sex couples from appearing on the children's birth certificates. It will take away their right to make decisions like medical care and education for their children.

Chris Sanders, the executive director of the Tennessee Equality Project, has voiced out his concern. He said that it would affect lesbian couple more, having two women as the parent would only make the birth mother as the legal mother of the baby. Heterosexuals couple will also have hard time with the new bill, said Sanders.

Another LGBT advocate has voice out her concern. "Clearly, the legislative intention behind both these bills is to stop lesbian couples from having the same automatic recognition of their parent-child relationships that opposite-sex couples have," Julia Tate-Keith, a Murfreesboro attorney specializing in adoption and surrogacy issues, said in a legal memo.

News Channel 5 has reported that the Artificial Insemination Parenting bill is sponsored by Republican state Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver. It also said that the bill would cancel 1977 state law that stated children born out of artificial insemination to be the lawful offspring of the husband and wife. Weaver defended the bill she sponsored saying it would not do any of those things.

The bill will not ask whose parent's sperm or egg cell the child came from. It would also not affect the current state of heterosexual couples, she added. She only proposed the law because of a recent divorce that is going on in Knoxville between two women.
Almost 29 million cases of diabetes were reported in the United States. Although Type 1 diabetes covers a lesser population from the total of diabetic patients, there is no known cure for the metabolic condition.

According to Diabetes And Environment, in the case of Type 1 Diabetes, the beta cells does not produce enough insulin because of the death of beta cells. Beta cells secrete insulin which is essential in human metabolism. Insulin converts sugar to energy, without insulin the blood sugar level increases causing diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease wherein the body's immune system attacks and kills its own beta cells. Inflammation makes the beta cells as targets of the T cell to further their death. A new research, however, shows that some people continue to produce insulin for many years and beta cell mass was found to maintain its physiologic function before the diagnosis and gradually declines rapidly just right after the diagnosis.

As reported by Medical News Today, scientists were able to investigate the changes in beta cells during the immune attack by utilizing both mouse model and human cell culture. The new research was headed by Dr. Kevan Herold a professor of immunobiology at Yale University together with The Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard.

Herold and the whole team were able to discover the mechanism on how the beta cells survive the immune attack. They were able to identify a subpopulation of beta cells in non-obese diabetic mice that are 9-week old. The new subpopulations are from normal beta cells. The new cells possess lower granularity and develop together with the progression of Type 1 diabetes.

During the progression of the disease, the population of the cells divides into two. The one subpopulation is killed by the body's immune system while the other subpopulation might possess features that make it less susceptible to autoimmune killing.

The subpopulation of the beta cells that is not killed by the immune system has the ability to revert the progression enabling them to survive and reproduce despite the immune attack. These discovery opened new doors to Herold and his whole team to create a clinical trial using drugs to properly discover the cure to type 1 diabetes.
NASA listed the asteroid known as 2015 BN509 as "potentially hazardous" that could hit the planet Earth one day. In fact, it streaked past the Earth in January at nearly 44,000 mph just 14 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon.

Fortunately, it is now 3.3 million miles away. On the other hand, it was listed as hazardous due to the probability of a direct strike in the coming years and ambiguity in its orbits.

2015 BN509 asteroid is about 200 meters wide and 400 meters long in measurements. It is said that the space rock is larger than the size of the Empire State Building. Currently, NASA is charting all asteroids that pose dangers to the planet Earth, according to Express.

The American space agency is looking for ways to identify an asteroid that could be heading to the planet Earth. As of this time, there is no tested way to figure it out. On the other hand, NASA has an asteroid early warning system called Scout.

Paul Chodas at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which runs the Scout program, said that when a telescope first finds a moving object, all they know is it is just a dot moving in the sky. He added that people have no information about how far away it is.

Chodas further explained that the more telescopes they get pointed at an object, the more data they get and the surer they are how big it is and which way it is headed. On the other hand, sometimes they do not have a lot of time to make those observations.

Meanwhile, the 2015 BN509 asteroid's flyby of Earth in January was captured on film by the Arecibo Observatory. The giant radio telescope spotted the massive space rock lurching into the blackness of space, according to Mirror.

Dr. Edgar Rivera-Valentin, a planetary scientist with the Universities Space Research Association, said that the peanut shape comes from the fact that it is a contact binary where the two parts of asteroids could not successfully orbit each other and fell back together. He further said that with Arecibo they could characterize these objects.
Louisiana -- a woman is suing a Popeyes branch. She claims that the red beans and rice from the restaurant contained flesh-eating New World screwworms that is eating her inside out for the last two years.

Karen Goode, a citizen from San Antonio, Texas, said in a 10-page lawsuit that Popeyes and its franchisee, Z&H Foods, are responsible for doing it to her -- by feeding her food infested with the parasitic worms in 2015. She also claimed that the bugs entered her digestive tract and laid eggs, which became attached to the lining of her small intestine. The eggs are then said to have hatched and started eating her "from the inside out."

However, scientists claim that such a scenario is impossible. The Washington Post reported that Gwen Pearson, an educational outreach coordinator for the Purdue Department of Entomology, said that nothing about the case is logical from a biological standpoint.

According to Dallas News, this did not deter Goode to go on with her case, which sought $1 million in damages for her medical expenses, bodily disfigurement, pain and suffering, and mental anguish, to reiterate a few. Patrick Stolmeier, the attorney representing Goode, said that it was a "pretty horrible situation," considering that his client has been losing "massive amounts of blood and tissue."

Goode filed the lawsuit on Feb. 7. However, it did not specify the date of the incident, or if it was reported to the health department upon discovery.

Meanwhile, Popeyes declined to give information regarding the litigation. Nonetheless, company spokeswoman Renee Kopkowski said in a statement "that the side dishes at this local Popeyes and all Popeyes restaurants have a strict standard and are cooked and maintained at 165 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature that would make it impossible for bacteria or other foreign matter to survive the cooking process."
NASA scientists have chosen three potential landing sites for the Mars 2020 rover at the workshop held in Monrovia, California, on Feb. 8 to Feb. 10, 2017. These sites include a past volcanic hotbed, an ancient lake and an early hot-spring site.

The Mars rover is expected to search for signs of ancient life on the planet Mars after landing in February 2021. It will explore the Red Planet for two years, according to Fox News.

NASA has chosen the following potential landing sites:

Columbia Hills are a range of low hills situated in the Gusev crater. This was the landing site of the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit in 2004. The hills were just about 3 kilometers from the rover's landing site. The Spirit had been exploring the Red Planet until it stopped functioning in 2010. The Spirit rover found evidence of past mineral hot springs at a certain location.

Jezero crater along with three other sites top list of sites for the 2020 Mars rover. https://t.co/XQ4wxycaIh pic.twitter.com/04Mv6nejlo  Mars Weather (@MarsWxReport) February 13, 2017 Jezero Crater

Jezero, which means "lake," is a crater that is located in the Syrtis Major quadrangle. The crater has about 49 kilometers in diameter. It is once thought that the crater had been flooded with water. About 3.5 billion years ago, the river channels released over the crater wall and formed a lake. It is also theorized that microbial life could have had lived in the lake during one or more of these wet times.

Possible Sulfate-Rich Terrain in the Northeast Syrtis Major Region  https://t.co/5ke2GPBDHG pic.twitter.com/QJuQFgc6Bs  HiRISE (NASA) (@HiRISE) January 10, 2016 North Eastern Syrtis

The northeastern Syrtis Major Planum was a past volcanic hotbed. Its underground heat sources made hot springs flow and surface ice melt. It is also once thought that microbes could have flourished in this area, in which liquid water was in contact with minerals.
Officials ordered more than 180,000 people in northern California to evacuate because the Oroville Dam was damaged. The two overflow channels of the U.S. tallest dam were marred and might cause spilling of large amounts of floodwater.

Officials said that the 770 feet (230 meters) high Oroville Dam is not itself at risk of collapsing. On the other hand, its emergency spillway was close to caving in. They also feared that the damaged spillway could release large amounts of floodwater downstream, according to BBC News.

Meanwhile, the excess water has now stopped flowing, yet the officials said that the evacuation orders remained in place. The concrete emergency spillway of Oroville Dam has broken, resulting to a 60-meter-long and about 9-meter-deep hole a few days ago. The cause of it is unclear yet. On the other hand, there was this heavy rainfall that poured down, and the engineers were forced to release large amounts of water from Lake Oroville. The dam was releasing about 100,000 cubic feet per second, which made the crack bigger and might likely to collapse in recent days, according to Science Alert.

The officials said that the collapse is only expected to affect the structure of the emergency spillway and not the Oroville Dam itself, which is about 230 meters high. The Butte County Sheriff Honea's Department said that the operation of the auxiliary spillway has led to severe erosion that could lead to a failure of the structure. It is further said that the failure of the auxiliary spillway structure will result in an uncontrolled release of floodwaters from Lake Oroville.

Meanwhile, the officials stood on their decision to evacuate the residents near the dam rather than risk thousands of lives. They are now being relocated and even many hotels are fully booked in the wider area. As of these times, there are no orders yet when they will be allowed to get back to their homes. The authorities are still evaluating the risks.
If youre looking for something special to cook this Valentines Day, some would argue that nothing says I love you better than a steak dinner.

It should be a special experience to sit down and feast on a well-seasoned and properly cooked steak, according to some meat experts.

But not all steaks are created equal. Beyond the types of steaks available in the refrigerator case of your favorite butcher or grocer, other factors are worth considering. Similar to how fine wines improve with age, steaks can also benefit from aging. There are vast differences between the two options  wet- and dry-aged.

If you dine at steakhouses often, youve probably noticed some menus boast wet- or dry-aged steaks. Some menus might also mention the amount of time your soon-to-be-ordered steak has aged in whichever method they use. Heres the gist of what youre about to dig into.

Dry-aged steaks

This style of aged meat has long been used by steakhouses. It involves drying a cut of meat long enough in a closely monitored environment so the marbling will begin to deteriorate.

The drying process, which is done in a cooler where meat hangs or rests on wire racks so air can circulate around the surface of the meat, results in a flavorful piece of meat, said John Beuter, director of meat and seafood at Reasors. These coolers can be seen at seven of the newly remodeled Reasors stores in the area.

The stores dry-aging method begins with a high-quality piece of meat that is aged a minimum of 21 days before being cut to order. Once a steak is ordered, the meat is trimmed of its dried exterior, leaving only the concentrated steaks for the customer to take home.

It makes for a much better eating experience, he said. Its a steak for the meat connoisseur. It has a very rustic, bold pronounced flavor.

Beuter described the flavor of a dry-aged steak as one to which not everyone is accustomed. During the drying process, the meats fat content and connective tissues will break down, which also tenderizes the meat. Thats what creates the robust flavor Beuter enjoys from the dry-aged meats.

Though, hell tell you its not an everyday steak. Because it has so much extra flavor and endures a longer process before taking home, the price per pound might start at about $2 higher than its wet-aged counterparts.

When Beuter cooks a dry-aged steak, he uses the grill. To match the concentrated flavors that have developed from the process, the added smokiness from hardwood or charcoal only enhances each bite.

Rusty Fallier, meat manager for the Reasors in Bixby, said it can be easy to overcook a dry-aged steak because it has little moisture or blood left in the meat. He prefers to rub a small amount of oil on before cooking and seasoning with a little salt and pepper after its taken off the grill.

The key is cooking it right, Fallier said.

Wet-aged steaks

Sieigi Meat Market and Deli sells wet-aged steaks in a variety of cuts, ranging from the popular rib-eyes and filets to custom orders. It has been the process the long-time Tulsa business has used to age its steaks since it opened.

Rather than letting the inherent flavors of the beef concentrate through dehydration, the wet-aging process is achieved by letting the meat marinate in its own juices for at least 14 days.

It still helps the meat break down and intensify the flavor, said Jeffrey Yates, Siegis deli manager. If youve ever had a really fresh steak, it can have a tinny, sort of metallic taste.

Wet-aged steaks also retain their original weight, which is lost through the dry-aging process. Its also the technique with which people are most familiar because its flavor is more subtle.

Yates favorite cooking techniques for his steaks includes high-low grilling or the reverse-sear. For high-low grilling, hell start with a high-temperature sear over direct heat to cast grill marks on his steaks and then finish cooking it over indirect heat until the proper temperature is reached.

For the reverse-searing technique, hell bake or smoke the steak at a low temperature  about 300 to 350 degrees  until the proper temperature is reached and then finish the steak in a pan or grill over high heat to sear it.

But no matter which method of aging the steak you choose  it boils down to preference.

As long as you start with a good quality piece of meat, youll be in good shape, he said.

Its hard to go wrong with a home-cooked steak. But if youre hoping to make a lasting impression, try one of these steak sauces or toppings.

CHIVE AND GARLIC BUTTER

This is a basic recipe for a compound butter to serve atop your cooked steak. It can be adapted to include different herbs or spice combinations  try adding blue cheese, jalapenos or barbecue rub seasoning.

Makes about  cup

 cup butter, room temperature

2 tablespoons fresh chopped chives

1 teaspoon garlic powder

 teaspoon salt

 teaspoon black pepper

1. In a small bowl, combine the butter, chives, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Using the back of a spoon, press the chives into the softened butter to blend well.

2. Using a strip of wax paper about 6 inches wide, form the combined butter into a log, a few inches from both ends of the wax paper. Roll the wax paper over the log away from you into a tight cylinder, then twist the ends like a Tootsie Roll candy. Refrigerate until ready to use. To serve, cut a small round and place atop a just-cooked steak.

CHIMICHURRI SAUCE

Makes about 2 cups

 cup white vinegar

3 tablespoons red wine (optional)

1/3 cup olive oil

1 cup vegetable oil

1 bunch Italian parsley, stems discarded, finely chopped

 bunch cilantro, stems discarded, finely chopped

2 tablespoons freshly minced garlic

2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano (optional)

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper

Salt

1. Combine the vinegar, red wine and olive oil in a mixing bowl. Add the vegetable oil in a steady stream while whisking with a fork. When blended, add the parsley, cilantro, garlic, fresh and dried oregano, and crushed red pepper. Mix with a spatula or a large spoon. (Resist the urge to use a food processor, the consistency and taste are far better when mixed by hand.) Season with salt to taste. Transfer the bowl to the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, but preferably overnight (the chimichurri will taste better when the flavors have more time to blend). The sauce can be refrigerated in an airtight container for about 7 days. It can also be used as a marinade.

 Recipe from Evandro Caregnato, Churrasco: Grilling The Brazilian Way

DRUNKEN MUSHROOMS

Make this in the same pan you seared your steak in while the steaks are resting. Itll pick up the extra brown bits left in the pan, which translates to added flavor.

Make 2 servings

1 pound cremini or button mushrooms, cleaned and sliced

1-2 cloves garlic, minced

3-4 sprigs fresh thyme

2 tablespoons butter, more if needed

-1 cup red or white wine

Salt and pepper

1. Using the same pan you cooked the steaks in, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and stir to coat with butter. Spread the mushrooms out so theyre in a single layer and leave undisturbed for about 2 minutes to brown.

2. Add the minced garlic and thyme sprigs to the pan and stir, flipping the mushrooms to brown about 1 minute longer. If the pan is looking dry, add another tablespoon of butter.

3. Carefully pour the wine over the mushrooms and mix well. Turn the heat to low and allow the mushrooms to absorb the wine about 1-2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

4. Before serving, remove the sprigs of thyme. Spoon the mushrooms directly over the steaks and serve hot.

There are a few things to consider when cooking steaks at home: cut of meat, method of cooking and seasoning.

CUTS

Depending on your preference of lean meat or fat content, there are several options to choose. Here are four cuts to look for:

T-Bone/Porterhouse: This steak combines two popular cuts in one  the New York Strip and the Filet Mignon. The bone, usually in the shape of a T, separates each steak. It's a perfect option for the indecisive eater or someone with a big appetite.

New York Strip: One of the most popular cuts at steakhouses. It can be a little chewier than the other cuts, but it still offers a good amount of flavor.

Filet Mignon: This cut of steak is the most tender and the leanest of the steaks. It's a popular cut for home cooks because it is easy to cook.

Ribeye: This cut of steak if often found to have lots of marbling and thick bands of fat that flow through it. It can be purchased bone-in or boneless.

METHOD

If the weather is nice, go ahead and light up the grill. But if it's not, pull out your seasoned cast iron skillet to sear up a perfectly succulent steak. Be sure to pat your steak dry before seasoning and let it warm closer to room temperature. Starting with a dry steak will improve the browning of the steak  Always start with a hot pan, it'll give the steak a nice brown exterior if you've ever ended up with a gray or dull-looking steak, it's likely because the steak ended up steaming in the pan.

When cooking on the grill, don't be afraid to oil down the grill grates with a paper towel dipped in vegetable oil to prevent sticking. Remember this: if the meat is sticking to the grill grates, it's not yet ready to flip or turn  let the meat tell you when its ready to go. To get those beautiful grill marks, give the steak a 45-degree halfway before flipping and repeat the process on the other side.

SEASONING

Choose a simple seasoning mixture to bring out the flavors in the meat. Salt and pepper are all you need to season your steak, said John Beuter, Seafood and Meat director for Reasor's. Other seasoning options include pre-made blends, such as Lawry's Seasoned Salt or Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning, which make it even easier to add flavor before cooking. Add your seasoning about a minute or two before the meat goes into the pan.

Much like brining pork or chicken, marinating a steak can add flavor deeper than seasoning. Marinades can be helpful for maintaining moisture in steaks that have less fat content, like flat iron or skirt steaks. Reach for a marinade that has a little bit of acidity to help with tenderize it.

OTHER OPTIONS

If you're not looking to spend too much money on steaks or are new to cooking steaks and don't want to worry about ruining an expensive cut, there are plenty of other options. Flat iron steaks, chuck eye and tri-tips and just a few cuts that can step in for their more expensive brethren. Treat them the same way you would a any of the other steaks and you'll be in good company.
DARLINGTON, S.C.  The Darlington County Board of Education on Monday approved a resolution providing for the issuance and sale of general obligation bonds for up to $60 million to build three new elementary schools in the county.

The vote at the boards monthly regular board meeting was unanimous.

Darlington County voters overwhelmingly approved a one-cent sales tax to fund school construction in a referendum in Novembers general election. At the same time voters approved a general obligation bond issue for up to $60 million to pay for the new schools.

The November vote will extend by 15 years a penny sales tax originally approved by voters in a referendum in 2003 to build and renovate schools.

The three new schools will replace six smaller aging elementary schools.

The schools that will be replaced also have smaller enrollments, officials said. They are Washington Street Elementary in Hartsville, 55 years old, and West Hartsville Elementary, 60 years old; Brunson-Dargan Elementary and Cain Elementary, both in Darlington and both 51 years old; Spaulding Elementary in Lamar, 63 years old, and Lamar Elementary, 68 years old.

One new larger elementary school will be built in each of those three communities.

The Darlington County School District has more than 2 million square feet of building space. The average age of DCSDs 23 schools is 46.17 years, according to district officials. The average age of the districts elementary schools is 55 years.

Officials say aging schools present challenges in maintenance, security measures and the ability to address current and future technological needs.

In 2012, the school district commissioned a master facilities plan which included recommendations on renovating some schools as well as combining and closing others.

The district will not get the full $60 million all at once, said the boards bond attorney Ben Zeigler of Florence. The money will be distributed in installments over a period of years as the construction projects move forward, Zeigler said.

The money cannot exceed $60 million and can be used only for the three new schools, Zeigler said. If the construction projects come under $60 million, any remaining funds from the band can be used to help furnish and equip the schools, he said.

A construction management firm will oversee the building projects.

In 2014, through a combination of refinancing and repayment, the district shortened the 2003 bond life by 12 years and saved taxpayers more than $32 million, district officials said before last years referendum.